IT’S OKAY NOT TO BE OKAY
FASHION ALUMNI RISE TO FAME
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CEC STUDENT LAUNCH
BREXIT ON ERASMUS STUDENT NETWORK
UBER: PROS AND CONS
AUTUMN LOOK BOOK : YOUR GUIDE
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OCTOBER | ISSUE 37 | FREE
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MISSING OFFICER: JOSEPH, MARYLEBONE VP READ YOUR VP’S PLANS FOR THE YEAR AHEAD
Freya Thompson President
• FOUR MONTHS LATE AND COUNTING • MARYLEBONE VICE PRESIDENT HAS NOT COMMENCED THE DUTIES HE WAS ELECTED FOR BY STUDENTS
Ludovica S. Bernabo VP Cavendish
• STUDENT PETITION UNDERWAY TO STRIP HIM OF HIS TITLE BY SONAKSHI SHARMA
Joseph Ikebudu was one of the four Vice Presidents elected on Tuesday 28th February 2017 for the academic year 2017/18. With 522 votes, he sought off competition from other potential candidates wanting the role of VP for Marylebone including Helsio Perestrelo, whom received 427 of the votes, coming in second place. Joseph’s aims included greater co-operation with The Enterpreneurship Society to get students ‘to think outside the box’ at the Marylebone Campus, which is the hotspot for business studies at the University of Westminster.
Since the election however, Joseph has not fulfilled his duties and has been absent for all the new academic year but, been adamant that he will start soon. The Student’s Union has released a statement “Joseph Ikebudu has unfortunately not been able to commence working for the Students’ Union at this point. The UWSU are still working with Joseph Ikebudu to get him inducted and at work for his students at Marylebone campus as swiftly as possible. In Joseph’s absence, any Marylebone students who need support, guidance, or assistance from a Sabbatical
officer, please contact one of the other sabbaticals officers at sabbs@su.westminster.ac.uk . The UWSU understands that this may disappoint students at Marylebone, and we are working as an organisation to assist students in his absence.”
“STUDENTS CAN APPROACH ALL THE OTHER SABBS IN JOSEPH’S ABSENCE ” At Marylebone, there is a
petition underway to strip Joseph of his Vice President role in his absence. By UWSU rules, the petition needs 500 signatures to trigger a ‘revoke’ which will then subsequently need another 251 students to vote in favour of removing him. “I signed the petition to protest against his absence, we as students are expecting a response from him. ” said a Business Management student who wished to remain anonymous. Whilst there is a petition currently underway, Marylebone Campus remains with no Vice President.
Dan Seamarks VP Harrow
Ethel Tambudzai VP Regents & LTS
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Sonakshi Sharma Editor-in-Chief
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Kaz Bosali Deputy Editor qh.deputy@smoke.media
Lavanya Singh News Editor qh.news@smoke.media
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Ioana Oblu Features Editor qh.features@smoke.media
Bishakha Dutta Features Editor qh.features@smoke.media
Ashleigh Jones Lifestyle Editor qh.lifestyle@smoke.media
Stef Lawson Sports Editor qh.sport@smoke.media
Nimisha Mittal Head of Marketing qh.marketing@smoke.media
ABOUT THE QH
BY SONAKSHI SHARMA Hello everyone! Welcome to the first issue of the new academic year 2017-18. The QH is your award winning, quintessential student newspaper at University of Westminster, that revolves wholly around hyper local content. I am Sonakshi Sharma, your Editor-in-Chief this year. I am proud to present your new editorial team which will bring fresh and relevant content throughout the year revolving around your life at university.I hope you all will enjoy reading this issue as much we enjoyed
and cried while making it. Shout out to my team for putting in numerous hours especially Deputy Editor, Kaz Bosali. For your fresher’s issue, we bring you yearly plans from your sabbs, alumni success stories, things not to bring university, Uber woes, Dating life at university and an Autumn Look Book to complete your digest of campus news and gossip. The QH is a team of student volunteers who are enthusiastic about writing, reading and publishing their thoughts. We cover stories across various sections namelynews, features, lifestyle and sports. You too can be a part of The QH, if you have anything interesting to write about, just contact us. You can keep yourself updated by following our Twitter, Instagram and Facebook page. For more great content you can always checkout the smoke.media website.
A WORD FROM YOUR SU PRESIDENT
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. BY FREYA THOMPSON
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 Editor-in-Chief, Sonakshi Sharma, in the first instance.
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A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
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Samantha Hutchinson News Editor
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Welcome, students! I’m so happy and excited to welcome you all to the University of Westminster and to your Student Union. My name is Freya and I’m your Student Union President for the year 2017/2018. I work with four Vice Presidents across each campus who are there to represent you whilst you’re studying. This year is going to be our best year yet, we have campaigns on Consent and Mental Health, but we’re kicking things off with Black History Month. A whole
month jammed packed with events for you to enjoy. If you haven’t already checked out our sparkling new website, visit www.uwsu.com and you’ll find a list of all events that you can enjoy. Our Dragon sports teams kick off their seasons this week, let’s all wish them good luck as they represent Westminster across the country. It’s not too late to join a club! Become a member and don the black and yellow week after week! Course rep elections are just around the corner. Ask your course leader about how you can run, and work closely with your campus Vice President representing students across your course! You’ll get a certificate and learn some incredible skills and make some great friends! I’m looking forward to seeing you around campus. My office is UG01 at Regent Street so pop by for a chat! Freya x
Katie Mcguigan’s collection at the London Fashion Week 2017
BY IOANA OBLU Katie Mcguigan, graduated from the University of Westminster BA Fashion Design Womenswear course in 2016 and since then, she has walked on a path sprinkled with success and praises. She just released her AW17 collection, featuring prints inspired from traditional Ukrainian motifs, and has a promising and bright fashion career in front of her. This University of Westminster’s alumni can be considered a loud and fresh success, as she made everyone aware of her fashion skills at the London Fashion Week in February. Her runway collection centred her one of a kind; with a huge scale geometric prints, featuring the contemporaneous realistic outlines. The mesmerising prints are a feature of the accumulation with vinyl textures layered onto shiny leather and cut geometric boards, as well as a
mixture of modern and digital layouts. The collection, which was both advocated and applauded, also brought Katie the Fashion Scout Merit Award. But, the list of Katie Mcguigan’s achievements does not stop here. The fact that Katie was considered to be one of the freshest and skilful talent at London Fashion Week made her even more ambitious. Her debut collection, AW17 seems to follow the artistic taste of her graduate collection, adding a piece in her fashion story. Katie’s strong interest towards the youth gatherings in Russian and Ukrainian detainment facilities, enlivened from the photographs by Michal Chelbin. The collection is admired by the fashion world for Mcguigan’s ability to mix primary colours in a concordant way, as well as combining very diverse materials: from leather to wool.
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of media and learn, grow and work with each other.” said Michael Tatenda, a BA Fine Arts student.
WHAT’S ON?
CAREERS FAIR 18th October, 2-4pm Marylebone Campus On Wednesday the 18th of October it will be the annual Westminster Business School Careers Fair. With over 40 companies attending there will be a wide range of graduate, placement and internship opportunities available to discuss with the different companies. The WBS Advice Clinic that is occurring during the event is also a good time to have a one to one 10-minute appointment to obtained personalised career advice.
IMAGE: Creative Enterprise Centre Launch
CREATIVE ENTERPRISE CENTRE LAUNCH REGISTERS 300+ STUDENTS BY BISHAKHA DUTTA
WESTMINSTER FILM SOCIETY 17th October, 7pm Harrow Auditorium UWSU Film Society is thrilled to announce that our next screening on Tuesday 17th October will be Chile’s 2004 Academy Awards entrant; Machuca featuring a Q&A with Writer Amante Paraguez. Amante greatly inspired the means of production for the film by providing an iconic book from which the source material was derived from. Machuca is a powerful coming-of-age story set in Chile that also comes across as a parable about the virulence of class warfare and it’s manifold toxins set in beautiful 1973 Santiago. Louis Holder, UWSU Film Society President invites all students for the screnning.
More than 300 students registered to join the Creative Enterprise Centre in a launch event held at the London Gallery West at Harrow Campus on September 28th. A unique careers hub to bolster creative genius, the enterprise aims to provide students with advantageous work experiences in creative industries and communities.
The launch event took off with performances by talented artists at The Forum in Harrow campus. The lineup included Alistair, Dina, Dylan, Emmanuel and Abatiology. Students were also offered free pizza and goodie bags. Luca, a BA Film first year student, said, “The stalls and performances showcasing different disciplines is what makes this event so engaging and great.”
Students also mingled with entrepreneurs such as Mirna Une Majer, Anna, and Jason Tamou, who displayed their work at the gallery courtesy of the Creative Enterprise Team. The event’s interactive and laid back atmosphere went down well with the students. “The vibe is inspiring. The combination of arts and music is a clever way to gather people from different aspects
Based at Harrow campus, the CEC encourages students to become efficient and employable graduates by giving them an opportunity to engage with professionals from the industry. Their motto, ‘U Make it Happen’, is further developed into four main functions - Creative Agency, Creative Accelerator, Creative Skills Lab, and Creative Digital Lab. Each of these functions enables students to explore and experience different aspects of the career. While Creative agency encourages students to work by matching talented and multicultural students and graduates to professional practice projects and opportunities, the Accelerator promotes the culture of entrepreneurship. The Skills Lab and Digital lab host a wide range of events and master classes - providing first hand practical industry and innovation insights and experiences for students, staff and community. With the growing demand in the creative industry, it is essential for students to have both education and experience. With this new department, students can take advantage and make themselves more employable by showcasing their leadership, entrepreneurial mind set, and diverse skills and experience gained during their studies.
WESTMINSTER STUDENT WINS #DRAWFASHION ILLUSTRATION PRIZE BY LAVANYA SINGH
Dominic Huckbody, a second year BA Fashion Design student from the Westminster School of Media, Arts, and Design, has been crowned the winner of the prestigious #DRAWFASHION illustration prize. Along with being awarded £1000, Dominic’s work was part of an exhibition in London’s Carnaby Street, right around the time of London Fashion Week.
DOMINIC HAS BEEN AWARDED A SCHOLARSHIP BY BRITISH FASHION COUNCIL
Now in its third year, #DRAWFASHION aims to celebrate the incredibly expressive fashioned body through student submissions. Every year, students from all over the UK submit their work personifying style, mood, identity and other related elements of fashion. Dominic has also been awarded a scholarship by the British Fashion Council for his work. His winning entry was one of many shortlisted Westminster entries that were displayed at the exhibition.
Checkout more at www.westminster. ac.uk Dominic’s Illustration
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YOUR VP
LUDOVICA: VP OF CAVENDISH BY LUDOVICA S. BERNABO
Freya Thompson, SU President
YOUR UNION
FREYA: PRESIDENT OF STUDENT UNION BY FREYA THOMPSON How’s it going? I’m Freya, your president for 2017/18. I’m here to help you create lifelong memories while you study at the University of Westminster. I studied English Literature and Creative Writing, and I’ve been heavily involved with the Students’ Union, as a student leader and as a member of staff in the activities department.
“I’M WORKING ON CREATING A DEMOCRACY THAT STUDENTS CAN BE A PART OF” I’ve got a huge passion for sports and represented our Dragons teams in all three years of my degree. Last year we held some amazing Exhibition Matches, and this year we’re looking to go even bigger than before! This year, we’re bidding for our seventh consecutive Varsity trophy against our local rivals, the University of West London, so wear some black and yellow and get behind the Dragons! This year I’m working on creating a democracy that students can be a part
What’s up! Ludo here, your Vice President of Cavendish, second year running. I am so happy to be back to finish what I have started last year and to continue my work with students on some amazing projects and campaigns. I’m a BSc Biotechnology graduate who has left the science behind to become an activist and do some politics in and out of campus, I am Italian and I love everything that’s vintage. This year, I will OBVIOUSLY be working on making Cavendish the best campus it can be to make your uni days easier. I also have three campaign projects all very close to my heart: Consent, Mental Health and Student Action for Refugees. Initiating a conversation around sexual harassment on campus, I found that not everyone is willing to listen and that surely it isn’t the easiest topic to chat about. However, I believe by keeping the conversation going we can create a positive culture of awareness and respect, and that’s where I am going to need you to join in! Our University is international, multicultural and diverse. My work with Student Action for Refugees this
of. Your voice is the most important voice on campus, but it’s not being heard loud enough. I’m bringing in more ways for you to have your say, and make your voice heard! We are Westminster encourages inclusivity and diversity, we are the most diverse University in the country and we should be celebrating that. Together with your International Officer, Simran, we are going to bringing you some jam packed events to enjoy throughout this year! This is just a small pocket of exciting things we’ll be doing for you this year! I look forward to meeting you all and hope you have an unforgettable year!
Ludovica Siniscalchi Bernabo, Vice President Cavendish
year aims to lobby the university to become more inclusive by providing more opportunities for Asylum seekers and people with discretionary leave to remain who have no access to student finance loans and therefore no access to education.
“WE CAN CREATE A POSITIVE CULTURE” Mental health will also be one of my priorities, encouraging people to openly talk about it and seek help when its needed is what I am aiming to achieve through the campaign. So help me fight the stigma! Although I am working on these priorities, ultimately I am here to represent YOU and so whatever you want me to work on will be my n.1 priority. Westminster has been my home for the past five years, I have come so far thanks to the incredible diversity of the people I have met and London being our campus. I am ready to give it my 100% this year to make sure once again everyone’s voice is heard, equally. Hope to see you all popping in Cavendish to say hi at some point! See ya!
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@The_QH BY ETHEL TAMBUDZAI
Dan Seamarks, Vice President Harrow
YOUR SABBS
DAN: VP OF HARROW
BY DAN SEAMARKS Hi Everyone, I’m Dan – your Vice President for Harrow! I’m super excited to be entering a second year of making positive change with you both at the School of Media, Arts and Design, as well as the University as a whole. This year my work is streamed around three things: teaching and social spaces, accessible education and #HallsAreHome. Teaching and Social Spaces – This is focussed around making sure your campus is the best it can be. I’m really pleased that we’ve already done over £8,000 worth of redevelopment work to The Undercroft with in the pipeline.
“MY AIM IS AROUND: TEACHING & SOCIAL SPACES, ACCESSIBLE EDUCATION AND #HALLSAREHOME” I’m also working with Library on a new style of 24 hour opening next year and the School on extension of The Forum opening hours. Accessible Education – A lot of you have told me that receiving resources is hard, so we’re changing that! I’m working hard to get new MacBook’s in the library, so that more of you can work remotely outside of opening hours.
I’ve also got clouds in my eyes… Adobe Creative Cloud, to be precise. Your staff currently get it for free and now I want you to get it too! Giving you access to this will is the first step in getting wider software’s available for free to you. #HallsAreHome – My priority campaign. Halls are where a lot of you live and I want to make it easier for you. The first step is to get you monthly loans payments. I know that many of you struggle to pay semester, as it means your loan is wiped out. Making it more regular will hopefully make it much easier for you, especially as many of you embark on part time work, etc. It’s been so great to meet so many of you already this year and I’m so enthusiastic for the journey we’re going to go on together. If you’ve ever got any questions, want to grab a coffee and a chat, or anything else, just let me know! See you around!
Hi my name is Ethel and I am your Vice President for the Regents & LTS campus. Having studied International Relations and Development studies. I believe that we all need to be represented and each of our voices heard in shaping how your experience as a student here at Westminster looks like. Something that massively influenced me to run as the Women’s Officer in 2015 and then to be your Vice President in the 2017 Officer Elections. No one else knows my thoughts, needs and the support I require unless I am willing to open up about my weaknesses, challenges and the problems I face. My key priorities for the coming year include: - Increasing accessibility on campus - Gender neutral toilets on campus -More accessible routes to your classes -Creating an environment and community where you would like to learn -Increasing visibility of services available to you from the university and your union -Working with our societies to ensure they understand the needs of their members and how best to deliver on these. As former Vice Captain for Women’s Rugby I encourage you to find something you are curious about and
get stuck in. If you feel like it doesn’t exist, why don’t you get a group of people together and start your own society?
“I ENCOURAG YOU TO FIND SOMETHING YOU ARE CURIOUS ABOUT AND GET STUCK IN IT” I did with the International Development society and its great to see how well it’s benefitting other students who choose to get involved. If you have any questions about my journey to being your VP, feel free to get in touch! Excited to get to know you a bit more and helping you make the most of your time with us :)
Do you want to know more about your Student’s Union and get in touch with your sabbs? Check - uwsu.com
ETHEL: VP OF REGENTS AND LTS YOUR VOICE
Ethel Tambudzai, Vice president Regents & LTS
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NEW £10 NOTE ENTERS CIRCULATION
PAPER TICKETS TO BE REPLACED IN UK RAIL
The Transport Secretary spoke of the change to replace paper tickets – which have been in use for around 150 years – and how the “£80million programme” would be in place by the end of next year. Mr Grayling also spoke of how, by 2020, trains in the north of England would be updated and replaced. A trial of the new technology, “using mobile phones, barcodes and smartcards” will begin by the end of this year, allowing passengers with season tickets to try the new programme out for themselves.
LONDON NAMED EUROPE’S LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL BY TEAM QH London has been named as the “Live Music Capital” of Europe according to data amassed by concert website, Songkick. Last year, the city hosted 9,940 live music shows from a variety of artists and genres. Globally, London came in third in the live music category after New York and Los Angeles.
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NATIONAL NEWS
Paper tickets will be replaced on UK trains by the end of 2018, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has announced. At the Conservative party conference, Mr Grayling spoke of how passengers will use their mobile phones and smart cards, instead of paper tickets, to travel across the majority of the network.
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BY SAMANTHA HUTCHINSON
IMAGE: Nick Youngson http://nyphotographic.com/
UK NEWS
PM PROPOSES FREEZING TUITION FEES: STUDENTS WEIGH IN BY JOANNE CLARK
Ahead of a highly eventful Conservative party conference, Prime Minister Theresa May announced that tuition fees will be frozen at £9,250. She also promised to increase the repayment threshold for graduates from £21,000 to £25,000. The announcement is evidently the Conservatives’ response to Labour Party’s proposed policy of scrapping tuition fees. In the 2017 snap General Elections, the UK witnessed an overwhelming majority of support shift to the Jeremy Corbyn-led opposition. Statistics from YouGov, based on over 50,000 adults, state that Labour were ahead of the Conservatives by 47 percentage points in the 1819 age group. Students at Westminster had varying opinions on the announcement. Ollie Browning, a third year Journalism student, said Ms May’s promise is ‘better than nothing, but it is cheeky to put the tuition fees up to that point and then freeze them.’ Distrust in the announcement and the Tories was mutual among students. Alex Cavendish, a third year Photography student, said, “This doesn’t change my opinion, because I don’t trust
the Tories. £360 is not enough. The average student loan debt is £50,000, so £360 isn’t going to make a difference.” The Conservatives may also be considering lowering interest rates of student loan repayments, another factor that concerns students. Bernadette Galbraith, a third year student, said, “I’d have to look into it a bit more to see if it will actually benefit us as much as they say it will. I know that we have to pay interest, so would the freeze result in us paying more?”
Recently, more than one billion £10 plastic banknotes featuring Jane Austen, were successfully released into circulation. The old paper notes will eventually be replaced and not accepted as legal tender in Spring 2018. The paper £10 note can then only be exchanged at the Bank of England. This is similar to the new polymer £5 which replaced the paper banknote featuring Elizabeth Fry, who was at the time the only other woman besides the Queen to be featured on a banknote. This was withdrawn from circulation in May 2017. In 2016 The Bank of England removed from circulation 22 million £10 counterfeit notes. The new notes are expected to reduce the number of counterfeited notes in the economy with their improved quality, durability and security features. The life cycle of a
banknote will also be extended in order to reduce costs and the amount that needs to be created and recycled. Over the next few weeks, it has been advised to keep an eye on the serial numbers on any £10 notes that you receive. The lower the serial number the more valuable the banknote is. The first banknote printed was given to the Queen, the second to Prince Phillip and the third to the Prime Minister, Theresa May. A new plastic AA01 000010, which according to an auctioneer Spink & Son is the lowest available serial number on a banknote available to the public, has recently been sold for £7,200. By 2020, the new £20 plastic note featuring J.M.W Turner will also be entering circulation nearly putting an end to the paper notes. Moving to an age where a clean and safe bank notes are in our economy.
Students also thought, however, that Labour Party’s policy of scrapping tuition fees entirely was ‘ambitious’. A third year Radio student who wished to remain anonymous said, “I would go so far as to say that if the snap election had gone the Conservatives’ way, I don’t think tuition fees would be on the agenda.” There have been frequent comparisons between the Conservative and Labour Party’s policies towards young people, especially as student loan debt rises and a troubling number of graduates can’t afford to buy their own homes. In June 2017, the IFS said that some young people will have debts of over £57,000 by the time they graduate.
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UNI NEWS
JOHN HUGHES MOVIE MARATHON AT REGENT STREET CINEMA
BCHATELLE P
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STUDENT NEWS
BREXIT ON ERASMUS STUDENT NETWORK
also to those students who cannot access a period abroad, called “internationalisation at home”.
“THE WESTERN EUROPEAN PLATFORM IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT INTERNATIONAL EVENTS WITHIN ESN”
BY CHANTELLE PARTRIDGE From October 1st, Regent Street Cinema will be playing homage to one of the most influential directors of the 80s; John Hughes. His directorial pursuits have been responsible for such teen flicks as ‘The Breakfast Club’ and ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’. Not only did his cinematic feats appeal to the younger audience, they have been met with repeated critical acclaim, with film critics such as Mark Kermode (chief film critic for The Observer) labelling him as ‘iconic’.
Hughes’ films will be playing for the duration of October in appreciation of the man himself, more details of showings can be found on The Regent Street website.
Erasmus Student Conference 2017
BY TEODORA AGARICI With Brexit on the horizon, student worry is increasing regarding the future of the Erasmus programme. Article 50 has been triggered, and it looks like the UK is due to leave the EU in March of 2019. However, with both Horizon 2020 and Erasmus + currently open to non-EU countries, things look promising. In fact, the EU is actually looking to enhance participation in programmes not just within the EU, but across the world. Between the 5th and 8th of October, 180 members of Erasmus Student Network (ESN), including two representatives from the Westminster section, attended
the Western European Platform (WEP) in Bavaria’s capital, Munich.
“ARTICLE 50 HAS BEEN TRIGGERED, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE UK IS DUE TO LEAVE THE EU IN MARCH 2019” The Western European Platform is one of the most important international events within the ESN. As one of five regional platforms in
Europe, it includes the ESN sections from Germany, the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. For three days, the members had conferences, workshops and debates on negotiation techniques, project management, marketing, self-leadership and mobility that they will bring back and implement in their home sections. ESN works for the creation of a more mobile and flexible education environment by supporting and developing the student exchange from different levels, and providing an intercultural experience
The next steps for ESN Westminster is hosting for the first time in collaboration with City University the National Platform between 20th and 22nd of October, a three-day networking event which gathers around 70 representatives from all the Erasmus sections across the UK. ESN is the biggest student association in Europe. At the moment, ESN is present in more than 1,000 Higher Education Institutions from 40 countries and counts over 15,000 active members. And despite the impending fallout of Brexit, it looks like that will only increase.
WESTMINSTER OPENS WORLD’S FIRST PUBLIC MENSWEAR ARCHIVE BY MADISON PEARCE The University of Westminster opened doors to the first public menswear archive in the world this September at its Harrow Campus. Established under the initiative of Andrew Groves, Fashion Designer and Director of the Fashion Design BA Honours course, the archive aims to inspire the next generation of designers by encouraging and further developing the study of menswear. With unique mid 20th century items of menswear clothing, including originals worn by the British and the American armies, the archive houses pieces dating back
117 years. It also boasts an Alexander McQueen collection larger than that at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum. Other high street brands like Burberry, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Comme Des Garçons can also be found on the shelves. The archive comes just after the introduction of a new Menswear MA at the university and has been funded by the Quintin Hogg Trust. Students can gain access to the pieces at the Westminster School of Media, Arts, and Design. Entry to outsiders will be provided only by appointment. An online version on Instagram is available at https://www. instagram.com/menswear_ archive/. Mens archive in Westminster Univeristy
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“DON’T TAKE ME OUT” DATING WOES DISCUSSES THE ISSUES OF DATING YOUR UNIVERSITY PALS
W
ith the new academic year on board, most of us are either thrilled about meeting new people and making friends/ potential lovers, or are currently being crushed under the societal pressure of introducing ourselves and presenting a likeable persona to a whole new world. Either way, university is a huge conjunction of educational resources put together, in order for thousands of youngsters, or those who still feel young enough to waste their time doing never-ending projects and presentations, to come together for a little wisdom to be imparted upon them. While doing so, we enter the same buildings and rooms every day, day after day, encountering virtually the exact same people each time. As we spend an increasing amount of time together, whether at uni or mutual accommodation, it is practically inevitable that we might ‘click’ with a certain someone, or at least feel as though we get on well enough to not want to just take the free breadsticks and run, if we were to go on a dinner date with them. Yet are we ready for the even more inevitable awkwardness that is likely to follow up the day after, when you brush hands while trying to swipe your card on the black box, before the lecture? How very romantic, I know. Realistically, if you’re in the same course or faculty with someone, it wouldn’t be too unexpected
Is dating your university peers a good idea?
for you to have similar interests and backgrounds, thus making said romantic candidate one step ahead of their opponents. And although getting to see someone you like everyday and spending every possible moment with them, especially if you enjoy their company, can sound like a dream come true, let’s face the music, this doesn’t always last. So, when your fairy-tale ends, and you and your partner go your separate ways, you may be left sitting in a corner watching them move on and act like you never existed. Not so fun now, huh?
“LET’S FACE IT, IT DOESN’T ALWAYS LAST” But that’s life, though. We all dip in and out of the dating world until we eventually find ‘the one’ (or end up with 42 cats), and it most certainly isn’t a sin to wonder if the one you’ll end up with is the person sitting next to you in class, doodling in their notebook, right?
WESTMINSTER TALKS BLACK HISTORY MONTH TALKS ABOUT WESTMINSTER’S INITIATIVE ... The University of Westminster, the most diverse university in the UK, upholds its reputation and will celebrate Black History Month this October by hosting numerous events to commemorate the yearly observance. On campus, the meaning and purpose of Black History Month clearly garners momentum to the students “Black History Month bears in mind the struggles that black people faced in the past, and remembers inspirational figures who fought for equality” says Nadia Kabir, a third year Psychology student.
“THE UNIVERSITY WAS HONOURED TO HOST BARONESS DOREEN LAWRENCE OBE”
This year, the university continues #WestminsterTalks for the fourth consecutive year, it is a lecture series that encourages discussion and conversation. Black History Month will be one of the topic discussions. On October 9th, the university was honoured to host Baroness Doreen Lawrence OBE, the founder of The Stephen Lawrence Trust and The Freshfields Stephen Lawrence Scholarship Scheme; incentives that aim to increase diversity by encouraging young black men from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue a career in the legal field. The Stephen Lawrence Trust has supported 126 students so far. Baroness Lawrence delivered a heartfelt and open conference that highlighted the attainment and confidence gap of BAME students and shared her ideas of how universities can respond. The Human Library Project is an equalities movement initiative that confronts and challenges ignorant perceptions and discrimination by encouraging discussion promoting tolerance and understanding through reading books. Given today’s political landscape in Europe and USA, there will be plenty to discuss. It will be held at the Marylebone Campus Library and students and staff can book their place online.
Westminster Talks, Black Hisatory Month
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SEMESTER ABROAD IN WESTMINSTER JOURNEYS ACROSS THE ATLANTIC TO SPEND A SEMESTER ABROAD IN LONDON AT UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINSTER...
“COMING TO LONDON HAS PUSHED ME OUTSIDE MY COMFORT ZONE. THE JOURNEY FROM AMERICA TO HERE HAS BEEN CHALLENGING, YET FILLED WITH NEW FRIENDSHIPS AND EXPLORATION”
A
lthough only a few weeks have passed since the start of the semester, studying abroad at the University of Westminster has already proven to be an incredibly unique experience. I grew up in the suburbs of Los Angeles so city life is nothing new to me, but going to a university in the city is. My home university is the University of Arizona in Tucson, the epitome of a college town brimming with school spirit, fraternity parties, and a love for football (the American kind). Coming to London has pushed me outside of my comfort zone, away from everyone I have ever met, and forced me to meet new people in my last year of school. Everyone at the university and in London have been so welcoming that it has made the transition across the pond much easier than I expected. It’s an incredible thing moving to a new place on your own and I couldn’t be happier I did. Classes here are not very different from my classes back home, tons of PowerPoints and lectures. The only real difference is having to tap into every class with my student ID, which has become an issue. My
card hasn’t been working well (almost never) so let’s hope I don’t get one of those dreaded emails from the school that I’ve heard so much about from other international students. Your girl needs her visa. Other things have made the move a bit more difficult. I’m still adjusting to the differences in the English language between here and the states, which has led to some moments of confusion. Admittedly I have had to Google search several words in class to find their meaning in the UK or check if words wereactually spelled that way here. One instance that had me baffled was reading the word smoothie in a class PowerPoint. To me a smoothie is a blended and refreshing fruit drink, not an adjective to describe a suave man. I also had to Google the word cheque, which still looks wrong to me even as I’m typing it. I then proceeded to get teased for the subjectively strange way Americans spell cheque, check. Besides being puzzled over certain variations of the English language, the move from America to London has been a smooth one filled with many new friendships and days of exploration.
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UBER : PROS AND CONS STUDENTS VOICE CONCERNS
PROVIDE CONSTRASTING VIEWS
Uber has become an integral part of student life, will it be tough to say bye?
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’m sure many of you know Uber and how it is currently battling for its licence in the UK. For many of us Uber holds a special place in our hearts, and many of us would literally find it hard to survive without Uber , here are a few reasons why: For us students Uber is probably one of the most useful applications on our phone on a night out in London. Imagine it is a Friday night and you are out with your friends and there are always those three people out of the entire group that decide to drink past their limit, so the smartest decision to make is request an Uber home because not only will it save you from the awkwardness of having to escort your friends on the tube whilst they are singing the SpongeBob theme tune, but it is also a safer way to get home. Uber in comparison to black cabs is very affordable and will not put a huge hole in our wallets. We are students and half the time we are broke, but we still like to get to place comfortably, therefore Uber is our friend. With Uber, you even have the option to Uberpool which means you can split the cost with someone else going the same direction that you are, ultimately both saving you money and you are able to have a cheeky conversation and possibly if you are friendly make some new friends. Uber is a life-saver from for several reasons, but it comes in handy when you have over-slept and are about to miss your 10am seminar. All you do is request an Uber and the driver will arrive within 5 minutes and will get you from point A to B quickly. There is no need to rush to the tube station to then be squished by passengers on the tube. Not only does it come in handy for morning seminars and lectures, but it also useful for the days when you have spent longer than you anticipated in the university library and you are too tired to go home via public transport. The availability is awesome, there are always at least 3 Uber drivers near your location.
It’s easy to use and understand and that is exactly why us students love Uber. Our lives are already complicated enough with the amount of reading that we must do for our degrees. The application is easy to use all you need to do is download the application on your phone and input your details, including your bank details and you are ready to go. If you need an Uber, you just input your location and request a car of your choice and you don’t need to tip the driver or even carry cash with you which is very convenient. Uber means more adventures! It’s easier to plan a fun day away with friend with the use of Uber. If you are thinking of going to Kent or Brighton or any other place in the UK for the weekend, forget trying to take different trains, forget the hassle, request yourself an Uber and split the charge between yourselves. It saves time and doesn’t leave you in a stressful situation where you are waiting for that one friend that didn’t wake up on time or is stuck in traffic. You get to enjoy your outing, instead of worrying about transport.
are not provided with security cameras and are not enrolled as business vehicles. Thus, the drivers don’t get a full personal investigation and they can essentially work as a driver as long as they have a legitimate permit and auto protection. This can be risky as beginner drivers can break taxi local laws. Then again, on the grounds that it is so natural for drivers to discover travellers, that the drivers may not be as inspired to keep up their exclusive expectations of demonstrable skill and security. The risky part in this situation is that you never know what the driver’s intentions are: there were cases in which people were abducted and left in the middle of nowhere. Another disadvantage is that, apart from taxis, which can be found at every corner of the street, Uber can take up to 5 minutes to arrive (not including little delays that might appear due to traffic). It might not seem that long, but it is, especially during peak hours or when you are late for that 9AM lecture at the university. One more disadvantage regarding the Uber service is its cancelling policy. Even if the Uber driver has not arrived at your pick-up point and you decide to give up on the ride, you will be charged from 5£ to 15£ (depends on the type of Uber that you ordered). This might seem unfair to some people, because they are basically charged for nothing. It is indeed frustrating, so if you do not want to lose money with this service, you should be 100% sure about ordering your ride.
“UBER MEANS MORE ADVENTURES” Even though Uber might seem to be the most easy and convenient way to travel around, this package comes with risks as well. A prevalent issue about the Uber service that circulates in so many cities is security. Uber autos
Do we need Uber or not?
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EXPENSIVE STUDENT ACCOMMODATION IN LONDON LEADS TO UNOCCUPANCY
Expensive accommodation has led to unoccupancy in London student halls
INVESTIGATES ON THE ISSUE ...
O
ver the past ten years, prices in London have risen rapidly, whether this is in food, travelling or leisure activities. The metropolis is coming at the top, as one of the most expensive places for students to live in. London may be full of culture, beauty and adventure, but it’ll cost you more than you expect. The excitement of walking into the halls as a fresher in the capital of UK cannot be compared to any other feeling in the world. but gone are the days when that thrill was not shared with eye-watering prices in students houses. Living in London can be a handful as a student, from the minute you step in the country till the time you leave, expenses can take a toll on students alongside the pressure of studies. Accommodation is one the major necessities in the country and a massive industry in monetary terms.
“STUDENTS ARE SPENDING £100 A WEEK ON RENT” Even though, this is the case, student houses are still very over priced. As a result, there has been a downfall in room occupancy. Increasingly more and more student accommodations are getting drained of students. This means that more prices are leading to lack of people to fill the roms.
Half of the students in London are spending more than £100 a week on rent, alone. University Cribs showed that the cost of student living is continuing to rise, with the highest rents in London and in the South East. The UK government states that a student who habitats in London would need approximately £104 per week. But why have these prices ascended?
“HIGH PRICES LEAD TO LACK OF STUDENTS TO FILL ROOMS” London, being a thriving metropolitan city has its perks, but when it comes to transport, living and rent, it is one of the most expensive places to live. It is now common for tenants to pay well over half of their income on housing before feeding, clothing and having fun. And on top of rent, you will also need to pay for transport, maintenance, electricity and sometimes Wi-Fi. Students are obliged to concentrate the most of their money on some small, lowstandard dorm or student house that can fit into their budgets. These are mostly out of zone 1, which just adds more expenses on travel. Due to these excessive prices, more and more rooms, especially created for students, are left unoccupied and the situation will persist through the whole year.Comparing London
with other 45 cities, it was found to have an average cost of £135 per month according to a Deutsche Bank report. This is 50% more expensive than New York City. Earlier last year, Mayor Sadiq Khan had promised to scrape travel costs for Londoners as one of his biggest promises. There also have been promises for flatter fares by 2025 by the TFL, as well as having a one ticket policy for all forms of travel. London’s taxis fared slightly better, ranked 20th in a list of 47 cities, with Zurich topping the list for the most expensive fares. But why have the prices risen this much? Is it because London is the biggest network of rail, tube and bus in Europe or is it due to the fact that is one of the biggest cities in the world? Now all we can hope for is a higher minimum wage or levay in sky rocketing prices.
EXPENSIVE STUDENT LIVING IN THE WORLD •
Boston
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Chicago
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London
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SEASONAL
TOP 5 HALLOWEEN LOOKS FOR GROUPS BY MICHELLE DELREY It’s that time of the year again when we go all out to impress or simply scare. Halloween is approaching soon which means that soon enough we’ll all be dressing up, pre-drinking, and inevitably trying to find our way home from somewhere near Piccadilly at three in the morning on Halloween night.
Student Essentials Guide 101 - less is more
STUDENT LIFE
WHAT NOT TO BRING TO UNIVERSITY HALLS BY TEODORA AGARICI
University can be daunting for everyone – new beginning, independence, and yet, at the same time, stress and anxiety. It’s not easy to pack your life into a suitcase without having a mini-crisis. We’ve all been through this. You’re not alone. No matter how organised, efficient, and hard-working you are with your luggage, don’t overthink and try to cram everything into it. Relax. Stick to the essentials. There is no better time to use the “less is more” technique.
“THERE IS NO BETTER TME TO USE THE “LESS IS MORE” TECHNIQUE” Everyone has good intentions at the beginning of university, but that doesn’t mean you have to bring your old school books and notes - or your whole reading list. As we both know you’re never going to have the chance to fulfil all your aims and ambitions. Not when Monday Madness weekly parties come with £2.50 drinks.
In terms of clothing, don’t take your whole wardrobe with you. Remember that you have to fit everything into your tiny cupboard. On top of that, let’s face it – every time you are going to pass a Primark, the chances of you entering the store and not buy anything are equal to receiving a maximum score in your first assessment.
To prepare for the occasion here is some group costume ideas that are bound to make sure you and your friends don’t lose each other throughout the night! 1. Spice Girls If you’re just as nostalgic as I am for the nineties then this costume idea is surely the perfect thing for you and your friends. This costume idea is also very student friendly. Most clothing you’ll be able to find in charity shops. Now you have an excuse to check out that shop in Brick Lane you’ve been dying to see. 2. The Addams Family The Addams family is the absolute essence of Halloween. I just love this idea mainly because it works great for a small mixed gender group.
Instead of carrying with you heavy bottles of shampoo, shower gel, a mountain of beauty products or an iron – which by the way, you will never use – you’re better off bringing with you a door lock. You will thank me later when you are about to lock yourself out of the room. In case you plan to become Miss or Mr Popular, have a bottle opener or corkscrew with you at all times. We all want to get it right from the start when it comes to uni, but the ultimate advice would be to rely on your common sense. Do you really need to bring with you five mugs with your favourite cartoon characters? I thought not. Have you thought of scary clowns this Halloween?
3. Clowns Due to the popular horror film IT. Now I know that this costume is meant only for an individual, but think how scary it’ll be when an entire group is dressed as the same clown. 4. Playboy Bunnies Since the passing of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner loads of celebrities have come out to offer their condolences and honor his legacy. It’s no doubt that this costume will be amongst the most popular this year. It’s also a fun way to commemorate the brand and pay tribute. 5. Scooby Doo and Crew Are you thinking what I’m thinking? What better time of year to dress up with your friends as a group of monster-defeating teenagers. Let’s take it back to your childhood and dress up as some of your favourite cartoon characters.
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BUDGETING
LIFESTYLE
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HEALTH AND WELLNESS
BY TEAM QH
Being a student and trying to budget can be hard when you live in London. Here’s how we can help you budget and buy what you want. Watch this space for top budget deals every month. Happy shopping! 1. 20% off for students @ Dr Martens. 2. VICE - Download this free app to nd out where the best gigs are in London. At low prices and even for free. 3. The Horse & Groom Halloween event - Friday 27th October 2017 21:00-04:00. £3 for pre booked tickets. £5 on the door. Free entry before 22:00. 4. 20% off for students @ Topshop and Topman. 5. Are you an avid theatre enthusiast? Check out ‘Student Beans’ online for cheap tickets to all of Lon- don’s West End shows.
You can always reach out and ask for help if you feel alone during your time at university
IT’S OKAY NOT TO BE OKAY BY ALESSANDRA BERTOCCO
PICK OF THE MONTH Stepney Green Genesis Cinema Screen 4. Student : £9.00 per ticket. Seeing a film in London can often be quite expensive. However, we’ve found a relatively cheaper cinema but with an added bonus of luxurious sofas and armchairs with blankets, pillows, and even a foot rest. Why not enjoy the in-screen bar, that way you don’t have to miss any of the film either.
As simple as that. It is okay not to be okay. The time at university is a rewarding and stimulating adventure, but it can also feel very challenging. New friends, new courses, perhaps a new city, a new house with different atmates, a new job, bills and rent to pay, never-ending assessments and deadlines popping out of your diary day after day. It is perfectly normal to feel like you’re drowning. In a society who compels us to the achievement of perfection, it is important to remember that we are humans, not machines. If you are struggling to keep up with the frenetic pace of adulthood and everything feels too much, there is one thing that you need to remember: you are not weak, and, most of all, you are not alone. Do not run away from your thoughts: give them a voice. Talk. Talk with your friends, you might discover that you are feeling exactly in the same way or it might be helpful for you to look at the world from a different perspective.
Talk with your family, with your tutors. They won’t turn their back on you. Do not be scared, do not be ashamed. There is no reason and asking for help when needed it is a proof of bravery: it is important to take care of the mind as well as the body. Luckily, even if our society has still to work on the stigma that is associated with mental health, here at the University of Westminster there is a team of people always ready to offer their support. Whatever your concerns are, you can reach out and contact the Counselling Team (counselling@westminster.ac.uk): all the sessions will be con dential and their main purpose is to help you feel better and face life with serenity and awareness. These are years of experimentation and discovery, lled with questions not only about the world but also about one’s proper identity. ‘Who am I?’ is a question which has aficted every single person who has ever walked on Earth, and it is not easy to nd the answer. For LGBTI students who are concerned about coming out or question their sexual-
ity or gender identity, the LGBTI Society’s doors are always open. (lgbti. soc@su.westminster.ac.uk). The University also offers a mentoring service for DSA funded students, run by the Counselling Services in collaboration with Disability Learning Support. They offer help in form of sessions that aim to support students with their workload and to nd their way around the uuniversity system. They are based in Marylebone and Harrow. Struggles are real, but they can be defeated. Running from them won’t make them disappear, the right thing is to not be afraid to speak out, there is someone listening. “The University has services to help including, Counselling, Mentoring, Disability Learning Support. You can also speak to your tutor. Joining societies and other extra-curriculars can also help. It’s all about building the support network around yourself. Tutor, extracurriculars, organisation, and the services. If it’s too much for you, don’t be afraid to take a break. Your health comes rst, always,” says, Becca-Grace Shrader the university’s Disability Representation Officer.
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AUTUMN LOOK BOOK: YOUR GUIDE
BY VICTORIA NAUMOVA DAY
EVENING
NIGHT
There are so many things to do before going somewhere, so clothes should be comfortable and cosy. How can they remain fashionable? Reliable, trendy and comfortable at the same time. I paired up a comfortable grey jeans with a black vest and blue denim jacket. It is considered that oversized shirts are one of the most popular items to wear and one of the most fashionable garments for the fall of 2017. Women can combine it with leggings, skinny, or even boyfriend jeans, as well as all types of shorts. Classic shorts are in fashion again, as well as their longer version. High waist, leather, and overall type of shorts are still trendy and it feels like they have been here for a long time. Long shirts, like dresses, sometimes adding a belt or corset is extremely popular this year. The new trend encourages all girls to experiment diverse fashion trends and make them wear clothes that resemble pyjamas, even during the day time.
After a long day at university every person needs to nd some free time in which they want to go somewhere with their friends or relatives. Are you going to the pub, bar or restaurant? Don’t forget to look fabulous! I paired up a wine skirt with black leather jacket and knee length at boots as the perfect day look. Overalls are continuing to be very popular nowadays, the same as chokers, which can be a part of your look or just to be separate. However, chokers now need to look like collars or to be more massive and metallic. High heels would be my go to opetion, however you can always pair up ats or platfroms. The pleated style of skirt will give you a more romantic and elegant look. In 2017 there is a new trend – wrap. This style started to be popular from spring, for skirts, dresses and shirts. The main positive thing is that all girls with all body shapes can wear it. Sun skirts are back in trend as well as godet, bell, and mullet. Mini and maxi skirts are always in fashion. For those who want to be more of cial, fashion designers are suggesting that suits would be the best choice.
If the weekend is near it’s time to go to the clubs. Here we can easily have experiments with our looks adding a lot of colour without any fear. The main colour of the season is pink or red. I went for a pink skirt, white sweater and pink jacket. Blue, green, pink, and yellow are all colours which are also very popular. Clothes with bright prints, especially stripes are more than welcome. This year sheer sundresses are very fashionable and the club is probably the best place to wear them. Dresses with open shoulders and decolletes are also extremely popular this season. Mini and maxi dresses are both in trend right now, especially if they have ounces and frills. Velvet, leather and all dense materials are the best during this year. Fluffy and oversized dresses remain to be one of the most favourite. 2017 is the right year to sparkle! Shiny clothes, make-up, and a lot of jewellery with Swarovski will serve your look very well.
MAKE UP: Keeping with the dark
look, and getting a little more adventurous for the evening, go for a classic smokey eye. Blend in those dark blues, purples, and blacks to bring attention to your eyes.
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game more LGBT-inclusive. We haven’t yet won the trust of the professional gay players.” Clarke commented.
DRAGONS CORNER
REASONS TO START A SPORT AND BECOME A DRAGON
The FA wants to look proactive on the issue, however, stories of their reluctance to crack down on homophobic chanting have led to some criticism of the organisation, with Premier League new boys Brighton and Hove Albion suffering the worst of the discrimination.
BY STEFANIE LAWSON With the new university year beginning, it is the perfect time to challenge yourself and join a sports team, and that is exactly what several Westminster students are doing this year. The annual Sports Trials to join the dragons were a massive success and things are looking great for the year ahead.
Are sports LGBTQ+ inclusive?
FA CHIEF CLARKE FAILS TO PROGRESS LGBT AGENDA
BY CONNOR O’HALLORAN
For years, the Football Association has failed to make any significant progress in helping the game’s LGBTQ+ community. The organisation’s latest attempt hasn’t altered the story- with “not one” LGBTQ+ player willing to meet FA chairman Greg Clarke. The English football head, whose first two years have seen the controversial sackings of Dan Seamarks, VP for harrow said: “We’re so thrilled by how well the Sports Trials went this year! It was so good to see such a high number of students trying out at locations across London. I’m excited for the year ahead, we’ve got some great players taking us forward to Varsity 2018!” But don’t worry even if you are not an expert, and you’re never going to be the next Wayne Rooney (on reflection, that’s probably for the best), Dan argues that there is still so much to gain by joining a team: “Sports is much more than a game. It is a community, a family and a support group. Joining a new Sports Team means that you meet so many new people, whilst keeping fit and healthy. Dragons, alongside our other student groups, is a great family of people who look out for each other on and off the pitch.” If you missed the sports trials – it isn’t too late to join a team. Just register on the UWSU website, and you too can be part of the Dragons for 2017/2018.
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two national team managers, has been left frustrated at the lack of development made on a key issue for the association. Clarke told Telegraph Sport: “At the semi-pro level and below, nobody’s worried [yet] I haven’t met one player at professional level who would even agree to meet me in the middle of nowhere for a conversation over a cup of coffee. Not one.”
footballer would still face ‘significant abuse” have been to seen to discourage players from coming out. The guarantee of some negative reception- whether it be on social media or from chanting opposing fans- complied by a scrutinising press reaction is seen to deter even the most courageous individual. Tragically, such a situation benefits neither side.
Comments made by Clarke in 2016 that “an openly gay
Clarke continued: “We are all desperate to make the
“WE ARE ALL DESPERATE TO MAKE THE GAME MORE LGBT INCLUSIVE” “Why would you sign up for that potential risk if it’s working for you, if you’re happy? You might think, ‘Why do I need to share my sexuality with anybody?’. I respect that.” Clarke said during the interview. Players such as Thomas Hitzlsperger have come out as gay in the past but he, must like others, have only felt comfortable to do it after retirement.
WILL LONDON GET AN NFL TEAM? BY MIRANDA TOMLINSON With London now hosting four NFL games a year, is a London-based NFL team viable? With sellout crowds, doubling the amount of games in the Big Smoke, to ensure the team plays the eight home games it’s required to shouldn’t pose a problem. But that means just one team needs to play those eight games, not a rotation of eight different teams as it is laid out now. So would a new team be created for the city, starting from scratch, or would an established NFL team like the London-favoured Jacksonville Jaguars make the jump over the pond? Given the recent league moves, including the Rams return to Los Angeles, the Chargers relocating from San Diego to L.A., and the most recent approval of the Raiders moving from Oakland to Sin City, I would have to say that a london NFL team seems more likely. A team like the Jaguars moving over here
would be much more feasible than establishing a brand new franchise.
“A LONDON NFL TEAM SEEMS MORE LIKELY” The biggest concern for a potential UK team would be the time difference, especially that of the West Coast to London marking eight hours. For this potential rearranged league to work, the home team would need to play blocks of home and away games liketwo or three games at home and the same on the road, as the Financial Times said. Personally, as an American and an avid NFL fan, my prediction is that there will be a London team sooner than some may think, but only if the Jaguars are craving some fish and chips.
Will the NFL in London be more than a annual visit?