Smoke Magazine (ISSUE 5) by Westminster SU

// MAGAZINE Issue five

// LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

//Letter from the Editor//

Hello my dear Smoke Readers, issue five is finally here, Happy New Year to you all! I hope you all had a relaxing and jolly Christmas break, full of many a festive frolic and one too many a mince pie; but now it’s time to crack down, especially for all of my fellow third years out there, with the final part of this academic year - it only seems to get busier and busier doesn’t it? With my third and final year in mind, a number of members of Smoke Mag will be stepping down to concentrate fully on our studies for these final few months, so in many ways this issue has a tang of the bitter-sweet. But fear not, we will begin the process of recruiting new members to the Smoke magazine team, to help Ryan and Gemma carry this publication forward into the years beyond. It is because of this that I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who I have worked with on this magazine, my amazing team that have put up with stresses and last minute arm-flailing panics, all the great contributors and photographers that have worked with us and provided some amazing content for us and our SU for helping us put together this great publication and providing me with this opportunity, I hope you’ve all enjoyed this time as much as I have.

Smoke Magazine is: Chris Chandler - Editor-in-Chief Angelina Puschkarski / Ali Mulaga Co-Creative Directors Ryan Browne - News Editor Gabriele Verzier - Fashion Editor/PR Liason

Anyway, enough of this mushy stuff, on to the important stuff! First of all, a warm welcome to new creative director, Ali Mulaga who will be taking the reigns from Angelina after this issue, she has helped out so much on this issue and her influences have not gone unnoticed in the way it looks, we have another amazing issue to bring you. Kicking off with news, we have a thought provoking piece on Richard Holmes recent interview with radical Islamist cleric Anjem Choudary, an overview of the winter student protests from our news editor Ryan. For culture we have a fantastic piece of literary journalism from Livi Leonard weaving you through her narrative of her recent trip to Brighton and the interesting characters she interacted with there and as always our much loved fashion section that Gabriele has slaved over to bring back Campus Catwalk as well as a four-page photographic extravaganza - not one to be missed. Student Living offers up some great content from our hard-working Alumni team, bringing you all the support you need throughout and after your university career and a brilliantly informative Q&A with MA graduate Rahul on his work in the field of journalism postWestminster. Last but not least, we have Sports providing you with the look back, and ahead, to what the Dragons have in store for us in this new year as well as an intriguing look into London’s oldest football club, Cray Wanderers. I hope you enjoy this issue of Smoke, it’s been great having you all along for the ride.

Dida Alsaffar - Sports Editor Gemma Smith - Social Media Editor Thank you so much to all of our lovely contributors and collaborators!

@smokemagazine @smoke_magazine Asha Askoolam, Richard Holmes, Livi Leonard, Joe Galbraith, Joe Aldridge, Joe Knight, Daniel Oyetunji, The Alumni Team, Annalaura Masciave, Alina Isachenka, Ana Regly and Eivind Hansen

// CONTENTS

// NEWS

// STUDENT LIVING

WINTER STUDENT

MEET THE ALUMNI

PROTESTS

TEAM

MY DAY WITH ANJEM

SOCIAL MEDIA

CHOUDARY

PEACOCKING

MYM CAMPAIGN

ALUMNI PROFILE

RAHUL JOGELEKAR

THE BIRTHPLACE OF

CINEMA

THE NEWS OF 2014

// CULTURE

//SPORTS

UWSU DRAGONS -

WINTER SPORT

BOARD OF MEDIA

FROM BRIGHTON WITH

UPDATE

LOVE

DIDA OPINION PIECE

CRAY STORY

PICKS OF THE BFI

FESTIVAL

SMOKE FASHION

//NEWS

Winter Student Protests l

l The Portrait of a UK ISIS Supporter l l

The Birthplace of Cinema l l

The News of 2014 l

It was the best of the times; it was the worst of times… Analysis of the winter student protests By Ryan Browne

ver the winter, several marches and peaceful protests were organised by both the student community and the wider community responding to the current social and political climate. The most notable, occurring towards thwe end of autumn, was the 5th November “Million Mask March”, which built on the success of the global wave of protests from last year. Joined by the controversial comedian Russell Brand, the protestors gained momentum at the heart of the capital, bearing the ubiquitous anticapitalist, anti-war and anti-Israel sentiments on placards. Students from Westminster, the University of London, and various other London unis, all participated to deliver their message. Protests around the world of such wide geopolitical scope and on such a mass scale reflect springs of previous years, such as the 15th October, 2011 protests. Following the 5th November march, the Student Assembly Against Austerity (SA) and the Young Greens (YG) organised the march for free education on the 19th of that same month. It coincides with the motion passed by the National Union of Students (NUS) at their Liverpool conference mid-2014, to have the right of free education for all at the centre of their agenda. Various NUS delegates, including Shreya Paudel (International Students’ Officer) and Zekarias Neggussue (of the Black Students’ Campaign), attended the protest. Controversially, the NUS hastily

backed out of support for the protests as the demo posed an ‘unacceptable level of risk’ to participants. According to the SA, roughly 10,000 students attended the mass demonstration; they claim that this is the ‘biggest student demonstration’ that has been seen marching for free education ‘since student fees were trebled in 2010’. Over fifty campuses from across the country took part. They were joined by Green Party MP Caroline Lucas and veteran Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn; they were also joined by other representatives from the Green Party, the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, the People’s Assembly Against Austerity and the Stop the War Coalition. They began from Malet Street, home to the University of London Students’ Union, and marched through London towards other universities, picking up support on the way. In addition to extortionate fees prompting the protests, campaigns against the mass abduction of a group of student protestors in Mexico – implicating certain governmental involvement – have also prompted cause for protests and outcry. Students were further outraged in early December, weeks after the initial free education protests, when they discovered the police brutality at the University of Warwick which involved student protesters being sprayed with harmful CS gas. Shelly Asquith, President of University of the Arts London’s Students’ Union, commented on the necessity

of resistance to institutional pressure at the original free education march, asserting that ‘we will be back again, and again, and again; we will be back until this government repays their debt to students, to workers, to immigrants, and to society.’ The SA and YG gained further momentum with a further day of action on 3rd December against the Autumn Statement, issued by Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne MP. They also intend to organise a ‘Student Assembly Against Austerity National Convention’ on Saturday, 31st January at the School of Oriental and African Studies. Prominent speakers at this event will include Miss Asquith, Mr Corbyn and leader of the Green Party, Natalie Bennett. Other marginal protests were also organised in London, and attended by students. One prominent protest was organised to oppose police brutality against Black and Minority Ethnic groups (BME) in America, responding to the shootings of Michael Brown, Tamir Rice and Eric Garner. An estimated 600 coalesced at Westfield shopping centre in Shepherd’s Bush. Two peaceful protests were held, on 10th December, during the evening – one inside the shopping centre and one outside. A total of 76 people were arrested at the demonstration; in a police statement, this action was vindicated as a ‘containment for the purpose of preventing violence and effecting arrests.’

// NEWS

My Day With Anjem Choudary:

The Portrait of a UK ISIS Supporter

njem Choudary is a man who has gathered a lot of attention in recent years. Like a celebrity launching a new book, every time extremist Islam is held responsible for the deaths of innocent people, Choudary pops up in the media. Failing to condemn the deaths of murdered journalists and aid workers in Syria and even justifying the attacks of 9/11 and 7/7 bombings on the West, Choudary sits opposite from me in a café in Ilford, grinning from cheek to cheek and apparently pleased to see me. With a plate of traditional Indian sweets, Choudary saunters over to our table, greeting everyone he passes with a passionate hug and kiss. Presenting himself like a local celebrity of this Essex town, the British-born Pakistani carefully talks me through each sweet he has generously bought for me. Wanting to get started, I jump in with my first question but, in an attempt to lure me into his charm, Choudary asks if he can finish his sweets and asks me what I know of the Quran. Stating that I think Islam is a peaceful religion that I generally know very little of, Choudary giggles and begins to dictate a pre-meditated speech about the strengths of being Muslim. The conclusion to this speech is that I should “check Islam out”. Like many young people before, I am being subjected to the preaching of a recruitment officer. I have gone from a Journalist to a subject in order to be convinced of the cause, whatever it is. And I haven’t even answered the questions yet. Soon Choudary catches wind of my stubbornness to be an atheist and surely, we can begin. The original charm that the Islamist preacher had tried to develop is slowly broken down as his quiet confidence slowly distinguishes itself as cockiness and arrogance. Choudary waves his hand around and states that,

“the British passport is a mere travel document, like a bus pass,” and that he, “should be able to travel where I want when I want,” before labelling Islamic State fighters as “noble.” I take a bite out of the syrupy ball of Indian delicacy, which proves much easier to swallow than the statements leaving Choudary’s mouth as he continues, “just about everybody I know wants to go and live under the Sharia.” “To live under IS rule,” Choudary continues, “and to bring my children up there would be an honour.” An honour that he will not be able to receive legally following the removal of his passport. The expressions of the man opposite me highlight those of a calm and intellectual individual but piecing Choudary’s words and actions together provide a tough challenge as the former Southampton student is filled with such convicted hatred for the West and the government that supplies him with £25,000 a year in benefits. Despite what Choudary says, the slight glimmer of praise that I can give to the preacher is that he has expressed his beliefs through peaceful methods and in the diplomatic nature of the country we all call home. However, preachers of hate on both sides of the argument (Choudary included), are not helping the damaged relationship between non-Muslims and Muslims in the UK. Having the privilege to go to the University of Westminster and live in London, I have encountered many different people from many different backgrounds, and it is this culturally diverse nature of the country and capital, which is something to be proud of. But in the light of war in the Middle East, a divide in Britain’s, once united, youth is emerging. Over 500 young Brits are thought to have travelled to Syria to fight for Islamic State.

By Richard Holmes

And it is the words of preachers like Choudary combined with the ignorance of national governments that have pushed them there. Having spent many weeks investigating why young people feel the need to leave their families behind a join a bloody war they know very little about, I am no closer to the answer. It is beside me, but it is happening. As more disenfranchised youths travel overseas for Jihad, the impression on Islam becomes damaged. In my mind, Choudary is not a Muslim - he is a radicalised individual using a interpretation of a, usually, peaceful religion in order to propose the laws he feels necessary among those who feel otherwise. After an hour of chatter with Choudary, I am left with a sense of pity. Pity that a man can feel so much unintentional, unconditional hatred towards something. Pity for those who follow him, blind or scared of disagreement. And pity for the warning that Choudary expresses when he states, “I shudder to think what the relationship will be like between the Muslim and Non-Muslim community when it kicks off in this country.” It is people like Choudary and counter-extremist parties like Britain First that will damage the relationship between Muslims and Non-Muslims in this country. If we let them dictate the nature of our beliefs and if we let them represent us and project hatred in our name then we have failed in our own humanity. Until then, keep an open mind and remember the foundations that, not only, this country but all moral beliefs are upon and don’t dislike just because its different.

// NEWS

Reviving the birthplace of British cinema – Regent Street campus By Ryan Browne

fter an early campaign in 2012 to restore the Old Cinema to its glory as the very first picture house to screen a motion picture in the country, the Regent Street Cinema had a resurgence in its appeal after a total of £4million was raised in 2014. The restoration of what is colloquially called the “Old Cinema” – by the University of Westminster’s Social Sciences and Humanities students at Regent Street – is now well and truly on track. Several celebrities have added their voices to the campaign, including filmmaker and Westminster alumni Asif Kapadia (director of the critically acclaimed documentary Senna, 2010), and the Radio 4 broadcaster Sandi Toksvig. Tim Ronalds Architects received permission to rebuild the cinema in late 2013; it is expected to seat 200 members of the public, including students and staff. Calls for restoration began as the University was granted a stunning £1.5m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). Head of the HLF in London, Sue Bowers, noted that the cinema is a ‘fascinating part of our heritage’ and that it has ‘an important place in the world history of film.’ Other backers/ donors of the scheme now include the Quintin Hogg Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation and Odeon cinemas. At its prime, the late 19th century theatre at 307 Regent St. (when the University was still called the Royal Polytechnic Institution), hosted the likes of the Lumières (Auguste and Louis), who pioneered the early “motion picture” format of photography. This made our University a forerunner in the ongoing race to modernity. After this, in the run up to the First World

War, Alfred West’s Our Army and Our Navy propaganda films were performed. These cinematographic efforts in Britain rivalled those of European and American innovations in cinema from the likes of directors/ cinematographers Georges Méliès and Edwin S. Porter, the latter being a member of the (Thomas) Edison Studios. Post-WWI, the theatre showed a great number of travel and nature documentaries, as well as occasional continental films such as Fritz Lang’s Destiny (1921). It then went on, in 1939 as the “Polytechnic Theatre”, to show foreign language films like Les Disparus de St Agil (“Boys’ School”, 1938) and Le Secret de Mayerling (“The Secret of Mayerling”, 1949). The last public cinema screening took place in the early ‘80s; after this, “The Regent Theatre” was no more, and for years has been used as a lecture theatre for students of the University of Westminster, and hosted conferences for external parties. The total funding required for complete restoration of the centuryand-a-half year-old cinema is estimated at around £6.1m. On walking by Regent St., towards the campus, you may notice the huge exterior to the ongoing construction work in the lead up to full refurbishment. It is also estimated (ambitiously) that these re-construction efforts shall be finished by April, 2015. The animated insight into a “walkthrough” of the cinema’s interior – previewed last year – has instilled a greater sense of excitement and hope in supporters of the endeavour. However, some feel that a number of issues have begun to arise as certain advancements in the development were made. For instance,

the scheme to practically be able to “buy” one of the 200 seats in the cinema and have one’s name inscribed for a generous donation of £750 (or, for an exclusive seat chosen by the Director of Cinema, £1500) has been questioned over its providing privilege to wealthy donors. In late 2013, during a Sabbatical Officers’ Question Time, a member of the audience inquired into the apparent privatisation of the Old Cinema which, allegedly (though this may be discarded as rumour), has been bought by a private company and is no longer the property of the University. To this, Muaz Mahmood – the VicePresident of Regent St. campus – responded that ‘the benefit for that would be that students would get to showcase their talents’. He went on to suggest the likelihood that it may not go fully private and that a partnership was being pushed for rather than full privatisation. Lack of transparency has left students perplexed as to whether this will still be the case or not. Therefore, although progress maybe exciting, we must also be weary of who the target-audience of the cinema will primarily be. Being right next-door to the University, one might expect it to befit the artistic requirements of developing humanities & arts students; but a great level of uncertainty still exists, provoking the question as to whether we will be the ones to benefit from a new and incredibly innovative facility. This is what the University has claimed – that Westminster students will be given a whole new array of opportunities after full rejuvenation – so there is certainly hope.

// NEWS

2014: A year in brief

2014 was no stranger to it’s huge news events. Ranging from catastrophic, to intriguing to the downright ridiculous, Chris Chandler attempts to bring you a consise run-down on some of this year’s biggest news stories.

Islamic State

Robin Williams

Ebola

2014 saw the growth in influence of self-declared worldwide caliphate group, Islamic State (IS) across the middle East. The extremist Islamist group, active since 1996, grabbed headlines around the globe this year with increased activity in major areas of Iraq, Syria and even in Eastern Turkish borders. Following worldwide condemnation of the group’s actions following the horrific beheadings of American Journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, as well as UK and French aid workers in the regions, the wider influence of the issue began to show - finding cases of British men leaving their homes to wage ‘Jihad’ and joining the group, and even strong leads to the events of the Sydney Café siege that occurred only a short while ago.

Beloved actor and comedian Robin Williams tragically took his own life on the 11th of August last year in his California home, leading to worldwide mourning for the loss of a revered entertainer. Famed for his critically acclaimed performances as the hilarious cross-dressing nanny, Mrs Doubtfire as well as more dramatic roles in Good Will Hunting; Williams was revealed to have been suffering greatly with depression throughout his career. Following the announcement of his death, the outpouring of public tributes was immense, with public statements from wife Susan Schneider and Zelda Williams as well as US president Barack Obama on his ability to touch the hearts of all in his acting as well as his illustrious stand-up career.

March began the reporting on one of the biggest hot-button topics of this year’s news, the Ebola virus outbreak in West African countries; Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Mali. What has been reported as the deadliest outbreak of the highly infectious virus, transmitted through contact with bodily fluids, since it’s original discovery in 1976 has claimed the lives of over 8,000 people, with Liberia being one of the worst hit areas. Thought to have been transmitted heavily through the widespread consumption of infected monkey meat, the disease spread fast during the spring and summer months of last year, leading to widespread outpouring of medical aid from the UN and welfare charities to help kurb the spread of the deadly virus.

// NEWS

“The Fappening”

Scottish Referendum

Rosetta Mission

The topic of internet security and web anonymity reared it’s ugly head once more at the end of August last year following the collection and publishing of almost 500 private photos from celebrities, believed to have been hacked from Apple’s iCloud service. Amongst the victims affected were The Hunger Games actress Jennifer Lawrence, whose public stance on the issue lead to widespread support for those who were hacked, with fellow actress Emma Watson, who was was thought to have been affected after threats later revealed to be false, providing a rousing speech on the topic of the effects that the release of these photos have on not only the people who have been hacked, but the wider online community as a whole.

The UK saw one of the biggest events in the sovereign state’s history, as the subject of Scottish Independence came to a head midway through September. The months leading up to the referendum saw huge levels of support for both parties from all walks of life, with David Cameron leading the Better Together campaign appealing to the sense of togetherness that the British Isles could lose should Scotland leave, contrasting to the hilarious PSA from The Simpson’s favourite Scot, Groundskeeper Willie, on what it means to be Scottish. The vote itself, taking place on the 18th September, yielded a 55% vote against, with 45% supporting the motion lead to the resignation of long-standing SNP leader Alex Salmond.

Arguably one of the cooler events of last year came in the form of spacecraft Philae, launched in 2004, and successfully landed on the surface of Comet-67P on the 12th of November. The mammoth 10-year space exploration mission was met with masses of excitement from the scientific community as the ability to research one of the great mysteries of what lies beyond our atmosphere was now possible. The European Space Agency, soon began to find interesting phenomena from the data collected on the comet, including the ‘song’ caused by the oscillation of it’s magnetic field as well as the substantial difference between the make-up of it’s water content to that of ours on Earth.

The Interview One of the final flourishes of the year came with the debacle and debate surrounding the release of the Seth Rogen and James Franco movie, The Interview. Due to release over the festive period in cinemas across the United States, the film depicting the satirising and assassination of North Korean leader, Kim Jong-Un was pulled from theatrical release by publishing-parent company Sony following a hack on their networks by thought to be North Korean group ‘The Guardians of Peace’. This decision was met with wide public outrage at Sony’s readiness to bow to the demands of terrorism, and the film was quickly distributed online, with it fast becoming Sony’s most successful online film to date. 11

//CULTURE l l l

Board of Media l

From Brighton With Love l

The Picks of the BFI Film Festival l Terror and Wonder l

l l

Smoke Fashion l

Board Of Media: It’s time to stand up for women in action sports

By Chris Chandler

oard of Media, a project set up by Contemporary Media Practice students Emma Shoesmith, Connor Hawkins, Alex Dack and Jed Welland, is much more than just a clever pun. Tackling the issues of gender inequality and the misrepresentation of women in actions sports, the social movement project and upcoming documentary is already gaining traction amongst the communities it is championing. With an in-progress Indiegogo campaign and a crew brimming with talent - introducing Alex’s keen journalistic sense as the producer and Jed’s artistic eye in the director of photography role - Board of Media are wholeheartedly dissatisfied with the media’s portrayal of women and it is almost ready to tackle these issues head-on, and give rise to some

of the most talented female boarders and riders the UK has to offer. The campaign for gender equality permeates all walks of life, and this is in no way different. Action sports as we know them today are all still very male dominated scenes, with male competitors still being able to take a lion’s share of prize money away from competitions and events and females remain the focus of oversexualised marketing and advertising, or are stereotyped by the wider community. When growing up, it’s hard to avoid the bombardment of gender stereotypes and definitions of gender roles from all angles of media and everyday life. The segregation of ‘what girls like to do’ and ‘what boys like to do’ almost comes as part-and-parcel with your formative years and its seemingly impossible to

avoid the representation as women in all walks of life as unattainable sex-symbols; even in scenes where they should be celebrated for their achievements and technical prowess as much as their male counterparts. We’re all fully aware of the mass media’s eye-brow raising tendencies to over-sexualise pretty much, well, everything that involves female participants - the concept of ‘Sex Sells’ never is one to be thrown out of a marketing committee it seems. Project manager for the documentary and long time mountain biker, Connor touches on how frustrating and misleading the representation of the opposite sex in the action sport media can be “When you’re involved in something like an action sport, you involve yourself a lot in the media of it - magazines, films or whatever - and whenever a girl is represented, it’s always in a way that isn’t real. It’s really frustrating, because it fully misrepresents the community as much as it misrepresents the girls, and when you’re at an impressionable age, that’s how you’ll view the people that belong to the community. It’s only when you get older, or you meet more people when you realise that ‘oh these people don’t actually exist.” Director and driving force behind Board of Media, Emma has been an avid action sport participant, pretty much all of her life. After being put

on a skateboard at a very young age the love just continued to grow into a lifetime of passion. These labelled ‘boy sports’ never really seemed to be that to her, they always were just things that she loved doing and spent much of her younger years growing up in Manchester BMXing, skating and mucking in where she could. But when it came to the the time when she wanted to start skating to school, it became obvious to Emma that something wasn’t quite right. “I got a bus load of kids just shouting at me ‘Ohhh you little mosher, what’re you doing on your skates’ and it was then that I knew there was something wrong with me, and that’s a weird feeling for when you’re in that precious stage of teenage life when you know that the things that you like and love the most in the world are the wrong things to do.” It was after her teenage years that Emma left England and begun to indulge in her beloved snowsports. After working as a chalet maid in Europe, Emma moved out to America (Colorado) and started to teach snowboarding on the Burton Learn to Ride women’s program. It was here that she saw how much joy the act of snowboarding gave people. It was only returning to the UK after these years that Emma realised that the problem was far from over.

After still being heckled and goaded on the tube when travelling to and from skate sessions - by both men and women - it was then when she realised that there was an issue that really needed to be addressed here. She wanted to create something to let girls know that what they’re doing isn’t weird and they shouldn’t aspire to be the sex symbols that the media portray - and thus, the project of a lifetime in the making was formulated, with plans to take it far beyond the module deadline. With inspiration, and support, from non-profit women in surfing project The Inspire Initiative spearheaded by legendary female surfer Cori Schumacher and action sport PR and brand consultancy Neon Stash, the movement for the equality of women that take part in these sports is growing by the day. The success of the campaign that Cori lead last year against the Roxy Pro surf competition’s hyper-sexualised advertising heavily inspired Emma to formulate Board of Media, and with the Indiegogo campaign not long off funding, the project can really begin to kick into high gear. With plans to pitch a series to various online sports networks after the documentary is complete, the ambitions continue to run high for Emma and the crew way into the future of the project. When first sitting down with the

team in their de-facto office at the back of the Harrow library, the subject of the gaping disparity that exists between the genders in action sports is something that I knew little about; but now the campaign and the drive to change it is something that I now support wholeheartedly. The Board of Media project is adding to a great number of growing initiatives in this country as well as around the world, and will hopefully inspire more and more people to join the fight for gender equality. “What’s interesting now, is that right now is the time for change” Emma proclaims, the passion singing through her voice, “Her [Cori] doing that for surfing massively inspired me to do this project. You only need 20,000 signatures to change a bit of media content, that’s amazing. And if we can do something with this project that can stop young girls feeling a sense of self lack or low self esteem because they can’t achieve this hyperreal fake feminine ideal, then we’ve kinda succeeded, right?” It will take a while, it is certainly not something that can change overnight but with your support for projects like this, be it donating to their campaign or something as simple as supporting and sharing the documentary due to begin production in 2015, even the smallest change can better the lives of females in action sports everywhere.

// CULTURE

From Brighton, With Love:

Livi Leonard’s adventures in the UK’s hipster capital

eeks in London, with sound of the sirens and drug dealers asking me to buy weed every hundred metres led me to seek retreat. What I would’ve experienced by Sunday afternoon would be far from relaxing or conventional. I would lose one friendship but through a fated connection gain another. For a neat tenner you can get a train from Kings Cross to the seaside. All you need is an extra forty quid, for a cheap Fawlty Towers-esque resembling hotel room and then you too can sod off away from the smog. I didn’t have many demands or plans to effectively utilise this ‘break.’ I had promised to surrender my eardrums, to my friends’ metal band later on that evening at Breakout Festival. Until then, I would stroll and ironically hum ‘I do like to be beside the seaside,’ as I stumbled hung-over and alone across the pebbled beach. Brighton was a ‘trendy’ place I suppose. Wandering through The Lanes and passing by The Royal

Pavilion, I felt cool by default. On Monday when our gang of future hacks would sit listing off all the amazing career opportunities they had received over night, at least I could say I’d been to Brighton. The shops were unique, special but of course filled with products tailored for the middle classes. Self branded ‘contemporary gifts’ were stereotypically apparent in each hippy that lined the narrow, windy roads of, The Lanes. Shops selling ethnic wood (nope, not a porno), fossils, ceramic horses and other purposeless goods, proved too tempting for me, as I wracked up a further forty quid’s worth of expenses. After browsing the shops and buying pointless shite that my bank balance would later communicate to me as a stupid mistake, I ventured to the seafront. When you’re single I think it’s important to set yourself mundane challenges, in order to prove you’re embracing ‘independence.’ My challenge came in the form of finding

some legit seafood, that wouldn’t muck about with my bowels, to enjoy alone, staring out to see. The exercise would be poetically pretentious but apt. In a sexless existence, other sensory experiences become of equal value. So there it was, my confirmation of a satisfactory singular life. With every bite of each chilli prawn, came the sublime taste of freedom. Yeah right, but the prawns were good and cheap and in large potions. Happy days. Seafood holds less complications than sex anyway. You know who you are. Brighton is a workable city, with the seafront beckoning the placement of each ‘tourist attraction.’ This makes it easy for newcomers to form an internal map of the city illuminating the shame of standing disorientated on a street corner, attempting to decipher if you’re facing the right way on Citymapper. I knew where the taxi rank was so I abandoned my bachelorette dinner and headed for Breakout festival at Brighton racecourse - which after being

// CULTURE

suitably loud and boisterous, I decided to make haste from the venue, and find solace in less authentic seafood than I was first craving. After a failed attempt at locating a chippy I went back to the hotel. Standing in prime location, on the corner of the Old Stein, stood The Royal Albion. It appeared to be the perfect combination of a run-down dignity and grand regency architecture. It had exchanged any former decadence for endearing charm. The concierge was affable, but stressed, flapping his arms around like Basil Fawlty. I wanted to help. Am I alone in this notion or does anyone else develop a certain complex, when highly inebriated in which they believe they can change the world? Only small deeds mind, like that Kevin Spacey movie, ‘Pay it Forward.’ So I stepped forward, pledging my allegiance and services to the hotel. I was at the helm of the Albion. Room service, complaints and breakfast enquiries, were the usual topics of conversation. I was getting bored and ‘Basil’ wasn’t breaking for a cigarette anytime soon. Just as I thought I would retire to my basement floor windowless room, in she walked in. A lady approached the counter, dressed in a long camel coat and small, black, kitten heels. In one sophisticated swoop, she removed her unkempt blonde hair from her face. She was well spoken with a hint of cockney. She was, at first glance… ordinary. As per for the The Royal Albion, their bookings with Expedia had malfunctioned that day, leaving her without a bed for the night. There was no sign of my friend removing his tongue from the events manager’s arseholes and returning, so what was the harm inviting her to stay in our hotel room? None. “Stay with me, I’ve got a room and I’m bored and lonely,” I shout across the counter. It was agreed she would stay with me, in exchange for all the drink I wanted from the bar. Sipping whiskey together, I began divulging any penile activity I had received over the last four months. This is a common topic between women when they meet for the first time. It’s either that or what contraception they’re on, but we won’t go there. Flicking and kicking her legs around like a chorus girl in a musical, she crossed her legs. The men at the bar soon became intrigued by her

presence. She wasn’t flirting obviously; it was somewhat magnetic and natural. This annoyed me. She had at least ten years on me but had far more promise of attention. However her admirers were fat cockneys, which made it less of a devastating blow. The men were predictable in their advances. They pulled the old, “OH NO! The bars closing soon girls, we’ve got plenty more booze down in our room.” Wink, wink, nudge, nudge. Tossers! Of course they thought we were naïve to their advances, but we were five steps ahead. In a brief exchange we confirmed this and clarified our dual intentions to drink their room dry and then swiftly exit. We accompanied the three stooges down the stairs. All three men had a hint of tinted tangerine about them, dressed typically in chinos, squeakyclean plimsolls and wrapped in gold chains. Coincidentally they also had a “bachelor” room on the basement floor. ‘Come on in girls,’ the alphastooge gestured as he opened the door. One of the bottom-dwellers took the initiative to plonk on some unrecognisable, mainstream trash on his ipod. Perhaps he thought the sound of klaxons, heavy bass lines and crap lyrics, would to whip us into a panty-dropping frenzy. She pretended be interested as she listened to their tangent of nonsense. I assumed the rogue roll, of sipping my drink and observing the view of the outside world. Whilst standing alone, I was eavesdropping on her conversation with our gracious hosts. “I lived in Brighton but I came from London today to visit a friend.” This is where the loop-holes began. She had earlier informed me that this was in fact her first visit to Brighton. Clearly, this was not the case. I began to size her up. Previously she had an air of sophistication about her, but now I was drawing over analytical conclusions about her character. The high heels that had previously made her ‘lady’ were now facing multiple scrutinises from prying eyes. Firstly, they were patent black leather, which led me to formulate some unattractive assumptions about her income. The plastic heel tip had been worn down revealing the bottom of the heels’ metal framework. The height wasn’t particularly death defying, suggesting a need for comfort, due to the frequency of their wear. She had removed the camel knee length coat, to expose a skimpy fuchsia dress. Sitting cross legged to bare the perfect amount of flesh and

thigh, she continued her lies. Although her ‘friend’ lived in Brighton, he had intended to stay in her hotel room. He was not her boyfriend. I was now incredibly sceptical of her honesty. Why had she not chosen to stay at his? Why had she chosen to bunk up with a total stranger? Entering into Woody Allen mode I began neurotically breaking her physical components down, one trait at a time. Her legs, where far too athletic, they possessed more male than female qualities. Hers hands were above average in size. And her strong bone structure left her looking chiseled. My drunken, pea-sized intellect led to make only one conclusion. She was a lady boy. She was a lady boy and she was going to rob me. By this point the stooges were quite literally knelt at her feet, as she produced a small bag of cocaine from her bra. Assisting each stooge, she held a credit card under their nose and craned their necks back when it was time for them to inhale. She was their drug mother. As unconventional as the process was, she demonstrated a certain sense of maternal care. “Babe where did you say your room was?” she turned and asked as the last stooge had finished his dosage. I wouldn’t tell her the room number. I would pretend I had forgotten the number but remembered the location. I would let her stay. It was too late to change my mind. I would stay awake all night and put my valuables under my pillow. The now drugged-up stooges didn’t accompany us or see us out; they were too busy pretending to be affected by the insubstantial amount of drugs they had consumed. “Facking good shit. Thanks,” they squawked as we exited. In the corridor her cool exterior faded, she became human again. Continuing to ask what the room number was, she became fluster when she didn’t get a response. Each time she asked her voice grew more vulnerable, there was a painful strain. She did not trust me. Her fleeting trust made it apparent that she had no intention of pulling any shit during her stay. “Don’t worry man, it’s down here. I just didn’t want to say the number around those clowns in case they came to our door later on.” Her shoulders dropped, she was relaxed again. I felt guilty for my assumptions and for making her panic. I apologetically I offered to carry her suitcase to the room and reassured her how happy I was to have company that evening. I opened the door, made

// CULTURE

a joke about how the room resembled a creepy dungeon, then got under the covers. She stepped out of her heels then perched on the end of the bed. “Lets just watched a shit Saturday night film and have a natter,” I suggested. There were no films scheduled, so we settled for the Simon Cowell excretion that is the X Factor. We bonded once more over our hatred of the cardboard box boy bands and sexualised 16 year old girls. Then her phone rang - she lept out of bed and answered pacing back and forth frantically. “Yes, so you know the hotel. The Royal Albion. Yep. Obviously you’ve seen my website and know what I can do…”she assured. I knew it. I pointed at her and exclaimed, “AH HA! I knew it!” You got off the phone and made her business proposition. If I made myself scarce for an hour, she would give me half of her earnings. £120. It would be immoral agreeing to take the money but felt guilty depriving her daily earnings. A rock and a hard place sprang to mind. At this point I didn’t really consider the arrival of my friend to our room, so I agreed to pop off when the ‘client’ arrived. Her nerves were steady. This was

probably down to the cocaine. Perhaps this was a mandatory procedure, consume a substance and then shag a scumbag. In the twenty minutes following it became clear that the ‘client’ was becoming hesitant. He was making accuses. She was inpatient. In between her calls to the client, she was inundated with texts from a third party. The third player in the triangular cluster f*** was a man named Billy, a father figure as she described. “He’s protective over me, he knows what I do. He worries for my safety,” she defended when I questioned his smothering approach of expressing ‘concern.’ Only the obvious assumption could be made. He was not a father figure, he was her pimp. Was Billy the ‘friend’ that would be staying in her hotel room with her? Would he be keeping watch over the proceedings? Following another call from Billy, the ‘client’ rang for a final time. This time it was cancel. Obviously I was relieved, but clearly she was not. “I could tell he was going to cancel, they chicken out when they’re with their mates. I could tell he was nervous.” she stuttered. I guess for her it was a lose-lose situation. Shag an unknown sexdeprived male or miss out on two hundred and fifty quid. An interesting

paradox I hope to never experience. “F*** him man. Let’s get pissed!” I ran upstairs to buy a couple of those tiny booze miniatures, the ones that make you feel like a giant when you drink them, and they rarely cut the mustard, as far as getting jolly goes. Not that we needed an extra nudge, she was coked up and I was rather bladdered, asking myself that age old question…how the hell have you got yourself into this mess again? There were so many questions I was gagging to ask. Unfortunately for me the only career confirmation I tend to get - journalism wise - is when I’m ‘a few chapters into the novel’ talking to a potential nutter, about something obscure. The previous weeks had been slow and bleak as far as nutters and stories went. I hadn’t written a single bloody word. Now it was different, I was Alan Partridge…bouncing back, with a potentially corny book cover to boot. Accept in this instance the tennis ball, would probably be replaced by an offensively large ‘anatomical replica’. “Dude, I’ve got to ask…what the hell is in the suitcase?” I asked. She smiled in appreciation at how long I had managed prolong the inevitable. “Come on then, come have a look.” She chuckled. The million-dollar

// CULTURE

question was about to be answered with unveiling of a treasure trove of sex toys. It didn’t disappoint, XXX marked the spot! She talked me through each item of sexual confectionary and I was certainly all ears. Before meeting her, I never really had an idea of the clientele a prostitute might receive, pubescent chavs or chubby cab drivers were my stereotypical go-to. I was wrong. The business was lonely and so were the clients. They were often confused and undecided on a lot of things, sexuality, gender and life. Although working girls are indeed placed in a vulnerable position during their regular gamble of trust, she informed me that the clients were just as exposed. Scared even. They were sexually conducting themselves in a ways that their everyday lives had deemed as taboos. She was happy to listen to them. She understood. She sympathised. Although her profession left her with very little in way societal ‘credibility’, it was becoming clear that she understood a hell of a lot more than most people. I lightened the mood and grabbed a curly, blonde Dolly Parton wig and began parading around the room. “Erm funny story about that wig, I’ve never worn it. The clients normally

wear that one,” she giggly informed me. We both laughed. We were bonding. I flung the wig off rapidly. “You are funny,” she said whilst looking up me. It was then I realised that this was probably a rare occurrence for her. Was I her first female friend? She had studied Molecular Biology at University but had somehow found herself in Brighton. She didn’t have a flat or a place to call home which meant half her daily wage was spent on another night in a hotel room with another client. It was vicious circle but she didn’t see it that way, she enjoyed what she did. It empowered her. After having a good chuckle at the aray rubber cocks, spanking paddles and indeed strap ons, we called it a night and got into bed. “I’m really glad I met you, I needed something like this, things had become far too boring for my liking,” “I’m glad I met you too. You helped me out. It’s rare strangers do that,” she replied. As my eyes shut it was time for the vomit inducing inner monologue to kick in. This kind of inner monologue is indeed incredibly fantastical, sort of resemblant to that of The Lion King, when Simba speaks to Mufasa’s ghost in the sky or when Lisa plays

the saxophone with Bleeding Gums Murphy’s ghost…in the sky. Tonight I was staring at the dampened ceiling of the Royal Albion’s basement sex dungeon, thinking of Tennessee William’s…in the sky. I imagined he’d be saying something along the lines of, “Hey kid, I have always depended on the kindness of strangers. If I got rid of my demons, I’d lose my angels.” The next day, she brought me breakfast. We exchanged numbers and had an emotional goodbye. Whilst getting cash from a hole in the wall, I caught a glimpse of her transfixed on a yellow tile that was attached onto an old church wall. I walked over to her to see what it was she so fascinated by. She had tears in her eyes. I looked at the tile, it read, ‘The essence of your life is only measured in the way you can help others.’ There we stood, two 21st century women, a sex worker and an ‘undecided’ being moved by the very building that would seek to smite us for our sins. Eating chips alone on the beach before catching my train, I stared out to sea as I had planned, ironically joined by the sound of ‘Girls Just Wanna Have fun,’ blasting across from Brighton Pier. I didn’t need a boyfriend or a shag, I just needed myself. You may all throw up now.

// CULTURE

The Picks of the 58th BFI Film Festival By Joe Galbraith

he 58th BFI London Film Festival was the best attended in the history of the event, bringing 248 films to an audience of 163,300 over its 12 days. Such figures underline 2014 as a bumper year for the British film industry, buoyed in March by the successes of Gravity and 12 Years a Slave at the Oscars. This year’s festival programme featured a glut of peculiarly British blockbusters red carpet at the opening gala was given over to ubiquitous wonky-mouthed Brit of the moment, Benedict Cumberbatch, who slipped effortlessly into another eccentrically intellectual role as Alan Turing in The Imitation Game. Not to

be outdone, Timothy Spall’s wartsand-all portrayal of J. M. W. Turner in Mike Leigh’s biopic won him the award for Best Actor at Cannes, and was met by audiences across London with near-universal acclaim. While this correspondent was not entirely convinced, it would seem unpatriotic to differ. While British films were given pride of place, pictures from further afield stole the show - Andrey Zvyagintsev’s Russian masterpiece Leviathan took the prize for best picture, whilst Ukraine and Syria took the prizes for Best First Feature (Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy, The Tribe) and Best Documentary (Ossama

Mohammed and Wiam Simav Bedirxan, Silvered Water). Perhaps tellingly, where the British contingent largely found itself looking back into the annals of history, these three films were focused very much upon the here and now. The Festival came to a close with the European premiere of tank-centric World War II drama Fury, featuring the ultimate in red carpet megastar action in the comely shape of Brad Pitt. Dotted throughout the rest of the programme were countless other must-see films that will be hitting British cinemas in the coming months - two of the highlights are reviewed here.

// CULTURE

//WHIPLASH Whiplash was the festival’s most talked about film, receiving a standing ovation at its premiere and featuring a pair of Oscar-tipped performances from leading men Miles Teller and J. K. Simmons. Teller plays Andrew Neyman, an aspiring young jazz drummer willing to sacrifice seemingly anything to meet the impossibly high standards of his teacher, Terence Fletcher, whose character is brought to savage life by Simmons. Jazz drumming as life-and-death struggle is an unlikely proposition made viscerally real by the performances of the two leads. Fletcher may be a jazz conductor but he dresses like an undertaker, is built like a boxer and carries himself like one, his physical presence threatening to burst out of the screen. Neyman is obsessed with greatness and desperate to make the grade, and the camera need do little more than capture the raw dynamism of their relationship, which is both complex and contradictory. Fletcher claims that

true genius can only be nurtured by pushing raw talent to breaking point - and beyond - but his methods, and Neyman’s submission to them, verge on the sadomasochistic. The film is a tightly wound marriage of music and picture, taking its title from the fiendishly difficult jazz standard of the same name which Neyman must master to earn a place in Fletcher’s studio band. The martial precision with which Fletcher directs his elite musicians is matched by the film’s screenwriter and director Damien Chazelle, whose plot is as taut as the skin of a snare drum. Whiplash lives up to its name as a fast-paced and light-footed picture that carries a serious punch. Rarely does a single film elicit such a range of responses from an audience, but expect laughter, groans of fear, cheers of joy and ultimately gasps of awe at the audacious, virtuoso final sequence. Whiplash will be released in UK cinemas on 16th January 2015

//WILD TALES Co-produced by the Almodóvar brothers, Damián Szifrón’s Wild Tales features six short stories of the blackest Argentine humour, and is tipped to be the country’s latest Oscar winner for Best Foreign Language Film, following the success of The Secret in Their Eyes in 2009. Both films are rooted in the adversities of Argentine society, but where The Secret in Their Eyes examined the ghostly persistence of the country’s Dirty War (1976-1983), Wild Tales takes inspiration from a modern day Buenos Aires that is riven by inequality, and finds itself preoccupied with institutional corruption, crime and insecurity, selfishness and revenge. These themes are exploited with a twisted comic lyricism that transcends barriers of nation and language - each tale is a feat of perfect comic timing and suspense that resolves with a gratifying resonance just as the cogs in your brain lock into gear with the narrative. Along with the strongly visual element to the comedy, this sense of timing ensures

the film’s uproarious reception by international audiences. Perennial Argentine leading man Ricardo Darín leads an ensemble cast as a downtrodden demolitions expert pushed to the limits of his patience by the petty bureaucracy of life in the modern metropolis. Faultless performances across the supporting

roles portray a series of hilariously dark revenge fantasies dripping in blood, sweat, tears and just about every other bodily fluid you could care to imagine. Wild Tales will be released in UK cinemas on 27th March 2015

// CULTURE

Terror and Wonder: The Gothic Imagination

By Asha Askoolam

he British Library has been hosting the Terror and Wonder: The Gothic Imagination exhibition since Friday the 3rd of October 2014 to Tuesday the 20th of January 2015. On show they have the most amazing, frightful and strange pieces of art, writing, music and props. For those who love the dark, haunting and terrifying, it is definitely a trip to make. It was in 1764 that Horace Walpole wrote the first Gothic novel, The Castle of Otranto. He had originally said it was translated from an ancient Italian book but the novel was actually conceived from a dark dream that he had at his home in Strawberry Hill, Twickenham. The exhibition is host to many items from Strawberry Hill such as Sir Julius Caesar’s Library, who was a 17th century lawyer. There are 44 little volumes on show. There even is a replica of Walpole’s Gothic mirror, in the original style – foggy glass, dark frames with intricate and elaborate detail. As you move on through the exhibition there is a model of The FrontHill Abbey which was a large Gothic country house but has since crumbled and stands in ruin. However, the model shows what it used to look like – the many windows, the pikes and roof tops acceding towards the heavens, the flying buttresses. Also, the exhibition is home to many works inspired by Edmund Burke’s The Sublime and the Beautiful, playing on our awe-inspired reactions. It does this by exploring all the dark corners of the supernatural, the dark romances, creepy castles and the eerie graveyards. It expresses the uncanny and the unnatural by playing strange music in the background, women’s screams on replay every so often and by chilling us with cold air to keep shivers running down our spines. By using such conventions, the exhibition played on the audience’s emotions – shocking us, astonishing us and scaring us. We are coated in darkness with the use of black drapes, there is no outside light and for that time, we forget about the outside world. We are presented with an “intriguing glimpse

of a fascinating and mysterious world” and we are able to “experience 250 years of Gothic’s dark shadow.” The Gothic peeked in the late 18th century and the early years of the 19th century. Authors and artists delved into the dark and dreary, producing classics such as Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. The exhibition really highlighted the Gothic’s play on the supernatural, the uncanny and the dangerous – those old, ancient and frightening looking castles, with their strange lights and eerie, ghostly graveyards. When we come up to Victorian Gothic, passing the works of Frankenstein from the Romantic’s, we are faced with the growing obsession of the darker, more urban, city Gothic. The exhibition showcased this very nicely, showing the transition from sweeping, beautiful and dark landscapes to urban settings,

the new place of terror and wonder. Criminals and alley’s replaced castles and their graveyards as we see works from Charles Dickens emerging or Penny dreadfuls, those frightening serial stories revolving around vampires and demon barbers. Art and works of Literature became darker and sinister as the years grew on and this continues up until the present day. When we come to the final years of the 19th century we are faced with degeneration. The 1880’s and 1890’s is seen as the surge towards the modern and an emphasis on the human mind and body rather than landscapes with works such as Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray. There was a whole room dedicated to Dracula with props such as Van Helsing’s kit. A dark black, purple room with art focused

// CULTURE

on vampires and the story itself, there was a clip of the film playing in the background on a screen in the corner with Van Helsing’s kit right in the centre of the room. While there was a real monster in London, Jack the Ripper, a mysterious, cruel and evil man who murdered prostitutes on the streets of Whitechapel, fiction seemed to replicate this darkness. These stories and the killings from Jack the Ripper proceeded to cast their shadows long into the 20th century and right up to the present day. The modern Gothic is host to vampires, witches, zombies and ghosts with the likes of The Woman in Black by Susan Hill. Furthermore, the exhibition clearly shows that with the technological surges of the 20th and 21st century, the Gothic’s motifs are expressed through film and TV or even through other genres such as

sci-fi (linking back to the Victorian’s outlook on cities and the urban and what would become of London’s streets in the future). Now, when we see the Gothic as the exhibition so rightly shows, with a whole section of the tour dedicated to a crimson red room full of cinematic horror, we are accustomed to assuming that the Gothic includes psychological trauma and physical, the blood, guts and gore of horror films. Clive Barker’s Hellraiser and the text that inspired the film, Hellbound Heart, also by Clive Barker, were amongst the modern horrors on show, along with concept art for Neil Gaiman’s Coraline. And in a sparkling white room there were art and photos from the Whitby Goth Weekend with loud, explosive music playing the background. It was such a change from the dark and gloomy

rooms we’d been in and showed the transition into the modern. Gothic has never been a term with one meaning – it includes a variety of strange and wonderful things, art, fiction, music, film and TV. While always associated with darkness, the exhibition has definitely opened my eyes and allowed me to see the Gothic in a new light. It is something that cannot be placed under one meaning; it cannot be pigeon holed as it is far too wide and elaborate for such a constriction. So, perhaps that is why the Gothic is so frightening, because it seems to be everywhere and in everything, never able to be pinned down, forgotten or stopped. The Gothic will continue to terrorise and fascinate us because while we will never admit it, the Gothic expresses the unnerving and terrible corners of our own culture.

// CULTURE

Campus Catwalk 2015 By Alina Isachenka and Ana Regly

Harrow

Christie, 19, Fashion merchandise management

1 ‘My daily fashion choice is based on my whole day ahead. Because I’m a fashion student what I wear is very important for me, I’m so passionate about looking and dressing well. I express myself through my clothes.’ 2 ‘Victoria Beckham is the ultimate style I follow. Her clothes are obviously not in my price range but I go and find a similar style.’ 3 ‘My shoes and my jacket are my preferred sort of ‘must-wear’. The coat I am wearing today is one of my favourites.

Luke, 27, Commercial Music

1 ‘The weather matters to me. My look now is mainly based on whether I bother to do my hair in the morning. So, I put a different hat on each day and I wear something I think works with a hat.’ 2 ‘ I love Fred Perry design. I’ve got so much of their stuff ! 15 Fred Perry shirts, a couple of jackets, some shoes. It’s my favourite brand.’ 3 ‘I do wear a hat quite a lot. Skinny jeans always work. I always wear my watches as well.’

Regents

Mina, 25, French and Spanish translation

Crispian, 21, International business

1 ‘Depends on my mood. Sometimes I feel like I want to feel pretty, but sometimes I’m very tired and just go for a sweater.’

1 ‘I’ve worked for quite a few clothes companies and I usually choose to work for the company which has the style and clothing that I like. So the staff discount guides me in my outfit choice.’

2 ‘I travel a lot so I think it influences the way I dress, as I take inspirations from everywhere. I like to mix different patterns and cultures. I mostly shop from ZARA, but if I have some extra money I’ll go with Ted Baker or Karen Millen.’ 3 ‘A leather jacket - I think it goes with everything.’

2 ‘Kooples is my favourite at the moment. I love their style, English fashion crossed with French style.’ 3 ‘I always like to wear skinny trackie bottoms ‘cos they are really comfortable and you can wear them with a baggy jumper or something like that.’

// CULTURE

We sent two of our resident fashionistas, on a mission to find students wearing the hottest looks around campus and ask them 3 simple questions about their fashion: What matters to you when picking clothes, is there any particular designer or trend you follow, and what is your must wear piece? it’s safe to say that we are a darn fashionable university.

Marylebone

Wardah, 22, Business Management and Law 1 ‘The main thing is just to feel comfortable. Things are constantly changing, new ideas in fashion always coming out, but the most important thing is to feel good about yourself, so my clothes normally reflect my mood. ’

2 ‘ I don’t follow any trends. Everybody has a different and unique style, so it’s whatever you can put together, whatever suits you.’ 3 ‘ I care about small details. I think that accessories fulfil the whole outfit. So my mustwear piece are the rings and bracelets I’m wearing today.’

Arthur, 22, Business Management and Marketing 1 ‘I think it’s important to wear things which look nice together. Style also matters to me because it shows your personality.’ 2 ‘I always look on Instagram. Also, I like to look at the newspapers and magazines when new stuff comes out. I think it’s nice to take inspiration that way.’ 3 ‘My rings and my jewellery. I always wear an Alexander McQueen bracelet.’

Cavendish

Gisele, 20, Human Nutrition

1 ‘Mostly, it’s feeling comfortable and being on time. I study a lot so I don’t get much time to choose clothes.’ 2 ‘I work in TOPMAN, so I follow trends that way. They constantly update their collections and styles.’ 3 ‘My must-wear piece is my pair of black high-waisted jeans. I can’t say it’s for every day, but they fit perfectly with everything.’

Gurpal, 21, Pharmacology and Physiology 1 ‘I like to take things easy. My outfit is not influenced by my friends’ suggestions. It really depends on my mood ,but sometimes I just choose things randomly.’ 2 I’m kind of an independent person. If I go to the shop and think ‘this looks really nice’ I’m going to try it. But I don’t really look for something in particular.’ 3 ‘Jumpers are something I wear often.’

ALL THAT GLITTERS IS GOLD DIRECTION Gabriele Ambrosi de Magistris Verzier PHOTOGRAPHY - Eivind Hansen

Two of Westminsterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s BA Fashion Design talents prove their eye for detail in our January fashion story. Like our models Lisa & Ranny, forget winter with its grey overtones and get lost in the vibrant colours and dreamy, sequin filled reflections of these stunning pieces.

Shoes on cover & All clothes, this page and opposite: David Ferreira

All clothes, this page & cover: Roberta Einer

Styling: Gabriele Ambrosi de Magistris Verzier & Max Damjanovic Make-up: Dora Balusa Models: Lisa Matysek & Ranny Cooper

//Student Living Meet Your Alumni Team

l l

Exploiting the Peacock Effect l l l

Mind Your Mates

UoW Alumni Profile Artist Spotlight: N8ture

l l

// STUDENT LIVING

Meet your alumni team Graduation isn’t goodbye… you have a lifelong connection to the University of Westminster through your alumni team. So, what is an alumnus anyway? An alumnus is simply a graduate of an institution such as a university, college or school. We thought we would say a big hello and introduce ourselves as your alumni team. Graduation may seem a long way away, or it may be just around the corner, but we are the team that will keep you connected to the University and with each other once you finish your time here. However, there are many things that you can take advantage of while you are still a student. Over the next few pages we will give you a taster of what we can offer that will hopefully help, interest or inspire you now. And here are 5 steps that you can take right away. (It’s all for free!)

you can network with past and present students and hear anecdotes and expert knowledge from prestigious alumni 3. Take a peek at our alumni newsletter and annual magazine for the latest news, events and interesting articles 4. Think about further studies. Did you know alumni get an exclusive discount of up to 15% for postgraduate studies? 5. Get in touch. You can connect with us now on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

1. Meet the careers team. We have an amazing careers team who can help you with your CV, interview technique and job searching now, and for three years after you graduate 2. Book yourself onto one of our events, where

Find out about all these things and more at www.westminster.ac.uk/alumni Facebook: universityofwestminsteralumniassociation Twitter: @uw_alumni LinkedIn: Universityofwestminsteralumni

We are your alumni team! From left to right: Ceri Jones, Chandkiran Nath, Heather Ridal and Laura Garman. (Not pictured: Agnes D’Souza)

// In the Spotlight...

// STUDENT LIVING

Expand your mind with the almuni team

id you know that prestigious graduates of the University of Westminster come back to campus each term to share the insights and experiences gained through their careers with guests? The alumni team is excited to welcome all students to Alumni in the Spotlight, a series of lectures where you can expect to hear personal anecdotes, intriguing facts and expert observations on topics that fascinate and influence us in our daily lives. The intellectual subjects may well inspire you in your current studies, but we also hope they will be the perfect place to gain skills and knowledge that will help you in your future. You can begin to meet those all-important contacts you will need for your career, hear how successful people have got where they are, get networking and gain inside knowledge into your chosen sector. Each lecture is followed by a Q&A (get your questions ready!) and informal networking over drinks where you will have a chance to meet other students, alumni and staff of the University.

//MARKS AND SPENCER: AN INSIGHT INTO INTERNATIONAL RETAILING

Who: Jeremy Cobbold (MBA 2002), Head of Logistics Retail, Marks and Spencer When: 6pm Wednesday 4 February 2015 Where: Fyvie Hall, 309 Regent Street, London W1B 2UW What goes on behind the scenes at Marks and Spencer? This lecture will provide an insight into some of the

challenges and opportunities retailers face as they seek to expand on an international scale.

//JOURNALISM AND POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS: HOW DO WE PROTECT OUR REPORTERS? Who: Sian Williams (MSc Psychology 2014), Broadcaster and journalist, BBC When: 6pm, Wednesday 11 March 2015 Where: Fyvie Hall, 309 Regent Street, London W1B 2UW Drawing upon her own experiences as a reporter from warzones and disaster areas, Sian Williams looks at how we might protect our journalists from the trauma they encounter on the job.

//THE POLITICS OF ARCHITECTURE: CAN WE INFLUENCE CHANGE?

Who: Angela Brady (RIBA Part 3 1986), Director, Brady Mallalieu Architects When: 6pm, Wednesday 25 March 2014 Where: MG14, Marylebone Campus, 35 Marylebone Road NW1 5LS “Sustainability” is on everyone’s agenda, and in this talk Angela Brady looks at sustainable design and engaging communities in the process of making durable contemporary buildings. For full details of all the events and to book visit the www. westminster.ac.uk/about-us/alumni/events.

// STUDENT LIVING

Exploit the Peacock Effect: 10 steps to finding a job with social media

aving safely embedded itself into most aspects of our daily lives, it is not surprising that social media is increasingly being used by employers when they are seeking new talent. According to ACAS, 45% of employers are already using social media in recruitment, and 40% will make greater use of it in the future. What is surprising is that employers use it – but students and graduates don’t. Anouska Curzon from StudentBoard explains: “Now social media is being used by graduate recruiters to advertise and target students. Students know how best to dress, how to do interviews, but not how to use social media.” People often talk about the “peacock effect” of social media – using Facebook and Twitter to show off what you’re doing, who you’re with and where you’re going. But graduates and students don’t appear to be making the leap between using social media for recreation, and using it to engage with employers online. This may stem from a desire to keep social media and careers separate, or a lack of confidence in how to use social media professionally. So whether you are looking for a summer job, an internship, or are thinking about that first graduate job, make sure you exploit the “peacock effect” to showcase your talents, ambitions and passions through your online presence. For those of you who are thinking of using social media as an extra tool in your job hunt, here are a few tips:

1. Be committed.

If you decide to go down the social media route, then do it properly. Investing time and effort in using social media well can differentiate you from other candidates, but it is not a quick fix. Being slapdash would not only be a waste of time, but could also be detrimental.

2. Develop a compelling online presence.

To a potential employer, graduates can look nearly identical. Everyone has the same grades, education, extra-curricular activities. Using social media platforms to showcase your passions and ambitions can make you stand out from the other candidates. Make sure you include links to these in your traditional CV.

3. Be professional.

You wouldn’t hand in a CV full of typos so don’t do it online. Recruiters do check grammar and punctuation errors, and most recruiters react more negatively to this (65%), than to

those photographs of your drunken antics you forgot to take down from Facebook (47%). So while you are switching off your public profile on Facebook, remember to close down any old and forgotten social media accounts like Bebo or Myspace.

4. Turn to Twitter for advice.

Twitter is a useful source of advice for anyone job hunting, but if you are embarking on a career in media, communications or marketing then it is indispensable. According to the BBC, “Twitter is where a lot of jobs and work experience are advertised and essential advice dished out that can really make a difference to getting your first role.”

5. Do your research.

Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook are all great sources of research when you are applying for jobs. Use LinkedIn to find people with job roles you aspire to and see how they got there. Facebook and Twitter can reveal a wealth of information about

your potential company’s ethos, what it is talking about at the moment, its concerns and values.

6. Create your professional story on LinkedIn.

LinkedIn seems to be the missed opportunity with students and graduates. According to Jobvite, 94% of recruiters use LinkedIn and only 36% of job seekers. With LinkedIn you can produce a richer, more developed online, and if you lack work experience, you can focus on your ambitions, transferable “soft” skills, and extra-curricular activities, and create a voice and personality that isn’t possible with a traditional CV.

7. Make connections.

People are on LinkedIn as they want to talk – they wouldn’t be on there if they didn’t want people to contact them. Don’t ask for a job, but ask for their advice – alumni, family friends and industry leaders are often happy to do so. Think strategically – make meaningful connections or it can water down the effect.

8. Use recommendations.

In the standard application process, potential employers do not see your references until the final stages. One of the plus points of LinkedIn is that you can display recommendations from mentors, lecturers and past employers which can be seen by recruiters immediately. You can also ask those you approach to recommend specific qualities and skills that align with your career goal.

9. Use Analytics.

Include key words and phrases that recruiters search for. Find examples on job descriptions or profiles of people who have the job you want and pepper them through the summary and skills and expertise section.

10. Get started.

Sign up with LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook to start connecting with your fellow alumni, receive advice, and begin to build your online presence. You can join up with these before you graduate.

// STUDENT LIVING

Mind Your Mates! Workshop: preventing suicide and welfare training at the University of Westminster

Gemma Smith at the University of Westminster works for the Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Union and attended this workshop for some training. She shares her experience of the programme, as well as some insightful information that can be adopted by absolutely anyone!

// STUDENT LIVING

he University of Westminster Students Union’s Welfare Team brought a powerful campaign to all four campuses called ‘Mind Your Mates!’ The campaign was initiated to reduce the risk of suicide by offering students education and training in this sensitive topic. Many students can suffer with depression due to confusion, isolation, loneliness and many other contributing factors, and this is why the Students’ Union felt very strongly about combating these pressures within our faculty. The workshops aimed to empower students giving them a sense of connection to intervene – should somebody feel concerned about their friend we aimed to give them the confidence to help rather than feeling unworthy to provide worthy advice.

//WHERE WERE THEY HELD?

There were four workshops held in Harrow and two workshops in each of the other campuses: Marylebone, Cavendish and Regents. Most of the workshops were almost full, so the turn out reached way beyond expectations.

//SOME MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE ‘MIND YOUR MATES!’ CAMPAIGN:

The lead trainer of the programme is a man called Eddie Bannon. He managed suicide intervention charity for two years and has been delivering specialist training for the last five years. The whole initiative has been assessed by the Public Health Agency and adopted by the Juvenile Justice Agency. Since the project began it has been circulated around many schools, universities, probation officers, prison staff, police forces, fire brigade staff and ethnic minority support organisations – so it is truly having a national effect in the UK, which is why the University of Westminster is so honoured to have had the opportunity to fund a project on this scale. What we tried to emphasise from the Students’ Union is that speaking out loud about our problems isn’t a bad thing, and that this shouldn’t be considered as a negative element. If anything, it is positive to educate ourselves in this area as it can offer us new approaches to situations that we may otherwise never of thought of. It’s important that students feel

like they have a voice within their university. As most people are aware, higher education isn’t cheap, so it has been a remarkably rewarding experience for us to be able to offer students an insightful yet intimate workshop of this kind. The Welfare team is very supportive, and acts as a hub for social support, financial advising, housing support, studying problems and any other issues that may arise throughout the academic year.

//SO WHAT WAS THE MAIN FOCUS OF THE WORKSHOPS?

A key message is that suicides are preventable, there is help available and there is hope. We don’t necessarily need to be an expert to help a friend but we do need to look out for the warning signs and be there for those around us. In addition, it was stressed that there is no single answer to any suicide case: every case is unique.

//SOME POINTS FROM THE WORKSHOPS

WE can make a difference. It is very interesting to know that most people who attempt suicide don’t even want to die in the first place. For the majority, it is about getting away from the pain. In other words they just want to escape the emotional pain that they are experiencing and se suicide as offering that escape from the pain. Furthermore, The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 80/90% of the people, who commit suicide, have a mental health issue. Some of the main signs of depression were defined in the workshop as: ‘hopelessness’ ‘helplessness’ and feeling ‘voiceless”. Another point made was that a high number (Over 80% in the one country) of those who commit suicide are males and it was suggested that this is because males are less inclined to speak about their emotions and are reluctant to ask for help.

//LOOK, LISTEN AND LINK

The workshops stressed the look, listen and link strategy. We need to look out for our friends and be aware of changes in their personality. They may lose their temper more frequently, or maybe they could be withdrawing from their friends or society. If you have noticed changes do they need a friend to talk to; perhaps you can ask them ‘how are you’? After we have asked some relevant questions we need to actively listen

to what is being said without being judgemental. Thirdly we need to link the person to the help that they need – this may involve not only signposting them to the appropriate help (GP and /or counsellor) but offering to go with them for extra support and guidance. .

//A LITTLE FURTHER:

No two people think in the same way, so just when we think we understand what someone means when they say something, do we really understand? Are we actively listening and asking the right questions or are we putting words in their mouth for them? Instead of asking ‘are you okay?’ We should ask how ‘have you been?’ Leave somebody some space to answer your question, rather than assuming that they are okay. It shows that you are listening and that you genuinely care – you are then taking a step towards truly helping another person.

//OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION:

There is a counselling service available for the students at Westminster that you can store as imperative information. Counselling service: email them at counselling@westminster.ac.uk or telephone 02079115000, extension number 3232 or 4023. You can also drop in at Luxborough Suite, 35 Marylebone Road. If people reject professional help you need to call an ambulance or take someone to A&E. Call 999 and the police or ambulance services will assist you. It is always useful to keep up with what the Students’ Union is doing at the university, so make sure you visit the website: www.uwsu.com on a regular basis. Please stay aware and help whenever you get the chance – you will be surprised at just how great it feels to truly make a difference to somebody else’s life. If we all have a positive mentality and recognise the signs around us, we can actively be there to emotionally comfort and guide our friends. Not only can this knowledge help you save a life but you will learn that by listening, communicating and interpersonal skills will wholeheartedly boost your employability in all sectors. Together we can, together we will!

// STUDENT LIVING

University of Westminster Alumni Q&A with Rahul Joglekar

By Gemma Smith

//Name: Rahul Joglekar //Profession: Journalist/ TV Producer. London-based journalist working for the BBC, NDTV and contributing to foreign newspapers. Produce TV shows for UK television.

//So, first of all Rahul, you graduated with an MA at the University of Westminster in 2008, right? What has your journey been like since you left? I did an internship at CNN's London office while I was studying. I had worked in television before (with a Reuters partner station) so I wasn't new to TV and given my international experience before this I fit right in. After that, BBC beckoned. BBC World Service news is a gold standard in news broadcasting and I was overjoyed to work with them first as a freelancer and then I joined BBC America as a staff producer. This was a real high point in my career - I travelled to the US often and produced shows from London and Boston. The BBC is a great place to work and I'd recommend it to everyone in journalism. I was lucky to have even worked for a brief period in BBC Radio 4. Then a couple of years ago, a BBC editor told me -- don't worry about climbing the greasy pole at the BBC -- worry about the journalism you are doing. It was the best advice I got. That's when I decided to leave my staff job to go freelance. I now work for the BBC but most of my time is devoted to working for an Indian station as their foreign correspondent and TV Programme producer. It is a gig that has taken be to many countries across the world as a reporter -- telling global stories of importance from foreign lands. Also, I am helped by a very small team of enthusiastic part-timers (on a very low budget) to put a half-hour programme on the air

every weekend on Sky 511. We also do programmes for other organisations. The journey so far has been, in one word - awesome.

//How has university benefited you with your career so far?

//Can you give us an insight into how the university has changed since you graduated - for the good and for the worse?

I've often asked myself the use of a journalism degree. Everything I learnt in journalism was by going out and doing journalism. The more I wrote/ produced for TV, the more I learnt and the more I fell in love with the job. The utility of a university degree is -- it opens doors that may take longer to open if you aren't at Uni. Remember to maximise your university experience -network, make mistakes and learn the craft from seniors. Remember to do an many internships as possible. Never be afraid to do unpaid work -- it is the best route into journalism.

It looks smarter. The front entrance is all very new and looks nice. I am told my course has gone through many changes for the better. I am also told there are fewer international students coming to the university (and the UK as a whole) that can't be a good thing. I remember going to a class with journalists from 15+ countries - it was a mini-United Nations. It made the class rich in terms of the breath of experience we had under one roof and prepared me for my stint at the BBC later on. I still keep in touch with many of my classmates and we share notes on each other's careers. To give you some examples of what they're doing -- one has gone one to become a senior producer at Al Jazeera in Paris, another works in local TV in America and another is the CEO of Russian State TV!

//Do you have any tips for students to stay motivated and on track with their course? Journalism is hard. 90 per cent of people don't last for over 2-3 years. It takes a lot from you - it is a demanding profession to be in. My first editor told me, it is the "most underpaid yet overworked job in the world". Yet, people do it because they love it. If you love telling stories - you will find a reason to do it and make it happen. Journalists are the most self-motivated people, if you need motivation from others - think again, you may not have it in you.

//How was the transition from being a student at Westminster to entering the real world? Do you have any other fine details? University was a very protected environment. I hated that. I am much more at ease in the real world. I used to write a story for university and then be disappointed - "oh this is not for the real world," I'd say to myself. So for me, all I ever wanted to do was tell stories -- and the real world gave me a chance to do it. And I've been so fortunate that editors and broadcasters have given me a chance to do it.

//Any last words? To journalism students -- this is the best profession in the world. There will be good and days - but there will never be a dull day. If you enjoy meeting people, telling their stories and don't mind not making a tonne of money (at the start of your career) -- then you've found your calling. Never let anyone tell you that you aren't good enough -- be persistent and that's all it takes.

// STUDENT LIVING

//Artist Spotlight By Gemma Smith

ouis Alexander is a second year BA Commercial Music student at the University of Westminster. His artist name is ‘N8ture’, and he is currently embarking on his journey in the music industry. He has already released one album with his Producer EHill, which is called ‘A Figure of Speech’ – N8ture & Ethan Hill. Their new mix-tape is set to be released in the new year called ‘The Reckoning’, so watch out on N8ture’s Facebook page: N8ture and follow him on twitter @1n8ture to read the updates! His music will be available for free download on iTunes next year too. He had the opportunity to ask Kano a question at the Ultimate Seminar too, the event explained above, and afterwards I captured a photograph of him with the man himself. N8ture says: “The industry is more challenging than ever before. Although it’s easier to get music out there to be heard and grow your own fan base, there is much more competition these days. “And there is a huge expectation and pressure of wanting more, as music is way too consumed these days. My new mix-tape, The Reckoning, will display hip-hop records with a story and a strong message behind it.” N8ture is an up and coming artist who has a unique edge to his lyrics and performances. Thriving for recognition within the music industry, he is a talented hip-hop rapper/versatile musician with skills including writing lyrics, beat-boxing, free style rapping, drums and the piano. Being such a multi-talented person, N8ture is keen to present himself as a contemporary artist – and also has an extremely positive influence on the generation of today. His views and outlook on life is not only inspiring; but can be seen to guide individuals in society into a well-driven, positive direction. And I had the opportunity to watch one of his performances at Pacha London, supporting Wretch 32. N8ture had the experience of performing at this year's Freshers Finale at Pacha London and of course it was incredible to witness a live performance by Wretch 32 (who wouldn't enjoy that?) But I was very proud of an artist called N8ture who absolutely blew the crowd away, and

got a huge following from his home town to support him on the night. The way he composed himself on stage was remarkable. It was confident and professional but equally fun and uplifting. The energy in the room was electric at the time, and all his fans made enough noise, that’s for sure! You could see it in his eyes that he was ready for his set, and his producer Producer E Hill - who backed him up behind him, stood humbly waiting for N8ture to perform like a star. His performed a variety of different tracks to give the crowd a bit of everything, the venue itself was great too, mainly full of students from the University of Westminster. N8ture also had the chance to go to the Ultimate Seminar at Regents campus, University of Westminster, which focused on educating and encouraging today’s generation to become tomorrow’s leaders in the music industry, including grime legend Lethal Bizzle. His insight into the current inner workings of a notoriously harsh industry was invaluable to the

up-and-coming artists that attended, highlighting a certain importance on the use of modern media facilities and how that has affected the climate: “It has been a good journey. I have my own social media team to assist me engage and reach a wider audience to get people to understand what I'm doing. I think now there are enough resources for artists to do it themselves through YouTube Snapchat etc. It can help you connect and build your own fan base. There is enough to help yourself until you want to reach another level. The game has definitely changed. It's not always about relying on a major label there are enough platforms to use yourself. Share your personality. It’s easier to connect with your audience that way.” The ‘Creative-Breakthrough’ panel summed the whole discussion up by saying: “All artists whether they know it or are influenced without even realising it, but the most important thing is that you are always going to have your own edge and own style so always bring it back to that.”

//SPORTS

UWSU Dragons - Winter Update l

UWSU Dragons looking forward l l

Life in the non-leagues l

// SPORTS

UWSU DRAGONS: A Look ahead By Dida Alsaffar

t’s a massive year for sport at Westminster with all teams looking to play a part in making it one of the most successful in the history of the university. Having said that, lets look at some of the teams who could be in the running for glory and who are failing to produce the goods. The futsal team will be looking to add more trophies this year. With the team being the blueprint for most, having won successive league titles. Hoping to go far in the BUCS cup, the team lead by coach Naser Mohammed, crashed out of the competition against Brighton, which dented their season somewhat. One factor that might have contributed to the early exit is the change in where training is held. The team use to train at the Ark Academy in Wembley, which is relatively close to all of the campuses. However, due to booking issues the venue has changed to one in Leyton, which is in the East side of London. This has led to many of the squad unable to attend training and in some cases matches. The side remain in cruise control in the league this season and will hope to secure promotion to the BUCS premier league. If the training venue wasn’t such an issue, perhaps the team would be looking at further glory in the cup. With a few key players missing out due to injury, Naser will hope to have them back in the coming weeks fixtures as they aim to replicate last season’s league triumph. The football team has had a mixed season so far; they are content in their league sitting in third place. Coach Harry Cutler will be hoping to keep the run of good fortune going, having been relegated in last seasons campaign. Men’s basketball are always in the hunt for trophies and are still battling

for league supremacy. Coach Michael Case will be hoping his team can produce a title-winning run of form. They remain in touching distance with Hertfordshire with a game in hand and will hope to bridge the gap in the New Year. Other sports such as rugby are not fairing well on the pitch. After relegation last season they are rooted to the bottom of the table once again. Whether it’s the coaching side of things or a lack of players, something needs to be addressed in order to salvage the team and finally get some much needed points on the table. All in all Westminster will strive to be the best in all the sports it

competes in. But, we need to put more emphasis in trying to get the best out of our students. Which means getting the most convenient and affordable venues for training and matches. Furthermore something needs to be done to preserve teams like the rugby team. A solution needs to be found, whether that is on the coaching aspect or recruitment side of things. More funds are needed to improve current playing facilities and awareness. With this In mind we can achieve a lot more and garner more success.

// SPORTS

UWSU DRAGONS WINTER REPORT

Case’s Dragons need to step up for 2015 after difficult Autumn run

It’s onwards and upwards for renewed Dragons firsts

by Daniel Oyetunji

he UWSU Dragons Basketball first team have suffered an indifferent season so far with three wins and two losses. “The season has started OK. We didn’t get off to the best start. We’ve had some wins, but obviously we are looking to turn that around,” said head coach Michael Case. After a couple of indifferent displays, the first team’s confidence was repaired as they beat LSE 68-52. However, the continuity hasn’t been there, as a win would quickly follow a loss. This run of form has not been what coach Case wanted, as “the aims for the teams are to win everything, as its make or break for some members of the team” On reflection they have been knocked out of the cup, but they remain in touching distance with Hertfordshire, as they seek to challenge for the league. So all hope is not lost, as they are in the hunt for glory. “There is a lot of quality flowing through the squad, so there is no reason why we shouldn’t be challenging for the title. We have added quality this year, with much physicality and height” he said with much convection and confidence. Meanwhile the second team had an indifferent start as well. Having won 62-50 in an away game against Surrey, Case hoped that would re-ignite their season, but the sticky form kept hindering their progress with losses against Imperial College and Portsmouth University. Chase will now be preparing both teams for the new year’s challenges. With pressure building for the squad, et’s hope they can continue their run and achieve their goals for the season.

by Joeseph Knight

ast season the UWSU Dragons’ first football team were relegated, but started this campaign with a promising 1-1 draw with Queen Mary. They currently lie third with eight points in South Eastern 3B, seven behind division leaders Hertfordshire second’s. We spoke to first team coach Harry Cutler, who considers “external reasons” rather than his team’s ability to be the reason for last season’s relegation. He already feels the atmosphere around the team this year is far better than the “disjointed” one around all four teams of the Dragons football teams. About what aspects he has changed, Cutler stated he has changed his team’s formation from the usual 4-33 to 4-2-3-1, which also involves having two box-to-box midfields instead of a holding midfielder. They have also swapped two wingers for two inside-forwards, allowing for more attacking prowess alongside the lone striker. Harry Cutler also has a number of expectations for the rest of the season, the key one being promotion. He believes achieving this aim will be helped by growing the team in terms of size and playing ability. He also stated at the beginning of the season he would’ve liked a cup run, but that dream was crushed as they lost 7-1 against 3A team Roehampton. The UWSU Dragons first football team’s next match is on 28th January 2015, away at Queen Mary. With both teams aiming for top spot, it will be a close encounter with the winner wanting to catch up to the vital top position.

// SPORTS

Life in the non-league: Welcome to Cray Westminster’s Joe Aldridge profiles the oldest club in London, a true hallmark of how far the game has gone.

s the winter weather takes hold, numerous fixtures across the country are being postponed each week. And whilst England’s top leagues will remain unaffected by the heavy rainfall and frozen pitches, spare a thought for the lower league clubs in English football, who have neither the funds nor facilities to take such action. People tend to forget that some of the lower league clubs created the building blocks for top flight English football. And there is no better example than Cray Wanderers. Formed in 1860, it is the oldest association football club in London and claim to be the “second oldest team in the world”. They currently sit 23rd in the Ryman League Division One North table, the eighth level in the football pyramid. And as the league table suggests, the club have not had an easy journey. In fact, for the last 16 years, The Crays have not even had their own ground. The side currently play their games at Bromley FC’s Hayes Lane, after being forced to move from their former Oxford Road ground in 1998 when the Kent League ruled that participating clubs needed floodlighting to continue playing at that level. And as a result, Cray are second choice to their higher division, stadium companion. As Bromley own the ground, they call the shots and when the weather begins to deteriorate, it is Cray who suffer as a result. So far this season, 71 games have been played at the Fortress stadium. Compare that to London clubs in the top flight, and less than 15 games would have been played on the perfect turf of a Premier League pitch at this stage in a season. Cray Wanderers have already had two games postponed this campaign, leading to a loss in takings, whilst also leading to a fixture pile up later in the season. The Wands press officer,

Mark Hunt, admits that the situation isn’t ideal: “We’re still playing at Bromley but we really want our own ground because it gives you that independence. We’re dependent on Bromley and as the landowners here, if they say the pitch isn’t up to scratch, you can’t really play on it.” There are also heavy financial implications to not having your own ground. The club cannot generate its own revenue because it has to split its takings with Bromley. Pair that with dwindling attendance figures (the club attract an average of just under 100 people per game) and the future looks bleak. Fortunately for the club, they have a set of chairmen who are focused on getting back in the right direction. In recent years, two new stadium proposals have been rejected by Bromley council, however a third attempt looks to be materialising. Vice-chairman, David Francis, spoke

exclusively to Smoke about Cray’s future; “We have found a site which we have an option on and we want to build a brand new stadium. The aim is to be a self sustainable club, which at this level you need in order to get some income.” Under the new stadium plan, the club has already signed a conditional contract to purchase a plot of land in the Sidcup area and chairman Gary Hillman plans for the side to kick off the 2017/18 season in the new stadium. The planned 2,200 capacity ground will not only give London’s oldest club the opportunity to operate independently, but it will also create better community links, will allow the club to hire out parts of the venue and with the installation of an all weather artificial grass pitch, will enable the majority of games to go ahead. Unsurprisingly, Francis believes that the proposed new ground ticks all the

// SPORTS

boxes: “It will have a 3G pitch, it will have training facilities as well, so it will be very much community led. It will have a gymnasium, a restaurant with a function area and the opportunity for pitch hire which is a key revenue stream for us.” What’s most important is that the ground will be their own. It will give the club an identity that they currently seem to lack. And with an identity, it will drive up the fan base. Hunt, who began following The Wands in 2010, believes that the club’s status as London’s oldest football club should increase interest in the side: “People always ask; ‘where about are the Cray’s?’ The more publicity we can get the better. We have had a Thailand TV company filming us this year, we’ve had enquiries from Italian and Greek TV all wanting to do a piece about Cray Wanderer’s because we are so old. It’s good to get publicity because we need

it. As you can see, we’re not going to have a very big crowd here: we might beat 40 or 50, so people wanting to talk about Cray Wanderer’s is good.” The immediate future of London’s oldest side remains at Bromley however, and whilst the facilities there rival most in the Conference, it still doesn’t feel like home. After every step you are greeted by a billboard or hoarding promoting Bromley. There are no signs of a Cray badge apart from the temporary notice hung above one of the very few open turnstiles. There is no doubt that Cray’s recent failure’s in trying to secure planning permission has affected the club. Relegation from the Ryman Premier League last season after a five-year spell compounded the clubs recent misery. For now, the aim is survival in the Ryman League as relegation into the Kent League would be a disaster. But eventually a break will come,

and that will lead to a turn in fortunes as a result of the increased revenue that will result from individually owning facilities which will help not only the club but the community. It is predicted that the installation of a 3G pitch will allow teams and community sides to use the pitch for up to 60 hours a week as opposed to just five or six hours on a grass surface. If you think life at the top is tough, you need to visit the non-league. Just ask London’s oldest football club. But the club is ambitious and the future is bright. As Gary Hillman said when questioned on the new stadium; “I am very excited. Football hasn’t been played here for over four years so it will be good to bring this sporting facility back to life.” And the initiative is sure to breathe some life back into Cray. The Wands have a realistic long term plan in place, and maybe that will get them to a level they deserve to be at.

MONDAY NIGHTS - WEEKLY

WEDNESDAY NIGHTS - WEEKLY

MASSIVE MONDAYS

WHY NOT WEDNESDAY & SMOKE RADIO

UNDERCROFTS BAR’S BIGGEST NIGHT COMMERCIAL & URBAN MUSIC FROM 9PM

YOUR WEEKLY HOSTED EVENT DOOR DONATIONS ACCEPTED WITH SMOKE RADIO EVENTS

TUESDAY NIGHTS - WEEKLY

FRIDAY NIGHTS - WEEKLY

£2 TWOSDAYS

LIVE FRIDAYS

SELECTED BEERS, CIDERS, SPIRITS + MIXERS 9INCH PIZZA ONLY £2! £3 DOUBLES! 9PM -2AM RnB - CHART - COMMERCIAL MUSIC

MESSAGE THE UNDERCROFT BAR ON FACEBOOK OR ASK A MEMBER OF STAFF TO BOOK YOUR SPACE TO PLAY.