Issue Three
Letter from the Editor
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ello and welcome, my dear Smoke readers, to the final Smoke Magazine of this academic year! I’m sure you’re all ready to get that feeling of sweet, sweet relief, but it’s not quite over yet so keep on truckin’! It’s a bit of a bitter-sweet issue, despite being another great mag, as we’ve had to say goodbye to a portion of our fantastic team who delivered the wonderful redesign that we have today and gave you guys the past two issues! With their courses winding to an end, they decided to step down and let us take the helms, and we can only hope that we’ve done them justice with this issue! So a big, big thank you, and a heartfelt goodbye, to Oscar Rousseau, Nneka Idika, Eliot Hastie and Kirstie Chisti for bringing us two fantastic issues, and the best of luck to all of you out in the big, wide world! But that doesn’t mean Smoke Mag is slowing down, not at all! With a new re-vamped team introducing ex-contributor Ryan Browne as our news editor asking the important hot-button questions and Angelina Puschkarski being the sole reason this edition looks absolutely gorgeous, Smoke is most definitely onwards and upwards from here!
Smoke Magazine is: Chris Chandler - Editor-in-Chief Angelina Puschkarski - Creative Director Ryan Browne - News Editor Gabriele Verzier - Fashion Editor/PR Liason Dida Alsaffar - Sports Editor Gemma Smith - Social Media Editor Thank you so much to all of our lovely contributors and collaborators! Marta Cioci, Rezwana Khan, Sophie Misrahi, Jennelle Reece-Gardner, Asha Askloom, Luke Barnard, Meg Peterson, Thomas Watters, Joe Aldridge and Ben Collier. Photographers: Annalaura Masciave, Max Barnett and Laura Voss
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In this issue we kick off with a bumper news section, when the whole of Westminster went completely election crazy, with our round-ups of the UWSU and NUS elections along with some opinion pieces to accompany them. Then in culture, we have our good friend Luke Barnard returning with his long-form mastery, with a thought-provoking insight into his four days living with a friend who suffers from depression as well as a four-page fashion extravaganza, detailing some of Westminster’s own working with none other than Dior themselves. Moving swiftly on to Student Living we kick off with Baking on a Budget, as Thomas Watters guides you through some quick and tasty bakes to secure your place as the most popular student in the flat and some good ol’ Westminster pride as our very own Gemma Smith brings to life the events of our University’s 175th anniversary and the big-hit success that was the Westminster Film Forum. Last, but certainly not least, we have our new and improved sports section, bringing us season run-downs from the rugby lads, courtesy of Ben Collier, and a Q&A with Cheerleading captain Chantal Epp. I hope the season’s stresses aren’t getting to you all too badly, if they are take some time and unwind with this edition of Smoke! Good luck and goodbye to the out-going students and to all that will still be with us, we shall see you next year!
Be our internet friends or we’ll never forgive you!
@smokemagazine @smoke_magazine
Smoke magazine is an independent voice and does not necessarily reflect the views of the student body or that of the University of Westminster. All opinions expressed are those of the original author. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the permission of the editor.
CONTENTS //News 5 l UWSU Election round up.
20 lThe Women of Harry Potter
24 l Four Days ICP and With Depression Amnsty joint host Conference 27 l Last Word... With Meg 10 l Student Union Ball. End of Academic Year //Student Living 2014 29 l Baking on a Budget 11 l Student Mental Health Talk 30 l Memorable with Student Minds Thanksgiving celebrating the University of Westminster’s //Culture 175th Anniversary 14 l My He(art) is in Peckham 32 l Westminster 8
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17
l
NewTrends
19 l From Harrow to Paris .
Film Forum
//Sports & Societies 35
Rugby:Down but not out
37
l
l
Westminster
Lead the way as Futsal Grows
38 lUWSU Cheer- Squad are on a Mission 3
// NEWS l UWSU ELECTION ROUND UPl l NUS elections l l Student Mental Health talk with Student Minds l l ICP and Amnesty joint host conference l
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Image courtesy of Annalaura Masciave
l Student Union Ball. End of Academic Year 2014 l
// NEWS
Election Round Up By Ryan Browne
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he culmination of campaigning and debating in the lead up to the elections was revealed on the 14th that Rebecca-Patrice Grossett and Usman Mahmood stood hopeful of gaining the Vice Presidential position for the New Cavendish Street campus. It was Cavendish which attracted the most candidates, probably due to the twice elected VP Miriam Hanna now moving on from student politics. Standing for the VP position of Regent Street campus were Tahsin Ahmed, Zoe Goraya and Muaz Mahmoud. Vasile Zaharia and Jayesh Gohil contested for the Marylebone campus whilst Sophie Cook and Rianne Gordon ran for the Harrow VP position. Kaled Mimouni remained completely uncontested for the presidency (although calls were made for Kurosh Amini, who is reading International Relations and Spanish at the University of Westminster, to be allowed to run as President), Mr Mimouni slipped easily enough into his second presidential term. When asked about whether he was perturbed at all by the 621 strong votes made against him to reopen the nominations, the twice elected President responded that his 1758 votes were enough for him to acknowledge that his job was being done correctly: ”I want to work on everything [thus far], and go beyond my targets as well”. Those successful out of the thirteen who ran for Students’ Union posts are as follows: Kaled Mimouni (re-elected President), Muaz Mahmoud (re-elected VP of Regent St), Jayesh Gohil (reelected VP of Marylebone), Rianne Gordon (re-elected VP of Harrow) and Usman Mahmood (newly elected VP of Cavendish). Despite a 50/50 split in women to men running for the place of vice-presidency (the best ratio that has been reported in recent
years) the results ended with four men and only one woman being reelected. On noticing the gender ratio, Smoke Radio’s Punk and Politics blog tweeted: “An ironic end to the Women in Leadership campaign?” The increasing number of women standing and the current number of women involved in the SU lays a promising path for elections to come with many calling for a larger push for the Women in Leadership campaign. Also a notable disappointment was the lack of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) representation in the Students’ Union (as far as vice presidential and presidential positions go). After a report published by the LGBT society on how unsettled and uncomfortable a significant number of LGBT students felt on campus, and then Muaz Mahmoud’s dismissal of said report during his pre-election debate, the minority can only expect more of the same over the next academic year. What is more, the overall turnout of student voters in the elections was “6% lower han last year coming in at just 10.39% of the students eligible to vote” according to Smoke Radio’s Punk and Politics blog. This reflected clearly Daniel Brooks’ criticism of the National Union of Students (NUS) elections as being unreflective of the student body at large (the NUS elections turnout was significantly less than the UWSU one). The voting itself was conducted via a Single Transferable Vote which, according to the Electoral Reform Society is “a form of proportional representation which uses preferential voting in multi-member constituencies” – in this case, each campus of the university. Some notable characters in the election included Zoe Goraya and Vasile Zaharia, both of which provided some of the key controversies that
encompassed Westminster’s elections. Miss Goraya was blasted by fellow candidate James Moulding for going on holiday during an NUS conference (when she was a delegate herself of course). Miss Goraya responded by saying “I’m really not offended by this…in the slightest. I wasn’t available and I couldn’t go. But you know, I’ve done other things; I’ve done more than any other NUS delegate’s done”. Mr Zaharia delivered the puzzling statement: “I am different…you want numbers, you want actual facts – I don’t have them”, but still managing to walk away with a decent proportion of the vote, showing signs of promise in his campaign. Tahsin Ahmed of Regent St and Sophie Cook of Harrow campus both delivered some attractive policies. For instance, Miss Ahmed pledged to create more connectivity between the University of Westminster and other institutions across the capital Miss Cook also targeted re-elected Harrow VP Rianne Gordon on what seemed to be her failings to extend the much sought after extended studio hours for arts students, something that the Media Arts and Design (MAD) campus has been calling for. Despite this Miss Gordon maintains that she’ll be continuing to fight for this policy in her returning term as VP. But all in all the four who have been re-elected have all had their own successes during their first term. From diverse multicultural events in Regent St to the MADfest in Harrow campus, quite a few splendours have been the product of the work our sabbatical officers have committed to in the past year. What they will accomplish in the next academic year remains to be seen. l
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NUS Elections
By Ryan Browne
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f the many elections that occurred this year within the University of Westminster, the elections for delegate positions in the National Union of Students (NUS) was one of the less noticeable ones. However it was significant nonetheless as it means that a new body of students from the university will be required to visit NUS Conferences across the country. The first was held in Liverpool in April. There were seven candidates in total, six of which who were successful: Lydia Frumoso who received 107 votes, Osama Faour who received 22, Daniel Brooks who received 64, Hazem Mhisen who received 95, Shahmaan Ahmed who received 59 and Abdouelillah Lounici who received 48. James Moulding, after having been a nominee for the third year, was not successful. However he has been more critical of the NUS as of late, accusing it of being bureaucratic and not reflecting students’ interests. Only five of those candidates actually attended and argued in the NUS delegate debate hosted by Smoke TV. Miss Frumoso, Mr Brooks, Mr Ahmed, and Mr Lounici were all present throughout. Mr Faour did arrive late but still managed to add his own input. There was a unanimous agreement on the fact that students did not really understand what the NUS accomplished as an institution or who exactly they were. Although this rather pessimistic admission was later challenged by the fact that a motion was passed that stated the NUS’ goal was to fight for free education for all. Mr Brooks made the point during the debate that politics in the university has become “stagnant” and encouraged making it fun so that students are not intimidated into shying away and not becoming engaged. Concerns were
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also raised by Brooks, Lounici and Frumoso on the issue of international students paying ridiculous sums of cash to be able to study in the United Kingdom (especially in London). The debate was not only poorly attended by the candidates themselves but by the students who were expected to vote for them. Smoke Radio reported that “only 15 audience members (plus some University of Westminster Student’s Union staff)” attended the debate, and this included reporters such as Cassie Galpin herself who ran the story. Voting was made possible online, as was the case with the University of Westminster Students’ Union elections, and was also conducted on a Single Transferable Voting system (meaning that you could vote for more than one candidate, on the basis of who you preferred). Only 414 students cast their vote in total – that is, 414 out of roughly 22,000 students (meaning a 1.8% turnout). The Students’ Union pathetically issued a statement on the NUS elections turnout, stating that “amazingly, our overall student voter turnout equaled (sic) 12 per cent”. This logic was construed on the basis of the 10.57% voter turnout during the UWSU elections (still a very measly amount for the elections that would determine changes to the Students’ Union – representing us – for the next academic year). Hazem Mhisen’s overwhelming success, accumulating 95 votes as opposed to Miss Frumoso’s 107, came as an unusual surprise considering his vacant seat during the debate. It could be suggested that the result was the product of his manifesto, in which he pledged to campaign against tuition fees and stand in solidarity with Palestinians enduring hardships in the West Bank. However other delegates’
promises were not so different to his own. Most of the participants’ policies included making university education more affordable and providing equal opportunities to individuals arriving from all kinds of different backgrounds. Our university’s six delegates attended a pre-conference training session with Research, Representation and Welfare Coordinator Angelo Weekes on 2nd April in Marylebone Campus. The first official conference was held in Liverpool on the 8th. Mr Ahmed said that he “met loads of people from all over the UK and had some good times. I didn’t appreciate the lack of sleep though”. Mr Brooks “forgot how patronising NUS videos were” but was glad that a motion for support of free tuition to become official NUS policy. Upon winning, the NUS’ re-elected President Toni Pearce received a standing ovation and spoke of her vision for a “student movement that’s more representative than we’ve ever been, a student movement that listens, that campaigns from the classroom to the boardroom – on the streets and in your communities.” l
For more information about the NUS and about who is supposed to be representing you, visit the University of Westminster Students’ Union website – the section on the NUS elections, who your delegates are and their manifestoes are all on there. http://www.uwsu.com/ elections-2014/?section=nus-delegate
// NEWS
ICP and Amnesty joint host conference by Marta Cioci
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n Wednesday 12th March the University of Westminster’s International Community Project and Amnesty International Society joint hosted the ‘Identifying contemporary refugees: global crisis of movement’ conference. The event was inspired by the urgent need for an innovative debate over the definitions of refugees and internally displaced people, and the worldwide repercussions of their movements both across and within borders, so often poorly addressed by the international community. The first guest speaker to be introduced by the chair Dr. Hannah Cross, lecturer at University of Westminster, author of a number of publications, and editor of the Review
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of the African Political Economy, was Maurice Wren. Maurice, currently Chief Executive of the Refugee Council and previously Director of Asylum Aid, opened the floor by recalling attention to the impressive data concerning the refugee population, which every year increases the severity of the worldwide forced migration crisis. At the beginning of 2013, there were 10.4 million refugees across the world, awaiting a durable and permanent solution to their unstable and uncertain situation. In drawing an imaginary map of their movements, Maurice identified contemporary alarming regions to include Syria, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, and Ukraine. ‘And it does not require too much
imagination,’ he continued, ‘to predict future hot spots,’ particularly in light of the withdrawal of NATO and ISAF troops from Afghanistan at the end of 2014. The analysis of the linkage between inequality, resources, conflict and displacement was continued by Tassir Mahmoud, Director of the Tabeldiya Relief and Development Organization. Her focus lies on the Sudanese Nuba Mountains conflict in the state of South Kordofan, which is rich in oil, home to the and Blue Nile, the main source of hydroelectric power in Sudan. Following attempts at centralization and monopolization of power by the Government of Sudan, and resistance by the Sudan’s People Liberation Army,
// NEWS the civil war came to an end when the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed. However, since it did not include the Nuba Mountains region, tensions between the government and the newly organized People’s Liberation Movement did not cease, and refugees and displaced people fled to the only shelter available; the Nuba Mountains. With the support of powerful images, Tassir displayed clearly how the Nuba Mountains do not offer sufficient refuge; lacking basic facilities and services, often infested by scorpions, and unreachable by NGOs or humanitarian aid. She concluded with a strong remark that only an agreement with the government can cease the crisis and guarantee inalienable rights to preserve individual and personal security. The conference had the privilege to host Mathan Nathan, a Tamil refugee in the UK. His presentation showed how Tamil people’s freedom is restricted in Sri Lanka, and how the tensions between Tamil and the Sri Lankan governmental army habitually escalate to discrimination, disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and torture, which he had experienced personally several times. Mathan spoke about his decision to receive political training from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam as the only alternative to ethnic repression, as well as his experience as a labour migrant in Malaysia. Today he is asking asylum in the UK, and his activities as a Tamil freedom fighter consist in pushing heads of state or governments to call for an international independent investigation of alleged war crimes, as well as in demonstrations and protests against the Sri Lankan government. A coffee break provides participants and guest speakers the opportunity to refresh and to start the second session of the conference by focusing on domestic refugee issues in the UK. Frances Webber, Vice-Chair of the institute of Race Relations’ Council of Management, former barrister, lecturer and author of a number of publications, highlighted how politics and mass media have gradually spread a logic of racist exclusion and a process of demonization towards the figure of the refugee or migrant. Such a process, which we all have passively internalised, has
contributed to the institutionalisation and bureaucratization of humanity, and the reduction of human relations to rules accepted on the ground of their efficiency, and not of their humanitarianism. Hence, the analogy between the modern representation of refugees and a ‘culture of indifference and disbelief’. The focus then shifted to women and gender issues, as Deborah Singer, Policy and Research Manager at Asylum Aid and director of the Women’s Project, provided an efficient insight into the life of female refugees and asylum seekers. With the support of a video, Deborah emphasized how barriers and obstacles for female refugees multiply in their request for asylum. Women who have experienced sexual and domestic violence are less likely to be granted asylum, since mechanisms releasing certificates or documents to prove the existence of such abuses do not exist. Women have to face not only more extensive barriers to asylum, but also the psychological frustration of not being trusted, frustration which might well be considered psychological torture in and of itself, especially after
having experienced sexual abuse Last but not least, Paul Dillane, Refugee Researcher at Amnesty International UK and former practitioner and advocate, demonstrated a convincing argument that problematised various interpretations of the UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. Paul effectively called for the need to reform and expand the by-now stereotypical definition of refugee to a broader one, which should comprehensively include and cover issues which have too long been neglected, such as protection against gender and domestic violations, religious and LGBT discrimination, and environmental catastrophes. Overall, the conference provided a valuable opportunity to learn more and to contribute to the debate over current issues surrounding the status of refugees, and the impact of their movements on the globe. It was a pleasure to host, and we hope all attendees found it as enlightening as we did, and are looking forward to our other events in the future. l
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Student Union Ball End of Academic Year 2014 by Gemma Smith
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niversity of Westminster’s exquisite end of year ball took place this year at a venue in the Oval Cricket Ground in Kennington. On the 4th of April the majority of members and groups within the Student Union and Sports Societies gathered together for a night to remember to celebrate and reward people for their outstanding efforts and contributions. It has been an exciting two semesters at Westminster, and the Students’ Union has seen a great deal of change over the past 12 months. Nevertheless, at the heart of the organisation remain the students in which they represent, as well as the sports teams, societies and student media who add enormously to the student experience at our University. The Oval Surrey County Cricket Club at Kennington was a crowning location for the event. The hall was decorated beautifully with a white and blue colour code, which set the tone of sophistication for the evening. The ball began around 6:30pm and a champagne service kicked off proceedings, where staff and students alike had the chance to socialise and compliment one another’s elegance. With a black tie and gown dress code, it’s easy to imagine how spectacular staff and students looked on the night! With everyone smiling ear to ear, you could really sense the proud positive energy in the air.
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As a first year student at the University of Westminster, I was quite shocked when I found out that we would be having an end of year ball, where awards were being given as well as crediting the incredible efforts made by the students within our faculty. The acknowledgement by certain lecturers and leaders who were present at the ball made it clear how impressed they were, by the admirable, high-status awe of the event, which undoubtedly felt remarkably special. The £50 ticket felt exceptionally worth it for what was delivered: it included the champagne reception service, a pleasant 2-course meal brought to us with wonderful service and fluidity, professional photography and an exclusive awards ceremony representing all of the 4 campuses. The vibe in the room was electrifying and the events of the evening had all students and staff smiling throughout, adding up to an evening that would be remembered for years to come. For the first year students that experienced this event for the very initial time, it was very overwhelming and a lot to take in. “This has been exceptional end of year celebration, one that I know will be a highlight for me as the years go by”. – Students’ Union Member. Dinner was thoroughly enjoyed among the majority, with slews of empty plates upon collection. Conversation flowed throughout the room leading up to the awards, and the gratifications and certificates started around 9pm. During the ceremony there was a lot of laughter and tears – both happy and sad – as it was an emotional event celebrating the recognition that so many students deserved for their hard efforts during the academic year. Showcasing the best UWSU had to offer including our Dragons sports clubs, societies, Smoke Media, course reps and volunteers, FANS and Site Student Associations. There were also special considerations delivered to leaving
members of the university, as well as a well deserved appreciation for Westminster’s impressive position as a Faculty and leading university. Here I give you some of the winners of the UWSU Awards Ball 2014: Society Event of the Year – WestMun conference Best New Society – Construction Society Student Employee of the Year – Imran Sanaullah SSA event of the year – Cavendish Science Festival SSA of the Year – Marylebone Smoke Media Best presenter – Khanyi Ndlovu Best Student Media Feature – Something for Wednesday UWSU Sports Team of the Year – Netball The glitzy party was topped with an after-party at the fancy Pacha London Nightclub, where the clothes changed and the night was danced away. The overall consensus of the night was thoroughly enjoyed and will definitely be remembered, for some as their last UWSU Ball, and for others as the start of more to come. The University of Westminster is proud to congratulate so many outstanding students and societies among the different campuses, and the UWSU Ball is a fantastic means of doing so. l
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Student Mental Health Talk with Student Minds by Rezwana Khan
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ith deadlines looming over, and the pressure to get the best marks in all modules, university is a stressful time. Competing with fellow students, and trying to fit in, it can be an awkward step up from A Levels and sixth form. The tension can be high, especially with high expectations students give towards their performance. Combined with a feeling of helplessness and uncertainty of the future, it can develop, over time, in to situations of personal suffering. Eventually, it can spiral out of control – notably as there is such a strong stigma attached to mental health, regardless of any age. Fear is a parasite. It can eat away at all positive thoughts, and create a numbing sensation to everything around you. It affects not just the person involved, but friends and families of the sufferer. Yet, at the same time, it is what stops you from asking for help, afraid of what others may say and talk about you. There is anxiety and stigma attached for the families of the people affected by mental health issues. The constant fear of being labelled as ‘mad’ and ‘psycho’ drives those affected, spiral into further helplessness and can worsen the issue. In 2009, of 617 students at University of Westminster surveyed, 27% have admitted to self-harm and 10% have admitted self-harming during university. These statistics were uncovered by the Student Minds society, whose symposium helped raise awareness for mental health issues. Speakers warned that, by only talking to themselves, students
affected by mental health will focus on all the negative aspects of their lives and spiral further into a negative way of mind. It comes down to a choice of either hiding away or asking for help. But the personal stigma attached towards asking for help, needs to be broken. Learning how to let go and seek help does not come easily for some. It is a sensitive and personal situation. The talk outlined steps for friends of those concerned can do, to ease the issue. From simple steps – listening to your friends and understanding what situation they are in – the mental burden can be lifted. Friends can also encourage (and not pressurize) them to express their feelings and to talk of substitution techniques, such as yoga and exercise. There is help and support at the University of Westminster. With 973 students seeking help last year, it takes three to four weeks of waiting time for a meeting, due to 30% cuts in staffing. With a higher number of students willing to seek help, there has also been an increase in student complexities. Each is dealt with in a professional and caring manner by the staff at Student Minds. With counselling, one to one, and group sessions, even isolation room techniques, those affected can receive full support and discretion. This is mostly aimed at schizophrenic portrayals. More statistics recorded by the society revealed that 63% of those surveyed were flippant/ unsympathetic towards mental illness sufferers, and 45% of those surveyed, believed mental health sufferers were
dangerous to society. Yet, equally 45% were sympathetic towards mental health sufferers. There is a shift of perspective towards mental health. There has also been a reduction in negative and sensational articles on mental health. Although the ‘schizophrenic’ word is widely, as well as casually, used as a metaphor in UK newspapers. There was an admittance that dealing with mental health can be challenging, especially for men. For male university students, asking for help is a stigma: you have to ‘be a man’ and just get on with it. But, the speakers noted, there is an option. You can either hide it from others and ultimately yourself, or ask for help. The University of Westminster offers a range of counselling and services for students affected by any issue. With Student Minds, peer intervention can change the state of a student, and improve their negative views and overall health. With a strong ethos in research driven training and support, students can receive a positive and caring environment, and support to look after themselves, and each other. To find out more, on how to deal with mental health, or to help a friend, visit www.studentminds.org.uk, or visit the University of Westminster’s website, at http://www.westminster.ac.uk/ study/current-students/supportandfacilities/counselling. l
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Smoke TV –
A brief history of its brief history by Sophie Misrahi Smoke TV Manager and Media Team Leader for UWSU
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he need for a TV channel at Westminster has always been evident. With our 5 campuses all separated across the capital, it seemed that bridging this gap with the use of technology may help to provide a solution, not to mention the fact we have an outstanding Media school too. Smoke TV had been attempted by numerous student groups in the past, but had never built enough momentum to continue year by year. But in 2011, a group of 3rd year TV Production students gave it another go, bringing to the table some fantastic branding, a launch show and a range of short productions. The Communications Officer at the time, Jenny Ybanez, had aimed to integrate Smoke TV into the Students’ Union as part of her manifesto, hoping to launch it into a successful and regularly updated online channel that ‘virtually connects our 5 separated campuses’. Recognising the benefit of video as a communication tool, the Students’ Union decided to invest in the idea, also seeing it as a fantastic opportunity for non-media students to gain important production skills. The official launch took place at the Old Cinema in October 2011, and I was hired shortly after to help get Smoke TV on its feet. We launched the YouTube channel in January 2012, and it continued to grow with a weekly news show, sports updates, promos and other pilots. By September 2012, Smoke TV had hit 100 uploads and accumulated over 43,000 views, also running training sessions for Freshers, offering regular filming opportunities, and informing students with a weekly dose of Smoke News. Since then, another staff member has come on board (creative genius Mr
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Tom Owen), to help meet the extensive demands for video content, which have accumulated with the channel. Smoke TV has been lucky enough to work on some fantastic projects, including the annual National Student Radio Awards at The o2 (alongside independent production company Create), as well as offer many external paid shoots throughout the year. The purchase of multi-camera equipment has also allowed us to give students invaluable live production skills, with shows like The Big Debate, and filming of large scale live events, such as Welcome to the Music Industry with producer Wiley. I am incredibly proud to now see what I believe to be a varied and informative channel, showing evidence of the fantastic talent of our students. One of our most popular shows Culture Shock, a factual short unveiling cultural surprises faced by international students, was the brainchild of Marina Prohaska (Ma), and produced by a team of four students. The graphics, created by Architecture student Adrian Bolog, recently won us Highly Commended for Title Sequence at the National Student Television Awards (NaSTA), and the top episode is nearing 25,000 hits. Alex Brinnand, a 2nd year Television Production student, also scooped a NaSTA – Highly Commended for Best On-Screen Male. Alex has been involved with Smoke TV right from the beginning, and was long known as our ‘bit on the side’ for his willingness to get involved across the board. He is thrilled to have won the award, which saw him up against 24 other entries from Student TV stations across the UK.
Over the past 2 years I have been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and creativity demonstrated by those involved with Smoke, and will be incredibly sad to say goodbye to such a fantastic team as I leave my post in May. You don’t just have to be a TV student to get involved, and I would strongly encourage any student, from any course, any level of study, to join next term. Not only will you gain valuable production skills that are essential in today’s digital age, but you will also work with people from a vast array of courses, and hopefully create some fantastic content that will be watched by hundreds (maybe thousands!) of fellow students. l
Check out all the latest Smoke TV goings-on at: YouTube.com/SmokeTV and to get involved send an email to: smokemedia@su.westminster. ac.uk
// CULTURE l My He(art) is in Peckham l l Broad vision. Beyond Art and Science l l Feminism: The Women of Harry Potter l
l Four Days with Depression l l Last Word with...Meg Peterson. Project Director of 21 Artist l
Image courtesy of Annalaura Masciave
l From Harrow to Paris l
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Image courtesy of Laura-Sophie Voss
// CULTURE
by Angelina Puschkarski
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eckham in South East London has always been regarded as one of the least safe areas of the capital. Only a year ago my friends from the other side of the Thames didn’t want to visit me in the evening let alone having a night out there! The riots two years ago helped very little in that respect. When I first came to London, Peckham was the first of London’s boroughs I came in touch with and this is where my love story begins. It is not on the touristic map, not
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on the tube map and not on Time Out’s top lists which is refreshing after living in London for more than a year. Street markets, butchers, fisheries, cheap hair-and-nail salons next to fruit stalls – all this is Peckham. It has its own charm. It’s genuine and rich: rich in being happy without having much and taking things easy. But one of the most significant attributes is that it’s changing from day to day. More and more artists are flocking to the up-and-coming area, looking for
inspiration in and around Peckham. New art cafés are opening in hourly intervals; bakeries are turning into nightclubs and nightclubs into theatres. If you would have asked me a year ago for an art gallery somewhere in South London, I would have never mentioned Peckham but now I don’t know any better place. Here are a couple of Peckham’s hippest places which are definitely worth a visit! l
// CULTURE The Peckham Pelican 92 Peckham Road, SE15 5PY, London - Café-bar-art gallery offering well priced booze, coffee, tea and exquisite pizza. - Art exhibitions, life music and film screenings every once a week. - More information on upcoming events: www.thepeckhampelican.co.uk
Sassoon Gallery aka Peckham Springs 213 Blehheim Grove, SE15 4QL London - Project space showcasing creative practices of artist from all over London - Program includes live art, performances, lectures and workshops - Weekend is dedicated to London’s finest street food traders: serving from 6pm until midnight you can experience one of the largest varieties in street
The CLF (Chronic Love Foundation) Art Café aka Bussey Building – 133 Rye Lane, SE15 4ST London - In its own words “the 21st century Church of Chill” - 120 year old multi-level warehouse hosting music events, theatre plays, dance performances,art -exhibitions and creative workshops - THE PLACE TO BE! - Upcoming music highlights, theatre plays and film screenings on www. clfartcafe.org - Yoga and dance classes
Frank’s Café and Campari Bar – 95A Rye Lane, SE15 4ST - Bar on the top of a car park just next to The Bussey Building - Part of the ‘Bold Tendencies’ Sculptures Project - The ‘Bold Tendencies’ exhibition are on the last floor of the car park – the café is on the rooftop with view over London’s skyline - Open from June until September (Wednesdays – Sunday, 11am11pm)
Canavan’s Peckham Pool Club - 188 Rye Lane, SE15 4NF London - Nightclub and Pool hall - Best karaoke venue in South East. Good for private parties
If you want to see some of these places in action, and maybe a few more, keep your eye peels in the coming months for a video walk-through piece on our beloved Peckham in collaboration with our good buddies over at Smoke TV!
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A word from the Smoke Mag Fashion man Gabriele Verzier
We are very glad to welcome Jennelle Reece-Gardner, our latest fashion contributor who will offer a short opinion piece describing her Vodafone Fashion Weekend experience and some hot trend predictions for this summer (if you like lace, make sure to keep an eye out for French Connection’s next collection... I was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of it and there is a strong piece that will probably make a few heads turn – Remember you read it here first !). Be sure to follow us on Instagram, in order to receive some great footage from the WestminsterFashion catwalk on the 22nd May. We will be at the event, offering you a direct look at the pieces & the glamour of your university’s annual graduate fashion show. Our focus on WestminsterFashion 2014
will reach its peak with the October Issue of Smoke Magazine, that will feature a Fashion Story with Westminster’s finest collections, bringing you an exclusive showcase of the british Fashion design rising stars. I am also glad to announce that Smoke magazine will be going digital next year, offering you current features, collaborations with Smoke TV and Fashion Stories shot and directed by the Smoke Fashion team, all to be discovered online ! Hoping you will enjoy your read, please receive my best wishes for a beautiful summer break. See you in October. Gabriele Ambrosi de Magistris Verzier, Fashion Editor.
Dear readers, It is my pleasure to welcome you to Smoke Fashion. Launched earlier this year, our goal is to bring you high quality eye candy, some comment and showcase the University of Westminster’s fashion talents. Closely collaborating with student contributors, photographers and models, Smoke Fashion aims at being your independent, student powered fashion read. We were happily introducing you to our work via the Doctor Who themed fashion story, featured in the previous edition, which was made possible by our collaboration with the vintage shopping chain Beyond Retro, and our awesome models. We also had a lot of fun featuring some of you in our Campus Catwalk, which will be the yearly place to see and be seen, in the Westminster Campus Nebula. Your great feedback motivated us to continue this adventure and give bring you even better features. For this edition, we are bringing you an illustrated Interview with Flo Hughes, one of two Westminster fashion design students who were sent to represent your University at the Dior Ateliers in Paris, earlier this year. Dior chose to invite the future stars of fashion design over, and you will get an exclusive look behind the curtains of one of the world’s most prestigious fashion houses. Our Fashion story for this issue will consist of the exclusive images shot for Flo Hughes’ graduation collection.
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A personal experience - Jennelle Reece-Gardner
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his year, Vodafone London Fashion weekend was hosted at Somerset House on The Strand, organised by title sponsor Vodafone UK in connection with London Fashion Week, with a mission to deliver first-hand style advice and insider knowledge from LFW’s leading British designers. As a
result, the two main entrances -off The Strand and from Temple underground station- saw a steady couple thousands of people rushing in throughout the day. The schedule was very precise, in the sense that once a trend or designer show started, there was little chance of latecomers getting in.
// CULTURE Right beside the room where the fashion show was being held, was a show-room full of pieces straight from the catwalk, featuring designers such as Julian Macdonald and Amanda Wakely. It was pretty cool to see some were for sale, though I didn’t choose to spoil myself (and bully my budget). There was also a lounge with a flat screen showing live footage of the fashion shows going on at the time, allowing those who wanted to see the collections of other designers to catch a glimpse of the pieces. Sponsors such as Toni & Guy and Maybelline did hair and make-up demonstrations, although their booth space was really cramped. I finally spotted the much talked about 360 degrees photo booth, but the prospect of fun did little to diminish the impossible size of the queue to try it. If you've ever been to any Fashion week related event, you will know of the colourful, outlandish and fashionable crowd it attracts. Having missed the show I was scheduled to attend, and having to therefore wait another whole 4 hours for the next one, I made to the most of this extra time to observe my surroundings. I honestly was more impressed with the wardrobe of my fellow ticket-holders than the collections I saw on the catwalk. These were regular people of all different races, genders, shapes and sizes that wore things so original, so unique, that I was left a bit disappointed by the actual fashion show. Nothing on the catwalk shouted ‘couture’ but right in front of me, for 4 hours, I saw some amazing fashion. Fashion is not limited to a designer’s collection awaiting exhibition at a show- it is revealed by Londoners everywhere without hype and with no charge whatsoever. l
Trends for this Spring & Summer I did manage to take something away with me from my experience at Vodafone Fashion Weekend and that was the four trends presented at the show I watched. I think they’ll be quite popular towards the middle of this year:
FLOWER POWER
Floral prints have been 'in' for a while now and I can’t lie, I’m a fan myself. It perfectly exudes femininity and sassiness all at once and you can go for large flowers, smaller ones or maybe a more mystical, psychedelic style. More power to the flower!
GOOD SPORT I think sportswear should be made more fashionable this summer! The most I’ve seen is Nike running shoes with a pair of jeans or a skirt but I think we can go further than that this year, especially women! The outfit doesn’t have to leave you looking like you’re going to run a marathon but even playing with sportier fabrics could lead you onto something.
PRECIOUS METALS Metallic is so cool because it can be worn boldly or subtly. With its high shine finish and magnetic pull, you are bound to be the main attraction wherever you go... but be careful, there is a fine line between achieving this look and looking like a tin (wo) man.
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From Harrow to Paris: Two Students visit the dior Ateliers - An Interview with Flo Hughes By Gabriele Verzier
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n february of this year, Flo Hughes and Andrew Voss were given the opportunity to visit the Paris Ateliers of the internationally acclaimed fashion institution which is the maison Dior, founded in 1946 by Christian Dior. “I picked Flo and Andrew as their aesthetic was in line with the current work of Raf Simons, the designer at Dior. Andrew has already worked in Paris at Lanvin and Balenciaga and Flo has worked with Mulberry.” Andrew Groves, Course Director for the BA Fashion Design, told us. Mr. Groves also shared his opinion about Dior’s innovative move: “This is a very exciting development, they are obviously wanting to strengthen their ties with the very best fashion schools worldwide. Westminster was the only undergraduate course represented at the event from the UK, whilst the other schools were all either postgraduate such as the Royal College of Art or from schools in New York, Paris or Milan.” I had the opportunity to ask Flo Hughes a few questions, and have her share with us some of the pictures she took while in Paris. 1. “Hello Flo, can you describe to us the moment when your tutors gave you the news that they had chosen you, out of all the students, to go represent Westminster ?” “ Well I was in Cass Art, shopping for my life drawing class the next day when Andrew Groves rang me and immediately said ‘ Do you have a passport?’ and ‘Is it in date?’ to which, puzzled, I replied ‘Yes!’ ” 2. “What goes on in the head of a fashion design student in the 10 minutes that follow the outbreak of this kind of news?” “ ‘What do I wear?’ ‘Who else is going?’ and ‘I can’t wait to tell my mum!’ ” 3. How was it meeting other fashion design students from competing colleges, on the trip to the Ateliers ?
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“It was a really good experience to meet other students, everyone was really friendly. It was nice to make new acquaintances with students from all around the globe. “ 4. The Ateliers: wow or what? “It was absolutely amazing. I have never seen anything like it in my life. The skills and craftsmanship that was evident in just a couple of rooms was incredible. Seeing the Dior couture garments up close and personal was one thing, but actually seeing the garments created by the ateliers was an unforgettable experience.” 5. You are finishing your final collection for your degree as I interview you. Do you see yourself working at powerhouses like Dior or would you rather start your own label ? “Initially, I would like to gain experience working for a high fashion luxury brand. I imagine working somewhere like Dior would be absolutely incredible and would give me the opportunity to develop the skills and expertise I would need to launch my own label in the future.” 6. Did you pick up any inspiration there? In ways of working or thinking about a garment? “The word ‘couture’ is sometimes understated, I don’t think some people realise that everything about a couture garment is hand made. It made me think of the many different techniques that can be used to add interest and embellishment to a garment.” 7. Another highlight of the trip was being treated to the Dior Fashion Show. How did you experience this event? Was it like you had expected? “The show was amazing from the walk up, to the entrance, to taking my seat. I had never been to a couture show before, so I didn’t know what to expect. I felt really privileged to be there and the atmosphere was great.”
8. What did you learn from seeing this professional show? “I learnt that couture on the catwalk does not do it justice, in the way that seeing it up close and personal does, although it still looks incredibly beautiful. The attention to detail of the couture garments cannot be portrayed fully which is why my trip to the atelier was extremely beneficial when seeing the garments on the catwalk. I learnt a number of things, from the way the show was staged to the music used, everything was about perfect timing and all the factors were as important as each other.” 9. What pieces shown on the catwalk struck your attention more than others ? “All of the silhouettes were really strong with volume either at the arms or below the waist. The garments with hand cut circles of embroidery were also really impressive.” 10. How was the backstage of the show ? Did you meet anyone interesting ? “We were fortunate enough to be allowed backstage, where Andrew and I were interviewed by some fashion bloggers and magazines about our experience. I met some of the models, my favourite being Marine Deleeuw who is absolutely incredible and again saw some of the garments up close. I also had the opportunity to congratulate Raf Simons on the amazing show he had created and he seemed like a very humble and modest man.” 11. How would you rate the overall experience ? “Incredible. I would like to take this opportunity to thank both Dior and my tutors at Westminster for the experience. I am extremely grateful and had a wonderful time.” 12. A word of advice for young designers at Westminster ? “Be your own designer and experiment as much as you can. Organisation and time management are key !”
WILDER Flo Hughes
Inspiration behind the collection: I was influenced by the works of Seydou Keita, who captured Malian society between the 1940’s - 60’s. I was drawn to his photographs because of the mix of prints depicted both on the clothes and the backdrops, which although all shot in black and white give the image depth. Another photographer that played a huge part in my collection was Axel Hoedt. He captured images during the Pre-Lenten festivals in Germany, where people often dress up to warn away evil spirits. His images are full of imagination and mystery, often portrayed not only by frightening masks but really interesting and heavily fabricated garments. Photographer: Max Barnett
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Feminism:
The Women of Harry Potter by Asha Askloom
J. K. Rowling
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ow would you describe J. K. Rowling? A Novelist?, Imaginative?, An inspiration? , A Feminist. “I don’t like the marginalisation of women when the fighting breaks out; you know we get to fight too.” J. K. Rowling is widely known for her successful series, Harry Potter. Through these books, children grow up reading about courage, magic, bravery, friendship and family – messages that they can carry with them for the rest of their lives. And if there is one thing a growing child can take with them, especially growing girls is the strength of women. In an interview on ‘The Women of Harry Potter’ , the author and actresses expressed their views on women, feminism and the attributes of
Hermione Granger
“They couldn’t get through a day without her. She really is the brains, she’s the best at spells, and she’s always two steps ahead. She’s very much part of the action.” – Emma Watson. Hermione is a character who many girls while growing up can relate to. She represents intellect, someone who never abandons her friends, never backs down and proves to be the equal
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of any other. On top of that, she’s a normal girl. J.K. Rowling reflects upon this, saying that Hermione is a “role model” and is “a girl who was a heroine but she wasn’t sexy, nor was she the girl in glasses who’s completely sexless she’s a real girl. She is who she is.” J. K then goes onto say, “I think writing about the time in Hermione’s life that I write about – growing from childhood into womanhood, literally, I think it brought back to me how very difficult it is. So much is expected of you as you become a woman, and often you are asked to sacrifice parts of you in becoming a girl, I would say. Hermione doesn’t. She doesn’t play the game if you like.” Hermione is a role model for these reasons. She proves that being intelligent is not a bad thing and you shouldn’t change that for anyone. Furthermore, she speaks to girls who aren’t extremely extrovert, who aren’t particularly popular but are happy with that. They are content with who they are and by seeing Hermione, they will also see that they do not have to sacrifice parts of themselves in growing up.
Ginny Weasley
Ginny is an “incredibly powerful,
stubborn, intelligent, quick witted woman”, says Emma Watson and that she is the “girl power figure” who is “true to herself no matter what.” From the little shy girl, who was manipulated by Tom Riddle, to a feisty woman fighting in Dumbledore’s Army, any girl reading or watching this series would admire her. Even when Harry breaks up with her she doesn’t become depressed because she no longer has a boyfriend. No, she along with Neville reform Dumbledore’s Army, she tries to steal the sword of Gryffindor and she fights in the battle of Hogwarts. Bonnie Wright says, “Obviously as Ginny’s character develops you really see her as very independent, and I think people portray female characters as very loud and chatty and needing to show their female sexuality although it’s not really needed. So, that’s what I think makes Jo Rowling’s characters very strong, because they’re a bit more naturalistic, and a bit more down to earth.” Ginny is true to herself, which is a very important message to girls. There’s a lot of pressure on young girls to fit in, be a certain size, wear certain clothes, act in a certain way, none of the girls in J. K’s world do this, showing girls that there’s no need to change to fit in.
Luna Lovegood
On describing Luna, Emma Watson says, she’s this “airy, fairy, kind of in her own world character” but “still has this amazing convection in her beliefs and she’s still incredibly smart and she’s very emotionally clever.” If there is one character in the Harry Potter world who teaches girls to just not care what other people think of them, it’s Luna Lovegood. As J. K says, “The key to Luna is, that she has that unbelievably rare quality of actually not giving a damn about what anyone thinks of her. Now, if we as adults say honestly how many people we’ve known like that, I think very many of us would say, ‘umm, none’. And Luna’s like that, she doesn’t actually care. She’s so comfortable with being different, she’s fearless. It’s sometimes
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all nag very difficult as a woman to say ‘well, actually this is who I am and I’m not going to pretend otherwise.’ But that’s the only way to be truly happy, so that’s what I would want to say to girls particularly.” There isn’t really much else to say. Incredibly smart and witty, plus having her share of action in D.A and the battle of Hogwarts, Luna also represents the power of uniqueness. Literally everything about her is different and yet she never changes that to be like other girls. People even go as far as calling her “loony Lovegood” but it never affects her. She just has an incredible ability to stick to her beliefs and she’s completely happy that way.
Professor McGonagall
Professor McGonagall is someone who many of the students see as a strict teacher but as a kind hearted and understanding woman. She embodies the power of knowledge. However, she also fights Severus Snape, she takes part in the battle of Hogwarts, she protects the school with everything
she has and becomes Headmistress of Hogwarts when the battle is over. What does this show to women and girls? Well, that even in the darkest times, if you step up and show what you’re made of, you’ll get through whatever struggle you are faced with.
Mrs Weasley
Anyone who has read or watched the Harry Potter series will know Mrs Weasley as the feisty, protective mother. J. K. Rowling shared her views on the character, “very early on in writing the series, I remember a female journalist saying to me that Mrs Weasley, ‘Well, you know, she’s just a mother.’ And I was absolutely incensed by that comment. Now, I consider myself to be a feminist, and I’d always wanted to show that just because a woman has made a choice, a free choice to say, ‘Well, I’m going to raise my family and that’s going to be my choice. I may go back to a career, I may have a career part time, but that’s my choice.’ Doesn’t mean that that’s all she can do. And as we
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proved there in that little battle, Molly Weasley comes out and proves herself the equal of any warrior on that battlefield.” J. K’s writing has inspired and touched so many lives. Her books have brought together a generation of people all around the world regardless of age, gender, race, religion, language, or country of origin. If she stopped writing we wouldn’t have amazing characters like those above to admire and if this quote doesn’t explain it all, then I don’t know what does. “There was a girl who came up to me on the street the other day, she just bloomed out of the pavement in front of me, and she must have been in her early twenties, and she said to me ‘You are my childhood.’” – J. K. Rowling. l
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BROAD VISION Beyond art & science By Chris Chandler
“This kind of thing is nerdy, but in a really positive and fun way.” This is the quote that opens the second book released by the students and staff who engage themselves in the Broad Vision project, and there is no better tagline for something this inspiring. The extra-curricular activity turned module is the baby and brainchild of Photographic Arts lecturer Heather Barnett, encouraging their practitioners from the participating modules from the walks of fine art, new media and sciences to come together under the banner of one, overarching phrase - interdisciplinary collaboration. On the surface, the subjects of personal and creative artistic expression and the focused hard research of scientific endeavour couldn’t be further from each other. But Heather and her cavalcade of Broad Vision collaborators, many of which being students that have undertaken the module already, are here to encourage you to look deeper and show you that this simply isn’t the case by creating gorgeous and thought-provoking scientific art. The project was born out of the hypothesis that if you put a bunch of students from a broad range of disciplines in the same room, something interesting will happen. But in a university such as ours, where the campuses themselves can feel like completely different institutions altogether, it’s almost disturbingly easy to feel isolated from the people that we are meant to consider to be our academic peers. The module itself is split into two main phases, the first of which being a disciplinary exchange where the students from their respective fields of study present and run workshops to wet the whistles of their fellow participants in a discipline they may have never tried
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before. As Heather put it; “If you’re an art student and you’ve only known and been surrounded by art students you’re not going to have a true appreciation or understanding of how other people work.“, and for the fostering of a well rounded individual with a broad range of interests, this really isn’t always the best option. This is then where the second phase comes into play, as the students are now tasked with developing a project following a particular theme that is agreed by the group (this year’s being on the subject of Future Humans). Splitting into separate work hubs, they set out researching and developing an art/design piece encompassing the underappreciated marriage of the conceptual and the observable. Despite being registered as a module, Broad Vision has a huge extra-curricular focus. Running parallel to the assessed portion of the module - the planning and logging of ideas and research many of the students and volunteers engaged in activities such as teaching workshops in schools to supplement the development of their ideas in the run up to the apex of the module; a full gallery exhibition at the prestigious GV Art Gallery in Marylebone. Broad Visions aims to combat this sense of campus isolation and draw together different students with different skills, knowledge and points of reference to create something not only poignant in the sense that it holds scientific merit, but acts as a piece of art and design. Psychology students Niamh Mulenga and Shoshanna Maloney, currently working on a project involving the effects and the perception of depression, share this very opinion. Despite working on an undeniably eye-opening project challenging modern society’s view of the disorder,
even including some potential links to challenges to Darwin’s theory of evolution, Niamh finds Broad Vision’s interdisciplinary aspect the most rewarding facet it offers: “I was thinking, I’ve been doing psychology for three years now and I love what I’m doing but there are other parts of me. Like when I was younger I used to do art, and I used to love performing and I was thinking, why not take this opportunity to do it all again and just learn and try out new things. Practically every week I’ve learned something new, I didn’t know half the stuff I know now about technology or how things are developed and that’s all because of the people we’ve met and worked with throughout the course.” Despite the great work and research that is done during the marked portion, collaborator and 3rd year illustration student Robbie Anson Duncan says the true value lies in the non-academic work you engage in; not only for the project as a whole, but overall personal benefit. In terms of his university experience, Robbie hasn’t been completely satisfied with his course, feeling that the majority of end goals from illustration weren’t anything that he could see himself pursuing, but upon joining the module in his second year, it really opened up his eyes to his potential paths in the future. Since joining, Robbie has engaged himself in a number of projects that Broad Vision offered - most recently working with Human and Medical science student Benjamin Palmer on an installation involving bioluminescent bacteria - but now also acts as one of the many de-facto teaching assistants for the students currently involved. “When people come out of university and get a job, interviewers will ask what they’ve done and most people can answer ‘Well, my final pro-
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This kind of thing is nerdy, but in a really positive and fun way. “Sightless” by Arnoldas Kukulskis is just one of the pieces that will be on display in June
ject and my dissertation’, but most employers will want more.” Robbie’s eyes begin to light up as the conversation turns topic towards the project, “Broad Visions offers that, for example I can say that I’ve had my work in a gallery, I’ve ran symposiums on subjects of science and design and I’ve given talks and classes to kids, to be honest if I never got involved with Broad Visions I probably would have left, it’s shown me what I really want to do.” These experiences and more are what every student can get out of participating in Broad Visions, the ability for art and media students to gain knowledge of working with gallery owners, curators as well as the public is undeniably invaluable experience for future endeavours. For the science students and those who are involved in the less creative degrees the opportunity to engage in different assets of research as well as bring past research and findings to the table allows for an expanding scope of interest that they may not have gained from their individual courses. Robbie and Ben’s research into the field of bioluminescence and
it’s potential as a source of light and fuel, has influenced the current generation of Broad Visions students prompting further exploration and creative inspiration in the ongoing works of Kelly Biggins and Harriet Bailey. Kelly’s collaboration with Robbie and Ben’s work lead to her involvement in one of the most fulfilling extracurricular activities associated with the module, having the opportunity to engage early secondary school students with facets of their research. After visiting schools in London teaching them about the subjects of coral and conservation, Kelly remarks on how she would have loved to have had something like this back when she was in school, which is an opinion echoed by many on the module. Throughout the course of this module, it’s clear students learn a lot; about how others work, how to collaborate with individuals outside your usual sphere and how to rekindle your love for art or science and how to combine the two. But from an outsider’s perspective the subtle undertones of non-standardised education and embracing the versatility
that a human possesses, that highlight the problems in the modern education system speaks volumes when you delve beneath the surface of what the module sets out to achieve. Broad Vision may now be winding down from it’s place as a module in the scope of the university’s curriculum. With many current practitioners stating that the presence of marked academic work distracts some of those from where the true impetus of the project shines through, becoming too stressed and focused on the gaining of marks. Instead, it will continue as an extracurricular activity that anyone can participate in. Looking to engage a new brand of practitioners that can carry on the incredible art, education and research that their predecessors left for them so perfectly, simply for the love of learning. Make sure to get yourself to the GV Art Gallery from the 5th to the 22nd of June for Broad Vision’s latest exhibition, Future Human. It certainly is not one to miss. l
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Four days with depression by Luke Barnard
H
e comes back early from the party, drunk, and shuts himself away to the depths of his annex until late the next evening without eating, drinking or seeing the outside world. I’ve known about Arin’s depression for the last few years but after taking 80mg of Cymbalta a day and all seems well on the exterior. After spending four days living with him I start to realise the daily struggles of depression and how it affects a 19 year olds life. We meet after he finishes university and I see the forced smile and dullness to his voice, years of knowing him mean I have learnt the difference between genuine emotion and the one he portrays. He tells me he’s a had a good day and all is well at university, (he’s in his first year at Goldsmiths after leaving Warwick last year due to a unspoken ‘rough patch’ which he felt he couldn’t return from) and
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changes the subject instantly back to me, acting as intrigued as possible to stories of lectures and nights out. He does this well. He is an attractive man, tall, Persian decent, curly black hair and dark brown eyes, this is, looking past his tired stature and dark rings around his eyes from too many nights without sleep which ages him. His mouth seems to sink and portray a frown even when emotionless; even though he tries to hide it through his smile he can’t hide his eyes. He doesn’t normally drink as it brings him down but suggests we go to the pub and have a quiet drink and catch up before we head home. He orders a pint and a shot stating it’s ‘just to settle the nerves’ with the first genuine smile I’ve seen thus far that day. After sinking a few more we giddily leave the bar, nostalgically talking about school life and the times we shared. ‘Do you ever think
it’ll be as good as that again?’ he asks after a moment’s silence. I feel the mood instantly swing and his body language has gone from care free and frivolous to sheltered and anxious. ‘Of course it will, life is what you make it, you know that much mate’ I say with a smile, nudging him as I do so. Reassuring, I’ve learnt, is the only way out of scenarios like this with Arin or the mood can change drastically, although on medication he often forgets to take it and that, combined with alcohol, means he is often liable to slip into an ‘episode’. He smiles and nods, the distinct lack of a spoken answer leaves me awkwardly assessing his face to see how he feels. We head back home and the conversation continues as normal. We get back to his parents’ house where I’d be staying (they were on holiday) and we make out way to the an-
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nex which, last time I saw, was being used as a small music studio art room where he let his creativity thrive. The once cream carpets now littered with fag butts, bottles and stains resembled that of a squatter’s living room. The walls which were once lined with his artwork were replaced with small scraps of paper with ineligible drawings and writing on them. The instruments which once took centre stage in the room had been pushed into a corner, covered in dust and dirt, unloved and untouched in what looked like years. Now in the middle of the room was a sofa bed, television and table, on which was a bong, rolling papers and an ash tray teaming with stubbed out joints and rollups. He walked in, threw his shoes across the room and headed straight for the baggie lying on the floor by the sofa and started rolling. Without a word I made my way in, dropped my bag and sat next to him. He didn’t speak until he lit the joint, took a deep pull on it then said ‘I’ve changed things round a bit in here’ as he exhaled, ‘It’s much more of a jam’. He tells me that this is where he stays now; he doesn’t use his bedroom indoors and rarely goes inside. After he finished the joint we
go our separate ways and to bed. The next day I’m up just before midday, nursing a hangover and make myself some breakfast. He doesn’t emerge from his annex till around 3pm, already stoned and looking worse for wear. He tells me he woke up and instantly new it would be a bad day and didn’t want to face it sober. I decided to ask him how university is going after the lack of a response the previous night. Mellowed by the marijuana he tells me he enjoys the course but not university, and the only thing that is keeping him there is a fear of being inadequate. I press him and ask what about the people he’s met there, has he got on with anyone. This, even when in such a relaxed state, makes him look down. He tells me since the start of the year he hasn’t spoken to anyone but lecturers. Due to the nature of his depression and medication he suffers from anxiety that leaves him mentally paralyzed when put into social situations. In addition to this he fears rejection, he tells me that ‘if I don’t try and make new friends I won’t have to deal with rejection’ with a half-hearted smile, and that having friends just
adds more ‘pressure’ for him as people then rely on him. This would be fine if he wanted to be alone, but he tells me how lonely he can feel. All the while through this conversation he’s joking, eating breakfast and rolling the third or fourth joint of the day and acting as if it’s fine. After we eat we go off our separate ways and he asks if I want to go to a party with him tonight. As we arrive at the house where the party is he instantly drags me to the garden for a cigarette. He’s already decided he is going to leave, he hasn’t told me this but I could tell that he didn’t want to be there and it wouldn’t be long until he escaped. Later as I mingle and pass through the smiling faces, Arin stands out as the solemn face in the garden, content to be alone, only smiling when people he knows approach him to be told that he’s alright even though they know he isn’t. As the night draws on he finishes the entirety of the bottle and slips out without a sound or a word. Everyone asks about him and tries to make sure he’s fine, but this sense of affection is twisted to become that of pity and judgement in
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his mind. I return back to his house and he’s already in his annex, a safe place that I don’t want to disturb. The lights are off but I can see the faint flicker of a cigarette being smoked from inside and the dull glow of the television. I go to sleep and wait to see him in the morning. When he appears the next day, he opens up and tells me that he just drank too much last night and found himself slipping into a bad state of mind to decide to slip away to not ‘ruin the party’ with a half grin. Waking up hung-over hasn’t helped but the real issue is that he has run out of pot which he has become semi-dependant on to feel relaxed and happy so decided to shut himself away and suffer in silence. After a long talk he starts discussing the problem and what it means for him. Although uncomfortable by the conversation he speaks confidently, almost angrily about his depression. He tells me he’s not suicidal and the thought of ending it hasn’t gone through his mind but he feels distant from everyone else and this is where the depression leads him. Making new friends is hard, relationships in his mind impossible
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and life at home is even now non-existent. The pot, he says, puts him in a place where he feels a little bit more comfortable talking to people and leaving the house; however in reality it generally means he sits on the sofa watching TV alone. The anti-depressants leave him happier but with side effects such as occasional dizziness and ‘hapathy’ which is where he finds himself sitting in like before because he becomes contented by the idea of sitting in all day. In addition to this he fears when the effects fade away as it leave him feeling ‘colder than before’, he says this with genuine fear. I tell him we should watch a film in the house, away from the annex and just relax for the night, no substances or alcohol and get a good night sleep. The final day with him we both wake up around the same time and eat together. He says that the night before was really ‘chill’ and what he needed after the last few days. He says this with a genuine smile on his face and seems re-invigorated. I say we should do something creative and he jumps at the opportunity. We sit in the annex, moving all musical instruments back into the middle of this dank and
dark room and play for a few hours, watching him slowly come out of his shell. He shows me some photography and art he did a few months back with genuine excitement to hear feedback and a chirpy, childlike tone in his voice when watching me go through his works. By the time I leave he feels as if he has ‘turned a page’ and is looking at life differently. I call him a few days later and am greeted by the same dull disheartened tone I heard on the first day I saw him. He tells me he’s just ‘sat on the sofa, smoking a joint, watching television’. 15% of teenagers are reported to have felt depression for a year or longer and 5% are said to have depression that lasts multiple years before adulthood and can even lead to them becoming bipolardue to the mental strain. This is what it’s like dealing with depression.l UWSU has a dedicated team of advisors who are here to help with mental health issues, who are independent and confidential. You can find your campus advisor at uwsu.com/advice-and-representation/advice.
// CULTURE
Last word with... Meg Peterson Project Director at 21 Artists
A
rt, as an entity, is more than creating something beautiful and decorative. It is a way to capture the changes and transitions of life and it is a medium of communication in which communities and artists engage with one another through a universal language. This is why, once every few months, twenty-one artists from all over the world come together to create work beyond our imagination, lead by fellow practitioner - Meg Peterson. Moving from Chicago where she participated in many art projects to encourage children and communities to express themselves through art, she launched 21 Artists in February 2013. “The Chicago Loop, my first 21 Artist event, opened the gate to further projects in London, of which the last one took place on November 30th. The idea behind this project is to make art relevant again. We as artist make alive forgotten or rundown spaces and try to give the communities, in the areas in which we’re exhibiting, an understanding of art and the possibility to be part of its creation. We often aspire to be in the spontaneous situation of improvisation and instantaneous creation. But the ego always bats an eye of judgment and evaluation toward these magical moments so when one can look back in hindsight and see the awesome result, it’s a very gratifying feeling. OVERHE(a)R(e) – the next project - opens its call for featured artists in Chicago and London on the 1st of May. The call challenges the applicant to find inspiration from the urban landscape and to be open to international collaboration with artists in other cities. The project aims to broaden networks for featured artists, give new perspectives on global cities, connect communities with the arts and provide economic opportunities for those involved. Artists chosen to participate will be asked to submit an M&M (Memory and Motivation) which is something that is unique and inspires them about their city. Along with their past work that will then be sent to another artist in another participating city, forming the basis of their piece for the show. Each artist’s easily transportable artwork will be
sent to Chicago for the first round of exhibitions, workshops and events at the beginning of August. The work will then be sent to London for a second round of similar activities in alternative spaces around the city in early September. This project provides artists across two very creative and vibrant cities an opportunity to broaden their network, hone their craft and collaborate outside of their comfort zones in unconventional ways. Its aim is to celebrate the arts while bringing life to an alternative space, engaging the public and local community groups, beautifying internal and external environments and promoting the arts across these cities. Working closely with online arts platform, Zealous.com, OVERHE(a) R(e) will be documented through a combination of interviews, videos, photographs and artistic renderings and will be exhibited in multiple venues including the Carnegie Library in Brixton, South London and an empty storefront space in Chicago.” With this project Meg wants to bring artists together by letting them
communicate via art, a medium of communication they are all familiar with. This kind of communication does not only extend the view of the artists but also the community which Meg wants to include. It’s an exchange of ideas beyond geographical borders. From Chicago to London and from London to Chicago: an international intermezzo where the process and the result are influenced by the place the artist originally come from and the place the artists live. Meg Peterson has the unifying quality of bringing all these factors together. Art and community seem to be an inseparable equivalent for her. With 21 Artist she has fulfilled one of her lifelong dreams and has also created an opportunity for artists and communities to come together using art as a universal medium of communication. l For latest updates and how to apply for OVERHE(a)r(e) visit: http://twentyoneartists.com/
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// STUDENT LIVING l Baking on a Budget l l Memorable Thanksgiving celebrating the University of Westminster’s 175th Anniversary l l Westminster Film Forum: Special Recognition to BAFTA winning documentary ‘The Act of Killing’ l
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Baking on a Budget 4 Recipes.
19 Ingredients.
All recipies and photographs by Thomas Watters
All Under £15. Muffins – Makes 12 – Difficulty: Easy Cost: £2.60 Ingredients:
Method:
- 12 muffin cases
1. Pre-heat the oven to 180º C
- 250g self-raising flour
2. Put muffin cases in tray
- 1 tsp baking powder
3. Mix together the flour, baking powder, sugar and chocolate chips in a large bowl
- 75g sugar These are a great way to get started in the kitchen; making batter is an essential baking skill, and it’s dead easy!
- 1 beaten egg - 250ml milk
- 90ml corn oil Once you’ve made these, you can start experimenting - 1 tsp vanilla essence with different types of filling like blueberries or white - 100g chocolate chips chocolate.
8. When ready, the tops should spring back when lightly touched
4. In a separate bowl, mix the egg, oil, milk and vanilla essence, then add it to the flour mixture 5. Stir and mix together well 6. Now divide the mix between the 12 cases 7. Bake for between 20-25 minutes, until risen
Crunchy Honeycomb – Makes 24(ish) Difficulty: Easy Cost £2.15 Ingredients:
Method:
- 75ml golden syrup
1. Line a 22cm square cake tin with cling film, making sure to have plenty of overhang
- 200g sugar - 3 teaspoons bicarbonate of soda - 450g milk chocolate (chopped) - Cling film - Baking parchment
5. Once it has set, remove from the tin by pulling on the cling film, then peel it off.
2. Heat the golden syrup and sugar together in a large pan until 6. Next, cut it into rough the sugar has melted. Bring to the shards boil, then simmer on a low heat for 7. Finally, melt the choco5-10 minutes late , then submerge each piece of honeycomb into 3. Then remove the pan from the the chocolate, and leave to heat and carefully add the bicarset on a piece of baking bonate of soda. Quickly mix this in as the mix will begin to foam up parchment before serving upon contact 4. Pour into the cake tin straight away and leave to set
I’m a big fan of making food from scratch, whether it be bread, soup or eve these “Crunchies”. The only annoying thing is, they’re just so easy to make! I have to stop myself from constantly baking them!
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// STUDENT LIVING
Flapjacks – Makes 12 – Difficulty: Easy Cost £1.23 Ingredients:
Method:
- 250g Porridge Oats
1. Put the sugar, butter and golden 5. Place in the oven and bake for around 20 minutes, or syrup in a pan and melt them until golden brown together
- 125g Brown Sugar - 125g Butter - 2/3 tablespoons Golden Syrup A nice light snack to have around the house, these were one of the first things I ever learnt to make. A favourite for Food Tech teachers, these are a great place to start for those who aren’t quite kitchen inclined!
2. In the meantime, grease and line a baking tray (size depending on how many you want to make) and preheat your oven to 180°C 3. Once the mix has melted, take off the heat and fold in the porridge oats 4. Spoon the mixture into the baking tray
Cupcakes – Makes 12- Difficulty: Medium Cost £2.77
Ingredients:
Method:
For the cake
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C and line a muffin tray with cases
- 100g butter - 110g sugar - 2 eggs - 1 teaspoon vanilla essence - 110g self-raising flour - 1-2 tablespoons milk - Cupcake cases For the icing - 140g butter - 280g icing sugar - 1-2 tablespoons milk
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2. Cream butter and sugar together in a bowl until it turns pale. Beat in the eggs a little at a time, then stir in the vanilla
7. Add the remaining icing sugar with a tablespoon of milk and mix until soft and creamy
8. Remove the cakes from the oven and leave to cool for ten minutes, then use a A light and delicate sponge 3. Fold in flour using a large metal piping bag to ice your cakes paired perfectly with rich, sugary buttercream icing; spoon, add a little milk until it is of dropping consistency. It’s just as well this recipe makes 12 – you’ll never 4. Spoon the mix into the cases settle for just one! 5. Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown on top 6. Meanwhile make the icing by beating butter into a large bowl until soft. Add half the icing sugar and beat until smooth.
// STUDENT LIVING
Memorable Thanksgiving Celebrating the University of Westminster’s 175th Anniversary
eag erl y
alk in one of R
ege
nt ’s tres thea
Student s
at ing t i a aw
ure
bonus, to top off the unforgettable day. The speeches delivered by many professors and academics radiated a massive amount of inspiration, giving all of the current students and staff within the university a surplus of belief, hope and positive visions for our future as an institution. It was a day to be treasured in Westminster’s saga. We would like to give many thanks to Westminster Abbey for a spectacular service that will go down in the university’s history forever. How lucky we are, too, to have witnessed such a huge thanksgiving in our prime time studying at the university, so again, we shall embrace every moment and enjoy our time here at our University of Westminster. l
lec
Today our students come from over 150 different nations, creating a multicultural and cosmopolitan community of talented students. Sharing values on an international scale we are noticed for our diversity within the university as a whole. The service surrounded these qualities and re-voiced the University of Westminster’s principal ideals. We should all be extremely proud and remember just how bright our future is to have come so far from where we started, and the recognition our institution has built with so many other professionals all over the world. I was very grateful to be a big part of the service, as part of the bible procession, and it was a magical moment. The choir were very elegant, and when I walked out of the cathedral afterwards I was left overwhelmed, grateful and smiling from ear to ear. Witnessing Kate Middleton walk through the door in the last minute was another huge
Re
e Str t n ge
- Circa 1882 mpus a C et
Ou t si d et
T
he end of January marked a historical day that will never be forgotten in the University of Westminster’s memories. On the 30th, Westminster Abbey held a huge thanksgiving for the University of Westminster to celebrate our 175th anniversary with the architectural designs enhancing the prestige occasion. Students, staff and figures within the cathedral all got together to celebrate all of the efforts which have helped us come such a long way. It’s truly remarkable how far we have come as an institution since it’s foundation. First established in 1838 by Sir George Cayley, Quintin Hogg re-founded the Polytechnic in 1882, committed to key principles surrounding diversity, regardless of gender or background, of which we have kept consistent over the years supporting the ideologies of our starting point.
he
by Gemma Smith
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// STUDENT LIVING
Westminster Film Forum: Special recognition to BAFTA winning documentary ‘The Act of Killing’ By Gemma Smith
F
or the first time in it’s history, the University of Westminster held a three-day event highlighting the media film talent within our student body, as well as the multitude of films that have been made during our years as an institution. With the 26th of March marking the opening ceremony, excitement soared throughout the campuses during the build up to the event, with special attention being paid to BAFTA award winning and Oscar nominated documentary, An Act of Killing, directed by seasoned filmmaker and author Joshua Oppenheimer which was screened to open the event. As well as this, after the film had finished the audience had the exclusive opportunity to have a Q&A with producer Joram Ten Brink. So what made An Act of Killing so eye-opening? The documentary focused on the turbulent time in Indonesia’s history during the year of 1965 – 1966 wherein, millions of people were killing during a brutal military overtake. During this time the government had hired ‘gangsters’ to do the killing for them, targeting individuals simply because of their victim’s communist nature and beliefs accused of being enemies of the state, which remains in history and will never be forgotten. Then, came the Q&A with Joram, which prompted a wide range of debate and discussion. Most notably, two Chinese viewers voiced how they felt
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that the Indonesian civil war targeted Chinese people as a race too, and that there is more to the massacres than just an ‘anti-communism’ hatred. Another student mentioned a time where his mother, at the age of 12, was asked if she wanted to join in on the torturing of another Chinese individual. It was highlighted that it isn’t just a genocide attack with these gangsters themselves, but that the country was turning on its own people, on its own civilians and acts of this kind are still occurring in this day in age in countries all over the world. It’s no secret that modern media is full of stories about murder and other criminal activities, but documentaries such as this highlight the brutal reality that there is possibly similar ‘acts of killings’ occurring around the world today, that are hidden by governmental censorship and overall corruption. The events that took place in Indonesia during the 1960s are as pivotal as they are horrifying, yet so many of us haven’t even heard of it before. Joram Ten Brink mentioned the Indonesian government not apologising for the incidents of 1965, and it was touched upon that maybe the Chinese government deserves a historical apology for their haunting past. With cruelty beyond sadism, it was evident that Joshua Oppenheimer’s documentary pulled on the heart strings of those watching it during the WFF, showing students the
world changing power of documentary filmmaking. Needless to say, this was a simply astounding way to kick of the three day event. The next day switched the focus to the screening of films made by students within the university, hosting a wide range of genres, consisting of short fiction, documentary, animation, experimental films as well as allotted Q&A time with filmmakers. It was a time where the talent within our institution stood out and was recognised, providing a great deal of inspiration to other aspiring filmmakers as well as an appreciation for everyone producing their work. The final day was WFFs closing ceremony where awards, winning film screenings and live music took place, including appearances from DJ Czarny and Zara Kershaw. The final event of the festival was was an after-party at Harrow’s students’ union bar where everyone got together to celebrate the three-day event’s almighty success. It was a fantastic opportunity for the students within the University of Westminster to have an insight into the potential of strong ideas within the film industry, and how anything is possible to make and put together with patience and determination. An Act of Killing had a worldwide effect on people of different cultures and societies, and during the Westminster Film Forum event, us as students, got to experience the incredible force too.l
// SPORTS & SOCIETIES
l Westminster Rugby: Down, but not out l l Westminster lead the way as Futsal grows l l UWSU Cheer Squad are on a missionl l UWSU Karate kicks it out the parkl
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//SPORTS
Westminster Rugby: Down, but not out
by Ben Collier
T
wo years ‘on the trot’ The University of Westminster’s rugby team had secured promotion in the London BUCS leagues. From playing in league 5A in the 2011-12 season to currently playing with the big boys up in 3A, the chaps have proved formidable. Though for the first time in years, Westminster’s first XV are now on the back foot. The ball, rather ironically, has been dropped. Having just come off the back of a season that saw Westminster lose only 3 of its 14 games, the 201314 season was looking very promising for Dragon’s rugby, with Westminster finishing second in their league granting them promotion. This meant the men were able to play against teams such as the prestigious Royal Holloway, Sussex and even stretch across the country to Brighton. With a promising fresher’s week of signing up over 80 players from the five different campuses, the boys were fully set to see the season strong. This unfortunately couldn’t have been further from the truth. Drawing to the end of a dismal year to say the least, the chaps of Westminster finished an unconvincing last place. A true test for the boys gusto this year, the team went through great hardship, at times conceding up to 60 points a game. This just shouldn’t happen to teams that finish in second to top place the season before. Then where did it all go wrong, why did we finish last and why are we now back down to league 4A? A general response from students who were unable to participate in their Wednesday games was the clash between study and sports. Wednesday, for the majority of institutions across the country, is a day of recreation, a day to take part in sporting activities, societies and extra-curricular activities that break away from the mundaneness of study. Westminster however doesn’t.
A vast number of students from first to third years are forced to study and are unable to attend other interests of theirs. This has a tragic effect on sports team, it means less numbers, and sees teams struggle when put up against other sports teams. Other fingers point towards the students’ union. As part of the recent students’ union spending criteria, severe cuts have been made to the sports teams’ resources. The rugby team does not have access to the university’s gym facilities despite their success in the leagues. The lack of training resources means that the team is not as drilled and as conditioned
as other teams in the league. It is quite shocking that teams are able to progress yet their training regimes are brought back down to a quality less than the standard that they are competing at. In addition to this, there has also been a cutback in the transport facilities. On a number of occasions, other sports teams as well as rugby, have been forced to spend out of their pockets for traveling to games. There has also been a slack delay in kit distributed among sports teams too, caused by the supplier that the Union has now ceased dealings with. Following Christmas this year (mid-season)
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//SPORTS
teams received sports kit to wear when training and before games in pre-match warm-ups. Not only is it unfair that students must fork out money for kit when they’ve paid a membership fee, but it is highly unprofessional and says to other universities that Westminster has a lack of pride in its appearance. In a statement issued by the head of the SU’s Student Activities department, Onyinye Nkemdirim (Onye), in regards to the issues that I have raised in this article, the problems presented by the kit are set to potentially be resolved coming into next year. After the severe delays in the rolling out of kits, the Union are no longer going to be working with the supplier who caused the problems involving the delays in kit and will have a new one sorted out for September ensuring that all societies that request kit will receive it in ample time. In regards to travel, the SU remained sympathetic but raised some key issues in response. Taking into account the prevalence of public transport within London, and the financial viability provided by the purchasing of season tickets - that many students already have done so for travel to university - team transport
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provided by the university can be said to be redundant, given the extremities of traffic in central London during peak hours. As well as this, the statement maintains that although the SU constantly strives to deliver the best experience for students, sometimes they don’t have the final say and when policy is decided by the University, they have to comply –gym access for sports teams and Wednesday afternoon off for sports are two such cases, and it is something that they are striving for, but haven’t yet been able to obtain. In addition to this, Andy Smith and Onye recently proposed preliminary reform for the way in which sports at Westminster is funded, playing with the idea of a potential introduction of a tiered system when approaching the membership payments, covering basic membership costs at the lowest end, to the provision of optional extras at the top. This will then involve each individual sport or society charging an additional fee to ensure that the necessary facilities are provided, thus enabling the student participating to see exactly where their money is going. Despite the reassurances issued
and the new potential reform that have been proposed by the SU, the general student tone is that they are not satisfied, and we need to see the change actually happen. These aren’t just the ramblings of a frustrated ‘rugby lad’, but the ever more so common, recurring and prevalent ruminations of Westminster University sports societies. Playing sports with your friends and building relationships with peers are some of the most cherished moments of your university life. Of course, we all venture to university in the hope to better ourselves into one day fulfil the role in our desired career position, but it is vital to challenge yourself with something like a sport or a society to engage in broader aspects of life. The Students’ Union is to serve the student body and when it comes to doing everything in their power to push for policy that would benefit a vast number of students across all campuses, they should be doing just that. I hope that you are aware of the state of sport, particularly rugby, and if this rings a bell to you I hope this spurs you on to be part of the change, for the better, that is to come in September of this year. l
//SPORTS
Westminster Lead the Way as Futsal Grows by Joe Aldridge
T
he ‘beautiful game’ is having it’s highly anticipated Football World Cup hosted in Brazil this year, and as a spectacle that attracted 715 million viewers during 2010’s final, it’s difficult to ignore the Samba country’s legacy when it comes to the game of two halves. But a sister sport that was developed on it’s shores in the 1930’s is what’s drawing attention when UWSU sports is concerned. The sport in question is futsal and with a strong legacy in South America and Mediterranean Europe, it is finally starting to build a reputation in England. Technically based and played at a quick pace, maybe futsal is more deserving of the ‘beautiful game’ title. There are outfielders and a goalkeeper, playing on two sides, competing on a pitch marked with a halfway line and a penalty area. So many will ask; what is the difference between this sport and a simple game of 5-a-side football? Well, both sides do have five players, one of which plays in goal, but that is where the similarity starts to waver. The ball is smaller and heavier, with a lower bounce meaning that the long ball culture that often dominates English football, is eliminated. Futsal is played on an indoor pitch, marked out so that it is similar in size to a basketball court with taller and narrower goals meaning that precision shooting is essential. In basic terms, the rules mean that futsal players have to have a high technical skill with a good touch, accurate pass and powerful shot. Many former footballing greats have originated from playing futsal. The likes of Pele and Garrincha, two of Brazil’s most celebrated players, set boundaries for skill and technique for decades to come all from the futsal pitch. Yet, in England, futsal has rarely attracted the nation’s attention. With
the first futsal league in England created in 1990 and a national team only being formed in 2003, it’s fair to say that the sport has hardly taken the nation by storm - our boys are yet to reach a major competition finals for example. But the evidence of how futsal can help football is demonstrated by the winners of the futsal World Cup. Running since 1989, there have been seven tournaments, the most recent of which was in Thailand two years ago. And the nation which has won five out of the seven tournaments and are current champions are, completely unsurprisingly, Brazil. Who, may I point out, have won more football World Cup’s than any other nation with five victories to their name. The other two championships fall to Spain who, if I recall correctly, have also won major honours in football recently. A common trend seems to be emerging then, between the technicality of futsal teams and their success, and the success of their nations in football. And maybe England can follow that pattern in future years and decades as the standard of futsal in the country is improving, with it’s most popular and highest levels of play appearing in the university leagues. Several BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) divisions pit some of the most gifted futsal players in the countries against one another. And at Westminster, we are taking advantage of the futsal leagues, and the opportunity to pull together some of the most technically astute players the university can offer. This year, Westminster has seen major success on the futsal front. An unbeaten league campaign and a superb cup run has seen their efforts rewarded with a play off league to get into the Premier Division of the BUCS league for next season. Westminster has two futsal sides, and after 57 goals
scored and only eight conceded, the first team topped the league winning seven games out of seven. And even though the second team didn’t fare as successfully in the league, a mid table finish is very respectable with both sides enjoying excellent cup runs as well. The firsts eventually fell in the Round of 16 to eventual finalists Loughborough. A 5-2 defeat at their Sir David Wallace sports hall marked a disappointing end to their campaign; however the action isn’t over yet. Westminster has the chance to display some immense pride when the futsal first team play against St Marys and Middlesex for a place in the BUCS Premier division. If they overcome the challenge of those two universities, Westminster will be one of only five teams in the South Eastern Premier Division. And the story of Westminster’s futsal success can be put down to coach Naser Mohammed and the friendly atmosphere that exists within the team. Mohammed got into the sport himself as a student and now leads the side. His training sessions attract people from all over the world as his coaching style encourages not only good but also fun football in a sport known as futsal. If Westminster continue their meteoric rise through the futsal ranks, no doubt they will be one of the leading universities for the sport. And if England and the UK try and expand upon the already competitive university level and carry that level on to the international stage, who knows what can be achieved, and what good that will do for English football. One thing is for certain; there is a trend between the nations creating success on the futsal stage and those who are successful in the football world too and here at Westminster, we are finally starting to realise it. l
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// SPORTS
UWSU CHEER-SQUAD ARE ON A MISSION by Dida Alsaffar
W
hat is cheerleading? Cheerleading is something of a taboo sport; it’s safe to say most of us have this preconceived image of it being a side piece for a major sport we often see in movies. However it is much more than that. The routines can continue for up to three minutes, which may contain many components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers and stunting in order to direct spectators of events to cheer for sports teams at games or, for what is perhaps the less known side of cheerleading, to participate in cheerleading competitions. It requires a high degree of skill as well as tactical and physical prowess. One cannot simply roll into it and think they can master the sport. One has to show true dedication through hard training and talent, which is no different to any other sport. Cheerleading originated in the United States, and remains predominantly an American practice, with an estimated 1.5 million participants in all-star cheerleading. Despite it’s status of a relatively niché sport, it is undoubtedly growing elsewhere, with more and more Cheerleading squads appearing in universities across the country, and Westminster is no different. Chantal Epp is the heart and soul of the cheer squad. She’s had a monumental influence over cheer and is the main reason why the team at Westminster is going from strength to strength. She sat down and talked about all things “cheer” with Smoke: Q: How do you think cheerleading is perceived at Westminster? Chantal: “People don’t seem to understand that cheerleading is a competitive sport. We get asked by
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many people ‘which team do you cheer for?’ And we have to explain that we are a competitive sport attending competitions. There seems to be some expectations that we should be attending games with pom poms which actually isn’t the sport we do! That is another type of cheerleading. We are more than happy to support other teams like everyone else, but without dancing and pom poms. We can stunt and that’s what we like to do!” Q: I’ve never heard of a different kind of cheerleading. Most peoples image of cheerleading is of girls in pom poms at an American football game, I think it’s a perception that needs to be changed. How do you think Westminster and yourself (the team) can go about changing this misconstrued image? Chantal: “People need to see what we actually do to understand it! If varsity was earlier in the year, we could do a routine and show everyone what it is that we actually do! It’s difficult to get girls to games because no one is available so we can’t really get a chance to show what we do as we need a minimum or 5 people, but a big event each semester or once a year could give us an opportunity to show what we do, and hopefully change peoples misconception.” Q: Personally I know how physically demanding cheerleading is, having attended one of your training sessions. Could you sum up how demanding it is? Chantal: “Its an all round physical sport that equally involves both men and women. We stunt, tumble, jump, and do a little dance, and all these elements are put together to form a routine.
It can be dangerous, as throwing someone in the air and catching them isn’t the easiest job in the world! It’s all about trusting each other and ensuring you are doing the techniques right and do the conditioning to keep yourself strong! If people don’t believe how much hard work it can be, they should come along to a training and see for themselves!!” Q: What do you hope to achieve this year in the competitions? Chantal: “Well we do different competitions at different places each year depending on the timing of it. This year we went to Nottingham and competed in the group stunt division which is basically a routine of just stunts with 4/5 people. We won 4 trophies, all at 2nd and 3rd place! Next year we hope to enter a full routine at the end of the year and possibly enter group stunts at competitions throughout the year, and win a few more trophies!!” Q: Finally, Is cheer growing in popularity over the UK and how popular can it get as a sport by itself? Does it rely on other sports for it’s survival? Chantal:“It is one of the biggest and fastest growing sports in the UK. It may never be as popular as football and rugby and so on, as it is a niche sport. However, there has been a lot of interest in cheerleading recently, with TV shows being made, and a lot of talk in the media. Cheerleading is a sport on its own and doesn’t rely on other sports at all. As long as there are competitions there will be cheerleaders attending them! My hope is that one day it will be as huge as it is in America and that the standard will continue to rise!” l
// SPORTS
UWSU Karate Club kicks it out of the Park
O
n Sunday 13th April 2014 the UWSU Karate Club hosted the annual DKK Karate Tournament at our regular training venue in Somers Town.In total six different clubs attended the event with the largest coming along from Bristol University. A total of 60 competitors took part on the day. This yearly event features both semicontact stand-up fighting (Kumite) for the lower grades and full-contact standup for the higher, as well as submission grappling, meaning that a total of five categories were contested on the day: lNovice Female Kumite (white to orange belts) lNovice Female Grappling (white to orange belts) lIntermediate Grappling (green to brown belts) lSenior Female Kumite (Black Belts) lSenior Male Grappling (Black Belts)
In the end the UWSU Karate Club put in a truly outstanding performance, ultimately winning 24 of the 30 medals available on the day including all gold medals, in every category.
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Current Club Captian, Besnik Ajvazi, won Silver for grappling in the male division, ultimately losing out to University of Westminster alumni, Peter Fajemisan, while next year’s ViceCaptain, Zenab Laala, took both Silver and Gold in the female divisions. The Karate Club would like to thank the Student’s Union for all their help and support over the years providing us with good facilities, excellent tuition and above all, consistent training times week-on-week. Without these things, the results returned at the tournament last week would simply not be possible. Thank you!
The club has new people starting all the time from complete beginners to those more experienced, with a good spread of male and female members. If you are interested in learning tried and tested self-defence that really works when and where you need it most, please come along and join us at: Somers Town Community Sports Centre, 134 Chalton St, London NW1 1RX Mondays: 18:00 – 20:00 Wednesdays: 19:00 – 21:00 Training continues all year round and throughout the University breaks. Simply turn up on the night or contact club instructor Gavin Mulholland at karate@su.westminster.ac.uk or visit us at www.goju-karate.co.uk
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