Likes don’t save lives ISSUE 12, May 24, 2013
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Contents
6 10
Natasha Cox Editor in Chief Grace Meritt Editor Ana Curbelo Art Director George Mostyn Online Content Editor Broderick Suthlerland Deputy Editor Greg Carter Head of Illustration Carolyn Brown Head of Photography Jan Baykara Design Assistant Meghan McCabe Vignette O’Bryan News Editors Cathryn Antoniadis Laura Smith Features Editors Dan Nicholson Ella Stanbrook Music Editors
18 22 26 30
Beth Baker-Wyse Joanna Donnelly Culture Editors Anna Birtwistle Chloé Fallon Style Editors Chloe Hemmings Rebecca Oldham Sport Editors Peter Woolley Webmaster Maxine Cheyney Head of Events and Marketing
35
NEWS No Value in University Courses University Joins FutureLearn Money for Universities Loughborough Ranked in World’s Elite
FEATURES
Auto Correct Disasters Phantom Photos Lufbra Overheard
TOTTY SPOTTER STYLE
The Cost of Cheap Fashion TOTL Interview
CULTURE
Likes Don’t Save Lives Forever 27 Club
MUSIC
Albums to Listen to Introducing: 8 Tracks Label Loves: Man Like Me
SPORT
Tabata Training Sub-Aqua Experience Andy Borrie interview BUCs Round Up
Cover image by Ana Curbelo
Disclaimer: Label is the publication of Loughborough Students’ Union. The opinions contained are those of individual contributors, not of Loughborough Students’ Union, the editorial team, or any other officer of the union unless otherwise stated.
From the Editor Every issue of Label, we like to try something different with our front cover. This time, we wanted to try something unusual even for us, and go with a very simple message which links in with our article centring around the topic that liking a Facebook page in support of saving children’s lives, doesn’t actually save any.
Label Magazine, your Fortnightly Fix of all things Loughborough.
Anyone who has Facebook will know exactly what I’m talking about. Pages like this pop up all the time, for different charities and campaigns, and reposts which supposedly show that you care. One page entitled ‘Things Loughborough Students Don’t Say’ popped up just a few weeks ago, and currently has over 4,000 likes. The creators of this page used this instant success in order to create a video asking everyone who had liked the page to give just a few pounds to a children’s charity, set up to keep children safe from abuse. At the time of making the video they made the point that if every person that had liked the page gave just 20p they could raise £500. The video itself got 166 likes, yet only 22 people actually gave any money. Does it make people feel good to like a page which effectively does nothing? This is a genuine question, as for me, it just doesn’t make sense. Liking a charity’s page doesn’t make you a noble person, if that like is as far as your support goes. Not all charity deeds have to cost money, but in the technology fuelled world we live in, it’s the sad fact that people seem to think showing their support via social media is enough to make a difference in reality. Until next time, Grace Meritt
Like our Facebook Page Label Online For all the latest stories, visit www.lufbra.net/label
CONT ACT U
S!
Is th e we s re a sto houl r d kn y you th Conta ow abou ink t? ct us labe a With a leditor@lu t fbra.n ny info et rmat querieion, letters and s
Long nights, tedious revision sessions and extended hours working in the library, if this sounds all too familiar it’s probably because Loughborough University exam period is looming. However it’s not all dull because the Welfare and Education sections are teaming up to support you through this difficult time. We present to you ‘Loughborough S.O.S.’ (Stressed Out Students) Starting from Monday 27 we will be helping you through the revision and the exam period with a packed itinerary of events. From tweeting out useful revision tips and motivational videos, giving out advice, handing out free fruit and other freebies to encourage you to take a break and even giving out hugs to students in need. Get involved in the week by coming to see us at the Library for a chat or tweet us using #LufbraSOS and let us know how you’re coping with exam time. Looking forward to seeing you this week in the Library and hearing from you on Facebook/Twitter. Good luck revising! Georgie and Laz
Did you make the Loughborough people from Label’s last issue? If so, send us your pictures! #label15
Tweets @LabelOnline Alex Haughey @ATHaugley Label pens are not given the respect they deserve. Who needs Parker pens? @labelonline pens are amazing! #theinkjustflows Claire Levy @clairelevy2104 These 15 fun facts DID make me happy http://www. lborosu.org.uk/media/label/article.php?id=1305 @ labelonline Bryony Hopkins @BryElizabeth1 Proud to see my sexy floorzie @katierich92 on the front cover of @labelonline! Megan Chamberlin @Meg_Cham Just picked up the latest issue of @labelonline the @ LabelStyleTeam monochrome shoot looks amazing in print!! #theyoungones Jade Wong Smith @JadeWongSmith Proud that I’ve completed all but one of the @lsumedia bucket list! Need to watch a sunset from beacon hill and I’m done ;) #lufbra #label15
04 - 05
EDITORIAL
ugh Loughboro ief News in Br Oklahoma Tornado Some 237 people are known to have been injured in the Oklahoma tornado, with disaster centres set up and help given to people to assess what they have lost and what their immediate needs are. Safer Driving with Sat Navs Research that looks at driving behaviour in eight European countries has shown that motoring gadgets, such as satellite navigation systems, bring positive changes to drivers’ behaviour, making them feel safer and be more fuel efficient. The UK data was gathered by the worldleading Transport Safety Research Centre based here in Loughborough University’s Design School. Fabulous Friday Several shops in Loughborough, Wilkinson, Boots, Primark, Costa Coffee and others, have agreed to extend their opening hours every Friday for the entire summer until September 27. Further plans include making parking free after 3pm. It is hoped that this initiative will encourage more business in the town centre.
No Value for Money in University Courses Research conducted by the consumer watchdog Which? and the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) has found that around one in three first year UK university students think that their courses are not good value for the amount of tuition fees that they are paying. The report suggests that English students became increasingly dissatisfied when the tuition fees rose. A disadvantage to student education that the report foregrounds is the extreme difference in contact time that students studying the same subject at one university get in comparison to another. Those students who have had less contact time in the form of seminars, lectures and meetings are more likely, according to the study, to say that they do not think they are getting the right education for the money that they are paying. The report has also highlighted the increase in hours of private study that students are now partaking in with the time increasing from 12 hours 48 minutes to 14 hours and 8 minutes per week. Figures that have arisen from this report have suggested that 65% of students spoken to believe
they benefit more when taught in small groups of up to five people. Meanwhile 32% suggested that if they had known more surrounding the academic experience of their course they may have chosen to study a different one. Bahram Bekhradnia of Hepi has stated that: ‘it is unlikely that students, studying for on average less than half the time studied by other students on the same subject, will achieve the same outcomes.’ Rachel Wenstone of the National Union of Students stated that government changes encouraged ‘students to think more like consumers’, but denied them ‘any way of holding their institution to account’ if they were not satisfied with the education they received. She also added: ‘The government needs to undo its shambolic changes to higher education and find a better way for graduates to contribute towards the education system, halting the ‘marketisation’ of universities that is of no benefit to students or society.’ Meghan McCabe News Editor
Loughborough University joins the
FutureLearn revolution On May 3, it was announced that Loughborough University has partnered with the company FutureLearn. Founded in December 2012, it is the first UKled, multi-institutional platform for free, open, online courses. Loughborough is in good company with several other well-regarded UK universities in the line up, the University of Sheffield, University of Glasgow and University of Strathclyde all recently having partnered with the UK based company. The aim of FutureLearn is to increase the access to higher education for students in both the UK as well as further afield. This will be done by offering a varied range of courses through a single website. For many of you who have heard of the Open University, this will sound like a very familiar concept. FutureLearn is solely owned by the Open University, which will allow for unparalleled knowledge
in the field of delivering distance learning. Loughborough University is one of the 24 partners that FutureLearn has to date. It is planned that courses in Mathematics and Enterprise and Innovation, areas in which the University is regarded as holding an excellent reputation, will be offered and launched later this year. Professor Morag Bell, Pro Vice Chancellor for Teaching at Loughborough University, said: ‘We are delighted to be working in partnership with FutureLearn. Loughborough has a well-established reputation for providing its students with a firstclass education. Through these online courses, we will be able to make these outstanding learning opportunities available to even greater numbers of students.’ Vignette O’Bryan News Editor
Outside rough Loughbo ief News in Br A Great-great-grandmother’s Birthday Abseil A great-great-grandmother has abseiled down a Hampshire building to celebrate her 99th birthday. Doris Long, of Hayling Island, now currently holds the world record for the oldest person to abseil. Mrs Long has been raising money for Rowans Hospice. £1million Jewellery Theft at Cannes Film Festival French Police have stated that more than £1 million worth of jewels have been stolen from a hotel in Cannes. The jewels were initially thought to have been loaned to stars at the annual film festival on the French Riviera. Police say the thieves ripped the safe containing the jewels from a wall of the room at the Novotel hotel. UK Astronaut to go into Orbit UK astronaut Tim Peake has been given a date to fly to the International Space Station. Forty-one-year-old Peake is from Chichester and is so far the only Briton ever to be accepted into the European Astronaut Corps.
06 - 07 NEWS
£50million to
Universities in England in Order to Encourage Growth English Universities are set to receive a £50 million influx in order to encourage the progression of economic growth through ‘cutting-edge innovation and research projects.’ The Universities Minister David Willetts has stated that the funding, which will be shared among 16 projects, aims to create 500 new firms and 3,000 jobs. The extra funding is being delivered through the Catalyst Fund of the Higher Education Funding Council for England. It is a part of a strategy which prioritises universities and their hi- tech research as key to economic recovery. David Willetts has suggested that ‘the £50 million investment was part of the effort to keep us ahead in the global race.’ Universities, research centres, industries and investors have already been considered as international models of innovation growth, for example in Silicon Valley in America. As well as aiding national growth, the aim is to also help ambitions for regional
economies. It also aims to help create highly skilled, graduate jobs which have a higher survival rate in a globalised economy. A recent labour market study has suggested that there are more jobs in the UK now that require a degree than were available to those who have no qualifications previously, therefore suggesting that unskilled jobs have been declining in recent years. The funding Council’s Chief Executive, Sir Alan Langlands has stated that: ‘As well as immediate growth opportunities, the projects also help to lay a trail for the longterm competitiveness of the UK economy [Projects] address how to make all parts of this country more economically resilient, through greater attention to innovation and high-growth potential in business.’ A wide variety of skills are to be supported such as improving food manufacturing skills and research into new applications for satellite technology. Meghan McCabe News Editor
Loughborough Ranked Amongst the
World’s Elite May 8 saw the release of the 2013 QS World University Rankings by Subject; in which Loughborough did exceedingly well, with 11 subject areas making it into the top 200 in the world. Communication and Media studies came 47th in the world rankings, making it the highest-ranking subject in Loughborough. Appearing in the top 100 were the subjects Aeronautical Engineering and Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering. Civil and Structural Engineering, Geography, Materials Science and Sociology were all recognised as being in the top 150, whilst Accounting and Finance, Chemical Engineering, Education, Politics and International Studies and Psychology all appeared in the top 200. The QS World University Rankings by Subject is a well-established and trusted system of evaluation. The subject rankings look at three specific indicators: Academic Reputation, Employer Reputation and Citations per Paper, with all subjects attracting solid academic and employer response levels, which make sure to take into account the opinions of academics and employers on a global scale. To be acknowledged on a global scale is a fantastic achievement and David
Deacon, Professor of Communication and Media Analysis and Head of the Department of Social Sciences, commented on the rankings: ‘We are delighted that Communication and Media Studies at Loughborough has been rated so well in this international league table. It is regularly ranked very highly in the UK, so this latest result is further testament to the quality of the subject at Loughborough.’ Label spoke with Maxine Cheyney, a Communication and Media Studies student, in order to find out what rankings such as these could mean for her prospective employment in the field: ‘I’m graduating from the top rated subject at Loughborough, as a media student, at least I can walk into an interview now and be proud to be a Communications and Media studies graduate rather than feel like I am at a disadvantage in comparison to all the engineers and sports science students.’ Only 65 of the UK’s universities saw their subjects ranked in the top 200, meaning that a lot of Loughborough students will be particularly proud of Loughborough’s achievements nationally as well as globally. Vignette O’Bryan News Editor
08 - 09 NEWS
t c e r r o c o Aut Damn
e into work today. ‘I don’t think I can comwith a terrible hedgehog’ I woke up
The embarrassment hits you hard, and you realise that there is nothing you can do, yet you still try anyway. You thought your mobile was your friend, but what kind of friend makes you look like a fool? You receive a puzzled reply, ‘what did you just write?’,‘ Mate, I don’t think that is what you meant..’ Why is this happening to you? Why now? You shake your head and slowly admit defeat. ‘Damn you autocorrect,’ you mutter bitterly into your screen. The advancement of mobile phones has offered us many fantastic things (the opportunity to subtly go on Facebook during lectures, ‘instagram-ing’ our Starbucks coffee cups, snap-chatting hilarious pictures to our friends, real ground breaking stuff). But the ‘auto-correct’ feature is
But in a society with constant jobs, awkward working hours and lots of traveling, texting is cheaper and sometimes more effective than a conversation. We live in such a technological world that communication is bound to change and adapt. Long gone are the days of phone boxes and the family landline that wasn’t cordless. But, what might come next? Will texting ever be a thing of the past? In the beginning of 2012 the texting decline was assumed to be due to social networking sites. However, over a hundred and fifty billion text messages were sent in the UK in that year alone, most by twelve to fifteen year olds. A little surprisingly, there has been an increase in text
messages sent by adults too. People of all ages are choosing this more convenient form of communication, rather than engaging in a phone call. An Ofcom study in 2012 found that 39% of adults now own a smartphone. Of those adults, 42% say their smartphone is the most important device for internet browsing, 42% regularly use it for social networking and 51% use it for e-mails. Over half of smartphone users say they use their phone when going shopping as well. Nevertheless, it seems that texting is here to stay, despite the often hilarious miscommunications caused by autocorrect that wouldn’t happen if we were to talk over the phone, or face to face for that matter. Sometimes you can’t help but wish we all still had Nokia 3310’s, and spent our time playing Snake, rather than worrying about our text messaging failures appearing online. Louise Burt
Illustration by Josie Gledhill
You have done this a thousand times. You are skilled, confident and in control. It all comes so naturally to you. Your thumb hits send without hesitation. Why should you hesitate and even contemplate checking? Your eyes glance over the letters that you have constructed into a witty and insightful sentence, you smile inwardly at how slick you are, but... then you see it.
a display of man Vs. technology, and undoubtedly technology makes man look like an illiterate and often vulgar idiot... as well as causing great hilarity for others. There’s nothing quite like laughing at people’s mistakes. Due to the auto-correct feature, texting, often when in a rush, can sometimes be a real issue. But combine auto-correction with alcohol, dark clubs and flashing lights and you are guaranteed an incomprehensible yet often hilarious text.
‘Your brother was adopted!’ ‘What?! Why are you telling me this over a text?!’ ‘I wrote accepted and this phone changed it. He got accepted to Yale’
‘Great news Grandma is homosexual!’ ‘Ok...?’ ‘Ugh. Grandma is HOME FROM HOSPITAL’
‘What’s up? ‘Not much. Just had to discipline my dog for peeing on the couch’ ‘Good for you! You show that dog your boobs!’
‘I’m going to the post office and mailing your birthday prawns’ ‘Lol’ ‘OMG birthday presents’
‘OMG! I meant BOSS not boobs!’
‘?’
‘I just want to give him hugs and STDS’ ‘Hahhahaaha’ ‘NOT STDS.That was meant to say ‘such’
‘Who’s the hotdog rapper?’ ‘Hotdog rapper?! ‘Photographer!!’
‘My shower has nothing but hot Waldo’
‘Are you working at the fair? ‘Yep. Massacring people’
‘Hot Waldo eh?’ ‘Hahaha *water* still haven’t found Waldo’
‘o-0?’ ‘MASSAGE! MASSAGING people!’
10 - 11 FEATURES
Who you Gonna Call? Ghostbusters!
Are ghost images on camera an actual apparition or a superstition? This remains one of the unanswered debates between science and phenomena.
Like most things today, the internet is swarming with people who supposedly know what they are talking about when it comes to ghostly images, UFOs and even Big Foot. One of the most prominent websites in this area is made by America’s Jeff Danelk, who deals with the strange and unusual on television. But whether it is authentic or just a money making scheme remains to be seen. With the recent advance in technology, it is easy to play a practical joke and claim an apparition as real, perhaps using only a digital camera. Otherwise, many result from over exposure or an overlapping of one image onto another. However, Danelk claims that hoax photos can be told
apart by obvious things such as Photoshop editing, dramatic poses and familiar figures. Photoshop edits tend to be even in translucence, whilst authentic ghosts are ‘more solid at some points than at others’. Often, numerous amounts of orb like lights are seen floating around happy snappers. The believers will say they are the orbs of loved ones, whilst the scientists would put it down to some sort of interference with light. But can we ever actually know for certain? Is it about as believable as the life on other planets and alien abductions?
However it is this uncertainty of not knowing whether the photographs are genuine that sends chills down the spine. This is what makes horror movies so popular; although, a snapshot left to your imagination has more thrilling effects than a cliche’d film. Around 40% of the British public believe in ghosts. Some state that this arouses fear as to our mortality,
whilst others say it provides comfort for when we die, giving us some sort of cosmic significance. So how can a camera catch something the human eye cannot conceive? The best answer I came across, states that spirits ‘exist in a certain visual and electromagnetic field that we cannot see, but video cameras and most digital equipment can detect’. This is because they have their own energy and draw the energy from technology. It is undeniably true that the scariest ghost images are those of children. A famous photograph of ‘The Queensland Baby’ of 1946 depicts a baby sat on the grave of Mrs Andrew’s 17 year old daughter. Danelk explains that authenticity is judged by the lack of surrounding background, which eliminates the possibility of a double exposure. The mother had not taken any photos of a baby beforehand,
nor did she recognise the girl. More importantly, it seems unlikely that a mother would make such a mockery of her daughter’s grave.
Jeff Danelk’s website: www.ourcuriousworld.com
‘The Ravena Ohio ghost’ depicts another terrifying image of a girl looking out the window of a house in Ohio. Other activities were apparently reported in the house, such as cold spots and lights turning on and off. The photo was taken by her 14 year old son. She has no other children. Old houses and winding stairways are also a classic setting for the unfamiliar. An image captured of ‘The Apparition of Tulloch Castle’, was taken in 2008 by a 14 year old boy at a wedding. The castle in Scotland dates back to the 1200s. Many have reported seeing the form of a young girl and a middle aged woman: ‘The most famous is the Green lady [who] is believed to be the ghost of Elizabeth Davidson’. Her portrait can be seen hanging in the main hall.
Photography by www.ourcuriousworld.com
A recent phenomena in February, is an apparent ghost caught on a CCTV camera outside of a community centre in London. Despite the caretaker’s nonchalant approach to investigating the noise, and the fact it is a film - making us question the authenticity - it has become a YouTube hit. He was said to be ‘sitting inside the hall and noticed a figure on the front CCTV camera’so went out to check’, but on doing so no one was there, and the figure on the camera disappeared into thin air. Whether any apparition caught on camera is genuine will forever remain uncertain with the majority. It seems more believable when other strange occurrences happen in context. With so many contradictions in society, and people who claim to be professionals, it is difficult to know who to trust and what to believe. Either way the images trigger some sort of thrill in the viewer, and this seems to be the appeal - perhaps people need the unanswerable in their lives. Emma Louise Spencer
12 - 13 FEATURES
Guy: If anyone asks, for our fancy dress we have come as homo sapiens... Girl: What are they? Guy: ...... humans......
Guy: When you play tennis, do you ever accidentally buy a can of Pringles instead of the can of balls? Girl: No, can’t say that I have...
Girl: Can I bring mac and cheese to the performance, or is that tacky? Guy: It’s not tacky; it’s necessary
Guy 1: I’ve got a cough Guy 2: I wonder if it’s the same one I’ve got Guy 1: It’s a cough.
At FND Guy: I’ve just got to tell you that you have the best forehead I’ve ever seen Girl: Ummm...Ok?
Guy: He’s just so annoyingly flamboyant. The first day of lectures I didn’t want to sit in the front row, I was afraid he’d burst into flames.
At Domino’s Server: Would you like this? [pointing to the crust] Girl: No, I want a whole pizza!
The aspiration bra: that onecup-size-too-big one every girl has in her top draw, just incase.
Wasp dramatists: Running screaming and arms flailing. They deserve to get stung.
GOING DOWN
Cashier: May I have your phone number, please? Girl: You’re not my type
Making a revision timetable: Well that’s my work done for the day
GOING UP
Lufbra overheard The sunglass protected stare: Like Facebook stalking but in real life
Pimms: counts as one of your five a day
Sunburn denial: Oh this? It’s just sun kissed
18 - 19 TOTTY SPOTTER
Your Graduation...
is your food and drink organised?
Why not indulge with your family in a
Celebration Champagne Luncheon for that extra special experience Three course waitress served lunch in the EHB (Nutrition Lounge)
Enjoy a summer
Al fresco BBQ Lunch
with a live swing band on the EHB lawn
Book early to avoid disappointment and claim the early bird offer! Visit www.lboro.ac.uk/graduation for further information and to book Other outlets open on the day: EHB BAR EHB SHop EHB LinfoRd REStAuRAnt MARtin HALL pAtio/LAwn BBQ MARtin HALL CAfé JAMES fRAnCE SHop dAvid wALLACE ConvEniEnCE GAzEBo
atkinson’s
Fruit&veg stall outside the ehB every tuesday during term time great opportunity to Buy all your seasonal fruit and veg at market prices
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BANGLADESH
DISASTER The Cost of
Cheap Fashion
Photography byCarolyn Brown
Last month the world was shocked when a garment factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh collapsed, killing over 1000 workers. It sparked an outcry in the media about the un-safe conditions cheap clothing is made in. Some well known high street retailers such as Primark and Matalan have been revealed to have produced clothes in the building, which was deemed unsafe the day before. Management however, told workers to continue working the next day. The Rana Plaza sewed and constructed clothing for companies in the west on each of its eight floors. It is rumoured that due to having to produce clothes as cheaply and quickly as possible, the factory ignored safety notices resulting in one of the world’s largest industrial disasters since 1984. The disaster has sparked pleas to change the way we think about how and where we shop, but how ethical can the high street be? Fast fashion is everywhere and we all love to shop cheaply. Some of our favourite shops use factories in India and China to keep costs low and produce great quantities. This is due to laws on wages and working conditions being different to factories in the UK. A trend for the latest fashions means cheap shops such as Primark have become popular, with more and more stores opening. They produce cheap garments in large bulk, putting
pressure on factories like the Rana Plaza, to reach targets for export to western countries like ours. A selection of well known shops on the high street, such as H&M, Zara and Primark have since signed up to agreements to change fire safety and building regulations in factories in third world countries such as India to prevent accidents like this happening again. But is it all too little too late? Primark are looking to compensate those affected by the disaster, however this is not the first time Primark and other retailers have come under fire about working conditions and exploitation of workers in factories overseas. Recent reports suggest workers in the factory were paid around just £25 per month, there has since been talks to raise the minimum wage of workers in Bangladesh. But if this is why Primark can provide such cheap clothing to us, increasing prices will surely take away the whole concept and reason we all love Primark. There surely needs to be a compromise as this disaster proves we can’t put a price on a life, and cutting corners such as management did and ignoring safety warnings isn’t worth it for that £8 ‘must have’ dress. A slight price increase is easily justified if we can insure our clothes are produced fairly and considerately. Some have called for a boycott on cheap clothing, but surely this is a bit dramatic and being students, hardly achievable. We want to be able to enjoy bargain hunting when
shopping on the high street without thinking of the consequences. This is the responsibility of our favourite high street shops to make sure their production and sourcing is ethical and fair to avoid disasters like the Rana Plaza collapse happening again. Although we view third world production as a bad thing it does provide people with living wage and employment, producing jobs for around 4 million people and accounting for around 45% of job creation in the country. However, this only amasses to 5% of Bangladesh’s’ total income, putting into perspective the low wages paid within the textiles industry. Changes need to be made to make sure disasters like this are avoided in the future, and indeed they are in place. The high street isn’t all that bad, companies such as H&M are leading the way in terms of providing ethical clothing at affordable prices. They often stock fair trade garments among the original lines: they use factories in India but are well known for being transparent and honest in their manufacturing. This proves that we can afford to shop with a clear conscience and know tragedies aren’t just part of the fast fashion package. Anna Birtwistle Style Editor
22 - 23 STYLE
This Old Thing London is one of the many companies involved in our Fashion Targets Breast Cancer fashion show happening on May 25. They will feature in the catwalk as well as having a stall, giving us students an opportunity to blow our loans on some gorgeous jewels. Here Milly Green gets to know the brand a little better. With the rise of vintage fashion everywhere, it is only right that jewellery follows suit. Charli Evans is the founder of This Old Thing London, a London based vintage jewellery company that mine sweeps vintage fairs across the UK. Ranging from ÂŁ49 to ÂŁ380, TOTL collects the best jewellery pieces that suit recent and up-and-coming fashion trends. We got the opportunity to ask Charli a few questions about how her passion for vintage jewellery progressed to the company it is now.
What exactly is your role at TOTL and how did you start? I own and direct This Old Thing London. I started the business in 2011 after returning from an extended tour of Asia, Australia and the U.S. Before leaving for my trip I was a high street fashion PR for a well-known agency having graduated with a 1st class Honours degree in Fashion PR from the London College of Fashion. Here I developed skills for following current trends, promoting brand awareness and being commercially interesting. In my freelance fashion PR work that followed, I worked, very purposefully, with boutique jewellery brands.
How has it progressed since you started? I started as most small businesses do, with ÂŁ200 in my pocket and an idea. The idea
was to buy small pieces of interesting trend lead jewellery that I could sell for a small profit. I tried various things in the formative year, researching and feeling out the trade, going to different places to source items and making contacts with interesting people. This, twinned with hours of learning; reading books, losing money, scouring the Internet and talking to veteran jewellery and antique dealers gave me more confidence to grow and to start buying more important, rarer and designer items and this has promoted extension of the business. I now employ a PR company that deals with all of our Press and a dedicated media girl to look after our blogging and social media.
What is it about vintage jewellery that really interests you as opposed to new designs? At TOTL we steer away from
the word vintage, it evokes an idea of vintage fashion which, while a great and interesting field is not what we set out to achieve with our style aspirations. This is why we refer to ourselves as a Catwalk Couture Jewellers, we provide one off handpicked pieces made by the best companies from the 50s to the modern day. I decided to deal in this medium as it lent itself to my strengths. A fellow fashion colleague of mine once told me “stick to what you know best and you can’t go far wrong” and I whole heartedly subscribe to this. Having been bought up around antiques, in Portobello Road and with my fashion background it made sense to me to look backwards, the best quality items are so often old as there was no shipping manufacture out to South Asia or India. I look ultimately for fine quality in everything we stock at TOTL. So many modern pieces of jewellery even of the highest designer quality are copies of old famous designs and this is another reason we buy runway jewellery, we want to provide our esteemed clients with the originals.
Do you have favourite pieces? Absolutely, it can’t be helped. As I handpick every item we
stock I have a good feeling towards our entire showcase. If something isn’t up to scratch it doesn’t get bought in the first place it is as simple as that. But there are some things that I love and this is usually down to quality of manufacture, rareness or brand. For example I have a love affair with our ever growing collection of 80’s Chanel jewellery, especially the pieces with the statement logo included.
Where is the most unusual place you have found items? The growth of the business in the last few years has meant that I have to travel far and wide to buy the calibre of jewellery found in our Portobello shop. I go to Europe, the USA and country wide in the UK to find beautiful specimens. But probably the most unusual place would be a 30 degree underground garage in downtown New York after a few too many margaritas. Not the way to do business but one has to let the hair down sometimes and lord knows the TOTL girls love to do that! Milly Green
u’s reg TOTL nd visit t u o k a Chec ated blog ost pd the m larly u ebsite for f a kind w eo their nd on round at tiful a a beau ry pieces w. ://ww e ll t e h w , t tp .com/ je n e m o n the m hinglondo ldt thiso
24 - 25 STYLE
But are we at risk of being too convenient and networked? Stop and think about it. Everything’s beeping and glowing, notification lists are now as long as our evergrowing to-do lists, because we’re checking Facebook instead of doing what we’re supposed to do. Whilst we’ve made things quicker and speedier, for ultimate proactivity and production, we actually just spend the whole day catching up with endless feeds and attempting to keep up to date. No wonder it’s called the net or the web; the majority of our generation is definitely caught up in it. It’s not a trap, the internet is unquestionably a wonderful, worldwide phenomenon that has enabled connection, access and activity to people from every corner of the world. It can be an essential tool of education, empathy and inspiration to make a difference. However, so many of us are also addicted to forever scrolling through news feeds, retweeting celebrities and sharing link after link that
our use of technology and social media has just become the ironically, anti-social norm and the height of procrastination. We’ve become apathetic and lazy. Humanitarian aid organisation Unicef has launched a new campaign to combat this very ‘slactivist’ mentality. Unicef Sweden has released a series of commercials to promote monetary donations rather than only social media activity, titled ‘Likes don’t save lives’. It’s disdainfully obvious but Unicef Sweden has clearly felt the need to spell it out to viewers. Some of them take an absurd approach with a pompous man trying to pay for a meal, a sweater or a haircut with ‘likes’ (even asking if the barber has ‘change for 500 likes?’) and closing with the concept that vaccines can’t be bought with likes either. Another commercial is more heartbreakingly unreasonable; an orphan boy at risk of a lifethreatening illness sadly says, ‘I think everything will be alright... Unicef Sweden has 177 000 likes on Facebook’.
As absurd as the commercials might be, Unicef Sweden has an important message. Likes are a social currency with no cost; a currency that our generation or perhaps generations to come might only trade and commerce in socially. Charities and aid organisations have a difficult time asking for money, especially in a world where the global economic crisis appears to have more airtime than generosity and giving does. But Unicef exposes a sober reality: is it is only money that can practically provide and facilitate social action and social change, not social media alone. Sharing a video, retweeting a charitable plea, liking a Facebook page – its something, but it does not make you a social activist and Unicef are right to remind us. It only takes a few seconds to share something but moments later it’s out there and ready to fuel the world’s distractions, hypes and overloads; forevermore sitting stagnantly. Kelly Punton
Illustration by Greg Carter
LIKES DON’T SAVE LIVES
Technology is everywhere and its completely changed the way we live our lives, near enough down to every last detail. Frankly, life can seem a breeze to what it used to be before mobile phones, online shopping and WiFi. We’re all so well connected and technology has made our world one big convenience.
‘I think everything will be alright! Unicef Sweden has 177 000 likes on Facebook’.
26 - 27 CULTURE
e h t enty-seven tw club
“I want to Live fast, die young and leave a beautiful corpse!” laments Pretty Boy Romano in the 1949 Humphrey Bogart film Knock on Any Door - the story of a twenty-something delinquent and his relationship with his lawyer. I wonder if Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison or Brian Jones (Guitarist of The Rolling Stones) ever laid eyes upon Bogart’s film; the four all succumbed to the fabled ‘curse of twenty-seven’ some twenty years later. All four saw their destructive lives ending within two years of each other from 1969 to 1971 in a fiery, drug-riddled cacophony of lavish excess, addiction, and carelessness.
1969 however, was by no means the beginning of this clique. The club embraced a great number of important cultural figures into its realms from other time periods, blues pioneer Robert Johnson was supposedly poisoned by the jealous husband of a woman he flirted with in 1938, Kurt Cobain trained a shotgun to his jaw in 1994, and Amy Winehouse died of alcohol poisoning three years ago in 2011. The death of Amy Winehouse has sparked great interest in the ‘Twenty-Seven Club’, as one more superstar on the conveyer belt of immortality, we are fascinated by the apocalyptic misadventure of those stars that were deemed bigger, better and brighter than the rest. This continuing progress of the club is most interesting to me; I grew up believing it was from a time that was much more excessive that ceased to exist in 1994. Can we really idolize a
group of individuals who were foolish enough to get themselves killed far too young?
It makes sense after a little examination, however, that we should be so interested. We are a culture who both invasively and pervasively yearns for a glimpse into the lives of celebrities, those who are successful for partying and looking good - is this any different from our fascination with the results of such lifestyles? Those who are celebrated are exposed to many opportunities unavailable to the rest of the world and it should come as no surprise that these opportunities come coupled with mortal excess.
The ’27 Club’ are famed for their age, but surely they should instead be remembered for the consequences of the ages they lived in. They are frozen in time with a defined image; when they were allowed to live fast and die young. Sarah Milne’s 2011 book The Curse of 27 is a great study of these cultural icons, along with website: forever27.co.uk James Safford
e h T o T k c Ba ture Fu
MAKING
HISTORY
INTERACTIVE To me, exploring history has always had a sense of adventure about it. It’s always been about investigation and detective work, teasing out the evidence in order to support a conclusion. Others however, may disagree. Recently, History has fallen out of the top ten subjects taken at A level, and has had a steadily declining uptake rate since 2006. To combat this shortfall, History needs to attract more interest, and that’s where Tim Cole, of the University of Bristol, comes in. His intention with this project as well as numerous past ones, is to use technology in order to increase people’s interest in looking at the past. “We’re trying to work out whether places have memories and if so, how can we help people relate to these memories,” says Cole. This current project involves the SS Great Britain, the former steam-ship designed by Brunel,. On board, he has installed mirrors that, when looked in, display flashing images of previous inhabitants. These “augmented reality mirrors” will play in a random loop, the idea being that “Sometimes you’ll see things and sometimes you won’t. We
want to emphasise the view that the past isn’t easy to get at. The past leaves its traces but they’re not there on demand in the present.” The project is in no way complete: currently, Cole, along with Tom Bennett of Interactive Places and Plymouth University is working out the puzzle of creating images that have depth within the mirrors, similar to how a 3DS works. ‘Reflecting the Past’ looks to be up and running in September.
It is interesting that historians are turning to modern technology in order to present the past. The smart-phone industry is booming at the moment, and technology is becoming an ever increasing part of our lives. In acknowledging that, these historians are making a concerted effort to keep History relevant. Whether the bells and whistles of gadgetry are enough to get people back into historical studies, however, remains to be seen. Alex Davies
28 - 29 CULTURE
LABEL LOVES
Albums Everyone has that one album that they love every single song from. It may be an album that others love or hate, but you love each and every bit of it. This issue, some of our writers here at Label Music have been thinking about this and put forth what their favourite album of all time is:
#01
Led Zeppelin
IV
#02
There is no record quite like Led Zeppelin’s 1971 classic IV. I never tire of hearing this band’s special cacophony of genres that Messrs Page, Plant, Jones and Bonham mercilessly beat together into a fine, pure pulp of a record. We start off with the ruckus brawl that is ‘Black Dog’; the band somehow finds a beautiful unity amidst the debris of force, power and volume. The record then dramatically changes shape with songs ‘Misty Mountain Hop,’ ‘Stairway to Heaven’ and ‘Going to California’ all providing a soothing emission into something a little folksier. No record has had such an effect on me since being introduced by my father so many years ago. James Safford
Arctic Monkeys Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not
Despite my disappointment at their recent releases, I will always remain one of the Arctic Monkey’s most avid fans. Therefore my choice for Label Music’s favourite albums goes to their debut, Whatever People Say I am, That’s What I Am Not. After its release on January 23 2006 it became the UK’s fastest selling debut album, and remains the fastest selling debut album by a band. My criteria for a brilliant album is if I can listen to it again and again and even again and still love it as much as I did the first
time I heard it. I have listened to this album more times than I remember and love it more and more each time I do. It contains two number one singles in the form of ‘I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor’ and ‘When the Sun Goes Down.’ From the mellow tune of ‘Mardy Bum’ to the energetic tempo of ‘From the Ritz to the Rubble’ this album has something for everyone, and for me, it is one of the greatest albums of all time. Ella Stanbrook
#03
David Gray
White Ladder This isn’t the usual genre of music that I listen too, but this album is a combination of a timeless classic and a guilty pleasure for me. I was introduced to David Gray by my dad when I was younger and this album became a sentimental album for when we would go on a road trip. The album features many sing-along classics such as ‘Please Forgive Me’ and ‘Babylon’ in which Gray’s husky voice becomes the voice in which you try and sing each word in. It is possibly the most chilled album
ever released and will always be the one album that instantly raises any mood for me. If you are one of those who has not heard of David Gray, this is certainly an album to listen too. You will find yourself looking at the rest of his albums spanning a twenty year career and still going strong. I will always love this album and I never get sick of playing it. For a long drive home, there is no question as to what will be on my speaker system! Dan Nicholson
#04
Guns n Roses Appetite for Destruction
This was the first album I ever bought with my own hard-earned pocket money, despite it being nearly 18 years old at the time. Unsurprisingly, it is one of the most decorated albums ever made, being ranked at 18 times Platinum and having sold over 35 million copies, but at the tender age of 13, I thought the likes of ‘Sweet Child of Mine,’ ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ and ‘Paradise City’ were properly awesome songs. Even the fillers got me hooked when listening to it for the first time, with tracks like ‘You’re Crazy’ and ‘Anything Goes’ (which is hilarious when you hear the words). I like the way that every track has its own story too. Each one
was written with a purpose, or about somebody, which really gives them some substance when compared to some of the factoryproduced efforts of modern pop. Well, all except ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’, one of the most instantly recognisable songs of all time, which Slash wrote as a joke. But that just makes me love it even more. Adam Twigg
30 - 31 MUSIC
8tracks Among the multiple online music channels available comes one you may not have heard of, 8 Tracks. However unlike the majority, 8 Tracks is not a platform from which to download good music, but simply a platform upon which to listen to good music. Founded in 2006, and launched on the August 8, 2008 (08/08/08), the idea behind 8 Tracks came from the belief that “handcrafted music trumps algorithms”. The founders wanted to create a space where DJs can share their talent in taste making, and thus provide exposure for artists. 8 Tracks revolves around playlists. Registered users can create their unique playlists for visitors of the site to use. Each playlist is ‘tagged’ under one or several tags, such as ‘dance’ or ‘relax’. By selecting a combination of tags, for example ‘summer’ + ‘happy’, multiple playlists come up that have been tagged with these two genres. Working during the day, I would tag ‘study’ and ‘relax’ and immediately I have a plethora of music at my fingertips specifically chosen for working. You can steam playlists for any mood or occasion from every
genre and country. I use it daily, and find it a fantastic tool for discovering new music. If you make your own account you can create a playlist yourself. You can then share the mix with your friends and much like Twitter, attract followers to your account and build an 8 Tracks audience. Much like most things these days, 8 Tracks is of course available as an app for the iPhone and android, so you can take your personalised playlists everywhere you go. The proof of its potential lies in its accolades, with TIME magazine naming it the ‘best website of 2011’. It is a simple, fun, creative and most importantly, free and legal way of enjoying great music. Flicking from YouTube video to YouTube video can become tedious and annoying, but with 8 Tracks, a finely tuned playlist has already been created, specifically designed for the mood or occasion that you need it. It is safe to say, once you go 8 Tracks you will never go back! Ella Stanbrook Music Editor
LABEL LOVES
man like me Ever wondered what a blend of Ska, Grime, Pop and Indie sounds like? Meet Man Like Me. Hitting the scene in 2010, this group of young Londoners brought a breath of fresh air to the music scene. Best known for the incredible live sets, Man Like Me are sure to be a hit for years to come. Last year, the band spent most of their time playing live shows across the UK, with supporting dates with Hot Chip, Lady Sovereign, Zero 7 and Madness. They then went on to perform at some of the UK’s biggest festivals including Big Chill, Bestival and Glastonbury. This is when the band is at their best. They look at home on a stage and in front of a crowd as if they belonged there. Lead singer Johnny Langer bounces and
prances round the stage as if he owned it and has a very good stage presence. The rest of the group follow suit and they all link very well when it comes to group parts and dance routines. Their live shows incorporate a full brass section and a drummer who provide a carnivalesque ska and reggae style performance. They mainly perform hits off their album ‘Pillow Talk’. Most people may not have heard of this band, but put on ‘London Town VIP’ and I can guarantee that you will spend the next few days singing it along in your head. The band is brilliant at creating memorable and catchy tunes that can be sung back to them. Songs such as
‘Squeeze’ and ‘Sleaze’ capture this very well and are the type of songs that will be belted out across festivals nationwide. Signed up to a certain Mr Mike Skinner’s record company, the group have worked with the likes of Clive Langer (Madness), Charlie Hugall (Florence & the Machine, Crystal Fighters) and Niyi. Normally I would recommend you to get the bands album, but to truly appreciate just how good these guys are, you NEED to see them live. I can guarantee you will be blown away. Dan Nicholson Music Editor
32 - 33 MUSIC
Rod Stewart 1st June 2013 Capital FM Arena Nottingham
What’s Going On Around Loughborough?
Miles Kane 1st June 2013 O2 Academy Birmingham Neil Young & Crazy Horse 11th June 2013 LG Arena Birmingham Tegan and Sara 12th June 2013 The Institute, Birmingham Josh Groban 19th June 2013 Nottingham Royal Concert Hall Olly Murs 23rd June 2013 Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire Rufus Wainwright 7th July 2013 De Montfort Hall, Leicester Funeral for a Friend 6th July 2013 Roadmender, Northampton Kings of Leon 9th July 2013 LG Arena Birmingham Modest Mouse 17th July 2013 Rock City, Nottingham
Tabata Torture
Tone up with Tabata
Your days of slugging away on the treadmill may be over, Label Sport introduce a new exercise phenomenon; Tabata Torture. When it comes to working out and fitness, the philosophy tends to be the more the better. Most people believe that pounding the treadmill for hours on end, or bicep curling seven days a week are likely to provide the summer physique that we are all after. What if you didn’t have to share the sweaty gym and fight over the squat rack for longer than you currently do? The answer may just be Tabata training. The programme consists of 20 seconds of maximal effort activity such as squats with added weight or press ups, followed by a mere ten seconds of rest. Of course this all sounds easy, yet the eight sets are bound to leave you collapsed in an exhausted heap. It is fundamental that the final two sets should feel almost impossible, to the point where you can no longer go on. Most people during the beginning of these programmes cannot make it past set six and seven. The programme is made up of around four to eight different sets that aim to work the whole body, encouraging a combination of cardiovascular activity and weight based exercises. It was originally designed for the Japanese speed skating team, when the link between the high intensity exercise and vast cardiovascular improvements were first noticed. Yet due to the high intensity nature of the programme, as well as the fat burning qualities that come as a consequence, it has become incredibly popular on the fitness circuit. Tabata burns on average an extra 150 calories within a 12 hour period compared to other types of cardio training, making it a perfect alternative to those punishing long runs on the road. Other benefits include an increase in metabolism and of course the added bonus of spending less time in the gym. With all of the benefits of Tabata, there are of course some disadvantages. Due to the high intensity nature of the training, those who do not already have a high level of fitness could be at risk of cardiac arrest and other health concerns. Form and technique can also be easily forgotten during the programme, so watch your posture and ensure the exercise is being completed correctly. Rebecca Oldham Sports Editor
e to se p to want u u u o r y e n If s in th volved in lt u s re t in quick eason ge urself to yo hs h c s a u e b and p a s. t it a m b Ta your li ry it out T ? d ste ttp:// Intere elf here: h / s r rg u for yo atraining.o t a b ta
High Bench Alternating Jumping Step-Ups Using a high step start with one foot on the floor and the other on the step. Push up, switching legs as though you are completing a jumping lunge. Ensure you are working to your maximum capacity for each 20 second set. Do make sure your knee does not go over your knee though in order to avoid injury.
Mountain Climbers Starting in a plank position jump each knee towards your hands, ensuring that the movement is quick and explosive. Continually switch legs for eight sets of 20 seconds, trying to beat your mountain climber score each time. TIP: Engage your abs for a full body workout.
34 - 35 SPORT
Sub-Aqua:
An Alternative to Competitive Sport at Loughborough The AU Sub-Aqua club may not be one you have heard of before. With 44 members this year, but without a place in BUCS, it seems that at times the non-competitive AU clubs in Loughborough can be overlooked. But as one of the most unique activities, with perhaps the most exciting trips around, it’s time for this club to get some of the recognition it deserves.
Sub-Aqua is a scuba diving club, which is set up to take both novice divers who require training and seasoned divers. A few weeks ago, myself and Label’s art director Ana Curbelo, were invited for a ‘try dive’ to get a feel for what this lesser known AU club does. Our two instructors were both current students at Loughborough, who through their time in Sub-Aqua, have reached teaching status. Going under the water to start with was a very weird sensation, mostly because as my instructor Jess, pointed out, being underwater for a long period of time is completely unnatural. The idea of the air tank running out, or that my mouth-piece, which was 100% secure, would fall out, made me panic the first few times I went under, meaning I quickly signalled to go back up again. At that point, I was unsure if I was going to enjoy this activity at all, but after letting my irrational fears go, I started revel in this completely new sensation. Within our try dive session, we were just taught the basics in scuba dive signalling. The OK hand signal meant you were fine, thumbs up meant you wanted to go back up from underwater, and waving your hand meant there was an issue, which you would then point out to your instructor. One of the things I
found most strange, was the fact you were unable to talk throughout, to say that you were enjoying it or that you were getting used to it now. The silent language of scuba divers, and the idea that you can only share your experiences and thoughts through very simple hand movements is just another thing that makes this club unique. As the instructors pointed out, scuba-diving in the Loughborough swimming pool has its limitations, but after getting used to being underwater I could imagine how incredible this sport could be somewhere else. Currently, new divers spend the winter months in the Loughborough pool, getting used to the experience and the skill it requires, before beginning to dive in open water locations once it starts to get warmer. Seasoned divers have the opportunity to dive all around the UK all year, on the clubs summer, winter, and easter trips, as well as trips organised by club members themselves. The club currently runs an annual trip to Egypt, but is now looking into running trips to Croatia, Malta and other destinations in the coming years. One of their current members has even been offered, through the club, a job in Croatia this summer as a dive guide.
Mitch Quinn, one of sub-aqua’s training officers, stated ‘it’s the cheapest diving you’re ever going to get and you get to learn a new skill in a relaxed and friendly manner. It allows you to go diving all over the world, most importantly you get to do it with friends... It’s a unique opportunity and it’s something different to put on your CV‘. Being a person who has never been big on competitive sport, this is the sort of AU club that if I had my three years at Loughborough again, I would definitely consider joining. As with many things at university, it’s the cheapest chance you’ll get to delve into this new skill, and just one other thing that could add to your Loughborough experience. Grace Meritt Editor
36 - 37 SPORT
Interview
Andy Borrie continued
During the ten years that you’ve been here, what would you say has been the biggest development in sporting provision in Loughborough? I think the biggest change is the professionalisation of the way we deliver sport to the students. Over the last ten years we’ve increasingly changed the systems that allow us to deliver sporting experience to students – everything from the student performance programs and the way we interact with the Athletic Union, to the way we’re now running and delivering My Lifestyle, and the IMS systems in the middle.
You’ve spoken about resources being slightly scarcer than they were ten years ago, but Loughborough does still tend to lead the way in terms of sporting facilities. Where does most of that money come from – how is it funded? If you look at the track record of investment in facilities here, we’ve done very well out of the National Lottery. So actually, if you look at the total facility stock, the external investment is an awful lot higher. If you look at the recent refurbishment at HIPAC, or building the National Throwing Centre, or refurbishment in Powerbase; significant proportions of that come through those external funding streams – from UK Sport and Sport England capital funding. The fact that we have those partners on campus – like ECB, British Swimming and UK Athletics – means a huge amount to the resource base that we can tap into. The reality is that the students enjoy a phenomenal physical environment that has been very heavily invested in by partners.
A few weeks ago I spoke to Andy Borrie, the Deputy Director of Sport at Loughborough University. Read the second part of that interview here.
It was announced in the last few months that Loughborough are going to open up a campus in the Olympic Park in London. What kind of an impact do you think that’ll have on the university’s sporting performance, if any at all? Genuine answer? I don’t know, because we haven’t really explored those thoughts yet. I think it’ll have an impact on our engagement with sport – I think it’ll be easier now for Loughborough to interact with major sport in London. That’s where UK Sport are based and Sport England are based, so you suddenly have greater ease of access to significant partners based in the capital. I think that will help to embed Loughborough in the heart of British sport. In terms of our own performance, I genuinely don’t know. It will be a really interesting period of evolution, but I don’t doubt that at the end of it, we’ll be stronger in British sport.
BUCS win for another year.
With the 33rd BUCS title heading for Loughborough campus, this season has provided Wednesday afternoons with some dramatic victories and surprising defeats across the country. Birmingham and Durham have tested Loughborough across all disciplines, making many across campus question whether BUCS victory can be guaranteed for much longer. Yet, as always, Loughborough will head into 2013/14 looking for their 34th consecutive title, pushing aside any challenges, under the leadership of new director of Sport, Peter Keen. Label looks at the highs of the 33rd successful Loughborough BUCS campaign. Both the athletics squad and the swimming team maintained their superb form to warn off any challenges for their titles. The BUCS indoor athletics competition, held in EIS Sheffield, gifted Loughborough a total of eight gold medals, six silvers and five bronze. The three days of intense competition left Loughborough at the top of the women’s and men’s competitions, with 77 points and 90 points respectively. The results were replicated as Loughborough headed to Bedford’s athletics stadium for the outdoor competition, subsequently picking up the men’s, women’s and overall title. The Loughborough swimming team also remain undefeated after securing victory at the long course BUCS swimming championship, picking up a total of 886 points across the year. Further highlights to the BUCS season include the national finals held at Leeds Met, which saw no fewer than eleven Loughborough teams looking for titles. The most outstanding of these came from the AU Club of the year, Badminton. The men’s and women’s squads managed to secure a famous victory, adding to their already fantastic season. The women’s pair of Hui Lin and Hui Ern secured the victory, with Loughborough securing the women’s title 5-2. The men had a close fought final, winning 10-9. Both Loughborough Rugby 2’s and the Men’s Football 1’s boasted Golds, with Loughborough football securing the treble to round off their season. In the rugby, Loughborough beat Bristol from a James Moffat penalty, winning 24-23. Whereas at the new Loughborough stadium, Nottingham faced the wrath of a skilful Loughborough Football side seeing them clinch a 6-0 victory to ensure a golden season. With the season drawing to an end, newly elected Jennie Cooper has a real job on her hands for the 2013/14 season and the Loughborough AU head on in search of yet another BUCS title and ensuring the competition remain at bay. Rebecca Oldham Sports Editor
38 - 39 SPORT