FRESHERS’ SPECIAL EDITION
VOLUME , ISSUE
Musings of an Ex-Keelite, p. 6 Asphorisms on University, p. 8 A Snapshot of Keele: the 1970s, p. 12– 13 Society Spotlight, p. 16-19
Keele U i ersity’s Stude t Magazi e
F eshe s’ Spe ial Ediio
5
Volu e I, Issue I
Hello all! If you are a returning Keelite, welcome back. If you are a new student, then a massive congratulations. Whether you’re doing a post-grad or under-grad, no matter your age, degree subject, ethnicity or views on squirrels, you are now officially a member of the Keele Army. I am Editor-in-Chief of Concourse for the 2015/16 academic year. The last few months have already been a massive learning curve for me, but I promise that I will bend over backwards to make this year an outstanding one for Concourse. Over the summer, we have chosen a brilliant editorial team who are bursting with enthusiasm and new ideas. Our aim is to ensure that we deliver interesting and exciting content for you to read. After all, we are run by students, for students! There will be plenty of opportunities for anyone and everyone to get involved throughout the year, if they so wish. Freshers: make the most out of these next three years, because they will fly by unbelievably fast. Here at Keele you will have the time of your life, make solid friendships and find a welcoming community you can belong to, simply by being yourself.
Concourse will have a stall in the Ballroom at the Society Sign-Up Fair, so feel free to come and meet the team, or have a chat. You can also shoot me an email at editor@concourseonline.com. I don’t bite, promise!
Carrie Hodgkins
Concourse: What’s it all about?
4 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 13
Ahmer Aziz
Keele Labour Students Newcastle & Keele Conservative Future Animanga Love Keele: Love Dance
Emily Myers
Concourse Editorial Team Take An Interest in Politics
Keele Enactus
17 18 18 19
James O’Crowley
Simon Hickie What’s New at Keele?
17
Alice Spikings
Matthew Duncan Snapshot of Keele: the 1970s
Keele Psychology Society
Emily, Secretary of Keele Labour Students
Laura Johnston Freedom and All It’s Joys
16
Erika Lee
Alex Mazey Changing the Way You Learn
Top Tracks of 2015… so far!
Psychology Society Committee
Maia Snow Asphorisms on University
15
Sadhana Pillai
John Morris Taking the Plunge
Review: Mad Max (2015)
Michael Kalafatis
Concourse Editorial Team Musings of an Ex-Keelite
14
Jon Robinson
Carrie Hodgkins Over the Summer
Nightline: Here to Listen
14
19
Concourse is Keele University’s independent student-run publication and makes up fifty percent of student media at Keele. Established in 1964, Concourse has a long history of promoting student journalism and encouraging the unique student voice which can be found on campus. From Keele news to literature, from sports to environmental issues, from comment pieces to reviews – Concourse caters for an audience of around 10,000 Keele students, providing the perfect stepping stone for budding writers. Anybody who is currently attending the University, or has previously attended, no matter when they graduated, is welcome to contribute.
Concourse wouldn’t exist without our dedicated team of writers. So, why not join us? We are always looking for enthusiastic students to get involved with the magazine. No previous experience is necessary, only an immense amount of passion. Whatever you like to write about, whether it’s current affairs, music or film reviews, or you have a niggling issue you wish to share, we pride ourselves in making your voice heard.
What’s it all a out? Writing for a student magazine looks fantastic on a CV. It shows passion and creativity, two key qualities which employers look for in job candidates. You can also add your articles to either a print or online portfolio too! And if you’re considering a career in journalism, you need the experience – the industry has never been more competitive. But mainly, you should join Concourse because it’s fun! We try not to not be stuck behind a computer all the time. Our office space is located in Chancellor’s Building B, in the AMS Undergraduate Resource Centre. There you will usually find our Editor busy editing articles and drinking coffee. Every week, we also book a group study room in the library where anyone, from Editors to contributors can come and work on stories together, sharing advice and tips. We also hold numerous socials, varying from card games in Lindsay Bar, to nights out at the SU, to bowling in Stokeon-Trent, and cinema trips to Vue in Newcastle. There is something for everybody, so come and have some fun and make new friends. It’s super easy to get involved. All you need to write your article and send it to: editor@concourseonline.com. Simples! If you are struggling with direction or inspiration, just shoot us an email and we’ll help you out.
It ight ot feel it, ut three o ths is a lo g i e - it’s easy to iss out o all-thi gs stude t related hi h ha e ee goi g o , oth at Keele a d a ross the ou try. Here’s hat’s ee happe i g hilst you’ e all ee e joyi g the su !
TUC and NUS sign campaigning partnership- On Tuesday 25 August, the TUC and NUS signed an agreement for joint campaigning between the trade union and student movements for the upcoming academic year. This means that the two bodies will commit to working together to fight discrimination on campuses across the country, in workplaces and in wider society, aiming to defend further and higher education from privatisation.
Chancellor George Osbourne announces maintenance grants will be scrapped- In July, it was announced by the Chancellor that the maintenance grants given to poorer students would be replaced by loans. He also announced that university tuition fees would be linked to inflation. According to the Sutton Trust, this could see fees rising to £10,000 by 2020.
On average, students already leave university with an average debt of £35,000. Scrapping maintenance grants would increase this figure to £53,000.
More students are working to fund their studies- A survey carried out in August has found that the number of students working whilst studying for their degree, has risen dramatically. Around 77% of students now work to make some extra cash to fund their living costs. This has risen from only 59% last year. Most of these students work a part-time job, but nearly 14% worked a full-time job during either term-time, holidays, or both. What’s more troubling, is that 56% of those who hold a job said they worked because they had under-estimated the costs of university, particularly accommodation. According to the National Union of Students, the annual rental cost outside of London average £4,989 and the average yearly shopping bill totals £1,954. The overall total expenditure on living costs, per student is thought to come to around £12,000.
Take a breath, take a deep breath. You're about to
embark on some of the most exciting, terrifying, energising, challenging and simply indescribable years of your life. Be ready to grab university with both hands and not let go until it ends. For it will end, much quicker than you'd like.
During your first year you'll wrestle with the myriad opportunities offered to you. Follow my lead: do as much as you can fit into each day, before deciding which opportunities speak to you. Are you a writer? A dancer? A board gamer? A politico? A presenter? Don't know? Then find out; this is what the early days of university are for. Second year will roll around in no time at all., and third year soon after. These are the years that the academic work collides into you. But don’t let this put you off from standing for committees, running for elections and taking an active role in your chosen society. By the end of your time here, you'll look back nostalgically at the all too many all night library sessions you did to fit societies in and realise they were worth it. Choose one society, two if you're audacious, and plan your time accordingly. If all goes well then you'll find yourself standing on the stage in the chapel as you're handed a very expensive piece of paper, hopefully with the grade you desired scrawled onto it. A heads up: university will be the worst period of your life, but it'll also be the best. They'll be the greatest days of your life, and your worst. There will be times where you' struggle to carry on, points where you want to leave.
But there will be points where you've never been happier, when you know you've found the place you love. The next three years will be so intense; it will muddle your emotions and make you rethink everything. From the first few days awkwardly talking to new block mates, to your last days drinking pints in the Scruffy Squirrel, not to mention all the days studying, drinking and socialising in between. It will be nonstop. A roller-coaster. A smorgasbord of life. So long as you give it all you've got, ultimately it doesn't matter what grade you walk out with. Showing your employers a 2:1, or below, but backing it up with thousands of hours of participation in societies will look better than the applicant with a first and no experience. Don't worry too much about your grade, but do try to make it a good one. And if it all does goes badly don't worry - I failed to complete my degree and I'm about to start an internship in parliament, less than six months later. Keep your chin up, life can take you on strange routes to success. I loved and hated university in equal measures. That may sound like a false compliment but, trust me, when you've done your time, you'll understand my ambivalence. John Morris
The two months of madness which followed were wonderful. My schedule was packed with mad rehearsals and socials, as well as meeting and getting to know some awesome people. After discovering how much I enjoyed being in this society, I realized something that I should have known from the beginning - I should have joined earlier. My biggest regret (no honestly) from my first year at University, is that I didn't get involved in Drama from the jump. You may think that this would be obvious, but even just plucking up the courage to audition was difficult. It took a lot of convincing from my friend. I was super nervous to meet new people and be sociable, as I'm not what you'd call a "social butterfly". If someone asked me how I found my first year at Keele, I would immediately say variations on the word 'amazing'. Honestly, how could it not be? I made some great friends, got placed with a great bunch of people to live with in Halls, some of whom I’m living with for my second year. I also achieved some great stuff. My only regret is that I didn’t start sooner. My first semester at University was a rather sober affair. Instead of the usual antics you’d typically expect from a student (partying until the sun comes up), my nights were spent watching marathons of my favorite TV shows, tucked up in bed. Although that might sound like heaven to some of you, and whilst I certainly enjoyed it, I finished first semester having made only three or four friends - great friends, nonetheless. I hadn’t met a million new people from all over the country like I’d hoped, and I hadn’t properly participated in any of the societies I had joined. However, when I started my second semester, I was determined to do this one differently. So I auditioned for the Drama Society’s first play of the year – Writer’s Block – in which I got the main role.
Most freshers are very willing to jump straight in and get involved - that is brilliant. However, if you’re like me and are nervous about taking the plunge - don't be. I know that's so hypocritical coming from me, but if you can get past the nerves, I implore you, listen to Shia LaBeouf...
Maia Snow Gei g i ol ed ith so ieies du i g ou i e at u i e sit is e i po ta t. It sho s oi aio , passio a d looks g eat o ou CV. You a i d out o e a out the so ieies at Keele poppi g alo g to the Ball oo du i g F eshe s’ Week: Freshers’ Fair Mo day th Septe
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So iety Sig Up Tuesday th Septe
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When Antoine Roquentin was talking about the nausea, surely he was describing the experience of a Freshers' fair the only place on earth that can truly push an individual in to the crisis of existence, beyond, of course, the usual midlife, messy divorce. My first time at a Freshers' fair was the first time I had truly been alone, unsure of myself, and surrounded by strangers. My younger sister, a London-based, biomedical student, had told me all about the spread of germs and the dreaded Freshers' flu. Surely, Freshers' fairs were how these gruesome, university-orientated influenzas began – through the close proximity of minds, all searching for the elusive promise of a new hobby or interest.
Team - all colours and whirling noises. It’s you unsure of your philosophic agency.
I say Freshers' fairs make you question your existential meaning, because they do. One look at the Vegan society will make you reconsider ten years’ worth of dietary requirements. Every table, every club, every Dominos pizza voucher and drinks offer is a question about yourself and how you live your life. Am I really into home economics, Japanese animation and Quidditch practice? Did I really need a free bottle of sparkling perry so liberally advertised as Champaign? – I asked the nightclub marketer if the Champaign was an Aube or a Côte des Blancs, they replied: ‘Mate, it’s just Prosecco.’
I have experienced several Fresher’s fairs, at least two. A brisk walk around the multitude of information booths and leafleters is all it takes to experience one. These places are bustling, like a Moroccan goods market, and just as over-stimulating. It’s like trying to watch your eight year old cousin go ten minutes on Skylander’s Trap
Maybe you had a kick about with a football once, or maybe you even enjoy sports. And sure you liked doing a marathon of Full Metal Alchemist on Netflix, but does that qualify you as an anime fan, worthy of the title? There are all of these options, leisurely pursuits and quests for lifelong friendships - but ask yourself - is it really the time to commit to a mailing list? Or, dare I say, NUS club subscription?
Feeli g lost at the F eshe s’ Fai ?
There are other deep, philosophical things you have to face at university too, like finding yourself; personally, spiritually or, if so inclined, politically. Self-enlightenment doesn’t come through pensive meditation on the weathered steps of Tsing Shan Monastery. It doesn’t even come from inter-railing to Budapest (no matter what dreadlock’s Dave from Sixth Form told you).
Do ’t feel p essu ed to sig up to a so ieies, e e if the do gi e ou f ee s eets. Ha e a good look ou d a d see if a thi g takes ou fa , the go a k to ou oo a d sleep o it. If ou’ e sill u su e, the Ref eshe s’ Week i Ja ua , a sig up to so ieies ate the ha e to setle i a d get i gs!
e’s al a s he e ou ou’ e had ou ea -
Self-enlightenment comes in the everyday things; the things you’ll have to do between lecturers, because despite what the Marxist professor says, food shopping is important, and a necessity. Ask any parent or guardian – the wise sages of life. Most importantly, there’s real opportunity at University too, like the opportunity to write and have your voice heard.
Of course, not all student-run magazines are like Concourse, and like walking through a Fresher’s fair, speaking your mind is not always an easy thing to do. Last semester, my reasonable criticisms of a certain creative institution were not appreciated, and I was told, had the prosecution been ‘a real publisher’, they would have outright refused to deal with me. My unwanted comments had formed a controversial defence for certain unconventional decisions made by an author, in this instance, myself. Consequently, I was rejected for their literary publication - even after being initially accepted – because so much damage can be dealt in the honesty of a paragraph – or the jest of a poem. And perhaps I should have considered this particular rejection as a lost opportunity – another consequence
of my integrity. But I do not confuse conformity with opportunity, although it is easily done. My final suggestion then? Do not be like so many at University. Do not be easily fooled and remember – ‘The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself.’ - Friedrich Nie-
tzsche. Alex Mazey
Everyone hears about the massive changes in your social life
year, thinking about all of the 'free time' I would have
at university, but it’s not often that you hear about the aca-
was exciting. I was only in eight hours a week , however,
demic aspects. For many people, the biggest difference in
I quickly found out that I didn’t really have any free time -
learning at university compared to college or sixth form, is the
don't be deceived!
greater need to be independent.
Very quickly, I had to learn the necessary skill of
I quickly realized that being self-motivated at university
time management. Prioritizing time to do work wasn't
is crucial- there aren’t any teachers (or parents if you're not
something I’d ever had to bother with. At school, there
living at home) nagging you to get work done anymore. You
was always scheduled time slots for completing any
need to have the drive to keep up with your studies and also
work that needed doing. But at university, because
self-confidence - to know that you have the abilities needed to
you've got to use your 'free time' to work, it can be diffi-
complete the work to the highest standard and get it handed
cult trying to juggle everything else that may be going on
in on time.
in your life, such as a job, social life, relationships, activi-
Doing all of my work at home, rather than in a classroom setting with a teacher always on hand, was brand new to me. In school, it was so easy to shoot your hand up and ask the teacher every simple question that came to mind. Yet, now, I'm all too aware I have to be more independent in my learning. It’s daunting. Keep in mind though, e-mailing your tutor or organizing an appointment to meet with them for some guidance is always a good idea, especially in the first few weeks of a module and around assessments. They're always pleased you're being proactive and are happy to point you in the right direction. Another major change is the difference in the contact time. When I checked my timetable in first
ties, sports etc. It's just all about prioritizing! If you've always had a steady amount of small pieces of work given to you, then the workload at university can seem quite different. Usually, when you get to degree level, your assignments are due less frequently, but are usually longer in length, with much more time and effort required. Surprisingly, I enjoy putting my all into a few pieces of work rather than working my way through a load of pieces just to get them ticked off. But there are many who struggle with this new way of being assessed, which usually results in all-nighters in the library, eating sweets and drinking Red Bull. Of course, there are also the new learning envi-
ronments that come with university. Lectures theatres are probably the biggest difference to what new students are familiar with. Listening to a person talking for an hour straight, whilst deciding which parts are important enough to be written down, is typically a brand new concept, but something you will master in time! Seminar rooms have more similarities to a classroom environment, except there is a focus on engagement with the topic and contribution to discussions rather than just showing up. If after reading this you are starting worry, please don’. While it might seem daunting and a big change to begin with, you do get used to these differences you experience at university and forget that it was ever any different! Laura Johnston
You don't know the meaning of freedom until you have been to university. Sure, everyone is in the same boat as you, and although you may be spoon-fed certain things during the first week (you need to be or all hell would break loose), you are still free from the rules and limitations of your parents house. Freshers’ Week was fun. I made a lot of choices: some that were stupid and some that were smart. Some led to long lasting friendships and some only led to six week friendships, but I made them all the same. The best thing is, I made every single choice myself.
It’s something you realise when you're up at 5am and have no milk left for that cup of freshly brewed tea. Then, as if God himself has willed it, you look in the fridge and there is a bottle sitting and staring at you. Just the right amount for that perfect cuppa. It isn't yours but destiny seems to have blessed you. Do you take the milk? It's only milk after all. You can replace it tomorrow; you won't, but you could. Surely you can't though, what if someone walks in? What if the owner of this milk catches you? It seems insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but in these moments, you realise the freedom you have. Life at university offers new rewards and challenges everyday. Freshers’ Week especially allows you unadulterated freedom. You will make bad decisions at uni and you'll make great ones. You'll make life changing ones you couldn't even have dreamed of a few months beforehand and you'll fret over less important ones, such as which shelf to choose in the fridge (HINT: Always go for the top one). You are free to do what you want, whether it be pondering the moral ambiguity of stealing milk, choosing your bed time, making choices surrounding careers, or deciding which societies will look best on your CV. It doesn't matter what decisions you make, what’s important is that YOU are making them. University is not so much a chance to let loose as it is to let go. Whilst freedom may come with its consequences, you make the choices, you direct your life, and nothing feels better than that. Now, I have a carton of milk I need to replace. I wouldn't want the owner to realise it's missing. Matthew Duncan
estimated. When two of my own children left for Keele themselves in 2002 and 2004, I made sure they were armed with sufficient sweet comestibles to share with fellow block mates by way of introduction. From that first day, I determined that the key to survival at the 'dream on the hill' (or 'Kremlin on the Hill' as it had been christened in its early days by unenlightened bus The old li a
atalogue. I age edit: Keele U i e sit
conductors), was to join in as much as possible.
As usual it was raining. It was my first time away from home
From memory, Freshers' Week was, in fact, a Freshers'
on my own and I had been deposited outside the Students'
Fortnight. So many societies: which should I join? In the
Union with only a pair of suitcases for company.
end, the Film Society, Keele Tories (OK, I was a political rebel
Some six weeks earlier, in August 1973, I'd got my 'A' level results: an A, an E and an O - insufficient to get me into my first choice. As my insurance, Keele took me on, despite their offer of a couple of Bs not being met. Perhaps my Headmaster had given me a good reference. Maybe it was the 'S' level Merit in Economics. I'll never know. So, here I was: in the rain, knowing nobody and nothing of the great 'Keele Experiment'. I was guided to my room by one of the many student helpers. I shut myself away until the Freshers' welcome meal in Lindsay refectory, willing the hours to pass more quickly. At the appointed hour, the
- for a student), Ichthus (The Catholic equivalent of the Christian Union) and the Chess Club. Then there were Wednesday afternoons. First year students were still required (or was it just 'encouraged') to take part in some sort of sporting activity. I'm completely useless at all sports, except darts, but non-engagement wasn't an option. So, it was badminton and table tennis for me. Clare did badminton
too; and she'd joined Ichthus. We married in 1979. Phil did table tennis and he was in the Chess Club. We've been friends ever since and recently exchanged 60th birthday cards.
migration from study bedrooms to the refectory began. The
Reflecting on the 1970s would not be complete with-
relief of being with fellow freshers, cannot be over-
out reference to 'Murden Meals'. Most students lived on
campus for all four years. For some, the desire to escape the perceived (but almost certainly overstated) horrors of the refectory meals included in residence fees, was such that the Barnes and Hawthorns flats (I believe they were called LFAs
What’s e this ea at Keele?
at the time) became heavily oversubscribed. In hindsight, they were actually pretty decent - especially for the average 18 year old for whom the Golden Wonder Pot Noodle would not be launched until 1977. Then there was beer. In the Students' Union, eight pints cost a pound and a cheap bottle of wine, usually Hirondelle, would also set you back around a pound (yes folks, about £20-25 in today's money). So much of what I know about the history of Keele
Ope i g of Well+ phar a y: Re e The SU spa e, pha a
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University, I wish I'd known back in 1973. But there was no Internet and John Kolbert's book, Keele the First Fifty
Years, was still 27 years from being published. With such a rich and diverse history, I'd encourage you to explore Keele yourselves and find out what make this University such a unique and wonderful place. You can view the full article on our website. Look our for Simon’s next installment of ‘A Snapshot of Keele: the 1970s’ where he discusses the Great Toilet Roll Shortage of 1974. Simon Hickie
Update o Bar es a d Ha thor s redeelop e t: Ate a le gth appeal, the U i e sit has ee u su essful i o e tu i g the de isio of the lo al ou il ega di g the pla s fo Ha tho es a d Ba es. The desi ed pla s a e to uild t o e lo ks i Ba es, oth ith disa led a ess, the de olish Ha tho es a d uild eside ial housi g. Although a u e of stude ts eje t the pla s, the ha e ee d a up e ause Ha tho es is outdated a d i a o sta t state of dis epai . Ha tho es Halls a e e dea to a stude ts hea ts. What do ou thi k? Should the U i e sit de olish Ha tho es? O do ou ha e a alte ai e soluio ? Ho ould ou ealisi all sol e the p o le of outdated a o odaio ? W ite a a i le a d e ail it to editor. o ourseo li e. o
The O igi al SU Buildi g. I age edit: Keele U i e sit .
You Chief Edito of Polii s is Ah er Aziz. If ou ha e a i te est i polii s a d ould like to pu sue it ii g fo Concourse, please e ail hi at: polii s. o ourse@g ail. o With no general election fever until 2020, it may seem difficult to remain engaged with politics, particularly over the summer. It’s perfectly understandable when the sun is shining and there is fun to be had. Now Ed Miliband has left the political scene, who is there to poke fun at? The 2015 general election saw David Cameron consolidated his grip on number 10 and the country with a conservative majority, but at least he put a Keele alumnus in his cabinet! Have a look of Google, I’m not lying. The word on the street though is that the PM will have his work cut out over the next five years. 56 Scottish MPs, the looming referendum and a resurgent or new ‘new’ Labour Party will put more pressure on the government,
more so than what they’ve dealt with over the past term of office. It will be interesting to see how the PM handles these imminent issues. You can be certain that Concourse will be watching closely and reporting on their every move. Keeping up-to-date with politics is important. It may be relevant to the course you are studying or related to what you want to o after Keele (if you ever leave). Best of all, it gives you something to talk about and discuss with other people it the know (or in my case, something which doesn’t consist solely of the latest football results). Ahmer Aziz
Nightline is a welfare support service, run by students, for students. Our trained student listeners (who are all anonymous) are there every night to support their peers, by phone, email, SMS or instant messenger. The great thing about Nightline is that it’s confidential - you know that you’re speaking to a fellow student, but neither of you know who the other is. And everything you say stays confidential. Another, is that we’re there from 9pm-3am, when most other services aren’t available. Also, we don’t give advice. That last one puzzles some people, but it’s a great thing. There are loads of places you can go to get advice, but not many where a real person will just chat to you unconditionally and without any judgement for as long as you want. Not everyone realises this, but Nightline is quite a big movement. There are nearly 40 Nightlines in the UK now, covering millions of students, and it’s even started to spread around the world. The first Nightline was set up in 1970, and we think Keele Nightline followed very soon after, so it’s nearly as old as the University itself! When I think of the hundreds of students who’ve helped keep the service running, some far older than my parents, and the thousands and thousands of students who will have used the service over the years, I think it’s quite humbling to be part of that. If you fancy joining us then we’d love to have you. You can register your interest at our website: www.keelenightline.co.uk, or look out for our stall at the Freshers’ Fair. Jon Robinson
You Chief Edito of A ts & Cultu e is Alex Brazier. If ou ha e a i te est i a thi g elated to the a ts o ultu e, a d a t to o t i ute to this popula se io , please e ail he at: arts@ o ourseo li e. o
You Edito of Fil & TV is Oliver Hacket– Watso . If ou e jo at hi g tele isio , ii g e ie s o a al si g il s, the e a t to hea f o ou! Shoot hi a e ail at: il @ o ourseo li e. o
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“As the world fell, each of us, in our own way, was broken. It was hard to know who was more crazy … me or everyone else.” Tom Hardy’s voice-over introduces us to a post-apocalyptic future. There is a serious lack of water and gasoline, resulting in the earth being ruled by anarchy and gang warfare for the monopoly of these resources. After the voiceover, Max is captured by the ‘War Boys’: pale bald-headed scavengers who have a fanatical devotion to brutal patriarch Immortal Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne, who also played the Toecutter in the first Mad Max). Joe promises them they will arrive in Valhalla wearing shiny chrome mouth paint if they stay loyal to him. Max is taken to the mountain where Immortan Joe resides. They tattoo his back and he becomes a blood-bag for Nux (Nicholas Hoult), who desires nothing more than to die gloriously on Fury Road. He also delivers, what is arguably, one of the best lines in the film “Oh, what a day! What a lovely day! “. The story really begins when one of Joe’s lieutenants, Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) makes a detour and goes East rather than head to Gas Town for supplies. With her are Immortal Joe’s five prized breeders (one of whom is Rosie Huntington -Whiteley, who gives a surprisingly good performance). They are heading towards Furiosa’s birthplace called “The Green Place”. As Immortan Joe discovers Furiosa’s betrayal, he pursues her with his armada of ‘War Boys’. All the while, Max is strapped onto the front of Nux’s car. When they are near to catching up, they encounter a sandstorm. This sequence is filmed in vivid yellow and red and is one of the most captivating and mesmerizing sequences ever put on celluloid. Michael Kalafatis Che k out ou
e site to get the full a i le.
You Edito of Musi is Sadha a Pillai. If ou app e iate good usi o fa ou self a usi ii ue, the e ail he at: usi @ o ourseo li e. o
With the year close to coming to an end, it’s time to look back on the music we’ve tapped our feet to along the way. Of course, everyone knows the likes of popular numbers like ‘Uptown Funk’ and ‘Bitch Better Have My Money’. So here’s a handpicked list of five songs from a mixed bag of genres, which deserve a little bit more of our love! ‘Jungle’ by X Ambassadors- The heavy bass and rebel- sic, laid-back beat. lious lyrical content are powerful enough to unearth previously undiscovered head banging tendencies - one could almost call it Radioactive 2.0.
‘Heavy is the Head’ by Zac Brown Band- Don’t mistake this for a new single by Soundgarden or Audioslave. ‘Heavy is the Head’ is a breakaway from convention as the
‘Devil Pray’ by Madonna- Is quintessential and contro- band opts for an unusually gritty rock sound instead. Songs versial Madge at her best, exploring themes like addiction, like this just may pave the way for more genre crossovers in spirituality and self-destruction. The influence of Avicii, who the industry – a trend that’s picking up in the country scene co-wrote and co-produced the number, is evident in the beat lately, à la Taylor Swift. drop.
‘Daylight’ by the Young Guns- From the new album
‘California Roll’ by Snoop Dog- if you’re looking for a from alternative English rock band, the silver lining track mellow west coast jam, you’re in luck. I mean… Snoop Dogg ‘Daylight’ deserves to leave the deepest footprint from all teaming up with Stevie Wonder and Pharrell Williams to pay four singles they’ve put out in 2015. tribute to a futuristic vision of Los Angeles? It really doesn’t get better than this! Fans have described it as a clas-
Sadhana Pillai
Keele
So iet We are Keele Psychology Society and this year, with a brand new, super-enthusiastic committee, we plan on making the society bigger and better than ever! We’re all about getting Psychology (and non-Psych) students together to have a fun, stress-free time outside of lectures. We have had many socials, from dressing up as babies and grannies (Freud theme, of course!), to scavenger hunts, and even a trip to an indoor play area! In addition to our great socials, this year we would love to organise study groups and bring in external speakers to further enhance what our students are taught in the classroom. Students, whether they study Psychology or not, should definitely join our society- it’s a great way to meet like-minded people and to get to know fellow course mates. We have BIG plans for this year- we want to redesign our logo, order society hoodies and even organise an end of year ball. For just £2 a year (which costs less than a pint in the Scruffy Squirrel!), you can get discounts on our events throughout the year as well as discounted society hoodies. For more information, feel free to message one of our committee members, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter!
Psychology Society Committee
Do YOU want to stand out to future employers? Do YOU want to volunteer and make a difference? Do YOU want to empower yourself and people in need? If you said YES to any of those questions, then JOIN ENACTUS! By joining Keele Enactus, you will gain skills and experiences outside your degree subject, as well as being a part of the world’s largest, university based, non-profit organization. Having Enactus on your CV will definitely help you stand out from the crowd. Training will be given to new recruits and we encourage students from any academic discipline to help us develop projects. We create economic opportunities for people in the Staffordshire area, by helping people to develop various life skills. For example, Keele Enactus has previously been involved with teaching English to migrant communities and teaching IT skills to the elderly. There is an annual series of regional and national competitions that allows teams to present their project results to business leaders. National champion teams will advance to the Enactus World Cup, and with your help, this could be us! Here in Enactus, whilst we work hard, we definitely play harder! This year, we have several themed night outs planned such as army night, cops and robbers and Greek night as well as non-drinking socials such as a Netflix and pizza night. We hope to see you soon! Erika Lee
Have you ever wanted to discuss politics, go to European Parliament, eat biscuits, campaign, meet politicians, and regularly nearly win pub quizzes? Well, Keele Labour Students could be the society for you! We meet regularly to talk about current events and take part in local campaigns. We are fairly informal and in joining there is no commitment to campaign, so if that’s not your thing, don’t worry. Last year we had several guest speakers, such as MEP Sion Simons, Tom Watson, Tristram Hunt, and our local MP Paul Farrelly. Other exciting events included a visit to the People’s History Museum in Manchester and took a trip to Brussels with an MEP for the West Midlands, visiting the European Parliament and eating lots of waffles. Whichever faction of the Labour party you identify with, we welcome and respect your views. Even if you voted differently in the leadership contest, please don’t feel like your views might be ‘too far’ in any direction; it only makes for more interesting debates. Last year was obviously highly focused on the General Election, but we are still looking forward to what this next year may bring for the Party and for our society! If you like the sound of Labour Students and would like to get involved, or have any questions, drop us an email at su.labourstudents@keele.ac.uk
Newcastle-under-Lyme and Keele Conservative Future Society (NKCF) is for supporters and followers of the Conservative Party under the age of 30. It’s free to sign up and you don’t have to already be a member of the Conservative Party - we welcome everyone. We hold relaxed and informal meetings once a week on a Tuesday, where we chat about the week’s news over a pint. On the weekends, there is the option to go out campaigning with the local Conservative Association. Recently, NKCF have attended events alongside some of the biggest political figures in the country, including David Cameron, Nicky Morgan and Boris Johnson. In the lead up to the May 2015 General Elections, many of our members campaigned with the local Newcastle-under-Lyme Conservative Candidate Tony Cox, as well as campaigning on the 2015 Conservative Battle Bus. This year NKCF is going to the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester. Last year we had a brilliant time, and encourage even more NKCF members to come along. NKCF is a great gateway to get involved in politics and with events ranging from trips to Parliament to a day out paintballing (with lots more in the pipeline), NKCF is a society you should consider signing up to! Twitter: @KeeleCF Facebook page: www.facebook.com/newcastleandkeelecf
Enjoy a bit of anime? Have an interest and want to learn more? Or are you even a self-confessed otaku? Even if you don't know what that means, be sure to give Keele Animanga Society a look! We meet every Wednesday and screen a range of shows, from recent action hits like 'Attack on Titan' and popular family films like 'Spirited Away', to psychological masterpieces such as 'Perfect Blue' and classic 70's robot action from 'Mobile Suit Gundam'. There’s something for everyone. Our society is a great way to experience another culture through exploring their unique art forms. We also regularly host outings to Japanese restaurants and attend conventions such as MCM Midlands and Doki Doki Manchester. New this semester we're holding a fortnightly Manga Book Club, starting with works such as 'Liar Game', 'Uzumaki' and 'Mermaid Forest'. Our society is a great way to meet those with whom you share a common interest, and enjoy a fun, friendly atmosphere. We can't wait to welcome our new members! James O’Crowley
Keele Dance is a popular society on campus which specialises in four different styles- ballet, tap, modern and hip hop. For each style we offer a beginners or advanced level. Dance Society is extremely active throughout the academic year, holding exciting themed socials regularly (and yes we do ask the DJ to put the songs on we have routines for so we can continuously show off our great moves!) The society also performs at FLIRT nights in the SU, to raise money for various charities. Last year, we flawlessly executed a flash mob right in the middle of Chancellors building, creating quite a stir. To top of the year, Dance Society organises an amazing show, which has won ‘Society Event of the Year’ several times, as well as raising some much needed funds for the Donna Louise Hospice, based in Newcastle. It is a society for students, run by students! All our coordinators choreograph the routines whilst balancing their lectures and social life, and we always have lots of fun. If you are looking for an exciting way to meet friends, further pursue a hobby or just want to try something new, then Keele Dance Society is the one for you. Oh, did I mention we also have great socials? Emily Myers
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