The Demon - Issue 78

Talking technological: Smartphone Fashion

‘Multiculturalism has not failed’ Jamie Smith discusses David Cameron’s controversial speech

Diablo Page 5

Demon Page 7

DSU Election Special Executive candidate manifestos inside

Issue 78

22 February 2011 The Newspaper of the Students of De Montfort University

FREE

Circulation 2,000

Fee cap proposals ‘lack teeth’ Victoria Coffey & Naomi Marcus News Editors

In a letter from business secretary, Vince Cable and universities minister, David Willetts to the Office for Fair Access (OFFA), the ministers have warned that the government will seek to contain tuition fees if too many institutions try to raise charges close to £9,000.

It is thought the government may allow terms of intervention with regards to the tuition fee levels set by institutions if too many abuse the £9,000 fee cap.

Re-establishing their stance that the upper end of the fee limit should only apply in ‘exceptional circumstances’, the ministers asserted the government should be given authority to intervene if it is felt that certain universities are abusing the new system.

Promising to keep a close eye on the impact of the higher fees, the ministers wrote: “If the sector as a whole appeared to be clustering their charges at the upper end of what is legally possible, and thereby increasing the pressure on public funds, we will have to reconsider what powers are available, including changes to legislation, to ensure there is differentiation in charges.”

NUS President, Aaron Porter, has responded to the publication, saying it failed to include any concrete requirements for universities to improve access.

He said: “The ministers’ letter expresses some welcome sentiments about contextual data in admissions, investment in improving access outcomes and pushing universities to be more accountable for their

Vince Cable and David Willetts’ letter hinted at intervening if universities charge more than they can justify. Aaron Porter criticised the intention as being vague.

access records but the overall tone is that ministers feel sanctions should only be enforced to limit government spending rather than student investment.”

Porter rejected the ministers’ claims of ensuring it would only be a small minority of universities that would charge the maximum.

He added: “The government have clearly dropped their commitment to stopping all but an ‘exceptional few’ universities charging above

£6,000, and are now simply going to hope that not all of them charge the maximum.

“These proposals lack any real regulatory teeth, and there is nothing to suggest that OFFA will be given the resource or capability to enforce the vaguely expressed desires of ministers.”

Second year DMU student, Jay Evanson said: “I am so glad I came to university when I did. The whole thing looks like it’s going to be a

nightmare for students.

“I’m glad to be avoiding it, but unfortunately my little sister has it all ahead of her.”

The ministers’ letter stated that any universities that wish to charge more than £6,000 in annual tuition fees must complete an access agreement signed by OFFA, which will be renewed each year.

If any university fails to comply with the agreements, OFFA will have the ability to revoke the contract

to keep access for lower income students open.

While the letter is optimistic in tone, its lack of a definite plan has drawn criticism.

Mr. Porter added: “For those prospective students thinking of applying for university later this year, this guidance does nothing to clarify what options are available to them, whilst comparing universities looks set to be more bewildering than ever.”

2 | Tuesday 22 February 2011

News Egyptian President stands down Stuart Blythe

President Obama said: “The people of Egypt have spoken, their voices have been heard, and Egypt will never be the same again.”

The protests began in response to a similar uprising in Tunisia where there were mass protests to remove their President, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. The first protest in Egypt began on January 25, which coincided with their national holiday, ‘National Police Day’.

A massive 45,000 people protested in Tahrir Square in the capital Cairo, along with thousands of others across Egypt. Protests inevitably turned into riots which broke out in Cairo. The police force had to use water cannons and gas to control the situations but they were overcome by the protestors.

Thousands turned into a whopping million people in Tahrir Square on February 1 and on the 2nd a peaceful protest turned violent by proMurbarak supporters, with vicious

stone and petrol bomb battles.

Eventually, after over a fortnight of protesting the public won their fight against the dictatorship of their government on February 11 with Mubarak’s resignation. In a BBC News article, Egyptian novelist Ahdaf Hosni Mubarak stepped down after 30 years of presidency Soueif reflected on the determination of the Egyptians Although this is a mighty victory for and said: “I feel that I need to keep the Egyptian public, this is just the my concentration trained on this first step towards democratic reform. baby, this newborn revolution. I On February 14 more protests broke need to hold it safe in my mind out in Egypt with people demanding better pay and conditions from the and my heart every second - until country’s military rulers. it grows and steadies a bit. Eighty million of us feel this way right now.”

Improved application process for Student Loans Company

Woman denies role in double murder

After 18 days of protests, Hosni Murbarak has stepped down as President of Egypt. As well as this, the entire Egyptian Parliament has dissolved and Egypt is now under military rule.

Just a few days earlier the President of Egypt announced that he would continue his post until the end of his term and would hand down the reigns to the vice president, Omar Suleiman.

However, on Friday 11 February, the Vice President announced that the presidency had been vacated and the army council would run the country.

His words had a frightful tone as he said at the end of his speech “may God help everybody”.

This was a massive victory to the Egyptian public who celebrated a new era of Egypt and will always be known as the ‘Egyptian Revolution’.

In a BBC News article, US

Lucy McDade

Student Finance England is urging students to apply for their 2011/12 funding early to ensure payments are made by the start of the year.

The company have launched an improved application process, which will make applying easier, and have included simple instructions and guidelines with the forms.

The changes mean that returning students whose circumstances have not changed and do not receive a means tested loan, one that is not based on your parents’ household income, will not need to be reassessed this year.

Therefore, students will not have to fill out the application forms and will just have to simply sign a form and send back to the Student Loans Company (SLC).

Students who receive means tested loans will follow the same procedures as last year and will have to apply either online or by post.

The changes are being brought in to reduce the time and effort for those going into their next year of university, and students will benefit from having their application assessed earlier.

The loans company processes around 1.3 million applications for finance each year, therefore they are encouraging students to apply as early as possible to receive their first

payment at the start of the term.

Andy Topham, Assessment Manager at SLC said: “The best way to ensure you’re financially stable for your next year of study is to apply for your student finance now.

“Over the last year, the Student Loans Company has been working hard to improve the application process. But the system still needs returning students to apply correctly in order to receive their money on time.”

The company has come under fire in recent years due to the delay in some students receiving their loans after the local authorities no longer processed the applications.

In 2009 it was reported that 50,000 people started university without receiving funding.

Any students who need help or advice regarding filling out finance forms should visit the Student Administrative Support Division at the student enquiry office in the John Whitehead building.

The desk is open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 4.30pm, alternatively you can e-mail sas@dmu.ac.uk. You can apply for your student finance now and the deadline for applications is 30th June. De Montfort’s fees for 2011/12 are £3375 for full-time Home and EU students, and £665 for placement year students.

To apply online visit www.direct. gov.uk/studentfinance, or for any queries contact Student Finance England on 0845 3005090.

Naomi Marcus News Editor

A woman, who is charged with the murder of her husband and her exlover’s wife, is denying the charges.

Hazel Stewart, 47, is accused of involvement in the double murder, which took place in May 1991.

Her ex-lover, Colin Howell, admitted that he had murdered his wife Lesley, and Hazel’s husband, Trevor Buchanan, so that he could be with Hazel, with whom he was having an affair.

Howell, a former dentist, aged 51, confessed the murder to members of his church two years ago, and has since been sentenced to 21 years in prison.

He admitted to drugging his wife, then connecting a hosepipe to his car exhaust and running it through to the living room where she slept.

He claimed she woke briefly and called to her eldest son for help, but the mother-of-four died within minutes.

Howell apparently then spoke with Stewart on the phone, saying: “I'm finished with Lesley. Is everything ready?

I'm coming round.”

He then put his wife’s body in the boot of his car and drove to Trevor Buchanan’s home, where he murdered the policeman.

Howell drove both the bodies to an empty car park in Castlerock, County Antrim in Northern Ireland, and set it up to look like a suicide pact by connecting a hose to the exhaust and leaving the engine running.

Stewart is being investigated for her part in these murders, which Howell claims she made no objections to.

This Day In History 22nd February...

Born: 1732: George Washington 1950: Julie Walters 1974: Chris Moyles Died: 1371: King David II of Scotland 1987: Andy Warhol 1879: American businessman, F W Woolworth opened his first store in New York.

1886: Daily newspaper 'The Times' was the first to introduce a 'classified personals' column.

2006: At least six men staged Britain's biggest robbery ever, stealing £53m from a Securitas depot in Kent.

1997: Scientists

announced that an adult sheep named Dolly had been successfully cloned.

Dolly was the first mammal to be cloned from an adult somatic cell, using the process of nuclear transfer.

She lived to be six years old, and has been called the "world's most famous sheep" by the BBC and Scientific American.

Hazel Stewart was described in court as ‘an accomplished liar’

He told the court that Stewart’s only cause for concern was getting caught, not the actual act: “I remember her saying ‘if I get caught I will slit my wrists before they come to get me.’”

Stewart’s account of the incident has changed over a series of interviews over a three-day period, causing her actual role in the murders to be questioned.

Initially she said that it was all Howell’s idea and that she had no involvement, but later she admitted to opening the garage door to allow Howell to drive his car in, changing her dead husband’s clothes after Howell carried out the murder, and destroying the pipe used to poison the two victims.

Stewart claims that she did these things because she was afraid of Howell, and that he had her in his ‘psychological grip’.

Howell however has claimed that he was trapped in a web woven by Stewart, with whom he was obsessed, and claimed that she had first seduced him.

After a consultation with a psychiatrist, Colin Howell has been diagnosed as psychotic, which he rejects.

The case continues, and is expected to last four weeks.

She was named after Dolly Parton.

She lived her entire life at the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh, and never slept outdoors due to security reasons.

She produced six lambs in total; a single (Bonnie, 1998), then twins (Sally and Rosie, 1999), then triplets (Lucy, Darcy and Cotton, 2000).

She died of lung disease, which was not attributed to her cloning, and is said to be quite common of her breed.

Dolly was the only cloned lamb to survive to adulthood from 227 attempts.

The cloning system may be used to produce transgenic livestock, and help end extinction of species, but one of Dolly's creators said in 2007 that the process would probably never be viable for human use.

240 Narborough Road

73 Leicester Road, Wigston

10am – 5am, 7 days a week.

www.dominos.co.uk

10am – late, 7 days a week.

DH00624_Leicester News Ad.indd 1

Student Life Never Tasted So Good

Call DomiNo’s

HUNGRY?

LONDON RD & NARBOROUGH RD OPEN TILL 5AM 7 DAYS A WEEK!!

10am – 5am, 7 days a week.

(0116) 299 6600 (0116) 299 6611 (0116) 292 0001

148a London Road

14/9/10 15:53:16

4 | Tuesday 22 February 2011

News

UK inflation reaches 4% Victoria Coffey News Editor

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has said the UK Consumer Prices Index (CPI) has risen to 4% in January, up from 3.7% in December.

As the figure has reached its highest since November 2008, more pressure is being put on the Bank of England to curb rising inflation in the UK. Following the release of the figures, Bank of England governor, Mervyn King has been forced to write a fourth letter to Chancellor George Osborne.

Worryingly, in this letter Mr King stated that CPI inflation is expected to remain above the 2% target throughout 2011 before decreasing in 2012. He said: “The Monetary Policy Committee’s (MPC) central judgement, under the assumption that Bank rate increases in line with market expectations, remains that inflation will fall back so that it is about as likely to be above the target as below it two to three years ahead.”

Mr King has blamed the increase on “the rise in VAT relative to a year ago,

the continuing consequences of the fall in sterling in late 2007 and 2008, and recent increases in commodity prices, particularly energy prices”.

A statement from the ONS agreed with Mr King’s assumption that the increase was due to the rise in VAT. Following the release of the figures, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) warned that although a rise in interest rates would be likely, the MPC should wait until all aspects of the government’s spending review are in place to avoid detrimental effects.

Former chancellor, Lord Lamont told Sky News the figures were not as bad as in previous years. He said: “We are not going back to the sort of inflation we had in the 1970s and 1980s, double digit, 15% anything like that. This is an upset, something that wasn’t expected but it’s not like the inflation we’ve had in the past.

The bank would be well-advised to make some modest increases later on so as to be positioned if inflation got unexpectedly worse that they didn’t have to hike rates by an enormous amount.” The increase in inflation has also meant bad news for savers. With

UK CPI may not reach target until 2012

CPI reaching 4%, the figure means a basic rate taxpayer would need to earn 5% on their savings, a rate that does not exist across any standard savings account. This means that there is currently no fixed-rate savings product that will allow a basic rate taxpayer to match or beat inflation with the current CPI rate leaving them at a loss of nearly £350 per year. Money expert, Andrew Hagger of Moneynet said there was little consolation at this time. He said: “Even though we’ve started to see a few better savings rates in the last week or so, any extra benefit to savers is being totally wiped

out by the soaring cost of living.”

Howard Archer, economist at Global Insight said it would be likely that any increase in interest rates would be slow to avoid extreme financial disaster. He added: “Even if interest rates do rise sooner rather than later, the probability remains that they will move up relatively gradually and remain very low compared to past norms, as monetary policy will need to stay loose for an extended period to offset the impact of the major, sustained fiscal squeeze. Our view is that interest rates will only rise to 2% by the end of 2012.”

Are universities a public good?

Hannah Slater

Bishop of Leicester Tim Stevens and Vice Chancellor Dominic Shellard led a day-long series of debates entitled “Are Universities A Public Good?”

With the coalition government’s controversial policies currently redefining the role of the university in society, this timely issue was discussed by students, staff and the Leicestershire community in three lively and stimulating debates held on campus.

The discussion explored the wider purpose of universities beyond their traditional role of awarding degrees.

A wide range of topics, from cuts to citizenship, local partnerships to Aristotelian ethics were debated throughout the day.

As well as students and staff, local school teachers, business leaders, charities and individuals came to participate.

Martin Leach, a lecturer in Philosophy, Anatomy and Physiology at DMU, argued that universities were undoubtedly a public good.

He said: “Society benefits from investing in institutions that enable those of its citizens who want to to develop in such a way as universities allow. Ultimately, they are an investment in the common wealth.”

Tuition fees rises were touched upon, with much discussion of the commodification of tertiary education through the introduction of a market based fee system in 2012, and how this will affect the interaction of universities with society.

Dominic Shellard commented on the contradictions of his role as both the Vice Chancellor of DMU, committed to the development of students both academically and as citizens, and as its Chief Executive, responsible for maintaining the university as a viable commercial enterprise in today’s tough economic climate.

The Vice Chancellor said: “Today was an opportunity to discuss some of the most pressing issues facing universities today.

“It was a chance to engage directly with students and the community and the debates completely exceeded my expectations. I hope that this is the start of an exciting journey.”

There was a strong sense throughout all the debates that universities are indeed a public good.

Participants talked of universities not only as a hub for intellectual and moral learning but also as a practical force for good in the community.

Each year, hundreds of hours of

voluntary work are completed by DMU students within the local area, providing essential support to a variety of organisations as well as giving each student a sense of citizenship and responsibility in society.

Third year International Relations and Politics student Rob Gough agrees that universities are a public good.

“Universities are there to give people the knowledge and qualifications to find a job and to give people new experiences and new Bishop of Leicester, Tim Stevens ways of thinking as well as introducing give their ideas on how they see what new ideas. universities should be.”

“And they are there to increase The day saw thought-provoking our knowledge and understanding and insightful comments from a range through research and provide future of individuals, dispelling the notion of expertise.” students as apathetic about their place He said of the debates: “It was great in society. to see greater discussion between the Bishop of Leicester, Tim Stevens university and students and it was said that the lively debates were “what also good to see so many wanting to university should be all about.”

News in brief Leicestershire job queue lengthens More than 1,300 people joined the dole queue last month, a new report has revealed.

This brings the total number of people out of work and on Jobseeker’s Allowance to 21,003 in Leicestershire alone, which is a rise of 6.8%. It is thought this sudden rise is due to temporary seasonal posts finishing, as well as redundancies and recruitment freezes in the public sector. Max Boden, policy manager at Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce said: “This is not a shock. It was foreseeable.”

Zinc can help ease the common cold According to scientific evidence, taking zinc supplements can help symptoms and duration of the common cold.

It can also be used to keep the cold at bay but experts say it cannot be used in the long term due to risk of toxicity and work is being carried out to specify the appropriate dosage.

Scientists believe that by coating the virus, zinc can stop the common cold taking effect as well as helping the immune system.

A goldfish trick has angered Chinese animal rights groups The trick, which involves six goldfish swimming in formation, apparently magically, has sparked anger from more than 50 animal rights groups across China.

Magician, Fu Yandong has denied accusations that he uses magnets to control the swimming patterns of the fish. He said: “If I used magnets, the fish would stick together. Some people say I use electricity or high technology.

They can say what they want, but the fish are safe.”

Tuesday 22 February 2011 | 5

News Vice-Chancellor takes to Twitter Leonie Sturman

Social media has integrated into the very fabric of life at university.

Checking updates on Facebook and Twitter have become second nature to students on the go, as well as staff.

Our newly appointed ViceChancellor, Professor Dominic Shellard is definitely no stranger to the wonders of social media. In fact, he is encouraging us to use it. Fresh from an interview with ITV regarding our Comedy Festival, I meet with our Vice-Chancellor. Luckily it isn’t the same feeling as meeting your Head Teacher. He apologises for the delay and chats with me about his morning rehearsal for the upcoming Comic Relief dance-off against the SU. The thought of him exchanging his suit for a classic 70s shirt, flares and big cheesy medallion to dance to ‘Night Fever’ is amusing. I admitted seeing it on his Twitter feed (under @DMUVC). When asked why he decided to set up the account in the first place, he replied: “I wanted

to find a variety of ways in which I could communicate with staff and students. Using Twitter is part of a range of communication methods I have, ranging from direct addresses with students and staff, meetings, podcasts, emails and I’m about to do a webcast.” Sitting opposite me, he checks his Twitter feed on his iPhone, describing how he’s just passed the big 1,000-follower-milestone. He gives me the low-down on what’s happening on his feed, one student asking him if he’ll see their gig at the Comedy Festival and tweeting a student back asking why they hate Wednesdays. He tweets to his followers about our meeting, and comments about how Twitter is a good and quick way for students to get hold of their Vice-Chancellor, as well as gauging what people are thinking. “I want more students to start asking questions,” he says.

Knowing just how hard it is with our current financial pressures caused by the government, he knows we all have questions and he wants to be there to answer them. When asked what exactly we tweet him about he

English Defence League members charged over march Jaymi Lee Wilmin

The police have arrested and charged 11 more people with offences in connection with last year’s English Defence League protest in Leicester.

The 10 men, aged 18-44, and a boy, aged 14, are the latest to have been arrested, charged, or cautioned with crimes linked to last October’s demonstration, bringing the total number to 24.

The English Defence League (EDL) is a group dedicated to protect the country’s ‘Englishness’, however, the group is now facing charges of racism.

Chief Superintendent Rob Nixon said: “While it has been several months since the demonstration, we have continued to investigate where we believe offences have been committed and we have brought offenders to justice in local courts.”

The protest, which took place on Saturday, October 9 2010, turned violent after 1,000 EDL protesters clashed with 700 counter demonstrators from the Leicester Unite Against Fascism group.

According to the police, the most recent suspects to be charged were not from Leicestershire.

The men and boy have been charged with crimes such as attempting to commit criminal damage and affray.

They are all due to appear before magistrates by Tuesday, March 15.

Approximately 1000 police officers from 12 forces were sent to assist Leicestershire police for the planned protest, which took place in Humberstone, Gate East.

Nine men, some of which are from Leicester have already appeared in court for their part in the protests.

In the largest police operation in Leicester for 25 years, some of the EDL protestors threw bottles, cans, bricks and coins at officers throughout the two hour long demonstration.

Police officers are continuing to look through the CCTV footage of the protest in order to uncover any more potential criminals.

Tom Mycroft of Leicester Unite Against Fascism, said: “We're not aware of any of our people being arrested on the day or subsequently as a result of the police investigation.

“We contacted a firm of solicitors to be on the safe side, but in the event it passed off really peacefully from our point of view.

“We always said that we were organising a peaceful demonstration of Leicester's unity and that's what we achieved.”

Spokesman for the English Defence League, Guramit Singh, was unavailable to comment on this issue.

simply replied, “Anything.” Proud of the fact he is one of only six ViceChancellors in the country tweeting, he is adamant he is the only ‘proper’ one, tweeting every day. And he doesn’t only talk about university issues. Professor Shellard is a very passionate QPR fan and even has his own ‘VC Book club’ on Twitter reading ‘Tales of the City’. “I’d also like to get all my Tweeps together over summer,” he adds. With over 1,000 followers and growing interest, I’m

guessing it would end up being a large event. I think we all have questions about university life, especially in hard financial times such as these but we don’t know who to ask. Our ViceChancellor isn’t there to just publicise the successes of the university. He wants us to start asking questions so he can start answering them. Check Vice-Chancellor Dominic Shellard out on: www.Twitter.com under ‘@ DMUVC’

News in brief Imperial College announces they will charge £9,000 One of the top institutions in England, Imperial College London has become the first UK University to announce they will charge £9,000 annually from 2012.

In making the decision to charge students at the upper end of the fee scale, they will have to provide support for lower-income students to the Office for Fair Access. Rector Keith O’Nions said: “For those who can manage Imperial’s courses, the college will work to ensure they can manage its costs.”

Former children’s TV presenter warns of a ‘crisis’ in programming for children

Vice-Chancellor uses Twitter to communicate with staff and students

Post-study work important for international students Hannah Elkes

Three-quarters of all international students would not come to the UK if they did not have the option to work after graduating, according to a recent NUS survey.

The survey was launched to understand the effects of the proposals made by the UK Border Agency, which included closing or restricting the post study work route and limiting the amount international students can work during the week.

Aaron Porter, the NUS president, gave evidence to a Home Affairs Select Committee hearing about the value that international students can bring to the UK. He said: “Allowing students the option to work in the UK after they have finished their courses is an important incentive when encouraging what is vital foreign investment in our higher education system.

“The money those graduates earn often goes to paying back student loans that might not have been covered by salaries in their home countries.”

Almost all of the 8000 international students surveyed, said the ability to work in the UK after they had

finished studying was important to deciding to come to the country.

These findings demonstrate that if less international students come to work in the UK, the economy could lose out on the valuable income that comes from one of the UK’s important export industries.

The universities would suffer as well, as the annual fee paid by international students from outside the EU, who took part in the survey was of £25,000.

This is a vital source of income for many universities. International students need to be encouraged to come and study in the UK, and be shown the benefits that moving to the country could have on them.

Aaron Porter said: “These graduates benefit from increased employability in their home countries due to work experience in the UK and the UK benefits from adding many highly skilled graduates to the UK workforce.”

Floella Benjamin, the former presenter of kids’ programme, ‘Play School’ said ministers and broadcasters needed to “wake up” to the “crisis” that is now children’s television programming.

Branding current television for children as “surrogate parenting”, Lady Benjamin added: “I ask the government to find creative ways of funding to maintain the traditional wellmade British pre-school programmes which contain all the necessary and essential elements required for our children’s wellbeing.”

More Facebook friends can lead to stress, study reveals A study carried out by researchers at Edinburgh Napier University has revealed that people with the most Facebook “friends” are likely to feel increased stress on the social networking site.

Dr Kathy Charles who led the study, said many of the results were contradictory. She added: “Although there is great pressure to be on Facebook there is also considerable ambivalence amongst users about its benefits. We found it was actually those with the most contacts, those who had invested the most time in the site, who were the ones most likely to be stressed.”

6 | Tuesday 22 February 2011

Talk

Guess who’s back!

I’ve been brought off the substitute bench and back in to The Demon to cover Miss Seabrook as she recovers from a nasty bout of man flu. The Demon team have allowed me out of the dark cupboard to write something deep and meaningful, I just hope I don’t disappoint them. They bite when they’re angry you know!

Well, what an issue I’ve returned for. We’ve got our annual manifesto pull out showcasing all the candidates running in this years Union Elections. Make sure you have a proper read of it. The decision and ultimate vote you cast will determine the leadership of the Union for the coming year, and now, more than ever is an essential time to get it right. Changes to Government funding, changes in the University and changes to the wider student movement need careful handling.

Our front-page story is a stark reminder of this. The letter to Universities detailing the terms of widening access to be allowed to charge over £6000 is another thing students need to be kept aware of. If the agreed terms of access aren’t robust enough we could see the Higher Education sector become marketised and will lead to confusion and, ultimately, disinterest.

Well, it’s been lovely to be back in the Chair and laying up pages again, but I think I’m being locked back up now. Probably for the best really.

The Demon – Credits Editor-in-chief – Amy Seabrook aseabrook@dmu.ac.uk Deputy Editor – Michael Somerville michael_943@hotmail.com Sub-Editor – Andrew Dunn p08253225@myemail.dmu.ac.uk Creative Editors – Kerry Stallon & Stanley Ashton sjaphotos@aol.com Picture Editor – Rachel Robinson p09256753@myemail.dmu.ac.uk News Editors– Victoria Coffey and Naomi Marcus naomimarcus@hotmail.com Politics Editors – Anna Rog & Brett Leppard anna.rog@hotmail.co.uk Features Editor – Andy Brady andy@andrewbrady.net Arts Editor – Anoushka Wroblewski noushwro@gmail.com Travel Editor – James King p09252430@myemail.dmu.ac.uk Fashion Editor – Holly Smith Hollyvsmith@me.com

Tatty bye!

Lifestyle Editor– Emma Baylis p08273001@myemail.dmu.ac.uk

Andy Schooledge Ex-Editor-in-Chief

Music Editor – Katie Bowley ktbowley@hotmail.co.uk

Contact me at: aschooledge@dmu.ac.uk Follow me on Twitter at Twitter.com/schooledgend

Film Editor – Samantha Nicholson No1_dingbat@hotmail.com Sports Editor – Ian Cockerill Iancockerill89@hotmail.co.uk Listings Editor- Nico Lehmann Proof Editor – Leonie Sturman Contributors: Thank you to everyone who has contributed writing and photographs for this issue.

If you are interested in contributing to The Demon or joining a section team, please email aseabrook@ dmu.ac.uk or pop in to the Students’ Union.

The Demon is a Demon Media publication for De Montfort Students’ Union.

Contact Us Please send all correspondence to: Amy Seabrook, Editor-in-Chief, The Demon, De Montfort University Students’ Union, First Floor, The Campus Centre, Mill Lane, Leicester LE2 7DR. E-mail: aseabrook@dmu.ac.uk Tel: 0116 255 5576 For all advertising enquiries, contact Leanne Bingle of BAM Student Marketing at ljb@bamuk.com

Disclaimer All views and opinions printed in this publication are those of the writers and not of De Montfort University Students’ Union.

We welcome articles from all students at all times. All articles will be considered. Any articles are subject to editing and we do not guarantee that submitted articles will be printed.

The Demon is printed through Trinity Mirror.

For further information, visit the web site at http://www.trinitymirror.com/ The Demon is printed on FSC Managed 100% Recycled 52gsm standard recycled newsprint, produced in the UK.

Tuesday 22 February 2011 | 7

Politics

Multiculturalism has not failed Jamie Smith

At the tuition fees rally in London last November, I saw a group of people marching together, laughing and joking and holding a sign saying “Jewish and Muslim Students Unite.” A Jewish guy was holding the hand of a Muslim girl.

I cannot think of a better symbol of the success of multiculturalism in this country than that group of young people. Whilst a section of society likes to cling on to some oddly indefinable nostalgic sense of ‘Britishness’, the rest of us are getting on with each other just fine.

David Cameron recently claimed that Britain has become too tolerant of extreme Muslims. It was an illtimed speech because it came on the same day as the biggest EDL rally in its history in Luton. Cameron’s mistake is that he only mentioned Muslim extremism particularly, and not English nationalism or Christian extremism.

All forms of extremism, from religious to nationalist, are intolerable.

It should be ridiculed and ignored, not given an air of legitimacy. There are many English nationalist bloggers and writers who write exclusively concerning Islamic fundamentalism.

They never mention violent and racial discourse by English nationalists, because they are a part of that propaganda machine intended to

imagine the English as the great victims.

Similarly, there are a great many Islamic and Christian fundamentalist writers who see themselves as heroes of the oppressed, ignorant to their own misguided oppressive reasoning.

Cameron argues that multiculturalism has failed. He is wrong.

In 1964, the Tory candidate Peter Griffiths ran a campaign in the Birmingham seat of Smethwick with a leaflet stating: “If you want a nigger as a neighbour, vote Labour.”

He won the seat. Thankfully, that sort of far-right racism is past us.

I’d argue that is thanks to a shift in collective consciousness; a product of multiculturalism. Now, your kids could be white and Christian, playing football in the street with their black, Muslim, Atheist and Sikh friends. Cultural integration is a slow process that takes a generation or two to take hold.

The young generation are far more culturally aware and integrated than we ever were. Cameron’s speech is inflaming a culture of suspicion of the ‘other’ that until now has been present merely on the fringes of the far-right. He is giving a credible face to that intolerance, especially by not referencing the anti-British values of the EDL. Multiculturalism has not failed — the experiment of Nation States

has failed. The experiment of one overriding national identity has failed. The experiment of organised religion has failed. Nation States are left over from colonial days. They have nothing but a violent history.

They are like a marketplace, always looking for resources to plunder.

It doesn’t matter if it is Western nations or Middle Eastern ones; they always want more. It isn’t Islam vs Christianity. It isn’t East versus West.

It is the rich vs the poor. It has always been that way.

Religion and race is used as a way to separate the poor Westerners from the poor Easterners, when actually they have more in common with each other than they do with their richer counterparts. They should be joining hands and fighting back. Racism has always been used as a divisive tool to stop popular uprisings. We are all a product of multiculturalism.

A British identity has always been a little bit obscure. For most of our history, since the year 0 until around 1534, we were a wholly Catholic country, in which the majority of our citizens considered themselves loyal to Rome before loyalty to the nation.

Protestants and Catholics fought for their vision of what it meant to be British. The English fought the Scots. The Royalists fought the Republicans. The Enlightenment thinkers struggled against the

David Cameron speaking in Munich

‘traditionalists’ of the elites. Darwin struggled to find a time to reveal the greatest discovery in the history of mankind, in the face of religious fundamentalists. So backward in their thinking, so dogmatic in their delusions; they would have liked him to have been silenced. We are a land of multiculturalism.

Fundamentalism in religion and fundamental nationalism are one in the same. They are both fighting for a man-made ideal.

Their ideal doesn’t exist. A nation doesn’t exist without humanity, and nor does a religion. They are ideas and nothing more. To propagate intolerance based solely on an idea, seems ludicrous and regressive to me.

Moderate Christians, Muslims, Jews, English, Middle Easterns, etc. should

be banding together and enjoying each others’ company, learning from each other, and progressing. We should not be suspicious of each other, and we should not be condemning each other, purely for the beliefs one has or that meaningless boundary placed on each other at birth: nationality.

Be black, be white, be gay, be straight, be Muslim, be Christian, be Jewish, be Atheist, be female, be male, be fat, be thin, be happy, be miserable, be a poet, be a lawyer, be sporty, be artistic, be eccentric, be philosophical, be left, be right, and live together.

I do not want to see people as being Muslim or English first. David Cameron is effectively pointing and saying “look, a Muslim, be suspicious.”

Conservative MEP Emma McClarkin visits DMU Brett Leppard Politics Editor

Recently Conservative MEP Emma McClarkin visited De Montfort University to give a talk on her role as an MEP, and the workings of the European Union. The event, courtesy of the chaps and chappets over at the Politics Society, was interesting to say the least.

With Emma McClarkin being so young, she was able to communicate better than your bog standard politician, especially given that McClarkin has only been in office for a little over two years. To be blunt, she had fire in her belly. It is clear that McClarkin has greater things in mind than being an MEP, this was evident from her classic Conservative rhetoric.

It was almost as if David Cameron was in the room assessing whether or not she stuck to party line enough.

From the quite obvious European Union, to the quite contentious issue of multiculturalism, McClarkin did not have a bad thing to say about her own party. The audience, however, did. There were quite clearly some very

Emma McClarkin, career snapshot:

Former Political Adviser to Conservative MEP Roger Helmer Former government Relations Executive for the Rugby Football Union Conservative MEP for the East Midlands region (2009-Present) making her the youngest British MEP, elected at the age of 30 Conservative Spokesman and Coordinator on the Culture and Education and Sport Committee in the European Parliament Member of the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee and International Development Committee.

staunch anti-Conservative/pro-Labour supporters in the audience, who acted somewhat immaturely. I take the view that you should always listen and consider the views of others before dismissing or refuting them, and then at least you can widen your knowledge around certain issues and find flaws in your own arguments.

The audience members of whom I speak, did not seem to want to do any such thing, rather they appeared to want to use the event as a means to laboriously harp on about their disagreements with Conservative policies. This would be fine if the event was a debate, but the event

was a Q&A. Something rather informal, and intimate, nothing on the scale of the previous David Blunkett, or the Alistair Campbell events. Nevertheless, I merely use said audience members to highlight the need to consider all ideas rather than banishing all because of the stigma attached to a certain ‘wing’ of ideology, even if it is rather close to your own.

One thing to remember is that pizzazz only gets you so far; you must have the substance to back up what you are saying. McClarkin, on some points, appeared to lack much depth to her arguments – skin

deep politics. At one point while talking about the difficulties of accessing funding from the EU for small businesses McClarkin made the argument that there should be deregulation of the constraints and an untangling of the bureaucratic framework surrounding it.

Conversely, McClarkin also made the point of attacking the EU on losing track of around £5bn, going on to argue that there should be tighter restrictions. A bit of a circular argument if you ask me. Where McClarkin shone was in her defence of her party leaving the European Peoples Party and joining the European Conservatives and Reformists. It was, in fact, the best argument I’ve heard in defence of the move, Photo courtesy of Jack Siddons although that does not mean it is

Emma McClarkin during her agreeable. visit to DMU All in all, an interesting event which allowed for some (at times, heated) discussion. Keep in mind that to Deputy Prime Minister in just 11 Nick Clegg went from MEP to MP, years. Keep an eye on McClarkin for to Leader of the Liberal Democrats, the next general election.

8 | Tuesday 22 February 2011

Politics

You're not fooling anyone Gideon!

Are the Government interested in reducing the deficit, or just dismantling the state?

Sean Moore

At every PMQs and every event where David Cameron and his economic scrooge side partner is present, it seems that ‘Labour’s deficit’ never fails to get mentioned.

Every single utterance of these two words sends the brain into a folly of angst and bereavement.

I immediately question public spending and its real impact upon society.

Questions are raised such as ‘did Labour spend too much of all this money collected from taxes that pays for a decent health service, education, jobs in the public sector and armed forces (the list goes on); and not save enough?’

Another moment of belief in the Conservatives stoic justification for their spending cuts comes when the silky smooth Cameron talks about his big society, and the need for the public to take on the state’s role. Well no more. No more shall I believe these two words when the weight of evidence disproving the need for the Conservatives plans is so vast.

Firstly, what actually happens when you reduce a deficit and why is it so important? John Stepek, a friendly MSN money expert and fan of spending cuts explains why, in one of

his online articles, the deficit matters so much.

In 2010 Stepek writes that “We’re losing around 12-13% more than we taking in this year, about as bad as Greece.” This is, to any student that has just worked out how much the next energy bill will cost and how expensive it is to repeatedly replace socks, a bad thing.

Yet there is one thing I don’t understand, if as Stepek says: “lenders can have faith that the British government can milk money from its population when it needs to,” and that in the case of Britain’s debt maturity, we, unlike other European countries don’t have to pay back debt anytime soon; then why have the government just cut hundreds of thousands of public sector jobs thus increasing the burden on the tax payer through welfare payments?

Why have they increased tuition fees to bridge the gap in university spending cuts, meaning students are less likely to be educated at a higher level of education, thus leading to them paying less money in taxes in future?

Privatisation and the Coalition’s love affair with it is something of a blossoming infatuation when it comes to the Liberal Democrats.

closed in the three weeks leading up to Christmas because its large ford transit vans couldn’t deal with a bit of ice.

Yet there are bigger fish to fry than my own shoddy postal Left: Prime Minister David Cameron; Right: George Osborne experience with Chancellor of the Excehquer the dubious This could be partly due to their winner of the ‘Customer Care Award recent realisation that the deficit 2010’. needs to be sorted out now through What about Heathrow airport and reducing the role of the state, although their private owners brilliant strategic this belief was kept strangely quiet planning, that failed to realise that it during the 2010 election. Yes, cutting isn’t safe to drive a plane 400mph down bureaucracy and needless government a runway covered in ice. Maybe they intervention is not always a bad should be less concerned with ‘Labour thing, however, is giving previously and deficit’ and more with ‘salt and state controlled organisations to the grit’. apparently brilliant and efficient Further, how is the deficit meant private sector a good thing? to be managed and reduced when In my memory, no. For it was the the economy shrinks by 5%? No, it trusty postman donning the red and doesn’t make sense to me either. How blue jacket, driving in the ‘Royal is Cameron’s Big Society meant to Mail’ encrusted van that defied the come into fruition when for example, usual laws of British sub-zero weather due to spending cuts leding to a and delivered my Christmas presents reduction of investment by £5bn, I had purchased online. Unlike the charities are dropping like flies? useless private ‘City Link’ that was Apparently the Big Society

bank containing £300 million will save these charities and invest in community planning. Yet taking away £5bn and giving £300 million doesn’t seem like good maths to me, especially when it comes to creating jobs and helping people. Maybe the Coalition needs to learn something about long term investment — some things that are produced aren’t always in the value of money.

Like a happy child in a warm home or an adult that no longer has to submissive to the cost and social harm of drugs or be forced into the sex trade. It is obvious that these cuts are an ideological Trojan horse that are enforced because the Conservatives need a reason to roll back the state and increase the individual power of their friends in big business. Hence the pathetic bank levy and the recent tax changes that mean businesses have to pay less corporation tax, thus contributing less to society, which would have gone unnoticed if it wasn’t for George Monbiot.

To finish on an excerpt from one of his articles: “Governments ensure that we are thrown enough scraps to keep us quiet, while the ultra-rich get on with the serious business of looting the global economy and crushing attempts to hold them to account.”

David Cameron’s Big Passion: ‘The Big Society is here to stay!’

Anna Rog Politics Editor

David Cameron used the notion of the Big Society as one of the campaign slogans during the general election campaign 2010. He spoke about his great ‘passion’ for empowering communities, bringing power back to the people, social action. The Prime Minister’s ‘big idea’ is also put forward in more detail in The Coalition Manifesto, setting out the framework of aspirations for the government, underlined by ‘freedom, fairness and responsibility’.

There have been speeches, seminars, conferences all devoted to the subject of the Big Society, yet there is still much confusion as to what the term actually means, rather than Mr Cameron’s rhetoric of liberalism- empowerment, freedom and responsibility. To that end, we are now all able to get advice from the website for the Prime Minister’s grand initiative: the Big Society Network (http://thebigsociety.co.uk/ ), where the explanation of the controversial idea is found: "The Big Society is a society in which individual citizens

feel big: big in terms of being supported and enabled; having real and regular influence; being capable of creating change in their neighborhood." The home page also states: "The Big Society Network exists to generate, develop and showcase new ideas to help people come together to do good things."

The idea is wonderful! Or shall I say naïve, utopian and completely divorced from reality?

With tacking the budget deficit by cutting public spending by 25 per cent over the next five years, the prospect of the voluntary sector flourishing is somewhat unrealistic, at most. The Big Society Network calls for good citizenship, community involvement where people help one another in their neighbourhood. The Prime Minister’s idea seems a little like a wish to move back in time to 1950s and 1960s when the national spirit for self-help were still up after the war. Along with the spending review which stresses the return to the budget from 2007, what Mr Cameron really needs is a time machine.

It seems as though the idea of

the Big Society is marked by the old Tory values of philanthropy and community conservatism all based on the Victorian assumption of charity as to be provided by the more successful in our society, stigmatising social problems such as poverty, disability, or ill health.

As community cohesion is a very desirable notion, in governance there needs to be a clear line between services that can be passed down to the voluntary sector, and those which need to be provided by the public sector.

In the perhaps now infamous Liverpool speech, Mr Cameron set out the Big Society project in four parts of the UK: Eden Valley in Cumbria, Windsor and Maidenhead, Sutton and Liverpool.

Recently Liverpool pulled out of the scheme, as the local council found it impossible to deliver the significant shift to the voluntary sector in public service provision, as the council is expected to make cuts of £141 million to its financial planning between now and 2013.

As the Big Society seems a genuine

call for bringing power back to the people, its political delivery does not seem easy. There have already been so many staggering shifts in the policy, like the restructuring of the NHS, which Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham openly called "a political experiment". Local councils having to close down libraries, the significant cuts to the police force as well as plans to privatise the little forests left within public ownership.

Is it possible or ‘fair’ to ask the electorate to come together to run the local library or swimming pool threatened with closure?

On 14th February, Valentine’s Day, the Prime Minister addressed social entrepreneurs in his Big Society relaunch, declaring that the Big Society is here to stay. There was much emphasis on the Cameron’s ‘passion’ for his idea yet again motivated by the urge to mend broken British society and the need for ‘social recover’.

The Big Society Bank, a bank to provide the funds for social enterprise was also discussed. The Charities Aid Foundation warns that this arrangement will disappoint many

charities if it focuses on financial returns over social improvement.

Moreover, the proposed £400 million to be injected in the project seems a mere drop in the ocean, compared with £5 billion cut to the sector.

With Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg already losing much of his credibility after abandoning his election pledge of halting the tuition fees for university education, the Prime Minister holds on to his Big Society rhetoric. Not delivering this initiative would not only make him look ridiculous, but also would have a major impact on reliability of the Coalition.

Mr Cameron needs to reconnect with reality, as the electorate are already starting to taste the bitter spending cuts, public enthusiasm for social renewal might not be of as high a level as the Prime Minister’s.

The Big Society is then a possible dangerous mix of ideological rhetoric and a political gamble as Mr Cameron said in July 2010: "It’s about pushing power down and seeing what happens".

10 | Tuesday 22 February 2011

Sport

Manager delighted after first hat-trick Matt Stott

Player-Manager Kole Ogundipe was doubly-delighted after his side’s 6-2 thumping of Derby’s first-team in the BUCS Midlands Conference 3B division.

Picture Credit: Sophie Lewis

He saw a marked improvement in the team, both in quality and effort, and capped off the day with his first-ever hat-trick.

He said: “I’m over the moon. Being 4-1 up at half-time was awesome. The effort was there from the start, and we defended really well.

“In the first half we looked so dangerous. We were threading balls through and I was getting on the end of some fantastic balls. The quality of the deliveries made my job pretty easy.

“I’ve never scored a hat-trick before. Last season I scored two goals on three occasions, but I’ve got it now. Plus I’m now top-goal scorer!”

After making it four wins from four at home in all competitions, Kole has reaped the benefits by reverting to a more traditional system.

“I have changed the formation since Christmas, and that has paid of dividends.

“We have worked on it in training, and it is now a straightforward 4-4-2 formation that everyone finds a bit more

comfortable and knows what to do.”

Yinka Oni was impressive in his debut for the first team, showcasing agile touches and clever link-up play, and was a constant menace with pace to burn.

“I thought Yinka deserved his chance; he has been really good in training and thought why not just give him a go from the start,” said Kole.

“I think there is more to come from him. His touch and control is absolutely brilliant, and last week he played for the fourths and scored a hat-trick for them.

“He’s a great finisher as well so one to watch.”

One of many fine performances was that of Ross Thacker, who bombarded the Derby fortress with mesmerizing step-overs and deadly accurate crosses from both wings.

“You know what you’re going to get from Ross. Immaculate skills – he’s brilliant.”

DMU’s first-team travel to Derby next to play their seconds and hope to reproduce a similar performance that yielded a 2-1 home win earlier in the season.

But in the back of his mind is the

Picture Credit: Sophie Lewis

anticipation of the annual Varsity match against old adversaries Leicester University next month.

“We’ve got their second team next so we want another three points. If we keep playing like this then we will be right up there in the league.

“After Christmas it’s all about Varsity, and preparations have already started.

“We’re getting serious now.

Everything seems to be coming together.”

Deadline day gives football added drama It was a day of drama, statements of intent, incredible deals...and Tuncay Sanli moving to Wolfsburg. Love it or loath it, there is no denying that the deadline day of the British transfer window brought with it a pulsating day of drama and astounding stories.

Arguably no other sport can conjure such emotions and tales without a match even being played or ticket being sold. Fans of the sport were treated to full (and excellent) coverage from Sky Sports, with many others watching news tickers around the country for a whisper of the latest rumours and the breaking news of the latest deal.

And they weren’t to be disappointed.

It was the British record £50 million deal Chelsea struck for Liverpool forward Fernando Torres that the country had been waiting for, and it was the Spaniard who set events into motion as Liverpool thrust their hands deep into pocket in a spending spree not seen on Merseyside for many years.

Torres departed for London from

Liverpool, who replaced him with Luis Suarez of Ajax for around £22m and arguably the shock-of-the-day Andy Carroll from Newcastle for £35m, with Newcastle replacing him with a large cheque whose ability to lead the line is relatively suspect.

Carroll, who has been in fine form for his home club this season, bagging 11 goals and his first cap for England.

But it is still a massive gamble on behalf of Liverpool owner John W. Henry to move for a player who won’t appear in the red shirt for at least a month, especially as he cost more than David Villa, Carlos Tevez or two Alan Shearers.

Chelsea’s record move could backfire if Torres continues his ailing form since the start of the World Cup, but while Liverpool and Chelsea fans will be watching the aforementioned two with keen interest, there are arguably two bigger stories waiting to erupt.

The first is the way in which the extravagant spending in football has been summed up within one day. English clubs spent massively, contrasting to their Spanish, Italian and German counterparts who were relatively benign in comparison. £130 million changed hands, a

record for a day in British football history, which is enough money to buy a mansion, a business, 260 million crème eggs and three and a half Andy Carrolls. It has brought up old argument s of whether there is too much money Madness: Fernando Torres move to Chelsea was central to a mental deadline day in the sport.

With UEFA’s Chelsea fans will hope that Torres will convey the opposite of a club happy financial restrictions coming into regain the form that made him a hit with the status-quo. play very soon, requiring clubs to in Merseyside and add some fire to a All that aside, the day brought us more or less break even over three damp title defence, but it is arguably many big stories, with more to later years, as well as the little matter of the ambition that seems to have unfold. Whether we will ever see a the recession, these are startling and returned to Liverpool that has caught day as crazy as this in football remains shocking figures being thrown about. the eye. Torres claimed to have left to be seen, but one thing for sure is The other narrative is the startling the club after being frustrated by their that the August deadline day will be lengths football clubs will go to in lack of ambition. Spending nearly one etched in many a football fan’s order to turn their season around. £60 million forwards would seem to diaries.

Tuesday 22 February 2011 | 11

Sport

Mens’ football crush sorry Derby As Varsity approaches, DMU men notch their biggest win of the season so far. Matt Stott reports.

KOLE Ogundipe netted a first-half hat-trick as DMU trounced Derby’s first-team 6-2 in a Varsity-retaining performance at Victoria Park.

Additional strikes from Jake Smith, Michael O’Grady and Frost Khalifa steered the reds to an impressive victory that sent out a clear message of intent to local rivals and league leaders Leicester University.

These are what university football days are all about.

Nevermind the imposing landslide triumph. What was both refreshing and immensely satisfying was the heart and soul on display; the unbridled pride and passion.

There was mud, sweat but plenty of cheers on a cold and blustery afternoon that overflowed with action.

It was also a day of firsts.

It was the first match of 2011, DMU’s first success over a counterpart first-team this season, and was the first time player-manager Kole had bagged three goals.

And there was a new, if ironically old-fashioned, 4-4-2 set-up, which facilitated a much more fluid and undeviating exhibition of football, contrasting sharply with previous 4-3-3 and 4-5-1 line-ups.

With the determined Kole and the elusive Ross Thacker foraying down the tramlines, there was a profusion of

Crushed: DMU’s Curtis Watts, JT, SJ and manager Kole Ogundipe battle in the Derby rout. Picture Credit: Sophie Lewis

hazardous crosses and through-balls for the Derby defence to grapple with.

With the smart runs and precise passing of Michael Reeves in behind the pacey and powerful Yinka Oni (a new addition for a new year), centremidfielders Smith and Sid Mohammad appeared unflappable in possession, and

Impressive: DMU’s CJ, Michael Reeves and Ross Thacker celebrate Picture Credit: Sophie Lewis

tenacious without it.

‘CJ’ adjusted to right-back from centre-mid with consummate ease alongside trusty regulars captain Curtis Watts, ‘JT’ and the ever-marauding leftback O’Grady.

Derby, who had neglected to bring any substitutes down the M1 with them, came into this tie second in the table - two places above DMU by dint of a superior goal difference.

They had mirrored DMU’s start to the campaign. From six fixtures played, they had won three and lost three, including a curious 5-1 drubbing to their putative second-string outfit, and had failed to pick up any points on their travels.

So it was every bit a much-needed win as it was a much-deserved one.

Confidence may have been a little low following two defeats from the last three before Christmas, but Kole looked to have instilled some fortitude and potency from the get-go, going close himself after just two minutes.

He fired this warning shot; a low, powerful strike skimming a yard past the right post, after a terrific ball by Smith was floated over the left-back.

Derby did not heed this, and were made to pay a minute later by Smith.

It was the start of things to come.

Yinka shrugged off his marker and sprinted down the right flank, whipping a dangerous cross in. It was met by Smith but the keeper did well to smother him and push the ball out wide.

But there was Thacker, who immediately turned it back in from the left and again Smith did well to get on

the end of it, this time slotting it past the Derby stopper.

It was all DMU. Thacker broke away and slipped it inside to the advancing Mohammad, who looked up and saw Kole screaming for it. Mohammad was equal to Smith’s brilliantly weighted pass over the left-back, allowing Kole to collect and surge forwards once more.

This time, he opened up his right foot and drilled the ball hard and fast along the turf, swerving it from right to left.

Two up after seven minutes. DMU weren’t done yet.

In the next minute, Yinka tried his luck from distance, but it was wellsaved.

Derby briefly interrupted this excellent spell, but were profligate with set-pieces.

They were unable to suspend DMU’s charge though as Thacker tested the keeper in the 10th minute with a powerful attempt; but again Derby’s No.1 preserved their fight.

Nonetheless, mid-way through the half, Kole got his second. He linked up well with Yinka and found himself in shooting territory on the edge of the box, and propelled the ball unerringly towards the bottom left corner.

It was a fine strike, and three minutes later, he claimed his third.

Reeves picked out Thacker, who had exchanged wings with Kole, with a superb cross-field pass. Thacker’s trickery proved too much for the leftback, who was having a horrid time, and his low cross was tucked away at the back post.

Four goals without reply after just

27 minutes. Derby, who were certainly combative, had been blown away.

However, six minutes from the end of the half they scored a most unlikely goal. O’Grady was unable to block and keeper Lewis Hearne dived to his right, but the ball whistled into the inside netting.

Kole instructed his players during the break to regard the second half as a new game.

Of course, with a three goal cushion, the home side did not require a gung-ho approach, but proved too strong even in second gear; taking it 2-1.

In the 58th minute a Kole cross from the left was spilt by the keeper, and there was O’Grady of all people to prod home the loose ball. He leapt with joy, but what he was doing there was anyone’s guess.

Near the end, with Derby soundly beaten, their only scorer got his second with another cracking effort from the wide right; this time finding the top-left corner.

But DMU soon restored the fourgoal advantage after a calamitous defensive mix-up presented substitute Frosty with an open-goal.

This incited a roar of laughter across the darkening park as the skies dimmed.

Nevertheless, DMU looked very bright, and have thrown down the gauntlet to Leicester University.

On this evidence, Kole and the rest of the squad have every right to be optimistic of Varsity vanquish come March 21.

INSIDE: DMU’s manager speaks after superb victory

“It’s like EastEnders on Acid”

Features looks at the Curve's East & Greek

Travel ideas for years to come Travel samples Tokyo's delights

Best of the West End • Film • Music • Fashion • Lifestyle • Features • Travel • Listings •

2 | Tuesday 22 February 2011

Features

Let's get green!

Shaun Wheatcroft

Earlier this month I went down to the Queens building to meet the ‘DMU Green Initiatives’ group, to find out more and get involved in their ‘Green Light Festival’. Who are they? I hear you cry. Well they are a student-led group of staff, students and local environmental groups that provide opportunities for students to get involved in green projects and offer individuals the chance to pilot their own campaigns.

Having a ‘carbon footprint’ the size of King Kong, I am probably the worst person in the whole of Leicester to talk about light bulbs and being energy efficient, but I’m doing it. Why? Because like many other people and businesses worldwide, I’m starting to realise that this band-wagon is on a trail to success which can change the world. You need only look around DMU campus to see the growing importance of ‘being green’. The coffee shop, now converted into a Starbucks outside the student union is a primary example of a business that has got greener over the last five years. The giant coffee chain was criticised in 2008 after claims it wasted millions of litres of water every day by leaving taps running. Since then, the company has been committed to new environmental initiatives and as not only turned off the taps but also uses 100% recyclable cups.

However, it’s not just Starbucks that is holding the green beacon. All across Europe and in countries such as America, China and Mexico, huge money deals are being struck for the rapid transport of hundreds of millions of energy-saving devices – e.g. bulbs that, once installed all over the home, can cut overall household emissions by 8 per cent. The environment has become an even bigger issue since the millennium and it gets bigger by the day.

It is for reasons like these that The Green Light Festival took place, and a success. The white electric-powered Smart car that was parked outside the Queens Building on the day epitomised

Mental health Day Andy Brady

Mental health is a bigger problem than you might imagine at university. It's not talked about much, and there is a certain stigma surrounding it.

Issues such as depression and anxiety are common. We all feel down occasionally, but people with depression feel like that for periods of several weeks or months and it's enough to have an affect on their everyday life.

February 18th saw Mental Health Day at DMU. Mental Health Advisor, Ami Benning, told me: “This is not a balloons and leaflets event. It's a serious subject and we are there for anyone wanting more information about mental health”.

The DMU counselling team were at the event along with local mental health charity, Network For Change; Leicestershire Link and Sport and Recreation.

One in four people are diagnosed with a mental condition at some point in their life so it cannot be ignored.

Ami said: “It can affect anyone.”

If you have any worries or questions about mental health visit Counselling and Personal Support on the first floor of Gateway House.

the whole festival. The festival was bursting with practical workshops, music, art and local food – all boasting a green initiative. I spoke to co-founder of the DMU Green Initiatives, Eve Carter. Eve is a second year student at DMU and is studying Design Crafts.

She said: “The biggest incentive for students to be greener is that it saves money.” Eve and the green initiatives group are urging students to sign up or get involved in any way they can, even if that is by just trying to be greener in their everyday lives.

She said: “The easiest way students can get involved is by doing simple things like switching off lights, recycling more and walking instead of using a car”.

The event was a huge success and everyone attending was invited to get involved in some hands-on activities. Cyclemagic were on hand to help visitors make wristbands out of old tyres while the DMU Green Initiatives group were making wallets and purses out of old fruit juice cartons. Leicester interfaith youth group HUB were present with some very useful ways of saving the planet, for example signing up to ‘say no to junk mail’ at www.mpsonline.gov.uk. Groups such as Bikes 4 All who sell refurbished bikes from around £40 were outside the building and are keen to encourage students to bike rather than drive or use public transport.

I for one, used to think that being green was just a bore, something that wasn’t worth the time. However the green light festival really did open my eyes. Such little effort is needed to be green it thoroughly surprised me. If you think it’s not easy being Green, think again. An energy saving light bulb lasts 10,000 hours compared to the normal 1,500 hours of a standard bulb.

10,000 hours! Just imagine what you could do in that time, that is 416 days! Put that bulb in my friend and you need not come back to change it for a very long time; well another 13.6676431 months to be precise.

How many DMU students does it take to change a lightbulb?

‘It's

like

Two. One to go and buy alcohol and one to call the electrician.

Unplugging things that glow saves more money than you would think. Did you know that LED light on your TV, mobile phone charger or printer that you leave on standby burns around £125.00 a year! You could buy a new mobile phone with that money, and a pretty decent one too.

Next time you go to the sink to fill up that glass with water, consider this. In the next five years countries across the world, including the UK could face a serious water crisis and that dripping tap wastes 336 litres of water a day! In ‘cans of pop terms’, that is 1018 cans, that is some water! Household water consumption has increased by 200% since the 1950s and with the ever-growing population this number will only go up. So let’s save water now and help the world as well as ourselves.

But the greatest way to save energy for us students has to be this next one. Leave the washing up as long as possible! That’s right, let the pots and pans accumulate forever, well not quite, but at least until you have a full sink of dishes to use water for. The average student household does around 150 loads of dishes per year using an astonishing 6819 litres of water, that is in ‘cans of pop terms’, wait for it… 20,663 cans!

All DMU accommodation is in walking distance to University and to frankly, anywhere a student’s desire may take them. So WALK! Why waste the money on cars or buses when you can wake yourself up after that hard night out with a blast of beautiful fresh air.

Green issues are at the fore front of everything right now whether that be political, commercial or in business. Profit margins are being decided by how green a company is and individuals must follow suit to decrease the severe dangers to the planet. As students, we are the people this will affect, and we are the ones that can put a halt to it. Let’s get green.

P.S. Turn the light off behind me.

Eastenders

Michael Somerville Deputy Editor

Eleven talented undergraduates take to the main stage at Curve - providing an excellent and exciting opportunity for Drama students to work on challenging drama texts by the master of political theatre - Steven Birkoff.

Known for acting in Rambo’s First Blood Part II, Beverly Hills Cop, A Clockwork Orange, and whose work has been described as a 'powerful, filthy, visceral and violent' by Drama critic Aleks Sierz, will have his two plays 'Greek' and 'East' performed by DMU students on the 7th and 8th of March.

Greek is a wildly humorous twist on the Oedipus legend and a powerful account of the state of a selfish society. Berkoff recreated the various Sophoclesmyths and applied them to 1980s London: riots, filth, decay, mobs and bombings. The characters suffer from an emotional plague and inhabit a world under Thatcher’s government, suffering from moral decline. Greek is a love story set in the wasteland of modern society. Jonathan McClean who plays Eddy in 'Greek' says that his character "likes fighting and loves women but attains a level of maturity by the end of the play as it spans so many years."

Adel-Al-Salloum, director of Greek and Head of Participation and Learning at Curve said: "We are thrilled to be working with association with DMU on this project. The strong script and stripped-down nature of the pieces lend themselves to developing the craft of performance. They are two provocative, unsettling and humorous texts, which will push their performers to verbal and physical extremes."

Jenni Smith has been keeping a rehearsal diary during 'Greek' whilst playing the role of 'Mum'.

on

acid’

"5 weeks in, 3 weeks left! Times flies when you're doing Berkoff.

Today we finished blocking Act 2 and did our first run-through of the entire performance. It was great to see the whole thing go together, from all the little jigsaw pieces we've been working on the last few weeks, to one big puzzle.

Our rehearsal photos from the photoshoot last week also went up today - I got a shock going onto Facebook and seeing Laurie, Kelly and Mark's scary faces grinning at me! I'm rather thankful my own scary-face wasn't exhibited - just normal faces for me. It's also great to see our own faces on the Curve website! All very exciting/ terrifying/brilliant at the same time.

Adel wants us off-script asap, so some hard work ahead.

Thankfully I don't have half Jonny’s (Eddy) lines. In conclusion, rehearsals are heating up! We've also been discussing the dimensions of tables, the joys of method acting and the different ways of falling over without hurting your knees. Exciting stuff!"

'East' shows the story of gang members Les and Mike, who take the audience on a raucous and viciously funny ride through the East End. In their cockney tongue, a dysfunctional family tell each of their stories to build up a picture of their unconventional lives.

Paul Kerryson, Director of 'East' described Berkoff's play as "rude, lewd and like Eastenders on acid."

The two pieces complement one another in their exploration of intense emotions and shocking behaviour.

Curve are running a special offer of a 'pint and a play' for £7.

Tuesday 22 February 2011 | 3

Features

Demon girls

Katie says...

Woman are not fun… an opinion I hear through slurred drunken haze in a bar after a comedy show. But is this perception a valid one?

When asked who is your favourite comedian, a woman’s name is probably not the first that will pop into your head. But they are there and what’s more, they are doing very well!

Miranda Hart won the Peoples Choice Award this year as well as receiving two others for her BBC 2 show, Miranda. Jo Brand hasn’t been off our television for the last fifteen years and up and comers such as Sarah Millican are forging a successful career of the back of shows like Michael McIntyre comedy road show.

So why is this idea that woman are not funny still rearing its ugly head? It seems to me that comedy is a mans game and if a woman wants to play they not only have to be good but they have to be better than the men they share the stage with. So when women do dabble in the comedic lime light they have to prove so much more.

Jo Brand, Sarah Millican and Miranda Hart are undoubtedly some of the most recognised names in comedy, however, they have something different to most male comics, the ability to self deprecate!

Self deprecation is a huge factor in their comedy sketches, playing massively on their physical floors it is somewhat a charming and likeable quality they have, leaving them with nothing but positive attention.

Sarah Millican started stand up comedy after her husband walked out on their seven year marriage in 2004. Some may say stand up was her rebound, however this swiftly resorted to winning Best Newcomer in 2008, now that’s what I call one victorious rebound.

Maybe the man in the bar was Sarah Millican bitter ex, maybe?

Yasmin says...

As they share their outrageous experiences, embarrassing stories and controversial opinions, a comedian fills the room with an aroma of happiness and laughter.

Unfortunately, the limitations of how far a comedian will go to produce such reactions seem to be fading.

Scottish comedian, Frankie Boyle is constantly in the press due to his satire and often insensitive humour.

When appearing in Mock the Week, he used the term “Mongoloids” when referring to people with Down syndrome, followed by distastefully saying they are “destined for an early death”.

Boyle got slated after cruelly saying to a woman in the audience who was clearly distressed by his comment, “Oh well, it’s true isn’t it?”

Although such comments may seem funny to some, comedians are more often than not resorting to insulting and rude language to create their comedy, rather than sticking to innocent joking.

Yes, the most horrific lines are frowned upon by the media.

However, it seems that crude, satire humour is becoming almost acceptable in our society.

Comedians seem to have an unwritten licence allowing them to say whatever they like to whoever they like.

Are comedians taking advantage of this and abusing their role in society?

Will a continuous intake of crude humour mould society into one which is immune to these rude, insensitive and often hurtful jokes?

Or will comics use their real talent to earn them a respectable place in the comedy industry?

This issue's Hottie and Tottie

Katie Kourellias & Yasmin Duffin

e i t t o T

Name: Jessica Dewsbury Age: 19 Studying: Business Studies Single/Taken: Single Favourite Comedian: Russell Howard Best joke: How did Burger King get Dairy Queen pregnant? He forgot to wrap his whopper.

Name: Matthew Bullock Age: 20 Studying: Architecture Single/Taken: Single Favourite Comedian: Michael McIntyre Best joke: Did you hear about the guy that got all of his left side cut off? Well, he's ‘all right’ now.

Hott

ie

Want to nominate anyone for hottie or tottie of the issue? Visit our Facebook page.

Quote for thought: “Comedy is simply a funny way of being serious.” – English Actor and Writer, Peter Ustinov

Sam's comedy review Sam Driver, a third year radio production student has had the privilege to mingle with some top comedians at this years Leicester comedy festival. Sam Driver dishes the dirt on the good, the bad and the raunchy.

What was the best act you saw? I would have to say Mark Olver, it was called ‘Portrait of a Serial Killer’ this was his world exclusive of his new show. I liked it because the idea was original. He presented a script to the audience of how he would go about being a serial killer, seems quite dark I know but it was very punchy and witty.

Who the best act to interview and why? I really liked interviewing Anil Desai who was an impressionist, he was so interesting to interview as all he wanted to in the interview was to entertain me and make me laugh instead of most of the other performers who were doing an interview for extra publicity.

Who was the worst act to interview and why? Diane Spencer was by far the worst, her performance was funny don’t get me wrong but she didn’t have an interest in being interviewed at all. It was like because she had got enough laughs she couldn’t be bothered to talk to me, as though I was too beneath to be given her time.

Who do you think is the next big thing? Andrew Lawrence, he is big in the comedy circuit but I am sure he will be gracing our TV’s in no time.

Who was most memorable and why? When Aaron Twitchen asked if the interview could be done in the shower! He sat on the toilet and I stood in the shower, I probably would have felt more comfortable if I knew he fancied women! It was the most interesting interview to say the least.

Was there any awkward moments? I would say I have had a few, but the worst was when I completely forgot the ladies name I was interviewing, so I mumbled a name in the desperate attempt it was the right one!

To hear more of Sam’s Comedy Festival antics, visit the Leicester Comedy Festival pod casts on www.DemonFM.co.uk.

Visit our Facebook page: Demon Girls

4 | Tuesday 22 February 2011

Fashion

Internet or High Street shopping?

Sofia investigates whether the ease of online shopping ibeats the thrill of finding a bargain.

Sofia Farelli

I’m just going to come right out and say it. I hate buying clothes online.

I actually really dislike Internet shopping.

I do, however, love shopping when funds will permit me to. I know many people that swear by ASOS and the Topshop website but I am simply not convinced. Hovering the mouse over the ‘buy’ button just doesn’t give me the same satisfaction as finding something in store and falling in love instantly.

I, for one, love the whole shopping experience. You weren’t going to catch me at the opening of Primark on Oxford Street (or an opening of any store, they’d have to give me on

outstanding goodie bag if I was to be trampled by deranged women who seem to think the store won’t be there the next day) but I get a lot of joy from going in to shops. I love to rifle through racks trying to find a bargain.

Even when a sale looks like it’s full of rubbish you can usually find a hidden gem it’s just a matter of perseverance. I just don’t find the same thrill with shopping online, it’s all just…there. Where’s the fun in that? Admittedly, the novelty of sales wears thin around Boxing Day when people leave their dignity at the door and debase themselves for a 40% discount on items they didn’t want all year but suddenly just have to have that day.

In the same manner I love

“People leave their dignity at the door and debase themselves for a 40% discount”

wondering through Zara (who have far more dignified sales than, say H&M) and admiring their wonderful layouts. I love to wonder around and get a feel for fabrics, styles and, most importantly, I love trying clothes on.

The ideal fit should never be underestimated and that’s one of the main issues I have with buying online.

It’s risky in the sense that what you see on screen might not be what arrives at your doorstep in three to five working days. Lighting can be a tricky one where details can be missed and I can never truly trust the image no matter how many zoom options the website offers me.

You can’t trust photos of the models purely because they’re models. They will look good in

anything. So you have to wait for it to arrive and what if it’s wrong?

Not as simple as going in store for a refund as every company has their separate returns policy for goods bought online. More often than not it’s a pain and will ultimately cost you, whether it be time or money.

And of course let us not forget our faithful high street friend, the charity shop. The bargains, rare find and down right offensive garments you can find in charity shops are an absolute thrill. And, best thing is, it’s always cheap as chips.

In our current economic climate can we really afford to leave the high street behind? What’s going to occupy the spaces instead? Ebay stores? I shudder at the thought.

A shade above the rest Each issue we will be bringing you the colours you should be wearing this season to brighten up a dull winter wardrobe.

Rihanna's funky red hair

Dress Topshop Botique £120

Jumper Topshop Botique £38 Dress ASOS £40

Earrings Accessorize £6

Tuesday 22 February 2011 | 5

Fashion

Can we really tell the Primark from the Prada?

How embarassed would you be if someone had the same outfit on as you? Diablo Fashion investigate the impact designer fashion has on the High Street.

Hannah Elkes

When you’re out shopping for your latest outfit, what attracts you? Is it the latest trends on the fashion catwalk or the price tag attached to it? New trends and designs at fashion shows are always copied by the high street stores. As soon as there is a hot new dress or a gorgeous pair of heels in the designer world, it’s available on the high street for a fraction of the price.

Low priced high street stores like Primark cash in on what many

people call ‘throwaway fashion’, because they need to make room for the new season of trends. Fashion is constantly changing and what might be fashionable today may not be tomorrow.

High street stores copy designer trends, but they also copy each others trends. You end up buying the same clothes and looking like everyone else. People don’t really know how to react when they walk past someone with the same dress on; I tend to look away and act like I haven’t noticed!

Whereas if you buy a designer piece,

you can be pretty confident not many other people will have it.

Primark have even been sued several times by designers and other retailers for ripping off their products.

Primark is referred to as throwaway fashion because many students buy an outfit there, wear it on a night out and throw it away. You can get a top for £3, a mini skirt for £5 and some sandals between £7-£12 .So for a maximum of £20, you can get yourself a whole new outfit for a fraction of the price, but is it worth it?

The reason the items are so cheap is

because they are made in places where people have a very low salary and so they’re cheap to make. However, many high street shops that charge a bit more for their clothes, use the same types of factories as Primark do. When you think about where the clothes come from and how they’re made, it might make you think twice when buying them.

Buying designer clothes rather than clothes from the high street looks and feels much better. It lasts much longer and you can guarantee to turn some heads. Saying that, there are

some designer clothes where you are just paying for the label. These clothes aren’t much different to what you get in a good high street shop, so why fork out all that cash?

I do agree that designer clothes are better deigns and better quality, but I think it’s great that we can get a similar look on the high street by buying something that doesn’t break the bank. I’d love to be able to afford designer clothes, but I won’t stop shopping at Primark any time soon. After all we all love a bargain, especially us students!

Gorgeous gadget case fashion With the rise of the smart phone, laptops and gadgets, how are you going to stay looking your best with the technology takeover?

Charlotte Cookson

This season, gadget cases are rivalling the 'It-bags' and 'killer heels' on the pages of fashion magazines with designers rushing to get in on the action and fashionistas snapping them up to raise their style stakes.

With smartphones and laptops becoming more valuable to their

owners, there is a huge demand for cases to protect the tech and to also style it up to reflect their personalities.

Buying cases by brands such as Juicy Couture and Marc By Marc Jacobs for under £50 also lets us have a slice of designer heaven at a snip of the price if we (unfortunately) cannot afford to splurge £400 on a handbag. The high street is also getting involved, with

retailers such as Paperchase and River Island releasing cheap but chic cases.

One to watch is retailer 'Knomo' (knomobags.com) who specifically designs bags tailored to different sizes of laptops in all different styles.

Goodbye boring bulky laptop bags, hello colourful and chic cases!

Kate Spade, Apple Store, £24.95

Cath Kidston,cathkidston. co.uk , £12, knomobags.com, £25

Paperchase, £10

Marc By Marc Jacobs, harveynichols.com , £35-£45

6 | Tuesday 22 February 2011

Arts

Walking the West End Samantha Nicholson Film Editor

After living in London for a brief period, you get used to the delights of it: the tourist traps, the sight seeing and the cobbled streets of the West End. Here the stars of every musical walk to work every morning, before they put on their make up, grab a quick drink and sing, dance, and act all night, or even some weird combination of all three.

Some of these are stars we may recognise. Even now ex-Atomic Kitten star Natasha Hamilton, treads the boards as the poor Mrs. Johnston in the epic weeper Blood Brothers at The Pheonix, and Ray Meagher of Home and Away fame, takes a risk with Priscilla Queen of the Desert at The Palace Theatre.

While both Priscilla and Blood Brother are astounding, they will never personally stand up to three musicals, which both shaped my experience in London, but made me appreciate the sound of a stage.

First up is, what could be described as the greatest musical of all time.

It is for certain the longest running, after starting in October 1985, Les Miserables celebrated it's 10,000th performance in January 2010 and a 25th Anniversary on October 3rd 2010.

Les Miserables As a musical, I have been fortunature enough to experience this on the West End, on DVD and live at Cinema De Lux on the anniversary last year. The songs are powerful, the staging is incredible, and even just listening to the CD you feel the chills.

The story begins with a chain gang in France in 1815, when Jean Val Jean (originally played by Colm Wilkinson), is released after 19 years imprisonment for stealing a loaf of bread. His is just one story which is entwined into the complex plot of Les Miserables.

In 1823, Fantine is thrown out from the factory where she lives and works to fend for herself, after the factory owner discovers her illegitimate child is living with an inn keeper and his wife.

1832 comes and we meet Marius Pontmercy (originally Michael Ball) and Enjolras (originally David Burt).

These three stories combine to create the heart wrenching musical which is Les Miserables.

Wicked There will be some people who will question my inclusion of Wicked in

this piece, as it is only in it's eighth year of production. Still, youth is the advantage here with modern songs, excellent high tech staging and strange effects you wouldn't see in most older musicals.

The story is simple. It is the Wizard of Oz, before Dorothy landed and met Glinda the Good, and before The Wicked Witch of The West became who she was.

Galinda (originally Kristin Chenoweth) and Elphaba (Idina Mezel) meet while at school, and as the song 'What is This Feeling?' says, they hate each other. But it won't always stay that way.

Wicked follows their lives and at some moments, you are forced to tears. While the end of the musical is exceptionally powerful, the crowning moment is the end of Act One. With Elphaba being chased by guards, and Galinda, now Glinda, stood helpless to watch, Elphaba is hoisted into the air while she belts out the musicals memorable piece 'Defying Gravity'. Any singer who can take on the challenge of that song, has my vote, and the man that wrote it is a genious.

The Phantom Of The Opera As much as people don't like Andrew Lloyd Webber, and some may argue he stole the start of Phantom of The Opera from a Pink Floyd song (as you might suspect Mr. Waters was not happy about this, but couldn't be bothered to sue saying "I think that life's too long to bother with suing Andrew fucking Lloyd Webber,"), it is still, in my opinion, the most epic introduction to a musical. From the silence of an opera house ready to be demolished, to the epic "DAAAA-da-da-da-da-da", you are blown from your seat. As one women in the theatre beside me said, "I had an orgasm on the spot." Possibly a little extreme but still, effective.

The Phantom of The Opera is just a classic love story: a man cast out tries to get his true love to see his real beauty, the face behind the mask.

She on the other hand already has a childhood sweetheart.

As the musical was written for Sarah Brightman, no one can ever top the performance she gave (although I'm sure Mr. Lloyd-Webber disagrees with her being his ex-wife). Still, after 24 years (25 years this October), Phantom of The Opera is still going strong even wthout Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman. It acheived it 10,000th performance in October 2010.

Lucy Porter at The Curve Michael Somerville Deputy Editor

Cast member from the 25th Anniversary Les Miserables show at The O2 London

Kristin Chenoweth & Idinia Menzel in Wicked

Ramin Karimloo and Gina Beck in The Phantom of The Opera.

Waxing lyrical(in some unnerving detail it has to be said) about her late 30's love life, pregnancy, and cringey 'stalking' that went on when she was younger, Porter brings an almost youthful naivety to the stage, despite her colourful language and choice of adult themed anecdotes.

Porter is very relaxed in the limelight, frequently showing admirable honesty in wanting to share the light with members of the audience who, surprise surprise, have turned up late.

You sometimes feel that she isn't showing her true self- hiding almost under playful, risque jokes, whilst stammering through past awkward recollections. You can't blame her or dislike her- she's just too damn jolly and nice!

It's fair to say that women will enjoy ther jokes more than men, as they are told with a definitive female perspective. Think periods, dates with men drenched with fear, and THAT rumour about Jimmy Saville!

Lucy Porter performed as part of the Leicester comedy festival which is running until February 21st.

Be sure to check out Curveball- the last Friday of each month offers special offers on drinks, DJ's and dub-step artists. Do something new on a Friday, and it's free entry!

What's on at Curve?

Umbrellas of Cherbourg: Feb 11-26th Gandhi & Cocnuts: Feb 22-26th Lol (Lots of Love): Feb 28th Romeo and Juliet: March 1-12th Greek: March 8th, 10th and 12th East: March 7th, 9th and 11th

Outside of The Palace Theatre, London which showcases Priscilla Queen of The Desert

Tuesday 22 February 2011 | 7

Lifestyle

Cocktails & Curiosity Lifestyle Editor Emma Baylis reports on a night to remember at Revolution Leicester All pictures were taken by Amy Cliff

When myself and three girlfriends decided to do something a little different for a night out, we certainly didn’t expect what was in store for us.

We wanted to have a night out that gave us a completely new experience, with a bit of glitz, glamour and lots of alcohol thrown in the mix too. This is why the Cocktail Master Class at Revolution Leicester sounded absolutely perfect!

Starting the night earlier than we usually would, we arrived at Revolution Leicester at 6pm sharp.

We were greeted on arrival by our personal barman for the night, Jason, with a glass of cherry vodka bubbly and a cocktail of our choice from the vast selection on the menu.

Revolution is celebrating its 15th birthday this year and to commemorate this, the bar’s cocktail experts have created a menu that encompasses their most popular drinks from over the past decade and a half.

Classics such as the Mojito and Long Island Iced Tea are amongst the ‘best ever cocktails’ along with other vodka twists like Tutti Frutti, Cherry Cola and Scarlet Miss Charlotte. Also offered are crazy-

flavoured shots such as Rhubarb and Custard, Bakewell Tart and the aptly named Birthday Cake.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Cocktail Master class, it costs £25 for the night, and believe me you get more than your money’s worth!

In total, we had approximately 38 drinks (a combination of cocktails and shots) between the four of us, and as you can imagine, this gave us quite a sore head the next day!

After our first couple of drinks, Jason gave us the low-down on the history of the cocktail, and demonstrated how to make some of the more well known drinks such as the Cosmopolitan (ala Carrie, Miranda, Charlottes and Samantha!) and the Mudslide. He went through all the different tools used, shaking techniques and how to strain a drink effectively.

We were then invited to try the tricks of the trade behind the bar, choosing a cocktail to make by ourselves. I went for Purple Rain, a concoction of Wyborowa Apple vodka, Chambord and Blue Curaçao liqueurs shaken with pomegranate and blueberry juice, and then topped with lemonade. Sounds good eh?

It wasn’t too difficult to be honest, although my arms went numb after all the shaking, and I was quite proud of the finished product! The girls seemed to enjoy drinking it, that’s for sure.

Next up was the biggest challenge of the night; making cocktails blindfolded. Split into two pairs, we were dared to each create a drink whilst aided by our partners.

The aim of the game was to create the best cocktail, judged by Jason, which proved to be quite difficult.

Vodka was spilt everywhere and unfortunately the ‘losers’ (which included myself ) had to drink a chilli shot as a forfeit. It was not enjoyable.

And as if that wasn’t enough already, we were then invited to watch a Parma Violet shot display, in the style of a Jaeger bomb. It’s safe to say this finished the night off with a bang and we were almost falling off our stools!

The evening was extremely eventful; full of giggles, rather embarrassing behaviour and no attempt at all to make our drinks last longer than five minutes. Will we return in the future? Absolutely.

All the girls Shaken not stirred!

Revolution Leicester are offering a discount to members of any DMU Society. To enquire about taking part in a Cocktail Masterclass, go to the website at www.revolution-bars.co.uk/leicester or contact Events Manager Claire on party-leicester@revolutionbars.co.uk. Happy Cocktail making!

A few creations Did you know...

Cocktails are always drank with two straws.

This is because in 1862 they were so strong, they had to be shared between two people.

Once upon a time cocktails were called bitter slings!

The true origin of the word cocktail is not known, however, we were told that cocktails origination from the days of cock fighting.

People would mix the remains of different bottled alchohol in the same glass to save money (and possibly get drunk quicker!)

The first "cocktail party" ever thrown was allegedly by Mrs. Julius S. Walsh Jr. of St. Louis, Missouri, in May 1917.

Blind leading the blind...

Of course we graduated with Honours!

8 | Tuesday 22 February 2011

Lifestyle

Lucy loves... Leach and the

Footlighters

Sally Jack

Beauty blogger Lucy Partington is a third year Journalism student at DMU. Here she tells us why she's already looking forward to Summer gardens, orange skies, gossips aplenty and BBQs burning.

This summer is the first of many I’ve had a pink license, so road trips at every opportunity with the windows down and the wind in my hair (no doubt I’ll look more like Bridget Jones than Bridget Bardot) and my summer soundtrack.

As summer beings to wind down (not that I’m wishing it away), I’ll be packing my rucksack for a five-week adventure on the other side of the world in Australia, did you know their summer begins just as ours in ending...?

But, before then, I have a host of dissertation writing (6576 words to go) and magazine designing to do and I’m planning to make the most of these final few dark evenings before they’re gone for another year.

Comedy Overlord of the Year, lorded it on the stage. And he showed us his comedy ears too, which was kind of him.

Pre and mid-show entertainment was provided by DMU’s Music Society who serenaded the audience to their seats, and the bar.

And so, to the headline act, Jeff Leach. He describes himself as a young man hell bent on world domination, and may already be known to you thanks to appearances on Big Brother’s Big Mouth, Current TV, and is the face of Virgin’s ‘Music on Demand’. He has also only been on the stand up scene for a year, however, has taken the circuit by storm. Let’s just say his act was of a confessional nature, and maybe not one you should share with your parents.

But, he made a lot of new friends at what he termed D Moo Soo (DMU SU), and was very generous with his time and attention. D Moo Soo hopes he’ll be back soon.

Next show 8th April – watch out for further details, and, if you would like more info about the society, email DMUFootlights@yahoo.com.

Jeff Leach Photo By Nicole Dopson

It’s that time of year again; I’m counting down the days while I’m counting up my money and living in hope that I’ll have enough to buy a weekend camping ticket for this year’s V Festival.

For the past five years, not showering for days, sleeping in a field and dancing under the sunset - warm cider in hand - with a bunch of my best friends is the only way I know how to round up a perfect summer and I hope 2011 is no different.

I’m aware it’s only February but I’m already longing for warm, sunny days spent waiting for it to be Pimms’o’clock (midday) so endless hours can be spent laughing in a beer garden with sticky days, breezy evenings and a strap-free suntan.

I can’t wait for those carefree days where my biggest worry is whether or not to take my sunglasses with me and drawn out evenings in my friend’s

A sold out crowd packed into Level 1, DSU on 10th February for another Footlights show, entitled “Leach and the Footlighters”.

What a difference a year makes: March 2010, the Society was nearly ready to come out of its Mummy’s tummy, in time for its first show.

Fast forward to February 2011, and Footlights has not only learnt how to walk, but run too, as this show was featured as part of the Leicester Comedy Festival. Not only that, a real life TV comedian headlined, more about him later...

Continuing the maternal references, compere Ben Hustwayte got things off to a shocking start by confessing to having unusually large nipples.

Thankfully, he did what any good boy would do in the circumstances and went for double protectin: a vest under his sensible jumper.

The acts were all winners from the recent Comedian of the Year competition at the Highlights Comedy Club (see Issue 77), and showed the

quality and consistency of the stand up talent lurking around DMU. David Murphy got things going with his view on where playing Call of Duty should fall in terms of life’s priorities.

Seems it’s first. Liam Davis followed this up with a wry look at sibling rivalry and bank fraud. And was that Osama Bin Laden you saw selling towels down the market? Jack Britton issued a warning: your graduation ceremony may be livened up by having to collect your degree on hot coals. Can’t wait.

Jack Campbell should be doing his degree in medicine, thanks to his informative body parts chart.

Apparently, he also has photos of key ‘danger’ areas, but we’ll save them for another day. David Wood was in a philosophical mood, pondering subjects as diverse as Chinese New Year and trigonometry. Next time you see him, ask what he does when he hears a dialup modem.

Andy Schooledge went all Judge John Deed on us and highlighted some of his favourite laws; let’s just say it could only happen in the USA. Finally for the Footlighters, Matt Holmes, self-styled

Ben Hustwayte and crowd member Photo By Nicole Dopson

You can find Lucy's blog at grazedknees.com.

Tuesday 22 February 2011 | 9

Lifestyle

Footlights members fly the nest Those of you who have flown the nest to come to University will know that a move away from the comforting bosom of home is a hard thing to do.

Boosted by their brilliant performances in the recent Footlights Comedian of the Year competition, several of the Footlighters have ventured outside the warm embrace of DMU and walked, wide eyed and excited into the scary world of ‘grown up’ comedy.

Regular readers of the Demon will know three of DMU Footlights Society’s comedians entered the Midlands Stands Up competition in October. Ben Hustwayte and Andy Schooledge progressed to the semi finals, and Tom Norman to the Final on 6th February where he performed a fantastic set, although sadly, not a winner that night. The competition, the final of which is a major event at the Leicester Comedy Festival,

features new, local stand up talent, together with comedians from the national circuit. This was an amazing achievement for all three, and they have proved themselves as comedians to watch in the future.

Ben Hustwayte, Andy Schooledge, Liam Davis, Jack Britton, Jack Campbell, Joe Wood, Martin England, David Wood, David Murphy and Matt Holmes have all done gigs at the Y Theatre and the Exchange to name but two, again, all part of the Leicester Comedy Festival.

DMU Footlights Society is hoping to take twelve comedians to the Edinburgh Fringe this August. If you would like to be part of this once in a lifetime opportunity, get in touch with DMUFootlights@yahoo.com for more information.

The last word from Jack Campbell following his performance at the Y Theatre: “It was a real treat to get up in front of people and talk about having sex in a creaky bed.”

His mother is very proud.

David Wood Photo By Nicole Dopson

Sally Jack

Café Rouge hits the spot Restaurant Review

Café Rouge Unit R4 Highcross, Leicester LE1 4SD 0116 251 8067 Food Service Ambience About £90 for three including starters, sides, main courses and desserts.

Michael Somerville Deputy Editor

There comes a time when you eat out at a truly special restaurant when everything is truly flawless.

Café Rouge was founded 20 years ago by Roger Myers and Karen Jones and attracted much attention after being mentioned in the Bridget Jones' novel with the main character regularly visiting her local branch throughout the novel.

The Highcross branch is adorned with little French,handmade paintings and unique lampshades and has a very homely yet sophisticated atmosphere and is consequently a fantastic place to take a girl out on a date. Guys, pay attention!

The waitressing service was flawless as we enjoyed a delicious starter with the delectable Fougass: French bread served with Garlic and Herb with Gruyere cheese. Amazing with Onion chutney.

Next up was the fabulous Beef Bourguignon (£13.50) which two of us enjoyed greatly- a lovingly put together dish bursting with goodness and variety; just reading the descriptions on the menu made the mouth water. Confit de Canard

(£12.95) and the real thing certainly didn't disappoint. I say next up, but I can assure you there was no rushing the food in this special eatery.

Besides talking about the superb food that we were privileged to enjoy, there was lots to say about the actual resaurant itself. Large French windows were a perfect accompaniment to the almost cluttered interior, but in truth it was a very comforting environment to eat food. I have a new- found respect for French food and French decor after this visit.

Creme Brule (£4.95) and Coope Gourmande (£5.50) were highly accomplished deserts; I think it is worth mentioning that Café Rouge were more than happy to personalise Hayley's Creme Brule with Raspberry Coole.

With our tummies positively full and satisfied we left Café Rouge. always hoping to return another time.

10 | Tuesday 22 February 2011

Travel

Tokyo in translation

In the first leg of a three part journey, Kayla Mulcahy explores Japan's capital city Kayla Mulcahy

Having never travelled abroad without my parents, I was more than nervous to say the least, especially when entering a country that speaks little English. But, I was ready for the challenge and an experience to remember.

Japan speaks of beautiful traditions and rich landscapes, with a hardworking ethic at its cherry-blossom core. Entering the heart of Tokyo took me back to my days lost in London; however, everything here was much calmer, softer and far politer.

Arriving at Tokyo Narita Airport, the well-dressed taxi driver greeted my partner and I with a bow and opened the rear passenger door with grace.

The car was lined with delicate white lace and black leather, and this was just your standard taxi. Not used to this custom, I was excited about what our week ahead would bring, not only were we due to stay in Tokyo, we also planned a day in Hakone and to finish up in Kyoto with the hope of tasting the more traditional side of Japan.

As you can imagine, Tokyo is immersed with towering skyscrapers and fume-infested streets. But despite this unhealthy image, you can't help but fall in love with the Cherry Blossom Trees that line so many of the busy streets. Year-after-year they bloom in rich shades of pink and are treasured amongst all Japanese citizens, marking a new beginning.

Enjoying this beauty from inside the taxi, I was surprised I stayed

awake. Our flight took over thirteen hours, and we had been up for over a day. Before long, our first day in Asakusa was over as jet-lag got the better of us as we ended up sleeping through until sunrise.

Beginning our day with good old-fashioned rice cakes and miso soup, I was more than pleased to say the least.

As with any foreign country, it can be incredibly hard to adjust yourself to the different foods, especially when you're served fish at 8am. But everything was so full of flavour that I still crave those little rice delicacies. Our hotel had a friendly service despite the staff speaking little English, and our room was extremely clean and comfortable. Not bad for £50 a night.

Walking the streets of Tokyo I clutched my partner’s hand in fear of getting separated through the hustle of the crowd, but just ahead of us we saw the innocence of Japan. A young girl no older than seven was skipping through the crowd, dressed neatly in her navy and red school uniform with her lunchbox swinging from her hand. Such a sweet image cannot be imagined in England and demonstrated the security and beauty of this Eastern land.

Taking the underground was tricky, confusing and scary, but luckily my partner can speak Japanese. If you're travelling to Japan without your lucky charm translator I would advise careful planning when using their transport systems. But, like London Underground there are plenty of maps to help you get around.

Squeezing our bodies onto the train felt impossible, guards outside were pushing more and more people on

to make the most of the little space.

Despite feeling like a squished sardine their transport is quick, efficient and clean, a completely different aesthetic to England.

For anyone who loves to shop, Ginza is the Gucci capital for you.

Not only are there high fashion outlets with model-looking guards standing at the doors, there are also enormous department stores with an old friendly face; H&M. After hours of shopping and several blisters later, we made our way to the Senso-ji Temple taking a rickshaw ride around the back streets of Asakusa to give our aching feet a rest.

Our ride guide was extremely

entertaining and taught us about some traditions of Japan that we had never known before. Although this came at a hefty price, it was worth the ten minute ride to the front entrance of the most sacred and spectacular temple.

As the oldest temple in Tokyo, Senso-ji speaks of rich Buddhist traditions and beautiful architecture.

The famous Nakamise Street is a treasure trove of traditional wares, including fans, dolls, kimonos and delicious Japanese food.

With so much to see, we spent the rest of our day here, admiring the Five-Story Pagoda and Main Hall that was filled with paintings of angels and lotus flowers.

Our last day in Tokyo was spent at the notorious Ghibli Museum, and to me this was the equivalent of Disney Land Paris but without the stomach turning rides.

Our next stop was the hilly hotspring town Hakone, set across the collapsed remains of a huge volcano, echoing the natural essence of Japan.

Make sure you grab a copy of issue 79 to read about the next stage of Kayla's journey through Japan.

Next stop: Hakone.

Tuesday 22 February 2011 | 11

Travel

Inspiration in Africa

An eye opening, life changing trip to the poorest continent on the planet

Ahmad Teladia

The mere glimpse of an image that spoke a thousand emotional words, the lingering thought of a reality spitting statement…

Inspiration is like the leopard, difficult to chase, even harder to outrun. Yet cocooned in these lives of repeat, fewer and fewer people venture out into that open land for any sort of attempt. Wrapped in their security of habit, and forgetting that with change usually comes progress. I was one of the lucky few given an opportunity, to in hindsight, find myself and as I was told, be given a platform to change my world.

Travelling out to Africa for the first time, I saw the face of poverty and disease that had riddled a historic continent and was able to experience a fraction of the lives enclosed within.

I spent all of 10 weeks in Kenya, helping out people that if a social pyramid of opportunity was drawn, would be sitting at the bottom. Those weeks were the hardest of my life and the most memorable; little did I realise it would leave its mark on me. There’s absolutely nothing like experiencing something yourself, it’s no match for the stories or countless pictures trying to catch a single moment in a snapshot.

After all, the best way to gain knowledge is to go out and search for it.

Whilst there, I realised people had trust in strangers that I before had not witnessed, provoking us as the strangers to reciprocate – a great cycle if there ever was one. Seeing

Travel review:

Three travel books you must read Bill Bryson — Down Under So much more than just a travel book.

It's a history book, an etnology study and one of his funniest works. Bill Bryson gives a guide to one of the most bizarre countries on earth.

nature in all its glory, untouched and unharmed, was beauty from its core. These very people, though labelled as poor, had the richness of nature surrounding them. Richness I now constantly yearn for; a sense of unity among everyone which money couldn’t buy, but most of all, the ability to lead their lives fully, in whatever circumstance.

Since being back I’ve been covered with a mass of university reports, but when you have a passion for something, you’ll always find the time. A few days ago whilst talking about society and culture in a psychology seminar, a friend posed the notion that a lack of

independence - as seen in the lessdeveloped collectivistic regions, was actually a shame. Obviously proud of her ambitions and perceived control on life, her view was and still is understandable. But I fail to agree.

Their belief, strength in unity and determination in aspects ranging, I believe would defy even some of the ‘fittest’ of the Western world. The word ‘stress’ seemingly forgotten from their dictionaries and a smile to lighten even the darkest of days.

My inspiration didn’t come from a single moment, or an imaginary bulb lighting up in my head for that matter. It was the beautiful way these people led themselves, the

vulnerability they exposed themselves too, reaping the returns from a caring community. Their unique ability of great hospitality towards people they barely knew. Unknown to the fact, that we the same people were grateful for everything they gave, and at the least envied the very ability of carefree life. Not forgetting the simple hope for better they passed through generations, and indeed on to me.

I grew up thinking I knew what the world was like, that there was very little out there I could see which would change my views. For me it took having to live the lives of the less fortunate, to be truly appreciative - I hope my naivety isn’t the same for all. Being aware of poverty is good and definitely a start, but it is more important to be active in its eradication. Seeing with my own eyes how luxurious our lives truly are, has made me realise that if people like myself don’t try to make a change, then who will? I read once that it’s the small changes that make a big difference, and while I am only making a small change, having a number of people affecting that change, will I hope make a big difference. For as my good friend reminded me, all it takes for evil to prevail, is for good people to do nothing.

“Let go of your attachment to being right, and suddenly your mind is more open. You're able to benefit from the unique viewpoints of others, without being crippled by your own judgement”

Paul Theroux — The Greart Railway Bazaar An epic journey from London to the Far East and back again by train.

Written in the '70s, it makes for an interesting read when comparing to modern day travels.

Michael Palin — Around the World in 80 Days Tackling the classic travel adventure, this book accompanies Michael's BBC series from the '90s.

12 | Tuesday 22 February 2011

Music

White Stripes no more!

Stephanie Louise Farrell

Sales of albums Elephant and White Blood Cells were suddenly through the roof. Thousands of profile pictures on Facebook changed to photos of two red, black and white clad figures.

It was official: on February 2, 2011, after the best part of fourteen years, The White Stripes announced that they were no longer together.

A statement on their official website stated that the split ‘[was] not due to artistic differences or lack of wanting to continue,’ but ‘to preserve what was beautiful and special about the band.’

A message from The White Stripes themselves stated: “The White Stripes do not belong to Meg and Jack anymore. The White Stripes belong to you now and you can do with it whatever you want. The beauty of art and music is that it can last forever if people want it to. Thank you for sharing this experience. Your involvement will never be lost on us and we are truly grateful.”

The History The White Stripes formed in Michigan in 1997. Initially, they were part of a large music scene in their hometown of Detroit, but began to gain recognition outside of this, particularly in the UK where they had a big fan in the late John Peel.

Throughout their career they released six studio albums, of which Elephant is probably the most well known.

Their last album was Under Great White Northern Lights, a collection of live recordings from their tour of Canada in 2007. Sadly, this would be the last one.

During this tour, they made history by playing the ‘shortest concert ever’ – they played only one note before leaving the stage. Jack White is expected to continue producing music for artists signed to his label, Third Man Records.

There is currently no news on when we can expect something more from his other two bands, The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather.

Troubled Times

The band had taken a long hiatus, cancelling a tour back in 2007 due to Meg White’s stage fright and Jack White’s label and side projects taking up much of his time. Fans seemed to react to the news with sadness but little surprise. Jack White hinted at various points that The White Stripes were likely to record again – a new album was even rumoured to be coming out in the summer of 2010 – but nothing surfaced. In the statement on their website, it was stated that unreleased and live recordings of the band’s work would still be available to members of The Vault, Third Man Records’ subscription record club

What's left?

The ‘last great rock band?’ Opinions differ. But nobody could argue that this band were, in their own way,

Ex-husband and wife: Jack and Meg duped the press by saying were brother and sister

special: amidst the floppy fringed ‘emo’ groups and the suit-and-tie indie dominating the mainstream throughout the noughties, their childish, simplistic and at times experimental music will never fail to remain inspiring and unique.

Undoubtedly, they will be remembered for their quirks and

their gimmicks – most notably the strict dress code of red, black and white – but fan or not, their always familiar music will remain unforgettable.

Band of Horses Dani Mullins

Off the back of a successful year, Grammy nominated Seattle fivepiece, Band of Horses brought their indie, rock style to Birmingham to end the first month of the New Year.

South Carolina’s bearded horses shone at the O2 Academy, their third stop on their UK tour after the release of their third album Infinite Arms.

Fronted by the haunting voice of Ben Bridwell, ‘the horses’ have seen

looking rock band. their popularity intensify since the Rocking checked shirts and release of their first album Everything All The Time in 2006, and with their beards, they walked on stage to a huge applaud and began 90 beautiful melodies shifting between country and rock, it’s easy to see why minutes of brilliant music.

Kicking off with an up-tempo they have such a cult following. number, BOH played a mix of This tour sees the band supported by fellow indie rockers and an early songs from their albums, throwing in songs from their latest release start to the night saw Goldheart early on, such as Laredo and Assembly take the stage to play songs new single Dilly to the crowd’s from their debut album Wolves and approval.

Thieves for a small crowd with ease Among the most memorable of Unsurprisingly, it was their biggest The enticing melody of Is There and excitement. Fronting a more hit The Funeral which proved to be a Ghost, the breakout hit from an impressive catalogue of songs relaxed vibe, the evening favourite. Its distinctive were Compliments with its upbeat Mojave 3 were their second album Cease to Begin, melody enthralled the crowd and the vibe and the soft melody of Evening soon had the whole crowd singing next to take Kitchen, gently sung by Bridwell in his band produced a moving performance along. Adding to the atmosphere, the stage as the that BOH fans are now so used to. distinctive voice. the band played amidst a beautiful Academy filled But the highlight of the night came A label switch to Columbia for photographic backdrop of stunning and they played their latest release sees a collaborative in the encore when only Bridwell and wilderness shots by photographer a number of Ramsey returned for an acoustic duet effort between all five members and endearing songs. Christopher Wilson. of Monsters, an unforgettable end to a could steer a shift towards a wider Unlike many Guitarist Tyler Ramsey provided great night of music. amusement throughout the night, but audience. Bridwell was keen to praise gigs, the crowd Already Grammy nominated, BOH Monroe’s song Older before the band the surprise came from Ryan Monroe didn’t have to are an inspiring part of the country played it with full force, evoking a who, once moved from his organ, wait long for rock revival and only bigger things are provided some mesmerising guitar sing along with Monroe’s effortless the main act to vocals. to come for these bearded rockers. come on as by solos.

8.30pm, the lights went Want to write for Demon Music? down and Send your content to Demon Music Editor Katie Bowley ktbowley@hotmail.com on walked an unlikely

Tuesday 22 February 2011 | 13

Film

The Demon meets.....

Film Editor Sam Nicholson looks at the life of a BAFTA Academy Fellowship winner, Sir Christopher Lee Flight Lieutenant.

After the war, in 1946, Lee gained a seven year contract with Rank Organisation, after speaking about his interest in acting with his mothers second cousin. It was then he found out that his great grandmother Marie Carandini, was a successful opera singer. He made his film debut in Terence Young's gothic romance, Corridor of Mirrors in 1947.

His first appearence for Hammer was The Curse of Frankenstein (1957), in which he played Frankensteins monster. He later co-starred with Boris Karloff in Corridors of Blood (1958), but it was his appearence as Frankensteins monster which led him to playing the part of Transylvania vampire Dracula (1958). It is unknown why he didn't appear in the 1960's sequence Brides of Dracula, but Lee states that he only appeared in subsequent sequels Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1965), Dracula has Risen From The Grave (1968), Taste the Blood of Dracula (1969), and Scars of Dracula (1970), because he was virtually blackmailed

by Hammer, who said they would have to put people out of work if he didn't star in the films. The company were unwilling or unable to pay Lee his going rate.

He appeared in other Hammer movies, such as The Mummy (1959), acclaimed to be Lee's best performances despite being able to convey emotion only through his eyes. He also portrayed Rasputin in The Mad Monk, Sir Henry Baskerville in The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959). The was given the chance to play Sherlock Holmes himself in 1962's Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace, and Holmes' brother Mycroft in, the British-Made, The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970).

Lee was also responsible for bringing the acclaimed occult author Dennis Wheatley to Hammer.

The company made two films, both starring Lee, The Devil Rides Out (1967), acclaimed as one of Hammers achievements, and a second film Above: Lee as he appears in Star Wars Episodes II & III To the Devil a (2002-2003) Daughter (1976).

The film was fraught

Sir Christopher Lee, a man whos career spans over 200 films and 8 decades. He is unignorable as one of the greatest actors of all time, and was named by USA today in 2005 as the most marketable star in the world.

Born in Belgravia, Westminster, Lee was the son of Lieutenant-Colonel Geoffrey Trollope Lee of the 60th Kings Rifle Corps, and Contessa Estella Marie (nee Cardandini di Sarzano). His mother was famous for being an Edwardian beauty, painted

by Sir John Lavery and Oswald Birley.

At a young age his parents seperated, and Lee was taken with his sister to Switzerland, whereby they were enrolled at Miss Fisher's Academy in Wegen. It was here Lee's acting career began when he played Rumpelstiltskin in a school play.

The family did return to England, whereby his mother remarried Harcourt Rose, a banker and step cousin to Ian Fleming, author of the James Bond novels, and Lee attended Wagner's Private School. After this he applied for a scholorship to Eton, which he was unsuccessful in. Instead he won a scholorship to Wellington College.

During World War II, Lee volunteered to fight for the Finnish forces during the Winter War against the Soviet Union in 1939, however along with other British volunteers, he was kept away from the actual front line. He went on to serve in the Royal Air Force and intelligance services. Eyesight problems meant he had to drop out of his training in South Africa as a pilot. Eventually he ended up serving in North Africa as a Cipher Officer. He retired from the RAF after the war, with the rank of

with production difficulties, and eventually was disowned by the author. While financially successful, the was Hammers last horror film, and marked the end of Lee's long association that brought him fame.

Since the 1970's, Lee has avoided horror roles almost entirely. Originally he was on the cards of play James Bond spy villian Dr. No, however the producers had already chosen Joseph Wiseman for the part. In 1974, he finally played a James Bond villian, when he was cast as the deadly assassin Francisco Scaramanga in The Man With The Golden Gun. Because of the filming schedule in Bangkok, film director Ken Russell was unable to sign Lee to play The Specialist in Tommy (1975), a role eventually given to Jack Nicholson.

According to Halloween director John Carpentor, he offered the role of Samuel Loomis, Michael Myers' doctor, to Christopher Lee, before Donald Pleasence took the role. Years later, Lee suggests this is the greatest regret of his career.

Lee resurrected his role as Sherlock Holmes in 1991, with Incident at Victoria Falls and followed this with 1992's Sherlock Holmes and the Leading Lady.

In recent years, Lee was considered for the role of Magneto in the adaptation of the comic book series X-Men. He lost out on the role to Sir Ian McKellen.

Arguably his greatest recent success was his appearance as Sauruman, in The Lord of The Rings Trilogy (20012003). In the films commentary, Lee states he had always dreamed of playing Gandalf, but he was physically too old to be consisdered for the role, due to the horseback riding and fighting required. Ironically, he lost the role to the same actor he lost the role of Magneto to: Ian McKellan. Lee was the only person to meet Tolkien once, and admits to reading the novels at least once per year. He also performed on the soundtrack album, The Lord of the Rings: Songs and Poems. There was a frosty relationship with Peter Jackson after the actors appearance in the third film's theatrical release was cut, however this was reinstated for the extended edition.

Lord of The Rings wasn't Lee's only appearence in a revival of a classic.

He appeared in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002) , and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2003), as Count Dooku, a name allegedly chosen to reflect his fame found playing Count Dracula.

Above: Lee in Lord Of The Rings (2001-2003) In his autoiography Lee claims he did most Below: Lee in an early role as Dracula (1958-1973) of the sword play himself, however a double was required for the more vigorious footwork.

As a favourite actor of Tim Burton, he has appearnce in many of the directors films including a small part in Sleepy Hollow, a voice part as Pastor Galswells in Corpse Rings and The Wickerman.

Bride, and a small role in Burton's Lee bridged two genres with his reimagining of the classic Roald Dahl work when he performed Toreador tale as Willy Wonka's strict dentist Song from the opera Carmen in a father Dr. Wilbur Wonka. heavy metal style with the band Inner In most recent years, Lee Terrestrials. collaborated with Burton on Sweeney He worked with Manowar on their Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet re-recording of their first album, Street playing the spirit of Todd's Battle Hymns. The original voice was victims called the Gentleman Ghost recorded by Orson Welles. The new alongside Anthony head, both singing album Battle Hymns MMXI was the ballad of Sweeney Todd. However, released in November 2010. He also the song was cut as they were too recorded and released his own heavy theatrical for the film, and Lee's metal album, Charlemagne: By The performance was completly cut bar an Sword and The Cross in 2010, telling uncredited one-line cameo. the story of his Italian ancestors who He appeared again for Burton were descended from Chalemagne as the voice of the Jabberwocky in himself. He was awarded the Spirit of Burton's 2010 Alice in Wondderland Hammer award by Metal Hammer alongside Johnny Depp, Helena Magazine in 2010. He was presented Bonham Carter and Anne Hathaway. this by Tony Iommi.

While he only has a few lines, Burton Outside of his work, Lee has wanted the iconic actor to play what been married since 1961 to Danish he described as an iconic character. model Birgit Kroencke Lee. They The actor plans to reprise his role have a daughter together Christina as Lord Summerilse in The Wicker erika Carandini Lee. Lee's maternal Tree, adapted with element of The ancestors were also given the right Wickerman. to bear the coat of arms of the Holy Suprisingly, Lee is also a classically Roman Epire by Emperor Frederick. trained singer, performing on film Barbossa. soundtracks such as The Lord of The

14 | Tuesday 22 February 2011

Film

Forgotten & underrated The Demon looks at the most unnderrated childrens films of the past few decades Samantha Nicholson Film Editor

Synecdoche, New York is one of the most profoundly affecting things I have seen in a long, long time.

This film is the directorial debut of Charlie Kaufman, the magnificent screenwriter who's brought us such gems as Being John Malkovich and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Each of those were directed by crazy directors whose last names spell checker doesn’t like: Spike Jonze (Malkovich) and Michel Gondry (Spotless Mind). The film is about Caden Cotard a successful theatre director, trying to make his magnum opus, a play about life, the whole world, everything. What this film (and Cotard’s play) tries to be is an examination of life, the way no-one is special except in their own lives, the way we strive to be something we’re not, just to be loved. The way we are all tiny in the scale of things. I still can’t describe why I loved this film so much. Due to its odd/uniqueness I can’t see a everyone really enjoying it, as the ongoing issue with films like this face is that people are so used to cinema being close to reality, that anything surreal or out just of the ordinary without stating so (i.e. not with a tagline that has the word ‘magical’ in it) is labelled as ‘weird.’ It is then put in a drawer with that label and ignored by the common unadventurous movie goer. I find that label isn’t fair as fictional stories allow reality to be bent or even broken, it isn’t real, it can represent reality, unless it’s a documentary, it isn’t real life, as real life is too complicated and too big to make into something smaller. We use a Synecdoche, a small fraction of something to represent something much larger.

As a child I didn't truely appreciate the magic of the films I was watching. Sure everyone knows Disney and their classics, plus the other few that sneak in there as children's classics, but what of the children's films that don't make it, but yet are still classics in their own right?

1. The Brave Little Toaster - This 1987 classic tells the story of house hold appliance which can move and speak when not in the presence of humans. These five appliances, a Radio (Radio), a lamp (Lampy), an electric blanket (Blanky), a vaccum cleaner (Kirby) and a toaster (Toaster), live in an empty countryside cabin.

They await the return of their master, a child they haven't seen in years.

When a for sale sign turns up at the

cabin, the appliances decide to set out and find their master. A true story of a dedication, way before Toy Story came about. In some places it is actually terrifying for children (Quote the deleted television scene with Toaster hanging above a lava pit!)

2. Help I'm A Fish - Ah with this film comes the memories of dancing around my living room to "I'm a little yellow fish in a deep blue sea, won't somebody help me." This originally Danish film was recorded and distributed in English to increase internation distribution. The 2001 film stars Alan Trickman as Joe The Fish and Terry Jones as The Professor.

The film follows three children and their quest to get home after they are changed into fish by an eccentric marine biologist Professor MacKrill.

Amazingly enjoyable and hilarious!

3. Cat's Don't Dance - This 1997 epic stars an eccentric cast of animals,

including a cat named Danny who moves to Hollywood to become an actor. There he meets people who says cats can only have small roles, and alongside other animals can not get major roles. He and his animal friends go out to prove that cats and other animals DO dance. Their opposition is a cute little girl named Darla Dimple. Styled on Shirley Temple, a little demon child who always gets her way with the help of her body guard and butler.

4. The Page Master Richard Tyler is a scared child, afraid of everything.

Macaulay Culkin stars as this scared little boy, after his success in Home Alone. After basing his life on fears and statistics, he gets lost during a storm, and ends up taking refuge in a library. Eccentric librarian, played by Christopher Lloyd, sends the boy into the library to find a pay phone. However Tyler

slips on some water which drips from his coat, which after knocking him out sends him to a world of books, whereby his must find the exit sign to get home. He meets three anthropomorphic books, Adventure (Patrick Stewart), Fantasy (Whoopi Goldberg, seen below) and Horror (Frank Welker), who are there to aid him on his journey. An exceptional cast, amazing visuals, cute humour and again some scary scenes.

With all this it should be a classic.

King's Speech big BAFTA winner After a devastating defeat at the Golden Globes, The King's Speech walked away with seven BAFTA's including Best Film and Outstanding British Film, Original Screenplay and Best Original Music.

Lead actor Colin Firth, walked away with Best Leading Actor, while both Helena Bonham Carter and Geoffrey Rush, were honoured with Best Supporting Actor/Actress.

This came after the film was nominated for 14 awards.

After a big Golden Golbes win, The Social Network walked away with two awards for Best Director and Best Editing.

Natalie Portman's thriller Black Swan recieved one nod for Best Actress, out of the twelve nominatins it recieved. It was beaten to Best Cinematography award by Roger Deakins' True Grit. and Best Production Production Design to Inception. It also lost Best Costume Design and Best Make up and Hair to Tim Burton's reminagining of Alice In Wonderland, starring Johnny Depp and Stephen Fry. The Harry Potter franchise was honoured on the night, with an award for Most Outstanding British Contribution To Cinema, an award granted annually to a film deemed worthy. In the past 10 years, Harry Potter has recieved seven Oscar nominations, 28 BAFTA nominations, five British Academy Children's Awards npminations,

and two nominations in this years BAFTA's for Special Visual Affects and Make Up & Hair.

Honoured alongside the series was Sir Christopher Lee. He was granted the Academy Fellowship, for his career within the film industry. Lee's career spans over 200 films and eight decades. In 2009 he was kngighted for his services to drama and charity.

He first became a star in the mid 50's, when he played the role of Frankenstein's Monster, which was then quickly followed by his portrayal of The Prince of Darkness, Dracula, in a series of Hammer Horror classics.

The award is the highest accolade which can be bestowed on an individual and has previously been granted to Elizabeth Taylor, Sean Connery, Alfred Hitchcock, Charlie Chaplain and Steven Speilberg.

Tuesday 22 February 2011 | 15

Film

What's on now: reviews Paul

Stephen Clark

First and foremost, this is not the new entry in the Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy. It’s a mistake heard all too often, and one that desperately needs to be established.

This isn’t Shaun of the Dead and it isn’t Hot Fuzz, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t fantastic.

The Edgar Wright/ Simon Pegg/ Nick Frost collaboration is set to return some time after or in 2012, but for now this is plenty to wet the appetite and more than enough to restore anyones faith in the comedy duo.

‘Paul’ is a tale in which, as described

by Pegg himself, “There’s two guys and an alien and they help him get home”. It’s not quite that simple, but it purposefully plays on sci-fi stereotypes, cliches, rules and settings in a way which homages and parodies in equal measure. Sadly its major setback is also its genius, with many of the jokes and myriad of references likely being missed by the bulk of its audience.

From a Shaun of the Dead ‘dogs can’t look up’ reference in the opening minutes to a predictable yet brilliant Aliens nod in the last, the film is a selfconfessed “love letter to Spielberg” and a thank you to the geeky Wright/ Pegg/ Frost fans.

True Grit

Tia Pennant- Lewis

Directed by the Coen brothers, True Grit is a classic Western that focuses on the importance of honour and trust. Based on the 1968 novel

by Charles Portis it is the second adaptation, the first being the 1969 movie starring John Wayne.

Stunning performances are delivered

by Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon, as well the especially brilliant Hailee Steinfeld, clearly a star on the rise. The accents used are a little too strong, Jeff Bridges is particularly difficult to understand as his character tends to mumble, but this doesn't detract from the overall quality of the acting.

The film follows fourteen year old Mattie Ross (Steinfeld), a headstrong girl determined to avenge her fathers murder.

Hiring the toughest U.S. marshal she can find to help her, Rooster Cogburn (Bridges), Mattie sets out to hunt down her father's killer, the elusive and notorious Tom Chaney. Joined by Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (Damon) who is also

Despite this, ‘Paul’ is nevertheless utterly recommendable. Seth Rogen plays the puerile alien perfectly, reuniting with Superbad director Greg Mottola, and the remainder of the cast is simply sublime.

Sigourney Weaver, Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Jason Bateman and a plethora of cameos are meticulously cast, with Bateman being a stand out, playing a deliberately stereotypical ‘bad-guy-specialagent-who-wants-promotion’ to comedic perfection.

Many of the film’s jokes will be deemed ‘childish’ by some, but this film isn’t for them. It’s certainly more crude than funny at times, but it really depends on whether you’re someone who can see past the groaners and bawdy for what the film really is heartfelt.

Luckily, even without Edgar Wright directing or writing, ‘Paul’ maintains that Pegg-Frost companionship and the easy-flowing storytelling of Fuzz and Shaun to impressive effect. The partnership continues to delight, and at points horrify, and the story flows perfectly, gaining unrelenting pace until the epic finale. Detailing the film’s events would only ruin their

Sanctum 3D Tia Pennant-Lewis

impact, so avoid the trailers, clips and spoilers or you’ll likely leave the cinema disappointed. Suffice to say there’s one cameo, and you’ll know the one, which is simply masterful.

‘Paul’ takes sci-fi and gives it a huge hug, and though it may not be the mint-choc-chip cornetto, it doesn’t need to be. For an adoring, and geeky, fan like myself ‘Paul’ is a four-star great, but for most it’s probably a three-star comedy with balls. Alien balls. Verdict: ‘Must-Watch’ Comedy.

out to find Chaney, the trio must learn to trust one another as the strength and 'grit' of each of them is tested by constant danger.

As is typical of Westerns, the film is gripping and exciting throughout and is sure to enthrall audiences with the sense of adventure it creates. The extremely likeable characters and emotionally raw plot line also allow the audience to feel involved on a personal level. Enjoyable from start to finish, True Grit is a must see, and a spectacle not to be missed at the cinemas.

Want to write for Demon Film?

Send your content to Film Editor Sam Nicholson at no1_dingbat@hotmail.com

James Cameron's Sanctum, should perhaps not be accredited so strongly to him as not only is he the executive producer rather than director, but it is also not his best work by any stretch of the imagination. Starring, Richard Roxburgh (Van Helsing), Rhys Wakefield (Home and Away) and Ioan Gruffudd (Fantastic Four), the film is entertaining for the most part.

However, though 'James Cameron' and 'average' don't often feature in the same sentence, in this case they do.

The action adventure follows an underwater cave diving team who are desperate to travel through one of the biggest and dangerous cave systems left unexplored in the world. Danger strikes when a freak storm hits and floods the cave, leaving them trapped with only one choice, to dive further into the unknown. As the tag line explains, the only way out it down.

The storyline is disappointingly predictable and focuses too much on the relationship between Frank (Roxburgh) and his son, Josh (Wakefield). However, the film is a sensational 3D experience that will grip and enchant audiences as it is visually breathtaking, just as Avatar was. Perhaps it is a curse that James Cameron's films will always be compared to the two highest grossing films of all time, but Sanctum is by no means his next masterpiece, though it is enjoyable and worth a watch.

Samantha Nicholson Film Editor agrees: It's just another James Cameron overblown epic.

Sure it looks visually stunning but really it's predictable and towards the end exceptionally boring. Without Cameron this film wouldn't be a hit.

Films of March's Past 2010 brought us the long awaited Tim Burton reimagining of Alice In Wonderland, the classic childrens tale of a girl who fell down a rabbit hole. With cameos from Helena Bonhan Carter, Johnny Depp & Stephen Fry, it should have been much better.

The starting of a trilogy, March 2001 saw Spy Kids released, the story of a brother and sister who's parents are secret agents.

25 years ago, Sean Connery and Christopher Lambert, teamed up to tell the story of an immortal Scottish warrior. After the success of James Bond, you knew Sean Connery would outshine anyone in this film.

Useless film trivia: Which 1980's film idol and Lost Boys Star died Feb 2010 Answer: Corey Haim

16 | Tuesday 22 February 2011

Listings

What's on at DMU: 22nd – 4th Tuesday 22 Volunteering Week

Wednesday 23

On until the 27th February watch out for a series of events including lunchbars and a pudding party…

Skillshare International Workshop 4pm, NASA, DSU: The charity has place¬ments for12 weeks in various African countries, as well as in Asia.

Music Society does QB@R, Charles St at 8-10pm Another night of music and madness!

The Creative Industries Careers Fair 10.30am-3pm, Queens Building Studying a creative degree?

See what opportunities there are in the industries.

British Red Cross Fundraising Day 10am - 3pm, City centre We will be raising money for the British Red Cross in Leicester city centre. Every penny we collect makes a big difference so come along for some or all of the day and get involved. Fancy dress theme is superheroes of course!

The weekend Saturday, 26

Sunday, 27

DSU Sponsored Sleep Out for Action Homeless 8pm – 6am Hardy volunteers are needed to sleep rough for the night outside the Campus Centre Building. They hope to raise both money and awareness for the vital charity work per¬formed

by Action Homeless. Want to get in¬volved? Get in touch ASAP as places are limited.

Dance Society Competition Loughborough University, Epinal Way 9pm, £3,50 First Step Fundraiser 8pm onwards, Soar Point This project will be the first of a series of events at local pubs in Leicester.

They will include a pub quiz, a raffle and food. The events will raise money for the charity First Step.

Cultural Exchanges Festival 28th – 4th March 10th Anniversary 50 events, – 4000 people, organized by students and staff (see guide in Clephan Bulding)

Fine Art Auction 7–9pm Clephan foyer Buy the works of some of the newest artists. See large paintings and small drawings and other fine art originals.

Dr. Andrew Tolson 3–4pm, Clephan 3.03 He will talk about interviewing strategies in UK general elections.

Indian Classical Dance Workshop 4-5pm, PACE Building, S2 Nilima Devi + CICD tutors, everyone welcome and a chance to take try Indian folk dance.

Dance4 — Gabi Reuter 8–9pm, PACE Building Studio 1 £5(£4): Three performers, loud costumes and black holes.

Skillshare International

SECS: Myth or Fact?

10am – 2pm, DSU A media project on the topic of sexual health. Volunteers will be filming interviews with other students and then edit the footage.

Inclusive Sports Project Volunteers needed to help coach and run inclusive sports sessions across the city in basketball and football.

DSU Election voting closes Midnight Last chance to vote with on www.mi-vote.com through your student e-mail.

Student Whonion?

The Student Union Election are on, and you can vote your favourites.

But what for?

make sure the Union, as a business, is run according to its best possibilities.

Up for voting are Execs, Officers, Trustees and NUS delegates.

What are Student Council & Student Trustee Meetings?

What did the Student Council and the Trustee Board this year?

The Student Union is run by three bodies: the Student Council, the Executive Committee and the Trustee Board. The Union is that thing which offers you sports, volunteering, entertainment, societies etc.?

The Student Council consists of students, officers, open places and faculty reps that check on the executive team to represent all students.

The Executive Team consists of the five leaders of the Union, elected for a year, being paid a full-time salary.

The Trustee Board consists of student Trustees, the Executive Team and external Trustees (highly experienced business man). They

Student Council was informed about the actions of the Executive and Student Officers. In the business of the meeting, they were then introduced to the data of the housing survey. The Union will use this information to improve the advice and services for students with housing issues. The RAG update from VP Sports and Societies Liam Davis (Exec Officer) revealed that the society’s goal of 10,000 pounds this year is close to being beaten. Thanks to RAG week, they might already have about 8,000.

VP Education Azhar Masquood (Exec Officer) informed the council of a trip to AN Najah University that follows a twinning policy that the council initiated in 2010. President Andy

Wednesday 2

Thursday 3

Tuesday 1

Monday 28

Friday 25

Thursday 24

Jeremy Hunter 6–7pm Clephan 3.03 The photographer presents rituals, festivals and celebrations of world cultures through a unique window.

Fairtrade Fortnight 28th Feb – 13th March Show off your creative streak by taking part in the bunting design competition.

Demon Crew 11–1pm, Clephan 2.30 Creative Writing undergraduates present their work in readings, talks and with visual entertainment Islam vs. Atheism debate 6.30–8.30pm Hugh Aston 0.10 Hanza Tzortzis rethinks the questions of: Does God exist?

60th Anniversary tribute 3–4pm, PACE Building S1 Celebrate with new music theatre and special electronic music pieces.

First Step Bring n Buy Sale 11am – 3pm, Campus Centre Ground Floor Bring 'n' Buy sale by helping to sell donated items to passers by for local charity First Step. If you can’t help out, why not donate CDs, books, etc.?

Critical Mass Leicester 18-21 Curve Theatre Make a statement with your bike and join a tour around Leicester. Every last Friday of the month.

Election results announced 7pm, Level 1

Schooledge (Exec Officer) asked the council for student opinions about campaigning against the University withdrawing student scholarships and bursaries for those who receive less than 65% this year (this concerns about 1600 students). The Union’s budget seems to be going well.

At the Trustee Board Meeting, President Andy Schooledge presented the ongoing actions of the Union to take more control of the campus centre, especially the ground floor.

The VP Education Azhar Masquood is also looking into raising the salaries for Executive Officers next year to match the average of other Unions.

If you want to publicise any upcoming events here, contact Editor Nico Lehmann on Facebook: DSU The Demon Listings group or contact Amy. Seabrook.

Friday 4

Muvizu 3D animations 10am-6pm, Clephan 0.17 All day showing of premiere short films about Leicester’s diverse communities. Also use Muvizu yourself and create your own.

Concert 60x60 1–2pm, PACE Building, S1 Sixty music composers each play for 60 seconds, from Beethoven to Chopin in a new form of electro acoustic and computer-based sonic art.

The Demon Manifesto Guide Vote now at www.mi-vote.com through your DMU email account Voting CLOSES Thursday 24th, Midnight www.demontfortstudents.com/vote Follow @votedsu on twitter

2 | Tuesday 22 February 2011

Election 2011 Welcome to this, your special pullout guide to the DSU Elections 2011.

This is your chance to choose the people who will be making the decisions that lead your Union forward for the next year.

You can place your vote by logging in to your DMU email account and following the link to www.mi-vote.com - Voting closes Thursday 24 at Midnight.

You can get the latest news on what’s happening in the elections by visiting the DSU Elections website at www.demontfortstudents.com/vote or by following us on twitter at www.twitter.com/votedsu.

Remember, YOUR VOTE COUNTS! Don’t miss this opportunity to have your say on the future of your Union and your time here at De Montfort University.

Union President

AMER REZA PRESIDENT Knowledge is a necessity in understanding and experiencing different aspects of life, which is why I believe in working diligently today, in order to be prepared for tomorrow. DMU is a world-class research University. However, its facilities, student support, resources and teaching need to be improved to make sure you get the best education possible.

I’m putting your education first!

Education isn’t just about studying, it’s also about experiencing, I will make sure your time in Leicester is affordable and fun – delivering you a better student life.

I’ll cut the cost of student life!

I have strived to take part in helping out wherever possible, with an openhearted nature in getting to know anyone who crosses my path.

This manifesto will only promise what can be achieved: 

Longer Library Opening Hours – Eric Wood library closes far too early. I’ll campaign for longer opening hours at EW.



More Contact Hours – Some third year students only get 3 hours of contact time a week. That’s just not enough. I’ll push for more contact hours.



Campaign for cheaper and better food



Cut hidden course costs – working with the Library I will campaign for e-reserve books so you don’t need to buy expensive course textbooks, but can access them online.



Your DSU – DSU is your Students’ Union. If elected I will hold weekly drop-in sessions to listen to your issues.

The vision I have presented, the beliefs I have set forth and the policies out-lined, will all work toward providing an SU that truly works for you. I cannot do this without your help, and if I do get elected, you will also have to do your part in making this University even better. We have so much to do and I hope you can give me one more chance to create a better Students’ Union FOR YOU!

Vote Amer No 1

Tuesday 22 February 2011 | 3

Elections 2011 Union President

LIAM DAVIS PRESIDENT

Vote Liam Davis 1 for President The Students’ Union has been working hard to tackle the big issues effecting students on campus. However, the next year will be tough and strong student representation is key.

I believe that...

1. It is vital that the Students’ Union is involved in discussions with the University over any cuts or changes that will damage students’ education and / or university experience.

2. If cuts do come Sports Teams, Societies, Volunteering and our Media Groups could come under threat. I pledge to protect these groups and ensure that DSU funding to them is not reduced.

3. The Union is DMU’s best kept secret. I want to increase awareness of what the Students’ Union is, what it does and what it can provide for students.

4. Students need to be able to feed into the discussions with the Implementation Group who are currently merging the Art and Design and Humanities faculties to ensure their education does not suffer.

I will...  Campaign to ensure that money is spent on improving Level 1 and the interior of the Students’ Union.  Fight for a fair deal for international students when the University set the international tuition fee amount.  Campaign to improve parking around campus by lobbying the local council.  Campaign to ensure that nurses and midwives have their needs met as they move onto the city campus.  Continue to lobby the University for more space, one floor is simply not enough. DSU is a vital part of the University experience.

Difficult times lay ahead. Experience is a key attribute leading into the next 12-18 months. Having worked for a year as one of the Union’s Executive Officers I feel I have picked up the required skills to lead the Union and represent DMU students.

Vote Liam Davis for President

DARREN LOOBY DEPUTY PRESIDENT EDUCATION EXPECT MORE Universities are already making big decisions in response to changes in national funding. Will there be yet more, bigger decisions, with ever greater impact on student lives? You can count on it.

Not only will future students be expected to pay more than double current fees, but existing students will suffer the cuts in staff and resources.

While it isn’t always at the forefront of our minds, our fee is our investment – and like any investment there are things we should expect in return.

Quality: We all have to face the cuts – unfortunately. It’s going to be hard to see how quality can be maintained, let alone improved while being exposed to cuts. It is therefore essential that the Union be a driving force in Assessment, Delivery, Feedback and Support quality.

Consultation: Where student views are important to a decision they should be taken into account before a decision is made; more importantly, they should be used to inform the entire decision making process – and be the starting point for change. This doesn’t just mean getting in touch with the big-wigs at the Union, it means building a relationship with affected students directly at a course level.

My Commitments (in brief)  Publish a detailed plan for the year before the end of my first month  Keep a diary including meetings with the University, detailing who I met with, and what it was about  Meet a minimum of 10 students every week, about whatever subject they choose  Complete feedback about how the Rep System can be improved and make improvements  Lead the focus on assisting Nursing and Midwifery students during their transition  Write a new Education Theory and Practice training workshop for Reps  Create a separate Education Strategy outside of the Union’s General Strategy

Deputy President Education

4 | Tuesday 22 February 2011

Election 2011 Deputy President Education

SUSANNE RILEY DEPUTY PRESIDENT EDUCATION

Vote Susanne Riley #1 for Deputy President Education VOTE RIGHT WITH RILEY! Now more than ever with the cuts looming there is a need for the education of students to be improved and maintained. As students of DMU you should feel that your Union is acting on your behalf to enhance your experience and education. This is my main aim.

The key areas amongst others that I will campaign to address as Deputy President Education are: 1. Feedback: To work closely with each of the Faculties to create a standardised form / system for giving feedback. A style that will suit the population of the Faculty. To eliminate the issues in terms of the amount of feedback given and the type of information given on feedback sheets.

2. Anonymous marking: To continue the great efforts already being made to achieve fair and anonymous marking for students work. To reassure you as students that your work is being marked fairly and accurately.

3. Student Reps: To improve and further the support given to Student Reps and Faculty Reps, allowing them to represent each one of you in a more efficient way. To provide training that will benefit them in achieving a more enjoyable experience for the students of their Faculty.

4.

Charles Frears: To make sure that the Nursing and Midwifery students of the Charles Frears campus are well represented and feel supported on campus when their move is put in place.

This year I have been lucky enough to attend Student Council as well as being a Student Rep for Dance and Humanities Faculty Rep; these experiences have helped me to understand what NEEDS to be done for you! I want to take all I have learnt and use it to benefit YOU, the student population in the way that you deserve.

Vote Susanne Riley #1 for Deputy President Education

Deputy President Education

AZHAR MAQSOOD DEPUTY PRESIDENT EDUCATION I’m Azhar Maqsood, current Deputy President Education and Vice Chairman Demon Scuba. I’m an MBA acquiring both the transactional and transformational skills of leadership which helps me to cater different personality styles thereby presenting me an opportunity to become a great leader.

What I accomplished  Students are able to print from their credits anywhere in the campus.  I’m now able to take a delegation to Nablus, Palestine.  Students’ interest in Students’ Union activities has increased over the year

What I participated In  I participated in reviewing the Faculty of Technology  I participated in the protests against fee rise and educational cuts.  I was also a part of passing University’s International Strategy.

Current projects An-Najah University Visit (Nablus Palestine) - to show our solidarity towards the Palestine students and also to fulfil the objectives of An-Najah policy passed last year.

Scholarships - I’m currently lobbying University for a fair scholarship scheme.

Feedback - I’m currently discussing some exam feedback pilots.

Online submission - We will be running some pilots with online submission and feedback.

Anonymous Marking - I’m going to present a new Anonymous marking proposal at the Academic Board.

Plagiarism - Plagiarism has been a big issue for international students. I’m seeking University’s attention to make some improvements in raising awareness among the students.

What I’ll do if I get re-elected  Finish and lay a proper foundation of my current projects  Work towards providing students with laptop loans from the Students’ Union.  Review the structure of DSU to ensure that it is cost effective.  Lobby University for Widening Participation in the time of fee rise and to have some provisions for the students from poor backgrounds.  I’ll work on providing some rewards for voluntarily working Student Reps, Faculty Reps and Student Officers.

Tuesday 22 February 2011 | 5

Elections 2011 DAVID WINTER VICE PRESIDENT MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS

Vice President Media & Communications

Be a winner, vote for Winter The Students’ Union’s main priority should be ensuring that the student populations thoughts, needs and recommendations are being listened to, and used to push the Students’ Union forward.

Based upon this, there are 4 main areas that I would work on as VP Media and Communications: 1. To give the students a chance to properly voice what sort of events, activities and services they would like to see offered by the Union, with an in depth report created around the results.

2. To highlight the extra curricular activities at DMU, including our sports teams, societies, and other skilled individuals and groups, to showcase the wealth of opportunity available to the student body.

3. To implement a more structured management system within the three branches of Demon Media, and to create a greater level of communication between the three.

4. To help the student body better understand the changes being made under the Tory-lib Dem Coalition, and how this effects them during their time at DMU, and after they graduate.

Along with these four key areas, there are many other areas I would seek to work upon or improve, including:   

To research what students would like to see their Sabbatical team work on over the following year.

Improving the usability and functionality of the Students’ Union website.

Helping Demon Media better establish a presence around the Leicester area.

During my time at DMU I have had a strong involvement with the Students’ Union. It would be an honour to take the skills and connections I have obtained through this work, and use them to help ensure that students are getting the best experience they can from their Students’ Union.

Vote David Winter for VP Media and Communications

GRAHAM SQUIRE

VICE PRESIDENT STUDENT ACTIVITIES My name is Graham Squire and I am currently in my final year of Business Management & Enterprise, following an extremely successful placement year managing at a logistics company called Gist.

I feel my passion for DMU and its students means that I would thrive on the challenge of being your VP Student Activities, and in doing so, will hopefully play a big role in ensuring students never forget their time at DMU. Through being on the Football Committee in my 2nd year, I feel I have a good understanding of what the student body will expect of me and I believe I have the skills, knowledge and determination to really add value to the role.

If elected as VP Student Activities I would like to focus on: 

Fresher’s Fair plays an integral role reeling in new talent; however some of this slips through the net. I want to work hard with the SU as well as sports and societies to ensure a greater catchment of students have the chance to become involved in everything DMU.



Liaise weekly with sports committees and media to highlight and gain further publicity for each society to ensure further exposure and recognition to each team and really put them on the map.



Wednesdays free of lectures are unattainable; however, I feel there is a viable happy medium which I will try my utmost to impose.



RAG has grown from strength to strength in recent years, my competitive nature and managerial background means that I will ensure this continues to build upon the previous years success.

Finally I would like to add that I am a very enthusiastic person and if elected your VP Student Activities I will strive to fulfil my manifesto to the very best of my ability.

Vice President Student Activities

6 | Tuesday 22 February 2011

Election 2011 Vice President Student Activities

ISMAIL KHATIB

VICE PRESIDENT STUDENT ACTIVITIES Sport is something which brings people together in a way that nothing else can. It eliminates segregated groups into one diverse team and creates pathways for strangers to become friends, get fit, feel good and have a sense of belonging.

I feel that as a VP Student Activities to encourage and provide ongoing support to students to participate in sports strengthens their abilities and unlocks confidence, discipline or networking ability.

I would work closely with the Sports and Societies Officers to ensure that sports clubs get the most out of their budgets, getting the money they need and deserve.

Being a voluntary youth worker has taught me about how little administrative matters can get in the way of things and sometimes cause huge disruption to the actual participation in sports and social events. I would work to ensure that these things are not a problem for DMU. My single most important promise is to make my voice heard, standing up for students, sports and societies at DMU:       

Coaching is of the upmost importance and I will champion any efforts to bring in more sports coaches to DMU. Budgets for sports clubs should be distributed fairly Administrative problems shouldn’t, and will not affect the day to day participation of sports, should I be elected To encourage greater co-operation and partnership between associations, and other student groups, on joint events, e.g.

RAG, Charity Weeks and Sports Days To promote more internal competitions between sports teams from different departments To work with the Campaign Officer and the Community and Involvement Officer to campaign for Wednesday afternoons to become, and remain, FREE for all Undergraduate and Postgraduate students to participate in sport To make “Colours” more attractive to all students

My motto: To represent, listen, support and to work with students to provide the “best student experience” “If elected I will be there to represent YOU!”

Vice President Student Activities

LAURA THOMPSON

VICE PRESIDENT STUDENT ACTIVITIES BE BOLD, GET INVOLVED!

Vote Laura Thompson #1 for VP Student Activities Being part of University life involves more than just your degree. I have experienced the positives of being part of a sports team (hockey) as a player, captain and chairman and I believe this has been the crucial making of my experience and the friends I have made. I want to bring this enthusiasm and drive for success to all students and give you the opportunity to be involved!

My main aims as Vice President Student Activities are: 1. To place an importance upon sports within the DSU (support campaign for the new sports build). The need for communication between sports teams and the student body to enhance community and representation throughout the University. To encourage participation at Wednesday matches and Varsity.

2. To refocus Raise and Give (RAG) to the whole student population. Continuing the positive campaigns through blood drive, Naked Calendar and RAG week, also to create more opportunity for a wider student population to be involved in the organisation and running of charity events.

3. Raise the profile of Societies and smaller sports teams by being pro-active in Freshers’ week and other events such as ‘Scrappy 7’s’ and ‘Colours’. To give Societies a chance to increase participation and variety of what they offer, through introducing promotional events more directed towards their needs. (Platforms) 4. Emphasis upon creating a student involved Union, making the Union more accessible to those who are not part of a Sports team or Society.

As a Dance student, Chairperson of Hockey and Sports Officer at this University, I understand the need for provision for sports and societies within the University. I’m a very dedicated and enthusiastic person and I would like to use the skills I have learnt throughout my three years to create an improved, more diverse and exciting Students’ Union for YOU!

Tuesday 22 February 2011 | 7

Elections 2011 DANIELLE WILLS VICE PRESIDENT WELFARE

Vice President Welfare

Where there’s a WILLS there’s WELFARE The past five years at De Montfort University has helped to define who I am. From the people I have met through to the services I have accessed. This experience has given me the enthusiasm to want to give something back.

For the past two years I have been a reliable and committed volunteer for the SECS Clinic (Sexual Health and Education Clinic). This has taught me the importance of community support and friendship, and the difference promoting services for students can actually make. This has given me the passion and drive to ensure new and current students have a memorable experience of university; like I had.

My aims  To create a welfare pack to be handed out during Freshers’ Week for new and current students. This will include information on Welfare, Sexual Health, Drink and Drugs awareness, housing or money concerns, and environmental issues. 

To promote events highlighting the importance of sexual health and getting tested. Alongside this, promote and improve the resources available to all students in the Union; for physical and mental health.



To be responsive to the issues that affects the student body by campaigning for current concerns like student safety.



To work closely with Student Services to promote existing resources that give the confidence to students to come forward with their problems.



To work closely with the student body to ensure that all views are encouraged and expressed around the Students’ Union.

I believe a Welfare Officer should be responsive and have an open mind to connect with a diverse student body, which ensures that every student’s welfare issues are considered. I would make a fantastic Welfare Officer as I have the motivation and ability to help to support you.

VOTE WILLS FOR WELFARE

ZUBAIR SIDAT

VICE PRESIDENT WELFARE I'm in my final year studying Accounting & Finance. I am currently the President of the Islamic Society and also engage and participate with many societies and organisation.

Leicester is a thriving student city and I consider that your time at University ought to be collections of your best memories to take back with you. The role of the Vice President Welfare is to represent the voice of the students, provide help and support with any concern you have. I am an excellent listener, proficient communicator and always up for a challenge.

What will I do for you?  To continue the great work from my predecessor and improve communication between the DSU and the students.  To promote issues of healthy living, safe sex, drink, drug awareness and student safety.  To increase awareness as well as regularly promote DSU activities for the entire student community, directing them where to go for assistance and advice during their time at DMU.  To promote equal opportunity and diversity within the University, at the same time engage everyone from various nationalities, religion and cultures and build bridges by working together as one community.  To provide confidential support on a one to one basis, supporting them to interact and speak up with regards to any problems or hurdles they have come across and assist them in order to make their University experience prosperous.  Engage more closely with NUS to stay up to date and play a part with national student issues and other Universities.  To work closely as well as liaise with the Leicestershire Police, the local City Council to ensure safer Halls security and the wellbeing of the students.

My Pledge: I will be 100% devoted and committed to you, I will be Approachable, I will be Easily Available, I will Advise, I will Converse

and finally I will always Support You: The DMU students.

Vice President Welfare

8 | Tuesday 22 February 2011

Election 2011 Vice President Welfare

MICHAEL ABIOYE VICE PRESIDENT WELFARE

About me:  In my second year at DMU  Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Science, BSc (Hons), Faculty of Health and Life Sciences  Friendly, respectful, organised and approachable Achievements:  International Students’ Officer 2010 till present  Nigerian Student Association P.R.O. 2009 till present Personal statement: As a member of the DMU Students’ Union for a long time I am looking forward to make a good impact in the Union by the use of my knowledge and to continue projects that has been going on already. I’m good at talking to students of different background and sending their views back to the Union.

My mission is: To increase student awareness of DSU and everything that DSU has to offer. I aim to make DSU more accessible for all students from the moment they arrive and act as a main representative on welfare issues to the University.

To achieve my mission I will:       

NUS Delegate

Welcome – meet as many students as possible during induction and welcome them to DSU Encourage – Actively encourage international students to get involved in DSU. Campaigns – Assist DSU with all campaigns aimed at all students’ wellbeing. Assisting students on housing issues.

Housing – Campaign to create Hall Warden position so students can do campus jobs.

Representation – Be accountable to students at Student Council and represent your views at the Trustee Board, having worked with people of different background from all over the world, I am well placed and suited to contact students and present their views.

Community – Representing De Montfort students in the Leicester City Council and the community meetings. Stand up for any student issues in the meeting. Continuation of the SECS clinic promotion in the University.

NUS - Working along with NUS’ Welfare Officer to mandate all the student welfare issue.

DAMILARE AKINTADE NUS DELEGATE Hello,

n

This is Damilare Akintade, contesting for the post of NUS Delegate.

NUS is one of the largest student bodies in the world and very much concern about the welfare of students in UK, it is therefore important that we have delegates that will share our opinion in the student body and join force with NUS to fight any difficulty experienced by student. I am very happy to be a delegate representing your interest in NUS, most especially, the increase in tuition fees, among others, which is very bad and deadly and could end the educational ambition of some students, we shall join force with NUS to explore all avenue to resolve the increase in tuition matter.

Moreover, information is a key part to success, communication between NUS and DSU will also be enhanced and we will carry along as things unfold, so that we can chip in our contributions and advise for the Union to move forward.

In Unity We Stand...

Tuesday 22 February 2011 | 9

Elections 2011 ISRA’A AL-ANSARI CHAIR OF STUDENT COUNCIL

Chair of Student Council

About me:  I am a second year Law student  I am Chair of Leicester Arabian Society and Secretary of Ahlul Bayt Islamic Society.  Recently been elected as Faculty Representative for Business and Law Motives:  To become a Trustee and become involved in the strategic decision making at De Montfort University whereby I will be speaking at the Student Council meetings.  To enhance the student experience and promote equality and diversity.  To make the Executive Committee accountable for their roles and this will ensure sufficient and correct procedure.  To help create a new system for Faculty Representatives and Student Representatives and make it successful.

MICHAEL MUDYIWA CHAIR OF STUDENT COUNCIL About me       

Chair of Student Council

A Health and Life Sciences student Member of the Student Council over the last two years Trainer, Volunteer and Youth Mentor Experienced administrator in commerce and industry A firm believer in democracy, justice and free speech A keen debater An advocate for a fairer, more equal and diverse society

Personal Statement The Student Council is there to hold the Executive to account. The quality of debate has to be carefully and skilfully managed.

These are times so dear and difficult. Our Executive really needs to stand up and be counted. I have been part of the business. I am offering to serve as Chair of the Student Council. I believe I have the gravitas to take up this challenging position. I have the strength, resolve and determination to ensure Council business is value driven. I never shy away from making bold decisions if it ensures the success of Council debate. I will ensure that every voice has an equal chance to be heard.

JASON CHARLES CHARLES FREARS OFFICER I, Jason Charles, will endeavour to represent and put forward the views of the nursing and midwifery students to the best of my abilities. I have no mandate but that of representation and I will always be willing to put forward the views of the nursing and midwifery student body. Nothing fancy. no lets man the barricade, because as nursing and midwifery students we are all to tired after completing those 14 hour shifts.

Charles Frears Officer

10 | Tuesday 22 February 2011

Election 2011 Student Council – Open Place

JESSICA COOKE STUDENT COUNCIL – OPEN PLACE Personal statement My experience of being on the student council over the last few years has been a real eye opener. I have realised what impact an individual can have on behalf of the students they represent and how important it is to be confident to speak out. I am committed to supporting those who need representation and want to know what students really care about so that the union can fight for these issues. My personal priority is environmental sustainability and fair representation of minority groups.

About me I am studying Arts Management with a background in community arts organisations. I am sociable, approachable and always happy to hear what you think. I have a strong sense of initiative and believe there’s always a new way of approaching old problems.

My personal mission is to raise awareness of environmental issues and encourage community involvement for the SU. I want to encourage students to get involved in the union so that it can work for us.

My mission

Mature Students' Officer



Raise awareness of environmental and sustainability issues within the whole of DMU, as well as the SU, by forming links with local groups. I want to create a society or focus group that can pull together all that is already happening around the campus and allow discussion between students and staff



Providing a platform for political engagement across DMU, by encouraging political societies and giving a voice to minority groups.



Raise the profile of student societies and make it easier to start new societies and find other people with similar interests. Perhaps this could be done by creating a forum online through the DSU website.



Improve links with community projects by inviting external organisations to get involved in the DSU. These partnerships could lead to more links for employment, voluntary opportunities, guest speakers and workshops..

ANDY HEARD MATURE STUDENTS’ OFFICER Having been privileged to have held the position of Mature Students’ Officer since October 2010 I am hoping to be reelected and continue in the post for 2011/2012. The plans I put in place previously are progressing very well and I am committed in ensuring these reach their full potential.

My aims and objectives are predominately simple but hopefully shall prove to be extremely successful and rewarding for all concerned; students, the Union and the University. Bringing the mature students together, giving our collective a voice within the Union and having some fun along the way are all on my agenda. Childcare has always been an issue amongst mature students in particular, I cannot promise the University, or Union, will provide this facility but I am active in ensuring this issue is addressed and does not disappear off the radar.

Whilst studying at previous colleges I have held a variety of responsible and diplomatic roles including Students’ Union Health and Safety Officer, Residential Warden, College Ambassador and been an active member of module and course focus groups. While studying at De Montfort University I have enjoyed undertaking roles on behalf of Student Services, been a Volunteer Ambassador and also been involved with Faculty Focus Groups. I have an eager desire to not only continue with these roles but to expand on them, ensuring the Mature Students’ Officer position in particular is a strong and desirable position to hold in the future. The extensive experience I have gained and contacts I have already made puts me, I believe, in a viable position to carry on and expand the role of Mature Students’ Officer.

I am fully committed to this role and if re-elected shall build considerably over the next academic year on what I have already achieved.

Tuesday 22 February 2011 | 11

Elections 2011 JESSICA WILSON

Societies Officer

SOCIETIES OFFICER For variety in your society, vote for Jessi Wilson!

During our time at DMU studying is only half the story. A huge part of University life is about getting involved in extra-curricular activities, such as societies. Societies have been a massive focal point for me during my time here, and I fully understand the dedication and hard work required to make a society successful, as I myself have been running the Footlights society for the past two academic years. I believe that a greater level of support needs to be given to societies at DMU, and I am fully invested in working to ensure that this happens.

If elected into the role of Societies Officer, I promise to: 1) Ensure that a greater level of focus is placed upon giving societies recognition for their achievements.

2) Regularly attend meetings and events of all societies to make sure I have a complete understanding of how I may help each society achieve its goals.

3) To actively campaign for more support to be given to members of the Union looking to form a new society.

4) Help societies have a greater voice around campus when reaching out for new members.

As well as these key points, I will also tackle some of the larger issues currently affecting societies at DMU, such as: 

Making sure that communication is effectively maintained between SU staff and society committees.



Making sure societies are aware of what support is available to them, and what help the SU can provide to them.



Keep the DSU website regularly updated with news of societies and their events.

I am extremely passionate about societies at DMU, and would love for the opportunity to take the experiences I gained from running Footlights, and working closely with the current sabbatical team, and using them to help new and old societies take full advantage of the opportunities available to them through the Students’ Union.

CAITLIN BLOOM SOCIETIES OFFICER Vote Caitlin Bloom 1 for Societies Officer The societies at DMU are one of the elements that most enhance the student experience while at University. This can be seen by the vast range of societies we currently offer but they are often overlooked by some of the bigger clubs. This means you need an Officer committed to do the brilliant societies here justice. This needs to be addressed in a number of areas.

As Societies Officer I aim to work on: 1. A fair split on Union funding being given to the societies by the Union therefore with better investment the societies can develop and grow.

2. Better facilities for the societies to utilise as part of the plan for more space for the Union.

3. A bigger profile with in the University for the societies through an updated use of the societies cards, the Demon and other media.

4. To give all the societies a meaningful and worthwhile representation on the Student Council by giving reports twice a term on what they societies are doing and what they need to progress.

The societies here at DMU have so much to offer and with continued enthusiastic representation this is possible. If elected as your Societies Officer I intend to do just this. I have really enjoyed representing you so far and I believe I can best further represent you in the future, as I understand the needs specific needs of the societies.

To continue representing the societies I need your support!

Caitlin Bloom 1 for Societies Officer

Societies Officer

12 | Tuesday 22 February 2011

Election 2011 LGBT Officer

JAY EVANSON LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER (LGBT) OFFICER We all know De Montfort’s students are a varied group and how important it is that every minority are given equal amounts of attention. I want to continue acting as a representative for the LGBT population at DMU to make sure the Students’ Union listens to our views and needs and works with us in maintaining DMU as a safe and confident place to study.

My aims are:      

Continue working with the LGBT Society to organise and promote events and socials. This will be key in strengthening the profile of the LGBT Society to make them a prominent group at DMU. Continue attending NUS Conferences that are geared towards LGBT issues in order to understand the different areas of support that are available which the Society can then take into account and use for the students at DMU. To build connections with other groups and societies in DMU in order to eliminate many preconceptions they may have of the LGBT community.

To focus on a key NUS LGBT campaign which the society, with the Students’ Union, can become involved in with fundraising and raising awareness of.

To make the LGBT Society a prominent part of Leicester Pride. This year will be the first year the Society will be part of the parade, we hope this can become a regular occurrence.

Work with the SU to understand how many LGBT students DMU has and what their needs are.

I have been very fortunate to be the LGBT Officer for 2010/2011. It is something I feel very passionately about and hope I can build on the skills and knowledge that I have developed.

LGBT Officer

NICO LEHMANN LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER (LGBT) OFFICER About me: - Student Council open place 2009/10 + Student Council Chair and Trustee 2010/11 - LGBT Committee member 2011 - part of voluntary LGBT youth counselling team - administrative knowledge from experience in hospital work - involved member of diverse youth groups, societies and sport clubs - student mentor 2009-2011 - socially concerned and active - strong belief in equality - friendly, but persistent and determined - open ears for everybody’s concerns Personal statement: Being part of DSU is something honourable and extremely valuable. As the LGBT Officer, I will do my best to represent LGBT issues at the Student Council meetings. Together with the rest of the Committee, I want to make sure that everyone experiences a great time at Uni while spreading equality. As I have been part of the Council, I am aware of the tasks that this position entails.

Mission: I want to stand in for equal representation in the SU, to get LGBTs just like everyone else involved in activities and to help ensure that especially LGBTs get the same treatment. Furthermore: - letting as many voices be heard as possible for the decision making body - making sure every member of the LGBT party is represented accordingly - enacting striking issues o raising awareness o helping where needs are - strengthening links to other societies and the Leicester LGBT community

Tuesday 22 February 2011 | 13

Elections 2011 KRISTINA COOK COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER About me:   

Communications Officer

I’m 19, I study Media Production and I am a part-time waitress I love to socialise and interact with new people I am a sucker for Rom-coms!

Personal statement: By being Communications Officer this year, I have gained so much invaluable experience and done so much that I would like to be able to continue my role and continue to build bridges within the Students’ Union.

My mission is: To continue to improve the communications of the Students’ Union and help build more partnerships with external companies and businesses in order to improve services provided.

To achieve my mission I will:  Contact – Keep in contact with various local and national organisations for the possibilities of linking societies and the Students’ Union with particular projects.  Collaborate – Work closely with the VP Media and Communications in order to ensure all communications from the Students’ Union work effectively.  Communicate – I will continue communications between the three Demon Media to ensure they are running effectively as well as communicating with students to see what they think about the Students’ Unions communications.  Concentrate - I will focus on getting the three Demon Media out into the local community more through events, advertising campaigns or networking.

NADEIN SALEH INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS’ OFFICER About me:  I am an Egyptian 2nd year LLB law student.  I was a member of school's student representative council for 5 years. I held various positions including Public Relations Officer, Treasurer, Secretary and finally President of Student Council.  I speak 4 languages (English, Arabic, French and German)  I was a Student Rep last year.

Personal statement: Being an international student myself, I know the difficulties we face when we first move to a new country (including living alone, experiencing a new culture and a new place, etc). Having experienced this, I want to be able to make this experience better and easier for other international students.

My mission is: to be the connection between international students and DSU, provide assistance and support for them, and encourage interaction with the De Montfort University student community at large.

To achieve my mission I will establish the following:   

 

Welcome: Meet & Greet event in order to help international students make friends easily.

English Conversation Circles: aimed at international students who wish to improve their English. The primary focus is conversational English, but tutors (volunteers) also assist students with reading, writing, grammar, and pronunciation.

SHADOW program: pairing up international students with a student volunteer, who is accustomed to campus, services and the local community, in order to help international students become more familiar with a new culture and a new academic and social setting, including university resources, DSU services and activities.

Global Representatives: aims to link newly accepted international students with upper year students from their homeland.

Coaches to Airports: work with Student Services to campaign for coaches to pick up new international students from neighbouring airports and take them to their accommodation.

International Students' Officer

14 | Tuesday 22 February 2011

Election 2011 Community and Involvement Officer

BEN VEAR

COMMUNITY AND INVOLVEMENT OFFICER Vote Ben Vear 1 for Community and Involvement Officer The single most important thing that our Students’ Union should do is be represent the interests of students. The student body of DMU should feel like your Union is listening to you and working on your behalf.

As Community and Involvement Officer my focus will be on three main areas: 1. To ensure that students have a voice, in the University and wider community in and around Leicester.

2. Continue to involve DMU students and staff in projects with the local community, bringing together local charity and community projects.

3. Build partnerships with local business and community leaders, to further the interests of the student body (you!) with an aim of improving job prospects for DMU students.

Along with these three key areas, there are many other areas and issues I believe need addressing, these include:   

Increase awareness of DSU activities within the student community.

Continue the debate on DMU’s value for money and commitment to students.

Ensure students are adequately prepared for graduation into a tough and competitive employment environment.

As a co-chair of the Politics Society and member of the DMUandMe team I have felt privileged to represent the student body and now want to take the communications and organisational skills I have already learnt and make the differences that you want and deserve.

Vote Ben Vear 1 for Community and Involvement Officer

NUS Delegate

DAMILARE AKINTADE NUS DELEGATE Hello,

n

This is Damilare Akintade, contesting for the post of NUS Delegate.

NUS is one of the largest student bodies in the world and very much concern about the welfare of students in UK, it is therefore important that we have delegates that will share our opinion in the student body and join force with NUS to fight any difficulty experienced by student. I am very happy to be a delegate representing your interest in NUS, most especially, the increase in tuition fees, among others, which is very bad and deadly and could end the educational ambition of some students, we shall join force with NUS to explore all avenue to resolve the increase in tuition matter.

Moreover, information is a key part to success, communication between NUS and DSU will also be enhanced and we will carry along as things unfold, so that we can chip in our contributions and advise for the Union to move forward.

In Unity We Stand...

Tuesday 22 February 2011 | 15

Elections 2011 MICHAEL DENOUAL NUS DELEGATE I believe that I am good candidate for the NUS delegate role because I have experience with the National Union of Students, I have also worked within the political sector so know how the political machine works.

n

As a delegate I will try to address the following four issues:  Firstly I will argue that the NUS has to be more representative of the people it represents and will try with all my will to make this happen.  Secondly I will canvass the students of De Montfort to see what they want me to raise at the NUS meetings.  Thirdly I make sure that all details of the meetings will be readily available to the students of DMU so they can come and discuss the details with me.  Lastly if someone wants to raise an issue with the NUS, I will be available to talk to and willing to raise this at a meeting.

I am a member of the DMU politics society and have organised many events and spoken to people from across the political spectrum. I feel this shows I am willing to discuss views even if they are mine.

I hope you will vote for me because I feel I have the skills to represent De Montfort within the NUS, and will do this to the best of my ability.

NUS Delegate

The Demon Manifesto Guide Vote now at www.mi-vote.com through your DMU email account Voting CLOSES Thursday 24th, Midnight www.demontfortstudents.com/vote Follow @votedsu on twitter