Impact Magazine Issue 238

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ISSUE 238 | NO VE MB ER 20

IN T WH HIS O N ISS E E UE D S

WELCOME

EDITORIAL On the 15th November Impact, URN and NSTV are hosting our joint Media Conference in the city, providing a great opportunity for anyone interested in journalism to learn more about the industry. With special guests from the Guardian and the BBC, it is the perfect chance to pick the minds of those who are already successful.

The UK is fortunate to have a lively press and a proud heritage of press freedom, not only in print but also through varying broadcasting mediums. However, we have recently reached an interesting junction in journalism, where public service broadcasting is under the threat of being worn down by our own politicians.

With the Conservative government mounting the pressure on the BBC ahead of their 2016 Royal Charter renewal, it comes as no surprise to learn that young people are the first to bear the brunt of the cuts. BBC3 is already facing the axe at the end of this year and, as the channel has a heavy student demographic, Impact Film and TV discovered that 67% of you said that the changes are not beneficial. And so with Thatcher’s children paving the way for a privatised Britain (Nottingham’s junior doctors flooding Market Square in protest against working longer hours for less pay being another consequence of the government’s nonchalant attitude towards our generation) the decline of public service broadcasting will result in the media falling further into the hands of the likes of Rupert Murdoch and Richard Desmond.

The threat of a cut to the funding of the BBC will irreversibly change the nature of media in the UK, news as an entity itself, and the way we receive it. ‘News’ in its purest form is the act of relaying facts to an audience but it becomes distorted under the influence of a third party with an agenda of its own. As a broadcaster, the BBC is responsible only to us and we stand to lose a lot without it. Consequently, we are forced to ask: do we really want to live in a world where giant conglomerates control everything we watch, read and listen to? Such is the crisis of modern day journalism.

So, how can we fight back? Protest is the first option that comes to mind, but we are living in an age where student activism is nothing compared to what it used to be in the 70s and 80s, and people generally don’t like to make too much noise. The rise of the virtual protest on Facebook and social media has become our half-hearted approach to activism.

With student media at the fore - ready to report events - it seems a waste that the culture on campus has become so quiet, and maybe it is time for change. To put it plainly, if you have something to say - say it. Let’s not allow our voices to go unheard.

BELINDA TOOR

INSIDE!

4 NEWS

HATE YOUR LANDLORD?

Impact Investigates Rogue Landlord Experiences

8 COMMENT

“WHAT IS RIGHT MAY NOT BE BEST” UoN Students Give Their Views On The Refugee Crisis

18 F E AT U R E S

“THE FILTHIER THE BETTER”

Your Porn Habits Examined

26 T R AV E L

WASHINGTON D.C. VS. LONDON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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Uniquely Contrasting Capitals

30 SCIENCE

50 GAMING

ARE YOU AN ADDICT?

“Gamers can transcend everyday concerns”

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

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Unfairly Dismissed Or Rightly Ignored?

34 FOOD

BATTLE OF THE DIETS

FILM & TV

NIGHTMARES REVISITED “It May Have Been The Moustaches”

ON THE COVER

Are They All They’re Cracked Up To Be?

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MUSIC

“IT HAS CREATED ALL WE HEAR”

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Tracing Music’s African Roots

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ST Y L E

“I’D RECOMMEND IT TO EVERYONE” Talking To Uon Student And Fashion Blogger Shope

ARTS

A HATEFUL AFFAIR Sexism In The Acting Industry

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46 EXPOSURE

COMPETITION WINNERS

UoN Student Photographers Showcase Their Work

SPORT

“I BEGAN TO FEEL LIKE A PLAYER” Six Things Learnt From American Football

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IMPACT NEWS

“IT’S COMING FROM INSIDE THE HOUSE!” IMPACT INVESTIGATES STUDENT EXPERIENCES WITH ROGUE LANDLORDS IN NOTTINGHAM WORDS BY HANNAH EVES IMAGES BY AMY RAINBOW

We have all heard students complaining about their landlords. It’s almost impossible to avoid. From dirt, broken appliances, mould and cigarette burns on the carpet to missing toilet seats, leaks and broken boilers. Impact News investigates University of Nottingham (UoN) student experiences with their landlords on the back of mounting media attention and a call for tougher sentencing and licensing laws.

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According to a July 2015 survey

by YouGov and the charity Shelter, around 120,000 private renters across the Midlands are experiencing trouble with their landlords. Reports include landlords threatening, harassing, or assaulting tenants, not carrying out sufficient safety checks, or entering homes without permission. The study revealed that 17,000 renters have called the Shelter helpline regarding problems in the last year and 8.2% of renters have had their landlord entering their homes without permission.

“It’s shocking that a small majority of rogue landlords who are exploiting the housing crisis can cause so much havoc and misery in the lives of renters in the Midlands”, commented Alison Mohammed, Shelter’s Director of Services.

“[They] claimed it was actually an upfront payment on the rent and that we hadn’t actually paid a deposit” Furthermore, a Shelter and YouGov poll found that bad living conditions are extremely common in rented homes, with 46% of tenants in the East Midlands reporting problems with disrepair or poor living conditions. 35% revealed that they had lived in accommodation with damp or mould, while a fifth of those surveyed suffered with poor insulation and excess cold.

Shelter Helpline Adviser Nadeem Khan stated that: “Every day at Shelter we speak to people desperate for help, after being forced to live in appalling conditions for months on end”.

Landlord Sukhjinder Singh Sanghera was fined £1600 due to ‘dangerous’ failings at one of his properties in Nottingham. An investigation revealed that at one of his properties there was inadequate heating, no fire detection equipment and a ‘dangerous’ main staircase alongside a broken window and a dangerous ladder used as access to gas and electric meters.

It is not surprising that Local Government Association (LGA) have called for tougher sentencing, stronger licensing and potential blacklisting for landlords as a way of combating this problem.

In addition, research conducted earlier this year by a London logistics and removal firm, Kiwi Movers, found that students are among the most likely to experience trouble receiving their

deposit back from their landlord. The study revealed that 52% of tenants had experienced difficulties with the return of their deposit with 6% losing the money altogether.

Impact conducted a survey among students to find out how common difficulty with landlords is and the effect it can have on Nottingham students.

97.3% of students in privately rented accommodation admitted having a problem with their house and only a quarter of those students found their landlord to be helpful and accommodating when dealing with the issue.

Furthermore, the survey revealed that 66% of students did not get their deposit back in full with the most common reason being that the house required cleaning or minor repairs. However, 76% had deposit protection insurance.

When asked about the reasons the landlord provided for keeping the deposit one student stated, “[They] claimed it was actually an upfront payment on the rent and that we hadn’t actually paid a deposit – we had to get the Students’ Union involved before we could get the £1000 back”.

Many Nottingham students were disappointed with the standard of their house revealing that it was not in fact up the standard expected before moving in.

“The house we just moved into was filthy, and all the furnishings were of spectacularly poor quality, even though one mattress had been provided new for our tenancy, the landlord had obviously got it cheap as it was so stained”, one student told Impact when asked about the standard of their home.

“He has also been using our garage and shed to store his property, including desks, a gas fireplace, wardrobes, TVs, kitchen utensils and a washing machine, which we’re still trying to get him to dispose of a month later so we can use the garage. Still, it’s not bad compared to other people’s experiences!”

Another stated, “[The] house was FILTHY, appliances and furniture were extremely old and broken, sofa was growing mould, boiler was ancient and kept cutting out, space under the stairs was full of junk, previous tenants hadn’t cleared their stuff, shower was mouldy, radiator was hanging off the wall, bedrooms smelt of smoke”.

Impact spoke to Sam Peake, the Students’ Union (SU) Communities Officer, about the problems students face with landlords.

“We had to get the students union involved before we could get the £1000 back” When asked if he often encounters problems between students and landlords Sam stated, “I strongly recommend that students visit the Students’ Union Advice Centre. They are highly experienced advisors, who receive in excess of 900 enquires a year to do with housing. The Students’ Union Advice Centre has dealt with separate complaints involving damp, disrepair and even rats, within the last year”.

A common conception is that as a group students are unaware of their rights as tenants as many are first time renters. When asked if he believed that students are a particularly targeted group, Sam agreed that students can be “vulnerable” and stated that “students, like other people, enjoy certain rights as tenants”. He detailed the responsibilities of the landlord to maintain the structure of the house, bear responsibility for various internal repairs such as the heating installations and respect the right of tenants to “quiet enjoyment” of the property.

“The majority of private sector houses are subject either to mandatory licensing requirements, or additional licensing measures introducing by Nottingham City Council. I am also pleased that many landlords opt to accredit their property under the Nottingham Standard, which is a voluntary accreditation scheme back by the City Council”.

“This is why, among other things, the Students’ Union will lobby the Council to introduce a compulsory landlord register and extend additional licensing beyond 2018 (when the current scheme is due to expire)”.

“Over the coming year, the Students’ Union will work with the University to introduce a ‘Rate Your Landlord’ service, so students can share information about the housing quality they are provided by landlords and letting agents”, he told Impact.

According to the charity Shelter, the landlord of a multiple occupancy house has responsibility for the structure and exterior of the building including the walls, stairs, bannisters, roof, external doors and windows. Alongside responsibility for all of the sanitary fittings including toilets, baths, sinks etc., gas appliances provided by the landlord, electrical wiring, chimney and ventilation, and putting right any damage to internal decorations caused by disrepair or while repairs were being carried out.

Whereas, the tenants have a responsibility to keep the property reasonably clean, to not damage the property, to carry out minor maintenance, for example smoke alarms, and to use the heating properly for example not blocking flues or ventilation. However, the details are usually outlined in the Tenancy Agreement.

If you have had problems with your landlord or want advice regarding housing contact the Students’ Union Advice Centre.

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IMPACT NEWS

“YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A LAD” IMPACT NEWS INTERVIEWS EMMA BARNETT WORDS BY TAMSIN PARNELL IMAGE BY ALEX FARZAD

On 20th September 2014, the HeForShe campaign was launched

by UN Women. Its aim is to encourage men and boys to advocate gender equality alongside women.

Now the campaign is touring universities under the #GetFree tour, of which the second event took place at the University of Nottingham on the 30th September. Since then, multiple interactive discussions have taken place regarding the issue of gender equality on campus, with the aim to use the HeForShe event as a foundation for a wider umbrella campaign.

Impact sat down with the event’s keynote speaker Emma Barnett, Women’s Editor of The Telegraph, to find out what the cause means to her.

Why do you think the HeForShe campaign should be brought to universities?

I think anything that does the message of equality a good turn is worth highlighting. This is a moment in young people’s lives where they’re hopeful for their future, they’re trying to figure out what they care about and what they are passionate about. HeForShe could enter the ears of somebody who hadn’t really thought about the fact that gender equality is an issue in a developed country like Britain before.

How important do you believe high profile supporters like Emma Watson are for campaigns like HeForShe? They’re incredibly important because you’ve got to cut through the noise. Emma Watson did a very good job with that speech. I thought she delivered it beautifully, the message was very simple, very powerful. The issue is action. My problem with all campaigns is: what are they actually telling you to do?

The thing about gender equality in Britain is that a lot of the issues are attitudinal and cultural. We have equal pay laws, we have the right to vote. Culturally there is a lot of work to be done in this country so that women themselves feel like every opportunity is open to them and men feel that it is right to be competing equally against women and also pulling their weight at home and taking on those responsibilities.

What kind of “action” is required?

You need to look at your world and target it. If there is a competition like there was when I was here for Miss Rutland and Mr Rutland – which was the hall I was in –

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everybody ends up taking their clothes off and getting really, really drunk and everyone is equally objectified. But is that equally ok?

Is that good? Is everyone equally objectified? It’s calling stuff out, changing behaviours, looking specifically at why there have been eight male presidents of the New Theatre since I left, for example. I was the female president. Why are women not putting themselves forward for those things? Are there a range of factors if you go a bit further back which stop women from doing those things? It has always been dominated by men.

“The thing about gender equality in Britain is a lot of the issues are attitudinal and cultural” The word “feminism” has taken on negative connotations as of late – how do you help people to focus more on the gender equality aim?

I write a lot. I talk a lot. I challenge people. I did a phone-in programme for three years on a London station called LBC and one week I had a terrible situation with people writing abuse to me on social media purely on this issue. I invited trolls to call me, they rang in – two of them, amazingly - and I destroyed them on air with a mixture of wit, humour and put-downs. What was amazing was that after, loads of really lovely men rang in to apologise for what they had just heard. Often I just ask men – “would you talk to your mum like that?” and humanise it.

Do you think that social media can be detrimental to those advocating gender equality?

I think people now are selfcensoring on social media more than they admit. I think people go to write something and then think “do you know what, I can’t be bothered with the heat”. I actually read this morning that Lena Dunham has stopped doing her own social media and has stopped reading comments on websites.

I’ve started turning my phone off now at 7pm because I don’t want to look at emails. Also, I never read the comments beneath my articles.

I don’t think comments are worth anything – I think they should be turned off.

What is one lasting thing you would say to male students reading Impact that are wondering whether they should get involved in this initiative?

Do they think that their mums had a fair crack at the whip? Then think of that in terms of their future wives or future partners, and if there’s anything they have done that is incredibly rude, disrespectful or overly sexual in a way that isn’t respectful. Think about the “banter”, the type of world you’d really like to live in and think about the opportunities your mum didn’t have and might still not have if she was a girl coming through university now.

What do you think of the university’s pledge to tackle “lad culture”?

I think you almost have to selfregulate it and peer regulate it.

Peer-to-peer is going to be so much more powerful than a lecturer coming over and saying “why are

you speaking like that? Why are you doing this?” I think there could be some areas of university life which almost sanction lad culture that could possibly be looked at. But I think ultimately I am uncomfortable with anything that threatens people’s freedom of speech.

How can students be actively involved in the HeForShe campaign?

It’s very Jeremy Corbyn-esque of me, isn’t it? But I’m going to say just essentially being a bit kinder to themselves, taking a step out of their environment and having a look around and being kinder to other people. It’s really simple. It’s really much harder to be a knob it’s actually easier to be nice. You actually have to put effort into being horrible to people, you have to put effort into discrimination. So stop putting effort into things you never would have thought about in the playground and start just being a good person and that would be a very good start.

“It’s really much harder to be a knob it’s actually easier to be nice” Is there anything else you would like to add?

You touched upon it earlier - the thing I would like to say to women is that you don’t have to be a lad.

And you are hearing that from a former ladette. I was a ladette in the sense that if the boys could do it, I could do it. But I didn’t always have to do that and slowly I realised that.

Equality doesn’t mean you have to behave equally as badly.

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IMPACT COMMENT

THE SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO US? Amidst the chaos of a new term, a fresh workload and fast approaching deadlines, the plight of Syrian refugees is perhaps not at the forefront of every UoN student’s mind.

However, this real-life-horror is, without question, infinitely more critical than any mind-boggling lecture or nonsensical course work question. Impact takes a look at what our students have to say about the Syrian refugee crisis.

“Student Spectators”

“We should not dismiss our ability to help in the refugee crisis. We have the time”

Syrian refugees are essentially in pursuit of their basic humanitarian rights to freedom, education and a life not under immediate threat.

They are in pursuit of rights that we fundamentally depend upon; rights that they are being denied on an unforgivable scale.

But the level of student engagement is equally likely to have only reached verbal discussion. Conversation in the comfort of friends and family, in the comfort of health, in the comfort of being a spectator. Accustomed to years of engaging with reality through the medium of a screen, the horrors of what students see and hear on the news seem distant; the lands seem unconnected, the victims seem unreal. Thus it is regrettable, though with little wonder, that we react in the way a spectator does - emotionally, but in hollow passivity. As the next generation to guide political power, it is crucial that students take initiative, remove themselves from the category of spectator and into the category of the activator. Further, it is crucial that universities provide the platforms required for this.

RHIANNON WHITE

“Can Students Help?”

Very few of us can say we work 9 to 5. This is why we should not dismiss our ability to help in the refugee crisis. We have the time.

Maybe it's petitioning on campus. Maybe it's forgoing a night in Crisis and donating that £20 to a refugee help fund. Or perhaps just donating a few food tins to the local collection centre. That's not to say we can't do bigger things. University is a great platform to make a change. We are the next generation, we have the means to achieve great things. Just look how much money groups like Karni raise, or the success of the recent HeForShe tour on campus. Now is the time because we have the time. The statistics say that many of us will dismiss careers in charity. So as students, we have privilege, but no real responsibilities. Let's all give up some time to help.

REBECCA MARANO

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“The horrors of what students see and hear on the news seem distant; the lands seem unconnected, the victims seem unreal”

“Questions of Civilisation” Sitting in the comfortable bubble of a Russell Group university, the Syrian refugee crisis feels like a world away. It’s difficult to imagine a life that is so dangerous, so riddled with the constant threat of attack that fleeing to Europe and risking one’s life on the way is preferable to staying at home. For the refugees who have no choice but to survive with just the clothes they stand in, the excessive culture of western life must be sickeningly juxtaposed. Calling ourselves ‘civilised’ is increasingly just a nod to the unnecessary padding surrounding our ideas of that we think we need to have in order to be happy. To name one, technology. Quite how our society can place such emphasis on fads like, for example, the launch of the new iPhone 6s when such an abominable humanitarian crisis is raging before our eyes is, in a word, repellent.

ANNA HAND

“I fear in this case what is right may not be what is best” “Morality versus Reality” Angela Merkel was last month given widespread plaudits for her generous attitude to the refugee crisis, boldly declaring that the right to asylum has “no upper limit” and pledging to take in hundreds of thousands more migrants. One can only congratulate, from a moral standpoint, the embrace of these refugees fleeing horrific conditions and in desperate need of support.

“How will the Refugee Crisis affect Students?”

A public outcry has demanded the accommodation of refugees fleeing war-stricken countries during this global crisis. Amidst the rights-focused campaigns, concerns arise regarding the impact such an influx will have. Fatalistic commentators mourn the nation’s financial status: with a multitude of new workers, what are the chances for graduates seeking jobs in an ever-narrowing market?

However, an arrival of refugees in other countries can actually to be seen to have brought great benefits. The complexity of a new workforce can lead to divisions of labour: refugees generally seek lower-skilled jobs, propelling graduates into better-paying positions.

For students, degrees could become more highly valued, shifting our role in the current competitive sphere of employment. Further, refugee crisis campaigns themselves are undeniably transforming the discourse around immigration. It is foreseeable that students leaving university may enter a far more culturally diverse, humanitarian community concerned with individual welfare and the protection of human dignity.

BETH WEBB-STRONG

“Students leaving university may enter a far more culturally diverse, humanitarian community”

Nonetheless, more than 200,000 refugees arrived in Germany in September alone; processing centres are well past capacity, local authorities are struggling to house the influx of refugees and polls have begun to turn against Mrs Merkel.

And herein the example of Germany lies the problem for Cameron and the UK; ethically I think the majority of the UK would support and understand the motives and desperation of the average refugee.

Nonetheless, in a finite world where resources are limited and social cohesion is fragile, can we afford to place moral responsibility above the limits of reality; housing shortages, economic frailty, increasing backlash against immigration? I fear, in this case, what is right may not be what is best.

IMAGES BY ENES REYHAN & MUSTAFA KHAYAT VIA FLICKR

LUKE HOLLAND

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IMPACT COMMENT

BIGOREXIA HOW MALE BODY DYSMORPHIA WILL AFFECT A GENERATION WORDS BY RACHEL LEWIS IMAGE BY THE WELLCOME TRUST

Rob Wilson, chair of the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation, recently raised concerns that at least 10 percent of men suffer from muscle dysmorphia, although there are expected to be many more who do not recognise the extent of their problems. Dubbed ‘bigorexia’, this condition can be described as reverse anorexia as, according to Wilson, it involves a “preoccupation with the idea that one isn’t big enough”.

But, according to research conducted in 2005 by the Journal of Athletic Training, muscle dysmorphia is harder to detect because victims believe themselves to be well and look outwardly healthy.

It is easy to mock those who spend hours at the gym striving for exhausting personal goals, especially those who hog the weight rack. But this condition can be a symptom of, and result in, severe depression, anxiety and low self-esteem. Wilson also reports that those engrossed in training can neglect personal relations and responsibilities, leaving them isolated.

That is not to mention the physical illnesses that are caused by overexertion and steroid abuse.

“Staff must also be trained to recognise when students are partaking in unhealthy training schedules and are showing symptoms of body dysmorphia” Men are increasingly conditioned to believe that they need to look a certain way to be successful. Bulging biceps, defined abs and the perfect ‘V’ are presented as the epitome of masculinity. Strength and structure are key to a male physique. But scientists believe that a healthy fitness programme can evolve into an unhealthy obsession with muscle growth, often aggravated by being a victim of childhood bullying.

Muscle dysmorphia is commonly associated with steroid abuse. This can result in hair loss and testicle shrinkage, but has also ended in tragedy.

Newsbeat first reported this year the case of Oli Loyne, who was 18 when he first started using steroids and just two years later suffered a stroke and three heart attacks. Gruelling training schedules and steroid abuse were the primary cause of his death. His mother is now telling his story to help others suffering from muscle dysmorphia.

The University of Nottingham’s expanding fitness suites and sporting facilities will be a credit to students’ sporting success and pave the way for a new generation of athletes. Five Olympic medals were won by Nottingham’s students and alumni at London 2012. Yet, staff must also be trained to recognise when students are partaking in unhealthy training schedules and are showing symptoms of body dysmorphia.

Whilst society and the media continue to present the hyper-muscular as the ideal, more males will develop this terrible fear of losing weight. There has been some progress to tackle the negative body image projected onto the female population, but now this must be extended to males - before it becomes too prevalent in future generations.

If you need advice on any of the conditions mentioned, please visit the Nottingham Counselling Service, or the Body Dysmorphia Disorder Foundation at bddfoundation.org.

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IMPACT COMMENT

IMAGES BY ‘TARYN’ VIA FLICKR AND LUCAS COBB

DEBATE

SHOULD MORE STUDENTS EMBRACE VEGETARIANISM? NO

I will never forget the sound of my parents’ laughter when, at twelve-years-old, I told them I was becoming a vegetarian. In fact, not only did their amusement last the entire car journey home, but the story was then retold to many of our friends and family. Even to this day, they occasionally recall my bold attempt to convert to vegetarianism, something that lasted all of that car journey home. Apparently my hatred of vegetables and addiction to bacon sandwiches made it clear I would never become a vegetarian.

“As someone with limited culinary abilities, not only would being a vegetarian cost more, but my diet would probably be limited to pasta and cheese on toast” I begrudgingly admit, they were right. Now, as one of the most regular customers at Chicken Joe’s, I am of the opinion that students

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should delay becoming a vegetarian until after university. Don’t get me wrong, I am all for buying free-range and organic food whenever I can afford it. However, for me being a vegetarian is simply not feasible on a student budget. With meat alternatives, such as tofu, typically being more expensive than regular meat products, I have to admit: if I was posed with the choice I would always opt for the cheaper option. On top of this, as someone with limited culinary abilities, not only would being a vegetarian cost more, but my diet would probably be limited to pasta and cheese on toast.

Furthermore, a typical student’s diet tends not to be the healthiest.

The combination of alcohol filled nights, questionable takeaways and microwave meals means that most of us probably aren’t maintaining

the ‘balanced diet’ that we should be. However, the meat that we do cook provides us with protein and vital nutrients that our bodies crave.

Although it isn’t impossible to find vegetarian alternatives that provide the same nutritional benefits, I personally find it easier to obtain them through eating meat.

“The meat that we do cook provides us with protein and vital nutrients that our bodies crave” Finally we come to the terrible ‘vegetarian’ in my life: my housemate (who shall remain anonymous) who recently decided

she would convert to a life without meat. To give her credit, 60 percent of the time she is a fantastic vegetarian: I don’t think I’ve ever met someone so keen on Linda McCartney’s veggie sausages.

However, after a night out she tends to be the first in line to buy a Big Mac meal. Not only this, but her ability to forget her vegetarianism in exchange for a hungover bacon sandwich is second to none. Her shameful vegetarian ways have led me to the conclusion that being a vegetarian simply isn’t realistic for a student.

WORDS BY KATIE CLIFTON

YES

As students, I think it’s fair to say there’s tally of substances that we could do with consuming less of. Alcohol, drugs, coffee; need I go on. However, when pondering the ‘not so great’ things that we put into our bodies, meat probably doesn’t come to mind. Why vegetarianism is something that more students should embrace is perhaps less painfully obvious than a debilitating hangover.

On a basic level, it comes down to our position in society.

At the risk of echoing advice once given to a certain James Parker, I must stress: we are the next generation.

We have a responsibility to the future. If anyone’s going to enact change, it’s us. And the rate at which we’re exhausting the world’s resources just isn’t sustainable.

“Scientists have suggested that giving up beef alone would reduce our carbon footprint to a greater degree than if we stopped driving cars” The exact figure is debated but livestock currently covers around 35-45 percent of the earth’s land surface, and 1-2 acres of rainforest is cleared every second to grow food for cattle. This animal agriculture contributes a whopping total of 51 percent to the world’s Greenhouse gas emissions. That’s more than the entire global transport industry. Putting this into perspective, scientists have suggested that giving up beef alone would reduce our carbon footprint to a greater degree than if we stopped driving cars.

Environmentally, the meat industry is the most destructive force on the planet. And it’s only getting worse. With an ever growing population and developing countries such as India and China becoming more affluent, the global demand for meat is on the rise.

“Vegetarianism is one way in which everyone can make a tangible change” Despite this, we still believe that eating meat is our God-given right.

Of course, it’s true that we have always eaten meat. But not in the vast quantities we do now. Besides, since when has history held up a suitable standard for the current generations to follow? Historically, our society has discriminated against people from ethnic minorities, oppressed women and harboured a deep routed, prejudiced class system. But in the twentyfirst century we recognise that these things are wrong and so work to change them.

As students we are at the forefront of this change. So why do we consider environmental movements as less important than socially progressive ones? Vegetarianism is one way in which everyone can make a tangible change.

Besides, it’s also a hell of a lot cheaper; freeing up a load of extra cash which you can burn at your own discretion. Maybe this will come in the form of an extra two or twelve Jägerbombs in Ocean or will mean you can splurge, free of guilt, on other ‘luxury’ fridge fillers.

Alright, I’ll admit, missing out on a McDonald’s at the end of a night out is a bit shit. Just having chips isn’t really the same. But it’s now reached the point where we need to take a step back and consider that we can’t go on forever having just about everything that we could possibly want.

WORDS BY MADDIE WAKTARE

A study of British people’s diets at the University of Oxford found that meat-rich diets (more than 100g per day) resulted in 7.2kg of carbon dioxide emissions. In contrast both vegetarian and fish eating diets caused about 3.8kg per day.

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IMPACT FEATURES

“SOME PEOPLE GET TOO MUCH MONEY FROM THE UNI AND GOVERNMENT” IMPACT LOOKS AT HOW ADEQUATE THE STUDENT LOAN REALLY IS, AND EXAMINES WHETHER IT MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE AVERAGE STUDENT. WORDS BY RACHEL HARRISON IMAGES BY FOREIGN & COMMONWEALTH OFFICE AND ‘ALTOGETHERFOOL’ VIA FLICKR

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According to the National Union of Students (NUS) as far back as 2011, students need on average £8,000 more than their student loan provides over the course of their degree. This indicates, of course, that there is a huge problem with the current financial system. Yet these problems aren’t just limited to the maintenance loan that covers living costs. After the maximum cost of a degree was increased to £9,000 a year in 2012, the loan that covers tuition fees is also being stretched. Most top universities, including the University of Nottingham (UoN), are now charging this full amount meaning that the average student on a three year course outside of London graduates with £35,000-£40,000 worth of debt. Despite this overwhelming amount of money borrowed, many students are still finding it difficult to afford living at university. So what has gone wrong?

“My maintenance loan does not even cover the cost of my accommodation” It is clear that students at UoN are dissatisfied with the amount of maintenance loan they receive. 75% of students asked claim that they feel that they don’t receive enough loan for them to be self-sufficient. Third year Philosophy student Emily Ling has to rely on her parents to support her income at university, claiming, “I think it helps me immensely for my parents to pay for my rent at university. This is because my maintenance loan does not even cover the cost of my accommodation”. Of course, for students with families able to support them in this way, a smaller loan does not have an extremely detrimental effect. Of the students Impact surveyed, 60% claimed that they rely on support from parents. Yet for some students, this isn’t a feasible option. Emily continues, “Some of my friends have to work a great deal to be able to afford to go to university because their parents do not help them financially, and they receive the lowest maintenance loan, like me”.

Second year Midwifery student Zoe Tomkinson believes that a gulf has been created between those who receive very little money and those who receive a large loan. She explains: “The system seems to work for people who get a large loan and for people who can afford to be parent-funded at uni but not for the people in the middle who get a small loan and cannot afford to fund uni independently”. This was a common theme with the students Impact spoke to – some students’ household incomes mean that they get a very large loan, whereas others, like Emily, do not even receive enough to cover accommodation costs. This serves to make the term ‘maintenance loan’ redundant in some cases, as if students cannot even pay for rent with their loan, they are unable to pay for maintenance costs. Emily believes that there is a ‘one extreme or the other’ approach to student loans: “I would consider that some people get too much money from the university and government. I know some people who are left with quite a large amount of money (more than my maintenance loan), after paying bills, rent, etc. I am unsure how the government should change the current system, but I do believe that they need to make it much fairer for people from every background”.

“60% claimed that they rely on support from parents” The maintenance loan (and soon-to-be-axed grant) is means-tested, meaning that the larger your household income, the smaller the loan you receive. Yet there is a key problem with this system that Emily has identified: “It does not take into consideration that not all parents help their children financially, even if they earn a certain amount of money. I know people who struggle at university due to this, and I think it is unfair that they have to struggle because of how much their parents earn”. It would of course be immensely difficult for Student Finance to determine how much money to lend to people if they did not use household income as a

criterion. It is certainly true, however, that some parents are not so willing to support their children at university as others. Assuming that wealthier parents will support their children significantly more than less wealthy parents is a problem for some students.

A larger loan would be the simplistic solution. With a larger loan, however, comes a larger amount of the four-letter word that all students dread hearing: debt.

If the additional £8,000 that the NUS believes we need was added onto the loan we already receive, the amount owed by the average student at the end of their degree would be in the region of £50,000 - an extortionate amount of money by anyone’s standards. According to a July 2014 article in The Telegraph, around 45% of current students will never pay their student debt back. If maintenance loans were increased, although life would be easier in the here and now, that figure would only increase. If the number of students who do not pay back their debts increases to 48.6%, the government begins to lose more money than it gains, putting the whole system under threat.

“Some parents are not so willing to support their children at university as others” Yet even some students who receive the largest amount possible find it difficult to cope at university.

Second year student Lucy Clark* explained, “I'd say that as a student getting maximum loan and maintenance grant I still have barely anything left over after my rent and bills go out! If it wasn't for the bursary I receive from uni I would have to work nearly every night to support myself, which I would not have time for, and my parents can't help me out which is why I receive a bursary”. Bursaries are offered

by UoN, in addition to most other universities, in order to provide students from less financially stable backgrounds with the funds required to attend university. Like maintenance grants, bursaries do

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she has to “work every holiday full time to support [her]self”. Perhaps worryingly, some students are also using their overdraft as a source of funding rather than treating it simply as a safety net. Third year History of Art student Beth Jones* claims: “I either use my savings from before university or my overdraft to help make ends meet”.

Another problem can be that the first loan payment for most students in private rented accommodation is due around July, when there is no student loan to ease the blow, therefore many students need to work over summer simply to pay the rent for a house that often they’re not even living in. Isabel feels that this is definitely a problem: “The money doesn't come at the best of times and there are a lot of things which I need a large up-front amount of money for, for example rent is a big problem as most student landlords don't collect rent when student finance has just come in”.

“I still have barely anything left over after my rent and bills go out” not have to be paid back, therefore they do not increase the debt a student owes. However, the first instalment of the bursary is only paid out in December, which may be of little help during the expensive first few weeks of term when textbooks and so on must be bought.

“Around 45% of current students will never pay their student debt back” This means that for most students, they have to obtain additional income to supplement their student loan. In addition to support from parents, many students choose to work to earn more money. 48% of students surveyed have a job, either in the holidays or during term-time, in order to support themselves. Zoe works around 17 hours a week in a restaurant to support herself, and claims, “My student loan is way too small!” This increases the pressure of keeping on top of her studies during nonworking hours. As Lucy* said, however, it is not possible for most students to balance working a lot of hours with keeping on top of university studies and participating in those important CV-boosting extra-curricular activities.

At Oxford and Cambridge part-time work is very strongly discouraged, as it is believed that the workload during the university semester is too intense for students to be able to fit in a part-time job as well. Working in the holidays, however, is a necessity for a lot of students. Lucy* claims that

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An unconventional source of money for some students at other institutions is payday lenders such as Wonga. According to Future Finance this year 25% of students surveyed out of 1000 have money outstanding to a payday lender.

Furthermore, the survey found that 24% of students asked have made money to support themselves through gambling. No UoN students came forward to share an experience of this nature, but it is still extremely worrying that the financial plight of a significant number of students is so bad that they are resorting to such risky measures. Using sources such as this can often just make the situation worse: Future Finance’s survey revealed that 92.4% of students who have borrowed from payday lenders have incurred late charges for failing to pay back what they owe on time.

“The University of Nottingham prides itself on having excellent financial support services” The University of Nottingham prides itself on having excellent financial support services, so there is always a safer way out of financial problems than using payday lenders or gambling. Yet the fact that students are resorting to such measures shows that there are significant problems with the structure of the current loan system. Assuming that wealthier parents will be a main source of income for their children at university is an assumption that is not always proved to be correct.

Students who choose to work whilst studying are put under increased pressure to juggle their working and university lives. It is also a very real possibility that some potential students simply feel priced out of attending university. In this modern age of equal opportunity, this should no longer be the case. As the abolition of maintenance grants demonstrates, change is afoot for the current student financial system. Whether that change will be positive remains to be seen.

*NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO PROTECT IDENTITIES SURVEY OF 25 RESPONDENTS CONDUCTED IN OCTOBER 2015

IMPACT NEEDS YOU! IMPACT IS UON’S OFFICIAL STUDENT MAGAZINE, RUN ENTIRELY BY STUDENTS WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW PEOPLE TO JOIN OUR TEAM

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IMPACT FEATURES

“THE FILTHIER THE BETTER” WORDS BY DALE CLARIDGE | IMAGE BY TAUSEND UND EINS, FOTOGRAFIE VIA FLICKR

OSCAR WILDE SAID “EVERYTHING IS ABOUT SEX EXCEPT FOR SEX. SEX IS ABOUT POWER”. MANY PEOPLE FEEL THAT SEX MAKES UP A BIG PART OF THEIR LIVES, BUT HOW EXACTLY CAN THIS BE QUANTIFIED? According to a 2010 study, 40.5% of women between the ages of 18 and 29 masturbate regularly, and 64.3% of men of the same age group are reported to have masturbated in the last month. A range of studies indicate that most people over the age of 18 have masturbated at least once in their life. However, different people have different sexual feelings and the way that people deal with this can be very different. For some, this manifests itself in the type of pornography or erotica they pursue.

The Oxford English Dictionary definition of pornography: printed or visual material containing the explicit description or display of sexual organs or activity, intended to stimulate sexual excitement.

“The definition of pornography: printed or visual material containing the explicit description or display of sexual organs or activity, intended to stimulate sexual excitement” Why then does a specific breed of misogynistic, heteronormative porn seem to have a monopoly on the word? Why has a certain market within pornography left such an exploitative legacy that the idea of material designed for the appreciation of what we find sexually attractive has become something to be ashamed of? What has this meant for those who wish to access this material?

A survey conducted by Impact showed that over 90% of

participants had deliberately accessed erotic material of some description.

However the form this takes varies. Although 68% of those who participated indicated they had accessed hardcore pornography, erotic fiction was close behind (47%) along with softcore pornography (41%).

Nearly half of participants described their erotica use as more than once a week, yet ‘rarely’ was the next most popular choice. Interestingly, no one who had in the past deliberately accessed pornography said that they were not currently deliberately accessing it.

“This industry is one where ‘they exaggerate the size of everything’” ‘Two’ seemed to be the optimal number of people in the erotica consumed by survey participants, although 30% of respondents seemed to agree that ‘three’ was ideal, with only 10% people committing to preferring ‘the more the merrier’.

Through the medium of text, video or audio, the female lead and the story were most often deemed to be the most important part of the experience, however there is no strong consensus as 50% of the survey participants had no particular preferences. Specific clothing option was a popular choice, but many felt the available categories weren’t sufficient; one participant elaborated “The filthier, the better. Group action is my fav”. However, a range of preferences was expressed, with ‘farmyard fun’ lovers, although in the minority, had some representation by 14% of participants (one could assume it wasn’t always chosen unironically). Although one might be tempted to assign gender preferences, only 56% of the participants were male, thus challenging the common misconception that pornography (even hard core) is an exclusively male vice.

It is hard to estimate how much pornography is accessed globally.

Attempts have been made in many countries. Clinical care consultants attempt to illustrate internet pornography as a problem that is spiralling out of control, claiming profits in the region of $10-$20 billion in the USA. However Forbes slams this idea calculating the total value of the porn industry to be at most $2.9 billion. It also suggests that context is key; most industries make wildly more than this, professional and education publishing making $14.8 billion as far back as 1999. David Klatell, associate dean from Columbia Graduate School of Journalism mused that this industry is one where “they exaggerate the size of everything.” A poll by Opinium research reported 59% of all adults have deliberately watched recorded porn, whilst 15% of them do this particularly regularly. Yet from the 41% that do not watch porn, 37% access other forms of erotica.

Although at first glance it may appear that the student population of Nottingham access pornography more often than the average person, there is no reason to put this down to any sort of sexual depravity. The largest factors that influence student porn consumption are most likely age and computer literacy. It is also entirely possible that a student population contains more people who are willing to admit they access this material.

A student, Sarah Pith* said “I imagine the amount of pornography access is a) more frequent than a lot of data shows, and b) less compulsive than the

industry likes to make out. I used to find it very hard to admit I ever watched porn. As a woman most people are often very shocked. It’s still not really seen as ‘the done thing’ for girls”.

Although it isn’t really possible to argue that access to one’s own sexuality is a negative thing, some people are concerned “acts that have historically been labelled 'sexually deviant' are becoming more acceptable, particularly among the younger, internet porn generations”. Some people are concerned this will lead to extreme pornography becoming increasingly popular.

As a society, we may never know exactly what floats people’s boats.

However through anonymous information polls and an increasing ability for people to express and be comfortable with their sexuality allows an increasingly clear picture of what hits home with people.

Andriano Bulla said, “Porn is in the eyes of the beholder”. However, that eye may be gazing at a cornucopia of different things.

*NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO PROTECT IDENTITIES SURVEY OF 40 RESPONDENTS CONDUCTED IN OCTOBER 2015

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IMPACT FEATURES

LENTON

HELL-HOLE OR HAVEN? WORDS BY RACHEL HARRISON IMAGES BY ALEX FARZAD

IMPACT INVESTIGATES THE EFFECT OF THE STUDENT COMMUNITY ON LENTON AND ITS RESIDENCE, A ONETIME RURAL AGRICULTURAL VILLAGE

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Just from a quick stroll down one of Lenton’s long streets of terraced houses, there are numerous things you will inevitably encounter. A tottering pile of Domino’s boxes outside a front door? Check.

The rumbling beat of a party either just getting started or just reaching a messy conclusion? Check.

There are tell-tale signs of Lenton’s student population everywhere you look, which raises the question: what is it like to live there if you’re not a student? With 60% of Lenton’s population being University of Nottingham students, you’re certainly in the minority.

One of the key indicators of how desirable a town is to live in is its house prices, and how they change over time. According to Rightmove, the average price of a terraced house in Lenton in 2015 is £134,762. Compare this to the average UK terraced house price of £233,380, you can see that there is a significant shortfall. The way Lenton’s house prices have dropped is also startling: a terraced house in 2007 was worth £170,810 – 16% more than in 2015. The average price of a terraced house in the whole of the UK in 2007 was £186,316.

Evidently, whilst the terraced houses in many other parts of the country have enjoyed a steady increase in value, the used and abused properties of Lenton have become less desirable.

“The way Lenton’s house prices have dropped is also startling” All of the households Impact visited have had their roots in Lenton for a long time. One resident, Carol Lee*, told us, “I’ve been here for a long time – I’ve been here for 38 years”.

Other residents gave us much the same story. This implies that Lenton is less attractive for first-time buyers, and many of the non-student households living there now are still there simply because that is where they have always been. Tellingly, it is amazingly easy to pick out the nonstudent houses from the student properties, simply because of their appearance and upkeep.

Yet, perhaps surprisingly, the residents Impact spoke to were quite positive about living amongst a student population. It is easy to imagine them living in hatred of the students that run amok in their town, but this isn’t the case.

Diane Evans* told us, “They’re okay, sometimes they’re a bit noisy, and obviously there are parties but you’ve got to accept that. They’re not that bad”. Acceptance of students’ partying was a common theme, as Carol Lee* added, “They’re alright with me, I don’t complain.

When they have their parties they make noise, you can’t expect anything different”. Rather than being resentful of their neighbours’ partying habits, it seems that

some of the residents have simply decided it is easier to just accept the expected.

“It is shockingly easy to pick out the non-student houses from the student properties” On the other hand, other residents have chosen not to have such an accommodating attitude. In 2004, the Nottingham Action Group was formed to counteract the damaging effect of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) i.e. student houses, in Lenton and the surrounding area. Their website claims that the group aims to solve ‘the problems caused by increasing concentrations of so-called HMO properties - shared houses with absentee landlords and shortterm, highly transient tenants…

What has been happening to our neighbourhoods is not nice for those who live in them, or for their futures, and we are ready to nag and keep on nagging to get things done.’ Clearly the problems associated with a student area are not restricted to noise and litter – residents are left feeling dissatisfied with the transience of their neighbours and the associated effects on the local community.

In addition, there were 129 crimes reported in October 2014 alone in the Lenton area. It is impossible to say whether this relates in any way to the student population, but it is still a significant number, and doesn’t help the residents’ feelings of insecurity.

Yet it’s easy to see why Lenton has become so popular with students.

As Emma Ashworth* points out, “Because it’s not far from the university and not far from the city centre, students naturally come here”. With Derby Road forming an easily navigable stretch that leads right from the university into the city centre, landlords and letting agents have capitalised on its prime location. The many smaller roads that lead off Derby Road also make perfect student streets, with their endless rows of spacious, manybedroomed properties. Lenton is of course now lodged firmly in the minds of students as the place

to be after leaving the confines of student accommodation. The phrase ‘safety in numbers’ may even apply here: rather than branch out and move somewhere different, students flock to where they know everyone else is going to for a certain sense of security.

“Other residents have chosen not to have such an accommodating attitude” Despite some residents’ obvious gripes with living in a student area, it seems that others have adapted to the hordes of students that descend upon them each year. Lenton is certainly not going to decline in popularity with the UoN community any time soon. Yet there are understandable concerns about the future of Lenton – schools have closed due to the decrease in the number of families, house prices have fallen and so on.

Rather than being isolated entities, perhaps students and other residents should work together to help form a more harmonious community.

*NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO PROTECT IDENTITIES INFORMATION FROM RIGHTMOVE, ZOOPLA, THE TELEGRAPH AND BBC NEWS

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IMPACT FEATURES

“I FEEL LIKE I’M MISSING OUT ON THE STUDENT CULTURE” HOW HAVE STUDENT HABITS HAVE CHANGED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS? WORDS BY ROBYN TURNOCK IMAGE BY RONDELL MELLING

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With rising tuition fees much has been discussed on its effect on university attendance. Many have pointed out how extreme debt discourages underprivileged students from higher education.

However, there is also much to say on how it affects student behaviour whilst actually at university and what students essentially want to achieve from the experience.

Freshers’ week: prior to university the best week of your life, afterwards just seen as the most stressful. Renowned for indulgent drinking, partying and sex; it’s the first taste of freedom introducing you to what student life is to be like. Supposedly, at least. Whether following an increased demand for relaxed first week events or whether last year’s necrophilia chant scandal sufficiently scared officials, this year’s Freshers’ was remarkably different.

“There was actually a balance struck between drinking events and nondrinking events” Hall Reps disappeared, instead replaced by an ideal of more friendly, inclusive and hospitable ‘Welcome Mentors’. There was an increase in these Mentors too, providing surplus people for freshers to chat to as opposed to just having enough manpower to guide drunken students onto the buses. John McCabe, second year Physics student and one of the new welcome mentors, says that compared to last year “there was a big difference as focus on welfare of first years was much more important”.

“Somebody pranked her hall by placing dead pigeons in the washing machines” Yet this focus on welfare and an interest in the drinking culture are not mutually exclusive. He pointed out how the freshers’ “finale party

sold out for the first time in around twenty years” as well as having many tickets sold for non-drinking nights. He argues there ‘was actually a balance struck’ between drinking events and non-drinking event’s, suggesting that higher tuition fees have limited, if any, impact upon student habits during Freshers’ week. However, maybe the social hype and expectation of the week can account for this.

It is perhaps more interesting to consider student habits throughout the year, as opposed to during the hysteria of Freshers’. A warden working at one of University Park’s catered halls commented on how student practices have reformed over the past few years. She pointed out how wild hall initiations are long gone and how pranks between halls have diminished.

Describing how one year somebody pranked her hall by placing dead pigeons in the washing machines, she said this type of behaviour would be unheard of now. Overall she presented students to have become more ‘tame’, implying that the rise in tuition fees have made students more academically focused and less interested in the partying side of university, or just less able to justify it.

that this movement is beneficiary.

Students should be working hard.

Why should we take state loans in order to get drunk three nights a week? If the raised tuition fees encourage us to make the most out of the tuition then this is surely favourable for all.

Yet, I think most would agree that a student life spent away from the sticky floors of Crisis, the three am McDonald’s queue and the throbbing hangover of the next day isn’t really much of a student life at all. Perhaps the balance that John achieved in Freshers week should be a balance to aspire to throughout the year.

“90% of the survey’s respondents agreed that tuition fees are too high” In a survey conducted by Impact, 37% answered yes to whether the tuition fees had affected their spending at university and 33% said they would go clubbing more or at least ‘a little bit’ more if tuition fees were lower. Megan Dorrans, a second year student studying English and History said that because of the tuition fees she is constantly focused on money, meaning that she had “turned down nights out, and rarely buys drinks” in the clubs.

As a result of this she told Impact that she “sometimes feel like [she is] missing out on the student culture, because [she] simply cannot afford to partake in it due to the amount it’s already costing [her] to study [her] degree”.

The Friday Ocean queue at 11 o’clock may strongly contrast this perception of student hibernation, yet it does correlate with actions of night clubs nationally. Aside from the student scene, clubbing appears to be suffering with the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) stating that the 2005 figure of 3144 venues has now diminished to just 1733.

One popular Nottingham club owner has said it has been becoming gradually more difficult to encourage people to come to clubs. This issue has manifested itself in various ways, with little perks clubs now offer their guests. One club in Nottingham recently served a full English breakfast at the end of the night, and perks such as candyfloss stalls and chocolate fountains have become oddly routine additions to the dance floor. Little extras that are designed to entice students out of their rooms.

“They’re still spending money. More than ever” This reluctance to go out does not necessarily arise from a hesitancy to spend more money. Another hall warden within University Park stated how the halls are “still getting a lot of mail. They’re still spending money. More than ever”. He suggested that this may be due to the rise in use of Amazon but also said that in his eight years working on University Park “it’s been the last two or three years that people are spending more [online]”. So even since the rise in tuition fees students have been increasingly spending money on goods. Of course, this money may be spent on books, but a lot of ASOS packages were still sat within the hall mail pile.

This suggests that students’ increased hesitancy in going out does not arise from purely economic motives. Perhaps the fear of wasting valuable educational time hungover is a greater deterrent than the immediate cost of a night out. Many would suggest, particularly those of older generations,

INFORMATION FROM THE BBC SURVEY OF 29 RESPONDENTS CONDUCTED IN OCTOBER 2015.

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IMPACT TRAVEL

SPOTLIGHT ON

GERMANY WORDS BY EMILY HOWARD IMAGES BY GEMMA BROWN

A nation once simply a collection of independent states, Germany’s vastness and variety is today often overlooked. Simultaneously patriotic yet regionally diverse, steaming hot during summer yet a ski-haven come winter, and modern yet with a lingering historical resonance, Germany manages to conjure an admirable unity from a country of microcosms. The nation’s surprising plethora of culture, history and geography is demonstrated in taking a tour through some of the country’s key cities.

With a population of 3.5 million people, Berlin is Germany’s heartbeat. After being bombed heavily during World War Two much of the country’s capital was in ruins, and most of the key ancient buildings have been demolished as a result. However, what we may now envisage as modern historical artefacts remain standing – a notorious example being the remains of the Berlin Wall. This marriage between the past and present is seen throughout the city, such as the statuesque Reichstag with its modern-art glass dome, and the Brandenburg gate – originally built in the 18th century but frequently refurbished due to war damage.

The city is a dichotomy in another sense too, as it was divided by the wall from 1961 to 1989. The two halves are still discernible as the utilitarian Communist constructions of the East contrast the more elaborate buildings of the West, and even incremental details such as pedestrian signs differ. As a tourist, the city feels more like a collection of districts in which it is hard to pinpoint a centre.

“Berlin is Germany’s heartbeat” That being said, Berlin is unwaveringly united. Citizens are proud of their heritage and also proud to welcome foreigners as fellow Berliners.

Multiculturalism is the norm, as businessmen eat at Turkish kebab houses in their lunch hours and a Caribbean beach is installed along the river Spree. It is not surprising to hear a handful of different languages being spoken whilst wandering through the streets. As a desirable destination for waves of refugees and immigrants, it will be interesting to see how the country and its capital accommodate the newcomers.

Further West, the city of Cologne is more reminiscent of a medieval Germany. The largest Gothic church in Northern Europe, the impressive Dom cathedral (the first parts of which were built in 1248), looms over the city. The picturesque backstreets of the medieval quarter are also echoes of the past, whilst the cloak of smog and busy roads demonstrate Germany’s crucial industrial side. Just next door to Belgium, it is evident from the geography of the area that it neighbours the Low Countries. Again, Cologne’s residents are proud of their city: for example the famous Kolsch beer, which, rather ironically considering the underground, skater-clad and gothic subcultures, is served in conservatively sized glasses.

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Heading East, Munich boasts bigger beers (again, somewhat ironic as the city is renowned for being neat, middle-class and wealthy).

Citizens of Munich are proud to call themselves Bavarians and the atmosphere and culture seem entirely different from the previous cities. This isn’t surprising seeing as the region of Bavaria can be traced back to medieval times, and was even a Kingdom in its own right from 1806 to 1918. The region has a Catholic majority and Conservative traditions, which is rather polarised from the famously liberal Berlin.

Here, the geography also changes as the Bavarian Alps create a natural border with Austria. This is where the highest peak in Germany, the Zugspitze, is situated.

“Citizens are proud of their heritage and also proud to welcome foreigners as fellow Berliners”

limits in some places – run like veins through the country; connecting cities so that communication is constant and the different organs work alongside each other.

Germany strides to modernity and is famous for its production industry, yet it does not hide its past. The historical German Confederation states and World War Two divisions still influence the dynamics of the country, and it seems logical that Germany co-founded the Eurozone.

Despite history and geographic divisions the proud pan-Germanism is powerful in this nation which celebrates its status as a global leader in industry and technology.

With a high standard of living, comprehensive social security and a universal health care system, it is no wonder that Germany is the ideal homeland for many of Europe’s recent refugees.

A country that simultaneously celebrates difference and unites it, the microcosms of cultures, climates, regions and histories that comprise Germany make the country a model of democracy.

The climate is completely different in Frankfurt, with the summer months reaching temperatures equal to that of southern France. Frankfurt is Germany’s finance capital, as it is geographically situated at the centre of the EU. Host to the European Central Bank and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, the city’s architecture is stunningly modern, with a skyline which could compete with that of New York. However, Frankfurt isn’t lacking in green space; an array of parks and botanical gardens lie within the city and the outskirts are home to lakes, natural conservation areas, and vineyards.

The atmosphere here is also comparable, with a relaxed and friendly vibe – and during the summer, the city’s many students can often be found picnicking alongside the river Main.

Another popular city for students is Leipzig, historically one of the major European centres of learning and culture. The remnants of East Germany’s government are evident in the architecture, but the downtown reflects a historic renaissance style. Despite the lively urban scene, the traditional quaintness of Germany is visible here - a quaintness which is epitomised in the town of Göttingen.

Göttingen is famous for its university which, after being founded in 1734, has become the most visited university of Europe. Another side of German culture is seen here as the town was essential in the development of Romanticism, which is understandable upon seeing the picturesque houses and cobbled backstreets. A world apart from the modern cosmopolitanism of Frankfurt or Berlin’s urban liberalism, the variety within Germany is astonishing.

“Experiencing the ‘real’ Germany is certainly a task, as no two places are the same” With 16 constituent states and covering an area of 357,021 square kilometres, it shouldn’t be surprising that the country varies so vastly within.

Experiencing the “real” Germany is certainly a task, as no two places are the same; indeed the mountainous regions, forests and farmland again paint another picture of the nation. The motorways or autobahns – with no speed

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IMPACT TRAVEL

WASHINGTON D.C. VS

LONDON London: a bustling cosmopolitan city home to politics, the monarchy and the world famous Big Ben. Washington D.C: a federal hub of culture, grandeur and commemorations to the past. Both share an international status of importance and prestige but present differences that make them decidedly, distinctively unique.

WORDS BY DEPEEKA MISTRY AND HARLEEN WOODWAL IMAGES BY GEMMA BROWN & ALEX BURGE

Student Life

It is well known that student life in America and England widely differ. In England, the drinking age coincides with the embarking on university life. In America, it is only in your penultimate year that you can legally touch alcoholic beverages.

LSE and George Washington University buildings alike are camouflaged in the concrete jungle of their respective cities. Student accommodation however, provides a different insight. Walking along 23rd street from the Abraham Lincoln memorial, a direct route to the heart of student area Foggy Bottom, one will find numerous fraternity and sorority houses.

Compared to the standard high rise student accommodation situated in London and across Britain, these student houses decorated with symbolic characters marking the presence of a sense of patriotism towards their respective divisions of the Greek system.

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McDonald’s

McDonald’s is arguably the biggest global fast food chain, so when it had been reported that the company had suffered a decline in its profits, it’s interesting to see what the burger conglomerate had to offer in its place of birth.

US McDonald’s had a surprisingly limited menu in comparison to Britain; there was no equivalent of the Pound saver menu. Overall, there’s a feeling of nostalgia present, as if the horrors of childhood obesity had not been discovered - the most popular item on the menu was a buttermilk fried chicken burger.

Arguably McDonald’s has failed to keep up with newer establishments (such as Shake Shack and Five Guys). These new chains offer an ‘up-market’ burger experience, as the meat is of a significantly higher quality and diners are encouraged to Instagram and Snapchat their burgers.

Public Personality

The starkest contrast of these two capital cities is the friendliness and hospitality of Washingtonians.

In London, it is considered odd if strangers exchange smiles at each other and annoying when tourists ask for directions. However, this behaviour is second nature in Washington. There nothing is ever too much trouble, whether it be leaving one’s booth at rush hour in the metro station, or offering tourists assistance as they looked puzzled at a crumpled map of the city. What is really striking is that there is not a single occasion where the words “have a nice day” are not cheerfully bolted to the end of a sentence by security guards, shop assistants, waitresses and even the homeless! This in London just does not seem as genuine, and hopefully the somewhat new trend will take root proper.

Metro vs Tube

London is renowned for the tube, fast and (somewhat!) reliable. The tube is also a focal point for millions of tourists. D.C.’s metro on the other hand possesses an entirely different je ne sais quoi. That said, both have rustic stations, each with their own unique history. The metro itself is dated, with few commuters using it even during rush hour. Very few tourists use this method of transport in comparison to London’s lifeblood tube. It is therefore interesting to note that using the metro is more economically viable, with a $10 metrocard lasting 3 days! Though it is easy to walk around the city, the metro and its air conditioning do come in handy on scorching summer days.

IMPACT TRAVEL

MANY MILES, MINI MONEY

Many students believe that weekend travel during term time is unquestionable. However the price of travel is dramatically decreasing and airlines are offering flights at a price of a night out. With airfares dropping to record lows this autumn, European cities are becoming student budget friendly destinations. Here is a budget guide to the historic capital of Poland, Krakow, which includes flights, accommodation and an abundance of activities for a mere £100.

In the midst of Krakow’s rich history and well-preserved medieval architecture you will find crowds of eager partygoers, backpackers and young creatives.

Your trip begins right here, at East Midlands airport which is easily reached by the skylink bus. Ryanair offers a direct flight to Krakow for as little as £57 which takes less than three hours.

For those looking for a lively nightlife in Krakow The Little Havana Party Hostel is ideal. A two night stay in a mixed dorm costs as little as £18.92 and you only need a £3.41 deposit to book your stay in advance. This includes free Wi-Fi. On Airbnb you can find an abundance of rooms, studios and private apartments. If you fancy a place with character and charm, lovely hosts on airbnb are likely to deliver. The average price for accommodation is £36. However, no matter what your budget is, there are countless Airbnb listings with incredible interior and style even from as little as £15ppn.

HOW FAR CAN YOU TRAVEL ON A STUDENT BUDGET? Activities MAIN MARKET SQUARE This is one of the largest medieval market squares in Europe which attract tourists from all over the world. While gazing at all of its beauty, it’s important to remember that its glory comes from its survival through World War Two and Communism.

OLD TOWN Much of the old town consists of a mix of Renaissance and Gothic architecture, making it especially ideal for a leisurely stroll in the afternoon. By night, despite the ancient façade, the old town turns into a thriving night scene. It’s a place where locals, students and tourists unite.

KAZIMIERZ, JEWISH DISTRICT The district is south of the old town and until very recently was still very much in ruin from the effects of the Second World War. Like many other European cities, its recent revival has transformed the neighbourhood into a bustling bohemian area filled with art galleries, cafes, restaurants and many historical sights. Its narrow streets are filled with the past and attract a flood of young creatives looking for inspiration. It is well known for its Jewish links to Schindler and Spielberg.

GOURMET CAPITAL OF POLAND Krakow has a thriving restaurant and bar scene with traditional eastern European cuisine alongside more experimental dishes.

FREE WALKING TOURS OF KRAKOW For those interested in the history, there are a number of free walking tours. These offer a free food tour of Krakow or a walking tour of the Jewish district.

Tips For Travellers: The Krakow Card (www.krakowcard.com) provides free entrance to 30 museums, as well as free travel on the city’s trams and buses. It must be noted though that the city centre is small enough for walking anyway. Twoday card £17.75 The train from the airport to the central station costs less than £1. Hop on the shuttle bus outside the terminal.

WORDS BY JUSTYNA MICUN IMAGE BY ‘DIETHER’ VIA WIKIMEDIA 27

IMPACT TRAVEL

DIWALI

11TH NOVEMBER 2015

AUTUMN FESTIVALS AROUND THE WORLD

Diwali’s roots lie in Hinduism but it has become an all-encompassing international festival. The celebrations often last five days during which they celebrate the story of Prince Rama and Sita's return home after exile. It is the so-called Festival of Light because of the tradition to place small lamps around the home to help guide the couple's path home. Some Hindus also use the festival to give thanks to Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. India is known as the epicentre of Diwali due to its large Hindu population, but there are also many celebrations held in the UK.

WORDS BY CHARLIE PALMER IMAGE BY VINOTH CHANDAR VIA FLICKR

LOI KRATHONG 24TH NOVEMBER 2015 - 26TH NOVEMBER 2015 Loi Krathong is a mesmerizing festival in the Thai calendar. On the night of the full moon in November, the locals gather around lakes and canals to worship the Mother of Water. Throngs of people launch glowing lanterns into the air that illuminate the night sky and submerge small lotus-shaped leaves holding a lighted candle, a flower, joss sticks, and a small coin into the water. The festival itself takes its origins from Buddhism and the positive notion of letting go of troubles.

People believe that as the lanterns leave and drift away, they will be freed from suffering.

WORDS BY SANDRA PETER IMAGE BY JOHN SHEDRICK VIA FLICKR

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THANKSGIVING IN NEW YORK CITY FOURTH THURSDAY OF NOVEMBER EACH YEAR

Thanksgiving in America is the celebration of harvest by the Pilgrim fathers in 1621. Every year American families celebrate Thanksgiving by eating turkey, yams, pumpkin pie and watching American football. There are also numerous parades in home towns and cities but the undoubtedly famous one is the Macy’s Parade in New York City. This year on Thursday 26th November the hugely popular parade will return to pass through the streets of New York City with balloons as high as four storey buildings that include Hello Kitty and Spongebob Squarepants and huge floats like the beloved Tom the Turkey.

WORDS BY REBECCA CHRISTMAS IMAGE BY S PAKHRIN VIA FLICKR

THE WINTER FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS 21ST NOVEMBER 2015 – 31ST JANUARY 2016.

No one gets in the holiday spirit as impressively or brightly as The Ontario Power Generation Winter Festival of Lights situated in the famous Niagara Falls, Canada. Allow the stunning views to whisk you away with the shimmering five kilometre route passing through the incredible landscapes of Niagara Parks and Dufferin Islands.

The sparkling festival launched in 1983 and transports its visitors to a magical illumination of iridescent colour filled with animated displays and twinkling lights – all for free! It’s a breathtaking sight that it is visited by over one million people each year who anticipate the numerous iconic light displays including the world’s largest illuminated Canadian flag and Niagara’s iconic Skylon Tower.

WORDS BY ELLEN HUTCHINSON IMAGE BY ‘ELPADAWAN’ VIA FLICKR

THE BUDAPEST CHRISTMAS FAIR NOVEMBER 27TH 2015 - DECEMBER 31ST 2015 If you are looking for an ‘all-things-festive’ experience outside of London this winter, the Budapest Christmas Fair is the perfect alternative. Held in Vörösmarty tér (Vorosmarty Square) in the heart of the city, the fair boasts 150 cottage style booths selling handmade Hungarian goods, gifts and local produce, from honey and mulled wine to strudel and sausages. In the evening, two stages host traditional jazz music and folk dancing in the authentic surroundings of the 19th century architecture; a far cry from the commercial lights and giant Santas so often associated with Christmas.

WORDS BY DANIELLE PREEDY IMAGE BY ‘TOPBUDAPEST’ VIA FLICKR 29

IMPACT SCIENCE medicines are unlikely to be effective. This is hardly controversial, but one might reasonably ask, “If it offers some kind of placebo effect and it doesn’t do any harm, why does it matter if people use it?”.

No-one is advocating aggressive protest against alternative health practitioners and their clients using harsh economic sanctions and violence, but alternative medicine is not harmless for two important reasons.

Firstly, the method by which alternative medicine is disseminated. These companies could be accused of exploiting people’s ignorance, fears and cognitive biases. Some campaigners claim that those who peddle ‘natural alternatives’ take advantage of the fact that many medicines have unpleasant side effects, misleading people into believing that there is some fundamental property of injurious ‘unnaturalness’, thus poisoning the well and making people mistrustful of medicine that may well be required to save their life one day.

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

WORDS BY DALE CLARIDGE IMAGE BY AMY RAINBOW

It’s in the name.

Alternative medicine promotes a great deal of controversy. Whilst the vast majority of the scientific and medical community are very quick to dismiss it and express the conviction that it doesn’t work, there have always been and will always be dissenters quick to rush to the aid of those pushing acupuncture, herbal therapy and homeopathy.

Many would argue that those that allow science and scientific facts to dictate their beliefs are sometimes just as dogmatic as any other strongly held ideology and that scientists, stuck in their ways, cannot accept anything that doesn’t agree with the current scientific paradigm.

Science has theories that change all the time, the same science that was deemed to be true 50 years ago is certainly not true in its entirety today. Amongst the cornucopia of alternative therapies that have been suggested, funded and practised, could some potentially be accepted by science?

This is entirely possible and any intellectually honest scientist would admit this. So why are scientists so quick to claim that alternative medicine doesn’t work? Simply, the scientific method has made clear that alternative medicines do not

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work. The method doesn’t preclude anything as impossible; scientists use experiments to validate theories or to show that a hypothesised theory hasn’t worked. In science, the default position is to not believe a theory until evidence is presented for it.

Scientists working in universities or research institutes use current data, computer modelling and laboratory techniques to test chemical compounds for chemical and biological properties. This also includes test-tube and animal testing. The next stage is the clinical trial stage, with five phases. The California Biomedical research association estimates that 5 in 5000 drugs make it to human testing and 1 in 5000 complete the on-average 12 year journey to the market.

Once the drug has reached market is it still subject to post market evaluation and some are removed due to risk. Thalidomide is a very famous example; another example is tetrazepam which was withdrawn due to skin toxicity in 2013.

The gold standard of clinical testing is not against a placebo or no treatment, but a double blind experiment in which no-one knows

until the data is evaluated who was receiving which treatment.

This is done alongside the current treatment. Not treating the control group would not only be unethical, but an easy way to get good results from the trial drug as, considering how much time and money has already been spent, you would reasonably expect *some* effect from the drug being tested. What is required is improvement of the current treatment.

The above is what is considered evidence by the scientific community. This doesn’t mean that all legitimate medicines turn out to be sufficiently safe or that everything produced by a pharmaceutical company is hugely effective. Sometimes drugs are recalled. However, the bar is set high. Alternative therapies do not go through anything resembling this. No-one need care about why they do not work, but merely that they do not work. The bottom line is, if it works, even if no-one in the world understands why (as it often the case!), the scientific method will show us that.

We are entirely equipped to understand why alternative

Secondly, there is a tendency to appeal to an authority figure, citing either a sell-out academic doctor or misquoting a medical doctor to make people feel like their health and medicine is too complicated and they are not qualified to make decisions in their own best interest.

These people quote Einstein, give vague or inaccurate details about quantum mechanics or introduce pseudo-scientific jargon simply to disavow people of the confidence to effectively evaluate their options.

The following case from a chapter in Dr Ben Goldacre’s book Bad Science is particularly elucidating: a man called Matthias Rath took his medical degree to South Africa where 6.3 million people are HIV positive and someone dies from AIDS-related illness once every two minutes. He saw this as an opportunity to sell his vitamin pills, utilising their fear and disdain for the side effects of antiretrovirals and offered a natural option. His rhetoric quickly gained political support and his ideas gained momentum.

Studies estimate 343,000 deaths could have been prevented by proper use of the available medicine between 1999 and 2007. Another study estimates that between 2000 and 2005, 35,000 babies were born unnecessarily with HIV. Failure to implement a cheap and simple mother-to-child-transmission prevention program could have saved many, many lives.

Alternative medicine is not a mystery; it is not too complicated or challenging for scientists to engage with it and should be dealt with in a transparent and honest fashion. To quote Tim Minchin: “Do you know what they call alternative medicine that has been proven to work?

Medicine.”

IMPACT SCIENCE

RESEARCH AT YOUR UNIVERSITY Impact discusses building molecules from the atoms up with Physics professor and ‘Sixty Symbols’ contributor Philip Moriarty.

Philip Moriarty, a professor based in Physics, is not one to sit in the comfort zone of mainstream scientific thought. He enjoys taking on science for its own sake, not for its financial or entrepreneurial benefits. Moriarty’s willingness to assert his ideas means he has contributed to The Independent, The Economist, BBC Radio 4 and a host of other journals and publications. Needless to say he is no less outgoing in person.

“Moriarty helped produce a scream metal track in which he explains the Greek mathematical concept of the golden ratio”

on this particular topic and many others for a YouTube channel called ‘Sixty Symbols’.

A keen musician, Moriarty enjoys the guitar in particular, saying “now the kids are grown up I have a bit more time!”. This hobby is not uncommon amongst scientists.

He explained how it is nice to escape from the rigours of strictly planned experimentation to the

WORDS BY STEPHEN KENNY IMAGE BY JULIAN VOSS-ANDREAE whole is tangible and the ability to stand back in awe and joy at seeing new discoveries is commendable. It is the unpredictability of scientific work that drives him. This brought back the motivations one has to do science and Moriarty’s own view that there should be no more barriers and difficulties for those that want to do science for its own sake than if a company with

Professor Moriarty explains that his main focus and the aspects of physics he finds most fascinating are those at the border of physics and chemistry. This involves the manipulation of single molecules using scanning probes, which are essentially blind ‘feelers’ at the nanoscale, which can detect forces between molecules. In the 1980s, research at IBM showed how it was possible to organise atoms into patterns. Essentially Moriarty’s group researches how molecules form and how bonding between atoms occurs in cryo conditions (as close to -273oC as they can possibly get). This is because it is the only way currently known to assess quantum mechanical properties of this nature. Put simply, this body of work is looking at how molecules can be formed from the atom upwards, a sort of small scale 3D printing. The potential applications for such work are endless, from designing specific drug molecules to self-repairing materials.

Discussions with Moriarty ranged from how science is funded, communicated and understood to music, how science affects it (and vice versa) and our motivations for carrying it out. He is not a typical scientist, who struggles to think laterally about the consequences of science and its importance.

Much fear is associated with the idea that scientists fail to think through the potential catastrophes associated with relentless discovery.

Fortunately this is not a tag which could be applied to Moriarty. He also feels particularly strongly that funding that goes to science

QUANTUM CORRAL should not indirectly end up in the pockets of industry, which a change in the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council’s funding policy has made a disconcerting reality. Maintaining it affects the excitement of the scientific process, he laments the necessity of scientific work to prove its industrial potential to obtain funding. There are a range of videos in which he is grilled by Brady Haran on his views

more abstract experimentation of songwriting. However, in a not entirely unexpected twist, he revealed he helped produce a scream metal track in which he explains the Greek mathematical concept of the golden ratio.

Scientists are not always successful in escaping the day job!

economic power behind them instructs them to do so. For a man of his intellect and broadness of interest, an hour was never likely to be enough, and so it proved. What was most striking however, was how he elucidated that a scientist’s legacy can hinge on more than just their raw scientific achievements.

Whilst clearly not a man of faith, his amazement in the universe as a

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IMPACT FOOD PITCHER & PIANO

LITTLE BLACK BOOK

WHERE TO EAT AND DANCE Bye bye house predrinks. Why have them when you could dress up, fill your bellies and dance the night away all in the same place? There are so many places in Nottingham to have a lovely meal and carry the night on with cocktails and music and Impact Food has compiled a few of your favourites.

This huge building is a spectacle in itself as a great piece of architecture as well as a restaurant and bar. The modern and creative vibes resonate in this openwork space with original stain glass features and embellished church novelties such as the organ pipes. Spread across two floors, you can dance and talk by the bar, or eat on tables sectioned away, or even sip a cocktail with a view of the devout cocktail worshippers below. Having a breakfast menu, normal food menu and sunday roast options, the bar has your food needs covered with its exceptional burgers and classic meals. The alcohol menu is on par too with classic and house cocktails, as well as spirits, beers, Prosecco and more. If you're looking for somewhere with the ‘wow-factor’, throw on your glad-rags and head down to Pitcher & Piano.

MONDAY - WEDNESDAY 10:00 - 00:00, THURSDAY 10:00 - 01:00, FRIDAY - SATURDAY 10:00 -02:00, SUNDAY 10:00 - 11:00 UNITARIAN CHURCH, HIGH PAVEMENT, NOTTINGHAM, NG1 1HN CALL: 0115 958 6081 WORDS BY LYDIA ECCLESTON | IMAGE BY ISABEL JURY

RUB SMOKEHOUSE & BAR Rub’s cool, American diner style instantly makes you want to chat the night away. In a prime location, not far from Broadway cinema, it offers a relaxed dining experience with BBQ foods including burgers and ribs, oozing with flavour. As well as this, the bar has a lively cocktail menu with scripted regulars and specials created and made by members of their team. Definitely worth a try, we recommend the ‘Bubblegum Hemingway’.

If you're looking for a chilled place that does awesome food and fantastic drinks, Rub Smokehouse is your place.

MONDAY - FRIDAY, 12:00 - 23:00, SATURDAY - SUNDAY, 10:00 - 00:00 2-4, ADAMS WALK | ONE FLETCHER GATE, NOTTINGHAM NG1 1QS CALL: 0115 947 4420 WORDS AND IMAGE BY LYDIA ECCLESTON

SLUG AND LETTUCE Perhaps one of the most commendable aspects of Slug and Lettuce is the fact that the food is fifty percent off on Monday nights. In addition to this, the Slug also offers two for one cocktails, which results in a cocktail ranging from £4-5. As well as the classics, there are more original drinks on offer, such as a ‘peanut butter and jelly martini’ and a ‘screaming orgasm’ (good luck ordering that one with a straight face).

As for the food, it offers some very tasty dishes. We recommends the spinach and goat’s cheese lasagne, as well as providing a ‘saintly selection’ for those who are health-conscious. We also highly recommend the smoky Spanish-style chicken, with quinoa and couscous: a hearty plateful which won’t disappoint.

MONDAY - WEDNESDAY, 09:00 - 23:00, THURSDAY, 09:00 - 12:00, FRIDAY, 09:00 - 01:00, SATURDAY, 9:00 - 02:00, SUNDAY, 09:00 - 11:00 THE CORNERHOUSE, FORMAN ST, NOTTINGHAM, NG1 4DB CALL: 0115 947 4260 WORDS AND IMAGE BY RUTH PENGELLY

JAM CAFÉ Jam Café is the ultimate multipurpose hang out joint. It’s small and intimate offering a lunch time and evening menu, perfect for dates or a get together with close friends. While quaint and secluded in the day, at night it’s a bustling bar full of trendy and cool vibes for an alternative night out from the usual pubs and bars. The friendly staff give the place a true independent feeling and you can expect to be treated exceptionally by them. For a twist on the usual, try out the vegan breakfast option for a delicious and healthy take on the classic full English breakfast. There’s a fantastic selection of beers and ales available so it's definitely worth experimenting; ask the staff for a recommendation if you don’t have a clue.

We tried the new welsh beer available, its 7.5% alcohol for £3.50, incredibly potent stuff brewed in Pontypridd that’ll tickle your taste buds!

MONDAY - TUESDAY, CLOSED, WEDNESDAY - SATURDAY, 12:00 - 01:00, SUNDAY, 10:00 - 23:00 12 HEATHCOTE STREET, NOTTINGHAM NG1 3AA CALL: 0115 948 3566 WORDS BY ISABEL JURY | IMAGE BY ISABEL JURY

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IMPACT FOOD

RAPID RECIPES

RECIPES FOR YOUR REQUIREMENTS Sometimes it’s hard to find a quick, simple and cheap recipe when you can’t eat meat or wheat, but we’ve got you covered. We have something to whip up whatever your dietary do's and dont’s.

Gluten Free

Quinoa and Vegetable Stir Fry

Vegetarian

Cheesy Avocado and Kale Pasta INGREDIENTS 250g brown wholewheat pasta handful of raw kale 1 avocado 1 garlic clove 1 lemon’s juice 1 tablespoon of olive oil 50g brie (optional) pinch of pepper

METHOD 1. Boil the pasta according to instructions, drain, put back in pan and leave aside.

2. In a blender mix together the raw kale, chopped up avocado, lemon juice, crushed garlic and olive oil. Blend until a smooth paste.

3. Put the pasta back on a low heat and stir in the blended avocado and kale mixture.

4. (Optional) Once well stirred in, mix in the brie broken to chunks until it’s melted in and serve whilst warm.

INGREDIENTS

2. Meanwhile, cook quinoa in a large pan of vegetable stock for 20 minutes.

1 onion 2 sweet potatoes 2 large mushrooms 1 courgette 200g quinoa 1 vegetable stock cube

3. Once quinoa is cooked and all water is absorbed, combine it with the vegetables.

4. Serve hot and enjoy.

METHOD

WORDS BY SOPHIE BELL IMAGE BY STACY SPENSLEY VIA FLICKR

1. Chop onion, potato, mushrooms and corette and fry for ten minutes.

WORDS BY GABRIELLA AHMED IMAGE BY ‘BIBOLS19’ VIA FLICKR

Dairy and Gluten Free

Fruit ‘n’ Nut Cookies INGREDIENTS

Healthy Vegan

Chocolate Smoothie INGREDIENTS 2 dates 1 banana ½ avocado 2 tsp raw cacao powder 1 cup almond milk

METHOD 1. Soak the dates in hot water until they become soft and sticky.

2. Pit the dates, peel their skin and pop them in the blender.

3. Add the rest of the ingredients.

4. Blend until smooth and you have yourself a thick and nutritious chocolate smoothie.

WORDS AND IMAGE BY PAMMY ALEXANDER

METHOD

3. Sieve the icing sugar, cocoa powder, salt and ground cinnamon into a large bowl, then add the chopped nuts, dried fruit, and vanilla essence and mix together. In another bowl, whisk the egg whites until soft peaks form in the mixture when you lift the whisk. Fold the egg whites into the dry mixture until combined.

1. Preheat the oven to 160ºC/325ºF/gas mark 3. Grease two large baking trays or line with greaseproof paper if desired.

4. Scoop ½ tablespoons of the mixture onto the baking trays, making sure you leave a rough 4cm gap between each spoonful.

2. Roughly chop the nuts into small pieces and then roast in a frying pan over a medium heat for a few minutes until they begin to turn golden.

5. Bake in the oven for 10-15 mins.

Leave to cool for 5 mins before placing on a wire cooling rack.

175g mixed unsalted dried fruit and nuts 400 g icing sugar 100 g cocoa powder 1 tsp ground cinnamon pinch of salt 1 tsp vanilla essence whites of 4 medium eggs

WORDS AND IMAGE BY RUTH PENGELLY

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IMPACT FOOD

THE BATTLE OF THE DIETS Those summer bodies, that took months of preparation to get, have been thrown in the wardrobes along with the bikini's and replaced with wooly jumpers and scarves, but which diet did you use and did it work for you? Impact Food have taken a look at two of the most popular diets this year, and whether they are all they’re cracked up to be.

The Juice Diet WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT?

We all know that getting our five-a-day can be tricky, so is a diet consisting of every fruit and vegetable nutrient we need and more, the perfect diet?

The idea around the juice diet is that you can substitute meals for healthy, nutritious and easy to make juice drinks, made from fruit and vegetables. Some variations of this diet include replacing either two or all three meals a day with the healthy juice mixes and little, to no, snacking in between drinks.

There are a number of these juice drinks available on the internet, as well as books and specific diet plans surrounding it. The drinks have different names, and contain a variety of nutritious food such as kale, beetroot, celery, apples, grapefruit, lemons, spices and more, so you can experiment and find one that fits you best. The cleansing qualities these healthy drinks provide are said to wash out any toxins from the body and leave you purified and renewed.

However, is a diet that contains few carbohydrates and protein and is yet high in sugars and low in calories, really good for you? People tend to use this diet for approximately a week to two and then continue it monthly after breaks. This results in people changing their diets regularly, which could disrupt the digestive system. Although it is clear we do need a high quantity of fruit and vegetables in our bodies, a large amount of them, with little else, could leave our bodies protein deficient, which won’t help your muscles if you’re trying to tone up.

Of course, you can add various additional items to the drinks to add protein such as nuts and yogurt, and some argue that the diet is similar to vegetarianism in this sense. However, ‘The Juice Diet’ is different, as it has very limited ingredients in the drinks and contains little to no dairy. This is why this diet is not suggested as a way of life, but a detox every so often for one to a few weeks.

Pro’s

Con’s

HELPS DIGESTION

EXPENSIVE

DETOXES BODY

LOW IN PROTEIN

GOOD WAY OF GETTING YOUR 5-A-DAY

HIGH IN SUGAR

KEEPS YOU HYDRATED

NOT THE BEST FOR WEIGHT LOSS

PROVEN TO HELP LOSE AT LEAST A FEW POUNDS

NOT GOOD FOR PROLONGED USE

QUICK AND EASY TO PREPARE

The weight loss for these short detox juicing periods have been recorded to have been anything from a pound or two to over half a stone, meaning it will help shed excess weight due to its cleansing qualities and the change to your eating routines.

Fruit and vegetables do, however, contain concentrated calories which mean that when on the diet it is possible to achieve the recommended daily intake, providing the juices contain sufficient ingredients. The main recorded desirable effects of the diet are the improvement of skin, hair, digestion, metabolism and lifespan.

As well as the many health reasons for not using ‘The Juice Diet’ for a prolonged period of time, there is also the factor of fitting it into your lifestyle. For people on the go, it is useful as it takes just a few minutes preparation and can be drunk on the move. However, one of the many criticisms of this diet is that fruit and vegetables can be pricey when buying a large assortment to substitute meals. The rate at which the fruit and veg decay as well as buying a variation of exotic items to spice up the mundane drinks, can make it an expensive few weeks.

Even if it does leave you looking and feeling great, it may not do the same to your bank balance.

‘The Juice Diet’ is definitely one to try for a short period of time, or even to test out replacing one meal, if you feel the need to eat more fruit and vegetables and improve wellbeing, but it seems, like all good things, prolonged use of the diet can cause it to have negative effects.

Use this one with caution, but give it a go.

WORDS BY LYDIA ECCLESTON IMAGE BY STEVEN DEPOLO VIA FLICKR 34

The 5:2 Diet CAN THIS REALLY BE A LONG TERM METHOD TO MANAGING WEIGHT?

The 5:2 diet claims to be the solution to losing weight for people who just don’t diet but need to lose weight effectively, but it offers so much more than that.

This diet has claimed to result in extraordinary health benefits such as reducing risk of diabetes, dementia, improving intelligence and even as far as extending your life expectancy.

So what is the 5:2 diet? How does it claim to achieve these benefits?

The premise of the diet works on the simple rule that for two days a week, you must sustain yourself on a maximum of 500 calories. The other five days of your week can be spent eating the usual 2000 2500 calories necessary to function. That's it. Yep, really.

For many the concept of fasting may seem near impossible to achieve, the absence of food is something that the majority of people in the western world haven’t had to adapt to, we live in a state of luxury where readily prepared meals are available and accessible 24/7 at a moment's notice, the struggle of this diet comes in the ability to resist a perpetually overindulgent culture of consumption.

Fasting may seem like an extreme form of dietary control but it's common amongst many sections of society, particularly religions.

For example, during Ramadan no food or drink is allowed to be consumed before the sun has set or after dawn has begun. Similarly, the Catholic Church observes fasting as a form of spiritual discipline during Lent.

Pro’s

Con’s

PROVEN TO SLOW AGING

CAN BE DIFFICULT TO ACCLIMATISE TO

CAN INCREASE COGNITIVE FUNCTION

INVOLVES SOME CALORIE COUNTING

DRAMATICALLY REDUCES BODY WEIGHT

CAN BE CHALLENGING TO FIT AROUND SOCIAL LIFE

ONE SIMPLE RULE TO STICK TO INCREDIBLY AFFORDABLE DON’T HAVE TO CHANGE WHAT YOU EAT, JUST WHEN

The 5:2 diet succeeds where other diets fail because the reduced calorie intake is not prolonged; you are much less likely to succeed on a diet when your calorie intake is only 1800 a day that will leave you feeling constantly hungry, compared to having your calorie intake reduced only twice per week. This is far more manageable.

So how does intermittent fasting improve health? Well studies with mice undertaken by the University of Southern California have proven such results. Mice that underwent 16 hours of fasting stayed lean and healthy even with a high calorie intake diet, while their mouse counterparts that had unlimited access to food 24/7 became obese and showed liver damage despite both test groups of mice having identical calorie intake.

In this study amongst many others done on intermittent fasting it's become evident that there are some major mechanisms in which this dieting routine works. The first, is that it increases insulin sensitivity and mitochondrial energy efficiency, thereby reducing aging and disease. Secondly, it is associated with reduced oxidative stress, decreasing the accumulation of radicals in the cell that lead to cellular damage and cause aging.

Since intermittent fasting through the 5:2 diet was popularised by the BBC’s Horizon special hundreds of thousands of people have successfully improved their general health and reduced their weight dramatically and safely through this method. This is a diet that is scientifically grounded and supported proving it can work. It is a regime that can be difficult to adjust to at first but implements only one rule in order to work and see results.

"The struggle of this diet comes in the ability to resist a perpetually overindulgent culture of consumption"

If you are sick of fad diets involving constantly cutting back and limiting calories, only to binge on junk food, give the 5:2 diet a shot and see the results for yourself.

WORDS BY ISABEL JURY IMAGE BY ‘INSATIABLEMUNCH’ VIA FLICKR

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IMPACT STYLE

SHOPE

BLOGGER, DESIGNER AND UON ECONOMICS & PHILOSOPHY STUDENT SHOPE DELANO SITS DOWN WITH IMPACT STYLE TO TALK ABOUT HER BLOG SASSY BLACK, HER CLOTHING BRAND TWOOSIE AND LIFE AS A STUDENT

JACKET: ASOS T-SHIRT: MONKI JEANS: TOPSHOP BOUTIQUE TRAINERS: ADIDAS 36

What first inspired you to start your own blog?

I remember being 15 years old, surfing the internet and stumbling across the big, wide world of blogging. I guess from a young age I’ve always had a certain propensity to ‘do it myself’... kind of like a nagging itch to do things my way! So I was immediately compelled to get stuck in. There was no external inspiration as such, more of an inner desire. An over-excited, impatient voice inside of me saying “Do it, do it!” Within 48 hours of discovering blogs, I had my own. It was an avenue for me to express myself, and being relatively self-conscious when I was younger, it was avenue for me to get lost in my little online world without fear of judgement. Funnily enough, I couldn’t imagine how I would’ve developed as me, as ‘Shope’, without it.

How has the blog evolved over time?

I’ve been through so many stages with it. To begin with it was no more than a daily style diary, then it evolved into offering our readers two different style perspectives, with my twin sister. From there it evolved into a focused project for myself discovering different ways that I can style up the colour black, and this is the point that it’s currently at.

I’m on a blogging break as I’m a little disillusioned with the blogging ‘industry’. The illusion of ‘perfection’ and the fan culture that exists doesn’t really sit right with me. There’s something even more damaging about young girls idolising these digital influencers because they are that step closer to real life (as opposed to celebrities), so the girls are that bit more convinced that their life is ‘rubbish’ in comparison to the ideal, ’normal’ girl.

So, at the moment, I’m just going back to the drawing board in terms of refining the types of content that I want to put out. I really love positively impacting other people, and sharing things that impact me, such that they can impact other people. Another rebrand is on the horizon. Going forward, I’m really into my lifestyle, and documenting little insights and life-hacks that I stumble across, so that will most probably be heavily intertwined alongside my usual style posts.

You have a clothing brand called ‘TWOOSiE’. When did you start designing and producing it? - How has the brand evolved in the last couple of years?

TWOOSiE is an online pop up shop, so we first ‘popped up’ in summer of 2014, and came back again this summer too. From 2014 to 2015, I believe the brand has definitely found its feet in terms of our authentic creative brand image, from the type of visuals we put out to the type of influencers that we work with. The main evolution, I guess, is in terms of the branding.

The essence of TWOOSiE is still the same in that it is something that is easy and effortless to wear whilst still being unique - it’s the outfit you go to when nothing else in your wardrobe matches.

What role does social media play in promoting your brand?

I love being able to share things that can potentially positively impact others. If I ever find an insightful article, or a touching video, or anything in between, I’ll tweet it out so other people can share in that experience.

Through my Instagram, I like to share the usual style posts, but also like to share the occasional post that grounds me as a ‘blogger’. I’m very much a tiny fish in the big sea of big-time bloggers, but I still get occasional comments like ‘face goals’ and ‘life goals’ etc, which really irk me.

It’s kind of upsetting that not many other people actively protest against this ‘perfect’ narrative that readers/followers write for their favourite influencers. So to combat this, I like to throw in the occasional “flaws and all” type of post just to say “hey, I’m kinda spotty sometimes, and that’s OK!”, or “hey, I worry about what the hell I’m going to do with my life too, and that’s ok!”. My ‘brand’ is an honest one. Honesty is important.

Do you have any advice for students wanting to start their own blog or brand?

JACKET: GINA TRICOT POLO NECK: ZARA JEANS: URBAN OUTIFTTERS TRAINERS: ADIDAS INTERVIEW AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHANELLE OLALEYE AND RAPHAELA RING

My top tip is make sure you have the time to be consistent. Running a blog from the shooting of the images, to the editing, to drafting the text, to keeping up with emails and social media, is a little more time-intensive than you may first anticipate. Secondly, it would be not to start a blog if you’re someone who is stuck in a comparative mind-set as you’ll simply look to the girls with 10,000’s of followers and feel inadequate. The blogs which are the best, and the most authentic reads, are the ones written by people who know themselves, know their style, and know what kind of message they want to put out. It’s so much fun, creating and maintaining something that is completely yours… I’d recommend it to everyone.

What is your favourite item of clothing?

Tough question... But I think it would have to be this long length, oversized, black coat I’ve got from Monki. It’s got a ribbed funnel neck type detail, and it is utterly glorious. Winter chic, darling. Haha!

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IMPACT STYLE

In the past, men’s and women’s clothing were clearly defined and differentiated from each other.

For a long period in history, from about the 12th to the 20th century, it was the norm for men to wear trousers and women to wear dresses. Different genders were easily distinguishable by the clothes and accessories they wore. Most women of reasonable wealth wore tight, corseted dresses. The men would wear bespoke tailored suits, fitted to their every dimension.

However, in the last century, men’s and women’s fashion has become harder to define separately.

In the 20th century women were starting to gain their independence from men. They wanted to move away from the custom of “being seen and not heard”, and hence not only made a stand within society, for example as part of the suffragette and suffragist protests, but also in fashion. From this point onwards the gap between men and women’s fashion began to close.

“As the century went on, it became exponentially harder to determine the differences between men’s and women’s fashion”

FE/MALE GENDER ROLES IN FASHION WORDS BY JO GRIMWOOD IMAGES BY RAZ ZARANTE VIA FLICKR

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In the post-World War I era, around the 1920s, women began to discard the restrictive long dresses and corsets they had been accustomed to. Instead they started wearing shorter, looser fitting dresses, sweaters and pleated skirts. By this time, it was no longer an anomaly to see a woman in trousers, something practically unheard of only a decade before. In seeking to obtain the fashionable boyish figure, women would wear clothing that hid their curves, and gave the illusion of a flatter chest. Women were also quite literally becoming more active members of society, by getting involved in more sporting activities and going to speakeasies to dance the Charleston. Therefore they required clothing that allowed them to move freely, which bloomers, long, heavy dresses and corsets were not suitable for. Fashion royalty, Coco Chanel, who was a keen horse-rider and tennis-player herself, was known for her gender defying style and was frequently seen in riding trousers, vests and her hair in a bob - a style closely associated with this era.

Just like the women in the 1920s, men no longer wore formal wear in the day: they replaced long tail coats, wide lapels and bow-ties with

casual jackets, sweaters and short trousers. During the 1920s, changes to men’s fashion was incremental, whereas the changes to women’s fashion was more radical and moved further towards male fashion than vice versa.

Throughout the 20th century, every decade saw new trends adopted by both men and women. In the 1970s both men and women wore widelegged flares and garish patterns. This freeing, unisex style extended beyond clothing as men’s hairstyles got longer and more similar to traditionally female styles. As the century went on, it became exponentially harder to determine the differences between men’s and women’s fashion.

“Fashion can no longer be used as a reliant source for gender identification” In the 21st century, androgyny has become a huge part of the fashion industry. It has become increasingly popular within the fashion community to use male models with a feminine aesthetic and female models with a masculine aesthetic. Female model Agyness Deyn is known for her distinctive appearance, with short, platinum blonde hair and strong, square jawline. Other androgynous models that are receiving considerably more attention in recent years include Jana Knauerova, a female Czech model who featured in Topshop’s Spring/Summer 2011 campaign, and Willy Cartier, a male French model feature in Diesel's fragrance campaign 2014.

Over the last decade, the presence of transgender models and figures has grown both in the fashion industry and the media. For example, in Hollywood, Laverne Cox has made a name for herself as a transgender actress, known mostly for her part as Sophia in Orange is the New Black. Before this, Tyra Banks chose transgender model Isis King to be a contestant in the eleventh cycle of the popular television program America’s Next Top Model. Most recently, Australian model, Andeja Pejić has caught the attention of the fashion industry when she underwent gender transition surgery in 2014. Transgender people are becoming more widely accepted around the world, after years of being discriminated against. The development of this acceptance was demonstrated in 2013, when model Kylan Arianna Wenzel became the first transgender contestant in the Miss California USA, after Donald Trump changed the rules to allow transgender women to compete in a Miss Universe Organization pageant.

and wider society. However, it is not just the models designers and editors choose that proves the existence of this overlap, but also the clothes themselves. One of Alexander McQueen’s earlier collections saw women wearing well-tailored suits. McQueen mixed up power, a formerly male associated characteristic, with sensuality, a typically female associated characteristic, when he designed tailored low riding trousers for women. McQueen is not the only designer that has taken a more androgynous standpoint: in recent seasons, designer Jonathan Anderson has been testing the gender boundaries. His menswear collections have included ruffled shorts, tunics and even halter-neck tops. Fellow menswear designer Paul Sampson went so far as to design a men’s skirt.

Fashion has and always will be a form of identification and selfexpression within society. However, as we look to the future, fashion can no longer be used as a reliant source for gender identification.

Fashion can only be relied upon as an identifier of the individual themselves and their uniqueness, which can no longer categorized by gender.

The increase of transgender and androgynous models in the fashion industry is arguable proof of how the categorical distinctions between ‘male’ and ‘female’ has become extremely blurred both in the industry

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IMPACT STYLE

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY BECKIE WEARS: CULOTTES JUMPSUIT FROM ZARA, SHOES FROM COS, JACKET FROM VINTAGE SHOP, BELT FROM ASOS BECKY WEARS: SKIRT FROM PRIMARK, SHIRT FROM ZARA, JACKET FROM VINTAGE SHOP, SHOES FROM ASOS

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BECKY WEARS: SUEDE COAT FROM ZARA, BOOTS FROM, FAUX FUR SCARF FROM H&M BECKIE WEARS: DRESS FROM GLAMOROUS, VINTAGE SHIRT, HAT FROM TOPSHOP, SHOES FROM ASOS, SOCKS FROM TOPSHOP, VINTAGE BAG

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BECKY WEARS: DRESS FROM ZARA, VINTAGE SUEDE COAT, SHOES FROM ASOS, SOCKS FROM TOPSHOP BECKIE WEARS: SHIRT DRESS FROM ASOS, FUR COAT FROM VINTAGE SHOP, HAT FROM H&M, SHOES FROM TOPSHOP, BELT FROM MISSGUIDED

RIVER ISLAND £85

MANGO £69.99

ZARA £35.99 STYLED AND DIRECTED BY CHANELLE OLALEYE AND RAPHAELA RING PHOTOGRAPHED BY ALEXANDRA FARZAD AND AMY RAINBOW MODELLED BY BECKY BYRNE AND REBECCA MARANO

URBAN OUTFITTERS £55

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IMPACT STYLE

EYES STEP 1: Sketch out your cut crease with a brown eyeshadow STEP 2: Blend the eyeshadow upwards away from the lid STEP 3: Repeat steps 1 and 2 until your crease is the desired depth STEP 4: To further blend, take a lighter brown eyeshadow and blend this above the crease STEP 5: Take a white eyeshadow base (or some concealer) and apply this to the lid STEP 6: Apply a shimmery champagne eyeshadow of the base

DOUBLE UP SOMETIMES MORE IS MORE. IMPACT STYLE SHOWS YOU HOW TO COMBINE A DRAMATIC EYE AND BEAUTIFUL AUTUMN LIPS DIRECTED, STYLED AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY CHANELLE OLALEYE AND RAPHAELA RING MAKE-UP BY IZZIE WONG | MODELLED BY GEN LEGG

STEP 7: Apply a dark brown eyeshadow on the lower lash line STEP 8: Finish off with eyeliner and lashes

LIPS: STEP 1: Start by applying a powdery foundation on your lip STEP 2: Line your lips with a lip liner matching your lipstick STEP 3: Apply dark red, glossy lipstick STEP 4: If needed go over your edges with the lip liner once more STEP 5: Finish of with dark red gloss

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IMPACT STYLE

URBAN JUNGLE PRODUCTS SELECTED BY RAPHAELA RING

Lavish Alice £8

Koshka £18.76

Dorothy Perkins £3

River Island £75

Mango £29.99

Topshop £58

River Island £60

Monki River Island

£18

Pixie Market £75

£30

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IMPACT EXPOSURE

IMPACT EXPOSURE COMPETITION WINNER

NAOMI JAMES

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IMPACT EXPOSURE

IMPACT EXPOSURE COMPETITION RUNNER UP

DANIEL JOHNSON

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IMPACT EXPOSURE COMPETITION RUNNER UP

ISOBEL SHEENE

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IMPACT GAMING

‘JUST FIVE MORE MINUTES’ THE PLIGHT OF THE GAMING ADDICT WORDS BY LEIGH DOUGHTY IMAGE BY SAM WOLFF VIA FLICKR My eyes are watering, but I can’t stop. Weeks of hard work have culminated in this crucial moment.

I’m about to win the Champions League with Bristol Rovers. I know what you’re thinking, it’s impossible.

Bristol Rovers could never win the Champions League. Yet here I am. I’ve finally made it. After years of scouting, wage wrangling, and tactical analysis, my time has arrived.

A burning light flicks on. My housemate stands at the doorway.

He looks concerned. “Mate,” he says, “you’ve got a problem.” And I know he’s right. My star forward’s just taking a knock and there’s no alternative. This is not a problem, I think, this is a disaster. It wasn’t until after he left that I realised he was talking about my all-nighters.

I suppose, as a young man, an all-nighter should mean partying non-stop and wandering home with a kebab or a woman, or, if you’re really lucky, both. But here I was, bleary eyed and unshaven, playing computer games until the sun came up. I began to wonder. Might I have a problem? The question seemed farcical.

“For a short while, gamers can transcend everyday concerns” A quick search on the internet reveals masses of people who, just like me, all have complicated relationships with their games console. On internet forums people revealed how they had lost their jobs, failed exams, and generally watched their lives spiral out of control as their gaming increased.

One self-confessed games addict, who asked to go by the name Khekhela, helped explain the issue.

“For five solid years,” she typed, “all I did was game. I never went out. I never did anything other than work and play video games. I became an absolute hermit.” I asked Khekhela: where did it all begin?

What compelled her to stop going out and start gaming? After a messy divorce, she explained, “it was total escapism. I could lose myself in a virtual world, make friends and not deal with the pain.”

The more we spoke the more I began to see how computer games really could become addictive. After

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all, in our lives as students, where we face deadlines, exams, money worries and uncertainty, gaming can be that welcomed release. For a short while, gamers can transcend everyday concerns, and, for an evening at least, can become elves, assassins, warriors, and gangsters.

Yet despite the evident release that computer games offer, they do come with their own hidden pitfalls. For instance, a 2004 study by Professor Chiu at Taipei University reports that gaming addiction is negatively associated with academic performance. While students felt they were ‘letting off steam’, in reality they were putting off important academic tasks. The study reveals that the more hours a student plays games per week the more likely they will perform poorly in exams.

This was alarming to me and the more I researched the more data I found that supports Chiu’s findings.

Maressa Orzack, a Harvard based psychiatrist, completed a report which corroborates with Chiu’s data.

She reveals in her article that many students are unfortunately choosing gaming over academic work. She noted an increasing number of students are staying up late, playing computer games, and subsequently missing lectures and assignments deadlines.

Yet the one key term that they all use is excessive gaming.

Definitions of what is deemed as excessive appear to be elusive.

From the scores of articles available, a definitive answer to what constitutes excessive remain a mystery. However, even if there is no absolute definition, perhaps all that is needed is a little logic.

If you happen to be greeting the early hours of the morning with red-rimmed eyes and stale breath then perhaps it is time to take a few careful steps away from the computer.

But instead of tossing our consoles out the window and hurling obscenities as it plummets to the ground, perhaps all we need is a little moderation. Gaming can be one of the most immersive and pleasurable forms of entertainment around. Yet it can also be one of the most time-consuming and addictive. It is our choice as gamers how far we allow it to go.

IMPACT GAMING

THE DEVELOPMENT OF

GAMING JOURNALISM WORDS BY TOM WELSHMAN IMAGE BY ‘JENS ASTRUP FOR PLAY THE GAME’ VIA FLICKR As gaming has grown from a lowinterest hobby to a multi-billion pound industry, the journalistic coverage of these games has similarly increased in scale. The early whispers of last night’s digital adventures became established magazines and websites. The chats at the proverbial water cooler still occur but are now accompanied by official publications. So how did it happen?

are still available to browse despite ceasing live existence a long time ago.

The former example was actually eventually transformed into IGN, which is now a huge online media hub covering games, films, TV shows and many other types of technology.

The first gaming magazines were naturally orientated around the arcades - children of the ‘70s and early ‘80s will remember articles which heralded the release of classics like Space Invaders. The natural follow-on from these pieces was discussion of the development of PC games. Many people who are now in their thirties will remember magazines which discussed the latest games playable on your home computer and which frequently featured free demos to let players try games before their official release.

A case study could be one of my favourite sites from the last decade: Gamespot, started in 1996. One lovely aspect of Gamespot (as well as some similar sites) was how you got to know the reviewers and podcasters well. They all had different areas of expertise in terms of games, but also had passionate opinions on those games as well as on their favourite films, TV shows and gizmos. This close-knit aspect was highlighted by an infamous incident in which a reviewer was dismissed from his post amidst unconfirmed rumours of pressure from a games developer whose game was given a poor score.

The rise of the internet in the 1990s was matched by a growth in gamesbased websites which reviewed and analysed games to be released on a variety of consoles. Examples in this area were Intelligent Gamer Online and Gamer Zero Magazine which

“Throughout the 2000s publications like Official Xbox Magazine provided authoritative sources of gaming journalism in paper-based form”

this particular magazine has been discontinued. Similar to the move to online format for, historically, broadsheet newspapers, there will be traditionalists who dislike the change. But as I have pointed out above the online community can be a fantastic place to discuss games and the videogame industry, albeit with some inevitable downsides.

With all of that said, the fact is that I am now able to write about a hobby I truly treasure in my university’s award-winning magazine. And that’s pretty special.

But out of this sad incident came a new dawn for Gamespot and gaming journalism in general. This reviewer was followed (voluntarily this time) by the ‘old guard’ Gamespot crew and they founded Giantbomb which is now arguably the market leader in online games journalism. This is only one of a huge number of websites which are written by and for people who love games. A significant amount of online gaming journalism these days is video-based, meaning whole teams of producers, directors and writers are part of the family.

The traditional physical magazines retain a strange place in the area of games journalism. The nostalgia glands will be satisfied for some people by the mention of fanzines, written by members of the public themselves. And throughout the 2000s publications like Official Xbox Magazine provided authoritative sources of gaming journalism in paper-based form, however

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IMPACT GAMING

CAN INDEPENDENT GAMES SAVE LOCAL MULTIPLAYER? WORDS BY TOM EVANS IMAGE BY MIKE PORESKY VIA FLICKR Local ‘couch multiplayer’ is the source of many of the fondest gaming memories from my childhood. Playing videogames together with family and friends was one of my favourite pastimes and is still a huge draw for me amongst modern day titles.

Recently there has been a drop off in these sorts of games, leading many to wonder if local multiplayer has been abandoned.

There are clear barriers to local multiplayer in today’s gaming industry. Great advances in online multiplayer have been good for gaming as a whole, but the priority placed on it has left local co-op by the wayside. Developers for big budget ‘AAA’ games must also balance other priorities. As games push current hardware further and further to deliver innovation and beautiful graphics, local split-screen becomes harder and harder to accomplish. A large proportion of consumers have also shown themselves to be happy to buy a copy of the game for each player.

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This gives publishers less incentive to have their games include local multiplayer, when more units are being sold otherwise.

Nintendo’s Wii U still puts a lot of focus on multiplayer, Smash Bros 4, Mario Kart 8 and Nintendo Land are just a few examples. But outside of Nintendo exclusives exciting local multiplayer is fairly scarce. Exceptions are rare; Call of Duty Black Ops 3 has brought back a four player campaign but only two player local split screen, while FIFA 16 allows friends to play each other in their living rooms.

“There are clear barriers to local multiplayer in today’s gaming industry” Early 2015 release Evolve is an incredibly cooperative first person shooter, but has no local co-op option, similar to Payday 2. When local co-op has been done it hasn’t always gone smoothly. Re-mastered release Borderlands: The Handsome Collection offered four player split-screen local co-op for the first time in the franchise, but initially suffered from lag and screen tearing issues.

Whilst the independent scene isn’t creating many split-screen shooters with the same level of polish as Call of Duty and other big budget titles, the market is blooming with brilliant local co-op campaigns in other genres. The platformer genre has particularly rich pickings, lending itself to couch co-op beautifully. There’s a huge variety of gameplay mechanics even within this group, from the jokey and casual style of The Behemoth’s Battleblock Theatre to the fantasy puzzle world of the Trine series. Indie developers have also put out great co-op campaigns in all other genres, including even zombie survival and top-down perspective heist games!

A resurgence of local multiplayer games has truly come forth from the independent scene. Car football game Rocket League for PS4 and PC has taken off dramatically. It’s brilliant fun and includes local splitscreen for up to four players. Indie developers have done so much for local play on all platforms, but PC as a platform is really moving forwards for local multiplayer. Thanks to the indie scene and wireless controller adapters, the least local multiplayer friendly platform has become a great option for students looking to throw cheap ‘gaming and pizza’ nights. Towerfall Ascension, Lethal League, Speedrunners and Nidhogg are just a few great Indie titles which don’t require expensive PCs and can be snapped up cheap in Steam sales. And with Valve’s Steam Machines still on the horizon, perhaps Indie developers are the champions to pick up the couch multiplayer torch.

IMPACT GAMING

CELEBRITY ENDORSEMENT IN GAMING

There have been some successes come from games’ celebrity endorsement, such as the Tony Hawk or Tiger Woods games, but just as many terrible vanity projects. Some of these, such as Shaq Fu or 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand have in fact gone down as some of the worst games in history, but have the successes outweighed the shit?

For Against Video gaming has changed massively since disasters like Shaq Fu. The industry has grown tremendously with developments in multiplayer gaming and the more recent rise of eSports. Just as the industry has changed; so too has its approach to endorsement.

Previously celebrity endorsed games either had very little to do with the name involved or were just obvious vanity projects.

Endorsement has become more in line with its use in other industries, such as the popular TV ads for World of Warcraft or professional sportspeople promoting eSports.

“Celebrity endorsement has always been an amazing form of advertising for various other forms of entertainment” The fact is, because we live in a celebrity-focused culture, this kind of promotion is not only beneficial for the games involved but also tends to improve the legitimacy of the entire hobby. In a few years we have gone from competitive gaming being partaken by the few, to having the BBC currently in talks for broadcasting these events live. To ignore the promotion that lead up to this development from Imagine Dragons, Simon Pegg, Fred Durst and countless others is simply criminal.

IMAGE BY ‘GAMERSCORE BLOG’ VIA FLICKR

Celebrity endorsement has always been, and will continue to be, an amazing form of advertising for various other forms of entertainment. Moving closer to what people already accept as legitimate entertainment can only be beneficial for an industry that has always been trying to convince the masses to take it seriously.

While undoubtedly correct usage of celebrity endorsements, with equal attention to both branding and game, can attract new potential players to try out these games, some unscrupulous developers abuse this branding, eschewing polish in favour of a quick cash-grab. Robomodo’s Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5, for example, has been critically panned, being heavily criticised for its plethora of bugs, unimaginative level design and lacklustre visuals.

Indeed, this poor reception is a strong contrast to the rest of the franchise. While entries 2, 3 and 4 are fantastic examples of where a marrying of branding and developmental passion work beautifully, 5 was rushed to capitalise on expiring rights and, unsurprisingly, falls short of expectations. This is not new either, historically there have been a slew of uninspired celebrity tie-ins; Britney’s Dance Beat and Spice World are two ‘classics’ from the 1990s and early 2000s.

This singular focus on celebrity branding can cause issue in more than one way too. A celebrity’s image is fluid; a beloved celebrity can instantly change from public darling to social pariah in mere moments. As such, the celebrity mascot emblazoned on your video game cover can shift from a role model to a cautionary tale in no time at all.

For example, although EA Sports continued their endorsement deal with Tiger Woods following his adultery scandal in 2009, their decade-spanning franchise image has been marred, their champion no longer infallible.

Franchise endorsements cannot be retroactively changed either - once in the public domain they are set in stone, despite attempts to shift future branding.

WORDS BY STEPHEN HILL

WORDS BY SEAN GRAHAM

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IMPACT FILM & TV

DON’T MAKE ME WATCH THAT! REVISITING CHILDHOOD NIGHTMARES

Childhood fears can be the fears that stay with us for life. We’ve all got those films that send us cowering, those TV programmes that give us the shivers. The Impact Film & TV team delve into their childhoods and explain which childhood fears still gives them the creeps. The results may surprise you...

SHAUN OF THE DEAD At the ripe old age of seven, I was probably too young to appreciate the genius of Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright. Maybe that’s why I couldn’t finish Shaun of the Dead, which follows two run-of-the-mill blokes as they try to protect their loved ones from a zombie apocalypse.

Despite this being the fantastic opening to the Cornetto Trilogy, as a child all I knew was that something was amiss in this world of snap montages and dry humour – especially when Shaun (Pegg) and Ed (Nick Frost) sing along with a rather asymmetric zombie figure in the background.

My fear was confirmed when ‘Mary’ – perhaps a sweet, middle-aged woman in her past life – was impaled by a pipe.

However, it was neither of these occasions that sent me running from the room screaming. Oh no. That was caused by the terrifying spectacle of Dylan Moran being split open by the hands of blood-thirsty zombies.

I have only started questioning the factual accuracy behind this biology now, over ten years later.

SARAH QURAISHI

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CHUCKLEVISION

CORALINE

MEN IN BLACK

Many children are scared of ghosts or monsters on their television screens. Many are afraid of supernatural horrors or dreadful special effects. Unlike many children, I was fine with Doctor Who – the one television programme I absolutely hated was ChuckleVision. Don’t get me wrong, the “to me, to you” jollity of the brother’s camaraderie was at times endearing, but most of the time, I couldn’t bear to watch their clownish antics, and ended up leaving the room or switching channel to CITV. Sorry CBBC! It may have been the moustaches, it may have been the annoying catchphrases, it may have been the strange plotlines, but I found the series oddly creepy.

If you were someone who said: ‘but it’s a “kids film,” it can’t be that scary’ you’d probably find yourself eating your own words. Henry Selick’s Coraline is perhaps one of the most downright creepy films to be released in the last 10 years.

Men in Black is a classic, and looking back, it was a completely new and brilliant film for its time.

But growing up (I was only 2 on its initial release) I was terrified of Men in Black because of the creatively weird and wonderful aliens in the film (wonderful only in hindsight). Although adults may think that Men in Black is a simple family friendly film about aliens with Will Smith cast as the most badass secret Earth protector ever, but I beg to differ.

A prime example of this is the episode in which Barry was evidently hallucinating, and could see an invisible leprechaun which Paul couldn’t.

Case in point. The final blow to my already doubtful attitude came when it was revealed to me by a schoolmate, that the so-called ‘Chuckle Brothers’ last name was actually Elliott. The sense of betrayal was immense and I found myself unable to watch the show ever again. If I hear the theme tune to this day, I still have the urge to run and hide.

AMY WILCOCKSON

From the opening scene with the floating doll being caught by mysterious hands made of needles, the eerie score, and transformation of said doll to resemble the protagonist, one starts to realize what the next ninety minutes has in store.

Although dolls are a staple of horror, by far the thing that will haunt you the most is the buttons. You know, those buttons your ‘other mother’ wants you to sew into your eyes…

As someone who is rarely affected by horror films, this stop-motion film just makes my blood curdle. The scene where the ‘other mother’ forces the ‘other Wybie’ to smile, the transformation of the ‘other mother’ into a boney spider and buttons for eyes is enough to certify Coraline as nightmare fuel. It may only be a PG, but it’s ok to be scared, I am too.

DAN LYON

What terrified me specifically was the antagonist of the story ‘Edgar the Bug’- the 11 foot bug that has taken on a farmer’s body (actually just his skin). The result? A terrifying farmer man that combines both a zombie and a crazed murderer, as well as the fact there is actually a slimy big-teethed huge bug hiding under it. This is enough to scare any child, and so revealing Men in Black as not as innocently fun as it seems, and I still can’t watch it, even now.

ELEANOR MISSEN

COURAGE THE COWARDLY DOG As a child, I spent a questionable and frankly, unhealthy, number of hours watching mindnumbing TV shows. This was partly due to not understanding my long division homework, but also my wholehearted devotion to Cartoon Network. However, it was through this cartoon captivity that I was exposed to a show that terrifies me to this day: Courage the Cowardly Dog. Apparently it’s supposed to be a 'horror-comedy'. The horror I understand, but comedy? There was nothing comical about this show at all. What’s funny about demonic violinists, zombie rivals and the whispering voice of an undead king?

The episode that haunts me most is season one's' 'Freaky Fred'. Fred first appears as an institutionalized ex-barber, but can be effectively summed up as a terrifying creep. With his eerie wide mouthed grimace and ominous green eyes, he narrates the entire episode from the 'inside of his head' in a creepy and chilling version of verse. Every line was ended with a drawn out and blood-curling groan of 'nauuuughty'. This has left me so traumatized I am now unable to discipline my dog.

The worst and most memorable part was when his background music suddenly changes to a completely unnecessary and downright sinister version of children singing. Shudder.

REBECCA MARANO

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IMPACT FILM & TV Space cowboys, Christmas monsters and aliens in L.A.! These are but a few of the crazy mash-ups we’ve been introduced to in recent years.

In a world of summer blockbusters and massive franchises, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for fledgling films to establish themselves as ‘different’. Audiences have developed expectations of certain genres, and these are difficult to break away from.

This has certainly influenced the recent wave of ‘experimental’ genre hybrids. Studios don’t like their shiny products marketed in old packaging. This has led to everything from horror-comedies to sci-fi Westerns. But how did we get here, did the experiment work and what does this mean for the future of cinema?

Perhaps the most iconic crossover is the horror-comedy. Two opposing genres which, when brought together, can be milked to surprising effect. The first dates all the way back to 1922. One Exciting Night is a murder-mystery with a twist. World War One trauma meant US audiences weren’t receptive to bleak entertainment and even horror had to be tinged with a few laughs. And thus, one of the most popular crossovers was born! The success of Night proved there was a market for genre-experiments.

After all, if things as disparate as screams and laughter could be brought together in one film, what else could? Horror-comedy remains a crossover gem, offering us such treats as Little Shop of Horrors (1986), Shaun of the Dead (2004) and Zombieland (2009). Success encouraged studios to go further, be bolder, and try increasingly ‘unique’ ideas. This takes us to the recent era of genre-splicing…

Gremlins (1984) is an undoubted high-point of the genre-mix era.

Joe Dante delivers the wellestablished scare-and-laughs formula, in a neatly tied Christmas bow. The festive atmosphere creates a gleeful contrast with the grotesque violence. Audiences were simultaneously entertained and repulsed. Watching an elderly woman answer the door to Gremlin

carollers is one such moment.

Her shocked reaction, and the absurd situation, are shamefully funny. The side-splitting hilarity is pierced by the obvious guilt that she will shortly die – and yet we still laugh. Shame on you! The film released to commercial and critical acclaim, leading to a sequel in 1990, Gremlins 2: The New Batch.

Dante wasn’t using ‘Christmashorror’ as a gimmick, it took thought and effort to anticipate the human fetish for inappropriately timed violence.

Sadly, the same cannot be said for many of the noughties attempts at interesting crossovers. Jon Favreau’s sci-fi western Cowboys and Aliens (2011) looked promising but turned out to be little more than a lightly-written action flick. Even the dependable additions of Daniel Craig and sci-fi royalty Harrison Ford weren’t enough to turn this into a success. The same could be said of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012), which was all style and no substance. These films failed to make full use of their interesting set-ups. All flair, naught else - it’s becoming a common problem.

Instead of choosing crossovers for their artistic merit, studios and directors have been using them as marketing ploys. Instead of a deep exploration of parallels and contrasts within genres, studios use it as a gimmick to differentiate their product in the monotonous Hollywood landscape. But as audiences become accustomed to the trick, and as cinema is filled with increasingly outlandish films, commercial success will eventually run dry. Gimmicks only work for a limited time after all. Sad times for all cowboys-in-space fans. The good news? There will always be room for a good horror-comedy. Shaun of the Dead anyone?

FRANKEN-FILMS THE GENRE SPLICING PHENOMENON EXAMINED WORDS BY JOE JONES IMAGE BY ‘INSOMNIA CURED HERE’ VIA FLICKR

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IMPACT FILM & TV

A MARVEL-LOUS QUESTION IS MARVEL RUINING THE SUPERHERO GENRE? As the credits rolled on Iron Man in 2008, Tony Stark and audiences worldwide were greeted by a oneeyed Samuel L Jackson and our first tease of ‘a bigger universe’ - the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) was born… 12 films and $8.9 billion later and the MCU shows no sign of stopping.

The superhero genre is irrevocably changed for sure, but for better or for worse?

IMAGE BY JD HANCOCK VIA FLICKR

Yes No

By 2020 there will have been at least 29 more comic book movies released - that’s seven movies per year.

This huge influx is undoubtedly the result of the incredible financial success of the MCU. Now everyone wants a piece of the highly lucrative shared universe action and its killing the genre.

No doubt the extreme success of the Marvel movies has been their consistently high quality. As this quality increases so do the stakes. Iron Man saved the city, Thor saved the world, and the Guardians saved the galaxy. To casual movie-goers that just want a good film, to go from Avengers Assemble to The Dark Knight Rises may make the latter feel a little disappointing despite it being a good film. DC has already met resistance online for having to play ‘catch up’ with their corporate nemesis. Marvel’s success make DC seem, despite producing The Dark Knight Trilogy, in some way lesser.

Marvel’s success has caused an explosion of superheroes and is set to produce the most comic book movies per year. Unfortunately, this will probably mean they are the ones who have the most potential to cause genre fatigue. The two most recent Marvel Universe ventures, Avengers: Age of Ultron and AntMan have been less enthusiastically received than previous ventures. Both have been falling to the same criticism of showing nothing that hasn’t been seen before despite being good films. Is this simply because the films were not as good, or has tedium begun to set in with the superhero genre?

WORDS BY GLENN TANNER

Before Iron Man, the superhero genre was something of an oddity, only watched by super-nerds, with tiny budgets and mostly poor content. The MCU, helped in some way by the original X-Men trilogy, made the superhero genre cool, showing audiences that you didn’t need to own an extensive comic book collection to enjoy a superhero film.

By bringing the mainstream audiences into the genre, film studios can now be more confident in producing superhero movies. If the content they produce is good and not a Green Lantern failure, then there is a huge, dedicated audience willing to spend their hard earned cash on super-powered high jinks. This means the genre can produce bigger, more impressive films as the audience covers larger budgets. Narrative quality also benefits from the marvel-money backing. Bad superhero films may still exist now and again, but this is because the MCU has forced standards up and audiences now expect to be wowed.

On top of this, the MCU is not a limiting factor to other studios. Marvel has a signature tongue-incheek approach to their films (Guardians of the Galaxy and Ant-Man spring to mind). But we can now see experimentation within the genre coming to the fore. Man of Steel, the commencement up the DC Expanded Universe, couldn’t have had a more different tone to MCU films. In a similar way, 2016’s Deadpool is set to be the first R-rated superhero flick since 2009’s Watchmen. The MCU established the audience, other entries into the genre can now reap the rewards.

WORDS BY HENRY STANLEY

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IMPACT FILM & TV

GENERATION PROFIT

BBC3 TO BE TAKEN OFF AIR “BBC DECLARED ‘THE LONG-TERM FUTURE OF BROADCASTING IS ONLINE’” WORDS BY AMY WILCOCKSON IMAGE BY ‘TAXREBATE’ VIA FLICKR Despite it being the only BBC channel whose target audience is primarily you (16 – 34 year olds), the BBC Trust have provisionally approved to remove BBC Three from our airwaves. It is understandable, that with the freezing of the license fee in 2010, and the BBC’s income slashed by 26%, that there must be sacrifices made. But does this move reflect the wishes of younger viewers?

Overall, the BBC’s view relies on the fact that many people, especially younger generations, already watch the majority of programmes online.

The BBC declared ‘the long-term future of broadcasting is online’, however, the Trust’s own greatest concern is that the move will be difficult for those whose broadband speeds are not fast enough to provide access. Their possible solution to this is to broadcast BBC Three programmes on other BBC channels, and to revamp the iPlayer, which, if internet connection is poor, may still be ineffective.

“67% [of UoN Students] declared the changes to the channel were not beneficial to them” Another key concern is that the new-look BBC Three’s budget will be halved, leaving a paltry £30 million for the year 2017-18, which may severely affect the quality of the channel’s output. Whilst 80% of this new budget will be used to create documentaries and long-form comedy shows, in the vein of Bad Education, it has been noted that fewer shows will be able to be produced, and many are worried a lack of breakthrough talent will be able to showcase their skills. This comes despite a promise by the Trust, to create more opportunities on conventional channels, and to invest into original drama aimed at a younger audience.

Impact conducted a poll opened to University of Nottingham students, discussing whether BBC Three should be an online exclusive. When questioned on their viewing habits, only 8% of students stated they didn’t watch BBC Three at all, compared to the 43% who regularly, and 49% who occasionally watched the channel. It comes as no surprise then, that 67% declared the changes to the channel were not beneficial to them; one student remarking ‘Watching online requires better, more expensive broadband for students and young people who are already on tight budgets.’ Only 7% believed the changes would be beneficial, a student noting ‘Yes, if the content for BBC Three will not need a TV license to watch it.’ The remaining 26% said the issue was of no concern to them.

The question still remains - is BBC Three a channel worth saving? It is no secret it faces stiff competition from channels such as ITV2 and E4 in terms of similar audiences, yet its critical success speaks for itself. BBC Three has won more prestigious awards than its rivals combined, including seven BAFTAs, and has continually broadcast acclaimed documentaries and original drama series (including Gavin and Stacey, Torchwood and Being Human). It is also the BBC channel viewed most frequently by 16-24 year olds and ethnic minorities. A petition signed over 300,000 times, with support of celebrities including Matt Lucas, Daniel Radcliffe and Jack Whitehall, and the overwhelming response of UoN’s own student body prove that cutting BBC3 is a decision made for young people, not by them.

SURVEY OF 100 PEOPLE CONDUCTED OCTOBER 2015 58

IMPACT FILM & TV

SCARY SHOWDOWN FILM VS TV: RECIPE FOR A SPOOKY SUCCESS IMAGE BY JOE JUKES VIA FLICKR

TV

HOW DO YOU TURN A HORROR TV SHOW INTO A RIP-ROARING SUCCESS? Nowadays, any mention of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003) often preludes some form of pop culture joke. In many ways, it’s a tribute to its overall influence that audiences still remember Buffy 12 years on. Significantly, this was the first major work of writer-director Joss Whedon - yeah, Marvel’s mastermind started his career pitting vampires against high-schoolers. Buffy successfully mixed horror with dry, sarcastic humour. Audiences weren’t used to the selfdeprecating tone, and in the often bland world of TV horror, this was a welcome change. Furthermore, Buffy popularised long story-arcs in teen drama for the first time, another trait passed-down to later shows.

Another roaring success came in the form of The X-Files (19932002). Buffy’s overly-serious big brother garnered 9 seasons and 202 episodes, showing laughs aren’t essential! Specifically, Chris Carter’s sci-fi horror stood out for its noir-esque cinematography and brusquely paced episodes. The bleak on-screen atmosphere added to the creeping paranoia of the series.

Imprints from both shows can be seen in the recent effort, American Horror Story (2011 – present) but with a unique, anthology structure.

Each of its 4 seasons follows a completely different set of characters, and series 5 looks set to continue this trend. Not only does this neutralise the age-old concern of ‘audience-fatigue’, but it also allows guest appearances from high-profile film actors, as there are no long-term commitments to signing-up.

RECIPE FOR SUCCESS: Add one tablespoon of Buffy humour to a big dollop of X-files cinematography. Mix thoroughly, and add a sprinkle of long story-arcs. Put in the oven, remove and leave to cool. Cut into an anthology structure and Voila!

FILM

THE PERFECT BIG SCREEN SCARE We all have those films that we daren’t watch alone, films that they stay with us. A good horror stays with you on the walk home from the cinema right until we curl up in bed.

So what is scary? Many things: spiders, psychopaths, waking up to your bank balance after an incredible night out. All scares are, of course, subjective to an individual. It is one of the many challenges a horror movie can face, that it needs to have a premise that can be considered frightening by a wide audience. 1984’s classic slasher film A Nightmare on Elm Street understood this and attacked where everyone feels their safest – in their sleep. Monstrous child murderer, Freddy Krueger, has beaten the grave and gained the ability to kill his victims while they dream. The only way to beat him is to not sleep. Going back to the 80’s classic format would definitely help with modern horror.

Fast forward to the modern era and demonic possession and poltergeists seems to be all the rage. Horror franchises such as Paranormal Activity and Insidious have been built on these ideas.

However, one such Australian horror film has crafted a highly intelligent script from these two popular ideas. The Babadook focuses on a mother and her troubled young son, who have encountered the terrifying Babadook. What could be mistaken for a ‘paint by numbers’ boogie man story, is actually an exceptionally well crafted look at loss and depression.

RECIPE FOR SUCCESS: Take an original idea, removing the drab sequel/reboot lumps, and combine with a masterful script. Sprinkle liberally with dark themes we all fear and bake. The result: a horror film worth becoming a suppressed memory. Easy really.

WORDS BY GLENN TANNER

WORDS BY JOE JONES

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IMPACT FILM & TV

‘LET’S SPLIT UP!’ WORDS BY HENRY STANLEY IMAGE BY ‘WOLFGANGFOTO’ VIA FLICKR

Horror films aren’t just terrifying – they can also be incredibly clichéd. Many of the genre finds itself repeating what has gone before. Impact Film & TV has compiled a list of the biggest genre clichés and the worst offenders (Halloween drinking game anyone?)

LET’S SPLIT UP Imagine this: you and a group of friends are in a dark, spooky, unfamiliar wood/basement/factory.

Do you feel the need to go your separate ways? Of course not. The need for horror protagonists to split up is perhaps the stupidest of horror clichés.

Worst Offenders: Pretty much all horror films

GUESS WHO’S BACK… BACK AGAIN? The climactic fight. Good vs Evil.

The bad guy falls out a window/ off a cliff/into a vat of boiling water.

The hero walks away, victorious.

But wait…where’s the body? This franchise setup cliché means that bad guys can rarely die. Why kill off the big bad when you can get another 7 films out of them?

Worst Offenders: Halloween, Child’s Play

I’M NEVER PUTTING THIS CAMERA DOWN A fairly new, but increasingly weary addition to the horror genre, is the found-footage aspect. It may try to add realism, but tends to add confusion, boredom and general stupidity to most of the films that use it. Even when seriously scary events go down, that fervent camera wielder never stops rolling.

Worst Offenders: Cloverfield

DO YOU WANT MORE BLOOD WITH THAT? Gore = horror right? WRONG! But many horror entries do away with cleverer plot lines and scares to douse audiences in flying limbs and gallons of blood. Sadly, this leaves audiences often feeling more repulsed than scared.

Worst Offenders: Saw

BOO! HA HA, MADE YOU JUMP! Jump scares. A horror films go-to device whenever they feel the audience hasn’t wet itself enough.

Clever scares and creepy tensionbuilding often lose out to flash in the pan, (un)expected shocks. The ‘hiding behind a fridge/cabinet’ door is particularly over-used.

Worst Offenders: Woman in Black, Sinister

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BUT I’M HORNY… Everyone is terrified, the body count is rising…perfect baby making time, right? The horny teens of a horror franchise can never quite keep it in their pants. Thankfully, the sex often means one or both are about to get brutally murdered…silver linings and all.

Worst Offenders: Friday 13th, Scream

TECHNOLOGY’S GOT YOUR BACK The only thing more guaranteed than jump scares in a horror film: the tech sucks. Be it no phone signal, low battery or the car breaking down, even the most reliable will fail in the face of a horror film. How else are the stars going to be stranded perfectly for the resident psycho?

Worst Offenders: Cabin in the Woods, The Hills Have Eyes

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IMPACT MUSIC

O T G N I O G

D N A L E AC

GR

F MUSIC O H C R IN SEA

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OTS

AN RO ’S AFRIC

NES COE-JO IAM INS L VIA Y IN B E S WORD FELDST SCOTT ARZAD Y F B S X E E L G IMA AND A FLICKR

Paul Simon's 'Graceland' is a deeply poignant song, but it’s hard to place why. It comes from the eponymous 1986 album and describes a journey across North America, from New York to Elvis Presley's old home in Memphis, Tennessee. Simon made the trip in real life with his nine year old son, in the belief that "we both will be received in Graceland". There’s no doubt that it’s an affecting song but we never understand the reason; the story never sees him reach his destination and we’re left clueless as to what it is about the name of the iconic mansion, set to an African rhythm, feels so right. Simon confesses that even he doesn't know; it was just a feeling. Though there is an answer.

The roots are in Africa. It was in this most tumultuous of continents that the earliest human fossils were found, in Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania. The remains, which dated back 1.9 million years, were remnants of Homo Hibillis; 700,000 years later our own Homo Erectus began to appear.

Though the deaths of those long-gone early humans there were the start of something, they were far from the end.

60,000 years ago, as the ice age took hold, the first great human migration began - at first across Africa and then into India and Asia via the Bab-alMandab Strait, while a rogue band took a small wooden raft over raging seas to Australia. Then, 20,000 years ago, as vast swathes of ice began to melt and toppling glaciers plunged sea levels by more than 300 feet, a land bridge was created, which joined the old world to the new: across to the Americas humanity ventured. Mankind is an African species, but around 58,000 years after the first Africans ventured out of their homeland, the spread of African music has been a microcosm of the same journey. It has birthed all our pop music, all our jazz and all our soul; creating in fact, all that we hear today.

“I am following the river/ Down the highway" Before Elvis could even pay the lease for his iconic home, in 1951 Jackie Brenston and the Delta Cats were laying down what many consider the very first rock and roll song: ‘Rocket 88’. Like many revolutions it was a happy accident - the band’s amp fell off the car roof driving to the studio and the band repaired it by stuffing the holes with newspaper, creating the very first fuzz box. Their subsequent riffs took on a driving new bite. The rest of the song was pure rhythm and blues though - African American people’s music of choice in the first half of the 20th century, so much so it was for a time simply termed ‘race music.’ But the blues themselves came from even deeper roots.

In Tennessee, 1860, one in four people were slaves. Ten million of them were shipped as prisoners from Africa to the States, four million from West Central Africa and yet more from what is now called Ghana: the Gold Coast.

As is the case with many of life’s hardships, many clung to music to try and help them through. Chattel slavery was endured in the form of field hollers, work songs, and the sort of call and response that is heard in African American culture from gospel worship to Marvin Gaye’s What’s Goin’ On? Jazz is so embedded in the people of Africa its very rhythm comes from their speech patterns, and innovations forced by their musical repression.

The reason you hear so much slapping and finger snapping in jazz and soul comes from the 1853 Black Codes banning slaves from possessing drums in North America, and so they had to make do with body rhythms

like stomping and patting juba.

Ragtime (later to become jazz) evolved from slave’s secular folk songs meeting with American and European classical music.

Meanwhile, Africans also brought to America their own brands of instrument like the Kora - a Mandinka harp with a drum-skin body and upright shaft holding 21 strings that was an early predecessor to the banjo. The kind of twelve bar blues that embodied music played on this kind of string instrument spread like a plague after the emancipation, and the likes of King Solomon Hill and Robert Johnson travelled their blue notes across south east USA. Terrible discrimination found deviance in music and a beautiful crosspollination occurred between black music and white folk; jukeboxes spread the sounds of both and the Kora was electrified by the innovation of electric guitar, played by the likes of Charlie Christian.

Blues singer Roy Brown recorded a song called ‘Good Rockin’ Tonight’ which took a steady blues rhythm and merged it with an up-tempo gospel beat. It was re-recorded as Elvis Presley’s second single.

"For reasons I cannot explain/ There's some part of me wants to see Graceland" What happened next is a welltrodden tale. The roots of the likes of Jackie Brenston and Elvis Presley found a kookier home in Buddy Holly who would catch the ears of the Beatles when brought in by trade ships up the Liver Canal, while the grittier flipside of Motown as peddled by Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf informed the work of The Rolling Stones. In New York, The Velvet Underground would push

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the boundaries of rock while King Crimson and Pink Floyd merged it back with jazz and made expansive guitar odysseys. Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath would thicken six strings into metal while Patti Smith would help thrash Brenston’s fuzzed out guitar into proto-punk and Joy Division would mature the brand into post-punk.

Soul music meanwhile is really just secular gospel, and the likes of the Ronettes turned their songs about boyfriends into the music performed by the likes of Nina Simone and Marvin Gaye. Jazz was pushed into the avant-garde

by John Coltrane and fused with rock by Miles Davis. Sample these, add an 808 and hip-hop is born.

Without immigration from Africa to Tennessee, Journey would never have even begun believing, ‘Uptown Funk’ would have been Uptown Folk and A$AP Rocky would have had to enunciate his somewhat sizeable problems to the sultry sound of flute.

This heritage hasn’t gone completely unacknowledged though Malcolm McLaren’s Duck Rock and Talking Head’s Speaking In Tongues paid credence to African music in the early eighties, by far the most notable convergence of African and western sounds since the first in 19th century southern America came in 1986, with Paul Simon’s Graceland LP. Inspired by a cassette tape in his car of Soweto’s Accordion Jive Hits Volume Two, one of pop music’s greatest songwriters became addicted to the sound of South African jive.

He travelled there in the midst of apartheid and recorded with the

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likes of Ladysmith Black Mambazo and the Boyoyo Boys. For some reason the music reminded him of early 50’s rock and roll. The album was not only wonderfully crafted but also staunchly defiant; African musicians toured with him around the globe, contrary to the rules of the South African state, and indeed the UN’s cultural boycott. It worked though - afro-pop entered the zeitgeist again, and stayed at number one for eight weeks in the States.

An open ear to its own history meant music has been blessed with African rhythm ever since and can be seen in the likes of Bombay Bicycle Club, Vampire Weekend and rappers Mos Def and Talib Kwali.

"But I've reason to believe/ We both will be received in Graceland" Human-kind itself bloomed from Olduvai Gorge and like a burst pipe the continent of Africa has since let loose a fountain of peoples and rhythm across the globe. The lyrics of 'Graceland', which have always been seen as an odd juxtaposition between Soweto groove and iconic Americana actually reveal themselves to be a beautiful syncopation between the roots of music and the expanse of pop, which have grown and encompassed the west this past half-century.

"The Mississippi Delta was shining like a national guitar" goes the opening of the song. The Delta, along which cotton plantations sprung like darling buds and the anguish of Africans enslaved there, was put into the sound of spiritual song. Emancipation wrought a different tune: of freedom, and exploration. Freed slaves spread from Mississippi, through Tennessee and into Memphis. From African folk and gospel came jazz, swing, rhythm and blues - which grew a backbeat, merged with white rockabilly and birthed rock and roll. A shared love for the music crossed racial lines and was taken by one young man from blues-heartland Beale Street to Highway 61, Elvis Presley's home: Graceland. Paul Simon, who resisted placing such brazenly American lyrics over such an African rhythm, needn't have; he was recreating a cultural insemination of African music as it happened in the very heart of the USA. He was inadvertently plugging himself into the mainline, to the roots of it all. In the song Simon refers to a girl in New York City "who calls herself the human trampoline". Perhaps the girl represents modern music, as it exists and informs all our lives today. "And sometimes when I'm falling, flying/Or tumbling in turmoil I say/Whoa, so this is what she means. She means we're bouncing into Graceland."

IMPACT MUSIC

NO THE THIRD COMING

Though Justin Bieber appears to spend most of his time frolicking naked in Bora Bora or crashing expensive cars, he is apparently still managing to crank out his familiar brand of manufactured, overworked pop music. With the media’s close eye on him, why is it that more attention continues to be focused on Bieber’s antics rather than his new releases?

Could it be because… they’re just not that great?

“Cheesy, overrated and generally unremarkable” With his third incarnation on the horizon (it’s uncertain what this is supposed to mean), Bieber’s single, called ‘What Do You Mean?’, still managed to climb the charts. The song’s name is easy to remember, since it makes up about 75% of the lyrics, but other than that it is as forgettable and nondescript as a high school friend’s cringey dubstep mixtape.

The music is a basic combination of uncreative melodies, with Bieber’s vocal capabilities comparable to any number of mediocre, Vine-famous vocalists.

From My World to Purpose, Bieber has grown very little in his musical ability and sophistication, and has lost any teenage cuteness that made 2009 Justin even remotely bearable. His many accolades including ridiculous record sales - are undeserved; his international recognition appears due solely to his outrageous presence in the media; his so-called “music” continues to infuriate those who see genuinely talented musicians overlooked in favour of the Bieb. The stigma that surrounds his career – that his songs are cheesy, overrated, and generally unremarkable - exists for a reason.

If “Beliebers” still find themselves ashamed of liking his music, there is good reason for that.

WORDS BY AUBREY RIEDER IMAGE BY JOE BIELAWA VIA FLICKR

OF BIEBER SHOULD WE TAKE HIM SERIOUSLY NOW? From teenage pop sensation to infamous adolescent, Bieber swears he’s turned over a new leaf in time for the release of his latest album. Embracing Christianity, making amends for his public controversies, and taking his music in a new, even critically approved direction Impact asks: Is it time we start taking him seriously?

YES

From a baby faced thirteen-yearold to a teenage heartthrob for millions worldwide, Bieber has returned from a lengthy hiatus to put across a strong case for the music world, outside his army of ‘Beliebers’, to start taking him seriously.

His music has always been undoubtedly good - the sales and award nominations speak for themselves - and yet some unfairly hold his one negative quality, his public image, against him. I suppose it would be difficult for the wider public to take someone seriously who is marketed to a demographic of hysterical teenagers. On top of that, his bad boy phase did him no favours.

However, these people must come to grudgingly accept, and even grow to like, him and his music, what with the release of Purpose this month.

“People must come to grudgingly accept and even grow to like him” His single with Jack Ü, ‘Where Are Ü Now’, announced his redevelopment: Bieber’s touch on the song felt vastly different to what has come before, and the follow up track ‘What Do You Mean?’, similarly so. With the lack of soppy romance lyrics aimed at his teenage legion of followers, and the breathy vocals and tropical house vibe on these new tracks, it’s clearly directed to a wider audience. These songs were also critically and commercially well received, as Bieber became the youngest artist to debut at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

This new, 2015 edition of Justin Bieber has led to renewed hope that he can now consistently and effectively market himself to the wider public, and can now be taken seriously as one of the best and most popular artists of our generation.

WORDS BY SHAUN BREWSTER

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IMPACT MUSIC

SLEAFORD MODS

“YOU ARE NOW IN THE PRESENCE OF TOILETRY”

WORDS BY JAMES NOBLE

To deafening bellows and rapturous applause, Jason Williamson and Andrew Fearn stride onto the main stage of Rock City and survey a full house, a crowd of more than two thousand fans, as Jason drawls in his gruff, Notts accent, “Home sweet fucking home.”

At the homecoming stop of their Key Markets tour, promoting further the success of their eponymous record released earlier this year, a brief glance around the wildly impassioned crowd at Nottingham’s most popular venue explains a lot about their sudden rise to critical and popular attention. Williamson is alone with a microphone, ready to unleash a biting, furious stream of consciousness into every track, whilst Fearn stands behind his laptop with a beer, nodding his head and sipping his drink. Together, they make for a bizarre, and yet enthralling kind of performance.

“They represent a perspective that’s being pushed out of our national dialogue” The passionate fervour and anger that you can hear on record spills with visceral clarity into the live arena, as Williamson sweats and shakes, roars and flecks the stage with spit, slapping and tapping his body like a physical tick as his poetry snarls against the thunderous, metallic rhythms created by Fearn. “We are your sons, Nottingham”, Jason roars into a crowd that are proud to have birthed them.

On your own first listen to Sleaford Mods’ back catalogue, it’s a tricky and exciting job trying to pin down the appeal of the duo. If nothing else, this is because they really sound like nothing else. Striking you first is the naked authenticity of Williamson – not only in his accent and vocabulary, but, crucially, in his lyrical subject matter, that seeks to capture the diverse, frustrating and

often bleak experience of British working class life as it is.

This is not to say that such an experience serves only as artistic inspiration for the pair – it is their experience too. “I’m tired, I’m wrecked, bored, I’ve lived ten thousand lives more than these kids in wonderland” he explains in ‘You’re Brave’ from 2014’s Divide and Exit. Williamson is open about his past struggles with drug addiction, shit jobs and inescapable feelings of unfulfillment; struggles symptomatic of the pervasive hopelessness that has accompanied the systematic and unrelenting assault on working class communities from Thatcher’s years to Cameron’s.

With the prospect of five more years of Tory rule in Britain, it is unsurprising that most music publications have reached out for some glimmer of hope, a sliver of resistance, to an otherwise ubiquitous apathy towards the erosion of working class representation. Writers such as Owen Jones, or academics such as Dr Lisa McKenzie, amongst many, have documented this airbrushing of our national community, a process that has served to exclude and even demonise the most vulnerable and insecure members of our society as “chavs” or “scroungers”.

Whether it was their intention to or not, Sleaford Mods have become a point of reference in the fight against just such a process.

Certainly, they don’t shy away from giving their work a more pointedly politicised edge –many of Williamson’s lyrics express disillusionment with the current system (“I can’t believe the rich still exist / Let alone run the fucking country, mate”) and also individual members of the establishment (“Nick Clegg wants another chance, really? / This daylight robbery is now so fucking hateful / It’s accepted by the vast majority”).

Derision is poured everywhere: on the “Idiots (who) visit submerged villages in two hundred pound wellies”, on the “Saturday lager bellies / Punching the air /

Denouncing the value of somebody else’s flag / Whilst viciously believing in theirs”, on a whole generation of millennials – “To disagree on social networking sites / Is to kill the counter-culture”.

“They really sound like nothing else” But more than this, it is his uncompromising commitment to observation and representation that is compelling – their songs, in all their wonderful vulgarity and poetic antipathy, don’t offend for the sake of it, it’s just one stitch in the fabric of everything that they have seen and heard, channelled into a sonic blend of post-punk and alternative hip-hop. It’s a voice and a perspective that’s being pushed out of our national dialogue, and yet their music creates a space that is so familiar to so many.

Last month, the film Sleaford Mods: Invisible Britain was premiered, a documentary following the duo on their 2014 tour around the areas of Britain worst affected by the miserably executed political projects of deindustrialisation and austerity.

In the following Q&A, Williamson made it clear that he speaks for himself and nobody else. He is not the mouthpiece of a generation, or a culture, or a class - he is just one of them, as fucked off as the rest.

Yet undeniably, Sleaford Mods have struck a chord with people.

Truly, this could be down to any number of reasons - the dynamism of their live performance, the refreshing honesty of their words, the unpretentious production, the authenticity of their character and of their intentions, or even the importance of their voices, raging against a national narrative that would have us believe “we’re all in this together”. Ultimately, who they intend to speak to, or for, is beside the point. Their work stands as a manifestation itself, of a whole community of disaffected, disparaged, invisible people – and they are very, very angry.

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IMPACT MUSIC

INTERVIEW

GENGAHR IMPACT SPEAKS TO THE NORTH LONDON PSYCH-POP BREAKOUTS

WORDS BY ALEX NEELY IMAGE BY HOLLIE FERNANDO Let’s start at the beginning, how did you guys get together to form Gengahr?

I went to school with Danny and Hugh so have known them a while. We’d been playing in other bands before this – John and I had been in one that played one show before splitting up. It was a little bit after this that we decided we wanted to start another band. After about a year, we decided to go and record five pretty rough demos and stick them on Soundcloud.

A whole lot of blogs picked up on them and that resulted in us getting booked and we ended up being signed a few months after that.

Where did the name ‘Gengahr’ come from?

We stole it from Pokémon actually. We just thought it was kinda funny.

We were called Res originally but received a ‘polite email’ asking us to change our name because someone else already had the name. We had a few shows booked so didn’t have much time to think of a new one, and it seemed to me as if all the good names had been taken so we had to go with something silly. It seemed like a good idea at the time.

“We took the named Gengahr from Pokemon actually” ‘Fill My Gums With Blood’ was recorded along with that first batch of demos and is probably your most well-known song to date. What does it mean?

It’s quite a fun one really, about a young vampire falling in love with a girl and he ends up eating her at the end.

...is that a recurring theme throughout your debut record?

We recorded a few songs around October-time so they’re Halloweenthemed. The rest of the songs feature a range of other fantastical things.

Is there music that you’ve grown up on together that reflects itself in Gengahr’s music?

Maybe not so much songwriting-wise, but we definitely have things production-wise that we listen to: bands like Ariel Pink..., Deerhunter, Tame Impala and Melody’s Echo Chamber. Now we’ve got an album under our belts, we don’t really worry about that anymore, it’s more of a case of improving what we’ve already done.

What’s more enjoyable – releasing an album or touring it?

Both, really. When it comes round to it, you’re always excited about the next thing. When it comes to recording, it’s great to get back into it, but then after a few days, you’re looking forward to getting back out on tour again. We’ve spent the last couple of weeks recording some new stuff and doing some artwork, but now I’m looking forward to getting back on the road.

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Do you feel it’s necessary to replicate the recorded album in your live shows?

Personally, we try not to replicate the record. We try to do something a little different. For us, our live sound is a little more dynamic, a little heavier. We have a bit more energy when we play live, we’re certainly not as gentle as we are on record – there’s more of a bite.

We just try to make it a good live performance.

What’s the plan for new material?

We’re always recording new stuff, there’s no set plan for it. We recently put out a new EP, which has some songs we’d finished before the album and some we’d finished afterwards.

And finally, what are your memories of Nottingham?

We’ve played there a few times now, the last time being supporting Circa Waves at Rescue Rooms. Some of our first gigs as a band, maybe even our first show as Gengahr, took place in Stealth. So yeah, we like the place.

IMPACT MUSIC

INTERVIEW

KAGOULE WE CATCH UP WITH THE NOTTINGHAM ROCKERS SHORTLY AFTER A DOUBLE BILL IN THE CITY WORDS BY LIAM INSCOE-JONES

You've just had quite a busy weekend! Headlining Hockley Hustle, supporting the Sleaford Mods, how did that go?

What would your favourite venue of the ones you have played be?

It was good man, both were really really good, in different ways... and it was cool to play Rock City again, completely full. It was a completely different crowd as well, the Sleaford Mods... their fans, a lot of them wouldn't go to a Kagoule gig. Then at Hockley Hustle, we played on the Bodega stage that Buttonpusher put on, they did a really good job of that.

The line up on that stage was awesome.

I'm going to have to say The Chameleon Café, just because we've had so many amazing, amazing moments with the band there - like every milestone we seem to have celebrated through The Chameleon somehow, whether the first ever single or our album being released...

Who else did you play with?

Well I actually had work all day! But USA Nails, Cleft and Bluebird, guys like that - and that was just at the Bodega too; I'd never seen Hockley Hustle that well attended it was great.

Well it seems that there is a bit of attention coming to Nottingham - you have yourself, the ’Mods, Jake Bugg came from here, Indiana... Is that something you feel is accurate?

I feel like we like to think that's accurate, but when I've been around and you say Nottingham you don't just hear it as a name being mentioned really...

“Urth was in no way the sound I can hear Kagoule achieving in the future” You mentioned the album, that's been getting a lot of play from us, were you all happy with how Urth turned out?

Yeah, we were, but it's in no way the sound I can hear Kagoule achieving in the future. This album was songs written that we were playing in 2011 at some of our first gigs and since then our taste has changed so drastically; it’s not like an album that could have been “oh i wanted it to sound like this” because every song is different, and the only way to link them together was to make them sound like they do live. They sound like different bands doing every song, I think.

Though Nottingham does have a reputation of having a really DIY ethos, it that something that you feel you've tapped into?

So are you looking to make another record soon?

Yeah, I will spend a lot of time going to gigs at JT Soar, we go to most of the gigs that are on there, we practice there, we know those guys. And on the touring circuit, Nottingham is a spot a lot of the smaller bands will tour through, whereas a lot of the time these days the big ones seem to skip out Nottingham a little bit.

Excellent. Will it be more cohesive then do you think, if all the songs will now be conceived and written together?

You guys started out at Rock City in December 2011, are there any stages in Nottingham you have yet to play on?

God yeah. We're a good way through writing the second one.

Yeah, it’s written to be an album this time, you know? As a package. Urth was a compilation of past Kagoule songs but this is going to be our first actual record, with a sound in mind. We can't wait.

2011, blimey yeah... and yes, we've never actually played at JT Soar despite the fact we spend half our time there, practiced there hundreds of times... but apart from that we've only missed the [Capital FM] arena which I'm not sure I actually want to play...

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IMPACT ARTS

CAN YOU JUDGE A BOOK

BY ITS COVER? EVERYONE KNOWS THE AGE OLD CLICHE ‘DON’T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER’. IRONICALLY THIS DOESN’T REALLY RELATE TO BOOKS, AS THE COVER INSTEAD ACTS AS A MORAL BASED METAPHOR. IMPACT ARTS HAS THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUN TO SEE IF YOU REALLY CAN JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER. AMY WILCOCKSON PREDICTS THE CONTENTS OF THE NOVEL; LIZZIE ROBINSON TELLS US WHETHER THAT PREDICTION IS ACCURATE OR NOT. WARNING: SOME SPOILERS

WORDS BY AMY WILCOCKSON & LIZZIE ROBINSON

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TENDER IS THE NIGHT

BY SCOTT FITZGERALD PREDICTION

Judging by the waiter, fronds of a palm tree and champagne on the table, the cover of this novel indicates scenes of glamour and high society in an exotic location. It also appears however, that this book will contain many secrets. The body language of the couple at the table may indicate a fraught relationship with one or both parties possibly being unfaithful to the other. The lady on the telephone looks as if some information has put her in a stressful situation, and the amount of people present in the illustration indicates a sense of repression and confinement – the characters are perhaps trapped in society, by their social class or relationship.

SUMMARY

The novel is split into sections following the progression of the adulterous affair between Dick Diver and the beautiful Rosemary Hoyt. The second section concentrates on how Dick met his current wife, Nicole; he was a psychiatrist and she was a patient institutionalised due to being sexually abused by her father. The lines between Doctor and lover slowly blurred as the two fell in love and begun a happy life together, until Dick’s affair. In the final chapters, Nicole’s mental health deteriorates and as a result, Dick begins drinking which leads to the eventual destruction of their marriage, as the responsibility of Doctor and husband become too much.

MATCH

The prediction is correct in terms of the characters’ secrets and the desire to hide them behind a glamorous façade. It would be difficult to guess the nature of the secret, or the psychological depth of their relationships, but the overall theme is captured.

ENDURING LOVE

BY IAN MCEWAN PREDICTION

Love or death - this is what this cover appears to indicate. The balloon with its crimson spots resembles a human heart that appears to be gripped oppressively (possibly fatally) by a hand. Some sort of all-encompassing emotion is definitely at play, possibly linked to the stained, tarnished hot-air balloon.

But is it stained with ink or blood? The fact a balloon is used seems to symbolise a feeling or need to escape. Conceivably, it is also significant that the balloon is deflating, perhaps like the emotions of the person within it. It is also an unconventional way to travel, allowing the passenger to see things from different perspectives – perhaps this is reflected in the novel.

SUMMARY

The novel begins with a balloon ride accident which introduces Joe to Jed, an infatuated stalker convinced the accident was divine intervention. Unfortunately neither the police nor Clarissa, his girlfriend, believe Jed is real or a threat, but a symptom of Schizophrenia brought on by the trauma. The reality is revealed when Jed holds Clarissa hostage resulting in Joe shooting him, but instead of reuniting Joe and Clarissa after a period of distance, she leaves him. Jed is sent to a psychiatric institution continuing in his infatuation with Joe, writing letters describing how happy he is to be in love.

MATCH

Based on the prediction, the cover completely captures the main themes of the novel such as obsession, heightened emotion, desire to escape, and the significance of the balloon.

ON THE ROAD

BY JACK KEROUAC PREDICTION

The anonymous man pictured appears to be a writer, as the typewritten words could indicate. Indeed, the usage of the typewriter indicates the setting of the novel to be roughly the early-twentieth century, whilst the red line running across the man’s head could indicate a death significant to the plot of the novel. The words which almost overwhelm the cover, may indicate a dense and heavy text, potentially one with immense power given the magnitude. A concurrent religious theme seems to be present, indicated by the subtitle ‘the Original Scroll’.

SUMMARY

Polar opposites, Dean and Sal, forge an unlikely friendship. They begin their travels across America in search of inspiration and the ‘American Dream’. Throughout their three years of traveling, Dean chases the idea of happiness through his multiple marriages whilst bringing Sal out of years of depression who is seeking solace and adventure which his friendship with Dean provides. The main focus is on the journey as opposed to the destination along with the trials and tribulations they face, allowing the characters to discover things about themselves and each other along the way.

MISMATCH

It would seem that this cover doesn’t truly capture the themes and events of the novel, instead focusing on the concept of narration and the undertone of religion as opposed to the larger concepts at play.

SNOW WHITE MUST DIE

BY NELE NEUHAUS PREDICTION

The ominous woods and the dangers lurking within them are the prime focus of this cover, which looks to explore the traditional fairytale Snow White from a twisted Angela Carter-esque perspective; the narrator perhaps being the insane and jealous Queen.

From the bold lettering on the cover, this novel hints at being a Scandinavian noir, possibly in the same vein as The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. What looks to be the body of Snow White, seen behind the lettering, only reinforces the impression this novel is a crime-thriller, whilst the blood-red lips hint at the possible eventual death of the protagonist.

SUMMARY

Two German detectives, Kirchhoff and Oliver von Bodenstein are called in to investigate the death of a young woman thought to have fallen off a bridge, however rumours of murder emerge. They begin the investigation at the young victim’s house which leads them to discover the missing person’s case of two teenage girls which occurred years before. Tobias was sentenced to 10 years in prison based on circumstantial evidence before returning to his home town. This leads to a series of conspiracy plots, another abduction, and a village determined to take justice into their own hands.

MISMATCH

Although the genre and setting of the novel was guessed correctly, the cover reflects a close link to the fairytale instead of the actual plot which is completely different.

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IMPACT ARTS

ARTS INVESTIGATES

SEXISM IN THE ACTING INDUSTRY WORDS BY JOSH MALLALIEU AND ISOBEL DAVIDSON IMAGES BY ‘DISNEY | ABC TELEVISION GROUP’ & DAVID SHANKBONE VIA FLICKR

One of the more obscene stories of the summer was actress Rose McGowan being dropped by her agent following the actress’ tweet revealing a casting call for an Adam Sandler film suggested she audition in a tight, low cut top and push-up bra. What made the whole affair so hateful, so offensive and thoroughly stupid to McGowan was the implication that the call had gone through countless hands, both of men and women, without anyone even batting an eyelid. Such behaviour has become “institutionally ok” and it is this particular kind of sexism that is most damaging not only to performers, but to society as a whole.

Obviously in any discussion of sexism and character roles it is important to determine what constitutes a strong role for anyone, actor or actress. Theatre critic Mark Shenton says it’s not necessarily about being likeable or heroic, a good character need only be “theatrically compelling”.

More specifically, they should not be simplified, a generalisation, or just plain boring. This has been a particular problem for older actresses, and has led to acting titans like Kristin Scott Thomas quitting the industry, partially attributing it to a lack of compelling roles for actresses over fifty. But it remains a problem for actresses of any age, reflected notably and outrageously in the industry’s increasing wage gap. Patricia Arquette, most recently known for her Oscar-winning performance in Boyhood, can be credited with planting this issue firmly in the public consciousness over the last year. She argues the point with fierce indignity: “We are selling our daughters this phoney-baloney story that they can be anything they want to be, but we don’t tell them they are not going to get paid as much as a man”.

This is shamefully apparent when comparing the Forbes lists of the top twenty highest paid actors and actresses from the past year.

The highest paid actress, Jennifer Lawrence, is said to have been paid $52 million, which is all well and good until you compare it to the highest paid actor, Robert Downey,

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latter statement about female appearance, in a world where the media is constantly bombarding the public with unattainable standards of behaviour and beauty, in which a key root of the problems may lie. In the interest of fairness it is probably true that men are also subject to pressures regarding image and appeal. I mean it’s tough knowing that Channing Tatum and Benedict Cumberbatch exist and are out there after all. But it’s also ludicrous to suggest that these issues seriously hinder actors the same way that they do actresses.

“Why are women paid less from the start and what attitudes might these statistics indicate?”

Jr. who earns almost $30 million more. The concerning point of the matter is that this trend isn’t uncommon on the list. In fact, Matt Damon who appears at number 20, earned $20 million more than Emma Stone, who is number 16 on the top paid actresses list. But why are women paid less from the start and what attitudes might these statistics indicate? A lack of faith that actresses can lead their own films? Last year’s Oscar nominations would suggest this, with all eight films nominated for Best Picture boasting a male lead as their subject. Is there a persistent belief that stories with strong heroines aren’t viable?

“We are selling our daughters this phoneybaloney story that they can be anything they want to be” There are certainly enough exceptions this year alone to indicate otherwise, from George Miller’s celebrated creation of Imperator Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road, to the leads of Joy and Sadness in Pixar’s Inside Out, among others. There is a similar uphill battle in getting female performers recognised in comedy, as actresses frequently end up allocated to stock roles as the nagging wife or the objectified (usually brainless) love interest for the main (equally brainless) male lead. One of the great triumphs of 2011’s Bridesmaids was its rejection of this mentality and its confidence in its actresses to be funny on their own terms.

So with every landmark like Bridesmaids, Lena Dunham’s Girls or effective gender-swap stage role like Patina Miller’s Tony award winning performance in Pippin, surely is it not too naïve to hope that positive change is underway? The theatre especially, with its accessible and attainable ideals of gender neutral roles, arguably makes for an increasingly more tolerant environment for actresses. In television also, female performers have enjoyed much recent success at roundly mocking outdated views, from Amy Schumer’s hilarious and shamefully accurate “Last Fuckable Day” sketch, to Darren Star’s excellent series Younger, that tackles the issue of ageism towards women without restraint. It is television roles such as these, many believe, that have brought a much greater variety and quality of roles for actresses.

Our influences don’t just come from the images we see online and in magazines, but crucially also from what we watch. The people we see in plays, television or film are supposed to reflect real life, but the information for determining this is gathered from the very culture it is contributing towards. Then there is the very real danger of the system becoming trapped in a selfperpetuating cycle of institutionally accepted sexism that may take years to break out of. And this is how a casting call demanding an actress dress as provocatively as possible becomes acceptable. This is what leads to the steep decline in quality of roles for older actresses who are no longer attractive, according to the shallow criteria the media tells us. And perhaps, more depressingly, it indicates more than anything how far we remain from realising total gender equality, by holding up a mirror to a society reflected in itself the hand that’s holding it. For as long as sexism continues to exist in the world, we will continue to see it exposed in the profession that makes its living trying to recreate it for us.

Actress Emma Thompson, however, remains firmly convinced that opportunities for women in the acting industry haven’t improved. “I don’t think there’s any appreciable improvement”, she said in a recent issue of Radio Times, “and I think that, for women, the question of how they are supposed to look is worse than it was even when I was young”. It is in this

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LOVR

IMPACT ARTS

SEAN KOO / WIKIMEDIA

CHARACTER DATING APP PROFILES WORDS BY ISLA MCLACHLAN

As more and more people flock to online dating and apps to find love, it seems the old fashioned romantic way our favourite literary characters met their other halves is sadly on its way out. So, in a world where swiping right has become the new meet cute, Impact Arts have brought some of these characters to the new dating scene in their bid to find romance. Which way would you swipe?

Christian Grey, 27 Vancouver, 4600 miles away

You never know what happens behind closed doors. Unless E.L. James writes a book about it. I’ll share my billions with you, but not in the romantic sense. I've made some "investments" and need to get my money's worth, preferably whilst listening to You Me At Six. In other words; save it for the bedroom.

LOVR

JIM HENDERSON / WIKIMEDIA

LOVR

Scarlett O'Hara, 24 Atlanta, 4,132 miles away

I’m inconstant and erratic, but if I throw a hissy fit on you remember; tomorrow is another day! If you’re not filthy rich then swipe left. Must not tease me about past love interests and then request that I be your mistress. In terms of political preferences? Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn!

Cecily Cardew, 18 Hertfordshire, 111 miles away

A typical Hertfordshire lass; I like cucumber sandwiches and hate education. Seeking a man named Earnest. Love at first sight is a requirement and he must be wrapped around my little finger from the start. He must indulge my fanciful imagination, and a romantic disposition is needed.

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LOVR

Jean Valjean, 40 Paris, 322 miles away

The name is Jean, except from when it’s 24601. Looking for someone to sing with.

I dreamed a dream of someone who will look after me and share and appreciate my love for my adopted daughter. The person to swipe right must have an integral sense of justice, and may even eventually be prompted to fight for it.

LOVR

Jane Eyre, 20

Thornfield Hall, 64 miles away

‘SIEBBI’ / WIKIMEDIA

LOVR

I’m a free bird and no net ensnares me.

Basically, if you get on my nerves, I’ll run off on our wedding day to go to live with strangers. Swipe right if you are a tall, brooding man, preferably with a horse and dog. Does not need to be of a sunny disposition, and need not praise my looks, you must merely treat me as an equal.

Jay Gatsby, 34

West Egg, 4,054 miles away There ain’t no party like a Gatsby Party.

Looking for the perfect blonde. Her hair must be bouffant and she must be young and pure. I will buy the perfect girl expensive clothes and serenade her with famous musicians. She simply must love me as much as I love her.

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IMPACT ARTS

“CAN DANCE BE CLASSED AS A SPORT?” Thanks to the growing popularity of dance based exercises like Zumba, pilates and dance-aerobics, the classification as dance has slowly become blurred, crossing the lines of both performance art and sport. Writers from both Impact Arts and Impact Sport take opposing sides of the argument in an attempt to satisfy the true nature of dance; can dance be classed as sport?

WORDS BY ALICE FURNISS AND CONNOR HIGGS IMAGES BY VLADIMIR PUSTOVIT & KRYZIZ BONNY VIA FLICKR

NO Dance is thought by some to be a sport because of its physical nature and competitive style - think cheerleading, dance competitions, and figure skating - however, this is only one element of dance; arguably, the physical exertion of dance is simply a tool used to produce a visual effect.

In dance, movement works in tandem with other elements such as costume, makeup and hairstyle. The combination of these components creates a certain image, something which is surely a piece of art in and of itself.

However, dance is more than this as it is also a form of storytelling.

The movements of a dancer are not simply made in order to achieve victory, as is the general purpose of sport, but rather, in order to convey certain events and emotions, each movement containing meaning.

Whether or not this is successfully achieved is subjective, unlike in sport where success is dependent on defining moves, such as a scoring a goal.

Just as the writing of stories is considered an art form, surely the telling of stories through the medium dance must also be considered as such. It is this storytelling (a form of physical selfexpression) which defines dance as a performing art.

Additionally, some might argue that sport activities such as ice skating, which could be seen simply as dancing on ice, is an example of competitive dance; it’s an activity which includes all the previously mentioned features of dance but in a sporting environment. I would contend that ice skating, as with other sports such as gymnastics, is an example of how dance elements have been incorporated into a sport which is why these activities are classified as sport rather than a form of dance.

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In these sports, dance techniques connect stunts in order to improve the overall appearance of the display, rather than being the main focus of these activities. While the dance element may affect the score in some part, it is these moves and tricks which most determine the overall result, based on aspects such as techniques, difficulty and

“The movements of a dancer are not simply made in order to achieve victory, as is the general purpose of sport” execution. Therefore, I believe these activities cannot truly be classed as dance and cannot be used to argue that dance itself is a sport.

In brief, while dance is very physically demanding and some sports may include a dance element in order to improve the overall appearance of the activity, the purpose of dance - to create beauty, tell stories, and act as a form of self-expression - means that it cannot be called a sport and must be classed as art.

IMPACT SPORT

nature of the sports named above, we can see that subjectivity is often a part of a number of sports. Dance would have to work within set criteria, but much like all sports that have a judge determine the winner, subjectivity is a part of the process, and not necessarily something that can be used to argue against dance as a sport.

Gymnastics is the most pertinent example when you consider whether dance is a sport or an art form. Gymnastics, an Olympic sport, employs forms of dance in front of a judging panel, within set criteria, in an attempt to win the greatest honour that can be bestowed on

“When you consider that a number of sports require a lot less physical fitness, and no less precision than dance, this argument is thrown into even greater relief” an athlete. To argue that it is a sport, while dance is not, belies the intense level of physicality required in dance.

YES Dancing is hard work. It is a strenuous activity at the best of times. The level of physical activity required in professional dancing, of many types, is akin to that of a number of professional athletes. At a professional level, additionally, dancing is aimed at winning competitions, in the same vein as other sports. Most importantly, however, dance is about entertaining spectators, and inspiring people to get involved.

In what way does that not allow it to be characterised under the umbrella term, ‘sport’?

“Like all sports that have a judge determine the winner, subjectivity is a part of the process, and not necessarily something that can be used to argue against dance as a sport”

Of course, you can always argue that it is the artistic license that makes dance popular, while sport is all about the physicality. Dance has always been seen as an art form for this reason, and that the physical aspect is merely a byproduct of this desire for greater artistry. However, sports such as figure skating, diving, synchronised swimming, and even equestrian events such as dressage, are based around artistic license, and who can be the most physical and artistic. In that sense, they are no different to dance.

While dance is a very subjective experience when it comes to judging, when we consider the

When you consider that a number of sports require a lot less physical fitness, and no less precision than dance, this argument is thrown into even greater relief. Sports such as darts and snooker require a considerable level of skill, but nowhere near as much fitness and stamina required in most dance forms.

Dancers are ultimately based on their technique, and technique takes precedence over artistic license when it comes to judging the skill of a dancer. In this sense, it is much like the plethora of sports that employ both physical and artistic elements. With that being the case, it is impossible not to see dance as worthy of being considered a sport.

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IMPACT SPORT

SIX THINGS I LEARNED FROM PLAYING

AMERICAN FOOTBALL WORDS BY BARBARA PELLEGRINO IMAGES BY ‘JOHANN SCHWARZ’ VIA FLICKR AND SARAH ROBERTS

I like challenges. When I was little I realised that succeeding in doing difficult things made me feel a lot better in the long run than succeeding in doing easy things, even if they required more effort. I think this is why I moved to England from Italy to attend the University of Nottingham. Getting a degree taught in my native language did not seem like much of a challenge to me.

I think this is also what made me want to play American Football for the university team, despite being the only woman in it. Don’t get me wrong, I love the sport! My love for challenges definitely pushed me to show up and try out for the team, however.

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On the day of tryouts, I thought that if the coaches had let me stay on the team, that would’ve been a great success and would be enough for me. As it turned out, Head Coach Phil Wood and the rest of the coaching staff did let me stay. After a couple of weeks, though, I realised that just being on the team was not enough for me anymore. I wanted to be good enough to contribute, and fight for my reps in practice and game time.

“I was giving my very best effort day in and day out, but going up against men in such a physical sport like American Football isn’t easy” Because of that, my season was incredibly tough from a psychological point of view. I was giving my very best effort day in and day out, but going up against men in such a physical sport like American Football isn’t easy.

My progress was slow and often felt non-existent in my eyes, despite all the encouraging words from my position coach, Simon Denning. I had my ups and downs until around February, when I started to have a streak of good practices. I felt my confidence improving, the fear disappearing and for the first time in the year I began to feel like a player rather than ‘the girl on the team’.

Unfortunately, this didn’t last long. During one of the last practices of the year, I took a hit that caused a concussion. My disappointment was enormous when I realised I couldn’t finish the season on a high. All the confidence I had been building up disappeared in a second, the fear came back and I felt that I had thrown away a year of very hard work.

“I realised that what I had been seeing as failures on the football field actually helped with my personal development and made me a stronger, more mature young woman”

It was exactly this feeling that pushed me to do some reflection about the season and what I had achieved. Looking back at things, I realised that what I had been seeing as failures on the football field actually helped with my personal development and made me a stronger, more mature young woman. So I came up with a list of six things I’ve learnt playing football for the university team: 1) PERSEVERANCE: Sometimes you won’t succeed at your first attempt, and that’s okay. However big a hit you’ve taken or however hard you’ve fallen, you can always get back on your feet and try again.

2) BE PROUD OF ACHIEVEMENTS: Keep your head up! Small victories build up confidence. Don’t let other people diminish them. Instead, embrace them to do better and better.

3) TACKLE DIFFICULTIES STRAIGHT ON: Sometimes things get scary, but it’s always better to tackle them face on than turning your back into them.

4) TRUST: People around you are on your side. You can’t control and do everything yourself so trust they’ll do their part.

5) DEAL WITH DISCOURAGEMENT AND/OR INJURIES AND SETBACKS: Sometimes things don’t go your way despite your best efforts and unfortunately injuries, illnesses and setbacks in general are inevitable. You just have to accept that, get back up and move forward.

6) REST: Sometimes the best training is sleep! You must give yourself time to heal and recover.

When I look at things this way I realise that I can call my season a success despite having spent most practices struggling with what I perceived as failures at the time, like getting stopped at the line of scrimmage, missing the blocks, or not getting to play on game day. What I have learnt playing for the University of Nottingham American Football Club is important for life, and I don’t regret having put myself forward for the team. I am incredibly grateful to the club and the coaches for the opportunity that was given to me and to Coach Denning for having taught me most (if not all) of the above with infinite kindness.

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VOLLEYBALL CLUB Having watched my very first volleyball match during the Varsity 2015 series, it is fair to say that I had no idea just how enjoyable watching this sport could be until then. I can only imagine how enjoyable it was to be playing in it! With 3 different clubs for both men’s and women’s, each competing in BUCS league and student cups, there is a number of opportunities to play competitively.

Beginner sessions are held on Thursday evenings (7-9) at the University Park Sports Centre, with a membership for the first semester costing just £15, while a full year membership to the club is just £25. With Varsity to look forward to in the Spring Semester, no is the perfect time to get involved!

TRAMPOLINE CLUB Whether you are a skilled bouncer or have never tried trampoline before, you are welcome at easily the bounciest sports society at UoN. Membership costs £25 for the year, with your first session absolutely free. After that, it is £2 per session or £20 for the whole semester, as well as requiring a UoN Sports membership. Sessions are on Mondays (6-8), Tuesdays (7-9), and Thursdays (6.30-8.30) at the University Park Sports Centre.

WHAT’S ON AT YOUR UNI IMPACT SPORT TAKES A LOOK AT SOME OF THE SOCIETIES YOU MAY NOT HAVE SEEN AT FRESHERS FAIR (OR MISSED IT), AND JUST WHAT THEY CAN OFFER YOU. WORDS BY CONNOR HIGGS IMAGE BY PAUL DITTMER & ‘FW42’ VIA FLICKR

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UON DODGEBALL CLUB Ever watched Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story and thought that dodgeball was the sport for you? Or just want to try something new and exciting, which you may not have done before? Then look no further than the UoN Dodgeball Club!

ULTIMATE FRISBEE Whether you are looking for something to compete in at a national level, or simply just want to try something new and exciting, then Ultimate Frisbee may well be the place for you. With men’s, women’s and mixed teams, there are a number of opportunities to get involved. Training sessions are held on Thursdays (5-6.30) and Fridays (5-7), with a standard membership for the year costing £10. For more information, contact the ‘University of Nottingham Ultimate Frisbee’ group.

Home of the Balls of Steel squad, the UoN Dodgeball Club compete in tournaments across the country, and cater for any and all abilities. Membership is just £15 for the academic year, and regular league fixtures for both men’s and women’s teams. Training sessions are held on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, meaning that there will definitely be a time where you can go down and try your hand. With Dodgeball now a Varsity sport, there is no better time to get involved!

To get in touch, contact the ‘UoN Dodgeball 15/16’ Facebook group.

TEN PIN BOWLING There are few better feelings than the walk back having just scored a strike, be it beginner’s luck or professional skill. For twenty seconds or so, the lane is your kingdom!

For just a £10 membership fee, and a £6 weekly cost, you can experience that feeling on a regular basis. With social leagues and handicaps for newer players, everyone is on a level playing field, regardless of previous ability. As a member, you also get 10% off of food and drink at the bowling alley, meaning the membership pays for itself!

For more information on how to get involved, contact notts_bowling@hotmail. com.

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SPORTS EDITORIAL WORDS BY CONNOR HIGGS AND JAKE WHARMBY IMAGE BY DAVID ROBERTS VIA FLICKR Hindsight is a wonderful thing when it comes to sport. At the start of the Rugby World Cup, the optimism surrounding the England team, which many believed could go all the way, permeated most areas of society. Fast forward to the present and we are still trying to understand just how it all went so emphatically wrong, with losses against Wales and Australia. It serves to show just far we have to go to reach the southern hemisphere heavyweights of South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.

In international football, England, Wales and Northern Ireland all booked their places at the European Championships in France next summer. It will be the first time that Wales have ever competed at the European Championships, and Northern Ireland’s first international tournament since 1986. Going into November, Ireland will also be looking to earn a place at the European Championships with play-off victory over BosniaHerzegovina after finishing third in a group containing Germany and Poland.

The Premier League continues to excite and amaze, with Chelsea struggling to match their titlewinning form of the 2014/15 season,

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while high-flyers such as Crystal Palace and Leicester continue to belittle early-season predictions at the top end of the table.

With our first two managerial casualties of the new season, in Brendan Rodgers of Liverpool and Dick Advocaat of Sunderland, the next few months will be very interesting to see how their successors manage to turn the fortunes of their respective clubs around. Jürgen Klopp’s appointment as Liverpool manager was greeted with near-hysteria from the Liverpool faithful, and they will be looking to push towards the topfour place that eluded them last season under Rodgers.

Sam Allardyce, now incumbent Sunderland manager, has the rather unenviable task of guiding the Black Cats out of the relegation places, with a team that has become synonymous with late escapes come the business end of the season.

Lewis Hamilton took giant strides to become Formula One World Champion for a third time, with his victories in Japan and Russia all but confirming his victory. Hamilton will be hard to stop going into the 2016 season.

Looking forward to the coming months, we have the culmination of the Davis Cup, with Great Britain facing Belgium in the final, the final races of the Formula One season, and the first thoughts on the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, now less than a year away.

With university life now in full swing and settled, now may be the time to branch out with a new sport or society. In this issue, Impact looks at a few of the societies you may not have seen at fresher’s fair but may want to get involved in. For an insight into the rewards of playing university sports, take a look at our ‘Six Things I Learnt from playing American Football’ article.

As always, take a look at the Impact Sport Facebook page or follow @ ImpactSport on Twitter for more information and to get involved.

EDITORIAL TEAM EDITORIAL

Editor-in-Chief Print Editor

MANAGEMENT

Managing Editor Publicity Manager Events Manager Advertising Manager Social Media Manager

DESIGN

Design Editor Associate Designers

IMAGES

Images Editors

Belinda Toor Tom Watchorn

Chanel BjĂśrk Jonsson Leigh Campbell Malena Wong Isabel Greaves India Meade

Harry Dinsdale Daniel Norman, Alicia Leong

Alex Farzad, Amy Rainbow

WEBSITE

Online Editor Beth Rowland Associate Online Editors Jacob Bentley, Rose McGoldrick, Olivia Rook Web Developers Lawrie Cate

SECTIONS

News Editors Hannah Eves, Tamsin Parnell

Marco Dall’Antonia Comment Editors Rachel Lewis, Maddie Waktare Features Editors Dale Claridge, Rachel Harrison, Robyn Turnock Travel Editors Nicole Teh, Priya Thakrar Science Editors Joanne Blunt, Stephen Kenny Food Editors Lydia Eccleston, Isabel Jury Style Editors Chanelle Olaleye, Raphaela Ring Gaming Editors Tim Spencer, Tom Welshman Film Editors George Driscoll, Joe Jones, Henry Stanley Music Editors Liam Inscoe-Jones, James Noble Arts Editors Jessica Millott, Scarlett White Sports Editors Connor Higgs, Jake Wharmby Cover Image: Alex Farzad Inside Back Cover Image: Daniel Johnson

GET IN TOUCH editorinchief@impactnottingham.com belinda.toor@impactnottingham.com tom.watchorn@impactnottingham.com beth.rowland@impactnottingham.com managing@impactnottingham.com prdistribution@impactnottingham.com advertising@impactnottingham.com events@impactnottingham.com design@impactnottingham.com images@impactnottingham.com news@impactnottingham.com comment@impactnottingham.com features@impactnottingham.com travel@impactnottingham.com science@impactnottingham.com food@impactnottingham.com style@impactnottingham.com gaming@impactnottingham.com film@impactnottingham.com music@impactnottingham.com arts@impactnottingham.com sports@impactnottingham.com

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“I’m doing it for Evie’s next milestone and my own.“ There are millions of motivations Commercial and Engineering Graduate and Year in Industry Schemes 2016 “As a graduate at E.ON, I’m helping deliver innovative projects that make life that little bit simpler for around 5 million customers (including Evie and her dad). It means they’re both free to concentrate on her next steps. And it means I have the chance to work on projects that really develop my skills.”

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