SEEKING SHELTER: TA C K L I N G B AT H ’ s H O M E L E SS N E SS C R I S I S By Matt Kemp, Claudia Perry & Lisanne Heinz
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FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
Illustration by Elena Oliinyk, @lenlenstrations
celebrate by reading about its histor y and the experiences of some of Bath’s LGBT+ students. If you fanc y something a bit dif ferent, there’s also a discussion on the Nor th-S outh divide and foul play in Af rican football.
Dear readers, It’s grey outside, the exhaust fumes f rom the U1 and 2 are making ever yone cough and there’s mild apprehension in the air. It must be semester 2. L ast time we saw you, Bath was getting ver y festive, campus was about become a ghost town and we were about to star t singing Buble’s Feliz Navedad until our ears bled. Since then, an onslaught of exams have taken their toll and it’s only a matter of time until the crowds f lood once more into the arms of the Plug & Tub, for the respective Happy Hours and S cores. To accompany that warm and bagelsmelling welcome, we’ve provided you with a Lifestyle section full of heartwarming pieces: for some culture, check out our Cinema reviews and B ook reviews. Alternatively, if those New Year’s Resolutions are still being followed, be sure to see the ar ticle on keeping f it in winter. Flipping over to Features, here at Bath Time we wish you all a Happy LGBT+ Histor y Month and invite you to
The cover stor y this issue is on Homelessness. Most big cities in the UK have this as a prevailing topic and Bath is not exempt f rom this. In the ar ticle, we speak to representatives f rom Julian House, our own SU’s Volunteering Depar tment and other key speakers for Bath’s homeless community. We discuss causes of homelessness, both locally and nationally and if there are feasible solutions in our UNESCO protected city. Related to this is a detailed profile of an charity outreach worker in the Features section along with some details of how to get involved with charity events in and around Bath. L ast, but cer tainly not least: your opinions. As ever, a contributor has provided the monthly dose of Tr ump news, this time regarding the SU economy, while another writer has given us the juic y update on the Yellow Vest movement in France. On the News side of things, we are also offering an inevitable piece on r ugby with a side dish of Venezuelan activism with a tall glass of trams in Bath.
Darcey Stickley Deputy Editor (Print)
February 2019 3
MEET THE COMMITTEE
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CONTENTS PAGE February 2019
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Cover photograph: Caitlyn Wilson Cover story photography by Ed Kirwan
COVER STORY
Homelessness in Bath by Matt Kemp, Claudia Perry & Lisanne Heinz
LIFESTYLE
FEATURES
NEWS & COMMENT
32
Top 5 Bars in Bath by Chloe Granger
22 25
LGBT+ History Month A Dystopian Future for CRISPR by Rob Brett
38
Easy-to-make Recipes by Zuza Markovska
28
Noticing the NorthSouth Divide by Eve Parker
40
11 15 17
BATHTIME
Book Club
by Robert Brett
Note: Photography in this issue has been sourced from unsplash.com, Wikimedia and other sources which do not require crediting unless otherwise noted.
Bath Abbey Archeological Findings by Francesco Masala Japan Lifts Ban on Whale Hunting by Mannal Ajaz Japan Lifts Ban on Whale Hunting by Magdalena Rojas
February 2019 5
COVER STORY
S E E K I N G S H E LT E R : TA C K L I N G B AT H ’ s H O M E L E SS N E SS C R I S I S By Matt Kemp, Claudia Perry & Lisanne Heinz
I
n a small yet antiquated west-country city it seems somewhat counter-intuitive that such a high number of individuals are condemned to sleep on the streets of Bath – a city that, by all accounts, should be capable of preventing or at least responding to said crisis. How have so many individuals become homeless within such a prosperous and charming city?
a charity supporting people experiencing homelessness, have forecasted that homelessness will double in the next 25 years. The increasing scale of the issue has recently drawn significant attention to the problem, with homelessness resurfacing on the Conservative Party’s agenda and May vowing to eliminate rough sleeping by 2027.
When people think about homelessness they generally picture those who are sleeping rough, something which a lot of us have witnessed across the UK. However, it is important to recognise that this is not the only side of homelessness, and that the majority of the problem goes unseen. This has been referred to as ‘hidden homelessness’, which includes those who are living in insecure accommodation, like sofa-surfing and living in squats. Shelter, a UK charity which supports those who suffer from bad housing, predicts that there are 320,000 people experiencing homelessness in the UK. Shelter state that the authorities underestimate their figures due to this problem.
MAIN Causes
Nonetheless, what has been widely recognised is that the number of those affected by homelessness is rising, and that it is rising at an increasing rate. Crisis,
6 BATHTIME
In order to better understand how these issues became prevalent, we must understand some of the main causes. Bath Time spoke to Genesis Trust, a Bath-based charity devoted to helping the hungry, homeless and vulnerable. They assert there is no single cause or solution to the ever-worsening situation in the Bath & North East Somerset area. Rising food prices, rising house prices and stagnating wage growth, amongst other factors, have certainly all compounded together – in 2016, there 25 rough sleepers locally. Alarmingly, all those tasked with counting and measuring the amount of people living on the street admit that these are mere estimates – underestimations, if anything.
COVER STORY
Other key influences include failings in reintegrating individuals into society when leaving institutional care or armed service, as well as the lasting effects of government policies from the end of the last century, including those surrounding social housing and mental health care. To find out more, we spoke to Julian House, a Bath based charity that provides a range of support services to those experiencing homelessness. Many of those receiving support from Julian House have previously received institutionalised care; be it from the youth care system, medical care, prison, or armed service. In the 1970s, psychiatric institutions housed over 100,000 patients nationally and many of them had severe issues with the treatment of their patients - as such, the government promoted a policy of ‘care in the community’, which saw the gradual closing of these institutions and release of their patients into wider society. Although a positive step in many respects, this saw many people suffering from severe mental health issues struggle to integrate with society and receive minimal follow-up support. Cecil, a staff member at Julian House, tells us that as this policy persisted and mental health issues increased, homelessness and rough sleeping continued to spread. An interesting aspect that is specific to Bath is the amount of ex-servicemen and women who sleep rough. With his Julian House experience, and being an ex-serviceman himself, Cecil was able to shine a light on these issues. The army provides an all-encompassing community and support system for a group made up mostly of working class men and Cecil argues that many have difficulty reintegrating once leaving.
With many
being recruited at a young age, sometimes these individuals struggle to look after themselves without the service’s provisions. On top of this, Cecil discussed the “black humour” present in army culture, which prompts colleagues to laugh off alcoholism and other psychological effects caused by the harrowing things one can witness as part of their work. Cecil told us the story of a Julian House client who was on a ship as it sank in the Falklands War, an event that had a severe and lasting effect on their mental health. These effects were not recognised and not treated, so when this individual left the services, he faced an employment crisis, a crisis which left him sleeping on the streets. At the beginning of his experience of homelessness, he had trouble sleeping, something those surrounding him didn’t struggle with as much. Cecil informs us that the individual soon discovered that others were able to sleep due to heroin intake, prompting his introduction to drug use and subsequent battle with addiction. Although this is an individual case, it is a well-trodden path that leads many to rough sleeping and consequent addictions. One of the most obvious pressures causing homelessness is house prices. Bath’s Conservative council member for Housing has blamed both students and tourists for amplifying house prices, whilst Lib Dem MP, Wera Hobhouse, attributes responsibility to white collar Londoners, fleeing to Bath for the peace provided by the South West. It’s worth noting that house prices are almost double that of the national average, while wage rates stand 20% higher than the rest of the UK. Alongside this, the number of council homes has been in constant decline since Right to Buy policies were made widespread in the 1970s. Such policies were held in high regard across all political parties at the time of implementation, however, Cecil argues that they were carried on for “too long”. The money earned from the sale of government-owned homes was not to be reinvested in social housing leading to a “desperately short” February 2019 7
COVER STORY
supply of affordable and government subsidised properties, pushing many more towards rough sleeping. Cecil argues the effect of this is furthered in Bath by high student populations and demand for cheaper properties to be converted into Homes of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs). Landlords gain much more by renting out properties to students, which puts pressure on the rest of the market and hinders Julian House’s ability to rent properties for their supported housing schemes, a vital step in helping those suffering from homelessness to reintegrate into society. Bath Time also spoke to Ed Kirwan, a community worker from Oxford. As a teacher, he used to run assemblies on humanising the homeless, but when he decided they weren’t doing enough, he set up his own business. While evaluating the charity sector in the South West and London, he saw a fragmented group of organisations who essentially want the same thing but could function a lot better if they were to combine efforts instead of working alongside each other. Ed’s ideal solution, and what he works towards, is forming relations between various homeless charities and organisations so that their resources are spread efficiently and the homeless are catered for properly all year round. An example he gave was introducing a representative from a charity that allows people to donate online to provide people experiencing homelessness in London with sleeping bags, to a representative from a different charity that accommodates rough sleepers in Victoria Station, who, coincidentally, needed sleeping bags. This was one of the many examples he mentioned where the people
8 BATHTIME
behind these organisations mean well but are seemingly unaware of similar companies doing a similar or complementary job. “Often, even positive news stories spin into ‘us’ and ‘them’”
Working to a solution What more can be done? Ed believes that the universities play a fundamental role in handling this issue, saying they “have a duty to be part of their society because students make up a huge population of Bath’s residents.” With regard to events that are already in action, he suggests incorporating all Bath charities in the RAG Sleep Out, for example. It does seem like events are the way forward: the University’s best turnouts have been during the SleepOut and the Charity Cycle Race. Looking to the future, the educator believes that in order to reduce homelessness, local charities should be more open to working with students - “we have great architects, graphic designers, language students and tapping into that would be a huge help to these organisations”. Our SU already works with the Big Issue, as you’ll notice with the regular presence of vendors outside the SU. Debbie Thornton, the SU’s Volunteer Support Coordinator, tells us that “the University of Bath are one of the few campus universities to host a Big Issue Vendor. All the Vendors that have come up on campus over the years, most with a variety of complex needs, have thoroughly enjoyed the experience
COVER STORY
of chatting to students/staff and do have regulars who in RAG events, like their Charity Cycle to Paris on buy the magazine.” Valentine’s Day or their Charity Skydive at the end of March. To find out more about they’re up to, be sure Also, while in conversation with some student volto follow them on Facebook @bathunirag. unteers at Bath, it was revealed that institutions like Julian House can’t always provide the support they Volunteering hours can often be more helpful than need. Due to the prevalence of addiction in homeless cash donations. Student Volunteering Week is just communities, some will not accept help from the around the corner (11th February), so do make sure likes of Julian House, as it will reduce their access to to look for opportunities to support those more substances. Additionally, under rare circumstances vulnerable there. Julian House consistently have Julian House does ban some individuals from their opportunities available, which can include supportshelters in an aim to protect everyone else, however ing them cook in the hostel kitchens at the weekend they operate looser policies in the additional shelters or supporting their charity shops. To find out more they provide in the colder winter months. about these opportunities visit the Julian House website. Opportunities to support Genesis trust, be it by Homelessness is a problem with a variety of soluvolunteering or way of donation can also be found on tions, but looking at Bath specifically shows us that their website. our town has a unique relationship with the issue. As students, topics like housing prices or charity sector management are hard to tackle and solve. However, small-scale actions like volunteering for our local charities, supporting the Big Issue and ensuring our University is actively engaged with the communities experiencing homelessness are all vital steps to seeing the end of homelessness in Bath. With over 17,000 students studying at the University, collectively, surely we can help be part of the solution. This is something two BBA students, George and Tom, caught onto when planning a social enterprise for their course. Their research found that students were on average willing to donate £1 per week, and volunteer more than two hours of their time. Donating this amount of money, although self-reported, would be more than enough to feed all of those experiencing homelessness in Bath consistently, so how can we make this happen? Julian House are continuously running fundraising events - next month they are hosting their Big Bath Sleep-Out in Alice Park, where volunteers will be sleeping under the stars and raising sponsorship to support the charity, more details can be found on page 10. We can also donate directly to them through their JustGiving page, under the same name. Alternatively, we can get involved
Read about Keith’s inspiring battle with homelessness and addiction on page 31
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2019
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Cathy Adcock: Please contact Jessica Gay: Please Please contact contact Cathy Cathy Adcock: Adcock: Julian House, 55New New King St,Bath, Bath, BA1 2BN Julian Julian House, House, 55 55 New King King St, St, Bath, BA1 BA1 2BN 2BN
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01225 01225 354656 354656 cathya@julianhouse.org.uk cathya@julianhouse.org.uk www.bigbathsleepout.co.uk www.bigbathsleepout.co.uk jessica.gay@julianhouse.org.uk 01225 354656 cathya@julianhouse.org.uk www.bigbathsleepout.co.uk Julianisis House aacharity is a with charity with liability limited liability – registered – registered as as a society as a under society the under Co-operative the Co-operative and Community Community Benefit Benefit Societies Societies Act 2014. Act2014. Registered 2014.Registered Registered No. 19305R No. 19305R 19305R Julian House House charity withlimited limited liability – registered a society under the Co-operative andand Community Benefit Societies Act No.
LIFESTYLE
BATHTIME
Book Club THE HUMANS (2013), Matt Haig REVIEW By Robert Brett
W
hat does it mean to be human? According to Matt Haig, the precise definition lies somewhere between inevitable death and peanut butter sandwiches. This 2013 novel is both hilarious and sobering.
The Humans is narrated by an alien who has been sent to earth on an essential galactic security mission. I won’t give too much away, but it involves a groundbreaking mathematical discovery made by a Cambridge professor. The nameless alien in question has assumed the mathematician’s form in order to complete his task. The novel begins with the following statement – “I know that some of you reading this are convinced that humans are a myth, but I’m here to state that they actually exist”. This detached perspective gives Haig a platform to provide a convincing and objective diagnosis of the state of human existence. In his own words, this was “the book that (he) always wanted to write” – a map for those perplexed by the absurdity of our confusing and often contradictory lives. This is certainly the kind of book to reframe perspectives, and I left it feeling that my vantage point had altered considerably.
at the most serious moments. Those familiar with Haig’s non-fiction work will recognise the themes of depression and the accompanying search for hope that he has written about extensively. Reasons to stay alive, for example, is a memoir written by Haig about mental health and surviving through it. Having suffered from both anxiety and depression, Haig is intimately acquainted with the darker aspects of human life. The experiences discussed in Haig’s memoir evidently shaped The Humans, but don’t define it. As Haig has said – this is a map for his younger self and others in similar positions. Moving, hilarious and jarring in places: The Humans is all these things and more. It’s a celebration of humanity for all its imperfection, and from music to peanut butter sandwiches, Haig thoroughly convinced me that being human is a blessing, even if sometimes a rather melancholic one. I would recommend The Humans to just about anybody, though as a physics student this struck many of the right chords. Mathematicians and scientists alike couldn’t find a more apt novel to start the year.
Despite a multitude of poignant and insightful moments, The Humans is far from pretentious or overbearing. This is one of the only books that has consistently made me laugh throughout and, for all its scope, it maintains a light-heartedness even
February 2019 11
LIFESTYLE
O
n April 4th, award winning comedian and poet Rob Auton will be bringing his critical hit, The Talk Show, to Bath’s Rondo theatre. Last year the British Comedy Guide declared this piece ‘the second best reviewed show’ at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where he previously picked up the ‘Dave Funniest Joke of Fringe’ award, and it followed a stream of similarly titled successes including ‘The Hair Show’ and ‘The Yellow Show’. The Guardian have described him as ‘The Brian Cox of Comedy’ and the Arts Foundation have shortlisted him for the prestigious Spoken Word Award. Never described as ‘mainstream’ and often described as ‘a very funny man’, Bath Time was keen to learn more about this internet and stand-up sensation. Lifestyle Editor Nicola Jennings and Features Editor Nidhi Arun had a chat with him over ISB. NJ: Hi Rob, thank you for agreeing to chat with us. To start, please could you introduce yourself to the readers of Bath Time. RA: My name is Rob Auton and I am a writer and performer of some of what I write. I write short stories and bits of writing that some people call poetry. I am about to do a nationwide tour of my show that is called The Talk Show. I performed this as my seventh solo show at Edinburgh Fringe. It’s a different year and is on a different specific topic: talking. In the past I’ve done shows on the colour yellow, the sky, faces, water, sleeping and talking and I’m in the process of writing a new show about time called The Time Show. NA: How and why did you first get into comedy? RA: The first time that I ever stood up in front of a group of people and said anything was when I was at university, studying for a Graphic Design Degree. I had to go up and do a presentation to about 60 people
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in the year, and it was really nerve-wracking having to do a PowerPoint about your work. When I did mine, I said something that people laughed at and thought, ‘that was enjoyable’. I then tried to make the next one a bit more funny and enjoyed that too. Graphic Design was a course about ideas. When I graduated I thought, ‘which industry needs someone with ideas?’ and went on to work in advertising for a bit. I also started doing gigs on the side. I thought advertising was going to be a perfect job for a creative person … but it isn’t. It’s a business and I really struggled. I got a couple of ideas out into the world but, as well, I started keeping these notebooks where I’d write down ideas. You can unleash yourself on the pages and I just jotted down the weirdest things I could think of. One day the creative director of the advertising firm said, ‘I’m having a fireworks party and there’s going to be a bit of poetry’, so I asked if I could do it and he said yes. I stood up at his house and from there a couple of people asked me to join a poetry night. I started doing poetry gigs and a few weeks later I got asked to do an ‘alternative comedy night’. I did that and then did as many open mics as I could. Whenever I did, a comedy night I did the ‘funny stuff ’ but I also tried to add in a few serious things as well. In 2009 I went up to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. I came back from that, did 15 mins a day on a show called ‘The Big Comedy Breakfast’ and got a job at an art shop, doing gigs on the side until I was doing so many that I couldn’t do the job anymore. I’ve been doing comedy full time since 2012. NJ: I’m sure students here will be able to relate to the stress of university presentations! Do you miss university?
LIFESTYLE University’s great. It takes a while to figure out what you want to do even when you’re there, but the best thing about it is that it sets you up on own. Before I went to uni I don’t think I was even a proper person! It turns you into a proper person and you get to find out who you are. NA: How do you pick the themes for your shows? My first one, a show about the colour yellow, was because I had a yellow coat and every time I put it on it made me feel a bit more…. Upbeat, and up for life. When I put it on I was like, ‘I wonder how positive I could make myself feel if I wrote a whole show about the colour yellow’. The sky one was just because I like the sky.
myself. If someone tries to pick holes in my work I can say, ‘I’m sorry it’s not for you but that’s fine’. The good thing is that the people who like it come back. That’s great because it’s how you build an audience. NJ: Just for our readers who haven’t seen you at Fringe or on Comedy Central, could you describe the style of your shows in five words? Slow. Enthusiastic. Deliberate. Optimistic. Hopeful. NJ: It’s really nice to see a comedy who isn’t just cynical… I hope so! I want to use my time onstage to be positive and make people feel good.
NA: So what would you say your career highlights I pick the subjects because they’re things I want to are? explore and things that will stand the test of time. A couple of memorable things that have happened. When I look back on my work, I want to pick subjects One time I was flyering for The Yellow Show on the that aren’t going to change, such as the sky and faces - I Royal Mile in Edinburgh and that was the first time I’d know my face will change but faces will still be around been up there. No-one knew what my show was about in many years to come. I don’t want to write about so I had to flyer for three hours a day to get people in. temporary things like Theresa May. That comedy That was in a yellow paddling pool, a yellow lilo and a will age very, very badly. Some people need it though yellow umbrella. And you know those kind of noodles and do want to hear about Brexit on a comedy night. that you get for the swimming pool? I had a yellow Of course there are some brilliant people doing stuff foam one of those and I put a slit in the end of it with about Brexit and that’s great, but I would just get too a Stanley knife. I pushed my flyer in and then fed it depressed about it. out to people so it was almost like a fishing reel. A lady came up to me and gave me a fiver and said I’d made In this current show I’m doing about talking, I want to her day. That was a highlight definitely. use my time to create a performance that has a positive impact on me as a person and the people who come Being on telly can be quite stressful and not that ento watch. I want to explore things and see how I feel joyable really. I love doing it and I’d love to do more; about them. I love doing it. I put the words in a spider when I first started I thought that would be my career diagram and then just go off on one. I’d like to do 10 of highlight. But, it’s like you know when you go to a these shows and then maybe something else. party and you’re really looking forward to it… and it can fall flat? Whereas if you just go the pub with your NA: I know lot of comics say their on-screen persomates you can walk home and think ‘that was amazna is very different to their off-screen persona. How ing’. When those moments come along you’ve gotta different would you say you are in real life compared grip them with both hands. to on stage? I think there isn’t that much difference. When I’m on NJ: Finally, could you offer us an insight into what stage, everything I say has been written and it’s all to expect from your tour? about the words and my speculative outlook. Basically, Me. Rob Auton. Tall lanky person from Yorkshire. it’s like holding a painting up for people to look at-in Talking about talking. The show focuses on my love of this case, it’s words I’ve been looking for and want peo- listening to people talk. It’s a celebration of language ple to hear. I’m just a tool to get my material out there. and trying to stay as inquisitive about talking as possiI think it’s really important to keep it as natural as it ble. can be, otherwise you get found out pretty quickly. I always want to write from a true place and be true to NJ & NA: Thank you so much for speaking with us! February 2019 13
LIFESTYLE
CINEMA IN THE SPOTLIGHT By ÉLIE BRETON DES LOŸS
2018 was an incredible year for cinema. We saw the highly awaited Avengers: Infinity War’ reunite 10 years of Marvel superheroes, Love Simon take major step in LGBT representation on the silver screen and A Star is Born prove that good singers can be Oscar nominated actresses. It was a great year for moviegoers all around the world. Unfortunately, the 76th Golden Globe Awards reflected poorly on 2018’s quality by choosing Bohemian Rhapsody for the Best Drama of the year. This is one fight where I might be alone, but I absolutely despise Bohemian Rhapsody and what it stands for. It is sad that we, as a society, accept a biopic that blatantly lies about the life of an icon to please the public. Indeed, it was produced by one of the group’s former members (Brian May) who assured that nothing controversial would be said about Freddie Mercury. It is truly a shame that the Hollywood Foreign Press supports a movie that is so full of ‘fake news’: it sets a terrible example for biopics to come. By making Bohemian Rhapsody one of the most popular movies of the year, we show that we do not care about the truth because it might hurt our perceptions of famous icons. With the recent announcement of the nominees for the 91st Academy Award ceremony, hope has returned. I was extremely pleased to see that blockbusters like Black Panther were nominated amongst some of the best indie movies of the year. It seems that Hollywood is finally recognising the
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talent of bigger productions as well as the value of classical dramas. The nominations might not satisfy everyone. Some of the snubs, like Toni Colette’s performance in Hereditary or Justin Hurwitz’s score for First Man, reflect poorly on the Academy’s taste, but we can only hope that this time real movies will triumph and that box office results won’t affect the jury’s decision. This year’s Oscars have the potential to change Hollywood for the best if they are brave enough to give awards to more unexpected (yet still deserving) movies. One thing for which we must praise the Academy is the representation it offers this year. The multiple nominations of Roma (the Netflix film directed by Alfonso Cuarón) and Cold War show that Hollywood recognises the value of international movies that can resonate amongst more isolated communities. And the inclusion of two Netflix films (Roma and The Ballad of Buster Scruggs) proves that streaming platform should be considered the same as traditional movies. It is a step forward that will hopefully resonate all the way to the Cannes Film Festival that is still reluctant to accept Netflix in the cinema industry. 2018 was a beautiful year for cinema, and we can only hope that the Oscars will reflect well upon that. 2019 should not disappoint with highly expected releases like Avengers: Endgame, Us or Star Wars: Episode IX. Moviegoers, we have a bright year ahead!
From left to right: Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody), Yalitza Aparicio (Roma), Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther), Toni Collette (Hereditary) and Lady Gaga (A Star is Born).
LIFESTYLE
By CHLOE GRANGER
G
iven that the nightlife in Bath bares similarities to marmite (you either love it or you hate it), it’s a known fact that a good bar can be a fabulous way to spend your Friday evenings. Luckily for us students, there is a plethora of bars to choose from, that vary in style, menu and speciality; there will always be something to tickle your tastebuds.
1. Canary Gin Bar
Now, I’m not a great lover of gin (shock horror, I know... am I even a millennial!?), however, the cocktails at the Canary Gin Bar are so diverse that there is literally something for everyone. What’s special is that they serve their own home-made, Bathonian gin, which gives the cocktails a much more authentic feel. I also loved the Cluedo-inspired menu, as I thought this was a fantastically clever way to generate interest and also add a fun aspect to the cocktail-selecting process. I chose the Miss Scarlett cocktail and the strawberry gin that they mixed was delicious – I could have had seconds! The interiors are quite dark and mysterious, with some questionable art on the walls, but it gives it a quirky ambiance, which is always essential to try out.
2. Revolution
One of the main attractions of Rev’s is the pricing. The drinks are eye popping-ly cheap (admittedly only by Bath standards) and they do 2-4-1 at selected times, which makes you doubly merry! The cocktail menu resembles some sort of novel as there are pages and pages full of delectable-looking drinks to choose from! What I love most is their approach to seasonal drinks – their Christmas cocktails were gloriously festive, and the presentation was topnotch. A spacious place, there are plenty of seats to choose from and the bar is long as well, meaning that getting served shouldn’t be too much hassle (apart from when the Rugby lads are there).
3. Be At One
Situated a few steps away from Bath Spa Station, Be
At One is on the more modern end of the spectrum and in an extremely accessible location. The drinks menu is detailed and varied, with their take on some of the classics (a pornstar martini, please!) and some of their own marvellous concoctions. The only downside is that it can get rather busy at times and as it isn’t the largest of bars, so this may be slightly off-putting; but if you go at a less busy time, the experience can’t be faulted! Be At One is another bar that celebrates the festivities with seasonal drinks – I didn’t manage to go around Halloween but they had some spooky-looking cocktails that look like they should definitely be tried and tested!
4. The Hideout
My bet is that this place is named “The Hideout” because it’s pretty hidden, tucked away behind some beautifully Bathonian buildings. Once you’ve found this little gemstone of a bar, it’s a great place to enjoy some freshly-shaken cocktails. Everything about this place just reeks of coolness; there are figurines of edgy skulls dotted about the place, the lights are dimmed as low as possible and all of the barmen are heavily tattooed with big smiles and enormous laughs. They specialise in whiskey, so if that’s not your jam, then it may seem a bit scary at first. However, as I’m no whiskey lover myself (what do I like…?), our waiter created my very own special concoction and I absolutely loved it. Perfect service and a great little location.
5. Circo Bar & Lounge
I don’t think there’s a cocktail that Circo doesn’t do. The menu is suitable for every taste and they ensure they use the best ingredients to ensure some good quality sipping. The interiors are what makes this bar so glamorously chic, with velveteen armchairs and tables that looked like they’ve all been sourced from Anthropologie – perfect for some Instagram snaps. Head to Circo if you’re looking for a classy girls night out that you can dress up for and go wild. February 2019 15
LIFESTYLE
KEEPING FIT THIS WINTER (without going to the gym)
By HOLLY HUGHES
T
he days are still short, the weather is variable, and the gym is absolutely rammed… so how do you keep/get fit without tackling the hordes of gym goers? Here are my top 5 tips.
1. Don’t mind the unpredictable weather? Start running!
Ensure you wrap up (to some extent), and warm up inside before hitting the cold air. Whether you live in the city or on campus there are many routes you can take, both flat and hilly. If you struggle to find your own route, give the Bath Skyline Parkrun a go on Saturday mornings, located just off campus. If you need a beat for your run then have a listen to the ‘5K on a Friday’ playlist, with songs selected specifically for runners. Search ‘5K on a Friday’ on Facebook/Instagram to access their weekly playlists and podcasts.
2. Give a new (indoor) class a go.
Concerned about the cost of regular classes? As a UoB student you need not worry, the SU Bath Sport provide all students with a series of free classes every week. There’s so much to choose from: circuits, floorball and various classes at all times of the day. The
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Bath Active timetable is accessible via ‘The SU Bath Sport’ social media.
3. If you prefer your own company, try a home workout. Have a look on YouTube, purchase a fitness DVD from Amazon or compile your own set of exercises, all you need is a small area to manoeuvre. My top picks for at home workouts would be The Body Coach and Grace Fit UK. You don’t even need any equipment!
4. Explore Bath and beyond, walking counts as exercise!
There is no denying that Bath is a beautiful city, so why not explore every corner of it? Whether you prefer the hustle and bustle of the city or the hush of the countryside, these different environments are all within touching distance of your back door. Walk as far as you like, but the further you walk the more you’ll see! On a cold Sunday morning there’s no walk I’d recommend more than the 6-mile Bath Skyline circular walk which loops past the University itself.
5. Set a goal to keep you focused!
Whether it be to run a 10K or lose the pounds you gained at Christmas, setting a goal will keep to going through the Winter months.
LIFESTYLE
EASY-TO-MAKE RECIPES By Zuza Markovska
CREAMY SAUCE PASTA
Lentil stew Who says canned soups have just 1 purpose? You can use any kind of canned cream soup, but I’d recommend either chicken or mushroom. A single can of soup goes for around 80p and you don’t even have to use the entire can for a single serving! Ingredients: 1 can ½ 1 1 tablespoon 1 serving (cup) Seasoning
Mushroom cream soup Onion Carrot (large) Unsalted butter Any type of pasta Salt, Pepper, Garlic/garlic granules
Directions: Chop the carrot into small pieces and dice the onion. Put them in a pan with oil on medium heat and let them fry while the pasta is cooking, making sure to not burn them but cook them until they are soft. When the pasta is ready, drain the water and put the pan back on the heat. Mix the butter in with the pasta and transfer the onion and carrot mixture (including the oil) to the pasta. Pour about a third to a half of the can of mushroom soup into the pasta mixture and stir until the soup thickens and the pasta is coated in it. Finish the pasta by adding seasoning such as salt, pepper and garlic.
Very filling and great for meal prep! This recipe produces enough stew for 2-3 servings! A small amount of lentils goes a long way, so larger portions can easily be prepared. This is something prepared in my home country of Bulgaria, would recommend eating with some bread and a side of feta salad! Ingredients: ½ cup Red lentils 1 Red Bell pepper 1 Onion 1 Carrot (large) 1 can Chopped tomatoes 1 tablespoon Balsamic vinegar Seasoning Salt, pepper, dill, garlic, chives Directions: Dice the onion and the carrot and put them on a medium-high heat with some olive oil. Let them fry and soften. Boil 3 cups of water in a kettle. Pour the red lentils over the onions and carrots, followed by the hot water. Pour the entire can of chopped tomatoes into the mixture. Cut the bell pepper in half, remove all the seeds and put the two halves in with the mixture to boil. This allows the pepper to release it’s flavour into the mix. Let the entire mixture boil until the lentils are thoroughly cooked, which can be checked easily as lentils change colour visibly while they absorb water. Add the salt, pepper, dill, garlic and chives at the end, followed by a tablespoon of vinegar to bring out the acidity in the tomatoes.
February 2019 17
LIFESTYLE
W OME N AT TH E START LINE By ATHENAIS MANGIN
B
ath’s half-marathon is getting closer and closer, its runners ready to receive cheers and encouragements from friends and organisers. Yet, this was not the case back in the 1960s. Women were forbidden to run marathons, or even any distance longer than 1,500 metres in sanctioned races, as they were considered as too “fragile” for this exercise. In Boston, however, the rules did not explicitly forbid women to take part in the competition and in 1966 Bobbi Gibb decided to run it. She could not register officially as the race director opposed her participation but she was still part of the top third quickest finishers, with 3 hours, 21 minutes and 40 seconds. On the 19th of April 1967, Kathrine Virginia Switzer was on the starting line, registered as the gender-neutral “K. V. Switzer” and wearing the bib number 261. She was accompanied by her boyfriend, a hammer throwing athlete, and her trainer, who already saw her running much further in training. At first, her make-up, including lipstick, and headband did not gather much hostility from the other runners. However, as soon as it started the run official Jock Semple noticed that she was a woman and tried to drag her
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away, screaming “Get the hell out of my race and give me those numbers!”. Arnie Briggs, her trainer, tried to convince him to let her run, telling Semple that he trained her himself, but Semple refused to listen. Kathrine’s boyfriend, Tom Miller, who weighed about 105 kilos, violently pushed Semple aside to allow her to continue her race. She finished it in about 4 hours and 20 minutes. Kathrine was afterwards disqualified from the run and expelled from the athletic federation. From there the Amateur Athletic Union banned women from races. Yet, in 1972, the Boston marathon was opened to all, and Switzer was the second woman to cross the finishing line that year. Her motion for women to be allowed to run marathons in the Olympic Games paid off in 1984. She also scored the best women’s time at the New York 1974 marathon. So far, Kathrine Virginia Switzer has run 42 marathons, including her ninth Boston marathon in 2017 which she completed in 4 hours, 44 minutes, 31 seconds, again in her bib 261. Last year in London, at the age of 71, she finished in 4 hours, 44 minutes and 49 seconds. Today, 58% of marathon runners in the United States are women, all because of one. Well, who’s ready for those 21k?
LIFESTYLE
A D U LT I N G : W H AT ’ S I T A L L A B O U T ? By Eloise Sacares
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owadays, it’s easy to feel like everyone has their life together and you don’t. Your friends’ Instagram stories are filled with workouts in Gymshark leggings you can’t afford, looking stunning on nights out, or on cute day trips to the Roman Baths. What they don’t post though, is the countless bowls of pesto pasta, the crying in their room over deadlines and failing to make it to the club because they drank too much at pres. In short, no one is perfect all the time. I have always tried to be as real as possible on social media. This is partly because I find oversharing my life incredibly therapeutic, but also because as much as shouting about removing the stigma from mental health is great, the only way to really do it, is to show your reality unapologetically. And truth is we all have moments where it feels like everything is going wrong, and you just don’t know how everyone else does it. I’ve realised in the last couple months that there are two major misconceptions about ‘adulting’. The first is that adulting is really just about knowing, and then actually doing, the small, self-care things you need to be a functioning human being. Some of these are incredibly boring yet important, like making sure that the washing up or laundry doesn’t pile up. Some, like spending a little more than usual on gingerbread lattes because you know they motivate you to study, can make a world of difference without seeming typically ‘adult’.
In my opinion, however, the ultimate adult thing is realising that it’s okay to not have your life together sometimes. When there’s been a major change in your life, such as moving away from home and suddenly having 100 extra things to think about, it’s pretty natural to let some things slip. I used to love baking but in first term the only cake I made was for the LGBT+ Bake Off. It was described by Antony Amodoroux himself as ‘tasting like bread’ (*cries*). I also decided that clubbing counted as exercise (newsflash: it doesn’t) and so my already pretty bad fitness is now virtually non-existent. So, I considered making a hundred new year’s resolutions about healthier eating, actually doing the reading and problem sheets, and no longer oversharing my life to everyone I meet (no one likes a blabbermouth and not everyone wants to know the details of your lesbian drama). But then I realised that these things will only come with me being in a better mental state, which certainly won’t come from beating myself up about not being the perfect adult at 18. University, especially the first year, is the prime time to make a few regrets. While I’ve already forgotten a lot of the whirlwind so far, the things I remember about uni are laughing with my friends over the bad decisions and adulting fails, not the days I had my life perfectly together.
The second is that adulting isn’t about never making stupid decisions, but just realising you have to pay the consequences for your actions- something my friends and I discovered last term. If you decide to kick in your kitchen window, you may well have to pay £200 in damages. Leaving your room in an absolute state before going out and having to clear all the papers, laptop, clothes, and god knows what else off your bed when you bring someone back, is also slightly embarrassing. February 2019 19
LIFESTYLE
Agony Aunt I’m regretting not being more involved in Uni. I know I’m very shy but I’ve always wanted to make the most out of being here. Second semester is almost here but it feels too late to join anything. Should I just wait until next year to start a society alongside everyone else? I think the best place to start is to understand exactly what’s been holding you back from joining a society at University. If your shyness is standing in the way, then it may be some consolation to you that not all students are as self-assured as you may think. With such a large range of societies available, each activity group may appeal to different types of students. Societies are also a great place to start building your confidence whilst doing something you enjoy. If you want to become more involved in the things that University has to offer, I say challenge yourself and go for it. It’s also never too late to join a society. Student groups are always eager for new members, be it in the first week or the last. So, it’s definitely worth getting in touch. You may also be pleased to know that Refresh Week is fast approaching. This may provide the perfect opportunity for you to suss out what groups are on offer and to start making the most out of university.
starting point. After all, a bedroom in halls doesn’t seem complete without a clichéd photo collage. Make the best use of those pin-boards and start hanging up the photographs of the people you miss; it might just bring them that little bit closer. Posters are also a good way to stop your walls looking so bland. Fairy lights are another winner as you can’t go wrong with this cosy touch. You may also want to have a look around at university plant sales. Who can say no to a cactus? Hopefully these small changes will give your room some character and start making you feel more at home in Bath. My friends and I haven’t signed up for a house yet. We can’t find anything we like. But, I’m worried that we might be too late.
Searching for student housing brings with it a certain degree of stress that not even the largest slice of chocolate cake seems to fix. However, let me begin by reassuring you that you will find a house. Still, it is important to have realistic expectations considering that many student houses will have already gone. You and your friends may need to be flexible in your Now that I’ve been home for Christmas, my Uni considerations for student housing as options may be room really doesn’t feel all that homely anymore. I limited. Make your compromises before viewing any feel like I’m living in a hostel now that I’m back in more properties as you will need to act quickly when halls and wondered if there’s anything I can do to you find somewhere suitable. Also, don’t discount the get a bit of home comfort back in my life? University or the Students’ Union as their help and advice may give you the tips you need to find a good Returning home from university holidays can often house. However, what is most important isn’t the bring on bouts of homesickness. Inevitably, you house necessarily – it’s who you’re living with. Yes, it’s may feel slightly uncomfortable surrounded by offimportant to be in a cosy house which is in a good coloured walls and strip lighting that you would have location, but the building won’t make or break your never chosen for yourself. To make yourself feel a year – your housemates will. You’ve done the easiest little better, there are a few home comforts you can part and found a good group of friends to live with. create. Personalising your room may help make it If you love them, you’ll love living in your house. feel less like a hostel. Photographs are always a good Good luck with your search! If you have any questions for Beatrice, please send an email to su-bathtime-lifestyle@bath.ac.uk
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With love,
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@thesubath thesubath.com/elections
FEATURES
LGBT+ HISTORY MOnTH
T
his year is the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, and, as such, we look back at the history of the LGBT+ community and the contemporary events that still impact us. References to LGBT+ people can be seen in the ancient histories of Africa, Egypt, China, Greece and Rome. As the heteronormative veil on history is lifted, signs of the LGBT+ community start to appear through every single generation and age. However, the LGBT+ community as we know it today has been changed the most in the past 50 years. During the late 1960s, the political environment surrounding the LGBT+ community was contentious, with raids on gay bars being frequent and often brutal. The Stonewall Inn was owned by the Mafia and accepted the most marginalised people in the LGBT+ community. However, the Mafia were not tipped off about the raid on the 28th June 1969, so, when the police arrived with a warrant to search the inn, chaos ensued with female officers taking suspected “‘crossdressers” stripping them naked and checking their sex. Instead of the crowd dispersing after the raid, however, they lingered and grew angrier at the police’s manhandling. Marsha Johnson, Zazu Nova and Jackie Hormona make up the vanguard of the riots that lasted 6 days and, at certain points, involving thousands of people. The Stonewall uprising didn’t start the gay rights movement, but it was the catalyst that brought LGBT+ political activism together. The AIDS crisis in the 1980s and 1990s was the most devastating global challenge to the LGBT+ community in recent years. There are many pejorative myths around AIDS, once named the ‘gay plague’ and originally known as “Gay Related Infectious Disease” (GRID). However, gay men were disproportionately impacted by AIDS due to the prejudice of inaction
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from both government and the public to counter this rapidly growing epidemic, with Reagan even going as far to laugh about the situation. By 1995, AIDS was the single greatest killer of men ages 25-44. This led to the rise of activists such as Gay Men’s Health Crisis and ACT UP, who fought for finding treatment even without government support. It was only in 1996 that there were new drug therapies but by then, the inaction of the government had nearly wiped out an entire generation of gay men. These new drugs include a preventative medicine regime available to those at-risk. However, these issues are not just problems of the past - the fight for LGBT+ rights continues in modern day. Access to LGBT+-specific medicine, intersectionality, adoption rights, transgender rights, opposition to conversion therapy, Chechnya’s LGBT+ concentration camps, and equal marriage in all countries are ongoing battles. The work of our forebears has begun the liberation of the LGBT+ community but the fight for equal rights is not over. The first pride was a riot with stones thrown by black trans women, and, although the capitalist commercialisation of recent prides may dilute this core foundation, it is important to remember our collective history.
FEATURES
UNIVERSITY STUDENT AND LGBT+: INTERVIEWS How has you being LGBT+ changed your university experience?
How has LGBT+ Society helped you with your sexual and/or gender identity?
“Although it has allowed me to make a wider range of friends through LGBT+ society, it has been difficult. Trying to understand my gender identity has been an incredibly important part of my university career and, as such, has distracted me from my degree. In addition, the gendered changing rooms has led to me missing out on sporting opportunities for fear of the stress it would cause me”- They/them, pansexual, placement year
“It is a safe space to experiment (labels/pronouns, etc.) [I like] the feeling of having a community in real life and knowing you’re not alone. Plus, it is a great way to gain knowledge of other identities that aren’t your own!”- They/them, pansexual, placement year
“Being LGBT+ has been fundamental to my university experience, I think my time here would be drastically different without it. Being in LGBT+ has made me so much more confident in my queer identity and provided space to explore it further. LGBT+ has done me nothing but good as a trans man.”- He/him, pansexual, second year “Being openly queer at university has been very important to me because I come from a small countryside village, where people would actually come watch me and my girlfriend to see if we'd kiss. Being LGBT+ has been an important part of my university life. I apply queer theories and methodologies in my degree as well. On the other hand, when I came to university, I thought it would be a lot more open-minded. All sorts of people in official positions are dismissive of LGBT+ people and their lived experiences, and I guess they feel okay expressing this around because my appearance doesn't look gay enough. No one seems to challenge these people and their views, so being LGBT+ definitely gives me a different perspective to casualised prejudices than those around me. - She/ her, bisexual, second year
“As a queer woman, being in LGBT+ has helped me with my expression of my gender identity. I always worried about not being gay enough, but LGBT+ society has helped me come to terms with the fact that my appearance not being coded gay does not invalidate my sexuality.”- She/her, bisexual, second year What would you say to yourself knowing all you know now about being LGBT+ at university when you were in first year? “Start going to LGBT+ Society. Don’t worry about needing to perfectly fit a label to give you permission to do what you want. Be honest with yourself and other people. Let your friends know if you are uncomfortable, they’ll surprise you.”- They/them, pansexual, placement year “Be softer with your sexuality. Your housemates aren't going to understand, and that sucks, but you don't have to weaponise it. You won't see these people again next year and it's their problem, if they make a spectacle of you being a woman-loving woman - it's not your job to educate them. LGBT+ people do not have to be activists for their own sexuality.”- She/her, bisexual, second year
February 2019 23
FEATURES
By Madeleine Page
M
y new years resolution? Spontaneity. Thanks Colin Firth.
To paraphrase Colin Firth in the 2009 classic film Mamma Mia, I’m quite spontaneous you know. The reality is that anyone who knows me, knows that, like Colin, I am actually extremely wary of spontaneous decisions. I don’t like surprises, because they’re out of my control. I don’t like impromptu nights out, because it takes me hours to prep myself in order to feel comfortable and ready. I don’t like my birthday, because it’s an opportunity for all of those things to come together, combined with me at the centre of attention, feeling very afraid of all of those things that are out of my control. So, I have about six new year’s resolutions this year: I’ve got all the classics (be healthier, exercise more frequently, be kinder to others) and the trendy (going vegetarian for January, walking rather than driving), but I have also made this late addition which is that I would like to be more spontaneous. It’s my birthday at the beginning of March, and after twenty years of cringing unbearably at the thought, I have finally given my Mum free reign to organise a few days of surprises. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t terrified. But I am a great believer in putting yourself outside of your comfort zone, which is what I did when I
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first came to Bath, and when I started exercising and eating healthier (after a fairly out of control first year) and I’ve learned that there is unparalleled growth to be had from challenging myself like this. And if there’s one thing I want to do year after year, regardless of the resolutions I undertake, it’s grow. The other spontaneous thing I’m hoping to do is *gulp* go on a dissertation-writing break by the sea somewhere. I’m romanticising about swimming in the sea each morning (this is Britain, you’ll freeze), before then writing my dissertation with beautiful sea views (alarmingly I’m describing a similar scene to Colin Firth in Love Actually now – I just need someone who speaks no English to drive me home every night). I could even switch my phone off and ignore the hellish politics dominating Britain and the depressing I-have-no-life-I-have-no-freedom messages from my fellow final year friends. I keep telling myself this is all money dependent (classic student) but the loan has dropped and who cares about rent? You’re only young once, you only have no responsibility in your life once, so when else are you going to be able to just drop everything and go away? The thought of such an adventure would’ve terrified me a year ago, but now I think if I let go of the control I so desperately cling to, I might enjoy it. And who knows, at the end I might actually have a dissertation to show for it. And don’t worry, I will actually pay my rent.
FEATURES
A Dystopian Vi s ion f or
C R I SP R By Rob Brett
Last month the news was filled with reports of a genetically-engineered baby being produced in China by the scientist He Jiankui. It motivated a ton of rightfully angry articles, and the work was described by many as ‘human experimentation’, which, to be fair, it was. The scientist edited a healthy embryo’s genetics with a technology called CRISPR, with the goal of giving the child resistance to HIV. While this sounds very noble, CRISPR is underdeveloped and nowhere near safe enough for implementation in humans. Nobody really knows what effect this kind of manipulation could have on individuals, or on the species as a whole. When radioactivity was discovered, for example, it was marketed as a health product, and people were sold radioactive toothpaste, water, and encouraged to get as much radiation in them as possible. The lesson, which seems to have been learnt, is not to rush in to these things. I’m glad about the response the scientific community had, and caution is thoroughly advised when editing something as complex as the genetic code. Having said that, with a bit more time to develop, CRISPR has the potential to change human life for the better. CRISPR is analogous to having a pair of genetic scissors: it can remove certain genes and add others. Genes are the instructions that define who we are, how we look and, to a certain extent, how we behave. They can also deal us bad hands; genetic disease is
one of the most pressing challenges faced by medicine. Cystic Fibrosis and other genetic disorders could be a thing of the past if this technology matures as we think it will– simply snip out the genes that cause it from a developing embryo. Cancer could also be tackled by inserting genes that boost the immune system, such that cancers become recognisable targets to be eliminated. In theory, the children of the future could be born immune to just about everything that we currently fear developing. We already screen our embryos for disorders such as Down syndrome, and 92% of suspected Down syndrome pregnancies in Europe are terminated. People may protest the inevitable rise of CRISPR as immoral, but ultimately, we want what’s best for our children. As soon as the first genetically engineered child is born to a safe technology, the floodgates burst open - if the neighbour’s child is immune to HIV, why shouldn’t mine be? I’ll also make sure to add in a couple of intelligence boosting genes, and one that makes my son look that little bit more symmetrical in the face and so on. Before you know it, there’s an atmosphere of competition. Giving our children the best start to life may soon begin by purchasing as many advantageous genes as possible before they’re even born. Instead of comparing private schools, the middle-class parents of the future could be equipping their offspring with a genetic advantage, which has the potential to spawn a grossly stratified, and somewhat terrifying, society. This dystopian vision is a while off, but regardless, the discussion needs to begin before we fill the world with three-metre-tall superhumans. February 2019 25
FEATURES
CW: Mental health, self-harm
HOW UNI FAILED ME, yet i am still here
I
n our December issue, Bath Time reported on the findings of a survey that investigated mental health issues universities across the country, including ours. This survey found that generally, Bath students suffer less from mental health issues relative to other Universities. However, the survey also showed that our students suffer more from academic pressure and do not feel nearly as comfortable speaking to members of staff as their peers in other Universities. Following this story, a student got in touch seeking to tell their personal story of suffering with mental health issues at the University of Bath. This is their story. - Anonymous This is a story about my battle with Generalised Anxiety Disorder and the lack of support from the University of Bath. I arrived at the University as an extremely eager Fresher, determined to make the most of every opportunity thrown at me, determined to do all the things I enjoyed. However, things didn't turn out to be as perfect as I expected. I suffered several blows, such as not getting on with my flatmates, breaking up with my college boyfriend, not maintaining the academic standards I expected and failing auditions. The final blow was not achieving a first, or heck, even a 2:1, in my first University exams - all of which knocked the screws out of the box in which my monster resided. At this point, I realised something was wrong with how I was feeling. I was self-harming so that I could feel a physical pain to drown out the negative thoughts in my head and I didn’t consider this anything to worry about because I wasn’t slicing my wrist with a blade, or drawing blood. I was just digging my nails into my thighs and calves until there
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were little crescent shaped bruises on my skin. My closest friend recognised this change in my mental health and suggested I talk to the Uni counselling service. I did this, and they dismissed me to online self-help. The exhausting process was enough to have my monster out of its box and clambering all over me. It made me feel like I didn’t need help or my current state wasn’t serious enough to warrant their attention. Second year threw me back into the stresses of Uni. The content became more difficult and any technical questions had me running a mile. I partied every other night, turning to alcohol to hide from my problems so that I could spend the next day in bed with a justifiable reason. January exams came and went: I got the worst grades I could have imagined. I faced two resits, barely passing my other three subjects. I started to spiral. Results day saw my first panic attack. This was when I finally told my mother about my feelings. I had wanted to show her that I could do this on my own. She was not at all disappointed, as I expected her to be - in reality, she proved to be my voice of reason. She convinced me to book an appointment with a doctor to get a diagnosis: Generalised Anxiety Disorder. I thought the diagnosis would force Uni to give me the support I had been craving. Instead I was advised to suspend my studies, focus on restoring my mental health, and then repeat my second year the following October. To many people, this may sound like good advice, but by dropping out, I was re-confirming the idea that University was the cause of my anxiety. Student Services set me up a Disability Access Plan: outlining the reasonable adjustments my department
FEATURES should make to cater to my needs as a disabled student, including alternative exam arrangements. They then advised I should meet a well-being advisor. They were unable to offer me anything useful, only tell me things I already knew: exercise, eat well, take time for yourself. They were unable to comment on the causes of my anxiety and only give practical advice on how to alleviate it in the short-term. I carried on through the semester with a new-found confidence that helpful procedures were being implemented. I was wrong. January exams left me in the same place as I was the year before: two resits. The same chain of events was happening, and I felt powerless to stop them reoccurring. When I couldn’t name any majorly significant changes, my mother sent a strongly worded email to my Director of Studies, requesting a conversation and threatening a lawsuit on the grounds of disability discrimination. I had a meeting with my Director of Studies, the head of Disability Services, and my mother. Having my mum by my side meant I did not feel as alone. By sharing my thoughts with her, she knew, better than myself, what was in my best interest. One comment from that meeting still haunts me, to paraphrase, my DoS suggested that if I couldn’t hack it here, I should leave and go to a lesser university. They have also been insensitive at other times: they have sent emails that answer half the questions I asked, or with sections written in Caps Lock. This is inexcusable in ordinary circumstances, but especially when being sent to a student with GAD.
That summer I sat the resits and got lucky with passing one of them, but the other I now face resitting for the fourth time alongside my final year units. Things have got better but are nowhere near perfect. I have been failed, but would a better response from the University have made a difference? I cannot say. It would have made my time at university easier and meant that I could have graduated with my friends at the end of last summer. Yet, it has brought me to where I am today: happy, determined, and loving myself. In response to this article, a University of Bath spokesperson said: “We are very disappointed to hear that the level of support we have provided this student has not met their expectations and encourage them to contact Student Services to address the concerns that they have raised and identify how best we can provide the support they need. “At the University of Bath we do everything possible to ensure that all students, including those with mental health concerns or disabilities, are provided with the support that they need to succeed in their chosen course. In partnership with the Students’ Union, are committed to building a caring community which promotes positive health and wellbeing and in which all students feel safe. “We strongly encourage anyone who is concerned with their own or another student’s mental health or wellbeing to contact the Student Services team on 01225 383838.”
If you or a friend need advice or support, Student Services are reachable on 01225383838, in 4 West or via email on studentservices@bath.ac.uk You can also visit the Advice and Support centre on the ground floor of the SU. They are also reachable on 01225386906 or suadvice@bath.ac.uk Nightline can be reached on 01225383030 every night of term and Student Minds run regular sessions that are advertised on their Facebook page. February 2019 27
FEATURES
NOTICING THE By Eve Parker
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ost of us have our own idea of what constitutes the “north-south divide” but if you’re from the Midlands or an international student, you may not understand what all the fuss is about. To be honest, I didn’t get it either until I started applying to universities in the south, and I received puzzled comments like ‘What do you want to go to Bath for?’. But since completing my first semester at Bath and heading back t’ North for Christmas I’ve noticed the divide, and my family and friends back home were intrigued to find out the differences of living down south. In freshers’ week it was the simple things; from the extortionate cost of a pint to the regional rivalries of dialect. My experience of meeting new people came with debates on what you call a ‘bread roll’ (for the record, it’s a ‘bread bun’) and receiving a confused look when suggesting to go down the ‘snicket’ for a quicker route to lectures. Let’s not get started on the pronunciation of Bath. The thought of going home and accidentally slipping ‘Barth’ rather than ‘Baff ’ into conversation fills me with a bit of dread. I’d never hear the end of it. However, little things like regional dialect only scrape the surface of the divide. In the North, there’s no regular transport, let alone opportunities. Hence northerners are more eager to fly the nest than their southern counterparts. So, when it was the time to think about university, I joined the many young school leavers who set their sights to the south of the country. It promised better employment and more graduate jobs in and around London. In fact, 62% of students travel south for university despite the divide in the quality of education that they may have received from secondary school. The reality is that children in London and the South East are 57% more likely to get into universities ranked among the top third than their counter-
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DIVIDE parts in the North. It is proven that if you live in the Midlands or the north, you have fewer chances of attending a good school than children in the south. And I’ve seen this. My secondary school in North Yorkshire was placed into ‘Special Measures’ after Ofsted deemed it as ‘Inadequate’ in 2016, and I’m yet to meet anyone from the south with the same experience. This divide in the quality of education may suggest why students from the north remain unrepresented in southern universities. Obviously, there’s other factors like staying close to home, having a lower cost of living or simply loving a northern city – believe it or not, it’s possible, they’re not all abysmal. But it’s also argued that now overseas students are a major part of the UK student population, overtaking numbers of northern students in some top universities. This education divide is arguably continuing the cycle of the north-south divide in which the stereotypical ‘posh south’ prosper over the disadvantaged from the ‘grim north’. Since moving to Bath, I’ve realised that geography still plays a huge part in shaping young people’s university choices. And, although I’m a born and bred Yorkshire woman, I’m starting to feel at home in the south…even though it’s rare that anyone else shares the same love for chips and gravy.
FEATURES
African foul play pushes it further from football world stage By ben Turner
We all like receiving gifts - how about $65,000? That’s the sum that Ghana’s Football Association president, Kwesi Nyantakyi, accepted as a ‘gift’, also known as a ‘bribe’. Days later he was dethroned, the FA collapsed, and it all went a bit pear shaped. The bribe was captured by a Ghanaian journalist and in a report last summer. Over 80 other African football officials were also caught accepting ‘gifts’ in exchange for favours - these favours ranged from club officials buying certain players, referees favouring a particular team, or even FA representatives signing huge sponsorship deals for personal benefit. Some of the notable officials exposed were Kenyan referee Aden Marwa Range, a prospective referee for the 2018 World Cup, and Nyantakyi himself, who, as well as being the head of Ghanaian football, also sat on FIFA’s Council, presiding over world football. Corruption and football aren’t exactly strangers. Italy had a huge scandal in 2006 and in Belgium, match-fixing claims have emerged as recently as last October. In 2015, fourteen FIFA officials plus the organisation’s president, Sepp Blatter, were removed on charges of fraud and money laundering. However, a big problem with African scandals is that people don’t seem to forget about them easily, by contrast European scandals are often seen as mere blips. These revelations of corruption may heighten Africa’s exclusion from the world stage of football.
Egypt, as well as hugely popular footballing talents such as Mohammed Salah, the African continent has only hosted one out of 23 World Cups – compare that to Mexico’s three. World Cup hosts are decided by the members of FIFA’s Executive Board. Countries place their bids to host the World Cup, and the Board members choose their favourite. Sounds fair, right? Maybe not - during the FIFA vote on the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, two members were suspended for trying to ‘sell’ their votes to the highest bidder. Even South Africa’s successful bid for the 2010 World Cup came after a 10 million dollar ‘gift’ was exchanged between the country’s president and then FIFA President, Sepp Blatter. This gift supposedly went some way in swaying that vote. Now, straight-up bribery may seem a bit rash, but there’s always Morgan Freeman. The US sent him along to the ceremony to charm voters before their bid for the 2022 World Cup, whilst, during another bid, South Africa sent Nelson Mandela. So, if African countries were struggling to get their bids up to scratch with a lack of financial sway and high-profile figures, they now have a corruption scandal, and the disproportionate hostility that’ll follow, to overcome in order to regain the confidence of their footballing peers.
As Danny Jordaan, the head of South Africa’s FA, put it: "It is an old myth that Africa doesn't have the capacity [to host a World Cup]”. Despite being a prominent footballing continent with national teams such as Nigeria, Algeria and
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If you see a homeless person in Bath or your local area and you’re wondering what to do, there are several ways you can help.
This will alert Julian House and other local homeless charities and they will send an outreach worker to engage with them. Other things you could do to help include: Donating to or volunteer for your local homeless charity Talk to a local homeless charity about items or support you could provide
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www.julianhouse.org.uk
Julian House is a charity with limited liability - registered as a society under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014. Registered No. 19305R. Registered Office: 55 New King St, Bath, BA1 2BN.
COVER STORY
HOMELESSNESS:
Keith’s Stor y
By MATT KEMP
During our interview with members of the Julian House team, we were introduced to Keith - a charming employee with a truly inspiring story. Keith grew up in one of the roughest council estates in Bristol - an area consumed by the chaos that comes with serious drug and crime epidemics. The environment in which he grew up shaped him and, with easy access to drugs and many opportunities to make a fast buck, Keith fell into the trappings of addiction and misdemeanour. As such, he found himself in and out of prison, reliant on narcotics and consistently relying on the shelter of the streets. Everyone close to Keith became a victim of his addiction. Heroin, crack, alcohol, amongst many others, became not only his vice, but his primary obstacle to recovery. Only after being given the opportunity to enter a ‘dry house’ - a hostel with strict rules of abstinence from all substances - Keith finally had the environment in which he could detox, ending his 22 years of addiction. Addiction under control, Keith could finally start to reintegrate into a society that had neglected him. He
was offered a position at his local homeless charity St Mungos, working night shifts looking after those that he would have been shooting up with just a few years earlier. This unique position he found himself in manifested into a double-edged sword. On the one hand, whilst he greatly appreciated the opportunity to help those who were in a similar position, the relationship he shared with those clients made things very difficult - being able to see through the lies of an addict. He soon moved to Julian House where his career has gone from strength to strength; looking after 31 clients and operating as an outreach worker several mornings a week. Alongside this, Keith has taken part in many aspects of Julian House’s fundraising having completed sponsored skydives and having participated in sleepouts. Keith has been clean and off the streets for just over 4 years now, a remarkable achievement by all means. Now working with Julian House, he sees potential in the majority of his clients to make the same transition. Reunited with his family, his two daughters and living independently, Keith lives an exemplar life for all those he’s around.
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NEWS & COMMENT
ARCHEOLOGICAL FINDINGS AT BATH ABBEY: standing on top of history By Francesco Masala
B
ath Abbey is a place where history always has one on you; it is an archeological paradise, and the crib of recent discoveries that add yet another layer of depth to the great history of this city. A Heritage Lottery Fund project aimed to repair the Abbey’s collapsing floor and install a naturally-propelled, hot-spring powered heating system, whilst also improving its use and environmental impact. This project led a team of archeologists to unusual and exciting discoveries. Everybody knows everything about little cities. The history, the legends, the famous people that once walked the streets we walk today. Bath, in that respect, seems to be a little, obscure gem that nobody could ever claim to know everything about. Behind the UNESCO heritage banner and the peaceful Georgian architecture in the city centre, Bath holds multiple histories, with so much to discover that Dan Brown could easily write a book about it. Bath is a place that has been driven forward by the astonishment of those that had the chance to live into it (bar Jane Austen, who hated it with all of her heart). It was the presence of the spring waters that drove first Druid communities, then the Romans, to
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establish themselves in the land. It was the discovery of the Roman complex that drove the Georgians to build the vibrant cultural centre in the 18th century. The Saxon cathedral that used to exist there was three times the size of the current Abbey. Bath was of such importance that the first King of Britons, Edgar, was crowned there by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Of particular interest among the recent findings were Saxon charcoal burials, thought to date from the 8th or 9th century. Charcoal burials, rare burial rites, entail putting the body, or the coffin, on, under, or inside a layer of charcoal. Kirsten Egging Dinwiddy, an Osteoarchaeologist at Wessex Archeology, tells us that “during this period, cleanliness of the body and the spirit had religious concerns: charcoal might well have been chosen for its absorptive powers. Charcoal, like ash, was also symbolic of purity and penitence, in these instances perhaps relating to the mourners as much as the deceased”. The history of the Abbey is already filled with many facts, and much drama. The very facade of today’s Abbey, envisaged by Bishop Oliver King, is inspired by a dream he had, in which he saw angels climbing up ladders towards heaven. If you look closely, you will be able to see a couple of angels climbing downwards:
NEWS & COMMENT
that caused a lot of trouble for Bishop King, as the angel facing down was a representation of the devil. The findings by the archeological team add yet another layer to its tumultuous and quirky history. The excavations showed a Medieval tiled floor dating to the 1320s, when a reparation of the Abbey was ordered, with the vibrant colours still intact. Cai Mason, Senior Project Officer, called the discovery “a once-in-a-lifetime find”. An angel head was also recovered, dating from the late-15th or the 16th century. Mason explained that the style of the head resembled Renaissance Italian naturalism, rarely found in this area. It has been theorised the craftsman might have been a sculptor from mainland Europe. Just think: tens thousands of today’s worshippers have walked on such precious heritage for centuries. Next time you’re walking around Bath, look at your feet. Who knows what you might be standing on. Chances are, you’re standing on top of history.
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NEWS & COMMENT
LOCAL NEWS POLICE DISCOVER CANNABIS FACTORY IN BATH On Thursday 24th January a man was arrested after a cannabis plantation was found in a quiet street of Bath. Scientific police investigations found “a cannabis factory containing around 40-50 plants”. The man is in custody on suspicion of producing a controlled drug. ANOTHER SOMERSET CARE HOME FAILS INSPECTION A care home in Weston-Super-Mane was deemed inadequate for living as its vulnerable residents were found in danger of “serious harm”. The surprise inspection came after whistleblowers raised concerns. It found the home dirty, with issues such as unsafe windows and radiators presenting a burn risk. Some residents were being illegally deprived of their liberty, and their dignity was not being respected. One case saw a person being assisted on the toilet with the door open onto the communal area. This inspection comes after a Salvation Army home for the elderly shut on Bathwick Hill last autumn. UK’S ONLY SURVIVING GEORGIAN POOL TO BE RENOVATED IN BATH On the banks of the river Avon are the Cleveland pools, built in 1815, which were a favourite summer destination for a previous generation of bathers. With the advent of indoor swimming, however, the pool fell into disrepair and finally closed in 1984. Now, after campaigning from volunteers, the site has secured £4.7 million from the National Lottery to be reopened. It will feature naturally treated and heated water, with a 25-meter pool, children’s splash area and café. BATH EMPLOYEES TAKE MOST SICK DAYS IN UK, STUDY SAYS
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HR management company BrightHR says Bath workers took, on average, 16 days of sick-leave in 2018. This is the highest amount in the UK, with a national average of 1.3. Top three cities include Bath (16 days), Stirling (10 days) and Bradford (9 days). A BrightHR representative argued the bad weather in March 2018 (Storm Emma), which hit North Somerset, confined parents with young children to their homes as schools were shut. The study also shows employees nationally took nearly twice as many sick days in 2017 (2.3) as they did in 2018 (1.3).
NEWS & COMMENT
THE CASE FOR BRINGING TRAMS BACK TO BATH AND BRISTOL
by Magdalena Rojas
F
or most Bathonians, traffic jams are a part of daily life. As reported in the November issue of Bath Time, there are also illegally high levels of pollution that have been detected in the centre. Although diverse parties have strong opinions on the matter, one solution that has stolen the spotlight: Dave Andrews’ tram implementation. Bath Trams is an initiative that aims to solve the city’s traffic problems by introducing steel wheel trams within the city and between Bath, Bristol, Bristol airport and Chippenham. Although the presence of trams would not eliminate bus services on all routes, it would be a big push towards increasing public transportation usage. Today, 94% of Bath journeys are done in private cars, which generates immense levels of pollution and blocks access to the city. Trams would help reduce pollution and the city’s carbon footprint as well as increase transport efficiency, as they have been shown to be superior in capacity and reliability in comparison to buses. If trams were introduced, it is stipulated that Bath’s economy would benefit for two main reasons: residents would start to rely more on this mode of public transportation, which would be reflected in the ticket prices, and with increased transport facilities, tourist numbers would rise, as well as their expenditure. During the early 20th century, Bath actually had a
functioning tram system, which could now serve as a starting point for the development of a new one. Therefore, the initial investment would not incur high prices. This, together with the fact that operating trams cover their running costs and yield 13% profit (while buses acquire a 52% loss), would account for favourable economic collateral from the project. There are also non-monetary benefits to this: trams would reduce the use of cars and buses, promoting the protection of cleaner air. There have been debates regarding the best procedure to reduce pollution, one of which suggested the introduction of a £9 congestion charge. Politicians decided to rule this one out, dismissing its benefit in fear of losing electoral support in the subsequent elections. The feasibility of the tram project was assessed by different entities, both governmental and private, and have concluded that it is viable to proceed with the venture. Although the project makes big promises, there are some negative aspects to consider. For instance, tram implementation would need overhead wires, which would distort the scenery of the city. Considering that some of Bath’s popularity and social wealth relies on its views and landscape, this is an aspect of the project that should not be dismissed. However, a cost-benefit analysis clearly portrays higher returns from the investment as it would be traffic-easing, cost-effective and low-contaminating. February 2019 35
NEWS & COMMENT
SCIENCE NEWS by TOM LANGER THE UK’S RECYCLABLE PLASTIC DILEMMA Towards the end of 2017, China announced that it would be banning imports of foreign plastic waste as part of its programme to upgrade domestic industries. When this happened, Michael Gove admitted he was slow to spot the potential impacts of this policy. Industry leaders began to wonder where the UK would now send the 500 million tonnes of plastic waste previously sent to China annually for recycling. A year on, we have an answer: first, other countries imported more UK plastic waste to compensate, with Malaysia, Turkey and Poland topping the list. Secondly, it is believed that less plastic waste was produced, with consumers becoming more environmentally aware (dubbed the ‘Blue Planet Effect’). The impact of this effect is hard to measure because although UK plastic waste exports did decrease from 683 kilo-tonnes from October 2016-2017 to 611 from October 2017-2018, the UK also processed more of its own recyclable plastic waste. As positive as this sounds, some councils simply incinerate 80% of collected waste (including recycling) and it is impossible to be sure what happens to recyclable waste that has been exported abroad. While the Blue Planet Effect is an encouraging start, the UK clearly still has a long way to go before we can take pride in our recycling.
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NASA CRAFT REACHES DISTANT SNOWMAN-SHAPED OBJECT NASA’s New Horizons craft, which was launched 19th January 2006, has survived its fly-by of Ultima Thule, a 21 mile long, snow-man shaped object in the Kuiper belt, approximately 6.5 billion km from Earth. It travelled at speeds of 14km/s, within 3,500 km of Ultima, whilst a collision with anything larger than a pea could easily have wrecked the craft but, on 1st January, New Horizons sent back a signal that it had survived and updated its on-board memory. Due to the slow rate of data transmission from the Kuiper Belt, it will be 20 months before all the data has been received, but it is hoped that this information will help us better understand the beginning of the solar system. ULTRA-RARE MADAGASCAN DUCK SAVED FROM EXTINCTION The Madagascan pochard, thought to be extinct from 1991 to 2006, has just been given a new lease of life. When rediscovered in 2006, only 25 remained, notably in a habitat that was not ideally suited to them. After a decade of work from charities, conservation groups and Madagascar’s government, involving the capture of pochard eggs and raising of chicks in captivity, a new pochard colony will be established in Lake Sofia (northern Madagascar), where they will be protected by the local villages. We can only wish them the best of luck and hope that this is a successful first step in bringing this species back from the brink of extinction.
NEWS & COMMENT
Controversy around plans for new Bath Rugby Recreational Ground
by Henry Somper
F
ull plans for a new Bath Rugby Stadium have been unveiled and if approved, would increase the capacity of the current Rec from 12,500 to 18,000. Stadium for Bath is leading the project and has emphasised that the stadium will be a multi-purpose, community-focused facility, helping to ease concerns of local residents. Community benefits will include a 700 capacity underground car park open to the public on non-match days, and a fully or part-artificial pitch creating a space for music concerts and other Bath-based events. The new West Stand is also set to be home to a food-hall in order to help promote the city’s food scene. With the proposed stadium set to inject £10 million per year into the city, with a further £10 million per year from visitors, how can anyone knock it? Alas, the newly proposed stadium has not been without its controversy. Being the first four-sided stadium of its kind to be built in Bath, many have questioned
the effects such a bold development will have on the surrounding views, especially from Pulteney Bridge. Anything that risks detracting from the beauty of the Roman-built World Heritage site will surely spark anger amongst residents. To quash such concerns, a special roof should help to reduce the external visual impact of the stadium and improve the spectators’ views. Other exciting features include a regeneration of the Avon’s riverside, which runs along the stadiums West Stand. Plans are for this stand to be pushed back 17 metres, making way for a new riverside park to house some of the cities local artists and performers. Sustainability will also be an important aspect of the designs, which include solar-panels and electric car charging ports. Whether you’re a fan of the project or not, the final decision rests with Bath and North East Somerset Council, who are expected to receive a planning application early this year. February 2019 37
NEWS & COMMENT
Japan lifts ban on WHALE HUNTING, leaving IWC Japan factory ship Nisshin Maru whaling a mother and her calf. (Australian Customs and Border Protection Service)
By Mannal Ajaz
W
hile whales have been hunted in Japan for centuries, their consumption escalated after the Second World War, when meat was rare. A ban instigated by the International Whaling Commission in 1986 put an end to this practice. In December, however, Japan announced that it would officially resume commercial whaling starting July 2019. The announcement means Japan will be able to freely hunt species that are currently protected under the IWC. Whaling is conducted in order to extract blubber, which is processed to make oil and meat, popular in Japanese traditional cuisine. Japanese whaling began in the 1890s when Japan began to participate in the modern whaling industry. Despite the 1986 ban, Japan has still managed to carry out whaling, allegedly under a ‘scientific research program’. Data from the
BBC suggests thousands of whales have been killed in Japanese waters since the ban, supposedly for scientific purposes. Government spokesman, Yoshihide Suga, has stated that commercial whaling is to be carried out only in Japanese territorial waters and economic commercial zones; further, Japan will also be leaving the IWC. While the country has tried to come to a settlement with the IWC on whaling laws, this has proved unsuccessful. Solutions for Japan have also been speculated to include starting up its own international organization, that, with enough signatories, would coexist with other groups of pro-whaling nations, such as the North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission (Nammco). The announcement has drawn heavy international criticism, notably from Australia’s Foreign Minister, Marise Payne, and Environment Minister Melissa Price who were both "extremely disappointed" with Japan's decision.
ENVIRONMENT: CITIZENS TAKE THE LEAD TO SUE THEIR GOVERNMENT By Lewis Boulton
with more than two million signatures Apetition is blaming the French government for negligence
over climate change. NGOs are looking to formally sue the government for breaching its international commitments. The petition comes months after the shock resignation of then-Environment Minister Nicolas Hulot. Mr Hulot, who resigned after denouncing the government for a lack of action in addressing climate
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change, is a popular journalist and well-known environmental activist, and joined the government in 2017 after President Macron’s election victory. However, the postponement of nuclear energy withdrawal and a perceived lack of environmental safeguards in the EU-Canadian trade agreement CETA cancelled out his successes, such as the termination of an airport project and the banning of cancerous herbicides. Mr. Hulot resigned live on air without warning, stating “I do not want to lie to myself anymore”. Current Minister of Ecology, François de Rugy,
NEWS & COMMENT
affirmed he was “happy” about citizens’ engagement with climate issues in a newspaper column, but stressed that “greenhouse gases will not be reduced in a court of law”. Speaking to France 24, climate activist leaders supporting L’Affaire du siècle, such as the writer and director Cyril Dion and the academic Clémence Dubois, have expressed their surprise at the speed of the movement’s growth, but not at the large-scale move to action itself. Ms. Dubois argued that Hulot’s resignation had “resonated with a lot of people”, with many angry at the government for “not fulfilling its international commitment”. Mr Dion linked an increase in climate activism with the European heatwave in 2018, which saw sustained high temperatures throughout the continent. He added that the burden
should not be placed on poorer citizens when it is the richest who have “the highest carbon footprint”. According to Dion, NGOs will sue the government on the basis of its likely failure to reach EU targets for carbon and renewable energy consumption. This is not without precedent; similar charges brought against the Dutch government were upheld by the national courts, forcing the government to adopt stricter legislation to meet their targets. If the courts rule in favour of the environmentalists, the President must decide who will shoulder the costs of a crackdown on carbon emissions. After cutting taxes for higher incomes and fighting unions on labour reforms, President Macron has been dubbed by many as a “President for the rich”. While the President has stressed the importance of these reforms to promote economic growth, the gilets jaunes movement has embodied this anger with riots and protests in the streets. To maintain France’s international commitments to environmental protection, it seems likely that the President will face a difficult decision, which risks provoking further ire amongst both businesses and voters.
Organic food not climate-friendly, study reveals By Ellie Carsley
A new study conducted by Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden has found that organic food is actually worse for the environment. Organic food production produces a lower yield per hectare than conventionally-farmed foods due to the lack of fertilisers. To produce the same amount of organic food, farmers therefore need more land. Greater land usage, however, results in higher carbon dioxide emissions through deforestation. Because of this, the climate footprint for organic farming is greater than conventional farming’s footprint, because it uses more land. For example, the study found that organic peas have a climate impact 50% higher than conventional peas, purely due to the land required to produce the same yield.
requires much more land and results in the same problem. However, the study does not advocate that conscientious customers simply switch to non-organic produce. Instead, it suggests being aware of the impact different types of food have. For instance, eating organic beans or organic chicken is much better for the climate than to eat conventionally produced beef. It is about selecting the foods with the smallest negative impact on a number of grounds: climate, animal welfare and health benefits, among others. Ultimately, organic food is not environmentally friendly, but it’s not always a foe, either.
It doesn’t stop at vegetables: organic meat and dairy products are worse for the environment, too. These products use organic plant-based feedstock, which February 2019 39
NEWS & COMMENT
VENEZUELA: A 61-YEAR CYCLE? By Magdalena Rojas
escalate quicker than inflation in VeneProtests zuela, which tells you something considering the
number reached 10 million percent last year. January has been a tumultuous month for both the government and civilians. Nicolas Maduro took office once more after a bumpy re-election: it was postponed several times and even then, results were disproved by domestic parties and international groups. There are only nine countries who recognise the mandate and among those who do not, the EU, USA and Grupo Lima (a Latin American conglomerate that includes Argentina and Brazil) have all deemed his candidacy invalid due to corrupt means and practices. The president of the National Assembly, Juan Guaidó, declared himself the legitimate national president and on 13th January 2019 was abducted by forces associated with Maduro. Although he was soon released, the succession of events has not passed under the radar and Venezuela has since been under the scrutinising eye of the world media. 23rd January 2019 marked 61 years of the creation of the civic-military alliance, an extended political era that ended with Marcos Perez Jimenez’s dictatorship. On this day, history marked a breaking point in the political structure of the country, opening the space for more democratic practices. This year, the masses have congregated in the streets to engage in protests and demonstrations of aversion.
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Since 2013, when Maduro’s first mandate begun, 50 000 protests took place in Venezuela. This one, however, is different: aside from the country’s increased isolation, there are three main reasons for believing the most recent protests are extraordinary. First, Juan Guadió embodies the new, politically-engaged generation who are striving to see the country implement a constitutionally-protected democracy. His party wants to unite the opposition to be able to overthrow the current government and create an alliance from which a transitional government can flourish. Second, the military, once aligned with the current government, has started to turn and show their discontent at the lack of democratic choices Maduro’s cabinet have been making. This is worth noting because divisions within the army have the potential to cause further instability in the current government. Lastly, inhabitants of low-income neighbourhoods, traditionally aligned with the government, have now joined in the protests with vigour. This is a clear representation of how the discontent is ingrained within the lower-middle social classes, a demographic that used to be a crucial support for the government’s cause. Venezuela now stands at a pivotal moment in time. The path that the opposition wants to follow is under the guidance of democratic exercises; the international community is rejecting Maduro; and the civilians are becoming continuously more involved.
NEWS & COMMENT
COMMENT
TRUMP: A SUCCESS FOR THE US ECONOMY?
By Genevieve Redgrave
A
side from single-handedly keeping the fast food industry afloat and rivalling Lord Sugar’s “you’re fired”, the reality of Donald Trump’s (pre-White House) business acumen left much to be desired. Hailing himself as the saviour from Wall Street rather than Capitol Hill, the truth sings a little more to the tune of six bankrupt businesses and a defunct University, even despite that “small loan of $1 million”. Yet as his campaign mandate falls apart, perhaps the promise to restore the sluggish US economy may be the one truth spoken amongst a fog of deceit. For the first time since the 2009 crash, average hourly earnings have crossed 3% and 3.9 million more Americans have joined the workforce – the lowest unemployment rate since 1969. But it’s easy to look at these figures and question how much can be attributed to Trump. Despite his controversies, the tax cuts he implemented (worth $1.5 trillion) have caused business confidence to rise to a high of 62 and the stock market to jump to 27% amid a wider $1.4 trillion growth in the economy. However, alongside this, investment is currently rising at the weakest pace in two years and structural unemployment is spiralling in the middle belt manufacturing industry that he so promised to fix. But was that not China’s fault?
The slowest Chinese growth in three decades is undoubtedly going to go to the President’s head; I can already see the tweet declaring himself victorious in the trade war he started against ‘unfair Chinese trading practices’. Yet in a globalised economy, these tend to create neither winner nor loser and as negotiations look likely to fail, it is expected that over $267 billion of Chinese goods will receive a 25% tariff. For businesses that rely on exports, the counter-tariffs are going to hit hard and could stop the long-needed investment that so many small American businesses need. This is not and will not be a victory to the US economy; instead it is a dangerous game that is foolishly risking a global downturn all in the name of political gain – an incessant record player in Trump’s administration. This is Trump’s style. In fear of being a ‘loser’, he does not back down, regardless of what it means for millions of people, notably in the context of the recent government shutdown. Trump has grown the US economy at an unprecedented level despite what you might think of him; however, this can’t last too long, as trade war threats and petty political games plague his administration. The longer he puts himself ahead of the country he got put in charge of, the harder this wall of economic success is going to come crashing down on him. February 2019 41
NEWS & COMMENT
COMMENT
THE YELLOW VESTS’ RADICAL TURN
By ÉLIE BRETON DES LOŸS
I
n the December issue of Bath Time, I asked what would happen with the Gilets Jaunes, a movement that has been sweeping France since November. At the time it seemed unclear whether the momentum would die or grow stronger. Recent events have proved that the anger is still deeply rooted and that the Yellow Vests are still a vigorous force; yet it seems that the movement we face today is not the one we once knew. Macron’s concessions, insufficient for some On the 10th December, after the fourth wave of protest gathered 130,000 protestors, Macron announced concessions to appease the nation: dropping the new tax on fuel, raising the minimum wage and offering exemptions on overtime. This did not satisfy everyone, however and Macron’s announcement marked a more radical turn in the Yellow Vests protest, as its popularity started to decrease, and serious incidents occurred. Fake news and attacks on the press Many protestors have complained about the way the press portrays the movement and have acted against journalists, through threats, blocking printing houses and even booing the AFP (a highly regarded source of news). All this while praising RT France, a Russian international news channel allegedly controlled by Putin. It goes without saying that, as an amateur journalist, I cannot agree with people who attack the press and bully journalists because they do not agree with them. Politicians like Jean-Luc Mélenchon
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(radical left) have also contributed to this anti-press sentiment by saying that the hatred of the media was justified. By attacking the press, the Gilets Jaunes and certain politicians have shown signs of fascism that could well threaten our institutions. Moreover, on several occasions, we saw thousands of people sharing fake news stories on their feeds about the President, the police and more. The ‘leaders’ of the movement, like Eric Drouet or Maxime Nicolle, are notorious for their conspiracy theories: they have, for instance, accused the government of being responsible for the December terrorist attack in Strasbourg, which killed five people, as a way of distracting public attention. Stories such as these provide fertile ground for a climate of lies and fear, and, as a result, democracy is threatened. It is thus crucial that organisations like the AFP continue their fact-based work to debunk fake news. Towards greater democracy? My final worry is where the movement is heading. No one knows what the group’s demands truly are. Many protestors have talked about the RIC (Citizens’ initiative referendum) as a way to solve problems in France. If this were to happen, it would mean citizens could start a referendum on any and all topics imaginable, suggesting that crucial legislation like gay marriage or abortion could be challenged again. While I do agree with making government more representative, the RIC seems like a dangerous idea.
NEWS & COMMENT Overall, the Gilets Jaunes movement is a real headache. On one side, we must condemn the actions of certain protestors who have tainted the movement (and hurt democracy itself) whilst being careful not to put all protestors in the same basket. Even if today it seems hard to understand what they hope to achieve, we must realise that France has ignored the working classes far too often, choosing to rule with an elitist outlook. Emmanuel Macron, often deemed as ‘the President for the rich’, seems to have understood the heavy criticism he has faced, and has now started a national discussion that will last three months, in order to collate the worries and ideas French people share. This is the first step towards a more understanding democracy, and we can only hope that peace will resume.
Germany approves intersex option for official documents By Harry Bridge
O
n January 1st Germany became the first EU country to allow people to choose a third gender option on birth certificates. In a landmark move, individuals who are born as intersex or identify as transgender of non-binary will be able to register and identify as “divers” (which in Germany roughly translates to ‘other’ or ‘miscellaneous’) instead of having to decide between male and female. This ruling follows a decision by federal judges in 2017 who stated that the current system breaches rights and anti-discrimination laws. However, individuals will still need medical confirmation in order to choose this option. ‘Intersex’ is an umbrella term that covers any condition resulting in a person being born with a sexual anatomy that isn’t binary (either male or female). Often, individuals who exist as non-binary have been left feeling isolated due to a lack of acceptance and recognition. Many are also forced to undergo painful and irreversible (yet unnecessary) surgery to
fit a binary gender option. This has contributed to very high suicide rates among non-binary individuals. This new ruling allows for greater acceptance with the campaign group ‘Third Option’ hailing it a “major step with regard to visibility and legal equality”, although they disagreed entirely with the medical approval clause.
50% of openly transgender/non-binary people have attempted suicide While many were very happy with the new ruling, some going so far as to say it was a “small revolution”, others criticised it for not going far enough in fully recognising gender diversity. These sentiments are echoed by those believing medical approval may result in both trauma and a reinforcement of the “antiquated” biologically essentialist definition of gender. Whether this measure goes far enough or not, this move is widely accepted as a step in the right direction and opens the door to even greater acceptance for those who need it.
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We know you’re still tentatively lingering at the STV reception, desperate to be the first in the new gym. Hang in there, good things come to those who weight...so perhaps try lifting a small flatmate. That’s if you haven’t already failed at picking them up..
This is the month that will change your life. That special someone will get down on one knee, look into your eyes and present you with a ring. Whether it has smoked salmon and cream cheese or bacon and brie, your SU bagel will be worth all of Ariana’s seven.
It’s going to be a season of coffee. You’ll be having a whole latte fun this month. Turn those americanos into america..yes(?) es and and you’ll wonder where this drink has bean all your life. It’s sure to help in those moch(a) interviews.
The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him (or her) as his equal, but he(or she) will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives.
Meet me at score. By the bar. 11:30. *winky face*
Your secret admirers posts are proving fruitless. Tinder will dry up soon too. Eventually the only excitement left in your life will be found in reading the Bath Time erotica section. Keep up the secret admirers posts though, we enjoy reading them.
Will you manage to make it to lectures this semester? The stars show you will write them off as useless once again as you realise you can watch them on panopto at double speed and get as much out of it. The question then becomes, will you make it out of bed this semester? The stars have no answer.
You will read Bath Time cover to cover and not regret it for one second… maybe a couple of thousand though.
Valentine’s Day will bring you some beautiful flowers… no, some beautiful flour! Get baking, don’t dread the bread, don’t fake the homemade cake! Sweet treats will bring you some sweet thangs.
You’ll have your fifteen minutes of Fame. That’s right, you’ll be kicked out of Komedia on a Friday in no time; no one’s dancing should be so scandalously brilliant.
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You will become more invested in the mathematical aspects of your degree. You’d better start teaching yourself Greek and purchasing squared paper because the obsession will grab you quickly. You’ll find formulae in everything. Goodbye Christmas, hello BIDMAS.
Exams are up! Semester 2 is upon us-you’re halfway there! Take my hand, we’ll make it I swear!
LIFESTYLE
EROTICA: Getting Steamy at 4W Café By LGBT+ Society Committee Chastity, a young, ambitious yet innocent young woman explores the intimate pleasures of being a University of Bath student.
rowing team. “Yes…. please,” she stuttered. “Coming.”
Chastity yearned to cease the pounding in her head after a long, hard day of revision. Craving sweet relief, Chastity headed to Four West Café, innocent to what she would receive. Crossing the threshold, she felt the room’s warmth spread throughout her body, and inhaled the heady aroma of freshly ground Fairtrade coffee beans. Chastity knew she would be in for a treat.
Chastity admired the skilled hands of the barista as she masterfully prepared the brew. She fantasised about what else those hands could do. “How hot can you take it?” murmured the mysterious barista, looking up at Chastity with her piercing green eyes.
Timidly approaching the counter, Chastity pictured the steaming hot cappuccino she was about to order - she had fantasised about it all day. The barista faced away from her, but that didn’t stop Chastity from expressing her desires.
“As hot as you can give it,” replied Chastity in a husky tone.
“A large mocha, please.”
“Don’t keep me waiting,” answered Chastity. “I’m impatient.”
Turning to face her, the barista stole Chastity’s breath away. “Heavy on the cream?” Chastity was taken aback by the barista’s stunning green eyes and her long, dark hair. Her toned, tan and lean figure marked her only on par with the
The barista smirked. “Sit down. I’ll come give it to you in a minute.”
Sat at a table, Chastity watched the barista saunter over, expertly handling the creamy sweetness. Delivering the drink, she leaned closer into Chastity and whispered into her ear: “I can give you a bigger sugar rush.”
INTEGRATION PROBLEM New Year, new Maths challenge! Dust off those calculus cobwebs and give these two integration problems a go!
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WHAT’S ON Women in science with dame janet thornton
Weds 13th Feb- 2:15-3:15, Milner Centre for Evolution Dame Janet Thornton from the European Bioinformatics Institute talks about challenges she has faced as a woman in science, and her current projects.
SU Officer Elections - voting opens
Tuesday 26th February, 2:15pm - 11:59pm Your vote counts! Visit our elections page to get involved in the SU Officer elections.
Student Volunteering Week 2019, V TEAM 11th February 9am-16th February 5pm Student Volunteering Week is an annual, national, event that gives student volunteers an opportunity to celebrate the volunteering that they are undertaking alongside promoting charities and their volunteering opportunities.
Bath Farmers’ Market
Green Park Station, February 16th Quality, fresh and seasonal produce at fair price
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SU Officer Elections
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Nominations close Tuesday 19 February 2019 at 12:00 Voting Opens Tuesday 26 Feburary 2019 at 14:15 Voting closes Thursday 28 February 2019 at 22:00
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/unibathtime www.unibathtime.co.uk su-bathtime-editor@bath.ac.uk Office: 1E 3.12