City OnTopic - Halloween Issue by City OnTopic

CITY ONTOPIC MAGAZINE REGULAR | FEATURE

ISSUE #02 OCTOBER 2013

QUIZ: WHAT’S YOUR BEST TRAIT? 5 TOP TIPS FOR A GREAT CV CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Sex AND THIS City

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

CITY SPEAKS LONDON’S SCARIEST PLACES

BEST HALLOWEEN COSTUMES COSTUMES ON A BUDGET

@CITYONTOPIC

EDITOR’S NOTE

ello! You’re holding Issue Two of your university magazine, City OnTopic. Now that we’re all settled in to the academic year, it’s time to have a bit of fun.

Halloween’s just around the corner and we have packed the mag with all the scariness, spookiness and strangeness you need! It’s been a busy month but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with the team to make this issue bigger and better. Halloween is our theme this month and you can find out about its origins, costume ideas and the scariest places in London. We’ve also celebrated Black History Month by chatting to City’s Black and Ethnic Minority Officer, Natalia Rajapakse – see what her plans are for the year ahead on page eleven. Some of our fantastic contributors are making their début as spooky cover models for this issue – big thanks to Soumya Shetty, Sam Gould, Alice Pagano and Jeroen Oskam, and of course to our Pictures Editor Daven LaWayne, for their enthusiasm – we

had lots of fun doing the shoot and I hope you like the results! You can check out behind-the-scenes snaps on our website: www.cityontopic.co.uk. We have a great network of alumni at City University London. Congratulations to Ellie Austin and the XCity team for their Professional Publishers’ Association nomination – you can read more on page five and find out what her City experience meant to her on page seven. Don’t forget if you’d like to become part of the City OnTopic team, you can join our Contributors’ Group at www.facebook.com/groups/cityontopiccontributors/. I’d love to have you on board! Enjoy reading. Let me know what you think on City OnTopic’s Facebook and Twitter pages! Marése CORRECTION: We would like to correct the name of the international student from Issue One – apologies to Christy Chamy – and also to credit Elliot Cass for his sport piece.

CONTENTS 04 06 07 11 13-15 18

STUDENT MEDIA : CITY ONAIR WHAT’S COMING UP AND CITY ONSCREEN CITY ONTOPIC TOP TIPS FOR QUITTING SMOKING FIVE TOP TIPS FOR A GREAT CV SU POLITICS : CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH EXCLUSIVE HALLOWEEN SPREAD

FANCY DRESS: IN BAD TASTE OR JUST A LAUGH?

21 26 28 30 33 34

CREATIVE CORNER

WHAT I’M REALLY THINKING: THE VIOLINIST HOW TO MAKE HALLOWEEN COSTUMES ON A BUDGET THREE TASTY HALLOWEEN RECIPES

FIVE KEY TIPS FOR AN ACTIVE WORKOUT

PROFILE: LONDON FIGHT FACTORY

CONTRIBUTORS ELLIE AUSTIN, ANDREA BAERLAND, SALMAAN BHOGADIA, ZACHARY BOREN, KATHRYN BROMWICH, INGRID BRUBAKER, ELLIOT CASS, CHRISTY CHAMY, JENNI CHATTAWAY, JACOPO CIUFOLI, YASMEEN COHEN, BERND DEBUSMANN, JAMES DUTTON, PAYAM EDALAT, NIALL FITZMAURICE, HANNAH FLINT, ANN FOO, MORGAN FURY, MISHA GAJEWSKI, LAURA GOEHLER, CATHERINE HARDY, SASHA HELVETE, JOSH JACKMAN, HELEN JEYAKUMAR, HABIBA KHANOM, DAVEN LAWAYNE, SAM GOULD, DANIELLE LOWE, KATIE MARSTON, JACOB MIGNANO, ANDREW MILBORROW, ALI MILLINGTON, FREDDIE NATHAN, RO, ROISIN O’CONNOR, JASMIN OJALAINEN, JEROEN OSKAM, MARÉSE O’SULLIVAN, ALICE PAGANO, ARNELLE PATERSON, ARIANA PÉREZ, JESSICA PERRY, SARAKSHI RAI, NATALIA RAJAPAKSE, SASHA RASPOPINA, ALEX REGAN, ELLE RUDD, JOSEPH SCRIMSHIRE, SOUMYA SHETTY, VILI SKARLOPOULOU, MEAGHAN SPENCER, ANNE STEINBACH, CHRIS SUTCLIFFE AND ALEX WOOD. WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/CITYONTOPIC OCTOBER 2013

WWW.TWITTER.COM/CITYONTOPIC

WWW.CITYONTOPIC.CO.UK

M A R É S E O’SULLIVAN ONTOPIC EDITOR/Theatre and Literature Editor @MARESEMARTHA EDITOR.CITYONTOPIC@GMAIL.COM

A N N F O O ART DIRECTOR

@FOOOZY DESIGNER.CITYONTOPIC@GMAIL.COM

N T O

H A N N A H F L I N T Co-Features and Opinion Editor

@HFLINT FEATURES.CITYONTOPIC@GMAIL.COM

CATHERINE HARDY Co-Features and Opinion Editor

T T

R O I S I N O ’ C O N N O R Music Editor

J O S H J A C K M A N Sports Editor

@ROISIN_OCONNOR MUSIC.CITYONTOPIC@GMAIL.COM

@JOSH_JACKMAN SPORTSEDITOR.CITYONTOPIC@GMAIL.COM

A R N E L L E P A T E R S O N Fashion Editor

SARAKSHI R A I Social Media Editor

FASHION.CITYONTOPIC@GMAIL.COM

@SARAKSHI

@CATHFHARDY FEATURES.CITYONTOPIC@GMAIL.COM

C O N G R AT U L AT I O N S TO OUR NEWEST TEAM MEMBERS! K A T I E M A R S T O N NEWS EDITOR

@KATIEVMARSTON NEWS.CITYONTOPIC@GMAIL.COM

H E L E N J E Y A K U M A R SU Politics and Campus Activities Editor

H A B I B A K H A N O M Health and Fitness Editor @HA_BI_BA HEALTHANDFITNESS.CITYONTOPIC@GMAIL.COM

DEPUTY EDITOR: Roisin O’Connor ONLINE EDITORS: Danielle Lowe and Andrea Baerland PICTURES EDITOR: Daven LaWayne

SUPOLITICS.CITYONTOPIC@GMAIL.COM

A R I A N A P É R E Z DEPUTY NEWS EDITOR @ARIANAP810 NEWS.CITYONTOPIC@GMAIL.COM

J E N N I CHATTAWAY Film and Comedy Editor

F R E D D I E N A T H A N Sports Editor

@FREDDIENATHAN SPORTSEDITOR.CITYONTOPIC@GMAIL.COM

@BUMCHINNIAN ARTS.CITYONTOPIC@GMAIL.COM

@CITYONTOPIC

NEWS | REGULAR

STUDENT MEDIA • In collaboration with City OnTopic, we’ve launched The Magazine Show, which will preview the fantastic content to be published in each edition. We’ll chat with the editorial team and get a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into the magazine production. • Ever felt puzzled when a discussion with a group of friends turns to something you haven’t a clue about? Then ‘Plugged In’, our brand new tech and gaming show, is for you! Say goodbye to those awkward silences as our presenters explore all the latest developments and innovations in the industry. Our first episode kicked off with discussions surrounding the latest game releases.

CITY ONAIR: WHAT’S COMING UP BY PAYAM EDALAT

New content every weekday and programmes across a range of topics. City OnAir is YOUR student radio station, providing you with entertaining yet informative content. We strive for perfection and deliver continuity. As well as the regular long-running shows our listeners have come to love, we’ve also launched four new shows with a couple more in the pipeline. We maintain the high standard our listeners expect. We’ve welcomed proposals from several groups keen to get involved which have now morphed into reality. Here are just some of the newest additions to the City OnAir programme portfolio:

• Gossip is something we all want to be clued up on but never want to admit! So give ‘Everything Showbiz’ a listen, the perfect way to quench your thirst for gossip. • Want a break from beans on toast, but just don’t know where to eat out on a student’s budget? Or maybe you want to catch a movie, but don’t know which to pick? Lend an ear to ‘Random Reviews’, they’ll let you in on their not-so-appetising experiences so you don’t have to suffer too! We have lots more, including podcasts from all our shows, details of which can be found on our website: www.cityonair. co.uk. Give us a follow on Twitter so that you never miss an episode again @cityonair. Feel free to contact us if you would like to know more about City University’s ‘Media Outlet Of The Year’ (2011 and 2012, with your help, 2013 too!). Payam Edalat, @payamedalat Deputy Editor, City OnAir

This coming month City OnScreen is launching FIVE new shows! The Culture Show Taking a more journalistic approach, these shows explore and unravel the different cultural aspects of London. With a range of interviewees, from street artists to Swedish rock singers, the show will be revealing a different theme every month.

CITY ONSCREEN

BY YASMEEN COHEN IMAGE KRISTINA KASHTANOVA

OCTOBER 2013

The Investigators This quirky presenter-based show will provide you with the best coverage on anything and everything that’s going on around campus. Parties, events – you name it, The Investigators will be there with a camera.

diverCity We create news, entertainment, factual and investigative programmes about the university and wider world. English with cool people This is an education show targeting our international students who, like many English speakers, would like to know the hidden meaning behind British expressions. City Talent Focusing mainly on our City musicians, we aim to help showcase our talented students on campus in high quality music videos. To find out more, look us up www. cityonscreen.co.uk or drop us an email at cityonscreen@hotmail.com.

REGULAR | NEWS

CULSU CONFIRMS EXTENDED LIBRARY HOURS BY ARIANA PEREZ

N E W S

Successful lobbying by the City University London Students’ Union (CULSU) has secured the 24/7 opening hours of the library during exam periods. Senior management had been discussing the prospect of reducing the opening hours to keep local residents happy and minimise noise pollution.

NEWS IN BRIEF BY KATIE MARSTON

• A free pop-up university from Tech City, City UnRulyVersity, kicked off this year’s events on October 16. Free sessions every Wednesday evening 6pm-8pm. Follow @ CityUnruly or go to cityunrulyversity.com • Wondering about all the ﬁlming earlier this month outside College Building? BBC One was filming hit legal drama Silk • Building renovations continue. Adversely affected? Tweet @CityOnTopic and let us know your views • Quick-to-use PCs have made an appearance in the Library, with time limited to 15 minutes to help beat the queues • City’s been considering potential staff redundancies, including lecturers and admin staff, amid university reforms

However, the extended library hours service will continue to be offered for the foreseeable future, after a survey was conducted by the Students’ Union over the summer. It revealed that 71% of the 368 participants were in favour of maintaining the current pattern of 24/7 opening hours. Giulio Folino, S.U. President, told City OnTopic: “Keeping the 24/7 provision in the run-up, and during, the exam period means that students can study when it is convenient to them. We have a number of international and part-time students who also work. To have the facility available out of usual hours can be very beneficial for them.”

Daniel Idowu, a second-year law student at City University London, revealed: “For me, it’s better because my work schedule sometimes stops me from going to the library in the evening. This way, students can work [...] without having to worry about running out of time, which would pressure them more.” Syaza Ramli, a first-year accounting and finance student, agreed. “Other universities offer this service since it can help those students who live far away,” she said. Derek Mackenzie, City Library’s Head of Customer Services, emphasised that the service will really benefit students and will complement the services already on offer. “[We have] specialist subject support from our enquiry desks, help from staff [with] locating resources, a wide range of printed and electronic resources, and online guides, available through our website.” •

CITY ALUMNI NOMINATED FOR MEDIA AWARDS BY MARÉSE O’SULLIVAN

Two magazines established by former City MA Journalism students have earned nominations in this year’s Professional Publishers Association (PPA) and Periodicals Training Council (PTC) Magazine Academy Competition. XCity and XCity Life were acknowledged in the Best New Student Magazine category. The former is a magazine for journalism alumni of City University while the latter focuses on arts and culture. The awards night was held at The Brewery and hosted by the Chair of the PTC, Jim Douglas, and Chair of the PTC’s Editorial Training Group, Tim Danton. Ellie Austin, former editor of XCity and now a journalist for the Radio Times, was delighted to be nominated. “We had such great feedback when the magazine came out in April and I’m personally so proud of what we produced that, although it would [have been] amazing to win the award, I’m really happy with what we have achieved,” she said. Four MA Magazine Journalism alumni have also been nominated for the British Society of Magazine Editors Awards. 1. SIMON KURS: BRANDED CONTENT CONSUMER, EASYJET TRAVELLER 2. BEN PRESTON: ENTERTAINMENT BRAND, RADIO TIMES 3. TOBY SKINNER: LAUNCH OF THE YEAR, N BY NORWEGIAN 4. SALLY EYDEN: EDITORS’ EDITOR, NOW MAGAZINE

The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on November 11. Want to know what Ellie considers her biggest professional achievement? Turn to our Alumna Q&A with her on page seven.

@CITYONTOPIC

NEWS | REGULAR

CITY ENCOURAGES GLOBAL TECH ADVANCEMENTS WITH EDUCATION ACCELERATOR BY ELLE RUDD

City University London hosted the launch of Europe’s first Education Accelerator programme this month, aimed specifically at technology innovation in education. Set up by the UK’s first education think tank, The Education Foundation, the programme lasts ten weeks. It invites school and college teachers to improve education practices using cutting edge technology, as well as giving the opportunity for businesses to develop their ‘edtech’ products and services. “The support of the City team has been invaluable in getting the EdTech Accelerator up and running,” said Ian Fordham, the programme director. “They’ve been the embodiment of a dynamic and forward thinking university. They are responsive to the needs of education innovators and entrepreneurs - we are delighted to have them as a partner in The Education Foundation’s work and Edtech Club.”

City’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise, Professor John Fothergill, welcomed the Co-Founder of CodeClub, Clare Sutcliffe, and the Principal of Hackney Community College, Ian Ashman, to speak at the launch. Professor Fothergill told City OnTopic: “The EdTech event was very vibrant, enthusiastic and motivating. It was packed with ideas and pushed the boundaries of what can be done with technology for teaching, as well as how to teach technology.” The programme comprises weekly evening sessions on a range of topics from ‘what works in education’ to design and start-up methodology. There will also be several inspiring guest speakers, such as Tom Hulme, the Design Director of the innovation and design firm IDEO, and Sam Chaudhary, the CEO and Founder of ClassDojo. •

CITY STUDENTS TACKLE SMOKING ADDICTIONS FOR STOPTOBER CAMPAIGN BY KATIE MARSTON IMAGE ANDREW MAGILL

The National Health Service is wrapping up its annual anti-smoking campaign, Stoptober. Over 230,000 people had signed up at the time of going to print, a huge increase on the 160,000 people who stopped smoking for the 28-day campaign last year. Second-hand smoke contains more than 4,000 different chemicals, including toxins and irritants, which increases risks for passive smokers as well as regular users. “I did originally plan to quit before summer was over,” said Ashley Cowburn, who’s studying the MA Newspaper Journalism. “It’s a hard habit to kick - especially when you’re drinking.” Responding to City OnTopic enquires, Chris Barnes from the City University London Health Centre recommended that students who want to quit smoking can contact the Health Centre or speak to Islington Smokefree on 0800 093 9030.

Along with Twitter, email and text assistance, smokers determined to quit are supported by many free mobile apps, like Quit It Lite. “I want to congratulate all those at City who took part in this year’s Stoptober!” says Rima Amin, City Students’ Union Vice President. “It’s incredibly difficult to give up an addiction; however, all those who took part clearly recognise the need to look after their bodies first and foremost. I hope the strength and resilience they’ve shown over the past 28 days drives them to stay smoke-free forever! Health is wealth.” After just 48 hours of not smoking, your body will be nicotine free, and stopping smoking for 28 days will increase your chances of quitting completely by five times. If you want to find out more about stopping smoking, check out stoptober.smokefree. nhs.uk. •

CITY ONTOPIC TOP TIPS FOR QUITTING SMOKING: 1

Remove associations: if you associate coffee with smoking, try something different.

Social drinker and a smoker? Try avoiding alcohol during the most difficult days.

Reward yourself and use small milestones.

Use free apps on your phone to track your progress.

Do the math. The NHS smoking calculator is an easy way to see just how much you could save financially. With London rents to pay, that’s no laughing matter. http://www.nhs.uk/Tools/Documents/Smoking%20calculator.html

OCTOBER 2013

REGULAR | CAREERS

CAREERS

F I V E TO P T I P S FOR A GR E AT CV BY MARÉSE O’SULLIVAN

1 - WR I T E A UN I QU E C V F OR E AC H J OB D ES CR IPT IO N Every job is different and requires a unique set of skills. Find out about the company on their website and through social media, talk to representatives, read articles about the latest industry challenges and competitors… Arming yourself with this necessary background information will allow you to tailor your CV to what your future employer is looking for. By providing truthful and relevant information about your abilities and past work, you’re showing how capable you are and you’ve already increased your chances of getting called for an interview.

2 - TA KE T I M E TO S TRU C TU R E YOU R C V If you lay it out effectively, break it up into sub-sections, triple-check spelling and grammar, and include bullet points to enhance its overall look, that effort will be noticed.

3 - C L A R I T Y I S E S S E NTI A L Show off what you’ve done and what you’ve learned in a concise manner – this will show exactly how you can help the company you’re applying to join.

4 - BE B R I E F Your employer’s time is limited and it’s going to take mere seconds to scan the page. You want the key parts of your CV to stand out, so make sure you keep it short and simple. Use active verbs and punchy descriptions.

5 - G R A B YO UR EMP LOYE R ’S ATTE N TI ON WIT H YO UR O R IG INA L IT Y Whether you’ve been dedicated to a particularly unusual sport for years or you’ve mastered lots of transferable skills outside of university, think of something about yourself that makes you stand out – for the right reasons! Show your enthusiasm for the job and how you can bring these talents to it.

ALUMNA INTERVIEW: ELLIE AUSTIN COURSE AT CITY UNIVERSITY LONDON: MAGAZINE JOURNALISM MA YEAR OF GRADUATION: 2013 CURRENT OCCUPATION: EDITORIAL ASSISTANT, RADIO TIMES What is your fondest memory of City? It sounds weird but looking back I loved the nights that we had to stay late in the Journalism Department to work. We were normally stressed about some massive looming deadline but somehow we always found the funny side. That, and Friday evenings at the Blacksmith and Toffeemaker. How has your experience at City contributed to you becoming the person you are today? After a year spent begging strangers to talk to me for various assignments, I have well and truly overcome my fear of the phone. I am also a lot more confident generally. At the start of City I doubted myself a lot and remember thinking that I would never be able to produce something like a patch file. But you always do it. By the end of the year you have done so many weird and wonderful things that you know you can cope with pretty much anything that gets thrown at you. I also would definitely not be in the job I am now without City. Congratulations on XCity’s nomination for PPA Best New Student Magazine. How does it make you feel, as the former editor? I’m thrilled. We had such great feedback when the magazine came out in April and I’m personally so proud of what we produced that, although it would be amazing to win the award, I’m already really happy with what we have achieved.

Tell us more about your current job – and what do you love most about it? I work on the features team at Radio Times and I absolutely love it. I’ve only been here three months but they have been great at giving me responsibility. I’ve already interviewed people like Ray Winstone, Dominic Cooper and Bear Grylls and I’ve got my teeth into some big features as well. It’s also RT’s 90th birthday this month so it’s been a really exciting and busy time to learn the ropes. What achievement in your life are you most proud of? Probably XCity. If you had told me a year ago that I would edit such a professional magazine, packed full of top quality writing, I absolutely would not have believed you. What advice would you give to current City students? Don’t waste time doubting yourself. Pick up the phone and talk to people. Take every opportunity that comes your way even if you think you’re not up to it – you’ll surprise yourself. Make friends with people on all the journalism courses – you’re surrounded by such an interesting group of people. Enjoy it – it is a brilliant year like no other. •

@CITYONTOPIC

CAREERS | REGULAR

C AREERS QU IZ

What ’s y o u r b e s t t r a i t ?

YOU ALWAYS SEE THE BEST IN PEOPLE

S ELF- A S S U RA N C E

OCTOBER 2013

Y ES

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

KI N D N ES S

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

NO <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

<<<<<<<<<<<<

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

<<<<<<<

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

YE S

YOU LOVE WORKING INDEPENDENTLY

YOU’VE NEVER <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< SAID ‘NO’ TO SOMETHING IF YOU CAN HELP IT

YOU TRY YOUR HARDEST TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS EVEN WHEN THAT SEEMS DIFFICULT

<<<<<<

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

YE S

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

UNIVERSITY HAS CHALLENGED WHAT YOU THOUGHT YOUR PRIORITIES WERE <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

YE S

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

YOUR DREAM JOB INVOLVES HELPING OTHERS

YES

YOU ENJOY GETTING WHAT YOU WANT, EVEN IF IT MEANS THAT OTHERS GET HURT IN THE PROCESS

Y ES

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

YE S

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

<<<<

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

D ETER MI N AT I O N

REGULAR | CAREERS

ALEX WOOD COURSE AT CITY UNIVERSITY LONDON: INTERNATIONAL JOURNALISM MA YEAR OF GRADUATION: 2009 CURRENT OCCUPATION: EDITOR AT TECH CITY NEWS

What did you love most about City? Studying and working with colleagues from across the world. I learned not just from their experience but also their different cultural perspectives on journalism. Did your time at City help your career? It’s given me an unrivalled network of connections across the industry and the world. You founded Tech City News earlier this year and it was recently was nominated for a Lovie Award (the equivalent of the Oscars for websites), competing against The Huffington Post and FT. Now you’re about to launch a new print title. Can you tell us more about it? We’re bucking the trend and taking our digital title into print. Launching at the beginning of December, our print edition will be 64 pages of longer form editorial, analysing London’s growing technology sector. We’ll be asking if the hype behind Tech City has turned to reality, and what challenges the world of technology will face in 2014. What inspired you to set up Tech City News? London’s technology sector has boomed in the past 5 years. It was recently revealed over 15,000 new businesses were registered in the past financial year in the EC1V (Old Street,

Clerkenwell) postcode alone. Up until now there was no voice for the sector and no source of unbiased news. I set up Tech City News to be both the first source of quality news and also a community platform, listing over 500 events, 500 company profiles and guest columns from entrepreneurs across London. Japan – and the Japanese language – have had a profound impact on your journalism career. Now, as a Visiting Online Journalism Lecturer at City University, how important do you think it is for journalism graduates to have language skills? Learning a language is more than just learning to communicate with another group of people, it allows you to appreciate another culture and opens you up to another point of view. I don’t get enough of an opportunity to use my Japanese in my day to day career these days, but it has had a profound effect on my career so far and still influences the way I think about things today.

“ ”

I will either find a way, or make one

I’m hugely proud of the Berlin Project [that] I launched with other graduates shortly after leaving City. It was a multimedia reportage of the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, which we successfully pitched to Reuters. We went out with a mission to push the boundaries of online reporting, and were rewarded with an Honourable Mention at the International Journalism Festival in Perugia. What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given, and what advice would you pass on to current City students? I will either find a way, or make one (Aut viam inveniam aut faciam) - Hannibal. I was first introduced to this quote by Marcus Gilroy-Ware, my online tutor while I was at City, and now one of my closest friends. It sums up the way I approach problems in my work every day, and I still believe it to be the best advice I could ever give a student. •

I feel strongly that journalism graduates need a broad range of life experiences and living abroad while learning another language is a great way of doing just that. What achievement in your life are you most proud of?

@CITYONTOPIC

CITYSPEAKS | REGULAR

010

C I T Y S P E A K

WE ASKED STUDENTS AND STAFF : WHAT ARE YOU DRESSING UP AS FOR HALLOWEEN? SASHA HELVETE

LAURA GOEHLER

CULSU GREEN DRAGONS

ANDREW MILBORROW

SARAKSHI RAI

JEROEN OSKAM

TWEET US YOUR ANSWER FOR EVERY ISSUE AT @ CITY ONTOPIC! NEXT UP, WE'RE ASKING: "HOW ARE YOU PLANNING TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS?"

OCTOBER 2013

REGULAR | SU POLITICS

011

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

BY HELEN JEYAKUMAR

1. What inspired you to run for the position of a part-time officer? [To] get more involved with union politics and be in a position to facilitate and lobby changes within the university and union. My motivation behind running for my particular role was to improve the student experience and increase representation for Black and Ethnic Minority students on campus and empower them to have their voice heard.

BLACK AND ETHNIC MINORITY OFFICER: NATALIA RAJAPAKSE

2. The four liberation roles (Women’s Officer; LGBT Officer; Black and Ethnic Minority Officer and Disabled Students’ Officer) previously existed and have now been brought back; how do you think your role can positively impact the current student body? I think this role can only accentuate and embrace the variety and diversity of the many cultural backgrounds we have at City. These roles exist to […] be the driving force in making change!

movie nights, cultural talent shows and employability sessions. Look out for the ETHNICITY NETWORK around campus now! 4. How does being involved with the union as a part-time officer impact your student experience? It has enhanced my student experience. It’s given me confidence, a platform to make a difference, and lots of skills to put on my CV. I’ve gained contacts and support in order to plan and carry out campaigns not only from City University London Students’ Union, but also [from the] NUS Black Students Campaign and London Citizens. I look to forward the rest of my academic year as BME Officer and I’m excited at the prospect of – [and] being part of – making this the best year yet of celebrating cultural diversity at City! • If you’d like to get in touch with Natalia, you can email her at: BMEOfficer@city.ac.uk.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: LONDON HIGHLIGHTS BY MARÉSE O’SULLIVAN

The concluding conference for Black History Month will be held at Voluntary Action Islington, 200a Pentonville Road, on Friday November 1 from 2pm-5pm. You can book your place by contacting info@everyvoice.org.uk. Speakers and panellists will include: • Dr. Robin Whitburn of the University of London and Abdullahi Mohamud will talk about their new book on teaching black history in schools • Tony Warner, Director of Black History Walks • Patricia Lamour, equality/ education specialist and CoFounder of Gender Education and Education Development for Africa • Lela Kogbara, Assistant Chief Executive at Islington Council and Director of Regeneration, Strategy and Partnership.

An intergenerational oral history exhibition has opened at the John Barnes Library, 275 Camden Road. Older people with black and Caribbean backgrounds from Age UK Islington’s Drovers Centre shared their memories with local primary school pupils, who designed artwork and creative writing pieces based on these stories. Launched by the Mayor of Islington earlier this month, you can visit the exhibition at the Library until November 21. The Young Vic will play host to The Scottsboro Boys musical until December 21. Directed and choreographed by five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman, this is the premiere of the show in the U.K., after much success on Broadway. 1931. Nine black teenagers board a train in Scottsboro, Alabama, in search of a new life. By the end of their journey, their lives – and those of every American – would be changed forever.

Accused of an unspeakable crime, their trial would divide a nation. But behind the screaming headlines was the devastating story of nine young men, desperate to prove to the world that they mattered. – The Young Vic Theatre. • If you book in advance as a fulltime student, you may be able to nab a £10 ticket. Make sure to be quick though – the discounted price has limited availability! Head to The Young Vic’s website for more details: www.youngvic.org/whats-on/ the-scottsboro-boys.

S.U. POLITICS

3. What plans have you got in store? I will be looking to create campaigns centred [on] Black History Month, as well as cultural

@CITYONTOPIC

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT COLUMN | REGULAR

012

LIFE OF AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT BY CHRISTY CHAMY

fter countless welcome parties, London finally feels like home. The fantastic welcome party for international students held at the majestic Gibson Hall topped it all off. After Oktoberfest took over town, getting us all happily soaked in beer, we celebrated that the horror of Boot Camp was behind us. For those of you unfamiliar with Boot Camp, it is a week designed for International Journalism students to give us a chance to get our hands dirty in the practice of journalism, as well as learning more about the sophistication (!) of the British press. However, it sometimes felt like it was specifically designed to test our ambitions, hopes and dreams regarding the kind of journalists we want to be. The horrors of the underground system here are as terrifying as Halloween! In Sweden, the festival has been the subject of fierce debate in the media over the years, not least because of its apparent clash with the Christian tradition of paying respect to the saints, which

OCTOBER 2013

“ ”

London finally feels like home

takes place the week before. Those who acknowledge this tradition do so by visiting the graves of friends and family members to pay their respects and light candles. It’s a breathtaking experience: a scene of dancing light from candles and lanterns in the otherwise pitch-dark surroundings. The modern tradition of Halloween itself came to Sweden in the late ’90s, and has increased in popularity over the last ten years. At the moment, Halloween in Sweden is mostly a time where children and adults dress up for parties and dinners, rather than indulging in the ‘trick or treat’ tradition found overseas. Most Swedes save that part for Easter! •

REGULAR REGULAR || FEATURE FEATURE

013

HALLOWEEN AS A TRADITION: WHERE DID IT COME FROM? BY ANDREA BAERLAND IMAGE HANNA HORWARTH

e have reached the bizarre time of year when children, accompanied by their parents, accept sweets from strangers dressed up as vampires, ghosts and werewolves for a night out. Halloween is upon us. And while many take part every October, few are aware of its origins. Halloween is believed to originate from the Celtic festival Samhain, meaning summer’s end, a festival celebrated to mark the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. It was also a time when the spirits of the dead and supernatural powers were thought to have easier access to our world. Though spirits of dead relatives were beckoned to join the feast, evil powers were kept at bay. In Christianity, Hallowmas is celebrated in the same period as Samhain, starting with All Hallows’ Eve (where the word Halloween comes from) on 31 October, followed by All Hallows Day and All Soul’s

Day to honour the saints and pray for the dead on their way to heaven. It was believed that All Hallows’ Eve was the last opportunity for the soul of the dead to get revenge over any living person who might have wronged them. In fear of being

recognised by a vengeful soul, people wore masks to disguise their identities, which is where the tradition of donning Halloween costumes began. Trick-or-treating can also be dated back to the Christian celebration of Hallowmas. During All Soul’s day parades in England families would give out pastries called

“soul cakes” to the poor in exchange for prayers for their dead relatives’ souls. The practice of “going-a-souling” soon developed into a tradition where children went from door to door for ale, food and money. However, the Halloween we know today was largely shaped by America. While it only became a popular tradition in there in the late nineteenth century, by the 1950s American Halloween celebrations had lost these frightening and superstitious elements, and had developed rather into a family friendly, secular holiday with fancy dress and trick-or-treating, rather like the one we celebrate today. Despite its religious origins, Halloween is today considered to be one of the biggest commercial holidays in both USA and Britain. According to Retail Planet, Britons spent £280 million on Halloween celebrations in 2010, making it the third largest celebration, only beaten by Christmas and Easter. •

@CITYONTOPIC

FEATURE | REGULAR

014

THE SCARIEST PLACES IN LONDON BY CHRIS SUTCLIFFE IMAGE ALESSANDRO BONVINI

London is an ancient city, its history chockfull of malice and cruelty. As autumn arrives and the nights grow longer, you might stumble upon one of the following reputedly haunted locations and sense that some of that history still lingers and intrudes upon the world of the living. Or maybe ghosts don’t exist, in which case you’re fine!

50 BERKELEY SQUARE A young woman is locked in her room by her wicked uncle. A man, jilted by his fiancée, locks himself in an attic room to go slowly mad from his grief. Guests are found dead from fright in the morning. A nobleman spends the night in the attic as a bet, only to fire at a “ragged head and bloody bones” that attacks him. A husband and wife conduct psychic experiments in a house with a supernatural reputation. As all these events apparently took place in the attic room of 50 Berkeley Square, it would be astonishing if it wasn’t haunted. It has the distinction of being the only house in London to have been excused taxes on account of its evil reputation.

THE JOHN SNOW PUB 39 Broadwick Street Though the pub may bear the name of the famous physician who saved hundreds of lives during the 1854 Cholera Outbreak, its reputation is anything but healthy. Bar staff and patrons have reported seeing the form of a disfigured man glowering at them from a corner booth, eyes aflame with malice. Presumably not on Friday nights, though, since even a poltergeist would have to arrive hours before dark to get a booth in this crowded Broadwick Street establishment.

NEWGATE PRISON 272 High Holborn First built in the 12th century, the squalid conditions of Newgate Prison and the terrible treatment of its prisoners make for horrific reading. Demolished over 700 years later, the sole surviving original wall backs onto Amen Court, which is allegedly the focus for many malign supernatural entities. The most famous apparition is that of a demonic black dog, supposedly the composite spirit of the many unfortunates murdered by their fellow inmates, which watches with glowing red eyes from the shadow of the wall. Demolished in 1904, the Old Bailey now sits atop the prison’s bones.

THE TOWER OF LONDON Originally built by William the Conqueror in the early 11th century and expanded by later monarchs, the White Tower has been the seat of Britain’s royal families and the execution place for many of the same. Renowned ghosts are Henry VIII’s fifth wife Catherine Howard, who runs screaming through the painted gallery; Arabella Stuart, James I’s cousin, who was purportedly murdered in the Queens House; ‘Skeletor’, a phantom caught on CCTV in 2003; and the spectral figure of a grizzly bear, one of many exotic creatures chained up until their deaths in the royal menagerie for the public’s amusement.

THE TUBE The London Underground carries over 1,200 million passengers every year, though not many know its macabre history. During construction of the tunnels, the workers would burrow into plague pits and graveyards, disturbing the long-forgotten dead. The Piccadilly Line was said to curve around a plague pit so dense with bodies it was impossible to tunnel through. Famous apparitions include those of a passenger killed in the Kennington loop; the sounds of those killed in the Bethnal Green tube disaster; and the original Old Lady of Threadneedle Street. OCTOBER 2013

REGULAR | FEATURE

015

FIVE BEST HALLOWEEN COSTUMES BY KATHRYN BROMWICH

At a loss for ways to scare your friends? Cast aside that sexy witch costume and try one of these bad boys/girls.

IMAGE JARED RODRIGUEZ

PATRICK BATEMAN

ROSEMARY WOODHOUSE

Who? American Psycho, aka Christian Bale. He’s the kind of wealthy, toned guy who will interrupt a perfectly pleasant threesome in order to hack apart his lady-friends.

Who? Mia Farrow in Roman Polanski’s Rosemary’s Baby.

Props needed: Find the sharpest suit you can, slick back your hair and polish your shoes. Tell everyone you are an investment banker. After a few hours excuse yourself, bring out the (fake) blood and a (toy) axe, and return.

Props needed: If you’ve been looking for an excuse to get a pixie cut, this is it; otherwise, a cropped wig will do. Wear a long floaty dress, grab a knife and a fake baby, and look as much as you can like a doe-eyed ingénue caught up in a mass Satanic ritual. IMAGE HANNAH KARINA

CTHULHU Who? The Dark Lord Cthulhu, a mythical being invented by H.P. Lovecraft and recently reprised by South Park.

Catchphrase: “Do you like Phil Collins?”

Props needed: An octopus head, huge claws on your hands and feet, and long wings on your back. Also, grow several hundred metres.

LORD SUMMERISLE Who? Christopher Lee in pagan horror classic The Wicker Man. Props needed: Wind-swept hair, mustard-yellow turtleneck, sneakers, wristwatch and a horrific tweed jacket. If you’re feeling brave, go for the full wig, purple dress, scythe, nosegay and face-paint outfit.

Catchphrase: “What have you done to him?”

IMAGE KEVIN MEEHAN

Catchphrase: “GHHRRHHHHHHRRRRR!”

MILEY CYRUS IMAGE PAULA VERA-BROADBENT

Catchphrase: “I trust the sight of the young people refreshes you.” IMAGE ROBERT BALL

Who? The twerking pop princess who’s been raising eyebrows with her teddy bear antics. Props needed: Garish make-up, tongue sticking out, plenty of hair gel, huge foam finger, latex bikini (optional). There are actually Miley Cyrus Halloween costume sets for sale online. Get a male friend to go as Robin Thicke. Catchphrase: “If you’re not ready to go home / Can I get a hell no.”

@CITYONTOPIC

FEATURE | REGULAR

016

YOUR GUIDE TO LIVING OUT OF HALLS: ‘THE MOULDY TRINITY’ BY ELLIOT CASS IMAGE UNIVERSITY OF EXETER

Student house shares can be a year-long nightmare or a source of fond memories that define your university life. Firstly, remember the advice repeated to every person that mentions moving into their first house: check for damp, mould and peeling paint as if your life depended on it. It might seem trivial initially, but if present it will inevitably become worse throughout the year. If a house is perfect, aside from one of the above, ask the landlord for an agreement in writing to fix the problem before you move in. It might be ambitious but if you don’t ask you won’t get.

uncomfortably close proximity all year it helps a lot to like them. Although it is more or less inevitable that you’ll end up hating some of them by the end of the first term, there are ways to improve your chances of staying on good terms.

“IF YOU DON’T ASK YOU WON’T GET”

Ensuring you have a decent front door and double-glazing is also a mundane but important consideration. As well as security concerns stemming from flimsy doors and windows, the savings on heating bills will be appreciated when loans begin to run low. The next important factor is your flatmates. As you’ll be in

Cleaning is what usually drives student houses apart. Although a rota seems draconian at first, it is undeniably effective. Bins, bathrooms and dishes in the sink are notorious for neglect, so make sure you make an agreement to all do your share before your communal areas are crawling with filth.

Living with friends for the first time is always a culture shock, but it is also rewarding and can form bonds that will last for the rest of your life. Remember why you wanted to live with them in the first place, have fun and don’t forget to buy toilet roll once in a while! •

SEXISM AT UNI : HOW DOES IT AFFECT YOU?

BY DANIELLE LOWE

The online anti-sexism group, Everyday Sexism, has launched a nationwide campaign to tackle Freshers’ Week Sexism. In a bid to combat the casual sexism associated with “freshers’ banter” and the more serious consequences this can bring about, students and alumni across the country put pressure on their universities. In response, some universities banned Robin Thicke’s controversial hit, Blurred Lines, whose raunchy video and questionable lyrics prompted outrage this summer, showing women as ‘play things’. The outrage that the video caused shows just how problematic sexism on university campuses really is. We’ve all been told “You aren’t going out dressed in that” in the past by a relative just trying to protect us. It was at an age where we didn’t really understand what the stares, glares, whistles and remarks were about, and we’d wear what we wanted because we liked it. But then we got slightly older, and it all became clear. We started to look around and realise why our parents had warned us in the first place. But why should it matter how we dress? It’s entirely up to us what we wear, how we wear it and when. We shouldn’t be made to feel uncomfortable about it. If somebody walks around in their underwear, it doesn’t mean they want to be groped or have sex. But, sadly, today those realities get turned upside down. People are told that if others are wearing the kind of tight, revealing OCTOBER 2013

“IT’S ENTIRELY UP TO US WHAT WE WEAR” clothes that appear in music videos, they must actually be up for sex. By my moral standards, being coerced into having sex constitutes rape. Indeed, there are blurred lines around what people believe they can do to others if they are dressed in a certain way, making university an uncomfortable place for an outgoing female student, let alone a shy one. We all come to university to get a degree, gain independence, make friends and find out more about ourselves, and this should stretch to finding our own unique way of making clothes work for us. But when music videos give people the impression that wearing certain clothes encourages sexual contact, then why would you consider finding out about that part of you? I just don’t understand why any university would feel comfortable allowing a song like Blurred Lines on campus. If there’s a wolf whistle down the corridor or a sexist remark, then it should be tackled. Women are more than just something to look at: they should be treated nicely for their personalities, not to get them into bed. •

REGULAR | FEATURE

017

Sex

AND THIS CITY DATING CAPITAL

“HE TOOK HIS SHOES OFF, SAT ON THE TABLE, AND READ FIVE POEMS IN A REALLY LOUD VOICE”

BY R.O ,@sexandthiscity1

“

You’ve found someone to invest in. Now you need to move things forward and introduce the idea of acquisition.”

I notice her wince.

In a city where you can witness a grown man having a public meltdown if his train is five seconds late, and a woman screaming at a barista because it took more than two minutes to make her ‘extra-hot soya wet weak caramel latte’; it’s easy to understand why Londoners struggle to meet someone special enough to spend their time on.

“We went to this really nice restaurant. He took his shoes off, sat on the table, and read five poems in a really loud voice. I was so desperate to get away that I waited another ten minutes before telling him that I was worried I’d get a parking ticket.”

I’ve been thinking about the last time I went on a proper date. Permitting a guy to buy you a drink in a club doesn’t count, so I figure that it’s been about two years (now that’s a dry spell), give or take a few nights where he might have thought it was a date, but I definitely didn’t. Since then I haven’t had time to go through the hassle of asking or being asked, and it’s been the same for a lot of my friends. Our motto, “We don’t do dates, we do guys,” does a good job of summarising our attitudes toward romantic relationships. Sex during the past two years has been less about flowers and chocolates and much more about convenience. Over mojitos in King’s Cross, friend number one tells me that it’s getting harder to sort out the normal guys from the oddballs. “I went on a date with this guy I met at a poetry open mic night,” she says.

“What happened?” I ask.

“You hadn’t brought your car, had you?” I say. “Nope.” Friend number two has become quite the expert when it comes to meeting people on the net. Online dating is now such a commodity to the UK that the Office for National Statistics uses it to calculate inflation rates. Dating, like so many other things, has been converted into a business model. “You really have to sell yourself as a product,” she tells me. “But it works if you don’t want to go through the whole palava of meeting someone, then asking them out, or waiting for them to ask you.” What happens if you approach dating as a legitimate business rather than an awkward social interaction? You’re looking for someone to invest in, so you need to do your research. Personality, check, looks, check, sense of humour, check. So far so good. Now you need to move things forward and introduce the idea of acquisition.

Friend number three has been dating a young entrepreneur who was recently profiled in a highly respected business magazine. It stands to reason, then, that he has an ego the size of a planet. It seems that friend number three should have made a risk assessment before getting involved, because they’re now caught in the middle of a What do you want? / No, what do YOU want? situation. It’s a classic case. One person wants to know where they stand relationshipwise. The other interprets this as “I want you to commit NOW,” so the first person sees the second person as an immature twit. From there, the partnership tends to go into liquidation. The whole process of asking someone out on a date always feels like more trouble than it’s worth. Unless you have absolutely no issue with rejection, it’s often impossible to work up the courage to admit that you like someone. Then, once you’re actually on the date, there are a hundred other questions: who pays for dinner, what to drink, whether to order dessert, etc. Try viewing your date as venture capital. If you invest in something from the start, chances are you’ll be rewarded later in the relationship. Of course, this doesn’t always work, but it helps if you’re wondering whether you should even bother turning up at the restaurant. •

@CITYONTOPIC

OPINION | REGULAR

018

FANCY DRESS: IN BAD TASTE OR JUST A LAUGH? BY CATHERINE HARDY IMAGE GAUDENCIO GARCINUÑO

However, the banning of the University of East Anglia’s Rugby Club for hosting a “bad taste party” – amongst other indiscretions – has shown that people are not willing to sit back and allow such flagrant disrespect for common decency to go on unheeded. The furore that arose when Prince Harry attended a party dressed as a Nazi in 2005 is another well-documented example of how people are unwilling to tolerate a devil-may-care attitude to fancy dress. When I was little, Halloween pretty much offered four standard outfit choices: witch, cat, vampire or ghost. However, as I’ve got older, the range of costumes I’ve seen at Halloween has changed dramatically. Not all of the outfits I have witnessed have been pretty – and I don’t mean because they involved fake blood. In the fashion of internet trolls and Sickipedia fans, some people don’t waste any opportunity to shock, and even disgust, with the glaringly obvious bad taste of their outfit. Unfortunately with ‘lad culture’ rife at university, instances of this are becoming increasingly common. Such ‘lads’ will say that to dress up in this a way is “just a laugh”; it’s just a costume, it doesn’t mean anything.

Yet despite this, slip-ups are still made. In the recent and controversial row, supermarket chains Asda and Tesco were forced to issue formal apologies for costumes on sale in their stores. The great British public took to Twitter to express their outrage at the negative stereotypes the two outfits embodied, described as ‘Mental Patient’ and ‘Psycho Ward’ respectively. The costumes were quickly withdrawn, and Asda is now donating £25,000 to mental health charity Mind. Yet no amount of charitable donations can unsully a soiled reputation. Another recent faux pas occurred surrounding the University of Exeter’s ironically named ‘Safer Sex Ball’, which sees students come dressed only in their

underwear. In 2012, the ball sparked outrage with its ‘tribal’ theme. In an open letter to the university, a studentled campaign wrote that the theme “encourages students to dress up as racist and sexualised parodies”. But the ball still went ahead. As these examples show, bad taste is not always deliberate. However, those who indulge in the delight that is fancy dress, myself included, have to realise that a costume is often more than a costume, and can carry with it complex connotations. This Halloween, if you’re going to look a little further afield than the aforementioned traditional outfits, take a moment to think about how you appear to others. No doubt the ‘lads’ will still indulge in morally dubious outfits in the name of banter, but steer clear if you can. And if the thought of offending those around you, whether purposefully or inadvertently, isn’t enough of a deterrent to moderate your costume choice, consider what your future employer will think when they look at your Twitter history. •

REGENERATION IN LONDON: A NEW KIND OF TURF WAR? BY HANNAH FLINT

When Channel’s 4 inner city drama, Top Boy, returned to our screens for a second series in August, the adult characters on the fictional Summerfield Estate, Hackney, were faced with a new problem: gentrification. While perhaps not the most gripping storyline of the series - admittedly downbeat compared to the gang warfare central to the show - it is the one I have found myself constantly thinking about since the series ended.

locals go when newcomers move in?

Local developers acted almost as a second gang on the troubled estate, promising the ‘top boy’ and gang leader, Dushane, “a lot of money” if he joined them. How much this was an over-dramatisation of the issue at stake is uncertain. But single mother Lisa’s fight to keep her hairdressing business from closing down, Dushane’s remark in a trendy new cafe that such places weren’t for “people like me,” and Mustapha’s decision to move to Ramsgate when faced with mounting rent prices, succinctly articulated something that has been bothering me lately about development in London: where do the

rebuilt as flats for young professionals. While some residents will have the opportunity to buy their homes once the development is complete, critics have pointed out that this won’t be financially viable for many. This sadly smacks of displacement, deliberately replacing locals with younger, more affluent tenants, the so-called ‘yuppies’. Some have even gone as far as calling it social cleansing.

OCTOBER 2013

A poignant example is the current regeneration of Elephant and Castle’s notorious Heygate Estate, which has been crying out for help for years. Built in the 1970s, the imposing complex is now being

“I HAVE ALWAYS VALUED HOW EACH CORNER OF LONDON HAS ITS INDIVIDUAL CHARACTER”

Which brings me to why Top Boy has been playing on my mind. As local communities are pushed further and further out of the city, I wonder if development in areas

of London is destructing what is most unique and wonderful about our capital: its diversity. Having lived in the west, east and north, and worked in the south, I have always valued how each corner of London has its individual character. Yet I increasingly feel that this difference is being slowly overridden. It seems to me that as we move to newly regenerated areas we are only too happy to displace local traditions and cultures, with little regard for the communities affected. There can be no doubt that development is still needed in many areas of London, but regeneration should be about working with what is already there, rather than trying to start from scratch. The inevitable gentrification that will follow should then build upon this, preserving local cultures. If developers continue to impose a singular vision on this multicultural city, we risk replacing London’s rich diversity with underwhelming sameness. •

THEATRE | ARTS

019

THEATRE

“IT WAS THE BEST OF TIMES, IT WAS THE WORST OF TIMES” REVIEW: A TALE OF TWO CITIES KING’S HEAD THEATRE, 115 UPPER STREET, ISLINGTON BY VILI SKARLOPOULOU

I recently had the pleasure of seeing A Tale of Two Cities performed at King’s Head Theatre. I had never had the chance to see an adaptation of what I think is Charles Dickens’ most historical and most romantic novel before. Since the book’s publication in 1859, A Tale of Two Cities has sold over 200 million copies all over the word and it is one of the few novels whose beginning is so widely known: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” The theatre is located very centrally in Islington and it is very easy to find. Honestly, I was a bit confused at first, because I could see no theatre but a pub. However, as we were informed afterwards, King’s Head is the oldest pub theatre in London and they try hard to keep it alive. Its atmosphere was very cosy and its decoration reflected the old times. When we got into the theatre, there was no stage apart from a tiny hallway and no decoration apart from a small table and one chair. I was looking forward to seeing how the actors were going to perform in a tiny place like that. There were no

individual seats but large seats for groups of people. This gave a more friendly and informal atmosphere to the theatre. I can only be positive about the play. The director, Adam Speadbury-Maher, kept it very close to the original novel, merging it simultaneously with modern elements. So the story still takes place in the tense atmosphere of the French Revolution, when a young couple (Lucy and Charles) fall in love and get married, but their family secrets destroy their happiness. The modern intervention in the story lies in the music (Amy Winehouse songs, for example) and the costumes, designed by Jonathan Lipmanwhich, were closer to modern outfits (like Lucy’s velvet jumpsuit), but this did not spoil the performance by any means. If I had to choose a highlight of the whole performance, I would say the high quality of acting and the use of the stage. The actors were literally coming out of every corner of the theatre, mingling with the audience. They were using the tiny stage so easily and they felt so comfortable on it. The director’s brainwave of using only eight actors for 30 characters was excellent and

surprisingly enough caused no confusion to the audience. The acting of Stewart Agnew was exceptional. He performed the very difficult role of Sidney Curtain, who appears to be superficial and snobbish but deep inside is very caring and humane, and the role of the French aristocrat who is mad, selfish and cruel. He pulled off the last scene when Sydney Curtain proves that being humane in a cruel world is most difficult but at the same time what we all have to do. The performance surpassed my expectations and, at £10, it was great value for money. Personally I prefer small plays like this, rather than huge events where you have to book months in advance and pay a fortune. The King’s Head Theatre offered a great quality performance, value for money, and a very friendly atmosphere. More interesting plays are coming up at the theatre - from La Traviata to So It Goes - you can have a look at its website, www. kingsheadtheatre.com, or take a walk to the oldest pub theatre in London. Take my word for it, you won’t be disappointed! •

@CITYONTOPIC

ARTS | LITERATURE

020

LITERATURE BOOK REVIEW: THE FAULT IN OUR STARS BY ALI MILLINGTON

Despite being another installation in what has been coined the “sicklit” genre (think Jodi Picoult’s My Sister’s Keeper), this exquisitely written novel puts a spin on the tragedy-bound young romances seen in many of these stories.

“The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves.” So says Cassius to Brutus in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, inspiring the title for John Green’s emotional and thought-provoking 2012 novel, The Fault In Our Stars.

Told from the perspective of 16-year-old thyroid cancer patient Hazel Grace, the story follows the young woman as she falls in love with 17-year-old Augustus Waters, whom she meets at a Cancer Kid Support Group meeting. Waters is in remission and has been given a prolonged life outlook due to a test

BOOK REVIEW: THE PARIS WIFE BY ALI MILLINGTON

I’ll be honest: in the most literal form of the phrase, I often find myself judging a book by its cover (or its title), and Paula McLain’s The Paris Wife was no exception. A glance at the New York Times bestselling novel may suggest that it’s just another installment in the chick-lit genre. However, beyond its pastel-colored visage lies a powerful fictional account of Ernest Hemingway’s relationship with his first wife, Hadley Richardson, in Jazz-Age Paris. Published in 2012, this example of historical fiction has a way of educating while appealing to the imagination. The novel is both compelling and illuminating from start to finish. The couple met when Hemingway was 20 and Richardson was 28. They were married in 1921, and McLain’s description of the era is superbly visual. OCTOBER 2013

Although the history was thoroughly researched by McLain, I often had to remind myself the work was, in fact, fiction. The dialogue, so neatly entwined with some of Hemingway’s most famous phrases, felt genuine and natural. The truthfully painful story of love and madness between Ernest and Hadley, the astounding yet believable interactions between literature’s greats (Stein, Fitzgerald, Pound), and the backdrops of Paris, Spain and Chicago that inspired Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises are beautifully described. Hemingway’s infidelity and Hadley’s love for one of history’s most celebrated writers provide the tools with which McLain has crafted the wonderfully tragic story that is The Paris Wife. •

drug that seems to have positive results. Although Hazel herself has bought some time using an experimental drug, her case is still terminal as she is in Stage 4. Knowing how the story is likely to end for the two, Hazel is hesitant to be with Gus, whose first girlfriend died of cancer. But as the plot unfolds with (often black) humour, the poignant characters, stunningly described settings, and the relationship between Hazel and Gus reminds you why you love reading in the first place. Soon after the novel’s release, Fox gained the rights to make the book into a film, due for release in June 2014. Though the message of the novel may not be completely unique – live in the moment and make the most of every day – it is written in a way that is raw and leaves you feeling truly inspired. The Fault In Our Stars is a beautiful novel that is sure to light up the big screen. •

LITERARY LONDON: HIGHGATE CEMETERY BY MARÉSE O’SULLIVAN IMAGE OANDU

part you want to visit – check the website for further details.

If you’re up for a very spooky Halloween, dare to tread the paths of Highgate Cemetery in Swain’s Lane – the inspiration for many of the world’s scariest novels. Divided in two parts, Highgate Cemetery first opened in 1839, and its beautiful landscape and intricate architecture attracted the rich and famous. Over 170,000 people are now buried in 53,000 graves across the East and West Cemeteries. A guided tour of the West Cemetery is offered if the most renowned residents fascinate you. During the week you can book in advance, but turn up early if you’re going on the weekend, as places are limited. Admission prices vary depending on which

In the East Cemetery, you’ll find the graves of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy author Douglas Adams, along with Karl Marx, George Eliot, and Sir Leslie Stephen (the first editor of the Dictionary of National Biography as well as the father of Virginia Woolf), while in the West Cemetery you will see the resting places of several members of the Dickens family, as well as the poet Christina Rossetti. Atmospheric evening events regularly take place – the next one is a performance of Victorian parlour songs on Thursday November 14 at 7.30pm, featuring Rose Stachniewska (Soprano), Mark Nathan (Baritone) and Paul McKenzie (Piano). • Tickets are £10 and you can book online at www. highgatecemetery.org events. The nearest tube station is Archway.

CREATIVE CORNER | ARTS

021

CREATIVE CORNER

NIGHT IN OCTOBER BY ROISIN Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;CONNOR

Darkening now, the mist descends to silhouette the trees. My window is open - I filter Nachtmusik from strings to street to strike against cold pavement. Sparks from incense escape outside, twisting soft charcoal ribbons. Tyrian air reeks of smoke, of burnt orange lamps and cigarettes, beach bonfires and fog breath. Chilled night crawls across my skin in shivers, until the rush of an engine draws the silence into the shadows. Feathers whisper against cracked paint, catching dreams.

FORGOTTEN WORLD OF FREEDOM BY NIALL FITZMAURICE

The simple life, untroubled world, Unclouded sky and soft flat land, But suns do rise as they do fall, And darkness comes with grains of sand, The well of knowledge, Creator and king, Host of worlds, kingdoms of peace, But as petals one bright do fall like the suns, So too lands wither and worlds decease, With all untouched and all untold, Those not corrupt still free to live dreams, No holes of thy hands are asked to be seen, As words are accepted and worlds as they seem, O poisoned blossom, perspective truth, Curse thy innocence that thou art stole, Together with unquestionable time, Unopposed fulfil thy evil role,

AMMUT

BY ROISIN Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;CONNOR

All these cascaded hearts dance a cold circle in burnt tangerine, smears of rouge on paper skin. They shuffle to the side to avoid the crunch of my boots, chase one another and sing their crackled, rasping song the same as dry bark in fire and sand. They gather those torn veins as the wind rises, my laughter following them as they try to rejoin the trees.

As youth does play and fruit does grow, On trees and in thy mind, But plucked it be or fall to waste, As reason with age the youth does find, And so it fades, if it was there? Forgotten world of freedom, As lost are those without true care, Until new find this world so fair.

@CITYONTOPIC

ARTS | FILM

022

FILM PRISONERS BY SASHA RASPOPINA

If you’re a fan of David Fincher’s Seven and Zodiac – and the tension of killers disappearing into the mist of small American towns – Denis Villeneuve’s Prisoners is definitely the right film for your suspense-filled Halloween night. It seems as if (the ever-hot and ever-talented) Jake Gyllenhaal is still on his mission to catch Zodiac. His co-star Hugh Jackman also delivers one of his best performances ever – not even once will you think of Wolverine, and that is rare. In fact, Jackman might

even have the best role in the film – a strong father put under the unbelievable stress of losing a child. We, as an audience, get to see him crumble, shake and change under pressure. Gyllenhaal’s role is far subtler – he doesn’t show much emotion as a cold and professional detective. But the attentive viewer will notice it seeping through, his eye twitching more and more intensely through out the investigation. I think there are a few logical flaws to the script, but not the kind that would make you want to pass up on the film. After all, this is classic genre cinema, where content and form have a peculiar relationship that doesn’t always include tracking a person down by their mobile phone. Overall, Prisoners is what they usually call the best of the genre – an outstanding criminal thriller done in the best Hollywood tradition. This film has a slow unfolding storyline, combined with constant pressure that keeps viewers in their seats for the whole two and a half hours. And the characters are torn apart by panic, grief and their own personal demons. •

GORE : SNORE GALORE WRONG TURN 5 BY INGRID BRUBAKER

Wrong Turn 5 stood out as a contender for the perfect Halloween movie night gore-fest solely because of the number. Surely the fact that four Wrong Turn films have been made and someone still thought it was worth spending money to make another one must mean it’s worth the watch. Sometimes this way of thinking means the plotline will have become washed out and worn so thin that you might actually get some real surprises thrown at you from the director, just to mix

OCTOBER 2013

things up. Maybe an inbred gang of hillbilly cannibals would try to break their cousin out of jail. Well, this is actually exactly what happens in Wrong Turn 5… Seemingly everything you’d want for a great Halloween movie night in is in this film: Idiotic college students, unrealistic power cuts, a number of soft porn scenes (because people always find time for sex whenever there’s a massacre going on), a lot of badass swearing and a hilarious open ending in case someone finds it necessary to go down the road of Wrong Turn 6. (Fingers crossed.) The film certainly raises a few interesting questions – is a human ear actually that chewable? How can a normal looking guy logically be related to a trio of leather-faced, flannel-clad disfigured freaks whose only form of communication is sniggering? You may find yourself asking a more annoying one: When can I turn this off? •

FILM | ARTS

023

MY HALLOWEEN FILM: THE PERFECT TORMENT BY ALEX REGAN

Conventionally most people would consider a Halloween film to feature a group of naive college students getting lost in a deserted wood, only to be mercilessly decapitated by an opportunistic maniacal Texan with a penchant for recreational cannibalism. The horror genre is full to the gills of these feckless gore-fests sprinkled with idiosyncratic sexual imagery that has no relevance to the torturous storyline. But studio film-execs want to ensure they cater to the ‘machismo serial-flagellator’ demographic, hence the sporadic cleavage shots cut into an edit of a woman being hacked to buggery by some deformed Deliverance-style hick with chainsaws

fused to his upper limbs, as a result of a scientific experiment gone wrong. Neither is the perfect Halloween film one of the many suspenseful supernatural thrillers, where cinematographers get institutionally lazy and just adhere to the format of home-video footage with figures looming over a couple while they sleep like a serial pervert! The perfect Halloween film should be something that fills you with fear and trepidation as you sit in a darkened room, your eyes envisioning protagonists from the movie in the shadows. It should haunt you for weeks and months after. For me that movie is...E.T.

Bear with me. When I was four years old, I remember seeing this long-necked, wide-headed figure looming over me on the television set, making ungodly noises and scaring all those around him. As a result I was tormented by recurring nightmares as a child where I’m running away from E.T., who is wielding an axe and chasing me with devilish intent. So this Christmas, when you’re watching the Drew Barrymore retrospective on 5USA, don’t label E.T. a friendly alien: think of him as the figure that haunted a boy’s dreams for his formative years. •

A HALLOWEEN EVENING WITH FRANKENSTEIN AND DANNY BOYLE BY INGRID BRUBAKER

In good Halloween timing, the National Theatre celebrates its 50th anniversary with an encore of 2011’s Frankenstein. It is to be shown in selected cinemas from 31 October and through November and December. Certainly a film that is not to be missed!

between Mary Shelley, her husband and friends – the not completely unknown Percy Bysshe Shelley and Lord Byron – the story of Frankenstein and his creator explores themes that are relevant even in today’s society.

Few stories are as manifested in our culture as Frankenstein is – so much that a lot of people actually know it incorrectly: Frankenstein is the creator and Frankenstein’s monster is, well, the monster. The monster is typically portrayed in films and cartoons with bolts through his square-shaped, often green, head.

The novel involves scientific meddling and the relationship between parent and child, but with elements of the obscure and a dash of gore. To put it simply, Dr Frankenstein develops a bit of an unhealthy interest in chemistry, gathers some body parts, stitches them together and one dark night gives his eight foot tall creature the miracle of life (with a little help from a thunder storm).

Though originally written in 1816 as a submission for a horror story competition

The National Theatre’s version, directed by Danny Boyle, alternates Benedict

Cumberbatch and Johnny Lee Miller in the roles of monster and creator, and displays some impressive special effect make-up while they’re at it. If you’re looking for a grotesque, thoughtprovoking autumn experience in the darkness of the cinema, then I strongly advise you to have a look at the National Theatre Live’s website, www.ntlive. nationaltheatre.org.uk for dates, the selected cinemas, and tickets to see the screening of the classic Frankenstein this Halloween.. •

@CITYONTOPIC

ARTS | COMEDY

024

COMEDY

A QUICK WORD WITH DANIEL SLOSS BY JOSEPH SCRIMSHIRE IMAGE STEVE ULLATHORNE

THE 23-YEAR-OLD SCOTTISH COMEDIAN TALKS “OFFENSIVE” JOKES, UNIVERSITY, AND HOW TO GET STRANGERS TO LIKE YOU. Hi Daniel! We hear you’re back on tour – what are your road essentials? A toaster and a coffee machine, weirdly. We’re always staying [in places] that charge you nine quid for a slice of toast, so we just sneak that into the hotel with us and make our own breakfast instead. The media has a tendency to brand you the “young comedian” because you’re, well, young. Does it get on your nerves? Yes. But it’s sort of my fault because when I started comedy I was 18, so it was natural to do jokes about being young. But I haven’t mentioned my age since I turned 20, which is three years ago. But it’s still one of those things that follow me around. Also, I don’t look like an adult! Is there any truth to the rumour that TV panel shows can be pretty tense and competitive? I’ve heard that too. When I did 8 Out Of 10 Cats no-one in the audience knew who I was and I made a joke in the first round that just died. Then Jason Manford looked over at my notes and pointed at one of my jokes, gave me a nudge and then set me up for it perfectly. Also, when I had been quiet for a bit, Jimmy Carr would lean over and ask “Daniel, what do you think?” So it was actually one of the most supportive environments I’ve been in. Do comedians really have to be screwed-up or miserable to be funny? I’ve been told by several family members and friends that I’m not right in the head. To be a comedian [is OCTOBER 2013

to be] ridiculous: you’re going onstage in front of a room full of strangers and telling them embarrassing things about yourself. I always like the audience to know that they will never hate me as much as I hate myself. I guess you could say then standup performance is about seeking approval. Yeah – you’re in front of a crowd and begging them to like you. Even when I’m giving controversial opinions I still think to myself, “If they don’t like me, then what am I doing here?” You’re there to entertain them. Speaking of performance, you’ve done plenty of student gigs. Do you ever regret not going to university? Sitting in my parents’ house writing jokes while all my friends were out partying every night and getting an education – that part was terrible. But two years ago they all left university with a degree that wasn’t necessarily going to get them a job – plus they’re in debt. So I think I won. There’s been a backlash against stand-up recently, with comedians getting in trouble for riskier jokes. Is comedy going too far or are critics missing the point? If you’re offended by comedy, it’s your problem, no-one else’s. You’re the idiot who can’t tell the difference between a joke and a statement. It blows my mind that people think comedians believe what they say onstage. If I believed half the s*** I said onstage I would be the worst person in the world. • Daniel Sloss – Live! is available on DVD now.

“

IF YOUʼRE OFFENDED BY COMEDY, ITʼS YOUR PROBLEM, NO-ONE ELSEʼS

”

MUSIC | ARTS

025

up and comers - jakil BY ROISIN O’CONNOR

The first time I saw Jakil perform, it was two years ago at a local dive in Swansea, with approximately ten audience members. In the past three months I’ve seen the Scottish-born, London-based band play at the Borderline, just off Tottenham Court Road, and Notting Hill Arts Club. Both venues were at capacity and, despite not actually being the headline act, Jakil always had the crowd’s undivided attention. So what has Jakil been doing to create such a loyal fan base in the capital? To find out, I meet frontman Kieran O’Brien and bassist Kieran Grant at a café in Tottenham, favoured by the band for its hangover cures. “We really wanted to hone our sound,” Kieran O tells me. “We came up with a couple of buzzwords for what we wanted it to be like and went from there. Once all the tracks were recorded, we worked out where we wanted to put synths or percussion, and then I thought it’d be good to get some trumpets involved.” “James, our saxophone player, did a gig with us even though he had to be in Manchester the next day,” says Kieran G. “It’s seeing that kind of dedication to our projects [which] turns the heat up for us and pushes us to try and do well,” Kieran O adds. “In London I think we’ve gone from strength to strength in terms of creating a proper fan base, especially once we told people there was a new album coming out.” Can they say what the album’s going to be called?

“We’d like to make it self-titled,” Kieran O tells me. “A lot of people see that as a bit of a cop-out, but for us it’s about trying to find the right sound for the band. And since we’ve only just got to that point, it feels appropriate. I guess you’d call it rock-pop. People have this guilty pleasure attitude towards pop now but I think there are quite a lot of bands on the circuit right now that identify with the genre. “The thing with Jakil is that it’s an investment for people who listen to us,” he continues. “If they enjoy our music then they’re not just fans, they can interact as well. We like going out for drinks with the people who listen to our music, and we threw this party for a video shoot where we just invited everyone round to our house.” “What did your neighbours think?” I ask them. “We brought them a bottle of wine and a box of chocolates the night before so it was all good,” Kieran G tells me. “It was worth it as well, because I think the video will really work with the song.” I note the slight increase in new and established bands going for a less commercial sound (Frank Turner, Foals, the 1975, Arctic Monkeys), and ask them if it’s a deliberate move to distinguish themselves from other artists. “I really like that you think that about us not sounding too commercial,” Kieran O says. “Because I think in a way that makes us more accessible. It’s something we always pride ourselves on and we’ve really been trying to get that live sound into the album for a while. We were very specific

about how we wanted it recorded, and we’ve had a lot of time to review it which has helped.” The band has been almost silent in terms of press coverage over the past year. They tell me they’ve preferred to focus on new projects rather than talk about their older work. “This is like an exclusive,” Kieran O says. “We wouldn’t be speaking to anyone if we didn’t feel ready, but now we’re starting to build momentum. The new single Look Like Gold is out soon. We’ve filmed three music videos in the last few weekends because we want to be ready to produce promo, rather than have the same thing over and over again.” The three of us try to think of a word that summarises the general theme of their new material. “I’d say it’s more lustful,” says Kieran O finally. “Songs we’ve produced like Lolita have that sort of dingy, dark sound to it, and I think it’s like you mentioned, that we don’t write about anything specific, but more about things that anyone can relate to. “I’m a massive fan of lyrics and songs with stories behind them, but you’re also making a sacrifice by not letting your audience use their imaginations. We’re trying to create a balance between the two.” • Listen out for Jakil’s new single, Look Like Gold, due for release in November. Find them on Facebook, or follow them on Twitter @jakilonline.

@CITYONTOPIC

ARTS | MUSIC

026

During a tour it can feel as though being on stage is the only moment where time stands still. Sometimes you’ll get up to play without realising how many people are there, and that’s when the adrenaline kicks in. It can take a few minutes to settle and start enjoying it. It depends on a lot of things, partly who you’re playing to and the atmosphere in the room. If the room is dead silent, you feel a bit self-conscious. It can be pretty intense.

WHAT I’M REALLY THINKING: THE VIOLINIST

If someone in the band messes up then you’ve got to laugh, and it’s so rare that the audience will actually notice something went wrong. When I was younger I felt nervous beforehand but it never affected my playing. As I’ve grown older, it can do momentarily. With the band, my on-stage thoughts changed pretty quickly. Thinking back to our first show, I was playing mostly to friends; a few weeks later, I was playing to 400 people I didn’t know, so I definitely concentrated more. Now, I can still get nervous before a set, but as soon as I hit the first note I try to concentrate on my sound. Your mind might wander off but it’s okay; as long as the main focus is the sound you’re bringing out, then you’re all good. •

IMAGE STEPHEN A. WOLFE

Now Hear This

ALL THAT (LONDON) JAZZ BY ZACHARY BOREN

Don’t let the price and pomp of Ronnie Scots turn you off London’s lively jazz scene. The long shadow cast by the world-renowned jazz club disguises the gems in our European super-city. But, for jazz in the capital, you’ll find that there’s expensive and there’s free, with precious little in between.

Name: Brother and Bones Founded: 2011 Members: Rich Thomas, Si Robinson, James Willard, Yiannis Sachinis, Robin Howell-Sprent Overview: Currently on tour, Brother and Bones are building an already-formidable reputation for outstanding live performances. Listen for Rich Thomas’ superb, hairraising vocals and the purest folk-rock since Jeff Buckley. To Be Alive, their outstanding new EP, is out on November 4.

OCTOBER 2013

On the top end of things, there’s the aforementioned Scotts, preferred destination for the greats of yesteryear, the Pizza Express on Dean Street, and the 606 Club of SW10. A night of certain spectacle at any of these venues, however, will set you back £25 at the absolute least. Cash-conscious jazzophiles needn’t look any further than Round Midnight in Angel, Islington. Named for the classic Thelonious Monk song, this jazz and blues bar provides nearby City students with free entertainment every night of the week. Some nights it’s a bargain. For mid-market mood music, you can check out Vortex in Dalston. There’s also the London Jazz Festival, starting November 15, with shows down the road at the Barbican and the happening Amersham Arms in SE14. •

MUSIC | ARTS

027

OUT WITH THE NEW, IN WITH THE OLD: BALKAN MUSIC BY CHRIS SUTCLIFFE IMAGE HANNES RINKL

Chris Sutcliffe takes an in-depth look into the trend of Balkan music samples by contemporary artists, and asks when cultural appropriation works, and when it doesn’t. Cultural appropriation is back in vogue, both as a means for an established musician to diversify their output and as a slur to throw at those who do so without shame. The fine line between inspiration and wholesale lifting of cultural identity is well trodden by artists, and which side they fall upon seems to be largely down to critical popularity: Elvis Presley is lauded for having drawn upon rhythm-and-blues to create his musical identity while Miley Cyrus has recently been castigated for it. While it can be argued this appropriation is the cost of a rise in a genre’s popularity, there are musicians who feel the cost is too high. The music of the Balkan region is becoming increasingly well-known internationally thanks to artists such as Beirut, A Hawk And A Hacksaw and Balkan Beat Box, who combine its traditionally complex rhythms with Western sensibilities. Their success,

and the recent sampling of a Balkan Beat Box track by Jason Derülo for his single Talk Dirty, suggests that audiences and many musicians consider this synthesis appealing and commercially viable. Some artists, however, feel that the dilution of Balkan styles betrays the spirit of the music. Gundula Gruen, violinist and vocalist for London-based Tatcho Drom, believes that Balkan music cannot be distilled down to a sample without losing its meaning: “It’s emotionally honest. It expresses all the pain in the world. Some DJs use their music to make it easier for audiences to understand, but what gypsy music is about is more than that.” Tatcho Drom’s music, which draws upon Romany gypsy and Balkan influences, is complex and frequently melancholic, though Gruen is keen to stress that it is also music to dance to. As complex as it is, it’s no surprise that three members of the band are classically-trained musicians who, in Gruen’s words, were seduced by the spirit of gypsy music. Although they share sensibilities, their sound is a

world away from Derülo’s rote sampling: upon listening to one, then the other, it is hard not to feel Gruen has a point about something being lost in translation. Former City University student Oliver Harrison wrote his dissertation on music from the region. He believes that the recent rise in Balkan music’s popularity is due to the political climate in the region prior to the 1990s. “The lack of a successful pop music industry is highlighted when one considers the fact the Bulgarian rock group FSB made history in 1988 by becoming the first Bulgarian group to play or record outside of Bulgaria,” he says. “This is in stark contrast to the performance of popular music in larger Capitalist nations, which over the last half-century has helped western popular music thrive and grow into a globally dominant force.” It is only since the beginning of the information age that other audiences could find, appreciate and draw upon Balkan music to create their own. •

THE HARD SELL : JUSTIN BIEBER BY JACOB MIGNANO

Sinatra. Presley. Dylan. Lennon. Cobain. Bieber. Each one the voice of a generation, and yet it is only the latter whose brilliance is never truly acknowledged. I don’t think I ever really understood music until I heard the angelic vocals of Baby. The fresh-faced Canadian with his teenageheartthrob looks and perfectly messy hair burst onto the pop scene with all the boundless enthusiasm of an Andrex puppy. My current hairstyle is no coincidence. I know he’s changed it since, but I just can’t bring myself to do it – I’m a Bieber-purist at heart.

Imagine my delight when he turned up two hours late onstage, skipping that awkward stage where you earn the fans’ respect before mugging them off. I’ve always admired Axl Rose for keeping people waiting – 15 years to bring out Chinese Democracy? Masterstroke. But Bieber took it to a whole new level, keeping tweens and their angry parents waiting. Bless him – he was only trying to stay up past his bedtime. Stop hating him because he has more Twitter followers than you. I, for one, am a Belieber. •

@CITYONTOPIC

FASHION | REGULAR

028

A S

CAMPUS STYLE BY MORGAN FURY AND ARNELLE PATERSON-MENSAH

TOP & DENIM JACKET CHARITY SHOP JEANS PRIMARK BAG CAMDEN JEWELLERY FOREVER 21 BOOTS DOC MARTENS

TOP AMERICAN APPAREL JEANS TOPSHOP ‘MOM’ BELT H&M BOOTS TRUFFLE BLAZER NEXT

1. Hazera Ali – BA Journalism 2. Maria Arntzen – “My style changes all the time. As long BSc Business Studies as I’m comfortable with what I wear, I’m not too fussy. I shop everywhere and mix and match everything to appear different and unique. I mainly shop vintage at Brick Lane – amazing place! I take inspiration from model Ruby Aldridge: she never fails to look good with every outfit she pulls off.”

The Fashion Editor says : “This is the perfect example of pulling together staple items effortlessly; Hazera has balanced the bagginess of her ‘Mom’ jeans with a long sleeved fitted top with a rich, autumn-inspired burgundy, ideal for the colder months. The great thing about Chelsea boots is that they add instant glam to an outfit and go with nearly everything!”

3. Ashanty Alves – BSc International Politics

“My main inspiration in Maria Van Nguyen, an up-and-coming Norwegian Fashion Design student at Parsons in New York. I own about 20 pieces of clothes that are black, grey or white, making it easy to match and create many different outfits. My top tip is to invest in a base of good quality pieces, mixing it up with a few cheaper high street fashion pieces when seasons change.”

“I’m addicted to charity shops and finding cheap, unique items of clothing that fit my individual style. My biggest fashion inspiration comes from the late ’80s, early ’90s era, especially outfits worn on shows such as The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. My top tip would be to mix different brands together and to always feel confident in what you wear - it represents who you are.”

The Fashion Editor says :

“The cape coat is one of the comfiest, cosiest trends this autumn. I’m a huge fan of printed jeans too – they add a certain pazazz to an outfit instantaneously.” BLACK JUMPER ICHI CAPE UNITED COLORS OF BENETTON (U.S) TROUSERS & CLUTCH FOREVER 21 (U.S) PUMPS FØTEX (DENMARK)

4. Kwaku Asabre – Graduate Diploma in Law The Fashion Editor says : “I’d label Kwaku’s look as Mr Cool and Casual: the versatility of chinos and a denim shirt means that they should be essential staple items in every male’s wardrobe! Pair a denim shirt with a jumper, making sure that the collar is visible for a smart look this autumn.” OCTOBER 2013

DENIM LOOK SHIRT STORE IN BRICK LANE T-SHIRT URBAN OUTFITTERS CHINOS REISS SHOES ALDO

“Every girl needs a pair of black skinnies that she can wear time and time again. Ashanty has dared to breach the rule of double denim and successfully pulled it off, while her Doc Martens give the outfit an edgy feel. Her statement necklace ensures all eyes are on her gorgeous printed top while her gold ring is a cute addition.”

5. Georgia Nwawulor – LLB Law The Fashion Editor says : ”It looks as though Georgia’s been influenced by androgynous, monochrome fashion while her boyfriend fit coat is bang on trend. You can never go wrong with a plain white shirt, in terms of outfits, the possibility of combinations are endless”. JACKET & SHIRT URBAN OUTFITTERS JEANS H&M RINGS VARIOUS MARKET STALLS AND H&M BAG MARKET STALL

EARRINGS CLAIRE’S LIPSTICK SLEEK’S MULBERRY SHOES OFFICE

REGULAR | FASHION

029

COSTUME PARTIES OF THE PAST: WHAT NOT TO WEAR BY INGRID BRUBAKER

The importance of staying true to yourself is duly imprinted on us during the primary stages of life. It’s good advice. But, in terms of fancy dress, being yourself just does not cut it. Behold some painful life lessons that costume parties have taught me. Life Lesson 1: Being yourself and following your heart can have horrific consequences, especially when you are five years old and decide to go to nursery as a cow. Rewind two decades. My nursery is throwing a carnival party and we’re all proudly parading our costumes around the room. This is great fun for the seven pirates, 12 fairy princesses, 15 clowns and 38 superheroes collectively jumping around the room. However, for the brave child who has taken the bovine approach, this isn’t a joyous occasion. No one in the room accompanies the lonesome cow, even after they expand the category to ‘farm animals’. Never have I felt such solitude, wearing my synthetic one-piece (consisting of two tiny horns). Life Lesson 2: Being humorous and intelligent isn’t sufficient. Theoretical hilarity does not guarantee visual success. In other words, ‘Sexy Beast of the Southern Wild’ is hilarious on paper and during conversation with your friends. It’s not funny being thrown back into a distant memory of nursery, twenty years

on, still bravely clutching onto the belief that animal costumes were a good idea. I vividly remember wearing cardboard claws, with hand-painted egg carton strapped on my face and horns (this time made with chopsticks and painted white). Life Lesson 3: Go with simplicity, not entertainment. Find yourself trying to blindly defend your costume to three Lara Crofts and a Tin Tin? “The ears,” you’ll say, pointing to your head, before moving on to your cardboard felt claws. It might have worked, had I picked a costume from a film that people had actually seen. So there I was, solitary all over again, but this time as a boar. So you might want to reconsider your costume this year. I, for one, will be going for something lacking humour – and definitely no cardboard! •

HOW TO MAKE HALLOWEEN COSTUMES ON A BUDGET BY JESSICA PERRY

Double, double, toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble. Halloween isn’t far away, so here’s some great tips on how to look the part this Halloween. Whatever your costume, your Halloween outfit is not complete without a splash of artificial blood. Instead of spending unnecessary money, use spare cupboard ingredients to liven up your outfit.

We all know that Halloween can be an expensive season, so if you don’t have time to DIY, help is at hand. Here are some of our top picks that are perfect for a student budget. HALLOWEEN MAKE UP SET Wilko £1.60

Ingredients required: Water Red Food Colouring Blue Food Colouring Honey 1. Mix one tablespoon of water with three tablespoons of honey to create a runny, sticky paste. 2. Then add three tablespoons of red food colouring. Add more if you prefer a deeper red colour. 3. Now to thicken up your paste you will need to add ½ a tablespoon of flour. Mix well to eliminate any lumps (unless you want it to look like blood clots). 4. Add a little blue colouring to the mixture to make it look more realistic but be careful you don’t add too much as it will turn purple.

FRIGHTFUL FACE OF FEAR MAKEUP KIT ASDA £4.00

GLAM DIAMANTE HALLOWEEN FALSE LASHES CLAIRE’S ACCESSORIES £5.50

FAKE BLOOD 2 PACK Poundland £1 BLACK BAT EYELINER New Look £3.99 CHINA GLAZE GHOULISH GLOW NAIL LACQUER WITH HARDENERS Ulta.com £4.67 WILKO HALLOWEEN HAIR ACCESSORY Set Pumpkin Grips x 3 £1.50

BARRY M HALLOWEEN Lipstick £4.49

LIPS IN HAZARD Topshop £8.00

5. Leave it for 10 minutes to allow it to thicken. @CITYONTOPIC

HEALTH & FITNESS | REGULAR

030

HEALTH & FITNESS

DEALING WITH DEPRESSION BY MISHA GAJEWSKI IMAGE DARCYADELAIDE

It’s easy to become overwhelmed. Students in particular are at risk of developing depression with the lack of sleep, poor diet, and added stresses of student loans or a part-time job. At university, depression is the number one cause for students withdrawing from their courses and suicide is the third leading cause

of death among students. So it’s important to make sure your mental health is looked after. Despite the commonality of depression, it is still widely misunderstood. Depression is not just feeling down or unhappy; we all feel that from time to time. Depression is something entirely different.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, a person suffering from depression will experience a variety of symptoms for a period of two weeks or more, including:

6 - Give yourself a challenge. It doesn’t have to be big, but set a goal and work towards it. Accomplishing even small goals gives more confidence that you can tackle even bigger challenges.

• Depressed mood or loss of interest in activities • Weight change (loss or gain) • Change in sleeping patterns (either insomnia or hypersomnia) • Fatigue or loss of energy • Feeling guilt and worthlessness • Suicidal thoughts

7 - Identify mood triggers. Keep track of your moods in a diary and see if you can identify any patterns. For example, eating a certain food may bring on anxiety, or if you’re a woman, just before your period your mood can become low.

The mental health charity, Mind, says there are several things you can do to maintain a positive healthy mental state or improve it. 1 - Talk about how you are feeling to someone you trust. They may be able to offer you some helpful advice if you are going through a difficult time. 2 - Build healthy relationships. Positive friends and family can help you maintain good mental health, even in the toughest of times. 3 - Take care of yourself. Eating right, getting enough sleep, and exercising are vital to your wellbeing. 4 - Do something you enjoy. It can help boost your confidence and help you keep a positive outlook. 5 - Do something for someone else. Nothing feels better than being charitable.

8 - During difficult times, make sure you look after yourself. Pamper yourself. Give yourself a break. 9 - Learn to embrace yourself and all your quirks. And finally: 10 - RELAX! If you think you are experiencing symptoms of depression at university, talk to someone. A friend, a tutor, an anonymous adviser on Nightline – someone! Don’t suffer in silence. City University London offers counselling for all students. Counselling services are located on the first floor of the Drysdale building and drop in sessions are from 13:00 until 14:00 or you can make an appointment. • To book an appointment, visit Learning Success, The Student Centre, Level 2, call 020 7040 0246, or email: disability@city.ac.uk. For more help and information, you can contact: www.nightline. ac.uk, www.samaritans.org, www.studentsagainstdepression.org

TOP FIVE FOODS FOR A BETTER MOOD

BY JASMIN OJALAINEN

A recipe for a better mood? Simply eat well to feel better! In addition to battling hunger, right food choices can work wonders also on the mental state. Restore your overall equilibrium by munching on these super foods that are guaranteed to lift your mood.

CHOCOLATE This classic treat deserves its place amongst the top mood boosters for a reason. What makes it so heavenly a is the enhanced secretion of endorphins, promoting the sense of well-being. Indulge your taste buds with a bite of chocolate it is, after all, the cure for more or less everything.

OCTOBER 2013

NUTS Instead of going nuts, try chewing on some. Packed with omega-3 and protein, these potential antidepressants can help restore the energy levels and improve brainpower. What’s more, even a handful a day is enough to keep your mindset positive. Walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts...There’s some for every taste.

SALMON An ideal solution for those feeling both hungry and grumpy. It is also a great source of essential fatty acids, kicking off a chemical cocktail that fights the irritable mood. Opt for this healthy alternative to keep yourself focused and the hunger away.

GREEN TEA A traditional beverage that is everyone’s cup of tea. Containing many antioxidants associated with mood regulation, this cup of calmness truly has some miraculous effects. Not only does it detoxify your body but it also clarifies your mindset. It’s pure magic in a liquid state.

BLUEBERRIES Feeling blue? Why not snack on nature’s own stress-reducing agents! These nutritious energy bombs, rich in fructose, are apt to give you an energy kick and their high fibre content helps to maintain the boost for longer. To top it off, they’re deliciously sweet and completely guilt-free!

031

THREE TASTY HALLOWEEN RECIPES BY MEAGHAN SPENCER

Roasted Pumpkin Paprika Soup Ingredients: ½ small pumpkin 1 onion Olive oil/butter 1 vegetable stock cube Water Paprika Salt and Pepper Instructions: 1. Pre-heat oven to 200°C 2. Scoop out the innards of the pumpkin before peeling and cutting it into slices 3. Lay them on a baking tray. Peel and quarter an onion. Place it among the slices of pumpkin 4. Rub the vegetables with olive oil. Season with salt, pepper and paprika. Cover with foil and place into the oven 5. Check the vegetables after 20 minutes, adding more seasoning if needed or more butter/oil, and roast for 10 minutes

pumpkin pie Ingredients: ½ small pumpkin 85ml milk 1 egg Vanilla essence Salt 20g melted butter 70g caster sugar Pastry – the general rule is half fat to flour and a fairly generous sprinkling of sugar 200g plain flour, 100g butter, 65g sugar Instructions: 1. Cut the pumpkin in small chunks. Cover with water and bring to the boil before leaving to simmer. Once soft, drain and leave to cool 2. To make the pastry, rub the flour, sugar and butter between your fingers until they resemble breadcrumbs 3. Add a small amount of water and mix together until it forms dough. Roll the pastry and line your oven dish 4. Cover a rolling pin with flour before rolling out your pastry and then carefully transfer to the dish

6. Make sure to cook the pumpkin and onion until they are soft and cooked through

5. Prick the pastry with a fork and then place in a pre-heated oven (180°C) for around 25 minutes or until golden

7. Once roasted, using a blender or liquidiser, blitz the vegetables with the stock cube and water

6. Whilst the pastry is cooking, mash the melted butter and pumpkin together until puréed.

8. Season to taste and then serve

7. Mix together the flour, milk, egg with a pinch of salt and a dash of vanilla essence before combining with the pumpkin 8. Pour this mixture into the cooked pastry dish and place on top any decorations made from the leftover pastry 9. Place the dish into the oven at 200°C for 10 minutes before reducing the temperature to 160°C and leaving for a further 30-40 minutes. Once cooked, leave to cool and then enjoy.

Chocolate Chilli Graveyard Cake Ingredients: 170g self-raising flour 170g caster sugar 170g butter 3 eggs 2 heaped tablespoons cocoa powder 1 heaped teaspoon baking powder 2 teaspoons hot chilli powder 1-2 120g chocolate Gravestone Biscuits 75g butter, 110g caster sugar 185g plain flour 1 beaten egg Salt Vanilla essence Instructions: 1. Add flour to a bowl and remove one heaped tablespoon before replacing it with two heaped tablespoons of cocoa powder 2. Combine with the butter, sugar, eggs, baking powder and chilli powder. Stir together until the mixture falls reluctantly from a spoon 3. Pour the mixture into a cake tin. Cook in a pre-heated oven (170°C) for 30 minutes 4. To make the biscuits, combine the butter and sugar and add a few drops of vanilla essence and around half of the beaten egg 5. Mix together with the flour and a pinch of salt before wrapping the stiff dough in cling film and placing in the fridge for around an hour 6. When the cake is done, remove from oven and leave to cool. Going back to the biscuits, roll the pastry out until it reaches the desired thickness 7. Cut gravestone shapes out of the pastry and place them on a lined baking tray for 20 minutes at 175°C or until golden 8. Once cooled, carefully cut slots into the cake and place the gravestone biscuits in. Cover the cake in melted chocolate, making sure to go around the gravestones so as to seal them into place. Leave the chocolate to set and then enjoy.

HEALTH & FITNESS | REGULAR

032

How to Cope With Homesickness BY ANNE STEINBACH IMAGE DMITRY KALININ

Feeling homesick? You are not alone! John Ed Pearce once said: “Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave, and grow old wanting to get back to.” Well, looking at City University London’s statistics concerning the diversity and international background of its students, we see that about 160 countries are represented. Most are young students who’ve just left home and moved far, or maybe even not that far, away from home. Being away from home may look easy but it certainly is a challenge for most of us, whether we realise it or not. Often, as soon as the first hype of living in a new place is gone, we are sad and unmotivated. Rather, we stay in and talk to our family, boyfriend or girlfriend, and our friends at home

OCTOBER 2013

to share our new experiences, but also to feel a little bit closer to home. Homesickness gets to a lot of people and this is definitely not a sign of being weak, young or not able to live independently – it’s simply a natural phenomenon. So what should you do when you really miss home? Talk to someone! Make friends! You are all in the same situation. Help each other out! Do as much as you can! City University London offers a lot of activities besides classes. Enjoy the university surroundings. Join sports teams, clubs and societies…or even the City OnTopic team!

Instead of visiting your family, why don’t you invite them and show them around your new place? If you feel like dropping out of university, wait it out a few months. Give yourself time to settle into university life, because you never know, a few months down the line, you’ll probably won’t even want to go home! If homesickness is distracting your academic and social life, seek professional help, either from your GP or City’s counselling service. Do not hesitate to get help. Homesickness is very common in students. You can overcome it! •

REGULAR | HEALTH & FITNESS

033

Running London

bACK TO BASICS : HAMPSTEAD HEATH

BY KATIE MARSTON

“There’s a place I can’t find; it’s wonderful,” exclaims my flat mate. We’re planning my first excursion to Hampstead Heath, synonymous with running in North London, on a par with Regent’s Park. A month previously, I moved to London, which now feels like both an eternity and a heartbeat. As a newbie Londoner and, at best, amateur runner, the capital can be a daunting place to run. Running is one of the best to discover a city. Even the monotonous places and the over-visited monuments offer things to find.

ways most most new

London runs the same routes again and again. Data visualisation by mappinglondon using Nike Data showed up hot spots and routes around the Royal Parks and Regent’s Park in particular. It’s easy to see why.

I love Regent’s Park for its general flatness, canal access (one of the perks of North London is without doubt the canal) and greenery. The spider’s web of paths also makes for interesting routes, limitless possibilities and easily increased distances, but it’s not the most inspiring place. Rain and tourists flood the pavements. No change there. But I dislike gyms lack of daylight and overabundance of judgement and competition. Most important, though, is that you see no places, barely any new faces, and the scenery - well, does a mirror count as scenery? Only for Narcissus. Hampstead Heath, however, is a great option for those looking for some variety of routes within a bus ride from City University and with minimal tourist, cyclist and traffic dodging. There are very few places where you can go from paths to forest trails, wooded tracks, open heath, stately homes, manicured lawns and finish

with a spectacular view over London. Plenty of maps online mean you can plan routes in advance from a singular mile to a casual half marathon, if you feel so inclined. Or abandon the maps and look for overgrown gardens, hidden treasures and stunning, unexpected views. The final slog up Parliament Hill reveals the London skyline, perfect for those days when you need reminding why you came to the big smoke. The best part? Running down the hill and making the most of that potential energy you’ve stored up. Like the Room of Requirement in Harry Potter, London will provide what you need when you need it the most. So lose yourself in running; it’s worth it. • Katie runs whorunsthiscity.wordpress. com with updates, maps, photos and soundtracks. Copious puns also included. Feel free to submit route ideas too.

Five key tips for an active workout 1 COUNT IT Keep a check of your progress to avoid becoming complacent or bored. Download an app like Nike Plus or mapmyrun to see how far you’re going and how active you are. Concrete training will lead to positive results, which is really useful to keep you going as winter draws in. Don’t be afraid to set bigger goals, like a half marathon in six months’ time. Very few people will consistently exercise for the sake of exercising - we all need purpose and it’s something to brag about.

2 ORGANISE IT Time your workout to your own body clock, whether that means exercising just before eating, a couple of hours after, or running in the morning or late evening to ensure you get a full night’s sleep. The effects of exercise on metabolism and sleep patterns in addition to brain activity are well documented. You will be more likely to be motivated to work out if it fits in with your daily routine.

3 VARY IT Trail running, for example, improves your muscles, balance and coordination. If you are stuck in the gym, vary your routine and machines. Monotony does not make for an active workout.

4 STRETCH IT One of the best purchases is a foam roller. About 6 inches wide and 3ft in length, it’s a poor man’s sports massage. With plenty of tutorials on YouTube, there’s no reason not to invest.

BY KATIE MARSTON

5 WATCH IT

(FOR THE SMALLEST NIGGLES OR PAINS)

There is no equivalent of man flu for runners, so ignore what your body tells you at your own peril. Knees, feet, backs, and hips scream out for TLC. Leaving problems untreated will set you back long term. @CITYONTOPIC

SPORTS | REGULAR

034

SPORT David Moyes: Leader or letdown? BY JAMES DUTTON IMAGE JASON GULLEDGE

Football iconography is ingrained in the cultural identity of clubs across the world. England is no different, though Chelsea’s flirtation with A4 printouts last season may suggest otherwise.

budget limitations, but to have never won at Anfield, the Emirates, Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge over an 11-year period points to a psychological barrier.

There’s an infamous Evertonian banner which proclaims David Moyes as the Manager of the Decade: “10 years at Everton for boss who proves you don’t need to win trophies to be a winner, but he is a winner.” Old Trafford’s change in management attracted an incredible amount of coverage, and the column inches and airtime devoted to the subject have only increased in light of the indifferent start to his career at Manchester United.

It’s one that he is still yet to overcome, as illustrated by lamentable performances against Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City at the start of this season.

The skeptics have been forthright in their protestations. “How can you appoint a manager with no experience at the highest level?” But the best way to assess the Scot’s ability to step up a level is to look at his defining games at Everton. A Champions League qualifier against Villarreal in 2005, undone by suspect refereeing. The quickest goal in FA Cup Final history in 2009, before succumbing to a second-half Chelsea onslaught. Dominating Liverpool in an FA Cup semi final in 2012, before standing off in the second half. When so many praised the work he did with Everton, the natural retort to these failures - “Oh, but it’s only Everton” - is paradoxical. He may have overachieved, given his oft-reported

He must also overhaul an aging squad that has regressed in quality every year since their Champions League triumph in 2008, a reality that has been obscured by the relentless effervescence of Sir Alex Ferguson. “The Chosen One” has been handed a cumbersome task by Ferguson, who masterminded countless transitions at United but did not have the time for another. Unlike Pep Guardiola, who inherited a near faultless squad at Bayern Munich and has improved them in the opening weeks of his management, Moyes has inherited schisms. This season will teach us a few things about Manchester United. The effect of Ferguson and the Glazers will be made clear. It will also show whether David Moyes has the ability to be a winner who can actually win trophies. In my view, whoever replaces him down the line in two or three years will probably fare better. •

PROFILE: London Fight Factory BY BERND DEBUSMANN

“Victory comes to those who persevere.”

people here. We train together and we learn together.”

These are the words stencilled in black on a wall in the In addition to hosting a variety of classes for amateurs of all levels, the London Fight Factory, one of the capital’s premier martial coaches at the London Fight Factory have produced a number of successful arts facilities, located right in the heart of Islington. professional MMA fighters, including English featherweight Diego Vital, who currently has nine wins and three losses, and Jeremy “Ninja” Petley, Those hoping for a mental and physical challenge can a British-Canadian lightweight with nine wins and four losses. choose from boxing, mixed martial arts (MMA), Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Muy Thai and traditional wrestling. Additionally, the London Fight Factory occasionally has events and workshops with well-known professional fighters. On September 13, for While the thought of stepping into the ring for the first time example, the gym hosted former UFC middleweight champion Anderson could scare quite a few beginners, gym manager Helen Silva, who currently holds the record for most consecutive winning fights Pegg says that City students haven’t much to fear. (16). “It can be quite daunting,” she said. “The focus here is on Free 90-minute trial classes are available for interested City students. learning. They [the coaching staff] may have to shout to let The London Fight Factory is located at 19 Ebenezer Street, just a few you know something, but we have a really nice group of minutes from Old Street tube station. • OCTOBER 2013

REGULAR | SPORTS

035

Are managers in top flight football given enough time? IMAGE STEVEN DEPOLO

BY SALMAAN BHOGADIA

history. Scaring others into submission. Eternal yes Rewriting fame and glory. When it comes to managers, we only care

about those who win; those who lose are forgotten. That is the nature of top flight football and being a manager in such a demanding business can be very rewarding, but you will go down faster than Ashley Young if it backfires. When we look at the sacking of Paolo Di Canio, I think we all knew it was coming. The manager spent over £23 million on enough players to field an entire starting eleven, and yet only had a 25% win rate overall. When he left, his team were bottom of the Premier League, having picked up just one point so far this season.

There is no doubting Di Canio’s talent; after all, he guided Swindon Town back into League One in his first season with them. The answer is simply that he was not good enough to grace the Premier League. Despite his undoubted passion, clubs need points, as we first look at the table when we judge a club’s performance. Fans want results, and if they don’t see their club accumulating points, then they generally let everyone know about it. When it comes to managing a football club, there is one allimportant rule: get points or get fired. It’s also the case that due to football’s inherent tribal culture, even if a team is doing well, there are games you just cannot lose. Fingers now pointed at Nigel Clough, a man who I think took the East Midlands derby for granted. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realise that sometimes you just have to win no matter what. You can never underestimate the importance of bragging rights, and with Nottingham Forest claiming the Brian Clough Trophy, Nigel wasn’t living up to his father’s legacy - he had to go. •

BY JACOPO CIUFOLI

writing The Prince, Niccolò Machiavelli aimed to create NO When a bible for the perfect leader, explaining that “he who wishes

to be obeyed must know how to command.” Beyond the shadow of a doubt, a football manager is a leader and as such assumes responsibility in defeat and takes the glory in victory. A manager must therefore know how to command. However, the role of football manager has undergone a complete metamorphosis in recent years. From a simple tactical genius to an active member of the board, playing with clubs’ budget and its squad members; choosing not only who will set foot on the pitch but also who will leave and enter the club’s walls. Sadly this mutation has ended with today’s view of a manager: a scapegoat who can be easily disposed if expectations aren’t met. Nigel Clough’s sacking is a recent example of the impatience of

modern football. This is a sport in which results have to come fast in order for any manager to be seen in a bright light and team members easily change after only a few months. We tend to forget that, in many cases, managers not only have to be football experts but also nursery school teachers, dealing with overpaid teenagers who are eighteen going on eight. In these terms, judging the manager alone is terribly wrong, as Machiavelli’s first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him. Unfortunately managers are not given enough time, because for owners it’s easier and more economically convenient to sack a manager than the prima donna players who are earning millions. But this is foolish. Judging a manager after a few games is like stopping evolution after the first stage, without waiting for mankind to stand upright. •

CITY SPORTS FACILITIES Whether you’ve got to write up stories, go to labs, study stats or memorise laws, finding the time to keep fit can become a bit of a side-thought.

Activities take place in Studios 1 & 2 on located on Sebastian Street (just off Northampton Square) and cost £3.50 per session for wellbeing classes, such as yoga, and just £2 for a fitness class.

The Saddlers Sports Centre, the university’s main hub of sporting activity, is currently undergoing redevelopment. The result will be a sports centre featuring an “Olympic quality six-court sports hall, a 100-station fitness area and a café.”

Students are also encouraged to get involved in the free “Run for Change” classes that meet at the Sports Reception on Monday and Wednesday lunchtime at 12:30.

All very exciting, yet until that reaches completion in 2014, your options for keeping fit on campus are decidedly more limited. The sports department currently runs the Campus Activity Programme, which provides a range of fitness classes and wellbeing activities including yoga, zumba, box fit and pilates.

Although not on campus, there is a wealth of gyms in the surrounding area. The cheapest option is probably the Finsbury Leisure Centre; its facilities may be basic but it costs £30 for membership and just £4 per session. Closer to home, your best bet is probably Fitness First in Angel, which costs £35 per month. •

@CITYONTOPIC

FEATURE | REGULAR

036

DO YOU

LOVE

WRITING,

PHOTOGRAPHY

GET YOUR WORK PUBLISHED EVERY MONTH - JOIN THE CITY ONTOPIC TEAM!

OCTOBER 2013

DESIGN?

WE WANT YOU!

EMAIL THE EDITOR IF YOU’D LIKE TO GET INVOLVED