Impact Magazine Issue 242 by Impact Magazine

“Do you think we need text on the

cover? Does it make Impact look too serious without some light-hearted crap?” (08/09/2015)

BELINDA TOOR IMPACT‘S ILLUSTRIOUS LEADER, 2015-2016

ANCIENTBIOTICS NOTTINGHAM RANKED THE THIRD MOST ECONOMICAL CITY FOR STUDENT EQUALITY NOT EXCLUSION UNIVERSITY A VALUABLE OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL QUICK QUESTIONS FOR A GRA UATE WITH THE RISING COST OF GOING TO UNIVERSITY IN BRITAIN IS THERE A NEED FOR SHORTER DEGREES WHAT DID YOU THIS SUMMER COMBATING STRESS MINDFULNESS AND MEDITATION A FUTURE LABOUR PARTY SPOTLIGHT ON NEPAL NOTTS AROUND THE WORLD WHATS AROUND THE CORNER RESEARCH AT YOUR UNIVERSITY SCIENCE IN THE UK FOUR APPS TO MAKE STUDENT LIFE A LITTLE EASIER LITTLE BLACK BOOK NOTTINGHAM ESSENTIALS RAPID RECIPIES ICEBREAKERS HANGO VER COMFORTS DAY N NIGHT DOES FASHION APPROPRIATE CULTURES OR SIMPLY APPRECIATE THEM HOLDING ONTO THAT SUMMER GLOW #IWOKEUPLIKETHIS PURSE ESSENTIALS THE MIGHTY T-SHIRT DRESS HUMANS OF NOTTINGHAM STUDENT GAMING 80S AND 90S GAMES FOR FRESHERS THE SEVEN ERAS OF 007 SOCIAL MEDIA SPECULATION OR SPOILERS ITS NOT EVEN MO BUND ITS JUST FUCKING DEAD TALKING WITH KNEEL BEFORE ZOD COMING SOON HALLMATES FROM HELL UO MUSIC SOCIETIES PROFILED NOTTINGHAM GIG VENUE GUIDE SHOULD MUSIC BE POLITICAL CD LIBRARY PRO FILE ISSUE 242 CAMPUS TASTES WHAT DOES YOUR SHELFIE SAY ABOUT YOU GRAPHIC NOVELS ARE THEY ART LITERATURE OR NEITHER BACKSTAGE CAREERS WHATS ON YOUR DOORSTEP THE CITY GROUNDS WHATS ON AT YOUR UNI EQUESTRIAN CLUB EQUALITY IN SPORT SHOULD VARSITY HELD EARLIER IN THE YEAR ITS COMING FROM INSIDE THE HOUSE YOU DONT HAVE TO BE A L IMPACT NEWS INTERVIEWS EMMA BARNETT THE SYRIAN CRISIS WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO US BIGOREXIA HOW MALE BODY DYSMORPHIA WILL AFFECT A GENERATION SHOULD MORE STUDENTS EMBRACE VEGETARIANISM SOME PEOPLE GET TOO MUCH MONEY FROM THE UNI AND GOVERNMENT THE FILTHIER THE BETTER LENTON HELL-HOLE OR HAV EN I FEEL LIKE IM MISSING OUT ON THE STUDENT CULTURE SPOTLIGHT ON GERMANY WASHINGTON DC VERSUS LONDON MANY MILES MINI MONEY AUTUMN FESTIVALS AROUND TH WORLD ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE WHERE TO EAT AND DANCE RECIPIES FOR YOUR REQUIREMEN THE BATTLE OF THE DIETS SHOPE FE/MALE GENDER ROLES IN FASHION BOHEMIAN RHAPSOD RECREATE THE LOOK DOUBLE UP URBAN JUNGLE EXPOSURE JUST FIVE MORE MINUTES THE DEVELOPMENT OF GAMING JOURNALISM CAN INDEPENDENT GAMING SAVE LOCAL MULTIPLAYER CELEBRITY ENDORSEMENT IN GAM ING DONT MAKE ME WATCH THAT FRANKENFILMS A MARVEL-OUS QUESTION GENERATION PROFIT SCARY SHOWDOWN LETS SPLIT UP GOING TO GRACELAND THE THIRD COMING OF BIEBER SLEAFORD MODS GENGAHR INTERVIEW KAGOULE INTERVIEW CAN YOU JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER SEXISM IN THE ACTING INDUSTRY CHARACTER DATING APP PROFILES CAN DANCE BE CLASSED AS A SPORT SIX THINGS I LEARNT PLAYING AMERICAN FOOTBALL A LOT OF TALK NO ACTION BLOODY HOMOPHOBIA CATHERINE MAYER INTERVIEW FRIENDSHIPS WITH YOUR EX AND THE OTHER SEX TO SCHOOL TOILET ATTENDANTS A NO 1 ANNOYANCE IT ACTUALLY DOES HAPPEN ITS NOT JUST PORN SPOTLIGHT ON POLAND CATCH THE NORTHERN LIGHTS BEFOR THEY FADE THE NEUROSCIENCE OF EXERCISE THE BEST APPS FOR STUDENT LIFE SCIENCE FICTIONS IMPACT ON THE FUTURE THE SCIENCE OF STAR WARS FESTIVE FAVOURITES WINTER WONDERS LOO AT THESE PEOPLE WEARING CLOTHES TAKE A LOOK AT YOURSELF DARING FESTIVE GLAM WHY ARE YOU DRESSED LIKE THAT CAN ANYBODY HEAR US MICROTRANSAC TIONS GOOD FOR GAMERS SO NEAR SO FAR WHERES THE TRIGGER AGAIN SCENE WARS CAPITALIST CINEMA AT ITS FINEST TWEET THAT FILM IMPACTS FAVOURITE ALBUMS ON 2015 COURTNEY BARNETT PROFILE A GUIDED TOUR OF THE US UNDERGROUND ENTER SH KARI INTERVIEW THE ARTS APOCALYPSE IN EDUCATION DIARY OF A FRESHER VILLAIN TO THE FUTURE SPORT THE REAL HIT ROOM 101 SELFIES LETS TALK ABOUT MENSTRUAL CUPS WOULD Y TRAVEL TO SOMEWHERE AT RISK OF A TERRORIST ATTACK I JUST STRUGGLE WITH BEING SLOW AT EVERYTHING COME TO SHOTTINGHAM FEELING THE BURN SPOTLIGHT ON MADEIRA UNUSUAL HOTELS BEST PLAC TO SKI CHINESE NEW YEAR ANKIDROID THE SCIENCE OF STUDENT LIVING NOT LO IN SPACE REUNION RESTAURANTS NEW YEAR NEW YOU IS IT HARD TO EAT HALAL AT UNIVERSITY KEEPING CULTURE ALIVE THROUGH COUTURE RHYTHM OF THE NIGHT A THE END OF THE RUNWAY BOWIE GAMEPLAY VERSUS STORY BUGGY AND BROKEN STEAM AND EARLY ACCESS IMPACT FILM AWARDS 2015 SHAKESPEARE THE SCREEN O THE STAGE REMAKE/REMISTAKE SEX! NOW WE HAVE YOUR ATTENTION CHILDREN OF THE REVO LUTION THE LONELY ART FORM YOU WANT TO PROVOKE PEOPLE THATS THE POINT A LOOK INTO TH FUTURE OF MUSIC 2016 THE STYLE AND THE STIGMA EXPERIENCING THE STYLE DEAR AGONY AUNT LOST BOY FOUND YOUVE GOT NO HISTORY SO JUST WHO IS BRIAN CLOUGH THE UNIFIED NATURE OF SPORT SIR DAVID GREENAWAY WHAT HAVE YOU GOT TO HIDE UON AGAINST KNOWLEDGE PLEASE TAKE A SEAT THE DOCTOR WILL SEE YOU SHORTLY LIFES A DRAG PEOPLE JUST HAVE A FUCKING GREAT TIME AND THATS WHAT WERE ALL ABOUT REFUGEE ACTION NOTTINGHAM DENTS OF DIVORCE POINTED FINGERS STARVING CHILDREN CAMERON ON THE CURRIC ULUM WHERE NEXT SPOTLIGHT ON IRAN THE INVASION OF THE ZIKA VIRUS ITS ALL RELATIVE GREENIFY STUDENT SAVERS MEALS UNDER A FIVER ARE YOU BEING SWINDLED OUT OF DOUGH LET THE MUSIC PLAY DARE TO BE DIFFERENT NOCTURNAL GAMERS EMERGENT GAMEPLAY WHY I AM NOW A LIBRARIAN BUY BEFORE YOU TRY LETS GET DIGITAL CAHIERS AND

WELCOME

EDITORIAL Those of you that have ever made it to the end of my previous editorials/political rants will probably have realised that I don’t really specialise in long winded “The end of the year has come around again, blah blah blah” goodbyes. So instead I thought I’d end with a personal story that our Print Editor Tom has been asking me to tell for the past five issues: Men are like Shoes. When I started University four years ago, my then ten year old sister asked me if I had a boyfriend. When I told her that I didn’t, I was informed that I had been going about life all wrong. “Finding a boyfriend is just like shoe shopping, don’t you get it Belinda? It’s all about finding the right pair” she said. Yes, I was equally as lost. Her analogy was actually very simple. “Imagine you see a really nice pair of high heels in the shop and there is only one pair. You try them on, but you’re worried you’ll look silly and fall over and your friends will laugh at you. But they look really good on... What are you going to do, put them back on the shelf and let someone else buy them? Of course not! So take the plunge and ask someone out silly.” The best part of her advice was yet to come: “If you don’t like the shoes you can always return them… or take them to the charity shop and buy another pair”. Her comically ironic male objectification aside, she made me stop and think that there was a good point to her metaphor, not just about ‘boyfriend shopping’ but life in general. This year for most of us has probably been a combination of library breakdowns, endless cups of coffee as we battle towards that 4pm deadline, and crying at the extortionate fines on our short loan books. But somewhere in the middle of that we’ve stayed out until Ocean closes, joined sports teams, contributed to the media groups, and played Fifa and Articulate until 5am (although that might just be in my house). It’s the extra things that keep us going and make it all worthwhile (yes, I am also cringing but it’s sadly true). So I guess, whether it’s your first year or final it’s not too late to “take the plunge” and go and find out about those origami lessons you’ve always wondered about, or applying for that dream job you’re convinced you’re not good enough to get. Right, that’s about as sentimental as I’m going to get. I’m off to find a new pair of shoes...

EDITORIAL TEAM

INSIDE!

EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief Print Editor

MANAGEMENT

20 COMMENT

THREE IN A BED

Polyamory, Calvin Klein Models And Gossip Girl

DESIGN

Design Editor Issue Designers

IMAGES

20 F E AT U R E S

MRS. ROBINSON, PHD.

A Degree Distraction Or Incentive?

Images Editors Images Associates

WEBSITE

Online Editor Associate Online Editors Web Developers App Developer

Chanel Björk Jonsson Hannah Shea Malena Wong Isabel Greaves Sarah Solomon India Meade, Radhika Chand Amy Wilcockson

Harry Dinsdale Tom Watchorn, Daniel Norman

Alex Farzad, Amy Rainbow Gemma Brown, Ginny Moore

Beth Rowland Rose McGoldrick, Olivia Rook, Raphaela Ring, Rachel Harrison Lawrie Cate Stephen Sowole

SECTIONS News Editors

16 T R AV E L

SPOTLIGHT ON COSTA RICA

The ‘Pura Vida’ Of Central America

BELINDA TOOR

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Managing Editor Publicity Manager Events Manager Advertising Manager Advertising Associate Social Media Manager Logistics Manager

Belinda Toor Tom Watchorn

20 SCIENCE

BURGERS AND TABLEWEIGHTS

Marco Dall’Antonia, Hannah Eves, Tamsin Parnell Associate News Editor Steven Green Comment Editors Rachel Lewis, Maddie Waktare Associate Comment Editor Ben Lewis Features Editors Dale Claridge, Rachel Harrison, Robyn Turnock Associate Features Editor Sofia Knowles Travel Editors Nicole Teh, Priya Thakrar Associate Travel Editor Becky Christmas Science Editors Joanne Blunt, Stephen Kenny Associate Science Editor Luke Norman Food Editors Lydia Eccleston, Isabel Jury Associate Food Editor Ruth Pengelly Style Editors Chanelle Olaleye, Raphaela Ring Associate Style Editor Amrit Santos Gaming Editors Tim Spencer, Tom Welshman Associate Gaming Editor Anthony Osmaston Film & TV Editors George Driscoll, Joe Jones, Henry Stanley Associate Film & TV Editor Larissa Rowan Music Editors Liam Inscoe-Jones, James Noble Associate Music Editor Liam Fleming Arts Editors Jessica Millott, Scarlett White Associate Arts Editor Amy Wilcockson Sports Editors Connor Higgs, Jake Wharmby

GET IN TOUCH editorinchief@impactnottingham.com tamsin.parnell@impactnottingham.com raphaela.ring@impactnottingham.com connor.higgs@impactnottingham.com managing@impactnottingham.com prdistribution@impactnottingham.com advertising@impactnottingham.com events@impactnottingham.com design@impactnottingham.com images@impactnottingham.com news@impactnottingham.com comment@impactnottingham.com features@impactnottingham.com travel@impactnottingham.com science@impactnottingham.com food@impactnottingham.com style@impactnottingham.com gaming@impactnottingham.com film@impactnottingham.com music@impactnottingham.com arts@impactnottingham.com sports@impactnottingham.com

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Inside Back Cover Image: Rob Jennings Outside Back Cover Image: Goldie Aboutorabi

The Wonders Of 3D Printing

24 FOOD

NATURALLY MAN-MADE

44 FILM & TV

THE QUEER CASE OF INDIAN CINEMA

Cinema’s Response To Section 377

28 ST Y L E

IT’S SUMMER!

The 2016 Spring Summer Trends Worth Jumping On

MUSIC

NG 1! 2! 3! 4!

Nottingham’s Scene, Through The Years

20 EXPOSURE

STUDENT SHOWCASE

ARTS

EXCESSIVE OLYMPICS Is Every Damn Sport Necessary?

38 GAMING

SAVING PACMAN

SPORT

PLAYING AT HOME

How Would Leaving The EU Affect The Premier League?

IMPACT COMMENT

THREE IN A BED Monamory, Polyamory & Gossip Girl

“Well, who cares? No, really. Why should we care any more what is deemed to be “natural” in humans? In the majority of cases, those things are no longer relevant in contemporary society, given how far humans have progressed from their “natural” state. For example, it’s “natural” for us to squat when we go to the toilet, but virtually nobody does that any more. In contrast, there’s nothing natural about using your mobile phone. So who cares if monoamorous relationships are natural? If you want one, that’s great. If you don’t want one, of that to be in a relationship with. But don’t use nature as an excuse for your actions.” Jack Taylor

“Open relationships are just an excuse for those who want to have their cake and eat it”

“Open relationships are great, right? There you are, tanned, ripped boyfriend in tow. Andreas is Spanish. He’s talented, funny, interesting and gives you all the emotional support you need. Things couldn’t be better.

Cut to later that evening at the cocktail bar, when, inevitably, all the other Calvin Klein models start throwing themselves at your feet. You remember Andreas and both your heart and your loins begin to ache. But, hang on a minute. You and Andreas are in an OPEN RELATIONSHIP. You breathe a sigh of relief, pick up a few of the models and a bottle of whipped cream before heading off. It’s going to be a great night.

“For me, being in an open relationship just means having a bit more freedom, some pressure off the relationship between me and my main partner. For example, I feel that no matter how strong your relationship is, you are always likely to be romantically interested in somebody other than your partner at some point. In a monogamous relationship this can be troubling, bringing feelings of guilt and doubt. Whereas for me and my partner, it is understood that this will happen, and we are free to act as we think best. other romantic partners, but it is nice to let things run their natural course when you do meet somebody.

Particularly at my age, I really enjoy having the comfort of a full and caring relationship, as well as the freedom to fool around and enjoy myself. At this time in my life I don’t like the idea of a high level of commitment. I could, however, see myself settling down into a more conventional relationship as I get older and my life becomes more stable.” Robbie Flowers Bancroft

In who’se world does this happen? This isn’t Gossip Girl. about open relationships as potential sexual partners are for us like the infected in a

actually We talk though coming zombie

one decent person to have sex with can be challenging enough. I struggle to see how, for the average punter, open relationships are such a necessity. If it works for you, keep at it. But from where I’m standing, maintaining a serious relationship while also scouting out a kinky side piece with whom you can ‘explore your sexuality’ seems like a whole lot of effort.” Maddie Waktare

“The question of whether or not monogamy is a positive or natural state of human existence has long been in question. Most evidence seems to suggest that humans are not naturally monogamous, similar to most other animals. In fact, only 3 to 5% of about 5000 species of mammals are known to form monogamous, lifelong bonds. Funny then, that human society places such emphasis on marriage or ‘life partners’ as a preferred way of living. Marriage less so these days, but nonetheless, people generally seem to favour the idea of one long-term partner. As nice as this ideal is, perhaps aspiring to it is ultimately detrimental. From a cynical perspective, cheating and unfaithfulness are actually more conformist to a natural state of being than monogamy is. With this is mind, monogamy is arguably unnatural and opposes our natural instincts. Maybe it’s just bad luck that humans are the ones who invented marriage.” Anna Hand

“Monogamy is wonderful for many people. Intuitively we don’t like the idea of our partners having sexual or romantic feelings for, let alone interactions with other people. This is certainly valid and we can’t blame people for wanting this in their relationships.

“In an ideal world we would all enjoy the pleasures of sleeping with whoever we of being in a relationship. But it doesn’t work like that. The reality for most people, is that if you really like someone, knowing that they’re sleeping with other people feels shit. Cue jealousy, bitterness and resentment.

“Finding even one decent person to have sex with can be challenging enough”

“Simple science decides this one. Humans possess most of the biological characteristics of non-monogamous species, such as males being bigger than females, and very few of our closest relatives are monogamous either. The only primate which strictly partners for life is the gibbon. All human societies have featured at least some polyamory, whether socially acceptable or not, from caveman times to the present. This isn’t to argue that monogamy is unnatural, people are free to decide for themselves on what sorts of relationships they want to be involved in, but it is clear that for humans monoamorous relationships are no more natural than polyamorous ones.” Jack Langslow

It’s all very well claiming that our primitive ancestors were not programmed for monogamy but we now live in an entirely different society. The security and support of a relationship is clearly a comfort that many search for admits the pressures and stresses of Western life. Polygamy might be ‘natural’ but love is something we naturally crave too. In an open relationship I can only imagine how to develop trust and intimacy. I’m not saying that you have to be with one person for your entire life. By all means, have any number of relationships. But have them one at a time rather than playing a juggling game. Open relationships are just an excuse for those who want to have their cake and eat it.” Henrietta Wigglesworth

However, in a relationship we take seriously and that we expect to last for many years, some people get the sense they are missing out. For many people this doesn’t mean they don’t want a serious relationship and for this reason the common perception of monogamy as the ideal form is rather harmful. It de-legitimises the challenges faced by people who do wish to have serious relationships, but don’t want to only have sex with the one person they want to commit to in other ways. It makes it easy to present them as subversive, or wanting something that shouldn’t be wanted. Of course we should not recommend people who want monogamous relationships ‘keep a stiff upper lip’ and make do with someone who has no desire to only be with them, but that is not the same as supporting this idea that one model has legitimacy and the other is inherently unhealthy.” Dale Claridge

“The only primate which strictly partners for life is the gibbon”

W IMPACT COMMENT

IN, OUT, SHAKE IT ALL ABOUT IT’S TIME TO MAKE YOUR MIND UP! WE LOOK AT BOTH SIDES OF THE EU DEBATE

IN world even more dangerous Conservative voter who does not want to leave the EU. Whether nationalistic, jingoistic or economic, there have been a multitude of reasons mooted by the Leave campaign as to why leaving the union will be a positive step for the UK. Perhaps the most important issue to the majority of ordinary people is that of immigration. It is true, that, as a member of the EU, the UK is subject to the principle of freedom of the right to live and work in Britain. Many believe this is a problem, regarding the impact on jobs, on services and on national culture.

“The EU has done a great job at eroding the Enlightenment principles of democracy and liberty” The evidence suggests that the impact is not as bad as we

migrants came to Britain last year, 201,000 were from countries that are outside the EU (fullfact.org). Freedom of movement accounts for less than half the net migration into England. Also, the latest statistics put unemployment 6

needed positions within the economy. The NHS is under more pressure, but reducing immigration is not a solution to this problem. Statistics produced by the Health and Social Care Information Centre note that 26% of doctors and 11% of all NHS staff are foreign nationals. Confederation of British Industry. Britain’s post-Brexit GDP could be 5.5% smaller than if we stayed in the EU by 2020. Economically, I think, the case is clear for EU membership. in it for us? Well, that weekend trip to Hamburg is made a whole lot easier by EU membership. Your EU health card entitles you to state healthcare at a reduced/sometimes no cost, while you also require no visa to travel between countries.

“The EU has been enhancing British security for the best part of 50 years” There is less talk on the approximately 1.4 million Brits living abroad in the EU. We have the right to live and work throughout

Intelligence sharing and continent-wide crime agencies like Europol allow us to effectively track and apprehend criminals and terrorists operating in our increasingly globalised world. Let’s be clear, the EU is not perfect. It is a highly undemocratic entity, the experiment with monetary union has been precarious at best, and the migrant crisis has highlighted clear issues for the EU to face at an international level. Nonetheless, its achievements should not be minimised, and on balance, I think Britain is that bit better off inside the EU. Much more than on the outside, looking in.

an opportunity few mono-lingual Brits take advantage of but is available nonetheless. It is easy to get pulled into a nationalistic fervour when talking about the EU, the behemoth, undemocratic technocracy dictating the rules and directives governing the British workplace. But this ignores its wonderful history and achievements. Originally conceived among the ruins of post-World War II Europe, the idea can actually be traced back to that great Conservative Prime Minister, Winston Churchill. In the aftermath of a destructive war fuelled by ultra-Nationalist sentiments across Europe, Churchill called for a “kind of United States of Europe”. There has been no the entirety of its history. This is something worth defending. The EU has been enhancing British security for the best part of 50 years, and continues to do so today; even in the face of the refugee crisis. David Petraeus, former US General and CIA Director, argued recently that “none of the [National Security] problems the US and UK face will become easier to solve if the UK is out of the EU; on the contrary, I fear that a ‘Brexit’ would only make our

WORDS BY LUKE HOLLAND

OUT What’s your opinion of Dimitris Avramopoulos? How about Federica Mogherini? No? Nothing to say? Well, that’s a shame, seeing as they’re two of the 28 unelected EU Commissioners making UK laws. This Commission’s proposals can only be vetoed by the quasi-democratic EU parliament – and the Parliament cannot even initiate legislation. If anyone has an argument for why Slovakian, Italian or Estonian representatives are better equipped than an elected British Parliament to determine, for example, the rate of motor insurance for British women, I would really love to hear it.

and ignorance of actuarial evidence stops them from introducing desirable policy on a daily basis.

“Cameron’s renegotiation was the biggest lowimpact non-issue I have ever seen”

Policy? Where’s the reassessment of the UK’s staggering ‘net contribution’ to the EU? (£8.5 billion last year [fullfact.org]). Don’t we have more important things to fund, like providing NHS trainers to fat people? (Admittedly, Britain is not perfect).

The EU has done a great job at eroding the Enlightenment principles of democracy and liberty. Yes, to get on the EU’s guest list a country must be a democracy, but that doesn’t ensure the EU itself is operated as one. Quite the contrary. Experts and technocrats run the EU’s top down decision making system. Democratic legitimacy isn’t a top priority – the imposition of the Euro on the Continent is case in point.

from us sticking with Sterling”

The EU has far too much power when Britain cannot even alter its own VAT rates. And the European Court of Justice (ECJ) are more than happy to use the guise of Fundamental Rights to incrementally expand the EU’s reach. Member State governments are presumably grateful for their limited sovereignty as it absolves them from engaging with the electorate over hard decisions. This is, of course, until the EU’s obsession with standardisation

Finally, losing the rarely used European Arrest Warrant, is another non-issue. Richard Dearlove, former head of MI6, wrote in Prospect Magazine to say that the Government regaining border and deportation control would actually improve our security.

From reading the 2014 government Review of the Balance of Competences between the UK and EU, I’m convinced that the supposed ‘checks and balances’ principles of subsidiarity and proportionality are a waste of time. Note how they only apply to the shared (not the exclusive) competencies. The proposed Red 55% of Member States would need to object within 12 weeks – that’s a high procedural burden. Cameron’s renegotiation was the biggest low-impact non-issue I have ever seen. Sorry to kill the party Dave, but it is hard to get excited over the political equivalent of steamed spinach. The ‘Emergency Brake’ is the only provision applying exclusively to the UK. In exceptional situations, the UK may seek to justify citizens working here. But it can only operate for 7 years, with restrictions for only up to 4 years. Ground-breaking. The decision is actually by the Member States exercising their collective sovereignty, so it is unenforceable in EU institutions. But critically, where is the meat? Where’s the abolition of the immoral

with Sterling. But this is different right – isn’t UK trade reliant on the EU’s -elimination of tariffs and distortions? Admittedly, the EU is an extra bilateral trade deal, but the UK would still be entitled to favoured national treatment through the World Trade Organisation, which includes all EU countries. Australia and New Zealand aren’t in either the EU or NAFTA yet still successfully

will be short-lived.

I don’t want to live in an ‘ever closer union’ (vomit). But do you want a larger say on immigration and trade? Do you want your political representatives to actually engage with the British electorate and make decisions tailored to Britain? Do you want some semblance of democracy to be re-established? I do, I am certainly in, which is why I am voting out.

WORDS BY CLAUDIA BARRY

IMPACT FEATURES

CONDOMS, CONTRACEPTION AND CLITORISES THE SEX ED SYSTEM WORDS BY LUCY HANNAH O’DRISCOLL ILLUSTRATIONS BY TOM WATCHORN

For many adults, the term ‘sex education’ brings back memories of giggling at diagrams, being told to dread their period and being shown the horrors of what STIs can do to you if you’re foolish enough to have unprotected sex, or sex outside of marriage. The lucky ones may have been shown how to put a condom on using a model penis; the unlucky ones didn’t get taught about sex and relationships at all. Sex education is a highly controversial topic for many complicated reasons, but a thorough, inclusive sex and relationship education programme allows young people to make well informed decisions whilst feeling empowered and in control. These lessons do not have to be completely sex and relationship oriented. If children in primary schools were taught about consent in a non-sexual context, such as being able to say no to an unwanted hug, then the idea of only choosing to engage in sexual activities if and when you feel ready would be a lot less daunting. The idea of being in total control of your body shouldn’t only be introduced when talking about sex; these ideas of consent and being able to choose what happens to your own body are constant throughout our lives, whether or not we are sexually active.

This would create a solid platform for students when they reach secondary school, where they could begin to learn about sex and romantic relationships at an age-appropriate level. In terms of relationship education, it’s especially important for young people of all genders and sexualities to learn about healthy and unhealthy relationships, how to recognise them, how to help friends, and where to go to seek advice if ever they feel they need it. In terms of sex education, what would happen if we admitted that sex was primarily about pleasure? Engaging in and pleasurable experience that will normally end in an orgasm for boys. Girls, apparently, shouldn’t expect to be so lucky. Not only are girls taught not to expect an orgasm (if they are taught they can orgasm at all), they are comfortable and aroused, there shouldn’t be any pain.

Going beyond the traditional talks about heterosexual penetrative sex that very strongly suggest that sex starts when the penis enters the vagina and ends when the man ejaculates, sex education should include information on masturbation, female orgasms, sexual activities other than heterosexual penetrative intercourse, and so on. Cisgender straight boys should not be the only ones leaving sex education classes thinking that sex will be a positive, pleasurable experience for them. Sex education in the UK is so focused on the mechanics of penetrative sexual intercourse between a man and a woman that it goes beyond ignoring the LGBTQ+ community; it leaves leave LGBTQ+ students feeling confused and marginalised, and completely unprepared for if or when they choose to become sexually active. Sex education should involve and encourage respectful attitudes towards people of all sexualities and genders. Perhaps if sex education involved respectful discussions of gender and sexuality and how they are on a spectrum, young people would be better equipped to comfortably explore their gender and sexual identities. Sex education for young disabled people is also effectively nonexistent in mainstream state education. Young people with disabilities shouldn’t be ignored. Regardless of the type or severity and knowledgeable as their peers, and should feel just as free to explore their sexuality. Even if the curriculum wasn’t heteronormative and ableist, it still seems to be made up mostly of warnings. Young people shouldn’t and awkward. Again and again, girls are warned that boys and men will try and ‘convince’ them to have sex and that giving in to these offers before they’re ready will lead to disaster. Students are shown images of people with STIs to warn of unprotected sex and, time will hurt. Whilst these lessons, of not having sex unless you want to and of practicing safe sex, are of course important, they’re being taught in a way that leads to fear rather than empowerment. Even going back to basics, lessons on contraception are inconsistent and sometimes non-existent. For example, Annabelle, a second year Natural Sciences student, says, “I went to a Catholic high school and wasn’t taught about contraception at all. We learned about the basic biology of sex and periods, but we were

access to the same high quality, inclusive sex and relationship education, no matter their postcode or religion. This would most likely involve full-time sex educators conducting lessons, rather than school teachers who often don’t know much more than the students they are teaching, and who can often avoid certain subjects due to lack of knowledge and/or their own beliefs. Anatomy should also be a major part of sex education. The long designed to tease men about their lack of knowledge on female anatomy are actually rather worrying due to the truth behind them. It is again this issue of traditional sex education focusing on heterosexual penetrative sex from a male perspective and leaving out the anatomy and pleasure of females that cause these issues. Would telling young people the truth about sex really be so bad?

Information from Camille El-Maawiy, a volunteer from Brook, the young people’s health & wellbeing charity.

IMPACT FEATURES

HOME WORDS BY IMRAN RAHMAN-JONES

OR IMAGES BY LES HAINES, FRANCISCO OSORIO AND CATRIN AUSTIN VIA FLICKR

AWAY 10

We all know that Nottingham is a great place to be a student, but we could do without the exploitative landlords, squabbles over bills and Arctic living conditions over winter. One way of avoiding this? Don’t move into student accommodation and stay at home. Second year student Millie Jeffords commutes from about 12 miles north of Nottingham. “The course and uni had a great reputation. I didn't see the point of moving when there was a great uni in my county”, she explains. The savings she makes are a big positive. “The

because I have to take public transport”, and she has to carefully plan her day, saying, “I can't just pop to the library when I feel [like it]. I have to plan a full day to go and make effective use out of it”. The distance she lives from campus also affects her social life. “I don't go out if I'm at uni the next day. Not because I don't want to, but either because it means carting my books to my friend’s for the next day, or having to leave earlier in the night because of lack of transport home”. Although it can be hard to make friends living outside the campus bubble, Millie found the best way to meet people was by “plucking

“I may have missed out on ‘uni life’ and the sense of community you get from

option and stick with fellow campus-dwellers. “Luckily, my best friend and I were both living out so we stuck together”, she adds, “but even the friends I made on my course didn’t invite me anywhere or let me stay with them as they socialised more with their halls friends.” “I don’t go on nights out really,” says Sarah Clarke, also an English student in her second year. She lives about half an hour away on the Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire border. “I can go for drinks with mates, but because I’m driving back I can’t drink alcohol”. She feels she may have missed out on “‘uni life’ and the sense of community you get from living in halls [or] student houses” by living at home. says, but she “didn’t see the point in moving so far away when the course I wanted to do was so close”. What’s more, her living situation means she concentrates more on work. “I tend to stay at uni between lectures and come in on days off to get work done, so I feel living at home actually makes me more focused”.

go back in second year and commute”. She ended up staying in Lenton for her second year too, but her placements were getting harder

living away for two years, so she knew she couldn’t expect me to go back to the way it was before”. Becks appreciated the fact that she did not have to do her own cooking and cleaning; after a stressful day, home comforts became even more valuable. She even admits that there are some things she did not miss about living in a student house, like trying to get a good night’s sleep when your housemates are going out. That’s not to say there weren’t downsides of living at home. Nights out took more careful planning, from making sure she had a place to stay in Nottingham to remembering her books and a change of clothes for the next day. She would sometimes come into uni in the morning to hear about her friends’ spontaneous nights out which she had missed. It is clear that the cost savings are a major factor for those who decide to live at home. What about the social side of university? There are still ways to get involved socially, although they do require more effort and planning on the part of the stay-at-home student. “Despite this,” says Sarah, “I can honestly say I love living at home, and I wouldn’t change it at all”. 11

IMPACT FEATURES

FU CK L E C T

I N ,

UR E R

S WORDS BY EMMA JOHNSON AND ROBYN TURNOCK IMAGE BY KEVIN DOOLEY VIA FLICKR

WE HAVE ALL HAD THAT ONE LECTURER WHO HAS IN, SOME WAY OR ANOTHER, CAUGHT OUR EYE. TWEED ELBOW PATCHES. AN ASSERTIVE VOICE. HANDY HANDOUTS. WHO CAN BLAME US? WE EXAMINE THE VIEWS OF CURRENT STUDENTS ON THE IDEA OF GETTING HORIZONTAL WITH OUR DEGREE GATEKEEPERS. A DETRIMENTAL DISTRACTION OR A USEFUL INCENTIVE TO ATTEND YOUR 9AM?

Debating the relative attractiveness of a certain lecturer or other seems to be a subject that has cropped up in multiple student prelecture discussions. We asked a sample group of 63 people about their opinions and 55% of them said that they found one of their tutors attractive. While this percentage may not be representative of the whole student body, it suggests that a substantial number of students don’t just attend certain lectures for the intellectual thrill of it. From the same survey we found that a mere 16% of people think that fancying a lecturer is strange. Even the Radio 1 BBC Advice site suggests that it is normal to develop a crush on teachers; after all they are intelligent, respected and in a position of power. It’s not an uncommon phenomenon then, but should it ever be acted on? At many universities there are no formal rules against professors dating students. It is discouraged but not prohibited. 78% of students at Nottingham agree with this. It is of course discouraged given the various complications involved. It opens you up to accusations of getting grades not based on merit and may lead to jealousy from other classmates. There is also a moral question over whether the lecturer involved is taking advantage of their position of authority. Furthermore, if the relationship were to break down before the end of the student’s university course it may become awkward, especially if they have classes with their former partner or share a department. It may also limit the choices that the student has over future modules. Some of these concerns were highlighted in our survey feedback. One student said that it just ‘shouldn’t be allowed’ as a result. However, many people think that prohibiting student- teacher relations at this educational level would be inappropriate. After Many students said that relationships are acceptable provided the lecturer is not marking their partner’s work. One student saw no difference between dating a professor and any other person - they held that ‘if the people have a connection, who is to say that they both, as adults, cannot date’?

stresses the ‘professional and ethical responsibilities’ of staff in this situation. There is only an issue if the tutor is in some sort of professional relationship with the student, i.e. if they assess, teach or support the student in any way. If this is the case, the Head of remove the member of staff’s professional links to their partner. This seems to be quite a fair and logical position to take and appears to be quite standard for universities nationwide. It maintains personal freedom yet protects against unfair advantage. Having said this, I can’t help thinking that it may be simpler just to admire them from afar, especially since if you get any closer you are in danger of discovering that they have a wife and children or even that the passion you see so often in their lectures is purely for their subject, and does not extend much further. Most students were united in the belief that dating a lecturer prior to graduation was somewhat inappropriate. However this group was split with 42% of responses believing that it was dependent upon circumstances. This poses the question of what circumstances would make a lecturer-pupil relationship actually appropriate. One respondent to our survey highlighted how university ‘isn't high school, where engaging in a relationship with a student would be between a child and an adult’. This highlights the differences between a university relationship and that of a teenage fantasy. After graduation, it is apparent that students are near unanimous in their opinion of dating a lecturer with 88% viewing it as acceptable. It is apparent that the world of pupil-lecturer relations can be described as murky at best, with most students unsure regarding the University's stance on the matter. However, generally it is viewed by most as a misuse of power on the lecturer’s behalf. Ultimately though, there is no judgement for a simple crush, something which we are all guilty of.

Lastly, a massive 92% of students said that they don’t know what Nottingham’s position is on student-teacher relations. Fortunately, their policy is very accessible via their website. The University

IMPACT FEATURES

STAFF IN CRISIS Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes on a Wednesday night at Crisis? Well fear not fellow wonderers, we went to investigate WORDS BY: DANNY WARD and EMMA JOHNSON

9.00pm: We arrived to find the ghost town that is Crisis preDCrisis. No music, no

students and, most unnerving of all, the lights were on. It was both disturbing and revelatory in equal measure.

9.37pm: The first keen beans arrived through the doors looking meek and confused,

presumably unsure what to do with all the space they had. In true student style, they proceeded to take selfies on the perfectly empty Crisis dancefloor. The start of the night marks most people’s first (and hopefully last!) encounter with the bouncD ers managing the organDcrushing queues. We spoke to one who had been working at Rock City for six years. He wondered why students always insist on leaving their brain cells at home when they go out, and has known students to wait outside the club for hours asking to be let in when they’ve already been kicked out. Somewhat more controversially, he found Trent students generally more grounded and less annoying than UoN students, who tend to use more flowery language in their dealD ings with him. It seems he sees certain stereotypes in all of their glory! Next up we find the ticketing staff. These guys aren’t actually Crisis employees D they work for Fatsoma, the company we buy Crisis tickets through. We found the two we spoke to unbelievably chatty. They seemed to amuse themselves as much as they amused us. They said that students often drunkenly hand over various valuables instead of tickets including phones and purses, which sounds worryingly familiar to us! When you are finally though those double doors and can almost taste the sweet sound of Taytay and her haters, what you probably don’t realise is that you are skipping past a manager or two lurking behind closed doors. We tracked down the General Manager who said that his biggest challenge was coordinating the sheer number of people who descend on the venue in such a short space of time on a Wednesday. He also mentioned the circular conversations he has had with stubborn students who refuse to go home. Unlike the bouncer, however, he found students genD erally polite and fun to chat to. We also spoke to the Assistant Manager who, just like the bouncer, had been workD ing at Rock City for six years, originally starting out as a member of the bar staff. While he joked that there were more “lawyers” at UoN claiming to know their rights, he thought that both Trent and UoN students were the same in terms of showing a lack of responsibility D once again dispelling the myth that there are huge difD ferences between the two. When asked about the worst part of his night, he made it absolutely clear to us that the toilets were left in atrocious conditions. He deemed them “next level disgusting” due to the amount of cups that people throw into the sinks, which, surprise surprise, block up the pipes. Thankfully, it isn’t an entireD ly negative experience; he told us that the job is enjoyable and never boring, as no two nights are ever the same. 14

10.00pm: Crisis is quickly warming up and a worrying number of students are makD ing a beeline to the cash machine.

10.15pm: The floor is already sticky. 10.30pm: The queue for the cloakroom has reached alpha centauri. 10.45pm: Having finally got in, the next natural step/skip/stagger for many stuD

dents is to the bar. This, we find, is the stage for a whole host of random and unexD plainable behaviour. In the short time we were stood there, we saw a guy buy a drink for what we presumed to be his girlfriend, only to pour the entire contents over her head, earning him a hefty slap in the face. It is at this point in the evening that students come across the bar staff. We spoke to a young member of the team who has been working at Rock City for just under a year. Rather unexpectedly, he told us that his day job was working as an administrator – a far cry from the raucous student nights he often has to deal with. Upon further questioning about specific experiences with UoN clubgoers, we heard some shocking accounts about the treatment of bar staff. He has had to face spitting across the counter, cup throwing and even one particular student who decided to rip a credit card machine from its holder and bang it against the wall. It is obvious that you need a thick skin to be a member of the bar staff here, havD ing to deal with the large numbers of rude, and sometimes even abusive, customers. He also highlighted the lack of tips received from UoN students; he told us that at times, he has written ‘Tip Me’ on his head in an effort to draw more attention. We both agreed that tipping those working on the bar was something we’d never realD ly considered doing when we go clubbing ourselves. It was hardly a surprise then, after having previously mentioned so many negative experiences, that he finished by telling us that despite starting the night in a cheerful mood, this rapidly goes downhill after just a couple of hours.

2.00am: In the early hours, many students finally come to the conclusion, alone

or with a great deal of assistance from others, that they need food and/or their bed. Many of us stumble out of the building to find the hot dog stand situated in the perfect position for a greasy alcoholDinduced snack, just next to the entrance doors of Rock City. This little trailer opens on all club nights and the owner was more than happy to talk to us about his experiences with students. In fact, he didn’t have a bad word to say about us; he believes we are a lot more fun than the adult ‘power drinkers’ who come out at the weekends and he treats a Wednesday night Crisis like his own personal night out. After telling us that he has made hot dogs for the last 28 years, he proceeded to pull up his trouser leg to reveal hot dog socks and a hot dog calf tattoo. Clearly, this is a man who loves what he does. So now you know the truth. Maybe next time you’re partying hard at Rock City, spare a thought for the lovely staff there who probably won’t find your drunken antics quite as hilarious as you and your mates do.

IMPACT TRAVEL

SPOTLIGHT ON

COSTA RICA

WORDS BY JUSTYNA MICUN IMAGES BY ARTURO SOTILLO, ARMANDO MAYNEZ, PAVEL KIRILLOV, DENNIS TANG, TRISH HARTMANN, AND BARRY PETERS VIA FLICKR

Central America can boast possessing the planet's most biologically diverse countries. Its rich, green landscapes are often referred to as the ‘earth's lungs system’ due to its large regions of rainforests and jungles. Costa Rica was named "the rich coast" by Spanish conquistadors upon their arrival in 1502. This land takes up only 0.03% of the planet's surface but holds 6% of its biodiversity. Costa Rica is not considered rich in the traditional sense of natural resources like gold, silver and oil, but it is considered to be one of the most environmentally valued places in the world and is a true nature lover's paradise. Bordered by Nicaragua to the north and the Caribbean Sea to the east, Panama, infamous for the recent tax scandal outbreak, is the country's southeast neighbour, with the of the country. Costa Rica is the longest-standing democracy in Central America after gaining

independence in 1882. Its standing army was constitutionally abolished in 1949, with efforts being instead focused on preserving the country's national parks and reserves which make up approximately 25% of the country. The two coasts add up to an impressive 800 miles, and more than 300 beaches are enough to attract eager sun-seekers in need of tropical heat, but its naturally splendid beauty is not limited to beaches. The real treasure of the country is often hidden in misty cloud forests and volcanoes. From adventures with sloths to zipline canopies in the rainforest, white water rafting, volcano explorations and bird-watching - the Costa Rica potential itinerary is vast and varied. Like much of the Western hemisphere, the continental divide runs through Costa Rica, making the northernmost regions of the jungle terrain. The best time to visit Costa Rica is in December through to January, when the landscape is lusciously green and there's little to no rain. However, this is also known as the ‘high season’, meaning prices are especially high and accommodation must be booked well in advance to avoid disappointment. The ‘high season’ begins from late November through to late April. For budget travellers, the ‘low season’ typically runs from May to midNovember and is referred to as the ‘rainy/green season’. The country's capital is San José, located in the central valley and the most populated area of land. It has been described as an unpleasant conglomerate of outdated and rundown infrastructure and tourists are urged to leave San José as soon as possible due to high levels of crime and the possibility of much more promising and charming small towns and rich provinces in the northern and western parts of the country.

Costa Rica has more than 122 volcanic formations, seven of which are still active to this day. One of the country's most active and well-known volcanoes is Arenal Volcano. At 1657 meters high the volcano base is covered by extensive green hillsides and although at present it is currently in its sleeping phase, the last explosion made up of lava streams, gas and ash took place in 2010. The area surrounded by the volcano is well known for its geothermal activity, producing a number of naturally occurring hot springs. Lake Arenal can be found at the base of the volcano, being the country's largest body of water. The lake offers visitors a number of activities ranging from many others. Monteverde, a place known for its cloud forest, wild animals and rare bird species. The high altitude means the forest receives a continuous supply of moisture from the clouds, making it a haven for the development of complex ecosystems. These explain the beauty found all around as you look down from many of the bridges made along the forest canopy. Here you're likely to spot sloths as well as monkeys hanging from the selling thrills ranging from ziplining to rock climbing in all the major tourist attractions of this region. Those who prefer a more relaxed experience should head to the being is almost ubiquitous. Many beaches are lined with shacks that serve cold drinks and act as a shelter from the heat of the mid-day sun. Nosara is made up of a collection of four beaches. It lacks public transport but hitchhiking is encouraged by locals to reach the beaches where thousands of local turtles emerge from the water to lay their eggs. Playa Samara is another 7km bay lined with majestic palm trees and black sand. If you're not afraid of the occasional rain shower, explore the The rain acts as a deterrent against overpriced tourist meals, tours, and accommodation. With much fewer people on this side, you can explore the beauty of Costa Rica on and often off the beaten path. You can look forward to small towns with a truly Caribbean atmosphere. Puerto Viejo is one of the most popular destinations in the region, known for its laid-back culture. The Costa Rican way of life has been termed â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Pura Vida'. It's an expression often used by the locals and can be translated to mean â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Pure Life'. It stands for a simple, peaceful and balanced life with a rooted appreciation for life, nature, and friends. It's how the locals choose to spend their energy, and it's felt by everyone who comes to stay in Costa Rica.

IMPACT TRAVEL

BENEATH THE BRANDING TRAVEL STEREOTYPES BY EMILY HOWARD IMAGE BY LENNART TANGE, IAN BURT

City breaks, beach holidays, ski resorts - all immediately places as well as types of travel are created, shaped and branded – then marketed to tourists. Let’s take a closer look at a few of the travel hotspots who

tourism, revealing the secrets hidden beneath the clichés. For the Brits, Amsterdam is drugs. Coffee shops abound in this go-to party capital of Europe where visions of weedhazed days and ecstasy-induced nights are anticipated. Indeed a

weekend in A’dam can easily be spent acting out these clichés, with perhaps a token bike ride in between. For the Dutch, however, drugs are barely visible in the image of their country and its capital. For them, the history of Amsterdam’s cobbled streets is far more fascinating; than that, with its sixteenth-century

buildings and canals, museums, and alumni of famous artists and icons including Van Gogh and Anne Frank. Once the world’s most powerful trading nation with an empire spanning the globe, the tourist image of the capital’s trade has been reduced to druggie jokes. This popular image also neglects the rest of the Netherlands; traditional Dutch farming culture is the polar opposite of Amsterdam’s current tourist stereotype, represented only by the tatty plastic windmills found in souvenir shops. Also a once-popular party getaway, Magaluf is seen as the has-been of the club scene; the Amsterdam of previous generations. A standard British seaside resort but with better weather, Magaluf was the destination for tourists who wanted a cheap party weekend

Nowadays, Magaluf is seen as the downgrade of Ibiza, for spontaneous weekends and seedy stag-dos. The stunning coastal scenery of Mallorca, its

Palma’s rich Gothic medievalism are a far cry from the image emblazoned across student travel sites. The Spanish island abounds in natural beauty and celebs know it; just along the coastline from Magaluf, Mallorca has been at one time or another an elite playground for the likes of Tom Cruise, Paris Hilton and Bill Gates. A rather differently depicted island, there are no prizes for guessing the stereotype of Lesbos. This Greek island is known for being home to who antiquity. No wonder that this romantic Greek island is a hit for same-sex couples and honeymooners, with an annual International LGBT+ Women’s Festival and travel companies even offering women-only holidays to the resort of Skala Eressos. However recent months have seen a rather different demographic targeting the island’s shores, as Lesbos has become inundated with refugees desperately attempting to reach Europe. Holiday-makers, volunteers and NGOs unite in solidarity on

Sappho’s island to aid the crisis, while the resort’s long-standing message of solidarity, reserved judgement and safe welcome is extended to those in need. Of course, branding of travel destinations serves a purpose. When Googling potential calm and quiet can be crucial in making sure you board a plane to a place suiting you. Imagine ending up in a bar in the middle of nowhere with the ageing locals, instead of the studentpacked club you envisioned. However, the branded image sold by tourist companies might not be all it seems. Explore the unadvertised, because there’s always more than meets the eye.

IMPACT SCIENCE & TECH

BEST APPS FOR STUDENT LIFE

TRELLO

WORDS BY MALENA WONG

Are you one of those people who rules their life with piles of sticky notes and checklists? In this digital era of smartphones and new apps launching daily, perhaps it is time to let go of yellow paper squares and to-do lists. Try Trello - it's greener and it’s smarter. Trello is an awesome project management tool that makes being organised a lot easier. Even better, you can use it for much more; whether it’s organising your life, group projects, travel plans or dinner, Trello will be your new best friend. As students we’ll nearly all at some point encounter in our degree that most evil of devils - group work. Whether it comes in the form of a group essay, a presentation or some kind of project, communication is bound to be horrendous. There can be a thousand reasons why communication isn’t

time it’s simply the result of people slacking. At the end of the day, you can’t change their attitude, but what you can do is adjust they way your group communicates. That’s where Trello comes into great use. Trello is basically a web page containing lists laid out horizontally. It’s a highly visual tool where you can customise the layout according to your needs. In each list, you can create cards which are essentially card. Each card can contain

a thread of comments, checklists, colour labels and When workloads require collaboration, Trello fast becomes a task tracker where you can assign tasks to people, so they get a are near. One of the more common templates consists

‘Working in Progress’ and ‘Completed’. Backlog is where you put all of the tasks in a project. Once you have started working on the task, move the card to Working in Progress and move it to Completed when the task is... done. If this still doesn’t convince you to switch to Trello, here

Each issue, we look at the apps that help make studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; lives a little easier. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one that could turn even the most scatterbrained student into an organisation machine.

First, Google Docs is one of the most popular web apps you want is to lose those essential links amongst busy group chats. To tackle that, create a list of references on Trello so all-important links are kept in one place for all team members. Instead of spending the time searching for the lost to resend you the link, time can be better spent actually working on the task.

Second, have you ever been in a situation where you send out an important update to your group mates and they all exploded with emojis, hurrays and a long thread of comments? Your message gets lost and the last person to check the chat probably will be too lazy to scroll back and check what all the fuss was about. That happens because Facebook messenger or other social media chat platforms are not made for structured discussions or brainstorming. Trello can help by organising each discussion topic by cards. All relevant comments on the same topic are kept within one card - no messages lost.

If you want to take organisation to a domestic level, or make basic adult stuff feel important, create a list of house chores. Assign due dates and tasks to each housemate so thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no excuse for not doing their roll felt so corporate! Of course there are thousand of ways to customise Trello. One of its greatest strength is its possibilities are limitless

IMPACT SCIENCE & TECH

WORDS BY BENJAMIN WILCOCKSON ILLUSTRATION BY TOM WATCHORN Imagine if someone wanted a new pair of shoes, and all they had to do was design them on their computer and click print. Two new shoes are now sitting in your bedroom, ready for the day ahead. For the everyday consumer, this is the fantastic potential of 3D printing - personalised products at the click of a button without ever leaving one’s bedroom. This kind of technology exists in the industry now, but there are many obstacles to overcome before this use of 3D printing becomes accessible to the everyday consumer. There are many different kinds of 3D printing technologies, but the basic principle remains the same. A three dimensional digital shape designed with CAD (Computer Aided Design) is formed by the addition of material, often built up layer by layer. It is an additive process that allows the production of very complex geometric shapes. The technology has been around since the 1980s, but until recently it has mainly been used in industry for making prototypes.

“There’s this idea that it’s going to bring around this third industrial revolution that’s going to massively change everything, I For the average consumer, the most accessible technology is the desktop style 3D printers such as Makerbot and Cube. These are marketed at consumers and used for small-scale production. It is only now that they are becoming serious contenders in the market due to the dramatic decrease in price, with machines that used to cost around £15,000 now less than £1000. For this price you can own a 3D printer that can produce solid plastic parts. You can design something yourself on CAD, or you can visit a website like Shapeways where you can download the digital model for thousands of different products ready for print. This could be a phone case, a piece of jewelry, a replacement drone part, a belt buckle - the list goes on! There is even the possibility to scan a three dimensional physical object, thereby gaining a digital copy, and printing your own version. All of these applications are very exciting, but we are still in a stage where there are many obstacles to consider. Jamie Patient, from the 3D Printing Group at the University of Nottingham, is enthusiastic about the technology and its prospects, but said, “There’s this idea that it’s going to bring around this third industrial revolution that’s going to massively change everything, I think that’s probably a little bit overhyped.” He stated one of the

main research challenges still to be overcome is the relatively limited palette of materials currently available. Plastic is a commonly used ‘ink’ but all sorts of materials can be 3D printed, anything from metal to ceramics and even chocolate can be used. The food industry is testing 3D printed meatless meat grown from cells. Who knows, maybe one day McDonalds will be serving 100% meatless meat burgers – though that’s probably what they do now anyway. There are a number of fundamental issues to address in order to make the technology more widely available. Often printers are loud, consume lots of energy and require at least some technical ability. It will take time for the technology to develop, and it will take time for consumers to accept 3D printing into their lives, but whatever the hurdles are, there’s no dispute that 3D printing is going to be disruptive.

IMPACT SCIENCE & TECH

RESEARCH AT YOUR UNIVERSITY DR ELAINE O’REILLY This has been a prosperous few generations for those in the life sciences. Crick, Darwin, Dawkins and Watson are now household names. The intense study of nature and its manipulation combined with the commercial potential of such research has allowed economies, organisations and true for Dr Elaine O’Reilly, one of the newest members of the Chemistry department at the University of Nottingham. Fascinated since school by the awesome power of genetics and evolution, it was within a year of beginning her doctoral studies at University College Dublin that she career she wanted to pursue. Competition downturn of 2008 but her research interests fortunately align both academically (‘blue skies research’) and industrially. Her group concentrates on bioengineering, in which biological molecules are manipulated to perform a desired function. These molecules can then be used to prepare active ingredients in medicines. As opposed to standard chemical catalysts (an aid used to increase the rate of a reaction), nature has had millions of years to develop very

more environmentally benign than regular works with transaminases which are a group of enzymes that work in the synthesis of amines, nitrogen-containing compounds. to begin the process of commercialising molecules as potential products, O’Reilly hopes her group can be part of the industrial process in the near future and admitted

link hindering in any way to her particular research interests. Having started her assistant professorship at the University just last year, Elaine

“

Life is the continuing intervention of the inexplicable.

”

furnishing. O’Reilly described how the move from her native Ireland was initially very position in Manchester, considering the cultural pressures in parts of Irish society where women in particular are expected to remain at home for longer. To be a woman in science is a rarity; to be a woman and an academic in the Organic Chemistry department at Nottingham is even rarer. Dr O’Reilly is currently the only female academic in a staff of twenty three, though fortunately she says she has yet to experience the “calm down, dear”s of other male-dominated parts of working society. It is particularly refreshing to hear from a passionate, optimistic scientist at the start of their career. Elaine O’Reilly’s experience at Nottingham has thus far been fascinating and exciting for her. She has been successful in securing funding such that her group is constantly growing and the publication in the modern era) is solid. This is not to say that O’Reilly is naïve given her success. She it is to become a senior academic in the focussed and given her comfort in discussing her work in both a highly informed but lucid manner, her ideas will be effectively communicated to all audiences despite the complexity of the subject matter. WORDS BY STEPHEN KENNY IMAGE BY WILLIAM VIA FLICKR 23

IMPACT FOOD

NATURALLY MAN-MADE GO GREEN WITH GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD

WORDS BY ISABEL JURY IMAGE BY BEYOND COAL & GAS IMAGE LIBRARY VIA FLICKR

In recent years, the European Union has eased its restriction on to opt out of growing the crops for each country. Many have chosen to outright ban GM crops, such as Wales and Scotland. However GM crops are used as feed for the vast majority of cattle sold in the UK, and many people believe this is damaging to those who consume animal products. Animal meat raised on GM food is not required to be labeled, unlike other products sold in the UK. So regardless of whether GM crops have been banned in the majority of the UK, they are still indirectly entering the food chain. But why is there such a strong opposition to genetically food on the DNA level still plausible? Health has become of major interest to our culture, moreso now than ever, as we are becoming increasingly aware of the

delay the ripening process, extending the shelf life of the tomato. Public concern of GM has generally been negative in most countries, and arguably for valid reasons, for example in the case of weeds resistant to herbicide sprayed on GM crops.

“Several studies have proved that there is no nutritional advantage in buying

in an unintended and unpredicted way. Events such as these have given way to the organic food movement, where ethical consumers can buy from farmers who are more transparent about their produce and process - or so we believe. The organic food movement has created a demand for health products like never before - in 2014 organic sales in the UK were estimated to be at £1.86 billion, with sales rising 4% from the previous year. The appeal of going organic has become so strong that it’s created and sustained a rapidly growing market for itself as a healthy and luxury food industry for people concerned about their environment and the dangers of ingesting GM. Organically grown food has been heralded as the saviour of all our diet-related problems of the 21st century, with little-to-no evidence of its superiority to conventionally grown crops. Several 24

studies have proved that there is no nutritional advantage in buying organically, some even going as far as to identify that under a blind taste test, organic versus conventional is indistinguishable. In short, we create our own bias of what we believe should taste better. Yet despite it being proven that there is no nutritional or taste advantage to eating organically, the public have demonised the concept of GM food.

There are certainly problems with GM food that have created new problems, such as the adaptation of herbicide resistant weeds, but there is a habit of categorising all GM food as bad simply because of the failings of a few. Each crop can and should be considered vastly different from the next, with separate companies developing their own crops unique from one another. Still they are branded as evil and bad. hindrances that we face from farming; it can extend shelf life, increase yield and create more drought-resilient crops. GM effectively, and has often promised to be the answer to food shortages in countries less suitable for farming. One study by economists in Germany claimed that GM crops increased yield by whopping 68%. By these statistics, you could even go as far as to say GM food is actively helping the environment, not damaging it by requiring excessive amounts of pesticide to yield their crop.

answer to food shortages” GMOs have already made remarkable changes for the better in the world, but unfortunately many anti-GMO campaigners are with the Golden Rice Project, which has recently won a Patent for Rice is a cheap and affordable staple food source in much of the world, but unfortunately it contains very little Vitamin A, which

areas such as China, Mexico, Brazil, south east Asia and the vast majority of the African continent. It is responsible for 500,000 cases of irreversible blindness every year and an estimated 1-2 million deaths every year, with pregnant women and young children exposed to the most risk. Golden rice provides a solution to curing this massive nutritional catastrophe at no extra cost - it has the potential to save millions of lives and hundreds of thousands from blindness. Unfortunately due to public pressure from anti-GM campaigners and activists, this reality has been delayed, with many of the trial crops of golden rice being vandalised and burnt down. This is just one way GM food has the potential to save millions, but there are ways in which it already has improved our lives that we may not know or be aware of. In the late 70’s researchers developed a way for yeast cells to produce human insulin, which helps sufferers of diabetes. Prior to this technology, diabetics would have to inject themselves with insulin derived from the ground-up pancreases of pigs and cows. Not only is this previous method cruel, it is not halal for many, and caused many allergic reactions from the animal-derived ingredients. Because of this development, insulin has become cheaper,

improving people’s lives in an undeniable way. At the time these developments were greatly opposed by anti-GMO activists who believed this would do irrevocable damage. Given that there’s been 40 years of intense studies and millions who’ve been helped with GM insulin and would have otherwise died without treatment, it’s safe to say GM, in this case has proven the potential There is an assumption that organic foods must be superior for us to consume, entirely on the basis that they are ‘natural’, and that natural foods automatically incur goodness and healthiness. But it’s easy to forget that the food we see today on our plates is the results of thousands of years of agricultural development and cross breeding plants in order to achieve the desired traits; vegetables and fruits we eat and enjoy today are vastly different from their wild counterparts, with many being unrecognisable in can be applied to a lot of things lethal to humans, such as disease. In a world where we are continuously facing new environmental challenges as a result of pollution and our growing population, GMOs may be our only answer. Whether you decide to buy organically or not, make an informed decision and look at the research on both sides yourself.

IMPACT FOOD

JO’S PANCAKE HOUSE If you’re living close to Ilkeston Road in Lenton then you might already know this place, but this is a diner that deserves to be recognised for how amazing it truly is. Jo’s Pancake House is a family run business in one of the smallest diners you’ve ever seen, though the food is fantastically good quality and incredibly cheap and affordable for students. They serve a variety of English breakfast options, including vegetarian and the widest

LITTLE BLACK BOOK

SWEET SPOTS

savoury crêpe. When they bring out your plate you’ll be impressed that something so delicious and pretty on the plate could come from such breakfast after a night out. MONDAY, 09:00 - 14:00. TUESDAY - FRIDAY, 09:00 - 16:00. SATURDAY, 09:00 - 15:00. SUNDAY,10:00 - 14:00. 149 ILKESTON ROAD, NOTTINGHAM, NG7 3HE 0115 837 5310 WORDS BY ISABEL JURY IMAGE BY HEADVLGS VIA FLICKR

COOKIESHAKE CAFÉ For those with a serious sweet tooth in need collected some of the best places to try for amazing desserts from local eateries right here in Nottingham.

Cookieshake Café is the place to go for amazing vibes and delicious milkshakes. This Café has a relaxed, calm and cool atmosphere that’s so welcoming. All of the shakes are customisable and the menu is virtually endless, you’ll be overwhelmed by the choices. There’s a Nintendo in the lounge where you can play Mario while you enjoy your delicious milkshakes

out and have a good chat without the usual busy and “in and out” service you get in many other eateries. MONDAY - TUESDAY, 09:00 - 20:00. WEDNESDAY - THURSDAY, 09:00 01:00. FRIDAY - SATURDAY, 09:00 - 02:00. SUNDAY, 10:00 - 18:00. 14 UPPER PARLIAMENT STREET, NOTTINGHAM, NG1 2AD 0115 959 9717 WORDS BY JESS EDWARDS IMAGE BY SARAH FISHER

PUDDING PANTRY Pudding Pantry is a Mecca for those who are sweetly inclined, their devilish cakes will make anyone go greedy and order generously. These gastronomical delights are served beautifully with presentation that could make the strongest of wills crumble at the mere sight. One of the most popular sellers, the cheesecake brownie, is reason enough to visit. This is among some of their most tantalizing desserts, such as the Oreo cake. The price range of the Pudding Pantry is fairly moderate, but for students it would be best to visit on special occasions, such as a sophisticated ladies lunch. The environment is beautiful and it deserves to be properly absorbed by visiting with friends in your free time just to take it all in. The staff are polite and helpful, making the experience ever more enjoyable and memorable. It literally takes the cake. MONDAY - FRIDAY, 09:00 - 18:00. SATURDAY, 09:00 - 19:00. SUNDAY, 10:00 - 18:00. 27 TRINITY SQUARE, NOTTINGHAM, NG1 4AF 0115 950 4660 WORDS AND IMAGE BY JADE THOMPSON

THE SCREAMING CARROT VEGETARIAN BAKERY The Screaming Carrot is a small bakery that can be found in Forest Fields, quite far from where the usual UoN student ventures. If you’re a vegan or vegetarian living in Nottingham then you have to check this place out! This is one of the few places in the city you can get cruelty free baked goods such as their vegan pains au chocolat, and it’s delicious. Don’t be discouraged to try this place out if you’re not a vegetarian, it’s well worth the visit to see just how tasty food can be without animal products, and you’ll be amazed by how convincing they taste. MONDAY - TUESDAY, 07:30 - 17:30. WEDNESDAY, 08:00 - 18:00. THURSDAY - FRIDAY, 07:30 - 17:30. SATURDAY, 10:00 - 16:00. SUNDAY, CLOSED. 42 FOXHALL ROAD, NOTTINGHAM, NG7 6LJ 0115 910 3013 WORDS AND IMAGE BY KELLY DAY

IMPACT FOOD

RAPID RECIPES

PUKKA PUDDINGS

Making desserts doesn’t have to be laborious, these simple recipes can all be done in a few steps with only a couple of ingredients. Treat yourself to a revision break and give them a try, you won’t regret it!

White Chocolate Banana Loaf Cakes INGREDIENTS 140g butter, softened and cut into cubes, plus extra for greasing 140g caster sugar 2 large eggs, beaten with a fork 1 tsp baking powder 3 very ripe bananas, mashed 100g walnuts, coarsely chopped 100g dried apricots, coarsely chopped

METHOD 1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Grease and line a 2lb loaf tin with greaseproof paper. 2. Place the butter and sugar in a bowl and using an electric hand whisk, cream together until the

3. powder until incorporated. Then stir in the mashed banana, walnuts and dried apricots. 4. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and bake in the oven for approximately 40-45 minutes, or until an inserted skewer comes out clean. 5. Let the cake stand in the tin for about 10 minutes and then take it out and place it on a cooling rack. Enjoy as it is, or add a little butter or serve with ice cream if you’re feeling generous! WORDS AND IMAGE BY RUTH PENGELLY

Slowly add the beaten eggs, a little at a time, whisking as you go.

Cheesecake INGREDIENTS 250g of digestive biscuits 75g of butter 250g of mascarpone 150g of light cream cheese spread 50g of crème fraiche 100g of crunchy peanut butter 200g of white chocolate 300ml double cream salt

METHOD 1. Take the digestive biscuits, place in a sealed bag then crush the biscuits into a powder. 2. Melt the butter in a saucepan, add in the biscuit powder and brown sugar, then mix until butter has melted. 3. Wet the edges of a cake tin. Add the digestive base mixture, set in the fridge.

6. Once the white chocolate has melted, add in the peanut butter and a pinch of salt and then mix until combined. After this, add in the mascarpone and also mix until combined; then do the same with the light cream cheese and crème fraiche. Stir until mixture thickens. 7. Pour the chocolate, cheese and peanut butter mixture into the whipped cream and fold in until the contents of the bowl have completely combined. 8. Remove the cake tin from the fridge and wet the inner sides of the tin above the biscuit base. and place back in the fridge for 2 hours and 30 minutes minimum. Remove from the tin and enjoy a slice. WORDS AND IMAGE BY JAKE TENN

4. Temper the white chocolate. 5. In a separate mixing bowl, pour the double cream and whisk until it has just become solid.

Easy Lemon Possets

Vegan Rice Pudding INGREDIENTS 1 litre of plant milk (e.g. soy, coconut, almond) 3 cups of brown or white rice 4 tablespoons of sugar or maple syrup Splash of vanilla essence 2 teaspoons of cinnamon (optional) Blueberries (optional)

METHOD 1. Pour the plant milk into a pot and heat until boiling. Once boiled, turn down to simmer.

2. Add in vanilla, sugar/syrup, you wish to incorporate. 3. Add the rice, allow extra cooking time for brown rice. Cook until the liquid becomes a thick consistency. 4. Once the rice is thick, take off the heat and serve with blueberries in glass holders. WORDS BY SARAH FISHER IMAGE BY ‘RPAVICH’ VIA FLICKR

INGREDIENTS 4 Lemons 180g sugar 850ml double cream Handful of raspberries

METHOD

4. Take the pan off the heat and whisk in the juice of the lemons, ensuring it’s well mixed through. 5. Pour the mixture into ramekins and place in the fridge to set, preferably overnight.

1. Peel the lemons and place the rind in a large saucepan with the double cream

6. Serve with fresh raspberries and gingersnap biscuits.

2. Add the sugar and bring to the boil over a gentle heat

WORDS BY ROSA LEWIS IMAGE BY ‘JULES’ VIA FLICKR

3. Once boiling, turn down the heat and simmer for approx. 3 minutes

IMPACT STYLE

IT’S SUMMER! FORGET FLOWER CROWNS AND CROPPED TOPS, HERE ARE THE SPRING/SUMMER 2016 TRENDS THAT ARE ACTUALLY WORTH JUMPING ON THE BANDWAGON FOR!

SHOW YOUR COLOURS The statement pieces this summer are bound to burst with colour and joy. Take inspirations from rainbows and elevate your style and mood.

WORDS BY RAPHAELA RING ILLUSTRATIONS BY AMRIT SANTOS

GEEK OUT This trend is about comfort as much as style. Knitted jumpers, high collars and all-night comfortable kitten heels are the stars of this summer’s inner geek.

RIDE THE WAVES This summer's shapes are more extravagant than ever; with frills,

instantly more dramatic.

WALK THE LINES Prim striped shirts and bold dresses with multi-coloured block stripes give an effortless edge to your summer wardrobe.

IMPACT STYLE

THE

SUN

PHOTOS AMY RAINBOW, GEMMA BROWN + SOPHIE RIDLER MODELS POPPY NORRISH, ALMAZ RISH, ANA ETIENNE, KATHLEEN COLTHURST + IZZY SILVERMAN STYLISTS CHANELLE OLALEYE + CLAIRE ELIZABETH SEAH

...and temperatures rise, we yearn for less restriction, more freedom and more colours. Our five models show you how summer can be done right - each holding on to her distinctive style!

COMES 30

OUT...

Opposite Page (l-r): Izzy: top, skirt and shoes by Topshop Kathleen: vintage two-piece, shoes by Missguided Poppy: top by Asos, skirt and shoes by Zara, headdress by Topshop Ana: Dress by H&M, Shoes by LAMODA Almaz: jeans by Zara, top by Zara This Page: Almaz: dungarees by Topshop, top by Zara, vintage shoes

This Page: Izzy: top, skirt and shoes by Topshop Opposite Page, Top: Kathleen: vintage two-piece, shoes by Missguided Opposite Page, Bottom (l-r): Almaz: dungarees by Topshop, top by Zara, vintage shoes Ana: suit by Zara and boots by LAMODA Poppy: top by Topshop, skirt by and shoes by Zara

IMPACT STYLE

Inspired by... OUR EDITORS TALK ABOUT THEIR STYLE ICONS AND WHAT THEY MEAN TO THEM

My love for fashion is deeply rooted in a bad childhood haircut, several stages of braces and just a general awkwardness; putting effort into my clothes gave me There are many people who could, if they felt like it, claim to have been my inspiration. Tavi Gevinson, for example, or all of the girls from Sex and the City (with a special nod to Miranda). But the woman who has stood out amongst all of these is Iris Apfel. Not because I use nearly as many accessories as she does, or because of a shared love for drama, but for one simple piece of advice she had been given and shared with the world in her documentary, Iris I don’t think I am pretty, but I think I have style, or I am getting there. If style means to enjoy dressing up, not caring if someone tells you ‘you will never wear it’ or ‘it just isn’t you’; if style is experimenting and making mistakes and breaking rules; having a safe option and feeling comfortable in how you look; if all these apply then I have style and Iris made me believe I do. That is why she is my style icon. Not because I want to dress like her, but because she inspires me to dress like me and not set boundaries on what that can be. WORDS AND STYLED BY RAPHAELA RING IMAGE BY JOHNATHAN BOULTON

Thinking about this with some depth, my grandmother’s face instantly popped into my mind. Perhaps it’s because of her wacky style, her love of bartering or the endless shopping trips of my youth we spent together meticulously searching car boot sales, vintage fairs and charity shops for that one perfect item. Or maybe it’s simply her love for style, glamour and always looking fabulous. Whatever it is, when I think of a style icon there is my grandmother’s face and all of her ridiculously it. As Raphaela has already said, if style means enjoying dressing up and not caring what others think of the end result, because you already know you’re working it, then my grandmother has style, and I’m pretty sure I do too. WORDS AND STYLED BY CHANELLE OLALEYE, IMAGE BY ALEX FARZAD

IMPACT STYLE

VERSAILLES, 1973: WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED, EXACTLY?

WORDS BY CLAIRE ELIZABETH SEAH IMAGE BY BRAD CERENZIA VIA FLICKR

What do you get when you bring together a group of great American designers like Anne Klein, Bill Blass, Halston, Oscar de la Renta and Stephen Burrows and pit them against an equally talented bunch of French designers of the likes of Marc Bohan for Christian Dior, Emanuel Ungaro, Hubert de Givenchy, Pierre Cardin and Yves Saint Laurent, in a crumbling palace? Add 70s cultural stars such as Andy Warhol and Liza Minnelli to judge and you’ve got yourself a fashion showdown like the world has never seen before or since. In 1973, in an effort to gather funds to restore the palace of Versailles, Eleanor Lambert and Gerald Van der Kemp organised the legendary Battle of Versailles Fashion Show, or Versailles 1973. There was more than a petty spirit of rivalry in the air as the two nations braced themselves for a war of a couture kind. Despite the opulent and extravagant sets of the French, who demonstrated their mastery with cardboard cutouts, it was the Americans who won. Ultimately, it was the American’s esprit de la revolution, choosing to feature ten African American models (out of the thirty six they brought to battle), to wear their chic, elegant and uncomplicated designs that captured the hearts of the audience members. Forty-three years after the Fashion Show, controversy

still stirs, such as with Demna Gvasalia’s choice to feature only white models in his Vetements and Balenciaga shows. For many critics, it is the making of this choice that they see as the issue. However, personally, the very fact that the lack of diversity continues to be an unfortunate. At present, we sing the praises of designers who choose to feature a wider range of ethnically varied models while condemning those who select from a more singular racial pool. Surely, nearly half a decade since the breakthrough at Versailles one would have hoped that the fashion industry, all-embracing in so many other ways, might have been a bit more accommodating to its diverse clientele. Moreover, the example of but stark example of the lack of concern for cultural diversity within the entire fashion industry. Even if it became a norm to have a racially diverse selection of models on the catwalks of every fashion show, if this did not transcend into a breaking down of “ideal body standards”, this norm would be pointless. Racial diversity on the catwalk could be a paradigm shift if implemented to break down the need for acceptance of difference. We should be aiming towards using it to forget our old, boxed, rigid beauty standards and simply learn to marvel at the richness of beauty each individual person has to offer.

IMPACT EXPOSURE

N O

IMPACT GAMING

S AV I N G PACMAN WORDS BY MARK NORTHFIELD

GAMING EMULATION: PROTECTION OR PIRACY? I was born on July 24th 1995. According to Wikipedia, that means 74 different home video game consoles were released before my

Individuals who emulate for ridiculously old games can spend days just perfecting the title screen. This can make a person feel a little audio plugins to get something working just right for emulation.

pieces of tech, but that still leaves literally thousands of video games that lived their entire life before I could even hold a controller. So, how does somebody go about experiencing this wealth of games that have all but disappeared 30 years later? One solution is emulation. The emulation of games consoles on the home PC began sometime in the mid-90’s as PC hardware reached the point it could replicate simpler machines. Now the scene has grown to giant proportions with multiple emulators existing for almost every console and able to run on a huge number of platforms. Emulators work by replicating the hardware and software of a games console on the PC, allowing the user to play old games on new machines. They do this while changing things like the input device, the output resolution and in many cases smoothing out the gameplay experience with performance boosts like a consistent 60fps frame rate. Many emulators allow you to further modify the smooth off harsh edges or even add in scanlines and graphical artefacts to better replicate the visuals of a CRT TV. Through emulation enthusiasts have even managed to modify existing games, creating whole new experiences. However, it isn’t all positive. Emulators exist in a copyright grey area, whereby producing and distributing digital versions of the hardware is legal, yet distributing the BIOS (the innate hardware code that allows it to play games) or distributing the games themselves is illegal and considered piracy. As such, emulators are theoretically the freeware efforts of dedicated programmers to allow the consumer to ‘dump’ (copy onto a computer) the BIOS of their consoles and the ROMs or ISOs (game code) of their games and then play their bought-and-paid-for games on their computer, preserving them from the dangerous unreliability of physical media. Theoretically! 38

consoles and even harder to acquire working older games, the dedicated few who care now have given access to many classics, including to the early Blizzard Entertainment game Rock ‘n’ Roll Racing for the Sega Megadrive. These dedicated individuals have become heroes, for whom a blind eye is turned in the name of preservation. Although emulation is piracy, the heroic elements of the

and every one as much an infringement as the last. Large scale public events make use of emulated games and nothing seems to be stopping it. More than ever before development is catching up with the current generation and having amazing success emulating the Nintendo Wii-U, Sony PS3 and Microsoft Xbox 360. It is impossible to say if it is morally wrong to use emulation to save old games, but not all companies are happy with it. The current, surprisingly user friendly and transparent state of emulation seems at odds with its goal of metaphorically snatching money from the hands of companies. Emulation keeps striding ever forward because of many people’s passion for understanding the history of video games and consoles. It is likely to continue, but if it continues towards the current console generation it will only become more dangerous for those involved.

IMPACT GAMING NEW GROUNDS, LIVING SKETCHBOOKS: THAT DIM-REMEMBERED CHILDHOOD OBSESSION WORDS BY STEPHEN HILL Many of us have fond memories of skiving off school work and playing Flash games from a tucked-away browser window. We remember the games, but for many Flash was much more - it was a valuable tool that many successful developers used to earn their stripes. Its utility and simplicity made it hugely popular among the creative communities of the millennial internet. Many of these communities, like Newgrounds, still have a sizeable following. However, Flash is now nearing retirement. It may be past its prime, but it had a monumental role kick-starting many lucrative careers in our beloved industry. It’s not surprising that, in these communities, collaboration was commonplace. One of such partnerships was between The Behemoth founders Tom Fulp and Dan Paladin. Before producing breakout hits like Castle Crashers and Battleblock Theater, the pair made a slew of Flash games together including the brawler Dad ‘n Me and run and gun game Alien Hominid (which incidentally received full retail treatment later). Anyone who has played anything by The Behemoth knows Paladin’s unmistakable art style – an art style which is unashamedly Flash. The same semblance of a sketchbook coming alive permeates right from their browser game roots to their latest projects. The same style is seen with fellow Newgrounds regular Edmund McMillen, creator of roguelike dungeon-crawler The Binding of Isaac and often grotesque art style is very Flash, and despite his acclaim humbler roots. The Basement Collection is his way of serving these on a silver platter, bringing some of his more under-the-radar efforts to light. Such offerings include Spewer, a projectile-vomit powered platformer, and Time Fcuk, a darkly themed puzzler, among several other tasty Flash morsels. Thankfully he left out his more The mobile market has proven very fruitful for many former Flash developers. Certain tropes of Flash games such as upgrades, short arena. As a result, Flash ports are rife in the mobile market. No other Flash game-producing studio embraces these tropes like Juicy Beast. Their ludicrously addicting Flash titles have received over 18 million plays on Kongregate, with both Burrito Bison and Knightmare Tower being ported to iOS. Another similarly styled studio, Ironhide Game Studio, makers of tower-defence franchise Kingdom Rush, have produced several mobile ports of their popular series since publishing on Flash site Armor Games. Some other developers with similar stories and success include the likes of Ninja Kiwi (Bloons Tower Defence), Terry Cavanagh (Super Hexagon) and Bennett Foddy (QWOP). Overall, I’m sure many will be sad to see Flash go. Not only was it the cornerstone of classroom procrastination, it was a cornerstone of the indie development scene, as inconspicuous as it may be. The proof? The examples above are just a drop in the bucket. The list stretches far, and with the boom of the mobile market in particular it is only expected to grow. As Flash slowly disappears from the of Flash games be rendered unplayable? What will happen to communities like Newgrounds or Kongregate? Or, perhaps most worryingly, what will happen to the online legacies of many developers? While just as many developers will be jumping for joy Pyrrhic victory? Maybe not. But a loss all the same.

IMPACT GAMING

COSPLAYIN’ Cosplay, simply, is the art of dressing up as a character from visual media. This takes a huge amount of skill and dedication, as many cosplayers create their own costumes to match their favourite character to and incredibly accurate degree. These designers have recreated everything from Batman to Mr Burns faithfully, and as these pictures show some cosplayers re-create video game characters. All the pictures are of University of Nottingham student Phoebe Greggor, Below is a description of the video game characters that the Tunnel Snakes from Fallout 3.

TUNNEL SNAKES (FALLOUT 3) At the beginning of Fallout 3 the player, growing up in Vault 101, encounters a group of young people called the Tunnel Snakes. They like to throw their weight around and act like rebellious player at a birthday party in the vault. They are modelled on the classic ‘greaser’ archetype from 1950s America. This is emphasised by their leather jackets, large hairstyles and general tough-guy attitudes. The symbol for the gang is a snake in the shape of an ‘S’ which appears on the back of their jackets. In the game you interact with them

during an early moral dilemma relating to another vault dweller being harassed. The gang’s appearance and mannerisms serve as part of the introduction to the setting of the game, which is technically in the future but with all the aesthetic trappings of the mid-twentieth century. In an oddly subversive move, the player can discover that the person in charge of the vault was actually using the Snakes and hired them to carry out unsavoury tasks. The greasers-inspired gang eventually falls to pieces but you can meet up with one survivor out in the wasteland later on.

ELIZABETH (BIOSHOCK INFINITE) Elizabeth is the primary character in , aside from the player’s own protagonist, who will accompany you throughout almost the entire game. Born at the end of the 19th century, she spent her childhood imprisoned in the sky city of Columbia and hailed as the “miracle child” of the city’s creator. The player’s character, Booker, is seen as an evil spirit who has come

to steal her away. She is an intelligent, highly resourceful and beautiful young woman. Elizabeth has the ability to rip apart holes in space-time, at one point showing the player a vision of Paris at the end of the 20th century, which is obviously alarming. The rescue mission comes at the right time as Elizabeth has grown tired of being locked up in a tower with only books for company. One is

also wary of the terrifying beast, ‘Songbird’, who guards her from intruders and who plays a large role in the game’s story. The gameplay features Elizabeth’s supernatural powers a great combat. A number of touching moments occur between her and the player, especially when imprisonment.

IMPACT FILM & TV

The broad appeal of cinema makes it the ideal medium for often translates into a simple “the customer is always right” model a powerful role to play in promoting activism and supporting industries, particularly their independent and arthouse studios, have been making use of this reach in tackling the complex issue of legalising homosexuality in the region. In doing so, several point of riots and violence, but they have simultaneously provided a visible platform for the LGBTQ+ community to be heard outside the arenas of policy and social justice, while challenging the wider industry’s toxic norms of homophobia and misogyny. Indian cinema, like its Western counterpart, has a long history of using queer characters as cheap punchlines and, in some rare cases, extravagant antagonists.

the queer community as a distinct Other – either laughably incompetent or exotically dangerous. This revulsion extends to homoerotic subtext as well,

several cinemas that screened it were on the receiving end of vandalism and abuse. Despite these threats, just as the wider push against criminalising homosexuality began to pick up steam, so too did the creation My Brother... Nikhil (2005), Gulabi Aaina (The Pink Mirror) (2006), and 68 Pages (2007) began to break the barriers of what was considered taboo, touching on topics important to the LGBTQ+ community, particularly with regards to rape, discrimination, safe sex, AIDS, and performative gender. When Arekti Premer Golpo (Another Love Story) was released in 2009, homosexuality had just been successfully decriminalised with the repeal of Section 377. In a nation that already gave legal

THE QUEER CASE OF INDIAN CINEMA

level of parity given to sexuality

by following two gay dancers who come to question their identities when one begins to come out as transgender, forcing their boyfriend to re-evaluate his sexuality. The lead actor, Rituparno Ghosh, had come out

As the reinstatement of Section 377 has set like Kal Ho Naa Ho (If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come) (2003), which LGBT+ progress in India back decades, Ibtisam success by directing and starring showed characters reacting in Ahmed looks at how depictions of queerness in in Memories in March in 2011, horror to the friendship of its a predecessor to, and possible two male leads, as well as having and prejudice. inspiration for, the 2014 British a caricatured and effeminate drama Lilting. interior decorator. The fact that its director, Karan Johar, has since 2013 became a pivotal year for become a vocal and open member of the queer community both portrayals of queerness and its legal recognition. Karan shows exactly how much sway the standard portrayal held. Johar, whose extremely popular work had included stereotypical caricatures of gay and lesbian characters in the past, quietly came Although acts of homosexuality – and by extension, queerness in Bombay Talkies sexuality – is illegal under Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, anthology focusing on the complexities of gay relationships portrayals are not. Until the 1990’s, this always manifested in in urban India, including the practice of forced marriages and domestic violence to “cure” homosexuality. Although the past few decade of the last century saw a shift in the conversation around decades had seen a steady rise in queer stories and characters, historians and activists began a serious push to decriminalise homosexuality on the basis that 377 was introduced as a British strongest pieces of evidence was the prevalence of queer arts and literature in pre-colonial India. While mainstream popular media

the long tradition of the arts in representing the wide range of identities the country consists of.

an activist tilt like Deepa Mehta or Rituparno Ghosh – add his normalised and accepted, at least in popular media. Unfortunately, that same year saw Section 377 become reinstated in a decision by the Indian Supreme Court, effectively erasing all the legal and political gains made by the LGBTQ+ community with regards to sexuality in the preceding four years. But the

In 1996, Deepa Mehta directed Fire, starring two of the most respected actors of the country, Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das, as a pair of sisters-in-law who realise they are lesbians and begin

not be so easily suppressed. As the documentary No Easy Walk to Freedom (2014) shows, calls for equality have continued hand-in-hand with increasing visibility for the queer community, culminating in a renewed challenge against the ruling lodged

hopeful note, challenging both the tropes associated with queer characters and the wider socio-political attitudes towards

industry had in aiding this cause cannot be stressed enough.

WORDS BY IBTISAM AHMED IMAGE BY TOM WATCHORN, BLINDIA TOOR 45

IMPACT FILM & TV

HAVEN’T I SEEN YOU BEFORE? SOME STUFF THAT PEOPLE STARRED IN BEFORE THE STUFF THAT MADE THEM FAMOUS

KEVIN BACON

ELIJAH WOOD

Following a Golden Globe, three Screen Actors Guild awards and a Primetime Emmy – not to mention prominent roles in Footloose, A Few Good Men and Apollo 13 – Kevin Bacon has become a household name. But even the greats had to start somewhere, in this instance – an obscure travel comedy starring Steve Martin and John Candy. Though Planes, Trains and Automobiles was a modest favourite - it only grossed $50 million - few will have noticed the man himself. Blink, and you’ll miss this two minute wordless cameo. After a brief race, youthful Bacon steals a cab from under the nose of struggling family-man Neal Page (Martin).

Elijah Wood may not be rolling in Golden Globes or Oscars but the chances are you know him as Frodo Baggins. Wood didn’t stop there, however, he’s in fact

Looks like he’s always been a slippery customer, even before those dodgy EE adverts. Joe Jones

and let’s face it, we all rely and trust IMDB’s judgement. 2015 was a notable year for the Back to the Future franchise as Marty McFly time travelled to that year in Part 2 . However in 2016, not many people know movie appearance in this very movie. Remember that scene where Marty walks over to the kids in the café playing that old video game? Yep, one of those kids is a very baby looking Elijah Wood. Even though his role as Frodo couldn’t be more different than his role as Kid #3, I am pretty sure his height as a hobbit was not so different. Larissa Rowan

MCCONAUGHEY FRANCO, ROGEN AND ZELLWEGER AND SEGEL The fourth outing in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise featuring chainsaw-wielding Leatherface. However, it is perhaps more notable for starring both Matthew McConaughey and Renée Zellweger, before either of them had become Hollywood stars. The supposed ‘horror’ and toes the line of parody for the majority of its runtime. However, McConaughey performs admirably, hampered by bionic leg and awful script eye-rolling ‘Vilmer Slaughter’) but still managing to pull off a noteworthy performance. Similarly, Zellweger surpasses her co-stars (whiny brattish teens you can’t wait to see brutally dispatched) and shine through the otherwise terrible that, despite their then nascent careers, marked them as something worth watching, before the fourth Chainsaw Massacre had the chance to destroy them. Henry Stanley

Freaks and Geeks is a TV show demonstrating the intense struggles of a group of late 90s teens making their way through a drug, love and drink-fuelled education system. James Franco, Seth Rogen and Jason Segel are arguably the biggest names from the cast currently, and their baby faces exemplify their early acting abilities. The show was cancelled after a season but has grown a millennial cult following as it echoes the struggles of teens in school today, and Franco and Rogen are now a chaotic dream team in cinema, taking on Korean Dictators and the end of the world with aplomb. George Driscoll

IMPACT FILM & TV

FROM SCREEN TO SCREEN WORDS BY HENRY STANLEY

Sequels, reboots and adaptations are very much a dominant force within modern cinema. Adaptations can come from a range of sources including books, comics and video games. However, an interesting jump is that from small screen to big screen. But when adapting TV for the big screen, there are a few things directors need to bear in mind.

capture both old and new fans, demonstrating that a successful and faithful adaptation of a strong television source can lead to a blockbuster hit. In adaptation, a focus on originality clearly isn’t always the best way forward.

Gerry Anderson called Thunderbirds Are Go, the 2004 live action remake of his puppet-led television show, Thunderbirds “the biggest load of crap I have ever seen in my entire life”. Reviewers similarly

greatness.

Despite the popularity of the failed to successfully capture the essence of the original. In contrast, the 2015 TV series was much more faithful to the original, proving that it is not the concept that is unpopular, but the way in which it was adapted to the big screen. Although the catchy Busted theme is sure to get stuck in to the classic source franchise In contrast, 2011’s The Man from U.N.C.L.E. managed to perfectly capture the essence of the original 1964 spy thriller series, whilst also telling a fresh and interesting story. With lead performances from Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer helping boost the relatively unknown franchise, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. managed to

This being said, an original spin being placed on an old concept can work well. 21 Jump Street adapted the police procedural drama format of the original late eighties show of the same name, and turned it into a smash hit comedy. Experimenting with the original genre paid off greatly, with both of the Jump Street the original series was replaced with the comedic duo of Tatum

In the past, with one or two exceptions, it seems that a certain amount of adherence to the source material is vital to the success of a blockbuster remake. When adapting television for a blockbuster, directors can rely on the original fan base to help

“Diverging from the original series is almost guaranteed to annoy fans, turning what base into their biggest critics” However, diverging from the original series is almost guaranteed revenue base into their biggest critics. Taking the source material and shaping it into something that both honours the original and offers something new has a higher risk, but can lead to even higher rewards. Intriguingly, there is also an increasing number of big such as Scream, The Omen, The Silence of the Lambs and Psycho a series (or multiple series in some cases), be it via an adaptation

of adaptation has been particularly successful with the horror genre, as it allows greater character development and build-up of tension. Though, plans for Taken and Big Hero 6 to take the jump to TV, show that the transition is not limited by genre.

IMPACT MUSIC

INTERNET KILLED THE MUSIC STAR HAS THE RISE OF INTERNET BLOGS, SOCIAL MEDIA AND STREAMING SERVICES KILLED THE OLDFASHIONED, HOMEGROWN MUSIC SCENE FOR GOOD?

NO changed the position of music subcultures in society. It can however be argued that this is far from the negative change it is often viewed as. Rather than disassembling the underground cultures that surround music genres, the use of the internet has mainstream attention. This of course can lead to the dilution of the underground culture, but it must be seen as a positive that the exposure it gains leads to its expansion and survival. Over the last decade there has been a vast increase in internet sites dedicated to not only the music but those cultures which developed around the different genres. The recent resurgence of grime to the mainstream has been heavily aided by the presence of internet sites such as SB.TV and LinkUpTV, which have a large reach online fuelled by their social media presence. Their content provides videos that encapsulate the urban setting surrounding grime and UK hip hop and therefore gives a nationwide platform to this subculture increasing its attention and popularity.

“The exposure that the underground gains leads to its expansion and survival” Also, the ability to immerse yourself in a particular band or particular genre is made so much easier by the growing number of sites that offer a band’s wide back catalogue before the rise of the internet; now its easy accessibility allows you to further your interest in the music. This increased interest engrosses you deeper into the culture that surrounds the music, thus increasing its prominence in society rather than harming it. cally devoted to cataloguing tour dates of bands while also providing tour information of similar artists. A gig provides the perfect setting to be surrounded with like-minded people and this is what creates the musical subcultures around bands. These sites, such as ents24 and Songkick, enhance the subculture around music, as its ability to thrive is based on its exposure and these sites are essential in helping increase that. WORDS BY JACK SMIDDY 48

YES Taylor Swift on Spotify). Sounds great - in theory. However, over-availability is changing the way we interact with music, and not necessarily for the better. Think about

later you’re so unbearably bored that you turn it off and start scrolling again. Online streaming services are similar. With excessive choice, we tend to bore easily. We’re more likely to dabble rather than take the time to become acquainted with an artist. A fundamental part of fandom is when you make a discovery and then start to carefully excavate the back-catalogue of that artist’s work. You can stake a claim on something and it begins to sound like the music was written just for you. Constant availability of music diminishes the precious sense of achievement that committed fandom can produce. The social aspect has also suffered. Pre-internet, if you had no friends sharing your interests you were forced to seek out shops or venues where you could befriend those that did. The formation of ‘online communities’ has changed this. You don’t share your taste in music. It’s undeniable that chatting online is dull in comparison with meeting friends and forming real communities. Fans aren’t the only ones that have felt the change. Free streaming services mean that artists struggle to make any money at all from their music, let alone a living. one-hit wonders that quickly fade into obscurity. Consequently, it is increasingly

The use of the internet to promote music means that gigging is no longer an essential requirement. Bands and musicians can post performances online and reap fans this way, never having made a face-to-face connection. This surely detracts from the true objective of musicianship. The nature of live music can make for unexpected and often exhilarating moments. Furthermore, gigging creates an essential relationship between fan and musician. The dialogue between the the two is extremely valuable for developing creativity and innovation within music. I don’t want to sound overly gloomy. Or to suggest that I feel anything but the utmost respect for J-Lo. In these early stages of the internet it’s important to keep an open mind. Overall, access to music and the facilitation of creativity are essential, and whatever happens, it’s crucial to maintain that, but the existence of local scenes where an idea is conceived and worked upon may be a sad casualty of the digital revolution. WORDS BY MADDY HAY

IMPACT MUSIC

OBITUARY: THE MUSIC EXCHANGE In a year that has also witnessed the deaths of international music icons, from Bowie to Prince, the local Nottingham music scene suffered its own devastating loss as the acclaimed independent record store, The Music Exchange, closed its doors earlier this year. WORDS BY JAMES NOBLE

The shop was originally established in 2009 as a social enterprise project by the local homelessness charity Framework. Since then, the shop has worked with the local community not only to galvanise the city’s thriving music scene, but to provide crucial support for many homeless and otherwise disadvantaged people in and around Nottingham. As reported by The Nottingham Post, The Music Exchange provided 66,000 hours of volunteering and work experience opportunities for more than 300 people since 2009. Such opportunities can be a vital stepping-stone towards recovery and regular employment for those who need it most. Framework’s Head of Employment, Volunteering and Social Enterprise, Claire Eden,. said that the shop “has always been level of income to keep the shop viable. Sadly we have reached people are outweighed by the costs of keeping it open.” The shop’s closure struck many people as surprising, given the amount of commendation The Music Exchange has received over the past seven years. The shop won the ‘Independent of the Year’ Music Week award in 2013 and 2014, and was ranked second in The Telegraph’s 2014 survey of the ‘The Coolest Record Stores in Britain’. In terms of its business accolades, the All Party Parliamentary Small Shops Group nominated The Music Exchange as one of the ‘20 Best Businesses in the Country’. Just down the street from The Music Exchange, Rough Trade expanded their chain of record shops to Nottingham in November 2014. Nick McDonald, the Nottingham City Councillor and Portfolio Holder for Jobs and Growth, said that the arrival of Rough Trade would “give another major lift to the Creative Quarter” of the city centre, claiming the project was of huge “value and importance”. The move brought no “major lift” for The Music Exchange though - Rough Trade’s international status and resources, against The Music Exchange’s emphasis on people over “It’s been a tough 12 months for the shop,” wrote the shop’s manager, Joey Bell, “we have made cuts throughout the year but 50

sadly we have made the decision to close the shop on March 19th 2016.” Whilst its closure is undoubtedly a real loss for the city, Bell was keen to emphasise the “feeling of enormous pride about everything that has been achieved there” – a testament to the commitment of the volunteers and community that had sustained the shop for so long. It is the hope of that local community that other businesses in Nottingham can replicate the fantastic achievements of The Music Exchange. Since 2009, the support that the shop has provided – alongside other endeavours led by Framework - has showed that the number of people sleeping rough in England has doubled since 2010, and risen by more than 30% in the last year under a majority Conservative government. The Music Exchange has set the bar in terms of local, supportive, collaborative and creative output – it will be sorely missed.

IMPACT MUSIC

NG 1 mind, I’m going to investigate the ‘music scene’ around Nottingham during this time.

The building now known and loved(ish) as Ocean was once The Sherwood Rooms. One notable occasion there was The Damned’s gig in 1983. The Nottingham audience, eager to uphold dying punk traditions, washed the support band with a generous layer of spit. Afterwards, Captain Sensible of The Damned strode on stage, adtain would you?”, cheerfully inviting a similar treatment. While there were many highly-regarded local bands, few were successful in the mainstream. For a long time, Nottingham’s main export was Paper Lace, famous during the 1970s. There were a few very dark years in which Nottingham’s highest charting success was Su Pollard (known for cheesy TV and dodgy glasses) with her single ‘Starting Together’. The 90s brought some success - bands like Tindersticks and Six by Seven were met with critical acclaim, but there was yet to be any real recognition. Clearly, this is only a brief snapshot in time. Nonetheless, from what I’ve discovered so far, Nottingham’s music scene was very much about the fans. The accessible small music venues blurred the lines between listening and playing. Record shops and clubs alike were unique hubs for music lovers, producing groups of well-informed fans that became receptive and exciting gig-goers. Nowadays, we have health and safety regulations. Perhaps gigs are less fun, but thrower into the audience during a Boathouse set (apparently this really happened. And the crowd liked it). As a 21st Century music fan in Nottingham, I endeavour to uphold the same commitment to the cause as those before me. Though I draw the line at spitting. 52

A focal point of the scene was record shop 'Selectadisc'. The muchloved establishment was a regular haunt for local music lovers. Small venues like The Old Angel (closing this year for overhaul) were also staples of the music scene, providing places for listeners to congregate and platforms for aspiring bands and musicians. During the 1980s, any Nottingham music fan worth their salt was a regular at the legendary Garage Club. Martin Nesbitt (AKA Bodega's The Reverend Car Bootleg) would man the decks in the basement, with renowned DJ Graeme Park playing house music upstairs. In 1985, Scottish band The Jesus and Mary Chain had been banned in many parts of the UK. They were notorious for sets that descended into violence and broken bottles. Unafraid of chaos, the Nottingham crowd welcomed TJAMC to The Garage with rowdy enthusiasm, one of the few venues in the UK that did so.

It would be ridiculous of me to presume that I possess anything resembling expertise on Nottingham’s musical history. I’d probably piss off a bunch of actual experts from LeftLion and the like, and I certainly don’t want to do that. However, I do have pretty decent point of reference. My dad is from Nottingham and was something

WORDS BY MADDY HAY IMAGES BY VINCENT ANDERLUCCI, KATE MONKEY, SHINING.DARKNESS AND ELLIOTT BROWN VIA FLICKR

B U L C E G A R A G

THE SH ERWOOD A G E ROOMS BOD 53

IMPACT ARTS

CUTTING AT OUR HERITAGE THE DANGEROUS COST OF CUTS TO CULTURE

WORDS BY AMY WILCOCKSON As a nation, Great Britain has always been, and hopefully always will be, proud of our country’s rich past and national heritage. From famous writers to feats of bravery, wars, the monarchy, battles and much more, Britain’s heritage is diverse, and one of the most recognised in the world. In recent years, however, many heritage attractions, locations and sites are being closed down, reduced or having their funding drastically cut. Is Britain’s cultural heritage being destroyed?

decrease in total income from 2012/13 to 2014/15 than any other type of museum”, putting these funding from the local authorities. The report then goes on to say that “the funding position of local authority museums is likely to worsen following the substantial cuts to the local government grant announced in the 2015 spending review” – putting our local museums in drastic need of increased

order to stop their closure. In 2012, a report by Patrick “the state of Britain’s cultural These closures have hit the Steel for the Museums Association highlighted heritage is one of a continual East Midlands particularly hard, providing uncertain that from 2002-2012, “42 downturn” futures for the whole museums, galleries and area’s heritage. Despite heritage sites” had closed huge campaigns being down; most of them in the last two years of this period. Despite showing put in place to save it, in July 2015, Snibston that large institutions (such as the British Museum) Discovery Museum closed, with Leicestershire were affected by site closures, the study found County Council claiming the closure would save that those most affected by funding cuts were the Council £9.4 million over a period of twentythe smaller, local authority museums who were at Derby’s three museums, the Silk Mill, Pickford’s constant risk of closure as a result of these cuts. House and Derby Museum and Art Gallery. As One would hope that after such dire numbers of reported in The Guardian, there are fears that the funding to the museums may be cut by Derby have improved four years later. However, the state Council in 2017-2018, which would be a devastating of Britain’s cultural heritage is one of a continual loss to Derby, and the many diverse exhibits its downturn, especially for those smaller and regional museums contain, including the largest collection museums. According to the Museum Association’s of Joseph Wright’s paintings in the world. (MA) recent 2015 survey regarding cuts to heritage It is not only Nottingham’s neighbouring cities have been forced to close a museum site, or that have been affected by prospective and actual cuts. With Nottingham recently being awarded the MA state that “local authority museums are UNESCO City of Literature status, it comes as a particularly at risk and have experienced a greater surprise that D.H. Lawrence Heritage in Eastwood 54

has also been affected by local government cuts. Despite the prominence of Lawrence as a successful author and one of Nottingham’s three ‘Rebel Writers’, Broxtowe Borough Council have opted to keep the D.H. Lawrence Birthplace Museum open, but to close the D.H. Lawrence Heritage Centre, with its displays of local and mining heritage, in a bid to reduce council spending. The Heritage Centre is due to close at the end of March 2016, creating a devastating blow for the campaigners, including celebrities Rosamund Pike and Robert Lindsay, who fought to keep the centre open and Nottingham’s heritage alive for future generations. With the closures nationwide becoming a real concern to those in the arts and heritage industries, many are becoming worried that these cuts will cause many regional areas to become “cultural deserts”, as Director of the Museums Association, Sharon Heal states. These cuts therefore only compound fears that councils are becoming apathetic to their local and national heritage. It can be argued that these cuts are causing taking in order to do so are increasingly drastic. As the MA survey suggests, “the impact that the cuts have had on frontline, “Many people public facing services

Museums and galleries are also resorting to extreme measures in order to obtain funding. In 2014, Northampton Borough Council caused controversy when it sold a 4000-year old Egyptian statue of Sekhemka for £15.76 million to an overseas private buyer, in order to obtain the funds to extend Northamptonshire’s museum and art gallery. The museums service paid a heavy price for this sale, however, as the Arts Council England loss of the artefact from the collection. The loss of accreditation also means that the museums are now ineligible for any further funding or future grants. This was a risk, however, that Northampton Borough Council took, due to the lack of available the weighty consequences, in the MA’s December 2015 survey, 11% of museums “are considering selling items in their collections to raise funds in the coming year”. This means that collections are increasingly at risk of sale to private buyers, and highlights the increasing desperation of curators and museums to secure ever-dwindling means of

are worried regional areas are going to become ‘cultural deserts’”

From reducing opening hours, introducing entry charges and changing governance, to having an increased reliability on volunteers and reducing paid jobs, museums and galleries have had to be resilient in order to face funding cuts and challenges. For someone who is considering a career in the heritage sector, to hear that staff numbers have consistently decreased year on year, falling by 24% in 2015, these results are particularly disheartening. Also, the news that expertise in the sector has been reduced, due to an increased focus on “fundraising and income generation”, means that as a result of this, “cuts are having an impact on free events, temporary exhibitions, school visits and projects that have a social impact”, reducing the amount of

due to the numerous cuts. At the time of writing, news broke that two or three museums, including

for those who died during the wars, have been Council. Due to stringent cuts, it has been reported that the council can now only afford to run two are council-funded. With this being only the latest example, the cuts and closures of so many regional and council-funded museums are having a hugely detrimental effect on Britain’s heritage and future. With the help of the Museums Association, perhaps some museums will be saved from closure. But I cannot help but wonder how far councils will cut budgets and funding – most probably until it is too late, and our cultural heritage is lost forever.

local communities. 55

IMPACT ARTS

A PAGE FROM THEIR BOOK

FOUR LIT LOVERS GIVE CONTROL OF THEIR READING CHOICES TO THEIR OTHER HALVES. WHAT WILL THEY THINK? Anyone who knows me also knows how much I love a classic romance. Think Jane Austen, the Brontës and of course F. Scott Fitzgerald. So, letting my boyfriend decide on the next book I read was a brave decision! I was looking forward to reading Animal Farm, despite the lack of romance, courtship and love that I’m accustomed to in my reading and I have to say this was a fantastic novel. For those who haven’t read it, the plot entails a farm of animals and their originally honest and good intentions to run the farm themselves instead of under the rule of humans. They begin as equals following the ideals they agreed upon, but later as their society slowly begins to disintegrate it becomes clear that a dictatorship is emerging, with some animals becoming ‘more equal’ than others. I honestly could not put this book would recommend to anyone who wants a thought-provoking read and who appreciates political undertones in their reading. Both witty and entertaining, Animal Farm is a must have for any reading list and makes a wonderful addition to any bookshelf.

With the subtitle The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History, I was dubious as to whether I would enjoy this text. The novel focuses on the protagonist Kyle’s own retelling of his past as a Navy SEAL, and the challenges he faced during his time at war, including the deaths of some of his closest and Kyle’s life as a sniper, his autobiography begins with his early life as a devout Christian, and the love story between him and his wife, Taya, whose voice is also present, with sections of the text authored by her, as she retells her perspective of the couple’s life together. Despite my qualms as to the subject matter of this text, whilst reading, the reality of war and its brutalities really hit home, and made me more aware of what is happening in the world right now. The fact that Kyle was murdered by an ex-Marine suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, and Taya Kyle’s essay about the aftermath of his death, made this a poignant and unforgettable text about the effects and truth of war, and Chris Kyle’s remarkable life story will remain with me for a long time.

With the added pressure of my boyfriend recommending a book as an English Literature graduate, I apprehensively began The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. I probably spent a good 5 minutes searching for chapter 1, before learning that all the “chapters” are numbered as prime numbers. Written from the perspective of an autistic child, this book is one of a kind.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the NightTime tells the story of Christopher Boone; a 15 year old with Asperger's Syndrome. One night, he discovers the murder of next door's dog, the culprit. Along this road of discovery, he learns several new things about his life; some he would wish to, and others he would not. There are heart-wrenching moments during arguments with his father, as well as sections to make the reader think, laugh, or do both at the same time. This book is different to anything I've ever read, and I'd highly recommend it! Conclusion: boy done good.

Tragically this was the most repulsive book I’ve possibly had the misfortune of reading. “It’s a man’s world.” It truly is in Trainspotting, with the dark humour that was waiting for me. Following the story of heroin addicts was never going to be a bundle of roses, but with descriptions of men they’d just swallowed whole… What could be worse? Yet, there was some light in all of this dark humour. The narrative style, written mostly in Scottish English, is dialect that appears phonetically, allowing you to truly get into the mind-set of the characters, hearing the way they speak – and swear! This gave the novel its character and allowed me to stay interested, despite the often disgusting descriptions. Having different chapters narrated by various characters, I saw all the different views of the junkie lifestyle. Safe to say I haven’t been missing out! Although the novel did disgust me, it was undeniably a page turner. With sections named “Kicking”, “Relapsing” and “Kicking Again”, I felt shameful wanting to know what next disgusting thing these addicts would do. Indeed a true “bloke” book, but I could see how the humour could appeal to the masses.

IMPACT ARTS

SOCIAL MEDIA SACRILEGE (ITS PRETTY SELF-EXPLANATORY)

IMPACT SPORT

PLAYING AT HOME CONNOR HIGGS ASKS: “HOW WOULD LEAVING THE EU AFFECT THE PREMIER LEAGUE?”

The 2015-16 Premier League has been one of the most exciting, and most unpredictable, for a generation. Not since the days of a Brian Clough-managed Nottingham Forest has a such a rankedoutside team managed to usurp the biggest teams; the simple fact that Champions League football will be coming to the King Power Stadium highlights just how well their season has gone. However, amongst this backdrop of excitement in the last few months has been an air of uncertainty surrounding the Premier League, and just how Britain leaving the European Union could affect Premier League football, and English football as a whole. The list of players who could potentially lose the right to play in the Premier League are two of the season’s most standout performers: Dimitri Payet of West Ham and N’Golo Kante of Leicester City. Overall, over 100 Premier League players would be affected by Britain leaving the EU. The question on everyone’s lips is just what would happen to the standard of football in the Premier League as a result? It is especially concerning, considering the Premier League is close to losing its fourth Champions League berth to Italy as a result of English teams struggling in Europe. Players from Europe would face the same screening process as non-EU foreigners, including having to have played a percentage of games for your national team, depending on that national team’s FIFA ranking; for instance, a player from a top-10 nation has to have played in 30% of their games prior to the date of application to be granted a work permit. The lower the national team ranking, the higher the percentage of games you have to have played in. What is arguable is that having fewer foreign players coming in from the EU is a good thing for the quality of

more chances to develop into an international-quality player. My response to that, however, is that the opportunity to train same place, is an incentive for players to push themselves to quote the old adage, if you are good enough, you are old enough. Step forward messers Alli and Kane. Dele Alli and Harry Kane have been two of the best performers in the Premier League this Harry Kane has proven this season that he is not just a one-season

wonder, with only Sergio Aguero having scored more Premier League goals over the last two seasons than Kane, who is nearHis emergence in a team that is absolutely bristling with foreign talent highlights that opportunities are very much there still for home-grown talent, and to say that playing with players such as Christian Eriksen, Érik Lamela and Mousa Dembélé has not ultimately made him a better player is surely wide of the mark. Dele Alli, meanwhile, is a sheer force of nature. For a just-turned 20 year-old, who is exactly 11 days younger than this writer, to nothing short of miraculous. Comparisons do not come much Alli appears to be his natural successor in an England shirt. Training with European talent who may not have been there with the non-EU rules can only be seen to have improved players such as Kane and Alli, and the most exciting England team in a decade to emerge. Whisper it very quietly but more and more England fans are relishing the Euros, as opposed to fearing the worst for their team. We can dream… The most important factor in just why this Premier League season has been so exciting is how the socalled big teams have ultimately struggled, with ‘smaller’ sides coming to the fore. Aside from Leicester, West

West Ham, and Bojan and Ibrahim Afellay out of Stoke and it is arguable that these teams would not be doing as well as they are. Money can do wonderful things, but if only the cream of European talent is allowed to play in the Premier League, only the big teams would be able snatch up such talent, widening the gap between the top clubs and those beneath again. And I would love to see Chelsea crumble some more. Unearthing gems like Payet and Kane would become impossible, and would leave the Premier League bereft of some of the very sparkle that has come from seeing just how much of an impact these players have had. For me, the Premier League would be much better with Britain remaining in the European Union, if only to still see Dimitri Payet and his magic right foot curl in another beautiful free-kick. That is what the Premier League is really all about.

IMPACT SPORT

BIG BUCS

Points

League

Cup

Individual

Total

Loughborough

1959

824

1194

4009

Durham

2114.5

899

197

3295.5

Edinburgh

1601

543

1041.25

3266.25

1995

818

284.5

3162.5

Birmingham

1742.5

701

434.5

2941

Exeter

1808.5

737

314

2880.5

Table Tennis - BUCS Points: 406 The University of Nottingham Table Tennis teams have had nothing less than a stellar season, with both the Men’s and Women’s Table Tennis 1sts winning the BUCS Championship. For the women’s team, Nottingham 1sts won the Midlands 1A league with a perfect record, followed by Nottingham 2nds, who

Table Tennis 2015-2016 - Midlands 1A

Pts

1 0

Cambridge 1st

1 0

-2 2

Warwick 1st

1 0

-2 4

1 0

-3 0

6 62

The Men’s Table Tennis 1st’s won the Premier North League with a perfect record of their own, and went on to beat Trent 1st’s in the

Table Tennis 2015-2016 - Premier North

Pts

Loughborough 1st

-2 2

Warwick 1st

-6 8

UoN’s Squash teams also showed their talent with an incredibly strong season for both the men’s and women’s teams. The Men’s

UWE 1st

Pts

Birmingham 1st

-7

Manchester 1st

-11

managed to emerge victorious in the BUCS Championship, with both results a tremendous achievement for the teams.

Birmingham 1st

Pts

Bristol 1st

-5

Manchester 1st

-1 3

4 63

IMPACT SPORT

Hockey - BUCS Points: 243 UoN’s Hockey teams contributed 243 points to UoN’s BUCS total, with some solid shows from a number of their teams. For the Men’s

strong show for UoN Hockey.

Lacrosse - BUCS Points: 226 BUCS Championship Cup.

Lacrosse 2015-2016 - Premier North

Pts

Durham 1st

1 0

11 4

Birmingham 1st

1 0

-57

3 4

Newcastle 1st

1 0

-47

Loughborough 1st

1 0

-17

Manchester 2nd

1 0

-43

The Men’s Lacrosse 1st team had a stellar season of their own, Finishing in 2nd place the Premier North division, just below Durham.

Lacrosse 2015-2016 - Premier North

Pts

1 0

-4 5

-2 2

1 0

-7 2

Durham 1st

2 3

6 64

Loughborough 1st

Manchester 2nd

Futsal â&#x20AC;&#x201C; BUCS Points: 213 to Leeds Beckett Carnegie 1sts.

Futsal 2015-2016 - Premier Midlands

Pts

Loughborough 1st

East Anglia 1st

-8

Birmingham 1st

-2

The Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Futsal 1sts secured a perfect record on their way to winning the Midlands 1A League, with 10 wins out of 10, to advance to the Premier Midlands Playoffs.

Futsal 2015-2016 - Midlands 1A 1st

Pts

1 0

Loughborough 2nd

1 0

Derby 1st

1 0

Worcester 1st

1 0

-1 6

Warwick 1st

1 0

-2 0

Leicester 2nd

1 0

-5 3

IMPACT SPORT

WHAT ON EARTH IS GOING ON WITH BRITISH SPORT?

EDITORIAL BY CONNOR HIGGS

There must be something in the water at the moment, because it seems that all of our sports’ stars have gone into overdrive. From victory, British sport has seen something of a revival in the last twelve months. Exciting times certainly do lie ahead. British tennis is in its best place in at least the last 30 years. Andy Murray, the world number two, spearheaded a Great Britain team even he admitted was something he did not think would be achieved while he was playing. Johanna Konta became Britain's Jamie Murray, fresh off Australian Open men’s doubles victory, is the current world number one in the men’s doubles rankings. English Cricket has gone near-enough full circle in the last twelve months. The 3-2 Ashes victory of Australia banished memories of the whitewash of the previous tour, and this was backed-up by a series win over South Africa, then the number one Test side in West Indies highlights their resurgence in one-day cricket. Six Nations since 2003, with Eddie Jones, the new Head Coach, giving England a new dimension of fast, attacking rugby that has so far swept past all comers in their path. The debacle that was the World Cup seems to have been cast aside, with English Rugby set for a renaissance towards the top of the world game. Golf, far from England’s most prestigious game, has a new hero.

whose last win came 20 years ago. Finally, we come to English football. Dare I say that we are one of the strongest teams going into the European Championships in June. Two English strikers sit atop the Premier League scoring charts, in Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy. The impressive comeback to beat World Champions Germany 3-2 was built around a spine of young talent, in Eric Dier, Dele Alli, Harry Kane and John Stones. A fearless England side looks ready to test itself against Europe’s elite. Considering the recent events in English sport, anything’s possible.* *The writer of this article is well aware that he may have come down with ‘English Overestimation Syndrome’, a crippling at major tournaments, which affects vast numbers of English football fans every 2-4 years. On a completely unrelated note, he also supports Liverpool.

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