Impact Magazine Issue 218

WWW.IMPACTNOTTINGHAM.COM

ISSUE 218 SEPT 2012

THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM’S

OFFICIAL STUDENT MAGAZINE

PAYING £9K AYEAR? IMPACT ASKS THE UNI TO PUT ITS MONEY WHERE ITS MOUTH IS

ANYWHERE BUT HERE WHAT TO DO IF THIS ISN’T THE BEST WEEK OF YOUR LIFE

NAUGHTY NOTTINGHAM WE PUBLISH YOUR DIRTIEST SECRETS

25% OFF GLASSES FOR STUDENTS FREE EYE TEST

Valid for one test booked on or before 30 November 2012. Present voucher at time of test. Cannot be exchanged for cash, used with other vouchers or redeemed by customers already entitled to a free NHS eye test. One per person, at named Specsavers stores only. CODE 8266

Beeston 4 The Square Tel 0115 951 8980

Ilkeston 104 Bath Street Tel 0115 944 1401

Long Eaton 4-6 High Street Tel 0115 946 0450

Student discount: Cannot be used with other offers. 25% off £69 range and above. Monday to Friday. Present NUS card or other valid student ID at time of purchase. One pair of complete glasses only, with single vision lenses and scratch-resistant treatment. Excludes reglazes, safety eyewear, contact lens products, non-prescription sunglasses. Discount not transferable in whole or part for cash. SKU 25263053. Š2012 Specsavers. All rights reserved.

26

50

59

9

8

15

32

19

43

42 47

24

CONTENTS FEATURES Editorial News Comment Sport

4 5 9 11

£9K A Year - What’s In It For Us?

REGULARS 15

Impact asks if the uni is doing enough to justify the tuition fee rise.

Interview: Tom Gearing

18 20 22

How to deal with the Week One blues.

Student Activism On Campus Standing out is in.

Would You Pay For Facebook?

27

Why free doesn’t mean freedom.

Two faced Britain - when the Jubilee and Olympics collide.

Anywhere But Here

26

Hacks and hacking on trial.

The Apprentice ‘heartthrob’ outside the boardroom.

A Divided Summer

The Leveson Report: A Waste of Paper?

Absent Without Leave

28

Should students skipping lectures skip uni altogether?

Alumni Focus: Janet Wooton

29

Journalism, TV, Pr, No. 10... then back to uni.

24

Uncle Sam

Exposure Style Food Science Travel Arts Film Music Editorial Heard in Hallward

32 34 42 44 46 50 54 58 62 63

30

Noisy housemate sex? He’s got the solution.

IMPACT 215

3

EDIT RIAL W

here are you from? What are you studying? These two questions dwarf everybody’s first few days at Nottingham. We’re asked by the girl over the corridor we’re desperate not to offend and the guy we meet at the bar in Ocean. We’re asked by our personal tutors, our hall wardens and our Week One reps. And we engage in dozens, maybe even hundreds of these identical conversations simply because we feel we have to.

But Impact doesn’t like repetitive small talk and, secretly, neither do you. Here at your official student magazine we prefer challenging questions, alternative opinions and incisive reviews.

But Impact is more than a magazine. Our website - www.impactnottingham.com - is updated daily with breaking news, views and reviews so log on when you get a chance in the eye of the Week One storm.

And don’t just read us, get involved. We’re looking for reporters, feature-writers, reviewers, photographers, web designers and publicists. If you’re interested, turn up to our Freshers’ Launch on Thursday October 4th at 4pm in the Atrium in Portland Building on University Park, drop by our office whenever or email chief@ impactnottingham.com and see what we’re about. No previous experience required.

Until next time, enjoy.

In this issue, Izzy Scrimshire asks the University what it’s doing to improve your education in the wake of the £9k price tag, Sarah Murphy interviews The Apprentice runner-up and Nottingham alumnus Tom Gearing while Jenni Chattaway points you in the right direction if “the best week of your life” isn’t quite what you expect.

Flick to Pause and you’ll find the lowdown on cinemas and gig venues in Nottingham as well as The Fringe Diaries from our Arts team.

Oscar Williams Editor-in-Chief

WE WROTE, YOU RESPONDED Piers Morgan

Ones To Watch on Impact winning their Student Publication of the Year Award “The only publication to be chosen twice this academic year, Impact was picked for its fantastic investigative features. Impact received an astounding 31 per cent of the total public votes in the first round of the shortlisting process, more than the 2nd, 3rd and 4th publications put together. The huge amount of votes Impact received shows it has managed to inspire and interest the people who matter most. Ones to Watch staff overwhelming chose it as the publication which they thought produced the most consistent high-quality content throughout the year. It is not just full of good journalism, Impact is educational, interesting and most importantly fun to read. Ones to Watch always looks forward to seeing what the Impact team will do next.”

on Should Our Athletes Sing the National Anthem?

“Good debate on the #TeamGB national anthem issue

by Nottingham students. I respect both views (but agree with No2).”

Elizabeth ‘Egg’ Goddard on Demonising Demonstrating “...As we’ve already seen, the political whim of an Exec team can make or break Nottingham’s involvement [in student demonstrations].”

Join the discussion at www.impactnottingham.com...

4

IMPACT 218

NEWS

NUS DEMONSTRATION PLANS ANNOUNCED

A

march in protest against education cuts has been organised for this autumn by The National Union of Students (NUS) and University College Union (UCU). Liam Burns, president of the NUS, appealed to students in a video message calling for them “to tell politicians that it’s about time they work for young people.”

The march will take place in London on 21st November and is set to be the

biggest since the ‘Demo 2010’ march two years ago.

Burns added, “You’ve got a lot to be angry about. You’ve had your EMA stalled, tuition fees tripled and you’ve had your education systematically attacked across the board by this coalition government,” before pointing out that unemployment is as high as ever. Burns urged that, “In a year in which there are no votes in parliament and no legislation coming before politicians, it’s about time we started setting the agenda, not reacting to it.”

Charlotte Albert

NOTTINGHAM COUNCIL CLAIMS INACCURATELY HIGH COST OF FOI REQUESTS

N

ottingham City Council (NCC) has been accused of lying about how much Freedom of Information (FOI) requests cost. Last year, city council leader Councillor Jon Collins claimed that it cost them half a million pounds each year to respond to requests for information.

However, a FOI request sent to the council revealed that the actual total costs for processing requests was almost 8 times less than that. It revealed that the total costs over 6 months from September 2011-February 2012 was £32,161, which would mean that if this figure was the same for next 6 months the cost over one year would amount to just £64,322. The council now claims that the total cost is actually £370,000, saying that a new system to calculate costs, which

came into force in September 2011, didn’t take into account half of the requests made in the six-month period.

Councillor Georgina Culley claimed that, “This has been a means of trying to frighten people from making applications,” saying that the £370,000 figure had been “plucked out of the air”. It is the latest in a series of confusions and controversies surrounding NCC’s handling of FOI requests.

Previous accusations include failing to respond to as many as 42% of requests within the 20 working day time limit.

Impact will be publishing an investigation into the council’s transparency later this year.

CHRIS MOYLES BROADCASTS FROM UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT RADIO STATION

T

he Olympic Torch Relay reached Nottingham on Thursday 28th June and with it came another famous visitor, Radio 1’s Chris Moyles.

The DJ broadcast his show from the University of Nottingham’s very own URN studios. URN was the only university station to be visited as part of Moyles’ tour following the flame around Britain. As they announced their visit, Moyles and his team discussed the standards at URN, saying that they were “second to none”.

Afterwards, last year’s station editor Robin Murphy, commented: “The show went out without a hitch, and it was great to have the whole team in the studios.

It’s a fantastic achievement for our station, but also a real endorsement from the wider radio industry that student radio is an exciting thing to be part of right now.

I’m incredibly proud of the team from URN that worked so hard to make it happen, and the staff within the Students’ Union who have supported us”.

NOTTINGHAM ENTREPRENEURS WIN DIGITAL ECONOMY AWARD

A

team from the University of Nottingham have won the Digital Economy Young Entrepreneurs Scheme (YES) for their sustainability app.

The successful team, called NeeHoy, developed a digital service that encourages people to reduce their waste and save money by sharing www.impactnottingham.com/news

items. Team members Tim Pearce, Julian Rosser and John Harvey - from the University’s Horizon Doctoral Training Centre - were awarded £2,000 plus a further £500 from the Higher Education Innovation Fund.

Ellis Schindler IMPACT 218 215

5

NEWS

NEWS ACROSS THE GLOBE WORDS BY: ROB MOHER, RAMSHA JAMAL AND ANTONIA PAGET

COLORADO BEAR BREAKS USA INTO SWEET SHOP You will have all heard of a bull in a china shop but you’re unlikely to have heard of a bear in a sweetshop.

Owners of the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory shop in Estes Park, Colorado, were surprised last week to find their shop cleaned out of some of their bestselling chocolate treats.

Jo Adams found her shop covered in wrappers and dirt and thought that squirrels had broken in overnight. However, newly installed surveillance cameras informed them that it was a young black bear who had forced the door open and helped himself to sweets and treats from the shop counter.

The bear left the shop but later came back for more and cleaned out the shop of their chocolate covered Rice Krispies, English Toffee, peanut butter cups and chocolate ‘Cookie Bear’ biscuits.

To see the video, visit: www.impactnottingham.com

TOURIST SPOTTED ON AIRPORT X-RAY SCREENING

ROME ITALY

Whilst airport security are not unused to their scanners revealing weapons, narcotics and exotic foodstuffs, staff at Rome’s Fiumicino airport were astonished to find a different type of unexpected item in the baggage area.

After the outline of a human appeared on their X-ray screens, staff found an adult male curled up in the foetal position, asleep on the conveyer belt, blissfully unaware of the airport officials who had just seen x-ray images of his internal organs.

It is thought that the 36-year-old Norweigan tourist, who had been drinking heavily, had checked in for his flight early, and decided to take a nap next to his bag while he waited. It seems that the tourist was transported 48 metres before being spotted, at which point the police were summoned.

The tourist was then taken to hospital, where he underwent a medical examination after concerns about the effects of his exposure to x-rays, before being handed over to prosecutors for “causing alarm at the airport”.

6

IMPACT 218

SOMETHING SMELLS FISHY It is a rare predicament. What do you do when you wake up to find everything in sight covered in a layer of seaweed? This is the quandary that confronted the residents of Berkeley in Gloucestershire during the summer.

BERKELEY UK

So what was to blame? Had 2012’s apocalypse finally arrived or was the entire charade just a morning after Mirage? As it turns out, neither.

Freak weather had picked up the seaweed from Clevedon Beach in North Somerset, flown it super economy class to Gloucester and unloaded it on ill-fated Berkeley. Bewildered locals could be seen removing the slimy gunge from their driveways by the bucket load.

Ian Fergusson, weather guru from the Met Office, attributed the bizarre situation to severe thunderstorms at sea.

Some sand, some freak weather of its own and a canny bureaucrat is all the town needs before it can start cashing in on tourism to Berkeley-on-Sea.

ROSTOV LOOK RUSSIA WHAT THE CAT DRAGGED IN Clearly, there is some truth in society’s fabled distrust of cats.

In Rostov, southern Russia, the storybook caricature played out for real. The culprit is a nameless black cat who stands accused of smuggling goods into a prison.

The feline fiend, a resident of the town of Shakhty, had his guilty claws in something far deeper than simply smuggling Marlboros and Jean Paul Gaultier. Heroin was being hidden in the cat’s collar and delivered to prisoners, unbeknown until recently to the prison guards, who became suspicious after seeing the cat acting furtively in the prisoners’ quarters.

Needless to say, the cat is now out of the bag.

Drug dealers had seemingly employed the stray moggy as a drug mule. Police caught the suspect cat on its way into the criminal facility, its collar laden with enough drugs to make a night at Crisis almost bearable.

Despite meticulous questioning, the cat declined to comment.

A REVOLUTIONARY IDEA IN CHINA

NINGBO CHINA

Like The Jeremy Kyle Show and Facebook stalking, driving too fast is something that most of us publicly scorn yet privately enjoy. But as the old adage goes, there’s no smoke without fire. So aggrieved was Chinese pensioner, Lin Chen, by the number of car accidents outside her home that she decided to do something most unbefitting of her 67-year old self.

In a bid to slow motorists down, the unassuming Chen, from Ningbo, visited a sex shop, purchased a blow up doll and after dressing it in striking red underwear, tied it to a nearby tree.

Chen’s remarkably novel idea was designed to distract drivers from speeding. The doll, with its eye-catching attire, or lack thereof, could thus be described as an erotic take on the speed bump of old.

Her intentions were admirable but her execution perhaps less so, as Chen’s neighbours must now share their street with an inflatable sex toy - hardly a value-adding feature. Chen’s ingenious idea, however, is paying dividends. According to a spokesman from the local police, accident figures are, unlike Chen’s magnum opus, significantly deflated.

www.impactnottingham.com/news

IMPACT 218 215

7

NEWS

HALF OF STUDENTS THINK FEES ARE PAID IN ADVANCE Over half of London-based students believe that tuition fees are paid in advance, new research shows. The poll, conducted by the University of Roehampton, found that 44% of students nationally thought they would have to pay tuition fees before starting a course, and this figure rose to 51% amongst London students.

In addition to this, one in five incorrectly thought that fee debts would appear on credit rating files, and more than two-thirds of students studying in London said the increase in fees had made university a less attractive option.

Paul O’Prey, Vice-Chancellor of Roehampton University, said that confusion about tuition fees had almost certainly affected university applications in England, which decreased following the rise in tuition fees to £9,000, “We need to get the message across that it is likely that graduates with loans for tuition fees will be paying less year on year than graduates who started their university careers in previous years.”

Despite this, Universities Minister, David Willetts insisted that there is still a strong demand for university places and pointed out that this year has seen “the second

highest rate of applications on record”.

He addressed the fact that applications have fallen, saying that “the very big factor is the decline in the number of 18-year-olds; the number of young people is declining because of a fall in the birth rate about 20 years ago”.

Ellis Schindler and Fiona Crosby Image by Charlotte Albert

RUSSELL GROUP UNIS ACCEPT HOARDS OF STUDENTS THROUGH CLEARING Several Russell Group universities offered more than a hundred places to students through clearing and adjustment this year, a survey conducted by Impact has uncovered. Nottingham, Exeter, Newcastle and Birmingham Universities’ admissions departments all confirmed that a new government policy has allowed universities that traditionally do not go through the clearing and adjustment processes to offer more places after results are released.

The initiative introduced by the government in light of fee increases now allows universities to accept as many students with AAB grades at A-level as they wish to without being fined. Many universities including Nottingham subsequently opened up places on a long list of popular courses.

Rachel Atkin, Nottingham’s Director of Admissions, said the university had offered between 100 and 150 places through clearing and adjustment. “I imagine we will be in a very similar position to other Russell Group universities”, she added.

After the first day of clearing and adjustment, the University of Exeter told Impact that over 100 places had been awarded through clearing and adjustment. In 2011 Exeter didn’t offer a single additional place.

8

IMPACT 218

The University of Birmingham’s Director of Admissions told a similar tale, “In 2011 we made six offers through clearing and adjustment combined. This year we will probably offer around 150 new places.”

Birmingham refused to admit that a surge of offers made after clearing was down to the AAB policy. Instead they said some departments had been forced to make new offers because students had been missing the required grades.

The number of A* and A grades awarded at A-level fell by 0.4% for the first time in 21 years.

Professor Suzanne Cholerton, Newcastle’s Pro Vice Chancellor for Teaching and Learning, told Impact: “The Government’s changes to university admissions mean that we were still able to offer additional places in a number of subjects to students who have achieved AAB or better in their exams.”

It is expected that the number of offers made through clearing and adjustment will be set to increase again next year when the government grants universities the power to accept an unlimited number of students with grades ABB or above.

Oscar Williams

COMMENT

DECLINE IN INTEREST IN THE HUMANITIES EXPOSES GOVERNMENT’S FLAWED VISION OF HIGHER EDUCATION Every August, photographers make their way to schools up and down the country looking for the faces that best capture the elation and tragedy that accompany A Level results day. In a month where readership flags and news becomes repetitive, this is the highlight for many statisticians and journalists keen to make their voices heard about the education system. However, the focus on results has diverted attention away from university applications - and the worrying trend of a decline in interest in the arts and humanities.

Although the appeal of humanities has never been as high as that of the sciences and business, an overall decline in applications to university this year of 7.4% has been felt the worse by humanities subjects. Whereas medicalrelated subjects have seen the number of applicants rise from around 42,000 in 2006 to over 95,000 this year, subjects such as languages, literature and social sciences have all seen only a thousand or so new applicants in total.

This is an accurate reflection of a government obsessed with privatising an economy into shreds, following an ideology that has been harnessed into the political narrative of the past 20 years that suppresses the critical and encourages the apathetic. The misguided vision of a degree in science as a gateway for career opportunities but an interest in the humanities leading to nothing more than lazy academia is one that has been part of the discourse in education since New Labour’s academies, run by wealthy technocrats, first took form.

Figures collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency prove that there is very little difference in the percentage of the unemployed depending on the nature of their degrees. In fact, degrees such as engineering and technology or computer science have statistically more unemployed graduates than those graduating with a language or history degree.

Figures like Sally Hunt, leader of the Universities and Colleges Union, have increasingly attempted to highlight a significant failure in regulation of the education system. This has come to a head over the announcement of Pearson, the international publishing firm, becoming a for-profit provider of higher education. As the first FTSE 100 company to do so, it marks an increase in the number of private education providers in the UK. Hunt claims that private universities do not receive the necessary level of scrutiny by the government, and as such is “risky” for the state of education in this country.

‘THERE IS VERY LITTLE DIFFERENCE IN THE PERCENTAGE OF THE UNEMPLOYED DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OF THEIR DEGREES’ www.impactnottingham.com/comment

Controversy earlier this summer over the reforms of the EPSRC, the body responsible for funding the Physical Sciences, demonstrates how the ‘usefulness’ of knowledge has been decided by technocrats and bureaucrats outside of the field of knowledge itself. The failure of critical regulatory bodies holding the government and education systems to account is preventing the development of a country with an open and rounded education system. This stifles the development of its citizens who, as a result, are unable to look critically at the political and economic systems that govern them.

Emily Tripp IMPACT 218 215

9

COMMENT

SYRIA: IS THERE ANY HOPE LEFT? The events on July 18th have proven to be the biggest blow to President Bashar al Assad and his hold over the Syrian state to date. On that day a National Security Council meeting was bombed, resulting in the death of some of Assad’s closest colleagues.

Those events, which took place in Damascus, have greatly weakened President Assad’s regime for two reasons: the importance of some of the victims and also the sheer unexpectedness of the event.

The dead included Assef Shawkat, the President’s brother-in-law; Daoud Rajiha, Syria’s defence minister; and Hassan Turkmani, a former defence minister who played a crucial role in the establishment of the Syrian security agencies. If one also accounts for those injured the damage faced by Bashar al Assad, who is in his 12th year of rule over the Syrian state, is worsened. Top officials, such as Assad’s first cousin, Hafez Makhlouf, who was also an interrogator in Syria’s state security system, suffered severe injuries.

The procedure for the assassination took the world by surprise. It was reported that a remote-controlled bomb had been positioned inside the council’s meeting room by a bodyguard, ridiculing the President’s supposedly powerful security system.

Since the 18th of July, Assad has been losing an important sect of his supporters: Syria’s Christians. The death of General Daoud Rajiha, a Christian who was given a high rank in the Assad regime, could prove pivotal. Christians, who account for almost 10% of the Syrian population, may begin to worry for their security and how much longer the regime can sustain itself against the growing number of Islamists visible within rebel forces.

10

IMPACT 218

Although such events did leave Assad “staring into the abyss”, as one columnist for The Economist wrote, the end to this civil war is not as fast-approaching as one would hope. Rebel forces and most Syrians, quite justifiably, are not ready to chant songs of victory as the civilian death toll continues to rise. Opposition forces claim that over 20,000 Syrians have been killed leading to almost 300,000 fleeing the country. Almost 3,000 of those who have died since the start of the uprising in Syria were killed after the July 18 assassination.

More worrying, however, is how the realm of international diplomacy and foreign media seem increasingly irrelevant in this on-going conflict. British newspapers and news channels appear to have subordinated the issue in light of the Olympics.

Throughout the summer, leading newspapers dedicated their front pages solely to Olympians, their medals and their wild nightlife. Public conversation seems to have diverted away from the Middle East towards how deserving Tom Daley was of his Olympic Bronze Medal or how much of an idol Mo Farah has become.

The greatest indicator of the failure in international diplomacy has been the resignation of Kofi Annan as the appointed mediator in the special envoy to Syria on August 2nd. Annan, who was the Secretary-General to the United Nations from 1997 to 2006, claimed that he resigned due to the United Nation’s lack of progress towards a resolution and a continued “finger-pointing and name-calling in the Security Council.”

Despite foreign secretary William Hague announcing that Britain will provide Syria’s rebels with £5 million worth of non-lethal, practical assistance earlier this week, recent efforts have been poor. We will see little change in Syria’s near future should David Cameron, Nick Clegg and other politicians, who supposedly represent our interests, continue to spend more time socialising in events like the Olympics rather than agreeing on a solution.

William Karkar

SPORT

WHY ARMSTRONG DECISION ON DOPING CHARGES MAKES SENSE and the charges are thought to rely heavily on testimony from convicted drugs cheats who formerly rode with the Texan. The USADA claims it has results that are “consistent with doping”. On the other hand, Armstrong never failed a drugs test.

Armstrong is not inevitably innocent of doping, nor is the USADA necessarily unjustified in bringing action against him. Yet there is nothing that says Armstrong should fight the charges he claims are “one-sided and unfair”.

There have been widespread doubts about the accusations, with even the World Anti-Doping Agency previously expressing concerns over the USADA’s handling of Armstrong’s case.

The decision by Lance Armstrong not to contest the doping charges filed by the US Anti-Doping Agency will treated by many as a tacit admission of defeat from the Texan, renowned as one of the greatest cyclists to have ever lived. By choosing not to contest the allegations, Armstrong risks losing his unprecedented seven consecutive Tour de France victories and faces a lifetime ban from the sport he retired from in 2011.

His decision is not, however, definitive proof that Armstrong was involved in doping. The exact details of the USADA’s allegations have not been made public

Personally, there is nothing for Armstrong to gain by this decision. He will almost certainly lose his titles and his reputation will be severely compromised.

That said, there are enough questions raised over the exact nature of the allegations to cast doubt as to his guilt. The USADA has promised to reveal its evidence “at the right time”. It should be hoped that it does so as a matter of urgency. After all, the USADA has already condemned Armstrong in trial by media; it will need to justify its hugely public condemnation of the American long held as a cycling hero in the eyes of many.

Ben McCabe

ATHLETIC UNION SPOTLIGHT Every issue this year, Impact will be putting the spotlight on a different club from the University’s Athletic Union.

This month, it’s MEN’S RUGBY LEAGUE The start of a new University sporting season is upon us, and so with it comes the scramble for clubs to defend last year’s titles, improve on disappointing campaigns or to simply sustain the progress that many have made over the past twelve months. The high player turnover that our teams suffer varies from year to year, and few suffered more than our Rugby League side at the end of the 2010/11 season. In fact, only three of the seventeen heroes who had helped seal a last-minute 2218 victory in this year’s Varsity had represented the club in the previous year’s clash.

2012’s Rugby League Varsity win came at the back end of a mixed season for the club, in which the Seconds were unbeaten in their league at the halfway mark. Following a slow start and a mid-season injury crisis, the Firsts called up around half of their reserve squad, ruining the chances of the Seconds becoming Midlands Regional champions.

Despite convincing successive wins over Northampton and Swansea, the Firsts crashed out of the play-offs with a dreadful performance away in Glamorgan. After a disappointing season, a Varsity defeat seemed a foregone conclusion.

It’s a peculiar feeling, being written off; it instills the pride in sports men and women that allows them to perform at their absolute peak. Captain Oliver Beech’s performance is one that will be remembered, as he made over 50 tackles, several line breaks and racked up a 100% conversion rate. Will Meddings, who suffered early-season exclusion from the Firsts along with a long-term injury on his return, made a determined recovery as half-back to play an absolute blinder on the big day, scoring two tries and threatening with every involvement. Both of these stalwarts, along with Firsts veteran Shaun McManus, have now departed for pastures www.impactnottingham.com/sport

new. Now comes the opportunity for our rookies to make the step up and to bring new talent into the club.

Away from the field we’re growing in stature. As a result of our volunteer sponsorship from the RFL Benevolent Fund (the Charity of Rugby League’s governing body) we’ve gained good exposure, and we’ve taken strides in assuring our relationships with university sports staff are strong, because we know they are the key to helping us improve individually.

We’re famously good-natured, and we’ve always quickly stamped out any signs of elitism that seem to be rife in other sports clubs around Nottingham. Whether you’re the team Captain or you’ve had one training session with us, all are of equal value to our club.

Mike Butcher

TRAINING TIMES: Mon 8-9 @ the 3G; Tues 5-6 @ the 3G and Fri 5-6 on the astro.

IMPACT 218

11

SPORT

T

he Champion becomes a Legend” is perhaps the commentary that will be remembered from these Games, the words that truly defined the Leviathan that Usain Bolt now represents in Olympic history in becoming the first man to defend all three of his sprint titles. Bolt’s 9.63 in the 100 metres showed how talk of Yohan Blake usurping Bolt’s crown was simply the media looking for a story. He is now unquestionably the greatest athlete of all time.

“

Elsewhere on the track, Somali refugee turned British citizen Mo Farah became one of the all-time greats in distance running racking up a 5,000 and 10,000 metre double gold. Farah starred in the greatest night in British Olympic and athletic history in beating all-time great Kenenisa Bekele to win the 10,000 metres alongside triumphs for heptathlete Jessica Ennis and long jumper Greg Rutherford. What’s more Farah’s ‘mobot’ became the celebration of the Games to the point that even Bolt copied him.

In the pool, it was the Americans who dominated proceedings as per usual. The greatest swimmer of all time, Michael Phelps, closed out his career with four golds in London. While many argue that there are too many swimming events, to criticise Phelps for winning a huge eighteen golds is churlish. On the women’s side Missy Franklin topped the medal charts with four golds of her own. The six foot one 17 year-old could come to dominate women’s swimming as Phelps has done in the men’s.

Finally, Nicola Adams, Britain’s first female Olympic boxing champion deserves a mention. Yes Adams won a gold, just as many athletes win gold, but Adams won hers against all the odds when she beat the winner of the last three world championships, Ren Cancan of China, knocking her down in the process, a feat almost unheard of in amateur boxing. Adams’ medal was great example of peaking at the right time and provides a lesson that may of our other sportsmen should learn from.

Will Cook

2012’S GODS AND GODDESSES

Olympic THE STARS OF RIO?

T

here is no question where the young darlings of the London Games were born. The swimming pool hosted three teenagers who could well dominate women’s swimming for over a decade. China’s Ye Shiwen won two gold medals at the tender age of sixteen in the 200 and 400 metre medley events, but her freestyle leg in the 400 was actually faster than men’s Olympic medley champion Ryan Lochte’s. Naturally, the Chinese broke the world record, which led to outlandish and unsubstantiated claims of drug use. Shiwen may broaden her range and go for more than two golds in Rio in 2016. Even younger than Shiwen at the age of fifteen, Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte won the 100m breaststroke, coming from virtually nowhere in the swimming world to take gold, while America’s Missy Franklin, the veteran of the trio at seventeen racked up four gold medals.

The greatest rivalry to emerge from these Games will surely be that of Grenada’s Kirani James and the Dominican Republic’s Luguelin Santos. James, 19, and Santos, 18, won gold and silver respectively and must surely look to battle for hegemony in the toughest of all track events the 400 metres. James in particular is 12

IMPACT 215

some prospect with Michael Johnson claiming that the Grenadian could yet beat his long-standing world record of 43.18 seconds because James is running on natural talent alone. Watch this space.

On the British front Tom Daley has shown that he is capable of securing a medal on the greatest of all stages and will look to Rio to improve the quality of metal on his mantelpiece. On the track Adam Gemili showed promise in just missing out on the 100-metre final. Gemili, originally a footballer at Dagenham and Redbridge, narrowly missed out on the greatest final of all time at eighteen and will hope to improve for Rio. Gemili is the fastest man in the world under the age of 21 after clocking 10.05 in Barcelona earlier this year and becoming world junior champion.

Of course we cannot mention Britain without mentioning the Velodrome or the Medal Factory as one national newspaper termed it. 19-year-old Philip Hindes led out a victorious team sprint trio featuring multiple gold medallists Chris Hoy and Jason Kenny under the weight of immense pressure and expectation and will no doubt look to both team and individual gold in Rio. Will Cook

I

n terms of medals won by British university students or alumni, Nottingham ranked second with a total of five. Despite winning two more medals than first placed Edinburgh, who won three golds, Nottingham settled for second best after acquiring two golds, two silvers and a bronze. And let’s be fair, Edinburgh had Chris Hoy in their arsenal so second best is still pretty special.

With the National Water Sports Centre a stone’s throw away from the University, it was unsurprising that most of Nottingham’s medals came in rowing and canoeing. Biology graduate Chris Bartley was the first to enjoy the honour of the podium, as he claimed silver at Eton Dorney in the Men’s Lightweight Four Rowing. Finishing just a quarter of a second behind gold medallists South Africa, Bartley and his team pulled off an incredible feat in overcoming World Champions Denmark. The University’s Assistant Director of Sport Nige Mayglothling recalled Bartley’s university days: “Chris was a real asset to the University Boat Club and a genuinely nice guy to have around when he rowed with us throughout his Under 23 days. I am delighted that he and the lads managed such a great result in a

fantastically tight race”.

Incidentally, three more alumni would win medals that same day, and all came as a result of tremendous skill and speed in the Men’s C2 Canoe Slalom. David Florence, hotly tipped to add to the silver he won in Beijing four years ago, finished second along with Nottingham Trent University graduate Richard Hounslow.

David graduated in 2005 with a Mathematical Physics degree.

In the same event, newcomers Etienne Stott and Tim Baillie – both Mechanical Engineering graduates from Nottingham – put in a stunning shift to claim gold just ahead of Florence, propelling the University of Nottingham into the higher echelons of Olympic glory.

To cap it all off, Anne Panter managed to secure a bronze with just two days remaining as Team GB’s Women’s Hockey defeated New Zealand in a tough encounter. The Mathematics and Economics graduate endured a cycle of injuries and fought hard to be selected. Her bronze medal surely made up for the blood, sweat and tears.

Peter Klein

NOTTINGHAM WINS SILVER IN THE OLYMPIC LEAGUE TABLE

Review MY TOP 5 OLYMPIC MOMENTS ne of my top moments of the Olympics was watching the climax of the women’s road race cycling as Lizzy Armitstead claimed our first medal of the tournament. Everybody was drenched, roaring her on in a typically British fashion. The way she won silver in those horrendous conditions was fantastic.

O

the Olympics 2012 is the first step to changing our national disposition. Seeing Usain Bolt up close, in the flesh, shows what a superstar he is. Every spectator wanted to see him; people were standing on their seats just to get a snapshot of him (including myself). What an entertainer, what an event, what an athlete! He wasn’t arrogant, and was unafraid to share his joy with the crowd.

Simply being in and around the Olympic stadium was spectacular, yet I don’t want to return after the Olympics finish. The coveted Olympic atmosphere is simply too unique to replace. The sense of community and connection between the athletes and spectators was something totally unique, clichéd as it may sound.

Watch any replay of any GB athlete in the stadium and you’ll see what I mean. In terms of achievements, Mo Farah winning the 10,000 metres and 5,000 metres was the greatest of all the GB athletes’. History tells us it was not our event to win and so despite Farah being a hot favourite I was nevertheless nervous; after all Britain seems typically geared in sport to heroically fail. Team GB’s success at

Interacting with him was fantastic. When he entered the stadium, the flash of cameras was staggering and when he triumphed in the 200 metres and leapt onto that podium, you knew this man was on top of the world.

www.impactnottingham.com/sport

But watching Kenyan David Rudisha breaking the fabled 800 metres world record in stunning fashion was my personal highlight. It was such a privilege to witness an athlete achieving the ultimate glory, a world record and a gold medal. The first racetrack world record broken in London 2012 and the first man inside one minute 41 seconds, clocking 1:40.91, made it a historic race. Despite all competitors racing a personal or season best, Rudisha could not be touched.

Matt Williams IMPACT 215

13

SPORT

HALL OF FAME: SIR STEVE REDGRAVE The term ‘dynasty’ is seldom more appropriate than when applied to the career and legacy of Sir Steve Redgrave. A dominant athlete throughout his competitive life, Redgrave was and is the inspirational vanguard of British rowing. While most professional athletes manage to maintain their peak performance for a few years at best, consecutive – and often resounding – successes between 1984 and 2000 ensured Redgrave’s within an elite and incredibly select sporting pantheon.

Despite winning a colossal nine World Championship golds, it was Redgrave’s Olympic victories which set his name in stone. Acquiring a gold medal in each of the five Olympics he participated in, as well as a bronze in 1988, meant that for a time he would enjoy the honour of being Britain’s greatest ever Olympian. Chris Hoy recently became the first British athlete successful enough to surpass his record, with his stoic performances in the London 2012 games tallying his record at 6 golds and a silver.

But what makes Redgrave’s Olympic achievements all the more impressive are the ages at which he competed. In his inaugural games, in 1984, he was only twenty-two. In his final games he was an ancient thirty-eight. The fact that most rowers in the coxless pairs and fours hit their prime form around the age of thirty makes his consistency astounding.

However, Sir Steve’s physical attributes only fought half the battle behind the oars. Generally rowing in a team of two or four over a sixteen-year period meant Redgrave was forced to change and adapt his style and performances to suit newcomers who had been introduced to the team, many of which didn’t possess the confidence Redgrave had acquired from years of success. But as he and his teammates continued to progress from victory to victory, it seemed the simple belief that Redgrave exuded was driving his partners toward an aerial level of performance.

Richard Budgett lauded the instant impact Redgrave had on their Olympic boat in 1984, commenting, “When he came into our boat, he brought so much power and commitment…He quickened us so much.” By the time the Sydney 2000 Olympics came around Redgrave wasn’t just a renowned oarsman, he was a talisman – the undefeated supreme oarsman.

14

IMPACT 218

Coincidentally, Redgrave’s final Olympic triumph is remembered by many as his greatest. Although the GB boat led from the start, they had to fend off constant pressure from Australia and a near devastating burst of intensity from the Italian boat.

And factors prior to the race contributed to the hype surrounding what was widely predicted to be Redgrave’s last hurrah, perhaps elevating the performance in spectators’ minds. For example, after claiming Britain’s first gold of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics alongside Matthew Pinsent, Redgrave famously emphasised his longing to be free from the sport to which he had devoted his life with the line, “If you ever catch me near a boat again, shoot me!”

Both his supporters and opponents acknowledged that he more than anyone deserved to rest on his laurels. However he soon reversed his decision, realising that he “didn’t want to be sitting on the bank, or watching the guys on TV and thinking ‘I could be doing that’”. Many fans were nonplussed – why not retire on top? He would be even older by the time the Sydney games began.

Perhaps what truly immortalised the Sydney race was Redgrave’s discovery beforehand that he was diabetic. Initially believing his career to be over, the quiet Olympian from Marlow desperately sought out medical experts for advice. He was subsequently provided with a balanced routine and medicine that enabled concentrated training without compromising a healthy diet. His ultimate victory serves as an inspiration to diabetics worldwide. Many still write to him for advice and support.

From 2000 onwards, Redgrave has remained proactive in his retirement.

Awarded a knighthood in the 2001 New Year’s Honours list, the charity worker, motivational speaker and author has become a legend amongst rowers and fans.

His effect on British rowing is phenomenal – when Redgrave first entered the Olympics, Britain rejoiced if their rowers claimed a single medal. Since Redgrave retired Team GB have finished third, first and first in each of the following Olympic rowing leader boards. He took the helm and navigated British rowing to its golden age, trailing inspiration, betterment and optimism in his wake. With Redgrave at the bow, Britannia rules the waves once more.

Peter Klein

WHAT’S IN IT FOR US? The rise in tuition fees, and our reactions to them, has defined a generation. But the time for protest is through. For today’s student it is about demanding value for money - so are universities prepared to listen?

By Izzy Scrimshire Images by Emma Charalambous

I

n 2010, the government re-shuffled the university system to meet their austerity measures and now universities are demanding more from the students themselves - a lot more. Annual tuition fees currently stand at £9,000 and it’s impossible to rationally conceive of them being any higher.

Because of this, the university landscape is changing.

In January, Liam Burns, President of the NUS, spoke for potentially thousands of students when he declared: “Whether we like it or not, students going on to campuses this year will feel like they’re paying more and will have increased expectations to match.

But there is [still] no evidence that shifting the financial burden to students gives them more power.”

Now, more than any time in recent history, students have an active interest in how their money is being spent. But what is actually being done? The higher education sector has run the gauntlet of media speculation in recent months, but Impact decided to investigate the situation for ourselves.

O

ne thing is certain: the University of Nottingham has a lot to answer for. We can claim to be the most popular university in the country, having received the highest number of applications through UCAS. Nottingham actually saw its applicants increase by 0.3 per cent over the past year — from 49,278 in 2011 up to 49,441 — in spite of a national downturn.

In fact, our own Vice-Chancellor David Greenaway has been mulling a rise in tuition fees for well over a decade. Writing for the Times Higher Education in July 2000, Greenaway stated that “the case for students paying more… for their tuition is overwhelming,” citing international competition and graduates’ life earnings.

Eleven years hence in the midst of the fees crisis and Greenaway clarified his position on higher education funding in a document co-authored with the University of Birmingham’s Vice-Chancellor > IMPACT 218

15

David Eastwood. In it, he advocates higher student fees, this time as an alternative to the NUS-approved graduate tax, and claims that increased student contributions are the only way to safeguard quality of education and “ensure that funding goes directly to their university at a time when they are studying”.

You would expect that with this level of support for higher university fees, Prof. Greenaway and others would have formulated some idea of how to spend the money. We asked representatives from the university what exactly was being done to justify the rise in fees. Numbers were off-limits, but we were able to get a fairly good idea of how management intended to distribute funds. Some of these changes are already in effect: Catering facilities, for instance, will continue to be developed across campus following the successful Portland refurbishment. The wifi has been upgraded in Hallward, George Green and Business Libraries, and is set to be available in all teaching and learning areas and University-managed accommodation by the start of the 2012/13 year (no more clunky grey cables). There has also been further development of the ‘Healthy U’ programme, alongside increased

Geography, Law and Natural Sciences fall under this category.

The university, though, insists that progress is being made. Beginning in 2012/13, there is now a minimum level of scheduled teaching and learning that operates across all degree courses. For your basic Honours Degrees this is around 12 hours per week in your first year and slightly less for the final years of your degree.

However, if you look at these changes in pure valuefor-money terms, the majority of students aren’t set to gain much. Firstly, there is the rather obvious fact that this measure will only really affect Arts and Humanities subjects where contact hours are already noticeably lower - Art History, for example. Secondly, by the same token those departments that offer the minimum 12 hours have no obligation to improve or enhance their teaching program, making the policy close to redundant.

Another common gripe for students is the lack of indepth feedback for their work. The University’s Media Relations team intoned that additional arrangements for prompt feedback are being phased in over the coming academic year. A welcome development – should it come to pass – but we couldn’t shake

was willing to use its ties with industry to negotiate placements for students. Stephen McAuliffe responded, “There are over 3,000 companies that work with the university to advertise vacancies and opportunities to students, across a variety of sectors”.

As it stands now, there are thousands of positions available on the university system and attempts are being made with employers to make sure students are apprised of any developments.

A number of additions and improvements have been made to the Careers Service over the past couple of years, most notably the creation of the Nottingham Advantage Award, an extra credit scheme dedicated to “making students more employable and helping them get the most out of their time [at university.]”

McAuliffe weighs in, “Changes are being made.

The management board for the university have just increased the budget for the Careers Service. Next year we’re going to be developing separate teams that work within the academic schools. They’re not just in Portland; they are out there engaging with students and helping them develop the skills that are going to give them the best chance in a graduate job interview.”

“For us, it’s about making sure the student… can see that coming to us leads to good jobs.” capacity for the university’s counselling service, more mental health support staff and easier access to specialist health services.

Contact hours are also set to improve. Stephen McAuliffe, Director of the Careers and Employability Service says, “One of the effects of the rise in fees has been greater investment in teaching. The reason for this is that an overwhelming element of student’s employability will come from their academic program.”

This sounded promising. Contact hours have been a major talking point for students ever since it was revealed that levels of teaching actually declined following the rise in tuition fees in 2006. According to figures released by The Higher Education Policy Institute, an Oxford-based think-tank, undergraduates received 13.9 hours of formal teaching a week in 2011/12, in contrast to 14.2 hours in 2005/06, when fees were just £1,255 per year. Director of HEPI Bahram Bekhradnia believes these figures prove universities are reluctant to change their educational standards to accommodate higher fees.

Perhaps for this reason, some departments were reluctant to speak when we asked about contact hours. Of those who provided information, around half confirmed that contact time for first year students has, or is set to, increase. This included Psychology, Politics and Economics (BA) departments. The other half, however, has seen no increase in teaching hours despite the rise in fees. First year courses in 16

IMPACT 218

the feeling that these promises of cross-board development were a little vague.

A

For the more independently minded, grants of up to £500 are also available to support students finding their own work experience. The Vice-Chancellor has also recently cut a deal with BP to bring in close to a million pounds in sponsorship money for British and overseas students.

side from education, employability is a further area into which universities Employability has been one of the defining are looking. Over the summer, Impact characteristics of the Higher conducted a survey Education sector since the fees asking students what A third of students believe crisis and its influence can be their feelings were about the quality that employers are no longer observed at all levels. The School of service they had received. The impressed by a 2:1. of English in particular has sought results showed that many did not to explore avenues of employability believe the university was doing 50% have reservations about within their teaching program. Their enough to prepare them for the job the value of their degree website states the importance market. Only 16%, for example, of “embedding employability […] say the university has been helpful 64% say they are concerned in apparently ‘non-vocational’ when it comes to contacting that a lack of work experience subjects” now debt has made employers for work experience. A will prevent them from getting postgraduate-taught study a nonfurther 43% believe that if you aren’t option for many students. Using a job already on a path towards your ties with “local creative industry career before coming to university, One in ten have considered partners” the school, intelligently, you’ve left it too late. emphasises the potential for We wanted to find out what was being done to prepare students for the job market. One of the main roadblocks to employment is a lack of work experience, so we asked the Careers Service if the university

military service because of the lack of jobs

42% say worries over the job market have negatively affected their self-esteem (Impact Survey)

synergy with ordinary subjectbased study.

If this focus on graduate employability continues, one day we might even see leading academic universities like

“Half of the departments asked have seen no increase in teaching hours despite the rise in fees.”

Nottingham sub-contracting work placements into all degree courses. The case for this is strong.

Incorporating work experience into the educational structure would send out a clear message that the University is concerned, primarily, with the long terms futures of its graduates.

Similar sentiments continue to echo throughout the sector. Sir Steve Smith, Vice-Chancellor of Exeter University, said last January, “For us, it’s about making sure the student… can see that coming to us leads to good jobs.” But with the graduate labour market still www.impactnottingham.com/features

struggling, this is far easier said than achieved.

Here we stumble across an inexorable problem: no amount of protest, no level of ‘employability investment’ or money spent on education can hide the fact that the economy sucks right now. Students are paying more but, because of spending cuts, universities actually have less money than previous generations. On balance, we cannot expect to see real, substantive change until higher fees have taken hold and that could be another three years.

Meanwhile, developments show that while the

university is prepared to make steps towards a better, more comprehensive education, more still needs to be done. Crucially, we must not forget the fact that while universities may sound off about value for students today, two-and-a-half years ago they were hymning higher fees. Today’s students are owed more than nominal gestures. They need results – and these can only come from the right sort of spending, in the right areas. So far, with expansion in the careers aspect, the university has got it half right. It’s our job to make sure they take care of the rest.

IMPACT 218

17

WATCH THIS HE MAY HAVE LOST OUT TO A PART-­TIME WRESTLER, BUT THE APPRENTICE CONTESTANT TOM GEARING IS BACK AND MORE DETERMINED THAN EVER. EARLIER THIS WEEK, IMPACT’S SARAH MURPHY SAT DOWN WITH TOM TO DISCUSS LORD SUGAR, FINE WINES AND LIFE AFTER UNIVERSITY. After graduating from the University of Nottingham with a degree in History in 2009, Tom’s career makes him the envy of any aspiring undergraduate.

As director of a highly successful company and cofounder of Apogee Presents - all by the tender age of twenty-three - Tom’s achievements are certainly prodigious. But what is next for Tom Gearing – ‘entrepreneur, wine connoisseur, heartthrob and TV star’? I went to find out.

As a student of history, I was intrigued – how does one go from studying history to becoming the head of a wine investment company? With a passion for business and a clear aptitude for figures, a degree in economics seems like a more likely choice. But for Tom, it was all about keeping his options open.

“When I came to university I had no idea initially what I wanted to do. I wanted to do history because it was more general, it doesn’t put you down one route when it comes to a career”.

Three years later and Tom was applying for jobs in investment banking in the city. But this was 2009; graduate jobs were hard to come by and competition was fierce. Yet far from letting the state of the economy, his youth or his inexperience work against him, the economic downturn provided Tom with an opportunity - the chance to unite his passion for investment banking with his own family background in the wine industry.

The result was the creation of Cult Wines, one of the 18

IMPACT 218

UK’s leading wine investment companies. Boasting clients in over twenty-seven different countries, the business has been a resounding success, but Tom’s story is undoubtedly an unusual one.

For many studying non-vocational degrees such as History, the prospect of graduating in the midst of economic depression without any set career path in mind is extremely frightening. Students are increasingly looking to law or teaching as an escape from the ever-looming question of ‘what will I do after leaving university?’ Surely studying non-vocational degrees should open doors rather than close them?

With this, Tom agrees. “I wouldn’t be afraid of trying to go into any career path. I don’t think you should feel pigeon holed. It’s always a bit of a risk, but if you try hard enough, you will in the end succeed”.

Like many before him, it is practical ‘real world’ experience that Tom asserts is one of the most valuable assets when pursuing any career path. “When you work on the inside you will get experience, meet the right people and make the right connections”. But if experience is key, why bother going to university at all?

With the average student graduating from university with over £23,000 of debt and this total set to rise with the increase in tuition fees, is it all worth it? Students graduate from university with a particular set of skills, but with no real knowledge of how to apply them.

How does a university education translate into real

SPACE

“WATCH THIS SPACE”; PROPHETIC WORDS, BUT ONES WHICH ILLUSTRATE THE OUTLOOK OF TOM GEARING, EX-­NOTTINGHAM STUDENT, THE APPRENTICE RUNNER UP AND DIRECTOR OF WINE INVESTMENT COMPANY CULT WINES.

life, practical knowledge?

never get that experience.”

From an outsider’s perspective, a degree in History and a career in fine wine investment could not be further removed, but for Tom, the skills gained at university have assisted him in all aspects of career.

A year after graduating from university, Tom was presenting his fine wine investment company to global financial services firm Morgan Stanley. It was the skills attained whilst giving presentations in his history seminars the year before which proved invaluable in ensuring that he gave the strongest possible pitch.

And that experience was certainly unforgettable: six and a half weeks of non-stop filming in and around London with each task completed under the critical eyes of judges Nick Hewer and Karen Brady.

Tom’s achievements should certainly have earned him a place amongst the names of successful University of Nottingham graduates, yet it has been his time on hit BBC reality TV show The Apprentice which made Tom a household name.

After battling it out against sixteen other contestants, each vying to win Lord Sugar’s £250,000 investment, Tom successfully made it to the final two, impressing four of the top industry-heavyweights with his detailed business plan. Despite impressing all of the judges, Tom failed to win over Lord Sugar, who at the last moment decided to hire recruitment manager and wrestler, Ricky Martin.

Despite narrowly missing out on the chance to go into business with multi-millionaire and business mogul Lord Sugar, Tom is adamant that his time on the show was not a wasted opportunity. “I got to do the sort of things that I’d never normally have had the opportunity to do. Outside of The Apprentice you’d www.impactnottingham.com/features

In many ways it was the psychological aspect of the show, rather than the tasks themselves, which proved to be the biggest challenge, says Tom. “They didn’t tell you what was going on, what was happening, what you were doing that day. I was like, okay, what’s going on and as I walked with my suitcase I realised I was walking straight into the reception room of the boardroom.”

Whilst being in front of the cameras quickly becomes part of daily life on The Apprentice, the pressure of the boardroom never quite manages to lose its sting.

“When you’re up in the boardroom, sat beside two people who you get on really well with and who you share a room with, it is really difficult – it’s an aspect of it, from a mental side, that I don’t think comes across on the TV.” The sense of comradeship between the contestants – many of whom Tom has remained in contact with, undoubtedly adds another dimension to the whole process. As Tom points out: “The people who you were up against were the only other people you could really talk to about the process and what you were doing.”

Aside from the obvious benefits of appearing on

national television, what else has Tom gained from being on the show? “On a personal level, I’ve found out I’m not very good in the mornings,’” he laughs, “but then I knew that already.”

Jokes aside, the whole experience certainly increased Tom’s confidence in his own business acumen. “I’ll go into things in the future less daunted”.

One question I have to ask: does Tom agree with Lord Sugar’s decision? Who would he have chosen as his apprentice? Despite pointing out that fellow contestant and winner of The Apprentice 2012, Ricky Martin, did not have the most “exciting” business plan, it seems that Tom thought that Lord Sugar made the right choice. “I would’ve picked Ricky – he’s a good guy, I think he’ll do well.”

So what is next for Tom? There has already been significant interest in his business plan; his wine investment fund, which he hints may be off the ground as early as September this year. In the immediate future it seems that the expansion of Tom’s existing business, Cult Wines, is on the cards. “The show has been fantastic exposure,” Tom admits, “A great launch pad for taking this business to the next level.”

Tom Gearing has already achieved a lot in a short space of time. But it seems that there is one job in particular that he already has his eye on – “Watch this space,”, Tom says, “Maybe I’ll be on the other side of the boardroom table”.

Sarah Murphy Images by Luke Askwith

IMPACT 218

19

A DI V I D E D S UM M E R

Is it time we said goodbye to corporate sponsored flag-waving?

For the past few months Britain has been seized by a double obsession: the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the London 2012 Olympics. I can’t seem to understand this, let alone join in, when it seems pretty clear that the two events clash horribly.

The Jubilee and the Olympics have been lumped together in one big patriotic package, and yet the vast discrepancy between the community focus of the Jubilee and the unashamed corporatism of the Olympics is glaring.

IT’S HARD TO AVOID the focus of the summer – I recently saw an advert on the back of a service station toilet advertising a ‘Great British’ chocolate bar. The entire country is fixated on celebrating our nation, our collective identity, and ‘us’. This in itself is no bad thing, considering our usual form of patriotism i s generally self-mocking and cynical.

T h e Jubilee was patriotism at its best.

Celebrations were simple, small, and of the people. Creativity was actively encouraged, as none of the imagery of the Jubilee is privately owned; the Queen’s face, the Union Jack and the national anthem all belong to the people.

Then came Wimbledon. Yes, Andy Murray lost, but who can deny that Wimbledon itself oozes Britishness? The plain white dress code, the traditional grass courts – it was perfect post-Jubilee.

There was potential for these simple celebrations to continue on into the Olympics; we could keep our bunting up, we could go and watch the torch go past, and we could celebrate the inspirational stories of ordinary British athletes ‘going for gold’. Of course we could all take part in the games! But let’s not kid ourselves. We are no freer to own ‘our Olympics’ than children in a school playground are free from teacher supervision.

Those heralding a Great British Summer forget that while we have the Jubilee and Wimbledon much to

ourselves, we must share the Olympics with t h e rest of the world. London 2012 does not belong to us.

The Olympic Charter itself states that the Games are the exclusive property of the IOC. Our supervisors are corporate sponsors like McDonalds and Coca Cola, whose presence devalues the community spirit that many of us assumed would be inherent to the celebrations.

Furthermore, no Olympic imagery can be used without permission. Guidelines state that “Businesses must not undertake or produce any PR, promotions, adverts, products, special offers, websites, or other promotional media which are games-themed” as these will inevitably create an association with the games. Only McDonalds chips are allowed to be sold at the Games (they’re not even chips, they’re fries). It was announced that anyone entering the Olympic Park wearing a Pepsi logo will be asked to leave and the only beer being sold was Dutch. Excuse me if my patriotism is a little diminished.

As for the torch, I was a bit turned off to be honest. I could hardly catch sight of it with all the Coke bottles being shoved in my hands and the hordes of advertising vans. Indeed, of the 8,000 torch bearers, around three quarters of the places were allocated to the relay’s nine sponsors and in particular the three ‘presenting

partners’ Coca Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung.

This advertising fest was probably the closest most Britons will ever get to the Olympics, with tickets being priced so highly and being so hard to get hold of. The empty seat fiasco which blighted the first two days of competition also did little to sell the idea of a ‘people’s Olympics’. It was nonchalantly announced that Team GB’s track athletes would not be leaving their training camp in Portugal to attend the opening ceremony.

The very idea of the Olympics being ‘British’ just seems like a joke. It clashes horribly with the Jubilee, having none of the spontaneous merriment which that celebration inspired; and where you do get it, it’s satirical or in protest, like Charlie Brooker declaring himself the “sole official tweeter” of the games.

And yet the Great British public don’t seem to have been fazed by the corporatism one bit, inspired by the patriotic tone that was set in the opening ceremony and Team GB’s incredible m e d a l haul. Perhaps it is Britishness itself that counters corporatism: keep calm and let the companies carry on. If the IOC does indeed want to be an institution that celebrates universal human values, they could pick up a few tips from the British. In the meantime, Britain is certainly doing its best to give the corporate Olympics a run for its money.

Chloe Wenm an

www.impactnottingham.com/features

IMPACT COLUMNIST

THE WOMAN You will rarely hear me utter the words “I’m not one to brag,” mostly because I’m not one to lie. However, on this occasion it brings me no pride in telling you that last night, I pulled. Before you ask, this is not one of those beer goggle scenarios where the morning after Facebook stalk leads you to a photo so ugly it will reduce you to tears. No, the man in question ticked a lot of boxes. Stupidly attractive? Check. Hilariously witty? Check. Annoyingly successful? Check. In A Relationship? Check.

Before you burn me at the stake, I want you to know that the post-kiss guilt did reduce me to tears and I know my behaviour is nothing to brag about. I would submit evidence in my defence. However, I doubt his girlfriend would find much solace in the fact I resisted hours of lingering glances, hand grazes and fortyfive degree head tilts, as the facts remain. He cheated. I helped him do it.

He cheated. I know many a person who would choose to focus on this fact alone, to the exclusion of all others. Indeed, the naughty boy himself even said, “You’ve done nothing wrong; I’m the one with the responsibility.” The latter statement is undoubtedly true. He does have a responsibility to her, I do not.

A good friend of mine is finding it hard to shake another bad habit – and yes, this bad habit comes in the form of a boy. In the day she is an angel who, despite her genuine feelings for him, respects the boundaries of his relationship.

In the night, fuelled by alcohol, she sees his girlfriend as merely an obstacle to overcome or simply fails to recall her existence entirely.

The Other Woman she may be, but heartless bitch she is not. She is a woman in (something like) love, and the cheating hurts her just as much as it hurts the leading lady herself.

Unfortunately for my friend and I, our single status does little to absolve us of our moral responsibility. At no time during the said kiss did I forget what was right from wrong. Like giving into any temptation, I know I should have been stronger. In the future I will strive to be, if only to avoid a much longer term feeling of regret – for both myself and The Other Woman.

E.H.Caslin IMPACT 218

21

7ZR WKLUGV RI VWXGHQWV H[SHULHQFH KRPHVLFNQHVV RYHU WKH ÀUVW VL[ ZHHNV DW university. Impact’s Jenni Chattaway was one of them. In a deeply personal account, she speaks about her journey from Fresher’s Week Blues to student bliss.

ANYWHERE BUT HOMESICKNESS. How do you tell people this is what you’re suffering from? How do you cope with it? How do you overcome it? If these types of questions are flying through your head during the alleged ‘Best Week of your Live’, then take a second.

You are not alone in this. Most people experience homesickness to some degree in the first few days, weeks or even months of university, yet it is an issue that is very rarely spoken about. You are certainly not the first to struggle with the difficulties of leaving behind friends, family and the security of life at home to embark upon your new life as a student.

It was certainly the last thing I expected to feel. I was so excited to go to university, to make new friends, and throw myself into new activities and experiences. I would describe myself as a confident, fun-loving student, and although I’m very close to my family, I never felt dependent on them. But the moment I watched my parents drive away from my new, dingy, weird-smelling student room, I began to feel nervous, sick and terrified.

My first night was a disaster. I met one girl. The next day, I went to registration – on my own, I went to my medical – on my own, and then I walked back to the flat to eat my lunch – on my own. All I remember from the first few days of Fresher’s Week is feeling stressed, uncomfortable and awkward, while my friends from home were telling me their toe-curling ‘LAD Bible’ stories.

I phoned my mum every day that week in floods of tears just wanting to talk to her, to tell her about my day, and to have her comfort me.

There is a bright side to this story, though. It got easier. By the end of the first week, I had made friends with the people in the flat next to me. We had some fantastic nights out getting to know each other. I had joined a society and thrown myself into sport. I was thoroughly enjoying my course and had begun to love my university. The main thing that got me through the homesickness was the knowledge of how hard I had worked to get here. It’s easy to forget that the reasons why you are at university will almost always outweigh the reasons to give up.

It is only now, in my third year, and after speaking with many of my peers that I realise I could have told someone what I was going through. The likelihood is, that many of them were going through it too; whatever gender, age, nationality. Hearing from other students helped me realise that this is a common problem:“It was hard to keep up the endless enthusiasm for meeting new people. I was constantly trying to be breezy and cheerful with uni friends and hall mates, but quite often just wanted to sit in my room and call home. What I didn’t realise was that everyone else was doing exactly the same. Don’t let appearances trick you”.Another says: “I felt embarrassed and babyish. I tried not to talk about it. “Boys shouldn’t get homesick!” I didn’t talk to any staff, reps or tutors, because I didn’t really realise I could. I thought it was trivial and something to deal with on my own”.

It’s important to remember that you wouldn’t judge a friend for feeling homesick after the massive changes they’ve made in their life, so don’t judge yourself. Right now, take a breath, pat yourself on the back, and keep going. Believe it or not, fairly soon you might find yourself on summer vacation and wishing you were back at university.

Jenni Chattaway 22

IMPACT 218

HERE If you fear, as I did, that you could be one of the one in five students who drop out of university because of homesickness then the most important things to remember are: 1. Don’t beat yourself up.

Being homesick is often a sign that you have a happy, healthy relationship with people back at your home. It is natural to miss your family, your friends, or just your old routines. Don’t be too harsh on yourself for experiencing something that is completely normal and part of most students’ lives.

2. Process your emotions.

Give yourself a day here or there to feel sad – but if you find yourself having too many ‘pity days’ in a row, seek help. Talk to friends, talk to someone in the campus counselling centre. Alternatively, phone Nightline.

3. Be patient. You’ve come a long way. You’ve made some major changes in your life – a new city, new lifestyle, new responsibilities, new academic system, new culture. Any of these changes alone is enough to throw someone off.

Impact Interviews…

Nightline Nightline is an anonymous service that offers support to anyone H[SHULHQFLQJ GLIÀFXOWLHV GXULQJ WKHLU WLPH DW XQLYHUVLW\ :KHWKHU \RX are stressed, worried about exams, having problems with friends or just want a chat, Nightline is there to listen. Impact sat down with the Nightline team to discuss their upcoming Week One programme and clear up some of the myths surrounding the service.

“Research has shown young people are twice as likely to talk about mental health problems with their peers than with a doctor”. (Source, Royal College of Psychiatrists).

What should students expect from the Nightline service? Well, we don’t offer advice. Instead we let the caller lead the conversation in a way that allows them to work through their issue.

Will callers maintain their privacy? $EVROXWHO\ :H DUH FRQÀGHQWLDO DQG anonymous. If you choose to call us, no RQH RXWVLGH RI 1LJKWOLQH ZLOO HYHU ÀQG RXW You don’t even need to tell us your name.

Do you get a lot of calls in Fresher’s Week? Yes, we do. The same goes for exams period. Fortunately, we’re open 24 hours so there is always going to be somebody waiting on the other end of the phone for students to talk to.

What issues do students discuss? All manner of things – whatever you want to talk about, Nightline will listen. You may not think that your problem is serious enough, but if it’s causing you problems and you want to talk about it then it’s important enough for someone to listen to.

Interview by Izzy Scrimshire

Go beyond the normal student experience and volunteer for Nightline. Discover more at www.nottinghamnightline.co.uk Charlotte Albert

www.impactnottingham.com/features

IMPACT 218

23

STUDENT ACTIVISM ON CAMPUS

In February 1967, Noam Chomsky wrote one of the most important (and largely forgotten) essays of the twentieth century, ‘The Responsibility of Intellectuals’. In it he posed a simple question: To what extent are the general population of the United States responsible for the suffering of the Vietnamese people? If they decided to ignore or acquiesce in the crimes of the world’s leading terrorist state, Chomsky argued, they therefore share a significant burden of guilt. Similar questions should remain in the back of our minds today, as relatively free and privileged students have more opportunities than most to undermine and dismantle illegitimate forms of authority.

It’s important, first, to distinguish between two methods of activism: ‘feel good’ tactics and ‘do good’ tactics. Becoming a vegetarian, for instance, can make you feel good, but has virtually no effect on the abuses of animal rights around the world. Stopping that requires active opposition, not just non-participation. If someone’s against the illegal US-led (and UK-backed) drone attacks in Pakistan and Yemen, it’s no good just not joining the army. These principles are simple and uncontroversial – so uncontroversial, in fact, that it really takes a good education to drive them out of people’s heads.

Hicham Yezza, ex-Nottingham staff member and editor of Ceasefire Magazine, has pointed out that the growing emphasis on commodifying students for the labour market (glistening CVs in tow) has led many into political docility. The most effective way to counter this privatisation of education is through organisation and popular activism based on socialist and anarchist values of mutual aid and co-operation. These liberating actions can help us become aware of forms of illegitimate authority and find our true moral nature, often obscured by years of family prejudice, internalising of cultural norms, and obedience to doctrinal systems.

For reasons of space and personal experience I can only include a few examples of such efforts, which include “countless small actions of unknown people” around campus, to quote the late Howard Zinn.

On December 7th 2010, a memorial was set up by members of the Palestinian Society outside the Portland Building. It commemorated the lives of those taken by Israel’s assault on the Gaza Strip during Operation Cast Lead from December 27th 2008 to January 18th 2009. 1,417 Gazans were killed (some of the students’ relatives were amongst the victims), including over 900 civilians, compared to 13 Israelis. The memorial was causing no harm or offence. These are facts which the university’s security found unimportant, even boring, kicking down the memorial with an almost Buddhist level of detachment (possibly having been encouraged by the recent dismantling of the occupation of the Great Hall, which was accused of obstructing education and violating health and safety regulations – both debunked).

A year earlier, a peaceful sit-in at the Law and Social Sciences building room B62 protesting against Cast Lead was greeted by a forceful eviction by ten security guards, dragging the occupants out into the snow and injuring some in the process.

On Wednesday 15th February 2012, the leading British arms company BAE-Systems held a stall outside the main entrance to the Coates Building in an attempt to recruit

24

IMPACT 218

aspiring arms dealers and manufacturers. The Left Society held a protest outside the stall, attracting the attention of both students and faculty. With a Heckler & Koch factory only a few miles from campus, the University of Nottingham is a fine base of operations for an industry allegedly vital to ‘the health of the economy.’ Young engineers are confronted with great financial inducements to work for such companies.

The reason for the protest requires little explanation. To pick an example almost at random, the al-Yamamah deal to Saudi Arabia, headed by BAE and given the blessing of various administrations, took little heed of Britain’s export licensing rules, which state that the government “will not issue an export licence if there is a clear risk that the proposed export might be used for internal repression” (which they were, including during last year’s Arab Spring). The deal was condemned by Amnesty International as a sign of Britain’s endorsement of a country that displayed a “persistent pattern of gross human rights abuses.”

David Cameron decided to honour this tradition by being the first world leader to visit Egypt after the fall of Mubarak, bringing with him eight of Britain’s leading arms manufacturers, including the bosses of Rolls-Royce and BAE. Sensing injustice wherever he goes, Cameron recently gave a talk at Nottingham’s Malaysia Campus in April, which was met with a standing ovation from the carefully selected audience (no questions about tuition fees, please). High on his ‘Where I go, so democracy goes’ rhetoric, he said “I’m not saying that terrorism is linked exclusively to any one religion or ethnic group. It is not ... There is a great global opportunity right now to demonstrate that democracy doesn’t endanger stability, moderation and prosperity”.

Not a day goes by that I don’t read Cameron’s speech, drawing from it a level of inspiration other statesmen can only dream of imparting. With regards to extremism, he recommends that we be “absolutely clear about the nature of the threat we face”.

So let’s try that. Absolute clarity would suggest that the British government is currently one of the greatest threats to world peace, accounting for far more crimes than conventional religions like Christianity and Islam.

STUDENT FEES DESERVE OUR OUTRAGE, BUT THE CRIMES OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT MUST NOT GO UNNOTICED.

Along with the numerous, vibrant student movements of the late 1960s, the current actions of British students seem to prove correct the anarchist Mikhail Bakunin’s prediction in 1865 that a strong element of social revolution will be “that intelligent and truly noble part of the youth which, though belonging by birth to the privileged classes, in its generous convictions and ardent aspirations, adopts the cause of the people.”

The hopes and intuitions of the world’s youth have also remained similar throughout the centuries. In thirteenth-century Paris and fifteenth-century Oxford, students rose against Church interference, demanding expulsions and resignations. In the 1960s, they protested against military draft and Washington’s carpet bombing of Vietnam.

Today the major unifying issue is tuition fees, with many other causes lying just beneath the surface of attention. But until they find out differently, the general student population can also remain passive and subservient to power. It’s the responsibility, then, of any concerned and privileged person to make sure they find out differently.

Elliot Murphy Images by Charlotte Albert www.impactnottingham.com/features

IMPACT 218

25

THE LEVESON REPORT: A WASTE OF PAPER? ON THE 24TH JULY, LORD JUSTICE LEVESON DREW HIS INQUIRY INTO THE CULTURE, PRACTICES AND ETHICS OF THE PRESS TO A CLOSE, BRINGING TO AN END AN INVESTIGATION LASTING OVER ONE HUNDRED DAYS AND INVOLVING SOME OF THE MOST HIGH PROFILE INDIVIDUALS WITHIN POLITICS, SOCIETY AND THE MEDIA.

The inquiry is believed to have cost the tax payer almost £3.4 million, with estimates that this total is set to reach £5.6 million. With so much money invested in the investigation, many both within the industry and outside eagerly await Lord Leveson’s report, due to come out at the end of this year. Yet many question the impact that this report will have on the future of the British press. It seems the report has been shelved before Lord Leveson has even put pen to paper.

The only option – one that is favoured by the industry itself, is for the creation of a new independent regulatory body, not underpinned by any statutory laws, to replace the Press Complaints Commission.

6FHSWLFV FRXOG EH MXVWLÀHG LQ DVVHUWLQJ WKDW WKH Leveson Inquiry has been an unprecedented waste of public money. On the other hand, it could be argued that bureaucratic measures aside, the Leveson inquiry will have a far deeper and lasting impact on the industry and society at large.

7KH SUREOHP LV WKDW ÀQGLQJ DQ RXWFRPH WKDW LV deemed acceptable to all parties will be extremely GLIÀFXOW 7KH SKRQH KDFNLQJ VFDQGDO KDV demonstrated that there needs to be a change in the system. Self-regulation has not worked, yet to make the industry answerable to any statute of government would irrevocably threaten the freedom of expression inherent within the British press. It all boils down to one simple question: what would we, the general public prefer, to have the press afraid of the politicians or the politicians afraid of the press?

The inquiry has served as a reminder that, just as the politicians are answerable to the press, the press are answerable to the general public and the public has and will hold them to account.

It is not much of a choice, but the answer is an obvious one. In order to safeguard the principles of democracy upon which the government of this country is based, it must always be the latter.

26

IMPACT 218

The aggressive pursuit of breaking news stories by journalists at the News of the World, their abandonment of all ethical and moral considerations in the treatment of those individuals subject to media scrutiny, has been decried as wholly unacceptable.

As David Sherborne, representative of the victims of the phone hacking scandal pronounced in his closing remarks, “The press is on trial here, and not simply in this room but also out there in the court of public opinion”.

As well as bringing about a change in the regulation of the press, the inquiry has shown that there needs to be a transformation in the culture present in some areas of the industry; a culture which privileges the desire for a story and the need for tabloid sales over the simple matter of what is right and wrong.

It is essential that Lord Leveson’s report sets in motion this change whilst protecting those journalists who do conduct their work in accordance with the law and with common decency. We must remember that it was journalists working for The Guardian who exposed the full extent of the phone hacking scandal.

Regardless of the outcome of the inquiry, it is without GRXEW XS WR WKH SUHVV WR UHVWRUH SXEOLF FRQÀGHQFH in their industry. In a world where newspaper sales are falling, with people increasingly turning to online sources for news and current affairs, it is certain that in the next few years the industry will face its toughest challenge yet.

Sarah Murphy

WOULD YOU PAY FOR FACEBOOK? SINCE ITS INCEPTION, FACEBOOK’S MOTTO HAS BEEN “FREE AND ALWAYS WILL BE.” BUT HOW MANY USERS WOULD LEAVE IF THEY WERE FORCED TO PAY THEIR WORTH? RYAN BRODIE EXAMINES BOTH SIDES. Instead of charging you, they sold you.

In the early days of a start-up, the goal is momentum and not revenue. Investors commonly have the mentality of “gain users first, worry about income later”. But funding can only go so far; eventually investors need to see a return. Instead of selling to the likes of Google or Microsoft, Facebook chose to monetize. Mark Zuckerburg wanted to build a lasting company and would do so with the first socially enabled advertising platform.

Facebook knows an awful lot about you. It knows when you were born, who your family are, what school or university you attended, your first and current job, your partner or spouse, where you’re from and where www.impactnottingham.com/features

you live. But it goes so much further. It knows your interests, not just from the pages you’ve liked but from the words you’ve written anywhere within its walls. It knows how you move around, your planned career, where you like to eat and the music you listen to.

their users annually, App.net guarantees full control of the data they collect. It’s a nice idea, but right now its 12,000 users are only those in the frontier of the technology industry. For it to catch on, everyday consumers must back it en masse. And that’s something that will never happen.

And now with the Open Graph, it can understand every action you take in your life. From reading a book to cooking a meal, Facebook can now record it chronologically onto a neat and orderly timeline that represents your entire life. This silo of information is a technological marvel. But we don’t own it; they do, and they’re actively selling it right under our noses.

The sad inevitability is that even if Facebook charged the nominal, required monthly amount of 25p, the majority of its 900 million users would never pay. A survey by The Huffington Post suggested as many as 83% of users would never pay for a Facebook account. But there are other monetisation models.

The Facebook user experience is now littered with ads, yet most are unaware of this blatant intrusion.

Such ads employ social reinforcement (showing users their friends’ names and pictures alongside them) to supercharge their advanced targeting. And this cocktail works; Facebook generated $3.7b in revenue last year. But should it be this way?

A “Freemium” system offers limited functionality at no charge, but allows those that are willing to pay to gain access to extended features. It’s an approach adopted by the likes of Flickr, Soundcloud, and Dropbox. This revenue distribution allows companies to remain profitable and still have the accessibility that comes with a free service, even without ads.

Facebook is great at connecting us with our friends and family, but enabling this safe sharing is no longer their incentive. Users are now encouraged to share more publicly, not to increase openness but to further both ad specificity and profitability. If we paid for this service, we’d own the information that filled it. We’d be bound by a software licensing agreement and would be solely in control. It wouldn’t cost a huge amount either; Facebook reportedly make just under £3.10 per user per year.

Although these fairer and more sustainable models exist, such restrictions would have needed to be integral to Facebook from the get-go to avoid the foreseeable protest. Ownership of our shared content therefore is a sacrifice we’ll continue to omit for the false benefits of free. That is unless society decides to take back the reins and return to the responsible economics of industries past.

Ryan Brodie Image by Emma Charalambous

A new service is doing exactly that. By charging IMPACT 218

27

ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE.......

EXAMS – A WORD WHICH STRIKES FEAR INTO THE HEART OF MANY, EVOKING MEMORIES OF CAFFEINE FUELLED LATE NIGHT CRAMMING, COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF COMFORT FOOD AND AN INESCAPABLE SENSE OF IMPENDING DOOM. BUT PUTTING THE INEVITABLE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF EXAMS ASIDE, IT ALWAYS STRIKES ME THAT IT IS EXAM TIME AND EXAM TIME ALONE WHICH BRINGS EVEN THE MOST NONCHALANT OF STUDENTS OUT OF THE WOODWORK.

E

very year without fail an utter stranger appears in the exam room. It begs the question: what, if anything, have they been doing all year and why, having not managed to arrive at a single lecture or seminar, have they bothered to turn up at all?

I should probably set the record straight at this point and say I am by no means the perfect student. I haven’t attended all of my lectures and seminars.

But I, along with 63% of students who took our Impact survey, do at least make a conscious effort to get there, health permitting. I attend those hideous Monday morning nine o’clock lectures because, at the end of the day, I am interested in my subject and painfully aware that I’m investing thousands of pounds in my education (or, for now, the government is).

Considering that all that is required of me in exchange is my attendance in the few contact hours I have each week and a bit of reading in my considerable spare time, I don’t think it’s too much of an ask. If you take into account how little time is really demanded

28

IMPACT 218

of the average student, non-attendance in seminars and lectures is pretty poor.

Now I know that here many will ask, but what if those lectures and seminars are pointless? What if I don’t learn anything? According to our survey, 26% of students questioned cited this as the primary reason for their non-attendance in lectures. In some ways, they have a point. It is up to lecturers not only to educate, but also to inspire their students in their subject. It is not only the student but also the lecturer who must accept some culpability in this.

Of 90 students questioned, about 23% asserted that their primary reason for not turning up to lectures was that the subject didn’t interest them. Yet I know that there are some students who don’t turn up to lectures that are informative, interesting and which are worth turning up to.

The point is, that in any other instance, not turning up because you found the work boring or because you felt that you didn’t learn anything wouldn’t cut it. If you had a job, you wouldn’t be able to take the day off

simply because you didn’t feel like coming into work that day. So why should university be any different?

If university is meant to prepare you for the future, to instil in you all the necessary skills and knowledge for working life, should it not also be encouraging a sense of work ethic as well?

In sixth form we were constantly reminded of the apparent difficulties of getting into university. University places in general, were hugely oversubscribed, with courses such as medicine viewed as a pipe dream, tantalisingly out of reach for even the most intelligent of students.

I count myself extremely lucky to be one of those who made it; I am studying a subject I enjoy, at a university I love. Yet many are not imbued with the same enthusiasm.

Looking at these strangers appearing in the exam room, it does make me wonder, should these people be here? They are clearly intelligent individuals; they wouldn’t have got this far without a great deal of natural ability and yes, when it comes down to it, they will probably scrape through their university years.

But will they have truly deserved it?

Perhaps for some people, life is too easy. University is a chance, an opportunity, that many, equally talented individuals have missed out on. The question is: are you making the most of the chance that you have been given?

Sarah Murphy Image by Emma Charalambous

ALUMNI FOCUS CLASS OF ‘07: JANET WOOTTON Each month Impact profiles a former Nottingham student. This month, we bring you Janet Wootton.

Janet Wootton’s career includes 19 years as a professional journalist, television work, public relations, a job at Number 10 and more recently a move into experimental art. She graduated from the University of Nottingham with a degree in Fine Art in 2007 and recently completed an MA at Nottingham Trent. Her first solo exhibition “A Journey into Sustainable Art” takes place from 12 September to 13 October as part of the Spotlight Gallery at the Newark Town Hall.

“

We live in a highly competitive world and most of the time it’s who you know.

My father wrote a bit of sport but didn’t offer many connections. Fortunately, somebody in the village knew the owners of the Nottingham Evening Post and I managed to get an interview to become a trainee journalist at 17. I figured I could catch up with my education along the way.

Women have come a long way. I remember being asked on careers day, “So, do you want to be a secretary or a teacher?” I didn’t want to do either of those things!

Even after I got into the business, I never saw myself as a women’s page writer.

I was gunning for Industry Correspondent, which was unheard of at the time.

Never balk at corporate work. I produced two in-house newspapers for customers and staff at the Greater Nottingham Co-operative Society. I stayed with them for two years before my big break when I joined the Central Office for Information and my work with the government.

with the local art teacher and the rest, as they say, is history. Now I am offering corporate art as part of my communications business.

I lived and worked in London before moving back to the East Midlands. I was working as a Press Officer in the Prime Minister’s Office at the time when my husband saw a radio and television job advertised in Nottingham. I began work for the Independent Broadcasting Authority regulating commercial radio and securing licences. It was a whole new field for me.

Nottingham is where the formal part of my education started. I was given the opportunity to study part-time over six years while I was working in public relations. It provides a real opportunity for people who feel they couldn’t manage a full-time degree for whatever reason or, like me, who came to it late in life.

I turned my hobby into a career. I wasn’t particularly good at art at school. But I’d worked in the creative industries all my professional life and it seemed like a natural progression. Some years ago, a friend and I started taking classes

People always ask me, “What kind of artist are you?” I’m a process artist for want of a better term. I work with materials and very rarely have preconceived ideas about what art should be. My guiding principle is that art should be about inspiration and realisation and not necessarily all about the end product. At the moment my passion is for art with a sustainable message.

I want my art to be part of a wall rather than sitting on it. This extends to having a structural role. My current project “Art in Walls” involves big pieces of art that can be recessed into constructions. I also look beyond the cladding of buildings and at substructures such as piping and wiring and I interpret them as art.

More artists should be responding to global issues like climate change. I did some work with local schools raising awareness of sustainability in art and have run workshops that aim to promote recycling in the local community. This September I will be handing over two large pieces of process art that were commissioned for the Bluecoat Academy in Wollaton.

”

Find out more at http://www.janetwootton.com

www.impactnottingham.com/features

Interview by Izzy Scrimshire Images by Bryony Blackler IMPACT 218

29

ASK UNCLE SAM Dear Uncle Sam,

Yours,

pass the time. These range from very basic games such as “spot the orgasm” to more advanced games like “guess the position”. However, if you really want to take advantage of the situation, actually lie back and enjoy the sweet music that is sex. Whenever I emerged gloriously from my bedroom after sex with my girlfriend, my housemate, whose room was next to mine, would always have her door wide open.

There is no doubt in my mind that she was using my sex as free pornography and I say, why the hell not?

Closetocommittingamurderiftheydonotstop

Equalise

I can’t take this anymore. My housemate has her boyfriend over almost every night of the week and they are constantly at it like noisy rabbits.

What makes it worse is that her bedroom is right next to mine and the walls are extremely thin!

What should I do?

Dear potential murderer, It really is such a shame that something as orgasmically pleasurable as sex is having such a negative impact on your life. Fear not though. I have devised four potential plans of action for you to grab the rabbit by the horn so to speak: Enjoy Make the most of it! Sex is a wonderful thing to be enjoyed by all, even those not actually having sex at the time. There are a number of fun games to help you

Problem: Their sex annoys you because you aren’t getting any action. Solution: Go grab yourself some ass. It doesn’t matter whether the guy is a priest or a convict, 18 or 80. As long as you are having sex (even if the bloke fell off the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down) you will be too busy to notice the humping rabbits next door.

Sabotage If all else fails, just ruin it for them. One subtle option is the “Countdown” game. Listen out during the sex for when you think “the end is near” so to speak, proceed to play the Countdown music from the TV show whilst screaming out “Kapoww” when the clock stops.

If you want to go down the less subtle route, a personal favourite of mine is to approach your housemate one day and simply say the following to her: “Next time you have having sex with [insert sex partner’s name], I want you to imagine that it is [insert male family member’s name] and you are absolutely loving it”. I guarantee that you will never see that guy again.

Good luck!

Uncle Sam

Participate If you can’t beat it, join it. Pretty self-explanatory.

Proceed with caution though. You may get bitch-/ cock-slapped.

Do you need Uncle Sam’s trusty advice? Send your dilemmas to features@impactnottingham.com

NAUGHTY NOTTINGHAM: CONFESSIONS AT CRISIS Despite hosting some of the brightest and most creative minds in the country, the students of UoN are no angels. By day, we’re bright-eyed bushy-tailed angelic visions of academic excellence. When night falls, however, it seems that we like to take a walk on the wild side.

Curious about such endeavours, Impact took it all the way, posing as the holy and the pure outside Crisis at Rock City, asking fellow students to share your secrets and disclose your sins. Boy, did you guys deliver...

30

IMPACT 218

“Well I’ve slept with 7 of the girls swimming team.

Hopefully I can score the final 8th one tonight!”

“Someone told me they did a shit on Cripps pool table.”

“I had sex in the boys toilets at Gatecrasher.”

“There was this one time when I pissed on two people having sex.”

“I was the one who broke the seat in the Crisis girls toilets.”

“The other night, I banged my girl in the street.”

“I took MD once - weird shit that.”

“I pissed on an unconscious guy in a garden at a party once.”

“We left a bottle of champagne in the taxi without the lid on, it’s gonna go everywhere but I ain’t cleaning that shit up.”

“A graduate friend of mine had sex in Hallward.”

“Yeah um, I’ve wanked in a church.”

ISSUE

000

|

XXX 2012

| WWW.IMPACTNOTTINGHAM.COM

OFFICIAL LOGO

JOIN

WWW.IMPACTNOTTINGHAM.COM

IMPACT LAUNCH Want to learn more about how to be a part of one of the best student publications in the country?

Come along to the Impact Launch to meet our editorial team and find out how you can get involved this year.

Whether you’re a Fresher or a final year come along to see how you can break news, interview celebrities, write features, review bands, plays and films, photograph Varsity sport matches, design the layout of the magazine and even help us manage the whole operation.

Getting involved in Impact is great for your CV: our alumni have gone on to have careers with The Guardian, The Times, The Telegraph, The Huffington Post, Vice, Wired, the BBC, the UN and WPP among many others.

Thursday 4th October 4 - 5.30pm The Atrium, Portland Building No need to register, just turn up.

WWW.IMPACTNOTTINGHAM.COM/GETINVOLVED

EXPOSURE

Akama National Park Cyprus By: Emma Charalambous

Keep an eye out for Impact Images Team photography competitions, as your winning photograph could be featured in Exposure!

STYLE Aquascutum Coat at Rokit £120

River Island Wraped Jacket New Season Burberry at Rokit £45

GIRL 1. Raid your boyfriend’s wardrobe.

2.The trouser suit is back! For a fail-safe option go classic and add femininity by making sure it’s fitted, cropped, and finished off with killer heels and the ‘man watch’.

3. Take a leaf out of Mary-Kate’s book and throw oversized shirts, knits and jackets over a fitted jean to accentuate your pins.

Zara Boots £45

Rokit Dungeries £25

Rokit Jumper £25 River Island Shorts New Season 34

IMPACT 218

Rokit Hat £44

Zara Blazer New Season

Asos Shoes £50 Primark Tartan Scarf New Season

Asos Trousers New season

Zara Shirt New Season

BOY

Men’s Month: Look out for us on campus where we will be snapping photos, filming and asking what Nottingham students really think about men’s fashion! For regular updates check our website, follow us on Twitter and add us on Facebook.

Zara Leather bag New Season

Zara Shoes New season

STYLE CLOSET: BOY MEETS GIRL The dawn of the world wars and the suffrage movement saw women swap their underskirts for tailored suits and overalls, but androgyny didn’t stop there. The New York Times has given credit to a long line of females including Katherine Hepburn and Jane Birkin, who made ‘stealing from the boys seem like the most stylish thing in the world’. With that in mind, and with a little help from tomboy style icon Mary-Kate, here are some essential men’s basics to get you through the season.

Primark Green Jumper New Season

During what we like to call ‘The Christian Grey Craze’, suave is all a woman asks for.

Enter Douglas Booth. British model turned actor, though only nineteen, embodies both sophistication and a casual youthfulness. He is the perfect fashion role model for every guy, with the ability to adjoin individualism with sharp simplicity. From ribbed polo necks to more daring tailored blazers, his Burberry-infused personal style is close to flawless; the aura of a ‘gentleman’ in touch with his feminine side. Here’s where to get the look!

Hannah Wilkinson and Ashiana Pradhan

www.impactnottingham.com/style

IMPACT 215

35

Lauren- Zara Shirt as below, GAP knit- £40, H&M jeans- £30, Office Shoes as below, Topshop Hat- £20, Vintage Rucksack.

Andy- H&M shirt as below, H&M knitted jumper- £15.99 Topman trousers as below, H&M shoes as below

Lauren- Topshop Blazer- £60 Zara shirt-£25 Topman Tie- £10 H&M Trousers- £15 Office Shoes- £40 bag- Vintage.

Andy- Topman Blazer- £70 H&M shirt- £20 Topman Trousers- £30 H&M shoes- £30

Styled and Directed by: Hannah Wilkinson Photography by: Charlotte Albert Models: Lauren Fairweather and Andrew Moseley

STYLE

A

ndrogyny, despite remaining a dominant trend of the modern era, is certainly no twenty-first century creation. Since the 1920s, the fashion industry has provided a dynamic forum in which stifling gender boundaries have undergone constant challenge.

Thanks to the likes of Hepburn and Chanel, your wardrobe will never again be free from girlfriend invasion. Long gone are the days where chivalry robbed you of your coat. Nowadays we want your jacket, your jumper, your jeans and your scarf. Yet, before you start security tagging your American Apparel, you may wish to remember this is not a one-way street. From David Bowie’s make-up to David Beckham’s sarong, influential men have done more than flirt with the idea of androgyny. Now fast becoming a dominant concept in modern-day menswear, who do the women have to blame for the many man-worn deep V’s and tight jeans which rival our own? Of the many guilty culprits, Raf Simons is under our current observation.

Born in Belgium in 1968, Simons broke into menswear fashion during 1995, after only a few years of self-study. His collection ‘Raf Simons’, presented in Paris biannually, has long been defined by reference to youth culture. Simons stated in Wound Magazine that his collection aims to “capture the budding spirit” of a young boy on his journey into becoming a mature man. Such spirit is inherently linked with youthful experimentation, sexuality of which plays a huge part. Simons continues his exploration through ‘Raf by Raf Simons’ launched in 2006.

As Creative Director for womenswear label Jil Sander (2005-2012), androgyny has become an unavoidable feature of Simons’ designs. Here, masculinity and femininity are united through the creation of empowering garments that are designed for corporate women of the twenty-first century.

Commended though these collections are, it is his latest womenswear endeavour that has thrown the fashion world into frenzy. Since appointed as Dior’s creative director this April, all eyes have been on

‘THANKS TO THE LIKES OF HEPBURN AND CHANEL, YOUR WARDROBE WILL NEVER AGAIN BE FREE FROM GIRLFRIEND INVASION’ 38

IMPACT 218

LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX Simons to see how the designer would balance such conceptually clashing collections. The fashion industry flocked to Paris to witness Simons’ most anticipated shows to date, the spring collection for his highly respected menswear line (27th June) and the designer’s haute couture Dior debut (2nd July).

Youthful sportswear and classic tailoring filled the Raf Simons runway, demonstrating his unwavering loyalty to his early inspirations. However, of all features, androgyny was predominant. Tim Blanks of Style.com was not alone in suggesting that such must be attributable to Simons’ most recent of roles. Describing the designer as “an aficionado of the masculine/feminine hybrid”, Blanks asserts that Simons’ Dior appointment was clear in his menswear collection. Shorts featured suggestive slits, oversized T-shirts were decorated with bold painted faces, and a seemingly simple tailored coat was given an androgynous edge by sealing parts of a pleated floral sundress to its front.

In asserting that “the conversation between the Dior woman and the Raf man has already started”, Blanks predicts that the dominance of androgyny evident in Simons’ menswear would be mirrored during his Dior designs. No mean feat when one considers the feminine frills and elaborate embellishments so often associated with the house of Dior. In a room superfluously covered with individual flowers, Simons described the setting as almost a metaphor for the

entire collection - a long cry away from any ounce of androgyny. However, as the show began, Simons’ gender blending magic was evidently present. In the same way that Simons manages to inject femininity into his menswear while preserving the lines’ inherent masculinity, he strips Dior back to basics. Clean lines and powerful structures dominated the show, in what Alber Elbaz described as a “marriage between a designer and a house”.

So what does this latest marriage mean for the future of male fashion and the safety of women’s wardrobes? Simons has indicated that conversation across the gender divide has always been two-way.

His Dior appointment therefore, will do little to bring this ‘conversation’ to an end. Despite this, Simons maintains that in many ways his preoccupation with androgyny would have existed irrespective of his womenswear roles, as he had noticed that there was “a slackening of the constraints on how men are expected to dress” amongst the younger generations. Paying homage to his roots, Simons affirms that his connection with youth will always be the inspiration behind his menswear collections. For now, we hope for our sakes that our mini-skirts are safe.

Elizabeth H. Neep

OFFICIAL LOGO

WWW.IMPACTNOTTINGHAM.COM

IMPACT MEDIA CONFERENCE Want to learn how to land a top job in the media industry from those who already have? Want to learn how to write articles and design a magazine worthy of a Guardian Student Media Award?

Come along to the FREE Impact Media Conference Saturday 20th October, 12 noon onwards, the Atrium, Portland Building We’re hosting an afternoon of interactive workshops and seminars hosted by industry leaders from national newspapers, online magazines and multinational companies. Our hosts are all Impact alumni You’ll gain skills and inside knowledge on everything from investigative journalism to reviewing and design and will be shown how you can use these at Impact and further afield For all those keen to pursue a career in the media the event will provide an unequalled opportunity to gain insight into the industry and network with those already at the top Please sign up on our Facebook event - ‘Impact Media Conference 2012’ Alternatively, email conference@impactnottingham.com to register attendance

– a myriad ONE SERIOUSLY BIG MARQUEE Union and ts’ den Stu r of information about you ermarket sup ous freebies galore. Last year a fam free The ns! gave away pillows and cans of bea popular (we pizza from Dominos is also very won’t want to rs rne can’t think why‌) You retu g and join alon miss out either, why not come might have upto those clubs and societies that passed you by before?

WE LOVE OUR SOCIETIES AND SPORTS CLUBS and so do thousands of students. There are over 200 societies to choose from, all run by students for students – from Dance to the Travel Society; Drum and Bass to Italian; Magic Soc to Cake Soc – there’s a society for literally every taste.

Visit our website www.su.nottingham.ac.uk

THE WEEK ONE TEAM have an entertainmentpacked programme lined up for you! There will be campus tours, advice on how to find your way around Nottingham (and which buses to get back), day trips and nights out (plus so much more!)

Going to these events is a great way to make friends and get to know your new home.

Elections JCR Elections are coming up in OCTOBER! Look out for more information on the SU website.

Find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/UofNSU Follow us on Twitter @uonsu

FOOD ‘JUST BECAUSE MCDONALDS AND COCA COLA SPONSORED THE OLYMPICS DOESN’T MEAN WE’VE ALL BEEN AUTOMATICALLY BRAIN WASHED TO GO OUT AND EAT AND DRINK THESE PRODUCTS’ also to the benefit of the tax system. The quantity of money that McDonalds have reportedly paid to be partners of the Olympics in the four years leading up to 2012, totalling a staggering $100 million, is also notable.

FAST FOOD SPONSORS: A HELP OR HINDRANCE?

A

s the Olympics have passed I cannot help but notice that it has left a frenzy of Olympic fever across the country. Where the swimming pool lanes were empty I can no longer move for the swathes of people charging up and down the pool. And while some people may say this boom in sport is short lived the less pessimistic of us cling on to the hope that maybe, just maybe, there will be a change of preferences; from sitting on the sofa eating and staring gormlessly at the box to a nation that has a real get up and go attitude.

With obesity rates in the UK increasing every year, many questions have been asked as to whether companies such as McDonalds and Coca Cola were responsible Olympic Partner choices for 2012.

These increasing rates of obesity cannot solely be put down to a lack of physical exercise but must also 42

IMPACT 218

be blamed on an increasingly poor diet primarily revolving around sugary foods and fast foods.

So, in light of this information should we really have allowed companies commonly associated with fast food and sugary products the fantastically huge platform for advertisement provided by the Olympics?

Or, should we have sourced the partnerships with an increased number of companies such as Adidas, EDF and VISA? While it is very easy to jump on the bandwagon of ‘all fast food companies are bad’, they do have their benefits. For example both McDonalds and Coca Cola waived the right to tax relief offered to them when London was chosen to host the 2012 Olympics. This meant that the profits they received from the games were taxed as usual; any gain they received was

But while there are distinct benefits to the presence of these partners in the Olympics you don’t have to dig far to find those who are ready to fight the other corner. One popular opinion is that fast food sponsors are an embarrassing sight at the Olympics and have no place in such a huge sporting event.

Honestly I don’t find it hard to see why people choose this as their corner to fight. With the motto “Faster, higher, stronger” it becomes increasingly difficult to see where McDonalds or Coca Cola would feature in the grand scheme. Another increasingly important point is the age-old debate on obesity. I think it is safe to assume we all have our own opinions and are fully capable of making our own informed choices about food. Just because McDonalds and Coca Cola sponsored the Olympics doesn’t mean we’ve all been automatically brain washed to go out and eat and drink these products. However, while we may be capable of making these choices we have to consider the younger generations: those who don’t fully comprehend the ultimate health risk associated with eating these foods, those who are easily wooed by the prospect of a free toy or a wristband. If we, with our informed decisions, can’t stand up and fight against the foods that are causing such vast health problems nationwide, then who will? It is unlikely to be the voice of the obese primary school child who knows little other than what they have been brought up with or seen on TV. It must be said that there are reasons why Olympic partners such as McDonalds and Coca Cola are welcome sights at the Olympic Games, but the argument for boycotting their presence is compelling and something that should be close to our nation’s hearts.

Emma Drabble

If you’re living in catered halls your kitchen’s microwave will sooner or later become your Mecca. Rather than resorting to greasy takeaways or expensive university food when you get the nibbles, it is infinitely cheaper and healthier to microwave your own snacks.

Homemade crisps are easy alternatives to chips. Scrub and finely slice a firm potato and place the slices flat and as spaced out as you can on the tray of the microwave, sprinkle with oil and season with salt and whatever else you want (chilli, cayenne, etc). Microwave on full for three minutes on either side or until golden brown all over. Voila!

An alternative for the sweet toothed is the mini ‘crumble’; chop fruit (plum, apples or pears etc.) into a microwavable dish and cook until soft, then tip in granola, brown sugar and cinnamon for an autumnal treat.

Depending on your hunger levels, you could go as far as to make scrambled eggs. Break and whisk an egg in a mug with a splash of milk and season with salt and pepper. Cook it for one minute, scramble the egg with a fork and heat for another thirty seconds or until set. Eat on toast (for the conventional) or in a tortilla wrap if you’re on the go. Eggcellent!

MICROWAVE SURVIVAL GUIDE

Other easy snacks you can make in the microwave are popcorn in a brown paper bag, baked potatoes, cheesy nachos and, if all else fails, there are always beans. Remember, keep your cupboard full and your stomach will surely follow. Happy microwaving!

Phoebe Harkin

COLOSSAL CREATIONS To start, buy five or six large bars of any white chocolate. Take a pan and half fill it with water ready to boil, then break up all the chocolate into a glass bowl big enough to sit on your chosen pan. The next step is to cling film a casserole dish lid to stop your chocolate from sticking in the bowl when you pour it. Now it’s time to melt your bowl of white chocolate over the pan of boiling water. Make sure you stir it regularly to keep it smooth. When your chocolate is completely melted pour it into

your casserole dish lid and leave it to set in the fridge, or if you really can’t wait that long to see your creation, the freezer. Finally, it is time to turn out your giant white chocolate jazzle! All that is left to do is to melt the top with a hot metal spoon and add your hundreds and thousands or similar style topping. Now tuck in and enjoy your successful colossal creation!

Text and Images by Emma Drabble

2 1

4

5

3 6

Can you better our attempt? Send in your images to food@impactnottingham.com! www.impactnottingham.com/food

7

IMPACT 218

43

SCIENCE & TECH

BATH SALTS THE CONFUSION OVER THE ‘DESIGNER DRUG’ Bath Salts: The Profile

Charlotte Albert

THE USE OF THE DESIGNER DRUG KNOWN INNOCENTLY AS ‘BATH SALTS’ IS ON THE RISE IN AMERICA, AND THE SUBSTANCE HAS BEEN LINKED TO GRUESOME ACTS OF CANNIBALISM

ORIGIN: Manufactured illegally, mostly in Europe and China.

STREET NAMES: Numerous, though notably ‘Blue Wave’, ‘Hurricane Charlie’, ‘Super Coke’, ‘Vanilla Sky’, and ‘White Dove’.

APPEARANCE: Sold as a white powder.

USE: Snorted but can be injected, swallowed or smoked.

COMPOSITION: Normally contain substituted cathinones, but ingredients can vary wildly. Bath salts are a synthetic ‘designer drug’ so the maker can vary the composition.

EFFECTS: Believed to cause paranoia and hallucinations that can lead to violent behaviour.

LEGALITY: Substituted cathinones are illegal in the UK under the Misuse of Drugs Act, and in July of this year a bill in the US banned them.

DETECTION: Routine urine analysis will not detect bath salts. Further analysis using chromatography is required. Police dogs cannot pick up their scent.

The use of the designer drug known innocently as ‘bath salts’ is on the rise in America, and the substance has been linked to gruesome acts of cannibalism.

On May 26 this year, Rudy Eugene was caught by CCTV attacking homeless man Ronald Poppo, 65, next to a busy road in Miami. 31-year-old Eugene, who was naked during the incident, chewed the flesh off 70% of Poppo’s face, leaving him blind and in need of reconstructive surgery. Eugene was shot dead by police as he appeared too intoxicated by an unknown substance to understand their orders for him to stop.

It was alleged that the attack was fuelled by Eugene’s use of bath salts, a group of ‘designer drugs’ normally containing chemicals known as substituted cathinones. Their effects are comparable to those of cocaine and amphetamine.

A variety of theories emerged about bath salts and the attack, and the press was quick to label them the ‘cannibal drug’. Despite the low media profile of bath salts prior to the Miami attack, a number of stories emerged with similar cannibalistic attacks allegedly linked to bath salts; some also involved the user removing their clothes before attacking. This led many to draw the conclusion that there was a definite link between the use of the drug and cannibalistic behaviour.

However, toxicology tests later revealed that Eugene had no trace of bath salts in his body - marijuana was the only drug detected by the tests. Although marijuana does exhibit hallucinogenic properties, the user generally feels relaxed; to blame marijuana alone for Eugene’s behaviour may be presumptuous.

44

IMPACT 218

Despite the failure to connect bath salts with the Miami attack, the graphic nature of Poppo’s injuries prompted further reports and fears. A similar attack occurred in Scott, Louisiana, where Carl Jacquneaux bit the face of his victim, Todd Credeur, whilst reportedly under the influence of bath salts.

There are fears that the drugs are becoming more popular across America. Within days of the Miami incident the police force of Roanoke, Virginia reported 22 suspected cases of bath salt usage, with users displaying associated behaviours including violence, nudity and aggression. Figures from the American Association of Poison Control centres have also showed a sharp incline in calls relating to bath salt use between 2010 and 2011, and over 1,000 calls have been made in 2012 so far.

Bath salts are most commonly imported from Europe and China but the apparent popularity of their use suggests that manufacture could become more widespread in America, which will only worsen the situation.

Although steps have been taken to make the use and distribution of bath salts illegal, further intervention may be required. The drugs are easily disguised as innocent substances – they are commonly packaged as plant foods. There is currently no test for bath salts that can detect the substance instantaneously, as a breathalyser tests for alcohol. Quite what can be done to prevent the concerning trend from taking hold is unclear.

Rebecca Scott

DOES DIETING ACTUALLY WORK? Against the backdrop of worldwide obesity, doubling since 1980, the need for a scientifically backed method for weight loss could never be greater. Here in the UK a quarter of adults are obese and over a third are overweight. But are diets the answer?

For many students the culmination of a new setting, often coupled with increased alcohol consumption, can often lead to weight gain. In the US this is known as ‘Freshman 15’ - the somewhat arbitrary 15 referring to the pounds supposedly gained during a student’s first year.

In reality freshers gain “three pounds on average” according to research conducted at Ohio State University. The research went on to suggest that “anti-obesity efforts” aimed at first year students would have little impact on obesity prevalence and could even elicit

Charlotte Albert

further weight gain. Professor Traci Mann in her paper ‘Diets are not the answer’ stated that as many as two thirds of dieters “regain more weight than they lost on their diets”.

Dieting is a consistent predictor of weight gain; scientists call it “dieting-induced weight-gain”. Reductions in calorific intake are your body’s cue to initiate hardwired starvation protocols. Slower metabolism coupled with enhanced food cravings only exacerbates the speed at which carbohydrates are converted into fat.

So what is the dieter to do? Exercise certainly helps.

Simple thermodynamics states that if energy intake (calories) is lower than energy expenditure, body weight will be lost. But with a market expected to reach over half a trillion dollars by 2014, there’s little wonder dieting’s counterproductive methodology is swept under the carpet. In the long run losing weight is a lifestyle change, requiring consistent exercise and becoming more attuned to the body’s natural hunger signals regardless of what Atkins may say.

Aaron Mcnulty

POWERING THE FUTURE THE MOST BIZARRE GREEN ENERGY SOURCES

white text here white text here here When most people think of green energy, wind turbines, solar panels or hydroelectric dams spring to mind. But there are many more bizarre ways that people are trying to power the planet.et.

Giant Kites Forget toy kites on the end of a string - Makini Power in the US has developed a kite with four turbines which can use the powerful wind speeds at high altitudes to produce energy. The finished kite will have a wingspan equal to a jumbo jet. And they are not alone: in Italy, Kitegen is developing another kite based system. Built like a giant merry-go-round with kites attached to the edge, power is generated as the wind power pulls the base around in a circular motion.

Weird Solar Solar panels were invented in the 1950s and have been used increasingly in the last decade, but there are other ways of harnessing the sun’s energy. From discoveries first made in the Dead Sea, solar ponds

are the cheapest way of extracting energy from the sun. An egg placed on the surface in the Dead Sea will stay runny, but a few feet below the surface it will become hard boiled. The salt content of the water at different levels traps large amounts of heat from the sun. This heat can be used to warm buildings and even drive steam turbines. A pond a few metres deep with a very high salt concentration works in the same way, even in winter when the surface is frozen over.

Solar updraft towers are another obscure solar energy source. The theory is very simple - position a large hollow chimney in a desert with a tent around the base. Heat gathers in the tent, rises up the chimney turning a fan which generates the energy.

Unfortunately the prototype fell over after only a few years, but since then plans have been made to build more towers in several places around the world.

Turbulent Waves A wide variety of structures now use wave energy to generate electricity. Pelamis is probably the best known system: built like a giant snake, it sits on the surface of the ocean and as the waves pass beneath its structure it bends, producing power.

Tim Winstanley Images by Charlotte Albert

www.impactnottingham.com/science

IMPACT 218

45

TRAVEL

Y

ou speak English?” A young woman clutching a wine bottle jumped out of the passenger seat of the van and threw open the side door. “Then hop in!” she shouted above the roar of the motorway traffic.

“We are from Belgium,” she added when we were safely inside, swigging from a bottle, lighting a cigarette and passing me one. “And this is Nikolai. He drives and drinks for us!” she laughed as Nikolai turned around, shook hands with us and then banged back a shot wine. “But of course, he doesn’t drink as much as us. He will drive safe! Don’t worry Englishmen!”

My friend looked at me anxiously as Nikolai revved the engine and sped off down the motorway but hell, there was no turning back now. I shrugged, accepting the bottle of wine as the music was turned up.

The three Belgians in the car were heading to a festival in Arras, about an hour’s drive from the outskirts of Lille, in Northern France, where we’d just been picked up. Our destination was Paris, but we were happy enough to get halfway there.

When you hitchhike you put a lot of trust in the strangers that pick you up and equally they put as much trust in you. But Nikolai was really going for it, speeding down the French highway well above the speed limit, cutting in and out of cars, slowing down occasionally to light a cigarette or have another shot of wine.

The power ballads were roaring when Nikolai

ON THE ROAD suddenly yelled, slammed on the brakes and pulled off the lane to reverse up the hard shoulder and get to the turning he’d missed. We jumped out on the slip road after some heartfelt goodbyes and photographs.

The Belgians sped off towards Arras, leaning out of the windows and waving, while we stuck out our thumbs, holding up a cardboard sign with ‘Paris’ scrawled across it.

I was three days into my hitchhike trip, trying to get to Spain with a bank balance that left a lot to be desired. The idea was that hitching would save me the cost of bus travel or an Interrail pass and spare me the inevitable annoyance of sharing trains with loud Americans straight out of college on their first trip abroad.

My friend had jokingly warned that I’d end up in a shallow grave and graphically described the unspeakable horrors that would be forced upon me

by Eastern European truck drivers in some harrowing roadside rendition of Deliverance – the usual scaremongering.

Ronald Regan hitched through Illinois in his youth, Terry Gilliam hitchhiked Europe and fell in love with it, while Tony Hawks (the comedian) hitched his way around Ireland - with a fridge. All were successful.

This was to be an adventure, and as Kerouac wrote, “There was nowhere to go but everywhere, so just

keep on rolling under the stars.”

The hitching was to be wildly unpredictable though.

We were left stranded on the side of a road for hours as no traffic came our way. Trucks could not pick up two people and many drivers would stop but not be going far enough for us to make it worthwhile. It was tough going, but the generosity of people was astounding, enlightening even. Some drivers just wanted company for the drive; the younger ones, like the Belgians, simply thought it was a novelty and loved photographing us holding up our hitching signs, while a few picked us up to relive the nostalgia of their younger days when they themselves had hitchhiked.

Everyone said they saw few, if any, hitchers these days. Some just thought we were insane.

Having had no hitching experience before, I set off knowing that hundreds of students successfully made it to Morocco each year as part of the charity hitch. But that was where my knowledge ended. It was a steep, yet adventurous learning curve. There were, cold, wet and depressing times, walks of death along the hard shoulder, early starts and long waits, but if you’re willing to put in the effort, the rewards are incredible: free travel, a chance to speak the language and immerse yourself in the local culture, to meet the sane and the insane and have more than a few tales to tell at the journey’s end.

Article and Images by Richard Collett

46

IMPACT 215

ILLEGAL HORSE FIGHTING BARBARITY IN THE PHILIPPINES A frenzied crowd bays for blood. Stimulated and uncontrollably excited by the prospect of ripping flesh, kicking and maiming, the crowds cheer. A spectator sport which promotes gratuitous violence, and all too often under the name of ‘cultural tradition’, horse fighting is an atrocious act of inhumanity.

Although the sport has now largely been outlawed worldwide, it unfortunately continues to thrive in countries such as the Philippines, Indonesia, China and South Korea. Horse fighting can range from featured events in annual fiestas and thanksgiving festivals to last minute events, thrown together by locals to cure bouts of boredom and to rake in some extra cash.

Despite a ban placed on horse fighting in the Philippines ten years ago, it is still a widely practiced sport. While tradition has long been used to legitimise horse fighting, it appears that money and gambling are the primary reasons for its continued practice.

It has become a means of earning fast, easy cash, especially in poorer communities where thousands are wagered on each fight.

Bets at amateur fights can range from 500 to 5,000 pesos whilst bets at larger fights can hit up to 150,000 pesos.

Meek attempts to curtail horse fighting by the Philippine government’s Animal Welfare Division have seen little advancement. Endemic corruption and a lack of law enforcement ensure the continuation of the sport, and with a discomforting level of official sanction. A blind eye is turned while crime syndicates reap enormous profits from gambling. Matches are often featured on television with sponsorship from one of the biggest brewing companies in the Philippines. The matter is really put into perspective if you imagine that a Western equivalent would be something like a ‘Guinness Dog Fighting Championships’.

As herd animals, horses will usually engage in battle for leadership of the group and for mating purposes. Dominant males do not fight to the death, only until the weaker opponent flees or submits. This is a case of survival of the fittest, ensuring that only the strongest bloodlines will be responsible

www.impactnottingham.com/travel

for the procreation of the species. Horse fighting however, is a sport that purposefully simulates these circumstances in a controlled environment in order to force stallions to fight for human entertainment.

The fights operate through a system of sexual rivalry as a mare in heat is tethered inside the arena whilst two stallions are brought in to fight for her by any means possible. A great deal of suffering is inflicted on the mare, not just from wounds and injuries obtained from the fight itself, but also from hormone injections which keep her in heat for prolonged periods of time.

Furthermore, she will often be forced to remain in the ring all day without water or shade and is sometimes raped by the aroused stallion, which in turn creates a fight as she

attempts to defend herself.

Andrew Plumbly of the UK based Network for Animals has commented: “These tournaments are truly barbaric...Our vets have seen horses being kicked in the head so hard that their eyes have popped out of their sockets.” The group has been campaigning to eradicate horse fighting by providing educational initiatives in order to raise awareness of the sport, as well as the provision of veterinary care.

It can be argued that all blood sports are equally deplorable, whether it is bullfighting, dog fighting or shooting fish in a barrel. There is something uncomfortably sinister about the affair, revealing the murkier facets of the human psyche which craves blood, gore and pain. However there is something particularly horrifying about horses, which are such elegant and beautiful creatures, gouging and tearing for bloodthirsty spectators.

Helena Murphy

TRAVEL

NOTTINGHAM The Impact Travel Team brings you a regular Culture Focus each issue, as we delve into the music, literature and food that are a city’s life and soul. This issue, our focus is on our very own Nottingham…

Richard Collett Helena Murphy

NATALIE DUNCAN

D.H. LAWRENCE

YE OLDE TRIP TO JERUSALEM

Take just one listen to Natalie Duncan’s stunning vocals and we defy you not to fall head over heels for the gal. The Nottingham born half Jamaican, half Greek singer songwriter has done wonders for the Nottingham music scene, being the first Nottingham artist to release an album backed by a major label within this decade. Sitting somewhere between Nina Simone and Kirsty Almeida, Duncan’s style is infused with elements of soul, classical and jazz. Otherwise dubbed as Her Satanic Majesty courtesy of Mojo magazine, Duncan is the latest face in the line-up of British female soul singers. A self professed ‘grimreaper for the pop world’; Duncan was scouted by Simon Gavin in 2010 at a pub in Nottingham and subsequently signed to Decca records. Her debut album ‘Devil In Me’ is filled with anger and heartbreak.

Offering up 14 hefty tracks filled with passion and heart-wrenching emotive wallops, Duncan lashes out at society, relationships, consumerism and 21st century brainwashing ideologies. Not an easy ride, but one well worth undertaking.

David Herbert Richards Lawrence was born in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire in 1885. Having studied for his teachers certificate at the then University College Nottingham, Lawrence became a novelist, poet and literary critic of some repute. His writings however, began to reveal an attitude that was deemed radical toward sexuality and gender, often exploring the subconscious desires and impulses of the characters in his novels. Lawrence’s boldness unfortunately resulted in persecution and censorship.

Infamously, Lawrence’s novel Lady Chatterley’s Lover, which was published in full in 1960, saw Penguin Books prosecuted under the Obscene Publications Act. D.H Lawrence caused widespread discussion and his novel was a significant landmark in sexual revolution.

Richard the Lionheart’s crusaders gulped down their ale at this famous inn before heading off on the long road to wage war in The Holy Land in 1189, giving this ancient pub both its name and a lasting legacy that has continued through the centuries. It is also the oldest inn England.

Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem is literally carved out of the stone of Nottingham itself. Situated at the foot of Nottingham Castle, the pub is built into the surrounding rocks and connected to the city’s cave system. Tours of the cellars and caves are on offer and drinking here feels like being taken on an historical journey through Nottingham’s past.

The inn has a fine selection of ales on tap from all over the country and local ales brewed closer to home.

The beer garden is fantastic for a summer’s day, or if the caves get too hot. The food on offer is the finest of pub grub and Ye Olde Trip boasts a varied menu from fish finger sandwiches to sirloin steak in a honey mustard sauce - at affordable prices, served in a remarkably historic environment.

48

IMPACT 218

PAUSE IMPACT REVIEWS

50 ARTS

THE FRINGE DIARIES

54 FILM&TV

HOW TO DO CINEMA IN NOTTINGHAM

58 MUSIC

THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO THE CITY’S GIG VENUES

,

ARTS Alice Ratcliffe, an ‘Ed Fringe Go-er, Do-er and Live-er’, shares her record of Fringe events, including endless shower queues and showstopping warm ups...

I

‘m up here with The Hand-Me-Down People, one of The New Theatre’s contributions to the Edinburgh Fringe this year and two weeks into our month-long run the days are beginning to merge into one… in a good way, like one long, happy day. Every morning we get up slightly too early and spend the best part of an hour moping around in varied states of bleariness clinging to towels and hoping to get into the shower next. One shower between twelve thespians causes time and smell-related issues.

We leave the house at 9.30am covered in stash and armed with flyers ready to take on The Royal Mile. At this hour the only people about are those “covered in stash and armed with flyers” and we wander about in the poetic Scottish mist like lost souls for a little while. That said, by 11am the place has soon livened up and is in fact crammed with actors, dancers, singers, caricaturists, jugglers, flame throwers, musicians, acrobats as well as just about anything else you can think of. It is a jungle of ‘the Arts’ and in amongst it all weave the streams of helpless tourists collecting or ‘receiving’ too-many-flyers-to-handle and the seasoned fringe-goers, with their days already planned, artfully dodging everything and everyone. And for four hours we stand and chirp: “The Hand-Me-Down People, 4.25pm every day at C Nova, it’s on Victoria Street so just up there, turn left and then right at the Bank of Scotland, yeah every day until the end of the fringe… yeah it would be great to see you there, thank you, have a lovely day.” Time for costume at about half past three and then we warm up outside, attracting as much attention as possible by singing about the penguin who came round for tea and shouting about Betty’s butter. It sometimes sells a ticket or two.

The venue is a typical Edinburgh venue, too small, too hot and often susceptible to the reverb

of the microphones from other shows. But we would expect nothing less. After all, as many people say with a shrug, “It’s the Fringe!”. The show has been doing well – our intense flyering must be working – and with steady audiences and positive reviews we leave the venue covered in smiles… and sweat.

Then there’s the best part about the fringe: the sheer quantity, quality and variety of shows on offer. There really is something for everyone.

We cram our evenings full with abstract plays, physical theatre, musicals, stand-up comedians, circuses, improv groups, spoken word artists and swing bands. I’ve seen something amazing every day I’ve been here, from a street performer playing a saw on the Mile, to an entire play improvised in iambic pentameter, to a silent stand-up comedian, to three men hanging from a trapeze by their feet to the sound of a whole New Orleans jazz band created from the sole voice of a beat-boxer.

I have never been anywhere quite like Edinburgh.

The city is alive with excitement, the streets sparkle with the magic of the Fringe and although it is stressful and hectic and considerably exhausting, we are loving being a part of “The Greatest Show On Earth™” and don’t want this month to end!

Alice Ratcliffe

Nick Slater tells of his Edinburgh spectator experience...

W

e flew up to Edinburgh from Bristol with just hand luggage, costing us £70 each with EasyJet. Luckily, the cast and crew of The Hand Me Down People were kind enough to offer us a bed for two nights in their rented flat, which was the perfect solution for a brief visit like ours.

the theatre company ‘Action To The Word’, a show that had debuted at last year’s Fringe and was returning after a sell-out run full of five star reviews. It was one of the longest shows we saw but certainly didn’t seem it. An all-male cast worked incredibly together as a tight ensemble to a superb soundtrack and combined physical theatre and dance with the violent dystopian plot taken from the Anthony Burgess novel.

During our three days we focused on theatre over stand-up and music; we saw some amazing performances. For two days of the festival every show has a brilliant 2 for 1 deal on tickets and so we took advantage of this and saw some of the more expensive shows for only £5 each. Our favourite show was A Clockwork Orange by

We also thoroughly enjoyed Porphyria and The Hand-Me Down People, the two student-written New Theatre shows taken to the Fringe this year. Porphyria’s dark story worked brilliantly in their intimate venue, all three actors engaging with the audience and even using them as props. The Hand-Me Down People’s appeal as a ‘dark Toy Story’ worked well on the Royal Mile as the actors stood in costume with oversized

THE FRINGE DIARIES 50

IMPACT 218

“EDINBURGH ISN’T SO MUCH A CITY, MORE A WAY OF LIFE…”

Lauren Fox recalls some of the best performances on offer at the Fringe... matches, cards and pencils attracting the crowds.

The show itself was well written with very strong performances from its lead actors. Musicality’s performance of Wild West End also has to be mentioned; without doubt it was the most we laughed during the three days, a truly excellent show.

Best Bit: Lying in the sun on the Meadows with a drink discussing the shows you’ve seen that day and looking forward to more tomorrow.

Worst Bit: Leaving. However clichéd it sounds, we had a hundred more things that we wanted to see and do; three days is nowhere near enough time.

And as we were on the bus to the airport the sun was shining and we saw how spectacular the city was and wished we had made time to look around Edinburgh, not just the Fringe.’

Nick Slater

www.impactnottingham.com/arts

E

dinburgh Festival has been a roller coaster of emotions. I laughed throughout the musical genius that was Wild West End (Musicality – you were incredible!) and I cried so much during The Trench.

If you were lucky enough to be at the Fringe this year and you did not experience The Trench, then you missed out – enormously. Les Enfants Terribles used a cleverly constructed combination of puppetry, haunting music and verse to form a truly delectable work of pure creativity. The poignant live music of Alexander Wolfe served only to heighten the audience’s anticipation, so much so that I purchased this amazing soundtrack as soon as the performance finished. Despite my utmost efforts to keep my snivelling to a minimum, at least five people turned around to catch the perpetrator of said snivels.

One gentleman even asked me - “did you enjoy that, then?” – as if he couldn’t quite figure whether I’d been deeply moved by the performance or just really

wanted that last hour of my life back.

After these theatrical mood swings, and all the mental slaps I had taken as a dreaded leaflet-giver, I was pretty exhausted. So one night my friend Emma and I went to see some folk music at Pleasance Courtyard. The gig took place in a small, inflatable dome - an intimate space that I wasn’t expecting when I (drunkenly) insisted on buying a muffin in the queue outside. Sadly, I ended up sat directly in front of the artist, consequently completely unable to eat my tasty looking muffin for the majority of the performance (minus a few sneaky nibbles).

The Folk music actually ended up being rather beautiful and amusing; I even didn’t mind holding hands with the stranger next to me during the closing number - ‘Auld Lang Syne’. I experienced my first and only sense of serenity at the Fringe. Then, I stood up and accidentally threw my muffin all over the girl in front of me.”

Lauren Fox Images by ALice Radcliffe IMPACT 218

51

ARTS

‘FIFTY SHADES OF GREY’ A BACKWARDS STEP?

Emma Charalambous

Everyone is talking about Fifty Shades of Grey. It’s the story of Anastasia Steele, a timid undergraduate, and her kinky relationship with Christian Grey, a millionaire with a penchant for BDSM. With speculation over casting for the proposed movie and a new wave of erotic literature appearing in the nation’s bookstores, women everywhere are choosing the trilogy over Booker Prize winning literature. Emily Shackleton and Sarah Vickerstaff present their different ideas on what the impressive sales figures say about the women who are responsible for the overnight success of James’ first novel.

F

ifty Shades of Grey is hitting headlines for its depictions of the kind of sex that excites Rihanna. Mr Grey has captured the hearts and hold-ups of female readers: sales of Ms Summers PVC wares are through the roof and women of all ages are devouring the trilogy like tubs of Ben & Jerry’s.

“He will make you swoon” my best friend assures me. But I’m not swooning. He’s a creepy loner whose red leather, S&M ‘playroom’ would make Angela Carter’s eyes water. Plus he has seriously bad taste in interior design.

But what is his impact as a male lead? Inside and outside the bedroom, he controls Anastasia. Before their sexual relationship begins, he asks her to sign a contract: she can’t sleep with anyone else, she can’t drink, and she has to ‘shave/ wax’. OK, she refuses to sign. Good. She then sleeps with the contract-wielding freak. Bad. I am for sexual freedom: go forth with your handcuffs. I understand who you are in bed is not necessarily who you are in life. And yes, there’s an argument that Anastasia’s sexual exploration has feminist connotations. But are women really fantasising about a man who whips out a contract before you bump uglies?

It’s worrying that my fellow young women, a generation who treat feminism like it is a dirty word, are swooning over a man who expects his sexual partner to relinquish all forms of control. Is this a relationship to aspire to? Is this not what we’ve been trying to escape since women wandered out of the cave?

Wake up, ladies. Let’s not undo the work of Emmeline Pankhurst, Germaine Greer and Caitlin Moran for a couple of chapters about a guy in a suit and a thrill in a harness.

Sarah Vickerstaff

52

IMPACT 218

W

ritten as fan-fiction of Stephenie Meyer’s series, comparisons between Twilight and the most recent literary phenomenon Fifty Shades of Grey are unavoidable. A handsome, charming man sweeps away an innocent woman. He is also dangerous, mysterious and irresistible. The first person narrative then follows the female protagonist’s internal battle of whether to stay or leave. Sound familiar?

Like Twilight, it also raises questions about women’s roles in relationships, albeit through hard-core BDSM, and has caused uproar amongst feminist thinking.

William J Bennett argues that a narrative which portrays a woman beaten, whipped and stalked obsessively “flies in the face of women’s progress…If this is progress for women, what would regression look like?”

So why do millions of women find Christian Grey so attractive? Like every bad boy, Christian has the promise of a sensitive side that gradually develops over five hundred pages. Who doesn’t like a man who always wears condoms, prioritises your pleasure, is ‘bewitched’ by you and doesn’t so much as tap you until he has your permission?

The novel appeals to the common female fantasy of having so much power over a man that they can reform them, and if feminism is about empowering women then perhaps Fifty Shades of Grey is not so far from that. There is also the large emphasis on the element of choice and although Ana’s choice to be a BDSM submissive can be abhorred, the right that she has to choose is essentially a feminist one.

So, if readers want to indulge in this fantasy of having a suave, passionate, romantic man in their life - as long as they endure his mood swings, secrecy, intense jealousy and occasional hard spanking - then I suppose they have that choice too.

Emily Shackleton

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF... NOTTINGHAM CONTEMPORARY’S HEAD CURATOR With Nottingham Contemporary right on our doorstep and showcasing a range of exhibitions, Kathy Noble, the Head Curator of the gallery, gives Impact an insight into a day in her shoes...

“

A day in the life of a curator is never the same. It could involve sitting in the office writing a billion different emails, or it could involve travelling somewhere in the world to meet an artist, or seeing shows and people for research. It could be a day of team meetings, catch ups with staff, or it could involve presenting future programmes to potential sponsors. It could mean sitting in the library reading books, identifying works for a big historical group show, or standing in gallery spaces with an artist helping them decide how to install a major new commission. Programme meetings are essential; future programmes are discussed and shaped from conversations about things we’ve seen recently or have been researching for a long time. But this is only one part of what is an incredibly varied job.

”

Did you always want to be a gallery curator? “I actually wanted to go to art school and be an artist when I was still a dreaming teenager. My parents refused to let me though, so I did history of art at Warwick University. I enjoyed some courses and despised others – for example, one specialising in bricks! It was only in third year, doing a course called ‘Art Within Walls’ I realised how much I loved contemporary art and how interested I was in how people experienced this. The course did not focus on curating as such, rather on how it was nearly always artists (apart from the odd visionary curator) who radically changed the way art works are displayed in museums and galleries. Now I’ve done this job for a long time, I still think artists have the best ideas!”

What path did you take to reach your current position? “I left University and was completely lost. All I knew was I needed to earn money and couldn’t afford to do an internship. I did a series of horrible jobs then went to Goldsmith’s to do an MA in Curating. It was a strange but valuable experience. It taught me that anything is possible if you fight hard enough. Following this I worked at the Arts Council and The Architecture Foundation then got a job at Tate Modern as an Assistant Curator. There I worked on numerous performances and commissions and was promoted to Curator (Interdisciplinary Projects). Recently I opened the new spaces, ‘The Tanks’, leaving to become Head of Exhibitions at Nottingham Contemporary. Becoming a curator was very, very hard to begin with. I thought I was a total failure and had no hope of becoming an actual curator. But with various sideways moves, a bit of luck and an enormous amount of hard work, I seem to have been able to do interesting things!”

Kiran Benawra & Lauren Wilson www.impactnottingham.com/arts

What is the best thing about your job? “The best thing is working with artists, having the freedom to have ideas and engage other people in those ideas somehow.”

Is there a downside? “The downside is that it’s badly paid, underfunded, takes over your life and the admin is relentless!”

How do you go about sourcing new work for the gallery? “With future programmes we weigh up a number of different things. Artists we find very interesting, both historical and more recent and emerging, alongside the overall shape of the programme that year, balancing solo shows, group shows, types of work by medium and content. We also consider wider issues such as scope of work shown from across the globe and balance of male and female representation. At the core is passion for the work we show.”

Finally, what advice would you give to anybody interested in pursuing a career as a Curator? “I don’t think a curating MA is the only way. I am not actually sure how useful they are in terms of learning – although they do provide a good network of contacts, which is essential. Two things I did that really helped were working as an artist’s assistant for a while, having very direct experience helping someone make work, and then writing. I write for Frieze, Art Forum, Art Monthly and various other magazines – writing regularly helps me process thoughts about art, artists and what is going on in the world; essential for having good ideas!”

IMPACT 218

53

FILM & TV

HOW TO DO CINEMA IN NOTTINGHAM Once you’ve arrived in Nottingham, survived Week One and had the challenge of staying awake in your first postsummer lecture it will be time for you to sit back and unwind by watching a film – but where do you go?

F

irstly, you don’t have to look far as the University of Nottingham has two film-based societies; The Silver Screen for your fix of the latest mainstream movies and the alternative Dark Celluloid. Holding weekly film showings in HALLWARD LIBRARY’S SCREENING ROOM and with a membership fee of a mere £3 this should be one of the first things you sign up for at Freshers’ Fair.

Or if that isn’t enough, you could just create your own films by signing up for Nottingham’s Film Making Society.

As for actual cinemas, if you are one of the many new residents of University Park the closest port of call would be SHOWCASE. Located on a retail park that looks like the setting of a George A. Romero film, the multiplex has had a something of a bad reputation amongst our contributors; the Dunkirkbased cinema has frequently suffered from technical problems during showings, from flickering lights to roaming attendants making the place a nightmare for cinema-goers. However, with the cinema’s policy of distributing refund tickets, just like the misguided teens of a horror movie, students might just find themselves returning for a sequel or two.

Moving a little further afield, THE SAVOY cinema in Lenton provides the perfect alternative outlet to satisfy your mainstream cinema needs. It really couldn’t be a more perfect venue; from the old fashioned show times’ board right down to the retro red velvet seats.

The Savoy’s aesthetic is the archetypal image of the cinematic picture house. However, the incredibly cheap ticket prices (NUS £3.80) leaves the little independent cinema constantly swarming with students, so it’s probably worth booking in advance if you’re considering taking advantage of Orange Wednesdays.

As for Nottingham city centre, located in the upper reaches of the Cornerhouse you can find Nottingham’s CINEWORLD. The cinema is your typical multiplex; it is big, flashy and overpriced. Furthermore, as an added

54

IMPACT 218

knife in the back it lacks the customary video arcade so you’ll have to seek elsewhere for a game of Air Hockey or Time Crisis 3.

All is not lost, though. Hidden away on Broad Street in Hockley, art house cinema BROADWAY has become a second home for Nottingham’s avid cinephiles.

With an interior that captures the faux eighties sheen of Drive and a downstairs bar that wouldn’t be amiss in JJ Abrams’ USS Enterprise; if The Savoy is the homely, classic example of a cinema theatre, Broadway is its slick, aviator-wearing cousin. What’s more, the staff are more than happy to let you take your alcoholic beverage into the screening room with you. The powers that be at Broadway are devoted to showcasing an eclectic assortment of films (from mainstream blockbusters to indie foreign films) as well as holding various monthly events, such as free screenings in the bar and a film quiz. And for a different cinema experience in the recently added ‘Lounge Room’, a small screening room designed to look like a sixties living room, you can enjoy a movie while submerged in a beanbag, lying on a sofa or, if you’re fast enough, in an egg chair (every time I’ve been someone’s beaten me to it). Additionally, in late October Broadway hosts the Mayhem Horror Film Festival, celebrating the weird, comical and the dark recesses of the horror genre, which is a must for any scary movie fan.

And finally, down the road from Broadway you can find the fabled SCREEN 22. Heralded as “the smallest cinema in Europe”, the 22-seat cinema is one of just a minute few locations in the UK to have Active 3D. Screen 22 hosts a mixture of old and new release, as well as holding an audience-picked film every weekend that can be voted for via the cinema’s Twitter and Facebook account.

Malcolm Remendios

DISSECTING THE BAT IMPACT’S TWO CENTS ON CRISTOPHER NOLAN’S DARK KNIGHT TRILOGY There have been many different Batman adaptations over the last fifty years: the hilariously camp Adam West portrayal in the 60s; the darker, more ambitious films of Tim Burton (the first to fully embrace the superhero’s gothic overtones); Joel Schumacher’s cliché-ridden, colourful contributions, and now the world has had the privilege to have been given Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy, a ruthlessly intelligent set of films that are now accepted as the highest standard of the superhero genre.

Have you ever heard the theory that each film in The Dark Knight trilogy is inspired by or similar to the film that Nolan made before it? It might not necessarily be true, but it definitely makes sense, and helps us to figure out what each film is about. Memento shows a man attempting to piece together his life after he loses his short-term memory - it’s about discovering your identity, working out who you can trust, and you can see the similarities in Batman Begins: Bruce Wayne becomes Batman by creating a new identity for himself, overcoming what he fears in order to fight what he hates. The next film Nolan made was The Prestige (for some reason largely forgotten), a film about magic, stage presence and public image, and The Dark Knight (this might be stretching it a bit) gives us the Joker and ‘watch as I make this pencil disappear’, and Batman chooses to sacrifice himself for the well-being of Gotham, taking the blame for the crimes of Harvey Dent.

So that just leaves Inception paired with The Dark Knight Rises – this is where the theory starts to crumble. Other than the sheer scale of both films, there isn’t much with which to compare the two. Perhaps it’s that in Inception the characters invent new cityscapes and in The Dark Knight Rises, Gotham is transformed into a different kind of city, one that has to unite in order to defeat the… Yes, it’s tenuous.

On a separate note, the third film of the Batman trilogy is fantastic. Remember the Bane that followed Uma Thurman around in Batman and Robin looking like a tiny Mexican wrestler. Tom Hardy’s Bane is larger, cleverer and generally a lot more imposing. He’s the villain who broke Batman’s back in the comic books.

His voice, if you haven’t seen the film or any of its trailers, is what Darth Vader would sound like if he were high pitched and ever-so-slightly British. Where

Christopher Nolan has succeeded most in this trilogy is in his casting of the villains: Cillian Murphy’s Scarecrow is calm, collected and charming; Heath Ledger’s Oscar-winning Joker holds the whole of The Dark Knight together, and now in Rises, Tom Hardy is so physical, so charismatic that you want him to appear in every single scene.

Bane is actually physically stronger than Bruce Wayne/ Batman. This is the film where Caped Crusader comes close to giving up all hope for both himself and the citizens of Gotham – the city is starting to fall apart and a revolution is just around the corner (a comment, maybe, on today’s society?). Relationships go deeper than ever before. Alfred gives Bruce a couple

of lengthy, heartfelt lectures – he’s had enough with his master’s reckless actions – and it seems Gotham’s had enough with Commissioner Gordon – he’s a war hero, but it’s peace time.

I’ve heard it said that Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy is the most consistently brilliant set of films ever made, better even than the original Star Wars, The Godfather and Toy Story. Or The Lord

of t h e Rings? Surely not – isn’t that blasphemy? The Batman films may not be the best trilogy ever made, but they’re very close to perfect. So much so that it becomes very hard to actually pick a favourite – all three have their successes, but equally have their failings, however small they may seem. Personally I think that if Anne Hathaway’s Catwoman hadn’t been in The Dark Knight Rises, it might have been improved to perfection; her character is unnecessary and poorly crafted. Other than that though, the film is definitely worth seeing – it’s the best of its genre and I’m guessing that all superhero films from now on will now try (and probably fail) to emulate this kind of film-making.

Five stars for sure.

Felix Taylor

ZZZ LPSDFWQRWWLQJKDP FRP ÀOP DQG WHOHYLVLRQ

IMPACT 218

55

FILM & TV

STAFF SCRAPBOOK TIME TRAVEL MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

SOURCE CODE

When you think of time travel, you think of Morlocks, Terminators and Marty McFly, not Woody Allen – he’s the king of miserable yet hilarious realism, not sci-fi. But this is sophisticated time travel. There are no inaccurately dressed cavemen or unconvincing Doctor Who aliens: instead, for some unexplained reason, an aspiring author (Owen Wilson) is transported back in time to one of the greatest periods in literary history – Paris in the 1920s. He becomes acquainted with the likes of Hemingway, Dali, Picasso and T. S. Eliot, and even gets Gertrude Stein to give him feedback on his unpublished novel. It’s the kind of film that makes you feel intelligent because you understand most of the references (unusual for a Woody Allen script). Allen’s writing is so good, so realistic, that now whenever I imagine F. Scott Fitzgerald, I picture Tom Hiddleston drinking cognac in a dimly-lit backstreet café. Midnight in Paris is less a comedy, more a love letter to the past: nostalgic, charming and a tiny bit inspiring.

Felix Taylor

Duncan Jones, son of rock deity David Bowie, burst onto the sci-fi scene back in 2009 with the quiet but astonishing hit, Moon. It would be two years until he released his breakthrough hit, Source Code, a time and genre-bending thriller about a soldier (Jake Gyllenhaal) who wakes up on a commuter train only to find the body he’s in is not his own, with eight minutes to disarm a dirty bomb located somewhere in the carriage. In a Groundhog Day-like twist, he learns that this is part of a preventative military exercise in which he must keep reliving these moments until he discovers the location of the device and the bomber.

Jones may have upped the action ante with Source Code, but it still has all of the smarts he showed us in his debut. His ability to successfully blend Hitchcockian thriller with complex sci-fi and a classic action story makes it an unmissable addition to the genre and hopefully a modern classic. I’ll let you know when I’m back from 2021.

Josh Franks

HARRY POTTER & THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN Alfonso Cuaron’s contribution to the franchise is arguably the best-made if not the one that most fans tend to reminisce about. Dementors, Patronuses, Gary Oldman – Azkaban was the film that introduced some of the most unforgettable elements of the series, moving in a darker, more mature direction. It was also the film that featured one of the more complicated creations in Harry Potter lore – the Time Turner, an hourglass necklace that takes the wearer back in time. In a brilliant example of the predetermination paradox, Harry views his future self cast the spell that saves him before going back in time to cast the spell himself. In doing so, he sets up the events of a linear timeline to keep happening repeatedly. Simply put, nothing really changes, but what a brilliant way to do it. Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban remains a complex blend of wizardry, both technical and artistic.

It was the first in the series that broke the generic ‘fairy tale’ approach of its predecessors, and in doing so, spawned the best storytelling the franchise has ever seen. Perhaps the biggest shame is that it is still the only one that involved Cuaron.

Ibtisam Ahmed

56

IMPACT 218

BACK TO THE FUTURE Widely acknowledged as a sci-fi staple, Robert Zemeckis’ Back to the Future, is the film that truly put Michael J. Fox’s name in lights. Although it was released over 25 years ago, it thankfully lacks the cringey aspect that usually goes hand-in-hand with 80s films, becoming instead, by great direction or simply luck, an almost completely timeless classic.

Despite its occasionally creepy incestuous overtones, Back to the Future has seldom been beaten by its successors in terms of wit, fun, and rewatchability; if you claim not to have seen it at least twice you’re probably lying and a Sunday afternoon on Channel 5 is hardly the same without it. The fact that a 1985 film in which Christopher Lloyd and Michael J. Fox turn a DeLorean into a time machine and use it to matchmake two awkward teenagers is still being watched (and adored) even in 2012 is a testament to how one single cinematic gem can truly withstand the test of time, which I suppose, considering its subject matter, is really, very appropriate.

Katie Woods

“I NEED YOUR CLOTHES, YOUR BOOTS AND YOUR ZIMMERFRAME.” Imagine you have travelled back 25 years; back to a time when Sylvester Stallone had the eye of the tiger, Arnold Schwarzenegger was a cybernetic organism and the action hero reigned as heavyweight champion of the box office. You probably couldn’t leave the house during the 80s without seeing an advert for one of the numerous Rocky sequels or hearing one of Schwarzenegger’s many, many memorable one-liners. At the advent of the 90s though, the action genre’s biggest stars began to lose their staying power. As Stallone and Schwarzenegger’s popularity waned, so did their critical acclaim, and they faded into obscurity and a bizarre political career.

Of course there are those who’ve enjoyed success despite advancing age through their attempts to show diversity: Bruce Willis has been a consistent screen presence in both the action and drama genres since he hit the bigtime with Die Hard in 1988, which has since spawned three sequels with another currently in production. Chuck Norris, who went from starring alongside Bruce Lee to being low-budget production house Cannon Films’ poster boy, ended up starring as the ranger with a mean roundhouse in the longrunning TV series, Walker, Texas Ranger. Little has been heard of him since its conclusion in 2001, although Norris’ popularity – at least as an Internet sensation – has remained stronger than ever.

As for the rest of the last decade, all seemed pretty quiet on the action front, with Schwarzenegger hard at work as the Governator of California and the majority of these other stalwarts’ films going straight into the Morrisons bargain bin, leaving room for younger stars to take the spotlight, such as Matt Damon in ZZZ LPSDFWQRWWLQJKDP FRP ÀOP DQG WHOHYLVLRQ

the Bourne franchise and Marvel’s many comic book adaptations. That was until Stallone re-emerged after the middling swansong that was 2006’s Rocky Balboa with a million-dollar idea – The Expendables – rounding up pretty much every major action star of the last thirty years along with the kitchen sink and pitting them as a crack special ops team out for justice.

And like that, everything changed. Suddenly it was okay to be 65 and still be built like a brick shithouse, unfazed by the thought of performing your own stunts. Written and directed by Stallone himself, The Expendables may not have been a critical phenomenon, but who’s complaining? It grossed over $270m worldwide and proved that the power and potential of nostalgic popcorn entertainment far outweighs our preconceived notions of age and limits of the human body. This year’s sequel has not only brought even more actors to the table (including new blood Liam Hemsworth and Jean-Claude Van Damme himself), but has garnered significant critical

acclaim and served as the jumping-off point for Stallone and Schwarzenegger’s newly revitalised careers.

As soon as Expendables 2 wrapped, Stallone went straight into production on two new projects, Bullet to the Head and The Tomb. In the former, he’ll play a hit man who teams up with a cop after their partners are killed by a dangerous assassin. A still has already surfaced online, showing the star in all his ungodly ripped glory. In the latter, he’ll play a mastermind structural engineer who’s framed and put to the test when forced to break out from an escape-proof prison of his own design. He’s joined by Schwarzenegger, who stars as a fellow inmate. That’s not all for the Austrian though, as he has a vehicle of his own on the horizon in the form of The Last Stand, in which he plays a former detective turned border town sheriff charged with taking down a notorious drug kingpin who’s escaped custody and making a break for Mexico, with the reluctant ageing lawman being the only thing standing in his way. Just like old times, right? And no doubt audiences young and old will flock in their thousands to relive the nostalgia.

It seems we’re being ushered into a new era where the relics of a time filled with good, clean AustroAmerican bad-assery may once again take centre stage. This viewer welcomes it with open arms, and you should too. I concede that it may take some time to get used to their weathered faces, but being over the hill has never been this bankable or, more importantly, entertaining.

Josh Franks IMPACT 218

57

MUSIC

THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO NOTTINGHAM’S BEST GIG ROCK CITY VENUES LOCATION: TALBOT STREET, CITY CENTRE (ON THE 36 BUS ROUTE)

CAPITAL FM ARENA LOCATION: BOLERO SQUARE, THE LACE MARKET, CITY CENTRE The Capital FM Arena, Nottingham’s biggest and most vibrant venue with a maximum crowd capacity in the region of ten thousand, stands alongside the nation’s great entertainment venues. Situated just on the edge of the city centre, the Arena is within easy reach for a broad range of events – namely music and comedy but also sports. The Arena doubles as the National Ice Centre - the home of the Nottingham Panthers Ice Hockey Team. Public skating and other ice sports are also available at the Centre, making it an extremely popular multi-purpose entertainment hub.

Over the next academic year, a full programme of bigname headline acts has been announced, with more expected to follow in the coming months. In the first semester the Arena will host a diverse range of acts including Elbow, Ed Sheeran, Keane, Nicki Minaj and Madness; followed by shows from Olly Murs, Jessie J and One Direction, amongst others in the second semester. In the next few months, comedians such as Michael McIntyre and John Bishop will hit the stage as part of their UK headline tours.

Ticket Prices: Gig Tickets range from £30 to £60 Chris Morris

58

IMPACT 218

Nottingham’s infamous Rock City does not boast the words, “THE UK’S BEST LIVE VENUE & CLUB” for nothing. Set in the centre of Nottingham, its 2,000 capacity gives it the personality of a large venue whilst still championing the intimacy of smaller ones.

It maintains the sweaty and dynamic atmosphere of similar venues such as the 02 Shepherd’s Bush Empire and Camden’s KOKO. Amongst students at the University of Nottingham, Rock City is best known for its club nights, particularly CRISIS on a Wednesday. Other club events include pop night ‘Love Shack Presents…’ on a Friday, alternative night ‘Hey Hey Hey’ on a Saturday and Nottingham Trent University’s night ‘2UNED’ on a Thursday. Aside from all this, Rock City is famous for its impressive and diverse display of live music, having been awarded ‘Venue of the Year’ by Kerrang! for 10 consecutive years.

Notable acts who have filled the stage include Ben Howard, Dappy, Shinedown, Gallows, Funeral For A Friend and A Day to Remember to name but a few.

In addition, others such as Radiohead, The Libertines and Enter Shikari have recorded at Rock City. One thing is clear – Rock City is one of the main attractions for any energetic partygoer or live music fanatic.

Ticket Prices: Club Nights range from £4 to £8; Gig tickets from £15 to £30.

Josh Levy

THE GLEE CLUB LOCATION: CANAL STREET, CITY CENTRE (NEAR BROADMARSH BUS STATION) Nottingham Glee Club is primarily a comedy venue, and it is for this reason that it is entirely different to your standard small gig venue. If attending a gig it would be foolish to just turn up five minutes before the headline act, as the Glee Club rather unusually boasts unreserved seating. It is therefore often the norm to turn up just after the doors open, take your seat, and suddenly be tempted by the menu in front of you. That’s right, the Glee Club also offers table service food with your music.

The gig should be visited for a fun chilled evening out, rather than an aggressive mosh pit session.

Gemma Hayes and various other folk based artists will grace the club in coming months. The best way to experience the venue is to go with a friend or two for the time the doors will open and enjoy a couple of drinks and each other’s company; before listening to some chilled out music. This has worked for me in the past and it provides a unique yet highly enjoyable gig experience.

Ticket Prices: Gig tickets range from £8 to £18.

Liam Coleman

RESCUE ROOMS LOCATION: GOLDSMITH STREET, CITY CENTRE

THE BODEGA SOCIAL CLUB LOCATION: PELHAM STREET, CITY CENTRE Located away from the venue-centric Talbot Street, The Bodega Social Club is arguably one of the more intimate venues in Nottingham. Previous acts include The White Stripes, The Strokes, The Libertines, The National, Coldplay, The XX and Wild Beasts to name but a few. Bodega is the kind of venue famed for showcasing stadium worthy acts in the days when only their parents and friends knew they made music.

So it’s a venue to watch, as its roster of acts always seems to read as the musical acts of tomorrow.

Upcoming acts include the London based “GloomPop” sisters 2:54, Danish Post-Punk/Noise rockers Iceage and Glaswegian Post-Electro outfit Errors.

However, Bodega is not only a venue but a nightclub as well; offering an exciting alternative to the more traditional clubs in Nottingham. With a heavy emphasis on Indie and Alternative Electronica, Bodega as inventive a nightclub as it is as a venue. Mid-week there’s ‘Electric Banana’ which offers an “eclectic indie disco musical mashup” for the more esoteric clubber looking for something different. Friday nights boast ‘The Pop Confessional’, Nottingham’s testament to guilty pleasures and cheap drinks complete with a vodka-dispensing confessional booth (no, seriously).

Ticket Prices: Club Nights range from Free to £4; Gig tickets from £7 to £12.

Ben James

Tucked into Rock City’s complex in the city centre, Nottingham’s Rescue Rooms boasts the most variety out all of the city’s venues with its many identities. It is not only a place to see live acts, it also hosts the best alternative nights such as ‘Pressure’ on Tuesdays; ‘Stealth vs Rescued’ on Saturdays (when it pairs up with neighbouring Stealth); and ‘Podium’ on Mondays, the acoustic night, for budding musicians to showcase their developing talent.

‘Stealth vs Rescued’ also has a great popularity with Nottingham students as a night where you can dance to indie favourites such as Arctic Monkeys and get free entry before 11. There will be a time when every music-loving Nottingham student will go there, either to watch a band; escape from the city’s usual nightlife; or during the big club nights, where it combines forces with its surrounding venues.

The most successful night of last year was ‘The Crisis Indoor Festival’ last June when Lethal Bizzle tore up Rescue Rooms’ stage in a large-scale event that involved Rock City and Stealth. Essentially, if you want a real sense of Nottingham’s eclectic, pulsating music scene then Rescue Rooms is your best bet.

Ticket Prices: Weekly Club Nights can be anywhere from Free to £6; Gig Tickets range from £8 to £20.

Emily Shackleton

STEALTH LOCATION: GOLDSMITH STREET, CITY CENTRE Since opening its doors in 2004, Stealth has established itself as a ‘musical mecca’ for all electronic music fans. Perhaps one of the venue’s best attributes is its small-scale 650-person capacity, which is spread over two different rooms; its size means that it is the perfect place to catch your favourite DJs or live acts.

Due to its intimate environment, the atmosphere of the club never fails, and if it does, they always have their enviable Funktion One Soundsystem to fall back on.

In previous years, the likes of Chase & Status, Dizzee Rascal, Andy C and David Guetta have all appeared at the venue. There are also regular nights that take place either weekly or monthly playing anything from Grime to Techno. ‘Dollop’ and ‘Detonate’ are two nights that can be highly recommended and prove popular with the Nottingham student population.

‘Detonate’ brings in the biggest acts in Dubstep and Drum & Bass, whilst ‘Dollop’ expresses itself as a night that focuses on forward-thinking electronic music.

Ticket Prices: Weekly Nights can be anywhere from Free to £5; monthly nights with DJ lineups range from £5-£15.

James Barrett

All by Sam Wordsworth

www.impactnottingham.com/music

IMPACT 218

59

MUSIC

SUMMER PARTY

SPLENDOUR

DOT TO DOT

Organised and run by our very own Students’ Union, Summer Party is an on-campus festival which takes place every year just after exams. It’s an opportunity for students let their hair down for one last time before graduating or going home for the summer.

On top of musical acts playing throughout the day there are DJ tents and a variety of stalls, all located on the Downs. Last year’s festival was headlined

by Labrinth and Wheatus and featured the likes of Delilah and Dutty Moonshine. Labrinth’s performance stood out as a particular high of the day bringing his blend of grime, hip-hop and chart topping prowess to the adoring crowd.

Comparable with Example’s performance for the previous two years, Labrinth struck the mood of the audience perfectly. Wheatus’ performance was equally exciting, the band famed for ‘Teenage Dirtbag’ providing a set which demonstrated they had more to offer than just the one hit. Complete with a Weezer and UB40 cover, Wheatus were more than ready to have as much fun as possible with their live show.

Although it may not stand up to the likes of Glastonbury or Reading and Leeds, year on year Summer Party is commended for its atmosphere and opportunity for students to celebrate the end of the academic year.

As university summer festivals grow bigger every year, Nottingham’s Summer Party still remains one of the premier events across the country.

Ben James

Some of the country’s biggest musical names arrived in Nottingham on 21st July for Splendour Festival in Wollaton Park. Splendour has always prided itself on providing leading musical entertainment for those of all persuasions, alongside exciting upcoming Nottingham talent. This year was no different: the lineup was topped by Dizzee Rascal, but also featured Razorlight, folk heavyweights Levellers, and Abba tribute band Bjorn Again; alongside local musicians such as Jake Bugg and Natalie Duncan.

There was little optimism about the festival in Nottingham in the week leading up to it; as torrential rain continued to plague the British summer, however out of nowhere the clouds cleared on the day of the Festival and there was ideal weather throughout the day. Wollaton Park is a beautiful spot in Nottingham whatever the occasion, however it was fantastic to see 20,000 people descend on the Greenland on a sunny day to enjoy superb music.

Thankfully the musicians didn’t disappoint either.

Jake Bugg opened the day in spectacular fashion before Bjorn Again certainly got the crowd dancing.

Razorlight, even with Johnny Borrell’s ego, reminded us that they did produce some brilliant music eight years ago. This was all then followed by this year’s headliner Dizzee Rascal, who did everything asked of him: play hit after hit after hit. Dizzee Rascal soaked up the crowd’s appreciation and the energy levels never dropped from beginning to end, providing the perfect performance for 20,000 exceptionally happy people on a wonderful day in a sunny Wollaton Park.

Liam Coleman

Now into its eighth year, Dot to Dot Festival has earned critical acclaim as one of the country’s premier metropolitan music festivals. Following a Saturday spent in Bristol, the festival, which now stretches across three cities over three days, arrived in Nottingham for the second leg of its pilgrimage north to Manchester.

As well as a host of emerging artists spanning indie rock, pop, folk and electronic, this year also boasted the Dot to Dot Fringe. This involved attractions from live film and open mic sessions, as well as vintage stalls and crafts across some of the city’s very best independent bars and cafés.

Despite an unhealthy dose of rain dampening the summer vibes and the customary sound problems that come with limited turn-around times: the festival, which spans six of Nottingham’s biggest venues, did not fail to deliver. Personal highlights included Wavves, who are representative of the grungier side of surf-pop, similar thematically and sonically to Yuck or fellow Californians Best Coast, but with a more forceful, arresting presence. Former single ‘Post Acid’ was a highlight in an unrelenting half-hour set crammed with two-minute pop gems. Australian psych-rockers Pond’s barnstorming Bodega set was one of the most raucous of the day, sparking bedlam to the point where even the band themselves were encouraging the crowd to cool off.

Jack Dixon

60

IMPACT 218

Emma Charalambous

IMPACT INTRODUCES: JAKE BUGG There are a lot of excited rumbles in Nottingham’s music scene about Jake Bugg. The young Cliftonbased musician has played guitar since the age of 12 and has developed over the last six years into the East Midlands’ very own Bob Dylan. It is very clichéd to put such prestigious comparisons on such fledgling musicians; however I dare anyone to listen to more than half a minute of any of his songs and not see the similarity. It is clear from the moment that his unique voice combines with the rootsy guitar on ‘Country Song’ or ‘Trouble Town’ that this young man from the heart of Nottingham is channelling Dylan’s sound.

There are more comparisons between the two: Dylan was also a raw young talent before releasing his eponymous debut album. However Jake Bugg is even younger than Dylan was when breaking into the musical scene and Jake’s songs already have more subtlety and nuance than Dylan’s early song writing.

The excitement about Jake Bugg comes from a city that has had to enviously watch neighbours Sheffield produce Pulp, The Arctic Monkeys, and The Human League, whilst never producing anyone notable of its own. However there is now genuine optimism that Bugg could become the first ever Nottingham-based

No. 1 musician in the next few weeks. His debut album ‘Jake Bugg’ will be released on October 15th, off the back of national hype stretching back to Glastonbury 2011. Since then it has been a roller coaster of a ride: ‘Jake Bugg’ was trending worldwide on Twitter after his performance on Jools Holland earlier this year; he has also recently supported Noel Gallagher and The Stone Roses. A particular area of pride for Bugg must be that his recent single ‘Lightning Bolt’ has been adopted by sprinter Usain Bolt as his theme song and was played in the Olympic Stadium before the 100m final this summer.

Add all of this to an EP of just four tracks reaching the iTunes top 5 recently and it is clear why everyone is starting to get very excited by Jake Bugg’s upcoming debut album. He has already sold out a massive homecoming show at Nottingham Rescue Rooms in November. With the way the seeds have been sowed, it could prove to be a very special homecoming for a very special talent, who could finally be the man to put Nottingham on the musical map of the world.

Liam Coleman

FORGOTTEN CLASSICS: 60FT. DOLLS Ask most people to reel off the names of some Britpop bands, and it’s likely that few will be able to name more than Oasis, Blur, and Pulp. Despite being one of, if not the finest, British musical exports of the 90s, many of Britpop’s smaller bands have regrettably fallen into insignificance since the decline of the genre. 60 Ft. Dolls are one of these forgotten bands, having supported the likes of Oasis and Elastica in their heyday, they never truly broke through into the mainstream to make it big.

While its sound shows a harder, more aggressive edge to some of their Britpop contemporaries, their 1996 debut album ‘The Big 3’ showcases all the hallmarks of great 90s pop rock – the melodies are infectious, the guitars are fuzzy, and the lyrics tell of everyday British life. Particular highlights include the criminally catchy chorus and jangling guitar riffs of

www.impactnottingham.com/music

‘Stay’, and ‘Pig Valentine’, which The New York Times named as one of its singles of the year in 1996. ‘Hair’, meanwhile, shows a slower, more melancholy side to the band. Despite the relative success of the album at the time, backed up by extensive touring, the band was plagued by alcohol problems and undertook their final tour in 1997; before releasing just one more album and subsequently splitting up for good in 1998.

It’s a shame that 60 Ft. Dolls failed to make a lasting impression on the public consciousness, and that ‘The Big 3’ has gone mostly forgotten. However, if you have any interest in bands of the Britpop era – especially those with a slightly harder sound – it’s an album that’s definitely worth a listen.

Will Gulseven

IMPACT 218

61

GRATIS

HEARD IN HALLWARD

OVERHEARING YOUR EVERY WORD AT ‘HEARD IN HALLWARD’ ON FACEBOOK!

They were so slutty we had to play ‘Rarely Have I Ever.’

We had to leave. Dave knocked a dude out for saying YOLO. There are so many beautiful girls everywhere...how can I study, where can I study?!

She’d be fit if she didn’t look like that.

There were three World Wars, right?

I fucking hate revising the menstrual cycle. It’s more complicated than girls themselves.

Look at him...he’s beautiful. I just wish he wasn’t Stalin.

You don’t just ‘go to bed’, darling. You work and eventually fall asleep.

That pizza we had last night literally tasted like STD. Is she the one who dropped out to become a prostitute?

He’s sitting in a graveyard all night writing his essay whilst eating a pie. He has just texted me now to say he’s seen an owl.

I failed my hand washing exam!

Mate, my strategy is to hope that literally everybody fails and they lower the grade boundaries.

[Trying to operate the printer] It’s like a spaceship...

Oh my god, she would have given birth to a centaur...right?

Sometimes when I sneeze, it tastes like Market Bar. That’s not that long! I haven’t had sex since the womb, when I was part of it.

You only need two bras: one for everyday and one for Ocean.

If you had to sleep with two girls with the combined age of 20, how old would they be?

Girl 1: Why are you searching for tips on long-distance relationships? Girl 2: This cute guy on Jubilee asked me out...

If I die at least I know that I’ve been on Heard in Hallward.

FRESHERS: WHAT’S THE POINT? Close by, there is a burst of machine gun fire. A chaos of noise ensues – bullets whizzing overhead, grenade explosions. Through the wall I can hear the panicked cries of a man, clearly badly wounded. There is a long period of silence. Then the sound of a spoon clanging against a mug.

This was the background drone that accompanied the entirety of my first year at university: my neighbour playing Call of Duty. He was not alone in procrastinating his year away. My friend took up afternoon naps for the first time in 15 years.

Once the madness of Week One’s over, Arts students can find themselves with more free time than they know what to do with. This is even more dull than it sounds.

Ocean and Crisis can occupy your weekday nights, but not the afternoons once seminars are over, or the weekends when everyone seems to just go home.

For Freshers, the solution to just ‘study more’ isn’t necessarily that simple. The ‘40%-to-pass-and-it-doesn’t-even-count-year’ poses a dilemma. I recently met a man who said his sole regret from university was working hard in his first year.

Once his hard work had effectively been wiped blank, he wondered whether he could have afforded to have a lot more fun.

But what if you’re paying £9,000 a year for your course? As Izzy’s lead feature explores [p15], getting value from your degree is in your hands. First year doesn’t technically count, but if by the end of it you’ve learnt how to tackle the dreaded pre-essay blank Word document, your future second-year self will definitely thank you for the practice.

I have a few regrets from my first year at University, but I don’t feel like I wasted the year. For one, I wouldn’t have been given this much rambling space in the magazine if I hadn’t been such a keeno two years ago.

Freshers, you will never again have this much free time or have access to so many opportunities. So do whatever you like – study, party, join Impact - just don’t sit in your room playing COD. Fiona Crosby 62

IMPACT 215

CARPE DIEM Over the summer it was my unfortunate duty to attend the funeral of Smilla, a student of mine. She had died suddenly, a heart attack while she was swimming on holiday. She had no previous history of heart problems and had been active in all kinds of sporting activities whilst studying in London with us. Bright, funny and curious, she spoke three languages fluently and possessed a startling intellect. At the time of her death she was thirteen.

At the funeral in Paris the priest did his best to comfort the hundreds of disbelieving mourners assembled in the church. An absurd death, he called it, even a cruel death. In his words, there was a constant reassurance that she was now in a better place.

To my mind, the father summed it up better when invited to the pulpit to speak.

Quoting a little known author whose name has now escaped me, he read, “The shortest lives are not necessarily the least lived”.

He was completely right. Although her death was patently unfair, even though she deserved the chance to become everything she had promised to be, she could never have been accused of failing to live her life to the full. Active, friendly, open and always seeking to better her knowledge, she lived a life in thirteen years that many don’t lead in a full lifetime.

We never know how much time we have, nor can we say with scientific exactness whether this is it or if we continue on after death. What Smilla’s tragic death brought home to me was just how fragile our own mortality really is. The life we get is too precious to be wasted – each day is another opportunity.

I’m not referring to the hedonistic idea of YOLO – instead the latin phrase carpe diem, seizing the day and making something special of our time at University. It’s all to easy to sack off revising for an exam or to choose not to join that society you’ve always been interested in, yet each is a chance to make something of ourselves that many people never get. It would be a travesty to waste that opportunity.

Ben McCabe

EDITORIAL TEAM EDITORIAL

WEBSITE Oscar Williams Fiona Crosby Ben McCabe

Editor-in-chief Editors

Web Editor Associate Website Editor

SECTIONS Thomas Mackay Kayleigh RenbergFawcett Lorna Stone

News Editors

Sports Editors

MANAGEMENT Managing Editor Associate Managing Editor PR, Distribution Secretaires

Helen Trimm Olivia De Courcy Francesca Garforth Rosanna Langton

DESIGN & IMAGES Design Editors

Associate Design Editors Image Editors

Martin Bassot Grace Mclaughlin Sophie Barwood Emma Hardiman Charlotte Albert Emma Charalambous Magdalena Steflova

CONTRIBUTORS Rob Moher, Ramsha Jamal, William Karkar, Matt Williams, Mike Butcher, Chloe Wenman, E.H. Caslin, Jenni Chattaway, Elliot Murphy, Ryan Brodie, Uncle Sam, Elizabeth H. Neep, Rebecca Scott, Aaron Mcnulty, Tim Winstanley, Emily Shackleton, Sarah Vickerstaff, Alice Ratcliffe, Nick Slater, Lauren Fox, Felix Taylor, Josh Franks, Ibtisam Ahmed, Chris Morris, Josh Levy, James Barrett, Jack Dixon, Will Gulseven.

Features Editors

Travel Editors Music Editors Film & TV Editors

Style Editors

Art Editors

Antonia Paget Ellis Schindler Emily Tripp William Cook Peter Klein Rosie Feenstra Sarah Murphy Izzy Scrimshire Richard Collett Helena Murphy Liam Coleman Ben James Joshua Franks Malcolm Remedios Grace Fleming Hannah Wilkinson Kiran Benawra Lauren Wilson

Science Editors

Stephanie Harris

Food Editors

Emma Drabble Phoebe Harkin

CONTACT Please contact us via email at: magazine@impactnottingham.com

Our office is on the first floor of Portland, Room C40

Impact Magazine Portland Building University Park University of Nottingham Nottingham, NG7 2RD Tel: 0115 8468716

Email:

travel@impactnottingham.com

chief@impactnottingham.com

food@impactnottingham.com

editor@impactnottingham.com

music@impactnottingham.com

managingeditor@impactnottingham.com

science@impactnottingham.com

website@impactnottingham.com

film@impactnottingham.com

features@impactnottingham.com

prdistribution@impactnottingham.com

images@impactnottingham.com design@impactnottingham.com news@impactnottingham.com sports@impactnottingham.com style@impactnottingham.com

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

arts@impactnottingham.com

Published by The University of Nottingham Students’ Union

IMPACT 215

63

OFFICIAL LOGO

Impact is online...

WWW.IMPACTNOTTINGHAM.COM Read by thousands of students every week, it's updated daily with breaking news, original features and exclusive reviews.

Got something to say about one of our articles? Join the debate on the comments section.

Find out more information about Impact including how you can get involved right now.

WWW.IMPACTNOTTINGHAM.COM