InQuire 14.7 Refreshers by InQuire Media

Kent Union Election 2019 Preview Page 3 Faris Alsayed Exclusive Investigation Shocking student ploy during Sargon of Akkad visit revealed Page 4

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On living in Gaza Page 14

The University of Kent’s Student Newspaper Issue 14.7 Friday 25 January 2019 inquiremedia.co.uk FREE

Where next for Britain? Uncertainty gathers as May’s Brexit deal suffers crushing defeat in Parliament By Bill Bowkett Newspaper News Editor

heresa May’s Brexit divorce bill was emphatically rejected in the House of Commons last week by 230 votes - the largest defeat for a government history - but survived a no-confidence motion to remove her as PM. Kent Union President Aaron Thompson labeled the vote on the European Union (EU) Withdrawal Bill as a “historic defeat” for the UK government on Facebook, with 432 MPs voting against her, many of whom were members of her own party. Thompson, who is also an activist for the pro-remain group For Future’s Sake (FFS), said the outcome “shows that this country has been successful in lobbying their MPs and lobbying government to vote down the deal as it does not serve the people. Now more than ever we must continue to lobby our MPs and stop this confusion and lack of movement. Let’s make a firm decision as a country.” The majority of Kent’s MPs rejected the government’s deal, despite the Prime Minister’s concerns that rejecting it would cause “catastrophic harm” to the electorates’ trust in politicians. Among those who voted against the proposals was Rosie Duffield, Member of Parliament for Canterbury, Whitstable and surrounding villages, who has been

The big yellow ‘Bollocks to Brexit’ bus made its stop in Canterbury on the last week of the autumn term, with Kent Union Full-Time Officers and University of Kent Chancellor, Gavin Esler, in attendance (Photo by @BollocksBus)

actively campaigning for a second referendum on EU membership. The 47-year-old, who was elected as the constituency’s MP in 2017 after displacing senior Conservative Sir Julian Brazier, said that she “cannot vote for any deal that will make my constituents poorer that will drive investment

Rosie Duffield MP “I remain committed to a People’s Vote, with an option to remain”

away” and will be voting “no confidence in Theresa May’s government” in “any future votes of no confidence brought before the house over the next few weeks”. In a letter written over Christmas, Duffield wrote to her constituents: “It has been confirmed by the Government’s own analyses

Aaron Thompson “Let’s stop this confusion and lack of movement”

and those of other respected institutions such as the Bank of England and the Institute for Fiscal Studies, that this deal threatens the economic prosperity of the UK. All outcomes currently on the table would leave Britain worse off.” She added, in relation to students: “Those leaving Canterbury’s uni-

Ruth Wilkinson “I have no confidence in Corbyn, who is only thinking about the success of Labour”

versities need well paid, secure jobs; this deal not only threatens livelihoods, but it threatens futures.” Miss Duffield joined Kent Union and Canterbury Christchurch Students’ Union President in creating a joint statement in support of a second referendum. It reads: “The consequences

Dr Phillip Cunliffe “Universities needn’t fear a No-Deal Brexit”

News

“A second Brexit Referendum would breed public resentment as well as fostering protest politics and extremism.”

Editorial Team: Editor-in-Chief Molly Hope

editor @inquiremedia.co.uk

Dr Phillip Cunliffe

Newspaper Editor Jesse Bedayn

newspaper.editor @inquiremedia.co.uk

Website Editor Daria Istayeva website.editor @inquiremedia.co.uk

News

Bill Bowkett

Newspaper News Editor

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Kent Union President Aaron Thompson speaking at an anti-Brexit summit in London back in November (Photo by Aaron Thompson | Facebook)

Jordan Ifield

Continued from page 1...

website.news@inquiremedia.co.uk

from Brexit on the University sector will have an effect on research and innovation, International student recruitment, Erasmus opportunities for British students and creates a lack of stability for EU students and staff. “Brexit has large ramifications on those in the Canterbury area: not only does Brexit tangibly affect the staff and students of all three city universities, but it also affects the tourism, local businesses and residents in the local area.” Kent’s only Labour MP also took part in the following day’s bid by Labour to overthrow the government but fell short by 19 votes, 325 to 306. Mrs May came out victorious with parliamentary support from both Tory-backbenchers and Democratic Unionist MPs who had voted against her Brexit proposals the day before. Over the past two years, the Prime Minister has been trying to decide how Britain will trade with the rest of Europe once the country has left the EU, but the events of the last 2

Website News Editor

Opinion

Koeun Maisie Lee

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Matt Nuttall

Website Opinion Editor

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Lifestyle

Katinka Pim

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Tiree Niven

Website Lifestyle Editor

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Entertainment

Emmanuel Omodeinde

Newspaper Entertainment Editor

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Matylda Makowska

Website Entertainment Editor website.entertainment @inquiremedia.co.uk

Features Corben Neyland Newspaper Feature Editor

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Ellie Fielding

Website Feature Editor

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Culture Maryah Chughtai Newspaper Culture Editor

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Shani Thomas

Website Culture Editor website.culture@inquiremedia.co.uk

Sport

Kiro Evans

Newspaper Sport Editor

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Megan Warwick Website Sports Editor

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Science and Tech

Emma Leach

Newspaper Science and Tech Editor

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Head of Photography Emily Heath

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Head of Marketing George Knight

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weeks have raised fresh concerns for the residents of the county and students at the University of Kent, as the 29 March deadlines looms. Business chiefs in Kent have also come out in anger over the delay, which according to Jo James of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, is generating “growing anger” among firms. “Basic questions on real-world operational issues remain unanswered, and firms now find themselves facing the unwelcome prospect of a messy and disorderly exit from the EU on March 29. “The overriding priority for both government and Parliament must now be to avoid the clear danger that a ‘no deal’ exit on March 29 would pose to businesses and communities across the UK. “Every second that ticks by sees more businesses spending money on unwanted changes, activating contingency plans or battening down the hatches and halting investment, as they try to anticipate a future that is no clearer now than it was at the time of the referendum result.” A No-deal Brexit rehears-

al in Kent two weeks ago, where only 89 trucks took part in trial of emergency traffic system designed to cope with 6,000 vehicles, was branded ‘a waste of time’ by critics and opposition leaders. A survey conducted by Survation back in December showing that Canterbury would vote for Remain if there was another Brexit referendum, with only 45% of respondents saying that they would Leave again. Many students are becoming impatient with Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn, who is demanding a General Election instead of a ‘People’s Vote’, with many members threatening to leave the party in a bid for the Islington North MP to take a stronger stance on the issue. Ex-Kent Union President Ruth Wilkinson questioned the Labour leader’s decision to put forward a vote of no confidence in the executive. She tweeted: “This isn’t a fight between left and right, a vote of no confidence will not help, a general election will not fix our Brexit negotiations. I have no confidence in Corbyn, who is only thinking about the success of Labour, to decide our future. People’s Vote pls.” Not everyone is on board with the idea of a second referendum though. 15 British academics, including Senior Lecturer at the school of Politics and International Relations Dr Phillip Cunliffe, have written a joint letter to the Guardian in favor of a “clean sovereign” no deal Brexit. The letter reads: “British universities are the strongest and most attractive in Europe. With a clean

sovereign Brexit, British universities get the best of both worlds. They escape the European commission’s shackles imposed through the withdrawal agreement and, like other successful third-party countries, can participate in EU programs like Horizon 2020 at will. “Now is the moment to tell the EU that the UK will be a close partner in academic research in the same way as 15 non-EU nation states are at present and that the UK will pay its way, as we did before. This is a winwin situation which does not require the UK to surrender sovereignty or accept destructive conditions.”

Future options? 1) No Deal Brexit 2) Second vote for MPs 3) Major renegotiation 4) Extend March 29 deadline 4) Another referendum 5) General Election 6) Another noconfidence vote 7) Parliament takes control 8) Revoke Article 50

55% support for remain in Canterbury (Survation, November 2018)

Kent Business Summit tackles Brexit and local economy By Syan Bateman Website Developer

n 11 January, academics, and delegates from across the South East gathered at the University of Kent’s Sibson Building to attend the annual Kent Business Summit. People arrived with a range of expectations – from networking to agreeing on actionable points that would help policy makers identify where the interests of business leaders and workers lie. The attendance for this year’s conference was higher than previous years.

There were seven talks in the morning, each lead by different industry professionals. The main theme of the day centred around innovation, tourism and transport, and each of these touched on other points of interest – such as how businesses will be affected by Brexit on March 29, protecting smaller businesses and last year’s encouragement of local employment. Vice-Chancellor Karen Cox said in her opening speech that “Brexit is something that we will have to deal with,” including the University of Kent which has campuses across mainland Eu-

Buisnesses are looking for assurances (Photo by University of Kent)

rope; such as Paris and Brussels. With 90% of businesses in Kent being micro-enterprises, they have been found to be the least capable of dealing with the expected blow to finances post-March 29. Businesses of all levels are preparing as best as possible to plan for Britain’s departure from the European Union (EU). Those in attendance agreed that they hoped Westminster would be able to reach an agreement on the terms of divorce. Helen Walbey said during the day’s

proceedings that “small businesses are the heart of British business”. Martin Meyer, head of the Kent Business School (KBS) told InQuire: “Kent is the place to be, to live, to do business, to study”. Aside from Brexit, the issue of housing was mentioned. According to Andream Markides, MD of Markides Associates, the county will have to build 2,000 new homes over the next decade, due to population growth. He insisted: “we should not be building housing estates, we should be building communities.”

Friday 25 January 2019 InQuire

Kent Union Elections 2019

News

At a glance University a ‘false promise’ for too many youngsters. According to the Onward report, 1 in 4 students in England are doing degrees that will not give them sufficient earnings after they graduate University

Kent Union’s 2019 Leadership Elections are set to take place between 21 January and 8 March, the winners of whom will undertake the full-time and part-time officer positions during the 2019/2020 academic year. George Knight reports.

Photo by Wikipedia

Canterbury is a hotspot for tourism. Last year saw the city’s economy grow by more than 8% and is now worth over £500 million

Photo by SFC | Flickr Photos by Kent Union

t 12:00 midnight on the 21 January, nominations for full-time and part-time officer role will open to any and all University of Kent students currently studying, regardless of academic year. The winners will then be sworn into office at the end of the 2018/19 academic year. For an explanation to what Kent Union does and who currently runs the institution, read InQuire’s guide to Kent Union at inquirelive.co.uk This year will introduce new Full-Time Officer and Part-Time Chair positions as a result of Kent Union’s Democratic Review. Although these changes were subject to protest by the Kent Graduate Student Association (KGSA), the Union Executive Committee (UEC) voted with a majority to approve the changes back in December 2018.

Election Process

he election process will take place over the space of two months in several stages. The nomination period will be between 21 January and 11 February. Starting the week of the 12 February, will be the Candidate Boot Camp. This will be available to all the candidates, teaching them about manifesto writing, budgeting and other areas important to running an effective political campaign. In the following week, between the 16 and the 25 February, can-

Election Schedule 21 January Nominations open 11 February Nominations close 12 - 15 February Candidate Training 25 February 1st March Online Campaign Week 25 Feburary InQuire Press Conference 26-29 Feburary KTV Candidate Debates 4 March Voting opens 8 March Voting closes & Results Night

didates will bring together their campaign team and prepare their manifestos: a statement published by the nominees in which they say what their aims and policies are. Following that will be Online Campaigning Week, 25 February to 1 March, in which candidates will promote their manifestos and aims to the student body across campus and online. There will be a series of debates during Online Campaigning Week with candidates going head-to-head in front of a live studio audience. The debates will be streamed live on KTV. Voting for the student body will open on the 4 March and will close on the 8 March. Ballots can be cast at the Venue, the Medway Student Hub and on the Kent Union website during this period. The results will be revealed on the evening of March 8 in the Result Night Event at the Venue. Anyone attending will need a student ID. Interviews with the winning candidates will be conducted following their announcements on March 8. Both CSR and KTV will undertake radio and video interviews with the individual winners just after their position has been obtained. InQuire will be conducting an interview with each candidate in week commencing Monday 11 March 2019. For all the latest on Election 2019, stay tuned at www.inquirelive.co.uk and on social media.

Editorial Page 8 Why you should nominate yourself, or a friend

New FTO roles

The University College Union (UCU) is calling for University

The Union President remains unchanged. They provide leadership for Kent Union working with and on behalf of students to ensure that the organisation provides the very support to students during study. They are responsible for the development of Kent Union and Chair of the Board of Trustees. The President is also a member of a number of senior university committees, including University Council and Senate and holds relationships with senior University staff and external stakeholders.

day, which would bring the UK into line with the rest of the world.

Vice-President for Education is to be become Vice President for Academic Experience. This position will be “representing the undergraduate experience in an academic context … fulfilling the union’seducation strategy”. Vice-President for Welfare is to become Vice-President for Welfare and Community. This position will “campaign to defend the rights of and improve the wellbeing of students’ but will now also work to aid in ‘local community-based projects’ and will ‘be responsible for Kent Union’s work on the environment and sustainability’”. Vice-President for Activities and Vice-President for Sports are to be merged into a singular role as Vice-President for Student Engagement. This position will combine the previous responsibilities of both positions becoming the “lead Officer for student groups, including sports clubs, societies, community action groups, RaG and student media”. They will be working to ‘develop’ co-curricular activities and will ‘work towards engaging’ students with the Union. Additionally, they will be working on ‘employability, alumni engagement and awards’. A new position Vice-President for Postgraduate Experience will be introduced. This position ‘will be providing the postgraduate perspective on issues which impact their student experience’. These include ‘national issues’ such as funding and support, ‘academic issues’ supervision, employability, satellite campuses of solely Postgraduate students, ‘welfare concerns’ such as ‘finance and housing’ and ‘community development’ like events and activities ‘out of term’.

applications (UCAS) to come after A-Level results

Photo by Canterbury CC

Canterbury announced

City Council has that the proposed

Canterbury West multistorey car park is set to begin construction next month, despite protests from campaigners and local residents.

...Do not forget the Part-Time Officers There are a number of Part-Time Chairs to be contested during the election period, including: • • • • • • • • • • • •

Black and Minority Ethnic Network Chair LGBT+ Network Chair Students with Disabilities Network Chair Women’s Network Chair Sustainability Network Chair Faith Network International Network Chair Mature and Part-Time Students Network Students at Medway Committee President Sports Network Chair Societies Network Chai Volunteering Network Chair

For more information on these roles and more, visit www.kentunion.co.uk

News Investigation

Antifa group chat exposed InQuire have seen private messages from a now deleted Facebook group chat, which included Kent Union officers. The group discussed intent to “bait people into being abusive” at Carl Benjamin’s controversial talk at the University, while ignoring requests from the Union to contact security for student safety. By Molly Hope (Editor-in-Chief) and Jesse Bedayn (Newspaper Editor) Research by Alejandro Javierre (News Sub-Editor)

Exclusive I

nQuire have seen messages from a now deleted Facebook chat which planned to demonstrate against Carl Benjamin by “baiting people into being abusive”, while ignoring requests from Kent Union to contact campus security for student safety purposes. Four Kent Union Officers and Part-time Officers, including Vice-President (Welfare) Omolade Adedapo, were members of this chat. The Facebook app shows that Ms. Adedapo, along with three other part-time Union officers, had ‘read’ the three messages concerning student safety, including those about baiting abuse. However, when questioned on their involvement, the Union officers denied seeing any of the aforementioned messages, saying they “would have reported it if they had”. Carl Benjamin, a controversial YouTuber known digitally as Sargon of Akkad, was invited by the Liberty Union to speak on campus back in November amidst backlash from various societies and the students’ union. A petition was launched by student activists in a bid to de-platform the 39-year-old, weeks before the event was scheduled to go ahead. According to a committee member from the Feminist Society, the petition was created by a “loose coalition of people from multiple societies and within the Canterbury community”. The group has been identified as

the UKC Anti-Fascists, organised in the Facebook group chat ‘Kent Anteefah Lads’. The group chat was created in order to clean up Nazi graffiti that was found on campus on 9 November, the anniversary of Kristallnacht. Members of the group included around fourty student activists, many of whom were committee members of the Feminist Society, Marxist Society, Labour Society and an associate lecturer from the School of English. Four Kent Union officers and Part-time Officers, including Vice-President (Welfare) Omolade Adedapo, were also members of this secretive group. The Facebook app shows that Ms. Adedapo, along with three other part-time Union officers, had ‘read’ the three messages concerning student safety, including those about baiting abuse. After pressure from the coalition of societies to cancel Benjamin’s lecture, the Union released a statement on 22 November, stating: “We recommended to the University that permission to speak be denied due to the views expressed by Benjamin in the past and our belief that, given the speaker’s controversial views regarding rape culture, religion and race, there is a high risk that the speaker would incite hatred on the grounds of race, religion or sexual orientation and thus that the law could be broken. “Kent Union’s trustees then separately considered the risk of our Society hosting the event and have decided that there is a serious risk that the law will be broken and there is a risk to student safety if the event goes ahead (similar events with Benjamin speaking at other campuses have resulted in violence).”

“I don’t trust the Union to be able to ensure our safety any more than security already there.” The University, however, “gave permission for the event to go ahead because of their legal obligation to uphold freedom of speech on campus but has imposed strict conditions, including the presence of a controlling officer”. After the University confirmed Benjamin’s appearance, plans were made by the group to demonstrate outside the event venue, Chipperfield Lecture Theatre. Despite the Union’s insistence upon safe and peaceful protests, one activist sent a messaged with said they intended to “bait people into being abusive”. The group also ignored requests from the Union to talk to security prior to the protest. The message was followed by agreement from three active members of the chat. On 27 November, a member of the chat sent: “The plan is to hand out leaflets with Carl Benjamin’s most virulent anti-Semitic comments and try and bait people into being abusive.” Another active member replied on the group chat: “Whatever you do, don’t appear violent yourself.” Nelle Porter, the President of the Feminist Society and the group chat’s administrator, told InQuire that their intention was not to incite violence. “We only assumed that, due to Carl’s nature and due to his fans nature, that they would end up being abusive,” she said. According to Ms. Porter and other members, they had considered the potential likelihood of a violent response from Benjamin’s loyal sup-

porters and that, “to ensure [their] safety”, the activists filmed student’s who were entering the event. Ms. Porter did not trust “members of UKIP to keep me safe”, referring to some UKIP and Liberty Union members who acted as stewards at the event; but the group did not, after being asked three times, speak to security or warn members of the Union of their planned actions. Though the group was aware and worried about potential violent or abusive backlashes from those who attended the event, they ignored three seperate requests from the Union to contact security to ensure their own, and others’ safety. On 21 November, a member of the chat received an email from Kent Union saying: “The head of security has heard about the protest and would like to have a chat with whoever is planning/running it. I heard that might be you. Would you be able to get in contact with him?” Security said they received no offer to talk before the event. The next day, 22 November, a second request was made to Ms. Porter by Union staff. She relayed to the group chat that the staff member had “said it will be a good idea to touch base when we know if the event is cancelled or not to talk about the next steps - protesting or changing the format or the event”. The member of staff told InQuire that the group did not touch base with her again about a planned protest. On the day of the event, 28 November, the group was again asked to contact security. Vice-President (Activities) Sasha Langeveldt, sent a private message to Porter, who subsequently sent it to the chat: “If there is any type of protest happening today, could you please let the

Union know so we can ensure your safety. Please email campus security. This doesn’t mean you’ll be in trouble.” After a discussion on the chat, the group decided to ignore Ms. Langeveldt’s request. The president of Kent Union and members of staff said these messages were not reported to them by those Union officers who were in the group chat. When questioned on their involvement, the Union officers that were active in the chat denied seeing any of the aforementioned messages, saying they “would have reported it if they had”. Porter said she “obviously knew” Union members were part of the group chat but was unconcerned that what was said on the chat could have been reported to other Union members. Kent Union president, Aaron Thompson, said protestors should “absolutely” tell security about protests and that “safety is our main concern at all times”. Though activists were aware of potential violent responses, neither security nor the Union were warned. Porter told InQuire: “[The] Union were not taking the proper precautions. I don’t trust the Union to be able to ensure our safety any more than the security already there.” At the event, no violence took place. The University asked security to monitor the event. Members of the group handed out flyers and recorded people as they entered the building. Later, Porter told InQuire: “[I] wouldn’t call it a protest. I would call it a group of students against the speaker who wanted to voice that. Protest is a heavy word.”

Friday 25 January 2019 InQuire

News

Union introduce gender-neutral toilets in Venue Photo by Kent Union | Instagram

By Ellie Fielding Website Features Editor

Extinction Rebellion cause “traffic mayhem” in Canterbury By Emma Leach Newspaper Science Editor

“Climate change: 12 years to save the Earth”

hese words were printed across yellow and green banners, alongside the Extinction Rebellion logo. The banners were held across the pedestrian crossing outside the Guildhall in Westgate on Saturday 5 January, in an act of peaceful protest. Extinction Rebellion are a new social movement, who aim to drive radical change to mitigate climate change by acts of civil disobedience. They formed in October of 2018 and have grown to become an international presence in just a couple of months. One of their first acts of civil disobedience was the occupation of five London bridges, resulting in 85 arrests. There have since been many more acts, from road blockages, to spray

painting slogans on buildings, to gluing themselves to railings. The road block in Canterbury was minor in comparison to some of the larger demonstrations elsewhere, with the protestors blocking the pedestrian crossing for carefully timed 7-minute intervals, before allowing some of the traffic to pass again. All age groups were present at the protest, with their hand painted placards, from families, to the elderly, to teenagers. Nicholas Thurston, a spokesman for Extinction Rebellion Canterbury said the protest was a “success”. “There was a really friendly atmosphere,” he said, “and so many people showed us support. “The police were really pleased with how it went, and the protest was peaceful - only one or two drivers got really frustrated. “There were two aims of the protest today. We wanted to raise this level of concern with the government and also make people aware, so they can raise their voices too.”

Photos by Jeztastic | Twitter

The “12 years to save the Earth” slogan comes from the findings of a report published by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released in October of last year. The report predicts that civilisation have just 12 years remaining to reverse the effects of climate change, with the future beyond 2030 being bleak and unreliable. The group have garnered support from academics. Signatories include Dr Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury. The three major demands of the group are for the government to be transparent about the urgency for change, to enact legally binding policies to reduce carbon emissions in the UK to net zero by 2025, and to create a Citizen’s Assembly to oversee the changes. With ith International Rebellion Week approaching in April, it is likely that Extinction Rebellion will be back in Canterbury soon.

ender-neutral toilets have recently been installed in the student nightclub The Venue. Kent Union announced the news on Facebook and Instagram with the hashtag “#ALLWELCOME”. The Union have actively responded to students’ needs by creating a safe space for those who need to use the toilet The introduction of Gender-Neutral toilets in The Venue has been an ongoing project that the FullTime Officer (FTO) team have wanted to achieve in previous years. Vice-President (Welfare) Omolade Adedapo has worked alongside Venue staff and Kent Union LGBT+ Part-Time Officers (PTO) to introduce the restroom. In a statement regarding this new instalment, Kent Union said: “We pride ourselves on being bold, inclusive and supportive of all Kent students which means ensuring that students are safe to use spaces in which they are comfortable in but also accommodating when using our outlets.” The LGBT+ PTO’s told InQuire: “We welcome and are pleased that Kent Union is committed to the expansion of gender-neutral facilities including toilets at our university.” The announcement received a range of responses, many of which were supportive and encouraging towards the LGBT+ community. President of the Feminist Society, Nelle Porter believes that “Gender-neutral toilets are the

future, helping transgender and gender non-conforming students, as well as cis men and women who are tired of segregation”. Porter told InQuire that she would additionally like to see sanitary products in male toilets on campus. Many students remain apprehensive on the idea of gender-neutral toilets providing a safe space. One Venue worker has said that “it will give drunk students opportunities to take advantage of the space and encourage and increase sexual behaviour between them on nights out”. Alex Ruggles, Secretary of the Young Liberals also believes this new instalment could be problematic. He said: “Gender-neutral toilets are unnecessary and superfluous; we have managed fine with gender specific bathrooms for all of modernity and will continue to do so. The issue is not so much with the bad idea itself, but rather with its ideological undercurrent, of a far left, cultural Marxist and anti-scientific agenda. It is just another example of the university perpetually pandering to outrage and demands from a specific group, rather than fulfilling its role as the facilitator of education and reason.” Kent Union have ensured students that maps of all gender-neutral toilets on campus are displayed in every student accommodation, to increase student’s awareness of facilities available to them. This has proven to be controversial, as one University of Kent student highlighted that the Canterbury campus map labels gender-neutral toilets as ‘disabled toilets’.

The LGBT+ PTO’s told InQuire: “We welcome and are pleased that Kent Union is committed to the expansion of genderneutral facilities including toilets at our university.”

Opinion

NUS in£3m deficit: is it pure incompetence? A 3 million pound deficit raises both eyebrows and questions. Where has all this money gone? What has it been spent on? How long has the NUS been keeping this under wraps? By Connor HanaganMorrissey Writer

ovember 2018 saw the National Union of Students announce a 3 million pound deficit. I say announced, but the only way the public and importantly, students, found out about this was through a leaked letter between the NUS president Shakira Martin and chief executive Peter Robertson. It was concerning when the NUS was struggling to sell its NUS extra discount card, but the scale of financial trouble had never been made public until now. A 3 million pound deficit raises both eyebrows and questions. Where has all this money gone? What has it been spent on? How long has the NUS been keeping this under wraps? The NUS’s mission statement is to represent students and the leadership is always keen to reiterate this. The student body that claims to be representative of student voice, however, has failed to inform them of the finances of the organisation. So would this leak spur the NUS on and force the organisation to present a strategy and plan to rectify this situation? No such luck I am afraid. Similar to the lecture strikes, the NUS happily advertise it’s representational and democratic credentials but remains completely silent when an issue arises. So far, we know the NUS has had ‘strategic’ meetings on the matter, but students do not know what they exactly involved. We don’t know because the NUS do not publicsh the meetings or minutes. They have not put any effort at all into informing students what the

discussions are and the strategy in conversation. It was the same situation for the lecture strikes last year, and despite my continuous attempts to contact the leadership, I was largely ignored. From what we hear, a strategy has been planned and one assumes this will be voted on in conference without the resolution being formally publicised through the website. What students need right now is transparency. We as Kent students and as members of Kent Union fork out £50,000 a year on the NUS. We deserve to know where money is being spent and how this bankruptcy appeared out of nowhere. If the NUS won’t tell us, Student Unions need to put their money where their mouths are and demand answers. And importantly publicising the NUS’s justifications to student populations. Accountability is key here and it is that the NUS is lacking. This freshers fair, the NUS in its capacity as Totum had a stall in Eliot college. So I had approached them and asked about the deficit situation. Of course I was not expecting a definite response because I was speaking to the representatives who were to sell their Totum product on behalf of the NUS. They didn’t know about the deficit nor could they tell me how much NUS pays towards ‘Totum’ services. But what they could say, in their marketing speech, is that the benefits of buying Totum discount card is that this money would be reinvested into the student unions. But this brings students to a further question, what’s the point of giving money to an organisation that doesn’t tell you where this money is going?

“The power of social pressure and anxiety is often overlooked when it comes to university pupils.”

Growing pressures for university students: will it ever end? By Lucy O’Brien Newspaper Opinion Sub-Editor

he new-year is often permeated with ideas of new opportunities, self-improvement and hopes for a better year than the last. For university students, however, the reality can be quite the opposite. In fact, pressures for students are only increasing. With final exams, essays and dissertations approaching, students not only find themselves having to juggle academic stress, but also social, mental and financial pressures. Most, particularly those in their final year of study also face the expectation of knowing what to do and where to go after graduation. The daunting question “so, what do you want to do after university?” still remains unanswered for many who do not yet know the direction of their career. That is okay. For many, this, compiled with the burden of balancing their studies, finances, jobs and social life, can put a massive strain on their mental health. After all, degrees are not as valued by employers as they used to be whilst more students are increasingly having to strive for better grades, more impressive qualities, and more experience in order to stand out from the ever-competitive crowd. Indeed, graduate prospects are not particularly promising. The Department for Education recorded in 2017 that only 65.5% of working age graduates are in high-skilled employment. Such entails having a degree no longer ensures you the prospect of a high-paying job. Naturally, the pressure for

Photo by avi_acl | pixabay

students to grow their CVs and further their education (and of course, their debt) is only building. It forces many to ask the question– is university really worth it? The power of social pressure and anxiety is often overlooked when it comes to university pupils. Most first years, for example, are still exploring the independence that comes with university life and the pressures of making new friends and living away from home. Some, even, sadly do not adapt well. For some, university can be more isolating and daunting than it is fun and thrilling. The Guardian reported in 2018 that the number of students who dropped out of university within their first 12 months of study had risen for the third year in a row. After all, with growing university costs, it is not surprising that for some, university does not live up to, at least in their eyes, its expenses. Of course university can be, and still is for many, an amazing, irreplaceable experience that is worth the crippling fees, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that these issues need to be addressed. There should be less expectation on university students to have their entire life planned out like a map. There should be more accommodating fees in order to help relieve the financial burden that students today face. And there should be more attention paid to the social and mental hardships that young people are bound to encounter. Then perhaps will we be on our way to truly understanding and dealing with student mental health.

Friday 25 January 2019 InQuire

Opinion

One step forward, one step back: the Belgium ban of religious slaughtering

PM May survives, but what happens next? By Amitesh Das Writer

he past week was nothing short of historic. After two years of uncertainty surrounding Brexit that troubled politicians, businesses, and the British public, Prime Minister Theresa May’s ‘deal’ for Brexit was rejected by the Parliament. The 585 pages-long withdrawal agreement that her cabinet drafted for Britain’s exit from the EU received an astounding response of 432 ‘Noes’ versus 202 ‘Ayes’, making it the worst defeat a government has faced since 1924. After this, Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour party, tabled a vote of no-confidence, which the government won narrowly the next day, winning by only 19 votes. With the deal rejected, but the Conservatives still in power, the likelihood of a modified deal, a no deal Brexit, and other outcomes have all increased— all of which, are unlikely to work. The prime minister’s plan B does not look like an effective plan at all. Theresa May has conducted ‘cross-parties’ in order to know what inhibits MPs to vote on her deal, change that, and then ensure that there are enough members to

support her amended withdrawal agreement. In essence, she’s going to ask parties what to include in her deal—which she should have already done. Labour, the only party that has the numbers Theresa May needs, has refused to comply with her until she removes the possibility of a No-Deal Brexit. Therefore, she won’t have the majority to get her ‘amended deal’ through. We can’t forget the EU, who say that they won’t extend the timeline of Article 50 to amend the withdrawal agreement. This means that even if she had a deal that would bring her support, chances are the EU will reject it. I see it as double-trouble for the Prime Minister: this route will put her on a road that will have a well on one end, and a cliff on the other. If the prime minister fails, it would lead to a No-Deal Brexit, meaning that Britain will leave the EU on the 29th of March without any agreement between them. Businesses won’t have any certainty about international relations for weeks and Foreign Direct Investment numbers would fall immensely. Just like what the Japanese PM said, “Nobody wants to see a NoDeal Brexit”. Even the Labour

leader Jeremy Corbyn, in support with the SNP, the Lib-Dems and the Green Party agree that a No-Deal Brexit is disastrous, and have written to the PM, asking her to ensure that this possibility is ruled-out. Another possibility is for a people’s vote on Brexit. This option also seems less likely, because neither the government nor the opposition support it. While Jeremy Corbyn doesn’t ‘rule it out’, the chances of him delivering on it are unlikely, because his party is divided on the matter. Time is running out, however. Another referendum will take time and risking a No-Deal Brexit is a chance neither the Labour party nor the conservatives are willing to take. Current protests, however, could change this as well. The most likely out of these unlikely situations is the PM securing another deal, one that passes through the Commons and the EU. Nobody, however, can be certain. Brexit or No Brexit, Deal or No Deal, the country, its economy, and the people will struggle temporarily. Just like all problems, however, this one will be solved - eventually. When that will happen, is a tougher question to answer.

Photo by Ilovetheeu | wikimedia Commons

By Olivia Warr Writer

n New Year’s Day, Belgium implemented a ban on the ritual killing of animals for Halal and Kosher meats. The new law went into effect in Flanders and is expected to be applied throughout Belgium in the near future. The regulation now states that animals must be stunned before they are slaughtered in order to eliminate pain. For meat to be Halal or Kosher certified, the Muslim and Jewish slaughterhouses required healthy animals being prepared in a specific way. For both religions, this practice has involved the alive animal’s throat being cut to drain the blood. On the surface, this ban seems to be a step in the right direction for animal rights. The intention of this ban is animal welfare, saving them from a potentially painful death. This ruling however, has not prevented animals from suffering. In fact, this ban will not increase, but may even worsen animal welfare. The fundamental problem regarding animal slaughtering lies in the effectiveness of the stunning methods. In many cases, instead of stopping an animal from experiencing pain, stunning the animals alive actually causes unnecessary suffering. A report conducted by Aisha EI-Awady found that animals are often stunned incorrectly, causing them to regain consciousness and then bleed to death in a painful manner. It is this inhumane result that the Belgium government should aim

to prevent. Furthermore, the conditions of slaughterhouses in general are cruel, and the cramped conditions lead to the brutal treatment of animals even before they are killed. The ban also demonstrates a misunderstanding of how these religious practices work. The methods of Kosher and Halal slaughter are meant to reduce the suffering of animals. Shechita, the Jewish method of obtaining Kosher meat, involves making a hole in a specific part of the jugular that causes unconsciousness and removes the animal’s ability to feel pain. This act can only be done by trained professionals who have studied for years. Traditional Halal meat is also meant to diminish animal suffering. The Muslim council of Great Britain stated that, “The brain is instantaneously starved of blood and there is no time to start feeling pain.” If done correctly, these practices do seek to reduce their suffering and contribute to enhancing the welfare of animals. Of course, just like the stunning method, mistakes are made and the practices occasionally result in abuse and animal suffering. The fact is, however, that both the religious slaughtering or the stunning of animals is in no way completely humane—making the Belgium ban seem pointless. Not one method of slaughtering is superior, hence substituting one for the other fails to prevent poor practice of animal slaughtering that lead to abuse and sufferings of animals. In a time of heightened religious tension, it is no surprise that this ban has caused backlash from the Jewish and Muslim communities in Belgium, regarding the followers being viewed as disrespectful towards animals. If the Belgium government sincerely cares about animal welfare, there needs to be a more effective way of stunning implemented with much stricter slaughterhouse operation regulations . The government should be advised to come up with less divisive solutions to enhance animal welfare whilst respecting the religious communities in the country.

Editorial

Nominate NOW OPEN! yourself for Union Elections! By the editorial team of InQuire Media

way to bring about change. If there is a specific issue that you feel strongly about, such as women’s issues or the s a student newspaper, we have a LGBT+ community, consider running unique view of Kent Union and its for one of the part-time officer positions leadership team. It is our responsibility and head up a network of students to hold them to account and our team looking to make a difference. is always paying close attention to the Running for a Full-Time Officer Full Time Officers’ progress, keeping role, a paid position, offers a greater the student body informed. opportunity to influence student It has become increasingly clear that experience for the better—whether having a group of students in office that that is in sport, societies, student are passionate and determined to make opportunities, or a host of other areas. a positive change here at the University The Election process is one that can makes a big difference to our experience be rewarding for nominees, even if as the student newspaper, as well as the they don’t win. Nominees should be experience of every student on campus. prepared for an intense few weeks of Whether or not you are a supporter online and in-person campaigning. You or a critic of Kent Union, nominating receive coaching and support from Kent PT_128025_UG_Survey_2019.qxp_Inquire AD 21/12/2018 Page yourself for one of the Full-Time or Union staff10:09 as well as1the help of your Part-Time Officer positions is the best own campaign team. Don’t be deterred

by the time-commitment, however, becoming a candidate includes extensions on your academic deadlines. Student representation is something that is close to our hearts at InQuire, it is what joins us together with Kent Union and pushes us to work as a collaborative team. The Union is a central part of university life. From running the on-campus nightclub, to tackling sexual harassment, it is the voice of students. Even if you don’t think you’re a natural born leader, but you care about students at Kent and are willing to work hard to achieve results, nominate yourself, we need you.

UNDERGRADUATE SURVEY MONTH Find your survey at: www.kent.ac.uk/survey #YourVoice

Lifestyle

Friday 25 January 2019 InQuire

Ancient Roman dating advice

By George Knight Head of Marketing

n our modern age, finding love should be easier than ever. In an interconnected world the opportunities to find ‘‘the one’’ are endless. Humanity, however, continues to suffer in the throes of such a powerful emotion. Like every person who has walked before us, we are experiencing being human for the first time. This was no different for the youth of Imperial Rome in the 1st Century AD, the demographic for which Roman Poet Ovid wrote his Ars Amatoria or The Art of Love. In this instructional elegy, Ovid attempts to teach the Roman people ‘‘how to love.’’ Roman love is similar, but also very different, to the present. Romans, for example, were more allowing of polygamy. Ovid quips: ‘‘only one girl: the gods forbid! A wife could hardly expect that.’’ However, they also saw the value in loving unions and doing them right; modern readers could surely agree. Some of Ovid’s instructions still hold value today and can be applied in a modern context.

Effort & Perseverance

‘‘She won’t come falling for you out of thin air; the right girl has to be searched for …’’ It is through our own effort that we will find the one that we seek. Ovid implies the ‘‘right girl or boy’’, who matches all of your desires, must be sought out. The search is hard, but Ovid stresses perseverance; love is the pursuit. He likens it to conflict: ‘‘Love is a kind of warfare. Slackers, dismiss! … Night and winter, long roads and cruel sorrows, and every kind of labour are found on love’s campaigns.’’

Eloquence, Manner, and Presentability

‘‘Youths of Rome, learn the noble arts … a woman will give her hand, won by eloquence.’’ Ovid demands one learns the ‘‘noble arts’’ like language and manners. Being crude and impolite will not get you far. Instead, charm and generosity will gain you ground, for both genders. Be kind, for ‘‘gentleness especially impresses minds favourably, harshness creates hatred and fierce wars.’’ Watch your dress and appearance, Ovid advises. ‘‘Neatness pleases … a body tanned from exercise … well fitting’’ clothes and avoidance of ‘‘bad breath exhaled from unwholesome mouth’’ are the best approach.

Have Interests: ‘‘Gifts of Mind’’ ‘‘A sweet form is fragile … time itself eats it away. Violets and open lilies do not flower forever … nourish mind, which lasts, and adds to beauty: it alone will stay till the funeral pyre.’’ Knowledge and interests are some of the only things that we hold with us as we age. Would you not want someone who shares these interests? Especially someone you

Squash those New Year pressures T

will grow old with? Shared interests are an alluring feature that tracts others, but it is also the connection that forms the cornerstone of meaningful relationships.

Patience

he period after New Year’s Eve can be a strange experience. Suddenly the Christmas excitement is over in a dazzle of crackers, party hats, and over-indulgence. People try to recapture the magic, celebrating the fact that the planet has survived another year. But it’s just not the same as Christmas, no matter how hard they try to distract themselves with party poppers and countdowns. And when the glitter settles and the new year actually begins, you’re faced with the realisation that you’re now expected to start bettering yourself, so this coming year can be the best one yet. Why do we have this obsession with changing ourselves at New Years? It’s helpful to have a starting point for something, that’s understandable, but still, an arbitrary milestone is arbitrary. We might as well choose Easter or the summer solstice for all the actual power the new year holds. There’s so much pressure to change things, and it never seems to work. If we stumble or hit a wall, it’s like we’ve blasphemed against the New Year gods, who’ll now never forgive us, so we might as well recant entirely and wait until next year. Maybe instead of looking to change x, y, or z, we should just Matteo Vistocco | Unsplash start accepting ourselves for who we are. That sounds trite and a bit lazy, but think about it. How many

‘‘Love’s pleasure’s not be hurried, but to be felt enticingly with lingering delays …’’ Giving time and slow progression can offer a more fulfilling result. The later stages of the relationship which you work to obtain gain value due to the effort taken to get them. By also spreading out the experience, you are also prolonging the relationship and creating one which is held together by personality. rawpixel | Unsplash

By Alice Smales Writer

resolutions have you started because you felt like you should do the thing—lose weight, start running, cut out chocolate—because you felt like there was something vaguely wrong with how you were currently living your life? How many of those resolutions did you actually keep, how many became habits, how many actually enriched your life in a way that mattered? I’m not saying don’t try and change. To be alive is to change, and if you don’t embrace it then you’re going to stagnate like a muddy puddle. Change is terrifying, and fun, and awful, and heart-breaking, and amazing. It’s a rough ride. But what’s the point of forcing yourself to meet some societal goal that you don’t really care about, but feel you need to pursue because of this niggling feeling that if you’re happy with your life and yourself then you’re actually doing something wrong? I don’t care what your New Year goals are. If you want to get fit, then great, join a gym and invest in a good quality protein powder. If you want to cut out junk food, then I can recommend you a great recipe for vegan shepherd’s pie. But think about what you’re actually trying to do. Are you trying to improve yourself because you want to, or are you trying to feel better about yourself because our society thrives on making us feel like crap? Cut out chocolate because you want to take a break from refined sugar. Start lifting weights because you want to feel strong and in control of your own body. But don’t do anything because you feel you have to. Artist Caroline Caldwell said: ‘‘In a society that profits from your self doubt, liking yourself is a rebellious act’’. So be a rebel. Push back. Think about what you want and who you are, not who you think you should be.

The contraceptive pill: a darker reality

ike most girls, I suffered with piercing period cramps and PMS at a young age, so I understand why so many turn to the contraceptive pill in their early teens. The freedom it gave me was liberating, until my views were abruptly changed. At the age of 17 I suffered a mental breakdown, and had to take a year out between A-levels. I was relying on both a strong dose of anti-depressants and psychiatric help, and although I still struggled, I was kept afloat by the support I was receiving. It carried on this way through the remainder of my time at university, until something changed. I realised that I hadn’t taken my medication in over a week, and felt okay. I’d been sleeping less and was much happier. I’d recently switched to the implant, primarily because I was suffering from thrush, and found out that the synthetic oestrogen in the combined pill was linked to higher yeast production. The implant is progesterone only, whereas the combined pill has both oestrogen and progesterone. My question: was my depression caused by the pill? Menstruation Research states that “girls who take synthetic pseudo-hormones via the

By Amy Cooper Writer

pill lose the ability to produce their own hormones.” They recommend that girls between the ages of 12-15 don’t take hormonal contraception due to the risk of depression. According to the NHS, the combined pill has a 99% success rate as a method of contraception. They state that the minor side effects include: •Mood swings •Nausea •Headaches As well as a low, but notable risk of: •Blood clots •Cervical Cancer Is my depression a 6-yearlong mood swing? Petersen et al claims that the cognitive “side effects of hormonal contraceptives have been only minimally explored”. It is clear more research into its effects need to be conducted. I urge anyone reading this to do their own research on their contraception and question its overall efficacy. The pill can be a lifesaver, but the routine checks were not enough for any medical professional to determine a causal relationship between my depression and the combined pill. All I had were the 15-minute consultations about contraception. Is this enough to make a potentially life-altering decision?

Was my depression caused by the pill?

Lifestyle

Five go-to

Food C

freezable student meals By Morgana Connor-Bennett Food Sub-Editor

2 . Chillies are a favourite winter food of mine, as they

Dragne manus | Unsplash

are so easy, simple and yet filling. Some chillies can take some time to cook so you will need to be patient with this one. If this is something you will do often it could be worth investing in a slow cooker so that you can leave it cooking while you attend classes.

1. Curry 1sauce . Whether you decide to use out of a jar or make one your-

self, curries have a large variety of flavours to choose from and they don’t all have to include meat. Some of my favourites to make are Chicken Korma, Chicken Tikka Masala, Potato with chickpea and spinach, and Sweet potato and red lentil.

Lachkan Donald | Flickr

3. Lasagne

ooking can be one of the biggest challenges at university for a student. Not only is food shopping expensive at times but cooking the meals themselves can be a struggle, especially if you have a busy week ahead. When you want to just come home, chill out and not worry about cooking dinner, it’s best to have something made ready in either your fridge or freezer. Below are 5 easy meal ideas that are safe to freeze, and can

4 . Once again Bolognese does not require much effort if you

buy a pre-made jar of sauce. In addition, a Bolognese does not have to be eaten with pasta if you don’t want. Simply freeze by itself and you can use it to make other meals or simply eat it by itself.

each be made vegetarian. These are all relatively easy to make and delicious. The key is to make them in big batches and split them up into separate containers, so later on you have individual meals saving you a lot of time. In addition to that, if you ever get bored with the same old ones, you can always experiment a little with your spices or simply jump online to find some new twists on your favourite dish.

Wikipediacommons

5. Stir fry

3 . Lasagnes are one of the . Stir fries can be trickier to 4. Bolognese 5 best meals to cook and freeze freeze, especially when it comes to 2. Chilli deepdarksquid | Flickr

because one lasagne can make at least 4 meals. It doesn’t require a massive amount of effort either if you don’t want, as you can buy the jars of sauce and simply assemble it together before baking.

Eiliv Sons Aceron | Unsplash

the vegetables you use. They are great, however, owing to the variety they provide. With stir fries you can add whichever kind of protein you prefer, and keep changing it for diversity. Some popular choices include; chicken, beef, seafood (prawns or shrimp), and tofu.

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Friday 25 January 2019 InQuire

Travel

Lifestyle

Being a tourist in your own city: a day out in

Canterbury

Geograph

hen life gets a bit stressful it’s great to be able to plan a break away. Sadly, booking a long-weekend in a European city is not always possible. You can, however, be a tourist in your own city. Canterbury is a beautiful, historic town, with hidden gems

By Molly Hope tucked away that, Editor-in-Chief even after being here for three years, I have only just discovered. Taking a day to be a tourist in your own city can be a great way to temporarily escape the pressures of university life and focus on yourself. If you’re looking for some hints and tips, here are a few spots I’ve discovered over the last few years that you may want to add to your itinerary. For starters, move away from the main high street. Shopping in Whitefriars is a good day out, but if you’re attempting to be a tourist, it’s best to avoid the main stretch and head to the back streets. Canterbury’s back streets take on a whole new atmosphere, rather than dodging large crowds and browsing chain stores you’re suddenly strolling down half-empty cobbled streets and peering in to quirky bookstores and pretty café’s, with the Cathedral hovering over you. The Cathedral is a huge tourist hot spot in Canterbury, but it’s surprising how many students who live here have never been. Showing your Kent student ID at the entrance will give you free

Rachel Phipps

entrance, so why not start your tourist day by wandering through the Cathedral as if you were in a completely new European city. Afterwards you could stop off at the Chocolate Café and grab yourself a hot chocolate (the best in Canterbury) and a piece of cake. It’s a great café to go to if you’re by yourself— they have good internet connection for working and comfy chairs for reading. Next, head down the King’s Mile, full of unique shops and cafés to wonder in and out of. One of my favourites is The Cheese Shop, an essential stop for all cheese-lovers. Run by the lovely Julie, she offers affordable, delicious cheese and warm, freshly baked bread that you can either take away or sit and eat in the back of her quaint store. Further down the King’s Mile, residing in an ancient building and sharing its space with a museum, is a shop called Unboxed that is well worth a visit. A food store might seem like an odd place to go to, but not only does Unboxed boast a stunning location, it is also a zero waste store. Inside is a pick ‘n’ mix of

healthy foods and, downstairs, a wide array of zero-waste, natural products including bamboo toothbrushes and natural soaps. It is truly a unique shop, with low prices for what they offer. At the end of the King’s Mile sits a true gem. The Catching Lives Bookstore is in one of the most beautiful buildings in Canterbury, the aptly named ‘crooked house’. It tilts out over the road and you have to duck your head as you pass through the wonky door. Inside, is a huge selection of second-hand books that you could spend hours browsing. For only £2.50 you could have a ‘blind date with a book’: a selection of books wrapped in brown paper and a short description written on the front. This beautiful and personalised idea is a great way to try out books you may not have read before. These are just a few of the many incredible little spots to explore all over Canterbury. Taking the time for days like this allows us to look at Canterbury with new eyes and appreciate the city we live in.

City breaking: Travel abroad J

anuary not only brings a new lease of life, but also tops up our bank balances from the new round of student finance to any parttime work done over the Christmas holidays. When motivation levels are at an all-time high, hopefully coinciding with our bank balances being the highest they will be this term, January is the perfect time to pre-book a city break. Travelling may seem like a luxury, but city breaks offer culture and new experiences on a budget. Below are five tips on how to be frivolous when booking a getaway •Hotels are expensive, the fees they charge have to accommodate the service charge of their staff members. Instead of going to a hotel, websites such as Airbnb offer accommodation at a significantly discounted rate. Airbnb creates a tool that brings together individuals looking to book a holiday and individuals wanting to rent their property. With homes all over the world and verified reviews, Airbnb provides a reliable option to stay in the centre of a city, without the cost burden of a hotel. •Going on a city break often includes visiting key tourist attractions in that city, however the prices of these can often be a strain financially. Surprisingly, being a student (aged under 26) is the cheapest time to visit—savings such as half price on the Eiffel Tower with a youth discount ticket and free entry to the Louvre on Friday evenings, makes tourist attractions financially possible. •New cities can be difficult to navigate on foot, so making use of public transport can be an efficient use of time, and apps such as

Citymapper make navigating new cities easier than ever. The UK has some of the highest public transport rates in Europe, making public transport outside of the UK extremely viable on a student budget. So many cities offer a range of unlimited riders, for example, day riders in Rome to tram passes in Oslo. These riders can be pre-booked on the city’s website usually a month in advance and are a great way to save on the cost of travel. •With the majority of expenses made possible to be booked in advance, food and drink is one of the few unavoidable purchases a tourist will have to make on holiday. A key tip to reduce this cost is to avoid restaurants and bars near tourist destinations. Although they may seem more convenient, prices inflate in correspondence with the popularity of an area. Using websites such as TripAdvisor, which includes a whole page dedicated to cheap eats per city, is a great way to find well-reviewed meals away from tourist destinations. •Booking in advance is probably my most important tip when going on a city break. Pre-booking flights months ahead by using websites such as Skyscanner will find you the cheapest ticket for the dates you wish to go. Planning a rough itinerary for each day will also allow you to work out a budget per day. •City breaks offer new experiences, new cultures and allow you to meet a wide range of people. Student budgets do not have to be restrictive, with these key tips globe-trotting can be made possible – just remember to prebook.

on a student budget

By Alice Tomlinson Writer

rawpixel | Unsplash

Feature

Fighting for a home “I went through the wars of 2008, 2012, and 2014. I have survived all of them - but I still have family who are living there.” By Timea Koppandi Arts Sub-Editor

“

I’ve lived in Gaza for 15 years, most of my life, and seen the effects of the conflict there: unfortunately, I had friends who joined Hamas, I had a classmate, his entire family died—the Israelis said they were defending themselves but in the process of destroying the terrorist tunnels, as they call them, in Gaza they killed civilians on the way.” There are always unseen sides of a conflict, especially with a conflict that has been present for a long time such as the Israel – Palestine conflict. Many have suffered and the issue is still restless, however Kent Liberty Union, Kent Jewish Society, and the Kent Palestinian Society sought to bring the two opposing sides to the table for a discussion, hosting Michael Freeman as the Israeli representative and Meisoon Elshorafa as the Palestinian representative. Having attended the Israeli – Palestinian discussion on the 5th of December, Faris Alsayed was eager to share his own opinions and experiences from living in Gaza— however, he felt there was not enough opportunities for him to begin a discussion with the Israeli representative. His ardent desire to speak was evident during the Q and A session and he had a very good reason for it. “I went through these three wars (2008, 2012, and 2014). I have survived all of them. That is the reason why I was dying to speak. That’s why I wanted to talk about Gaza as well, because I still have family and friends

who are living there.” There is the persisting issue of those that remain trapped in the Gaza Strip and the suffering of those who are denied freedom, a matter which Faris wished to bring forth.

Photo by InQuire His initial reaction to the meeting was that of excitement. “It doesn’t happen very often: a meeting between Palestinian and Israeli officials. Palestinians, furthermore, have their voice silenced, especially Palestinians who are still in Palestine. This is an opportunity for us to talk for the people who can’t express their views.” He was also “very excited to hear the other side’s views.” However, it turned out to be rather disappointing for him, due to the manner in which Freeman replied to

his questions. The tension in the room was overwhelming and Freeman responded to his questions with stock phrases and repeated arguments, leaving many of them unanswered. Many aspects of the conflict were touched upon during the discussion, including the limitations that are forced on Palestinians by the Israeli government, which challenge the safety of the life of the civilians on both sides. “The people who suffer the most are civilians. It’s not really a war because there is no balance of power.” The possibility of peace has also been brought up and Faris stated that he has “always believed that peace can happen but every day I see the policies of the Israeli government against the Palestinians, against peaceful protests in Gaza, against journalists and medics. And I just keep losing faith. I am hoping to live in peace, even though I don’t see it happening anytime soon.” If peace is truly intended by Israel, it “has to give up more than they have claimed to give up. They haven’t given up anything really. We are left with very small pieces, the Gaza and the West bank. If you really are keen on maintaining the peace then you just don’t go on and take more land.” On the issue of Hamas which both Elshorafa and Freeman touched upon, we are given an insight into the drama of the civilians, the difficulties that they have to deal with and the reasons why some might join Hamas. “People join out of depression, out of revenge. When you’re hopeless and you have nothing to believe in, you will believe whatever they throw in front of you, and this is one of the

reasons extremism still arises in the area.” It has reached a point where the confinement that the people in the Gaza strip face, has led to the uprising of extremist forces. There is also an arising and alarming issue of the liberties that Israelis take into Palestinian territories. “The Palestinian authority gave up most of its land through Israel’s annexation of the West Bank. So Israelis can get in with their jeeps and kidnap children, or people that they consider suspicious, and take them to the Israeli military court while the Palestinian police or authority are not be able to do anything about this.” The injustice that has been committed in this manner is, in many cases, invisible to the eyes of the public. For a war that has been prominent in current affairs, there are many countries which take no notice of this dispute and do not educate their populations about it—increasing the likelihood of atrocities being committed without prosecution. The truth of the war lies somewhere in between, for both sides have different stories, reasons and intentions, both equal in strength of the belief of certainty . The best way to understand what is truly going on is “to visit”. “Visit the place, and go into the Palestinian territories, because once you visit Israel they will tell you that ‘there is a lot of terrorism, a lot of extremists’ but that is not the case.” When asked whether Palestinians and Israeli people get along or would ever be able to reach a state of friendship, Alsayed narrates a personal story, involving a Jewish classmate during his studies in England. “I didn’t like it at first but then we got along. We

e in Gaza

is a family death. They don’t allow visits, unless it is an extreme case. To this day, we don’t have an airport, we don’t have a seaport. Fishermen are denied the ability to go fishing after 6 miles. There is a blockade, there is a siege. Freeman said they withdrew from Gaza in a peaceful manner to give the people the land back, but then Hamas startled smuggling weapons. And I wanted to tell him, that you as a country, who have spent billions of dollars with the help of the Americans on nuclear weapons, air forces, naval forces and armed forces, are afraid of homemade or handmade rockets.” “We’ve suffered in large numbers. If something happens to an Israeli citizen you see it all over the news, but if it’s a Palestinian, is just a matter of numbers now. People just see it all the time. It’s wrong. Freeman spoke of Palestinians being given rights however, we are deemed as second class citizens and don’t get to vote. And the rest of the Israeli Arabs in Jerusalem are being heavily taxed in order to leave their houses to maintain Jewish majority in the area.” Of course, there are many despondent stories of the conflict and the pain coming from both sides, and this is just one of, but there are countless of stories like Faris’s, some with a far worse outcome. This story is part of a conflict that has been initiated by victims trying to find a home, stripping other people of their culture and land. A story in which you cannot easily point out the villain, a conflict which is complex and requires complex answers. But the beginning of the conflict is simple: it started with the importance and necessity of a home.

Photo by Majdi Fathi| NurPhoto|REX

didn’t really become friends even though we had common friends. Personally, for me there was always a difference.” What made the most heart-breaking distinction between the two was that “she was able to go back home every weekend or so, while I cannot return to Gaza.” It is not the identity or the culture of the Israelis nor of the Palestinians that maintains the conflict. It is the need of a home, a place to which they can link their culture, memories of traditions and habits. As Faris claims, “my problem as a Palestinian is not with Jews. I am not a man of religion, I respect everyone’s beliefs and religious views. My problem is with Israeli’s who support the occupation, the continuous mistreatment of the Palestinians and the land.” “There has always been tension around the Palestinian and Israeli conflict but I believe the more we talk about it the more people know about these things, the possibility of peace occurring between both sides is increasing. The previous generations have to give to the new ones some point and its up for the new ones to establish peace.” Unable to return to a place called home, forced to witness violence and conflict from a young age, as many are constrained to in the current politico-military affairs across the globe, Faris was fortunate enough to leave Gaza through an American scholarship. “I am not able to go back to Gaza anymore, I would risk my status in the UK, my future.” Michael Freeman claimed that the Palestinians have been given space after the Israeli troops had retreated, however “people are stuck in that area. Israelis give permission to go to Gaza only in case there

Photo by WSJ

Friday 25 January 2019 InQuire

March 2019, date tbc Darwin Conference Suite, CT2 7NY

Entertainment

TV & Film

Netflix’s Sex-Ed Class is superb By Josh West Writer

ex, pushy parents, and teenage tantrums. Netflix’s latest venture into teenage comedy-drama is a fun and relatable tale of the trials of puberty and sexual expectations. It features a fantastic cast of both familiar faces, like the ever-youthful Asa Butterfield and acting legend Gillian Anderson, and promising new faces like Emma Mackey and Ncuti Gatwa. It also raises very important questions and points about the pressures of modern life as a teenager and puberty. Butterfield plays Otis, a sixteen-year-old sexually insecure and typical wallflower who lives with his sex therapist mother (Anderson), who is constantly pressing him to discuss his sexual problems. After copying his mother’s advice on a problemed at school, Otis is recruited by the cash-strapped Maeve (Mackey), the typically beautiful yet inaccessible school delinquent, to set up a sex clinic in the school. Each episode sees them

solving a new problem, from ejaculation difficulties to insecurity around girls. Meanwhile, both of them have romantic problems of their own that need resolving, all of which leads to some wonderfully relatable storylines and scenes. Butterfield is perfect as the awkward, blabbering pubescent guy who struggles to find himself in school life, but finds his amazing talent for relationships, except his own. Anderson triumphs in playing his polar-opposite mother, a cool and confident older woman who finds herself in bed with endless men, but who secretly strives for a real relationship. Special commendation must go to Mackey, who, in her breakout role, beautifully portrays an intelligent and confident girl crushed under the stamp of a ‘slag’ and her disastrous family life. I will be looking out for her in the future. Whilst the series is full of fantastically funny char-

‘You’review

t is apparent that Netflix knows what they’re doing when they title their new show You. The series is primed to go viral with its creepy narrative and the witty relevance of telling your friends I’m watching ‘You.’ Penn Badgley revives his stalker tendencies (spoiler alert Gossip Girl) playing book store manager Joe Goldberg, on the surface he is sweet and friendly but digging deeper we find something much darker indeed. He falls rather quickly for creative writing student Guinevere Beck played by Elizabeth Lail. Things go south when he begins showing up at her apartment, looking through her windows and taking her underwear, in which time our opinion of him suddenly becomes very confusing. In the meantime, we learn a lot about Beck, who is a lost creative writer struggling to make her way in bustling New York. Everyone else seems to have their lives together, including her best friend Peach (Shay Mitchell) who’s controlling demeanour is slightly trou-

bling. The equation quickly becomes clear, Beck is cute but too fumbling to catch our attention. Joe narrating the show doesn’t aid the fact that we’re supposed to be repulsed by him, instead we fall for his boyish charm and he quickly becomes our favourite stalker. Everyone loves an unreliable

Photo by Netflix

narrator, or anti-hero in some sense. Besides, rooting for the bad guy is much more fun than rooting for the good— it creates more drama for us to sink our teeth into. Adapted from the novel of the same name by author Caroline Kepnes the series is also brimming with millennial relevance, which is great for Netflix’s most active audience. It does

acters and scenes, it also addresses very real and serious problems. Foremost is the pressure that teenage culture puts on teenagers to lose their virginity, or be the best at sex. Another is the universal parent problem, with Otis’s sexual inexperience conflicting with the expertise of his polar-opposite mother, Head Boy Jackson’s problems with his heavily pushy parents, and Maeve’s lack of parental figures. One subject the show deals with marvellously is homosexuality. An ongoing storyline is between Otis’s gay best friend Eric (Gatwa) and his efforts in gaining his conservative dad’s approval, it is portrayed beautifully and the ending will have you in tears. Meanwhile, Jackson’s lesbian mothers are introduced like any others would be, there was no dramatic reveal By Summer McGrath Writer

however somewhat parody the lives of young people on social media. At times it can stray into the realm of unbelievability, when the lazy disguise of a hat and jacket is enough for Joe to become completely unrecognisable to Beck despite being only a few feet away. Additionally, Beck herself is inattentive to the point that it’s not surprising she is none the wiser to the hat wearing individual following her everywhere she goes. It is, however, important to check our omniscient viewer privilege whilst watching the series, before becoming completely consumed in wanting to shake her by the shoulders and tell her to pay attention. If anything, apart from being a ridiculously binge worthy series, You makes you contemplate how much of your own information is out there for the world to see. How easy would it be for a real-life Joe to find out about you? Every bit as creepy as it is addictive You might make you want to close the doors on all your social medias, shut your windows, and stay inside. Luckily for us Netflix have confirmed the show for a second season, so at least you’ll have a way of keep yourself entertained whilst in hideout.

or crescendo before they were shown which I found both welcoming and a template for others to follow. Whilst I found some problems, namely some inappropriately overaged actors

playing teenagers and an overtly Americanised interpretation of an English school, complete with varsity jackets and a fantasy red-brick campus—Sex Education is the best series I’ve

seen on Netflix for a while. It combines the humour and trials of young adulthood in a patchwork quilt of relatable, touching and hilarious storylines that make for a fantastic watch.

Photo by Netflix

A balance of power – The Favourite By Tyler Rigby Writer

he Favourite is the latest offering from Yorgos Lanthimos. The unconventional director behind such eccentric films as The Lobster and The Killing of a Sacred Deer is back with by far his most accessible film to date. The Favourite is dripping in biting dialogue, exceptional camerawork, and three flawless performances from its leading ladies. Olivia Colman stars as Queen Anne, the frail monarch of England during the early 18th century. She is suffering from an increasingly worse condition of gout and must contend with a current war with France. Luckily, she has her closest friend and advisor, the Lady Sarah, played by Rachel Weisz, to essentially govern the country so she needn’t worry about such matters. This is all turned on its head with the arrival of Emma Stone’s Abigail, Sarah’s disgraced cousin, who comes to court seeking a job. Once Anne notices Abigail, the two cousins begin to fight for her majesty’s affections as they attempt to become the favourite. This film is comprised of tense encounters and moments of manipulation that

strong and complex female characters at the heart of this story. Each one is so incredibly different and watching them spar with each other here is mesmerising. One male cast member worth noting is Nicholas Hoult who is clearly relishing the peculiar role of Mr. Harley, the leader of the opposition. Hoult manages to induce an extra dose of tension (if that were even possible) as he attempts to control Abigail for political gain but he gives the character such an oddness and is responsible for some of the most funny lines in the film. As usual the direction is Photo by Fox Searchlight stellar. Including a fish eye lens and framing shots from will make you think you’re strange unpredictable analmost watching an episode gles, you can tell this is one of Game of Thrones with the of Lanthimos’s films if you’re addition of the whacky dark familiar with his previous comedy that Lanthimos is work. The costumes and known for. Every interaction makeup are breath-taking is so meticulously scripted, and the score is fantastic. and the actors do an unbelievIf I had to find something able job of delivering each line. wrong here then I’d say the Colman is the standout here, ending will be a little too which is no small feat when ambiguous for some. But if she’s performing opposite Os- it works for you or not, the car winning heavyweights like final shot is astonishing. Weisz and Stone. Truly, Anne Throughout, you’ll constantis a grotesque and Colman ly be trying to guess who is mais fearless in her portrayal of nipulating who and watching her, unafraid of appearing these actors at the top of their ugly or undesirable, her work game is such a treat. I implore here cannot be undersold. you to see The Favourite if you It’s amazing to see three can, come join the madness.

Friday 25 January 2019 InQuire 15

Music & Film

Entertainment

2019: year of the remake? By Emily Webb-Mortimer Writer

he new year is off to a great start. The first few films of the year have raised expectations, will the remaining crop follow suit? The first MCU film this year is the much awaited Captain Marvel starring Brie Larson in the titular role, an old-lady-punching, anti-ageing badass from the nineties who lands in cinemas in March. Next from the roster is of course Avengers: Endgame – the final film of the third phase for the franchise will arrive in cinemas in April and see Thanos yet again go toe to toe with our favourite marvel characters. Soon to follow is July’s Spiderman: Far From Home starring Tom Holland back in the title role roaming Europe. But Marvel is not alone in their super-he-

roic endeavours, they will be up against DC, who will be giving us Shazam! in April. If you’d only just remembered that Shazam! was being made at all, you’re not alone. 2019 is also shaping up to be a big year for remakes, reboots, and sequels. Who said creativity was dead? Disney specifically is guilty of this, putting out only sequels and remakes this

Photo by Disney

year including the second instalment of Frozen (yay?), a fourth Toy Story (yay!) and live action remakes of Aladdin, The Lion King and Dumbo. February will see Chris Pratt reclaim his role as Emmet in the second Lego Movie, while in May, Millie Bobby Brown’s first big screen escapade will make us ask, will there finally be a good Godzilla movie? The answer is most likely no, but we can at least hope Godzilla: King of the Monsters might break the cycle. Next to expect is the reboot of the family favourite, Men in Black series titled Men in Black: International, with Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson fronting the project, there are high hopes. Finally, the September release of the second part of Stephen King’s ‘It’

franchise sees the kids from the first film all grown up and back to fight Pennywise. The final instalment of this Star Wars trilogy will also be in our cinemas in December to answer all our burning questions: will Reylo ever happen? Who was Snoke? And will fans get the ending they dream of? In February we are awarded with some originality: the Robert Rodriguez directed Alita: Battle Angel with animation so sleek and beautiful, you’re going to be questioning whether it’s actually real. Then Jordan Peele’s horror, ‘Us’, drops in March and explores the idea of yourself as your own worst enemy. Closer to home, the end of this month sees the second outing of director Joe Cornish whose new film The Kid Who Would be King. Then in February, expect a somewhat odd British film called

Fighting with my Family, produced by Dwayne Johnson and directed by Stephen Merchant. Starring Nick Frost, it tells the story of the wrestler Paige, from her humble upbringing in Norwich to her WWE stardom. In May we are treated to Taron Edgerton donning sequinned platforms and a bedazzled cape as he steps into the incomparable shoes of Elton John for Rocketman, directed by the same director of Bohemian Rhapsody. Finally in September, the Downton Abbey film is set to launch with all your favourites back to reprise their roles from the show. So that’s it, the year to come in its most defining films. It looks like quite the interesting year.

Photo by Disney

Sam Fender: saviour The rise of Inglorious of Indie music? S

am Fender, a twenty-two-yearold former bartender from Tyneside, appears to be an unlikely yet appropriate leader for the emerging indie revival in the British music scene. He was recently awarded the Brits Critics Choice of 2019 and those who play FIFA would have heard his single Play God on the latest release. His meaningful and soulful voice, alongside his subject matter, is a fresh and long overdue jump start in a time when a lot of music is becoming banal and meaningless. Sam’s originality begins right from his discovery, when producer Owain Davies walked into Sam’s pub and he was told by his landlord to play in the corner, wherefrom he was scouted and shown to the world, a rather more novel way of being discovered than through a talent show or Instagram like many are nowadays. Sam’s songs are honest and insightful, you can tell there’s a lot of thought behind them and he’s taken inspiration from his surroundings in down-and-out Tyneside and the current political climate; it’s a welcome alternative to the endless songs about love and romance, or worse the obvious money-makers, that currently litter the music scene. His debut EP, Dead Boys, was released last November, a small collection of five songs that definitely packs a musical punch.

By Yoan Dshugdanov Writer

The joy of Sam is that he knows no taboo, he will address really hard-hitting and pressing matters that modern music really should. His song Leave Fast

lives and society is becoming. Perhaps Sam’s most illuminating and concerning message comes in Dead Boys, which discusses the concerningly prevalent issue of young male suicide. Inspired by the high suicide rate in his home town, it contends how communities soon cover up and forget about such problems and how ‘nobody ever could explain’ how it happens as a result; a flagship protest against society’s persistent refusal to combat the roots of the dilemma. But such serious song matter doesn’t define its singer-songwriter, Sam is an artist and symbol for the rebellious youth of today: fresh, outspoken, enigmatic and passionate. Fair warning, he doesn’t hold back with his lyrics, many of his songs are not for children, but that doesn’t stop their appeal to whoever hears them Photo by Gigs Northeast and Sam’s versatile, almost transcendent voice. If you’re highlights the hopelessness of looking for some fresh, innovathe post-industrial North and the tive and tangible music that really lack of opportunities for its youth, grabs you and makes you conwhere each must face the choice template the state of society and of ‘leave fast or stay forever’, our world, then Sam is your man. which Sam delivers in a cheery His EP is hopefully the flagyet hollow melody. Poundshop ship for a new wave of meanKardashians illustrates the fak- ingful music in this sea of futilery of much of modern life, with ity, or the indie Renaissance; if countless numbers addicted to not, then his upcoming and asreality TV and brainless celebri- of-yet unnamed album should ties whilst ignoring the mess their add more fuel to Sam’s fire.

he five piece rock band Inglorious are gearing up to release their third studio album this month on 25 January through Frontiers Music Srl, the follow-up to 2017’s Inglorious II, entitled Ride to Nowhere. Three singles have so far been released, the latest being I Don’t Know You. The album will feature a total of 11 brand new tracks. Speaking about the album, the band’s frontman and leader Nathan James has said : “This album is different in many ways. The songs came about very quickly. For me this album is very personal. I am for the first time writing about a lot of my feelings, relationships and losses. also had moments since the last album where I was extremely angry with people, so there is a bit of that in this album too. Sonically, Kevin Shirley [the album’s producer] has made this album sound different

By Josh West Writer

to our last, we feel it’s heavier sounding and more produced, we spent a lot of time in

guitarist Dan Stevens and bassist Vinnie Colla. The completed lineup will herald a brandnew era for the rising British b a n d . Over the years, the band has gathered a rather large fanbase Photo by Frontier Music t h a n k s to the coverage the studio making sure they consistently rewe were all really hap- ceive from UK radio py with our sounds.” station Planet Rock. However, the final In addition, the band months of last year saw has toured rather extenInglorious face a shock- sively through the UK in ing shake-up as the recent years and selectband’s two guitarists ed markets in Europe and bassist all depart- alongside bands like ed in one day, leaving The Winery Dogs and just Nathan James and Steel Panther, as well drummer Phil Beaver. as playing major festiFollowing this dramatic vals. This month will turn of events, the band see the band embark on announced that it was another extensive UK welcoming 19 year old tour in support of their guitar virtuoso Danny new album, which will Dela Cruz to the fold. also mark the live deLater on, the band re- but of the new line-up. vealed two further addiFor more info vistions to the new line-up, it inglorious.com.

Puzzles Last Issues’s Crossword Answers Across: 1/7 Arctic onkeys, 5 Income, 8 Swan, 9 Discount, 10 Grease, 12 Dancer, 13 Katie Holmes, 15 Gambit, 17 Tongue, 19 Pinafore, 21 Rice, 22 Lassie, 23 Kitten.

8 9 2 1 8

3 2

4 6 5 9

17. Succession in definite order, as of crops (8) 19. See 1 21. See 9 22. A bewildering maze (of rooms, cavities, etc.) (9) 24. A crisp ginger biscuit (4) 25. A dealer in medicinal drugs (7) Down 1. An amusing, mischievous person; a wit (3) 2. Relation, relevance (7) 3. Muscular diaphragm that forms the coloured portion of the eye (4) 4. Harry S. ___, the 33rd President of the United States (6) 5. 1980 film directed by Robert Ze-

6 7

meckis and set in the world of automobile retail (4,4) 6. Things Fall ___, a 1958 Chinua Achebe novel (5) 7. A place for artificial opening of eggs (8) 10. A series of concerts held annually in London (3,5) 12. An act of incriminating a person for a crime (6-2) 15. The capital and largest city of Kenya (7) 16. A French brandy made in Charente (6) 18. A specific poison of organic origin (5) 20. Edward ___, a fictional alter ego Elegant

Rubbish

Course unit?

Outline figure

3 7 7 9

created by Robert Louis Stevenson (4) 23. A computer program designed to perform routine tasks with some autonomy (3)

Fun & games Puzzles by Matthew Sapsed

Arrowword With ambition (informal)

Tolerate Star State, swear

12 13

Chest Give a (of a view on human) something

Over

Exceed, surpass

Repose Tangle

16 18

In the past

Paleness

Scrape

Imitate

Cardinal point

23 Placed far down

Type of (French) poem cap

Finance

Burgle

Military cloth

7 5 6

Edible (green) seed

Err

3 4 1

9 7

2 9

1 8

6 5 5 3 9

8 7

Crossword

1 4

5 2

Across 1/10/19 . The 2018 UK Christmas No 1 single (2,5,4,4) 5. The Mormon State of the United States (4) 8. The quality or condition of being thankful (9) 9/21. The stage name of the singer of the last UK No 1 single of 2018 (3,3) 10. See 1 11. Anything that produces torpor, sleep, or deadness (8) 13. Number that is equivalent to fourscore (6) 14. Ariana ___, US singer whose UK No 1 singles include ‘thank u, next’ (2018) (6)

3 7

Down: 2 Rower, 3 Tennant, 4 Cod, 5 Inside Out, 6 Crown, 11 Electrode, 13 Khalifa, 14 Minaret, 16 Brass, 18 Uncle, 20 Elk.

2 1

Sudoku Hard

Sudoku Easy

Leave out Arm joint

Cut with blows

Science and Technology

Friday 25 January 2019 InQuire 17

5 alternative STEM careers By Emma Leach Newspaper Science Editor

t’s coming around to that time of year again, those final deadlines are just a few short months away, and worse still, those final exams are actually in sight. Everyone from your Aunt to your postman is asking that most dreaded question – “what are you going to do after university?” Being at a university, it is easy to fall into the trap that the only line of work for STEM students is that of research, particularly those in the core sciences. What if the research life is not for you? These alternative, but equally rewarding, career paths are for the soon-to-be STEM graduates who have realised that the research life may not be for them.

Science Communication

In an age where misinformation is a regular part of our news and social media feeds, there is a real need for communicators able to effectively and truthfully convey issues that are often sizeable and complicated to a lay audience. Excellent writing and communication skills are a must. Science writers have to be organised; deadlines are an important aspect of the job role. It’s not all sitting at a desk and typing though, science writers must be comfortable interviewing academics, medical practitioners, research organisations, public bodies and many more besides. This can mean a fair amount of travelling to conferences and research establishments. Those with specialised knowledge can look to medical/technical writing, which focuses on more specialised documents directly for industry. Writing is of course not the only way to communicate science, many organisations also employ social media coordinators. Those with a specialist knowledge on a subject may want to try their hand to writing a book. Those comfortable in visual media may look to get in-

Bytesize SciTech

Hackers

wanted

Tesla is offering up one of their Model 3 cars – if you have the capability to hack access to it. The tech giant will be making an appearance at the CanSecWest conference in Vancouver where hackers can try their luck at hacking themselves the $33,000 vehicle.

Juliet found for Romeo Image by geralt | Pixabay

volved in documentaries.

Policy and Advocacy

Some people enter STEM wanting to find solutions to some of the biggest issues facing society. What is often overlooked is that solutions are of no use if they are not enacted by companies, governments, and other interested bodies. This is where policy comes into play. Green energy is a good example of where policy makers and lobbyists are needed. Without policy makers and advocates for green energy, the technology for solar panels and wind turbines would not exist to the same degree it does today. It is the policy makers that advocate for the new technology, who drive changes in infrastructure to adopt these alternatives. Strong multifactorial research skills are required for a job in policy, as are excellent communication skills. You need to be able to research current policy and politics, then apply strong technical knowledge. Further postgraduate training is generally a requirement for those wanting to go into science policy. For those willing to put the work in, this could be a great alternative way to change the world, without staying at the laboratory bench.

Medical Sales

those with a competitive edge, or those who like defined targets. It would be all too easy to believe the stereotype that good sales people are those that can talk the talk, or ‘blag’ their way into sales. While talking is still important, there is more involved in medical sales. Strong technical or biochemical knowledge is required, you will be selling to doctors, scientists, engineers, pharmacists and others who will likely be armed with technically challenging questions. Travel is a standard aspect to many face-to-face sales roles, which suits some people more than others.

Education

For those who enjoy passing on knowledge to others, moving into an educational role may be a rewarding way to channel your knowledge. The obvious route here is to enter the teaching profession. This does require further training to gain teaching qualifications, there are many routes depending on your situation. The good news is that there are significant bursaries and scholarships available for those who want to train as a teacher in subjects where there are current shortages. The classroom is not for everyone, but there are plenty of other ways

to educate. Museums, zoos, charities, parks and other educational institutions need enthusiastic and creative educators. Those with an entrepreneurial spirit could run their own classes either in person, or online.

Data Analysis

All STEM degrees have a huge emphasise data literacy, logic, and analytical skills. There has been a data explosion in recent years, and informatics industries are constantly being created and expanded, in every industry imaginable. This means that if your STEM degree has given you a proficiency with large data sets, and an ability to process and visualise data in a meaningful way, there is probably a data analyst job that would suit you. Programming skills are needed in the big data age and are almost ubiquitously required. Many jobs advertised would prefer a postgraduate degree in data science or a similar subject, however there are opportunities for those with selftaught data skills, and a drive to develop more. There are a vast number of programming languages, analytical tools, and data modelling techniques - which ones are most useful is dependent on the industry that you would wish to enter.

Romeo is a Sehuencas water frog, known as the loneliest frog in the world. He has spent the last 10 years in amphibious solitude in a Bolivian museum, believed to possibly be the last of his species. Until now. Scientists have discovered 5 more of the frogs and are going to attempt to breed the species.

Short lived moon agriculture

For a fleeting moment, Chinese researchers succeeded in growing a cotton plant on the moon. Images released from a biosphere experiment show the sprout of a cotton plant. The success was short lived, a loss of power in the biosphere caused the experiment to freeze during a lunar night time, which can plummet to -173oC.

Growing CERN

It may be called the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), but to the European research organisation CERN, that is no longer enough. The famous LHC may in the future have a big sibling, the proposed Future Circular Collider (FCC), the new collider is proposed to have a 62 mile circumference, dwarfing the 17 mile circumference of the LHC.

Saving frogs with citizen science By Steven Allain Writer

he conservation of any species depends heavily on knowing where it lives in the wild. This allows measures to be taken to preserve the appropriate habitats and helps to fine-tune monitoring efforts. This data is readily available for larger species but can be lacking in smaller, more cryptic species. Australia, for example, has over 240 frog species and currently data is lacking for many of them. Like many countries, Australia’s records of animals is more a reflection of where human dwellings and cities occur, rather than the species themselves. We have a similar issue here in the UK, whereby species groups such as insects and

This is possibly the option for

arachnid records almost perfectly match up with a map of housing. Back in Australia, things are slightly more complex. Due to the combined effects of geographical isolation and inhospitality of the interior, a number of frog species found in Australia are found nowhere else. With such a diverse range of amphibians, how do you go about counting and monitoring them? Traditionally you would go out to a site, count individuals you encounter and submit those records to a dedicated recording scheme. Now thanks to the powers of technology, anyone can

Photo by zdenet | Pixabay

get involved with the recording of frogs in Australia. An app recently released by the Australian Museum allows the public to record the calls of frogs in their back gardens, local parks and other areas. Frog ID is now a national citizen science project helping amphibian conservationists in Australia understand more about the distribution of rare species, and to track the range expansion of the invasive cane toad.When a call is submitted, it’s matched to a database in order to validate the species, which is all carried out using some clever technology and a well-trained herpetologist’s ear to decipher the barks, croaks

and cheeps. All frogs have different calls and by recording and submitting them through the app, citizen scientists are playing an important role in saving Australia’s frogs. To date, 182 species have been recorded; 53,000 calls have been submitted and a whole army of citizen scientists have contributed to the project. There is still a long way to go, but hopefully one day all of Australia’s frog species wil be recorded, with the data collected filling in gaps helping to inform conservation. Perhaps a similar initiative could be trialled elsewhere, where there are a large number of amphibian species. Thanks to the power of ever advancing technology and the interest of the public, whole species groups might escape extinction.

Culture

lack of interest among younger generations? I

By Charlotte Hirst

t is well known that young people Writer make up the smallest percentage of theatre attendance in the UK. This is often completely outside of their control, as socio-economic factors and stigma have led the younger generations to believe that theatre is not for them, and was never designed to be. The primary reason for their exclusion from theatre, is largely due to the hefty expenses which go alongside it. The Society of London, for example, reported in July that the average West End ticket price had hit £46.40, while in April, The Stage announced that the top-price commercial West End seat topped £80. Flickr This in turn has led to the ongoing perception of the theatre being ‘highbrow’ and borderline elitist. While this view is not altogether historically unfounded, it is unfortunately aided by the notoriously high prices of tickets. There are however some economic initiatives which have been founded in recent years, with the explicit aim of making theatre tickets more accessible for younger audiences. There are pre-existing schemes which allow younger people to access to cheap tickets such as: A Night Less Ordinary (ANLO) Entrypass, Access All Arias, and FreeB. Another reason for younger people not attending theatre shows is it perceived as being academic in nature. For most young individuals their earliest exposure to the theatre is in the form of mandatory English Literature or Drama trips, which in turn reinforces an association between theatre-going and education. Younger people need to be made aware that theatre is meant to be entertainment and a spectacle to be enjoyed and is not always the commercialized product of the West End. Theatre was designed to include audiences in their performances, inviting them into the story and not excluding them based on the affordability of the ticket. In order for younger generations to become more acWikimedia Commons tive in their theatre attendance, commercial theatres need to direct younger audiences to the subsidised sectors, where there are opportunities for engagement and participation, at a reasonable price.

e László was known for his portraits of various family members. His artwork effortlessly captured the sensibility and nobility of Princess Xenia. The intensity and exquisite artist technique are used to create depth and meaning behind her eyes, as the life-like portrait shows her narrowly staring right back at her audience. The fierceness of Princess Xenia’s gaze is amplified against the blurred, almost unfinished background. De László was acquainted with some of the greatest figures of the 19th and 20th century. In 1909 he was made part of the Royal Victorian Order by King Edward VII, and in 1912 he was ennobled by Franz Joseph, King of Hungary. He has spent most of his life in London, similarly to Princess Xenia who also took refuge there with her family during the first world war. In an attempt to escape the Bolshevik executions, she was forced to leave her child-

hood behind in Russia and move to the United States. By Timea Koppandi

Arts Sub-Editor

Women in Art | Facebook

Carl Broch: In a Roman Osteria T

here is a visible classicist approach to the representation of the ‘family dinner’. What is interesting in this piece, is not only the choice of the subject of the painting, but also the focus on the characters’ gazes. In the 19th century it was quite unusual to paint a bucolic scene in a classical manner. The love of colour can also be seen throughout the work of the Danish painter Carl Broch. His admiration for rural landscapes and mundane actions in this era has been introduced by the impressionist painters, in their technique and approach completely different to this piece. The attention to detail, starting with the cracks in the wall to the way the fabric bends, is what makes this painting authentic. The portrait captures a range of human emotions, which shows the versatility of the painter’s observations and his artistic ability to portray subtle nuances.

3 different 19th century pieces

Theatre: Why is there a

Philip Alexius de László: Arts Portrait of Princess Xenia

By Timea Koppandi Arts Sub-Editor

Wikimedia Commons

Pierre-Auguste Renoir: Bal du moulin de la Galette R

enoir’s 1876 painting ‘Bal du moulin de la Galette’ is considered to be one of the Impressionist movement’s most celebrated masterpieces. It captures a typical Parisian scene in the 19th century, as working-class people dressed up and gathered in Monmatre on a Sunday evening to dance and drink. The painting is now housed at the Musée d’Orsay, situated on the river Seine in the centre of Paris. It was on visiting this museum that I first came to find Renoir’s work. While situated in a gallery with some of Impressionism’s most famous and beautiful works by Monet, Manet, and Degas, Renoir’s ‘Bal du moulin de la Galette’ is given its own wall—demanding to be noticed and studied, and with good reason. His use of colour is subtle yet expertly mixed and applied. He dapples the sunlight through the leaves onto women’s dresses and men’s suit jackets. The painting is huge, and the canvas is

By Erin Frost Writer

so animated amongst the many other figures in the background, that the light seems to mimic the shapes between them. The oil painting captures the “on the spot” spontaneity that the Impressionist movement sought to capture, displaying the ambience and atmosphere of a scene rather than recreating the same image from sketches in an art studio. The ambience and use of colour in this piece have stuck in my mind since seeing the painting and has remained one of my favourite masterpieces to this day.

Wikimedia Commons

Books

Friday 25 January 2019 InQuire19

Book reviews:

Culture

Fantastic Beasts: Elizabeth Gilbert’s: The Crimes of Grindelwald

t is always fasBy Peggy Walsh cinating to read Writer the screenplays behind complex, action-packed films such as David Yates and J.K. Rowling’s 2018 epic ‘The Crimes of Grindelwald’. But it is the beautiful design and layout of this publication that makes it an even more enjoyable read. Following the success of the first ‘Fantastic Beasts’ film and its published script in 2016, fans of the wizarding world had high expectations for its sequel, and it did in many ways, deliver. Rowling’s script is detailed and dynamic, making for a riveting read, and the helpful glossary included at the end of the book means that even those unfamiliar with filmmaking terminology can understand the directions and abbreviations used. The story itself is, however, quite hard to follow. The story quickly cuts between various locations, making it harder to follow the plot. There are also certain scenes that, despite Rowling’s attention to detail, are rather difficult to picture. Which is why in some cases, it is extremely helpful to have watched the film before reading the script. Overall, however, the screenplay is an excellent read and very easy to get through for the focused reader.

The beautiful art nouveau-inspired front cover, illustrations, and page embellishments by Mina Lima also add to the story’s effect. They remind the reader of a late-1920s setting, whilst also maintaining an aesthetically-pleasing visual. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald screenplay is entertaining, complex, detailed, and looks wonderful on a bookshelf – what is not to like? The Rowling Library | Facebook

Big Magic

ig Magic draws wisdom from Elizabeth Gilbert’s years of creative experience, particularly after the success of Eat, Pray, Love in 2006. Tackling the arduous battle between inspiration and worth ethic as experiFlickr enced by many, if not all, creative people (meaning: everyone). Gilbert unpicks the many excuses that people make when they choose not to live their most creative lives. Fear out of vulnerability, pressure to become one of the “greats”, and not having enough time, are some of the few excuses which are so often thrown around. She proposes placing some of the blame on our ‘cre-

By Eve Edinburgh Writer

ative genius’ or inspiration, to ease the pressure. The spiritual approach to creativity might be too whimsical for some, however this is contended with a no-nonsense attitude throughout the book. The first section shows that a fear of creative endeavours inevitably leads to a mundane and regretful life. By the end, book encouraging choices to be courageous and joy driven. It is clear that she takes her readers’ creative lives very seriously. Completely rejecting archetypes of the ‘suffering artist’ and self-deprecating behaviour. Creativity is the path towards a more joyful life, in her vision, not one of fear. This is perfect fuel for long-term inspiration if you are trying to find that balance between work and personal projects.

Want to inspire the new you for the new year?

Here are 4 books that will help you, help yourself in the simplest, yet life altering way. 1. Unf—k Yourself – Gary John

and energetic about life. 3. 12 Rules for Life – Jordan B Peterson Are you looking for answers? Jordan B Peterson is an acclaimed phycologist and his 12 rules of life provides us with deep insightful answers on how to live life in the most meaningful way. He brings together psychology, philosophy and human’s oldest myths to help us answer the questions to the natural chaos in our lives. A truly empowering self-help book that reaches the mind and spirit of its readers.

Bishop

As university students, there are several moments where you feel f—ed. With deadlines, group work, and exams, more often students feel trapped in this cycle of getting f—ed. If you are tired of feeling this way, this book will guide you towards the path of truly unf—ing yourself. A nonsense-free guidebook to help you surpass self-imposed limitation. This change begins with you and what

2. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying – Marie Kondo

Unfu*k Yourself | Facebook

If you are looking to organise your cluttered life this year, Marie Kondo’s KonMari method will not only help you transform your space but also your life as well. Most often the clutter in our homes reflect the messy disorganised life we live outside our homes. Marie Kondo’s step by step method to de-clutter your space will help you to de-clutter your mind and inspire you to feel more confident

One Minute Book Review | Facebook

Maryah Chughtai

you tell yourself.

By Upama Thangden Writer

Paru Rai

4. Happy Ever After – Paul Dolan To find happiness and wanting to live in happiness is human nature. But can you find happiness if you take the unconventional path in life? Can you live a fulfilled life if you don’t choose to get married? Paul Dolan provides us with the answers and how-to on freeing ourselves from the myth of a perfect life through jobs, marriage, and money. Because the path to happiness is different for everyone and you must find your own route.

Culture A crooked gem: 20

Canterbury bookshop A

t the end of Palace Street is a shop with a weird door. Built in the 17th century, a chimney problem caused the house to tilt at a strange angle. Since then it has been many things – a gallery, an instrument shop, a student clothing shop. Today it is home to the Catching Lives bookshop, which is dedicated to helping the homeless. After recently visiting the shop, I found that the door was the one of the few things that set this bookshop apart from the other shops on the high street. For one, stepping inside is like stepping back in time. There is an old library feel to the place, with its low ceilings and musty scent of worn pages greeting your nose. The upstairs looks like an attic and is equally as cosy, with a chair in the corner adding to the homey atmosphere. But what makes the shop a favourite is their interesting feature of “Blind Date with a Book.” The books are neatly wrapped in brown paper packages, with only the author’s name and a brief synopsis written across the front, leaving the reader somewhat clueless. It provides the reader with an opportunity to open a book they

may not have considered before. The next time you are in downtown Canterbury, take some time and visit this quaint little building. You may never know which stories are waiting for you.

Catching Lives Bookshop | Facebook

By Nina Yulo Writer

A.M. Holmes: This Books Book Will Save Your Life

hen I first saw this book die from extreme pain and must for sale, I presumed that it call 911. A.M. Holmes makes was a self-help book, Richard’s experience engagI was wrong. It ing and to some extent is an entertaincomical. When the ing, imaginaparamedics arrive at tive piece of this home to save fiction. The his life, they take a book begins moment to appreciby followate the art work on ing Richdisplay. After his ard Novak: brush with death, a wealthy, Richard has a new divorced fiflease of life and appreMax-x-xam |Flickr ty-five-year-old ciates everything and man who lives alone everyone, he in Los Angeles. Within the first gives his cleanchapter he thinks he is going to er money

Lucy

ntiguan-American author Jamaica Kincaid’s Lucy, is a compelling story of the discomfort attached to being in exile that transcends time. On the cusp of adulthood, a teenage girl named Lucy travels across the Caribbean Sea to work as an au pair for a white American family. She provides a blunt yet astute social commentary that penetrates the outward appeal of the 1950s suburban bliss that her employers occupy: the nuclear family, the stoic breadwinner, the goodwife busied with environmental charity work.

By Olivia Barr Writer for a hip operation, and kindly accommodates a housewife when she grows tired of her selfish husband and children. Richard Novak was a man who was just staying alive but wasn’t getting any joy or fulfilment out of life. His near-death experience taught him to let go of his strict regimes (a macrobiotic, low carb diet) and embrace the more enjoyable aspects of life… and he begins this by eating a doughnut!

Lucy’s ral into rebellion pessiwhich takes the mistic form of sexual opinrendezvous and ions excigarettes allowtend to ing her to truly the false explore what it exchangmeans to possess es befreedom. In less than Shani Thomas tween their 200 pages, one canmiddle-class not help but appreciate counterparts, who the skill with which Kincaid’s remind her that she is from tale bounces between the Carthe ominous lands known sim- ibbean and the West to provide ply as ‘The Islands’ with no insight into a small-town girl’s further need for specification. feelings of what it means to be Before her is a carbon copy of entrenched in this gigantic thing the picturesque life her moth- called empire, paired with the er hoped for her, and so what fundamental ‘skin-doesn’t-fithappens next, I regard as one ness’ that follows her even once of the winning characteristics she has left it. of Lucy’s coming-of-age story. By Shani Thomas Next, we follow her thrilling spi-

Website Culture Editor

Friday 25 January 2019 InQuire 21

What’s on... Lizzie 26th - 27th Jan 2019 Mary Poppins Returns 26th Jan - 5th Feb 2019 An Impossible Love 27th Jan 2019 Sorry to Bother You 19th - 29th Jan 2019 Land of Hope and Glory 1st Feb 2019 The Favourite 2nd - 7th Feb 2019 Welcome to Marwen 3rd Feb 2019 Stan and Ollie 8th - 10th Feb 2019 Colette 9th - 14th feb 2019 Spider-Man: Into the SpiderVerse 10th - 17th Feb Mortal Engines 12th Feb 2019 The Miseducation of Cameron Post 13th Feb 2019 Glass 15th -16th Feb 2019 The Front Runner 16th - 17th Feb 2019 The Upside 17th Feb 2019 Monsters and Men 21st Feb 2019 Wild Tales 22nd Feb 2019

Prices Full - £8.70 GulbCard Member - £6.70 Senior - £7.70 Registered Disabled - £7.70 Student - £6.00 Student GulbCard Member - £5.00 Unemployed - £7.70

Viva Las Vegans By Kateryna Slobodian Gulbenkian Correspondent Hello Matt! Welcome to InQuire. You run a chain of Vegan comedy clubs. How did it all start? Thank you so much for having me. Viva Las Vegans started 2 Years ago with Kent Vegan Events in Conquest House in Canterbury. We wanted to start a different kind of comedy club. We wanted a space where vegans aren’t mocked, a place where we can be positive and compassionate in comedy. We don’t need to be brutal or have “roasts” (pun intended). Working as a comedian who is vegan, I often heard many comedians making hack jokes about vegans and veganism; making them the butt of many jokes. It wears thin after a while. Viva Las Vegas is an opportunity for people to reject that notion, and have some vegan-positive jokes for a change. It sounds daft, but having a place where your principles aren’t mocked, but admired is something that vegans resonate with. There is a shared knowledge between audience and performer and a mutual respect. This type of dynamic really creates a very powerful and funny comedy night. The reason I started Viva Las Vegans is because veganism and comedy are my two passions in life. So I created a comedy club chain which involves the two. This acts as my own form of activism, but in a way which is non-intimidating. I think people will listen more through laughter than ranting. Since then, we have grown all over the UK doing lots of venues, cities and festivals. How is Vegan comedy different from other comedy styles? So vegan comedy isn’t necessarily a different style from regular comedy. Essentially, these nights are the same as other professional nights. However, the difference of my comedy night is that we exclusively book Vegan comedians. We don’t just make Broccoli jokes for 20 mins. The vegan comedy night still operates like a professional comedy club; however, we like to put positivity and personality at the forefront of our shows. We’re a club that promotes compassion, community and care alongside hilarious comedy. The night is focused on comedy, but we are passively promoting the ideals of veganism and we normalise the idea through our performers. It also creates an intimate community for the vegans in Kent.

Photo by The Gulbenkian

The show will be the same as any comedy night, but with a positive and alternative subtext. What is the future of the project? We aim to keep on putting great comedy nights around the UK. We hope to go to new places like Bristol, Camden, Cardiff and so on. We want to have a place for people to come to. To create a community and to promote local businesses all over the UK. And eventually, maybe we can go international. What is the story behind ‘Viva Las Vegans’ name? Well this started as we had to quickly choose a name for our first event at Norwich Vegan festival. I chose Viva Las Vegans because it was a jocular and quite a fitting pun. Our night is different, tongue-in-cheek and proud to be vegan, and I think that name sums it up. It has a certain elegance to the name. What to expect from the night? It’s going to be a biggest show yet. We have famous comedians coming down (Carl Donnelly and Ryan Dalton). There will be big laughs, a little crowd interaction and some surprises. If you arrive early, you can order some delicious vegan food to coincide with night. Big tastes and big laughs, what more could you want? Give 1/2/3 reason(s) why non-vegans should also come? Regardless of the topic, it’s a quality comedy night with a huge comedy star. The whole night is going to be funny. And don’t worry, it’s a judgement-free zone, everyone is welcome and no one is going to be picked on. It’s a chance for people to see some Mock The Week Stars in their city for a really cheap rate (Only £5 for students). Secondly, as mentioned earlier, there is going to be delicious food there. I guarantee you, if you haven’t tried vegan food, or if you are a little cautious of the very concept, if you try some of the food, I think you will be pleasantly surprised. It will show that we eat more than lentils. The Gulbenkian will

be offering some amazing dishes which will make you reconsider vegan dishes. With this, we also promote a lot of local businesses like Potato Tomato – meaning we are giving back to Kent’s local businesses. This can only be a good thing. Thirdly, I think that even if you have a little bit of skepticism towards the night, I encourage you to come along, you will not have a bad time. Even if you are a big meateater, you will have an awesome time. And I have proof too! We actually did this vegan show at Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2018 at Henderson’s. We had a reviewer from Broadway Baby come in. It was a lovely review, but the best thing is that she perfectly captured the skepticism of the idea of a vegan comedy, but she was open to it and she found the show hilarious. And this is coming from a meat-eater’s perspective as well. This means that the show is going to be funny and a judgement-free zone, but whilst passively promoting veganism. We don’t care if you’re a meat-eater, but want to make sure everyone has a nice time. “It wasn’t preachy – in fact it was funny and the vegan food was delicious… the material was really funny, the delivery great and I wasn’t made to feel guilty at all about the occasional cheeky Nandos” – Jane Beeston, Broadway Baby. We hope to see you there!

Viva las Vegans will be at the Gulbenkian on Thursday 31st Jan at 7.30pm

Sport

InQuire Writers’ Favourite Sports Films By Kiro Evans Newspaper Sports

hristmas is a time for family, the saying goes. It’s a time for this and that and the other, they tell us. What everyone seemingly neglects to mention is that Christmas is a time for watching such a plethora of movies it should make you dizzy be-

fore the turkey is even served. It got us at InQuire Sport thinking about what our favourite sports movies of all time were, and the answers were a varied group from different eras, genres and themes: Anne-Marie Hughes - Writer

Icarus (2017), a fascinating documentary which uncovers the ugly truth of Russia’s state-sponsored sports doping programme. An insider insight follows the panic of the anti-doping director, Grigory Rodchenkov, when the World Anti-Doping Association releases a report; it opens up a perspective of sport you didn’t realise existed. Meg Warwick – Website Sports Editor

It’s a rarity that females are the stars of sporting films. That’s why Milion Dollar Baby (2004) was the beginning of something new. Having bagged two Academy Awards at the Oscars, including Best Actress, the film is an acting Photo by Wikipedia phenomenon. And it

also portrays the harsh reality of being a female boxer, including the financial struggles involved in the sport.

Clara-Sanchez Izquierdo - Writer Even though it might sound a bit cheesy, my favourite sports film is Ice Princess (2005). This movie represents everything I found in myself when I skated: dedication, devotion, and self-confidence. It teaches you that even if others have little faith in you, the only thing you really need to succeed is believing in yourself. Mark Saggers – Sports Sub-Editor Olympia (1938), by German director Leni Riefenstahl – Political agendas and attitudes change over time but the raw thrills and emotions that sports provide still remain the same. What is the significant about this film is how Riefenstahl managed to innovate and pioneer the landscape of sports coverage through its use of lighting, various camera angles, and thrilling pace to create a masterpiece that brilliantly captures the dramatic scenes of the 1936 German Olympic games. Ben Lovell-Smith – Writer

Goal! The Dream Begins (2005) - A classic for any football loving kid. As a young boy, I was captivated by the rags to riches story of Santiago Munez. The film gives fascinating insight into the intensity of professional sport, demonstrating how truly difficult it is to make it to the top. Joe Acklam – Writer The Damned United (2009) – An adaptation of the much-lamented novel by David Peace that documents the footballing epic of Brian Clough’s 44-day stint in charge of Leeds United and the origins of his rivalry with Don Revie. A must watch for any self-respecting football fan, it is undoubtedly the most gripping dramatisation of the beautiful game. Kiro Evans – Sports Editor

Photo by Amazon UK

All or Nothing: Manchester City (2018) – This fly-on-thewall documentary could have come across as a bit desperate and silly but instead depicts a well-oiled football club at the peak of its powers during Man City’s record-breaking 2017-18 season. From training sessions to title triumphs, the 8-part series (not a movie, admittedly) shows the human side of a football club and the heart behind all the money that runs the Manchester club.

Friday 25 January 2019 InQuire

Sports Membership shake-up

Sport

Why American football is pointless By Joe Acklam Writer

Continued...

...that we’ve seen a change as they’ve started to consult the Union on what students want, so hopefully this will change in the future.” It appears that the students of UKC are keen for change. Becca Misevic, Lacrosse 2nd Team player and gym goer said: “I think [Kent sport memberships] are expensive for what you get and if I wasn’t in Lacrosse, I would probably have joined another gym in town where I can get a better deal”. Beth Mason, who is not a part of a sports club but uses the gym regularly for classes said: “I bought my membership to use the gym facilities, mainly the classes they offer. I think there’s a fairly good range of memberships offered, but that there’s room for improvement. I think the gym memberships are quite expensive, especially considering we’re students and a lot of us aren’t able to use the gym all year, we end up paying for months of gym time we don’t use. I wouldn’t be able to afford my membership without the support of my parents”. The survey closes today and has already got its intended 2,000 responses needed to provide a large cross-sample. The survey is still suitable for those who don’t take part in sport, as Kent Sport and Kent Union needed a wide variety in feedback in order to make any changes. The survey can be filled out at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ sportskent - students who fill out the survey will be entered into a prize draw to win a £100 Amazon Voucher, Gold Kent Sport Membership (refunded if brought already), 10 x 20 KentOne Card Vouchers, or 10 x 20 Vouchers to use at any Kent Union or Kent University outlet. Window told InQuire: “My parting advice would be - fill out the survey, and pass it on as many housemates, coursemates and friends as you can! We all need to get behind this, so let’s make a change”. To hear more, KTV recently interviewed Emily Window on the big change she hopes to make, which you can find on their social media.

King of the Jungle to visit the Marlowe

ottenham Hotspurs fans in Kent have something to cheer for this season as Harry Redknapp is set to visit the Marlowe Theatre on Sunday the 5 of May 2019. The popular winner of I’m a celebrity get me out of here and former football manager will be telling anecdotes from his lengthy career and his struggles in the jungle. It will be a must-see event for sports fans as he has an abundance of riveting stories and there will be a Q&A for the audience at the end of the talk. You can buy your ticket at the Marlowe website.

Continued from back page ...game do not provide such solace to the athletes, given each side replace who is on who has the ball. As seems a general trend in America, money comes before art. I have noticed a worrying trend of late with Dua Lipa performing before the Champions League final and Tinie Tempah performing at the FA Cup final. The Super Bowl has given some concerning ideas to the heads of my favourite sport that the sport should be a part of a greater show. The sport should be the show. Both of the aforementioned artists are talented and have their place, but it is not their job to increase my excitement for what I am about to watch. I was already very excited to see Liv-

erpool pit their wits against Real Madrid before ‘One Kiss’ came on. These are sporting events, not Glastonbury.

Photo by Pixabay

American Football has actually found its way to ruin the American version of true football. The closed league system of the NFL, NBA and MLB have been recreated in the MLS. Financially for the owners this does make sense as their investment is safe, nobody has to panic buy Jordan Rhodes when their striker isn’t scoring, and Sam Allardyce doesn’t receive his yearly phone call from a club staring at the Championship. But it does make a lot of the season reasonably pointless, with clubs potentially tanking their own season

to improve their position in next year’s draft. European sports have nail biters right to the end across the board— when Huddersfield played Cardiff in the Premier League it was not a non-event, but a 6 pointer in which both sides needed to beat the other, with their top flight status all-but on the line (the less said about the quality of this game the better, but it really matters in the wider context). In comparison, when the San Francisco 49ers played the Arizona Cardinals in this year’s season, there was nothing riding on it because neither side had even an outside chance of making the post-season. Once more, there is a roughly 0% chance of this making any difference. For one, it is written in a different country, and I think we all know how Americans react to outsiders. Also, it is a system ingrained in decades of a sport and nobody likes change, even if it would genuinely improve the sport.

Sports Spotlight: Kent FC By Meg Warwick Website Sports Editor

he UKC Sports Spotlight is back, and this week InQuire spoke with three committee members from the Football FC committee. First up is the chairman Alastair Doe, who plays left-mid for the 3rd Team, and supports Celtic because his family are from Glasgow. Next is Cameron Phillips, who is the goalie for the 2nd team and Social Secretary for the club. And finally David Percy, who is the 3rd Team captain, plays centre-mid and supports Chelsea. The team talk through the season, the improvement of the 3rd team with their winning streak and what is too be expected in the future. Q. How has the season gone so far? Cameron: The 2s haven’t been great to be fair, compared to last year we have struggled. Not sure why, I think there’s a lot of new freshers.We have a lot of new players. David: The 3s have done quite well so far, winning quite a few

games and getting quite far in the cup. We have started pretty positively. Alistair: The 1s are also doing well, they’ve only lost one match. I mean, they are drawing but they look good. Genuinely quite good as a club. Percy: Football and social wise the freshers are doing well, shout

volved with Movember. Alistair: I think we’ve raised well over £1000 for Movember. Percy: A lot of the boys got involved, we’ve had our page set up for people to donate to. Everyone in the club has really got involved. Q. Do you guys prefer the social side or the sports side? Cameron: We play Wednesday and Saturday, so Wednesday is all

ter, we have fun. The social aspect is a part of it. You go on tour, which is mainly a social thing. We do take football seriously, but make friendships through both. Q. Any players that have shone so far? David: Josh Cunningham, big goal scorer this year. He’s really come on this year and he’s scoring goals for fun. Ed Bensley is another goal scorer. Alistair: I’d call out Will Baldry, our 1st Team Captain. He’s really committed to the club, plays Saturdays and Wednesdays. Most 1st players don’t even consider playing Saturdays, because it’s less serious. But he puts in his shift. Q. Are you involved with the women’s football team? Cameron: One of our old boys in the manager for the UKC Women’s Football Team. David: There’s a bit of a cross over.

Photo from Facebook|Kent Sport out to one of our fresher Harry who has been a great social member. Q. On the social side, have you got any events coming up? Cameron: We have teamed up with our sponsors Student Republic and did a 70s Movember disco. It went really well! Most people in the club grew moustaches for Movember so we thought we’d tie it in as moustaches are part of the 70s look. A lot of the old boys got in-

in all best day of the week because we have Venesday in the evening. When you have to get up after going out on a Friday it’s a bit tedious. I think you have to separate Weds and Saturdays. Percy: We’ve got a good mix in the club, when we are playing we know it’s serious and we do take it seriously because we’ve joined to play football at the end of the day. We want to win but we have a good level where we do go out af-

Q. What is the best thing about your club? Cameron: All my friends at university are football boys. The people I hang round with is my football mates as we all have something huge in common and it’s easy. Alistair: The feel of the club, everyone looks out for each other. We are all mates, we all hang out at matches and socials together. David: The relationships you make with the other boys, you’ve got the boys you came in with and you’re really close with them. And the ones that come in after, you make friends with them. You’re always getting fresh faces. Best part about it.

S port Window triggers sports www.inquiremedia.co.uk/sport

membership shake-up

InQuire Why American football is pointless By Joe Acklam Writer

o American Football for my next installment of Inquire Sport’s Pointless series. My complaints with the sport itself are relatively minor. I won’t even wield the petty jibe of saying that American Football does not really utilise the foot and the ball is more egg-shaped. I enjoy keeping up with the sport and cannot help but be impressed by the physics-defying antics of Odell Beckham Jnr making one handed catches whilst jumping backwards, and Patrick Mahome’s nonchalantly throwing a no-look pass. There is more of a fundamental issue with American sports at large, which is best exemplified by American Football. The NFL is the target here, but it seeps further down like a liquid

“A sport created to feed the American beast of advertising”

“We’ve jointly hired an external consultant who has suggested that we survey students to find out what the demand is for change.” Team Kent Exec member Fiona Desmond-Collins, who works closely with Emily Window, has said that she brought her membership just to use the facilities that are offered for sports clubs,primarily the Pavillion for Lacrosse. “There should also be a more basic membership for those getting into fitness for the first time who don’t want to fork out £220. I think price is the main thing stopping people from keeping fit at uni. It’s what stops most people joining a sports club. “I didn’t join lacrosse in my first year because I was so broke after buying a membership. It’s only recently

into a sponge. I’m not sure it’s fair to expect anyone to watch anything other than the NFL when it comes to American Football. And before you raise the criticism—yes, I have played it. How many times have you actually watched a full match of American Football? Not just highlights, but from start to finish? It is an almost painful experience. The average NFL game last 3 hour and 12 minutes, but the ball is only in play for one hour. This is not a sport devised around the beauty and enjoyment of playing, but one that has been created to feed the American beast of advertising and consumerism. The show How I Met Your Mother, during the episode about the Super Bowl, reference the advertisements more than they talk about the game itself. Sport should be as pure as is possible, not one large billboard for somebody else to peddle their wares. European sports only have stoppages to benefit the game. Half-time in football is 15 minutes and is provided so the players can recharge to keep up the to-and-fro during the next half. The over one hundred advertisements that take place during an American Football

Continued on Sports Page 2

Photos by Kent Sport

By Meg Warwick Website Sports Editor

hen elected VP Sport for Kent Union, one of Emily Window’s manifesto points was to review the sports membership prices and offers, hoping to make a change that would suit everyone. The surveys for the membership review are out, allowing students to have their say. The change for the memberships was prompted by students being unable to afford the prices—which affects students being able to join sports clubs, as the majority of them require a gym membership. Kent Sport currently offer three levels of memberships. Gold, which costs £220 at the beginning of the year, Silver which costs £180 and Bronze which is pay-as you-go. Kent Sport director Mel Clewlow

said: “Kent Sport membership is more than just a gym membership as it provides access to all facilities on campus. Each VP for sport, for as long as I can remember, has always put within their manifesto that they will try to make sport cheaper for students by lobbying Kent Sport! We have recently written a new 7-year joint sports strategy with the aim being to have ALL students at the University of Kent engaged in physical activity by 2025. This is a bold statement but one we feel is achievable if we get our membership pricing correct so it encourages students to become members. It should be noted that any surpluses made by Kent Sport are ploughed back into our facilities to maintain a safe and high-quality service to our members; so should any changes be made to our pricing structure, this can’t be to the detriment of our financial surpluses. We

hope within the review/survey, students will provide us with ideas and thoughts on potential changes that could be made & not to just focus solely on cost”. According to Emily Window: “for the last couple of years we’ve been hearing that students aren’t happy with the membership options available to them on campus for them to get involved in sport and physical activity on campus. Kent Sport and Kent Union are currently working together to review this and are conducting a survey to gain student feedback and listen to the student voice on this. “I’ve been working closely with Kent Sport already this year on a number of projects, from Welcome Week events to This Kent Girl Can, and the Gym Membership Review is the next big project that Kent Union and Kent Sport are coming together to work on.

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