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February 24th 2010

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year’s Varsity - pages 9-16 Entertainment: Review of Chris Addison’s Issue 5.2

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Universities fear terrorist attacks

Max Nash

Controversy as Special Branch officers are assigned to campuses

Amelia Cox Several UK universities are set to work in conjunction with counter-terrorist officers after it was revealed that they may be at risk of extremist attacks.

David Lammy, the Universities Minister, announced that Special Branch officers will be placed around campuses thought to be susceptible to the dangers of terrorist activity.

Although Lammy refused to

name or number the institutions involved, he insists that they are ‘aware’ of their vulnerable position and will be expected to work closely with Special Branch.

The minister also hopes that these new measures will create a “partnership between leadership at universities and the police.”

However, the introduction of Special Branch officers are not the first precautions taken by the government to secure universities against the threat of terrorism; staff were issued with guide-

lines on how to combat extremist activity on campus four years ago, urging academics to challenge their students’ radical views.

This recent endeavour to strengthen security at many universities is thought to be a reaction to UCL’s notorious ‘underpants bomber’; UCL engineering student Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab attempted to detonate a bomb on a flight to Detroit on Christmas day last year, having stored explosives in his underpants.

The former student has become the sixth member of a UK student Islamic society to be arrested as a potential terrorist.

However, the UK Federation of Student Islamic Societies, FOSIS, have claimed that there is no evidential link between these organisations and extremism whilst Malcolm Grant, the provost of UCL, condemns accusations of the university’s part in ‘radicalising’ Abdulmutallab.

Further studies conducted

by Cambridge researchers repealed the idea that student groups encouraged violent action, claiming that students were more likely to join Amnesty International than al-Qaeda.

However, many continue to express doubts in regards to such societies. Islamic specialist, Ruth Dudley Edwards, believes that universities are “breeding grounds” for Muslim extremism and criticises UCL’s failure to be responsible for Abdulmutallab’s actions.

Ed Husain, president of counter-extremism think-tank ‘The Quilliam Foundation’ and former member of a radical Islamic group expressed his concern for on-campus activity; “In some university campuses on Friday prayers and on most university campuses with prayer rooms - and I have visited several of those - you see the literature that is stocked and the level of discussion that is happening. I am not saying it supports terrorism but it clearly does provide extremist mood music to which suicide bombers dance.”

‘Canterbury United’ to defend against tuition rise Neil Jack Davis

With a general election only weeks away, a new campaign has been launched in Canterbury in opposition of a proposed increase in tuition fees.

The campaign group “Canterbury United” is a collective of students from Canterbury College, Kent University, Canterbury Christ Church University and the University for the Creative Arts who oppose the removal of the cap on tuition fees after the election as part of a wider review of the funding of higher education.

Currently, tuition fees in England and Wales are capped at £3,225 per annum.

However, as part of wider cuts due to the recession this cap could be removed and would potentially allow universities to charge £7,000 or beyond.

The aim of the “Canterbury United” group is to make the concern over student debt a crucial policy issue at the next election, as well as to highlight the consequences of higher tuition fees on the local community.

The group argues that because Canterbury has such a high student to resident ratio, such a steep rise in fees would dramatically affect the character and future of the city for all inhabitants.

Dan Curran, Vice-President of Education at the University of

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2 Ne ws Daria Oldale

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Editorial contacts: Vickie Campbell - Chairwoman chairwoman@inquiremedia.co.uk Adam Silver - Newspaper Editor newspaper.editor@inquiremedia. co.uk Nicola Standley - IQ Editor iq.editor@inquiremedia.co.uk Daria Oldale - News newspaper.news@inquiremedia.co.uk Tinashe Mushakavanhu - Comment newspaper.comment@inquiremedia.

Film contest targets on-campus theft Rebecca Bright A film competition for students run by the Home Office hopes to raise awareness about safety and the prevention of theft.

The contest, entitled ‘Lights, Camera, Action’ asks budding filmmakers to make a short film highlighting the dangers students face from crimes such as burglary and mugging, whilst demonstrating how they can prevent such situations occurring.

The panel of judges will include the story producer from ‘The Bill’, whilst the winner will be awarded with stateof-the-art camera equipment.

The closing date for the competition is 1st March, 2010 and to apply for an entry form contact Jessica. becker@redconsultancy.com.

Students are currently among the highest at risk of burglary, as student accommo-

dation is considered an easy target for potential thieves.

Many students feel that their rooms in halls are safe and therefore feel secure in leaving them unlocked throughout the day.

However, the majority of student burglary cases have involved thieves using unlocked or open windows as entrance points.

The Home Office stress that it is a worryingly common problem that many do not think about, in spite of the fact that a third of students have reported a case of burglary.

They also advise that cautionary steps, much of which are common sense, should be used by students in order to improve the security of their accommodation.

Doors should be locked and expensive items should be put away out of plain sight.

For more tips visit the Home Office at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/ crime-victims or the University of Kent student housing website.

Confidential UK data may be at at risk Lisa-Marie Janes A Council of the European Union document recently revealed that a significant amount of confidential information concerning British citizens can be accessed at more than 500,000 terminals across the EU. The data is held on a vast computer network which manages a significant amount of the 27 EU member states’ shared data.

The information, which is stored in what is known as the Schengen Information System, or SIS, includes arrest warrants, immigration statuses, entries on the police national computer and a multitude of personal details.

Privacy campaigners were shocked at how easily the data could be accessed and expressed concern over its security.

Statewatch, a group that monitors civil liberties in the European Union, argued that SIS security has been breached in the past after a Belgian official managed to extract personal information from the system to be sold to an organised criminal gang.

Director of Statewatch, Tony Bunyan said: “It is well known that the greater the points of

access, the greater the number of people who have access and the greater the chance that data will be misplaced, lost or illegally accessed. Therefore, the idea that mass databases can be totally secure and that privacy can be guaranteed is a fallacy.”

The rapid increase in the size of the network could be attributed to the expansion of the EU; official documents state that in 2003, there were only 125,000 computer terminals across the EU with access to the system.

According to the Council of the European Union’s Inter-institutional File, the “SIS is built around a central database that is networked, via national systems, to more than half a million terminals located within the security services of the member states.”

It continued to explain that the system “currently contains more than 30m alerts for wanted persons, stolen vehicles and stolen or lost identity papers and documents.”

Whilst the SIS is undeniably of significant use to officials attempting to track criminals and illegal immigrants, concerns have been raised that the personal data it holds could be accessed and used by fraudsters.

co.uk Nik Williams - Culture newspaper.culture@inquiremedia. co.uk Jane Tranter - Features newspaper.features@inquiremedia. co.uk

Is funding wasted on ‘Mickey Mouse Degrees’?

Aaron Shiret

Anna Maysey - Entertainment newspaper.entertainment@inquiremedia.co.uk Sally Gower - Sports newspaper.sport@inquiremedia. co.uk Sam Hall - Website Editor website.editor@inquiremedia.co.uk Romana Roske - Web News website.news@inquiremedia.co.uk Yogini Jivanji - Web Comment website.comment@inquiremedia. co.uk Alex Wood - Web Features website.features@inquiremedia.co.uk Grace Evenhuis - Web Entertainment website.entertainment@inquiremedia.co.uk Carl English - Web Sport website.sport@inquiremedia.co.uk

A leading UK scientist has attacked the government for funding academically dubious degrees, arguing that this money should be spent on science degrees at universities.

Dr Richard Pike, the chief executive of the Royal Society of Chemistry, denounced the government’s plans to include the sciences in its plans to cut higher education spending by £600m over the next three years.

He went on to cite particular examples of what are commonly referred to as ‘Mickey Mouse degrees’; those that lack academic rigor, with low entry requirements generally found at new universities that are former polytechnics.

Pike stated: “No longer should the government be paying 18year-olds to start courses on

celebrity journalism, drama with waste management, or international football business management. These courses should be kicked into touch, especially at a time when the UK is desperately short of research funding into Alzheimer’s and other diseases, alternative energy sources and wider, more effective health care. All this depends on leading-edge work in the fundamental sciences.”

Last year in a parliamentary debate, Conservative MP David Davies also questioned the validity of degrees such as the Univer-

sity of Plymouth’s Surf Studies and Thames Valley University’s Culinary Arts Management.

There are however, those who defend these largely vocational courses, such as Boris Johnson, who argued that they teach skills that are directly applicable to specific workplaces.

Graduate employment statistics published last year show that many graduates with vocational degrees are successfully finding jobs upon graduating, sometimes more so than those with more academically-orientated degrees.

However, so called ‘Mickey

Mouse’ degrees are not safe from funding cuts ; the Higher Education Funding Council for England announced that it would monitor the progress of such courses to make sure that they were worth tax payers money and that they are providing students with skills advantageous to the economy.

It also pledged to give an extra £10m of funding to the sciences, which are currently the most expensive courses to fund, but for Dr Pike this is an highly insufficient amount.

“Funding for the sciences should be ringfenced so that, in effect, it becomes a more dominant component. This is not a question of pleading a special case. Such a move is essential if we are all to enjoy the lifestyle we have become accustomed to, and ensure that we are prepared for the changes that will affect us all in the future.”

Ne ws 3 Think tank claims increased tuition fees are essential

Daria Oldale

continued from front page

Kent, stated: “I believe that students do care about the areas they live in whilst they study at University, and often they will face a big decision in leaving the area when their time here is up.

That is why I think it is vital that they have the chance, along with the local community, to impact the local area and stand together on important issues. Obviously tuition fees are one of the issues I think affect the whole community not just the students, which is why we want our campaign to bring the whole Canterbury community together to voice their opinions.”

“Canterbury United” is launching a week of events entitled “Love Canterbury, Hate Debt” that it hopes will engage both current and prospective students, as well as local residents.

The week’s events will run from 22-28th February, concluding with a march through the city streets and a student musical showcase.

The march will commence at 12pm, Saturday 27th February in Pound Lane car park near Westgate Hall; for tickets to the event, please contact any of the Student Union’s involved or visit Kent Union’s website, www.kentunion.co.uk.

For more information regarding the week of events, please visit www.canterburyunited.co.uk

Will universities remain culturally diverse establishments if tuition fees are raised?

Saul Gottesman A recent think tank report advises that universities should increase tuition fees to a minimum of £5,000 if they are to survive the government cuts to higher education.

Anna Fazackerley, head of arts, culture and education at the Policy Exchange think tank and co-author of the report asserted that: “Fees will need to rise in the future if we are to protect and improve the student experience.”

The document, entitled “More Fees Please?” goes on to state that an increase in

fees will allow universities to charge at different rates.

However, NUS president Wes Streeting argues that the creation of a competitive market will “reinforce social and economic privilege and price poorer students out of the most prestigious universities”.

Additional suggestions include offering a 10% discount to undergraduates that pay tuition fees upfront, as opposed to after graduation, which could help to reduce the government’s £25b student loan debt.

“More Fees Please?” comes as part of a government commissioned independent review, led

by former BP head Lord Browne, following the announcement that government university spending would be reduced by £950m in the next three years.

Many fear that several courses and campuses will be forced to shut down in the near future, whilst thousands of members of staff may be made redundant.

Members of the Leeds based University and College Union (UCU) recently announced that a strike will commence in late February after it was revealed that 54 members have already lost their jobs, with 700 more at risk.

Sally Hunt, UCU’s general secretary, stated that: “Academics

care a great deal for their institutions and higher education overall. They are understandably frustrated and angry at the business secretary’s failure to grasp the severity of his planned cuts.”

The business secretary, Lord Mandelson, recently defended the government’s planned spending cuts by accusing academics of being set in aspic.

“I expect cuts to be greeted with dismay – some of it vocal and critical, but the cuts will not leave our best institutions on their knees.”

He went on to say that: “I have always said that higher education would have to bear its share of public spending cuts, but not more. Public funding cuts are the regrettable cost to the UK of saving the banking sector and getting the country through the recession.”

The think tank report also argued that students from wealthier backgrounds should no longer be entitled to interest-free government subsidised loans.

Alternatively, major bank chains should offer low interest private loans, a measure that must be taken, according to Fazackerley. “If we want to retain Britain’s position as a global leader in higher education, we are convinced that fees will need to rise.”

Have Your Say: Are you concerned with the cuts to higher education?

“I worry for future prospective students. Education should be available for all and I am concerned that it will become a realm for the elite. This is just another example of government short-sightedness.”

Conducted by: Daria Oldale, Jane Tranter and Nik Williams

“The government wouldn’t have cut funding if it wasn’t completely necessary. I think there have to be cuts otherwise tuition fees will increase.”

“I think the government are inconsiderate, as a large number of staff will be made redundant. Postgraduate students will have to replace lecturers and the standard of university education will drop.”

Kylie Grant, 23

Paul Gravestock, 21

Creative Writing (Masters)

Samson Musangeya, 21

Physics (4th year)

Physics (4th year)

Deniz Kayimbasioglu, 21

Riaz Russool, 21

Business Administration (4th year)

Architecture (3rd year)

“Obviously I don’t support it considering that a country’s progress depends on the quality of its education. The cuts to higher education reflect badly on Britain as a country; it suggests that the government do not consider education significant.”

“It’s going to result in less students at university as they won’t be able to afford it. Currently, my loan doesn’t cover my lifestyle so I think that in the future, prospective students will have to rely on rich parents, which will result in a less diverse university environment.”

4 Ne ws

Government’s domestic violence ad campaign targets teens A new advertising campaign launched by the government hopes to raise awareness of domestic violence early on by targeting adolescents aged 13 to 18.

The initiative, which is administered by the Home Office, responds to a study conducted by the NSPCC last year which revealed that a 25% of girls and 18% of boys aged 13 to 17 had experienced physical violence in their relationship.

Additionally, a third of girls disclosed that they had been pressurised into sexual acts they did not consent to.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson said: “We want to see young people in safe and happy relationships and this means tackling attitudes towards abuse at an early age, before patterns of violence can occur. We hope this campaign will help teenagers recognise the signs of abuse and equip them with the knowledge and confidence to seek help, as well as understanding the consequences of being abusive or controlling in a relationship.”

An alarming revelation was that the young participants perceived abuse in relationships as normal.

Diane Sutton, of NSPCC expressed her hopes that the campaign would encourage teenagers to band together to tackle the issue commenting: “Any initiative like this campaign that reaches out and gets teenagers to talk about it amongst their peer group will be very important, and really emphasise it’s absolutely not appropriate to punch, or hit, or slap, or pressure your partner into early sex”.

The £2m campaign includes radio and print adverts, posters, school teaching materials and an online “viral” scenario which asks young people to recognise and reject abuse.

One particular advertisement directed by Shane Meadows depicts a girl being thrown to the floor and grabbed by her hair after her boyfriend sees a text from a friend the boy dislikes.

Meadows stated that he not only wants to highlight physically abusive behaviour but also the problem of emotional abuse including verbal insults

and controlling behaviour.

He commented: “Teen violence is a subject close to my heart as I grew up in a place where violence and bullying were an integral part of life and accepted as the norm. My job was to make sure these adverts are compelling, real and utterly authentic. They give you the chance to look back at yourself and your actions.”

Christine Barter from Bristol University, who led the study, advocated long-term intervention in schools was necessary.

She commented on the issue: “They need to look at what is happening in peoples’ relationships, to say to them, ‘This is a serious issue, we do take your relationship seriously, we take concerns you have in those relationships seri-

ously’.... to challenge the violence, intimidation and control that is in those teenage relationships as it is in adult relationships”.

Dr Linda Papadopoulos, a psychologist, commented on the extent and pervasiveness of abuse, adding on BBC Radio’s 4 Today programme that many girls expected violence resonating from the belief that “boys will be boys”.

Shane Meadows

Lisa-Marie Janes

Renowned director Shane Meadows asks teens ‘If you could see yourself, would you stop yourself?’

Non-English speakers denied student visas Home Secretary Alan Johnson has proposed new measures to regulate the number of student visa applicants to the United Kingdom.

The new restrictions follow the UK Border Agency’s decision to temporarily suspend student

visa applications from Northern India, Nepal and Bangladesh.

Applicants from outside the European Union will now be required to speak English at just below GCSE standard, as opposed to the current beginner level, in order to be eligible for a student visa.

Additionally, those apply-

el a d l O a i r a D

ing for short term courses lasting less than six months will no longer be allowed to bring dependents into the country.

The new rules are part of the government’s effort to decrease the number of immigrants obtaining student visas under false pretences.

Immigration minister Phil Woolas said that “bogus” colleges were the “Achille’s Heel” of Britain’s border controls while Alan Johnson specified that nearly a third of all immigrants seek to enter the country on a student visa.

The rules are a means to ensure that those who apply for a visa are genuine applicants who intend to study, rather than adults taking short-term courses or working.

The government has faced much criticism in regards to the declining number of international students in the UK whilst a general concern amongst foreign students is that they will no longer be able to study in Britain.

However, according to the Home Secretary, British Uni-

versities will not suffer from this decline; Johnson stated : “We remain open to those foreign students who want to come to the UK for legitimate study they remain welcome. But those who are not seriously interested in coming here to study but come primarily to work, they should be in no doubt that we will come down hard on those that flout the rules.

I make no apologies for strengthening an already robust system.”

Additional changes to student visa laws will restrict those taking courses below degree level to working more than 10 hours per week, as opposed to 20 as present.

As Johnson explained, since the country took steps to bar unskilled workers from entering, the student visa route is still being exploited by people whose real intention is to find low skilled work for themselves or family members.

The UK Border Agency is planning to introduce an innovative system which hopes to obtain further control over the immi-

gration situation in the country.

According to a new mechanism that will come into force in 2011, it will be possible to raise or lower the threshold of one’s citizenship, while those that want to become British citizens will have to “earn” their right under a points test.

Daily Mail

Daphne Maglie

Home Secretary Andrew Johnson

Ne ws 5

Sandeep Sharma

Daria Oldale

Researchers at Leeds University have suggested that there may be a link between excessive internet use and depression, after a recent study revealed that those dependant on the internet reported higher levels of depressive symptoms than non-addicted users.

Of the 1,319 respondents who took part in the online questionnaire, only 18 were flagged as being “internet addicts”, with a 13:5 male to female ratio.

Those questioned were between the ages of 16-51; although the average age for all participants was 21, the addicts specifically brought it down to 18.

Dr Catriona Morrison, a coauthor of the study, explained the findings: “Our research indicates that excessive internet use is associated with depression, but what we don’t know is which comes first – are depressed people drawn to the internet or does the internet cause depression?”

What is considered as excessive internet use can range from being online for longer periods of time than originally intended to allowing non-internet commitments, such as academia and social contact, to become seriously affected.

The questionnaire asked participants how often they used the internet, as well as for what purpose; while non-addicted users revealed they used the web to send emails or shop online, addicts admitted to spend-

ing extensive time on gaming sites, online communities and sexually orientated web pages.

The study was the first of its kind conducted in the Western hemisphere, as the majority of previous internet addiction research has been carried out in Asia; there are over 400 private ‘Internet rehabilitation’ camps in China as of 2009.

The American Psychiatric Association recently announced that it was considering the classification of internet addiction as a mental disorder, after a Stanford study conducted in 2006 revealed that almost 10% of respondents used the internet to “escape problems or relieve negative mood”.

However, Dr Morrison stresses that this is not the case for most internet users: “What is clear is that, for a small subset of people, excessive use of the internet could be a warning signal for depressive tendencies.”

However, some have criticized the findings, claiming that internet addiction cannot be reliably diagnosed; Professor at the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College London, Dr Vaughan Bell, argued that the internet is simply another outlet for escapism.

“There are genuinely people who are depressed or anxious who use the internet to the exclusion of the rest of their lives, but there are similar people who watch too much TV, bury themselves in books or go shopping to excess.

There is no good evidence that the problem is the internet itself.”

Daria Oldale

Internet use fuels mental health concerns

A contrasting view of the Canterbury campus at the University of Kent

Hidden data reveals that university buildings at ‘serious risk of breakdown’ Tinashe Mushakavanhu A recent report has revealed that many university buildings are not considered adequate for use.

The Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce) was forced to disclose the data after an information tribunal ruled in the Guardian’s favour, agreeing that it was in the public’s interest for the data to be made available.

Hefce is thought to have spent up to £50,000 trying to conceal the data, which confirms that countless halls of residences and lecture theatres across the country are in a poor condition.

The database confirms that more than 90% of higher education institutions had at least 10% of their buildings judged below the “sound and operationally safe” category.

Surveyors employed by universities often judge an estate based on four levels; these consist of ‘new’, ‘sound and operationally safe’, ‘operational, but in need of major repair and inoperable’ and ‘posing a serious risk

of major failure and breakdown’.

However, the report reveals that one in ten institutions had at least 10% of their estate judged inoperable and at serious risk of major breakdown.

The database revelations come after the government announced that university grants for capital projects, such as new buildings, would be cut by £562m in 2010-11.

University Vice-chancellors have said they will have to shelve new building plans to make the cuts.

Since the details of the Hefce database are two years old, there has been concern that little might have changed in the time between. With an expanding growth of student populations at universities across the UK, institutions need to refurbish and maintain their infrastructure to cater for increasingly large volumes of students.

The universities in question include Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, where 46% of buildings are deemed “inoperable”, as well as Leeds Metro-

Have you got a news story?

E-mail the News Editor, Daria Oldale, at newspaper.news@inquiremedia.co.uk.

politan University, where 36% of all campus structures are considered to be below par.

But while some buildings are falling in a state of disrepair, universities all over the country continue to build more structures. Most institutions, such as the University of Kent, work in conjunction with local councils and businesses and foundations as this may suggest that responsibility for their maintenance is collective. Property consultants who advise universities said that, at its most extreme, buildings could pose a threat to student safety and may even break fire regulations.

Back in November, 2009, the quality of buildings on the University of Kent campus came under scrutiny after the Beverley Farmhouse partly collapsed.

The reason behind the collapse remains unknown, although it has been suggested by local residents that nearby building works had disturbed the foundations of the structure which was built in the 15th century.

6 Comment The General Election The much anticipated General Election is almost upon us as the three leading political parties in the land fight to impress voters.

For weeks to come we will have to get used to the faces of the campaigns - smooth David Cameron, grumpy Gordon Brown and sleek Nick Clegg - one of whom will become Prime Minister of Britain, thanks to the endorsement of millions of people across the UK. At the moment, there is growing scepticism on Gordon Brown’s leadership and general disillusionment with the bursting bubbles of New Labour.

Their ‘newness’ seems to be just a fake coat of false promises and a frightening descent into economic and social chaos of one of the world’s greatest nations.

Then, David Cameron, appears to be too good to be true.

His perfect persona lacking any form of social blemish that afflicts the tribe of politicians is a worrying factor as people are not too sure to depend on him as the main man at Number 10 Downing Street, the house that rules this country.

Nick Clegg is just but a party spoiler. The Liberal Democrats are a wishy-washy party. They believe in one policy today and tomorrow another. But again, their presence in the political game is important as they help bring balance on the political scales in the country. They certainly help monitor the two bullish parties and keep them in check. There is no way Nick Clegg will become the new Prime Minister.

Game on as the political campaign goes into full swing.

The Tories lead on all opinion polls. Labour second. Lib Dems third. And the rest.

The fabled TV debates popularised in America are set to be introduced into British politics and we all await with bated breath to see the three political figures square off in a pretty much unscripted stage. Eloquence. Confidence. Inspiration. Marks of a true leader!

Tinashe Mushakavanhu

Nik Williams “Whether people like it or not” is not normally a phrase associated with politics, democracy or any form of modern government without falling into the trap of totalitarianism; choices are to be distributed by those in power to those at the mercy of this power, but this was exactly what was announced by Tom Tancredo in his speech at the first annual Tea Party convention in Nashville.

The former Republican congressman’s speech was targeting the ‘threat’ of immigration and the watering down of America’s Judeo-Christian beliefs in favour of the “cult of multiculturalism” and throughout the night, the theme may have changed, but the venom each speaker loaded every amplified word with remained the same.

The night was charged and many anointed it as a call to arms or revolution, and in the face of such ‘rampaging’ liberalism in the White House, they all hoped to change something. I, however, could not stop thinking that these people should all thank the Obama administration.

Surely without it they would not need to hire out the expansive Gaylord hotel and rally around some of the most conservative voices in America.

The press, certainly, would not have brought such a small fringe group into the spotlight.

Under George Bush they were content, or at least content enough not to fire such incendiary rhetoric towards the president. Bush represented a president that worked for them; he stood up for rigid interpretations

Joe Astrouski

InQuirer on

Whether They Like it Or Not, The Tea Party needs Obama

Tea party protesters campaigning against the Obama administration

of the constitution, hence (for example) his approach towards gun ownership (ending the ten year ban on assault weapons). He was also a stronger authoritarian hand concerning immigration and had a more traditional reading on what can be coined as ‘American’ and, especially more riling in these economic post-bail out times, the ‘correct’ position of government in Americans’ lives.

Bush gave them nothing to struggle against. But their contentment soon ran dry after

Obama’s inauguration, and their anger soon rose to the point it is at now, due to Obama’s actions concerning the bank bail outs and his much maligned health care reform. They had to act, they had to meet and they were going to be angry, furious even.

If democracy requires balance, the group (dubbed The Tea Party) needed Obama to take the contrasting position across the aisle to them for them to take any action or to gain any media time. But on the second night

the key note speaker, Sarah Palin, took the stage and she knows very well what it is like to oppose Obama. She is the darling of far right politics in America, but according to a recent Washington Post poll, over 70% of the country feels she is too unqualified to take presidential office.

Throughout her speech she baited the President, hitting him wherever possible, but unlike the presidential campaign she knew she was speaking to a tame audience. There was no one she needed to persuade which ,for her passion-driven, instead of fact-based speech, was generally a blessing. It will remain to be seen whether the TV viewers will be convinced with her polling numbers so much against her.

What came out of the convention was the volatile nature of the right’s frustration with the Obama administration.

The Tea Party may be a small movement according to a Washington Post poll, as it showed that over two thirds of those polled only knew snippets of what the Tea Party stand for.

Only 45% of Americans agreed with any aspect of their issuesbut the more liberal Obama comes across, or the more he pushes for legislation, (such as the health care reforms) the larger and possibly more prominent this movement will become.

The movement has suddenly become the voice of disillusionment across America that has been brought about by the economic problems of recent years.

I guess this is the true face of democracy and while this should be championed, such venomous conservatism does illustrate the far right’s reactionary tactics at work.

Bankers not to blame for our economic woes Phil Hall There has emerged a strong public distaste for bankers. While it is easy to see why bankers have become today’s number one enemy, I believe it is not wholly justified.

However, it should not be forgotten that money spent recklessly by banks is money invested by the public. By handing over our cash, we tacitly supported their actions. We went to the banks with the most lenient policies on

loans, with the biggest overdrafts and credit card limits, all to fund our own excessive behaviours.

To blame the bankers when our own demand for excess funded theirs is pure hypocrisy. Regardless of who is to blame, many believe that the financial crisis has shown the cracks in capitalism; that the banking industry was far too loosely regulated.

Whilst regulation is good, it is ludicrous to burden banks with more taxes, as the gov-

ernment now proposes with its so called ‘Robin Hood’ tax. In January, after the government announced their plans to heavily tax banker’s bonuses, Goldman Sachs hinted on leaving the City of London. Britain will lose.

Gordon Brown’s socialist ideals are not good. Britain’s largest economic sector is the service industry, and London is undoubtedly one of the world’s main financial centres.

Punishing those who work

hard and crave success will drive the most lucrative industries elsewhere, leaving Britain bereft of its economic crutch.

This is no good thing for a country re-emerging from recession. We all seem to forget that it is the fruits of capitalism that pay for our comforts We may have our confidence shaken by the busts that inevitably occur under the free-market, but no doubt that boom and bust is better than indefinite stagnation.

Comment 7

Kent Hospitality

CampusOpinion: The graduate student-teacher tribe

Sam Hall As universities try to adjust to the recent pronouncements by Lord Mandelson on the cuts to the higher education sector, it is important to reflect on some of the fundamental changes that universities are having to make.

Obviously, seasoned lecturers are integral but expensive.

But there is a cheaper solution.

A tribe, known as the graduate teaching assistants, are becoming a common feature in the university lecture room.

At the heart of every research institution are seminars, a space in which intensive study blossoms

into an exchange of spoken minds.

At least that’s how they should be.

Of course, the quality of the seminar depends upon the quality of time you have given to the reading, but, perhaps more crucially, the quality of the seminar leader.

He or she is the orchestrator of the discussion that unfolds, the conductor of words, and so sits in the most precarious chair in the room. Sometimes it is a professor who fulfils this task with seemingly infinite knowledge upon the subject at hand, or it is a graduate student who is simply offsetting their course fees with an hour or two a week that doesn’t hold much task other than be a smug step ahead of his undergraduate class.

In my own experience, both are characterised in a certain manner.

Professors are world leading experts in their subject field, but this does not mean that they are experts in leading seminars. This supreme knowledge can sometimes feel like a swell, filling the room, so much so that everyone else, whether prepared or not, feel their vocal chords tighten in trepidation of answering a question in fear of being wrong and being washed ashore of embarrassment and condemnation by the boff at the top.

This was typified for me when talking about political

systems in South-East Asia, the prof went through the countries one by one and we summarised their political climate. Indonesia – a guided democracy; Burma – military dictatorship and so we went on until every country within the region was vouched for.

And then, a stray voice asks; “what about Java?” My eyes fell for a second in apprehension for the poor person, and then I looked up as if I could somehow remove the words which now sat heavy in the room like a lead weight. I then looked at the grey haired wise man as, in a typical slow yet purposeful manner, he responded; ‘Well, after so many weeks of this module, I thought you’d know by now that Java is part of Indonesia.’ Ouch!

If anyone else had said that, other than the prof, we’d probably respond by summarising that as being a bit, well, bitchy.

Instead, it was met with the flush of red cheeks and a few nervous glances from those who could’ve quite easily made the same error.

So, how do we deal with such intimidation by the sage-like professors that take wrong answers or misplaced points like metaphysical daggers to the heart?

One way is through graduate students. Cool and hip, they swagger into the room like the big boy in the playground. Knowing that even if you didn’t really like them, you had to go with their flow,

their conversation, their style.

Some say that they shouldn’t have that responsibility, that the money you’re paying for the course seems a bit misplaced when you’re being led in discussion by someone only a year older, and not necessarily wiser, than yourself.

But they offer that remedy of ‘being down with the kids’, sitting in some kind of buffer zone between us and the godheads in the upper realms of academia.

Sometimes, however, they can be a bit too comfortable with this, I have my suspicions about those leaders who like their position too much, and they always have their favourites.

It was only in my first year when I was told by a female friend that she could have sworn the seminar leader was playing ‘footsie’, the playful flirtation of feet under the table, with her.

I could only give a wry smile when I heard this, after all positions of power (if that’s what you call leading seminars) are there to be abused, and if that’s the perk of the job then I think it’s fairly harmless, but then it may be a bit of an unfair advantage if your seminar participation mark is based solely on how nimble you are with your toes.

I’m sure there are seminar leaders out there who sit at neither one of these two extremes, but, in the meantime, I’ve got some reading to do.

Neil Jack Davis The recent arrest of broadcaster Ray Gosling on suspicion of the murder of his dying partner has reignited the profound passion and heartbreak that surrounds the issue of mercy killing.

Gosling admitted smothering his AIDS stricken and as yet unidentified partner over twenty years ago as part of a private ‘death pact’ between the two, as there was at the time no effective treatment for HIV/AIDS. His confession on BBC Inside Out was a poignant moment; his frank confession portrayed a pain and anxious relief that made for truly uncomfortable viewing. And while legally it was perhaps an unwise deci-

sion to admit to the murder of a lover on television, the anticipated court case will surely strengthen calls for legal reform in this area.

Assisted suicide is still a criminal offence, despite guidelines being issued late last year regarding factors which weigh in favour of, and against, prosecution.

In the case of Gosling, as terrible as his experience has been and as morally justified as he feels, we cannot have a situation in which people are making private pacts to smother each other in the event of their terminal decline, and then passing it off as a natural death for twenty years.

The indignity of his partner’s demise, as well as the obvious risk of someone with a less caring nature abusing this defence would be an awful way to address the problem.

To let Gosling off would set a very

dangerous precedent – he must face some kind of prosecution.

However, the real blame must lie with the society that forces a dying man to plan his own murder. What we must move towards in our society is a more pragmatic, compassionate and (most importantly) clearly regulated approach to dealing with those who wish to die.

In Switzerland, assisted suicide is legal under certain circumstances and there is a clear legal standard that must be met to avoid prosecution.

Assistants to suicide must provide definite evidence of consent and sanity, as well as proving that their assistance was not fuelled by selfish impulses. It is little wonder that instances of ‘death tourism’ to

David Sillitoe

Implications of Ray Gosling’s unscripted confession for mercy killings

BBC presenter Ray Gosling the Alps have increased in the last few years, as people take advantage of the more enlightened laws. Things are better than they were twenty years ago but we still have some way to go before men like Ray Gosling are not forced

to carry the burden of guilt.

This episode of BBC’s Inside Out has greatly advanced the debate on the ethics and legality of helping another to die, and poses a fundamental question: when is the right time?

8 Editorials

From Russia with Love

I

haven’t lived in Russia for over ten years. Visits that were once frequent have gradually waned over the past decade and despite my mother’s accent, there is nothing to suggest that my family have ever lived outside of Britain. Yet when I read an article entitled ‘Disappearing Moscow’ I was overcome with a strong sense of homesickness; why must by beloved birthplace change? I learnt that the fabu-

lously kitsch tomb in which Lenin has been ‘preserved’ for years will soon close to the public so that the communist luminary can receive a proper burial. The beautiful interior of Mayakovskaya metro station, which functioned simultaneously as a tourist attraction, museum and a place of public transportation, is slowly deteriorating. While I understand that all things inevitably change, especially in large metropolitan cities, I cannot accept that the Moscow I am familiar with is no more.

I hold my upbringing responsible for my inability to let things go; my parents followed a somewhat nomadic lifestyle, residing in Turkey, the Czech Republic and a host of former Soviet countries.

Even after settling down in the UK, we never stayed in one place for too long so my cultural affiliations have always been vague.

One would think that a decade in Britain would instil me with respect for the royal family and the

traditional Sunday roast, yet for some reason my loyalties lie with a country I no longer recognise.

I find myself daydreaming about the kind of life I would have led had my family decided to stay in Russia; the bad clothes I would have worn, the traditional dishes I would have cooked with my grandmother, the numerous vaccinations I would have received from stern faced nurses in heavily starched uniforms. However, these daydreams are a product of a selective memory that fade away when I realise that the many great opportunities made available to me in the UK just don’t exist in Russia. While I am often first to criticise the British Government, I wouldn’t exactly want to give up my student loan.

Also, my memories centre largely around childhood endeavours in a country recovering from the collapse of communism, whereas now all the girls carry Chanel bags whilst Chocolad-

niza, Moscow’s equivalent to the Starbucks chain, appear on every street corner. This ‘make-over’, in my opinion, detracts from Moscow’s individuality; in several years, how will this metropolis differ from London or New York?

Attending the UK’s ‘international university’ has made me realise the importance of my identity and no matter how outdated, I will always harbour idealistic memories of my childhood. Ultimately, there really isn’t any harm in the security that nostalgia provides. Many of us will accommodate three different rooms throughout university, while a further few will be required to adapt to a new culture on their year studying abroad. It’s an exciting, yet occasionally challenging time and whilst settling down in one place and having a family is a comfortable substitute, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Daria Oldale News Editor

There is definitely no app for that

L

ike many in our demographic, I love my phone.

It rarely leaves me side; faithfully, it sends and receives messages and it almost unfailingly allows me to contact others regardless of distance; a hurried conversation with someone in K-Bar is as trouble-free as a talk with a relative in Kalamazoo.

In addition to these indispensible services rendered by the humble modern mobile phone, many de-

vices these days are capable of so much more; email, storing music, video and entire books, plotting the position of nearby bars on a map kindly provided by Google.

Want to see railway timetables?

There’s an app for that. Farting?

Check. Desperately in need of bubble wrap? Your wish is granted.

This is not to say that I’m not in favour of ‘smarter’ technology; the days of mobile phones being primarily used for calling others and the occasional SMS message are coming to an end. I’d quite happily have a phone capable of learning when it is I am likely to need an alarm and setting one accordingly if I forget; I have no problem with my ‘companion device’, which the class of devices containing smartphones and netbooks is gradually becoming called, ‘knowing’ my personal routine and using this information to do its job (i.e. what I want it to do) more effectively. This comes with caveats – this awareness of my schedule and my personal habits would need to be stored on my phone, and be in

my (rather than Google’s) hands.

My phone automatically exchanging contact details with someone I have a scheduled meeting with is one thing; telemarketers using my habits to predict the best time to call is quite another.

What is worrying is the increasing obsession with the latest and the new. It isn’t surprising; technology has developed at an incredible pace. The very latest mobile phone in 1999, just over ten years ago, was the Nokia 3310. Its killer feature was removable covers; these were, evidently, simpler times.

There is nothing wrong with progress in itself, and technology that sticks around beyond the fad phase generally does so because it is genuinely useful – however, devices such as the Apple iPad, which appears to have no additional functionality beyond being a prop for an updated Trigger Happy TV - seem to be symptomatic of a wider drive to produce devices that are new for the sake of being new, rather than to fill a particular gap in functionality.

One device that seeks to provide

features above and beyond the ‘market standard’ is the Roxxxy and Rocky dolls produced by the company TrueCompanion. Is this a case of a development too far?

For almost $7000, you can have a robot sex doll that can “listen, talk, carry on a conversation”; a doll that can be “sleepy, conversational or [s]he can be ‘in the mood’”. The dolls even simulate orgasms, and come with a variety of programmed ‘personalities’.

What’s very interesting is that one of the personalities is designed to be reserved and shy, and the doll can be non-appreciative of your advances; I’d imagine that rejection is freely available, so I don’t quite understand paying that kind of money for what appears to be an attempt to replace living, breathing humans with poorly executed simulacrums. According to the company’s website, “Having a female or male sex robot at home will become commonplace in the future”; I remain highly sceptical.

Edward Bowles Web Master

Send your comments to the InQuire Editor at newspaper.editor@inquiremedia.co.uk and see them published in the next issue

v

arsity

special

The Value of Varsity It’s all about pride...

The Gospel according to James Budge

On Wednesday 10th March 2010, sports teams at the University of Kent will unite and compete against Christ Church to lift the Varsity cup. This action packed day will be host to 26 fixtures ranging from football to trampolining and another 5 fixtures will be played before this.

When planning the event I asked a lot of people if they had any ideas for a slogan that we could use. A lot of the suggestions are not suitable to be mentioned in this article but the one that we finally chose was “It’s All About Pride”. I think it summarises the ethos of the day extremely well as every single player is representing our University and wearing the crest with pride (and it’s far better than “Don’t Stop Believing” which Christ Church are using).

As for those of you who have been involved in Varsity in previous years will already know, this isn’t just a day for competitors but can often be won or lost by the volume of supporters. Both UoK and Christ Church facilities are being used on the day and these are all really accessible areas so you can go and stand pitch side or watch from the shelter of the new sports pavilion and even, If you are unable to attend, you can listen to updates on CSR (97.4 fm).

The rugby club will kick Varsity off on Monday 8th March at Canterbury Rugby club. This was the first Varsity fixture to be played and has a separate trophy for the winner of this prestigious event. Christ Church currently have this cup so our boys will be determined to bring it back home this year. All fixtures and information can be seen at www.kentunion.co.uk/ varsity.

As the Vice-President (Sports), I have seen every success that our clubs have had this year and there are far too many to list now but a personal highlight of mine was when we broke the record for the number of members of sports clubs.

For myself, and many other clubs, lifting the Varsity cup would be the reward for all the hard work that everyone involved has put in throughout this academic year.

Come and support UoK and show Christ Church why we belong on the top of the hill!

Sally Gower - Sports Editor

So Varsity’s here and the vast majority of us are in a frenzy. Why? Because it’s all about being part of something, whether it be the team trying their best, or whether you’re in the crowd at the sidelines, cheering them on.

Sport at university can all too often be overlooked and have too little emphasis or attention.

Varsity is all about proving these opinions wrong, and having a good time supporting your university in their quest for sports glory. There’s plenty of it to watch, and who knows? It may spark off an interest in trying a sport, whether it intrigued you before or not.

The players put in the training, week in, week out whatever the weather, so let’s go and watch it pay off. Find your Varsity t-shirts, check the fixtures, and turn into wild animals for the day. Or leave that to the Falcons...

Badminton - Men & Women

The teams this year suffered greatly, in not being in able to match the calibre of their respective oppositions.

The Mens 1st and Ladies have both been relegated, vowing to come back stronger next season, while the Mens 2nd are still playing into mid-March.

Oliver Crabb’s 1st Team slumped to the bottom of the South Eastern Conference Mens 1A, albeit avoiding any whitewashes across the course of the season. Even an 8-0 default win in the penultimate fixture didn’t live up to last year’s record of winning the league. However, the skipper has pledged to hold more structured training sessions next season to target areas of weakness. At the time of writing, the 2nd Team still have 2 fixtures to play, sitting 5th in the South Eastern Mens Conference 3B. Kent should comfortably maintain their league presence; having already thrashed City 8-0, the return fixture is unlikely to prove a stumbling block. The skipper fully expects promotion next season, regardless of how this one ends. The Ladies Team failed to ride on the success of Promotion into the top tier last year, having to deal with the issue of gelling a new team, due to the Graduation exodus. Despite two wins against Chichester, it wasn’t enough to prevent them from avoiding the drop.

Who is the biggest flirt/tart/most butch person on the team?

Biggest flirt is definitely the Captain, Olly Crabb. None of the boys enjoy his sexual advances… Biggest tart I’d say is Yuxiang, far too much thought goes into his on-court attire; I quote, “I need a tighter t-shirt, it makes my moobs looks like pecs”. Jonathan Yu’s also a huge flirt, just because he’s quiet and speaks minimal English; and he’s got that sexy Chinese accent. Westwood’s the tart.

What is the most random pre-match ritual from a member of your team?

The standard Subway baguette before matches...never does anyone any good.

Virad Patel offering everyone cheap energy drinks every time, despite no takers!

Jonathan always turns up to away games dressed smartly… For away games, we play cards on the train, while Vikrom Sachabhum’s magic tricks have the whole team doubt reality.

Who is the person on the team to watch out for and why?

I’d watch out for Jonathan Yu, he’s got potential to be a giant killer… Or Crabb

since he’s a bit shifty, but if you mean talent-wise, then it’ll be a tie between Westwood and Jon I reckon; ooh, unexpectedly, Sam McDonough - he comes out with some miracles!

Sandeep Sharma

Women’s Football

This season has been an up-and-down one for the UoK women’s football club. Following last year’s massive success in winning the double, this season was always going to be more of a struggle as we were promoted to division 1A of the BUCS league. We suffered a few heavy defeats but in amongst those were some closer scorelines, and as the season progressed we made a notable improvement in our game.

Unfortunately, our already small league was depleted as two clubs were removed, leaving us with a league of just four teams. This meant that our season ended abruptly with only five games having been played, but this has only given us more motivation to train hard in the build up to the notorious Varsity clash against Christ Church.

Last season’s Varsity saw us in a fierce battle against our rivals, with the game going into extra time and ending in a thrilling climax, Kent coming out on top with a 5-3 victory.

With our new squad having now really taken shape, we are hoping for another triumphant Varsity game this year, and are looking for the same amount of great support from the sidelines that we received last season. See you at the pitches!

What is the stupidest moment you have ever had on the pitch/court?

Surprisingly nothing particularly bad springs to mind, but I am generally a very clumsy player so it would have to be just the amount of times I fall over or tread on my own feet in a game!

Who is the biggest flirt/tart/most butch person on the team?

Definitely Jo Heron even though she will deny it! She always manages to get free drinks at the bar!

What is the most random pre-match ritual from a member of your team?

Every week we pick a different STD and use it as our chant in the pre-match huddle… Quite a strange ritual but it was started by Jo Heron a while ago and has carried on over the last few years!

Who is the person on your team to watch and why?

The one to watch out for has to be our captain Georgie Tricker, who helped us to beat Christ Church last year with her extra-time free kick.

Laura Kendle

Men’s Hockey

As the perennial conflict of varsity marches its way into our thoughts we reflect on a season that has, like a working girl’s lifestyle, had its ups and its downs.

From the 6-1 win over Portsmouth 1st XI to the heart-breaking cup exit for our 2nd XI on penalty strokes against Hertfordshire 1st XI we have not been left wanting more emotional involvement from our members.

Training this year for varsity has been a top priority to make sure everyone is in peak physical and mental shape. A thousand push-ups each per day and the same number of bicep curls and stomach crunches create our almost super-human players who grace you with their presence in The Venue on a Wednesday night.

A diet of raw red meat is washed down with a steaming mug of children’s tears to combine to form the fabled “elixir of destruction”.

Finally a trip to the zoo instilled the eye of the tiger and the thrill of the fight in our players that will surely leave Christchurch staring through the cupboard into a Narnia of pain.

What is the stupidest moment you have ever had on the pitch/court?

Last year’s varsity when my penalty flick trickled to a stop in front of Christchurch’s keeper, I then hit my shin pad in frustration breaking it in two and cutting a deep gash in the front of my shin, the scar of which I still bear today.

Any bizarre pre-match warm-ups?

Our collective pre-match ritual is not one for the vegetarians; having caught the goat or sheep we ritually slaughter it, spilling its blood onto the Astroturf and attaching its detached scalp to the top of the goalkeeper’s helmet in reverence to the Egyptian sun god Ra. Who is the player to look out for?

The player to look out for would be the 2nd XI’s Benedict “Shaq” Glynn. His immense hitting power, magnificent size and deafening roar are enough to put off even the most determined of NVQ students.

Robbie Morgan

Women’s Hockey

The season so far has been banterous, drunken, awarding, educational and challenging.

After a disappointing start with the entirely new 1st team in the top 1A league they managed to battle their way through with some spectacular wins and secured a comfortable 3rd place. Now our 1st team have perfected playing together we will provide a force to be reckoned with.

The 2s have had a hard season with cancelled games, no goalkeeper and a lack of home games. However they always keep their heads high thanks to their motivational captains and have created great team bonding that has kept them firmly in their league.

And as for our 3s, despite having many games cancelled, many of their players have improved greatly.

Hopes for Varsity this year are simple and a continuing trend - to win. We don’t like breaking tradition at Kent Hockey nor do we like Christ Church.

We have been asked to take our army to the Poly this year as rumour has it they can’t find their way up the hill... Nevertheless, the Poly are fighting a losing battle, soon they will learn that we will continue to kick them when they are down...

Varsity will be a victorious for us whatever the outcome because at the end of the day - we will be employable.

When it comes to moments of stupidity on the pitch, I’ve tended to continuously make hideous errors throughout my year in the first team, from mounting the goalkeeper to head-butting the goalpost. I have also dislocated my finger, cracked a bone in my foot and had countless concussions and bruises.

Most Hockey girls flirt (we couldn’t narrow it down!) - its the best way to get what we want. Alex Ackroyd however continues to flirt horrendously with unsuspecting men, but never closing the deal.

All of our freshers are encouraged to flirt with the umpires during half time, usually through the medium of dance. As for most butch? We leave that to the Poly.

Random pre-match ritual from the hockey girls can be priceless. Sarah ‘Peggy’ Barton likes to break her stick before even going onto a pitch with her ‘princess of punishment’ strikes. The captain of the 1sts has a strange habit of sending obscure motivational text messages the night before the game and lastly our very important and closely monitored policy of NO SEX. Sammy “Soxy” Field is the player to look out for; her fiery ginger streak makes her a mean defender who is not terrified of the ball. She will charge at you with more ferocity then a Churchy on heat!

Issy Lloyd

Women’s Netball

Varsity is always a highlight of the Netball calendar, and one we take very seriously! We have 3 teams competing this year (after our 4th team winning last year with a score of 79-0, I think they’re a bit reluctant to have a rematch), and each team has strengths that we maximise to our full advantage.

The first team are unbeaten this year. After already playing Christchurch in the league they’re eager to improve on the last score line and they cannot wait to have all their supporters there. Christchurch should be wary; every team member has different skills which make for an eclectic and superb netball team. Don’t be fooled by their laid back attitude off court, once that first whistle goes their heads are in the game and they’re in it to win!

The second team are currently top of the league and are a force to be reckoned with. Watch out for Hollie Bishop, she has attracted some less than pleasant remarks in the past for her frustratingly amazing speed and elevation, and she does it all with a smile on her face! Eating jelly at half time is a match ritual and gives the girls an extra boost! (Also useful for the afterparty at the Venue!)

If you hear the Gladiator theme tune anywhere, it’s the third team getting into the zone! These girls have incredible team spirit, once staying with a team mate in a hospital in Essex for hours after she dislocated her elbow!

Nothing will get the thirds down, look out for Boitumelo (Molefe) with her tricks. She’s as quick as lightning and will easily give Christchurch the slip.

Cait McDonagh

Varsit American Football WEDNESDAY MARCH 10TH

Badminton

Hockey

WEDNESDAY MARCH 10TH

WEDNESDAY MARCH 10TH

KENT FALCONS

KENT 1st

[M]

CCCU CHARGERS

CCCU 1st

[M]

InQuire Prediction

KENT 48 : 14 CCCU

UoK’s club Prediction

KENT 50: 14

InQuire Prediction

CCCU

KENT

:

CCCU

WEDNESDAY MARCH 10TH

WEDNESDAY MARCH 10TH

KENT 1st

[M]

CCCU 1st

[M]

[M]

CCCU 1st

[M]

InQuire Prediction

UoK’s club Prediction

KENT 65 : 63 CCCU

KENT 70 : 62 CCCU

KENT 1st

WEDNESDAY MARCH 10TH [W]

InQuire Prediction

UoK’s club Prediction

KENT 60 : 40 CCCU

CCCU

KENT 1st

[M]

CCCU 2nd

[M]

InQuire Prediction

UoK’s club Prediction

KENT 5 : 2 CCCU

KENT 3 : 0 CCCU

KENT 1st

[W]

CCCU 1st

[W] CCCU

KENT

3:1

CCCU

UoK’s club Prediction

KENT 15 : 0

KENT 2nd

[W]

CCCU 2nd

[W]

KENT

InQuire Prediction

KENT 4 : 2 CCCU

[M]

InQuire Prediction

CCCU 1st

UoK’s club Prediction

KENT 2nd

KENT 6 : 2

Football

KENT 55 : 40 CCCU

[M]

InQuire Prediction

[W]

CCCU 1st

CCCU 1st KENT 4 : 2

KENT 5 : 3 CCCU

KENT 1st

[M]

InQuire Prediction

UoK’s club Prediction

Cricket

Basketball

KENT 1st

3 : 3 CCCU

UoK’s club Prediction

KENT 5 : 3

UoK’s club Prediction

KENT 4 : 1

CCCU

[M]

KENT 3rd

[M]

ELIOT ACADEMIC

KENT 1st

[W]

CCCU 2nd

[M]

CCCU 3rd

[M]

CCCU 4th

CCCU 1st

[W]

KENT

2:1

CCCU

UoK’s club Prediction

KENT

3 : 2

CCCU

InQuire Prediction

KENT 2 : 1

CCCU

UoK’s club Prediction

KENT

3 : 1

CCCU

InQuire Prediction

KENT

1 : 1

CCCU

UoK’s club Prediction

KENT

2 :0

CCCU

InQuire Prediction

KENT 4 : 2 CCCU

UoK’s club Prediction

KENT

PARKWOOD UTD

DARWIN TOWERS

PARKWOOD FC

KEYNES FC

INTERMURAL 1st

INTERMURAL 2nd

INTERMURAL 3rd

INTERMURAL 4th

InQuire Prediction

KENT 4 : 3

CCCU

UoK’s club Prediction

KENT

3:2

CCCU

InQuire Prediction

KENT 2 : 1

CCCU

UoK’s club Prediction

KENT 2 : 1 CCCU

CCCU

[M]

KENT 2nd

InQuire Prediction

CCCU

InQuire Prediction

KENT 3 : 0 CCCU

UoK’s club Prediction

KENT

3:0

CCCU

InQuire Prediction

KENT 4 : 1

CCCU

5 : 3 CCCU

UoK’s club Prediction

KENT 5 : 3 CCCU

ty 2010

Tennis

Rugby

WEDNESDAY MARCH 10TH

MONDAY MARCH 8TH Mens and Women’s 1’s

Lacrosse WEDNESDAY MARCH 10TH

KENT 1st

[M]

KENT 1st

[M]

CCCU 1st

[M]

InQuire Prediction

KENT 1st

[M]

CCCU 1st

[M]

CCCU 1st

[M]

InQuire Prediction

InQuire Prediction

UoK’s club Prediction

KENT 8 : 6 CCCU

KENT 12 : 10 CCCU

KENT 6 : 4

KENT 40 : 15 CCCU

KENT 2nd

CCCU

UoK’s club Prediction

KENT 50 : 20

CCCU

[M]

KENT 1st

[W]

CCCU 1st

[W]

InQuire Prediction

KENT 1st

[W]

CCCU 1st

[W]

InQuire Prediction

KENT 8 : 8 CCCU

CCCU 2nd

KENT

[M]

InQuire Prediction

UoK’s club Prediction

KENT 25 : 20 CCCU

KENT 25 : 20 CCCU

KENT 1st

5:5

CCCU

UoK’s club Prediction

KENT 11 : 10 CCCU

Trampolining

UoK’s club Prediction

KENT 11 : 10 CCCU

UoK’s club Prediction

KENT 12 : 10 CCCU

[W]

WEDNESDAY MARCH 10TH

Netball WEDNESDAY MARCH 10TH

CCCU 1st

[W]

InQuire Prediction

KENT

28: 7

UoK’s club Prediction

CCCU

KENT 1st

KENT 30 : 10 CCCU

CCCU 1st KENT 1st

Snooker & Pool

CCCU 1st InQuire Prediction

KENT 44 : 38 CCCU

InQuire Prediction

UoK’s club Prediction

KEN 50 : 35 CCCU

KENT

CCCU

KENT

6:4

CCCU

Volleyball WEDNESDAY MARCH 10TH

WEDNESDAY MARCH 10TH

KENT 2nd

5:5

UoK’s club Prediction

KENT

[Mixed]

KENT 1st

[M]

CCCU

[Mixed]

CCCU 1st

[M]

CCCU 2nd InQuire Prediction

KENT 32 : 12 CCCU

UoK’s club Prediction

KENT 40 : 16 CCCU

InQuire Prediction

KENT 5 : 4

UoK’s club Prediction

CCCU

KENT

7: 3

CCCU

InQuire Prediction

KENT 3 : 0

CCCU

UoK’s club Prediction

KENT

3:0

CCCU

KENT 3rd CCCU 3rd InQuire Prediction

UoK’s club Prediction

KENT 52 : 30 CCCU

KENT 42 : 24 CCCU

Swimming KENT

[Mixed]

CCCU

[Mixed]

[TBC]

InQuire Prediction

UoK’s club Prediction

KENT 35 : 15 CCCU

KENT 30: 20 CCCU

Final Varsity Result

V

Women’s Lacrosse

Our team was created two years ago- this is our second year in the BUCS league. Rosie Glass, President, is using this year as a “development” year. So instead of focusing on achievements in terms of the league table, we have focused far more on recruitment and raising awareness about the sport.

So far this year, we have doubled the amount of team members and currently have 27 girls...mostly beginners and a few experienced players. We have also joined another league called Invicta 8s, which is an 8 aside Sunday league where we play non- university teams.

We have a new kit this year, have joined varsity, and also have gained a successful sponsor at the White Hart pub, with the hope of giving this unusual yet captivating sport a new edge at the university.

Playing against Canterbury Christ Church in the varsity game will be particularly exciting as they are such a similar team to us - brand new and aspiring.

What is the stupidest moment you have ever had on the pitch/court?

The stupidest moment for us so far in this season was during a match with particularly windy conditions on the pitch when the goal kept falling down over our goalie, Anjali, and capturing her in a net type way. We spent more time laughing at her, along with our opponents and picking up the goal, than actually scoring goals!

Who is the biggest tart/flirt/most butch person on your team?

We don’t like to kiss and tell, but Jenny Hopkins is a very fast mover when it comes to men on socials....and Kate Howe is our pro flirt!

Who is the person on your team to watch and why?

The person to watch out for on our team would be our Captain Sheree, she’s passionate and driven, on and off the pitch, put it this way, I wouldn’t ‘crosse’ her, no pun intended.

Rosie Glass

Men’s Rugby

Kent Men’s Rugby season so far has been hugely banterous and enjoyable. The First XV remain undefeated (touch wood) in both the cup and league and look to continue this run with very important games in the near future, this is highlighted well in Varsity week itself where the team will line themselves up against the hated Poly on Monday, followed by Brunel on Wednesday, in what is shaping up to be the league decider. The 2nd XV have enjoyed a great run of victories which began in the weeks leading up to Christmas and have continued into the second term, they will play Poly 2s on the 10th March at Stodmarsh. The 3rd and 4th Teams are fast approaching their final league head-to-head, it is a seriously important game, which could condemn the 4th Team to relegation, or push the 3rd Team towards promotion.

Both teams have managed to scare their weak and inferior Christ Church counterparts to such an extent that there will be no varsity between the teams, much to the chagrin of all the players involved.

Instead, names will be drawn out of a hat and some UKC students will have the dubious honour of dressing up as crayons and face off against the luckier 3rd and 4th team players.

What is the stupidest moment you have ever had/ witnessed on the pitch/court?

During a recent story-time confessional, Ashley McNaughton admitted to relieving himself on the pitch as he had no other option, his defence was “If you’ve got to go, you’ve got to go”. Brad Godolphin goes through two pairs of shorts every match due to his unfeasibly large behind.

Who is the biggest tart/flirt/most butch person on your team?

There are several contenders for the title of biggest flirt in the club, anyone who has taken part in the Strip Show would be a worthwhile contender; Owen Pescod deserves special mention as he has done this twice. Both Mike Salmon and Felix are contenders, if you know them you will understand why. Ultimately the title must go to Jamie Hissey, who is the only player in the entire history of UKC rugby to leave the pitch in order to chase the nearest member of the opposite sex around until they gave in to his irresistible charm.

What is the most random/stupid pre-match ritual from a member of your team?

One of the old boys who left the university two years ago favoured violence against inanimate objects, paying particular attention to the walls and radiators of opposition teams. Pat Gilbert must brush his hair at least 50 times, and look exactly like Patrick Swayze before he leaves the changing room.

Who is the person on your team to watch out for and why?

First of all, you should watch Ben Thomas to make sure that he kicks all of his penalties, and berate him if he misses any. You should also watch out for Martin Frampton and his alarmingly receding hairline.

James Saunders

Women’s Rugby

The season started with a great intake of freshers, which has really boosted the size of the club. Most girls have never played rugby before when they start university, but all the fresher’s this year have quickly picked it up. We started our BUCS games on a high, with a win against Hertfordshire.

However, after a couple of losses and a few match cancellations it didn’t look like the season was going so well. This was turned around at the end of last term with a well deserved 88:0 win against Royal Holloway. With every game I have seen vast improvement from all of our players and am very proud of the versatility and determination every team member has shown.

Currently we are looking to finish third or fourth in our division, meaning we should stay in the top BUCS league for the South East next season. Last year we won varsity for the first time since any of us old girls can remember.

This year we have an even better team, so I am confident of our chances for Varsity victory!

Who is the person on your team to watch and why?

There are a few people to watch out for and I think all of them deserve special mention. Many members of our team play for Canterbury and at county level for Kent. Recently, Lucy Jones, Natasha Brennan, Helena Thewless and Isobel Hopper were selected for the regional South East team.

Added to all that, this will be the last season at UKC for Emma Alleyne before heading back to her Canadian homeland. Emma is one of our strongest and most experienced players, who is always a motivation and driving force on the pitch. These are definitely the players to watch out for during our Varsity match!

Sarah Hunwick

Swimming - Men & Women

The team for Varsity will include many members of the swim team, from both the competitive and casual swimmers. It gives everyone a chance to get involved with the competition and join in with the fun!

We have many excellent swimmers in our team, but some of our star swimmers do deserve special mention. For first example, Michael Coles, he started swimming at six but due to an operation had to stop for a few years at fourteen. He started again and has never stopped since. His main stroke is freestyle. Karol Lbik started swimming in 2000 he had a three year break in 2006 but started again when he joined the UKC swim team with his main stroke being breaststroke. Becci Hill started club swimming when she was nine, but stopped at sixteen due to an injury. She now swims for fun with her main stroke also being breaststroke. Nicola is one of the newest members; she began swimming at nine and was competitive until sixteen, freestyle being her main stroke. All have been very successful in representing the university at BUCS competitions.

Our expectations for Varsity are extremely high this year, with our win of 81-47 last year we’re hoping for a repeat performance! Christchurch has a strong team this year, but so do we. Hopefully it will be a good competition with a winning outcome for UoK. What is the stupidest moment you have ever had/ witnessed on the pitch/court?

There was a BUCS competition in Sheffield this year, in which everyone in the 50m freestyle false-started except for UoK’s James Banus leaving the only man on the blocks, followed by a huge round of applause by the whole of Ponds Forge. (It’s even on YouTube!)

Who is the biggest tart/flirt/most butch person on your team?

Steph Griggs gets biggest flirt, for her flirting to get freshers to sign up in the first week. It was very successful! Mike Coles wins most butch, for when coaching us his sets in training. Hayley Dorrell is the biggest tart, purely for the swim socials.

What is the most random/stupid pre-match ritual from a member of your team?

No one really has a random ritual; we much prefer just sleeping on the poolside until the last minute.

Who is the person on your team to watch and why?

Mike Coles is the one to look out for. He is currently putting in the hours training for regionals with his home team, and will hopefully be the next President of the swim team.

Ellie Mason

Tennis - Men & Women

The tennis club is really doing well this year. We have expanded our membership base and our teams are winning more matches than ever.

The men’s 1st team have recovered from a tough start to the season. In their first match the team was made up of four freshers and they played the strongest team in the league. From the second match onwards and with the captain now fit to play, the firsts went on a winning streak. The men’s 2nd team have had a difficult season. After an encouraging start players have struggled to convert good performances into wins and their lack of consistency has let some players down.

But the second team do continue to out-drink the first team in the socials; I’ll let you decide which ability is more important.

The women’s team has gone from strength to strength. Having lost only one match all season they hold the bragging rights and have even challenged the men’s 2nds.

We have high hopes for Varsity; our strong historical record over the Poly has been tarnished over the last couple of years, and with both the Men’s and Women’s teams having a very different line-up this year we intend on putting things right.

What is the stupidest moment you have ever had on the pitch/court?

At the beginning of my second year, in training I went to try and smash a ball that was a little out of my reach, I completely missed the ball, the racquet flew out of my hand narrowly missing my opponent and I dislocated my shoulder.

Who is the biggest tart/flirt/most butch person on your team?

For the men’s this accolade goes to a non-team member: the person most likely to be pulling someone different in the venue would be Tom Day. For the women’s team the biggest flirt would be either Cat Moon or Ruth Jackson, they are freshers though so we can forgive them.

What is the most random/stupid pre-match ritual from a member of your team?

This would have to be our numero one player known as MJ, he actually warms up.

Who is the person on your team to watch and why?

MJ is the man to watch at the moment. He was brought up as a clay court player and as such his speed around the court and consistency are incredible. If you want a different form of entertainment though, watch Phil May. For the Women it would have to be Claire Davenport. She is easily the best female player I have seen in four years of uni (she is even playing in the men’s ranking pyramid). It looks like that her opponent will be a national standard player so that will be a cracking match.

Christian Zaleski

Trampolining - Men & Women

Despite a much smaller team to last year, the Trampolining club and its members are really excelling in terms of confidence, skill and form. Last term’s sessions involved informal and low-pressure training in which members could enjoy themselves and learn in their own time, proving to be very successful in revealing the vast amounts of talent and building good relations between team members. As always, our annual fancy dress Christmas fun bounce returned in December and saw reindeer, Santas and Christmas puddings bouncing along to music and playing games such as twister on the trampoline!

This term the light-hearted atmosphere is maintained for most, but for numerous competitors the sessions are devoted to practising and perfecting routines in preparation for a competitive season! February and March see the BUCS competitions in Plymouth and Sheffield, in which five members will be competing in categories from novice to elite, as well as the University of Warwick Open which is the first competition for many of the ten members going.

We are very optimistic about all of our competitions, but at the end of the day our top priority is that everyone enjoys themselves, win or lose. Of course, the situation is slightly different with regards to Varsity! This is the first time the competition will be held on Christchurch grounds but we are sure this will not affect our winning streak.

What is the stupidest moment you have ever had on the pitch/court?

Numerous kneeing-yourself-in-the-face incidents (including one ending up in casualty)!

Who is the biggest tart/flirt/most butch person on your team? Tom is definitely our biggest flirt, though being able to show off in front of twenty or so girls every session - who can blame him?

What is the most random/stupid pre-match ritual from a member of your team? Removing the leotard wedgie from your backside.

If you could cheat against Christ Church, how could you do it?

We’d recruit Kendo to be extra loud and shout at random intervals during Christchurch’s routines.

Who is the person on your team to watch out for and why? All of us! Who else can do ten positions in under a minute?

Chani Walter

The Falconettes

University of Kent’s Hymn Sheet Kentish Man!

University!

Although I’ve often said it, It’s always to my credit I am a Kentish Man Yes I am, I am a Kentish man

We go a place that you don’t go Uni Uni We go a place that you don’t go University! X3

I could have gone to Exeter, Or even dear old Manchester Or even Christ Church Poly But in spite of all these colleges They’re merely just apologies I am a Kentish man, Yes I am, I am a Kentish man Because we gave them a flipping hiding We gave a flipping hiding And we drank all the beers AND WHAT And we drank all the beers X3 Because we gave them a flipping hiding We gave a flipping hiding And we drank all the beers

The Secret Lives Of Cheerleaders Cheerleaders are all ditzy blondes who jump around with pom poms... WRONG! Although each year there are without a doubt people who sign up with this popular misconception, it isn’t long before the demanding mix of tumbling, jumps, stunting and dance coupled with an overwhelming sense of achievement gets people addicted to the sport.

Cheerleading is definitely not a sport for the faint hearted (or easily bruised!)- our members attend six hours of training per week in order to prepare for competitions- but yes, it is just like Bring It On, minus the team rivalries and bitchy comments. In fact, cheerleading is particularly well noted for promoting sportsmanlike behaviour between teams whilst remaining a highly competitive sport.

This year we have doubled our intake, allowing us to compete in more divisions than ever before, with many of our members having had absolutely no previous experience of any elements to do with cheerleading. However, with a dance team, two cheer teams, and three stunt group teams we are on track for a very successful season!

Another aspect of cheerleading, and probably where the pom pom mythology stems from, is game day cheerleading. In addition to competing we will be attending Varsity this year to cheer from the sidelines of different matches and are looking forward to seeing Kent triumph once again! Hopefully you will be able to hear us throughout the day even if you can’t see us!

Unfortunately for our opposition it is standard sideline rules to never cheer words which you cannot spell. Good luck with that one Christchurch...

‘Gimme a D! Gimme an E! What do you get? ...Into Canterbury.’

Enter tainment 17

Get a little bit Closer Sally Gower

Closer, originally written for the stage by Patrick Marber in 1997, adjourned to the big screens for Clive Owen, Julia Roberts, Natalie Portman and Jude Law, in 2004. UoK’s drama group, self-titled “A Company of Strangers” brought this play to life on stage again for the viewing of the Gulbenkian café and Afra building. Based on portraying the faults in the way of love and sex in and out of marriage, the play is not short of action as the two couples delve deeper into an abyss of passion and betrayal.

Having seen the film, heard all the hype and viewed the trailer on YouTube, I knew this production wouldn’t fail to impress its audience. I wasn’t wrong. The opening scenes easily drew trickles of laughter from a packed congregation, as Farah Abdullah and James Hartman presented us with “Alice Ayres” and “Dan Woolf”, respectively. Abdullah seemed to have perfected her part with no struggle, her character’s youthfulness evident as she bounded about the stage throughout the production.

The first scene to have the au-

Review dience in hysterics was, without a doubt, one consisting of Hartman speaking to “Doctor Larry” (Jon Cottrell) through an internet chat room. Cottrell delivered his lines with impeccable timing and ease, as he did in all his scenes. While “Dan” was pretending to be “Anna” (Lucie Sherwood), the conversation topic was highly entertaining, with such lines as, “wear my wet knickers”, it probably couldn’t have gone any other way.

The soundtrack, chosen by the director (Nina Spijkers), and the cast, brought further joy to the audience, with fitting numbers such as “Eggs & Sausage” by Tom Waits, “Supermassive Black Hole” by Muse, and the classic “The Way You Look Tonight”, by Frank Sinatra. Van Halen’s “You Really Got Me”, was perhaps the perfect choice to accompany a particularly raunchy scene between Sherwood and Cottrell and emphasised the pair’s stage chemistry really quite successfully. With cleverly chosen songs, and acting that tore your heartstrings to pieces, it was no surprise to see that a member of the

audience was moved to tears.

The direction (Spijker’s first), was quoted as “genius”, and it’s obvious to see why. Choosing to intertwine scenes, and place characters on the stage despite no involvement in the scene, had a brilliantly modernising affect and worked surprisingly well.

The absence of gaps in between scenes kept up the notion that the action was constant, and that the problems persisting would continue until forced to a halt.

As a member of the audience, there were a number of parts that made it all incredibly worth seeing. Foremost in mind, definitely the break-up scene between Sherwood and Cottrell at the finale of the first half. This

was utterly electric, the timing and proximity made it almost difficult to watch; but still you just couldn’t take your eyes off them. Similarly, the audience is reminded of a line delivered by Abdullah’s “Alice” to Cottrell’s “Larry”, while she strips for him: “Lying’s the most fun a girl can have without taking her clothes off - but it’s better if you do.”

Speaking to Nina Spijkers, she had this to say about her work of art: “Considering the cast hadn’t rehearsed in the Gulbenkian beforehand, I thought they pulled together incredibly well. It was amazing! We at first thought that after being so ready to perform it, there was a risk we’d be overenergised, which was a bit of a worry. But seeing it come together so well proved otherwise, we stayed true to what we’d created.

We got rid of all the stage directions [Marber’s], in a bid to find its own heartbeat. Louise Goodman, our stage manager did an amazing job. It’s a slice of life, so true of how humans interact.”

The production constantly emphasised a timeless race between several opposites: age versus youth, the truth versus lies, and the heart versus passion. And as the curtains close, what would our lives be without passion?

Musical merriment raises cash for charities Georgina Evenden Eight versatile West End professionals arrived at the Gulbenkian Saturday 20th February to deliver a thrilling performance in celebration of Musical Theatre from the twentieth and twentyfirst centuries. With individual company members coming straight from productions such as ‘The Producers’, ‘Mary Poppins’ and ‘West Side Story’, one could expect a high quality performance from this newly formed company which promises ‘vocal dexterity and musical agility’ complimented by exciting costumes and a live musical score.

Recognisable tunes range from ‘When You’ve Got It, Flaunt It’ (‘The Producers’) to ‘The Song That Goes Like This’ (‘Spamalot’)

and with further show stoppers from productions such as ‘Oklahoma!’ and ‘Kiss Me Kate’ featuring West End stars such as Matthew Barrow and Nicky Reader, we could easily expect an evening of uplifting entertainment.

Niall Webb’s five years of orchestral experience with The Op-

era Group also brought such an evening meeting the high expectations of his contribution to the production. And if these names don’t tickle your fancy, the Musical Director of the company comes in the form of Neil Cleary, a well respected name in musical theatre, widely known for his work with the one and only Andrew Lloyd Webber on ‘Starlight Express’ and ‘Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat’.

The company clearly have a passion for musical theatre but they have another love; helping the community. Shows such as ‘Broadway and Beyond’ help provide (along with government funding) the funds to go out to the public and take theatre to a variety of social groups who are not usually able to enjoy such luxuries. Since 2006, Clearer Produc-

tions have helped adults and children with special needs, children with social problems, sufferers of Alzheimer’s, and raised over £20,000 for various charities including Cancer Research UK, Macmillan, and The British Heart Foundation. Their motto is that everybody is a valued member of society, and what better way to celebrate this than through their songs, their talent, their wit and their genuine charm?

As Clearer Productions dedicate the majority of their time to charity work, ‘Broadway and Beyond’ is one of only two shows (the other being ‘Back on Broadway’). It is a testament to the success of the show and its capabilities to ‘set your feet tapping, your heart singing and leave you wanting more’ that it has been touring since September 2008.

London’s Calling Hands On African Pottery Workshop@The British Museum Learn how to make traditional African sculptures under the guidance of British Museum artists at this modelmaking workshop.

Free: Booking required

Exhibition Henry Moore@Tate Britain From 24th February, this stunning exhibition takes a fresh look at the work of Henry Moore, one of Britain’s most renowned sculptors and artists.

Tickets from £11

Festival Holi: Indian Festival of Colour@Orleans Gallery Take a day to welcome in the spring by joining in with the Hindu festival where throwing paint at each other is the order of the day!

Free entry

Comedy Stand up and Deliver@ Amused Moose The pick of past graduates from Amused Moose’s comedy courses present a special ‘Gang Show’ featuring critically acclaimed comedians.

Tickets £5

Outdoors Rollerblading Lessons with ‘LondonSkaters’ Learn how to rollerblade in the wonderful surroundings of Hyde Park with Mike Van Erp, an experienced tutor who runs both group and private classes in the sport. £60 for 4 90-minute lessons Private lessons £35 per hour Gwen Wordingham

For more information on up an coming events check out the website at: www.inquirelive.co.uk

18 Enter tainment Bramley’s Tour de Force Alex Britton-Kant

As flat as an elephant trodden pancake

Georgina Evenden

Review

The Musical Theatre Society returned on Friday 19th February with an enticing series of numbers, carefully arranged and cleverly chosen from a range of musical mediums. Whilst one does not expect professional standard by any means, the evening fell a little flat with the lack of enthusiasm from the cast.

A bare stage was lightly touched upon by tables and chairs which were moved around less than smoothly, and often there was a delay between numbers. The props seem to have been an afterthought. Some elements of the production seemed under-rehearsed and throughout there was a sense that no one was fully committing.

At times, the movement displayed real promise and it was evident that it had been thoughtfully choreographed. However, this was undermined by the lack of dedication and motivation be-

hind it. The weakest of the show’s moments were due to poor direction or unoriginal choreography. One could forgive a copy of the original musical or movie, if the imitation had been up to par. Sadly this was not the case.

Despite these issues, the catchiness of the tunes held me there along with the inspirational talent of a few stand-out individuals. Daniel Haswell has an outstanding vocal ability and fully devotes himself to whatever he is a part of. He made possibly the most recognisable song of the night (Everything I Do, I Do It For You) his own, throwing himself into the emotion of the song. His sweet quality combined with his talent is enough to give me goose bumps as he hits those high notes without trouble.

The standing ovation says it all.

Daniel also appears with Gary Sellick in ‘Guy Love’ from

the musical episode of Scrubs which was a comedic success.

Other points of laughter come with Kharli Bass and Heather Luckhurst’s rendition of Legally Blonde’s ‘Ireland’; they engaged with the characters and the audience through the smart humour of the newly opened West End show.

Another powerful voice came in the form of Lizzie Horton, and Steph Hazelwood who carried many a performance with the strong resonant qualities of her voice.

Whilst the lighting was not artistically realised until the end of Act 1, the performances awkward and the movement often predictable, there were refreshing moments that arrived in a beautifully simple acapella version of ‘Seasons of Love’ from RENT and an uplifting rendition of ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ from Glee which got the audience clapping along for the big finale.

Overall, as my companion put it so well, I left feeling somewhat ‘underwhelmed’.

Top events of the fortnight...

Thursday 25th POW! Music Promo An energetic night of indie/ rock pop music, promoting 5 brand new upcoming bands at the Orange St Music Club.

Entry £4

Friday 26th

Has this seemingly perpetual winter gotten you down? Did no Valentine’s day cards grace your doormat last Sunday? Has the thought of assignments and deadlines brought you to the edge of despair (and if not, why not)? Well laugh the blues away on Monday 1st March when Bramley’s Bar presents two of the finest up and coming British stand-up comedians on the circuit today. In association with the New Marlowe Theatre: None other than the off-the-wall Steve Williams with support from one of the hottest tickets in current UK scene, Joe Wilkinson.

The vivacious Steve has been seen recently on the box as part of Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow (BBC1) and on Russell Ho w a r d’s Good News (BBC Three).

On Monday 1st March he brings his unique blend of bizarre imagery, tremendously animated story-telling and pitchperfect timing to Canterbury.

Steve has also been nominated for a prestigious Chortle Award, past winners include: Tim Minchin, Dara O’Brien, Russell Howard and Stewart Lee. Steve’s star has been rising steadily for the past few years and he is sure to be a big name in comedy very soon; so catch him on the 1st March and delight in his kooky tales about asthmatic Welsh dolphins and the joys of tipping Scouse-accented cows.

Also tipped for great things is Steve’s support. Joe Wilkinson has been regular part of the Edinburgh Fringe Scene for years

Monday 1st March and his recent team-up with Diane Morgan for the show, Two Episodes of MASH, claimed rave critical adulation and has definitely singled Joe out to take the deadpan comedy crown from the cynical head of Jack Dee. Joe has also been a runner up for the esteemed So You Think You’re Funny award in 2005; past winners of this include stars like Peter Kay and Dylan Moran.

With these two on the bill you’re guaranteed some belly-laughs from Joe’s st raightf a c e d , sh a mb ol ic delivery of comic gems like his analysis of unusua l phobias and the consequences of drunken texting.

Not to mention the uncontrollable giggles you’ll get from Steve Williams’ energetic, highly physical joke-telling which fits somewhere in a weird realm between Eddie Izzard and Lee Evans.

Besides on a cold Monday evening, nothing warms you up like a good laugh.

Catch the comedy on Monday 1st March at Bramley’s Bar, 15 Orange Street Canterbury. Tickets are £10.50 and the doors open at 6.30pm.

for more, visit: www.inquirelive.co.uk

Saturday 27th

Uni Concert and Big Band

Disney Night at The Venue

Our very own University concert band put on a show at the Gulbenkian, playing well known classical and ‘Big Band’ pieces.

Tickets from Gulbenkian

A Walt Disney themed night, with Flirt! at the Venue, sure to draw fancy dressed fans from all over Canterbury.

Entry £5

Monday 22-27th Worldfest The celebration of diversity and multiculturalism at Kent Uni with exciting activities from around the world and proceeds going to Seeds for Africa.

On Campus

Tuesday 9th A Midsummer Night’s Dream The much loved Shakespeare comedy comes to the Gulbenkian, performed by a troupe of 15 talented actors.

Tickets £14

Enter tainment 19

Darwin Masquerade Ball - the collage Photos taken by: Vanessa J Richards

For more information, full listings or booking please call 01227 769075 or visit www.kent. ac.uk/gulbenkian.

Highlights Thursday 25 Feb 7.45pm: The 14th Tale: The 14th Tale is a free flowing mellifluous narrative that tells the hilarious exploits of a natural born mischief growing from the clay streets of Nigeria to roof tops in Dublin, and finally to London. Tickets £7 Saturday 27 Feb 7:45pm: International Student Showcase: The International Student Showcase is an exciting annual event which puts student societies literally in the spotlight competing for the top prizes. Tickets £3

For more information, full listings or booking please call 01227 769075 or visit www.kent. ac.uk/gulbenkian.

Highlights Fri 5- Mon 8 March: The Boys Are Back. The director of Shine returns with this adaptation of Simon Carr’s memoir. Joe is an English sportswriter in Australia. When his wife dies, he’s left to bring up young Artie plus his first son, a teen recently arrived from England.

Fri 5- Sun 7 March: Sherlock Holmes. Ritchie returns to the original Conan Doyle then punches it up for this actionpacked, CGI-pumped version of the classic detective’s tale.

All the regulars are there – but not as you know them!

Chris Addison’s show of “smartarsery” Sally Gower Chris Addison, stand-up comedian, actor and writer, graced the Gulbenkian stage with his endless wit and hilarity last Thursday evening. Providing a successful curriculum vitae from over a decade of experience, Addison has conquered more mediums than you’d dare to hope. With television parts such as “Ollie” in the BBC’s The Thick of It, and Skins’ “Professor David Blood”, as well as co-creator and star of Lab Rats, it was certainly an opportunity not to be missed. This sentiment was echoed by many from in and around Canterbury, as no empty seats were to be seen.

The man of the moment kicked off the evening with a warm and heartfelt message voicing his affection for the Gulbenkian. He quickly won over the audience right from the off. His method of removing tension surrounding use of the feared ‘C’ word

Thursday 18th Feb was greeted with raucous laughter as he used it several times, prompting him to discover the age of the youngest attendee. On asking whether there were any children in the audience, it was the comedian’s turn to laugh as the first to raise their hand turned out to be an 18 year-old.

Unfathomable to anyone in that theatre, a first year student considered themselves as a “child”.

Parts of his act were perhaps best heard by those more thickskinned than others, for example, his thoughts on joining a gym. However, he did show an ability to laugh at himself along with others when referring to the scenes in the gym mirrors as something resembling “four gay windmills”. To further add to his self-proclaimed struggle to gain an “alpha-male” identity, he produced an enthusiastic smattering of laughter from his audi-

ence with reference to weightlifters, likening their postures to that of a group of men having had their carpets stolen. The material flowed easily for this highly successful comic, and inevitably the topic greeted with the most laughter and applause seemed to be sex. He took the opposite approach you’d expect most comedians to throw at the audience, and instead berated his own performance, assuring us he’d never make the England team, nor in fact, the England captain. The crash and burn for John Terry there was met with a sharp intake of breath, as once again he skimmed edge of decency.

Once the cringeworthy delights of sex-in-marriage tips being given while my sister and I were sandwiched in between our parents were bulldozed over (phew), Addison moved on to rant about his pet peeves. Specifically: Ugg boots, the BNP, and the Daily Mail. All very understandable. I sincerely hope there were readers of the latter present when he

referred to their ink as “Satan’s p*ss”. Delightful. Last on his list: Britain’s ultimately abysmal reaction to a bit of snow.

He emphasised this laughable state of our transport system marvellously, with comparison to how well we dealt with six years of Nazis. Whereas, apparently two days of the white stuff sends us into a panicked frenzy, much like a scene from I, Robot.

On bringing the show to a close, I’m sure Addison could have

brought the house down with blow after blow of tumultuous rampages across the stage, for example, demonstrating Ewan McGregor’s enthusiastic but unnecessary “light-saber” sound effects. He thanked the audience for hosting him, gave several bows of honoured gratitude, and ended his show by returning to the subject of Wi-Fi, and how, if we could connect to the sky, then maybe some day we’d be accessing porn on our fingers. What a climax.

Kent Student Volunteering Week: Lauran Elsden

Kent Union-Volunteering

While many people have considered the idea of ‘giving back’, that is to say spending their time on a worth-while cause, they may not always know how, or have the means to do so. On Thursday 25th and Friday 26th of February Kent Union will be hosting Volunteer Week aiming to raise the profile of student volunteering and provide ample examples of how to get involved.

This year’s schedule includes a programme of talks from a diverse range of different organisations, each detailing how you can take part. These talks will take place between 6 and 7:30pm on Thursday 25th February in Keynes College and will demonstrate the numerous and eclectic ways to help.

Organisations taking part range from the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme (6:45pm in KLT5) which involves adventurous trips to South Africa, undertaking work on baboon rehabilitation centres and building schools; to Pilgrims Hospices (7:30pm in KLT5) who care for people with incurable illnesses including cancer, heart failure, respiratory conditions and neurological diseases.

Pilgrims Hospice Charity also offer their help and much needed support to the families and carers of those affected.

Another talk that looks particularly interesting is concerning volunteering opportunities at Canterbury Prison (6:45pm in KS17).

Canterbury Prison houses 314 category C Foreign National offenders of up to 69 different nationalities at any one time.

The prison deals with problems

Students taking part in a voluntary litter pick in Hales Place in honour of Volunteering Week

that come from immigration issues, language barriers and the reintegration of offenders in the UK or their home countries.

The opportunities to volunteer may exceed your expectations and the Kent Union Student Volunteering Week facebook page offers a schedule of what’s on and where and the range of talks from volunteering hosts that are on offer.

Any additional information can also be requested from Dave who can be reached via his email d.bolsover@kent. ac.uk As well as the volunteering talks that are taking place on Thursday, there will be a volunteering marquee on campus on both Thursday and Friday from 10am to 4pm.

Taking a trip to the volunteer marquee will enable you to find out details of the range of possibilities that include volunteering on campus, community placements, student led volunteer groups, Raise And Give, Welcome Helpers 2010 and the Kent Student Certificate for Volunteering.

The misguided belief that volunteering is synonymous with unpaid work ignores the many benefits that are to be gained from giving you time to a good cause. Volunteering can provide the means of gaining valuable new experience in a

Kent Union- Volunteering

how you can make a difference

Participants in last year’s Volunteer Week with donations raised for various charities

range of different situations as well as making new friends with similar interests.

Volunteering is becoming an increasingly positive addition to add to your CV as well, with potential employers regarding volunteer work with particular high regard.

The Kent Union Student Certificate for Volunteering or KSCV Platinum scheme, for example, is the highest level of volunteering award at the University of Kent and intermixes volunteering with your academic life.

The KSCV Platinum award involves carrying out six volunteering placements across two academic years and on some courses can also be selected as a 15 credit module. The KSCV joint award is great way to offer

your help while adding another attribute to your CV. There are many ways to get involved and a range of different awards. Visit the Kent Union website for more information on this scheme and other ways to start volunteering.

Kent Union Volunteer Week offers the opportunity to get involved with a vast array of different causes and organisations and with such a broad range of options there is bound to be something that’s right for you.

which was particularly nice.

The staff were friendly and prompt, and the wait for food was reasonable in length.

I had a steak and Guinness pie, which I had with vegetables, although there was the option of chips instead (or half and half if you can’t decide). The pastry lid was crispy and light, and the filling was quite rich and very hot. The vegetables I had was a bit soggy for my liking, but pleased my Nan greatly.

Other people within the party opted for a roast dinner (beef and horseradish), chicken and leek pie, sausage and mash and chicken in a mushroom sauce. The prices were fair, ranging from £6.45 to £9.75. Everybody complimented

their meals, although they were perhaps slightly on the small side, as we all still had room for desserts (which were tasty English classics, such as apple crumble with custard).

There was also a lunch time menu to choose from, which offered baguettes, jacket potatoes and omelettes, served with chips or salad for roughly £6.

I think the Old Weavers offers a traditional setting and comfort food for a reasonable price. It’s a great place to take your family if they happen to be visiting, and I would also recommend going with your partner if you fancy a fair priced meal out.

Volunteer Week could mark the beginning of your volunteering experience, so why not attend one of the many talks on offer, or visit the Volunteer marquee and find out how you can make a difference this term.

The Old Weavers: Traditional food at a reasonable price The Old Weavers occupies a very pretty 16th Century building right next to the River Stour, offering delightful views along with some delightful dishes.

I was in a party of seven when I visited the Old Weavers, ages ranging from 19 to 71, and everyone enjoyed themselves.

The decor inside is perhaps a little worn, but the beams, partitioned eating areas and latticed windows make up for this, resulting in a relaxed, cosy dining experience.

We were seated on a huge round table next to one of the windows that looked out over the river,

Weavers restaurant

Nicola Standley

The Old Weavers situated by the river is well-known for its pies

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Alexander McQueen A tribute to the “hooligan of British fashion”

Known as the hooligan of British fashion, Alexander McQueen passed away on the 11th February 2010

Maeve O’Donnell Alexander McQueen: 1969-2010 The news of Alexander McQueen’s death shocked and saddened the world of fashion.

Twitter and fashion blogs everywhere were immediately awash with messages of grief from people across the globe, as one of fashion’s most celebrated and influential designers had passed away.

Described by Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman as having “influenced a whole generation

McQueen with Sarah Jessica Parker wearing his designs

of designers”, Alexander McQueen was one of the biggest faces of British fashion responsible for starting a number of trends. From the skull motif which featured on the scarves gracing many a celebrity neck; to the infamous ‘bumster’ trousers that inspired the surge in popularity of the low-rise jean.

McQueen was due to unveil his latest highly anticipated collection as the upcoming Paris Fashion Week next month which involved a ‘futuristic underwater world’ theme, guaranteed to captivate if his previous shows are anything to go by. His first show entitled ‘Highland Rape’ featured ripped lace, tartan and antlers (apparently the 18th century Scottish highlands had been too romanticised for McQueen).

Such a collection contributed to his reputation as “the Hooligan of English fashion”, a title which won him a cult following, including a long list of A-list celebs.

Most recently McQueen’s controversial designs have been worn by the likes of Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Kate Moss and Victoria Beckham. Gaga not only donned his designs in her latest music video for ‘Bad

Romance’, but also dedicated her recent Brits performance to the designer.

Such a flamboyant life began in Stratford amidst five siblings with a London cabby father and a mother who taught at a local school. Fashion had always been in his blood, and growing up with three older sisters provided ample opportunity to develop the skills that would lead to such an impressive career. Leaving school with just an O-Level in Art he secured himself an apprenticeship with Savile Row tailors Anderson and Sheppard.

From there he went to Gieves and Hawkes and then to the costumiers Angels and Bermans where he made costumes for West End shows such as Les Misérables. His time on Savile Row supplied him with the skills and knowledge to pursue his dream. In 1994 he completed a MA in Fashion Design at Central St Martins, the birthplace of so many of today’s most celebrated designers.

His graduation collection was bought in its entirety by Isabella Blow, and the rest, as they say, is history.

After graduating McQueen set up his own business in London’s East End, becoming the head designer at Givenchy from 1996-2001, a move which was surprising for a designer who had only produced eight collections. However, Givenchy was not the perfect fit for McQueen, and despite working there for a number of years his heart was never in it; “I treated Givenchy badly, it was just money to me”. It was the money made from holding this position, however, that enabled McQueen to promote his own brand.

The designer has certainly been rewarded for his efforts; he was crowned ‘British Designer of the Year’ on four occasions between 1996 and 2003. In 2003 he was awarded a CBE and named International Designer of the Year by the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Alexandra Shulman also noted, “His brilliant imagination knew no bounds as

Above: The ‘Armadillo ‘ shoes like those worn by Lady Gaga in her Bad Romance music video Below: One of McQueen’s fashion shows - many of his clothes are still loosely inspired by his time at Savile Row

he conjured up collection after collection of extraordinary designs. At one level he was a master of the fantastic, creating astounding fashions shows that mixed design, technology and performance and on another he was a modern day genius whose gothic aesthetic was adopted by women the world over.”

McQueen has been a vital contributor to the fashion industry for the past decade, pushing the boundaries of high end fashion with his outlandish and, quite simply, fantastic designs. In a recent interview for LOVE magazine McQueen hoped his controversial label would outlive him, saying; “When I’m dead, hopefully this house will still be going. On a spaceship, hopping up and down above earth.”

For more features, on food, fashion, societies and more, visit: www.inquirelive.co.uk

Above: the infamous skull motif scarf ,

Below: Model wears the classic McQueen ‘Bumster’

CANTERBURY: A BUSKER’S PARADISE Ryan Keogh

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myspace.com/tomfarrerband

Walking down Canterbury high street, you can’t help but be drawn to the great Cathedral looming over the city’s cobbled walkways. The cathedral is a magnet, luring the tourists with mouths wide open, drooling for some tasty gothic architecture with cameras hovering in front of their faces.

But sometimes all should shut their eyes and open their ears to some of Canterbury’s and Kent’s finest talents providing the soundtrack to the city: The buskers.

Sitting in Butter Market Square in the centre of Canterbury, one of the city’s prime performance spots, music fills the air. Different buskers come and go, from flautists to the traditional acoustic guitar armed singer.

Some use amplifiers, some have sheet music, some are just jamming, some are amazingly good whilst others are just plain drunk. But each performer adds to Canterbury’s unique vibe, a vibe which is very hard to coin a phrase for. Something like Euro-Boho.

Since 1402, residents of Canterbury have walked the streets to the sound of music.

The city used to employ a town band called the ‘Waits’ that used to serenade the city’s inhabitants with various wind instruments.

The reason Canterbury has such a varied and plentiful array of acts today is due to the City Council and how the streets of Canterbury are licensed for music, theatre and dance. This means that unlike most other major cities, acts can perform without a permit anywhere, anytime, as loud and for as long as they like. So anybody who feels they are repressing their inner Dylan and believes they have got something to give to the passersby on the street can lay down their hat and start raking in the pennies.

You can actually make good money from it too. From speaking to some of the buskers in Canterbury, in a prime spot on a good day they can make over £10 an hour in return for their music. The quality acts in the city are rightfully rewarded for their skill, but busking provides more to the busker than just a bit of beer

NEWS IN (Y-FRONT) BRIEFS

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Tom Farrer and the Pharaohs are one of the bands that practices their trade on the streets of Canterbury

money; it provides a starting point for greater musical endeavours. The word ‘busker’ is derived from the Spanish word ‘Buscar’ meaning, ‘to seek’. All buskers are seeking something different, from fame and fortune to just a bit of fun.

Sarah Devlin, a Student of Canterbury Christ Church University and one of the city’s busking talents plays the guitar as well as sings and it seems to be working. Her ‘Adele-esque’ tones can often be found swimming their way down the high street towards the west gate. Sarah has been busking since Christmas when she got her first guitar and from revealing her talents on the streets, she has received offers from local pubs for gigs which would allow a more fixed audience to play her own material in front of. Sarah also does requests and is prepared for anything, including a group of teenage girls screaming for a JLS song, every busker’s worst nightmare. But when this happened, without hesitation she leapt into that great JLS song which name currently escapes me. Soon after, she was back on track with a Beatles cover to the pleasure of a silver haired gentleman who threw money in her guitar case with a nostalgic smile.

Performing in Canterbury has significantly helped other acts too. Tom Farrer and the Pharaohs, a folk quintet, have

signed to indie label, Smuggler Records, and regularly treat the residents of Canterbury to a free gig. Their sound is the perfect score to stroll down the city’s quirky streets to. ‘We perform on the streets because essentially you are playing to the biggest audience possible as thousands of people will pass you by’. The group take advantage of Canterbury’s popularity with tourists, allowing their fan base to spread all over the country and the continent. Their local popularity has also grown as the band have received offers to play at different Canterbury locations from pub gigs to private parties. Tom Farrer and the Pharaohs are currently recording a new E.P, check out their MySpace page for future chances to see them play in Canterbury and catch a great band before they get huge.

Eric Clapton, Lenard Cohen, Joe Strummer and Bob Dylan all honed their skills busking on the streets before becoming the icons that we know them as today. Busking has generated guitar legends, song writing legends and political inspirations. So remember, next time that you flick a coin into the busker’s hat and it clinks upon the pile, make their day and ask for an autograph in return.

Canterbury gives as much to the buskers as the buskers give to Canterbury; atmosphere, passion and great music in

return for exposure, fun and the rush of playing to thousands of different people. The City council have talked of turning busking into a regulated activity meaning a whole host of rules and restrictions would be placed upon the buskers of Canterbury. Ultimately, this would be detrimental to the vibrant atmosphere of the city.

Josh Willow, one local busker, thought this would drive many buskers away; ‘The great thing about Canterbury is there are no rules for buskers we can just turn up and play which is what busking is all about.’

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• You can share your views on this at: www.canterbury.gov.uk to help keep the music flowing through our city.

MARCH 25TH The InQuire Haiti Benefit at The Venue has been rescheduled.

Keep an eye out for details in later issues.

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After the stellar success of Avatar in the cinemas, James Cameron is planning a ‘epic’ novel, that “fills in a lot of things.”

Eminent film critic Roger Ebert, who lost the ability to speak due to life saving throat surgery has unveiled his new voice, synthesized by an Edinburgh company.

Charlie Wilson, the basis of the Tom Hanks film that focused in his involvement in the Russian invasion of Afghanistan, has died at the age of 76.

Andrew Lloyd-Webber has shown interest in buying Abbey Road studios in a bid to save it, as EMI have said they are planning to sell it.

The Knack’s front man, Doug Fieger, has died at the age of 58. He wrote the band’s most famous song, ‘My Sharona’ Owen Wilson is heading to star in the new Woody Allen film, which is yet to be named.

Filming is planned to start over the summer.

Elton John has told the magazine Parade, that Jesus was a “super-intelligent gay man.”

Classic TV show, Yes Prime Minister, is set to become a stage show.

Reader’s Digest has gone into administration in an attempt to pay off £125 million debts concerning its pension fund.

The psychedelic band, Animal Collective are set to take over the Guggenheim Museum as part of the gallery’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

Playwright Nell Leyshon will be the first woman to have a play staged at the Globe theatre in London.

Noel Edmonds is planning a new quiz show, tentatively titled ‘Beat the Monkey’, where the master of ceremonies is a real monkey.

The train line First Capital Connect is piloting a book club for its travellers, giving out sample chapters from books.

That is all for now, Nik Williams

DISNEY’S BACK, DOING WHAT IT DOES BEST Shola Jones

2010 - a new year for film makers to thrill, surprise and entertain us: it seems that Disney for one promises not disappoint. Reverting back to the tradition of hand-drawn animation, The Princess and the Frog explodes onto cinema screens with a heart warming tale of dreams, love, song and magic.

Set in New Orleans in the 1920’s, the film follows the journey of young Tiana, a hard working waitress desperately trying to achieve the wish of her late father in becoming a restaurateur. She has a chance meeting with Prince Naveen of Maldonia, a young man transformed into a frog, having been lured by the prospect of riches by the dark magic of The Shadow Man. This turns into a journey of selfdiscovery and adventure for Tiana, Prince Naveen and their new found friends; a trumpet playing alligator called Louis and Ray, the friendly firefly.

New Orleans is beautifully depicted with the film’s inclusion of exotic cuisine,

festivals and jazz.

The collaboration of Disney and award-winning composer Randy Newman is successful in colourfully painting each location and the personality of each character, as well as bringing forth the message: the impossible being possible. With the talents of Anika Noni Rose of Dreamgirls as the voice of Tiana, the audience is carried

away by the bright and soulful skill of such a voice whilst songs such as ‘Down in New Orleans’ and ‘Friends on the Other Side’ are inevitably finger clicking and toe tapping numbers that illustrate the unique identity of the largest city of Louisiana.

As an animation, it has been received positively, having drawn away from the current Pixar movies dominating our

screens. Each scene is created with deliberation and skill, truthfully portraying the dazzling world of 1920’s New Orleans. However, it is not just the animation of this film that has caused a stir within the media. The Princess and the Frog is the first ever Disney film to incorporate a princess of African-American descent.

Her path to royalty, however,

is not typical of traditional fairy tales, such as Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty as it is a story of a young working class woman aspiring to mark her stamp in her world rather than falling for a handsome prince and living happily ever after.

The cultural diversity of the city plagued by a class divide between the black citizens of New Orleans and the white land owners is best captured by the estate agent’s reaction to Tiana’s dream of owning a restaurant as being too big for ‘a little woman of your background’.

Nevertheless, Disney is triumphant in reminding their viewers through the entertaining character of Mama Odie that the ‘only thing that’s important is what’s under the skin’.

As with many Disney films, it is love and faith in oneself that becomes the driving force behind the main protagonists.

But it is also the union of this with the music, animation and convincing characters and representation of such an culturally alive city that makes Disney’s newest 2D animation a must see.

Lois Cornell

With our doormats littered with leaflets for bars, clubs and restaurants, all encouraging you to enjoy drinks for £1, to “Pop Ya Cherry” or to eat for £4.99, it’s not really a surprise that most student nights out begin in Wetherspoons. But this is something I cannot understand, because we live in such a unique town.

If you take the time to wander through the lanes and cobbled streets of this fair city, you’ll find all kinds of quirky bars and pubs, with bags of charm and character. They have barmen who possess the art of conversation, a great atmosphere and plenty of drinks and cocktails that you won’t find in any chain venue.

The varying prices for drinks are a common complaint.

Places like The Penny Theatre (which is part of the Slug and Lettuce chain) are able to buy barrels of beer with shorter sell by dates and smaller price-tags

because of their quick turnover, whereas small businesses all have to pay the going rate.

Although this price difference is nothing drastic, it’s 50p at the very most, it’s enough to deter students from the smaller pubs of Canterbury. So many of us neglect them and make a habit of visiting mass-produced chain bars over and over, when there are over a hundred different pubs in this town that we’ve yet to discover. Whatever happened to pub crawls?

The sad truth is that this mentality during a period of economical decline is harmful towards independent businesses. Rick Bolinger, who has worked at Coffee and Corks for two years, claims that students are “a large percentage of the clientele”; our influence on local businesses cannot be underestimated, especially with student loans being unaffected by the recession.

Coffee and Corks is a prime example of such small businesses. It has a relaxed and

friendly atmosphere, sofas that have too many cushions as well as unique and excellent music (fantastic folk and blues open mic nights are held there every Wednesday from 8pm).

And you receive the luxury of a custard cream with every hot drink you buy here, something you won’t get at Wetherspoons.

Similarly, Boho has a very quirky and vibrant feel, with its arty decor and its highquality menu. There is also Bramley’s and Orange Street Music Club, a unique bar in an old Victorian ballroom as well as many more. All these places, and more, need our support and custom to keep them there.

With Coffee and Corks having chalked its closing date on the black board (13th March, due to problems with the lease) I encourage you all to take advantage of such businesses to help them survive. Besides, we all spend more than we’d like to admit of our student loans on drink, so we may as well do it with style.

Josie Sutton

The hidden gems of Canterbury’s pub culture