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Issue 9.1
city sound project review
too much sex on tv?
poetry by emma greenacre
20th May 2013
t20 varsity match reports
nus president visits ukc comment - page 7
iq entertainment - page 16
iq culture - page 20
iq features - page 13
sport - 22
Photograph by Alec Cockram Matthew Gilley Newspaper Editor LAST Friday, outgoing NUS President Liam Burns visited UKC as part of his ‘The Pound in Your Pocket’ lecture tour, presenting the findings of NUS research of the same name. The study considers “how students themselves are funded, to get in to education, to stay the course, and to succeed”. Burns started his lecture by saying that instead of simply researching how much money students have got, NUS wanted to ask: “How does that impact on their welfare?” The
report shows that over 30% of undergraduates have seriously considered dropping out and, for nearly half of all those, the reason was financial difficulties. Around 50% of undergraduates either agreed or strongly agreed with the statement “I regularly worry about not having enough money to meet my basic living expenses such as rent and utility bills.” He said that “it is absurd that full time undergraduates can borrow up to £27,000 to pay for their degree but the vast majority can only borrow £1015,000 to meet their living costs”.
COMPETITION!
He did admit, however, that there is a hard debate to be had between whether the NUS just “ask the government for lots more money”, or whether they accept that “there’s a fiscal envelope that isn’t going to get any bigger following the next general election” and consider redistributing financial support “in envelope” to help students who are hit harder. Some issues particularly pertinent to Kent students came up in the lecture and the following Q&A. Of access agreements, Burns said that fee waivers are “a massive con” because only “higher earning
graduates” see the benefit. The University of Kent’s access agreement gives students £1,000 pounds cash bursary, £1,000 credit on their University account and a £7,000 fee waiver in the first year. Outgoing Kent Union Vice President Welfare Colum McGuire, recently elected NUS Vice President Welfare, said that although he had been “really unhappy” with the access agreement, discussions about future agreements was looking “a lot more positive”. Burns also criticised rising University accommodation
prices in his lecture. McGuire added: “We know that universities put their rents up every year above inflation and ultimately students are paying to subsidise costs at the university that they should only be paying through their fees.” The full ‘Pound in Your Pocket’ report can be accessed at http:// www.poundinyourpocket.org. uk. Read an interview with Liam Burns on page four or go to KTV’s YouTube channel at www. youtube.com/kenttelevision to watch a video of that interview and of an extended interview with Colum McGuire.
haven’t got your PARTY IN THE CAR PARK tickets yet? well look no further! all you need to do is tell InQuire which act you’re most excited about. email answers to newspaper.editor@inquiremedia.co.uk before 24th may. the winner will be contacted by 26th may.
2
News Editor’s Note
Hello! It’s a new term and a new team for issue 9.1. It’s been difficult learning to make a paper, make that paper and deal with exams at the same time, but I hope you’ll agree it’s been worth it. If you want to find out more about the new editors, go to page eight for a profile of each of us. There’s other exciting material in this issue, including an interview with Liam Burns and a review of the City Sound Project, so enjoy! Best of luck with your exams from me and all the new team. Matt. InQuireLive 2013/2014 Editorial contacts: Executive: Alasdair Lawrence Chairman chairman Matthew Gilley - Editor newspaper.editor Chad Greggor - Website Editor website.editor Newspaper: Christopher Heron - News newspaper.news Samantha Baldwin - Comment newspaper.comment Emma Shelton - Features newspaper.features Rebekah Chilvers - Culture newspaper.culture Emily Adams - Entertainment newspaper.entertainment Dan English - Sports newspaper.sport Website: Simon Terhaag - News website.news Tom Vine - Comment website.comment Tom Hagues - Features website.features Caroline Wadham - Entertainment website.entertainment Emma Greenacre - Culture website.culture Dan English - Sports website.sport Hetty Sieling - Distribution distribution
To contact any of the committee, just add @inquiremedia.co.uk to the end of the adress under their name.
swazi nus activist maxwell dlamini held Alasdair Lawrence Chairman
ON the 23rd April, Maxwell Dlamini, the former President of the Swaziland National Union of Students (SNUS), was arrested by the Swazi government and has since been charged with sedition – insurrection towards the government and monarchy of Swaziland. Dlamini, who spoke earlier this year at the National UK NUS conference in Sheffield, is currently the Secretary General for the Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO) and was arrested along with Sonkhe Dube, SWAYOCO International Secretary, and other political leaders for organising a rally in Msunduza Township, Mbabane, on the 19th April – the birthday of reigning monarch Mswati III. The rally, which was prevented by the police, was to boycott the general election in Swaziland. Parliament in Swaziland holds no practical power over government. King Mswati has in the past exerted pressured on the assembly to revote on resolutions until there was a result he agreed with. Kenneth Kunene, general secretary of the the Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS),
members of which were among those arrested, said in a statement: “The regime is desperate to make its elections appear respectable, fair and free so as to appease the international community. But in reality they are the very opposite of freedom or fairness.” He added: “The Mswati dictatorship is also clamping down more widely on opposition at this time. Increasingly, we are seeing shows of force by the police and army, designed to intimidate anyone contemplating resisting the regime.” The CPS, SWAYOCO and all other political parties are banned in Swaziland under royal proclamation by Sobhuza II, Mswati III’s father. The Swaziland Solidarity Network has called the general election a “windowdressing exercise” to “convince impressionable Swazi minds that Swaziland is a democratic country”. According to Freedom House, a civil liberties watchdog, Swaziland’s population has no political rights and limited civil liberties. King Mswati is an “absolute monarch with ultimate authority”. Swaziland
is the last absolute monarchy in sub-Saharan Africa. Dlamini had been arrested once before by the Swazi government in 2011 following the April Uprisings – a movement in Swaziland inspired by the Arab Spring. Dlamini was accused of possessing explosives and was reportedly tortured by the Swazi government until
he was released on bail after international pressure to release him. NUS, Action for Southern Africa and the Free Maxwell Dlamini Campaign are calling for the immediate release of Dlamini. Kent Union has expressed its support for the movement and urges studetns to sign the petition on www. change.org for his release.
university Applications on the rise kent labour students in card row Benjamin Coode
UNIVERSITY applications have begun to recover after the sharp fall in 2012 when the £9,000 fee cap was introduced, figures released by UCAS have revealed. Total applicants have risen by 2.4% from 2012 applicants, but are still considerably short of the record levels of university applicants in 2010 and 2011, with the latter peaking at 618,116. The data released by UCAS (which showed applicant numbers from the past 5 years) shows that applicants from outside the European Union have not been affected by the rise in fees or concerns over student visas, increasing from
35,273 in 2009 to a peak of 50,896 this year. On the other hand, applicants from Wales have fallen for a second year running, dropping 3.2% from 2012 levels. This pattern of recovery is good news for universities around the country. In 2012 there were over 45,000 less applications than in 2011, a 7.4% drop which led to many institutions having unfilled places on courses. Universities Minister David Willetts said "these encouraging figures show the desire to study at university is strong", although there are still caution among universities over whether applications will continue to rise to pre-2012 levels or will plateau at its current state.
Jessica Burns
KENT Labour Students slammed a Tesco greeting card as “trivializing sexual harassment” this week. The card, selling for £1.50 in the UK’s biggest supermarket, shows a woman sitting at a typewriter wearing a short dress and says: “Glenys had heard all about sexual harassment in the workplace and deliberately wore a short dress with a plunging neckline to ensure she didn’t miss out.” The club sent a public tweet to the UK’s biggest supermarket, claiming they were “alarmed” at the implication that sexual harassment is a result of how a woman chooses to dress. Bethany Taylor, 19, Women’s Officer Elect for Kent Union and also Kent Labour Students said: “I find that Tesco’s claims that cards about sexual harassment are humorous appalling. “How many victims of sexual harassment and assault would think the same? The victim blaming culture that the card
shows needs to end.” Tesco responded to the comments on twitter, stating that the “subject matter is serious, however this card is knowingly a joke that many find humorous”. They have promised to pass on the complaint. A petition is now circulating on www.change.org to try and force Tesco to apologise for the card and withdraw it from sale in all stores.
The offending card.
News 3
ukip make gains in local elections Matthew Gilley Newspaper Editor
UKIP leader Nigel Farage hailed his party’s gains in this month’s local elections as a “game changer”. In Kent, his party won 17 county council seats, its first at the polls in Kent. This makes them the official opposition in area, behind the Conservatives who have 45 seats. Keith Woollven, chairman of Maidstone UKIP, said: “We are very pleased with the results that we have gained both in Maidstone and in the whole of Kent.” The Conservatives lost 29 seats on Kent County Council but retained overall control with a majority of six. George Hopkin, a second year English Literature student at UKC, voted for Jeremy Bellamy, the Conservative candidate for Canterbury City South West. He said: “I generally agree with what the Conservative policies on local government are, especially on tax freezes, and he was the only candidate who made the effort to meet a group of students that I was part of
and ask for views and votes.” Elsewhere in the county, Labour won 13 seats, compared to 11 in the last election, and the Liberal Democrats won 7, no change from 2009. The Residents Association and the Green Party also took a seat each. Rose Hull, a History student who voted Green, said: “The Greens seemed to have the best down to earth, local policies that really affect people’s day to day lives, like maintaining open spaces and NHS care, without having to bow to national political rhetoric.” Kent County Council leader Paul Carter said: “I have always said that 80% of local government elections reflect the national scene and 20% is the hardworking local councillors, and clearly that has been the case up and down the country. “I think that national government needs to think long and hard about how it is going to change its direction on a number of issues, migration being one of them.” In Whitstable, the election count was delayed because vials
westgate bus stops closed Christopher Heron Newspaper News Editor
THE closure of two bus stops at Westgate Towers has ignited a campaign to restore their usage. After the trial road scheme, which prevented vehicles travelling through Westgate towers ended, Stagecoach bus company decided to change the bus routes that travel through that part of the city. The company cited the risk of damaging Westgate Towers as too great to retain the bus service after the road trial ended. The Westgate bus stops heading towards UKC are no longer being served, affecting commuters to Whitstable,
Blean and The University of Kent, as well as removing the nearest bus stop to Canterbury West station. The affected bus services have been redirected via Rheims Way and London Road, with a new bus stop outside St Dunstan's Church. In response to this, a campaign to restore the now unused Westgate bus stops has begun. The campaign argues that the changes have affected hundreds, including students and those with limited means. A final decision regarding the trial road layout around Westgate Towers is being made in the summer, and Stagecoach will definitively confirm the bus routes around Westgate Towers.
Photograph by Matthew Gilley
of liquid were found in a ballot box. The vials were removed and taken away for analysis by Kent Police before the count was resumed. Across the country, UKIP won 147 county council seats, up 139 from 2009. Many analysts have interpreted this national
UKIP surge (the party averaged 25% of the vote in wards that it contested) as a rejection of three-party politics. Prime Minister David Cameron, who once called UKIP members “fruitcakes and closet racists”, said that UKIP’s achievements were a “major
lesson” for the three main political parties. Labour leader Ed Miliband, whose party gained 291 seats nationwide, said that UKIP gains and low national turnout meant that he believed people were asking “can anyone turn this country round?”
kent rises in the rankings
Emily Adams Newspaper Entertainment Editor
THE University of Kent has been placed 28th out of 124 institutions in the country in The Complete University Guide 2014, five places higher than last year. The guide helps prospective students find their ideal university by looking into specific criteria including student satisfaction, entry standards, research assessment and the all-important category of graduate prospects in which the University of Kent scored over 68%. Finishing on a score of 758 out of a possible 1,000, the University has surpassed last year’s achievements. Since its establishment in 1965 the University has risen through the ranks to become an institution renowned for its research-led teaching and student experience. Its increasing success in the national league tables has become a source of pride for many Kent students, staff and
alumni. In the National Student Survey of 2012 the University was ranked 3rd in London and the South East for overall student satisfaction. This year, Kent’s success has been further recognised by The Guardian’s University Guide on specific subjects, seeing it rise to 6th in the country for Economics, 9th for Modern Languages and Linguistics and 10th for Architecture. David Nightingale, Kent’s
Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, said: “Once again, this is excellent news for the University. “Our league table positions, together with our reputation for research-led teaching and student experience, confirm that Kent is a first choice destination for prospective students.” Now approaching its 50th anniversary, the University of Kent is looking to consolidate its position as a top-30 university.
Photograph by Kat Mawford
4
News
“the debate for the movement is a really difficult one”
After his lecture on ‘Pound in Your Pocket’, the outgoing President of the National Union of Students Liam Burns had a quick chat with InQuire’s new Newspaper News Editor, Christopher Heron. Here’s what he had to say about finances, accommodation, his successor Toni Pearce and whether the President of the NUS gets a discount card... Christopher Heron third-sector charity. Newspaper News Editor In terms of first steps I’m incredibly flexible, it’s not Thanks for coming to Kent, exactly an environment where Liam. beggars can be choosers. I’ll First off, what do you think take it I’ve got the best of luck is the greatest challenge is for the interview I’ve got next to a student in terms of Thursday to get a job from Kent finances? students! It was really great to come and speak at Kent today. The presentation I gave was all about student financial support and I think the biggest challenge in the sector over the next 10 years is how much money students have in their pockets. The debate for the movement is a really difficult one. We should rightly campaign to get more money from government. What you spend on someone's loans and grants is a really powerful form of preventative spending in terms of keeping people in education. But look, we're in a difficult time when getting commitments from parties for any form of expenditure whatsoever is really difficult. So a trickier debate for the movement is: Do we campaign for the inenvelope changes that can a make a difference to the right students? Because we know that some particular students are being hit really hard by the current system. Okay, so what do you think universities do for this? What can they do to help students? We’ve been campaigning over the past two years now to really force home that what universities should be doing is getting money in students pockets, rather than to reduce to overall fee element. So one of the things we’ve had millions of pounds of wins on is asking universities not to do fee
So tell us about your successor, how do you think she’s going to do?
Photograph by Barnaby Chadwick waivers, but instead give that money to students in terms of cash, and that’s my number one thing. In terms of institutions to say that the maintenance of student financial support is really important and that they can do lots of things such as reduce hidden course costs, to give more in terms of hardship grants and loans. Things like giving students the opportunity to get decent quality work, money you get from part-time work is really important to students in terms of academic success. So here at Kent the Hidden Course Costs survey was released today (10th May) and other financial research concerning student finances. In terms of accommodation, what can universities do in this area?
The debate we have on money students have in their pockets shouldn’t rest solely on giving more money. Lots of the debates can be about controlling the costs students have. Two areas in particular, things like hidden course costs which I know Kent Union have done a power of work on and released research today, reducing the amounts students have to pay on their academic studies is something that is completely within the power of the institution. The other area is accommodation, and one of the problems we’ve got is that in the last decade the cost of university owned accommodation has skyrocketed, completely disconnected from inflation and the cost of provision. This has been driven lots by students wanting a higher quality of accommodation, meaning that institutions have reduced their stock of bargain
accommodation. When I was in university I lived in a place called ‘the ghetto’ and it was called that for a good reason, but it was called that because it was of cheaper stock. If an institution does go for the top end of the market continuously and loses that stock of cheaper accommodation, then you have students being priced out of being able to live on campus and I think that the [Kent] Students’ Union are playing a blinder by putting a spotlight onto those issues. You’re coming to the end of your time at NUS, what’re you plans for when you finish? So I’m firmly a lame duck now, people are listening to me less and less as every day goes on! In terms of what’s next; longlong term the dream is to be in a senior management position of a campaigning organisation or
Our national conference in Sheffield just last month we elected Toni Pearce as our next national President. She’s currently the VP for Further Education (she came from Cornwall College) and she is exceptional. Completely formidable in terms of her politics and her drive to try and get the best for students that need our help the most. She’s not been to university (she came from a college background) and I think that is going to do something really special for NUS. Instead of always focusing always on undergraduate, young students on campus, we can look at the other range of learners that we should be looking to support as well. So I think she will be excellent. Lastly, as students and part of an NUS-affiliated Union we get our NUS student discounts. I was wondering, does the President of NUS get these too? So I’ve got an NUS Extra Card. I buy it through my old Students’ Union so they get the money back for it. But yeah, you’d be a bit of a fool not to get the discount card when you’re running the organisation. Thanks for your time.
toni pearce elected first nus president not from university Leigh Smith AT the 2013 Annual NUS National Conference, hundreds of NUS delegates representing various student unions around the country voted Toni Pearce, 22, as the new president of NUS. She is current NUS Vice President for Further Education and former President of
Cornwall College Students’ Union. She won 424 of 732 valid ballots in the election, giving her a 58% majority and gaining more than double the votes of her nearest competitor Vicki Baars. She was elected under a manifesto that called for linking college and university students'
unions, a campaign for a single central admissions system for colleges and universities and to increase support for students to run local campaigns. Pearce's election is a landmark for NUS, as she will be the first President from a background of Further Education rather than Higher Education, and as such will be the first NUS president
not to have been to university. Further Education is post16 education that takes place at sixth-forms and further education colleges, while Higher Education takes place at Universities. Further Education institutions make up the majority of the students' unions and students that NUS represents.
Photograph by Pete Forsyth
Comment 5
should wealthy pensioners give back to the state?
Against
For
George Hopkin IT is Iain Duncan Smith who is famous in politics for once saying: “Never underestimate the determination of a quiet man.” Contrary to his 2002 conference remark, “IDS” has recently been far from quiet as Work and Pensions Secretary in the Coalition government, asking radical and productive questions about universal pension benefits. The founder of the Centre for Social Justice has rightly challenged these benefits, and inspired a conversation about the grey area of State support
for the more wealthy of our elderly citizens. But he has caused quite a stir, even leading to my dear Nan worrying that the politicians are trying to take her pension away. Talking to The Sunday Telegraph in April, IDS bravely said about wealthy pensioners’ benefits: “It’s up to them, if they don’t want it, to hand it back.” “I would encourage everybody who reads The Telegraph and doesn’t need it to hand it back,” he continued. Now, both of my grandmothers would not even think to pick up The Telegraph. They aren’t the conventional “Torygraph” readers. But Nan, 69, and
Grandma, 80, are not the wellto-do folk that the MP for my home constituency of Chingford and Woodford Green is talking about. In a classical Conservative way of putting it, he means that those who are very much able to support themselves do not need a direct helping hand from the State, and that those who are not properly able to do so must be prioritised. It is a respectable approach to benefits and one that should apply to all people in society — even Old Aged Pensioners. His argument does not even refer to the entirety of pensions, but rather to specifics such as free TV licenses, bus passes, and perhaps even a Winter Fuel Allowance. In our “age of austerity” – as we are constantly reminded – there are going to be cut-backs. I believe that most people now acknowledge that it is the difficult but necessary case. We have seen government investment in higher education being cut, and I think it is good that IDS has attempted to start a worthwhile conversation on the older generation—one that may or may not lead to actual policy and pension benefits means-testing. The question is: Why should the taxpayers who are struggling to make ends meet be propping up those who can full well keep themselves upright?
all hail sir winston: ex-pm on £5 note
Emily Adams Newspaper Entertainment Editor
SIR Winston Churchill. The wartime leader, hero and legend. The man who led a fearful nation into its toughest battle and came out the other side, victorious. Of course he deserves his place on a banknote. He deserves much more. Social reformer Elizabeth Fry may lose her place as the only woman on our banknotes but surely we can see that this is not a question of gender inequality. It’s a question of patriotism, of praising the people who have made Britain great. The Bank of England governor Sir Mervyn King may have the final say on who we see on our
banknotes everyday but the public are allowed to have an input. Just look at the list of people suggested by the Great British public and you’ll see a whole host of men and women, all equally deserving who have missed out on a front seat in history. If it really is an issue of gender, then King is to answer. King highlighted that “our banknotes acknowledge the life and work of great Britons”. Churchill was certainly a great Briton. Even if his reputation was tarnished by his relationship with alcohol and gambling in his later years, it doesn’t undo the plain fact that he was the leader that won the war. Recent suggestions by the
public included David Beckham and Johnny Wilkinson. Correct me if I’m wrong, but surely the leader of the country during the most explosive war in British history is slightly more worthy than some overpaid sportsmen. Compared to those suggestions, Churchill is royalty. Besides, Churchill was the last person to receive a state funeral in the country; a funeral generally reserved for monarchs. Even after he was no longer in power, Churchill stayed at the forefront of politics, with his ‘Iron Curtain’ speech greatly influencing the path of the Cold War. He was dedicated to reforms, strived to help the poor and
Matthew Gilley Newspaper Editor IAIN Duncan Smith’s call for wealthy pensioners to hand back benefits that they don’t need – like free TV licenses, free bus passes and Winter Fuel Allowance – seems, at first glance, to be perfectly reasonable. After all, in a time when benefits are being slashed for many people, why should some be immune simply because of their age? There are, however, more important factors to consider. Before you get prematurely irritable, don’t worry, I’m not going to go down the “old people built this country” route and I’m definitely not going to mention the war. Both of these arguments incense me (please, 70-year-old person, tell me more about wartime Britain. You were what, three when the war ended? You were nothing but a drain on British resources). Instead, there are two reasons why pensioners should keep these benefits: means-testing and universalism. The first is a practical issue. Removing the benefits from pensioners of a certain wealth would require some element of means-testing, which the elderly are notoriously resistant to. In the recent debate, commentators have repeatedly made the point that pensioners are sometimes too proud to
accept payments that they are entitled to, or need. Admittedly, what Iain Duncan Smith was suggesting was voluntary, not enforced, but it is a slippery slope. In 2011 Nick Clegg said that pensioners should “make a little sacrifice” to help balance the books and other Liberal Democrat ministers have also called for means-testing. If the whole government comes round to the basic principle that pensioners having less benefits is a good thing, then it is surely only a matter of time until they propose policy. The second issue, universalism, is more of a theoretical problem. The idea of a universal welfare system is that you pay something in, you get something out. Pensions are the most tangible thing that you get out – you receive them directly and they are available to everyone. So far, no-one is suggesting tampering with the state pension itself (which, by the way, is one of the lowest in the developed world). But once you accept that people of a certain wealth do not need the extras, it is a smaller step to saying that perhaps they need less pension altogether, or perhaps even none at all. This eats away at the universal foundation of our welfare system, and I think we should all be worried about the ramifications of that.
took risks where other leaders would cower away. Courage like that should be rewarded, not questioned. Take a look at the notes in your wallet and consider this; where
would we be without those people? Then imagine Churchill staring back at you. Where would we be without him? He made history. Our history. Simple as that.
6
Comment
lap dancing club is none of union’s business Charlotte Amelia Smith
THE uptight nature of the British attitude to sexual expression has become evident recently in reaction to the proposed opening of a new Canterbury lap dancing club, in what used to be a pub called the Farmhouse. The club, if opened, will be situated on Dover Road, not too far from CCCU. Kent Union has responded to these concerns after a motion put forward by students was passed at Union Council, citing the financial pressures on students as a reason they “could be targeted to work in the venue”. Whilst the Union’s predictions are not entirely unrealistic, as demonstrated by research by the National Union of Students (NUS) in 2011, which reported that an estimated 20% of women working in lap dancing clubs were students, it is surely overstepping its boundaries of responsibility. It is not the job of the union
to moralise for students and place judgement on this specific choice of profession. We have to question if there is anything morally reprehensible about working as a pole dancer, providing that the venue abides by safety standards. The council reassures that it will “consider the proposal under its approved sex encounter venue and sex establishment policy”. As far as concerns for the financially vulnerable being coerced into such employment, this is a gross overstatement. Realistically those in genuine financial difficulty might have to sacrifice nights out, develop a taste for supermarket own brands and indulge in some good old-fashioned shelf stacking, but pole-dancing? With many alternative forms of employment available, surely this is just an exaggeration of the plight of the poor student. The club’s opening must be looked at rationally. It’s important to move away from viewing the proposal with the
stereotype of a sleazy club, victimising dancers, attracting the ‘wrong kind’ of audience, and allowing customers to pay for ‘extras’ - this is far from the vision put forth of an “upmarket venue”, designed in the “style of Stringfellow’s and Spearmint Rhino”. What is less irrational is the public concern for the club’s potential impact on the area’s
crime rate, triggered by research suggesting a link between the opening of sex entertainment venues and increases in nearby sexually motivated crime. Given Canterbury’s status as ‘safest University city’ in 2012, anxieties about a reduction in safety are understandable. But let us set aside the worst case scenarios. We should consider the possibility that the
club, which promises “to cater to all sexualities, with frequent gay nights with both male and female pole dancers”, could add some much needed diversity to Canterbury’s night life, and even fill a void in the late night entertainment aspect of the city. It’s difficult to tell whether responses are legitimate or simply over-exaggerated fears for our safety.
ARE GAP YEAR VOLUNTEERS BEING EXPLOITED? Julie Peppiatt
HOW many of us have taken a ‘gap yah’? This student rite of passage usually involves volunteering of some kind, theoretically impacting a community more impoverished than our own. However, our attitudes towards volunteering and the imprint this leaves on the communities involved is
sometimes a very different story to our desired expectations. Volunteering is an opportunity for us to express our altruistic side, expand our social skills and widen our perception of the world around us; at least these were a few of the ideals I had in mind when I headed to India a few summers ago. However, in some cases, what comes under the heading
‘volunteering’ is exploitation. Not only has volunteering now been marketed as a way to empower ourselves as individuals - and let’s face it, is promoted as an enhancement to our CV - our efforts do not always directly impact upon disadvantaged communities. The money that we place in volunteering does not always reach the cause we want to aid.
Photo by Julie Peppiatt
Countries that need our help most are often so corrupt that only a small proportion of our help actually gets to the cause. Gap year companies are also taking larger cuts of overall project costs as it is becoming increasingly harder to arrange ventures with such high volunteer intakes. Luckily in my case the Indian company that was part of the organisation I signed up for worked directly with the community. Living and breathing the life themselves, they survived off bare necessities in order to ensure every penny spent went towards a better future. Although, where my £1,000 fees I paid to the organisation were spent, I’m not so sure. It certainly didn’t all pay for my living costs; the rupee being worth around 70p and three of them easily paying for a three course meal. Not only is money herded to causes unknown to us, but also our efforts seem to be misspent. The impact of many, many volunteers coming and going throughout a community, especially in week-long or even day-long duration, has a negative impact upon the
children we are supposedly teaching or caring for. Stability is completely rocked when faces change as frequently as the weather. We go, we think we know and then we leave without actually stopping to listen to what specifically needs our attention in such communities. Are we looking for means to better explore a country, rather than just wishing to volunteer? We should ask if we would be happy to do the same project in our own country. We have the potential to provide an economic grounding for certain communities through sending money and care packages to those we have met. If we have fully researched the needs of the community, have an understanding of the country we want to visit and a clear image of the impact our project will make then surely volunteers will be able to make a real and lasting difference. However, be warned - it is all too easy to accept anything under the heading `volunteering’ as innately good. We have to remember that not everything is black and white. If you really cared, would you accept the grey areas surrounding your summer out?
Comment 7
THE INTERNET 2O YEARS ON: WHERE ARE WE NOW? Christopher Heron Newspaper News Editor JUST over 20 years ago, on April 30th 1993, CERN announced that the World Wide Web protocols would be free. While this does not sound particularly important, it was essentially the birth of the ‘internet’ as we know it. From dial up connections, Internet Explorer and AOL in the 90s to the advent of social networking, piracy and the quite frankly absurd case of a Korean music video being watched over a billion times in recent years, the internet has had a lot to answer for during its growth over the last two decades. There is no doubt that without the internet, the world would be a very different place. Using the free WiFi in the coffee shop I am writing this in, I can access a quantity of information that would have taken lifetimes to collect and store in a matter of seconds. For example, after a few minutes of browsing I’ve found out that the capital of Latvia is Riga, Nigeria is the 7th most populated country in the world with 170,901,000 people
and that in Turkey there is a massive growth in moustache transplants. Using the internet, I can talk with family members in Egypt in a matter of seconds, catch up on missed episodes of Doctor Who without a television and keep up with news from half the world away. In recent years it has even become possible to make a living from streaming video games to tens of thousands of people, something inconceivable at the internet’s inception. Despite the positive things the development of the internet has brought to the world, there are countless negatives. One of the most stark cases recently occured on the social news website Reddit after the Boston Marathon bombings. Hundreds of Reddit members joined together, trawling through footage and photos from the event trying to identify the culprit. This essentially started a witch hunt against them, despite warnings from Reddit. Suffice to say they identified the wrong person, who had gone missing several months before, causing considerable distress to their family and confusing the investigation into
the bombings. There are other cases of the internet being less than a force for good; the culture of sharing discoveries does sometimes result in piracy, which can deprive much needed funds from creators of innovative content, from multi-national companies to those who rely on that money to make a living. Further issues, such as
hacking, identity theft, the easy, unremovable defamation of an individual’s reputation and the access to disturbing and unacceptable content all need urgently addressing. Despite all of these, the internet’s evolution from basic HTML pages over the last 20 years is remarkable. The final example is that of a single account on twitter,
one ‘@Cmdr_Hadfield’. It is the account of Chris Hadfield, a Canadian astronaut, who is currently aboard the International Space Station, and he sends tweets from outer space, including some of the most stunning pictures of our planet I have ever seen. Without the Internet, the world would be a considerably more boring place.
Cartoon by Jamie Ovens
NEW PILL REGULATIONS ENCOURAGE IRRESPONSIBLE SEX
Emma Shelton Newspaper Features Editor
WITH increasing female empowerment, it is surprising that the approval of over-thecounter sale of the morning after pill for ages 15 and up by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) make headlines, but this decision does, and rightly so. It is easy to congratulate moves and choices that benefit women but giving minors increased access to the morning after pill is not ground breaking: it’s irresponsible. According to Dr. Margaret Hamburg, FDA Commisioner, a justification for making this pill accessible to over 15 yearolds without prescription is that “women 15 years of age and older were able to understand how Plan B One-Step works, how to use it properly, and that it does not prevent the transmission of a sexually transmitted disease.” Is that the issue at hand, that girls under the age of fifteen years old can’t understand how
to use the pill but from the age of fifteen years old, you can? The age is vital here but not for those reasons. We are not wondering whether a fifteen year old girl is intelligent enough to read the instructions on the package; we are wondering whether a fifteen year old girl should be concerned by this pill in the first place. 15 year-old girls are bombarded with “safe sex” talks, what to do and what not to do, methods of contraception at hand, and the morning after pill is always recommended as the last resort. By putting it on the shelves, we are making them so accessible that somehow the message becomes “Have unprotected sex because there is a backup plan available” instead of the old-fashioned advice “Have sex with a partner you feel comfortable, and be protected” or even “Wait, don’t have sex before marriage”. Now here opens the controversy: we all have diverging opinions on when sex
should be “authorised” and with who, but whatever your belief may be, the choice you make should be made conscientiously and thoughtfully, with the right precautions in mind. -The morning after pill is not the only solution; it provides a security belt without being a solution you should aim to use regularly. If a fifteen year old girl is under the impression that the morning after pill is better than consulting a doctor so as to be prescribed regular contraception, then we need to re-evaluate sex education for teens: this girl would clearly not understand the consequences of unprotected sex, and definitely would not understand the concept and use of the morning after pill. According to the FDA, "there is adequate and reasonable, well-supported, and sciencebased evidence that Plan B OneStep is safe and effective and should be approved for nonprescription use for all females of child-bearing potential". This
certainly sounds reassuring because if the pill is going to become available to a lot more girls, it should definitely be 100% effective. Girls will feel empowered by this decision; they will be able to have complete control of their body but surely as irresponsible sex soars, so will the risk of unwanted pregnancies. Furthermore, if the FDA affirm that the “non-prescription use for all females of childbearing potential” should be accepted, then they seem to imply that the non-prescription
use will be further extended to all girls from the age of ten or eleven years old. This sounds scandalous and unrealistic yet the formulation suggests otherwise. It seems that the FDA made a rash decision, with vague motives and a lack of long term planning, all the while claiming to be advocating for female empowerment. In my opinion, they have seriously misjudged the impact of putting emergency contraception in the same class of aspirin in terms of accessibility.
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Editorial Team
meet your new inquire team Chad Greggor Website Editor
Alasdair Lawrence Chairman
Matthew Gilley Newspaper Editor
“I want to increase the variety of media up on the website, such as videos, photo gallery’s and podcasts.”
“My goal is to make InQuire an engaging and supportive forum for developing journalistic skills and getting more involved with life on campus.”
“InQuire’s local, student coverage improved a lot last year. I want to help facilitate the other editor’s further improvements of that.”
Chris Heron Newspaper News Editor
Simon Terhaag Website News Editor
Sam Baldwin Newspaper Comment Editor
Tom Vine Website Comment Editor
Emma Shelton Newspaper Features Editor
“I want to really focus on the news that affects students, bring campus news to light and report on what students actually think of these stories.”
“I think it would be great to broaden the variety of articles published on the website - and am determined to do what I can to make that happen.”
“I want to work closely with News to dig out campus issues and encourage debate about them.”
“I hope to get students’ voices heard. InQuire Comment is not just for those who are into journalism, but for those who are passionate about issues.”
“In my position, I want to stress the need to promote the multicultural diversity on campus and all budding talent, wherever it’s from.”
Tom Hagues Website Features Editor
Emily Adams Newspaper Entertainment Editor
Caroline Wadham Website Entertainment Editor
Rebekah Chilvers Newspaper Culture Editor
Emma Greenacre Website Culture Editor
“In my role I’d like to increase the coverage of Canterbury and campus based entertainment events.”
“I want to help carry on the excellent level of journalism from InQuire past into InQuire future.”
“One thing I want to do in my role this year is highlight artistic and cultural creations produced by University of Kent students.”
LaShanda Seaman Promotions & Events Manager
Hetty Sieling Distribution Manager
Daniel Barnby Head of Design
“Increase the use of social networking to inform the student population about campus news.”
“I want to bring more readers to the paper by distributing it more widely in cafes and shops in town, as well as on campus.”
“My goal this year is to put a visuals team together, in order to create a media hub centred around InQuire.”
“In my role this year I want to make sure that the features section is as varied and entertaining as possible.”
Dan English Website & Newspaper Sports Editor “With this role I’m looking to expand Student Media coverage of University Sport, and make it more accessible.”
“I want to cover a variety of university and national news in entertainment, that people really want to engage with.”
iq
iq
IQ Features 11
JUNO SUCCESS FOR JEPSEN DOES NOT RANK HER ALONGSIDE THE GREATS Adam Robinson
So far, 2013 has been relatively testing for the average University of Kent student. Following a particularly harsh winter, the sun has finally appeared just in time for the bedroom revision lockdown. Additionally, we are being threatened by yet another jobless summer as unemployment rates remain uncomfortably high, but these ailments are not the worst of our troubles. No, the real threat comes disguised as a gothic Taylor Swift, complete with almost regimental black bangs and carrying three shiny new trophies under her arm: the latest danger’s name is Carly Rae Jepsen. Jepsen swept the Juno Awards in April, beating Justin Bieber to Album of the Year and also taking home Pop Album of the Year and Single of the Year (for ‘Call Me Maybe’). Besides sighs from fans of music, anxiously awaiting actual talent to appear, and the
pathetic sight of Kleenex’ wiping away the tears of multiple Beliebers, a more pressing issue arose: how do these wins reflect on the capability of awards in pronouncing something as ‘great’? The truth about current awards ceremonies for art, music, literature and film is that nobody quite knows how many there are. When presented with a plethora of categories at innumerable ceremonies, we are faced with the problem of determining whether something is truly brilliant or if the competition was just not that great that year. Jepsen’s collection of three awards, outshining the likes of Leonard Cohen, puts her only two award wins below The Hobbit. This is strange considering both The Guardian and Rolling Stone have stamped Jepsen’s album Kiss with less than favourable 2s and 2.5s out of 5. Naturally, a comparison cannot be drawn as The Hobbit director Peter Jackson and Jepsen undertook entirely
different endeavours, but this speaks volumes of the difficulty in using awards to judge art. In 1962, John Steinbeck picked up the Nobel Prize for Literature “for his realistic and imaginative writings, combining as they do sympathetic humour and keen social perception”. 51 years later Jepsen would take home three prizes for lyrics such as “And you’re a real hot thing/ But you know I’ve got a boy somewhere/ So can you feel the tension? (Feel the tension)”. Both endeavours must surely deserve similar awards, right? After all Jepsen’s lyrics are so deeply emotional they could make Chuck Norris shed a tear. Awards are used to commend outstanding work, but Jepsen’s achievement, whilst commendable, proves they should not be used to simply highlight a “good effort”. It seems awards have lost their meaning and true value. Of course, undeniable pieces of high art are inevitably
presented awards, but a ‘Well Done’ trophy does not create the art status; the work does! A great piece of art can be determined by its ability to stand the test of time. Somehow, I think Steinbeck will be read long after people establish that Jepsen was bluffing and they cannot, in fact, call her maybe.
features puzzles
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IQ Features
InQuirer’s: my life in books
James Rowen Favourite Scientific Literature: On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection by Charles Darwin
I realise that to some this may seem a rather boring choice, but I have long had an interest in the life and works of this man. This is a book that changed humanity’s view of itself, and it certainly changed me. It encouraged that burgeoning passion that was natural history, a bloom gradually enveloping my teenage self. Moreover, it gives us the evolutionary answer to what is, for me at least, the most important issue: life and death. A wonderful, if challenging, read.
Amy Carr Favourite Childhood Books: The Famous Five Series
First written over 60 years ago, it’s hard to believe that these classic stories are still popular today, but they are, and for good reason. Easy to read and full of adventure, good food and good friends, the Famous Five offer an imaginary escape for any child. For me, they became a hobby, I not only read them, but acted them out, created imaginary friends and went on my own adventures in the back garden! This Enid Blyton series was the core of my childhood free time, and I don’t regret a minute of it!
Books That Made Me Laugh: James Herriot An unlikely choice for a teenager to read perhaps, but the autobiographical James Herriot novels gave me hours
Favourite Novel: Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel G. Marquez Michael Ball once sang that “Love Changes Everything”, and I have never seen better proof of that statement than within the binding of this beautiful book. It is a story of two people who initially fall in love, but separate. Having gone their separate ways, they come across each other in the twilight of their lives. The book centres upon the life of the male within the relationship and contrasts the astonishing and varied ways in which people may love each other. It is fabulous. In the words of Carolina Herrera, “Marquez has changed the world.” Quite right, too. Favourite Commentary: Letter from America by Alistair Cooke Alistair Cooke was educated at Cambridge and went to work for the Guardian before writing the successful Letter from America Radio broadcasts. The letters, brought together into a sizeable tome, are really worth reading – they span his whole career in journalism, covering such astonishing events as President Kennedy’s death, among others. I strongly believe that his piece on 9/11, more than any other,
should be required reading for the entire human race. It is through his work that I became aware of other social and political commentators such as H. L. Mencken, and I now read the field closely. Letter from America is a fascinating collection and a fine example of his greatest works.
Favourite Poems: Working Late by Louis Simpson I first became aware of this poem whilst studying for my GCSEs, and I remember being completely entranced by its majesty. It talks of the life of the son of a lawyer and his Russian wife – mirroring Simpson’s own upbringing – and of the environment in which they lived. The use of such ethereal and beautiful language to describe the mother in the poem, coupled with a dreamy boy’s imagination of that delightful Caribbean scenery, provides a sumptuously saporific quality. It is high art at its very best. The Sun Parrots are Late This Year by Ian McDonald This poem speaks of the enormous environmental disaster facing the lungs of our planet, the Amazon rainforest. It was written in memoriam for Chico Mendes, an environmentalist and conservationist in the Amazon basin who was murdered for what he believed in. It is extraordinarily powerful, and is in the same anthology as the poem discussed above. It will definitely make you think.
of enjoyment; I have laughed out loud reading these books. The main reason for this was the hilarious phonetically written speech of the North Yorkshire characters. The characters in the story are excellently described and their larger than life attributes, as well as the unexpected plot twists, are extra amusing as the reader knows they are based on truth.
story, in which Jodi Picoult wrenches at your heartstrings. A brilliant book which can’t be put down, and teaches you about the ups and downs of family life. My Favourite ‘New’ Book: The Hunger Games I read these three books in a weekend on a couple of long coach journeys from uni to home. These books are popular, and justifiably so. Collins creates a new world for her readers, but there are very recognisable aspects of our own in it, just one reason why the books are so captivating. It is no wonder I read the books so quickly, the plot propels the reader forward through each development with moments that are horrific yet enthralling, there is no opportunity to stop reading until you’re right at the end of the trilogy. A classic of our time.
editor’s top pick of the week
A Book That Made Me Cry: My Sister’s Keeper One of my best friends from school bought me this book and I have to say I’m forever grateful. With our British Stiff Upper Lip we sometimes try to stem our emotions, but with this book that is both impossible and inadvisable. Sentiment is the foundation for this
Exam season is busy as it is so I can imagine reading is not a priority but if you fancy a break from revision all the while keeping your mind active, take a look at this book.
Unknown Address by Kathrine Kressmann Taylor This novella is a really short and easy read. It’s a series of letters between Martin Shulse and Max Eisenstein, friends and business partners. Martin Shulse returns to Germany with his family whilst Martin Eisenstein, a German Jew, remains in the US. The letters are sent back and forth in the lead up to the Second World War. The tensions increase substantially as does the pace, making for a very fast read. You become so engrossed in their friendship and their changing relationship that you will forget what is happening around you. It’s such a thought-provoking story, with a new perspective on WW2. An absolute must!
IQ Features 13
my year abroad in canterbury Lou Jouannic Melchioretto Where do you come from? Grenoble, France What are you studying? Law
In a few words, I am extremely pleased to have spent this academic year in England. I wasn’t expecting to have had so much work, but this ensured that I kept up a rigorous work ethic. At least I now know that I won’t be too lost next year in France for my Masters. I felt encouraged in my studies and being given a choice of modules was such a novelty: studying here in England is different but nonetheless enriching. Overall, this year has been rich with new relationships, encounters and experiences. The setting for my studies was a disappointment: Canterbury is friendly but in my eyes remains small and lacking in vitality. On the other hand, I was fortunate enough to
leave the city and visit England more thoroughly as well as to travel to other countries in Europe, all of which would have been impossible if I had stayed in France. I have also loved living here because of the people around me. It dawned on me how different the English lifestyle is to the one I am used to. I have still not grown fond of the food but luckily for me, I didn’t have to adapt to it alone as I shared a house with students from all over the globe. To cook with others is truly a pleasure, and really brings people together. Living with them also enabled me to observe their lifestyles, and through that to learn how to adapt and make compromises. I believe I am a fairly open-minded person but this exchange has further opened my eyes on the world and I am sure I have gained in maturity. My main objective was to improve my English, as well as getting a change
of scenery. This has happened to a certain extent, but I am still far from bilingual. I just know that I now feel more comfortable speaking and writing in English, but most of all, I have had an English experience that I will never forget.
recipe of the issue: herbed couscous with chicken
Emma Shelton Newspaper Features Editor
A quick and easy meal for many or for one! Exam period is full enough as it is and cooking is the least of our priorities so try this out and enjoy the treat!
poet’s corner
Emma Greenacre Website Culture Editor Nowadays people usually see poetry as either pretty verse written about nature from 200 years ago or as some kind of artsy modernist prose that tries every little bit to be unlike its predecessors. Personally I think poetry can be whatever you want it to be but I certainly prefer the stuff from the 1800s and this is where I get a lot of my inspiration from. I love the deliciously descriptive language and political ideals of Romantic poetry which I have aimed to echo within Industry. There are also the depths of human emotion that poets of the Romantic Movement seem to depict magnificently. I hope to have at least captured a fraction of this within On My Mind’s Eye. I hope you enjoy my two pieces! They are your murderer’s excuse, On My Mind’s Eye Of Love, I know yours for me was A bullet through the mouth of truths as settling into a cosy armchair they all whisper, On my minds eye’s edge I waver, To read and grow old while you gazed at You were never to be found, And watch those watery depths that did another so bold. no body, no part in human history; acclaim your soul. Although my pulse never faltered; Dead in the water and drowned. Did they wind around you? Except in envy. The same way they taunt the shore? But your words will always be around From the earliest memory, And your living deeds clear from A prisoner of the oceans rush, but I From home to here, the depths of mystery. knew it was always more. emotion never altered. No matter if love of me from your lips No, I knew you; it could not be so Now I am alone. did lisper. simple, a death known by so few How are the children to be told? To, back down from the fight? To, back But I will make sure you still achieve down from my heart? your goal, At the waves I can only but glare, I refuse. By hand and heart I will continue this labour.
Ingredients - 200g couscous - 5tbsp Olive oil -Finely grated zest and juice of a lemon - 25g chopped parsley - 25g chopped coriander - 2tbsp chopped tarragon - 100g cranberries - 100g (toasted) cashews - 2 cooked skinless chicken breast fillets, roughly shredded - Optional: Juice of 1 orange 100g finely cut dried apricots Instructions 1. Place couscous in a wide bowl with olive oil and cover with boiling hot water. 2. Cover this with cling film and leave to stand for 10-15minutes until all the water has soaked in. Fluff up with a fork 3. Add all the remaining ingredients. 4. Serve at room temperature with salad.
Industry
The city sings of steel and strife, Clockwork Cathedrals, tin and iron Built by fiery forge entwined with The human flesh, hand beating life. Gnarled Oaken Copper veins dig Contaminated claws into her Earthy vale sprouting flooded tears Of black tar and big raspy smoke.
Leaden wrought fences fail to rust Keeping old boundaries there, still, Moulded by hats on riches suit While machine tears turn to gold dust. Scheduled posies synthetically Sway to the progress thud of new age Soldered towers claim the day’s dawn And suffocate nature’s last breath.
photo courtesy of BBC Food
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IQ Features
spotted! the ultimate 90’s rave
& events The Attic Friday 17th May Masquerade Ball 2013
Friday 24th May Prism Tuesday 28th May Comedy Central Live feat. Dave Fulton The Venue Saturday 18th March SOAP! Wednesday 22nd May WKD UV Party Saturday 25th April SOAP! Noah’s Arc Wednesday 29th May Mexican Madness feat. ‘Mariachi Doritos’
Woody’s CSR Quiz every Sunday from 8pm
IQ Features 15
enactus nationals 2013
Henry Broome
In the time leading up to the Enactus Nationals, I looked forward with a strange sense of apprehension. I had seen countless clips of the previous Nationals on YouTube and the only word that can describe these videos is epic. The clips feature high-fives and hugs, tears and turbulence, but something was not quite right. However, before I go any further, you’re probably wondering what the Nationals are, and more to the point, what is Enactus? Well, the aim of Enactus is to transform the lives of disadvantaged people all around the world, using entrepreneurial action that not just gives intermittent help but instead provides a sense of lasting empowerment. The Nationals are an opportunity for students from universities all around the country to showcase the things they’ve done, from recycling crisp packets into blankets in Bolivia to planting grass on the hillsides of Kenya to prevent landslides. The solutions appear extremely simple, but often that ensures their continuity. The Enactus Nationals are a fantastic event, but I
felt increasingly torn watching the clips of previous years, which presented a dichotomy; one of excitement and inspiration but also feelings of worry and suspicion lurked. It was as Coldplay’s Paradise, and other inspiring anthems, played that I questioned whether I could be as inspired as so many others seemed to have been. I didn’t like the possibility that my hopes of seeing true altruism would fall short, and instead I would see a superficial spectacle of do-gooders. It wasn’t until late on the second day that I really understood what the event was all about. It was the turn of Royal Holloway to get up on stage, in front of hundreds of people, and explain how they had changed the lives of those that needed help. The team of seven girls presented projects combating gender inequality. Their project Sustainable Empowerment for Women or SEW, based in India was incredible. Women there are considered the property of men but SEW gave a group of 60 women the opportunity to start their very own business. The women gained a steady income but equally as important, they achieved independence from the husbands who abused them. Presenting
this, it was plain to see Royal Holloway were very proud of what they had done. The audience clapped and cheered, and two students were moved to tears. It was at this moment that I believed these girls did not help the women in India for recognition. Their actions were selfless. I realised it had taken the shedding of tears for me to believe that they
eco loco 2013
Tom Currie UKC Environment Officer Eco Loco Main Organiser
The exam season is arguably one of the most challenging times of the year
Natalie Tipping
and, unsurprisingly, one which sees record levels of stress amongst students with the start of last minute revision, the beginning of copious amounts of exams and the onset of frantic rushes to find somewhere to revise. Nonetheless, it’s not all doom and gloom. In order to help alleviate some of this stress, Kent Union will once again be hosting Eco-Loco, an environmentally themed festival, which is planned to be held between the 13th and 19th May. During the week, Eco-Loco will be holding a range of free activities for students to take part in, including but not limited to, foraging, exam stress relief sessions and a “how to build
your own garden furniture” workshop. Additionally, why not get some fresh air and join us on a hike or give us a hand clearing up the campus by coming along to a litter pick? There is the possibility to participate in some creative procrastination inside the workshop tent where you can make bird feeders, pet rocks and pencil holders, whilst listening to talks from a variety of speakers on current environmental topics. However, if you simply just want to relax, that is fine too: Giant Jenga and Giant Connect Four will provide endless hours of fun or on a smaller scale, the “chill tent” allows you to become a child again with the classic board games like Cluedo, Monoply and
genuinely cared. I then thought how absurd that was: I had been looking for moments where the cracks in altruism might appear but what I actually found was that beneath the veneer of a façade (the stage and trophies) lies a very human desire to care for others. It’s true that Enactus looks great on your CV, you may even join for that reason, but that’s not why you’ll stay.
Guess Who. Outside, you should make the most of the array of local businesses selling local produce. Whether you are concerned about the environment or not; whether you are an active student or a lazy one; whether you’re just passing through, Eco-Loco 2013 is open to everyone. If you can’t find something you like, I will truly be amazed. So put it on your calendar, incorporate it into your revision and come along! If you’d like to find out the latest developments regarding Eco-Loco or would like to give a hand with the event itself,send me an email at environment@kent.ac.uk. All the best with your exams.
how to procrastinate effectively
So, just how do we make revision fun? Let’s face it. There is no way that revision is ever going to be fun. Exams inevitably put most of us in a horrible mindset of unavoidable failure and embarassment, which is only sparked off further by the onset of revision and the realisation that you really should have paid more attention in your lectures and seminars over the past year. I swear, at the start of every year, I go to my first lecture, make copious notes,
think to myself “this year is going to be the best yet”, then my friends ask me if I want to go for a cider in k-bar, which leads to three ciders and the rest of the year becoming a blur of procrastination and self-doubt. When essays roll around, I retreat into my safe place (my bed), and hope that I can remember some of the things that were said that day all those weeks ago. When revision hits, it’s even worse. Because of this, I’ve come up with three brilliant ways to make myself believe that my revision notes are simply spectacular: Use loads of colours - For example,
if you’re a lit student, like me, I colour code each theme in each play/novel, so my revision mind map looks like a rainbow of joy, not something that makes me want to cry. Write really big - usually, my writing is quite small. When it comes to revision however, I make my writing as big as possible so the page looks really full and I can convince myself I know more than I actually do. Plus, it’s always nice when you realise that everything you know doesn’t actually fit on one page because of your ridiculously humongous scrawl.
Stick your revision notes up on the walls of your bedroom - not only will you take stuff in without realising (as long as you actually look at the notes in the first place), you can show off to your friends how many notes you’ve made, and then they can join you in your state of pre-exam frenzy. Trust me, that state is much more fun when you’re not alone. Not that I’m trying to convince you that cheating your mind is the best way to revise or anything, just that it could help those nerves. Go forth and prosper my fellow UKC-ers!
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IQ Entertainment
music
“just a typical tour, holding koalas” albums on the Tegan Rain Quin, one half of Canadian indie rock band and identical twins, Tegan and Sara, took time out of their Australian tour to catch up with Mel Lewis. Here’s what she had to say about their album, tour and even joining Mel’s book club… Emily Adams passionate and ambitious and driven making sure that we weren’t going to be in terms of my career I am also just a compromising or sacrificing any of the Newspaper Entertainment Editor human being who feels like tomorrow integrity or artistic vision of our band. Hi Tegan, how are you? Is Sara could be the end of it all, so we But Heartthrob is definitely our biggest off chatting to somebody else? definitely try to take advantage of seeing ‘pop’ step. Good! I have no idea what she’s doing. as much of the world as possible. Have you ever got twin envy Maybe she’s doing handstands in a because some fans have preferred park. Sara or her songs? And how is the tour going so far? No, I’ll be honest, I’m proud of her for It’s been great, we really like Australia writing such amazing music. We both a lot. Obviously, it still feels like a just stand back and marvel at what privilege after all these years to be we’ve created. able to come and spend three weeks in Now, this is a bit nerdy but me such a beautiful country and we have and my friend have set up our own really great audiences here. We’ve book club so the question is, do existed in somewhat of a bubble for a you want to join? long time so it’s nice we’re getting a Oh my god I’d love to, that would be little more mainstream support and Following the release of great! exposure because it’s helping diversify Heartthrob, it was your first the audience a bit. But honestly, it’s felt Without forcing you to pick album to chart in the UK album very much like the typical Australian your favourite child… Could chart. Was it an intentional move tour, having some beach days, held Heartthrob be your favourite? to be more mainstream? some koalas and just a tonne of really Yes, it’s definitely my favourite record. Yes and no. We made the record with awesome shows. It feels like a Tegan and Sara record. the intention of absolutely making a Not jealous at all Tegan. So when big record. I re-wrote Closer six times I truly feel this will be a record that you go away do you get to do all people will listen to for a long time. before we even went into the studio. this exciting stuff everywhere? We laboured over the songs because You can listen to the full interview we wanted them to be perfect. There Yeah we do, it’s different depending online with Tegan at www.inquirelive. were also a lot of conversations about on where we’re at. As much as I am co.uk/entertainment
city sound project returns to the stage
Photograph by Lora Christy Chad Greggor Website Editor
If you were not at City Sound Project, exams aside, you must have been doing something of world-changing significance to justify missing this. So say the hordes of people who lined up outside Picturehouse on sunny Sunday 5th to buy what had become quite expensive on-the-door tickets. This is only the second run of the inner-city festival, which books a number of local and national acts to perform in venues around Canterbury. Punters this year had to choose between headliners such as Swiss Lips, Is Tropical, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, B Traits and Duke Dumont: the man who pipped Ding-Dong the Witch is Dead to top the UK charts. First on InQuire’s list of must see acts was a secret gig in the much recommended Brown’s coffee house, where none other than Benjamin
Francis Leftwich (who will from this point be referred as BFL, for reason of having a ridiculously lengthy and Victorian sounding name) was performing. He delivered his admittedly twee, but nevertheless lovely lullabies to a packed crowd in a vulnerable, intimate setting. Wolf Alice performed for another secret gig to an undeservedly slimmer crowd. The setting was about as candid and awkward as you could want, with a handful of fans sat around the two members of the band playing unplugged. Lead singer Ellie Roswell began laughing uncontrollably during their second song, White Leather, which let off a wave of good natured laughter in the small audience. What might have been embarrassing in a high-stakes stage performance in this case only accented the intimacy of the gig. We had the chance to see Wolf Alice’s electric set later on in CCCU’s The Lounge. The band have a knack for making folky vocals work over distinctively grungy, indie sounding rock. They look like they live on a diet of only biscuits and skimmed-milk, wear leather jackets, and just have that attitude of bohemian nonchalance that make them seem so damn cool.
Swiss Lips performed in the same venue. The band from Manchester opened with DANZ, the spelling and all-capital typeface of this song perfectly encapsulating their hip Shoreditchpunk-hipster-rock-apocalypse image and sound. Their ‘dancey’ electro rock, topped with nasal vocals soon got the sun-glazed and bank holiday booze soaked crowd into a frenzy. A near studio-perfect performance. After witnessing the enjoyably sludgy garage rock of Canterbury trio The Gang, and the afore mentioned Wolf Alice set, BFL came on to bring us down to earth. Dedicating one song “to anyone who has taken a walk in a field and then gone to dinner with their mother-in-law and [continued, incomprehensible clauses…]” the folky maestro treated our tired ears to his most lyrically heartfelt and nostalgic songs. The whole enterprise is great news for a blossoming Canterburymusic scene.
Lora Christy
go
Paramore – Paramore
Returning with two replacement band members, Paramore’s fourth album sounds like the efforts of a band missing key pieces. While first single Now sounded like a Blood Red Shoes knock-off, the follow-up Still Into You is back to standard Paramore affair, with Hayley Williams’ vocals doing what they do best. The rest of the album follows suit, divided between polished examples of Paramore’s previous excellence and experimental tangents that don’t totally crash and burn, but certainly misfire. Matt Jarvis
Rudimental – Home Straight in at number one, this is an album likely to hold at least one track that will make your summer. Hanging slightly off beat, the melodyies will send you into a trance, whilst the smooth soul voices commandeer catchy lyrics. It‘ll take you from tedious revision back to BBQs on the beach. Julie Peppiatt
Bring Me the Horizon Sempiternal Bring Me the Horizon are back with the new album which is once again redefining genres. With the introduction of keyboardist Jordan Fish, the album features more prominent melodies whilst not letting go of their darker underbelly. Branching out from their previous unrelenting ‘devil’s ringtone’ style, the five piece band have kept the riffs hard-hitting and the vocals as unforgiving as ever. Listen out for: Can you feel my Heart and single Shadow Moses. Alexander Cutler
Daughter - If You Leave Daughter’s cover of Daft Punk’s Get Lucky for Radio 1, turned the dancey hit into a beautiful, ethereally melancholic ballad. And you need look no further to describe their sound. If You Leave is excellent, if unvaried. Listen to Youth, Still and Human. Chad Greggor
IQ Entertainment 17
tv & film game of thrones: season 3 so far...
Callum Tyndall
SPOILER ALERT: If you’re not completely caught up with the current season you may not want to read further. Since its inception into the world of television, the fantastical Game of Thrones series, adapted from George R. R. Martin’s Song of Fire and Ice series, has garnered both critical praise and popular appeal. Yet, as it moves through the early stages of Season 3, is it still living up to the hype? The third season continues the multitude of story strands, revolving around the central act of the North/ South war. This is the first difficulty with the show. Present from the start but increasing with each season, the storylines have become so numerous and tangled that if you look away for a
second you’ll completely miss a story arc. Though this is an aspect of the show that is true to the books, it can make for a confusing time. And with several story arcs lacking the strength of others it’s hard not to question their necessity. For example, though Bran’s storyline is clearly building up to something, with him having now met the prophetic Jojen Reed, it often feels like a bit of a nowhere story in comparison to the action of some of the other characters. Similarly, after seeing Theon captured by Stark troops we were led on a goose chase as we saw him released from imprisonment by an unnamed boy only to lead Theon on a roundabout return to the castle, seemingly just to get a short conversation in which he feels regret. Surely, this story could have been cut down to just the conversation in some
way. The trouble with story arcs such as these is that, while they work in book form, transposed into television against the big action of characters such as Daenerys, they can start to seem lacklustre. Furthermore, there is one of the most enduring frustrations of Game of Thrones. We are getting sick of seeing the bad guys win. Seeing Ned Stark die at the end of Season One was an unpleasant, but not entirely unpredictable, shock that gave a good boost of excitement to see what would follow. However, while the “villainous” Lannisters remain fairly secure in their positions, the “heroes” seem to be constantly leaping between the frying pan and the fire. While this may be true to the books, and the show obviously shouldn’t rewrite the whole story just to please the viewers’ moral allegiances, it feels like we perhaps deserve more heroic action in the show. Overall though, the season is still fantastic and continues to set a great example for how good television should be done. But as the season continues, there is just the slight fear that in its large, perhaps unwieldy state, the show could lose viewership as lesser story arcs take place instead of actual action or interesting development. That said, as long as Tyrion continues to be the master of wit that he is I’ll keep watching.
stark returns in style. or does he?
Adam Latham
Iron Man is back for his third (fourth if you include Avengers) outing in quite possibly his biggest movie to date. There’s a new director at the helm in Shane Black, a new villain terrorising the world in The Mandarin, played by Ben Kingsley, and plenty more things for Tony Stark, played by Robert Downey Junior, to blow up. However, where others have said this could be the best Marvel film yet, I can’t say that I would agree with them. Let’s focus on some of the positives first. The action in this film is a little bit insane with numerous explosions
in pretty much every sequence possible which makes for some great viewing. There were also some fantastic visual effects created by no less than 17 digital effects companies from across the globe creating some particularly amazing scenes. This film was also very funny in places. In fact Marvel have proved time and again that their films can include some very humorous moments. There were even a few surprises in this film and unexpected moments in its plot. However, these things, for me, were not enough to make it a “great” film. Tony Stark’s character is so cold that you can’t relate to him in any way and while the action scenes are impressive, I found myself getting lost with what was actually going. So much camera shake and motion meant that all you could see were a blur of lights. The technology with the Iron Man suit was always going to get better, but it’s now got to a point where it’s gone a little bit too far. In the first instalment of Iron Man, I could actually believe that this man, Tony Stark could actually put himself into an Iron Man suit.
Today though, it has almost come to a point where the technology is only revolved around how cool it looks on screen without considering realism. The final thing would be the abundance of plot holes. They were littered throughout the whole film in so many places that, often enough, things would just work with very little explanation. Throughout, we’re treated to great VFX, plenty of action, some funny moments and a few surprises; it was, after all, a Marvel film. Sadly, for me, plot holes, some crazy and rather unbelievable technology along with Tony Stark’s cold and unrelatable character, let the film down.
WATCH, LISTEN, USE AND FOLLOW Matt Jarvis Listen: Alt-rock band The National are releasing their next album this month, and have released Demons as a teaser of what’s to come. A swelling mix of baritone lead vocals, fractured drums and a touch of synths, ‘Demons’ slots into the band’s previous mastery of slow, intensely burning melodies. Find the video on YouTube for an impressive time-lapsed chalk drawing of the new album art. Watch: It might seem obvious, but Game of Thrones is the best thing on TV right now by a mile. Not showing a drop in quality from the near-flawless first two seasons, GoT easily leaps between fantasy action, character and political drama and (more often than you’d think) excellent humour. With something for everyone, there’s no sign of it losing its crown anytime soon. Use: iOS-exclusive Star Command allows players to create their own starship captain and expand their cruiser with additional rooms. A lot of fun, easy to play in short snippets on the bus and a steal at two quid for universal iPad and iPhone play, Star Command is a welcome distraction from exams.
Follow: @EverydaySexism aims to show the world just how rampant the problem of sexism still is, largely by retweeting stories sent to them by both men and women who have been harassed. Even in 140 characters or less, many of the stories are shocking, and the featured Facebook links are equally as troubling, proving there is still a lot of work to be done on the route to equality.
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IQ Entertainment
film & tv
battle of the western world: who reigns on tv? UK
Caroline Wadham Website Entertainment Editor
America proclaims itself to be the best nation for television programmes in the world with its self-congratulatory love of giving themselves awards. The modesty that it assigned to Britain as a nation is reflected in its groundbreaking television programmes and diversity. Take the popular This is England series; it demonstrates the realism that has enabled Britain to be recognised worldwide, typified by the surplus of countries abroad which now play host to many of our television programmes. From this aspect it is clear to see that the UK is better than the US. It uses the platform of television to display a diverse range of social and political issues as opposed to just light-hearted
entertainment seen in the traditional American sitcoms with their canned laughter. Secondly British television creates personas and personalities that bring a range of people together, from diverse actors to traditional entertainment presenters such as Ant and Dec. Through the wide variety of programmes that are available it enables many people to get their talent shown. Furthermore there is not one genre that British television has not explored. Britain has furthered the popularity of sketch shows, made famous by the Two Ronnies. This clearly shows the modesty of British actors with their friendly attitude, while also making them seem like your average friends rather than giving themselves the god-like status’ of A-listers from across the pond. Therefore, while America is by no means declining in its quality of television, sometimes they get so swept away by their greatness and self-wonder that it clouds their talent as a television producing nation. Britain, on the other hand, has been able to critique itself through its realism in ground-breaking dramas, while still feeling at ease with comedians, many of whom seem more grateful for the platform that television gives them, rather than being laden with self-praise.
US
Will Butler
Despite living in the UK all my life and having purely British blood I wholeheartedly believe that US TV is superior to the UK in some aspects. Before your blood starts boiling and you start rattling off all the sublime UK TV series you know, allow me to explain myself. The general consensus about American TV, through our eyes, is that it consists of too many CSI spin-offs, painfully unfunny comedies (I’m looking at you Two and a Half Men) and vacuous reality shows. Unfortunately, the same can be said for the UK since the sudden upsurge of the Made in Essexes and The Only Way is Chelseas. My main issue, is that British TV, through no fault of its own, does not have the six digit budget and development teams that US shows have. Anyone who has ever watched The Walking Dead has witnessed the
this week’s must see movie: evil dead
Adam Robinson
Even 32 years on, Sam Raimi’s comedic gore-fest, The Evil Dead (1981), is still hugely enjoyable and still fantastically silly. However, 2013 has seen director Fede Alvarez take the bold decision to revisit the woods for a remake. The premise is simple: five young adults in a cabin in the woods who discover an evil book and it causes, shall we say, problems. Now, initially this will have fans of movies such as Antichrist (2009) and The Blair Witch Project (1999) slapping their palms to their faces and chanting, “Woods?
Cabin? Will these ne’er-do-wells ever learn?” However, it is necessary to consider that as Raimi’s film is deemed a cult classic, the remake is fully entitled to this scenario. Lest we forget that alongside Sean S. Cunningham’s Friday the 13th (1980), The Evil Dead is where the disturbing relationship between cabins and woods started. Interestingly, Alvarez takes the audience out of their comfort zones by deciding to stray from the comedic aspect of the franchise. Instead, the director presents us with torrents of blood and startlingly visceral physical abuse. In keeping with the
B-Movie ultra-violence of the 80s, the film pushes cinematic and ethical boundaries to an unbelievable extreme. Alvarez makes the visions of needles under eye sockets and the sawing off of faces almost palpable due to an intentionally limited use of CGI. When the audience begins to accept that they may finally feel desensitised to it all, up springs another round of nastiness, initiating cries of, “They won’t? They won’t! Oh God they did.” For the hardened horror fanatic, it should be mentioned that the film is not overly scary. Instead, it relies purely on its status as entertainment that you would turn over quickly if your Nan enters the room. That said, Evil Dead was never intended to make you jump; it was meant to spark a deep meaningful chat on how much blood would truly erupt from a human face upon contact with a nail gun. Do not watch this film if you are squeamish. (No exceptions. Seriously.) However, if you possess a temperament of hardened steel, coated with leather? You should have seen it already.
massive amounts of production and money that goes into creating it but this doesn’t make the show any ‘better’, it just enables it to explore new territory. A perfect example of this is Breaking Bad. Everyone knows that one person who will not shut up about Breaking Bad and I was once a sceptic too, but I have since seen the crystal blue light and have yet to look back. Breaking Bad isn’t just a TV show about meth; it is meth. AMC has managed to craft the most exciting, heart-wrenching and ingenious television series of our time. It’s the likes of Breaking Bad or The Walking Dead that leave a lasting imprint on popular culture, which a lot of UK shows don’t. Besides, when was the last time you heard someone say “did you watch Game of Thrones last night?” with a response of “nah mate, Last of the Summer Wine was on!”
events spot highlights Marlowe Theatre Magic of Motown 19th May Save The Last Dance for Me 20th - 25th May Rumpelstiltskin 28th May The Gulbenkian The Elephant Bridesmaid 19th May The Funny Side Comedy Club 22nd May British Independent Film Festival From 25th May 2013 In and Around Kent Canterbury Church Hall One Night In Africa 25th May Margate Winter Garden The Specials May 28th
IQ Culture
cultural events calendar
30 years: 2,084,692,054 pound coins
Georgia Dawson
Sat 25th May Screening Of Brides Of Dracula Horsebridge Arts Centre Whistable
Our economy has got plenty of bad press lately with banks, inflation, and recession, along with some technical terms I only pretend to understand. Yet sometimes we need to take a moment to appreciate our money, regardless of how much we’re losing.What better time to celebrate than 21st April 2013, the 30th anniversary of the £1 coin. The pound has changed a lot over the years and worn many royal faces. It was first introduced in 1983 to replace flimsy paper notes with a lifespan of just nine months. Now the pound can endure upwards of 40 years of abuse, scuffing and bite marks. For our convenience, the coins were even made 3.15mm thick, so we girls can get a better grip when scrambling for loose change in bottomless handbags. A staggering 2,084,692,054 one pound coins have been created by The National Mint since 1983. So just how far has the pound come since then? Back in the 80s a loaf of bread would have cost 38p, compared to £1.24 in 2012. A pint down the pub would have been £1; it is now £3.18. Air travel cost 24 miles a pound in 1983 compared to 34 miles in 2012
Sat 25th May-Thu 6th Jun Degree Show Sidney Cooper Gallery
Meredith Willow
Fri 17th May-Sun 23rd Jun Peter Cushing at 100! Whitstable Museum and Gallery Fri 17th May Monkeyshine’s Last Stand The Marlowe Theatre Fri 17th-Tue 21st May The Place Beyond The Pines Gulbenkian Cinema Fri 17th May Evening Walks The Blean Ancient Woodlands Mon 20th May The Paperboy Gulbenkian Cinema
Sat 25th May-Sun 2nd Jun Meet the Romans Canterbury Roman Museum Thu 30th May-Sat 1st Jun Celtic Journey The Marlowe Theatre Fri 31st May Horsebridge Comedy Club Horsebridge Arts Theatre Whitstable Fri 31st May Hairspray: Sing-a-long Gulbenkian Cinema
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(plus a complimentary areoplane meal, even if it does taste like feet). Next let’s take a trip down scandal lane and look at some of the best British buys for just £1: An iconic tower in Birmingham, Peter’s Folly, inspired Tolkien in writing his famous series ‘Lord of the Rings’. It was bought for just £1 in January 2013. Muhammad Shahid Nazir became a viral legend when this sensational song hit the Facebook stage: “Come on
ladies, come on ladies, one pound fish.” Many tourists have crossed the UK just to hear his little ditty live at the market stall – pound coin appeal clearly strikes again. Kerrang DJ Tim Shaw had the bright idea to announce plans to leave his wife and kids live on radio. His wife got her own back by selling his prized Lotus Esprit Turbo (valued at 325,000) for just 50p on eBay. Even less than a pound. Ouch. I’m not the only one who appreciates a good pound coin. Counterfeiters have been targeting the coin for years, perfecting their designs until one in every thirty five are these days thought to be duds. In light of this, I’m going to give a quick tutorial on how to recognise the fakes from the mint: 1. Is the lettering even? 2. Is the milled edge of the coin smooth? 3. Is the colour bronze, not gold? If the answer is yes, then congratulations. You are the proud owner of a genuine article. These are also useful guidelines if you are a broke, desperate student trying to make a counterfeit. Just don’t blame me when you get caught.
it’s eurovision time again
It’s that time of year again. Just when you’ve finally buried the memory of last year’s bizarre pop extravaganza, Eurovision has rolled around again (18th May, if you hadn’t heard) and the usual arguments have started over how best to improve the UK’s abysmal track record. There was once a time when we knew how to bash out a cheesy, Eurovision-friendly number – see Cliff, Bucks Fizz, Lulu – but those days are now a rapidly fading memory. Jade Ewen did alright in Moscow in 2009 with that Lloyd Webberpenned ballad, but Humperdinck absolutely bombed last year with what appeared to be an absolute classic of Euro-kitsch, so go figure. The problem the UK has with Eurovision is that we don’t take it seriously, but don’t completely give up on it either, resulting in a nationwide laugh at all the other ridiculous acts, coupled with a strangled hope that not everyone in Europe hates us. Other countries proudly send their big stars to perform in Eurovision, while we send washed up teen pop bands that were never exactly great in the first place. Scooch, anyone? It’s like we set ourselves up to fail. Which is why this year, I have high hopes for us as we
bring out the big guns in the form of the one and only Bonnie Tyler. The song is a pretty standard country-rock ballad, but you have to hope that her stage presence and international reputation will do us a favour on the night. In a more realistic scenario where we fail to secure any significant points, however, I quite fancy Norway’s Margaret Berger with I Feed You My Love
as a winner – a surprisingly anthemic disco-pop concoction. Or perhaps Swede Robin Stjerberg will benefit from the home advantage; his song, You, is a
slightly annoying tween boyband affair, but being vaguely reminiscent of One Direction probably won’t hurt, let’s face it. Disappointingly there’s nothing as hilariously mental as Finland’s Lordi from 2006, but there’s no telling what delights the various acts might pull out the bag on the night. For now, Igranka by Montenegro’s rock/hiphop crossover Who See gets my vote for bizarreness, followed closely by the Eurodisco of Serbia’s Moje 3 and their song Ljubav je Svuda. I may not be the best person to ask, given my deep and abiding love for all things kitsch and tacky, but in my experience the way to enjoy Eurovision is just to go with it. Get in an exciting range of European snacks and alcohol, give up any thought that the UK might do well, sit back and enjoy the madness. If nothing else, it’s usually worth watching for the hilariously overexcited hosts and the bonkers fancy dress in the crowd, inevitable voteswapping among friendly countries and, of course, Graham Norton, who has surely proved himself a worth successor to Terry Wogan in the commentary box. For one night a year, terrible Europop rules.
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IQ Culture
in other news...
Portrait of Elizabeth I discovered at house clearance sale, bought by National Portrait Gallery for £329,000. Never know what you might find amongst your old belongings!
Houghton Hall in Norfolk had more than 70 old paintings by painting ‘masters’ (such as Van Dyck and Rembrandt) returned on loan from Russia after 234 years. American Saul Bass’ (would have been) 93rd birthday celebrated by Google doodle. The Oscarwinning filmmaker and graphic designer worked with the likes of Hitchcock, Kubrick and Scorsese for their movie title sequences and posters.
vicious, but sadly not hilarious
Harriet Cash
How often do you hear people comment that when they were a kid, there was really only Mr Humphries from Are You Being Served? in the way of gay characters on TV, but that thankfully we’ve moved on and there is now a much more diverse range of characters on our screens? All the time, right? I thought so too, and so news of ITV’s new half-hour sitcom about an elderly gay couple, starring Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi no less, piqued my interest. Apparently, the creators of Vicious are operating in a circa-1974 bubble, in which the action, such as it is, consists of three of our finest thesps trying desperately to out-camp each other. Don’t get me wrong, the prospect of watching McKellen and Jacobi ham it up, aided and abetted by the glorious Frances de la Tour, was an appealing one, and if you can say one thing for Vicious, it’s that McKellen and Jacobi particularly do seem to be having a whale of a time in high-gear camp. The problem with it, essentially, is that it’s just not that funny. 40 years ago
Celebrities gathered for the New York Metropolitan Ball and showed off their punk-inspired outfits.
his mother about their relationship – they’ve all been done before, and the canned laughter doesn’t help. I should probably note here that I’m not a fan of laughter tracks in sitcoms, but you can’t help feeling that such an old-school effort as this would be strange without the gales of pre-recorded laughter after every joke. Vicious isn’t the most appallingly unfunny sitcom to grace our screens (I reserve that particular accolade for Not Going Out). But it’s not doing anything new either, and while that may be half the point, it just inevitably feels a bit tired. I was reminded of a bit-part Ian McKellen had in the US miniseries Tales of the City, as one half of a similarly bitchy, camp old couple, but somehow that was amusing in a way this isn’t. Perhaps because Tales of the City was essentially a modern show with a more diverse cast of characters – and that’s saying something, given that it actually was set in the 70s. ITV may have been trying to revitalise their comedy hour, but if this is what’s on offer, they’d have been served as well with repeats of the classic sitcoms we already know and love.
sex on tv: how much is too much?
Rebekah Chilvers Newspaper Culture Editor
The Great Gatsby author F Scott Fitzgerald’s handwritten accounts have been made available online to coincide with the release of the film version of his most famous book.
it would have been, and to an extent the stagey décor and performances are homage to the classic 70s sitcom, but in a modern context it just doesn’t come off. A bit of nostalgia is fine, but there has to be something forward-looking to comedy too, and even if the actors are in on the joke – which I suspect they might be – it’s still a very tenuous one. The drama in the first episode revolves around Freddie and Stuart meeting their new neighbour, the handsome young Ash, and speculating about his sexuality while bitching to and about each other, and preparing for a friend’s wake. And that’s about it. Lines clearly meant to be hilarious zingers fall pretty flat, such as Stuart’s comment that he’s “waiting for the right time” when Freddie asks if he’s finally told
“It seems today, all you see, is violence in movies and sex on TV,” as the theme tune to Family Guy says, but after the results of an Ofcom survey, does the amount of sex on TV really need to be reconsidered or have we got it right? There’s always something controversial on television, be it swearing, alcoholism or religion, and sex is just another issue that has little effect on one person but makes another person cringe. So why the big fuss? Well, according to Ofcom’s results from 2011, 25% of adults felt there was “too much” sex on TV. It’s hard to deny that one in four adults is a large proportion, but then again maybe it isn’t such a problem after all, as the number has decreased since 2005, when 36% of adults felt there was too much sex. A decrease of 11% is a large drop over a period of six years, so maybe our attitudes are changing. Perhaps as a society we’re becoming neutral to sex on television. After all, there is a lot of it – although most of it not until after 9pm – you only have to look at Game of Thrones, Skins and Sex and the City to see just how common it is. Sometimes it’s so regular that don’t even bat an eyelid at it.
That is until programmes such as BBC2’s The Politician’s Husband comes along. Sex in a programme about teenagers we have learnt to expect (Skins, The Inbetweeners) but in one about politicians? That seems like a newer concept somehow. The programme, which had a number of scenes of consensual sex, took it even further and depicted a husband raping his wife. This was highly controversial and the type of scene that gets viewers on the phone to Ofcom. Sex on TV has
come a long way since that of the 60s, 70s and 80s; it has become much more explicit where it used to be implicit. Bewitched was an anomaly in the 60s and 70s when it showed that couple Samantha and Darrin shared the same bed. Who knows where we’ll be in five or ten years’ time, but for now, with three quarters of adults happy with the amount of sex on TV, maybe we have got it right.
David Tennant and Emily Watson in The Politician’s Husband
IQ Culture
best and worst: rom-coms
Rosanna Chambers
When it comes to films, romantic comedies are in abundance. There are so many that it’s often hard to secondguess the good from the bad. So I’ve compiled a list of my top three must-see and avoid-at-all-costs rom-coms, to guide you in the right direction. The best: in third place, it’s the 1999 classic Never Been Kissed, starring Drew Barrymore, David Arquette and John C. Reilly. The film centres around 25 year-old journalist Josie Geller (Barrymore) who enrols back at her old high school to conduct research for a news story, and goes on a quest of her own to find someone to share her first kiss with. It has all the characteristics of a great 90s film, which make it a topscorer: hideously wacky outfits, an appropriately fun pop/rock soundtrack, and a whole lot of feel-good. Second place goes to Bridget Jones’ Diary. The best-selling book-turnedmovie was bound to be a rom-com topper, as it features Renée Zellweger and two of the most-loved male actors ever, Hugh Grant and Colin Firth. What sets it apart from other chick-flicks? For starters, its awkward Britishness: the film sees the protagonist flash her oversized pants on live TV and turn up to a posh party dressed as a bunny. It’s a fresh take on the classic novel Pride And Prejudice as it’s modern-day and Jones bumps into Mr Darcy at a Christmas party instead of a Regency ball. It’s wonderful for any rom-com lover. And my number one spot goes to the must-see to top all must-see films,
Breakfast At Tiffany’s. The classiest rom-com of them all, it’s set and filmed in 60s New York and follows socialite Holly Golightly (played by the iconic Audrey Hepburn) and her blossoming relationship with aspiring writer Paul Varjak (George Peppard). The final scene sees the couple kiss in the rain, after finally declaring their love for one another: a scene that other romance films have since tried to emulate, but none to the same effect. What makes this film worthy of a number one is, for me: Audrey Hepburn – an actor like no other; the soundtrack – the title song Moon River earned an Oscar; the setting – a spectacular 60s New York backdrop; and the style – the Givenchy dress is still considered to be the most famous “little black dress” fifty years on. If you haven’t watched it, I implore you: do it now (after revision of course). Moving on to the worst rom-coms – please remember to abstain from
watching for the sake of your eyes and ears. In third place, it’s The Bounty Hunter - a pairing of Gerard Butler and Jennifer Aniston had previously seemed promising to me, but sadly I was wrong. Dodgy script, slow-paced and minimal chemistry between Butler and Aniston. I forgot to pay attention when watching it. Enough said. A so-called “romantic comedy”, The Love Guru finds itself in second place. I’d previously thought that Mike Myers was a comedian, I must’ve been mistaken though, as this film was not amusing, just plain ridiculous. Please, just don’t do it to yourself, unless you never want to laugh again. And worst of them all? Labor Pains starring Lindsay Lohan brings one of the poorest plots ever: an office assistant who fakes her own pregnancy to avoid being sacked. Leaves you wishing you could erase films from your memory. Don’t go there, ever.
pause for thought It’s exam season and you’ll
probably be tearing your hair out right now over revision. But fear not, as the end is near, but until then, here’s a short poem to remind you just why you’re here. Caroline Bulleck clearly knows what it’s like to cram your revision in the night before, so remember that you’re not alone.
Final Exams
norwegian wins photographer award
Holly Hepburn
The saying “a picture speaks a thousand words” is overused nowadays, but for Norwegian photographer Andrea Gjestvang and her work, it is particularly apt. Gjestvang has won the prestigious L’Iris d’Or/Sony World Photography – Photographer of the Year 2013 award for her photographs of the 2011 Utoeya Island Massacre survivors. The collection of portraits named One Day in History show the survivors and their scars: physical and mental, which were inflicted on them by Anders Breivik on 22nd July 2011. Not only this, they also visually document how these survivors have restored their lives since that day. 77 people were murdered, making the massacre the worst peacetime attack that Norway has ever seen.
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Gjestvang receiving her award
The photos are all of young people who were on a summer camp on the island of Utoeya when Breivik launched his attack. Among the series of portraits are: 17 year old Cecilie Herlovsen who was shot in her arm, shoulder and chin, and had to have her arm amputated; Hanne Hesto Ness, 20, who was shot in her arm, little finger and neck, her little finger was amputated and a vertebrae in her neck shattered; and Eivind Rindalen, 23, who led a group of 11 children away from the island in a rowing boat, Breivik shot at them from the shore but none were hurt. Gjestvang’s portraits convey a juxtaposed sense of despair and hope, and this causes them to be extremely powerful, and make Andrea Gjestvang a very worthy winner of the title Photographer of the Year. In her own words: “In Norway, 22nd July 2011 has etched itself into the collective and private memory forever.”
Final Exams are such a big hassle But I suppose it is worth all the stress If it is for the cap, gown and tassel Even though I wish the stress was much less If only the finals were troublefree No one would worry this much or freak out And we’d be done quick and effortlessly Finals being easy? I really doubt So I’ll keep trying to get a good grade And from a big college I’ll graduate Then when I’m a doctor, I’ll have it made But first, my finals, before it’s too late So here I am, still taking my exam Using everything I just had to cram Caroline Bulleck
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Sport
O’SULLIVAN TRIUMPHS AT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Sam Clemence
RONNIE ‘The Rocket’ O’Sullivan returned to Snooker in the most spectacular fashion by winning the coveted World Snooker Championships in Sheffield. O’Sullivan, 37, made his comeback to the sport after almost a year away from the table, to defend the title he won in 2012. His victory, 18-12 over Barry Hawkins, sealed O’Sullivan’s fifth World Championship, despite his much publicised love-hate relationship with the sport. O’Sullivan had cruised through the tournament, beating Marcus Campbell, Ali Carter and Stuart Bingham in convincing manner in front of an audience appreciative of his talent. His route to the final was blocked by Judd Trump, one of the sport’s emerging talents, in one of the best matches ever contested at The Crucible, with Ronnie eventually winning 1711, booking a place in the final against Hawkins. Hawkins, from Dartford in Kent, was playing his first World
Snooker final, and despite fears from pundits that he was going to be blown away by O’Sullivan, Hawkins did more than hold his own in what was an incredible final. The pair were locked in a tough mental battle, each trying to outdo the other’s safety shots, searching for the opening that would help them secure the World Championship trophy. Stretched over two days, a Snooker final is perhaps the toughest mental challenge sport has to offer, with both men
playing big shots to entertain and stun the capacity Sheffield crowd. O’Sullivan began to pull in front of Hawkins, and led 1511 as the final went into its last session, with O’Sullivan winning three out of next four frames to seal the victory by 18 frames to 12. Of his opponent, O’Sullivan said: "That is the hardest anyone has pushed me. I just couldn't get rid of him but I hung in there.” O’Sullivan is only the third
player to successfully defend the trophy, with his return to Snooker being placed as one of the greatest comebacks in sporting history. Hawkins, despite being defeated, was gracious in his praise for his conqueror. "He is unbelievable," said Hawkins. "The way he makes it look so easy is frightening for most players, so I am glad I made a game of it and pushed him a bit. "I tried my hardest but I just made a few more mistakes than Ronnie and you cannot afford
to do that against him. “It is a shame I lost, but Ronnie is by far the best player in the world." O’Sullivan has had his critics for the way he has handled himself and his comeback, with the criticism largely related to his devotion to the sport. But what is clear from Ronnie’s reaction to winning the tournament, a triumphant fist-pump after potting the victory-sealing black, is that perhaps his love for the game is not as questionable as it once was. The fans quite clearly still love ‘The Rocket’, with no other player at the tournament receiving the same reaction from them as he did, but only time will tell whether this victory is enough to keep Ronnie O’Sullivan away from his demons, and back into the Snooker limelight once more. Visit our wesbite for more sporting news and opinions from across the University. If you have something to say, we’d love to hear from you, www.inquirelive.co.uk.
HONOURS SHARED AT T20 CRICKET VARSITY
Stuart Smith
A sunny Friday 10th May evening at the St. Lawrence Ground was the setting for the 2013 edition of the T20 Varsity, between UKC and CCCU. As the crowds drifted into the home of Kent County Cricket, both sides were looking to win one of the last remaining Varsity competitions of the academic year. The competition was kicked off by the women’s Varsity match. Having won the toss, the UKC side, led by Captain Charlotte Miles, elected to open the batting first. The Canterbury Christ Church bowling attack suffered in the early stages of the fixture, as UKC openers Laura Thompson and Karen Baker shared a first wicket partnership of 67, before Thompson was dismissed via LBW. Skipper Miles replaced Thompson, as the women’s side blocked out much of the CCCU attack, a good defensive move,
but resulting in a slow run rate not ideal for a T20 fixture. Miles, who was dropped on 1, reached a score of 27 before being run out leaving the score on 140-2. Karen Baker steered UKC to their final total of 141 with her 51 not out, as UKC closed their innings on 141-2. In reply, the CCCU women’s side came out on the attack, but were hindered by the early dismissals of Lucy O’Brien and Heather Jones, being left 14-2. However the 3rd wicket partnership of Deanna Cooper, who scored a solid 83 not out,
and Sophie Pout, scoring 32 not out, proved to be the decisive factor in the fixture, leading CCCU to a 8 wicket win over UKC, and in turn winning the T20 Women’s Varsity trophy. Following the defeat, UKC’s attention turned to the Men’s fixture, with CCCU winning the toss and electing to field. The occasion was a fiery fixture, with big hits and impressive wickets providing great entertainment for the spectators. The UKC batting attack was opened by Tom Edrich and Buzz Gould, and despite a quick
Photograph by Dan English start from Gould, he was caught out on 12, dashing Kent’s hopes for a big start. Wickets tumbled at times in a sloppy manner for Kent, but they soon showed the resilience that became associated with Team Kent through Varsity earlier this year, spearheaded by the knock of 24 by Joe Oakey. Oakey was the standout batsman for UKC, and his six, the first of the day, kept a nervous Kent crowd entertained, right up until his caught and bowled dismissal. Kent fought right through the tailend of their batting too, with
Charlie Perchard hitting an enormous six in the final over before being dismissed as Kent were all out for 126. CCCU were looking to respond and seal a second Varsity trophy of the day, but this was prevented by a superb bowling performance from the Kent side. Freddie Hulbert was particularly impressive, as his performance crippled the CCCU attack and was the driving force behind Kent’s eventual victory. Canterbury Christ Church batsmen struggled to match the form of their female counterparts, and Adam Dobson took the final wicket, dismissing CCCU’s James Mead via LBW to skittle their rivals out for just 78, giving Kent the win, and more importantly the Men’s Varsity trophy, by 48 runs. The win for Kent’s men cancelled out the lead the women had given CCCU earlier in the day, meaning that, overall, the T20 Varsity competition for 2013 was shared.
Sport 23
UNDERDOGS WIGAN IN SHOCK FA CUP VICTORY
Dan English Newspaper Sport Editor
WIGAN Athletic are celebrating beating Manchester City in the FA Cup final 1-0, in one of the greatest underdog stories of the Cup’s history. Wigan, nicknamed ‘The Latics’, sealed the dramatic victory through a header from substitute Ben Watson as the game crept into injury time. Their opponents Manchester City, who were huge favourites coming into the final, were left feeling shell-shocked as the Wigan fans who had made the journey to London burst into raptures. Wigan did not have it all their own way, however, as it was City who started the brightest and were only denied the lead after a remarkable series of stops by Wigan goalkeeper Joel Robles. As Wigan began to settle into the game, they too pressured the City defence, which included the surprise selection of first choice goalkeeper Joe Hart, replacing Costel Pantilimon who had been City’s preference in cup competitions throughout the season. City, who appeared shocked at the persistence of Wigan’s attack, struggled to contend with Callum McManaman and James McArthur, who on numerous occasions skipped past the lacklustre Gael Clichy. Wigan were now more
comfortable with possession, and their trademark passing tactics proved troublesome for City, with McManaman almost putting Wigan ahead after just nine minutes. His shot drifting wide of Hart’s left post. City were still playing their part in the final. Wigan’s Robles was the busier of the two goalkeepers, flicking a Carlos Tevez shot over the crossbar with his foot, to the relief of the Wigan fans, and the concern of the City support. McManaman had one final chance before referee Andre Marriner, who was exceptional throughout the match, called time on the first half; the winger’s goalbound shot blocked superbly by arguably City’s standout player of the season, Pablo Zabaleta. Whatever under-fire Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini said to his players at halftime, it appeared to work, as his side re-emerged from the Wembley tunnel with a greater confidence in the second half. City’s passing became more fluid, as they became the slick side seen so consistently throughout this season’s Premier League campaign. Sergio Aguero, whose heroics last season earned him a place in City folklore, saw his glancing goalbound effort saved by veteran defender Emmerson Boyce, following a good move
with Tevez. City’s section of Wembley became nervous as their side failed to score an opener. Mancini sensed these nerves, losing patience with Samir Nasri, replacing him after just 53 minutes with James Milner, but this was to little effect. Mancini went on to take off Tevez, a surprising decision considering the Argentine had arguably been City’s best player on the pitch, replacing him with Jack Rodwell in a move that confused many of the City fans in attendance. Wigan continued to press, searching for the all important opening goal, and they came close when Shaun Maloney’s free-kick bounced off the top of the Manchester City crossbar. Things got worse for City as
they were reduced to 10 men when Zabaleta was dismissed for a second yellow card, adding further pressure to his side as Wigan began to smell blood. Wigan surged forward against the 10 men of City, and when they earned a corner as the game began its injury time, the Wigan section of Wembley roared with encouragement. Maloney’s cross to the front post of Hart’s goal was met by Watson, who pulled away from Rodwell, and placed his glancing header into the goal, as Wembley’s Wigan section went into hysteria. Watson’s goal, and Wigan’s victory, saw ‘The Latics’ claim their first major trophy in their 81-year history. Roberto Martinez, the Wigan boss, who has recently been
touted as the next Everton manager, said: “We were playing an incredible side. We didn’t win by luck - from start to finish it was an incredible performance. “Everyone wrote us off before the game, but we were following a dream. You cannot describe the feeling at the moment. My players faced adversity and played with a smile. I am so proud of them.” The result for Wigan could become a crucial catalyst for them as they have just two Premier League games left to avoid relegation, despite their fate not being in their own hands. A disastrous day for Manchester City, but for Wigan, this is a victory to savour for a long time yet.
UKC CLUB TAKE ON CHARITY CHALLENGE
LaShanda Seaman
THE UKC Athletics and Cross Country club are undertaking a huge charity challenge this summer. Members from the group are currently preparing to run a total of 215 miles across the UK to raise money for the Pilgrims Hospice in Canterbury and the Breast Cancer Campaign. Paul Bown, one of the runners,
told InQuire that he wanted to establish a “connection between the club and the charity”, starting with the run. Although Bown said the club: “Haven’t trained for anything like this before”, he promised that they are “more than ready to go out and raise as much money as possible.” The club had even thought about running further than what is now planned, with Chris
Photograph by Paul Bown
Bull telling InQuire that the original idea was to run between “Edinburgh and London”. Plans have since changed, although the immense difficulty remains. The run will follow the TransPennine Trail from Hornsea on the country’s east coast, to Southport on the opposite side of the country. The aim of the club is to raise over £2,000 for the charity, and so spreading awareness of the run is something crucial to the success of the challenge. As part of their fundraising and training programme, the athletes will be doing a 24-hour relay in June, with each team member running for at least three hours. The club will also be holding an event on Friday 30th May at the Picturehouse in Canterbury, costing £3.50 and boasting a
Paul Bown whole host of entertainment, with money raised during the night going towards the charity. Pride is something on the minds of the athletes, with Bull stating that it was a good opportunity for an “I’ve done that” moment. It is certain that once their challenge is completed, and the money is raised, it will not just be the athletes feeling proud, but the University too.
Make sure you keep checking www. InQuirelive.co.uk for frequent updates from their challenge throughout July, as we follow them complete this remarkable feat. If you wish to donate, go along to the event in May. Alternatively, look out for their Just Giving page, which is available through the UKC Athletics and Cross Country Facebook page.
visit our website at - www.inquirelive.co.uk/sport
InQuire sport sir alex retires as moyes takes over
Dan English Newspaper Sport Editor THE football world was stunned by confirmation by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson that he is to step down at the end of the season Ferguson, 71, who took over in 1986, is the longest serving manager in the club’s history, took charge of his final home game on 12th May in a 2-1 win against Swansea. A fixture charged with emotion, United sealed a late victory from a Rio Ferdinand strike in the final minutes of the game. Ferguson’s decision comes two weeks after the Scot led his team to their 13th Premier League trophy, wrestling it back from their close rivals Manchester City. Sir Alex has guided United to 38 trophies in all, including
13 Premier League trophies 2 European Cups, 5 FA Cups, 4 League Cups, 1 Cup Winners’ Cup and 10 Community Shields. Ferguson was knighted in 1999 after what was perhaps the greatest season in his managerial career, leading United to their first treble, winning the Premier League, the FA Cup and, in remarkable circumstances, the European Cup too. After his almost 27 year reign comes to an end, Ferguson will remain at Old Trafford as both a Director and as an Ambassador. In a statement published on the Manchester United website Ferguson said: "The decision to retire is one that I have thought a great deal about and one that I have not taken lightly. It is the right time. "It was important to me to leave an organisation in the strongest possible shape and
I believe I have done so. The quality of this league winning squad, and the balance of ages within it, bodes well for continued success at the highest level whilst the structure of the youth set-up will ensure that the long-term future of the club remains a bright one. "To the fans, thank you. The support you have provided over the years has been truly humbling. “It has been an honour and an enormous privilege to have had the opportunity to lead your club and I have treasured my time as manager of Manchester United." The crazy world of football does not rest however, and 24 hours later, on Thursday, David Moyes was confirmed as the new Manchester United manager. A Scot like Ferguson, Moyes emerged as the frontrunner to
the United job almost as soon as Ferguson announced his retirement. Moyes, 50, appears to be the ideal candidate for the job, having shown his longevity for a club after spending over a decade in charge of Everton, and leading them consistently to European competitions despite a strict budget. Moyes released a short statement after being confirmed as the next United manager, stating: “I am delighted that Sir Alex saw fit to recommend me for the job. I have great respect for everything he has done and for the football club.” Sir Alex Ferguson was already full of praise for his successor, saying: “David is a man of great integrity with a strong work ethic.” “I've admired his work for a long time and approached him as far back as 1998 to
discuss the position of assistant manager here. "There is no question he has all the qualities we expect of a manager at this club." Moyes signs on a six-year deal after his appointment was personally recommended by Sir Alex Ferguson, and will take the reins at Old Trafford on 1st July. Moyes already faces a tough start to his reign as manager, with reports that wantaway striker Wayne Rooney had handed in a transfer request confirmed by Ferguson following the Sunday’s win. Sir Alex, meanwhile, faces West Bromwich Albion in his final match in charge on Sunday (19th), as an era prepares to come to its end. INSIDE: UKC Athletics challenge, Ronnie wins his fifth title, T20 Varsity and FA Cup Shock.
