Inside The Box: Issue 1

ISSUE 01/SPRING 2023

WINNER!

BY STUDENTS, FOR STUDENTS

POLITICS

SPORT

SPA REGIONAL AWARDS BEST NEWCOMER

LIFESTYLE

Liz Truss Resigns: What Happens Next?

World Cup Glory For Argentina

Building Blocks, Essays and Bedtime Stories

PAGE 12

PAGE 9

PAGE 27

MEET THE TEAM! This magazine is made by the incredible creatives studying Inside The Box at University Centre Peterborough!

MOLLY: EDITOR IN CHIEF ‘Level 5 journalism student, I love doing interviews and I hope to one day go into music journalism, I also do photography and a bit of PR work on the side!’

ANNIE: CHIEF SUB EDITOR ‘I am a level 5 Journalism student, with an interest in conservation journalism. I currently work as a Broadcast Assistant at BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.’

TRINITY: DEPUTY EDITOR ‘I am a level 4 journalism student currently exploring different areas of journalism. I spend my free time volunteering at Rutland Radio and being a mum to my little boy.’

EMMA: SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR ‘I’m a level 5 journalism student. I enjoy writing news article and enjoy designing magazine front covers.’

DANIEL L: NEWS EDITOR ‘I’m a level 4 journalism student with a passion for politics and current affairs, currently expanding my portfolio of articles in preparation for a career in the press.’

JEN: FEATURES EDITOR ‘I’m a level 4 journalist student. Passionate about the arts and social justice, I try to incorporate these matters into my work!’

DANIEL H: JUNIOR SPORTS EDITOR ‘I’m currently a Level 3 Media student at Peterborough College. I have a passion for sports journalism and sports writing. I also enjoy filming and producing documentaries.’

1

C O N T E N T S

THE ONLINE SURGE IN MISOGYNY

003

Hiding behind a screen makes it easier to share opinions. The real-life impact is still there; a silent normalisation of misogyny.

WORLD CUP GLORY FOR ARGENTINA

009

Argentina are crowned World Champions as they beat France in the 2022 edition of the FIFA World Cup.

Rishi Sunak’s first days in the office

015

Rishi Sunak, the third Conservative PM this year, was the only name on the ballot paper.

BOOK SERIES TO BINGE READ

021

We’re all guilty of sitting through an entire Netflix series, and equally a book series that remains just as good the whole way through is a good find.

027 2

Building Blocks, Essays and Bedtime Stories Being a young mum feels like falling through the cracks, camouflaged behind toothless smiles and big blue eyes.

OPINION

THE SOCIAL MEDIA SURGE In

MISOGYNY

There is a thin veil separating reality and the online world; hiding behind a screen makes it easier to share opinions and engage in political and social discourse. At the same time, the real-life impact is still there; a silent normalisation of misogyny.

BY JEN RAMM new social hierarchy has formed: sigma, alpha, and beta males. Sites such as Reddit, 4Chan, and Discord, an online culture around belittling women have been permitted to exist.

The leading cause?

Anonymity.

There’s no need for these users to post their face, age, or identity on these sites. You can exist as a separate being, free from the constraints and judgement of society - free from any repercussions too.

These chat rooms provide company and interaction with like-minded people, even if the common ground is fundamentally hating women.

Incel (involuntarily celibate) culture can be defined as male supremacy. A strong dislike for women. A victim complex spurred on by

A

a group of people who are essentially yes-men.

These men find themselves in unfortunate situations where they can’t find love and like many other members of this generation, turn to internet groups to find solace and reassurance.

However, in 2017, Reddit banned its largest incel subreddit. Over 41,000 members were engaging in the idea that women owed men a relationship, and that they were treated cruelly by society, and unfairly pushed aside because of their looks or status. The group became rampant with assault threats and hate speech, so much so that it was venturing into dangerous territory. Of course, none of the individuals were held accountable for the online abuse they spouted - once again, anonymity became their crutch, their saviour.

3

But online misogyny extends beyond chatrooms of men typing out their resentment of women. One person who can attribute his rise to fame to sexism and bigotry is Andrew Tate.

Popular among young boys and men, Tate is known for his misogynistic and homophobic videos.

He is of the belief that women are men’s property, they are defined by their sexual past, and also that performing CPR on another male is ‘gay’. Completely ridiculous and outdated ideologies, of course, to anyone who values equality in our society. He made a remarkable imprint on TikTok, with his videos being viewed 11.6 billion times. Despite violating multiple community guidelines, his videos weren’t removed; for a while, it seemed that TikTok prioritised views

PHOTO: GAYATRI MALHOTRA UNSPLASH.COM

(and thus profit) over the spread of violent internet misogyny. Eventually, Tate was banned from Facebook and Instagram - and rightly so.

But TikTok, Tate’s primary platform, is mostly popular with teenagers and young people - what kinds of messages are we sending to the social media generation, and where do we draw the line?

The issue here lies in the fact that we are so easily influenced by the media we consume.

These incel sites and misogynistic videos offer a place for any young male who can’t find his place in the world. But this breeds sexual offenders. It breeds a new kind of sexism.

It breeds hate. And for those reasons, social media sites should clamp down on this new wave of misogyny - to protect and save a future generation of not only women but men too. Because after all, the patriarchy doesn’t serve anyone well.

4

OPINION

THE

FAILURES

OF

2022 has been a sad year for humanity. We have witnessed failure after failure throughout the year as compassion and empathy have been wiped out by selfishness and hate.

BY TRINITY BARNATT ur government has displayed its the cost of living crisis rang loud and clear inherent selfishness and they feed this December when he asked a homeless the greedy upper class to which man if he worked in business, whilst they themselves do belong, while helping in a homeless shelter. they preach ‘difficult times’ and Overseas hate produced a devastating a collective struggle. Though we already ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. knew that those who lead our country, Putin, fueled by power-hungry motives, left govern themselves by different rules his humanity behind and brought relentless than the public. ‘Partygate’ told us all we violence upon Ukraine. Hate so strong, needed to know about the morals of our he defied the Geneva Convention and elected officials. With such transcendence targeted civilians. With over 100,000 dead above the general population, our political on both sides, Putin fails to learn the futility leaders can’t possibly comprehend the of war. A lesson that should have been struggles we face. learnt in 1914.

After 12 years of budget Over in the USA, the stench cuts and a mishandled of intolerance Trump’s “This pandemic, the NHS finally presidency left behind inhumane fell to its knees this year. lingered in the air and lack of Ambulances became it was American women female hearses and paramedics who choked on it. This became coroners as year America took a huge healthcare people died in their step back in the women’s has led to homes waiting for help rights movement by legally preventable restricting abortions. The that would never arrive. deaths.”

Hospital waiting rooms overturning of Roe v. Wade overflowed waiting for has seen 13 states banning overworked and overwhelmed staff without abortions completely and several other appropriate resources to help. states severely restricting them. Women Strikers begged for what they desperately across the country have even been denied needed only to be met with disregard. Rishi medically necessary abortions. This told them there simply was no money to inhumane lack of female healthcare has led fund their pay rises from the comfort of one to preventable deaths and will continue to of his 4, multi-million-pound homes. Our plague the country with more tragedy as Prime Minister’s tone-deaf attitude towards more states plot to ban abortion.

O

5

Female rights continue to be trampled on in Afghanistan too, as the Taliban control has driven female students out of education. Those who protested this ban, were faced with violence that no one can protect them from. Forced marriages, strict dress codes and maternal mortality are just a few of the tragedies the Taliban control brought upon Afghan women this year.

2022 brought on the World Cup, a traditionally positive event, which unites the county as they support their team. This year the celebrations were clouded by the injustices. Qatar, a country whose leaders are full of hate and intolerance for the LGBTQ+ community, was chosen to host the event.

FIFA sold out their morals to the highest bidder and the injustices in Qatar were ignored.

I wish there was a silver lining hidden in the humanity calamity of 2022 but justice has yet to be found for any of these issues - and it won't, not until the fundamental qualities of humanity are restored.

We need to accept the things we don't understand, we need to be compassionate to those around us, empathetic to one another and love, not hate. Most importantly we can’t tolerate those who incite hate.

We need to do better in 2023.

PHOTO: EMMA GULIANI PEXELS.COM

6

SPORT

McGregor Fires Negative Outlook On Cross-Over Boxing Former UFC Champion Conor McGregor recently fired out his negative thoughts on influencer boxing in a recent Twitter outburst.

BY DANIEL HUNT

C

onor McGregor, aged 35, hasn’t competed in the UFC Octagon since July 2021, where he suffered a broken leg injury in a trilogy fight with lightweight contender Dustin Poirier.

The MMA superstar has chosen to have more fights outside of the cage than he has inside it in recent years.

‘The Notorious’ is infamous for his now daily outbursts on Twitter, calling out

anyone and everyone you can imagine.

Most recently, the Irishman took a swing for popular Youtube star KSI. KSI is set to have a boxing fight with 2-0 MMA fighter, Dillon Danis, at Wembley Arena on January 14th.

Outside of his fight with KSI, Dillon is well known for being friends and training partners with Conor.

Recently, Dillon Danis appeared on the Ariel Helwani Show, where

7

Helwani was seemingly seen as disrespectful towards Danis in the eyes of fans during the interview.

A fan reached out on Twitter asking McGregor what his thoughts were on the interview, to which he replied, saying “I am not sure. Maybe because of the rartem (sic) situation?

I’m still rocking with Dillon.

All the way!”. McGregor was referring to the recent scandal between him and former friend and fighter

PHOTO: CNN

Artem Lobov, who recently sued McGregor over his Proper Twelve whiskey brand.

KSI then decided to reply to McGregor’s tweet, by threatening that he’s “about to do some serious damage to your boy”, hinting that he plans to knock Danis out in gruesome fashion come the new year.

Conor didn’t take the Youtuber’s threat lightly, claiming that the Brit is a “friendly little nerd”, adding that Dillon “should be back doing mma if he is doing this little nothing burger match with you. I couldn’t care less about this genre of boxing. I am sorry.

Have a good one.”

Well it seemed so, until he responded to a fan saying that he’d only fight as long as there were belts on the line. This then triggered a remark by Paul, who bit out at Conor saying “You fight for belts? Last time you fought for a belt was 4 years ago. Lost 3 of your

last 4 fights.” He then claimed in the same tweet that “I would knock you out in the squared circle with one hand tied behind my back. To be fair, in the cage I would need two hands.

“I would knock you out in the squared circle with one hand tied behind my back!”

- JAKE PAUL

But same result.”

With McGregor claiming to have zero interest in this new boxing genre, has he pretty much ruled out fighting Paul amongst other stars who have taken to this

8

new boxing scene?

McGregor is yet to have his say on Jake Paul’s most recent knockout claims, to go along with the latest comments made by KSI, who stated “When you see what I do to Danis January 14th, then you will care…”

With McGregor’s UFC contract set to expire in October, and with him previously showing interest in getting back into the ring after his stoppage loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr in their nicknamed ‘Money Fight’, in 2017, which saw both fighters pocket home over £100 million each, it’ll be interesting to see as to whether the former UFC Featherweight and Lightweight champion finally decides to take an interest in fighting in this new and popular crossover boxing scene.

With big marketing and money potential with this, it wouldn’t be the craziest thing that Conor’s ever done.

SPORT

WORLD CUP GLORY FOR ARGENTINA Argentina are crowned World Champions as they beat France in the 2022 edition of the FIFA World Cup. An incredible night of football, which saw Lionel Messi follow in the footsteps of the late Diego Maradona in winning the World Cup for Argentina.

BY DANIEL HUNT he game went into extra time after to not carrying the World Cup home to the game being level at 2-2 thanks to Argentina. But now, arguably, he has led his Mbappe scoring two goals for France team to a greater victory after 120 minutes within 97 seconds in the last 15 minutes of and a white-knuckle shoot-out against normal time after being down 2-0 for the a dogged challenge from the reigning first eighty minutes of the game. champions.

Argentina scored twice before halftime, The tournament in particular was a special with Lionel Messi scoring the opener of the one for the current PSG player. He became game from the penalty spot, and Angel Di the first player to score in the group stage Maria scoring minutes later in open play. and in every round of the knockout rounds Messi again went on to score from inside in a single edition of the World Cup. He the six-yard box during extra time, only for became the first player to be awarded the Mbappe to score his second penalty of the Golden Ball award, the award given to the game, becoming the best player of the first player to score tournament, winning a hat-trick in a World “Has Lionel Messi his first one in 2014, now officially Cup final. after Argentina lost The game went to secured himself to Germany in the penalties, which saw final in Brazil. He as the greatest has now scored a Argentina four to player of all two, with penalties staggering thirteen scored by Lionel goals in the World time?”

Messi, Paulo Dybala, Cup tournament, Leo Paredes and with seven of them Gonzalo Montiel for Argentina, with Kylian coming this winter. Only Germany’s Mbappe and Kolo Muani fighting back for Miroslav Klose and Brazil’s Ronaldo have France, but ultimately two stunning saves scored more goals in the World Cup.

by Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez secured a France’s Kylian Mbappe scored eight well-deserved victory. goals this tournament, doubling his record This victory was a perfect send-off for from the 2018 tournament. With twelve Messi, who played his last-ever World Cup goals scored across the two World Cups game for Argentina. It’s been 35 years since he’s played in, he is only one goal behind Argentina won their last World Cup, which equalling Messi’s goal tally, and currently is saw the late and great Diego Maradona tied with Brazil’s Pele. carry his country to world glory.

It was a bitter-sweet match for Mbappe, For years, Messi has been compared to who was awarded the Golden Boot award Maradona but has often fallen short due for becoming the top goal scorer in this

T

9

CELEBRATIONS! PICTURED: THE ARGENTINA TEAM AFTER BEATING FRANCE BY PENALTIES

year’s World Cup, only to see his team ultimately lose. Mbappe has already been hunting down records in the World Cup. He currently holds the record for the most goals scored in World Cup finals, with four. He became the sixth top goal scorer in single World Cup tournaments, with fellow Frenchman Just Fontaine holding the record with thirteen goals scored in the 1958 edition of the World Cup. However, at only 23 years of age, and already with one World Cup trophy under his belt, Mbappe is sure to bounce back, breaking all goal-scoring records and is

more than likely to win a second World Cup in his time, but for now, the world celebrates Argentina’s and Messi’s triumph.

Has Lionel Messi now officially secured himself as the greatest player of all time? Has he finally managed to surpass the legacy laid out by the great Diego Maradona before him? Whatever your thoughts and opinions on this, it is without a doubt a joy for all football fans to see the greatest player of this current generation finally lift the trophy he’s been craving for his entire career.

10

TOWERS 2 - ART BY OSCAR CUTMORE FEATURED ON INSIDETHEBOXUCP.COM

11

POLITICS

LIZ TRUSS RESIGNS:

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? russ had been the shortest-serving Prime Minister in British history, staying in her role for only 44 days after being elected by 57.4% of Conservative Party Members in a lengthy leadership contest.

Her announcement came after 15 Tory MPs publicly called for Ms Truss to step down.

She has promised that the next Conservative Party Leader will be elected within the next week, and she will remain in her place until her successor is chosen.

“This will ensure that we will remain on a path to deliver our fiscal plans,” the former Prime Minister explained.

Following Ms Truss’s resignation, Sir Kier Starmer has described the Tory Party as a “revolving door of chaos,” as he continues to demand a General Election to allow the nation to decide who leads their country forwards.

“We are ready to form a government, to stabilize the economy, and implement a real plan for growth,

T

In an unexpected statement outside No. 10, Liz Truss officially resigned as Prime Minister.

BY DANIEL LOGUE

for living standards, to help people through a costof-living crisis.”

However, in a recent YouGov poll showing the voting intentions of the public, Labour scored 51% of the vote with the Conservatives only receiving 23% of the votes, making the prospect of the government LIZ TRUSS RESIGNS calling an OUTSIDE DOWNING STREET early General PHOTO: THE INDEPENDENT Election unlikely.

Rishi Sunak the former Mayor of is a likely candidate after Peterborough has told me. securing 42.6% of the Jeremy Hunt, the votes in the Tory leadership Chancellor who replaced contest, as well as Leader of Kwasi Kwarteng in Truss’s the House Penny Mordaunt government, has ruled who secured 3rd place in himself out of standing for the summer voting, but Prime Minister. according to The Times, The next Tory Party Leader Boris Johnson may also try will be chosen by next to make his return as PM. Friday.

“Bring back Boris,”

12

POLITICS

“OUR PRIME MINISTER DOESN’T JUST LACK COMPETENCY BUT ALSO LOYALTY.”

PHOTO: cnbc

13

WHAT SORT OF

SICK JOKE

IS THIS?

Britain's political condition has surpassed laughable and entered a truly mortifying state last Friday when Liz Truss sacked Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng. He served a whopping 38 days in his position; I have leftovers that have survived longer than Kwasi Kwarteng.

BY TRINITY BARNATT

peaking of survival, Kwartengs ‘mini budget’ is being carved up faster than last year's Christmas Turkey. The Prime Minister against U-Turns seems to be circling the drain with a series of them.

The revolving door of No 10 has produced a series of humiliating failures whose deep pockets are full of empty promises and false ideals. In the wake of the ‘party gate’ I was certain the Conservatives couldn’t spit out a more incompentent Prime Minister than BoJo, but Liz Truss has taught me I most definitely can be wrong.

Just weeks ago, the country watched as the leadership of our country hung so desperately between a rock and a hard place: Rishi Sunak or Liz Truss. It is only now we see just how hard that rock is.

In a mere 38 days, Truss has spooked the market, brought about the collapse of the pound and lost the country’s faith. Now she sacks her Chancellor and ally for much of her political career, it's become obvious that our prime minister doesn't just lack competency but also loyalty.

In another outstanding decision on Truss’ behalf, Jeremy Hunt has been named the new Chancellor. A fitting position; the man who left the NHS on its deathbed after his tenure as Health Secretary, is now leading the economy to its slow and painful demise. At least we know he’s got experience in making things worse.

‘Grow the pie so everyone gets a bigger

S

slice’ Truss preaches but all she cares about is the size of her slice. Find me a single Tory member whose bank account resembles yours or mine. Our political leaders and their ‘trickle down economics’ are so out of touch with the people they represent and the public know it now more than ever.

55% of the country disapprove of the job Truss is doing, that is over half of the British population. Let’s just write the other 45% off as delusional and conclude that the country wants Truss gone. She can join Kwarteng on whatever deserted island he is taking residency on.

The pressure is piling on for Truss to redeem herself and I for one have no faith that she will. So are we facing another Prime Minister's resignation and if so what kind of fool will replace her? With Tories fighting against Tories and the rest of the world fighting against Tories, I think their wounds are running all too deep. Isn't it time to admit the Conservative party have failed, and walk away now with a shred of dignity intact.

The fact is simple: the Tories have become a joke and they have been for quite some time now.

I'm no longer laughing though, the joke is no longer funny, not when livelihoods are at stake. While we freeze in our homes with our empty cupboards, rest assured our country’s leaders will be safe, warm and fed.

14

POLITICS

RISHI SUNAK’S FIRST DAYS IN OFFICE

BY DANIEL LOGUE

Rishi Sunak, the third Conservative PM this year and the runner-up to Liz Truss in the leadership race over the summer, was the only name on the ballot paper only four days after his predecessor’s resignation after less than 50 days in office. he swift coronation of Mr. Sunak as PM came as a huge relief to the public who, last time, had to sit through a long and tedious leadership contest spanning from July 13th to September 5th, putting the financial security and quality of lives of millions of UK families into complete freefall – not to mention, an election that only a tiny percentage of the population had a say on, being around 160,000 Tory Party Members.

In Liz Truss’s final week in office, her Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, resigned after admitting to sending confidential government documents

T

using her private Gmail account which was a clear breach of the ministerial code.

However, when Sunak assembled his cabinet soon after stepping into Number 10, he immediately reappointed Suella to her previous role, a decision that has caused mass outcry every day since.

During a Prime Minister’s Questions, he defended her by saying “The Home Secretary made an error of judgement, but she recognized her mistake and took accountability for her actions.”

Many believe that other Prime Ministers would have re-evaluated their decision to appoint somebody who has shown such incompetence in the Home Office, thus threatening national security to an extent, but given how many U-turns Liz Truss’s government pulled off, Rishi Sunak wants to stand his ground to show commitment and strength in his actions.

Something else he

15

faced backlash on was his initial hesitancy These pledges were made “a few months to attend COP-27 in Egypt on November ago now and the context is somewhat 6th, explaining how there were more differently, obviously, economically,” a urgent matters domestically he had to deal spokesperson for the PM has explained. with, for example working on his budget Rishi Sunak has addressed the public on alongside Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor only a couple of occasions, but with the he kept from Truss’s government after he looming pressure over the UK’s failing reversed almost all of her tax cuts to steady asylum system, as well as the potential the markets. return to austerity Boris Johnson gave he and Jeremy an exclusive interview Hunt might have to “You saw to Sky News in which implement, with tax me, during he confirmed he rises clearly being himself was invited Covid, doing the Prime Minister’s by the Egyptians economic plan, he everything to attend COP-27, is sure to face a which some think premiership full of I could to was the reason Sunak tough and unpopular protect has now decided decisions. to go after all, as But given Sunak’s people, and to try to recover experience as businesses.” some popularity and Chancellor from the reputation in the start of the Covid-19 - RISHI SUNAK public eye. pandemic, it is widely This isn’t the only believed that he has U-turn Mr. Sunak may the most economic have to make in his premiership though, as expertise that the Conservative Party has to it has been reported that 20 of the pledges offer during this cost-of-living crisis. he made during the summer leadership “You saw me, during Covid, doing contest are now “under review,” for everything I could to protect people, and example a cut to the basic rate of income businesses, with schemes like Furlough. tax, and the infamous promise he made There are always limits, moreso now than to charge patients £10 for missing NHS ever. But I promise you this – I will bring appointments which proved unpopular that same compassion to the challenges we back in the leadership race anyway. face today.”

16

When loved ones are near Chelsea Adley

LOOK INTO MY CRYSTAL BALL MOLLY WOODTHORPE

Squirrel Away Callum Timbers

The world evolves so should I Kieran Ebbage

Colours in Water Humza Mumtaz

Focus Chelsea Adley

WHAT’S A LITTLE MADNESS? CHRIS BARKER

FROSTED FLOWERS JEN RAMM

GALLERY Inside The Box features amazing artwork and photography by students across all Inspired Education campuses - this is just a taste of what our website has to offer.

www.insidetheboxucp.com

SPARKLE & SHINE JEN RAMM

The Signal Man Dominic Carvalho

ARTS & CULTURE

MIDNIGHTS: AN ALBUM YOU’LL WANT TO STAY UP FOR After dabbling in the melancholy sounds of indie folk with Folklore and Evermore, Jen Ramm looks at how Taylor Swift has made a triumphant return to pop music with her tenth studio album, Midnights. eemed the lovechild of the singer’s successful albums Reputation and 1989 by fans, Midnights tells the story of thirteen sleepless nights throughout Swift’s life. Once again, Swift’s articulacy and wordsmith qualities shine through her lyricism in this record. Despite being a pop album at heart, Midnights still has that emotional depth Swift is renowned for.

Lavender Haze, the opening track, conceals a feminist message under a synthinfused dance beat. Since her personal tell-all Miss Americana documentary, Swift has become more vocal about her experiences as a woman in the music industry; the objectification, sexualisation and expectations she faces are explored in this song (“I'm damned if I do give a damn what people say/No deal/ The 1950s' sh*t they want from me/I just wanna stay in that lavender haze”), swept along by a current of an R&B-inspired rhythm. AntiHero is another anthem of relatability; after a sixteen-

D

year-long career, Swift’s fans still connect with her through her brutally honest songs like this one. Swift stated that “self-loathing” was the driving force for a majority of the songs on Midnights and under the guise of the bubblegum pop sound of Anti-Hero, she softly introduces us to her vulnerability as an artist. “It’s me, hi/I’m the problem,”

“Swift’s articulacy and wordsmith qualities shine.” sounds candid and selfdeprecating in a way that’s humorous, which could be why fans have already taken to TikTok lipsyncing to this song to humble themselves alongside Swift.

Swift teased each song title through short TikTok videos, and when she announced Snow On The Beach featuring Lana Del Rey, fans were overjoyed at the

19

news of the collaboration.

However, muted and understated, this song falls flat in comparison to the other anthems on this album, which has left many fans in a state of disappointment. Del Rey is known for her dreamy, liquid smooth vocals but merely features in the background of this song. It almost feels like a wasted opportunity, especially since both stars’ voices harmonize and blend beautifully together.

The song is followed by You’re On Her Own Kid, where we see Swift at her strongest: storytelling with that personal flair she’s celebrated for. Through lyrics such as “I gave my blood, sweat, and tears for this/I hosted parties and starved my body/Like I'd be saved by a perfect kiss”, Swift is reckoning with how her life has turned out, and through this uptempo ballad, we get an honest confession of what fame has done to her. Beautifully raw, this song is a gem, with the soft percussion beat building up to a crescendo

of remembrance, and self-reflection with a glimmer of hopefulness.

Reminiscent of her scorched-earth album Reputation, Vigilante Sh*t tells the story of a woman who’s on a mission to destroy her friend’s ex.

Sultry and dripping with mystery, this song uses a heavy synth sound to create revenge best served sweet.

Just like in Reputation, Swift reminds us to not get sad, but to get even.

But the album does have a gentle side. Sweet Nothings and Labyrinth are more mellow tracks, where Swift shows off her ethereal higher register to tell heartwarming stories of falling in love. Maroon, Bejeweled, Karma and Question…? all have their own special zing, supported by dazzling percussive pop sounds; Swift is still that girl when it comes to feel-good songs for any feeling or moment in life. In Mastermind, the closing track, Swift acknowledges that she and long-time partner Joe Alwyn were meant to be together, like a plan she hatched from when they first met: “I laid the groundwork, and then/ Just like clockwork/The dominoes cascaded in a line/What if I told you I'm a mastermind?/And now you're mine.” It’s also a nice little nod to her fans, who always exclaim that Swift drops hints and Easter eggs for upcoming albums, songs and projects.

Dark and cryptic but sweet in places, Midnights is the kind of record that leaves you wanting more; it’s possible that it is Swift’s most personal album yet. After breaking Spotify’s SingleDay Album stream record, it’s clear that Jack Antonoff and Swift are a match made in heaven in terms of producing pop perfection.

PHOTO: TAYLOR SWIFT

20

ARTS & CULTURE

BOOK SERIES TO BINGE READ The first series I loved that I read this past year is 'A Good Girls Guide to Murder' by Holly Jackson. This teen crime series is an amazing more lighthearted alternative to the usual thriller/ crime genre. I loved these books and found each book focused on a slightly different plot but ultimately relating back to the first story. I found these books very easy to read and read one after the other. The third book in the trilogy includes some big plot twists that made it a very enjoyable read. I'm not the biggest fan of teen crime books usually as I find them very predictable and a bit boring, but these books were far from it and I will definitely be reading some more of Holly Jackson's novels in the future.

The second book series that is up there with some of my all-time favourites is the ‘Legend’ trilogy by Marie Lu. This is a dystopian series and follows the two main characters Day and June through some different storylines. The first book follows them discovering and trying to rectify a pandemic that has emerged in their Republic. Reading this during the first COVID lockdown in 2020 probably wasn’t one of my smartest ideas, but I found this book really enjoyable and read it in a few days. As soon as I found out there were sequels I bought them straight away as I was desperate to follow June and Day further, and see where their stories took them. These books were really easy to get into, and having not read many dystopian books at all, these ones definitely made me want to branch out and read a lot more.

A book series that is not going to be a surprise to any book lovers is the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. If you’re looking for a long series to get into, that also doesn’t necessarily require a lot of mind power, this series is amazing.

It’s also great if you’re looking for an alternative to bingewatching the films (which I am also a fan of.) The fantasy fiction stories provide a lovely escape from reality, and a lighthearted series to get into if like me you use reading as an escape from everyday life. I also find myself reaching for these books when I need to get out of a reading slump.

21

BY BEX BARSBY

If you're anything like me the only thing better than my favourite book would be the author bringing out a sequel. We're all guilty of sitting through an entire Netflix series as soon as we find something good, and equally a book series that remains just as good the whole way through is a good find. I'm going to talk you through five of my favourite book series.

The next book duo that I will always recommend to people is ‘It Ends With Us’ by Colleen Hoover. I read the first book in 2021, and after finishing it in a day (and shedding a few tears at the end) I was so keen to find out what happens next in the character’s story.

Colleen Hoover is one of my favourite authors and her writing makes me fall in love with the characters.

This book was no exception and as soon as she announced there would be a sequel in 2022 I was so excited. The second book picks up where the first left off and continues to follow the characters throughout the aftermath of the ending of the first book. Before you pick up these books, bear in mind there are scenarios of domestic abuse throughout the story, however, there is also a beautiful romantic element that the characters experience, and who doesn’t love a romance? This love story with complications is one of my favourites that I have re-read a few times, and I love that it doesn’t necessarily end in the way that a lot of similar stories do.

The final book series that I recommend is ‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz’ by Heather Morris. Obviously, these books are not a lighthearted read, and the true, devastating stories that these books contain are emotional and heart-wrenching. But these peoples’ stories are told in such a beautiful way, and as a reader, I really sympathised with the characters and the trauma they went through in the holocaust. I have read many books surrounding the holocaust and particularly the concentration camp Auschwitz, and these books are by far my favourite. The author tells these stories in a heart-breaking way but highlights so many of the important issues that happened during this time.

22

ARTS & CULTURE

ARTIST ADVICE

JAYKYI, MUZZLE AND H:SHARP

j

ayKyi, or Jake Lee, is an 18-year-old student at the college, with 127.4k streams on Spotify and 37.5k listeners across 149 countries! Jakes start in music when he was first given a guitar by his mum, as he didn't have any hobbies at the time, but once he started, it stuck. Now, he aspires to be like San Holo one day, a digital artist whom he loves to listen to, saying his songs ‘bring out feel-good emotions and make you feel like you want to keep going.’

Recently, Jake has been experiencing writer's block, but generally finds inspiration from his feelings, things that are going on in his life, and what relates to people, and then writes songs from that. When he is performing, Mama Liz’s is his favourite venue, it's a smaller venue and this provides a level of comfort when on stage.

Whilst he was getting started, he found the best advice he was given was ‘go with your gut’ adding ‘if it feels right, that's all you can do about it. As for advice, he would pass on to others, ‘Have fun! If you do something for the sake of doing it, it won't work out so you need to be sure that you're doing or making things that you enjoy making.’

Jake is currently rebranding, but he said overall,

Music reporter Molly Woodthorpe went to the Voodoo Lounge to attend a gig put on by Stamford College, to showcase their incredibly talented music students. She caught up with h:sharp, Niall Brown and JayKyi to hear their advice for young musicians, in a similar position to themselves about getting started on their journey to success.

his next step is wherever music takes him. To see where he goes next, he can be found on Instagram at @JayKyi_.

18-year-old Niall Brown, the guitarist and singer for Muzzle did amateur acting as a teen which was where he got his start in music, following this he began playing the guitar and it bloomed into a passion for music as he improved over time, and then he chose to do the music course he is currently studying at Stamford College thinking it would be an easy course but has instead found that “ it's the most interesting thing I’ve ever done” and that “it's rewarding and exciting and I will never go back to theatre because it's boring”.

Previously a member of some other bands, so he has some advice for any other young musicians wanting to start a band; the most important factor of a band is likemindedness, as if members of a band have opposing views, there will be friction. He also said when you're in a band, it isn't selfish to know what you want to do, and do that- potentially even being a bit stubborn in this. Another thing that he has found whilst performing, is the importance of the atmosphere of a venue. Because of this, he has found the Voodoo Lounge at Mama

23

PHOTOS BY: MOLLY WOODTHORPE

Liz’s, in Stamford and also the Soundhouse in Leicester.

As far as finding aspirations goes, Niall said he would hope to one day be like David Bowie, even going as far as to say if he could only ever listen to one song ever again, it would be Bowie's, Life on Mars. He also has aspirations for the next few years; aiming to complete his course and head off to university, moving on to later be a guitar tech as he loves to fix guitars.

However, still stands by the fact that he would one day love to tour the world with a band, as he does still love to perform.

Shifting from aspirations to inspirations, when writing a song he has to be in the mood to do it, finding inspiration in random words. He even has notepads of random words that he takes as inspiration but has only written a handful of songs from them that he deems good enough to record, but this does not stop Niall, or Muzzle from performing, something to keep in mind if you find yourself in the same situation.

H:sharp is a group made up of three students from the college, Cameron Scott, 18, and 17-year-olds Bryn

Eccleston and John BoothAllcock. They describe their music as evolving, versatile and fresh, and describing their band as family, dumb and rockstars. The way they feel about their music can’t be disputed when listening to the band. If you do listen to their music, hands4guns was mutually agreed as the favourite of their own music, with an unreleased one called crack being a close second.

One song that has got a bit of a split reaction from the band is slow:motion, with John saying ‘The idea and the concept of it I really like, but not so much the execution of it bc it turns into a country/indie who knows what. It could be really good remade, but using the same story arc.’ Bryn however, disagreed and said it is one of his favourites because ‘it could have turned really shit but it turned out really good.’

Turning to songwriting as a whole, the band takes a lot of inspiration from heartbreak, with John adding ‘Everyone likes relatability and heartbreak is one of those things that is so relatable, which is probably why emo is such a big genre, and a bit of metal as well.

24

Because no one likes being happy. It's boring.’ The band has also said the new album is very strongly based on past relationships but hasn't said when it will be coming out, so follow them @hsharpband on Instagram to keep updated when it is released. You will also see their plans to release some h:sharp merch.

The Met Lounge (Peterborough), Voodoo Lounge (Stamford), and 2Funky Music Cafe (Leicester) are the venues they find best to perform at, but have given the advice to young musicians to just take every experience that comes their way, and dismiss nothing- there are so many ways to release music too, that that is always an avenue to pursue.

“you need to be sure that you’re doing or making things that you enjoy making.”

- JayKyi (Jake Lee)

LIFESTYLE

The Best of Peterborough's Nightlife Nights out you don’t want to miss around Peterborough. Assignments can be tough and stress can pile on, so it’s important to have some fun! Take your friends, take your family - just go blow off steam at some exciting places around Peterborough.

Reporter Annie Fowler finds out the newest and most popular places.

bijou

escape room

If you’re looking for somewhere to unwind at the end of a week or after the assignments get handed in the Bijou could be the place for you.

Situated in the city centre of Peterborough it is within walking distance of bus and train stations.

This small establishment is a new addition to the city adding a flavour of nightlife it definitely needed with its basement lounge, upstairs hideaway, and outside area. Bijou offers a great selection of drinks from cocktails to shots and mocktails to soft drinks.

We spoke to some of the first customers since Bijou opened. Emma Stone said, “I liked that Bijou had a very cozy vibe to it, for example, it felt like a fun night out but it was also very chilled out too. Their service was really good as well and it didn’t take too long for drinks to come. However, as a student I thought a few of their drinks were quite expensive, it would have been much better if it was more affordable.”

Molly Woodthorpe said, “the place itself was nice, I liked how outside there were heated seating areas, as it was lovely and quiet out there. The drinks were a bit overpriced in my opinion, however, the shots were reasonable and were actually quite nice as well. Overall I would definitely recommend it, but not as a regular place, simply because of the cost.”

If this atmosphere isn’t to your taste this little stylish bar turns into a coffee and lite bites cafe by day. So if the nightlife isn’t your thing you can still enjoy your breakfast and lunch at this new spot in town.

If brain teasers and clues are your thing or you like thrill and adventure then Escape Peterborough is for you. Teams of 2-6 will need to be observant, problem solvers, and work together before the time runs out. If you have a bigger group there are challenges in the prestige vault which hosts up to 36 people so there’s no need to worry about splitting up groups.

Escape rooms cost £22 per person, which could be costly however this gives you an ‘escape’ from reality and offers 5 themes to choose from including: Taken, witchcraft and wizardry, and escape the seven seas.

Escape Peterborough is situated on Church walk, just off Broadway which is a 10-minute walk to the city center, so after you’re done escaping you can walk into town and grab a bite to eat.

We got in touch with some fans of Escape Peterborough and they told us why they loved it.

Chris Steele said, “it was well organised and the staff are friendly and welcoming. It was the right blend of hints to keep you progressing while retaining all the satisfying moments. The one big letdown was a piece of technology at the end had broken so it was impossible to complete the room.”

Laiton Warren said, “despite the technical issues we experienced it was a fun afternoon/evening and very engaging. All my mates loved it and will definitely go back.

Studying demands critical thinking, especially for those lengthier assignments, enhance that skill and take on an escape room. It’s the perfect

25

image: bijou

glo golf way to take your mind off studying and keep that brain ticking.

Glo Golf mixes the fun of childhood mini golf, glow-in-the-dark and adult drinks for a fun night out. They’ve combined the perfect combo of a great course for all ages, a fully licensed bar, and hot food for everyone to enjoy!

This glowing place gives an overall sense of fun games, a crazy atmosphere, friendly staff, amazing food, and an all-around great night out for all ages, families, and groups.

If you’ve been putting it off, now is the time to check out Glo Golf. We found some glo golf fanatics to tell us everything.

Connor O’Leary described it as “a fun little course and like most mini golf it’s really competitive, the balls are brightly coloured so you won’t lose them and they have a wacky list of cocktails that are both concerning and curious.”

They have a range of courses and obstacles including a life-size spaceman, perfect for the selfie opportunity.

Glo golf serves a range of food from hot dogs to burgers and even offers ‘eat and play’ experiences from £11.

Leanne Stannard said she “had a stellar night tonight at Glo Golf Peterborough! the artwork is stunning and perfect for space fans like myself lots of fun! great challenging crazy golf course with friendly staff too.”

charters Charters is an unusual bar under Town Bridge in Peterborough, yes, under the bridge because Charters is a huge Barge! It has been banked and turned into the UK’s largest floating realale emporium, with an extended beer garden spreading over the river bank just outside which

is the largest beer garden in Peterborough.

As well as feeling like a Pirates of the Caribbean movie, you can top your night off by taking your furry friends with you! Let’s see what some locals thought.

Emma Mercer said “the outdoor space they have developed is brilliant in the warmer weather and a great space for food festivals and so on. The variety of live acts is great and there’s always something on. Great to go and see someone you know, you like and also a brilliant way to find out about bands and new artists.” However, “ the toilet situation since the expansion outside needs a bit of a look, especially the ladies…4 cubicles in the height of summer with a packed out beer garden is not enough!”

Tracy Stratton said I really like the variety of different acts from DJs to live bands and the occasional more well-known artists. I think the variety has really improved over the last couple years, with acts like Don Letts, but also still the opportunity for local bands and DJs to play.

The food is also great with the addition of the pizza as well as the Thai menu. The toilet facilities! With the extended beer garden, and therefore additional people, four ladies’ toilets isn’t enough! I have had to leave before because they were too long.”

Nick Meadows said charters have “a great selection of cask/keg/craft beer, nice atmosphere, and friendly staff. Charters is highly respected locally for their quality choice of live bands and artists. There are a few fan-favourite bands who return regularly but also a wide variety of musical genres from acts big and small from all over the country.

Due to the dimensions of the boat, the toilets are very cramped and overcrowded at peak times, however, they are always kept clean so it’s not the biggest problem in the world.”

Four great places to go and blow off steam and have a break from those assignments. Give them a try, have a fun night out!

find out more at: • bijoupeterborough.co.uk • escape-peterborough.co.uk • glogolf.co.uk • charters-bar.com 26

LIFESTYLE

Building Blocks, Essays and Bedtime Stories Being a young mum feels like falling through the cracks, camouflaged behind toothless smiles and big blue eyes.

It’s wanting to give your degree your all but only having a fraction of yourself to give because the rest is at home stacking blocks and knocking them down.

BY TRINITY BARNATT t is being built up by immense joy and pride to be completely shattered by a sleepless night or defeated by tears you simply don’t understand.

It’s saying “sorry, I wish I could” and hearing “I know your circumstances are different”.

Desperately trying to better yourself for the sake of your child but feeling as selfish in doing so. Mum guilt creeping up on you in the middle of a lecture. Assignments begging for attention that you can't bring yourself to give during wake windows.

So it's exhausting days followed by excruciating evenings packed with work.

It is wanting to be good enough but impossible to be good enough for everyone.

Being a student mum is dressing a little smarter than most others because University is the only place I'm free from unwashed hair and hoodies covered in food, snot and spit up. It’s coming out of the shadow of your child.

It’s feeling alive as you engage your mind beyond the words of ‘The

I

Wheels on the Bus’. It’s eating with both hands but missing the little fingers grasping for a taste.

University days mean no chores to do, no bottles to make and no nappies to change.

That's what being a student is.

Coming home to all those tasks after a long day of learning, to everything you left behind.

It’s gorgeous smiles that scream “I missed you mummy!” and cuddles to show he means it. It’s childrens shows on TV while I scramble together dinner for it to be thrown on the floor.

It’s bathtime and bedtime with inevitable evening tears. It's a bedtime story and a kiss goodnight.

It’s finally sitting down and then remembering the bags need to be packed for tomorrow.

It's one last kiss goodnight and lingering in the doorway because he’s so peaceful when he's asleep. It’s watching him sleep for a little longer, reminding myself why I do it.

That’s what being a student mum is.

27

“It’s gorgeous smiles that scream ‘I missed you mummy!’ and cuddles to show he means it.”

28

LIFESTYLE

by emma stone

Student Life

Managing Your Workload and Life Being a student at university on top of working full time isn’t always easy. With deadlines creeping up and having all assignments thrown at you at once to complete in a three-month gap can seem a little overwhelming at first, however on the positive side of things it gives you the upper hand to start planning. ne of my favourite tips to give people in the same situation as me is to plan ahead.

I usually have a Saturday off so I like to spend my mornings sitting down and getting some work done. I have always found it easier to get work done in the morning rather than in the evening as once it's done, it's done and you have the rest of your day to enjoy! It’s always a good idea to plan how long you’d like to study for and make time for small breaks in between. I do consider myself lucky that I don’t need to work 35 hours a week but that I choose to.

If you are someone reading this thinking you need the money and hours, that’s also okay because this tip works for you too! Choosing set days when to get work done may help you get into a regular routine, so yes it may be hard at first but it

O

will hopefully really help.

I will usually do some uni work during the week too, to help me keep up with the workload and I stick to those days however if you find yourself too tired and overworked, it’s okay to take a break!

I am also someone who has a very bad habit of getting easily distracted at home, and I'm sure I'm not the only one, right? But in saying this, I have found that listening to music and finding a quiet space to work in helps me get into the right mindset to get a lot done. If you haven’t got a quiet space to work in at home, you could potentially go to a coffee shop or a library that may be local.

Plus, at least this way you won’t have any distractions close by.

My final tip to anyone who struggles with motivating themselves to get work done is why not study with a friend or create a study

29

group? You could even do this through a zoom call or online! This will ensure that you are all there for the same reason and you can help motivate each other. I have done this in the past and have found during the small breaks I've taken in between, it’s helped give my head a rest for a quick 10 minutes and I've gone back to work with fresh ideas.

Now that we have spoken about some motivating tips to help manage workload, my most important tip is if you are struggling to maintain your workload and stay motivated, you can always talk to our student officer/support or never worry about talking to a parent/guardian or a friend I can’t promise it will help clear your mind, but it may help you lift a weight off your shoulder that’s been holding you back from producing some great work!

Finally, always remember it’s okay to take a break.

We’re only human at the end of the day, we all need a break sometimes.

Top Tip: why not study with a friend or create a study group? You could even do this through a zoom call or online!

30

coming soon!

PODCASTS UNTRAINED PARENTS PODCASt Join us as we navigate the world of parenting without any prior training. We are the podcast for parents winging it. Don’t have a clue? Neither do we! Listen in on the chaos.

RADIO

inside the box radio Inside The Box is planning on creating its own radio show. We plan on interviewing students about the exciting projects they are doing to put the voice of our generation out there.

MUSIC FEATURING MUSICIANS Inside The Box will be featuring emerging musicians - this is a glimpse of the talent soon to be put into the spotlight on our page.

FIND THE ARTISTS ON INSTAGRAM AND CHECK THEIR MUSIC OUT...

JAYKYI @jaykyi_

JESSICA STANNARD

@_jessicastannard_ music

ANGEL’S GROVE

H:SHARP

NIALL BROWN

THOMAS DUNLEAVY

@angelsgroveofficial

@niall_brown_

30

@HSHARPBAND

@thomasdontleaveme

STUDENT PUBLICATION ASSOCIATION

BEST NEWCOMERS! Inside The Box won best newcomer for the Midlands Student Publication Awards!

We have applied for a membership in the Student Publication Association, the UK & Ireland’s largest student media association. The Student Publication Association is made up of more than 175 publications and is free to join for student journalists!

PICTURED LEFT TO RIGHT: TRINITY, DANIEL L, ANNIE, JEN, AND MOLLY AT THE STUDENT GATEWAY FILM FESTIVAL, 2022 32

GET

involved

Inside The Box is a hub of creativity for all students at University Centre Peterborough, Peterborough College and Stamford College. We accept anything and everything from students at these campuses, including written features, interviews and news articles, as well as video and photography.

SOCIAL MEDIA Follow our Instagram page for updates on latest published articles, pitch calls for writing inspiration, and all things creative and collaborative. @inside_the_box_ucp

@insidetheboxucp

@inside_the_box_blog

GET IN TOUCH You can get in touch on social media, or email our editor Molly about submissions or anything related to Inside The Box!

@P110118535@student. peterborough.ac.uk

WHY CHOOSE

UCP?

University Centre Peterborough currently has around 700 students on over 30 different degree level programmes.

The ultra modern and contemporary £10 million University Centre located on Peterborough Regional College grounds in a joint venture with Anglia Ruskin University has a specially designed 92 seat lecture theatre, a range of multi-purpose/size seminar and teaching rooms, state-of-the-art computer rooms, a cafe and several social areas. In addition those on the Multimedia Journalism and Media degrees have access to the state of the art Media and Journalism Satellite Centre and students on the Sports Coaching degree have access to a state of the art gym facility and testing lab.

EXPERT TUITION & SUPPORT At University Centre Peterborough you will learn from approachable and supportive lecturers, highly qualified and experienced in their fields, who are dedicated to helping you achieve your ambitions.

Small class sizes allow the lecturers to get to know you personally and our students will be the first to agree that your knowledge and opinions are valued. Student Ambassadors, the Student Council, and a Student Experience Officer ensure that we respond to your needs and involve you in the decision making process.

OPEN EVENTS: • •

4TH MARCH 2023 4TH JULY 2023

INFORMATION AND PHOTOS FROM UCP.AC.UK

THE MAGAZINE BY STUDENTS, FOR STUDENTS

FOR MORE, VISIT INSIDETHEBOXUCP.COM