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SPORT CAPTION COMPETITION Recently, Brunel was treated to a visit from the Mayor of London and conservative candidate for the Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat. Sadly, Boris hasn’t yet responded to our request for an interview but we’re hoping that if we come up with a witty caption for this photo opp he’ll be dazzled by the brilliance of Brunel students and come bounding over for an chat in no time. So, Brunelians, what’s the caption? Tweet your answers to @le_nurbonline
RETURN OF LE CROSSWORD
LE NURB RECOMMENDS Ed. James Alder Kirsty Capes – Editor-in-chief: ‘I saw Modern Baseball live in Kingston this month and they are a fantastic live band. I’ve been a longtime fan and their new album, You’re Gonna Miss It All possibly trumps the debut. Standard self-loathing emo music… I’ve been watching Lost, I’m accidentally ten years late to this party. I’ve only watched two episodes so far and I’m enjoying the dated Americanity of the whole thing. J. M. Coatzee’s Summertime is a crazy meta biography of himself told through the eyes of the people closest to him. Can’t quite tell if it’s fiction or truth. Lots of weird sex.’
is surrounded by the Maze, which is guarded by the Grievers. Based off the first book in the young adult series of the same name by James Dashner, it follows Thomas (Dylan O’Brien, best known for “Teen Wolf”) and the other boys, including Newt (Thomas BrodieSangster) and Gally (Will Poulter) as they try to escape the Maze. It seems a bit strange when a girl called Teresa appears and the Grievers start attacking. Sit down and enjoy, you’re in for an exciting ride.’
Katherine Rose – Deputy Editor:
ACROSS
DOWN
1 Get One, Wear One, Fly.
1 The paper provides a release of built up emotional tension for our editors. It is _______.
3 It’s blue and a type of bird, honest. 4 It’s a bit nippy now, isn’t it? 5 WOW, these guys are good healers. Mine is Level 90. 8 To be stuck or tied to one place, nautical term, yo ho m’hearties 11. Remember to do this to your internet history. Ctrl+Alt+____? 12 Always remember to give one to your Locos bar staff. 13 The student attitude towards their coursework 17 NomNomNom past tense 18 To make new. An act of gentrification, better make sure your curtains match the carpet. 19. A formal group or assembly of witches.
2. The Sound of rain on a rooftop, or the tiny pixie feet of a 4ft editor-inchief. 5 A uni professor, but only if you’re a poshboy. Coincidentally, name for a mafia boss. 6 The Butteriest of beans 7 Q. How long can you wait before starting your coursework? A: ________. 9 To have the most intense, compulsive interest in something. Similar to geek. 10 Exemption from control by others, be it Student Unions or Countries. Freeeeeeeedom! 14 Term for two breeds of large Evergreens in the West Indies. Podcarpus Coriaceus. 15 To compete eagerly for superiority 17 Two letter preposition
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‘Can’t get enough of bad-a** Olivia Pope and her team of fixers on Scandal, gripping stuff… I’ve been listening to Ed Sheeran’s new album; he’s met his raised expectations from his debut by sticking with his roots and producing catchy new songs… I keep watching the film Jarhead, I know it came out nearly 10 years ago, but Jake Gyllenhaal is just plain sexy.’ Jasmin Nahar – Culture’s Online Editor: ‘Gotham has finally hit our screens and I’m glued to it already, and absolutely enamoured by Robin Lord Taylor’s amazing turn as Oswald Cobblepot, aka The Penguin. It’s a must-watch for Batman fans, especially those keen on the graphic novels... Avenged Sevenfold recently released their app Hail to the King: Deathbat, a game that’s both fun to play and filled with enough references to the band to satisfy the most diehard of fans… I’ve been listening to The Weird and Wonderful Marmozets, the debut album by Marmozets, they’re everything British rock needs right now.’
Sophie Bredbere – Online Assistant: ‘Since it is Halloween and the new series (series 5, would you believe) has started, I feel like it’s totally acceptable to recommend AMC’s The Walking Dead. Follow Sherriff Rick Grimes and his ragtag group of survivors across zombie-torn Georgia, where no one actually calls them ‘zombies’. It’s one of those shows where you don’t watch it because it’s critically successful – you watch it for the sheer entertainment of the numerous ways you can kill zombies, sorry, walkers. The first in a new franchise for the “Hunger Games” crowd, “The Maze Runner” is a dystopian film where a group of boys are trapped in the Glade, which
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Eleanor Woolcott – Sport SubEditor: ‘The Book Thief is a pretty intense book, as you’d expect by something narrated by Death – but somehow Zusack manages to make it somewhat uplifting so you’ll definitely not regret spending a couple of hours working through it… And if you like the idea of badly animated pigs firing bazookas (and mildly creepy comments) at each other, then Hogs of War is the PS1 game for you (because everyone knows that PS1 is the coolest console). Plus you’ll have Liberty Bell March stuck in your head for weeks, and who wouldn’t want that?!’
James Alder - Culture Chief SubEditor: ‘I’ve just finished Weirdo by Cathi Unsworth. It follows two stories in two different timelines. One is in 1983 following the events to a gruesome murder, and the other 20 years after with a private investigator reinvestigating the case. It’s full of twists and surprises, keeping you guessing to the final page. A gripping read… For some reason I’ve found myself using Buffy: The Vampire Slayer on Netflix as a procrastination tool. The 90’s humour mixed with the surprisingly gory horror is a great way to put off doing anything productive… I’ve started collecting these little Pop! Game of Thrones bobble heads from the Forbidden Planet store. It’s the little details on them that have got me, it’s just a shame that it’s taking all my money.’
Arthe Kandeepan – News Chief Sub-Editor: ‘Want to bring back that feeling of summer? Be sure to check out some music by Steve Appleton, a British born singer and song-writer. His amazing vocals, lyrics and musical abilities encapsulate the warmth and happiness of summer times. I recommend Dirty Funk, Diamonds and Inner City Lover (to name a few)… Interested in trying out a new dance style? Be sure to check out the Carolina Shag or Shag Dancing. To be brief, it looks like a jazzed up version of line dancing and is pretty impressive when done well… I’ve been watching Nowhere Boys, a teenage Australian drama on CBBC. Before you make any assumptions about its teenage target audience, I can confidently say that it is attractive to all! Get ready to experience a parallel universe, magic, mystery, bromance and humour, its action packed and fast paced. The acting is credible too, so sit back, relax and allow it to work its magic!’
Victoria Sanusi – Culture Editor: ‘I was anticipating Jessie Ware’s new record Tough Love since summer. Even though I know my retail job will rinse it out to the max. Every record flows immaculately, with my favourite Kind Of... Sometimes... Maybe. Her ‘Sade’ inspired -esque still remains present which makes me love this album even more. As third year downs on me, watching TV is no longer a time pass but when I get time the first show I immediately switch on is Made in Chelsea. Yes! I am aware that this show is awful and the long awkward pauses make me cringe repeatedly. But I can’t help the obsession I have with cool kids of South West London, although I know if I were in their Prada shoes I’d spend my money better… Proudlocks glasses? Really? Other music finds are Luke Sital Singh and Mali Music.’
Jasmine Brathwaite – Culture Sub-Editor: ‘I think Scandal is amazing! It’s about a woman called Olivia Pope who saves the reputations of the rich and famous, along with having an affair with the President. Kerry Washington and Tony Goldwyn give very believable performances. People who like 24 or Grey’s Anatomy would appreciate the twists and turns of Scandal. For anyone who’s into shows a bit closer to home, you can’t go wrong with Downtown Abbey on ITV. Even though it is set so long ago the characters are so relatable. Love it!’
SPORT PHOTO CREDIT: Pip Abbey
BORN TO BE A GREAT ATHLETE: SIR STEVE REDGRAVE Annalisa Galeone
The National Sports Roadshow (NSR) was held at Brunel University London on the 7th October 2014. This event provides a platform for employers, trainers, students and professionals to meet and interact with each other. It involved presentations and practical demos which the audience could either watch or participate in. The event was supported by numerous well-known sporting organisations in a variety of sports; meaning participants ages 16-24, who had a passion for sport, were offered career advice and opportunities by leading professionals in the sport and exercise industry. The NSR was divided in three zones: Careers, which highlighted the diversity of careers available within the sport and the fitness industry; sports, offering delegates an opportunity to observe and participate in taster sessions in a diverse range of sport and leisure activities; and Fitness, which provided guidance on how you can achieve your career and personal fitness goal. The event hosted a special guest, Sir Steve Redgrave. Redgrave is a British Rower who won five consecutive Olympic gold medals from 1984 – 2000; the first British athlete to achieve such a feat. Recently, Sir Redgrave helped London to win the bid to host the Olympics in 2012 and he is committed to ensuring the event provides a lasting legacy for UK sport in the future. We had the great honour to interview Sir Steve Redgrave at this event, who
gave the following advice to aspiring athletes looking to commit their lives to sport; “Enjoy what you’re doing. If you enjoy what you’re doing you will get lots more out of it.” Le Nurb: How was your passion for rowing born? Sir Steve Redgrave: “I always enjoyed sports. Academia was not my strength, but I was quite good at sports. When I went to secondary school the head of the English Department had two passions: one was rugby and the other one was rowing. At the rowing school he started a School Boat Club. He happened to be the Captain of Marlow Rowing Club as well, so that helped. I was one of the people he asked to give it a go. And I thought: “’Going out of school during school time?’ that sounded great. It was a no brainer. Within the first two or three weeks I really enjoyed it and carried on. So that’s how I started”. LN: You scored an amazing collection of top level victories: •5 gold medals in five consecutive Olympic Games between 1984 and 2000, •9 gold medals at the World Championships, •3 gold medals at the Commonwealth Games, further many others. Which one was the most thrilling victory you ever had in your life? SR: “Winning the Commonwealth Games in a single gave me a lot of pleasure. The Commonwealth Games are something special. This year was the Commonwealth year back in Scotland [Glasgow 2014] which is where I won my three gold medals [Edinburgh 1986] I was up there and I really enjoyed the event. Moreover, I really enjoyed Sydney 2000 Olympic Games: there was the top of the British team. That was
fourteen years ago. I’m still being honoured and respected for what I did during my rowing career”. LN: You have never given up with your dreams. You succeeded in becoming a great athlete despite of diabetes. What is your secret? What suggestions could you give to young athletes who wish to commit their lives to sport? SR: “I don’t think there are any secrets in some way. I had a passion and I think that the human race likes doing things they’re good at and they avoid things they’re not good at. That’s just instinct. I suppose the advice would be to enjoy what you’re doing. If you enjoy what you’re doing you will get lots more out of it. That’s true for any walk of life, not just sports. “When I was 16-17 years old, people were telling me that I could be a world champion. That greatly motivated me, but then race after race, year after year I wasn’t quite making it. When I went to the Royal Championships in ‘83 I did very badly; I was eliminated after failing to make the top twelve when the two years before that I was eighth and sixth respectively. Although it was tough, that was probably the best thing that ever happened to me because it led me to change my whole attitude. I looked to different sports; how they trained and prepared, how they got tested and realized that I was only doing half of it. I then put a lot more elements in. I think the more you put in, the more you get out of it. So if there is a secret, it would be do as much of whatever you’re doing as you can, have as much fun doing it as you can and that will improve your performance.” LN: At the London 2012 Olympics you carried the Olympic torch along the River Thames as it travelled from
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Oxford to Reading. Please, tell us about this experience. SR: “Actually, I carried the torch twice. Once in Henley, where I did the majority of my training, which was a great honour. Henley is where the 1908 and 1948 Olympics were hosted, so for London 2012 Olympics a team of young rowers was put up together to carry the torch. We started at the River & Rowing Museum and rowed past the finishing line of the 1908 and 1948 Olympics’. The gas in the torch lasts about 15-20 minutes and it took much longer than that so we had to have three torches. At one stage I was holding two torches at the same time! I’d really love to see a picture of that. “I was also the last Olympian to bring the torch into the stadium. I passed the torch to a group of young athletes who each had the opportunity to carry the torch, representing the future of the games. That was a great occasion: not many people get the chance to hold the torch”. LN: You established the Steve Redgrave Fund in 2001. Could you please tell us about this charity initiative? SR: “I was involved in charity when I was still competing. Then when I retired I felt I wanted to make an impact financially for children’s causes. I thought: ‘I’ve got all this recognition for what I’ve done in sports why not trying of making the most of that?’ I set myself to raise 5 million GBP for children’s causes within five years. Most of this money went to working closely with small communities and larger charities. We gave money to things like building a hoist to get disabled people in and out from a swimming pool, and buying a boat for a blind school in the Liverpool area which used to do rowing as an
activity. We have supported hundreds of different projects all around the country in many different areas”. LN: In January 2014 you took part in the TV reality show “The Jump” on Channel 4. Why did you decide to join this TV show, and how would you judge this experience? SR: “I’ve been asked to do many reality TV programs and I refused every time. I thought; ‘I don’t do reality TV’ but I love winter sports and when the invitation came across my desk I decided I did actually want to do this one. January is a very quiet month for me anyway, so I did some training in December-January and the competition was at the end of January. I got a chance to do things I never done before and I didn’t see it as a TV program. I saw it as an excuse to be out in Innsbruck, Austria for six weeks improving my own ski skills. I thought: ‘They’re going to pay me as well. So, pay me to go skiing? What’s wrong with that?’ That’s the reason I decided to join to “The Jump”. During the program I was one of a number of people who got injured, though I carried on as long as I could. I really enjoyed it and if I was given a chance to do it again I would.” LN: Tell us something about your future projects. SR: “In December I’ll become chairman of Henley Royal Regatta. It is a volunteer role. It takes up a lot of time, but I’m really looking forward to taking on an event that has 175 years of history. Henley Royal Regatta is very successful even without sponsorships and big media coverage. Each chairman is originally voted in for eight years, but the last one’s reign was 22 years; so if I don’t mess it up I could be in the role for quite a few years.”