Student Voice | December 2018

n o i t i d e s Christma It has been somewhat hectic for students who’ve been busy preparing for their mock exams before the Christmas holidays.

Despite this, we’ve had some brilliant articles submitted by students on very interesting issues, allowing for various perspectives and opinions to be heard throughout this festive season.

So, now the mocks are over, kick back. Relax.

Enjoy reading these articles and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Merry Christmas!

Editors: Morgan Bishop Nathan Hodges Ethan Protheroe

December 2018

FASHION, CONSUMERISM AND SUSTAINABILITY: THE INCONSISTENT TRIAD?

by Sophie Campbell

Within philosophy, the idea of three concepts being unable to co-exist is aptly named ‘The Inconsistent Triad’.

During the Christmas season, when sales increase to their peak for most aspects of commerce, the question of whether fashion, our current levels of consumerism and the need for sustainability can co-exist is especially pertinent. So are fashion, consumerism and sustainability incompatible? If so, which one will have to be removed from the triad?

Firstly, fashion; the global industry is now estimated to be worth three trillion dollars and it is expected to grow - despite the current state of the UK high street. Fashion in and of itself is not harmful. However, it has now become inextricably linked with the consumerism, as pushed by fast fashion brands such as H&M, Primark, Topshop - well, almost every well-known fashion brand.

Now, there are new launches of collections almost daily - meaning clothes are only fashionable for an exponentially shorter period.

This, of course, benefits the brand’s profits whilst harming almost every Credit:

other aspect - environmental or social. However, this was not always the case. Even 30 years ago in the 1980s, buying new clothing every month would have been seen as unusual - today’s teenagers spend 20% of their income on clothing and every teen has a ‘hypebeast’ friend who hunts down Supreme and Palace clothing costing hundreds of pounds. But can the fashion industry return to ‘slow fashion’, or an even better question, can consumers repress their desire for “new clothes, and plenty of them” as Hattie Crisell of The Telegraph put it?

Consumerism has eclipsed fashion in influence; all products have become affected by it. The epitome of consumerism is ‘planned obsolescence’ wherein a company designs a product to have an artificially short life-span - the idea behind this being, if you purchase an iPhone and it lasts for decades, how are Apple supposed to continue making sales?

However, the global economy has thrived on an increased

consumer’s purchasing power for decades. Whilst there are small movements to put an end to consumption on such a huge scale (it is estimated that £140 million pounds worth of clothes is put into landfill every year), will fashion houses ever promote slow fashion and simply less buying when it will cost them profit? The answer is probably no.

This all leads to sustainability; closing the loop on recycling and bringing everyone into the loop of the true cost of fashion is currently the best strategy as, at the current rate of consumption, whilst avoiding ruining the planet, it is clearly impossible for fashion and consumerism to exist simultaneously in their current forms. There needs to be a fundamental movement towards more sustainable consumption and a (re-)separation of fashion and consumerism to create a healthier approach. This would mean purchasing fewer products. Yes, these products would be more expensive, but higher quality.

Ultimately, consumerism is the most obvious removal from the triad; however, consumerism is also a driver of the (current) economy, holding huge financial importance.

Unfortunately, today financial significance means political power.

Fashion can only co-exist healthily with sustainability once it has been extracted from the reaches of consumerism, and this will be incredibly tough. But there are signs of hope; the sustainable fashion market has expanded. Until there is huge societal and policy change, however, this will remain a small patch on a huge gaping rip of unsustainable consumerism.

THE STORY OF TITANIC’S SISTER

by Tom Quinsey

Credit: http://atlanticliners.com/white_star_home/britannic_home/ (painted by Neil Egginton in 2016)

permission, and so were tragically sucked into the ship’s still turning propellers.

Realising the ship would not make it to the island, Bartlett stopped the engines and prioritised the lowering of the lifeboats. They were stored under five huge gantry davits on the boat deck, and there were more than enough for everyone aboard.

On Tuesday 21 November 1916, at 8.12am the Titanic’s younger sister HMHS Britannic was on her way to the war zone to pick up more wounded, when a terrible explosion rocked the ship.

Some said they saw a torpedo’s wake racing towards her, however it was most likely a mine, as it was forbidden for the enemy to fire at hospital ships. A huge column of water erupted alongside the starboard bow as the ship swayed from the shock.

The wireless was broken from the impact and so the operators had to work on the less powerful emergency set. Luckily, they got in contact with other ships, who promptly began racing to their rescue.

Captain Bartlett ordered the watertight doors shut. The watertight bulkheads had been raised in the wake of the Titanic disaster just four years earlier and the ship had been given double hull along the boiler rooms and engine room.

However, this all proved useless as the explosion had distorted the ship’s frame and so the doors would not slide down their tracks. Bartlett decided to aim for the island of Kea to beach the ship. This struggle to reach safety would prove disastrous.

With the ship ploughing forward, more water rushed into the hole at the bow, causing the ship to sink even quicker. A few crew members had also commandeered some of the lifeboats without the Captain’s

With the ship brought to a halt she began to settle more slowly, and upon witnessing this Bartlett again tried to make for land. But it was too late. The ship was down at the bow and listing heavily to starboard, water lapping at the forecastle. As the water reached the bridge, Bartlett simply walked off into the water and swam away. One by one the Britannic’s four great funnels began to collapse to starboard, crashing into the calm sea with a huge splash.

At 9.07am her stern slipped under, just fifty-five minutes since she had been hit.

Being in the Mediterranean the water was warm and the survivors were soon picked up by rescue vessels. Out of the 1,062 aboard, 1,032 lived. Just thirty people died.

They were thirty among the millions of others who died during The Great War, none of whom shall ever be forgotten.

My Year(ish) of Rest and Relaxation

by Morgan Bishop

and if you aren’t enjoying a subject let people know. I’m starting College again this year, taking Photography, Classical Civilisation and Government & Politics - a huge transition.

Now, the main message I intended this article to convey is the fact that help is there, within College for you, no matter what may be happening.

If you do have a problem, people are there to help, and this is something I learnt a little too late.

There is no stigma involved in asking for help or advice, so if you’re starting College and you aren’t quite in the mind-set or position you hoped to be in, that’s okay. It happens to the best of us. Don’t shy away from help, and I hope to see you around. (By the way, that book was My Year of Rest and Relaxation

by Ottessa Moshfegh, and I’d definitely recommend it too.)

This article sounds like it’s going to be a rip-off of that book with the fancy cover you keep seeing everywhere - but I promise you, it’s not.

So, I wasn’t in College for very long last year - probably a month or two at most. Yeah, it’s a hell of a story. To cut a long story short I got ill, very, mysteriously ill. So mysteriously ill even the doctors 20 years head-on into their fabulous careers were calling me “the mystery girl”. I thought it was cool and James Bond-esque until I began to feel like a line from a Peter Andre album, not a cool look, may I add.

You’re probably wondering where this article is heading by now, and I’m just here to tell you. Don’t stress.

Or, more effectively speaking, if you are stressed, don’t feel like you’re alone with that, because trust me, you aren’t.

I started College under some poor prior advice – I was told my subject choices weren’t “academic” enough and I was told to do Psychology as an A Level, because the universities would “like that better”.

I did Psychology, Law and English Literature, hated it apart from Literature. That’s not to say I didn’t like the subjects themselves, it’s just not what I wanted to do. I became tired, stressed and, eventually, ill.

My point is, don’t take what you were told in high school as gospel,

The Final Sacrifice

by Ethan William Bower Protheroe

This image is from the First World War and shows Ethan’s Great Grandfather in a field hospital after he was injured before he was sent back after his recovery leave. He is the man on the right standing up

Every year, for two minutes on or around 11th November, we stand in silence for those who have fallen for us: for the boys who never came back from war and for those who came back but were broken, either physically or mentally.

Each year since the age of eleven, I have stood with tears in my eyes, remembering the members of my family who are gone - my great grandfather, whose name I have as my own middle name, and my grandad, who always listened and gave me great knowledge of life.

Both these great men were affected by war.

In 1914 my great grandfather William signed up at the age of 17, the same age as most people at College

right now, to fight for his country.

The horrors he saw were unimaginable, but he survived the war. Having left as a boy, he returned home to England as a man.

And then, I remember my grandad, a kind and loving soul who, at the age of ten, was pulled from his home to go and live in the countryside as an evacuee.

I also remember at high school in English lessons, we had to read a book by Robert Westall, Kingdom by the Sea, and I recall thinking of my grandad and his time as an evacuee. Again, tears would fill my eyes.

Every year at high school we would sing one hymn at the Remembrance Service that would always bring a

tear to everyone in the hall, and that hymn was I Vow to Thee, My Country.

Two verses are the reason I believe we should remember the fallen: “The love that never falters, The love that pays the price, the love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice�.

I am lucky to live my life how I want to now because our future was built on two generations of great men who gave their lives for ours today.

So I ask of every generation never to forget the sacrifice that, in my eyes, heroes made, and that would be their final sacrifice for their loved ones. And even though their bodies have long since returned to dust, their sacrifice still lives on. We must strive to cherish their memory and never forget.

CLIMATE CHANGE AWARENESS DAY

by Morgan Bishop

What do you think of when you see the colour green? Is it just another colour on the spectrum for you, or does it hold a greater significance?

For many, the colour green is commonly associated with the natural world, the environment - or deeper meanings such as rebirth and vitality. (Or even aliens, if that’s what floats your boat.)

You may have been aware that many people were wandering around College wearing items of green clothing, and the College seemed decked out in green a little more beyond the Christmas trees, all for an absolutely brilliant cause: climate awareness.

The Environment Group and Food & Sustainability Group merged on 11th December to put together what resulted in an incredibly informative and engaging day, with the importance of getting people to recognise and talk about climate change at the heart of its agenda.

Students were encouraged to wear green to College on the day,

achieving a lovely splash of green throughout a typically British and gloomy weather forecast.

Members of both groups showed an admirable dedication to the cause including the making and handing out of leaflets, helping collate display boards and discussing their own views upon the issue of climate change with other students.

From speaking to those involved it became apparent that although climate change is regarded by many as an issue, a lot of people felt unaware of its urgency - with a collective view that such an issue needs to be addressed extensively in the future.

There was also a common view throughout the student body that more information on the issue should be made available through College, as a part of their education.

The day itself delighted in great success, but it is clear that there is a long way to go in terms of making awareness and change

- and this doesn’t have to be as daunting as it sounds.

For example, resources on climate change are available within a section in the Library - including the films shown throughout the event, meaning content is easily accessible.

If you are passionate about creating awareness on issues including climate change, how about attending either of the two groups involved? For any queries about the Environment Group contact Jane Godfrey: jeg@hereford.ac.uk or mgh6659@hereford.ac.uk and for any queries regarding the Food Choices & Sustainability Group contact Sue Segust: ss@hereford. ac.uk.

KRAMPUS: THE CENTRAL EUROPEAN ANTI-SANTA

by Jude Parker

Santa rewards the nice children, Krampus punishes those who have strayed from the path of good.

In terms of Krampus’ methods of punishment, he adopts a range of techniques to help get his message across, from ripping pigtails out and sadistic ear pulling to leading children off cliffs and drowning them in ink before fishing out their corpses with a pitchfork. Why Santa would make such a person his companion is still unknown to me.

Between 1934 and 1938, during the period of time when Austria was under fascist rule, Krampus was seen as a symbol of anti-Christian ideals and sin. At the time, the Catholic Church banned the wild celebrations, such as Krampus processions, and fascists found the figure disgraceful because it was considered a creation of the social democrats.

Today in places like Germany and Hungary, a modern take on the tradition involves drunken men dressed as devils, who take over the streets for the annual Krampuslauf and chase people through towns and cities.

When it comes to British Christmas tradition, the only consequence that befalls naughty children is receiving a piece of coal in their stocking; either that or having to help do the washing up after Christmas lunch.

However, in Austria and many other Central European regions, misbehaving children may potentially be visited by Krampus; a ‘half-goat, half-demon’ figure who punishes mischievous kids during the festive season.

The dastardly figure originated in German folklore dating back to the 1600s and is believed to be a foul accomplice of Saint Nicholas. As they make their earthly journey, Santa delivers presents to worthy infants while Krampus punishes undeserving kids.

Ever since I learnt this fact, I’ve spend quite a lot of time wondering who calls shotgun on the front seat of the sleigh. Krampus is older than Jesus and was born out of an Alpine Pagan tradition as a ‘boozy goat-horned menace that whips children around Europe’, and whilst

For adults who don’t live in Central European counties, Christmas can be stressful enough as they try to organise presents, food and sleeping arrangements for their extended family as they all flock to share in the festivities. However, considering that Austrian kids are being hounded by a festive goat demon who wants to violently pull their ears, I think we can agree we’ve all got it pretty easy over here. Celebrations, such as Krampus processions, and fascists found the figure disgraceful because it was considered a creation of the social democrats.

PANTO SEASON HAS ARRIVED, AGAIN

by Emma Robinson

Tinsel sellotaped to the ceiling, classic jingles echoing throughout classrooms... and it’s time to pile into the coach for the panto.

Whether this inspires fond nostalgia or ambivalent boredom, a survey of 100 Sixth Form students shows that for two thirds of us a Christmas panto has been experienced at least once during our primary school years.

Fairy-tales brought off the page, coupled with slapstick, songs and partially-voluntary audience participation. Evidently a great way to challenge the idolisation of the screen culture, by engaging with something immediate.

However, with four productions of Snow White and three of Sleeping Beauty within an hour’s radius of Hereford, how much can pantomime represent an evolving industry - and what do these productions really promote?

Most pantos offer a moral, but children would struggle to unpick it from the light-hearted, glossed-

over portrayal and are more likely to retain the memory of stereotypical gender roles and romance.

95% of teachers say that artistic learning is side-lined for increased core subject content, according to the National Union for Teachers.

Arguably, young children’s reduced awareness of artistic avenues has directly contributed to an increased fear of academic failure and depression.

Therefore, theatre trips are essential for rebalancing the biased curriculum and encouraging interest in the arts. This is especially vital for those who struggle with the core subjects, so they feel they have other options, for example: SEND and EAL students, who may have reduced self-image due to lower academic results.

But constant re-adaptions of the same fairy-tales are not engaging with children on an emotional level or portraying a versatile industry that inspires them.

In addition, a state of education report revealed that three quarters of primary schools feel inadequately equipped to deal with mental health issues.

Theatre productions have the potential to facilitate children’s understanding of their mental health. Paddleboat Theatre Company tackled the difficult story of a child in foster care through the relatable imaginary friend; Frantic Assembly showed the ‘internal workings’ of an autistic mind through engaging technical and physical theatre.

Theatres need to stop underestimating children’s capability to connect with serious issues and instead they should encourage self-expression and should educate to avoid ignorant bullying. Unfortunately, currently school trips such productions are few and far between. Therefore, a short coach journey to the nearest panto will have to do, if the parents are willing to pay for fuel!