The Knowledge 2012 Issue 3

current affairs // Lifestyle // entertainment

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UniversityPlymouthSU

contents Your Sabbatical officers P4 - 9 // // // // // // //

Rich Garratt Tom Davidson Jazz Singh-Khaira Emma Wilson Future Sabbs Steph Driscoll David De-Beger Election results 2012

Current Affairs P10 - 16 // // // // // // //

GREEN APPROACH BRINGS GOLD FOR THE STUDENTS’ UNION New marine centre to boost Plymouth’s international standing Fewer places and increased competition – what could it mean?

Concerns over who will benefit from the London 2012 Games

BY GEORGE The case of Breivik Florida Teenager Jailed for Shooting British Tourists

Lifestyle P17 - 25 // // // // // // // //

FESTIVAL FASHION TOP 5 TRENDS for summer The Student and The Budget Power of the Student Voice Is The Kindle set to replace The Book?

Goodbye to Goodbyes Restaurant Review: Yo! Sushi!

THE SHOP

Arts & Entertainment P27 - 33 // // // // // // //

THE SUMMER BALL Review: UPSU Comedy Night I Know What You Should Do This Summer Best Date Night Movies There’s something about Mario WIN THE DICTATOR GOODIES Joss Whedon’s Avengers Assemble

SPORTS & SOCIETIES P34 - 39 // // // //

Dan Kelsey-Wilkinson Interview: BJJ SOCIETIES AWARDS WINNERS SPORTS AWARDS WINNERS making waves for alex

facebook.com/upsunion twitter.com/upsu info@upsu.com www.upsu.com 01752 588388

EDITORS note chief editor

Hello and a big welcome to this years last Knowledge edition. As some of you have probably seen, we now have an rolling online edition of the Knowledge so our print edition is the best of the year plus some summer insertions to get you excited for your two months off. We also have a chance to win two summer ball tickets so if you fancy going to that, make sure you enter the competition!! This is my last edition as editor as after two years, I am moving on to bigger and better things (see inside

ASSISTANT EDITOR

for details) but I have loved working for the Knowledge and if you’re thinking of joining the team next year, definitely do! Just want to wish everyone good luck in their exams and course work and say a goodbye to any students that may be leaving this year, good luck in all future endeavours! Have a lovely summer everyone!!

Lots of love, Steph

My name is Rhi and a few months ago, I joined Steph as editor of the paper. I wrote for The Knowledge last year with Rhiannon Haydock a regular agony aunt column and I also contributed with other lifestyle articles.

But this year, I’ve joined the big dogs!

The timing for this role could have been a little better as this is my final year here at Plymouth University so it’s been quite

hectic trying to balance my work with editing the paper; but I love a challenge, and that it certainly has been. In this edition, you’ll find various articles – some might interest you more than others, some might make you laugh and some might make you cry; but I can guarantee that you won’t want to put this edition of The Knowledge down!

current affairs editor

Lifestyle editor

entertainment editor

SPORTS & SOC EDITOR

P10 -16

P17 -25

P27 -33

P34 -39

Hi, I’m Charli and I’m the editor for the current affairs section of The Knowledge.

The articles we have published this term have covered a wide range of subjects, including University news, local issues and national and international topics. I really hope you find the articles included in this issue and on our blog interesting and informative.

If you want to get involved with writing for this section next year, please give me a shout!

Hey, I’m Katie, Lifestyle Editor of The Knowledge.

Lifestyle covers everything from budgeting to fashion; it is my job to bring you wonderful and weird articles like restaurant reviews to random thoughts like “why we no longer say, “Goodbye”.

This issue we also hear from Jazz Singh-Khaira who was recently elected President of the Student Union. Following with the theme of the elections, Ben looks into the power of the student vote.

With summer fast approaching, Kara has fashion covered for the season with the Top Five Trends to Festival Fashion!

Be sure to keep in touch over the summer by checking out our section online; www. upsu.com/theknowledge.

Hi, I’m Emily and I’m the current Arts and Entertainment Editor for the Knowledge. It’s my job to make sure you know what’s going on in and around the university and to bring you reviews of the biggest events in the city. If you have any events that you think need covering or want to get involved in writing reviews or articles for Arts and Entertainment next year, get in touch!

Hello!

I’m Joe and I am Sports and Societies editor. The sub-editorial team has had a great few months transforming The Knowledge into a more interactive and easily accessible paper for you, the students. And we’ve had an interesting year for sports, with Varsity and some great charity events.

Charli Andrews

Katie French

Emily Dawe

Joe Williams

Next year I am hoping for greater coverage of sports clubs/events, and to do that I need a dedicated writing team! If you are interested in honing your skills as a sports writer get in contact, there is a place for you on my team.

P4 // YOUR SABBATICAL OFFICERS

Sabbatical Report DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Rich Garratt facebook.com/UPSUdeputy twitter.com/UPSUdeputy deputypresident@upsu.com 01752 588372

Rich Garrett as Deputy President Bula Bula as they say, if you’re Fijian.

First up I would just like to thank everyone who voted and got me re-elected for next year. I reckon it’s going to be a ripsnorter! Both I and the student union are already looking into crazy and exciting ways to keep you all entertained.

As you may be aware, I do a lot of work with our 18 partner colleges.

A lot of the issues that we have with students studying off of the main campus is that they often feel out of touch and unable to get involved.

UPSU have now changed all ticketed events to be sold online as well as over the bar. Students can now add ‘UPSU Partner Colleges’ on Facebook and ‘UPC Students’ on Twitter to keep in the loop of what is cracking at UPSU – if you are a UPC student then please do add these!! The world is at your finger tips!!

In my re-elected year, I am planning to reach out further to the partner college students. Anyone that knows me will be aware of the UPC Varsity I have been trying to get off the ground, giving those who want to play sport, but struggle to get to Plymouth, the chance to do this locally. Something I believe that will be a more viable goal is our proposal to have a mobile student union. We will basically transform a camper van into a ‘Student Union’ so that we can then drive to colleges to meet students and transport fun activities – for instance the sumo suits – always a winner!!

Working alongside our entertainment manger Clint, aka captain forehead, we have already established a calendar of activities for students arriving in the summer and those who continue their studies during the holidays, typically international students and post grads - kind of like a Fresher’s month for those students who are not traditional so involved with our ‘Freshers Week’. Please find the details below of these activities.

If you want any further information, please email me: deputypresident@ upsu.com • Open bus tour – July 14th

• Aquarium with morning boat trip – July 21st • Eden project – 28th July • IKEA trip (Bristol) – 22nd Sep (if people want to just go around Bristol shopping then they can) • Fishing trip and SU BBQ – 23rd Sep • Bath Trip – 6th Oct • Weekend London trip -15-16th Dec • Manchester (football trip) – waiting for fixtures to be released • Sports activities – TBC • Euro 2012 – we have yet to decide whether the SU will be open or not, however we could always take students down to the big screen in town or something if not .

Plans to increase the popularity of student parliament are also at the forefront of next year. Parliament is vital in choosing the direction of the student union and what you, as the student body, want from your SU. We have revamped the logo and will be setting funds aside to have some tasty treats available to students who attend the meetings every

month. Elected parliamentarians now get given some crackingly trendy parliament threads, happy days I hear you say!!

I will also be using my contacts with external companies in planning some lovely little trips and opportunities to win some cheeky little prizes in events such as the recent Pepe Jeans Treasure Hunt and Amsterdam trip.

Basically, next year is going to be focused around a little something I like to call ‘fun’! Whether this be hot tub/foam parties or more sporting possibilities available across campuses, next year is definitely going to be a ripsnorter!!!

P5 // YOUR SABBATICAL OFFICERS

Sabbatical Report PRESIDENT: Tom Davidson facebook.com/UPSUthepresident twitter.com/UPSUpresident president@upsu.com 01752 588379

My Time At UPSU Well, where to begin? I could list the things I’ve done, like the successful intramural football league I developed in my first year of office; or the transfer of the University’s Sport & Recreation Department to UPSU control in my second. And although I certainly feel that I am due a little boast every now and then, I want to tell a different story about my experience of UPSU and life in the Sabbatical Office.

My time here at UPSU has given me absolutely invaluable experience, both professionally and personally.

I have learnt some great skills that will almost certainly benefit me in the inevitable scrabble for employment once I leave the Sabbatical Office for the last time this July. Throughout my time here I have been able to bolster my skillset with essentials such as management, organisation and communication that I hope will give me an edge in the future.

Employment with the SU is far more than just work experience for the so called ‘real world’ though. I have been able to make positive changes to the lives of students at Plymouth Uni and this is incredibly fulfilling; knowing that your actions are affecting thousands of people, and in a good way, is always good for a big of a boost!

I have also had the pleasure to work with a bunch of incredibly committed and talented people. From the reception staff, to the marketing team and all the way up to the senior management; everyone here believes in what they are doing and generally do a cracking job. Knowing that you are part of such an enthusiastic team who genuinely believe in what they are doing is brilliant and a great motivation for getting out of bed every morning. pss_BAM_ad.pdf

So, in a nutshell I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my two years here at UPSU. As VP Sports and subsequently the President, I have had the luck to be involved in a forward thinking and incredibly engaging organisation. I have been able to create positive changes within Plymouth University and have been able, in my opinion, to benefit students who are studying here. If you’ve never considered working in an SU, as an elected part time member of staff or 1 officer, 23/04/2012 12:35 after you’ve graduated; think again

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P6 // YOUR SABBATICAL OFFICERS

Sabbatical Report VP EDUCATION & WELFARE: Emma Wilson facebook.com/UPSUedwelfare twitter.com/UPSUedwelfare vpedandwelfare@upsu.com 01752 588372

Well, I can’t believe it’s very nearly over…. My two years as Vice President Education and Welfare have flown by and there have been many many memorable moments along the way; from speaking at my own graduation, to leading a 200 strong demonstration through the streets of Plymouth in protest over the increase in tuition fees with the DEMO-lition campaign, through to visiting the Houses of Parliament to receive the SUEI Award on behalf of UPSU before Christmas this year. I have laughed (and cried!) a lot and have had the pleasure of meeting so many truly amazing students and staff members (both here and at the university). For anyone considering whether or not to run in the Sabbatical elections next year I would 110% recommend it, the experience has been like no other and I feel very lucky to have had this fantastic opportunity. As my second term as UPSU’s Vice President Education and Welfare comes to an end I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those students and university staff who have worked with me on projects which I hope have enhanced the experience for students here at Plymouth.

I would also like to wish Steph Driscoll the new Vice President Education and Welfare the best of luck in her new role – I’m sure she won’t need it.

Now I’m going to take this chance to update you all on what I have been up to this term:

SSTAR Awards Nominations for SSTAR increased from 46 to over 300 this year. UPSU believe this demonstrates that students view SSTAR as an important chance to express their thanks to staff who work so hard to ensure they receive the best student experience.

The nominations for Course Rep and Parliamentarian of The Year trebled in number with nominations received from both staff and students; this illustrates just how valued these change effecting students are on our campus. Categories this year include the new ‘Most Useful Feedback ‘and ‘Excellence in Supporting Career Aspirations and Employability’ along with returning awards of Outstanding Personal Tutor, Most Dedicated Dissertation Project Supervisor, Outstanding Support Staff (Individual and Team) and Most Inspirational Teacher; this award alone received over 100 nominations from students.

UPSU intend for this celebration to become firmly embedded in the calendar of events at both the union and the institution and are planning on showcasing the impact of the ceremony at the Vice Chancellors Teaching and Learning Conference in July.

Other Key projects I have been involved in this year: This year UPSU has had the pleasure of taking part in several key projects together with students to at Plymouth University some of these are listed below:

Personal Tutoring Review: A Task and Finish Group was set up in order to review the personal tutoring practice and policy at the institution. Several Students joined me and members of academic and professional services staff in this group which over the course of several meetings created a new policy for tutoring. In this policy there are several key wins for students including the introduction of a minimum of 3 meetings per academic year. UPSU fully support the launch of this new policy and believe that it will contribute to enhanced student support for students.

Change Academy After attending the residential Change Academy in the summer of last year I have been pleased to witness the development many ‘Students as Partners Projects’. Two of the projects include the support of the development of a law clinic which will provide students with genuine work experience opportunities and also the support of the creation of an extensive new element to the gallery shop in the Peninsula Arts Gallery.

This new addition to the shop gives the opportunity for Peninsula Arts to collaborate with students, giving them the ability to showcase and market their artwork permanently. UPSU welcomes this initiative which will provide opportunities for students to work along staff members who are experts in their field and also gain project management skills.

The University Partnership Agreement: UPSU welcomed the launch of the University Partnership Agreement last term. This project sought many views and ideas from students and saw staff and students meeting to discuss the concept of partnership and the expectations from each party. I facilitated workshops at the programme level in the School of Marine Sciences and Engineering and was delighted to witness the discussions amongst students and staff which ultimately led to better understanding on both sides and new ideas to improve quality on the programme in question.

UPSU were very happy to see Plymouth University adopting the partnership approach as opposed to the legalistic compact has been introduced in other institutions. I feel that the continual revisiting of these documents at both the university and programme level are strong drivers for the enhancement of quality and key in managing expectations as we move into the new horizons of higher education funding.

Development of the New Student Leadership Course Over 40 students, including sport and society chairs, parliamentarians, course reps, PhD students and student ambassadors attended the Plymouth University’s first Student Leadership course, engineered jointly by the university and student union. The two day course focussed on coaching, giving feedback, project planning and presenting a business case or a project to potential stakeholders. The course received great feedback from students and it is hoped the course will be rolled out to many more students in the first term of the academic year, so keep a look out for more information.

So that’s it from me. I’ll just sign off by saying a huge thank you to all of UPSU’s wonderful staff who make this union such a great place, especially those in UPSU Advice and UPSU Marketing for supporting me in my role for the last two years.

I am confident that they and all of our brilliant students will ensure that UPSU continues to grow from strength to strength in the coming years.

P7 // YOUR SABBATICAL OFFICERS

Sabbatical Report VP Activities & Comms: Jazz Singh-Khaira facebook.com/UPSUactscomms twitter.com/UPSUactscomms vpactivities@upsu.com 01752 588378

I’m Jazz and over the last year I have been your VP Activities and Comms. In this time I have initiated changes within UPSU such as the new website and have helped you to get to know your sabbs by creating vinyls and visibility of Sabbs and run the Green Week campaign.

This term I have: •

• • •

Worked with school reps to secure a 24-hour coursework hand in box for Science and Technology students Held the Society Awards to honour and recognise all the great work societies do.

Attended NUS National Conference.

Been out and about in the Library with the police talking to students about the importance of keeping their homes secure.

Since the last issue I ran in the recent UPSU elections and was voted President for the year 201213, I start this term in June. As President I plan to strengthen links with the local community, shout about students in the local media and continue to lobby the university to get you a better deal.

Here is a sneak peak of what I will be up to over the next few months: • •

• • •

Handover to the lovely Sarah Pook, our new VP Activities and Comms Carry out an awareness campaign around students moving out of houses responsibly Apply for an increase in the Students Union block grant Various training dates Work with local agencies to establish a Treatment Facility to operate on North Hill on Friday and Saturday nights

It is an honour to be elected your President and I will do my very best to ensure you, the students are at the heart of what we do at UPSU and Plymouth University. If there is ever anything you wish to come and have a chat with me about do pop in to our office in the hive or drop me an email!

P8 // YOUR SABBATICAL OFFICERS

Future Sabbatical Steph Driscoll

Vice President Education and Welfare Elect

I can still hear the cheer of my friends sitting at the back of the room and the clapping and whooping of various members of the audience as the bar reached the elected post and it was announced that I was the UPSU’s new VP Education and Welfare officer. I had worked bloody hard over the previous week and a half so felt enthralled and relieved to have won the prize that I really truly wanted.

I ran in the elections last year. I went for the position on Activities and Communications and came a close second. However, due to a change in career path (moving from a media

based career into teaching) I realised education and the welfare of students is where my passion really lies so this time, I worked extra hard to gain the position.

I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who voted for me. It really means a lot! I also want to say a thank you to my friends and the people who ran with me in my slate, they made the whole process constantly fun even in times when I was so tired I could pass out. Lastly I want to say thanks to my fellow candidates, they all gave a good campaign and kept me on my feet throughout the process.

I have loads of things I want to do next year, the hard part will be getting them all done! I really want to make assessment submission online and help make the library online so more students can access more books.

Alongside this I want to make the advice service more accessible and mix up the personal tutor system creating a hopefully better system so students get more out of tutorials.

Im really looking forward to start the job and I hope to make changes that students want and need. Its going to be an exciting year ahead and I cant wait for it to begin!!

Future Sabbatical David De-Beger Vice President Sport Elect

VP Sports Elect, well that is how I am being introduced to important people within the uni at the moment.

The nerves were still with me until the Tuesday morning after the results were announced, which woke me before 9am, (annoyingly so because I didn’t need to be anywhere until 11am!) The results news starting sinking in that morning when I turned on my computer and my facebook wall had gone crazy with messages.

The week slowly saw me getting used to the concept that I had the next year organised, well in terms of location and job anyhow.

The nicest thing about running in the elections was that the people around me were all passionate about seeing change for students. This is something that I will be taking into the office with me, keeping the students who voted for me in mind as we look to the future. I am pleased to have campaigned with some great candidates for VP Sports, and this was shown when we were out campaigning and we often spent time catching up, forgetting that we were meant to be talking to the other students and not each other!

So now I look forward to a year of many challenges, not just from you (the student body) but also from what exciting things that Tom has lined up.

I will be initially focusing my time on bringing my campaign points to reality, alongside the usual tasks of getting things ready for the arrival of a new academic year. So I will just finish by thanking you for your votes, and let’s work together to make 2012-2013 another fantastic year for sports!

P9 // YOUR SABBATICAL OFFICERS

election results 2012 Full time Sabbatical positions

Part time positions

President Total ballots: 4719 Empty ballots: 144 5 candidates running for 1 seat.

Winner: Jazz Singh-Khaira with 2522 votes

Parliment Chair Total ballots: 2703 Empty ballots: 124 2 candidates running for 1 seat Winner: Rob Young with 2162 votes.

Deputy President Total ballots: 3381 Empty ballots: 115 2 candidates running for 1 seat Winner: Rich Garratt with 2862 votes

Placement Students Campaigns Chair Total ballots: 2543 Empty ballots: 94 2 candidates running for 1 seat Winner: Felicity Gove with 2192 votes

VP Sports Total ballots: 4367 Empty ballots: 148 7 candidates running for 1 seat Winner: David de-Beger with 1602 votes VP Education and Welfare Total ballots: 3529 Empty ballots: 160 7 candidates running for 1 seat Winner: Steph Driscoll with 1502 votes VP Activities and Communications Total ballots: 3531 Empty ballots: 131 8 candidates running for 1 seat Winner: Sarah Pook with 1406 votes

Independent Rep Total ballots: 2602 Empty ballots: 132 4 candidates running for 3 seat Winners: Ben Lipscombe with 754 votes Ester Idowu with 754 votes Richard Skipper with 790 votes Education Campaigns Chair Total ballots: 2555 Empty ballots: 116 2 candidates running for 1 seat Winner: Christpher Carter with 2129 votes

5914 votes UPSU RECORD! Thank you to everyone that voted.

5914 of you voted 107% increase on our 2011/12 voter turnout.

24% of the electorate voted.

11% increase on on our 2011/12 electorate vote.

LGBT Campaigns Chair Total ballots: 2529 Empty ballots: 143 2 candidates running for 1 seat Winner: Anna Loomes with 1968 votes Ethics and Enviroment Campaigns Chair Total ballots: 2555 Empty ballots: 107 2 candidates running for 1 seat Winner: Adam Hindle with 2200 votes Media Representative Total ballots: 2646 Empty ballots: 127 3 candidates running for 1 seat Winner: Thomas Boaden with 1353 votes

P10 // CURRENT AFFAIRS

GREEN APPROACH BRINGS GOLD FOR THE STUDENTS’ UNION

The national initiative, led by the National Union of Students, recognises organisations who work to limit their impact on the environment and operate in a sustainable way.

Any organisation that enters the scheme undergoes a thorough analysis of the measures they take to limit their negative impact on the environment.

UPSU received gold status in recognition of its excellence in good environmental practice and raising awareness among its students, this includes various initiatives to avoid wasting light and heat.

UPSU runs an annual ‘Green Week’ campaign to highlight environmental issues and encourage positive behaviour change to curb the impact student living has on the environment. This includes reducing

the number of bottled drinks bought and indeed recycling where possible.

Activities that have a positive impact on the environment are also promoted throughout the year, UPSU offer environmental volunteering opportunities that many Plymouth University students already participate in.

Jazz Singh-Khaira, VP Activities and Communications Officer at the Students’ Union and lead officer on the bid for gold in the Green Impact Awards said: ‘Here at the Students’ Union we take our responsibility to operate in a sustainable way and limit our impact on the environment very seriously.

‘I’m absolutely thrilled that after a rigorous analysis of our practices over the past few months we’ve been awarded gold in such a high profile and demanding initiative, it’s a

wonderful testament to the great work done by Officers, Staff and of course students over the past year to make UPSU even greener than before.’

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Bill Rammell said: “Plymouth University students have demonstrated their engagement with issues of sustainability in a great number of ways, and they play a key role in ensuring that we remain one of the greenest universities in the country. This Green Impact award is further recognition for our University, and a tremendous achievement for our Students’ Union.”

P11 // CURRENT AFFAIRS

New marine centre to boost Plymouth’s international standing

By Ben Fox

The new building, which is currently being constructed on campus, will cost £18m and will become the home of Plymouth University’s School of Marine Science and Engineering.

We can sail a super-tanker, exchange knowledge for business innovation and growth, create renewable energy solutions and help the world adapt to climate change.

The school is already the biggest of its kind in Europe, and the new HQ will bring it all under one roof.

We are exploring the future of the marine sciences. Over 150 dedicated research and teaching specialists within our Marine Institute are delivering world-class research which will impact our lives for the better.

When it was originally approved

by Plymouth City Council, the chairman, John Lock, said: “There is a huge potential for bringing in an awful lot of money. This is the University of Plymouth forging ahead.” With the planning officer, Robert McMillan, adding: “This is an exciting project providing the University with a world-class research and teaching facility.”

The building will house state-ofthe-art research facilities, including the most advanced wave-tank and testing equipment in the country.

Due to open in 2012, the facility will position Plymouth University as a global centre for marine-energy research, encourage innovation and drive economic growth in the city and wider region.

Inside the building

Here, with the support of the people of Plymouth, the university will contribute to a greener, sustainable future.

Our city faces the ocean. Its past and future are linked to a changing marine environment. From coastal ecology to marine engineering and maritime trade, the university is leading the way.

Economic benefits It is hoped that the centre will benefit the local economy by bringing wave-energy engineers to Plymouth to establish it as their base for the growth of business enterprise into this sort of marine technology.

This has already been partly recognised with a British-Italian wave-energy company becoming the first international client to sign up in February 2012. The company, 40South Energy Ltd, will move into its facility when the marine building opens. Its facilities will include cutting-edge wave-generation facilities crucial for testing marine energy-generating technology.

Adam Corney, Plymouth University’s Marine Commercial Director, has stated that the university will continue to bring new innovation and expertise to the city and wider region, giving a huge boost to the local economy.

Jim Knight, Minister for the Southwest, has said: “The project will make Plymouth a global leader in science, innovation and marine research and create new jobs and more opportunities for our young people.”

The centre provides most of the £25m Plymouth Science and Innovation programme, a citywide strategy aimed at creating jobs, business opportunities and economic success from science and innovation activities.

P12 // CURRENT AFFAIRS

Fewer places and increased competition – what could it mean?

By Thea Jones

The This Is Plymouth website reports that Professor Wendy Purcell of Plymouth University claims that the university could lose 10% of its undergraduate places as a result of new government reforms. These reforms look to reduce places available in universities charging the full £9,000, and re-distribute them to those establishments charging lower fees. With over 15,000 undergraduates studying at Plymouth University, this could mean a loss of nearly 1,000 undergraduate places, which could equate to around 30 courses.

The government reforms have been designed to increase competition for university places and between universities. With the higher tuition fees, this will certainly make prospective students not consider their decision to go to university lightly. With some students accused of wanting to go to university simply because of the typical student lifestyle, an increased need to ‘sell’ themselves in order to compete with other applicants applying to university would give them a taster or what many graduates face in joining the world-of-work.

The new reforms could mean that with fewer places, those who are successful in gaining a place on a university course are those who not only have the grades, but also have the experience and extra-curricular activity to prove their enthusiasm and capabilities. This Is Plymouth quotes Wendy Purcell’s concerns – ‘Plymouth has long been a university which is accessible to those with nontraditional educational backgrounds i.e. those who do not have A-Levels, but other qualifications or fewer. ‘ Prospective students from such backgrounds could see the loss of places make access to higher education more difficult, or with more competition, loose out completely.

With fewer university places however, and the higher fees, there will be no choice but to consider alternative options to the university path.

Whether this means taking a gap year to increase experience, or starting an apprenticeship, it may encourage people to widen their options and gain experience in different areas.

Nevertheless, for commuters or mature students whose choice of university is limited by locality, fewer places and more competition could make access to higher education increasingly more difficult if they do not gain a place on a local course.

At a time when unemployment is at a very high rate, limiting access to higher education could pose a further threat.

While unsuccessful prospective students may turn to jobs in and around the city, a loss of nearly 1,000 students would no doubt have an effect on much of the income which depends on students, particularly for landlords and lettings companies who, with fewer students, and consequently less accommodation needed, may suffer.

Concerns over who will benefit from the London 2012 Games

P13 // CURRENT AFFAIRS

By Thea Jones

With the 100 day mark until the opening ceremony having passed, the country is eagerly anticipating the London 2012 Olympic Games. The Games are sure to be nothing less than epic, promising to publicise the city of London and give a huge boost to the business and tourism industry, as spectators flock from all over the world to support their nations.

Despite billions of pounds being spent on the events and creating accommodation for competitors and facilities to cater for every need, it has been discovered that few people living outside of London believe that London’s hosting of the Olympic Games will be of any benefit to them or their local areas. According to a study conducted by BBC Radio 5 live, ‘the further people lived from London the less they thought the Olympics would benefit their area’ (BBC Sport: Olympics). While 37% of those questioned living in the South East believed their area would benefit (still only a small percentage!), only 19% in Wales and the South West and 16% in Scotland believed that they would see any benefits.

This is certainly a problem when the motto of the London 2012 Olympics reads: ‘Inspire a generation’. While some of the Olympic sites are located outside London in cities such as Manchester, Cardiff and the county of Dorset, the majority of the action will be taking place in London. Venues such as Wembley Arena and the ExCel centre, which are already used as sports and entertainment venues, will be host to many Olympic events.

The Aquatics Centre which will reside in the Olympic Park in London has been especially constructed for the Games and, post-Olympics will be open for access to the local area, offering facilities and job opportunities.

For those who watch on TV but do not live in the surrounding areas, they will unfortunately be unable to take advantage of state-of-the-art centres such as these.

Debate also centres around whether, in what has today been announced as a return to the recession, high levels of unemployment throughout Britain and evidence of poverty in cities questioning whether the billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money is really being spent in a way which will benefit Britain in the long-term.

But, with so much focus on cost and benefit, it is easy to forget that the fact that London hosting the Olympic Games is a chance for Britain to unite and feel a sense of pride for our capital. In addition, the Olympic Torch Relay which is soon to commence, will offer not quite Olympic size stadiums, but nonetheless a welcome small boost for local businesses and tourism as it passes through 1,019 communities throughout Britain.

Reference: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/ olympics/17753800

P14 // CURRENT AFFAIRS

By George!

A new national anthem for England?

By Ben Fox

In a letter to the Prime Minister, campaigners have called for England to be given its own national anthem for occasions when the traditional ‘God Save the Queen’ is no longer appropriate – in Rugby, for example.

The campaigners, which includes some MPs, have recommended that a popular vote be held to pick a new song, such as ‘Jerusalem’ or ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ to fill in for the national anthem when it is a purely English event.

They say: ‘When British athletes win gold for Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics, God Save The Queen will play to celebrate’.

However, when it is England who take to the sporting field to play rugby or football, they should arguably be heralded by an English anthem for an English team, just as ‘Flower Of Scotland’ and ‘Land Of My Fathers’ are sung as Scottish and Welsh anthems respectively.

Even though this debate has been raging for many years, it received fresh fuel on St George’s Day after a poll showed that more English people felt they aligned with the Union Flag rather than their own Cross of St George.

On top of that, just under a quarter of those that were polled felt the red cross on the white background became more symbolic of far-right extremist groups, such as the English Defence League, than a patriotic English sentiment.

This is in stark contrast to the Welsh and Scots, who were far more likely to feel national pride to the Y Ddraig Goch, the Red Dragon, and St

Andrew’s Cross.

YouGov carried out the survey for the think-tank British Future, in which 2600 responses were recorded throughout the UK in order to find out how they viewed their national identity.

The report, This Sceptred Isle, blames the ‘extreme street hooligans’ of the English Defence League for ‘toxifying’ the St George’s Cross. However, they also add that politicians don’t do enough to speak up for the patriotism of the English majority.

The report continues: ‘England, the land of Shakespeare, seems uncertain how to find its modernity.

Historically, an understated Englishness has been conflated with being British. It is ignoring England that now presents a greater threat to the Union than anything else.’

The ‘devolution era’ of British politics has brought out more and more national sentiment in our Scottish and Welsh neighbours, with English patriotism ‘lagging behind’ in terms of national sentiment towards the flag.

While this debate is nothing new to the citizens of the United Kingdom, it does provide a fresh from which to view the future direction our united countries may take in the years ahead, notwithstanding the up-andcoming Scottish referendum for independence.

So, does a new national anthem really matter or are the English just out of tune with the Union?

The case of Breivik

P15 // CURRENT AFFAIRS

By Eloise Wales

Anders Behring Breivik, the man responsible for the July 2012 car bombing and mass shooting in Norway, is currently standing trial.

At the time of writing Anders Behring Breivik was on the fifth day of his trial. The far-right fanatic has pleaded guilty to setting off the bomb in the capital of Oslo on 22nd July 2011which killed eight people and left 209 wounded.

He has also pled guilty to killing 69 people during a shooting spree on the island of Utoeya, where a youth camp set up by the Norwegian Labour Party was underway. He has stated that the victims were “left leaning” traitors.

However, he denies criminal responsibility and committing acts of terrorism and mass murder.

Throughout the trial there has been on-going issues determining Breivik’s mental state.

The initial psychiatric examination indicated that he was insane.

However Breivik has vehemently denied these reports.

On Wednesday 25th April he sought to tell the court he was sane and was motivated by political ideology. He has stated the reports are nothing more than evil fabrications and that the psychiatrists were too emotionally affected by his actions However, there has been a second psychiatric examination which suggests he is in fact sane.

Einar Kringlen, a psychiatrist who originally declared Breivik insane, has also since changed his opinion after seeing him in court.

“Perhaps one can say he has a paranoid personality, is suspicious, but that’s where it ends.”

Both reports are being examined by the five judges to determine his mental state when committing the attacks.

Throughout the trial Breivik has

remained unmoved by his actions; even when Prosecutor Inga Bejer Engh gave extensively detailed accounts of how he killed each person when reading out the charges against him.

But the people of Norway remain defiant. On April 26th 2012, 40,000 Norwegians gathered around the courts in Oslo to sing ‘Children of the Rainbow’ a song Breivik vehemently hates. He claims the song is used to brainwash young Norwegians.

If found sane Breivik will spend just 21 years in prison for his attacks, but if he is still seen as a danger to society he could be held for longer.

If sentenced to care in a mental institution, he would remain there until he is no longer seen as psychotic or dangerous.

The trial is expected to end in late June.

P16 // CURRENT AFFAIRS

Florida Teenager Jailed for Shooting British Tourists

By Emily Norris

An American teenager has been jailed for life following the murder of two British tourists in Florida last April.

On 26th March, Shawn Tyson, 17, tried as an adult in Sarasota County Court, was found guilty of fatally shooting friends James Cooper, 25, and James Kouzaris, 24.

The pair from Northampton had been friends since attending Sheffield University together. They were enjoying a holiday in Sarasota, a popular tourist destination in Florida.

On 16th April 2011, following a meal with Cooper’s parents, the two men decided to carry on the evening drinking at two late-night bars in downtown Sarasota.

The men lost their way when walking home in the early hours of the morning and wondered, visibly drunk, onto a dimly-lit estate in the Newton area. The estate known as ‘The Court’ is notorious for drugs and violence.

The victims were confronted by Tyson, who first attempted to rob them. After finding that they had very little money on them Tyson shot them both, first killing Kouzaris then Cooper. Tyson’s DNA was later found on Cooper’s Jeans.

The courts heard how Tyson boasted to a friend that, after witnessing the

murder of his friend, Cooper had begged for his life before he too, was shot.

Tyson received two life sentences without the eligibility of parole for the murder of Cooper and Kouzaris.

The families of the victims issued a statement saying: “ours is a life sentence, with no chance of parole from a broken heart and a shattered soul”.

It was later discovered that Tyson had mistakenly been released from jail the previous day.

He had served a sentence for an earlier shooting in which no one was injured. A judge had ruled him as a danger to the public, but the message failed to be passed on to Tyson’s hearing.

Mr. Kouzaris’ father also stated the irony of his son’s death in the popular tourist destination of Florida, after his son had travelled the world and visited many dangerous countries without harm.

The statement by Mr. Kouzaris’ father highlights the importance of always being aware of personal safety, despite your location.

Slightly closer to home, Plymouth University’s Community Liaison Officer, Sarah Nicholson, maintains direct links between the university and local police. She has provided advice on safety and crime-prevention, with tips for staying safe whilst socialising.

Safety tips include the avoidance of attending pubs, clubs and parties alone, making sure you don’t walk home on your own at night, not leaving possessions unattended, always having enough money for a taxi and double checking that you have house keys and that they, along with your money, are kept in a safe place.

Further information on student safety at Plymouth University can be found on the “Crime Prevention and Safety” page on the student portal: https://intranet.plymouth.ac.uk/ police/

P17 // LIFESTYLE

FESTIVAL FASHION

No summer is complete without heading to a Festival! There’s one to pick no matter what occasion.

Bestival, Beach Break, Leeds, Reading and loads of others and whilst Glastonbury isn’t on this year due to the Olympics, here’s some style tips for any new festival goer!

Any tribal print, fringing and lace will make the outfit quirky, and adding floral headbands, chunky necklaces and statement rings will make an outfit more exciting easily.

New Look £4.99 Add a trilby for the last few days to hide your greasy hair, and a pair of sunglasses for the rare bit of sun or for hiding the beer bags under your eyes.

The first item everyone needs is wellies. There’s always the chance it isn’t going to rain and it will be sunny and perfect, but living in Britain and not having the Californian weather at the Coachella festival, wellies are needed. The classics to go for are the Hunters which all the celebs are seen in but reaching over £50 is a bit out of reach. Personally I’d head to a cheap

store like Wilkinsons and grab some

plain green ones for under a tenner.

If the weather is looking good, throw

on some sandals or printed flatforms so your feet still stay protected from Topshop £35 the dreaded portaloos but don’t sweat New Look £4.99 so much you dread taking them off in Topshop £35 New Look £4.99 the tent.

Then you need a waterproof. The classic parka is always a good one but avoid a fur lined one. Even if it’s raining, it doesn’t mean you won’t be sweating when you are crammed in a huge crowd.

Dorothy Perkins £35

Dorothy Perkins £35

Topshop £35

Personal experience tip: keep hold of your phone. If you drop it in the queue, it isn’t coming out of that sludge, and will be sadly ringing 6 feet deep. Most frustrating way to River Island £15 lose an iPhone…

River Island £15

Miss Selfridge £10 Urban Outfitters £12

Miss Selfridge £10 Topshop £28

River Island £45

s

River Island £15 River Island £15 Miss Selfridge £15

River Island £15

And whilst they look cute and are supremely comfy, don’t wear a playsuit. You feel very exposed when you peel it off and are naked on the Urban Outfitters £12 portaloos…

Miss Selfridge £10

Republic £15

Topshop £24

With the two basics out the way, it’s River Island £15 Dorothy Perkins £35 the clothes and accessories you can have fun with! Jeans are a huge mistake, so think shorts and knee high socks, enough to keep you warm and they dry quickly over the bonfire if you’re caught out.

Topshop £28

There’s how to do ‘festival chic’ so you can still afford the ticket, but still look amazing and not turning up with jeans and heels, stuck in 3 inch mud.

Topshop £32 River Island £10

H&M £15.99

Republic £15

Topshop £26

Republic £15

Hunter £79

Topshop £20

Urban Outfitters £12

Crop tops are everywhere at the Topshop £28 moment but if you aren’t quite brave enough, team it with some highwaisted shorts. Vests and t-shirts are key with thick jumpers, so you can peel the layers off as the day goes on.

H&M £7.99

River Island £45 River Island £45 Miss Selfridge £29

H&M £19.99

P18 // LIFESTYLE

TOP 5 TRENDS FOR SUMMER

By Kara Godfrey

Prada

Lipsy £55 Lipsy £55

Louis Vuitton

Topshop £75

Topshop £75

Oasis £65 Oasis

Alexander Wang

Marni at H&M £39.99

Victoria Beckham

Miss Selfridge £10

Miss Selfridge £10

Alberta Ferretti

Miss Selfridge Topshop £12.50 £38

ASOS £7.50

ASOS £7.50

£65

Gucci

River Island £100

River Island £40 River Island £40

Oasis £12

Accessorize £30

Pretty in pastel

Sports luxe

Flapper frenzy

Summer is coming, so it’s time to brighten up your wardrobe, and what better way than with this seasons pastel dresses? It’s the easiest way to feel girly, especially with all the floral details and they are perfect for any summer weddings or garden parties! Not only do they make the transition from day to night by simply swapping the flip flops to a pair of metallic heels, but the cute pale designs work all year round by simply adding some black tights and a leather jacket for winter. So when you come to picking out the perfect pastel dress, don’t think of it as a summer splurge, but a winter investment!

If the floral, flippy skirts are too girly, than the new sports luxe trend is ideal for keeping it casual and comfy. Think neon piping, jersey jumpers and block patterns, it’s the way to make sport fashionable. Try perspex purses with a casual jumper and striped racing trousers for maximum comfort. And with the Olympics this year, there couldn’t be a better time for sports to be cool again.

With the new adaptation of The Great Gatsby coming out, the high street has got mad with 20’s inspired fashion. With beads, drop waists and fringing, it’s easy to mimic the flapper look. The best imitation on the high street is the River Island version of the Gucci dress on the catwalk, at a much cheaper price.

However, if that’s too extreme, try some beaded tops and vintage jewellery for a hint of the jazz age.

P19 // LIFESTYLE

Versace

Topshop £22

Dolce & Gabbana

Topshop £26

Jonathon Saunders

Kate Bosworth

H&M £14.99

Kurt Geiger £140 Topshop £38

Topshop £34

Colourbug £12.95

Its coming up to that time of year, summer ball! And to celebrate, we are giving away 2 tickets for you to win!

All you have to do is answer this question:

Topshop £20 Topshop

£20

WIN tickets!

Mango £29.99 Mango £29.99

Dare to bare

Dip dye

The crop top has always been lurking, be it an 80’s Flashdance one or 90’s cropped band shirt. However, the new crop is taking it back to the 50’s. With the bralette acting as a more structured crop top, the way to wear the trend is with the matching skirt, so that just a flash of midriff is showing and the outfit is pulled together. Of course the top can be worn separately underneath a shirt and jeans for a subtle look, but if you pair the bright printed duos with some cats eye sunglasses and these Kurt Geiger imitations of the Louis Vuitton mules, than its 50’s glamour at its best.

The dip dye trend is the most universal trend this summer, because it’s a style suited for everyone. Being slightly different to the pattern on tie dye, dip dye is when the garment is simply dipped in dye so that the colour graduates up in a more even pattern. Try denim shorts with a twist of colour at the hem, or a graduated dipped hem skirt (another trend this summer!) Or if you don’t want to wear the trend, numerous celebrities such as Kate Bosworth have been dip dying their hair, so try the Colour bug for non-permanent pink tips!

What was Noah and the Whales first album named?

Email your answer, name and contact number to knowledge@upsu.com A winner will be chosen at random on the 23rd May. Good luck!!

P20 // LIFESTYLE

The Student and The Budget

By Thea Jones

My housemate told me a couple of weeks ago that her boyfriend spent the last of his overdraft on a novelty pen. Whether or not this is your reality or your nightmare, it’s a given that ‘student’ and ‘budget’ are two words that don’t welcome each other with open arms.

Students have demands – we must eat, pay rent, buy course materials, and for many students – the pinnacle of university life: we must enjoy ourselves. Whether this involves nights out or dinner dates, it makes a large dent in our loans. So what for a budget then, when we want to unleash and enjoy ourselves at a time when we are given money?

Well, budgeting can put you in control of your money, make you perhaps unhappily but in

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the long-term successfully aware that our loans are not endless. Yes, we all have weeks where money seems to fly out of our bank accounts, and we really need a good night out.

In my case, if it’s at least roughly managed, budgeting has saved me money.

For me, a weekly ‘sizeable chunked’ budget works; it sends me to certain supermarket for cheaper milk to be able to buy an extra tea, and suggests that it would be better to buy all those long-lasting toiletries together to get a bigger discount.

Armed with a rough understanding of my termly, monthly, weekly or daily outgoings for rent, food etc., I was asked to test out an

online student budget calculator, which would work out how much money I needed ‘in order to get through college’. The figure was almost double what I receive now – weird, when I am surviving so far. The calculator wanted me to be meticulously planning my every expenditure by the term, month, week and day – how much I spend a month on cinema trips, or a day on tea and coffee – things which depend on films that take your fancy and how awake you do not feel for a lecture or library session. What it really comes down to is the individual student – we all have varying of rent, possibly a job and most importantly, different priorities and interests.

126 Armada Way, Plymouth www.pastyhouse.co.uk

Amazing deals for Students

P21 // LIFESTYLE

Political Opinion:

Power of the Student Voice

By Ben Orgill

‘Vote Now’ posters plastered the walls and windows of the central campus, candidates’ banners hung from the Union with their names and slogans shouting out in a range of bright colours, the e-mailing system unfailingly sent encouraging emails to reluctant voters, and the candidates made repeated rounds on the campaign trail, eager to win the trust of as many people as possible before voting ended.

There should have been a buzz of activity, an air of excitement, a spirit of solidarity as we were invited to decide what our ‘Student Voice’ sounded like.

But there wasn’t and once voting closed, it was unlikely to ever have been. To ask people what they thought about the student elections was to invite shrugs, eye rolls, fatigued sighs, and, in one case, a frighteningly impressive yawn. Students, in general, weren’t interested.

Despite the publicity, the campaigns and the opportunity to win a free iPad upon voting, many felt disconnected to the process because they felt they didn’t know enough about it.

This is more or less a noble reason not to vote, the democratic system inherently flawed and weakened by the potential for ignorant or misinformed votes. However, when all of the information is centralised on the union website with the candidates’ policies and a thorough explanation of the voting process, ignorance is not an excuse. Perhaps people were too busy with academic work, or they felt campaigns

have passed them by, or that voting wouldn’t have mattered anyway; but when a vote can put an elected student representative in a position to affect the policy on anything from extenuating circumstances and deadline regulations to the management of sports societies and student finances, then it might be worth finding a candidate to vote for.

In essence, the whole process should’ve contained more opportunities for spectacle.

Having attended the ‘Win It in A Minute’ speech rally, MA student Roger Whitehouse found himself drawn in not by the candidates per se, but the general atmosphere: “The hustings were a way of hearing the candidates directly, and the atmosphere of political debate made the whole thing more engaging and exciting.” Roger’s experience reflects the positive effect debates and rallies have on inspiring the voting public, a dynamic event where there are at least two opposing sides and each side is trying to convince you that they’re right. A civilised argument is the perfect public spectacle because it divides the audience accordingly, allowing for authentic crowd relation and a spirit of healthy competition. Speeches, rallies, and debates- all of these would draw a crowd and involve the student population in a more active political role.

It’s a strange thing that despite the iPad incentive, the ease of the voting system and the potential to make a change in the running of the university, that the majority of students show a general apathy towards the elections.

This perhaps reflects wider politics where politicians desperately try any fresh angle to involve ‘disaffected youth’ in politics. However, there doesn’t need to be the Nick Clegg approach of gimmicky and hollow empathy, but a way of making the public realise exactly what their vote can affect in the most exciting way possible.

The elections can only be effective if there is a sufficient amount of informed voters. Without this, then the process can only fail, or sink into the popularity contest that the organisers take great pains in trying to prevent. If none of the candidates suit your disposition, then there’s always the RON (re-open nomination) vote which means that a candidate has to work harder to represent the student voice in order to earn their place. I hope that the team that gets elected makes changes to the student experience that is noticeable enough to inspire a greater political spirit, a general sense of awareness of the work of the elected, and a belief that every vote is worth being cast. After all, how strong can a student voice be without the students?

P22 // LIFESTYLE

Is The Kindle set to replace The Book?

By Gavin McQue

Sales figures suggest that every year digital books sell increasingly more as opposed to the steadily decreasing traditional printed ones. The new technology has certainly been embraced by society, with many University courses now offering most texts online and many students armed with a tablet computer for work and play in place of the traditional book. Amongst the impressed grins though, concerned critics have formed against the new technology and the damage it could cause the old fashioned book.

It’s an argument with no easy answer, both sides with strong cases, and it’s these cases that this article hopes to take a look at.

Against: Expenses

“79.99” -Price for the cheapest Kindle (Kindle Keyboard 3G on Amazon.com) The cheapest price for a Kindle is £79. A book will cost on average a little less than £10, if you want to buy it rather than borrow from a library. The Kindle might provide slightly cheaper books in the long run but that assumes you’re playing the long run, rather than the casual readers who make up the majority of the market. Just because you like burgers, it doesn’t mean you have to buy a McDonalds.

For: Convenience

“Many of the texts required for my course I have found for free on Amazon meaning I have saved tens of pounds.” -Katie French, BA (Hons) English Student My first experience with a Kindle felt almost magical. I sat down, the entire Amazon catalogue of literature available to me, picked one at a price, discounted as is natural for all Kindle books, and it was there. The long and annoying process of wandering through shops looking for the book had been removed, giving me more spare time to indulge in the journalistic adventures of Mikael Blomkvist, or the psychotic mind of Frankie Boyle.

Against: Destruction of business and culture

“A lot of publishers in Scotland are small, and it’s an uncomfortable position to be in, when you’ve got the likes of Google, Apple and Amazon, grabbing market share.” - Marion

Sinclair of Luath Press in the Douglass Fraser BBC article “An Unflinching Look at the Book” Money has now been a point I’ve brought up several times. Which company does earn money? Waterstones. WH Smith. Book shops, libraries, magazine stands, comic-book stores.

Not only do they make money they provide jobs and they provide a service for the many people still dedicated to printed media, things invaluable in today’s society, and far too significant to just be destroyed; the logical conclusion from Kindle advancement.

For: Environmentally friendly

“One and one-half acres of rainforest are lost every second with tragic consequences for both developing and industrial countries.”

Rainforest Facts at http://www.rain-tree.com/ facts.htm This feels like a low blow, but a true one none the less, that to get the material needed to make books, you need to cut down trees.

Regardless of your political beliefs, it’s not a new vs. old battle when it comes to books; it’s a question of practicality. The stories and the text won’t ever change, just the medium by which they’re delivered. The Kindle happens to be the cheapest, leased space consuming one.

Against: Technological Dependencies

“As a keen reader, I prefer the sense of an actual book to reading from a Kindle.

I also find that sometimes it’s quite difficult to read…”

-Katie French BA (Hons) English Student A Kindle or any type of digital screen will need a battery with a finite amount of power and will inevitably ware down the viewer’s eyes. Most people will have a charger and many people grow used to the glow of the screen over time. There may be solutions to these problems but a book doesn’t ever present a problem to begin with. Convenience has

been already mentioned, but which is really the more convenient?

For: Progress

“Civilization advances by extending the number of important operations which we can perform without thinking of them.” – Alfred North Whitehead The Kindle can store more, do more and require less than a book. So could the calculator to the abacus. Nostalgia or comforting norms are nice but when they get placed above progress, it’s undeniable that progress and benefits are being stopped.

Many years after the calculator was invented, the abacus still exists as a toy, a playful gimmick. Many years from now we don’t know what will become of the book, but we do know that it faces strong competition from the strong selling and highly appealing Kindle and E-Book.

References: -http://www.rain-tree.com/facts.htm -http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotlandscotland-business-13030387 -http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kindle-WirelessReader-Wifi-Graphite.

Goodbye to Goodbyes

P23 // LIFESTYLE

By Gavin McQue

I’ve been at Plymouth University for almost two years, and only now have I started to pick up on one very small quirk, so small and seemingly irrelevant that I feel odd for not only having noticed it, but let it stick with me. Since I’ve come to University and became a student,

no one says goodbye. I don’t mean that no one ever leaves, they do but when they do it’s met with “See ya”, “See ya later.”, “In a bit.” or some other variation of the phrase. Goodbye, bye or goodnight aren’t used anymore; but is it really significant? I suppose to figure out that you have to have an idea of why “In a bit.” became so popular.

Firstly, goodnight implies some sort of normal sleep routine, and student lifestyle comes at the price of a normal sleep routine. When you’re young staying up past midnight is a struggle but my the late teens and early twenties there is more than enough stuff to keep you into the late hours of the morning, be it worthwhile coursework or just another funny video of kittens. At the same time by University, mornings are very skippable; after all, any lost hours can be made up for at late night library session along with countless others. Traditional work hours might be based around getting up early and going to sleep at a reasonable time, but that still leaves a long enough time for the bizarre and erratic University lifestyle of trying to balance nights out, work, lectures and maintaining a home.

Goodnight implies some sort of stable sleep routine, something not present at University.

With goodnight redundant, night and day lose a lot of their significance. Just as much cleaning and revision can be done at two in the morning as three in the afternoon. Night

and day are just things, no longer an end to the day. Not an end and not a good bye. Just something that’ll be later. Friends. Food. Work.

Anything. All just something happening later.

And in the end, this is University, a time when the balance between real world responsibility and the privileges of adult life are tipped best in our favour. Life is good and for a while, it might seem almost endless. Why would you ever want to say goodbye to something as good as that?

P24 // LIFESTYLE

Restaurant Review: Yo! Sushi!

By Gavin McQue

I had intended on writing this review a little earlier but various things got in my way, actually lots of things got in my way, taking the form of a very long never disappearing line outside of Yo! Sushi throughout the weekend. The recently opened restaurant is very popular and it’s not hard to see why, the new eatery subverts the expected norms and I couldn’t help but be a little unnerved as I entered.

I’ve never eaten Sushi before so this was a new experience. The food, the conveyer belt providing the food, the cooks put at the centre of the dining area for the customers to see were all a pleasant surprise. It was an odd experience but a temporary one, minor subversions to the same basic principle, a place providing food, drinks and seating in exchange for money so as the customer may leave fuller and happier as a result of the transaction.

The food itself is good. Dishes of cold food are constantly available via the conveyer belt running throughout and are colour coded in relation to prices and there is a large selection of quite cheap dishes to eat. I mentioned before that this was my first time at a Sushi bar, and I think I made the mistake of picking my dishes separately. The food is nice, given in small portions but this is made up for by the fact prices are fine enough to have multiple dishes to provide a good mix of both healthy and tasty food, and is accompanied by chopsticks which did a nice job of slowing my eating rate down and allowed me to savour more, though might just bug other people who just want to eat.

Hot food is also provided and the small portion meant that it was provided quickly, though as I left it looked like it was taking slightly longer with the larger crowds. The food

in the end if fine and the seating is comfortable so in the end it does do its job. I personally had a nice dish of Spicy Chicken, a hot dish of chicken yakisoba which did hit a spot and finished with some cucumber maki which was definitely an acquired taste or something that needs to be mixed with other food. At £2.05 though for a bottle of Diet Coke the prices seemed a little expensive perhaps to make up for food.

Set in the middle of Drakes Circus the place is at its most popular in the early afternoon and I feel this is the perfect time for a place like this, a quirky colourful buffet based eatery providing good nibbles to get you through the day until dinner time when you can have a larger, more substantial meal.

P25 // LIFESTYLE

the shop

By Joshua Schouten de Jel

Peninsula Arts, the umbrella arts organisation of Plymouth University, has been successful with a new proposal to open a shop space within Roland Levinsky. Nestled between the Box Office and the Gallery, The Shop, based on the pop-up stall which frequented fairs and degree shows like the Arts Degree show in June 2011, will sell work created by Plymouth University Arts students.

Initially accepting work from about 8 to 10 students, The Shop will stock work ranging from illustrations and photography books to ceramics and animations. The final pieces, selected by staff and the student team of interns, will act as an acknowledgment to the determined, enterprising and innovative inspiration shown by the Arts students, allowing them to work and flourish within a supportive and professional environment.

It is fantastic news that The Shop will now become a permanent feature within the Gallery, supplementing the expanding range of Peninsula Arts merchandise already available to students, staff and the public.

It gives students a platform from which to gage the success of their creative pieces, and I have been told by Hannah Simpson, a current student intern who has helped with this project, that if a particular pot,

or book, or picture sells well, the student who produced the artwork will be asked to create more. The Shop is profit driven, and 90% of the sale will go to the students who submitted their work with the other 10% being reinvested into The Shop. It is great to see an enterprise which is profit driven with nearly all the profit going to students.

The Shop gives young entrepreneurs from within the Art faculty a chance to experiment and produce their own artwork, and at the same time providing them with a supportive environment in which to grow. Anna Jay, Sue Newell, Laura Sadler, and Hannah Simpson have worked alongside Emily Packer to fulfil this fantastic enterprise, and have provided a keen student-based insight into the development of The Shop. The students have also been involved in researching and writing the proposal which was delivered

by Laura and Emily to The Change Academy, a body of senior staff from the university.

I asked some of the interns how The Shop has been publicised thus far, with Sue and Hannah responding that ‘word of mouth’ has been the only medium used. I think it’s important to advertise this enterprise as widely as possible, not

only to support Peninsula Arts and to justify The Change Academy’s decision to provide funding, but also to support our fellow students in their entrepreneurial and artistic endeavours. The Shop is a great way to raise student profiles and to elaborate and cement the connection Peninsula Arts has successfully built up with the public. Furthermore, the work submitted will act as a great poster promoting Plymouth University and its thriving students.

I asked Laura where the future lies for The Shop, to which she replied: ‘The Shop will officially be launched at this year’s Arts Degree show, and hopefully it will attract a lot of attention. At the moment, I think it has to stay small, due to the space available within the Gallery. There will be others involved next year who will hopefully continue to carry this venture forwards.’

Hannah gave a hopeful response to the future prospects of The Shop: ‘Once it takes off the idea would be to make it electronic. With regards to renting a shop in the city centre, The Shop is part of Peninsula Arts, so I’m not sure about the cost, effectiveness, practicality of renting a building in town: it would have to be very popular!’

the summer ball

P27 // ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

By Emily Dawe

The time of year has come again when the biggest night on the university social calendar is just around the corner. And, considering the performers who will be visiting the campus, this is definitely not one to be missed. With everything from the mellow sounds of Noah and the Whale to the dubstep mixes of Jakwob there is clearly something for everyone. But that’s not all; between the fun fair, casino and karaoke tent, the event promises to bring all the best nights imaginable together to create one ‘super-night’.

nights out that we need when the thought of deadlines and exams throughout the university year are just too much.

Considering the time of year, with exams providing a never ending source of panic throughout the student population, the Summer Ball could be the light at the end of the tunnel you need to survive the mental torment.

The event promises to once again be a sell out so buy your tickets now to avoid disappointment. And, while you’re at it, it only makes sense to take a revision break to go shopping for the perfect outfit.

Despite the seemingly high ticket prices, the events on offer are definitely worth it and, considering the profits go straight back into the student union, this event is one of the many things that allows the SU to bring us the amazing and cheap

Review: UPSU Comedy Night

By Ingrid Baumgart

On Tuesday 27th March UPSU held a comedy night in the Illusion Room, with Luke Benson, who has been performing stand-up since 2007, and Jessica Fostekew, who has been in the circuit since 2008. The night would perhaps have benefitted from more advertising; on the night when I first arrived in the SU there was no sign that the event was even happening.

I was faced with a crowd of males watching the football, and when I asked one of the bar staff about the night in question they had no idea that it existed. Soon after I did manage to find where the room was, which funnily enough was not far away from the unaware member of staff.

At the start of the night, in the classic comedic way, people in the audience were targeted, although sometimes it was to the point of awkwardness.

For example, an audience member

was accused of being in love with his female friend, only for him to eventually reveal that he was actually gay. It was then suggested that another poor victim hated her friends who were sitting next to her, which also got a little uncomfortable, although I can’t deny that people were laughing.

The main problem with the night was the fact that we were constantly reminded of how the comedians had spent three or four hours on a train to get here and that we weren’t laughing enough. This put pressure on the audience to look like we were thoroughly entertained, and I soon found myself thinking; ‘I must laugh because these comedians have come from far away and spent a lot of time and effort to get here’. Unfortunately it is hard to fully enjoy yourself and relax when one comedian states

how a different university ‘found that joke hilarious’ and as an audience we are described as being ‘dead inside’. What made the atmosphere even more awkward was that we could hear a good deal more laughter coming from the room next door.

However it would not be fair to say that the night was not entertaining.

The people working at the event were friendly and I found the host very comical. Luke Benson was an interesting character and Jessica Fostekew was certainly energetic and engaging. Many parts of their acts were amusing and entertaining, but perhaps if there were more people in the room the comedians would have realised that we were actually laughing for the majority of the night, as they seemed convinced that we were not having a good time.

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I Know What You Should Do This Summer

By Jack Adams

This article serves as an idiots guide to the summer’s best films that everyone should see while they’re at home over the summer. Whether it is a big blockbuster, the sly, underappreciated independent indie movies, or the comedy that will stay in your mind, this is your guide.

MAY:

May 18th: Sacha Baron Cohen returns in controversial fashion in The Dictator.

The man famous for the genius creation of Borat is back doing what he does best.

Baron Cohen plays the tyrannical dictator of the Republic of Wadiya, a fictional middle-eastern country. He then journeys to New York to make an important speech and ends up having a self-discovering journey. Possible problems with The Dictator are the fact that it is nearly completely scripted. Ali G In Da House proved that Cohen’s audience didn’t respond well to the scripted element of his films. The trailer leaves much to the imagination about this film apart from it looking very funny. Fans of Baron Cohen’s will undoubtedly flock to the cinema, I know I will.

MAY:

May 25th: Will Smith returns as Agent J. in Men In Black 3, Tommy Lee Jones is back as his smooth talking, bad-ass partner, Agent K. This long awaited sequel has been blighted with many problems.

The biggest problem was the script, with lines being changed literally as the actors were delivering them. It’s been 10 years since the last, disappointing Men In Black film. This third instalment will prove if Will Smith still has the box office power to drive a profit as he has been missed from the blockbuster world since 2008’s Hancock.

Men In Black 3 is the story of Agent J having to travel back to the swinging 60s to save his partners younger self (Young Agent K played by Josh Brolin). Flight of the Concords Jemaine Clement is the films alien antagonist which should make for a funny, extra-terrestrial, action packed thrill of a film.

JUNE:

June 1st: The month starts with one of the most hotly anticipated films of all time.

Sir Ridley Scott is returning to Sci-Fi after 30 years. Prometheus, the Alien prequel takes place 50 years before the events of the first Alien film and Ridley Scott returns to the world to answer questions fans of the original film have had for years, decades even. This film stars Noomi Rapace who is predicted to be ‘the new Ripley’ (Sigourney Weavers character in the four original Alien movies for the uninitiated) and is very well supported from the likes of Charlize Theron and Michael Fassbender as the android David.

The space ship Prometheus is chartered by the Weyland-Yutani Corporation to venture to a science mission on a distant planet because of signs that life may have originated from there and needed to be investigated. The trailers are breath taking and Sir Ridley’s trademark of creating incredibly detailed and immersive worlds is in full swing, absolutely one to watch.

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JULY:

July 4th: The Amazing Spiderman is a fresh take on one of Stan Lee’s most famous creations. Englishman Andrew Garfield is the man tasked with putting on the iconic suit. This story focuses on Peter Parkers high school years, something which needed to be done. Sam Raimi’s brilliant original Spiderman starring Tobey Maguire brushed over the high school years. Amazing Spiderman also displays a fan favourite villain in the shape of the Lizard, played by Rhys Ifans. Emma Stone plays Gwen Stacey, Peter Parkers first love. This film shows the years of Spiderman’s life when he developed his powers and Peter finds out more about his parents disappearance. However, doing so aligns him to cross paths with Dr. Curt Connors (A.K.A. Lizard) and the drama is sure to unfold in glorious web slinging action.

JULY:

July 20th: The Dark Knight Rises is Christopher Nolan’s last escapade into Gotham City’s underworld as director.

Christian Bale puts on his Batman costume and Bruce Wayne swagger again to fight with Tom Hardy’s Bane. Bane is a terrorist who is immensely powerful both mentally and physically. He also has an army sized following that is putting the entire city in jeopardy. With immense battles and action predicted, a great supporting cast of Gary Oldman and Michael Caine it is hard to see how this film could get any more exciting. Then we hear that Anne Hathaway is going to be playing femme fatale Selina Kyle (AKA Catwoman) and it becomes unbearable. The Dark Knight set the bar incredibly high for Nolan’s last Batman film. Nolan has promised to go out in a bang and it will be interesting to see if it can possibly deliver to the hype.

august:

August13th: Pixar’s latest film Brave is the story of Merida (Kelly MacDonald), a daughter of King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson). Merida is an impatient young lady who doesn’t abide to Scottish fictional traditions and causes controversy within her parent’s kingdom by not complying with convention. Merida then goes to a Witch (Julie Walters) in a moment of despair and is put under a curse; Merida must learn to be brave to undo the spell. Pixar, believe it or not is the creative powerhouse of the movie industry, the company has never made a bad film. That is not merely opinion but fact based on financial gross. There is scepticism about Pixar making a princess, fairy-tale type story. But this is Pixar, the company that made monsters cool, a loveable robot amidst an apocalypse and have emotions towards a fish, so we should all reserve judgement.

august:

August 22nd: Total Recall is a remake of the cult Sci-Fi 1990 film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. This remake stars Colin Farrell in the same role and unlike the original it is not set on mars. The remake takes place in a dystopian 2084 future with future China and future America at each other’s throats. Doug Quaid (Farrell), a factory worker begins to suspect he is a spy but his personality was altered and memories erased. Quaid is unsure of whose side he is on and what his memories contained that he needed them removed. On his journey to regain himself, Quaid joins up with freedom fighters within future America to fight the oppressive system in the country that rule. Other stars are Jessica Biel, Kate Beckinsale, Bill Nighy and Bryan Cranston. I have looked for a reason why this film needed a remake and I can’t find it.

The original was classic and it is close to so many peoples movie favourite pile because of numerous memorable moments. But with director Len Wiseman taking charge and smartly distancing this film from the original, it could just work.

This is merely a guide of potential films to see this summer. There are many others to watch out for too, like Neighbourhood Watch, The Bourne Legacy, Rock Of Ages, Ice Age 4 and Seth Macfarlane’s long awaited live action directorial debut Ted. Have a good summer, I know I will.

Best Date Night Movies

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The Ones You Watch When You Have Other Intentions

By Jack Spence Adams

Rom Com of Choice:

Lady’s Choice:

The Unconventional Mans Choice:

Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist- The typical example of a ‘rom-com’ with an indie modern twist. The story of Nick (Michael Cera, Superbad) and Norah (Kat Dennings, 40 Year Old Virgin) meeting at a gig, then through a series of events, spend the length of a night journeying through Ney York City in search of their elusive favourite band for a secret gig, whilst searching for Norah’s drunk best friend who has run away. Another aspect is Nick’s crazy, interfering ex-girlfriend and how she is dealt with merely adds weight to the pair’s romance. This film appeals to all who watch, as opposed to the usual ‘rom-com’ drudgery which the audience has become accustomed to. The romantic setting of night time New York facilitates the pairs coming together. Cera and Dennings seem a perfect couple who are unable to realise it; Nick’s friends and the sub plot of finding Norah’s best friend are why this ‘rom-com’ should be seen by everyone. This film should be the standard to which all rom-coms are based upon. It’s cool, un- cheesy and different.

Mean Girls – The ladies choice that is the undoubted guilty pleasure of most men too. The story of Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) moving to a typically American high school from Africa, where she is initially out of place dealing with the unwritten social order that the school’s girl seem to abide to. She then begins to sabotage the most popular girl at school Regina George (Rachel McAdams) in order to steal her boyfriend. In the process of this, Cady becomes the very thing she is trying to sabotage. Typically, this movie sees her then realise the errors of her ways and that everyone loves her for who she is. This film is one that has almost gained a cult status amongst the audience. It is a rare film in that it can be enjoyed by both sexes despite being aimed at young women. This is because of different reasons. Women enjoy this film because it shows an exaggerated version of ‘girl politics’ and men enjoy Mean Girls because it is very funny and, put bluntly because it contains many beautiful girls.

Spiderman - Sam Raimi’s first journey into Marvels cover boy superhero is regarded as the best one. It may not be many peoples first choice when picking the film for a cosy up on the sofa. This is rubbish. Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire), a nerdy nobody obtains arachnoid superpowers after being bitten by a cross breed radioactive spider on a field trip and uses these powers to better man kind. Also, he is intimately in love with Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst) and some of the films best moments come when Spiderman/Peter share scenes with Mary Jane. This culminates in Spiderman’s enemy, the Green Goblin (played brilliantly

by Willem Dafoe) kidnapping Mary Jane, goading Spiderman to intervene and the inevitable final showdown ensues. Where this film is geared towards the fans of Marvel comics, it should be said that it is a stand-alone, ground breaking film that will always leave its audience enamoured. The reason simply why this film is at my top spot for date nights is because of the cheese factor. It’s the cheesiest of my choices; good ol’ ‘Good vs. Evil’ with ‘Boy gets Girl’ scenario will melt anyone onto the sofa in need of a cuddle.

There’s something about Mario

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By Ingrid Baumgart

Mario Falcone is the Italian heartthrob of hit ITV2 reality show The Only Way Is Essex. Tall, dark and extremely handsome, the star caught the attention of thousands of girls across the nation as soon as he appeared on series three with that towel-dropping (and jaw-dropping!) moment. His rivalry with Mark Wright had viewers gripped and combined with his rocky relationship with fellow ‘TOWIE’ star Lucy Mecklenburgh, Mario has achieved unpredictable and exciting storylines throughout his time on the show.

Mario made a special appearance on Saturday 25th March in Oceana Plymouth which included meets and greets with the public, and I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to interview him. The atmosphere of the popular nightclub was vibrant right from the start, with people in high spirits and many heading straight onto the dance floor in the Ice Room. Even though I was feeling nervous with the anticipation of meeting Mario, the good quality music and lively surroundings soon left me no choice but to have a dance!

interview: Ingrid Baumgart: So how did you get onto The Only Way Is Essex?

Mario Falcone: I was obviously going out with Lucy, and then the producer wanted to meet me and that was it really. They did an interview for an hour, and then came and met me round mine where they did a five hour video clip of me, which was cut down and changed for ITV. They liked me and that was it.

Ingrid: What advice would you give to someone wanting to get into television?

Mario: See I don’t really know, as I wasn’t really intending on doing it.

Up until the last minute I wasn’t even going to go on the show. It wasn’t really my thing, then after they twisted and twisted and twisted I said okay and that was it. Most people who want to get into T.V. do things like presenting or acting but because it’s a reality show you need to get people to like you for who you really are. That’s all the advice I can give really, other than just be nice.

Ingrid: So who spends the longest in hair and make-up? I’m guessing it’s one of the girls…

Mario: It’s one of the girls. Most of the boys, like myself, even though we’re all like, quite… tarts, we all get ready quite quickly Ingrid: What about Joey (Essex)?

Mario: See Joey doesn’t really take

When Mario appeared the excitement of the club heightened and he happily posed for photos with a steady stream of eager fans in the Woo Woo Room. My time then came to meet the star in the VIP room. As well as being charming, friendly and easy to talk to, Mario was willing to answer every question I asked and he carried on chatting when the interview had finished.

The only problem is that I now can’t help but compare every man I meet to Mario, and of course none of them will ever quite match up!

A big thank you to Mario for kindly agreeing to be interviewed and to Oceana Plymouth for an amazing night!

that long, all of us do the same thing; blow dry our hair over, put a bit of gel on it and that’s it. All of the boys look after their make up as well Ingrid: A bit of tan?

Mario: All of us wear bronzer, ‘cause the thing on T.V. is that if you don’t wear bronzer then you look really pasty, it’s really weird. I think longest though girls-wise… is probably Lauren Goodger.

Ingrid: Really?

Mario: Yeah see they’ve all got their own make-up artists as well.

Ingrid: So what was your favourite scene to film on the show?

Mario: Lapland was really good, it was really good fun, but I think the best thing I’ve done has to be my first scene when I dropped the towel because of the impact it had. They were like ‘Mario will you do a towel drop?’ and I was like ‘yeah that’s fine’ and then were like ‘you have to be naked’ and I was like ‘…Okay…’

Ingrid: What about when you were running into the sea with Joey (Essex) and Arg (James Argent)?

Mario: That was the worst thing I’ve ever done in my life…

Ingrid: What! That was the best bit!

Mario: No that was so cold, before we got back into Mick’s (Mick Norcross) caravan it took about two hours… it was horrendous, my feet were numb for ages it was horrible

Ingrid: It was a good scene though…

Mario: It was a good scene, see we were in Walton on the Naze, and nothing really happens in Walton on the Naze, so we were filming and there was one stalker and suddenly there must have been about two hundred and fifty kids on the other side of the cameras watching us! It was horrible. It was so cold. I think it was about minus three.

Ingrid: Oh my god. What does your perfect night out involve?

Mario: Always with my boys. The thing is like, obviously now I’m with Lucy (Mecklenburgh) it’s not really about…when I was younger it was all about the girls and stuff. But now it’s just about having my boys around me.

Ingrid: Is it normally at the Sugar Hut? Mario: Sugar Hut or Nu Bar, they’re both really good. I like London as well, London’s nice.

Ingrid: And finally is there going to be another series of The Only Way Is Essex?

Mario: There is, we start filming in April and it should be aired on the 15th April.

Ingrid: I look forward to it!

Mario: Yeah should be a good one.

Ingrid: Okay well thank you very much for doing this, I really appreciate it Mario: No worries

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DictatorMovie.co.uk

DictatorMovie.co.uk

DictatorMovie.co.uk

Dictator_Beard_Quad.indd 1

10/04/2012 14:14

WIN THE DICTATOR GOODIES To celebrate the release of Sacha Baron Cohen’s new film ‘The Dictator’ on the 16th May, UPSU are giving you the chance to win a selection of awesome prizes, courtesy of Paramount Pictures.

The Dictator is the latest film starring Sacha Baron Cohen, the outrageous comedian known for his portrayals of Borat and Ali G. Here he stars as a rich, cruel dictator who heads to the US for a meeting at the United Nations. After being kidnapped, he wanders the city and meets a beautiful organic store owner who helps him on his journey back to the throne.

View trailer

For your chance to win a fabulous selection of prizes including t-shirts, posters and DVDs, all you have to do is tweet UPSU with why you want to see the film.

Tweet @UPSU, #thedictator.

For terms and conditions please see below. Winners will be chosen at random, all tweets must be received by the closing date : 21st May.

T&Cs The 1st prize (2 to win) includes– 1x Official The Dictator T-shirt, 1x Official The Dictator Poster, 1x Paramount back-catalogue DVD (title to be confirmed upon win).

2nd prize (2 to win) - 1x Official The Dictator T-shirt, 1x Official The Dictator Poster.

There is no alternative. You must enter by Midnight on 21st May. Winners are selected at random and will be contacted by Twitter depending on entry method. UPSU reserves the right to alter any of the above.

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Review

Joss Whedon’s Avengers Assemble The Most Hotly Anticipated Nerdy Film Ever!

By Jack Adams

SPOILER ALERT… The fan boy within me emerged and became excited by this film when I first saw an inkling of its production over a year ago. I was very cautious however of building it in my head because I believed my expectations could never be met.

Joss Whedon, the genius behind Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly is at the helm of this monstrously large film. Rightly so, he was the only man for the job. He is known for being able to work with ensemble casts and give all involved due props.

One of the biggest issues with creating this behemoth of a movie was the problem of who would be the ‘bad guy’. What possible threat would need the attention of all of Marvel universe’s greatest heroes? This threat was posed by mythical Norse god Loki. Loki had been exiled from Asgard (his and brother Thor’s home world) and subsequently struck a deal with an alien race. In exchange for them aiding him taking over Earth, they would get the rest of the universe to do with as they see fit.

This film is about the Avengers coming together for the first time to save humanity from aliens and a disgruntled god. It has clashing egos, clashing fists and funny gags. No one Avenger is given the starring role, something which is in itself impressive because of rumours that Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man was going to steal the show. Instead of this, each superhero is given almost equal screen time, mainly due to Whedon’s expertise at wrangling large casts.

Performances were inherently awesome. Downey Jr. as witty Tony Stark has become a crowd pleaser.

Mark Ruffalo, the man charged with finally giving the Hulk more depth, accomplished his goals and made the Hulk more than just an uncontrollable beast, often stealing scenes with his gargantuan green counterpart being at the heart of the most of the films funniest moments. Chris Hemsworth’s Thor is still the arrogant Norse god, but the way he integrates himself with the Avengers is seamless and he fits perfectly. Chris Evans’ Captain America is wrestling the task of coming to terms with now being in the 21st century and approaches the difficulties with an old school heroic attitude, something which Evans

makes believable and seems to revel in.

Avengers Assemble has an incredible supporting cast. Nick Fury, the man responsible for bringing the super team together is played strongly by Samuel L. Jackson. It was overdue, to finally see more of Nick Fury other than 30 seconds at the end of Marvel movies as a cameo. Scarlett Johansson brought Black Widow to life, yet another example of the way in which Whedon creates strong, independent female characters.

Lastly, Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye completes the line-up of the incredible fighting team.

There are so many memorable moments, notably Hulk vs. Thor.

Avengers Assemble has enough action to keep anyone’s adrenaline level up, whilst also being able to keep the audience chuckling. This is solely because of the film’s director.

This film was one to which I was extremely excited about and it did not disappoint. Not enough praise can be given to Joss Whedon who managed to set the bar very high for whoever is unlucky enough to follow him for the sequel.

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Dan Kelsey-Wilkinson Interview: BJJ Dan Kelsey- Wilkinson is a martial artist in every respect of the term. He lives, eats and breathes his training.

I spent a morning talking with him about his life, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and breaking other people’s legs…

Hey DK, first of all, can you give us a little background into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ)?

Sure. BJJ is a ground fighting martial art that concentrates on demobilising your opponent to the point of submission or passing out.

There’re a lot of joint locks, wrestling and takedowns. It’s a fairly recent martial art, and it’s still continuously growing. There’s no strict method on what to do, so it’s extremely broad. It’s incredibly hard, and is one of, if not the, martial art that takes the longest time to officially grade in a belt due to the vastness of each technique.

So, is there anything we need to know about you?

I come from Hertford, just north of London and it’s my birthday today (laughs).

Happy birthday! So what’s your background in martial arts? Where did it all start?

I first started martial arts I think for a week when I was eight. My mum chucked me in a karate class: I wasn’t interested. When I came into 6th form, a friend of mine came up to me and asked if I wanted to do MMA and I thought why not? I was into a lot of fitness, gym work at the time and I thought it would be good to apply it to something. I went to Team Titan in London, and was taught by Brad Picket and Mark “Babyface”. Brad’s in the UFC now. I loved it and found a passion for ground fighting there.

What about in Plymouth? Where do you train here?

As I came to uni, I joined the JKD society as there was no BJJ society, but I took an immense shine to that and am now the chairman of it. I absolutely love it and have been doing it for a year and a half. I’m currently a blue belt, hopefully grading soon.

I’ve made many friends there and it’s where I spend most of my time. I’ve also joined the MSJBBA, taught by Tom Barlow, BJJ. It’s exactly what I wanted. I train two or three times a week, but there were phases during the summer where I was training every day, completely dedicated to it.

In my second year of uni, I started up the Plymouth University BJJ club, with help from some of my friends at JKD and Ian Harrop, the son of my JKD instructor, Steve Harrop. It’s picking up pace quite nicely, and hopefully with the martial arts boom of Bjj it’ll pick up even more within the next few years. It’s kind of taken over my life. I’m extremely strict on my diet particularly, my fitness regime and my training: I do martial arts everyday, whether it’s kickboxing, Muay Thai, BJJ, JKD or Wing Chun, it’s takes up a lot of my time, whether it’s in classes or training out of classes with friends. BJJ is what I train the majority of the time either in the uni club or at the academy.

BJJ is a sporting art, so can you tell me about your recent competition?

It was my first competition, no gi (A two-piece garment worn in martial arts) based, grappling. It wasn’t strictly BJJ, so there were some wrestling and Judo guys there too. It was described as one of the largest regional competitions. It was broken down into weight classes and belt grades. There were only to grade, above two years and below two years.

The weight class I was in was 68 kilos and below, and when I weighed in I was 62.3kg, so I was fighting guys heavier than me. There were three mats, one for each weight class and belt grade. Each grade stayed on the mat until there was a winner.

How was it judged then?

The fights were broken down into 5 minute rounds. There was only one round, and the ref could allocate an extra two minutes if he felt it was needed. The idea of this comp wasn’t decided on points, but aggressiveness, willingness and skill. To win, you had to get the ref’s decision or force the other guy into submission. The submissions included chokes and joint locks.

Ah, okay. What about your fights?

How did you get on?

My first fight, the guy didn’t show up.

So my first fight of my first competition I won by DQ, which I was extremely disappointed about because we were the last weigh class to fight, so we were waiting around all day to find, so it was a very disappointing thing to come to.

I can imagine.

My second fight was against a guy who was the top end of the weight class, so he was pretty much a weight class out of my league. He’d won his previous fight so he was nice and warmed up. I was starting to cool down and get a bit agitated. We started off, and I pulled guard, kept my legs high and kept him in control. I kinda had a blank moment and didn’t know what to do, so I just kept control.

Throughout the whole fight I was dominating him, kept him tight, got him onto his back, then get his back, which was perfect because I was striving for that choke. I leant too far over him, fell and landed on my face.

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I managed to catch an arm bar, which is a joint lock on the elbow. You have his arm between your legs and your legs are perpendicular to his body.

From there I went to a kamora, which is where his elbow is at a 90 degree angle and it’s more of a shoulder lock.

As I got him into this setup, the ref called the round after five minutes, and declared me the winner. I looked at my hand and noticed there was some blood and bit of gum on it, which I think came from him.

I’ve heard rumours about your third fight, so can you confirm or deny these?

(Laughs) This fight, the guy had twisted his ankle whilst fighting my mate. My mate lost, but this guy was injured. He said he was fine though, and was walking around okay when he came onto the mat so I assumed everything was okay. The fight started, and this guy was a lot more aggressive than the guy I’d previously fought. I pulled guard, but he kept slipping away, took me down and had me in what’s called a side control.

He didn’t make any moves, but didn’t give me any room to make any moves myself. I eventually managed to get out of it and stand up. The referee started us, put us into the centre of the mat. I got into my position, ready to takedown, when I saw him shuffle back a bit. I saw my opportunity, went for a double-leg takedown, shot into him, went straight through him, which is rare, cos I never succeed in these double leg takedowns, and I heard him scream. The match stopped, and he was in a foetal position, holding his leg in pain, struggling to straighten it. He was taken to hospital, and I haven’t got any confirmations, but he either popped his knee or broke his leg. I don’t know who he was, so I can’t confirm it. I didn’t mean to, and I felt bad about it after, but it was a means to an end, and it’s sport.

Things happen.

Yeah, I suppose they do… So you had one more fight right?

Yeah, this was the final. The finalist and I were standing around and chatting for a while in the middle of the mat while people dealt with the injury from my previous fight. He was a nice guy, and it turns out he lives about 20 minutes away from where I do. It was odd, because as soon as the fight started, there was this overlay on our faces as we both just instantly disliked each other and would do for the period of the fight.

He clearly knew what he was doing, and was good at it. He went for a takedown, got it, and kept on, trying to get me into an arm bar, a triangle choke (which is where someone cuts of the arteries in your neck with their legs. It’s more of a slow pass-out).

I was defending myself well, and I could hear my friends calling me, telling me to turn left, turn left. I was getting thrown about, and was feeling a bit disoriented. He couldn’t get any locks on me until the very end, when he got me in a wrist lock, which I wasn’t expecting, and I immediately tapped out. I went in saying that if anyone got me in a wrist or ankle lock, I would tap out of fear. I went in without a game plan, just wanting to have fun, and as soon as he got the wrist lock that was it for me. I didn’t struggle or resist, and I may have been able to get out, but it wasn’t worth it.

So it was more about the experience than the winning?

Yeah, because it was my first one, I didn’t expect to get anything other than experience, a laugh and a bit of fun out of it.

Bearing that in mind, how’d you do?

I was overwhelmed, because I managed to come second place,

earning myself a silver medal, which was my first medal in anything, which was a nice touch. I felt like I’d found something I was actually good at.

Well done! You said you wanted to give a bit of a shout-out to the people you went to the competition with?

There were six guys that went to this competition from MSJBBA and three of us including myself came back with medals, Brian with a bronze, myself with a silver and Adam with a gold.

Well done guys!

Where do you see your martial arts taking you in the future? What’s next?

Well, while I’m at uni, I’m going to train everyday, in everything I do. My real passion, competition-wise, is BJJ, so I’m looking into going into the British open at the end of May. Again, same idea, I’m not going striving to get any medals, I’m just going for the experience. If things happen the same way they did at the last competition, then well done to me! (Laughs).

After uni, I’d like to carry on with my martial arts, I’m hoping it’s more of a lifestyle, rather than a temporary theme in my life. I’d love to do a bit of teaching, but obviously I’ve got my degree and I want to see where that takes me. Hopefully the two can run parallel throughout my life. Training at the uni has been a massive help to me, Steve and Alana Harrop in JKD have opened up martial arts to me in general, and BJJ at the university is great, a fantastic atmosphere. It’s still a small club at the moment, but it’s brilliant for beginners and those looking to get into the sport.

Alright, thanks again for your time DK, good luck with British Open!

P36 // SPORTS & SOCIETIES

SPECIAL AWARDS

Leadership Award The Leadership Award recognizes a team player whom has taken an active leadership role in their Society and shown great leadership skills and commitment within UPSU and the wider community.

Winner: Alistair Strong Highly Commended: Rob Young

Committee of the Year Committee of the Year accolade is awarded to a group who have boasted a team effort in their commitment, dedication, enthusiasm and passion to their society or an activity or event.

Winner: RAG

Community Involvement The Community Involvement Award reflects outstanding achievement in the local community that creates an impact and raises positive publicity as well as benefiting those who take part.

Winner: Sexpression Highly Commended: ViP

Societies Person of the Year Societies Person of the Year rewards an individual for outstanding dedication to societies and stands out within UPSU, demonstrating leadership and passion and is an over all positive role model!

Winner: Claire Palfrey Highly commended: Amandine Catoire

Rachel Nafzger

Winner: CrimSoc

Highly Commended: UPSU Radio Society

Society of the Year The coveted Society of the Year award will be bestowed upon a team who have demonstrated an outstanding performance as a a society, encouraging; community engagement, good publicity, commitment, dedication and inclusivity as well as providing great benefits to those who join them.

Winner: Plymouth LINKS Award

society FULL colours

Kirti Ramesh

New Society of the Year Awarded to a society that have formed within the last year and have shown outstanding performance creating positive publicity and has a committed, dedicated and inclusive team.

Alastair Strong

society HALF colours

James Groves, Theodora FrancisBacon Rob Young

Richard Dempsey Claire Palfrey Jamie Hayward Felicity Gove

Emily Raven Hugh Holmes Donna Cavil Amandine Catoire

Lisa Hancock Dan Wilde Jason Doe Leanne Nicholls

Jennifer Mace Lucy James Jake Hall Kirstie Fraser

P37 // SPORTS & SOCIETIES

SPECIAL AWARDS

Outstanding Performance Winner - Thomas David Franklin Highly Commended – Mens Futsal 1st Team Sport in the Community Winner – Lydon Ward-Best

Contribution to Sport Winner – James Manthorp, Athletics Highly Commended – John Pearson, Mens Hockey

Most Improved Club Winner – Ladies Football Highly Commended – Kickboxing Highly Commended – Pool & Snooker

Sports Charitable Award Winner – Michelle Berger Highly Commended - Netball

Sports Personality of the Year Verity Warnecke, Ladies Hockey Sportsman of the Year John McAllister, Pool & Snooker

Sportswoman of the Year Danielle Avis, Ladies Football Team of the Year Mens Lacrosse 1st team Club of the Year Winner – Lacrosse Highly Commended - Lifesaving

FULL colours

Athletics James Manthorp

Ladies Basketball Michelle Berger

Mens Hockey John Pearson Liam Houlton

Octopush Alastair Barbrook Pool & Snooker John McAllister

Ladies Rugby Sarah Mimnagh Lifesaving Amy Durrant

Yacht George Edwards

Canoe Jack doughty Sarah Hallett Cheerleading Katie Russell Genevieve Walsh Cricket Lawrence Chidley Calum Reid Paul Shaw Dance Blaize Dymond Rebecca Uren Ladies Football Danielle Avis

Mens Football George Egford Rhys James Anthony West Futsal Sam Dingle Nathan Gotnall Nathan Nicholls Ladies Hockey Verity Warnecke Mens Hockey Sam Owen-Smith Jonathan Podmore Henry Stephens Alasdair McGregor

Kickboxing Matthew Clarke Aidan Green Lacrosse David Baldwin Alexandra Fitzpatrick Tom Franklin Josh Rowland Lifesaving Miles Johansen Thomas Wood Motorsport Matt Brierly Luke Jarmyn Netball

Ellis Adamson Emily Hammick Chloes Hood Octopush Lewis Cocks George Hutchinson Joe Janiec Noel Murphy Pool & Snooker Paul Kershaw Riding & Polo Hannah Bennett Ladies Rugby Lucie Edwards Mens Rugby

John Corellis Daniel Hayward Sailing & Powerboat Maya Gill-Taylor Snowriders Edward Castle Henry Tim Jones Sarah Pook Yacht Jack Kilburn

Half colours

American Football Aidan Lee Grant Phillips-Tebb John Segarty Athletics Hannah Blair Simon Cook Sam Peters James Sermon Mike Wilsmore Mens Basketball Joe Buckley Marc Gorman Mick Livesley

P38 // SPORTS & SOCIETIES

making waves for alex

By Emmerson Wood

Over the past six months, professional sport has experienced some devastating neurological and cardiac injuries. Unfortunately, these injuries have become more prominent as sport becomes more physical and more competitive.

On the fourth of October 2011 my uncle Alex Wood, a 33 year old husband, father of four, son and brother suffered a tragic head injury in a game of rugby. Alex was hospitalised and had to undergo life saving operations followed due to a bleed in his brain. As he lived in France, my grandparents had to relocate so they could be nearer to him and help with his care. It was sixteen weeks before Alex was able to breathe unassisted and he was able to move to a neuro re-education centre.

Initially, we were hit with devastating news that he had lost movement in

his left arm, however due to hard work and dedication, he worked through this and is now able to move both arms and both his legs. This is a big improvement but things aren’t perfect.

Alex still has no sight and suffers from epilepsy making life difficult for him and the family.

Fund raising for Alex’s rehabilitation process has been taking place but it is slow and a lot of help is needed, Due to this, the UPSU bar staff have decided they wanted to help and what better way then a competitive charity sporting match!

On the 24th of May the bar staff lads are taking on the bar staff ladies in a charity netball match which will take place in Nancy Astor sports hall. The game starts at 3pm and everyone is invited to come along. We aim to have a laugh, while raising as much money as possible and finding out who is better at netball: male or female.

But the fun doesn’t stop there! We have hijacked the last UPSU big night of the year and aim to throw an event that noone will forget themeing it gladiators (the tv programme not the sword wielding toga wearers) for a bit of extra fun! So make sure you get out your best lycra wear and sporting gear to really look the part!

There will be lots of other fundraising events going on to lead up to the match including the creation of a delicious new cocktail and a raffle in which you could win two sought after summer ball tickets! So with the exam period over and the last bit of cash to spend, come down and support this amazing cause! This promises to be a goodun!

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