Platform Magazine Christmas Edition 6

Nottingham Trent Students’ Union Official Magazine

Issue 3

www.platform-online.net

December 2013

PEOPLE

www.platform-online.net

EDITOR

SOPHIE DAVIS

EDITOR’S NOTE It’s nearly Christmas!

We had a hugely successful month at Platform and at the NTSU, electing in our new student officers and running our second Platform edition of the year. NTU also took part in the famous Movember, creating a team of over hundreds of Mo-men raising a huge amount of money for the charity.

Now to continue the topic of Christmas, we return to NTU, with the end of term looming and the uni work/dissertation worries starting to roll in, it’s a good time to start planning and getting your assignments in order during the Christmas break so you can come back in January and get started on your final two terms worth of work. Be prepared – try not to leave it till the night before!

In this second edition we have a busy line up including an interview with Nathan McCree, the composer of the Tomb Raider games, a review of the new EP from Cut Copy, the infamous ‘Trent Street Style’ fashion feature and of course the brilliant cover page produced by two of our own committee members Louisa Davies and Sayuri Standing in the hope of getting you in to the Christmas spirit.

If you want to get involved in our next edition in February, it is never too late to get involved in your union so keep following us through-out the year, to hear what’s going on!

Sophie Davis Editor-in-Chief

Rhea Warren promo@platform-online.net

NEWS

William Wilson news@platform-online.net

MINT

Jade Cragg mint@platform-online.net

MUSIC

Robin Murray music@platform-online.net

FASHION & BEAUTY

Priya Sund fashion@platform-online.net

CULTURE

JOSHUA GILTRAP culture@platform-online.net

LIFESTYLE

Sophie Colquhoun SPORTS

George Solomon sports@platform-online.net

@

GAMING & TECH

Tom Beresford

/platformmagazine

gaming@platform-online.net

PHOTO, ART & DESIGN

@PlatformOnline

CRAIG PROUD photos@platform-online.net

Tel: (0115) 848 6200 www.platform-online.net

DESIGNER freya shah chloe morris frank worcester sophie davis

Platform Magazine, NTU Clifton Campus, Clifton Lane, Nottinghamshire, NG11 8NS

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MARKETING & PROMOTIONS

lifestyle@platform-online.net

CONTACT PLATFORM

www.trentstudents.org www.platform-online.org

Deputy EditorS

Hannah Byrne Alanna Lintin deputy-editor@platform-online.net

Now if you’re like me, every year Christmas still makes me feel like a four year old on Christmas eve, even the run up to the festivities, the Christmas markets, the advent calendars and even the hours of chopping vegetables.

Platform is an independent publication and any views expressed herein are not necessarily those of the editor or of the Nottingham Trent Students’ Union and it’s elected directors and officers. Companies advertised in Platform are not necessarily endorsed by Nottingham Trent Students’ Union. No part of this publication maybe reproduced without the prior permission of the editor. Printed by Hickling & Squires Print Solutions www.hickling-squires.co.uk

editor@platform-online.net

Contributors: The 2013-2014 Committee, photographers and section contributors.

Cover photo by Craig Proud & contributors

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December 2013

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BRITISH WEATHER: WHY CANT WE COPE? MORE TRAVEL DISTRUPTIONS CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES IN NOTTINGHAM INTERVIEW WITH BILL COLES

13 14 15 16

MINT FRAMEWORK’S BIG SLEEPOUT 12 DAYS OF TRENTMAS THE CHRISTMAS TICK-OFF LIST NTU SNOW SOCIETY

17 18-19 20 21

LIFESTYLE THE LOW DOWN ON THE JUICE DIET 5 TIPS TO STAY MOTIVATED PARTY DRESS SEASON PRESENT IDEAS FOR STUDENTS TIS THE SEASON TO BE JOLLY

24 25 26 27 28

PHOTOGRAPHY, ART & DESIGN 29 30-31 31-32 33-34

ART & DESIGN AT BONNINGTON GALLERY THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN FESTIVE FASHION INTERVIEW: THEA SANDERS

FASHION & BEAUTY CHRISTMAS BEAUTY FUR OR NO FUR A FRESH APPROACH TO YOUNG SKIN TRENT STREET STYLE PARTY DRESS SEASON

39-40 41 42 43 44

CULTURE & ENTS THE RETURN TO MIDDLE EARTH ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS FILMS CHRISTMAS CLASSICS NOTTINGHAM CONTEMPORARY

45 46 47 48

MUSIC BEST ALBUMS OF 2013 ARTISTS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2014 ON THE 12TH DAY OF CHRISTMAS ALBUM REVIEW: CUT COPY

49 50 51 52

GAMING & TECH INTERVIEW WITH NATHAN CREE GAMES (& TECH) OF CHRISTMAS PAST

53-55 56-57

SPORT SPORTS NEWS PREMIER LEAGUE PREDICTIONS LIVES OF COUNTY PLAYERS OFF PITCH LEARNING ABOUT LACROSSE TRENT SPORTS PROFILES

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CONTENTS

NEWS

From Jo...

So the first weeks of this year have flown by! To top it off there are only a few left of term 1! Nonetheless, the union has been busy as always. To start with we have elected over 760 course representatives to date, which is a massive achievement. Not only that but, we have filled all of our School Representative positions for the first time ever! Libby has worked harder than ever to make sure reps are well trained and well informed with our course rep guides.

After such a successful Freshers week Marcus has now been channelling his attention to creating DJ platforms for students. Daniel Akinsanmi has recently played at Climax and was really well received! It is great to see Trent’s talent being showcased in the Union! Marcus has also been leading on research into what students at Brackenhurst think about their campus which has been really informative and helpful.

Also side all of the evening activities, Paddy has been getting a head start on the Varsity Series! There have been many meetings with UoN to make the Varsity series bigger and better than last year. Not only that but we now have a position for a Brack Sports Exec on the Sports Council, which has never been the case before.

Some of you may have already seen some of the campaigning work that Katie has been doing over the past weeks do highlight mental health awareness and the sexual health campaign. Not only are there big campaigns to see on the horizon, but Katie has been discussing collaborative work with UoN to address some of the troubles students face regarding the council.

We have also seen a huge amount of requests from societies to come and use the new space in the SU which is fantastic. Liz has also been working with the volunteer and RAG committees to ensure we really increase opportunities for students and our capacity to raise huge amounts of funds. We raised over £250,000 last year and we look to achieve more this year!

All of these successes are great and the team collectively are really providing some great things for our members. This is enhances by our newly revised student council. This has been a great platform for the Exec, liaison officers, student officers from underrepresented groups and representatives from school reps, sports council, societies exec and halls assemblies to share ideas and thoughts on what is best for our members collectively.

Jo Southwell-Sander, NTSU President.

PRESIDENT

Jo Southwell-Sander President@su.ntu.ac.uk

VP Services & Communication

Marcus boswell

VP Welfare & Community

Katie Wright

VP Education & Representation

Libby farrier-williams VP Activities

Liz McCluskEy VP Sports

Paddy atkinson Brackenhurst Liaison Officer

hannah nicholson Clifton Liaison Officer

chantelle farr City Liaison Officer

costa charalambous

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December 2013

www.platform-online.net

MEET

Editor in Chief

THE

Deputy Editor

COMMITTEE

Sophie Davis

Deputy Editor

Hannah Byrnes

Alanna Lintin

Editor

Deputy Editor

Editor

Deputy Editor

Editor

Deputy Editor

Editor

Deputy Editor

William Wilson

Helena Smith

Jade Cragg

Simon Davis

Robin Murray

Harry Hammett

Priya Sund

Louisa Davies

NEWS

TRENT NEWS

MUSIC

FASHION

Editor

Deputy Editor

Editor

Deputy Editor

Editor

Deputy Editor

Editor

Deputy Editor

Tom Beresford

Daryl Baxter

Craig Proud

Sayuri Standing

Josh Giltrap

Chris Collins

Sophie Colouquon

Shara Samra

Editor

Deputy Editor

Deputy Editor

GAMING

George Solomon

www.trentstudents.org www.platform-online.org

ART & DESIGN

Simon Murfitt

SPORT

James Lewer

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LIFESTYLE

CULTURE

CHLOE MORRIS FREYA SHAH FRANK WORCESTER SOPHIE DAVIS

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS 7

December 2013

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FLY FM TOPS NATIONAL STUDENT RADIO AWARDS

By Sophie Hannah Davis

Last Thursday night was the annual Student Radio Awards which this year were supported by BBC Radio 1 and Global Radio and presented by Capital’s Dave Berry and Radio 1’s Greg James, the latter a late stand in for an injured Nick Grimshaw.

The awards ceremony took place at the amazing Indig02, London for the sixth year running and is seen as the biggest night of the student radio calendar, bringing together the best from student stations of the length and breadth of the country with professionals from across the radio industry.

As expected SRA Chairwomen Annie Mac was in attendance, while amongst those presenting awards were Capital’s Lisa Snowdon, JLS singer and new Capital presenter Marvin Humes, Radio 6 Music’s Steve Lemacq and Radio 1’s Jameela Jamil and Scott Mills and Radio 1’s Alice Levine and Capital’s Tony Phillips were in and amongst the crowd too.

After the awards, guests were treated to a Radio 1 v Capital Xtra soundclash with Dev v DJ Abrantee then Danny Howard v Tim Westwood which topped off the night to hard working students that put student radio on the map.

Fly FM, Nottingham Trent’ SU’s student radio station was present at the awards and had been nominated for an amazing nine awards across the night. The night was a huge success for Fly FM and for anyone who was following the announcements on the SRA Twitter feed would have seen, Fly FM walked away as the most successful station of the night!

It was noted that there were a record-breaking 600 entries in total from 55 student radio stations across the country and they were judged by 164 industry members both nationally and internationally.

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We spoke to Jack Saunders, last year’s Station Manager after the event had finished “When we got the last one announced, it hit me that we’d got five gold awards from nine nominations. It’s pretty insane to know that I came into the job having not done anything like it before, and I’m now leaving it having taken the best haul at the Student Radio Awards that Fly FM has ever seen. It feels pretty good.”

When we asked Jack if he thinks this achievement will push other students to get involved in their student radio he said “Definitely. Will [Metcalf], Emma [Jones] and Ben [Sheppard] all walked into student radio having never done it before, giving it a go to see if they liked it, and now they’ve walked away with gold awards from the Student Radio Awards, getting big industry recognition. Not only can Fly take you places, but on the other side of it, we’re all there at Fly as a team to enjoy ourselves.

There’s a great team chemistry, working together as one, and people come in to Fly, enjoy themselves, and sometimes find something that they love they didn’t realise they would.” [Jack Saunders was interviewed by Simon Paice.]

Awards won: Gold - Best Specialist Music Programming - Will Metcalf Bronze - Best Specialist Music Programming - Temi Jonah Gold - Best Marketing and Station Sound (accepted by Jack Saunders, Emma Jones, Ben Sheppard, Rochelle Bisson, Fiona Ness, Briony Harrison) Gold - Best Journalistic Programming - Trent Talk (accepted by Anna Russell and Claire Chambers) Gold - Best Female - Emma Jones Gold - Best Newcomer - Ben Sheppard

This immense achievement by the radio station is the best Fly FM has ever done at the awards and it was obvious that Fly FM were the most successful station in this year’s awards by a long way, beating many other popular stations to take away more Gold awards than any other station.

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December 2013

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The John van Geest Cancer Research Centre

was first established in 2008 as a direct result of core funding from the John and Lucille van Geest Foundation, building upon a history of groundbreaking Cancer Research at the University. This funding provided a £5m purpose-built Research Centre and core support for a team of more than 30 scientists, technicians and PhD students and is based at the Clifton campus, part of Nottingham Trent University.

The research focuses on the discovery and application of new cancer biomarkers for detecting cancer, monitoring disease progression and developing new approaches to treat patients using immunotherapy – using the body’s own immune system to fight the cancer tumours. Although the centre has a specific focus on Breast and Prostate cancers the techniques that they use can be applied to many other hard to cure cancers.

Prostate Cancer • 40,975 men in the UK diagnosed • 11,000 people die a year • Theres an 81.4% of adult patient in England survivng for 5 years or more.

John Van Geest Cancer Research Centre

The rate of new cases diagnosed today for both prostate and breast cancers is growing on a yearly basis and centres like the JvG CRC are helping towards the progress in understanding cell biology and immune biology, ultimately aiming to save lives.

The centre has a variety of national and international collaborators across Britain and many other countries. They collaborate with front-line clinical staff in local hospitals as well as academic collaborations with the University of Nottingham, Leicester University and Derby University, where they specialise in either Breast, Prostate or Ovarian cancer. Globally they collaborate with institutes and centres in Greece, Norway, the USA and China.

Breast Cancer • 55,000 people in the UK diagnosed That’s one person every 10 minutes • Just under 12,000 people die every year • Breast Cancer is the most common cancer in the UK •There are an estimated 550,000 people living in the UK today who have had a diagnosis of breast cancer.

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The centre is funded through many avenues of support, but gains a lot through charitable support made to the university. The centre has minimal administrative costs, as all fundraising and marketing costs are absorbed centrally by the University.

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Staff in the Development and Alumni Relations Office hold many events put on throughout the year that help towards the funding of the centre such as 1 in 3 and runNTU. This year the centre is also confirmed as the a beneficiary of RAG funding so please do get involved and help them in their fight against cancer.

that keeping the relationships between charities, centres, clinical and public relations cemented means the progress of the centre will keep pace for many years to come. The work is outstanding and the results could be even bigger!

Cancer affects all of us these days, with somewhere between 1 in 3 and 1 in 2 people likely to be diagnosed at some point in their lifetime. In the future it may even be one of us, so centres like the JvG CRC could save your life, my life and 1000’s of lives worldwide.

They believe there main challenge for the future is to define the biological significance and relevance of newly identified cancer genes and the proteins they encode and to translate these findings into the clinic.

The centre as a whole is a truly interesting and forward thinking movement and Nottingham Trent students need to be aware of the and the work that goes on inside the walls of the centre. Staff at the centre also work also with various patient groups and charities including ProstAid in Leicester and they believe

If you have any questions about the work of the centre and how you can get involved please do contact Stephen Knott, Alumni and Community Giving Officer on Stephen.knott@ntu.ac.uk

By Sophie Hannah Davis

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December 2013

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NEWS BRITISH WEATHER: WHY CANT WE COPE? / MORE TRAVEL DISTRUPTIONS TO NOTTINGHAM RESIDENTS / CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES IN NOTTINGHAM /INTERVIEW WITH BILL COLES

BRITISH WEATHER:

WHY CAN’T WE COPE? You have to admire their cynicism in the face of British weather. Come rain, sunshine, snow or wind we’re never happy and notoriously – we can’t cope either.

As St Jude – dubbed ‘the Great Storm of 2013’, or ‘Stormageddon’ – caused devastation as it swept across Britain, it was another fine example of just this, as many were left unimpressed as the county collapsed into chaos.

While countries like Scandinavia cheerfully cope with adverse weather conditions on a daily basis, unimpressed Brits were left irritated as hundreds of thousands of homes were left without power, while rush-hour commuters found themselves stranded as travel networks fell to their knees. But as the country bemoaned a lack of electricity, roofless hours, and commuter chaos after high winds of 99mph battered the south of the country, Britain showed it still had its traditional sense of humour. With pictures of upturned garden furniture, toppled over plant pots and even a parody St Jude Twitter account, thousands took to social networking sites to poke fun at it all.

The storm even prompted some of the greatest political irony of all time, as the House of Commons Transport Committee had to amend its hearing on transport’s winter resilience as a result of the heavy winds. Brilliant. With the winter months fast approaching, the Met Office has played down reports that the country could be set for its “worst winter in decades” with extreme cold and heavy snowfall. Once again it’s nothing more than a season for speculation. You only have to pick up a newspaper to see that the nation is gripped by anxiety over freak weather predictions.

Ultimately, we’re heading into the coldest months of the year, so it is perfectly possible that we will see snow and freezing temperatures, but also heavy rain and windy weather yet why does this always seem come as a surprise to us? We’ll never learn. Batten down the hatches. It’s long to be a long winter.

Darcie Chambers

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December 2013

NEWS

TRAVEL DISTRUPTIONS IN NOTTINGHAM It’s been a year of major travel disruption for Nottingham’s road, rail and bus users.

In July Nottingham Rail Station closed for six weeks, forcing passengers to use replacement bus services and lengthy journey times. During the first term of this academic year there have been a number of diversions on bus routes across the city.

The number 4 service from City to Clifton campus is running on an alternate route which bypasses West Bridgford. Clifton students living in the area are now having to catch two buses into lectures instead of just one.

Students at the University of Nottingham have also been stuck in congestion, as work continues on two new trams to Beeston and Toton. The lines are expected to be finished at the end of next year, and when completed trams will be operating from both of the city’s universities.

The traffic works have increased congestion on the road network, with a range of impacts on those travelling to and from work, businesses booking deliveries and meetings, to students travelling home for the weekend.

Paddy Tipping, Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner, is concerned about the impacts extra traffic is having on policing:

“The town’s snarled up. The police know where the traffic holds ups are, but they are getting caught up in the congestion. There’s a major problem at the moment for people wanting to drive out of Nottingham. I’ve met lots of local people connected to the police who are getting caught up. There’s a real possibility that police incidents could be affected”.

“ they will make it easier to get around Nottingham in the long run.”

Nottingham City Council have been meeting with the Police, the County Council, the Highways Agency and other key stakeholders to keep traffic flowing as freely possible.

Jane Urquhart, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Transport at Nottingham City Council said: “We are aware that the large amount of construction work in and around our city is causing some disruption, however these major investments are vital for our future will make it easier to get around Nottingham in the long run.

We hope that people will bear with us while they are completed. The extra capacity on our roads will bring much-needed benefits to local businesses, motorists and local residents alike and help to improve cross-city traffic flow and safety”.

For any more information visit www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk.

CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES

IN NOTTINGHAM

When you’re at university it’s not always easy to find out what is going on in the city at Christmas, however there is lots to do to get in the festive spirit in Nottingham.

Here is a selection of the best things on offer.

1.

The Christmas light switch on. On the 20th November, the official ‘switch on’ is taking place in Market Square in Nottingham. Something about the switch on really marks the start of the holiday season. It will also mark the opening of ‘Winter Wonderland’.

2. The Ice Rinkiceinrink.

Market Square. As part of the ‘Winter Wonderland’ Nottingham hosts an open air This is one of the most popular things to do throughout the Christmas period.

3.tion.Pantomimes.

Pantomimes are a classic whichever city you are in, Nottingham being no excepThis year, the Theatre Royal hosts ‘Peter Pan’ starring David Hasslehoff, whilst the Playhouse

Theatre is showing ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’

4.

Aurora Christmas Illuminations. If you fancy exploring Nottinghamshire, there is an event at Rufford Country Park. It is a light display made from lanterns and ice with music playing and various other activities throughout. It could be a very different night out.

5.

The German Market. This is unavoidable every Christmas. Stalls line the streets, with this year promising to be even bigger. With crafts stores, gift shops and lots of food on offer it is definitely

worth a walk round. Also with snow machine!

6.time Christmas at the Castle. If you haven’t yet visited the Castle in Nottingham, Christmas is a great to go. Not only does it look amazing but there is a lot going on and it is a great place to get some mulled wine and mince pies.

7.

The Ice Bar. This year ‘Winter Wonderland’ is opening a cabin overlooking the ice rink in Market Square that will be bigger and better than ever. Take the opportunity to try some German ale or just a new place for a drink with friends.

Jonny Freeman

www.trentstudents.org www.platform-online.org

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Mel Brooks

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December 2013

NEWS

www.platform-online.net

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TRENT NEWS

Interview with:

FRAMEWORK’S BIG SLEEPOUT / 12 DAYS OF TRENTMAS / CHRISTMAS TICK-OFF LIST

Former News of The World editors Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson are currently standing trial following the News International phone-hacking investigation in 2011. Platform’s William Wilson spoke to Bill Coles, a tabloid journalist who worked for The Sun from 1993-2000. Bill worked with a number of the journalists arrested during the phone-hacking scandal, is a veteran of the tabloid newsrooms and recently wrote Red Top: Being a Reporter - Ethically, Legally and with Panache.

Having worked with a number of the journalists involved in the phone hacking, what were your reactions to their arrests?

For me it’s been amazing how this whole thing has just avalanched. For a while, it seemed as if every week there’d be another three or four of my ex-colleagues getting arrested. And then another four or five. I knew a lot of them quite well - for several years, I used to sit next to the chief reporter, John Kay. Was it inevitable that those involved with the phonehacking at News International were going to get caught?

Absolutely inevitable. There were scores of people who were in the know. Fleet Street is a very leaky place.

Frankly I’m staggered that it carried on for as long as it did. And in the end, the balloon went up over a poxy little story on Prince William having a leg injury.

Have you been in contact with any of the journalists involved in the scandal since they have been arrested?

One or two - they are all fairly perky about it all. A number are still chipping away at The Sun. Though I know it’s quite a large weight hanging over their heads. Some of them will have been waiting for well over a year before they’re up for trial.

You were working at The Sun during the beginning of Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson’s affair, did you have any idea the affair was going on?

No! I didn’t. At the time Rebekah was married to the EastEnders star Ross Kemp, and Andy was dating this very beautiful woman, Eloise. But then again… well newsrooms are not nunneries. In fact… extramarital nookie is pretty common.

Read the full interview at www.platform-online.net

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“

there’s a large weight hanging over their heads

“

Fem-Soc on Framework’s

Big Sleepout

NEWS

Bill Coles

T

he Big Sleepout, which is organised by Framework, gives the opportunity for people to spend the night sleeping rough in Sneinton market, which will be transformed to embody the essence of Covent Garden.

So it is time to pad out the onesies, get some cardboard boxes flattened and brandish out the old sleeping bag. Last year the event, which was supposed to have 300 volunteers was booked up early and included the Mayor of Nottingham and Capital FM Presenters Dino and Pete, who will also be attending the event this year. In this day and age, and considering we are supposed to be living in one of the richest countries in the world, the fact that are still people having to sleep rough is not acceptable.

Last year, the Chief Executive of Framework, Andrew Redfern said this about the event: ‘street homelessness is always a last resort. It is the last stop on a terrifying and bewildering journey

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that is often totally beyond people’s control. By sleeping out tonight people are helping us to bring an end to that journey.

Every pound they raise will help us to provide vital services that prevent people from losing their homes in the first place.’

Christmas time is more strenuous to get through then any other time, because they are cold and alone. Which is why I think any student, sports team or society should make the most of this event, to raise money for charity or Cost: sponsor someone £9 pp and understand what it feels like WHERE: to sleep out one Sneinton night in winter.

Market Basically, sleeping rough so others WHEN: don’t have to.

28 Nov, Lydia Sawyer, 8pm - 29 Treasurer for the Nov, 7am Feminism Society.

December 2013

www.platform-online.net

Simon Davis

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9

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On the first day of Christmas, Trent said to me…

Go to Winter Wonderland in Market Square, you definitely will not regret it! Make sure to check out all of the stalls, they have some amazing festive food and cute Christmas gifts. Also, don’t forget to go on one of the rides; it’s a Winter Wonderland MUST.

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On the fifth day of Christmas, Trent said to me…

Ice skating at the Capital Fm Arena is always a fun way to celebrate Christmas. Get your skates on and head down to the Ice Arena for a romantic date for two or just for a laugh with your housemates.

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On the ninth day of Christmas, Trent said to me…

We all love presents at Christmas, so a Secret Santa is a must. Got a flat mate that always plays his music too loud? Give them a pair of ear plugs to drop a subtle hint to be quieter. Can’t think of anything appropriate? Everyone loves a cheap bottle of wine.

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On the second day of Christmas, Trent said to me…

Go late night shopping at the Victoria Centre for your Christmas shopping. With discounts galore you’ll be sure to find a present for all your family and friends whilst saving a few vital pennies – we are students after all!

On the sixth day of Christmas, Trent said to me…

Recovered from the last Ocean of term? Good, its time for a few more drinks to truly ring the holidays in.

With the opening of the new City SU, Last Day of Term celebrations are sure to be bigger and better than ever. Cheap drinks all day and then Christmas surprises at night – LDOT’s at the SU’s are the cheapest and best nights of the year.

On the tenth day of Christmas, Trent said to me…

Well we all love a few drinks so one more party before a four week break can’t hurt. Decorate your flats and deck the halls, crack out the Christmas songs and the elf fancy dress and invite friends round for one last session before the Christmas break.

Trentmas 3

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On the third day of Christmas, Trent said to me…

What is Christmas without a cheeky dip in Ocean? Get your sexy Santa outfits out and get down for the last Ocean of the year for a night of cheesy tunes, Christmas surprises and a drink or two.

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On the seventh day of Christmas, Trent said to me…

A hangover day is definitely needed after LDOT antics, so there is no better time to watch those classic Christmas Films.

The Grinch? Must watch. Home Alone? Christmas classic! There’s only one time of the year where it’s acceptable to watch all the Christmas classics.

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On the eleventh day of Christmas, Trent said to me…

Time to purchase a cringe Christmas jumper – you know, the ones with a penguin or a giant Santa face on. If nothing else, it will keep you warm in the cold winter nights but secretly, we all love a good Christmas jumper.

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NEWS

NEWS

12 days of

On the fourth day of Christmas, Trent said to me…

After a heavy night in the Big O, a good meal is on the menu.

So what better time to cook a Christmas Roast for your house before you all head off home.

Roast them spuds and stock up on the sprouts. What could be better?

On the eighth day of Christmas, Trent said to me…

After the nights at Ocean and Last Day of Term, it’s probably right to put a bit of class and culture back into your life. There are Christmas concerts and pantomimes happening all over Nottingham, with Peter Pan showing at The Theatre Royal, starring David Hasselhoff. It seems only fair that we offer our support to the man who gave all of us Baywatch in Ocean.

On the twelfth day of Christmas, Trent said to me…

Go home! Time for four weeks well earned rest – time to give your liver a break and chill out before heading back to Trent and doing it all again in term two.

December 2013

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NEWS

Tick!

Cook A Student

Christmas Dinner

es and buy as d with your flatmat Pop into Poundlan corations you eerful Christmas de many cheap and ch tmas songs. your favourite Chris can find. Download of money and in a small amount All of your flat put t and of course s, vegetables, mea get all the essential u do best. Enjoy er to cook what yo pudding. Then off stagram. I upload a snap to In feel happy with your wine and ite fun and defin ly ch su ve ha l u’l yo promise terwards. and Christmassy af

The Last Ocean

t more) as a ed. Just as fun (if no Not one to be miss e. What’s not to with a snow machin normal Ocean but like?

!

Do Your Essays The Boring Bit… ter Christmas

lines are straight af For a lot of us dead ead before the sely. Try and get ah wi e tim ur yo e us so up. Be prepared rkload doesn’t build wo e th so s ay lid ho ne so all you’ve ur second drafts do yo st lea at ve ha d an of this means d improve. Doing all an it ed is do to t go the essays won’t ss in January and re st s les ve ha l u’l yo celebrations. tmas and New Year ris Ch ur yo n pe m da

for the Look out truck Coca Cola cities 4 6 coming to heck out C ! this year our home if it’s in y he Coca town on t site.

Cola web

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NEWS

Your Christmas Tick-Off List SOCIETY PROFILE: TRENT SNOW SPORTS

With all the traditional sports teams and societies at Trent like Rugby and Football, Jade Cragg and Simon Davis spoke to Chloe Dace, Vice President of Trent Snowsports, to see what they have to offer students at Trent and what happens within their society.

Trent Snowsports is all about getting people involved in skiing and snowboarding whilst at university, whether that be coming away to the Alpes with us at Christmas and Easter, competing with us on the British University circuit or just coming to party with us on an Ocean Wednesday.

We cater for all abilities, offering lessons to beginners and competent freestyle skiers and boarders alike!

What events do you have going on this year, or next?

We have just returned from the first completion of the year (BUDS: British Universities Dry-slope Championships) which was a great weekend with great riding from our competitors Hannah Pawsey, Paddy Doyle, Oliver Davies and Brad Frost, and from Chloe Dace who brought home Bronze in female ski Big Air. We had great support from all our Trent “snow fo’s“ who braved the cold Scottish weather to cheer everyone on!

We also have our legendary annual Christmas trip coming up at the end of term where we are taking 300 Trent students to party and tear up the piste in Val D’isere! If people missed the Xmas trip we also run another huge trip to the alpes at Easter, destination to be announced soon!!

What will students get out of snowsports?

Trent Snowsports has been around since the 1970’s and having spoken to Trent snow alumni recently we discovered that they had all made life long friends from the club, going on seasons after uni whilst learning and owning skills on the slope!

There’s a 1 in 10 chance it’l l snow this Chris tmas in England a nd Wales and a 1 in 6 chance for Scotla nd and Northern Ireland.

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The average person will gain 5lbs over the 4 week Christmas week period.

How do you get involved?

Come along to our socials on Wednesdays - we meet at Ride Bar at 8:30pm! Alternatively like our page on Facebook: www.facebook.com/trentsnowsportsofficial And keep an eye out for sign ups to our weekly trips to indoor slopes and dry slopes across the country!

What does the society do?

We compete, we party, we ski and board till we can’t go any longer!

Any other relevant information we should know?

Check out our website: www.trentsnowsports.com

Jade Cragg and Simon Davis

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December 2013

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LIFESTYLE

NEWS

THE LOW DOWN ON THE JUICE DIET / 5 TIPS TO STAY MOTIVATED / PARTY DRESS SEASON / PRESENT IDEAS / TIS THE SEASON TO BE JOLLY

ADVERT

The lowdown on the Juice diet As I write this I’m munching on a cheese sandwich, planning in my head this evening’s meal and feeling slightly emotional at the prospect of giving up solid food. My on-going dilemma: balancing my love for food with a desire for a slimmer figure. I consciously tell myself my nutritious salad is delicious whilst secretly craving a piece of chocolate gateau from Patisserie Valerie…

The promoters and worshippers – usually enviably skinny celebrities papped happily sipping murky green liquid through a straw – claim the benefits are mind clarity, health, beauty and above all weight loss. According to Female First, Naomi Campbell drank nothing but juice for 10 days leading up to the Versace Show back in June and she looked incredible. As with all ‘quick fix’ diets come the critics. Doctors and nutritionists suggest a juice may be a sensible substitution for one meal, but a long-term juice fast may lead to loss of muscle mass and a loss of water weight along with other health problems. They advise a balanced diet that includes carbohydrates and protein needed for energy.

‘The Juice Master Diet: 7lbs in 7 Days’ designed by Jason Vale claims “you will not only lose weight, but also have higher energy levels, clearer skin and be set free from the dieting trap forever.” If a challenging test of my will power; letting only juice pass my lips in order to shed the pounds that are reluctant to leave my scales, then I can’t say I’m not tempted.

Sophia Alipour

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December 2013

to stay motivated It’s cold, dark and raining outside, you had too many vodkas last night, and bed is the comfiest place ever. You really can’t be bothered to go to uni. It’s a common fight for all students and luckily for you, here are five ways to win the war:

1.

Did you go to all your lectures yesterday and fit in a cheeky gym session too? Reward yourself by pressing snooze more often. Have a crunchie after doing hours of law revision and go for a glass of wine (or four) with your friends after a particularly dull lecture.

2.

You may have started Trent this year but you’re most likely (like the rest of us) already thinking about your future, whether it’s travelling around the world, or landing your dream job. But being rejected for having a 2.2 instead of a first, or having to wait another year until you get to skydive in Australia because you failed a year, would be pretty bad. The harder you work during the time you’re at uni, the sooner you’ll be education free.

3.

Seminars where the class’s response to a question is silence isn’t a day at Thorpe park. Accept it’s not going to be easy but you got through it last week, and can get through it this week.

4.

How crap did it feel after failing your driving test and being the passenger whilst your friends drove you around. You’ll feel the same when your housemates pass their exams, or graduate and you don’t.

Remember your past failures and make sure you’re one of the achievers.

5.

The four week old essay may feel like Mount Everest, so start small by climbing the Malvern Hills – clean you room, or do your washing up. Once you’ve got going, you’ll feel motivated.

Kate Parker

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Tired of going to the gym and not seeing results?

It can be quite disheartening when you feel like you are putting the effort in and not gaining anything in return. Here are a few small things that may be setting you back.

The same routine

If you stick to the same routine each time you go to the gym, your body eventually adapts meaning you will not obtain results you want. You need to combine cardio, preferably interval training with strength training and flexibility for optimum results. So try switching up your routine. You can’t only rely on just cardio or just weights to see change.

LIFESTYLE

LIFESTYLE

5 T I P S

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Are you eating right?

Ever heard the saying “abs are made in the gym but revealed in the kitchen”? Well, this is true the results you want will come from 20% exercise, 80% diet. So check to make sure you’re eating correctly to accompany your training routine and don’t reward yourself with food that counteracts your work out.

Look your best for the christmas

Party dress season Are you eating enough?

Eating healthier helps with your fitness routine but it doesn’t mean you have to eat less. When you are burning calories, your body needs food for fuel, so make sure you are eating enough, otherwise your body will hang on to extra body fat to try and make up for the calories you are burning in the gym. Try and aim for six small meals a day to keep your metabolism up.

You’re doing too much

Working out too much and too hard can actually damage your muscles as they become tired. Plenty of rest and sleep are also very important so give yourself a break. Don’t expect too much too soon Your body takes time to change so don’t feel fed up when you don’t see changes straight away. Treat it as a lifestyle change and keep going. The results will be worth it.

Holly Whiting 24

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December 2013

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LIFESTYLE

LIFESTYLE

Present Ideas

By Sophie Colquhoun

First term is coming to an end and you’ve probably watched your first Christmas film by now. You’re starting to feel Christmassy but you’ve got the constant reminder of the looming deadlines after Christmas and the fact you have no money. What to do?

Here’s our guide to make the most of Christmas, the student way.

Urban Outfitters £40

Boots

This shop is your lifesaver with everything for everyone under one roof. Their brilliant 3 for 2 offer means you can whizz in and buy something for everyone without any fuss and without breaking your budet. Your Dad will love the Whiskey collection,your Mum the champagne set and your sister the nail varnish. Sorted.

Urban Outfitters

The new store will be open in time for Christmas so you won’t have to worry about delivery charges. They have lots of quirky and cool gifts suitable for everyone from Vinyl records to books on almost everything and cute cushions that will liven up any student room.

Thorntons

Perfect for the girls in your life. They have every kind of chocolate you can imagine and often have 3 for 2 on a majority of their sets so you can buy luxury chocolate and impress family and friends with it. You can also give the chocolate a personalised touch and write your own Christmas message.

Capital FM

Next year looks set to be an exciting one with Drake, Jake Bugg, Ellie Goulding and Russell Howard to name a few. You’re bound to find something for someone. Plus, if you buy two tickets you get to see them too.

Wilkinsons

Don’t laugh just yet. They have a wonderful selection of presents that you can pick up for as little as £5. You can buy family board games for everyone to play on Christmas day or a photo album or frame to put a nice picture of your family in and give as a present, perfect for your mum or nan. You could even get lots of pick and mix, chocolate coins and make your friend a box of their favourite treats.

Channel Your Inner Mary Berry

If you’re a whizz in the kitchen or want to put your baking skills to the test why not bake little food gifts for family and friends. Most people understand the lack of money for students and will definitely appreciate the tasty food. You can make biscuits and get fancy bags from most craft shops or even Asda, tie them up with some ribbon and voila!

For you arty people

Sewing and knitting are the perfect ways to give meaningful gifts that don’t cost too much. You could knit cute hats for the little ones in your family or cosy blankets.

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PHOTOGRAPHY, ART & DESIGN

LIFESTYLE

‘Tis the Season to Be Jolly!

According to drug and alcohol addiction charity Addaction, alcohol consumption increases by 40% during the month of December – an alarming figure that would arguably rise even further within the student population. Work parties and the final Ocean of the term are the types of events that amp up the pressure to drink and one in five people admit to having those extra festive tipples simply out of encouragement from friends, family or colleagues. (Drinkaware) Recommended guidelines by the Department of Health advise that men do not regularly exceed a maximum of 3-4 units and for women 2-3 units; however we students are unlikely to adhere to such restrictive guidelines, so we would like to provide you with a few tips for staying safe this Christmas whilst making the most of the party season…

1. Drink at your own pace: Avoid the pressure to drink in rounds or to ‘keep up’. Stick to your own limits and remember, you can say ‘no’!

2. Make sure you eat:

Eating a meal before going out protects your stomach but will also slow down the intoxication process meaning that you can party for longer.

3. Limit your spending power: Decide the maximum amount of

money you want to spend on a given night. Withdraw it, take it with you and leave your card at home.

4. Cab it:

NTSU and Nottingham Cars have teamed up to provide an emergency taxi service. Simply call 01159 700 700 and state that you will be using the Student Emergency Fare Scheme. (See trentstudents.org for full terms.)

Have a merry student Christmas! www.trentstudents.org www.platform-online.org

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ART & DESIGN AT BONNINGTON GALLERY / THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN / FESTIVE FASHION / INTERVIEW: THEA SANDERS

Celebrating 170 Years of Art and Design at Bonington Gallery I

f you have just enrolled this year onto a creative course here at NTU, then consider yourself lucky. Our School of Art and Design is one of the most established in the country, this is upheld by the fact we have our own gallery on campus.

You may have passed Bonington Gallery inside Paul Smith’s Bonington building on your way to a lecture. Next time have a gander inside one of the many free exhibitions frequently held there. The gallery has displayed the works of many prolific artists, many of whose talents were nurtured between the walls you currently study within. To mark the School of Art and Design’s 170th anniversary, Turner prize winner Simon Starling amongst others will be returning in

January for Since 1843: In the Making. This celebratory exhibition will showcase the works of various Trent alumni who have gone on to become influential tastemakers within the creative industries.

Bonington Gallery isn’t just a space for professional art.

You too can exhibit alongside them as submission calls take place all year round for work by current students. The latest exhibition is a great example of bringing together established and emerging talent. Monday 18 November marks the opening of Drawology, which explores one of art’s most visceral practices.

This runs alongside Drawing Is - the student-led proportion of the exhibition. Don’t expect, however, a collective of sketches on paper. This most universal of methods is explored through performance, moving image, installation, projections and even three-dimensional drawings.

You will never be short of inspiration in Nottingham, but you need not even go so far, especially when there is plenty on offer right on campus!

Sayuri Standing

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See full exhibition listings at: www. boningtongallery. co.uk or www.ntu. ac.uk/70years

December 2013

The Other Side of Town

ART

S

omewhat out the way and definitely one of Nottingham’s best-kept secrets is the slither of creativity that is Derby Road. You may have never heard of it, and why would you have, Hockley is so brilliant and accessible - sometimes you don’t realise you’ve even been there – but what about the other side of town?

So, what is it about Derby Road that warrants an article? For starters, it’s a treasure trove of independent, quirky outlets, from Nottingham’s longest running vintage shop to art galleries.

A mere five minute walk from Market Square you may find yourself wondering if you’ve made a wrong turn or mistaken your orientation but persist further than the busy roundabout and you will be delighted to find Nottingham’s Cathedral, and around the corner the Playhouse as well as the Sky Mirror sculpture. For more culture see Lime gallery, where you can see silk prints from the likes of pop art legend and Sgt. Pepper cover designer, Sir Peter Blake. Occasionally, the hand painted Beetles’ Rolls Royce can be spotted parked out the front.

with the likes of antique specialist Le Chien Et Moi, whose dedication to perfectly artesian environments make it a pleasure to simply be in the shop. A host of rare books, handmade jewellery and artwork can ignite your inner craftiness.

A host of interior design stores are perfect for product developers, with unique handmade furniture being designed and created so close to the city it’s fortunate that Derby Road plays host to Brown Dog Interiors and Danish Homestore. The area is home to some of Nottingham’s creative collaborations including Canning Circus Creative Hub that specialises in promoting alternative art and music within the city as well as No Official Name who have just hosted their first event consisting of an exhibition, live performances and artist demonstrations.

Thriving graphic design business, Spitfire, is also a notable gem of the area with it’s dimly lit interior and bustling hyper-creative folk tapping away at iMacs to put together some logos you very may well recognise from around Nottingham. On another note, Focus Gallery encourages participation from the public by providing workshops on such mediums as ceramics to still life.

The gallery has been on the forefront of Nottingham’s beautiful and unusual arts and crafts since 1971, although not everyone can be sure just how long these businesses will continue to survive.

The whole area used to be thriving with many, many more independent shops dotted up and down the road but with recent council restrictions on parking and sharply inflated costs, the area has suffered a dramatic loss in passer-by purchases and can only rely on informed members of the public actively traveling to their stores, or via online commerce.

There exists a collective passion amongst a part of Nottingham wishing to regenerate the area with restructuring from the council to combat the issue but for all of us that live within walking distance, I propose an adventure, it is only five minutes after all.

In one hundred metres you can potentially finish all your Christmas shopping or gathered enough inspiration to fill a sketchbook www.trentstudents.org www.platform-online.org

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ART

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1 2

Dress - H&M Heels - Missguided Bracelets - Primark Socks - Topshop Clutch - Primark

Hairband - River Island Parka - Topshop Jeans - Levis Cami - River Island Boots - ASOS

Shoes - Models Own Jeans - Zara Jumper - Primark Gilet - Jack Wills

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FESTIVE FASHION

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Shirt - Primark Trousers - Zara Shoes - Jones Bootmaker CREDITS: STYLIST & FASHION: Louisa Davies STYLISTS ASSISTANT: Sayuri Standing PHOTOGRAPHY: Ellie Craven-Todd, Kate McLean, Elsa Druiett MAKEwww.platform-online.org UP: Sophie Chadwick www.trentstudents.org MODELS: George Soloman, Maria Stoianov

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The technical staff were extremely helpful and gave us support and advice in the studios. The course itself is very sociable. Students from all year groups work alongside each other in open studios. The atmosphere was great with a lot of creativity.

Award at Graduate FashionWeek 2013

ear after year, Nottingham Trent Y students continue to impress at Graduate Fashion Week – the UK’s

biggest showcase for emerging fashion talent. This year is no exception with knitwear graduate Thea Sanders scooping the Stuart Peters Visionary Knitwear Award with her eclectically colourful collection. Adam Jones, panellist and former head of knitwear at Christian Dior, described her garments as “Chloe meets Marni”.

With such high appraisal there is no doubt Sanders will soar in her design career. Sayuri Standing speaks to the girl behind the award.

What was the inspiration behind your winning collection?

It was an idea developed from the Arts and Crafts movement and the work of the artisan. I focused on interiors, particularly floor tiles. I’ve always loved colour and pattern, like in the clashing tile designs. Amongst others, I visited the Alhambra in Spain to gather the Islamic influences for my collection, which captures both the geometry of Islamic design and more natural British designs of the Art and Crafts movement of the time. I’m really interested in our heritage, tradition and influences of other cultures in British design.

How is life post-GFW?

GFW was an amazing experience and it was such a surprise to win the award! I had interviews with several companies after and am currently working for ASOS on a year-long protégé role which they do in support of GFW. I am now working in womenswear and knitwear design and learning how everything works in a large company.

How has living in Nottingham shaped you as a creative?

Where did you go for inspiration and where are the best places for yarn and art supplies?

Nottingham is a great city to live in.

I enjoyed visiting the Nottingham Contemporary and Wollaton Park at weekends – which was a great place to knit in the summer! I have enjoyed a couple of ‘Thirsty Thursdays’ put on by the Hive where young entrepreneurs discuss their experiences on starting a business and what drives them as creatives.

What are your career aims for the future?

I would like to gain as much experience as I can in the knitwear industry and would ultimately love to become a childrenswear designer in the future.

The Bonington shop has excellent art supplies. For yarn there are a couple of fairly close knitting mills which were great. The University had a great selection of yarns to start off your inspiration and colour ideas for projects which were an excellent help.

Do you have any advice for the freshers about to enrol onto your course?

It is an amazing course! You learn so much in first year then the second prepares you for the industry and designing for a customer. In third year you see how the industry works and in final year you use all your acquired skills to create a collection that represents you as a designer.

Where did you go to let your hair down?

There are many fun cocktail bars around including Coco Tang and Tilt and many great pubs in Nottingham too.

How did the tutors and facilities at NTU support your studies?

In your portfolio show a broad range of work including drawing and where your ideas come from through sketchbooks. In essence, be yourself and show the things you’re passionate about.

The tutors on the knitwear course are excellent - so supportive and friendly.

We had frequent tutorials where we talked through ideas and got feedback from tutors and peers.

Model: Gabriella Ryan Photographer: Ellie Craven-Todd Stylist: Sayuri Standing Hair and Make-up: Elsa Druiett Photographer’s Assistants: Katie McLean & Elsa Druiett Designer: Thea Sanders

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By Sayuri Standing

December 2013

ART

ART

In Discussion with Thea Sanders: Winner of the Stuart PetersVisionary Knitwear

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DELIVERY

UNTIL 5AM

Buy One Pizza, Get One

FREE 11

Available on medium and large pizzas

Are your boobs looking for love?

Text ‘TRENT’ for a to FREE Text PERKY to 70300to for70500 a free reminder check reminder text to check your boobies. them each month

Collection or delivery Please hand coupon to driver or member of staff. Student ID may be required.

Valid at Domino’s Pizza Nottingham City Centre and West Bridgford stores only. At regular menu price. Pizza from menu or create your own up to 4 topping. Free pizza must be equal or lesser value than the first.

Available on medium and large pizzas only. Not valid with any other offer. See website for full T&C’s. Offer expires 31/05/14

/Dominos Pizza Nottingham

@DominosPizzaSK

Call Call Call

dominos.co.uk inPopininTap the appthe dominos.co.uk dominos.co.uk Pop Pop Tap Tap theapp app OPENOPEN

Unit 2, Chettles Yard, 9 Midland Way, Nottingham NG7 3AG

21 Radcliffe Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 5FF

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0115 978 5222 0115 982 5577

* Standard network rates apply for the text you send to sign up. But everything’s free after that. Promise.

Registered charity number 1132366.

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December 2013

VIEWING BY APPOINTMENT ALL YEAR

FASHION & BEAUTY

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ART

CHRISTMAS BEAUTY / FUR OR NO FUR / A FRESH APPROACH TO YOUNG SKIN / TRENT STREET STYLE / PARTY DRESS SEASON

THOUSANDS OF BEDROOMS IN STUDENT ACCOMMODATION THE NUMBER OF ROOMS AVAILABLE IS MUCH LARGER THAN THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS. SO YOU HAVE LOTS OF CHOICE AND LOTS OF TIME. DON’T PANIC! NTSU’s Student Advice Centre offers a free housing contract checking service which can be really helpful before you commit to signing anything. Go to trentstudents.org/seeanadvisor to book an appointment.

Also, check out our house-hunting tips & advice at trentstudents.org/accommodation.

www.trentstudents.org www.platform-online.org

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Beauty Christmas

In case you haven’t noticed the wreaths and lights yet, take this as confirmation that Christmas is coming.

This of course means finding the perfect outfit for the Christmas party season – let alone your makeup and something to pamper yourself with.

So, you sort the outfit and shoes and let Platform guide you through everything else you need to make your festive season sparkle.

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December 2013

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(L) Savage Rose (R) Burnt Bark - £4.99 each

There is no situation more awkward than being stuck under the mistletoe with a random person. The perfect excuse? You don’t want to smudge your new lipstick, of course. Try No.7’s Vital Brights Lipstick in Blooming Pink for the perfect Christmas colour pop. The bright pink hue has a moisture-rich formula and some serious staying power which means it could be a lipstick for all year round – not just for Christmas.

No. 7 Vital Brights Lipstick – Blooming Pink - £5.00

One too many eggnogs (does anyone even drink that stuff?) can leave you needing some recovery time.

What better way to unwind than a hot bath? LUSH is always a firm favourite for smelly stuff and at Christmas time their products get even better. Try the Cinders Bath Bomb which promises to make you feel like you’re in front of an open fire sipping mulled wine … Which is decidedly better than eggnog. Ergh.

FUR OR NO FUR FOR

Sayuri Standing

The controversy surrounding the use of fur and animal skins is a highly mislead debate. First of all, our prehistoric ancestors wore mostly pelts to keep themselves warm. If you watch a few episodes of Human Planet you will see that there are various tribes of people who still live by the land and continue to rely on animals to protect themselves. They’re certainly not killing animals for vanity, which is one common argument against fur. However, there is still an accepted form of this in the first world surrounding leather.

Many anti-fur protesters still happily eat meat and claim leather is acceptable due to it being a by-product of meat. That would imply cattle farmers give away their hide for free. The leather industry is worth billions and is considered more profitable than selling meat. In South African ostrich farms, the skins account for 80% of the profit while the meat is the by-product. If the death of the animal isn’t the concern then what is?

If the problem is animal welfare then you are going to have an issue with nearly every commonplace commodity. We choose to be oblivious to the processes behind most things because it would sadden us if we knew the details. Buying a cheap cotton does not make us any better than possessing a mink coat. Sweatshops are still prevalent in the fashion industry as is animal testing in medicine.

We cannot be against fur without being a hypocrite. If you are going to be anti-fur, you may as well be anti-everything.

Cinders Bath Bomb - £2.45 each

AGAINST

Hayley Magyar

Ok, so PETA’s actions against wearing fur might be slightly crazy (such as flourbombing Kim Kardashian on the red carpet!) but at least they’re trying to get across a good message… wearing fur is bad.

I’m sure many girls out there love snuggling up in huge fur coats as winter draws in, but do you really need to cause so much pain and suffering just to look fashionable? With so many amazing faux-fur options out there, why feel the need to support an industry which slaughters innocent animals just for fashion?

While doing some internet research before I wrote this article, I came across facts so horrific and disgusting that they actually left me in tears. It saddens me that some people can be so cold-hearted to indulge in such a cruel fashion statement.

Why not follow in the fabulously fashionable footsteps of celebrities such as Charlize Theron, Penelope Cruz and Eva Mendez instead, who all did the “Fur? I’d rather go naked” campaign for PETA. So I’m not suggesting turning up to your lecture totally in the nude, but hopefully you get my drift!

If you want to stay warm with a clear conscience this winter, follow this mini shopping guide to my favourite faux-fur items on the highstreet today, so you can look as ethically glamorous as possible…

By: Bec Burnage

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FASHION

FASHION

Anyone who says they don’t love a bit of sparkle at Christmas is either lying or The Grinch in disguise.

Luckily, Max Factor is on hand to provide the perfect amount of sparkle to your make up bag this festive season. Max Factor Wild Shadow Pot comes in beautiful, sparkly shades that combine to create the perfect smoky eye. Instead of a heavy, black eye shadow - try Savage Rose and Burnt Bark for something different.

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YOUNG SKIN

By Charlotte Cain

As the British winter months set in, I’m sure I’m not alone when I say my skin really feels the impact. Chilling temperatures, hair-ruining winds and central heating combine to create a mean cocktail that results in dry, flaky skin, and a dull complexion. Whilst most of us probably have some form of skincare regime, there is no better time to start making a more hearty effort than now if you’re sat thinking “does a Superdrug make-up wipe count?”

I recently trialed Elemis’new Fresh Skin range on behalf of John Lewis, where this range is exclusively stocked. Elemis pride themselves on the naturalistic qualities of their products, thus always deliver in giving their customers chemical free skincare.

Having previously been stuck in a bit of a skincare rut and not knowing what products were right for my skin, after a consultation with the helpful Elemis team, I was excited to try out the products they referred me to.

Personally, my skin is prone to breakouts, particularly when I’m more stressed and knocking hours off my sleep… The team therefore decided that the “Extreme Clean” products would be best for my skin. I first used the products on a Monday morning, as a means to erase my Monday morning blues and perk myself up: it worked. Their Purifying Face Wash produced a really good lather, and felt great on my skin. The Mattifying Moisturiser further complimented this, as like it’s name would suggest, it didn’t leave an annoying shiny residue. As a girl, this is particularly frustrating, and requires extensive power application, so having a matte canvas to apply my primer to was great, and something I’ve struggled to get the same results from with other brands.

With Christmas coming up and overly organised parents starting to nag you for gift ideas, why not pop into John Lewis Nottingham – located in Victoria Centre - to book a free consultation with the Elemis team and unlock which products are perfect for you? With fab gift sets starting at just £10.50, they’re hard to resist. And why leave the store with a bare face? With beauty houses such as Bobbi Brown and Benefit in store, indulge in a makeover with their beauty consultants. Just ask in store. www.trentstudents.org www.platform-online.org

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FASHION

FASHION

TRENT STREET STYLE

A FRESH APPROACH TO

Farrah Watts Photography 2nd Year Jumper- Topshop Scarf- Charity Shop Jeans- Topshop Bag- H&M

Chloe O’Connor Top- H&M Cardigan- River Island Skirt- ASOS Shoes- Dr Martens

Amy Lowes Forensic Mental Health Masters Jumper- Primark Necklace- River Island

Lauren Mustoe Photography 2nd Year Jeans- Topshop Shoes- Primark

Alice Newton, Fashion Communication & Promotion, Coat- Pilot. Blouse- H&M. Boots- Jones Bootmaker

Abi Newsham, Forensic Mental Health MA Scarf- M&s, Boots- Dune, Cardigan- Topshop Rings- India, Dress- Topshop

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December 2013

CULTURE & ENTS

i heard it's

FASHION

THE RETURN TO MIDDLE EARTH / ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS FILMS / CHRISTMAS CLASSICS / NOTTINGHAM CONTEMPORARY

EMBELLISHED Take inspiration from The Great Gatsby with these gorgeous embellished dresses. This flapper inspired Urban Outffiters dress (£125) is a really flattering shape if you’ve been over indulging over the festive season. Topshop’s embellished dress (£85) would also be a really cute addition to your winter wardrobe and nails the current pink trend. Wear with a smoky eye to create a 20’s vibe.

LEATHER Leather is huge for AW13 and the perfect way to upgrade the standard LBD look. This cut out dress from Miss Selfridge (£140) is seductive yet classy. Quilting has also been everywhere this season and this skater dress from Topshop (£55) combines these two trends perfectly. Just add a statement red lip and some heels.

SEQUIN Nothing says Christmas like sequins. Miss Guided have a really amazing selection of affordable sequin dresses that are sure to make you stand out over the festive season. For all over sparkle try this patterned short sleeved body con dress (£49.99), which will definitely make heads turn. This gold long sleeved dress (£49.99) with black skater skirt is also really gorgeous.

party dress

season www.trentstudents.org www.platform-online.org

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THE RETURN TO MIDDLE EARTH ONCE AGAIN

Peter Jackson will bring us his fifth outing to Middle Earth in December with the second film in his Hobbit trilogy, The Desolation of Smaug.

Originally intended to be a two –part adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien’s historic children’s novel, Jackson chose to extend his vision to a trilogy, claiming that he wanted to tell the story ‘in the best way possible’ but can we expect another earnest and grand scale epic with the latest instalment?

The first film, An Unexpected Journey, was met with moderate critical success upon release, with a key criticism being the length and depth in which Jackson delved into. At 170 minutes give or take, it was certainly a lengthy first chapter to an adaptation of a 300 page novel. Nevertheless, it was a hit with many fans, and was still arguably an immersive and ambitious piece of storytelling, but will the mid-chapter remain as strong and surefooted? Well there are many things to look forward to – in particular the dragon Smaug himself, looking particularly ominous and powerful from the many trailers. We will see plenty more of the very respectable Bilbo Baggins, and of course Gandalf with Ian McKellen boasting his magical grandeur.

Despite the length and needless expansions of the previous film, Peter Jackson still showed us was a fantastic storyteller he is, and his eye for crafting and attention remains absolute. Whatever he brings to the second chapter, it will almost certainly please many of Middle Earth’s extensive fan bases.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug will be released in the UK on 13th December. By Ellis Whitehouse

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December 2013

TO BLOW YOUR MITTENS OFF

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By Clara McKechnie

A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas (2011) Christmas just got crazy. This is definitely a film seeking to break as many taboos as possible; prepare yourself for topless nuns, a drugaddled baby and a bloody Santa Claus. That’s not to say there isn’t a heart-warming moment or two amidst the chaos but for the most part it’s Harold and Kumar doing what they do best – causing havoc. So kick back and enjoy the hilarious over-the-top stupidity that is Harold and Kumar at Christmas time.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) “What’s this? What’s this?” This is the story of Jack Skellington the ‘Pumpkin King’, and his adventures upon entering Christmastown – a whole new world compared to his Halloween home. This film is a true Tim Burton classic, its gothic cinematography and creepy narrative an unmistakable trademark of his. Forget the Christmas you know, Jack Skellington’s on the loose and he’s bringing you shrunken head baubles, Christmas tree-eating snakes and skeletal reindeer.

3

Gremlins (1984)

No water, no food after midnight and no bright light! Obey these rules and you might survive Christmas, but unluckily for Billy Peltzer when he accidentally breaks these rules with his Christmas present, a pet Mogwai named ‘Gizmo’, he couldn’t be more unprepared for the mayhem that ensues. If you’re looking for a comedy horror with added bite, this film is sure to satisfy.

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010) You’d better watch out this holiday season, Santa has been found 486 metres beneath the Korvatunturi Mountains of Finland, and he’s not the jolly figure legend had us all believe. Santa is an evil, reindeer slaying monster out to punish anyone and everyone. Forget about the ‘nice list’, this time round everyone’s been naughty. The sinister tale of a Santa that’s more creature than Kris Kringle, Rare Exports is a black comedy that will disturb you, amuse you and make you mighty glad that elves aren’t real.

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Die Hard (1988)

Nothing says Christmas like John McClane (Bruce Willis) gunning down terrorists on a cold winter’s eve. Die Hard is the epic story of police officer John McClane, who gets more than he bargained for when terrorists interrupt the Nakatomi Plaza Christmas party. A brilliant, suspense filled, action-packed classic, Die Hard is the trigger-happy action flick with plenty of explosive Christmas cheer. So curl up with a mug of hot chocolate and enjoy 131 minutes of McClane mayhem.

www.trentstudents.org www.platform-online.org

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Classics

hristmas

CULTURE

CULTURE

TOP FIVE ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS FILMS

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Who could ever imagine a Christmas without the yearly routines of repeats of old films and hauling dusty, broken baubles from the attic? It simply wouldn’t be Christmas without all the cheesy songs, the crumbling decorations and the old re-runs blaring from the TV set. But where did it all start? If anything, Christmas is about tradition and where better to look than the literary greats.

Here’s a festive rummage into 5 pieces of popular Christmas literature to date.

Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol is one of Dickens’ most famous novels and reflects ‘goodwill’ in the highest of terms. It’s a story that teaches you a lesson, basically, don’t be a scrooge this Christmas, enjoy life and extend the hospitality to everyone.

Clement Clarke Moore A Visit From St. Nicholas

Like many texts from the past, A Visit from St. Nicholas (also known as The Night Before Christmas) has trouble finding its true author. While Moore is held in the highest regard, the well-known poem is argued to have been written by someone else. Despite its origin, the poem’s description of Santa’s visit fills many children’s hearts with hope to this day.

Hans Christian Anderson The Little Match Girl

This touching story, although tragic, describes the last moments of a poor match stick girl and the wonders she sees before she dies. The story is set during the New Year, but shows elements of Christmas imagery. It is said to have been inspired by the Brothers Grimm tales and has obviously made its own mark in the world, being adapted in many ways and inspiring many artists of the 20th and 21st century in turn.

Terry Pratchett The Hogfather

Terry Pratchett is famous for his fantasy novels, in particular the Discworld collection.

His twentieth novel from this universe, The Hogfather, has been adapted to film (starring Pratchett himself) and expresses as much Christmas spirit, with just the right amount of crazy, expected from such an author. What’s not to love about Death posing as Father Christmas?

Raymond Briggs The Snowman

‘Walking in the Air’ comes on and instantly everyone thinks of The Snowman. The original novel, however, contains some differences to the film adaptation. The children’s book, can be read several ways. If you dig deep enough, it turns out that many Christmas tales have an undertone of death or moral misfortune and apparently The Snowman is no different, but for the sake of Christmas spirit, let’s say that the snowman is sure to return next year.

Abby Leachman

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December 2013

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Asco

CULTURE

Geoffrey Farmer

MUSIC BEST ALBUMS OF 2013 / ARTISTS OF 2014 / ON THE 12TH DAY OF CHRISTMAS / ALBUM REVIEW: CUT COPY

at the Nottingham Contemporary

T

his autumn has seen the Nottingham Contemporary open its doors to two new international exhibitions. Geoffrey Farmer, a Canadian artist presents his multi-sensory two room installation piece.

Whilst the Chicano group Asco show their first large scale European exhibition featuring work from their active years between 1972 to 1987.

At the opening event Alex Farquharson mentioned how they always wanted Geoffrey Farmer’s exhibition to look “like a cinematic film” and it does, the atmosphere is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced at an exhibition. The Avant garde installation uses old film and theatre props, found materials and a composition based on one by Frank Zappa in 1968.

The idea of cinema and film is seen throughout Asco’s No Movies exhibition. The group was originally made up of four artists Harry Gamboa Jr, Gronk, Willie F. Herrón III and Patssi Valdez. They were a small group of Chicano artists formed in the early 70’s. Emerging from the 60’s civil rights movement their work was not just a direct response to the discrimination of the Chicano community, within East LA but to wider issues like the Vietnam War. No Movies are a series of film stills from films that never existed. Yet they were staged as a trailer of a film even coming up with the “No Movie Awards” and even sent the photographs to the press disguised as films. They were a direct response to the lack of opportunity for Chicano artists in Hollywood cinema. It has been commented that since No Movies artists like Cindy Sherman have since been influenced by the idea behind film still photography.

The exhibition also revives Valdez’s Paper fashions show working with Nottingham artist Nadim Chaudry and Nottingham Trent students, making paper dresses and Primark jewellery emphasizing the cheapened look rather than commenting on how much money you have. An aesthetic seen throughout Asco’s art.

Like many famed artists before them, Asco is a group becoming known on an international scale for their political comments years after its disbandment. This particular exhibition is as mentioned previously, their first large scale European exhibition moving to de Appel in Amsterdam and CAPC in Bordeaux after its Nottingham opening.

The Nottingham Contemporary’s latest exhibition show two sides to the cinema, the idea of cinema presented by Asco against and the visual and sensory experience Geoffrey Farmer shares with you.

Both exhibitions explore the surreal and is at times dada-esque providing an intriguing experience for all that visit.

www.platform-online.net

2013

BEST ALBUMS OF Matt Davies picks his top four albums of 2013 – do you agree with his choices? If you do, give him a call, he’s very friendly…

1) Queens Of The Stone Age- …Like Clockwork

You know you’re doing something right when Sir Elton John proclaims your record “probably the best rock album by any band in about five or six years.” The first Queens album in six years was an absolute belter, opening with the sinister Keep Your Eyes Peeled. Like Clockwork slowly builds up through the soothing piano-based Vampyre Of Time And Memory and the fearsome-yet-groovy If I Had A Tail.

It peaks with the hard-hitting My God Is The Sun before the dreamy, waltzing Kaopsia, with its whispers of Ziggy-era Bowie, begins to wind things down. Sir Elton knows a good album when he hears one.

2) Foals- Holy Fire

This record not only showed a clear development in the band’s sound - tracks like the slow building Inhaler and the badass Providence are heavier than you’d expect from the Oxford band - but it also managed to cover all the bases of ‘classic Foals’. Their atmospheric swagger is in full force on Late Night and Moon, whilst the pop-like My Number sits nicely alongside classics such as Cassius and Miami. A triumph in contrasting dark, gloomy rock with jaggy edged pop, Holy Fire has already helped launch Yannis and Co up festival bills and will soon fire them in to arenas. Foals are fast becoming the stallions of the British indie scene.

3) Daughter- If You Leave

London trio Daughter can probably claim the prize for most criminally underrated album of the year with If You Leave. It charted at 16, and received good critical reviews, but since its release in March the hype has dropped & it missed out on a Mercury nomination at the end of the year. Take nothing away from the band though, they’ve produced one of the most stunning debut albums in years. A story of heartbreak it has the listener immersed right the way through, from the hypnotic Smother to the faster, more chaotic Human.

Single Youth is a glorious tale of teenage angst, slowly building its ways to a crushing crescendo before lead singer Elena Tonra cries ‘you caused it’. This is one of those albums that leaves you longing for more.

4) Arctic Monkeys- AM

AM was a welcome return to form for Arctic Monkeys, following the slightly below-par Suck It And See. Do I Wanna Know? is a storming, tension building sing-a-long, with Alex Turners’ lyrics about unrequited love setting a theme for the album. The familiar R U Mine? and the hip-hop inspired Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High? Complete a rhetorical question hat-trick for the Sheffield four-piece. Pop tune Snap Out Of It is the sound of Turner listening to Scissor Sisters on repeat for the last year and John Cooper Clarke’s poem I Wanna Be Yours is wonderfully re-worked to uphold the band’s reputation of producing brilliant closing tracks. However, the real high point is the infectious Arabella. Overall, AM was a wonderfully crafted, mature effort from a band on top of their game.

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Josh Bradley had a little think and came up with his six favourite ever festive tunes. If this definitive list doesn’t get you in the mood for Christmas day, you’re either really boring, or your soul is made of cobalt.

1. Slade – Merry Xmas Everybody

Every Christmas countdown simply has to start with this classic, mainly thanks to the iconic “IT’S CHRISTMASSSSS!”, a lyric that is sung at the top of everyone’s voice at least once a year. This yuletide gem bagged the number one spot in 1973, and not surprisingly, this is Slade’s most popular single and has sold over a million copies worldwide. It’s also the song most likely to set the drunk one off at your next Christmas party.

2. Paul McCartney – Wonderful Christmastime

Another classic., and this time from a Beatle. Sir Paul McCartney, accompanied by The Wings, gave us this synthy Crimbo anthem in 1979. It may sound a tad outdated and lacks the lyrical mastery of Hey Jude or Let It Be, but it’s packed with enough festive joy to turn any old Scrooge. According to reports, the 71-year-old still earns $400,000 a year on the back of its success. Or as McCartney likes to call it: loose change.

3. Wizzard – I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday

Every child’s wish of a Christmas a day comes to life with this glam rock corker from 1973. Jingle bells and trumpets are aplenty on this Xmas staple which, shockingly, never reached the number one spot. Unfortunately, the music video fails to live up to the track’s genius and breaks one key rule; don’t work with kids. What were they thinking!?

4. The Pogues feat. Kirsty MacColl – Fairytale Of New York

If there was ever a time of year to be merry, this is the perfect song soundtrack it. Although opening with Shane MacGowan’s remorseful slur, the track soon comes to life in beautiful festive spirit – cementing itself as possibly the best Christmas song ever. Best served with a pint in your hand sat next to a roaring fire.

5. John Lennon and Yoko – Happy Xmas (War is Over)

Demonstrating exactly what the festive period is all about; the celebration of no war and being with loved ones is precisely what John and Yoko had in mind when they wrote this song. They sum it up faultlessly in this feel good sing-along. It is an honest reflection of the struggles and achievements in the early 70’s. The message is there for all to hear “War Is Over!”

6. Jona Lewie – Stop The Cavalry

War-related songs seem to make the perfect jingles at this time of year, the sound of drums and bells can only excite in what should potentially be a depressing song. Jona Lewie claimed that the song was never meant to be a Christmas hit, and was in fact a protest against conflict. Either way, this record is an all-time classic and my Christmas day just wouldn’t be the same without it.

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ON THE 12th DAY OF

Christmas MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME Megan Cox donned her thinking cap and produced an alternative version of The Twelve Days of Christmas. If you’re clever, you’ll notice that all the songs are Christmas themed, and if you’re brave, try singing it out loud, preferably in Boots Library. Oh, and film it 12 Confused Camels Greg Lake – I Believe In Father Christmas...

The music video, you’d look confused as well if you were sat in the Egyptian desert when some guy starts singing about a fat man with flying pets.

11 Petrified Elves Can’t imagine Santa having a breakdown? No problem, you’ll get the picture via alternative Christmas song Weird Al Yankovic – The Night Santa Went Crazy 10 Boring Pigeons Micheal Jackson- Rockin’ Robbin making all other poultry feel inadiquete since 1972

7 Hairy Faces No, it’s not Dumbledore dressed as Where’s Wally, it’s the frontman of bearded clan Wizzard- I Wish it Could Be Christmas Everyday 6 Tubes Of Fake Tan Everyone loves a bit of cheese at Christmas and orange cornflake face George Michael delivers a fondue of brie with Wham!- Last Christmas 5 METAL HEADS August Burns Red- Carol Of The Bells will have your head banging all the way through December. Proof that nobody is too badass to enjoy Christmas.

4 Lycra Lovers Who else but Justin Hawkins in his tight little numbers? The Darkness- Christmas Time (Don’t Let The Bells End) because everyone loves trying to hit those high notes after a Baileys or two.

3 Mean Girls Mean Girls and Lindsay Lohan made Bobby Helms- Jingle Bell Rock an unforgettable number with their PVC Santa dance routine in the film Mean Girls 2 Doggy Antlers Run DMC- Christmas In Hollis Yes the hip-hop legends Run DMC made this little gem to get you into the holiday spirit and their music video features a dog in a reindeer disguise, just the usual then.

And Mariah Carey Who Doesn’t Want Me. She wants youuuuuuu, youuuuuuu baby.

Mariah Carey- All I Want For Christmas Is You we all know it, we all pretend to hate it yet as soon as the tinsel’s out we’re singing it word for word. A Christmas message for you ladies and gents; embrace your inner Mariah.

9 Inch Rim Glasses The king of bad eyewear explains one does simply step into Christmas. Elton John- Step Into Christmas

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December 2013

MUSIC

MUSIC

Best christmas songs of all time...

8 Satan Helpers So it might be a tad obvious that Blink 182- Won’t Be Home For Christmas aren’t a fan of carolers, or Christmas at all coming to think of it..

www.platform-online.net

Alex Copley reviewed Cut Copy’s latest album.

If you’re into your more obscure dance music, check this band out.

MUSIC

Album Review: Cut Copy Free Your Mind VERDICT: 8/10

Cut Copy’s fourth studio album Free Your Mind is, for want of a better word, dance. But this isn’t the type of the dance music you vaguely remember after a night out consisting solely of double vodka red bulls – I’m talking about you, Guetta. No, this is proper, unadulterated dance music.

More than just an album title, Free Your Mind is closer to an invitation from the Australian electronic band as they take the listener through a mind-bending, acid house journey. Most importantly, though, Cut Copy want you and become “one with the music”. Title single, Free Your Mind heed from Madchester legends Happy Mondays – employing a track designed to get even the most rhythmically challenged up

to have fun (duh!), takes bouncy loop and dancing.

Much like their Oz compatriots, Jagwar Ma, the group clearly reference the thriving Madchester scene of the 80/90s during the course of the record. Footsteps, chock full of skittish samples, is underpinned by a rave-inducing bass synth worthy enough to grace the mythical Haçienda. Walking In The Sky instead points the finger at Primal Scream. The track gracefully lowers the tempo, proffering the record’s sing-along moment. In a seemingly spiritual fashion, frontman Dan Whitford chants: “You gotta free your mind, life is all your own design,” – a mantra undoubtedly endorsed by the quartet.

They may take inspiration from a baggier era, but Cut Copy certainly can’t be classed as copy-cats. This is by no means a Now That’s What I Call Madchester. Free Your Mind explores a world of sonic possibilities. This can probably be attributed to Whitford’s new approach to songwriting, roughly sketching a song a day for four months. These embryonic tracks would then be presented to the band, allowing them to collectively build them in any way they saw fit. Songs like the glossy, progressive We Are Explorers present the fruits of this process.

What makes Free Your Mind such a success is its strength as a body of work. No track is weak, and although standing alone as killer tunes, they truly shine as a collection.

Songs flow naturally into one another, visiting an array of moods and styles. Interludes littered between tracks such as the futuristic Into the Desert add to this effect. For this mastery, plaudits have to go to Dave Fridmann (The Flaming Lips, Tame Impala, MGMT) on mixing duties – his psychedelic style the perfect companion to the band’s vision.

Parts of the record may not be to everyone’s taste, but the finished product is a truly rewarding experience. Essentially, it’s the sound of Cut Copy scrapping the rulebook. This is best portrayed on gargantuan stand-out track, Meet Me In A House Of Love – a cocktail of sleazy Eurodance mixed with innovative, indie perfection. The song even features a cheeky saxophone solo, so you know it’s good.

Accept Cut Copy’s invitation, and Free Your Mind will be an acid trip of an album you’ll want to revisit time and again www.trentstudents.org www.platform-online.org

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GAMING & TECHNOLOGY INTERVIEW WITH NATHAN MCREE / GAMES AND TECH OF CHRISTMAS PAST

Interview

with composer Nathan McCree.

Nathan McCree is a name that may not mean much too some people, but for fans of the Tomb Raider franchise he is an important man. Back in 1996, little under a year before the first Tomb Raider game came out, he was hard at work writing and composing the soundtrack to the game. After this he continued to do the same for the subsequent second and third titles in the series. As a passionate fan of the franchise Daryl Baxter sat down with Nathan to talk about his days working on the soundtrack...

Q- What made you decide that you wanted to compose music for games?

A- I started writing music when I was 11, my Dad bought me a Korg Delta synthesizer and I used his four track reel to reel tape recorder to multi track. I studied Computer Science at Kingston University and got my first job with Core Design as a programmer. My first job was to code a music sequencer for the Sega Mega Drive, I wrote some music on it to demonstrate how it worked and the boss liked the music so much he asked me to write the music for one of their games, it was an Asterix game. So I had a job change overnight and never did another bit of coding.

Q- Does it surprise you that almost twenty years on you’re being recognised & thanked for creating an iconic soundtrack?

A- I had a bit of a fame boost when the game first came out, but unfortunately being famous in the games industry does not really get you recognition in the music and film industries. It’s good to hear that people are beginning to take notice of games composers. Many of them are very talented.

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December 2013

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GAMING

A- There was no time to iterate on the tunes. Every tune was written once, and that version went into the game. I wrote the entire score for the first Tomb Raider in four weeks. I didn’t really see the levels in an ‘early state’. If I was lucky, I got to see the area where we needed some music, or some screen shot or something, but most of the time I was working from minimal word descriptions like, “underwater”, “T-Rex”, “caves” etc.

A- There was no ‘offer’ for me to work on TR4 - to be honest, I didn’t want to work on the project anymore - three was enough for me. I interviewed Peter to replace me at Core Design. He was enthusiastic and I felt his productions were good. I liked his adaptation of my themes for TR4 but for the rest of the music, I think something got lost, which it seems has never returned to the music since I left.

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I wrote the entire score for the first Tomb Raider in four weeks.

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Q- Other franchises have kept their main theme since the beginning, which helps fans with familiarity. Do you think completely taking away the original theme you created hurt potential fans of the subsequent games, right up to this year’s reboot?

A- Of course - it’s a complete disaster for the franchise. It’s like releasing a James Bond movie without Monty Norman’s classic theme. To this day, I don’t know why Eidos decided to weaken their prized possession!

Q- What was it like working at Core Design between 1996 and 1998 on the trilogy while working on other projects?

A- Well, the people working with me were great fun, but the work load was stressful to say the least. Between ‘93 and ‘96 I was knocking out about 12 games per year. One game I remember took me one week to write the entire score. I didn’t sleep much and I certainly didn’t go home. We had beds and showers in the office so it was a case of work, sleep, work, sleep. Lots of pizza, coffee and cigarettes. In ‘96, with the advent of the CD based consoles, we had to up our game as we were now competing with the music and film industries. So the amount of games per year slowed down as the projects were much larger, but the workload remained the same.

I loved every minute of it and I wrote loads of music, but I am glad I was in my early twenties when all that was going on. I don’t think my body would stand up to that kind of abuse now! There were some shocking moments though - I remember seeing one of my workmates looking very grey and shaking one night because he had been working non-stop for over 72 hours. He was not very well and was finally allowed to go home for some rest! It was a crazy time.

Q- You mentioned leaving Core Design during Tomb Raider 3, were you offered to compose for TR4? What are your thoughts to the scores of the games since? www.trentstudents.org www.platform-online.org

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Q- A year ago, Peter Connelly uploaded the soundtracks of TR4, 5 and Angel of Darkness, to SoundCloud. Is there any chance we could see the same from your music in the future?

A- I’m working on it. There’s some ‘red tape’ to get through first. In fact I have much bigger plans for the music which I hope to finalise soon, so watch this space.

Q- Thank you for taking the time to answer the questions, is there anything you’d like to say to those who are still playing the games today?

A- My pleasure. Thank you to everyone for listening to my work - keep listening and I will be releasing some more stuff soon.

Interview by Daryl Baxter.

For the full interview visit www.platform-online.net

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December 2013

GAMING

Q- I suspect there were versions of the music before the final iteration, but as the levels were being designed, did you see them from an early state to give you an idea of what music could fit well for each?

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GAMING

Tom Beresford-

Christmas 2003, for months I had pestered my parents asking for a PlayStation 2, a request they couldn’t understand as I had both a PlayStation and a Game Boy already. Regardless, when Christmas day rolled around I opened a small rectangular present to find a copy of Turok: Evolution inside, which baffled me as I had no way to play it. Clearly seeing the look of confusion on my face it was then that my parents announced that I had better have my other present, a big box which funnily enough contained the fabled PS2… I don’t think I’d ever smiled so much before, or killed so many dinosaurs in one day.

Daryl Baxter-

December 25, 1994... Only Fools and Horses was yet to finish.

The Spice Girls didn’t exist, and East 17 had the number one for ‘Stay Another Day’. After seeing it in a ‘Sonic the Comic’, I asked Santa for the new Sonic game. Christmas morning came, and I was given a huge box that I could just about hold. I unwrapped, and there it was, a Mega Drive with Sonic 3, and MegaGames 1. From that day forward for me, that’s the day where it all started, to the point where I’m now writing about the games that made an impact on me.

Lauren Greaves-

Christmas morning, 2005, the Nintendo DS had already been on the shelves for eight months and my 12-year-old self was twitching with nervous anticipation at getting my eager little hands on one. I was definitely on the naughty list that year, having already seen the box in my mum’s wardrobe tucked behind an assortment of other, boring presents. But I didn’t care. Within five minutes of gleefully un-wrapping the box, I was either off saving Princess Peach from Bowser or ignoring my cat in favour of a virtual dog called Rex. Nintendo, you did it again.

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GAMING

Games (and Tech) of Christmas past Richard Nelson

Christmas 2003, it was a rare occurrence to get anything extravagant for Christmas in my house; year after year I was disappointed. But 2003 was the year I received my first Game Boy. Looking back it was a selfish day, I ignored relatives and visitors in favour of levelling up my Torchic in Pokémon Ruby but I just didn’t care. I was over the moon with my new gaming companion and took it everywhere with me and treasured its power to entertain for hours upon hours upon hours. Damn I need to dig out my Game Boy again....

Adam Reid-

Sadly I don’t remember the year or the events of the day itself, but my most memorable gift would have to be the Game Boy Advance SP. I loved the original Game Boy and the Colour, but trying to play it at night with a flimsy light accessory was about as effective as a smart phone with brightness turned off on a sunny day. My lengthy Pokémon sessions also ate through a hell of a lot of AA batteries, so to get my hands on a new handheld that has a frontlit screen and rechargeable battery was mindblowing.

Christopher Norden-

It was December 2004 that was the Christmas when I got my first computer. Before I had hand-me-downs from other people including what I was using then, a Pentium clad Windows 98SE based machine with a jawdroppingly small 1.3GB hard drive, but I was upgrading towards the future. At the time the machine I got, a Dell Dimension 5150C was a beast running the legendary Windows XP operating system with 1GB RAM and a 3.2 GHz processor. It ran like the wind until the PC games I was running got too complex for it. I miss it now though and wish I had it still to use it as a server to remember the good old days.

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SPORT

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MUSIC

SPORTS NEWS / PREMIER LEAGUE PREDICTIONS / COUNTY PLAYERS OFF THE PITCH / LEARNING ABOUT LACROSSE / TRENT SPORTS PROFILES

SPORTS NEWS Christmas is here which means that the sporting season is in full swing. Football starts to get serious as players sacrifice their Christmas turkey, rugby players get even muddier than usual, and this year the England cricketers will be doing battle in the Ashes down under.

But back on home soil Trent’s own sport stars have started their own campaigns with aplomb and will be generally delighted with the healthy state they leave the uni in heading off for their Christmas break.

Our men’s table tennis team continue to boss their league after a successful season last year and won their first two matches this year with ease, 17-0 and 134, whilst on the football pitch, our women’s football team have kicked off with a bang, winning 4-1, 4-0, and picking up a tasty 3-3 draw away at Birmingham.

Indeed, after the third week of the season, Trent stood 16th out of all 150 universities in the BUCS table – an improvement on last year’s 17th place.

Our men’s tennis team have started strongly, beating Cambridge’s second string 12-0 in their third match of the season, whilst the women’s volleyball outfit were sitting pretty at the top of their league after three matches.

And as you’ll read in this edition, our men’s lacrosse team are on a roll and won their first three matches comfortably.

As a uni we can be extremely proud of the quality of the sport we play at Trent, and if you fancy picking a random sport you’ve never watched before, or just want a live football fix, why not find out where our teams are playing on a Wednesday afternoon and go and cheer them on?

You won’t be disappointed.

George Solomon, Sports Editor

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A fair chunk into the season now, things have started to settle down in the Premier League, and we’ve been presented with the most intriguing title race for many years.

We’ve discounted Man United because we just don’t think they’ve got it this year, and we don’t think Spurs have the firepower. But what about the four left?

Arsenal

It’s easy to write off Arsenal’s title march – they’ve often flattered to deceive in the past and it’s relatively early days. The footballing quality of Wenger’s previous sides has never been doubted, but a lack of top players (and difficulty keeping them) saw them slip behind rivals. But now they’ve remedied this with an in-form Ramsey, an improved Giroud and one of the world’s best in Ozil, as well as enhanced financial clout. This time, the Gunners should go all the way. Daniel King

Liverpool

Sturridge and Suarez will prove critical in Liverpool’s title tilt already their lethal partnership has proved too venomous for even the best in the division, and that’s not forgetting Coutinho.

His exquisite vision, sumptuous passing game and electrifying pace will also be vital. The Reds’ passion, commitment, and will to win has been iconic over the years; Istanbul 2005, Cardiff 2006, Wembley 2012 (to name a few) and this season will be no different. The Premier League title is coming home to Anfield.

Amar Sharma

Chelsea

Chelsea have by far the best manager in the league and that’s clearly a big advantage. Aliied with that, their squad is full of winners; Terry, Lampard, Cech etc are all leaders who have the experience to guide the rest of the squad through any difficult moments they may face. A league title is long overdue for Chelsea and with the Manchester clubs stuttering, no one else is good enough to stop Mourinho’s men.Aidan Sweeney

Manchester City

Manuel Pellegrini’s Manchester City are just born to be champions this campaign. It is written in the stars. A no brainer you might add. There is hardly anything the Chilean need do apart from let the players do their jobs. With Toure and Silva marshalling the midfield Aguero is dead set to be leading goal scorer at the end of the campaign and at the other end, when Kompany is fully fit, they have the most solid back four in the Premier League. Case closed. Dan Robbins www.trentstudents.org www.platform-online.org

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We’ve all heard the stories about the lives of luxury that footballers live – but what do the stars at our local clubs get up to in their free time? We caught up with four Notts County players to talk cars, clubs, clothes and more.

Greg Tempest

19 year-old Northern Ireland U21 International Car? BMW 1 series, it’s very nice.

Night out? Gatecrasher.

Restaurant? The Slug and Lettuce, simple as that.

Day off? Chill, maybe go shopping.

Shop? Zara, it’s got everything hasn’t it.

Kyle Dixon

18 year-old midfield starlet Car? I can drive but I haven’t got a car, I’m getting one for Christmas.

Night out? If I go out I normally go to Cineworld with my mates to watch the latest films.

Restaurant? I like Nandos, if I go out in town I go there with my boys.

Day off? I either go and meet up with some mates or just chill at home, kick back and play Xbox.

Shop? For trainers I go to Foot Asylum a lot. For clothes either Topman, River Island or H&M.

Haydn Hollis

21 year-old bruising defender Car? Only a Corsa – my first car. I’m not too bothered about a flash motor.

Night out? I like Forum. It’s a student place and dead down to earth. Baa Bar isn’t bad. I like all the down to earth places.

Restaurant? I’ve been to the Red Hot Buffet quite a few times and I’ve been impressed.

Day off? Just completely rest up. I’ll watch TV or play on the Xbox.

Shop? House of Fraser in Vic centre isn’t not bad. I don’t mind Foot Asylum for shoes and trainers. I just look around everywhere really, if I like I’ll buy it.

Bartosz Bialkowsli 26 year-old experienced Polish keeper

Car? I’ve got a Mercedes ML and an Audi A6. My wife drives the A6, I’ve got the big one.

Night out? Pandoras Box. We went there for last year’s end of season do.

Restaurant? Nandos is really popular in my family. My wife & kids love it.

Day off? Spend time with my family, me and my wife normally try to take the kids somewhere interesting.

Shop? I’m not much of a shopper but if I need anything I’ll head to the Victoria centre.

George Solomon, Sam Wildman and Simon Murfitt

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December 2013

SPORT

SPORT

Premier League predictions: Who’s going to win?

The lives of County players off the pitch

www.platform-online.net

LACROSSE

One of my housemates plays lacrosse for the uni first team and seeing him disappear off to training every week, stick in hand, had got me wondering … what actually happens in a lacrosse game? So when he told me that they were playing Birmingham, last year’s league winners, I thought I’d go and give it a look – despite the fact I had quite literally no idea what to expect.

Trent began well and quite quickly took the lead, after good play from midfield powerhouse Paddy Atkinson, who burst through the middle to set up the chance. Indeed Atkinson, who is Sports VP of the uni too, admitted that he too didn’t know anything about lacrosse before he started playing. “I came to uni not even knowing what a lacrosse stick looked like - I’d been playing rugby for three years but fancied something new. “I came and gave it a go, had a really good laugh - it’s so fast paced, there’s no other game like it,” said Trent’s man of the match.

I was instantly surprised by how brutal it all was and at one stage our number nine broke into Birmingham’s box but was hammered by three opponents simultaneously – my notes simply read ‘BOSH’. The restart procedure after every goal is potentially my favourite aspect of the game. Two players crouch down and when given the signal, scrap for the ball like two playful – albeit aggressive – puppies.

“As long as they keep working, they can do it. “ Trent dominated the first half and led 6-1, but after half time things started to slip a little, and before you knew it Birmingham were back to 7-3 and Trent’s flamboyant coach Frank was getting agitated. Things calmed a little but all of a sudden Birmingham got two quick goals to make it 8-6, the visitors with the momentum, the confidence … but not the lead. But just when Trent needed it most Atkinson came up with a goal to give them a bit of breathing space and seemingly kill off the Birmingham resurgence. Two late goals gave Trent an 11-6 win and Frank was delighted with his boys.

“They had plenty of good shooters, their goalie was phenomenal but when you have a team that’s working harder you’ll win and that’s how they are all the time,” said the American, whose smile gave away how proud he was of his team’s performance – and how excited he is for the future.

“I think we have a good chance of winning the league. We finished second last year and there’s nothing worse than being the first loser. “ and “As long as they keep working, they can do it.”

George Solomon

www.trentstudents.org www.platform-online.org

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SPORT

SPORT

LEARNING ABOUT

TRENT SPORTS PROFILES Last time we brought you pub sports, trampolining and mountain biking. But if none of those take your fancy here are three more clubs to get your sporting taste-buds tingling.

Joe Smith, President of Dodgeball What do you do?

We train twice a week and try to enter as many tournaments as possible throughout the year. We have weekly socials which end at none other than the Big O itself. We also have dry socials like going laser questing.

Why should I get involved?

Dodgeball isn’t your normal sport and is open to anyone and everyone to give it ago. I haven’t met anyone yet who hasn’t enjoyed it. New people are welcome all year round.

How do I get involved?

Email NTUDodgeball@gmail.com, join the Facebook group or tweet @TrentDodgeball

Joe Killoran, Social secretary of Table Tennis What do you do?

We run training sessions during the week ranging from beginners to coached squad training. We are the most successful sports club at Trent winning the most BUCS points last year with both men’s and women’s teams winning the league and cup titles.

We run socials to Ocean every Wednesday.

How do I get involved?

Come along to a session. We’re at the SU sports centre on Monday from 5:30-6:30 and Tuesday 1-2, then Friday 5-7 at the Lee Westwood Sports Centre. Also join our Facebook page Trent Table Tennis Club.

Hannah Moss, President of Burlesque What do you do?

Classes are twice a week in SU dance studio. We go to Ocean every other Wednesday & organise informal socials like going to the SU for drinks/going for a meal. We are currently organising shows where we are able to showcase the girls’ talent.

Why should I get involved?

We are a new and exciting club that focuses on friendship and learning a unique genre of dance within a relaxed and friendly environment. Burlesque builds confidence, encourages all shapes and sizes and creates friendships.

How do I get involved?

Prospective members can get involved by emailing ntuburlesque@hotmail.com or by joining our Facebook group NTU Burlesque 2013/2014.

Simon Murfitt

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December 2013

www.trentstudents.org www.platform-online.org

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