Redbrick - 28th October 2011

EST. 1936

Redbrick Friday 28th October 2011 | Volume 76 | Issue 1397 | redbrickpaper.co.uk

66.62%

Are you getting the broadband speed you pay for?

See Technology, p.18

77.19%

77.19%

78.33%

Guild President intervenes in Sussex Students' Union protest against VPE Bauer's suspension David Cichon's union 'expresses its outrage' at the Vice President of Education's suspension from the Guild of Students Patrick McGhee Reporter

An article posted on the 18th October on the University of Sussex Students' Union website in support of Edward Bauer has since been removed from their website following the intervention of Birmingham Guild of Students President, Mark Harrop.

In the article, the Sussex Students' Union said that it wanted to 'express its outrage' at the decision by the Guild of Students to suspend Bauer as a University of Birmingham student and Guild Vice President for Education, after he was arrested for causing danger to road users after unfurling an anti-cuts banner at the Liberal Democrat party conference in Birmingham last month.

The piece, which called the suspension 'an attack on the democracy of the Birmingham Guild itself', said that Mr. Bauer 'was doing what he was elected to

'The University of Sussex Students' Union would like to express its outrage at the suspension of Edward Bauer, an elected officer at the Birmingham Guild, by the Guild's Trustee Board' -University of Sussex Students' Union (Sussex Students' Union President David Cichon pictured)

do' and called on the Guild to allow him to return to his duties.

It also questioned the democratic credentials of the Guild's Trustees' Board, pointing to its inclusion of 'non-elected external members�.

The article also took the opportunity to criticise the coalition government's tuition fee policy, which it labelled as 'regressive'.

By last Wednesday, however, the article had been removed from the University of Sussex Students' Union website, with the message 'article has been removed' in place under the headline 'TRAITORS NOT WELCOME, HATE CLEGG LOVE NCAFC', which remained online. Four tweets related to the article were also removed.

In response to the removal of the article, Sussex Sudents' Union President David Cichon said, 'The piece was taken down due to factual inaccuracies which were brought to our attention by Mark Harrop. This however does not mean that we no longer support Edd or the issues that his protest was highlighting.'

An online petition condemning Mr. Bauer's suspension and calling for his reinstatement has gathered over 900 signatures, while a letter urging the Guild to allow him to return to work has appeared on the Times Higher Education website, signed by, amongst others, Len McCluskey, General Secretary of Unite and Kevin Courtney, Deputy General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers. Bauer is set to face trial on the 31st October at Birmingham Magistrates Court.

Guild of Students President Mark Harrop said, 'It was brought to my attention that Sussex SU had posted a news item about the Guild of Students which had factual inaccuracies. I informed the President of Sussex SU who was apologetic, and the article has since been t a k e n down.'

Mark Harrop at last year's Sabbatical Officer election night

Sven Richardson

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redbrickpaper.co.uk

Redbrick Editorial Editor Glen Moutrie Deputy Editors Victoria Bull James Phillips Online Editor Chris Hutchinson Art Director Beth Richardson Photography Editors Freddie Herzog Millie Guy chiefphotographer@redbrickonline.co.uk Technical Directors Jeremy Levett Dan Lesser News Editors Anna Hughes James Brilliant Kerrina Gray news@redbrickonline.co.uk Online News Editor Freddie Herzog Features Editors Ali Hendy Amanda Callaghan features@redbrickonline.co.uk Online Features Editor Owen Earwicker

Online Food and Life&Style Editor Rosie Sharratt Travel Editors Emily Booth Louise Spratt travel@redbrickonline.co.uk Technology Editors Joshua Lindsey Ruth Bradley technology@redbrickonline.co.uk

Sport Editors Sam Price Joseph Audley sport@redbrickonline.co.uk Online Sport Editor Joel Lamy Crossword Editor John Rizkallah Senior Editorial Assistant Kate Selvaratnam

Arts Editors Lexie Wilson Alexander Blanchard arts@redbrickonline.co.uk

Editorial Assistants Oscar French Ellie Jarvis Isabel Mason Sarah Musgrove Elisha Owen

Music Editors Will Franklin Tamara Roper music@redbrickonline.co.uk

Online Editorial Assistants Rosie Pearce Josh Taylor Eimear Luddy

Online Arts and Music Editor Mel Hunt Television Editors Charlotte Lytton James Moore tv@redbrickonline.co.uk Film Editors Genevieve Taylor Isidore Sanders film@redbrickonline.co.uk Online TV and Film Editor Matthew Clemens

News feed

Life&Style Editors Sophie Cowling Lara Edwards lifestyle@redbrickonline.co.uk

Online Travel and Tech Editor Frank Mugomba

Junior Art Directors Lauren Wheatley Sophie Rogers Kimberley Faria Online Junior Art Director Akhil Kothari Proofreaders Hannah Ennis Rachel Ashe Nicola Barton Community Manager Sophie MurrayMorris

Food Editors James Morrison Jordan Warner food@redbrickonline.co.uk

Redbrick

28th October 2011

OIL

BP reaches 'turning point' Oil giant BP has announced a big rise in third-quarter profits, making $5.14billion and says it has reached a 'turning point'.

This triples the $1.85billion replacement cost profit made in the same period last year after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

EUROPE

US

Disagreement at debt crisis summit

Perry reveals US tax plan

Leaders of EU countries have met in Brussels to deal with the Eurozone debt crisis. Despite disagreements between EU countries over how to tackle economic problems, the leaders have reportedly arrived at a 'three-pronged decision'.

Governor of Texas and Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry has announced he will introduce a 20 per cent flat tax on income if he is elected President. He said that the plan 'unleashes American ingenuity for a new American Century.'

LIBYA

Gaddafi and son buried in the desert

Education spending to fall

Libyan officials say the bodies of Muammar Gaddafi, his son Mutassim and an aide were buried in secret in the desert on Tuesday. Gaddafi's family wanted them buried outside his home town of Sirte but the NTC asked for a secret burial.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies has published a report revealing that UK public spending on education will fall by over 13 per cent between 2010-11 and 2014-15, the 'the fastest rate since the 1950s.' 16 to 19-yearolds are set to be the worst hit.

TECHNOLOGY

AVIATION

Nokia announces new smartphone

Dreamliner finally completes flight

Nokia has released details of its new smartphone, the Lumia 800 and 710. The device runs the Windows Phone 7.5 operating system and aims to rival both the Apple iPhone and smartphones running Google's Android software.

The Boeing Dreamliner has finished its first commercial journey from Tokyo to Hong Kong.

The maiden flight had been delayed for three years due to various setbacks. The Dreamliner is set to compete with Airbus' superjumbo A380.

Sabbs on the week

Compiled by Patrick McGhee

To contact us: Redbrick Guild of Students Edgbaston Park Road Birmingham B15 2TU 0121 251 2462 editor@redbrickonline.co.uk www.redbrickpaper.co.uk

Amy Winehouse inquest closes The inquest into singer Amy Winehouse’s death reopened on Wednesday. Although toxicologists initially found no illegal substances in her body at the time of her death, alcohol traces have since been discovered and the inquest was shut.

TURKEY

Over 400 dead in Turkey quake 432 people are now said to have died after an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 struck eastern Turkey, according to officials. Over 1,300 people have also been injured. More than 2,000 buildings were also destroyed in the quake.

Top Ten: Student pet hates Rhian Lubin on her student pet hates

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Copyright (C) Redbrick 2011 Redbrick strives to uphold the NUJ Code of Conduct. The views expressed in Redbrick do not necessarily reflect those of the editors, the Guild or the publishers.

If you find an error of fact in our pages, please write to the Editor. Our policy is to correct mistakes promptly in print and to apologise where appropriate. We reserve the right to edit any article, letter or email submitted for publication.

CELEBRITY

UK

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The amount of time it takes for someone to cave in and buy a communal item, i.e. toilet roll.

Living with a hippy who refuses to flush the toilet after having a wee.

3 Strategically

placing rubbish around the bin to avoid having to change it.

so much wash7 Having ing up it takes over every kitchen surface.

8 Weekly halls

fire alarms in

9 The 'commute' to Uni inevitable pressure 10 The of going out at least twice a week.

4 DUBSTEP!

Redbrick is printed through www.quotemeprint. com: 08451 300667.

5

Advertising: Contact Aimee Fitzpatrick in Guild Marketing on 0121 251 2524

all you cook is 6 When pasta with old bits of

Having an overdraft in printer credits

ham.

Katrin Busch

Redbrick

redbrickpaper.co.uk

28th October 2011

News shorts compiled by Patrick McGhee

UK

POLITICS

SPACE

UK population to reach 70m by 2027

Cameron survives rebellion on Europe

Virgin aiming for space flight by 2013

According to the Office for National Statistics the population of the UK is set to rise from its current level of 62.3 million to 73.2 million by 2035. Some 44 per cent of the increase over the next 10 years could be down to net migration.

The coalition government defeated the largest postwar rebellion on Europe by 483 to 111. However 81 Tory MPs defied David Cameron and a three-line whip by joining the call for a referendum on Britain's membership of the EU.

Virgin Galactic has announced it is aiming to launch its space tourism service in two years' time. 500 customers have already purchased £127,000 tickets, with the 2.5-hour flight offering five minutes of weightlessness.

The job of a Sabbatical Officer ‘Can you give me an example of a typical day?’ is something I asked my predecessor on more than one occasion during the overwhelming overload of Guildrelated information which makes up Sabbatical Officer training and handover.

Receiving the answer of ‘every day is different’ was always a little frustrating, and is something I’m only fully appreciating having progressed from ‘sabb-elect’ into a fully fledged ‘sabb’.

During my tenure so far, I h a v e been

thrown into a wide range of University committees, varying from sitting on a postgraduate working group for the Personal Skills Award to discussing the University prospectus for 2013. On top of this, I have been trying to support 204 student societies, re-

VPAD Fliss Cross

sulting in a whirlwind of responsibilities. Despite this leaving me feeling like my feet haven’t touched the ground since Welcome Week, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

It becomes a struggle sometimes to try and balance the Vice President aspect of the job with the remit of Activities and Development, particularly with a busy period of student appeals and various University committees concerning quality assurance.

It never ceases to amaze me when I see the work that our student groups produce. I’ve been lucky enough to go to quite a few events this year and, despite the pressurised environment that inevitably leads to the odd argument, the support and help offered by all the individuals on committees to produce results is truly fantastic. In fact, it can get quite lonely seeing it from the outside as an Activity Officer and, al-

though it may not always feel like a barrel of laughs whilst being on a committee, everyone involved with these groups should be extremely proud of the work they do.

A lot of politics surround the Guild and I don’t think the Guild always get things right to best support our societies. This often leads to me entering a battle ground and feeling like a mediator!

There is a way to let our societies do their amazing work without facing unnecessary hassle - but also doing it in a safe way so we retain our duty of care and make sure groups are properly supported by the Guild. It is my year’s work to try and strike this balance and represent the student group voice within the management structure. It is a job I’m honoured to do, the good of which I am reminded of on a daily basis when I walk past an events room or sign a claim form for an event.

Upcoming Events:

which wines go best with Christmas dinner!

Spotlight on Societies

Wine Society President?

Harriet Protheroe How long have you been running for?

Three years What is the society all about?

It’s a chance to learn about different wines. Unlike other wine societies it’s not pretentious at all, just everyone drinking and chatting together (like most student nights then!) At each tasting Vicky, our expert wine merchant from the Birmingham Wine School comes in with eight specially selected wines to try and then talks us through each of them. It is very interactive with the opportunity to pick your three favourite wines of the night, guess the prices, quizzes and blind tastings.

Wine Society in five words: An excuse to drink wine!

Three Wine Soc Facts: 1. We meet every other Wednesday (unofficial pre-drinks for Snobs!)

2. Unlike other wine societies we don’t spit out the wine, but drink every last drop.

3. We don’t just drink wine – we’ve also had port and ale at our tastings.

Wine Soc highlights: Last year we did a special tasting matching wine with chocolate, which unsurprisingly proved very popular! We are already planning to do this again around Valentine’s Day. Why should we get involved?

As well as being able to drink, chat and meet new people, at the same time you might find out a little bit about what wine to buy when you’re planning a meal with friends or to impress on that all-important date!

We have three more tastings this semester, the next one being on Wednesday 2nd November in the Physics West Library. At the following tasting on Wednesday 16th November we will be having cheese with wine, before our final meeting of the year on Wednesday 30th November which will be a Christmas special so that you can learn

How can we get involved?

Email winesoc.uob@gmail.com to be put on the mailing list and we’ll send you all the details of our events and how to join. You can also join our Facebook page by searching University of Birmingham WineSoc.

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Handling the truth Glen Moutrie Editor

Last week the world witnessed a tyrant come to a bloody end on a global stage. Gaddafi’s death was probably fitting given the nature of the riots that saw him ousted from power, and his departure from politics will undoubtedly be celebrated by many.

The news of his demise should have been received with a degree of relief, but his death, which was more akin to a lynching, marred the start of Libya’s liberation. It seemed to bypass judicial process in favour of mob mentality.

Although it may be convenient to avoid a long, drawn-out trial, it cannot be beneficial to the nascent Libyan democracy that its first significant event is so inherently undemocratic.

The images of an old broken man on death’s door were a far cry from a man who ruled a country with an iron fist, and they could well come to symbolize the day.

The pictures, bloody and hard to stomach, told more than the mere events of his death. Capturing his complete fall from power, at the mercy of a few unnamed Libyans, they highlight the debate around the circumstances of his death.

Debate has nonetheless arisen over the need to print the pictures, given their gruesome nature. This is an issue that we at Redbrick face on a day to day basis, and it varies from a small swear word in the middle of a piece to a debate over a front page photo. It isn’t always an easy line to draw between what is shocking for the sake of a sensational front page, and what is shocking because the piece merits sensation.

The photos of Gaddafi’s last moments did not just capture his death, but shed light onto the complexity of the Arab spring and conflict as a whole, suggesting that war can turn the most innocent men into tyrants, and tyrants into victims.

Pictures can define a period, a mood, or a scene in ways that words could never do. Thomas Hoepker’s infamous 9/11 photo did just the same, as did Nick Ut’s image of the Vietnamese girl running from a napalm attack. Photos like these can give stories context, weight and change an entire mood.

On most issues, newspapers err on the side of caution, especially when it comes to defamation or privacy law - and justifiably so. I believe photography could be the exception to that rule. Avoiding publishing pictures of great significance defies some of the most basic principles of good, ethical journalism, whether by giving them less prominence or editing them for fear that your audience may object.

As much as we may try, Redbrick by definition is not a professional outfit. It is a group of volunteers who, driven by various goals, work towards a print and online edition, week in and week out. We have, do and will get things wrong from time to time. All we can do is endeavour to push for the stories that would not usually see the light of day, present them as they are, striving to remaining impartial and avoiding bias, even if by doing so we risks offending those who do not want to contend with the harshness of reality.

4 News

Redbrick

28th October 2011 redbrickpaper.co.uk

Editors – Anna Hughes, James Brilliant & Kerrina Gray

The University have spent £78,000 on their latest 'Heroes' advertising campaign. Zahra Damji investigates what else it could have been spent on: 78,000 Pot Noodles

16,809 kilowatt hours of solar electricity a year

UCAS reports a 12% drop in applications Lily Beazley Reporter

The number of UK students applying to university through UCAS this year has dropped by 12% compared to 2010 figures.

In past years the October figures have proved ‘unreliable indicators of the final numbers’ according to Chief Executive of the umbrella group for ViceChancellors Nicola Dandridge, however these statistics are being read by many as an early indication of the negative impacts of the £9,000 fee cap, being implemented in 2012.

Applications for Oxbridge, Medicine and Dentistry seem to have been affected minimally with a 0.8% fall in applications, however the figures for other subject areas and universities have seen greater declines.

City University London has been worst affected, with a decrease of 40% . Applications to Goldsmiths have decreased by 33% and Brunel by 24%. Many individual university figures are not yet known. Wendy Piatt,

Director General of the Russell Group has pledged, ‘we will continue to urge every student with the talent, potential and ability to succeed at a Russell Group university to apply.’

Statistics accumulated so far show variation within the UK. Applications in England have decreased by 12.1%, Northern Ireland by 13%, Scotland by 11.8% and Wales by 8.3%. The West Midlands have seen a decline of 11%. Figures also indicate that more female students have been discouraged from applying, with numbers decreasing by 10.5% compared to a decline of 7% in male students.

Vice Chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire Les Edbon, although sceptical about being able to ‘draw any firm conclusions about whether or not demand will hold-up in 2012’, warns that the government ‘should be investing much more in campaigns to ensure that prospective students understand the new loan system.’

Final figures will be revealed when UCAS closes in January.

Unis may lower fees Amani Hughes Reporter

Up to 28 universities are considering lowering the fees offered to students for entry in 2012.

The government initially set a limit of £9,000 fees next year and many universities originally chose this maximum limit. However, 28 universities have now expressed an interest in cutting the average fee to £7,500 or less, and eight have already taken further steps to cut their fees.

It means some students are now unsure of the fees being offered by the institutions they

have or will apply to.

Universities have until 4th November to submit any changes.

The Office of Fair Access have told universities they must notify any students who have already applied of any changes to their course fee, so that they are able to change their university choices before the January deadline.

Toni Pearce, Vice President of the NUS said ‘The government's incoherent changes to higher education funding continue to wreak havoc and chaos on students and universities as Ministers realise that they failed to do their sums properly.’

Welsh applicants fall Zahra Damji Reporter

Despite the impending increased cost of studying being subsidised by the Welsh government, the number of students from Wales applying to universities has actually decreased considerably since last year.

Applications from Welsh students have dropped by 8.3% this year. The NUS have warned that Welsh students may be basing their decisions on the funding system for English universities.

The Welsh government is covering the cost of the increase in tuition fees by giving out non-

A pint for every student per year (and one for each lecturer too)

repayable tuition fee grants of over £5,000 so that students pay on average £3,400, less than half of what English students will pay to attend the same institutions.

The government has shelled out £280m a year on this scheme but this has not prevented a drop in the number of applications from students in Wales.

The trend reflects a drop in the number of applications throughout the UK. The statistics revealed by UCAS earlier this week have sparked concerns over the effects of increased tuition fees on the continued accessibility of a university education.

Guild Sabbs reach out to the student population on campus Ryan Jones Reporter

Several members of the Sabbatical Officer Team were on hand this week to answer questions posed to them by students.

The event, which was aptly named ‘Sabbs on the sofa’, saw a mock-up living room being set up outside the library.

The Sabbatical Officers saw the event as an opportunity to

speak to students that they perhaps wouldn’t normally have the chance to.

The Vice President of Sport, Tim Smith, said that ‘we’re just out here answering questions, listening to what students have to say and collecting feedback.'

Although only a few students initially attended the event, it did later become increasingly popular. Queries were wide ranging with the current position of Vice

VPAD Fliss Cross and VPDR Hugo Sumner on the sofa

Ryan Jones

President of Education Edd Bauer high on the agenda for many students.

The initiative is perhaps part of wider Guild efforts to increase their profile around the University, together with strengthening the access students directly have with their representatives.

The relationship between the Guild of Students and the student body can sometimes be distant; indeed one first year who attended the event commented that they knew little of the Guild’s activities and what it did.

The officers who ran the event were very keen to hear feedback and address any concerns raised by students.

VPAD Fliss Cross added that 'It was great to get out of the Guild and talk to students across campus that may not currently be involved. Whilst I think the event can definitely be improved by having more promotional material to give out and livening up the set, it was a great success and something we will definitely be doing again in the future'.

Students tackle half-marathon Lucy Suttle Reporter

The Bupa Great Birmingham Run took place on Sunday, reaching its full capacity of 15,000 entrants and raising thousands of pounds for charity, with an estimated 60,000 people watching from the streets.

The 13.1 mile race, which finished on Broad Street and was screened live on Channel 5, took runners past landmarks including Edgbaston Cricket Ground and Centenary Square.

Several students from the University of Birmingham ran, including Andrew Ridley for the University-based society Kids' Adventure. Andrew finished the race dressed in a banana costume in one hour and 14 minutes, achieving a position of 28th overall. He said, ‘the atmosphere was incredible, it was great to be running alongside international athletes and the crowd really responded to the fact that there was a banana running with them’.

Along with fellow student Jamie Roberts and ex-student Katy Massey, Andrew raised £1250.

He said 'it was great to see people cheering for Kids' Adventure and taking notice of a cause, and that’s all I really could have asked for.’

Amy Fitzpatrick, a third-year English student who raised over £500 running for the Stroke As-

sociation said, ‘I'm so glad I did it, and I did it for a charity that gets such little funding compared to others. I ran in honour of my uncle who had a stroke two years ago at a young age'.

Last year the race, formerly known as the EDF Birmingham Half Marathon, was criticised as hundreds of runners had to queue up to cross over the finish line, with the blame being placed on poor organising and planning.

This year the event, which is now sponsored by Bupa, received a high level of positive feedback as well as benefitting from fine weather conditions.

In first place for the men’s elite was Halie Gebrselassie, an Ethiopian long-distance athlete and holder of two Olympic gold

medals. Gebrselassie, who was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Birmingham last year, completed the distance in one hour, one minute and 29 seconds. Winner of the women’s elite was British athlete Gemma Steel who crossed the finished line after one hour, 12 minutes and 21 seconds. Phil Hogg retained his winning title in the wheelchair race, finishing in 59 minutes, with Stuart Bloor in second place.

A University of Birmingham team comprising of a current Redbrick editor, an ex-Sabbatical officer, a number of professors and members of both the alumni and marketing teams ran the race in support of Cancer Research UK, a charity closely affiliated with the University, raising £4423.

Half marathon runners

Katrin Busch

Redbrick

Free university accommodation for 18 students a year

2,888 brand new academic textbooks per year

Birmingham universities unite Rhiannon Doyle-Maw Reporter

Four Birmingham universities have united to promote the prospects of higher education to pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The University of Birmingham, Aston University, Birmingham City University and University College Birmingham have joined to work with schools and colleges where applications for university are consistently lower. They will be

working with more than 50 schools and colleges across Birmingham and Solihull to encourage pupils to pursue higher education.

The scheme comes four months after the national Aimhigher scheme was discontinued as a result of Government cuts. The Aimhigher scheme saw universities working with pupils to give advice and guidance on options within higher education.

Also named Aimhigher, the new scheme will have university

University of Birmingham team up to help schools

News 5

28th October 2011 redbrickpaper.co.uk

Editors – Anna Hughes, James Brilliant & Kerrina Gray

Freddie Herzog

students and staff mentor pupils.

There has been £400,000 worth of funding provided by the cooperating universities to proceed with subsidised activities. There will also be residential summer schools and open days at the participating universities as an extra encouragement and support to the pupils.

One of the activities included is ‘Unifest’ a two night stay at a University where year 10,11 and 12 students will get the chance to experience university life.

Emma Duggan, a second year Psychology student, is taking part in the mentoring program. ‘I was placed in a local Birmingham school and asked to mentor low achieving students who are capable of attending university.

I aim to help them to realise their potential and make their grades higher. I also help them with the process of university application. I feel it is a massively positive experience.’

72 sheets of black and white printing for each student per year

VPS lands BUCS job Rhiannon Doyle-Maw Reporter

Tim Smith, the Guild of Student’s Vice President for Sport, has recently been elected into the role of student chair for West Midlands British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS).

BUCS is the national governing body for higher education sport within the UK. Tim Smith, as student chair, will be expected to lead regional meetings and represent the West Midlands at the BUCS National Advisory Group. He will be part of a representative group from the West Midlands.

As part of the agenda for BUCS the group will look at how participation in sport can be increased, how they can raise recognition of the importance of sport within the student experience, and how it can amplify its importance within higher education. Meetings will also cover the West Midland’s in-

volvement in London 2012.

Tim says, 'In the past the focus has been on the competitive aspect of BUCS, instead all issues relating to university sport will now be addressed, with a common goal to ensure the student experience in sport at university is the best it can be!'

Talks on campus this week 'Prisoners' Right to Vote'

Philsoc: 'Does God Exist?'

Tom Byrne Reporter

Over 1000 people were packed into the Great Hall of the Aston Webb building last Friday evening to witness a philosophical debate upon the existence of God. The two philosophers at the heart of the debate were the internationally renowned Christian apologist Dr. William Lane Craig, and Professor Peter Millican, who lectures in Philosophy at the University of Oxford.

This was the fifth night of Dr. Craig’s UK debate tour to promote his book 'The Reasonable Faith', which has already seen him debating in Cambridge and London. The once doctoral student of Philosophy at the University of Birmingham was invited to open the debate by chairman Prof. Karl Chinn.

The basis of Dr. Craig’s argument was to defend his intention that theism is true, whilst invalidating the opposing arguments of atheism. He upheld the ideology that the idea of infinity is unachievable, and therefore the universe is finite and must have an origin, which would have required a cause and ultimately a creator.

Furthermore, Craig argued in favour of the watchmaker analogy of William Paley, that the sheer complexity of the universe and its capability to produce intelligent life is surely more than coincidental, and there must have been a designer to fabricate such an intricate, biological design. Craig also argued for evidence of the existence of Jesus of Nazareth and the notion that God can be personally experienced.

In his counterargument, Millican began by stating that humans, by their very nature are prone to believing in divine beings, as they feel a need to see a purpose in everything that they experience.

He elaborated that this point is evident in the way that there are thousands of gods in societies all over the world, thereby implying that there is no uniform, reliable evidence for the existence of a divine power that governs our universe.

Prof. Millican further noted how one’s religious beliefs could often be dependent upon a person’s place of birth, and therefore religion is ultimately a cultural phenomenon. Also, Millican criticised the way in which Craig focused primarily upon the Christian

interpretation of God, and felt that he had somewhat neglected the beliefs of other religions. However, despite such weighted counterclaims, Dr. Craig succinctly summarised the debate by stating that, ‘absence of evidence is not evidence of absence’.

After hosting the debate, Prof.

Karl Chinn told Redbrick, ‘I believe that tonight’s debate was more than a success, as so many people turned up for a well-rounded discussion that covered issues as diverse as philosophy, theology, morality and the sciences. Also, I think that the number of young people that came along is indicative of the endearing nature of religion. I would like to extend my congratulations to the PhilSoc committee.’

PhilSoc president Jamie Taylor (centre) with speakers

Tom Byrne

Jo Thomas Reporter

Last Thursday's 'Prisoners' Right to Vote' debate saw a packed lecture hall. On the proposition of the motion ‘this house will grant the prisoner the right to vote’ sat Liberal Democrat MP Lorely Burt, and Director of Prison Reform Trust, Juliet Lyon. In opposition was Stephen McCabe, Selly Oak’s Labour MP and online political commentator Dr Tim Black.

The debate opened with an initial round of voting, which showed the room to be fairly evenly split by those in favour and those in opposition.

The first speech was delivered by Juliet Lyon, who wove her informed views and personal experiences of visiting ‘remarkable individuals inside of prison’ with accusations towards the government for ‘breaking the law by not allowing prisoners the right to vote’; comparing the British system to that of France and Germany, both of whom have courts who decide the voting rights of prisoners on a case-by-case basis.

The speech also outlined how prisoners should be helped back on the road to responsible citizenship by being allowed to vote, and that ‘voting is about dignity’. She closed with ‘we are breaking the law of democracy by having a defacto ban on prisoners’ votes’.

In opposition, Tim Black retorted with the nostalgia of our forefathers’ struggle for universal suffrage, ‘fighting and sometimes dying for the right to vote’. He reminded the audience that univer-

sal suffrage was a project of freedom, and therefore should not be associated with those who are not free, namely prisoners.

'It was for those who were previously bonded', he said, 'those disenfranchised workers and peasants who longed to be free, not those who really weren’t free', outlining the vote as being something of great value for those who had previously so deserved freedom and had finally won it.

After a second set of speeches from the MPs, setting 'prisoners deserve more than nothing at all' against, 'would you welcome these people voting on the future law and order of our country?', the floor was opened up to the audience.

The most powerful of the propositions included: 'people who are most affected by laws should be allowed the ability to affect them' and 'the only way of achieving a truly transparent democracy is allowing the views of all peoples to be represented in an election', responded to by those in opposition with 'prisoners do have a choice about voting; they make that choice before committing a crime', and 'if the principle of universal representation is to be offered to prisoners in this country, what of the people around the world who are being stripped of their rights through the actions of this government on a daily basis?'.

After a closing round of speeches from visiting speakers, voting was opened once again. The proposition won by only five votes and it was concluded that the prisoner should in fact be given the right to vote.

6 redbrickpaper.co.uk

28st October 2011

Redbrick

Comment & Features

Editorial Owen Earwicker Comment and Features Online Editor

Living away from home gives varied lessons to us all; independence, freedom, choice, the almost unrestricted control of our personal lives and how to blag a seminar while hungover. For some it is a culture shock. Limitless liberty to do what you will, when you will it and in the way only you know how, is a potent experience.

I think some people get lost in it. University provides an insular bubble, a miniaturised and perhaps for some an idealised society in which we forget the world outside. Yet it is here where most of us experience our first taste of maturity. Here we grow through the lessons that are sprung upon us. But sometimes we need to step back, and ask ourselves am I becoming the person I thought I would be?

The distractions of this bubble can hold us back from our obligations to each other.

Wrapped up in our own lives, it's easy to forget to pick up the phone to call Mum, to remember to do your washing up so your housemates don't have to do it, or to be careful with your words.

If there is one lesson that I think can be easily overlooked, it is the need for consideration of others. It may sound patronising, but I think it's an important truth we ought to face, an uncomfortable reality. I hear stories quite often about people who are simply inconsiderate. It makes me wonder how they would react if they could see themselves, the way they behave and the impacts they cause on others.

Life is short. While we have unimaginable beauty and opportunity on this planet, it still spins with the unpleasant aspects of existence. Quite literally we are food for worms. But with the knowledge of this, should we not take measures to make the worse parts of existence a little easier, comfortable and endurable, so that we can really enjoy the better parts together?

I forget to call my Mum sometimes, I'm certainly guilty of occasionally leaving my washing up and if I had a penny for every time I said something without thinking, well I'd have a fair few pennies. It annoys me that I can be and often am inconsiderate.

Treat others how you wish to be treated and all that; it's a pertinent message, often not heard.

And regretfully, it's a sentiment easily forgotten at times by us all.

Not seen and not heard...

With 1 in 4 of the UK population experiencing mental health problems every year and self-harm rates amongst the highest in Europe, it is time to reconsider our attitudes to mental health care and well-being

Elin Stone Oscar French Editorial Assistant

When I was ten, I broke my arm, and quite frankly, after a summer spent up trees and down wells, I'd had it coming. After enduring a painful day of reassurance, the delicate shade of purple it had become finally convinced my Mother that maybe it was, 'a little bit broken,' and I was swept off to hospital in a flash. Four hours of waiting room antics later, the Doctor had me put in plaster and sent home to climb more trees, this time single handed.

To consult a trained professional over a broken limb would not be deemed egotistical by the standards of a balanced individual.

My injury was far from fatal, but needed fixing nevertheless. Sorrowfully, had it been my psychological or emotional health under duress, the same course of action would be dismissed with the aforesaid negativity and ignorance from society at large.

To downplay mental well-being is a curiously British phenomenon. It is as if we are ashamed to suffer, instead opting to 'keep clam and carry on', like the posters tell us to. While we continually pride ourselves on a world class health service as a nation, it is irrefutably hypocritical to dismiss such injuries as delusion or fragility, simply because they are harder to categorise and observe. What this insinuates with regard to our societal understanding of the term humanity is deeply troubling.

Thankfully, mental illnesses such as Alzheimer's are exempt from such irreverence. Mere mention of therapy, however, will unleash a flood of regressive and often embarrassing sentiments. Some shout of its intrinsically bourgeois qualities, that it is a middle class pursuit born of the communication breakdown, which stands as a threat to our society. They are in denial, it does not take a therapist to appreciate that the majority of psychological complexes develop as a result of the family. Divorce, infidelity and domestic violence leave an ugly scar on the psyche; relatives and friends may know you best but that is precisely why you cannot turn to them.

Elin Stone What is needed is a psychotherapist, an impartial expert, with experience and qualifications, yet the level of respect reserved for medical doctors is denied to their psychological counterparts. Granted, their field can be imprecise, and does not always yield success, but if we readily accept failure as a possibility in the operating theatre, why can we not do the same for the counselling session? At worst, therapists are seen as a form of fraudster, taking money from the naive. Our cultural superstition towards the unquantifiable is residue left over from the Victorian age; it is time to cease this mindless affiliation between therapy and fortune telling.

Most readers will have at some point encountered depression, personally or otherwise. It is demonstrative of our lack of re-

spect for psychoanalytic treatment that practically everyone engages in amateur diagnosis, concluding as and for themselves whether an individual has the condition. Essentially, we have trivialised depression to the extent that many sufferers attempt to disguise the fact, feeling both guilty and foolish.

Subsequently, they avoid seeking help. If we do not wish to see this trend develop further, we should rely on informed judgement and not idle gossip.

If you encounter cynicism over the importance of mental health, it is imperative to speak out. Challenge those who would call therapy a privilege, an example of western indulgence. Happiness is not merely the product of external circumstance, but of internal harmony, something which cannot always be achieved alone. To pre-

sume those that seek counselling are in some way weak minded is truly a disgrace.

1 in 5 Adults experience depression in the UK

10%

Of children have a mental health problem

Redbrick

28th October 2011

Editors – Amanda Callaghan & Ali Hendy

redbrickpaper.co.uk

Comment & Features 7

Thomas Sankura: the upright man Giles Longley-Cook Commentator

On October 15th twenty four years ago, Thomas Sankara, the 38 year old President of Burkina Faso, was murdered, dismembered and buried in an unmarked grave in a coup d'état. By this brutal act, his enemies hoped to erase this remarkable man from African history, along with his achievements.

There are many heroes of African liberation. Nelson Mandela and Steve Biko are rightly idolised.

But hardly anyone outside Africa knows the name of the man who arguably outshone them all in integrity, actions and vision.

It's difficult to summarise how much Sankara accomplished during his four year rule over Burkina Faso. Brought to power in 1983 by a popular revolution, he immediately began fighting local corruption and ex-colonial interference.

Key to Sankara's vision was the nurturing of national selfrespect and independence within a people who had only ever been exploited by colonialism and their own leaders. This was a central motivation for the renaming of the country from the Upper Volta to the far more inspiring Burkina Faso 'land of upright men'. More radically, he shunned foreign aid, observing that 'He who feeds you, controls you'.

By coupling this with a huge land reform stripping feudal landlords of their monopolies, the country was food self-sufficient within three years, it agrarian output having doubled. Compare this to countries where aid flows freely into the leaders wallets.

Sankara's socialist ideology

led to reforms that many African statesmen claim as priorities, but few have so actively and forcefully carried out. These included the abolition of poll taxes and of chieftain's control over the peasants, opening military stores to the whole populace, a commitment to building schools, hospitals and railroads throughout the country and reducing the salaries of public and civil servants, including his own. While in power Sankara's sole

possessions were a car, four bikes, three guitars, a fridge and a broken freezer.

Most significantly perhaps, Sankara was committed to the cause of women's rights, often neglected even by progressive African leaders. Many women were included in the government, which oversaw the banning of forced marriage, polygamy and female circumcision. Women were encouraged to work and attend school

while men took on their wives chores in order to understand their conditions. Sankara's government was the first in Africa to promote contraception and to acknowledge the threat of the AIDS epidemic to the continent, a step that many African nations have yet to take.

Such radical leadership accumulated many enemies within the disempowered aristocracy and companies whose financial exploitation he had ended. In 1987 they finally succeeded in a bloody coup, putting French-backed Blaise Compaore in power, where he reversed almost every reform made by Sankara, and returned Burkina Faso to the fold of compliant French ex-colonies. The nation remains in this degraded state to this day.

It is astonishing that such an inspiring figure should be neglected by international memory. As well as creating an unprecedented model for African leadership, Sankara had all the makings of an iconic leader. He was young, ruggedly handsome, charismatic, an intelligent and quotable speaker and knew the value of an admirable gesture with the statesmanship to back it up.

In truth, his refusal to cooperate with either the exploitative or patronising attitudes of Western politics make him unappealing to both liberals and capitalists, who prefer their African icons to be cooperative and compromising.

Shortly before his death Sankara stated 'While revolutionaries as individuals can be murdered, you cannot kill ideas' As we ponder this so near the anniversary of his murder, I think we owe it to the man to ensure that he, and his vision, are not forgotten.

Timeline December 21st 1949 Sankura born in Upper Volta 1948 – Joined the military after school and trained as a pilot in the airforce 1976 – Becomes a commando training officer and, with friends, forms the secret 'Communist Officers' Group' September 1981 – Sankura is appointed Secretary of State but resigns four months later August 4th 1983 – A coup d'état organised

by Blaise Compaoré is successful and subsequently Sankura is made President August 1984 – Renames his country 'Burkina Faso' translating as 'land of upright people' October 15th 1987 – Sankura is assassinated with twelve other officials. His widow and two children flee the country

Campaign for Real Ale is an inspiration for those who wish to enact change Andy Peck Commentator

There have been many recent campaigns for change, pressure groups and vested interests that wish to alter some aspect or other of the world we know and tolerate. One of the most successful in terms of sheer achievement has to be the Campaign for Real Ale. Keep reading, this is not a joke. The campaign was started in 1971 by four men concerned about the declining quality of beer and the increasing dominance of corporate giants in producing hugely popular, mass-produced largers.

Independent 'free house' pubs, with connections to local breweries and greater freedom of choice were being out-competed and bought by huge breweries who increase profit margins through decreased choice and lower quality. CAMRA set out to reverse these trends, educate and inform about real ale and attempt to save the independent brewer and 'free-house' pub.

There is no doubt they have been successful. From four blokes in a pub, membership has soared to over 130,000. Thirteen regional offices ensure coverage for the entire UK, and with links to National Heritage and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, the group has been granted 'supercomplainant' status at the Office of Fair Trading. It is also the largest single-issue consumer group in the UK.

Michael Drury Carling, Stella, Carlsberg and Fosters may still be pretty much ubiquitous but they now have to compete with local brewers making local beers, ales and stouts with seasonal variations and in-

triguing names, such as 'Doom Bar', 'Bishop's Finger' and 'Good Elf'. Wetherspoons, recognising the trend, offers selections of local ales at every branch and partakes in the annual 'International Beer

Festival'. Consumers have been informed that better beer exists, creating a demand for increased choice at reasonable expense and the market has obliged.

The success of this campaign

demonstrates that those of us who do not have the connections, financial backing and that ruthless streak to become an MP, can still strive to change the world from the bottom-up. We live in a pluralistic society and the idea of taking part in it as citizens pre-dates David Cameron's 'Big Society' by two and a half millennia, being a core principle of Aristotle's The Politics.

By being passionate about issues we genuinely care about and acting by association, we can enact change. It will not be huge political or socio-economic shifts (the 3525 members of the 'Gold Standard Now' campaign on Facebook will probably be disappointed). But look instead to what you believe and want from life and pressure for it through convincing and educating the public, of course the sheer force of numbers may help. By specialising and garnering support, CAMRA has more say in government than a single person's vote ever could.

Being a citizen of a democracy requires more responsibility than to vote every five years, but the ability to seek to change the world we know and dislike is well worth this meagre cost. Setting the world to rights on the big topics is inherently depressing as it becomes apparent no individual can make huge, lasting changes, but by looking to what we can do through cooperation to make our experience of everyday life better is good for the mind and soul.

8 Comment & Features

28th October 2011 redbrickpaper.co.uk

Teach them transsexualism Alexander Blanchard

Redbrick

Editors – Amanda Callaghan & Ali Hendy

How do you solve a problem like...

Career apathy

Arts Editor

In a superb case of double standards, the Prime Minister last week unveiled a series of measures to curtail the availability of unsuitable online content to children; four days prior to extending an invitation to porn baron Richard Desmond to dine at Chequers.

Though the debate and prevarication over the sexualisation of children and the level of influence that the state should provide rages on, there is a more pertinent and elementary issue that is being overlooked, one that has profound implications on the sexualisation of children - that issue is sex education.

For instilling in children the ideas of gender and sexuality with which they might fortify themselves against the overtly-sexualised images presented to them through capitalist media, the British education system is not just useless, it is detrimental.

Though changes to how we teach children about sex – i.e. a nod to the existence of relationships differing from the ‘conventional’ idea of marriage - were implemented last month, sex education in our schools is still archaic and backward in that it simply, and rather crudely, defines us as either male or female. This does very little to challenge the conventions that may have been traditionally impressed on children by family or society – conventions that mould a child’s character into the perfect archetype that sexualised marketing will later come to thrive on.

In response to a question put to her about the rise of sexualisation and how it is to be dealt with, Germaine Greer implored us to ‘give [little girls] the right idea of self-worth’, for the rejection of sexualisation and all the tarty paraphernalia that goes with it

Luke Jones Columnist

must come ‘from these little people themselves’. It’s a sentiment that could just as readily be applied to ‘little boys’ and the yoke of masculinity.

This then is a question of identity, of self-realisation. It is about instilling in the young a sense of self-worth that transcends ideas of femininity and masculinity. The young must be taught that their worth does not depend on their conformity with a particular gender role or characteristic, but – to borrow from Martin Luther King – on the content of their character.

But how is this to be achieved with an education system - the great hand that scrawls across the tabula rasa of the young - that panders to conventional Christianbased ethics about the family and relationships? The answer lies

within the ideas of transsexualism – an ism of which Germaine Greer was particularly contemptuous of in Whole Women - that have been carried in the swell of a new wave of feminism.

Transsexualism may yet be the unidentified tool to attenuate the proliferation of the sexualisation of the young through media outlets and the capitalistic desecration of the body. ‘There’s not that many transsexuals, and so it currently doesn’t seem so pressing’, Laurie Penny, activist and author of Meat Market: Female Flesh under Capitalism told me in an interview earlier in the year, ‘but with the rise of the internet people are in a position where they can seek out and discover their identities like they never could before.’

That is not to say that children

must be instilled with a transsexually-orientated mind – this is no better than impressing a preconceived idea of masculinity and femininity on them. It is, though, to suggest that at an early age we must present the young with an honest representation of sexuality, gender, and its multitude of forms.

After all, gender is a sliding scale – the 1,500 babies born in the UK every year with some form of ‘Disorder of Sex Development’ (DSD) are testament to this.

Transsexualism, then, shows us that we need not equate femininity or masculinity purely with the body. It obliterates the false dichotomy between boy and girl two diametric opposites that are socially constructed and to which our children are inhumanely shackled at birth.

Has Amanda Knox become a reality superstar?

Ellie Smallwood Commentator

With word of book deals, chatshow appearances and Hollywood agent involvement, she is due to make her millions several times over. By simply examining the road ahead for Amanda Knox, she could be confused with any one of the stars we see splashed all over the tabloids on a daily basis.

Her life now couldn’t be more different to how it was a matter of weeks ago, 4 years into a prison sentence for the murder of Meredith Kercher, a victim who now seems overshadowed by the media scramble for Knox’s first exclusive interview. There is even word of a film being in the works, including household names amongst the cast.

Knox has undoubtedly emerged as a media personality over the past few weeks, and is left in waiting for the riches it will bring her.

‘Forgotten’ was the word which the family of Meredith Kercher used to describe Meredith’s story in comparison to Knox’s release and dominating presence within the press. The frustration and grief which this family have experienced has not been as noticeable in the news in recent weeks; nor the fact that Knox’s acquittal means that the case is back to square one. The Kercher family have been going

against an impressive budget: the Knox family are thought to be an estimated $1 million dollars worse off because of the appeal, and with a PR team behind them, any pleas for the public to remember Mer-

edith’s unresolved story have been smothered. The Knox name, meanwhile, is slowly unravelling itself as a brand, and awaits offers for the submission of memoirs, which are said to have already begun to take

form during the prison years.

Knox’s story has been described as ‘made in heaven’ because of her newly found innocence and beauty. Her life has been paralleled with that of O.J. Simpson amongst other previous convicts. What seems to have been left behind in the flurry surrounding her media appearances is a murder victim, whose dwindling media profile will soon be forgotten, and whose case is left unsolved.

There is undoubtedly something distasteful about the idea of a woman, cleared of a conviction becoming a celebrity in her own right. Although nothing now can contest her innocence or the intense public scrutiny she is to go through, Amanda Knox is making her fortune through the victim of a brutal and unresolved murder.

Despite her newfound freedom, Knox will be serving a different kind of life sentence. Her life will never return to normality, and she is bound to pay some sort of price that comes with this excessive wealth. Aside from the eyebrows which have been raised in the direction of the Italian judicial system for the way in which the case has been handled, one is left wondering whether it is right for us to be able to make money out of anything in this day and age, crimes included.

This week, my personal tutor asked me the dreaded question that must be asked of every thirdyear student. I tried to remain calm and composed, while racking my brains trying to think of a convincing answer, looking out of the window for inspiration. But, alas, nothing came to my mind.

The question I had hoped would never come was, of course, ‘What are your plans after graduation?’

After fifteen agonising minutes of mumbling something about ‘considering a wide range of options’ and ‘attending careers fairs’ and awkward silences, my tutor politely asked me to leave and to give more thought to my future. He had the look on his face of a disappointed parent.

I hope I am not the only one in this predicament, for it seems that everyone around me is applying for this teaching qualification or that graduate scheme, or is doing a degree which leads directly into a particular career path. But what exactly is wrong with being one of the 'Great Undecideds'?

We 'Undecideds' do care about our prospects; we do have interests, many of them passionate. Yet, assuming we have many decades of opportunity still stretching out in front of us (this may be longer than we think, as our generation will probably have to wait until we’re 80 years old to retire) what’s the big rush?

'Harry Potter andWhat the is so dispiriting about dipping Age of Illusion' coinyourcides toe in awith variety of vocational the current and professional waters?

They say governmental stew and variety is the finger-pointing spice of life – maybe media we are still in the curry house over declining perusing the menu everystandards in while University one else education, is paying the bill.

Which and the is the more interesting to talk to resultant denunciation at a dinner someone who ofparty: 'Mickey Mouse' has done the same thing all of modules their life, or someone with hilarious stories about the jobs they thought were right for them but then turned out to be completely unsuitable?

The Undecideds of this world are the ones who give the most thought about their futures, not the least. We may be the annoying people holding up the queue spending ten minutes deciding whether mocha or cappuccino is more to our tastes – but once we have settled on our choice, we are the ones who are most satisfied.

And if we end up never finding what career tickles our fancy, then we can always be a careers advisor.

Redbrick

Comment & Features 9

28th October 2011

redbrickpaper.co.uk

Editors – Amanda Callaghan & Ali Hendy

The possible hypocrisy behind American politics Political rhetoric condemns theocratic states across the globe. But while Christianity pervades U.S culture, how truly separate are the Church & State?

Sarah Pullen Commentator

The American Constitution is very clear in its separation of Church and State, freedom of religion, and that no person should be barred from any office on account of their religious views. However, in practice, this is rarely reflected in today's American politics.

Among the frontrunners in the race for the Republican Party presidential nomination is Mitt Romney, Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007, but more importantly, as far as most Americans are concerned, a Mormon. And it is this fact which is likely to prove the biggest hurdle for Romney on the road to becoming the Republican candidate for presidency. Recent polls show that 22% of Americans would still not vote for their party's candidate if they were a Mormon – a figure which has remained largely unchanged since polling on the subject first began. It's hardly a ringing endorsement of America's apparent religious tolerance.

And this isn't the first time that a candidate's religion has attracted attention from voters and the media. In the run-up to the 2008 election, there was a huge amount of interest surrounding Obama's religious views with some of his opponents suggesting he was agnostic.

Somehow, as many as one in five

Americans still believe that their president is Muslim. Obama and his administration have been vehement in their assertions that he is, in fact, a practising Christian.

One of the reasons the White House has been so keen to set the public straight on this issue is because a significant proportion of them feel that following the beliefs of Islam is incompatible with being a true American. And this feeling isn't just prevalent in the political sphere, 75 percent of young Muslims in America feel that they, or a Muslim peer, have faced discrimination purely on the basis of their religion.

John F. Kennedy also faced difficulties on the way to becoming president due to being a Roman Catholic. JFK's opponents' argument – the same as the one espoused by Romney's critics – was that his religious affiliations could trump his loyalty to his country.

But while some Americans might not support a presidential candidate who doesn't share their religion, it is far better than the outlook for any atheist politicians in the American system. A staggering 49% of the American public said that they would never vote for an atheist presidential candidate.

This was the greatest discriminating factor in the study, with ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation all proving less objectionable to

American voters than atheism. Can Americans expect their representatives' decisions to be guided by religion, and preferably by Christianity. And a lack of religious affiliation doesn't only impact those with political ambitions. To this day the Boy Scouts of America do not allow atheist members and up until 2004 these groups were still sponsored by the Pentagon. If religion is supposed to be a purely personal matter why should choosing to live without it impact on the daily and professional lives of American

atheists?

It therefore seems absurd that people are expected to look to America as the model for the rest of the world in how it separates the Church and State. The national motto 'In God We Trust' has been challenged as a violation of the wall, established by Thomas Jefferson, between religion and state.

Since the 1954 addition of 'under God,' the pledge of allegiance has also faced an increased number of legal challenges as people have regarded this as a state endorsement

of monotheism. The Pledge of Allegiance forms part of every American child's school experience and it has been questioned whether this inclusion of 'under God' is really appropriate for the classroom.

Orthodox Christianity has a habit of dominating political debates on topics ranging from abortion to school curriculums. Religion continues to exert a huge amount of influence in the American political system, due to both the beliefs held by politicians and to influential religious lobby groups. And yet, rather hypocritically, America continues to view nations and leaders shaped by other religions as dangerous radicals.

The US likes to congratulate itself on the freedom enjoyed by its people and its efforts to liberate people around the globe from oppression. SorrowfullyAmerica fails to see the hypocrisy in their crusade against religious conflict and discrimination abroad while minority religious groups in their own country continue to be underrepresented in politics and face intolerance from their fellow Americans.

Religious freedom and the separation between Church and State are two things which characterise the American Constitution. The reality in American society, however, is that they are really little more than abstract concepts.

The price of organ donation Graduate jobs: the Louise Rubbert Commentator

In recent years many have expressed concern over the desperate need for organ donation and discussions have taken place which have picked apart the ways in which it can be encouraged. Recently a report from scientists and ethics experts has stated that the NHS should pay for the funerals of organ donors, in order to promote desperately needed donation. But what are the implications of this proposal? Well, there are those that are concerned that this is an idea which is distinctly aimed towards people with lower incomes and could put pressure on them to adhere to something that is inherently against their beliefs in order to ease possible financial strain.

Donation of organs is one of the

most charitable acts that anybody can undertake so I understand why some see this as being potentially tainted as the use of money pushes the process towards an overtly businesslike arrangement.

However, the fact that 8,000 people are currently on the waiting list for an organ, and 3 people die every day, brings home the enormity of the issue and all avenues must be assessed. Perhaps those in opposition could be being too cynical of this proposal. Is it too naïve to see it simply as a gift, almost a thank you to somebody who was compassionate enough to bother to sign themselves onto the Organ Donor Register and make the commitment to potentially help complete strangers? Furthermore the government already has the Social Fund which offers financial support with regards to funerals for people

with lower incomes. Therefore the idea that this proposal would appeal solely to those less well off should be deemed redundant.

If we look at the bigger picture, however, it's difficult to understand why the government is bothering with these paid incentives when it is so clear to see that a system of 'presumed consent' is the best possible solution to increase the number of organs being donated.

There are many people who have no issue with organ donation but for one reason or another have not found the time to sign up and give proper consent. Therefore it would be much more logical to have a system where those that genuinely do take issue with the idea of donating their organs would be able to 'opt out'. How long is it going to be before the government finally bites the bullet and changes the system?

importance of being commercially aware Shane Groarke Commentator

Allen and Overy, one of the world's biggest law firms, recently held a training contract presentation at the University of Birmingham. I was among many law students who came out for the event. During the presentation an associate partner talked briefly about a few specific multinational clients A&O worked to represent. One of the clients mentioned caught my attention. After the presentation had finished I approached the recruitment manager. I asked her, 'If A&O represents clients such as News Corp, is it safe to assume you're handing out jobs?' To which she replied, 'No. But I can certainly appreciate your commercial wit.'

Albeit dull.

It is no secret that in today's competitive job market employers are looking for more than an undergraduate degree. Despite this fact, many undergraduate students are blind to the value of 'Commercial Awareness'.

Commercial awareness is the ability to demonstrate business related knowledge specific to a student's prospective career. Being able to address questions relating to issues surrounding the internal and external affairs of a respective company is a good indication of a candidate's commercial awareness.

Although it is a necessary skill set for a career in any corporate field, it is by no means a skill set

limited to high-profile corporate employers.

Many employers, corporate or not, structure job applications and interview questions in ways to test the commercial value of applicants. That said, it's worth considering an effective way to develop and improve commercial awareness.

There are many strategies that can be used to develop a sharp commercial knowledge. For example, read the Financial Times, listen to the BBC, download podcasts, etc. Common sense right?

The tricky part is sticking to a strategy and making it a staple of everyday routine. It would be difficult, if not impossible, to convince an employer of a practical business competency solely by reading the BBCs business column on a monthly basis.

Moreover, find a way to apply your understanding of commercial issues. For example, offer to write an opinion piece about a respective issue for the Redbrick.

Improving upon the ability to demonstrate an understanding of commercial issues is another important way to develop a well rounded commercial competency.

As a graduate student currently buried under endless training contract applications, I would strongly encourage students to stay ahead of their competition. It is rapidly becoming vital and commercial awareness is one way in which this can be achieved.

10 redbrickpaper.co.uk

Arts

Get in the Halloween spirit with Town Hall's costume competition, see the Redbrick website for your chance to win.

Arts in Conversation

From Seventies Icon to Modern Masterpiece – What gets left behind?

An artist's impressions of Birmingham's new central library Annabelle Collins Critic

London's Southbank has undoubtedly been developed into an exciting cosmopolitan area in which many people enjoy spending time.

Instead of demolishing old buildings to make way for this improvement, such as The National Theatre, they have instead been conserved.

In contrast to this, Birmingham Central Library has been scheduled for demolition. If this goes ahead Birmingham will, arguably, lose one of its most iconic and important buildings.

The Central Library was designed by the prolific Birmingham architect John Madin and completed in 1974; becoming the largest non-national library in Europe. Madin and his Design Group can be credited with completely reshaping Birmingham following World War II, as additionally to the Central Library they produced other iconic buildings such as the Chamber of Commerce and the Post and Mail building.

Many would consider the existing Library to be an example of Brutalism, however when I questioned him about the philosophy behind the design, Madin believes that 'Birmingham Central Library has been damaged significantly from its original design'. He describes how he intended it to be clad in marble, instead of the concrete panels that can be seen today.

Furthermore, Madin feels that the City Council has 'destroyed the

Redbrick

28th October 2011

Central Library's Civic Square with its pools and fountains and filled the whole area with fast food shops'. Evidently the environmental context of this building has been degraded as the council has chosen to introduce commercial buildings into Birmingham's cultural centre.

When questioned as to why the Central Library did not successfully gain a listed status, Madin ascertains that he has 'never believed and still does not believe that the Central Library building will be demolished if reason prevails.' It is true that it has been recommended for listing twice before and included in the World Monuments Fund 2012 Watch List of World Cultural Heritage sites.

It makes no sense that such advice from English Heritage should be ignored; surely this gives the City Council an indication that by demolishing the Library they will not only destroy an important part of our modernist heritage but also prevent us from gaining a perspective on time; something that buildings have done throughout history.

Clearly commercial interests are greater than conservation.

Birmingham is undoubtedly a vibrant second city which, according to Madin, requires 'well designed modern buildings to meet the needs of the 21st century and beyond'. In his opinion, the City Council needed to design such buildings in the context of a threedimensional master plan instead of abandoning the idea in favour of commercial building in the cultural heart of Birmingham.

One questions what the new

library, costing £193 million, will say about Birmingham's architectural development. Aspiring architects could view Birmingham as a city that is not sentimental about its buildings, and therefore feel that they will not leave a lasting impression on the city's skyline.

Despite this, it is necessary to consider how the new library could have a positive impact on the city.

Developers intend it to show how Birmingham is a global city, which is developing to meet the needs of its citizens.

However, when asked about the message given by the new library, Madin feels that it does not give one. 'It is a glass-clad building similar to most current commercial buildings decorated with a series of metal hoops which will attract the local pigeon population, and will not do justice to the heart of Birmingham's civic and cultural centre', he comments on the design plans.

Unlike the naturally lit atrium of the Central Library, 80% of the new library will be artificially lit, including the children's library in the basement. Surely this is not the best way to encourage young people to use its wealth of resources?

This is undoubtedly a controversial issue, but something which cannot be disputed is that Birmingham Central Library is a genuinely iconic post-war architectural work.

It is vital that people truly acknowledge the importance of this building before it is too late and an important piece of Birmingham's cultural heritage is lost for good.

In Conversation: Gary Younge at The Drum Charlotte Wise Critic

Admittedly, my expectations for a Thursday night listening to a talk on race, identity, and its relevance in the 21st century weren't high.

Indeed, even when armed with a bag of chocolate raisins, hopes for the evening weren't elevated any further by the vacant rows of seats.

Luckily, frequent visitors to The Drum seem to be aware that timing isn't particularly important and once the (admittedly small) room was filled, Gary Younge began. And, whilst I normally enjoy being right, this time I was more than happy to have my anticipations proved false.

Younge began by reading excerpts from his latest book: Who Are We – And Should It Matter in The 21st Century? And whilst this could have proved tedious, he was both amusing and enlightening; entertaining with a mixture of anecdotes from both his own experiences and those of others.

Trying to broach sensitive subjects, such as race and religion is always difficult, but the evening was saved from being sanctimonious by brutal honesty.

It was an acceptance of the world we live in; one admittedly filled with prejudice, but a refreshing

change in seeing these as obstacles to be overcome and celebrated rather than points as division.

The audience was made to question the importance of identity in a world where people have more opportunities to broaden horizons than ever before – whether through developments in travel, media or simply the growth of multiculturalism.

The irony is that despite all

'Identity is like fire. It can create warmth and comfort, or burn badly and destroy.' – Gary Younge. these things, the necessity to have the 'right' identity still exists, to compare people and find them lacking. Younge stressed the importance of identity, pride and comfort in your own skin – but also the rights of others; whether gay, straight, black, white, Hindu or Christian.

There are few occasions where students can be inspired to think beyond their next meal – let alone discuss global issues of race, religion and culture – but Younge managed such a feat.

Meadow at The CBSO Centre

Lexie Wilson Arts Editor

Birmingham Jazz are an outfit concerned with promoting some of the most exciting names on the contemporary jazz circuit, and this performance was no exception. It started with saxophonist Jason Yarde and pianist Andrew McCormack, some of the circuits' most promising young fixtures.

The set's undoubted highlight was their performance of new track 'Hill Walking in the Tyneside', with Yarde given the opportunity to demonstrate the completeness of his ability. Throughout the set the real mark of their beauty is in the excruciating detail, with almost other-worldly solos by both men leaving the audience in disbelief watching their fingers move like liquid across the keys.

However, there seemed little harmonious correlation between the frequently almost funk stylings of the piano and the smooth tone of the saxophone, which moved between interesting and distinctly jarring. Nevertheless, it is entirely

evident that Yarde and McCormack have a real gift for exploiting the dichotomy between a hardness and a softness of sound.

Despite the undeniable potential of the duo, the evening belonged to Meadow. The AngloNorwegian trio are the absolute masters of a gorgeously soft, elegant sound; best evidenced by the spellbound silence rising from the audience.

Each of this triumvirate is deserving of individual acclaim.

Drummer Thomas Stronen exacted a sense of intrinsic melody from an often overlooked instrument.

Equally, saxophonist Tore Brunborg cultivated a heart-wrenchingly bluesy tone in his solos. It was, however, pianist John Taylor who appeared the quiet heart of the outfit, unfaltering yet exquisite in his role as a melodic backbone.

His solo written piece was absolutely captivating in its emotional projection.

The night ended on an unusually optimistic note, with Meadow consciously challenging the architypal perception of modern jazz.

Redbrick

Editors – Alexander Blanchard & Lexie Wilson

Arts 11

28th October 2011 redbrickpaper.co.uk

Previews

Best in Stand-Up Comedy at The Glee Club

Danny Murphy Critic

Yet again the Glee Club echoes with the sounds of laughter, capturing perfectly the atmosphere of a 1980s vaudeville show. The alcohol is flowing long before the acts begin and, sufficiently lubricated, the crowd grows impatient with an overlong wait and painfully specific count-down to 'kick-off'. First

to burst from the stalls is white Jamaican Tony Hendrix, who wastes no time slipping into audience participation; tackling the entire front row with tales of joblessness, male nurses and motorsport.

Having left the first three rows damp with fear, he attempts to explain his own erratic racial make-up, concluding that he is Anglo-Afro-Franco-Duco-Christo-Judo-Hindu, a perfect mix for

multicultural Birmingham. After all, race is surely just a pigment of our imagination.

The next act to slink onto the stage is Paul McCaffrey. Stage presence and delivery are strong although material is lacking in places; if these four acts were in a hot air balloon plummeting to earth, McCaffrey would certainly be the jettisoned weight (although Hendrix's 'rice n' pea' stomach would make him the more obvious choice).

Following an intermission filled with music, food and merriment, shaggy haired Canadian Pete Johansson shuffles to the mic. There's something comforting about a Canadian accent and the level of threat in the room is at an all-time low. Linking his material to current affairs, Johansson appears more contemporary than the previous acts. Johansson is

perhaps the highlight of the evening and he leaves the stage with a loving round of applause and a 'sweaty, paedophile-like face'.

The comfort and ease created by the woolly anti-American are shattered by the last comic.

Ian D. Montfort awkwardly flops onto stage during his introduction, dressed as a second rate Jimmy Saville and constantly rearranging his manhood, the audience naturally predicts some horrific Harry Enfield-esque character acting.

Montfort transcends the stereotype however, amazing the audience with his hospital themed radio show and dedicating the worst possible songs to the ill, suicidal and dying.

At times the audience is brought close to tears and has to question the ethical consequences of laughing at necrophilia, selfharm and honour killings.

Arun Ghosh mac 29th October £9

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain at Symphony Hall Sivan Lavie & Matt Saull Critics

Upon entering a concert venue, it is always important to gauge the crowd. When the average hairstyle of the clientele is departed as opposed to spiky, it was apparent that this was a gig you would definitely take your grandmother to.

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain present a perplexing sight for the average concert-goer.

The tuxedo clad tribe of uke-wielding forty-somethings (seven in all) have been shredding up the festival scene for twenty-six years, sharing stages with the likes of The Beautiful South at Glastonbury and touring from village halls to symphony halls. The premise is simple; take the often derided ukulele, add in the spellbinding fret-work of the

orchestra and a generous lashing of deadpan dad-jokes, and the result is a wonderfully entertaining evening.

The group have a gimmick, that much is obvious for all to see, but their self-deprecating manner and impressive musicianship elevate the band to a much higher praise (understandably, the band are Telegraph darlings).

The first half of the evening begins with a hillbilly cover of the seminal Sex Pistols track 'Anarchy in The UK'. Indeed, there is nothing more spine-tinglingly wonderful to the middle classes than to hear a Symphony Hall sing 'I want to be… Anarchy' with perfect tonality and without a John Lewis inspired care in the world. Gnarls Barkley's 'Crazy' and a Bulgarian folk inspired The Who's 'Pinball Wizard'

Duke Bluebeard's Castle at Symphony Hall

Ben Norris Critic

Symphony hall played host to a visually stunning multimedia production as the Philharmonia Orchestra – conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen – presented Béla Bartók's ground-breaking opera, Duke Bluebeard's Castle.

The one-act opera made up the second half of a programme that began with Claude Debussy's 'Prélude Á L'Après-midi D'un Faune'. Salonen indulged Debussy at his impressionistic best, showcasing the most lyrical aspects of the music. Liking Debussy is seen as a little clichéd these days, but it's almost impossible not to, such is the beauty and emotive force of this piece.

The first half was completed by a performance of Sinfonietta by Leoš Janáček, considered the Czech composer's orchestral

masterpiece, and the Philharmonia did justice to this claims.

These two pieces, although excellent, served as a mere introduction to the highlight of the evening.

The opera's structure is governed by his fourth wife, Judith, opening seven doors in Bluebeard's castle one by one and with all the necessary melodrama.

Breathtaking effects projected behind the orchestra and a unique sculpture that hung above them – provided by David Holmes and Adam Wiltshire respectively – enhance the experience.

Cotton fabrics were torn and stained blood-red when the first door was opened to reveal Bluebeard's torture chamber; languid pastoral sections were infected with portentous false-relations when the door to his secret garden swang ajar; and the audience were momentarily blinded by powerful lights when Judith first gazed upon his vast kingdom.

The power of the music was captured wonderfully by world-renowned bass Sir John Tomlinson as Bluebeard and Michelle DeYoung as his wife.

What the foolhardy young woman discovers when she finally persuades her mysterious husband to open the seventh door made for a chilling dramatic and musical climax to a magnificent and varied classical programme.

The Event: Slow Boat New Canalside Moring 29th Oct – 30th Nov Free are highlights of a first half set-list brimming with elegance and humour.

As the second half starts, TUOGB's remarkable vocal strength becomes apparent with the breathtaking soundscape created for Ennio Morricone's theme to The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. There are a few acts touring the United Kingdom at the mo-

ment that have the arrangement skills and general musicality of the group, a fact also exemplified by 'Ménage', a track which lambasts the popular music scene by seamlessly blending seven different songs into one general chord sequence. Think the Axis of Awesome, but with beautifully harmonised voices, six ukuleles, an acoustic bass, and terrible puns.

The Pomedy Show at The Drum

Will Hunter Critic

Fusing together comedy and poetry, 'pomedy' is Jamaica's aptly named and most recent export.

Still in its infancy, it is tipped (albeit by its creators) to be the next big thing to hit the arts scene of Great Britain. By the evening's end it is very hard not to agree with them.

For the most part, pomedy amalgamates both spoken word and performance poetry, delivering it in a style likened to standup comedy. Don't however be deceived by the name, pomedy doesn't restrict itself to just these two mediums of performance.

Partially curated and compered by midlands DJ, Tony Roots, the UK tour of The Pomedy Show brings you a series of short but extremely entertaining productions.

Acts to grace the bill of the

Birmingham leg of the tour were local and widely acclaimed talent such as Yasus Afari and Joan Andrea Hutchinson.

With only a brief knowledge of Jamaican poetry – supplied by John Agard in that infamous AQA anthology – and belonging to the small percentage of the audience who wasn't of Jamaican origin, the humour was a little lost on me at first. However, as time passed the real message of pomedy became clear: to give the audience a real insight into the vast talent Jamaica has to offer.

As Black History Month draws to a close, there was one poem by Joan Andrea Hutchinson that really sent this message home. It appeared to highlight the fundamental flaws that still lie within today's society, and demonstrate that even now England isn't truly multicultural. Repetition of the line 'It's not the right season' suggests that we are too hung up on assigning cultures an allotted month in which we acknowledge their mark on the world throughout history.

Instead, we should be celebrating the many attributes of their culture and incorporating them into our own, on a day-today basis.

This essentially is what pomedy aims to do, making this is a very exciting time for its creators.

Its recognition in the UK scene will continue to grow in years to come.

Macbeth The Crescent 29th Oct – 12th Nov £10

Jekyll and Hyde Screening Town Hall 31st October £15

Queer Cabaret mac

3rd November £7

12 redbrickpaper.co.uk

28th October 2011

Music Spooky Jukebox

Tamara Roper Music Editor

Massive Attack ft Guy Garvey – Flat of the Blade It's difficult to pick a song from this album that isn't spooky: the whole thing is riddled with melancholy. This is one of Heligoland's most ominous songs and Elbow front-man Garvey has never had one of the most uplifting voices in music, so the collaboration is a fright night extraordinaire – all weird synths and moaning. Can anyone else hear rattling chains?

Michael Jackson – Thriller Whatever, it's predictable. You all know the words, you all know the dance, and we at Redbrick Music like to appeal to the masses (occasionally), so MJ's arguably most famous song is our least esoteric offering for this week's Jukebox.

Nobody wants to be the wallflower when this comes on, so practice your jerky arms for Monday.

Radiohead – Climbing Up The Walls If Halloween had a patron saint, Thom Yorke would probably be it. St Thom, famed for his songs of depression, doom and all things bleak. This is a fine example, a guitar-driven, effects-pedal-laden four minutes of barren, chilly austerity. Does it even matter what he's singing about? The fact that you can't really hear the words is probably for the best.

Redbrick's Halloween Turkey of the Week

DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – Nightmare On My Street

For more online exclusive content, including live reviews of the Maccabees, Ash and Katy B, visit www.redbrickpaper.co.uk Contact us: music@redbrickpaper.co.uk Twitter – @redbrickmusic Facebook – Redbrick Music

Redbrick

Westlife to split up 'amicably' after 14 years www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment

Essential Albums

#18

The Beatles

The Beatles (1968) Jacob Lovick Critic

What people found, and continue to find, so marvellous about The Beatles is their astonishing ability to attempt and master a breathtakingly wide range of music, covering practically every popular musical style of the time. Nowhere is this more evident and, indeed, more perfected than on their ninth album, The Beatles, more commonly known as The White Album.

Since its release, The White Album has been hailed as the second Sgt. Pepper's, and justly so. It was as a result of this album that The Beatles really were able to justify their position as quite possibly the most talented musicians, best songwriters and most widely encompassing bands of all time, or, at the very least, in recent history.

And, good Lord, The White

6 M83

Album does it all. From the rock 'n' roll, Beach Boys tribute Back In The U.S.S.R. that out-mastered their tribute band, to the protopunk Helter Skelter, the balladic Dear Prudence and Julia, the country and western-esque Rocky Raccoon, and the awe-inspiring While My Guitar Gently Weeps, that truly established George Harrison, in my mind, as The Beatles' best writer. The highly comic and yet profound Piggies, the 30sesque Honey Pie, the epic The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill, the rocky and dancey Birthday, Revolution and the return to classic Beatles psychedelic Glass Onion, literally everything that The Beatles were known, and loved for, is on this. The album can almost be seen as a true consolidation, a thorough retrospective of everything that The Beatles had done up until then.

Hurry Up, We're Dreaming

Dominic Ferguson Critic

Anthony Gonzalez, the French electronic genius behind M83, has always seemed to have been a fan of the album format, creating landscapes of sound intended to be listened to as a whole, but with pop songs hidden within. Since their eponymous debut in 2003 through to 2008's Saturdays = Youth, fans have become used to long albums, each with a distinctive sound or theme. Therefore there was little surprise when it was announced that M83's new album would be a double one, with many people, myself included, believing that M83 would be one of very few bands able to pull off the challenge. However, what has actually resulted is a disappointing, if not dreadful record.

Gonzalez has always opted to hide his vocals, either through almost inaudible murmuring or by passing over the responsibility to guest vocalists, so the inclusion of Zola Jesus on the opening, originally titled track Intro doesn't raise any eyebrows. However, this time something has changed - it soon becomes obvious that Gonzalez has lost his inhibitions and the middle of the song has both of

Literally everything that The Beatles were known and loved for is on this The album came out of an era that was becoming increasingly turbulent for The Beatles.

They had just returned from India, were looking for ways to top their world-renowned previous record Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, and the members were getting agitated with one another, more and more frequently writing songs alone, or recording alone.

Ringo Starr even dropped out for a while, leaving lead singer McCa-

6 James Blake

rtney to take over as drummer on several of the songs, and several late entries and omissions to the final record line-up meant that tempers, particularly on Lennon and McCartney's parts, were running high. And that led, perhaps, to the eclectic, mish-mash, wide-ranging nature of the songs, for which the album is so admired.

Essentially, The White Album is The Beatles' perfect album. If you were to buy only one Beatles record, which is silly anyway, this should be it. The four-disc vinyl (which is really the only medium in which it should be listened to) is 90 minutes of unadulterated pleasure, apart from the one slip in the form of the much-maligned Revolution 9, which is easily over-lookable.

Everything for everyone is on this album, and truly gives The Beatles the undeniable position of the greatest band of all time.

Enough Thunder –EP

their vocals roaring out. Midnight City, the lead single from the album, is perhaps the best standalone song M83 have ever made, only perhaps being challenged by 2005's Don't Save Us From The Flames, building up to a trademark climax. Steve McQueen and New Map, on the second half of the album, are also more pop-y highlights.

The defining feature of double albums, however, is whether they can keep your attention between the 'big' songs. For me, this is where Hurry Up, We're Dreaming fails. Tracks such as Another Wave from You and Fountains are acceptable atmospheric pieces but are highly forgettable, and worst of all, unlike on previous M83 albums, provide no link with the songs surrounding them.

Although supposedly most of the songs are about dreams, there appears to be hardly any link throughout the album, making it disjointed and a hard album to settle in to. Perhaps this is a case of an artist becoming more confident and trying new stuff that they are just not suited to.

Sounds like: Cut Copy

James Kinsey Critic

James Blake detests mainstream dubstep. In a recent interview he claimed dubstep is about 'who can make the dirtiest, filthiest bass sound'. He even went as far to say 'those melodic bass lines are insultingly simple and aggressive and annoying'.

Like his last self entitled album, his latest EP, Enough Thunder, is far removed from the stormy effects of mainstream dubstep. Instead he prefers to create suspenseful silences and sombre studio sounds in introspective ballads.

In this EP, Blake uses his haunting voice more and more as an instrument. There are only a few glimpses of the bass and drums so characteristic of his earlier work.

Indeed, in the penultimate track Not Long Now, we don't see a beat drop until the song is almost over.

In Fall Creek Boys Choir, his collaboration with Bon Iver, Blake layers a few studio effects on the record, but what is most striking about the song is the isolated, distant singing of Blake compared to the engaging falsetto voice of Iver.

Sadly, in minimizing bass sounds, cracks start to appear in

the record. In his last album his haunting cover of Feist's Limit To Your Love maintained the original emotion but crucially was sung over turbulent, exciting sub bass.

In the title track and his cover of Joni Mitchell's A Case Of You he stripped away the bass, and we are left with a tense and frankly awkward piano arrangement.

Blake is in dangerous water in his attempt to distance his music from mainstream animalistic dubstep. Without his signature undulating dubstep sound many of these songs with their strange pauses and breaks, come across as very unnatural and stiff. What's worse is that at times his diction is so bad that the lyrics are largely incomprehensible.

Simply put, Blake does not have the quality of voice to pull off ambitious piano ballads.

So, Blake has moved too far away from his roots. He may have a deep resentment for dubstep, but it is through dubstep that James Blake shines. Thus, fans will lament that there is simply not enough thunder in this record.

Sounds like: Burial

Redbrick

Redbrick meets...

Charlie Simpson

Jenna Kirby Critic

You may know him as one-third of the multi-million record selling teenage boyband Busted, or as the lead vocalist in the hardcore band Fightstar. Either way, Charlie Simpson has again shed his skin to reveal a new side of himself. Redbrick were invited into his dressing room on the second date of his tour, at the Wolverhampton Slade Rooms.

So how does it feel to be touring solo?

I've been excited about this for a long time. We played a small tour before the album was released and it felt different because people didn't know the songs, but now the album's been out for a couple of months and it feels like a whole different thing.

Music Diary 28th – 3rd

Music 13

28th October 2011 redbrickpaper.co.uk

Editors – Tamara Roper & William Franklin

afar. I got into a bit of story telling, which I like, and it was the first time I've really got to do that.

Do you feel like people have preconceptions of you because of your past?

I think they definitely did. I hope now it's a different situation, after Fightstar. Now I'm starting new again. Hopefully since that whole thing (Busted), people have a different view of me now.

How do you think the album has been received?

It feels weird to think I put a year and a half of really hard work into something I built by myself, and to walk out on stage and for people to appreciate it feels wonderful.

How do you feel about your live show?

I think it's really important that it feels more like a band, I didn't want all the attention on me. I don't want it to seem like my band are just paid to be there, like with a lot of solo acts you see. I wanted the band to be really involved, I think it makes it for a better show.

What was the inspiration behind the new album?

I guess it's a more personal record as it talks about my own experiences. Unlike with Fightstar lyrics which are more social commentary, looking at a situation from

What are your ambitions for the future?

The next thing I really want to get into musically is film scoring. I've been talking to a couple of directors, and I think that would be really fun.

You've managed to have a long career without scandal – do you intentionally keep a low profile?

Yeah, all that kind of celebrity thing just doesn't appeal to me. I like having interviews and talking about my music, but that whole thing, I just stay away from that.

What's the most ridiculous thing you've ever been asked to sign?

Probably quite a few things.

It's weird when I'm asked to sign someone's body part and then they get it tattooed on. That's happened a couple of times. I find that incredible, that they'll have that on their body for the rest of their life. It's pretty wow!

Live Review The Cat Empire O2 Academy 19/10/2011

Anna Lumsden Critic

Last week saw the ska, jazz, rock and funk fusion sound that is The Cat Empire storm the stage at Birmingham's 02 Academy. On entering the venue, the air was enticing and full of anticipation for the Aussie group to saunter on and set up a groove.

Despite the laid back, relaxed attitude The Cat Empire present whilst on stage, there is no suggestion of anything but utter sincerity when it comes to their music.

Their songs are performed with a dedicated ferocity, a fantastic blend of joyous fervour and quality musicianship that rattled the audience into frantic, dancing, skanking ecstasy.

Celebrating their tenth anniversary this year, the band still possess that intrinsic energy and passion that captured audiences way back in the early noughties, revisiting favourite tunes from

the decade, including funky, sultry number Two Shoes as well as jaunty, feel-good 2003 hit Hello, complete with raucous improvised solos from trumpeter Harry James Angus and the Empire Horns brass section. Stunning playing also came from keyboardist Ollie McGill, filling the texture with fiendishly catchy Latino samba riffs then veering off into extended jazz licks during his solos.

Nearing the close of their set came cheeky tune Sly, completed by the mischievous lyrics of vocalist and percussionist Felix Reibl and sung along in kind by the crowd, now united by an emotional arm-linking and swaying through the blaring choruses of anthemic tune The Chariot. Essentially, The Cat Empire are one of a kind. Their music has a joy and intensity that can only really be truly justified when heard live: a perfect match of staggeringly good musicianship and fun, defiant charm.

Local Corner: Supersonic Festival Showcasing the Birmingham music scene

Friday 28th

10 Years of Jam Jah Sound Bull's Head, Moseley Xzibit HMV Institute

Saturday 29th 36 Crazyfists O2 Academy

Wretch 32 HMV Institute

Sunday 30th She Keeps Bees Hare & Hounds Cliff Richard LG Arena

Monday 31st The Dykeenies HMV Institute

John Pyke and Passenger Glee Club

Tuesday 1st Yann Tiersen O2 Academy Airship Rainbow

Wednesday 2nd

Katy Perry with Oh Land NIA General Fiasco Rainbow

Thursday 3rd

Benjamin Francis Leftwich HMV Institute Alice Cooper with New York Dolls NIA

Mel Hunt

Online Arts & Music Editor

Now celebrating its eighth birthday, Birmingham's very own,alternative music festival, Supersonic, returned to the back streets of Digbeth last weekend.

Born literally out of the rubble of a fallen ceiling after an intense but electrifying gig by D'n'B hardcore curators Capsule back in 2003, the festival has quickly grown into the key date in the rock calendar.

Spaced over three days from the 21st-23rd October, The Custard Factory held host to an array of bands, artists and record labels all hoping to get in on the action.

Greeted by a colourful table of hand-printed illustrations courtesy of Birmingham Zine Festival, and the promise of baked goods, independent LPs and quality merchandise, my first taster of Supersonic 2011 was pretty sweet. Although primarily a musical event, the hubbub surrounding Supersonic is a buzzing beehive of budding artists and optimistic visionaries all looking to do something a little bit different. During the three day

event, everything from gig sets to abstract video production would grace the white washed walls of old warehouses. Anticipated programme highlights ranged from the exhibition Incarnate by James Robinson, along with a special performance by old-timer Tony Conrad, the key player in forming the legendary Velvet Underground.

My first port of call was Holy Roar records, set up by Ellen Godwin, an alumni of Redbrick and the University of Birmingham. She started the label all the way back in 2005 after graduating with partner Alex Fitzgerald. Today they work with bands such as Rosa Valle and Sheffield's Rolo Tomasi. I asked her if she was enjoying the festival so far.

'We love it. Its not quite what we do. Its a bit cooler than us.

We're a bit mainstream probably! It has such a wide range of ages and range of tastes. Everyone looks quite metal but I think most people are more gnarly than me – sitting here in my green cardigan!'

Although now based in London I asked her partner Alex how relevant Supersonic was to Birming-

ham.

'It's the heritage of Birmingham. The home of rock and metal, it's a modern continuation of that really. There's not an equivalent of London, it's quite geographically specific.' This view is seconded by the lads at Bad Egg Records, the home of local brummie bands Stinky Wizzlecat and Human Hands. 'A lot that visit Supersonic aren't from Birmingham. Just practically in Digbeth there is this space which lends itself to the music.'

Bad Egg are much more like the typical independent label you would find associated with the event. Set up in 2009 they are a big believer in DIY. 'We release all kinds of stuff. We say it's digital hardcore but it's not really about the genre, it's how the music is produced. So we hand stick the record sleeves and usually screen print.' This hands on approach and attention to the visual can be seen in another fellow label First Fold, a firmly local project supporting the likes of Them Use Them and The Resource Centre. 'We have strong links to Capsule and usually do

gigs with them or talks and workshops. We try and muck in and be involved as much in local stuff as possible.'

Anticipated acts include at the festival Holy Roar's Slabdragger: a band who are quoted as singing about 'epic quests to Nepal in the search of weed, rubbish Roman Centurions battling Octopian creatures and, most importantly, drinking rum.' If that's not quite your cup of tea you may want to check out Klaus Kinshi instead, with the brochure clearly stating 'they are not a band to take home to your mother.'

'They are just mental! These mental boys from this horrible little village in Wales somewhere', enthuses Dave from Bad Egg Records. 'I really liked Mike Wall yesterday but I think the trick is to hear something you've never experienced before.'

In essence this is the spirit of Supersonic. Its pioneering attitudes have brought it this far, I wouldn't be too surprised if local Brummie experimentalists will have a firm home for another eight years to come.

14 redbrickpaper.co.uk

Redbrick

28th October 2011

Film

'Wait Master, it might be dangerous... you go first.'

Young Frankenstein (1974)

Interview: George Clooney on Ides of March

Film News

Gorgeous George and co. talk British politics, Shakespeare and ego with Genevieve Taylor

How did you find playing a politician?

George Clooney: Playing a candidate is tricky because you would think actors have this tremendous ego, and they do, but the ego it takes to keep your chin up with all these shots‌ politicians have a tremendous amount of ego to be able to do that. It's very hard, the product you're selling to the public is yourself and you're just selling the hell out of it all the time.

What do you think of British politics?

GC: [laughs] Here's a smart thing to do, come to London and talk

about British politics! [laughs] I know very little about it, I love watching the House of Commons cause that's really fun. It really is, you know [in a terrible British accent] 'Order!'. We don't do that.

And it's very fun but I can't quite figure out what happens.

The film shows a side of politics where you have to trade your soul to get to the top but how Machiavellian is Hollywood?

GC: Well, when I die I go to hell, I know that [laughs]. No, actors aren't like that. The business can be that way, there are certain cutthroat elements. With the excep-

tion of a few actors most of them are kind to one another. You're so lucky to be in the position when you get to the end of a film, you understand that it's not just your brilliance that got you there, that you're standing on the shoulders of a lot of happy accidents along the way and you recognise that in one another.

and that's all you wanna do. And sometimes actors give directing a try and they're not good at it. Most of the actors I know have no desire to direct at all. And a lot of people assume most actors want to direct but that's actually not true. It was something I wanted to do for a while and George seems to wear that hat easily.

Evan Rachel Wood: Can you imagine if there were actors in a TV ad campaigning against other actors. It would be like 'over-acting'!

With regards to the title of the film, which evokes that line from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, do you feel there are ties to Shakespearean drama in the film?

GC: Yeah, like 'did you see him in that film'. Just a shot of me in a rubber suit in Batman [all laugh] Matt Damon taking it out.

Philip, you've said that you don't think all actors should direct but that George is the kind of guy that should, is that based on your own experience directing?

Philip Seymour Hoffman: Yeah, well sometimes I think that actors direct and people think that it's about ego, or hubris, but I don't think it is at all. I think that sometimes you're an actor and you find out you're a director too

GC: Well, Ides of March actually means the 15th of March and part of the reason we did it was because the primary takes place on 15th March. We always thought it was an interesting idea about a good friend and an enemy sort of conspiring to take you out. We always thought that those themes were interesting and we let everyone decide who was Caesar – I walked away. But we weren't really trying to tell anyone that this was Shakespeare, we were just telling them it is about backstabbing and those kinds of things.

David Gluckstein Critic

The British Invasion Well, one Brit, and perhaps she has already arrived following her performance in Drive. Either way, Carey Mulligan has certainly cemented herself as a part of Hollywood 'cool', having been announced to have secured roles in both the new Coen brothers and Spike Jonze films. Thus far little is known of either role; The Coen brother project, Inside Llewyn Davis, is a story centring around the 60s New York folk scene. It is believed that she will be required to sing in the role. Jonze's project, without a title, is a satire in which she will star alongside Joaquin Phoenix.

Five of the Best: Upcoming British Films

In tribute to this year's London Film Festival, Lucy Steiner rounds up the best of British

Akira here-a?

Coriolanus

Anonymous

rial debut Coriolanus. Pre-imperial Rome is transported to Eastern Europe in a modern interpretation of this tale of political rivalry.

With a stellar British cast of Fiennes, Vanessa Redgrave, Brian Cox and Gerard Butler, Coriolanus could be one Shakespearian adaptation that would not have the bard turning in his grave.

write those great works, or whether it was in fact the Earl of Oxford.

Directed by Roland Emmerich and set against the backdrop of the Elizabethan succession, this political conspiracy drama is brought to life by a strong British cast led by Rhys Ifans and promises to make you question the true identity of Shakespeare.

Wuthering Heights

The Woman in Black

Shakespeare's lesser question of whether #4 the #2 ofknown plays in his directoShakespeare really did Ralph Fiennes revives one

1

Anonymous

explores

Whether or not a manga classic should be re-made as a live action film can be left to the fanboys and girls to debate. Akira has been given the go ahead after languishing in development for a few years.

The rights for a live action movie were bought by Sony back in the 90s, and then Warner Bros in the early 00s. However this is certainly the closest the project has come to becoming a reality.

Various big names have been tipped for the lead of Kaneda; Leonardo Di Caprio and Joseph Gordon Levitt, to name a few; however, the current front runner is Garrett Hedlund of Tron: Legacy.

Shame

#

Steve McQueen's second film explores the dark and perverse world of sex addiction, with man of the moment Michael Fassbender as the protagonist controlled by his ID. This looks set to be this year's superior Black Swan, focusing on the sinister side of New York life as a man attempts to cling onto his reality while being consumed by inner demons. The film does not overly denounce the addiction, but sympathises with the issue and its consequences. Fassbender truly is a rising star and his performance in Shame marks a pivotal moment in his career and surely merits an Oscar nomination.

#3

A bold new take on Emily Bronte's classic strips the story back to its most primitive roots. A cast of relatively unknown young actors take on the challenge of breathing new life into the famous tragic love story. With the wilds of Yorkshire taking centre stage, the latest offering from Andrea Arnold (Fish Tank) is very much dialogue rationed, which should reflect the bleak grimness of it all.

adaptation of the #5 An novel and famous stage

play The Woman in Black stars Harry Potter himself Daniel Radcliffe. Written by Stardust and Kick-Ass scribe Jane Goldman and directed by Eden Lake's James Watkins, this new adaptation promises to deliver chilling horror. It should fulfill this aim as the film is being produced by Britain's most prestigious horror studio, Hammer Films.

Sex Sells The film industry has always sought new and innovative ways to finance its projects, however this is particularly surreal. The plan has come from the Hungarian government and has received bipartisan support for a tax on porn websites with the proceeds going back into the regular Hungarian film business.

Redbrick

Editors – Genevieve Taylor & Isidore Sanders

Film 15

28th October 2011 redbrickpaper.co.uk

Reviews

UNMISSABLE

The Ides of March

EXCELLENT

Critic

Director: Steven Spielberg Cast: Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost Cert: U

Critic

Director: George Clooney Cast: Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, Evan Rachel Wood Cert: 15 While the title alludes to the line in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar 'beware the Ides of March', the opposite can be said for George Clooney's new political drama.

Ides tells a gripping moral tale about the price of success and undoubtedly cements Ryan Gosling's status as man of the moment.

The film follows Gosling's character Stephen Meyers, a political media mogul working on the presidential campaign of the superficially charming Mike Morris (Clooney), as he uncovers, and is

ultimately seduced by, the inherent corruption of power.

In a way it's a loss of faith story.

We open with Gosling rehearsing Morris's speech and declaring his lack of religion in anything but the constitution. His naive yet complete faith in and idolisation of Morris is palpable, calling to mind the image of a trusty golden retriever. However, throughout the film when faith is lost and overrun by a series of betrayals and dramatic eye-openers, we witness the fruition of this image of idolatry when he evolves into an embittered fox, becoming a near copy of his icon.

Gosling makes the journey utterly believable. He's the current go-to-guy for a mixture of wideeyed innocence and slightly crazed intensity and it's completely un-

derstandable here as he marries the two with brilliant control.

Some of Gosling's supporting actors are sadly overlooked to better explore the central journey of Meyers. However, we are still treated to a particularly entertaining turn by Philip Seymour Hoffman as Stephen's superior, and a strong emotionally-resonant effort from Evan Rachel Wood as Molly; a young intern at the centre of the film's scandal.

It's a fantastic ensemble performance with excellent direction from Clooney, although its plot and major themes of betrayal, morality and the exposition of political corruption are well-tread ground.

Nevertheless, The Ides of March is a compelling watch and a must-see for the ever-increasing scores of Gosling fans.

If you like... This Is England Gemma Fottles Critic

Nottingham born-and-bred independent filmmaker Shane Meadows certainly gained a substantial fan base from his 2006 film This Is England, with his gritty portrayal of 1980s British subculture. If you're among them here are some more suggestions to quench your appetite.

Dead Man Walking

This Is England isn't Meadows' only British masterpiece; for a more thrilling version of problems facing the working class of England, try his earlier film Dead Man Walking, following Paddy Considine's disturbing character, Richard, and his heartbreakingly sweet brother. With a great twist at the end, this is a bit more of an entertainer than This Is England.

Trainspotting

More big-budget, and again a bit more of an entertainer, is Danny Boyle's cult classic, Trainspotting, following on/off crack addict Renton (Ewan McGregor) in his battle with addiction and general low life prospects. This novel adaptation gives viewers a peek into the world of the misrepresented and misunderstood, this time in the form of the underclass of Edinburgh as opposed to Meadows' Midlanders.

One of Trainspotting's many attributes is the way in which Boyle combines pretty terrifying content with very dark humour. This is also very present in Guy Ritchie's Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, in which British realism goes to London,

TRAGIC

Tintin

Beth Ditzel

Genevieve Taylor

POOR

GOOD

following four working class guys who end up in a bit of a tricky situation, to say the least.

Blistering Barnacles! That iconic quiff has finally arrived on the big screen in The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn. Tintin's creator Hergé stated before his death that 'if anyone can bring Tintin successfully to the screen', it would be Spielberg, and he has done exactly that, along with producer Peter Jackson. The film follows Tintin (Jamie Bell), his faithful canine companion Snowy and Captain Haddock (Andy Serkis) as they set off on a hunt for The Unicorn, a sunken ship commanded

by Haddock's ancestor. But the dastardly Sakharine (Daniel Craig) will stop at nothing to beat them to the treasure.

Herge's world has been lovingly recreated, from the delightful animation of the opening credits, as Tintin's silhouette sneaks from the typewriter page into reenactments of his original adven-

tures, to the intricate detail of the shelves in his office. Although a controversial choice, performance capture has allowed Spielberg and Jackson to take the 1930s settings into a wonderland of digital detail, a blank canvas where the most ambitious visions (see the sand dunes of the Sahara transforming into ferocious waves) can be created.

Jamie Bell brings to life the courageous spirit of the titular hero, whilst Andy Serkis, a mo-cap veteran, is hilarious as the often intoxicated Captain Haddock. More comedy comes from Simon Pegg and Nick Frost as Interpol's worst agents; Thomson and Thompson respectively. And Snowy the dog is every bit as loveable as you'd expect.

The film is by no means perfect. There are a few too many chase sequences, and elements of the plot are perhaps overcomplicated for the young target audience, but Spielberg has lovingly brought to life Herge's hero; bringing his adventures into the 21st Century without losing sight of the charm and spirit of adventure that has made Tintin an enduring character for every generation.

Silver Screen

Nicholas Hearst recommends La Haine

Kidulthood

Keeping with the more southern of the British indie films is Kidulthood, where humour has been replaced with good old fashioned trouble, teen angst and tragedy.

This film (along with considerably less impressive sequel, Adulthood) is aimed at a younger and more urban audience than This Is England, but is another good representation of British subculture and independent film.

Tyrannosaur

This brings us to Tyrannosaur, the first directorial offering from the star of much of Meadows' work, Paddy Considine, and starring Peep Show's Olivia Colman.

Considine shows the dark side of the seemingly perfect middle class suburban dream through Colman's Hannah, suffering at the hands of her abusive husband and looking desperately for a way out.

Like This Is England, Tyrannosaur offers a gritty and darkly emotional film, presenting a realistic portrayal of the UK in a unique and provocative style.

An unrelenting, powerful and controversial tale of three French youths, Vinz (Vincent Cassell), Hubert (Hubert Kounder) and Said (Said Taghmaoui), La Haine follows their experiences of a day in the aftermath of race riots and police clashes in one of the Paris Banleiux. The trio wander along the racial, economic and sociospatial friction lines of Parisian society, each responding differently to the perpetual animosity generated by the authoritarian presence of the police.

Drawing inspiration from Scorsese and Spike Lee, director Matthieu Kassowitz displays masterful restraint behind the camera, punctuating his searing depiction of life on the social and geographical periphery of Paris with fleeting moments of self-reflection and humanity. La Haine is a timeless study of urban society.

A standout sequence of the film involves a sweeping overhead

shot of the urban housing projects, in which the camera glides gently to the sculptural rhythms of Edith Piaf's 'Non je ne regrette rien' musically juxtaposed with a fusion of American and French hip-hop tracks, including KRS One's 'Sound of Da Police'; a poignant reflection of the melting pot culture of the Banlieue.

One of the central motifs of La Haine is encapsulated in a casual utterance made by Hubert, 'how you fall doesn't matter, it's how you land'. Despite the unblinking depictions of police brutality, racism and Parisian hood culture, the casual acceptance with which the three central protagonists navigate through the rubble of the concrete jungle, coupled with a camera-style that observes rather than dissects, imbues the film with a sense of serenity which renders the social decline detailed on the screen something of a fatalistic inevitability.

16 redbrickpaper.co.uk

Television

Redbrick

28th October 2011

APPRENTICE SPECIAL!

Seven strange minutes with Stuart Baggs Jenna Kirby caught up with Stuart Baggs on the phone to find out exactly what he's been up to this year Jenna Kirby: Why did you go on The Apprentice?

Stuart Baggs: Because I was useless with women, and I genuinely thought it would help.

JK: Did it?

SB: No, it made it much worse.

JK: Oh dear. How has your life changed since the show?

SB: In a number of ways, not all of them good, to be honest. But… hang on, two seconds. You called me while I was having a p**s.

It's fine now. I've shaken and washed. How has it changed my life? Okay, well, no one came up to me and said 'Excuse me, you're a big t**t.' But now it happens on a daily basis.

JK: How do you feel about all of the public attention?

SB: I love it. It's a rule of averages – statistically, I'm bound to get laid one day. I take all the bad luck now knowing that one day, there's gonna be a party with loads of fit women and I'm gonna get invited. One day.

JK: What have you been up to since The Apprentice?

SB: I've done some dodgy show for Channel 4, with some really s**t celebrities like Christopher Biggins. The big fat vacuous w****r. Celebrity Pointless, Celebrity Juice, as much Big Brother's Bit on the Side as you can shake a stick at. This Morning, Breakfast, all the radio shows, the list goes on.

JK: Have you enjoyed it?

SB: Oh god yeah. Absolutely.

You'd never get to do this stuff usually, you know? There's drawbacks of it all, but it's so much fun. Life's too short, isn't it?

JK: Is that what you were expecting to do after the show?

SB: No, I thought I was going to get the job! Is that really bigheaded? Obviously when I didn't I was really gutted. No one likes to be told they're full of s**t on

real job in it for her. I feel sorry for her – she's lovely.

Apprentice candidates Matthew Clemens Online TV and Film Editor

No one likes to be told they're full of s**t on national television

national television, do they? It's not a pleasant experience, but at the same time, how else would you get stacks of TV work? It's good fun.

JK: Are you embarrassed about the things you said on the show?

SB: Not yet. I'm sure there will come a time when I am.

JK: How do you feel about how your catchphrases caught on?

SB: I'm slightly flattered. Is that quite arrogant? I use them in real life – I just pop out with random

catchphrases.

JK: Do you keep in touch with any of your fellow contestants?

SB No. I don't think they like me.

Lord Sugar called me up a while ago and called me a choice fourletter word beginning with a c and ending in a t.

JK: What do you think of the recent Stella English job scandal?

SB: TV shows attract all types of wannabes and people desperate for fame. She is just a genuine person who thought there was a

JK: What was your university experience like?

SB: It was s**t. Oh God. I went to Leeds Met. I did a degree in cyber crime and computer security.

JK: Is it true you're about to star in your own reality TV show?

SB: Lots of stuff has been filmed.

We shall see what becomes of it.

JK: Do you think Young Apprentice is a good idea?

SB: You'll have to take this with a pinch of salt because I'm a bit bitter, but I think it dilutes the format one step too far. Kids shouldn't be exposed to someone quite as k**bhead-ish as Sugar.

You shouldn't deliver crushing blows to children. I rarely use the word t**t, but he is a t**t. I could have dealt with it at that age. But you can still destroy the genes of a child. Not everyone's as tough as I was. But it nearly destroyed me – imagine what would it do to them!

JK: What do you do to unwind?

SB: Rock climbing, DJ-ing...the adrenaline has to be flowing!

JK: Can you tell us something the public may not know about you?

SB: I can play the drums – I used to be in a band. We got suspended from school for playing 'Gay Bar' but substituting some of the words for our headmaster's name.

JK: Thank you for talking to us.

SB: I love you very much. You specifically.

5 – Paul Torrisi (Series 1): Paul was an excitable little Italian with a big heart and an equally big attitude. For his infamous oral punch-ups with Saira Khan and incredible gift for the gab, Paul's an Apprentice legend.

4 – Simon Smith (Series 4):

Many won't remember this exmilitary man with a heart of gold.

But for his unbelievable work rate, his British Bulldog spirit and for being the nicest Apprentice candidate ever, Simon's got our vote.

3 – James McQuillan (Series 6): Labelled as the 'class clown', James wasn't taken seriously by his fellow contestants. Still, the joke's on them, as he made it to the semi-finals with his comedic spirit and original one-liners.

2 – Jim Eastwood (Series

7): Arguably the best negotiator ever to grace The Apprentice, the charming Irishman always delivered big performances.

Manipulating his way out of the boardroom, Jedi-Jim was a true master of mind control.

1 – Helen Milligan (Series 7): Helen may have come s e c o n d to inventor Tom, but regularly smashing Apprentice records arguably makes her the best candidate the world has ever seen!

EVER!

The Apprentice vs Young Apprentice – you decide Lucy Mulgrew says The Apprentice

The Apprentice is far superior to Young Apprentice, but with the return of the latter this week, many fans will surely be feeling a slight twinge of disappointment when we realise it's just no comparison to the original programme. Ever since its creation, audiences have been gripped by the excitement of the competition and secretly loving seeing these experienced professionals wither under the gaze of Lord Alan Sugar. There was never really any need for the junior version but to abate the waiting audience.

The main problem I have with the Young Apprentice contestants is their experience or lack thereof. Admittedly they've often made a lot of money in their school playgrounds or maybe even set up their own business es, but it's not really the same, is it? It's not working in a proper real-life office or an established highflying company.

These children just come across as know-it-alls who, when it comes to the crunch,

don't really know a whole lot. It's a simple fact that the real Apprentice, and yes, I believe it deserves that title, is just far more entertaining.

Without it we wouldn't have Stuart 'The Brand' Baggs, the immortal line 'Everything I touch turns to sold' and, of course, those excruciating and cringe-worthy final interviews. Most of all The Apprentice is a much longer,

more intense experience than that of its junior counterpart. We actually get to know the contestants as opposed to the fleeting appearance of a bratty teenager.

We get a chance to root for our favourite and decide who we hate the most. Lord Sugar doesn't pull his punches when it comes to the older contestants and, let's face it, the only reason we tune in every week is to see grown men and women squirm.

Oliver Owen

James Moore says Young Apprentice

It's reached that time of year again when Young Apprentice makes a welcome return back to our screens. And it'll be a nice change of pace to the once great Apprentice from which it came. Just like its contestants, the Young Apprentice seems to have far more vigour than its ailing parent show, which has dramatically failed to make the same impact as it did when it began many years ago.

After seven consecutive series, it seems like The Apprentice is finally running out of steam.

By now it takes only an episode or two to spot the same clichéd characters that make it into the competition each year. Who will be next year's office b***h or overconfident salesman? There are no surprises anymore, and the programme is getting tired.

It is for this reason that Young Apprentice appeals so greatly to fans; the contenders have not simply come from a mould but are each individuals in their own right.

And that is not to say that

they are at all more likeable than their adult counterparts; in some ways a 16 year old who thinks they know everything, though not uncommon, is just as infuriating – if not more so. And after all is the true enjoyment of The Apprentice in not seeing someone make mistake after mistake, convinced in their belief they are doing the right thing?

Some criticise the series for Lord Sugar's gentler approach to candidates but the show is not really about seeing an old man shout down a bunch of teenagers. In fact, despite the teenagers' own lack of experience, Young Apprentice is actually about offering an opportunity to people who can still learn and grow.

This is something you never truly get the feeling of with the adult Apprentice. In presenting a prize that encourages young people to really work hard, Young Apprentice exceeds its original version in its most basic aims and is far superior in entertainment value.

Redbrick

Charlie Sheen criticises Two and a Half Men: 'I'm disappointed how they're handling what I left behind.'

TV News

Television 17

28th October 2011 redbrickpaper.co.uk

Editors – Charlotte Lytton & James Moore

TOWIE star Sam Faiers has been badly beaten by a gang, the same night her sister was robbed by the same group of girls.

Simon Cowell has told X Factor fans that Louis Walsh's job is safe after rumours of him being fired circulated.

The future's bright – the future's American Eliott Rhodes Critic

Every few years there's a new wave of American comedies or dramas that take over our nation for more than half of each year. A 24 episode season runs over eight months and gives the viewer more time for emotional attachment to a show. Here are two shows that you'll definitely have heard of by this time next year: It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia (IASIP) is a twisted comedy starring Danny Devito, with talented young writers Rob McElhenney and Glenn Howerton.

Frank (Devito) is the millionaire father of Dee and Dennis. He's recently divorced and wants to live 'like a bum' again, so he stays with

Dennis and Dee's school friend Charlie (Day), who has his own glue-sniffing and cat-food eating problems. The gang runs a pub in south Philly, and each episode involves them coming up with a terrible scheme to either get rich quick or inflict as much pain on the other as possible. All of the characters are horrible, but you grow to love them all and stare in disbelief at the boundaries they are crossing. However, no matter how controversial the subject, they deal with it in a tediously politically correct manner.

Pretty Little Liars begins as college teens, Aria, Spencer, Hanna and Emily, all begin receiving mysterious texts from 'A' one year after their friend Alison goes missing. The anonymous

source begins sending them the secrets they thought only Alison knew. As they come back into each others' lives after a traumatic year apart believing Alison is still alive, her body is found, and there's no doubt that 'A' is not her. The battle between the girls and 'A' drives their friendship to new levels of horror and social intrusion.

Each of the girls have secrets they can't afford to let out, but this faceless deviant knows all and, as everyone hated Alison with a passion, it could be anybody. Characters die and relationships blossom and are pulled apart, all at the will of 'A'. It's still only one and a half seasons in, so there's always time to catch up with the enthralling mystery of these four surprisingly deceptive girls.

Reviews: Your guide to the week's shows

Young Apprentice

Derren Brown

Graham Norton Show

Pete Versus Life

Gossip Girl

Ellie Pitt

Eliott Rhodes

Russell Webb

Sarah Wheldon

Aisha Bushby

Critic

Critic

Critic

Critic

The new BBC king of chat is back for series 10 of his award winning show. Since the change from BBC2 to BBC1, the show has received a wider audience and opened up Norton's individual style of humour to more people. Last series he was given Jonathan Ross' Friday night slot, which seems to have been a recipe for success as the show continues to flourish.

The defining feature of Graham's chat show is that he has all of his guests on the sofa at the same time. Although this does mean that his guests can get unequal time to speak, every show is different and hilarious, with the celebrities chatting amongst themselves, removing the chance of the awkward silences that can occur in chat shows. The first episode has Kate Winslet and Jamie Bell (of the new Tintin movie) on the sofa plugging their new films.

The best part of the show though is the red chair. Graham invites members of the audience to sit in a red chair backstage and tell an interesting story. If he deems it boring he pulls a lever tipping the chair back and throwing them off. A hilarious end that is guaranteed to engage or shock his A-list guests and always has the audience in stitches.

Pete's awkwardness in this innovative sitcom is something we can all identify with. Unlike Pete, however, we don't all have two men watching everything we do and making comments on how ridiculous we look. Pete Versus Life's clever narrative – two sports commentators – gives an in-depth view of the characters rivalled only by Mark and Jeremy's inner thought monologues in Peep Show.

Typically British with its humour, the comedy's second series returns with just as many cringe worthy moments as the first. Failing sports journalist Pete's life has in no way improved: in this episode he accidentally kills a lovely old lady's dog because he forgets its name, pretends to be a heroin addict to seem cool and then makes a fool of himself in a fashion show.

In a similar fashion to Larry David in Curb Your Enthusiasm, Pete cannot avoid getting into humiliating situations due to his social immaturity. He is not the man we love to hate in the same way as Larry; he is well-meaning and loveable. As usual Rafe Spall gets his comic timing down to perfection, which is why for us Pete is the man of the match.

Critic

Lord Sugar is back with Karen, Nick and a brand new batch of 16 to 17 year-olds hoping to win the title of Young Apprentice and a prize worth £25,000. As with previous series, thousands applied, and a short-list of the UK's most self-centred, cocky, high-flyers have set forth on the toughest interview of their lives.

The first week's task was to create a range of frozen treats, paying close attention to those all important profit margins. It's amazing how similar the young candidates are to their adult counterparts in both their attitudes and their mistakes. Atomic, the boys' team, got off to a creative start with their pirate themed brand, while the girls showed off their appalling maths skills, which culminated in them having to tip away 30 litres of their ice cream stock. This kind of stupidity wouldn't be out of place on the adult version of the show and it's almost reassuring to see the same level of ineptitude.

But it was the boys' team's cheap prices and low sales that brought them back into the boardroom. After the usual arguments and back-stabbing, it was Mahamed who was shown the door. A slightly amusing but overall predictable start to the series.

Once again, Derren Brown pushes morality and ethics to another level in his new series as he selects a member of the public to unknowingly become an assassin.

All the participants are willing, but kept in the dark throughout the whole process. Sadly, the first portion of the programme is almost like a poorly constructed montage showing Derren getting people to forget their names, stick their hands together and sit down; all things we've seen before. He chooses the four people who are most susceptible as his assassins.

The horror really begins as Derren tests the candidates against each other by getting them to throw 'acid' at people. He then shows how hypnosis can subdue pain and mental recognition of surroundings, submerging the 'assassins' into ice water - to almost dangerous levels. The University of Birmingham's own Dr. Stuart Derbyshire explains how the TV studio will limit Derren's ability in the real world because it gives people extra confidence.

His chosen assassin, Chris, is then taken through the process of how to shoot guns and Derren's place words make him an expert marksmen. This surreal show is definitely one to watch.

As the fifth season of Gossip Girl begins we follow Serena's job in LA, where the socialite is having problems staying on top as her chances for success are being sabotaged. Nate and Chuck spend a summer filled with booze and women; and the former has a rendezvous with a beautiful stranger in the form of actress Elizabeth Hurley.

Chuck risks his life, attempting dangerous stunts, leaving us to question whether he really has moved on from Blair, while the royal couple face some issues as Blair meets her match in Louis' mother.

Meanwhile, Dan attempts to stop the publication of his book, which could cause more trouble for the two. A pregnancy scandal seems underway, as Dorota announces her second child and as the episode winds down, Serena bumps into Charlie in LA and the plot thickens.

The season starts with a bang; already leaving us hooked as our favourite (and not so favourite) characters seem to have gone their separate ways, but there is no doubt they will meet again in New York for another season full of society parties, secrets and scandals.

18 redbrickpaper.co.uk

28th October 2011

Technology

Redbrick

Find out Siri's answer to the meaning of life in the latest Technology podcast, at redbrickpaper.co.uk/travel

Selly Oak residents face internet speeds well below average Percentage of advertised speed users received by region

Tom Armstrong & Stuart Ritchie Reporters

Data from Net Index

Glasgow 66.62%

We asked 40 households to rate their internet speed out of 5

6.2

The internet is pretty much essential these days. For students especially it is vital in everything from social life to last minute Wikipedia revision frenzies. A good internet connection and descent speeds are important, but we're bombarded with so many seemingly attractive deals and impressive offers from numerous different companies when moving into a new house that it can be difficult to know which ones are actually worth the money. With that in mind, we asked a range of students around the University about their experiences with different companies in Selly Oak. The average UK broadband speed is quoted by Ofcom in March as 6.2Mb, less than half of the speeds which companies typically advertise.

These figures concern broadband services using standard copper telephone lines, such as those provided by 02, Sky and Virgin Media deals of 20Mb. It is these packages

Birmingham 77.19%

London 77.19%

Plymouth 78.33% (Sampled from a total of 40 households)

New Android shows no sign of melting Dan Lesser

Technical Director

Google has shown off the latest version of their Android operating system, Android 4.0. Nicknamed 'Ice Cream Sandwich', the new version offers a massive redesign of the user interface, while promising to combine the previously separate tablet and phone iterations into a cohesive whole. The update follows Google's

convention of naming their upgrades after desserts and follows weeks after their main competitor Apple released their iOS update.

The end result is attractive, to say the least. The refreshed UI clearly takes inspiration from Honeycomb, the tablet-only version of Android, and is full of holographic panes, neon blue colouring, and gestures galore. And we could harp on about the new design language, the new 'Roboto' font, and how clean and crisp the new UI is.

The first of these is 'Face Unlock'. Put simply, it utilises a phone's front facing camera to unlock the phone, by matching an image of your face to one it has stored in memory.

This feature has been on laptops for a while now, but this is the first transi-

tion to a phone. The second interesting feature is 'Android Beam', which lets you share things like web pages, apps, and videos between phones simply by touching phones together. However, it relies on your phone having an NFC chip, which the vast majority of phones do not.

Finally, wave goodbye to physical buttons. Ice Cream Sandwich instead gives you three on-screen buttons to use. One is a home key, one is a back key, and one activates the new task switcher. This allows for bigger, higher resolution screens. This new technology is shown off on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, also announced by Google.

It's the first smartphone ever to have a screen with proper HD resolution (1280 x 720), and without the need for buttons, that screen is a colossal 4.65".

It is down to individual carriers to make the update available.

that students in Selly Oak often choose. The same Ofcom report found that Virgin Media fibre optic services typically achieved over 90% of advertised speeds, with customers on the 50Mb deal achieving an average speed of 46Mb. The students we spoke to had a very different experience in Selly Oak. Those on Copper Line services were generally content whilst Virgin Media fibre optic broadband customers achieved nowhere near the speeds advertised.

Just over 80% of the students we spoke to are with Virgin Media, who offer a contract for 9 months as opposed to 12. This obviously fits nicely with the academic year, and many people we spoke to cited this as their reason for choosing Virgin. If you're just looking for internet (and not TV or phone) Virgin offer a 10Mb broadband at ÂŁ21 a month, or 30Mb broadband for ÂŁ28.50 a month. The 30Mb deal offers faster speeds at a lower price than most other providers, and was another reason that many people we asked had chosen Virgin.

While Virgin may seem like a good choice to begin with, it soon became clear that most of the students we spoke to were dissatisfied with the service and wouldn't recommend it to others. We asked everyone we interviewed to rate their service on a scale of one to five and Virgin scored an average of two.

Many people commented that initial set up took a long time to complete and on the whole the speed of internet was slow, especially in the evenings. Poor customer service was also a recurring issue. A lot of the students we spoke to had chosen the 30Mb service, though many stated that speeds above 10Mb were rare with one person claiming the average speed in their house was just 1Mb. Another student we spoke to was paying ÂŁ40 a month for the 100Mb deal, but had yet to get speeds of more than 6Mb. Many people couldn't even stream videos from YouTube, BBC iPlayer or 4oD, and some even had trouble just loading web pages.

One student we spoke to was particularly critical, after speaking to customer services a number of times they felt like they were being 'strung along'. The student said they had made a number of complaints and were given conflicting information each time. On one oc-

'We are implementing urgent interim upgrades' Virgin Media casion they said they even had to go to a friend's house in order to submit work on WebCT, the University of Birmingham's online study portal, because their own connection was so poor.

When we spoke to Virgin Media they told us that they had increased bandwith in the Selly Oak area due to an increased demand. They said that they are undertaking a nationwide upgrade of their upstream bandwidth for all customers. Until this happens students could con-

tinue to face problems.

We also spoke to two students who live outside of Selly Oak and use Virgin Media. One student in Harbourne stated that speeds are generally fine but service can be intermittent and she was once told that a street-wide breakdown would take three weeks to fix. Another student in Balsall Heath said that speeds were fine with few problems overall. The evidence suggests that Virgin Media's problems may be more or less confined to Selly Oak, and it seems that service improves further from University. Most people we spoke to are aware that Selly Oak is a high density area, with the fibre optic infrastructure (serving those with 30Mb deals or above) being relatively oversubscribed.

9% 11% Sky O2

80 % Virgin Percentage of students per ISP based on the 40 households Redbrick spoke to A Virgin Media spokesperson said: 'Following extensive upgrade work to our network in Birmingham during 2010 and 2011, we have become aware of an unusually rapid increase in demand for our services, particularly in the B29, Selly Oak area. Whilst the area has already been scheduled for upgrade in 2012, we are implementing some urgent interim upgrades to ensure that customers can get more out of their existing broadband services as soon as possible. The initial work in the B29 area is due for completion over the coming weeks and customers should see gradual improvements from later this month with the full network upgrade due to roll out in 2012.' They continued by apologising for inconveniences caused by the issues.

Not all students go with Virgin Media, with just under 10% of those we spoke to choosing 02, a similar number choosing Sky and a few choosing BT. These students were far more positive about their experiences, many having been with Virgin Media in previous years. O2 was highly praised and recommended by those who use it. One student gave the company a five, claiming they never had any issues with the service and the deals available were great. Customer service with all three companies seemed to be far better than Virgin as well. O2 in particular may be worth a mention, as they offer a rolling monthly contract and an even cheaper deal if 02 is your mobile network provider.

Whilst Virgin customers seem to be facing some ongoing problems, if the forthcoming upgrades go as planned customers in 2012 could begin to see speeds comparable to the rest of the country.

Technology 19

28th October 2011 redbrickpaper.co.uk

Redbrick

Editors – Joshua Lindsey & Ruth Bradley

Increasing risks as online drug sales reach new high

Ruth Bradley Technology Editor

The internet has made it easy to buy and sell anything online, including prescription, drugs and many businesses are taking advantage. In a few clicks you can buy prescription drugs claiming to cure anything from erectile dysfunction to depression to cancer.

Last month the Healthcare Products Regulation Agency seized over £100,000 worth of illegal drugs in a single raid. During a week-long crackdown, police in the Republic of Ireland seized more than €150,000 of illegal drugs, while drugs worth at least £150,000 were found in Northern Ireland.

Procrastination aid of the week: Uncyclopedia

With prescription drugs becoming increasingly available online many people are avoiding the doctor's surgery, choosing instead to self-prescribe at home. But while it is easy to go online and find these drugs, there is no guarantee that what you receive is the real deal.

Many companies take advantage of the Internet to sell drugs that are not legal in the UK. Kamagra, a version of Viagra that is popular in India but illegal in the UK, is available online. And because there is no need for a prescription, people are taking advantage and getting prescription medication for minor problems. Many students needing to stay up late have been found to be taking a form of narcolepsy medication to help them stay

awake.

But there is a reason why these drugs require a prescription from a doctor. They are dangerous and by not consulting a doctor first you could be putting yourself at risk. Underlying conditions can be missed and may cause people to react badly to certain drugs, again sometimes having life-threatening effects. Even without these underlying issues, if taken incorrectly, these drugs can cause serious health issues, some fatal.

There is also no guarantee that the drugs bought online are the real thing. Many are produced in facilities in China and areas of Asia by amateurs who are more interested in money than people's health.

These counterfeits can be very convincing, especially to the untrained eye, and some have in fact made it into pharmacies in the past.

But these counterfeit drugs often do not contain enough of the active chemicals, and so don't treat the illness effectively, or they contain too much and have damaging effects. Some fake drugs don't contain the right chemicals at all, but similar ones that can be even more dangerous. Most people would not be able to tell the difference between real and fake drugs and these businesses are taking full advantage of this fact to make money.

It is not only what is in these drugs that can be harmful, but also the conditions in which they are stored. Real prescription drugs are made in sterile conditions and stored in air tight containers but many of the fake drugs are made in make-shift facilities and stored in less-than-hygienic improvised storerooms, often people's houses or poorly maintained spaces

Reporter

If you have time to spare you will find Uncyclopedia at: www.uncyclopedia.wikia.com

To check if a pharmacy is registered with the GphC visit www.pharmacyregulation. org/registers/pharmacy.

University lacks student support on social media

Tom Armstrong

Advertising itself as 'the content free encyclopedia that anyone can edit', Uncyclopedia sits in its own special corner of internet absurdity. The website operates as a parody of Wikipedia and boasts over 30,000 articles, as well as a take on the In the news, On this day and Did you know? sections of Wikipedia's front page. As with any completely open content website, there's often a fair amount of rubbish to wade through before anything truly funny will surface, but if you're one of those people who can't help but follow endless strings of links then Uncyclopedia is sure to kill a large amount time that could be spent doing something important. The Calvinball page is a personal favourite, although any of the archived Featured articles provide a great place to start. Uncyclopedia also throws a rather self explanatory 'Vandalise Wikipedia Day' a few times a year for those who like to be proactively silly on the internet, and of course the whole site is free to edit so if you're feeling particularly comedic, why not waste some more valuable assignment time and write an article?

cheaply rented purely for storage.

Some have criticised the fact that people are able to self-diagnose online, through services like NHS Direct, for the increase of people self-prescribing and buying illegal drugs. However Anne Joshua, Associate Director of Pharmacy at NHS Direct said, 'NHS Direct's telephone advisers and online health and symptom checkers assess patients' symptoms and then advise them on the most appropriate course of action. They do not suggest a diagnosis, only a level of care for the symptoms described ...

NHS Directs' telephone advisers and online services do not direct patients to request specific prescription medicines from their GP or online prescription services.'

It seems that there are people willing to use the Internet to make money out of selling anything, regardless of the damage they could do or the lives they could put at risk. It is up to the consumers to boycott these sites and use approved means of diagnosis and medication. Anne Joshua added that, 'We would advise patients that it is good practice to check that the pharmacy they use is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GphC). The GPhC issues a specific registration logo for UK registered internet pharmacies.'

Remember, these people are just after your money and don't care about your health. If people stop using these sites and instead go to registered outlets, then hopefully they will go out of business in the near future.

Emma Doughty Reporter

This autumn, the University has put on a series of talks on Evolution as part of the Great Read at Birmingham (GRAB). This scheme is aimed to unify first year students across all disciplines in discussion of a new book each year. This year's book is The Rough Guide to Evolution by the University's own Professor Mark Pallen. Despite the scale of this project, advertising on campus has been minimal.

Instead, promotion for GRAB has been focussed online in the realms of Facebook and Twitter. There one will find a wealth of news, videos and other extras.

However, the @GreatReadatBham Twitter profile shows only 47 followers, and the Facebook page has a mere 14 likes. Out of more than 26,000 students at the University,

including 6,000 first year undergraduates at whom this is aimed, only a tiny proportion are connecting with the initiative online.

This dissapointing reaction has actually been advantageous for GRAB. As Prof. Pallen explained, there is no facility on campus for 600 students to congregate, let alone 6,000, so the smaller crowds have made the scheme managable.

Obviously, not everyone could attend, but the students who engaged with the emerging media were the ones who were rewarded.

Everyone else went on blissfully unaware and uninformed that they were missing out.

Poor following of smaller University based social media is not limited to GRAB. Careers advice applies to all of us, yet the highly informative @careersbham Twitter profile for the Careers and Employability Centre shows only

304 followers. The Facebook page is little more promising, with 318 likes, but one would imagine that in an increasingly competitive jobs market students would be clawing for information on how better to become employed. Online media offers a depth of opportunity that students must not ignore.

Students are engaging on some level. In a survey conducted in January of Russell Group Universities' Twitter usage, the @unibirmingham account fared very well against other institutions. Since then, the number of followers has more than doubled and Facebook also has a huge amount of people following the University.

This is promising, but realistically neither portal provides useful information for students. @unibirmingham is more a source of news and dry quips than personalised information, whilst the Facebook page is comparatively poorly updated. Individuals need to connect with specific groups to make the most of the University's online services.

So, it's time to become proactive and it is easy to tailor-make your own online experience. Look at who @unibirmingham is following on Twitter and you can pick out a whole list of worthwhile people and groups to receive updates from ,or just search for the services and departments you are interested in.

By using these tools students can unlock a wider education for themselves and encourage developments online or all of us.

Winter Warmers Redbrick's Tom Rich looks at the must-play indie games to wrap up with in the coming winter months.

Limbo

The premise of this side-scrolling puzzle game is simple: a young boy enters Limbo to save his sister. With the story kept simple, the game can afford to splash out on art and gameplay. The game's noire aesthetics and understated sound design never relent in the grimly beautiful picture they paint.

And nether do the puzzles, which can sometimes feel like purgatory: cruel but fair. The game does suffer from the endless controversy of being a flawed masterpiece, as the ending will surely have you questioning everything, but rarely do games hold your emotions captive with such effortless grace as this and that surely demands your attention.

Bastion

Bastion is a fast paced shootem'-up allowing for deeply customizable playstyles and the most novel implementation of difficulty scaling seen in recent times. However, the stand-out mechanic here is the dynamic narration. The world is a vivid handpainted fantasy/ Western where your every move is narrated

by Rucks, a man whose voice has enough soul to make grown men weep. The story he tells is personal and allegorical, and Bastion is a truly engrossing adventure in every sense of the word. It's the kind of journey you wish would never end – perfect then for vanquishing your winter woes.

World of Goo

A classic physics puzzler in which the player erects hilariously unsound towers and bridges out of semi-living goo balls in order to explore the world, uncover the existential mysteries of goo-kind and have a good laugh. Building out of goo requires you to be intuitive and constantly rewards creativity and experimentation.

With amazing variety, charming visuals and the reliably off-topic narration of The Sign Painter, you get escapism so pure that it's probably illegal in some countries.

20 redbrickpaper.co.uk

Life&Style

28th October 2011

Redbrick

Fierce & Finished

Winter Beauty Trends

Fierce Sarah Musgrove Editorial Assistant

Autumn: Perfectly acceptable excuse to be in your pyjamas by seven. No, I DON'T feel like going out tonight. Bring on the onesie.

Reading Week: Just as assessment stress hits us, we get a week off to 'plan essays', 'finish reading' and 'work on our dissertations'. Probably.

Dolce and Gabbana Amy Wakeham Writer

The days may be getting chillier, the evenings may be getting darker, your toes may be turning blue in those hastily chosen ballet pumps, but this is not the time to cave in to those hibernation longings. Instead, turn up the drama on winter days by experimenting with this season's key beauty trends.

1) Knife – edge cats' eyes.

A little bit futuristic. A little bit deadly. And a whole lot of sexy.

Dries Van Noten This look takes the standard liner flick and maximises it by a thousand. Take a well loaded liquid eyeliner brush and make sure the line is thick, strong and smooth… this is a look not interrupted by softening eye shadow or kohl.

2) The ponytail.

As seen at Proenza Schouler and Dries Van Noten, this is no ordinary gym ponytail. One of the key looks of the season, it should either be slicked back and held high on the top of the head, or coquettishly teased and back-brushed, sitting

Gianfranco Ferre on the back of the neck.

3) Scarlet lips.

Whilst being a timeless beauty essential, this season the perfect red pout must be revved up with a bright but slightly gothic shade of scarlet to lend nicely to the fetish trend - topped off with a slick of Lipcote to keep it perfect, of course.

I suggest 'Scream' by Rimmel.

4) 60s eyes.

Inspired, naturally, by the 60s trend that is everywhere this winter. Pair your teddy boy coat, patent brogues and mini-skirt with khol –

Not just a pretty face: clever celebs Vicki Haworth Writer

Scanning through the latest stories online, it wasn't surprising to see the young actress who's dominated our TV screens for the past ten years entering the gates of Oxford University. After all, after filming various scenes for the infamous Harry Potter movies on location at Oxford, Emma Watson looks rather at home in the castle-like, ancient school surroundings. But last week, the 21-year-old multimillionaire entered the university out of character, as an undergraduate student on an exchange programme from Brown University (Rhode Island, USA) where she has studied for 18 months.

Emma Watson has never hidden the importance of juggling both her education and her career, simultaneously working in acting and fashion. Although other commitments, particularly production and publicity for The Deathly Hallows, have sometimes taken priority over her higher education (Emma took a gap year before attending Brown and deferred her course for a semester last spring in aid of the advertising build up to Deathly Hallows Part 2), the actress has returned her attention to her studies for the next academic year, writing: 'You might not hear from me for a while because I will be really busy studying' to her fans via her official website.

So behind the glamorous premiers and stunning fashion shoots, certain celebrities do treasure their brain as much as their body.

It's easy to associate Emma with academia through her genius onscreen character, but what about

these other multi-tasking celebs?

Despite acting since she was 10 and starring in huge box office hits such as the Star Wars prequels and V for Vendetta, in 2003 Natalie Portman graduated from Harvard where she studied psychology. By this point, along with much acting experience, Portman had also studied four languages, been published in professional science journals twice and even lived in halls of residence. Portman reported she saw her education as more important than acting, and has since appeared as a guest lecturer at the University of Michigan.

These credentials are pretty hard to beat, but there are many other surprising contenders.

Despite being one of the most recognisable faces of the 80s, Brooke Shields modeled her way through a degree in French Literature at Princeton. The stunning Eva Longoria Parker has a degree in Kinesiology (the study of human movement), and Lucy Liu studied Chinese Language and Culture,

graduating from the University of Michigan. Despite our memory of Lisa Kudrow as the ditzy Phoebe Buffay, she also has a degree in biology and researched headaches for eight years whilst breaking into acting.

And what about a little closer to home? As well as writing award-winning short stories and poetry (achieving the national W.H. Smith Literary Award twice) Kate Beckinsdale went to Oxford to study French and Russian Literature, although she dropped out before her last year. Other Oxford alumni include Hugh Grant who graduated with 2:1 honours in English Literature and the face of Mr. Bean, Rowan Atkinson who has a degree in Electrical Engineering. Thandie Newton studied S o c i a l Anthropology at Cambridge and, just this summer, model and actress Lily Cole graduated with a double first in History of Art, again at Cambridge.

Burberry etched, smouldering eyes. The key to this trend is to define the crease of the eye socket with either khol, powder or liquid eyeliner, depending on how sharp you want the eye to look. You'll be looking like Jean Shrimpton in no time.

5) Jewel nails.

Another trend inspired by the catwalks, this involves nothing but a sweep of the deepest, richest, shiniest nail varnish you can find. By far the simplest beauty feature to master, I suggest 'Aruba Blue' and 'Scarlett O'Hara' by Essie for your jewel fix.

Campus Street Style Sadie Palmer and Esther Newman

Manrepeller.com: Fashion AND funny, Leandra Medine accepts a sartorial stance that doesn't exactly reel in the opposite sex…

Halloween: Let's dress up! Let's eat sweets! Let's forget about 'sexy' costumes and go all-out, hands-down, good old-fashioned scary.

Winter boots: Comfy, cosy, can be worn with chunky, chunky socks AND we can walk in them without crippling ourselves. Feet are breathing a collective sigh of relief everywhere.

Locking up: There have been far too many burglaries in Selly Oak recently for our liking. Shut the windows, or risk saying goodbye to your stuff.

Megan Fox in Armani Beauty Ads: The screen siren smoulders in the 1940s inspired Christmas

Finished

Writers

Jake, a languages student, makes his own unique style statement with clashes of prints and fabrics.

His checked shirt peeks from beneath his woollen 'grandad' jumper, with just enough showing for the mismatch to work. His worn leather satchel and desert boots put him right in line with the indie trends, with his large square glasses showing guys really can pull of 'geek chic'!

The dark browns, mossy greens and blacks Jake wears not only mean the outfit doesn't clash excessively, but they allow the pop of his purple watch to really stand out, and of course, no male stylish campus statement is made without a wrist full of festival bands!

Autumn: Perfectly acceptable excuse to moan, moan, moan about heating bills. Hands up who hates British weather?

Dressing up: On a related note, how do we walk to Fab in these conditions?! Taxi, please, before we turn blue.

TOWIE Sam's vicious ordeal: Love or loathe the show, we're all sorry to hear about such mindless violence.

Louis Walsh: Gary Barlow has silver fox appeal, Kelly is fierce and knows it, Tulisa is the clever one from N Dubz – what do you have, Louis?

Unexpected deadlines: Oh wait, we have HOW many things due in after Christmas? As eloquently as I can say it, it puts the 'ass' in assessment.

Final year: Yes, we know, every year is stressful. But just wait – it can get so much worse…

Peaches Geldof's shoplifting: Peaches was allegedly caught stealing £70 worth of make up from Boots this week, the most expensive item being a £13.29 foundation... really, Peaches?!

Gaddafi: Quite literally.

Robert Pattinson's beard: R-Patz is currently rocking the unkempt look and we are not fans.

University of Nosiness

newshubtoday.com April Shacklock Writer

How much do you pay for your house a week? What's your bra size? How many people have you slept with since you have been at uni? With programmes such as Embarrassing Bodies and Big Brother on TV, it is no wonder that we have become a culture obsessed with knowing everything about everyone.

The biggest supplier of nosiness is, without a doubt, Facebook.

They are constantly finding ways to make it easier to spy on one another: bigger pictures on the news feed and a running commentary of who says what to who are the new-

est nosy innovations.

Facebook is like a goldfish bowl and you can't deny that you have pressed your nose up against the glass many times to scrutinise your ex's new girlfriend/boyfriend, laugh at humiliating pictures of your drunk friends or use the guest list on the event page to go virtual sharking. It is like a personal insult when someone does not disclose every possible piece of information on their profile, and it only makes us find more tactical methods of investigation.

Even as we pursue a state of drunkenness, we use it as a chance to get to know more about our fellow pre-drinkers. Games such as 'Never have I ever…', which is so often centred around getting to

Have a pout to be proud of know who has done the most extreme sexual acts, are positively addictive. Although on sober reflection, we would rather not know much of what we learnt.

The game Paranoia is another way of quenching our nosiness. However, this one is even more dangerous than the others, as there is nothing we love more than to know what everyone else thinks about us.

Downing our glass of wine is no challenge when it adds another narcissistic piece of information to our encyclopaedia of useless knowledge.

As well as our social life, our entertainment is also saturated with nosiness. If measured on their sophistication of plotline or talent of actors, shows such as Made in Chelsea would fail miserably, however, our thirst to know intimate and personal details about any human being keeps them at the top of the highest rated programmes. We convince ourselves that the story is real, that every conversation is fact, because without those beliefs, our nosiness would dehydrate and Jeremy Kyle would be all we had left.

Whether it is incessantly blogging your opinion on anything and everything, or drinking and dishing in the game 'Never have I ever…', us students are obsessed with telling and knowing everything about one another.

Love or Hate? Versace for H&M: Editor's Picks 1.) Studded Leather Dress, £179.99 Although the priciest item in the collection, this perfectly on-trend for winter dress is the best item in terms of securing Versace luxury at a tenth of the Versace price.

It has the added benefit of being an LBD – translating as an item that can be worn over and over again and styled differently each time.

2.) Printed Mini Dress, £69.99 A great deal cheaper than the leather, this dress is a statement Versace piece. Add a touch of exoticism to Christmas parties this year by wearing it with black tights, heels and clutch bag.

3.) Black Silk Stud-Sequinned Skirt, £69.99 This Grecian-inspired skirt is a subtle way of incorporating Versace edginess and glamour to your wardrobe. Wear with a leather biker jacket to accentuate the gold embellishments or complete the outfit by buying the matching shift top and studded belt.

Life&Style 21

28th October 2011 redbrickpaper.co.uk

Redbrick

Editors – Sophie Cowling & Lara Edwards

4.) Design printed silk scarf, £24.99

Sophie Cowling Life&Style Editor

Versace: a foreign word in terms of language (it's Italian, FYI) and price range, it's set to make itself available to mere mortals also known as high street shoppers, in 300 stores worldwide from November 17.

Fashion lovers on a budget have literally been jumping up and down in their Manolo inspired Topshop heels for weeks and the preview is finally here.

As evident from Life&Style writer Hannah Bilverstone's opinion article, the collection has met with some criticism for not quite succeeding in getting the designer / high street balance just right.

In spite of this, Life&Style have taken the liberty of previewing this preview for you and have chosen our top five pieces...

The palm tree print was originally inspired by the chiffon dress J.LO wore to the Grammy Awards in 2000. If, for whatever reason, you don't fancy going all out by sporting the fabulous but terrifying palm tree print trousers, this scarf is an excellent alternative.

5. Ring, £19.99 The likelihood is this collection will sell fast and furiously.

In order to avoid awkward encounters with people wearing the same clothing items, opt instead for a statement accessory such as this red detailed ring. The red references one of the season's key colours and will add a pop of colour to your black leather, studded ensemble.

Donatella apparently 'can't wait to see how H&M's wide audience will make these pieces their own' and neither can we...

Esther Newman Writer

As we move deeper into autumn, with winter only a Louboutin's hop, skip and a jump away, ELLE sends out its A/W '11 fashion, health and beauty instructions thick and fast.

One command we should all take on board: the move from lip tints and glosses to good old fashioned lipstick. We can no longer rely on the flattering glow the summer sun gives us, and let's face it, anyone working a tan this time of year is almost certainly faking it. So let's glam up our make-up instead and what better way to start than with some juicy, statement lips.

an artistic eye makeup display.

Benefit. Their 'full-finish' lipstick in the rosy red shade 'flirt alert'. Not only is the name brilliant, but its one for both the library and FAB! With this lipstick the coverage can be as little or as much as you like, with the reddish pink shade able to give your lips just that little extra colour or a completely glammed up transformation. With the highest of all three prices, £14.00, it may be a little more of an investment but, with its daytime and evening possibilities, it's a must have for any pair of lips.

Kate Moss for Rimmel.

Oh Kate, you've done it again! The deep purple shade in this range has me smitten. Whilst it may be a little outlandish for a day in the library, paired with smoky eyes at FAB, it would be knock-out. Plus for us students, it's a reasonable £5.49.

MAC. A beacon of make-up genius and its shade 'tanarama' is proof. It's a pale shade of beige with golden shimmers, so for those not quite ready to embrace the deep purples or statement reds, this is for you. At £13.50, its shimmer will enhance skin tone and give natural 'dewy' lips that won't detract from

Rimmel – becomegorgeous.com

Versace for H&M: The Verdict Hannah Bilverstone Writer

Whenever I look through pictures of high fashion catwalk shows, I can't help but feel inadequate. Contrary to popular thought, this has nothing to do with being envious of the models' figures. No, the reason for my unhappiness is down to the clothes that they are parading.

For the majority of the population, wearing designer clothes like those is the stuff of dreams; in the real world, it just isn't going to happen. We have to settle for what the high street has to offer – clothes suitable for everyday life, realistic outfits at realistic prices. We would love the option to wear the things we see in Vogue, but even if money wasn't an issue, the likelihood is these clothes would be completely inappropriate for our student lifestyles.

However, the news that high street store H&M, renowned for its good value, is set to play host to a line created by Versace means this designer irrelevance is set to change. For me and many others who appreciate the significance of the name Versace, the idea of being able to wear something associated with such an iconic brand filled me with excitement. This excitement was short-lived however, when I set eyes on the previews of the line.

Clearly, such a high profile fashion house was never going to create a mundane collection, but I'd have thought they'd have done a little background into who shops at H&M, and more importantly, why they shop there.

My housemates' first reactions when I asked them to describe the H&M brand were, 'fashion on a budget', 'cheap style', and 'a universal look'. These responses are far from the typical associations

you would make with Versace, but it wouldn't be unreasonable to assume that they would attempt to make appropriate adjustments to cater for the target customers of the store. What they have in fact created is a selection of clothes that is completely disconnected from most people's reality, and bear no resemblance to anything you would look for on the high street.

The bulk of the collection consists of garishly patterned and brightly coloured dresses and trousers that seem more suited to a carnival in Rio than a British high street store. They are hardly in the H&M price range either, featuring a body-conscious studded leather dress for a whopping £179.99.

Now, I know spending a hundred and eighty pounds for a Versace dress seems like a steal, but for most people shopping on the high street, spending that much simply isn't an option, Versace or otherwise.

I want the opportunity to wear brands like this, but that's not going to happen if the lines created for high street stores don't match the lifestyles or the price ranges of the people who shop there. It completely defeats the purpose.

Real women can't relate to these creations, and even if they can find the odd occasion to wear them, the usual H&M customer is unlikely to be able to afford them.

As much as we'd all like to be decked out in the latest Versace, we can't be. So, if designers insist on attempting to cater for everyone, they should be prepared to tone down the designs and slash the prices further. If that's too much to ask then maybe their clothes should stay in the magazines, where we can look, dream, but definitely can't touch!

22

redbrickpaper.co.uk

Travel

Redbrick

28th October 2011

Check out the Travel section on www.redbrickpaper.co.uk/travel for health and safety tips from Know Before You Go

From Russia with love, on a shoe string Adam Watkin gives the traveller's perspective on eastern Europe's unlikely travel destination

An International View Isabella Fritz

Now, I'll get it over with. Apart from the Russian department and for those undertaking a TransSiberian odyssey, Russia is not the most likely destination for student travellers.

Tourist infrastructure is limited for foreigners and backpacker's hubs have not entered the Russian lexis. Poor diplomatic relations between the UK and Russia also mean Visas can be a fiddle to get hold of without the help of an agency. So why would I try and convince fellow students to head to Russia?

A conversation with a friend about the relative benefits of a trip to Russia over partying at Full Moon perhaps sums up my challenge – if there was no beach and it was minus 30 at midday. However, my two trips to Russia have been unforgettable, and I'm keen to share my limited wisdom in the hope of convincing others to get out there.

Russia's a big place and it can be daunting knowing where to go, especially if you're looking for value out of your trip. Most travellers will start out in Moscow where most trains from Europe reach, and flights to the UK are reasonably priced. Heading east you can soon discover how diverse Russia

is, demographically and geographically. Communist cities give way to miles of tundra and the clearest water I've seen at Lake Baikal; White Russians give way to Mongolians and Burityans; vodka gives way to vodka.

Heading further east also becomes cheaper for travellers.

Many will be quick to tell you that Moscow is the most expensive city in the world, populated by billionaire oligarchs. Fear not, Moscow is no Laos, yet it's no more expensive than a Western European city break.

Transport around the city is one of the best traveller bargains around – 50p for a journey anywhere is a steal, especially as it's also the most elaborately decorated metro; boasting fascinating Soviet mosaics and unbelievable chandeliers above the walkways.

Riding an impromptu Lada taxi however is also an education.

Red Square and the Kremlin are of course worth the visit, but make sure you take part in some of the local activities. An evening ice skating at Gorky Park was, forgive me for the romanticism, magical.

In the winter the theme park is flooded and frozen over, which makes for miles of ice skating

tracks. Muscovites have real talent but don't be intimidated, by the end of the night you'll be casually pulling in for vodka at the colourfully lit bars at the edge of the ice.

Limited accommodation can be one of the biggest challenges to a budget trip in Russia. Moscow and most major destinations on the Trans-Siberian will have hostels but head slightly off the beaten track and you can pay a lot for half decent accommodation. Hostels however are of a good standard with some of the most relaxed staff, 'hey it's ok you can pay tomorrow' and 'come drink with us' being common phrases.

My stay in Moscow included a few nights at the Home From Home hostel on the ancient Arbatskaya, which was a memorable experience meeting young Russians and sharing a room with some Kazakhs who were renovating the hostel at the time.

Couch surfing is also very active in Russia, and despite not having any personal experience, fellow Redbrick travel writer Tom Allen tells me he had no problems staying with Russian hosts.

Not that I need justification from the go to travel guides, but the Trans-Siberian railway makes

it into our Lonely Planet Essential Experiences book currently in our downstairs loo. This was the focus of my first Russian trip and I would urge any student Russia bound to include a section on an overnight train even if it's not the Trans-Siberian route.

Trains are the way to travel in Russia. Long distances pass by amidst the distractions of the howling winter outside, monosyllabic conversations, and a long Russian novel (War and Peace was completed on the 60 hour leg from Ulan Ude to Beijing!).

Trans-Siberian trains can be very affordable, travel by Plastakarny or Hard Class and it's possible to get a ticket from Moscow to Vladivostock on the Pacific for under £200. If you've got a bit extra to spend, travelling by Kupe class can be really worth it, with benefits on some trains including tea, coffee and meals served to your cabin.

I hope I've done her justice, but Russia is definitely worth your while. Whether it's culture and history in St. Petersburg (one day in the State Hermitage Museum isn't enough!), to dog sledding on Lake Baikal or partying in Moscow, Russia is an exciting place not to be missed.

A suitcase, a wave goodbye to friends and a lot of excitement.

That was me one month ago when I left my mountainous home country of Austria for my one year Masters programme at the University of Birmingham. Soon I realised that things are slightly different in England.

After my arrival, the Queen greeted me with a smile, when I withdrew money from the cash machine. Of course, I had to queue first. The 'wrong' way of driving caused me numerous shocking moments and, sometimes, it's bloody difficult to understand the local dialects.

Initially, I tried to avoid focusing on the stereotypes but Brits do tend to queue up for everything, they do talk a lot about the weather and there are countless jokes about the Irish. But what about the traditional English Tea Time? I was really looking forward to having English tea with delicious scones while sitting in a garden. When I suggested this kind of get-together to my English classmates, I was told that this is primarily for 85-year-old ladies sitting in their armchairs. They offered a trip to the pub instead, an alternative I can definitely live with.

Beside getting to know the English culture, for me as a Linguistics student, one great thing about UoB is its huge international community. I'm meeting people from all over the world while playing volleyball, going to English classes for non-native speakers or at other social events.

It's great to have so many different cultures and languages in the same spot. In a way it's like a trip around the world, and you don't even have to leave the campus.

Tricks and treats for this Halloween that will leave you spooked...

Will Spence, Chloe Osborne, Natasha Pitt and Charlotte Callaghan give us their top four frightful haunts in the UK this year

Worldwide Zombie walk Over the Halloween weekend, from the 29th to the 31st, a huge zombie walk will be taking place to scare the masses, crawling from The United States to Europe, raising fear in Kent, Brighton, London and Leicester to name a few.

Never has a zombie walk been organised on such a large scale, with almost 500 cities around the world taking part in what may be the most comic and fun zombie event to raise money for charity, ending with a mass bar crawl.

For more information see www.2011halloweenzombieevent. com; donate to the chosen charities and find the zombie crawl nearest to you. Just remember to bring out your paint for a dead fun day.

Whitby Goth Festival Fancy an alternative weekend break in keeping with the Halloween theme? The annual Whitby

Goth Weekend is taking place over the weekend of the 4th November, and it promises to be as fun, frivolous, and freaky as usual.

Every year, Goths, Punks, Bikers, Metallers and Emos from around the world congregate in Whitby, the backdrop of Bram Stoker's Dracula.

The music lineup is an array of alternative bands whose music styles vary from dark indie, Goth Rock, twisted Rock and Roll and post-punk, and this year includes Voltaire and The Death Notes. There are plenty of free Goth themed happenings around the town, everything from the 'Bizarre Bazaar' to Gothic dog walking, Gothic club nights, and Gothic Ghost walks around the town after dark, against the silhouette of Whitby Abbey.

Tickets for the weekend are £47 or just £25 for one of the days, and there are still tickets available online.

Return National Express tickets cost £24 at time of writing without a coach card, leaving Dig-

beth coach station and arriving in Whitby centre.

Birmingham Bus Ghost Tour Have you ever wondered what secrets lie behind Birmingham's past? Birmingham Tours is running a guided tour of the spooky sights on the Big Brum Bus Ghost Tour on October 30th. Be prepared for tales of murder, plague, execution and all things spinechilling as you are guided through the haunts of the city centre and the Jewellery Quarter.

Legends are rife in Birmingham's past, including the tale of Joseph Chamberlain haunting his old offices in Victoria Square.

The Jewellery Quarter is an infamous hotspot for supernatural on-goings and the International Convention Centre tells a tale of plague and dark deeds. There is even a prize for the best costume so don the fangs and fake blood!

Tickets are £10 and must be bought in advance online (www. birmingham-tours.co.uk) or by phone.

Edinburgh Ghost tours With its spooky castle and rich history, Edinburgh makes a killing each year with its Halloween festivities. The city can feed the appetite of all in search of a good spooking, from mild frights to haunting paranormal experiences.

The Real Mary King's Close are hosting tours down to one of the most haunted places in Scotland. These underground walkways are offering a gateway into

the past, between the 27th and 31st October, and you will be recounted with tales of the many who lived and died in this underground. £13.50 for students.

Gruesome crimes more your thing? Check out the Burke and Hare Murder Tour on the 30th and 31st , walking the bloodstained path of the two murderers and their 17 unlucky victims, fated to dissection by medical students.

If you'd rather just party then there's plenty on offer. For starters, The Zombie Walk 2011 is a fancy dress pub crawl, ending in one of the popular student haunts of Edinburgh, The Hive, at just £4 to take part. The Banshee Labyrinth, Scotland's 'most haunted pub', and located in the old infamous underground vaults, also has lots of terrifyingly good fun in store.

Need some haunted housing for the night? St. Christopher's in the city is well located, with prices from £11.00. With a private bar and free breakfast, it's the perfect hub for a spooky weekend.

Redbrick

Greece: Before and after the tragedy

Sian Stanfield investigates the effects of the recession on Greek economy and tourism

Sian Stanfield It is well known that Greece's economy has hit rock bottom financially, and with the recession still ongoing, their situation seems unlikely to stabilise any time soon. With a national debt of hundreds of billions of Euros and tax evasion occurring throughout the country, it is terrible to see the dramatic effect the recession has had on this country full of culture and history.

Having visited Greece in both September 2009 and April 2011, I observed the outcome of the recession first-hand, which had fluctuated over the year and a half between my visits.

The turnover in retail sales in Greece from February 2010 to February 2011 saw a decline of 9 per cent and unemployment was as high as 16.2 per cent in March.

The Peloponnesian city of Nafplio, where I stayed on both visits, reflected these statistics.

Some of the shops I had previously visited had closed by 2011, and the local supermarket's prices had risen by a considerable amount. Shops appeared under – staffed and struggling against the ever-increasing number of unemployed people, which is undoubtedly the case across the country.

Unemployment is irrefutably one of the biggest consequences of the debt crisis. There have been

cut backs of over 800,000 jobs between 2009 and 2011, impacting heavily on the tourist industry which is relied on by the economy and with the capital, Athens, appearing to suffer the most.

Museums are short-staffed, meaning opening hours are being reduced and rooms are closing.

Five rooms exhibiting Roman artefacts in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens were completely closed over the time I visited in 2011, resulting in visitors missing out on a whole section of Greek history. It was even stated in The Guardian that only eight out of the 64 exhibition rooms were open at the end of May, due to a lack of staff. Archaeological sites were

Reporter

Rome is undoubtedly one of the most splendid cities in Europe, but unfortunately, visiting this splendour comes at a cost. There are, however, ways around this. Saving a few bob here and there makes Rome mouth-wateringly affordable to students.

First and foremost, never ever step foot on public transport there, as it is a totally unnecessary expense. Indisputably, Rome is on the larger end of the scale of Italian cities but it is perfectly possible to get from A to B by foot. Not only is it possible, it is also a more attractive option as Rome boasts some of the world's greatest architecture and so much of it is missed when trapped in the gloomy tunnels of the metro.

Similarly, to soak up the essence of Rome, there is very little need to go to the overpriced tourist attractions, such as the 3D experience 'Rewind Rome' (I did make

also under-staffed and struggling with large numbers of tourists.

Many of the sites I visited would close in the early afternoon, even though the closing times stated 8pm. Many of the sites are being hit with unexpected closures and tourists are left not knowing why, as little information is being provided to both staff and visitors.

Some are even closed permanently as there is not enough staff to keep them open.

As the political centre for Greece, strikes and protests often take place in the capital.

With warnings of violence and aggressive protesting, the atmosphere in Greece seemed more dejected than in 2009. Rioting at night was not unusual. I observed this in Omonia square, resulting in the use of tear gas by the Greek police. Graffiti and banners covered multiple political buildings across Athens in both Greek and English, expressing their aversion towards the governmental cuts and tax increase.

Despite the economic problems Greece faces, it seems that the tourist industry has not suffered completely. With over 16 million tourists visiting Greece each year and one in five jobs being in the tourist industry, there can only be a benefit in making Greece your next holiday destination - even if you choose to relax on the tranquil islands over the bustling capital.

Sian Stanfield

When in Rome, scrimp and save

Emily Priestnall

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Editors – Louise Spratt & Emily Booth

this mistake, but please don't judge me).

It is much more worthwhile to spend time getting lost in the reality of the city, whether it is basking under the Italian sun in the tranquil Borghese Gardens, standing in awe in the Pantheon, or making a wish at the Trevi Fountain. This gem of a city can be truly amazing on any budget.

There are, however, a few sightseeing must-sees that are a little pricey and impossible to avoid, although they should be viewed as strikes off a lifetime's to do list. The Vatican City is one shining example.

Despite queuing for a couple of hours and being moved around in a remarkably similar fashion to that of cattle, the Vatican City is quite simply incredible. Beauty is epitomised and brandished across the face of European architecture with a smug sense of superiority only really comparable to very few other structural sensations.

Along with the Vatican, the Colosseum is also a must. So remove the 3D glasses and put on your sunnies, scrap thoughts of impossibility and hop on the cheapest flight to Rome that Ryanair can humanely offer you. You won't regret it.

The magic of Mongolia

Joe Hawksworth Tom Allen Reporter

There is a stark contrast between what you are first greeted with in Ulaan Bataar and what lies waiting for you just a few miles beyond its borders. It's difficult to tell whether a new block of flats is being put up or an old one is being torn down in the capital, as the country plays catch-up with its Russian and Chinese neighbours. But don't let this get to you; you don't go to Mongolia for a simple city break.

You should try and spend as much time as possible in the countryside. I recommend avoiding a tour run by a hostel or organisation, but if this can't be helped, you'll still have a great trip. Unfortunately, this means that you could well miss out on properly encountering the thing that makes Mongolia such an unforgettable trip: its people.

My advice would be to hop on a bus and see who you bump into, there will always be other travellers who you can join up with if things don't work out. Safe destinations for this would be Kharkhorin and Tsetserleg in central Mongolia, or Moron in the North.

When you reach your destination, probably after a grueling ride squashed in a van, a horse trek is a definite must. The quintessential Mongolian experience. These can

be arranged very easily in the towns on the tourist trail, but it may be more difficult elsewhere.

Basically all the guesthouses will know someone who can take you out on a trek, ranging along any timescale from one night to a month long epic, and if that person can't, they will probably know someone else who can.

You really shouldn't miss out on any opportunity to do a few days on horseback. The horse is central to Mongolian identity and a source of national pride. Sharing this with the locals is priceless. So set your tent up, light a roaring fire and watch the stars come out while drinking vodka with the locals. The memories that stay with you are the warmness of the people contrasted against the harsh rugged beauty of the land they inhabit. The culture there is completely unique. The clothes they wear have changed little since the days of Genghis Khan's empire.

The modern world is slowly spreading across the country but this isn't a bad thing, the roads, for example, are desperately needed.

Mongolia isn't an undiscovered gem, the tourist industry is the main source of income for many families, but there is something so different and intriguing about the culture, the people and the landscape that any trip there is sure to be magical.

Putting your National Trust in British days out

Emily Seymour offers a run-down of alternative weekend trips a little closer to home

For a student planning a weekend trip, a visit to a National Trust site probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind. Perhaps usually considered as the preserve of the retired, this heritage charity has more to offer than you might expect.

Aside from picturesque scenery, the National Trust offers cinema screenings, theatre performances and music concerts. Many sites available to visit have gained fame since their appearances in films such as Pride and Prejudice, The Young Victoria, and Harry Potter. The sites range from manors, to castles, estates, preserved beaches, forests and moorlands.

Here is a collection of Travel's top picks.

Stourhead, Wiltshire: Stourhead house is an 18th century Regency manor with landscaped gardens. The gardens contain ancient woods, temples grottos and rare exotic trees. Stourhead was featured in the 2005 production of Pride and Prejudice and you can visit the temple of Apollo, which was where Mr Darcy had his first proposal to Lizzy refused. Inside Stourhead house there is an exten-

sive artwork collection as well as fine Regency decor worth a viewing. Admission to house and garden: £12.10.

Emily Seymour Anglesea Abbey, Cambridge: Anglesea Abbey invites people into its elegant home with 114 hectares of land, its own watermill wildlife discovery area and animal sanctuary. The abbey offers you the fun experience to step back into the past transferring yourself into a country gentleman or lady with authentic costumes. Admission to house, garden and mill: £9.54.

Dyrham Park, Gloucestershire: Dyrham Park is a deer park and 17th century grand estate. Dryham

house has an exclusive and extensive fashion collection showing fashion changes throughout time.

The site also hosts an array of theatre productions throughout the summer evenings, when you can sit back and watch with a picnic and sample local wine and ale. Admission to house, park and garden: £11.55 With a student young person's membership costing £23.50 per year, with free entry and parking at 300 historic houses and gardens, this certainly won't dent the student loan. There are also lots of sites to visit within 30 minutes travel of Birmingham.

Emily Seymour For more information see www. nationaltrust.org.uk

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Sport

Rugby Union Find out how Birmingham men's firsts got on against Manchester, p26

Lions ticking before Xplosion Redbrick Sport writer Josh Hunt met up with Birmingham Lions head coach Wayne Hill and key player Greg Freeman to see how the team have been preparing ahead of Xplosion next week...

The Lions will be determined to put last season's BUCS final disappointment behind them and start with a victory in Xplosion ularly organise extra practice sessions on top of the already heavy workload. Of equal importance to the physical work are video sessions to study upcoming opponents' key men and possible schemes. A 14man coaching staff ensures that there is expertise in every aspect of the game, and Birmingham's commitment to bringing in graduate former players to the coaching staff helps to nurture the team spirit that has already brought the Lions so much success.

The intake of new players this year has been impressive, 'the best we've ever had', says Hill, and goes to show the growth of the sport in England. Most of the new players

The Week In Numbers

449 15

Mason Bennett of Derby County became the club's youngest ever player when he started against Middlesborough aged 15 years and 99 days.

723 13

Luke Donald, in a rich vein of form, incredibly went 449 holes without three-putting, which is testament to his sublime play on the greens.

The number of tackles France made in the Rugby World Cup. Their tackling certainly came to the fore in the knockout stages during an unprecedented run to the final.

Huddersfield striker Jordan Rhodes has scored 13 goals in his last five games, including back to back league hat-tricks for the Terriers.

194

England have wasted 194 deliveries (56.2 overs) against India in the ODI series.

can expect to start their time with the side working on special teams – the kicking and punting units – before hopefully making their breakthroughs into the starting line-up. The rookies will also get the chance to show off their skills in two friendly matches against Worcester and Kingston in the next couple of weeks. The new players will join a team already carrying over 40 players from last year's squad to ensure competition for every position, increasing existing players' focus to up their game week after week to maintain their starting roles.

The season kicks off Saturday 5th November with the an-

nual Xplosion event against a very competitive Nottingham Trent Renegades outfit. This promises to be bigger than ever thanks to the new five-figure sponsorship deals Freeman and others were able to attract from main sponsors KPMG and Walkabout among others. This has made the American Football side more heavily backed by outside companies than any other Birmingham sports team. The game will once again be attended by a Sky Sports team including analyst Neil Reynolds and former NFL Pro Cecil Martin, and will attract hundreds of spectators, all of whom are encouraged to wear the royal blue colours of the Lions. With a strong

The Week In Quotes 'Marvellous. The people have been outstanding in support of the team and the Rugby World Cup. I'm so proud to be a New Zealander standing here. This is something we've dreamed of for a while, we can rest in peace.'

Departing New Zealand coach Graham Henry signed off in the best way, fulfilling the hopes of a nation with an 8-7 victory in the Rugby World Cup Final against France.

UB Sport

setup, history of success and a revitalised attitude the Birmingham Lions are set for their most Xplosive season yet.

Xplosion kicks off at 5pm on Saturday 5th November on the Bournbrook pitch.

There will be a half time firework display and performance from the Pussycats , while food and drink will be available throughout the event.

The Redbrick Sport Quiz 1) Who is the top ranked American golfer at the moment?

2) Before Sunday, who were the last team to score six goals in a match against Manchester United?

'It's a perfect result for us to react to because there is a lot of embarrassment in the dressing room and that will make an impact. I can't believe the scoreline. Even as a player I don't think I ever lost 6-1.'

3) Which Olympic event will Weymouth and Portland play host to in London 2012?

Sir Alex Ferguson was in shock after his decorated Manchester United team were annihilated 6-1 on their own patch by local rivals City.

4) Which prolific runscorer is the current captain of the England women's cricket team?

'RIP Marco … Such an exciting talent lost. My thoughts are with his family, friends and everyone involved in MotoGP. Motorsport can be so cruel...'

5) Who were the only two teams to score no group points in the pool stage of the Rugby World Cup?

Jenson Button pays his condolensces via Twitter to Marco Simoncelli, the Moto GP rider who tragically died after crashing out at the Malaysian Grand Prix.

1, Steve Stricker (ranked 4 in the world) 2, Southampton (in 1996) 3, Sailing 4, Charlotte Edwards 5, Romania and Namibia

'We don't plan for that to happen again'. So says third year Greg Freeman, free safety with the Birmingham Lions American Football team on coming just half a yard short of victory against Portsmouth in last year's BUCS final. Having met both Freeman and head coach Wayne Hill it is clear that this is no mere bluster; this is a side determined to put that disappointment behind them and regain their title as Britain's best university side.

Just 14 years ago the Lions were a side who had never been to the play-offs. That was before Hill joined the setup. Since then the Lions have been a major part of Birmingham's sporting success, reaching the playoffs every single year and winning three national championships. Hill left the side four years ago to get married, but returned a year later to work with the defence and, midway through last year, regained the head coaching position on an interim basis, subsequently getting the job full time. Alongside Hill's return have been a number of other changes to the coaching staff over the last two seasons, all of which are helping to rebuild the mentality of the squad.

Freeman explains the team has changed from 'a team who thought we would win by rights to a team who believes we'll win now because we're working harder.'

Hard work is a key element of how the Lions intend to make this season one of their best yet. 'Training for this season started the day after the bowl loss', Hill tells me.

Although they will only play eight matches before the playoffs, American football is one of the most physical sports there is and intense physical training is vital for any team wanting to compete at this level. The team trains, either physically or tactically, four times a week and mixes track work with gym sessions and regular practices to ensure that each player is on top of their game. Veteran players reg-

Redbrick

Sport Thoughts Redbrick Sport writer James Campbell discusses the debacle of England's Rugby World Cup campaign, and why it is the responsibility of the players to ensure they conduct themselves sensibly during major tournaments..

Debutants impress in strong showing Women's Badminton

Birmingham 1sts

8

Manchester 1sts

0

James Robinson Sport Reporter

While the weekend saw New Zealand fulfil the hopes of an expectant nation to lift the Rugby World Cup, England's campaign ended two weeks earlier and will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. On more than one occasion, senior players in the squad were involved in high profile controversial incidents. This has called into question how much freedom sportspeople should be given when away on international duty.

Mike Tindall, Chris Ashton and Manu Tualangi are just a few of the players that attracted a host of media attention on separate occasions during the tournament. On a night out in Queenstown, Tindall and a number of his England colleges were caught on CCTV in a bar, punch drunk and throwing dwarfs. On a separate occasion three members of the team were guilty of insulting a female member of staff at a hotel after a night out. Despite public apologies, is there any way you can defend the actions of the guilty players?

England manager Martin Johnson made it very clear that the rules on what the players could do in their free time were very relaxed. Personally I agree with Johnson's standpoint, however from what went on in New Zealand Johnson may regret the faith he put in his players. The incident was made worse by the fact that England, in general, put in a very poor showing in the tournament.

Sport 25

28th October 2011 redbrickpaper.co.uk

Editors – Sam Price & Joseph Audley

Birmingham women's badminton team began the season in style with an emphatic 8-0 victory over their newly promoted Manchester opponents at the Munrow Sports Hall on Wednesday afternoon. The result places Birmingham top of the Premier North division, a position they will strive to consolidate for the remainder of the season.

Birmingham's team captain, Lucy Hunter, was full of confidence before the match. 'We're feeling good and the team is very solid at the moment. Manchester are new to this division and it will be interesting to see who they field.' The hosts gave debuts to Lauren Bromley and Anna Showman in what

turned out to be comfortable circumstances.

Despite an unexpected delay to the match Showman produced a boisterous performance on her singles debut against P. Adams, comprehensively winning the first game 21-6 and the second 21-4.

The debutant dictated from start to finish, working her opponent around the court and making use of a wide range of shots, to which there was no response.

Claire Mort was the next Birmingham competitor to play in the singles, facing T. Sarvanandan.

The opening game saw some good rallies but in the end Mort was too strong, beating her opponent comfortably over two games. Mort's second match should be a reminder to all of the benefits of training hard: consistent execution of lethal drop shots quickly finished Adams. Meanwhile, Showman once again proved what an asset she is, comfortably winning her second match.

The first doubles match saw Bromley and Alyssa Lim face Bea Ho and Wai-man Chan. Lim and Bromley produced an array of technically superb shots in what was a very professional performance.

Lim in particular showed brilliance Total Points Scored

Birmingham

336

Manchester

120

in every aspect of her play, intimidating her opponents who made an unacceptable number of unforced errors. The home team pair won both of their matches, conceding less than seven points per game on average in a dominant display.

Next up was Hannah Killick and team captain Hunter against E. Miller and F. Webb. Whilst Miller was arguably Manchester's star player, she could do nothing

Birmingham triumphed in singles and doubles matches, dispatching their Manchester opposition

Birmingham men's badminton firsts put in a similarly dominant display at the Munrow to secure a 7-1 victory against Nottingham firsts

Mathis Baumert

Fencers show metal to secure tight win

Women's Fencing

Birmingham 1sts York 1sts

127

118

Joshua Reynolds Sport Reporter

It must be tough for professional athletes being away from their home and families and with so much free time between matches boredom may kick in. Nevertheless, when you are playing in the biggest tournament in your sport that may only come around once or twice in your career, surely the way you behave is inherently obvious?

Unlike the rugby team, the England football team were under strict rules during their World Cup in South Africa last year. Neither team achieved success in their respective tournaments; however, both Fabio Capello and Martin Johnson came under criticism for the way they handled their players.

Telling players how to behave will always be a dilemma for managers in major sporting tournaments.

But at the end of the day, the onus will always be with the players on how they conduct themselves.

to stop the power of Hunter and the precision of Killick. A combination of Hunter's offensive baseline play and Killick's neat short game makes this a tough team to beat, as the results prove: 21-10, 21-9, 2110, 21-7.

Captain Hunter commented 'It was a great team performance all round. In the doubles we have great team cohesion and this will only get better.' Hunter also singled out debutants Bromley and Showman for their impressive performances. Birmingham's women will now be focused on Durham, who they play in two weeks time.

In what was at times a nail-biting encounter between the University of Birmingham Women's Fencing team and their adversaries from the University of York, the hosts battled hard for a well-earned victory in their first game of the season.

After finishing last year's campaign in a satisfactory mid-table position in the BUCS Northern Premier League, the Birmingham girls were eager to get off to the perfect start against their match day opposition. However, the girls knew they would be hard pressed to do so given that the visitors boasted two fencers that have competed at an international level for the Great Britain team in Sophie Mason and Louise Highton.

Indeed it was Highton and Brum's top performer of the afternoon, Rosie Davies, who got proceedings underway in the foil round. The quality of both competitors was plain for all to see as they matched each other blow for blow in their bout, with Davies edging the opener to give the home team

In a close encounter, Birmingham just prevailed a slender 5-4 lead.

Mason then delivered an energetic performance against fellow Great Britain representative Gaby Kettle to steer York into a 10-6 advantage, before Kate Cholerton's equally intense offensive efforts in her bout with Kate Horner saw the tide shift in favour of Birmingham once more.

Kettle contested two further close bouts against Cholerton and Highton, whilst Davies and Mason both consistently exuded class throughout the foil. The final bout of the round saw an adrenalinefuelled clash between the two; however despite Davies' narrow triumph in the bout itself, it was not enough to stop York taking the

Michael Drury

foil round by 45 points to the hosts' 40.

Davies, who herself has represented England in the sport, did not have to wait long to meet Mason again as they opened the sabre round, with Davies repeating her earlier feat – shading the bout by five points to four.

The introduction of Becky Mason proved to be the decisive factor that enabled the Birmingham contingent to secure a win in the sabre round, with the Brum team captain winning an astounding 10 points in quick succession to see off the challenge from Highton, before later humbling her namesake Sophie Mason 9-5 to take the home side to within three points of

the visitors.

Yet another almost faultless display from Davies against Lizzie Smith helped Birmingham clinch the sabre 45-41, which meant that going into the final round of the afternoon, there was just one point separating the two teams.

York carved out an early 10-3 lead in the épée, and it looked as if they might have been beginning to pull clear. But any wavering hopes on the home bench were revived when Davies once again delivered the goods, trouncing Kate Horner 12-2, with some points resembling scenes from Pirates of the Caribbean.

Davies capped off her afternoon by comfortably beating both Highton and Smith, which, along with two composed and professional displays on the part of Kettle, was enough to see Birmingham over the line; the hosts deservedly taking the spoils after vanquishing a strong York outfit 127-118.

After the match, Becky Mason reflected on how this was 'always going to be close,' – and so it proved to be. Other tough contests certainly await Birmingham's female fencers this season, however if they continue to put in similar performances of the standard that was witnessed in this fixture, they will undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with.

26 Sport

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28th October 2011 redbrickpaper.co.uk

Editors – Sam Price & Joseph Audley

Rugby men dig deep to edge win Men's Rugby Union

Birmingham 1sts

19

Manchester 1sts

11

Sport Reporter

Indoor Cricket

University of Birmingham fresher Harriet Leach has just returned from South Africa, where she captained the England U19 women's team in the indoor cricket World Cup. The team were the first from England ever to reach a World Cup final, where they were beaten by an immensely strong Australia team. However, Leach was named 'Player of the Tournament,' a fantastic achievement on the world stage.

Other Results and Next Week's Fixtures This week's results:

Men's Football 2nds won 1-0 vs Wolverhampton 1sts Women's Hockey 2nds won 6-0 vs Warwick 1sts Women's Football 1sts won 1-0 vs Nottingham Trent 1sts Women's Lacrosse won 13-5 vs Manchester 1sts Women's Tennis lost 8-4 vs Warwick 1sts The rugby players threw themselves into the tackle well placed kicks over the defence.

This tactic proved fruitful just prior to half time, after a beautifully weighted kick succeeded in winning the away side a penalty, which was converted.

The second half took on a similar pattern to the first, with the home side the first to open the scoring. After a wonderful piece of disguise, Gulliford jinked inside the defence rather than releasing the ball and won his side a penalty, which the reliable Wood converted. Manchester were not lying

down though, and after breaching the Birmingham defence for one of the few times in the game, were able to force a try of their own after a maul on the left hand side.

At 11-all, the game was on a knife edge. The gathering crowd were starting to make their voices heard on the side lines, and this extra five per cent appeared to galvanise the Birmingham team. Another penalty was won and converted

by Wood. With the last action of the game, Birmingham were able to use their line-out advantage to

Meurig Gallagher

force home a late try courtesy of Henry Cheetham and round off a hard earned victory.

After the game, Umaga, the former Samoan international, was noticeably delighted with his side’s work ethic, saying, ‘our intensity level for the full 80 minutes was great. Our defence was the key to the win. We defended solidly all game.’ After last week’s reverse, Birmingham are back on the winning road and will take immense heart from this fighting performance .

Squash team back among the elite James Campbell Sport Reporter

In an exciting evening for University sport, world number one ranked male squash player Nick Matthew led an all-star team called BenzBavarian Duffield against a strong Birmingham University side.

The opposition from Derbyshire swept aside the University team, winning all five matches.

Their victory was made even more impressive by the fact they did not drop a game in any of the matches.

The Birmingham side was

Rowing Success Birmingham's rowers gained respectable finishes in the first BUCS races of the year, in Boston. Andrea Ferazzo achieved sixth place among a very competitive field in the Lightweight men's Single Sculls. Meanwhile, Alex Meigh and James Manfield finished fifth in the men's Championship Pairs, earning the first BUCS points for the club this season. The rowers' next race is the fours head on the River Thames taking place on 5th November.

Frankie Conway

In a fiercely contested tie, Birmingham men's rugby first tean were stretched to full capacity by an obdurate Manchester side before running out 19-11 winners.

Coming off the back of a hammering at Nottingham last week, first team coach Mike Umaga was keen for a vastly improved performance from his men this time out. Indeed, last week’s loss represented a sharp comedown from the opening day success at home to Worcester and an instant response was required. But Umaga was aware of the test that would be posed by newly promoted Manchester, who arrived in Birmingham full of confidence having brushed aside the Loughborough seconds last Wednesday.

The first half was a tight affair, with neither side asserting sustained levels of dominance. The home side started the stronger of the two teams and got due rewards for their early pressure when awarded a penalty after emerging strongly from a scrum inside the Manchester half.

With five minutes on the clock, Wood converted the set-piece expertly, firing his kick straight and true through the middle of the posts. Unperturbed by this early setback, Manchester soon levelled things up. A brace of errors from the home side, first from a line out, then from the subsequent scrum, allowed the visitors to seize possession. Passing with speed and accuracy, the away side switched the ball from the left flank to the centre of the pitch, before the number 15 converted a drop goal with consummate composure.

The game was now starting to open up. This time the hosts stole the initiative on the quarter hour mark, as scrum-half Gulliford orchestrated a fine passing move from a Birmingham scrum.

Switching quickly to Robinson, the number 13 was able to find winger Robert Montgomery charging forward down the right flank. Montgomery claimed the ball before bursting through two Manchester defenders to score the first try of the game. Once again it was left to Manchester to muster a quick response. That they did. Throughout the game, they caused the Birmingham defence problems with

Sport Shorts

made up of former students and other internationally renowned players such as world number 38 Chris Ryder. In the grand finale of the evening, Ryder came up against Sheffield born Matthew who beat his opponent quite comfortably in three games.

The matches were played on the show courts in the Munrow, in front of a 250-strong crowd made up of students and members of the public. The atmosphere in the sold out event was very relaxed as the crowd marveled of the excellent quality of squash.

In the first match of the evening, Birmingham’s 36-year-old

Steve Siveter took on Duffield's Chris Fuller. The youngster, ranked number 135 in the world, had to dig deep to secure victory against veteran Siveter.

Fuller’s victory was the first of five wins for the Duffield side whose players had too much quality for Birmingham. That’s not to say it was a completely one-sided affair. Most of the points were very competitive and a feature of most matches was long rallies.

On Twitter today, Matthew summed up the event quite nicely ‘Unbelievable crowd & atmosphere at University of Birmingham. Had to turn people away as sold out

twice over.’ Despite the score, the night was a great spectacle for the University and stands it in good stead for the arrival of the Jamaican Olympic sprinting team next summer.

Correction

In the issue of Redbrick published on 21/10/2011 a photograph appeared alongside the women's hockey that was mistakenly credited to David Greenwood. The photograph was actually taken by Tom Flathers.

Next week's first team fixtures on campus: Game of the week: Women's Lacrosse vs Loughborough 1sts Munrow Track 5.30pm Women's Hockey vs Leeds Met 1sts Bournbrook 2.15pm Men's Football vs Manchester 1sts Munrow Track Pitch 2.30pm Women's Football vs Northumbria 1sts Metchley 2pm Men's Volleyball vs Cambridge 1sts Munrow New Gym 7.30pm Netball vs Loughborough 3rds Munrow Sports Hall 4.30pm Women's Rugby vs Edinburgh 1sts Bournbrook 2.30pm Rugby League vs Exeter 1sts Metchley 2pm

Redbrick

This week in...

1999 Fifa inspect English facilities to decide whether 'the home of football' would host the 2006 World Cup. After having already spent £10 million on the bid, England deployed the government, monarchy and celebrities in a futile attempt to impress the Fifa delegates.

2010

A day before the England cricket team left for the Ashes series in Australia, Graeme Swann gave cricket fans a scare when he claimed on Twitter that he had lost his passport.

Couldn't make it up Mario Balotelli was in the headlines again last week after a firework was let off in his bathroom, causing a blaze that firefighters had to put out. Incredibly, the Italian is now the face of a firework safety campaign in Manchester.

AC Milan found themselves 3-0 down at half time against Lecce in Serie A last week but somehow went on to win 4-3. Former Portsmouth midfielder KevinPrince Boateng came on in the second half and bagged a 14minute hat-trick to inspire Milan to a superb comeback.

Football League

The new EPPP ruling in the Premier League means that youth development in the smallest clubs will be damaged. Ross Highfield argues that the benefits of this new ruling are unclear and there will be far more players swept up by big clubs and hardly played.

Where are they now?

Kumbeshwar Saturday 3.00 Ascot Alan King's hurdler was the model of consistency last season, and with some of the form working out well, represents great each-way value at 9-1 with some bookies.

The former Leicester City and England goalkeeper Ian Walker is well-known for his exploits on the pitch, but he caused a stir in 2006 when he met dancer Samantha Thurman in Las Vegas and left his wife Suzi to move in with her.

Currently he is manager of Blue Square South side Bishop's Stortford, who are 19th in the table.

Contact: pool@guild.bham.ac.uk

The Redbrick Crossword

Mordo Nahum Puzzles Editor

This week's prize is a £5 Waterstones Gift Voucher Completed crosswords to be submitted to the Redbrick office by 31/10/11.

(Redbrick Office located in the basement of the Guild)

Email Address:

Phone Number:

Classic Goal...

Weekend Wager

With the opportunity to participate in tournaments throughout the year, the Snooker & Pool club allows people to play in a relaxed environment with the chance to meet lots of new people. The 8 ball pool team reached the last 16 of a tournament in Great Yarmouth and the Snooker team reached the shield semi-final in Leeds. The club trains on Tuesdays at Riley's on Inge Street, from 7pm until late.

Year:

England Cricket

The whitewash in the ODI series against India has led to calls for wholesale changes to the team.

Sam Barnett considers the players whose places in the side are under question and where the one-day team goes next in terms of improvement.

Club in Focus... Snooker & Pool club

Course:

Mario Balotelli

Raphael Sheridan and Sam Price discuss whether the newlyimplemented whipping rules are a good thing or a bad thing for horseracing. You can also have your say - vote online now after reading each argument and deciding which one you agree with.

The Malaysian MotoGP in Sepang was to be Marco Simoncelli's last race, as the Italian tragically died of his injuries after his helmet was knocked off when he lost control on the second lap. The race was understandably cancelled. Simoncelli collided with two other riders and had his life cut short at the young age of 24.

Name:

Heroes...

This week on the Redbrick website...

Whip Debate

A Hero Remembered

Please complete this form before you hand in your completed crossword into the Redbrick office.

Sport 27

28th October 2011 redbrickpaper.co.uk

Editors – Sam Price & Joseph Audley

Across

1. The ____ Shop, cosmetics retailer (4) 3. Capital of the United Arab Emirates (3, 5) 9. Surname shared by director Guillermo and actor Benicio (3, 4) 10. Caper (anag.) (5) 11. Fortress which was the site of a famous battle in the Texas Revolution (5) 12. Sainsbury's reward card; substance made by flowers (6) 14. Punctuation used around quotations (8, 5) 17. Al ______ dining, eating outdoors (6) 19. Surname shared by director George and comedian Matt (5) 22. Sweet food made from 12 Across (5) 23. More agile (7)

24. As heroes (anag.) (8) 25. Bloody ____, cocktail made with vodka and tomato juice (4)

Down

1. Vice (3, 5) 2. Greek letter; river mouth (5) 4. Reward for good deeds (given to girl guides?) (8, 5) 5. Paul _____, British physicist and Nobel laureate of 1933 (5) 6. Praise (7) 7. Children's game, often played in the car (1, 3) 8. Accolade (6) 13. British sitcom set during World War II (4, 4) 15. Porch (7) 16. Newspaper article; pillar (6) 18. Permission (3-2) 20. Mea _____, Latin phrase meaning 'my fault' (5) 21. Therefore (4)

The crazy Italian netted twice during Man City's emphatic 6-1 victory over their closest rivals at the weekend, silencing his critics with an impressive display. The 21-year-old revealed a T-shirt reading 'Why Always Me?' after a precise finish to give City the lead.

Richie McCaw

McCaw lifted the Webb Ellis trophy on home turf after what was a very hard-fought 8-7 win against France in the Rugby World Cup Final. The 30year-old was titanic in the tackle, and lead the line inspirationally to help the All Blacks hold their lead in the face of a late French onslaught.

Luke Donald Youtube search: Archie Gemmill vs Holland 1978 Easily skipping past three heavy challenges from huge Dutch defenders, Gemmill lightly lifted the ball over the keeper to take Scotland 3-1 up in the World Cup group stages to give his country hope of qualifying for the next round. The goal became so well-known that it even got a mention in the film Trainspotting.

Six birdies on the back nine was enough for Donald to secure the PGA Tour money list title with an audacious victory in Florida, winning the Disney Classic.

and Villains...

Chelsea

Chelsea's discipline went out of the window on Sunday in their 1-0 defeat against QPR. Jose Bosingwa and Didier Drogba were sent off before half time, while seven other outfield players were booked by referee Chris Foy. Chelsea have been charged with failing to control their players, while John Terry is also under investigation over claims of a racist slur towards QPR defender Anton Ferdinand.

Jonny Evans

Evans saw red as Manchester United suffered their biggest home defeat since 1955 in the worst way imaginable, losing 1-6 to local rivals Manchester City. The Northern Irish defender was given a straight red for denying a goal-scoring opportunity.

1_2_=34_5_6_7 _=_=8=_=_=_=_ 9______=0____ _=_=_=_=_=_=_ a____=b_____= _===_=_===_=c d_e_____f____ _=_===_=_===_ =g__h__=i_j__ k=_=_=_=_=_=_ l____=m______ _=_=_=_=_=_=_ n_______=o___

28 Sport

Sport

28th October 2011 redbrickpaper.co.uk

Redbrick

Editors – Sam Price & Joseph Audley

Xplosion Preview Turn to p24 to see how the Birmingham Lions are preparing for their season's opener against the Nottingham Trent Renegades

Trent snatch draw in fiesty encounter Men's Hockey

Birmingham 1sts

2

Nottingham Trent 1sts

2

James Newbon Sport Reporter

A fiercely contested match saw Birmingham firsts draw 2-2 with Nottingham Trent. Goals from Nick Bandarak and Tim Merchant had given Brum a 2-0 lead at half time, but Johnny Hickman and John Ames hit back to take a share of the spoils back to the Trent.

Prior to the match coach Steve Floyd had insisted his side were expecting a ‘good competitive game’ and that the opposition’s loss last week made no difference as ‘a team can be different from one week to the next.’

It was Birmingham who started the strongest with Will Byas shooting wide on four minutes. A minute later Byas turned provider as Nick Bandarak, a new addition to the side, put the hosts into the lead with a shot from just inside the D. Birmingham’s lead was put to the test twice in the next five minutes from two penalty corners. But Trent captain Johnny Hickman failed to convert either, putting his first wide and seeing his second saved by Paddy Smith.

Nottingham were made to pay for this on 17 minutes, as Tim Mer-

chant popped up at the right hand post to turn the ball home following some intricate Birmingham passing in a congested Trent D. The 2-0 lead was far from a comfortable one though and with 20 minutes gone Trent were awarded another penalty corner.

A save from ‘keeper Smith again denied Hickman and the resulting goalmouth scramble was ended by the award of a Brum free hit.

Nottingham continued to push forward and Smith was again called into action to save from Chris Gregg in the last major act of the first half.

Birmingham’s 2-0 half time lead was to be reduced only a minute into the second half as Trent were awarded their fourth penalty corner of the game. This time Hickman made no mistake as he slotted the ball into the bottom right corner to reduce the deficit.

The goal sparked the Trent side into life and Birmingham found themselves pinned into their own half for much of the next 20 minutes. But with Nottingham failing to create any clear cut chances from their pressure, it wasn’t until the last 10 minutes that the game really came to life.

Trent found themselves down to 10 men as Hickman was yellow carded for dissent and Birmingham sensed a chance to put the game beyond reach. But their chance to do so was squandered as Andrew Stott failed to connect when well placed to score.

Nottingham’s Chris Spruce then saw his effort sail over the bar from a tight angle before they were rewarded for their persistence when, with four minutes to go, they were awarded another penalty corner. With Hickman still off the pitch, John Ames stepped up and smashed the ball into the back of the net, levelling the scores.

Birmingham then found themselves having to cling onto the draw. With Hickman returning to the pitch, Trent were given a numerical advantage for the final two minutes as Brum’s Tom Stadden was yellow carded.

The game then finished in contentious circumstances with Trent left furious after a goalmouth melee had left them convinced they deserved a penalty corner. Ames’s shot was saved by Smith and, with both players trying to latch onto the rebound, a free hit was awarded to Brum.

There then followed a consultation between both officials but the free hit stood and the hosts were able to clear their lines and hold on for the draw.

Despite holding on, coach Steve Floyd was left a disappointed by the draw stating that his team ‘didn’t stand up when it got tough’, following the fractious second half.

With both sides having chances to win the game, a draw was perhaps a fair result for all after a hard fought game at the Bournbrook pitch.

A blatant trip summed up a spicy second half

Hannah MacDowell

Gebrselassie sets record time in Great Run

Over 15,000 runners took to the streets of Birmingham last weekend to participate in the Great Birmingham Run. It is also believed that a further 60,000 spectators lined the streets to cheer on the runners.

Haile Gebrselassie, who holds an honorary degree at the University of Birmingham, took the win with an emphatic time of 61 minutes and 29 seconds. He set the fastest course completion time since the Great Birmingham Run's establishment in 2008. This adds to the African's honours which include two Olympic 10,000m gold medals, four world championship titles and 26 other world records.

British runner Gemma Steel was the women's winner, finishing in 72 minutes and 21 seconds, more than a minute ahead of second place Louise Damen.

The course took runners on a 13.1 mile circuit around Birmingham. Andy Ridley (20) completed the entire course in a banana costume with his friend Ryan Lee (20), both sports science students at the University of Birmingham.

Turn to page 4 to read a full report about the Great Birmingham Run.

Member of the University Triathlon team and Geography student Sam Pictor (middle)was one of many students who took part

Millie Guy

INSIDE Turn to page 26 to read how the Birmingham squash team fared against Duffield and world number one player Nick Matthew