Issue 1506

Redbrick Issue 1506, Vol. 83

Friday 7th June 2019

Recognising our stolen colonial legacy

Rocketman: Elton biopic explores the star

Comment 8-9

Film 23

FREE

Phones that fold: bold, gold, or mis-sold?

England coming to Edgbaston

Sci&Tech Sport 35 40

Green Heart Festival

Inaugural two-day event to kick off on campus this weekend

Redbrick

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The Official University of Birmingham Student Newspaper, est. 1936

Anonymity Breaches Exposed in Online Marking System Liam Taft News Editor

Erin Santillo Editor-in-Chief

Students from at least four of the five academic colleges appear to have had assignments marked non-anonymously in 2019, in breach of the University of Birmingham’s code of practice.

Issues were initially raised when a ‘concerned lecturer’ contacted Redbrick regarding a long-standing loophole in Turnitin, the University’s anti-plagiarism detection software, that gives markers the option of revealing students’ names during the marking process.

The University’s code of practice states that markers should ensure that they are grading coursework anonymously ‘where possible.’ Several student handbooks also reassure students that all assessed summative work will be marked without knowledge of the candidate’s identity.

A University source told Redbrick that, in addition to this problem, a change to the settings in December 2018 resulted in the default being switched to non-anonymous marking.

This has meant that students have since been at risk of their names being visible to markers if module convenors fail to reverse this setting.

Since Redbrick became aware of this issue, multiple cases from the colleges of Arts and Law, Life and Environmental Sciences, Medical and Dental Sciences, and Social Sciences have been uncovered from assignments that should have been marked anony-

University of Birmingham

mously during this year’s second semester.

The full extent of the anonymity breaches is not yet known. However, official guidelines obtained by Redbrick suggest that this problem may have been occurring for years.

Redbrick has also been made aware of a case in which a convenor threatened to dock marks from students if they did not identify themselves by name in the filename of online submissions.

An anonymous lecturer told Redbrick: ‘There is nothing to stop any marker seeing every student’s name with one click.’As a result, it is a system that relies purely on trust: ‘You’d hope that no-one would abuse it,’ another staff member told Redbrick, ‘but it would be better if the option wasn’t there at all.’

The breaches raise questions about potential bias in academic marking. A third-year

INSIDE: Redbrick Life&Style Discuss the Good, the Bad and the Ugly Sides of the Fashion Industry

History student told Redbrick: ‘As a woman of colour, it’s important to me that my anonymity is protected so that I have no disadvantage in achieving high grades.’

Another student said: ‘Whether they think it or not, some lecturers have their favourites in seminars, so I think it’s important that they mark anonymously so that everyone has a fair chance of doing well.’

The anonymity breaches affect both undergraduate and postgraduate students. It does not apply to exams, group projects, or other modes of assessment where it is not possible to conceal the identity of the student. All students can view whether their work has been graded anonymously on Canvas alongside their coursework grade.

Redbrick has reached out to the University for a statement, but are yet to receive a response. www.redbrick.me

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Redbrick

Friday 7th June 2019

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Letter from the Editor...

I said back in September – bolstered by naïve confidence – that if Redbrick had survived 82 years and a world war then it was bound to outlast 2018/19. What I hadn’t banked on was how seriously that statement was going to be challenged.

Indeed, this has not only been the toughest year of my life, but the toughest year for the publication since our website’s inception. The unavoidable decision to update our horrifically-outdated proofing policies with the Guild of Students effectively launched us into a year-long limbo that saw the publication of writers’ work delayed by months and our annual digital readership fall by around a quarter of a million. For anyone who has shared in this pain, I can only apologise.

However, writing this piece on the brink of a new proofing policy that will bring more editorial independence to Redbrick, I cannot say that the story of this year has been epitomised by failure.

This year, we have: held institutions to account; voiced the student opinion on diverse issues; brought you the must-see action from stage, console, screen and arena; taken you on culinary and cultural trips around the world; exposed problems in the fashion industry; covered major sporting

events and even explored the lives of some bizarre-looking creatures.

This is what Redbrick has done and will continue to do every year, regardless of those who try to make our jobs more difficult.

Ultimately, therefore, it is not the website, fortnightly print or dungeon-like office that defines what Redbrick is. It is you – our members and readers – who form the foundation of this publication.

Without your continuing trust, this year would have certainly been a much greater struggle. For that, I thank you wholeheartedly.

Thanks must also go to the Guild staff who have guided us through this tricky year alongside ensuring that our print didn’t suffer equally. Chief among these people is the outgoing AEO, Robyn Macpherson, without whose diligence we would not be facing a new proofing policy today.

To the other media groups who share our basement, our collaborative work continues to shatter the barriers that once divided us, and long may this relationship endure.

Thanks here go especially to Emily Youlton, whose constant support, advice and friendship have been an integral part of my year.

Internally, I have been consistently overwhelmed by the outstanding dedication of Redbrick’s forty section editors. You

have produced some of the most beautiful print pages known to humankind and, to those of you who have been on the front line of our digital struggles, I thank you for your patience and trust in the darkest moments.

To my committee, only a mountain of superlatives could express my opinion of your devotion to the publication, but with the word limit of this editorial coming ever-closer I hope you can just accept my humblest thanks.

Bringing this to a close I must state what is hopefully obvious, in that it has been the greatest pleasure to have served as Editor-inChief these past twelve months and taken Redbrick into the postissue-1500 era. I am confident that, if last year was the year of monetary mayhem and this was the year of proofing predicaments, then – with the best of luck to my successor, Tom Leaman – 2019/20 will be the year of the Redbrick renaissance.

From the dungeons, etc.

Erin Santillo Editor-in-Chief

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Online this week at redbrick.me...

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Rebuilt from the ground up for a cleaner, faster browsing experience.

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Deputy Editors Issy Campbell Kat Smith

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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.

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‘A Year of Celebrations’: Green Heart Festival Set to Launch Megan Stanley News Editor @oh_itsonlymegan

This weekend, the University of Birmingham will kick off the Green Heart Festival with a twoday long event.

The event is free for all, including the local community, as the University celebrates the Green Heart, which opened in January.

Tomorrow will feature a community day, with a variety of exhibits highlighting the research at the University, with interactive demonstrations.

The Birmingham Proms will be held on the same evening, with performances from University orchestras and choirs. The University held the same event last year, but this time it is being

included in the Green Heart celebration event.

Performing at the Birmingham Proms is the University’s non-auditioned chorus Summer Festival Voices (SFV). Formed for the third semester only, the chorus is led and managed by current students.

Conducting the ensemble is Elliot Mercer, a second year music student, who told Redbrick: ‘It is a huge honour to be conducting SFV. What really makes the choir so special is how it is made up of students from all across the University.’

On Sunday, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) will perform in the space.

The CBSO Chorus, CBSO Selly Oak Vocal, and the University of Birmingham Summer Festival voices will perform alongside

other guest choirs with a final mass ‘singalong.’ The event is reportedly one of the first in the area, drawing upon nordic choral traditions of all choirs and audience members coming together at the end to sing together.

Mercer told Redbrick that he is excited to be involved in the event and ‘to sing in an amazing performance space and work with incredible musicians, like Mirga and the CBSO, while promoting choral singing to the wider community. It is a great way to be celebrating the end of exams.’

Carly Edwards, a member of both CBSO Chorus and Summer Festival Voices, said that the Sunday performance will be ‘an exciting chance to perform outside of the usual Symphony Hall venue and bring our music to a wider audience than it might usu-

ally reach.

‘I am really looking forward to all the opportunities on campus that weekend,’ Edwards added.

The weekend event is the launch of a year long festival that will conclude in May 2020. The year-long festival will work with

staff, students, and community groups to deliver events that will reflect seasonal changes across the year. Each season will have a theme, with Summer being ‘celebration, Autumn is ‘change’, Winter is ‘illumination’ and finally Spring will represent ‘Hope.’

University of Birmingham Pixabay

UoB Researchers Collaborate in UK’s Largest Urban Experiment Sophie Woodley News Editor

Researchers at the University of Birmingham are due to take part in the Urban Observatories project which aims to ‘better understand our complex urban environments and how they react to change and growth.’

The £12 million project monitors up to 60 different environmental indicators across the UK, such as energy use, rainfall and flooding, air pollution and traffic flow.

The project, which is being funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, and led by Newcastle

University, has collected over a billion records in its first two years.

So far, the project has deployed thousands of sensors that collect data throughout cities such as Newcastle, Sheffield and Bristol and is now coming to Birmingham.

UoB researchOCAL ers will be collecting their information from a range of technologies already in place across the city. These include 25 meteorological stations and roughly 100 air temperature sensors.

UoB Professor Lee Chapman, who is leading the Birmingham Urban Observatory, said: ‘Sensing technologies are developing rapidly, as is the ability to manage and make use of the vast amounts of data they can produce. By drawing all these things together we will gain hugely valuable insights that will provide the fundamental building blocks for the cities of tomorrow.’

Researchers will also draw on data from the West Midlands Air Quality Improvement Programme, as part of the project. This pro-

gramme is led by UoB itself, and is a ‘new initiative to support the improvement of air quality, and associated health, environmental and economic benefits, in the West Midlands.’

“We will gain hugely valuable insights” The government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is responsible for environmental protection and has claimed that ‘poor air quality is the largest environmental risk to Public

Health in the UK.’ Redbrick spoke to UoB student Florence Jones, who set up her own society called UoB Plastic-Free, to help alleviate environmental issues and encourage others to ‘live a more environmentally-friendly life as a student.’

Jones said: ‘It is exciting to see the University, as a site of research and education, come to the forefront in the city’s fight against climate change. Monitoring current conditions is such an important step in helping us to see how we can improve for the future and the fact that the data from the study will be freely accessible to the general public helps this even further.’

Post-18 Education Review Finds ‘Burning Injustices’ Tom Leaman News Editor @tomleaman_

On Thursday 30th May, the Augar review of post-18 education in the UK was published.

The review, which was commissioned by the government and chaired by former equities broker Philip Augar, recommended that tuition fees in England should be reduced to £7,500 per year (down from the current maximum tuition fee of £9,250).

To balance the decrease in tuition fees, the amount of time students could spend repaying their

debts has been recommended to increase by ten years, from 30 to 40.

Graduates would also start repaying their fees when they start earning £23,000 per year rather than the current £25,750.

Augar has said that this would ultimately increase the amount students will end up repaying.

If the findings are applied by the government, interest rates would also not be applied to student loans until after the student has finished studying.

The review also criticised universities for offering too many ‘low-value’ courses.

Maintenance grants of up to

£3,000 for students from lowerincome backgrounds were also recommended to be re-introduced

by Augar and his independent panel.

Maintenance grants were abolished by Theresa May’s government for students commencing university at the beginning of the 2016-17 academic year. May has accepted that scrapping the grants ‘has not worked’ and that it is ‘time to bring them back.’

The report also found that universities have gained ‘generous funding,’ while other further education institutions have, according to May, been ‘overlooked, undervalued and underfunded.’

Augar’s report has demonstrated that other aspects of further education, such as vocational courses offered at colleges, have suffered from austerity measures while universities have received extensive funding.

Upon publishing the findings of the report, May discussed her aim of driving ‘social mobility’ to eliminate the ‘burning injustices’ that exist in the education sector.

Augar’s panel has recommended that £3 billion in extra funds should be sent to colleges and other vocational course providers every year to rebalance the post-18 education system.

The report has received a neg-

ative reception from some universities, with the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sussex, Adam Tickell, saying: ‘Many students would actually end up paying more for their education, because they would be repaying over 40 years rather than 30, but universities would potentially have £2 billion less to invest.’

Vanessa Wilson, the Chief Executive of the University Alliance group, was quoted in the Guardian, saying: ‘This is a serious, detailed report but we have real doubts that the money, legislative space or political impetus is there. Theresa May’s review risks being dead on arrival.’

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Redbrick Investigates: Casual Sexism on UoB’s Campus After #MeTooPhD raised awareness of casual sexism at university, News Editors Megan Stanley and Sophie Woodley investigate students' experiences at UoB Megan Stanley & Sophie Woodley

The University Experience

Our investigation has found that gender has a profound effect on student experience at UoB, layRedbrick has found that a number ing an important foundation for of students at the University of how this determines experiences Birmingham have experienced of casual sexism. Through the incidents of casual sexism surveys issued by in both academic and Redbrick, data indicatnon-academic environed that 60% of female ments. or non-binary In April 2019, respondents believe Redbrick launched that their gender two surveys on the identity has had a anonymous ‘Fab N’ Fresh’ stunegative impact on responses were dent Facebook group their university expecollected that asked respondents rience. to share their experiThese concerns priences of sexism in univermarily surrounded malesity settings. dominated degree courses, In total, 195 anonymous with some students feeling like responses were collected, with 108 they had not been ‘taken seriously responses from people identifying in group work/discussion with as female or non-binary and 87 classmates on assignments.’ from those identifying as male.

Respondents discussed their experiences in lectures, seminars, the Guild of Students and sports teams.

Experiences of casual sexism can include feeling inadequate or Redbrick inferior due to the behaviour of someone else on the basis of gender, such as an individual making a joke or ignoring a contribution from another student.

In 2012, the Everyday Sexism Project was founded – an online forum where people are encouraged to recount their personal experiences of something ‘serious, or minor, outrageously offensive or so niggling and normalised that you don’t even feel able to protest.’

It is these ‘normalised’ everyday experiences that contribute to the difficulty of talking about sexism. The project argues that casual sexism has become ingrained in a society which ‘perceives itself to have achieved gender equality.’

Though casual sexism may be less severe than sexual assault and harassment, it can still have a profound effect.

A movement established in 2018 called #MeTooPhD sheds light on the issues involving casual sexism in academic environments.

Inspired by the #MeToo movement, #MeTooPhD has seen uniIn comparison, 21% of male versity staff and students across respondents found their gender the globe sharing their experiences identity to be detrimental to their of sexism and sexual assault university experience. Some through social media. respondents claimed that they Use of the hashtag revealed ‘miss out’ on opportunities that are many forms of academic sexism, given to female or non-binary stusuch as male tutors disregarding dents. One male respondent said, the thoughts of female students ‘I have noticed there are a lot of and the expression of lewd com- female-only opportunities availaments towards female professors ble for students such as work in feedback forums. placements, competitions.’

Hardy, a lecturer at Griffith On a similar note, respondents University, wrote in The Guardian were also asked if they have ever that it is not only the issue of casu- felt pressure to behave in a certain al sexism as a whole that goes way because of their gender. In the unnoticed, but more specifically, female or non-binary survey, 44% casual sexism in a university set- of students said they have felt presting. Hardy says that this stems sured, compared to 53% of male from the expectation of students respondents. and staff alike to simply ‘navigate’ Despite our surveys capturing and handle such issues. only a snapshot of opinions with News Editors

195

just under 200 respondents in total, these results begin to indicate that a significant proportion of students feel that their gender has had an effect on their experiences at UoB. Environments The locations of academic and non-academic based casual sexism – from laboratories to lecture halls to the gym – was another key focus of our surveys. Respondents were asked where they feel most vulnerable to incidences of casual sexism and where the most regularly occurring places are.

The survey provided all respondents with the option to choose multiple settings where they had experienced casual sexism. This means that the overall responses to this question were higher than the number of individ-

Likewise, the male survey provided respondents with the same option to choose more than one university setting as a place where they experience casual sexism. As a result, out of the 87 respondents in the survey, the section received 110 responses. Exactly half of the 110 responses showed that casual sexism occurs for male students at UoB. In particular, seminars received the highest number of responses at 14. Nine respondents said they had experienced sexism in lectures, with three highlighting workshops, two claiming they had faced casual sexism in laboratories and 8 stating that it was UBSport and Fitness where they experienced casual sexism. The remaining 55 responses said they had not experienced any incidences on the UoB campus.

In regards to non-academic

casual sexism, stating: ‘The Guild holds a zero-tolerance approach to sexual assault or harassment in any setting. This includes all forms of harassment, including all cases of casual harassment across lectures, sports, societies and all other settings.’

Izzy Bygrave, the Guild of Students’ Welfare and Community Officer, added that she works alongside others in the Guild, as well as university staff, to tackle incidences of casual sexism: ‘We are constantly working towards making campus a safe and supportive environment for all students.’

A representative of UBSport and Fitness told Redbrick that the safety of users is very important: ‘The gym is constantly monitored by at least three qualified gym instructors whose training also includes University policies and practices such as safeguarding, harassment and equality and diversity. Staff patrol and monitor the gym floor throughout the day, and swipe card access enables tracking of who is in the gym at a given time if required.’

Perpetrators The next stage was to investigate who perpetrates casual sexism in the opinion of the surveyed female, male and non-binary students. In similarity to the university environments section, respondents were given a multiple choice option.

From the 108 respondents who took part in the female or non-binary survey, 129 responses were recorded for this section. Whilst 51 responses were recorded that said no one has perpetrated casual sexism in an academic setting, 40 responses showed that casual sexism has been experienced due to the behaviour of a male student and 22 stated the same about male tutors. This compares to 9 responses claiming that female students perpetrate casual sexism and 5 for female tutors.

uals who took part in both surveys.

Of the 108 respondents in the female or non-binary survey, the section on university environments received 137 responses, 86 of which stating they had experience casual sexism. Some respondents chose more than one UoB setting as a place where they experience casual sexism, with 25 indicating seminars as the most common university setting where they face these experiences.

This is in comparison to other university settings such as lectures (12), workshops (4), laboratories (7) and UBSport and Fitness (10).

Just under half of the responses, at 51, said they have in fact not experienced sexism in any UoB settings, as listed above.

environments, 28 out of the 137 responses in the female or non-binary survey showed that casual sexism was also experienced. To name just a few examples, respondents chose settings such as the Guild of Students, societies, student accommodation and sports clubs.

In the male survey, 19 responses also highlighted ‘other’ areas of campus, as listed above, as places where casual sexism is faced. One male respondent stated that ‘just walking around campus’ can be a site of casual sexism.

Redbrick spoke to the Guild of Students’ full-time Officer Team, who collectively commented on such incidences. They said that the Guild’s policy for sexual assault and harassment takes into account

“#MeTooPhD has seen university staff and students across the globe share their experiences of sexism” The male survey received 107 responses from 87 respondents who took part. 53 responses showed that casual sexism had not been experienced from both female and male students and tutors. The remaining 18 responses showed that inferiority has been experienced due to the behaviour of a female student, 13 responses

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showed this regarding a male tutor, 12 for a male student and 9 for a female tutor.

One female or non-binary respondent alleged that a specific male student would ‘instantly talk over any female who contributed to a discussion and argue that he was right and they were clearly wrong because women wouldn't understand things properly. The lecturer, also male, just allowed this and said nothing.’

“Casual sexism can include feeling inadequate or inferior due to the behaviour of someone else” A male respondent said that he felt his gender was being used by other students in the seminar ‘for the other students’ empowerment.’

The respondent said, ‘I felt uncomfortable [...] speaking any of my opinions/views for fear that I would be verbally ridiculed again.’

However, in terms of tutorstudent relationships in academic settings, one female or non-binary respondent claimed that tutors have been ‘unaccepting of ideas and concepts I have put forward with evidence, only believing what I have said when it has come from a male student.’

Another female or non-binary respondent stated that meetings with their academic supervisor, who is male, made them ‘uncomfortable’ – ‘the supervisor called me a dozy slapper [and] rich bitch.’

The same student made reports of male academic staff talking over others, ‘most commonly talking over the female staff and myself.’

A science student highlighted her experience in laboratory sessions, telling Redbrick, ‘my lab supervisors would mostly direct all the information towards my (male) colleague and not myself. I felt ignored and useless like they thought I wouldn't be good enough to do the work but a man would be fine.’

A male respondent commented that his views were often made to feel ‘worthless’ compared to his female counterparts by a tutor.

Redbrick spoke to the Guild of Students’ Women Officers, Alif Trevathan and Holly Battrick, about the occurrences of casual sexism on UoB’s campus. Both are

Pixabay

aware of the importance of casual sexism as it works on scales of ‘microaggression.’

Trevathan told Redbrick that it is about students being conscious of their own behaviour: ‘Where can I identify some problematic things in my own behaviour? It’s just a question of realising “sometimes I do things that are not ok, maybe that joke, maybe I shouldn’t have laughed, or maybe I should’ve stood up for someone.”’ The Women Officers said ‘it’s the smaller things that cultivate a culture.’

Sports In the following sports section of both surveys, respondents were not given the option for multiple c h o i c e answers.

Instead, they were asked whether they had avoided participating in sports because of their gender, where 74% of male respondents and 73% of female or non-binary respondents answered ‘no.’

One respondent who plays in a mixed-gender team sport told Redbrick, ‘I feel like it has a fantastic attitude towards gender, acknowledging differences then focusing on the team in general.’

Another respondent added that their mixed-gender sports team is an example of a ‘very inclusive, mixed-gender sport where traditional tropes of masculinity are not forced upon anyone.’

That being said, respondents in both surveys highlighted specific incidents of casual sexism. One female or non-binary respondent said, ‘I have been treated as soft or weak by coaches. I understand that, usually, these coaches have good intentions (meaning they want to go easy on us women) but at the end of the day it is still sexism and discrimination.’

A male respondent said that in his football team ‘conversation has been constantly about females and sexual interactions with them.

Sometimes, if you don’t engage in this conversation, you’re seen as inferior to other “macho” males.’

Another male respondent added that he is often ‘catcalled’ when training.

Members of the Pole Fitness team said that they ‘have been called a slut’ because of their participation in the sport. One respondent said that ‘men are often very presumptuous and think I'm a stripper,’ while another person added that they ‘have experienced some judgment from people with old fashioned attitudes.’ A male respondent also said that they want to do Pole Fitness but would be ‘embarrassed to do it as a guy.’

A representative from the Pole Fitness committee said that negative comments are not tolerated within the society itself:

“I have noticed there are a lot of female-only opportunities”

05

“The supervisor called me a dozy slapper [and] rich bitch”

Pixabay ‘Hearing of experiences such as these bring to attention the wider problem of sexism within the university and society as a whole, as well as the stigma which surrounds pole fitness.’

Next year, the society is intending to run male-only sessions, as ‘we want to reassure that our society is extremely inclusive to people of any gender identity, and all our classes enable anyone to try pole in a relaxed and judgement free environment.’

“I felt uncomfortable [...] speaking any of my opinions for fear that I would be verbally ridiculed” 26% of respondents in both surveys stated that they avoid participating in sports because of their gender identity. Most respondents highlighted that it was the culture around sport that prevented them from joining.

One female or non-binary respondent said they feel the standard of sporting ability is higher for girls due to there being fewer teams. The same respondent added, ‘I also don’t like the idea of having to integrate socially with boys who were aggressive drinkers or be part of the laddish [sic] sport culture.’

Another respondent added, ‘I’m scared of joining sports teams because of the initiations they make you do which can be sexual in nature, for example forcing you to kiss people you don’t want to.’

A non-binary respondent told Redbrick that there are very few mixed-gender sports for them to partake in. The same respondent added that ‘most facilities have male and female changing rooms or toilets so I cannot take part in sports as I would have to misgender myself and invade a safe space to change.’

A male respondent said the ‘laddy’ [sic] culture of some of the sports teams put him off from joining, adding that ‘the women’s teams seem more welcoming. If I was female I’d have joined the women’s team for one of those, but haven’t for the men's.’ Another

respondent said that they didn’t join yoga because they felt ‘judged for entering a “women’s” space.’

Redbrick’s survey would suggest that experiences of casual sexism are experienced by a number of students across UoB across a variety of settings.

However, it is these experiences of sexism that are going unnoticed and not gaining as much awareness as incidences of sexual assault and harassment. For instance, work is being done at UoB to alleviate such issues, with the University’s You Report, We Support system in place.

A spokesperson for UoB said: ‘Sexual assault and harassment have no place on campus. The University’s disciplinary regulations are clear that violent, indecent, disorderly, threatening, intimidating or offensive behaviour or language of a sexual nature will amount to a disciplinary offence.

Our “You Report, We Support” tool provides a single point for students to find out about our approach to sexual assault and harassment as well as reporting options.’

The Guild of Students have also established a campaign to tackle issues of sexual assault and harassment called ‘Not On.’ They are a group aiming to raise awareness of the problems that arise on both Birmingham's campus, campuses across the UK, and further.

Yet, this investigation suggests that work needs to be done in other sites of casual sexism to alleviate issues students experience. Raising awareness remains the most important starting point for tackling such emotionally and physically impacting issues.

The Guild of Students’ Officer

Team has advised anyone who has been affected by any of the issues mentioned across this investigation, or to any degree and setting, to seek support from the Guild, University or external support services.

“It's the smaller things that cultivate a culture” Guild Advice offers drop-in sessions every weekday during term-time between 12-2 pm. The Mental Health and Wellbeing team in Student Services is also available to those who wish to talk to someone or receive counselling services.

If you have been affected by the content of this investigation, please be aware of the following available services, both inside and outside of University: West Midlands Police, The Guild of Students’ Survivors Support Group (a peer-led support group run by the Women’s Association for people of all genders), Harassment Advice Service, Horizon SARC (a service offering support and advice for men, women and children who have experienced rape or sexual assault) and RSVP (Rape and Sexual Violence Project). For more information on services available, please visit the Guild of Students ‘Support’ website.

Have you avoided participating in sport because of your gender?

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Education Secretary Accuses Universities of ‘Scaremongering’ Liam Taft News Editor @liam_taft_

Education Secretary Damien Hinds has accused universities of ‘scaremongering’ in response to reducing tuition fees for students in the UK. Hinds suggested that universities are ‘distorting the picture’ of the financial stability of the higher education sector.

Recent months have seen reports that universities are facing financial difficulty. In March,

Redbrick reported that budget deficits are leading to staff cuts.

For example, Cardiff University announced that 350 jobs will be cut over the next five years.

“Universities are distorting the picture of the financial stability” However, Hinds suggested that universities have seen rising

fee incomes after the financial crash. ‘I do understand universities are facing some challenges,’ he said, ‘but reports of financial hardship across the entire sector is scaremongering.’

Hinds made these comments ahead of the Augar education review which has called for a reduction in tuition fees from £9,250 to £7,500.

The review is chaired by Philip Augar and has also proposed to extend loan repayments to 40 years, introduce maintenance loans for sub-degree qualifications, and rebrand student loans as

‘student contributions.’

The report was launched after the 2017 general election in an attempt to make attending university more affordable for students.

However, most experts have claimed that this will harm the education sector.

Alistair Jarvis, Chief Executive of Universities UK, stressed that the gap in fees must be replaced by more government funding. If not, he said that it could ‘harm students, the economy, and communities that benefit from universities.’

Vanessa Wilson, head of the

University Alliance, said: ‘We need to move quickly to end the uncertainty, confusion and damage to colleges and universities’ finances.’

Several factors have contributed to the economic difficulties in higher education. Nick Hillman, Director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, has argued that Brexit, policy changes and a competitive market have all worsened universities’ finances.

He claimed that ‘a university going bust is more likely than at any other point in the last generation.’

Cambridge Appoints its First-Ever Black Female Head of College Rebecca Hall News Reporter

Sonita Alleyne, an ex-BBC trustee and former Cambridge student, is to be the first black leader of an Oxbridge college. She will also be the first female head in the 500-year history of Jesus College.

At 51, the former entrepreneur and media executive has made history. Alleyne said, ‘I left Cambridge 30 years ago, but it never left me. I am delighted to be returning.’ She will be the college’s 42nd master on the 40th anniversary of co-education and will take over from Professor Ian White, who was recently appointed as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bath.

Alleyne’s appointment coincides with Cambridge’s increased drive for diversity. Last year, it admitted a record number of black students.

Born in Bridgetown, Barbados, and raised in East London, Alleyne commands an impressive résumé.

She began her career in the publicity department at Jazz FM. She was later bestowed the Award of Excellence from the European Federation of Black Women Business Owners and was made an OBE for services to broadcasting in 2003.

Alleyne has also been a judge for the Precious Awards, which celebrate black women’s entrepreneurial success and the Sony Awards. She has also been an ambassador for Street Kids International.

Appointing a new master for the college included advertising the role on LinkedIn, the business networking site – another first for the college. On Alleyne’s new role, Professor Mary Laven, who led the search committee, said: ‘We are thrilled by the election of Sonita Alleyne, who will be an inspirational master. She brings to the college a wealth of experience and enduring commitment to helping young people fulfil their potential.’

Redbrick spoke to University of Birmingham students about Alleyne’s newly appointed role.

One first-year student said, ‘it is really positive to see some change in these systems, it can act as a real marker for the rest of the country.’

Another UoB student told

Redbrick, ‘I think it is great that not only a black professor, but a female professor, has been appointed the role. University is all about diversity and inclusivity,

and as a female student myself, it is these sort of news stories that inspire me and shed some optimism on such difficult times in society for women.’

Robert Edwards

Birmingham Ranked Fifth in Worst Commuting Cities Aishwarya Chandran News Reporter

Birmingham has been ranked fifth out of ten cities in the UK for having the most stressed commuters, according to Birmingham Live.

The report comes from a survey of 2,000 UK workers who voted York and London as the most stressful places to commute.

Cities such as Bristol, Edinburgh and Coventry received the least amount of responses as worst commuting cities.

Statistics also revealed that 45% of individuals in Birmingham commute to and from work and experience a great deal of anxiety, often leading to a negative impact on their mental health.

A large proportion of this anxiety can be attributed to the travel-

ling time. On average, the commute time in the West Midlands is 26 minutes.

The survey also suggested that the worst satisfaction rates are for train travel. According to the

BBC, passenger satisfaction for commuting via trains has decreased significantly since 2008. Longer journeys, poor service, timetabling and worsening punctuality are the few reasons

for this dissatisfaction. ture, anti-social behaviour and Redbrick spoke to a final-year overcrowding.

Business Management student at A report by the Royal Society UoB who commutes via train. for Public Health (RSPH) She said: ‘I felt it was found that non-active comdifficult sometimes muting is detrimental to when last minute lecour health. To combat tures were arranged this, RSPH has recor things were canommended that there celled as I would should be a greater of commuters feel sometimes be on emphasis on increasthat their travels the train to get a ing seating capacity heighten their cancellation email on public transport to stress levels and that would be enable travellers to frustrating.’ plan their journeys in In the United advance to reduce stress.

Kingdom alone, 43% of On the other hand, walkcommuters feel that their travels ing and cycling have been rated heighten their stress levels, which the most satisfactory modes of increases to 73% for 25-34-year- transport to commute to and from olds. Alongside commuting time, work. Additionally, active comthe other factors that impact the muting modes have been associpublic’s health include journey ated with increased well-being delays, uncomfortable tempera- and lower morbidity rates.

43%

Pexels

NEWS

Friday 7th June 2019

@redbricknews

News Analysis: EU Elections Results Across the Nation

News Reporter Alex Boscott reports on the recent national and West Midlands EU election results Alex Boscott

Brexit Party claimed 29 of the United Kingdom’s 73 seats as News Reporter well as 30.5% of the vote share.

Redbrick spoke to Farage at On Sunday 26th May, the UK the Brexit Party rally in European Election results were Wolverhampton on 16th May, released. Across the nation, both shortly before the election. Farage Labour and Conservative seat claimed that a vote for his party is numbers fell, with seats being a vote for democracy, ‘I want to claimed by smaller parties such as say to young people, think about the Brexit Party and the one word-democracy.’

Liberal Democrats.

The Brexit Party In the West leader also added that Midlands, the Brexit ‘it is better to live in Party took three of a democratic nation the seven seats state, to be friendly available, with with our European Labour, Liberal neighbour but to of the vote share Democrats, realise that there is went to the Conservative and a great big world Brexit Party The Green Party out there.’ each claiming one Shortly after the seat respectively. The results were Brexit Party received announced, Farage 507,152 of the vote share, claimed that should the UK with Labour receiving the second fail to leave on 31st October, the -highest vote share of 228,298 results from the EU elections ‘will votes. The Liberal Democrats be repeated at a general election.’ received 219,982 votes.

Despite topping the polls in This year’s results saw Labour the election, the pro-no-deal lose one seat in the region, while Brexit Party was met with a conThe Green Party and Liberal siderable pro-remain movement – Democrats increased their repre- spearheaded by Sir Vince Cable’s sentation by one seat compared to Liberal Democrats. the 2014 European Elections.

In an interview with Redbrick earlier this year, the outgoing leader claimed that he was ‘not looking to Jeremy Corbyn for salvation’ regarding his aim to obtain a ‘people’s vote’ on Brexit.

However, the Labour Party’s unclear stance on the issue became the Lib Dems’ greatest asset in these elections, sweeping up votes from frustrated ‘remainer’ Labour The seven MEPs for the West voters.

Midlands will represent Campaigning on a strong antiBirmingham, Dudley, Solihull, Brexit platform, the former partCoventry, Worcestershire, ner of the Conservative Party in Herefordshire, Warwickshire, the 2010 coalition appears to have Staffordshire and Shropshire. reinvented itself under Sir Vince’s Nationally, Nigel Farage’s leadership. Achieving 16 seats

Pixabay

30.5%

“Liberal Democrats increased their representation”

and 19.6% of the vote, this is the party’s best national election result since 2010.

However, not all pro-remain parties fared so well at the polls.

The newly-formed Change UK, previously led by former Labour MP Chuka Umunna, failed to gain a single seat and only achieved 3.3% at the polls. Speaking to Redbrick in a telephone interview on 31st May, about the results, Change UK’s Anna Soubry stated that she was ‘happy’ with the party’s campaign. ‘It is clear that the country has rejected no-deal,’ claimed the former Conservative MP, adding that the UK is ‘moving towards remain.’

As for the two main parties, the Conservatives and Labour, these results are a heavy blow.

With the Tories losing 15 of their 19 MEP’s and Labour losing 10 of their 20 gained in 2014, the future of two-party politics in Britain is now as uncertain as ever.

Theresa May announced her

resignation as Prime Minister the morning after polls closed in the UK. The PM has since called for minds to be ‘focused’ in Westminster after what was a ‘disappointing night for the Conservatives.’

“A ‘disappointing night for the Conservatives’” Jeremy Corbyn has claimed that any Brexit deal ‘has to be put to a public vote’ as he attempts to reconcile with disenchanted Labour voters who have demanded that he openly support a second referendum on Brexit.

With the current Brexit deal still unknown and amongst debate, whoever succeeds May as Tory leader and Prime Minister, will be tasked with uniting a divided party, parliament and country.

07

A Year in Review

News Reporter Rebecca Hall reflects on her first year at UoB My first article for Redbrick was a scared, homesick and lonely take on my experience of freshers’ week. At the end I talked about how I believed the future would be much more promising, but in reality that was more a hopeful end note than something I was sure of.

Essentially, the first term of university saw me crying at least once everyday and being so homesick that I went home every weekend. However, it wasn’t until the beginning of second term that I really started to feel a sense of belonging.

My first year has taught me a lot about myself, especially about how I and others handle change.

Before coming to university, the thought of experiencing homesickness hadn’t even crossed my mind, but it has definitely been part of my first year. Now I’m in a more positive place, I have realised the importance of being honest about how I am feeling, so here are four things my first year has taught me: 1) A lot of people will experience homesickness. People will also experience it in different ways and at different times. Reach out to people and you’ll see you’re probably not as alone as you think.

2) People tend to be worried about staying close to their friends from home. In my experience, most people seem to lose someone they thought they wouldn’t. This is incredibly sad, but its important to evaluate that your true best friends really don’t leave you and you will meet so many incredible new people throughout your degree.

3) People make friends at their own pace and eventually you will find your people. Some people find each other in their own flat, some on the first day of lectures and for others it can take a bit longer.

4) Always say yes to the opportunities university brings along and don’t be afraid to fail.

Editor’s Pick News Editor Liam Taft reports on the creation of 41 conservation zones to protect marine life in the UK

The government has created 41 new conservation zones to protect marine life across the UK. This marks the most significant expansion of the ‘blue belt’ – an area of protected waters around the UK’s shoreline – to date.

The new area stretches from Cornwall to Northumberland and covers 12,000 square miles - eight times the size of Greater London.

This means that the UK now has 355 marine protected areas equating to nearly twice the size of England.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove announced the blue belt expansion last week, which builds on the government’s 25

Year Environment Plan.

Tony Juniper, chair of Natural England, said: ‘Today really does mark a major step forward for the conservation of our precious marine environment, but there is still much to be done.’

Several species – such as the short-snouted seahorse, the ocean quahog, and blue mussel beds – will benefit from the new zones.

Conservationists have praised the expansion and suggested that in similar areas, where some damaging activities such as scallop dredging have been banned, there has been a notable improvement in marine life.

These protections were created in consultation with marine

experts and local fishermen, who both supported the measures. John Edwards, director of living seas at The Wildlife Trusts, said: ‘The pressure of fishing has been removed from a very large part of our seabed which is good for nature conservation, and good for Gwyn Jones

fishermen because if you have areas that are left alone they will produce more fish.’

However, some experts have been critical of the government’s management of existing zones.

Head of marine policy at WWF, Alec Taylor, said: ‘The UK is nearing 30% coverage of its waters protected, but these areas are poorly monitored.’ He urged the government to monitor the 41 new zones by paying attention to the different requirements of each area.

Documentaries such as David Attenborough’s Blue Planet and Netflix’s Mission Blue, which follows oceanographer and eco-activist Sylvia Earle, have brought

marine conservation to mainstream attention. They have inspired millions to take small individual actions to reduce plastic waste and protect the earth’s oceans.

“This marks the most significant expansion of the blue belt” However, it is great to see action taken at policy level, to ensure regulations are in place to reduce humans’ impact on the environment.

08

COMMENT

Friday 7th June 2019

@redbrickcomment

Poll of the Week: Should Smacking Be Criminalised?

In light of recent debate about criminalising corporal punishment, we asked Comment readers what they thought Comment Editor

8 -3

.5 %

“It is quite an individual/familial thing for the state to get involved with [...] but the state is also involved in issues like domestic Yes violence”

-6

1.

5%

The extent to which governments should involve themselves in family life is a contentious topic.

While many view the work of social workers to be overbearing and intrusive when it comes to minor infractions, the same social workers are vilified when they fail to prevent major violence against children. Reactions to the new anti-smacking laws moving through Scottish parliament reflect this ‘damned if they do, damned if they don’t’ fallacy.

While many who responded to our poll were appalled to find that smacking one’s children is not already a criminal offence, others were quick to point out that the use of corporal punishment is common in many households, and criminalising such actions would lead to an influx of arrests. This is not necessarily the case, however.

While under these new laws smacking would become a criminal offence, it would not have to result in jail time. Respondents pointed out that often smacking is the result of a momentary loss of

control caused by any number of factors, including anger, impatience or even fatigue.

Perhaps parents who smack their children could go on specialised courses to help them find other ways of disciplining their kids. While some respondents argued that physical violence is sometimes the only way to ensure children behave, the psychological trauma such actions can cause far outweighs any potential benefits in terms of behaviour.

Normalising the use of physical violence at a young age can cause major developmental issues, especially when the very thin line between occasional smacking and sustained physical abuse is crossed.

Laws such as this could be difficult to uphold, as what happens behind closed doors is difficult to determine without witnessing it first hand. But if it acts as a deterrent for the use of physical violence then it is effectively doing its job. It is also important to point out that isolated incidents of smacking do not necessarily make someone unfit to be a parent. But refusing to recognise one’s mistake and continuing the practice might.

No

Alex Cirant-Taljaard

"If you smack your kids you're not parenting right"

Should smacking one’s children be criminalised?

"It's child abuse - I'll be terrified if anyone answers otherwise" “I remember being hit as a child and although I don't think it has affected me today [...] it should be considered a form of abuse" “For many cultures, it is the ‘norm’, but I must stress it's not hardcore beating [...] I personally don't think it should be criminalised but there's a limit”

Take part in our polls:

Redbrick Comment Contributors

@RedbrickComment

Reclaiming Relics Catrin Osborne investigates the history of colonial artefacts in the Barber Institute, and comments on our responsibility to return these items to their rightful homes Catrin Osborne Comment Writer

Britain’s colonial history still rests in the showcases of our museums, and hangs on the walls of our galleries. Plenty of artefacts owned by British institutions were unlawfully looted during colonial rule and are now at the centre of a wider national debate.

I had the opportunity to talk to Rebecca Randle, Learning & Engagement Coordinator at The Barber Institute of Fine Arts, about their approach to this contentious issue. Located on our campus, the Barber’s approach contributes to the university’s attempt to acknowledge Britain’s colonial history alongside the Decolonising Birmingham movement.

The Barber possesses one item with questionable origins.

Titled An Altarpiece for the Altar of a Queen Mother, it is estimated to have been made between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The object originates from the Edo kingdom and is used to commemorate the achievements of an individual (the Iyoba or queen mother). It was purchased

lawfully by the Henry Barber Trust in 1948 from Spinks, a London based art dealer, but the Barber is now researching its colonial origins.

“The UK's previous Prime Minister David Cameron stated that he didn't believe in ‘returnism’ in 2013” Many artefacts from Benin, typically known as the ‘Benin bronzes,' were drawn from the Punitive Expedition of 1897 which saw the invasion of the kingdom of Benin by 1200 armed British soldiers. The extent of the casualties is unknown as the citizens of Benin were thrown into mass graves. During and after the attack, British forces looted or destroyed over 3000 artefacts.

These were sold in auction and

are now dispersed across the cities of Europe.

The Barber’s director, Nicola Kalinsky, is one of the co-chairs for the University Museums Group which Randle explains are currently ‘watching national conversations’ in relation to repatriation. Unfortunately, the process is not as simple as the Barber simply packaging the brass altarpiece up and flying it off to Benin. Instead, the act of repatriation rests on higher political decisions.

France has kickstarted Europe’s consideration of the issue. Emmanuel Macron announced that he wanted the issue of colonial artefacts to be resolved in five years on a trip to Burkina Faso in May 2018. This led to a report by French academics, Felwine Sarr and Benedicte Savoy, which urges for a new type of cultural exchange between museums and galleries. The first step in doing this is through the returning of 26 objects from France to Benin.

This has led to a ripple effect across Europe as The German Historical Museum has announced that they will return The Stone Cross, a statue taken

from Gambia during colonial rule.

Yet the UK’s previous prime minister David Cameron stated that he

didn’t believe in ‘returnism’ in 2013. Amongst the chaos of Brexit, the British government is paying less attention to this issue.

However, it is suspected that the government will announce its position on t h i s issue before t h e e n d o f

2019.

In the discussions surThe Barber Institute of Fine Arts

COMMENT

Friday 7th June 2019

@redbrickcomment

rounding repatriation, the British Museum is seen as the paragon of colonialism. This museum hosts some of the most controversial artefacts such as the Rosetta Stone and the Parthenon/ Elgin Marbles. The latter were wrongfully taken by Lord Elgin, Ambassador of the Ottoman Empire, in the nineteenth century and have been at the centre of this debate for many years.

“Despite holding access to eight million items, the British Museum only has 1% on public display” Despite holding access to eight million items, The British Museum only has 1% on public display. This feels like a case of dog-in-the-manger, but the museum is subject to the British Museum Act (1963) and its strict rules like ‘it shall be the duty of the Trustees of the British Museum to keep the objects comprised in the collections of the Museum within the authorised repositories of the Museum.’

One of the arguments against returning the objects is that the European cities that hold them are tourist hubs, allowing the artefacts to be accessed by people across the globe. Jeremy Wright, Cultural Secretary for the United Kingdom, has expressed the view that museums in London allow access to the objects for all. However, we must consider the fact that many former colonies are now considered to be ‘Less Economically Developed Countries’ (LEDCs) so it is unlikely that all their citizens can jet off to London to see their own cultural objects.

Another attempted justification is that European countries have better facilities to preserve the artefacts. However, Benin has created a new Benin Royal Museum in order to house its past. Moves are beginning to be made since The British Museum agreed to lend some of their 1,000 Benin artefacts, drawn from The Punitive Expedition, to this museum. Unfortunately, this will only be on a rotation so is not committing entirely to the concept of repatriation. Moreover, if the British government cares

so dearly about these looted items, could they not set aside some of their foreign aid budget for supporting the heritage of countries that they tore culture from?

My childhood school trips to British institutions introduced me to Britain’s culture through art such as in the landscapes of J. M. W. Turner. The next generation of previously colonised countries equally deserves to see their cultural heritage. If Britain and other European countries continue clinging on to these objects, it severs people from their own cultural identity. If the objects cannot currently be returned, British institutions can recognise the difficulties in their collection. The V&A has held symposiums regarding the issue entitled ‘Troubling Objects’ in attempt to offer perspectives on the colonial legacy of the museum, since a lot of its development can be linked to investment from slave owners.

The Tate Britain launched an initiative to address this issue entitled ‘A Walk Through British art by Tate’s BAME Network.’

Throughout the gallery, there are black signs next to certain contentious pieces of art inviting visitors to consider them from a BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) perspective. For instance, the sign alerts to the unsettling blackface within Benjamin Robert Haydon’s Punch or May Day (1829).

Similarly, The British Museum commissioned a spoken word piece by George the Poet about their Benin bronze collection.

Both the Tate and The British Museum have taken a step in the right direction, but the majority of visitors are unaware of the postcolonial narrative as they exist online, separate from the actual exhibit.

Rebecca Randle discussed this approach of considering art from a new postcolonial perspective for the Barber and how to respond to ‘a troubling object with a troubling past.’ Currently, the altarpiece resides in the Red Gallery. The description offered is relatively apolitical, it explains its appearance and role in society but does not mention its origins.

Whilst returning it to Benin is a complex action, the Barber is working on drawing attention to the issue and colonial history behind the altarpiece. This will involve a Barber Late focusing on the object as a focal point of the interview. The Barber also

A Word From the Barber Nicola Kalinsky Director of the Barber Institute

I’d suggest that British and other European/western museums, working together with institution in those countries which were subjected to colonisation, should be searching for is a way of rebalancing our world's collections through dialouge. This may be achieved by repatriation for some objects and collections, however, for other objects it might be a case of acknowledging the history of the object more transparently. This would allow museums to honour that

history and as well as its other qualities. Repatriation isn't always the ideal, or even what is being asked for – although there are many instances where that is the case. It is complicated, and within the overarching narrative, I feel it is important to consider the specific situation and history of each case. Personally, I feel for the Barber to display one extremely beautiful example of Benin brass, an artefact from a great African civilization, within the setting of our primarily European collections is an important juxtaposition. It offers the oppurtunity for a dialogue between different art forms, but all of the highest quality.

invited activist Alice Procter to offer one of her ‘Uncomfortable Art Tours’ around the Barber on the 28th May. Typically, she leads groups through notable British institutions attempting to spotlight the untold history of certain exhibits and offering ‘display it like you stole it’ badges.

Procter considered the Benin brass in relation to Bartolomé Esteban Murillo’s The Marriage Feast at Cana (1672) and Anthony Van Dyck’s Ecce Homo (1625-6), which hang behind it.

This is because both paintings feature people of colour, represented in a negative light as servants or torturers of Jesus. It was eye-opening to consider the brass altar in the wider narrative of representation within our galleries and museums. Whilst immediate repatriation is not a possibility, Procter agreed with the Barber’s decision to engage with the Benin brass.

Cultural Artefacts Misappropriated by the UK Koh-i-Noor Country: India Date of Orgin: 1526 Misappropriated: 1849

“Whilst Britain's crimes of colonialism cannot be reversed, it is vital that our cultural institutions teach our generation about them” Furthermore, last October, UoB students collaborated with Dr Asha Rogers, Lecturer in Contemporary Postcolonial Literature, and Dzifa Benson, artist and poet for Black History Month, to discuss colonial themes in the collection. For instance, students on a Post-Colonial Cultures module responded to the people of colour in Jan Steen’s The Wrath of Ahasuerus (167173). Randle believes that ‘this object provides an opportunity to discuss colonialism, to learn about it and to create cultural understanding.’ The Barber Collective and The Ikon Youth Programme have been working together on a project considering the British Empire through the object and Ikon’s Hew Locke Exhibition for the migrant festival. Whilst Britain’s crimes of colonialism cannot be reversed, it is vital that our cultural institutions teach our generation about them.

To continue consideration of the colonial legacy within galleries, the Barber will be hosting a Barber Late in October that will consider Decolonisation of the Collection and BAME representation.

Britain has a colonial legacy that must be recognised. Our galleries and museums can’t continue holding onto these objects and exhibiting them in a manner that ignores their tragic history.

Repatriation is an ideal but for the time being, it is equally important that institutions bring these artefacts to the attention of others as we can learn through them.

If you have strong opinions or are interested in the content expressed in this article, watch out for the October Barber Late and feel free to contact the Barber Institute of Fine Art if you’d like to be involved in it.

09

Rosetta Stone Country: Egypt Date of Origin: 196 BCE Misappropriated: 1801

Elgin Marbles Country: Greece Date of Origin: 447 BCE Misappropriated: 1801

Mummies Country: Egypt Date of Origin: 3500 BCE Misappropriated: 1753

Hoa Hakananai’a Country: Easter Island Date of Origin: 1000 Misappropriated: 1868

From top: Cyril Davenport, Vinicius Pinheiro, Justin Norris, Mario Sánchez Prada, BabelStone

10

COMMENT

Friday 7th June 2019

@redbrickcomment

Now for Northern Ireland

With global outrage sparked by Alabama's new abortion restrictions, Amy O'Neill argues that we shouldn't ignore the same restrictions in Northern Ireland Amy O’Neill Comment Writer

Pro-choice campaigners across the world have fought long and hard for the right to choose.

Ground-breaking legislation was passed in the UK and the US in the 1960s and 70s granting women the right to end a pregnancy if their lives were at risk, it was caused by rape, or if they simply did not have the means or wish to raise a child.

Alabama is one of nine states in the US this year seeking to undermine this valuable legislation in a crackdown on bodily autonomy and the right to safe and legal abortion care. The changes in legislation in Alabama are now the most restrictive abortion laws in the US, amounting to an almost complete ban on abortion at any stage of a pregnancy and criminalising anyone who provides an abortion with a sentence of up to 99 years. This is thanks to an all-white, majority male slate of senators who, in the words of Governor Kay Ivey, believe that ‘every life is precious.’ This is extremely hypocritical, given that Alabama currently issues the death penalty, and that abortion bans are well

documented to endanger the lives of women by subjecting them to dangerous abortions and lack of healthcare.

“Alabama is one of nine states seeking to undermine [...] bodily autonomy” This follows other states cracking down on abortion, including in Georgia, where a ‘heartbeat’ ban has been implemented, making abortion illegal after a heartbeat is detected (roughly six weeks after conception). In other words - a twoweek late period . Roe v Wade (1973) declared the right to choose a constitutional right.

This makes the crackdown on abortion across the South and Midwest unconstitutional, prompting Senator Elizabeth Warren to suggest that it is part of a widespread attempt to restrict the bodily autonomy of millions of women and trans people across the US. This news has rightly sparked

outrage around the world for the people of Alabama. However, whilst this is new to people in the USA, it has been the reality for women in Northern Ireland since the 1881 Offences Against the Person Act, which was repealed in the rest of the UK in 1967.

This law means that both the people who access abortion care and the doctors providing it could be sentenced to life imprisonment and makes abortion only available in the case that the lives of both mother and baby are in danger. Fiona de Llondras, a professor here at the University of Birmingham, has described this law as being ‘considerably more restrictive’ than in Alabama.

Cases such as the tragic death of Savita Halappanavar in the Republic of Ireland in 2012 highlight that this legislation doesn’t necessarily protect the lives of the mother and child. Savita had been admitted to hospital complaining of severe back pain and was miscarrying, but the doctors refused her an abortion as the fetus still had a heartbeat. She later died of septicaemia. Her husband said he had absolutely no doubt that she would still be alive had she been allowed an abortion.

Reforms to abortion laws in Northern Ireland have been repeatedly blocked by the conservative DUP, forcing women to travel to access abortions on the NHS in England and Wales, often in secret.

“Don't forget about the lack of reproductive rights closer to home” Pro-choice campaigners often argue that illegal abortion doesn’t ban abortion, it just bans safe abortion. For example, in El Salvador, where abortion is illegal, confusion about legislation and the ban itself leads to dangerous pregnancies such as ectopic pregnancies going ahead, or even teenagers committing suicide, and many people access abortions by buying the drug misoprostol on the street. In the case of Northern Ireland, the lack of access to abortion care means that poorer women, trans men and non-binary people who might fall pregnant are completely unable to access safe and

legal care due to monetary factors.

This comparison isn’t to say we shouldn’t be angry at what is happening in the US. Far from it; the abject hypocrisy and cruelty of the thinking that would protect a fetus but condemn a pregnant person to death or prison is terrifying.

The crackdown on the right to choose is a direct attack on pregnant people’s bodily autonomy, and their right whether to have a child or not, whether it’s due to trauma, illness, or simply not wanting to or having the means to raise a child. Frustratingly though, there isn’t much we in the UK can do to help women suffering in the US. There is, however, important work to be done here, to make sure that women in Northern Ireland have the same access to basic healthcare and the right to choose that the rest of us do in Great Britain. Pro-choice campaigners such as Alliance for Choice are calling on UK citizens to act in Northern Ireland, simply by emailing their MP to put pressure on the government.

Anger against what’s happening in America is rightful and justified, but don’t forget about the lack of reproductive rights closer to home.

Shaking Up Politics Dominic Staniforth dives into the new phenomenon of ‘milkshaking’ politicians Dominic Staniforth

them an acceptable way to do Farage and other leaders with so? evidence of the intolerance of Nigel Farage was hit by a remain voters. milkshake on Monday 20th of This can be further seen in Throwing a milkshake on a poli- May whilst campaigning in the recent 'milkshaking' of Don tician is not a serious act of Newcastle. Stephen Yaxley- McNaughton, an 81-year-old political violence. Recently, the Lennon (known as Tommy Brexit Party supporter. Clearly act was carried out to symbolise Robinson), and Carl Benjamin throwing a milkshake on somethe unwillingness of the public to were also hit by milkshakes, one with opposing views is at allow intolerance within our making the total to four milk- the least bad optics for your society. Political figures that shakes thrown at right-wing political cause. And in this sense, appeal to democracy in order to candidates within a week. The the act itself can be seen as a legitimise intolerant views, gain series of events bring up an bad political tactic which is support for violent policies and important issue within politics: unlikely to gain your cause supactions, should be ridiculed in is the public humiliation of port. sight of the public political figures antiHowever, it would be naïve eye. However, is democratic, and to say that milkshaking is an throwing a milkshould we condemn attempt to win anybody over. shake at those who throw Paul Crowther, the man who milkshakes at poli- threw milkshake over Farage, ticians? claimed he had been looking Farage him- forward to the milkshake, but self tweeted thought ‘it went on a better purafter the event pose.’ Impactful public disthat ‘some course surrounding Brexit has remainers have long since been abandoned, so it become radi- would seem milkshaking is at calised’ and that best an attempt to temporarily ‘normal cam- humiliate leading figureheads of paigning is the Brexit cause. becoming Furthermore, the act of i m p o s s i b l e . ’ throwing a milkshake is a level These ‘radical’ of violence that cannot be equatactions seemed ed to the violence typically assoto have had ciated with the far right of poliadverse political tics. Robinson was jailed in May effects. It could last year for filming and broadbe argued that the casting live defendants involved ‘milkshaking’ of in a criminal trial. Robinson Brexit advocates filmed a defendant and told Rebel Wisdom/ Chatam House/ has simply armed / Gage viewers to ‘harass him, find him, Lauren Southern Skidmore / camknows Comment Writer

Shayan Barjesteh van Waalwijk van Doom

go knock on his door, follow him, see where he works.’ Carl Benjamin, on the other hand, posted a video online claiming he ‘wouldn’t even rape’ Labour MP Jess Phillips, and that ‘with enough pressure I might cave.’

Benjamin’s comments had real world consequences, as Phillips revealed ‘I do fear for my mental health actually’ in an interview with Birmingham Mail.

“Throwing a milkshake [...] cannot be equated to the violence Farage, Robinson and Benjamin have incited” Finally, Farage himself, whilst talking at an event in Southampton on the 14th of May 2017, claimed he would be ‘forced to don khaki, pick up a rifle and head for the front lines’ if the government didn’t deliver Brexit. Clearly, the issue of Brexit has brought further toxicity to British politics, and the emergence of milkshaking, good or bad, is a clear indication of that.

To call a milkshake being thrown on a politician as an act of political violence is to forget the history of political humiliation. In 2009 BNP leader Nick Griffin was hit by an egg during a news conference , and in March this year Jeremy Corbyn was egged.

As members of public interest and political importance, it does not seem excessive to ask politicians to recognise that their actions, promises, and views have political and real-world consequences. I would argue that throwing a milkshake at a politician is not a dangerous, serious, or significantly violent act.

Ultimately the act of throwing a milkshake at a politician should be justified to the extent at which the targeted politician holds, presents, and acts on intolerant views. The paradox of tolerance theory defined by Karl Popper in 1945 states that ‘in order to maintain a tolerant society, the society must be intolerant of intolerance.’

It is up to the public to decide whether the views, policies, and acts of politicians are dangerous enough to justify dousing them in milkshake. However, whilst milkshaking is not a serious action of political violence, due to the principles of civil democracy, we should seriously consider whether the act is necessary according to the situation.

COMMENT

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An End to the Mayhem As Theresa May bids high office fare well, Hannah Lay contemplates her legacy focusing on housing, austerity and the divisive issue of Brexit Hannah Lay Comment Writer

Theresa May – liked by some, disliked by many. But, whatever your opinion of her, it is undeniable that she has one of the most interesting legacies of the country’s recent prime ministers. She is the ‘Brexit PM’ that did not deliver Brexit and gambled away her majority.

On May 24th, Theresa May announced that she would be resigning from her post, paving the way for a successor to try and deliver where she has failed.

“As the British public voted to leave around three years ago and we are still a firm part of the EU I would say that May has definitely failed” But is ‘failed’ the right word here? It depends on how you look at her record and inten-

tions. Although May set out a variety of priorities for her government when accepting office, Brexit was set from the outset to be the thing that would dominate her premiership. As the British public voted to leave around three years ago and we are still a firm part of the EU I would argue that May has definitely failed.

Is the failure of Brexit May’s fault and could someone different have done a better job? I would have to say no. May has been criticised time and time again for her approach to Brexit and maybe some of the critiques have merit. However, the situation was unprecedented and I think the cards have well and truly been in the EU’s hands this whole time. Yes, someone with better negotiating skills may have got a different deal but would this have made a difference? Probably not. In my opinion, the amount of in-fighting within the House of Commons and a lack of coherent position from within either of the two main parties would have prevented anybody’s deal from being passed.

In her resignation speech, May attempted to shape her legacy by outlining some of her successes. She spoke of bringing an end to austerity, building more homes and falling national debt, all of which she argued she

has done during her time as Prime Minister. However, when you look a little closer at these so-called successes, questions are raised. It may be true that national debt levels are falling but when this is paired with public services that are starved of resources due to reduced spending, is there really much to celebrate? Also, May has moderated austerity but it still exists so, again, is there actually that much to celebrate?

“May has moderated austerity but it still exists so, again, is there actually that much to celebrate?”

Housing is another contentious success. According to the Independent, ‘ground-breaking research by Heriot-Watt University says England has a backlog of 3.91 million homes, meaning 340,000 new homes need to be built each year until 2031.’ A government publication says that the average number of new dwellings built each year

between 2017 and now in for your political decisions England has been around comes hand in hand with the role 165,000, a figure well below of Prime Minister, something what England apparently needs which she would have again to reduce the shortage. The same known when stepping into publication does show that house office. building has increased so May did not lie in her speech.

However, unless the increase can make a drastic contribution to reducing the so-called 'housing crisis' in England, I do not think it can be counted as a significant success.

Following May’s resignation there has been numerous discussions about her legacy.

As well as this, some have been asking if May deserves our sympathy over the events she has endured during her premiership.

In answer to the latter question I would have to say, wholeheartedly, no. It’s not as if May was coerced into accepting the position of Prime Minister. Brexit was always going to be a challenge as it was completely unprecedented and Theresa May knew this when assuming office. Also, even if Brexit had not been what defined her legaRaul Mee cy, being criticised

Languages Bring Us Together Charlotte Gill raises the importance of language learning beyond university Charlotte Gill Comment Writer

Telling people you study Modern Languages usually elicits one of two responses: either ‘I was always so rubbish at languages at school’ or ‘I wish I had kept up a language.’ When the school syllabus is uninspiring, it’s unsurprising. If I had not known in year nine that I wanted to speak French and German, I wonder what would have kept me committed.

This is not a slight on teachers, who themselves likely wish for change. Who could envy helping pupils learn endless paragraphs filled with ‘Ich habe fußball gespielt’ and ‘Je suis allée en Espagne’ to trot out in the end of term speaking exams?

Assessment hoop-jumping leaves little room for proper understanding. Languages are considered ‘high risk’ choices: the four key areas are demanding and language requires constant maintenance, so if you have

no interest or not enough time, it is easy to fall behind. The highly artificial topics also act as a demotivator; I can’t say I ever told someone about my morning routine on my year abroad. It is hard to feel confident at GCSE – a crucial time for generating interest – while reciting words without understanding what they signify.

This is not language learning, this is a memory game which extinguishes any fascination the foreign countries may hold. Before A-Level, there is neither the time nor the resources to allow for lessons which show what you can do with languages and where they can take you. It shouldn’t have to be this way. A language emanates from a people, from their history, and this needs to be communicated.

Engaging pupils in the culture is more valuable than having them learn verb conjugations, because this sparks interest and offers a real-life application to serve as motivation.

It is not all doom and gloom though – but we first must

change the way we approach foreign languages in the UK to help teachers, and to foster an appetite for language learning and an acknowledgement of its value. It is crucial that the education system demonstrates what an excellent skill it is, and the opportunities language learning affords us. English is often the lingua franca, but I would not have been able to live and work abroad in the manner I did without being able to speak French and German well. The experience of being immersed in another culture offers enormous scope for personal progress. You become resourceful, resilient, adaptable, open-minded, facing new situations and people on a daily basis.

To get sentimental about it, if eyes are the window to the soul, then languages are the window to another culture. I had discussions with many people about their backgrounds and beliefs, gaining insight and broadening my own perspective. Conversing in their native language meant nothing was lost in translation.

If you like, multi-linguists are provided with ‘backstage access,’ something which is frustratingly overlooked when claiming that ‘everyone speaks English, anyway.’

“If eyes are the window to the soul, then languages are a window to another culture” Even in a university setting, language students do not, thankfully, spend all of their time revising past participles and the subjunctive because cultural modules cover foreign literature, linguistics, history, politics, and incorporate discussion of myriad of topical issues. It is like buy one, get a load free, which really is value for money if you want to go there.

Perhaps now more than ever, knowledge of a foreign language

is key. It is impossible to say what will happen internationally in the future if countries become more isolationist and nationalist populism intensifies, and headscratchingly difficult to picture even the near future concerning Brexit. If we become politically and legally distanced, especially from the EU, then language is a means of remaining engaged.

This is important for enriching cultural interaction, and even for maintaining ties in order to tackle border-crossing issues such as international security, environmental damage and digital development. And as fast as technology is advancing, I don’t believe it can yet capture the nuance and complexity, nor replace the human element, of using and understanding another language.

The discussion of foreign languages deserves more airtime than it gets. We should and we must encourage language learning by making it interesting and showcasing its abounding potential and global importance.

Failing to do so will present a far greater loss than many realise.

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An Exposé on the Fashion Industry

LIFE&STYLE

Life&Style Writers address some of the good, the bad, and the boundary-breaking when it comes to the representation of models in high-street retail brands Imogen Lancaster & Sophie Kesterton Life&Style Editors

The retail industry has traditionally portrayed a niche representa-

tion of beauty: skinny, tanned, tall, able-bodied, and blemishfree. Due to these restrictive norms, 34% of men and 55% of women say they have felt pressured to obtain a particular body type, aaccording to a survey con-

Melissajay

ducted by the National Citizen Service (NCS).

But recently, particular brands have started to take notice of changing times by challenging and broadening these ideals. We are seeing a greater influx of dif-

ferent ethnicities, sizes, shapes, skin conditions, disabilities, and non-airbrushed photos, a refreshing outlook on beauty standards.

Nonetheless, certain brands are still failing to recognise the importance of greater diversity.

Topshop

ASOS

Estelle Dragan Life&Style Writer

In an age where body confidence crises are at their height, Made In Chelsea’s Melissa Tattam has continued to ignite the flame with her high-end bikini brand’s questionable sizing. The Melissajay range brands a UK size 10 as ‘large’ and doesn’t go beyond a size 12, failing to cater to the national average. Considering a standard high-street large equates to a size 16-18, Melissajay has completely missed the mark.

“She claims her bikinis are designed to ‘make the body look its best’” Labelling sizes beyond a 10 as ‘large’ completely stigmatises a normal and healthy body shape.

The rest of her sizing states that an ‘extra small’ is a size 4-6, a ‘small’ is a size 6-8, and a medium is a size 8-10. Her brand seems to have subjectively relabelled the national sizing system according to Melissa’s own figure. The Melissajay website and Instagram page only show models wearing a size 4 or 6, whilst she predominantly uses herself as a model in the absence of diversified representation. She claims her bikinis are designed to ‘make the body look its best’, yet fails to tailor her so-called best-looking body bikinis to the rest of the nation.

Melissajay

Brandy Melville

Brandy Melville Josie Hart Life&Style Writer

People come in all shapes and sizes. Fact. You would expect that any clothing retailer would be mad not to realise and accommodate for this plain reality. However, in a frankly exclusionary and discriminatory effort to target a certain buyer, Brandy Melville fails to provide their clothes in sizes any where near to the national average. Despite supposed major progressions in their outlook, now advertising their clothing as ‘fitting an extra small or small size’ rather than ‘one size’, the damaging notion that, when it comes to bodies, there is an ideal or a norm that must be adhered to, continues to be presented by the brand.

Furthermore, finding a model on their website who isn’t white and slim is like searching for a needle in a haystack. That is, if the needle isn’t actually in the haystack and you’ve in fact embarked on a futile endeavour. Honestly, try it, I challenge you.

This means the brand is only contributing to the social construction of ‘perfection’ with viciously damaging consequences. For many, shopping with the brand could result in feelings of inadequacy and the need to reach, in some cases, unattainable representations of what a Brandy Melville shopper should look like.

Yes, the clothes they sell are cute but it is simply insanity that they should continue to get away with such harmful and unrepresentative branding strategies.

Life&Style writers shed light on both the commendable feats and the controversies of some of the big names in the industry.

Kathryn Langford

Hannah Lay

Life&Style Writer

Life&Style Writer

Online shopping retailer ASOS has recently come under fire when photos emerged of one of their models wearing clips to hold a dress in place. The clothing mishap was highlighted by Twitter user @xronnieanna, who wrote “uhmm @ASOS think you forgot to edit those clips out.” The tweet soon went viral, having now gained over 33,000 retweets and 97,000 likes. ASOS, who has since been ridiculed by the internet for their mistake, quickly replied with an apology: “Hi Ronnie, thank you for raising this with us. We’re sorry to hear the clips are showing in the picture.”

Rather than apologising for the fact their team forgot to edit the clips out, ASOS should apologise for the use of them in the first place. All too often we find ourselves ordering clothes online that fit the model beautifully in pictures, yet when they arrive, look like a completely different product. It should come as no surprise that this is the case when online clothing brands are editing and falsifying their modelling pictures.

Online fashion websites should show how clothes actually fit, rather than setting unrealistic expectations and ultimately wasting masses of plastic when their products are returned.

ASOS

Andrew Buda and Alex Albeck

Aerie Grace Baxendine Life&Style Writer

#AerieReal has taken the internet by storm and has snowballed into a movement that is growing by the day to help people feel comfortable in their own skin. The first thing you notice on the main page of the Aerie website is the refusal to hide or shame so-called body ‘imperfections’; stretch marks, cellulite and scars are shown with the grace and celebration they rightly deserve. As a company, Aerie clothing are in a partnership with NEDA, the National Eating Disorder Association, and have been running training sessions in order for store associates and website supervisors to promote body positivity in every way, shape and form.

It is also refreshing to see that all items offer ALL sizes, as opposed to there being a ‘plus size’ section which at times segregates and often still restricts what certain people can buy. The models are truly of every shape, size and ethnicity – it seems that they were not hired to fit a stereotypical supermodel criteria or the perfect Kardashian curves; these are women with smiley faces and bodies everyone can relate to.

Aerie have been doing a wonderful job promoting self-love and body positivity, something I hope continues to spread.

I have shopped at Topshop for years. But, recently I looked more closely at their level of representation and I was very disappointed. Their sizing falls short of what I expected from a big retailer.

They only sell clothing sized 4-18, which completely excludes any women who wear a size above an 18. It struck me as unusual for Topshop to not have a plus-size collection as a lot of its competitors do. Topshop is never going to be inclusive if it does not offer a better range of sizes, so it should work to rectify this issue.

“According to the Independent, the average British woman is 5'5 and a size 16 so these models are not even close to representing the average British woman” Another disappointment is that Topshop models are not representative of the British public.

Although a range of ethnicities are represented, all the models have the same physique. The website shares the height and size of their models in the description of the pieces of clothing online.

Every model I looked at was a size 8 and 5’9. However, according to the Independent, the average British woman is 5’5 and a size 16, so these models are not even close to representing the average British woman.

Waves have been made in the fashion industry to employ a greater diversity of models but Topshop still has a way to go.

FEATURES

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Collusion Alice Gawthrop Life&Style Writer

When it was first announced, Collusion seemed pretty groundbreaking. Featured on ASOS, it was a new brand that promised a range of unisex clothes that would not fall into rigid gender binaries.

And, to an extent, it delivered.

The brand offers a range of jackets, hoodies and t-shirts that are not designated for men or women, but for whoever likes the look of them.

But Collusion still falls short in some respects. For a start, all the ‘unisex’ clothes are clothes that have never been particularly gendered anyway – both men and women have been wearing t-shirts, hoodies and jackets for a while now. The biggest controversy has always been men wearing stereotypically feminine clothes, and despite its unisex line, Collusion is not doing anything to destigmatise this. Skirts and dresses are still marketed as being for women, with female models wearing them.

Is the next step to normalise men wearing ‘feminine’ clothes by also selling unisex skirts?

That’s not to say that Collusion is not doing a good thing. Its unisex range hits the mark in most ways, being both fashionable and affordable. It is animal-free, and its cotton is sustainably sourced.

There is a lot to celebrate about Collusion, but there is still room to improve.

H&M Aishwarya Chandran

Life&Style Writer

H&M has been praised for not airbrushing pictures of models’ bodies, leaving photos untouched.

Although they join a number of other brands like ASOS, Boohoo and Missguided, who have also stopped digitally modifying models’ skin, they are the first highstreet store to make this change.

Models’ skin shows arm hair, scars and stretch marks, which has been greatly praised on social media. The public has applauded the high-street company for celebrating diverse body types and skin blemishes. In addition, they have also included a wide range of models from various ethnic backgrounds. Thus, H&M realises the importance of representing a number of people from different cultures in support of diversity and inclusion in fashion – something which has been minimal until the last decade.

“The public has applauded the high street company” H&M has made a change in a positive direction, seeking to embrace imperfections and normalise realistic body types in and amongst a media-hungry environment where society aims to alter natural body shapes and features for fame and fortune.

Joanna Kiely

Missguided Aimee Cashmore Life&Style Writer

Missguided is one of the biggest online retailers in the UK and, since its creation in 2009, the brand has expanded rapidly across the globe. In recent years, Missguided has become a champion of body positivity. In 2017, it launched its ‘Make Your Mark’ campaign, aimed at celebrating and empowering all body types.

The campaign included a diverse group of models of different ethnicities and various sizes. The brand also promised to stop retouching their models by airbrushing their bodies and has expanded their ranges to include collections for curvy, petite and tall women.

This initiative aimed to reflect the brand’s overall message, that all women should be confident in their own skin, regardless of whether they conform to society’s idea of perfection. Messages such as these are hugely beneficial and refreshing in the fashion industry, where too often a homogenised and idealised standard of beauty is endorsed. Last year, the brand launched another incredibly powerful campaign called #InYourOwnSkin, which featured models with albinism, burn marks or other skin conditions such as psoriasis. This is yet another way Missguided has helped to diversify the beauty industry by normalising and celebrating disabilities and disfigurements. Missguided’s inclusive campaigns have a hugely positive impact and encourage women to embrace their ‘flaws’ and individuality.

I personally find it extremely uplifting to see models with stretch marks as it reminds me that these things are normal and not imperfections that need to be erased. Missguided’s ethos of inclusivity is certainly a step in the right direction for the fashion industry and hopefully, other retailers will follow in its footsteps.

Boohoo Eleanor Jeffery Life&Style Writer

Boohoo is an online fast fashion retailer, known for its low prices and a wide array of styles, supposedly for all sizes and heights.

Maybe it is unrealistic to hold them to the same ideals as higher quality brands such as ASOS or

Brandy Melville, however, in my opinion, they should be.

The average UK dress size is a size 16, yet Boohoo’s ‘normal’ dress sizes stop at a size 14, whereas their plus sizes start at a size 16. Although they supply the same styles for both ‘normal’ and ‘plus-size’ women, which I would argue is nothing but a positive, the fact that these are deliberately separated to single out what Boohoo would term ‘plus-size’ women (read: average size women) is not quite so good.

Considering their models are all the willowy, blonde type, either pale or slightly tanned, none of them under the height of 5’7 (unless modelling for a specific ‘petite’ range), Boohoo’s marketing leaves a lot to be desired.

When looking at the website for this article, I also noticed that almost all of their plus-size models are a size 16 - not a large size at all, considering the UK average!

A final pet peeve of mine, and the thing I always look for in retailers – bra sizes. Sorry, bigbreasted ladies of the UK, Boohoo can’t cater for women with a chest size larger than a D! Looking at that gorgeous red lacy push-up? If you’re lucky, you’ll tuck yourself into a C cup, but don’t expect them to cater for the average UK breast size (which is a 36DD).

Overall, Boohoo’s clothes might be cute, and the prices might be low, but they lack representation and have an odd differentiation between ‘plus-size’ and ‘normal-size.’

Birdsong Rebecca Payton Life&Style Writer

‘No sweatshops, no photoshop’ is the motto of London-based, sustainable clothing brand Birdsong.

On the brand’s website we see women with different skin tones and body shapes enjoying their clothes – unafraid to show spots, tattoos, stretch marks, cellulite and even pubes! In the fashion industry there seems to be a steady movement towards diverse branding, yet the idea of hairlessness being synonymous with beauty still continues. Sophie Slater and Sarah Beckett, Birdsong’s founders, are bucking this trend and giving natural female (hairy!) bodies the space to be beautiful something I have never seen anywhere else in women’s clothing advertising.

Of course, the inclusivity of different bodies is wildly commendable, but perhaps Birdsong’s greatest asset is their commitment to ethical production. Birdsong designs garments in-house, and then works with experts – from artists and printmakers to seamstresses – who experience barriers to employment in the UK, paying them the London living wage to bring Birdsong ideas to fruition.

This is a step-up from simply the image of inclusivity to an intersectional, comprehensive feminist ideology at all stages in the Birdsong process. In my opinion, a brand cannot claim to be representative when the clothes sold are produced by women in poor conditions for very little pay.

Birdsong is creating a whole new framework for the fashion industry. It challenges us to expect more from our wardrobe and

shows how high-street brands really can do better, not only in terms of representation through models, but in their production habits too.

photoshopped images of professional models that many cannot relate to.

Urban Outfitters Hollister Imogen Lancaster Life&Style Editor

Hollister, and the Abercrombie and Fitch brand as a whole, has a well-renowned reputation for exclusively featuring models and employees that sport a particular ‘look.’ In other words, tall, skinny, tanned models with sun-kissed beachy blond waves are undeniably the iconic staple of Hollister on the website, in-store, and notoriously plastered across their shopping bags in provocative poses. Whilst Hollister’s models certainly fulfil a Californian ‘girl next door’ aesthetic – and are arguably within their right to market their brand in this way – they have nonetheless received considerable backlash for their lack of representation over the years.

“This niche look appears to be becoming a thing of the past” Refreshingly, this niche look appears to be becoming a thing of the past, with Hollister featuring a wider subset of the population nowadays – different ethnicities, body shapes, skin tones, freckles and occasionally stretch marks are becoming more mainstream in the models on their website.

Although admittedly not as prevalent as one may hope, Hollister appears to be taking a long-awaited step in the right direction by diversifying their models.

Furthermore, a recent feature on the website allows buyers to see garments on ‘real’ people who have uploaded a picture wearing it on social media. This arguably offers a more realistic view of how these items of clothing look on the everyday buyer – a welcome change to the highly edited,

Issy Campbell Deputy Editor

While a number of Arcadia stores are set to close, including firm female favourites Topshop and Miss Selfridge, Urban Outfitters seems to be doing better than ever. As 90s inspired and Y2K fashion trends have crept back in, UO’s hipster-vibe has been right on the money. From funky glasses, to fluffy bucket hats, long silk slip dresses to cargo pants, it’s become known as a somewhat ‘edgy’ high-street store, offering vintage looks at overpriced costs – is this the main issue with UO? It is understandable in the world of marketing that retail brands will pick models they think suit the brand. Hence why UO have the effortlessly cool skater models, all with that minimalistic ‘I just got out of bed and threw this on, cool right?’ Fine, they know their market! But, there is a clear lack of representation of real men and women. You don’t have to be a size 4-8, to pull off the latest skater trends. With both men and women, there is a lack of diversity in body image. Where brands like ASOS excel in reallife representation, UO are failing. UO offer up to size 14 for female jeans, and cites up to 18 for dresses and tops, although availability of clothing in these sizes seems to be extremely reduced. Regardless, despite offering sizes up to 18, across their website and social media, there is a clear lack of, or arguably no, representation of varied body types. Instead, the same models and influencers appear again and again. It is hard to feel like UO are trying to be more inclusive: having some plus-size clothing isn’t really enough.

Where UO do deserve credit is in the representation of varied ethnic groups, especially regarding male models, which is refreshing to see. If real-life representation is obtainable for skin colour, UO can certainly make it possible for body types, too.

Missguided

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Redbrick Meets: Dr Ellie Chowns MEP After her election to the European Parliament, the West Midlands’ first Green MEP speaks to Redbrick about Green Party policy, the rise of the Brexit Party and her new role in Brussels Tom Leaman News Editor

Dr Ellie Chowns became the first ever Green Party MEP for the West Midlands when she was elected at the end of May. The Green Party gained 10.66% of the vote in the region, behind only the Brexit Party (37.66%) and Labour (16.95%). Across the UK, six Green Party candidates were elected.

Chowns has been a Teaching Fellow in the University’s International Development Department (IDD) since September 2014. She joined the University in 2008 as a part-time and then full-time PhD student.

She has requested unpaid leave from the University for as long as she is working as an MEP, but she will stay in touch with the IDD and is planning to return to campus to give a lecture as a guest speaker.

After weeks of campaigning and build-up, how did it feel to be elected as a Member of the European Parliament for the West Midlands?

Fantastic! It was a great result not just for the West Midlands but also for Greens across the UK. We’ve now got seven MEPs, up from three previously. We saw a Green Wave sweeping all of Europe too, bringing many more Greens to the European Parliament.

We now have 10% of all the MEPs, which means we’re growing in influence all the time.

“I felt I needed to stand up and be counted, not just shout at the radio” What inspired you to run for election?

I got involved in politics back in 2015 because I was so frustrated by the nasty direction that politics was going in – especially the rise of UKIP. I felt I needed to stand up and be counted, not just shout at the radio. I got stuck into local politics and ran in the last general election, and I was first elected as a local councillor in Herefordshire in 2017. I’ve always been a passionate European, so when the opportunity came up to

stand as an MEP – at such a critically important time in our national debate – it was something I really wanted to do.

For our readers who may be unfamiliar with European politics, what exactly will your role be and what policies will you and the other six Green Party MEPs be promoting?

We've got two big jobs to do over the next few months: stop the disaster that is Brexit, and get urgent action to address the climate crisis! It’s a very unusual situation because we don’t know whether we’ll still be in the EU after October 31st.

The West Midlands was the most Leave-voting region of the UK back in 2016, so I do feel like a key part of my role is outreach, talking to people here about how the EU actually works and what the Parliament does.

In terms of policy, as Greens, obviously action on the climate crisis is right up there at the top of our agenda – a Green New Deal, zero carbon housing & infrastructure, carbon taxes, a frequent flyer levy and so on. I want to work on trade and agriculture too – massive policy areas with major environmental impacts.

Which of these policies would you say most significantly affect students both at this University and across the UK? Both! Brexit would be a disaster for students and indeed for universities as a whole and the climate crisis is something that affects us all. Students have played a really big role recently in pushing it back up the political agenda, with Extinction Rebellion and the school climate strikers capturing public attention and forcing politicians to take note.

They’ve done a brilliant job and we now need to translate that public concern into political action across Europe.

A major policy for you and the Green Party is remaining in the European Union. How realistic do you think a second referendum is and how are the Green Party aiming to achieve this?

Support for a second referendum is growing all the time.

Caroline Lucas, the Green MP, called for it way back in July 2016 – she was ahead of the curve then.

It now looks like a second referendum is not just realistic, but actually the only way out of the Brexit mess.

Laura Chen

What do you make of the idea Do you think this election that a second referendum is marks a significant change in in some way ‘undemothe political landscape in cratic?’ the UK with the Brexit Democracy is a Party, the Liberal process, not a sinDemocrats and the gle decision. The Green Party all original referengaining more dum was poivotes than the soned by lies Conservatives? are expected to vote and wrongdoThere’s defiing – both of nitely been a Green at the next the Leave camfragmentation of paigns were the political landGeneral Election found guilty of scape. Labour and (Opinium) financial irregularthe Tories have ities. Three years both failed the voters on, we are much better and they’ve paid the informed about the costs price in terms of votes. The of Brexit, which massively out- Brexit Party is basically just UKIP weigh the costs of being part of mark two – still a one-man band the EU. In fact, the opinion polls with a single soundbite and no have been showing a clear major- actual policies. The Lib Dems ity for Remain for well over a have done well out of being proyear.

European, yes. But I think the Green Wave is something more.

People are coming to us not as a pro-EU protest vote, but because we offer a vision for the future.

Labour people are voting Green because we’re anti-austerity AND pro-Europe. Conservatives are voting Green because they want their grandchildren to inherit a living planet. I think the latest stat is that 11% are planning to vote for us if there’s a general election.

But fundamentally, the UK political system is broken. We urgently need major reforms, including a fairer voting system.

11%

“The West Midlands was the most Leave-voting region of the UK back in 2016, so I do feel like a key part of my role is outreach”

The democratic thing to do is to have another referendum, now that we know what leaving would entail in practice, and give people the choice between that or – for me, the obvious choice – staying in the EU, with all its benefits.

Finally, what advice would you give to students at the University of Birmingham who want to pursue a career in politics?

I don’t see politics as a ‘career’ at all! So I guess I have two

answers. The first is: don’t try to ‘pursue a career in politics!’ There are many ways to make a difference in the world. Find what you enjoy and are good at, and work out what needs doing most urgently to make the world a better place and fit the two together. That might take you into politics at some point, but even if it doesn’t, it will be worth doing.

“The Brexit Party is basically just UKIP mark two – still a one-man band with a single soundbite and no actual policies... I think the Green Wave is something more” The second answer is: do, please do, get involved in politics!

Join a party, go out door-knocking, basically take any opportunity to talk to people who don’t necessarily think the same as you.

People change their minds when they have something good to vote for, something they can believe in. Eight years ago, 80% of people in my ward voted Conservative but this year, 80% voted Green.

It’s local-level activism that builds the system-level change we need.

FEATURES

Friday 7th June 2019

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www.redbrick.me

Mind+Solve Sudoku (Easy)

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3 Across 2. Fish used to own harbour (7) 5. Call Watson and Stone in an emergency (7) 7. Devil loans make for a chaotic TV show (4,6) 9. More than one of Arabian country, doesn’t bode well (4) 14. No room for emotion in pesto ice (5) 15. Light range of mixed-up crumpets (8) 16. Lactose intolerants (9) 18. In the middle of a shag, gardener tired out (7) 19. My Tony I garbled, ‘is unknown’ (9) 20. Unclear jobs cure is hidden within (7)

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Down 1. Religious fanatics keep their pants on (5,4) 3. Single Spanish chicken, sun god (6) 4. A way of falling, look above (4) 6. Seven rag superheroes caught in a tangle earlier this year (8) 8. Big winners at our awards, also probably the best-dressed (4,3,5) 10. Revealed when two come together (6) 11. Biker goes round again (8) 12. New boy will read 1507 (8) 13. Country recommended for award (10) 17. Cam makes brief appearance at the end of Romeo (5)

First Lines The premise of First Lines is simple: each issue, we supply a selection of opening sentences from various novels,

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1. RAPID FJORD CONK 2. RARE HAIRY GUM 3. WEEKLY LARK

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songs and films. All you have to do is tell us which novels, songs or films the lines come from.

‘Hey kids, shake it loose together / The spotlight's hitting something that's been known to change the weather’

With England safely through/crashing out in the UEFA Nations League, can you unscramble the names of 10 players from Gareth Southgate’s squad?

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The Redbrick Crossword

‘“Mother, have you heard about our summer holidays yet?” said Julian, at the breakfast-table. “Can we go to Polseath as usual?”’

Anagrams

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Issue 1506 Puzzles compiled by Thom Dent and John Wimperis

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4. RARE HANKY 5. ENLARGE HERMITS 6. CELIAC NERD 7. IDLE ELLA 8. A SMURFS ORCHARD 9. SODA CAN JOHN 10. REJIG LESS DNA

Get in touch with Redbrick Mind&Solve by sending all answers, applications and queries to print@redbrick.me. On behalf of the Mind&Solve team I would like to express our gratitude towards all who have enjoyed or been endlessly frustrated by the puzzles this year. It's been a blast putting it all together. Adeiu. – Thom LAST ISSUE’S ANSWERS | Crossword: 1. Van Gogh; 2a. Cover Up; 2d. Collar; 3.

Rural; 4. Potato; 5. Wellingtons; 6. Online; 7a. All Star; 7d. Automotive 8. Tom Leaman; 9. Annual; 10. Hymn; 11. Disposable; 12. Pesticide; 13. Glazing; 14. Whiskers; 15.

Tulips; 16. Ragamuffin; 17. Queer; 18. Singapore | First Lines: The God of Small Things (Arundhati Roy); ‘Electric Feel’ (MGMT); Wayne’s World (Penelope Spheeris / Mike Myers) | Anagrams: 1. Belgium; 2. Netherlands; 3. Portugal; 4. Czech Republic; 5.

Germany; 6. Luxembourg; 7. Denmark; 8. Bulgaria; 9. Lithuania; 10. Croatia

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Friday 7th June 2019

As we reach the end of the academic year, we celebrate the achievements of our editorial team, writers and editorial assistants at the annual Redbrick Awards

and the winner is...

BEST NEW IDEA

BEST ARTICLE

Winner

Winner

Sport - Sport of the Fortnight

James Law - YouTube is a Breeding Ground for the AltRight

Highly Commended

Highly Commended

MOST IMPACTFUL ARTICLE Winner Paula Smith - My Body My Choice

Food&Drink - Food for Thought Commended

Matt Taylor - Interview: Joe Cornish

Music - Upcoming Events

Commended

Winner

Grace Baxendine - The Ups and Downs of a Year Abroad

Alex Cirant-Taljaard

BEST DISTRIBUTOR Winner Josh Woods

BEST EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Winner Nicola Maclean

BEST BEHIND THE SCENES Winner Theo Wrigley

BEST MITSAKE Winner Tom Leaman - 2018 World Cup

SPIRIT OF REDBRICK

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Friday 7th June 2019

BEST REVIEW Winner: Tom Denham – Christmas Ads: The Good and The Bad Highly Commended: Matt Taylor – Review: Hereditary Commended: Imogen Claire – Review: Monster Prom

BEST FEATURE / LONG READ Winner: Abby Spreadborough – The Night I Can’t Remember Highly Commended: Travel – My Favourite Places in the World Commended: Imogen Lancaster – Designing Disaster: Fast Fashion and the Environment

BEST NEWCOMER

BEST EDITOR Winner: Oliva Boyce (Culture)

Winner: Frankie Rohdes

Highly Commended: Amelia Hiller (Comment)

Highly Commended: Alex Green

Commended: Emily Barker (Music)

Commended: Sam Denyer

Commended: Romana Essop

BEST NEW EDITOR

BEST REPORTER

Winner: Jack Simpkin (Sport)

Winner: Andy Brennan

Highly Commended: Josh Woods (Film)

Highly Commended: Emily Darby

Commended: Sophie Woodley (News)

Commended: Florence Jones

BEST ONLINE TEAM Winner: Culture

MOST SOCIAL SECTION Winner: Film

Highly Commended: Life&Style

Highly Commended: Gaming

Commended: Food&Drink

PAGE OF THE YEAR BEST PRINT TEAM Winner: Film Highly Commended: Sci&Tech Life&Style

ANNA GRIFFISH: OUTSANDING CONTRIBUTION Winner: Thom Dent

Emily Youlton BurnFM Station Manager @Burn_FM

Winner: Rebecca Hall Highly Commended: Kit Shepard

BEST CRITIC

Winner: Life&Style p. 32 (Issue 1504) Highly Commended: Televison p. 24 (Issue 1503) Commended: Film p. 22 (Issue 1500)

MOST IMPROVED SECTION Winner: Food&Drink Highly Commended: Film

BEST WRITER Winner: Charlotte Gill Highly Commended: Gabrille Taylor-Dawson Commended: Harriet Laban

BEST SECTION

Winner: Life&Style

Highly Commended: Travel Commended: Television

It seems only a couple of weeks ago that I was typing out my first column as the new Station Manager for Burn FM and now here we are, one year on and it looks like I’ll have the pleasure of doing this job for another year yet. I feel as this academic year draws to a close, that this is a time for reflection on everything we have achieved this year, across the corridor from our friends here at Redbrick. We have continued our friendship and worked together as media groups and that for me has been one of the most important factors in this year - collaboration.

This collaboration extends to working with the Guild of Students and UOB. We were delighted to join with Guild TV to broadcast live on the guild elections, participate in Open days and our most ambitious challenge yet, a live scavenger hunt to find two presenters as part of the #hellobrum day. Student media continues to play a vital role in delivering information in an easily accessible way that can be related to across the board. Long may such collaboration continue for the benefit of all.

By engaging beyond our stu-

dio, we have had a knock out media ball, felt far less lonely at the events we were all covering and Redbrick have taken to the airwaves again with Redbrick Radio for its second year.

We have also engaged beyond Birmingham this year, working with the Student Radio Association by hosting a training day on campus, attending the National Student Radio Conference with lots more members than before and just this week hosted the National Student Chart Show. The Chart Show for us was an exciting challenge as we pulled together the biggest show we had ever produced, filling 2 hours with games, festival ticket giveaways and of course music to be broadcast across all student stations in the country. By working with the organisation we have been able to raise our profile and it has also encouraged change as we strive to improve, with us even submitting our first entries for awards, especially after a year with our brand new studio. We know we are fortunate to have such a space to create radio for our campus.

And now as we handover to the new committee, we can look forward to taking our collaborations to the next level, working hard in student media to represent students and build skills that will almost certainly benefit our futures.

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CULTURE

Friday 7th June 2019

@redbrickculture

Nocturnes: A Woman Refigured Culture Critic Frankie Rhodes writes about her experience at the Barber Lates event ‘Nocturnes: A Woman Refigured’ at the Barber Institute of Fine Arts Frankie Rhodes Culture Critic

The Barber Institute is a beautiful art gallery and concert hall situated on the edge of campus, close to the Guild of Students. Perhaps you’ve spent an afternoon there wandering among the masterpieces, or have taken a tour with one of the expert interpreters. Perhaps you haven’t ever visited. What I discovered when I visited the ‘Nocturnes: A Woman Refigured’ event is that the Barber Institute plays host to some fantastic, stimulating after-hours events, which are often free for members of the public to enjoy – these are the Barber Lates.

“The Barber Institute plays host to some fantastic, stimulating afterhours events, which are often free for members of the public to enjoy - these are the Barber Lates. ” The event that I attended on the 14th of May focused on the way that women are represented (or perhaps not represented) within art. The entrance to the galleries was decked out with stalls from local female artists and organisations, with the merchandise intricately designed and reasonably priced. I picked up a t-shirt from The Feminist Library, a London-based research centre focusing on the history of the women’s liberation movement, and a couple of satirical feminist postcards by illustrator Maddie Cottam-Allan. Considering that entry to the event and all of its main activities were free (including generous servings of wine), it seemed fair to contribute something towards some original art-

work.

Amongst the artist stalls there was also the opportunity to design your very own vinyl sleeve and cover, before recording your own poetry onto a record to take away.

Organiser Emily Sparkes provided a selection of women’s and queer magazines to leaf through, so that guests could select images to create a collage effect, or simply decorate their sleeve with stickers and glitter. A private recording booth provided the space to record poetry, after which the vinyl was instantly produced and you were left with your very own piece of artwork. My vinyl now takes pride of place on my bookshelf, giving me the chance to transform my poetic ideas into a physical reality.

The ground floor also showcased a durational sound installation by Emma Margetson, in response to the sketch ‘Froanna’

by Wyndham Lewis. The sound effects, which included electronic sounds and chalk-on-paper, emphasised the physicality of the work, and I felt the weakness of the female subject, under the possessive gaze of her artist-husband.

Coming across this painting later in the Barber gallery, the installation added new layers of interpretation to the minimalist sketch, causing me to notice what had been left out, and question why this might be the case.

Upstairs, visitors were met with a vibrant set from the Birmingham Artivistas.

Established in 2014, this organisation aims to combine crafts activities and political action to create social change. The team had recently worked with a women’s refuge in Selly Oak, collaborating with the women to create beautiful textile work, with an embroidered message that read ‘we are all birds of one sky’.

Other projects included creating material for the London Women’s March, with a particularly eyecatching piece depicting Frida Kahlo, clad in flowers and projecting from a large speech bubble: ‘Trump, get your nasty little hands off my people.’ It was wonderful to see art and politics combined in such a colourful, unapologetic way, made in collaboration with some of the most marginal-

Artist Emily Sparkes at her craft table

ised figures within society.

This floor also included my favourite aspect of the evening: a walking tour around the galleries featuring several talks from gallery interpreters, and other prominent researchers. One talk shed light on the political background of Peter Lely’s portrait ‘The Penitent Mary Magdalen’, produced during Oliver Cromwell’s period of Protestant religious fundamentalism. Understanding more about the strict repression and censoring occurring at the time, particularly in reference to the arts, made the risqué painting appear as an example of early liberation.

“Guests were able to view some images of the proposed works to be collected: gritty, honest pieces of art that are sure to make a fantastic exhibition in the future.”

Another talk that I particularly enjoyed was concerning a new art fund project, focusing on women print-makers in New York in the early twentieth century. This comes in response to the lack of work by female artists present in leading art institutions, including shocking statistics within the Barber’s collection: just seven female artists amongst 150 paintings, 800 prints and 39 sculptures.

Focusing on prints due to their affordability, this new project aims to shed light on an important inter-war period, in which women print-makers created depictions of

urban daily life, often experimenting with humour and satire. Guests were able to view some images of the proposed works to be collected: gritty, honest pieces of art that are sure to make a fantastic exhibition in the future.

With more Barber Lates coming up over the summer months, and exciting exhibitions, collections and tours approaching, the Barber Institute is definitely a place worth visiting. My evening was filled with creativity, wonder and vibrancy, and I look forward

to what the next event entails.

The next Barber Lates event, Nocturnes: A Night at the Paper Museum takes place on the 25th of June. The event will celebrate their summer exhibition, the Paper Museum: the Curious Eye of Cassiano dal Pozzo, which opens on the 14th of June, and will feature performances, workshops and talks.

Photos: Barber Institute

CULTURE

Friday 7th June 2019

@redbrickculture

19

Five Summer Reads

Culture’s Charlotte Gill recommends five books to read this summer Charlotte Gill Culture Critic

The Immortalists

by Chloe Benjamin

After four young siblings go to see a supposed psychic, who tells each of them their date of death, the book is split into four sections to follow their individual lives: reserved Simon; dreamy Klara; practical Daniel; controlling Varya. This makes it feel like you get four books for one, as each is elaborate and intriguing yet thoughtfully interwoven with the others. You are transported to their bunk beds in 1960s New York, to 1980s San Francisco, to the Vegas world of performing and beyond. You come to understand each sibling’s traits and motives and realise that, really, the story is an exploration of destiny and choice.

Does the psychic predict their deaths, or do the prophecies determine their behaviours which lead them to their deaths, thus fulfilling the prophecies? It is a well-written book relating an epic tale and though it is one based around death, it is more a tale of life and what you make of the time you have.

“This book merits the hype, both critical and commercial... the concept of power social, emotional, sexual - is explored throughout in a fascinating way.”

Normal People

by Sally Rooney

This book merits the hype, both critical and commercial. Normal People follows Connell and Marianne who meet in school despite being from entirely different social groups, in and out of school. It then tracks them as they get older, going through university, drifting and coming back together. This is not a new format but Rooney executes it to great effect and breathes life into the characters, even the supporting ones, to make it so enticing.

Connell and Marianne are never presented as anything other than flawed and searching and their souls and psyches are bared on the page. The concept of power – social, emotional, sexual – is explored throughout in a fascinating way. Rooney’s writing is very impressive and though the narration is sparse, it reveals so much.

Personally, I struggled to get into her first book, Conversations with Friends, so do not be put off because Normal People is the sort of story which leaves you thinking about it long after reaching the end.

This is Going to Hurt

by Adam Kay

Kay was a junior doctor for six years before becoming a scriptwriter and comedian. In this book he documents the myriad situations he found himself in while working in obstetrics & gynaecology. Some are painfully funny (pulling objects out of orifices and daring to find out how they got there) or painfully cringeworthy (such as a young girl running from the police and impaling herself on a fence) to plain painful, because when delivering babies there are – among the joyous moments – inevitably some sad cases, one of which leads Kay to leave the profession altogether.

The anecdotes are collectively witty, wry, gut-wrenching yet entertaining, and also incredibly informative. Kay shows just what is required of our doctors, who must make life-changing decisions in a matter of moments, working back-breakingly hard day and night, despite being underpaid and underappreciated.

A unique read which will move you and amuse in equal parts.

“The anecdotes are collectively witty, wry, gutwrenching yet entertaining, and also incredibly informative...

A unique read which will move you and amuse in equal parts.”

The Cactus

by Sarah Haywood

The protagonist, Susan, is a fortysomething year old woman who is very straight-forward and content going about her daily life, seeing no need to make room for anyone else or be flexible with her arrangements. She has recently lost her mother and, faced with an unexpected situation, she makes it her mission to get back what she believes is hers when her brother is favoured in the will. Throughout all of this, she is pushed to spend more time with others and slowly begins to realise that it can be enjoyable to have people around her for company and support and that putting herself out there, while emotionally risky, can pay off. It is easy to become invested in the characters and the unpredictable turn at the end adds to the story well. It is similar to Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine in many ways. A heart-warming book, perfect as a summer read to quickly settle into.

Educated

by Tara Westover

Though at times it felt fictional because of how unbelievable it was, this is Westover’s true memoir. She was raised a Mormon in rural Idaho and her family does not believe in the government or the medical establishment. Instead of going to school, she and her siblings work in their father’s junk yard sorting scrap metal, while their mother practises spiritual healing and midwifery.

Westover manages to get into university and later studies at Cambridge and Harvard in what is an extraordinary feat for a girl who had never been in a classroom until the age of 17. She was then confronted with the lack of knowledge she had about the world, such as the Holocaust and the Civil Rights Movement, but also struggled to navigate living and interacting with others.

Westover evaluates whether she can reconcile her new understanding with her family and upbringing, particularly her abusive brother and her father’s misguided faith, or whether she has reached a point of no return.

Without a doubt one of the most staggering stories I have read.

Review: Romeo & Juliet

Culture Critic Luca Demetriou reviews Matthew Bourne’s ballet, Romeo and Juliet Luca Demetriou Culture Critic

Matthew Bourne returns to the Leicester Curve with a re-telling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. In a not-so-far dystopian future institution, young people are divided into male and female, and love is prohibited. ‘In a society that seeks to divide, young lovers risk everything’. Intensely emotional and tumultuous, this elegant piece re-imagines Shakespeare’s play through Bourne’s trademark style of contemporary ballet.

Set to Prokofiev’s score in a new orchestration by Terry Davies, this Romeo and Juliet involves dystopian divides, murder, comedy, assault and is a poignant production.

Initially reluctant to stage this traditional and popular story, the impetus that prompted Bourne to choreograph Romeo & Juliet was

the idea that it would actually be a ‘a tale of youth’. Casting the show young ‘made it seem very right’, he says in a New Adventures interview. What makes this performance special is that young people were found in each city the performance is staged in to find emerging talent, emerging artists and cultivate their practice – expected to work at the same high standard as professionals would and treated as such, offering the cast, whose ages range from 16-19, an amazing experience to develop their talent.

And the youthful cast did not disappoint. Through exceptional skill and rigour, the cast effortlessly glided through sequences and added a comical edge to the traditional piece that could only have been achieved through young perspectives. Comprising of traditional ballet, contemporary ballet and free-form solos, their expressiveness was refreshing and delightful. As Romeo and Juliet is

“Dealing with themes regarding mental health and sexuality, Bourne remains current, highlighting contemporary issues through this traditional story newly set in a notso-far in the future dystopia” a story about young people, young love, Bourne decided he should try to capture what that is really like, hence the young cast and

development initiative.

Showcasing solo sequences as well as large ensemble-based work, Bourne successfully fostered emerging talent and young artists, as well as a young production team, including emerging choreographer Arielle Smith, who at only 22 is one to watch.

A catalyst for the plot’s dramatic events is the relationship presented by two young men.

Resistant to the ridicule of the threatening guards of this institution, the couple persisted through micro-gestures, such as holding hands discreetly and even overtly dancing together in a ballroom turned party sequence. This couple gave the piece an emotional softness that is resonant within contemporary society, especially in light of the recent and severe criminalisation of homosexuality in countries such as Brunei. This relationship massively impacts the group of youth stuck in this institution, but particularly for

Romeo and Juliet. The cold and stark set of this institution sets the tone for this piece as blue washes dominate the stage, changing only for prohibited parties of pas de deuxs and bloodied duets.

The emphasis on young people’s feelings is what frames this piece as unique. There is no holding back and the dancers theatricalise their emotions powerfully.

Dealing with themes regarding mental health and sexuality, Bourne remains current, highlighting contemporary issues through this traditional story newly set in a not-so-far in the future dystopia - young people and their emotions resist structures painfully and persist powerfully.

Matthew Bourne’s Romeo and Juliet will come to the Birmingham Hippodrome from the 10th to the 14th September 2019.

20

MUSIC

Friday 7th June 2019

@redbrickmusic

Introducing Our New Print Editors As the reigns are handed over to our new Music Editors, we asked Daisy Kirkaldy and Freddie Clark to write about their favourite recent releases Daisy Kirkaldy Music Editor 2019/20

Stormzy - Vossi Bop Stormzy is back. It’s been two years since he’s released any new music but it seems like the hype over his debut album, Gang Signs & Prayer, has only just subsided.

It was the first grime album to ever reach the top spot on the UK Albums Chart, so its follow-up had to be good. Rest assured, he delivered. His controversial headline slot at Glastonbury this year has had fans speculating whether new music would be released ahead of the major festival. Being the first grime artist to ever headline the festival caused some to hold doubts over whether Stormzy was a big enough artist to do the event justice, but due to ‘Vossi Bop’s confidence and its huge success already, I can’t imagine he’s going to disappoint.

‘Vossi Bop’ begins with ‘MERKY,’ the name of his record label, which has become an integral part of his brand as an artist.

Despite his two-year hiatus, Stormzy’s name hasn’t left the press or social media, due to his impressive ventures such as the #MERKY Festival and #MERKY Books, the latter of which involves the massive publishing house, Penguin Random House.

The track involves a catchy beat, controversial lyrics and a celebrity cameo of Idris Elba in the video: what’s not to like?

Stormzy has said of ‘Vossi Bop’

that he aimed for it to be ‘some- that she was now content with her thing I want everyone to enjoy’ niche in the ‘poptimist’ moveand this certainly seems to be the ment. Thankfully, the artistry that case (myself, my friends, my led her to E•MO•TION, has Mum and someone’s ensured that Dedicated Nan on Twitter all evolved into something seem to love it). beyond just hoover Henry W. Laurisch The lyrics are disco. clever and critiNothing on cal of the Dedicated reaches Conservative the unbridled joy party (which of past singles seems to be a like ‘Runaway common trope With Me’ or ‘Cut of grime music) To The Feeling,’ my personal but there is still a favourite being willingness to push ‘Fuck the governboundaries within her ment and fuck Boris sound. Some of the (yeah).’ It’s this combinaalbum’s best songs come tion of memorable lyrics, impres- out of changes in sonic palette. sive beats and huge upcoming The horn stabs and muted guitartour dates that confirm that ‘Vossi picking on ‘I’ll Be Your Girl’ are Bop’ will grant Stormzy even unmistakably ska. After its third more success than he’s already wave finally dissipated around the achieved. millennium, ska was quickly reduced to a parody of itself.

Despite now mostly being confined to the festival fields of August, Jepsen has mined the genre for a surging pop instruFreddie Clark mental to carry her envy. Upon Music Editor 2019/20 first listen, it’s all a little jarring but by the end it’s impossible not to be swept along by the tidal Carly Rae Jepsen wave of seething jealousy and Dedicated joyous brass. You all loved it A lot of what Carly Rae Jepsen when Amy Winehouse came out revealed about Dedicated during on stage with The Specials at V interviews involved what it was Fest, so I’d appreciate you giving originally supposed to be: an Carly the same chance. ‘understated disco’ album, proviThe brilliant collaboration sionally titled Music to Clean Your with Jack Antonoff on ‘Want You House To. This doesn’t exactly In My Room’ is Dedicated’s best paint a picture of a tirelessly deter- offering. A pitched vocoder chomined Jepsen, working to build rus along with Jepsen’s playful upon the profound legacy of her attitude feels like the closest we’ll previous effort. The forlorn but get to Chromeo producing a Cyndi self-aware romanticism of Lauper song, a long-term musical E•MO•TION gained the album fantasy of mine. There is intoxicult status and united a devout cating, wide-eyed tension and fanbase that, if memes are to be release on ‘No Drug Like Me,’ believed, are willing to arm both and a sultry, sycophantic, and themselves and Jepsen should the unexpected flip of Harry Nilsson’s need arise. Jepsen has often song from the Popeye movie in refused to be pigeonholed by past ‘Everything He Needs.’ Jepsen is successes (see ‘Call Me Maybe’), frequently as raspy and alluring as but I was nervous that this album we’ve ever heard her. However, was planned under the auspices while her foray into the overtly

sexual provides songs that confidently stand apart in her catalogue, some of the lyrical subtlety of her best songs has been sacrificed.

The strength of the album’s first half unfortunately gives way to some inconsistency in the second. The central repetition and squelching bassline of ‘The Sound’ feels exhausted by the time it’s stumbled to the threeminute mark. ‘Right Words, Wrong Time’ falls into a trap common to some of CRJ’s deeper cuts; she writes a fairly infectious chorus and is satisfied to fill the time between them with short verses of underwritten clichés.

Lines like ‘Hate the traffic in LA / I drove through it all to get to you’ make the crescendos feel unearned.

To contrast, ‘Feels Right’ is a great nu-disco funk song with a daring stretched-chorus vocal from Jepsen. It’s a shame how mired it feels by the surrounding tracks that will rob it of being better remembered.

Most disappointing of all is ‘Too Much.’ It’s a song that sounds

“You all loved it when Amy Winehouse came out on stage with The Specials, so I’d appreciate you giving Carly the same chance” a little too much like Jepsen’s best impression of those bland chart toppers that consist of stale romantic platitudes about house parties, and a watered-down dancehall beat. (Justin Bieber and Ed Sheeran currently have a No.1 single off the back of this sound, CRJ should know better.) Her ability to earnestly convey the

most overwhelming emotions usually help more underwhelming lyrical moments feel sincere and cathartic. Instead, ‘Too Much’ seems trite and lacking in ambition.

There is a strong argument to be made that Dedicated’s mediocre tracks swamp those that could shine brighter. Having said that, it must be noted that the rightfully celebrated E•MO•TION also suffers from a similar unevenness in its second half. I won’t be alone in feeling that the far more concise seven B-sides released shortly after were even more compelling.

We’ve seen occasional mediocrity forgiven before and Dedicated’s plurality of early good-to-brilliant songs will undoubtedly be what is remembered.

Carly Rae Jepsen has always searched for quality within quantity with both her last album and this one emerging from a pile of over 100 demos each. You really can’t fault Jepsen for repeating the process either. E•MO•TION made unrequited love sound both despairing and jubilant, was conceptually realised, and attempted to reintroduce sax solos into the pop lexicon. This, along with its eager adoption by critics and the LGBTQ community alike, provides a legacy that would cast a large shadow over any subsequent album. Dedicated could never have the same seismic effect on her career but it has removed any remaining doubt about her mainstay status. It doesn’t manage to reach the cohesive, worship inducing heights of its predecessor, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a pretty great collection of synthpop songs by itself. Better still, if history has taught us anything, patience will reward us with a set of sparkling B-sides to pair with Dedicated’s undeniable highlights, and the impressive pop canon of Carly Rae Jepsen will only continue to expand.

Live Review: Gus Dapperton Laure Davis Music Critic

I was expecting good things from New York artist Gus Dapperton’s show at the Institute in Digbeth, largely due to his confident, unique demeanour and the imagination and passion that goes into the performance of his music videos. It is fair to say my expectations were not only met but exceeded. Gus is truly a natural performer whose figure belongs in the spotlight.

Brendan Rice’s alter ego, Gus Dapperton, or as he describes it, ‘a character he embodies’, is a way for Brendan to feel his most artistic, comfortable self. As the band skipped on stage to an eager crowd, Gus’s originality and confidence was evident. Dressed in a baby pink skin-tight top and his signature pearl earring and bowlcut hairstyle, it was clear each

detail was carefully selected to turn heads.

Straight away Gus captivated the audience, with a huge grin on his face playing ‘Gum, Toe and Sole,’ a wise choice for a first song. Following ‘Moodna, Once With Grace,’ a slow tempo song, the atmosphere became more fun and animated. The band dynamics were playful, with the band joking around, and Gus made sure to present each member individually to the audience. It became apparent that they cared a lot for each other and genuinely enjoy performing together for months on end during their long tours across South America and Europe. It is not surprising that the band get on well together given that the drummer (Tommy Sibilla) and bassist (Ian O’Neill) are Gus’s highschool friends and the keyboardist, whom he calls his best friend, his younger sister (Megan Rice or Amadelle as she goes by). The

band members were also dressed in bold primary colours, all representing a different colour. It was effective, pleasing on the eye and reinforced the unity of the band.

As the band moved on to their next song ‘Ditch,’ Gus was able to free himself from his electric guitar and dance to the build-up of synths whereby he addressed the crowd: ‘We’re going to be dancing, so join us!’ This dancing was maintained throughout the performance. Without their dancing, the gig wouldn’t have been the same, they brought so much energy and fun to the room that made the audience feel like we were dancing with a group of mates on a Saturday night. Moreover, Gus made the audience feel less like strangers and more like friends with comments such as ‘I’m going to come and hang out with you guys after.’

In the newest song ‘My Favorite Fish,’ released at the start

of the year, bassist Ian O’Neill blessed us with the addition of the acoustic guitar. The use of a live acoustic guitar for the romantic ballad-esque song made the performance feel even more intimate.

As the set went on, Gus’s energy accelerated and grew in strength, as did the cries from the audience, with both guys and girls shouting phrases to the effect of ‘Gus you’re so gorgeous!’ Performing ‘World Class Cinema,’ Gus belted out the lyrics, moving right up to the crowd and jumping up and down in the air on the spot frantically. If that didn’t show how much he was enjoying performing on stage, I can’t imagine what would. The way Gus was belting the lyrics ‘I want to be in the movies’ made the lyrics feel heartfelt.

You could hear his desire to expand his reach to the film industry. As the last song was announced, the crowd disputed this and Gus’s facial expressions

said it all. He purely wanted to carry on, he didn’t want it to come to an end either. This crowd disappointment was quickly erased as the band came back on stage to cover The Beatles’s ‘Twist and Shout’ which went down a treat, with everyone swaying and falling on top of each other.

If there’s to be a new influential musical artist to be defined in the coming years, Gus Dapperton is definitely one to watch. To see an artist flourish with a focus on individuality, creativity and quality is rather exciting when the charts are being filled with homogenous, simplified and disposable music, designed to make millions rather than to inspire. I walked away from the gig being reminded of what quirky looks and sounds like – I hadn’t come across it in a while.

MUSIC

Friday 7th June 2019

@redbrickmusic

Selextorhood: Challenging the ‘Boys Club’ of Underground Music Becky Payton Music Critic

Selextorhood is a community that promotes and empowers femxleidentifying and non-binary women in music, which meets monthly in Birmingham for DJ workshops and industry conversations. Holly Hollister, Selextorhood founder and Brum-based DJ powerhouse, started the sessions in January 2019 and the collective has been making serious waves in the Birmingham music scene from that moment on. It can often feel near-on impossible to forge a successful career in music, simply based on one’s gender, but the Selextorhood community is part of a growing number of initiatives across the UK out to change that.

I chatted with some fellow Selextorhood attendees, fondly known as ‘selextors,’ to explore the notoriously male-dominated world of DJing.

Hosted in the beautiful Café Artum (an artisan coffee shop, art space and vinyl store), the Selextorhood atmosphere feels safe and breeds confidence amongst the crowd. One side of the space is lined with stands of records dedicated to techno, electro and house music, while the adjacent wall features more global sounds, jazz, hip-hop, R&B and some rock too. People flick through the records, mingle and discuss their experiences of music over a beer. It is difficult not to feel stronger in a room of extremely welcoming women, each with a shared interest in music and there to support femxle talent in the city.

Each session is split into two mixing workshops and a discussion with an inspiring DJ inbetween, who often has a connection to the city. During the mixing sections the selextors can try controllers, CDJs or spinning some vinyl, no matter how much previous experience they have. The encouraging atmosphere means that practicing is not intimidating, instead people seem genuinely supportive and happy to help others if they can. Holly explains how she wanted to provide a safe space for people to express themselves, meet like-minded people and practice.

The atmosphere is relaxed and encouraging, with people busy engaging in conversations, flicking through records, reading a music mag, having a beer or experimenting on some decks. I felt myself getting lost in the mixing and forgetting about the crowd of people, while those around me praised and gave constructive advice. I gave my first attempt at the notoriously complex art of spinning vinyl, something which I do not have the skill, collection or equipment to be able to experience at home, but Selextorhood and selextors helped make it happen.

Ellie Koepke

This ethos of inclusivity and helping those around you at Selextorhood means no-one is flexing their talents and hogging the decks, or worse, too nervous to play – the balance feels perfect: lighthearted and inspiring, allowing everyone to get something from the workshops. One of Selextorhood’s unique aspects is the in-depth discussions with some of then UK’s finest DJs and the chance to mix alongside them.

Holly leads a Q&A to delve into the careers of femxle DJs: how did they get into music? What do they think of the state of the industry? Who inspires them?

How does being a women affect their experience? What advice do they have for us, the selextors trying to make it in the industry? The honest accounts allow us to see the individuality of personal experience, which sometimes gets lost when women are not given the platform to be anything other than the femxle on a line-up.

Guests grace from a range of backgrounds and musical genres, such as jungle, house, disco, soul and breakbeat. The varied styles of Jossy Mitsu, Roman Candles, Erica Mckoy and re:ni, DJs who have joined the Selextorhood

community so far, has allowed for individual flare to shine through and for workshop attendees to explore the plethora of music femxle DJs can work with. Despite the differences in style, technique and personal background, an overarching message seems to reverberate: to start putting yourself out there and, as Jossy Mitsu preached, to ‘be yourself,’ laughing about the age-old cliché.

“These gendered presumptions from people at the top devalue the music scene” Unfortunately, these non-egotistical, inspiring messages of inclusivity and femxle power stop at Cafe Artum’s doors. I run a club night in Birmingham with three male friends and continue to be shocked at how differently I am treated by people in the industry. DJs, fellow promoters and owners seem surprised that a young woman organises the event

Alison Baskerville

and almost too awkward to talk to me once they know. There is an undeniable ‘boy’s club’ attitude.

The male DJs I have met give the impression of an inherent laddish relatability that femxles have to work to get in on. Once a relationship is established it is easy to say ‘let’s get him down again, his mates are jokes,’ and dismiss any newcomers or those who do not meet the social standard. At almost any Birmingham club night the line-up is predominantly male, and when the DJs bring mates behind the decks it can get intimidating and look exclusive. It sends the message that the DJ booth is not a space for femxle performers.

Instead, women are used as money-making pawns, tokenized and disrespected by those who run the scene. Beyond the somewhat juvenility of the DJ booth, club owners and promoters are just as bad, if not worse. At a meeting with a club we host our disco, house and techno showcase in, I was told to think of our night like a business: have themed nights and best-dressed competitions because ‘that’s what the girls like’ and to ‘get the girls in and the guys will follow.’ I questioned what they thought my role must be. These gendered presumptions from people at the top devalue the music scene in Birmingham and brand women as clothes-obsessed objects who do not appreciate the music, with seemingly no worth other than to draw men in.

I realised this at a personal level in a meeting with a Birmingham club owner last year.

He sent out a blatant message of male superiority when he did not shake my hand as I arrived, despite shaking those of my male colleagues. The move was minor but demoralising and extremely disappointing. I’m sure it wasn’t a planned act of exclusion but it highlighted an ingrained feeling of supremacy. I was clearly perceived as less important than my peers and it knocked me. It concerns me to think how many people in my position have changed industry after such glaring dismissals of anyone that does not fit the expectation of characters working in the underground music scene. Thankfully, Selextorhood is there to remind me that there are more people like me and that I belong in a creative community actively working to combat misogynist attitudes.

Steadily, the collective are carving a space for women in the industry. International Women’s Day saw Café Artum host a Selextorhood open decks, the community have played for Digbeth Dining Club and they are increasingly being asked to support the city’s line-ups.

Tell your sisters, mums and girlfriends, as Holly would say, because Selextorhood’s waves are soon going to become a tsunami.

Watch this space.

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Upcoming Events: Editors’ Picks: Swim Deep, The Sunflower Lounge, 18th June B-town based band Swim Deep are back from their four-year hiatus. Their most recent album, Mothers (2015), presented a matured sound that still held the fluid shoegaze and dream pop sound of their early hits. Recently releasing a new single, ‘To Feel Good,’ this marks the return of the band, and where better to see them make this comeback but in Brum’s intimate venue, The Sunflower Lounge.

Hidden Spheres, Mama Roux’s, 12th June Manchester-based DJ and producer Hidden Spheres comes to Mama Roux’s, offering a sonic palette of instrumental hip-hop, free jazz and house.

Best of the rest: Carnival Magnifico, The Mill, 7th June Summer Showcase, Hare & Hounds, 7th June Villagers, Hare & Hounds, 9th June Femi Kuti, O2 Institute, 8th June 02.31, Lab11, 8th June Live & Christ (ex. Boards of Canada), Mama Roux’s, 8th June Disko Haus Summer Sessions ft. Brame and Hamo, The Mill, 10th June Liquescent Presents: Hybrid Minds, Lab11, 14th June Odd Soul, Hare & Hounds, 17th June

FILM

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Friday 7th June 2019

@redbrickfilm

Films Not to Miss This Summer

Redbrick Film preview upcoming releases and share personal recommendations

20th Century Fox

A24 Films

Midsommar Grace Baxendine Film Critic

Last year, we saw modern horror come to life through American director Ari Aster’s bone-chilling creation, Hereditary; following in its footsteps was never going to be easy. But the unnerving intrigue of the initial scenes we see in the trailer for Midsommar could easily rival it, and leave us all fearing the summer festival season.

Jack Reynor (Transformers: Age of Extinction) and Florence Pugh (Lady Macbeth) will lead the cast into a darkness hidden beneath a seemingly welcoming pagan Swedish festival-like community. The ever-so-slightly out of tune violin scratching away in the background of the trailer makes for a very unsettling experience, suggesting dark pagan practices and psychological uncertainties ahead. Aster’s ‘folk-horror’ film seems to want to encompass very different elements to last year’s Hereditary. Maypole dancing, alongside traditional folklore and ritual chanting under the Scandinavian sun, creates a disquieting sense of dread and anticipation for a terrifying discovery for our protagonists.

Stuber Alex Green Film Critic

This summer will be dominated by action and superhero flicks, all guns blazing with brutal action, vying for the flashiest on-screen fights. So how about something more comedic to add some levity to our outings at the cinema?

Luckily, there are a few choice offerings in this department.

“Stuber... has the ingredients to pull off a charming comedy about an Uber driver”

Flashes of evil rituals taking place in broad daylight set the scene for quite the unconventional horror, and certainly not the typical haunted house horror we are used to watching. I have to be honest, the trailer was hard to finish, but perhaps the best sign of a good horror is exactly that. An absolute must-watch this summer!

Stuber is a bit of a risk to get excited for but has the ingredients to pull off a charming comedy about an Uber driver having to drive a grizzled detective hot on the heels of a terrorist. For one, the aforementioned driver and detective duo are portrayed by Kumail Nanjiani (The Big Sick) and Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy, Spectre), a double act that could prove to strike comedic gold in this kind of setting. Add to this a strong premise that has potential for some great sketches and laughs, and a director in Michael Dowse who has an eye for the genre with 2011’s Goon on his resume, and the potential for a strong comedy is there.

The key word here is ‘potential.’ Of course, there is a risk that the elements may not all come together as seamlessly as anticipated. Stuber could, however, be a fun contrast compared to everything else this summer.

With big budget franchises going all out with large action setpieces and horror trying to instil fear in the world, there should be reminders that cinema can still make us laugh at our action heroes as well as be gripped by them.

Hopefully the ride will be a good one.

Released 5th July

Released 12th July

“Midsommar could easily rival [Hereditary], and leave us all fearing the summer festival season”

IFC Films

The Nightingale Once Upon a Time in Sam Denyer Hollywood Film Critic Most horror films are fortunate enough to scare their audiences – Jennifer Kent’s The Babadook did just this, but was also critically acclaimed and spawned an iconic new cinematic monster which endeared itself to a wider audience by becoming a bizarre gay icon. As it turns out, seeing the Babadook at a pride parade has done nothing to make it less scary, which makes Kent’s return with The Nightingale even more tantalising.

Set in 19th century Tasmania, it sees Irish convict Clare (Aisling Franciosi) and aboriginal tracker Billy (Baykali Ganambarr) travel through the wilderness to seek revenge on the British officer (Sam Claflin) who murdered her daughter. Kent writes and directs once more. Let’s hope that she can sustain the auteurist voice which seemed so clear in The Babadook, as well as the avalanche of scares and surprises which made it such a thrill in the first place.

“Reviews warn that its fury at real world history translates into a horror which is not for the faint of heart”

Warner Bros.

Sony Pictures Entertainment

Sam Zucca Film Critic

Having returned from his Civil War-era movies, one dubbed as a ‘southern’ rather than a ‘western,’ Quentin Tarantino now takes us to the world of late-sixties Hollywood. The title is a reference to two films by Sergio Leone, one of Tarantino’s biggest influences, who directed Once Upon A Time In The West and Once Upon a Time In America. This nod to the Italian director follows his last film The Hateful Eight, which featured a score by Ennio Morricone who, along with Leone, virtually created the sound of the spaghetti western.

“Tarantino has hinted that the structure... will be close to that of Pulp Fiction”

The Nightingale premiered at the Venice Film Festival last summer, before its general release in August this year. Kent was the only woman with a film in competition, but she clearly left her mark, as reviews warn that its fury at real-world history translates into a horror which is not for the faint of heart. Should we have expected anything else?

Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt star as an actor/stunt-double duo, who Tarantino has likened to seventies superstars Robert Redford and Paul Newman. It also features Margot Robbie as Sharon Tate, and her murderer, Charles Manson, played by Damon Herriman. As with Inglorious Basterds and Django Unchained before it, Once Upon a Time In Hollywood could provide Tarantino another way to play around with history in his usual ultraviolent manner.

Despite this, the film seems to be less of a genre-film than his last three pictures. Tarantino has also hinted that the structure of the film will be close to that of Pulp Fiction, which, seven movies and twenty-five years later, could come with varying results.

Released 2nd August

Released 14th August

It: Chapter Two Matt Taylor Film Critic

Andy Muschietti’s 2017 take on Stephen King’s It did damn near everything right. Being a comingof-age film first and a horror flick second allowed for a fresh horror film, one that kept all the best parts of King adaptations, noughties horror movies, and classic teen movies of the late 20th century. His sequel is due out at the start of September, and looks to round out a summer of excellent movies.

Andy and Barbara Muschietti return to screenwriting duties, with a cast including Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Bill Hader, Jay Ryan, James Ransone, Andy Bean, and Isaiah Mustafa as the elderly Losers Club, with the original kids and Bill Skarsgard returning from the first film.

Chapter Two takes place mostly 27 years after the events of the first film, and the footage we have seen so far is excellent.

After the release of the first film, Pennywise (Skarsgard) became something of an online sensation, which is why it is surprising to see so little of him in this teaser – but that ultimately works in favour of building up anticipation for the new instalment. The trailer’s opening scene is reminiscent of the slow-burn horror of It Follows, or It Comes At Night (two of my favourite horror movies this century), thankfully hinting at less reliance on the jump scares that held the first film back.

“This is set to be a cracker” The question remains, can they do it again? The presence of adult actors means the teenage drama of the first film is off limits, but if the original, the new trailer, and King’s source material are anything to go by, this is set to be a cracker. Fingers crossed we’ll float again come September.

Released 6th September

FILM

Friday 7th June 2019

23

@redbrickfilm

Review: John Wick 3 – Parabellum Keanu Reeves returns for more relentless action and jaw-dropping stunts Matt Taylor

Film Critic

Whoever thought that the guy with the bad British accent in Bram Stoker's Dracula would end up being one of the great action heroes of the decade? Keanu Reeves has reinvigorated his career with the John Wick series, showing off his abilities for both fantastic character work and nearunbelievable levels of practical stunt-work. The original film – about a retired hitman out for one last job after a mobster’s son steals his car and kills the dog left to him by his recently deceased wife – was the sleeper hit of 2014.

A sequel hit cinemas in 2017, and both films featured some of the best examples of practical, incamera, long-take action ever put to film. The latest instalment in the series, Chapter 3 – Parabellum, is no different, and only serves to continue Reeves’ superb upward momentum.

Parabellum means ‘prepare for war.’ Ironically, we are given no time to prepare. Things kick off immediately in the aftermath of Chapter 2, with John on the run after being excommunicado with

a $14 million bounty on his head.

It’s around 20 minutes or so before we get a breather, with the opening segment flying by in a jawdropping succession of action sequences, including one particularly impressive and wince-inducing sequence that sees John kill a man with a library book. It is scenes such as this that really let Parabellum shine; sequences of visceral, brutal action that are never less than gorgeous to behold.

They are, somehow, the best we have ever seen from this series – ridiculously smart, endlessly creative, and made up of a gorgeous series of long takes, Parabellum's action sequences stand in a league of their own. Highlights include improvements on the gun-fu of the first two films with horse-fu, dog-fu, and motorbike-fu, as well as an exceptional closing piece that plays some fantastic tricks with light and glass.

The work of all involved must be given extreme praise, not least the excellent performers (including side roles from the superb Yayan Ruhian, of The Raid fame, and Cecep Arif Rahman), stunt coordinator Scott Rogers, cinematographer Dan Laustsen, editor Evan Schiff, production designer Kevin Kavanaugh, and, of course, director and ex-stuntman Chad

Stahelski. Everyone involved has given their all to the action scenes, and it shows. If we needed another reason to campaign for a stunts category at the Oscars after last year’s Mission: Impossible – Fallout, this is absolutely it.

“The journey John goes on is... wildly unexpected” It helps, of course, that Parabellum’s distinct fight choreography and visual style are grounded by some brilliant performances. Reeves shines yet again in the title role, as John is pushed further to the edge. His excommunication cuts him off from all Continental services, meaning he has to scramble to stay alive. We have seen pieces of his dark ‘baba yaga’ side before, but never to this extent. The journey John goes on is both wildly unexpected and hugely appealing.

Ian McShane’s Winston thankfully gets more to do than in previous instalments, as he is under scrutiny by the High Table due to the way in which he carried out John’s excommunication. His paternal dynamic with John is tested throughout, as each of them must decide whether they value

the other more than themselves.

Mark Dacascos is a welcome newcomer as villain Zero, whose steely exterior is juxtaposed with surprising moments of levity. The character’s Japanese heritage brings with it a distinct flare in action sequences, while his less intense conversations with John are suitably entertaining. Lance Reddick returns as Charon, who, like Winston, is given more to do here.

Aside from this central four, the supporting cast is huge. It includes Halle Berry, Laurence Fishburne, Anjelica Huston, Said Taghmaoui, Jerome Flynn, Jason Mantzoukas, and Asia Kate Dillon. All are tremendous actors and all, apart from Dillon and Fishburne, are given extremely little to do. It’s such a shame: Berry’s character Sofia has been bigged up in the film’s trailers and is a great presence on-screen (as are the two dogs Sofia is fond of, leading to perhaps the film’s highlight action sequence), but she disappears virtually as soon as she pops up. The same goes for the rest of them; all the characters they play appear to be extremely important, but none are able to do much of consequence.

There is a reason for this: it is not down to the actors themselves, but to the film’s breakneck pace and sprawling plot. Neither of these are bad things, not at all, but because Parabellum never stops

moving, it feels like things get forgotten. That’s not to say there are loose ends. In fact, we are always given the perfect amount of information we need to be able to understand what is happening, but characters appear and disappear with little consequence as a result of this momentum.

Parabellum is relentless and everything about it goes to serve John’s character, but the supporting characters do get left by the wayside a tad. Even more worldbuilding is done here than in the previous two films put together, and the story’s scale is proof of this. As result of its massiveness, it loses some of the slickness and nuance that its predecessors did so well. Due to this fact, it does not quite reach the dizzying heights of the other two films, but make no mistake: Reeves and Stahelski have struck gold yet again with Parabellum, a sequel that does exactly what a sequel should, and then some. Brilliant stuff.

VERDICT: Despite issues with plot and pacing, there is no denying that Parabellum is a brutal, relentless, engrossing, balletic bulletstorm of a film that demands to be seen on the biggest screen possible. Prepare for war, because the baba yaga is coming. And he is pissed.

Lionsgate

Review: Rocketman

A musical, truthful, wonderful insight into Elton John's younger life Sophie Woodley

News Editor

It’s an occupation. It’s a three time platinum record. It’s a seventies hit. It’s also the name of a newly released film documenting Elton John’s personal and professional life as the ‘Rocketman.’

Rocketman recounts the English singer, songwriter and composer’s life, from his childhood up to the present day. Running for just over two hours, the film crafts a perfect balance between emotion, career successes, downfalls and relationships, while tackling serious societal issues such as suicide and drug addiction.

Yet, not only does Rocketman’s director, Dexter Fletcher, tackle this large array of topics, but he does so with theatricality and, of course, musicality. Fletcher cleverly navigates significant life struggles for Elton, such as suicide and accepting his sexuality as a gay man, with an appropri-

ately light-hearted yet striking tone. For example, in a scene where Elton attempts to kill himself at one of his extravagant, overtly flamboyant parties in Los Angeles, viewers will still appreciate the cinematography. As for the leading performance, Welsh actor Taron Egerton (previously starring in Kingsman: The Secret Service and Eddie the Eagle) is the perfect man for the role, both for his quirky acting skills and also his remarkable singing talents. As an added bonus, Egerton is the spitting image of a young Elton John.

“Taron Egerton is the perfect man for the role” In scenes that aim to capture a feeling of euphoria and success in Elton John’s career, Fletcher uses interesting techniques and special

effects to do so – with just one example being audiences floating, and somewhat flying, while watching him perform. Crowds on-screen are depicted with a level of awe and mesmerism towards Elton’s talent, and audiences, whether watching at home or on the big screen, are encouraged to think the same.

Pop-music biopic films have rocketed in recent years, with Bohemian Rhapsody, which celebrates Queen and their iconic legacy, hitting cinemas last October.

Rocketman and Bohemian Rhapsody differ in multiple respects. However, both still effectively strike the right chord in providing an overall picture of a rock legend’s life, and afterwards you will feel like you have walked away from a very cool music lesson indeed.

Although within the first few minutes there are themes that hint towards a Mamma Mia-inspired film, with its overly theatrical and musical approach, Rocketman

takes a less extravagant approach to a storyline based on the music industry, with poignant one-liners and wit.

Considering this, whether you are a fan of Elton John or perhaps completely unfamiliar, it is a film to be appreciated not only for its storyline, but also for its composure and cinematography. It will make you laugh, cry, sing and dance, or want to obsess over the legend that is Elton John for the next 24 hours, so it is assuredly a film for all to see.

VERDICT: Rocketman has something for everyone, a feelgood film that will make you want to see it again and again. It will leave you appreciating not only the legend himself, but the exciting and competitive showbiz culture of the seventies.

Paramount Pictures

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TELEVISION

Friday 7th June 2019

@redbricktv

Editors’ Picks: The Shows That Got Us Through University

As TV Editors Niamh Brennan, Morgana Chess and Jessica Green bid farewell, they share the series they keep coming back to time and time again Jessica Green Television Editor

What better way to avoid facing up to the fact that you have a 4000 word essay due in two days time than escaping into the clutches of a fairytale? That’s exactly what Once Upon a Time has allowed me to do this year on each of my (many) rewatches.

The fantasy-drama, which ran from 2011-2018, follows a series of fairytale characters trapped in the real-world town of Storybrooke. Regina, the Evil Queen who transported the characters from the Enchanted Forest in the first place, also removed all of their memories of their previous lives, and they remain unaware of their time-locked state for 28 years. But with the help of Emma (Snow White and Prince Charming’s daughter, who grew up in the real world, completely oblivious to her magical heritage) and her son Henry, that soon begins to change – and the characters begin to fight back.

“Snow White, far from playing the weak and feeble victim, even finds the time to rescue Prince Charming” You might expect a show like OUAT to glorify pretty princesses in their enviable glittery gowns, being rescued by handsome princes, achieving domestic bliss as their happily ever after. But this show allows its strong female characters to do and be so much more than that. Belle, for example, makes the bold decision to sacrifice herself for her Father’s

Kingdom in the Ogre war. Snow White, far from playing the weak and feeble victim, survives on the run from the Evil Queen by becoming a bandit, even finding the time to rescue Prince Charming along the way. And OUAT just wouldn’t be OUAT without multiple shots per episode of Emma marching around in her badass red leather jacket, saving the entire town.

To all of you about to embark on your final year at uni after the summer, I cannot recommend this show enough. And anyway, you’ll need all the magic and miracles you can get if you want to make it through to June.

NBC

Niamh Brennan Television Editor

Over the past few years I have rewatched The Office (the U.S. version, of course) more times than I would like to admit. It provides excellent and well needed comic relief in times of stress, and its twenty-minute-long episodes are perfect for either a short revision break or a day-long binge watch.

If you have never watched The Office, you will at least have heard of it, or seen a clip from it circulating the internet.The situation comedy that ran from 2005 to 2013 depicts the lives of various employees of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, following the trials and tribulations of everyday life, from workplace pranks, emerging relationships and management issues to beet farming, dramatic fire drills and the pursuit of fame.

The debate about whether the US or the original UK version of the show will always be rife, but in my opinion the direction that The Office (US) took was far superior, being a wholesome and comforting watch rather than awkward and uncomfortable.

ABC

My love of the show comes particularly from the characterisation. No matter how much you may dislike a character, you also learn to love them. The first time I watched The Office I couldn’t stand Michael Scott (Steve Carrell), and was infuriated rather than entertained by his poor management and social skills. I never would have expected then to be sad to see him leave in season seven, developing into the integral and kind hearted leader of the show.

“It doesn’t induce despair at the prospect of working in an office... making the mundane seem hopeful” Never have I ever been so invested in a TV couple as I am every time I watch Jim and Pam interact, being so desperate for them to succeed despite always knowing the outcome. And Rain Wilson’s excellent work as Dwight Schrute is one of my all time favourite TV characters. His ridiculous deadpan attitude and lack of common sense is hysterical, bizzare, and absolutely wonderful. I don't think anything else can make me laugh as consistently and as much as the season five episode 'Stress Relief', specifically Dwight's attempt at resuscitation of a CPR dummy.

The Office is also the perfect TV show to watch on finishing university and heading out into the real world. It doesn’t induce despair at the prospect of working in an office, as many of us will be headed towards. At a time where the future is unknown and the days of student living is being left behind, it makes the mundane seem hopeful, exactly what we all need at this tumultuous time.

Morgana Chess Television Editor

In the tranquil town of Monterey, California, where there are luxurious beachfront homes and yummy mummies gossip in school playgrounds... dark secrets lie under the surface. HBO’s Big Little Lies, adapted from Liane Moriarty’s novel of the same name, is the perfect domestic thriller that eloquently explores themes of motherhood, friendship and trauma. The series mainly focuses on three mums – Madeline, Jane and Celeste – and opens on the School Orientation Day for their young children. When one little girl Amabella appears with choke marks on her neck, she points out Jane’s son Ziggy as her attacker and playground politics ensue, with opposing mums drawing up battle lines.

The bright and spunky Madeline is played to perfection

by Reese Witherspoon, as she goes head-to-head with ‘career mom’ Renata (Laura Dern) in defence of the newcomer Jane (Shailene Woodley). Throughout the show, Jane experiences flashbacks to a dark past as she is forced to question her own son’s innocence. Nicole Kidman also shines as the elegant and subdued Celeste, who is secretly suffering domestic abuse at the hands of her husband. As the show unfolds, other scandals and secrets emerge and, underpinning it all, there has been a murder.

Told through flash-forwards,

the viewer is presented with the murder scene in the very first episode, but full details of who has been murdered and who the murderer is are not revealed until the season finale. The cattiness of the playground is depicted through police interviews with other parents that are scattered across the series, and give the show a humorous edge.

“It is the perfect domestic thriller that eloquently explores themes of motherhood, friendship and trauma” The scenery is beautiful, the houses are ridiculous and the script is sharp, keeping you hooked into the domestic politics of Monterey. Darkly comic, Big Little Lies does justice to Moriarty’s book, and I would also highly recommend reading her other titles such as The Husband’s Secret and Three Wishes. After the roaring success of the first series, the second will be released in June 2019, with Meryl Streep joining the already star-studded cast. This show offers a fantastic portrayal of modern womanhood and a plotline that will keep you guessing even after the final episode.

HBO

TELEVISION

Friday 7th June 2019

@redbricktv

Dead to Me is a Lively Hit

Deputy Editor Kat Smith checks out Netflix's latest 'traumedy' and applauds its portrayal of female friendship Kat Smith Deputy Editor

As the perfect fusion of trauma and comedy, Netflix’s Dead to Me has rightfully become a hit on the streaming platform.

The so-called ‘traumedy’ starts with the almost immediate aftermath of a death. Newly-widowed Jen Harding is set on finding the culprit of her husband’s hit-andrun death whilst also trying to come to terms with her loss. After joining a local support group called ‘Friends in Heaven’, Jen befriends the eccentric Judy who is not entirely who she seems.

Their friendship and the pursuit of Ted Harding’s killer are the sole focuses of this unique series, with motherhood, relationships and more also getting plenty of airtime.

“The 10-part series explores the grief of loss whilst also managing to be somewhat hilarious” Driven by stellar performances from Christina Applegate (Anchorman, Bad Moms) and Linda Cardellini (Mad Men,

Avengers), the 10-part series explores the grief of loss whilst also managing to be somewhat hilarious. Sounds like an impossible task, but even a brief look at the trailer shows how successful Dead to Me is at rising to the challenge. Applegate and Cardellini are flawless in making you laugh, cry and pretty much everything in between. Their complex, turbulent

roles. With each episode being 30 minutes long, there is so much packed into each installment; nothing is dragged out for the sake of it, but every moment and every character gets its fair share of screen time. Comedic relief is expertly placed, with Applegate’s Jen being the source of most oneliners in spite of her loss. Though your opinion changes by the end,

Netflix

but ultimately loving friendship is a welcome change in a televisual landscape where women are so often either put at odds with each other or are simply not given enough screentime at all. Whilst other prominent characters, such as James Marsden’s Steve and Max Jenkins’ Christopher, are male, the power of this show rests firmly with the women.

And the excellence doesn’t stop with the acting or the gender

there is no crystal-clear antagonist in the show. Each character is riddled with flaws (except for the delightful pensioner Abe), yet it’s hard to dislike anyone.

The story unfurls in a natural yet engaging way, all to the credit of creator Liz Feldman. Occasional flashbacks that grow in detail iare not a new story-telling technique, but Feldman uses them in a way that adds to the narrative as opposed to diluting it. We learn

that we do not know everything we think we do about Jen and Ted’s relationship, about Judy or about Jen herself. It’s a breath of fresh air that the ending of Dead to Me leaves us a cliffhanger which is shocking but not surprising, and none of the twists in the show feel far-fetched or ludicrous.

It also makes a second series feel like an organic next-step rather than gratuitously milking the premise for all it is worth.

It is hard to sympathise with the negative reviews garnered by the series, such as the Guardian giving it a mere 2*s and Vulture criticising its use of predictable TV tropes. But, with an 87% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and being cited as ‘the Best Netflix Show You’re Not Watching Yet’ by Esquire, it’s clear that Feldman’s show is worth a watch.

Dead to Me is not only a masterclass in mixing trauma with comedy but also at navigating female friendships, creating complex yet likable characters and taking viewers on a journey that feels real enough to convince.

Given the popularity of the first, a second season is hopefully in the pipeline. Unlike some TV shows (Game of Thrones, I’m looking at you), if Dead to Me gives us a few more seasons then I’m certain we’re in for a treat.

25

Top Summer TV Picks

When They See Us Netflix from 31st May

Love Island ITV from 3rd June

Review: The Society

How far would you go to survive? TV Critic Elinor Griffiths finds out Elinor Griffiths Television Critic

The new Netflix series The Society is a modern-day interpretation of the classic Lord of The Flies that depicts the fundamental question: what happens if all the adults vanish and the children are left to defend for themselves?

Here the teenagers are left to their own devices after they return to their hometown following a cancelled school trip, only to discover that their parents and everyone else have disappeared.

They are completely alone, isolated from the rest of the world, and as you dive deeper into the mystery of the show, it rapidly becomes apparent that this isn’t a happy storyline. The carefully sculptured and embellished storytelling focuses its attention on the emotional trauma that thenteenagers experience as they are forced to form their own selfgoverning community that tests their moral values and exhibits that there is very little joy be found throughout the series, which makes the softer, more tender moments that much sweeter.

What’s most interesting about seeing the children being separated from normalcy is how they have built their lives around the ordeal of losing their parents as well as the comfort of having a systematic government that provides them with a sense of order and structure. This dramatic and frightening portrayal demonstrates a political statement that makes for compulsive viewing, as it highlights the destruction of youth, where the safety net that once kept these all-American teenagers from spiralling out of control has abandoned them, or perhaps set them free.

The writer, Christopher Keyser, has created a thrilling series that rapidly races into a distressing, complexed storyline that grasps the attention of a younger audience and entices them to contemplate what they would do if they were in the same situation. With abrupt and unanticipated twists in the narrative, the characters are faced with many predicaments which demands them to lose focus of their moral compass and make hard, amoral decisions.

Throughout these obstacles, it is very clear that the character Allie, played by Kathryn Newton,

is very much the leading lady in this ensemble, who is forced to suppress her deepest anxieties and typical teenage tendencies when she unexpectedly finds herself having the responsibility of leading the panicked teenagers away from chaos and into an organised and protected environment. She quickly learns that with great power comes great responsibility, and we see her unwillingly to make crucial decisions that have both victorious and devastating consequences for herself and others. Newton seamlessly embodies the vulnerability of the human condition and although she is not a particularly likable character, she feels authentic as she draws attention to the self-absorption and acrimony of her kind.

With no adults to control their behaviour, the drama centres around the typical teen antics – sex, drugs and alcohol – and although it is shown in extreme depth, Keyser heightens the emotional state of the teenagers to create a storyline that is relatable to the audience The Society is marketed at. There is significant consideration given to the message of the narrative being told, which tells us that all of their

actions come with consequences.

And the consequences are things that matter. Whilst directing a monumental, existential question at both the characters and the viewers, one of the show’s central themes is identity, and as the storyline progresses, it asks you to find out what kind of person you are, and to consider your place and purpose in the world. If you were in the same position, would you resist the temptation of complete freedom or would you succumb to your darkest instincts and accept the sinister version of yourself?

The Society asks viewers to answer the questions that everyone has to ask as they grow up, or even as they are grown up: who am I and what part am I going to play? As the story advances and continues to ask deeper questions, it illustrates an emotional and in-depth analysis of the human condition that leaves the audience on the edge of their seat, perplexed by their own thoughts and feelings towards the never-ending question.

Black Mirror Netflix from 5th June

The Handmaid's Tale Channel 4 from 9th June

26

GAMING

Friday 7th June 2019

@redbrickgaming

Summer Games With Friends!

Sam Nason

James Law

The heat rolls around for summer and the only place hotter than the blazing sun is the kitchen. So many games are ideal to gather a large group of friends together, have fun and scream in shear panic as fire spreads through the kitchens ruining orders (and friendships). The Overcooked franchise is a delectable mess of chaos. But as a wise man once said in a popular television show, ‘Chaos isn’t a pit, chaos is a ladder.’

Out of the chaos, Overcooked 2 spawns memorable times, using addictive and frankly bonkers gameplay, a witty charm that gave us some of the best puns in games in 2018 and a bright artistic style making everyone fit for the glow of summer that delights all. Until the orders pile up and the panic starts of course. Whilst the chaos might detract, sometimes friendships are defined in the most testing of circumstances.

This is merely in jest of course.

At its heart, Overcooked 2 continues a franchise that is truly lightning in a bottle. A franchise that has an inimitable sense of wackiness, an endless streak of wild fun that is fuelled by studios in Team17 and Ghost Town Games who share a boundless creativity.

With the recently released Campfire Cook-off DLC adding to the game’s already plentiful list of features from its co-op campaign and versus levels, now is an excellent time to jump back into the kitchen, stick on the apron and get cooking away. Whether it be on the Switch or on a PC, the superbly frenetic gameplay keeps the game fresh. Just remember, keep calm and cook on.

Splitgate: Arena Warfare Looking for that stop-gap between now and Halo: The Master Chief Collection hitting PC? Splitgate has what you need, with a twist. It takes heavy inspiration from the Halo franchise, complete with power weapons, teams adorned in red and blue armour, and of course, the Battle Rifle. It then, more unexpectedly, draws on Valve’s infamous puzzle game – Splitgate: Arena Warfare is Halo meets Portal.

This simple addition adds a variety of novel situations to the game, and equally many ways to approach them – is someone sitting across the map with a Sniper Rifle? Portal behind them and instantly flank them. Or, portal beneath their feet and let them stare down your barrel at pointblank. Or, set up a portal below you, fall into it, and launch yourself through the air toward them.

Picked up a Rocket Launcher?

You could aim the normal way, or you could set one portal next to you and the other above them, then rain hell down upon other players from… in front of them.

Creativity flows much more freely in Splitgate than most other shooters, and provides one of the most unique FPS experiences available.

My highlight is setting up Custom Lobbies with custom rules to play with friends. My personal favourite is Oddball, another legacy inclusion from Halo, where holding a ball gains you points and the goal is reaching a certain score limit. Our version has a cranked up movement speed and everyone has shotguns, ensuring chaotic goodness every time. Creative use of portals is at its finest here, and allows exploration of the unique combination of mechanics the game has to offer.

Oh, and it’s free, so there’s no reason not to try. And, if I still haven’t sold you yet, you can make a Scooby-Doo corridor with portals.

Geoffrey Niu

Alex Green

1047 Games

It’s unbelievable to think this game came out a decade ago. My very first game for the PlayStation 3, LittleBigPlanet is a creatively charged quest that encourages you to play incredible platforming challenges, create your own, and share them with the entire world.

The original has always been my favourite – and it’s a million times more fun with friends.

This game takes place before the complex mechanics of logic, extra layers and funky characters.

A simpler time, consisting of building blocks, pullies and enough glue to hold the entire Craftverse together. Bounding through the game’s many story levels is incredibly satisfying and, despite its age, still visually beautiful. The locales found in the title are amazing fun to play with and explore, whether you’re helping your friends to the goal or smacking them off a ledge into the furious fire below.

Of course where LittleBigPlanet shines is its ‘Create Mode’, where you can produce fantastic challenges or experiences with surprisingly intuitive tools. Whether sitting next to you or through the power of the internet, there’s always a way to create together. The sheer versatility of customisation, even in this first game, is truly astounding and puts unlimited potential in the palm of your hands while also delivering on its nostalgic simplicity. With retrospect, players can create some truly amazing things and continue to push the limits of this (admittedly primitive) original game.

While its playerbase may not be as active as years past, created levels still remain, and there are hundreds of gems. Whether tantalising survival challenges, thrilling vehicle exploits or a good old story, enjoying the magic of LittleBigPlanet is always better with a friend by your side. I would wholeheartedly recommend this creative, charming series to anybody who wants some tight platforming action and all the imagination they could ask for.

Overcooked 2

Team17

LittleBigPlanet

A lot of my friends aren’t the kinds of people who spend quite as much time playing games as I do. They have other hobbies. I’m jealous.

Turns out, though, that there’s one thing we have in common.

We can all sit down with a cold one and crack out the latest in the Mario Party series: Super Mario Party. A game that relies on nothing but anger and vengeance. It brings back memories of playing Monopoly with loved ones, but amplifies those emotions to an unprecedented level. The hatred you’ll feel for your friends is unparallelled, and it doesn’t stop once the game ends. No, you might’ve won the world’s most bullshit game, but it hasn’t finished with you yet. The bonus stars awarded after the fact truly rub salt, vinegar, and a healthy helping of chilli powder into the wounds your friendships have suffered, giving the win to someone who does not deserve it. I won all the minigames and the stars just so happened to drop in front of you, then you get a free star for ‘moving the least’? Get out of my house.

The game knows that the normal board game style is bound to open up some deeply-rooted psychological issues with your friends though, so included are some less angry modes. A personal favourite to unwind after a tough hour of emotional blackmail and seething rage is the music mode, where the joy-cons’ motion control capabilities whisk you back to the simpler days of the Wii, and get you to dance in time to an electronic remix of the famous underground theme, awarding points for the most rhythmic. It’s the perfect chaser to a traditional game of Mario Party.

This, along with the white water rafting mode, wherein you and friends must work together to row down the rapids as quickly as possible, give Super Mario Party a perfect combination of shithousery and skill.

Nintendo

Media Molecule

Super Mario Party

Jackbox Games

Team17

Gaming Writers and Editors weigh in on their favourite multiplayer games, just in time for the summer

JackBox Party Pack So I have the issue where although I have a lot of friends who can play games with me at University, over the summer friends at home don’t have much of an interest in games at all. That’s why The Jackbox Party Packs (Jackbox for short) are perfect for my summer.

It’s a game which doesn’t play like anything else and because your mates are using their own phones, they’re comfortable with their controllers.

If you aren’t familiar with what Jackbox is, then I urge you not only to go find a group of friends to play it with, but also get Jackbox 2 or 3 to start with. What Jackbox is, is a collection of smaller games piled into a box, as it were, with strange and hilarious premises. Fibbage, for example, is about trying to make up a believable lie and then guessing which of the other answers is actually truth. Turns out most people can’t think of a lie they want to use and instead find the funniest replacement they can. Often times Jackbox games like this, fall into Card Against Humanity territory so if you and your mates have the same humour, Fibbage is the one for you.

Alternatively if you like something with a little more of a challenge, you can try Trivia Murder Party or Fakin’ It. Trivia Murder Party is pretty much your regular trivia game with the twist, if you don’t win, you get locked in a murder house and perish at the hands of the quiz master. Fun right? Or maybe you’d prefer Fakin’ It. A challenge for you and your mates to work out which one amongst you is trying to fit in despite not knowing what prompt you’ve been given.

Needless to say, Jackbox games are great with a beer and with friends who casually might like the idea of gaming but don’t want to commit to something like Mario Kart or Monopoly. You can play for hours or just minutes depending on your purpose and group of friends. It’s the perfect casual summer game for everyone to enjoy!

Imogen Mellor

GAMING

Friday 7th June 2019

@redbrickgaming

Pokémon Conference Sees New Games Announced

27

Redbrick's Top 5

Pokéballs

5 Timer Ball

4 Dusk Ball Nintendo

Review: Beat Saber

Gaming Editor Imogen Mellor reviews rhythm game Beat Saber for PSVR. Does it hit the right notes or end up discordant?

Imogen Mellor Gaming Editor @ImoMellor

As of late, rhythm games have been lacking. Guitar Hero and its many many replicas have been discarded along with dance mats and a variety of other music based games. Even my personal favourite as a kid, Tap Tap Revenge, mobile based rhythm game has been forgotten about in place of other, better funded titles. Alas, music is only for Spotify and Soundcloud, audiences seem to say. Beat Saber, however, is something different.

I can’t exactly remember when I first heard about Beat Saber. It’s the sort of game that was in the back of my mind, with a definite sentiment of ‘oh yeah, I’ll definitely want to play that game when it comes out’. My colleagues and I have even looked enviously on at those who have got the chance to play the title at gaming conventions. Luckily, I had the good fortune of my older brother bringing it home over the holiday and man oh man, do I love it.

To explain the concept of the game briefly, imagine you have a lightsaber in each hand. You’re

standing on a platform in the middle of a space age hall and before you appear blocks of light. With some beat heavy music guiding your judgement you have to slice and dice the blocks out of the way when they fly towards you, along with dodging bombs and massive light walls. It sort of feels like you’re playing the drums in a much cooler way.

My lovely brother summed

“A simple concept pulled off in such an excellent way” this game up perfectly. ‘The time between picking this game up, having never played it before, and then being able to thoroughly enjoy it, is a matter of seconds’, and he is absolutely right. You load up the game, press play on a song and difficulty level and off you go. It’s a simple concept pulled off in such an excellent way.

The songs are fun to listen to and the timing of the blocks you have to hit are nicely in tune with the music, something I had a gripe with within other rhythm games

was things not syncing up as you think they should. Hitting the blocks is satisfying with controllers that vibrate and, for the most part are responsive.

Most of the frustrations I had with the game were calibration related. Either I would definitely hit a block but the PSVR would forget where I was for a second, or I had slight difficulty finding a way to duck under the floating blocks without it thinking I was outside of the game area, but these are relatively minor compared the to the masses amounts of joy I got out of playing it.

The other slightly infuriating thing, is how hard this game can be. It’s not so much the concept of hitting the blocks, but doing it ‘well’. I, for example, hit every block in the game without fail. A perfect performance I would have thought, but nope, Beat Saber doesn’t think so. They prefered to give me a B and send me on my merry way, without a clue as to why I didn’t get an A. It seems I was supposed to hit the blocks ‘better’ for more points and I hadn’t played to that standard.

The other tough part of the game is the difficulty spike between Hard and Expert level gameplay. Hard really wasn’t too

Nintendo

Misty and Brock among others duking it out in 3v3 battles that look to be unique to the app as opposed to following the traditional Pokémon battle system.

The game’s official announcement states it is a ‘new type of Pokémon battling on the go’ and ‘will be optimised for smart devices for a casual but uniquely Pokémon experience.’

More details on the game will come in June, but Pokémon Masters looks to release later this year.

Among these announcements came the confirmation of a Detective Pikachu sequel releasing for the Nintendo Switch (following on from the game’s storyline, not the film’s) as well as Pokémon Shirts, shirts designed with unique fabrics themed on the original 151 Pokémon. More details about this will also be released soon.

With that the press conference wrapped up. As bizarre as it was fascinating (there is no way Pokémon Go Plus wont become a meme), it is nevertheless interesting to see the Pokémon Company delve further into smartphone applications and other ventures.

bad! I could play a level, finish it even, and think that maybe Expert was for me. Nope. Failure after failure proceeded with not even being able to get past the first 30 seconds of the song. As of now, I still haven’t been able to finish one of those levels, as I decided Hard difficulty was more fun than being annoyed and possibly accidentally flinging a controller in frustration.

Despite that difficulty spike, the game is incredibly fun. It’s so well done, not just as a rhythm game. Even just standing in the game’s world is completely immersive and frankly gorgeous.

Chilling on the platform can be a pleasure, as looking down at the ground shows a really satisfying reflection of the lights around you and touching sabers together looks just like if might in Star Wars. So much of this game works and everything that doesn’t is probably my fault for not being good at the game yet.

If you have a VR headset for the Playstation, this game really is a must try. It’s fun and it’s quick enough that you don’t feel as if you have to spend hours in it to make any progress. I highly recommend trying Beat Saber out to all.

Nintendo

The Pokémon Company hosted a press conference on Wednesday 29th May, unveiling new mobile experiences, games and various other projects coming within the next year.

The first application unveiled was Pokémon Home. This title essentially acts as an extension for 2014’s Pokémon Bank and allows trainers to bring all their Pokémon – whether from Pokémon Bank, Pokémon GO, the Let’s Go games or the future games Sword and Shield – together in one, easy to access place.

This answers many questions some had about the functionality between the different types of Pokémon games the series has seen in recent years. The app works through the cloud and allows users to manage their collection; it also looks like you’ll be able to initiate trades simply via your mobile device.

Pokémon Home is set for an early 2020 release on iOS and Android devices, as well as the Nintendo Switch.

Next came the announcement of Pokémon Sleep, another mobile application releasing from the developers of Magikarp Jump.

Not much was revealed about the game (and to be honest, the official description of it doesn’t much help). It seems the app will track your time sleeping and this will somehow affect its gameplay, encouraging better sleeping habits. A press release stressed more details about the app would be revealed at a later date.

In conjunction with Pokémon Sleep a new device was announced, called (confusingly) the Pokémon Go Plus. It possesses an ‘embedded accelerometer to track a user’s time sleeping and send this information to their smartphone via Bluetooth’, as well as having the same functionality as the original Pokémon Go Plus device.

Time will tell what this sleepy adventure is actually about, but both the mobile app and the Pokémon Go Plus will launch in 2020.

The final game announced was Pokémon Masters, another mobile game featuring some of the series’ most famous trainers.

Gameplay showed Blue, Cynthia,

3 Beast Ball

Nintendo

Gaming Editor @samjnason

2 Premier Ball

Nintendo

Sam Nason

Nintendo

New applications, games and devices were announced at 2019’s Pokémon Press Conference

1 Quick Ball

28

FOOD&DRINK

Friday 7th June 2019

@redbrickfood

Unhealthy Eating: What’s to Blame?

Food&Drink Writer Josie Hart discusses the health implications behind modern day relationships with food Josie Hart

Food&Drink Writer

You know the drill. After a late night library session and another early start, there’s simply been no time to put together the lunch you’d planned out. No problem. A quick stop at the shops and your tupperware can be replenished with a meal deal and some healthy snacks to keep you going. Even better, you can grab a sugar boost on campus and even get a takeaway delivered to the library! A recent article in the Guardian shed light on the way our eating habits have changed dramatically over the last century with tragic consequences. This has been confirmed by the NHS with the shocking reality that diets kill more people a year than smoking. Despite these revelations, our modern understanding of food and diet means that a true reversal seems radical.

“Even most healthy foods can be bought as ‘fast food’ and usually have some kind of processing” Even those nibbling on unsalted kale chips throughout the day have strayed far from what even our grandparents would have understood as a ‘normal’ diet. Are our contemporary eating habits simply an inevitable consequence of the realities of modern society?

In an article examining the state of the modern diet, the Guardian, argue that we should

weaken the brutal critique we direct at those who indulge regularly in fast food, and rather point our fingers at the corporate brands spending millions, or even billions, on advertising to make them irresistible. It must be recognised that humans throughout time have not lost their free will; perhaps this sentiment is a slight exaggeration, but the point remains that withholding from these foods would be a lot easier if we weren’t currently overwhelmed with temptation. Our senses are seduced with bright colours and mouth-watering images as we go about our everyday lives, from walking down the street or even logging onto any internet site. This applies to not only the quality, but also the quantity of food we eat. Believe it or not, snacking is a fairly new phenomenon. As the Guardian highlight, it is only with exposure to Western culture that the Chinese have begun to have anything other than green tea or hot water between meals. Even in the Mediterranean where the healthiest diets in the world used to be found, children are going for the processed sugary and fatty foods that can be found across the world now. Can we really take the full blame for giving into this temptation when research and money are put into making sure we do so and there is so much choice readily available?

The other temptation lies with

the fact that going for something quick and probably a bit more processed than something you’ve made with fresh, organic ingredients works with the lives we lead now. Changes in diet have come in parallel to changes in changes with work and social lives. No longer can we shut off after the typical 9 to 5. Working hours are longer, and even outside of this we feel constant pressure to be doing something with every part

of our lives on show online. This applies to students too. With standards rising steadily, the emergence of new pressures come too. The constant guilt when not working or doing something for the simple sake of doing nothing has been given the title of ‘millennial burnout.’ This is where eating habits start to change. Perhaps the old way of eating simply isn’t compatible with modern day life, and this is why we have quick fixes and pre-made meals and snacks at our fingertips. These foods may be simply a necessity

given the way the world is changing.

You might be questioning whether this will all be reversed in coming years with the rise in popularity of healthy eating.

Could it be that killer diets are a momentary fall out from the emergence of this food and these rapid changes that will be reversed now that we have come to our senses about the true damage caused?

Whilst these movements will improve the general health of many of us, the nature and perception of eating as a concept has still changed hugely. Even most healthy foods can be bought as ‘fast food’ and usually have some kind of processing.

This extends to the most natural of earth’s offerings; you would be kidding Pixabay yourselves to think that the produce in supermarkets is as good as fresh out the ground with no kind of modification or processing. Therefore, the argument can be made that whilst steps in the right direction are being made, society has changed to the point that we cannot just wipe a clean slate and go back to the way things once were. We have become used to this new normal and it would currently be difficult to make drastic changes to the way people live their lives.

However, much like climate

“Perhaps the old way of eating simply isn’t compatible with modern day life” change, it is possible that whilst much of the damage has already been done, we could work towards redemption. The answer seems to be to go back to basics. According to the Guardian’s assessment, the healthiest diets in the world are now found in African countries including Chad and Mali. Whilst these countries are struck with food insecurity and starvation, they in fact have healthier diets than much of the Western world.

This is the evidence needed to show that diet quick fixes or the latest sweeping epiphany about the answer to achieving health may not really be the answer.

Though it is not realistic now, efforts could be made to turn the clocks back and reintroduce what seemed to work for generations before us. Fresh, homemade food stripped closely back to its natural form, free from the realms of business and corporatisation. The issue remains that the world we live in now expects more than this. We have the technology and the means to expect and produce more. We also need diets that don’t undermine our modern day living styles. Nonetheless, with diet becoming an increasingly significant killer, we have no choice but to take back the reins on food and attempt to find some middle ground... whatever that may be?

Battle of the Brews

Emily Breeds gives independent coffee shops a whole latte love Ethan Emily Breeds Food&Drink Writer

Every day in the UK, 95 million cups of coffee are consumed, either at home or in one of 24,000 coffee shops. Most of these are chains; Costa dominates with 2,422 shops. Yet around 6,500 shops are independent, which is a high number considering competition from larger chains. Of course, advertising plays a part with which stores we are inclined to visit. But simply in terms of products, which is better, and why are branded coffees more popular?

I have always found that indie coffee, whilst palatable, is stronger and more bitter than chain coffee shops. However, this is most

likely due to the roasting in comparison to chain shops.

Traditionally, coffee is supposed to be bitter from ‘dark roasting,’ but light and medium roasts are popular as they are more appetising. Starbucks use a medium roast in their House Blend, and have recently introduced a Blonde Roast which is an even lighter roast. So it is no wonder their coffee is so widely consumed and enjoyed; the blend is just strong enough for a classic coffee taste, whilst also being mild enough for people to consume it with ease.

Indie coffee can also be rather hit and miss with its bitterness, whereas with chains you consistently know what you’re getting.

Confined by my own laziness to try new things, I will naturally

drift towards Starbucks. When on the go, it’s easier to quickly grab my beloved caramel macchiato than risk spending money on something that I won’t enjoy as much.

Yet because chain coffee shops are made to cater to a mass market, they run the risk of their food products and service being less good quality than independent stores. In an indie shop, the cake you’ll eat with your coffee will definitely be homemade. When I worked in a tiny coffee shop, the food was all homemade and locally sourced, as well as being unique and innovative. Naturally, they were delicious.

Furthermore, the atmosphere in indie coffee shops is more homely than chains. Although the customer service from chains is

Pixabay

amazing, albeit fast and efficient, the vibe from indie coffee shops is much more relaxed and friendly.

The locality of the ingredients adds to how environmentally friendly they were. Most chains sell pre-packaged food and serve coffee in disposable cups, which can’t be doing anything good for the planet. You only need to take a quick glance at the line in Muirhead Starbucks to imagine how many cups and panini packets are being thrown away each day.

Ethical questions are also raised with larger chains. Although most claim to source their beans ethically, this does not mean they are exempt from other ethical issues. In terms of tax avoidance,

Starbucks, Caffè Nero and Costa all had the worst rating according to Ethical Consumer.

I believe ‘hidden’ chains such as Cafe #1 and Boston Tea Party are a good middle ground. Indeed, both had the best rating on Ethical Consumer, along with Soho Coffee. With these shops, the relaxed and homely atmosphere is similar to a genuine indie shop, and the products are more unique than bigger chains. Even the coffee in these shops tastes a little stronger; nearly every component leans towards the vibes of an indie coffee shop. Yet similarly to their larger counterparts, you can consistently rely on what you’re getting, and you can find one nearly everywhere you go.

FOOD&DRINK

Friday 7th June 2019

@redbrickfood

29

Review: Too Good to Go

Food&Drink Writer Ella Foster tries and tests the waste-reducing app to see if it is too good to be true Ella Foster Food&Drink Writer

After a long day (approximately three and a half hours) of hard revision in the library, I was looking forward to treating myself to some food on the walk back to Selly Oak. Whilst I pondered the possibilities, I was recommended the Too Good to Go app, a selftitled ‘food waste revolution’ which works to fight the huge amount of food waste created by

restaurants daily.

Food waste in the UK is estimated at 10 million tonnes a year, with 260,000 tonnes arising from the retail sector. What’s worse, only 18% of this is redistributed to food banks. Too Good to Go is tackling this, and has created an app in which ‘magic bags’ are created from a variety of restaurants around the UK. Costing between £2.99-£3.99, the bags contain mystery items of food which, without you, would have gone to waste. All you have to do is pay

Yakinori/Instagram

on the app, and head to the restaurant at the allotted time to claim your bag!

Of course, a few obvious problems arise with this. One issue is the fact that you have no idea what you are receiving, and therefore allergy sufferers may not be able to take advantage of this app.

Nevertheless, I headed to Selly Oak’s Yakinori after pre-paying for a hot food bag, and a sushi bag, totalling at an insanely cheap £6.48. After I arrived, I showed a waiter my app, waited a few minutes, and then was given a box of hot food and a box of sushi – my app was swiped to confirm I had received my food, and that was it!

I received a takeaway box full of salmon teriyaki and noodles, and a box containing eight pieces of assorted fish sushi, all of which was delicious. The salmon teriyaki was lovely and filling, a curry sauce filled with flakes of salmon, potatoes, courgette, peas and peppers. The sushi was interesting, as the fish within the sushi was breaded, something I had never seen before, and was a mixture of raw salmon, a cooked flaky fish, seafood sticks, and prawns.

However, this also was lovely and a true steal at £2.99.

The only slight problems I found with the experience were that the app states that each ‘magic bag’ contained what would have been worth £10 of food. From looking at the website, it seems this is true of the 8-piece sushi, however the boxes of assorted takeaway noodles or rice are usually priced at around £5.50, making £10 of hot food a slight overstatement. However, the extreme discount offered by the app means that this hardly matters, as you still receive an amazing amount of food for the price.

The other problem was that in recieving my food I felt less like I was saving waste and more that I was interrupting the restaurants’ service; the chef asked a member of staff what to get me, and he replied ‘whatever, whatever!’

However, I feel both these problems are down mainly to my time of collection. The app provides an hour window within which to pick up the food, and mine was between 20:30 and 21:30. Eager as ever for food, I entered at 20:31 when two tables were still in the middle of their meals and the restaurant was busy.

Because of this I feel that if you came more towards the end of your time window, you would be more likely to get more food (if

you are super hungry) and also to get food that genuinely would have been wasted if it weren’t for the app.

Overall the experience was great: tasty and cheap food, lovely service and such an amazing way to reduce waste. The app told me afterwards that the amount of food saved was equivalent to a family home’s CO2 emissions in 40 minutes!

Next time you are looking for a delicious meal, as well as a way to help reduce wastage, make sure to download the Too Good to Go app and get ordering.

“Food waste in the UK is estimated at 10 million tonnes a year, with 270,000 tonnes arising from the retail sector”

FODMAP Food of the Fortnight Food&Drink Editor Lydia Waller gives us gluten and lactose-free recipe for some gut-friendly baked goods: Raspberry and Dark Chocolate Muffins Lydia Waller Food&Drink Editor

My friends will be sick to death of me harping on about the LowFODMAP diet, but this lactose and gluten free diet – which eliminates any foods and legumes with a High-FODMAP value – has been the bane of my life for the past month. FODMAP stands for ‘fermentable oligo-, di-, monosaccharides and polyols,’ which essentially are short-chain carbohydrates resistant to digestion, producing more gas in your stomach when your body tries to break them down. These can include arbitrary foods such as mushrooms and ripe bananas, only allowing you to have 45g of chickpeas and 4 sun-dried tomatoes per day – very limiting, some may say.

Many people follow this restrictive diet for a recommended period of 4 weeks, if they have conditions such as IBS, IBD, gluten and lactose intolerances and general digestive problems that they can’t pin down to a certain food group. ‘The Wellness Project’, by food blogger and chef Phoebe Lapine, has been a roaring success, adopted by multiple lifestyle magazines and publications, promoting the 4 week ‘gut-reset’

diet centred on Low FODMAP foods and recipes to relieve your gut from sluggish digestion, give you more energy and generally sort out any digestive issues you might find yourself having! Even if you do not suffer from an intolerance or digestive issues, you are bound to know someone who is!

Lydia Waller

That is why these muffins have been an absolute God-send during this exam season, meaning I can pack my bag and housemates’ lunch boxes with one of these scrummy gluten- and lactose-free summery muffins for a long studyday ahead.

They actually rise in the oven and have a light, springy sponge texture despite being gluten-free; the dark chocolate and raspberry combo is classic but hits the spot perfectly when you need that sweet-sugar boost mid-revision!

As the weather picks up, I have been experimenting with topping them with lacto-free cream cheese icing (cheese available in Selly’s big Sainsbury’s) with blueberries, chia seeds and potentially a mint leaf, substracting the dark chocolate for a more summery cheese-cake feel. You can pretty much do anything with this basic recipe, while the texture makes an inclusive crowd-pleaser for all stomachs!

Ingredients: 350g of rice flour; 3 ¾ of baking powder; 100g of dairy-free spread; 210g of caster sugar; 1 tsp of xanthan gum (TIP: If you can’t get your hands on some, 1 tsp of chia seeds with 2 tsps of boiling water does the same job!); 250ml of lacto-free/nut-based milk; 2 eggs; 125g of raspberries, frozen or fresh; 88g of dark chocolate chips/pieces;

A sprinkle of icing sugar (optional).

Method: 1. Preheat oven to 190 degrees.

Melt the dairy-free spread for 20 seconds in the microwave. Add the flour and baking powder to the bowl with the spread and rub together with your fingertips, until there are no lumps left.

2. Beat the eggs in a separate mug/bowl. Then add the sugar, milk, chia seed paste/xanthan gum and eggs to the flour and spread, beating them together until combined properly.

3. With a big spoon/spatula, fold in the raspberries and chocolate in a figure-of-8 motion to incorporate some air into the mixture.

4. Line two muffin tins with 24 cases (this mixture usually makes about 22/24 for me, it depends on the size of your cases) and distribute the mixture evenly.

5. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes – until, when you press the top of the cakes, they spring back, and, when you insert a knife to the middle, it comes out clean.

6. Let cool and either dust or ice according to your preference!

Lydia Waller

30

TRAVEL

Friday 7th June 2019

@redbricktravel

Student-Friendly Summer Holidays Travel Editors Laura Botia and Evangline Hunt share their favourite European summer destinations for 2019 Laura Botia & Evangeline Hunt Travel Editors

Malta

waters in Europe.

Gozo is another small island that nighbours Malta, however being a 45-minute boat ride away, and lots of differnt things to se and do, this generally takes at least a whole day to explore, but it well worth a visit if you have the time. Having been invaded many different times, Malta is a historylover’s dream: you can explore the Megalithic temple of Hagar Qim, or browse the National Museum of Archaeology to your heart’s content. The ancient city of M’dina is also worh a visit this is one for Game of Thrones lovers, as the TV show was once filmed here.

On first glance, Malta is not the most obvious choice for a summer holiday, however it is the

Malta is possibly the most unassuming of places, however it is definitely worth a visit this summer. With an area of 316 square kilometres, the island is the world’s tenth-smallest country.

There is a multitude of things to do on this tiny island; from sunbathing on one of its golden beaches to discovering the ancient Neolithic temples, there is something for everyone.

Malta is also known for its coast, with the range of water sports available being second to none. Diving is Magddalena Smolnicka a big part of the culture here and you can easily find a snorkel kit anywhere on the island to delve beneath its glistening surface.

Take a trip to the Blue Grotto or to Malta’s neighbouring island Comino – just a short 15-minute boat ride away – to experience the clearest blue

Budapest

most surprising. With so much to do (and return flights for £60 in July) there is really no reason not to make this your top destination this summer!

Barcelona Barcelona has everything you need for the perfect summer get away. For me, there are three things that make Barcelona stand out against other European cities – food, beaches and art.

Chat to your hostel/Airbnb owner for some recommendations for cheap and tasty tapas, or just take a wander down any of the side streets. My Airbnb host rec-

ommended Bodega Monumental Carrer Marina tapas bar, which was a great local spot with delicious tapas for a good price – sangria is obviously essential.

One of the surprising things about Barcelona for me was the nightlife. I tend to find most European nightlife on the questionable side, but Barcelona has a great selection of bars and clubs.

The five-room Razzmatazz plays everything from reggaeton to indie-classics to house music. For something more local, try one of the salsa bars – I was propelled around the room by various Spanish dancers and I can’t say that I hated it.

The beach hardly needs explaining, but you could spend your whole holiday there if you

the day for a just a quarter of the price. For only £16 you can spend hours wondering round the multiple outdoor and indoor baths, as well as a sauna, steam room, and a room full of ice to cool off.

Outside of the baths, there is also the Budapest Castle, Fisherman’s Bastion and St. Stephen’s Basilica to fill your time. For something a little more scary, take a trip to the labyrinth situated underneath the castle, where you can walk through pitch-black caves and around the dungeons that were once inhabited by Vlad the Impaler. Before

coloured Baroque-style houses that look like they belong in a children’s book stand beneath the huge Communist Z i z k o v Te l e v i s i o n Tower – a giant silver tower with ten giant babies with air vents for faces crawling up and down it.

Prague is one of the few cities that features Cubit architecture, and it quickly becomes apparent how ugly it is.

You can even visit the Czech Museum of Cubism, with a ticket costing just over £5. Walking up to the Prague Castle offers stunning views across the entire city – the red roofs that appear below are iconic.

Be sure to cool down with a Czech beer, which you won’t have to pay more than 60czk for (£2).

The Czechs are famous for their beer, drinking more per capita than any other country in the world.

You can find return flights to Prague for around £100.

Dmitry Goykolov

Bencee Balla-Schottner

As the home of Dracula’s torture c h a m b e r, Budapest’s popularity has skyrocketed in recent years. The nightlife is possibly the most attractive part of the city for students, as entry to most places is free and a decent bottle of wine is the equivalent of £3, making nights out extremely cheap.

Ruin bars are possibly the most interesting part of the nightlife scene. They are makeshift bars hidden inside dilapidated pre-war buildings that have been furnished with quirky furniture. Szimpla Kert is the most famous of the bars, however for more of a club scene head over to the Instant, which has four rooms with different music in each.

Budapest also boasts the famous SPARTY which is a party held every Saturday night in their largest thermal bath: Szechenyi.

At a pricy £50, this is significantly more expensive than a normal night out in Budapest, however you can visit these baths during

wanted to. Try making a picnic and taking it down to the beach, as the resturants that line the beach can be a little expensive.

In terms of art, Park Guell is definitely worth a visit. It’s a really nice walk up to the park and the view looks out across the whole city. Part of the park has various Gaudi sculptures and art pieces, which costs €10 for a ticket which is worth it if you’re an art lover.

Finally, the Sagrada Familia is a must-hit for everyone. It’s free to walk around it, and the building itself is huge with three different sides that are in very different styles. If you wanted to go inside the cathedral it will cost you about €17 – again, just personal preference whether it’s worth it. The third side is still yet to be built – perhaps it Daniel Corneschi never will be.

Make sure you keen your valuables in a safe place, as Barcelona is infamous for pick-pocketing.

Return flights in July are as little as £60, so there is no reason not to visit this beautiful city this summer.

the end of your visit, make sure to take a walk up the thousands of steps to the Citadella which overlooks the city – I promise it is well worth the hike! Return flights to Budapest will set you back about £100 in July, making it another affordable summer destination.

Prague Prague is beautiful any year round, and I’m lucky enough to have been in both summer and winter.

In such a visually-beautiful city, the warmer weather makes spending the day outside even more appealing.

One of the great things about Prague is that it is so affordable, not only to get to, but while you are there. As students, sometimes going away for a full week in the summer can be a little expensive, so Prague makes a fantastic choice for an alternative as you only need a few days there.

Make sure to check out the amazing architecture while in Prague – it ranges from one extreme to the other. Pastel-

TRAVEL

Friday 7th June 2019

@redbricktravel

31

Baguettes, Berets and Beyond Abby Spreadborough Travel Writer

Paris. The city’s name itself boasts connotations of romance, cultural masterpieces and world-renowned food and wine. When I visited this April I was eager to see whether the city would live up to its iconic status immortalised in Amelie and Midnight in Paris. For me it certainly did. I indulged in being the touristiest tourist for five days straight, donning a beret without irony or shame, eating croissants every morning and cramming myself into the bustling crowds to catch a glimpse of the ‘Mona Lisa’. Yet, while on a strict student budget, with only five days to explore the city and a desire to get off the typical tourist trail, despite my obvious infatuation with the city iconic sites, I do feel I have some insight to share.

We began our ‘off-the-trail’ Paris trip, rather ironically, in the shadow of Notre Dame and not far from Shakespeare and Company which, as an English student, I could not help but be ecstatic about. But we soon descended below the city’s streets into a subterranean jazz bar filled to the brim to locals who clearly frequented the club. This was the Caveau de la Huchette.

It emerged like a scene from a Damien Chazelle film with an impassioned drummer, who even got up at one point to drum on the dance floor itself, and carefully choreographed routines enacted by dance partners. In fact, it was

a scene from one of Chazelle’s films as it was featured briefly in La La Land.

Fuelled by jazz and cocktails in the following days we preceded to hunt after more unique experiences Paris had to offer.

Of course, we visited the usual tourist attractions, navigating the impossibly expansive Louvre, admiring Monet’s ‘Waterlilies #39’ and attending a thought-provoking exhibit on Manet’s ‘Olympia #39’ at the Musee D’Orsay. Yet after consuming what was practically the entire canon of art history, we hoped to find something a bit alternative, experimental even.

Enter 59 Rivoli. Just a short walk from the Louvre, this was an artistic experience like no other.

You can see artists at work in their studios across several floors of studio space and working in various different mediums.

Some studios contained artists creating photorealistic portraits whilst others were crammed with politically charged slogans and caricatures. It allowed us to intermingle with the artists themselves and even purchase some of their work. In an effort to continue to find more Parisian art beyond the margins, we came across Halle Saint Pierre in Montmartre which boasts two floors of so-called ‘outsider art.’

Its gallery space exhibits art from artists who have and have not been classically trained to lead to an interesting mix of subject matter and medium. It included sculptures of mermaids straight from an unconventional fairy tale, a silken and diamond-encrusted skull which mixed Damian Hirst

with Mexican influences and a reimagining of ‘The Last Supper’ featuring anthropomorphised insects.

After viewing a lifetime of art we decided upon a show, nothing seemed more fitting that Olivier Giraud’s How to Become A Parisian in One Hour. Having spent a few days in the city I felt I would very much like to be a Parisian having grown accustomed to the Parisian lifestyle, primarily eating daily baguettes and accepting the seemingly eternally grumpy disposition of Parisian waiters.

However, Giraud’s hilarious show highlighted that I had far to go. He poked fun at tourists like ourselves enthralled with the romanticised version of Paris and at Parisians themselves, seemingly effortlessly stylish and nonchalant but in fact frustrated by the hoards of tourists, weekly protests and the extortionate cost of the city.

However, by the end of the trip, I felt I almost was a real Parisian.

We too had to avoid the weekly often violent protest that erupts in Paris. As we visited shortly after the Notre Dame fire and the subsequent huge donations to the restoration fund these protests were particularly prevalent.

Additionally, we queued for over two hours to get inside Versailles before witnessing the grandeur of the Hall of Mirrors, only partially dampened by the crush of the crowd around us.

The prices, however, were another thing entirely. Having spent a lot of time in London I thought I would be prepared for the extortionate cost of meals

Augustin de Montesquiou

out but nothing prepares you for paying 8 euros for two bottles of water. Nevertheless, when departing Paris I found myself already reminiscing about the time

I had spent there and I could not wait to get back to the city again, of course, once my bank account has recovered. Paris really does live up to its iconic status.

My Favourite Place: Jersey Niamh Brennan Television Editor

It wasn’t until I came to university that I realised how lucky I was to have grown up on a beautiful and, in relative terms, safe island off the coast of France. Living in Jersey, it was easy to take for granted the fact that you are never more than ten minutes away from a beach, and to overlook the rich and fascinating history that resonates everywhere you go.

Here’s a short overview of what I consider to be the best of Jersey:

Beaches Being an island, the beaches have to be number one on my list. Not only because they are everywhere you go, but also because each one has something different to offer. Two of the busiest tourist beaches, St. Ouen’s and St. Brelade’s, are on the west of the Island, providing an excellent base for days spent lounging around or swimming in the sea, with many places to eat at your disposal. St. Ouen is one of the most popular surfer beaches, and one of the best places to watch the sunset of an evening, whilst St. Brelade is more family focused,

Niamh Brennan

with plenty of activities on offer from renting out kayaks, to banana boating. However, some of my favourite beaches are the smaller or more hidden ones, specifically Beauport, close to St. Brelade’s but far more idyllic. It is only accessible through a long stairway and a five-minute walk and so is considerably less populated than other beaches, making it perfect for a quieter beach day or an evening barbeque.

Walks I spent so much of my earlyteen years resisting family walks, only to realise ten years later how spectacular they really were. One of the most significant island-wide events is the yearly 42 mile walk around the coastlines, in which around 1000 people spend the day pushing themselves to compete the challenge which travels along coastlines, beaches, countryside and residential areas. However, if a less intense walk sounds more appealing, so much of the island can be explored from walking a few miles from one café or pub to another along the amazing cliff paths across the entirety of Jersey.

It was in this way that I first discovered two of my favourite locations on the Island; Devil’s

Hole, an impressive natural crater in a cliff face, with spectacular views out to sea stretching across to the other channel islands, and also Grosnez Castle, the ruinous remains of a fourtheenth-century castle, providing not only a striking early history of the island but also impressive views.

History Of course, Grosnez Castle is not the only impressive historical landmark on the island. Being the only part of the British Isles to be occupied by German Forces in WWII, there are many tourist locations identifying the island’s tumultuous past, from the bunkers scattered across the coastlines, to the Jersey War Tunnels, an underground hospital turned museum identifying Jersey life in the 1940s. In terms of older history, the Island has two huge castles to explore. Mont Orgueil, in the east of the island, provides a rich history of the medieval castles’ historical uses, with some of the most amazing views looking right over to France. Elizabeth Castle, named after Elizbeth I who was queen in the year it was built, resides out at sea, and can only be accessed by boat or by foot at low tide, providing a more recent (but

still distant) history, identifying the significant role Jersey has played as part of the British Isles.

And of course, the island provides so much more. I couldn’t finish this list without mentioning how central all the amazing places to eat are to the experience of living in Jersey. From The Hungry Man, which provides one of the best breakfasts by the beach on the East of the Island, to El Tico, one of my personal favourites for dinner, in the West, you are never short of somewhere that provides excellent local food.

Additionally, we have Jersey Zoo, which was opened by Gerald Durrell and is home to the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, many children’s attractions, and lots of local heritage locations.

Additionally, Jersey has seen a rise in recent years of music events taking over the Summer, this year with famous names such as Camelphat to Bastille to Shy FX to The Kooks taking stage at the various events across the Island.

Although Jersey definitely has its drawbacks, as it is on the more expensive side, so you wouldn’t go for an average night out, there is still an abundance of places to see for anyone visiting the island.

32

LIFE&STYLE

Friday 7th June 2019

@redbricklife

#Birthstrike: A Sustainable Response to the Climate Crisis?

Life&Style's Emmie Lyon questions whether we should make the personal decision to abstain from having children given the current state of the planet Emmie Lyon

by 60%, half of the world’s rainforests have been ransacked and Life&Style Writer the number of people on the planet has doubled. The colossal damEvery morning upon waking up, I age done to the planet’s once rich open the news app on my phone biodiversity might be propelling and scroll through the endless us towards a mass extinction event articles about the ongoing effects within our lifetimes and those of of the climate emergency. The our children. anxiety stemming from the uncerSo, that poses the question – tain future of the planet with the growing world plays on my mind daily, population and its the unavoidable nervdemands in mind, ous chatter of how would it even be right One child less the planet is possito bring another genper family will save bly heading towards eration into this? As being 3°C warmer, a woman, I have a whole 1°C past questioned myself the 2°C threshold and have been quesbefore change is irretioned on the subject tons of CO2 versible. Since my of whether I would parents were born in like children. I don’t the 1960s, within their eat meat, I shop sustainlifetimes the size of wild aniably, I don’t drive. These are mal populations has plummeted considerable lifestyle changes I

58.6

have made, but the question of having children still sits at the back of my mind as something which would affect me, and others considering becoming parents, on a much more personal level.

Guilt accompanies the question of choosing whether to act ‘selfishly’ or act ‘ethically.’ The lives of these hypothetical children would arguably not be a full one; while the effects of the climate emergency are already detrimental, the tragic reality is that they will probably worsen dramatically.

And would it really be responsible to bring more and more people into this world considering the inevitably considerable impact they will cumulatively have on the planet throughout their lifetimes? Facing a future with more natural disasters, more illnesses and fewer resources indicates that we should stray away from the

lifestyles of our parents and their and just how far mankind’s entiparents who saw the planet’s tlement has spiralled out of conassets as rightfully inherittrol. The fear of what our ed, instead of something descendants will face is which they could be a very real one that our In 2018 the borrowing from their ancestors never had population was children. to consider. For #Birthstrike them, having chil(founded by Blythe dren came without Pepino), a Facebook guilt. This climategroup confronting induced anxiety can larger than this very question, even lead to us questakes the personal tioning our parents. in 1800 decision of having chilWhy did you have me? dren and publicises the Why must I have to deal modern decision we might with the mess you made? have to face in the 21st century. Why must our generation suffer?

For many in the movement, their Previous generations had the privchoice to abstain comes from a ilege of being able to reproduce place of anxiety and fear. For oth- for their own pleasure, their own ers, it stems from wanting to limit gain, maybe to fulfil a lifelong their carbon footprint. Either way, dream of becoming a parent. the publicisation of such a private, These days, we are aware the personal and difficult life choice future relies on our conscious shows the urgency of the situation decisions to help our planet.

700%

Lying to Your Selfie: Have Edited Instagrams Gone Too Far? Life&Style Editor Yasmine Kennedy exposes the harsh reality of selfie-editing apps and the potentially damaging effect they may have on impressionable audiences Yasmine Kennedy Life&Style Editor

It is no secret that Instagram accounts serve as a highlight reel of our lives. No one is in a rush to show off the spot they’ve woken up with or the bloated stomach from one too many biscuits the night before. Instead, our feeds are full of poreless skin and super flat stomachs. In light of this, a scroll through Instagram can lead to constant comparisons and plummeting self-esteem with the constant question: ‘why don’t I look like her?’

“Where is the line between enhancing yourself and completely changing the way you look?”

Instagram’s initial attraction stemmed from its authenticity, something that has always lacked in more traditional media platforms such as magazines and movies. We assume that the pho-

tos uploaded are real images and whilst they may have been when the app first launched, now posting on Instagram is a full-time job for many people. This has led to an influx of flawlessly edited photos often done so seamlessly you wouldn’t be able to tell. Whilst magazines have received consistent backlash for photo shopped images and unrealistic body portrayals, is it time the same attention is brought to selfies on Instagram?

When editing Instagram photos, where is the line between enhancing yourself and completely changing the way you look?

The infamous James Charles uploaded a YouTube tutorial on how he likes to FaceTune his photos. The intricate step-by-step video, shows him brightening the whites of his eyes, adding contour and highlight, and reshaping his jawline, the final product being almost unrecognisable in comparison to the original photo.

The Instagram account @ beauty.false is shedding light on this issue by posting side-by-side comparisons of flawlessly-edited posts next to a candid or paparazzi photo of the same social media star. From which you will notice their skin isn’t quite as flawless, and their body shape is completely different.

At this point it is also important to note that not only social media influencers make use of airbrush apps, but it appears everyone finds it hard to avoid the temptation of making your teeth whiter, waist smaller and tan

darker, whether you have 300 or 3 million followers. This is proven by the original version of FaceTune being downloaded over 10 million times since its release.

There is no denying that the rise of social media has led to an

@beauty.false

overwhelming decrease in body confidence and self-esteem amongst young people. Therefore, should photoshopped photos, which were once considered a technical talent and now can easily be achieved, be banned from being posted online?

With this comes debates of when a photo can be overly edited. We’re all guilty of creating ‘Instagram worthy’ shots, whether that be from choosing our best angles or slightly altering the saturation or brightness of the photo.

Should we always be expected to show our followers a more realistic idea of what we look like?

Whilst some Instagram stars like to ‘expose’ themselves with more authentic photos taken from different, perhaps less flattering angles or before they’ve added one or five filters, it is unlikely that Instagram will experience a complete shift in content whereby we see more acne than flawless skin, and more rolls than abs.

What’s best to remember is the girl in the image most likely doesn’t even look like that herself, and whilst images may appear real, more often than not the images we see have been highly curated to achieve a level of perfection not attainable to those of us without a talent in facetuning.

LIFE&STYLE

Friday 7th June 2019

@redbricklife

33

The Burkini That Broke the Internet Life&Style Editor Imogen Lancaster takes a look at Sports Illustrated's annual swimwear edition featuring Muslim model Halima Aden and questions whether the shoot is a feat for inclusivity or sexualises a sacred religious custom designed to retain modesty Imogen Lancaster Life&Style Editor

It is no secret that Sports Illustrated’s annual swimwear edition explicitly sexualises women through featuring scantily -clad models on its covers. Their cover girls notoriously strike provocative poses in barely-there bikinis to showcase their toned bodies on the beaches of various exotic locations.

“Given that ‘sex sells,’ the construction of women as sexual objects for the pleasure of men is unsuprising, and sadly a commonplace representation”

With the magazine’s primary target audience being men, one can only assume that the objectification of the women in these shots is intentionally orchestrated to appeal to male viewers, a phenomenon known as ‘the male gaze.’ Given that ‘sex sells,’ the construction of women as sexual objects for the pleasure of men is unsurprising, and sadly a commonplace representation in not only journalism, but in advertising, marketing, television, and various other outlets of popular culture.

However, this year’s edition took a starkly different turn by featuring Somali-American model Halima Aden, making her the first Muslim model to appear in a Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue. Aden previously made headlines in 2016 as the first woman to compete in Miss Minnesota’s USA pageant while wearing a hijab, and even placed as a semi-finalist wearing a burkini in the swimsuit category.

Fast forward to her most recent shoot, Aden is seen wearing various boldly-coloured hijabs and burkinis amidst a beautiful Kenyan backdrop. Sports Illustrated subsequently received considerable

praise for their refreshing diversification in this shoot. Indeed, featuring a Muslim model gives greater exposure to a community that is frequently under-represented in not only the modelling world, but in countless other industries.

“Some have even interpreted the shoot as an act of cultural appropriation by glorifying and westernising this conservative practice” In doing so, Aden not only normalises the wearing of burkas and hijabs, but perfectly demonstrates how beauty extends beyond the stereotypically restrictive and often-uniform Western ideals. In fact, this stunning shoot appears to reinvent the traditional burka

and hijab as a fashion statement, and a creative outlet to express oneself. As a result, the shoot breaks boundaries and redefines beauty in light of an era of greater inclusivity.

That being said, the cover’s reception was by no means unanimous, with many feeling uncomfortable about or even offended by the sexualisation of garments intended to preserve the modesty of their wearers.

Indeed, although burkas and hijabs cover the skin of Muslim women, much like Sports Illustrated’s previous swimwear shoots, Aden is nonetheless depicted in various sexualised poses. By doing so, the shoot arguably counteracts the purpose of these garments, and is thus disingenuous to this religious custom, and the principles it represents. In fact, some have even interpreted the shoot as an act of cultural appropriation by glorifying and westernising this conservative practice. Some may view Aden as inappropriately flaunting herself for the pleasure of male readers, in complete contradiction to the very meaning behind hijabs and burkas.

Overall, this seemingly con-

Sports Illustrated

tentious shoot has prompted conversation about the grey ideas regarding religious identity in the fashion world. Whilst it seems impossible to please everyone, what we can take from this is that the fashion industry is beginning to give a voice to a larger subset of society – and rightfully so.

Have an opinion? Let us know @redbricklife

Sports Illustrated

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How Sleep Cleans The Brain Francesca Benson explains a proposed system for waste removal in the brain and how it could be linked to sleep Francesca Benson Sci&Tech Editor

Sleep, whether it is a full eight hours or just a twenty-minute power nap, is an essential part of life. However, as you lay your head down to rest, do you ever ask yourself why we need to be unconscious for an extended period of time every day?

The brain is not inactive during this time, it is in fact undergoing processes which are key for proper brain function. One process is suggested to be strengthening or removing neural connections depending on whether or not they are needed.

Another potential system in the brain that has been linked to sleep is the glymphatic system. This could be how the brain clears waste, including proteins associated with diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

The usual way the body removes waste and excess fluid from tissues is via the lymphatic system. Tissue cells are

surrounded by interstitial space glymphatic pathway. It is called which is filled with interstitial this because it is linked to cells fluid (ISF). ISF contains many known as glia, specifically a type things, like cellular waste and called astrocytes. These have a blood plasma forced out of water channel known as capillaries due to pressure. ISF aquaporin-4, suggested to affect enters the lymphatic system via the movement of water and drive lymphatic vessels, then the movement of cerebrofiltered through spinal fluid in the lymph nodes brain. where infection Cerebrospinal is detected and fluid (CSF) surfought by rounds the cenimmune cells. tral nervous sysIt is then tem, acting as a returned to the shock absorber. bloodstream, In the glymphatand waste proic pathway, CSF teins transportenters the brain in ed to the liver to spaces surrounding Flickr/_DJ_ be degraded. arteries, then moves The central nervthrough the interstitial ous system is made up of space in the brain. the brain and spinal cord. Unlike This influx of CSF drives ISF the rest of the body, the central to be flushed out. ISF drains out nervous system does not have of spaces surrounding veins exitlymphatic vessels. The central ing the brain, taking waste and nervous system must therefore debris with it into the lymphatic remove waste and balance system. The debris includes profluid levels by other means. teins such as amyloid beta which One proposed model is the forms the plaques in the brains of

those with Alzheimer’s disease, and alpha-synuclein which is misfolded in those with Parkinson’s disease.

In mouse studies, data suggests that during natural sleep or anaesthesia the interstitial space in the brain expands by around 60%. Influx into the glymphatic system was massively reduced – by around 95% – in mice that were awake rather than asleep.

This indicates that the glymphatic system is a lot more active during sleep. This pathway has been demonstrated in mouse models, but whether it is present in humans has yet to be fully confirmed.

Recent MRI studies have provided evidence that supports the theory that humans have a glymphatic system, and multiple studies have demonstrated that lack of sleep can increase levels of amyloid beta in human brains.

So maybe next time you consider pulling an all-nighter, get some rest instead to help your brain recuperate. It could help you out in the long term, as well as giving you some welcome rest.

Bacteria Could Help Battle Cancer Genetically modified bacteria could be used to direct the immune response of the body against cancers, Holly Leslie examines Holly Leslie Sci&Tech Writer

One of the major challenges in cancer therapy development continues to be the question of how best to target highly toxic drugs to the tumour tissue without damaging healthy cells en route.

Like cancer cells, bacteria do not want to be removed by the immune system and therefore selectively migrate to areas of the body that are immunoprivileged (hidden from immune system attack) as this means they are able to grow. Therefore, by using bacteria as a vector for drug delivery, systemic effects are limited.

The use of bacterial vaccination to prime the anti-tumour immune response was first coined

by Dr. William B. Coley in 1891 and has since resulted in the FDA-

approval for the use of BCG vaccine for the treatment of bladder cancer; BCG is the only FDAapproved bacterial-based vaccination to date.

Researchers at Columbia University recently published a study which highlighted the potential of biologically engineering bacteria to release immunotherapy targeted against a receptor called CD47. CD47 is an anti-phagocytic receptor, meaning that it prevents engulfment of the tumour cell by immune cells and therefore prevents immune-mediated killing of the cancer.

By blocking this receptor, scientists hope to strengthen the innate anti-cancer immune response. Whilst CD47 is overexpressed on tumour cells, it is also present on red blood cells and platelets. This means that systemic delivery of anti-CD47 immunotherapy would be harmful

Flickr/NIH Image Gallery

to normal cells.

However, advances in genetic manipulation have meant scientists can encode a shortened version of anti-CD47 antibody into non-pathogenic E. coli. Most importantly, this has been shown to stimulate tumour regression and encourage long-term survival in animal models of solid tumours, such as triple-negative breast cancer and B cell lymphoma.

The study further suggests induction of a prolonged memory response and reduction in metastases across both models in additional to being well-tolerated, as quantified by minimal changes in body weight.

“This has been shown to stimulate tumour regression and encourage long-term survival” Additional studies involving distinct bacterial species have suggested the vast potential that cancer vaccination offers the field.

Vaccination with a weakened infectious agent is thought to ‘jump-start’ the immune system.

This encourages expansion of

desirable immune cell populations, particularly those such as T helper cells and cytotoxic T cells which are involved in the adaptive immune response.

Recent research has also included the use of Salmonella typhimurium-based vaccine, A1-R, which was shown to be successful in pancreatic cancer and osteosarcoma, both of which have very poor survival rates compared to other subtypes of disease.

The clinical utility of bacterial-cancer vaccination has been suggested as optimal when combined adjuvant therapies including radiotherapy and chemotherapy; combination approaches utilising novel immunotherapies with bacterialbased cancer vaccine continue to be a major focus within the field of translational cancer research. A further recent study has shown that bacteria derived from patients with chronic infections, such as CP1 from chronic prostatitis, can induce tissue-specific inflammation and improve the clinical efficacy of novel treatments such as checkpoint blockade in prostate cancer.

Despite recent successes in the field of cancer vaccination, it remains unknown how exactly bacterial vectors enable antitumour activity. Further work investigated the possibility that the tumour microenvironment may reverse bacterial attenuation is required to ensure clinical safety of this approach.

Creature Feature: The Midge Menace James Law Gaming Editor

Tom Koerner/ USFWS

Summer. Truly a season of joy and love. The sun stays up late and so do you, enjoying the beautiful weather and good vibes with friends and loved ones. It’s a nice picture, isn’t it? It’s what you think Summer is like through your rose-tinted glasses in the cold, gloomy winter months. It’s just a shame that we’re not the only ones who love the warm weather and good vibes.

The term ‘midge’ refers to a whole bunch of species of small flies, characterised by their tiny size and large population. Found in numerous varieties all over the world except in the most arid of deserts, midges are the bane of existence for many people when the sun comes out.

The worst offenders are known as ceratopogonidae, or ‘biting midges’. Comprising over 5,000 unique species, these little pests are the ones who decide they all want a bite of your picnic sandwich, as well as your actual face.

They need the protein for egg-laying as summer time is apparently cuffing season for these insects. Something else to dislike about midges are the diseases they carry. These include Leishmaniasis, which results in nasty ulcers and kills between 20,000 and 50,000 people annually.

One of the scariest things about midges though? There’s no stopping them. In 2010, Scotland experienced a season of unusual cold in the run-up to summer. You’d think that this would hold off the midge infestation, right?

Wrong. It killed many of the highland midge’s natural predators, from birds to bats, and led to even more bitey bugs swarming the north.

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Are Foldable Phones A Good Idea?

Smartphones with large foldable screens have been showcased by many major manufacturers. Peter Amor weighs up their potential pros and cons Peter Amor Sci&Tech Writer

In recent years there has been great interest in foldable smartphones. These smartphones fold in the middle, revealing a larger screen than would otherwise be possible. Large manufacturers including Samsung, Huawei and LG have all revealed designs, and given this level of interest it is hard to see the idea going away any time soon. But is it worth parting with your hard-earned money, or is this just another gimmick?

The first thing to note about the foldable phone is that this is not an entirely new concept. ‘Flip’ or ‘clamshell’ phones have been around for decades. These phones were useful because the keypad could be separated from the screen, meaning that both could be a decent size and quality without the phone being too tall to be practical. This concept was a hit with the market, notably in the Motorola Razr series; the v3 version alone sold 130 million units after its release in 2004.

However, skip forward a few years and the first iPhone was released, a product that would turn the mobile phone market upside -down. A unique combination of advanced (for the time) touchscreen technology and easy to use apps, along with the nearcomplete abandonment of physical buttons, spelled the end for Motorola’s dominance. Of course, this basic design has stayed with us through various iterations, both with iOS devices and their Android counterparts.

The one fly in the ointment is that smartphones have been getting bigger. These days, for example, the Google Pixel 3 is described as a 'small smartphone'

by Tech Advisor, despite having a 5.5” screen. With bigger screens comes - at least in theory - better usability, and they make TV shows, movies, YouTube videos, and all kinds of other media much nicer to watch. The downside is that they make the whole phone bigger, even if one reduces the size of the bezel around the outside, and thus they are not as portable as phones of old. Folding smartphones would thus seem to

offer a solution; to give us a phone that is both highly portable and has a large screen.

“Pre-release models seem to be developing screen problems” But does the folding smartphone really stack up? The first note of caution is sounded by the price; the Samsung Galaxy Fold, for example, will set you back a cool $1,980 and, although the phone does feature some high-end hardware, it is hard to see what one gains over any other flagship smartphone other than a larger screen. Models from other manufacturers are even more expensive - Huawei’s Mate X is set to cost €2,299.

There are other issues too. A wise engineer once said that complexity is the enemy of

reliability, and so it has proved for the Galaxy Fold, which in its pre-release review models seems to be developing screen problems.

Admittedly, this would not be the first time that Samsung has experienced a technical issue with a new handset - the Note 7, for example, was plagued with battery issues. Samsung do say that they are working on the issue, but one does have to wonder whether in the long run these folding phones are going to be reliable. After all, adding a screen that flexes or hinges in the middle adds another component to potentially go wrong.

On the other hand, the argument that one should just buy a tablet if one wants a smart device with a big screen does not really hold water. It is obvious that tablets, even higher end ones, are much less expensive than these foldable phones, but it is also tricky to fit a decent sized tablet into a pocket. Add to that the fact that tablets cannot make regular

phone calls, and one does not end up with a realistic option for most people.

Should you invest in a foldable phone when they are released?

Well, the first thing to note is that release dates are slipping, as the Samsung Galaxy Fold was supposed to have been released in May in the UK but is still yet to hit the shelves. The second thing to consider is that, as a student, even if you do like to be ahead of the curve, is it really worth spending £1800+ on what is essentially a phone with a bigger screen? If you are interested in the concept, my advice would be to wait and see how they survive over the longer term, and for prices to drop, before parting with your money.

Huawei

Improving Inclusion In Conservation Diverse voices are needed in the conservation sector. With data provided by the RSPB, Abby Spreadborough tells us how they could be better included Abby Spreadborough Sci&Tech Writer

Conservation is rather high on the global agenda at the moment.

News of monthly ‘Youth Strikes 4 Climate,’ high profile Extinction Rebellion demonstrations in the UK and the proposed and muchdebated ‘Green New Deal’ in the US seem to fill newsfeeds while students shut away studying over the exam period. While this seemingly near-constant tide of activism continues it may seem that there is nothing students can do. While many may recycle, opt for a reusable coffee cup or even attend demonstrations, it would appear that student action is limited to these small, yet, of course, vital acts. However, there is another option.

The RSPB is reaching out and addressing an issue often ignored in the continuous stream of news concerning climate change: inclusion in the conservation sector. A spokesperson for the RSPB was keen to point out the need for inclusion in their own organisation and the sector more broadly: ‘this work involves a wide spectrum of skill sets and interests and welcomes anyone who wants to make the difference and save nature.’ They continued, ‘we want to say to people, no matter what your race, religion, gender, economic status or sexual

orientation – if you want to make and base of volunteers is a crucial, a difference, then we want to hear as issues created by climate from you.’ change impact everyone.

Inclusion is important in all Currently in Birmingham, sectors, but now more than ever is grassroots, urban movements are needed in conservation. An establishing themselves. For inclusive workforce is example, the Black able to offer a diverse, Environment Network inclusive and innoand Starlings LGBT vative range of are leading the In a recent survey solutions. way in drawing Therefore, with the connection of UK an issue as combetween climate environmental plex and multichange and the professionals, only faceted as clineed for mate change, inclusivity.

0.6% were from diversity is paraThis comes BAME backgrounds mount. at a time when As the full the increasingly extent of climate popular phrase ‘clichange is gradually mate justice’ is being realised through new used to articulate the studies, activism and the importance of inclusion. This 24-hour news cycle, new climate- is the idea that the far-reaching related issues continually arise. and devastating results of climate From fast fashion to unsustainable change must be seen through the food production and plastic waste, lens of justice, proposing that it may seem that conservation is those who are least responsible very much fragmented at this for climate change often suffer its point in time. The fact that 90% of consequences the most. the world’s seabirds are estimated A fitting example would be to have fragments of plastic in Hurricane Katrina. The category their stomach and only a quarter five storm swept across Florida of land on Earth is substantively and Louisiana over a decade ago free of the impacts of human leaving a trail of destruction that activities, as the WWF’s ‘Living disproportionately affected low Planet’ report revealed, is over- income, black communities who whelming. lacked the resources to evacuate Yet the crucial link is wildlife in time. Understanding this makes in vast, intertwined, astonishingly the need for inclusion clear, as a complex yet fragile ecosystems. more representative workforce in Equally, an inclusive workforce conservation may highlight and

work towards a solution to the unfair impacts of climate change.

In a recent survey of UK environmental professionals, only 0.6% were from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds. At the RSPB, 1.6% of employees self-identified as being from a BAME background and numbers of volunteers from these backgrounds were also very low. In comparison, 22% of students in higher education are from BAME backgrounds, with 9% studying direct feeder subjects to environment-related professions.

“Those who are least responsible for climate change often suffer its consequences the most” This disparity is part of a wider disconnect between minority communities and the environment. This is demonstrated by the fact that white British respondents were more likely to have visited natural areas (with the exception of local parks) than respondents who identify as Black, Asian or from other ethnic minority.

With their drive to be more inclusive, the RSPB is keen to repair this disconnect. Their roles, whether voluntary or employment, allow members to reconnect with nature and continue their legacy. The charity was set up over 130 years ago by a group of pioneering women eager to bring an end of the harmful plumage trade, making them very much the grandmothers to today’s antifast fashion movement.

From these inclusive and progressive roots, the charity hopes to grow. They noted that ‘due to the origins of the RSPB, people’s perception is that it’s only concerned about birds. While that is our core mission [...] we are involved in a range of activities to champion all green spaces, including education outreach, research, consultancy and behaviour change.’

With climate change activism more visible and essential than ever, a career or voluntary role in the conservation sector is open to all regardless of their background or indeed their degree discipline.

Creative, innovative solutions are necessary, and these may be provided by an equally inclusive, creative and innovative group, to reiterate the words of the RSPB: ‘if you want to make a difference, then we want to hear from you.’

All quotes and statistics from this article provided by the RSPB.

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Health&Fitness: The Importance of Not Losing Your Entire Routine on Holiday Sport Reporter Alex Kirkup-Lee details why working out on holiday prevents you from losing progress and how exercise can be a part of a relaxing time away Hasselbeck79

rather maintaining a relatively comfortable workout.

capacity or fitness ability can return to zero after four to eight weeks.

“This will make “Make enjoying you feel better and give your body a yourself and taking in your quick workout” surroundings the priority”

Alex Kirkup-Lee Sport Reporter

When summer hits and the opportunity to jet off to an exotic location arises, training often takes a back seat. While sipping endless margaritas by the pool and staying out all night partying seems like a great idea at the time, what damage does it do to all the hard work you’ve put in to your training, and is there any way to prevent ruining your progress entirely?

The consequences Returning to training after a holiday can be a challenge, both physically and mentally. Your first couple of workouts are likely to leave you feeling sore, and while some people find they come back stronger after a week off, others can find they have taken a little too much of a break.

“The couple of weeks after you return are spent trying to get back to the stage you were at before the break” A study published in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise discovered you lose as much as 12% of your muscle power with just 14 days of detraining. This means the couple of weeks after you return are spent trying to get

back to the stage you were at before the break. Therefore, a full week or two off training should not be done frequently, if you want to maintain your gains.

“You should not be training to muscle failure, but rather maintaining a relatively comfortable workout”

Do a quick, high-rep workout for longer trips away Deloading can be done more often than a full period of time off training, and can be vital for intermediate and experienced lifters, who may benefit from a break from heavy, fatiguing exercise.

For longer holidays, the importance of keeping up some routine of training may be more important, as the longer the break, the harder it will be to get back to the stage you were at before. This is especially true for beginners, as studies have shown that aerobic

By ensuring you fit in quick, higher-rep sessions, you can use up some muscle glycogen and burn some calories. This will make you feel better and give your body a quick workout, meaning you won’t lose your progress entirely and you won’t sacrifice valuable holiday time.

Do some form of exercise everyday

and can be a great way to explore your surroundings. If you don’t own a FitBit, download a StepCounter app – the numbers they give are pretty damn close to what you would receive on a FitBit. Seeing that you have done 10,00012,000 steps will definitely make you feel like you still working in line with your goals.

Ultimately, you should train on holiday only if you want to.

You probably only get one or two weeks a year on holiday, so make enjoying yourself and taking in your surroundings the priority.

It is good to be aware of the effects of taking a break and knowing how to decrease this effect if you want to make your return to your previous level of training easier, especially if you are going on a longer break.

Ultimately, you may feel worse if you have not made the most of enjoying your time away than you would do about taking a week or two off of intense training. Just be aware of how a holiday affects your routine, and have a plan that you can start executing the minute you get back. This applies not just to fitness, but your lifestyle in general.

Remember exercise does not have to mean being stuck in the gym. Walking, swimming, skiing and hiking, all count as exercise

This is also true for cardiovascular activity. Studies suggest a decrease in performance can be noticed after just two weeks of inactivity, as both VO2 max and the heart’s ability to pump blood efficiently around the body starts to decline, therefore decreasing aerobic capacity. Additionally, the fitter you are, the more you’ll notice the effects, as your body is adapted to constant training. To top this off, there can also be the mental risk of taking a break. It can be extremely hard to get back into your previous routine and motivate yourself to workout once you return from holiday.

However, there are ways to decrease these effects while on holiday that you can try:

Deloading You could use your holiday as a deload week. This means taking some ‘load’ off your training, reducing the weight, and making the workout easier for yourself.

This time is not used to progress your training, and you should not be training to muscle failure, but

Anna Langova

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Friday 7th June 2019

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Speed Over Sport? Formula 1 Fans Grow Weary with Lack of Overtaking

Luke Bosher unpicks why race fans are growing tired with the lack of overtakes Luke Bosher

unofficial sites differ on what can be classed as an overtake. It is generally accepted that 2015 was a poor year for overtaking, and since then the FIA have attempted to introduce measures to increase this.

Sport Reporter

It is undoubtedly a difficult task to balance safety, speed and entertainment for the FIA, Formula 1’s governing body, but one in which they have struggled to please the majority in recent years. Fans have been increasingly vocal in their dissatisfaction with a perceived drop in ‘exciting’ racing as overtaking has become more of a premium, in lieu of faster cars.

“Fans can be forgiven for being unhappy at the lack of exhilarating racing” Once again, the Monaco Grand Prix delivered a more exciting qualifying session than race, with the primary entertainment coming from current World Drivers’ Champion Lewis Hamilton’s ability to nurse his medium compound tires home and stave off the challenge of Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel. In fairness, the Monte

Artes Max Carlo street circuit is notorious for its lack of width, so should race fans really have expected anything more? Putting the question in the context of this season, following the disappointing Spanish and Azerbaijani races, F1 fans can be forgiven for being unhappy at the lack of exhilarating racing.

Naturally they are different sports, but Moto GP (motorbikes) has plenty of overtakes, with breath-taking manoeuvres possible on almost every corner. This is far from the case in F1, where overtaking possibilities have been declining for the last two decades.

Cars have gotten noticeably bigger in this period; their on-track size has increased from just below

8m2 in the mid-1990s to just over 10m2 last year. There are a few reasons for this, with one admittedly being driver safety, but the focal reason for this increase is down to the desire for increased performance and speed. By extension, this size increase negatively impacts the chances of overtakes, especially on tight tracks such as Monaco and Azerbaijan.

However, it is not only the tighter street circuits where overtaking has been hampered; the aerodynamic changes, such as widening the front wing, have seen better lap times but more ‘boring’ races. Technically it is difficult to assess the true overtaking statistics as the FIA do not publish official numbers, and even

“This size increase negatively impacts the chances of overtakes” These measures, such as increasing the effects of the Drag Reduction System (DRS), have had mixed results this season.

This has led to fans, including former champion Nico Rosberg, calling for a return to ‘ground effect’; aerodynamic strategy from the 1980s that was retrenched for safety concerns. The strategy has been implemented by the IndyCar series in the US, with its proponents arguing that modern cars and tracks are sufficient to quell past safety issues.

Whether the FIA do restore the old strategy remains to be seen, and such action will not be taken until the 2021 season when wholesale financial and technical changes ring around the sport.

Either way, there is weighty expectation from fans that the 2021 changes will increase overtaking opportunities. In the meantime, the situation has become such that Renault F1 managing director Cyril Abiteboul has admitted his team are looking at the possibility of designing their car to favour qualifying sessions rather than races, in line with the increased importance of qualifying in all circuits, not just Monaco.

This season is shaping up to be largely uncompetitive from a Constructors’ Championship perspective; only in Monaco have Mercedes not finished 1st and 2nd, and the continued domination of the German team also dampens the entertainment value of F1, but it is clear that the FIA could and should do more to make racing as exciting as we know it can be.

Upcoming Races: June 9th: Canada June 23rd: France June 30th: Austria July 14th: British July 28th: German

Exeter 34-37 Saracens: Spectacular Sarries Comeback Breaks Exeter Hearts Sport Reporter Dan Hague reviews a thrilling Gallagher Premiership Rugby Final Dan Hague Sport Reporter

Whether it was Andy Ruiz knocking out Anthony Joshua or Liverpool beating Tottenham to claim the Champions League; last weekend was packed full of thrilling sport. However, perhaps the least anticipated matchup, Saracens vs Exeter, delivered the greatest spectacle.

The match exploded into life early on with Exeter scoring after just 27 seconds. A George Kruis fumble was neatly collected by Alex Cuthbert and after a couple of phases Nic White crossed over for the fastest try in Premiership Final history.

After this early mishap, Saracens managed to wrestle the momentum away from Exeter; controlling territory and possession for the following 10 minutes.

A neat set play by Saracens forced a deliberate knock on from Henry Slade. This allowed Saracens to kick for the corner and from the following lineout Jamie George powered over the line. The second try was reminiscent of Saracens all season. Brutal carries from Maro Itoje and Billy Vunipola

brought Saracens close to the Exeter line; and from close range there was no stopping Ben Spencer who darted over to score.

“This Saracens team have an incredible amount of self-belief” A resilient Exeter outfit, however, managed to fight their way back into the game. All it took was a moment of inspiration from Ollie Devoto and the chiefs were suddenly camped on the Saracens try line. A barrage of carries from the likes of Dave Ewers and Matt Kvesic threatened to penetrate Saracens brick red defensive wall; nevertheless, the men from London held firm. It was only after Maro Itoje was sin binned for repeated infringements that Exeter were finally able to cross the white wash. After just 21 minutes the score was 14-13 in Exeter’s favour.

The game continued in a similar fashion for the remainder of

the first half. Exeter were in control and Saracens struggled to string any phases together.

Following a few more scores the Chiefs went in to the changing rooms leading by six points. Many pundits, myself included, expected a different Saracens to emerge for the second half, but it is a mark of this chiefs side that they continued to dominate. Sam Skinner crossed for a fourth try thanks to a lovely break and pass from Henry Slade. At this point it looked as if Exeter, with an 11 point lead and 20 minutes to go, had done enough.

“Saracens are undoubtedly the best club side in Europe This Saracens team, however, have an incredible amount of selfbelief. A sudden moment of brilliance from Owen Farrell, a delicious crossfield kick for Liam Williams (above) to dot down, saw Saracens initiate a mighty

Instagram/saracensofficial

comeback. Without warning Exeter began to falter. A superb break from Richard Wiggelsworth who passed to the galloping Sean Maitland saw Saracens cross in the corner. Then a lineout steal from Itoje allowed Jamie George to power over. In what felt like an instant, Saracens had not only regained the lead, but were now out of reach. It was then a case of too little too late for Exeter; Sam

Hills consolation try could do nothing.

Saracens had just pulled off the greatest comeback in premiership final history and against an extremely strong Exeter side. This is no doubt down to the incredible coaching staff, support staff and players. At the moment, this Saracens team are undoubtedly the best club side in Europe.

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Madison Square Despair: What Next For Anthony Joshua?

Andy Brennan reports on a dramatic defeat for AJ on his US debut in New York Andy Brennan Sport Reporter

The world was left in shock as Andy Ruiz Jr. produced an upset for the ages, soundly beating the IBF, IBO, WBA and WBO Heavyweight Champion Anthony Joshua at Madison Square Garden.

“Ruiz consistently ducked in close and bombarded the Brit with combinations” There were strong shades of Mike Tyson’s sensational defeat against Buster Douglas back in 2001 as Joshua, like Tyson, failed to find sure-footing against the heavy-handed yet slick and methodical Ruiz Jr. He came into the fight as a 25/1 underdog, yet he looked more than comfortable against the Olympic gold medallist as he consistently ducked in close and bombarded the Brit with combinations.

Joshua looked to be in control when he landed a sharp left hook

which sent Ruiz Jr. to the canvas, however, Joshua’s desperation to finish his opponent seemed to mirror his fifth round with Wladimir Klitschko, leaving him vulnerable.

Ruiz Jr. seemed unperturbed by his knockdown, and was stalwart in his work-rate, sending Joshua crashing with a brutal punch to the temple. From that moment onwards, Ruiz Jr. was in control.

Joshua was felled again later in the third round, and appeared to be heavily concussed. The stoppage came after the referee deemed Joshua unfit to continue in the seventh, as he was knocked down a further two times.

“As the fight ended, commentators and pundits erupted in disconcertion” As the fight ended, commentators and pundits erupted in confusion. Many of them were outraged at Joshua’s performance, which was flat and tepid in its nature. In particular, Joshua’s promotor, Eddie Hearn, seemed aghast at the turn of events, as Ruiz Jr. had

completely destroyed the event that Hearn had touted merely as ‘Joshua’s US debut’. The contrast between the fighters’ camps was striking - one corner completely despondent; the other danced in ecstatic jubilation.

Instagram/boxingmotivational

“It is clear that Joshua is no longer improving as a fighter” Despite the alarm spreading through Joshua’s team, there is still a lot that can be learnt from this fight. It is clear that Joshua’s 248 pound frame will need to shrink and that he should begin to favour staminal conditioning over resistance training.

Furthermore, Joshua may also consider a change in trainer. Rob McCraken has done a great job in helping Joshua get to where he is today, but it is clear that Joshua is no longer improving as a fighter as many of his weaknesses that were evident in his fights against Klitschko and Povetkin were capitalised upon by Ruiz Jr. The path now for Joshua is clear. He must fight Ruiz Jr. in a rematch, and he must win. Hearn’s

narrative plan for a 2020 showdown between Joshua and WBC Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder has been dismantled completely by Ruiz Jr.’s victory, and now Joshua’s credibility as a genuine world heavyweight contender is seriously under scrutiny.

Joshua’s loss has serious financial implications for a potential future unification fight between him and Wilder, however, the probability of that fight even happening all rests on whether Joshua can avenge his loss to Ruiz Jr. If Joshua loses again, then he is no longer a viable option at the top level.

AJ’s Last 10 Fights Gary Cornish - TKO (Sep '15) Dillian Whyte - KO (Dec '15) Charles Martin - KO (Apr '16) Dominic Breazeale - TKO (Jun '16) Eric Molina - TKO (Dec '16) Wladimir Klitschko - TKO (Apr '17) Carlos Takam - TKO (Oct '17) Joseph Parker - UD (Mar '18) Alexander Povetkin - TKO (Sep '18) Andy Ruiz Jr. - TKO (Jun '19)

Former Birmingham Bullets Coach Takes Toronto Raptors to NBA Finals

John Rogers looks at Nick Nurse's dramatic career path leading to the NBA finals

Instagram/fykwahi

John Rogers Sport Reporter

Former British Basketball League (BBL) coach, Nick Nurse, has led the Toronto Raptors to the NBA finals for the first time in their franchise’s history. Nurse had an eleven-year stint with England between 1995-2006, coaching teams including the Manchester Giants, Brighton Bears, and even coaching locally with the Birmingham Bullets in between.

He becomes the first coach to make both the BBL and NBA finals, and hopes to be the first to win both, having triumphed in the former twice in 1998 and 2004 (with the Giants and Bears respectively).

Leaving England, Nurse bounced around the D and G-leagues in America before landing a job as assistant in the NBA with the Toronto Raptors in 2013.

The Raptors then appointed Nurse as head coach before the start of the 2018/19 season after dismissing head coach Dwayne Casey.

His appointment was not without controversy; Casey led the team to a conference best 59 wins, and to the eastern conference semi-fi-

nals before being seen off by LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Casey was named coach of the year mere weeks after being fired.

It was not the only risky decision general manager, Masai Ujiri, made last off-season. The other was to trade for Kwahi Leonard, sending fan-favourite and all-star DeMar DeRozan to San Antonio in return (amongst others). There is no debate that the ‘Klaw’ was an upgrade on DeRozan, but the risk was in whether they could get Kwahi to resign in Toronto, as he becomes a free agent this off-season. It remains to be seen whether the Raptors have persuaded Leonard to prolong his stay.

However, the management at Toronto will feel vindicated by both Nurse and Kwahi this season, with a run to the NBA finals for the first time in the franchise’s history capping off another strong regular season. The new head coach was the NBA’s very own ‘tinker man’ during the regular seasons, tailoring his starting lineups to suit the opposition, which is quite the innovation in a league where a coach’s starting five is often subject to little unenforced change.

In the playoffs Kwahi has shone, producing an all-time great string of performances. These include 41-points in a game seven to send the Philadelphia 76ers home in the Eastern Conference semi-finals (including a frankly ludicrous buzzer-beater for the win), and averaging nearly 30-points and 10-rebounds to power Toronto back from a 0-2 deficit in the Conference Finals to beat Milwaukee in six. Nurse also impressed in the latter series with his defensive scheming for likely MVP (Most Valuable Player) Giannis Antetokounmpo, neutralising his ability to get to the hoop in transition with double or even triple man blocks.

It remains to be seen whether Nurse can overcome the two-time defending champions, the GoldenState Warriors, to bring a championship to Toronto, and indeed whether Kwahi will be in Canada next season with strong rumours linking him to Los Angeles' teams.

What is for certain, however, is that the Raptors with Leonard and Nurse at the helm have given their fans fantastic viewing so far this season, and the former BBL man deserves huge credit for facilitating an historic season.

SPORT

Friday 7th June 2019

@redbricksport

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Liverpool 2-0 Spurs: Reds Secure Sixth European Title in Forgettable Fashion

Tom Leaman gives his take on the all-English Champions League Final in Madrid Tom Leaman News Editor

After a fourteen-year wait, Liverpool overcame Tottenham Hotspur in the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid to win their sixth Champions League title. For Jürgen Klopp, the night marked the end of a barren run in which the Liverpool manager had lost all of his last six cup finals, including in the 2013 and 2018 Champions League competitions.

In truth, the game was far from a classic European final: both sides had gone three weeks without playing a competitive game and the heat and humidity of a June night in the Spanish capital sapped the players’ energy on both sides and created a slow tempo.

That being said, the first moment of significance in the game emerged within the first thirty seconds when Sadio Mané’s cross hit Moussa Sissoko’s chest and then his arm in the penalty area. After a short VAR check, Mohamad Salah was on hand to thump the resultant spot-kick past Hugo Lloris.

From there, the French goalkeeper actually had little to do as Spurs held onto the ball more effectively than Liverpool, though

they were unable to create any clear-cut chances to really test Alisson Becker. The Brazilian goalkeeper was first called into action in the 79th minute to block a long-range effort from Son Heung-Min before he reacted quickly to get down to Lucas Moura’s follow-up snapshot.

“The game was far from a classic European final” “Italy have won the wooden spoon 14 Shortly afterwards, Christian times and their Eriksen saw his free-kick tipped highest placed around the post by the Liverpool goalkeeper, before Son planted a finish is fourth” header over the crossbar from only a few yards out, although his blushes were saved by the linesman's flag.

Liverpool’s more clinical performance on the night was demonstrated when Divock Origi put them two up after Spurs failed to clear a late corner. When the ball fell to him, Liverpool’s semi-final hero was on hand to drive the ball across Lloris and into the bottom corner to double the Reds' lead.

Spurs’ own Champions League talisman, Lucas Moura, played less than half an hour of the final after scoring a hat-trick against

Ajax in the semi-final. Harry Kane, who had not played in 54 days (since the quarter-final first leg against Manchester City) was ineffective with his only real contribution being a late tumble in the penalty area which was quickly dismissed by the referee.

For Klopp, Jordan Henderson and the rest of the Liverpool team, the scruffy nature of their victory will not matter for them when they look back on ‘that night in Madrid.’ Their 20-year-old right

his assist for Origi in the semi-final at home to Barcelona to put them 4-0 and send them to Madrid.

Origi, too, has proved his value this year, overcoming criticism aimed at him since joining Liverpool from Lille in 2014. Add into the mix experienced and exciting players such as Virgil van Dijk and Mohamad Salah and it would not be too far-fetched to predict them appearing in their third consecutive Champions League final next year. What remains to be seen is if they can turn this successful spell into their first-ever Premier League title at the end of next season.

Instagram/championsleague back, Trent Alexander-Arnold, summarised this in a post-match interview with BT Sport, saying: ‘We will not look back and think it was a sluggish game, we will see we are European champions. I am just a normal lad from Liverpool whose dream has just come true.’

Special praise for Liverpool’s European campaign must go to Alexander-Arnold, who plays so fearlessly and confidently for such a young player as epitomised by

Liverpool’s Champions League Wins: 1976/7: 3-1 vs Borussia Moenchengladbach 1977/8: 1-0 vs Club Brugge 1980/1: 1-0 vs Real Madrid 1983/4: 1-1 (4-2) vs AS Roma 2004/5: 3-3 (3-2) vs AC Milan 2018/9: 2-0 vs Tottenham Hotspur

Brilliant in Baku: Hazard Bids Farewell to English Football as Gunners Collapse Jake Davies reflects on an embarassing night for Arsenal in the Europa League Instagram/europaleague

Jake Davies Sport Reporter

Chelsea won their second ever Europa League trophy with a 4-1 victory over Arsenal in the allEnglish final in Baku.

Goals from Giroud, Pedro and Hazard put Sarri’s side in clear

control in Azerbaijan, as Arsenal proved unable to cope with the Blues’ resurgence in the second half.

The Gunners looked the stronger side in the first 45 minutes, dominating possession and coming close to opening the scoring through Xhaka and Lacazette.

However it was Chelsea who would eventually break the dead-

lock; Giroud’s glancing header put the Blues ahead in the 48th minute. Pedro’s precise finish into the bottom right corner minutes later extended their lead, before Ainsley Maitland-Niles brought former Gunners striker Giroud down illegally in the box, gifting a penalty and indeed a third goal to Chelsea, via Hazard’s calm, collected strike past Cech.

Iwobi gave Arsenal hope with his incredible half-volley from outside the box in the 68th minute, bringing the score to 3-1 and instilling a sense of optimism in Unai Emery’s side. The comeback was short-lived however, as Hazard finished a flowing move to put the tie out of reach just three minutes later. Arsenal’s attempts to respond proved fruitless and they succumbed to a 4-1 defeat in an entertaining European final.

The result served to highlight the impressive job Sarri has done at Chelsea this season. Since taking charge in August, the Italian has managed to lead the London club to a 3rd place league finish, a League Cup final and a Europa League title. With achievements such as these, it is fascinating that

the former-banker receives such criticism for his work at the club.

His critics undermine his work, highlighting a lack of fluidity to the way his side plays, yet despite such accusations, Sarri has accomplished plenty in his first season in English football. His future may be in doubt, but his credibility and reputation as a top manager certainly is not.

“The result served to highlight the impressive job Sarri has done at Chelsea this season” For the Blues’ main playmaker, Eden Hazard, Baku could well have been his final game in a Chelsea shirt. The Belgian has excelled since he joined the club in 2012, winning two Premier Leagues, an FA Cup and League Cup and now two Europa Leagues, scoring 85 goals in the process.

The number 10 confirmed in his post-match interview that he may well be moving on, as a deal is currently in motion. If such a move takes place, Hazard can certainly be proud of his Chelsea career, in particular with his two goals and an assist in Baku.

Arsenal will look back on the night with regret and a sense of an opportunity missed. The Gunners looked strong in the first half but their star strikers Aubameyang and Lacazette were starved of service after the break. A lack of composure combined with individual errors allowed Chelsea to embarrass their London rivals and thus end Emery’s winning streak in Europa League finals. The defeat means that Arsenal will once again be competing in the Europe’s second-tier next season, hoping to build upon the success they have seen in the last two years of the competition.

It may have taken place thousands of miles from the UK, but the all-English Europa League final in Baku was a thrill to watch and served as a reminder of the growing status and quality of Europe’s secondary tournament.

07.06.2019

SPORT

Instagram/edgbaston

Edgbaston Expects as Birmingham Poised for a Cricketing Carnival Sport Reporter Kit Shepard discusses the Cricket World Cup's arrival in Birmingham Kit Shepard Sport Reporter

Instagram/cricketworldcup For cricket fans, 2019 signals the holy grail of summers. In two months, the Ashes, one of sport's oldest rivalries, will resume as England attempt to regain that diminutive, iconic urn from Australia.

However, there is the small matter of a World Cup first and, with England hosting the tournament, Birmingham will be at the centre of the cricketing universe.

The World Cup began eight days ago, but Edgbaston must wait until 19th June to join the six-week-long party, when New Zealand and South Africa battle in the first of five games at the ground. That being said, with all ten teams playing each other once in a round-robin format to decide who progresses to the semi-finals, the tournament is set to be a slow-burner.

Thus, with the action arriving in Birmingham roughly halfway through proceedings, Edgbaston fans will be able to witness matches at the business end of the tournament.

The quintet of encounters at the stadium includes some mouth-watering clashes. Following the opening game, Pakistan will come to town to face New Zealand,

where they will undoubtedly be supported by enthusiastic locals with Pakistani heritage and a love for cricket. The same can be said of India and Bangladesh, who will contest the fourth match in Birmingham in front of what should be a sensational atmosphere. Sandwiched between these games is the big one: England vs India.

Events on the pitch will be fascinating, since both sides are tipped to make the semi-finals. Nevertheless, considering the presence of plenty of Indian fans in the city and Edgbaston’s reputation of providing a raucous atmosphere in the country when England play, those in the stands may well be the ones making this occasion special.

“The quintet of encounters at the stadium includes some mouth-watering clashes” As if that was not enough, Edgbaston will bid farewell to the tournament in style when it hosts the second semi-final. The last time the ground hosted a game at this stage, in 1999, it produced one of the cricket’s most dramatic moments, as South Africa threw away a place in the final with a calamitous last-over run-out against Australia. Twenty years later, a new chapter will be added to Birmingham’s illustrious World Cup history.

As for the World Cup as a whole, it has potential to be epic. The format does mean it will be a marathon rather than a sprint, but it guarantees that the best teams reach the knockout stages. England, after decades of disaster and disgrace at World Cups, are the favourites, but they will have

to cope with heavy expectations if they are to lift the trophy for the first time. The hosts have started indifferently, beating South Africa in their opener, before a surprise defeat to Pakistan on June 3rd.

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“A new chapter will be added to Birmingham's illustrious World Cup history” Among their closest challengers are likely to be the aforementioned India, who boast the game’s best batsmen in Virat Kohli, and should thrive from the support they will receive in Birmingham.

Elsewhere, Australia seem to be coming into form at the perfect time, although batsmen Steve Smith and David Warner are likely to endure a torrent of abuse from the English crowds, having recently completed twelve-month bans for ball-tampering.

Regardless of who lifts the trophy, the stage is set for a memorable cricketing summer, with Birmingham at the very heart of it.

Liverpool 2-0 Spurs

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AJ’s Shock Defeat

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Sarries Comeback

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Cricket World Cup 2019 Matches at Edgbaston: 19th June: New Zealand vs South Africa 26th June: New Zealand vs Pakistan 30th June: England vs India 2nd July: Bangladesh vs India 11th July: 2nd Semi-Final (2nd vs 3rd)