Issuu 1485

Friday 20th October 2017

Redbrick Issue 1485, Vol. 82

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Redbrick Revisits

Redbrick

A look back through UoB history from the Redbrick archives

The Official University of Birmingham Student Newspaper, est. 1936

pages 14-15

UoB Astrophysicists Win 2017 Nobel Physics Prize University of Birmingham's Institute of Gravitational Wave Astronomy contributed to Nobel Physics Prize winning research Liam Taft

News Contributor @liam_taft_

The prize was attributed to three American professors – Rainer Weiss, Barry Barish, and Kip Thorne – who found evidence to confirm Einstein’s theory of relativity. It is thought that this development will completely change how scientists see the universe.

The research was aided by over 1000 scientists from 18 countries worldwide. The University of Birmingham (UoB), alongside the University of Glasgow and the University of Cambridge, were part of a UK effort to help see the project to its conclusion.

Gravitational waves were predicted by Albert Einstein over a hundred years ago. In 1975, Rainer Weiss convinced Kip Thorne that these elusive waves might be detectable with lasers and, after Barry Barish secured funding in 1994, the project slowly gathered momentum.

James Moore

However, it was not until September of 2015 that the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) spotted the waves, which emanated from a collision of two black holes 1.3 billion years ago. This provided momentous evidence to prove Einstein’s observations.

Astrophysicists from UoB played a key role in this achievement. They developed hardware for LIGO and sophisticated analysis tools to extract information from the observatory’s data.

UoB professor Andreas Freise said: ‘The LIGO founders took a leap into the unknown, embarking on the mission to detect gravitational waves. Now several beautiful signals, recorded from black holes, have rewarded decades of efforts made by our international collaboration’.

Adding to this, Dr Alberto Sesana said: ‘It's like we were ready to listen to some anonymous folk local band and we found ourselves overwhelmed by Beethoven's 9th.

Every single sound is carrying unprecedented information about the deepest mysteries of the universe’.

Students have also welcomed the news, suggesting that it feels ‘validating’ to be part of a university that is conducting pioneering, internationally-recognised research. ‘It really gives us confidence that we are being taught by Nobel Prize winning scientists’, said one physics student. ‘There’s no better way of learning about gravitational waves than from the people who helped discover them. It’s like getting a lecture on the moon landing from Buzz Aldrin’.

The research that won this year’s Nobel Prize for Physics has been a hundred years in the making. UoB’s Institute of Gravitational Wave Astronomy are ecstatic to be part of such a monumental achievement.

The Poynting Physics Building on campus

Redbrick Comment: Spotlight on student mental health at UoB

Features: Hillary Clinton's Cheltenham Lit Fest appearance

Redbrick Music reviews Dua Lipa's live performance at the O2 Academy

Redbrick Travel explores the two faces of modernday Cambodia

Comment 10-11

Features 14-15

Music page 22

Travel page 31

02

REDBRICK

Friday 20th October 2017

redbrick.me

Letter from the committee...

Just over half a year ago I was in the curious position of speaking for a committee role at the annual general meeting before I was even a member of, or indeed before I had any involvement with, Redbrick whatsoever. I was speaking before the writers and editors of one of the oldest student publications in the UK, to convince them to trust me to maintain the technical aspects of its award-winning website as its Lead Developer, and had spent days prior producing a speech to convince people that I was capable and organised enough to do so. I demonstrated this by losing my speech on the way to the AGM. Little did I know I was about to learn so many new skills and meet so many fantastic people. And so, here I am penning the editorial of the third issue of the academic year. The gears and pulleys in the office have been set in motion ready for the new team of writers to produce another year’s worth of hallmark journalism. Both the new blood and old guard of our editorial team and writers have already wowed the committee with the passion shown for maintaining its incredible standard while also keeping it fresh and breathing with new ideas. I certainly have some ideas in the works to freshen up the website experience.

Andreea, our previous Lead

Developer, gave me some useful advice while she was showing me the ropes. “01101 101 00 1010”, she told me, moments before she hacked into the mainframe. As you can imagine, this advice has already proved invaluable. Each year the identity of Redbrick evolves slightly. On top of representing the university, there is something about journalism which is very personal, and the personality of the collective voice changes as members join and leave.

This year we have introduced Redbrick Revisits, featuring articles from way back in the archives.

It is fascinating to see the voice of Redbrick from an older generation.

This edition’s double page spread shows off some of our greatest and historic stories, including those so popular that they demanded a second print run of the issue.

Despite sounding somewhat trite, it is true that being part of Redbrick is more than just journalism. Our members should be incredibly proud of what we achieve.

In the face of tackling some new challenges in keeping Redbrick up and running this year, we have already seen more new members than ever before and people are increasingly aware of us both as a publication and as a student group.

Content from the past few years has attracted increasing recogni-

tion, such as winning the Student Publication Association’s Best Entertainment Piece award in last year’s paper. The new Redbrick dream team can only take this onwards and upwards, following the footsteps of last year while allowing the skills of the new writing and editorial team to be flexed.

This year we are particularly pushing to be more welcoming, such as our ‘arresting’ presence at this month’s Societies Night and the committee’s personal involvement with ensuring freshers are comfortable getting involved with us. The time spent in front of a worn-out Mac in the depths of the Redbrick dungeon is volunteered purely out of a passion to deliver the best content we can on behalf of you. On that note, we hope this issue means as much to you as it does to us.

From the dungeons, we salute you,

Tom Galvin, Lead Developer

Follow us on Instagram @redbrickpaper Want to be featured? Send us your photos at: deputy@redbrickonline.co.uk and/or tag us in your photos by using #redbrickinstagram

Online this week at redbrick.me...

TV

FILM

FOOD&DRINK

COMMENT

Liar: A Judgement Questioning Drama

Independant Cinemas to Visit in Birmingham

Recipe: Tear n' Share Florentine Pizzas

An Independant Kurdistan is Coming

Redbrick Editorial Team Editor William Baxter editor@redbrickonline.co.uk

Deputy Editors Holly Carter Kirstie Sutherland Harry Wilkinson deputy@redbrickonline.co.uk

Print & Features Editor Joe Ryan print@redbrickonline.co.uk

Digital Editor Alex McDonald digital@redbrickonline.co.uk

Lead Developer Tom Galvin developer@redbrickonline.co.uk

Marketing Secretary Kamila Geremek marketing@redbrickonline.co.uk

Social Secretary Laura Burgess social@redbrickonline.co.uk

News Editors Erin Santillo Grace Duncan Gregory Robinson Emily Roberts

Music Editors Emily Barker Issy Campbell Luke Charnley Thom Dent

news@redbrickonline.co.uk

music@redbrickonline.co.uk

Comment Editors Alex Cirant-Taljaard Alex Goodwin Kat Smith

Television Editors Amelia Bacon Matt Dawson Abbie Pease

comment@redbrickonline.co.uk

tv@redbrickonline.co.uk

Culture Editors Olivia Boyce Hannah Brierley Rebecca Moore Natalie Welch

Gaming Editors Nick Burton Roshni Patel gaming@redbrickonline.co.uk

Travel Editors Iesha Thomas Phoebe WarnefordThomson Olivia Woodington travel@redbrickonline.co.uk

Life&Style Editors Maddie Bourne Antonia Miles Nia Roberts Zoe Screti lifestyle@redbrickonline.co.uk

Sport Editors Alex Alton Olli Meek Leanne Prescott sport@redbrickonline.co.uk

culture@redbrickonline.co.uk

Film Editors Patrick Box Emillie Gallagher John James film@redbrickonline.co.uk

Food&Drink Editors Emma Chambers Caitlin Dickinson Phoebe Radford food@redbrickonline.co.uk

Sci&Tech Editors Katie Jones Emilia Rose tech@redbrickonline.co.uk

Redbrick Guild of Students Edgbaston Park Road Birmingham B15 2TT 0121 251 2462

Editorial Assistants Tara Kergon Jess Baxter editor@redbrickonline.co.uk Safiya Sparkes Chloe Hayes Abigael Clark Zak Barlow Olivia Frankel Laura Burgess Redbrick is printed through Nicola Maclean www.mortonsprint.com Emmy Hawker 01507 523 456 Beth Cole Jonny Isaacs To advertise in Redbrick, get in touch with Rhys Morgan marketing@redbrickonline.co.uk or visit Aamina Siddiqi www.redbrick.me/advertise-with-redbrick Kate Ezard for more details, and to see our rate card.

Designed and typeset by Redbrick Copyright (C) Redbrick 2015 The views expressed in Redbrick do not necessarily reflect those of the editors, the Guild or the publishers. If you find an error of fact in our pages, please write to the editor.

Our policy is to correct mistakes promptly in print and to apologise where appropriate. We reserve the right to edit any article, letter or email submitted for publication.

NEWS

Friday 20th October 2017

@redbricknews

03

Brum 2022 Bid Not 'Fully Compliant' Bidding for the 2022 Commonwealth Games has reopened after Birmingham's suitability as host city is questioned by organisers John Wimperis News Reporter

Bidding to be the host city for the 2022 Commonwealth Games has reopened after Birmingham was the only city to enter by the September 30th deadline.

Louise Martin, President of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), announced that the deadline had been extended to November 30th. Martin did congratulate Birmingham for a ‘comprehensive’ bid but stated that ‘further time should be given to all interested parties to enable the submission of fully compliant proposals’.

She had stated that there had

been ‘no fully compliant bid’, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia though did not state the ways in and Victoria in British Columbia, which Birmingham’s bid had Canada had both considered bidfailed to comply. ding for the Games but did Paul Blanchard, Chief not follow through.

Executive of Despite this, David Commonwealth Grevemberg CBE, Games England, told Chief Executive of the BBC that it had CGF claimed that been a ‘huge effort both Malaysia to put such a comand Canada, as prehensive bid well as Australia, Number Of Cities together in such a had been continuThat Submitted A short timescale’. ing to show inter2022 Bid He claimed that, est in hosting the despite no other city Games. submitting a rival bid, Until the UK govthey had always said ernment decided to there would be ‘a few hurback Birmingham’s prodles to clear’ before Birmingham posal, Liverpool had been preparwas formally awarded the ing its own bid. Speaking to the Games.

Liverpool Echo, Liverpool Mayor

1

Joe Anderson claimed that his city’s bid was compliant and that ‘there are definitely questions to be asked’ about why the government chose a ‘non-compliant bid’.

Street: "Games would 'show the world that Britain is open for business'" The hosting of the 2022 Games had originally been won by Durban in South Africa, back in

2015. This was revoked in March, after Durban was found not to have met CGF criteria. The then South African Sports Minister Fikile Mbalua indicated that the city would be unable to host the Games due to insufficient funding.

Andy Street, West Midlands Metro Mayor, spoke optimistically to the BBC about how he wanted Birmingham’s Games to be a ‘brilliant sporting occasion’.

He also stressed how, as 2022 would be after Brexit, he wanted to ‘show the world that Britain is open for business’. Street also said that he wanted ‘to demonstrate that this is the place where the world comes together and we’re building a very inclusive society here’.

Old Joe Lights Up Pink for Cancer Sophie Woodley News Reporter

Old Joe, the University of Birmingham’s clock tower, has turned pink for Breast Cancer Awareness month from the 20th to the 31st October. For the past few years, Old Joe has changed its colours in aid of a number of different causes and organisations for example, Old Joe has previously been lit up blue to raise awareness for testicular cancer.

Old Joe is not the only local building to shed light on this issue; the Queen Elizabeth

Hospital Birmingham is also contributing to the fight against breast cancer. The QEHB is holding a raffle to raise money for the cause,

"This year, Breast Cancer Care are celebrating their 25th anniversary" alongside selling pink merchandise. In a statement, Senior Fundraiser at QEHB Charity, Rachel Learmonth said, ‘QEHB

Charity is so grateful to UoB for turning Old Joe pink to mark Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Old Joe is such an iconic building and it is wonderful to see the clock face turn pink for such a worthy cause.’

Breast cancer, for many, is unfortunately close to home.

Statistics indicate that, in this month alone, up to 5,000 people will be diagnosed. Furthermore, doctors diagnose someone every ten minutes in the UK. Many organisations are working hard to enhance the general public’s knowledge of this disease, including Breast Cancer Care. This year,

Breast Cancer Care are celebrating their 25th anniversary of helping women who have suffered the life changing effects of breast cancer, and are raising money in the process. The organisation suggests there are three main things we can do ourselves in order to shed light on this issue; know the signs, share stories, and spread awareness via fundraising and other various activities.

For further information about how you can help Breast Cancer Care, visit their website at www. breastcancercare.org.uk. @oldjoeclock

Cyclist Fatality Vigil Held at UoB Astrid Skjold News Reporter

recent death, where a candlelit vigil was held.

West Midlands regional mayor, Andy Street, holds Birmingham

More than 300 braved Monday night’s strong winds to demand better safety for cyclists and to mourn the loss of Suzanna Bull, the former UoB medical student

"Improving bike lanes should be a priority for the local authorities" who lost her life in a fatal road traffic collision on October 9th.

The joint protest and vigil was organised to raise awareness of the poor conditions for Birmingham cyclists, which have resulted in several fatal accidents in recent years.

With bikes, helmets and reflective vests, the group assembled around Old Joe at the University of Birmingham campus. The group proceeded to ride slowly towards the location of the most

Astrid Skjold

The West Midlands Police assisted the event and stopped surrounding traffic.

The organisers demanded that

City Council accountable for failing to maintain safe roads for cyclists and lobby the central government for a £20 per head of

population investment in road segregated cycling infrastructure.

Joan Cooper, a lead cyclist and Breeze Champion, attended the protest to raise the profile of cyclists’ safety. She told Redbrick that improving bike lanes should be a priority for the local authorities, and she believes poor infrastructure and lack of safety deters people from cycling. She wants the council to spend more money on improving bike lanes, and especially junctions.

Another participant expressed his disappointment with the Birmingham authorities. He was present at a council meeting in 1985 where cyclists’ safety was raised as an important issue, and he is not satisfied with how the authorities have followed up on their policies: ‘the people with power have not done what they have said they would do’, he told Redbrick, and emphasised how important this issue is to all cyclists.

Andi Smith, one of the event organisers, spoke about the importance of this moment. He emphasised that local authorities can no longer resist the demands of the

cyclists, after witnessing yet another fatal accident. His speech was met with cheering, applause, and - most notably - bike bell ringing.

A colleague of Suzanna Bull from the Birmingham Children’s Hospital spoke kindly and lovingly about his colleague, followed by a minute of silence in her and other victims’ memory.

"Andi Smith, one of the event organisers, spoke about the importance of this moment [and his] speech was met with cheering, applause, and most notably - bike bell ringing"

04

NEWS

Friday 20th October 2017

@redbricknews

Student from Aston University Stabbed Close to Campus George Lithgow News Reporter

Aston University has tightened its security after one of its students was stabbed near campus, just after midnight on September 19th.

"The man did not know the attacker whose motive is not yet clear" The 19-year-old was waiting for a taxi when the unprovoked attacked occurred. He was later taken to hospital. The student was released the following day and is expected to make a full recovery.

The man did not know the attacker, whose motive is not yet clear. Police have released pictures of the suspect and are appeal-

ing for information.

Detective Constable Laurence Green of West Midlands Police said in a statement ‘We are working hard to piece together what happened. We’re following numerous leads, and forensic opportunities are on-going. In addition to this the local neighbourhood team have increased patrols in the area and these will continue for as long as necessary.’

The university’s security team is also carrying out more patrols in response to the incident.

Speaking to the Birmingham Mail, an Aston University spokesman said ‘We are aware of this incident and are working with the police in their investigation.’ They went on to remind students that they have ‘a team of fully-trained security staff, extensive CCTV across campus, and security patrols offering 24-hour security on campus’.

The incident is not the first violent attack to occur near the university campus. A 17-year-old was stabbed in broad daylight in

April 2016.

"The university's security team is also carrying out more patrols in response to the incident" According to The Complete University Guide, 444 incidents of crime per 1000 residents occurred within a three-mile radius of Aston University last year.

This means that the university has the highest crime rate of any university in the West Midlands.

Aston University rejects the survey however, claiming that the University’s proximity to the city centre makes the statistics misleading.

West Midlands Police advises that anyone worried about knife crime should visit their website.

Traveller Groups Face Being Banned from the West Midlands John Wimperis News Reporter

Proposals to ban traveller groups from the West Midlands, drawn up by the combined authority’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), have been seen by the government.

West Midlands PCC, David Jamieson, has argued that there should be the power to ban individuals involved in establishing illegal encampments from the West Midlands for two years.

"Some of the many unauthorised camps in Dudley over the summer had 'caused very little damage or disuption" He also said that it would be ‘a serious deterrent’ if traveller groups which engaged in criminal activity could face three month bans from the West Midlands, and that councils should be able to order travellers to move out of their specific authority and into authorised camps in one of the other West Midlands authorities.

Local Government Minister Alok Sharma confirmed in the House of Commons that she had seen the work produced by Jamieson and called it ‘an incredibly useful document.’ She told the Commons that either she or a Home Office Minister would meet with Jamieson.

"Travellers face a severe degree of prejudice and disadvantage in British Society" Travellers are currently already banned from four parks in Birmingham, due to an injunction granted to Birmingham City Council in July. Travellers who set up or join camps in Selly Oak Park, Selly Park Recreation Ground, Perry Park and Hazelwell Park can be arrested on the spot.

They can then face imprisonment or having their vehicle impounded.

Steve McCabe, Labour MP for Selly Oak, told the House of Commons that the city council had spent £700,000 on law enforcement and clean-up operations at the sites of traveller camps in the past year. He stated that, across the West Midlands, there had been 395 cases of unauthorised traveller camps.

Students may have noticed the influx of travellers on Selly Park

at certain points in the year before they are moved away by the police. When asked about their opinion on this issue, students gave mixed feedback. One, a maths student told Redbrick that, 'I am a runner and it is really inconvenient when there are travellers on Selly Park, it is a problem but the idea of them being banned in the entirety of the West Midlands seems slightly over the top'. While another student, this time studying International Relations, said, 'to be honest I think it's ridiculous. We shouldn't be persecuting people in this way.'

Several West Midlands MPs raised grievances with the travellers, such as Ian Austin, Labour MP for Dudley North. He described how ‘residents and their kids have been unable to use community facilities and parks’, with vehicles being driven in ‘dangerous’ and destructive ways and large amounts of rubbish being left at some of the sites.

"Travellers who set up or join camps in Selly oak Park, Selly Park recreation Ground, Perry Park and Hazlewood can be arrested"

The MP for Dudley South, however, Conservative Mike Wood, said that some of the many unauthorised camps in Dudley over the summer had ‘caused very little damage or disruption.’ He spoke of one group who ‘tidied up after themselves, mowed the grass, and probably left the [football pitch they had camped on] in a better condition than that in which they had found it.’

Travellers face a severe degree of prejudice and disadvantage in British society. Despite most Gypsies and Travellers living on legal sites and paying rent and tax, 90% of those surveyed in the most recent National Survey of

Travellers had suffered discrimination. A study from the National Federation of Gypsy Liaison Groups and Anglia Ruskin University found that gypsies and travellers have an infant mortality rate three times as high as the national average and a life expectancy 12 years shorter. 90% of children in this group have been racially abused.

Furthermore, over 90% of planning applications by gypsies and travellers are denied, despite these groups being encouraged to buy their own land and being constantly moved on by the authorities if they pitch unauthorised camps.

NEWS

Friday 20th October 2017

@redbricknews

Ex-UoB Researcher Admits Online Sexual Abuse Crimes Emily Roberts

young children. Many of these images were then distributed on the dark web, and discussed on various online forums.

News Editor

Matthew Falder, who worked as a geophysicist researcher at the University of Birmingham, is said to be one of the UK’s worst paedophiles after details surfaced of his online sex attacks. Over a period of at least seven years, the 28-year-old committed over 100 sexual offences by blackmailing people online and inciting the sexual abuse of others, including the rape of a four-year-old boy.

Hiding behind the usernames ‘666devil’ and ‘evilmind’, Falder used sites such as Gumtree to encourage people to send him explicit images of themselves, often in return for money. He later threatened to expose the victims involved unless they sent him more depraved images, often depicting the abuse of babies and

"Over a period of at least seven years, the 28-yarold committed over 100 sexual offences" Falder was arrested at the university on June 21 following a two-year investigation conducted by the National Crime Agency in tandem with specialists working for GCHQ. He is due to be sentenced on December 7 at

Birmingham Crown Court, and is said to face life in prison.

In a statement, the senior investigating officer working for the NCA, Matt Sutton, said, ‘In 30 years of law enforcement, I have never come across such horrifying offending, where the offender’s sole aim was to cause such pain and distress’. He also went on to express his gratitude to the victims for helping the authorities to make a conviction.

A spokesman for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) stated, ‘This case clearly demonstrates that at the heart of the vile trade of child abuse images and videos there are real victims who have gone through appalling suffering for them to be created... the NSPCC believes that far more must be done to combat the growing issues of online sex offending and the distribution of child abuse

images’.

"Falder was arrested at the university on June 21 following a two-year investigation In a statement, a spokesman for the University of Birmingham added, ‘The university is shocked to hear of the abhorrent crimes committed by a former postdoctoral researcher... We have no reason to believe that the offences are in any way connected with the university’.

New Guidance on Academic Cheating in Essays Issued

As the use of essay mills continues to be an issue within UK academia, the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education has issued new guidance to ensure that this no longer happens Tim Abington News Reporter

Grace Duncan News Editor @gracieellen_

"Education providers should take appropriate action to tackle and prevent this kind of abuse"

The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) for Higher Education, an independent body that maintains standards at universities across the UK, has issued new guidance following last year’s revelations of ‘essay mills’ in some of Britain's UoB second year English most popular institutions.

Literature student, told Redbrick Although universities are still that he thought, 'it is very unfair if required to create their own poli- students use these websites as it cies to prevent plagiarism, the gives them an unfair advantage. It new guidance will be used to set a also separates the richer students precedent after Universities from those who are struggling Minister, Jo Johnson MP, raised more as only the very rich can concerns of ‘contract cheating’. afford to use these types of servIn reports published last year, the ices.'

QAA claimed that there are now The QAA called for great more than 100 essay mill action to prevent Britain's uniwebsites in operation. versities from losing tradiSome companies tionally robust standallegedly charge up ards.

Douglas to £6,750 for a Blackstock, chief PhD thesis. executive of the The issue has QAA, said: become more ‘Education providNumber of and more prevaers should take students using lent with more appropriate action than 20, 000 stuto tackle and prevent essay mill dents enrolled at this kind of abuse’. websites British universities The inquiry using these services, decreed that institutions with some concerns which repeatedly ignore that the companies are also cheating could be stripped of gaining profit from sixth-form their powers to award degrees by students. the Government’s new regulator,

20,000

the Office of Students according to the Sunday Telegraph.

According to Amatey Doku of the National Union of Students, the increased cost of living is certainly a factor in the scale of industrial cheating. He outlined how ‘insufficient maintenance funding also means that around 70% of students must now take on paid work alongside their studies, which can leave little time for academic work and study.’

Doku also attributed the rise in paid plagiarism to increased pressure on university students.

He said: ‘Their [students’] degrees will leave them with debt of around £50,000, which will affect them for most of their adult lives. The pressure to get the highest grades in return for this can be overwhelming.’

The government backed review has also recently come to the conclusion that university lecturers are the ones working for these companies to help students cheat in order to top up their pay.

This is certainly something that Blackstock believes stating that, ‘these are hard-pressed research assistants or lecturers, topping up their earnings.’

Squeezed incomes have been attributed to the number of university staff who work for ‘essay mill’ companies, despite the risk of harming their institutions.

Blackstock described how ‘companies prey on vulnerable academics.’

This also brings into question the matter of state of pay for many

lecturers which in November 2016 it was found that 70% of all academic staff at UoB were on zero hours contracts.

"70% of students must now take on paid work alongside their studies, which can leave little time for academic work and study" While universities are being called to make sure that these problems are less common, it is perhaps important for them to consider that a way of doing this would be to increase the job security of their staff.

With the issue becoming more and more concerning, with more and more students using the service, the QAA’s new guidance has been welcomed by the Universities Minister, Jo Johnson who expects the OFS to ‘ensure that the sector implements strong policies and sanctions to address this important issue in the most robust way possible.’

05

Selly Oak and Edgbaston to Become One Constituency Grace Duncan

News Editor @gracieellen_

The Boundary Commission has released its 2018 review, the conclusions of which would see Selly Oak and Edgbaston constituencies merge into one.

The parliamentary boundaries define the geographic area represented by each MP, and the review examines each existing constituency and recommends any changes that may need to be made to ensure that all legal requirements intended to keep the number of electors in each constituency body equal are maintained.

The 2018 review has begun as Parliament decided that the number of constituencies in the UK must be reduced from 650 to 600. The law requires that each constituency other than four specified island constituencies must have between 72,031 and 78,507 electors. This is decided by a formula known as the ‘Sainte-Lague’ method.

The decision of Parliament to implement these changes has not been one that has been met by universal support, with many people including third year History and Politics student, Will, saying that it is a ‘massive waste of public money when there are other things to be concerned about’.

However, with the electoral system constantly under fire in the attempt to have a fully equal and fair system, a more equal system could silence these claims.

What does this mean for the West Midlands and Birmingham?

The number of constituencies in England would reduce from 533 to 501, a fall which would be reflected in the West Midlands with the number dropping from 59 to 53. In the wider Birmingham sub-region the number of constituencies is also planned to fall from 36 to 32 seats. Under the new proposals only six of the current constituencies would remain the same.

Students might also see a change if they are a registered to vote in Birmingham, as Selly Oak and Edgbaston are set to become under the charge of one MP if the proposed changes go ahead. The new constituency would include the university, the Vale and up to Five Ways train station. It would also cover the breadth of two of the popular student areas, Harborne and Selly Oak, but not Bournville.

If you disagree with the proposed changes they are consulting the revised proposal for an eight week period from the 17th October 2017 until 11th December 2017 and they encourage everyone to use the final opportunity to contribute to the design of the new constituencies.

Do you have opinions on this article? Tell them to us: @redbrickpaper

06

NEWS

Friday 20th October 2017

@redbricknews

Birmingham Prison Rioters Jailed Megan Attard News Reporter

Five prisoners at HMP Birmingham have been sentenced to 36 years in jail following the prison riots of December 2016.

The five men sentenced were the supposed ringleaders of the 12 hour riot, which led to extensive damage in the prison costing more than £6 million. The men were sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court last week.

The riot began when inmates jumped onto suicide netting, whilst another managed to get

hold of a guard’s keys and release other prisoners. The inmates created bonfires, fired missiles and used injured prisoners as bait in what has been deemed the worst prison riot since the Strangeways jail riot of 1990. The riots followed a series of disturbances across British prisons towards the end of last year. Lewes and Bedford prison also experienced trouble.

The five men involved in the riots have now all had their sentences extended, with Luke Mansell, 24, and John Burton, 39, both being sentenced to nine years for their involvement. Ross Wilkinson, 24, Robert Smith, 34,

and Nathan Weston, 23, were also given six year sentences for prison mutiny.

"£1.3 billion would be invested into prisons over the next five years" Chief Executive of the National Offender Management Service Michael Spurr spoke to the BBC about the reasons behind the riots, putting it down to

reduced levels of staff, over- increasing concern for British crowding and drugs, which are all prisons. Within Western Europe, adding to the pressure of manag- Britain has the highest per capita ing prisons. Spurr added prison population, with an that £1.3 billion would increase of almost doube invested into prisble between 1990 and ons over the next 2015. However, as five years, with the number of the intentions of inmates has risen, increasing staffstrain has increased ing levels, introon the services and Years Combined ducing drug testspaces available.

Prison Sentence ing on inmates This has resulted in For December and giving indian increasing vidual prison govamount of disturRioters ernors more indebances among inmates, pendence. as well as the highest Despite recent investsuicide rate the British ments, rioting is becoming an prison system has ever seen.

36

Retail Stores Support Autism Hour Ida Thagesen News Reporter

In the week of 2nd October, nearly 5,000 shops across the UK participated in Autism Hour, which aims to support autistic children and their families by providing them with more suitable shopping conditions.

Last year, The National Autistic Society (NAS) launched their campaign: Too Much Information. A campaign video shows the world from an autistic child’s perspective. The society claims that ‘For autistic people, the world can seem full of too much information – and too little understanding’ as is pointed out throughout the video. This year, NAS led a new initiative: Autism

Hour.

The concept of Autism Hour is for stores to provide special opening hours targeted at autistic children. According to research from NAS, 60 percent of autistic people and their families avoid going shopping because shops can be too loud, glaringly bright and overwhelming. Stores which participate in Autism Hour do so by turning music down, dimming bright lights and sharing information about autism during specific opening hours.

Some shops in Birmingham have signed up for Autism Hour.

This covers shops in a wide range of categories, ranging from fashion to health to eating out. These stores include Superdrug, Toys R Us, Lloyds Bank, Pets at Home, Clarks and Sainsbury’s. All the

stores can be found on an online map on the NAS website: http:// www.autism.org.uk/.

But Autism Hour is not just meant for shopping. It is also meant to raise awareness about autism and give autistic families an opportunity to be a part of a community they often feel excluded from. ‘How wonderful, an hour for us to look and maybe not do all our shopping, but a chance to explore and feel part of the community’, commented one parent of an autistic child.

NAS is satisfied with the turnout and the results of the Autism Hours which culminated in almost 8,000 hours of shopping in all.

The Scottish Parliament hosted an Autism Hour in their Main Hall and prime minister Theresa May supported the campaign during

the Conservative Party Conference. The media focus was bigger than expected, with Autism Hour being one of the five most discussed topics on Twitter.

Because of this success, it is expected that it will take place

again next year. Until then, NAS encourages everyone to look out for people who look distressed – and to be patient and give them space. In this way, we can all support autistic people and families.

National Autism Society

News Analysis: United Nations International Day Of The Girl 2017 Sophie Woodley News Reporter

One of the most renowned global issues that pervades our society in the 21st Century is the limited access to education for girls, particularly in lower economically developed countries (LED).

Recent studies show that despite efforts and international pledges that have been made, this is not improving. Figures from the United Nations shows that almost ‘zero progress’ has been made in tackling lack of access to education in some of the world’s poorest countries. Surely it is shameful to admit that 130 million girls are still denied access to education?

In Western countries, there is also a gender gap between girls and boys in terms of education but here it is the other way around.

For instance, a 2015 BBC report shows that this gap, in relation to those going to University, has ‘never been wider’. This report

goes to the extent of suggesting that being male could be seen as ‘a new form of social disadvantage’. Evidently, the difference between boys and girls in the West gaining access to education significantly contrasts the dire situation faced in specific LED countries. Head of Education Jo Bourne admitted to this by informing us that international pledges that have been made are ‘not addressing the realities of a volatile world.’ Many would agree that the staggering difference in access to education between LED countries and the West lives up to this statement of Bourne’s.

Wednesday 11th October marked the UN’s International Day of the Girl. This day holds particular significance for female advocate leaders such as Michelle Obama, who stated ‘I’m never going to give up on you, so don’t you ever give up on yourselves’.

Founded in 2011, the aim of this day was to recognise girls’ rights across the globe, and the challenges that, unfortunately, many

have to face. This year on the International Day of the Girl, a development campaign called ‘One’, released a ranking concerning the top ten hardest places for girls to gain access to an education. These are as follows: 1. South Sudan 2. Central African Republic 3. Niger 4. Afghanistan 5. Chad 6. Mali 7. Guinea 8. Burkina Faso 9. Liberia 10. Ethiopia These aforementioned countries are ones where families are not only at risk of poverty, but poor nutrition, ill health, and devastating effects of war and conflict. These risks are significant factors in contributing to why children are denied access to education. However, the fact that there is even such a thing as a ‘top ten’ list which considers the hard-

est places to gain something as necessary as an education is eyeopening. These countries are amongst many others where as a girl, going to school is an option they would give anything for. Yet, education cannot even be labelled as an option; it is not available to them in the first place.

Michelle Obama: "I’m never going to give up on you, so don’t you ever give up on yourselves" In places such as sub-Saharan Africa, girls are more likely to miss out on an education in comparison to boys, derivative of the fact they have other expectations set for them. Girls are expected to work rather than go to school.

Also, many marry young, as Unicef confirms with more than 700 million girls alive today were married before their 18th birthday; 17% of these girls are living in Africa. Girls, can you imagine being forced into something so life changing a few decades too early? As the ‘One’ campaign states, ‘a girl with an education is a girl who can change the world.’

In times like these, the world needs more Michelle Obamas, more Hillary Clintons, more Emma Watsons, more women who are willing to make a difference. This, as clearly shown, is not possible if education for a staggeringly high amount of girls across the globe is not an option.

Therefore, days which are dedicated in raising awareness towards issues such as these are crucial.

More information about campaigns that aim to help girls globally can be found at girlscount. one.org.

NEWS

Friday 20th October 2017

@redbricknews

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Councillor Suspended Over Tweets Tim Abington News Reporter

The Conservative majority Solihull Borough Council is continuing to face allegations of fostering a culture of online hate and xenophobia.

Complaints have now been made against two councillors, Jeff Potts and Margaret Bassett, after they retweeted posts that called for Muslims to be deported from the UK ‘or watch terrorists kill innocent people for generations to come.’

The latest allegations follow last summer’s suspension of Councillor Ken Hawkins from his Cabinet position. Hawkins caused uproar after posting the words

‘Lets get ourselves a hangin!’ [sic] above images of Grenfell Tower protesters.

"West Midlands Police launched a probe into Potts at the beginning of the month" The latest investigation is against Councillor Jeff Potts who, according to the Birmingham Mail, retweeted posts that included: ‘You’ve clearly not experienced the Pakistani hospitality, having a daughter raped by men who think she’s “white trash”.’

West Midlands Police launched a probe into Potts at the beginning of the month.

The force stated: ‘We can confirm that Solihull Police have received two allegations of hate crime. An appointment has been made with the complainant and enquiries are on-going.’

Bassett, who has also faced allegations of Islamophobic rhetoric, retweeted a comment directed at the U.S. that stated, ‘Islam has no place in this country.’ This was in addition to retweeting posts made the by former English Defence League leader, Tommy Robinson. Bassett, who currently sits on the Committee on Religious Education, defended the tweets, stating: ‘I do think it’s a political witch hunt.

I am not anti-Muslim, anti-

Jewish or anyone else’.

The local Conservative group has since suspended Potts, although Bassett and Hawkins both continue to represent the party.

Redbrick contacted the Conservative Party for comment but, at the time of going to press, received no response.

Mend, a charity dedicated to tackling Islamophobia in the UK, stated: ‘retweeting offensive and prejudiced views clearly demonstrates both support for these sentiments, and attempts to achieve wider support.’ The charity urged the party to investigate Islamophobia within its ranks. It argued that ‘the failure of fellow Conservative councillors to report xenophobic, racist and Islamophobic comments is indica-

tive that many within the Conservative group may find these views acceptable.’

Leader of the opposition, Councillor James Burn, has issued a response to the allegations. ‘I have been shocked and dismayed at the recent tweets sent by some councillors on Solihull Council’, he said.

‘Their views are not representative of the people of this borough, and have caused considerable upset to many of our residents who have been left feeling unwelcome in their own home town.’

Burn added, ‘As a council, we need to send a clear message that these views are absolutely not shared by the council and that everyone is welcome in Solihull.’

2017 Political Party Conferences: Are Students Still on the Agenda?

With conference season over, Matt Bates analyses whether the main political parties' student policies have changed since GE17 Matt Bates News Reporter

Conservatives The Conservative Party Conference in Manchester sought to realign itself with young voters with a series of policy announcements surrounding tuition fees.

Theresa May announced plans to cap undergraduate tuition fees at their current level of £9,250 and an increased threshold at which student loans begin to be repaid, raising it from £21,000 to £25,000 per year. Whilst this increase does not apply to postgraduate loans, the Conservative Party have stated that the increased threshold will save all graduates with a £9,000 per year undergraduate degree £30 a month and £360 a year.

"5,000 additional places per year are to be created on nursing training courses" The Prime Minister also spoke of a ‘major’ review of university funding and finance - but as of yet there are no explicit details as to what this review will entail.

Minister for Health Jeremy Hunt also announced that 5,000 additional places per year are to be created on nursing training courses, with the pledge being described as the ‘biggest expansion’ of nursing training in the NHS’ history.

Policy aside, the penultimate day of the Tory Conference saw The Huffington Post release imag-

es of a confidential internal Conservative report, which called for the party to remove ‘risky student politics’ by bringing the party’s youth wing firmly into the mainstream party structure. The move, which will effectively make Conservative societies at universities unofficial, allows the party to control, discipline and work more closely with their youth wing. It will be considered by the Conservative Party Board later this month.

Angela Raynor said that Labour would also seek to fund people through vocational qualifications, as part of a broad ‘cradle-to-grave’ National Education Service.

Liberal Democrats With Sir Vince Cable taking over as leader from Tim Farron, the Lib Dems’ most notable potential - policy change in regards to students is the suggestion of a graduate tax. The proposed policy will go under the

we must get this issue right.’

Scottish National Party

"[Lib Dems support] reducing the voting age to 16 and introducing proportional representation"

Across the border, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon quipped at Theresa May’s pledge to freeze tuition fees at £9,250, saying ‘We will also freeze tuition fees - but we will freeze them at zero.’

Meanwhile, the SNP’s Mhairi Black criticised Welsh Labour’s announcement from July, that tuition fees would increase with inflation to £9,250 from autumn 2018. Welsh Labour Education Secretary Kirsty Williams said the

The conference also reiterated the party’s policies of electoral reform, including reducing the voting age to 16 and introducing proportional representation.

rise was a result of England’s policy, yet was criticised for it being contrary to Labour’s snapelection manifesto promises of free tuition a month earlier.

Labour The Labour Party’s 2017 snapelection manifesto vowed, if they were to be elected, that they would abolish tuition fees and ‘deal with’ the burden of student debt.

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell reaffirmed these policies, suggesting that their manifesto promises had ‘forced the Government into discussing reducing interest rates or raising repayment thresholds.’ He argued that these policies would not go far enough, but if the Government were to pursue such policies the Labour Party would support them.

Jeremy Corbyn then stated, during his speech in Brighton, that the Labour Party were looking to address the ‘tide of automation’ by the re-training and management of the workforce.

"Labour would also seek to fund people through vocational qualifications" Shadow Education Secretary

relevant processes of review and a more concrete version is expected to be discussed at a later conference.

The party leader said: ‘We value the support of students, so

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NEWS

Friday 20th October 2017

@redbricknews

Oxford Uni VC Calls for Reform Emily Roberts News Editor

Professor Louise Richardson, vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, recently criticised the current college system by controversially labelling it as a ‘waste of resources’. Though she gave the ‘devolved structure’ credit for contributing to the success and prestige of the university, she also suggested that reform is needed particularly within the field of administration - to ensure that the university’s influence does not steadily decline.

Professor Richardson argued that, if the system became more centralised, the university would be able to operate much more

efficiently. In turn, she claimed that this would enable academics to devote more of their time and attention to their own pursuits:

"We all know that change occurs slowly at Oxford... but the world is changing rapidly around us" ‘At a time of ever increasing regulatory burdens on universities imposed externally, I would like to see us reduce these burdens internally, to reduce unnecessary

complexity and free up our time for the research and teaching that drew us into universities to begin with’.

The vice-Chancellor also seemed to level much of her criticism at the system’s apparent inability to appropriately adapt to changing conditions, saying, ‘We all know that change occurs slowly at Oxford... but the world is changing rapidly around us... We can ride the waves of globalisation, technological change and pressure on costs, or we can let them wash over us eroding the edges that make us the world leading university we are’.

The comments have been met with a mixed response, given that the historic collegiate system continues to be defended by many university staff members who are

concerned that potential reforms could jeopardise their autonomy.

"The historic collegiate system continues to be defended by many university staff members" Speaking at her annual Oration, Professor Richardson insisted that her intent was not to undermine this element of the system, and reinforced her idea that reforms could have a positive

effect in terms of alleviating some of the pressures associated with bureaucracy.

Professor Richardson is not the first to make controversial remarks about the University of Oxford system. The vice-Chancellor of the university from 20032009, Dr John Hood, was widely criticised for his proposal which involved incorporating business and politics professionals into a council, who would then have a role in influencing the ways in which the university would run.

Dons expressed their concerns that his plan would essentially give too much power to university outsiders who would not have the specialist knowledge needed to understand the university’s requirements, and his proposal was soon rejected.

CU Banned from Uni Freshers Fair Eleanor Duncan News Reporter

The societies fair is a staple of freshers’ week at universities all over the country, a place where new students can learn about the many clubs they have the opportunity to get involved in outside of their studies. But, this year at Oxford University’s Balliol College, one club was missing from the fair: the Christian Union (CU).

The college’s Junior Common Room (JCR) Welfare Subcommittee explained their decision to ban the CU from the fair in an email written by Freddy

Potts, the JCR’s Vice-President.

"Banning a group based on their faith is not acceptable in such a multi-faith society" They said that as Christianity has been often used as an excuse for ‘homophobia and certain forms of neo-colonialism’; the group’s presence at the fair would

prevent it from being a ‘secular space’ and would ‘alienate’ certain students. They stated that forms of ‘micro-aggression’ such as this alienation are often dismissed as unimportant and go unreported, therefore causing the affected students to feel further isolated – something they wanted to prevent.

Balliol College’s freshers’ fair ban did not last long. It was initially altered to allow a multi-faith stall made up of four different Christian groups, although no members of the groups were allowed to man it. However, the ban had stirred up controversy within Balliol as it was seen as ‘a violation of free speech [and] a

violation of religious freedom’ and the JCR eventually unanimously voted to repeal the ban, allowing the CU to attend future freshers’ fairs.

At UoB, the CU puts on various events in order to help the wider university community – for instance, their frequent ‘water bottling’, where they give out water to those leaving clubs late at night and make sure they have safe transport home.

There’s also English Club, a weekly event for international students which gives them an opportunity to practice and improve their English, and Tea Table, which provides free food, drinks, and conversation over the

exam season to help people destress.

One student told Redbrick, 'Groups like the Christian, Islamic, Jewish, and Hindu societies, alongside the 18 others in MultiFaith Chaplaincy, give students an opportunity to explore a viewpoint they may never have considered or encountered before, as well as supporting students of that faith in their journey through university.'

While another added that she thought, 'it is definitely the right decision to repeal the ban as, while the CU might not be for everyone, banning a group based on their faith is not acceptable in such a multi-faith society.'

News in a Nutshell...

News Editor Erin Santillo summarises the major national and international events that have shaped this fortnight

Welcome back to our new column, News in a Nutshell, in which one of your News Editors outlines the key current affairs that have made the headlines over the past fourteen days.

residents have been advised to ‘stay indoors’ due to the risks posed by the high winds and falling trees. Ophelia comes exactly 30 years after the Great Storm of 1987.

Ophelia Hits The British Isles

Weinstein Sex Allegations Grow

I write this during the aftermath of Hurricane Ophelia, which has battered the Republic of Ireland with winds of up to 97mph and left three dead.

Although the highest wind speeds were recorded near Cork, the entire British Isles have experienced dramatic changes in weather from sudden gusts to a muchphotographed orange-tinted sky, caused by the remnants of the hurricane bringing in tropical air and dust from the Sahara which affected the wavelength of the light. Thousands of homes and businesses are reported to have lost power across the Isles – 360,000 of which are located in the Republic of Ireland – and

Dominating headlines this past week have been the accumulating allegations of sexual harassment, assault and rape against the disgraced Hollywood film mogul Harvey Weinstein. Police forces in the UK and USA have opened investigations into the claims, which come from more than two dozen women, including actresses Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow. Amid the growing allegations against the 65-year old, Weinstein has been expelled from the Oscars Academy, suspended from BAFTA, and left by his wife and children. In a statement through his publicist, the producer has ‘unequivocally denied’ any allegations of non-consensual

sex.

31-Year-Old Set To Become Chancellor Of Austria

independence vote – which the government in Madrid branded illegal – a Spanish judge has remanded two key organisers of the independence movement in custody. Jordi Sánchez, the leader of the Catalan National Assembly, and Jordi Cuixart, the head of Omnium Cultural, are under investigation for sedition (the incitement of people to rebel against an authority) and are currently being held without bail.

The regional head of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, has called for talks to take place with the government after he signed and immediately halted a declaration of independence in the wake of the vote.

In other news, Sebastian Kurz is set to become the world’s youngest leader at age 31 after the People’s Party won 32% of the vote during Sunday’s Austrian elections. In order to secure his chancellorship, Kurz’s conservative party will have to form a coalition with the anti-immigration Freedom Party, which achieved a 26% share of the vote. Often compared to the youthful leaders of Canada and France, Justin Trudeau and Emmanuel Macron, Kurz served as Europe’s youngest ever foreign minister after his appointment at age 27 four years ago.

Brexit Talks ‘Accelerate’

Expected

To

Catalonia Vote Organisers In Finally, in more political news, Custody following a ‘friendly’ dinner in Brussels between PM Theresa Following on from last issue’s May and the president of the EU report on the 1st October Catalan Commission, Jean-Claude

Juncker, a joint statement has announced that Brexit negotiations are expected to ‘accelerate over the months to come’. This comes a few weeks after May’s Florence speech on the 22nd September, which was aimed at unblocking the stalled divorce talks by clarifying the government’s negotiating position.

However, whilst May and her Brexit secretary, David Davis, are eager to begin discussing future trade deals, Davis’ EU counterpart, Michel Barnier, says that this will not happen until ‘sufficient progress’ has been made on the three initial topics of discussion: the so-called divorce bill, the rights of EU citizens and expats, and the Northern Ireland border. A potential ‘acceleration’ of these talks will generate sighs of relief from both sides of the table.

Look out for your next dose of News in a Nutshell in a fortnight’s time.

COMMENT

Friday 20th October 2017

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League Tables: Harmful or Helpful?

Emily Chapman and Lily Haugh debate the usefulness of university league tables Emily Chapman Comment Writer

Harmful University league tables are a simplified view of something which, at its core, is an incredibly complex and life-defining process. Honestly, they do more harm than good.

Having recently come out of the other side of this complex system, I can verifiably say that these league tables merely play into our pre-disposed, elitist views about university.

"No matter what subject we are pursuing, we are constantly asked: 'But where is that on the league table?'"

Needless to say, as with anything, it depends on where your information is coming from.

For instance, 'The Complete University Guide' includes an 'entry standards rating' which contributes to the overall score of the university, whereas The Guardian's league table focuses more on student satisfaction ratings. As a result, the findings on

each site differ significantly; the more 'academic' universities climb the ranks of 'The Complete University Guide'. Conversely, we see the likes of Loughborough and Lancaster (or non-Russell Group universities) inhabiting The Guardian's top ten, in the mix with Oxford, Cambridge and Durham.

However, it is this liberal use of 'academic' that is inhibiting prospective students' abilities to choose a university that suits them. A dictionary defines the term ‘academic’ as 'relating to education or scholarship', therefore all university education is academic. However, this term now seems to have become synonymous with only the more elite universities, implying that only Russell Groups are worth your time.

This view, ingrained into our secondary schooling system, completely mars the usefulness of these university tables, as, no matter what subject we are pursuing, we are constantly asked: ‘But where's that on the l e a g u e table?’

In reality, these rankings are numbers on a screen, and can in no way represent how

effectively a university will suit the learning style of an individual, how hard they work, or (as is a priority for most) how good the nightlife is.

All in all, as a student at a university that is currently 16th on 'The Complete University Guide', I can quite confidently say the numbers next to the University of Birmingham mean nothing to me.

Lily Haugh

Comment Writer

Helpful The university league tables, in short, were my saviour.

17 is a daunting age; the safety blanket of secondary school is about to be torn away, leaving us exposed to an imminent, yet unknown, future.

University is waiting ominously on the horizon.

The ultimate question is: which university?

A n already tough decision process is made worse by endless options. In Sixth Form, I attended a

fair with at least 80 university stalls, all luring us in with the prospect of sweet freebies before trapping us in a promotional onslaught. Often I walked away disillusioned, Haribos forgotten.

"I craved any form of objectivity" In the midst of uncertainty, I discovered university league tables, which stripped the information of its promotional properties and condensed it, miraculously, to a page. On opening the website, I exhaled a sigh of relief and a ‘hallelujah.’

Of course, university is a subjective experience. But too much subjectivity in the face of indecision can encroach on a prospective student’s sanity.

Despite being an English student with an aversion to numbers, I craved statistics, any form of objectivity.

Every factor of university life is categorically rated using collated feedback: entry standards, student satisfaction, research quality and graduate prospects.

According to these scores, the universities are then placed in an order, best to worst. Being able to view the general ratings, alongside the course-specific ones, was extremely useful.

Then, by selecting my favourite universities, I could even effectively compare.

For me, these league tables formed the backbone of my UCAS application. Bearing in mind my academic ability and predictions, I distinguished exactly where to aim and where to fall back on. Many dismiss the league tables as lacking reality, but such a resource is imperative to avoid being caught in a wild storm of information.

"Many dismiss the league tables as lacking reality but such a resource is imperative to avoid being caught in a wild storm of information" Also, being a student, the financial benefits of using the league tables are, of course, worth a mention. They enabled me to prioritize before devoting precious coinage to train fares for Open Days across the country.

To me, the university league tables were an important sign on the road to independence one I recommend slowing down to read!

Only You Can Save the Library Alex Cirant-Taljaard argues that students have a role to play in improving the library Alex Cirant-Taljaard Comment Editor

Before I started at the University of Birmingham, I did very little actual research into the university itself.

However, although I knew almost nothing about the campus, the staff, or in fact the course I was taking, I did know about the newly constructed library which would be ready just in time for my first year. I felt incredibly privileged, as I’m sure many did, at the thought of being able to study whenever I wanted, in great comfort and at a state of the art learning facility.

I think it’s safe to say the reality of the situation didn’t quite match up to what I had imagined.

Rather than being an educational El Dorado, with great facilities and the capacity to accommodate however many students needed to study, instead the library greeted me with a sea of anxious faces and filled seats.

I would have taken to Twitter to vent my frustrations but unfortunately the Wi-Fi wasn’t working.

However, that was in the distant and murky past of 2016.

Now we’re in the future, and

one hopes that things will have improved. It is important, I think, to understand the issues the library had in the first place, so that we can make sure that, going forward, it lives up to expectations.

At first glance, one would assume that the library’s problem was real estate; too many students, not enough seating. If this were the case, then all hope would be lost. It’s not like we can build an extension on the library; the university is already pumping all of its resources into the Green Heart anyway.

However, after doing some sleuthing, I found this wasn’t the case.

"I would have taken to Twitter to vent my frustrations but unfortunately the Wi-Fi wasn't working" Official library figures, which are gathered both in physical surveys and also using the swiping-in system, show that the

highest library occupancy last year was 1,572, on November 7th. This is 246 shy of the library’s 1,818-person capacity.

These figures would suggest that when I was roaming the corridors of the library, I failed to notice nearly 250 available seats.

So why does it seem like there are never any seats, when in reality the library never even reached capacity? I’m not the only one asking this question, as I learned when I spoke with two members of Library Services: Andy Dodds and Claire Browne.

They too had wondered why they couldn’t see any seating when the figures clearly showed the opposite. What they had determined was that it had a lot to do with the type of seating on offer. The figure of 1,818 isn’t just conventional seats and desks; it also includes sofas and pod chairs. I don’t know about anyone else, but I find it hard to get into an analytical mindset while sitting soft. Furthermore, the sofas do not have clearly defined boundaries, with many being taken up by one student when multiple students could be sitting there.

This brings me to an important point. Andy, Claire and the whole Library Services team, along with Guild President Ellie

Keiller, have been working hard to give us better seating, by removing sofas and replacing them with conventional desks, and an extra 132 permanent seats have been added. Furthermore, the wifi has been overhauled and, so far, I’ve got no complaints.

But these don’t solve all of the library’s problems.

In order for the library to become somewhere that works for everyone, we, as students, need to start taking responsibility. I don’t want to be walking around the library looking for seats this year and find people saving seats with their bags or

hogging entire private study rooms for themselves. If you see someone clearly looking for somewhere to sit, invite them in, because most of those rooms have an 8-person capacity.

I think the University mishandled the opening of the new library in spectacular fashion, but since then things have been improving. What we need to do as a community is look at the changes we can make to make the library a better place.

Also, please stop eating in the main library, I don’t want anymore Dorito smudges over all the textbooks.

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COMMENT

Friday 20th October 2017

@redbrickcomment

Spotlight: Mental Health Mental health issues are no secret amongst students, and they affect all of us to varying degrees. Here, students of UoB share their different experiences of struggling with mental health and illnesses, the response from the university, and their journey to recovery.

"In my second year of University, I was struggling with anxiety and panic attacks, and went to see a welfare tutor about this.

The welfare tutor I saw in the school of Mathematics was absolutely no help at all and didn’t seem to be trained to deal with the issues I was having. He actually said to me: ‘you need to stop being so stressed about things’, and didn’t seem at all aware that stress and anxiety are completely different things!

I was told by the Guild Welfare Officer to speak to someone at the Aston Webb student hub, and just got passed around from person to person with nothing actually happening to help me.

It all came to a head that March when a fellow student of mine committed suicide and I didn’t know how to deal with my feelings. I was having daily panic attacks and was missing lectures as a result of this because my anxiety levels were at an all-time high.

The school of Mathematics emailed all students about the circumstances and offered help from the welfare tutors, but since going to them previously had caused me more anxiety, I was reluctant to see them again.

Therefore I went to the other welfare tutor, who was equally as useless as the first, and didn’t provide me with any useful help

Alex Goodwin Comment Editor

‘Depression’. The word has been floating through the air for months now. Everyone’s new go to discussion topic, whether it be the government, millennials or media outlets. The word has been rolled off the tongue so much its transformed into semantic satiation.

Mental wellbeing amongst university students in the UK is a growing issue, and the void between individuals seeking support and actively receiving help is vastly widening.

We’re more happy to talk about ‘depression', but less happy to actually put supportive structures in place, especially within the sphere of higher education.

First off, mental health issues most commonly emerge in young adults, and thus university is a prime time to see the development of mental health problems.

According to YouGov UK, one in four students suffer from mental health problems, so why is this not a priority across all universities in the UK? Whilst depression and anxiety are the most common forms of mental difficulties amongst students, eating disorders, social disorders and behavioural develop-

"The following four weeks were spent in bed. I couldn't read, I couldn't watch Netflix, and I couldn't sleep despite how tired I was"

"I have struggled with the same very specific kind of anxiety for over 10 years. Other things, like deadlines, exams and social stuff, can make it worse. I thought uni was going to be really hard because, at home, I used to rely on my Mum for support and reassurance, but now I have to turn to others for help.

Through my experience, I have lost a lot of faith in the welfare system at the University, and would really think twice about going to see a welfare tutor in the future.

Luckily I have now completely recovered from this, but would be concerned about other students at the University who are experiencing mental health issues, especially since I personally knew two students who committed suicide while, or just after, they finished studying here.

This just goes to show that help isn't readily available to those who need it."

Anonymous

"If you ever need help or advice, do not be put off by a few bad words to go and see someone at the university, be it a personal tutor, a welfare tutor or a counselling provider"

I'm open about most things, including physical health problems, but my anxiety is not something I like talking to my friends about because of the stigma that surrounds it. I worry that it will

ment are also prevalent.

University allows for individuals to thrive in all aspects, but it’s also a dangerous black hole for people to fall through the cracks, completely unnoticed.

Students are paying for a service, yet they are often met with isolation, overwhelming situations, and a lack of academic and personal support.

In the winter of 2015, I approached the university for mental illness support.

University is a social sphere, so when I stopped going on nights out, my friends couldn’t understand it and often took it personally, isolating me further. Why wasn’t I making the effort for their birthday?

What made matters worse was the four essays I had due in the upcoming two weeks. I suddenly felt ferociously overwhelmed, and I couldn’t understand why, despite sitting at my laptop in the silent section of the library for six hours a day, I was unable to produce any work.

Eventually, I called my mother crying in the hallway of Birmingham’s library, explaining that I needed to come home.

The following 4 weeks were spent in bed. I couldn’t read, I couldn’t watch Netflix, and I couldn’t sleep despite how tired I

was. For the most part I just lay there and cried, panicking about the 40% of my second year that’s due date was looming. All my course friends had an equal amount of work, so why were they coping when I couldn’t?

ess took about four months, despite having doctor’s notes and proof I was both on anti-depressants and in counselling.

Eventually I had to meet a board of academics and essentially ‘prove’ my illness was worthy of an extension.

As aforementioned, the selfdoubt of my illness only aided in making this part of the process unbearable. I needed reassurance, but was met with the university trying to prove I was not ill enough to warrant help. After all, it was ‘my decision’ to not do my essays, and therefore, if the board didn’t grant my extension, I had to accept that I had received a zero for 40% of my year.

3 months later, I got approval for an extension, and a letter from student finance asking me to apply for a ‘disabled student’s allowance', which is essentially a bigger maintenance loan. This is the last time the university inquired about my mental health, despite me sending almost ten emails chasing up student support about what facilities are available for a student in my position. In case you were wondering, they offer a free counseling service that has an 8-week waiting list.

When I enquired about the lack of communication between the mental health portion of stu-

or advice.

Eventually I saw my GP who prescribed me with anti-anxiety medication and diagnosed me with Panic Disorder. The GP was lovely and very helpful. She gave me lots of resources and coping strategies which really helped me to deal with my panic attacks, and recognise their triggers.

"I have lost a lot of faith in the welfare system at the University"

"Mental health issues most commonly emerge in young adults, and thus university is a prime time to see the development of mental health problems" This self-doubt only made me worse. The ‘what do I have to be sad about’ complex that so many with depression can relate to is a major part of the illness.

I then had to struggle through meeting after meeting with my university, to be granted an extension on my due work. This proc-

"University counsellors... I would highly recommend them"

make people think that I'm weak or attention seeking. However, talking to a friend who has similar issues has been amazing because he understands. It's so comforting to have someone to chat to about it. From my personal experience, I do think the university counsellors are also excellent; I would highly recommend contacting them.

Anxiety has affected my time at uni, but it hasn't ruined it, thanks to the support of counsellors, welfare tutors and friends."

Anonymous

1 in 4

130 STUDENT SUICIDES IN ENGLAND & WALES (2014)

STUDENTS SUFFER WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS dent services and suffering students, I was told that there were only two employees that focused directly on mental health at the university. For all 30,000 students.

Birmingham and many other universities need to start putting mental illness at the forefront.

Student suicide rates have been on the rise (2014 saw 130 deaths amongst students over 18 years of age in full time education in England and Wales), predominantly amongst males, so what will it take for the proper funding and on hand support of an increasingly common illness to be prioritized?

The university does not offer a ‘blanket’ approach to mental illness, which means different courses approach mental health differently. This results in some students receiving excellent care, and others left to deal with it on their own. There should be a standardized code of care, especially for such a prominent issue that affects so many students.

We must open the conversation, destigmatize the illness and show students help is readily available.

COMMENT

Friday 20th October 2017

@redbrickcomment

Kirstie Sutherland Deputy Editor

In contrast to many of my friends, I seem to have had a far more positive experience with mental health services at university. After the death of my friend early into second year, I signed up to the counselling services provided at Birmingham. I’d realised I was not attending lectures, had lost total motivation to go to university, and seemed to be rapidly losing interest in my course. I had been so intent on looking after my friends going through this hard time that I didn’t stop for a second to look after myself, keeping everything bottled up. I recognised I needed to make a change.

"After filling in the necessary form and being matched up with a counsellor, I was happy from the get go" After filling in the necessary form and being matched up with a counsellor, I was happy from the get go. The woman I spoke to was engaging, bubbly, and made me feel totally at ease, acting more like a calm, warm friend rather than how I would have expected a mental health professional to be. I felt so much better for going and talking to someone, and while these are perhaps short-term services due to their demand, because

of my issues regarding bereavement, anxiety and anger, this was extended without a moment’s hesitation. I did not once feel like I was taking up more than my fair share of time from the university; whether that was due to the counsellor I was assigned or not, who knows?

Summer time came around far too quickly, and my time in counselling seemed to have come to an end. However, with my year abroad around the corner, that wasn’t going to last for long. I was already experiencing a great deal of nerves before embarking on my year in Spain, and when I finally arrived, it took a matter of days for me to feel lonely, isolated and incredibly anxious. I could not even bring myself to eat without feeling sick. All of this led to me believing I needed to leave Spain - I had to drop that part of my degree and run away.

Unlike many departments within the university, my welfare tutor within the Hispanic Studies department was a godsend. I am fully aware that they did not necessarily treat everyone with the same amount of care and attention, with several students falling under their radar, but I was incredibly lucky that they replied to my emails immediately with a wealth of advice and support. They even went so far as to Skype me while I cried about how scared I was to go into university and how I was struggling to cope. With their help, combined with wise words from my parents and boyfriend, I realised I could not give up on all the time and effort I had put into my studies, and eventually completed my year in Spain.

During my time abroad, I received a diagnosis of depression

If you are suffering from a mental illness or have con cerns about your mental health, the following websites offer information and support: www.studentminds.org. uk www.samaritans.org www.bhamnightline. co.uk Or text 07725 909090 for 24-hour support from a crisis counsellor

and so decided to contact university for more counselling sessions, this time via their online Canvas platform, which I received right up until my final week in Spain.

Each time made me feel more at ease and more comfortable in my new life as a year abroad student, and the services made sure I was matched with the same counsellor once again so I could speak to someone I knew and trusted. I really owe a lot to the university as without the support I was offered, I would be a very different person now.

"I cried about how scared I was to go into university and how I was struggling to cope" And that's the thing; while there still needs to be some work done, be it departmental or otherwise, I trust in the university’s cause to care for their students, and I have been incredibly lucky to receive the support I have done.

Without it, I doubt I would be sat here writing this feeling as positive and upbeat as I do, despite my final year worries. With university drop-out rates on the rise, with figures this year showing a 210% increase, the message is clear: seek help. If you ever need help or advice, do not be put off by a few bad words to go and see someone at the university, be it a personal tutor, a welfare tutor or a counselling provider, as it may really make a difference to your university experience.

2 MENTAL HEALTH WELFARE WORKERS IN THE ASTON WEBB STUDENT HUB

"The University does not offer a 'blanket' approach to mental illness, which means different courses approach mental health differently. This results in some students receiving excellent care and others left to deal with it on their own. There should be a standardised code of care, especially for such a prominent issue that affects so many students"

1,180 STUDENTS LEFT UNIVERSITY DUE TO MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES (2014-

15)

11

I can safely say that over the last few years of struggling with depression, I have been blessed with supportive and understanding friends, many of whom cannot relate in any shape to my illness.

However, quite often it goes unmentioned how difficult it is to balance a mental illness at university, not due to the academic aspects, but the social.

When you’re not mentally well, small activities become a big chore, especially when it involves socialising with friends or going out in public.

Whether it is social anxiety, OCD, or depression, a casual pint at the pub with mates can feel like a marathon - one of which I personally shied away from by staying within the safety net of my Ikea duvet.

For me, it was my struggle with nights out at university that was the cherry on top of mentally ill cake. Any kind of medicinal form, whether it be alcohol, narcotics or prescription drugs, affects humans, and, for me, alcohol became an escape and a nightmare. I would agree to go out with friends to get sh*t-faced and forget about how awful I felt and how poorly I was coping.

This, of course, did not work.

Anxiety attacks would hit by 1am as the alcohol circulated through my bloodstream and I would wake up the next morning with instant regret and feeling worse than I had the day before.

At the time, I hadn’t confided in any friends or family about how sad I was feeling, which made this behaviour a vicious cycle with weekly occurrences.

Whilst I’m not suggesting that I developed a problem with alcohol, I did use it as an occasional means to forget and escape, which I’m sure many of my peers can relate to.

One Tuesday, three close friends and I hit up Stuesdays, where I unfortunately suffered quite a crippling anxiety attack. I awoke the next day and had to drag myself to a joint birthday meal, where I sat at the end of the table barely conversing, which anyone will tell you is very out of character for me.

The next night I had another night out planned for another birthday. I told myself I would go to pre-drinks to show my face, but not drink and head to bed early. I truly felt uncomfortable putting myself back into a nightclub situation.

My decision to put my mental health first resulted in me falling out with more than one friend. I was labeled as ‘selfish’ for not making the effort to head to Snobs, and the words ‘emotional drunk’ were chucked at me from all angles. I still to this day, even after admitting to these ‘friends’ I was on antidepressants, am shunned by them.

This was, luckily for me, a rare occurrence. Most people were incredibly supportive and understanding.

University is difficult, and socialising at university levels may seem unobtainable and scary for some. It won’t hurt to be a little nicer and more understanding to your fellow students, making sure they’re alright, rather than branding them as a bad friend for skipping out on social occasions.

Don’t judge a book by its cover and spread some love.

Anonymous

Elafris Photography

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Friday 20th October 2017

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13

PlayerUnknown's: Battlegrounds Makes Rapid Rise To Stardom A player and a stream viewer discuss how the as yet unfinished Battlegrounds has nevertheless become the world's hottest game

Gaming Editor & Critic @GoneEFK @ChronicAardvark

It is a well established fact that the British enjoy a cheeky Nandos, but now a new chicken dinner craze is taking the world by storm.

By this, of course, we mean accomplishing the near-impossible task of winning a game in PlayerUnknown’s: Battlegrounds (affectionately known as PUBG).

For those who are confused, PUBG is a 'battle royale' game by Bluehole studio, in which up to 100 players parachute onto an 8km2 island called Erangel and battle until a champion is crowned (and presented with the ‘winner winner chicken dinner’ victory screen).

"A new chicken dinner craze is taking the world by storm"

Bluehole Inc

As the playable area (the ‘safe zone’) shrinks over the duration of the game, surviving is no easy feat, particularly when the area closes to an unpredictable location every time, often leaving players sprinting huge distances across the map with minimal regard for their personal safety.

Since launching in March, PUBG has become the mostplayed game of all time on Steam (a digital games platform), with 1.9 million current players and over 10 million copies sold, grossing over half a billion dollars for a game that is still incomplete. On top of this, it overtook League of Legends, an established online multiplayer game of 8 years, as the second most streamed game in August, on live-streaming platform Twitch. So what makes this game appeal to both players and viewers alike? Galen Reich, a player. and Emma Kent, a stream viewer, investigate the crucial ingredients of PUBG’s success.

1. How has PUBG become so popular so quickly?

Galen: Confession time: I am terrible at 'shooters'. PUBG seemed good to me because it appeared to be pretty straightforward to play.

As someone who doesn’t really play 'shooters', the idea that I could jump right into a competitive multiplayer battlefield and not die instantly really appealed!

"PUBG also gives players lots of scope to develop their own tactics for moving around the map" On top of the simple ruleset, PUBG also gives players lots of scope to develop their own tactics for moving around the map and engaging enemies, particularly when playing with friends in the sociable ‘Squad’ or ‘Duo’ modes.

These team-based modes are a great opportunity to catch up with friends, although the relaxed chatting is regularly interrupted by frantic cries for help when another team jumps out from behind a rock.

Emma: One of the great strengths of PUBG is its simplicity and watchability. Unlike many of the games streamed on Twitch, almost anyone can watch PUBG and understand how the game works, even if they have never played it before. This has made it far more accessible than games such as League of Legends and Dota 2, which can take months to understand and years to master. This may help explain why it has shot to popularity in such a short space of time.

In addition to its accessibility, PUBG makes for great entertainment. The constant possibility of a surprise attack keeps viewers on their toes as much as the players!

I've also found that the 'squad' mode works particularly well as a streaming format, and has been used to brilliant effect by gaming groups such as The Yogscast and Hatfilms. Due to the fact that PUBG rounds begin fairly slowly while people collect loot, streamers have the opportunity to engage in podcast-style banter before the game evolves into an all out firefight. It is quite amusing to watch squads bickering about which tactics to use, or whether to rescue a team member who went too gungho and landed themselves in a sticky situation.

2. If this is such a simple game, then why do you keep coming back?

Galen: The intensity and pacing of the rounds is addictive and every death leaves you wanting another chance to prove your skills. Short and fiery rounds feature lots of action and a swift death, and are a great way to let off steam between the longer rounds, which come to a head after 30-35 minutes of tense crawling through the barren fields of Erangel. PUBG does an excellent job of building tension as you travel through the landscape, with distant bushes looking suspiciously similar to a crouched enemy with a gun. I am not saying that it is deliberate, but it is a pretty big coincidence!

Emma: Every time you watch a PlayerUnknown's: Battlegrounds (PUBG) stream, you get an entirely different story. In one round a streamer will stealthily build up their weaponry from the outskirts, while in the next, they will dive straight into a massive fire-fight to battle for the best gear. On top of this, the shrinking 'safe zone' means players are funnelled into different areas in each round, making for really varied matches.

This means streams never get boring, as no two rounds are the same!

3. Some critics have said that PUBG is just a fad that will die out soon.

What are your thoughts on this?

Galen: With PUBG exploding so dramatically onto the gaming scene there is a risk that it will be a passing fad, but it also seems that the developers know this and have lots of things planned for the game. A new map set in a sprawling desert is on the horizon, which will provide new vehicles, weapons, play-styles, and places to discover. A work-in-progress version of the new map was slyly 'data-mined' from a recent update and it contains a range of new ideas, such as craters, an abandoned railway line, and the ominously-named settlement of ‘Zombie’. This naming probably refers to the planned inclusion of a 'zombie' mode, another new idea, in which most players on a server will play as weaponless sprinting zombies with the goal of hunting down a single squad that’s armed to the teeth. So although it will be hard for PUBG to sustain the growth it’s seen so far, Bluehole has clearly put some thought into how to keep the gameplay varied and engaging for players well into the future.

Emma: PlayerUnknown's: Battlegrounds (PUBG) creator Brendan Greene recently said that he wants to make the game 'as big as League of Legends', which I think is possible if the developers play their cards right. Firstly, they need to avoid irritating their fan base. A few weeks ago PUBG was 'review bombed' on Steam after placing adverts on one of their Chinese servers so, in light of this, they need to be more careful with their PR and avoid alienating their fans. Secondly, they need to create a framework to establish PUBG as a legitimate eSport.

There have already been a few invitational events organised by Bluehole, but they need to organise a more sustainable tournament as quickly as possible to capitalise on all the interest, drawing up a calendar of events to keep viewers interested throughout the year.

If Bluehole are successful in doing this, I think PUBG will be here to stay for a long time.

Bluehole Inc

Emma Kent & Galen Reich

Bluehole Inc

GAMING

Despite a few bumps in the road, it seems that PlayerUnknown's: Battlegrounds is still en route to becoming one of the biggest games of all time. With some big developments in the pipeline, it looks like we will be tucking into a lot more tasty chicken dinners in the foreseeable future.

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REDBRICK, Oct. 20th, 2017 - Page Fourteen

RETRO-BRICK Looking back through Redbrick's archives to reveal some of the most momentous events in UoB history I was lucky enough to be involved in a research project looking into Political Activism in Selly Oak, from 1960 to the 1990s. My role was to look through old editions of Redbrick, to assess student activity during this period.

by Bryony Parsons My research revealed all manner of things, serious and silly, scandalous and political. This article highlights what I felt were my most interesting finds, from international protests, to sex scandals, Malcolm X, and the Dalek invasion of the Guild.

Carnival Birmingham students have never been ones to miss out on an opportunity to party, but in the 1950s and 1960s partying was a particularly serious matter. Every year, University students Birmingham of ran a city wide Carnival, which in some years was almost a month long. A precursor to the current ‘Carnival Rag’ society, Carnival involved a whole variety of events, including balls, concerts and fancy dress, all in aid of local charities. The most popular event was of parade annual the Carnival floats through Birmingham city centre, which attracted crowds of students and local people alike. Some students built their floats to raise the profile of important causes, such as the 1968 float for World Refugee Year, while others took a more, shall we say ‘creative’ approach.

Outrageous stunts were also conducted to persuade people to donate to Carnival’s chosen causes, which included Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Dodford’s Children’s Farm, a holiday camp for inner-

Who's a Wanker?

The most notorious article in Redbrick’s history, ‘Who’s a Wanker’, appearred in the paper on the 15th March 1972.

‘Who’s A Wanker’ was an article taken from the American porn magazine, ‘Screw’, helpfully outlining practical aspects of homosexuality, such as sex positions and the importa nce of having ‘something good to grease the way’. The article also strongly advised all men to engage in homosexuality as apparently ‘every heterosexual I’ve known who got screwed felt the better for it’!

I imagine an article like this would be risqué and controversial even today, so Redbrick’s decision to publish it just 5 years after homosexuality was

legalised is some-what mindboggling. Particularly as their defence was that they simply didn’t have enough material to fill that issue, so chose it apparently on a whim.

Unsurprisingly, Redbrick did not get away with this publication unscathed, with the University Press Council demanding that an apology be printed, and police officers had a little chat with Redbrick staff.

UOB’s Gay Liberation Society however, who had been closely involved with the editing and publication, were thrilled with ‘Who’s A Wanker’. At this time Birmingham had the most active gay scene outside of London, so Gay Liberation was a key issue on campus and in the local area. The Indie Lounge in Selly Oak actually used to be a Gay Liberation bookshop.

Redbrick's report on the police investigation of the article

city Birmingham A particularly stunt was the cessful riding

children. memorable 1962 sucof a cun-

Carnival's bomb hoax, 1967

ningly converted tandem bicycle, affectionately named ‘Toto’, across the Channel.

While these stunts were originally harmless activities in aid of local causes, they also contributed to the decline of Carnival in the late 1960s as they became increasingly out of control, and drew the focus away from Carnival’s real purpose.

For example, Redbrick exposed the disastrous 1967 Carnival stunt that involved the planting of a fake bomb, which caused a mass evacuation in Birmingham city centre and the calling of a bomb disposal unit.

There was a considerable effort by University staff, Birmingham resi-

Influential Connections

There have been numerous 1960.

Political visitors were high-profile speakers at UoB over the years. not always welcome, howMalcolm X actually vis- ever. Max Mosley, leader ited the Guild to speak of the Union Movement, to the Islamic Society in the post-war incarnation February 1965. The Press of his father’s British clamoured to gain access Union of Fascists, was to the event, but as actually invited to speak Redbrick were the only at the Guild several times Guild members they gained during the 1960s. The always was exclusive coverage of invitation Malcolm X discussing his withdrawn, however, due ideas for the American to protests, petitions, Black Muslim movement, and even threats of vioand the importance of lence by members of the Redbrick body.

African Americans respond- student from reports ing to oppression in delivered ‘intelligent self-de- both sides of the controfence’.

In this way, versy, such as the demands Redbrick also had exclu- for Free Speech, and the sive access to the numer- concerns of the Jewish ous Cabinet members which Society. or visits, the As spoke at the Guild, such as Harold Wilson in attempted visits, of these speakers suggest, in the the 1970s and 1960s dents and the City Council University of Birmingham shut Carnival get to was a well-connected unidown. versity, with a surprishowever, Luckily, ingly international outGraduates were Carnival was saved from look. full a by extinction encouraged to work in restructuring, which creunderdeveloped countries, in teaching as ated a much more focused such effort, with parades and Rhodesia and Nyasaland. stunts abandoned in favour There were also numerous of planning and executing opportunities for exchanglocal community projects. es and travel for both These included assisting undergraduate and postand local students, impoverished an graduate widow with 13 children, they were all encouraged and using Carnival proto write articles about for experiences ceeds to purchase a van their disabled transport to Redbrick. A 1961 account Iron the behind inner city children into from the countryside. Each of Curtain, dubbed ‘The Land and Soul’, a these projects was supwithout ported by Redbrick, which details of public feeling provided the platform to in the US during the Cuban appeal for volunteers and Missile Crisis are pardonations. ticularly memorable examples.

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REDBRICK, Oct. 20th, 2017 - Page Fifteen

W.U.S. & O.R.D.

UoB students were also involved in many international campaign groups, World the as such University Service, WUS. WUS was a fellowship of committees national 40 which sought to support students across the globe.

WUS contributions included scholarships for refugee students, equipping libraries and canteens, and providing funds after national disasters such as the 1960 Chilean earthparticular The quake. the of contributi on British WUS committee was the funding of the British foundation.

TB Student The UoB branch of WUS supported these activities through an annual Student Internatio nal Week, held from the early 1950s until 1965. This week saw a campus-wide effort, fund-raisi ng including a competition for the student with the which knees, prettiest was awarded to the ‘lov-

Campus Protests

able’ Miss Jane Gilding, and a spaghetti eating competition.

WUS also held weekly ‘Bread and Cheese for Refugees’ lunches, where students would donate the cost of a lunch in exchange for a helping of bread and cheese. This activity however, was later taken over by the Organisation for Relief and Development (ORD) a more militant version of WUS, rising to prominence in 1964.

Throughout the 1960s, ORD held a series of hunger strikes in aid of Oxfam’s ‘Freedom from Hunger’ campaign. In 1963, ORD staged their hunger strike from a specially constructed hut in Chamberlain Square, and in 1965 they

South Africa Like many universities across the UK, UoB operated a campus-wide ban on products sourced from South Africa, and joined NUS initiatives which pressured companies to withdraw investment from the country. Barclays Bank was a particular focus of student criticism, which gave loans direct to governmental corporations, even as apartheid escalated.

So strong was the opposition that Redbrick itsefl was implicated in June 1977, when it chose to publish a Barclays advert.

Many people leapt to Redbrick’s defence, and pointed out that Barclays was far from alone in having investments in the regime. But deep-seated opposition to Barclays was too hard to shift.

This animosity was so strong that, until incredibly recently, it was very rare to have a branch of the bank on a student campus.

UoB was also one of the

many British Universities which had a South Africa Student Fund, SASF, which sponsored students excluded from education due to apartheid to study in the UK. UoB’s SASF seems to have been a little slow off the mark, taking approximately 3 years to raise the necessary £1700 to fund a South African student. But Livingstone Mrwetyana finally arrived at the University in May 1967, entirely sponsored

by SASF. Redbrick provided a series of articles on Mrwetyana, through his exclusion from education, imprisonment, and struggles to gain an exit permit in order to flee the country.

The University of Brmimgham, however, was uniquely connected to Southern Africa through a longstanding partnership with University College, Salisbury, Rhodesia. UoB had been sponsoring University College Salisbury’s Medical School

operated from a large crate in the city centre, donated by Rover. During both efforts the impact of starvation was examined by a medical team, so that their efforts would contrib ute to research.

Alongside these hunger strikes were ORD’s projects, which changed termly. In the Autumn of 1965, ORD raised funds for 'a children's home and rehabilitation centre in Nigeria.' All of these campaigns and projects, whether they were conducted by WUS or ORD, were adverti sed by Redbrick. These meant that the paper formed a key resource in the call for donations and volunteers.

since 1961, allowing Rhodesian students to study for the internationally recognised University of Birmimgham Medical degree. This connection between the institutions meant that Birmingham students were particularly sympathetic to changes at University College Salisbury after the Unilateral Declaration of Independence. As the Smith regime encroached on the rights of students, Birmingham student activity escalated. They urged University authorities to do more to protect Rhodesian students, and reiterate that funding would be instantly withdrawn should Salisbury become segregated. They also held multiple protests in the city as part of a national campaign of opposition to the Smith regime.

In spite of this, the situation at Salisbury continued to deteriorate, with students expelled and lecturers deported.

In 1966, it was decided that UoB's support could no longer continue.

the 1968 Occupation of the Great Hall

Daleks Elected Dalek in Mermaid Square, 1977

One of the most bizarre stories in recent UoB history was the 1977 Guild elections, which resulted in three Daleks being elected. The White, Grey and Black Daleks ran on a with platform, protest the charming promise that they would ‘make the sun

On the 29th September, Univer sity the 1969, an offered authorities honorary degree to former Rhodesian Governor, Sir Humphrey Gibbs. The culpability of Sir Gibbs in the deteriorating situation in Rhodesia was contentious, but he was cercontroversial a tainly figure to honour at that time.

40 students protested in the foyer of the Great Hall and, when Sir Gibbs was escorted through an alternative entrance, one student even attempted to scale the building in order to prevent the ceremony going ahead. The University, however, had enlisted Birmingham City Police to help contain the protesters and Sir Humphrey Gibbs received his honorary degree with little interruption.

The largest campus protest, however, was the 1968 occupation of the Great Hall. Students wanted immediate representation on the University Senate and Council, and a long term commitment to review student participation in the running of University. the ‘Birmingham Undemocratic Airways’ was a satirical in publi shed sketc h Redbrick to express student feelings of frustration.

Student demands, proposals, and compromises were repeatedly ignored by the University authorities, so angry students chose to occupy the Great Vice the and Hall offic e.

Chanc ellor ’s General Meetings were held in the Guild regularly at

this time, and were an opportunity for students to discuss issues, and cast votes on motions put forward by Guild representatives. An EGM held on the 3rd December, 1968, ruled that the student occupation should continue after the initial week.

It was was the largest in the Guild’s history, attended by more than 2500 students.

Within the first 24 hours, a protest Co-ordinating Committee was established to ensure that the occupation was orderly. A security force was also organised, to ensure that no damage was caused to the Great Hall for the duration of the occupation. The protest was strictly non-violent and the Finance Office remained unobstructed so as not to affect staff pay.

While there was national praise for the protest, from The Times and bodies such as the Radical Students Alliance, the Revolutionary Socialists Students Federation and the Federation of Conservative Students, not everyone was impressed.

The Birmingham Post ran a front page article criticising the protest, and a series of critical letters were written by Birmingham residents to the students. Ultimately, the protest was undone by the students themselves.

Unsurprisingly, there was little enthusiasm for continuing the protest over the Christmas holidays, so, after a two week occupation, students packed up and went home.

Student representation remained a contentious issue, and progress remained slow.

stop shining out of the arses of Guild hackery’.

The Daleks initially came second in each of the posts they stood for. But accusations of corruption, and various resignations, saw a second election. With the lack of a Doctor to save us,

the Daleks swept to victory.

Fortu natel y, their reign of cardboard terror did not last long. Two of the Daleks mysteriously disap peare d.

Despi te Redbrick’s plea for their safe return, no trace of the Daleks was found, until recently.

The wider research for this project ‘Political Activism in Selly Oak, 1960s to 1990s’ saw us

connect with many longstanding Selly Oak residents. They revealed to us that, after a guest appearance at the Selly Oak Carnival, the Daleks found themselves discarded in a park. Local children, in the view of saving the universe from this menace, promptly burned them. Guild equilibrium was restored.

Enjoyed this article? Then watch out for Redbrick’s new section ‘Redbrick Revisits’, where I will introduce interesting events and issues which occurred during that week over the past 60 years. REALLY enjoyed this article? Would you like to get involved in the ‘Selly Oak Activism’ project itself? Then keep your eyes peeled for adverts for project volunteers, coming very soon.

16

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Friday 20th October 2017

www.redbrick.me

An Afternoon With Hillary Clinton Emma Kent and Tom Rose assess Hillary Clinton's performance at the Cheltenham Literarture Festival as she discusses her new book, What Happened Emma Kent Gaming Editor @GoneEFK

When it emerged that Hillary Clinton was writing a book entitled What Happened, many critics were quick to label it as an attempt by Clinton to blame others for her election loss. I must admit that I was also expecting some degree of blame-shifting in her talk at the Cheltenham Literature Festival. To my surprise, I found that Hillary was fairly upbeat and pragmatic about what happened in the 2016 election (if slightly bitter). She admitted that her mistakes had made it easier for her opponents to shift the dialogue away from her policies; although, in typical politician style, she did not go into too much detail about these errors.

Crucially, she chose to focus her book on issues that emerged from the election and still need to be addressed. I found that her talk broadly tackled two main themes; the issue of Russian interference in democracies, and the continuing problem of sexism in politics. For Hillary, both of these issues need urgent attention and discussion.

Russia and Fake News Hillary seemed eager throughout the talk to highlight a new threat from what she termed the "weaponization of information".

In her view, Russian interference in western democracies has extended beyond merely trying to hack the election process; Russia is now deliberately creating division in western societies through the creation and distribution of 'fake news' on social media. Clinton argued that this is Putin's new strategy to undermine democracies, and made the claim that “Russia’s weapons of choice may not be tanks or missiles, but let me be clear: this is a new kind of Cold War and it is just getting started.”

What really interested me about this statement was Hillary's reference to the Cold War. This reveals two key points about her thinking. Firstly, she considers the danger posed by Russian fake news to be the most serious threat to western democracies in our time. She clearly wants this to be considered a key security issue by the West, which is perhaps why she framed the threat in such recognisable and alarm-

Clinton on the campaign trial in 2016

ing terms as a 'Cold War'. Much of Hillary's talk was dedicated to the Russian fake news problem, while she spent noticeably little time discussing other major threats, such as North Korea and terrorism.

The second point I gleaned from the Cold War reference was that Hillary thinks the future of great power struggles will be fought primarily in ideas rather than on the battlefield. While Trump is busy increasing the funding for the military in the US, Hillary is essentially arguing for a shift in focus away from traditional military notions of security, instead advocating an investigation into who shapes the discourse in our societies and for what purposes: “In addition to hacking our elections, they are hacking our discourse and our unity."

The question is, therefore, how do we stop the spread of fake news? Hillary gave several suggestions in the talk. At government level, she suggested that cyber security needs to be a priority to prevent further hackings. This is a sensible proposal and a process that is already underway, with the US and UK security services currently engaging in cooperative efforts to strengthen our cyber defences.

Her two other suggestions, however, seemed somewhat problematic to me.

Hillary argued that states need to apply sanctions whenever evidence is found to suggest Russian interference in an election.

Looking back to when Obama expelled diplomats following the US election hacking, sanctions seem to have done little to deter Russia from attempting to hack the elections of other democracies (such as in the recent French election). Considering that Russia still controls much of the gas supply to Europe, it seems unlikely that individual European heads of state will be willing to place sanctions on Russia for fear of retaliation.

Hillary also proposed that we all have a responsibility to hold elected politicians and the media to account for inaccuracies.

This is certainly a noble goal and one for which we should all strive, but I fail to see it as a total solution to the problem. Even if individuals start flagging up stories as inaccurate, the sheer amount of fake news online seems untameable. For me, the root of the problem is that many people lack critical thinking skills and will accept much of what they read as 'true' if it confirms their pre-existing bias. Social media is such a new phenomenon that most people have not been educated in how to distinguish between legitimate new stories and bullsh*t.

Until the education system catches up, the problem of fake news is likely to stay.

Tom Rose

Redbrick Contributor @tomrose_98

@Galerie17 at the talk in Cheltenham

Sexism in Politics In addition to hammering home her message about the Russian interference threat, Hillary gave equal time to talk about her experiences as a woman in politics, and where she felt progress could be achieved in the future. In Hillary's view, most legal barriers for women are now gone, but sexist attitudes linger. Men, for instance, become more socially accepted with success, while women are resented when they want to be leaders. Hillary also highlighted problems such as the gender pay gap in business, and studies which suggested many Americans are still opposed to a female President.

Despite all of these issues, Hillary's message was not all doom and gloom. Far from it- she seemed optimistic for the future and committed to the idea that women's voices should, and would, be heard more in politics. Her main suggestion was that women need to be given the confidence to make their voices heard, starting from a very young age. To rapturous applause from the audience, she proudly stated that "the only way to get sexism out of politics is to get more women into politics."

It seems that Hillary wants to lead by example: since the 2016 election, Hillary has been involved in several schemes to get young women into politics and develop their potential to become leaders. This is perhaps one of the things that impressed me most about Clinton- despite a devastating defeat, she still seems determined to help women break down barriers in the political world. Her perseverance is truly something to be admired, whether you agree with her politics or not.

When I emerged from Hillary's talk, I experienced a strange mix of emotions. On one level, the talk was a sobering reminder of what could have been; an American President with vision, poise and deep knowledge of world affairs. It was also a stark wake up call to some serious problems in world politics that need addressing.

But more than anything, as a woman, I felt empowered to be a leader and effect change in the world. Although Hillary missed out on the Presidency, she has shown it to be within reaching distance for other women in the future. For me, Hillary will always remain a powerful role model, showing that anyone can practise determination, resilience, and rock a pantsuit.

As one of the world’s most controversial political figures, Hillary Clinton’s talk at the Cheltenham Literature Festival had been heavily anticipated by the lucky few who managed to secure tickets to one of her only two UK appearances. An affluent yet noticeably liberal spa town, it is no surprise Clinton agreed to appear in Cheltenham because of the inevitable warm reception she would receive. Nonetheless, the biggest question on my mind was whether she would continue to present herself as the defender of liberal values or if she would simply come across as a sore loser. Before being grilled by the Norwegian-born journalist and broadcaster, Mariella Frostrup, Clinton gave a very direct address to the audience, emphasising four key lessons from the 2016 Presidential Election. Upon reflection, it seemed to me that analysing her rhetoric from these four lessons is perhaps the best way to come to a conclusion over whether or not she has graciously accepted the tragic loss of last November.

Lesson 1: the need to pick yourself up after being knocked down. As a woman who had worked her whole adult life to reach the Oval Office, it is astonishing how quickly Hillary Clinton has emotionally recovered after losing to a racist misogynist who ran for President simply because he thought it might be fun. She told the audience in Cheltenham, ‘you may not lose a Presidential Election on the world stage but everybody gets knocked down. And what matters obviously is whether you get yourself back up and keep going.’ Considering how recently this election took place, it does not seem like her defeat has had any long-term toll on her personally. She remained humorous throughout her address and interview, perfectly judging her wit to suit the British audience, most notably with her ‘what happens in a pub stays in a pub’ joke. She remarkably appeared very much at ease on the stage, managing to address the audience with conviction whilst skilfully ensuring her important message resonated with spectators.

Lesson 2: the only way to rid sexism from politics is to ensure there are more women taking on political roles. This pivotal topic of feminism was met with a huge applause from the audience. Hillary was very quick to quote American research, although didn’t provide a source, which has supposedly shown that ‘for men, professional success and likability go hand in hand. In other words, the more successful a man becomes, the more people like him.

Well, with women it’s the exact opposite.

The more professionally successful [they] are, the less people like [them].’ Despite her lack of citation, the link between the success of a person’s professional life and their gender is self-evident – all you have to do is look at the disparity in pay and the disproportionate number senior roles that are occupied by men.

Hillary went on to describe how ’women are also seen favourably when [they] advocate for others, but unfavourably when [they] advocate for [themselves].’ She quoted how people had actively supported her in her prior supporting roles of First Lady, Senator for New York and Secretary of State. However, she proceeded to say explicitly that the minute a woman steps up and tries to take advantage of a potential leadership role, it is at that moment when it begins to change. Now, it is evident that her gender is not the only reason she lost the election (far from it), however you would be insane to think that she didn’t need to

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Hillary Clinton's new book What Happened and a ticket to her talk, costing £50

overcome any setbacks bespoke to her gender during the election campaign. Whilst this explanation may not convince everyone, it is without a doubt clear from her rhetoric that she will not rest until these burning injustices between the sexes are solved.

Lesson 3: ‘The forces at work in the 2016 Election are still with us.’ This frightening comment made by Secretary Clinton in Cheltenham was one that must have struck a chord with many of the attendees.

She described in detail what she believed had occurred during the election with regards to Russian interference. This time, however, she provided concrete evidence to support her claims, such as new research

from Columbia University which has found that ‘the content posted by Russian trolls and bots had been shared upwards of 340 million times.’ However, this initial discussion of what happened to her was a rather brief part of her speech as she went on to focus much more on what has to be done now in light of the Russian interferences in Germany, France and most recently, in Catalonia. Clinton’s most astonishing remark, however, was in relation to this new kind of warfare that we are experiencing. ‘Russia’s weapons of choice may not be tanks or missiles, but let me be clear, this is a new kind of cold war and it’s just getting started. We may have in the nineteenth century fought wars on land and sea

New: Redbrick Revisits Bryony Parsons Redbrick Archivist

On the 20th October 1960, the ban on women in the student bar was finally lifted!

Unbelievably, up until this point, it was deemed improper for a woman to drink at lunchtime. The raucous behaviour and language exhibited by men during 'the lunchtime session' was so uncouth that it was deemed innapropriate in the presence of a lady. So, rather than police male behaviour and in order to avoid a scandal from occurring, women were banned from the Guild Bar at lunchtimes altogether. However, on the 20th October 1960, it was reasoned that it would be perfectly respectable for a woman (accompanied by a gentleman, of course) to have a small sherry with her lunch, so the ban was lifted. People were still unhappy however, and expressed themselves through passionate and vociferous letters to Redbrick. The Guild Bar was unsuitable apparently, for a woman, due to lewd singing and bad language and it was unreasonable to expect men to curtail these outbursts. Evicting men from the bar for bad behaviour being clearly impossible, there were attempts to push the women out again. Peace finally reigned at lunchtime with an accord between the sexes. The construction of a ‘Lounge Bar’ in 1962, where girlfriends could be respectfully escorted to have a drink. Men were also encouraged to entertain Mother and Father in this bar, so as to protect them from the debauchery of the Guild Bar. I doubt it was as much fun.

By 1965, issues had thankfully moved on a little, but remained rather bizarre. On the 20th October 1965, the University’s

Conservative association held a ‘filibuster’ in Chamberlain Square in the city centre, to protest the Labour government, led by Harold Wilson. They felt their ingenius slogans, such as ‘Harold is a Con-Man’, warranted a prominent platform and must be broadcast as clearly as possible. Their solution – address the crowd from atop a 7 foot ladder.

and then moved to the air in the twentieth, but in the twenty-first, wars will be increasingly fought in cyber-space.’ This chilling analysis provided by Clinton must be seen as a wake-up call to the wider developed world, that without action, this new kind of warfare could undermine the very principle that defines our democracy.

Lesson 4; the need to fight back against fake news. Perhaps this was the lesson most welcomed by the audience. This seemed to be the section in which she attacked the President most directly. ‘When leaders deny things we can see with our own eyes, like the size of a crowd at the inauguration or they refuse to accept settled science, like climate change, it isn’t just frustrating to everyone around the world who prides [themselves] on trying to live in the fact-based universe, it’s insidious and subversive to democracy.’ In the age of post-truth politics, this carries a very profound meaning. The fact that a certain film producer and the President of the United States deny allegations of sexual abuse despite admitting to it on recorded evidence acts as a definitive backdrop to this message Hillary Clinton was aiming to get across. Clinton seems to believe that ridding the world of fake news is linked to the destruction of discrimination in our society.

‘We have to insist on truth and accuracy.

We have to implore the press to help us. We have to hold them and elected officials accountable when they fail to meet that standard. And we must refuse to be silent in the face of racism, sexism, bigotry or rhetoric intended to incite hate and violence, no matter where it’s coming from or who it is directed at. And to have the courage to stand up for human rights and the forces of democracy in this crucial global moment.’

All of these are very powerful words that as a liberal society, we must take seriously, or

Rhiannon Miller & Will Wright BurnFM Heads of Programming @miller_rhiannon

BURN FM went live for the first time this year on Tuesday 10th October, at the frankly inhumane time of 9am. We’ve done it! We’ve kicked off broadcasting! A whole new plethora of shows fill our schedule 9am-11pm on weekdays, and 10am-11pm on weekends. We were completely overwhelmed with the response when over a hundred applications came in. Turns out Birmingham students really want to host their very own radio show, and have a chance to hear their voices on the airwaves.

After hours of tireless work, with only the Guild Spar to keep us going, we managed to get together a schedule which both celebrated the entertainment of radio, but also embraced the (very) weird and (very) wonderful ideas that you students came up with. From a breakfast show where the presenters own their posh personas (Made in Selly), to a drivetime show that describes itself as the University of Birmingham’s very own Gossip Girl (Burning Topics), daytime at BURN FM will keep you going.

Wherever and whenever; if you’re tuning in from the library or at home whilst trying to do some work (although we can’t promise you’ll not find yourself dancing along to all those feel good tunes which are bound to be played). Evenings on BURN take you through a whole smorgasbord of specialist programmes: from a frank sex positive discussions (One Knight Stand) to two tireless presenters asking “what exactly is the saddest song ever written?” (The Saddest Song in the World) there should be something for everyone, and who knows, you might even discover a hidden passion for something completely new, like modern

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A Hillary fan's elaborate home-made sign

instead of advancing our democracies, we will start to go backwards.

Now to return to my original question of whether Clinton remains distasteful to the idea of having been defeated, it must be noted that she did appear bitter over the result at various points during the event.

However, she made it clear that after losing the election, she was more worried as an American than on a personal level for fear of her own reputation. It is also interesting that when asked by Frostrup about what it was like when she made her concession phone call, that she offered to provide the new President with some support (although I doubt that offer was taken up). All these signs in conjunction with her powerful message point to a strong, confident and mature politician who from this event has perhaps shown herself as the best President the United States never had.

french hip hop (What’s up in France?) or the most up and coming dance and electronic music (Audiosynthesis) that you never knew you had.

We’re also really excited to have two slots within our schedule open to those who don’t have regular shows, ‘Burning Strong’ and ‘Fresh Burn’.

‘Burning Strong’ is is an additional Burn FM venture open to all societies or groups representing minorities at UoB, be it cultural, sexual, national or otherwise to present a one-off show to educate the wider world on any topic close to your heart. This is open to absolutely everyone and anyone!

If you think this might just be the thing for you then Email Will Wright, Head of Evening Programming (Evening@burnfm. com).

‘Fresh Burn’ is for anyone who fancies themselves as the next Greg James from BBC Radio 1, but doesn’t quite know where to begin. If you love listening to the radio and think you would love to have a go at presenting, then ‘Fresh Burn’ is your chance to host a one-off show on a Friday night and just give it a go. Whether it be your favourite playlist for a night out, or you get yourself and some friends into the studio to battle it out over who has the best pres playlist, ‘Fresh Burn’ is the place where all your dreams of broadcasting on the airwaves can come true. So, what’s there to lose? You won’t know unless you give it a go.

Get in contact with Rhiannon Miller, Head of Daytime Programming (daytime@ burnfm.com) if you want to host a ‘Fresh Burn’ show.

We are so excited to listen to all the programmes across BURN FM this term, and we hope that campus will get involved in listening to the best student radio station it has to offer.

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CULTURE

Friday 20th October 2017

@redbrickculture

Review: Hairspray at the Hippodrome Louisa Bebb Culture Critic @louisabebb

It is not hard to see why Hairspray has become a household favourite in recent times. Due to road closures and taxi issues, we had to run 3 miles through Birmingham in order to make it to the Hippodrome Theatre in time. It was incredibly worth the effort – and that is something I never thought I would say about exercise.

This is the musical’s fourth UK tour, and with the knowledge that the original West End production was awarded a record-breaking eleven Laurence Olivier awards, it is fair to say expectations were high.

A heart-warming tale about

acceptance, love and achieving your dreams, Hairspray follows the story of Tracy Turnblad from Baltimore, played by Rebecca Mendoza. It is hard to believe that this production is Mendoza’s debut; she played the character with the confidence and conviction of a seasoned professional, and provided exquisite vocals to match.

"A heart-warming tale about acceptance, love and achieving your dreams" The opening number of 'Good Morning Baltimore' truly providBirmingham Hippodrome

ed a standard for this fast paced Chitticks would know how to get and exciting show. The staging hearts racing. was exceptional throughout. The stage never felt too busy but, thanks to a clever use of an animated backdrop, always came across as bustling and vibrant when the scene called for such an atmosphere.

With the support of her best friend Penny, who was played brilliantly by Annalise LiardBailey, Tracy decides to audition as a dancer for her favourite TV programme, The Corny Collins Show. At the audition, however, The cast's performance of Tracy is ridiculed about her weight 'Welcome to the 60’s' is sure to by the producer Velma Von Tussle make you want to jump in a time and her fame-hungry daughter machine and check it out for yourAmber. The on-stage chemistry self. The colourful costumes between Gina Murray and Aimee ensured the stage looked fun and Moore, who played Velma and exciting, bringing both the song, Amber respectively, really brought and the decade, to life. There was these villains to life. The pair not a moment within the entire were somewhat of a dynamic duo, show where any member of the instantly becoming characters you ensemble came out of character, love to hate. consequently making their indiCast and Ensemble of vidual performances all the Hairspray, including more believable.

Brenda Edwards But it was the hilari(Motormouth Mabel), ously adorable relaRebecca Mendoza tionship between (Tracy Turnblad), Edna and Wilbur Edward Chitticks Turnblad which Number of Olivier stole both the show (Link Larkin) and Layton Williams and the hearts of Awards the (Seaweed). the audience. Matt original London It is here that Rixon was truly production won perfect as Edna. His Tracy meets heartthrob Link Larkin, natural stage presence played by Edward ensured that Edna was Chitticks. With previous the star of every scene she credits including stripper Eddie appeared in, and the balance in the smash hit musical Mamma between comedy and emotion Mia, there was no doubt that exhibited by Rixon was perfect.

"You Can't Stop The Beat is an explosion of colour, excitement and unbelievable vocals"

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Norman Pace, who has been one half of the comedy duo Hale and Pace since 1986, channelled his vast experience in order to ensure Wilbur was just as entertaining and loveable. Their performance of 'You’re Timeless To Me' in the second act really brought the house down and left the audience in its entirety grinning from ear to ear.

The fourth wall was broken throughout, and my only criticism of the direction would be that characters entering the stage at the front interacted with the audience. Although this presumably worked well for those with seats near the stage, it appeared somewhat messy to those further back as it was difficult to understand what exactly was going on.

Above all else, Hairspray documents the fight to end segregation as Tracy fights to allow access to all to dance together on television, as well as push for wider equality. The final song of 'You Can’t Stop the Beat' is an explosion of colour, excitement and unbelievable vocals which celebrates the coming together of one and all. It doesn’t matter if you’re big, small, black or white; anyone can dance!

The performance was brought to a close with a reprise of 'You Can’t Stop the Beat' and an invitation from Tracy Turnblad herself. “Come on, Birmingham” she said; we didn’t need to be asked twice.

Hairspray continues on its tour, with further venues including the Wolverhampton Grand.

Review: Private Peaceful at the Old Rep Ruth Horsburgh Culture Critic @RuthHorsburgh

The imminent court martial of young Private Tommo Peaceful during the First World War may not be the most obvious storyline for a best-selling children’s book.

However, this production, presented by the National Production Company, is based on the book by the much-loved author Michael Morpurgo, whose emotive rendering of the life of a young man who volunteers to serve his country continues to be successful, in print and in theatres. Adapted for the stage by Simon Reade, this sensitive production is a stunning one-man performance which evokes the fear and sacrifice made by numerous soldiers over 100 years ago.

Having volunteered to join the army with his older brother Charlie, Private Tommo Peaceful is awaiting a terrible fate. He is to face a firing squad in the morning on the charge of cowardice.

During a restless night, he reflects on some of the key moments in his short life. From young love, childhood traumas including the death of his father, to incidents during his time as a soldier, the audience is immersed in the personal story of a World War One soldier. His retelling of the past makes Peaceful’s fate even more painful, as he reminisces about his first day of school, playing

with friends in a lake and his first patriotic encounter with an army soldier, who, along with his brother, convince him to sign up to fight for King and Country.

Private Tommo Peaceful’s story symbolises the great sacrifice made by the everyday ‘Tommy’ during the First World War.

'This sensitive production is a stunning one-man performance...'

Having only Matthew Duckett performing on stage gives the production a real sense of vulnerability. Not only does he play Tommo Peaceful, but also Charlie (his older brother), Captain ‘horrible’ Haines, a German soldier, kindly school teachers, and even, Molly - the prettiest girl in school.

His ability to move between characters and the past and the present is remarkable and showed great virtuosity. He would be a nervous schoolboy one minute and a pompous Captain the next.

Duckett could hold our attention and eye-contact, and then take us back to the past in an instant, as he recalled the significant people from his earlier life. A poignant recurring motif was Peaceful singing ‘Oranges and Lemons’, once as a carefree boy and then trying to seek comfort in the filthy and flooded trenches. This

is an excellent performance in a very demanding role.

Peaceful’s evocative costume of army attire, braces and boots, matches the dark and earthy tones of the set. Its simplicity demonstrates the destruction of war, with a makeshift bed, wooden crates and an unappetising can of food. Bed springs even became barbed wire on the front line. A treasured pocket watch acts as an ominous symbol of time ticking away for this young soldier.

The lighting enhances the mood and helps the transitions between the past and present. A softer light is used when Peaceful recalls happier episodes from his childhood. But once in the trenches, the lighting is stark and brutal, with lightening-like effects signifying bombs and an orange hue representing a gas attack.

Similarly, the sound effects ensure maximum impact, from the sombre organ music at a funeral, planes whistling through the skies to bombs hurtling towards the ground. Peaceful describes the battlefield as ‘a blasted wasteland’ and the evocative effects certainly conjured this up in my imagination.

Directed by Andrew Alton, this production truly brought history to life. One of Michael Morpurgo’s stated aims in writing Private Peaceful was to highlight the failure of the British government in order to grant posthumous pardons to over 300 British soldiers who were shot for cow-

ardice – when many were actually suffering from shellshock. As we approach the anniversary of the end of the First World War, in just under a years’ time, this producNational Production Company

tion made me pause for thought, and conveyed an intensely personal tragedy and the pity of war.

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Friday 20th October 2017

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Review: Cilla The Musical at the New Alexandra Philippa Baker Culture Critic @philippa_bakerx

Against a curtained backdrop, a solitary figure steps out onto the stage at the New Alexandra Theatre, her distinctive and iconic red, bobbed hair and strong Liverpudlian accent ensures there is no mistaking the entrance of the young Priscilla White (Kara Lily Haworth). Later she will be known internationally as singer Cilla Black and by 30 will have captured the nations heart, hosting television shows such as Blind Date and Surprise Surprise. Before all that, Cilla stands before the audience in a polka dot dressing gown, and singing unaccompanied into a hairbrush Kara Lily Haworth demonstrates immediately why she is the perfect actress to fill the coveted shoes of Cilla, in the first ever musical about the entertainer and singer’s life.

Adapted from ITV’s mini-series by BAFTA award winner Jeff Pope, Cilla – The Musical is a story of ambition, youth, perseverance, love, emotion, humour and electrifying vibrancy. Based on the early life of Cilla Black, the show documents the young entertainer’s dreams and rocky rise to stardom under the management of Brian Epstein (The

Beatles), as she moves from the working-class enclaves of Liverpool to become an internationally acclaimed star.

Interweaving her romantic relationship with Bobby Willis, glimpses of her family life and incorporating moments of humour the show ensures that this is a story that is not solely based on Cilla’s professional career, but one that gives insight into her personal relationships.

"A story of ambition, youth, perseverance, love, emotion, humour and electrifying vibrancy" Produced by Bill Kenwright and Laurie Mansfield, alongside Executive Producer Robert Willis, the show transports the audience into the swinging sixties capturing the thrilling energy and incredible talent of the underground music scene of the renowned Cavern Club, a glimpse into the production of records in the studios in London and flies us over the Atlantic to the televised music of Mamas and Papas in America.

Indeed, it is a show that really does have music at its heart by featuring songs from northern bands such as The Beatles, Big Three and Gerry and The Peacemakers. The 29-song repertoire includes rock, ballads and swing, ensuring that Cilla – The Musical provides the greatest feel-good soundtrack to the sixties and one that is proudly and firmly grounded in its Liverpudlian heritage. With hit music from The Beatles including Twist and Shout, You Really Got a Hold of Me and Roll Over Beethoven, as well as Cilla’s emotionally charged power ballads featuring 'Alfie', 'Anyone Who Had a Heart' and 'You’re My Love', you are guaranteed to be tapping, clapping, singing and itching to get up and dance throughout.

After fighting off thousands of hopefuls after weeks of open auditions, Kara Lily Haworth proved precisely why she had been chosen to play the lead role. A mesmerising Cilla, Kara captures perfectly a young girl’s heart-warming ambition, huge personality and spirit as she journeys to fulfil her dreams of stardom. Her rendition of 'Alfie' and 'Anyone Who Had a Heart' (both reaching number one in the charts for Cilla), were spine-chillingly beautiful with a vocal power that projected out with ease, impressive

control and Cilla-esque gestures.

Kara really does encapsulate and assumes a breath-taking living embodiment of the spirit and character that fans of the late Cilla Black won’t fail to recognise or be disappointed by in this coming of age musical.

Whilst eternalising Cilla’s music, the show is awash with bright lights, guitars, geometric patterns, perms and white midrise boots that transports the New Alexandra Theatre from the 21st century into a vivid and vivacious moment of sounds and colour –

the 1960s. It was not surprising then that the show on its opening night in Birmingham deservingly received a standing ovation. So get your grove on, and twist and shout your way into the swinging sixties and see what all the excitement is about in this heat-warming, feel good musical that is sure to get you out of your seats and dancing to the Liverpool Sound.

Cilla The Musical will tour to various venues, with current dates up to April 2018, and further dates to be announced.

Matt Martin

Halloween Reads to Get You in the Spirit Culture Critic Emily Walters recommends five thrilling books that are sure to get your heart racing this October Emily Walters Culture Critic

Before I Go To Sleep SJ Watson Christine can not remember her past – or even yesterday - after a terrible accident robbed her of her memories. Determined to discover who she is and what is happening to her, she has begun keeping a journal before she goes to sleep, before she forgets. However, the truth of her accident and her memories may be more terrifying than she bargained for. This electric charged thriller is terrifyingly brilliant, and if you are a fan of the films Memento and Shutter Island or just interested in the distortion of the human mind, this book is a perfect recommendation.

Doubleday

Watson creates layers of plot twists and turns whilst effortlessly keeping the reader engaged, this book is disturbingly good and will linger in the minds of the reader long after the final page.

The Woman in Black Susan Hill Enjoying a resurgence in popularity after the 2012 box office hit starring Daniel Radcliffe, and a long-running stage adaptation, the original short novella of The Woman in Black is a classic ghost story and should not be overlooked. Written in the traditional style of a Gothic novel, the plot centers on a small village being haunted by a mysterious spectre, resulting in the death of its children. The young protagonist attempts to discover the truth of the 'woman in black'.

"...I would highly recommend this book... a carefully constructed horror that will leave you wanting more" If you fancy a short but eerie read this October, I would highly recommend this book. Susan Hill’s writing is incredibly atmospheric while maintaining a carefully constructed horror that will leave you wanting more.

The Dry Jane Harper Released last year and winning multiple awards, this book deserves all of the critical praise and reviews. Like some of the books on this list, The Dry is not your stereotypical horror but should definitely be next on your to-read pile.

"This novel kept me up all night..."

Set during a period of severe drought in a small town in the Australian outback, tensions in the small community become unbearable as three members of the Hadler family are found brutally murdered. Police officer Aaron Falk is drawn into the homicide investigation of his childhood best friend and his family, after returning to the town over twenty-one years later. As Falk investigates deeper into the mysterious killings, secrets from his past begin to surface as he questions both himself and the truth of his friend’s crime. Jane Harper’s writing immediately transports the reader into Australia with fluidity and ease, and is an action packed read with secrets and guilt threatening to explode and break the community.

This novel kept me up all night and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. If a novel involving murder, hidden secrets and a killer in plain sight intrigues you, read

The Dry this Halloween.

BBC Books

Neverwhere Neil Gaiman Neverwhere may not be a typical thriller or horror novel, but I would still highly recommend this book to read over the dark autumn months. Published in 2003, it is an urban fantasy that describes the wonders and horrors of London 'Below', a world eerily familiar to our own where monsters, saints, murderers and angels dominate and rule the city beneath the city.

"...his writing effortlessly weaves the story and its characters together in beautiful prose..."

This book clearly illustrates why Neil Gaiman, a Carnegie and Hugo medal winner, is often considered to be one of the best authors of the modern day, withhis writing effortlessly weaving the story and its characters together in beautiful prose.

Despite it not being a typical book to read for Halloween, I would still highly recommend it because the fantastical elements are a perfect way to celebrate the season of the paranormal and all that it stands for.

Dark Places Gillian Flynn Dark Places follows the protagonist Libby Day, after her mother and sisters were murdered in ‘The Satan Sacrifice.’ After miraculously surviving the event, she testified that her brother Ben was the killer. Years later, she is contacted by the Kill Club – a secret society obsessed with notorious crimes in the hope they can prove that her brother is innocent of the crime that he has spent twentyfive years behind bars for. As Libby attempts to discover the truth of that fateful night, she finds herself on the run from a killer once again.

This novel is a must read for fans of fast paced thrillers with many twists and turns; told through a series of flashbacks and multiple narrative perspectives, it is full of suspense and mystery, and a definite must to get you in the spirit for Halloween.

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FILM

Friday 20th October 2017

@redbrickfilm

Review: Blade Runner 2049 Is cinema's quintessential sci-fi dystopia worth returning to 35 years after its 'retirement'?

Patrick Box Film Editor

Last December when the first trailer for Blade Runner 2049 was released I came to the conclusion that what would makeor-break Blade Runner 2049 would be whether it could forge its own identity and escape the shadow of its predecessor. What makes Blade Runner 2049 an unmitigated masterpiece is that it has succeeded wholeheartedly in doing this. The film has managed to do the impossible: serve as an engaging and intelligent follow-up to its predecessor whilst simultaneously taking the world in a unique direction.

Set 30 years after the first Blade Runner, we follow newage Blade Runner KD6-3.7 (Ryan Gosling) a specialised detective tasked with hunting down bio-engineered humans known as replicants. A replicant himself, Officer K’s world is thrown into disarray after a routine encounter on a Protein Farm leads to a potentially worldchanging discovery. As K attempts to solve this long-buried mystery, he unravels a conspiracy centring around the disappearance of former Blade Runner Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford).

"Whereas the first film was about hiding the truth, this film is about dragging it into the light."

For starters, if you’ve seen any of the film’s footage you’ll know it looks incredible.

Whereas Ridley Scott’s original film was rooted in the dark

twisted labyrinth of Los Angeles, rain-stricken and perpetually soaked in darkness, Villeneuve and DP Roger Deakins have taken a sharp left-turn. Yes, the scenes in Los Angeles are still dark and rainy, but the muted half-lit interiors of the original have been swapped for harsh, sterile, fluorescent-bathed buildings. Whereas the first film was about hiding the truth, this film is about dragging it into the light.

Villeneuve and Deakins have taken great pains to expand the world in ways that believably exist alongside the city-scape of the first film. California has given way to bleak protein farms owned by the Wallace corporation: mechanical superstructures jutting out of a barren landscape.

San Diego is now an enormous landfill, where wreckage is stripped in sweat-shops for recyclable starship parts. Most striking of all, Las Vegas has become a futuristic Gomorrah, lain low by nuclear holocaust, with this burnt-orange hellscape being the polar opposite of 2049’s Los Angeles.

Frankly Deakins deserves the highest praise for his work.

Countless times throughout the film I found myself struck dumb by individual shots that could well be hung on the walls of an art gallery. Crucially, these visuals aid the story-telling; they don’t take its place.

As to be expected with a film directed by Denis Villeneuve, plot is of much greater primacy than it was in the original. A sprawling tale of almost biblical proportions drives the movie.

K’s mission imbues the film with a captivating agency that barely falters over its two hour forty-three minute runtime.

When action sequences do come they never feel forced or tacked on. Instead, they are short, sharp, and brutal. Guns are fired, explosions are triggered, Spinners crash but they don’t drag on or

chew up more than a couple of minutes each time. They are simply the inevitable outcomes of K’s journey. If you are being pedantic, certain scenes may drag on a fraction longer than is necessary but nobody could ever accuse the original of being a breezy watch. In fact this emphasis on plot makes 2049, at the very least on first viewing, a much easier and more enjoyable experience than the original.

However, for all this originality, Blade Runner 1982 is required viewing especially as the film enters its third act. Otherwise you will likely feel that you are being left behind.

"A much easier and more enjoyable experience than the original" It is no mean feat that the cast appear in no danger of being overshadowed; the strength of their performances ensures this.

Ryan Gosling gives potentially the best performance of his career as Officer K. Many reviewers have suggested it is just a spin on his standard stoic formula seen in Drive and Only God Forgives. In truth this performance is much more complex. To the world, K plays the role of dutiful appliance for the benefit of his superiors. But to us we see that in his private moments he is desperately human. As K’s investigation unfolds the real tragedy of his life steadily becomes clear to us, culminating in a sequence that only a real robot would not find heart-breaking. Whilst the film is K’s story, Deckard’s highly advertised role cannot be ignored. Without spoiling anything, what 2049 does is manage

to make Deckard much more of an engaging presence than he ever was in the original. Ford gives a performance that is much more complicated than we had any right to suspect.

The rest of the performances are excellent: Ana de Armas easily gives the most ambiguous performance of the film and I dare not say more. Sylvia Hoeks is excellent as ice-queen replicant Luv, starting cold and collected but seething with murderous fury as she dogs K’s trail.

Dave Bautista has somewhat constricted screen-time but sells every second of it whilst Robin Wright, as chief of the LAPD and K's handler, is a welcome presence. Her relationship with K is fascinating. She affords him some bemused affection, but to her he is an appliance, a hyperlethal vector to point at a target.

The only actor who may cause consternation is Jared Leto as Replicant constructor Niander Wallace. Whilst featured heavily in promotional material his role is surprisingly sparing. His empty postulating and rabid scene-chewing will definitely cause some eyes to role but I found his performance in keeping with the character: a man who believes wholeheartedly in his own genius and grandeur that he is blind to the fact the world is already moving on without him.

"Ana de Armas as Joi easily gives the most ambiguous performance of the film" But does Blade Runner 2049 have anything interesting to say?

Its predecessor dealt with themes and ideas around humanity previously never explored in cine-

ma. Luckily 2049 avoids comparisons by focusing on tangential concepts rather than just copying the first film. K knows he is artificial so the question is not whether he is human or replicant, it is whether he can find a way to view himself as more than an appliance. He spends much of his life alone, dreaming that he is important in someway to someone somewhere. This loneliness sits at the heart of Blade Runner 2049, with multiple characters enduring both chosen and forced isolation. It is a credit to returning scriptwriter Hampton Fletcher that he has managed to make lightning strike twice. However, to me, the film’s primary theme is spelled out early on: K contemplates whether only things that are born have a soul. The film’s unpacking of this is much more complicated than a simple yes or a no. I would not expect anything less from a Blade Runner sequel.

VERDICT: Comparisons with the original are counterproductive. This film is a different beast entirely, and successful because of it. Villeneuve, Fancher, and Deakins have created an instant masterpiece with some of the best visuals committed to film to date, an emphasis on story-telling, brilliant performances from the newer castmembers, and a commitment to ideas that expand upon rather than reiterate the original. It is impossible to say whether it has surpassed the first (for some it will, for some it will not), but it has effortlessly matched it.

Regardless, I doubt there will be a better film this year.

«««««

FILM

Friday 20th October 2017

@redbrickfilm

21

Review: Goodbye Christopher Robin

Review: Victoria and Abdul

Film Editor Emillie Gallagher is disappointed by this deconstruction of Winnie the Pooh's origin

Phoebe Christofi Film Critic

tionship with someone- not necessarily in the romantic sense.

Enter Abdul Karim (Ali Fazal).

"Petticoats, politics and pompous propriety"

Emillie Gallagher Film Editor

The stories of Christopher Robin and his childhood friend Winniethe-Pooh have held a place in my heart for as long as I can remember. Growing up with the tales of Pooh’s adventures in the Hundred Acre Wood, I am not ashamed to say that I was actually pretty excited about seeing the movie of the beloved character’s creation. I booked a train home and took my mum for an evening out, feeling it was only right to share the reminiscent experience with her.

In the unlikely event that you are unaware of the story of Winnie-the-Pooh I will fill you in now: Pooh is the teddy bear, and best friend of the young boy Christopher Robin and together, they spend their days in the Hundred Acre Wood eating honey, climbing trees, and playing Poohsticks, simply a harmless and charming childhood tale (quite the contrast to Goodbye Christopher Robin).

"Cleverly switching between the two realities, the film portrays Milne’s ongoing turmoil" The film begins by transporting us to the world of World War One England. Switching between scenes of A.A Milne (Domhnall Gleeson), or ‘Blue’ to his friends, surviving open fire in the trenches of 1916 France, and Milne and his beautiful wife Daphne (Margot Robbie) attending the glamorous parties of the upper class post-war London, the film follows the life of the infamous author. Cleverly switching between the two realities the film portrays Milne’s ongoing turmoil as, despite being one of few to escape the trenches, we see that it is not as easy for him to escape his memories as he is

transported back at the pop of a champagne cork.

Milne is not shy in stating his distaste at the way in which the world is seemingly moving on, unchanged, after the events of the war and he quite dramatically states "I’ve had enough of making people laugh, I want to make them see." After this declaration, we see Milne, Daphne, their son Christopher Robin (or ‘Billy Moon’ as he is called by his family) and the Mary Poppins-esque nanny, ‘Nou’ (who seems to do a better job of parenting Billy than his mother and father combined) abandon their lives in London and up sticks to settle in an idyllic country home in East Sussex, where Milne plans to write a story to inspire a nation.

"He, quite dramatically, states 'I've had enough of making people laugh, I want to make them see'" It is at about this point that the film becomes the uplifting tale that I was initially expecting. After Daphne, Billy’s undeniably glamourous but seemingly cold and detached mother, makes a stand, abandoning the pair and returning to the more fitting environment of life in London, the relationship between father and son flourishes. When Milne, struck with writer’s block, suggests a walk in the woods, the pair finally bond over playing cricket, improving their woodwork skills, and playing out the stories of Billy’s stuffed animals in the ‘hundredacre paradise’. Here was everything I had hoped for, the warm familiarity of the image of Milne looking over his shoulder at his son, wandering aimlessly through the sun-bathed forest, dragging his golden bear behind him. I would have loved nothing more than for the next image to have been that of the closing credits. But alas, this was not

the case. Instead the film went from the uplifting tale of a young boy playing in the woods with his father to a story that was gloomier that a tail-less Eeyore.

As the success of Milne’s story of Winnie-the-Pooh sky-rockets, we see the tragic effects that a life of fame caused for 6-yearold Billy Moon as he is paraded around like a "show pony" and later bullied into a deep desire to become essentially invisible.

"The film went from the uplifting tale of a young boy to a story that was gloomier that a tail-less Eeyore" The film was, in places, the charming tale I had hoped for.

The scenes of dimple-faced Christopher (Will Tilston) playing in the sun-soaked woods with his father, blowing up big red balloons and dropping twigs over an old wooden bridge were pretty much exactly what I wanted to see of the life of the real Christopher Robin. But there was a lot more to the story than these happy moments, as the film exposed the truth of Billy Moon’s essentially heartbreaking life. As the story took these darker turns I was left feeling rather disappointed, and maybe even mildly crushed.

All in all, the film caused an array of emotions. Starting slow, reaching an uplifting peak, and then plummeting into a dark abyss of misery. The tale, I would argue, is not at all a celebration of Winnie-the-Pooh but is instead an example of the disappointment of reality.

VERDICT: If I had to say what I took away from this cinematic experience, it is this: if you like your kids, don’t write a book about them, and if you like Winnie-the-Pooh, don’t watch this movie.

They rule the world and they rule our screens. It is not uncommon to have a film about a monarch every few years. It has become such a trend that to not have one would seem wrong.

Since the success of The King's Speech and The Iron Lady, the demand for films in any way related to royalty has sky-rocketed (£10 on DreamWorks releasing a Corgi film in the next 5 years...) That the focus of these films has been exclusively pre-Elizabeth II (Helen Mirren’s portrayal of the Queen aside) is surprising when you consider the wealth of possible storylines.

Kate Middleton is pregnant, Prince Harry is dating an actress, the Queen will be ruling until she’s two hundred, and yet the world currently seems obsessed with a monarch who ruled over one hundred years ago: Her Majesty, Queen Victoria.

The Victorian ruler has had

"The world currently seems obsessed with a monarch who ruled over one hundred years ago" her fair share of film portrayals, documentaries and books devoted to various periods of her life (as many monarchs do), yet she seems to be a constant fascination to professionals in the industry.

Hollywood and Britain’s leading ladies seem to be jumping at the chance to undertake the challenge of petticoats, politics and pompous propriety. So it comes as no surprise that in 2017 there are even more adaptations of her life.

Thank the Lord for Judi Dench. She is not unfamiliar with the role having already portrayed her in the 1997 production of Mrs Brown. In 2017, she has endeavoured to portray a slightly more unconventional perception of the monarch, adding perhaps one of the most interesting perspectives on the ruler’s life. Victoria and Abdul is the tale of the Queen in her last years who is unknowingly craving the spark of a close rela-

Meeting the Queen in the strangest manner, it is perhaps the most accurate representation of the height of British rule in India: Karim is brought from India to Britain to present the monarch with a single coin, catching the Queen's eye. With Abdul’s influence, the Queen has the desire to learn and understand the colonies she rules.

From there her fascination of the commoner blooms to a bond so strong as to challenge the affection of her children, disrupting normative conventions in the royal family.

In terms of British theatre and film, Dench is considered an absolute queen, so it comes as no surprise that she absolutely slays the role of Queen Victoria – yet again.

"Judi Dench absolutely slays the role of Queen Victoria - yet again" Furthermore, Fazal has nowhere near as much on-screen experience as Dench, yet the chemistry between the pair, despite their origins and age differences, was beautiful to watch.

Allowing an insight into the Queen's later years, this lighthearted portrayal of foreign relations, internal threats, and cultural acknowledgement makes it evident as to why the film has been so popular. In more turbulent times the film could be seen as a device to restore faith in the good ol’ monarchy but as that’s not really necessary at the moment it serves better as an admittedly over sympathetic documentation of common prejudices between the two powers, not often explored on film to date.

VERDICT: As far as period dramas go, this one is exquisite.

The chemistry on screen between the main actors was intriguing and the witty, cheeky comments passed between the pair were adorable. A good time all round!

22

MUSIC

Friday 20th October 2017

@redbrickmusic

Live Review: Dua Lipa Ben Johns Music Critic @ben_johns

Females in pop have always had a hard ride to the top: despite legions of Instagram followers, hoards of loyal fans on Twitter, and nods of critical respect, something in the formula prevents certain artists from fully breaking through into the pop stratosphere. Dua Lipa was the epitome of this: her rise to fame has been slow, with a couple of hits allowing her career to bubble away enough to put it in public consciousness but without the heights that are often strived for by burgeoning performers.

This summer, however, saw her single ‘New Rules’ become the first solo female-led number one since Adele’s ‘Hello’ in 2015 and has made Dua the name on everybody’s Lip(a)s, as evidenced by the 'sold-out' crowd at the Birmingham stop on her ‘Self-Titled Tour,’ at the O2 Academy.

Emerging from a beam of

light, Dua made the stage her very own heaven as she opened her set with 2016 single ‘Hotter Than Hell.’ She jumped around and encouraged the crowd to do the same, getting energy flowing around the venue. It was then time to showcase her collaborations as she mashed up album track ‘Dreams’ with her feature chorus from Sean Paul’s ‘No Lie,’: a mix followed closely by ‘Lost In Your Light,’, her funky duet with Miguel.

"Emerging from a beam of light, Dua made the stage her very own heaven as she opened with 'Hotter Than Hell'" The ironically titled ‘Last Dance’ gave Dua the opportunity to float about the stage,

which raised interesting questions about her dancing ability.

Although choreography does not seem to be a part of the Dua Lipa brand, some lessons in how to ‘switch it up’ whilst onstage would certainly not go amiss. With a set list that showcased the majority of her album’s best moments, it was disappointing not to have heard standouts such as ‘Bad Together’ or the sombre ‘Room For 2,’ both of which were substituted for the lacklustre ‘Garden,’ which received the most subdued audience reaction of the whole night.

Once the synths of ‘Blow Your Mind (Mwah)’ were heard, however, the crowd was once again captivated by Dua’s ability to deploy a catchy chorus. After the sparkling high of this song, it was time to take the show down a notch with stripped down versions of the acoustic guitar-driven ‘Thinkin’ Bout You’ and the dark ‘New Love.’ Although a lot of attention is given to Dua Lipa’s looks and aesthetic, the minimalism of these two songs,

particularly in the way they were performed, shows that she also has the pipes to be a credible popstar.

"Saturday's show proved to any potential naysayers that there is a reason for the Dua Lipa hype" ‘IDGAF,’ a song "for all the fuckboys who have done you wrong," generated a strong reaction, with an audience participation aspect of putting a middle finger in the air obeyed by essentially everybody in the venue. The haunting strings of ‘Scared To Be Lonely,’ her duet with superstar DJ Martin Garrix, signalled the end of her main set and was another highlight.

The saying ‘save the best for last’ could not be more appropriate when it came to

the encore: ‘Homesick,’ a piano ballad penned with the help of Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, offered Dua another chance to showcase her husky voice. It then transitioned into ‘Be The One,’ one of her highest charting singles and a clear crowd favourite, before the set ended with the song that everybody had been waiting for: Dua Lipa’s astronomical summer hit ‘New Rules.’ The performance itself did not disappoint, however the simplistic staging seemed rather counterintuitive and, as cliché as this sounds, even a confetti cannon for the climax of her number one single would have finished the concert with more of a bang.

With only one album under her belt, this performance feltslightly rushed. Saturday’s show did however prove to any potential naysayers that there is a reason for the Dua Lipa hype. The future looks bright for Dua Lipa and, if given some more time to hone her craft, there is no reason why she can't be the next big British popstar.

Straight Outta Love Island and into The Charts...

But is Chris and Kem's attempt at grime 100% our type on paper?

Anna Wise & Rosie Osborne Music Critics

Unless you have been under a rock for the last fortnight, you will know that the nation’s favourite ITV2 boys Chris and Kem are Straight Outta Love Island with some fresh new bars. ‘Little Bit Leave It,’ which began life as an awkward 8-bar concocted on the show itself, has unsurprisingly been released as the pair’s debut single. Pitched as a grime tune, it is influenced by the likes of Stormzy (an avid fan of Love Island who floated the idea of a collaberation on Twitter once

the show had finished), and was produced by Pro Green and Z Dot. With a list of names this promising attached, the single looked like it had the potential to be up there with the big tracks in the game - on paper...

The crucial question though: is it doing bits? National Treasure Chris unfortunately lets the duo down on this single by failing to bring the heat - perhaps now we can see why he is a self-proclaimed ‘polar bear.’ Evidently not blessed with the same natural rhythm as Kem, his contribution often sounds awkward and forced, bringing down the track’s overall appeal and, crucially, making it a bit #muggy. Lyrically his

bars are unconvincing, with copout rhymes such as ‘nut in the mouth like cashews’ and ‘man like Cash Hughes’ - his fictional son from the Island. Perhaps his upbringing on the farm puts him at a disadvantage in terms of delivering the gritty, urban style we expect on a grime song.

Anyone who listens to the song will instantly notice the beat’s resemblance to countless grime artists, such as Stormzy, Skepta and Lethal Bizzle. The duo have recently agreed to pay Bizzle a cut of the song’s earnings after he complained that the phrase ‘leave it’ was lifted from his 2012 single ‘Leave It Yeah.’ Obviously, all of this seriously undermines Chris and Kem’s originality, and reminds us that the boys are really only riding off the talent of their mentors.

In spite of its many flaws, we

would like to give credit where credit is due. The clear front runner on this track, Kem, surprised us with his rhythmic flare and heavy tone, fitting their desired genre. The lyric ‘Balenciaga / Your head’s looking dead I think you need a new barber’ plays on Kem’s past as a hairdresser for celebrity clientele, and rolls off the tongue effortlessly - even for those whose comfort zone is singing along to ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ on the top floor at Fab N Fresh. An undeniably catchy hook, ‘Little Bit Leave It’ has certainly been stuck in our heads since its release.

The thing we cannot agree on is when the best time is to bust out this banger... Rosie suggests that if

you are nervous that your pres are going to be dead, you can drop a bit of Chris and Kem when the first guests arrive, then stand back and watch as things get a little bit Live-O. Alternatively, Anna suggests when you hit the bottom floor of the gym ('the testostezone') and start working the 50kg bar on the nearest squat rack, pressing play on ‘Little Bit Leave It’ can give you the strength to complete those last ten reps.

Whilst Stormzy’s advice to the pair was to "drop 'Little Bit Leave It’ and then ghost," we think we will be hearing a lot more from this duo - and even if they do turn out to be one-hit wonders, at least we will have the memories.

MUSIC

Friday 20th October 2017

@redbrickmusic

23

Album Review: Liam Gallagher - As You Were John James Film Editor

As You Were marks Liam Gallagher’s first project since Beady Eye (a band let down by their name as much as their music), and his first ever release as a bona fide solo artist. Whereas Noel Gallagher spent his time post-Oasis loitering in the public eye by appearing on any chat show he could and releasing a couple of average albums, Liam slipped off the radar after Beady Eye’s disintegration four years ago. Back for 2017, and seemingly desperate to upstage Noel’s third solo effort (due out in November), Liam has spent the year building anticipation through sporadic festival appearances and a series of inflammatory tweets.

There is a lot for Oasis fans to like on this album because it knows its limits and unashamedly plays to its strengths. On ‘Wall of Glass,’ the closest the album gets to the exhilarating intimacy of Oasis’s early efforts, juddering drums and an intensely raw harmonica riff combine phenomenally with Liam’s vocal bravado - making lyrics like ‘You believe in fascinations / And designer vaccinations’ sound almost prophetic. The rock n’ roll vibes continue on the anthemic crawler ‘Come Back To Me,’ where Liam croons, to wondrous effect, over a sprawling piano loop and some nifty guitar

solos. On the soaring standout ‘When I’m in Need’ an understated Liam breezes through airy lyrics like ‘She’s so purple haze, you know what I mean / I’m counting the days till she’s mine,’ before a dreamy instrumental carries the song in multiple intriguing directions.

"There is a lot for Oasis fans on this album... it knows its limits and unashamedly plays to its strengths" Following Beady Eye’s efforts, the lyrical competence of the album comes as a shock. This is ironically owed in part to its artist's shortcomings: like many classical heroes, Liam has a tragic flaw, namely that he struggles to write songs (as anyone who’s heard ‘Songbird’ will testify). Refusing to be cowed by his limits, the everhumble Gallagher rationalized that he would only ever class himself as "a rock n’ roll singer who writes the odd tune now and again," adding that "I can’t write those big songs. I’m limited. My verses are up there, but I just can’t do that next bit." For that ‘next bit’ Liam sought out Greg Kurstin (the producer who co-wrote Adele’s

‘Hello’), whose influence is prominent on many of the album’s more personal notes. On emotional burners like ‘I’ve All I Need’ and ‘Paper Crown,’ Liam truly excels at displaying a vulnerability not heard on any of his records before - helped I suspect by the ghostwritten element of the tracks, which would mean that he is not really opening up at all.

Liam’s eccentric personality makes Kurstin’s job relatively easy, with most songs on the album consciously written from the perspective of the posturing king of rock n’ roll returning to his scene.

Nowhere is this more evident than on ‘You Better Run,’ Gallagher’s snarling critique of the industry that bubbles with attitude and indignation. The album’s attitude towards Noel is surprisingly ambiguous, fluctuating between the antagonistic affirmation of ‘I Never Wanna Be Like You,' where Liam asserts ‘If they only knew / What I've uncovered, they'd be swerving you;' and the borderlinesympathetic. On ‘For What It’s Worth,’ the album’s best ballad, Liam laments his various mistakes and cryptically alludes to a brotherly bond still intact despite all the trouble: ‘You know I’d give you blood if it’d be enough.’ While powerful, the track sits at odds with an album that is defiantly unapologetic, making it little more than an expressive and emotional plea for forgiveness that Gallagher does not really mean. Still, I am

quibbling: after all, the album gives a better summary of their relationship then when he called Noel a "potato" on Twitter.

This is not a perfect album but Liam’s blasé attitude to any form of artistic pretence (above his trademark assertion that everything he touches is golden) renders most criticism void. This is an album for

big guitars, big drums and cool f***ing vocals, and as far as Liam Gallagher is concerned he is still the master - because who else’s opinion matters? ‘ave it mate.

««««

Greatest Hits: Letty Gardner Music Critic Letty Gardner creates her own Greatest Hits album, talking us through 5 songs that have defined her life Song From The Summer Holidays: Rodriguez - 'Sugar Man' Rodriguez’s dusty, crackled, sun-drenched guitar and classic voice singing on the ‘lonely dusty road’ is undoubtedly the sound of my summer holidays.

Road trips around too-hot places on dusty motorways, heat waves, swimming pools and sand, are all encapsulated by this. The soundtrack to hit 2012 music documentary Searching for Sugar Man uncovered an album that sounded to me like an unheard classic. The entire Cold Fact record is worth a listen, but this opening track is pure sunshine.

Song From My Childhood: Devendra Banhart - 'Little Yellow Spider' There are only a few songs that I can place from my childhood, with ‘Little Yellow Spider’ standing out as one I always return to. Devendra Banhart’s album Nino Rojo came out in 2004, and it has been playing in my house ever since. This song has a nursery-rhyme feel to it, with its emphasised characters and storyteller lyrics not making a lot of sense: ‘Hey there, Mr. Happy Squid, you move so psychedelically / You hypnotize with your magic dance all the animals in the sea / For sure.’ Banhart has released four albums since, all with varying success and varying styles, yet Nino Rojo and 2005 release Cripple Crow are both full of tracks that I remember growing up with. These are the songs that first made me listen to the words being spoken, because of how bizarre they were and because of the eccentric style that Banhart sings with.

Song For The Open Road:

Song For The Teenage First Song I Remember Years:

Song To Dance To:

Jamie xx - 'Gosh'

hearing: Cherry Glazerr - 'Teenage Girl' The Police - Roxanne

On first hearing this track, I was won over by how it conveyed a narrative and a journey to me without the need for lyrics or your classic song structure. Of course this is nothing new, especially in dance music, but for me this genre had never struck me so much as it did when I first listened to ‘Gosh.’

Jamie xx’s In Colour album was on repeat for my whole 2015, and a lot of memories particularly accompany this opening track: winding roads, setting suns... you know the vibe. Drive to it. Drive to the whole album.

The bubblegum-pink tunes of Cherry Glazerr’s 2014 album Haxel Princess were listened to constantly throughout my late teens. The LA trio contrast girly, innocent, and often immature lyrics with riff-heavy guitar rock and the cold echoing voice of lead singer Clementine Creevy.

Not so much on this track, but on others like ‘Bloody Bandaid’ and ‘White's Not My Colour This Evening,’ this style is present. I now dread my 20th birthday when I will no longer be able to relate to ‘Teenage Girl,’ but the simplistic track is one that I will never tire of. ‘Milkshakes and cat eyes / Lipstick and french fries / Internalize so much, but so little / Don't make us feel belittled, world’ shows Cherry Glazerr placing their tongue-in-cheek lyrics alongside their harder hitting ones - and whilst the band’s image of the Americanized teenager was one that I could never fully relate to, I will always like to think that I could.

It is impossible for me to place where I first heard this song: it is one of those tracks that I feel has always been playing throughout my life. I simply cannot feel sad when 'Rock & Roll' plays. This song is dancing in the living room with my mum, this song is dancing on my own (unashamedly) and for me it sums up, so simply, the joy of just enjoying music. The Velvet Underground are very much one of my favourite bands for the pure energy that their songs carry and the feel-good, unfussy, effortlessly cool rock n' roll that this song typifies.

The Velvet Underground 'Rock & Roll'

24

TELEVISION

Friday 20th October 2017

@redbricktv

Louis Theroux's Dark States: Heroin Town Louis Theroux visits Huntington, West Virginia, as part of his new series on the 'Dark States', where one in ten babies are born with an addiction to opiates Olli Meek Sport Editor

Louis Theroux's Dark States: Heroin Town, as best it can, takes a balanced approach to the portrayal of a tragic situation. It shows a relationship, allegedly abusive, between a user and a dealer, interviews a heroin addict who is totally content with his life circumstances, and follows the fire chief who responds to many of the 911 calls that report members of the Huntington community overdosing. This is by no means Theroux’s first series on a dark subject matter, but it is arguably one of the most poignant episodes. Camera shots of the documentary’s participants “shooting up”; interviews with members of the community who have been addicted to opium since before they were teenagers; conversations with parents of addicted children who can’t give the interview without breaking down in tears. All of these scenes and topic matters contribute to the gravity of the programme, which breaks new boundries in its focus and reach.

Louis really does go deeper into his investigation than ever

before. One solitary hour is more than enough time for the watcher to come to the moving awareness of the lack of control that there is

"Theroux instead comes across as emotionally invested in the people that he is meeting" over such a societal phenomenon.

It is both a very raw, but also very relatable piece of television, in the sense that there are no bright lights or celebrity stories, but instead many of the citizens involved are very average people, unassuming to the eye, going about their jobs, and expressing the same emotions as you or I. There is nothing Louis can do to stop the users who continue their toxic daily routine in front of his eyes. He even observes the handover of money from the grandparent of one users, intended to go towards a vehicle, that he knows will subsequently contribLouis Theroux 1998

ute to feeding the addiction that costs her hundreds of dollars per day.

His objective presentation of the reality before him gives exposure to the fact that the users they film are human. It puts enough emphasis on elements of government legislation and the quagmire of "big pharma" to ensure that it is not an exercise in asserting blame for the situation that the users find themselves in. In fact, the opening salvo of the show concerns a heroin addict who found opiates as a pain relief method after a car crash, contrary, I am sure, to the popular perception of the path into drug addiction for many people. It would be the easy option for a documentary maker to try and come to a conclusion that judges where the fault lies, however Theroux instead comes across as emotionally invested in the people that he is meeting so much so that assigning responsibility would be condescending and inappropriate. There is no concluding estimation in this manner, but rather a reflection on the tragedy that is unfolding, as addiction rates continue to rise across the USA, and helplessness is the main impression that I was left with. The child we see at the

conclusion of the episode is the newborn son of an opiate addict who has weaned herself onto those drugs thought to be less harmful to children in the womb.

He is helpless to the environment into which he is being born, with such high exposure to substances that ruin lives through just one use. The user living in a tent on the bank of a river who acknowledges, but doesn’t use the help he is offered, reminds us that he was helpless to a drunk driver crashing into him and forcing him onto prescribed medication which led

"Louis Theroux again suceeds in making a documentary that is wide-ranging, insightful and incredibly moving"

from their patrol car he has enough conviction to turn the car around and charge the suspects. The emergency services are helpless in that they are fighting an unwinnable battle on so many fronts.

Considerably outnumbered by those that they are trying to save, the emergency services and help in the area seem unable to cope..

Louis Theroux again succeeds in making a documentary that is wide-ranging, insightful, and incredibly moving, whilst simultaneously feeling very organic as well. His interviews and filmmaking make for compelling viewing, and whilst not a pleasant subject matter to behold, absolutely has me returning to watch the rest of the series. The second episode in the series, Trafficking Sex, is on iPlayer now.

The third episode in the series, Murder in Milwaukee, will be released on Sunday 22nd October. Let us know what you think @redbricktv

to opiate abuse. The policeman who Louis is following is so quick to recognise tell-tale signs of substance abuse that in one glance

Louis Theroux 2003

Louis Theroux 2017

A Gifted Start to Fox’s Latest X-Men Spin Off Roshni Patel Gaming Editor @Roshofalltrades

After many years of mutant films and animated TV series, the mutants are finally starting to get their own live action TV shows, bringing the magic of their mutations to the small screen.

Beginning last year when FOX launched Noah Hawley’s (Fargo) Legion. This year they have attracted Matt Nix (The Good Guys), to make another Marvel Mutant series, which has already surpassed Legion’s initial viewer numbers, opening with over 3 million more US viewers than Legion did. With seasoned X-Men director Bryan Singer directing the premiere and executive producing the rest, the premiere certainly did have some of the same film magic.

Set after the X-Men have vanished and Mutant regulation has

increased, the series focuses on a typical suburban family, the Struckers. Well they would be typical, except the bread winner, Reed Strucker (Stephen Moyer, True Blood), prosecutes mutants at work, while his children carry the X-gene at home.

While the show jumps straight into the action, when we meet Clarice Fong aka Blink (Jamie Chung, Once Upon a Time) in the first five minutes, the show really kicks off when the Strucker’s youngest son, Andy (Percy Hynes White, Night At The Museum 3) triggers the X-gene leaving destruction in his wake, beginning the plot of the show. That is when we see Reed and Caitlin

Strucker (Amy Acker, Person of Interest) as more than parents, as they are now having to deal with their conflicting views, because while they have both supported increased regulations and persecution of mutantkind, their own children are mutants, now subject to the same horrors they had allowed to be done to others.

And no one is more conflicted than Reed, who is now having to find safe harbour for his family with the very people he has been helping to imprison.

Despite the many characters, human and mutant, the spotlight did remain mostly on the Struckers, with appropriate deviations to other mutants such as

Blink, Marcos Diaz (Sean Teale, Reign), Lorna Dane aka Polaris (Emma Dumont, Aquarius) and John Proudstar aka Thunderbird (Blair Redford, The Lying Game), ensuring the viewer was never overwhelmed by characters and plot lines. Meanwhile, the story follows the usual angle, where scared humans hunt mutantkind forcing them either to fight back or run. The Gifted currently falls into the latter with all mutantkind fighting for survival, with no mercy or clemency available for those with a triggered x-gene.

While there is no clear single villain besides the authorities, it is still early days and there is no telling who might step out of the shadows in a smartly dressed suit with motives to kill or experiment on mutants. Character development wise, so far Blink and Lauren Strucker (Natalie Alyn Lind, The Goldbergs) have the most personality, with their story and struggles told best.

Starting strong, The Gifted is set for a ten episode run, with another season likely to be ordered if they can maintain the viewing figures of their premiere. With the Sentinel Services bearing down hard on the family, it will be interesting to see how Reed will continue to keep his family safe and how Acker’s character develops into the strong female character we know she is capable of playing. Considering both children are mutants, it is clear someone was a carrier; could the stress of evading capture trigger one of the adults? And finally, will Stan Lee cameo again? Frankly, two seconds of silent cameo is not enough for the co-creator of such a large universe.

The next episode of The Gifted will air on Monday 23rd October. Let us know what you think @redbricktv

TELEVISION

Friday 20th October 2017

@redbricktv

25

Review: Broad City

TV Writer Lucy Durkin expresses her love for the critically acclaimed web series Broad City Lucy Durkin TV Writer

As the name would suggest, this diverse and inclusive show centres around the lives of two unique women, Abbi & Ilana. Written by its stars, Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Wexler, it proudly shows the melting pot that is New York in all its colourful and brash glory, truly doing its name justice. I know that it is not grammatically correct to write Abbi & Ilana, but it seems wrong somehow to not have their names as close as possible on paper given their full-frontal friendship. Their bond definitely helps to argue the case that best friends can be soulmates.

Broad City follows the trials and tribulations of Abbi & Ilana, two broke twenty-somethings struggling to make it in the big city. Sound cliché? It is anything

but. Broad City is not only unreservedly hilarious, brash and wacky, it is also sincere and heartfelt and offers insightful opinions on everything from politics (they bleep Trump’s name in season four and include one of the most bizarre cameos ever on TV by Hilary Clinton last season) and intersectional feminism, to the best place to hide your weed when smuggling it on long-distance flights. The show is never tired and is always original in its content – no episode is boring as the two heroines, Abbi & Ilana are the furthest thing from dull. Both are vibrant and genuinely funny without coming across as trying too hard or overly-scripted. Yes, they are an odd-couple pairing, but their dynamic is never stale; although they are very different from one another, they accept one another without the formulaic resentment so loved by TV shows.

You really believe their friendship as they support each other unquestioningly whilst maintaining their own personality. They really are a mismatched pair who make you sincerely believe in their unbounding friendship and love for one another. Also rarely for a show centred around women, you don’t favour one over the other and they never have to compete for the best line as the writers give both women equal footing.

The most recent episode allowed for the show to push one of the few boundaries it has left, animation! A lot of times when TV shows branch out beyond their usual format it doesn’t work (I’m

looking at you Scrubs season nine and Archer season six), but, despite my initial nervousness, it did. Although known for its everchanging colourful and often bizarre opening title sequence, the hallucinogenic mushrooms that the girls are tripping on created the perfect opportunity to explore the unique animation style that has become a core part of Broad City’s image. I was very hesitant during the first animated sequence as I was worried it was going to be too much and take away from the main reason I love the show so much – Abbi & Ilana.

The clever use of illustrations did not distract from the story and definitely added anoth-

er dimension (pun intended) to the storytelling. You really did feel as if you were joining your favourite pair on their trip around the city (cue groaning at another great pun). The animations were colourful and, as always with Broad City, super smart and categorically funny.

It is the attention to detail within the show that demonstrates just how much effort and care the creators/writers/stars Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer put in to the show, and we are all rewarded from it. Their special blend of humour, wit, wackiness and pure love of people produces a show that is hilarious whilst being genuine – something that is very rare these days. Broad City is heartwarming, outrageous and truly and utterly funny. I implore you all to watch it.

Once Upon Again!

Gaming Editor Roshni Patel offers us a glimpse into the new series of Once Upon a Time Roshni Patel Gaming Editor @Roshofalltrades

It is autumn and once again, the beginning of yet another series of Once Upon A Time. I know, shocking. After the brilliant finale moment, where everyone got their happy endings and were about to begin living happily ever after, writers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz just had to add in that little scene to remind you that they did indeed get renewed for another season. And while the finale did also feature that out of place scene where adult Henry Mill’s (Andrew J. West, Greek) curse took effect, the penultimate

scene of the finale wrapped up all the Storybrooke ending so well, this new series feels unwarranted.

Regardless, when Netflix updated and featured the latest episode, I diligently watched it, in the hopes it would prove me wrong. But alas, I was expectedly disappointed, and the first episode, with various character and plot tweaks, echoed the series premiere hauntingly. Once again, we meet an adult who does not believe, confronted by their own child, who is linked back to an evil grand-mother figure, and the rest of the plot is clichéd history.

So, as you may have guessed, Henry fell for Cinderella (Dania Ramirez, Heroes), and her evil

step-mother, Victoria Belfry (Gabrielle Anwar, The Tudors), currently seems like the one awake causing terror, while all our remaining favourites are trapped beneath a new curse. In a new neighbourhood, where Regina (Lana Parrilla, 24) is now Roni; a barkeeper, Captain Hook (Colin O’Donoghue, The Rite) is now officer Rogers; a beat cop and Rumpelstiltskin (Robert Carlyle, Trainspotting) is now Detective Weaver; a dark detective, who is just as evil and scheming as before. Combined with a host of new characters, such as evil step-daughter Drizella (Adelaide Kane, Reign) and kooky and cunning Alice (Rose

Reynolds, Poldark), the new cast attempts to bring intrigue into the old. But after the final battle, anything after feels like ABC desperately trying to hold on to viewers who could be better entertained elsewhere, a fact they clearly know as they relegated the show from Sunday evening primetime to the TV graveyard slot of Friday nights.

Heralded as a soft reboot to the series, the show attempts to rekindle the magic of the first episode of the series, but with last season’s numbers dropping below five million, is there any hope for the show now? And though the story may have moved from Maine to Seattle, many of the

series regulars, such as Emma (Jennifer Morrison, House), Snow (Ginnifer Goodwin, Law and Order), Charming (Josh Dallas, Thor) and Belle (Emilie de Ravin, Roswell), did not, opting to leave the show entirely and tentatively committing to make the odd guest appearance if necessary. For diehard fans this is heart-breaking, as we know this’ll mean the end of Captain Swan (As O’Donoghue stayed on but Morrison was the first to leave), but we’ll probably stay to see where this goes, all the while fearing that once again Kitsis and Horowitz will butcher some Disney stories in order to keep the show alive for a little longer.

Mitchell and Webb Are Back

Matt Marks TV Writer

The dynamic duo are back in Back. I was so excited. Peep Show remains one of my favourite television comedies and my expectations for this new series were huge. I really wanted to write a glowing report and implore you to go and watch it but I can’t.

I have to admit I was a little disappointed. They have tried something quite different and I do not think it has worked. If you are looking for the traditional Mitchell and Webb dynamic or any of those awkward but real moments that made Peep Show what it was, then you will be disappointed.

The premise of Back is actually rather complicated. It starts just as failed lawyer, Stephen

Nichols’ (David Mitchell) father, a publican, has died. Andrew Donnelly (Robert Webb), a foster sibling of Stephen and successful international businessman, has come back to pay his respects and visit the family that gave him the happiest time of his childhood. As Andrew ingratiates himself with his old family, Stephen feels increasingly isolated and at risk of losing his family and his father’s pub.

There is some interesting use of flashbacks to provide the viewer with some insight into Nichols and Donnelly’s experiences in childhood. It is also interesting to see how the children of the flashbacks make appearances in the present towards the end of the series to highlight both brothers' immaturity.

I am not sure you could call Back a comedy, it is more of a drama or thriller with comedic elements. Obviously humour is a central theme but the plot takes precedence and I personally do not watch comedies for engaging plot lines. There are some

very funny moments such as the dog hostage rescue which ends with Uncle Geoff (Geoffrey McGivern) beating the would-be kidnapper with a baseball bat and Ellen Nichols (Louise Brealey)

"I am not sure you could call Back a comedy, it is more of a drama or thriller with comedic elements" tripping on acid. There are also plenty of Mitchell and Webbesque awkward moments that I think defines their comedic style.

The biggest problem with Back is that David Mitchell and Robert Webb are comedians and not classic actors, in all of their series they only play themselves. David Mitchell is always the unpopular depressive that gets pushed around,

and Robert Webb is always the confident people person that takes advantage. Expecting anything more from them is probably unfair, but it makes it hard not to compare their different series closely and I think it falls short.

Having said all of that, the series is not all that bad, it is just not what I was hoping they would produce. I would not recommend you go out of your way to watch it, but if you have a spare half an hour give it a go; you may enjoy it.

The whole series is currently available on All 4 and the final episode was left with enough unanswered questions that I anticipate a second series will be commissioned.

Hopefully, like so many excellent televisions series, the first series is often a disappointment, classic comedy series like Minder are a good example of this. I really do want to like Back, but it just is not for me right now, perhaps it will be when it comes back.

Tell us what you think of this new series @redbricktv

GAMING

26

Friday 20th October 2017

@redbrickgames

Gems For Under £10 Top 5 Classics

Top 5 Current

3. Tomb Raider CEX: £4 preowned on Xbox 360/ PS3 Combining a cinematic presentation and solid third-person shooting with excellent climbing mechanics, Tomb Raider is a game that both the hard-core and casual gamers can enjoy.

Reimagining a classic franchise is never easy, but the folks at Crystal Dynamics simultaneously managed to satiate nostalgia and create a fantastic game that is still worth a playthrough.

2. Super Mario Galaxy CEX: £10 preowned on Nintendo Wii

5. Project Cars Various sellers on Amazon: from £9.99 preowned on Xbox One/ PS4 Racing games are a divisive genre; many dismiss them as dull and repetitive. But for those who do enjoy whiling away the hours, burning rubber on virtual tarmac, Project Cars offers an affordable opportunity to do so.

It must be noted that this game is dedicated to being a hard-core racing simulator, so those looking for cart-racers or a Need for Speedstyle game should look elsewhere. Any who do enjoy a purer racing experience, however, will be treated to a refreshing alternative to the Gran Tourismo and Forza series.

This wonderful and unique presentation style makes traversing across the multiple worlds and galaxies a complete joy, and as with any Mario game (well, almost any) the tight controls Number of words 4. Far Cry 3 ensure that over ten years later this page's CEX: £5 preowned onin Xbox 360/ the first game has aged fantastiPS3 headlinecally.

If you cannot wait for the Want a current-gen experience upcoming release of Super Mario 4. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided on a previous generation con- Odyssey and are desperate to Various sellers on Amazon: from sole? Look no further than Far play an inventive 3D Mario £8.75 new on PS4/Xbox One Cry 3. game, then either of the two Set on a beautiful desert Super Mario Galaxy games are Mankind Divided, a follow up to island full of crazed pirates and definitely for you. the similarly excellent Human mercenaries, Far Cry 3 charges Revolution, puts the player in the player with methodically 1. Fallout 3 the shoes of Adam Jensen; a taking down these new found GAME: £4.99 preowned on Xbox cyborg super-agent trapped in enemies by completing a number 360 the middle of a complicated conof base invasions, tower ascents, spiracy involving corporations, and story missions. This may A modern Classic for under £10? government agencies and sosound repetitive, but the quality Surely not? Well, multiple retail- called terrorists. It is a fascinatof the core gameplay and accom- ers stock the post-apocalyptic ing narrative which is enhanced panying gear-modification sys- RPG at below that magical by the game's emphasis on playtem is so high that these tasks number; its excellent follow-up er choice - both the deciremain rewarding throughout the Fallout: New Vegas is even sions that affect the go inof thesaid corner of nearly 40 hours of content. cheaper (£4 from CEX). Sure,Captions direction narbe Indeed, it is a formula that was Fallout 4 is already entering this pictures rativeand andshouldn't the style so successful they released the price-range (£10 new on GAME), of play adopted. next instalment, Far Cry 4, with but when the annuals of gaming Even from only a few minor additions just history are reviewed and amend- this incredibly two years later; a fact which, ed in the decades to come, almost brief description when coupled with a graphical all of the praise will be adorned it is not hard to package that utilised all of the on Fallout 3’s achievements, see why Deus Ex processing power available on rather than its disappointing suc- is a series that has the previous generation con- cessor. always been the soles, means that you need not darling of a small feel left out if you do not have portion of the game any new hardware. press. Unfortunately, it has still never achieved the mainstream sales numbers it has deserved. This is why, less than a year after its release, it can be bought for as little as £8.75.

6

Square Enix

3. Dishonored 2 Amazon: £9.49 new on PS4 and Xbox One Dishonored 2 is similar in many ways to Mankind Divided.

Dishonored is also a critically acclaimed first-person actionadventure game which emphasises its strong narrative and player-agency. Where it differs is in its setting. Set in a world

driven by steam-punk, rather than the highly advanced technology found in the former, and in its more simplistic-progression system - Deus Ex is to all intents and purposes a much deeper RPG. Instead, Dishonored opens up player choice through making both run n’ gun and stealth options effective, creating an almost unrivalled recipe for replayability in the genre.

2. Sunset Overdrive Amazon: £6.99 new on Xbox One Sunset Overdrive is perhaps the most chronically underrated and undersold title on this list. A kooky-marketing campaign obscured a brilliant and original game, that to this day remains one of the most impressive Xbox One exclusives.

Due to its originality, describing it concisely is a challenge; essentially, Insomniac took their almost masterful take on third person combat and mixed it with a brilliant concoction of Tony Hawk’s Pro-Skater and Saints Row. It is a cliché, but the result is pure unadulterated fun.

1. Doom GAME: £9.99 new on PS4/Xbox One The folks at id Software achieved something remarkable with Doom (2016).

They managed to successfully reimagine a classicfranchise and breathe a breath of fresh air into an FPS genre which was until recently full of derivative, unimaginative cash cows.

Of all the clever design-choices made during its development, it is the sheer speed at which you are forced to play the game that elevates it into the realms of greatness. Monsters swarm at you from all directions, leaving the player trying desperately to scramble up platforms and fire at the onrushing horde. Couple this with an intense heavy metal soundtrack and you have got one of the best games of the current generation.

Images from: Bandai Namco, Square Enix

5

2K

When any gamer thinks of ‘event games’ - those which captivate the gaming zeitgeist to the point where it seems like everyone is playing them - the Gears of War Franchise is often one of the first to spring to mind. Having popularised third-person cover-based shooting in both single and multiplayer, it also provided a surprisingly emotional narrative.

The series holds a special place in people’s hearts - so much so that Microsoft are still relying on it to prop up what is otherwise a rather flimsy list of current-gen exclusives. Any of the first three games are worth picking up and playing. However, perhaps unsurprisingly due to Epic Games’ iterative improvements, the third feels the least dated to modern tastes.

are ten games available to buy online for under £10, all of which are physical copies, as digital prices fluctuate too wildly for this list to have any longevity.

Bioshock Infinite: Comstock

4

Sega

5. Gears of War 3 GAME: £6.90 new on Xbox 360

seems rather insignificant. For this reason, many student gamers resist the temptation to expand their library. However, this article will show that financial insecurity need not prevent you from enjoying the finest of pastimes. So here

Sonic: Dr. Eggman

3

2K

Going back to university is expensive. The monetarily lethal com-

bination of the first rent payment, social events and overpriced ‘core-texts’, soon whittles away the first student loan instalment, and suddenly the money saved from toiling away in part-time jobs over the summer months

Borderlands: Handsome Jack

2

Rocksteady

Gaming Critic @georgehopkins25

Best Villains

Batman Arkham City: Joker

1

Valve

George Hopkins

Redbrick's Top 5

Portal: GLaDOS

GAMING

Friday 20th October 2017

27

@redbrickgames

The Swastika Controversy – A Missed Opportunity Gaming Critic

When the first trailers for Call of Duty: WWII were released, and again later when the first multiplayer beta went live, Activision found themselves embroiled in the centre of a large debate over the importance of historical accuracy, inclusivity, and the use of Nazi imagery in video games.

To summarise the controversy: the exclusion of the Swastika, its replacement with the Iron Cross, and the presence of playable black, female Wehrmacht soldiers in the multiplayer, drew criticism from a large portion of the gaming community on grounds of historical realism and censorship. On the other-hand, others welcomed (or were indifferent to) the respective omissions and inclusions, questioning whether an argument on the basis of ‘historical accuracy’ was valid in a game series notorious for its ‘Nazi Zombies’ mode; a game mode returning in this Call of Duty instalment.

However, in the heat of an accuracy vs. inclusivity argument, I believe people have missed a crucial point. The issue is not one of historical accuracy or inclusivity - it is not even one of censorship and historical tampering. This is an issue of art.

One key reason for the change to the Iron Cross in CoD: WWII was that Germany has strict laws on Nazi imagery (though Swastikas are still present in the single player campaign), and this could potentially exclude German players from the multiplayer.

Sections 86 and 86a of the German Criminal Code criminalises the ‘Dissemination of propa-

ganda material of-’ and the ‘use of symbols of-’ all ‘unconstitutional organizations’. As one might imagine, these sections of the German Criminal Code primarily concern Nazi symbolism and imagery, and were included in the law as part of post-war denazification. There are, however, exceptions for the purposes of ‘art or science, research or teaching’.

Instead of becoming a pariah for their tweaks, Activision has missed a golden opportunity to unite all gamers, regardless of their political views, by fighting the ‘good fight’ to set the legal precedent for video games as an art form. Thus far, no company

Activision

Zak Barlow

has challenged these laws by going after artistic exemption, because, for many of them, it is a not worth the effort of going through a law suit.

Activision has the resources to fight what would be a cut-and-dry case. It is an easy win, especially for the lawyers that they could afford. Video games can, and often do, encompass all aspects of the human condition. In video games, we find moments of joy, despair, love, heartbreak, and excitement – just as much as any painting, theatre performance, poem or film.

Furthermore, it could be argued that a video game is more immersive with the inherent ability to interact with the medium – an attribute that no other art can boast.

Such a law suit would not only stop the need for the censorship of CoD: WWII, for the sake of players in Germany, it would decisively allow all video games to be legally recognised as art.

Activision’s lack of a law suit is, therefore, a tragic disservice to the industry.

Why Is There A Double Standard For Games?

Emma Kent looks into 3 reasons why video games cause so many 'moral panics' Emma Kent Gaming Editor @GoneEFK

Last week, I was foolish enough to agree to see the horror film IT with friends at the cinema. In the very first scene, I witnessed a child's arm being bitten off, and the poor kid being dragged into a drain and eaten by a satanic clown.

A few days later, having reflected on (and recovered from) watching IT, I wondered why films, books and other media forms seem to get away with adult themes in a way video games simply cannot. While GTA games are routinely criticised for being too violent, Quentin Tarantino’s films are praised as ‘genius’ for their brutality and bloodshed. Spurred on by this discrepancy I decided to investigate this phenomenon and found 3 main reasons to explain why video games cause controversy and moral panics so frequently.

Curse of new media forms Did your parents often tell you to put down your game controller and pick up a book? If you had grown up in 18th century England, you might have got into trouble for reading too much as well. In the 18th century ‘novel reading panic’, many adults were concerned that romance books would ‘corrupt’ the minds of the next generation. This is part of a historical trend of moral panics occurring whenever a new media form

becomes popular and is misunderstood by older generations. Since then, rock music, ‘slasher’ films, and even role-playing games have all been blamed for spreading bad morals among young people.

The current victims of this trend are video games and social media. Both of which are being blamed for various ill effects on the youth of today.

This is a generational issue; with older adults five and a half times more likely to believe that video games cause violence than the young (YouGov).

While it would seem that video games are yet to escape this historical moral panic cycle, this does bode well for the future, when older generations will be made up of people who played video games in their youth.

With greater understanding of the media form, video games should be less subject to hysteria over their impact on the young. Or are there other issues which will mean video games will always be more controversial than films and books?

Games are interactive Perhaps the biggest reason for the abundance of moral panics surrounding video games is because they are an ‘interactive’ media form, rather than a ‘passive’ activity such as watching a film. Instead

of merely watching a scene depicting violence, you are the one pressing the button to end someone’s life in-game. In this sense, you are an active participant in the digital violence. This has also become more of an issue in recent years as video games have become more ‘realistic’, with huge improvements in graphics and the increased popularity of the firstperson shooter game genre. This is why you will notice that most complaints surrounding video games are based on their interactive nature, and that they ‘reward and encourage bad behaviour’.

As video games will always be interactive, this line of criticism is unlikely to ever fully go away.

Games are supposed to be 'fun' To add to the interactivity problem, video games are ‘trivialising by nature’. In other words, because games are supposed to be a playful activity, society deems certain topics inappropriate to put in video games. You might have noticed, for instance, that there are no children in the GTA games, and that the children in Skyrim are immortal (no matter how annoying they are, you cannot hurt them). This is because society finds killing children to be too serious an issue to put in video games, not only

because games are interactive and realistic, but because there are limits to what can be deemed ‘playful’. Again, this is an issue that will stick around for video games, as the ‘act of play’ is an integral part of gaming.

Despite this, there is a possibility in the future that more serious topics will become acceptable in video games. We are already beginning to see this in games such as The Witcher III: Wild Hunt, which frequently includes serious topics like war crimes and child death, and has gained praise for doing so. If society starts considering games as more than just light entertainment, we could see a reduction in moral panics around video games.

Predictions for the future So, to round up, video games may become less controversial in the future as they become a more accepted medium in society. The interactive element of games, however, means that they will probably always be criticised more frequently than films and books. It will also take some time for society to accept that games are able to explore serious topics.

So, buckle in and expect there to be more complaints about video games for the next few decades.

At least, when we are old, our generation will not be so scared of them.

Images from: CD Projekt RED

In Game Events To Look Out For This Halloween Roshni Patel Gaming Editor @Roshofalltrades

It is that time of year again, when Starbucks breaks out the Pumpkin Spiced Lattes and we crack open the face paint for our scariest costumes to wear to Broad Street's spookiest nights out.

These days however, the festivities are not limited to outside of your room, with many popular online games hosting in-game Halloween events.

Here are some of the most popular ones this October.

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Willard Wyler’s Halloween Scream Dates: Now - November 1 Gears of War 4 Pumpkin Heads, Phantom Dodgeball and more Dates: October 27 November League of Legends The Harrowing Dates: Now - October 31 Overwatch Halloween Terror Dates: Now - November 2 Heroes of the Storm Hallow’s End Dates: Now - November 14 World of Warcraft Hallow’s End Dates: Now - November 1 Hearthstone Halloween Events Dates: Now - November Pokemon Go Halloween Events Dates: October Rocket League Haunted Hallows Dates: Now - November 6 Minecraft Halloween Spooktacular Dates: Now - October 31 Paragon Shadow’s Eve Dates: Now - November 1 Guild Wars 2 The Shadow of the Mad King Dates: Now - November Clash of Clans Halloween Obstacles Dates: Now - November

Images from: Entertainment

Blizzard

28

FOOD&DRINK

Friday 20th October 2017

@redbrickfood

Review: Jamie Oliver's Five Ingredients Cookbook

Emma Chambers Food&Drink Editor

Using just five cleverly combined ingredients, you can conjure up the most exciting food; from a one-pan fish dish to tenderlamb shoulder. Making good food with simple ingredients has never been so easy, every recipe in the book uses just five key ingredients, which is good for those on a student budget, whilst at the same time allowing us students to create a plate of food fast.

I believe that this book has not only taught me how easy it is to cook, but it has also taught me how to cook. I now feel that I can start to make my own recipes and know what spices compliment each other.

"Take the stress out of mealtime with Jamie's most straightforward book yet".

I like the design of the book, each double page spread has pictures of the ingredients and the method on one page, and a full picture of the finished dish on the next. I think this is really beneficial as it gives a clear idea of what the end result looks like.

Here is an all time favourite of mine from Jamie's Book: cavolo nero pasta.

Ingredients: 1 large leek 6 cloves of garlic 2 large handfuls of cavolo nero 100ml olive oil

Egg Week Cracked

Food&Drink Editor Emma Chambers cooks eggs five ways Eggs are an all-natural source of high quality protein containing a variety of other nutrients, all for 70 calories per egg. Cost-effective and versatile, the unique nutritional composition of eggs is a cupboard essential for us students.

Cooking oil

"One egg has varying amounts of 13 essential vitamins and minerals plus 6 grams of high quality protein"

Cook the broccoli in boiling water for 3 mins or until just tender. Drain in a colander and rinse in cold water until cold. Drain.

Heat the oil in a medium non-stick frying pan. Beat the eggs with seasoning.

Add the broccoli to the pan and sauté for 2 minutes. Pour over the eggs and cook for 3-4 minutes or until the base has set.

Scatter the salmon and dill over the frittata and cook under a hot grill for 2 minutes or until the top has set. Cut into wedges and serve with salad.

What would we do without the egg? It's a dietry mainstray, not only for breakfast, but for lunch, dinner and even sweet or savory dishes.

100g parmesan cheese

Method: Chop the leek and peel the garlic. Put a large pan of salted water on to boil, then drop in the leek and garlic cloves. Cook for 3 minutes, then add your cavolo nero. Cook for another 3 to 3½ minutes. Using tongs, move the veg to a liquidiser. Add your oil and liquidise until you’ve got a vivid green purée, the same consistency as double cream. Have a taste, season with sea salt and black pepper, then put aside.

Bring the water back to boil and cook the pasta.

Drain and return the pasta to the pan, add the sauce and allow it to simmer for 30 seconds.

As it comes back to the boil, remove from the heat and finely grate in the Parmesan. Be quick, so your pasta doesn’t overcook.

Now enjoy!

3 large eggs Smoked salmon Dill

3.

Method:

5.

Spanish Sausage Eggs

Repeat with the second slice.

To serve, cut the bread in half and top with the mixed berries, yogurt and honey.

45ml/ 3 tbsp vegetable oil

4.

350g/12oz cooked new potatoes, sliced

Egg in a Hole

1 thick slice of wholemeal bread

French Toast

1 chopped tomato 25g cucumber, chopped

1.

Eggy Soldiers

You cannot beat this childhood treat. Simply add two eggs then cook over low heat, 4 to 5 minutes; drain. Slice off the tops and season with salt and pepper. Serve with toast strips.

Smoked Salmon and Broccoli Fritatta

Broccoli

2 tbsp clear honey

½ red pepper, deseeded and chopped

2 slices wholemeal bread

25g feta cheese, crumbled

Spray oil

A squeeze of lemon

75g mixed berries

Pinch of dried mint (optional)

Method:

Greek yogurt (full fat or low fat) A drizzle of honey

Method: In a shallow bowl, beat the eggs with the honey. Add one of the slices of bread and turn it so that it soaks up the egg.

Heat a non-stick frying pan and add a spray of oil. Lift the slice of bread out of the egg and add to pan, cook for 2 minutes.

Use a spatula to turn over the bread and cook for a further 2 minutes and transfer to a plate.

1 large red onion, sliced

75g/3oz chorizo sausage, sliced 6 large eggs

Method:

1 large egg

3 large eggs

2.

50g dried pasta

steam it creates will set the egg on top.

Meanwhile, in a bowl mix the tomato, cucumber, pepper and feta together with the lemon and mint (if using) with a little ground black pepper.

Use a spatula to lift the egg filled toast onto a plate with the circle of bread and scatter over the feta mix. Serve straight away.

Heat a non-stick frying pan.

Toast the bread on one side in the hot pan. Transfer to a clean board and use a round cutter to press out a circle of bread - save to serve.

Tip: cut round a glass if you don’t have a cutter.

Return the bread to the pan toasted side up, then carefully crack an egg into the hole and cook over a medium heat for 2 minutes or until the egg has set.

Cover the pan with a lid or upturned plate. If the egg isn’t quite cooked after this time, the

Heat the oil in a frying pan, add the onion and fry for 2 minutes. Add the potato and chorizo; fry for 3 minutes or until golden.

Beat the eggs with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Pour the eggs into the pan; cook without stirring until most of the egg has set (about 6 minutes).

Pop under a hot grill for 2 minutes until the top is set and golden.

Cut into wedges and serve warm or cold.

This is best served incredibly hot with a salad or crusty bread and can make a great sharing dish with friends when you use a big pan.

White Chocolate & Raspberry Cake Caitlin Dickinson Food&Drink Editor

With recent Bake Off vibes on television, and cake week recently being celebrated, it provided the perfect excuse to have a cake theme this week!

In the interests of making a cake when I came to uni, I soon realised how unprepared I was.

Without a cake tin, baking powder or sugar, when I wanted to make a cake I fell before the first hurdle.

But, through clubbing our limited funds together with my flatmates and using what we had, baking turned out to be a fun and inexpensive experience.

To save money, I still to this day have never bought a cake tin.

This may seem strange when you intend on baking, but when you, and your flatmates most likely have about a million baking trays - in a million sizes - who needs a cake tin? Use what you already have! However, if you intend on

becoming the next Mary Berry in the kitchen, then you will be able to find a cheap cake tin from a home store.

My guilty pleasure of the eclectic mix of cakes out there has got to be raspberry and white chocolate. This resembles the one you will have tried at Costa on campus (if you happen to always crave a cake when you grab a coffee like me), and most likely want more.

Ingredients:

200g butter, chopped into cubes and at room temperature

100g white chocolate, broken up 4 large eggs 200g caster sugar

Icing sugar to dust

200g self-raising flour

Preheat the oven to 180C. Line and grease the tray thoroughly. If you do not have grease proof paper, just use butter to rub

175g raspberries, frozen are cheapest

Method:

on the tray so it does not stick.

Put the butter and chocolate in a heatproof mixing bowl, set over a pan of simmering water and allow to melt slowly. If you are impatient a microwave will work, but the results are not as good.

When the butter and chocolate have melted, remove from the heat and allow to cool for 1 minute.

Then beat in the eggs, one by one, and sugar with an electric whisk. Fold in flour and raspberries softly.

Pour the mixture into tins and bake for 20-25min (until golden brown). Insert a skewer into the centre and it should come out clean.

Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack.

Let the cake cool, then sprinkle the icing sugar on top through a sieve, this will give a clean looking finish.

FOOD&DRINK

Friday 20th October 2017

@redbrickfood

Review: Pieminister

Review:

Food&Drink Editor Caitlin Dickinson suggests Pieminister for comfort food Admittedly, I have been to another Pieminister before visiting the Birmingham franchise. I was predicting the same menu, same interior, same experience per se.

However, what I did get was much more than this.

"Witty names paired with mouth-watering fillings" I was surprised to discover that the young, trendy fast food pie shop had a menu make over which introduced pies such as the ‘Mexicow’ and ‘Feta Attraction’.

The witty names, paired with mouth-watering fillings enhanced the predominately beef based menu. This renovation of the menu definitely has improved the experience of Pieminister for me, especially with the increased selection of pies.

Situated on Waterloo Street, near Victoria Square, Pieminister

blends into the built up exterior of Birmingham.

Once inside the restaurant, there is a stripped back interior that is completely by a neo-industrial steel frame work which booths and tables are situated inside. The quirky interior of the restaurant gives it an indie vibe, with neon lights and complimentary dull hanging lanterns mustering up a relaxed atmosphere to dine in. I ordered a ‘Matador’ classic pie (£6.00), which had British beef steak, chorizo, olive and butter bean as the filling.

The well cooked hearty chunks of beef, in a rich meaty sauce was incredibly warming and melted in

my mouth. This was given a Spanish twist with the slices of chorizo in the pie sauce, they enhanced the meatiness and gave salty undertones of paprika that spiced up the dish.

The only disappointing aspect to my dish was that the promised ‘olive’ was either non-existent or so miniscule that I could not find it in my pie.

I would expect the olive would pair deliciously well with the chorizo, but unfortunately it was not apparent to me.

"Renovation of the menu has improved the experience of Pieminister"

The mash was lovely and smooth with a rich buttery flavour. You could change your side to have minted peas, slaw (which I nearly got) or smoked baked beans. There was so many options suitable for vegans and vegetarians, and a chance to exchange food to suit your palate.

Pieminister is a brilliant place to eat out with friends. The low prices and large portions would suit any eater, and a university student budget!

I would definitely recommend Pieminister to anyone looking to cure a craving for a home comfort- pie, mash and gravy.

Accompanying my dish was gravy and mash (£2.50). The gravy was not suitable for vegetarians or vegans, but this could be exchanged for a meat-free version when you order you pie (as the gravy is included).

Digbeth's Autumn Market

Food&Drink Editor Phoebe Radford checks out Digbeth Markets Birmingham Seasonal Markets host four markets a year with each passing season. It is a one day urban festival with street traders and DJ's. The Autumn market was held 30th September at The Bond in Digbeth, and was a lovely celebration of local food, drink, and arts and crafts.

If you do not know where Digbeth is, it is siutated about ten minutes away from the Bullring and has some of the quirkiest independent eateries, shops, art galleries, and music venues.

The Bond is perfect for an event like this, with a large covered courtyard where most of the

food and drink was set up. In

typical quirky Digbeth-style, the drinks were being served from bars in a converted double decker bus and a converted caravan.

I opted for a caravan cocktail called the ‘Digbeth Garden’, which was a very refreshing blend of elderflower liqueur, vodka, apple juice, lime, and tonic water.

It was a lovely combination of sweet and bitter with the vodka and lime juice- they complimented each other perfectly.

" From Buddha Belly's divine Thai Curries to Habanero's tacos... there was lots of choice " The food stalls were under the covered courtyard, with many of Birmingham’s best loved street food vendors present.

From Buddha Belly’s divine Thai curries to Habanero’s tacos to the Flying Cow’s award winning burgers, there was a lot of choice.

After much deliberation, I

chose the English Indian’s spiced twist on fish and chips.

The flavour combinations work so well, particularly the minty mushy peas with the spicy chips. It came in a small paper tray which added to the rustic, festival style of eating.

The courtyard backs onto the canals, and had the weather been better, it would have been lovely to sit by the water. But unfortunately the weather prevented us from doing so!

It was, however, very rainy, but fortunately the cover of the courtyard proved adequate shelter.

The arts and crafts and artisan food stalls were indoors, which proved a welcome relief from the dreary weather. Highlights from the local food stalls included bakeries, with loaves of freshly baked bread and many variations of brownie, including a very tempting jammy dodger brownie. What makes this more special is that there was so many options for vegans and vegetarians, not just plain boring food, but an eclectic mix of mains and dessert.

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There were also locally produced preserves and sauces, many Of which were available to try.

The arts and crafts stalls had all sorts on offer, from posters and paintings, jewellery and clothing, and chopping boards made from salvaged wood.

"There were so many options for vegans and vegetarians, not just plain boring food, but an eclectic mix of mains and dessert" My favourite was a stall selling prints and jewellery of custard creams, perfect for a biscuit lover.

They were all at a reasonable price, what is not to love?

Birmingham’s seasonal markets will be back at the Bond on 2nd December, with their Winter Market.

Nosh Student Cookbook Lucy Durkin Food&Drink Writer

Last year I was in catered halls, so the thing I was most worried about in second year was not the influx of readings and essays, it was the fact that I actually had to be a proper person and feed myself.

Ahh! My track record of cooking is embarrassing: this past summer alone, I managed to both burn and undercook rice (yes, the same pot of rice), nearly lose a finger chopping an onion and somehow I managed to set spaghetti on fire.

Needless to say, my housemates were apprehensive about the idea of me cooking every night, especially given that seven of us share one oven.

"I have been using the ‘Nosh: For Students’ cookbook in an attempt to try not to give myself food poisoning – and it has worked! " So, in order to calm everyone down (but most especially my mum), I have been using the ‘Nosh: For Students’ cookbook in an attempt to try not to give myself food poisoning – and it has worked! Well, so far at least, but we’re only a month in.

Every night I follow the really simple step-by-step recipes and I’m still alive, haven’t set the house on fire and, even if I do say so myself, am pretty darn impressed with my cooking. On every page there is a clear indicator of the difficulty level of the recipe (I’m yet to go above a 3 and the scale only goes to 5), as well as how much it costs per person, how many it serves and how long it takes to make. The book is full of cheap but tasty recipes with informative pictures that show you what the end result should look like.

I love the variety it offers: for instance, last week I had pork noodle stir-fry, Mediterranean chicken and spinach and feta frittata.

I would highly recommend this cookbook because it offers realistic recipes for us students that are actually yummy and cheap. It also has a handy section entitled ‘How long can I keep this before it kills me?’ which is a definite must for any student.

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TRAVEL

Friday 20th October 2017

@redbricktravel

Travel Diary: Nigeria Molly Sutton Travel Writer

For most students, I doubt Nigeria makes the top 5 on their bucket list, and I was no different. However, after spending 12 weeks in Igangan, a rural community in Osun State, where I volunteered with Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) on an International Citizen Service (ICS) placement, my opinion has changed. It’s no Camp America or ‘lads holiday’, but ICS is perfect for students as its government-funded initiatives send volunteers to various destinations to complete international development projects.

Despite international volunteering often receiving bad press, ICS programmes are requested by charities that exist within the communities, and you are therefore guaranteed a worthwhile placement. After fundraising just £800, all costs were reimbursed which meant I received many vaccinations ‘for free’ which will cover me for future travel. ICS alsomakes a real difference to volunteers by emphasising personal development, so if you’re looking for golden CV material

and a unique cultural experience, then ICS is for you.

On day 5 of the 75 day trip, we arrived in Igangan, our new home for the next 3 months! We were met by the community welcoming us with native music and dance as they paraded us through the streets. As I was staying in host homes with local families and a Nigerian ‘counterpart’ volunteer from Abuja, we spent the evening settling in to our living arrangements. Staying with a host family was a unique experience, as there seems no greater way to immerse yourself in a culture than this. My host-home adventure was one of the most challenging yet rewarding parts of my travels and helped me to get a sense of what it was like to live in such a place. My top tips for living with locals is to offer to help with everything, try their way of doing even simple tasks such as washing dishes, and don't forget to find some time to relax by yourself.

Myself and two Nigerian volunteers, Bashir and Adaeze, took four CCSVs (Community Citizen Service Volunteers) on a field trip to a national catfish farm. Previous volunteers had set up a catfish farm in Ilosi, one of the five com-

appreciate just how significant ‘voluntourism’ can be. There’s no way to challenge these views, laws and traditions if nobody is ever encouraged, or given the space to engage in a dialogue and challenge their perceived norm.

At long last I experienced my short-term dream of carrying water on my head. Yes, it was the same size as the 5-year old girls and was barely enough for my own shower that morning but we called it the ‘training bucket’ and it was very exciting.

munities we worked in. We took members from local communities (Oke-Agbede, Ilsoi and Igangan), to teach them how to run successful farms. In hindsight, this day was crucial as by the time we left, 4/5 of our communities had functioning, profitable farms that they knew how to care for.

During the third week, I missed my dad’s 50 th , my sister’s graduation and my own birthday. Luckily my project allowed me to have some contact with home, but this didn’t prevent it being a hard week. Talking to home, confining in the people around me and staying busy proved the best way to keep motivated when you're feeling homesick. If you ever find yourself in this scenario, remind yourself of where you are, what you’re doing and think of what you’d be doing if you were at home. I took 8 birthday cards with me so I could open them on the day and it makes such a difference when you're far from home.

On the international ‘Nelson Mandela Day’ we went to Olopon - the fifth community we worked in - to educate the locals on who Mandela was, and how they could apply his influence in their own lives. This was an incredible success as the attendees asked insightful questions of how they themselves could become leader figures in the community. One young individual in particular showed inspiring motivation that really

impressed myself and my fellow volunteers.

The young farmers, a group of middle-high school students, hosted an agricultural fair which featured produce from all five communities, most significantly from the demo farm they run independently. It was great to see children as young as 6 selling the products they had grown. They also performed a cultural dance and drama for the visiting community members. Another amazing moment of the day was the first catfish sale from our original farm in Ilosi. This was the first successful batch and it was so satisfying to see Victor profit from the business he works so hard on.

Despite being terrible at digging, I helped to forge the holes for the corners of Victors new snail farm in the Ilosi community.

It was much easier to machete slice the bamboo into strips to be nailed to the corner pillars as walls.

On day 9, the CCSVs set themselves a new long-term project: fixing the holes of Igangan Middle-High School roof and by day 64 we finally fixed the roof.

We were all so excited to see this project completed, despite many complications and disheartening turn of events, we left the community with new, rain-proof classrooms for the students to thrive in.

On my last day in Igangan. I visited our neighbour’s cocoa farm which was incredible. It was completely different to how I’d ever imagined it would be, but then again, who has ever imagined the farm your chocolate bar originated from. He showed me how he plants, harvests and cares for his produce. As our project aim was to increase the livelihoods of those lower down the cocoa value chain, today was crucial in understanding the importance of where we were, what we were doing and how it made a difference. It was the perfect end to an extraordinary adventure.

One of the most insightful cultural experiences I had in Nigeria was when we discussed our conflicting perspectives on the rights to freedom of sexuality, comparing viewpoints from the UK and Nigeria. In Nigeria, homosexuality warrants 14 years in prison- that’s more than child abuse or rape. The significance of religion in Nigeria compared to the secular acceptance of the UK was startling and really made me

Best of Britain: Lake District Helen Locke

Travel Writer

Earlier this year, the Lake District became a World Heritage Site, deemed to have “outstanding international importance” - a well deserved title. When you explore the Lakes you will be sure to uncover amazing hidden spaces and surprising local history.

Enjoy tantalizing glimpses of misty fells while shopping and eating out in Keswick. Then kayak around the nearest lake, Derwentwater and you will be surrounded by the magnificent scenery, littered with fir-trees used in iconic shots of Star Wars X-wing fighters in The Force Awakens. Shooting also happened locally for 2016’s charming

Swallows and Amazons remake.

The Helvellyn mountain offers a diverse terrain, especially that of Striding Edge; a precarious, steep-sided ridge of angular rock.

Research and prepare thoroughly as there is a high death toll here - summer is probably the safest time to go. Don’t follow the historic example of Charles Gough, a Romantic artist who perished

here, survived by his dog, Foxie.

She remained near to Gough’s bones and was honoured with a Wordsworth poem although some dramatic souls created the unlikely suggestion that she ate her master’s corpse for survival.. Part of Wordsworth’s heartfelt poem, ‘Fidelity’, is engraved near the 3117ft summit.

I couldn’t write about the Lakes without mentioning Buttermere. This secluded lake is pure, unspoilt beauty. Hidden streams tumble down, feeding the vast waters. Access is difficult, and requires a drive along high winding roads, but for those who love the outdoors, the silence of this lake is worthwhile for its great calming effect.

My Advice Accommodation: Keswick, Helvellyn and Buttermere all have YHA youth hostels.

Getting There: Birmingham-Keswick National Express coach journeys cost around £50 with a Young Person’s National Express Coachcard.

TRAVEL

Friday 20th October 2017

@redbricktravel

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Insight Into: Cambodia Ida Thagesen Travel Writer

Before last summer, I only knew a few facts about Cambodia.

It is a country located in South East Asia, it is known for the temple complex Angkor Wat and someone called Pol Pot was the leader of a horrifying genocide in the 70’s.

Four months ago, I felt stuck with meaningless reading in my second year of political science.

Was I ever going to do something that was actually useful? I decided to go and volunteer for a human rights organisation for two months in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh. I was immensely nervous; I had no idea where I was going.

But I found during my time in Cambodia that while there were negatives, there was a much brighter side, drawn from the people I met.

The Darker Side 24 dollars. That’s the amount of money the tuk tuk driver wants for a ride to “Onederz”, our hotel.

I have been based in the Cambodian capitol, Phnom Penh, for a few weeks by now - so I know 24 dollars is hugely overpriced. I’m on my way on a weekend trip to the Cambodian province, Shianoukville. Its 9.30 pm.

My five companions and I have just been left at a gas station in the middle of nowhere. The minivan has dumped us in the wrong place and sped off. While we negotiate a fair price for a ride to our actual destination, we realise that the drivers work together. They trick tourists into paying an extortionate amount for a tuk tuk after being dropped to the wrong location. So we walk away. This is a typical situation in Cambodia.

18.6 per cent of the population are considered poor, and have less than 1,25 dollar per day.

Corruption has become an integrated part of the Cambodian system and is to be found everywhere in everyday life.

We are now 200 metres away

from the gas station. We have found another tuk tuk driver and we don’t even try to negotiate with him - we are just relived that the does not try to trick us. He offers a ride to “Onederz” for 6 dollar and we accept.

Sitting in the tuk tuk I’m taken back to my first day in Phnom Penh. A thousand new impressions had hit me: Scooters driving around in chaotic streets, often with a whole family gathered on one. No traffic rules being

"The streets of Phnom Penh had shown themselves to be full of life." enforced and the air filled with smoke. Children smiling and playing with bare feet. Street markets with fresh meat, living fish, unfamiliar fruits and insects. People bargaining, yelling “lady lady” after Western looking people, who are always over charged. Buddhist monks dressed in orange, walking peacefully around in the loud, smelly streets with umbrellas to protect them against the baking sun. The streets of Phnom Penh had shown themselves to be full of life.

I felt uncuncomfortable entering this new world. I had repeated these sentences to myself: Stay away from the police.

Never give kids money or food (if begging becomes a way of survival their parents have no incen-

tive to send them to school). Look out for the rats. Cover your shoulders and knees in respect for the culture and tradition of the country. Remember some key phrases; ‘Arkoun tom tom’ means (literally translated) ‘thanks big big’.

But now, sitting the tuk tuk on my way to Onederz, my first meeting with this new world feels far away and I am no longer anxious. Why not? I finally feel comfortable in this whole new world.

The Brighter Side Peter works for ‘The Idea’, a marketing firm. Peter is not a Cambodian name, I sceptically point out the first time I meet him.

He laughs and assures me that he really is Cambodian. This is the first time I meet someone Cambodian who speaks English perfectly. I have come to interview him during The Baitong Festival, a festival seeking to promote a green lifestyle.

‘Survival, not society’ is one of Peter’s main points. He argues that survival is the only focus for most Cambodians. It is the consequence of the system that Cambodians are suppressed by. I see Peter’s words manifest everywhere I look: I can recognise them in the dirty streets of Phnom Penh where there is more rubbish than actual road, and more rats than bins. I can recognise them from the iced coffees I buy which contain more plastic around than food inside. I can recognise them from my bike trips around town

– the air is so polluted that I might come home with a smoker’s lungs.

"Survival, not society...the consequence of the system that Cambodians are suppressed by."

Peter is just like you and me.

He prefers starting the day with a cup of coffee, he is always busy; he loves skating, and is very active on Facebook. He tells me how important it is that he has time to reflect upon the day that is about to meet him, and that he appreciates everything he has, even though the battle for a better Cambodia sometime feels hopeless. He is quite sure that he can change his country for the better.

remembered to give me every sixth coffee for free when I forgot my stamp card. Who gave me extra green iced tea for free and turned on the AC where I was sitting.There was the man who offered me a chair and shelter from the heavy rain. There were all the kids who smiled and waved when I walked by, and there was my colleague, Sambo, who drove me home when I worked until after dark.

The most important lesson I was taught in Cambodia is that the people there are wonderful – even though they are suppressed by an unfair, corrupt system. I learned a lot during my two months in Phnom Penh, which you can only truly understand if you go there yourself. Therefore, I fully agreed with Peter when he said: “Ida, tell your people to come visit Cambodia. We have hugs, smiles and love to give.”

I also became friends with a local tuk tuk driver, and another driver who lived in front of my NGO-office wished me a good morning every day. A third tuk tuk driver - despite obviously being very poor – offered me free tuk tuk rides during my lunch break.

There was the young man from my favourite coffee shop, who always remembered which coffee I wanted, who did not hand the coffee over the counter, but came out with it. Who called me ‘miss’ instead of yelling ‘lady lady’, and

How to: Survive a Year Abroad Matt Dawson

Travel Writer

It is coming to that time of year where many second years (and perhaps some first years) are considering applying for a Year Abroad. As someone who has just finished, my advice is to definitely go for it; so here are some useful tips to survive.

Finances – While some would suggest opening a bank account abroad, my experience is that it depends on the period of stay.

While it may be advantageous if you will be in the same country for the whole year, if you are just there for the semester, it may just be an unnecessary amount of paperwork. As a way around this, I found the Revolut app to be a lifesaver.

An internet startup recommended bymoneysavingexpert. com, the company sends you a free pre-paid Mastercard that you can top up with any currency, and you can then use the card to pay for whatever you need as well as withdraw up to £200 from local ATMs, all using the inter-bank exchange rate.

Accommodation – Another worry may be your living situation. Again, depending on the length of stay and the country itself, the uni may be able to provide some help on this matter.

However, I found accommodation normally ends up in one of three types: a hall of residence, a flat share or staying with a host family.

After my experience with the first two, I preferred sharing a flat as French halls are nothing like the ones in the UK. Although it can be less stressful to organise living arrangements before you arrive, sometimes that does not work out, so you may have to be prepared to stay in a hostel for a few days while you go flat-hunting – just consider it part of the adventure!

"You may have to be prepared to stay in a hostel for a few days while you go flathunting - just consider it part of the adventure!"

Although it can be less stressful to organise living arrangements before you arrive, sometimes that does not work out, so you may have to be prepared to stay in a hostel for a few days while you go flat-hunting – just consider it part of the adventure!

Socialising – For me, this was one of the most difficult things at the beginning of the year: moving to a foreign country not knowing anybody. Even if you are introverted, you should try to make an effort in the first few weeks where there are a bunch of new arrivals (think Freshers’, just international!) – normally there are a variety of events for exchange students organised by the local ESN (Erasmus Student Network) or an equivalent, and even things like “language cafés” can be great to meet people outside the context of university. If you come faceto-face with the language barrier, embrace it! I found that while it may be difficult at first, the locals are generally quite welcoming as soon as they here a foreign accent, with any rudeness generally being the minority.

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LIFE&STYLE

Friday 20th October 2017

@redbricklife

Cultural Appropriation: Why it Matters Nicole Donaldson explores the damaging effects of cultural appropriation in the run up to Halloween Nicole Donaldson Life&Style writer

We need to talk about cultural appropriation, and it pains me that we need to keep having this conversation. But as Halloween edges closer, I’m already seeing an onslaught of dubious costume ideas casually thrown around on group chats, questionable party themes that I naively thought, had been left behind in the 1950’s.

Apparently not.

Cultural appropriation can be seen as the adoption and use of a culture other than your own. Yet the concept is intrinsically linked with the fourth wave feminist movement, in particular, the idea of racial equality as a fundamental part of the feminist ideology.

Thus, on a wider scale, cultural appropriation encompasses ideas of white privilege and institutionalised racism, with a privileged majority taking aspects of an oppressed minority culture for their own gain, trivialising and stereotyping that culture in the process.

Understanding the definition of cultural appropriation is vital.

It is of paramount importance to truly understand its significance and how it affects society on a deeper level through mass stereotyping and generalisation. For example, in 2013 during Katy Perry’s American Music Award performance of ‘Unconditionally’, she dressed up as a geisha and, by

doing so, reproduced the stereotype of Asian women being ‘passive’ and ‘demure’. This pervasive cultural cliché has had a profound impact upon real Asian women in society, leading to the potential fetishization of the female asian body, which could have very real effects in the workplace.

Furthermore, Perry’s outfit combined the Japanese kimono with the Chinese cheongsam, into one monolithic Asian stereotype, which is yet another issue presented by cultural appropriation and the generalisation of nonwhite cultures into one single ‘other’.

''It is of paramount importance to truly understand its significance'' The widepread issue of 'trivialising' appropriated cultural items is also important to consider.

When an individual appropriates the Native American headdress, or the Hindu Bindi through festival wear for example, the sacred significance of these items is completely disregarded in favour of a predominantly white narrative. It is this type of cultural appropriation which undermines the real racial struggles that people from these backgrounds go

through. Black women who choose to style their hair naturally in traditionally black styles are consistently sent home from work and school worldwide, and discriminated against in a professional environment. But when celebrities who appropriate these type of styles, such as Kylie Jenner’s fashionable appropriation of box braids isn’t met with the same hostility, the issue becomes even clearer.

"Cultural appropriation remains an ambiguous concpt which evades a concrete definition" As white women, Katy Perry can wipe of the makeup from her face and Kylie Jenner can unplait her hair, and they are instantly free from the issues that plague individuals within the BME community. Yet even today in the UK. black people with degrees earn on average 23.1% less than white people with degrees; only 6% of our MPs are from BME communities, and only 5.9% of judges; individuals are twice as likely to be murdered if they are black in

England and Wales; black British women are four times more likely to be detained under mental health legislation than white women, whilst mixed ethnicity women are seven times more likely.

As Amandla Stenberg so aptly said "[don’t] appropriate black features and culture but fail to use your position of power to help black Americans''. In other words, whilst white individuals can take from other cultures with no repercussions, institutional racism continues to run rampant in society, and that is not something which should be actively encouraged.

Cultural appropriation remains an ambiguous concept which evades a concrete definition and a set of definitive rules in terms of what is and isn’t okay.. At a certain point, the lines become difficult to truly discern. It is important to remember that embracing or enjoying aspects of another culture is not inherently wrong, but the line where appreciation ends and appropriation begins is still ill-defined.

If you’re still seriously considering dressing up as [insert cultural stereotype here] this Halloween, then maybe take a minute to reassess. Maybe even take a few. Because, your socalled ‘freedom of speech’, is not, under any circumstances, more important than the sinister implications of white privilege, racial fetishization and cultural stereotyping that accompany your appropriative actions.

How to: Throw the Best Halloween Party As the end of October approaches fast, Life&Style's Ellie Watts gives her top tips for throwing the best Halloween party 1. Costumes

2. Decorations

3. Food & Drink

Dressing up for Halloween is a must. If you are creative and enjoy experimenting with makeup, purchasing a face paint palette may be a great option for you. Year after year, you can use it to transform yourself from zombie to skeleton to any other creation your mind can imagine thanks to the magic of a good face paint palette. If you’re not keen on the idea of getting messy with face paints, buying a cheap pair of ears or horns can help to form a budget-friendly costume.

Halloween costumes don’t have to be scary. Having fun and playing with words to make a comical outfit is also a brilliant option, namely wearing a white top labelled ‘LIFE’ whilst handing out lemons to evoke the famous saying ‘when life gives you lemons'. A fun outfit is the key to feeling confident and making sure you have a great night.

Pumpkins! You just can’t beat them for Halloween decorations.

Not only do they not cost much, but they are also so much fun to carve and they are iconic for Halloween. After carving out a creepy face into the pumpkin, you can pop in a battery operated tealight candle for an added effect when the lights are off.

Another easy way to add decoration is to print out some basic templates of black cats and bats, cut them out and attach them to a window to create a silhouette for approaching party guests to admire. Putting a lamp on in the room that they are displayed in will also help to create a glow and enhance their silhouette at night. Get creative with the silhouettes and see what you can design! Making simple but effective decorations can be so easy and very purse-friendly.

Researching spooky-themed cocktails gives you a plethora of results. You can use orange and blackcurrant juice to produce the vibrant orange or purple-coloured drinks which are so commonly associated with Halloween.

With regards to food on a budget, cookies are brilliant. A couple of Halloween-inspired cookie-cutters can give you a really professional-looking treat, ready to decorate with a simple icing mix to give the effect of an eyeball, or another equally gruesome item.

Most importantly of all, enjoy it! There are so many cost-effective and creative ways to pull off an impressive party atmosphere!

Halloween really is the ideal time for dressing up and trying new things - so go for it!

LIFE&STYLE

Friday 20th October 2017

@redbricklife

Best Autumn... Perfumes

Bethan Lewis gives her comprehensive guide of the best perfumes for the Autumn season

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Manthropology

by Yatin Arora

Just like the classic Chanel No. 5, this perfume has a musky undertone, with fruity green notes of ylang-ylang and sandalwood. This time, however, there’s the addition of fresh orange blossom, mandarin peel, grapefruit, and blackcurrant, making it a little more crisp and refreshing, and therefore much easier to wear everyday compared to the original.

This month’s cover of Men’s Health, with a shirtless Thom Evans displaying his rather chiselled six pack in all its glory! It made me wonder whether there is a ‘right’ way that a man’s body should look; whether there is a ‘body image’ that men should aspire to which is supreme or better than any other. So I went out and asked the men around campus what ‘body image’ means to them, and whether they feel under any pressure to ‘bulk up’ or to conform to any body image depicted by the media.

2. The Body Shop White Musk and Smoky Rose Eau de Toilette - £13

Media Pressures

Described as sensually seductive with elegant fusions of bergamot, pink pepper, and blackcurrant, with a floral musk. Much less sweet than the original white musk, this scent is not at all overpowering like some perfumes but still lasts just as long.

Name: Jonathan Bowen Course: Computer Science (third year)

3. Jo Malone English Oak and Redcurrant Cologne £44

“Body image relates to how I see myself, but it’s hard for this to not be influenced by how others view me. Images in the media and the messages they communicate place huge importance on ‘looking good’.

I think there is a lot of pressure placed on men to perfect their body,, i.e. by going to the gym, doing weights etc. The gym does not appeal to me so I don’t feel under pressure to go. I’m more interested in being healthy than looking good.”

1. Gabrielle Chanel Eau De Parfum Spray - £79

Sharp redcurrant and balmy rose lends just the right amount of sweetness, with the rich roasted oak making it more sensual than sickly. It’s the fruiter option to the brand’s new range. A beautiful fragrance to brighten up the dreary autumnal days, with white musk to soften the zest of green mandarin.

4. Gucci Bloom - £49 A rich white floral fragrance that’s feminine, bright, and fresh. Gucci Bloom is packed with highly concentrated natural ingredients such as tuberose, jasmine bud extract and Rangoon Creeper.

5. Marc Jacobs Eau So Decadent - £45

Self-Confidence Name: Rayaan Ali Course: Law (first year)

Blackcurrant, green ivy, and cashmere wood bring out the sweet raspberry, white musk, and pink lily of the valley. This bold and indulgent addition to the Marc Jacobs Decadence range gives a vibrant representation of glamour, perfect for both day and night. This perfume introduces beautiful florals mixed with fresh fruits to create a light yet luxurious scent.

Beauty: Halloween Hacks Tara Kergon brings some quick and easy beauty looks to life, ready for Halloween Tara Kergon Life&Style writer

Ah, Halloween – the one day a year where you can do absolutely anything to your makeup! Where nothing seems too bold, too brash or too inappropriate, and almost any character or face can be assumed at will. For its qualities of reinvention, creativity and freedom (and the chance of a good old fashioned fright!) it’s long been one of my favourite holidays.

For me, it doesn’t feel enough to simply pop on a pair of cat ears or a witches’ hat, or to draw on whiskers and call it a night. But understandably, it's not the case for everybody else.

Halloween can be an unneccessary expense and a lot of effort. So I've decided to create a quick and easy Halloween makeup look which is great fun to achieve!

Vampires have had the life drained from them by endless TV and movie franchises (Twilight and The Vampire Diaries, I’m looking at you), but that doesn’t mean you can’t bring these looks to life! I channelled the walking dead, recently deceased and roaming the earth, to create a zombie look which works equally well alone or as a reworking of any other costume.

Think bruised eyes, pale skin, and livid tones, along with dark bloodless lips. If you’ve got the time and the skills, a few slashes of fake blood would top this look off. I used the new Urban Decay Naked Heat palette, smudging He Devil, En Fuego, and Ashes through my eyes and underneath to create hollow, lifeless eye sockets, and then used the same shades in place of contour, blended out with a little Hoola bronzer for bruised, almost gaunt cheeks.

"For me, it doesn't feel enough to simply pop on a pair of cat ears or a witches' hat, or to draw on whiskers and call it a night" A top tip for this look is to use a foundation that is too light for your skin tone to create contrast. Secondly, let your your lipstick smudge a little for an unpolished look and use black kohl on the waterline for extra deathly drama.

If you're on a budget, high street eye make-up palettes often have smoky colours to choose from to perfect your ghostly look!

“For me, body image is about how you present yourself; your personal appearance. In addition to the more obvious things such as looks, for me it includes: your voice, your tone of language, and personal hygiene (that’s a big one)! I don’t feel under any pressure to bulk up; I am happy and content with my body and that is all that matters. As long as I know that I am attractive (which I definitely know that I am), then that is all that matters!”

Be Kinder to Yourself Name: Nigel Clough Course: Political Science & International Relations (third year) “I was much more concerned with body image when I was younger; if you asked me in my early teens I would say it was something very important to me. However, as I have grown older, I’ve realised that I am ultimately in control of my own body image. It means just understanding that I have the ultimate control in terms of how I see my body. I try to think of making my body healthy, rather than muscular and toned. When I find myself reverting back to my previous way of thinking I try to think positively and be kinder to myself”.

They may not aspire to have rockhard abss, but their views are just as solid; for Birmingham’s boys, body image is whatever you choose to make of it – whatever makes you feel comfortable and confident.

We’d love to hear what you think!

Let us know by tweeting us @RedbrickLife.

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SCI&TECH

Friday 20th October 2017

@redbricktech

Coffee: More Harm than Good?

Nikita Sall

Sci&Tech Writer

As the new term starts and the late nights and early mornings return, many students tend to rely on coffee to keep them going. In fact, according to the BBC, the UK population alone is estimated to drink 70 million cups of coffee per day. Despite its immense popularity, however, coffee drinkers are often inundated with health reports claiming that coffee is bad for you.

For years it has been suggested that coffee consumption increases your risk of heart disease, damages the digestive tract and even stunts growth. However, these claims emerged from studies carried out decades ago, in which variables were not adequately matched. This makes the results somewhat unreliable as other factors, such as age, were not accounted for.

In fact, the most recent research reveals that, once proper adjustments are made for confounding factors, coffee drinkers do not appear to have a higher risk for heart problems or cancer than people who do not drink coffee.

So is coffee actually good for you? Seemingly so!

Coffee is packed full of vitamins and minerals like Pantothenic

Acid, Riboflavin, Thiamine and Manganese. It also contains a significant amount of antioxidants in fact, coffee is the biggest source of antioxidants in the western diet! Antioxidants are known to fight the oxidative damage caused by free radicals that can contribute to cancer. This may explain

why some studies have found a lower risk of liver cancer among coffee drinkers.

Regular coffee consumption may even help you live longer. A recent study involving more than 208 000 participants found that

those who drank coffee regularly were less likely to die prematurely than those who did not. This is down to the fact that the chemicals in coffee may help reduce inflammation, which have been found to play a role in a number of age-related diseases, including dementia and Alzheimer’s.

A large study into the effect of coffee on the heart, involving tens of thousands of participants, found that people who drank two to four cups a day had a reduced risk of stroke. Researchers believe this is because coffee contains an abun-

dance of compounds known as polyphenols, which are also found in many fruits and vegetables.

Polyphenols decrease blood pressure and this helps to maintain the health and flexibility of the blood vessels, reducing the risk of strokes and heart attacks.

However, let’s not forget the major pitfall of coffee – it contains caffeine, a stimulant which increases alertness by binding to receptors in the brain, subsequently preventing feelings of tiredness. Side effects of caffeine include slight tremors and increased levels of adrenaline.

Coffee drinkers can become dependent on the effects of caffeine and taking a break from coffee can lead to withdrawal symptoms. However, doctors do not consider this common dependence to be of concern as the unpleasant symptoms of caffeine withdrawal are tolerable and tend to cease after a couple of days.

So how much coffee is safe?

Like with most food and drink, balance and moderation is key. It is recommended that that your intake of caffeinated coffee is limited to no more than a couple of cups in an hour. Sticking to this recommendation means you can reap the health benefits of coffee and fuel late-night study sessions without experiencing the unpleasant side-effects of consuming too much caffeine.

US Woman Jailed for Refusing to Vaccinate Her Son Should the law punish parents who do not have their child vaccinated?

Sonal Tandon

Sci&Tech Writer

Rebecca Bredow, a mother from Detroit, was jailed for five days this month for failing to vaccinate her nine year old son. The moral quandary this revolves around has been prominent in American states such as Michigan, where many people such as Bredow have strong anti-vaccination beliefs.

Most American states (including Michigan) allow exemptions from vaccinations for religious or personal reasons – but the predicament arose when Bredow failed to fulfil the agreement made with her ex-husband in court; to ensure their son received all his immunisations. Bredow also lost primary custody of her son as a result of

her actions.

Vaccines work by injecting a small amount of inactive pathogen into a healthy patient in order to stimulate white blood cells to produce antibodies that fight the particular pathogen. If an active form of the pathogen ever enters the body, antibodies are produced rapidly and the pathogen is destroyed before disease can manifest. Immunisation is harmless, with the only side effects being some swelling at the site of injection and flu-like symptoms in the days after as the body builds immunity.

The trepidation around vaccinations largely stems from a nowretracted study by disgraced British doctor Andrew Wakefield linking the MMR vaccination to autism. However, the fraudulent

1998 paper has since caused much apprehension amongst parents regarding vaccination and is blamed for the 2012 Swansea measles epidemic which saw a mass outbreak of a disease that had almost been eradicated in the UK. Despite many parents’ concerns being rooted in false information, they still reserve the right to refuse to vaccinate their children. Of course, autonomy is important and should be protected and many parents who refuse vaccinations claim to have religious reasons around their refusal. But when avoidable measles outbreaks continue to occur across the USA, we have to consider both the risk to the child themselves, and to public health in general.

Unvaccinated individuals weaken

the herd's immunity that is created by widespread vaccination programmes; thus endangering the health of the most vulnerable in our society, like babies and the immunocompromised. And in the case of Rebecca Bredow; if parents disagree about whether their child should be vaccinated, who should make the final decision?

There are still challenges ahead in repairing the damage caused to the public perception of vaccination. However, with more and more studies showing that vaccines are indeed safe, we can only hope that the overall vaccination rates will eventually increase to the recommended 95% level recommended by the World Health Organisation.

Body Clock Research Wins Scientists Nobel Prize Katie Jones

Sci&Tech Editor

It was a long time coming for Jeffrey C Hall, Michael Rosbash and Michael W Young when they won the 2017 Nobel Prize for Medicine with their groundbreaking research on body clocks. Body clocks or circadian rhythms are universal to both plants and animals (including humans) and control your body over a 24 hour period. They are built into every cell of the body and revolve most-

ly around the sun. The circadian rhythm regulates waking, sleeping, hormone changes and lots of other fluctuations your body and your behaviour exhibit, throughout the day and night.

Hall, Rosbash and Young managed to identify the gene in fruit flies which controls this - the period gene. The period gene is responsible for the coding of protein PER, a protein which, depending on its stability, will alter the speed at which the body clock works. Its stability is altered by

the Timeless gene (which makes PER more stable) and the double time gene (which makes PER less stable) - both of which were discovered by Young. The more stable PER is, the slower your body clock runs and vice versa.

Their findings give us an insight into the serious consequences of jet lag beyond being out of sync with the day. In the short-term it affects your memory formation and in the long term it increases the likelihood of developing diabetes, cancer and vari-

ous other serious diseases. This information is especially significant for the many people who work night shifts, such as nurses, who experience constant jet lag.

This prize-winning discovery also gives us an insight into the optimum time of day for operating on patients or treating diseases for the best results and has massive implications for the future of medical treatment.

Creature Feature The Mantis Shrimp Ellen Heimpel Sci&Tech Writer

Beautiful and deadly aren’t two words most people would normally associate with shrimp. The exception to this would perhaps be the Mantis Shrimp, one of the most fascinating creatures on the planet.

Humans have three colour receptor cones in our eyes that allow us to see and differentiate between a vast spectrum of colour. However, Mantis Shrimps have sixteen colour receptors, giving them superior colour vision.

Mantis Shrimps make good use of their vision as terrifying underwater predators. They swing their arms out at 80 kmph when they punch to kill their prey. This is the same acceleration as a .22-caliber bullet. Their limbs move so quickly that it causes the surrounding water to start boiling, reaching temperatures almost as hot as the surface of the sun. This creates bubbles which then collapse and produce an underwater shock wave which can kill the prey, even if the Mantis Shrimp misses. This process of collapsing bubbles also produces tiny bursts of light- sonoluminescence.

In fact, the Mantis Shrimp is so fascinating that scientists are studying it in order to develop better body armour. They wondered exactly how the shrimps could pack such a powerful punch without causing damage to themselves and found that the Mantis Shrimp is able to do so because it has layers of elastic polysaccharide chains under its shell to act as shock absorbers. Scientists have now taken this idea and modelled it using carbon filter material to create a product with potential uses in body armour and aircraft panels. Quite impressive for a shrimp!

SCI&TECH

Friday 20th October 2017

35

@redbricktech

Could You Help Predict the Next Pandemic?

An investigation into a new app by the BBC which forms part of a study into how to deal with a future major outbreak of disease.

Emilia Rose Sci&Tech Editor

With the moral panic surrounding swine flu in 2009 and the Zika virus more recently, pandemics (the spread of a disease across a country or the globe) have never been far from our minds.

One of the main challenges the UK government faces when planning the response to a future pandemic is predicting how and where the disease would spread.

This knowledge would allow NHS and other resources to be directed to where they are needed most.

"By tracking the spread of a digital virus, the app will collect data to help model the spread of an infectious disease across the UK" What if you could help provide that vital information?

This is where the BBC’s Pandemic app comes in. By tracking the spread of a ‘digital virus’ over 24 hours, the app will collect data on how the UK population moves and the demographics of the people they encounter during the day to model the geographic

spread of an infectious disease across the country. The data collected will then be analysed by the Pandemic research team based at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, with their findings due to be presented in a ground-breaking BBC programme in early 2018.

Participating in the Pandemic study is simple. The app is available to download onto Android and iOS devices and after answering some questions about your age, gender and occupation you are ready to ‘begin the outbreak’.

The app will then run unobtrusively in the background as you go about your day, recording your location to the nearest Km2 every hour. After 24 hours, you are then prompted to record some information about the people you encountered during that period, such as their age and whether it was a physical or conversational encounter.

Understandably, potential participants may have concerns regarding the privacy of the data collected by the app. Users are never identified during the collection of location data (which would not pinpoint your exact location) and the results will be used to map general trends in population movement, as opposed to individuals. You can also opt out at any time and participation is completely optional.

As students, participation in this type of study is particularly

Sci&Tech Writer

One third of people who require a kidney transplant are unable to accept a kidney from a friend or relative who is willing to donate because the kidney is biologically incompatible and would be rejected by their cells. Finding a suitable match for a patient is a long process, made more difficult by a shortage of people willing to donate a kidney to a stranger.

In 2014 a former judge in California, Howard Broadman, approached UCLA with a proposition. He wanted to donate his kidney to his four-year-old grandson who had chronic kidney disease and was likely to need a transplant within the next ten to fifteen years. However, by this time Howard would be over sixtyfive and therefore, by law, unable to donate his kidney. He wanted to receive some kind of insurance that if he donated his kidney now, his grandson would be more likely to receive one in the future.

Surgeon Jeffrey Veale agreed and

the first voucher system was developed.

The scheme allows you to donate a kidney ahead of when a friend or family member needs it.

This kidney will then be given to a stranger in dialysis. In return, your desired recipient will be given a voucher that gives them priority to be matched with an organ donor when they need a transplant. Howard donated his kidney to a stranger at Ronald Reagan medical centre and gave the voucher to his grandson.

In the US there are currently 93,000 people waiting for a kidney and about twelve die every day. To address this widespread issue, the voucher system was utilised as a way of increasing kidney donation. A new UCLA study published this September revealed that the first three voucher cases led to twenty-five lifesaving kidney transplants across the US. It already appears that this system is encouraging people to donate kidneys who otherwise would not consider doing so and is therefore saving more lives.

All but two Adelie penguin chicks have perished in what has been called a 'catastrophic' breeding season.

This is believed to have occurred due to unusually high levels of ice at this time of year, resulting in the adult penguins having to travel further for food.

Scientists have isolated specific gene sequences that

important. According to Assistant encouraging enough people to Professor Adam Kucharski – a participate in the study to provide member of the Pandemic research a sample that is as representative team - universities tend to be ‘a of the UK as possible. mixing pot of infection’, espeThis directly influenced the cially at the start of term - fresh- decision to collect data using a er’s flu may spring to mind! mobile app, as opposed to However, there is little to via a tracking device no data on how an infecthat would collect tious disease may The findings will anonymous mobile spread across a camdata through be presented in phone pus because previous the default apps early research is skewed found on smarttowards people aged phones. Having 40 or over. Instead, used the app myself, researchers have had I would highly recto model this type of ommend it to anyone scenario around adult who likes the idea of commuters, which is not contributing to vital particularly accurate. As a research with just a few taps result, one of the main difficulties of their smartphone.

Kucharski anticipates in successfully completing the study, is

2018

Donors in the US Swap their Kidney for a Voucher Ellen Heimpel

This Week in Sci & Tech...

However, there are some ethical issues to consider: is it fair that someone with a voucher could receive priority for a kidney donation over another person who has been waiting longer? This would be especially concerning if it resulted in the death of a patient who failed to receive a kidney as a consequence of this scheme.

Voucher-holders receive preferential treatment and are able to take priority for a transplant over someone who has been waiting longer and possibly needs a donor

more desperately.

Currently, around thirty hospitals around the US participate in this voucher scheme. According to the National Kidney registry, twenty-one kidneys have been donated in exchange for vouchers.

At the moment this scheme only takes place in the US but with its increasing popularity and the promising results of this new study, it might not be long before the voucher scheme spreads to the UK.

alter human lifespan. For example, a gene that increases the levels of 'bad' cholesterol has been found to remove eight months from the average lifespan.

An asteroid the size of a house is set to pass close to earth. Whilst there is no risk of impact, NASA scientists will be able to study the asteroid and prepare for potential strikes in the future.

Increasing global emissions of chlorine-containing compounds,

such

Dichloromethane,

as could

delay the progress made in healing the ozone layer by thirty years.

A lack of sleep has been linked to the development of Alzheimer's. Scientists have found that the toxic amyloid plaques associated with Alzheimer's develop in the frontal lobe of the brain - which is responsible for NREM sleep.

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SPORT

Friday 20th October 2017

@redbricksport

Are Villa and Wolves Automatic Promotion Candidates?

Deputy Editor Harry Wilkinson and Sport writer Haydn Dupree delve into the recent West Midlands derby between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa and give us their predictions for the rest of the season Harry Wilkinson Deputy Editor

Aston Villa were utterly humbled at Molineux last Saturday. A quite brilliant Wolves performance, with their defined, sparkling style of football was too much for Villa's functional, stern style. The game was a marker on where both teams currently sit, but should not be over-blown as either confirmation of Wolves' title or of Villa's failed promotion.

Villa are a very good side, having just won four-in-a-row, but Wolves, confident in their flowing style in front of a packed Molineux crowd eager for derby victory, were also a strong force.

Villa should not panic, and Wolves should not get ahead of themselves.

"Villa are a very good side, having just won four-in-a-row" However, the defeat makes Villa's next two games (home against Fulham and away at Blues) even more important. Of course, the importance of the derby cannot be under-stated, but aside from the rivalry a victory in that game would surely set Villa back on the path paved prior to the Wolves loss.

Fans will be crying out for a

Haydn Dupree Sport Writer

The spirit amongst Wolves fans has proliferated into one of infectious optimism, particularly after a convincing 2-0 victory over rivals, Aston Villa. It is typical for any Wolves supporter to submit into a feeling of trepidation before a televised late kick-off at Molineux, but it was a welcome sight when the Wanderers actually turned up and displayed what they can do with a football.

The win over Villa, in front of a packed-out Molineux crowd of 30,329 football fans, sent Wolves to the top of the Championship table and firmly reiterated their promotion intentions. This season Wolves have been praised for their exceptional performances and this trend continued last Saturday when they outclassed a functional Aston Villa side.

"The spirit amongst Wolves fans has proliferated into one of infectious optimism" Nuno Espirito Santo’s philosophy of purposeful passing football has meant that Wolves are now able to control games and punish teams utilising their electric pace and creativity. This Wolves side is entertaining to watch and this is predominantly

down to Santo, who has revolutionised the way Wolves play by employing a 3-4-3 formation, which can turn defence into attack instantaneously. It is imperative that Wolves can make something out of this momentum in order to achieve their objective of promotion this season and they face another test at home to Preston on Saturday.

"Nuno Espirito Santo's philosophy of purposeful passing football has meant that Wolves are now able to control games" The standard of football Wolves are presently producing can be put down to some key individuals who make the whole team tick. Ruben Neves, the main architect of the team, has displayed his passing talent throughout the season but against Villa he controlled the tempo of the whole game and reminded spectators that he is arguably the best passer in the league. Conor Coady has been utilised as a central defender so far in the campaign and it seems to be a stroke of genius on Santo’s part, the former Liverpool man is ideally competent with the ball at his feet allowing him to thrive

more positive team selection for these next games, perhaps by starting Josh Onomah ahead of Glenn Whelan. Onomah, who is on-loan from Spurs, has impressed with his ability to cruise on the ball, looking comfortable in seemingly tight situations in midfield.

Being young, however, he occasionally lacks good decision-making, which is perhaps his main reason for missing out behind the reliable Whelan. Playing Onomah though would be a great statement of intent from Bruce, however, also demonstrating that he's not afraid to take risks.

Prior to the Fulham game, Villa sat in 7th place with 19 points, 7 points behind the leaders, Wolves, and 1 point from the play-offs. At this moment, most would say Villa have enough to get into the play-offs, but the question is whether they can achieve automatic promotion. In order to do so, you need to look at who Villa’s rivals might be.

Wolves have already been discussed, and at this point many would tip them for the title. Other teams who have made a strong start are Cardiff and Sheffield United - both 2 points behind Wolves. Cardiff gave Villa a 3-0 slapping earlier on in the season, and have impressed on the whole.

However, they slipped up last Friday with a probably deserved within a three-man defence.

"Conor Coady has been utilised as a central defender so far in the campaign and it seems to be a stroke of genius" However, the man who has rightly taken all the headlines of late is Diogo Jota. Jota in his present form is undoubtedly the best player in this division and has proven it through scoring seven goals so far this season. If Jota can stay fit, the back can remain solid and the likes of Neves can continue producing outstanding playmaking performances, it does not sound ridiculous to believe that Wolves can walk away with the league title.

"Jota in his present form is undoubtedly the best player in this division" Wolves currently stand top of the SkyBet Championship on 26 points after 12 games. They are closely followed by one of the two sides to beat them this season, Cardiff City.

defeat at struggling Blues, in a very unconvincing performance which showed their lack of quality. It is unclear as to whether Cardiff have the depth in squad and quality to build on their good start; they are a far less formidable opponent than Wolves, despite beating them earlier on in the season by using their physicality rather than quality.

"At this moment, most would say Villa have enough to get into the play offs" As for Sheffield United, their start has been perhaps the most surprising, with them just getting promoted from League One. With former Villa left-back Enda Stevens in their team, The Blades seem to have a closely-knit eleven, who are willing to fight for results - displaying this most profoundly in their 4-2 victory at their rivals Sheffield Wednesday.

However, the question must be asked as to their squad depth, which is not on the same level Villa and other teams at the top.

Leeds are another team worth mentioning, who did at one point sit top of the table, but with 3

losses in a row, they have slipped down to 6th. They certainly should not be written off though: they have a good squad and passionate fans who are desperate to be back in the Premier League.

When looking at the other teams that could challenge Villa, it makes their chances of getting automatic promotion look more promising. However, things can change drastically in the Championship - a team may go on some insane winning streak, or their most prominent player might get injured - there are myriad variables that could cause results to sway, especially with most teams having such fragile squads.

That is one of Villa’s main advantages - squad depth - as well as, of course, the ability to spend money on quality players. A counterargument to this, however, would be that in Villa’s four wins in a row, the starting eleven was actually left unchanged. However, the squad depth is prominent when you look at the players Villa can bring off the bench - the likes of Chris Samba and Scott Hogan, who can come on and affect games considerably.

It must not be forgotten that if Villa do not achieve promotion this year, it will only get harder each season spent in the EFL.

SPORT

Friday 20th October 2017

@redbricksport

Why Wales Will Be Back Deputy Editor Harry Wilkinson reflects on the heart-breaking defeat against Ireland that meant Wales would miss out on qulaifying for their first World Cup since 1958 Harry Wilkinson Deputy Editor

After a miraculous Euro 2016, Wales were brutally denied World Cup qualification after losing to Ireland. The defeat was Wales' only of the ten-game qualifying campaign, and with only needing a draw to come second (and into the playoffs), it was a crushing, heart-breaking loss.

Ireland capitalised on a mistake Wales made whilst trying to play-out from the back, with James Mclean burying a cross by Robbie Brady after a poor touch from Williams. The goal was taken very well, and Wales should not be blamed for attempting to play-out, with no real arial threat on the field at the time. Wales reacted the best they could, putting plenty of balls into the box that could have easily fallen to someone in red - but it wasn’t to be, and the plucky Irish held on.

From a Welsh fan’s perspective, it’s difficult to know how to feel after reflecting on this game.

It’s well documented how dire Wales’ football history was prior to last summer’s Euros (the Euros was the first major tournament they had qualified for since the 1958 World Cup), which only elevated the miraculous nature of the tournament. But now, to fail to qualify for the World Cup, it just feels unfair. But, realistically, it wasn’t unfair. It was certainly

"There's no-one really to blame for the misfortune.. the players put their heart and soul into every minute of every game"

unfortunate, but not unfair.

Wales drew too many games in the qualifying; conceded too many points from winning positions.

There’s no-one really to blame for the misfortune, because it can surely be said that the players (and manager) put their heart and soul into every minute of every game. That is Wales’ strength: heart, pride, and effort. It’s a great cliché that hard-work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard, and usually it is true. It’s just unfortunate that on this occasion, this campaign, it wasn’t.

Of course, there were other factors, the big one having Gareth Bale missing for two of the most vital games (Serbia away, which ended a 2-2 draw, and of course the final loss to Ireland). God only knows what could have happened if he played those games. But it’s useless to dwell on the such things. What is useful is to be grateful for what happened last summer, learn from the mistakes of this campaign, and look to the future.

As for watching the 2018 World Cup, personally I think it is important for Wales fans not to be bitter about watching England (and potentially Northern Ireland and Ireland). We all watch the Premier League, most of us support English teams, with English players. The England team could be seen as a reflection of the English leagues, which are meant to be the best in the world. So, if the England team doesn’t perform well, some might say it would be an embarrassment to such leagues, and those who support them. That is why, in my view, Wales fans should want England to do well in the World Cup, to honour the English leagues they support, the leagues in which the Welsh players play.

Back to Wales though: it is not over for this team, as a lot of the players still have a good few years

in them (including Bale who is still 28). But as well as that, there are a crop of younger players coming through, including 18 year-old Ben Woodburn, who has already made such a big impression with his winner against Austria. The future of Welsh football looks promising. The Euros was not just an explosion of ecstasy gone forever, but has created a positivity that will linger on to inspire a whole new generation.

Losing out on World Cup qualification will not change that. Still, the current Wales squad has much to do, and will already be looking to the Euro 2020 qualifiers, because this team is not done.

This team will come back fighting, you can be sure of that.

"The Euros was not just an explosion of ecstasy gone forever, but has created a positivity that will linger on to inspire a whole new generation"

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SPORT

Friday 20th October 2017

@redbricksport

Lewis Hamilton in the Driving Seat

Sport Writer David Garbutt reviews another victory for Lewis Hamilton in the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka David Garbutt Sport Writer

Lewis Hamilton placed one hand firmly on the 2017 Driver’s World Championship with his victory at Suzuka, holding off resurgent Red Bull drivers Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo, who finished second and third respectively.

Hamilton’s victory, and Vettel’s non-finish, ensured that the Mercdedes driver extended his lead in the Driver’s World Championship to 59 points with just four races remaining.

In what looked like a strange case of déjà vu, Hamilton saw a Ferrari with which he shared the front row suffer engine problems before the race began. This time, instead of Kimi Raikkonen having issues, it was Hamilton’s nearest title challenger Sebastian Vettel, who had a faulty spark plug. Although Vettel was able to start the race, his lack of power quickly became evident as he dropped to sixth after the first lap.

The safety car was deployed at the end of the first lap to recover Carlos Sainz’ stricken Toro Rosso, which gave Vettel a momentary reprieve. Upon the race’s restart on lap 3, however, Perez, in the Force India, quickly overtook him, and shortly afterwards the Ferrari mechanics made the executive decision to retire the car.

This latest setback for Vettel will likely prove to be the final nail in the coffin in his championship

"It appeared fitting upon the race's conclusion that car number 44 won the 44th Japenese Grand Prix"

bid.

As Vettel’s day fell apart, it looked like things were all falling into place for Verstappen again his terrific start, and Vettel’s engine woes, ensured that by lap 2 he had moved up from fourth to second place. From this position, Verstappen was able to keep Hamilton honest, staying within five seconds of the Brit by the time that the first pitstop phase began, with Verstappen pitting on lap 22 and Hamilton responding the following lap.

"In what looked like a strange case of déjà vu, Hamilton saw a Ferrari with which he shared the front row suffer engine problems before the race began" Verstappen then began to increase the pressure on the Mercedes car; this was helped by the fact that Hamilton’s pace was compromised having to follow his teammate, Valtteri Bottas, who at this stage was leading the race, having not stopped yet due to running a different tyre strategy.

Verstappen had reduced the gap to Hamilton to just a second before Mercedes decided to act, telling Bottas to let Hamilton through.

This he duly did on lap 28, which allowed Hamilton to pull away at the front whilst Verstappen was stuck behind Bottas until lap 31, when the Finn finally pitted.

As the race began to reach its conclusion, Bottas was able to close the gap on Ricciardo, who was in third, due to the Finn having much fresher tyres. However, despite reducing the gap to just

one second, Bottas was unable to pass, ensuring that Ricciardo could extend his run of finishing on the podium to three races.

Meanwhile, aided by traffic and the need for Hamilton to manage his tyres, Verstappen had closed the gap to the Brit to under a second with just over a lap to go.

However, Verstappen was then held up trying to lap Fernando Alonso, which meant that he was not close enough to challenge for the lead, thus Hamilton was able to claim his 61st career victory.

It appeared fitting upon the race’s conclusion that car number 44 won the 44th Japanese Grand Prix. Having extended his lead to Vettel to 59 points, Hamilton now knows that he can afford to not finish two of the last four races and still retain his lead in the championship. After the race, Vettel refused to say that his title challenge was finished, and likewise Hamilton downplayed the significance of his large points lead. Nevertheless, he must know that the 2017 Driver’s World Championship is his to lose.

In regards to the Constructor’s Championship, Mercedes’ first and fourth place, and the fact that Raikkonen could only finish fifth, ensured that the Silver Arrows opened up a 145 point lead over the Prancing Horses; this means that Mercedes could sew up a fourth consecutive Constructor's trophy next time out in Austin, Texas.The remaining races of the season are due to be held in Mexico City on the 27-29th October, the Brazillian Grand Prix in Sao Paulo on the 10-12th of November, concluding in Abu Dhabi on the 24-26th November.

"The Mercedes driver extended his lead in the Driver'sWorld Championship to 59 points"

Driver

Pts

Constructor

Pts

1. Lewis Hamilton 306

1. Mercedes

540

2. Sebastian Vettel 247

2. Ferrari

395

3. Valtteri Bottas

3. Red Bull

303

234

4. Daniel Ricciardo 192

4. Force India 147

5. Kimi Raikkonen 148

5. Williams

66

SPORT

Friday 20th October 2017

@redbricksport

39

Why Not Try Ashtanga Yoga?

Ida Elmdal Thagesen discusses her recent discovery at UB Sport and Fitness Ida Elmdal Thagesen Sport Writer

“Take a ‘vinyasa’ ”, the Ashtanga instructor says in a soft tone. I jump from one position to the next thinking this is more difficult than I thought. My muscles are still sore from last session. My first four Ashtanga sessions have proven all my prejudices towards yoga wrong: it is neither boring, easy nor just a thing for old women. Quite the contrary; I already feel stronger, and can already touch my feet – a thing I never would have been able to do during my 10 years of playing football. During my football years, I never thought I would find myself doing yoga, changing from such a competitive field to such a peaceful one.

"My first four Ashtanga sessions have proven all my prejudices towards yoga wrong" A few weeks ago, I knew nothing about yoga except a few facts - the literal meaning of yoga is “philosophy of life.”, that it originated almost 5000 years ago, and has grown quite popular in the Western world during the past 10 years. Also, I knew that my mother practiced a slightly different form of yoga, called “Ashtanga” (Vinyasa) Yoga, which she loves. When I came to the University of Birmingham a few weeks ago, I saw it on the list

of available classes at UB Sport & Fitness and more or less randomly decided to try it.

"I never thought I would find myself doing yoga" Within a few weeks of weekly sessions in the ‘Dojo’ hall in UoB Sport & Fitness, I have become very interested in Ashtanga. To me, Ashtanga is about strength, endurance and de-stressing – in other words, a great supplement to my health and wellbeing. To others, Ashtanga is much more than that. To try and understand the question of “Why Ashtanga?” with guidance from some practitioners more experienced in yoga, I ask Ina Thanild and Janne Skou some questions. Both Ina and Janne are experienced and skilled Danish Ashtanga instructors. To Ina, Ashtanga is about healing herself. To Janne, Ashtanga is about self-development; she adds: “It is about being a light into yourself”.

She explains that a meditative feeling will be obtained when the breath, called Pranayama, is combined with the poses ('Asana').

Ina adds to this how she was inspired by the athletic, dynamic form of Ashtanga, which combines both strength, endurance and suppleness. This dynamic combination is also why both Ina and Janne prefer Ashtanga yoga to regular yoga.

"Anyone can do it, regardless of gender, age or level" However, it is a long way to go from being a football player, to then considering yoga, and creating a light into yourself. Luckily, both Ina and Janne have good advice for students who are considering trying Ashtanga. First of all, Janne underlines the fact that anyone can do it, regardless of gender, age or level. Ina supplements this by encouraging everyone to give it a chance. Together, they come up with 5 guidelines.

"To me, Ashtanga is about strength, endurance and destressing"

1. Try different types of yoga Many types of yoga exist: Iqenga Yoga, Yin Yoga and Hatha Soft, to name a few, can be mentioned besides Ashtanga Yoga.

Both Janne and Ina encourage everyone who is new to yoga to try different classes before choosing the one that suits you best.

Not being sure exactly what this means, I ask Janne and Ina to elaborate: Janne explains how both strength, endurance and suppleness combined in Ashtanga Yoga culminate in a dynamic yoga method with 6 series in which the difficulty increases in each one.

2. Try different yoga teachers Janne also recommends finding a teacher you feel comfortable with. This will make practise easier, and give you energy instead of sapping it. Every yoga teacher is different and each focuses on dif-

ferent elements of the practise.

3. Go slowly forward Janne emphases taking small steps, and suggests starting with one yoga class per week. “After 6-12 months, you can begin doing it twice a week. Remember, yoga is not about being the best, but just about doing it”, she quotes.

4. Be patient Ina mentions patience as central. The purpose of yoga is the path you are taking, not your level of competence: “Your attitude is more than what you accomplish on the floor.”

5. Make it your own Ina also underlines the importance of ”making the yoga your own”. Listen to your body, observe yourself. It’s okay to be inspired by others, she tells me, but you should always be faithful to your-

self and your own body.

I am still in step 3, I think. ''Take a ‘vinyasa’ '', the instructor says again at the end of the lesson.

My muscles are even more sore now as I do the last exercise.

Afterwards, I look in the mirror – can it be possible that my biceps are more visible already? In this moment, I feel peaceful and relaxed, which is a rare feeling in my busy life. I don’t know if Ashtanga will ever be a healing and spiritual experience to me, as it is for both Ina and Janne. For now, it is relaxing, and strengthening my body, and that is all I need. That is why I do Ashtanga yoga and why I recommend everyone else to try it.

Arsenal's Lack of Identity

Sport Editor Alex Alton reflects on Arsenal's recent loss and looks to the future for a possible remedy Alex Alton

Sport Print Editor

Following Arsenal's miserable loss to high flying Watford at the weekend, some interesting quotes have emerged from Watford captain Troy Deeney. Birmingham -born Deeney claimed that Arsenal lack the 'cojones' to be able to deal with teams like Watford. He also commented that he loves playing against teams like Arsenal, as their lack of physicality makes it incredibly easy for him to play against them. Rarely do we see such a honest statement from a professional footballer in the Premier League, with this opening up a potential Pandora's box in regards to discussing Arsenal's players, as well as Arsene Wenger and the club's future.

Firstly, we must question whether Arsenal have any players who are mentally and physically tough enough to stand up to teams with a more rugged style of play.

At the moment, Arsenal's resident "hardman" is Granit Xhaka. The

Swiss midfielder has largely disappointed in his time in England, with people perhaps conflating an abysmal disciplinary record for a real tough guy. Besides that, there are occasional glimpses of resilience from other members of the squad, yet this amounts to nothing concrete in reality.

"Deeney claimed that Arsenal lack the 'cojones' to be able to deal with teams like Watford" The most bizarre thing about this situation is the contrast to that of the Invicibles season. Arsene Wenger had two types of leader on board. One was able to lead through verbal means and could also demand the respect of the dressing room - usually players

like Sol Campbell, Jens Lehmann and Patrick Vieira. The other kind, players that led by example, usu ally fell to the quieter, more attacking players, such as the enigmatic Dennis Bergkamp and the superb Thierry Henry.

Although you might be able to argue that Alexis Sanchez embodies this kind of leadership, the Chilean is sure to leave soon for greener pastures. In comparison to now, it is genuinely strange to see that leadership lost, whilst with the same manager. There are a number of things we could attribute this to. For example, one may argue that the 2003/04 squad was a one off, never to be repeated again.

Another is that the landscape has completely changed financially. The players that Wenger was able to pick up for such small fees in the early 2000s would now command fees upwards of £50 million, something which Wenger seems increasingly unwilling to embrace. So perhaps then, we can label the blame at the door of the

club itself.

Without knowing too much about the current state of affairs at the club, there have been many rumours of a rift between the board of Arsenal and Wenger himself. The Frenchman appears to have accumulated so much power at Arsenal that he often is unaccountable for his own errors.

Whilst his errors are few and far between in the grand scheme of the footballing world, Arsenal fans have long been growing dissatisfied with the current situation. From an Arsenal fan's point of view, it is possible to argue that the club is now at a crossroads in terms of its development. The choices the club makes in the next year (regarding Wenger's eventual departure and the future structure of the club) are destined to shape the next 10 years in the history of Arsenal.

At the moment, Arsenal are going through somewhat of an identity crisis. Do we hark back to the Tony Adams era of defensive solidity and consistent 1-0 wins?

Or do we attempt to recreate clas-

sic 'Wengerball', found in the mid 2000s era of Arsenal. In reality, the current financial climate may prevent Arsenal from doing the latter. The former would be possible but largely unsatisfactory to the fanbase. What Arsenal need is a clear redefinition of the club's core values, perhaps under different leadership and a sustained effort towards listening to fan views on a democratic basis.

Page 37

Birmingham Firsts Take Spoils Against Rivals Loughborough

20.10.2017 Harry Wilkinson and Haydn Dupree consider the recent West Midlands derby

Page 36 11th October, Metchley 3G, B'ham 2-1 Loughborough

Harry Wilkinson examines Welsh failure to qualify for Russia 2018

Page 37 David Garbutt

summarises the Japanese Grand Prix

Page 38 Ida Elmdal Thagesen

discusses her recent experience of Ashtanga Yoga

Page 39 For more, follow us on Twitter:

@redbricksport

Alex Alton Sport Print Editor

@_alexalton

Birmingham Men's Firsts kickstarted BUCS Premier North with a 2-1 victory against Loughborough Firsts. This match succeeded an unwanted loss to Northumbria in the first week of fixtures. Hosted at the Metchley 3G pitches, the game was a windy affair.

Both sides sought to get the ball on the deck and play passing football, and Loughborough started the brighter of the two teams, with their pacy striker threatening to score twice in the first 10 minutes. Following this prosperous spell for the Leicestershire based side, Birmingham really started to put pressure on and look for that all important first goal. The first concrete chance for Birmingham came in the 17th minute, when good build-up play on the edge of the penalty area should have resulted in a goal. It was not to be this time. It became apparent within the next 10 minutes that Birmingham were playing somewhat of a pressing game, which involved seizing upon the ball when Loughborough's defenders were in possession. This almost paid dividends in the 27th minute when Dominic Lunnon was unfortunate not to score after Birmingham dispossessed a Loughborough defender.

"Birmingham were playing somewhat of a pressing game" Birmingham would not have to wait too long to take the lead, however. A 36th minute corner created chaos in the box, one UoB effort hitting the bar before Ollie Sitch epitomised "the right place at the right time" to convert with a header. This was no more than Birmingham deserved at this point of

the match. Birmingham, captained by Nitin Mishra should have made it 2-0 just short of half time after Loughborough were again dispossessed. Mishra sent through a pass with perfect weight on it, but the ball could not be finished off.

The second half was bereft of clear cut chances, with Lunnon forcing a decent save from the Loughborough keeper in the 55th minute. A second goal almost arrived in the 63rd, when a training ground routine found Matthew Rudolph in space at the back post. He was unlucky to slam the ball just wide of the post. Nevertheless, Birmingham would not have to wait too long to double their lead. A minute later, Elliott Reeves was slotted in on the left hand side of the goal. The left winger nonchalantly stroked the ball past a helpless Loughborough keeper.

"Ollie Sitch epitomised 'the right place at the right time' to convert with a header" Birmingham now looked in control of this match, as Loughborough had become frustrated by a number of unsuccessful attempts. It appeared as if the winning side would see the match out to an impressive 2-0 win, however Loughborough's number 16 had other ideas. Picking the ball up on the left side of the goal, the attacker lofted a wonderful finesse shot into the right side of the goal in the 85th minute. This made things difficult for UoB, as Loughborough had their tails up, but they held on for an impressive 2-1 win, which flattered a blunt Loughborough side. Birmingham have now got 4 points on the board, after earning a good draw away at Durham on Wednesday.

Campus Sports Results 18th October Men's 1st Football: D 1-1 Durham Women's 1st Hockey: W 7-1 vs Edinburgh Men's 1st Badminton: W 6-2 vs Worcester Women's 1st Football: L 3-0 vs Durham Women's 1st Lacrosse: W 12-9 vs Edinburgh 1st Netball: W 67-40 vs Manchester Men's 1st Tennis: W 8-4 vs Anglia Ruskin Men's 1st Basketball: L 74-47 vs NTU

Starting XI: Jamie Weller, Ben Roberts, Jacob Carter, Caleb Wright, Ayo Adebajo, Nitin Mishra (C), Matthew Rudolph, Dominic Lunnon, Elliott Reeves, Ollie Sitch, Robbie Murphy Subs: Brandon Thompson, Luke Spear, Jamie Blanco, Will Brant, Joe Hartshorne.