Destiny | Roar News | March 2017

Roar DESTINY

OUR BRILLIANT NEW SECTION

RakishLIFESTYLE

FASHION l HEALTH l BEAUTY l PAGE 18 & 19

March 2017

THE NEWS-Y THINGS FOR THE GOOD PEOPLE OF KING’S

roarnews.co.uk

AFRO-CARIBBEAN BE THE GENRE KING’S ACS HOST STUNNING PERFORMANCE PAGE 10-11

EXCLUSIVE CLIMATE CHANGE activists attacked the concrete facade of the Strand building with paint and cuddly teddy bears.

Full Story — Pages 6 & 7

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March 2017

In the red for free speech SPIKED magazine’s ‘free speech ranking’ has put King’s in red warning, due to the College’s ban on ‘transphobic speech’ and restrictions on ‘offensive dress and conduct’.

Students aim £100,000 for refugees

GRIM ... S4S visit refugee camp

By MATHILDE-BETANT RASMUSSEN

The Students4Syria society has just launched a new fundraising campaign. Their aim is to raise £100,000 through online campaigning, events, and competitions, for the Dar-As-Salam refugee shelter in Lebanon.

The S4S president, Abdus-Samad Ahmed, is determined to help the people of the Dar-As-Salam camp.

“The shelter is home to 66 Syrian orphans and 22 widows, and funds will provide shelter, food and clothing, a playground for the children, much needed social and psychological care, and will also allow for the maintenance of the shelter for the future”, he says.

The society has already launched several fundraising events and competitions, such as Postcards to Lebanon and the Students4Syria Mural competition. Both of these invite all students to donate or to help fundraise for the cause. The S4S online media campaign is also ongoing. n Good luck, Students4Syria!

-rated

CULTURE, ART & MUSIC AT KING’S

MUTANT WEED People who smoke skunk at an early age are more likely to develop psychosis, King’s research reveals.

Researchers have also discovered that damage in brain matter was significantly greater among heavy users of high potency cannabis, otherwise known as skunk.

A study of 1,000 men and women led by Professors Terrie Moffitt and Avshalom Caspi found that using higher potency cannabis for prolonged times damaged the corpus callosum – the part of the brain which carries signals between the brain’s left and right sides, leading to increased psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations and slowing down brain activity.

Dr Paola Dazzan from the Institute of Psyciatry, Psy-

DNA solving crimes

By CHARLOTTE CLIFFE

King’s have co-produced a useful guide on using DNA to solve crimes.

DNA is increasingly important in forensic investigations.

But how helpful is it really?

Researchers from the College have collaborated with the European Forensic Genetics Network of Excellence (EUROFORGEN) and Sense about Science to produce a practical guide.

Firstly, DNA is everywhere and we are constantly shedding it. So finding DNA at a crime scene doesn’t always mean the DNA was deposited at the time of the crime. It could end up there through a number of routes.

Secondly, if the DNA from the crime scene matches the suspect it does not always mean it is the suspect’s DNA. Finally, predicting how a suspect may look is exaggerated. In reality it is only eye or hair colour DNA can predict.

Despite all these potential problems, DNA remains valuable to investigate and solve crimes.

King’s boffins find increase in mental health issues from smoking skunk chology and Neuroscience (IoPPN) said “Frequent use of high potency cannabis significantly affects the structure of white matter fibres in the brain… the more cannabis you smoke and the higher the potency, the worse the damage will be.”

Skunk contains much more THC than old-fashioned grass, and the researchers have found that a pure injection of synthetic THC can induce

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symptoms of psychosis in people who have had no experience of mental health problems.

The research has had “a major impact on the perception of the risks of cannabis use on mental health” says Philip McGuire, Professor of Psychiatry and Cognitive Neuroscience. n Don’t touch that skunk weed! It’s the Arnold Schwarzenegger of ganja.

KING’S COLLEGE HOSPITALS IN PRIVATISATION JEOPARDY

CLARIFICATIONS & CORRECTIONS Roar aims to have the highest editorial standards (seriously, not kidding) in the paper and on digital. You can help us by letting us know if we’ve made mistakes. You can email us at editor@roarnews.co.uk or write to us at Roar News, The Macadam Building, Surrey St, London WC2R 2NS. We aim to correct significant (and insignificant) factual errors as soon as we can.

Editor-in-chief: Ryan Chang.

President: Maria Geftar.

Deputy Editor: Rebekah Evans.

NEWS: Editors: Irina Anghel & Chiara Petrone. Reporters: Victor Chaix, Jack Revell, Matt Aldridge COMMENT: Editor: Mathilde Betant-Rasmussen. CULTURE: Editors: Kadambari Bahl. Reporters: Beatrix Swanson Scott.

MUSIC: Nikhil Kanukuntla & Will Evans FILM: Andreas Karmiotis SCIENCE: Charlotte Cliffe FASHION & LIFESTYLE: Editor: Zoya Afzal. Reporters: Aashfaria Anwar, Frances West STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS: Editor: Cathy Wang. Photographers: Naïké Kabore, Bianca Borissova & Afifa Suhail SUB-EDITOR: Stuti Shankar DESIGNERS: Siri Hedreen & Maku Itakura © ROAR NEWS 2017. Roar News, Tutu’s, KCLSU, Surrey St, London WC2R 2NS.

By Ryan Chang

A line in the sand over further privatisation of the NHS in London needs to be drawn, says the country’s largest union Unite.

The impact on staff over cuts to specialist equipment resulted in two major grievances signed by staff members of the new compa-

ny King’s Interventional Facilities Management (KIFM). The main concerns also included threats to pensions, loss of paid maternity leave and threats of redundancy.

Both Unison and Unite believe that King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust could be left as ‘a shell of an organisation staffed solely by a highly paid team of managers. The foot soldiers, the most valuable asset of any organisation, will be left to their fate.’

Current privatisation plans to re-

WE PRAY FOR YOUR STORIES We are always after good stories – think the good people of King’s up our newsdesk -- and don’t worry celebrity, a human interest story, would want to read about. Just get about cost, we’ll call you right back. scandal or anything else that you involved, chuck us an email or phone

duce the Trust’s tax costs include transferring key equipment, such as neonatal care incubators, to the private company.

Nursing students working in the Trust have also felt the difference in care. Danielle Tiplady, a former student nurse in King’s College London, described how the cuts affected her in her final year of studies, where the Hospital “couldn’t afford to buy a phone, or new blood pressure machines, because of the cuts.”

Call our newsroom 0207 848 2692

DANIELLE TIPLA DY... former stu dent nurse and Pres ident of KCL Nu rsing & Midwifery Socie ty

... or email us

EDITOR@ROARNEWS.CO.UK

d ROAR GET INVOLVED FFS

Calls from landlines are probably charged at local rate (who the hell has a landline these days?), mobile surely charged at mobile rates.

WHAT’S ON ED BYRNE’S MIND?

March 2017 Roar

For my personal agenda it has become a single major issue that society faces. The single most important thing is making a difference in these challenges the planet encounters.

We will make a difference through the intellectual contributions of students and staff. In terms of committed citizenship, there is no more important issue. We have to talk the talk, constantly improve our own footprint.

We’ve set an ambitious target, it will be hard as we are in old real estate, but I prefer a stretched target rather than one we will easily reach.

BILITY

We’ve had very productive discussions with the SU and myself and the President have released a joint statement, so there is a high degree of agreement. We do separate measures of student satisfaction and the TEF from the decision to raise fees. They are different decisions a university has to make. But we are duly focused on research over education. We won’t necessarily be gold, maybe we don’t deserve to be gold, but education is at the heart. Students always come first.

ON THE NSS

SUSTAINA

It’s the biggest project we’ve ever undertaken. It re-badges King’s as the university at the heart of London. We now have a signature building that shows proof that we engage with the city. The great majority of space in the complex is student space. 60% of space on the Strand was academic space. But at Bush House 60% will be student space. This move is for our students. I want to be more engaged, getting around and speaking to people. It’s been hard but we’re moving the Principal’s office to an open arrangement - a small area at the bottom of one of the smaller buildings. It’s very unassuming and I hope people will come in and out of it easily. I want everything ship shape before we move in.

BUSH HOUSE

I spoke to the cleaners on the picket lines. I’m very aware there are issues that have to be attended to. We have an absolute moral responsibility to the cleaners. We’ve been working for some time to improve things. We are almost a full-time work force and the London Living Wage has been implemented. We support the decision for our cleaners to strike. We are working with Servest to understand all of the issues our cleaners have. I am critically interested in resolving this and I want solutions on the table in the next few weeks. I feel exactly the same way about it as you do.

This is something I’ve been passionate about and it’s a major objective. Fairness and objectivity - we are beacons of society and we must reflect that.

I worked with the faculties to set targets for improvements across the board that I hold Deans accountable for and the BME Attainment Gap Working Committee have made great progress. I have been a champion of Open Doors. I give it the highest focus. If you look at my office, you’ll see a picture of someone I admire most in the world: Nelson Mandela. These issues are not peripheral for me.

CLEANER’S STRIKE

BME ATTAINMENT GAP

E.T. PHONE HOME

By CHARLOTTE CLIFFE

Three new planets able to host life have been spotted orbiting a nearby star. These planets and are similar to Earth in size and distance from the Sun, leading experts guessing at the possibility of alien life. Experts say technology advances over the next ten years may mean that we will be closer than ever to phoning extra-terrestrials.

CALL TO EDIT... for gender equality

Edit-a-thon at the Maughan A communal day of editing Wikipedia was organised in the Maughan library on Wednesday 8 March. The event aimed to combat Wikipedia’s problems with gender equality, with a focus on subjects related to arts, humanities and feminism. A 2011 survey from Wikipedia Foundation found that less than 10% of the online encyclopedia’s contributors identify as female.

Laptop thieves at large King’s College London Estates & Facilities would like to remind students and staff to keep a watchful eye on their laptops and never leave them unaccompanied, after four computers were reported stolen on Denmark Hill Campus since February 14.

IPSOS MORI CALLS OVER 35,000 STUDENTS WITHIN A MONTH No matter the barrages of emails about filling the survey, or treating cupcakes as rewards, students aren’t filling in the NSS. The NSS Boycott campaign has been going well, as IPSOS Mori has amped up its operation to call students and have them fill in the 26 questions on the spot.

One call-centre operator for IPSOS Mori has revealed that the private company has hired staff to call five students per hour, for minimum wage.

He also revealed that King’s College London students were one of the worst responders to the NSS survey.

IPSOS Mori has called over 35,000 students around the country, over the course of a month.

Hello?

It’s the NSS...

STUDENT UNION ADVICE If you start getting calls from IPSOS Mori or others asking you to fill the survey, the way to stop them emailing you and calling you is to ask them to remove you from their database. That way they won’t be able to contact you to try and get you to fill a survey which will rise your fees.

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March 2017

HARD WORK? NAH MATE, D

TIPSY...

Studies no t going well?

MALI-BLUES Recently spotted in a King’s lecture, one student seemed to have mastered the art of multitasking. Typing notes whilst drinking what appeared to be a mango flavoured Malibu, this student is who we all secretly want to be.

Facebook addiction is in my DM(A)

Flying first class

Tired of your parents complaining about how much you use your phone or laptop?

Researchers at King’s has revealed that online media usage can be significantly influenced by our genetic make-up.

In other words, it might be their fault that you’re addicted to Facebook.

The recent study found that genetics influenced individuals’ engagement with entertainment media by 37%, educational media by 34%, online gaming by 39% and social networking

by MATTHEW ALDRIDGE by 24%.

The research challenges the belief that people are passively exposed to ONE, looked at online media usage media and suggests that individuals in more than 8,500 twins. Researchengage with it based on their unique ers compared both identical twins genetic predispositions (a concept (who share 100 percent of their known as gene-environment corgenes) and non-identical twins (who relation). share 50 percent) to discover to what ‘The key component of this extent genes and environment influgene-environment correlation is ence our online media usage. choice. Individuals are not simply They were looking specifically at passive recipients of their envithe influence of heritability, which ronment but instead actively select is the extent to which behaviour can their experiences, and these selecbe attributed to inherited genetic tions are correlated with their gefactors, as opposed to the effects of netic propensities,’ said Professor the environment an individual lives Robert Plomin, senior author from in. the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychol‘Our current study, which is one of ogy & Neuroscience at the College the first investigations in this area, (IoPPN). suggests that roughly one third of ‘Our findings contradict popular the variance in online media use can media effects theories, which typibe attributed to genetic influences. cally view the media as an external We predict that future studies will entity that has some effect on ‘helpfind even greater heritability estiless’ consumers. Finding that DNA mates,’ added Ziada. substantially influences how indiSo, the next time your parents call viduals interact with the media puts you out for being addicted to World the consumer in the driver’s seat, seof Warcraft, you can inform them that lecting and modifying their media it’s 39% their fault that you’re a level exposure according to their needs,’ 90 night-elf druid and haven’t left your noted Ziada Ayorech, first author of room for three days. the study from the IoPPN. news@roarnews.co.uk The study, published in PLOS

FEATURE by

REBEKAH EVANS Deputy Editor

“It’s become a real problem,” says Dr. Thomas Lancaster during our conversation.

“You see, we don’t want students getting degrees they don’t deserve and haven’t worked for. So, of course, it’s not fair if someone cheats their way to a degree and another student misses out.”

Dr. Lancaster and I are discussing the growing practice of what is now widely known as “contract cheating”. This, he tells me, is where a student uses a third party to get their work done to achieve first class quickly, undetected by plagiarism software, and of course, relatively cheaply.

After beginning with his PhD research in the early 2000s from a computing standpoint, Dr. Lancaster together with colleague Robert Clarke conducted further investigation into the idea of contract

cheating. They are now the leading experts in the country.

Together, they found that plagiarism, particularly gained from freelancing websites appeared to be a serious academic issue.

Even dating as far back as the 60s, the idea of finding someone else to write your essays, assignments and even dissertations for you has been a popular, yet secretive convention.

Yet now, most recently these freelancing websites, which Lancaster informs me are often “legitimate businesses”, are being rejected for well-publicised organisations known as essay mills.

An essay mill is a business which allows students to commission an original piece of writing to pass off as their own. Essay mills tend to be favoured over freelancing, particularly as student information is kept private and there often comes the promise that “work will not be resold and copies will not be kept.”

It is safe to say that the student can bypass anti-cheating software such as the popular TurnItIn which is only, at present, able to detect the copying of previously published work.

However, the use of essay mills also comes with certain disadvan-

tages. When drawing comparisons between the traditional freelancing sites and newer essay mills, there appears to be a large variation in price.

“Students can hire international workers for anywhere from £10 to £20. But this is where they can find someone to actually connect directly with,” says Lancaster, “But when we look at essay mills...taking into account things like marketing and advertising, they’re charging anywhere from £100 to £200 on average.”

The phenomenon of using essay mills has raised concerns that wealthy students could be paying their way to better grades and honour’s degrees. The more money one has at one’s disposal, the easier it is to afford regular essays. Dr. Lancaster appears to agree and takes money into consideration when telling me about the number of students who opt to cheat every year.

He adds: “Rather than risk failing, paying for work is used….a couple of hundred pounds compared to fees for repeating the year…paying for work is worth it to some students.”

And it does indeed seem that in this case, money makes the world

March 2017 Roar

DADDY BOUGHT MY FIRST

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HOME OFFICE SLASHES VISAS FOR INT’LS Ed Byrne says: “it would damage UK’s attractiveness”

By REBEKAH EVANS

Plans from the Home Office could see a severe cull of international student visas over the coming years.

According to statistics published by The Guardian, the number of international students allowed to study in the UK will be slashed from 300,000 to a standards expected due to its mere 170,000 under new gov- poor levels of student satisfaction.

However, in an interview with The ernment rules.

Guardian, Principle of the College,

go around. With the rising cost of tuition fees, Poppy Noor from The Guardian argues that students may cheat as “buying essays – although wrong, feels like the logical extension of an…expensive education.”

With the recent government plan to break the £9,000 tuition limit and instead raise the annual amount to £9,250, an average student will now leave university with over £40,000 of debt.

So, as I ask Dr. Lancaster, can we now justify paying for essays when we are already paying so much for education?

In Lancaster’s opinion, the answer seems to be a resounding ‘no’: “With the tuition fees, most often it’s just a way of justifying things.

Higher fees have helped some students to morally justify cheating in their own minds.” In fact, with his research on contract cheating in South Eastern Europe set to be published in April, Lancaster appears to completely disassociate tuition fees and contract cheating from one another.

“The point is with these countries is they have no tuition fees and even they cheat, in fact they are just as involved in contract cheating as students in the UK.” The fact of the

matter appears to be that cheating is rife and it’s going global. And really, there isn’t much to do about it.

But surely, someone can think of something to be done to combat the widespread issue of contract cheating across the world? According to Dr. Lancaster, it is far more difficult than it seems.

“Most of these companies exist outside of the UK, so they don’t fall under the UK legal framework and can’t be prosecuted.”

It also does not appear to aid matters that most of these essay mills offer unsolicited services, using targeted social media advertising to capture students hook, line and sinker.

“Say you go on Twitter, and you post something like ‘Working hard all night on my essay!’. Within minutes, you’ll probably get replies from companies offering essay writing services, even though you were probably just socialising with friends.” With information like this, it isn’t difficult to see why students could easily be tempted into cheating, particularly as it is at our fingertips with the click of a button.

However, Dr. Lancaster seriously dissuades anyone from cheating.

It just doesn’t appear to be worth

it. “There’s the potential for a student’s degree to be removed after they graduate, and then the university has a duty to tell the employer that.” With cases of essay mill blackmail, where students become forced to continue to use essay sites or else run the risk of exposure, and essay mill information leaks happening across the globe, students run a severe risk of being caught either during their degree or after graduation.

So, how do we deter contract cheating? Dr. Lancaster suggests a “more engaging, interesting and varied student environment” as well as not always assessing by essays, instead favouring an approach that will equip students with the skills they will use in the workplace.

It does appear that cheating will almost always take place within Higher Education institutions, however, the research matters. If universities consider the opinions of researchers such as Dr. Lancaster, it is inevitable that a solid and secure path can be crafted towards a more honest and open academic environment.

Amber Rudd, the current edEdward Byrne stated King’s supucation secretary, had vowed a ported the TEF. Despite this he exharsher stance on international presses concern, stating, “It would students, however, most ideas damage the UK’s attractiveness about stricter regulations had as a study destination in what is since been dismissed. a very competitive global market The government had previously place.” expressed concerns about overThe government still seems to seas students outstaying their only attract the “best talent”, but visas. with international students giving The right to recruit internaover £10 billion to the economy, tional students is at the heart there are arguments that blockof university life, but in accoring those who wish to study from dance with the new Teaching abroad will do serious damage to Excellence Framework (TEF) the UK’s resources. which ranks students in terms of An international student said, bronze, silver and gold standard, “It is clear the government are prithe government now suggests reoritising the Brexit agenda. I canstrictions on the freedom to enrol not help but feel I am not welcome students from outside of the UK. here. After Brexit, animosity to‘Lower quality’ universities now wards ‘foreigners’ has increased. risk being barred from internaBut studying here, I felt part of a tional recruitment entirely. community, a community where The TEF has also been argued we all work hard. They’re telling to ‘other’ international stuus to go home, but what if I condents by Keele academic, sider this place home now?”

Aneta Hayes The international student After the unexpected debate will remain contenBrexit, the government tious, of that there is no have categorically statdoubt. In this uncertain ed that foreign stupolitical climate, varying dents do count as imviewpoints will come to migrants. Thus, with the fore. But with the harsher immigraCollege’s stance on tion laws and tightthe TEF not cateer borders, intergorical, it is diffinational students cult to determine may suffer. what the ultimate The TEF is outcome will be. based partially n news@ on NSS results, roarnews.co.uk where King’s ocAMBER RUDD... casionally falls Not polite at all below the high

LORDS VICTORIOUS THE House of Lords has rejected plans to link TEF results with tuition fees.

Peers backed an amendment that says the results of the TEF would not be used to determine the amount of tuition fees charged for both domestic and international students.

Sorana Vieru from the Nation-

al Union of Students (NUS) campaigned against the linking of fees, and she wrote on Facebook “this is a major win for students and for NUS.” However she also says that it’s a partial concession only, and it could be a one that could be taken back, as the vote moves back to the House of Commons next month.

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March 2017

GREEN PARTY LEADER SHOWS UP COPS: “IT’S A STRANGE PROTEST”

By IRINA ANGHEL and CATHY WANG Chief Photo Editor

Climate change protestors decorated the front façade of King’s College London’s Strand Building to creatively protest the College’s investment in fossil fuel companies.

At 11:00 on Saturday 4 March protesters started gathering along the Strand.

The Facebook event page promised more than 100 participants.

One could ask for whom the bell of the nearby church tolled: the actual number of people who showed up was around 30. This was partly due to the event coinciding with the NHS National Demonstration. However, the protest drew its strength not from numbers, but diversity as a good mix of people united for the cause.

Continued overleaf.

Green Party leader Sian Berry speaks with activist Roger Hallam

March 2017 Roar

3... 2... 1... CHAAARGE!

for tand -by Police s n o ti la a c es

Activists de corat e Kings’ favourite brutalist facade with flowers

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March 2017

(Continued from page 7) Asked about his motivation, one protester said: “We feel a partial divestment is not going far enough. A prestigious institution like King’s with several Nobel Laureates associated with it should be taking a principal stand and should not be bankrolling the evil that is the fossil fuel industry.”

George Barda, one of the activists, shouted: “This is all just corruption and all future generations depend on us standing up to it in large numbers”.

Sian Berry, mem-

ber of the Green Party, also participated in the rally. She sent a letter two weeks ago asking the College’s Principal to divest and reconsider sanctions on activists.

Roger Hallam, the lead activist of King’s Climate Change Emergency and PhD researcher, chatted with fellow protesters and shared occasional winks with them. He was easily spotted by his Holden Caulfield-like hunting hat, only in black.

Roger was on his eight day of hunger strike on Saturday and said he is “not feeling that well”. However, he was optimistic about the rally: “We’re excited that we’ve got lots of people to put stuff on the wall to show that this campaign is carrying on and we’re planning to win next week.

We’ve spoken to the Vice Principal and we’re expecting King’s College to do the right thing for the divestment policy. We’re carrying on with our strike and civil disobedience until that happens.”

Around 11:20 the protesters formed a long line facing the Strand building. They kneeled for a minute in silence, then rose and put their hands in the air while holding daffodils, paint brushes and coffee cups.

Finally, they marched to the wall and attacked it.

The “wall of fame” alumni were watching over. And so were the Police and a discrete member from the College’s Security staff.

The Police attempted to arrest two protesters after they spilled paint on

the wall. The protesters clarified the situation quickly saying it was an accident. They were told that, as long as they are going to clean it up, there is not going to be any problem. Asked about the protest, they both agreed that there is no better way of sending a powerful message than by doing something creative.

“It’s a strange protest”, a police-woman could be heard saying as protesters were sticking stars, placards and flowers on the walls to keep the teddy bears company.

The colourful banners have rather grim messages: “DIVEST NOW or we will die” reads one of them. Only grim or also true? It depends on the College’s actions whether we might have to test the answer ourselves.

PHD TWO-WEEK HUNGER STRIKE

ROGER HALLAM... in his Holden Caulfield-like hunting hat

HALLAM HUNGRY EXCLUSIVE by

VICTOR CHAIX News Reporter

Roger Hallam has been expelled a second time for refusing to pay his second term tuition fees until the College divests.

On Wednesday the 1st of March, Roger had been reinstated and his emergency expulsion cancelled.

Having reached 356 supporters, the petition on change.org asserted that ‘it is in everyone’s interests to let me back in’.

However, after declaring that he won’t pay his course fees until proper negotiations are made, Roger was expelled again, receiving a letter from King’s saying that he breached Student College

Regulations.

Roger has made clear that his choice to not pay his fees was a “deliberate act of conscience.”

In a two-and-a-half hour chat with Vice-principal Chris Mottershead, last week, Roger was able to resolve the situation and agree to meet with senior staff members this Wednesday.

Speaking of not paying his tuition fees, Roger Hallam has said: “Morally I think that it is right, I don’t want to be in a university that’s addicted to fossil fuels.”

“I think that it is incompatible with humanitarian values.”

He has also stated that if he is satisfied with the College’s proposals, he will come off his nearlytwo-week hunger strike and pay his outstanding fees.

Roger refuses to pay second term tuition fees “until the College divests” College suspends him a second time

VP: ‘I’m concerned about Roger’s health’

●FULL DIVESTMENT BY 2025 “A REASONABLE GOAL” ●INCREASED FUNDING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE RESEARCH

The Vice-president of the College stated that he was sympathetic to Roger’s protest, and also promised full divestment from fossil fuels by 2025.

“What Roger has done is to encourage us to adopt a more leading position than the one we previously had, and that’s perfectly appropriate.” he said.

VICE PRINCIPAL...

Chris Mottershead

However for Chris Mottershead, investment is a non-issue. As the university currently invests through fund managers, fossil fuel companies are not involved with the transaction directly.

“There is no material benefit to the environment by divesting. We don’t

have direct investments in fossil fuel companies, but even if we did and we divested, there will be no change in the amount of fossil fuels that are burned. However if we switch the lights out, there will be a reduction in fossil fuel production.”

The Vice Principal argued that the utility budget of the College was much easier to control and reduce with direct climate benefit.

“We won’t be able to divest right away without withdrawing financial support for academic activity.

We’re talking a loss of hundreds of thousands of pounds, and significant amount of academic jobs and studentships, all without climate benefit.”

He ended by saying: “I’m deeply concerned about Roger’s health, but I’m not about to lead the university down the route that is not logical because of a PhD student having a hunger strike.”

However he reaffirmed last year’s commitment to 15% reinvestment in green energy research, and get rid investments of tar sands and thermal coal.

And the award goes to...

The Dr Abbas Khan Medal was awarded to Yasmin Milner this year for her work with marginalised communities. In the space of 10 years Yasmin has taught English in schools in rural Venezuela and Nepal, volunteered with HIV services in Botswana, trekked the Indian Himalayas giving medical care to rural communities, and run workshops for teenagers to raise awareness of mental health issues.

A medical graduate from King’s, Dr Abbas Khan tragically passed away in 2013 after he was detained for undertaking humanitarian work in Syria. The award recognises his contribution to humanitarian efforts.

Security staff strike ballot Intercollegiate halls could be affected by security staff taking industrial action.

University of London Security officers could go on strike shortly, as the their union has given notice on 3 March of a ballot demanding an end to zero-hour contracts, a 25% increase in pay for all security officers, and increasing the salary of the lowest paid officer to around £12 per hour.

Around 50 security officers looking after University of London buildings, including Senate House, Connaught Hall, College Hall and International Hall will be affected by the strike ballot.

March 2017 Roar

SEGREGATED CLASSES the Chinese students on e right and everyone els on the left

The great divide...

In some classes in King’s up to 60% of its students don’t speak English as a first language.

Master’s student Cheryl Teh finds herself caught between the divide. “On one side of the class you have all the Chinese people, and on the other side of the class you have everyone else… it’s like the Red Sea.”

This creates problems where group

discussions are dominated by English speakers, while the other half of the class is completely silent.

It’s not that Chinese students are unwilling to participate, says Cheryl, but it was because many of the concepts in class that they understand were taught in Chinese.

“Class discussion is stilted because of the amount of translating that goes on.” She adds.

The problem is more complicated than simply the fact that Chinese stu-

dents aren’t fluent in English.

Cassie Fang, a Chinese Master’s student in Banking and Finance, describes how a simple group-work exercise during one of her seminars was difficult for Chinese students.

She says: “Firstly communicating with Westerners is a problem, and there’s no dialogue because of the language differences. Also Westerners and Chinese think differently, so you have this situation where each side thinks the other side is stupid - and that’s an intimidating thought.”

Chinese students are willing to participate in class discussions or speak English - it’s just that there’s no breathing space for them to make mistakes.

Cheryl adds: “What it needs is consideration and patience, and understanding of where Chinese students are coming from. There’s a certain amound of disconnect because of the language barrier.”

n We’re always on the

Chris Bryant, who recently resigned Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, came to King’s to speak about his experiences in politics to students.

On the subject of revered icon and alumnus Desmond Tutu, he says “One of the most brilliant human beings ever, most infectious laugh ever, and thoroughly pro-gay. There’s a gay man on him bursting out.”

BYRNE-ING A student was spotted in Waterloo Library taking a break by dancing in her chair while listening to music on her laptop. That’s what we all have to do at some point as the deadlines and exam season

ISSUES

June Trump protest A protest against Trump’s imminent visit to the UK has been announced, with a date set provisionally on 5th to 8th October 2017.

lookout for talented photojournalists!

GUNS BLAZING OR SOFTY-SOFTY?

CLIMATE CULTURE FOR OUR FUTURE

s Tang

RACISM, OR JUST A BAD JOKE?

PHOTO OF THE YEAR... Smokebombs on the Strand - taken by Roar photographer Afifa Suhail

Labour MP Bryant

Nickola

9

Comment By CHIARA PETRONE

Following recent disputes between King’s Climate Change Emergency (KCCE) protesters and security staff, it’s important to make a note of the work done by student campaigners and of the resulting decisions taken by the College.

The latest clashes shouldn’t undermine the fact that other groups such as Fossil Free KCL have long been collaborating closely and successfully with King’s to reduce its’ carbon footprint.

In fact, these two KCLSU groups have had two very different ways of approaching the same issue.

On one hand, KCCE has changed the landscape of student campaigning for divestment by convincing the College to react quickly through rarely-before-seen student activists’ arrests, and perhaps the first two week hunger strike in the history of UK higher education. And they have obtained what they wanted.

Before moving on to these recent developments, let’s quickly recap the situation until now. Some efforts had been made towards divestment from fossil fuels. Most notably, the College Council decided in September 2016 to divest away from thermal coal and tar sands, the ‘dirtiest’ forms of fossil fuels; and initiated a proposal to invest 15% of King’s £179 million endowment into low-carbon, green and ethical funds. However, KCCE claimed the College had oversold this small gesture as it still allowed funding for companies with up to 10% investment

A student was shocked when his seminar leader said without a hint of irony that he “didn’t trust Chinese people”.

The seminar leader quoted China’s economy’s growth figures in a Politics, Philosophy & Economics class. When Nickolas Tang, a second year student, asked him how much he trusted the figures, the response was given “Zero percent. I don’t trust Chinese people.”

There were at least three other ethnically Chinese students present in the class. One who prefers to remain anonymous said: “although the incident was bad, I don’t think it can warrant the claim of ‘racist response’ but more of insensitive joke. In the context I assumed it was a poor joke, along with asking a random oriental individual, ‘are you Chinese?’”

“It was racist and it wasn’t a joke because he repeated it again.” Nickolas asserts. “I didn’t know how to ask for an apology. There were four of us who were Chinese and he just said it in front of us.”

Nickolas has raised the issue with VP Welfare & Community Mahamed Abdullahi, but he has yet to receive a reply. He is currently running for People of Colour officer in the KCLSU spring elections.

A College spokesperson said: “King’s College London is proud of its diverse and inclusive community, which comprises students and staff from more than 150 countries worldwide and we are absolutely committed to respect for all of our staff and students. We take complaints of this nature very seriously and are currently investigating the incident.”

in coal and tar. Also, the university still invests heavily in oil and gas: according to the Guardian, King’s has an estimated £14.317.9 million invested in fossil fuels. These funds go to companies such as Exxon Mobil, which has a very bad reputation of knowingly lying about climate change and turning a blind eye to human rights violations. And this doesn’t even include the money they invest in the arms industry.

Our college’s climate emergency activists maintained their request that the decision to divest fully be taken straight away.

Now, it seems KCCE has obtained what they asked for: King’s has pledged to divest from all fossil fuels by between 2020 and 2025, to increase investment in renewable green energy from 15% to 50% by 2025 and to fund research on how to bring about the massive cultural change necessary to deal with the climate change situation.

To be honest, I was a bit skeptical when I walked in the spray-painted Great Hall full of wide-eyed high-schoolers on their open day, perplexed and slightly amused King’s students, and a couple of very annoyed, but still very British, policemen. I felt it was unnecessary to antagonize an institution that had, after all, been at least partly responsive to the activists’ requests: many UK universities were divesting and King’s would succumb under the pressure sooner or later.

Then again, it now seems to me that sooner is better than later on matters as urgent as climate change: does it really matter whether part of the Strand buildings’ limestone has been damaged or not as long as the College has set a deadline for full divestment?

10 Roar

March 2017

KING’S ACS STORM GREENWOOD THEATRE l FT.

CULTURE SHOCK-INGLY EXCELLENT!

UCL’s Panafrik is dead - everyone’s come to CULTURE SHOCK instead! stop “A lot of contextual issues that happen in the Afro-Caribbean society that is us getting to where we want to be. Mental illness is something who frowned upon in our communit y. It affects a lot of our young people heard feel uncomfortable telling their parents because our parents never stupid, of mental illness. The older generation always says: ‘You’re being we you’re not being good to your faith, you’re being disrespect ful’ Because have big have so much struggles in our communit y our parents want us to jobs – being a doctor, lawyer.”

- Meg Wamithi, PPE first year

FEATURE By

RYAN CHANG Editor-in-chief

Photography by Konrad Zugaj

IT’S the most glamourous culture event of the year, and King’s Afo-Caribbean Society (ACS) kicked off the beginning of spring with another spectacular performance at this year’s Culture Shock.

“Destiny” was the word on everyone’s lips at Greenwood Theatre as the venue was packed full to the brim and the audience was treated to two nights of witty sketches, a plethora of dances from South Africa, Senegal, even Bollywood and hip hop dances.

To top it all off, the nights invariably ended with special acts from big-name grime, hip-hop and R&B artists, and a trip to Guy’s Bar for the after-party.

King’s ACS is renowned throughout the country for its Culture Shock performances, having run consecutively for at least 12 years.

The proceeds for the event were donated to the African-Caribbean Leukemia Trust

(ACLT), a charity for a cause collectively agreed by the members of the group.

“Culture Shock is about exploring and celebrating Afro-Caribbean culture. It’s not really out there, but we celebrate our difference.”

Shares Ayo Olukoya, a second-year Political Economy student and publicity officer for ACS.

Tackling a complex issue “Culture-shock” is a term meaning detachment or the feeling of being disoriented when one moves to a cultural environment different to one’s own, and this year’s play revolved around the shock of coming to university for the first time as its central theme.

The play follows the protagonist Bukky “BK” Kwarteng - a half-Ghanian, half-Nigerian girl conflicted between chasing her dreams of being a chef and her family’s expectations for her to be a doctor.

With scenes spanning from her receiving GCSE results, to meeting the sleazy pastor’s son in a fresher’s party, to choosing her careers in university, the audience is taken through a whirlwind trip of a transitional period in everyone’s life – and in BK’s case also one that places her in a culturally different environment.

BK’s best friend Rose disapproves of her decision to become a chef, and this causes BK to doubt herself: “My mum and my friends think

WE’RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR

March 2017 Roar

. GRIME STARS DONAE’O & KOJO FUNDS

11

DIRECTOR...

HARRET OHEMENG

Second year Law student Harriet Ohemeng, along with Prez Chike Oforka survived on “just four hours of sleep” to prepare for the show. Roar speaks to her on what happens behind the scenes for the production and she shares inspiring words for future directors of their own Culture Shock.

Directing Culture Shock is a huge role how did you manage that?

Donae’O tweets his thanks to KCL ACS

It was a lot of work! I was a fresher last year and the experience was so good that I was already thinking ideas for this year.

Over the summer I came up with the storyline for the play, and over Christmas I wrote the script.

“We’re dealing with the cultural barrier between parents and ourselves”

What was going on through your head when you first learnt of Culture Shock?

I was excited, but I didn’t know how big it was. I think it was actually until I did it last year – I was in the opening act and they were saying ‘Oh, Stormzy’s in the audience’ and I was like ‘Oh my god!’ It’s crazy.

That was when I realised that Culture Shock was a big deal. And even now, even when I go to law firms and tell people I’m from King’s, they say ‘I’ve come to King’s before to see Culture Shock.’

These are people from Leicester, or Manchester, so it’s nice to know that ACS has such a big rep.

Stormzy made a surprise appearance in last year’s Culture Shock

I’m being stupid and irrational… I think I might be depressed.”

“I have, of late,” Hamlet tells us, “but wherefore I know not – lost all my mirth.” Everyone living has ocassionally experienced that feeling, and Stormzy was not one shy to reveal it in Lay Me Bare, the final track of his debut album Gang Signs & Prayer.

BK’s character reflects what other bi-cultural people, particularly those coming from Africa, have to struggle with – wanting to pursue their own passions yet at the same time having to please their parents.

“It’s interesting to navigate the different conflicts she has.” shares Mentenso Kotomah, a 1st year advertising student and the actress who plays the protagonist BK. “I’ve discovered that there are universal things that us as Africans and as black people have to experience. Even between the Ghanian/Nigerian division, we all go through very similar things. Just be kind to one another because you don’t know what anyone else is going through.”

A family away from home

For many of its members, ACS presents a social community for its members that gives African-Caribbean students a voice and a platform.

Meg Wamithi agrees and says “The higher you get up to the league tables in university, the harder it is to find people who look like you. I

learnt a lot about myself in ACS and it gives me the potential to say ‘yeah I can do that’.”

Rayana Weyerstahl, a 1st year Psychology undergrad part of the Afrobeats performance, praised the Society’s involvement with raising issues that are not usually talked about in African-Caribbean cultures, such as men’s mental health and depression.

She added: “I feel less lost in London because I’m from Africa, and it has been great to find people from home.”

Choreographer Maaha Suleiman said: “Afro-Caribbean people come from a completely different background and culture, and these differences can make one feel homesick. Coming to ACS, I feel less homesick and people are like back home.”

However the society is far from exclusive only to Afro-Caribbean students. Ayo Olukoya says: “It’s inclusive for anyone to come, and we’re not exclusive at all.”

When words can’t express... CULTURE SHOCK In addition to the popular Francophone dances, which featured traditional sets from French-speaking Afro-Caribbean countries, the audience was wowed by the energetic Bollywood and hip-hop mix-up, which gave a diverse edge to the Afro-Caribbean performances. The spectacular traditional South African rain

dance celebrating womanhood with a blend of Khosa and Botswanian music, complimented the modern hip-hop dance routine.

The catwalk shows featured models dressed in traditional Ethiopian attire, fitted and designed by students. Behind the stage Maaha Suleiman, a 2nd year in Global Health and Social Medicine, prepared models for the catwalk. It was her first time ever choreographing, but she said: “Before I was stressed about it, but now I see it on stage, and when you see it come to life it’s all worth it!”

Audience members would well remember last year’s Culture Shock, when grime star Stormzy made a surprise appearance alongside Bonkaz, and members of the ACS were treated to a starstruck show of the duo.

This year’s special acts included Tion Wayne and Kojo Funds on Thursday, with West-London artist Donae’O joining the stage on the last night. The performances ended with the whole theatre on their feet in a rousing chorus of applause.

This year’s play talked about mental helath and depression. Do you think it helps to talk about these things?

I think that it’s relatable to a lot of people.

One thing I’ve noticed was that I met many people saying they wanted to do something different from their parents.

Since Culture Shock is such a huge platform I felt it was important to highlight important issues such as mental health and depression, and also dealing with the pressures of the cultural barrier between the parents and us, and getting them to understand our viewpoint.

When you come to university and you meet a lot of people and there are so many people who are so driven and focused already that perhaps it makes it harder for you.

It’s easy to see what other people are doing and trying to compare yourself, especially when studying isn’t cheap there’s an extra drive to get a secure job.

And since this is a university paper, many people reading this will be considering directing their own Culture Shock show. How do they do that?

Not gonna lie, I had no idea where to start.

I felt like I was thrown in the deep end, but I think that’s the best way to learn.

You just learn from trial-and-error, just don’t be afraid to try new things out. If they go wrong it’s fine, because you always have time to amend it.

And the earlier you start, the better. If I didn’t start working on this during summer, there’s no way it could’ve gone ahead.

Thank you for watching, hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed creating it!

FRESH & TALENTED STUDENT JOURNALISTS bit.ly/ApplytoRoar

12 Roar

March 2017

HEAR US

ROAR

Breaking the barrier

NO matter where you’re from, when English is not your first language it’s going to be a struggle to integrate with class discussions.

For these students the barrier is not only tangible and creates problems to their learning, but they are also emotional ones.

It takes no effort for native English speakers to take part in a class. For Cassie (See Page 9) she has to convert what others say into Chinese, then understand the content, and if needed translate her answer back in English. Having other people looking at you weirdly during the whole process doesn’t help.

It’s not that students like Cassie don’t want to communicate or interact in English, but simply they understand concepts better in their own native language Professors could bridge the gap with simplified explanations, and both sides need make an effort to reach out to others.

A discussion without a different perspective is just one-side talk.

We need to think inclusively about these students too, who qualified for the same course as everyone else but just so happen to speak a foreign language as a mother tongue.

College transparency Taking down the PREVENT warning from the email sign-in page does not clear away students’ worries that whatever they write in their emails will be subject to scrutiny and investigation.

This can only happen with the College talking and listening directly to students, particularly Muslim students who have been disproportionately affected by the PREVENT agenda. Whether there is or there isn’t an explicit warning that email monitoring is active and in place because of PREVENT, an open debate is long overdue and the College must be transparent about its practices.

The College must find a way to reassure students who are affected by the PREVENT DUTY, that they are free to express themselves.

Frightening Fees THE rising cost of university will inevitably leave some struggling to keep up.

With fees being raised to £9,250, it is difficult to see when the debate over how much we pay to study will ever draw to a close. £250 could be viewed as a negligible amount. However, when we take into account the cost of living, this increase may just be the straw to break the camel’s back.

With crippling student debt remaining close by on the horizon of university life, the thought of fees rising by any amount is similar to the feeling you get after watching a horror movie - dread.

However, with a freeze in fees secured for returning 2017/18 King’s students, it seems there is a silver lining (albeit, a small one) to this frightening cloud.

by

REBEKAH EVANS

Translated by Chiara Petrone

After the parties and events finish, the lights go out and the guests have gone home, what is left behind is far more significant than what you would think.

In fact, the mess is inconsequential in comparison to those who are tasked with cleaning it up. These otherwise faceless people include Pilar Escobar who has worked at King’s College for 4 years.

Pilar tries to convey to us the depth of the work she must carry out. This work was often too much to bear and Pilar was signed off for 10 days with arm pain due to repetitive strain injury. Despite this, upon her eventual return to work, she was assigned the same tasks.

“We have asked for a trailer for heavy things,” she states, “They brought it and then they took it away again.”

Whilst King’s staff and faculty party the night away, in events, Pilar says, like Saint Valentine’s Day, Servest cleaners are left to wait on the sidelines. They must then bear the heavy work load that is far too often left afterwards. Everything eaten, drunk and discarded is diligently picked up and disposed of by cleaners like Pilar. However, despite their hard work and dedication, often going above and beyond for the cause, these cleaners have reached breaking point.

“We have complained about the hoovers because there are a lot of damaged hoovers. We have taken photos, we have sent the enquiry, but they still haven’t come to see the hoovers. It was about one month ago that we complained about that.”

Cleaning the corridors, halls and rooms of King’s takes a lot of effort, but the staff numbers are simply not sufficient enough.

“When Servest had just arrived, there were a lot of cuts.

There were three of us here and so we would rotate…but there are eight floors, so we would start on the 7th floor and go down to the ground floor. And of course, it is not the same hoovering one floor to hoovering eight floors.”

Pilar is studying English for personal reasons. But because Servest was constantly changing her and her colleague’s hours, many of them have stopped studying. “I came from Spain and there I was the head chef of my kitchen for 15 years.

I want to work in what I like, in cooking, and that’s why I’m studying English. I don’t want to keep cleaning bathrooms all my life, not that there’s any dishonor in that.”

But despite morale being low, Pilar tries to remain positive, “More than anything I am grateful towards the students and teachers for all the support they are showing us. There is a lot of support, we feel very encouraged by you. But as for King’s; solve our problem. They have the maximum authority to say what can and can’t be done.”

As the cleaners of King’s struggle to achieve their aims and put an end to their excessive workloads, the campaign to provide more support continues to grow and gain support College-wide.

CLEANING N

SIMP NO ENOU STA

Cuts in staff num term staff shortage

Damaged hoover working near rat-inf

“Tell King’s Colle aren’t enough peop Servest offers changes The company that King’s outsources its cleaners to has reached new agreements with cleaning staff after their strike actions in January, and the main achievement is introduction of more working staff in the past few weeks.

King’s cleaners have agreed to suspend the dispute on a mutual agreement that Servest would ‘recruit and mobilise an additional team of no less

March 2017 Roar

NIGHTMARES

MPLY OT UGH AFF

mbers leave longes

rs and no gloves nfested areas

ege London there ple.” than 10 workers’, start delivering regular staff briefings, and introducing a process for cover staff.

Some managers were also replaced with new staff who could also speak Spanish.

Alex Nightingale, Secretery for King’s Unison branch, has pointed out that while open dialogue has been established with the private company, many complex issues still remain unsolved - there is still scant evidence that all the promised staff are in place and that they would only be used as cover - addressing to a certain extent only one part of the problem.

EXCLUSIVE by

IRINA ANGHEL News Editor

13

DEPORTED NO MORE!

Constantin exposes dangerous working conditions and lack of proper equipment under Servest.

After the cleaners gather the trash bags from classrooms and corridor, someone has to collect them all and take them to the loading bay at -2. There is only one person on this job at King’s College’s Strand Campus and that person is Constantin Rogoz. He is Romanian and has been working in the College for almost 9 years.

Constantin is not complaining about the job itself. It is the working conditions and Servest’s refusal to provide him proper equipment that trouble him.

“It’s been 2 years and I’ve been buying all the equipment myself, that’s my no.1 problem.”

Proper equipment is essential for Constantin’s job. He requires special footwear, or otherwise he could cut his feet with the broken bottles on the floor.

Since London is not exactly the definition of a dry place, one jacket is not enough to get him through a working day as it quickly gets soaked.

However, gloves are the most important for Constantin. They have to be changed often because, once water gets inside them, he is in danger of being infected. “Two colleagues of mine died on this job before me from infections– apparently, they weren’t taking good care of themselves”, he says, “I got pneumonia”.

But water is not the only threat: there are also rats in the loading bay area. “When I come in the morning, I start kicking the waste containers so that rats will go away”, says Constantin. Recently, a new company was employed to handle this situation and the things have improved, but Constantin recalls that there used to be as many as 30 rats: “It was horrifying, they are as big as cats!”

The main danger comes from the fact that rats urinate over the tops of the waste containers, so he can easily get infected without special equipment.

Working conditions changed two years ago, when Servest entered the picture. Before that, Constantin used to buy the equipment, bring the receipt and get reimbursed by the company. He tried to do the same with Servest once, but they never gave him his money back.

The gloves, says Constantin, are not even that expensive when bought in bulk, at £1.50 a pair.

Constantin’s experience reveals yet another dimension of Servest’s unfair treatment of its employees. The company is not only underpaying and overworking them, but also endangering their health just by having them show up for work.

In Romania, you would call this “the candy on top of the coliva” (“coliva” being the cake served to commemorate a departed relative).

Servest could clean the appallingly messy working conditions with minimum effort. Unfortunately, ignorance requires no effort at all.

Successful petition saves first class student

A change.org petition to stop a Sri Lankan student from being deported has been successful.

Shiromini Satkunarajah is three months away from graduating with a first in Electronic Engineering in Bangor University, but after a shock arrest and move to Yarl’s Wood Removal Centre it appeared as if Shiro-

mini and her mother would return to their country of origin.

However, after the petition and support from local MP Hywel Williams, both Shiromini and her mother were released.

Shiromini states “I cannot wait to continue with my studies.”

Vegan not-so-delicious Abbey Dunham, King’s alumni and registered dietitian, states she would never prescribe a vegan diet as it “is a personal decision I have made and entirely separate to my professional interactions with patients and the public.”

Despite following a vegetarian diet herself and recognising the fad surrounding adopting veganism, Dunham instead favours supporting people through the diet they choose “if they do make the decision to reduce or eliminate animal products from their diet.”

MODEL...

Sabbatical officer

Old & soon-tobe retired

“So many people are panicking about elections, meanwhile I’m sat here trying to remember how to make a good pancake and doing emails about surveys while I’m ill.... Is this what it feels to be an outgoing and purposeless Sabb?” - Ben Hunt n Just joking Ben, we love you.

The Acid test

14 Roar

March 2017

All comfortable?

EXCLUSIVE by

JACK REVELL News Reporter

Psychedelic research in the UK is undergoing something of a renaissance, and King’s College London is in a strong position to take advantage of breakthrough work in treating psychological conditions.

Last year, Robin Carhart-Harris and David Nutt of Imperial College published a study in The Lancet showing psilocybin, the active chemical in magic mushrooms, to have significant benefit in the treatment of depression.

This study has far-reaching implications for future research and indicates that the interest in psychedelics in the psychiatric community in gaining traction.

and with no known medical use.

Prohibition has put an end to scientific work and left a huge gap in the literature. That is starting to change with the research taking place now.

Rucker became interested in psychedelics because he was ‘dissatisfied with what I was able to offer my patients’.

Since the invention of Prozac and CBT in the late 1980s, psychiatry hasn’t developed any substantially new medical treatments. The work being done on psychedelics suggests a paradigm shift may be occurring.

Rucker excitedly reports that ‘it’s a lifetime’s worth of research’.

5-10 year estimate for acceptance in society It is not only the medical profession who are interested either. The King’s Society for Psychedelic Studies has around 500 mailing list subscriptions and 100 or so paid memberships.

Their recent talk on LSD in psychotherapy sold out the Wolfson lecture hall in half an hour and had over 3000 people on the waiting list.

President Dave King started the society in 2015. Since then, 7 other student societies have sprung up across London.

King sees his society as offering a platform for this exciting new research but cautions that ‘we’re still way off using these as actual medications’.

‘Those who are involved in psychedelic research now are very aware of what happened last time. They don’t describe psychedelics as panaceas or as something that is going to radically change the world’.

He added, ‘In many ways psychedelics have changed the world but the religious zeal has been replaced and I think that’s a good thing’.

5-10 years is the cautious estimate most scientists give before real conversations start taking place over the regulation and control of drugs in wider society. The research speaks for itself however and this is clearly an area that the College is interested in.

The Maudsley is currently producing medical grade MDMA for a study being carried out in Cardiff by eminent researcher Ben Sessa on alcoholism.

Rucker is insistent that the recreational and scientific use of illegal substances be kept separate but notes that prohibition has not worked.

‘When and if this does become a political discussion’, he says, ‘I would like to have the evidence to inform upon it’.

‘A paradigm shift may be The Maudsley Hospital in King’s Denmark Hill Cam- happening.’ pus holds one of only five schedule one licenses allowing the use of psychedelic drugs in research and treatment.

The Maudsley is a world-class referral clinic for people with treatment-resistant psychological conditions.

Anxiety, depression, OCD, phobias, and other neurotic conditions are where the research indicates psychedelic therapy may help.

‘It’s a lifetime’s worth of research’

James Rucker, a psychiatrist working at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience (IoPPN), is looking to establish a similar pilot study to the one carried out at Imperial and hopes that his research will spark a host of other studies into the effects of these drugs.

Rucker says he wants to inform the debate, contribute to the evidence, and start to convince colleagues in the medical profession that the utility is there.

Since molecules of LSD and Psilocybin were isolated and patented by Albert Hoffman in the late 1940’s, governments and research organizations across the globe have been interested in understanding the effects these drugs have.

Prior to prohibition there was a wealth of research being carried out on the medical benefits of psychedelics.

Under the current UK law, psychedelics like psilocybin, LSD, MDMA, DMT, Mescaline etc. are classified as Schedule One, Class A substances, prohibited for sale and consumption

n Do you have a story?

Chuck it to us at news@roarnews.co.uk

March 2017 Roar

SURGICAL KNIFE OF THE REALM

15

FEATURE by

AASHFARIA ANWAR Lifestyle Reporter

Amidst the alumni of King’s, we have an astounding member who has operated on the former King George VI.

Well, the Jared Harris adaptation in Netflix’s award winning series, The Crown. Mr. Pankaj Chandak, was brought on by the director, Stephen Daldry, as an advisor for the recreation of the famous operation performed by Sir Clement Price Thomas on King George VI in Buckingham Palace, 1951.

However, through a happy turn of events, Chandak and his surgical team were brought on to perform the actual surgery you see in the series,

GRUESOME... PROSTHETICS MODEL OF SURGERY

the first time a real medical team has ever recreated a procedure in television.

Chandak was a past GKT student, anatomy demonstrator under the guidance of Professor Harold Ellis, and now is a Specialist Registrar in Multi-Organ Transplant Surgery at Guy’s & St. Thomas’ and Great Ormond Street Hospitals.

Not only has Chandak received the the Royal Society of Medicine (RCM) Adrian Tanner Prize and Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) Joseph Lister Prize, Chandak has also revolutionized the field of transplant surgery, winning the RCM Norman Tanner Medal for his innovative techniques using 3D printing in assisting with a complicated paediatric kidney transplant surgery.

Chandak and his team 3D printed the patient’s abdomen and the adult donor kidney, in order to meticulously plan exactly how the adult kidney would fit in the child recipient and the best steps to perform the complex surgery.

Changes behind the scenes Daldry, director of Billy Elliot, contacted the RCS for an advisor.

From there, the RCS put him in touch with Professor Ellis who previously worked at Westminster Hospital, employer of Sir Clement. Once this happened, it was Professor Ellis who then directed Daldry onto Chandak, an individual who had advised Daldry on the famous pneumonectomy Sir Clement had performed to remove a cancerous tumour from the King’s lung.

It was Daldry’s desire to use a real medical team to recreate the surgery, however, he was hesitant and unsure who to employ. Chandrak convinced Daldry to let him and his surgical team perform the famous surgery.

Chandak’s consultant and lead professor, Nizam Mamode played Sir Clement and Sister Kim Well alongside Sister Abigail Keen, part of the transplant team, played scrub nurses. All in all, it took twelve hours of filming to create the entire scene.

When I asked Chandak how it felt to swap the operating theatre for a film set, he described, “Once we entered the chamber and set recreated like the operating theatre from 1952

Now that’s the ROYAL cut!

ALUMNI CUTS OPEN KING GEORGE VI ON NETFLIX

it felt like a normal theatre and we got into the mode of being surgeons operating as per a normal day. The crew didn’t really come into the picture. This is what the director wanted! He wanted it to be as realistic as possible.”

Life-like prosthetics Chandak worked closely with the props and prosthetics team, ensuring authentic medical tools and equipment from that time, were obtained. Chandak explains, “The props team were brilliant, I’d describe to them the type of instruments and clothing used in the famous operation, and the next day they were magically able to produce an exact replica of what I had

described.” The prosthetics team (who worked on Gladiator) sought Chandak’s guidance in creating a lifelike body and lung to be created and Chandak describes, “The prosthetic body was incredibly lifelike, complete with an incredibly real looking beating heart. There was meticulous attention to detail on set to recreate the surgical world from 1951.”

Body on set donated to King’s museum Along with his long list of achievements and CV, Chandak is also an honorary lecturer and research fellow at King’s. He asked the production team if they could donate the prosthetic body used in

the series, to the Gordon Museum of Pathology at King’s. The Gordon Museum is a brilliant teaching and training institute, housing about 8,000 pathological specimens, with floors of organs in Victorian jars and display cases. Its collection is ever-growing, containing England’s first stethoscope and a few unusual specimens, such as a mummified body. The soon to be donated prosthetic body from The Crown, Chandak explains, “This was a vision I had from the beginning so I persuaded the Production team and the Gordon Museum to take the bodies so we could use them for teaching, and it tells a nice story of

a team from Guys that took part in an historical drama for a real operation that took place on the King.”

If you’d like to nab a ticket, then look out on the KCLSU, King’s Players and MSA websites and social media pages to hear when you can book your ticket.

It is truly inspiring seeing medicine and culture joining in such a way. Although medicine has been portrayed in television and film many times before, it is a first for a real medical team to be cast, and it is so exciting that King’s is part of this historical moment in Television and Medicine.

RakishLIFESTYLE Tastiest eats near Strand & Guy’s campuses Page 18

16 Roar

March 2017

CULTURE, ART

ALUMNI STAR

Emily Barrington graduated in Geography but her higher calling was acting. Gaining roles in The White Queen, The Inbetweeners 2, 24: Live Another Day and Humans, Emily has hit the big time.

Despite this, she still has the love for the theatre she developed at King’s.

In fact, her most recent performance was in Dead Funny at the Vaudeville, just a few minutes from Strand Campus.

CHATTE

will be per THE Malaysian Society sical pro mu forming their latest ra. Tackling duction named Diaspo in a foreign themes of alienation mines how exa land, the musical pes individual personal conflict sha es it to be a ity. The director promis find ‘home’ to hit show and a quest of Malaysian through the exploration spectives. per culture and clashing

Email: culture@roarnews.co.uk Twitter: @R_Rated EDITOR: Kadambari Bahl

THE CHANGING FACES OF THE ACADEMY

by Andreas Karmiotis, Film Each year the Academy Awards rewards the best of the film industry but has come under fire regarding representation and diversity. Most believe that an out of touch generation deciding the victor has begun to threaten the validity of the award; particularly following last year’s racial controversy.

However, this year, the 89th Oscar nominees usher in the winds of change. A remarkable number of young and diverse professionals and films have been nominated and rewarded. In this age of social media, Stardom and Hollywood seem more attainable than ever and in response to this the Academy is finally awarding quality over age, race or fame. Though some may see this as a desperate PR struggle to gain approval from the public, this year’s Oscars ceremony welcomes the new generation by showing that their talents will not be overlooked - keeping the spirit of the film industry alive.

Leading this charge is the technicolor wonder “La La Land,” whose director Damien Chazelle (32 years old) is the youngest winner of the best director award.

Its 14 nominations and great success has largely been attributed to the film’s youthful energy and charm. Nominated for 8

Oscars, “Moonlight” too has a focus on youth, following a discriminated young man played by newcomers Trevante Rhodes, 26; Ashton Sanders, 20; and Alex R. Hibbert, 12. Viola Davis’ historic supporting actress win (first black woman to win the triple crowns of acting) as well as the best picture win of Moonlight,is proof that the Academy is learning from their mistakes and giving more diverse films the recognition they deserve.

Last year proved to be a melting pot for young, new talent; a lot of whom were recognised by the Academy. Lucas Hedges (20) is this year’s youngest acting nominee for ‘Manchester by the Sea” while first time nominees Andrew Garfield (33) and Ruth Negga (35) have got a lot of buzz leading up to the awards.

Potential film makers and performers alike should take heart in the Academy’s decisions this year; its focus on both diversity and youth working to distance the awards from the image of a board of stuffy, old white men. The Academy is finally grounding themselves in the 21st century and realising that while the prestige of the awards remains, some traditions are better off buried.

KING’S FOOL S performed their February sketch show in Desmond Tutu’s. A new and original sketch comedy society, they arrange regular group trips to see a range of comedy shows in and around London, as well as visiting local comedy and theatre festivals.

-

Krippa - F*ck Donald Trump Youtube - F*ck Donald Trump (prod. by Lord Quan) @RapSoc Rapsoc member Krippa rips Donald Trump a new one as he rhymes “Fuck Donald Trump, Trump. You’re not a cunt because that is a compliment. You cannot even spell, you are fucking incompetent.”

CHATTE

KING’S MUSICAL THEATRE grou p will be putting on their newe st production “PARADE”, retelling true events from the 1913 trial of Jewish factory manager Leo Fran k, who was accused of murdering 13 year -old girl Mary Phagan.

Tickets can be purchase d through the KCLSU website, and the show will play on a limited run from 29-31 March at the Gree nwood Theatre, Guy’s Campus.

FRONTWOMA Becky Wixon (far left)

THE

Keira-Anee Photography

OUR T EXCELLENO UT N “A PLAYERS PN AMED DE STREETCAR SIRE” INTERVIEW + EXCLUSIVEEDIRECTOR WITH TH an thentur y Americ

e of 20th ce essee A classic piec r Named Desire’ by Tenn arch ca M et re on St ’s ‘A ng , Ki atre be staged at , who Williams, will d 26. Director Sara Malik ” an 25 empest “T d ve 22, 24, ei ec well-r directed the be leading the produc last year, will r interview with her tion. Read ou re section on in the cultu co.uk! roarnews.

KING’S CULTURE

OSTER

FRESH TALENT: PHILIP MADELEY

by WILL EVANS, President of King’s Record

one associates with the archetypal singer-songwriter often feel lost, Madeley, paradoxically, feels like a breath of bygone fresh air. Think Dylan-esque Brummie, who spent his formative years in South Ameri-

When asked to write a profile for a single stand out artist associated with King’s Record, the numerous talented individuals who regularly per- soundcloud.com/philmadeley form at events and have recorded with us presented ca, only to creatively blossom a serious challenge. I eventuin London. Fusing acoustically ally came to conclude that by driven melodic lovelies with highlighting an individual who nuanced societal commentary exhibits a natural flair for disand personal introspection, tinctive songwriting, the obMadeley demonstrates his dab jectives of what we set out to hand in powerful composition accomplish as a society would through tracks such as ‘Banker be honoured. Enter, Philip Madfor the Day’ and ‘Not my Probeley. lem’.

In a time where it can feel as “I like looking at people and if the sincere, poetic qualities

where they stand in their surroundings, the situation they’re in, where they’re going, where they’ve been. A theme I tended to write around was just general disillusion- writing about society and politics not because i want to change anything, but mostly through the belief that you can’t change anything” He is a consistently passionate, engaging and confident performer at live events for the King’s Record, whose entourage embody similar, if not even more vocal, qualities as the man himself. Madeley is an artist who despite an impressive resumé of work, feels as if he’s just on the cusp of something special.

For a painfully long time, music criticism has been about white, male critics writing about white, male guitar rock bands.

It’ll depend on who you ask, but the word ‘band’ has become synonymous with lanky, male homogeneity, strapped with telecasters and singing about hetero-normative love affairs.

This image is utterly prevalent in how people perceive contemporary rock and how expectations of rock groups are formed, that any subversion suddenly becomes worthy of journalistic interest.

It even warrants its own terminology, one such word being “all-female band”. As I sit opposite Becky Wixon, one of two frontwomen from her band ‘The Nyx’, at the Waterfront, we discuss this very issue. As she tells me about the group’s formation, I ask if having no male members was deliberate “Oh yeah! vaginas only, man! We were really just fed up about the male domination in the music industry.”

King’s Business graduate Wixon and friends from her hometown of High Wycombe formed

SOUTHBANK CENTRE WOMEN OF THE WORLD SERIES 9 MARCH l KING’S PLAYERS: ON THE MOVE 11

DIASPORA: THE MUSICAL 17 MARCH, GREENWOOD THEATRE l ST PATRICK’S DAY PARADE 19 MARCH

& MUSIC AT KING’S KADAMBARI BAHL’S

-rated

March 2017 Roar

The Culture Institute at King’s has rel branded themselves on Twitter as the snazzy new @CulturalKing’s, and they are

offering exclusive-to-King’s internship opportunities to students from 1st year undergrads to PhD students at Southbank Centre, Roundhouse, Victoria and Albert Museum, ad the Royal Opera House. Here’s the catch – students will need to develop their own short proposals on ideas on innovative cultural projects or programmes to drive social change through arts and culture. The deadline for applications is 29 March, and more details can be found on the King’s website.

HIGH FASHION HIJABS: A CULTURAL CHANGE

REPORTERS: Nikhil Kanukuntla, Will Evans, Beatrix Swanson Scott, Andreas Karmiotis Passenger Cassanova - Subject to Change p as sengerc as anova.b and camp.com Jazz, hip-hop, funk, progrock, magical realism, rap all the good stuff, you name it, Passenger Cassanova’s got it. Medical student Mandeep Singh fronts the band with his saxophone.

The Island Line - Stardom Young theislandline.bandcamp.com

Whether it’s H&M hiring a hijabi model, or Dolce & Gabbana launching their Ramadan collection of abayas in 2016, the idea of the Muslim dress in fashion has integrated into the multibillion dollar fashion and beauty industries. The commercialisation of the hijab has been seen as a positive change, though there are also good reasons to be skeptical about it. “Tune in to The Lens @ KCL Radio with host Tayyaba Rafiq on 16 March to find out more!

The Mighty Orchard King - Rocket Ship (EP) soundcloud.com/the -mighty- orchid-king

A third-year history student formed The Island Line with friends from his hometown Hong Kong. With a sound reminiscing of Oasis and the Stone Roses, their single True Age mixes Wong Kar Wai with (more) cigarettes & alcohol.

Featuring King’s student Richard Rhea, their new EP drips with a flanger and space echo infused psychedelic garage rock.

There’s a lot of instrument swapping but the end result is an exciting one.

KING’S SHREDDER ON PUNKING THE RO INDUSTRY CK King’s

AN

Busines on and friends fros graduate Beck y WixWycombe formed m her hometown of High Nyx’ as a result up -and -coming band ‘The ing the perceptioof their frustrations regard cially the rock in n of women in music, espe du The band, wh stry. but EP out ono have their self- titled de 21 st April via Ru Music, sound im mours are packed withmense. Their songs ca ve rnous guitar rif fs, tight basslin es with plenty of bite and bloo dand- guts drumming.

NYX BIG THING FEATURE by

NIKHIL KANUKUNTLA Music Reporter

up-and-coming band ‘The Nyx’ as a result of their frustrations regarding the perception of women in music, especially the rock industry. Their line-up is also unique, with two lead singers distributing the songwriting roles amongst themselves and alternating singing duties. I ask how this arrangement affects their sound: “Pretty much in every way. When we play live we stand on either side of the stage and have our bassist front-centre dancing around. I think also in a lot of bands all the attention is on one person, usually the lead singer or the lead guitarist, and we wanted to have things more equal with us. I wouldn’t have it any other way. As a band we’re fighting for equality in gender too, that’s one of the major things we stand for.”

And do you feel your music helps you do that?

“Oh yeah. It drives us. Just recently our drummer was invited to this university conference about women in the music industry, and she was asked whether the recent wave of girl bands was a novelty. It’s definitely not something we see as a novelty. I mean,

thenyxband.com we went to Abbey Road Studios to master a couple of months ago, and someone came up to us and asked if we were all singers. People don’t expect girls to be rockers. I went into a guitar shop recently and patronisingly got asked if I’d like my guitar tuned by someone. I think it’s important that women should be seen equally and, to go back to the band, that’s what we try to implement in our arrangement.”

Have you had any experiences of anything similar happening during gigs? The casual sexism I mean.

One of my favourite things to do during gigs is let people have their own expectations of what we sound like. For some reason when people see four girls on stage they expect something bright and poppy and we’re there shredding and you see people’s jaws drop. If people are going to have those preconceptions about how women in rock should sound like, I think it’s much more powerful if we let people have them and then completely break the fuck out of them.

And I think these preconceptions are rooted in how people are brought up. I remember growing up as a kid I was told that “girls don’t play electric guitar”. There’s this expectation of what girls should do within music or this informal codification of what girls are and aren’t allowed to play.

17

Do you think female solo artists are helping to dissolve these boundaries?

Generally, I don’t think so because there’s not much expectation for them to. Also, I think it’s something to do with values. As a band, we’re not just about the music, we’re about driving a social message. With some artists, it’s clear that they don’t have complete creative control and they’re sort of moulded to become this perfectly marketable persona which is completely not what we’re about. We even make our own single artwork, that’s all part of the creative control thing.

How do you find the gig scene in London for a new band?

It’s weird. The live scene has changed in loads of ways over the past couple of years. The first thing is that so many venues are closing down and not as many people are going to gigs. Also, promoters like to fuck bands over because they think they can.

We’ve found some cool, female-orientated gig promoters like Loud Women who have made things easier. Booking through them also means we play to crowds and in venues that are female-focused and championing fem-rock. So it’s just full of people who get it and are really into the vibe we’re creating through the music. I also think in times like this, where things are quite uncertain and politicians aren’t very dependable, people are looking to put their

faith in something and the place to put it is in artists. And I think people are responding to the way artists can become a form of expression for them. We played a gig at the Finsbury earlier this month and this girl came up to us and said, “you make me proud to be a woman”, which is why we do this sort of thing.

Considering you’re a guitarist, I think it’s only fair we talk about guitars for a bit. Which guitar(s) do you use to record and play gigs with?

When I first started at King’s I went to Denmark Street and bought a reissue Fender Coronado. It’d just come out at the time. It’s definitely a guitar that I can make my own. It’s beautiful. Hollow-body, bright red and it’s got that sort of personality to it. The only other famous person who’s played it is Elvis. I don’t ever want another guitar, I use it for everything.

Well, to wrap things up. This is for a university paper and there may be a few people reading this and considering getting involved in a girl band. What would you say to them?

Do it. You don’t even have to play your instruments properly. I think the most important thing is to have something to stand for.

MARCH ANATOMY MUSEUM l GERMAN SOCIETY: DIE KRANKHEI DER JUGEND 17 MARCH, TUTU’S l MALAYSIAN SOCIETY -

H , TRAFALGAR SQUARE l A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE 22-26 MARCH, ANATOMY MUSEUM l 39 STEPS 1-3 APRIL, TUTU’S

RakishLIFESTYLE

18 Roar

March 2017

lifestyle@roarnews.co.uk

@RakishLifestyle

CHEAP EATS NEAR STRAND CAMPUS FOOD by

AASHFARIA ANWAR Lifestyle Reporter

Students are renowned for being strapped for cash, and that ordeal isn’t made easier studying in Central London. Fear not, we’ve devised a list of deliciously cheap lunch spots, where you won’t need more than a tenner.

1. I Love Nata Stop getting your mediocre natas at your average cafe and start marching down to I Love Nata, a cozy, little café that sells the best, gosh darn delicious natas in London. Buttery, flaky pastry, paired with a gooey, creamy and custardy filling, natas, enough said.

N

61 Endell Street, WC2H 9AJ 2. Battersea Pie Station Need a cheap as chips, hearty and tummy filling meal? Within Covent Garden’s Market Garden enjoy a box packed to the brim of pie, mash and gravy.

Covent Garden, 28 The Market Garden, WC2E 8RA 3. Pizza Pilgrims Authentic Neapolitan pizza, with a thick, chewy and soft base and simple but scrumptious toppings, Pizza Pilgrims is the pizza place to go.

23 Garrick St, WC2E 9BN 4. Misato Amongst the hustle and bustle of Chinatown is ironically, a Japanese restaurant, serving up generous portions of authentic curries, bento boxes, sushi platters and more. At only £6, their katsu curry will see you through until dinner.

11 Wardour Street, Soho, W1D 6PG

2

1.95 at a £

Steak pie with mashed potato £9

1

3 Avocado Maki £3.50

Margherita pizza £6.75

Edited by ZOYA AFZAL

LONDON FASHION WEEK

4

FOODIE HAVEN BERMONDSEY ST. Just around the corner from Guy’s Campus is a foodie’s paradise, Bermondsey Street is full of character with an abundance of choice to meet all your food needs. Oh, and it’s a favourite among celebrities - Ezra Miller, Florence Welch and Russell Brand to name a few.

1. Fuckoffee You heard that right, Fuckoffee says it as it is, with their delicious “shit in a cup”, oodles of colourful and quirky art and lego men adorned along their counter. This indie café is oh so Instagrammable, with vegan dishes, homemade soups and gluten free cakes.

163 - 167 Bermondsey St 2. Village East The NYC-inspired restau -

4

rant serves up an eclectic mix of comforting, but sophisticated dishes, and quirky cocktails. From their breakfast - buttermilk pancakes – to their dinner - pork belly - and boozy goodness, this is the place to go for a night out and to recover the next morning.

171-173 Bermondsey St 3. The Woolpack Summer’s coming up, so here’s another beer garden to add to the list. With boisterous art dotted on the walls, hearty food and a selection of beers, it’s the perfect spot to catch the Six Nations.

98 Bermondsey St 4. Franco Manca Probably the cheapest food spot along the street, but sourdough pizza and cheap wine is never a bad shout for dinner, Franco Manca never disappoints.

124 Bermondsey St

3

Pepperoni pizza £7.55

1

Burger & chips £13

Medium latte £2.70

2

by ZOYA AFZAL Lifestyle Editor

From 23rd-26th February London Fashion Week Festival took place in its newly designated location at The Store Studios, 180 Strand— not even a five-minute walk for those fashion-minded students of King’s College London conveniently located at Strand Campus and, subsequently, right at the heart of London Fashion Week.

After a busy and exciting week of catwalks and showcases London Fashion Week culminated in its annual London Fashion Week Festival; an event encompassing the works of over 150 designers and ranging from the likes of the most established and esteemed commer-

cial brands (such as Prada and Jimmy Choo) to the lesser known, yet ever-growing independent fashion labels. As well as the opportunity to leisurely browse through these pop-up shops, the public also has access to various catwalks and talks led by professionals within the industry; all these elements combining to create a truly unique insight into the world of fashion.

Walking into the event itself is like entering a finely woven maze of clothing and accessories—only you don’t want to find your way out.

Instead, you want to lose yourself completely in the seemingly endless rails of designer labels and dream-worthy clothes. An array of luxury sunglass brands to your right and a wide-spanning collection of jewellery to your left; not to mention the Burberry pop-up shop in front of you and Vivienne Westwood’s designs just behind you, it becomes almost impossible to extricate yourself from the irresist-

ible hands of fashion.

But how is it possible for students like ourselves, with little to no experience, to find a path within this intimidating and burgeoning industry?

Speaking to various designers and employees of high-street brands, I collected some tips and information from the professionals themselves regarding the skills and requirements necessary for breaking into the fashion industry—concerning both establishing your

O

March 2017 Roar

19

FIVE FASHION ESSENTIALS

OUR INSIDER AT LFW Rosa graduated from Brighton University with a 1st Class degree in Fashion and Design, leading her to successfully land a job within her desired industry before starting her own brand. Her work after university included interning as a jewellery design assistant for Vivienne Westwood to working for 3 years in design and development for East- a successful and established fashion retailer focused on womenswear, jewellery, and accessories. For Rosa, passion and integrity are key - consistency in your own art and originality is what leads to a successful brand, not emulation. Rosa’s success really began to flourish after she left her job of several years to pursue her true dream of selling her designs. Her story shows how success relies heavily on perseverance, passion, and, more often than not, risk-taking.

Working in a Jigsaw branch nearby to London Fashion Week Festival is a great way of increasing your chance for involvement within the event. Georgia works at the Strand branch and informed me that she was selected to cover Jigsaw’s pop-up shop due to her store’s central location. This is a great opportunity for students to experience a professional and high-class fashion event, simply through working for a high-street brand. After working at Jigsaw for a certain amount of time, the employees have the chance to volunteer for various catwalk opportunities so this would be the perfect opportunity for students/graduates who wish to gain more experience within the modelling industry. Jigsaw also offers pattern-cutting internships for those interested in the more physically creative aspect of fashion. For more details, you can contact the store.

Sarah Baily is a designer who created her own label Baily Bags, which produces high-quality leather clutch bags. She recently collaborated with Confetti Crowd (a group of girl bloggers in their 20s) to create a line of eccentrically coloured jackets, consisting of a multitude of striking and dazzling neon colours. She is happy for graduates with fashion related degrees to contact her regarding opportunities for work concerning fashion design and/or journalism. You can contact her through: info@sarahbaily.com.

FASHION by

FRANCES WEST From accessories to must-have denim, Roar have asked five KCL students which fashion pieces are their essentials for a guaranteed Instagram-able outfit.

Sunglasses Suave, glamorous and classy. Sunglasses are the default accessory for achieving an air of celebrity with a ‘look but don’t talk to me’ vibe – essential for the London life.

“No sleep? No problem!

Work through that busy lifestyle with a pair of classic ray-bans. (just don’t wear them indoors... fools).” - Jacob, third year student.

Denim Skirt Timeless and versatile – a denim skirt will always have your back.

They go with anything and a pop of blue can instantly turn an outfit from drab to fab.

“Denim skirts are so easy to wear. I like to wear mine with tights and boots in the winter and bare legs and trainers in the warmer months.” Louella, third year English student.

Oversized Jumper An oversized jumper is perfect for the mild weather as we transition into spring. Wear one in a vibrant colour to effortlessly brighten up your look.

“Oversized jumpers are my go-to for chilly days in the Maughan – they are a great combination of style and cosiness. ” - Elena, third year student

Black Boots The LBD of shoes.

Black boots are a staple in any wardrobe. Invest in a well-made pair that offers comfort and style to ensure that the world will always be your fashion runway.

“My patent leather boots are perfect for adding a touch of sophistication to an outfit” - Isabella, third year student.

HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED? own label and methods through which you can become involved in other aspects of the industry, such as modelling and designing.

KCL Fashion Society organised a trip to this event, providing a good opportunity for all fellow KCL fashion

lovers to meet and experience an insight to the fashion industry together. Interviewing the events manager, Sara Canelas, offered an understanding of Fashion Society’s aims for its members, and the ways in which students can get more involved with different aspects of fashion— particularly through their variety of events.

Q: Why did fashion society choose this event in particular for London Fashion Week?

A: Our members wanted to attend the London Fashion Week Festival event to experience the best of the London Fashion scene— it’s a large-scale event which is always exciting. We believe in being involved in local events.

Q: What other events has fashion society organised over the past year/will organise in the future?

A: We´ve organised many social and cultural events, we want to be out and about experiencing everything London has to offer. Lately we´ve been focusing a lot on our street style segment “Style on Campus” for our blog as well as launching our own merch!

Q: Is fashion society interested in organising any kind of networking events/workshops for students interested in a career in fashion?

A: It’s certainly something we´ve talked about!

So, those aspiring for a career in fashion, keep your eyes peeled

for any upcoming industry-led events organised by the Fashion Society! KCL Fashion Society is clearly a great way to expand your network as well as build a strong foundation of fashion experience, such as launching a unique line of merchandise. Check out their blog here, where there is a section specifically dedicated to internships and careers: http://kclfashionsoc. blogspot.co.uk/.

Overall, this event provided a great opening for directly conversing with leading fashion professionals and gathering vital information and advice on how to fight your way into the competitive industry of fashion. It’s tough and it’s long and it requires a great active effort but if the passion is there from the beginning then you’ve already taken the first step.

Black Coat Fashions fade but a good black coat will never let you down.

Wear to a lecture or a classy evening at the Shard (or Walkabout, your choice) either way you’ll be looking #InstaReady.

“A long black coat is an essential because all you have to worry about is your shoes. Lecture in your pyjamas?

Easy!” - Tamara, third year student

20 Roar

March 2017

GO FORTH AND MULTIPLY

TAKE A EUROTRIP with Dorian “Gray” Puric, he’ll show you around! A citizen of the world, Dorian is Serbian, born in Germany and raised in Italy, Dorian Puric is a second year Mathematics with Management and Finance student, as well as a player in the King’s Tennis team - who recently came first in their league! Dorian cooks delicious pasta

(according to a reliable source - himself), he is a fun and stubborn dog lover who claims to have never cried over Marley and Me. When not playing tennis, Dorian has a fond love for clubbing. Find him on at Aristocrat on a Friday. At his request, here’s his Instagram: @dorianpuric

ELECTION CANDIDATES

SPRING ELECTIONS : VOTING CLOSES 5PM THIS THURSDAY 9 MARCH

UNION POLITICS by

JACK REVELL News Reporter

March 2017 Roar

PRESIDENT OF THE UNION ANNA SMITH Why are you running?

After 3 years of King’s life and being involved in many campaigns I want to use my experiences to improve the system for others.

How would you describe your leadership style?

Adaptive & assertive. It’s vital to be clear on what you want to achieve, yet still adjust to changing student needs and circumstances.

What are the biggest challenges currently facing the SU or KCL more broadly?

Mental health services & attitudes at KCL needs a massive overhaul as does the inefficient admin system.

If you could invite 5 people (dead or alive) to a dinner party, who would you invite?

Beyoncé (the queen), Ban Ki Moon (ledge), Angela Merkel (female boss), Meryl Streep (role model) and Roald Dahl (well need I say more).

KARINA DJOKOVA

How would you describe your leadership style?

I’m dedicated to the Democratic leadership style where communication entails fairness, competence, creativity, courage, and honesty.

Why are you running?

I would like to bring more focus on employability– making sure students know how their knowledge translates into skills for graduate jobs.

What are the biggest challenges currently facing the SU or KCL more broadly?

Students struggle to relate to the SU, many do not practice their vote – so I fear that we are not representing all their needs.

If you could invite 5 people (dead or alive) to a dinner party, who would you invite?

Elon Musk, Maya Angelou, Hillary Clinton, Alain de Botton, Morgan Freeman.

CHARLIE PROTHEROE

Why are you running?

I was appalled by the smoke free campus policy and eventually decided to stop moaning and do something about it.

Why are you running?

Passion & responsibility to carry on with important campaigns I’ve been involved in; opportunity to bring about positive change & need a job.

21

How would you describe your leadership style?

One that is organising, in that it provides space for voices of the KCL community (esp continuously silenced voices) to be heard.

If you could invite 5 people (dead or alive) to a dinner party, who would you invite?

A party’s got to be fun, so: Peter Kay, Sir Bobby Robson, Tina Fey, Winston Churchill, and Denzel Washington.

IBTEHAL HUSSAIN

What are the biggest challenges currently facing the SU or KCL more broadly?

No transparency or real democracy: we don’t know what we’re part of + involvement in militarisation, sexism, racism, elitism.

MOMIN SAQIB Why are you running?

My work as the Vice President demonstrated my dedication and sincerity towards students. I want to further enhance student experience and initiate the required change.

What are the biggest challenges currently facing the SU or KCL more broadly?

The biggest challenge to both would be if the SU continues to underrepresent regular students.

How would you describe your leadership style?

A cross between Machiavelli and David Brent.

How would you describe your leadership style?

Democratic, people-orientated and empowering. I am someone who would go an extra mile to make sure that the student voice is heard!! I won’t stop listening!!

If you could invite 5 people (dead or alive) to a dinner party, who would you invite?

Hajj Malik el-Shabazz (Malcolm X), Betty Shabazz, Attallah Shabazz, Muhammad Ali, Angela Davis

What are the biggest challenges currently facing the SU or KCL more broadly?

Less inclusive and less engagement with the students. More feeling of care towards our students is needed.

If you could invite 5 people (dead or alive) to a dinner party, who would you invite?

Nelson Mandela, Serena Williams, Mark Zuckerberg, Stephen Hawking, Daniel Day-Lewis.

VICE PRESIDENT EDUCATION (HEALTH) How do you see this role?

It is an opportunity to improve KCL, KCLSU and student experience in general. It’s a chance to work on the issues I care about the most.

What do you hope to achieve with your time as officer?

So many things (check my manifesto :P), but everything can be summarised in these three words: Improved student experience.

FARWA NAUMAN

Why run for this role above the others?

When I was considering running for a position, what I wanted to change within the university(KCL) was all about health schools so here I am.

Bonus: What food best describes your personality?

Bertie botts every flavour beans.

YOUSEF EL-T How do you see this role?

Chance to make tangible change for students; both health & nonhealth. By drawing on my knowledge of KCLSU to improve the student experience

What do you hope to achieve with your time as officer?

I want to increase support for students in these 4 areas: Finance, Academia and Development, Inclusivity and Infrastructure.

Why run for this role above the others?

My passion has always been for the health sciences and I know health students’ needs and concerns. I want to make their experience bang.

Bonus: What food best describes your personality?

Watermeloan. Without the loan. #StopTheFees

22 Roar

March 2017

VICE PRESIDENT POSTGRADUATE JOE ATTARD Why do we need a VP postgraduate?

We have a unique university experience--some PhDs teach, many taught postgrads only study for a year--so we need special representation.

Why do we need a VP postgraduate?

Because currently postgraduates are not properly represented in KCLSU and the issues they experience can be very different from undergrads.

How will you help integrate the postgraduate community with the rest of KCL? Cross-faculty socials can help!

But more importantly, I pledge to unify all students (and staff) to strive for their shared interests.

How will you support the development of postgraduate teaching assistants at KCL? Fair Pay for GTAs won student teachers massive reforms last year by threatening a strike. I will fight to build upon this victory.

Bonus: Current favourite song and why?

Square Hammer by Ghost. Melodic, Swedish dark metal at its finest. Plus, I have a fondness for hammers. And sickles

PAULINA GUERRERO GUTIERREZ

How will you help integrate the postgraduate community with the rest of KCL? I’ll help build a KCLSU that listens to their voices & acts in their interest so they feel that the rest of the student body has their back.

How will you support the development of postgraduate teaching assistants at KCL? Continuing the fair pay for GTAs campaign: > pay & + hours for marking & preparation. Ensuring all departments have teaching posts for PhDs.

Bonus: Current favourite song and why?

I love opera. “Una voce poco fa” from the Barber of Seville is romantic, beautiful, & shows a strong woman that knows what she wants.

JEFF WALL How will you help integrate the postgraduate community with the rest of KCL? I will work 2gther with U & other officers/societies so U have the same opportunities regardless of whether U r @ a main or satellite campus

Why do we need a VP postgraduate?

As VP Postgrad I will make Ur voices heard @ KCLSU. B seen as equal 2 Undergrads in your SU. It IS yours as well, let’s take equal ownership

Bonus: Current favourite song and why?

“Feeling Good”: coz no matter what is happening this song will pick me up and change my mood. Love it so much chose it 4 1st dance @ wedding

How will you support the development of postgraduate teaching assistants at KCL? Work with faculties 2 recognise & evaluate contributions of GTAs @ KCL & look 2 expand No.s & work 2 develop teaching qualification 4 GTAs

REBEKAH GRIFFITHS Why do we need a VP postgraduate?

Postgrads have different educational requirements to Undergrads, but deserve equal representation and inclusion in the “student experience”.

How will you help integrate the postgraduate community with the rest of KCL? By making sure that Postgrads are included in extra-curricular activities just as much as the Undergrads arewe like to have fun, too!

How will you support the development of postgraduate teaching assistants at KCL? By ensuring that they are paid fairly, better supported in their roles, and receive full recognition for the effort and hours they put in.

Bonus: Current favourite song and why?

‘Coffey On The Mile’ from The Green Mile Soundtrack. It’s a beautiful, emotive piece from Thomas Newman, on par with his ‘Shawshank’ score.

KINGSLEY CHUKWU Why do we need a VP postgraduate?

Because needs of the postgraduate students are both varied and specialised all at once and more energy and time is required to meet those.

How will you help integrate the postgraduate community with the rest of KCL? By stimulating their interest in and initiating more student experience, and also by enabling an atmosphere of more sense of belonging.

How will you support the development of postgraduate teaching assistants at KCL? This is an issue I have supported as the SSPP Faculty Representative in KDSA and I’ll support campaigns for better training and pay.

Bonus: Current favourite song and why?

It All Belongs to You by Damita Haddon because at the end of the day it’s not about us.

SNEHA SHRESTHA Why do we need a VP postgraduate?

To improve PG experience at King’s by making them a part of the KCLSU and assure they have a voice within the union, esp. non-national PGs!

How will you help integrate the postgraduate community with the rest of KCL? Encourage opening more PG societies (currently only PG law soc), have frequent and mixed PG socials, provide a PG space in the SU and more!

How will you support the development of postgraduate teaching assistants at KCL? Advocate for their inclusion in societies/activities and organise wellbeing sessions for GTAs in the SU to help them unwind, very important!

Bonus: Current favourite song and why?

Girl on fire; for its empowering message! Excited to perform it on 8th March, International Women’s day celebration, at KCL. All welcome!

SAHAR ALSHOBAKI Why do we need a VP postgraduate?

We need it to understand the challenges that postgraduates face and find solutions for them such as funding, pressure, the GTA campaigns...

How will you help integrate the postgraduate community with the rest of KCL? By building partnerships between postgraduate students, KCLSU, KCL, National Union of Students, the media and other external bodies.

How will you support the development of postgraduate teaching assistants at KCL? By emphasising their important roles at KCL and supporting their campaigns to have proper payment and training to develop their potentialities.

Bonus: Current favourite song and why?

How Far I’ll Go-It represents our dreams that we seek to make them true and break all limitations to get the better version of ourselves.

MAHAMED ABDULLAHI Why do we need a VP postgraduate?

Postgraduates are 40% of the student body and have very specific needs/concerns such as caring responsibilities.

How will you help integrate the postgraduate community with the rest of KCL? The postgraduate community are often referred to as ‘hard to reach’, especially postgraduate research students.

How will you support the development of postgraduate teaching assistants at KCL? As an officer team, we have fought for and won increases to GTA pay, I hope to continue doing this through this role.

Bonus: Current favourite song and why?

Dirty Projectors ft Dawn Richard - Cool Your Heart and Syd - Drown In It.

VP ACTIVITIES & DEVELOPMENT

March 2017 Roar

23

JOSEPH MCCARRON-SHIPMAN Why should people vote for you?

Uni isn’t just classes, it should be fun for all. I will make social spaces at KCL as inclusive as possible. P.S. find me @ Phil Bar.

Why should people vote for you?

People should vote for me because I am a relentless activist, fighting for the representation of the marginalised and support inclusion

What experience do you have that would make you good for this role?

I currently run a society and know the struggles student leaders face, I also frequent the king’s venues regularly.

What experience do you have that would make you good for this role?

I have founded @IRiseMagazine , the 1st BAME mag at KCL. I’ve served on many committees, incl. IFemSoc and DSA. Also presented on @kclradio.

Bonus: Which film protagonist are you most like?

Would love to say Aslan but really I’m Neville Longbottom.

RAHMA HUSSEIN

How do you hope to change the SU? Why? By fighting for greater INCLUSION and EQUALITY. In an increasing divided society, we need a united student voice that HAS GOT THE POWER.

ALEX THEOKLITOU Why should people vote for you?

Being here for 4 years I have seen what can be done to make our SU a space where everyone can enjoy its benefits regardless of who they are.

How do you hope to change the SU? Why? I want students to choose how their union is run, this means giving societies more autonomy & putting them at the centre of decision-making.

What experience do you have that would make you good for this role?

Having seen the SU as a member of a society committee for 3 years I believe I have seen what needs to improve from the other side of things.

Bonus: Which film protagonist are you most like?

Oooh, Jenny from An Education - clever, strong, witty and independently-minded much like Hermoine from Harry Potter. #girlpower

How do you hope to change the SU? Why? As a union there are improvements to be made in day to day running, within the SU, which can help students with their university experience.

Bonus: Which film protagonist are you most like?

Mark from RENT! (if you haven’t seen it, do yourself a favour and watch it)

VP EDUCATION (ARTS & SCIENCES)

TAYYABA RAFIQ

How do you see this role?

As a great opportunity to improve, learn from, and assert the student experience within Union policies & benefit the student body as a whole

What makes you different to the other candidates?

My experience!From sitting on student council, to heavy involvement in liberation societies, to working with the NUS & on national campaigns What discipline in the arts and sciences inspires you the most?

Physics. The universe’s beauty, vastness & unanswered theories + Bill Nye the science guy, really puts life’s issues into perspective

How do you see this role?

As a full-time organiser and activist, not a bureaucrat; organising campaigns, standing up for students, committed to bottom-up change.

What makes you different to the other candidates?

My proven record of campaigning for free liberated education throughout uni. I have led and organised the NSS Boycott against fee rises.

What discipline in the arts and sciences inspires you the most?

My own, philosophy. It challenges my assumptions about huge, fundamental questions and taught me that often the truth resists simplicity.

Art or Science?

I’m writing my dissertation on the relationship between science and common sense in philosophy – I’ll get back to you. (Art though..)

ANDY WARREN

Art or Science?

Art. I’m sorry. I still ly science people.

AMY MERRIGAN How do you see this role?

The opportunity to sit on committees affecting policy is exciting.

E.g. we could lobby for a diverse curriculum, improve the admin mess…

What makes you different to the other candidates?

I’ve worked on a number of campaigns: general/council elections & Sadiq Khan’s selection.

It taught me a lot about how to get stuff done.

What discipline in the arts and sciences inspires you the most?

Politics - because we really need it at the moment. #DumpTrump #MyPussyGrabsBack Art or Science?

Get yourself a Uni that can do both.

VP WELFARE & COMMUNITY HANNAH RILEY Why are you running for this position?

I’m one of King’s unsatisfied students & I want to dismantle university policies that are harmful to mental health. We deserve to be happy.

Why are you running for this position?

Running in this election is a chance to ensure that student life at KCL emphasises and prioritises the rights of marginalised students.

What inspires you about the KCL community?

Solidarity. I have been involved in the recent Justice for Cleaners campaign and the coalition between students & staff has been heartening

What inspires you about the KCL community?

I love that there is so much passion to improve KCL through campaigns and activism, people are forced to challenge what they’ve been taught.

SOPHIE KIM Why are you running for this position?

I am running for this position because I want to make bigger and impactful changes within the KCL community What inspires you about the

What will you do to promote mental health awareness?

Introduce preventative metal health care e.g. staff awareness training. And organise workshops for minority groups.

What makes you different to the other candidates?

My degree is new at King’s & I have seen first-hand how much student input is important for change to occur & want to encourage this!

What discipline in the arts and sciences inspires you the most?

Psychology/Neuroscience. I find the concepts extremely fascinating.

Art or Science?

BOTH! They’re both so beautifully different, but together can collectively allow people to grasp concepts from various perspectives.

LAMISE NASR

Bonus: Why does venue closure across London matter?

Venue closure impacts nightlife for the LGBTQ+ community. 25% of our venues have closed in recent years so our communal spaces are vanishing

IMAAN ASHRAF

What will you do to promote mental health awareness?

Strengthen existing campaigns, cut counselling waiting times, lobbying the university to cover mental health medication, monthly workshops!

KCL community?

It is very diverse and thriving. As an international student, this is so inspiring as I learn so much from people from different countries.

What will you do to promote mental

How do you see this role?

A chance to engage with students on matters important to them. Changing lecture techniques & providing more opportunities for all!

Bonus: Why does venue closure across London matter?

As someone who is art-obsessed, venues are so important for creative expression and artistic opportunities.

London wouldn’t be the same!

health awareness?

I will firstly cut the waiting time for the KCL student support counselling up to one-week maximum and introduce one-toone mentor system Bonus: Why does venue closure

across London matter?

Because small venues represents diversity, community and fun! They are places of activism and good for the community.

24 Roar

March 2017

Roar Sport sport@roarnews.co.uk

GOLDEN BOY

for GYMNAST Timothy Tay (left) won a Gold and Bronze medal

events in this year’s BUCs gymnastics. Singaporean-born Tay was part of his country’s youth Olympics team in 2010, and won Bronze at the South East Asia games two years ago.

Frisbee 2nd in nation

NO FAGS, BOOZE OR CHEEKY MAC-D’S

With a brand-new team being prepped for this year’s Varsity, there has been blood, sweat and potentially a few tears from the hard-working Women’s Netball Team.

“A drinking, smoking and junk food ban has been imposed on the first team,” says President Abi Frith, “We want to focus the team for the big day and get them at peak physical condition.” Abi also says that the only problem with the KCL Women’s Netball Team are their ‘frequent Walkabout appearances’. But sacrificing a few well-earned drinks until after the big match is important.

Extra-training sessions are being held to make sure the team is ready for the match against the infamous UCL, with a close to call match last year giving the Kings’ net-ballers that little bit of extra motivation to go for the win.

’s GK T Women Football Club cw la spor t rainbo atch es in their m ston against King

RAINBOW LACES FOR LGBT HISTORY MONTH

KCL Basketball Team showed their support (and hairy legs) during practice

We’re always looking for fresh talent in journalism - Join our 2017-18 team! bit.ly/ApplyToRoar f facebook.com/roarnews roarnews.co.uk T @Roar_News

The women’s Thrown KING’S FOOLSteam prove for thatKCL the

LGBT MONTH RAINBOW LACES

Kimberly Pang. “A sudden death win recently scored second place in the against Leeds let us take 2nd seed - a Turn to Page 18 BUCs indoor frisbee games. highest ever finish for us!”

“We gave everything we had during The team also uses frisbees to down tough games against higher-ranked oppints - If that’s not disgusting, then ponents” shares President of the club nothing else is.

REGGIE TO RUMBLE

“Lets be ‘avin you!”

By REBEKAH EVANS

With Varsity now merely days away, KCL Women’s Football Club are limbering up for the fight of their lives against rival team UCL. Tensions are running high, but as Eleanor Fearn, first team member puts it, “KCLWFC spirit is strong.”

“We’re really excited to get out there again and give them an upset,” said Elise, KCLWFC’s Vice President, “We’ve been training hard and playing together as a team, and we hope to see lots of people out there supporting women’s football as well as men’s.”

And with the first team vice captain Phoebe Davis vowing to “show UCL what we’ve got!” there are high hopes for King’s to snatch back the Varsity title from our competitors.

Randula Karunarathna, first team player states, “Varsity is going to be the best night of my whole life!” and there is no doubt that King’s will wait with baited breath for a hopeful success from this budding and successful team on the 13th March.