SEPTEMBER 2018
VOL 78 I S S U E N O. 1 FREE
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MENINGITIS: THE VA C C I N E A N D S TAY I N G SAFE
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LISTEN UP FRESHERS
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READING FEST ‘18: THE LOWDOWN
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THE YEAR AHEAD IN SPORT
Vice-Chancellor Leaves After 7 Years at Reading Hannah Moore
3rd Year English Literature
Vice Chancellor, Sir David Bell, who joined the University of Reading in January 2012, has announced that in Autumn he will be leaving the University. Sir David Bell’s career (spanning over 35 years) has included being permanent Secretary at the Department of Education as well as being Chief Executive of Bedfordshire county council and becoming a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 2011. His career of almost 7 years at the University of
Reading was said by him to have been “an honour and privilege”. Sir David is moving on to the University of Sunderland where he will become the Vice- Chancellor and Chief Executive. Bell says that he is “look(ing) forward to taking on a new professional challenge...and returning to the north-east of England, where (he) spent a very happy decade earlier in (his) career.” The President of the University Council, Dr Paul Preston, stated: “The University has been immensely privileged to have Sir Da-
Welcome from your RUSU Officers!
Two of our new Full-Time RUSU officers have given us a short overview of their plans for the year. Dan Bentley: Welfare Officer
This year, I’m hoping to facilitate an inclusive consent culture through the I Heart Consent campaign. I’m also planning to develop the current initiatives on mental health, including body
confidence, eating disorders and male mental health. The final point on my manifesto is to improve student safety by introducing a Safe Taxi Scheme and promoting life hacks to keep safe on and off campus! Another big thing is looking into expanding the new reporting system to look at support service signposting, so students can get the support they need when they need it. It’s going to be a busy year, but I can’t wait!
tiveness and efficiency for the university with responsibility to the University governing body. However, Bell’s time at the University of Reading has not been without challenges with the staff strikes in March 2018 over pension cuts which caused disrupThe University has been tion for both staff and students. immensely privileged to James Holcombe, a third year Economics student have Sir David Bell as our comments saying “Decisions Vice-Chancellor. to make cuts are always going to come up against criticism, they are hard but often The Vice-Chancellor’s role necessary choices, I’m inis to, among other things, terested to see what the new maintain and promote effec- Vice-Chancellor brings to vid Bell as our Vice-Chancellor…I hope that you will join me in wishing him success as he takes on new challenges and to thank him for the immense contribution that he has made as leader of our University”.
the University.” “Under new leadership” comments Sir David “I have every confidence that the University of Reading will continue to grow stronger and stronger in the months and years ahead.” This new leadership is to be decided by the University Council but, whilst this decision is being made Professor Robert Van de Noort who is the incoming Deputy Vice-Chancellor has been the Acting Vice- Chancellor since 1 August 2018. The university wishes Sir David Bell the best with his new challenges.
Ali Perry: Activities Officer My main focus this year is to celebrate what we already do whilst encouraging more students to get involved by also providing more opportunities. I ran for the Activities Officer position because I really enjoyed my time at Reading and want all students to feel like they graduate from the University with more than just a degree. Some exciting things I have already got up and running include a Campus Netball League and the Live at Mojos event! I’m so excited for this coming year and can’t wait to work with all the students to make this a better Uni experience for you!
Your Full-Time RUSU Officers from Left to Right: President: Jason Dabydoyal Education Officer: Lillie-Mae Firmin Activities Officer: Ali Perry Diversity Officer: Nozomi Tolworthy Welfare Officer: Dan Bentley
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Phaidra Robinson News Editor
A
s we move in to a new academic year, I want to start by saying welcome to all the new and repeated readers of The Spark. Even as I’m going in to my third year of university, I still get hit by that new year excitement and anticipation for the potential of new beginnings – which will probably end around November, but I live in hope!
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FEMINISM ON CAMPUS
S TAY I N G S A F E AT U N I
Sabita reports on Whiteknights receiving the award for the eigth year running
Imi updates on the changing perceptions of Feminism at Reading
Ellie advises on the risk of meningitis and how to stay safe at university
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T
he new year is a great excuse to join a new society and try something new and I strongly advise you go to at least one taster session,
I still get hit by that new year excitement and anticipation for the potential of new beginnings
news just to see what the many so- news, over the summer Vice cieties at the University of – Chancellor David Bell deReading have to offer. cided to leave the University of Reading and the campus In this issue of The Spark, won the Green Flag award! I we have information on am looking forward to meetwhat several societies have planned for the new year, including Marketing, FemiIn this issue of The nist and Islamic societies, as well as many more! We also Spark, we have indiscuss how you can prevent formation on what contracting of Meningitis, as well as looking at more politseveral societies ical events over the summer, such as the anti – Trump have planned for the rally. In more local campus new year
ing new and old writers at The Spark’s taster sessions on October 1st and October 9th (details can be found on the RUSU page and on Facebook). You can find more information on joining The Spark News Team by joining ‘The Spark News Group’ on Facebook, or emailing news. spark@reading.ac.uk
Our RUSU officers supported the Students of Bangladesh Mia Skevington
3rd Year English Literature
On 29th of July Diya Khan Min and Abdul Karim Rajb were killed in a road traffic accident involving a bus in Dhaka. Diya Khan Min and Abdul Karim Rajb were two school students, a boy and a girl. Their deaths were a result of an unregulated transport system which meant that more than 4,000 pedestrians were killed in a road accident last year. This particular incident however was the motivation
This particular incident however was the motivation for the students of Bangladesh to try and make a difference. for the students of Bangladesh to try and make a difference. Protests consisting of mainly Bangladeshi students started on Sunday the 29th of July and were still in progress on the 7th of August. The protests caused Bus services to be cancelled and stopped vehicles. On Sunday the 5th of August govern-
mental forces started to use tear gas and rubber bullets against protesters. The student protests and the violence against them were documented not only by many news broadcasters like Al Jazeera and the BBC but by social media, in particular Twitter by the hashtag #wewantjuctice. On the 7th of August our Full - Time RUSU officers showed their solidarity through this social media campaign. This hashtag linked our officers to a social media network campaign, linking students all
around the world with the students of Bangladesh to signify their solidarity. The picture showed our officers’ support but the caption explained the incidents, the protests, the violence. This informed those who didn’t know of the campaign and its hashtag of what it was about, and it connected the students at our university to students all over the world. This particular campaign #wewantjuctice demonstrat-
ed a network of students that work together to help each other. Social media was used positively to connect the world’s students and their suffering. Freedom of speech was used to support and protect other’s freedom of speech. Social media spread the protests across Bangladesh and the world and helped cause the Bangladeshi government to approve a new Road Transport Act.
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Welcome from the Spark team W
elcome back to another year at the University of Reading, and also, welcome and congratulations to the university’s new Freshers cohort! We hope you enjoyed your summer and, after a well-deserved break, are ready to take your first steps into university life.
Another way to get the most out of university life, whether you have one year or four years left, is taking advantage of the many societies and sports clubs we have here at Reading. Whether you want to carry on Hockey from your school days, want to learn sign language, or maybe you want to try your For freshers and finalists alike, hand at Circus arts. the beginning of the university year may seem daunting – from academic pressures to not knowing what the future may bring during and after your studies, and although you’re here to get your degree, you’re also here to enjoy what many EUAN CARMICHAEL feel have been the best years of their lives. If you have an interest, we have One of the best pieces of advice a society. It is a great opportuyou can be given is to take adnity to meet new people and vantage of this amazing opporfind new interests or rediscover tunity to learn all you can, deold ones. If you want to find out velop yourselves to be the best more, during Welcome Week you can be, and work hard to there are many events such as achieve your goals – But more the Freshers Fayre, Sports Fayre, importantly, look after yourself. and Volunteering Fayre to find It may seem a bit overwhelming out more information about all at times, but the support from our societies and how to get inyour new friends and those volved. back home will make it so much easier – And of course, the uni- If one of your interests just versity will always support you happens to be media, the uniin any possible way. versity media streams cannot be recommended enough. To
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introduce ourselves, we are The Spark Newspaper; established in 1934, we provide students with reliable news and articles every month. Whether you’re interested in hard-hitting news stories or writing engaging lifestyle columns to share your advice and creativity with your student peers, we have a place for you. You don’t have to be an English student or have any writing experience to write for The Spark. If you have an article you want to write and a story to share, get in touch! Send your articles and queries to secretary@ sparknewspaper.co.uk.
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We will also be holding taster sessions and socials throughout the year. Come find us at the Welcome Week Fayres to find out more. Also, follow us on social media to keep up to date with the latest news and events from The Spark team, including calls for articles, newspaper updates, and news on future socials and events to take part in. Enjoy your Freshers and we hope to hear from you soon!
The Spark Team.
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Swing in the ‘Ding! Reading students attend third annual weekend of Swing dancing RUSDS Committee Between August 31 and September 2, Reading Swing Exchange (RSX) welcomed more than 100 Swing dance enthusiasts from across the UK and Europe, including students from Reading University Swing Dance Society (RUSDS). The RSX 2018 hosted an epic weekend of Swing music and dancing at venues throughout the town. Visitors from as far as Sweden, Germany, and Ireland attended RSX 2018, which is run entirely by a committee of volunteers, and is now celebrating its third successful year. RSX was supported by local Swing and Blues bands including Ma Bessie, The Silver Heels, and Heather
Jayne & the Red Shoes. The highlight of the weekend took place in one of Reading’s iconic churches – St Laurence Church on Friar Street, as the RSX Saturday Night Ball got into full swing with headliners Sticky Wicket & his Swing Band. Regarded as the UK’s No.1 Swing Drummer, Sticky Wicket debuted at London’s 100 Club in 2000 and has made regular BBC TV and radio appearances over the years. As well as evening social dances, students also took part in a range of taster classes and tours throughout Saturday. Niquelle LaTouche brought things full circle with her Afro-Caribbean class, as Swing dancing originates African American culture. Other dance taster classes included Balboa, St
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Louis Shag, Blues and Solo Jazz. Local ale aficionado Jamie Duffield was on hand to guide visitors to some of Reading’s most popular real ale pubs for some light refreshment. Further nondance activities included a ukulele taster and a stretching and mindfulness session. Charlotte King, social secretary for Reading University Swing Dance Society (RUSDS) and second-year BA Education Studies student said: “RSX was an absolutely amazing experience, truly epic! I’ve only been dancing for about a year and I’ve never felt more at home and comfortable with everyone in the Swing scene. “Swing dancing never fails to make me happy and it’s great having a connection with a partner and just focusing on dancing to such amazing music. Lots of members of RUSDS attended RSX this year, and we’d love to see you at our upcoming events! Check out our social media channels – you’ll be in love with Swing dance and music before you know it!” Eva Straub, a former Erasmus student at the University of Reading and now studying English and German Studies at the University of Au g s bu r g in Germany, was one of the many international students visiting RSX. She
MARCUS EDGAR
said: “I first started dancing with RUSDS while studying and I was hooked from the beginning. During those three minutes or so of listening and dancing to a Swing track, I can be myself and find a connection with my dance partner in a way that we’re both able to forget everything around us and share the joy. We just have the happiest of times. Reading has some fantastic dance teachers who share their love and enthusiasm for the dance with their students. If you’ve ever thought of learning to dance, then give it a go. But be careful! It can become very addictive.” Commenting on the event, dance teacher with RUSDS and project manager of RSX, Jenn Maghzal said: “RSX was set up to recognise, celebrate and reward our local swing dance community for the effort and energy we all put in year-round in to making it the welcoming, safe and joyful space that it is. “We wanted to put on a festival that showcased the local musical talent, and the town of Reading to our neighbouring student Swing dance scenes, which extend to Oxford, London, Bristol, Southampton, and further afield. Over the last three years we’ve managed to entice Swing dancers from all over the UK and Europe to join us for this annual event.” Speaking about why Swing dancing is so relevant and popular today, Maghzal continued: “The joy of swing dancing is what attracts peo-
ple to try ‘Lindy Hop’ – a traditional Swing dance first popularised in the late 1920s in Harlem, New York – but ultimately it’s the community and friendships they find here that has them coming back for more. We’re very proud of the strong sense of community we have in our Reading Swing dance scene. It cuts across divisions and brings people of all ages, genders, orientations, cultures and backgrounds together for the love of dance and RSX is a true testament to this.” Reading’s Swing dance community welcomes people of all abilities and backgrounds, from complete beginners to more experienced dancers. To find out about Swing dance lessons in Reading, visit www.readingswingjam.co.uk RUSDS will be getting into the swing of things soon with two Swing dance taster classes taking place in Wessex Hall on Wednesday 26th September and 3rd October at 7.30pm. There will be a walking bus at 7pm from the Palmer Building in central campus to Wessex Hall for both taster sessions. Swing dance lessons will recommence on Wednesday 10th October in Wessex Hall, UoR Whiteknights Campus with Level 2 Improver classes starting at 7.30pm, followed by Level 1 Beginner classes at 8.30pm and social dancing from 9.30pm. So, even if you think you have two left feet or dance like Theresa May then fear not, we can fix that! All are welcome. Students wishing to find out more about Swing dance lessons on campus should email a member of the RUSDS committee at r uswingdancesociety@gmail.com or find us on social media, @ rulindyhoppers.
JON STICKLAN
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Reading on Thames Festival 2018 Megan Siarey
3rd Year English Literature
As part of the University of Reading’s summer internship programme for 2018, I was employed as a Marketing and Events Assistant to promote the Reading-onThames Festival. Whilst students prepared for the new academic year, events took place to celebrate the arts and culture sector across Reading. These events were a part of Reading-on-Thames Festival, founded in 2017. The festival has manifested from Reading’s Year of Culture in 2016, and is managed by Reading UK, with support from a range of partners, including the University of Reading. Reading’s waterways are used as the ‘backdrop and inspiration for a high-quality arts programme from national and local cultural groups’. Due to a successful bid from Reading Borough Council for funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund / Arts Council England Great Places Scheme, funding for the Reading-on-Thames Festival has been secured for the next three years. The funding also allows Reading UK the ability to work with a range of arts and cultural projects alongside the festival.
The festival started with a bang with GRRRL-In Place of War, a group of influential female artists from all over the globe coming together under the guidance of the charity, In Place of War a support system for creative organisations in places of conflict. CEO and artistic director of In Place of War, Ruth Daniels, believes that ‘In place of war comes… music.’
The festival has manifested from Reading’s Year of Culture in 2016 and has been working with musical artists in challenging places across the globe for nearly two decades. The group GRRRL closed the Commonwealth Games in Australia last year and created an exclusive collaboration for the festival with Laima Leyton and Charlotte Adigéry. The University’s very own Film Theatre showcased the films, The Happy Prince, and I, Daniel Blake. I recommend both of these films, especially I, Daniel Blake, as the topic matter is one of much relevance. A Q&A followed the event to talk about social injustice amongst oth-
er issues raised in the film. Elsewhere, The London Short Film Festival curated Reading’s Film Trail, using the University of Reading’s Museum of English Rural Life as one of its venues. Feast of Strangers with Theodore Zeldin a renowned University of Oxford philosopher, historian and author, was the event that had a massive impact. Theodore has studied the evolution in relationships and emotions in different civilisations over the centuries, and how these connections can be altered today in a conversation that creates trust between strangers. He has also been an adviser to the President of France, made a Commandeur de la Légion d’Honneur and awarded The Wolfson Prize. He says: “Conversation is a meeting of minds with different memories and habits. When minds meet they don’t just exchange facts, they transform them… Conversation doesn’t just reshuffle the cards: it creates new cards, and it involves being willing to emerge a slightly different person.” At his event, strangers sat opposite each other and worked through a series of questions that are set out in the form of a menu whilst ‘dining’ on some food. Theodore opened the event with a story about the small village that he lives
in and because of the introduction of Syrian refugees, it has caused people to start throwing rocks at their homes. This was an example, he pointed out, of the fear in strangers. All festival events require
We can become enclosed within our student bubble and tend to not think about the wider community volunteers to keep things running smoothly. After serving everyone their food to “feast” on, the volunteers and I sat down and participated. At the beginning, we had some hesitations in talking, but as the discussions continued, a huge conversation topic was the interaction between cultures. With two people born in the UK, and one born in Argentina and the fourth born in Poland, it was fascinating to hear the different perspectives, but also understand the similarities between us. The event highlighted three major life lessons; Firstly, live within the present, chasing after a vision of life isn’t always the best path. Secondly,
strangers can offer you so much knowledge and skill sets. Third, be kind to those who seem initially different to you, and take time to learn from them. To close the festival, the international act, Cirque Bijou took over Caversham Court Gardens for a Circus Soiree. People were able to volunteer to take part in the event, dancing with umbrellas in a light spectacular that has been successfully run in a variety of other cities and towns, including Lumiere London. The Festival is about celebrating, not only the arts but also the culture in Reading. As students at the University of Reading, we can become enclosed within our student bubble and tend to not think about the wider community as much as we probably should. This festival showed how diverse and upcoming Reading is, and I encourage you all to get out into the local community and help out. Next year if you are in Reading at the beginning of September, volunteer, take part and attend the festival.
Welcome to BioSoc! Leah Napier 3rd Year Biological
If you’re currently studying a School of Biological Sciences degree (including Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Ecology and Zoology) or you just want to have some bio fun with like-minded people, we are the society you’re looking for! We are so excited to meet
you all, so come and find us at the Society Freshers Fayre on 26th September for information about our upcoming socials. We have a variety of biology themed drinking socials; a careers event with RSB; academic support; as well as an annual trip abroad. Our committee this year for all your bio needs are: Mia Holland (President), Ellie Cornish (Vice President),
Emily Parkes (Treasurer), Ellie O’Callaghan (Secretary), Viktoria Brachmaier (Female Social Sec), Adam Rigg (Male Social Sec),
biology themed drinking socials; a careers event with RSB; academic support
James Stanbrook (Welfare) and Leah Napier (Academic Rep). Come join us, bring your friends and feel part of the Biological Sciences community here at Reading, we look forward to meeting you! Bio Love xx We post all our events and need to know info on our Facebook page so make sure you join to avoid missing out, find us at:
Facebook: Reading University Biological Sciences (RUBSS official) Instagram: @rubss_official
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Political Protest Over President Trump Eleanor Dewar
3rd Year English Literature
London was inundated with protestors on the 13th July, a mere day after President Trump landed in the United Kingdom for a working visit. Despite being the country for less than twenty-four hours, the President has already attracted criticism for an extensive interview with The Sun, where it appeared that he questioned Prime Minister, Theresa May’s, authority. In reaction to what some claim to be his sexist and racist attitude, organisers claim that over 250,000 people took to the streets, mak-
ing it the first time a United States leader has been protested on UK soil. Alongside the mass of people flew the infamous ‘Trump baby’ blimp (a crowd funded project which depicts the President in a nappy having a tantrum), which resulted in some reports suggesting that the unrest has made the President feel unwelcome.
The first time a United States leader has been protested on UK soil
The signs from protestors ranged from witty to pure crass, with some comparing to him to past dictators such as Hitler and making ominous comparisons to that of Russia’s Putin and North Korea’s King Jong-Un, whilst others took a more humorous approach with comparisons to JK Rowling’s Voldemort. Yet for all its humour and blimps, the sight of baby dolls locked in bird cages that surrounded protestors, and those dressed up as Margaret Atwood’s ‘Handmaids,’ reminded us all what is at stake. The crowd were a mixed bunch, ranging from small family groups on the fringes
Some comparing him to past dictators such as Hitler
my Corbyn. Yet, despite the blimp and record-breaking numbers, the impact of the march itself on future UKUS relations is yet to be confirmed, sparking more debates on what is already a heavily contested issue.
of the march to those right in the centre who were not afraid to let the President know what they thought of him. Despite these differences, unity in the face of hate was the clear theme and something heavily touched upon by those who spoke at the rally, including a surprising appearance from the leader of the Labour party, Jere-
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The Cole Museum of Zoology Society Francesca Della Valle 2nd Year Zoology
Do you enjoy natural history? Would you want to see the bones of an Iguanadon? Or are you entranced by the tapestry of colour created by a display of hundreds of foreign butterflies? Or perhaps you just enjoy being able to see a rare animal that is still in existence up close in the wild. Whatever the reason, and whatever your degree may be, The Cole Museum of Zoology Society is perfect for you. Joining our society, and group of volunteers, will give you ac-
cess to specimens that aren’t used in teaching or on display, as well as facilities that are otherwise out of bounds for non-volunteers. If you are doing one of the biological sciences degrees, then this exclusive access and involvement in the museum will really help with certain modules - such as the ‘Animal diversity’ module for first year Zoology students. As well as all these benefits, we are also given training days led by top conservators for free, kindly organised by the museum coordinators. So don’t miss out on all of this when it’s free, fun and great for your CV.
The construction of a brand new health and life sciences building is underway and should be finished by Christmas 2019. But it is not just the builders who are working hard to make this deadline The Cole Museum of Zoology must also relocate to the new building. This is a huge task and one that will face many challenges, such as funding to move larger specimens, cataloguing, and preservation, and the move itself. It is our job as volunteers to tackle some of these problems. Although we enjoy meeting every Wednesday to organise events and prepare the mu-
seum for its move, we wanted to add a social aspect to volunteering. So, we formed the Cole Museum of Zoology Society, a brand new society for the academic year 2018 – 2019, and we’re excited to put on a variety of events and trips throughout the year. We look forward to organising a subsidised trip to London’s Natural History Museum, and perhaps to Oxford’s Natural History Museum as well! We will also host gatherings and potential movie nights where we will give members a choice of films to choose between. We will also see you on Wednesdays if you choose to join us
as volunteers in the feat that is the Cole mass migration of 2018/19. We will see you at our taster session on the 3rd of October at 3pm, in the AMS foyer. And be sure to follow @colemuseum_soc on Instagram and @ ColeMM2019 on Twitter!
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The University of Reading Law Society welcomes you! Holly Royer 3rd Year Law
The University of Reading Law Society would like to wish a warm welcome to all of our freshers joining us this year! A common mis conception about the Law Society is that you need to be part of the law school to get involved; however, this is not the case! The Law Society is an essential feature of any students experience with an interest in law and is open to
all whether you are studying Law, Meteorology or Psychology, everyone is truly welcome!
host to many academic ventures such as Mooting; Negotiation Competitions; Careers Workshops and Pro Bono Activities. These are jointly hosted by top law firms throughout the year, and provide invaluable information and experience to help bulk up your CV.
A common misconception about the Law Society is that you need to be part of It is also incredibly imthe law school to get portant to find a balance involved; however, this between your studies and is not the case! socialising and on a social The Law Society plays
For the upcoming year, our wonderful social sec Katie has plenty of events planned including countless socials, a trip to Ascot, a trip abroad to Budapest and a trip to Thorpe Park!
We also have the freshers wine reception, the Christmas quiz, the summer picnic, and the incredibly popular annual Law Society ball to look forward to! In addition to this, we also front; we also have lots to have our sports teams to get offer. involved with so there truly is something for everyone!
Changing Perceptions of Feminism on Campus Imi Snell
3rd Year English Literature
In the past year, feminism has become more and more prominent with the #MeToo movement and large news stories, such as the Serena Williams sexism allegations. This has been met with mixed responses, and the Facebook comments section of BBC News makes for interesting and often infuriating reading; with comments that enforce stereotypes of ‘lazy immigrants’, ‘terrorist Muslims,’ and ‘angry feminists’. Breaking out of the ‘Feminazi’ label is difficult, particularly when shouting louder seems to cement it further, and informed arguments are met with blissful unabashed ignorance. Showing the world that young women need education more than marriage
and that sexual assault victims need solidarity instead of blame, can be drowned out quickly. The loudest voices in this are men; but men, despite popular suggestions about feminism, are not the enemy. Feminism is not just about women. Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK (Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), www.thecalmzone.net, 2015), and 75% of UK suicides in 2015 were men. Talking about feelings has been historically recognised as a traditionally feminine trait and seen as sign of weakness and fragility. This outlook has prompted and conditioned men to ‘bottle it up’ and ‘man up’ instead of getting help when they need it. Validating stereotypically feminine characteristics, such as being emotional, can allow men to ask for
help with confidence in the knowledge that they won’t be judged for having feelings and being a man. Feminism seeks to make these ‘feminine behaviours’ acceptable for everyone and lose the negative connotations that are associated with them. The Feminist Society at the University of Reading has been dormant for the past two years, following unaffiliation at the end of the 2015/2016 academic year. However, feminism had a reinvigoration at the university in 2018 with the centenary of the first women’s suffrage bill passing and the debate events titled ‘Debates & Doughnuts’, which showed a clear need and want for feminist movement on our campus. At the end of the last academic year the society reformed, largely thanks to two alumni from English Literatur. As a feminist group, we believe in intersectionality
and the importance of inclusion and diversity. We also believe in proactive feminism that can walk as well as talk, and in doing so are supporting four main charities this year: CoppaFeel, Trust House Reading, the Campaign Against Living Miserably (C.A.L.M.) and Launchpad. We have some fantastic events coming up this year including our Women’s March on International Women’s Day and Charity Benefit Ball. We also have a Freshers’ empowerment and Black History month event entitled: ‘Ain’t I a Woman’ coming up, which is inspired by Sorjourner Truth and in aid of CoppaFeel, a breast cancer awareness charity that encourages young women to check their breasts. We will also be running termly Debate and Resilience classes as well as continuing last year’s Debates and Doughnuts series.
Membership can be purchased on the RUSU website or you can pop by and sign up at the Freshers’ Fair. We look forward to welcoming you over the coming weeks and wish you all the best for the New Year. You can stay up to date with the law society through our Instagram: @uorlawsoc, Twitter: @UoRLawSociety, Facebook: University of Reading Law Society 18/19 or website: https://www. readinguniversitylawsociety. co.uk/ As a re-born society, we want to do as much as we can this year to empower our campus and encourage debate about feminist issues. Please join us in making change and supporting each other. ‘‘Ain’t I a Woman?’ Empowerment Evening: Celebrating Women of Colour’ is on 18th October 2018 in Palmer 109 from 6pm until 9pm (with an interval). Payas-you-feel entry in aid of CoppaFeel. All membership fees include a £1 donation to Trust House Reading, a charity that offers support to victims of sexual assault and rape. Find out more: rusu. co.uk/readingfemsoc | facebook.com/readingfemsoc. Follow us on Instagram: @ readingfemsoc.
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From the Region or Interested in the Culture? MENA Welcomes You! Abdulla Bazian 3rd year LLB law
Anyone who’s from or has ever lived in the Middle Eastern and North African region would truly understand the extent to which family is valued. Going to University doesn’t mean leaving all that behind, it’s just a step you need to take to reach your full potential. That is what MENA is here to do; help you become the person you need to be by providing you with that comfort and familiarity. With MENA, you get the best of both worlds! We encourage our members to stay active and gain exposure to as many different cultures as possible. Societies like ours will, or might already have, played a huge part in establishing your group of friends as well
as your social life in general. Our committee for the following academic year consists of Youssef Hamoudah as President; Mahmoud Nour Darwish as Vice President; Rama Bagaeen as Treasur-
and each of us offers something special that will effectively propel the MENA Society into bigger and better.
Going to Univeriity doesn’t mean leaving all that behind, it’s just a step you need to take to reach your full potential
We aim to surpass the accomplishments of every committee before us, every year. That means aiming to have a greater variety of events throughout the year, by maintaining a closer relation with all of you. Some things never change thoughShisha Nights, Dinners, Charity Runs and much, much more.
er; Mohammed Ismail as Secretary; Karim Elassi as Publicity & Media Rep.; Jasmine Hidmi as our Events Coordinator; and myself as your Welfare Officer. We are a team made of committee members of past with previous members of the society
Those who like to stay active but struggle to do so (like myself ) can count on MENA to encourage them with a couple of sporting events. Those who look for a great group of people to go out with will find just that with us. Societies don’t just help you explore your Uni-
versity town and the people in it.. Discussions for a potential trip are already taking place with MENA Societies in other Universities - but nothing confirmed just yet! Graduate Zaha Najdawi who took position as the Society’s President in the last academic year said “the most important guiding principal the committee and I tried to work towards was bringing together everyone within the MENA region to make them feel included, like they
have a little piece of home with them here in Reading.” Fortunately, that is exactly what Zaha had managed to do, providing many students with a sense of security and a social space where they can truly be themselves. This is confirmed by 3rd year LLB Law Student Yara Ajlouni, who says “It kept me tied to my roots and made me feel happy to be around similar people.” In the end, whether you’re a Fresher, a third year or a Postgraduate, we’ve got a place for you.
AW N A L H A D E E D
Reviving Community: The Muslim students of Reading other faiths and of no faith.
Siddiqa Yusuf 2nd Year Law
What do you know about Muslim students at Reading? For many coming to university, it may be your first time interacting with Muslims, so here is an official introduction. Reading ISoc aims to be at the forefront of reviving the community on campus. We aim to be engaging, as not only do we represent Muslim students, but we are also committed to being open to people of
ISLAMIC SOCIETY
As Muslim students, we find it important to take control of our narrative and challenge negative and inaccurate perceptions of us. In a time where our identity is heavily politicised, we are often spoken about rather than given the mic. The ISoc would like to extend an invitation for all, to learn about us, from us - what we stand for and what our values truly are. From Nigeria and Pakistan, to Palestine and Malaysia, the Muslim student community is full of diversity in culture, race and ethnicity. The society aims to reach out to everyone, regardless of culture or background, and be in-
volved on campus. All of our events, including our freshers and welcome week events are inclusive.
Our faith teaches us to embody principles such as pluralism and tolerance - this is what drives us to break down any stigma and build a legacy of community at Reading. From pizza nights, to speed networking and football, we have lots of social and sports events during freshers and welcome week. At university, alcohol orientated events are definitely not for everyone and throughout the year the ISoc has non-alcohol social events open to everyone which will allow you to make friends and maybe learn something new about your Muslim peers. All of our freshers and welcome week events can be found on our RUSU page, Facebook and Instagram.
Our faith teaches us to embody principles such as pluralism and tolerance The ISoc is passionate about social activism and awareness. This October, we are hosting an exciting Black History Month talk exploring the intersection of the Black Muslim Identity. Guest Speaker, Mustafa Briggs, will be exploring the deep-rooted relationship between Black history and Islam on Monday 8th October at Palmer Building G10. For more info go to: rusu.co.uk/ isocbhm Charity is a huge part of our faith as Muslims. Every year, the ISoc takes part in Charity Week, a nationwide campaign raising money for orphans and needy children. Last year we raised an amaz-
ing £3,138 and won an award for “most improved ISoc”. Be on the lookout between 22nd October and 28th October for our henna stalls, cakes, sweets and k=Krispy Kreme stalls around campus. We’ll also be holding fundraisers like football tournaments and movie nights - all details will be on our social media! We hope to see you join us for celebrations and events throughout the year. Talk to us, ask us questions about our faith and learn who Muslims really are, from actual Muslims. Be sure to follow us on all of our social media below. If you’d like to organise a society collaboration, interfaith or a visit to Archway Lodge, we would love to hear from you! Facebook: Reading ISoc Instagram/Twitter: @readingisoc Email: secretary@readingisoc.org.uk
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Discover Your Artistic Side of our sessions and join our Facebook group for updates.
Philip Bull
3rd Year English Literature
Your idea of art may be vague memories of daubing paper with Prit stick and chucking glitter at it. Or the slightly fresher memories of fumbling around with sketching pencils in a year seven art class led by a creatively drained teacher. Neither of these are fair pictures of what art is. Art is fun, art can be whatever you want it to be. Art is that rare opportunity to express yourself in a way that you cannot with words. Most people don’t get much of an opportunity to engage with art. I knew a few people who took it for GCSE, but that was it. When
Art is fun, art can be whatever you want it to be
MAHALIA CONNOR
I started university, I approached the Fine Art Society (RUFAS) without knowing what to expect. I found that the society held regular life drawing
classes (something I had never attended before) as well as other art skills workshops and socials. It allowed me, someone who was not studying art, a chance to find and explore my creativity. This year we have plenty more activities planned, starting with our Freshers taster session at 7pm on the 3rd of October in Palmer 106. We will then be having a cocktails evening on the 10th of October in Wessex Ice Bar. Come along to any
MAHALIA CONNOR
Political Opinion: Boris Exits Brexit Lauren Collard
3rd Year English Literature
In July 2018, Boris Johnson quit as foreign secretary following a lengthy meeting with the cabinet in which the Prime Minister, Theresa May, discussed her plans for Brexit. Johnson was left unsatisfied with Theresa May’s proposal of a ‘soft Brexit’ with one of the main features being a ‘common rule book.’ Johnson is a Senior Conservative and leading Brexiteer and became the third minister in the space of just 24 hours to vacate government following the meeting. Although there was an initial feeling of relief that there is finally some plan of action in place after more than two
Johnson left unsatisfied with Theresa May’s proposal of a ‘soft Brexit’ years of waiting, the resulting feeling was very much an anti-climax as the plan is unfortunately one that Boris cannot back faithfully. During the all-day meeting, May was able to reach somewhat of a compromise with the majority of the deeply divided cabinet. In his resignation letter to Theresa May, he stated that he could not partake in a ‘semi-Brexit’ with much of the United Kingdom’s economy ‘locked in the EU sys-
tem, but with no UK control over that system’. A large portion of his letter to the PM is a reminder of what was promised as a result of leaving the European Union, with some of the key features being control over our own democracy, management of our own immigration policy and the ability to pass laws independently with the interests of the people of this country
He could not partake in a ‘semi-Brexit’ which much of the United Kingdom’s economy ‘locked in the EU system, but with no UK control’ over that system.
This ‘dream is dying’ following the manner in which May has postponed crucial decisions in mind. He mournfully used the phrase that this ‘dream is dying’ following the manner in which May has postponed
crucial decisions. He ultimately expresses a sense of frustration in his letter of the backwards nature in which Brexit is taking. There was pressure forming on Johnson as to whether he would stay or go following the departure of prominent Brexiteer David Davis which was swiftly followed by Steve Baker. This abandoning of Brexit has deepened the sense of crisis and has left the country wondering how we can have faith in the Prime Minister’s plans.
BEN TERRETT
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Whiteknights Receives Green Flag Award for Eighth Year Running Sabita Burke
2nd Year English Language and Linguistics
The university’s largest of its five worldwide campuses, Whiteknights, has been awarded a prestigious Green Flag Award again this year, following a vote as one of the best green spaces in the U.K. 2018 marks the eighth consecutive year that Whiteknights Campus has received the award, thanks to the long-standing effort and hard work that the University’s maintenance and management teams have put into ensuring that Whiteknights is the natural haven that it is today. The award, presented annually by the Green Flag Award Scheme, serves as a recognition of the best pub-
lic outdoor spaces across the world. The university of Reading is one of a select few U.K. universities to have won the award in 2018, with others including Bristol, Sussex, Nottingham Trent and the University of East Anglia. Within Reading Borough, the only other places to have been given the award this year are Caversham Court and Woodford Park. Of our campus, Consumer Behaviour and Marketing student Rachel Osborne said: ‘I love being on campus because I’m always a five minute walk away from the beautiful lake and green spaces. It makes me really proud to be on a campus that’s achieved the Green Flag Award as it’s great to know the university cares as
much as I do about its environmental impact!’ Aimee, who studies Physics and Mathematics, added:
‘We always need more green spaces for the environment and for the peace of mind that you need when you’re studying. I was surprised that not many unis have green spaces, so it’s great that Reading have won the award.’ As the new year begins and the pressures of academia set in, it is a blessing to have the opportunity to step out of our bedrooms or lecture theatres and be only a short stroll away from 123 hectares of natural beauty, whatever the season. It has been proven in numerous psychological studies that spending time in nature has immensely positive effects on one’s mental health. It can be a wonderfully refreshing, and welcome break to walk down to the lake
and see the geese and swans, wander around the streams and pools in the Harris Garden, or immerse yourself in the conservation meadows and woodlands next to it. Enjoying the greenness of this nature-filled campus may be just the thing to revitalise yourself before getting back to writing that particularly irascible essay, or simply to peacefully recharge and slow down after the whirlwind fortnight that is Freshers’.
Spending time in nature has immensely postive effects on one’s mental health
A Society for all - ISRU Welcomes You! Abdulla Bazian 3rd Year LLB Law
Maybe, like me, you’ve spent your whole life in one place - home. You might have had to change schools periodically by travelling to other states or countries. Home is the birthplace of your character, where you’ve experienced the good, the bad, and everything in between to become who you are Regardless of how you see it your trip to university is not something to merely accept, but a new beginning! Welcome it, as the University of Reading welcomes you. Following in our University’s footsteps, ISRU (International Society of Reading University) is looking forward to welcoming you too. It’s no secret that joining societies are the best way to meet people from all backgrounds, both in and out of your culture or course. Make
the most of it! We put a lot of time and thought into our events to ensure everyone reaps the benefits of joining a society; to make sure that our community remains inclusive and maintains its reputation in new and exciting ways.
Your trip to university is not something to merely accept, but a new beginning! Our committee for the following academic year consists of Michele Grandinetti as President; Goncalo Lopes as Vice President; Karim Elassi as Publicity & Media Rep.; Gavin Dumur as Secretary for the second consecutive year; Claudia Ribera as Sports Rep.; Federico Del Bue as our Treasurer; Sara Mattar as Social
Representative and myself as your Welfare Officer. If you are looking to maintain a higher level of physical fitness in the forthcoming year, attending an ‘ISRU Casual Sports’ event might be the steeping stone you need. Last year ISRU had hosted a Social Run, Volleyball and Football sessions. This year we are looking to meet and exceed what has been done before, potentially hosting sporting events more frequently for our active members. Ultimately, what we provide remains consistent with what we see is in demand we are here for you so do not hesitate to put forward suggestions; we will always take them into consideration! And it doesn’t have to be sports-related, because ISRU is famed for its Clubbing Nights, its Dinners, and will be famed for its out-of-thebox thinking with regards to potential events. But it doesn’t have to be in Read-
ing either… there’s been talk of planning day trips to some of England’s most scenic locations. There’s only so much we can say right now but take a look at what some of our members have said in the past. Graduate Karim Helbawi who took position as the Society’s President in the last academic year said it “meant one major compelling role to me, which was providing a space and a community for young people new to the country.” Fortunately, that is exactly what Karim had managed to do, positively impacting so many students, and not just the ones who were here to stay. Matthieu World’Co Saffre studied Business in Reading as an Erasmus student for just a year. Matthieu said “As an Erasmus student or new international student you often feel alone when you arrive. The International Society allows you to meet people in the same situa-
tion and makes you discover people from the whole world with a different culture and point of view in cheerful places! This society is the best way to get international friends and to enjoy your stay in Reading.” For some it’s “Crazy events with great DJ’s and mad nights that you won’t forget,” as third year Biochemistry student Francesco-Xavier Gheri put it. For others its events such as the International Dinners, which made Andrea Canovas, a 2nd year Consumer Behaviour and Marketing student realize “that you can literally get on with anyone from any culture.”
Posititvely impacting so many students and not just the ones who are here to stay.
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Meningitis: The Vaccine and Staying Safe Ellie Pestaina Editor
In the excitement of A-Level results, and getting your place at university, there are surely many things on your mind.. It is a significant step in your life and with all those things in mind, it would not be surprising if vaccinations are at the bottom of your list of things to do, if they made the list in the first place. But, with Freshers coming up, let us tell you why it should be there. First year students are particularly at risk of contracting Viral meningitis and Meningococcal disease (bacterial meningitis/Septicaemia), the second most ‘at risk group’ of the entire population. As with any bacteria, Meningitis can be spread through sneezing and coughing, and it is almost certain that you will get a cold in your first year at university (and Freshers’ Flu, anyone?). It
can also be passed through other factors, such as intimate kissing, so you get the idea! Will you be living in halls this coming year? It is an amazing time to meet all new people from all across the country and overseas, however, you will all be liv-
First year students are particularly at risk of contracting Viral meningitis and Meningococcal disease
ing in close proximity, the perfect environment for disease and bacteria to spread. One in four young people, aged 15 to 19, will have the Meningococcal bacteria (which causes meningitis) lingering in their system. This is compared to one in ten of the entire UK population. So, it is more likely that one of your new hall or course mates (or those you
meet on a night out) might have it.
The early symptoms of Meningitis include a severe headache, diarrhoea/vomiting, severe muscle pain, fever, drowsiness and difficulty waking up. These can be mistaken for anything. Some of these symptoms can seem to be anything from Freshers flu to Food poisoning, or, simply, a hangover from the night before. It would be easy to brush off, and with no parents telling you to visit your GP, waiting for it to pass over would be easy to do. With the vaccination you have the security of knowing you’re safe, and that that hangover is just a hangover!
What to do next? 1.Make an appointment with your GP! Ask for the MenACWY vaccine. Chances are, if you just mention you’re going off to university and need the meningitis vaccine, they will know exactly what you mean. 2. Make sure you get registered with the University Health Centre as soon as you arrive for Freshers. Although you should receive the vaccine before you get to university, registering at the university GP will benefit you immensely over the next few years for anything that can come up. 3. Refer to the NHS website, and organisations such as MeningitisNow.org and the Meningitis Research Foundation for more information.
severe headache, diarrhoea/vomiting, severe muscle pain, fever, drowsiness and someone who has had difficulty waking up. theAsvaccine themselves, it is
not as bad as it may seem, and a bit of discomfort from
the vaccination is no reason to put it off or forgo it altogether. It might be a little bit sore, and you may experience some cold-like symptoms afterwards, but you’ll be back to enjoying your Freshers’ Week in no time! Meningitis is a deadly disease, which, when not fatal can cause a multitude of health complications that can affect you for the rest of your life – It only takes a quick internet search to realise the deadly risk posed to students, especially during Freshers’. At the University of Reading, your health, safety, and well-being is of the utmost importance, and especially now, we need your co-operation to ensure that we can keep you healthy and well.
Meningitis is a deadly disease
The Entrepreneurship Society Looks Ahead to New Academic Year Hope O’Grady
3rd Year English Language and Linguistics
The Entrepreneurship Society embraces the spirit of entrepreneurship by fostering innovative minds, developing invaluable skills and fulfilling entrepreneurs’ potential. We do this by inspiring future generations and showing them that they could already have the skills, ideas and attitude it takes to
become an entrepreneur. Throughout the academic year we run events with industry experts. Some speakers in the past have been: Timothy Brownstone the CEO and founder of Kymira Sport; Paul Lindley the Founder of Ella’s Kitchen, and Magnus Ronning the Founder of Ronning Clothing.
more inspirational speakers and aim to have people who have been able to start and maintain a business through using social media, such as Instagram influencers.
Other events we hold for the society are networking events and insightful and practical workshops. Workshops we have planned for this year include: hiring a professional photographer This year we intend to have for the afternoon to take
photos for members to use for their LinkedIn profile, and a workshop for running a business from your laptop. We also run an annual competition called IDEAFEST with Henley Business Angels, which is a Business Idea Competition. The 2018 IDEAFEST awarded cash prizes to student teams, including £1000 for the best overall idea; £1000 for the most innovative idea; and
for MBA students, a bursary of £3000 for the best business idea capable of making a mark on the Chinese market. For more information, follow our Instagram account ‘@uorentrepreneurs’ or our Facebook page ‘Reading Entrepreneurship Society’. You can also check out our website www.ruentre.com
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Reading University Vegetarian and Vegan Society Ellen Francis
3rd Year Film and Theatre
A massive welcome back and hello to all the new and existing students! I am this year’s president of the university’s Vegetarian and Vegan Society. This year we have a great vision for what we want to do and achieve; we have big plans, and also some smaller plans, but all equally as exciting. One project myself and the
committee are eager to get started is the making of our own recipe book. It is going to be a collaborative process that we want as many of you to get involved with as possible. It is going to involve a lot of creative ideas and, of course, a lot of taste testing. We ultimately want to be able to sell our book to raise money for a charity that as a society we want to support. We are still in the early stages of starting this up, but watch
this space! Back when I was a fresher, which actually feels only five minutes ago, the society was one of the first on my list that I knew that I would be joining. I was excited to find some like-minded people, I didn’t really mind what they did, it was more about just being around others who shared the same interests as me. From talking to other members of the society, it is one of the main reasons for us all.
We are a relaxed and entirely inclusive society In this light, it is no surprise our most popular socials have always been when we are just hanging out together as friends. We are a relaxed and entirely inclusive society with many of our events being casual meet ups, being
Join the Marketing Society! Florence Perramond
3rd Year Management and Business
Do you want to learn more about marketing in practice? Do you want to find out more about what it is you enjoy about marketing? In the Marketing Society, we organise events and have guests talks from employees from many different types of companies. Our committed team is happy to welcome you during our Taster session on Wednesday 10th October at 8:15pm. During a typical session, we discuss personal innovative ideas regarding Marketing and its development in practice. Our main focus is to help you discover the beauty of marketing - including production, sales, market research, strategy, and advertising. Our society aims to show how marketing is crucial and relevant to everyone regardless of what they are studying or where they are working.
Our society especially applies to Business to Business (B2B) and Business to Consumer (B2C), which makes it very interesting when discussed and seen in practice. This part of business is both strategic and creative, which is why it is so crucial for any organisation.
ple, last year, we took part in a day trip to London to go visit the Telefonica offices and hear some employees talk about the company. This allowed students to get a feel of the working world and have the opportunity to ask people for their opinions on business issues.
Aside from our usual sessions we also organise socials, a fun way to meet others with similar interests as you. We also organise day trips where we go visit a company and get a chance to talk to employees and ask questions. For exam-
To sum up, this society is a way for you to take your academic knowledge and try to fit it in the real world. We hope it will help you figure out what interests you in business, and maybe, grow a passion for marketing.
KARIM ELASSI
KARIM ELASSI
KARIM ELASSI
with like-minded people and enjoying good food. We are so excited to meet you and if you are interested in joining it would be great to see you at our taster events where we will be sharing much more of our plans for the year.
D E C O R AT I O N
COFFEE
SAFETY
How to turn your bedroom into the perfect student sanctuary.
The best places to drink coffee in Reading.
Top tips for keeping safe at University on and off campus.
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lifestyle
The Start Of Change R O S I E N E V I LL E
Lifestyle editor
University is the start of one of the biggest changes in life. You are no longer a child, you no longer live at home and you are no longer looked after by anyone other than yourself. It is what leads on to your future. Starting University, you won’t be sure of what your flatmates will be like, whether you will en-
joy your course or who you will spend your time with. Soon though, these things will all seem completely normal. Change is unpreparable and uncontrollable, but it happens and you adjust. For some people, change is a good and exciting thing; you may long for it and be bored without it. For others however, the lack of change is comforting; familiarity and routine are sought after
and bring much more pleasure than something new and unfamiliar. Whether you actively choose change or not however, and no matter how prepared you are, it always happens. The very definition of change is ‘something different’, so it is impossible to know exactly what will happen when something new is introduced, all that you can do it accept is once it has started and it soon becomes
the new norm. Change may not bring good things straight away but without it, there would be no opportunities; if you never took this step to join University and leave home, you wouldn’t have gained this opportunity to meet new people, learn independence or move closer towards the career you are aiming for. The next three or more years that you have ahead of
you are all completely unknown at the moment, and as much as will have heard this advice already, all you can do is make the most of it. You are a ‘fresher’, you have been given a completely fresh and new opportunity to shape how you want your experience at University to be. Get to know your flat mates, join societies, try something new, work hard at your course and enjoy it.
Making The Most Of Freshers A SECOND YEARS PERSPEC TIVE OF FRESHERS WEEK
BETH SHELPER
Second Year English Language
Welcome, Freshers! Firstly, know that the mix of excitement and nerves you’re feeling right now is totally normal. It’s also really important to remember that absolutely everyone you meet will be feeling exactly the same, even if they aren’t showing it. Use this excitement and energy to your advantage and start conversations with new people – making friends is much easier than you’d think as everyone is in the same boat! Shall we get the serious (but important) bits out the way? If you haven’t already, register with the University doctor’s surgery on Northcourt Avenue. There are sign up sessions being run throughout freshers in the Palmer building at
the centre of Whiteknights campus, so registering is easy. This will enable you to be able to register to get the vital meningitis vaccine if you haven’t already. Don’t forget to look after yourselves (as obvious as this seems), as you’ll be really grateful when you are hit by the inevitable bout of Freshers flu that lasts painfully longer than you could ever imagine… prepare yourselves. Get to know your new home. Our beautiful campus, is a really great way to help yourself settle in here. Throughout your Freshers experience you’ll see volunteers all over campus available to help you settle in. These teams are full of your fellow students and include the Freshers’ Angels and your halls’ JCR team, who are all there to ensure your
transition into university life is smooth, enjoyable and stress-free, as well as being able to answer any questions you may have. This is really useful when settling in as these volunteers were all in your shoes a year or two ago – so don’t be shy, just ask! Join societies and sports clubs, or even just go to their Fresher’s week taster sessions. This is a fantastic way to meet new people. In addition to our student media teams: The Spark newspaper, Junction 11 radio and RU: ON TV, the university has over 150 sports clubs and societies which are open to everyone of all abilities, including the Disney society, Cheerleading, the American Football team and the hugely popular Yogalates society. Our campus is also home to our own Starbucks, a hair
salon, our Korean supermarket (Seoul Plaza), Bubble Tea Bar and arguably the best place on our award-winning campus: Cerealworks Bagel Shop. Located just inside the students’ union, here you will meet the famous Bagel Man, and find a great and affordable selection of bagels, smoothies, and milkshakes. Aside from your carnival themed Freshers’ Ball: aptly named the “Freshers’ Fiesta” which includes a fun fair (and is definitely the most memorable and exciting event of Freshers), club events are run nightly throughout the entire two weeks and are held at both our newly refurbished 3sixty on-campus nightclub, and in Reading town centre at clubs such as Coalition, Q-Club, and Lola Lo’s. However, don’t worry if you’re not that into nights out, as
there are plenty of other activities to enjoy during Freshers, including quiz and karaoke nights, movie nights held at the on-campus Minghella Studios theatre and a dedicated society for just for you: the R. U. Not Drinking Much society. Lastly, if you are finding adjusting to university life difficult and struggling to settle in, know that you are most definitely not alone. There are a wide variety of on-campus facilities to help you, including your halls mentors, flat and course mates, personal tutors, the OpenMind society and counsellors, which can be found in the Carrington building. Don’t forget, home is only a phone call away, so make the most of this incredible experience!
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Listen Up Fresher’s MA N O N J O N E S
Graduate
Coming to university can be a huge jump and you can suddenly feel out of your depth. However, when you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed it is best to remember that first year is designed to be an adjustment period. If you’re struggling to manage your work or if you’re disappointed with some of your results, don’t worry about it too much. Although I’m not really in the camp of ‘first-year-doesn’tcount-so-I’m-not-going-todo-any-work-at-all,’ I would definitely reassure freshers that somehow everything all works out in the end and there really is no pressure to be achieving top marks as soon as you get here. Many of us would want to know what it is like to be at University before arriving and luckily for you, this old fart has some words of wisdom to help you get the most out your time here. STUDY ABROAD: This was the one thing I wished I done if I had to do University all over again. If you are single honours seize the opportunity to study abroad. Get a taste of another country and enjoy your time there in the amazing countries that Uni is partnered with. I had friends study in some stunning places like Canada, Australia, Norway, Budapest, and Taiwan.
JULIAN JONES
PLAN THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO: Planning all my work really helped me stay organised and on top of things. Aside from this, I also timetabled in things to look forward to in order to keep me motivated. Whilst it is probably not a great idea to go home the first weekend of term I found it really helpful to have my train tickets booked a few weeks in advance so that I had something to work towards. On a smaller note, it is also a good idea to factor in afternoons or evenings off during exam season so you don’t feel too bogged down. Even planning to do simple things like cooking a new recipe, catching up with friends, or watching a few episodes of your favourite series can help! TRY NEW THINGS: Make the most of what campus has on offer and make sure you are aware of upcoming events. The Student Union put on some great nights out from varsity, Summer Ball, exam relaxation events such as the adorable mobile farm, weekly quiz nights where you can win cash and a pitcher if you have the funniest team name. Join a society and make sure you have a mixture of different ones to go enjoy and suit you. There are hundreds of options from hobbies like the baking society, sports and dance teams like rugby and street dance as well as some great volunteering op-
portunities. If you are keen to gain experience for your CV find out if your course subject offers any opportunities or sign up to be on the committee. If you fancy a career in media why not write for the Spark, host a show on Junction 11 or craft moving stories with RU ON TV. I recommend trying something active as well as it will help to let off stress from classes and help you to get outdoors and help to build up your confidence as well as brush off the cobwebs. CHALLENGE YOUR PROFESSORS: Remember you are spending £9 grand a year for your education so don’t accept what your teachers say at face value. You are here to learn and think outside the box. If you are not happy with the way a system is currently, challenge it, discuss with your personal tutors and peers why are things the way they are why is it that your subject clearly awards teacher’s pets or says that there is no right or wrong answer but gives firsts to people who dance around in jelly? It is your future at the end of the day so fight for it. START THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE: Surprisingly your time at University will fly by and it will be difficult to pack everything in if you don’t make the most of your time. If you have not the faintest
idea about what you want to do when you graduate then do not panic. The careers team are some of the loveliest people I have ever met and will strive to help you in any way they can. Be on the lookout for roles on campus if you want to earn some extra cash they are always looking for staff at the cafes on campus. Stay updated with what’s on as there will be opportunities to meet companies at careers fair, shape your cv with masterclasses and take advantage of schemes like the RED award and THRIVE where you can learn valuable experience. KNOW WHO YOUR MATES ARE: It is also important to just be yourself. For some reason, coming to uni is often associated with ‘reinventing yourself ’. Although it is a good opportunity to try new things – if you have always hated sports don’t force yourself to try out for the rowing team just because you think it’s the cool thing to do. Keeping up the ‘new you’ will be tiring and time-consuming. Just focus on being you and you’ll meet the right kind of people who you want to be friends with. Having a strong support group will not only include lots of fun but help one another when the going gets tough or you need to catch up on notes. There is a tendency to cling on to the first group of people you meet and rush into
LAURA MCCARTHY
sorting out student houses for second year, don’t! You have more time than you think and you may assume that your flatmates are going to be your besties for life but halfway into your first term you find out that they are not always on top of doing their share of the washing up. Everybody finds it hard at some point and whilst your college welfare team are great, you don’t have to go to them to start with. Often just mentioning to a friend that you can’t wait to go home or that you’re missing your dogs will spark a conversation and make you realise that they are feeling just the same way as you are. EXPLORE: Get to know your surroundings. The first few weeks of term are busy and overwhelming but try to make some time to explore the city. If you’re like me and itching to get a break from essays or keen to try something other than curly fries at Mojo’s ( they are like gold dust so do keep eyes peeled). For example, Cafe Yolk is great but Reading has loads of other great independent cafes that are often forgotten about, such as Work House Coffee – my personal favourite. An ideal spot for studying or snuggling up with a book to devour for class. It’s also handy when family come to visit to know some good options or activities to go and do.
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How To Turn Your Room Into The Perfect Student Sanctuary S A B I TA B U R K E
Second Year English Lit and Lang
With this in mind, I think it’s one of the most important things you can do at the beginning of the academic year to take care in brightening up your room, making it cosy and snug, and striking the perfect balance between a comfily relaxing space and a work-orientated, productive vibe.
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When arriving at university for the first time, you will be bombarded with information about how to join societies, where to find help for just about any problem you may have in your halls, and enough Domino’s paper bags to carry around your free pizza for the rest of the year. The one thing you won’t be told, however, is that your uni room, whether in halls
or part of a private house, is going to be the most pivotal place for you in the three-plus years of your degree, and the place where you’ll be spending most of your time (okay, just adding a “post-Freshers’”-labelled asterisk here).
Lights: Nothing makes an otherwise normal, boring room glow like a pretty little string of fairy lights. They come in all different colours and can be very cheap to buy in places like Poundland and online. A word of warning, though: if you are moving into halls, make sure you buy a battery-powered set that does not have to be plugged into the wall, as plug-ins of any kind are not allowed in your room. Better still, look online for some solar-powered ones and rest assured that you aren’t harming the environment!
Colour scheme I have resolved that when I return to uni this autumn and move into my new room, I want to keep to a regime of two colours: pink and blue. This is because having only a small number of colours dominating the walls and surfaces of your room creates a plainer, simpler and appear less crowded. Wall hangings and tapestries are a beautiful way of adding large splashes of colour to the walls whilst adorning them with patterns or pictures that you enjoy looking at. Lighter shades such as pastel pink, lilac or blue work especially well in brightening up a dangerously dingy room. Alternatively, if you find your room to be devoid of natural light then embracing this with an array of darker, warmer tones such as pinks and reds can have a cosy effect. Special things: Select a few ornaments that truly mean something to you and have emotional value. Photos of your loved ones can be pegged
up along the aforementioned string of lights, or cover the pinboard in a sea of the people you love and memories you’ve made. This might be the perfect time to finally get out that souvenir your mum bought you on that family holiday last summer. You will continue to acquire amazing memories throughout the next few years, so save some space to pin up those polaroids you took last Monday at Q Club, and your Freshers’ wristbands once you’re finally able to take them off… Minimalism: Something that I cannot sing the praises of enough, is minimalism. This is the process of filling your space only with things you truly need or that have some emotional value to you, and removing everything else from the visible surfaces so as to create a clutter-free room. I believe they say “tidy house, tidy mind” for a reason. As hard as it was to part with much of my stuff, when I left it behind on coming to university I felt so much happier with more free space to concentrate on my studies.
Settling In And Making Friends S A B I TA B U R K E
Second Year English Lit and Lang
When you apply to university, secure your place on Results Day, and pore over the heaps of paperwork and emails you get sent in the run-up to Freshers’ briefing you on what the next three years of your life are going to be like, you’ll be plugged with the (often true) idea that your uni social life is going to be perfect and that you’ll undoubtedly find instant best friends in your flatmates. However, as welcome as this ready-made friendship utopia sounds, sadly not everyone is lucky enough to find friends straight away. Flatmates: When I became a fresher, it
was all too common to find myself meeting others like me who, for many different reasons, didn’t fit in with the rest of their flat. I was placed in a flat entirely of Chinese students. While it must have been equally terrifying for them moving to a new country to study, I felt isolated and out of place as the only person who couldn’t speak Mandarin. Even if you don’t immediately seem to hold the same values or lifestyle as the people you are thrown together with, with a bit of open-mindedness it is still possible to see things from their perspective so as to understand them and get to know them better. After talking to my flatmates about how hard it was for
them speaking a second language, I felt more motivated to persevere in making conversation with them. It takes time and effort but you are going to be with these people for a year. When people feel at home with you, they will want to be friends with you. Moving: There are cases when the differences between you and your flatmates are so great that the situation becomes unresolvable. If you truly feel that there is no way you can be happy in your flat, there is the option to move. If you move to another hall, or another flat in the same hall, this is normally made possible by finding
someone else who wants to move (search “RUSU Find a Housemate” on Facebook or spread the word among other Freshers) and arranging a room swap with them, or putting yourself on the list to be notified when someone moves out. This is processed through the Accommodation Office, where you can drop in at any time in the Carrington Building. Societies: The thought that comes to mind at the mention of societies is, annoying but true. If you have attended the Freshers’ Fayre even just once, you will have been bombarded with flyers and promised to join a dozen more societies than you will ever actu-
ally have time for, but they wouldn’t tell you how great societies are for meeting like-minded people if it wasn’t true. Somehow, the people who are interested in the same activities as you are also those who have a similar mindset, and the people with whom you may end up becoming friends. If you are struggling with settling in at university in any way, I urge you not to be shy of using the help that is on offer. Your STAR Mentors are there for support and guidance, and keep trying to go to as many society socials and halls events as you can. There is also an on-campus counselling service available to everyone if anything becomes a serious problem.
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Top Tips For Enriching Your Masters Experience K AT H E R I N E P E B W O R T H
MA applied linguistics
Embarking on a MA last September was an exciting yet terrifying experience. My head was full of questions and concerns such as would I make friends? What would Reading University be like? How easy is it to fit in as a Postgrad? Will all the bars be full of freshers and am I too old to go out? Life is a Masters student at Reading has been one of the best experiences of my life but there are some things I wish somebody had told me before I started - little bits of advice that sometimes took me longer to figure out than I wish they’d had. So here are my top tips for any postgrads starting at Reading University this September. Do some extra curricular activities. This may seem a waste of time and pointless as a postgraduate student but honestly, its fun, important and will enrich your experience so much. It is really helpful to meet some people outside of your course,
which is exceptionally difficult it you’re not in halls / going out 3 times a week like you do as an undergraduate fresher. Attend a professional track course, join a sports team or write for the paper! Do something that’s not related to your studies. I promise it will help you keep sane even if the time commitment seems a bit much! Make friends with everybody on your course. Don’t be that person that sits at the back of the class and doesn’t talk to anybody. I have made friends with so many different people this year, from all over the world and all different ages. It has been such an enriching experience and it may not have been the case if I hadn’t immediately socialised with the people on my course. Try to organise social activities around your time on campus. If, like me, you commute to campus and work part time it might seem virtually impossible
to attend any social events, but I promise you it is possible and you’ll find that many people are in a similar position to you so will very much appreciate this. My friends and I, for example, went to the pub (Park House Bar – it’s great, cheap and really cute) after lectures on Tuesday for an hour or so because it fit with everybody’s schedule and was the best way for us to all become such great friends. Learn how to cope with your commute (if you have one). So many of you Masters students are probably commuting to campus and it can seem like one of the hardest things about doing your Masters degree (I’m not even exaggerating – traffic in Reading is hideous). So, my advice to you commuters would be to find the best ways to cope with your commute from day one. Discover podcasts, find out which route is best, and invest in some good headphones. I
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promise this will make the year much, much easier. Remember why you decided to do your masters. Sometimes throughout the year you may feel exhausted, overwhelmed and fed up and as a postgraduate you may find there’s less support for these feelings and perhaps many more of them then you experienced as an undergrad. So, it’s important to remember why you started and what you want to achieve. Giving yourself a little pep talk every now and again is always a good idea. Enjoy yourself. Whatever your reasons for doing a Masters, a career break, a change in career, or a continuation of your studies. The time will pass so quick-
ly that you’ll blink and suddenly you have three weeks left before your dissertation deadline. Enjoy the lectures, make the most of the library, and socialise whenever your busy schedule allows it. katharinepebworth@gmail. com Masters yearth this new appingts this August, every saturday o be the first to know abotu ram is a 7. Your Masters year will sometimes feel absolutely impossible and at other times, the best thing you’ve ever done. Make sure you find a rhythm that works for you and make times for yourself and the other parts of postgraduate life that don’t just involve your subject and assignments.
LoyallyPop: Discover New Things About Reading! K ATH E R I N E P E B W O R T H
MA applied linguistics
If you’re a fresher and brand new to the area, have come back for second year and want to try new things, or want to make the most of it before your time at the University of Reading is over, it’s important to know where to go, where you can get a good deal, and what events are happening! Being new to an area is so exciting but equally overwhelming and it’s really difficult to figure out where to go. It’s like being on holiday but without the tourist guides. Plus, as we all know, life as a student is
busy. There are all sorts of crazy information on Facebook, and it’s hard to find anything new in the area. Your parents will visit you a few weeks into term and you won’t know where you can take them without revisiting the place you went last time with the good sweet potato fries. Or your friends from home will come down for the weekend and you’ll end up in the same bar you go to every single Friday. Well, now, Reading has a brand new way of finding out about all the best offers, events, and things to do! LoyallyPop is a brand new app for all the best deals, events and offers
in your area. Want to know where you can get a good budget dinner? Check the LoyallyPop app. Want a new place for your date tonight? Check the LoyallyPop app. Want to know if there’s anything different going on at the weekend? Check the LoyallyPop app. Reading is full of great places to eat, drink and shop but it’s easy to just head over the riverside and pick the same chain as always because you know it’s got a good student deal. Now, with the LoyallyPop app, you can find new places to go without breaking the bank. Surprise your family, surprise your home friends, and surprise your-
self by finding some new places to hang out. Some of the coolest things on the LoyallyPop app so far include: A cool offer from Jay’s Doughnuts for free delivery! Forget Crispy Cremes, Jay’s Doughnuts is a brand new doughnut business in Reading. Delicious treats made to order for any event you may be having. His Instagram is enough to make anybody hungry and I promise you’ll be wanting to order from him for your next event. Comedy Night at Milk Bar happens on the 3rd Tuesday of every month and is not to be missed. Events like this are part of what makes
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Reading such a great place to be a student and you want to be the first to know about them. DJ night at Pitcher and Piano. P&P Reading started their DJ nights this August, every Saturday from 7pm and they are not to be missed. Want to know about more events and offers like this? Download the app today and follow LoyallyPop on social media for updates on what the app has in store for you.
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What You Should Know Before Getting A Balayage ESME HOGGARD
3rd Year English Lit + Film Studies
For those of you who don’t know, a Balayage is French for ‘to paint,’ and this hairstyle seems to have become one of the most popular hairstyles of 2018. I first heard of this style when scrolling through Instagram and what caught my attention was how natural and effortless the hair looked. The hairdresser, quite literally, uses a small brush to paint on your chosen hair dye which can either result in subtly blended highlights - into your natural colour, or an eye-catching mixture of dark into icy blonde hair. With all these perfect pictures and videos of Balayages in my mind, I decided I was going to go ahead and book an appointment as soon as possible. However, before you take the plunge, I suggest you take a few things into consideration first. Look around before deciding on the salon you want to go to. What I’ve learned from many a Balayage disaster is that all hairdressers have a
different technique, some being a lot better than others. I made the mistake of going to a hairdressers purely because their services were cheaper than others I had previously been to but, I paid for this in the long run. I ended up having to spend the same amount of money I would have spent anyway, if I had chosen more wisely, just to have the hair colour corrected. The moral of the story: don’t sacrifice quality just to save some money, because nine times out of ten it’s not worth it. Stalk hairdressers Instagram’s before your appointment. Whilst this might sound slightly out of the norm, most hairdressers want to show-off their best work and Instagram is the best place for this. When choosing my hairdressers, their social media played a massive role in deciding who I wanted to do my hair. I found looking through each artists Instagram was crucial in deciding where I went and who I wanted. Just by scrolling
through their Instagram I was able to see who was a Balayage queen and who specified in other areas. What’s more, I found showing my hairdresser some of her work that I liked helped her to understand how I wanted my own Balayage to turn out. Even towards the end of the appointment she said to me that having something to go from really helps when dealing with a new client. Have realistic expectations and be patient! In the beginning of my Balayage journey I fully expected to walk in the appointment with dark brown, box-dyed hair and come out looking a blonde-goddess. Although you may see some people on Instagram go from black to ice-queen in a matter of seconds, trust me the reality is very different. Whilst I loved my hair after the first appointment, I would be lying if I said it was exactly what I pictured but, after the second appointment I achieved the look I wanted whilst maintaining
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my hairs health. And last but by no means least... A Balayage does requires some upkeep. Having never bleached my hair before, I was completely naive to the fact that my hair wouldn’t always remain a cool-ashy tone. Over a certain amount of time, your Balayage will most probably start to look a little brassy and be in dire need of a tone
down. Don’t be fooled into thinking that just because you don’t have to upkeep roots that you won’t need to worry about returning to the hairdressers. Keep in mind that your roots may no longer be a problem but, unless you like the look of your brassy locks, a trip to the hairdressers to tone it down, or investing in some purple shampoo, will be mandatory.
The Best Places To Drink Coffee K AT HE R I N E P E B W O R T H
MA applied linguistics
At a first glance, Reading is full of Starbucks, Costas and Caffè Neros. There’s a chain coffee shop on every corner, so it’s not hard to get that caffeine fix. However, if you’re anything like me and appreciate a really good independent coffee shop, you need to know where to go in Reading. I have been on a mission in the last year to find the best cup of coffee in Reading during my Masters and these are the top 5 places I have discovered. If you’re a fresher or simply looking for a new place to hibernate with your laptop for a few hours during the semester then check out some of these places.
My absolute top pick would be C.U.P (Coffee Under Pressure) in St Mary’s Butts. This is an absolute gem. The coffee is delicious, it’s a lovely atmosphere, and they do some yummy food too. I don’t think I’ve ever had a nicer iced coffee than one from C.U.P. Also, it’s your lucky day because they now have a second shop on Blagrave Street right by the station - so commuters, you’re in for a treat. Forget the circle of Starbucks, Nero and Pret that surrounds the station, you can now get your morning coffee from C.U.P instead. Not far from C.U.P is the
lovely Tasting House, which is now home to the Anonymous Coffee. It might seem weird to be heading to a wine bar for some coffee but the baristas at Anonymous Coffee know how to make a good coffee. If you’re looking for a more relaxed vibe with some friends or perhaps a coffee before you move on to the vino, this is the place to go. It’s relatively new so perhaps still somewhat of a hidden treasure so go and check it out. Just by both C.U.P. and Anonymous Coffee, there’s Tamp Culture Coffee. This is a cute little takeaway coffee
place just by the entrance of the oracle. They have a few seats so if the weathers nice you can have a little sit down but it’s just the perfect place for that coffee to go. Great price, great coffee, very convenient. Towards the high street you can head to Workhouse Coffee. This is an adorable coffee house in a very old building. It’s a really cool place with a really different vibe and atmosphere. Although, as the building is so old there’s no plugs or Wi-Fi, so go for a catch up with your friends rather than for a big study session!
My final top pick is a little further out of town towards Uni and is Café Yolk. Café Yolk is primarily the best brunch spot in Reading but its coffee is absolutely delicious and absolutely deserves a mention. You might find it difficult to get a spot at peak times as it really is popular with students and the locals, but it is 100% worth the wait and one not to be missed. Next time you’re on the hunt for a new caffeine supplier, think about some of the independents in Reading and I promise they will not disappoint.
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Dealing With Homesickness At University TA Z U S H E R
Entertainment Editor
As much as we’d all love to gloat about reaching 18, becoming an adult and, on top of this, gaining a place at a university, it’s an undeniable fact that moving away from home after spending a long well-deserved summer relaxing (half of it in the comfort of your bed watching Netflix) is going to be scary. The ‘big move’ is coped with in many different ways by different people; some coping impressively well with it and dealing with that ‘you can go now mum and dad’ moment (when they leave you in your new accommodation for the first time) like absolute warriors. But let’s get one thing straight. No amount of confidence, bravery or determination to do well at uni is going to take away the fact that you’re going to feel a little or A LOT (which was in my case) homesick. And it’s nothing to feel ashamed or embarrassed about. We all have at least one family member, friend, partner or pet that we’re going to miss, so if you think you’re coping with homesickness alone and are starting to beat yourself up about it, DON’T. Here’s some handy tips I wished I’d been given before starting my first term at university with how to deal with homesickness. Take photos with you: Yes, the thought of having of photo of your mum and dad on your bedside table can be a little disconcerting and the last thing you’d have on your to do list for making a first impression to your flatmates. But. It’s little things like photos of family holidays, proms, nights out with your friends, and even that embarrassing selfie with your dog that are going to help you through your first few days, weeks and even months of being at university. Having these little reminders of home in your room can really help to push you through if you find
yourself doubting your decision to attend uni or fighting the urge to get on the next train home. Just remember. It’s these people who are absolutely backing you in your decision to attend uni and are the ones who are proud of you for gaining your place (and will be even more proud of you when they get to watch you graduate!). Admittedly, when finishing my first year of university, I still had the photos on my wall that I had put up on moving in day, as well as the good luck cards I had been given when leaving home which I read on multiple occasions when feeling a bit low. Keep in contact: Whilst I’ve heard the advice from some freshers to ‘not come home or think about it during the first year’, I’m going to completely disagree and say remember to keep in contact. Not thinking about home is pretty impossible when it’s been a part of your daily routine, having lived and spent several hours a day there for the past 18 years of your life. So, you can throw that tip out of the window straight away. Keeping in contact with family and friends is essential not only for your happiness, but for theirs. If your mum’s like mine and requests a text whenever you get somewhere safely or get home in one piece from a night out, you’re going to want to keep her at the top of your ‘remember to contact’ list. Facetiming a member(s) of your family when you’ve got a quiet moment in the week can be a really nice way of reflecting on all the exciting and new things you’ve done at university and reminding yourself of the reason you chose to go there in the first place. Also remember, it’s going to be hard for your parents to suddenly not see you for several weeks at a time: so if you find yourself missing them, they’re probably missing you twice the amount!
Another good idea is to stay in contact with your friends from home. Of course, you’re going to have the buzz of meeting loads of new people in such a short space of time and getting to know them extremely well due to living together, however keeping in contact with old friends can be a bit of relief after spending so much time with your new mates. Similarly, if some of your friends have also gone to university it’s likely that they may also be a bit homesick and, in some cases, less willing to do something about it. Therefore, your ‘How are you getting on?’ text might be the first step to helping a friend get over any discomfort they may be experiencing. Avoid hiding away: The immediate solution to homesickness for some people is tucking themselves away in bed in the middle of the day, calling home and then crying into their pillow. Only to realise later that they were either just a bit ‘hangry’, not feeling so great or tired due to the late one the night before. There are several other symptoms such as these which can lead students to convince themselves that they’re homesick and uni just isn’t the place for them. However, the ideal solution to such feelings is to keep yourself preoccupied and to let yourself enjoy
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the new environment. And that doesn’t mean you have to attend every clubbing event and bar crawl resulting in wearing yourself out completely. For example, I remember the first time my boyfriend came up to visit me at uni for the weekend, I cried for about half an hour after he left. Nevertheless, later on that evening I spent a couple of hours watching ‘I’m a Celebrity’ with a few of my flatmates down in our communal room, eating too many sweets and laughing about our embarrassing drunken moments from the freshers’ events the week before. This was the first time I realised it was probably my decision to lock myself in my room thinking about nothing BUT home which had caused me to feel so down in the first place. Don’t be afraid to be the one to post of the flat group chat ‘Anyone fancy watching a film?’ because it’s likely you won’t be the only one missing having family or other familiar faces to talk to all the time! Seek advice: Whilst most homesickness takes time and persistence to overcome, there are some cases where you might need a helping hand. All universities offer help and advice services for university students for absolutely anything; no matter how big or small. And all of it is kept
confidential. It is the staff working for these services who have an absolute priority to ensure that all students are having the best time possible and are in a stable emotional state to do as well as they can in their studies. If you find yourself really struggling to deal with your homesickness or are getting overwhelmed by the changing routine, build-up of work or challenge of balancing a part-time job with your degree work, these people are here to help you plan what you can do to overcome these difficulties. Don’t be afraid to reach out to these services as I can assure you all they will do is make you feel better about your situation. To seek this advice at UoR, visit the Support Centres page on the university’s website to find out who your student support coordinator is. Hopefully somewhere amongst this article there’s something that you are able to take with you when starting university to help tackle any anxiety or homesickness. If you remember to keep both old and new friends close and to keep a strong, level-headed attitude towards this new, big step you’ll be fine. Enjoy your first year at university and take every new opportunity and challenge in your stride. Good luck!
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Keeping Safe TA Z U S H E R
Entertainment Editor
Nights out One of the times when you may become your most vulnerable during your time at university is during nights out. Whether you’re traditionally from a friendly town or whether you think you’re already streetwise enough, you need to be aware that you are beginning a new chapter of your life in a new, unfamiliar town which you will need to be cautious towards. During freshers, the university want you to have the best time exploring the town and campus facilities, making new friends and becoming comfortable in your new home. But this doesn’t mean that the university can always ensure that you are 100% safe. Therefore, there are some easy precautions that you will need to take to ensure that freshers’ week and beyond are as enjoyable as possible for you. Staying in groups The most important tip for staying safe on a night out is to always stick in a group, preferably of four or more. Whilst on the university’s campus they’ll be 24-hour security that you can contact as well as monitored CCTV cameras to ensure that you are safe. Staying in a group will make you less vulner-
able to anyone dangerous whilst also ensuring that there are more hands, brains and phones if you did happen to find yourself in danger. It’s always a good idea to try and stick together whilst in queues and clubs too as then it’s less likely that you’ll lose each other. Group loo trips are also a wise idea too if you are visiting the nightclub in only a small group of people. There may be other times during your university experience when you might have to walk alone in the dark, for example on the way home from work or a late running society. If this is the case, try either getting a reliable taxi back, ringing the university security line and asking them to meet you or monitor you on campus CCTV, or ring someone to speak to on your walk home. Similarly, ensure to stay alert at all times. If possible, walk in well lit, busy areas and don’t listen to music via earphones as this can make you more vulnerable. It is also an option to carry a rape alarm if particularly concerned about the area. These can be bought from various online sites including Amazon. Know your numbers Another important thing to remember before a night out
is to have your phone fully charged. During pre-drinks if you are using your phone for music or games it’s possible that your phone may run out of battery quickly, leaving you with little battery for the night ahead. If you can try and take a portable charger to pre-drinks with you. It’s also a good idea to ensure that you have essential numbers like all of your flat mates’, your accommodation warden’s and the university’s security in your phone in case you need to access them quickly (try not to rely on an internet connection whilst out). Likewise, it’s a good idea to have local, reliable taxi numbers in your phone for ringing at the end of the night. You should ask second year students (preferably the student reps for your accommodation) which taxi ranks are most reliable. It is also often better to use taxis instead of Ubers and buses if needing to travel home early on your own as these are safer and will drop you straight to your accommodation. And if you want to be extra cautious, why not write down a couple of taxi numbers and close friends’ phone numbers in case you lose your phone or run out of battery.
Protect your funds A big shock for many students when they start university are the financial responsibilities. One of the biggest is the responsibility of holding a student loan in your bank accounts and learning not to spend it all at once. Your student loan is primarily to cover your university costs. The tuition loan is given straight to the university so there is no need to worry about this, however your maintenance loan you are in charge of organising into your accommodation fees (which must be paid to the university by the correct date) and any money that is left over which should be saved. The best place to store this money is in a savings account that can be made on most internet banking websites and apps. If you come into any trouble with your bank, such a losing your bank card, ensure that you contact your bank immediately to sort the issue. If you suspect that you have dropped your bank card on a night out, ensure to cancel it as soon as possible and check that no unfamiliar transactions have been made. Additionally, if someone contacts you saying that they’ve found your debit card, you still need to cancel it as this person will
have seen your details and may have taken a copy of them. A top tip for looking after your money is to regularly check your funds via internet banking to ensure you are not chipping into your overdraft or overspending. It’s easy whilst at uni to become unaware of rapid spending when food shopping, take-aways and nights out come into the equation. If you’re worried about getting into a routine of this kind, try making a list each week at first to track how much you are spending on what and use this to help budget your living. Moreover, whilst some students are very put off by the idea of working a part-time job and missing out on some of the uni fun, working a couple of shifts a week locally can be a massive weight off of your shoulders when it comes to affording to treat yourself once in a while or paying for that extra journey home to visit your family. If you had a job during sixth form at a branded retailer or clothes’ shop, why not see if you can transfer to a store in the town of your university? If not, try looking on the university’s jobs’ website to see what opportunities there are on campus.
MAMMA MIA 2
TA B O O T H E AT R E
LIVE MUSIC
Was the sequel to one of our all time favourite feel-good films really the movie of the summer?
Has newest addition to the West End gone slightly too far?
Rob gives a detailed guide of Reading’s best live music venues.
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entertainment TAZ USHER Enter tainment Editor AND...We’re back with a bang! A huge welcome back to our old writers and an even bigger welcome to those who have just picked up a copy of The Spark for the first time. I’m so excited for what The Spark has planned for this year and can’t wait to see what new writers, photographers and editors we are still yet to welcome to our team. This issue the entertainment section looks at some of the biggest and most popular events in the industry over the summer: from dating show Love Island, which Sabita explores the debate over, to blockbusters Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again and Incredibles 2 which our writers give insightful reviews of. Likewise, this summer was also a hit for the music industry: take a look at Rosie’s Reading Festival lowdown, which two of our editors covered, as well as Sabita’s Nina Nesbitt review to reflect on some of the best musical showcases we’ve witnessed. This issue you’ll also find a selection of welcome notes from some of our entertainment societies. So, if you’re new to the university or simply looking to try something new, give these a read! For now, I wish you the best of luck for your first term back at university! Taz
The Love Island Effect SABITA BURKE
Megan of Megan-and-Wes fame, upset when her new boyfriend told her he didn’t ITV reality dating show think his family would Love Island swamped Britapprove of her past adult ish TV and was the mostused topic of all garden par- entertainment work but who was labelled empowerty conversation earlier this ing by viewers who saw her summer (after the World Cup, of course), but what’s it do what she wanted with her own body and unapoloreally doing to our minds? getically speak about it to Body confidence the world. Possibly the largest criticism to seize the more right- And what about relationeous, highbrow newspapers ships? With all the other issues and magazines has been that that the show raises, it is of parents concerned that easy to forget about what the projection of a certain type of body image could be it aims to represent. What does the show say about the having an effect on young ideal type of relationship? people’s self-images. How, Is it possible that seeing after all, are we supposed every evening the precedent to be confident in a world where your success in finding love is dictated by how good you look in a bikini? I give you one of the many reasons Love Island perhaps isn’t the devil it’s made out to be. Take contestant Laura Crane (“New Laura”), who spoke out about her battle with bulimia whilst defying female body stereotypes with her bodybuilder goals ITV STUDIOS and surfing career. Take 2nd Year Lang and Lit
set for the coveted type of not only perfect but also fast-moving relationships has made us viewers feel more pressured than ever before to take things to the next level with our boyfriends or decide to live together when we might not quite be ready.
relationships don’t have to be flawless to be perfect That said, we all know if there is one thing this series has taught us it is that no relationship is
without its quarrels (we also all know who I’m talking about here...) The show portrays the ups and downs of getting together with people and dating life truthfully, even though filtered through a camera and (definitely in my opinion in the case of Alexandra and Alex’s catastrophic final fight), a script. It can be just as refreshing as it is faked and filtered to be reassured that even the most beautiful girls or the nicest guys mess up sometimes. It doesn’t take much to use this to remind ourselves that our relationships don’t have to be flawless to be perfect. What do you think? Did you watch Love Island and find yourself comparing a part of your body to another girl on TV, or did you find confidence in their ability to courageously present themselves to the world despite judgement? Did you refuse to watch the show at all or consider it shallow and boring? Either way, it is certain that this season has sparked more controversy than anything else, yet I believe the lovely and sincere relationships that have come out of it can only be a good thing. I’m loyal, babe.
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Mamma Mia 2 THE MOVIE OF THE SUMMER?
every one of the banger tracks of the original (goodbye, Honey Honey and “THE sequel’s never as good Lay All Your Love on Me), as the original.” this didn’t matter: it was That’s the resigned, everything a 10-year reun“realist” mindset I forced ion funfest should be. myself to adopt as I stepped into the cinema to watch Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again earlier this summer. everything a 10-year After all, it’s an invariable reunion funfest should rule of movie-watching to be be disappointed by sequels not living up to the perfect I purposely denied myself standards of our original from looking at any spoilers and favourite film, right? Wrong! While Here We Go music-wise before I went in, so I was delighted by Again didn’t always have the lively rendition of The the authenticity of the first Name of the Game. This is movie and didn’t include SABITA BURKE
2nd Year Lit and Lang
Incredibles 2 hero community losing the support of both the public 2nd Year Lit and Lang and government and it is at this point that they spark WHAT with the current the interest of an individual trend of continuous and with vested interoften dialed-in sequels, your ests in bringing hesitation at the prospect at back superheroes yet another animated sequel through the use of would be understandable. a PR makeover. Happily, even after 14 years, If one of the Incredibles 2 does not main themes of feel stale, and does exactThe Incredibles ly what an animated film was largely censequel should – maintain tered around Bob’s the themes of the original, struggle to let go while expanding into new of the past and territory, and looking amaz- focus on the now ingly good doing it. with his family, InThe story picks off precredibles 2 is more complex, cisely where the The Inwith themes of setting and credibles left off – with The surpassing our own expecUnderminer attacking the tations, sacrificing for the city, and the Parrs gearing sake of relationships, our reup as a family to stop him, lationship with technology, causing considerable public and even the failures of the property damage. An angry criminal justice system all public results in complicainterlocking contenders for tions, resulting in the super- those who care to analyse. ELLIOT KIM
a slower song than many of the others but this is what adds to its special raunchy verve. Lily James’s strong and clear vocals, while no match on our beloved Amanda Seyfried’s golden tenor, were still satisfactorily beautiful, especially when matched with the picture-perfect Mediterranean island scenery and James’s captivating dance moves and gorgeous sweep of blond curls. My excitement at the appearance of many of ABBA’s songs that hadn’t featured in the first movie but which I already knew and loved, was topped off by Cher’s Fernando. Despite this last scene honestly coming across The scope is also bigger, introducing a larger world, new heroes, and of course, new villains. As with all his films, Brad Bird enjoys breaking societal definitions – rats can be chefs, The Iron Giant doesn’t have to a
DISNEY PIXAR
weapon, Mr. Incredible can be a stay-at-home dad, and Elastigirl can save the day in a PR-appropriate manner. Without going into too much detail, the film also feels subtly and effectively
as a hasty, unfitting extra storyline stuck on at the last minute in an effort to squeeze in another song and give the end of the film some star-studded prominence for the box-office, all can be forgiven thanks to the poignant emotion Cher brought to her scene about the bittersweet effects of the passing of time. Does the film deserve to be a blockbuster of its own right regardless of its updated for the 2000’s, both in the terms of the tech and events, as well as some of the characters and themes. And of course, as with every Pixar film, Incredibles 2 is beautiful. Gorgeously animated with better-choreographed action than most action blockbusters, the film weaves fluidly between action and difficult questions, in a manner reminiscent of The Incredibles fusion of relatable family drama, origin story, superhero movie, and spy flick, all without breaking pace, and expertly underscored by Michael Giachanno’s wonderful score. If there’s one thing about
UNIVERSAL PICTURES
fan base? Probably not. Is it a well-deserved and long-awaited treat for millions of diehards who’ve been waiting for this moment for 10 years? Maybe. Either way, it was the spark of feel-good, cheesily classic sunshine that the cinema needed this summer, and I don’t think this will be the last time I watch it.
Incredibles 2 that feels off, it’s an almost inevitable thing – that the wonder of discovering a completely new world and has faded somewhat. And yet, to quote Brian Tellerico’s review on RogerEbert.com; “Incredibles 2” understands something that most family sequels, even the Pixar ones, fail to comprehend—we don’t just want to repeat something we loved before. We want to love it all over again. You will with “Incredibles 2.” This film is highly recommended. 4/5 stars. NB Incredibles 2 contains flashing lights, and might exacerbate those with epilepsy. The UK-version has been released with a re-edited version, with the scene in question now passing the Harding Test – however, affected viewers would be advised to research which version they are viewing for their own safety.
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The Book of Mormon THE FUNNIEST AND MOST OBSCENE SHOW IN LONDON
TAZ USHER Enter tainment Editor TREY Parker’s terrifically hilarious musical production The Book of Mormon, brought to London in 2013, is the perfect remedy for anyone looking for a bit of light-hearted relief or simply in need of a good laugh. And it certainly is not for children, followers of the Mormon religion or anyone of a politically correct nature.
For Elder Price, who had joined the missionary training programme in hope of fulfilling his dream of moving to Orlando, Florida, this mission is everything but enlightening. Reality hits Price when he is led to his accommodation (a mud hut) following the theft of his luggage. He is then also made to witness the shooting of a local man by the village’s tyrannical warlord ‘General Butt F**king Naked (Michael Moulton). The TA Z U S H E R
Steven Webb) is the lead vocal in this number, with his focus on ‘turning off ’ his homosexual thoughts proving a chuckle-trigger which persists throughout the production.
a quest to convince the Ugandans that conversion is the ultimate solution to their suffering
solution to their suffering. Act 2 unforgettably opens with a quirky collaboration of all of the cast members, joined by Star Wars’ renowned characters: Darth Vader, Chewbacca and Princess Leia. This unusual concoction skillfully echoes Cunningham’s bewildering naivety in life and towards his job, whilst also foreshadowing the hilarious nature of his baptism of the village. Meanwhile, in another light, Elder Price is facing the consequences of his attempted flee from the run-down vil-
the perfect remedy for anyone looking for a bit of light-hearted relief or simply in need of a good laugh The production takes its viewers on a voyage across the religious spectrum: presenting polar opposite characters ranging from devoted Mormon missionaries, to a Ugandan village literally singing “F**k you” to God. The two groups cross paths when two newly recruited Mormons, ambitious Elder Price (played by Dom Simpson), and his clueless nerdy partner Elder Cunningham (J. Michael Finley) are assigned Uganda, Africa, as their missionary location. But unknowingly to the optimistic pair who hope to immediately convert the villagers into followers of the Mormon religion, they encounter the irrepressible obstacle that is the community’s suffering. Famine, illness and brutal oppression (humorously described in the peculiarly upbeat number “Hasa Diga Eebowai”) is everything the village have ever known. And it is clear that a simple knock at the door and a cheesy grin (Opening number, “Hello”) isn’t quite going to do the trick.
selves. This outcome is an unimaginable victory for the Mormon missionaries which they have Elder Cunningham’s oratory talents to thank for. More so, it is such a success that the missionary program coordinator makes a visit to the village himself, delightfully met by the most protruding moments in the show, ‘Joseph Smith American Moses’: the villagers’ own surprise recreation of the ‘Book of Mormon’. It is one of the many hilarious numbers in the show which left the audience exhausted from laughter.
left the audience exhausted from laughter
taboo doesn’t stop there.
try their best to eliminate the newbies’ fears with their hilarious song ‘turn it off’ To greet the missionary pair is the current group of Mormons in Uganda who try their best to eliminate the newbies’ fears with their hilarious song ‘Turn it off ’ (suggesting that they simply turn their backs on evil). Elder McKinley (played by
Nabulungi (played by Leanne Robinson) is the production’s female protagonist whose extraordinary vocals are first showcased in ‘Sal Tlay Ka Siti’. It is this solo in which she expresses her faith in the Elders’ promise of a better future as part of the Mormon religion. Director, Parker, also reveals her pivotal role in the plot’s progression. This number is shortly followed by Elder Cunningham’s ‘School-of-Rock-esque’ rock number ‘Man Up’ where he vows to leave his nerves and incompetence behind and join Nabulungi in a quest to convince the Ugandans that conversion is the ultimate
lage in his “Spooky Mormon Hell Dream”; the number in which the production’s set design team truly triumph.
an unimaginable victory for the mormon missionaries The remainder of the production sees the villagers gradually undergo their largely unofficial baptism and become Mormons them-
The Book of Mormon holds a unique storyline which those unfamiliar to the show will struggle to anticipate. Whilst there are many aspects of the production that may be deemed inappropriate and frowned upon, it is an innovative piece of light hearted musical theatre comedy which is particularly addictive to watch. A fresh and exciting addition to the entertainment industry which I highly recommend seeing.
fresh and exciting addition to the entertainment industry
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Nina Nesbitt in Concert N E S B I T T C O M B I N E S H E R L I F E E X P E R I E N C E S A N D F O L K - P O P S T Y L E I N A L I V E LY, I N S P I R A T I O N A L P E R F O R M A N C E .
SABITE BURKE 2nd Year Lang & Lit
her inspirations to write each song and even got down into the mosh pit to I went with a friend to take selfies with her fans. see the newly-risen singI was impressed by her er-songwriter Nina Nesbitt enthusiasm as she urged at her concert in Central us to keep following her London on May 15th. As a particularly picky per- two warm-up acts, Georgie and Au/Ra. I believe son, it takes a lot for me to truly get into a new artist or it is important to support strain of music that I’m not up-and-coming artists as used to. I’m more of a basic the dedication of people who enjoy their music is b****, Demi Lovato and Despacito type of girl. Nev- what can help their dreams ertheless, in this one night I of having a career doing went from knowing nothing what they love to come true. I would urge you to about Nina, save a hurried search them on YouTube as reading up on her backthey have some beautiful ground pre-show, to falling in love with her songs. Now original songs and Au/Ra especially was a captivating I sing along to them in the shower... which we all know dancer! There is very little that I is the pinnacle of musical love more than a feast for enthusiasm. the eyes, and the visuals The softness of Nina’s were beyond doubt the acoustic, folk-pop style most stunning I have seen blended well with the echon any stage. The colours oing walls of the venue, a and edgy strobe flashes partially-underground gay were bright, yet subtly club called Heaven in the coordinated so that deep centre of Charing Cross’s sea blues complemented nighttime scene. All of her popular singles were played, hot magenta and summery off-white in a medley of including her new track atmospherical displays. Somebody Special. She There was a flowery folk proved herself to be multheme which was adorably ti-talented by playing the guitar and a couple of other sweet and summery, and instruments. The accompa- looked like fairy lights on niment on live piano added an enormous scale. I would definitely go to see an extra melodious touch. Nina in concert again. Her Known amongst her fans slightly different, edgy style for portraying the hopes flowing against the mainand fears of a typical teenstream world of pop songs ager with her emotional makes her refreshing. lyrics, Nina’s songs speak However, to me her music of her past experiences of continues to be something boy trouble, dating, falling that young people can in love and heartbreak as a highly relate to. The night young girl. It felt as though we got to had a clubbing atmosknow her not only as a sing- phere, but better, thanks to er but also as a person as she the indescribable excitement and acoustic quality told us the stories behind of a live show.
S A B I TA B U R K E
Moody Music STUDY TUNES
1. Cimorelli- Alive 2. Iron and Wine- Time After Time 3. Bowes & Mazze- Post It for Me 4. Avicci- For a Better Day 5. Cimorelli- Last Summer 6. Enrique Iglesias- Hero 7. Sting- Fields of Gold 8. Bob Marley- Jamming 9. The Chainsmokers- Closer 10. ABBA- I Have a Dream
Millie’s Mumblings M I L L I E FA R Q U H A R
3rd Year English Lit
HOWDY, welcome to my little column. Whatever bought you here to the Entertainment section of the Spark, I hope I can convince you to stay awhile and read on. My name is Millie and I have been writing for the Spark for three years now and was Entertainment editor for a little while. During my second year, I created this little column to share the little thoughts and mumblings I have in my head throughout the month with you all and I enjoyed it so much that I have continued it this year as well. So, seeing as this is the
first issue of the academic year. I thought I would tell you a little about me and why I write for the entertainment section.
I live for all things entertainment Whilst studying at University, I have also been working in the film industry, working on films like Ready Player One, American Assassin and Spectre. I live for all things entertainment and enjoy reading, writing and watching both television and film. I use my
experience in film to write honest and in-depth reviews that go beyond the simple storytelling and look at the logistics of filming and what could have been done to improve the overall finish of a film. This month I have been working on a television pilot, specifically a hosted reality show. This is something that I have never done before and whilst there are a lot of similarities between the daily tasks, it is very different from the fiction work I am used to. Especially when it comes to the ‘story’ of the episode. Unlike a fiction film, reality shows cannot be filmed out of sequence, so we often found
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ourselves darting to and fro between locations shooting scenes as they developed, with little inserts being filmed when any spare time became available. I was so unused to the short turn arounds, as films often take entire days to shoot a scene that will last less than a minute. But after the four days it took to film the entire episode, I found the pace refreshing; constantly flipping between the beginning, middle and end of a film gets really confusing after a while and can be difficult for actors to flip between motives and emotional states. Whereas the hosts of the pilot were able to develop alongside their story
and easily maintain their characters and it was interesting to be able to watch things develop and progress behind the camera. Whilst I am sad that returning to university means I cannot work on a film full-time. I am looking forward to getting back into the swing of studying and instead of working on films, watching them! I wish you all the best for this coming year and I cannot wait to share my experiences and mumblings with you!
Millie x
Reading Fest ‘18: The Lowdown ROSIE NEVILLE Lifestyle Editor
AFTER a long and crazy weekend attending Reading Festival 2018 last month, we finally have time to sit down and reflect on some of the many highlights which took place. It was an honour to attend the festival on behalf of The Spark where we met other great members of the media and watched so many amazing performances from both prominent and rising artists. Our first highlight is Rex Orange County; at the age of just twenty years old it was crazy how huge the
crowd of dedicated fans singing along to his songs such as Loving is Easy and Best Friend was. Alexander O’Connor (Rex) sounds like an alternative soul singer; on stage with him amongst your standard instruments were also a flute, a saxophone and a trumpet. His backdrop was a blue sky with clouds floating by, and whilst he is simply a middle-class singer from Surrey yet, lots of top rap artists have started to fall in love with his unusual style. Our next highlight is Sam Fender; again, he’s relatively young at twenty-two, but his set was so impressive. He
seemed really down to earth and wore a cosy, woollen jumper due to the cold and rainy weather. A large reason we think he’s great is not only because of his seriously impressive vocals, but also because of the content of his songs.
dead boys raises awareness to male suicide, mental health and male masculinity
Dead Boys raises awareness to male suicide, mental health and male masculinity; all issues which need to be spoken about more. He is a singer-songwriter from Newcastle and has a range of songs: Dead Boys is slowpaced and emotional whereas Greasy Spoon is more fast-paced and upbeat. Our final highlight is AJ Tracey, a rapper and grime artist from West London. Like Fender and Rex, he is impressively young at the age of twenty-four, and
ROSIE NEVILLE
again the dedication of his many fans who knew every single word to his songs was mad. Despite being on at 10:45pm on the Sunday evening during the headliner Kings of Leon’s set, inside the BBC Radio 1 Xtra stage where he performed was without a doubt the busiest and most chaotic crowd I’ve ever seen. People were spilling far out of the tent onto the field outside surrounding it.
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RUTAM: Let’s Dance Our teachers are students who are experienced dancers. They teach classes in a variety of styles such as RUTAM is a fantastic optap, lyrical, contemporary, portunity to dance at Unicommercial, and jazz, in a versity. It is a great chance for you to make new friends; variety of skill levels. So develop or learn a skill; keep do not feel daunted if fit; and simply have fun and you have no experience make the most of your time in certain areas of dance. Just try something new! at University. Whether you In our weekly sessions have danced before or are a held on a Monday (8beginner that would like to learn something new, come 10pm) and Thursday (68pm), we improve dance along and give it a go! GRACE WALLER RUTAM Marketing Rep
Tune into Junction11 GEORGINA SHAW Head of Station
Junction11, the University Radio Station celebrated its 20th birthday last year and continues to grow. It gives the opportunity for students to try a hand at hosting their own radio station for a minimum of an hour a week. On your own, or in a small group, you can host any kind of show, from a casual mid-week talk show, to an 80s Jam Sesh, the radio waves are ready to be intercepted by you. We have a few taster sessions during Fresher’s weeks so you can try and see if it’s right for you, and after the contract and membership you are ready to be
your own DJ. There is also availability to be a part of the committee or committee teams, as well as extra chances to host events on campus such as Junction11 Union Takeover, or the Student Election Results Night.
you can host any kid of show, from a casual mid-week talk show to an 80s Jam Sesh For any further information, email getinvolved@ junction11radio.co.uk or manager@junction11radio. co.uk.
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technique and learn brilliant routines choreographed by our teachers. There are multiple opportunities for you to perform and comR U TA M
pete within the society; our RUTAM show will be held on the 7th of December where we come together with other dance societies and perform the routines we have been learning in the Autumn term. We also take part in the Ballet society’s show during the Spring.
perform and compete Not to forget, we have
BandSoc covered; we run regular jam sessions to either help you find your next bandmates or just let you cut loose and have fun! We will also be The University of Reading’s able to help you get more Band Society is a society for connected to members of any lovers of live music. the local music scene. We Whether you’re a thrash want to encourage your metal vocalist aspiring to musical ambitions. take the Reading music Don’t play an instrument? scene by storm or a casual jazz aficionado looking for some buddies to cruise with down to one of Reading’s many world jazz music nights, we want to help you on your way! Over the course ROB BERN of the year, we run several of our own ENCORE live music events in the Students’ Union. If you love seeing bands perform with volume, lights and erratic we want to encour‘conviviality’, these are the age your musical amnights for you. bitions We also frequently visit other gigs in town and host regular socials, such as our No need! Bandsoc members are simply there to enjoy popular ‘Bandsoc Band music, playing is totally up T-Shirt’ Bar Crawls. If getting stuck in is more to you. Plus, if you’d like to learn, we have our own your style, we’ve got you
plenty of social events throughout the year which are always fun and easy to get involved with. We like to include all members, so whether you’re the life and soul of the party or prefer socialising with a movie and a takeaway; we cater for all! This year has seen many fancy dress socials, meals out, film nights, weekends away and the Dance Societies Ball. Membership is just £30 for the entire year, so come along to our free taster session on Thursday the 11th of October in 3Sixty and give RUTAM a go! tutors who can show you a few tricks for either student-friendly prices or for free.
ROB BERN BandSoc Events Manager
we want to hear from you... nice and loudly While our sister music and dance societies are just as much fun, our niche is rooted in live music. If you want to hear bands, we want to hear from you... nice and loudly. If you want to come and find us, we’ll be at the Freshers’ Fayre on Wednesday the 26th September, or you can come to our Meet and Greets: Friday 28th Sept., G13 Chancellor’s Building at 16:30, or Tuesday 2nd Oct., 127 Edith-Morley Building. Or if you can’t make those, our first ENCORE gig will be on Friday 19th October in Café Mondial, RUSU. Find us on Facebook at www. facebook.com/RUBandSociety/ for updates on all our events, jams, socials and madness.
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RUDS: Join the Drama! REBECCA PENN 2018/19 Marketing RUDS Officer
directed by Rebecca Penn, a charity show that brought together nine different Arts Societies, including Drama, The 2017/18 year was a jam-packed one for Reading Ballet, Circus Arts, Breakdance and more. University Drama Society SPRING TERM (RUDS) with more shows, Spring Term started with a socials & workshops than performance of our hilarever before! ious IUDF play Scouting AUTUMN TERM for Boys Next up was our Aurumn Term began with Spring Play, Shakespeare’s a performance of our 2017 Edinburgh Fringe show The Macbeth, directed by Gareth Morgan. The cast Importance of Being Frank & crew created a visual yet adapted & directed by Erin minimalistic production Karn from Oscar Wilde’s by combining Medieval wildly funny play! Next Scottish attire, body paint up was the original, new & hairstyles with physical Small Autumn Play Suntheatre. This was followed flowers written & directed by the Spring Musical by Kirsten Lees. The small Spring Awakening directed cast of six actors brought by Hettie Cole. The cast of to life Kirsten’s story of twenty actors performed famed painter Vincent Van alongside a live band to Gogh. Following this was create a poignant & moving the Big Autumn Play The spectacle.A new addition in Crucible directed by Huw Summer term was RUDS’ Smallwood. The larger cast of twenty actors gave Arthur participation in the Spring Dance Show hosted by the Miller’s classic play a modReading University Ballet ern twist. At the same time RUDS attended, for the first Society themed ‘Around the World’. RUDS represented time, The Inter-University Drama Festival held in Lon- the USA & Golden-Age Hollywood in a musical don, where we performed medley from ‘Meet Me in St Scouting for Boys a small, hysterical comedy written & Louis’. SUMMER TERM directed by Becca King. Our final term started with Our final show of Autumn a bang with the 2017/18 term was the brand new ‘Performing Arts Showcase’ Student Activities Awards,
hosted by the Reading University Students Union, where RUDS was thrilled to win three awards: - Fundraiser of the Year Performing Arts Showcase - President of the Year: Teddy Turpin - Gold Rewards & Recognition Award: RUDS Shortly after RUDS hosted the 6th Annual Trevor Awards, our yearly awards show recognising the amazing work done by the actors, producers, directors, sound & lighting technicians, makeup & hair teams, costumers and stage managers throughout the year. Members vote for the winners & get to enjoy a night of live performances and awards. Our final show of Summer Term was the 6th Annual 24 Hour Musical. We cast, rehearse and perform a musical in 24 hours in aid of Reading-based charity the Ollie Young Foundation. This year the cast & crew put together a fantastic performance of Grease and in the process raised £1400 for the OYF. We rounded off the 2017/18 year with our return to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with not one but TWO original shows: ¬- Alfred Hitchcock’s Writ-
RUMS: Who are we? E M I LY S M I TH & E M I LY SH E W E L L
READING University Music Society offers a diverse range of ensembles and welcomes musicians and singers of all standards. Our weekly rehearsals are fun and provide a great way to meet people and make
friends with similar interests. We hold three concerts a year (one at the end of each term) to showcase all the hard work we contribute as a society. We also have a wide range of socials including meals out, regular post- rehearsal pub trips and a trip to see a West End musical. For any further informa-
tion, the weekly timetable and our fresher’s events please visit our RUSU page or website. Contact us at: Website: https://readingunimusicsoc.wixsite.com/rums Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RUMusicSoc/ Twitter: @RUMSmusic
ers Room written by Ades Singh & Cameron Gill, and directed by Cameron Gill - A Romantic’s Guide to the Apocalypse: a New Musical written & directed by Huw Smallwood The cast & crews for both productions had sell-out shows at The Fringe Festival & will be performing one last time in October for all our new freshers! GET INVOLVED Even if you’re not in a show there are plenty of opportunities to get involved and meet other members. Throughout the year RUDS hosts weekly musical theatre or acting/improv workshops, which alternate per week. The new musical theatre workshops have become a popular addition to our calendar with members suggesting workshop themes and ideas such as ‘Learn Choreography From A Past Show!’ & ‘The Greatest Showman’. We also host regular social events during the year such as the larger Welcome White T-Shirt
RUDS
Social, Annual Christmas Party and Sports Day /Big Picnic, as well as smaller trips such as Ice-Skating, Quiz and Karaoke nights at the Student’s Union & trips into town to the student clubs. The 2018/19 year will have all this and even more, with two brand new shows, The Rough Sketch Festival and the Cabaret Night, in Spring and Summer respectively, showcasing our member’s original writing, singing, comedy and more. If this sounds like something you want to be a part of and want to see more head over to the RUDS YouTube Channel where you can watch full shows & performances. Also visit our official website www. ruds.co.uk for all upcoming shows, socials & workshops as well as links to our social media pages and how to pay for your membership!
DOMINIC JONES
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Genesis, Electric Six, British Sea Power, The Wombats, Paul Gilbert, The Iron Maidens, The Amazons, The King Blues and Lower Than Atlantis have all graced this while likewise welcoming stage, alongside many more. all without prejudice – has Keep an eye on their doors something of a reputation or online to find bands you for being the cool, metal might like to see as they and heavy rock saloon bar pass through. for the real musical cowThe Global Café – The folk in town. With touring most esoteric of Reading’s bands regularly playing here, monthly ‘PERK’ nights music scene, the Café prides itself on its diverse range of for students and a local internationally influenced sheriff who brandishes an music nights. With regular impressive, waist-length Jazz jams and colourful beard, the two large stages bands performing at this at this venue always boast relaxed venue, there’s always a cracking roster of musisomething worth hearing cal talent, without fail. If you’re looking for your next here. Anything you don’t hear elsewhere in Reading, pilgrimage, you would be you’ll hear here. Whether hard-pressed to find anyyou feel at home at this where more worthwhile. place or you want to get a Sub89 – This venue is taste of your friend’s fine art undoubtedly one of the culture, the Global Café is largest live music venues always worth a visit. Plus, if in Reading. Conveniently found on Friar street, this is the expert musicianship isn’t to your tastes, there’s also typically the place to catch great food and a fantastic the biggest touring bands shop. as they navigate their way For Acoustic Lovers – While along national and intermost pubs and bars in Readnational tours. Acts like
Live Music in Reading ROBERT BERN 3rd Year Histor y
“WELCOME to Reading” is most probably a phrase that you’re sick to the teeth of hearing, by this stage. All the overwhelming stimuli of Freshers’ fortnight will soon surely be taking their worthwhile toll. However, if any vexation is mainly exacerbated by fruitless hunting for live music venues around town, indulge this article for a few moments longer for some loud, live relief. Here is a brief look at some of the halls of volume you might wish to patronise at leisure to find your musical fix. The Purple Turtle – Originally established in 1990, you can’t miss the bright, violet front of this staple of Reading nightlife down on Gun street. One of the homes of BBC introducing,
many unsigned bands of yesteryear have graced this stage amidst their rise to stardom. With live music almost every night, a lavishly decorated smoking area and a dungeon where reggae, hip hop and r&b are the favoured choices of the visiting DJs, you can’t not have an at least interesting time at this venue. With pop culture icons adorning the walls and the bathrooms, and strange furniture strewn in stylishly haphazard fashion across the place, as well as a closing time of around 3:30am, don’t be surprised if you end up at the Turtle more often than you planned. The Facebar – Slightly to the West of Friar street, this independently run music bar is purpose built for fuzz, feedback and voluminous frolickery. While Purple Turtle caters for the uninitiated, the Facebar –
What’s On
AT R E A D I N G F I L M T H E AT R E .
September 25 The More you Ignore Me 27 In The Fade October 2 Racer and the Jailbird 4 The Children’s Act 9 Under the Tree 11 UoR Black History Month 16 C’est La Vie 18 American Animals 23 The Miseducation of Cameron Post 25 Cold War 30 A Simple Favour Details regarding times and ticket prices can be found on the RFT’s website www.readingfilmtheare.co.uk . You can also find more about the RFT Classic and Premier members and their perks online.
ing will have their own typically acoustic music nights, there are several places where acoustic music is the order of the day and night. Up The Junction is perhaps the most obvious example. At the Junction, if it’s not a dance night, it’s an acoustic live music night, with many talented musicians taking to the stage to perform covers and originals alike. Likewise, the Oakford Social Club near the train station plays host to a wide range of acts. Both bands and acoustic acts alike, this venue is certainly more suited to the latter, with many songwriters frequently giving intimate performances to crowds of merrymakers on their more relaxed days. If you somehow still find yourself unable to find the music nights for you, there are a range of societies who can help you along the way; Bandsoc, Rocksoc, Singer Songwriters’ Soc, as well as a wide range of dance and drama societies which are all willing to get you to your niche.
N I W
Win 2 tickets to see The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s showcase at The Reading Hexagon on Saturday 6th October at 7.30pm. An evening of classic entertainment from a world famous orchestra. You can also buy tickets at a discounted rate of £10 for students at https://www.readingarts.com/hexagon/ whats-on/royal-philharmonic-orchestra-october-2018
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photography
student work EUAN CARMICHAEL PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
submitted by Isaac Murphy 2nd Year Chemistry Student 1
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SWIMMING CLUB
RUBOX
RUGBY CLUB
Why you shoul join!
Join the Boxing Club’s Fight Night Sessions.
Pre-Season Training well underway.
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sport RUSU Swimmers To Increase Their Stoke Ahead Of The New Season ALEX THOMAS Social Sec of Reading University Swimming Club
This September, you should join Reading University swimming club! We are proud of our inclusive, friendly environment and welcome swimmers of all abilities. Whether you want a chance to compete against universities across the country, looking for a cheap way to build fitness, or just want to be part of a fun, sociable club, we have it covered. We have five pool-based sessions and one land training session a week split across mornings and evenings; this provides
plenty of opportunities to access pool time at a much cheaper rate than local pools. Furthermore, with so many sessions it is easy to accommodate swimming around your other commitments. All sessions are coached by one of our friendly committee members, giving you access to somebody with significant swimming experience who can help you achieve your targets. We have a packed competition schedule throughout the year. This year we took large teams to both BUCS national meets in Sheffield. These events prove to be the highlights of the
competition year, providing a great opportunity to meet and compete against teams across the country. We also have smaller competitions against more local teams that are open to all, giving everybody the opportunity to test their swimming ability. The club has gone from strength to strength in competitions this year with multiple records smashed, this year we intend to do even better! Whilst the competitive side of the club is important, we also value the social aspect as well. As a committee we aim to be friendly and open. Everybody should feel part
of the club whether they just want to swim once a week or attend every single session and social. Our social sec, Alex, is already planning a great selection of events for the year including themed nights out, and fun day activities. Plans are well underway for the first ‘Baywatch’ social of the year! If you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact us via email (ruswimmingclub@ gmail.com) or join our facebook group, Reading University Swim Club. We also have twitter and Instagram (@ruswimming) accounts where we aim to publicise
club events including competitions and socials. If you are interested in joining the swimming club, please look out for us at the sports freshers’ fair in September. This provides a chance for you to meet the committee and to ask any questions you may have. We will also have information regarding taster sessions, training times and details of the first socials. We hope to hear from you and see you very soon at one of our taster sessions!
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High Waves, New Heights! ELLEN ROBISON Captin of Reading University Sailing Club
This year we are celebrating our 70th anniversary of our society. We are extremely welcoming to those who know how to sail or windsurf or those who have never set out on the water. The committee are focusing on developing new skills and we have worked closely with the Andrew Simpson Watersports Centre to provide an extremely discounted windsurfing course to our members. This will allow our ex-
isting sailors to develop new skills and encourage existing windsurfers to join in with our society and make use of our kit and wonderful facilities at Burghfield Sailing Club. After our most successful year of racing in 10 years, getting to the national play-offs, we hope to continue our success and get to the BUSA finals. In order to gain experience and race points, we complete over many weekends all around the country come wind rain or even snow. These events are great for beginner rac-
ers as part of our reading knights pink team or for more experienced sailors in our first team, all abilities are welcome. We are an active social society with at least 2 office social per month, dress up optional as well as many impromptu nights out throughout the week. Some of our best socials during the year include the welcome white t-shirt social and the sesh trilogies which occur after our training weekends. If you have never heard of sailing drinking rules then Freshers be warned your
BOXING- RUBOX WILLIAM ANNANG Fitness Rep University Boxing Club
The University of Reading Boxing Club is one of a few competitive societies that is situated off Whiteknights campus and one that will always maintain its fighting spirit and ethos inside the four walls of Reading Amateur Boxing Club. An England Boxing licensed facility on Chatham Street, that has attracted a lot of keen, talented fighter from past generations to now, since it was founded, those who were willing to lace up the 10oz gloves, stick on their boxing boots, grab a skipping rope and get to work, the next generation of fighters coming through could well be prospective students wanting to succeed past somewhat overwhelming commitment to studying over the next three years or so. This year, RUBOX have outlined several objectives that will help boost the club’s profile once more: 1.Increase the calibre of coaching in the club. We will be getting two members of the club in a level 1 England boxing coaching course, including President Vincent Basham, to help structure and aid our level 3 coach
Lee Hancock with training at Wednesdays and Sundays sessions. 2.More focus on students for next academic year. From September, RUBOX will only train students so coaching is student based and also, RUBOX will hold fight night sessions for fight night combatant, outside of usual boxing training times but sometimes when sparring occurs. 3.Refine training times and structuring to promote competitive boxing. Scheduled times for RUBOX have changed, so that experienced boxers get more one-to-one coaching and sparring, yet total beginners still have quality training with our new sports park session in one of the dance studios every Sunday 3-5. RUBOX strives on putting its members as priority and ensuring that each and every member improved both technically, gets into the best possible physical shape they can and clear their mind and find an equilibrium between commitment to study and social life on
first social could get messy! We follow the traditional view point that after a long afternoon on the water you need a drink, most RUSWC members can be found in mojos on a Wednesday afternoon. This year’s committee is run by our President Peter Nowell @p_nowelly along with Vice-president Georgie Bracken @gcorgie. The man in charge of our social calendar is James Paus @james_paus, with our welfare rep Jess Lanyon there to help in your recovery as well as making the society as
eco-friendly as possible. If racing is what you’re interested in then talk to Ellen Robinson @ells_robinson98 our race captain. The man in charge of the budget is Tom Bailey @thomas_bailey1. For any more information or to ask questions find us on our Instagram @uor_sailing or on Facebook Reading University Sailing Windsurfing Club.
Athletics is more than just running... CHLOE DEARMAN Secretary of Reading University Athletics Club
campus. We look forward to introducing as many of you at the gym and meeting keen, hungry and dedicated boxers, of any ability at Fresher’s Fayre. In the meantime, make sure you follow our Facebook page, Reading University Boxing Club and @uorboxing on Instagram to speak to former committee member Will Annang with any questions that neeed answering prior to starting your journey at Reading.
The Reading University Knights Athletics is more than running loops of campus or heading out on hour long runs. The athletics society is one of the most social sports teams on campus and I don’t just mean heading to Union every Saturday! As well as running as a group during our training sessions, we compete in a huge range of cross country, road and track competitions across the whole year. It doesn’t matter whether you are fast or not-so fast, the team supports every member because in our sport, every runner counts! Every week we have four training sessions including two road runs, a track session and a Monday morning circuit training to wake us up before lectures. Our coach helps us to reach our potential, whether that is to finish the Reading Half Marathon in March or break 30 minutes in a local parkrun. The highlight of every year is the infamous BUCS cross
country, where thousands of eager students descend on a muddy field, run their hearts out and then celebrate with the team at the incredible after party. We also take part in the London University cross country series which is held every couple of weeks on Wednesday afternoons during the autumn and spring terms. If middle-distance running is not your thing, don’t despair! There are plenty of indoor and outdoor competitions for sprinters, throwers and jumpers alike to get involved in. The sprinters can also join us at Palmer Park on Fridays for our track speed sessions. I would recommend the athletics society to anyone who wants to keep fit and join a friendly community of runners. We are not all about racing, but also enjoy our leisurely group runs and chilled out social events. So, put on your running shoes and join us at one of our sessions.
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Bracknell boxer Frankham fitting in very well at Simm’s Elite Gym WILLIAM ANNANG Fitness Rep University Boxing Club
Charles Frankham is a decorated amateur and a likeable character inside and outside of the ring with enormous potential. Having won several national schoolboy titles and senior-level medals on the big European and Youth World championships stage, he has been tipped to go all the way by his fellow gym mates, down at the Brentwood based Matchroom Sports gym, led by former trainer of 2012 Olympic Gold medallist Anthony Joshua, Tony Simms.Simms started off in the sport with a few novices at club level, but soon began to make a name for himself and develop a reputable roster of fighters that have gone onto achieve more than they set out to do before their careers took off. Former world champion Darren Barker is a product of the boxing gym amongst other rising prospects to keep
tabs on, Felix Cash, former Commonwealth, British and European champion Martin Ward and the likes of Ted Cheeseman and Joe Cordina coming through the domestic scene and shining on the biggest stage.Sharing numerous rounds of sparring with these men gives Frankham the sense of confidence that when he does make the transition to the pro-ranks he will have learnt a lot more, as much use as an apprenticeship almost would carry a relatively inexperienced fighter with no amateur pedigree through their first few fights. However, the 60kg lightweight from Crawthorne has been mixing it with the very best in the world in his weight category and age group. A 2x Schoolboys champion, 2x Junior ABA champion, 2x Three Nations champion, Commonwealth Youth Games Bronze Medallist and World Youth Championships Bronze medallist to add to his flourishing re-
sume as an amateur shows the calibre of fighter he is and once matured into this gentleman’s sport can make a lot of noise, depending on what weight class he decides to campaign at. Sparring Louie Lynn, who is also trained by a former protégé of Simms in Kevin Mitchell, Frankham is plying his trade with unbeaten prospects and seasoned pros in order
to gain the experience over longer rounds. He is testing his fitness at high intensity and acquiring knowledge from pros who have been there and done it like Nigel Benn, whose son Conor is part of the stable, that come to and from the gym on a weekly basis. It has been a busy schedule for Simms, balancing his time with the number of fighters in mean-
ingful fights as Cash edges closer to a British middleweight title shot and 14-0 Ted Cheeseman preparing for his crunch domestic clash with Reading’s Asinia Byfield for the vacant Lord Lonsdale belt, at the Copperbox Arena on October 27.
“DGHOST MIND-GAMES DON’T PHASE ME ONE BIT” SAYS CHEESEMAN THOMAS LYONS Sports Editor
Reading boxer Asinia Byfield challenges unbeaten rival Ted Cheeseman for the vacant British title. The phrase coined ͚the best should fight the best͛ epitomises this domestic clash between Bermondsey͛s Ted Cheeseman (14-0) and Reading͛s Asinia Byfield (14-1), who will both put it all on the line for the biggest prize of their career so far, the Lord Lonsdale belt. With similar records, neither fighter will be holding back once the bell rings, at the expected sold out Copperbox Arena on October 27. The 154lb contenders have had a few choice words to say
about their opponent, more so the tricky and awkward Byfield who had been back and forth with former British champion Liam Williams on social media before he relinquished the title and presented these two hungry prospects the opportunity to fight for the belt. Byfield brings a 42% knockout ratio but a completely different set of skills and proposition than any of Cheeseman͛s prior opponents. The ͚Big Cheese͛ is seen as the bigger puncher but his boxing skills are heavily underestimated by the inner boxing fraternity and wants to show people he can box as good as he can have a scrap under the bright lights of the
Matchroom shows, where you͛re expected to entertain and impress the casual audience. The Super-welterweight mix has really opened up and world champions Jaime Mungia, Jarrett Hurd and Jermell Charlo are making a lot of noise as well as chasing the big unification bouts. The gulf in class between the British and World landscape is striking and for British-level fighters like Byfield and Cheeseman, it͛s about taking these fights in order to push on and keep winning to be seen as a genuine, serious threat to those at the top of the pecking order. Byfield was last out on the Mickey Helliet (his manager) Hellraiser
promotion at York Hall on July 14 in an exhibition and got valuable rounds, shaking off the ring dust ahead of the Cheeseman fight. The 29-year-old Berkshireman didn͛t turn up at the first press conference last week to announce the stacked card that sees Commonwealth Ryan Doyle defend his title against Jordan Gill and a red-hot light-heavyweight clash between Craig ͚Spider͛ Richards who has challenged Frank Buglioni for the British title before he was dethroned by Callum Johnson and Jake Ball. Cheeseman did not quite understand why Byfield was absent because of the exposure and platform that comes
with Matchroom shows and allows fighters on the up to sell the fight and build their profile with the plethora of media channels that turned out at the Courthouse Hotel in London. Three pick͛em fights on the card alongside many unbeaten prospects and former GB Olympians makes this card a real early Christmas cracker for the fans.
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PRE-SEASON TRAINING WELL UNDERWAY FOR THE FOUR KNIGHTS RUGBY TEAMS EVAN HALL President of Reading University Rugby Club
Reading University Rugby Club (RURFC) is a friendly club run by students, accommodating four sides who play in a variety of leagues across the South East, South West, Wales and London. The social nature of the club means players of all levels and abilities; from president of the society to first timers are integrated on the pitch as well as off the pitch. RURFC enhances the university experience with regular training, games and themed social to bond the club as one. Last year was the most successful season yet for RURFC. The 1st-XV went unbeaten in the league campaign and made the BUCS Trophy Final. Unfortunately, they lost to a strong Sheffield 1st-XV side. Promotion to South B bring new challenges to the first team, however under the dil-
igent guidance of coach Seb Reynolds (Rams RFC) and captain Francis Cundell, the first team hope to cement themselves in this competitive league, playing the likes of Cardiff Metropolitan University and Exeter University. Players from the 1stXV have gone on to represent Berkshire, South West England and England Counties within the season. The 2ndXV finished mid table in a firmly competitive league with plenty of other University1st-XV teams against them, as well as reaching the Quarter Finals of the local league cup. This year captain Felix Martin hopes to push the second team towards promotion within the league and to have a cup run pushing for a final appearance. The 3rd-XV and 4th-XV captained by Charles Stewart and Lewis Morgan respectively, hope to integrate and develop players to
progress through the club higher teams. Furthermore, they want to consolidate
themselves in their leagues and bring new players into the club environment, giving
them the platform to succeed not just in sporting life but in academic life.
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Feed Your Focus For The Year Ahead THOMAS LYONS Sports Editor
Ahead of the academic year, RUSU looks forward to welcoming back its student’s for the start of another action-packed season of competition, across the various sports and societies on offer. Prior to the summer festivities, Reading had celebrated a year of triumph, culminating in an awards night back in April to celebrate the achievements and standard set by all sports teams; accomplishing new goals
and objectives set out at the start by passionate, driven committee members and carrying the ethos and spirit of campus sport to various events across the country. For example, the Swimmers travelled to Sheffield Institute of Sport for their team races and battle it out against the other universities while the Men’s Football 1 XI went on to win their respective league. Lacrosse were well-deserved winners of the coveted ‘Club of the Year’ title, while other clubs broke through and
made themselves relevant and up for awards during the annual dinner/champagne toasting antics. Earning their stripes, in what was a successful year for grass sports, both the Men’s and Women’s Rugby teams gave us some enthralling matches throughout the year. The same can be said about Hockey who attract a large crowd on their match days which creates a great atmosphere for such a strong team. Varsity in March was definitely the icing on the cake,
trumping Oxford Brookes in almost every event that could be contested, before the attention switched to examination season. So, with all that said and looking ahead to another year of fun, enthusiasm, passion, pride, emotion; what can Fresher’s students expect to see when they come to Reading? Sports Clubs are looking to surpass targets for the coming year and yet again, smash new figures by increasing the number of members joining clubs and societies, whether
that be to remain active or carry their past experiences onto more senior level. It goes without saying that sports teams at Reading take their competition seriously whilst enjoying the social aspect too, arranging themed nights at Park Bar and bringing out the best of its energetic members. We look forward to meeting as many of you in the next few weeks and give you some insight into the sports aspect away from your studies.