M O N D AY 10 DEC 2018
VOL 78 I S S U E N O. 4 FREE
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TRANS REMEMBRANCE DAY
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STUDENT BUDGET CHRISTMAS DINNER
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FESTIVE FILMS
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FUTSAL SOCIETY
First Look at RUSU’s New Relaxation Room M I A S K E V I N G TO N
3rd year English Literature
You may have seen the teaser photo on the RUSU president’s (Jason Dabydoyal) Facebook, but if not this article will most definitely be news for you! RUSU has created a Relaxation Room in the upstairs balcony of the Student’s Union (the Uni veterans amongst you will know this is as where Bubble Tea used to be!). Our University is now joining major tech companies and the University of Reading to meet mental health needs with highly expensive tech. The Relaxation Room be-
gan last year when Tristan Spencer decided to allocate some of the £1million of RUSU’s budget for that year to its creation, even before the refurbishment on the Union’s 3Sixty began!. This year Jason Dabydoyal has had the pleasure of being able to spend that money to see the room to fruition. On talking to Jason Dabydoyal, he explained the motive behind the room and its creation. ‘Students need to remember to look after themselves during the busy academic periods’, he said. This room is to remind students that although academic success is crucial
and that we are all here to study, at the end of the day our mental health and well-being is a priority for our Student Union. On being shown around the new space I am proud to explain the experience. Its main feature is the stateof-the-art nap pod with a 20-minute sleep setting. Prepare to walk in to one half of the room, close the blind to avoid an awkward skirt kerfuffle or sleep shyness and lie down. A space age ball slides around your head so you feel like you are in a planetarium and then headphones are built in to aid sleep with peaceful music, then after the 20 minutes
is up be ready to be woken up by a more upbeat tune. This is the perfect place for a nap, to escape the Uni and feel like you are in the future! Or if this is not your style, on the entrance to the room you are met with two massage chairs. Both in the University’s luxurious red emblem colour, they offer a 15-minute massage with options to recline. If this still isn’t how you would like to relax then there is a table and chairs for studying and chilling and a counter with stools if you prefer a less talkative study space. In its location the room also offers win-
dows of views of the trees and campus below, a perfect place to meditate. Finally, there are cosy bean bag chairs. The room also sports bookcases filled with magazines to satisfy boredom, as well as plants for prettiness. But, with the money left in the budget, Jason urges us students to feedback what else they want to include, as at the end of the day it is for us, the students, and it needs to be a space that appeals to us. ( continued on page 02....)
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MIND THE GAP CLOSES KNOWLEDGE GAPS
PUBLIIC LECTURE: HUMAN RIGHTS, GLOBAL WRONGS
PUBLIC LECTURE: R E S T L E S S D AY S A N D RESTLESS NIGHTS
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news SABI TA BURKE N E W S E DI TOR
Hello ever yone! I hope you’ve had a fun and productive November and that you’re looking forward to celebrating the end of term and the beginning of the exciting month that is the Christmas holidays. It’s been a busy month on campus, and this means we’ve got some exciting content for you in the News section. Taking pride of place on our
f ront page is Mia Skevington’s ar ticle about the new Relaxation Room in RUSU, beautifully illustrated by Florencia B otta’s stunning car toon drawing.
Elsewhere, you can see repor ts on events that have been the cause of much discussion at the University recently, such as talks about the Black and Minority Ethnicity attainment gap and what UoR want to do to eradicate this issue, as well as our ar ticle on the relationship between mental health and sleep problems, which affect all too many of us as students.
We also have a ver y thought-provoking ar ticle by Olga Shevchenko, in which she discusses the recent Public Lecture on human rights and their histor y of being (mis)used. If you can get to the end of it, I promise it’ ll have been Despite well wor th the read!
concerns
like
these r unning rampant, December is a time of celebration for many, and hopefully a muchlonged-for break f rom the uni workload for all of us. However you plan to spend your Christmas break, whether it be catching up on that disser tation, planning ahead for your ever-encroaching post-holiday essay deadlines, working at home to stock up on that elusive cash, travelling Europe or simply par tying and enjoying the festivities with
your family and friends, I hope you thoroughly enjoy the month to come! You’ve earned yourself a long break. Finally, remember that ever yone is welcome to write for The Spark and there are a wide range of topic choices available to you, so if you’re interested you can get in touch via the contact details on page 3. Have a wonderful, joyf illed December and enjoy this month’s paper!
...continued from Page 1 M I A S K E V I N G TO N
3rd Year English Literature
As the room is currently already filled with the state-of-the-art equipment, it is hard to work out what else is required. Please email president@ rusu.co.uk with any requests and suggestions, or pop him a message on Facebook at Jason Dabydoyal (Rusu President). This Room will be managed on a bookings basis. 20-minute slots will be available for booking.
This will allow as many people to have access to the room as possible and will stop room hogging. The pur pose of this booking can be for a nap, a study or just some quiet time away f rom the study pressure of the other student spaces such as the librar y and URS building. The room is open from 9:00 a.m- 500 p.m. There is also CCT V so that there will be no mid-sleep theft. It is a safe place for f riends to study together, for a chill out or for some
breathing time. For all the students with crazy sleeping patterns and crazy stress, this room is for you! RUSU have listened to your pleas, and this is your
solution! Time to escape the University stress and to book some time for your brain.
J A S O N D A B Y D O YA L
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S PA R K TEAM PRINT EDITOR TA Z U S H E R E D I T O R . S PA R K @ R E A D I N G . A C . U K
A note from the editor... Here we are… our final issue of the Autumn Term and, even more exciting, our Christmas issue! For many reasons, this term has been a jam-packed one for all of us; whether that meant settling into a new home, completing several assignments, or working on a dissertation. Bu ultimately, we have made it through the first term guys! So for now…you can now breathe! Our December issue of The Spark will bring you the perfect christmas spirit with personal stories from our student writers and top tips for the christmas season that you won’t want to
miss. In Entertainment this month, you’ll find top christmas jingle and movies films recommendations alongside a Fantastic Beasts review, I’m a celeb catch-up and sudoku puzzles to enjoy during your coffee break at Café Mondial. Meanwhile, in Lifestyle you’ll find the ideal ‘Christmas Dinner…On a student budget’ tips for a flat meal, Christmas Market highlights, and a guide to picking the best, practical, christmas gifts. In News this month, many ethical and global issues are addressed, in addition to the launch of RUSU Says Relax founded by our RUSU President Jason Dabydoyal.
Elsewhere in the issue, you can also find the latest campus sports news and a range of intriguing photography from our Photography Editor, Euan. Whatever you are doing this Christmas, I hope that you find joy and laughter in it. Take a moment to relax this holiday and reward yourself for all of the hard work you have committed to this term. We hope that you enjoy reading this issue, and again, a very Merry Christmas! Best wishes, Taz.
The Spark Newspaper is designed and typeset by students at the University of Reading. Published and funded by Reading University Students’ Union, contact: activitiesofficer@rusu.co.uk. Our students strive for accuracy but on occasion can make mistakes. Errors can be corrected/ acknowledged by contacting the Editor. Complaints should be made to the Editor in the first instance, and thereafter to RUSU. All complaints should be made in writing. All articles, letters etc. must include a name, address, and contact number/email address. These may be withheld from publication at specific request. The Spark Newspaper or RUSU can take no responsibility for products or services advertised herein. The Spark Newspaper reserves the right to reject or edit any submissions. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the Editor. The views expressed in The Spark Newspaper do not necessarily reflect those of the Editors or RUSU, particularly those expressed in the comment’s pages, which are often opinions of the specific authors. Photographs in The Spark Newspaper are copyright, and you will need permission from the photographer to re-use. Contact the Editor at: editor.spark@reading.ac.uk.
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@ T H E S PA R K N E W S PA P E R
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DEPUT Y EDITORS MARTHA ODYSSEOS E L L I E P E S TA I N A D E P U T Y E D I T O R @ S PA R K N E W S PA P E R . C O. U K
NEWS EDITOR S A B I TA B U R K E N E W S @ S PA R K N E W S PA P E R . C O. U K
LIFESTYLE EDITOR ROSIE NEVILLE L I F E S T Y L E @ S PA R K N E W S PA P E R . C O. U K
E N T E R TA I N M E N T EDITOR OLIVIA MILL E M T E R TA I N M E N T @ S PA R K N E W S PA P E R . C O. U K
PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR EUAN CARMICHAEL P H O T O G R A P H Y @ S PA R K N E W S PA P E R . C O. U K
S E C R E TA R Y OLIVER GRENIER S E C R E TA R Y @ S PA R K N E W S PA P E R . C O . U K
DESIGN TEAM OLGA SHE VCHENKO RAAGULAN UMASHANKER TA Z U S H E R MARTHA ODYSSEOS E L L I E P E S TA I N A
CARTOONIST F L O R E N I C A B O T TA
MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION MADELINE EASTWOOD OLGA SHE VCHENKO ELLIE SLANEY CHIMA AGBANYIM
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Mind the gap closes knowledge gaps Raagulan Umashanker 2nd Year English Literature
OOn Tuesday, November 27, RUSU hosted the Mind the Gap talk in 3Sixty, informing students of the BME (Black and Minority Ethnicity) attainment gap in Higher Education. It was clear that the University of Reading wanted to tackle this problem. Before this talk came to RUSU, the NUS (National Union of Students) discovered, in 2016, that the attainment gap puts students with ethnic differences at a disadvantage. For example, the largest gap was among black African students who were 27% less likely to receive a first or a 2:1 at undergraduate level. Upon learning this, RUSU’s Education Officer, Lillie-Mae Firmin, and the Diversity Officer, Nozomi Tolworthy, collaborated and set
up this important event to address this issue. The talk’s panellists included Professor Ellie Highwood, the Dean of Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Reading, Ilyas Nagdee, the Black Students’ Officer at the NUS, Marc Jacobs (Lecturer in Mathematics Education at the University) and Somisola Soyombo (BME Students’ Part-Time Officer at RUSU). All of the speakers had something remarkable and insightful to say. Professor Highwood began the talk by stating the worrying statistic of the university’s relatively small proportion of BME students, compared to its large proportion of white students. Nagdee made the audience realise that trying to solve the attainment gap problem is a crucial part of trying to solve the bigger problem
of racial inequalities in the university. Jacobs provided a unique insight into how there is racial prejudice in academia towards BME teachers, and Soyombo revealed the disturbing true stories of how BME students do not receive the same educational and wellbeing treatment, privileges and support as white students in primary schools, secondary schools and universities. However, as well as talking about the seriousness of the attainment gap issue, the speakers also discussed the ways in which it can be reduced or solved. These include listening to BME students’ concerns, raising awareness of the issue and incorporating more BME topics and influential figures into the university’s academic syllabuses. After the panellists’ speech-
es, there was then an inclu- Reading and the NUS are alsive Q&A session where au- ready doing to try and tackle dience members (consisting the issue. of staff, students and graduates) asked thought-provoking questions to the speakers, discussed the unfair and unequal attainment gap and bravely revealed their own harrowing experiences of where they faced racial prejudice and overcame The largest gap was it. among black AfriThe event then concluded by revealing how the unican students who versity aims to reduce the attainment gap (of first and were 27% less likely upper second-class degrees to receive a first or achieved) between BME and white undergraduates from a 2:1 at undergrad16.5% (2014/15) to 12% by 2020. uate level. Indeed, the Mind the Gap talk was a perfect opportunity to make students more aware of this inequality and motivate them to tackle it, as well as informing them about what the University of
HANNAH SMITHSON
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Trans Remembrance Day L AU R E N CO LL A R D
3rd English Literature
On Tuesday, November 20th, staff and students gathered together in the cold and the rain to remember those who have fallen victim to transphobic violence. Though a solemn day indeed, it was also a chance to celebrate the trans community and trans allies who stand up in the face of adversity and continue being their true selves despite what the world may throw at them. The event was hosted by Acting Vice-chancellor Professor Robert Van de Noort, the RUSU Diversity Officer Nozomi Tolworthy and the Dean for Diversity and Inclusion Simon
Chandler-Wilde. The event also featured speeches from members of the trans community such as Amber Edwards who is the Chair of the Oracle Pride Employee Network. Edwards told of how she began transitioning 18 months ago and decided to tell 50 of her colleagues of how she was deciding to live her life as the person she truly is. She says that an overwhelming majority of around 43 people responded positively to her news, serving as a reminder that there is light in these increasingly dark times for transgender people with acts of Trans-
phobia being on the rise.
It was a chance to celebrate the trans community and trans allies who stand up in the face of adversity
Saddening statistics were given at the ceremony, such as how 41% of the trans community saying that they have been a victim of a hate crime. 67% had reported feeling that they have avoided being open about their true identity at some point. As a crowd we were encouraged to ‘weaponize our privilege’ and stand up for not just the trans community, but everyone who is marginalized. The ceremony was concluded with a tearful reading out of dozens of people who have lost their lives as a result of transphobia, serving as a haunting reminder that
this does indeed exist and it does have serious consequences.
41% of the trans community... have been a victim of hate crime
Rather than dwelling on this dark and saddening truth, however, we were encouraged to look forward into the future and do all that we can in eradicating the inequality and hardships faced by the transgender community to avoid the list of victims growing forevermore.
What have your Course Reps Got in Store for You? S A B I TA B U R K E
News Editor
On Saturday, October 27 and November 3, two training days were held to introduce the new academic year’s course reps to the world of improving their courses for the benefit of all students. The sessions began at 10:00 a.m. and finished at 3:00 p.m. and began with an introductory talk about what being a
Two training days were held to introduce the new academic year’s course reps to the world of improving their courses for the benefit of all students
Course Rep involves. As the newly-elected Course Rep for BA English Language and Linguistics, I learned a lot about how in the coming months I would be attending meetings with course convenors and giving feedback to them from my fellow English students in an effort to instigate improvements for our student experience. After being given Academic Rep goodie bags, we headed to several different focus groups where we were taught important skills for the roles. These included how to give assessment and feedback to lecturers sensitively, hence the importance of being respectful when giving complaints was stressed. We also learned about analysing communication methods and how to increase student engagement, choosing different people to speak with on various issues, and the importance of ideas around diversity, inclusion and representing students
After being given Academic Rep goodie bags, we headed to focus groups were we were taught important skills for our roles. from all different backgrounds equally. We also debated scenarios we could encounter as Course Reps. The sessions were punctuated after lunch by speeches from Professor Robert Van De Noort, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Reading, and by fun activities and a talk from the RUSU Education Officer, Lillie-Mae Firmin, about her own past experience as a Course Rep.
Your Academic Reps are always there for you, whether you want to chat about your programme of study, ask questions, make a complaint or request something that you’d love to see improved or changed in your modules. It is their role to receive your feedback from your course and do their best to implement those changes to create a bet-
I learned a lot about how in the coming months I would be attending meetings with course convenors and giving feedback to them
ter degree experience for you and every single one of your classmates, so never be afraid to get in touch with them, to speak up or to make your student voice heard!
Your Academic Reps are always there for you, whether you want to chat about your programme, ask questions, make a complaint or request something that you’d love to see changed
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Public lecture - Human rights, global wrongs O LG A S H E V C H E N KO
Msc Applied International
On Wednesday, November 21, the University of Reading hosted the second public lecture of the academic year on the history and state of human rights today. Professor Rosa Freedman delivered a lecture, that, according to my friend and Postgraduate Agriculture and Development student Barbora Chmelová, “felt very much like a TED talk”. Indeed, it was a very inspiring and thought-provoking, peppered by a few appropriate jokes. A second-year law student, who wanted to stay anonymous, told me he was “absolutely speechless” after the lecture! Speech Overview It has been 70 years since the birth of Human Rights. In the nutshell, human rights are about the fact that all humans are born free and equal and have the right to live fulfilling lives, able to realise their potential in full. The Human Rights convention was developed to address numerous issues of state violence towards its own citizens. Since 1948, we have still seen and continue to see records of human rights abused: caravans of immigrants, denied access to the countries, children trafficked for labor, women denied the right to vote or the right to education. People in many parts of the world are governed over by their countries. When we look at the past, Germany was not even the first state to act violently towards its citizens. There are many examples of such violence back in history. It was just the scale of the crimes – not only towards Jews, but also towards communists, disabled and various minorities, and the fact that it was on European soil that made stakeholders realize there was a need for a system that would provide protection from such crimes, as well as stability and development. It was clear that the world needed a system to make
sure no government could behave in the way the German government did.
It was clear that the world needed a system to make sure no government could behave in the way the German government did.
nomic and social aspects, like the right to education or the right to be part of a trade union. The US, as well as the other “Western” countries, valued the right of freedom the most, along with the right to live. The ways in which the Human Rights Convention is interpreted have always depended on the area you live in. Until very recently, the United Kingdom had a policy in place which stated that the heir to the throne should be male, even if the female heir was born first, which is discrimination based on gender. Issues and misinterpretations like this are happening in all parts of the world throughout these 70 years after the birth of Human
A N T S PA I N
Equality of every human being is the first right and the foundation of the Human Rights Convention, which includes many other rights, guaranteed for every human (right for rest and leisure being Professor Freedman’s personal favorite)! It is important to note that no country is legally bound by ratifying the convention, and applying the convention is always a political will. In the past, we have seen countries interpret the document differently. For example, during the Cold War, both sides made different aspects of the convention. The USSR prioritized eco-
Rights. This is often the case because of lack of understanding of the definition. The good example of the importance of the definition is The Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, adopted in 1984. Before this it was unclear to many what exactly torture meant, giving way to governments to interpret it as they wished. Now there is a clearly written convention, which is signed by 83 countries, and monitored by a specific UN committee which also accepts complaints. There are also special con-
ventions for women, children, disabled people and many others, also managed by special committees. Another cause of the many cases of violations of human rights is the legal limitations of the convention. No one can put a country in jail, and there is no real enforcement mechanism. There are monitoring efforts, but when countries know about them, they can try to conceal the violations – like China did, releasing political prisoners, as if it was showing improvements in the human rights situation. In some cases, citizens can lobby for change, like women in Argentina did in the 1970s. They organized a silent march after the mass disappearing of their husbands, brothers and dads, asking for answers, and helped raise awareness of state crimes. Questions After the lecture, there was no lack of questions to professor Freedman. The questions were very diverse – from celebrities’ rights, to private life, to the Syrian refugees and post-colonial Africa seeing Human Rights Convention as a re-colonization attempt. One answer really stood up. When it comes to refugees, professor Freedman said it is wrong to call them “illegal immigrants”. They are humans; therefore, they are by the definition legal. We should all bear this in mind, and hopefully, 100 years after the birth of the convention, we will not need it anymore.
Personal Reflection This lecture helped me shape my personal thoughts on many issues connected to human rights and their implementation. In Ukraine, the country I am from, I have seen so many violations of human rights, including the right to vote and the right to move freely within state borders. Seeing examples from other parts of the world have helped me realize that it is always the government’s choice of interpretation. And after all, sometimes it is not even difficult. I for one could not recall all the articles from the human rights, and I think this is part of the problem. We should make ourselves aware of our responsibilities and fight for them where possible. I also agree that clearer definitions could help solve the issue, and in some cases, we might think about rephrasing. After all, the first article says “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood”, which, despite the good intentions, might sound like women are not included. There is still a lot of work to do to ensure we are all free and equal, and I am going to start by reading all the conventions to truly celebrate 70 years of the first documented attempt at humanity. Keep calm and remember your rights!
All human It is wrong beings are to call them born free “illegal immigrants”. They and equal in are humans; dignity and rights. therefore, they are by the definition legal.
N E W S | PA G E 7
Tuition Fees Could be Lowered to £6,500 N I A DA LTO N
attempt to win young voters over.
Tuition fees are under serious consideration after PM Theresa May’s review. There are plans in place to cut the current flat rate of £9,250 to £6,500 for art students, and £13,000 or more for science students. It is expected that there will be different fee levels for different subjects next year. These changes are based upon the predicted future
Although this is not yet conclusive, the decision to be made in the next few months might make University a lot cheaper for some. The recent rise in tuition fees has been a deterrent for many, meaning we may see a surge in prospective students.
3rd Year, English Language
earnings of graduates. Students studying medicines, sciences and maths are predicted higher earnings and will accordingly have higher fees. Whereas, arts and humanities graduates are expected to earn less in their lifetime, and thus pay lower fees. In September 2012 tuition fees tripled to £9,000, and further increased to £9,250 in 2016. However, after young voters supported Labour’s promise to scrap university tuition fees, May promised to cut fees in an
English Language student comments, “There is already a division between students and non-students, the last thing we want to see is a divide within universities.” Not only will the change in fees affect students, but departments too. Funding will fluctuate across degrees, starving the arts and
humanities departments of resources. Vice-Chancellors predict a cap on student numbers too, as the Treasure would have to pay £3 billion a year to implement this change.
N I A D A LT O N
Scrutinising this proposal, universities believe this would create a two-tier system and a hierarchical status of subjects. A debate between equality and economy emerges, where a difference in fees may cause friction between societies of class. The rise in science fees may segregate aspiring students, forcing those who cannot afford to study medicine to choose cheaper courses. With the higher paid jobs only available to students that can afford higher fees, poorer students would be stuck in a downwards spiral. Harriet Wood, third year
How Bad are We at Budgeting? SA B I TA B U R K E
News Editor
A research study has revealed that most students spend their first instalment of an average maintenance loan before October 20th, every autumn term. A surprisingly high number of students, around 75% , then move to credit card usage. Interestingly, the University of Reading were ranked as the 10th university that has students who are most likely to use up their loan instalments halfway through term. Nights out and splurging on clothing-related shopping trips were found to be the two most common causes of spending. I personally would add money spent on dining out to this list.
The study was carried out by a company named Sell my Mobile, and revealed that 66% of university students in the U.K. have already spent the amount they received and a further 23% are close to running into overdraft by that point in the term. The study also discussed the 17% of the 2,700 students surveyed who re-
Interestingly, the University of Reading were ranked as the 10th universitythat has students who are most likely to use up their lones
ported that they resorted to selling their belongings to keep their bank balances from plummeting prematurely. Things sold were said to be clothing, jewellery and watches, old phone headsets and technology such as games consoles. A fellow student Olga Shevchenko, a Postgraduate who studies Applied International Development, commented: “It’s always a good idea to track your expense at least roughly. I have an Excel sheet which I designed, but you don’t need to do that as there are many apps, including some of the bank apps.” “I promise that after a month of tracking your expenses, you will learn something about yourself !”
“
One important thing that helps me stay on my very tight budget is always cooking at home and bringing my own food onto campus. Again, it does not have to be difficult; a home-made sandwich will do. And it will cost you about 3 times less than the sandwich you buy on campus! Or the leftovers from that pasta you had for dinner last night.”
“
A little planning helps you save money. And of course, get your TOTUM card if you have not already. You spend money on it, but you will start saving after 1 or 2 purchases you make with the card.”
One important thing that helps me stay on my very tight budget is always cooking at home and bringing my own food onto campus. Again, it does not have to be difficult; a homemade sandwich will do.
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Bread Creators O LG A S H E V CH E N KO
Msc Applied International Development
I always thought that making your own bread is not for busy people, and not the thing you would want to do in your time as a student. But when my friend asked me to join her for the bread baking session in the Chaplaincy I said yes, because I also think that university is the time to try new things. When we were unable to book the session for the next Friday because it was already sold out, it only increased our interest. It turns out it was a very popular activity amongst Reading University students! Mark Laynesmith, the chaplain who delivered the bread making training, has been baking bread for as long as 20 years. This is one of his hobbies, along with bear brewing, and he wants more people to share it. He starts the session with a little history: for centuries, carbohydrates were the
main source of nutrition for people. Rice in Asia, wheat and rye for Europeans. The bread they bake in chaplaincy is very simple, like it was during the old times: just the flour, water, salt and the yeast, the four ingredients. If you want to make pizza, you will also need to add some olive oil. You will need to mix the ingredients in the bowl, and then you’re ready for the next stage. This is the most complicated – and enjoyable – part of bread making, forming the dough. You must slap it hard against the surface for about 5 minutes, and it requires some physical strength, as well as some emotions. We laughed a lot during this part, and I am confident this has added to the taste of the future loaf. After forming the dough, it must stay someplace warm for about an hour to be doubled in size, and then it is ready to be formed into a loaf, and ready for the pre-heated oven. These stages are always performed by Mark, but he has shown
us how he forms the bread before we left our dough in the chaplaincy’s kitchen. After a few hours, it would be ready to pick up. As I identify as an agnostic person, I often have doubts about attending any events organized by religious organizations. Therefore, I was pleasantly surprised about the Chaplaincy as no one has ever asked me any questions about my religious beliefs or tried to convert me. They welcome people of all religious beliefs and backgrounds, and I always feel very safe there. No wonder bread baking sessions are always booked! When we came back in a few hours, our loafs were hot and ready. They smelled delicious and looked like bread from a real business bakery. It was fascinating how simple and yet effective the whole process was! The taste was also very fulfilling, and the bread stayed edible for a few days after baking. If you want to create your own bread, you can book
O LG A S H E V C H E N K O
it by emailing the Chaplaincy at chaplaincy@reading.ac.uk. The sessions are every Friday from 10:30 -
11:30 and 11:30 - 12:30, but book early as the slots are selling like hotcakes!
Realities of Britain’s Refugee Children N I A DA LTO N
3rd year English Language and Linguistics
In conjunction with the RU Film Society, the Student Action for Refugees charity (STAR) recently held a screening of the channel 4 documentary, ‘Britain’s Refugee Children’. This documentary followed six children who were seeking asylum and refuge in the UK from countries like Syria and Somalia, documenting their adjustments to a new life and their dealing with the uncertainty involved with the long process to becoming a recognised refugee.
ilies, others had escaped alone, including one girl of only 14. Many of the children expressed overwhelming worry over their family remaining at home, and, although the documentary ended on a positive note, with all six children being granted refugee status, the fact that even reaching safe holds like the UK is an impossibility for many other refugees is a reminder that there is still much to be done in resolving the crisis.
Jacob Colman, President of Reading’s STAR charity, said “One of the unexpected things we found when talkWhile some of the chiling to people was how much dren involved had travelled of a gap in knowledge there to the UK with their fam-
was about the situation regarding refugees. Even if it struck a chord with just a handful of people, if that makes them feel motivated to get involved with STAR then it will have been worthwhile - I’m sure the free ice cream helped too!” STAR is a charity organisation that primarily seeks to inform and educate on the refugee crisis, as well as campaigning to make a difference. It is evident that the current system with which the UK deals with regards to asylum seekers is inescapably contentious, and this documentary, as well as the work of the STAR charity, both acknowledge this, and project hope for the future.
B L A C K P O E T R Y, U N S P L A S H
N E W S | PA G E 9
Restless Days and Restless Nights SABITA BURKE News Editor
The relationship between sleep problems and poor mental health in young adults has long been noted by individuals, however there has been little official research into the issue. As such, it was a privilege to attend the University’s latest public lecture on mental health, entitled “Restless Days and Restless Nights: The Vicious Cycle between Sleep and Mental Health in Youth.” The lecture took place on Wednesday, November 21, coinciding with World Mental Health Day, and was open to the public, with special guests of honour being the University’s alumni and supporters. The talk was hosted by the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Robert van de Noort. Van de Noort began the evening by introducing the lecturer, Dr Faith Orchard, to us and detailing her qualifications and research, as well as noting that she is also an alumna of the University.
experience them at some point in our lives. However, when it comes to mental health and more severe sleep problems that might be related, she stated what so many of us are already all too familiar with: that many young people find it hard to bring up the topics with others. She then went on to describe to us the different stages of sleep that we all go through every night. We go through many different cycles over and over throughout the night, fluctuating between deeper and lighter periods. The rapid eyelid-movement or “REM” stage is when the most dreaming, bodily movement and faster breathing takes place, meaning that if individuals stay in this realm of sleep for longer than normal, they will feel less rested afterwards. Interestingly, Dr Orchard noted that there are two types of sleepers, the “owls” and the “larks”, or in other words those who find it easy to get up early in the morning and sleep earlier at night and those who are less able to fall asleep early, and thus find themselves waking up much later in the morning, or wishing they could.
Dr Orchard began the talk by discussing how easy it is, or Despite this, nearly all young should be, to talk about sleep people experience their cirproblems with others, as we all cadian rhythm, the biological
clock within them that hormonally dictates when to wake up and when to sleep, being pushed back drastically. This results in only naturally falling asleep past midnight and waking up at 9:00 a.m. It was explained that as well as biology, there are other factors which contribute to teenagers’ sleep cycles changing. Psychologically, adolescents are becoming more independent and naturally want to stay out late, perhaps drinking caffeinated drinks such as Coca Cola, or staying up online, with the bright lights of their electronic devices pushing sleep into the back of their minds. Having to get up early for school the next morning catalyses the problem as they then start every day feeling sleep deprived. A phenomenon Dr Orchard explained related to this was called “social jetlag”, when students get to lie in on weekends and their body returns to its natural, later cycle, before Monday hits and they are wrenched back into their unnatural schedule. Orchard described this as “like going from New York to London”. Despite these problems, the period of youth was reported to be the most important time to have a good sleep pattern, as sleep helps prevent anxi-
M AT T H E W H E N R Y, B U R S T
ety. This time in our lives is important because the most likelihood of developing anxiety disorders or problems is from the ages of 5-20, as the limbic system in our brains which deals with emotions is still developing. Dr Orchard revealed the results of her study in which a survey reported 92% of teenagers as having sleep problems (mostly insomnia), which was even more than the percentage reported by people with anxiety and depression. When she looked at young people who had mental health problems, those with this type of issue said they slept badly on all nights of the week, as opposed to teenagers with good mental health who had sleep problems, whom she noted only slept poorly on week nights, suggesting that school the next day was the cause of their anxieties, as the problem went away at weekends. For people with depression and anxiety, there was no such period of relief. To follow up these findings, Dr Orchard talked us through ways to treat sleep problems. She remarked that more awareness of the issue would help, among both parents and the young people affected.
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An interesting point she made was the advice to try not to sleep until you actually need to (i.e., eight or nine hours before you have to wake up the next day). This way, when
you do sleep you will be more tired than if you had gone to bed earlier than you needed to, and still had spare energy in your body. Orchard talked us through her self-developed Sleeping Better Programme, which works on improving sleep quality first before moving on to increasing the amount of time spent sleeping. She was also mindful of the roles played by diet and exercise, and urged us to be conscious of regulating these things when trying to improve our sleep. For further information on how sleep patterns change across the lifespan and how we can understand them better, she recommended Alice Gregory’s book, Nodding Off: the Science of Sleep from Cradle to Grave. Professor Van de Noort closed the session and co-hosted a round of audience questions with Dr Orchard, which proved to be interesting. One member of the audience asked why public schools have not changed their start times to a later point in the morning to allow teenagers to sleep in, and it was explained that unfortunately there are many processes they would have to go through that render it too difficult, but that this is starting to be seen in the U.S.A. Hopefully one day this might come to be implemented in the U.K., too.
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Diwali: Festival of Lights Lu Ha Anh 2nd Year English Lit According to Sikh histor y, Diwali is a celebration of the guru, Hargobind, coming home after imprisonment by the emperor Jahangir. Although initially allowed freedom, Hargobind refused unless he could take all the captured Raja with him, to which Jahangir agreed but only if they could hold onto Hargobind. As such, the guru had a cloak adorned with 52 tassels made, allowing ever y R aja to hold on as he escaped. In Hinduism, Diwali celebrates Lord Krishna vanquishing the demon Narakasur, who abducted 16,000 girls and stolen the earrings of the Mother of Gods, Aditi. A similar variation of this is often told in Northern India, where King Rama return to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana by lighting rows of clay lamps, hence the meaning of the ‘lights’. Ultimately, Diwali is celebration of good triumphing over evil.
In Hinduism, Diwali celebrates Lord Krishna vanquishing the demon Narakasur Diwali is also a five-day long celebration, and the RUSU Diversity Officer Nozomi Tolworthy and the Hindu Society began with stalls offering sweets and henna to offer passers-by a glimpse of what the culture of Diwali involves. The stalls themselves had been beautifully decorated with strings of lights, flowers and the dazzling smiles of the committee members themselves. On Instagram, the Hindu society provided informative posts on the significance of each day
during Diwali. Dhanteras was the first day of Diwali and a day of worship. Lakshmi Puja, when divyas of clay are lit to drive away evil spirits and their lingering shadows. Day three, Kali Chaudas and the day when Kali vanquished the demon Narakasur ; heralding the victor y of Lord Vishnu. Govardhan Puja, the fourth day and when the New Year (2075) started. Bhai Duj, the fifth and final day, saved for celebration of the sisters in the family. The bond between brothers and sisters is honoured through the sharing of food and sibling bickering. Although I am not Indian myself, I had been invited to participate in this culturally significant event and attend the Diwali ball. With so much beauty weaved through the coming celebration, it was an experience I knew I couldn’t refuse. Arriving upon the scene of the event, my friend and I were both a little unsure, unable to see any outside decorations or people about. What we soon realised was that all the festivities were inside, including the bountiful decorations. Dripping golds and vibrant peacock feathers all bathed in a blue light surrounded us as we stepped in. Glasses of orange juice were handed out as ever yone slowly drifted in, milling around tables adorned with candles and jewels. The event began not long after seven, starting with appetisers (chilli paneer and harah bhara kebab) and followed by speeches from committee members. The Aarti commenced and we all stood in honour of the ritual, the room soon filling with reverent voices as ever yone sang along. After the ritual, we all welcomed a belly dancer from the belly dancing
society and just like that, the atmosphere exploded with activity and electricity. “Sheila Ki Jawani” blasted from the speakers as the dancer swayed and sashayed across the dancefloor, her skirt barely touching the floor. She finished in a round of cheers and whistles before ever yone settled for dinner. To my utter disbelief, I was told that no dish contained meat or eggs and my little veggie heart soared with joy. Tadka daal, jeera rice, paneer bhurgi all complemented with chutney and breads. Surprising no one, I filled my plate to the top and was still wiping it clean with naan. As we were just taking our last mouthfuls, the lights flickered once more and this time, ten dancers dotted the dancefloor. From the first beat, they burst into an unbeatable rhythm, movements sharp and co-ordinated, moves that were familiar with some of the audience who nodded along. I stood at the forefront, whistling praise at my friend who amazingly did the whole routine in a long, flowing gown. After the performance, the dancefloor cleared, and the audience surged for wards to bust some moves of their own, casting off shoes and bags. Myself and two other girls (whom I had become friendly with on my table) threw ourselves into the fray. Never have I been in more awe of all the women around me, all jumping and jiving seemingly unhindered by their long sari’s and heavy, glittering skirts. B ollywood bangers and remixed UK Top Hits coursed through our bodies and I was able to learn a few moves from my friends, although I have no doubt I may have butchered the typically seamless sways.
It wasn’t until a plate of gulab jamun had been pushed into my hands that I realised we’d been dancing for nearly an hour non-stop. Thankfully, the sweet dessert gave me enough energ y to go on right to the finish. Things were really shaken up when we were surprised with two mridangam players who drummed along to the beat, accelerating the thumping of our feet. Flashing, foamy flow sticks were doled out and sword fights ensued. At last, as the night drew to an end, thus began the final speeches. The President herself stood on stage to announce the King and Queen of dancing that night and thanked ever yone for attending the night, giving a big shout out to the Sikh and Desi society. With her heartfelt speech, she reminded ever yone that although Diwali was a celebration of the many deities, it was also a time to remember the love that had brought ever yone together in the first place, the friendships, old and new, and the beauty in the scene she saw today. Raucous applause presented itself to her and the night was wrapped up in lingering laughter and unforgettable memories which we knew we would all cherish forever.
Although Diwali was a celebration of the many deities, it was also a time to remember the love that had brought everyone together in the first place
My experience of Diwali opened my eyes to a whole new aspect to Hindu culture that I wasn’t aware of before. All of my senses were bombarded with flavourful tastes, jaw-dropping jeweller y and best of all, the sense of community I felt in the room. It’s a night I’ ll play in my mind over and over again, and I look for ward to the next time I may be involved in such a spiritually satisfying event.
All of my senses were bombarded with flavourful tastes, jaw-dropping jewellery and best of all, the sense of community I felt in the room.
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MINDFULLNESS
CHRISTMAS DINNER
READING RAG
Join the OpenMind society to destress and improve concentration in our campus gardens
Ellie gives her top tips for a Student Budget Christmas cinner with your housemates
Catch up with RAG... Warning: May contain nudity!
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lifestyle 10 Students, 10 Traditions!
W H A T C H R I S T M A S T R A D I T I O N S A R E R E A D I N G S T U D E N T S C H O O S I N G T O PA S S O N , O R S W I T C H U P ? N I A DA LTO N
3rd Year English Lang & Lit
Recent statistics have revealed that our generation is responsible for the death of historical Christmas traditions. We’ve killed off carol singing, making paper chains and kissing under the mistletoe. But, that doesn’t mean we are all scrooges. Many millennials are replacing roasting chestnuts, with their own new traditions, like gifting Christmas Eve boxes. We took this discussion to our UOR students to find out: ‘what traditions have your family passed on, or switched up?’ 1. Nia Dalton - Switch up Third Year English Language student “My family decorate our tree with popcorn instead of tinsel. Mum puts White Christmas on, and we thread plain popcorn onto string, then wrap it round the tree!” 2. Dani Milsom - Switch up Third Year Human Geography student “My family make a Christmas chain to give our presents out. We stand in a line from the garage to the living room and pass presents along, each shouting the
name of the person the present is for. The last person in the chain separates the presents into different peoples piles under the tree.”
we cheers to bucks fizz on christmas morning
meal, we have salmon and seafood to start! Then after Christmas dinner, we play family games like Cluedo, and watch Home Alone.” 6. Georgina Fraser Switch up Third Year English Language student “We take selfies with our Christmas jumpers on, holding cardboard frame cutouts and props!”
er, my mum and dad made talcum powder foot steps to look like Father Christmas. Now we’re older, my mum fills stockings for the dogs as well as our family!” 9. Moody Abdelazem Switch up Third Year Biomedical Science student “On Boxing Day we chill and eat, and I shop in the Christmas sales. The deals are mad!”
10. Emma Cullen - Pass on Third Year English Language student “Every Christmas morning and Boxing Day my family wrap up warm and go for a walk on the beach.”
a walk on the beach
3. Harriet Wood - Pass on Third Year English Language student “We cheers to Buck’s Fizz on Christmas morning whilst we have a fully cooked breakfast. Everyone is drunk on champagne by 11am!”
7. Joe Tooze - Pass on Third Year War, Peace and International Relations student “I always take my stocking into my sisters room so we can compare presents, then we debate who is going to wake mum up. We’ve always carried it on, so she still 4. Anabelle Hill - Switch gets up early and comes into up my room with her stocking Third Year English Lanfirst.” guage student “My family are always on holiday for Christmas, my dad is a pilot so we fly to wherever he will be! Last year was South Africa and we debate who is this year is Paris!”
going to wake mum
5. Jasmine Bunch - Pass 8. Joe Marcovitch - Switch on up Third Year English LanThird Year English Language student guage student “Before our Christmas “When we were young-
GEORGINA FRASER
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OpenMind: Mindfulness walks R E D U C I N G S T R E S S A N D I M P R O V I N G C O N C E N T R AT I O N O N C A M P U S BETH JEFFREY
3rd Year Psychology & Neuroscience
Here at OpenMind, we want to do everything we can to support student well-being and mental health. One of our most popular recurring events is our Mindfulness Walk in the Harris Gardens. Here you’ll have a gentle walk through the gardens, focusing on the nature and tranquillity around you. A short mindfulness activity is done during the walk and then everyone is invited to curl up under a tree for a spot of tea and cake. Mindfulness can be a great thing to do wherever
you are though. It doesn’t require any special equipment or masses of time, just a few minutes on your walk to classes will do! The purpose of mindfulness is to centre you in the present moment, focusing in on senses such as sound and smell; as well as the breath.
acknowledging your surroundings and then focusing inwards on the feeling
LIBBY ADAMS
Acknowledging your surroundings and then focusing inwards on the feeling and sensation of the breath can
Christmas Markets
be great for a quick focus boost. Noticing where the breath rises and falls in the body as well as any physical sensations can help draw your mind from any worries or distracting thoughts you may have so that you have more free attention for the present moment. Regular engagement with this kind of activity is also proven by a tonne of scientists to reduce stress, and that’s never going to be a bad thing for students! Like the idea of having less stress and more concentration? Not quite sure where to start with it or just want some friendly, like-mind-
ed people to hang out with? Come along to our OpenMind Mindfulness walks! They happen once every half-term (6 weeks) with our next one due to occur in late January. Stay tuned to our Facebook and Instagram pages (OpenMindReading) for regular updates (membership is free on RUSU)! Hope to see you at a walk soon! Stay OpenMinded.
In French markets, they have roast turkey with chestnut stuffing, foie gras and scallops. For dessert, you can have the traditional French chocolate log known as the ‘Bûche de Noël’. Why not wash it down with a glass of champagne – not prosecco. You do not need the cheap drinks during Christmas. Make sure to treat yourself during this festive season. Or if you are going to a British market, there are plenty of dishes you can choose. There are hog roasts which make the perfect pulled pork sandwiches. You can also have roast turkey, beef or even pheasant. There are nut roasts for vegetarians and all these dishes can accompany mulled wine. For dessert, many Christmas markets serve tunis cake, Twelfth Night Cake and even Dundee Cake – a traditional Scottish dessert for the winter season.
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E AT I N G , D R I N K I N G A N D B A U B L E S G A L O R E AT X M A S M A R K E T S ! RAJ KHAN
2nd Year English Lit & Politics
It’s that time of the year again. The Christmas season is upon us and there are several ways to take part in festive activities. There are plenty of activities to choose from: getting an advent calendar, watching Christmas films, wearing Christmas jumpers and making gingerbread men. But there is one part of this festive season that everyone should experience. What is it, you ask? It is Christmas markets. Instead of buying your presents online, why not travel to fantastic markets across the country or even in continental Europe? There are plenty of Reading Christmas markets being held in both The Oracle and Broad Street Mall. If you are leaving Reading for Christmas, there are markets across Britain: Oxford, Blenheim Palace, Cardiff, Bath, Birmingham, Manchester, London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Leeds Castle and even Cirencester. The choices are endless! When you are going to a market, make sure you are wearing comfortable, warm
clothing. The last thing we need is for you to get ill during Christmas. Shoppers will head off to the food markets, gift fairs and will be warming themselves up with mince pies and hot beverages. You will hear the wonderful songs being sung by Christmas carollers and see Father Christmas and his helpers bringing joy to everyone. Whatever market you choose to attend, here are some things I have done at Christmas markets, which I think you will enjoy as well. Collect Christmas decorations: If you are like me, there is nothing better than making your own Christmas decorations for your home. This ranges from making paper snowflakes to papier mache baubles. Despite this, you can buy amazing decorations for Christmas markets. Usually, there is hand-made ornaments for your Christmas tree, nutcrackers and even Santa decorations. You can even find fresh Christmas trees to put in your
living room. A helpful tip – get artificial lights to put on your tree so there are no safety hazards. Eat market food: This depends on the market and what part of the country you are in. You might be travelling to another European or North American market. But there are certain dishes that will be available in most markets. For example, mince pies, gingerbread men, figgy puddings and pigs in blankets.
mince pies, gingerbread men, figgy puddings and pigs in blankets There are other European Christmas foods. In German markets, they have bratwursts, Kartoffelpuffer (potato pancakes), Spätzle (egg noodles) and Stollen (fruit cake) for dessert.
Collect souvenirs: This can be anything from Father Christmas hats,
tree ornaments and Christmas mugs to drink your hot chocolate from. From my own experience, I have bought different decorated mugs. One has a picture of Father Christmas on it, and another has reindeers on it. They make a great souvenir. Ice-skating At my local Christmas market, they recently set up an ice-rink. Last Christmas was the first time I had ice skated and it was a great experience. If you have never done it, go with your family and friends. If you are like me, you will probably fall over a couple of times, but it is a lot of fun. Ice-skating is a fun activity you can do with your partner. Whether you are an expert or a beginner, it’s something you will not a chance to do very often so take the opportunity! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas holiday with your loved ones. It is the festive season to be jolly!
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A trip to Stonehenge and Bath A N I N T E R N AT I O N A L S T U D E N T ’ S P E R S P E C T I V E O F S O M E O F B R I TA I N ’ S M O S T P O P U L A R T O U R I S T S P O T S NIMRA KHAN
1st Year Speech and Language Therapy
As an international student from Canada, I am one of those individuals that loves to soak in the history of any place I go. For those people who have grown up here, however, it might not feel as interesting or unique to be surrounded by ancient landmarks; and that’s because they’re so common. However, even the regular houses in certain areas here are older than any of the post-colonization buildings in Canada, so it feels ancient from my perspective just walking down Christchurch Green! However, I was able to take a trip to Stonehenge and Bath this past weekend, which was interesting in its contrast to Reading.
At Stonehenge, it’s impressive how much you can see from the road, although the visitor centre is very far off from the actual stones. The weather was rainy, bleak, and miserable, making a wonderfully ominous backdrop to all the pictures I took. Researchers have yet to find a definitive answer as to how and why Stonehenge was built.
interesting in its contrast to Reading I learned about an unexpected connection here: The Mycenaeans, who were the first known people to speak the Greek language, have left behind many palaces and artifacts in Greece, however their disappearance from history is still
shrouded in mystery. At Stonehenge, they have found constructions and carvings similar to the Mycenaean culture. I found it amazing that connections to an Ancient Greek civilization have been found here. After taking a walk around the Stones and eating lunch, we boarded the bus to head to Bath. The ride took about an hour from Stonehenge, but from the road, I could see the entirety of the city. It took a ten-minute walk from the Bath train station to the main Christmas Market area. The little stalls were charming, although the streets were packed with so many people you could hardly stop to appreciate the atmoshpere. There were plenty of options for food and local crafts. As part of my day trip I also had tickets for the Roman Baths (approx. £14 for students). These baths were built when the Ancient Romans occupied the area, although there were modern additions as well. They really give you a sense of going through a time machine, as much of the original architecture is still present, albeit very broken down.
NIMRA KHAN
I think these excursions also humanize the Romans, as there have been found “curses” which people would write and throw into the waters to send prayers to the goddess Minerva against anyone that had wronged them.
a sense of going through a time machine
the taste of metal, this might be the highlight for you. Finally, as the sun set and fake snow fell all around, I explored more of the Christmas market. The crowds of people had only increased and the shops and restaurants were buzzing. I would actually love to move to Bath after this visit, but I’ll have to settle for trying to visit again. You could spend ages walking the streets and never get bored. The Bath Christmas Market is open until Sunday 9th December 2018, so be sure to visit if you get the chance!
At the end, visitors can take a sip of spa water (safe Find out about trip organto drink, unlike the actual ised by RUSU at www.rusu. bath waters). Although I did co.uk/activities. not enjoy it at all, if you like
Safety Advice with PC Julie: Alcohol Awareness N E I G H B O U R H O O D S U P E R V I S O R J U L I E S U S E L G I V E S H E R T O P T I P S F O R D R I N K I N G S A F E T LY STUDENT SERVICES NE W S We are excited to announce a new series of features on safety and security. Over the coming months, Neighbourhood Supervisor Julie Susel will be giving us advice on a wide range of issues surrounding personal safety and our community. This month, with the holiday season fast approaching, Julie shares her thoughts on drinking responsibly and staying safe on a night out. “Hello, my name is Julie Susel, I am a Neighbourhood Supervisor with Thames Valley Police, stationed at Loddon Valley Police Station. From now on, I’ll be
writing a monthly feature for the University, on all things safety and security. Part of my responsibilities as Neighbourhood Supervisor is to look after the University of Reading, engaging with students and staff, and dealing with any criminal activity across the campuses. I train students and staff on many things, such as vulnerability awareness, consent, drugs etc. I get involved with safeguarding issues (protecting students from harm), burglaries, thefts, public disorder; really anything that happens on campus. I am a mum of three and my eldest son is doing his PGCE at the London Road
Campus, and my Husband is a retired detective, who works within the Security Team, thus I am very invested in the University and feel privileged to do this role. I supervise a team of six Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and we are always available for advice, so please if you see us around campus, come and say hello, or if you would like to contact us, the Security team will have our contact details. It’s been a busy few weeks in the world of policing, and as we approach “silly season”, it’s not going to get any better. I want to talk to you about the dreaded A word – ALCOHOL. As a Mum and
a Police Officer, I want you all to have a good time and celebrate Christmas with your families and friends, but please be aware of the consequences. Every year I arrest people for all sorts of offences, which are alcohol related. Many people are charged and attend court, which has such a detrimental effect on their lives. Please stay safe: On a night out, stay with your mates and get home safely. Plan your journey – know how you are getting home at the start of the evening. Keep your valuables safe – take as little as possible and
keep them close to you at all times. Know your limits – Stop before it’s too late. Don’t make tonight the night you regret. Don’t let happy hour turn into a nightmare. Step back and call for help if you see a crime taking place.” STUDENT SERVICES
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A Student Budget Christmas Dinner! H O W T O R E - C R E AT E C H R I S T M A S D I N N E R W I T H Y O U R U N I H O U S E ELLIE SLANEY
Spark Social Media Director
Christmas can be a strange time at university. Everyone is excited for the festivities, but also stressed about exams, deadlines and the price of having the heating on. Whilst cooking an entire Christmas dinner may seem impossible for so many reasons, there is a way to re-create that glorious meal, and yes, on a student budget. Below is a list of all the must have items for your Christmas dinner (and their cheaper alternatives) along with a timesheet so that you know exactly when to cook everything, and as a little bonus, the tips for creating the ultimate gravy. Key components for a banging Christmas roast: • Turkey (Can be substituted for the cheaper and easier chicken – cook with streaky bacon on top to
make a bit more festive) • Roast potatoes (Can be made, or the easier option – a bag of frozen roasties) • Brussel Sprouts (cut the bottom off, cut a cross in and boil for 5 minutes) • Parsnips (To save the hassle of trying to cut out that awkward hard middle bit of the parsnip, just buy a bag of frozen ones!) • Pigs in Blankets (You can buy these in packets of about 12 in the supermarket, but the way to make more for less cash is to buy a packet of smoked streaky bacon and a bag of frozen cocktail sausages and wrap those piggies yourself. Takes a little bit longer but totally worth it as we had about 50 pigs for the same cost as 12 last year) • Stuffing (Can be bought as a packet mix for about 20p) • Optional extras – Yorkshires (not Christ-
masy as such but they sure are lush) and mash potato (again, can buy frozen to save the actual mashing). Timing sheet: (If you’re like most students and don’t have a large oven, it’s likely you’ll need to cook some stuff first and keep it warm by wrapping it in foil – the list below takes this into consideration) First off- Chicken. Generally, chicken takes 1 hour and 30-50 minutes depending on size so put this in first. Secondly, make your stuffing as per instruction on packet and put in the oven. 10 minutes later put in your pigs in blankets. (stuffing – 30 mins, pigs – 20-25 mins) Once your stuffing and pigs are done, wrap them in foil to keep warm (these can also always be stuck in the bottom of the oven 5 mins before eating to ensure they’re still hot).
Next –the roast potatoes. Either - par boil these for 10 minutes or until they’re a bit soft round the edge, then cook on a tray of goose fat for 35-45 mins or until golden and crispy (which has been warming in the oven whilst the potatoes are par boiling) or cook using the instructions on the back of the frozen bag. Whilst your potatoes are in, cook your parsnips as per instruction on the bag. Brussel sprouts only take 5 minutes to boil in water and, if you are adding Yorkshires, they take about 5 minutes in the oven from frozen. Finally, once your chicken is done, take that out of the tray it was roasted in and put the tray on the hob to make your gravy. Using the meat juices will make it far tastier, so add to those some gravy granules and a bit of the veg water if too thick. Adding a teaspoon or two of cranberry sauce for a slightly sweet-
er taste, and if you have any open a splash of red wine really helps. Thicken (if needed) with a spoon or two of flour or some more gravy granules. Heating this on the hob until all the above are combined (easiest to do so if you gently stir with a whisk). I hope these tips and lists will you to create a slightly easier/cheaper Christmas dinner for you and your house to enjoy! ELLIE SLANEY
Has Christmas become too commercialised? K R I S T IYA N B O G DA N O V
3rd Year Mathematics
Throughout human history, giving Christmas gifts to your loved ones, family and friends has become one of the most aspects of the holiday. Shopping season starts long before December. However, although designed to remove the panic of last minute shopping, the prolonged period itself brings a lot of unwanted worries and cases of mild anxiety. Gift seekers PEXELS
scan the shops just to find that perfect present, which will offer glow and style for the person it is given to. In the United Kingdom, British families spend around £820 GBP for Christmas specialties, which include gifts, food, drinks and decoration. While Christmas gifts and the whole Christmas atmosphere appear in a commercialised fashion, it is important to remember why we love Christmas in general. Picture this: the whole
street is decorated, the concrete roads and roofs are overwhelmingly white, the smell of tea in the air, the warmth of homemade cinnamon cookies is lingering. Your family just sat on the table and you’re ready for the feast. The Christmas tree is in the living room, and little wrapped presents around it. Everybody is having a good time, laughing and reflecting on Christmas memories.
are the real presents under the tree, or are they around you everyday? What do you find important here? Are the real presents under the tree, or are they around you every day? The same family and
friends you buy or receive gifts from, are the best presents a person can have. Just like that, you’re a present to someone else. There was a boy that had no money to buy a Christmas present for a friend, so instead he copied all of his music CDs which he loved more than himself and attached a note which read: “I didn’t have any money to buy something for you, but I decided to give you a piece of my world.” - That gives you an idea that really anything can be a present if you put your mind to it. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to get that perfect present for somebody. Christmas itself is a gift that keeps on giving, just like the people that celebrate it. It is also true that not spending a lot of money during Christmas time, and not giving special presents to somebody doesn’t make you a bad person. Although, some people preferring ma-
terial gains over anything else is a different story, and it’s not important for this one.
christmas itself is a gift that keeps on giving, just like the people that celebrate it It’s important to remind people that putting all your heart into crafting a present and spending time with your loved ones, watching movies or old pictures, or anything that brings people together, means more than just going out to the mall and buying a present just so you can say: “I bought it, I got rid of all my Christmas responsibilities.”
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Selecting practical and cherished Christmas gifts T H E G I F T O F G I V I N G J U S T G O T S O M U C H M O R E U S E F U L ! S O M E P R A C T I C A L G I F T I N S P I R AT I O N . . . L AU R A M CC L I N TO C K
1st Year International Development
If you are anything like me and hate the idea of spending your precious pennies on impersonal gifts that your friends and family may not be thrilled by, then take a look at this Christmas list for some inspiration. There is a gift in here for everyone because they are all practical!
there is a gift in here for everyone because they are all practical I can’t tell you how thrilled I would be to receive one of these on Christmas morning instead of another shower gel set or some jewellery not to my preference (although, of course I would appreciate any gift regardless, it’s the thought that counts, right?) I’m not a fan of the gift giving side of Christmas because sometimes, it can feel like a mass cash exchange just for the sake of presents. But I do love the magic of gifting things to my loved ones when I know it’s mega cool and useful. I prefer giving gifts than receiving them, in fact. Tortilla Warmer for Fajita Fans I love this idea because it’s quite an unusual gift but something that could bring someone a great deal of joy. A basic tortilla warmer costs from £8 to £10 on Amazon, but you could even purchase a three-tier fajita rack for £12.99. Or, for £34.99 you could purchase a rack which includes a warmer and a cast iron platter. This is a great
gift for people who love making meals at home, as you could use the platter for any meal. A Reusable Water Bottle of Good Quality I recently purchased the Camelback Eddy water bottle on Amazon for about £15 and it has changed my life. Okay, maybe not my life, but certainly the amount of water I drink. Perhaps you know someone that hasn’t yet purchased a reusable water bottle for themselves; why not gift them a lovely good quality water bottle for them to get excited about? If your giftee is more of a coffee addict, Keep Cups are a lovely gift. They can be pricey, but they sure are chic, and why not, in the name of saving the planet? Phone Gadgets – Charger Cables, Cases, Rings and Portable Chargers In my home, we have trust issues because if you leave your phone charger out in the open, chances are someone will nick it. Chargers are a valuable thing in the 21st century, because Apple just doesn’t want to fix the cable to stop breaking and exposing the wires. An Anker charging cable is a useful gift to give priced at only £4.79 on Amazon; I have 3 and they work perfectly. Other phone gadgets are also a good idea, perhaps your loved one would appreciate a new phone case or something to stop their earphones getting tangled? Planners and Organisers Who is the Monica in your life? Could they use a beautiful new planner? A fancy new Filofax? What’s great about some organisers
is that when the year finishes you just need new refill pages, so your loved one can keep using that beautiful organiser for many years. A Vegetable Spiralizer Know someone who loves salads or cooking? Got creative nieces and nephews you don’t know what to get? Why not give them a fruit and vegetable spiralizer, a kitchen utensil that transforms fruit and vegetables into a spaghetti like shape. Wayfair.co.uk is currently selling a Tri-Blade Vegetable Spiralizer on sale for only £9.84, but stocks are low so buy now! Good Quality Clothing, Socks, Underwear and Loungewear I don’t know about you, but I don’t tend to spend money on things like socks, underwear or loungewear, especially good quality stuff. I recommend perhaps looking into buying more subtly designed items over flamboyant if you’re unsure what this person would like. Tesco, Urban Outfitters and John Lewis (and more) have some great quality cosy stuff this year for you to discover. Make-up Wipes and a New Beauty Sponge You don’t need to splash loads of cash to give an appreciated Christmas gift or stocking filler. Make-up wipes are one of those things that are always great to have in supply, and I know a lot of people whose makeup sponges look like they’ve been used to clean a fireplace because they’ve been knocking about in a makeup bag for way too long. Makeup wipes can be found for as cheap as 99p in Superdrug, and a two pack of Real Tech-
niques sponges is only £9.99! germs from difficult to reach areas like the cracks in your Bluetooth Speaker keyboard or the air vents in your car. This is an Amazon This one is an amazing Prime eligible item and costs gift for almost anybody. I £5.95 so it’s a perfect Selove being able to have a lit- cret Santa present or stocktle jig to my favourite songs ing filler that will probably whilst I cook dinner or get come in very handy. ready for a special occasion. There is a vast array of Bluetooth speakers to choose from depending on a wonderful way of the brand and features, and there’s something for near- treating your loved ly every budget. Speakers one to something all can be priced anywhere between £10 and £200 so do year round some research and find one that’s suitable. I promise that whoever opens this gift on Christmas Day will be very, Subscriptions very happy. This is a wonderful Christmas gift for all kinds of people due to the choice of subscriptions out there. A little pricier of course, but a wonderful way of treating your loved one to someyou don’t need to thing all year round, not splash loads of cash just on Christmas. Perhaps monthly beauty box from to give an appreciat- aBirchbox, or a subscription ed christmas gift or to a magazine such as The Economist? The options are stocking filler endless. Jelly Keyboard Cleaner Reviewed almost five stars on Amazon by 2,200 people is this wacky gadget that is meant to remove dust and FLICKR/TIMMYGUNZ
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Top tips for acing group assignments TA Z U S H E R
Print Editor
At some point during your degree course, it is likely that you will be set a group assignment to complete for one of your modules. And whilst there are many students who enjoy group assignments, there are others who find the prospect of meeting deadlines, transferring their skills, and displaying their potential more difficult when working as part of a group. Nonetheless, there are five steps that you can take to ensure that you do as well as possible in these types of assignments, meanwhile ensuring that it is a stress-free experience. Step 1: Know your group More often than not, your lecturers will allow you to choose the students in your group. However, be aware that there will be students who may be unable to find a group, or smaller groups that
need putting together. You could be set include: can often check your group • Class presentations structures by searching un• Prezzi presentations der the ‘Groups’ tab within • A website your module on Blackboard. • Group data analysis • A video Step 2: Agree on your • A poster or leaflet communication method It is best to create the plan A key starting point for for your assignment in pera successful group assign- son and somewhere where ment is regular and effective you can all focus. Across the communication between all university, there are numergroup members. Once set ous study spaces that you can the project, it is a good idea use for the planning. To save to decide how you are going time searching for a room, to communicate as a group. you also book a room to use This might include in advance via the universi• Facebook messenger ty’s online booking system. • Whatsapp • Emails Step 4: Delegating roles • BB group discussion and completing the project board When it comes to assignStep 3: Planning ing roles, you may either decide to complete all parts of To ensure that you meet the assignment as a group, the assignment deadline and or to delegate a section to all aspects of the criteria, it each member. This might is crucial to plan the assign- depend of the skill strengths ment as a group. Examples of each team member, or the of the types of projects you requirements of the task.
Regardless, you want to ensure that all members of the group have a fair share of the work load.
ensure that all members of the group have a fair share of the work load To help with the completion of the project, you can also use the university’s Life Tools Programme which offers a range of workshop ses-
sions including ‘How to prepare for and give successful academic presentations’. Step 5: Meeting the submission deadline The typical completion period for a group assignment is a month. This gives you plenty of time to effectively plan, complete and review the assignment as a group. Likewise, it is a good idea to decide during the planning stage which student will submit the project (if required). It is often the case that, if an electronic submission, only one member of the group will need to submit the assignment via Blackboard.
UNIVERSITY OF READING
Catching up with Reading RAG MOVEMBER! CANDY CANES! NAKED CALENDARS, AND SO MUCH MORE… S E L I N A M U S TA FA
3rd Year Art and Psychology
As it gets frostier outside, RAG wishes you a very warm hello! Christmas break is just around the corner and we couldn’t be more excited! We hope you’re sat comfortably, with a hot chocolate or spiced latte on hand, as we update you with all the latest news from RAG…
READING RAG
Movember no more! Movember is finally coming to an end, which means that very soon all those weird and wonderful moustaches spotted around campus will sadly be gone and sorely missed (no pun intended). However, our lads and ladies have done the most INCREDIBLE job of raising a life-changing sum of money, which will go towards the aid of men’s
physical and mental health, with a great emphasis on combating prostate cancer! The University of Reading alone has raised a colossal £5,029!!! This result has placed our University 20th in the UK’s Big Moustache on Campus Challenge! We are endlessly impressed with the sports societies that have smashed the ball out of the park on this one! Huge shout out to RU Men’s Hockey Society, RU Cricket Club, RU Lacrosse, & Reading Knights American Football! And a massive well done to every individual that also partook in this year’s Movember. Together, we have made a difference! Release of the Naked Calendars! This Autumn, a huge array of our lovely sports societies worked tirelessly to pose naked for the annual RAG Naked Calendar! Now the time has come, and the
RAG Naked Calendar is finally available for purchase. Enter 2019 with all your favourite sports societies, nude and proud and hanging on your bedroom wall! The RAG Naked Calendar can be purchased online at www. rusu.co.uk/societies/rag/ Don’t miss the opportunity to show support for (or embarrass) your mates who got their kits off for charity - grab your calendar whilst stocks last, and trust me, these ones will be selling fast! YOU GO, GLEN COCO Have you ever wanted to give the perfect Christmas treat to someone special to get them in the seasonal spirit? Or maybe you’ve just always wanted to shove a candy cane in your bestie’s face whilst screaming “four for you Glen Coco. You go, Glen Coco!!”. Do not miss the opportunity to spread some
Christmas cheer before we head home for the holidays! RAG will once again host our annual Candy Cane Stall this December! We will be selling a huge assortment of these wonderful and magical sweet treats between the 3rd – 7th December, come find us in RUSU between 12-2pm every day! Act fast, because we will only be around for one week only! Finally, we wish you all a wonderful Winter break, Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year! We look forward to seeing you all in January! Keep an eye out for all the immense events RAG have lined up for 2019… Here’s a sneak peek: RAG week, Sky Dive, Student Auction… Plus so so much more.. Get in touch! w w w. r u s u . c o. u k / s o c i e ties/rag Facebook: @ragreading Twitter, Instagram & Snapchat: @readingrag
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FA N TA S T I C B E A S T S
FEELING CHRISTMASSY
I’M A CELEBRITY
REview of the new edition to the Harry Potter franchise
Top 5 christmas films not to be missed this festive season
Australia, asperges and Anne:
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entertainment Editorial Olivia Mill Enter tainment editor
And so, winter is here... The weather is getting frosty, the heating is going on, but most importantly Christmas is just around the corner! In this December issue, I’ve got an extra Christmassy entertainment section for you with articles featuring top Christmas songs and movies: what more could you need to get into the festive spirit? And don’t miss the Christmas crossword! But for all of you out there that don’t celebrate Christmas or just want some regular entertainment updates, I’ve got some articles for you all too! Make sure you check out the review of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald for an idea of what to think of the new addition to the Harry Potter franchise, and also, there is a not-tobe-missed sudoku puzzle on the new puzzle page. Finally, don’t miss the
Your Cracking Christmas Playlist, Sorted! THE TOP 10 CHRISTMAS SONGS FOR ANY FESTIVE OCCASION.
next instalment of Millie’s mumblings and my own experience of when Julie Cohen, author and University of Reading alumni, came for a talk at the university. As always, happy reading, and I hope you enjoy the extra Christmassy edition of Spark Entertainment! And if you want to write an article for next time, feel free to contact me: entertainment@sparknewspaper.co.uk
COUR TESY OF COLOMBIA RECORDS
Elie Slaney 3rd Year Fine Ar t It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. At least as the slightly sad 3ft Christmas tree, decorated with a few sparkly earrings (in place of baubles) and the empty fairy liquid container, as the angel on top, may suggest. Being a student in December may mean we miss out on some of the festivities such as actual Christmas Trees and warm houses, but it doesn’t mean we have to miss out on the festive spirit, hence why I have created a finely tuned list of the top 10 Christmas songs. Firstly, to two ‘Merry Christmases’. I am of course talking about ‘Merry Christmas Everyone’ by Shakin’ Stevens, and ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’ by Slade. Two jolly classics, which could not get any more festive, as the titles themselves are LITERALLY wishing you a Merry Christmas.
The best cheesy festive karaoke tune is obviously Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’. No matter how much of a Grinch someone might be, I haven’t yet met anyone who doesn’t feel a tad more Christmassy after bobbing along to Mariah Carey (and of course belting out those high notes – my personal favourite for car-aoke). A few slightly more tender tunes include ‘Happy Xmas (War is Over)’ by John Lennon, ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas? (1984)’ by Band Aid and ‘Stop the Cavalry’ by Jona Lewie. Singing about more than just snow or the person they want for Christmas, these songs are probably the closest you’re going to get to a tug on those heart strings from a pop song. Two more favourites that cannot be forgotten are ‘Last Christmas’ by Wham! And Wizzard’s ‘I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday’.
These remind me of Christmas when I was younger and are always on every Christmas playlist I make. My final Christmas song to be added to my top 10 is East 17’s ‘Stay Another Day’, another Christmas song that is perfect for singing along to dramatically, but that isn’t too annoying. There are of course tons of other Christmas songs I think are wonderful, so I have included a few others that narrowly missed their place on my top 10. These include ‘Step Into Christmas’ (Elton John), ‘It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas’ (Michael Bublé), ‘Driving Home For Christmas’ (Chris Rea) and ‘O Holy Night’ (The Nat King Cole version). I hope this list has helped you form your perfect festive playlist, and made you feel that little bit more Christmassy!
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Films to get you into the festive spirit!
Raagulan Umashanker 2nd Year English Literature
Well, it’s that time of year again…almost. And what better way to get into the festive spirit than to watch a few Christmas classics that capture your excitement for the wintry season. 1) HOME ALONE: After being involved in a fight with his older brother, eight-year-old troublemaker, Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin), is forced to stay in the attic as punishment. However, the next day, his family mistakenly leave him behind as they leave for the airport in a rush for their Christmas holiday to France. Kevin wakes up only to find out that he has the whole house to himself. Being home alone is fun for Kevin at first, but his joy ends when he realises that he must protect his house from a pair of burglars, which leads to a series of close calls, homemade booby traps, and comic, yet devastating injuries. Yes. You knew this one was coming. Every child’s dream: Christmas and no parents at home. Home Alone is one of those Christmas films that not only gets us excited for Christmas, but also reminds us of the wild days of our childhood and the wacky things we would do when our parents were not home. It makes you wish to relive your younger days and do all those naughty things that you got away with once, just like Kevin. Indeed, this film shows us that it is okay to be on Santa’s naughty list once in a while. However, Home Alone also appeals to your more mature side because it makes you realise the importance of family, love and care. Despite having countless arguments with your parents, siblings or even pets, this classic shows us that the strong and affectionate bond you have with your family will always be there and will help you to overcome any challenge in life. A perfect blend of Christmas, comedy, and emotion. 2 ) T H E H O L I D AY Gentle and kind-hearted society column editor, Iris
Simpkins (Kate Winslet), is in love with her colleague who is engaged to another woman. Meanwhile, in the USA, the headstrong workaholic film trailer producer, Amanda Woods (Cameron Diaz), finds out her boyfriend has cheated on her for a long time. Two women who have never met and live on opposite sides of the world coincidentally find themselves in the same situation. They meet online at a home exchange website and impulsively switch homes for their holidays to have a break from their complicated love lives. Iris moves into Amanda’s grand L.A. house in sunny California, while Amanda arrives in the snow-covered English countryside, Surrey, where she lives in Iris’s dinky cottage. Shortly after arriving at their destinations, both women find the last thing that either wants or expects: a new romance. Amanda is charmed by Iris’s handsome older brother, Graham (Jude Law), while Iris is attracted to Amanda’s colleague, the caring film composer, Miles (Jack Black). Will both Iris and Amanda find true love or will it end in heartbreak? For those of you who have a partner, this Christmas rom-com is perfect to watch as a couple. But those of you who are single can still have a good time watching it too. Despite being a rom-com film, The Holiday does not stoop to romantic genre clichés like having a bland hero, an over-sentimental heroine and petty arguments between characters. Instead, all of the characters are realistic, captivating and at some points, even relatable, as they face both everyday problems and their difficult pasts. When all of these characters come together on screen, it is entertaining to watch their interactions and see how their relationships develop during funny and serious moments. Not everyone has a good Christmas or looks forward to it due to their personal issues, but this film shows us that you should not let that get in the way of you enjoying yourself and having a good time with other people.
J E F F E R E Y VA L K A / F L I C K R
3) THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS Jack Skellington (Danny Elfman), the king of Halloween Town (aka The Pumpkin King), does a spectacular job at bringing the spooky season to people, but can’t help but feel bored doing the same thing every day. However, he then discovers Christmas Town where he is enchanted by the sparkling snow, abundance of presents and not surprisingly, Santa Claus. Jack attempts to bring Christmas to his home by kidnapping Santa Claus and taking over his position, but it does not go to plan as it leads to chaos, confusion and children not being able to receive their Christmas presents. Will Jack still be able to save both worlds without giving up his love for the festive season? Is there anything better than two well-loved celebrations coming together in this creepy, yet entertaining animated film? By now, all of us are used to the magical, fairy-like and extravagant Frozen that we seem to be forgetting Tim Burton’s masterpiece that puts a unique and eerie twist on Christmas. Big mistake. This classic does a phenomenal job at appealing to children, teenagers and adults with its cast of uniquely-designed frightening characters (like the spooky Boogieman from our scary childhood bedtime stories, pop-culture zombies and bloodthirsty werewolves from old folklore tales) who are all involved in an exciting, scary and unpredictable adventure. Clearly, this hidden gem has a perfect balance between horror, adventure and fantasy that excites the younger audience (but does not horrify
them) and intrigues the more mature audience (but does not make them cringe). If you are still not convinced to watch this film, The Nightmare Before Christmas is filled with outstanding stop-animation, picturesque landscapes (in both the Gothic Halloween Town and the enchanting Christmas Town) and delightful and catchy songs. 4) HARRY POT TER AND THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE
The first movie adaptation of the first of J.K. Rowling’s popular children’s novels, Harry Potter. Young Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) has always been an unwanted and mistreated child who has been constantly bullied by his horrible uncle, aunty and cousin. However, his life is turned upside down when, on the night of his eleventh birthday, he learns that he is the orphaned son of two powerful wizards and possesses unique magical powers. He is then summoned to become a student at an English boarding school for wizards called Hogwarts. There, he meets several friends who become his closest allies and help him discover the truth about his parents’ mysterious deaths. For any of you Harry Potter book fans, we can all agree that there is something so fulfilling when we finally see the magical world of Hogwarts come to life in this movie. But it is still exciting for you nonbook fans too. The Philosopher’s Stone gives us a completely fun time as it transports us from our busy, stressful and repetitive lives to a place of magic, beasts and, need I say it, Quidditch. It does not matter whether you are a child, teenager or an adult, this film is very entertaining because we are all fascinated by Hogwarts and want to explore more of it as we watch Harry learn how to cast spells, encounter mythological creatures and uncover the secrets of the wizarding school. Even though, nowadays, we are becoming more cynical of the festive season due to corporate companies pressurising us to buy gifts for our loved ones, widespread cheap merchandise
and cheesy Christmas adverts, this first Harry Potter film reminds us to see Christmas in the same magical way as when Harry first sees Hogwarts: a mystical and spellbinding experience filled with joy, fascination and childlike wonder. 5) E D WA R D SCISSORHANDS A scientist (Vincent Price) builds an animated human being -- the gentle and laconic Edward (Johnny Depp). Unfortunately, he dies before he can complete Edward leaving the young artificial man with a strange appearance accentuated by elongated scissor blade hands. Caring suburban saleswoman, Peg (Dianne Wiest), discovers Edward and takes him to her home where he falls in love with her pretty and talkative teen daughter, Kim (Winona Ryder). However, despite his kindness and artistic talent, Edward’s scissor hands make him an outsider, which leads to trouble that endangers him and his loved ones. Before Johnny Depp was the quirky and adventurous Captain Jack Sparrow, the frightening Sweeney Todd or the mad “Mad Hatter”, he was the shy and reserved Edward Scissorhands. Even though the hero is almost silent due to his minimal di a logue, he is, by no means, a bland character as he performs chivalrous duties and kind acts that make him likeable. Also, the heroine is not one-dimensional because she appreciates her new guest and supports him in his struggles. Yes, believe it or not, the beautiful girl actually likes the socially awkward boy. The romance between these two lovers does not come across as being cheesy, fast-paced or uncomfortable to watch, but is actually endearing, wellpaced and interesting. As well as reminding us that it is always comforting to celebrate Christmas with someone you love whose actions you appreci-
ate, this film also reminds us that, even if you feel like an outsider, there will always be someone there to accept you.
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Millie’s Mumblings Millie Farquha
3rd Year English Literature
I know I promised you more Tinderland adventures. But if I am honest, I have not been dating recently because of my schedule. So instead, I thought I would use the last issue of 2018 to reflect on a couple of significant things that happened to me this year. Career Ideas - So far this year, every ‘get to know you question’ has been ‘what are you going to do after University.’ And, bizarrely, I am proud that I still don’t really know what I want to do. I have realized just how much pressure students, and young people in general, are put under to know what they want to do. Even going through A-Levels, my school separated their subjects into ‘Menu’s’ curated for either Engineers, Medics or Lawyers. There was no real ability to mix sciences and humanities, so instead of doing what I enjoyed, I fit myself into the ideals of those around me and stud-
ied things that were ‘useful’ for my future career. Not knowing where I want to work when I graduate means that I am throwing myself into everything. I have been working on films, learning how to plan and host events, presenting and preparing presentations, learning about so many different careers like publishing, consulting, directing and even joining the army. I don’t plan on rushing into anything and I look forward to finding my feet once I graduate. Mature Students OfficerLast year I was elected as the Mature Students’ Undergraduate officer at RUSU. It was never something I thought I was capable of and I was not expecting to win at all. But I did and now here I am. I love working with Nozomi, the Diversity officer, and I am working on some really cool things that will improve the student experience for so many at the University. If any of you are thinking about running for RUSU I would really recommend it, simply because
the experience of running a campaign and campaigning itself is something really good to put on your CV. My Brother’s Wedding This was the highlight of my year. It gave me the chance to see so many of my family and to celebrate my eldest brother getting married. I was lucky enough to be a bridesmaid and something I will always remember is the look of love and happiness on both my brother and my new sister-in-law’s faces as they exchanged their vows and began their new life together as husband and wife. It sounds cliched but seeing two people so happy really made me reflect on my own life and question if I was also happy. I soon realized that there were several things in my life that were not making me happy and I took steps to change that. Moving into my own flat I have been in boarding schools and have lived away from my parents for long periods of time from the age of 7 so I am used to living away from family. But what I
was used to was living alone. Something that I have been doing since the start of September. It was terrifying at first and the quiet during the night was not a pleasant experience. But I have since adjusted and not only am I proud that I have managed to keep my flat clean, but also that I have been organised and kept it stocked with food and I haven’t even burnt it down yet. I have been exceeding my own expectations for a while now and I am really enjoying seeing just how independent I am. Losing 6 stone - If you have been reading my articles for a while. You’ll know that this year I began a weight loss journey with the Sports park and Slimming World. It has been an incredible journey so far and I have managed to completely change both my eating styles and my exercise habits. I have gone from not being able to run at all to taking park in 10km races, and I am now thinking of running a half marathon next year and finishing a Tough Mudder.
With my decreased size, my confidence had rocketed and I have become a lot more capable is social situations. I have also begun rock climbing several times a week. So many of my friends and family have said that I am a completely different person, both physically and mentally. I am incredibly proud not only of the fact that I have managed to maintain my weight loss up to this point (and I am sure it will keep going until I reach my target a weight.) but also because from this weight loss I am now considering joining the army, and I am also going to Machu Picchu this summer with Action Against Hunger and the idea of a 70km hike is not intimidating. So, there are my most notable events of 2018. I look forward to the next year, not only for more adventures, but also because I will have graduated in 6 months and I will become part of the working world. I am not afraid that I don’t know where that will be yet. It’s actually quite exciting!
Australia, Aspergers and Anne: I’m a Celeb ignites growing understanding of Autism Rebecca Uffindell
4th Year Art and English Literature
Another year goes by and another year the nation yearns for celebrities to endure gruelling tasks to survive in the Australian jungle: otherwise known as ITV’s I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! Yet, while 2018’s series has been full of the usual trials, tribulations, and rice and beans, what really set this series apart was the genuine inclusion and understanding of Anne Hegerty’s lifelong condition of Autism - or more specifically- Asperger’s Syndrome. At a time where conditions that have previously
been blanketed over by the nation and left undiscussed in the media, a show such as I’m a Celeb is integral to the nations understanding of a condition so widely affected by more than 700,000 adults and children within the country. A spokesperson of Autism. org has commented on the representation of an autistic woman on the show, stating: “We’ve loved seeing the outpouring of support for Anne Hegerty. We hope this will be the start of better representation of autistic women in the media and help everyone understand the diversity of autism.” Anne’s candid explanation of her condition, that was not diag-
nosed until she was in her 40’s, even led to the National Autistic Society’s website to crash, demonstrating the willingness for the nation to understand and develop a deeper empathy for those affected. Although it is not only Anne Hegerty that should be commended for their participation in I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, the other 10 contestants approached Anne’s diagnoses with consideration and empathy so far and sets a precedent as to how any other person with autism should be treated. The main features of an autism spectrum disorder includes issues with social situations and interactions. This
is shown in Anne through her confusion regarding the emotions expressed when other camp members received their care packages. To people who have not experienced autistic traits, this may be a deeply sad and intimate moment, whereas Hegerty could not understand their reaction. Instead, she responded “I mean everyone seemed to be in tears, but I don’t know, I suppose they were good tears... I’m autistic I don’t know about this stuff.” Heightened levels of anxiety is also a prominent symptom of the condition,
ITV PRESS CENTRE
exacerbated in the sudden changes and conditions within camp life. Yet all these challenges are taken in Anne’s stride and allude to more personal trials that only she can conquer, where the reward is far more valuable than stars.
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Book Review: Stone Heart Trilogy, Charlie Fletcher R E V I E W O F C H A R L I E F L E T C H E R ’ S S T O N E H E A R T T R I L O G Y.
Penelope Faithfull 3rd Year Classics
Set in modern day London, the Stone Heart Trilogy is about the chain of events George Chapman sets off when, in a fit of rage, he breaks a small dragon statue off the Natural History Museum. Consequently, George finds himself in an unLondon where the statues of London come alive, some trying to harm him, and some trying to save him. George is told by the Gunner that he has fallen into this unLondon because he is a ‘maker’, someone, such as a sculptor, who can make objects, such as statues, with their hands. The Gunner explains that the statues are divided between ‘spits’ and ‘taints’: spits are statues of humans (i.e. made in the ‘spitting image’ of someone, or an idea of someone, and, as the maker is creating the statue, they imagine the essence of the human they are trying to represent) and taints are any statues that aren’t human (they are absent of that essence, and they feel it). George is soon joined by the only other person who can see the statues moving: Edie
Laemmel. Edie has not fallen into this unLondon, but she can naturally see the statues of London moving because she is a ‘glint’(Glints are women who are able to see into the past by touching a material). Distrusted by the statues, glints have distinctive features: aubergine coloured hair and they carry a piece of sea glass which helps to keep them alive and sane in a world where anything they touch can cause them immense pain and to see into the past, which is often upsetting. Along the way, George and Edie befriend many statues. There have always been tensions rumbling between the spits and taints, and George’s actions inadvertently tip this animosity over the edge. George and Edie also make a powerful enemy, a Stone Servant called the Walker. He is an evil being who is desperate to regain the power he once had. George’s mission, with Edie and the Gunner, soon turns from trying to get himself out of this unLondon to having to save the whole of London. Highly original, thrillingly written, and intriguing, this trilogy may sound a bit juvenile, however it is anything but.
This trilogy has dark moments, some of which are not for the faint hearted. Fletcher has written these characters with such emotion and feeling, you forget that only two of them are human. The Walker is the quintessential bad guy seeking power, but, in many ways, he does drive the plot; the protagonist characters are far more complex and realistic. The bronze Cockney Gunner is one of the best characters, and, as it is noted, is surprisingly warm, both physically and in his character. He becomes softer and less brusque as he takes on the role of mentor, a role which is so desperately needed. Fletcher respects and pays great homage to the World War One soldiers some of these statues represent, and so this trilogy makes perfect reading for the centenary of the end of World War One, which is also the tenth anniversary for Silver Tongue’s publication. The characters go through significant developments in the series, and it is nice that these are noticed by the other characters. George is a likeable character, and he develops physically and mentally. He starts off as insecure and just wanting to
be invisible, and, at first, he is terrified and confused. When his confidence increases, his posture is different, and he is assertive and rational. Edie’s development is subtler; her life has had a string of difficult events, and just one would take a long time to recover from. Edie is the only character I have ever been in two minds about. Feisty and strong, hardened by years of living on the streets of London and by events in her past, Edie’s character begins much like George’s, although she covers it up well. Edie has an empathetic and emotional side which she clearly tries to suppress in order to protect herself. But Edie has committed an act (which I shan’t state
here – spoilers!) which would be forgiven, if not for the way in which she admits it to George. Perhaps it is her lack of forgiveness towards herself that makes it hard for the reader to forgive her, or the blunt, emotionless way in which she declares it, as she does not tell George the circumstances, so only the audience receives the context which allows Edie to be forgiven. A thought provoking read, written in fantastically descriptive prose, with so many exciting, tense, creative, tragic and delightful events, you won’t believe this trilogy is only set over a few days. Once you have read this, you will never see London, or her statues, in the same way again.
P E N E L O P E FA I T H F U L L
Film Review – Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
CO U R T E S Y O F WA R N E R B R O S
Lauren Daniels 1st Year History
The new Fantastic Beasts film is set 6 months after the capture of Grindelwald in the first film, most of the film being set in Paris
where Tina is now an auror. Within the first 10 minutes we are properly introduced to Johnny Depp’s newest character, as odd and abnormal as they usually are, his striking paleness and
heterochromia iridium (differently coloured eyes) making him one of the more noticeable characters of the film. However, we are not just introduced to Grindelwald, but also Newt
Scamander’s brother, Theseus, and his fiancée, Leta Lestrange, who happens to also be an old flame of Newt’s. Not only that but we also see the return of fan favourites such as Tina Goldstein and her sister Queenie, as well as Jacob, one of the only muggles who features in the film. Most importantly in many people’s eyes, we get our first look at a much younger Albus Dumbledore, played by the beloved Jude Law, who we found out was the one to send Newt to America in the first place, without much further explanation.
Whilst we are taken around the wizarding parts of Paris, we are introduced to more of Newt’s wonderful creatures, as well as some not so wonderful; along with snippets of the past, expanding on the situation of how they end up with the problem that they do. Overall, the film is much darker than the first Fantastic Beasts film but, objectively, equally as good, somewhat mirroring the vibes that were given off by the later Potter films. I would highly recommend taking your friends and families to see it, particularly if they are fans of the original Harry Potter series.
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Puzzle Page! N E W A D D I T I O N T O T H E S PA R K T H I S M O N T H ! A CHRITMASSY CROSSWORD AND T WO SUDOKU PUZZLES TO GE T YOUR BRAIN WORKING. ENJOY!
Across: 1. Santa’s red nosed reindeer 5. Christmas drink 6. Santa comes down this 7. Tie this around a present 11. The day before christmas 14. where santa lives 16. santa puts presents in these 17. Mary’s baby was born here Down: 2. what you recieve under the christmas tree 3. baby it’s _____ outside 4. traditional christmas biscuit 8. traditional meat in christmas dinner 9. Bah humbug! 10.Mary’s baby 12. falls from sky when it’s cold 13. makes toys for santa 15. deck the halls with boughs of _____ 17. what santa rides
E A S Y:
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W H AT ’ S O N
Moody Music
AT R E A D I N G F I L M T H E AT R E
SONGS TO CHEER YOU UP WHEN YOU’RE FEELING DOWN December 11 Utoya 13 Peterloo
1. Cimorelli- Stay Together 2. Rita Ora- I Will Never Let You Down 3. Kelly Clarkson- Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) 4. Taylor Swift- You Belong with Me 5. Cimorelli-Nice for What/Friends/No Scrubs 6. Frank Ocean- Moon River 7. Little Mix- Wings 8. Cimorelli- Fall Back 9. Maroon 5- Payphone 10. Emma Stevens- Riptide
Films are shown in the Palmer Building on the Whightknights campus. Doors open 45 minutes before the advertised start time. Membership: £10/£5 for under 18s and University of Reading students
Could Brexit Propaganda Be Taking Over Movies? I T S E E M S L I K E T H E S E D AY S Y O U C A N ’ T G O T H R O U G H O N E D AY W I T H O U T H E A R I N G T H AT D R E A D E D W O R D , B R E X I T, A N D I T M AY E V E N B E S TA R T I N G T O S E E P I N T O T H E T H I N G S W E L E A S T E X P E C T, M O V I E S .
Kahina Bouhassane Online Enter tainment Editor
Recently, I went to seeJohnny English Strikes Again with my Dad, and being a Johnny English fan, I, of course, laughed and cringed my way through it, the way it has always meant to be enjoyed. Another movie I watched recently was Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. What did stick out to me, more than anything in Fantastic Beasts, was something that brought me back to Johnny English: some of the jokes being at the expense of Europe. Suddenly, I was reminded of some of the jokes in Johnny English that had made me laugh, like his misidentifying European languages and blasting
cyclists out of the way because although they were civilians, they were French.It begs the question, is this what anti-European propaganda looks like today? I don’t want to blow it out of proportion, it’s true that we have always poked fun at our frog-loving neighbours (ha!), as they too poke fun at us. To me recently, there seems a greater poignancy to the jokes, and it seems like a stretch to think that two British cinema movies would coincidentally be making what can only be described as (although funny)anti-European jokes. Context also cannot be ignored in these matters, and Rowan Atkinson (who plays Johnny
English) has recently been in the press for defending Boris Johnson, everyone’s favourite fuzzy haired Brexiteer. There is no clear evidence of Atkinson also being pro-Brexit, however, when Johnson made comments comparing Muslim women who wear Burkas to ‘letter-boxes’, Atkinson took to twitter to defend him. If it’s anything to go by, Atkinson’s older brother, Rodney Atkinson, is famously anti-EU and ran for UKIP (unsuccessfully) and for the Referendum (also unsuccessfully). I can’t help but wonder how much of these views the brothers share, and if so, how much they might have affected the
script of the movie. Truthfully, there isn’t enough to say whether these movies are trying to influence us with anti-European propaganda or not, and it’s no writing on the side of a bus, but it is our responsibility to start asking these questions.
FOCUS FEA-
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What I learnt from Julie Cohen AU T H O R O F AWA R D W I N N I N G N O V E L S S U C H A S TO G E T H E R , W H E R E LO V E L I E S A N D D E A R T H I N G C A M E TO T H E U N I V E R S I T Y, H E R E I S W H A T I L E A R N T .
thing.
Olivia Mill
Entertainment Editor
Failure is important. Julie Cohen, writer of 23 successful novels (with the 24th on the way), member of the Richard and Judy Book Club, and an absolute dream to listen to. Luckily, I had the pleasure of hearing her talk this November about her firsthand experience of being an author. Not only did I learn a massive amount about the publishing world, I was also massively inspired and want immediately to see her speak about her experience as a writer all over again. Julie received her M.Phil. in English Literature from the University of Reading in 1997 and from there, with a brief time in secondary school teaching, came to be a novelist with her books being translated into fifteen different languages. The most important message I found from Julie’s talk was ultimately: being an author is tough.
Julie talked through troubles she has had with writing books, including reoccurring experiences with ‘The Fear’, as named by Julie herself, as ‘that moment, almost 20,000 words into every book, when you come to the realisation that you can’t write’. As well as sharing
The final book is never the end product you expected. her raw experience as a published author, Julie gave some golden nuggets of advice. Namely, ‘Failure is important’ an idea she strongly emphasised. She stated: ‘The wrong words always come before the right ones. And that’s okay. You learn from writing the wrong thing.’ This was one of the most memorable parts of what Julie said. With every book she has written, she has managed to get through the self-doubt and now has a multitude of books to
show for her work. I think this is a message that can be relevant to everyone, whether you are aiming to be a creative writer or not: mistakes are things to learn from. These key messages are just some of the few reasons why Julie’s talk was so enthralling. Julie also spoke about her various experiences with publishing, writing, and agents (Not failing to mention how being an author would be much more challenging without her agent alongside her). From her agent, to her marketing person, to her friend who constantly reminds her of an email she sent 10 years ago. She emphasised the importance of how a book is a communal effort. And by the release day, the book has evolved into something not one singular person could’ve predicted. Consequently, I came away from this talk feeling very inspired (to say the least) and avidly wanting to go and pick up a copy of Julie’s 23rd book Together which was published July of this year. Also, I am eagerly awaiting her next novel, Louis and Louise, which asks questions of gender and the impact that it has on individuals’ lives. Described by
Julie herself as ‘Two stories where everything is the same. Two parallel universes, except in one universe the protagonist is male and in the other universe the protagonist is born female. Because of that one chromosome everything is different in their lives.’ I don’t know about you, but I wish I could read it right now
leased January 24th 2019. Ultimately, if I could only take away one thing from Julie’s talk it would be that being an author might be very demanding, but, in the end, by standing with a strong group around you and sticking to your instincts, your book can be everything you believe it can be.
Write the wrong words before then change them to the right thing. Learn from writing the wrong
Your book can be everything you believe it can be
and will be buying a copy as soon as it is available, and I urge you all to as well. The novel will be re-
COURTESY OF JULIE COHEN-
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photography ‘Tis The Season... EUAN CARMICHAEL Head of Photography
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RKSS
READING BOXING
FUTSAL
Could Squash be the sport that you take up in 2019?
Mathilde takes a look at Boxers in training.
American 5-a-side football with a twist.
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sport The Reading Knights Squash Society LOOKING FOR A SPOR T SOCIE T Y TO JOIN IN THE NE W YEAR? THE SQUASH SOCIE T Y MIGHT BE THE ONE FOR YOU!
H E N RY P R I TC H A R D
Geography
For those who are unfamiliar with what squash involves, it is an indoor racket sport.
enjoyable high intensity sport It involves the two players alternatively striking the ball on the playable surface of the four walls of the court in
order to score points. It is an enjoyable, high intensity sport that can keep you fit and active the whole year round and is great to play both socially and competitively. We are a fun and active society that welcomes any standard of player to join, from beginner to international standard. We offer opportunities for training, social, and competitive play as well as social nights out so that you can get to know the members of the society. For those of you who may be interested in giving squash a
go or improving your current skill level we have weekly training sessions on Saturdays 10:20-11:40am.
training sessions on saturdays 10.2011.40am These sessions include professional coaching which will help you improve your skills and get you match fit. These sessions are available to all
members of the society. We also offer a competitive side with the society in our Squash society ladder. This ladder allows all members of the society to go head to head against one another to try and climb up the ranks. Members of the society also represent the university in our three men’s teams and women’s team who take part in the BUCS squash league. This coming weekend we have several members of the society taking place in the annual BUCS Individual Championships, which is being hosted in Nottingham.
we offer opportunities for training social and competitive play as well as social nights out For those wishing for more information on the society and how to join please feel free to email our committee members at: readingunisquash@gmail.com
RKSS
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Boxing : a challenge against oneself W H AT A T R I P T O T H E B O X I N G C L U B O F R E A D I N G TA U G H T M E A B O U T B O X I N G .
MATHILDE MOREL 4th Year Ar t
Boxing is a sport but it’s also, in my opinion, a way to push the limits of our body and mind. For some time now, I have been photographing boxers during or after their physical efforts. I try to capture moments of tension and create a relationship between the boxer and the place where he trains. I am still impressed by the way these boxers are hitting each other by hitting huge bags hanging from the ceiling. So, I went to the Boxing Club of Reading to see this sporting practice in a little more detail. This both intrigued and challenged me. Whenever I visit boxing halls, I always see different types of boxer profiles and training styles. When I arrived in Reading, I contacted the university’s boxing club, followed by
visiting it to photograph a training session that left a strong impression on me, to say the least. Training started very quickly after each group member arrived.
serious and intense From beginning to end, they were very serious and intense. The atmosphere was at work. The different boxers moved through the space very energetically. There have been a multitude of training series. To begin with, the warmup, then exercises on the hit bags and uppercut bags, then shadows-boxing, and finally duos that would go into the ring to fight. I felt a real fighting atmosphere and a desire in some of these boxers to push the limits of their own
bodies; to exhaust them to the last drop of sweat. I would now like to talk to you about something that intrigues me more particularly in this sport and that concerns the boxer’s perspective. Indeed, whether the boxer is facing an opponent physically present or the punching bag, his gaze does not change, he is still as present and determined. I really think that boxing is a challenge against oneself, against one’s own body. But, how can one fight against oneself? How can a boxer fight against his own interior? Normally, boxing is a sport that is practiced in pairs or as a group, but to fight against a punching bag, something physically present, but not mentally, would it send him back to fight against something that doesn’t exist? I think that the real challenge for a boxer is to learn to see beyond the body, using his mind as a fighting force.
READING BOXING CLUB
Futsal, a growing alternative sport A BRIEF INTRODUC TION AND PROMOTION OF THE NEW FUTSAL SOCIET Y
EDWARD GREENWOOD
BSc International Development
Futsal is a growing sport in the UK, and once again breaks into the societies at Reading. This South American 5-a-side variation of football provides a fast-paced version of the traditional sport. Following an initiative of Chrissy Nazif, UoR Sports Coordinator, the UoR Futsal Society has been recreated, and since has received massive support from students.
maybe you could be the newest female member? The first men’s taster was competitive, with more than 70 players counted, eventually
leading to a stable 30 after the start of regular sessions.
training sessions on Tuesday 6pm (mens) and Thursday 7pm (womens) On the other hand, the women’s team has received quality over quantity, with some regular football players joining the Futsal society. There is however still a lot of space for women to join, with the new society President, Ingrid Askeland, and Vice-President, Edward Greenwood, publicly advertising the side. Who knows, maybe you could be the newest female member?
Although new, both sides are very hopeful for the future, especially under the management of experienced Nicole Farley, who has worked with Chelsea, Reading and LA Galaxy. Additionally, new members have stepped up into positions within the society committee and have begun to create a positive welcoming structure. This includes the Social Secretaries Chris Galley and David Crocker, who even though brand new, have already organised multiple socials including Pub Golf, White T-shirt, Park Bar after training, and of course, the regular FIFA video game tournament. The Society is open to new members, welcoming both competitive players and social aficionados. The training sessions occur on the Sports Park Astro on Tuesday at 6pm (men’s) and Thursday 7pm (women’s). All are welcome to come for a taster, and
hopefully you will love it and stay!
welcoming both competitive players and social aficionados
READING FUTSAL SOCIETY
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