The Linc - Digital Edition - December 2017

Get in the festive spirit Top Xmas visits in Lincoln

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University misses the mark?

Temporary archery venue

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Cat café to open in Lincoln It sounds purr-fect

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THE LINC - THE UNIVERSITY OF LINCOLN’S PREMIER STUDENT NEWSPAPER

Thieves target Lincoln campus Police are appealing for witnesses after three incidents of thefts and burglary >>

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>> Students

are being advised to make sure all building doors are closed at night >>There has been a visible increase in the level of security on campus

YOUR FREE COPY FREE SPEECH DEBATE The Government’s Universities Minister has called for institutions to protect freedom of speech on campus

Security are warning staff and students to report sightings of this man (pictured)

Photo: Arno Mikkor (EU2017EE)/Flickr

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SPORT

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Lincoln United chairman backs manager despite form

Student reps clash over changes to SU democracy

Concerns over advertising boards outside student homes

Circa Waves’ lead singer chats with The Linc

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Editorial & News

News DEMOCRACY

FREE SPEECH

Timeline FEBRUARY 2017

The online magazine Spiked publishes its Free Speech University Rankings, giving the University of Lincoln an ‘amber’ rating and its Students’ Union a ‘red’ rating. The two grades lead to the institution receiving a ‘red’ status overall. The University of Lincoln’s Conservative Society responds to the news, tweeting a link to the report along with several ‘zipped mouth’ emojis.

MARCH 2017 The Conservative Society has its social media accounts ‘temporarily suspended’ due to a ‘disciplinary matter’. The ban on the Conservative Society’s social media accounts is lifted.

A student protest takes place outside the Students’ Union.

At the same time, the SU runs a ‘student open forum on free speech’. Over 70 students sign a petition calling for an emergency All Student Members meeting (ASM). The emergency ASM takes place and motions on free speech, the National Student Survey (NSS) and the SU’s Disciplinary Procedure are all vote through.

APRIL - JUNE 2017 The SU apologises to the Conservative Society for temporarily suspending its social media accounts, after a student motion calls for them to do so.

The free speech motion, which was supported by students at a meeting in March, is rejected by the Students’ Union. The SU says they are ‘keen to ensure’ the right to freedom of expression is upheld and added that it is an unqualified right.Postgraduate Officer Bradley Allsop launches an open letter to the SU, asking for a ‘full explanation’ behind the free speech decision.

AUGUST 2017 The Linc publishes an email sent by the Students’ Union providing further explanation behind their rejection of the free speech motion. It says that there are ‘set circumstances’ where restrictions on freedom of expression can be put in place - primarily to ‘protect the rights of others’.

OCTOBER 2017 Students vote in support of a new free speech motion, which says that ‘a difference of views’ towards SU policy should not ‘bring the Union into disrepute’.

It then awaits trustee approval.

Freedom of speech motion passes at SU meeting

By Liam O’Dell

A new motion on free speech which called for ‘a difference of views towards Union or University policy and actions’ to not ‘bring the Union into disrepute’ has been passed by students at an All Student Members meeting (ASM).

The proposal, put forward by student Bradley Allsop, came after the Conservative Society ‘brought the union into disrepute’ earlier this year for criticising its free speech record.

Lincoln’s Students’ Union responded by suspending the society’s social media, before access was later reinstated.

The decision was met with strong criticism by the student body, with a motion on freedom of speech calling the decision against the Conservative Society a ‘misguided and an unacceptable breach of freedom of expression’ being launched at an ASM in March.

However, despite being passed by students, the motion was rejected by the SU’s Board of Trustees.

Hannah Barr (left) and Bradley Allsop (right) at a protest in March 2017 In an email, SU President Kudzai Muzangaza said: “After seeking legal advice on the matter, the Board [of Trustees] acknowledged that there are set circumstances in which restrictions on free expression can be enforced, namely with the purpose of ‘protecting the rights of others’.”

Like the original motion, the new proposal - which passed unanimously - has since been

handed over to the union’s trustees for their approval.

In response to the news, Hannah Barr, who organised a student protest in March against the Student Union’s actions, said: “‘I am so pleased that the freedom of speech bill has passed but I will stand with baited breath whether the sentiments within the motion will be constructively applied,” she said.

SECURITY

Thieves target university buildings

By Connor Creaghan

Police are appealing for witnesses following a number of thefts and a burglary from the University of Lincoln.

It comes after a series of incidents were reported on campus a few weeks ago, with buildings such as the Media, Humanities and Technology (MHT), David Chiddick, Sarah Swift and Nicola de la Haye (Known as Art, Architecture & Design) all being targeted.

Among the items that have been taken are computer equipment.

Police officers investigating two incidents of thefts from the university are appealing for your help in identifying these people.

Officers wish to speak to these people as they may be able to help in relation to two incidents in the last month.

On November 2, computer equipment was taken from a building on the university campus.

On November 27, a PC was taken from a building on university campus.

Students who visit the university during the dark nights are reminded to make sure that all doors are shut behind them when they leave.

University staff received an announcement from the College Administration Manager, Karen Roper, warning them to not approach one of the alleged cuplrits.

Geoff Adams, Senior Health and Safety Officer at the University and College Union, said: “It seems that there have been computers lifted from university buildings.

“The culprits were being reported to security who would then escort them off campus, but they would just go around the block and come back,” he said.

The two suspects have also encountered staff and students on campus, with staff being told not to approach them.

“They would get verbally aggressive to those who would challenge them,” Geoff said. “[The committee] asked for security to be increased around the campus, and I declared the MHT building as an unsafe working environment.

“Since then security has been increased in the MHT building, the men have not been seen on site since,” Geoff said.

The University of Lincoln said the security of its staff and students is ‘a top priority’ and that it has ‘rigorous security procedures in place’.

A spokesperson told The Linc: “There are some basic precautions that staff and students can take to help maintain security on campus, such as ensuring that swipe card operated doors are securely closed.”

Anyone who sees suspicious activity should contact security on 01522 886062.

Universities Minister Jo Johnson has called for institutions to protect free speech on campus and said that any that fail to protect it could be fined, suspended or de-registered by a new regulator.

Speaking to The Times last month, Mr Johnson said students need to ‘accept the legitimacy of healthy vigorous debate in which people can disagree with one another’.

“That’s how ideas get tested, prejudices exposed and society advances. Universities mustn’t be places in which free speech is stifled,” he said.

The comments came on the same day that the Government launched a consultation on the new university regulator, the Office for Students (OfS).

Sir Michael Barber, OfS Chair said: “The Office for Students will be a modern regulator which consistently puts the interests of students first.”

“Ensuring freedom of speech and learning how to disagree with diverse opinions and differing

The Students’ Union then went on to add that they ‘recognise the importance of free speech and its place at the heart of our democratic values’.

“As reported 7 March, ‘freedom of speech is a fundamental value of the Students’ Union. The SU is built on a foundation where students can express opinions and ideas freely within the law’, and ‘we are proud to protect the rights of all individuals to express their opinions, ideas and concerns’,” they concluded.

Meanwhile, a University of Lincoln spokesperson said: “The University of Lincoln is committed to the principle of free speech exercised responsibly within the law in all its activities.

“Upholding academic freedom and respecting the views of others are joint commitments shared by all members of the University and we have a clear Code of Practice on the Freedom of Speech, which is designed to ensure that freedom of speech within the law is secured for all staff, students and visiting speakers.”

It’s been a while since The Linc, the University of Lincoln’s student newspaper, was… well… a newspaper. Thanks to a few things being ironed out and some brilliant design work from my Deputy, Connor, it’s my pleasure to welcome you to the first print edition of The Linc for this academic year.

With it being December and getting close to the end of 2017 and all, this edition is a little reflective in nature. We have a comprehensive look at the free speech debate that has been ongoing on campus this year and its latest developments; interviews from big musical acts, as well as updates from Sincil Bank.

Don’t forget that we’re also looking for a new News Editor and Deputy News Editor for the paper. If you or someone you know is interested, get them to drop me an email at editor@ thelinc.co.uk.

This is where you can meet the wonderful team behind this student newspaper:

Universities could be punished failing to protect free speech views of the world is a fundamental aspect of university,” he said.

The news of universities potentially being penalised for failing to protect free speech comes after the Lincoln Students’ Union were criticised for its actions against the Conservative Society earlier this year.

The SU society had its social media accounts temporarily suspended in March after it criticised the union’s free speech record on Twitter – something which the Students’ Union claimed ‘brought the union into disrepute’.

Responding to Johnson’s comments, Lincoln SU told The Linc that ‘[they] have not prevented anyone speaking at any events, meetings, functions, or sports or societies fixtures’.

“As reported [by The Linc on] 6 March, ‘the External Speakers Policy and all other Students’ Union policies and decisions are in line with the Charity Commission’s Guidelines, to ensure that we comply with the law.’ This protects students and aims to provide a safe environment in which all issues can be discussed and debated,” they said.

Liam O’Dell Editor at The Linc

Editorial Team

DEMOCRACY

By Liam O’Dell

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Editor - Liam O’Dell Deputy Editor - Connor Creaghan News Editor - Applications are open for this position Deputy News Editor Applications are open for this position

Security are warning staff and students to report sightings of this man.

CRIME

Lincoln city centre tops crime charts

By Patrick Gouldsbrough

Police statistics have revealed that Lincoln City Centre has the worst crime figures out of any neighbourhood in Lincolnshire.

In an area covering Steep Hill, the cathedral, the castle and the university, UKCrimeStats state that in August 2017, there were 379 reported incidents of crime in the city centre.

Within these crime figures, shoplifting makes up the ma-

Culture Editor - Alex Slater Deputy Culture Editor - Caitlin Holloway

jority of these incidents with 70 reports in the area. Second on the list was violent crimes, which makes up 49 of the 379 reports.

These figures are the highest they have been since December 2011, where the statistics sat at 390 reported crimes in the month. As well as the monthly breakdown of crimes, the period between September 2016 and August 2017 saw more than 3,200 incidents of crime - which was an all time annual high.

Inspector for South West Lincoln, Steve Williamson, said: “Lincolnshire Police made the decision several years ago to include the whole of the city centre as a single beat area, rather than merging surrounding

beat areas. As such this presents us and the public with crime figures which accurately reflect what is happening.

“This is down to several factors, chiefly the amount of people in the city,” he said.

379

In August alone, this was the amount of reported incidents in the city centre

Lifestyle and Fashion Editor Theresa Brandal Sande Deputy Lifestyle and Fashion Editor - Abbie Charnock Sports Co-Editors - James Williams, Liam Gibbs, Ollie Collins and Kieran Hymus Readers’ Editor - Samantha Pidoux Are you interested in being a news editor? Then email our editor for an application form!

http://bit.ly/2Asfyof

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News

News in brief ANIMALS

Cat café will be opening in Lincoln A cat café will be opening its doors to Lincoln residents ‘towards the back end of 2017’ or early next year, it has been revealed.

Leola Lounge will be the latest cat café to set up shop in the UK, with feline tea rooms popping up in places such as Manchester and Nottingham.

The café, which is expected to be based around Lincoln’s High Street, says they will be ‘providing an enjoyable service for all’.

“You will be able to relax and enjoy the quiet aroma of the cafe whilst being surrounded by friendly and loveable felines,” their Facebook page reads.

HOSPITAL

New staff for Lincolnshire wards Eighty new medical staff and ward inspections are helping Lincoln and Boston hospitals in their bid to come out of special measures.

Six months ago, United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT) were placed into special measures by the local Care Quality Commission (CQC).

However, the trust has since gone on to make improvements to their staff, services and equipment.

Chief Executive of the ULHT, Jan Sobieraj, said: “While it takes time to turnaround the quality and safety of services in a Trust our size, we have made big strides over the last year.”

ABUSE

£1.4m plan to tackle domestic abuse A £1.4 million grant from the Home Office has been handed to an innovative project in Lincolnshire to tackle domestic abuse.

The project aims to help communities identify perpetrators, so agencies can intervene at an early stage.

It will also provide training for professionals to recognise and respond in the correct manner when encountering offenders, as well as paying for specialist one-to-one services to help change abuser’s behaviour.

PCC Marc Jones said: “The Home Office funding is testament to the commitment and innovative thinking we are fostering here in Lincolnshire.”

News SAFETY

COMMUNITY

‘To Let signs are a target on the backs of students’

Street lights switch-off is ‘not linked’ to increased crime levels

By Connor Creaghan

It’s being claimed that landlords in Lincoln who fail to pull down ‘to let’ signs, after the property has been rented out, are putting the safety and security of students at risk.

The University of Lincoln Students’ Union has said that the signs make student houses a target for thieves - who know that the properties are often left empty outside of term time.

Letting companies have said that the signs should be taken down once the property has been rented out, but many students say that the signs are left up all year round.

The SU Vice President of Welfare and Community, Connor Delany, said that he has been the victim of two thefts: “I went into my bedroom as a thief came through the back door to take a lot of our stuff, including a bike. After being interrupted, he then assaulted two of my housemates, it was all quite serious.

“The thief was so brazen because he knew it was a student property, and that the back door would probably be left unlocked.

So, he gave it a try, and he had been quite successful up until that point,” he said.

The City of Lincoln Council acknowledged that ‘to let’ signs point students out as a target for thieves, and they also believe that they are an eyesore for other local residents.

The council took a survey of the boards in major student are-

By Liam O’Dell

Lincoln SU claim these are a ‘target’ for students. Photo: Connor Creaghan as and found that in some streets, a quarter of the properties were displaying ‘to let’ boards.

Connor Dyer is looking to get a complete ban on ‘to let’ boards from being displayed all year round.

“If the property has an advertising board outside, it is a big target on the backs of students. I believe the boards tell thieves that the owner is a student, and that they will probably leave the door unlocked.

“It also tells thieves that the tenants are not going to be in the house during the holidays.”

The Linc contacted one of the major student letting agencies for a response, but they were unavailable for an interview.

Instead, Charlestown Properties told us that their ‘to let’ boards will always go up to advertise their available houses and they insisted that they remove the boards when

they have been rented out.

The City of Lincoln Council held a public consultation last month into whether the ‘to let’ boards should be restricted in size, style and whether they should be removed after three months.

The council are also considering a complete ban on letting boards without their express consent, and any boards that are displayed without permission could lead to prosecution and fines for estate agents.

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City of Lincoln Council found this number of ‘to let’ signs on some student streets

MENTAL HEALTH

‘We need action on mental health’

By Sam Hewitt

A leading specialist in mental health says he is not shocked by the Thriving at Work report, which revealed around 300,000 people lose their jobs each year due to mental health problems.

The report, commissioned

by PM Theresa May, also revealed that the cost of poor mental health to the economy can be up to £99 billion per year.

Ian McGonagle, principal lecturer in Health and Social Care at the University of Lincoln, said: “I am not surprised by the report, nobody should be surprised by the report.

“It disappoints me that it takes an economic factor for the government to do something, it’s a

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Ian McGonagle, principal lecturer moral argument really. There are people suffering, not getting the help. There is treatment out there, but we only pay attention when somebody says ‘this costs us a lot of money’.”

The review says employers

should create a mental health at work plan, build mental health awareness by making information and support accessible, encourage open conversations, provide good working conditions and ensure employees have a healthy worklife balance and promote effective people management.

The report comes before a review by the Care Quality Commission revealed that young people are facing long waiting times and unequal access to mental health services, which is being claimed could result in lives being put at risk.

It found nearly 40% of specialist child and adolescent services in England are in need of improvement.

See page 6 for mental health.

There is ‘no evidence’ to suggest part-night lighting is linked to increased in crime. Photo: Connor Creaghan

MISCONDUCT

Sexual misconduct research at Lincoln

By Liam O’Dell

The University of Lincoln will be taking part in a new national study into how universities handle sexual misconduct allegations on campus.

Over 60 higher education institutions are taking part in the research funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, which will ‘help shape the guidance, information and sources of support available’ to students who have experienced sexual misconduct.

In an email to students, the university said the research is an opportunity for students ‘to contribute to important research that will inform the sector, and shape the future of support services available on campus’.

“The research at Lincoln is being led by the Student Wellbeing Centre, and aims to ensure stu-

dents feel supported, empowered to make smart choices, and speak out if they need to,” it reads.

Students with comments and suggestions about ‘how best to focus services appropriately’ have since been invited to complete a short anonymous survey about sexual misconduct, available online.

The new research comes after the Student Wellbeing Centre launched an initiative for students to report cases of sexual misconduct at the start of the academic year.

Speaking to The Linc earlier this year, Julie Spencer, Head of the Student Wellbeing Service at the University of Lincoln, said: “The issue of consent is one that has rightly become more frequently discussed in recent years, and at Lincoln we have always supported wider campaigns like #NoMore by the local authorities,

and bystander intervention programmes.

“This new online resource is building on an already robust system of support that we have in place – we’re taking our advice and guidance and putting it into a digital format which we know our students will engage well with.

“We’re being proactive rather than responding to an issue – we know that topics like consent are really important for young people to discuss, and it’s this kind of open and transparent activity which empowers people to make smart choices, speak out if they need to, and most importantly, feel supported.”

Students who have experienced inappropriate behaviour are advised to contact the Student Wellbeing Centre on 01522 886400, by email at studentwellbeing@lincoln.ac.uk, or through the online reporting system.

There’s ‘no evidence’ to suggest that Lincolnshire County Council’s street lighting has caused an increase in overnight crime – according to a report by Lincolnshire Police.

Around 42,000 street lights in the county have been turned off between midnight and 6am, after the council launched its Street Lighting Transformation Project in April last year.

In response to the report, Assistant Chief Constable Shaun West said the force will continue to monitor crime levels and highlight any concerns they have with the county council.

He said: “I fully understand that when part-night lighting was introduced residents were concerned about their safety.

“Lincolnshire is an incredibly safe place to live and rest assured we are fully committed to making sure you are safe day and night.”

Meanwhile, Lincolnshire County Council has launched a formal review into part-night street lighting, with local residents being invited to complete a short questionnaire about the initiative.

John Monk, Group Manager for Design Services at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “All feedback received will be taken into consideration when the panel decides its recommendations for the executive.

“However, while this may include amendments to the policy, the available budget would not allow for a wholesale reversal of the changes.”

LINCOLN SU

Bottle throwers to be given four-week venue ban

By Liam O’Dell

Students who throw bottles during Lincoln SU events will be handed a four-week ban, the union has announced.

The new rule comes after bottles were thrown at Jedward and Atomic Kitten’s Kerry Katona and Natasha Hamilton when they all performed at Quack events earlier in the year.

In a statement, SU President Kudzai Muzangaza said the four-week suspension includes a

Kerry Katona (left) Natasha Hamilton (right) were bottled at a SU gig.

The Jedward duo were also bottled at a different Students’ Union event.

temporary ban from Tower Bar, Platform and The Swan – as well as on any relevant sports and activities.

“These measures have been taken to ensure that there is a clear and unambiguous standard of behaviour expected of our members when attending events at the Engine Shed.

“It is also to ensure that all members can enjoy a safe environment whereby they will encounter no antisocial behaviour,” he said.

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Opinion

Opinion

Democracy has taken a step backwards, writes Postgraduate officer Bradley Allsop

T

his year, our Students’ Union has made a lot of great progress over a very short space of time. We now have an officer team that is fantastic at engaging with students. But, there are deep problems that remain, epitomised in the bye-law (the rules that govern how our Students’ Union is run) changes, which were passed at October’s All Students Member’s Meeting (ASM).

ASMs have now been switched to an ‘as and when’ - rather than a monthly basis. The number of students we need in the room to vote on something has been tripled, which means 50 students can agree to put something to a referendum for the university to vote on, but we need 150 at the ASM to vote on it.

Whilst raising the quoracy to such a level may seem like a more representative way to pass policy, it will likely lead to us not being able to pass policies. I’m an opti-

mist at heart and argued last year that we can easily make a 50-person quoracy with more promotion, but, even I recoil at the idea of consistently getting 150 students to a meeting.

Technology is great, but it cannot replace a face to face meeting.

This also puts some pretty big barriers in the way of a student that might want to get some new policy ideas debated. They now have to convince the officer team, ten volunteer officers or 150 fellow students to agree to just having a meeting, and then get 150 to turn up.

Not having a regular, physical meeting on campus is also a dangerous path to go down. Physical

meetings are important in building community, and in reaching an understanding between differing groups. Technology is great, but it cannot replace a face-to-face meeting. Having these meetings regularly is important and it is a stronger form of accountability than an online comments and voting system. Any democracy worth its salt has checks and balances in place, with different sorts of powers invested in different people and institutions. These changes have just made us severely weaken, and possibly even destroy, our democracy by vesting more power in one place.

Another area of concern is changing it so that students no longer vote on volunteer officer reports - that is now reserved for the student leaders. Having had experience as Postgraduate Officer at the Union, I do not feel that I should be accountable to five student leaders who might not have done a postgraduate degree. I

‘Depression memes allow people to talk about mental health’

More students can have a say, writes SU President Kudzai Muzangaza

should be held to account by those students whom I was elected to represent - the postgraduate community.

The important thing to remember here, and indeed with all of these reforms, is that it’s not about whether you think the current officer team is good - I think they’re excellent. With an engaged and engaging officer team like we have this year, good things will still probably get done, but give us a crop of bad officers and a lack of checks and balances, then our Union will fall apart.

There are two paths we can go down. One involves a professionalised, centralised feedback service, dominated by the five officers at the top. The other is of a student-led, non-hierarchical union that is accountable and radical.

We’ve taken a giant step backwards, but we can still craft a democratic and representative Union if we work together.

of technology and social media – images of celebrated self-harm and a phenomenon of ‘pro-ana’, which is a fast-growing online identity that promotes eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia.

More often than not, this romanticising shows mental illness as something that does not need to be taken care of, which can deepen the pain and suffering of those who have the illness.

While this romanticising has been lurking in the dark corners of the internet, mental health on social media is not dead. In fact, in the last 12 months, there has been a new fad amongst young adults struggling with mental health: depression memes.

Memes – a cultural idea passed from one individual to another, usually in the form of comedy – have become one of the staples of internet culture. In the recent years, due to the internet’s ex-

panding nature, these memes have become a lot more surreal. Memes have usually gone to dark places, but the ideas of depression here aren’t cruel, rather a way of talking about depression in a more comfortable way.

There is also a danger in our oversharing of problems.

This isn’t unusual. Many famous comedians and others have used surrealist comedy to talk about some of the issues surrounding mental health.

Whilst this new trend amongst young adults and students could provide students with some dark chuckles, it might prove to be a

W

hilst it is argued that raising quoracy to pass policy has, in effect, tripled, it’s important to consider the fact that by having more students able to contribute to the discussion over how our Students’ Union moves forward politically, it shows a form of direct democracy that mirrors the engagement that is being set in stone by the volunteer and fulltime student officers.

The idea of “just rocking up to [a] monthly meeting” is one that was discovered as being unattractive to the 1,442 students who filled out our latest Annual Membership Survey in 2017. From extensive consultation, students established that a more online-based form of debating and putting forward opinion was preferred to allow for a simpler and more direct form of democracy. The new bye-laws and matters of governance reflect that sentiment.

YOUR VIEW A selection of comments from our social media

Film and Television student Emmy Frosdick talks about today’s internet culture and how memes are affecting some discussions around mental health.

Have a look into any psychological journals, or ask any professional – more people are being open about their mental health.

In an age where more and more people are going to the doctors about their illnesses, it’s clear that this generation is understanding and that they are not ashamed of their mental health.

In generations before, the idea of being open about mental health was unheard of amongst many living with issues and problems, which could affect those around them.

While more people being open about their mental health has lots of benefits for the young people seeking information, there is a danger to overshare and see mental health problems as something to want. This is known as romanticising.

This is something that has become more noticeable in the age

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problem. Some suggest that the memes cheapen the experience of those who suffer with depression and anxiety turning it into a joke, and leading to people concealing the real horrors of their mental illnesses.

Whatever the case, social media and how students use it will hopefully lead to positive ways of figuring out our mental health. We shall see what happens in the near future.

See also page 4 for a story about mental health.

If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article, and would like to talk to someone, then visit the University Health Centre on campus or call them on 01522 870010.

Calum Watt on paid society members It used to be that the number of paid members only mattered if you wanted your society to be officially affiliated for the following year. A lot of societies would run for a whole year quite successfully but end up having to re-apply the following year because a lot of their “members” never bothered to pay up officially.

The number of paid members needed also used to be higher until I put in an amendment to lower it to ten - largely to help ease the aforementioned issue and make it easier for committees to pass on their Affiliated status, including their funds and votes at Societies Council to their successors. Glad to see that is still in force.

Some assume that students will not have the same ability to discuss issues with their full-time and volunteer officers. However, this is not the case. Measures have been put in place to ensure that students can hold their officers to account in a much more fluid and dynamic fashion. Through all the faceto-face meetings – such as Rep Forums, Senior Rep Group (SRG), Activities Hub, Sports Hub, Societies Hub, Campaigns Network, International Students’ Association, All Student Members meetings and many others – it is not taking away from the fact that students can still have a direct, community-led impact on the Union and University.

This leads onto full-time officers, elected cross campus, whose mandate (1,969 – President, 1,922 – VP Academic Affairs, 1,609 – VP Activities, 1,627 – VP Welfare & Community, 1,782 – VP International) requires them to be able to effectively represent the entire student

Gabriel Miles on student fees cap

Ooooh, they’re going to cap the fees at nine thousand, two hundred and fifty pounds a year. How very generous.

Graham Smith on mustard clothing

Mustard clothing to go with all the mustard gas canisters; whatever next?

Karen Couth on the cat café [This is a] fabulous idea. I visited one in Manchester earlier this year.

Alistair Berry on postgraduate space

Convinced this might be a myth, the uni blog says they are signposted but if so they’re signposted exceptionally poorly. One of the room numbers we were given as part of our common room/study space was MC3109 which is sign posted as the school of computer science office? I’ve been here 3 years and I gave up trying to find it. Sort it out University of Lincoln.

body ensuring that respective volunteer officers are held to account.

The changes in the new bye-laws are a significant move in ensuring that students are represented effectively and that their volunteer and full-time officers have the

The idea of going to meetings is unattractive to our students. “checks and balances” in place.

To put forward that we have taken a “giant step backwards” is an unfounded statement. The student body has voiced that the preferred way of interacting with their Union and policy making provisions is through a more online and digital form.

The student body has voiced that a better way of informing and bringing forward the views of the

silent majority is important. Much more than that, the student body is concerned, predominantly, about all the services the Union provides from activities to advice, commercial, academic, volunteering and employability, and the SUggestion platform allows for the freedom to ensure any student can have their say on how those functions run.

It’s also important to reinforce that ensuring that the entire student body is aware of issues affecting them and making sure that each and every student has the ability to shape how the Union represents them, is significant.

This has been made easier by the new reforms put forward. These reforms, voted for – overwhelmingly – by the student body at the most quorate ASM for the last few years shows how the sentiments expressed here much reflect those felt by the student body.

Xavier Ghorkana on cold weather routine

Bob Pearce on the cat café

Thanks for this amazing skin care routine. [It was] much needed.

[We went to] the one in Nottingham [and it was] rammed.

They turned us away [when] we were ten minutes early and they are opening another early next year because it’s doing so well.

Jackie Vasey on the cat café I am so excited to hear about this. Please can you tell me when the cat café will be recruiting staff.

David Tough on Lincoln Gay Pride

Dominica Halton on the cat café [I] hope that you are all happy to be dragged here [by me] at least once a week when it is opened.

Lincoln gay people who think Pride once a year and gay life confined to hook up apps is equality! [We have a] long long way to go to catch up on many European countries!

Angela Starfield on the cat café

Lorna Harvey on the cat café

Firstly, we would like to say a big thank you to everyone for their comments on our cat café story. We would also like to hear your views on more of the topics that we cover. Let us know what your thoughts are in the comment sections on our Facebook, Twitter, or on our webstite.

[Now] we don’t need to go to Nottingham!

Richie Houghton on the cat café [The] cats are taking over. Excellent.

Where do [the cats’] litter trays come into it?

8

News

News

IN PICTURES

Lincoln glows with ‘Light Up a Life’ event

By Liam O’Dell

Thousands of torchbearers moved through Lincoln last week as part of St Barnabas’ annual Light Up a Life event.

The ceremony, which sees people ‘come together with others’ and celebrate the lives of lost loved ones, involved a service at Our Lady of Lincoln Church before participants walked towards Lincoln Cathedral with their torches.

The procession started at Clayton Sports Ground and moved throughout the city, before stopping outside St Barnabas Hospice to pay tribute.

The evening concluded with carols outside the cathedral and around ‘The Tree of Life’ – a 30foot Christmas tree which was later decorated with handwritten messages from attendees.

Speaking ahead of the event, Laura Stones, Event Fundraiser for St Barnabas, said: “The Light up a Life campaign is such an important campaign in our calendar, and the Tree of Life provides people with a place in Lincoln where they can come and reflect and remember loved ones.”

CHARITY

Lincoln homelessness has soared in the past year

By Sam Hewitt

Clockwise: Choir sings a collection of carols outside Lincoln Cathedral, attendees pay tribute by The Tree of Life, participants pause and reflect outside St Barnabas Hospice, and a female torchbearer carries her light in the procession.

Latest figures released by Shelter have revealed that over 6,400 people are homeless in the East Midlands, with 80 of those being in Lincoln.

In the report, the charity reviewed official rough-sleeping, temporary accommodation and social services figures, which showed the number of homeless people in the region has increased by 19 percent in a year.

However, as government records are not definitive, the true figure of homelessness could be even higher.

Kate Wallis, Public Affairs Officer at Shelter said: “This is a massive concern, 80 people being homeless might not seem like a huge number in comparison to the whole of the East Midlands where there are 6,400 people homeless. But, any one person being homeless, by means of sleeping on the streets or living in hostel accommodation with their children, it is one person too many.

“What this research has done is taken all official government records of homelessness which includes rough sleepers, but it is also the number of people living in temporary accommodation so that is hostels and hotels. It also looks at all of those people being housed by social services and really what we should be saying is that 80 people in Lincoln is actually an underestimation. There is probably significantly more who will be sofasurfing, sleeping in the backs of

Shelter says the number of homeless people in Lincoln has risen to 80 abandoned cars and all of these people get missed when recording the official statistics,” she said.

Mrs Wallis has urged the government to provide more homes.

“We need more genuinely affordable homes. We need a large scale building program. Unfreeze housing benefits. Currently, local housing allowance (LHA) is paid to people who live in the private rent sector, which has been frozen since 2016. We are calling on the Chancellor to unfreeze LHA so people can pay their rent,” she said.

Shelter has launched an urgent appeal in response to the crisis, calling on the public to support its frontline advisers as they worked to

help people to stay in their home or find a new one.

Shelter offer advice services across the country which includes a national helpline on 0808 800 44 44. The charity also offers an online chat service to speak to real people who can give you advice.

6,400 Shelter predicts this number of people are homeless in the East Midlands alone

DEMOCRACY

Regulator ‘content’ with SU’s handling of free speech incident

By Liam O’Dell The Charity Commission is ‘content’ with how Lincoln SU trustees dealt with the incident surrounding the Conservative Society in March this year - the union has claimed.

SU President Kudzai Muzangaza told students at an All Student Members meeting (ASM) last week that following some correspondence with the regulator, the Commission were content with ‘the details forwarded by the student trustees’ about the SU’s actions.

The announcement comes after The Linc submitted a Freedom of Information request to the Charity Commission in October, asking if they knew about the union’s decision to temporarily suspend the society’s social media.

In response, a spokesperson

for the organisation said: “Charity trustees are required to report any incident to the Charity Commission which could result in significant harm to their charity’s work, beneficiaries or reputation.”

“The Commission has not previously been notified of this incident so we will be contacting the trustees to remind them of their reporting requirements and assess whether there is a further regulatory role for us,” they said.

Meanwhile, when asked towards the end of November if they had reported the free speech issue, a Students’ Union spokesperson said: “The Board of Trustees is aware of its obligations and liases with the Charity Commission as appropriate.”

Lincoln SU has both external and student trustees, with five of the student trustee positions taken

up by its Sabattical Officers.

Meanwhile, the union’s four external trustees overlook areas such as finance, sports and governance.

There are currently two vacancies on the board: one for a student trustee and another for an external trustee During the discussion at the ASM, Kudzai later went on to add that the issue has been ‘put to bed’.

After being contacted by The Linc for further comment, a Charity Commission spokesperson said: “Following engagement with the trustees, the Commission is satisfied that the charity has dealt with this matter seriously and understands the need to protect the charity’s reputation and independence.

“There is no regulatory role for the Commission at this time,” they said.

9

News in brief SOCIETIES

University missed the mark?

The University of Lincoln’s Archery Society has been granted short-term permission to use its practice venue on Riseholme Campus.

The news comes after the club were told by the university earlier this month that they could not use the venue to practice.

However, despite the shortterm resolution, the society has been provided with a smaller area, and has not been told how long they will have access to the venue for.

Becca Marrows, President of the Archery Society, said: “Although it means that we are now able to function as a club, the outcome isn’t ideal.”

CATHEDRAL

Lincoln Cathedral wins ‘world cup’ Lincoln Cathedral has been voted as the country’s favourite in a Twitter poll called the Cathedral World Cup. There were over 27,000 votes in the poll, which ended with Lincoln being crowned the winner - despite York also getting 33 percent of the vote.

The Very Reverend Christine Wilson, Dean of Lincoln Cathedral said: “It’s an iconic building, it stands high on the hill and you can see it from miles around. People love the place: we have graduations here, celebrations, wonderful worships, a fantastic choir. The community really got behind this with a passion encouraging people to vote.”

POST BOXES

Post box arrives at SU reception The University of Lincoln’s Students’ Union has now placed a post box at their reception - after an SUggestion was launched calling for one on campus.

Submitted by student ‘Rhianne D.’, it said a campus post box would be ‘hugely beneficial’ because of ‘the scarcity of public postboxes’.

Collection times are 10am and 2pm and all mail must be stamped before sending.

10 Lifestyle & Beauty

Lifestyle & Beauty

FASHION

How you can spice up your look with this playful ankle boots trend

By Theresa Brandal Sande

There is no pair of shoes that scream winter staple more than the ankle boots. While making you feel stylish without facing the dreaded pain of sore feet, it’s a must-have that every girl needs in her shoe collection.

The ankle boots have been around for as long as I can remember, and it seems to be one of those trends that stay with us season after season – preserving that feeling of timelessness, so that you can never really go wrong with a pair. In particular, black leather ones have always been a popular go-to look for both casual and party wear. This year, the beloved shoe has seen quite a comeback on the runaways though – where esteemed designer brands (such as Chanel and Dolce and Gabbana to name a few), have spruced up the staple-shoe in sparkly patterns, prints and vibrant colours.

This gives us girls, who have been loyal to the trend since purchasing our very first pair, the perfect excuse to go out on a little shopping spree. Luckily, we can now get our hands on the stylish boots through designer dupes in most high street stores. Bold patterns such as embroidered, brocade, silver and sparkly glitter have proven to be very popular, and even though it might be a bit too much for some, I promise you that it’s an easy trend to style.

Catwalk to Student fashion show campus: raises money for the The best Christian Union designer dupes

By Manisha Sodera

We can get our hands on stylish boots through designer dupes in most stores. Photo: Guia Cassanmagnago If you are more comfortable with a casual look, I would recommend going for a pair of ankle boots with a shorter heel. The chunkiness of the shorter versions are much more wearable for daily use. Combine the shoes with loose ripped jeans, a natural coloured comfy knit tucked in at the front and top it off with a stylish winter coat. The eye-catching boots

will spark up your outfit, while keeping it comfy and relaxed.

Another outfit combination that looks great with the new ankle boots trend is everyday dresses.

If you are one of those girls who cannot be bothered going through the struggle that is tight denim on a cold winter morning, this is for you! Combine the ankle boots with a pair of black tights and an

everyday dress. However, it’s probably wise to go for a thicker pair of tights in order to make your look more appropriate for the winter cold. Primark, for instance, sell affordable ones that are less fragile and sheer. When it comes to the dress, you could go for any shape or colour, but I’d recommend spicing it up with a patterned one for an edgy look.

What’s on: how to get into the spirit of Christmas In the long build-up to Christmas, it’s easy to lose your festive spirit along the way. Looming deadlines, cold evenings and overplayed songs are enough to make anyone say “bah, humbug!”. So, if you are not feeling Christmassy yet, here’s some ideas of what you can get up to in Lincoln to make yourself more like Santa and less like Scrooge.

One of the best ways to get into the festive spirit is by strolling along the high street and looking at the Christmas lights. So wrap up warm, join in with your fellow shoppers and absorb their contagious excitement as you take in the city’s festive makeover. In the evenings of this Christmas season the shops will be staying open later

EVENTS

By Rebecca Garbutt

CHRISTMAS

By Ellice Hulton

EVENTS

than usual, which is handy for some late-night gift shopping. Having peace of mind over your Christmas organisation amongst all the decorations, might just be the key to sparking some festive feelings.

Nothing says Christmas quite like Lincoln’s famous Christmas Market, taking place this year from 7 to 10 December. If you are not feeling very merry by early December, step out onto Lincoln’s cobbles and wander around hundreds of stalls, looking at the food, rides and entertainment along the way. If you enjoy the market and you are craving a similar atmosphere, there will be a lantern parade from the Castle Hill to City Square from December 14. Complete with carols and a light show, it’s bound to kick your

Get into the festive spirit. Photo: Theresa Brandal Sande

Christmassy mood up a gear.

If it’s the cold that is getting you down this winter, take a trip to one of the many coffee shops in town. A hot drink to warm up your insides is a simple and inexpensive remedy.

You could take a friend and swap stories of Christmases gone by over a brew, or go solo and find a cosy spot to zone out with a book or a podcast.

If none of the ideas above are taking your fancy, and you are looking for a winter drink with more of

a kick, try a visit to Thor’s Tipi Bar from November 14 up until New Year’s Eve. Complete with lots of lights, cosy furs and an open fire pit, this pop-up Viking-style bar will fully immerse you and channel a Christmas spirit in any Grinch.

Whatever you chose to do to overcome your festive rut, whether it’s to eat great food, to make yourself cosy, or to enjoy some good company - be sure that you make this year the best Christmas that you have ever had.

Valentino Rockstuds have been a must-have in the wardrobe ever since it launched in 2006, but, for £720, it’s not exactly on a student budget. Primark have launched a collection identical to the rockstuds in black, nude and silver – and it’s only £20 for the heels, and £10 for the flat.

The notorious Gucci logo t-shirt is a staple in every fashionista’s wardrobe. However, the price is not up to everybody’s standards. Topshop have released a very similar item in their autumn collection, where the t-shirt style is a duplicate of the Gucci one, and a lot more affordable.

From celebrities to fashion bloggers, the mini bag is a cult item this season - but with a £2000 price tag, it’s not exactly the most affordable. Marks and Spencer’s dupe is a quarter of the price and the perfect way to vamp up your wardrobe.

Chloé bags have become very popular this season, and there is no question why. The unusual design of the Faye bag has been seen everywhere, but the £930 price tag is not so stylish. Thankfully, Mango have come out with a dupe of the bracelet bag for only £17.99!

With a price tag of £250, a Gucci belt is not exactly on the affordable side. ASOS have come out with a whole range of belts with a circle buckle, that looks very similar to the must-have designer one.

The Chanel flap bag is a classic and popular bag that everyone and their mother will know about. However, ASOS are selling a dupe for a lower price that looks just as stylish at a discount.

For a few years Michael Kors’ watches have been very stylish.

But, not everyone wants to spend as much as £150-£200 on a watch. River Island are selling a replica of the watches for £35.

With winter upon us, ankle boots – sock boots especially, are becoming all the rage. Balenciaga is notorious for their sock boot, which costs £685! However, Public Desire have launched an exact replica for only £39.99, and it comes in ten different colours!

11

The Platform Bar was transformed into a catwalk last week, in preparation for a student fashion show.

The sold-out event, hosted by second year Event Management students, was set up to raise money for The University of Lincoln Christian Union (ULCU).

Guests were treated to a stunning collection of garments, exclusively designed by students from the university.

Models took to the runway, showcasing everything the fashion department has been getting up to this semester.

The creations varied from the wild to the wonderful, with an array of revamped shirts, patchwork dresses and hats reminiscent of royal wedding classics.

Particular favourites from the evening included a tailored

cropped blouse with tiny pockets and a mesmerising geometric mushroom hat.

The night was everything you could have asked for, with a spellbinding live performance from local band The Set and an atmosphere on par with those subterranean London bars on your latenight lust-list.

With affordable tickets and a raffle in the intermission, the audience no doubt got their money’s worth, with some actually leaving with far more than they arrived with.

In a Facebook statement published later in the evening, it was announced that the event had raised a total of £491.

Proceeds will be donated to The ULCU in support of their monthly Quack water station service.

SKINCARE

Top skin care tips to tackle the tough winter

By Cara Watling

The winter months are here again – which brings its own set of problems other than those stressful December deadlines. The wet and frosty weather can dry out your skin and cause irritation. However, a few well-placed swaps and additions to your winter skincare routine can save you from discomfort.

One product that everyone can benefit from using are face serums.

Used between your cleanser and moisturiser, it creates an added barrier for your skin, delivering a stronger amount of skin-loving ingredients. There are many options available with different benefits and properties for varying prices. Unless you have severely dry skin, there is no need to break the bank to get value for your money.

You can buy serums for under £10 from both Superdrug and Boots.

Foaming cleansers and face washes can be drying on the skin, so the thicker products, which you would normally avoid in the summer, are now becoming a good alter-

TOP FIVE FINDS

Cardigans

By Rebecca Garbutt

TOPSHOP HANDKNIT £89.00

A colourful bobbly knit cardigan is ideal for those milder December days when you have got nothing better to do than window-shop in between lectures.. Wintery trends tend to steer clear of bold summery colours, but you will never convince me that yellow is out of season.

H&M CAMEL BELT £39.99 Camel is the perfect transitional colour this season. It’s warm enough to fuse with the leftovers from your autumn wardrobe, but delicate enough to harmonise with the monochrome shades that your winterwear centres around. If thick cable knits are not for you, then a smart tie belt cardigan could be the perfect addition to your collection.

NEXT LONGLINE £28.00

Skin products. Photo: Cara Watling native. Lotions and oils don’t strip the skin of its moisture, but people often steer clear of them due to the misconception that they will make the skin too greasy and cause spots. The added bonus is that they are great at removing makeup.

Thicker moisturisers and night creams are also a valuable investment this time of year – especially if you buy one with added vitamins and nutrients.

If it’s too late to avoid dryness, then your skins heightened sensitivity can cause eczema and other similar skin conditions. There are drugstore products specifically made for these irritations such as Aveeno, which has active oatmeal as a key ingredient in its range of moisturisers. Cleanser brands like Cetaphil also promise to soothe sensitive skin types while still working as a good makeup remover.

Exfoliating is definitely important, and a gentle face scrub should be used at least once a week alongside a moisturising face mask. This will help to rejuvenate the skin whilst removing the dead skin cells, which can prevent those new face products from working effectively.

Longline cardigans can be so much more than an extra layer. Being comfortable no longer requires slouchy jumpers and sweatpants, nor does it limit you from looking your best. A colourblock piece fuses this seasons colours into one, making it super easy to turn a simple denim/tee combo into your new favourite look.

DEBENHAMS CROP £10.50 Saying goodbye to summer does not mean you have to do the same with your wardrobe. Crop tops and lighter pieces can be incorporated into your look during every season. A cropped cardigan can do the job, without weakening your look if you later choose to remove it.

NEW LOOK FLUFFY £29.99 Sometimes cardigans are more than just a convenience, and a fluffy one is likely to be the highlight of your outfit. No matter how plain today’s outfit might look, over the top pieces, will have no problem transforming it into one of the best you own. What better way to convert your casual little black dress into the perfect Christmas look than with this seasonal staple?

12 Culture

Culture INTERVIEW

TOP FIVE FILMS

This Winter

By Rebekah Lee THE DISASTER ARTIST Tommy Wiseau’s ‘The Room’ is commonly hailed as ‘the worst movie ever made’ - so much so, that it has become a modern cult classic. ‘The Disaster Artist’ follows on from ‘The Room’ as an adaptation of Greg Sestero’s (one of the actor’s from ‘The Room’) memoirs of his time working on the film. It is hailed to be one of the best comedies to come out of this year so be sure not to miss it!

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI The second instalment in the new trilogy, ‘The Last Jedi’ has been eagerly awaited by many fans, including The Linc’s own James Buxton.

For more information on the latest from a galaxy far, far away, check out his article.

It’s just over to the right, give it a read!

JUMANJI The original ‘Jumanji’ with the late, great Robin Williams is ‘very entertaining’ and a childhood classic film. This reboot of the much loved film brings the core idea of the Jumanji game into the 21st century. With an all-star cast – Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Jack Black and Karen Gillan – this film promises to be one wild ride.

PITCH PERFECT 3 Following the international success of ‘Pitch Perfect’ and ‘Pitch Perfect 2,’ the Bellas are back for a last hurrah.

With every audience favourite back for the final film – Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow, Rebel Wilson – ‘Pitch Perfect 3’ looks to be set for the same success as its predecessors.

THE GREATEST SHOWMAN The first original film on this list, ‘The Greatest Showman’ is a musical film depicting the birth of show business.

With an amazing ensemble cast including Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron and Zendaya, this is the film that I personally would recommend going to the cinema to see.

The film industry: In the eyes of a cinema legend

By Caitlin Holloway

Rick Senat had a large part to play in Batman, Superman and Harry Potter

If we were to imagine ourselves sitting down for a chat with one of the most influential film executives of the last few decades, we’d have never imagined it would be whilst sitting in a kitchen, bedhead-stricken, sipping mugs of cheap tea, with one of us sporting a pair of rather fetching Darth Vader slippers. During his career, Rick Senat has worked on many projects and has had a large part to play in several massive movie series, including the Batman, Superman and Harry Potter franchises.

Most recently, Rick has acted as an executive producer of ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’, the latest instalment in the Harry Potter universe.

What do you think is the best way to enter into the industry?

“I don’t think there’s a correct answer to that question - any way that you can. The first thing you have to do is have knowledge of the way the industry works and I’m always a little bit surprised at the unscientific approach that many people who think they want to be in the industry take. When you talk about the film ‘industry’, or any industry, you’re talking about a composite business comprised of many different strands and what are you talking about when you ask that question? What do people mean by the film industry? Business is many more things than that. So in my mind, the first thing someone has to do is get completely educated about the industry. How do you do that? Again there’s no one answer. If people manage to survive

in the industry for a while, they are fit. It is the survival of the fittest.

What initially attracted you to the film industry?

“Going to the cinema. Even from childhood, I could tell that the world of film would be one that I would be able to live in. I loved the idea of acting, producing and cinema in general. I didn’t go straight into the industry; I initially went to university to study law because I thought it was the ‘sensible’ decision. After university, I wholeheartedly pursued a career in film.

It took me many years to become entrepreneurial, it was far more competitive back in the day.”

What are your opinions of movie award ceremonies - particularly the Oscars this year?

“I find them useful as a curated op-

STAR WARS

Looking forward to The Last Jedi

By James Buxton

2017 marks the third year in a row where Christmas is once again overshadowed by the release of a new Star Wars movie. This year, it’s the hotly anticipated Episode VIII: The Last Jedi, the direct sequel to 2015’s The Force Awakens.

Thanks to Disney, Star Wars has become a key part of the Christmas landscape for millions of people. We’ve been promised a new film every year for at least the next decade and given the fact the last two films have made nearly four billion dollars between them, the franchise shows no sign of stopping any time soon.

The Last Jedi looks set to follow this trend and is showing every sign of becoming the highest grossing film of the year. Mark Hamill is back as Luke Skywalker with an actual speaking role this time, following on from his 45-

second silent treatment role in The Force Awakens. Rising stars Daisy Ridley and John Boyega are also returning as the two young leads of this new trilogy.

Since their first outing in the Star Wars universe two years ago, both actors have gone on to appear in several high profile movies such as Murder on the Orient Express and Detroit respectively. Much like their characters, both actors are destined for big things in the future and are both set to appear in the final instalment in the trilogy, the as-yet-untitled Episode IX in 2019.

For this particular romp, Disney and Lucasfilm have employed the skills of the acclaimed Rian Johnson to direct. Johnson, as both a fantastic filmmaker and avid Star Wars fan, has put his heart and soul into this film and, if the trailers are anything to go by, it absolutely shows. Johnson has promised not

only a fun family adventure, but a true cinematic spectacle which reportedly left half the cast stunned upon first reading the script.

Luke Skywalker himself openly declared that he was knocked over by Johnson’s fearlessness when it came to writing the story.

Yes, Luke Skywalker, hero of the galaxy, was stunned speechless by this movie. Now I don’t know about you, but that’s more than enough to convince me.

Despite celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, the Star Wars franchise shows no sign of stopping any time soon. Who’s to say if it’ll still have the same effect on the public in another 40 years’ time, but right now, it’s the only thing people are talking about when it comes to cinema.

‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ hits theatres on December 14, 2017.

portunity to find films that I’d be interested in watching on a more personal level. I like the fact that it’s like a film festival without having to go anywhere. I am a big fan of film festivals; I must have been to Cannes Film Festival around 40 times now. Though they are definitely useful tools for marketing and they give lesser-seen films an opportunity to be seen by the public and distributors. They can seriously help people gain notoriety though, with the Oscars, I feel like some films get missed out that deserve to be there, Sully, for instance. I think this is partly because of the makeup of the academy itself.”

What are your opinions on reviews?

“I have mixed feelings about reviews. If the reviewer is good, then I do occasionally read those reviews to find out more about films before I spend money on a ticket. So I want to know if they’re any good, therefore the reviewer must be knowledgeable of the industry and the film itself. I also like reviews from a business point of view, I also like to see what the public think of films and whether they want to go see them or not.

I am respectful of reviewers who are intelligent in their approach; I am disrespectful to those who base their opinions on other reviews and do not actually see the film, believe it or not, that happens.”

With over 40 years experience in the field of Film, we can definitely say that it has been a pleasure to receive some of the wisdom that Rick has on the subject. We look forward to seeing his future projects; particularly the sequel to ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’.

13

Circa Waves chat with The Linc

By Caitlin Hollaway

By Caitlin Holloway In late October, students flocked to several venues across Lincoln for the eagerly awaited 2Q music Festival.

With well-known acts such as The Sherlocks, Peace and Circa Waves on the bill, many fans were eager to catch their performances in local spots such as Home, Red Five and The Engine Shed.

Ahead of their first show at The Engine Shed, we managed to chat to Kieran Shudall, who is the lead singer of Circa Waves.

Kieran told The Linc he felt ‘pretty special’ to be the Engine Shed’s headline act at 2Q. “I don’t think we’ve played Lincoln before, so I’m always excited to play somewhere new and

discover what the people are like, what the fans are like and all that kind of stuff.

“So it’s cool, yeah. I mean, we’ve only headlined one or two festivals before so I feel pretty special today,” he said.

With influences such as Queens of the Stone Age, it’s no surprise that the band’s slowly showing a tougher side to their music with their second album, ‘Different Creatures’.

Although, Kieran later went on to add that if ‘you make good music, the genre doesn’t matter all that much’.

“People will get on board,” he explained. “It was a bit heavier, but I think people tended to move with us.”

When talking about the fictitious relationship at the heart of ‘Fire That Burns’, Kieran said he enjoyed incorporating fiction into his lyrics. As a ‘La La Land’ fan, the singer even said he would like to write a musical, so could we see ‘Circa Waves: The Musical’ hitting the West End one day?

We shall have to wait and see, but what we do know for now is that Circa Waves are definitely planning for their third album.

With a few songs already written, Kieran says the style is ‘in between’ the two existing records.

Whatever the future may hold for Kieran Shudall and the rest of the Circa Waves, here at The Linc, we are very excited to see what the band come up with next.

ise of it being a dark, disturbing and relentlessly sinister creation, there’s hope that ‘The Vanishing Season’ will give us all another thing to fear in the dead of night.

If the supernatural or mystical is something you’re interested in, Holly Black’s new novel, ‘The Cruel Prince’ ( January 2) might be another book to add to your reading list. Throwing you into a world of faeries and faerie royalty, this novel will be a crowd pleas-

er. Protagonist Jude does what it takes to save her sisters, even if it means dangerous alliances and treachery. As a human in a world of faeries, Jude is out of place and just wants to fit in. Full of adventure and deception, Black’s novel will leave us wanting more.

These are just a few of the books to be released in the upcoming months and I thoroughly hope you are all as excited for the reading as I am.

The books of 2018 BOOKS

By Christine Read

With 2018 just around the corner and Christmas lists beginning to be written, what better chance than to introduce the upcoming book releases of 2018?

There is an exciting number of works to look forward to this year.

From fresh off the press, new authors to our old-time favourites, it seems like 2018 is the year for more fantastic books to line our shelves and empty our pockets.

For those looking for a love, secrets and drama in a romance novel, Jojo Moyes is back with the third instalment of her ‘Me Before You’ series – ‘Still Me’. Due to be released on January 30, Moyes is upping the game with more excitement in this drama-filled addition to her growing collection of best-rate novels. We’re expecting more laughs, tears and awkward moments shared with Moyes’ protagonist Louisa Clark this year,

so keep an eye out for ‘Still Me’ coming to bookstores near you.

If Moyes’ novel doesn’t grab your attention, perhaps the new heart-wrenching novel by up-andcoming author, Rachel Lynn Solomon, will. Solomon’s debut, ‘You’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone’ ( January 2) will have tears in your eyes in seconds with the tale of twin sisters whose relationship is shattered and torn apart by heartbreaking news. Proclaimed as a luminous tale of life, death, and the fragile bond between sisters, it sounds like a story you don’t want to miss.

Crime fiction more your thing?

No problem. Joanna Schaffhausen’s ‘The Vanishing Season’ might be the book you’ve been looking for - and right in time for Christmas too with a release date of December 5. Crammed full of serial killers, haunting pasts and suspense for days, you’ll definitely be obsessed with this gripping novel in no time. With prom-

14 Sport VP ACTIVITIES COLUMN

BY LUKE EXTON

University sports

The University of Lincoln Students’ Union has had an incredible start to the year in terms of sport and society activity. Our sports and societies have been breaking records since Freshers Week, with a new high of 11,500 students attending the Sports and Societies Fayre, resulting in a record number of sign-ups for each activity. We sit 65th, with 313 points, in the overall BUCS league table, maintaining a 61% win ratio – a feat that has not been achieved before at this time of year!

We’ve had some great wins so far with Men’s Rugby Union beating some opponents by more than 70 points. Netball recently went four from four at home and were awarded Team of the Week, while Fencing entered BUCS for the first time and halfway through term ‘A’ remain undefeated. Cup Week has just passed, where Lincoln was able to obtain a 51% win rate, again an outstanding achievement!

This year has seen the launch of the SU’s new Social Sport program, where members are able to go to a variety of sessions for free if you are a member of a sport or society. They have been well-received and are very popular among members. The SU has also held its first round of Give It a Go sessions - free sessions that anyone is welcome to. The first was Brazilian Jiujitsu and was a massive success, with a Brazilian Jiujitsu club establishing itself as a result.

Our sports have held a variety of events already, with more in the planning. Netball held their quiz which packed out the top floor of The Swan, Rugby Union held their masquerade ball, raising nearly £800, and the Cathedral Cup, where Lincoln beat BGU 5-1 to reclaim the cup!

This was accompanied by fantastic performances from both our Dance and Cheer societies.

Alongside this, our societies have been shining brighter than ever. Peace of Mind received two letters from the Prime Minister commending their volunteering.

The Hindu society held a successful Diwali celebration, bringing together hundreds of members of the local Hindu community.

The SU has also seen record turnout in the society specific events offered, such as 8 out of 10 Swans and Murder Mystery.

Everything’s shaping up to be a fantastic, record-breaking year!

Sport

OPINION Tough start to the season for United, writes Liam Gibbs The Whites had an indifferent opening, mixing some fine results such as the opening day win at Chasetown with some poor ones – the home defeat by Stocksbridge Park Steels a prime example.

That was until their rotten October, during which the Whites lost five straight games and shipped 22 goals in those matches, including a 9-0 embarrassment by Leek Town.

That day was a club at its lowest ebb and Sam Wilkinson, head down as he walked off the pitch at the end of that thrashing, knew

questions would be asked of his position.

But the response was impressive and the character shown during the following week’s win at Loughborough Dynamo demonstrated that the players are still backing their manager.

But while they would probably like to have scored more goals, finding the back of the net hasn’t been a huge issue. At the time of writing they have only scored four fewer than table toppers Basford United, and more than play off

chasing Newcastle, Bedworth and Spalding.

It’s at the other end where the problems have been. Jake Turner’s departure and Sam Vince’s red card at Stamford mean they have lacked a consistent number one and naturally, the lack of a regular goalkeeper means the defence isn’t as stable as it should be.

There are, though, mitigating factors and their injury crisis was critical to their loss of form. Being without much of their first choice back four for long spells of the season has been a huge problem and has correlated with their tendency to concede too many goals.

In addition, the loss of Conner Robinson, their biggest source of goals and arguably their star name, has tendonitis and needs his minutes building up gradually with substitute appearances.

They have a tricky December on paper but, but now the time has come for the Whites to start climbing the league table. Wilkinson is still the right man for the job, but an improvement is needed, and it is needed fast.

THE WHITES

‘He’s the right man for the job’: Whites chairman backs Sam Wilkinson

By Liam Gibbs

Lincoln United chairman Rob Bradley admits he’s been disappointed by the Whites’ start to the season.

At the time of writing, Sam Wilkinson’s side have lost eight of their last nine games - one of which was a 9-0 thumping at home at the hands of Leek Town.

That record home defeat was a low ebb for the club, but Bradley is confident that Wilkinson is the right man to turn the club’s fortunes around.

He is anxious, though, of the need for a drastic improvement if they are to come close to their targets set the start of the season.

He said: “Our targets were the play-offs. You can phrase things in a lot of ways but I said there was no reason we couldn’t be the team that got promoted.

“That’s not to say we are going to be the team that gets promoted, but there was no reason we couldn’t do well. There still is no reason we can’t do well this season but we wanted to be doing much better than we are now.”

The loss to Leek Town, though, was a low point for the club and

the record home defeat left them reflecting on the situation they found themselves in.

“It left us feeling a lot of things: devastated, angry. You can make excuses or you can say why we lost 3-0 the week before with a centre half off with what we thought was a broken leg, and a goalkeeper sent off, and all the catalogue of things that have gone on. I’ve never seen anything like it.

“But the Leek game was unacceptable. You can’t make any excuses or give any valid reasons for such a heavy defeat.

“Throughout the league they’ll have looked at that score and thought ‘crikey, what’s gone on there?’”

There are, though, mitigating factors. Wilkinson admitted the number of injuries haven’t helped but he isn’t using the depleted squad as an excuse for the Whites’ form. He said: “We lost our top scorer, Conner Robinson, early on, our captain, Sean Wright, through his heart illness and defenders have been dropping like flies.

“But I still expect the lads to do a lot better than they have been doing. I expect us to grind results

United manager, Sam Wilkinson out, pick up the odd point here and there away from home. We can’t look back and blame the injuries for our poor form.”

Wilkinson says he questions himself after every game - not just after such a run of defeats - but is hopeful his side can resurrect their season in the coming weeks.

He takes Corby Town as an example, who were fifth from bottom before winning six consecutive games and rising to the play-offs.

“There is the potential for that to happen but at this moment in time we need to take small steps.

We aren’t looking too far ahead but I need to get a result as soon as I can to try and lift the place.”

But will Wilkinson get that chance? Bradley says yes. He wants to stick with his manager, and insists that he’s the man for the job.

“I’ve spoken to other people at the club and we’re determined that with Sam, we’re going to do well.

“It’s the manager who achieves success and the manager who has to overcome problems. We’ve got a very good manager but the luck and the injuries have caught up with him.”

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Lincoln City: The season so far...

THE IMPS

By James Williams

After winning the National League, Lincoln City are back in the Football League. Here’s how the Imps have fared in the early months of this season...

The Imps started the season with a hard fought 2-2 draw away to Wycombe Wanderers. A 2-1 defeat to Rotherham in the first round of the Carabao Cup followed before another league draw - this time against Morecambe.

City suffered their first defeat of the season a week later, losing 1-0 to Exeter City in a tight encounter, but they bounced back in style thrashing Carlisle United 4-1 at Sincil Bank. Lincoln ended the month with a victory in their first Checkatrade Trophy match, easing to a 3-1 away to Mansfield Town.

September began with an entertaining goalless draw with Luton Town at Sincil Bank. A feisty encounter away to Stevenage followed, where Lincoln won despite going behind and having Matt Green sent off.

A trip to last season’s promotion rivals Forest Green Rovers was next up, and like last season Lincoln came away with the three points - albeit in less dramatic circumstances - thanks to Harry Anderson’s goal.

The Imps went into a period of local derby matches full of confidence. However, a frustrating 1-0 defeat at home to Mansfield was followed by a 4-1 loss at Notts County - Billy Knott’s controversial red card largely shaping the outcome.

A brilliant first half performance was enough to get the Imps back on track with a 2-1 against Barnet at Sincil Bank, before City ended the month as they started it - with a goalless draw – this time at fierce rivals Grimsby Town.

LINCSPORT TALKS Where will Lincoln City finish this season?

We ask our reporters...

Exciting times for Imps fans as their team push for the League 2 playoffs.

Lincoln edged past struggling Chesterfield in the first match of October. An uninspiring 0-0 draw with Cambridge United followed, before a late Sean Raggett header earned the Imps a valuable 1-0 win away to Swindon Town and made it five games unbeaten.

That run came to an end in disappointing fashion at Cheltenham Town, with Lincoln losing 1-0 and lacking a clinical edge.

Jordan Maguire-Drew’s brace helped the Imps to a 2-1 win against Everton Under 23s in the Checkatrade Trophy. However, yet another dour 0-0 draw followed at home to Crawley Town. Goals - or the lack of them - was becoming a concern.

Attention turned to the FA Cup

at the start of November – a competition in which Lincoln memorably had great success last year.

But the Imps couldn’t repeat that this year, losing 1-0 at AFC Wimbledon in the first round.

Three days later, City did progress in a different cup competition. After beating Notts County 2-1, the Imps topped their group in the Checkatrade Trophy and set up a tie against Accrington Stanley in December.

After a month out through injury, Harry Anderson marked his return to the starting XI with a brace as Lincoln came from behind to beat Crewe Alexandra 4-1, emphatically answering their critics.

With spirits high, a sell-out crowd packed into Sincil Bank to

watch Lincoln take on Coventry City. A win would’ve taken the Imps into the playoff positions and Matt Rhead’s volley gave the home side the perfect start, but a Jodi Jones inspired comeback earned Coventry a 2-1 win.

This season has been a learning curve for Lincoln. Lots of positive work has gone on behind the scenes at the club to set up a framework for sustained success.

On the pitch, the Imps have struggled for consistency but they are well positioned to make a push for the playoffs. A lot may depend on the business manager Danny Cowley does in the January transfer market – the attacking positions need strengthening because goals have been hard to come by.

James Williams

Elliot Hawkins

Reece Mowlem

If a striker is added and the wingers hit their best form, Lincoln will start scoring goals and will then be a real force.

Don’t underestimate how big an impact the fans at Sincil Bank have too. This season could still have a special ending.

Despite playing consistently well, their struggles in front of goal could hinder their promotion bid in the long run. I think they could just miss out on the play-offs.

The Imps have one the best defensive records in the division but, unless they can bring in a more consistent source of goals in the upcoming transfer window, I feel they’re destined for a mid-table finish.

Prediction: 3rd

Liam Gibbs With a small squad, so much depends on fitness and the January transfer window. If the Imps can keep Harry Anderson, and add a goalscorer, the play-offs are far from a distant dream.

Prediction: 7th

Prediction: 8th

Dan Creese At present, Lincoln are lacking a killer instinct in front of goal to push them further up the league. They have creative players in their side with the likes of Harry Anderson and Nathan Arnold, but a new striker is needed to turn draws into wins.

Prediction: 10th

Prediction: 11th

Sam Hewitt Lincoln City have the second best defensive record in the league and, for a promoted team, that’s most important.

Perhaps a dip into the transfer market in January is necessary for a proven goal scorer, but that’s a tough ask.

Prediction: 14th

INSIDE: Interview with Lincoln United manager Sam Wilkinson and chairman Rob Bradley after the Whites’ dismal start to the season

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THE LINC SPORT - COVERING LINCOLN CITY, LINCOLN UNITED AND MORE

Imps still learning in League Two, says Cowley

Est. 2007

Luke Exton updates on university sport

P14

Lincoln City back to winning ways

By Dan Creese

Lincoln City bounced back from successive defeats with a 3-1 triumph over Port Vale at Sincil Bank.

Danny Cowley was critical of his side after their defeat at Colchester, and rang the changes with six players coming back into the side.

The Imps took an early lead when Harry Anderson’s cross was nodded in by Matt Green, only to be pegged back on the stroke of half-time when Tom Pope set up Danny Pugh who swept Vale level.

Cowley then rallied his troops during the interval and they came out firing in the second-half, the returning Michael Bostwick blasting Lincoln back in front within minutes of the re-start.

Luke Waterfall then confirmed the victory as he converted from Matt Rhead’s knock down with 20 minutes to play.

Three goals and three points for the Imps, who are now just two points off the League Two playoffs.

By James Williams Lincoln City manager Danny Cowley thinks his side’s position in the League Two table is a fair reflection of his side’s performances this season.

The Imps sit 10th in the table three points off the playoff positions after the 2-1 defeat to Coventry City at Sincil Bank in November.

“I think we’ve seen one of the best teams in the league today,” Cowley said after the match.

“They [Coventry] were excellent. Let’s say it as it is: we’ve come up a bit short today and they were better than us. We have to understand that.

“Not long ago they were in the Premier League and they’re a big club with big resources.

“We wanted to go toe-to-toe with them because we felt the game would be a benchmark to where we’re at. The current league position that we’re in is probably fair for where we’re at as a team at the moment.”

Lincoln City were leading 1-0 at half-time thanks to Matt Rhead’s volley, but Coventry turned the

game around in the second half with goals from Jodi Jones and substitute Duckens Nazon which sealed the victory for the Sky Blues.

“We were really pleased at halftime,” said Cowley. “I thought the players did everything we’d asked of them. We played most of the game in their half and deserved our 1-0 lead.

“But we were disappointed with the second half because the plan was to try to do the same but we didn’t do any of the basics as well as we had done in the first half.”

Indeed, the Imps stood firm defensively in the face of a strong Coventry attack in the first half but couldn’t cope with the pace of Jones and Nazon after the break.

“Jodi Jones is the best player in this league,” Cowley admitted afterwards. “He is far better than this level and was a threat all day.”

A few eyebrows were raised by Cowley’s decision to start with forward Matt Green ahead of Ollie Palmer who led the line in last week’s 4-1 win at Crewe Alexandra.

Green, who hasn’t scored since the end of August, hit the bar with

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a header when the score was 1-1. It was typical of the former Mansfield man’s luck in front of goal in recent weeks.

“I think at 1-1 if we score in that moment then we probably win the game, but they’re the small margins,” said Cowley.

“Unfortunately for Matt at the moment that’s the way it going – an inch lower and it goes in off the underside of the bar and he’s the hero but it wasn’t to be.”

A sell-out crowd packed into Sincil Bank to watch the entertaining encounter, including nearly 1,500 visiting fans which made for an electric atmosphere throughout the 90 minutes.

“I thought both sets of supporters were excellent and it was a great atmosphere,” said Cowley.

“Our supporters will ultimately go away disappointed because we lost the game but I think probably when they have a chance to reflect they will realise that they’ve seen one very, very good team in Coventry City and another team that is learning and finding its way at this level.”

Read more on page 15.