2013, Term 1, Issue 3

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SUSSEX SAYS

BADGER

THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE STUDENTS’ UNION

FEATURE

THE BIG DEBATE

Spotlight on student Page 3 parents: the trials and tribulations Page 8 Page 5

The tabloid page is back with a bang!

We ask ‘is Breaking 14the hype?’

BadPage worth

Pages 11

ARTS

An evening with Terry Pratchett

SPORTS TUNE IN ONLINE In memory of Jack Hutton-Potts

Page 14

Page 20

Revealed: worst lettings agents EXCLUSIVE

Student tenants told: “if you don’t like the rat poison or excrement, don’t live here”.

Cat Gough Deputy Editor-in-Chief In a report released last week, the Students’ Union have asserted that “substantial” improvements need to be made “particularly amongst letting agents” in order for the state of student renting experiences in the Sussex private sector to improve.

The report pointed to several key failings by lettings agencies on issues including pressure placed on prospective tenants to sign for a property and policies on guarantors which put students under further financial pressure.

It also pointed to serious issues faced by students upon moving into their rented property which include mould, broken furniture and issues of sanitation.

Also highlighted was the serious complications student tenants face at the end of their tenancy, specifically, the large amount of those who did not receive their full deposit back from their lettings agency or landlord once their contract had expired.

The survey also revealed the best and worst performing lettings agencies according to scores given by survey participants.

TOP 5 LETTINGS AGENCIES* *According to the 2012-2013 Rate Your Landlord survey results, based on numerous key criterea

place Letting Agency

Total score

Choices Estate Agents were ranked as the worst agency, given a total score of -12, closely followed by Homelets and Pavillion Properties, who both scored -11.

Closely following these lettings agents in the top four worst ranked agencies was G4 Lets, who were scored -10 by survey participants.

The report, whilst highlighting some good experiences with landlords and lettings agencies, including one student who, feeling so pleased with their experience as to capitalise their comment, claimed “REALLY REALLY PLEASED WITH THE SERVICE THEY [the lettings agency] PROVIDED”, the Rate Your Landlord Report for 2012-2013, indicated that there was much lettings agents need to address with great urgency.

One of these pressing issues that the report highlights was the finding that one third of students felt pressure to secure a property they were viewing.

It suggests that students felt pressured to pay fees immediately in order to secure a property, and were made to feel that unless this was done, they would lose the property and be unable to find

WORST 5 LETTINGS AGENCIES*

*According to the 2012-2013 Rate Your Landlord survey results, based on numerous key criterea

Letting Agency Total score -12 Choices Homelets -11 Pavillion Properties -11 3 G4 Lets -10 place Hove Lets -9 4 Kendrick Property -9 Services Brighton Accommod5 -7 tion agency 1 2

1

Sussex Student Lettings

13

2

Q Lets

11

3

GK Whites

6

4

Barry Alderton

2

Just Lets

5

Roost

0

MTM

-7 -7

anything else.

Over half of respondents were charged holding fees, and admin fees, with an average of £163 and £178 respectively.

One student said their agency was “constantly saying during our viewing that we had 24 hours to put our deposit down.”

Another student said “we had to race back to the office in order to be the first to pay and secure the house.”

The quotes from the report suggest that whilst students have been put under pressure by the agencies, they are also led to believe that they must pay over £150 for admin fees with great rapidity, or face losing the house and being stuck without anywhere to live while studying.

The Rate Your Landlord Report for 2012-13 also found that the lettings agents and landlords policies on guarantors made renting for students with families on a lower level salary, particularly challenging, and stated that “the situation is even worse for non-UK students”.

The survey found that 75% of student respondents were asked to provide a UK based guarantor - a 7.3% increase from last year’s report.

One student said “because [my dad] has now ‘retired’...they would not accept him as my guarantor as his wage was too low”.

Another said “guarantors needed to be UK-based and a home owner. [They] refused parents as guarantors if of nonBritish nationality”.

More worrying was that the report found that those respondents unable to find a guarantor were usually required to pay a larger deposit upfront, forcing some families to seek out specific loans causing them to risk financial instability.

One student spoke of their experience of this, stating “I was initially required to pay 12 months rent in advance, but I managed to convince them to pay 6 months instead, because I am living with my sister so that would have meant that

my parents had to pay 24 months in one go”.

One international student said: “I am not from the UK so I could not find a guarantor.

“Therefore, the agency required that I paid the last 6 months of rent and the first month of rent all at once, along with the deposit. This has really put me in an unstable financial situation throughout the year”.

Once students had moved in to their new residencies, more complaints were raised.

Whilst 60% found their property in the condition that they expected, the report highlights a “concern” about the other 40% of respondents.

One student who spoke to The Badger said “the house wasn’t ready when we moved in, I didn’t even have a mattress... they failed to get anything done [repaired] quickly...when my blind broke, it took them three months to fix it...they are just really awful. And expensive.”

Another student who spoke to The Badger claimed of their moving in experience “the house hadn’t been cleaned, the windows were grimy, some walls were mouldy, mice poisoning and excrement had been left in cupboards next to the kitchen. When we told our landlady, she said if we didn’t like it, we could move out.”

The report also found that mould was one of the most common problems, with over 68% of respondents reporting mould problems to their landlords. One respondent said “we found the agency very unhelpful in the number of times they tried to fob us off [about mould]”.

Another claimed “they were very slow to respond, it took several email exchanges between them and our parents and us threatening to involve Environmental Health”.

One of the most bitterly contested points between lettings agencies and tenants at the end of the year from all accounts has been deposits, with only half of respondents to the survey receiv-

ing their deposits back in full.

Almost one third of respondents did not have their deposit returned to them by their lettings agency (see figure 17 above, which was taken from the Rate Your Landlord Report 2012-2013).

Amongst the 59% who did not receive their deposit back in full, only 26% felt that they had received a reasonable explaination for the deductions.

A student in the report says “They tried to make us pay £350 out of the £1560 total deposit for things such as a broken garden bench which was already broken and removal of furniture which was there when we moved in.

We battled with them after showing them photos from when we first moved in and got it down to £90 which I was still not very happy with!”

The survey highlighted some good relationships between tenants and lettings agencies however, with one respondent arguing “the lettings agency have treated both myself and my flatmates with respect.”

And another claiming “our current landlady...is very nice, kind, responsive and easily approachable”.

However the report highlights some worrying practises amongst landlords and particularly lettings agencies.

See the tables on this page to see how your lettings agency scored. The full results are published on our website at www.badgeronline.co.uk

Q17. Did students have their deposits returned to them?

Yes - in full

Yes - partially

No

the badger

7 OCTOBER 2013

in pictures • 2

IN PICTURES In pictures: what’s happening on your campus

Daniel Green

USSU

Mina Rassouli

Sara Rogowska

Mina Rassouli

USSU

Xiangxiang Gong

THE BADGER

7 OCTOBER 2013

NEWS • 3

NEWS

International and unwelcome?

GOVERNMENT MINISTER BEMOANS XENOPHOBIC TREATMENT TOWARDS INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: SUSSEX PERSPECTIVE REVEALED Jack Williams News Editor Trends of growing international students opting to study in the UK could recede because many do not feel welcome, leading figures in education and government have warned.

Vince Cable, Secretary for Business, skills and innovation, and Christopher Snowden, President of Universities UK, in separate speeches, both deplored the “deliberate misrepresentation” that students from overseas represent a burden on British society and a xenophobic aura leading them possibly feeling unwelcome.

“There are a lot of perceptions issues particularly in India where the message has got back that the British do not want overseas students”, said Vince Cable.

Rising international student numbers have an indispensible effect on the UK economy, reported to be worth £17 billion, ac-

cording to Christopher Snowden.

However, inflating levels of prejudice directed at international students could potentially see applications from overseas retract.

A Malaysian student, who has just begun her fourth year at the University of Sussex, revealed that during her tenure in Brighton, she has experienced episodes of “occasional racism”, two incidences of which were very recent.

She explained: “While waiting for a bus with my friend, a passing driver honked his horn at us, stuck up two fingers and slurred a very racist remark at us both. It made me feel extremely uncomfortable”.

Another international student, who is from Hong Kong, recalled a nuanced display of prejudice she encountered at Falmer bar, which saw the member of bar staff prevaricate at length to avoid having to serve her and her friends.

“When my friends told me,

at first I didn’t believe it, but when I went to the bar, I realised what they were saying was true”.

“I waited at the bar for five minutes, looking on as people who had just come to the bar were being attended to before me, and when they had finished serving them, they took to cleaning glasses instead of taking my order”.

Stressing that the positive aspects of studying In Brighton far outweigh any negative drawbacks, she still proclaimed: “I wouldn’t recommend studying here to friends that I Know would be at odds with the Brighton culture and the British culture in general.

“The difference between my own culture and British culture is definitely more potent in Brighton than the rest of the UK”.

International students providing a less than glistening review on their time in the UK to their peers back in their home country could

students on campus, and the opportunity for UK students to spend part of their degree studying abroad. “ To celebrate this cultural diversity on campus, we are working with the Students’ Union to create a ‘One World Week’ in 2014. Our aim with this is to help all students feel that they are international and develop the sense of students being global citizens”.

Zero hour contract controversy

Union box

Daniel Green

Kelly McBride President

Speak up - your voice matters The Students’ Union has long supported the idea that ‘students should not be passive consumers but active participants’ during their time at University. Whether this be trying to improve your course, informing others about changes to higher education policy, voting in elections (including those taking place this week!), or using your time to set up community projects – the Sussex community has an incredible legacy of challenging decisions and making change.

This year the Students’ Union Officers want to further inform and invigorate dialogue across the campus community about the challenges facing the University of Sussex and higher education nationally, now and in the future. We particularly want students to start thinking about their role in shaping the institution, wider society and methods of democratic university governance.

Whatever you are interested in:

USSU be detrimental to international student numbers, according to a recent report compiled by the department for Business skills and innovation.

On the importance of having an atmosphere that effectively ingratiates international students, a University spokesman commented: “An important part of the student experience at Sussex is the international mix of

when the academic week starts (which we know is not on a Thursday!); the University prioritising affordable new accommodation over more shiny en-suites when it redevelops East Slope; your lunch on campus being cheap and delicious; that the campus maintaining a Students’ Union-led bar (like East Slope and Falmer); to no longer be told that students should have no involvement in decision-making when services or courses are cut; or even just informing students about the challenges that await them in the current employment market and world beyond... we hope that throughout your time here, you will take the time to listen, discuss, and come up with some exciting new possibilities.

To find out more about the work we are currently undertaking this area, read the full article on the Students’ Union website - www.sussexstudent.com

The University of Sussex employs almost 900 people under controversial zero-hour contracts, according to information released by the University and College Union.

The UCU, following a Freedom of Information request to the university, claimed that 896 people are hired under zero-hour contracts .

Zero-hour contracts amongst Associate Tutors (ATs) in particular have resulted in complaints about casualization and poor working conditions to the Student’s Union.

One lecturer said in a statement to The Badger that “it is important that Schools can be flexible to meet student demand and module changes.

But this should not mean that universities’ workers (teachers or otherwise) are deprived of the benefits they would receive as full-time members of staff. The use of zero-hours contracts to circumvent hard-won protections must not become practice in our universities.”

In response, the University denied that zero-hour contracts used by management are low-paid.

They stated: “They are properly graded roles and rates of pay are equivalent to £23-£30K a year, depending on experience. These ATs

[Associate Tutors] know well in advance, as we agree at the start of each term or each academic year, the teaching times and duties that they will be undertaking. Our unions were properly involved in the development of these staffing contracts in 2006, which also provide holiday, sick leave and other on-campus benefits.

In addition, the Student’s Union also uses zero-hour contracts for 187 of its employees, with 107 of those from the Co-op alone.

However, those under such contracts with the Union have a more positive feeling towards them, especially from their flexibility.

Emily Holliday, Operations Officer for the Student’s Union, explains that “many students in our recruitment sessions for new staff last week complimented how flexible the Union is in relation to student studies. And this is all thanks to zero-hour contracts.”

Emily talked about her own experience with zero-hour contracts, saying: “Having been on a zero-hour contract working in the Falmer shop for the Union for three years, I can confidently tell you that it’s one of the best parts of the job. I think the main advantage for me was when the stress of the essay writing period and dissertation period came around, I could cut back my hours as much as

I needed to deal with my studies effectively.”

This is a view shared by Richie Vaughan, a second year Politics student who has worked at the Co-op from the beginning of his first year.

He says: “Zero-hours contracts give me the flexibility I need to say when I can and can’t work. I can work around lectures and other commitments.

It gives me the freedom to shape my work around my academic work and not the other way around.”

When asked about zero-hours contracts by the Student’s Union, Juliette Cule, the Education Officer for the Student Union stated: “Zero hours contracts are a complex and difficult issue, and can easily be misused, especially in the current exploitative labour market. However, our student staff have reported that they find them useful as they allow flexible working hours which is something that they really value.”

She recommended, in relation to the issue of Associate Tutors that “all ATs should have a signed copy of a contract that details the terms and conditions of their employment.”

The revelation comes just weeks after Labour leader Ed Miliband pledged to eliminate ‘exploitative’ zero-hours contracts and put an end to ‘insecurity at work’.

The Student Union continues to campaign in relation to poor working conditions for Associate Tutors.

the badger

7 october 13

news • 4

‘We Need A Good Fracking’ Tom Foster

Attendees of the Sussex University debate ‘fracking: blessing or curse’ voted in a clear majority that it was a curse, with only four voting it was a blessing.

On Tuesday 1 October the Sussex University Green party society in partnership with the Debating society organised the debate in response to the growing controversy over fracking taking place in Balcombe.

Fracking is the process of pumping fluid consisting of water, sand and other chemicals are pumped at high velocity under the ground to crack rocks from which then gas and oil is extracted.

The growth of fracking in the US has brought about massive economic gains for the industry and country, resulting in gas prices being on average near a quarter lower than in the EU. Seeing these massive gains the UK government want to introduce fracking to the UK, in the hope that the UK becomes self-reliant in regards to gas and oil supply rather than a net importer.

Fracking is controversial due to the possible environmental dangers it poses.

Whilst obviously not a renewable

energy source, other issues have been raised such as the concentration of methane being found in nearby water supplies of some fracking sites.

Yet other sites have not exhibited these high concentrations, and many in the debate warn that scientific evidence on fracking is still in its infancy due to the surge of fracking only occurring in the last couple of years.

Despite this it was clear there was enough evidence out there for the panel to discuss whether fracking was a blessing or curse for the UK. The debate was chaired by Abraham Baldry, president of the debating society; and the panel consisted of strong opponents of fracking such as Alexis Powell, Lewes Green party leader and Alan Rew, member of the

Naomi Horsfall

Balcombe protest against fracking.

Both of whom opposed Cuadrilla drilling in Balcombe as well arrest of protestors; one of which was Brighton Green MP Caroline Lucas.

Alexis Davies stated, “there are far too many police up there for what is a peaceful protest… it is outrageous Caroline has been charged under the public interest of obstructing a police order and a highway.”

The bill for the police presence at site is around £4 million causing Katy Bourne, Sussex police and crime commissioner, to request financial help from the Home Office.

Yet other panel members: Ed Mead, Sussex Labour society, and Mary Mears, former head of Brighton city council, exhibited a more positive but cautious view over fracking.

Mary Mears spoke that to supply 60+ million people in the UK with energy and with worldwide production of natural gas forecast to grow 50% by 2035, the UK will have to asses all energy options including fracking.

Ed Meads spoke along similar lines but some comments proved controversial when he tried to explain there was sufficient safety regulation of fracking to protect clean water supply.

Members of the crowd reacted by shouting, ‘he knows nothing’. Despite this the entire panel received applause at the end of their closing statements.

outsourcing we want your views We’re looking for students from all years of study to take part in a survey on campus catering.

Whether foodie first year or frougal finalist we want to hear your views on Students’ Union and Chartwells run outlets.

Take part in the survey by visiting our website or head straight for: http://ow.ly/pqBS5 or scan here:

Union taxi u-turn Students spend over £80bn Zoe Ambrozewska

The Students’ Union has temporarily uturned on a decision to axe taxis for staff following complaints from staff following the verdict from the Union’s Company Board.

The bars, which employ over 30 students studying at the University, had told staff that their company-charged taxis home for shifts ending from 11 PM onwards would be scrapped after Freshers Week, leaving staff to make their own way home after they had finished work.

Taxis were withdrawn from 1 September, but only affected East Slope bar staff, who left around 1am, whilst Falmer Bar staff were not affected, due to earlier closing hours before the start of term. The taxis cost the company an average of £10,000 each year. Morale was low amongst bar staff, said one Union source and “understandably [bar staff] weren’t very happy”.

Executive members of the trading side of the Union, which deals with the Union’s commercial services, announced the change on 14 August and met with staff on 23 September, to feedback responses from staff on the change in policy.

Attended by the Students’ Union President, Communications Officer and Emily Holliday, the Operations Officer, the bar staff raised concerns over safety, and reportedly felt undervalued by the company.

An interim measure was introduced by the three officers in attendance to reinstate the taxis on the same terms as they had coexisted before the axe.

The policy was brought before the company’s Executive Board on September 26 where a number of suggestions were

raised as to how curb the costs to the Union, including cutting staff drinks.

An e-mail was sent to all bar staff for a further consultation on the policy, and employees were encouraged to attend a further meeting the following day to discuss the proposals raised at the Executive Board’s meeting.

An emergency meeting for executive members of the company, including officers and managers, is scheduled for October 8 where it is hoped a more permanent solution will be agreed on. This is to ensure “we have time to work through options and come to a compromise”, said Emily.

But several members of student staff also employed by the Union working in the Bramber House Co-op raised concern that giving free taxi journeys home to the bar staff but not the shop staff was unfair.

One student working for the Union commented, saying that that they thought the company was hesitant to provide free taxis for staff members at the shop because it only received 12% of the revenue generated in an agreement between the Union and the Co-op.

The Operations Officer has said there will be a consultation with Co-op staff on Monday 7 October .

Emily said: “This is a hang-over from the fact that bars have always had taxis and the Co-op only opened in the summer of 2011 We value equally the staff across all of our outlets, and ensuring staff safety is paramount to us. The share of revenue that we receive from the Co-op store has never, and will never be, a deciding factor in the issue of keeping our staff safe. This is a somewhat complex issue but we are doing our best to reach the best decision for everyone in a difficult situation.”

Ivor Jones

A recent report by the National Union of Students and the new economics foundation think tank has revealed important figures regarding how higher education students benefit the UK economy.

The most striking statistic from the report is that student spending supports over £80 billion of UK economic output. Student expenditure is also seen to be supporting over 830,000 jobs across the UK, significant at a time when unemployment is at 7.7%.

However, the benefits which stu-

dents bring to the economy are not just on a national level. The research also found that HEIs (Higher Education Institutions) contribute on local and regional scales as well.

The University of Birmingham, for example, produces “2.2% of Birmingham’s economic wealth, a value of £460 million accruing to the local economy.” Students will of course have instigated a large portion of this contribution through subsistence expenditures as well as the spending of their friends and family whilst visiting the area.

As a city with two universities, Brighton, in a different report (the

Yasmin Centeno

first study to have observed the economic impact of two universities in one city) is also seen to have reaped the benefits of over 30,000 student consumers.

‘The economic impact of Brighton's universities' by Ursula Kelly and Prof.

Iain McNicoll states that the universities of Sussex and Brighton contributed £967 million to Brighton and Hove and the wider south east, with student spending accounting for over £150 million of this figure in 2009.

Owners and employees of independent stores in Brighton appear to share the sentiment of these statistics as to the significant effects student spending has on their businesses.

Brody Fitzgibbon, manager of the Select clothing store, when asked how much he relied on Brighton and Sussex students for business he stated that 30% of his market were student customers.

He also stated that if there were fewer entrants to these universities (which may occur due to the rise in tuition fees) it would have “a noticeable effect” on his turnover.

This attitude was mutual among a range of Brighton’s stores.

The NUS report concludes: “It is widely acknowledged that higher education students and graduates provide significant benefits to the economy in the long run. The evidence presented in this report suggests that the contribution of students to the economy can be equally significant in the short term.”

THE BADGER

7 OCTOBER 2013

SUSSEX SAYS • 5

SUSSEX SAYS

Claim To Fame

THE MOAN ZONE

Life’s for the Living Shima Jalal Kamali There are rare moments in your life when something major happens and forms part of your memories which you reflect upon with a smile.

One of these rare moments happened for me this summer when I got the chance to meet Brighton born singer/songwriter Passenger (Michael David Rosenberg).

His hit single, “Let Her Go”, from his album All the Little Things has

whoever that “so and so” had been had rushed away and disappeared.

However, this summer this changed and now I can say with proof of photos that I met a celebrity! Just like his lyrics, Passenger, was humble and spent nearly an hour and half, without any charge, performing for us and even stayed to sign autographs and take pictures with his fans.

What made the experience even more memorable was his announcement that we were going to be part of

This week: Seagull Envy So as you are probably aware by now there are a lot of seagulls in Brighton, and they can be really, really annoying! Okay, Okay I know that when you live by the seaside you have to learn to live with those huge flying monsters which we lovingly refer to as seagulls.

I mean it’s not that I hate them, I actually quite like their bird call in a morning, reminding me that I live only a stone’s throw away from the beach. But do they have to be so aggressive? I have had a few encounters with seagulls now whilst being at University, all of which didn’t end in my favour.

“We were going to be part of his music video’” been my top favorite song of the year, but having the chance to hear him sing it live in the Pavilion gardens was the coolest thing ever!

Not only was he a down to earth person who mingled and joked with the crowd, of his hometown, but his soulful and folk based songs had you singing along and also contemplating the meaning of life.

Up until this summer I had never met a celebrity. What usually happened to me was that someone would call out “oh look it’s so and so” and by the time I had turned around to look,

his music video for his song “Holes”.

If you look on Youtube, you will no doubt see the Brighton crowd of the 29th of June 2013 in front of the Pavilion singing along with Passenger.

My celebrity encounter was significant because, he told us in between songs about his story of how a year ago he had been busking in front of Brighton Dome and now was travelling the world spreading his music. It just goes to show that if you dream and stick to what you love doing no matter how difficult it is at first, one day you will reach your dream.

HAVE YOU GOT A CLAIM? Swooned with a celebrity?

Done something so embarrasing in front of your hero you’ve never told anyone?

E-mail Sussex Says at lmh34@sussex.ac.uk

CREATURES OF THE NIGHT Rachel Simpson As a returning second year student, I was determined at Fresher’s fair to find a society I could feasibly commit to… something that I didn’t manage to do last year. It seemed like it was meant to be when I was led by a friend to the Pun Society, who in their own words, combine their love of puns and pubs, while getting dafter in the process. The fancy dress possibilities for their “Punder the Sea” social were too good to resist. Typically leaving the costume until the last minute, I hopped on the bus to Brighton with only a few vague ideas - and not that much cash. However, luck would have it that I’d purchase the curious ensemble of a £9 (neon) body stocking, dirt cheap blue hair spray and green eye pencil. Seaweed it was.

I arrived at Falmer Bar at 7pm with my housemate Ben, dressed as Poseidon (complete with a paper beard), and was subsequently asked if I were a fishing net. I wasn’t going to argue, a costume that was both convincing and a pun (fishing net, fishnets – get it?). A snakebite and a few vodka and cranberries later I was suitably merry to hit town with the assortment of sea life I’d befriended (pirates, angler fish, sailors, manta rays and castaways were just a few of the outfits).

However, by the time we got ourselves organised, the King and Queen had been flooded (ha) with football fans, obliging us to go to Spoons. I can now lay claim to the fact I was refused service and ignored on the premise that they “don’t serve people in fancy dress”.

To avoid sobering up, I began downing drinks in Pav Tav while my newfound friends adjusted their costumes, which were already looking worse for wear (Ben even had to source a new crown from Burger King). The last bar on our voyage was Oxygen, in which I only remember having a grim shot of vodka. At around 11pm, we had reached the so-

cieties queue at the biggest pun of the night: Oceana. Once we got in, I was washed away from the Pun Soc but reunited with my housemates, and it all made for another great night in Brighton. Until the next morning that is, when I awoke £50 poorer and literally sea sick.

My first run-in occurred last term, I had just finished a long morning of lectures and seminars and thought I would treat myself to one of the co-ops finest chicken and bacon sandwiches, as I stepped outside I heard a large swoop which was shortly followed by a massive weight on my shoulder. I thought I was being mugged! Well as a matter of fact I was – it just so happened to be by a 12 inch seagull.

It snatched my sandwich right out of my hand, leaving me red faced and hungry.

I have seen many others on campus and around Brighton endure the same seagull violence. One young lady made the mistake of feeding the little terrors, she ended up being mobbed by about 15 seagulls. Why are they so intent on trying to ruin everyone’s day?

Ever since it mugged me, I swear I have been stalked by a gang of vengeful seagulls.

They just really grind my gears.!

Rachel Roberts

Creatures of the Night @THEMOANZONE

Share your moaning moments

TOP CELEBRITY TWEETS OF THE WEEK “Woke up being spooned by my dog – would have made a lovely Athena poster” @AlanCarr “If Katy Perry married Rip Van Winkle, their kids would be Perry-Winkle. These are the things I think about when I cant sleep” @TheEllenShow “Being kept awake by a family of arguing ducks” @example We have a special treat for you this week, everyone loves a nice big public celebrity argument, so make sure you check out Kanye West and Jimmy Kimmel’s on Twitter, here is a quick preview for you: “Jimmy K. is the EVIL guy trying to keep people in a box and not want more out of themselves. He does this by making fun of real dreamers” @KanyeWest “if its not too much trouble @kanyewest, would you mind using @jimmykimmel? Thanks” @Jimmykimmel

the badger

7 OCTOBER 2013

Letters • 7

LETTERS

RE: Article on military action in Syria Dear Badger, There are inevitably views presented in the Badger which I take issue with, as is only to be expected from a student newspaper, where the righteousness of youth shouts boldly and confusedly, like a Hyde-park prophet, from its thin pages. But that vehemence becomes malignant when there is no accompanying understanding of the issue involved, as was the case with a recent article, where the writer attempted to explain why it was a terrific decision that the UK parliament voted against military action in Syria.

That this void was filled with rhetoric, scattergun arguments, and a general commitment to vagueness caused a wave of raw anger to rush through my veins and thus, being an Englishman, I felt compelled to write a letter.

The writer’s final sentence is indicative of the tone of the piece, she writes, “I am merely suggesting that perhaps Dave… should perhaps grow a pair and decide that we are better off alone.”

Whilst it is good to see that the writer is trying to engage with the under-represented UKIP supporters at Sussex, I have three issues with that statement. Firstly, this is not a subject in which the word ‘merely’ belongs; the decision to go to war is not trivial.

Secondly, I hope that we would like our politicians to think with their heads, rather than their bollocks.

Thirdly, the notion that we are better off alone is, generally, complete nonsense. Trade, immigration (and emigration), and diffusion of ideas are just some of the examples of the benefits that come from not being an isolationist nation.

But regarding this particular decision the writer is right: we would be better off alone. But Syria might not be. Far contrary to the writer’s belief that it is inaction that would require Dave to “grow a pair”, it is quite the opposite. To start a war that would be

unpopular and costly, and as a result probably lose him the next election, thus requiring a very large pair indeed.

Balls aside, she contradicts herself, stating that ‘Dave’ (what skilful rhetoric), not only “put up a good fight in the commons” but also questions whether his “allegiance switched” and in doing so attempts to have her cake (that the PM was beaten) and eat it (prove that he is a backstabbing prick). Similarly, she observes that “the destruction and devastation that is occurring within [Syria] is truly horrific”, but suggests that “we are not needed”.

What then should the appropriate response to the horrific destruction and devastation be?

The UN’s peacekeeping force has proved itself to be woefully inadequate and the only agents with enough power to rectify the situation are individual nations, such as the UK. With the 5th most powerful military force in the world, I would argue that we are very much needed, but as the writer herself says, “the majority of us have bigger fish to fry than what is happening across the deep blue”, citing her £9000 a year tuition fees as one of the bigger fish.

I’m sure we’d all agree with the writer that one can’t put a value on a life, unless that life makes one’s tuition fees more expensive. Continuing in her theme of questionable ethical relativism, she writes, “we decide that it is our moral obligation to help out those poor innocents, regardless of whether they would actually like our help in the first place”.

Admittedly, the Syrian populace is divided into those seeking outside assistance and those not, although the split seems to be one of rich vs. poor. But at some point we must decide whether or not we do have a moral obligation to intervene, and the quote, attributed to several great statesmen, comes to mind, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”

I am tired of dangerous rhetoric from all sides of the political spectrum and surely we should consider censoring some of the screechings that are submitted to the Badger.

Come on Sussex, surely we can do better than this?

Sam Parlett

The views and opinions expressed in this publication do not nessesarily represent those of the Student’s Union, unless explicitly stated.

University of Sussex Students’ Union Falmer, East Sussex, BN1 9QF

email: badger-letters@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

BADGER

THE

Three life lessons Dear Badger, Since being at university some whole two weeks, I have come to realise three important life lessons.

One; your sleeping pattern becomes pretty messed up (one night out in a week is all it takes and you find yourself up at half two writing a Badger letter when you so desperately want to be sleeping!). This isn’t helped by the surprisingly good black-out curtains in my room making it even harder to get up in the morning.

Two; do not underestimate the sheer quantity and speed at which a stream of sick can flow down the night bus. A helpful hint for this one is to be quick with lifting your legs up and jumping to the other side of the bus away from the chunder chap and you’ll make it just in time before the vomit hits (or take a taxi, however I’m too cheap).

Three; don’t trust Primark sandals.

Although this may sound strange there is a very useful lesson to learn here. Whilst on my gander from a lecture today, my flimsy, but oh so pretty, sandal flipped under my foot causing the strap to break off making me fall embarrassingly down the curb.

After realising there was no way I could save the poor shoe and myself from humiliation, I took it off and carried it hobbling about with one sandal on and one sandal off. I would prefer to say this is the first time this has happened to me with cheap sandals but unfortunately that’s not the case.

Therefore, a word of warning to all you people out there who think that grabbing a bargain pair of sandals is a good idea; it is until you over wear them and they break off your foot making you look an inebriated shoeless fool scurrying around campus.

So there are my 3 points of wisdom, I’m sure if you listen to these everything in your life will work out great.

Or it might not.

Olivia Betts

# T hebadger the week in tweets @rdtmgirls Met a guitar wielding Northfield inhabitant whilst by Park Village, sadly he lived up to the pompous stereotypes #TheBadger @jblay2 already down to £480 of my student loan.. lost as to how I spent that much already #TheBadger

Editor-in-Chief Aubrey Allegretti

badger@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Deputy Editors-in-Chief Emily Sutherland badger-news@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Cat Gough

badger-arts@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Tom Pearson

badger-opinion@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Head of Publicity Amy Bracewell

badger-publicity@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

@JellyElliott Freshers, if you are ever given the choice between going to bed or going to a tequila shot party, choose your bed. No, seriously. #TheBadger @dbatchelor94 @JellyElliott Hahaha! A messy night that ended up with me riding around Northfield in a security van searching for you #memories #TheBadger

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@L0u1s87 Just loving my five 9ams a week timetable #TheBadger

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@ChloeGrace_94 I wish there was an on-campus salon/ beauticians at Sussex. Would make my between-lecture gaps so much more productive #nailwoes #TheBadger

Arts Editors Will Fortna, Tom Powell, Heather Gwyther, Cesca Rampley, Victoria Rodrigues badger-artspages@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

@nicolajh Rejoicing in the news that Co-Op now offer 10% NUS discount after a year of paying such ridiculous prices at the campus one #TheBadger @heathergwyther why does no one leave mean comments on the stuff I write for the #TheBadger :@

Correction: Last issue’s Society of the Week column was incorrectly attributed, and was written

by James Parsons

GOT AN OPINION? If you’re troubled by seagul strife, want to air a campus grievance, or want to respond to an article in the paper, send a carrier pigeon to:

badger-letters@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

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the badger

7 october 2013

FEATURE • 8

FEATURE

studentparents.wordpress.com

Spotlight on student parents This week The Badger focuses on one of our campus’s fringe groups, and explores some of the trials and tribulations of being a student parent at Sussex.

Amanda Fried Sussex has created a family-friendly image to appeal to student parents. Its Google search page is filled with pictures of studious young adults and children playing.

Glossy booklets available at Falmer House demonstrate the various means of support offered by the Student Life Centre and Parent Representatives.

The Students’ Union’s website speaks proudly of its family room which comes equipped with a kitchen, baby change facilities, toys, games, and sofas.

Based on appearances alone, it seems like the ideal institution for students with dependents to pursue higher education. But are all problems faced by student parents at Sussex now overcome?

Not according to some. Settling into university with no worries except making friends and finding your lecture halls is difficult enough. To do so with a dependent child is considerably harder, despite on-campus family halls, a nursery, and a recently re-opened family room at East Slope (previously closed on health and safety grounds).

The stigma surrounding young parents may be less prevalent at liberal universities such as Sussex than in the job market, but anyone who’s ever been to a Freshers event knows that it isn’t child-friendly. Most events are geared towards the young, carefree individual looking to drink heavily and explore Brighton beach in the early hours of the morning. Key findings from the

Students’ Union’s report on student parents from 2011 found that some respondents had reported that “the images of the University in the prospectus and online portrayed it as being family friendly, but they were disappointed by the family flats and awareness of student parent issues upon arrival”.

Dr Tamsin Hinton-Smith, a Sociol-

“Based on the respondents to an anonymous survey, the Students’ Union estimated that women make up 86.1% of student parents at Sussex” ogy lecturer at Sussex, argues that the University should increase their efforts to live up to student’s expectations. She completed her BA, Masters and PhD at Sussex as a single student parent, and has published several books on lone parents and women in higher education.

She cites one of her reasons for choosing Sussex as it having a familyfriendly reputation. “If prospective student parents are getting the message that Sussex is better than other universities, because it has some oncampus accommodation and childcare facility, or because the Students’ Union get involved in supporting parents, it’s important to follow through with those expectations once they get here”.

Dr. Hinton-Smith also states schedul-

ing as one of the main dilemmas facing student parents. “Some tutors insisted I come see them during office hours rather than using e-mails. This puts pressure on student parents. I’m aware that things are better now, but I have heard that there are still some technological dinosaurs refusing to use e-mail”.

With available nursery hours not always corresponding to lecture and seminar hours, timetabling is a key issue. University holidays do not always match school holidays, for instance.

Childcare arrangements are often required to be made in advance, but as a result, student parents find themselves committed to paying for childcare sessions they sometimes do not require.

Despite promises to release timetables two months early in 2013, the promise failed to materalise. The University has claimed that the scheduling process is too complex to release early or to rearrange for students with dependents.

The Badger contacted the Students’ Union, who said: “The late release of timetables is a longstanding issue that the Students’ Union has raised with the University numerous times. The late publication of timetables makes it very difficult particularly for students with dependents to confirm childcare arrangements or attend lectures that clash with school drop-off or pick-up times. We will continue to raise the issue with the University both in meetings and committees”.

One cause of the problems universities face in terms of supporting student

parents is the lack of information collected about them as a group. The NUS Meet the Parents Report of 2007-2008 found that nobody knows how many student parents there are, since universities are not required to collect this information. Based on the respondents to an anonymous survey, the Students’ Union estimates that women make up 86.1% of student parents at Sussex.

Students with dependents appear to be overrepresented among postgraduate research students, with 36.1% falling into this category, compared to 9.5% of the total student body. 41.7% of the respondents were undergraduates.

Student couples with children face a considerable advantage in that they sacrifice less of their time and studies.

Patricia and William Johnson raised a son at Sussex and describe their time as student parents at the University as a “very happy experience”. They lived in a family flat in Park Village, where their son was born in the final weeks of their second year. Patricia was able to take a year out while her husband finished his degree to stay home with their baby, and William then looked after their son while Patricia graduated.

The couple found that the University was supportive both academically and practically. Tamsin, as a single parent however, had a different experience. She felt she that was not offered sufficient academic or moral support. Current colleagues of Tamsin say that her former Academic Advisor for Sociology, who held a “right-wing, anti-single parent

perspective”, was not amenable to her situation, and was not optimistic about her potential to complete her degree.

So how can we ensure that Sussex lives up to its family-friendly reputation for all student parents, including ones who are without the support of a partner?

The attitudes of individuals such as Tamsin’s Academic Advisor must change. Students stand much less of a chance if their own advisors don’t believe in them, and should not have to hope for an understanding mentor who doesn’t yell at them when they’re late for dropping off their child at school.

Staff should be made aware of the best ways to accommodate student parents.

The University must improve administrative routines to provide timelier scheduling. Furthermore, more systematic data needs to be collected about student parents as a social group. Without better knowledge of the circumstances student parents face, the University cannot offer much needed support.

Special thanks to Hannah Simpson for providing additional information.

support & info If you’re interested in finding out more about the support and information available to student parents you can contact the Student Life Centre in Chichester 1 or the Advice and Representation Centre in Falmer House

THE BADGER

7 OCTOBER 2013

COMMENT • 10

COMMENT

To legalise or not to legalise, that is the question Jemada Cicely This may seem like a forgotten about debate or simply one that the government wishes to dismiss, but the truth is that the pursuit to legalize cannabis around the globe is still ongoing.

If you didn’t know, countries like Canada, the Netherlands, Uruguay, several states in the US and even in North Korea (I

bet you weren’t expecting that) are all for treating and handling marijuana for exactly what it is, a plant. And although one of the many uses of this plant is to ‘get high’ with some mates after class or perhaps even before, for the more daring, one can’t deny that cannabis, marijuana, weed, grass, crow or whatever name you wish to give it, should be seen in the same light as any other recreational legal substance worshipped

amongst most university students such as our beloved poison, alcohol, or our must have cancer stick, tobacco. I am in no way justifying marijuana as something positive or encouraging the use of it, but to see marijuana as something taboo or highly deadly as some extremists proclaim, to me, seems outdated and to be quite frank, a little ignorant.

It’s ludicrous to know that some countries like Singapore and Thai-

land have gone as far as to hang people for possessing and growing cannabis (and we are talking within the last decade!). There are an infinite amount of injustices in the world both minor and major, and this is definitely one of them.

The truth is that the larger part of the population at some point in their lives have consumed alcohol, smoked cigarettes, and dare I say have even had a joint or two.

Are all these things harmful

and, in copious amounts, detrimental to our health? The answer is yes. Despite this do the majority of us continue consuming these substances? The sad and obvious answer is yes.

The crude truth is we really shouldn’t be consuming any of these substances, but we do. So if it is that in our ‘democracy’ alcohol and tobacco are legal, then I’m sorry, but marijuana must be too.

Greedy monsters taking over Sussex Joe Walker

With the hand of austerity casting a shadow over the nation, you’d have to have been shacked up underground for the last three years to never have heard an utterance of malcontent with the Con-Dem alliance.

It is a sad fact that at the very heart of this nation’s bureaucracy there exists a protection racket for elitist wealth, personified in the move to privatise Royal Mail and the NHS (which a group of Sussex students travelled to Manchester to protest

against on Sunday). You may feel detached from both of these cases but I urge you to read on as the threat of privatisation is imminent on the Sussex Campus, and only we can fight it.

So, you may ask, what’s wrong with privatisation? What even is privatization? I’ll try to paraphrase the issues.

At the top is the board of directors and they want to sell off on-campus services, such as catering, cleaning and a large number of jobs, to the highest bidder, thus putting them out of University control and into the hands of private businesses – hence, ‘privatisation’.

So what’s wrong with privatisation?

Why does it affect you? Directly, prices on campus will soar and it will be a bureaucratic businessman with no care for the University lining his pockets with YOUR cash (note the more expensive Chartwell catering chain has already replaced the catering situated in Bramber House last year).

Indirectly, 235 jobs held by loyal staff members will come under threat of reduced pay or even redundancy as the greedy bureaucrat snaps his fingers from his cushy office in Dandyland. The fight on campus has been running for over a year now and has

and pans!), starting at 1pm in Library Square.

We are not a radical minority and we are not of a set politic – this needs to have the support of everyone if we are to make a difference. So please, tell your friends and join us at either of these to learn more and get involved.

And in the true spirit of Sussex … let’s save the 235!

The Badger is running a survey on the campus food outlets at Sussex. Head over to our webste to find out more and take part at: www.badgeronline.

The contrived continental divide

Union box

Fred Malone

Sophie van der Ham Welfare Officer

Rethinking toilet signage We are working towards forming the first University trans* student policy and we need your help.

Trans* (with an asterisk) people are people who identify differently from the gender they were assigned at birth. A lot of people see gender as being one of two options - male or female, but some people feel that they don’t fit into either binary, or they identify as a different one to the one they were assigned.

To ask trans* people which identity they fit into can be painful, and yet when we have gendered toilets we ask

suport among students and staff, from freshers to professors, epitomised by the fifty-five day occupation of Bramber House, commencing 7th February last year, which received national attention and support.

While some second and third years may be becoming tired of the on-going struggle, it is not too late to put a stop to this. However, we need YOUR support.

There will be a public meeting and documentary screening at 4pm on Tuesday 8th October in Arts A1, followed by a noise demonstration on Wednesday 9th (so bring your pots

them to do this every day.

We’d like to provide more gender neutral toilets so that all of our students are comfortable and safe on campus.

In order for the toilets to be agreeable for everyone, we would like to have input from a range of students into the signage we use for these.

We are mostly looking for international students and disabled students with access needs, as well as trans* students.

Please keep an eye on www.sussexstudent.com and fill in the webform to ensure we have toilets that are accessible to everyone.

According to a cocksure ‘university leader’ named Quintin McKellar, British society is xenophobic. I’d be inclined to agree with him, but only if we were to interchange ‘society’ with ‘the stiffs at the Home Office’.

That said, Theresa May and her groupies at the UK Border Agency should not shoulder all of the blame, as it’s only fair to reserve a large portion of it for the stooges at mainstream media outlets who perpetuate xenophobic sentiments as a form of entertainment.

Like with any recurring issue, it is the powers-that-be who dictate the societal

Sussex Uni Conservative Society Society of the week Are you a Tory? Believe it or not there is an outlet for Conservative students at Sussex! The Sussex University Conservative Society was established a few years ago as an outlet for students who were either party supporters or people with right of centre views.

Since its creation, it has developed into one of the biggest politics societies on campus. As a society, we welcome anyone who hold Conservative values, or simply people who feel they

narrative, and on this issue, we have been truly stirred.

Vince Cable recently announced that the number of international students attending universities in the UK has fallen sharply. He attributes this mainly to “perception issues”, in that many prospective students simply do not feel welcome. This decline, in all regards, must be blamed on the irresponsible actions of politicians and their buddies at the media houses.

It is the Home Office with their billboards of intolerance, their unjust cutting of legal aid to asylum seekers and their manipulation of immigration statistics who are the unwelcoming mass on our shores. As well as the media out-

lets with their sensationalist headlines, their overtly xenophobic language and their disproportionately high emphasis on issues of immigration.

Here at Sussex however these concerns have not registered on the University’s radar. On paper, the university claims that international students “feel at home” here and that student satisfaction for societies and multi-faith provision is 95%. So then, on paper, let’s be the bastions of multiculturalism and shove it to the scaremongers.

In reality too, we can be a positive force for integration, but judging by the cliques and clusters that continue to form around nationalities here on campus, some work is still to be done.

don’t fit into any political party, but find that their views are more in line with that of the Conservative party.

We are an extremely diverse group, with many international students (a great way to see how Conservative parties work across the globe).

We regularly engage with the Students Union and have had positive outcomes due to this.

We also have extremely good ties with local MPs Simon Kirby and Mike Weatherley who are always up for giving us a tour round parliament. We often campaign locally in the Brighton area, door

knocking or telephone canvassing (it’s more fun that it may sound!).

There is a large social aspect, too. We regularly hold great socials, whether it be in clubs round Brighton, or just going for a few drinks in the local pub.

This year we are keen to engage with the other political societies on campus, and hold cross-party debates.

We often find areas where there is great consensus, but also areas of disagreement – which make for a more fun debate! Our next meeting is on Tuesday the 8th in Fulton 212, come along!

the badger

7 october 2013

THE BIGIs Breaking DEBATE Bad worth the hype?

comment • 11

The Badger asks whether or not the gripping US drug drama, which aired its series finale last Sunday, is as brilliant as its hardcore fans proclaim.

No

Seamus Mulrenan

I love Breaking Bad but objectively it’s a mess of elements collapsed into compelling television. It’s The Leaning Tower of Pisa of shows: it gets by through incidental irregularities without the craftsmanship of a constructed story.

For example Gus Fring, one of television’s most entrancing antagonists, was not meant to last two seasons and even Jesse Pinkman was meant to be killed.

You may argue that the lack of structure leads to astonishing scenes (turtle, car park, exploding old man, that is all) yet for every victorious cry a sound goes unheard, the more absurdly loud the show sounds, the further it loses its sensitivity to the quiet power of character and atmosphere.

Who really cared if Walt Junior got a car and if Jesse would have a reconciliation with his parents in those moments of calm? As such the audience stop looking for character and narrative but instead what it yields, that is shock value at its worst, when all value is drained by the power of spectacle moments.

This has subsequently led to another problem. Almost every aspect is driven by style over substance. Hank doesn’t merely suffer from PTSD, he collects minerals to make it more interesting; even Walt’s descent into irredeemable evil is bookmarked by style rather than realism, you may as well let him stroke his Machiavellian beard by the final seasons.

Every character development lacks nuance in its pursuit to entertain. Therefore to inter-

est so ruthlessly the characters feel less human because of it, Badger and Skinny Pete are simply a cut out stoner duo used occasionally to mop up the last of the writers room jokes: the whole Star Trek anecdote, it’s hilarious but ultimately adds nothing. Perhaps this is why a major complaint of Breaking Bad is an antipathy for characters, it’s because they remain just that: characters.

The most problematic aspect of Breaking Bad is that it lacks any kind of meaning. Every other show mentioned alongside it has purpose. The Wire was about the inherent institutional corruption, Game of Thrones is about power in all forms being harmful, even Friends eventually became about the developing interpersonal relationships over a decade.

The first unifying theme often named is the war on drugs but within the show it isn’t really evident. Sure we see them making meth and the problems it presents but you never get the sense of its effect on the Albuquerque community or how the Heisenberg operation even works; it’s hard to imagine any war when you only see Walt, Hank and occasionally a cheeky Mexican cartel intruding.

The lack of meaning within the show suggests that although it’s compulsive viewing, in the long term, it isn’t lasting. How and why should Breaking Bad be remembered?

As the best show about an antihero? The Sopranos. The best show about the war on drugs?

The Wire. The best show about an amoral cast drawn to evil? Seinfeld. Ultimately Breaking Bad will never be better than great because of this; it will remain a quality imprint of other, more pioneering products.

This is no blue meth.

Yes

Varun Manoj and Tom Wilton The question isn't "Is breaking bad worth the hype?", rather the question should really be "Does any other show on TV come close?". The answer is a resounding NO. But what is it that makes the show so special?

Simply put the show that Vince Gilligan and his team have made is a masterpiece, with an outstanding story, complex characters, phenomenal acting and beautiful cinematography.

Almost every episode is a joy to watch and it’s an absolute pleasure to see a show that knows when to draw to a close rather than running out of gas and tiredly carrying on ( I'm looking at you Lost/Dexter).

The show definitely went out with a bang and not a whimper. True to its name almost every character in the series broke bad, I mean I've never seen a show which had so many multidimensional characters; the opinions that I formed of them in season 1 took a complete 180 degree turn by season 5. I watch a lot of shows and this is the only show that's made me go "OOOOOOH SHIIIIT".

Walter White is probably one of the most well crafted characters ever made for television, next to maybe Tony Soprano or Don Draper. The infamous Heisenberg started off as a mere chemistry teacher, wildly out of his depth before being diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer.

This was the beginning of an unforgettable, intense and brutal journey in which we witnessed the birth of Albuquerque's most merciless meth cook. Bryan Cranston's portrayal of

Walt is perhaps the most captivating aspect of Breaking Bad. His transformation from a blithering middle aged man to a cold calculating drug kingpin was not only executed successfully

by Cranston, but it also realistically depicts the different facets of human behaviour, so much so that you cannot help but empathise with his character.

Maybe that's what allowed me to connect with the series, and how I was able to relate to Walt in his situation on a basic human level. That said, Walt is just one character, don't even get me started on the others!

The best way to enjoy Breaking Bad to its fullest, in my opinion, is watching it with friends. In particular I loved the suspenseful moments because we were all on the edge of our seats waiting to see what craziness would ensue next, from the opening theme song to the sudden cut to the credits.

Maybe this is a bit dampened for newcomers since the show has come to an end, but I'm sure for fans of the show the arrival of each new episode was a proper event that deserved a party.

Half the fun of watching the show was talking about the episodes and predicting what could possibly happen next.

And the best part is, most of the time whatever we would predict the exact opposite would happen, all because of the stellar and unprecedented writing from Gilligan and his team.

So there you have it, Breaking Bad is the best show ever made.

Just Watch it and you’ll agree!

Until then...let’s cook!

the badger

7 october 2013

SCIENCE • 12

SCIENCE

Are artificial sweeteners reversing dieting efforts?

Naomi Horsfall Christian Baldock With the diet products industry being worth in excess of $40 billion a

Fun science fact of the week

toothbrush that cleans your teeth... in 6 seconds They’re 3D printing everything nowadays, but here’s something that might actually benefit you more than anything else.

Taken from a mold of your mouth(sounds like too much hassle already right?) the toothbrush can apparently clean to the same standard as a normal three minute brush in just six seconds.

However, do you own a 3D printer? The cost of one of these bad boys is a lot more than your lifetime’s supply of toothbrushes.

year in the US alone, much of this market is centred on the artificially sweetened products which we continuously buy in efforts to lose

weight.

Marketed as a “zero-calorie” or “sugar-free” alternatives to high calorie food and drinks that, although cheap and quick to make, are associated with the myriad of harmful health conditions that have risen in Western society such as cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes.

As people became more aware of their health and the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle, artificial sweeteners were seen as a way to avoid the “empty-calories” that comes with fizzy drinks and sweets.

The idea was warmly received as people could still enjoy a sweet product, yet not have to worry about the calories.

A huge amount of research has been carried out on artificial sweeteners discovering that they might not be as beneficial as you are led to believe. When we consume sugary, glucose-rich food it is broken down and stimulates the release of dopamine in the brain which gives

you a positive feeling that will be linked to that source of glucose. After a while the amount of glucose in the body falls and so does the level of dopamine which leads to that strange craving for chocolate that you get at 10 o’clock in the evening.

A study in the Journal of Physiology has found that artificial sweeteners do not activate this pathway as effectively as sugars do. This means that the levels of dopamine released is much lower so there will not be a positive link between the brain and the low-calorie alternative: leaving the body still craving sugars.

Remarkably, this can lead to relapses or binges on foods that are high in calories and do not fit in with a general healthy eating regime to satisfy the cravings.

Not only do artificially sweetened alternatives fail to convince our brains that they are glucose rich, a study in The Journal of Biological Chemistry has discovered that there are sweet-taste receptors on the

tongue and small intestine which are directly recognised and activated by artificial sweeteners.

These receptors are directly linked to pathways that cause an increase in adipogenesis (fat cell build-up) and an inhibition of lipolysis (fat breakdown).

Meaning that the “zero-calorie” alternatives that are meant to help you lose weight will actually help you put it on.

Although what was previously thought to be a revolutionary alternative to high calorie foods and a way to help live a healthier lifestyle is fast becoming the exact thing it was made to help fight against.

The age old saying of “everything in moderation” rings true here. Eating a whole pack of low-fat biscuits and washing it down with litres of Diet Coke every day is not going to be as great on your waistline as companies rather convincing style of ‘diet alternative’ marketing may lead us to believe.

Elon Musk:The Tony Stark of our time?

Mike Gray

The CEO of the first private company to challenge NASA’s dominance of space exploration, an advocate of solar technology and the drive behind Tesla motors, Elon Musk is a man not afraid of challenges.

Born in South Africa, Musk taught himself computer programming young, and by the time he was 12 had sold the code for a video game, Blastar, for $500.

Less than thirty years later, Musk’s company, SpaceX, sent the first commercial vehicle to the International Space Station following a $1.8 billion contract from NASA. So how does this one man pioneer commercial space travel (Richard Branson aside), popularise the electric car and make solar technology a viable option for the average American household?

It all began with PayPal. Musk and his family travelled to Canada in 1989, where he pursued a degree in business followed by a degree in physics from the University of Pennsylvania, before beginning a PhD in Energy Physics.

Musk spent two days studying his PhD before quitting to pursue entrepreneurship; initially an online payments system called X.com, which would go on to become PayPal and be bought by Ebay for $1.5 billion in share options.

This broad foundation enables Musk to tackle problems in a systemic way, applying technology, innovation and business acumen in combination to problems, and then crucially risking wealth and reputation where no one else will.

With some serious funding and credentials to stand on, Musk went on to found the Space Exploration Company (SpaceX) in 2002, which is where he really began to attract attention.

When asked what possessed him to tackle the space industry, Musk would tell you “Did you hear about the guy that made a small fortune in the space industry? Well, he started out with a large fortune”. And for a few years it looked like that is exactly what Musk had done; with the Space project soaking up money with no results and his project to develop a worthwhile electric car struggling.

Yet now the tables have turned, and he is lauded as a genius. The crucial aims of SpaceX were to reduce the cost of launching a rocket (the space shuttle cost over $1 billion per launch) and develop a reusable vehicle that could return to earth and be ready to launch within hours.

SpaceX have made radical improvements in a variety of technologies but have not patented a single one; Musk believes that patenting them could do more damage saying, “given our main competitors are national governments, the enforceability of patents is questionable”.

Musk is an altruistic-genius, aiming to improve the future of human civilisation. But the best thing about him? He is a genuinely modest, down to earth (pardon the pun) and a nice guy. He even had a walk on part in Ironman 2.

Hopefully people will listen to him, and perhaps humanity will work together to establish an interplanetary civilisation. I am a big fan.

Online exclusives Have you got an insatiable apetite for science based articles? Peruse our website (www.badgeronline.co.uk) for plenty more. Topics include: condoms in Californian jails and Bipolar awareness day (8th October).

the badger

7 October 2013 ARTS • 14

Arts INTERVIEW:

Music

THE 1975

College

Concorde 2

28th September

The Haunt 25th September

Lili Kokai

Georgia Smith

The Manchester based band had their first EP, ‘The City’, featured as part of a BBC Introducing show in 2012. Their song ‘Chocolate’, debuted on their 3rd EP in 2012, peaked to number 19 on the UK Singles Chart. After touring extensively in 2013, supporting bands such as Muse and The Rolling Stones they released their eponymous debut album which reached No. 1 in the UK Albums Chart.

Although he has never lived here, Matthew’s mother spent much time in Brighton during the 1970’s gay rights movement, so he has formed a ‘nostalgic’ attachment to our very own city!

Questioned on the origin of the name ‘The 1975’, he tells us a story of himself as an idealistic nineteen year old on holiday in a ’tiny village’ on the island of Mallorca, who met a ‘really bohemian man in his fifties having a yard sale’.

The man had pictures of himself posing with Jimi Hendrix, original Beatles floppy vinyls and he gave Matthew ‘literature to read, such as Jack Kerouac and beat poetry’.

‘One of the books had loads of scribblings like a diary’, with a specific scribbling reappearing on several pages: 1st of June, The 1975’. ’It was just a thing that stuck in my head’ and didn’t occur to him as a determining phrase until years later.

The word ‘The’ has never before had

FILM

The Stuart Hall Project Duke’s at Komedia Grace Cummings Centred on one of the most famous cultural theorists of our time, the Sundance Festival’s 2013 highly acclaimed documentary ‘The Stuart Hall Project’ takes us on an emotional and biographical journey throughout the 20th century.

Brought to us by the famous documentarian John Akomfrah, we follow Stuart Hall’s commentary concerning the inter-disciplines of sociology, in addition to the countless global, political and cultural changes our nation faced throughout the revolutionary era.

After emigrating from Jamaica to England in 1951, Hall discusses the notions of identity, race, ethnicity and cultural belonging.

Challenging his own personal perspectives of identity regarding his African, Indian and British decent, Hall

Amy Bracewell such a significance, you lose it, ‘you never say THE Rolling Stones or THE Arctic Monkeys’, he explains.

When asked if he writes his own lyrics, Matthew laughs and says ‘No, I get them off toilet doors.

There’s actually some pretty smart stuff there’. He doesn’t have time to visit inspirational places, but never stops writing and already has songs for an upcoming album.

‘I can never lie in songs, because [the band members] have known each other for over 10 years… I’m a very personal person’, he says. Their first album ‘The 1975’ has been a ’write-up of memories’ and the 2nd is going to be a ’reflection on the same old streets, same old girls’, now seen from a completely different perspective, as they are constantly on the road.

He names a few of his musical influences, ‘Michael Jackson, Prince, My Chemical Romance, Peter Gabriel, Talking Heads’. ‘Most people think our music is Indie with R’n’B, but it’s really R’n’B with Indie.

Someone called it Guitar ‘n’ Beat’.

When asked about his preferred audience size, Matthew compares a small audience to ‘a handful of marbles’ and a big one to ‘a tennis ball’. ‘A tennis ball is easier to control’, as waves of enthu-

siasm can be contagious in a crowd but he mentions it being easier to connect to the individuals in a small audience.

His view on the music industry is remarkable simple; he tells me that he is in the lucky position of not needing to care.Stop ‘Universal us’,So not Don’t Me Nowcame - Hoto Wah the other way round and now ‘there is a neon sign at their studio saying The 1975’.

He criticises bands whose members are constantly posting on twitter and mindlessly publish promotional pictures at every given chance.

‘Led Zeppelin, that’s what real rock and roll was about: just one picture, in front of jet plane.’ With the Internet ‘shoving [everything] down your throat’, mystery has become key to keeping up the audience’s interest.

Matthew really does seem to be a ‘very personal person’; he is down to earth, intelligent, witty, absolutely devoted to producing good quality music and was a pleasure to interview.

Later they put on a great show, playing real crowd pleasers as well as favourites of the ’true’ fans. The audience went bonkers. It is no wonder The 1975 got so far if they can create such an ecstatic atmosphere. This band will definitely go a long way.

philosophises on the consequences of globalisation, in addition to the more-recent recognition of the ‘New Left’ and the cultural changes that may bring.

Wonderfully accompanied by the heart-warming, yet at times unsettling soundtrack of Miles Davis’ collection, to claim the documentary as simply academically appealing is merely an understatement.

Made up wholly of a nostalgic montage of authentic footage throughout recent decades, it successfully highlights the historical significance in cultural, political and global movements which have greatly influenced modern day society.

Akomfrah beautifully manipulates his work into a stylish, intellectuallystimulating and intriguing piece that leaves you questioning your personal relationship with identity, morality and sense of belonging.

Music

CocoRosie

Brighton Dome 27th September Tigan Palmer While you were pre-drinking for Hot Wuk on Friday night, all the fauxhemians and I were at the Brighton Dome preparing to watch Cocorosie.

Snippets of conversation overheard were such as “I love your corset!” and “And then she asked if she could lick my arse!”

Already bemused, my +1 Lilly and I found our seats and watched Cocorosie, their pianist and Tez the Incredible Human Beatbox (don’t ask) perform songs mostly from their new album.

Bianca’s distinctly unique crackling voice complimented her sister Sierra’s operatic coos creepily impeccably, but after one thinks of somebody with tonsillitis putting on a baby voice, it’s difficult to stop.

Regardless, Sierra and Bianca Cassidy’s disembodied and incomprehensible sounds were beautifully, eerily,

Behind the decks at The Haunt, Brighton, on Wednesday stood French music producer and founder of record label ‘Valerie’, David Grellier, better known in his nu-disco, synth-pop outfit: ‘College’.

No microphone, no fuss, just Grellier dressed in a simple white tee, who took to the stage and began his set with no introduction.

Behind him hung a projector which took the crowd through a journey of castles, dragons and outer-space that resembled a 1980s video game accompanying Grellier’s retro-futuristic sounds in the form of such songs as the enraptured ‘Teenage Color’ and ‘Closer’.

With minimal vocals, the crowd was at times a little still as they gently two-stepped to the rich, unfiltered beats and euphoric synths.

However, as Grellier finished with

the eminent ‘A Real Hero’, featuring Electronic Youth (from the soundtrack of Ryan Gosling’s hit film, Drive), the room lifted and fist-pumping and cheering emerged.

Grellier has been quoted in the past to have said that he is inspired by “nostalgic music” like that of Daft Punk and has described ‘College’ as an attempt to “synthesize into my music the emotions of my childhood” including “images of Los Angeles [and] Chiacgo”.

His performance at The Haunt proved his attempts to be successful, with the mix of exemplary French electro and the powerful visual backdrop all screaming American 1980s pop-culture.

Perhaps Grellier could have advanced from an unrulier and slightly larger crowd and a later start but overall his performance was nothing to be ashamed of and no one left disappointed: unless you count the extraordinary price of £4.50 for a can of red stripe.

If Grellier’s College sounds appealing, it is also worth giving a listen to other French-electronic producers, ‘dYe’ and ‘Anoraak’ and Manchesterborn ‘Futurecop!’: all of whom echo the electronic synth lines of the 80s.

Georgia Smith

exceptionally weird.

They’ve been described as a progressive ‘freakfolk’ movement that refuses to be pigeonholed because feminism.

I can understand why: with frequent costume changes, memorable lyrics such as “What’s God’s name I can’t remember” and “Mexican pony fucked up shoes”, and a seven-minute solo by Tez, Cocorosie’s sole aim seemed to be to personify ‘indistinguishable’.

After a gorgeously confusing performance, Sierra cartwheeled back onstage for the second encore and Bianca sat at the piano hitting it.

Lilly moaned, “They’re going to play more songs and they’re going to be just like all the other songs.” Cocorosie proved Lilly well and truly wrong.

The lyric melody aching out of Bianca started to incite memories of tongue-in-cheek plays during first year until we were singing along with her: “So – let me – hold you – come, caress my bo-dy. You got me go-in’ crazy oh.

Turn me on, turn me on.” Type in Kevin Lyttle to youtube if you’re not already singing it.

The closing piece (not song) con-

sisted of Sierra doing scissor kicks in her tutu and Bianca repeatedly rapping the words ‘Vagina Party’.

If I was nice I would celebrate the joyful and empowered abandon of the sisters and the amalgamation of childlike beauty, hiphop beats, opera and powerful bass that forms the most contradictory but fascinating musical form I’ve ever experienced.

If I was scathing I would say that their music has the remarkable ability of being insignificantly waify while simultaneously very irritating.

We exited with Lilly proclaiming that she was going to have her very own vagina party and that nobody was invited because it’s her vagina.

the badger

7 october 2013 ARTS • 15

Reviews Music

Literature

Shlomo

An Evening with Terry Pratchett and Friends

Corn Exchange 27th September

Brighton Dome

Raymond Jennings

29th September Al Eccles

Dashing, as I did relatively early on Sunday morning from London to Brighton and then to the Dome, admittedly I wasn’t sure quite what to expect.

In my mind, I had pictured a fairly sedate evening of readings and red wine – the sudden realisation that the event began at 2 pm raised first the question of whether I would make it in time, the second of whether I was in fact walking into something akin to a children’s matinee performance.

While I have thoroughly enjoyed my own experience of Discworld, it is this aspect of his work that most divides Pratchett’s critics, with some deriding his work as facile and sophomoric.

Thankfully however, this was not the case.

After a few words from Sara Hutchings, the Artistic Co-ordinator for Brighton’s City Reads Festival, the man himself appeared on stage flanked by his two consiglieri – friend and assistant Rob Wilkins and Rod Brown, the managing director of Pratchett’s recently established production company, Narrativia.

Resplendent in a blue pinstripe blazer and his trademark hat, half empty bottle of cognac (‘fuel for writing’) and crystal tumbler on the table, the mo-

ment he sat down.

Sir Terry’s air was one of a grandfather addressing a loving but impudent horde of grandchildren.

In the same flippant tone no doubt familiar to many in the audience, he batted away the allegedly most common question he’s asked, regarding where he draws his inspiration. His insistent answer, “It just turns up!”.

Ultimately, the trio proved very forthcoming – treating the assembled audience to an exclusive preview of Pratchett’s next novel, Raising Steam, due to be published in November.

Rob Wilkins’ poor attempt at a northern accent did little to dampen the palpable sense of excitement as he read the first chapter; only exceeded by that which followed Rod Brown’s announcements regarding the slew of

Terry Pratchett Swim Deep Press Press Discworld screen adaptations under development.

Brown gushed like a new father about the upcoming series The Watch, featuring the familiar Ankh-Morpork police force, including fan favourite Sam Vimes.

He revealed that unlike previous screen adaptations it would feature a much darker, adult Discworld – granted by its post-watershed slot – which Sir Terry jokingly described as “CSI: Ankh Morpork”.

Brown also proudly proclaimed that two Discworld novels are also being adapted, Good Omens and Dodger.

Hinting that Mort might also follow, Pratchett ended with the poignant announcement that “When you’re not scared of dying, the world is your mollusc.”

PhotoGraphy

Desert Island Pics Meet: Mishka Henner Jury’s Inn

28th September Rachel Simpson Forget moving into halls, if you were stranded on the proverbial desert island, which eight photographs would you take with you?

Such is the premise of Photoworks’ ongoing Desert Island Pics project, which is produced in association with Brighton Digital Festival.

The latest artist invited to share their selection of photography was Mishka Henner, who has been described as a “modern-day Duchamp” for his award-winning work which appropriates digital images from sources such as Google Earth and YouTube.

I had managed to get a compli-

Selected section of ‘Throwing four balls into the air to get a square.’ - Art 21

Childhood dreams are often far too easily abandoned.

A potent mixture of age and experience will often cause someone to put aside their goals and ambitions and aim for a more sensible life.

Often, this can mean pursuing a more sensible career.

Human Geekbox, Shlomo’s new touring show, aims to convince us that our childhood dreams need not be forgotten so quickly.

The show takes us on a journey through time: beginning with a 7 year old Simon Kahn wishing he was the astronaut equivalent of Michael Jackson, and ending with Shlomo, the 29 year old world champion beatboxer and young father.

This is a musical journey, with the artist using a cleverly arranged selection of covers and original

songs to tell his story.

His cover of Massive Attack’s ‘Paradise Circus’, in which the artist combines his voice with a loop station to conjure up an entire orchestra, was particularly successful, as was his vocal recreation of the first ever drum and bass rave he went to at university.

As with all journeys, there are a few dull periods. The introduction of, and collaboration with a local artist around the midway point comes to mind.

Although an interesting idea, in practice it feels a bit forced and out of place with the narrative and tone of the show.

This may simply be due to the choice of Brighton’s Zee Gachette, whose brand of acoustic folk rock is boring and uninspired.

Despite this, the journey Kahn takes his audience on is highly satisfying.

A coming of age story more than a concert, Kahn has put together a creative and unique show for his new tour, and it is one that I highly recommend.

I just hope that he finds some more interesting local talent further down the road.

Shlomo Press mentary ticket to this event on the recommendation of my Art History tutor, and so with a few course mates, went along to the Jury’s Inn hotel on Saturday afternoon.

In a format not dissimilar to an interview, Henner conceded that it had been “difficult” to select the eight photographs, but had chosen those he felt “influenced my own journey and development, which is still ongoing”.

Highlights included a family photo dating from 1936, which provided a stunning insight into the forces that shape the artist’s life.

In this image, Henner’s great grandfather, an Orthodox Jewish rabbi, and his grandfather, a Polish communist, are pictured together, therefore representing two polarities of principle.

This photograph becomes especially poignant once we learn that it was taken one year before his grandfather was imprisoned for his activism, the ensuing family difficulty sparking Henner’s selfproclaimed nihilism after witnessing “what ideology did to a life”.

My personal favourite of the featured images was John Baldessa-

ri’s Throwing Four Balls in the Air to Get a Square (1972-3).

For Henner, it acts as a reminder that art should be enjoyable, and he describes the photo as “fun, profound…almost cosmic”.

A conceptual piece, the image signifies that although everyone wants their life to work out, you may never achieve that perfect square; but life can still be beautiful.

However, if Henner had to choose one photograph to take with him to a desert island, it would be one of Cory Arcangel’s Photoshop Gradient Demonstrations because of the vibrant colours.

Although these colours do not exist in nature, paradoxically they make up Henner’s “palette” as a digital artist.

In my opinion, it was the discussion of points like this that made Mishka Henner’s Desert Island Pics such an engaging and relevant talk, confirming what I had long suspected; images really can be more powerful than words.

the badger

7 october 2013 ARTS • 16

LIFESTYLE

The student definitely does not wear Prada: are JOIN THE CLUB the international fashion weeks relevant to us?

Funfair

Victoria Rodrigues O’Donnell Arts Editor

As the international fashion weeks have drawn to a close recently, the questions of how much significance they, and high fashion in general, bear on students’ lives was very apt.

If living out of baked bean tins à la Carrie Bradshaw (via Brighton) is the accepted way of slumming it down for a pair of shoes, how does that translate to a student doing the same because their student loan has been spent on textbooks?

Let’s make it clear, this article will not be arguing that the international fashion weeks are completely and utterly irrelevant for students.

Oh no, that is the very opposite of where I’m going with this.

The reputation and output of the fashion weeks are definitely variable, yet it would be ignorant to dismiss their effects on retail.

When the fictional dictator Miranda Priestly said: “you’re wearing the sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room from a pile of stuff ”, the nail was hit on the head about the relationship between high fashion and the common people (you said it well, Jarv).

Whilst students do in many ways escape the constraints of being regular folk (discounts are #1), that doesn’t mean that we get blessed sar-

torially in any way.

In fact, it could be said that those first few post-school years lead to an enormous amount of questionable choices in one’s wardrobe.

As with food, there is clearly a chain – one which people are happy to ignore when buying clothing they believe expresses their individuality.

Trends are inescapable, but that needn’t be a negative when there is so much diversity.

The internet also plays a huge role, not only in its enormous amount of choice (showcasing great designers both in retail and in high fashion) but also in dispelling the exclusivity associated with the fashion industry.

With the existence of social media and hundreds of blogs dedicated to delivering all that is ‘bang on trend’ (a phrase that itself feels so dated), it is so easy to be involved.

It’s all very well being involved, whether knowingly or not, but being a student goes hand in hand with purse strings.

The association with fashion and money may seem an obvious one to comment on, however the relationship between retail and the economy is forever evolving and leads to various different opinions and (fashion) mistakes.

With trend forecasting a profitable occupation, those who are firm that fashion is ‘a waste of money’ are ig-

Naomi Horsfall Naomi Horsfall

Eleanor Walsh norant to how instrumental it is in our lives.

Not only is it about the literal clothing we wear, but it also says a lot about the state of consumerism and our society.

Globalism also comes into play when you consider the manufacturing and its role on the consciousness of the customer.

So, if you’re a student who thinks there is no correlation between the fashion industry and your life, you’d be very mistaken indeed.

Whether you choose to adorn yourself in all things Topshop or you’re a staunch vintage fan, it’d be best not to assume you’re separate from the industry when your BBC clothes have been ‘selected for you’.

Hungry House: Desi’s Indian food Will Fortna Arts Editor

review Though I am proud to say I have only ever ordered one takeaway in my two years at Sussex, there is no question that every night, hundreds of students will be holed up in their living rooms, tucking into it.

And so, while most food reviews will focus on swanky restaurants, it seems only fair to turn our gustatory attentions to the lowly takeaway.

Given the task of writing the inaugural review, I felt it only fitting to tackle Britain’s own adopted food: the Indian.

After logging in to Hungry House and failing to find Bindhi’s on its list of Indian restaurants, I took a punt and tried my luck on Desi – located just off London Road.

The only real complaint I had was the time it took for the food to ar-

Will Fortna rive.

My dinner date and I were made to wait just over an hour for the delivery and as a result were not quite as sober as might have been appropriate when the doorbell rang.

And yet, whilst my palette might not have been as refined as it could have been, I still felt confident in evaluating (and devouring) the meal.

Given our budget, the order consisted of the classic Indian triumvirate - one main (lamb pasanda), one side (paneer) and one naan (garlic, in this case). Complimentary sides-

wise, Desi knew how to please.

Alongside three crispy papadums were your classic takeaway salads.

Packed in small, sad, little plastic bags was a decent plain salad, featuring cucumbers and tomatoes and, for the hardcore, a plain onion salad.

I would have been satisfied with this alone, yet Desi generously threw in a tub of tangy, sweet pink sauce that neither my culinary accomplice nor I could identify.

The mystery of the anonymous sauce only added to its allure however and, in addition to serving as a perfect dip for the papadums and naan, it added another hue to the night’s already multicoloured paltte.

Our paneer came ith delicious grilled peppers, tomatoes and onions and was generously portioned.

They were slightly dry though, which was a bit of a drag – especially as they were cut nice and thickly.

As for the lamb pasanda, the meat was obviously not of a high

quality, and was very dry – but, drenched in a delicious sauce, who’s really complaining?

At the end of the day, this was a good, solid Indian takeaway.

Though it has to be said: for the true curry aficionado, Desi won’t be challenging Bindhi’s culinary hegemony any time soon.

This review is the first in our monthlong takeaway series in partnership with Hungry House.

Keep your eyes peeled for a £25 Twitter giveaway as we scoff our way towards its grand finale.

Desi Curry

Callie Payne “The sun warming your back, the smell of popcorn in the air, the cries of laughter as sweethearts grip CarmelH hands and spin round and around in the waltzer, unable to focus on the kaleidoscopic ribbons of light whizzing past as they get lost in the experience of The FunFair!”

The setting is the 1920s and you are going to the funfair – this time with a free Jaeger Bomb on entrywaltzing along to the dulcet tones of Kayne West.

Funfair club - on the King’s Road - evokes the nostalgia and the kind of hedonism associated with childhood.

This would be alongside an idealised past, with its “18th century vaults, bearded ladies, strong men and adult ball-pits”.

They certainly offered ball-pits for adults, albeit in “fun size” packaging.

You’ll have to judge for yourself on the night the presence of bearded ladies and strong men, I’m sure every night presents a different Carnivalesque variety.

Fridays offer fire-breathers, magicians, face-painting and attractive ladies with snakes to bewitch and entertain you, all to the rhythm of “commercial mash ups”.

Choose which “bespoke vault” to start your evening off in, drinking debatably cheap drinks, before heading to the dance floor.

Enjoy “The Vault of Broken Dreams”, simply for the novelty of seeing the face of your drunken friends reflected back at you in a thousand different angles and distortions.

They also have “The Bed of Nails” for those who prefer the darker side of the carnival.

Choose your night carefully however, as the place is quite small and gets busy.

But luckily the queue for the bar doubles up as a dance floor, so you won’t feel like you’re missing anything.

THE BADGER

7TH OCTOBER 2013

Sussex Showcase - ‘Mythology’

ARTS • 17

Arts Society special: 25th Sept Life Drawing session

‘T

he aim of Sussex University Arts Society is to celebrate creativity and promote art as a boundless entity.

With frequent events, such as life drawing, film screenings and artist talks, we hope to encourage an intellectual experience for everyone involved.

Our life drawing events and film screenings combine under a given theme, such as the artist Degas ‘Ballet’, to create both an active and passive environment for people’s creative passions to develop, whilst artist talks affirm the importance of understanding how art contributes to culture.

Whether drawing, watching films or listening to an artist’s lecture, we at Sussex University Arts Society pride ourselves in encompassing all areas of creativity, celebrating the important role that art has in all of our lives.’

- Olive Willis, Arts Society President (ow38@sussex.ac.uk) Life Drawing sessions and film screenings alternate between Wednesdays.

The next life drawing session is 9th October at 5pm in Meeting Room 1, Falmer House and is £3 (£2 if a member of arts society).

See: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sussexarts

Week five’s theme is: DERELICT Send your ideas to frampley@gmail.com by 15th October.

the badger

7th October 2013 Arts •18

Arts

The agenda This week’s cultural highlights that you must see

Pop

Pop Majical Cloudz Green Door Store

Latin

Fashion

Saturday 12th October, 8pm

£8

Fuck Buttons

Pop Drenge, Theo Verney Green Door Store, Wednesday 9th October, 7:30pm

Though he may look like a character out of American History X, Devon Walsh (aka. Majical Cloudz) sings yearning, emotionally honest lyrics over laidback, atmospheric beats and synths. Walsh describes himself as both a musical act and ‘performance event’ - so expect more than just one man and a laptop.

Film

£8

Be Nothing presents a night of loud guitars, furious drumming and some of the most exciting new rock’n’roll bands in England.

See preview below for more.

Pop Nadine Shah The Hope, Saturday 12th October, 8pm

£6.50 Returning to Brighton after a couple of well-received sets at last summer’s Great Escape festival (and with a Pitchfork-approved album to boot), Nadine Shah and her band come to The Hope.

The Newcastle-based singer has been compared again and again to figures like Nick Cave and PJ Harvery, and Shah’s vocal delivery, stage presence and serious yet artful approach to songwriting prove that these analogies carry some weight.

For fans of serious, literate rock music.

Latin Son Guarachando The Blind Tiger Club Thursday 10th October, 7pm

£3

Brighton’s leading Cuban band bring their own mix of cumbia, salsa and sun to the Blind Tiger. Down some tequila and get dancing!

Club

Free

The Quadrant (Clocktower Cinema)

Wednesday 9th October, 8pm

Free

A special screening of this 1981 classic that mixes horror with the comedy of National lampoon’s Animal House.

Free

Sussex Style Society bring Snap Fashion founder and CEO Jenny Griffiths onto campus. Griffiths will be speaking about the fashion industry and her own experiences of developinga successful web business

Comedy

The Cowley Club

Wednesday 9th October, 7:30pm

FILM An American Werewolf in London

Wednesday 9th October, 2pm

as part of her university degree.

FILM Dead Man

One of two free screenings in Brighton this Wednesday. See preview below for more.

Fashion Style Society guest speaker: Snap Fashion On campus: Silverstone, SB 121

CLUB King Tubby’s Sound System Concorde 2 £5/£2

The Brighton Comedy Festival takes place across the city during the month of October.

If you missed Edinburgh, here’s a chance to see Britain’s best comedians on your very own doorstep!

PREVIEW: Dead Man Wednesday 9th October, Cowley Club

Will Fortna

Will Fortna

Fresh from appearing on Jools Holland alongside Sting and Kanye West, the brother duo Drenge bring their loud, grungy garage rock to Green Door Store.

Perhaps a perfect match of band and venue, expect a sweaty, riffheavy night.

The support for their Wednesday show comes from Brighton’s

own excellent Theo Verney.

Supporting his new EP, Theo’s songs contain the one-two punch of gorgeous melodies that quickly turn into sludgy head bangers and back again.

Expect the next morning to bring a hangover, sore limbs and a ringing in your ears that tells you that last night was awesome.

Arts Editor

Showing for free this Wednesday at the all-purpose, co-operative Cowley Club on London Road is Dead Man, a film by Jim Jarmusch.

Shot in gorgeous black and white in the American West and Northwest, Dead Man is Jarmusch’s postmodern take on the Western.

Johnny Depp plays a man on the run, wanted for murder in a small,

£15

Cult British comedian and general personality Adam Buxton’s new, well-reviewed show, Kernal Panic comes down to Brighton. The show focuses on technology, online identity and, specifically, YouTube, while retaining the inoffensive charm of Buxton’s older projects.

COMEDY Jimmy Carr: Gagging Order Brighton Dome £26

PREVIEW: Drenge Wednesday 9th October, Green Door Store Arts Editor

Friday 11th October, 10 pm

Tuesday 8th October 8pm

Friday 11th October, 11pm Still going strong after 42 years, King Tubby’s prides itself on - yes, its sound-system - but also its history of putting on the best reggae, dub and dancehall nights across Britain. Friday features both DJs and Samsara, a live reggae band.

COMEDY Adam Buxton: Kernal Panic Corn Exchange

19th century frontier town.

Befriended by ‘Nobody’, a Native American, Depp flees his pursuers westward, eventually reaching America’s last frontier – the Pacific Ocean.

With references to William Blake and James Brown alike – plus an incredible, improvised soundtrack by Neil Young – Dead Man is one of the best films in Jarmusch and Depp’s respective oeuvres.

For those with some money left after the first few weeks of term, comedy giant Jimmy Carr brings his new show to the grand locale of the Brighton Dome’s concert hall. Expect Carr’s usual brand of one-liners and anecodtes that border on the indecent.

watch, write, review Get involved in the Arts team by joining us at our writers meetings or searching on Facebook for :

“Badger Writers”

the badger

7 October 2013

SporTS • 20

SPORTS Students save at the AmEx stadium Michael Morrow Sports Editor

Students are expected to be poor - it comes with the territory really.

As a student you are expected to be: constantly tired, a really really bad neighbour, living in a house that’s colder than your freezer and, most importantly, so poor that the last night out of each week consists of the cheapest 3 litre bottle of supermarket cider you can find and a club night with no entry fee.

It is for this reason that students rely on the hallowed student discount, something offered by many shops, pubs and restaurants in and around Brighton which make them accessible for even the thinnest of student wallets.

An avid Badger reader may recall that last year, this newspaper asked the question which had been troubling football fans throughout campus: why do Brighton and Hove Albion FC not offer any student discount/ticket deals, especially with their stadium (informally known as the ‘Amex’) being right beside our campus? Fortunately this is no longer a question we must ask.

For the current 2013/14 season, Albion have made the strategic decision to extend their already thriving fan base.

The driving force behind this decision seems to be Albion’s chief executive Paul Barber, who in his BHAFC official matchday programme notes was keen to stress that making Albion home matches accessible to young people is essential if the club wants to ensure their fan base continues to thrive for many years to come.

It was with this idea in mind that the club decided to launch a student offer for their midweek match at the Amex versus Sheffield Wednesday.

Anyone aged 18 or over would usually have to pay a pricey £31 for an

In Memory of Jack Hutton-Potts Jordan Collins Jack Hutton-Potts, a successful and passionate climber and student at the University of Sussex tragically passed away this summer. Jack (23) was involved in a fatal climbing accident alongside his close friend and former teacher Vaughan Holme (48) in Anglesey, where they had been climbing together during the summer.

Jack was an extremely talented individual and was recognised as being in the top 2% of climbers in the country. Such was Jack’s talent that he was part of the athlete develop-

adult ticket, however on this occasion students were offered tickets for a mere £15 with a complimentary drink thrown in for good measure.

So does this offer mean student fans can look forward to more affordable matches at the Amex this season?

As of yet this remains to be seen, understandably the club cannot offer half price tickets to students for every home game because demand for tickets is still very high, with the club last year having a higher average attendance (26,024) than any other Championship club.

But it is still very promising that the club have acknowledged that there is a student population nearby who will snap up any discount/concession they can offer.

The match itself was an affair well worth the £15. Despite dominating proceedings throughout, Albion were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw.

Keith Andrews netted an 89th minute equaliser for the Seagulls after Matty Fryatt had given Wednesday a first half lead against the run of play.

However perhaps most worryingly for Albion, star striker Leo Ulloa (who had just returned from a 3 match suspension) had to be stretchered off the pitch during the second half- a worrying development for the Seagulls as they have, in the past, been heavily reliant on Ulloa’s goals.

Although it remains to be seen how many students decided to take up this offer, let’s remain optimistic and hope that this outreach to students from Brighton and Hove Albion FC is the beginning of a wonderful (and cheap) relationship.

The ‘Amex’ is the shortened version of the stadiums full and rather lesscatchy name: ‘The American Express Community Stadium’. One can’t help but be drawn towards that ‘C’ word; it certainly seems that the club are will-

ment bursary scheme here at Sussex, and his intense passion for climbing had taken him to many different countries. Climbing was central to many areas of Jack’s life; he worked at The Boulder Brighton Climbing centre in Portslade and had entered numerous climbing competitions in recent years. He had also planned to pursue the sport whilst travelling after the completion of his biomedical science degree.

Jack has been described by those close to him as an extremely intelligent and caring person who always lived life to the full. His Facebook memorial page is littered with tributes and stories about his life, contributed by those who knew him best. He was a very social person forming many close friendships during his time at Sussex and will be sorely missed.

Naomi Horsfall ing to make the effort to make sure that Albion matches are accessible to everyone in the surrounding community.

So kudos must go to Brighton and Hove Albion for their (we hope) ongoing attempts to bring students closer

to the club, with any luck another offer will come our way in the near future and we will see many more students cross the bridge at Falmer station, on their way to go and cheer on the Seagulls!

For more information on Brighton and Hove Albion, ticket sales and all other news about the club visit their website at www.seagulls.co.uk

Player Profiles - Rachel Clark

Jack’s story is certainly one of tragedy; however it is also one of inspiration. He passed away doing what he loved, something he approached with total commitment and passion. As a much loved member of the Sussex community, hopefully his memory can inspire people to follow their passions and as the University’s Sports Development Officer Luke Terill has said, no one was more dedicated to doing what they loved, describing Jack as a “great guy who was passionate about what he did”.

As a tribute to Jack, the University is looking to create an award for sporting excellence for future athletes who share a similar enthusiasm and drive. Our thoughts are with the family and all those who knew him during this difficult time, his memory will never be forgotten.

Reuben Cross Rachel Clark is the Vice-Captain for the women’s Ultimate Frisbee team, the Squaws.

Having had no prior experience in the sport on arrival from her hometown of Epsom, Surrey and with a sense of intrigue to see what all the fuss her friends were making was about, she took up playing Ultimate during the Freshers Fair in 2012 along with many other relative novices.

The team had many a success last season, finishing 3rd in the mixed outdoor competition, and champions of both the mixed indoor and women’s outdoor competition, the latter being the third consecutive victory.

With Rachel as Vice-Captain,

she aims to lead the rest of her team to a fourth back-to-back title, but admits it will be a long process due to the departure of many key players.

This year the focus will be largely on developing the new recruits early on so they can make sure the team are equally as formidable as they have been in the past years.

Rachel believes her proudest achievement is being part of the 11-2 victory that won the Squaws the University Women’s Outdoor National final last year, and was thankful for the support from the four other teams that the Mohawks/Squaws entered that drove them to glory.

The social aspects being part of the team steer the team towards competitiveness, and its inclusivity makes it a sport for everyone.

As well as being a member of the Squaws, Rachel enjoys outdoor challenges, having done Everest Base Camp in her first year, and is currently in her third year of studying Medical Neuroscience.

CONTACT BADGER SPORT If you would like to write for the Badger sports page or submit a match report, please send an email to badger-sports@ussu.sussex.ac.uk