WWW.BADGERONLINE.CO.UK Scan to find us online

BADGER

THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE STUDENTS’ UNION

THE

badgeronline.co.uk @TheBadgerNews /thebadger.ussu

FREE

PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER

18 NOVEMBER 2013, WEEK 9

PAGE THREE DEBATE PREVIEW EAST SLOPE OPEN MIC REVIEWED MOAN ZONE

An open letter to Registrar John Duffy

FEATURE

Is public perception of charity on the wane?

143 Page THE BIG DEBATEPage SCIENCE Is acceptable to choose not wear a poppy on Remembrance Day?

Four YouTube channels that actually make you smarter

ARTSTUNE IN ONLINE The Badger brings you

a Brighton theatre special Page 14

R.I.P: 1994-2013 Page 5

Page 7

Page 11

Page 12

University group chaired by Sussex VC disbanded following defection of key members to elite Russell Group

1994 GROUP

Zoe Ambrozewska & Bree Allegretti Editor-in-chief The 1994 Group, currently chaired by the University of Sussex’s Vice-Chancellor, Michael Farthing, has announced that it will be disbanded, nineteen years after its formation. The collection of small research-intensive universities was set up in 1994 in response to the establishment of the Russell Group, whose members include Cambridge, Oxford and UCL. The decision to disband the 1994 Group was made after a large number of highprofile defections by top-level universities to its competing group, which this newspaper reported on last year, following the loss of Durham, Exeter and the LSE. Other universities have also left the group to become independent institutions, leaving only half of the group still affiliated before its disbandment was announced last week. Speculation has since arisen amongst the student population as to the fate of Sussex within the picture of Higher Education, amidst concerns that it is trailing behind top-level universities. An anonymous academic at the University had previously suggested that “to deal with their mid-table image… some universities have left the ’94 group so they are less associated with being middle-ranked”. In a statement released earlier this week, the board said that, “the Group has come to a natural end point,” adding: “This was not an easy decision to make, but we feel sure it is the right one for the future. “The Group was founded at a time of real change within the sector and so it comes to end at another point of significant change. Collectively, we have taken the decision to bring the 1994 Group to an end,

Juliet Amoruso because as institutions we have expanded and changed over time to the point where the need for the Group as originally constituted no longer exists.” The University of Sussex’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael Farthing, who has acted as Chair of the 1994 Group since October 2011, said: “The University of Sussex has benefitted enormously from our membership of the 1994 Group and, now the time has come for the Group to wind itself up, I want to pay tribute to the hard work and dedication of its staff and all the other people who worked with and for it.”

Farthing also highlighted the significant growth of the University in the past nineteen years, and that “Todays circumstances in higher education have changed and that means we have to look at new ways to represent our case to government and to ensure that all the work we do supports our efforts to continue the University’s success. “We, like our colleagues in other universities, came to the conclusion that doing that required us to move on from the current arrangements through the 1994 Group.

“Taking that decision was not easy – and in no way reflects on the efforts of the 1994 Group’s staff, who have always worked hard on our behalf – but it was the right thing in the circumstances.” This newspaper first reported on the high-level defections from the 1994 group last year, and explained that as Michael Farthing chaired the group, it was unlikely Sussex would be able to seek refuge in the Russell Group. At the time the University explained categorically that: “the University’s position as a committed member of the 1994

Group is not in any way linked to the ViceChancellor’s tenure as chair of the Group”, but had previously admitted that “the shifting higher education landscape has resulted in institutions considering their own strategic direction and whether being part of a particular mission group of universities is what they wish to do”. When asked whether the University was joining or seeking to join the Russell Group, they explained that Sussex would “continue to work in partnership with universities from the across the region and internationally”.

the badger

18 novemBER 2013

in pictures • 2

INIn pictures: PICTURES what’s happening on your campus Sussex Women’s Hockey

Men’s Fencing

Richard Mashiter Sussex Netball

Sussex RAG - LOST

Richard Mashiter

Violet Marchenkova

Jessie Kay Stanbrook

Amy Louise Williams

Naomi Horsfall

Jonathan Potkins

Inter-university Women’s Indoors Ultimate Frisbee Regionals

Richard Mashiter Organ Recital

Pixel Pyros Fireworks Show

Ho Wah So

the badger

18 November 2013

NEWS • 3

NEWS Office hours apathy Interserve: Eduard Mead News Editor Senior lecturers from across the university community are becoming increasingly frustrated that students are not taking advantage of academic office hours, the Badger has learned. Office hours are presented as an opportunity for students to meet, on a one-to-one basis, with their academic advisors and tutors to discuss course-related issues they may be experiencing, and also to receive feedback on assessments and progress. However, a number of professors and tutors have revealed that even though students rarely attend these available hours, they often state in module feedback that tutors do not offer enough feedback or student support. Some are concerned that many students wait until the final days before assessment deadlines to arrange a meeting, often leading to an imbalance between available time and the number of students wanting appointments. Juliette Cule, the University of Sussex Students’ Union’s Education Officer, has said she is keen to correct this imbalance: “Although I have no statistics, I frequently hear academics talking about empty of-

fice hours. It would be interesting to gather more information on this to find out how widespread the issue is. “I believe there is a huge disconnect on campus at the moment with the amount of feedback being provided and the way students perceive what feedback is and how to use it. There is a lot more that the University and the students could do to match up supply and demand.” Juliette, who is currently writing a paper on helping students to engage with their feedback, also remarked that: “NSS scores for assessment and feedback continue to drop at this University. At the same time, schools tell me they have large stacks of uncollected essays and work in their offices.” However, the situation doesn’t ap-

pear to be universal, with a number of students telling this newspaper that there have been occasions where small queues have formed during their tutor’s office hours; and others who recounted certain courses where the office hours had to adopt the format of a seminar to cope with the exceptional demand. The University’s recently unveiled strategy pledges to “enhance the first year to support student transition to higher education”, an announcement welcomed by Gavan Harrison, the Students’ Union’s Community Engagement Officer: “This is a crucial year for new undergraduates and I hope this will entail greater awareness about the benefits of engaging with our tutors, particularly in the newly labeled ‘Student Feedback and Drop-in’ sessions.” However, Gavan also expressed concern about how this will fare in the face of substantial growth in student numbers and the shift towards online and distance learning:“The University must ensure that they remain accessible in light of the increase and expected demand in the next five years. I hope the University’s plan for new online and distance learning do not act as a substitute for one-to-one contact with our tutors.”

Second strike to hold employers hostage Jack Williams News Editor Universities are bracing themselves for further disruption following an announcement by three Trade Unions that they are primed to strike again early next month, in an on-going pay dispute. Members of the University and College Union (UCU), Unite and Unison will resort to industrial action on the 3 December unless the University and College Employers Association (UCEA) drastically improve on their current below inflation offer of a one percent pay increase. Unions claim this equates to a 13 percent reduction in real term wage since 2008. All three Unions staged a one day strike on 31 October, the first such collective strike to occur in six years, and successfully triggered a brief reopening of negotiations between the two disputing parties. Kate Edwards, branch secretary at Sussex UCU, welcomed the new period of arbitration that the Halloween strike created, commenting: “It’s very significant that this is the first time in decades the unions have stood together for a fair pay deal and this fact has greatly strengthened the national

profile of the action and our chances of a successful and speedy resolution”. However, she did warn that the Unions were “gearing up” for the December strike, in case the gap between the employer’s and Union’s demands cannot be bridged. Professing their inclination to begin serious talks with Trade Union officials, a spokesman for the UCEA stated: “UCEA continues to say that it is willing to talk to the disputing trade unions so that we can explore together whether the dispute can be resolved.” The spokesperson also deemed the association’s offer of a one percent increase as an appropriate offer, continuing: “Ever since the initial consultation at the start of this year, the mandate from UCEA’s 150 participating UK HE employers has continued to be clear that, given the challenging and uncertain operating environment, the 1% pay uplift is a good and sustainable offer and is at the limit of affordability. This of course sits on top of other pay elements totalling around 3% on pay. Frustrated by the lack of concessions offered by the UCEA, Unite’s national officer for education, Mike McCarthy, claimed: “employers have

refused to budge from their hard line in not recognising the contribution that the workforce makes to the excellent global reputation that Britain’s universities currently enjoy. “We hope that this latest strike will drive home the determination of our members to achieve a fair pay deal and focus the minds of the employers that they need to get around the table promptly to negotiate in a constructive and positive manner. In addition to the UCU, Unite and Unison declaring their willingness to participation in the latest round of industrial action, The EIS, Scotland’s largest teaching union, has also taken the decision to stage a walk out next month. The University of Sussex has made it clear that any agreement reached must be both “manageable and affordable for all institutions”. A spokesperson for the University said: “These national negotiations have to take account of the position of all universities and they will vary in terms of their different financial positions. “If there is action called, we would of course endeavour to keep as many services as possible running for our students, staff and campus visitors.”

‘best in class’

Daniel Green

Interserve, the company due to take over campus Facilities Management services from January, has been awarded the Gold Medal of Excellence by the British Quality Foundation for the second year in a row. The award, presented annually by the BQF Board of Directors, was given to Interserve for ‘outstanding commitment to sustained excellence’. This follows the news that Interserve were awarded a five star commendation in a recent audit by the British Safety Council on its Industrial Services work, receiving an overall score of 99.48%. A spokesperson for the University of Sussex embraced the news, saying it gives “additional confidence that we have chosen a great partner to work with… and provide excellent services to our students, staff and visitors”. The spokesperson added: “We chose Interserve after an extensive procurement process precisely because of the high quality of services they provide and because they best understand the University’s needs

and values. “Interserve has also been chosen by the BBC as their partner for the management and delivery of services at over 150 BBC buildings, and other universities in the UK have also announced that they are working with Interserve on student services. “This latest commendation is further proof of the delivery of leading national standards by the company.” Managing Director of Interserve Construction, Ian Renhard, said in a statement: “The Interserve work ethos is one of continuous improvement – doing the right thing, and this award is testimony to the skills and hard work of our staff. I’m immensely proud that we have won this truly great accolade.” Despite this news, however, there are still those who oppose the University management’s decision to outsource a host of campus facilities, with a number of students and staff expressing concern that it could lead to future job losses and insubstantial pay given to campus workers. Interserve were awarded the contract for facilities management services in October and are due to begin providing services in the New Year.

the badger

18 novemBER 13

news • 4

Sussex energy expert UCU urge staff: critcises PM on fracking “work to rule”

Jennifer Whittingham David Cameron was wrong to raise the public’s hopes that fracking could lead to a significant fall in energy bills, University of Sussex Professor of Energy Policy, Jim Watson, has warned. In August of this year, the Prime Minister argued that opposing fracking would mean missing out on “a massive opportunity to help families with their bills and make our country more

competitive.’ However, at a public lecture held at the University of Sussex, Professor Watson said he was “tired of advocates claiming fracking will transform our economy tomorrow” and suggested that more test drilling would be needed to truly gauge fracking’s impact. Professor Watson went on to further criticise the government’s approach to energy, claiming that the Conservative Party and the Lib Dems are “moving in completely different directions on energy” and that government is “trying to run two energy policies at the same time”. “As an analyst of policy, it’s absolutely fascinating on one hand and frustrating on another”, Proffesor Watson said. “In the wake of four British energy companies announcing a 9.1% increase in prices, the cost of gas is rapidly becoming a serious financial issue that threatens to dominate Westminster. “Indeed, energy companies are now less trusted than bankers and cars salesman according to one report. “The economic advantages of fracking are at the heart of the Prime Minister’s campaign to push for shale gas exploration. Cameron claims that although the government is not abandoning low carbon energy, these sources are not

enough.” In June, the decarbonisation target was narrowly defeated in the House of Commons Energy Bill vote and thus the Conservatives have made the decision to support fracking above renewable energy investment. However, fracking remains a highly contentious issue amongst politicians and the public. Protests were recently staged in Balcombe over fears test drilling for oil could lead then to fracking. Caroline Lucas, the MP for Brighton Pavillon was at the scene. Research on the environmental impact of fracking indicates the potential of groundwater contamination by the 600 or so chemicals that are used in the fracking fluid, including known carcinogens such as mercury, hydrochloric acid and formaldehyde. The political debate surrounding energy policy has been ongoing for some time, with Ed Milliband pledging to freeze energy prices for eighteen months. The Prime Minister has reffered to this move as “a gimmick” by the Labour Party leader, and told MPs that the price fluctuations in the energy markets were outside of government control. Mr. Cameron said that a freeze on prices would only delay net higher costs for buisnesses and households in the long-term.

Gavan Harrison Community Engagement Officer

Our meeting with Brighton’s letting agents Students’ Union officers and staff along with representatives from the University’s Housing Office recently met a number of letting agents to address issues highlighted in our 2013 Rate Your Landlord report. Nine letting agents came together to visit the Students’ Union, and it was great to see their willingness to come along and meet us. Their willingness to work together to improve the students experience in Brighton’s private rented sector should be welcomed. The meeting was part of an ongoing campaign to make improvements in the private rented sector. We discussed a number of issues in the meeting, including the financial costs of being a tenant in the private sector, housing conditions, the need to reduce the pressure on students to make quick decisions, and the provision of suitable information. Throughout the meeting there were positive signs and good discussions. The process of moving into the private rented sector for the first time can be daunting: paperwork, fees and costs, and further independence. It became

clear that all parties were willing to ensure that understandable, transparent and clear information is available to students. We also addressed the pressure students on students to find a house - a third of students who responded to last year’s Rate Your Landlord survey said they felt pressured to take a property. We strongly advocated the need to ensure agents make appropriate representations and don’t put pressure on students to make quick decisions. The high costs faced by students moving into the private sector were also discussed. Over 50% of respondents in our research were charged an agency or admin fee, 33% paid more than a £500 deposit and some students (including many international students) had to pay vast amounts of rent in advance as a result of not having a suitable UK-based guarantor. We asked agents to help reduce the financial burden placed on students wherever possible. The Students’ Union is also waiting to hear whether a proposal for the University to act as a guarantor for students who are unable to provide one themselves has been agreed.

Tom Foster

The University and College Union (UCU) has encouraged its members to adhere only to contractual obliged hours from 1 November, as part of the on-going protest against what they claim is a real term cut in Higher Education staff’s wages. A work-to-contract regime would see University employees abstain from doing non contractually-stipulated duties, which includes covering for an absent colleague and attending staff meetings on a voluntary basis. While UCU members have been asked not to exceed working hours specified in their contracts, they will conduct such duties as marking work, but have been instructed to do so within their regular working hours and to seek advice from their Union if pressured by line managers to meet feedback deadlines. Studies cited by the UCU show that a worrying number of staff work longer than the working times regulation limit of 48 hours per week, as a result of performing many additional voluntary duties. Students have informed The Badger that tutors alerted them of the work-to – contract imposition and its implications, warning that they may take longer than usual to reply to e-mails during the period. Working to rule is set to be in place for the foreseeable future until employers bridge the gap between their offer and the Unions demands, according Kate Edwards, Branch secretary of Sussex UCU. She stated: “Working to contract

means that management cannot at present rely on the ‘goodwill work’ of staff, i.e. work that goes above and beyond the specifications of their contract, and on which the university frequently relies upon.” Edwards also claims that there have been positive signs from the protest so far with overworked staff realising the amount of voluntary work they conduct and the extent of their goodwill. Nathan Catt, Branch Chair of Sussex Unison, has expressed his support for the UCU action, commenting: “I personally believe that anything union members can legally do to support the Fair Pay in HE campaign is a positive thing. “The protest isn’t just about the academics getting a decent pay rise, it’s about all University staff, some of which are paid below the ‘living wage’ and are badly in need of a fair pay rise.” He also noted that it was common sense that staff be paid appropriately for their extra input, and predicted that if no wage increase was forthcoming, many of the best applicants will be deterred from applying for vacant posts. The University has not reacted to pressure placed on it by staff protesting about pay. It has explained that: “As shown in the most recent update of the Pay in HE (2013) report, the average annual earnings of full-time HE teaching professionals has increased more than 15 percentage points ahead of inflation between 2001 and 2011 and this group recorded the third highest median earnings out of the 46 professional occupations identified by the Office for National Statistics”.

LGBTQ society ban ‘dyke’ from poster Aaron Saunderson-Cross The committee of the University of Sussex’s LGBTQ Society has voted to ban the word ‘dyke’ in any future promotional literature. The decision follows a similar move regarding the word ‘fag’. The vote was called for after the society was approached by LGBTQ authors VG Lee and Rose Collis to advertise their December Christmas show, “Bah Humbuggers (or Dyke the Halls)”. The use of the word ‘dyke’ in the advertisement was criticised by at least one member, as well as members of the committee, who felt it violated their safe-space policy. After an extensive debate, the committee ruled that banning the word was in the best interests of their members. The word ‘dyke’ has not always been a source of offence; in the 1970s, the Gutter Dykes, a group of lesbian-separatists in Berkeley, campaigned fiercely for gay rights. A member of the LGBTQ Society told the Huffington Post: “Yes this is an issue we have discussed. We received a complaint, so removed it as we didn’t want

it to offend our members given our safe space policy. “They raised the fact that it seemed unfair that we’d accept the word ‘dyke’ but not ‘fag’. “There was an extensive debate in our latest committee meeting about what should be deemed offensive and what shouldn’t. “Some committee members felt that it could be perceived as offensive or triggering.” A statement from a representative of University of Sussex LGBTQ society states: “We at Sussex LGBTQ would just like to clarify that we are not banning the word ‘dyke’, we would never disallow our members self-identification. But as we received complaints for the use of the word ‘dyke’ on a promotional poster which was posted in our Facebook group of just over 700 members, we felt a valid response was simply to remove the poster. We apologise for any offense caused and if this is viewed as censorship, we simply wanted to maintain an environment in which all of our members feel comfortable and safe.”

THE BADGER

18 NOVEMBER 2013

SUSSEX SAYS • 5

SUSSEX SAYS

Claim To Fame

THE MOAN ZONE

Ifan from a distance he’s gorgeous! Sancia Mantero It was a cold night sometime last winter in my hometown of London. My elder brother had come to stay from Paris and my mother’s childhood friend was over from New York. We’d just finished dinner when we decided it was too nice an evening to spend at home so we piled on the layers and headed out to our favourite local pub just down the road. We headed straight to the bar, my mother to the left of me, her friend behind her and

top Dominican friend shouting in her distinctive voice “Who? Who is it? Who are we looking at?”… At this point, all I could do was bow my head in embarrassment and mutter that I wanted a “gin and slim-line tonic please” before heading outside for some much needed fresh air. Here was Rhys Ifans, my dreamboat, stood right next to me (at this point himself and his group of friends had ventured outside too). All I could think of was his beautiful head appearing on my screen wearing an

enough for me… Out of all the girls who went up to him and gave him the same old spiel he had heard over and over again, maybe he would remember the one that kept her distance and caught his eye with a tiny smile. Even though his girlfriend was stood by his side that whole time…

my brother to the right. In front of me was a tall, somewhat scruffy but incredibly sexy man who I immediately recognised as Rhys Ifans (The Boat That Rocked, Mr. Nice, Notting Hill, etc.). Suddenly I was all a flurry of frantic frenzy. What were we doing here? What did I want to drink? WHO AM I? I tapped my mother furiously on the forearm “I know…” she whispered. I moved on to my brother “I know…” he said, rather more loudly in baritone voice. All of a sudden, I heard from behind my mother her rather over the

HAVE YOU GOT A CLAIM? Had any encounters with any celebrities? We want to hear about it!! E-mail Sussex Says at lmh34@sussex.ac.uk

Gabriel Owen A trend has developed on my nights out in Brighton. No matter who I’m with or what time it is, of the many journeys home on the 25/N25 I almost always fall asleep (there’s photo evidence). I don’t know what it is, the chairs even aren’t that comfy. But for some reason it just happens. Most of the time, some kind Samaritan takes pity on me and nudges me when we arrive back to campus. I thank them and we walk our separate ways. However this has not always been the case. It was Thursday 19th September. Pier Party. I had my first 9 am workshop the following day and wanted to make a good first impression. I left Audio at 2, which would mean I would get enough sleep that, combined with coffee, would set me up for the early start well. I caught the bus just as it was about to leave

To draw from my own experience, in my first year, wireless transmitters, while installed, were not turned on until after the end of term. In my second year, my room in Swanborough had no wireless signal whatsoever, an issue that I was by no means alone in facing; and in my third year, wireless speeds remain slow to the point that for much of the day, one cannot buffer a YouTube video. At every juncture, IT services have rationalised this utter inadequacy through stating that that wireless connectivity is “a complimentary overlay to the primary means of connection”. Students living on campus pay up to £5500 a year for the privilege. One would have thought that in 2013, at a university that was, at least until recently in the top 100 in the world, this issue should not even be a talking point.

Creatures of the Night @SussexSays #Moan Abraham Baldry

CREATURES OF THE NIGHT and jumped on triumphantly. I grabbed a seat and mused over what was a eventful evening. The next thing I know I get a gentle nudge. I open my eyes expecting to see that Good Samaritan. Instead I’m met with the hardened gaze of the bus driver. “It’s end of the route mate.” He said grumpily. “Cheers thanks for waking me up, it would’ve been bad if I’d slept through the stop at campus.” “You did. We’re in Brighton.” Great. Fantastic. Excellent. I checked my phone. It was 3:30. My master plan to be fresh for 9 am was drastically unraveling. I don’t think I’ve ever felt as disorientated in my entire life. The only thing to do was walk back to the bus stop I had been at just a short time ago. Feeling both confused and distressed I waited for the bus and luckily it arrived within 10 minutes. It was the same bus driver. We shared a brief look as he chuckled. I’d obviously made his night. I found a group of Sussex students heading back to campus and told them my story and begged them to wake me up if I fell asleep again. Fortunately it never came to that as

I am in the rare position of having lived on campus for the entirety of the three years that I have been at Sussex. On the whole, my experience of university managed accommodation has been very positive. The staff, who in time became my colleagues, have been for the most part helpful and courteous. When things were broken, they were fixed, generally in a timely fashion. To this there is one notable and prolonged exception. Over the course of these three years I have exchanged possibly hundreds of emails with the IT services, the lions share of which relate to the quality of internet provision on campus. Not only is it poorly maintained, but it is chronically slow, issues which have been raised to me by countless students both personally, and in my role as a Senior Residential Advisor.

“...At this point, all I could do was bow my head in embarrassment...” extravagant feather-flourishing hat matched with a purple suit in The Boat That Rocked. His voice whispering into the radio-boat’s microphone “Are you doing something dirty? Are you doing something your parents don’t know about? Are you breaking the law? Are you breaking the rules…”. One after another I watched girls walk up to him, introduce themselves, tell them they loved him in so and so a movie. I longed to speak to him but on his terms, not mine. At one point I could have sworn we locked eyes for a brief second and that was more than

This week: An Open Letter to John Duffy

I was determined not to doze off. I ended up getting back to my room at 4:15. I made it to my 9 am workshop. Just.

HAVE YOU GOT A STORY? E-mail Sussex Says at lmh34@sussex.ac.uk

Share your moaning moments

TOP CELEBRITY TWEETS OF THE WEEK “It’s Movember. I think we need to congratulate Susan Boyle on all the money she’s raised.” @JimmyCarr ““Tan Mom” is divorcing her husband because his penis is small. Was it always, or does it have the good sense to hide when she’s in the room?” @Joan_Rivers “I can’t believe the places on my body I am still finding fake blood from my #halloween costume! so gross but so funny!” @KellyOsbourne “Note to self: Don’t mistake cardboard for toast” @example First World Problem this week comes from Helen Flanagan who got all worked up over a crucial issue: “Its my little sisters 21st tommorow and her spray tan booking was wrong she needs a mobile spray tan in Bolton this evening please!!!!” @HelenFlanagan1

Sussex Uni Ad 289x178mm.pdf

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

1

31/01/2013

10:21

E V E I L E B t ’ n o ou w

Y

50 off FREE %

Buy one pizza, get one

PIZZAS

Collection or delivery

Valid to 31/03/13. Lowest priced pizza is free. Excludes small Italian pizzas. Not valid with any other deal or offer. Voucher must be handed to staff upon collection or receipt of delivery. See menu for full terms and conditions.

Code: DMFFMALXS

When you spend £15 or more Valid to 31/03/13. £15 or more at full menu price. Excludes drinks and ice cream. Not valid with any other deal or offer. Voucher must be handed to staff upon collection or receipt of delivery. See menu for full terms and conditions.

Code: DMFFYTWXH

01273 567 007 01273 670 670 www.pizzahut.co.uk/delivery

280 Portland Road, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 5QU

132-135 Lewes Road, Brighton, BN2 3LG

the badger

18 november 2013

Letters • 7

LETTERS

RE: I challenge the chairman of the Tory Soc Dear Badger, As Tory Soc president, I was interested by last week’s letter. It raises some interesting questions which I cannot address in 400 words, but I’ll have a go in brief anyway. Firstly, I actually did not cross the picket line on Thursday; the gentleman may have me confused with someone else. I personally sympathise with some of the grievances of the staff. That doesn’t mean I supported the strike, but I feel it important to state that I understand and sympathise with the feelings of the strikers regarding payment issues. Nevertheless, I salute those members of staff who did not strike and continued teaching students as normal. I fully reject the statement that the Conservative party is trying to destroy education; I think saying it ‘is their goal’ is a strange concept to argue. On the issue of what it is to be a Conservative, I’d say it is about believing in pragmatism, and also believing in smaller state. That is why I would say I vote Conservative, I believe in pragmatism, and the Conservative party for me demonstrates that pragmatic approach in most of their policies. However, I would never say that I am an ideological Conservative; I think it would be moronic to wholeheartedly subscribe to an ideology without questioning bits that are wrong with it. In fact, conservatism says the state should not be dogmatic and bogged down by ideology. So, I’m happy to admit I’m fairly left of field on some issues e.g.... the justice system. I wouldn’t proclaim to label myself as a ‘Conservative’, as I do not live my life, or base my opinions based on ideology. I vote and support the Conservative party because I believe they are the party who best represent me, and are the party who can best run the country. And like any other Conservatives, I don’t always support the government, anyone who knows me well can vouch for that I assure you. In terms of ‘neo-liberal reforms’, here I would argue that yes, I am in favour of privatisation because I believe it

delivers a better service. What the party is trying to do is create a more financially sound system, which is not all based on tax payers money. I can assure you there is no conspiracy going on to destroy education. I have no shame in arguing why I vote Conservative, as I know some on campus make it hostile to hold such an opinion. If you want to know more, I suggest you come to a meeting to hear what others in the society think.

email: badger-letters@ussu.sussex.ac.uk else and then you’ll see the group of smokers huddling to keep warm. Finally you’ll be subjected to some music you’re not that into, in a club it’ll be the DJ, in the library it’ll be the kid with his headphones on and music turned up loud enough for you to hear it, or the person opposite humming a tune. Strangely though, I’d much rather be in a club than the Library. Katherine

Best wishes, Tory Soc President

Late night in the Library

Who the hell are you? Dear Badger

Dear Badger, Second year History and Politics students were put under a lot of pressure this week, with two essays due simultaneously. The latter a relatively simple European Politics, the former the traumatic Ideas in History essay. It really should be questioned whether it’s fair that such a popular combined honours course should have deadlines so close together. But the student’s troubles didn’t end there. They had to battle with the lack of time to complete them. Thursday’s strike left most students with a day’s less reading, for fear of being bombarded with dirty looks for crossing the picket line, and those who enjoy the pressure of working the night before to complete an essay, were shocked to find the library closed overnight on Tuesday due to water supply problems. There’s always a group of students happy to spend the night in the library rather than waste any of the day. You can spot them the next day, typically they look catatonic, smell of books and are shaking due to a caffeine overdose. The library overnight is a strange place, you’re normally missing a night out to stay in and write an essay, but don’t worry, the Library is just like a nightclub. You can’t get in without ID, there’s always one person who’s smuggled their own alcohol in and another who’s had a little too much to drink. If you head outside you’ll pass a bouncer who looks sick of students and like he’d rather be anywhere

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

BADGER

THE

Standing at the union bar amongst a crowd of people waiting for a lukewarm pint. Tap on the shoulder, or brief eye contact, and then the words “you all right, mate?” Always by someone who I met briefly while drunk on a night out or at a crowded and very boring house party. Why come over when we were both off our heads and barely spoke to each other? Whenever this occurs my thought process goes like this 1) who the %$%* are you? 2) I’m guessing someone from a night out, or party. 3) Seeing as I didn’t give you my number so we could meet up again and have a real conversation, I really do not want to talk to you. This happens probably twice a month, someone who I can barely remember due to the booze, the lighting and the couple who are practically doing it on the sofa. Why is it that people feel a need to say ‘Hi’ to a person they barely know? It happened the other day, some random guy who I think I met at a Fresher’s event LAST YEAR, came up and said ‘Hi’. He was then greeted by my stare of ‘I’m going to smile but in reality I have no idea who you are and I have no intention of getting to know you and I hope my pint has been pulled so I can get away as quickly as possible’ stare. Now, seeing as our one minute conversation which consisted of ‘well this is fun’ and ended with ‘where are the toilets’ did not turn into a blossoming friendship, I hardly doubt it’s worth striking it up now. Just leave me alone to get my pint. The vultures who do this could just be friendly people (or lonely) who

are being nice. But for god’s sake, what is the point of saying hello in anticipation of a conversation; we’re clearly not kindred spirits. If let’s say we shared some acute passion, like, we both collect Italian coins from the nineteenth century, then sure, say ‘Hey’ all you want. However, we do not share any passion, and to be honest, if you really knew me that well, you’d know I’m a grumpy bugger who likes to be left alone. I’m not saying don’t try and make friends, obviously you should, but make real friendships through societies or with flatmates. Do not search for kinship with someone who briefly met WHILE DRUNK at a generic house party. I can guarantee that the person you’re trying to talk to is wishing it was socially acceptable to punch you in the face. Louis Patel

# T hebadger the week in tweets

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

Head of Publicity Amy Bracewell badger-publicity@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

News Editors Yasmin Centeno, Eduard Mead, Jack Williams, Lucy Hartland badger-news@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Letters & Societies Editor Deborah Batchelor badger-letters@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Features Editors Holly Davis-Bollard, Nicole Estwick badger-features@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

@MartinScolding Spot-on article about the one-day strike by Mark Tovey in #thebadger And how many lecturers picketed rather than staying at home? @JellyElliott Co op is accepting NUS on campus now? As soon as I move off campus? Bastards. #thebadger @SussexSays 9am starts should not be allowed! I think this should be a new uni rule #wheresmybed? #sleepy #sussex #thebadger @KaroliinaL So much badger sports editor love between @MichaelMorrow93 and I. And by love I mean hate. #thebadger @dbatchelor94 I absolutely love that Sussex Students prank called Spenny from MIC. He definitely deserved that! #TheBadger Got a short, snappy opinion? Tweet us using the hashtag #TheBadger and you could be included in next weeks edition.

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

Comment Editors Nick Godshaw, Paul Millar badger-opinion@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

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

Science Editor Katherine Hardy badger-science@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Sports Editors Karoliina Lehtonen, Michael Morrow badger-sports@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Photo Editors Naomi Horsfall, Mina Rassouli badger-photo@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Publicity Team Zoe Mallett, Jemma Rix, Annie Pickering, Hannah Shaw Social Media Coordinator Isla Forrester Online Editors Steve Barker, Rob Frost Students’ Union Communications Officer Imogen Adie

communications@sussexstudent.com

the badger

18 november 2013

FEATURE • 8

FEATURE

Not feeling so charitable?

With more and more groups on a local, national and international level requiring aid from Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Rebecca Legister-Anderson explores the public perception of charity work today Let’s face it, we’ve all been there. You see the intense attention for eye contact, that overtly friendly smile and the clipboard. You pretend to look away and not notice but it’s too late, they’ve stopped you and want to know if you have thought about making a donation. Yes, I’m talking about charity streetwalkers, whom, we are often less than happy to be approached by in our busy lives. However, this doesn’t stop the general public from donating to welldeserved causes. With RAG (Raising and Giving) week taking place next week, it’s more than certain that fellow Sussex students will be finding creative ways to get you to donate a pound or two. It is obvious that charities are an important and valuable part of our society, but should they always be viewed in a positive light without question? Still in the grips of the recession, money is tighter than ever and according The Charity Aid Foundation, charities in the UK have suffered with a slight fall of donations from 58% (2010/11) to 55% (2011/12). However these statistics have been contradicted and criticised by those in the charity sector, including the Institute of Fundraising, who claim that the statistics do not accurately reflect smaller charities or those who have reached a stagnation of those giving, not loss. So why is it so hard to keep track of donations? And more importantly, where does our financial contribution actually go? We all like to see our money make a constructive impact for those in

need, and while it is seen in direct results from smaller, local charities, it can be a bit more elusive from bigger organisations. Oxfam came under fire in 2010, when allegations and criticism from economist Dambisya Moyo suggested that overseas aid was falling into the wrong hands and was helping to sustain wars instead. Although the organisation admitted to some mis-

“As students often struggle to find time to volunteer during term time, larger projects, such as volunteering aboard are often a popular option” spent donations, it was adamant that their aid helped to improve children’s lives in developing countries. So it is apparent that donations can be hard to keep track of. But what about those working within charities themselves? Some have argued about the moral and ethical implications of those who are paid to raise awareness for a different charity everyday, and that it perhaps should be voluntary role. However, I believe that this should be seen from a different perspective in which several charities have the opportuni-

ties to gain many supporters instead of just one. In addition, due to our current economic climate, more people, especially young people and students are struggling with the cost of living and require to have paid jobs rather than just volunteering. However this doesn’t mean the amount of student volunteers has decreased. Michaela Rossmann, Volunteer Development Co-ordinator at University of Sussex Students’ Union has noted that: “Community volunteering within the Students’ Union has seen an increase in students wanting to get involved in volunteering, to gain relevant experience in the area that students would like to find work in. However, the time available to volunteer is less. This could be due to having to find paid work or focusing on their studies- but these are just my speculations.” As students often struggle to find time to volunteer during term time, larger projects, such as volunteering aboard are often a popular option as they tend to take place during the summer. Students can also search opportunities to work with external international charities, providing a great experience to travel and provide memorable life experiences, while helping those in need. Volunteer work aboard usually involves building schools and other communal buildings, however some have argued that this can actually be detrimental to the community, when

volunteer work takes away paid labour from the locals. Furthermore, due to the expensive nature of these volunteering schemes, many students have struggled to meet the demands of costly deposits and overall fees to join. Some would argue that this is an unfair system as those who wish to help but cannot financially afford it, miss out. One first year student in International Relations, who is currently considering joining VESA (Volunteer Eco Students Abroad), is keen to get involved but hesitant due to time and financial commitments: “VESA provide[s] support and ideas for fundraising, but my personal concern is whether I can realistically devote enough time to do it with uni work commitments, and general financial difficulties [as] I don’t fall in the right category to be viable for a student grant.” Nevertheless, there are always exciting (and cheaper) opportunities on home turf, in which volunteering with local charities helps to build stronger communities together. Not only helping smaller charities provides valuable extra help, but can also provide relevant experience that could help get your foot on the ladder to your chosen career. With over 1,200 volunteers at the Students’ Union, ranging from local community to media volunteers, volunteering has changed dynamics and more young people and students are involved than ever before. Overall, charities are an essential

part of our society, helping those in need and bringing communities together through local and global projects. New relationships are built through volunteering and memorable experiences are created. Having personally volunteered at a charity shop before university, this provided me with great skills for work but also knowing that volunteering my time helped a good cause in a small way made the experience even more worthwhile. Despite crippling budget cuts, charities are preserving under the evergrowing strain of those who need support, and most reassuringly, the public are still willing to spare a bit of change and time for those in need. Have a particular hobby, passion or issue you wish to discuss? Interested in writing a feature for a future issue of The Badger? E-mail us at badger-features@ ussu.sussex.ac.uk to find out more.

follow and facebook Who knew Badgers could use computers? Follow us @thebadgernews and find us on facebook.com/ thebadger.ussu

THE BADGER

18 NOVEMBER 2013

COMMENT • 10

COMMENT What would you say to a man on death row? Savannah Sevensko Right now in America, 3,108 people sit in 6 foot cells waiting to die. The finality of the death sentence brings with it the assertion that the lives of these convicts, predominantly men, are entirely worthless. Yet on average the lengthy bureaucratic process will allow their condemned existences to continue absurdly in solitary confinement for over ten years before the sentence is carried out. On the 7th of November Andrew Wilkes gave a talk at Sussex about

Lifelines, an organisation that arranges letter correspondence to death row inmates to make the pain of utter isolation a little more bearable. Watching the harrowing documentary ‘Fourteen Days in May’ that inspired Lifelines is eye opening as to the wasted humanity of the men on death row, that though as much a part of those men as their crimes, seems to have been overlooked. The pain of this is of course most poignant in the case of those who are innocent. Even the passionate advocate of the death penalty cannot ignore the great discomfort that a case

of false accusation would lead to the irreversible theft of an innocent life. Still, some would argue that this limbo of perpetual guilt and depression, and finally execution is the punishment guilty criminals deserve for the atrocities they have committed, and is a necessity of justice worth undertaking. But even in the case of the guilty, the death penalty remains a destructive act against humanity and can never really achieve anything. In maintaining the principle of taking an ‘eye for an eye’ those states of the American south that continue to

champion the death penalty are suffering from a disillusionment that to kill the killer is an equal exchange for the devastation of his crime, when even to make him suffer in conditions such as those of death row only adds to the human suffering caused all round. Maybe in a system that allows men to become their crimes, it is possible to sympathise with the death penalty. Yes, we all want the execution of murder itself and in point of fact, rape with it. But the execution of human beings is not the same. Perhaps we have to accept that the true dev-

astation of a crime like murder, for which death row inmates are convicted, is in its irrevocability. Troubled by the fact that we are powerless to restore the damage of such a crime, some desperately seek to perpetuate it with more death. If killing people seems illogical to you, Lifelines and the anti-death penalty campaign of Amnesty offer an alternative that is worth considering, and moreover is not a solution limited to the often corrupt actions of structural bureaucracy, but really concerns us. Quite simply, we could try to understand people.

Courtroom cameras will improve transparency Anousha Vasantha It has been announced that filming in the British Court of Appeal will commence, after an 88 year ban, providing legislation is enacted on time. The big newsgroups Sky News, BBC, ITN and the Press Association are behind the funding for the filming. The primary objective of the introduction of cameras in the courtroom is to open up the court process to “allow people to see and hear the

judges’ decisions in their own words” says court minister Helen Grant. The broadcasting is set to cover one court at a time and the identities of witnesses will be protected and will not be part of the broadcastingsunlike cases in the United States. Instead, the judge or barrister speaking at that moment will be shown on screen. Naturally the introduction of cameras in UK courts have triggered a variety of opinions: some critics argue that these court cases are being turned into “sensational television

dramas”- not quite the same as your conventional reality TV show. The decision has also been critiqued for the potential situations of judges altering their behaviour for the cameras. Whilst this is a valid argument, I highly doubt that the judges’ main priorities are seeking celebrity status in front of the cameras. Ultimately the cameras being present in court are unlikely to alter the general process of justice, particularly considering that filming is already streamed live on the internet

the cases, which may not paint an accurate picture of reality, the overall idea of broadcasting appears to be a good step forward in such a technologically advanced society. The general public can go and observe the cases in the Court of Appeal in the public galleries if they wished to do so anyway, hence this step forward will surely enable the public to gain an insight into the way our English legal system works in a more convenient way.

Immigration is marvellous

Union box

Sam Jackson

Kelly McBride President

Campus outsourcing join the campaign The University has outsourced its catering and is planning to outsource its estates and facilities management in January 2013. The Students’ Union has deep concerns about this and has a campaign against the outsourcing of campus services. You can read more about our campaign and how to get involved at www.sussexstudent.com/campaigns. Additionally, in the Spring Term of last year a campuswide referendum was held on the question: ‘Should the University of Sussex Students’ Union campaign against the University’s plans to outsource services to private companies?’

from our highest court, the Supreme Court. The filming and broadcasting of the cases are principally centered on the transparency of the system; Lord Thomas welcomes the broadcasting and claims that it will “enable the public to see the way justice is delivered in an even more open and transparent manner than at present”. Although it is true that the television companies will primarily be concerned about the most ‘sensational’ and interesting moments of

and students voted ‘Yes’. The Students’ Union supports the student-led campaign against privatization at Sussex. On Wednesday 20th November at 9pm, the campaign are hosting a night at East Slope Bar. There will be live music, speakers from the campaign, spoken-word artists, a cake sale and more! It’s a great opportunity to learn more about the campaign, to ask any questions you might have, to get to know new people, and to begin to understand how the issues that the campaign tackles affect you. We hope to see you there!

As The Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan once said, “fucking borders are just such a pain in the fucking arse”. Love that. Not just the spiky and liberal use of the f-word that brings colour and vivacity to the greyest of days, but the actual message: “fucking borders are such a pain in the fucking arse”. If you’ve not seen a picture of planet earth from space then I’m not sure where you’ve been. Certainly unlike the altogether misrepresentative Mercator projection map that adorns my bedroom wall, photos from space show no borders. What a pain in the arse they must then be draw on. Cartographers everywhere, I salute you for the trouble you go to. Really, we should just be done with it and make their jobs easier for them. “Fuck borders”. People are people. And we should all be able to go wherever we like – transportation issues not withstanding of course. The world is one truly messed up place. States are suspicious, paranoid and jingoistic. “Ooooh I’m

terrified of that brown man with the turban, he’s unusual and I’m not used to him, he might have a bomb”. Oh piss off. I’m all for an international world, where there are no borders, no inter-state secrecy and above all absolutely no jingoism. No your state is not better than mine ‘just because’. Everyone should be let in everywhere. If you’re worried about having problems then quite simply don’t be antagonistic. Black, white, green, red, whatever – just be nice. Unfortunately, I can’t see international liberty happening any time soon. We need a progressive pathway. Radical change alienates, with conservatism entrenched in everyone. People become unsure, uneasy and usually revert to the tried-andtested. So it is here that immigration comes into the argument for moves towards the abolition of borders. I’m not quite sure how I managed to write 288 words of a comment article about immigration without actually using the word, but hey. We’re here now. Be prepared for a veritable barrage of the word from here on.

Progressivism is popular because it’s seen as positive. Slow, gradual alterations with the virtues fully explained allows knowledge to trickle down into society, and before you know it, that gradual reform is now a social norm. Then the next progressive reform can be made, and so on. Immigration is the first progressive reform towards internationalism. From a starting point of the Windrush years, at least in modern terms, immigration has slowly but surely become an accepted tolerated norm. Immigration is fantastic. New culture, new friends and new ideas. Marvellous. As society integrates, evolves, and melds into one homogenous unit of humanity, people will look back on immigration as the starting point. Not allowing new people into ‘your land’ based on tradition and an accident of geography is a dinosaur’s argument of supremacy and chauvinism. And that argument sucks. I hope there’s a prize for record-breaking deployment of the f-word in a Badger article. Love people. Love immigration. Hate closed borders.

the badger

18 november 2013

comment • 11

THE BIG DEBATE

Is it acceptable for public figures to NOT wear the red poppy on Remembrance Day?

The Badger asks whether or not public figures should be stigmatised for shunning the poppy, in the wake of journalist Robert Fisk’s claim that they have become an “obscene fashion appendage”.

Yes Annie Pickering

The poppy, as a sign of remembrance of those who died in World War One and Two is now used by public figures, especially politicians, to justify our current and more recent war efforts around the world. It is completely acceptable for public figures not to wear the red poppy. The meaning behind the poppy concerns morality, and thus requires individual and personal consent. I shall explain the meaning of red poppies below. It is important to remember all of those servicemen and women who tragically lost their lives during the World Wars, many of whom fell in unimaginably inhumane circumstances. But, wearing the red poppy does not do this justice and certainly cannot be regarded as an appropriate form of remembrance. It has become a sign of support to all of our armed forces, fallen in any war, which ignores a certain significance regarding soldiers of the two World Wars; they were conscripts, forced to fight. Whatever you may say about the soldiers of today having no choice due to certain life circumstances, there is still an element of choice and we cannot remember those who died from choice in the same way as those conscripted- it would be to conflate two sets of tragedies, undeservedly so. The Remembrance Day slogan is ‘Never Again’, yet how can one wear it without seeing the irony. The British involvement in armed conflicts has been ongoing throughout the twentieth century, and is still very much in progress today. They may not be as severe as the World Wars, but the principle ‘Never Again’ does not mean ‘Never again for Britain’, it is a universal principle for all countries.

Numerous deaths and terrifying conditions for soldiers and civilians have continued throughout the world; in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, to name but a few. If you wear a poppy to show your support against war then you are inadvertently supporting it. Wars continue and people continue to die as a result of them- the very thing that a poppy calls to happen “Never Again”. Poppies are also nationalistic in a way that ignores the millions of civilians and soldiers from other countries around the world that have died as a result of war in the last 100 years. Poppies are used, as a sign of remembrance of the British soldiers who have fallen in war and this is ignorant of all others who have fallen, who are of no less importance than troops from the UK. Public figures should not feel obliged to wear a poppy, or receive hate messages when they refuse to wear one, as happened this year to an ITV news presenter. The presenters reasoning being that she did not want to publicly endorse one charity over any others. This is another valid reason to not publicly wear a poppy. They have simply been reduced to a tokenistic norm, and I’m sure that many public figures feel that to wear a poppy is just to serve the purpose of some warped political correctness. A poppy comes with dissolute connotations and messages that I have argued above. Therefore a poppy should only be worn if morally some one wishes to wear one. However one must consider the claim that it is a contradictory badge that does not do justice to those already dead, and spreads injustice to those who will inevitably die on the battlefield in future conflicts. An alternative would be the white, peace poppy; a badge of remembrance to the World Wars and a challenge to the continuation of state sponsored fighting.

No

Alice Nettleship ‘Lest we forget’ – words on many lips in the country right now. We come together to remember whilst raising money and awareness for those stricken by war. As Armistice Day is about keeping the tragedies of war in the national consciousness, it makes sense that public figures wear poppies – good examples being the Prime Minister, X-Factor contestants and even the Google home page. Remembering those who gave their lives for us is a universal moral, so it is right that this should be presented through all forms of media. Why should anyone deem themselves too good to remember those who died? If you are a public figure who for some reason doesn’t wear a poppy, whether intentional or not, you will inevitably stand out and give the Daily Mail an easy headline – considering how simple it is to get ahold of them. Yes, there is less reason for public figures not to wear poppies than there is the common public – at least we can use excuses such as not having the chance to buy one or losing them. Presenters and TV personalities have whole wardrobe departments at their disposal, probably having bought ten spare poppies in various chic designs. Maybe this takes away from the meaning in that there is less individual thought behind it, but it is about keeping 11th November in the viewer’s awareness, whilst encouraging them (especially the younger generations who have no real experience of war) to buy and wear their own proudly. The poppy: a flower that sprouted in Flanders Field after a great human travesty and therefore cemented itself as a symbol of hope. Just like the poem ‘In Flanders Fields’, the history surrounding the pins is beautifully bittersweet. Wars can unite a nation, yet in peacetime, with the World Wars ebbing from

living memory, it sometimes seems to me that we forget what serious problems are and create the arguments ourselves. Let Remembrance Day pass by peacefully for the Veterans and mourners. A little respect is needed. Opposing arguments have been made previously that the poppies can be offensive and that public figures, especially groups such as the BBC, should remain neutral on such issues and therefore not wear them. This is so ridiculous it is actually painful, as the poppies are first and foremost about remembrance and charity – we aren’t celebrating gun crime and war fanatics, we’re honouring casualties of war, men who gave their lives for our freedoms. It’s therefore probably in poor taste to exercise that same freedom of speech by speaking against their memorial day. I have also seen phrases such as ‘herd mentality’ and ‘charity bias’ thrown around –yet not towards the national fund-raising drive of the BBC and nationally celebrated Children In Need. There is similarity in the form of charity, remembering those in need and a reoccurring emblem, yet for some reason there is a division in which some see the one associated with children as good, yet the one with war strife with controversial issues. Chances are if you’re trying to bring some BBC agenda into Remembrance Day, you’re also someone who thought the Olympics was just some commercial conspiracy and spends Christmas hating every second so as not fall victim to capitalism. Maybe you should reevaluate your life choices. Should public figures wear poppies? Yes, I think so. However, there are obviously exceptions to this and the war was fought for our civil liberties; no one has to wear a poppy if they don’t want to. Just please don’t make your reason an anti-war protest, being edgy or trying to make out that you have more free thought than the rest of us. The word ‘remember’ has probably been overused inthisarticle–becausethatiswhatweshouldbedoing, not starting a fight.

the badger

18 november 2013

SCIENCE • 12

SCIENCE Are psychologists in the military

contradicting the APA’s ethical policy code? Ingrid Muller A compelling report by the Institute of Medicine as a Profession (IMAP) and Open Society Foundations (OSF) released earlier this month revealed the true role of psychologists in the war on terror, and more shockingly the overseeing stance of the American Psychological Association (APA). Psychologists work alongside the Department of Defense, Department of Justice and the CIA. The service of psychologists is no novel concept; during the Nuremberg trials, US Army psychiatrists and psychologists were sent to assess the defendants on whether they were aware of the heinousness of their war crimes. This by no means is what the use of psychologists is limited to nowadays. Acounts suggest that the military classifies psychologists as ‘combatants’ whose role is to identify vulnerabilities of detainees and collaborate with interrogators in exploiting them. Psychology has become a weapon in this sense. Some

science factoid of the week

Seaslugs have unusual sex move Imagine this, you’re held in an embrace with your partner and then... they stab you in the head. Well this seems to be what sea slugs do during sex. They inject their partners in the head with a chemical. No one is sure exactly why, but it is possibly to induce mind control in their partner. Other Siphopteron species stab their partners too, just not in the head...

methods of interrogation include; sleep deprivation, force feeding, prolonged stress positions, repeated slamming into walls, deprivation of basic needs and force feeding via gastrointestinal tubing. Unfortunately the bitter irony of the situation is that the American Psychologist Association, the national US professional body for psychologists, rejects torture from its conduct. However, it supports the role of psychologists in interrogation for national security purposes. Whether any of the interrogation methods mentioned in the report contradict the APA’s ethical policy code is yet to be confirmed. Despite the atrocities described, it is important to remember that amongst other things psychology is a dual-use tool. Pre-screening of military candidates with higher chances of developing PTSD or depression would save lives from crippling mental health issues. However manipulation of the brain and nervous system doesn’t end at psychology. With relatively recent advances of

techniques in neuroscience, it is unsurprising that militaries are taking an interest in methods of cognitive enhancement. One example is the non-invasive method of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), which modulates brain activity via inducing an electrical current using an electromagnetic coil placed near the brain. With specific application, inhibiting any thoughts and feelings surrounding conscientious objection can be considered as moral enhancement. Similarly with the rapid understanding and accessibility of artificial intelligence, the need for manipulating humans is replaced by the option to just create a combatant from scratch. This is manifested in one of DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Project Agency), the Department of Defense’s technology research section’s project SyNAPSE, systems neuromorphic adaptable plastic scalable electronics, a computer chip that replicates a human brain. Additionally, the South Korean army has already utilised a highly accessible feature of artificial intelli-

gence on the Korean demilitarised zone; Samsung have manufactured a military robotic machine gun that is capable of tracking multiple moving targets. Back to the issue in hand, the report asks the APA to clarify their ethical policy regarding interrogation, however asking for ethical revision should not stop

at the APA. Neurosecurity is a tender field, as when the Biological Weapons Convention was signed in 1972 the signatories had not mentioned the scarcely researched neuroscience, thus providing routes for misuse today. Although, the justification for the APA’s blindeye must be very fascinating.

Four YouTube channels to make you smarter Ayomide Oluyemi

MINUTEPHYSICS

Whether you’re wondering just how octopuses have sex or want to learn six, yes six, different ways to travel through time look no further than YouTube. From engaging a classroom of would-be bored students to satisfying the curiosity of a couch surfer, video creators are playing an increasingly important role in science education. The Badger brings you some of the best.

These short videos with colourful doodles and Henry Reich’s rapid narration are perfect for anyone wanting to brush up on physics facts to wow people with. Watch first: Common Physics Misconceptions – Everything you were taught about physics is wrong, well, not everything, but chances are you’ll have at least one thing cleared up after watching this video. Most viewed: Immovable Object vs. Unstoppable Force - Which Wins? – In fight between an immovable object and an unstoppable force which one would you put your money on? In just over three minutes find out where to place your wallet. Also watch: 3 Simple Ways to Time Travel (& 3 Complicated Ones) – Spoiler alert, something you do every day is helping you travel faster through time relative to your more stationary counterparts.

THEBRAINSCOOP

Through presenting thebrainscoop Emily Graslie landed a role with The Field Museum in Chicago, one of the world’s leading natural history museums. It’s easy to see why. Watch first: Welcome to the Field Museum – The best introduction to the channel is also a great chance to take a peek inside the Field Museum while staying on this side of the pond. Most viewed: Skinning the Wolf – While definitely not for the squeamish, this is a great opportunity to see how natural historians work. Also watch: Insect Adventure, Part One – Insects, creepy crawlies aka those weird slimy things are actually pretty interesting when you find out more about their anatomy.

SCISHOW

SciShow covers current science news, tells you exactly what’s wrong with the science in films and gives short overviews of notable ideas and figures within science’s history. Watch first: Sleep: Why We Need It and What Happens Without It – Every student begrudges those slumber filled hours that could be spent doing more exciting or pro-

ductive things. Most viewed: The Science of Lying – If you’re a bit sceptical about some people’s claims while playing Never Have I Ever brush up on your lie spotting skills. Also watch: What is Sarin gas? - The use of sarin gas on civilians in Syria was constantly in headlines last September. This video is a good example of how SciShow informs its audience about the science currently affecting the news.

VSAUCE

VSauce aka Michael Stevens has an uncanny ability to go without blinking and end videos in a completely different place from the one you were expecting. If you like your

science served with a side of temporary existential crisis, then click on one of these. Watch first: How Secure is Your Password? And 21 Other DONGs – For a short introduction to VSauce’s distinct speaking style and a list of slightly peculiar, but interesting websites, head for this. Most viewed: What If Everyone JUMPED At Once? – A question that has probably occasionally crossed your mind can be answered in this seven minute video. Also watch: Will We Ever Run Out of New Music? – Making you think about everyday things in a new way and explaining things that you might not have even thought about are some of the things VSauce does best.

the badger

18 NOvember 2013 ARTS • 14

ARTS

Theatre

As You Like It Brighton Dome

SUDS season: a theatre special

Liam Harrison As the usurping Duke Frederick approaches the bloody knuckled Orlando in the aftermath of a backlit fist fight, complete with smokescreen and slowmotion blows, he confesses to the hero, “I would thou hadst been son to some man else”. The Duke’s discrimination alludes to broader national and racial prejudices, and underlines the themes of estrangement and nepotism which characterise Douglas Rintoul’s bold take on William Shakespeare’s As You Like It. A play often riddled with light comedy is given a dystopian twist as the outcast protagonists are crafted into the mould of ill-treated immigrants. The characters demonstrate a form of internationalism by assuming a broad range of accents, hailing from Poland, West Africa and Georgia. Rintoul builds on each character’s sense of exile, creating a transnational diaspora in the Forest of Arden, where Celia’s adopted pseudonym of ‘Aliena’ gains particular significance, representing the alienation which can be extended to all characters. As the tyrannous Duke Frederick enters a scene he is accompanied by special-ops units and the blasts of helicopter blades, whilst the exiles assemble in run down squats, layered up in thick coats and scarves whilst lying on squalid old mattresses. There are messages of hope amidst the derision, the simple shepherd Corin moralises “Owe no man hate, envy no man’s happiness; be glad of other men’s good, content with my harm”, and the second act focuses more upon the love interests and cumulative quadruple marriage at the play’s close. The leading heroine Rosalind’s speeches sometimes appear half-baked or unfitting in her attempts at matchmaking whilst disguised as Ganymede. The play’s lighter side sits uneasily alongside the destitution, and even the helicopter loudspeaker announcement of the evil Duke Frederick’s moral transformation (he meets a religious man off stage and is converted), appears stilted against the gritty backdrop. If all the world is a stage then this stage is a fragmented one: men and women’s entrances are often prohibited and their exits are enforced, the parts they play are restricted by dictators, and their melancholic lives are epitomised by boarders, discrimination and alienation. Despite the fairy tale ending, Rintoul’s production hints that not all tales of exile and exclusion end so idyllically.

Shakespeare’s Sisters

SUDS: Shakespeare’s Sisters Falmer Bar Lizzi Hart We’re not sure about you, but when we see the word Shakespeare in the title of a play, we instantly think: yawn-fest. However, when you combine the fact that the play shares its name with the celebrated 80s synth-pop duo and that it’s a student written tribute to Shakespeare’s strongest female protagonists, you have the potential for a fantastically fun-filled hour. As we are introduced to the reworked characters that we all (mostly) know, the first thing we notice is the meticulous costumes for a low budget production.

Theatre

SUDS: Monsters Malborough Theatre Jacob Engelberg I am happy to report that gutsy, provocative theatre is alive and well in SUDS. Monsters, written and directed by Alex Redmond and produced by Helen Nicholson, is an audacious piece and it is refreshing to see a non-traditional play given such a platform. Monsters explores the lives of three unrelated individuals who are linked by their association with some form of sexual deviance.

The scene is set in their own pocket of Heaven where we watch the pale faced girls interact whilst wittily referencing both their own plays, and pretty much every modern cliché at their disposal. There’s the innocent Juliet, marked mainly by the youthfulness in Rachel Sparke’s portrayal. Laura Bell brings a stern, earnest and yet unfulfilled quality to Lady Macbeth’s character. The drowned and mentally-unbalanced Ophelia comes across perfectly with Claudia Treacher’s forlorn performance. Imogen Liddell conveys a lethargic, ditzy and very comical version of Othello’s smothered wife Desdemona. The witty puppet master that is Will Shakespeare, is realised divinely through Alex Gibbons. Yet, the crowning performance of the night goes to Ella Gray Thomas who

presents us with Cordelia (you know, King Lear’s daughter). We doubt anyone’s ever disliked a bit of crowd interaction, and the same can be said for tonight - though you have to pity the poor guy sat in the front row. Especially when there’s even some of the cameo cast hidden within the audience, including drunken ‘lads on tour’ Romeo and Hamlet, offering a hilarious interruption. The writing is both wry and selfcritical, touching upon the fact that no one really knows the King Lear story, or even much about Othello. Or the brilliantly produced Hallelujah FM clip, that - with the addition of fast forward noises between words - admits that “Shakespeare’s...Sisters... is....bollocks”. As the plot progresses, a fight scene between the ‘sisters’ occurs, showcasing the play’s hilarity is at its best. There’s thumb biting (i.e. giving the

finger in the 1600s), there are Mean Girls references and the waving of plastic cutlasses - something for the whole family! In terms of criticism, there’s little to be said about Lucy Anna Gray’s writing and directing, which are on-point and the plot tidy. However, some of the effects, such as the hideously overused cockerel chime to signify morning, are slightly less palatable. In some parts the music is too loud, or the actors’ voices aren’t projected well enough, but for their first night, we can forgive this. Kudos goes to the excellent montage of Lady Macbeth’s loneliness which sees the stage dip between dark and light as her actions differ slightly. And we can’t end this review without sharing everyone’s favourite quote from Shakespeare: “I practically wrote Lion King!”

The first character is a pornographic actor whose professional success is resulting in personal isolation, the second is a sex worker faced with an obsessive client and the third is a married man who begins to develop feelings towards an underage girl. The staging is stripped down and unadorned; in front of a white sheet the three characters sit in chairs delivering monologues in which they ruminate over past events. Rather than incidentally grouped, their placement together suggests that their stories are bound by the ostracism of people society considers to be sexual “others”. The sex worker’s story is the most lyrical of the three, abound with natural imagery, while the man developing paedophilic desires speaks in a straightfor-

ward, confrontational manner. The character who shines the most in the piece however is the unnamed porn actor, skilfully interpreted by John Andrews, whose story is conveyed vividly and engagingly. The character’s reminiscences boast an understanding of the mainstream porn industry and its idiosyncrasies as we become accustomed to the character’s frustration in the trade; his isolation from the women he sleeps with, his hatred of his agent and his difficulties in ejaculating on queue. His story is confessional and frank, standing out as a sensitively handledexploration of an isolated man’s quandary. Redmond’s writing style is poetic and precise, shining particularly at moments of unpretentious nuanced description

such as the porn actor’s recollection of his fascination with a spot of damp while shooting a scene. It is in these moments that the lucidity of Redmond’s style succeeds in creating tangible worlds within the play allowing the characters’ focalised perceptions to guide our own imaginations. While I felt that the unambiguous nature of the conclusions might have been better handled without standard moral messages, the profundity of the stories told leaves a larger imprint on an audience member’s mind. What should be celebrated is the fulcrum of the piece – the deconstruction of lives so often reduced to hackneyed stereotypes, which endows these marginal characters with the power of anecdote.

the badger

18 november 2013 ARTS • 15

Reviews Electronic

Mount Kimbie

Concorde 2

6th November Gabriella Gal Concorde 2 usually awaits its audience with projected clips of water on all four walls. This pool is filled to the brim tonight; the year’s ideal Bonfire follow-up show has been sold out for days. Warm-up act, oOoOO sets the mood perfectly, screening carefully picked out clips of smoking youngsters and scenes from metro stations while luring us into his zone through a lilac fog of dry

ice. I can feel myself unwillingly drifting out into this witch-house wonderland when suddenly, the girl in front of me turns around and smears glitter makeup all over my cheeks - by the time Mount Kimbie prepare their set, everyone in the front few rows are sparkling: we’re ready. Their backdrop consists of a slowed down version of their video for Before I Move Off. The storyline of an intercontinental adventure is tailored to an hour in length to fit their set, letting us engage in its abstract images. Halfway through the show, Dominic Maker finally replies to the audience’s constant emotional outcries, stressing how good it is to be back from the States, despite Brighton being “fabu-

lously windy”. The show soon reaches its peak with Made to Stray, a hit that leaves us breathlessly overjoyed while trying to keep up with the drums. It is immediately followed up by the experimental beats of Field, their signature farewell track, while four huge spotlights illuminate their presence on stage. The crowd is grinning as one by now, but now the final number ends and the duo flee. Chants of “one more song” build up in their wake, and after two minutes of persisting, we win ourselves an encore. With the bass of ‘Mayor’ sounding more heavenly than before, the crowd seems to be up and away. It will take more than those Brighton winds to wake us up from this lucid dream. Cat

Mount Kimbie Press

Theatre

Holiday on Stage The Basement 31st October Jack Rodgers An irony riddled jaffa cake: how exactly to describe the undoubtedly talented Martin Schick and Damir Todorovic’s Holiday on Stage? Perhaps imagine Lewes Bonfire, but replace all the fireworks/bonfires/ people/Lewes itself with irony. Then add more irony. The play begins with an ‘oh so ironic’ cheesy acceptance speech for some

Basement Press

ridiculous award. Before long we’re thrown into a comical listing of random facts about celebrities; surely an ironic take on today’s mindless obsession with celebrity culture? But oh wait, now they’re standing in the audience and commenting on how the cynical the audience are? What’s this? They’re asking the audience to judge the artists involved, but are then debating whether audience participation is a cliché? This had the audience sniggering throughout, and times they even broke into full on raucous laughter. But as you left the show (unsure of whether it had actually ended, obviously), you’d likely feel a tad under-

whelmed. You’re never able to engage with any of the characters. I appreciate that this akin to observing the lack of catchy chorus’s in a piece by a string quartet, but the significance is that this void was never really filled. The play is so steeped in irony that you’re never able to attach or relate to anything. Whilst this imaginative wit is often very humorous, it’s a heavy price to pay for a performance that’s although amusing, never truly hilarious. Essentially, this is the theatrical equivalent to a Jaffa Cake. Stylistically enticing, but lacking in substance. Overall Holiday on Stage is to be recommended, you’ll enjoy it. Equally, the orange jelly and chocolate combo will always garner some satisfaction, but you’re unlikely to be blown away by the McVities favourite. Whilst the whole ‘is it just a biscuit masquerading as a cake’ question will still grate as the sweet taste begins to fade. In the same way, as you wander home from the Basement Theatre, you’re unlikely to be feverishly awe inspired at the show you’ve just seen, and the questions of its purpose or value will still be whining away several hours later, as your recollections of its playful drollness have gone stale.

Alternative

Rokia Traore Corn Exchange 6th November Will Fortna Arts Editor Rokia Traore walks onstage, wearing an incredible dress, picks up her guitar and sings something of a red herring. The first song, sparse and sombre, acts as a preface to the rest of the set. Joined by her six-piece band, Traore plays a set by turns joyous and intense, though always danceable. The singer’s background – born and raised in Mali, though educated in a French-style school and with a father based in Brussels – is borne out in her music, which merges the Malian and the Western; instrumentally, rhythmically, melodically and in terms of language (Traore’s lyrics are sung in either French or Bambara). This dialectic approach is even apparent from tonight’s stage set-up. Traore stands in between a Malian ngoni player on stage left and a French electric guitarist on stage right. And despite a joke that “white people have watches, black people have time”, Traore’s message is one of unity, peace and love – a message that is drawn out over twenty long minutes, as the band extends a song to allow for Traore’s repeated speeches about the need for music and community. This elongated interlude-of-sorts in

Music

East Slope Open Mic East Slope Bar 29th October

Grace Cummings At the end of last month, our beloved East Slope Bar welcomed the unforgettable return of its new and exclusive Open Mic Night. Launched by the original founder and USSU bar supervisor James Arbuckle, the night was set to be a hit as the bar packed with countless musical enthusiasts. Graciously opened by a brief, yet original set by James himself, the line up began to fill out with plenty of poets and musicians eager to perform. Taking to the stage with an upbeat cover of indie-pop hit ‘This Love’ by Maroon 5, Josh Marchant got the night off to a flying start as avid spectators gathered around to appreciate the vast array of talents our students have to offer. A change of tone as the audience was creatively confronted by political poet and 235 supporter ‘Slam’. By combining the power of speech against the backdrop of his inspired spoken word, the crowd reflected in silence to the overwhelming wisdom the

some ways puts halt to a momentum that has been building all set – with increases in tempo, noise and – that unquantifiable quality – “groove”. Traore and her band were at their best when playing their more up-tempo, dance-y numbers, with Traore’s verses delivering a breathtakingly strong and beautiful vibrato, intersecting joyous group vocal melodies in the choruses. Indeed, my friend proclaimed (only half-joking) that this was everything Talking Heads were trying to achieve in their later, African-inspired albums. The songs’ momentum and successes were recorded by the number of middle-aged women getting down and funky at the front – and when the balding man in front of me lost his glasses whilst flinging his limbs around wildly, I knew that the set was at its peak. This was a really good show, and would have been even better if Traore had proselytized less (even if for a good cause) and grooved more.

Rokia Traore Press lyricist had to offer. Followed by performances by Harry Saban on his bazookie, acoustic artist Chloe G and three-piece country-pop band ‘Three Dollar Shakes’; the night closed with a widespread (and personal) favourite ‘PV18’. Winning the crowd with charming and harmoniously distinctive covers from the likes of Coldplay and Amy Whinehouse, the female duo were a little rough-around the edges – yet wonderfully gifted – the perfect closing tribute for one of the greatest regular events our Students’ Union has to offer. East Slope’s Open Mic Night is on the last Monday of every month, with the next being on the 25th November – ask at the bars for information on performing!

Grace Cummings

the badger

18 November 2013 ARTS • 16

LIFESTYLE

We will never be as free as we are now - JOIN THE CLUB the perks of being single at university Life Francesca Powell After a week of no longer texting, messaging or skyping my boyfriend, I’ve been living life as a single Fresher at Sussex. I always thought that a break-up would end in tears and the devouring of chocolate, but none of these things happened. It wasn’t easy for me, but my first week of going solo has made me realise that being single has a lot of advantages. Then again, this probably doesn’t sound too convincing when you’ve had a single status on Facebook for a while or are rarely asked out. I’m not saying that relationships aren’t important. Having that special person is one of the most wonderful things life can offer. And who wouldn’t want that? Relationships can be incredible. However, when you leave your boyfriend (or girlfriend) it can really alter how you see the world - and yourself. The period in between relationships can be liberating and will make you more prepared for the next time you go out with someone. When you are single you can indulge in personal interests that you previously wouldn’t have dared to, fearing how your partner would view them.

Bella Cockrell Or perhaps you were simply too busy spending time with them to pursue your hobbies. So, in the last week, searching for the latest news on Sherlock whilst listening to Madonna was certainly in order. I probably would have gone the whole way and blasted music from my flat, had I been sure that my neighbours would have happily listened to ‘Hung Up’ at one in the morning. You can also spend more time meeting up with friends from home that you haven’t seen since coming to Sussex.

Bringing my friends to this university made me feel proud but their stay was also a good opportunity to have a chat, which is often difficult when you’ve promised to Skype your boyfriend. I have to say, it is such a good feeling to shop in Brighton with one of your best friends. Without sounding too cheesy, one thing I’ve learnt is that it is your friendships - not your relationships - that are more important and longlasting in life. Finally, you can immerse yourself in university life. Not that I hadn’t done so before,

but at university you have the opportunity to meet an incredible amount of new people, whether in your flat, academic department and from societies. Worrying about the other person can deflate the novelty of university, especially if he or she far away. You are able to devote your time solely to study – and some of those film nights or outings to the pub. Doing something on the spur of the moment is a perk. For instance, the Harry Potter themed pub quiz at East Slope bar on Sunday was brilliant. I’m sure there are people who have fun experiences at university whilst being in a relationship - either longdistance or at Sussex - but university is indisputably a wholly different experience when you’re single. So, in conclusion, it’s not a matter of being single or not, but a matter of time and place in a person’s life. Relationships are special, but so are those points of existence when you’re freer than ever. And it all depends on the partner you decide to have. This isn’t 1947, we are not in a hurry to start a family. Embrace the freedom that being single offers and have a laugh with the people around you. I would like to be in a relationship with the right person, but for now I’m still enjoying the perks of being single at university.

hungryhouse.co.uk: Chicks Chicken (and Pizza)

Heather Gwyther Arts Editor

There comes a time where we all have an epiphany: the best thing about going out is the chicken burger at the end. Can the same be said for staying in? Certainly not, if Chicks Chicken of the Lewes Road has anything to do with it. Whatever attracted me to the establishment, it definitely wasn’t the logo - you see a gallinaceous comb, I see a bloodied hand – but the price. Browsing hungryhouse.co.uk can be depressing when you’re skint. Even the most reasonably priced of dishes won’t stand a chance against a minimum order value of £15. With a minimum order value of just £8, Chicks Chicken sits below the poverty line and in a happy place. A chicken burger meal including ‘medium fries’ and a ‘can of soft drink’ cost me £3.99! Yes, I did contract amnesia es-

Charlie Summerville pecially to forget that you can get a SPICY chicken burger and chips in South-East London for £1.99, thank-you for your concern. Mirinda was my girl on the ‘can of soft drink’ front, second only to Rio as the Red Stripe of the ‘can of soft drink’ world. But what of the remaining £4.01 that had to be spent? I went for a single portion of pizza garlic bread with cheese and an apple pie - ridiculous, I know. Having ordered by 7.40pm, I was

notified that the food should arrive by 8.50pm. It was late by five minutes; how it can take that long to go from freezer to deep-fat fryer to Fiat Punto is a mystery. In all fairness, it was Bonfire Night. I suppose I’m not the only saddo who’d sooner dine in than be hit on the arse with bangers in Lewes. As I drew for a baguette in hungry desperation, the food finally arrived. The pizza garlic bread with cheese

was all the better for the added dairy and might just have been my favourite ‘dish’ of the entire meal. Instead of a Mirinda, I got a Tango. No problem there - they’re basically the same beverage - but it does make a girl think that if Chicks Chicken were a Chinese takeaway they’d promise prawn crackers only to present you with a packet of skips . Plentiful in supply, the chips were a genetic mix of Burger King and McDonald’s. What can I say about the chicken burger? I’ve had better from similar places, but I ate it and life plods on. Though still warm and pleasantly tinged with cinnamon, the apple pie ultimately resembled a prop from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Would I go to Chicks Chicken again? Perhaps, but only to acknowledge that they also do pizza.

Club Life Raymond Jennings CarmelH Life is unpredictable. You may think that you’ve come to understand it and that you’ve learned what to expect, and then suddenly something comes along and changes your entire perception of it. And yes, I am talking about the club. With the recent loss of its flagship night, AKA AKA Roar, Life seems to be in something of a transitional phase. New nights, such as Vice, are attempting to fill the void, but with varying degrees of success. I mean success both in terms of the quality of the event and of how many people actually turn up to them; on any given night, you could find Life to be either rammed full or completely dead. What you can always expect at Life is a sub-par sound system and a relatively expensive bar, both of which may be contributing to the club’s apparent loss of popularity. That being said, there is still fun to be had at Life – the two room system is tried and tested and provides you with a bit of musical variety each evening, and the new club nights being promoted really are trying to keep up with the competition. While Life no longer occupies a space at the forefront of Brighton’s electronic music scene (a scene now dominated by Audio and Concorde 2), it does still offer an interesting selection of musically themed nights that provide you with an alternative to the standard seafront or West Street clubs. Sure, it may not be as good as it used to be, but Life goes on.

the badger

18th November 2013 ARTS • 17

Sussex Showcase - ‘Riot’

Rhiannon McCluskey G20 in Toronto Felix Goodman March against University fees

Riots Will Silence A clash of wills serves but to break the silence from which they were born. If silence is will then now we must slake for the service is not which to mourn.

Riot! you then cry with brazen casts as though equals were second to one. Ludicrous! I trumpet back at last Clementine Loustric

for our wills are captured by none. Nick Godshaw

Pavan Sohal Brighton Anti-EDL March Week Ten’s theme is

REFLECTIONS Francis Short

Send your creative pursuits to frampley@gmail.com by 29th November

the badger

18 november 2013 Arts •18

Arts

The agenda

This week’s cultural highlights that you must see

Gigs

Alternative/POP Crystal Fighters The Haunt

Thursday 21st November, 7:30pm £10

The London-based folk-electronic group return to Brighton to promote their second album, this year’s Cave Rave. The Basque-influences have been toned down this time in favour of festival-courting sing-alongs.

ALTERNATIVE Har Mar Superstar Prince Albert Sunday 24th November, 8pm £12

Har Mar (or Sean Tillman, as his mother calls him) recently had a day declared in his honour in his hometown of Minneapolis. Despite having been singing and acting for over a decade, Har Mar still refuses to wear a shirt whilst performing his hip hop/pop/rock.

FOLK Communion The Haunt

Wednesday 20th November, 7pm £6 Communion, of which Brighton’s chapter is one of many nation-wide subsidiaries, has developed a reputation for putting on quality folk acts before they become famous. Indeed, past performers have included Ben Howard, Daughter & Michael Kiwanuka and Communion - both a promoter and a record label, is run by Ben Lovett of world-famous pop stars Mumford & Sons.

Film

FILM CineCity Brighton (BA) Moving Image Show Sallis Benney Theatre Gallery Thursday 21st November, 6pm

An evening dedicated to the short films of Moving Image graduates from our colleagues down the Lewes Road at University of Brighton. Five short films. Free.

Photography

Club

THEATRE Bristol Experimental Theatre Upstairs at Three & Ten 20th to 23rd November 8pm £7.50

PHOTOGRAPHY Brighton Photo Fringe

CLUB Soul Casserole The Green Door Store

Snapshot Citizens: Everyday Life in the Soviet Union

Friday 22nd November, 11pm Free

18th -21st November Free

Get down to the Green Door Store this Friday for a night of soul, funk & Motown. Expect everything from Luther Vandross to Booker T & The MGs.

Phoenix Gallery

One of many excellent exhibitions at this years Photo Fringe, Snapshot Citizens is a collection of amateur photographs from the Soviet Union in the latter half of the 20th century. A perfect antidote to the official propaganda that is our usual visual association with life behind the Iron Curtain. Perfect for those interested both in photography and history.

Photography Brighton Photo Fringe Along The Lines Of...

Oxfam, Western Road 18th -25th November Free

A group exhibition of work by seven local photographers, centred around themes related to the local area. The photographs are arranged topographically, and follow the coast line from Brighton to St. Leonards-on-Sea.

Bristol Experimental Theatre present a triptych of short plays, in the Brechtian style. Themes include power & control, spying & secrets and female identity. Expect a mixture of surrealism, dark humour and an exploration of contemporary political and societal issues.

Comedy

Multimedia Multimedia Jukebox Fury: The Assassination of JFK The Basement Friday 22nd November, 9pm

£6 students A special night to mark the 50th anniversary of Kennedy’s assassination, featuring film screenings, readings, choreography, discussion and even puppetry. Legendary experimental filmmaker Bruce Conner will be featured, with a screening of his 1960s piece Report. “Themed dress” is encouraged and the night will be soundtracked by a special postpunk playlist.

PREVIEW:Reginald D. Hunter - In the Midst of Crackers Saturday 23rd November, Brighton Dome Concert Hall

PREVIEW: Yuck (War Child fundraiser) Monday 18th November, Komedia (sponsored by Tune Hotels)

Heather Gwyther Arts Editor While I may have laughed at a friend’s account of ‘all the awkward white people’ at a Rokia Traoré gig recently, I am due to become one of them. Not because I’m seeing Rokia Traoré, but Reginald D. Hunter. Never will being middle class and white be so funny - or awkward - as watching Reginald D. Hunter, and that’s coming from

Will Fortna Arts Editor Yuck return to Brighton with a new album, but without their former singer, guitarist and co-songwriter Daniel Blumberg. Blumberg left earlier this year to focus on his own material (as the excellent Hebronix), leaving guitarist Max Bloom to take over lead vocal duties. Glow and Behold, the follow-up to 2011’s awesome, 90s indie rock-indebted

someone who has yet to see him live. Those who have been fortunate enough to catch his wit during a panel show appearance will know what I’m banging on about. With support from Canadian Pete Johansson and Irish Eleanor Tiernan accompanying the American comic, the night is set to be an international affair. Will he be as glorious in the flesh as on celluloid?

Theatre

eponymous debut, sees the band increase their production values and replace the moodiness of Pixies with the more shoegaze-y moodiness of My Bloody Valentine. Bloom is not the frontman that Blumberg is, but a great songwriter and an excellent guitarist. If you are a fan of Yo La Tengo, Pavement or Dinosaur Jr, then come down to Komedia tonight plus it’s for a worthy cause.

COMEDY Rosie Wilby Dukebox Theatre Saturday 23rd November 7:45pm £5

Billed as a sequel to her awardwinning “The Science of Sex” show, Rosie Wilby’s “Is Monogamy Dead?” is an exploration of sexuality and commitment. Wilby takes on everything from Sartre to unicorns; erotic saunas to gay marriage.

watch, write, review Get involved in the Arts team by joining us at our writers meetings or searching on Facebook for : “Badger Writers” See submission guidelines on the Badger website

the badger

18 November 2013

SporTS • 20

SPORTS Touché: Sussex Fencers take on the nation George Potter

It has been a busy fortnight for Sussex Fencing, as the team took on two national competitions, one week apart. The first was the London Team Trophy, the biggest open team fencing competition in the UK. Sussex managed to field the most fencers of all the clubs competing, with 4 teams at a total of 12 fencers; an épée men’s, both a men’s and women’s sabre, and a mixed foil team. After an early start, the first of the Sussex teams made their way up from Brighton to St Paul’s School in Hammersmith, London. Sussex fencing prides itself on being a club specialising in development and for many of those competing it was their first nonBUCS affiliated competition. The step up in the level of fencing was a shock to some, as universities send out their best to represent them, whilst clubs from all over the country do the same. Both the épée and the foil team’s encountered problems early, after both having drawn teams from Imperial College London in the pools, notoriously good fencers, many of whom have represented their countries at an international level. Despite the odds being against them, both Sussex teams fenced well, and although both teams lost the first

few bouts, the Plate was still up for grabs. Whilst the foil and épée teams waited for the second round, the sabre teams began their pools. The men’s team began strong but were soon blocked by the Imperial Premier League team, whilst the women’s sabre were also knocked out early. The foil team reached the quarter finals before they too bowed out of the competition. After the loss in the pools, the men’s épée team had their sights set on the plate. They only had to beat two more teams to claim the prize. The team consisted of Graham Dale, the men’s 2nd team captain, George Potter, also a member of the men’s 2nd team, and Alex Harriss, a Sussex alumni and ex1st team fencer. While their first opponents posed little trouble, the next was a more challenging. The pressure of being in the finals shook the team, but they managed to stay ahead and won the plate with a final score of 45-38. The very next weekend was the Welsh Open. A single’s competition, ranked by the British Fencing Association, some of the best fencers in the UK descended on Cardiff for the 2 day long fencing marathon. This time, only three of Sussex’s fencers made their way to the open. George Potter and Graham Dale, hot off their victory at the London Team set out to claim a ranking in épée, whilst Fergus

Rees, already ranked 148th in the UK for sabre, aimed to reach the top 100. Potter and Dale, who had only been fencing competitively for only a year, were very much the underdogs, coming up against fencers such as Dudley Tredger, ranked 3rd in the UK. After an even earlier start than the week before, the pools were called and the épée competition began. George did surprisingly well, beating 2 of the 5 opponents in his pools, placing him 59th out of 87. Graham was less lucky with his draw for the pools, as he faced 4 fencers who had all represented Great Britain. Both épéeists where then knocked out after disappointing 1st rounds. Fergus had a more successful pool, winning 3 matches, placing him into 40th out of the 95 sabreurs, earning him a bye into the final 64 but was then knocked out. The impact of the result on the rankings of our three fencers remains to be seen until the results are announced at the end of the month. What can be said for sure is that year upon year the University of Sussex fencing team is making a name for themselves in the international fencing scene. Having competed in Wales, there are prospects of possible entry into the Scottish Nationals and plans are already well underway to compete for the second year running at the International Tournament in Paris.

Marie Louise-Dikou

Gema Wright Ballester

Sussex Women’s Rugby tackle Imperial to the ground Katie Wadeson There were a sense of nerves running throughout Sussex Women’s Rugby Team as they were led out into the wind and rain to play what was expected to be a tough game against ICL; a team who had been beaten only once this season. Warmed up and ready to go, the anticipation grew as the kick off time of 2pm loomed closer. With no opposition in sight, coach Gavin

and captain, Josie Nelder worked hard to keep the girls focused and thinking positively as speculation arose that ICL would not be coming. By 3pm, both teams were on the pitch and ready to play, with ICL starting a player down. However, it was clear from the initial kick off that this away side were not going to give up easily and showed impressive skill and speed in their ball handling, and put pressure on Sussex from the word go.

Joshua Allwood

Luckily, Sussex responded and rose to the challenge, with the stamina and speed possessed by the home team starting to show early on. Gaps in the defence were quickly exploited and forwards Carmel Leak and Hannah Pleasance made tremendous ground, showcasing their impressive strength and determination. Within the first ten minutes Sussex had scored their first try of the game; a quick pop pass to winger Bethan Alexander who stormed

Joshua Allwood

down the touch line at immense speed, and scored her first try for Sussex Rugby. The tries then started to occur thick and fast, with outside centre Emily Robbins and fly-half Josie Nelder scoring twice, and fullback Katie Wadeson scoring once. By half time there was a confidence running throughout the team, and within minutes of the second half Josie had ripped through the defence and, using her well known ‘dummy pass’, fooled the opposition once again and proceeded to score her third try of the game. However, ICL came back fighting and put in some impressive tackles which led to some injuries for Sussex, who had to make quickthinking adjustments to the team. ICL were also the victims of some strong tackles and for a while had to make use of just 12 players. This left gaps in their defence which allowed Karoliina and Charli to pull off a skilful switch pass, leading to Charli Evans scoring her first ever try for Sussex Rugby after

having been away with an injury. Further tries were also scored by Abi Martin, Katie Wadeson, Emily Robbins, Josie Nelder and Eugenie Guardieu, making the final score a remarkable 76-0, which could have been enhanced to an even greater level had the game not been cut short by ten minutes due to limited light. Forward of the match went to Hannah Pleasence, back of the match to Katie Wadeson and player of the match to Josie Nelder, who put in a true captain’s performance; leading by example and guiding the team to what was ultimately a comfortable victory. This win has certainly put the girls in good spirits for what promises to be an extremely challenging and very exciting game against undefeated Chichester University next Wednesday. Come support the team in their next home game on the 4th of December against the University of Kent, at Falmer Sports Complex for a 2 o’clock KO.