2014, Term 2, Issue 2

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VOTE NOW #sussexelections

Voting is open from Monday 17th at 9am to Friday 21st February at 5pm Full-time Officers: President, Activities Officer, Communications Officer, Education Officer, Operations Officer & Welfare Officer Part-time Officers: Community Engagement Officer, Environmental & Ethical Officer, Equality & Diversity Officer, Media Development Officer NUS conference delegates: National Conference, Disabled Students' Conference, Black Students' Conference

You can vote online at WWW.SUSSEXSTUDENT.COM/VOTE

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Full-time Officers President

Dan Markham

Abe Baldry

Juliette Cule

“Abe: sh*t slogan, better president.”

“Education at the heart of USSU”

“Make a Difference, Vote Dan”

MY PRIORITIES ARE:

Our education is the foundation of our time at Sussex and beyond! I want us to shape it by being:

Access for Students

Progressive:

•

Making your day easier: Pressure local bus company to reduce unfair prices.

Improve Wi-Fi across campus.

More checkouts at the Co-Op to cut the queue.

Reduce library fines, and improve toilet facilities.

More computers.

Late night food on campus.

Issues beyond campus: Expand Sussex Student Lettings Agency and produce a register of good landlords.

Provide Student Union advice on tenancy agreements.

Campaign against Student Loans Company sell-off.

The future of Sussex: Defend the right to peaceful protest.

Protect provision of affordable campus accommodation once university demolishes East Slope.

Ensure that campus facilities grow alongside student numbers.

• • •

Develop an alternative vision for our University Challenge the marketisation of our education Build an institution that nurtures critical, civic-minded citizens

Confident: • • •

Strong relationships with our Schools and Student Reps School social representatives to help build communities Rethink our relationship with University management

Empowering: • • •

Innovative campaigning and liberation central to all we do Help students to generate change, from cheaper transport to free higher education Design a new Union building that works for us

•

• • •

Improve library services – More plug points, Lift the drinks ban.

Develop campus amenities – Cash Machines, Covered outdoor seating, Drinking fountains, Better campus lighting.

Campaign for cheaper transport More communal spaces for undergraduates and postgraduates Protect and develop student managed services: The Globe, Union Computers, etc.

Unity at Sussex • • •

Repair our relationship with the University Increase funding for all societies and sports Critically engage University expansion and outsourcing plans

Change for the Future • • • •

Lobby for affordable campus accommodation.

Promote Union E-Democracy Weekly “meet your representatives” drop in session Protect freedom of expression - Autonomy for the badger

VOTE

NOW

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Activities

“Vote YES for JESS”

Rob Wood

Karoliina Lehtonen

•

“Rob Wood Get It Done”

“No One Keener Than KAROLIINA”

Ever since I began studying at Sussex I have been involved in several societies. I have played a part in almost every SUDS and RAG event since I arrived, and assisted a number of other societies including SWARM, HvZ, PoleSoc and LGBTQ society. I understand how societies work, and what they need in order to be successful. If elected I want to improve the interactions between the union and societies, and make it easier for societies to grow and develop. Rob Wood get the job done.

This candidate has not submitted a manifesto

Lyndsay Burtonshaw

Jessie Stanbrook

“Be sure to vote for BURTONSHAW!” Sports & Societies: LOVE THEM. As a 3-year club captain and a society founder, I understand, and will make the Activities office a cosy, approachable place to discuss plans and get support.

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SPORTS: part of every membership fee goes to YOUR club funds, keep Oceana but have alternative Wednesday night option, improved facilities and community/coaching opportunities, more taster sessions, inter-hall tournaments, free and social sport for all around campus.

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SOCIETIES: easier ways to fundraise, more opportunities for creative societies to showcase on and off campus, permanent dance studio, better access to facilities.

•

VOLUNTEERING: more and easier ways to help in the community, opportunities for committees to gain skills.

I will focus on the new Transition/sustainability societies-network, and reforming the BUCS process so our teams can excel to their full potential.

I am currently in Council-negotiations to launch the first Stanmer Park Half-Marathon for staff and students.

Volunteering: I will increase flexible access to relevant, inspiring volunteering that provides real, paid graduate opportunities.

RE:CYCLE: As a member/founder of RE:CYCLE bikehire-cooperative I want to increase free bike-confidence/mechanics courses.

EVENTS: Finally new, unique freshers events and annual events, external funding/sponsorship, drop-in sessions for YOUR ideas.

More: www.votejess.com

Education

Bethan Hunt

Fina Faithpraise

Gavan Harrison

“Success”

“Education for you”

“Hunting For Better Education”

Hi, my name is Fina Faithpraise, I am a fourth year postgraduate research student in Engineering and Design. I am a student representative and mentor and an associate tutor with the department of Mathematics and Engineering & design since 2011.

Our university plans rapid change and expansion. Building on knowledge and experience as a Part-Time Officer, I will:

Universities are beginning to operate like businesses; Sussex has experienced spiralling fees and plans for an extra 5000 students. I want to ensure this is not at the expense of the quality of education.

I am standing to be your Education Officer because I am very keen about changing student’s lives. The combine functions of tutoring, mentoring, and student representative has widen my perception and knowledge on the understanding of the actual needs of students, so make me your Education Officer Vote Fina for defending, protecting and improving student’s lives at Sussex

Support - Make earlier timetables a priority to give you flexibility.

- Improve personal/academic support from academic advisors.

- Improve the student mentor system.

- Continue Juliette’s work on mitigation evidence procedure and disability awareness.

Student-led - Represent a range of student interests and improve student representation, involving all schools.

- Campaign against course/grant cuts and privatisation of higher education.

- Reduce additional course-costs.

Opportunities - Develop careers and employability support.

- More support/funding for academic societies.

- Active postgraduate/international student community.

Kourosh Kouchakpour This candidate has not submitted a manifesto

My priorities are: • • • • • • •

Library: WiFi improvements, more computers and social spaces.

E-submissions for ALL, eradicating unnecessary travel.

Integrate Careers Centres into academic schools to improve guidance.

Academic advisors in both subjects for joint honours students.

Study packs and digital copies of core reading.

Review of Mitigating Evidence procedures which fail students.

Earlier publication of exam timetables.

Join the Hunt!

Education

Lewis Nielsen

Hazel Tong

“Action not words for better education”

“Enhance, Defend, Upraise: Hazel for Education!”

Where I stand:

Enhancing University-Student Partnership Facilitating communications between Students, Staff and University: • ensuring effective consultation in University decision-making • supporting student representatives to work constructively with Schools • student-led inductions and teaching awards

Defend education - No to privatisation, support staff strikes and student protests against Tory attacks on education.

Money for students not vice chancellors pay packets - More funding for the library, study spaces and student computers.

As one of the Sussex Five I am committed to fighting for more student influence over academic and social issues. I will develop a democratic Student Charter and make Student Reps more accessible.

As a socialist I stand for a Union that fights against oppression. No to racism, sexism and homophobia. I oppose the BNP, EDL and UKIP’s racist lies

Defending Education Protecting University as a safe space for learning and critical thinking: • campaigning against rising tuition fees • securing student interests under University expansion plans • inclusive learning environment • enhancing support visibility for international students Upraising current practice standards Improving learning experience: • diverse module options • less packed exam timetable • work placements • more quiet library study spaces • online course resources access

9am on

17 Feb– 21 Feb at 5pm

Voting Open

Communications

VOTE

Imogen Adie

Bree Allegretti

Michael Segalov

“Gimme Immie for Comms”

“ABC - as easy as Vote 4Bree”

“Giving US a voice”

Re-elect me as Communications Officer and I will…

My strategy at The Badger and as Media Development Officer fuelled my enthusiasm to work efficiently to overcome challenges.

I have both experience of the past and a vision of the future to ensure that I achieve the following goals:

Student Media Develop training & skills of media teams Give Sussex a voice: continue to put Sussex at the heart of the education debate nationally and in my writing Investigative journalism to scrutinise our University Sussex Speaks series of debates – broadcast live!

NOW

Increase presence of the Union • New building at the heart of campus • New website for accessible information • Make officers more visible and accountable • Build relationships between students, Union and University - enabling effective change

www.

Strengthen student media • Securing even more funding for new equipment • Facilitating collaboration between media outlets

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sussex student

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/VOTE

Make your views count • Democratic reform to ensure decision-making is inclusive, understandable and transparent • Continue my commitment to listen and react to your views, and make it easier for you to shape your Union • Implement new strategy - created through your suggestions.

A) Accountable - Voters deserve to know what the people they elected are doing through transparency and open communication.

B) Beneficial - The Union should be run by its members - not just staff. Students can raise their own issues in a drop-in surgery.

C) Communal - Make the SU more representative and engaging to students who have little interest beyond the bars!

University Create a public dialogue with the University Campaign for a democratic university: student charter giving students a say Open Union Public audit of our union – who does what, filmed for easy access.

No more closed-door union, create transparency Community-Comms Use the expertise & equipment of student media for workshops with young people and schools in our community.

@Imogen4Comms facebook.com/Imogen4Comms

Operations

Daniel Greenberg

Hichem Maafi

Ben Perkins

Beth McGhee

“Yes We DAN!”

“WHAT WE WANT, WHAT WE BELIEVE”

My aims:

“Vote For Me: Beth McGhee”

If elected I WILL:

WHAT WE WANT:

If elected I will:

Improve student life on AND off campus by:

1. WE WANT HOUSING CO-OPS 2. WE WANT CHEAPER VEGAN OPTIONS IN THE BARS 3. WE WANT THE MARKET TO OPERATE ALL WEEK 4. WE WANT A NEW UNION SHOP IN YORK HOUSE 5. WE WANT THE UNIVERSITY TO ADAPT AN ETHICAL INVESTMENT POLICY THAT STOPS THE INVESTMENT IN FOSSIL FUELS 6. WE WANT UBUNTU COLA IN THE BARS 7. WE WANT TO STOP THE DEMOLITION OF EAST SLOPE BAR 8. WE WANT PALESTINIAN GOODS IN OUR SHOPS 9. WE WANT MORE RECYCLING AND COMPOST BINS 10. WE WANT TO SUSPEND FARTHING

Investigate new revenue/expansion: • runninga Brighton nightclubfor students- similar agreement to The Globe • seek expansion of co-op

• • •

Opening a Union Café on campus in the back room of Falmer Bar. Continue campaigning to Save East Slope Bar and for a Union-run replacement.

Hosting more events at Union venues on AND off campus, such as cider/beer festivals and food fairs.

Ensure a sustainable Union by: • • •

Expanding Union Computers, offering financing and leasing options.

Developing an online marketplace for students to buy/sell, and advertise.

Increasing secure bike sheds.

Increase financial transparency by: • •

Quarterly spending updatesand monthly question time with elected officers and Union directors.

Introducing participatory budgeting.

Improve services: • Student freecycle style website • Raise students’ pricing concerns with Southern Co-Operative • Extra cashpoints/photobooth • Food deliveries from Bars • Outlets “USSUcard” giving benefits/ discounts • Opportunities to sell society/club merchandise through the shop • Update bar facilities Events/Parties, decided by students through elected events team Protect EastSlope Bar from university’s campus plans Help the environment: • Prioritisingsafer bike storage • Reducingwaste • Campus composting Widenfairtradeand vegan/vegetarianrange Source ethically “behind the scenes” Use knowledge gained as elected trustee to redistribute resources

Develop Union outlets as competitive alternatives to University services by • •

Creating Union run ‘Tea and Coffee Hotspots’ on campus, selling hot drinks for under £1 Continuing to pursue the introduction of a loyalty card scheme in all Union outlets

Make student life easier and affordable by • • •

Introducing a ‘Globe Express’ between campus and The Globe Establishing a second market day in Falmer Square Creating a ‘social space’ for all Union employees, volunteers and societies

Shape a greener campusby • •

Improving cycle routes on campus Reducing waste at the Co-op

www.badgeronline.co.uk Scan to find us online

BADGER

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Comment

Does the UK need more runways?

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Science

Could rebound sex be good for you?

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Technology

Phone hacking scandal at Sochi 2014.

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Arts

Will Fortna talks to punk legend Richard Hell Page Page14 3

17 February 2014, WEEK 5

Sports

Victory for Sussex Dance Page 20

Students go undercover to investigate ‘negligence’ claims against landlords “There’s four types of mould and a mushroom in my bedroom.”

Paul Millar Second year Sussex students have gone undercover in an attempt to expose allegedly negligent landlords.

The Sussex University Labour Society has led a campaign, alongside the organisation Movement for Change, in a bid to improve the overall situation for students renting in Brighton.

With the cost of living in Brighton comparable to London, and with student rent prices taking another hike, Labour Society President Rob Frost believes “students should expect more”.

The ‘Home Sweet Home’ project began in August 2013 as students, residents, and Labour Party members came together to campaign for improved private rented sector housing in Brighton and Hove.

As part of a recent week-long campaign, teams of activists posed as renters, and went on to inspect and grade a number of properties and the conduct of local letting agents that other students have raised concerns with.

The activists split into 11 teams, with around 40 people taking part in the week-long action.

The groups went through 10 different letting agents and inspected properties across Brighton and Hove.

Labour Society President Rob Frost remarked: “This is a problem faced by thousands of students living in Brighton, with landlords and letting agents allowing students to live in sub-standard conditions, and with no way to improve them.

One letting agent didn’t even show up to the viewing and left about 20 of us standing in the rain!”

One ‘Home Sweet Home’ activist suggested to The Badger that letting agents do not fulfil their role aside from

removing responsibility from landlord.

Molly Critchley recollected: “I asked the letting agent showing us around the properties if he would be able to intervene and help us if our landlord was not keeping up his end of the bargain.

His response was, ‘Well, we can try, but you can’t really make a landlord do anything.’

So he was effectively telling me that, after I pay him his admin fee and my deposit, his job is essentially irrelevant.”

The activist added of the experience: “One of the properties also had a kitchen (for four people) so small that the fridge and microwave had to be put in another room.”

“I could taste the mould in the air,” reflected another undercover student, who wished to remain anonymous, shocked by the conditions.

Meanwhile, a disgruntled resident at one of the houses warned: “Run a mile, these guys never do repairs, there’s loads of hidden charges, they’re useless.”

“There’s four types of mould and a mushroom in my room,” another complained. “They never fix the damp, they just paint over it.”

Lydia Snodin, head of Brighton and Hove Young Labour, said of the ‘Home Sweet Home’: “At this moment in time the campaign isn’t naming and shaming the landlords and letting agents who were targeted during the undercover investigations.

This part of the campaign will take place once enough support has been gained, and enough evidence has been gathered to hold the culprits to account.”

The campaign has been led by students from both Sussex and Brighton Universities, working alongside residents, councillors, Labour party members, unions, and churches across the city, with sup-

Amber Roberts port from Movement for Change.

The Students’ Union last summer conducted its annual report into the student renting experience in the private sector.

The findings featured on The Badger’s front-page in October of last term.

Surveys launched by the Union found that expensive fees, often totaling over £300, were far more common for students renting with letting agents than landlords.

Meanwhile, for all students surveyed in general, only a quarter of landlords ‘took effective action’ to solve mould problems, while 26% of respondents did not receive any response from

their landlords when raising the issue.

Purna Sen, the Labour candidate running to replace the popular Caroline Lucas as MP for Brighton Pavilion, has put the issue at the forefront of her agenda for change.

“Those taking part in this action have highlighted the problems of appalling conditions, failure to get action on repairs and hidden charges faced daily by many, including students, who are renting privately across Brighton and Hove,” she said in a statement.

“Local housing costs have risen and a salary of £40,000 plus is now needed to afford the mortgage on a one-bedroom flat.

That means more people are forced to rent privately.

According to a recent Council report there has been a 2% increase in one-bedroom flat rents in the last year.

Private tenants deserve a good deal. They are paying enough!

I hope this report will show up the rogue letting agents and landlords and put pressure on them to change their ways.”

Students who would like to get involved can contact Jack Madden from Movement for Change at jack@movementforchange. org.uk or contact a member of the Labour Student Committee.

the badger

17 february 2014

in pictures • 2

IN PICTURES In pictures: what’s happening on your campus ‘Over The Rainbow’ Catwalk

‘Find Your Valentine’ Fundraiser

Anti-privatisation Meeting

BADGER

THE

(Acting) Editor-in-Chief Amy Bracewell badger@sussexstudent.com

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

Cat Gough badger-arts@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Head of Publicity Annie Pickering badger-publicity@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Anna Clarke

Malcolm Tam

Zefira Bazoteva

News Editors Eduard Mead, Jack Williams, Vicky Farley badger-news@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Tuesday Market

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

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

Comment Editors Nick Godshaw, Sam Jackson Kim Nelson Falmer Bar

Mina Rassouli Sports Center

badger-opinion@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Arts Editors Will Fortna, Tom Powell, Heather Gwyther, Cesca Rampley, Victoria Rodrigues

‘Over The Rainbow’ Catwalk

badger-artspages@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

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

Tech Editor Jordan Ellis badger-tech@ussu.sussex.ac.uk Will Jones

Xiangxiang Gong

Language Cafe

Mina Rassouli

International Food Party

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

Photo Editors Zefira Bazoteva, Kim Nelson badger-photo@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Publicity Team Zoe Mallett, Jemma Rix, Hannah Shaw Social Media Coordinator Isla Forrester Online Editors Steve Barker, Rob Frost Xiangxiang Gong

Zefira Bazoteva

Communications Officer Imogen Adie

communications@sussexstudent.com

the badger

17 february 2014

NEWS • 3

LPS department adjusts marks after exam errors Daniel Green The School of Law, Politics and Sociology (LPS) will compensate students five extra marks after their exams were affected by several mistakes.

All students who sat the European Politics multiple choice exam during the January assessment period will now have their overall grade boosted after the test was found to contain multiple errors and typos.

Three options were considered before the final decision was made, including to discount the five contentious questions, but were ruled out by Pro Vice-Chancellor of Teaching and Learning on the basis that it “disadvantaged weaker students”, who may have spent more time trying to answer them.

The decision was taken after the school of LPS consulted their external examiner, who judged that out of the three proposals tabled, awarding five additional marks would be the fairest way to “compensate all students equally”.

In an e-mail confirming the news to politics students, Katy Gavelas, the second year politics rep, said: “Due to the complaints and feedback on the exam, Paul Taggart [Head of the Department of

Politics] has taken it into account and is able to give full credit on the five questions (i.e. five marks) that had mistakes to everyone due to the disruptions.”

Explaining the decision, Paul Taggart said: “there were 5 mistakes in the 100 question paper, all of which were spelling errors. I n order to rectify the error quickly, we consulted with the external examiner and with the PVC for Teaching and Learning. The meeting recommended that all students be given credit for the five questions where there were errors regardless of how they performed on them.”

One student who took the European Politics exam commented: “we were interrupted five times due to mistakes.

Since LPS understands this was a harder exam and maybe needed more concentration, they gave those extra marks almost as an acknowledgement that there should not have been mistakes.”

A University of Sussex spokesperson said: “Exam papers are checked both internally and externally prior to students taking the actual exams.

“It is very rare for errors to get through to the actual exam papers but, when they do, we have a process to deal with them.

“What is important is how we respond and we think in this case the Module Assessment Board - in con-

Pauil Millar Zefira Bazoteva sultation with the external examiner made an appropriate correction, which has been communicated to students.”

Last month, The Badger reported how certain examinations during the January assessment period contained numerous aberrations, including frequent disruptions due to invigilators needing to clarify ambiguous questions, typos and multiple choice questions with no correct answers.

Students from several schools complained about errors in exam pa-

pers, some of which prompted invigilators to interrupt the exam to clarify ambiguous questions.

After sitting the “structural basis of biological function” examination, one student contacted the module convenor to alert him of a question in the exam that didn’t appear to have a correct answer.

The decision was eventually taken to remove the erroneous question from consideration when marking, as not to unfairly affect any students’ grade.

Speaking to The Badger, the student said: “After the exam I contacted the module convener who told me that I was correct and the question would be removed from the paper so as not affect anyone’s overall mark.” While confirming that the question had been removed, Daniel Osorio, Deputy Head of School for Life Sciences, suggested that this action was rare, stating: “it has happened once in the past year that a question from a multiple choice test was dropped.”

New allegations of bouncers taking ‘bribes’ Victoria Farley News Editor Bouncers of popular Brighton clubs have been allegedly asking club-goers for bribes, according to reports.

Students from Sussex University have told The Badger they have been refused entry, or offered queue jumps, if they gave money to the bouncers on the door.

“There were about 10 of us outside [the club],” a Physics student reported.

“The bouncer told us if we wanted to get in we had to give him £50, despite it only being about 1am.”

The same source also reported being often offered the opportunity at multiple nightclubs to jump the

queue if they were willing to give the bouncers money on busy club nights.

The Badger was told that some bouncers alledgedly acted “like a law unto themselves”.

The students also indicated that they would be more likely not to go to a club because they had had an altercation with the bouncers of that club in the past over any other factor.

According to reports, recent alleged problems with bouncers haven’t stopped at door staff asking for bribes.

A University of Sussex student told The Badger how when visiting a popular Brighton club his friend was taken down an alleyway behind a door to be searched during a recent night out.

“They had him behind a door, and I

kept pushing on it, trying to open it and telling them how they couldn’t stop me from being a witness to the search, but they just kept pushing it closed again.”

He then described a different bouncer attempting to search his friend a second time before finally letting them inside.

Last term Sussex Student’s Union President, Kelly McBride, liaised with Brighton police over reported incidents with bouncers concerning racism and homophobia against students.

According to the 2001 Public Security Act, it is illegal to employ a bouncer unlicensed and untrained by the SIA, and every private security personnel, including nightclub bouncers, should have ID indicating their status as a li-

censed member of the SIA at all times.

However, compared to the two year probationary period it takes to train a policeman, a bouncer can complete their training in 38 hours and for £200 to secure a license for 3 years.

Legally, while a bouncer is entitled to search club-goers as a condition of entry, they are not allowed to search in pockets or under clothing without permission and an independent witness.

Female club goers are also not permitted to be searched unless the search is conducted by a female bouncer, a fact students have told The Badger makes boys more of a target as there are significantly less female bouncers than male.

Despite these reports, other stu-

dents sympathise with the difficult role bouncers are often required to play. Rose Watkin, a third year English student, remarked ‘I’ve seen students hurling abuse towards bouncers who are simply trying to do their job, and I’ve never had any trouble with Brighton bouncers. They have a very difficult job and often have to deal with people who have drunk excessively .’

In an email to The Badger, the Security Industry Authority (SIA) stated “Although incidents of paying to get to the front of a queue or to be allowed entry isn’t illegal, it is something that would need to be highlighted to the security company that employ these door supervisors and/or the venue operator.”

STEM figures reveal gender gap at Sussex Zoe Ambrozewska There are a disproportionate amount of male academics teaching in subjects such as Science and Engineering at the University of Sussex, The Badger can reveal.

Female representation in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fails to rise above 40 percent in the three schools, with only two employing a marginally higher proportion of female than male academics.

The University, however, maintains that they have made waves in recruiting higher amounts of women to its STEM departments.

In the latest figures to be released by the University, the gender gap is

most prevalent in the School of Engineering and Informatics, where out of a total of 77 academics on the payroll, just 13 (17 percent) are female (an increase from 15 percent in 2011).

Similar trends are observed within the School of Mathematics and Psychical Sciences and the School of Life Sciences, which record 20 percent and 33 percent of their academic staff being female, respectively.

However, two schools at The University deviate from the trend of disproportionate female representation, with the School of Psychology boasting having 35 (52 percent) of their 67 academic posts being filled by women (increasing from 48 percent in 2011), as well as 58 percent of academic staff at the Brighton and

Sussex Medical School being female.

An influential parliamentary committee, in a report released last week, bemoaned what they called an “astonishing” lack of women electing to have careers in scientific professions, and demanded that Universities make scientific profession more accessible to women.

The report by the Commons Science and Technology committee claims that while there are “no single explanations” for the sizable gender representation diversity in STEM subjects, the gap could be the result of “perceptions and biases combined with the practicality of combining a career with family” Committee chairman Andrew Miller said: “It’s astonishing the women

still remain under-represented at professional levels in academia across every scientific discipline. It’s time for universities to pull their socks up.”

A University of Sussex spokesman said that while the institution will continue to attempt to expand its female workforce in STEM areas, the university has been acknowledged for its efforts to increase female representation in its most eminent subjects.

“Sussex already has a number of female professors in STEM departments but we are committed to doing more”, they said.

“In April 2013 we gained a bronze award by the Athena SWAN Charter for our commitment to improving employment practices in recruiting

and promoting women to senior positions in STEM subjects. We are now working towards the silver award.”

At the time of receiving the award, Professor Chris Marlin, Pro-ViceChancellor, said: “We recognise that women remain under represented in many of our science and engineering schools and departments, especially at senior levels.

“This bronze award shows that we are moving in the right direction through the action we are taking to attract, support and retain female staff throughout our STEM departments, and indeed across the University.

“We have ambitious plans to further improve the representation of women in the relevant areas of the University.”

THE BADGER

17 FEBRUARY 2014

NEWS • 4

Government ministers Cost of policing cull slam vice-chancellors’ pay ‘£1,311’ per badger Laura Bishop

Eduard Mead News Editor

Business Secretary Vince Cable and Universities’ Minister David Willetts have attacked the significant pay rises given to the vice chancellors of universities in the wake of budget cuts.

The vice-chancellor of the University of Sussex, Michael Farthing, has this year been awarded a rise of £8,000, bringing his salary to £280,000.

Meanwhile, a large number of workers at the University of Sussex have experienced a real terms pay cut estimated to total around 13% since 2009.

With further budget cuts set for the coming year, and anxieties over outsourcing and privatisation sweeping higher education nationwide, universities across the country have come under increased scrutiny as staff, students and workers question how and where funds are spent.

A significant divide between students and government policy has gathered momentum over recent years, with protests and occupations gathering national attention and support in a number of cases.

National strikes have also taken place amongst teaching staff across the country, including at the University of Sussex, although it is currently unclear how many members of staff participated.

It has been reported that in some universities, those who took part in industrial action were threatened with the docking of a full day’s pay.

Official figures put the cost of policing the badger cull pilot scheme at £1,311 per dead badger, as opposition to the programme grows.

Badgers are a protected species, but in 2013, the government approved two cull pilot schemes, one in West Somerset and another in West Gloucestershire.

The cull was proposed in response to the high number of cattle TB infections, thought to be spread, at least in part, by badgers.

This trial scheme was tasked with the assessment of whether badgers could be culled ‘humanely, safely and effectively’.

However, campaigners have argued that the situation is not quite that black and white, with some experts suggesting that the cull will do little to stop the spread of TB. MPs have started signing an early day motion which expresses concern that “pilot badger culls have killed fewer badgers than was envisaged and that the cull timetable has been extended”.

The EDM continues: “10 members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons have written a letter to England’s Chief Veterinary Officer suggesting that the extension of the badger cull could result in increased suffering of badgers and place both badgers and cattle in and around the cull zones at greater risk of contracting bovine tuberculosis.

“The reduced effectiveness of the cull

Source: Andrew Sales - http://www.flickr.com/people/29271559@N02/

In February 2012 the Badger reported that Michael Farthing refused to accept a pay rise, despite a national increase amongst vice-chancellors at universities. However, his pay has increased since then.

The recent rise in tuition fees has led some students to question how and where their money is being spent.

The demands of a position such as vice-chancellor, others have argued, are in line with such salaries, and are entirely appropriate.

The University has previously made its policy regarding pay clear: “All salaries of senior staff (except clinical aca-

demic staff in the BSMS) are approved by the Council, and set by the Remuneration and Review Committee, which is chaired by and includes independent members of the Council.”

“The numbers of staff on salaries over £140,000 at Sussex is not out of line with other leading researchintensive universities. As the ‘Fair Pay League’ report shows, the University of Sussex pays all its employees more than the Living Wage of £7.20 an hour” .

The University added, “We openly publish each year in its annual accounts the number of staff paid over £140,000.”

Councillors clash over council tax rise Annie Pickering

Kelly McBride President

Student Elections This week campus is going to be full of election fever as candidates put themselves out there to get your vote in the Students’ Union elections. I’m looking forward to being on hand to impart some friendly words and a cup of tea. Some of the candidates must be wondering how they got themselves involved in this right now!

I didn’t know much about Union democracy in my first year, or what a Students’ Union really did. I was introduced to ‘student politics’ through involvement in liberation campaigns and eventually realised the broad work Students’ Union’s do and the opportunities I’d already been missing.

It took some encouraging words from friends to run for Full-Time Officer, and to put aside preconceived notions of the ‘typical’ President and stop worrying about my ‘popularity’. In campaign week I didn’t have much of a team, my publicity was relatively mediocre, and I talked so much I nearly lost my voice. The results announcement was a blur and it didn’t really sink in until I took up the post in June.

Being an Officer in a Students’ Union is an incredible experience. Whilst it has probably been the most challenging 18+ months of my life, having the opportunity to work on things I’m passionate about and to see my ideas come to fruition is ace. I wish the Students’ Union could afford the media and marketing powerhouse we’d love and need to inform students of *everything* we do.

I’m under no illusion as to the variety of opinion about the Students’ Union, and there is much to be said about representative democracy. I am however fully invested in the ability a Students’ Union has to support a community and contribute to important changes that improve the individual and collective experience of students It will be a rollercoaster of emotions for candidates: challenging, tiring, mostly quite surreal. To candidates - I wish all you the best of luck! To students - take the time to listen to what candidates have to say because I promise you it’s not all hot air, and use your vote to decide who will lead your

Students’ Union next year.

makes vaccination more cost effective.”

Mike Weatherley, the Conservative Member of Parliament for Hove & Portslade, is one of the MPs to have added his voice to calls for a rethink.

Commenting, Mike said: “This evidence comes as no surprise to those of us who have long viewed badger culling as not only an inhumane method of disease control, but also one which is fundamentally ineffective as a method of reducing bovine tuberculosis.

“I hope that that the report from the Royal College of Vetinary Surgeons helps draw attention to the problems with badger culling and leads to a reassessment of the national cull as a whole going forward.”

Earlier estimates from wildlife charity ‘Care for the Wild’ had put the cost of policing the cull at £4,121 per dead badger.

At the time, Andy Robertson, director general of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) had urged people not to confuse the cost of policing protesters with the cost of the culls: “The culls were paid for by farmers and landowners and carried out by independent companies in areas where TB is rife and is having a devastating impact on farming families and their businesses.

“The work carried out by the cull companies was legal and licensed and was carried out safely and humanely.

“Policing costs are a matter for government, but any costs would be a reflection of the threats of illegal action, trespass and intimidation by anti-cull protestors.”

Councillors have clashed over a proposed 4.75% increase in council tax.

The debate was used to discuss the plan, proposed by the Green Party minority-run City Council, to ask the people of Brighton, through a referendum, whether they would accept a 4.75% council tax rise, as opposed to 2% tax rise, in order to continue to fund council social care services.

However, some have described the debate “like being in a pantomime or a rowdy pub, with lots of heckling, sneering and political jibes” and that “to think that this was adult politics was laughable”.

The threat of cuts to the City Council budget is a result of national government’s spending cuts to local governments budgets which has forced local councils to implement cuts.

The Brighton and Hove City Council produced a draft budget in December and then, after consultation in which 85% of people asked for sustained or increased level in social care costs, they decided to “let the people decide” in a referendum if they would agree to a 4.75% increase in their council tax.

The referendum is yet to be confirmed, but has already caused controversy

amongst members of the Labour, Conservative and Green parties, as well as other citizens.

Labour and the Conservatives both oppose the referendum.

Labour, represented at the debate by Warren Morgan, opposed the referendum, on the basis that people will be “unable” to afford this council tax increase, in times of austerity.

The tax increase would amount to around £6 a month.

The Conservative leader, Geoffrey Theobald and his party also oppose the referendum, arguing that they believe social care services should be put out to tender and run by private companies to ensure lower costs and efficiency gains, whilst also keeping council tax low and providing other services.

As an alternative to the 4.75% tax increase, Labour and Conservatives agree upon a 2% tax rise, but their strategies on how to continue funding social care with reduced funds, differ.

The Party representatives argued back and forth over the cost of the referendum. According to the Green Party it will cost £215,000 and according to the Conservatives, it would cost £900,000, but no agreement to the amount the referendum would cost was agreed during the debate.

the badger

17 february 2014

NEWS • 5

Student embarks on environmental adventure Rob Cunliffe In March this year a fourth year BSMS student Rob Cunliffe will be setting off on an 3 month paddle boarding expedition.

The aim is to travel the length of Panama, traveling from the border with Costa Rica to Columbia.

In the process of this 1000km paddle, Cunliffe and fellow team member Aaron Ford will be setting a new long distance prone paddleboard world record, eclipsing the previous record by 300 miles.

The duo will be paddling in two oceans, traversing the Americas by way of the Panama Canal, and bridging two continents.

Cunliffe is an aspiring expedition medic and having spent the summer in the Arctic is looking to get some tropical experience under his belt with this latest adventure.

Prone paddleboarding is a sport that originated in ancient Polynesia some 3000 years ago as a means of transport.

Since then, the sport has evolved into a highly competitive racing discipline and less commonly for touring coastlines which are otherwise hard to access.

The boys will be using 18 foot long boards capable of covering upwards of 30 miles a day.

They’ll be carrying all the equipment they need on deck, camping out on deserted beaches, fishing and foraging as they go.

Cunliffe first visited Panama back in 2008, and having been blown away by the beauty and stunning biodiversity

Rob Cunliffe

of the place but also the fragility of its ecosystems in the wake of increasingly rapid development, Cunliffe and Ford vowed to return to do something to positively affect a change in this, promise they are fulfilling now, 5 years later.

Large parts of the coastline are uninhabited, and many areas remain ecologically unexplored. As well as raising funds as they go for an environmental charity, Seacology who run projects on this coast-

line, the team are also carrying out a few conservation projects of their own, including taking a detailed photographic survey of the coastline, searching for hitherto undiscovered populations of Antillean Manatee and attempting to collect data and photographs of a critically endangered salamander that exist only on a single offshore island.

The data will be fed back to Panama’s environmental agency in the

Uncollected bins cause stink Eduard Mead News Editor Students living in Brighton have complained about uncollected rubbish as fears grow that Brighton’s refuse workers could take action.

The threat is another chapter in a long series of disputes between the refuse workers and Brighton and Hove City Council.

The council have admitted that there are “outstanding recycling and rubbish collections”, whilst some residents have complained of bins not being emptied for nearly a month.

Mark Turner, the Brighton and Hove branch secretary for GMB, a workers union, warned that the round reorganisation was “not working” and that vehicle shortages were preventing crews from going out on their rounds.

“I asked to meet the strategic director but they do not agree there is a crisis as we call it.

“Our members are taking a lot of criticism from the public and elsewhere and no one is coming out and defending the workforce.

We are getting close to critical and our members are getting very frustrated. We might have to consult them on taking action.”

A council spokesperson insisted that the council took “the recent disruption to the waste collection and recycling service very seriously,” adding that there was

Xiangxiang Gong

“regular and open dialogue” with unions.

“The council’s refuse and recycling teams are working hard to catch up with missed collections and we apologise for the frustration this has caused some residents over the Christmas and new year period.”

Brighton and Hove City Council’s website also issued an apology to residents: “We’re sorry that there are outstanding recycling and rubbish collections. If your collection has been missed, please leave your bins out and we will collect them as soon as we can.

“We are doing our best to catch up with missed collections. All available crews are out collecting today’s work as

normal and we have had two extra crews out this week helping to clear outstanding collections.

“We’re making some big changes which will result in a better, more efficient service for you and apologise for the inconvenience.”

Brighton’s refuse workers last went on strike in June 2013, in response to a renegotiation of pay which, at the time, would have seen some workers lose as much as £4,000 a year.

The worker’s last round of industrial action caused major disruption, particularly in the city centre, where hundreds of uncollected bin bags littered the streets for days.

hope of bringing about environmental protection of the land and species it contains before it becomes thought of as developable.

To make the journey possible, for certain stages the team will have a support boat on hand, and this includes to support exploring river mouths and upstream lagoons for manatees.

Paddleboards are not normally designed to travel upriver, particularly

if said river is uncharted and has unknown crocodile threats, so the team will be escorted as they island hop the Perlas Archipelago in the Bay of Panama as this leg coincides with the annual Humpback whale migration.

The team aim to engage as many people as possible with their conservation cause, recording the journey

by GoPro camcorders to share some of their experiences with the public.

the badger

17 february 2014

Why a bad mark isn’t the end of the world Dear Badger,

Letters • 7 the vice-chancellor has received 13%.

I completely disagree with this arrangement and support the reasons for the strike, although it occurred to me that the students were largely receiving the negative consequences of the strike instead of management.

I think to make the strikes more effective the students have to take some initiative! If we’re angry about having our classes cancelled we should complain directly to the administration and make them feel the pressure of the lecturers’ absence.

The fact that we are paying the University of Sussex £9000 in tuition fees is the precise reason why we should support the strike.

Whether we like the concept or not, students have purchasing power with which to apply pressure to the university management.

If we feel that at least a portion of our fees should be invested directly into our education and also want to retain our quality tutors we should make these demands heard and ensure we’re getting our money’s worth!

It took me around twenty minutes to realise onebadmarkdoesn’tstainadegree.

It seems to me that bad marks are part of the course. Except for the minority, everyone seems to have had results that don’t look good on paper and everyone has been disappointed with the reception their work has received. After twenty minutes of doom-and-gloom forecasting, I realised that a bad mark comes with lots of room for improvement.

Grades are obviously necessary for quantitative representation of the work’s success but should not be seen as the be-all-and-end-all. Marks are lost so easily on exams and coursework alike, for example, through referencing; the bane of every Humanities student’s life.

The feedback following the mark should be full of juicy advice, tailored specifically to ensure one bad mark doesn’t lead to another.

The bad mark is a blessing in disguise as it gives us all a chance to shoot for that imaginary ‘Most Improved Student’ award we scoffed at in school (and, if nothing else, my bad mark gave me something to write about).

Are strikes even remotely relevant?

Jake Wilson

Dear Badger,

The UCU strikes and what it means to students

At 4pm on the 6th February I was sitting in Pevensey 2 for my last lecture of the day. A perfectly normal Thursday really, bar a deadline pushed back a few days. You’d never know it was supposed to be a strike day.

A few days before, University and College Union (UCU) announced their intentions to hold a nationwide strike on the 6th lasting the entire university work day, an action endorsed by the university’s Student’s Union.

According to an email sent out to students, a picket line was to be set up at the crossing in front of Falmer House at 7am that morning and students were to expect disruptions.

Interestingly enough, when I arrived at university that morning around 11am, a grand total of approximately 10 people were huddled together in the rain, one of whom attempted to half-heartedly pass me a sodden leaflet.

A 7am start indeed, and by the time I left to go home at 4pm, the entire line had completely dissolved. Maybe it was the weather?

The trouble is, no matter how noble or just the cause is, if the method is wrong, nothing of consequence will change. UCU have refused to deviate from an outdated course of action that

Dear Badger, The majority, if not all, of Sussex students have had lectures or seminars cancelled due to their tutors and lecturers participating in the University and College Union strikes.

Initially, I welcomed the day off or the delayed deadlines, however, as the strikes have become more frequent in the new term, it has prompted many students, including myself, to question why we’re paying £9000 each year in tuition fees and not even receiving the limited contact hours with our lecturers that we’re entitled to.

That £9000 is seemingly not reflected in the amount of tuition we’re receiving due to the fact it’s clearly not being invested in tuition. This is easy to see as our tutors, who provide the high quality education we receive at Sussex, are being asked to accept a 1% pay rise while

Hannah George

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

just doesn’t work, especially at here at university. While the strikes last term were admittedly quite effective (well, the first one was), the inconvenience of missing out on lectures and tutorials has outweighed the needs of the cause.

Even those with their lectures cancelled just stayed at home instead of making any kind of protest. UCU need to realise that given the chance, students aren’t driven to action, they’re driven to stay in bed.

In all honesty, UCU could set fire Michael Farthing’s office, but without inspiring the students they’re supposed to be rallying to the cause, none but a small minority of the student body is going to care. It’s easy to sign an online petition or click ‘attending’ on a Facebook event, but strikes stopped being relevant to Sussex students long ago.

While you wouldn’t read about it in any Sussex prospectus, Tuesday afternoon protests have become a part of life on campus. However, if only a handful of Sussex’s 13,000 students actually turn up, all you’re being is a nuisance, not a force for change.

If a strike is our only weapon, we’ve already lost the fight.

Victoria Farley

Problems caused by noisy flatmates Dear Badger, Is it too much to ask to be able to go back to one’s room in the evening, and not have to plough through a throng of loud and unruly students, all with a bottle of booze in one hand and a fag in the other? And is it unreasonable to want to be able to fall asleep before the crack of dawn, a task made nearly impossible with all the raucous shouts echoing throughout the building?

Now, flats getting together for a party are one thing, but some four hundred people from all across campus congregating on one building, a residential building, is bordering on ridiculous. If they really find enjoyment in obscene levels of intoxication and noise, then by all means, go and be loud and completely Brahms & Liszt. But must it be outside my door? At 2:30 am?

Must the contents of the bin be on the floor in the morning? Must crossing the threshold be a series of intricate ballet moves to avoid having smashed glass in one’s foot? And I’m told that our corridor wasn’t even the worst off.

Furthermore, whilst I’m on the topic of parties and such: for the hundredth time, I do not wish to “come

out” tonight or any other night that involves proximity to a night club.

And no, please do not try to convince me because there is nothing you can say that has not been tried before.

Whilst I do enjoy making a coherent point of why I do not wish to go clubbing, there is a limit. Alas, it seems that it has come to the stage where one must explain oneself for wanting to simply stay in and do things at one’s own leisure.

Oh well. As a wise man once said: “Always look on the bright side of life!”

John D

Remembering the Occupy movement Dear Badger,

#Thebadger the week in tweets Do you have an opinion like a shot of tequila, short and strong? If so, then get involved and tweet us using our hashtag #TheBadger. You can retort to an article, support a letter or just have a rant, feel free! We want to hear as much from you as we can.

The challenge, for you, is to fit it into 140 characters or less... @ed11e IT at Sussex is a joke. Can’t even log on!

Had this for 10 mins now! #thebadger @jordaniellis Going up in the world! #TheBadger

It is of no surprise to anyone who knows me that I have been largely ambivalent towards the occupy movement since its inception.

While I agreed that privatisation sets a terrible precedent, its seeming inevitability and the remote hope of a Starbucks on campus were no small factors in my feelings on the matter.

It was this indecisiveness or, in many cases, the apathy of students that were the key assets the administration possessed in their roll-out of the plans.

If he is not already fully aware of how badly he has shot himself in the foot, Michael Farthing soon shall be.

The ‘235’ were largely faceless, and therefore uninspiring. It didn’t help to hear members of their ranks kvetching about the occupiers’ disruptiveness.

By targeting 5 students, the Vice Chancellor has made martyrs rather than examples. He’s given fresh impetus to a dwindling movement and created a tangible source of anger. Where there was indifference there is now indignation.

I can now find it in my heart to forgive the occupiers for trying to hijack Christmas and may even, god forbid, find myself wearing a patch of tawdry, yellow fabric.

@dbatchelor94 “If The Tab is quality journalism, then I’m a blancmange” @jacknwilliams42 #burn #TheBadger

Alex Foley

@JellyElliott Finally got my name in print ;) #thebadger #studentpaper

Lastly, a big thank you to all who contribute to the letters page. Don’t forget that anyone can write for us; no experience needed. Submissions can be anywhere from 300-500 words and should be emailed to badger-letters@ ussu.sussex.ac.uk

@Lucky_Elizabeth Mondays taste better with #TheBadger

Debbie Batchelor

@TheBadgerNews New Union bar announced in town.

There go our student loans.

GOT AN OPINION? If you’re troubled by seagull 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

@emilyrosesuth exams are glorified memory tests #thebadger @JellyElliott Underestimated how busy refreshers week would be, where did all these humans come from? #thebadger @Lucky_Elizabeth #TheBadger There is definitely a pigeon somewhere in the Arts A1 lecture theatre... @DanjCarpenter Any elation or joy i felt upon discovering #thebadger had returned were swiftly dashed when i realised there was not a single moan zone :( @CyclingSam1 A seagull just tried to steal my lunch. It lost. #victory #thebadger @DanGreen4114 oh how i’ve missed you! #BadgerIsBack #thebadger

@MattBoughton93 Oh dear. In this weeks @TheBadgerNews under the headline ‘A load of tosh’ #TheBadger

@dbatchelor94 Just tried to buy a chicken sandwich in co op on campus and it scanned though as £30. Fab. #TheBadger

the badger

17 FEBRUARY 2014

FEATURE • 8

A nation of benefit scroungers?

This week, Rachel Roberts looks at Benefits Street, the latest controversial documentary from Channel 4 which has caused widespread public debate on the UK benefits system.

Channel 4 pride themselves on their cutting edge and thought provoking documentaries, however their recent show ‘Benefits Street’ has proved to be more controversial than most, having triggered a huge public debate. For the minority who have not yet seen the show, it centres on the residents of James Turner Street, where a staggering 90% receive some kind of state benefit. The show has incited such dispute; it has even been mentioned in the House of Commons prompting a discussion on welfare benefits. A petition on the change.org website has been created in a bid to stop Channel 4 from airing anymore of the episodes after claims that they are ‘creating a skewed image of a section of society and stirring up hatred’. This raises the question; are all people on benefits scroungers?

It is almost impossible to go a week without hearing the words recession, redundancy or unemployment which are thrown around by the media. We are all aware that it is a tough economic climate, and jobs are limited.

So if there are not enough jobs for everybody, then inevitably some people are going to have to claim benefits in order to support themselves, right?

The problem according to Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, is that Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) is intended

to be only a form of short term support for people whilst they try to find a job. Yet, there are some people that see benefits as a lifestyle choice.

A minority of people abuse the welfare system, therefore when people find themselves in need of financial help they are often stigmatised and branded scroungers. However it is hard not to make judgments about some of the residents of ‘Benefits Street’. One young couple on the show shamelessly admit to benefit fraud.

Whilst another was filmed shoplifting and buying drugs. Numerous residents on the street don’t seem to have any intention of actually getting a job and are more than happy to rely on benefits from the government.

This negative representation pushed around by the media means that many people make assumptions about those claiming Job Seekers Allowance, they presume that they are uneducated, uninterested in working, and are more than happy to commit to a lifetime on state hand-outs. This is simply not the case for countless unemployed people across the country.

Deborah Stevenson, a recent young graduate has had no choice but to claim Job Seekers Allowance, after putting off ‘signing on’ for as long as she could, instead relying on the remainder of her student loan and

savings. She says ‘I apply for at least 5 jobs a week, I look every day. I don’t think people who have never visited the Job Centre understand that actually it’s pretty dire and embarrassing.’

Deborah’s situation is not unique, a recent survey carried out by recruitment website, Totaljobs, states that more than a third of UK graduates are forced to claim Job Seekers Allowance.

Is it fair to push somebody into any old job just to get them into work and off Job Seekers Allowance?

This suggests that an investment in a degree does not guarantee the career of your dreams, or even more worryingly, just a paying job. She goes on to say she ‘like most people wants to be off Job Seekers Allowance as soon as possible.’ Deborah is not alone in feeling ‘embarrassed’. According to latest figures from the BBC, at the end of 2013 2.39 million people were out of

work, yet the number of people actually claiming Job Seekers Allowance was almost half this number. Indicating that people would rather rely on savings, and family for financial support rather than use of a service that is designed to support citizens when they are in need.

It seems negative representations such as those on ‘Benefits Street’, deter people from claiming Job Seekers Allowance because they are afraid of being labelled scroungers. This is unfortunate, as a lot of people who end up claiming benefits have worked for years and therefore paid their taxes.

Nevertheless they are reluctant to use a system which they have paid into because of negative social attitudes.

Since the start of the recession, 1 in 7 workers have been made redundant. Both of my parents were made redundant, where my mother refused to claim JSA because of the associated stigma, instead immediately taking a job even though it meant earning less than half her previous salary.

My father was left with no choice but to ‘sign on’ in order to support himself. After 6 months on the ‘dole’, more than 300 job applications and a mere 3 interviews he was forced to take a low-paying job working 6 days a week and earning only slightly more than what he was entitled to on

benefits. This raises issues about the jobs which people want, is it fair to push somebody into any old job just to get them into work and off Job Seekers Allowance?

Ultimately it is clear that the UK benefits system is abused, however it is unfair to stereotype everybody claiming JSA or benefits as lazy scroungers. You never know, one day you may need to use it yourself.

Rachel Roberts

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the badger

17 February 2014

Comment • 10

Human rights abuses interrupted by the Olympic games Savannah Sevenzo Statements at Russia’s Olympic opening ceremony on Friday 7th promised ‘good sportsmanship’, fair play and equality in the winter Olympics to come. The ceremony introduced the games with an elaborate ballet performance of a rather flattering edit of Russia’s history.

Thomas Bach, president of the international Olympic committee delivered an anti discrimination message in his speech, which the American broadcaster NBC was criticised for omitting.

“Yes, it’s possible even as competitors to live together and to live in harmony with tolerance and without any form of discrimination for whatever reason.”

Bach’s speech was politically well timed and has been seen by some as an important act of appeasement in light of recent discrimination against the LBGTQ community in Russia.

Unfortunately the situation extends far beyond the healing capacities of a singular diplomatic statement, however well intended. Putin’s law “banning distribution of propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations among minors” makes it illegal to hold gay pride events or even speak about gay rights or sexual equality. It also bears implications of censorship on LBTQ literature and art.

The law has been followed by a succession of rather blatant anti-gay statements leaning in its defence. The Russian culture minister Vladimir Medinsky claimed there was no evidence for the homosexuality of Tchaikovsy,

whose famous piece, Swan Lake, was played at the opening ceremony on Friday, despite the claims to the contrary of previous biographies.

The Russian sports Minister Matko is quoted delivering his supposed statement of ‘tolerance’, “An athlete of non-traditional sexual orientation isn't banned from coming to Sochi. But if he goes out into the streets and starts to propagandise, then of course he will be held accountable".

Mirroring the governments condemning example, horrific hate crimes took place on the basis of sexual discrimination in 2013. In May last year whilst the propaganda law was being put forward to the Russian Duma, the body of a 23-year-old man was found dead after being tortured by three men who allegidly believed he was gay.

The openly gay deputy director of

Kamchatka airport was found stabbed and Burnt to death in his car on 29th of the same month.

A debate was broadcast on Radio 4 about whether the failure of major countries and athletes to boycott the Olympic Games is a moral offence to our solidarity with the rights of the gay community in Russia.

However it was importantly noted that the Olympic games has drawn the attention of the international community as to the extent of the problem, which otherwise may have been unnoticed or masked by issues of political corruption.

The Russian government has also engaged in human rights abuses with effects beyond the bounds of the LGBT community, the horrors of which are thinly masked by a few weeks of sporting spirit. This was true

for the 2000 families that have been forced to relocate to make way for the Olympic village and have not been compensated.

Many more violations were associated with the games themselves, including the exploitation of workers who built the village, flagged by Wolfgang Büttner from Human Rights Watch.

If the $37.5 billion speaks at all for Russia’s commitment to the success of the winter Olympics, and the universal values attached to them, we might at least be licensed to hope for the country’s willingness to host an inclusive games.

But more importantly, this is a chance to expose discrimination and human rights abuses taking place that should not be ignored.

Wake up Sussex! The threat of apathy must be overcome Marc Sweeny This morning, in between my various, daily bouts of picketing and dissent, I had the pleasure of reading Tom Foster’s comment piece: ‘Students are lazy, apathetic and un-restive’.

Generally speaking, I find most comment pieces in the Badger to be about as agreeable as the men who are responsible for the recent cuts to education; however this time around I am pleased as punch to announce that I find myself in complete agreement with the argument presented.

In fact, every point made was so fully thought-out and persuasively articuUnion lated that ifbox students could only pull themselves out of their apathetic slum-

bers to stare at some printed words for more than five seconds, I have no doubt that all 13,000 of those attending the University of Sussex would also be in complete concurrence.

But sadly, as Tom no doubt anticipated, only an estimated 0.023% of them read his piece. The rest, sad as it may be, simply couldn’t be bothered much like, I imagine, those in government who could’ve looked at viable alternatives to the recent education cuts.

Like Tom, I have to battle the terrible affliction that is studentry every single waking day of my life. Apathy is a constant threat. I do what I can - attend demos, sign petitions, ‘like’ Facebook causes and forcibly remove fliers from the hands of every activist

I encounter - but occasionally, I’ll suffer a relapse.

Sometimes I find myself still in bed well past 9am, watching the very latest episode of ‘crappy TV’. This can have a devastating effect on my recommended daily quota of political activity, often meaning I have to skip things like lunch to squeeze in extra placard-waving. It is, quite frankly, as embarrassing to me as the supposed logic behind the recent education cuts.

For others the problem is far more acute. One friend of a friend shrugs in ambivalence so often that he sighs every time he exhales, and at the mere mention of the words ‘protest’, ‘demonstration’ or ‘union binding decision’, an ex-housemate of mine will, without any exception, fall directly into a coma.

2013 was a really tough year for her, the poor lamb - especially with all the cuts to education funding.

Worse still, I have a number of friends who not only lack the motivation to ‘like’ activist groups such as Occupy Sussex, but who apparently can’t be bothered to use Facebook at all.

If Tom Foster’s figures are accurate - and I have an unwavering faith that they are - a total of 9,000 students can’t be bothered to like Occupy Sussex’s Facebook page; who knows how many of them have failed to get as far as setting up a profile on the popular social network?

And what funds or resources have we seen plugged into helping these ‘people’ put finger to key and mouse?

Certainly not those resulting from the

education cuts.

I only hope that you - the reader - are a student and that as a result of reading this and/or Tom’s piece, you slap yourself out of your billionth hangover, turn off ‘crappy TV’, put whatever essay it is that you’re pointlessly hammering out in the bin and wake up!

‘Like’ a politically-charged Facebook group; read a flier; attend a demonstration; vote for something - it doesn’t matter what they’re about or whether you believe in things or not - it’s important! Not only will these actions begin to rid you of you of your apathy, but you’ll be well on your way to shifting laziness as well. You never know one day you might even find yourself becoming restive.

Pussy Riot: The enduring legacy Jemada Cicely Pussy Riot: what sounds like it could be the title to a rather risqué X rated film is actually the name of the all girl Russian punk rock social activist group that gained vast and worthy attention back in 2012.

For those of you who may not know their story, in February 2012, five of the Pussy Riot members decided to enter Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Savior dressed in Pussy Riot attire of colourful dresses and ski masks, and perform no more than two minutes of their protest song 'Punk Prayer - Mother of God, Chase Putin Away!'

After this controversial act of protest, three of its members were later charged with hooliganism rooted in religious hatred, but it was later adjured that punishment would ultimately be given to only two of its members; Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina.

Both respectively 22 and 23 at the time, they would serve sentences of two years. When arrested, both young women were students and mothers of small children. Now, almost two months ago after what was two months shy of a two

year sentence, the two women activists have been released on an amnesty law declared by Vladimir Putin. But according to Tolokonnikova, what may seem like a noble move on Putin's part is clearly just a political stunt to steer attention away from Russia's alarming human rights abuses.

Most notable in this respect is Russia’s new anti-gay propaganda bill, signed by Putin in June of last year.

Tolokonnikova's husband said much of the same and also added that "President Putin obviously used this amnesty option to (brighten) up his image before the Olympic games."

Since their release Tolokonnikova and Alyokhina have not given up their fight to have "a Russia that is free and a Russia without Putin " as Tolokonnikova voiced last Wednesday on stage at Amnesty International's Bringing Human Rights Home concert in New York.

Tolokonnikova, whilst incarcerated last September, went on a hunger strike in protest of the inhumane treatment herself and other women prisoners were and are still facing in Russian prisons.

The hunger strike came alongside a lengthy letter explaining her reasons for such drastic measures. In one part

of her account she tells of the crude treatment one 50 year old woman underwent when she asked guards if she could finish work several hours earlier to get at least eight hours of sleep.

Tolokonnikova quoted, “She was feeling ill; she had high blood pressure. In response, they held a unit meeting in order to take the woman down, insult and humiliate her, branding her a parasite.”

They remarked, "What, do you think you're the only one who wants more sleep? You need to work harder, you cow!’”

The letter continues with further narrative detailing the 16-17 hour days prisoners undergo in what Tolokonnikova describes as 'free slave labor'.

Now, putting Pussy Riot’s music making abilities aside, you can rightfully give them credit for their inspiring revolutionary spirit and undying determination to make the world they live in a more just and civil place.

If anything can be said from this article it is that their release and story should be celebrated but equally and undoubtedly never forgotten.

the badger

17 JANUARY 2014

comment • 11

Does the UK need more runways?

With the prospect of runway expansions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, The Badger asks whether or not increased runway provision is needed in the UK

Tanay Sharma

Yes

Sam Jackson Comment Editor

It would be very easy for a university student like you or I, ensconced within the artificial hothouse of a campus-centric life, to come to a principled, if misguided conclusion on the UK’s runway situation.

It really is a matter of economics. Britain must not be allowed to lag in an international sense, or all of our futures are doomed. It’s maybe first worth considering why economics is so important to us as students, and assess why capitalism should not be stymied completey by environmental concerns.

The importance of economics within student lives are clearly apparent. For many, a degree is a running jump through an academic hoop to reel in the employers.

Upon graduating, we want good jobs and we want to be paid good money. We want to spend and we want to consume. And for that, a strong economy is vital.

Students tend not to have the financial capital that most adults boast. Most simply don’t have the means to participate as equals in the global consumer rat race.

Despite this, it seems that many still have a penchant for flying. We might manage one trip abroad a year – be it a shot-fuelled lads holiday to Ibiza or a trip to Malawi teaching farming techniques – and as soon as we do, we are part of the problem. We might be poor, but the demand for flights still abounds amongst us.

The environmental concerns of increased airport capacity can be met by taxation. There are already giant taxes slapped on every airline ticket, and in my eyes, rightfully so. Much like smoking, or drinking, I’d argue from a liberal perspective that people should be able to do as they like, so long as the social or environmental damage tab is picked up by those enjoying such frivolities.

Humans might be cooperative and in dire need of protecting the few resources that our planet possesses, but one thing is for certain: We are also competitive!

We like sports. We like winning. We like doing well in exams. We like comparing ourselves

to others. We like choice, and we like to do what we want.

Many would be loath to forget the employer-reeling, money-grabbing investment that their degree essentially is. ‘What does my neighbour have?’ we constantly think, as we continue to be engaged in the consumerist arms-race lifestyle where we absolutely do not want to lose out materially or socially.

In Communist East Germany where it was illegal to be unemployed, great social problems flourished as citizens peered with envy over the Berlin Wall into the lives of their capitalist West German neighbours.

Happiness requires a strong economy.

Switzerland and Norway top the OECD’s Better Life Index, having populations with the highest mean life satisfaction rates.

Funnily enough, both Switzerland and Norway are also firmly situated within the top 5 states in terms of GDP per capita.

Whilst Norway may be nominally social democratic with generous welfare provision, the importance of market economics is still understood in Oslo.

So back to the runway situation. When Schiphol airport in the Netherlands has 5 runways in contrast with Heathrow and Gatwick’s collective boast of 3 – 3 that are already perilously close to working at their optimal output with very little opportunity to grow – it’s not impossible to see where international companies may wish to set up and develop.

A clue: it won’t be this side of the North Sea, something that a Year 10 geography student could have told you.

Thus, Britain must improve its runway allocation. We all like flights, we all want more.

Business wants more. The demand is there from all corners. So we simply need to supply more.

While we’re at it, let’s build them in Birmingham. London is positively saturated with runway provision, and a Birmingham base would re-integrate more Northerly parts of the UK into a London and South East dominated economy.

In perfect conjunction with HS2, a Birmingham airport hub would be a magnificent idea to kick British transport connections into an economically competitive 21st century.

A strong economy for a happy people. Competitive runway provision is essential.

No

Jennifer Whitingham Growth, growth and more growth; a word that politicians and economists associate with development, prosperity and success. A word which destroys our environment, creates gross inequalities and does not possess a limit; a word from which we cannot escape.

The new runway, proposed for installation at Gatwick, Heathrow or on a new tropical islands in the Thames Estuary demonstrates a selfish yearning for a bigger, better Britain.

Our politicians see us flailing at the weigh side while other cities like Amsterdam and Paris overtake us in the race to become the economic hub of Europe. More flights equals more passengers equals more money; a new runway must be the answer!

However, aviation is one of the fastest growing sources of emissions in the UK and to approve an additional runway for London would make a mockery of a supposedly binding commitment to cut 80% of greenhouse gases by 2050.

The claim that CO2 emissions will decrease due to reduced waiting times is putative at best; CO2 emissions from more planes will far outweigh whatever environmentally coated sweets the politicians are promising.

An additional runway will not decrease congestion. Rather it will provide the incentive for yet more planes, more flights, more passengers and more emissions. If you don't stop expanding now, when will you?

The Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research calculates that if aviation expands as projected, Britain will have to totally de-carbonise the rest of its economy by 2050 to tackle climate change and we all know this is never going to happen with Cameron's new love affair with hydraulic fracturing.

A new runway would signal yet another win for the politicians who crave more growth within the economy and yet another loss for the protection of the environment and British society.

The aviation sector has close links with political decision makers with many players mov-

ing between roles through the controversial 'revolving door'. It must be noted that the British Airports Association (BAA), a foreign owned business with investors, has different priorities than the residents of London and the UK, with increased profit and business growth their only objective.

Stansted Airport, only 65 miles away, cost a fortune and is standing half empty. They seem intent on continued investment into the pocket of wealth in the South East. Economic inequality is rising in this country and the North/South divide is a serious problem. If there must be a runway why can't it be in Manchester or Birmingham?

The Davies Commission proposes that the additional 900 flights a day provided by the extra runway would permit the growth and continuation of international business. The need to economize and connect firms all over the world is a major driving force in the planned expansion.

However, connecting isolated businessmen abroad comes at the price of disconnecting and displacing existing, tightly knit communities on a local scale; up to 2030 homes could be lost if a new runway is given the go ahead; a demolition that would take place in the midst of a housing crisis. Where is the logic?

And what's more is that business trips represent only 16% of UK flights, a proportion that has been dwindling as free video-conferencing takes the place of jet-set meetings. The real pressure comes from our year-round lust for sunshine and the need to escape the relentless monotony of daily life; holidays are no longer viewed as a luxury but as a necessity.

British flyers create more carbon emissions per head than those from any other country, with the average Brit taking 3.51 holidays in 2012.

The consumer mind set has to change. We can't waste time offsetting this carbon footprint and trading the next. The answer is to simply consume less and thus do less harm to the environment.

I would trade my grey, cramped, child kicked seat, positioned next to a grey-suited, tightly strung, muted businessman on an aeroplane, any day for a space on a vibrant, imperfect train full of atmosphere, wonderfully interesting people and magical stories. We just have to start and enjoy the journey. It's not going to be that bad.

the badger

17 february 2014

SCIENCE • 12

Let’s talk about UK toxic chemical policy As the government ‘disregards’ our safety, are we are gradually being exposed to more toxic substances?

Matt Baxter How is this for irony? Speaking in regards to certain chemicals which could potentially be harmful when ingested by humans, the Crime Prevention Minister, Jeremy Browne said: “People who take ‘legal highs’ are taking serious risks with their lives because often they do not know what they are taking and the drugs may contain harmful substances. The UK is addressing the harm caused by ‘legal highs’ by outlawing not just individual drugs, but whole families of related substances that have the potential to cause serious harm”.

Now, this article is not aiming to discuss the argument for, or against, prohibition. My point here regards the logical inconsistency behind public health policy decisions made when the scientific evidence is incomplete.

The above stance effectively says, “Let’s ban potentially harmful chemicals (and their related family of compounds) until we can get the evidence to prove they should remain banned, or otherwise”.

Yet, when it comes to chemicals which have been proven (in peer reviewed scientific studies) and acknowledged (by the independent scientific community) to disrupt human hormone regulation – linked with inducing cancer, amongst other things – they take the opposite stance.

Concerning the common plastic additive bisphenol-A (BPA) – found in everyday items such as water bottles, shampoo, food packaging and till receipts – the Government says that they are “not in position to consider a ban” as they argue “there is not yet enough conclusive evidence on how BisphenolA affects people.”

Firstly, their dismissive response is debatable, as studies reviewed previously have included papers funded by the plastic manufacturing industry itself.

Secondly, the reviews of ‘evidence’ focus on very narrow criteria; none of which for example take into account the cumulative effect of the sea of endocrine (hormone) disrupting compounds (EDCs) we are exposed to daily which “have the potential to cause se-

rious harm” (sound familiar?) in both sexes.

It is clear that the logic in this case contradicts the cautionary approach taken by banning not just individual chemicals in the case of certain ‘legal highs’, but also whole families of related chemicals based on the inference that they may also cause potential harm.

Therefore, if there is not to be a decision on a ban until the evidence is conclusive, at the very least may we be given the power of choice through clear markings on packaging of products containing BPA and other ‘potentially harmful’ EDCs? With the results of the review pending, campaigners on both sides of the argument are raising their collective voices.

Why not consider both sides of the argument for yourself, before adding your own voice to the debate? Whilst we await the results of the European Food Safety Authority review on BPA due later this year, it remains with the individual to decide if EDC exposure is indeed safe and desirable.

Unfortunately, regardless of your viewpoint on BPA and other EDCs, it

is very difficult to exercise much choice on the matter. Unlike those choosing to purchase and ingest ‘legal highs’ for recreational purposes, EDCs are sur-

reptitiously forced upon us in everyday products which fulfil our most basic needs for food and hygiene.

Joseph Cummins

to cope with distress as well as to “get back” at your ex.

The chances of rebound sex were at their peak immediately after the break up, with the anger and stress induced also being at a pinnacle. This meant that of all the participants of the study a third had engaged in rebound sex within one month. And although not all indulged these wants, the average participant held “coping, rebound and revenge” as their main motivations for sex after the breakup.

However those who did find their rebound within the first month were also those most likely to continue to sleep with strangers and find new partners over the course of the study.

This suggested “that they may be slower to recover from the breakup”.

So whilst the average participant’s levels of distress decreased and levelled at around 25-28 weeks it was those who found sex “on the rebound” that took the longest to recover.

Unsurprisingly, and in correlation with lore regarding post breakup politics, the study found a notable distinction between the situation of both the “dumper” and the “dumpee”. Whilst the person who ended the relationship was more likely to recover relatively quickly, the other party often had their actions propelled by motivations of revenge.

They often engaged in sex within that month and those that did were shown to be the longest to recover.

The more committed a person was to the relationship the less likely they would go in search of sex as a method of coping with distress, and if they did it was rarely fuelled by vengeance for

the other person.

So whilst most will still hold rebound sex as a notable method of coping post breakup, those who air on the side of caution may have grounding for their belief. Whilst not conclusive, the study has indicated that a revenge fuelled coping method will just elongate the healing process and trying to find a

peace with the situation was likely to be the most effective method.

But still, science has shown that rebound sex is an actual thing and, moreover, a legitimate strategy in coping with stress. So will this study alter the immediate satisfaction of revenge sex?

Of course not.

Rebound sex; scientifically good for you science factoid of the week

Cannabis; a potential obesity therapy Everyone has heard of the classic munchies that comes from smoking weed. New research in mice has found out why this occurs.

THC in cannabis binds to CB1 receptors. this makes us feel hunger pangs due to the binding inhibiting signals that tell us not to eat.

Injections of THC into the mice cause them to eat more than their non-THC counterparts.

This is potentially due to an enhanced smell.

This link of THC to smell means it is a possible therapeutic for obesity disorders or alternatively, loss of appetite problems.

Congratulations everyone. The very thing that your friends have been saying will be of complete detriment to you is an actual, justifiable scientific phenomenon.

It has been shown anecdotally time and time again that participating in rebound sex is more than an acceptable method with which to deal with the distress of a break up. But is there any factual basis for this? Or is it just a means with which to delay the inevitable heart ache?

Once again, science has attempted to instil an air of credibility in something most already held to be true. A study by the University of Missouri has found that “people really do use sex as a way to... get back at their ex-partner in the aftermath of a breakup”.

The phenomena that is post break up sex has the highest chance of occurring one month after the demise of a serious romantic relationship, or to say; has the highest chance of occurring directly in the rebound period.

The paper, published in the Archives of Sexual Behaviour, examined the “trajectories of psychological recovery and sexual experience” in 170 Undergraduate students who had undergone a break up in the past year. They were asked to keep an online record over the course of one semester, submitting weekly “distress reports” as well as “self-esteem and sex reports”.

It found that, cohesive with widely held beliefs of breakup sex, that sex is used as a method mainly with which

THE BADGER

17 FEBRUARY 2014

TECH • 13

Sochi 2014 Phone Hacking Scandal James Saller The Sochi Winter Olympics have officially kicked off, and even before the opening ceremony, things were going pear shaped in Russia.

Half built hotels and rusty water have become the least of the Olympiad’s and tourist’s worries.

The discovery of unlimited access to unaware visitors’ information is the icing on the cake to the shambolic start of this year’s Winter Olympics.

Russia’s intelligence agency, System for Operative Investigative Activities or SORM for short, easily rivals the NSA with it’s surveillance strategies. However, SORM doesn’t need a court approval before they break into your device.

The organisation is able gain access to both citizen’s and visitors’ data, meaning no one is safe from being hacked. The aim of this surveillance is to enable Russian intelligence officers to check for and prevent any terrorist activity, which has been especially potent since the

Xiangxiang Gong

“Do we go far enough to protect ourselves digitally?” suicide bombings in Volgograd, a major city near Sochi, last December.

All of these extreme measures are to ensure “the safest games in history,” as they were promised by the Russian government.

Perhaps the most shocking news is that the Russian mob is involved in this surveillance. There have been reports of criminal organisations, such as the somewhat bizarrely named ‘Energetic Bear’, using SORM access points. In some cases the two groups have been collaborating together.

Unwanted access to someone’s device can happen at anytime whilst on Russian Soil.

The hacking could occur at an airport security-screening checkpoint or even remotely through telecommunications towers. Once a phone or laptop has been hacked, vital and sensitive information stored on the device can be accessed.

There is also risk of infection with malware, vicious pieces of software

which can disrupt a computer’s operation and are also capable of sending sensitive data to malicious third parties.

NBC carried out tests using major brands of mobile devices, such as an Apple MacBook Air and an Android phone. In these tests, both were hacked in less than 24 hours. It should also be mentioned that these tests were carried out on devices that were not protected with high levels of security as they were brand new devices.

Ultimately, however, the average person doesn’t usually take the necessary precautions when it comes to digital protection, which means thousands of visitors run the risk of being hacked.

Somewhat ironically, the U.S. State Department warned travellers that “Russian Federal law permits the monitoring, retention and analysis of all data that traverses Russian communication”. The department advised visitors not to bring any device that may contain

Local Sussex company builds networking solution for national stadia Jordan Ellis Tech Editor Imagine this. It’s the last day of the season; you’re at the stadium watching your team, who need to win for a promotion. Simultaneously, your rival team elsewhere needs to lose.

You have to check other important match scores to see how the other team is doing, but your phone cannot obtain a mobile data connection meaning you cannot get the relevant scores.

The reason behind this lack of connection is that with several thousand fans crammed into one stadium, the local mobile network capacity is quickly exceeded.

Simply installing WiFi is technically difficult and expensive and can still suffer from the same problem with the network being overloaded, so it does not solve this problem.

This stressful situation now has a solution.

Local company TribeHive, founded by Sussex Informatics lecturer Dr Ian Wakeman, and comprising of other Sussex Informatics lecturers and research fellows, identified the need for a solution to this problem.

The result is their HiveCore technology.

This solution means that money doesn’t have to be spent on expensive networking infrastructure. All that is required is for a simple app that uses this HiveCore technology to be downloaded and you can access up to date match statistics, relevant Twitter feeds and video replays on your phone. Even if you don’t have an elusive data connection.

How does this HiveCore technology work? Well, if one phone in the stadium has a working data connection, it can pull down the desired content to the app platform. This information can then be shared with all the other phones running the app platform. It essentially creates a local network between the phones in the stadium to share the all-important match day data.

In theory this means that a page, twitter feed or set of statistics about the match only needs to be downloaded once to be shared with all phones running the app platform in the stadium. The more phones using the app, the slicker the whole experience becomes.

This technology has been developed locally in East Sussex, just across the road from the University in fact. It has been developed with a large number of Brighton and Hove Albion season ticket holders at the Amex stadium.

TribeHive as a company are going from strength to strength. Dr Wakeman was selected at the end of January as one of eight British researchers who are to receive mentoring support and a financial

investment of £85,000 from the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Match goers are encouraged to download the free Brighton and Hove Albion app to use and try out this to help improve the core technology and also get the best possible experience on match day.

In the future, TribeHive are looking to implement their technology in other stadia across the UK for a range of different sports.

Whether or not you are a sports fan, this is a breakthrough in stadium and networking technology and it is fascinating to see the lecturers who are teaching us being so involved in cutting edge technology.

Next time you visit the Amex Stadium for a match day, give the Brighton and Hove Albion app a go and see how it can augment the experience.

A link to the Android app can be found on The Badger website at: www.badgeronline.co.uk.

vital and sensitive information on it with them to the games.

This raises an interesting question. ‘Do we go far enough to protect ourselves digitally?’.

I myself often spend minutes closing down endless pop ups warning me that my laptop has security settings which need updating.

Most of us are willing to make sure our devices are secure when friends are around to avoid them posting an embarrassing Facebook status, Tweet or photo. But, just how safe and secure are we online?

Maybe it’s time that we start getting serious about protecting our information.

In the current age, hacking has become a serious issue with cases popping up across the globe.

From small organizations to state run institutions, there have been instances of hacking and/or surveillance.

A quick Google search will tell you how to easily protect yourself, from purchasing software to constantly changing your passwords.

As I was told as a teenager ‘use protection or pay the consequence’.

Though that may have referred to something less digital, it still can apply to the online world.

Tech Bytes of the week •

•

•

•

• Fancy writing about Tech?

E-mail: badger-tech@ussu.sussex.ac.uk to get involved with The Badger!

Viral mobile phone game Flappy Bird removed from app stores after being called “too addictive” by the developer.

Microsoft hires new CEO, Satya Nadella.

Bitcoin value drops sharply once again.

User video streaming website Twitch surpasses Facebook in peak internet traffic.

Google Glass is being trialled by Virgin Atlantic to help check customers in at London Heathrow airport.

the badger

17 February 2014 ARTS • 14

ARTS

Interview

A rough guide to Hell

Richard Hell - I Dreamed I was a Very Clean Tramp was born out of an impulse to try to make sense of ‘what had happened that had gotten me to be f**king forty years old’

Richard Hell & The Voidoids.

Blank Generation.

1977.

A truly seminal album in alternative music, this record serves as the template for punk. Introducing the “genius guitar player” Robert Quine, the opening lines to the eponymous song are the perfect encapsulation of Hell’s attitude, energy and poetic sensibility.

Punk progenitor, poet, novelist and film critic Richard Hell joins Arts Editor Will Fortna for a Full English breakfast to talk his new autobiography, early poetry and 70s CBGBs-era New York Richard Hell by Paper Mag

Will Fortna Arts Editor

Flown over by the American Studies department, Richard Hell is here to promote his recent autobiography I Dreamed I Was A Very Clean Tramp, from which he read and signed copies in a packed Jubilee Lecture Theatre last week.

The day before, I picked him up from his hotel room and, fresh from an overnight transatlantic flight, he took me to a greasy spoon off the seafront for coffee and a Full English.

Hell is down-to-earth and unassuming in person. In addition to downplaying certain achievements of his (for example, claiming to be embarrassed by his “juvenile” 70s poetry) he intermittently asks my opinions on topics like Internet piracy, Thurston Moore and tipping etiquette.

It’s only when, in passing, he casually mentions by first name towering figures like Tom Verlaine, Patti Smith, Chris Frantz and Tina

Weymouth, that I remember who I’m speaking to.

In some ways, Hell is in a strange position. He will forever be best remembered for the music he made in the 1970s and for the huge impact his lyrical, musical and sartorial innovations of that period have had on 20th century culture.

Yet he is – and seems himself as – very much a writer: “I think there’s no question that writing is my vocation. When they ask me on [my] passport, I put writer”.

The two novels that preceded Clean Tramp were extremely wellreceived and the other work he does tends to be published in print – Hell is a respected film and music critic.

Despite having given up music “where the book ends, 1984” (not withstanding a couple of brief but notable sonic forays, including a month-long supergroup with Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore and Steve Shelley), Hell is clearly still a music fan, speaking passionately about Velvet Underground, the Stooges and Guided By Voices.

Yet Hell’s work in disparate media

Richard Hell in his New York apartment in the 1970s

(including filmmaking) is tied together by “that kind of sensibility of always wanting to have things be intense…There is still a lot left of the things that made me want to write poetry, in the other books I write.” It is, he stresses, “a lot about intensity.”

This intensity is, argues Hell, one of the key features of “so-called punk”, which he characterizes well as “hard, driving, emotional sort of songs that were just these little outbursts.”

This idea of short bursts of intensity was the bridge that took him from his early, Lautremont and New York School-inspired poetry to the punk that make him famous.

This artistic sensibility, married to the physicality of music “that just grabs your body”, is part of what was unique about New York punk.

“If I was distinguishing punk from other rock’n’roll-derived music, I would say that it had pretensions to be art. Even the Stooges I would say that about. They had other values besides becoming popular. They wanted to talk about what it was like to be alive in the world, which is what art is. It wasn’t just girls and cars.” Or fantastical rock operas.

“Right, going off and thinking that you actually had to leave rock and roll in order to go towards Tchaikovsky or something. No, you could make interesting art without in any way sacrificing your classic credentials as a rock’n’roll musician.”

This definition of punk alludes to the reactive nature of the movement – pushing against the prevailing musical trends of the time.

Hell was influential in leading the charge against the pomposity of “pretentious and overblown” stadium rock on the one hand and the slickness of disco on the other.

This dialectic approach to creativity seems central to modern popular and alternative music, but Hell – perhaps surprisingly – argues that this pushing up against prevailing artistic norms was incidental. “The

reactive part was just kind of a bonus,” he says. “It gave us a little extra initiative because the radio was so boring and annoying.”

The autobiography is excellent – especially in bringing across the exhilaration of artistic creation – and is deeply inspiring, despite coming out of almost-therapeutic intentions.

“When I hit my forties I was a little bit shocked. I wasn’t really consciously mulling it over but I was aware of this sort of impulse to try to make sense and see in a kind of package what had happened - that had gotten me to be f**king forty years old,” he laughs.

His depiction of 70s New York, which he describes to me as “like a warzone - burned-out building, people freely selling drugs on every street corner, garbage everywhere” is extremely successful in achieving his effort to “ see what colour and shape [my 70s life] was, you know?

What it smelled like.”

Indeed, for those unfamiliar with either the second-generation New York School of poets or the CBGBs scene that he helped to establish, this book may be the best place to start.

By focusing on his own experiences, eschewing a wider depiction of these two scenes, Hell is able to bring to light more clearly and intensely the qualia of what it was like to be alive then.

And for those who think they don’t like punk due to the lack of invention of bands like Sex Pistols, have a listen to Richard Hell & The Voidoids’ first record and the marriage of Hell’s piercing-smart lyrics to Robert Quine’s innovative, bordering-on-the-dissonant guitar lines.

In Clean Tramp, Hell turns that record’s almost solipsistic line “it’s fascinating to observe what the mirror does” into a truly great memoir, cable of vital and dynamic communication – and for that reason, this is one of the most exciting reads of the year.

Richard Hell.

Godlike.

2005.

Hell’s second novel transposes the story of 19th century poets and lovers Arthur Rimbaud and Paul Verlaine to the 1970s streets of New York’s Lower East Side.

Drawing on his own life and featuring beautiful and profound musings on everything from politics to music, cinema to consumerism. This is a good place to start, fiction-wise.

Richard Hell.

Hot and Cold.

2001 This collection serves as a valuable summary of much of Hell’s art. Featuring lyrics, poems, drawings and essays, it serves to tie together much of Hell’s voluminous 20th century work.

Though disparaging about some of his earlier poems, this book shows the energy, force and beauty of Hell’s poetic eye, and it is no mistake that Hell has read alongside figures such as Ted Berrigan and Ron Padgett.

the badger

17 February 2014 ARTS • 15

Reviews film

Leviathan

Duke’s at Komedia Jordan Evagora-Campbell Leviathan was shown as a one-off screening at Duke’s at Komedia last week, and those present were witness to a truly unique cinematic experience.

To describe it simply, it’s a documentary about the activities that take place on an American fishing trawler in Grand Banks off the New England coast.

However, to restrict the film by classifying it as a documentary or giving it a singular subject matter would be unfair on a work of such dynamic originality.

Co-directors Lucien Castaing-Taylor and Véréna Paravel, both anthropologists who teach at Harvard, take an innovative approach to the documentary form which is experimental and, at times, terrifying.

The film opens at night, the oppressive setting for most of the film, with high-contrast images of the fishermen as they retrieve a fishing net from the ocean.

This sequence bares resemblance to avant-garde filmmakers such as Stan Brakhage with disconnected shapes and noises creating a world of confusion that leaves the viewer disorientated and unsettled.

This sets up an uncomfortable atmosphere that makes the graphic

Music

Hella Better Dancer/O. Chapman/Rainslicker/ Mad Kid Library Trap Green Door Store 5th February Jinan Golley Halfway up Trafalgar Street on a wet-n-windy Wednesday night, we realised that Green Door Store no longer sells Red Stripe and the cans carefully hidden in our coats were useless.

I struggled to make up my mind: head back down through the rain to the cheaper corner shop, or reach the show on time and pour my beer into a glass in the toilet?

I continued climbing towards the venue.

I didn’t regret the decision.

The exposed brick walls, the multitude of lamps lighting the stage and the palpable relationship between the members of the bands lent a homely D.I.Y. feel to the night, and the comfortable vibes continued throughout the evening.

The opening performance by Mad Kid Library Trap had been longawaited by many in the audience, and the atmosphere was tense: this was Mad Kid’s first escape from the Library (see his Facebook page for his fragmented backstory).

and disturbing images that follow even more shocking: we enter the seafood equivalent of an abattoir.

After emptying the net that has dragged up the entire ecosystem, still spluttering with life, from the surrounding ocean, the fishermen start to decapitate the fish and the entire scene is soaked in blood.

In one unforgettable sequence we see the men hacking off the fins of Skate fish before chucking away the majority of the bodies.

Similarly powerful moments follow, including a shot that shows blood pouring out from the side of

people that live and work in this world. In a scene of particular pathos we see one of the crew slowly dropping off as he watches T.V. in the cabin.

As he struggles to stay awake, a sign of just how taxing this kind of work is, we listen to the documentary he is watching about the life of fisherman.

This dramatic, commercial representation of his lifestyle, which he is perhaps watching for comfort and a feeling of heroism, could not be more different to the documentary we are watching, but still goes so far as to

Cat

Leviathan the boat into the sea and another of fish heads rolling around as the boat moves from side to side.

These horrific images will be burnt onto the retinas of all watching and will surely be remembered next time we walk past a fishmonger’s.

Alongside the condemnation of this destructive method of fishing the film expresses sympathy for the

describe the boats as ‘barbaric sea prisons’.

Leviathan is an outstanding and visceral documentary that presents an honest and unforgettable account of what really takes place on fishing trawlers, making one question the waste we produce and the sustainability of human consumption.

Weirdly wonderful (the last song was written about Roland Barthes’ mother), MK’s esoteric stylings were an exciting opener for the night.

One word to describe Rainslicker, who followed, is tight.

Eschewing reverb and haziness, their sound was built around rhythm, with scratchy percussive guitars and funky bass lines, and most of the audience was dancing as soon as the first few jaunty chords were played.

The music contrasted heavily with the weather – they were sunny, and brought to mind denim jackets, open-top Cameros and dirt-roads.

The set was excellent and as I live with the lead singer, it was nice to hear his vocals on stage, and not coming through the bathroom door.

O. Chapman was the penultimate performer, and his sultry tones were very welcome after all the bopping around to Rainslicker – it gave the audience a chance to rest and sway, his voice and picking hypnotic.

Chapman’s set highlighted one

of the most alluring aspects of the night: its collaborative, comfortable nature. Will (Rainslicker) and Josh (Hella Better Dancer) both lent their talents to the band, and earlier, Mad Kid briefly banged the cowbell during Rainslicker’s set.

Something about O. Chapman reminded me of charcoal; a more apt comparison, perhaps, is Kurt Vile.

Finally, we were treated to the dreamy distortion of Hella Better Dancer.

All members of the band had a strangely magnetic stage presence – their command of the audience’s attention seemed effortless, and I haven’t seen a band that manages that so well in a long time.

The performance was brilliant: I’m not sure I’d realized how brilliant until I started writing this review.

I’d definitely recommend seeing them as soon as they next play in Brighton.

Rainslicker - Jinan Golley

Music

Filthy Boy

Bermuda Triangle 1st February Jodie Rawl On a gorgeous February evening not even the rain and hail stones could keep away the crowd descending to the shores of Brighton for Filthy Boy’s headlining show.

Packed into the tubular venue, an interesting fanbase of backpacked teen fan-girls brushed shoulders with bespectacled 50-something men (I counted 5 in close proximity), students and gig-scene regulars.

The small space worked to the band’s favour, giving the impression of a packed-out and intimate gig despite possibly only hosting around 50 people.

Following in the same vein as Nick Cave, the band’s vocals have been compared to the likes of Bowie and Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand.

Yet while the weather provided the perfect backdrop to their brooding demeanour and dark narratives, Filthy Boy failed to deliver the performance we had all come to expect.

The vocals were somewhat lost among the drone of the venue’s PA, most notably during the much-anticipated “Waiting on the doorstep”.

Unlike the support bands Nightworkers and Black Rooster Black Shag, the audience seemed distracted during the headliner’s performance, with chatter clearly audible during the quieter points.

Front man Paraic Morissey maintained an air of understated cool

Music

East India Youth Green Door Store 7th February

Lottie Brazier East India Youth, alias of musician William Doyle, has emerged with what seems like complete spontaneity onto the UK electronic scene.

His first album, ‘Total Strife Forever’ (a pun on Foals’ ‘Total Life Forever’) was released earlier this year.

His publicity was established from small beginnings, after handing the journalist John Doran a copy of his demos.

There is plenty of mystique surrounding this 22 year old artist, from his unrevealing name to his cryptic lyrics.

His image is deceptively vague and generic – scarcely interviewed, there are few points of reference or scenes to contextualise him in.

At first, Doyle establishes himself inconspicuously on stage in a black pea coat, gaunt and aloof, a little like the late Ian Curtis.

So engrossed is Doyle in the act of creating music, he doesn’t even seem to acknowledge the presence of any audience at all.

It becomes apparent early on that this is the kind of gig where the artist seeks to recreate their entire album live, to the best of their ability on stage.

Or at least, that is how it seems to begin with. It just so happens that ‘To-

however, suggesting he couldn’t care less if he’d been playing to a room of homeless guys who’d rocked up for a free show.

Meanwhile the rest of the band performed with a characteristically sombre stage presence punctuated by humorous comments from Paraic.

Of “That Life” (a solemn tale of a homeless man living rough) he declared ‘this is my nan’s favourite!’.

Nan indeed knows best, as everything the other songs lacked was restored in the last verse; Paraic came in with more gusto than he’s shown the whole set and forced the boozy crowd to chant with him.

Ultimately though, it was Black Rooster Black Shag who claimed the night, storming onto stage with the rock bravado and confidence of a three-piece who’d been doing this for a while.

A torrent of raging guitars and heavy drum beats filled the venue with an energy sadly unmatched by their successors.

Front woman Mirika’s self-assured yet modest stage performance established an instant likeability, while JJ Symon humbly claimed “but of course you’re here to see Filthy Boy”.

Indeed we were, but they would leave us with a strong impression on our eardrums nonetheless.

Filthy Boy tal Strife Forever’ has great live dynamic, spanning from the accessible to the downright experimental.

On ‘Heaven, Up Here’ Doyle sings, ‘there’s something clinical about me’, but his pained vocal inflections can’t help but reflect otherwise.

Doyle is, if you like, the Mahler of electronic, with deep feeling behind every chord change and vocal inflection.

There is a real pining and sentimentality behind his music that challenged my preconceptions of electronic music as detached, purely intellectual artistry.

Towards the end of the evening though, it seems as if Doyle has fully relaxed.

He is now more playful, less willing to hold onto the original structures of his songs.

What seems like only a meagre fadeout on the album becomes an incessant wall of noise live. It’s extreme to the extent that it would force even My Bloody Valentine to wear earplugs.

It’s this kind of playfulness and will to experiment that makes East India Youth an act not only to keep an eye on: he’s also one to respect as an artist.

Especially one that is so fully-fledged and complete, after the release of just one album.

East India Youth

the badger

17 february 2014 ARTS • 16

LIFESTYLE Authoritarian treadmills: the cult

of the gym and the pain of exercise

JOBSWORTH

McDonald’s

Tiffany Huret Walking into the gym in January would give any observer a false perception of what lies behind those walls throughout the rest of the year.

The majority of people occupying the room will have vanished within a few weeks, never to be seen again once their feeling of guilt in the aftermath of Christmas over-indulgence has subsided.

Indeed, studies show that the British waste £37 million a year on gym memberships and classes that they never actually attend.

This can be explained by the nature of the treadmill, the nation’s most popular gym equipment.

To me, it seems that members are basically paying for the privilege of moving their own body in a mechanical, pre-determined manner on what can be perceived as a modern torturing device.

Indeed, treadmills were initially introduced to harness the power of animals or humans to do work and later used as punishment devices for people sentenced to hard labour in prisons.

And yet, the relatively recent introduction of televisions and other sources of entertainment provided in gyms has clearly succeeded in distracting people away from the “hamster-wheel” nature of the machine.

It is this form of exercise that has led people to perceive sport as “work”, or as a chore of some kind, instead of a source of pleasure or as an inevitable part of life.

So while over 48 million Americans have self-inflicted physical pain upon themselves by voluntarily sign-

Kate Schneider Sarah George

Rome Za ing up to a gym, many are simultaneously trying to escape from it.

By developing rapid modes of transport that allow us to travel miles without the slightest effort, we are creating a parallel need for gyms: a space in which exercise can be carried out without impeding on our busy schedules.

Instead of naturally including exercise into our everyday lives, we consciously set aside time and money that we dedicate towards a few scattered sporadic interjections of physical activity, before returning to our sluggish, lazy lifestyles.

It saddens me to see that the world has arrived at a stage where people prefer to shut themselves away in a room and rely on expensive and energy-consuming treadmills to pro-

vide them with the necessary terrain.

I’m aware of the difficulties of converting stationary bicycles into energy-generating machines and the little impact that they would have on world energy consumption figures, but if the power produced by running or pedalling is enough to counter-act a segment of the energy requirements of sustaining a gym, then surely we’re already making progress?

For this reason, I have yet to step foot in the University of Sussex gym and prefer to stick to riding my “oldfashioned” bike to university, one that actually takes me places, does not consume energy or cost me hundreds of pounds to use.

Considering the shocking obesity rates in more and more Western

countries, I probably shouldn’t be condemning the efforts of some to become more active.

However, I feel like the promotion of healthy eating and exercise has had a greater impact on the other, unaffected side of society, who have registered these promoted ideals of beauty and health and subsequently developed their own “disease,” often manifested through a number of eating disorders and compulsive exercising.

It seems that a healthy balance has become almost impossible to achieve in today’s society in which we observe the formation of a noticeable divide between two co-existing extremes: the obese and the healthobsessed.

Year Abroad: the balance between smugness and ingratitude in Berlin Emily Chittock It’s very difficult to strike a balance between smugness and ingratitude when talking about a year abroad.

Part of me wants to just rep Berlin loads.

It’s so great; believe the hype. But part of me wants to punch in the face everyone who told me it would be the best year of my life, instead of giving me all the vital information about moving overseas.

It turns out that it’s actually pretty shit moving away from all of your family and friends.

For me, the first bit involved quite a lot of melancholic inertia and Desert Island Discs (everyone should know that one of Tony Robinson’s eight discs is ‘Beautiful’ by Christina Aguilera...unexpected!).

And while Radio 4 is endlessly comforting, feeling isolated is never that much fun, with or without Kirsty Young in the background.

But then I stopped being a massive f**king loser and went and did some stuff that real people do in real life, and

Ingebjørg Forsman Bærø now it’s mostly fine.

The bureaucratic processes that have to be completed upon arrival are longwinded and confusing, and pulling a legitimate address out of Berlin’s complex web of lies and sublease is a huge hassle.

And no one is going to explain to you at any point how you enroll at the university, let alone any of the classes, so work it out for yourself ASAP. Or get the friendly Norwegian across

the road to do it for you.

But once all the formalities are out of the way it’s easy to start appreciating a world where you pay NOTHING to go to university.

Germany is by no means a haven of social equality (yet), but it’s definitely doing something better than the UK. And Berlin’s post-industrial greyness is the perfect backdrop for the coexistence of innovation and epicureanism that would feel disgustingly preten-

tious elsewhere.

The Scandinavian crime drama meets My So Called Teenage Life sartorial mash-up is somehow endearingly authentic here and dancing to drill n bass until 11am on a Thursday isn’t just for hipsters.

A lot of people have already lived internationally by the time they’re twenty, and a study year abroad is entirely subjective; much less daunting for some than for others.

It seems like there’s a lot of pressure to always be having the best time ever, and I’m sure that some people do, but there’s nothing like trying to theorize Habermas’ position on religious pragmatism in a class of forty native speakers led by a tutor with a strong, indeterminable accent to put a dent in your ego.

Anyway, I feel incredibly privileged to have had the chance to live here before UKIP bulldozes the Channel Tunnel.

Try not to listen to ‘Waitin Around To Die’ by Townes Van Zandt too much and learn your grammar rules properly, and everything’ll be alright.

As a fresh-faced, wonderfully naïve 16 year-old, I was simply desperate for my first job.

Freedom, my foot on the career ladder, LOADS of money rolling into my bank account.

When a job came along that CarmelH didn’t require an interview, I leapt for joy.

Fast forward a year, and my stress levels have hit a Kilimanjaro-sized peak while my sanity levels are slipping ever further down into the abyss.

Atop this, I’m clad in uniform which can only be described as deep baby sick mustard, accessorized glamorously with hollow eyes, assorted fryer burns (none of which were ever noted in the accidents book) and acne (caused by air comprising 70% grease).

My McJob had ripped out my soul - dementor-style.

People tell me not to ‘exaggerate’, that ‘it can’t be that bad!’

Oh, really? Let’s set the scene.

Daily, at 12pm, a stampede of parents baring whiny, hungry, rude child-monsters invade the store.

The queue is relentless, no matter how many happy meals you serve to appease them.

This reoccurs at both 3pm and 6pm - lucky me.

What’s more, the customers are downright bizarre.

“I need a Big Mac with all the trimmings. No bun though, I’m on a diet.”

“Filet-O-Fish with extra sauce.

Two shots of sauce ain’t enough and three is too much.”

If you dare look to the boss for reassurance, his idea of ‘help’ consists of bellowing “MOVE THE SERVICE!” and sending stress skyrocketing.

Very helpful indeed.

To top it all off, as a teenage McSlave, for 8 hours hard graft, you’re looking at £30 tops.

Good luck.

the badger

17th FeBruary 2014 ARTS: sussex showcase • 17

Showcase - Freedom

Week Three’s theme is PAIN Send your creative pursuits and theme ideas to frampley@gmail.com by 19th February

the badger

17 February 2014 Arts •18

Arts

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

Gigs

ALTERNATIVE Speedy Ortiz/Joanna Gruesome The Green Door Store Thursday 20th February, £7, 7:30

Hip Hop Danny Brown Coalition Saturday 22nd February £16, 7:30

Detroit rapper Brown, part of a new breed of eclectic, hipster MCs, brings his skinny jeans and unique hair to Brighton to promote last October’s 3rd LP, Old. That record, his first to be released conventionally, was met with much critical acclaim, and features cameos from the likes of ASAP Rocky, Charli XCX and Purity Ring.

alternative Cate Le Bon Komedia Monday 17th February £10, 7:30

Welsh chanteuse Cate Le Bon recently emigrated from the West Coast of Penybor to the slightly more famous West Cost of Los Angeles.

Her most recent album, 2013’s Mug Museum certainly draws upon American folk and psychedelia and her unique voice (think a Welsh Nico) is captivating. She’s been hanging out with musicians connected with the New York label Woodsist, and it definitely shows.

As featured in last week’s spring preview, this c-oheadline show

by America’s Speedy Ortiz and Wales-via-Brighton’s Joanna Gruesome (who count a current Sussex student as a member) promises to be a great name. The venue suits the bands perfectly and fans of post-punk of 90s US indie should definitely check both bands out.

Club

Film FILM Badlands Duke of York’s

Runs until 8th March

Friday 21st February £6.90, 11:30pm Competing with the quirkiness of Anderson this Friday (see below) is beautifully sincere director Terrence Malik, with his excellent 1973 breakthrough Badlands. Firmly establishing the tone (and locale) of much of his later work, this story of an outlaw couple (Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek) offsets the gorgeous shots of the American landscape with brutal depictions of violence, the latter highlighted by its juxtaposition with Spacek’s naive commentary. Well deserves its place in the canon of modern American cinema.

CLUB Metalheadz ft. Goldie Concorde2 Saturday 22nd February 11pm £7 Drum and bass institution Metalheadz come to Brighton, for a night headlined by renowned actor (Snatch, James Bond), DJ and Metalheadz founder Goldie, whose famous bejeweled teeth give the label its name.

Art

Alternative Crystal Antlers Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar Tuesday 25th February £9.50, 8pm

Next week sees Californian rockers Crystal Antlers play Sticky Mike’s.

Touring in support of 3rd LP Nothing Is Real, the band has shed two membres but gained a more matured sound.

FILM Royal Tenenbaums Duke’s at Komedia Friday 21st February £6.90, 11:15pm

To celebrate the release of Wes Anderson’s latest film, The Grand Budapest Hotel, a retrospective of the director’s work will be shown this month. This Friday come to a late night screening of this brilliant family-based classic. Perhaps a more accessible Life Aquatic, with a great ensemble cast.

Art Turner In Brighton

Runs until 2nd march, Royal Pavilion, Prince Regent Gallery

PREVIEW: Full Frontal Nerdity Saturday 22nd February, The Old Market

Will Fortna Arts Editor

Will Fortna Arts Editor

riage of comedy and general scientific intrigue.

Part of the Brighton Science Festival, The Old Market (in Hove) hosts the comedic trio The Spoken Nerds and their signature scienceand geek-based brand of comedy.

This show, punningly titled Full Frontal Nerdity has drawn acclaim from more conventional humourbased publications to the Guardian and The New Scientist, which says a lot about this winning mar-

8pm. £13.

Lars Von Trier’s vow of silence following last year’s controversial comments at Cannes has not stopped huge amounts of publicity (and inevitable controversy) being given to upcoming sex-epic Nymphomaniac.

The film is a story of one woman’s life, structured around her sexual experiences, and features a talented ensemble cast including Shia

A group exhibition by artists working in various media, featuring works based around the self-explanatory title.

Featuring photography, body painting, naked dance and life drawing, the gallery will also play hosts to ticketed evening events, including Art v Porn (free entry) on Saturday 22nd.

Comedy Comedy Mitch Benn: The 37th Beatle Komedia Friday 21st £12, 8pm

Liverpudlian comedian Mitch Benn’s newest show takes his city’s beloved Beatles as its basis.

By turns satirical and informative, and always hilarious, The 37th Beatle was a huge hit at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival and will appeal to music and comedy obsessives alike.

This exhibition, built around a recentlyacquisitioned watercolour of Brighton that J M W Turner made in 1824, focuses on depictions of the city in its 1820s prime, and features several works by Turner and contemporaries including John Constable.

PREVIEW: Nymphomaniac + Satellite Q&A Saturday 22nd February, Duke Of York’s Labeouf, Uma Thurman, Stellan Skarsgard and Von Trier muse Charlotte Gainsbourg, The film has suffered well-documented production problems, including efforts to use porn actors for unsimulated sex scenes and wrangles with the studio over final cut.

This screening will show the film in its current structure of 2 volumes, and will last over 5 hours.

Afterwards, Von trier will be answering questions over a webcam.

ART The Naked and the Nude Warehouse Gallery

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

17 February 2014

SporTS • 20

SPORTS Sussex troupes dance to glory Sayful Islam & Lewis Klein Ambition has always been something that the societies of our beloved University of Sussex have held to heart, biting off a little more than we would otherwise chew, simply to prove that we can. The competition was on the 8th of February not long after term had officially started, giving the dancers just under three weeks to prepare for a competition. Which for students, of which the majority are final years, as well as a postgraduate, it wasn’t a lot of time.

However as true Sussex students, the team did not let that stop them from being enthusiastic and ambitious when it came to learning the brand new routines which had been readied for the competition!

It was a lot of late nights after long days all the way up to the night before the competition. Blood, sweat and tears went into that last week that was affectionately named ‘Hell week’ amongst the street dance troupe.

This year marked a new chapter in the history of Sussex Dance, as for the first time the society proudly boast their own contemporary troupe. As such a new troupe, it was decided that the best way to begin was to keep their repertoire simple yet effective.

Choreography came under the

wonderful teachings of their Captain, Mel Jones, who combined the strength and emotion of generic contemporary with a more modern and physically experimental flavour, injecting life into their theme: the journey into self-discovery.

The positive chemistry between all members of the troupe, and their shared passion for dance meant that the challenge of a competition was met with relatively low levels of stress and great optimism.

The team felt that they could really make a mark in the competition, as never before had the dance society boasted such a wide array of talent. The first challenge was to drag themselves out of bed for a 7:30am departure from Brighton, a mixture of an early alarm clock and nerves meant many of the team endured a restless night.

However, not all was lost as the team travelled in true Brighton style, rocking up to the competition on none other than the famously chip-fat scented Big Lemon Bus. So at the very least, Sussex had made an impression on the competition even before the dancing had begun.

For many of the team, arriving at the venue was initially a surreal and slightly daunting experience.

However, throughout the day, the team mingled with other competing dance troupes and it turned out that they were friendly students

that enjoyed dancing, just like Sussex. The entire day was a wonderful experience, with extra workshops with two of our professional judges.

One of which was a member of the street dance crew ‘Flawless’ and the other currently starring as Miss Trunchbull in the West End production of ‘Matilda’.

Both the contemporary and street troupes experienced the same range of emotions while competing; nerves, excitement and adrenaline.

After a long but enjoyable day, it was time for the awards ceremony.

The Sussex students were ecstatic to hear that they had placed third in the contemporary section. Team member Lewis Klein commented that, “It was truly a wonderful experience, inspiring one to excel beyond their own expectations, and to strive for bettering oneself on a personal level, as well as when part of a group”.

The elation for Sussex did not end there, as shortly after the contemporary troupe’s success, Sussex’s street crew were named winners of their section; the successes of both troupes in the competition meant that this day would be forever etched in the University’s dance history.

The society is extremely proud of every single dancer who took part in this competition, they all have worked exceptionally hard and the

committee members are thankful for all the time they gave up to make it so great. Also credit to those who helped organize everything from transport, entry, fundraising and room bookings; Amber Staniforth, Sam Mcann, Chelcey Drinkwater and Marie Liétard-Montigny. Finally thank you to both the crew

captains and the choreographers that went the extra step to make sure that Sussex were the best they could be: Mel Jones, Lily Winslow, Chelcey Drinkwater, Marie Lietard – Montgny, Lewis Klein, Seun Smith and Sayful Islam. We are all proud of everyone!

Sayful Islam

Badminton in quarter finals Storming success for Sussex hockey Alexander Wong Sussex badmintons men’s team found themselves drawn in a home cup fixture against division 3B league leaders, UCL men’s 2nds. The home team expected a tough match before the game and they were proven to be right when the matches spanned out for over 2 hours. The team weren’t able to secure the narrow 5-3 victory until the very last minute. The fixture started off with two men’s singles. Jason Wong was up against the better player out of the two UCL players with Alexander Wong playing against their second singles player. It took less than 20 minutes for the Sussex captain to overcome his opponent 21-11 21-14. On the neighboring court, Jason started his match well but was unable to keep up with his opponent’s pace and consistency, and succumbed to his attacking-minded opponent 15-21, 13-21. Next up were the men’s doubles. Due to disagreement regarding the scores on various occasions, vice captain Alexander Lam and Nikhil Pandit were engrossed in a somewhat

heated 3-game thriller. Although the temperature of the game might have diverted their concentration, they kept their composure and defeated their opponents. After a crossover, Alexander Wong polished off his second opponent, winning 21-13, 21-9. On the court next to him, Jason was having yet another tough match and failing to produce his best badminton, he was defeated.

In the final two doubles matches, both pairs had to go the distance again but this time they were unable to claim all two points for themselves. With Sussex pair James Southard and Jack Occleshaw having been narrowly defeated in the first of the two games, the atmosphere in the hall was intense as the last doubles pair’s result would determine the entire match. Lam and Nikhil won their first set fairly easily but were unable to claim a straight set victory after losing in the second. In the decider, they displayed an aggressive attitude and finally Sussex claimed their 5-3 victory by virtue of the pair’s 21-16 win in their decider.

Rebecca Weighell This week saw a triple promotion for Sussex Hockey. With two games remaining in the BUCS leagues, Sussex Women’s 1s and 2s and the Men’s 1s sit unbeaten at the top of their tables.

Winning by huge margins has secured their promotions, with the Men’s and Women’s 1s moving into the top regional leagues placing them within the best thirty-six university teams in the country. Sussex have not just been winning their games; they have absolutely dominated them. The Women’s 2s achieving a 40pt goal difference, Men’s 1s a 31pt and the Women’s 1s 24pts.

Verity Charlton, 2s captain said, ”we thought we’d be optimistic and go for double promotion and it’s great that with a still with few matches left we remain unbeaten and that target has been met”. All the teams have seen strong commitment levels, with special mention in the women’s to the Hannah Door, Caitlin Colman, Frances Holliday, Lucy Le Lievre, Eloise Saville

and the Men’s new recruit Sam Chilvers for contributing a few hat-tricks to the scoreboard.

Great goals have come from across the field showing the team’s ability to put training into practice and outperform their opponents in every area of the game.

Hockey was fortunate to have a great intake of fresher’s this year which has allowed the teams to grow from strength to strength with the help of the coaches Sarah Hall, Wendy Russell and Peter Thomas.

Eleanor Finch, the 1s captain explained, “A large influx of talented hockey-playing fresher’s led to a shake-up of the squads, however this was dealt with well and the teams gelled strongly from the first training session.” Verity Charlton agreed, blaming the unrivalled success of her 2s on “great spirit, amazing hockey and a team that have developed and worked so well together”.

Key to the impressive results has been the great goal keeping and strong defence within the squads. In the 2s

the keeper Katie Hall has only conceded four goals all season, similar to the impressive feat of Adam Carter on the men’s team who has proved very much deserving of his place on the 1s.

Equally Alice Rowley has been a fantastic addition to the 1s squad defending her goal successfully against a high standard of opposition.

Direction in the backs from Anne van Buuren, Molly Scott and Matt Needle in each team has proved disastrous for the opponents.

Great fitness in the midfield has allowed Sussex to run circles around the other teams.

Both the Men and Women’s first teams are also still in contention for the South Eastern Conference Cup, with hopes high for bringing home some silverware to add to the potential triple promotion.

Katie Hall, President of Sussex Women’s Hockey said “I am really proud of the hockey family. We have worked extra hard this term in training and the results show that it is working”.

Welfare

Rianna Gargiulo

Jessie Seal

“You can stand under my umbrella”

“SEAL THE DEAL”

Affordability • Expand Sussex Student Lettings’ fee-free service, providing student jobs • Lobby for affordable on-campus accommodation following demolition of East-Slope • Install kitchen facilities across campus Travel • Campaign for subsidies for FirstGeneration Scholars • Sustainable transport provisions

Management aims to expand Sussex unprecedentedly. We will work towardsa Transition University, creating a democratic and sustainable institution led by Students and Staff.

Housing • • •

Create a SU Housing Cooperative Campaign for cheaper campus accommodation Work with SussexStudentLettingsto improve quality of privately rented housing

Well-being • Introduce taxi ‘get-home-safe’ scheme • Prioritise on-campus sexual health services • Improve sign posting of guidance and advice services

Transport

Campaigning • Events celebrating diversity • Continue my work on mental health; mandatory training for frontline staff/ residential advisors, reducing counselling waiting times • Champion zero-tolerance campaign; tackling university ‘rape culture’

•

• •

Having led RE:CYCLE Bike-Hire Cooperative,continue to improve access to bikes through RE:CYCLE and cheap bike sales at the start of term Continue to lobby B&H buses for quicker and cheaper buses Work with the Council to improve transport infrastructure

Continue the Zero Tolerance sexual harassment campaign – campus as a safe space for all.

Sophie van der Ham “Re-elect Sophie!”

If elected I will: Having spent one year in office, I have the passion, knowledge and skills to deliver on: A two year rent freeze for on-campus accommodation Continuing work with B&H buses to decrease fares Better regulation of the private rented sector through Rate Your Landlord Gender neutral toilets A new feminist Union campaign Starting conversations about a new Union building Making the Union more transparent and democratically-led High profile events with the Time to Change campaign Continuing the Language Cafe that I started Being an advocate for students from disadvantaged backgrounds Creating a counter narrative to the marketisation of HE

Voting Open 9am on

17 Feb– 21 Feb at 5pm

Vote Rianna to make Sussex shine bright like a diamond!

Community Engagement

Liam Letheren

Paul Millar

Jaja Jasper Chinedum

Shikhar Shrivastava

I want to: • Campaign to bridge the gender pay gap.

• The university plans to demolish Park Village and East Slope, I want campus accommodation to still be affordable for all students.

• I want to lobby the university to respect the democratic processes including the right to protest; given the privatisation, suspension of students, and pay cuts.

• Campaign for a universitywide ethical investments policy.

• Continue to campaign for fair trade on campus.

Student media at Sussex is well on its way to becoming the envy of universities nationwide. I intend to support the expansion of our pivotal presence in this role by:

“We are our community.”

“Make me your strong influential voice”

Media Development

Ethical & Enviromental

Part-time Officers

1. Offeringa greater platform for more innovative genres such as comedy and satire, as well as content for minorities, across student media 2. Encouraging increased collaboration between The Badger, UniTV and URF, so as to maximise our media presence at big events 3. Building upon the success of The Badger website and improvingthe online presence of UniTV and URFto bring these outlets into the 21st century.

I have been a part of several communities in the past and I have played roles to ensure the sustenance of the relationship we had with the society. Much has been done but there is room for more. To this effect, I have a 3-point agenda.

1. To support and promote the good works initiated by my predecessors; 2. To seek greater and more enduring partnership with the government and other agencies which are relevant to the betterment of the Student Community; 3. To work actively with the Union and ensure a better commitment to tackling the issues which we face in the community.

Giving a voice and a platform to communities not only empowers them but also encourages them to pursue what they want. As community engagement officer, I assure the student community that I will strengthen their involvement with the Student Union. As community engagement officer I will make sure: 1. Best use of media (the Badger, Pulse) to showcase any event or student’s success.

2. More variety in the Tuesday market.

3. Working with the Careers & Employability Centre to provide more volunteering opportunities for students.

4. Organize more soup runs.

5. Raise money for charity through variety of entertaining events.

9am on

17 Feb– 21 Feb at 5pm

Equality & Diversity

Voting Open

Cavita Bachan

Lisa William Robogo

Salah Seoudy

I am an MBA student who currently works as a Service Manager for Mental Health Services in Brighton and Hove.

I am very passionate about Customer Service and ensuring that people are treated with dignity and respect. I am interested in the equality and diversity officer role because a large part of what I do professionally is ensuring that my services respond to vulnerable people who can be marginalised and stigmatised in society. What I will bring to this role is a vast amount of clinical expertise, operational & tacit knowledge and a huge amount of energy.

I am neuroscience student with an interest in human rights and I believeI have the determination to fulfil my duties as your representative.

I’m a second year from Egypt who’s passionate about equality. I was involved with the Zero Tolerance campaign last year and am President of the Amnesty society. I’m also involved with the PGT/international fees rise campaign.

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“Better Vote Sal!”

I will push for more interaction between home and international students.

I will continue to campaign to ensure students seeking refugee protection have equal access to study at Sussex and that financial barriers hindering their ability to do so are removed I will push for a zero tolerance attitude to harassment and discrimination.

I will work for the removal of barriers that trans students face, and to raise awareness of these issues among students and staff.

If elected I will: • • • • • • •

Campaign for fairer minority representation in the University Pressure the University to provide a student from North Africa/Middle East with a scholarship Support staff in their campaigns for fair pay Strengthen the Union’s relationship with University departments on equal access issues Campaign to make yearly international and PGT fee rises reasonable Lobby for affordable on-campus accommodation

NUS National Conference Delegates

NUS Conference Delegates

Frederick Groves

Gavan Harrison

“Opposing Outsourcing and Privatisation at Sussex!”

As an active studentrepresentative, I want to continue to defend education, student opportunities and rights. It’s vital that the NUS is a leading campaigning organisation.

It is now harder than ever to be student. The introduction of £9,000 fees, the loss of EMA (Education Maintenance Allowance) and the sweeping attempts to sell-off universities endangers the economic and educational prospects of today’s students.

At Sussex, our Vice-Chancellor is committed to a devastating program of outsourcing and privatisation, and has shown his determination to crush the democratic rights of staff and students through injunctions and suspensions, whilst his salary has increased to an all-time high. More than ever, we need a strong, fighting, and politically engaged NUS to represent students under increasing threat. I have been involved....... [candidate submitted more than the 100 word limit]

“Putting students first”

Accessible, empowering opportunities.

• Ensure NUS makes progress campaigning for widening access to higher education and against cuts to funding, bursaries and grants.

Promoting diversity and welfare: • Ensure clear, progressive campaigns on key non-academic issues, promoting equality, diversity andfairer employment opportunities.

Student-led communities and democracy • Ensure students and unions have the resources to promote empowerment, involvement and engagement for all students.

Adriano Mérola Marotta

Lewis Nielsen

“Free & Democratic Education”

“Actions not words to defend education”

Experience: As the NUS delegate in 2013 for Sussex, as well as the former Chair of USSU Council and current Chair of the Postgraduate Association, I would uphold Union policy at Conference.

Free & Democratic Education: I would vote on any motions supporting free education and democratising our universities.

Supporting anti-racism and liberation campaigns: I would support any motions intended on fighting discrimination on our campuses for people of all abilities.

Right to Protest: As one of the Sussex 5, I think the NUS should condemn the disciplinaries at Sussex and Birmingham University and campaign for protest freedoms on campuses.

Where I stand: Defend education - No to privatisation, support staff strikes and student protests against Tory attacks on education Money for students not vice chancellors pay packets! –More funding for education and student services As one of the Sussex Five I am committed to fighting for an NUS that campaigns for student democracy and the right to protest.

As a socialist I stand for an NUS that fights against oppression. No to racism, sexism and homophobia. I oppose the BNP, EDL and UKIP’s racist lies

NUS National Conference Delegates

Miriam Steiner

Sophie van der Ham

“Giving US a voice”

I’m a student ambassador and president of the PPE Society, and want to make sure that real student issues are heard at NUS conference this year

“For a fair, feminist, fully-inclusive NUS”

Having attended NUS Conference last year to facilitate training and workshops, I would love to go back, and now make a stand about issues that matter to students at Sussex: • • • • • • • •

Campaign for more accessible higher education Platform of free education for all More power within NUS for Liberation campaigns Call on NUS to call a national demonstration Campaign against the Student Loan Book Sell Off Bring a motion against extortionate campus rents nationally NUS support to students being suspended nationally for political protest Campaign against higher and higher fees for international students

Black

Jaja Jasper Chinedum “Quality Representation” I’m Jaja Jasper and I would love to represent the Black students in the forthcoming NUS Black Students’ Conference as a delegate. At the conference, issues which are relevant to our time and clime are debated upon and members of the Black Students’ Campaign Committee are elected. We have our views as Black students and I am zealous about airing these views, making sure they are listened to and thus, improving our university experience. I have occupied similar positions in the past and I excelled; I also worked with other youths in Nigeria to help the society.

I aim to: • Ensure NUS’s primary commitment is to all student’s education • Fight racial and economic inequality in HE and FE • Advocate better provisions for people with mental health issues and • disabilities at universities • Encourage NUS to increase support for the Equal Access campaign, • supporting the rights of Asylum Seekers to attend University at UK Fee • price • Press NUS to actively campaign for better accommodation standards and • pricing in university housing

Disabled

Mary Prescott “Liberation Not Discrimination!”

I am the Disabled Students’ Officer and have previously represented students at NUS National Conference and Women’s Conference. I am standing because I want to ensure Sussex students have a strong voice nationally.

Sussex has submitted an amendment on “Fit to Sit” and I would like to put the argument forward to campaign against these university examination policies which disadvantage students with disabilities and campaign for better support mechanisms.

The Government want to cut Disabled Students’ Allowance and have numerous policies that are attacking the rights and well-being of disabled people. It’s vital that we continue to campaign for liberation!

As current full-time elected Welfare officer, I want to bring to bear the knowledge & skills I have developed over the past 9 months to shape the progressive NUS students want. As a feminist & advocate of marginalized groups I want to see an inclusive NUS that takes a strong stance against marketization of HE and pro-actively supports widening access for students. I want to elect a national executive committee that can secure social change and make NUS relevant to students who want to engage with it. To be transparent about my voting, I will live tweet the elections.

F

Michael Segalov

visit www. sussex student

.com

/VOTE

VOTE

NOW

ELECTION MYTHS “I’m not the right sort of person”

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There is no ‘right person’ when it comes to making the most of your right to vote or nominate yourself for a position. In a recent survey over 86% of respondents said they would be voting in this year’s elections. Every member of the Students’ Union has the right to vote (membership is automatic for all Sussex and BSMS Students, unless you have opted out or you are intermitting)

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“It’s not relevant to me” Elected officers work on a variety of different projects on campus and in the student community from what we sell in our shops and bars to access times for the Library. Together the Students’ Union can be the loudest voice on campus, make sure you get your say. Other examples of projects full-time officers have been working on over the past year include international student fees, Outsourcing on campus, setting up a Postgraduate association and improving the range of events available on campus.

“I don’t have time” Online voting only takes a couple of minutes to affect a year of change, even if you are in your final year you can use your knowledge of Sussex to benefit future students.

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“It’s just a popularity contest” There are no guarantees or certainties with elections. Just because you think someone knows lots of people it doesn’t mean those people would vote for them. Remember every vote counts and by encouraging those around you to take a few minutes to make the most of their right to vote you can shape the way the Union runs.

“It is too complicated” Voting is simple, all you have to do is go to www.sussexstudent.com/vote. Log in using your Sussex username and password, then click on the positions you want to vote for. Information about the candidates will be available here so if you haven’t had chance to read them you can do it before voting. The Students’ Union uses the Alternative Vote System, which allows you to rank candidates in order of preference. If you decide to nominate yourself as a candidate, our online nomination form is designed to be straightforward, you just fill in a few details about yourself and have the opportunity to upload your photo.