Term 2, Issue 1

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Sussex to award suspended students compensation Page 3

A student describes her experiences as an undergraduate at 28 Page 8

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Exam Festival timetables: The SICK! review wrong kind of challenge?

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Does Google Glass have a future?

An interview with Rae Morris and a recipe for Falafel Page 15

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University splashes £264,294+ on failed Campus Masterplan Page X

Freedom of information request reveals that University of Sussex spent £102,594 on legal advice in relation to Campus Masterplan Designing the rejected Masterplan cost the University £125,700 in architect fees

Jack Williams News Editor The University of Sussex has spent over £264,294 in architect fees and legal fees on the Campus Masterplan since its inception in 2012, The Badger can reveal.

In reply to a Freedom of Information request by Students’ Union Communications Officer, Michael Segalov, the University disclosed that they have paid a total of £102,594 for legal advice in relation to the Campus Masterplan, including fees incurred in revising the framework and advice sought in appealing the plan’s rejection by the local authority.

Brighton and Hove City Council’s Planning Committee threw out the £500 million expansion plan in June and after seeking legal counsel. The University management officially submitted their appeal against the rejection in December last year.

In a separate Freedom of Information request filled to the University by The Badger, it was also revealed that the University paid Architect Design Partnerships (ADP), the architecture firm tasked with crafting the campus modernisation plan, a total of £161,700 across the last three years for developing the plan.

Of this amount, £125,700 was charged to the University by ADP since the 2012/13 financial year in architect fees for constructing the layout for the Campus Masterplan, as well £24,000 for a psychical model of what the University of Sussex campus would look like after

the project’s completion.

The University also paid ADP £12,000 for producing a 5 minute CGI fly-through video of the Masterplan, which is posted on the University website, labeled a waste by many.

The University defended its decision to allocate thousands of pounds worth of funds on pursuing its Masterplan ambitions as “part of the running of the University”.

If the University’s appeal to the planning inspectorate proves unsuccessful, they will face accusations of squandering thousands of pounds of University funds on a centrepiece plan that didn’t come to fruition.

When questioned why they spent so much money on architect and legal fees at a time when staff are dissatisfied with their wage rise, a University spokesperson said: “The Campus Masterplan is a key component of the University’s longterm strategy.

“As part of this, we want to ensure that we have the best-possible services and facilities for our students and staff and to accommodate any future growth.

“These facilities range from new teaching and research rooms (and in some cases buildings) to high-quality accommodation for our students as well as new administration and social facilities for the Students’ Union. All of these have associated development and operational costs and are part of the running of the University.”

Michael Segalov, Students’ Union

Sophie Jones Communications Officer, commented: “The University continues to pursue an agenda of growth in student numbers, without seriously listening to the views and concerns of students and staff.

“The Masterplan has still not been approved by the local authorities, and to a great extent it’s not been approved by students and staff at Sussex.

“This is a huge amount of money to be spent on legal fees and architects, which could have been better used improving

teaching and learning, scholarships, or paying the lowest paid staff a fairer wage.’

The Badger contacted Sussex UCU, the local trade union branch, to ask for their view on the spending, but did not reply at the time of going to print.

Planning permission to carry out the Campus Masterplan was refused by local councillors in 2014 on the grounds that the scale of the final design would create a “dense urban environment” and a growing student expansion could have

detrimental effects on the city’s housing stock.

The University claims that the plan would be worth a £500million investment in the local economy and see the number of students expand to 18,000 by 2018.

A public hearing concerning the University’s appeal is expected to be held within the next few months, with the final verdict to be presented in the summer.

In defence of freedom of speech #JesuisCharlie

the badger

2 Feburary 2015

in pictures • 2

IN PICTURES The start of a new term at Snowy Sussex Nelly Tookey

Sophie Jones

Sophie Jones

Nelly Tookey Editor-in-Chief Deborah Batchelor badger@sussexstudent.com

Sports Editor Joe Cummins josephcummins.sportseditor@ gmail.com

News Editor Jack Williams Comment Editor Victoria Farley Tech/Science/Features Editor Jordan Ellis Arts Editor Tom Powell Head of Publicity Lili Pammer-Zagroczky

News Sub Editors Daniel Green, Zoe Halse, Alex Ferguson, Rosie Dodds,Jess Pitocchi badger-news@ussu.sussex.ac.uk Comment Sub Editors Miriam Steiner, Alice Nettleship badger-opinion@ussu.sussex. ac.uk

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Louis Patel badger-letters@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Victoria O’Donnell, Ioana Matei, Raymond Jennings, Lily Cooper, Lottie Brazier badger-arts@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

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badger-online@ussu.sussex.ac.uk Media Development Officer Paul Millar mediadevelopment@sussexstudent. com Communications Officer Michael Segalov communications@sussexstudent.com

the badger

2 February 2015

NEWS • 4

Students call for assessment period extension Matthew McGregor-Morales 586 people have singed a petition pressuring the University to extend the two week January assessment period, to give students more breathing space.

Started by the University of Sussex Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE) Society, the petition argues for a “revision of the mid-year assessment period leading to an extension to match the summer assessment period”.

PPES Society President, Martha, explained: “The summer timetable gives you an extra week, we get two weeks off over Christmas and then its straight in to exams”.

Study Direct shows the Mid-Year Assessment Period running from January

5th to the 16th, a mere 11 days, followed immediately by Spring Teaching on Monday 19th.

Martha went on to explain that the issue extended beyond her course.

She added: “We first thought it was just PPE students…it’s now clear that the current winter exams timetable has an effect on the mental health of the students, the time they are able to spend with their family over Christmas and, in their opinion, their grades.”

Signatories of the petition cited the “crammed exams (three one after another)”, a post-exam “four day weekend, before I was straight back in to work” and “a lack of understanding of the student experience by the planner”.

One student in particular said: “I didn’t get a decent amount of time to sit down

with my family over Christmas and when I did I was a little stressed.”

The Sussex University Students’ Union Education Officer, Bethan Hunt, told The Badger: “I support these students [behind the petition] and really appreciate all their hard work”, mentioning that “January assessments are a very stressful time, it’s hard to cram everything in along with travelling home for the festive period”.

This appears a worry in particular for international students, with one signatory supporting the petition “as I am an international student who travels a long way during holidays”.

Bethan has presented the petition to Sharon Jones, the Academic Registrar of the University, and will have presented it to Clare Mackie, Pro Vice Chancellor of Teaching and Learning, by the time of

publication.

In response to the petition, a University spokesperson said: “The Pro-ViceChancellor (Teaching and Learning), Professor Clare Mackie, is currently consulting school staff and students on how we can reduce the load during this period.

“Examples of possible ways forward include allowing schools to accept coursework submissions up to a week after the end of the autumn term, setting a maximum limit of one assessment per module in the mid-year assessment period, and reducing the complexity of module selection to space out assessments to every other day so all students can perform optimally.

“We are happy to take a wider student view on this but we do not wish to extend beyond the two-week period.”

Copsoffcampus complaint panel postponed Jack Williams News Editor A Students’ Union set up to review the complaint against the organisation of the Copsoffcampus demonstration last term has been postponed after the chair cancelled at the last minute.

The panel was due to review on complaint on Wednesday 21 January to scrutinise whether the demonstration was endorsed “without a mandate from a quorate majority of the Students’ Union body”.

The Badger Understands that the student who made the original complaint plans to bring it up at the next Union Council meeting today.

Report scores Sussex 0 for ethical investment

Olivia Verghese

The University of Sussex has been ranked as one of the top 50 greenest universities in the UK, in spite of scoring 0 percent in an ethical investment category. Sussex climbed 22 places to 43rd out of 151 universities reviewed in an annual study conducted by the student-led group People and Planet.

Although the University scored highly on environmental policy and carbon management, it scored 0 percent in two categories; ethical investment and water reduction.

Last year, Fossil Free Sussex, a student-run Union-supported campaign to

get the University to divest from fossil fuels, claimed that Sussex invests roughly £400,000 in oil and gas companies through its endowment fund; a move which the campaign sees as contradicting the University’s broader sustainability goals. A petition calling for divestment has now attracted over 600 signatures.

Jack Miller, a prominent figure in the campaign, argued that Sussex would be at a disadvantage “from a moral perspective and... also financially if [Sussex] continues to invest” in fossil fuels.

He added: “Our generation has a moral obligation to act about climate change in general and our campaign is one of the most effective ways in which students can get involved in climate change activ-

ism.”

The University praised the news, with Registrar and Secretary John Duffy saying: “This award is a pleasing recognition of the considerable process we have made over the last year, together with our partners Sussex Estates and Facilities (SEF) and SussexFood.”

The Fossil Free Sussex are organising a ‘Global Divestment Day’ at the University, which is expected to take place on the 13th and 14th February and feature a speech by local Green MP Caroline Lucas.

UK universities currently invest over £5bn into the fossil fuel industry. However, many are looking to shift their investment amid claims that such investments are financially unsustainable.

Heating falters on campus Daniel Green & Helen Mak News Sub-Editor Students living on campus were left without hot water and heating for three days last week following a breakdown of the University’s boiler and heating system.

Residents across campus, in particular Northfield and parts of Lewes Court, endured freezing temperatures after engineers struggled to fix broken boilers over the weekend.

Although a limited supply of heaters were made available to students, the University’s website advised students to “keep warm while you experience cooler than normal temperatures.”

Students took to Facebook in protest, with one student claiming that the lack of these basic facilities breached their tenancy agreement. They said: “I am tired of this hot water and heating problem.

We are paying an excessive amount of money... and in addition to that we get the worst type of services. If this was a developing country, for this amount of money and these repeating issues, someone should have already handed in their resignation.”

In addition, one Senior Residential Advisor (SRA) added that these problems have affected some students for over a month, stating “there are some residences, including Lewes Court and the Park

Sophie Jones

Sussex student could become youngest ever MP Alexander Ferguson News Sub-Editor

Blogspot Houses, that have not had hot water for five weeks and are having to shower in other buildings.”

An emergency repair was finally made on Monday, with Sussex Estates and Facilities (SEF) saying: “The slow, phased approach is necessary to avoid damaging the repaired boiler.”

In a statement, a University spokesperson said: “At the end of last week, one of the boilers developed a major fault. As soon as the fault occurred, we had experienced engineers in attendance on site.

However, while one boiler was being repaired, another began to experience the same fault.”

In addition, the University denied allegations that maintenance issues have taken longer to be resolved since SEF was privatised last year, stating: “There is no evidence to suggest that maintenance issues are taking longer to be resolved since SEF took over responsibility for campus facilities; in fact, in many cases it is quite the reverse.”

This is not the first time this issue has struck campus. Last year, Park Village encountered similar disruption for over a week, with residences also suffering from disruption to their water supply in a separate incident - with bottled water being supplied to affected students.

A politics student at the University of Sussex is in the running to become the youngest MP in the House of Commons.

Solomon Curtis has been chosen by the Labour Party to fight the Conservative seat of Wealden and, at the age of 18, would become the youngest MP to be elected should he win.

The current record is held by James Dickson who won a by-election at the age of 21 years and 67 days in 1880.

The current youngest MP is Pamela Nash who was voted into the House at the age of 25 in 2010.

However, Wealden is a Conservative safe-seat with its incumbent, Charles Hendry, sitting comfortably with a majority of 17,000.

In 2010 Labour won third place in Wealden behind both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats with only 9.6 percent of the vote.

Regardless of Mr. Curtis’ election result in May, his experience of representing Hastings and Upper Rother as a member of the Youth Parliament in 2012/2013 suggests a promising political career.

@Solomon_Curtis The Sussex University student has also attributed much of the direction of his campaign to his studies claiming that his degree has already taught him “a lot about issues in politics, and how policies really relate to the public”.

He added: “The British Political History course has been really influential in shaping my campaign”.

Despite Mr. Curtis saying that he will do his “very best” in the upcoming fight, he is very aware of the uphill struggle ahead of him.

the badger

2 February 2015

NEWS • 5

Students concerned as library ditches hard copy books Mia Blakeney A student within the Department of English has raised concerns of the University Library’s inability to provide hard copies of certain texts for students.

This is a result of the continuous move from hard copies of books to online e-books, and has been causing difficulty for some students and their studies.

After requesting help in finding a copy of a book which, in the library catalogue, was labelled ‘online only’, a

student was told that there in fact was not one, as the library rarely get hard copies of books anymore.

The options left available to the student were to print out a restricted amount of the book required, or to view the whole e-book on a computer screen.

Third year School of English Representative Alexandra Krendel told The Badger: “I have found the library incredibly useful, and the core collection is essential for accessing high-demand books.

“However, as for textbooks and highdemand books which don’t feature in

the core collection, the library is less equipped”, described third year School of English Representative Alexandra Krendel.

“As students, we all know how expensive course books can be, so the more we can get out of our £9000 a year fees, the better!”

A spokesperson from the University Library explained the Library’s current ways of working: “For reading list material, we purchase an e-book where it is available and affordable in order to provide students with the widest possible access to core reading, whether or not they are on campus.”

However, they also conceded that the purchase of hard copy print books “are guided by the number of students on the course as well as the preference of the tutor.”

The University Library provides students with a large variety of e-books which are accessible on many different platforms, although, due to copyright issues, the number of pages of a book one is allowed to print is often restricted.

Interlibrary requests are available for obtaining material not held in the University Library, however the number of requests a student may make are

also restricted.

“I do encourage the students who are experiencing there problems to contact me as I am the School of English Library representative and therefore can discuss these issues with the library” Natasha Allen another third year School of English Representative advises.

A spokesperson from the University Library also points out the importance of communication between the University Library and students: “We regularly seek feedback on this at our Library Consultative Group, Library Forum and via the annual Library survey.”

Union shop combats the tampon tax ‘Chav Night’ slammed Vicky Grantham

The Students’ Union shop has decided to sell sanitary products profit free to counter the five percent tampon tax.

Rianna Gargiulo, Students’ Union Welfare Officer, said: “All people with uteruses would happily tell you that wearing a tampon is not really a choice but a modern day necessity.

“Ironically, a copy of Playboy magazine won’t cost you the same 5% VAT which we have to pay every time we buy these items.”

At the shop Always Ultra Pads are now sold at £2.34 and Tampax Tampons are £2.21. Both normally retail at £3.19 meaning 27% and 31% reduction in price.

Rianna Gargiulo, added: “I think it’s a great leap forward and I’m glad that it’s a movement that’s come from students - hopefully the government will be keen to acknowledge the inherent unfairness in the towel/tampon tax.

“After all, if you can get the contraceptive pill and condoms for free (as a result of your choice to have sex).

“Why should we have to pay for tam-

Alexander Ferguson News Sub-Editor

Geograph.org.uk pons and bras for periods and breasts that we have absolutely no biological control or choice over having?”

Vee Cartwright, a second year Film student, said: “The Union has thankfully recognized [the products’] importance to people who menstruate and hopefully more free sanitary products can also make an appearance on campus.”

The government puts VAT on sanitary products as they are classified as ‘non-essential, luxury’ items.

News in Brief

Student gender gap widens

The gender gap between male and female students applying and entering higher education in the UK widened in 2014, with more than 94,000 women applicants than men, according to a newly released UCAS End of Cycle Report.

Higher education entry rates reached record highs overall in 2014, but 18-yearold women were 32 per cent more likely to enter than their male counterparts.

These trends carried over at the University of Sussex, but with a slightly narrower gap, according to a University spokesperson.

This also mirrors the nationwide trend, as gender gaps within subjects persisted in the 2014 cycle as well. Of the 29,115 acceptances to engineering courses, 24,710 were men, making up 84.8 per cent of those acceptances, while 3,320 of the 4,895 students accepted to courses in Languages, Literature and Related were female, for a total of 67.8 per cent, according to UCAS data and analysis.

Elizabeth Teitz

Petition calls for Michael Farthing to resign A petition calling for the resignation of Professor Michael Farthing from his position as Vice-Chancellor has attracted over 300 signatures in its first couple of days.

At the time of going to print, the change.org petition boasts a total of 366 signatories calling on Farthing to resign “immediately”.

The petition was posted online on 24 January by a Sussex student and argues that following the OIA’s recent report that the University mishandled the disciplinary proceedings of five students suspended in December 2013, the current Vice-Chancellor is no longer “fit for purpose”.

Since taking the helm as Vice-Chancellor in 2007, Michael Farthing’s initiative to outsource the University’s estates and catering services to private companies has drawn objections and protests from student groups and campus trade unions.

Last Week, the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA) released a report on the University’s decision to suspend and discipline five students in December

The move towards profit-free has been a result of the national #FreePeriods campaign which was started by Shelly Asquith, the President at SUArts, when she made all sanitary products free for those students who needed them.

Dan Greenberg, Operations Officer, said: “Sanitary products are a basic health necessity for women, and nobody should be profiting from their sale. “ 2013 for their part in the protest against the University’s privatization drive, highlighting a number of failings in their handling of the affair.

The body suggested that the University offer a written apology to the students and offer them all between £2000-£2,500 in compensation.

Brighton’s landmark gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender club has been accused of classism after holding a controversial ‘Chav Night’.

The club night, which took place on 22 January, was advertised by the LGBTQ+ club Revenge as “celebrating/mocking the art of chavdom”. People were invited to attend the night “in your chaviest attire... whether it’s trackies, baseball caps, Burberry anything”.

Despite Revenge claiming that the night was intended as “a bit of fun and certainly not intended to cause offence”, it has nonetheless sparked controversy with some claiming it represents a “demonisation of the working class”.

The President of the University of Sussex Students’ Union, Abraham Baldry, has recently expressed his support for an online petition demanding that Revenge ends its “classist Chav Night”, as one student called it.

The online petition, organised by the University of Sussex student Alex Foley, has gained signatures from 168 supporters who are demanding that the club apologises for the ‘Chav Night’ event and donates to an anti-poverty charity.

However, some people believe that the situation has been completely blown out of proportion.

In response to Alex Foley’s accusation that the club night has “a negative impact on the working class as a whole”, one Brighton resident posted on Facebook: “I don’t cry over a club night, there are bigger issues at hand. Besides, who said chavs have to be poor and that poor people have to be chavvy?”

A second Brightonian defending the event added: “I’m from a working class family and pretty much fit the chav stereotype spot on for many years and I find the event hilarious.”

“I Lived on a cheap council estate my whole life and still do. This is ridiculous.”

Balfour Beatty made preferred Student’s Unions starts bidder in East Slope Project Community Comms scheme

Two students became engaged at the Winter Graduation Ceremony for students in the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences at the University of Sussex that took place on January 22 2015.

The Winter Ceremony, which took place at Brighton Dome, is largely devoted to students graduating from postgraduate programmes. This year Sanjeev Bhaskar acted as Chancellor.

The proposer, Jing Liu reportedly gave Chancellor Bhaskar a box containing the engagement ring as he graduated. Lui proceeded to wait on the far side of the stage as his girlfriend Qin Me came up next at which point he was called back so that he could propose.

FTSE 250-listed infrastructure group Balfour Beatty has been offered the contract for the University’s £120 million East Slope reconstruction project.

The University of Sussex has announced that it has appointed Balfour Beatty Student Accommodation (BBSA) as the University’s preferred bidder for the lucrative student accommodation project.

The move will mean that the construction company will work together in a 50 year partnership with the University of Sussex to design, build and maintain the planned 2,000 bedroom living space.

The University’s Finance Director, Allan Spencer said: “Balfour Beatty demonstrated a strong understanding of our desire to develop high-quality accommodation while maintaining the character of the natural landscape of Sussex within the setting of the South Downs National Park.

A University of Sussex spokesperson said of the development: “It’s too early to say at this stage when any contract will be signed. Contract discussions will happen alongside those about planning and funding.”

Students’ Union Communications officer Michael Segalov has announced he wants to “make an army of young socialist sleeper cells”.

The Students’ Union has launched its ‘Community Communications’ programme . Student volunteers will help young people in Brighton create media that “represents the issues that matter to them”.

In a post on an anti-privitisation Facebook group Communications Officer, Michael Segalov, called for volunteers, writing: “Let’s make an army of young socialist sleeper cells in Brighton.”

He has described the Community Communications project as “really personal”.

“I wanted to make sure what we produce is a sustainable project that will continue to run in Brighton when I’m gone.

“The students’ union is political, that’s why student elect officers to run it. I don’t think that’s problematic. I would expect, a broad range of political beliefs. I would encourage anyone who wants to get involved. I would never pretend that I don’t have political beliefs that inform what I do.”

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Jack Williams

Student proposes at Winter Graduation Ceremony

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the badger

2 February 2015

FEATURE • 8

FEATURE

Married and ‘Mature’: Life as an undergraduate at 28 Hannah Clifton describes her experience of balancing being a mature undergraduate, studying for a career change and planning a wedding.

Hannah Clifton It is the New Year, the essay deadline has been and gone, plus my gym attendance has improved dramatically.

There’s only one thing getting me down, I’m approaching my 28th birthday.

The mature student population is only 14% of Sussex University. Just before I reach the grand-old-age of 28 in my third year, I’d love to dispel some common myths about us mature undergraduates.

Firstly, it is often thought that mature students are a bit odd. Even though they don’t say it, the question I see twinkling behind some students eyes is, ‘why on earth are you here? You’re nearly 30!’

It’s assumed that people of my age have already got qualifications, three-bedroom houses and continuous promotions at work. What on earth went wrong in our lives, then?

Friends my own age politely ask, ‘why did you go back?’ But mature students aren’t going back, we’ve not all been to university before, and even if we have, we’ve begun a new subject and so our belief is that we’re actually going forward.

“Even though they don’t say it, the question I see twinkling behind some students’ eyes is, ‘why on earth are you here?

You’re nearly 30!’”

We are a diverse bunch. All of us have our own reasons for starting uni after 21 and stories to tell.

Although we are a minority group at Sussex, about a third of the UK student population are mature students and many like me are career changers.

I decided to do a degree in international development after five years working in performing arts.

I was employed by the Walt Disney Company and worked in Paris, Tokyo, Milan and Istanbul and I also travelled while working in Cruise ship family entertainment.

At 16, when I decided to pursue performing arts full time at college, I knew it wasn’t going to be a life long career.

You don’t get paid well, its unreliable and you struggle to maintain relationships due to the short-term overseas contracts. But at the time I wanted to see the world, get paid for

something I had a passion for and have a lot of fun.

After being exposed to inequality in South East Asia and experiencing the 2011 Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan, I had a hunger to learn about international development.

Yes, I felt nervous about leaving a career I loved and embarking on a degree I didn’t feel so prepared for, and yes I felt daunted by the idea of university academia and much younger peers.

“Friends my own age politely ask, ‘why did you go back?’ But mature students aren’t going back, we’ve not all been to university before, and even if we have, we’ve begun a new subject and so out belief is that we’re actually going forward.”

But no, I did not feel as though I was taking a step backwards and don’t feel that way now either. I now want to travel down a new path, one that leads to a role within broadcast journalism.

A second claim made about us is that we offer “unique perspectives that are highly valued by fellow students” (Sussex University Website).

While that is very kind and encouraging and I am sure that is true in many cases, I felt extremely unconfident in seminars in my first year.

It had been a very long time since I was in a classroom, and I was daunted by the amount of reading expected and the complexity of the theories and concepts we were required to grasp.

Additionally, after having well formed opinions, it’s a humbling process having them challenged by people ten years younger than you!

Now that I’m in third year and have learnt considerably more about my subject than when I first arrived, I am much more confident when it comes to speaking up in class.

But please don’t assume that we all must feel super knowledgeable, sharp and witty just because we’re old compared to you. I am still intimidated by the young bilingual bright sparks who can argue me under the table!

Thirdly, we get told in the careers

and employability centre, “employers like mature students because you already have work experience”.

I have found that this is too much of a sweeping statement.

While some employers are happy to see evidence of any professional employment, the journalism schemes I am applying for only want to see a demonstration of relevant experience.

Career changers like me, can’t sit back and rely on our current CVs. On the contrary, we need to spend our weekends and holidays building up proof of an entirely new skill set in order to impress the particular employers we have in mind. We’re just as busy, if not busier than students that are under 21.

And on that note, while I may nolonger join the ‘ravers’ and clubbers on their alcohol fuelled all-nighters, I don’t sit at home knitting or watching wild life documentaries.

Throughout my second year I planned my wedding alongside my essays. Pinterest, bridal magazines and wedding fairs were the elements that filled my free time (alongside a work placement in radio).

It was probably the most chaotic and most expensive time of my life, but thanks to my husband, friends and family it was really exciting.

We pulled off an incredible marriage celebration, enjoyed a dream honeymoon and moved to a new house during the summer. I’m still getting used to being called ‘Mrs’ now I’m back at university though.

Lastly, despite being assured that “you’ll fit right in”, I still have fewer friends at University than I can count on one hand.

Don’t worry, I’m not begging for sympathy. It is probably my own fault since I have found it much easier to form relationships with people my own age outside of university. Perhaps I haven’t put an adequate level of effort in.

in freshers’ week and stuck with them. I didn’t share a student flat and so I struggled to get to know people.

After lectures, most people seemed to be going right back to bed. And even in societies, people had already formed their ‘BFFs’ with those that they lived with.

If there were more mature student events that continued after Freshers’ week I would have appreciated it.

It has to be said that overall I am extremely happy with my choice to start Sussex University in 2012.

I have loved the challenge of getting to grips with a new subject and sharpening my writing, research, presentation and analytical skills.

It is a privilege to learn from knowledgeable professors and discuss complex topics with some fascinating students. Additionally, Sussex University’s green hilly campus isn’t exactly an unattractive place to learn!

I don’t want to put mature students off going to University; I just want to provide an honest account of my experience and appeal to other students and staff to not make

assumptions about us.

Get to know us. Who knows, some of us might have done some pretty cool things out of academia!

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Harry Harrison

“Throughout my second year I planned my wedding alongside my essays Pinterest, bridal magazines and weddding fairs were the elements that filled my free time (alongside a work placement in radio).”

However, most people seemed to make friends with their flat mates

Lukas Van Dyke

the badger

2 february 2015

Comment • 10

It won’t be politics as usual at the next election Josh Walton It appears that in the run up to the general election in Britain this year, the political landscape is shifting and other parties may play a key role in subduing either Labour or Tory’s hopes of a majority.

The increased support and profile of parties such as; UKIP, the Green Party and the SNP seem likely to produce an unpredictable result in the forthcoming election.

In addition to this, the large possibility of a hung parliament, leading to a coalition is becoming increasingly anticipated.

One reason for this is the expected increased vote-share of the smaller political parties with fewer seats in Parliament. The second reason is the projected inability of either the Tories or Labour to secure a single majority.

The results remain fairly unpredictable in terms of which parties may have to consolidate their power, due to a close contest for the largest share of the vote between the other parties, excluding Tory and Labour.

Although the outcome remains uncertain, we can ascertain from the recent ratings and other political factors that the likelihood of a coalition and perhaps even a multi-party coalition could be dependent on the swing of the vote.

To see why we may be faced with this situation as a result of the upcoming election, we only have to look at the results of the last general election, as well as the relevance of the constitutional role of a majority vote being needed to attain power.

An unambiguous majority needed for a political party to form a single party government is 326 seats. The security gained by the Tory party after winning 307 seats, compared to Labour’s 258 seats in 2010, enabled them to claim a comfortable majority upon forming a coalition with the Liberal Democrats (who gained 57 votes).

The other recognised parties besides the aforementioned three only gained 28 seats between them. This allowed for David Cameron and Nick Clegg to hold a strong majority of 78 after the last election.

Although the Tories enjoyed this success previously, this year it seems as it has for a while now, that in May, both Labour and the Tory party are likely to end up with a similar number of MPs in the House of Commons.

Another outcome which seems probable is that the Liberal Democrats are bound to lose a significant number of seats due to a decrease in potential votes, creating a latent problem for the formation of a single party government.

A prominent election forecasting site

in the UK, produced by three top British University Professors has recently published a document online stating that “our forecast is that there is currently a 0.89 probability that no single party will reach 326 seats”.

If nothing else major changes, then either Labour or the Tories could technically be a part of a coalition with a majority vote. The question is whether the competition between the other parties will produce an obvious candidate to be a part of a coalition with one of the two leading parties, or whether the seat share will be too dispersed to simply form a two-party coalition.

A Cabinet manual which was revised in 2011 (after coalition formation due to 2010 election), has been criticised for its lack of preparation in case of a hung parliament, and exposes the potentiality of an extended period of a ‘care-taker government’.

With this in mind, we can only contemplate what a potential coalition may look like in May. Recent developments have revealed that some party leaders have been trying to make clear their intentions, or preferences in preparation for a hung parliament.

Last week, Nick Clegg said he would not form a coalition with UKIP, adding that he expected an outcome in which his party again held the balance of power between Labour and the Conservatives.

Based on the amount of seats that could be lost by the Liberal Democrats, this expectation may be trumped by the upcoming election.

Labour leader, Ed Miliband has revealed to the press that he would not consider entering a coalition with the SNP. A spokesperson for the Green Party say if they were to hold a stake in the balance of power after the votes are counted, then they would most likely assume a confidence and supply arrangement. This would allow them the opportunity to vote on a case by case basis.

Considering these factors, in addition to the evident rise in support and pos-

sible gain in seats after May for UKIP and the SNP, it seems that at least for now, the ability of the First Past the Post electoral system to produce a single party government is being tested.

It would seem that the multiplicity of parties in British politics is currently curbing the ability of more dominant parties to remain an incumbent in government.

The uncertainty surrounding the general election, combined with academic forecasts of the seat/vote share, suggests that our political system may be about to take an unorthodox turn.

Green Party

Race, Selma and Oscar nominations: a need to reevaluate Jake Wilson The 2015 Oscar nominations have come with more than a little controversy.

The voters have been criticised; people have been up in arms that Oscar voters are on average 63 years old, 76% of them are men and 94% of them are white.

Their choices have also been challenged. The lack of diversity among the acting, directing and writing choices has been astounding, highlighting both the reluctance of voters to choose broadly, and the lack of important roles given to those from diverse backgrounds. No minority actor was nominated for a performing award in the twenty spaces available, and there was also a complete lack of acknowledgement of women in direction or writing.

Selma achieved just two Oscar nominations this year for Best Film and Original Song and this is a major disappointment. The film, which chronicles Martin Luther King’s crusade to remove voting restrictions on black Americans, is a cinematic triumph.

I saw the film as part of a Martin Luther King Day preview screening and was highly impressed. The film certainly deserved more nominations than it received.

Anthony Mackie (Hurt Locker) has commented that the lack of nominations is the result of Oscar voters becoming “tired of race”.

I don’t feel that this is necessarily the case, rather that 12 Years a Slave has simply become the benchmark for

film’s concerning race. 2013’s 12 Years a Slave was widely lauded, earning a huge 8.2 on IMDb and 96% on Rotten Tomatoes. In comparison 2013’s The Butler, another excellent film focussed on race relations, scored just 7.1 and 77% respectively, and missed out in awards season. Justification for nominations could not be found for The Butler as it was directly compared to the success of 12 Years.

This same effect can be seen with Selma. Selma fairs only slightly worse than 12 Years on IMDb, attaining a 7.8 rating, whilst achieving a remarkable 99% on Rotten Tomatoes. These scores are very strong and are almost on par with 12 Years. However, I still feel this comparison has unfairly weighed Selma down. Not only have some argued that ‘12 Years’ is a better film, the difference between black Americans being freed by white intervention, and black Americans independently reacting against their white oppressors is significant.

I was most disappointed however, in the fact that British-born David Oyelowo missed out on a Best Actor nomination. His performance, especially when interacting with supporting actor Stephan James, was mesmerising. He shone constantly throughout the picture and performed a tremendous tribute to the civil rights activist.

I find it hard to argue any of Steve Carell, Eddie Redmayne, Michael Keaton or Benedict Cumberbatch’s Oscar nominations, but I was surprised by the Best Actor nomination given to Bradley Cooper.

I had enjoyed American Sniper, but had not expected it to attract much attention. Briefly after seeing it I wrote this about Cooper’s performance: He is mostly stoic and a lot of his performance goes on behind the eyes.

As his situation changes, his strained emotional state is drawn out. Cooper is certainly impressive, and worthy of his Oscar nod.

This was written before I had seen Selma, and now my opinion is different. Cooper’s performance was good, but not close to that of Oyelowo. I now consider his omission a definite snub.

I feel David Oyelowo’s performance was overlooked because of an Oscar bias toward the eccentric, transformative and mentally-troubled. Looking at those that were nominated, each Best Actor can fit into one of these

three descriptions. Two amazing transformations were witnessed in 2014, resulting in nominations for Carell in Foxcatcher and Redmayne in The Theory of Everything. Michael Keaton and Benedict Cumberbatch both played characters on a different level, and Cooper’s Chris Kyle was certainly somewhat mentally-troubled.

On the other hand, David Oyelowo’s Martin Luther King could not be said to be eccentric or troubled in the same way, and his performance was not particularly transformational. This does not mean his performance was any less extraordinary. His presentation of a true American hero outshone many of those around him, including Cooper. The lack of emotional duality in his character however, made it easier to vote for Cooper’s emotionally divided ’hero’.

The snub of Selma points to a disappointing state of affairs. Looking back at previous nominations, the pattern seems the same in terms of actors; nominations mainly go to those who play eccentric, troubled or transformative characters.

Actors such as Oyelowo and Teller have been overlooked this year as their characters are too functional.

There is definite bias in those that will attract Oscar nominations and those that won’t, whilst there seems to be a lack of exceptional roles for women and minorities. Selma shouldn’t have been nominated more to show diversity in the nominations, it should have been nominated more because it deserved so. Not only do the Oscar voters need to look inward, but it seems the whole film community needs to do so too.

IMDb

the badger

2 February 2015

SCIENCE • 12

SCIENCE

Research suggests cancer can be caused by ‘bad luck’ Sophie Robinson

‘Most cancers are caused by bad luck’; the title that has featured in headlines recently. Many news articles have claimed that the risk of getting cancer is due more to random mutations or ‘bad luck’ than environmental factors and inherited genetics combined.

Since researchers at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine published the study on 2nd January, it continues to be followed by a back-lash of criticism; however, there is some truth in their claims.

Yet, before you give up on those New

Year’s resolutions, I have news for you: smoking, drinking, sun bathing and all those other factors we’re all told are bad for us, unfortunately still are.

Here, I aim to set the record straight on how much cancer is down to just ‘bad luck’ by exploring the basic question: what is cancer.

Cancer is a disease of our own cells.

Normally, when our cells become old or damaged they die and are replaced by new, identical cells.

For example, when we damage our skin through a cut or abrasion, new cells must divide to replace those we have lost.

Michaela33 via Flickr

In the same way, cells that line our small intestine are continually shed and replaced by fresh ones.

The cells that supply these fresh new cells are stem cells.

Stem cells lie within a tissue and can divide and self-renew indefinitely to regenerate dead cells.

Normally this process of division is under tight control.

However, cancer occurs when our own cells, often our stem cells, divide uncontrollably to produce cells that the body does not need, forming a mass of tissue called a tumour.

Cells from this tumour often spread to other parts of the body where they cause damage and eventually death to other tissues and organs.

You might be thinking: what causes cells to start dividing uncontrollably in the first place? The answer lies within mutations. Mutations are changes to a cells genes or DNA. Some genes act as the brakes on cell division i.e. they tell cells to stop dividing.

Others act as accelerators, giving cells a ‘go’ signal to start dividing. Cancer is caused by mutations in either of these two types of genes which either keeps the gas on the accelerator or takes the foot of the brakes, leading to cells dividing without control.

Now you might be asking: what causes mutations? Mutations occur naturally

when our cells divide and copy their DNA. Mistakes are made randomly during this process and sometimes are not repaired.

This is why the incidence of cancer increases with age: because the tissues of older people have undergone many more cell divisions than younger people.

However, mutations are also caused by exposure to environmental factor such as tobacco, UV light and certain chemicals.

Additionally, some people are born with certain mutations that they have inherited from their parents.

The scientists from Johns Hopkins University did a study whereby they looked at 31 different types of cancer.

What they found was a correlation between the number of stem cell divisions that take place in a tissue and the risk of developing cancer in that tissue.

The researchers found this to be the case for 65% of the cancers tested, leading them to conclude that ‘two-thirds of the difference in cancer risk among tissues is down to cell division errors or bad luck’.

Herein lays the criticism. The paper does not look at what determines why some people get cancer and others don’t, just why some types are common and others are rare.

This idea is not new. Mutations occur naturally when our cells divide, therefore

the more divisions a tissue undergoes the more likely cancer is to arise.

In fact, the 65% figure is actually not a bad approximation.

It has been accepted for quite a few years now that between one third and half of all cancers have environmental causes.

Still, it’s not time to throw caution to the wind just yet. Between one-third and half is not a negligible figure.

Smoking and diet amongst other things do substantially affect your risk of developing cancer.

Therefore, although this study does present many limitations, for example, the researchers did not include two of the most common types of cancer, breast and prostate in their model, misinterpretation of the science and the common belief that lifestyle factors cause a higher proportion of cancers, seems to be the source of most of the recent controversy.

The next step is to try and reduce exposures for those cancers known to have a large environmental influence as well as developing better targeted therapies.

Cancer death rates have fallen 22% since 1991, a sign that we are making progress. A better understanding of the contribution of random cell processes and stem cell biology to cancer development could potentially help us do even better.

The biology of us - Part 1: The beginning Oliver Davis

Did you know, the one fertilised egg cell we begin life as goes on to form around 100 trillion cells, producing people like you and me? That’s a lot of cells.

Things get even more interesting when you think about how many types of cell are made, from motor neurons over a metre long to liver cells that detoxify the alcohol you were drinking over refreshers week.

The next question, which a whole scientific discipline is dedicated to investigating: how is one cell co-ordinated to go on and form our whole bodies?

Over a series of three articles I’m going to try and explore the answer to that question. My investigation leads to some really interesting science. This science will one day help us form new body parts through regenerative medicine.

It will also teach us about cancer, as many of the processes that grow a fertilised egg cell also occur in cancerous cells.

This story begins as most other stories in biology do: it begins with genes. Genes make proteins, proteins make cells, cells make humans. That’s the crude and basic story of builders that make tools that make houses that make cities, but there’s more to it.

Houses (cells) can be very different from each other, and this requires many different tools (proteins), which requires different sorts of builders (genes).

The basic meaning of the above is that

cells specialise in to certain types, and they do this by expressing only certain genes, to make certain proteins.

However, this isn’t enough to explain how you can co-ordinate the growth of one cell in to a trillion. The way cells do this is by changing the way they express their genes.

Going back to the house analogy, you don’t build a house by chucking everything together in one go. By laying a foundation, then a floor followed by the walls, and using certain builders at certain times with the correct tools. That is the correct way to build a house.

Cells work similarly, as only certain genes are expressed at certain times. This means cells can divide and divide without specialising, and then when the time is right, they can specialise.

It’s still not clear how everything is controlled though, as on building sites you don’t see every builder building a house randomly. No, instead there is some communication between the builders.

Cells also communicate. This is where things get really complicated, but also really interesting. Cells get messages from neighbouring cells and from other cells really far away. They basically contact each other by proteins, which can act like a handshake and “hello” between two people close together, or a letter sent to you from someone far away.

These proteins tell each cell a little bit about the chaotic environment they’re living in, and somehow the cell ‘listens’ (I

imagine it’s like having a whispered conversation with a very deaf person, whilst Metallica are being played in the background).

After their conversation, cells may go on to change the genes they express, helping to build that co-ordinated city.

That’s all great, but you might be thinking: what happens after mummy and daddy bear come together? Well kids, if they didn’t tell you then I guess someone should.

After an egg cell is fertilised in mummy bear’s fallopian tube (a tube connected to the ovaries), the egg cell divides and divides. A ball of cells is made, which is called a morula. This developing morula travels down the fallopian tube into the mummy bear’s uterus, where it buries into the muscular wall.

This all takes about a week, but as the morula travels down to the uterus wall it does some re-arranging of itself. It forms two layers: a whole outer spherical layer that goes on to form the placenta (which supplies the baby with blood), and an inner cell layer that’s attached to a small part of the sphere, so that most of the morula is actually fluid.

This inner cell layer is what forms you and me, but more on this later. The important thing to remember is that after daddy bear has fertilised mummy bear’s egg, that whole process of a building site occurs and cells grow in a co-ordinated manner, forming what will begin to resemble a human being; it’s the biology of us!

Lunar Caustic via Flickr

the badger

2 February 2015 ARTS • 14

ARTS

Guess I Got My Badger Back

Throughout arts this week: one last whirr of Brighton’s DRILL, a preview of Matthew Vaughn’s new movie, a chat with Rae Morris and a recipe for Falafel. Plenty to chew over.

Kingsman: The Secret Service Preview Ioana Matei Arts sub-editor In 2010, Matthew Vaughn gave the world Kick-Ass. In 2015, Matthew Vaughn gave the world Kingsman: The Secret Service.

Both are adaptations (and I use the term loosely) of comic books Mark Millar wrote in parallel with their respective films’ development.

The similarities, sadly, do not stop here.

Upon watching Kingsman: The Secret Service, I found myself constantly comparing it to Kick-Ass and this definitely tarnished my viewing of the film as a separate piece of work.

The film follows a basic compositional structure and makes use of tried-and-tested tropes: Unlikely Hero finds a mentor who puts him through specific training to fulfil his aforementioned destiny, something goes horribly wrong, the mentor is no longer there to guide him, Unlikely Hero must defeat the villain and save the day.

Oh, and did I mention he gets the girl?

Whoever has seen Kick-Ass will

INTERVIEW: Rae Morris Ralph Palmer 2014 was a pretty incredible year for you, what was the highlight?

I think finishing the album was definitely a highlight, knowing it was done. It was a real weight off my mind because it taken so long.

Your album came out on the 26th January, what can you tell us about it?

It’s called Unguarded; it’s a story of my growing up and coming of age. In a way it’s kind of like a series of diary entries with my thoughts, feelings and questions from the age of 17 to now, I’ve just recorded those moments and put those into an album really.

What inspires your music?

I went to college in Preston to study music, art and English which meant I had a 2 hour round trip on the bus, travelling to and from Blackpool, which meant I had a lot of time to think to myself which I did need, moving away from my security in a way. I met a lot of people in that time and there are normal things like falling in

know that the film follows the same basic plot line, make uses of the same auxiliary characters and side-kicks, and ultimately aims to subvert a popular culture theme: the superhero movie.

In the case of Kingsman, as the creators of the film will effectively hammer it into one’s head with every article and interview one reads about it, its conceptual originality stems from attempting to subvert the entire genre of the 1960s spy films.

It seems that this particular creative group has found a secret formula to producing a successful comic book/ film and selling both in the process, and as a viewer that likes to contextualize films, this cinematic endeavour is disappointing.

Moreover, I couldn’t help but get the feeling that I am watching film tourism at work, as Kingsman succeeds in ticking all the boxes when it comes to portraying British-ness and its corresponding stereotypes: the Kingsmen (even the name suggests inherent royalty) are British super-secret agents equipped with elegant suits and the slickest gadgets that were ever invented, and the motto “Manners Maketh

Recording Artslists The Arts team continue their new section in which come up with a theme and then list our film/music/TV/literary preferences according to that particular theme.

This week, we delve into the somewhat pretentious grey zone of what is over and underrated (Coldplay fans, we’re sorry, but look away now).

Man” echoes all throughout the film.

And what better actor to represent this dapper type of super-agent than Colin Firth, the epitome of British politeness, whose star persona screams the motto mentioned above?

Sure, it is obvious but it also satisfies all of the foreign fantasies of the English way which is why this film will probably also be a successful export.

Despite its repetitiveness and predictability, its often cliché lines, tacky jokes and caricatured characters, Kingsman: The Secret Service will make you indulge in all of the above due to its fast-paced action and editing, excessively entertaining violence, tense

life-threatening situations, and strategically placed comic relief, all of which constitute a film which is a lot like James Bond in overdrive.

For 129 minutes (which feel more like 5) you are there, on the edge of your seat, finding yourself immersed in an apocalyptic scenario devised by the ‘gangsta’ version of Samuel L. Jackson with a lisp, but if you’re looking for something to remember this film by, your best bet is the adorable pug puppy that the main character has to kill in the final stage of his training in order to receive validation and become a super-agent.

love for the first time, which definitely And how was it to come on stage inspired the first song I wrote. at Earl’s Court for the closing gig What was that like to be signed to of the venue? It was incredible to watch, I’m sure it was pretty special Atlantic Records at such a young to perform as well? age?

ally. I remember when Sam (Smith) and George (Ezra) were involved last year but it completely caught me by surprise this year. But I felt very lucky to have the spotlight shining on the music and it was a great way of introducing myself to a lot of new people and it’s opened up a lot of doors.

I was 18 when I signed my publishing deal and then 19 when I signed for Atlantic and it was really natural.

I’ve always been too mature for my own good and never let my hair down at that age so I always envied people who were going off to university and having fun really. Part of me wishes I went to university and studied something like art but I still had a wonderful time, I learnt a lot about myself and my parents were amazing, travelling everywhere with me and I met loads of people so it was really cool.

A lot of people know you from your connections with Bombay Bicycle Club, what was it like to tour with them?

It was amazing and what people expect of them. They’re so normal and chilled and not overly rock and roll and be something they’re not.

The first tour in 2012 I was too shy to talk to Jack (Steadman) and definitely wasn’t myself but by 2014 we all knew each other really well and it was a lot of fun. We spent a lot of the evenings together just sitting around having a great time so I really appreciated the second tour with them a lot.

OVER

Twentieth Century Fox Films

The more I think about it, the more surreal it gets and maybe that was the highlight of 2014, actually and maybe beyond 2014. It’s something I will tell my grandchildren about one day; it was very emotional for myself and everyone else. I watched the last few songs out at the front and I was so proud of them, I was proud to be a small part in something so amazing that’s inspired and touched so many people.

How did your connections with Bombay and Lucy Rose come about?

I met Lucy at a festival in 2012 called Kendal Calling, we played on the same stage and this was my first ever festival and then Lucy got talking to my family before me which was surreal and then we stayed in touch. I went to a Bombay gig when she supported in Manchester, as a fan, and then Lucy invited me back stage to meet the band and I’ve never been so star struck in my life!

There are some really good artists coming through at the moment, so what did it mean to be nominated for the BBC Sound of 2015?

It’s been amazing; I didn’t expect it and I forgot it was happening actu-

Would you say that female artists are now starting to lead the way in the music industry?

Absolutely, there are a lot of incredible musicians; no one is sticking to boundaries anymore, which is really inspiring. I find other female musicians really empowering by how many cool things we’re doing but I feel like you should be recognized for your music, not your gender.

Your tour starts soon; do you enjoy playing live? And what does the rest of this year hold for you?

Playing live is the one thing I feel 100% comfortable and natural with. I have the best time ever on stage and feel a rush of adrenaline you don’t get anywhere else. I’ve had offers for festivals which is really exciting and I can’t wait to travel with the potential of a European tour. I loved the one I did with George (Ezra) so I really want to do that again to tick places off the list Rae Morris plays at Komedia in Brighton 10/02/15 for £8.99.

Ioana: Inception Never have I seen a more blatant renouncement of substance in favour of spectacle, but this is that special case where spectacle is skilfully disguised as substance. Needless to say, I fell asleep halfway through the film, perhaps to dream of a dream within a dream.

Lottie: The latest Belle and Sebastian album Belle and Sebastian have been somewhat brave in incorporating disco into their new album, ‘Girls in Peacetime Want To Dance’. Despite their best efforts, this sounds drab and over commercialised, perhaps only highlighting the band’s inflexibility. A modern day Orange Juice they evidently fail to be.

Tom: Breaking Bad. There, I said it.

UNDER

Lottie: Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace True to its plot about a failed budget horror programme, the Richard Ayoade directed comedy Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace has been confined to obscurity.

Fortunately for us all the show can still be found to haunt the likes of 4oD, where its genius can be re-lived.

For fans of The Mighty Boosh (it has cameos from both Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding at the beginning of their careers).

Victoria: Revenge Wears Prada (Yes, it’s a sequel to what you’re thinking of!) was hard to put down but very much under the radar it seemed.

Tom: The Poetry of W.S. Graham As experimental as his more renowned modernist peers yet still so human.

DILEMMA Victoria: Broad City treads the line between being both very carefully.

the badger

2 FEBRUARY 2015 ARTS • 15

REVIEWS

Yes, we’re still writing about Drill Festival 2014. This will be the last time, we promise...

Cat

Swans and Wire Press

FESTIVAL

Drill 2014

Various Venues

Monday 10th November Raymond Jennings Arts Sub-Editor Those of you who so much as glanced at the Badger Arts pages last term would likely have realised that we were very, very excited for Drill festival.

I must have been particularly excited, as I couldn’t stop writing about the thing.

News announcements, previews, interviews – if there was an article to be written on Drill, I did my best to write it.

And so now, after the dust has settled, I come to write my final article on the festival that I had been so looking forward to.

I should state first of all that this isn’t a review of all the bands I saw.

For reasons that will soon become clear, I only managed to catch a handful of bands, but I can tell you they were all brilliant.

Swans, These New Puritans, and local lads AK/DK made the biggest impressions on me, with the most pleasant surprise of the weekend being Goblin’s fantastic live score of Suspiria.

This article is instead intended to be a review of the festival as a

whole, but will most likely end up being rant about how much stuff I missed.

I’m going to try and not be bitter, but I can’t promise anything.

Drill was a 4 day festival across all of the major venues in Brighton, with a great line-up co-curated by the band Wire and local promoters One Inch Badge.

The line-up was very eclectic, featuring everyone from Japanese post-rockers Mono to the saxophone wielding heavy metal band Zu, and the tickets worryingly affordable.

In the weeks leading up to the festival it all seemed too good to be true; cheap tickets, great bands, all in the comfort of the city in which I live.

For this kind of thing I’d usually have to travel to a field that had, two days prior to my arrival, effectively been a very large toilet for cows.

Drill, to me, seemed like a dream.

Sadly, the whole thing ended up being more akin to a nightmare.

While I did see seven great bands, and while that alone was certainly worth the cost of admission, I ended up missing countless other acts in order to see the few I could.

Drill, while chock-full of great things to see and do, was terribly organised.

Most venues opened late and closed early over the weekend, meaning that while you were watching one band you were probably missing at least five others.

Many big names clashed; Wire and These New Puritans, Savages and Mono, Swans and basically any unfortunate soul that was asked to play Sunday.

Contributing to the difficulty in seeing more than two or three bands a day was the fact that Brighton is deceptively large.

This seemingly small city of ours seems to have placed all of its live music venues as far away from each other as possible.

You might think that, with so many bands clashing, it would be wise to see the first half of one act and the latter half of the next.

Seems reasonable, until you realise that by the time it takes to get from The Haunt to Concorde 2 you’ll have missed the latter half of both acts you wanted to see.

The festival suffered from problems beyond its own control, too. It seemed like nobody actually bought a ticket, which was a massive shame; venues were either half-empty or full to the brim of green wristband wearing journo types, pontificating aloud about what they were planning to say about whatever band happened to still be playing.

Admittedly, yes, I too was one of those green wristband wearing journo types.

But during performances I stood awkwardly sipping a beer and nodding my head like everyone else; I have enough consideration for others to not go drunkenly shouting my opinions down the ear of anyone who was unfortunate enough to

have stood next to me.

It wasn’t all bad, though. Far from.

As I said earlier, the bands I did manage to see were all absolutely brilliant.

I should state plainly that I had a great time over the course of the weekend, and I’d almost certainly buy a ticket should Wire decide to host another festival here in Brighton.

The weekend only feels like a disappointment because of what Drill could have been.

In my preview of the weekend, I posited Drill as a sort of gold standard for city-based festivals.

Unlike The Great Escape, Drill wasn’t staged with journalists in mind.

And unlike basically every other festival known to man, it wasn’t some kind of uber-capitalist venture intending to profit off of the hedonism of drunken teenagers.

Drill was simply about good music.

The bands were chosen because either someone in Wire or someone at One Inch Badge liked them.

They chose to play not for extortionate international fees, but because they were on tour anyway and it probably seemed like a good time.

There were no enormous tents sponsored by a brand of cheap lager, no floral gardens in which you would find free samples of boutique gin, and absolutely no opportunity for you to have someone take your picture while you stood in front of

a very big car.

I don’t even think there was any sort of vintage clothes fair associated with the festival, which is odd for Brighton.

For a hopeless romantic like myself, Drill was meant to be more than just a fun weekend.

Perhaps I expected, and am still expecting, too much.

Drill stuck to its principles; it never really tried to sell me anything, and it allowed me to see a small bunch of really good bands for a very reasonable price.

Drill shows that, with a bit of savvy, a festival can still be run simply for the love of music.

It just also happens to show that such a festival needs to be a little bit smaller; less bands that can clash with one another and less venues to run to and fro would result in me being a little less bitter about the fact I missed 90% of the line-up while thoroughly enjoying the 10% of it that I managed to see.

I can only hope that this first instalment of Drill festival will not be the last, and that next year the organisers will be able to work around the problems faced first time around.

If they figure out a way to avoid so many clashes, whether that be by reducing the overall size of the festival or extending the opening hours of its many venues, Drill could easily be one of the best small festivals in the UK. As it stands, it’s just a pretty good one.

the badger

2 february 2015 ARTS • 16

LIFESTYLE

Audience and the Hobbit: the burden of expectation Jamie Tye When adapting any popular book to the big screen, one of the most important and difficult elements of the process is staying true enough to the source material to satisfy fans of the book, whilst also making the film engaging and accessible enough to bring a new (and preferably large) audience into the cinema.

When it was announced that Peter Jackson would be adapting The Lord of the Rings into three feature length films, few thought that he could do so without alienating either of these two huge audiences.

Book readers felt that the story was unfilmable, requiring many hours to tell and featuring a world that could only exist inside the imagination.

Meanwhile analysts doubted whether the series would be capable of bringing in large audiences due to its high fantasy storyline and the fact that pretty much the entire cast and crew were relatively unknown, with no massive stars, shooting in a country unknown at the time for its film industry.

Despite this, against all the odds, the films were a massive success, taking nearly 3 billion dollars, winning 17 Oscars and, with a few exceptions, pleasing fans of the books with their faithful and epic representation of J. R. R. Tolkien’s beloved trilogy.

This success however, has made achieving the same success with The Hobbit, over a decade later, an almost impossible task.

Once again Jackson and his truly enormous team had the task of pleas-

Pierre Vinet ing fans of the original book, a very different book to that of Tolkien’s later trilogy.

Though set in the same world, with a couple of the same characters, The Hobbit is a much lighter and shorter story, full of songs and humour, in which problems are more often solved by intelligence and wit than by sword or axe.

The number of fans of the book should not be underestimated; never out of print, The Hobbit has sold over 100 million copies and has a special place in the hearts of many.

However, to match the more childlike style of the book would be to risk losing the interest of the arguably larger audience who came to The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, expecting a mere extension of the Middle Earth story, similar in tone to that of

The Lord of the Rings films.

This is not a wholly unreasonable expectation.

Not only did Jackson direct both trilogies, he also brought back the same writing, production, effects, props, stunt, sound and editing teams, as well as some of the same actors.

Additionally the popularity and relevance of The Lord of the Rings did not end with the release of The Return of The King in 2003.

The trilogy ranks alongside Harry Potter and Star Wars in its influence on pop culture, having been referenced, parodied and quoted consistently for over a decade now.

Their influence on the film industry has also been massive; Weta Digital, the visual effects company founded

by Jackson and responsible for the

remarkable special effects of the trilogy, is now leading the field, bringing many new films to New Zealand and soon to start work on the sequels to Avatar, the highest grossing film of all time.

In addition the film’s pioneering use of motion capture to bring the character of Gollum to life has been expanded and has become a staple part of movie DNA. As such when the first instalment in The Hobbit trilogy came out there were many who went hoping for more of the same.

In the end criticism came from both groups of fans.

Many fans of the book have criticised its bloating into three films as well as its use of action sequences over the more gentle humour of the book.

Meanwhile more criticism has come from those who found themselves wanting fewer songs and slapstick, and more of the gritty tone they had come to expect from the Lord of the Rings films.

Ultimately, in trying to please these two groups of fans the Hobbit trilogy has never quite captured the magic of its predecessor, even if that was a somewhat impossible task.

That’s not to say, however that the films weren’t all major box office successes with their own legions of fans.

All of Jackson’s Middle Earth films offer a rich world to escape into and lose yourself within, a world that was always going to draw and enthral audiences, even if they were expecting something slightly different.

Gilmore-isms: pop culture and comedy in Gilmore Girls Victoria Rodrigues O’Donnell When most of us who grew up in the noughties are asked of a teen drama we favoured watching, the answer tends to be Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill or The O.C. As obvious as that may sound, it seems interesting that Gilmore Girls rarely gets a mention – particularly under this category.

Set in the charmingly idyllic town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut, Gilmore Girls is perhaps best known for its sweet mother-daughter relationship and the immense speed at which the dialogue is spoken.

Not to mention the constant debates (still to this day, despite the final season airing in 2007) over whom Rory should have really ended up with.

Of course the show mainly revolves around Lorelai and Rory, the titular Gilmores, and their day-to-day experiences as they navigate through private schooling, overbearing family members and tumultuous love lives.

From Lorelai’s tricky past with her parents and insatiable chemistry with Luke, to Rory’s obsession with her

grades, the show’s drama is always easy to hook onto.

What sets the show apart from other so-called teen dramas of this era is its sardonic humour.

Lorelai’s sharp tongue dominates a large amount of conversation, regardless of whether she’s talking to her mother or her best friend Sookie (fantastically played by Melissa McCarthy).

In many episodes, it’s easy to forget that she’s the owner of an inn (though I’ve always thought of it as a glorified B&B) as opposed to a comedienne.

The flat sense of humour was clearly passed down onto Rory, as she too comes back with blunt expressions.

Though she is the more serious of the two, a clear irony considering her position as the daughter, Rory handles her interactions with other characters as sarcastically as her mother.

This seems to be her coping mecha-

nism for the trials and tribulations of high school and Yale, especially when faced with the high maintenance of her friend Paris.

Whilst the show’s humour is delightfully sassy, it must be seen in light of the numerous pop culture references littered throughout its run. Where else on television would a main character’s answer to: “what can we do in a bathroom?” be: “meet George Michael”?

The show’s notoriously dark wit stems from these far-fetched references.

Even though they live in a lovely (though I would venture to say suffocating and particularly white-washed in the same breath) tight-knit community, where you wonder how they can access all this eyebrow-raising knowledge, it never really seems that unusual.

In many ways, the appeal of Lorelai’s parenting seems to be precisely because

“Where else on television would a main character’s answer to ‘What can we do in a bathroom?’ be: ‘Meet George Michael?’”

of her supreme ability to throw in a comment about J.Lo or The Shining whenever she can.

Because of this speed and constant bombardment of references, the jokes can often get overlooked and the episodes subsequently seem to fall flat at times.

Still, when you learn that Rory has read approximately 339 books over the course of seven series, you do begin to question your own abilities.

The same sentiment is probably shared by her best friend Lane.

Long-time sufferer of her strict and overwhelmingly religious upbringing, Lane’s double life sees her escape into countless tapes and CDs, ranging from Belle & Sebastian and The Velvet Underground to Madness.

If it wasn’t for Lane’s intense love of music, I doubt the show would be able to feature quite so many mentions of obscure bands.

With its beloved, fast-paced comedy, perhaps it’s time we return to Stars Hollow and dig out those box sets. Except this time, we might all be in on the joke.

Recipe of the week Molly French Gerrard’s

Homemade falafel salad Ingredients For the mixture: 400 gr tinned chickpeas (or you can use dry ones soaked overnight and cooked) One large onion Three cloves of garlic Cumin Coriander Cinnamon A generous handful of fresh coriander and parsley Tahini One egg For the sauce: Tahini Yogurt Juice of one lemon One finely chopped garlic clove Method Anybody who enjoys student cooking will probably have found that so-called ‘student recipes’ can be patronising, boring, bizarre, or ridiculously oversimplified.

In my opinion, what a student recipe should provide is something reasonably-priced, to be cooked and shared with flatmates or friends, and easily adapted to whatever you might have in your fridge or cupboard.

This recipe is perfect for making your own, so feel free to add your favourite herbs and spices !

First of all, blend, or crush the chickpeas. Don’t worry too much if the mixture isn’t completely smooth: I for instance prefer it uneven, with some chickpeas left whole.

Heat some oil in a pan, and fry the onion and garlic with a pinch of salt.

Add the spices to taste, then combine this with the chickpea mixture with a spoonful of tahini, the egg and the fresh herbs.

Stir until perfectly combined. Feel free to add more tahini, herbs or spices if you think it needs it.

Then make small patties from the mixture (whatever size you prefer).

Then fry the falafels until they are golden brown.

For the dipping sauce, mix all the ingredients until combined.

I would suggest cooking up some sweet potato and combining it in the mixture, making a couscous salad to serve with it with alongside the yogurt-tahini dip or roasting some vegetables, and having it with pita and salad.

It is a recipe that goes with everything and makes for perfect leftovers.

the badger

2 February 2015 ARTS • 17

ARTS & MINDS

Tearing Up The Dancefloor: City Venues and the Festival In a retrospective on Wire’s Drill Festival, Arts Editor Lottie Brazier explores festivals as an imaginative reinvention of space for artistic performance, in conflict with the modern city.

Curated by the band Wire and One Inch Badge, Drill was a city-festival which took part in October last year (strategically, just when I was holding my breath for the coming of the impending exam period).

The lineup for Drill was inconcievably good, including the likes of Swans, Wire themselves and Savages as headliners.

Although these names might not be familiar to some (especially Wire), most of the bands at Drill made up a good portion of the alternative scene in the 80s.

I’m sure you know that Brighton also regularly plays host to The Great Escape, another city festival which utilises Brighton’s

pelled to draw up a timetable.

I might as well have been preparing to climb Ben Nevis for the weekend.

Aside from being a complete ordeal for the terminally lazy, city festivals just don’t have the pervasive atmosphere required for them to feel like a ‘whole’ event. The fragmentation of the festival across Brighton’s numerous venues made it -too- temporary - nobody could stick around long enough to get their bearings, have a postmortem of the bands with their friends, or take a pitstop at an overpriced falafel stall. What is more, nobody wants a very tall and famous person standing in front of them for the duration of a

Bardino Myriam

fairly compact layout during May. Compact maybe in theory, but not in practice.

Although not having to camp might sound luxurious, during Drill navigating yourself around the city was like a not very fun game of orienteering.

One too many a sweat was broken in the race to catch Brighton’s 25 bus, shadowing the excitement of seeing the bands that you were actually looking forward to for a whole month. Not ideal.

For the first time in my life, without pressure and/or coaxing from figures of academic authority, I felt com-

band, especially when there is a ridiculous amount of floor space because everyone is seeing the main act.

Enough expousing on the negative - here’s what can be learnt from this.

What just works about camping festivals is that it just propagates the Romantic myth that everyone who isn’t sentenced to the Home Counties for life has about rural England.

To this populace, there’s something idealistically lawless about setting up a festival in the country - the whole thing is temporary, unlike

the city festival, which has to mould itself around already instantiated structures.

The city shrugs it off, the festival atmosphere being too grossly unfamiliar and disruptive even for a place like Brighton.

Including the daily routines of workers, who don’t really want to be caught up in someone else’s long weekend of afternoon drinking. At least with festivals outside of the city, there is no conflict of interest.

The only real conflict being the prices of watery lager that have mysteriously rocketed since you found yourself at the festival, and already drunk you.

Although camping festivals are often cynically commercial nowadays, I think the real reason for their original manifestation was as escapism - really when people still used music as such.

This might seem naively and tiresomely retrospective an idea, but when one heads out into the most desolate stretches of Suffolk for Latitude Festival, one hopes to be far removed from contemporary social convention.

And to some extent, despite the sea of Cath Kidston wellies and family friendly fun, this is what you get.

Especially in Southwold.

Although both city and country based festivals in the UK are now mostly run as highly commercialised events, city festivals still feel swamped by the city’s already established routine, which cannot be temporarily reinvented for the purposes of the event.

It’s also doubly a shame, because Drill had a very idiosyncratic lineup.

It just didn’t feel as of a festival was the right place to see these bands, let alone a Brighton-based festival.

It’s puzzling because bands

like Wire and Swans would just not fit comfortably on a camping festival lineup - not at least in our current conception of the camping festival.

Such bands come into their own when they are allowed to perform in a more intimate, more private environment.

Open spaces typically do not lend themselves to such performances.

Even though the city festival setting for these bands was perhaps more appropriate for the dark atmospherics of these bands, it still didn’t entirely provide the best context to see them in.

Don’t get me wrong: I love Brighton, and I love festivals, but the twain here precariously meet.

Scott Hortop

Hacks and their Traps - A Plea As a journalist I may be cutting off my nose to spite my face somewhat, but there is nothing worse than hearing the unfiltered contents of your peers’ sarky minds clatter over the quieter moments at a gig.

While mostly everyone has an opinion on something, the journalist feels the need to fill any quiet moment with a (supposedly) witty comment, as if your internal monologue just wasn’t supplying you with enough of your own. Seriously, journalists everywhere - nobody needs to hear your comments before they have reached the cutting room floor. People will be happy to read your opinions in their own leisure.

There are some things which are best left unsaid, at least for in the moment. This is the kind of thing that I might have done myself a few years ago, but it only took a second’s introspection to realise that this was a bit of a dick move. A gig’s a special moment for most people (especially for those who don’t see them at the same rate that you do). So yeah, take some time out, not only to play caution to your own thoughts, but also to allow a moment its ineffability.

the badger

2 FEBRUARY 2015

SporTS • 20

SPORTS A new year of Badger sport Joseph Cummins Sports Editor Welcome back to Badger sport and what promises to be a hugely exciting 2015. With the beginning of the Spring term teams start to look toward the end of the season and again it looks like Sussex, in a number of sports, will be right among the title contenders.

The first fixture of the New Year is always a time for a team to reconvene and readjust after the winter break so shock results are always a possibility.

Sussex women’s football bore the full brunt of this as they received a 5-0 thumping away at Portsmouth; a team that sit four points, but only one place, further down the table than they do.

Other results in the first fixtures

of the New Year were more routine.

Sussex’s Mixed American Football team continues to set the pace at the top, as a resounding victory over Bournemouth meant that they are now enjoying a two point gap over nearest rivals Surrey. Watch out for when the two teams meet on the 15th February.

Both the Women’s and Men’s Fencing came out of their first fixture of the year in identical positions, both only one win away from claiming top spot.

This was the women’s fifth consecutive win and they will be hoping this rich vein of form continues until the end of the season, whilst Kings’ falters.

Among the things to look forward to is the return of Rainbow Laces to sporting attire. On February 15th, clubs across the country will lace their

footwear with the iconic rainbow laces in a show of solidarity with gay players. There are still no openly lesbian, gay or bisexual players in professional football and the game needs to change.

Last years’ Varsity, the infamous day of healthy competition between Brighton and Sussex, saw the appearance of the multi-coloured laces and put Sussex at the forefront of the campaign.

Hopefully this University wide engagement will be replicated at this years’ event, taking place on March 22nd. It should be a fiery affair with Brighton seeking redemption for a meek overall performance which lead to them losing 12.5-6.5. 2015 will be an excellent year for Sussex sport and The Badger will be reporting and commenting every step of the way.

BUCS results 21-25 January American Football Sussex

Netball Sussex W 2nd

27 - 23

Fencing Sussex W 1st 114 - 127 Royal Holloway W 1st

Squash Sussex W 1st

3-1

UCL W 1st

Sussex M 1st 133 - 108 UCL M 2nd

Sussex M 1st

3-1

Reading M 2nd

Table Tennis Sussex W 1st

3-2

LSE W 1st

Sussex M 1st

3 - 14

Imperial College

Volleyball Sussex W 1st

3-2

Kings College

49 - 18

Bournemouth

Football Portsmouth W 1st

5-0

Sussex W 1st

Hockey Sussex W 2nd

1-3

Reading W 2nd

Reading M 4th

1-0

Sussex M 2nd

Holloway W 2nd

Sussex blow Portsmouth away Sussex Women’s rugby battle gale force winds to beat Portsmouth

Emily Robbins Sussex women’s rugby had a tough challenge in their first game back of term, facing rivals Portsmouth and winds strong enough to blow away their wingers. However Sussex came on to the pitch unphased by the playing conditions, determined to battle through and continue their winning streak.

They got off to a quick start, with Emily Robbins stepping past Portsmouth’s defence to sprint down the wing and score the first try of the game. Next came a burst of speed from Bethan Alexander, who saw a gap in the defence and ran through to score the second. Despite being 10-0 up in the first 15 minutes, this was a far from an easy game, with the ball speed being majorly disrupted by the gale force winds. Portsmouth’s fullback also put up a great fight with

some massive hits, preventing several trys from being scored throughout the game.

The next try came from Emily, halting the defence with some solid hand offs before placing the ball over the line. This was followed by two trys from Anna Clarke, using her signature quick tap and go to baffle the defence and crash her way over the try line. This brought the score at half time to 25-0.

Portsmouth were not going to let this be an easy defeat, and came back fighting into the second half. Sussex managed to hold off their attacks, dominating the scrum and turning over almost every ball. The first try of the half came from Katie Wadeson, making a superb run through their half dodging in and out of Portsmouth’s defence, before placing the ball between the posts. Some great runs were also made by Josie Jolley

and AJ Friary, both coming close to scoring points of their own.

Sussex’s final try came as result of another great run by Bethan Alexander, stepping inside the defence to slide the ball over the line. Portsmouth put up a great fight for the last 5 minutes of the game, crashing into our defensive line and reaching our 22m line for the first time in the game. Refusing to let Sussex take all the glory, they pushed through to score their first try of the game, bringing the final score to 35-5.

Special shout out to Abi Radford for being the most accident prone player in Sussex, you had a great game and we all wish you a speedy recovery! Next weeks game is at home to UCL - with Sussex one win away from the league title, this is set to be stormer! Make sure to come down and show your support.

Morrow’s Muse The fall, and rise, of Sussex mens Rugby Michael Morrow There’s nothing quite like getting slapped with a two year ban to make you re-evaluate your principles. So goes the not so famous saying. Admittedly, as a mantra it doesn’t naturally roll off the tongue as well as others do, but it certainly applies to the Sussex men’s rugby team more than most. Two years ago men’s rugby topped off a string of off-field misdemeanours (using the term lightly) by going a bit mental on the bus en-route to the annual sports tour.

Exactly how much damage caused to said bus is still a debated subject, with the cost of fixing the bus said to be ranging from the questionably low to the extravagantly high. Either way, the tour bus incident (or ‘busgate’ as I now christen it, feel free to start a hashtag) was the final straw as far as the Students’ Union was concerned. A two-year ban was delivered, and not many people on campus seemed to jump to the defence of the rugby team.

Being an impartial onlooker, I had decided that the team’s ban was well deserved, and that any attempts to appeal the ban would be futile. Again, probably a sentiment that echoed through the majority of the Sussex campus. Of course it was going to be harsh on the new intake of freshers who had, all their lives, dreamed of pulling on the hallowed Sussex kit, only to find their dreams lying in the wreckage of a damaged tour bus somewhere near Salut. But the sympathy for those who had nothing to do with the incidents that led to the ban was eclipsed by the general feeling that the rugby team’s behaviour was pretty inexcusable, and that a ban was necessary.

Fast forward to the present day, and Sussex men’s rugby are back on the pitch, and deservedly so.

When whispers of the ‘Exiles’ (the self-appointed name of the players who had been exiled from forming a University team, hence the name ‘Exiles’, get it?) started making their way around campus, I dismissed them once more as a desperate and unremorseful attempt at keeping Sussex men’s rugby alive on campus.

It turns out I was half right (or half wrong, depending on how full or empty your glass is), in that the ‘Exiles’ was indeed an attempt to keep men’s rugby alive at Sussex, but in doing so, completely transforming the reputation of the men’s rugby team from a one of over the top ‘lad culture’ to a team whose initiatives and campaigns have inspired and raised awareness for several issues which are extremely prevalent for us as a university. Last year the Exiles teamed up with many charities and campaigns to raise awareness and show support for anti-homophobia (through GALOP and Stonewall) and HIV/aids prevention (through Gay Men Fighting Aids). Events such as karaoke nights at the uni hotspot that is East Slope bar were organised by the Exiles and raised money and awareness for charities such as these. Along with support for the self-explanatory ‘I Heart Consent’ campaign, the moment that sealed the men’s rugby turnaround was the ‘rainbow laces’ campaign they inspired alongside anti-homophobia charity Stonewall. When many Sussex teams during last year’s Varsity, laced their boots in rainbow colours in a show of solidarity against homophobia. The campaign, which was initially brought to Sussex’s attention by members of the Exiles, has now been taken on board by the Union, who are repeating the rainbow laces campaign in future sporting events at Sussex.

As if often the case with such things, there will undoubtedly be those who will question the Union’s decision to overturn the team’s two year ban after only one year; perhaps asking if the efforts of the Exiles were merely an attempt to get back on the pitch and nothing more. A question that can be answered simply by all the on-going charity work still being carried out by the men’s rugby team. A team now dedicated to making a positive impact and difference to our University has emerged from the ashes of a very troubled team, and long may it continue. Hats off to those who made the difference, and by hats I mean scrum hats, obviously.

Report, Debate, Discuss Want to be involved in Badger Sport?

Just send an email to josephcummins.sportseditor@gmail.com with any queries and ideas, or to be added to our mailing list.

the badger

2 february 2015

SOCIETIES SPOTLIGHT ADVERTISE YOUR SOCIETY

On this page you can find out about what our societies have been up to and what their plans are for the coming weeks! You can view and join all of our 150 + societies online at www.sussexstudent. com/societies. If you’d like to advertise your society on this page, send your articles to societies@sussexstudent.com by 12pm on Wednesdays.

REVIEW OF REFRESHERS FAIR Spring term kicked off for our societies on Monday 19th January with over 130 societies showcasing themselves to students at Refreshers Fair.

Just like Freshers Fair back in September, this year’s Refreshers Fair was bigger and better than previous years’ with over 150 representatives attending from not only societies, but also sports clubs, media groups, campaigns, Students’ Union services, University departments and commercial advertisers.

Even if you missed Refreshers Fair, it’s still not too late to get involved! To find out more about what societies we have and what activities they’re holding this term, make sure to visit the Students’ Union website!

With over 200 societies, there’s bound to be something for everyone!

STUDENT AWARDS The annual Student Awards ceremony will take place on Friday 17th April 2015 at the AMEX stadium. Our prestigious annual awards

ceremony recognises and rewards the achievements of Sussex students within sports clubs, societies, media groups, campaign groups, volunteering placements and the staff within our shops and bars.

There are 6 awards up for grabs for societies: Society Event of the Year - awarded to a society who has produced a well planned and well attended event in 2014/2015 Best New Society - awarded to a society who has started up in 2014/2015 with enthusiasm and creative new ideas that offer new and exciting opportunities for Sussex students Most Improved Society - awarded to a society who has made significant improvement in 2014/2015 bringing a new lease of life to the society and offering new exciting opportunities for Sussex students

ties for their members and continued to develop as a society over the course of a few years.

If you would like to nominate a particular society or individual within a society for an award, please visit www.sussexstudent.com/ studentawards .The deadline for nominations is on Friday 6th February 2015 at 9am - SO GET NOMINATING!

SOCIETY REWARD SCHEME Congratulations to the first two societies, Sussex LINKS (St John’s Ambulance) and Sussex Musical Theatre Society (SMuTS) on obtaining awards in the Society Leaves Reward Scheme.

Both societies have been rewarded in recognition of the fun and engaging social activities they put on for students at Sussex.

Societies - 21

SUSSEX LGBTQ

It is LGBT History Month this February and Sussex LGBTQ has plenty of events planned!

With a multitude of events, ranging from thought-provoking talks, to a viewing of the award-winning film Pride, there is something for everyone this month. It doesn’t matter if you have been to one or 50, everyone is welcome to come!

THE BADGER As term is now in full swing, we at The Badger really want to encourage all students to get involved with the paper this year. By searching ‘Badger Writers’ and ‘Badger Photography’ on Facebook, you can find groups where we request writers and photographers each week.

Our writers meetings are now running from 1-2pm in the Media Office. This mysterious Media Office can be found by entering Falmer House and heading to the first floor where the Common Room is situated. You will then see a large staircase, which upon climbing, you will find the office. Writers meetings are open to everyone. It doesn’t matter if you have an article idea or you just want to come along to meet the team and ask exactly how to get involved. We never turn anyone away and are available to help you turn your idea into an article.

Most Outstanding Society - awarded to a society that has achieved great things in 2014/2015 by demonstrating dedication and passion towards the society and has come up with creative and innovative ways of getting Sussex students involved in the society

Sussex LINKS have also been rewarded in recognition of their commitment to making a positive difference within the community, through the provision of volunteer placements at public events throughout the year and training students to deliver first aid.

Society Personalities of the Year - awarded to individuals who have demonstrated dedication and hard work within societies bringing fresh new ideas to the society with enthusiasm and drive

SMUTS will soon be putting on their big performance of the year - Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in March, so keep your eyes peeled for tickets which will For any other enquiries, resoon be going on sale on the member that you can always email; the Editor-in-Chief, Students’ Union website!

Debbie Batchelor at badger@ Find out more about the sussexstudent.com. She will work of Sussex LINKS and happily answer any Badgerhow to get involved by vis- related questions you may iting their Facebook group: have. We look forward to University of Sussex LINKS working with you!

2014-2015

Contribution to Societies - awarded to a society who has consistently performed well, created new opportuni-

THE WEEK AHEAD: Monday 2nd February - Sussex Live Music - open mic night at East Slope Bar! Music starts at 8pm.

Thursday 5th February - Wordsmiths’ Union - the Wordsmiths’ Union society are hosting an evening of poetry and spoken word in the basement of The Globe pub in Brighton. Free entry.

Friday 6th February - BSMS RAG Cabaret - the BSMS RAG society are holding a cabaret to raise money for Allsorts Youth Project and Martlets Hospice. Come along for an evening of dancing, singing, acting and more!

Tuesday 10th February - Sussex Dance - Sussex Dance Society’s first pub quiz of the year! Replace your dancing shoes with your thinking caps and join us on Tuesday 10th February at Falmer Back Bar (Room 76) for quiz fun, fabulous raffle prizes and some happy hour drinks! £2 entry on the door.

If any societies would like to feature on this page, please email your article to Francesca at societies@ sussexstudent.com before the Wednesday of each week (12pm latest), for your article to go into the next edition of the Badger.

X E SS 1 9QF

U BN , S X E S F S SU O T S A E Y , E T S I U O S H R R E M E L A F V , I L L A N H A U L E D MAN

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For more information about our vintage events visit our f & t pages : www.facebook.com/University.Vintage.Fairs | @UniVintageFair | Design by Sussex A3 poster.indd 1

27/12/2014 18:09

the badger

2 FEBRUARY 2015

Careers and Employability• 23

CAREERS & EMPLOYABILITY CENTRE

All students! Do you want to work this summer? Start applying now!

If you’re planning on working this summer, now’s the time to start looking at opportunities and putting your applications in. As well as helping to improve your bank balance, by working this summer you’ll also develop some valuable skills and experience, gain an insight into a particular type of work or industry, make useful contacts, enhance your CV and, you never know, even get a job offer for when you graduate! Whether you undertake an internship with a large employer, or get a job in a bar, all experiences are worthwhile. Also, many internships/summer jobs won’t last for the whole vacation, so you could still have time to relax, travel and enjoy the beach!

The Careers & Employability Centre can help you find work….

We currently have over 70 vacation opportunities on our website, ranging from Summer Intern Programme with Lloyd’s of London to Seafront Assistants for Brighton & Hove City Council, so there’s something for you all!

We can also suggest other places to look for vacancies and offer advice on your CV, application forms and interview technique. See www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/jobs for our jobs listing and advice. If you’d like to speak to a Careers Adviser, then call in daily from 11 – 1 pm for a drop in, or ring on 01273

678429 to book an appointment.

We’re based in the Library. Why not come along to our Finding Work Experience & Internships workshop on Tuesday 3 February at 12 noon. Details and booking at www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/ events Work with young people this summer.

There will be a number of employers coming onto campus over the next few weeks aiming to recruit you for paid work this summer.

Challenge, Concordia and Catch 22 are recruiting students to work on the Government’s National Citizen Service programme for young people. Opportunities are both

local and across the UK and there are 1000’s of vacancies working directly with 15-17 year-olds on a 3 week programme involving outdoors activities, skills learning and community action projects.

No experience is necessary, but you must be enthusiastic, motivated and feel that you can inspire young people! EF Language Travel are also visiting campus on Tuesday 3 February to recruit Activity Leaders and Teachers for this summer. Full details of these and all our other events at www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/events Thinking of an internship?

- see www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/ gettingexperience/summerinternships - Many large employers (and some smaller ones) offer summer internships (generally to penultimate year students, but sometimes they are also open to 1st years).

A message from your Students’ Union

Students have the power to have a huge impact but don’t use it. By not registering you’re doing exactly what the system expects of you.

Students in Brighton have the power to choose who represents them, and who makes decisions on their behalf about housing, transport and education.

Sussex Students’ Union are backing voter registration. In the last election, Brighton pavilion was decided by less than 1,300 votes.

YOUR VOICE YOUR CHOICE Don’t lose it.

Abraham Baldry USSU President

Bethan Hunt Education Officer

To register go to www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

- Deadlines will generally be around now (ie January/March), although some may have been and gone (1st years take note for next year!)

- SMEs (small to medium sized enterprises) on the other hand tend to be more flexible and less structured. The University can help fund your summer internship with a local SME. See www.sussex. ac.uk/careers/jobs/santander for details - Other sectors, such as international development, media, public services and the environment may not offer structured summer placements. You may need to try volunteering or speculative approaches to gain experience Or prefer just to “get a job” this summer?

- We also advertise vacation jobs which tend to be less structured than internships and can often be found by asking in bars, shops, as well as keeping an eye on our listing for advertised vacancies. If you’re going back home, look at local media and ask any contacts you have, to find opportunities.

What students say about summer experience..

“The experience I gained from my Summer Internship was invaluable, I was extremely lucky to land an internship in the charity sector and be paid for it! In the current job market for graduates you need experience to get experience which unfortunately boils down to who you know regardless of

whether you have a degree. The insight I got into administering and funding social welfare at the charity was really beneficial in the development of my agenda …”

“I’ve never done an internship before. I thought it was something that could give me a boost and improve my career. Also, I’ve never worked in a business environment before, and that was very important for me.

Doing the internship was definitely the right direction for me. What is more, it has really inspired me to open my business one day!”

“This internship experience has really boosted my confidence because I’ve never worked in an English speaking environment before. Now I’m ready to apply for different jobs afterwards. I also think that it was a bit ‘scary’ for employers to see that on my CV I didn’t have any experience from an English speaking environment, but now I have something to show them!”

Events coming up this week in CEC include: Full details and sign up at www. sussex.ac.uk/careers/events Monday 2 February: Paid summer jobs – NCS with The Challenge: drop in, 1 – 2 pm, Library Cafe; presentation at 2 pm, CEC, Library Tuesday 3 February: EF Language Travel Recruitment Day: Summer work opportunities: drop in 10 am – 1 pm, Library Cafe; presentation at 1 pm, CEC, Library Finding Work Experience & Internships, workshop, 12 noon Wednesday 4 February: International Students – Effective CVs and Applications, 12 noon How to I plan and structure my essay? (Study Skills workshop), 2 pm Summer Jobs with Catch 22 NCS: drop in, 10 – 2 pm, Library Cafe Thursday 5 February: Careers … where do I start? – informal, group discussion, 1 pm Monday 9 February: Job Search for Finalists, 12.45 pm Discover Postgraduate Study, 2 pm

Library, University of Sussex T: 01273 679429 E: careers@sussex.ac.uk W: www.sussex.ac.uk/ careers

the badger

2 February 2015 Arts •24

STUDENT MEDIA

With this term’s TV and Radio schedules taking shape at present, The Badger would like to take this oppotunity to remind you about what our friends and colleagues at URF and UniTV get up to, so you can watch, listen and get involved.

What on Earth is URF? URF stands for University Radio Falmer, and it’s been a part of the University Of Sussex’s campus since 1976. We’re a student-run radio station that’s open to everyone, you don’t need any prior knowledge of how to be on the radio, because URF is here to give you that experience.

Once you get inside the URF studio, everything else is up to you. You could turn your hour-long radio slot into anything! It could be a soapbox for your opinions, or a showcase of the music you love, or maybe it could be a platform for your very own brand of comedy!

There are quite a few different roles you could take in URF; presenters who do all the talking, producers who organize the shows, but also do a bit of chatting too, the tech team who pop up and organize the sound equipment, the news team who deal with current affairs, and then there’s the music team who pick new songs, and interview bands. You can mix and match any of these teams; it’s up to you!

Being the radio station of a university next to Brighton gives us loads of great opportunities. URF members have interviewed Bastille, The 1975, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Frightened Rabbit, Alt-J and many more.

If you combine all of the things I’ve mentioned, not only does it mean that URF is a ridiculous amount of fun, but it also looks really good on a CV, especially if you want to get a job in the radio industry.

So, if you want to have some fun doing what you love whilst getting some great experience contact us by emailing Station.manager@ urfonline.com, or heading to our Facebook page; www.facebook.com/URFOfficial Oh, and don’t forget to check out our website: www.urfonline.com. We look forward to hearing from you!

University of Sussex Student Television, known on campus as UniTV, is the University’s official and nationally acclaimed online student TV station. We are a media outlet that thrives to create a connection between Sussex students and what is happening on campus, as well as providing many hours of entertainment created for students, by students.

Anyone can join UniTV- you don’t need any experience within media or even to be doing a media degree. As long as you have a passion for creating great content and are looking for some fun then come along and join us!

We meet every Wednesday in the Silverstone Building at 5pm, and will be holding a number of training workshops during these first few weeks of term.

At the moment we have a wide range of programmes currently being made by UniTV, which means there are loads of opportunities for you to get involved with the station! Our current shows cover a range of topics including local news, events coverage, music and much more, but if you have any ideas or programmes you think we should make or want to make then come and tell us and we will get the ball rolling!

All of our content can be found at unitvlive.com or our YouTube channel – unitvlive. As well as being able to keep up to date with more of what is happening behind the scenes on our Twitter @unitvlive, Instagram and Facebook.

UniTV have provided excellent coverage of the Freshers fair and all the freshers events, so don’t forget to check that out and relive the experience!

We look forward to seeing and hearing from you in the future!