Term 1, Issue 11

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2 DECEMBER 2013, WEEK 11

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY HANUKKAH FROM THE BADGER SUSSEX SAYS

COMMENT

Page 5

Who does our Students’ Union really represent?

Page 10

The University of Sussex has revealed it is to undergo a £500m expansion, which will transform campus accommodation, increase student capacity and create 2,000 new jobs in the local area.

In an announcement last month, a spokesperson for the University explained the ‘Making the Future’ strategy, which will be implemented over the next five years, will see “a new state-of-the-art science block, an extension of the library and more on-campus student accommodation”, housing an estimated 5,000 extra students.

Plans also reveal the use of green technologies for more environmentally safe buildings and the possibility of a new sports centre.

It is hoped that the ‘campus masterplan’, as it has been dubbed, will increase the number of jobs by 50 percent on campus and boost student numbers from the current figure of 13,000 to projected figures of 18,000 by the end of the decade.

A key aspect of the redevelopment plan includes the reinvigoration of the East Slope accommodation, which is expected to be demolished in 2016 and replaced with accommodation fitted with 1,400 extra bedrooms.

Reaction to the East Slope redevelopment has so far been mixed, with one student commenting: “[East Slope] doesn’t look fit for purpose anymore.

“We have a severe flooding problem in our bathroom; you can’t help but feel the university needs to freshen up its accommodation.”

Plans also include replacing Park Village and the Park Houses accommodation with new residences dubbed ‘West Slope’, with a new public square that will be “placed at the heart of the student village”.

In addition, the existing science car park is set to become home to an extra 40,000m2 of academic buildings, which will “transform the south-east section of campus over time as a new Great Court, signature buildings and green space are created”.

Vice-Chancellor, Michael Farthing, refering to the University, said “We need to be bigger so that we can be competitive internationally and it will help us have a

sustainable financial future and be more financially independent.”

“Brighton gave life to the University of Sussex, and as the University continues to thrive and grow, so it will continue to bring life to Brighton.”

During a Q&A session in February 2013, the University Registrar, John Duffy, stressed that outsourcing University services to companies such as Interserve and Chartwells is a necessary step to expanding the University.

However, Green councillor Bill Randall has raised concern over the expansion, stating: “I am concerned that 4,000 of the new intake will be looking for accommodation in their second and third years at a time when Brighton and Hove is in a perfect housing storm”.

Some students have also expressed apprehension about the plans, citing fears that the cost of the project might be passed down to students through rent.

One student said: “The University should subsidise the cost of rent for the new accommodation or keep it at its current level.”

In spite of fears that housing prices may spiral as a result of the project expenditure, the University has raised hopes that it will be able to house 40 percent of its student population after the redevelopment is complete.

David Willetts, the Minister of State for Universities and Science pointed out that this was a common feature of many high education institutions.

He argues that by 2035 there may be up to 460,000 young people going to university yearly compared to the 115,000 students in higher education in 2011.

Two-thirds of the capital for the project has been raised by the University, with the remaining third being provided by a developer who will build the student accommodation.

The University says it has recently invested £100 million into a “high quality”development of the campus estate, but wants to focus on improving its working environment and green spaces.

The Vice-Chancellor’s report on the New Strategic Plan says the University is seeking “improved income per square metre”.

Plans for expansion are set to be submitted for planning permission this month.

Christmas special: The big bauble debate

FEATURE TUNE IN ONLINE

The long road back from anorexia: one Sussex student’s story Page 18

SCIENCE

New hope for those suffering from rare diseases Page 12 3

ARTS

Interview special: The Badger talks to Yo La Tengo bassist James McNew Page 14

£500m expansion planned Daniel Green

University of Sussex

Think your library fine is bad?

Zoe Ambrozewska The University of Sussex has collected over £500,000 in library fines over the past six years, new figures obtained by The Badger reveal.

Since the beginning of the 2007/2008 academic year, the cumulative total of fines incurred due to the late hand in of library books was £521,452, never dropping below £75,000 per academic year during the period. £95,106 worth of library fines were collected during the 2010/2011 academic, the high-point covering the 2007 to 2013 period, with the lowest total of £75,990 being incurred in the most recent 2012/2013 academic year.

The number of fines under the total of £1 as proportion of the total fines issued was 13.2 per cent, suggesting that a large majority of students allow their

fines to escalate before paying them off.

100 per cent of the money attained by financial sanctions is reinvested in Library and IT facilities.

The largest single penalty issued to a solitary student was a monumental £894.22 fine. However, half the amount was waived by the University “due to the students’ circumstances”.

In 2012 The Press Association conducted a similar investigation across UK Universities and found that Higher Education Institutions have raised almost £50 million in library fines in a six-year period.

Leeds University topped the list, collecting over £1.8 million in library fines, whereas Imperial College London had received just £26,703 in fines.

On the statistics, Juliette Cule, the Student Union’s Education Officer, said: “I have been working with the library staff this year to find alternatives to financial sanctions, as I know we are both keen to

move away from these.

“However, it is vital that there are incentives for students to bring books back promptly as the demand for texts is high.”

Juliette also highlighted the prevalence of electronic books and journals as a method to avoid the danger of failing to return a book on time and detailed her experiences with library fines during her degree.

She added: “As a student I was hit hard by library fines a few times, and I know it is frustrating. I would urge any students facing any problems with fines to get in touch with the library as soon as possible, as they are always keen to help.

“However, it is vital that there are incentives for students to bring books back promptly as the demand for texts is high.”

Continued on page 3...

the badger

2 DECEMBER 2013

in pictures • 2

INIn pictures: PICTURES what’s happening on your campus Chanukkah

Gabriel Webber

Shima Jalal Kamali

Hsu ChuChun Brighton Christmas Market

Big Band performance

Battle of the Bands

Beach Volleyball

Ho Wah So Mental Health Awareness

Ondra Loup Men’s Hockey

Mina Rassouli Should Page 3 be banned debate

Reprieve talk about Guantanamo Bay

Mina Rassouli

Amy Bracewell

Ambie Louise Roberts

Richard Mashiter

London Photohunt

Christmas Cabaret

Ambie Louise Roberts Sussex RAG - Take Me Out

MadaBoutSoup

Catherine Malden

Malcolm Tam

Ambie Louise Roberts Transgender awareness sport day - Women’s Hockey

Verity Charlton

the badger

2 December 2013

NEWS • 3

NEWS Bramber occupied again

Continued from page 1

Cases have emerged in recent years of students at certain UK Universities being denied the opportunity to graduate after completing their course due to unpaid debt, with something as seemingly menial as a small fine preventing an Exeter University student from graduating.

Clarifying the University’s position on student debt approaching graduation, a University of Sussex spokesperson said: “Students can even pay off debts at Graduation itself, where there are staff on hand to deal with last-minute debt payments (sometimes as little as £5) so that the student can attend their ceremony.

“There is also a system in place where students with minimal debt, can attend the graduation, go on stage, take part in all the celebrations and then receive their official certificate after their debt has been paid.

“This is to prevent a situation where a student cannot graduate for what is considered as a small debt.”

In August 2013, the Office of Fair Trading launched an investigation into the effect of outstanding library fines on graduation completion, although this inquiry is ongoing so were unable to comment.

REVEALED: previous bramber house occupation cost university £81,812 in legal fees and representation

Daniel Green and Yasmin Centeno

A group of 60 students have re-occupied Bramber House Conference Centre in protest at the continued outsourcing of services on campus and the marketisation of higher education.

The occupation comes less than a month since the flash occupation of Arts A1 lecture theatre in solidarity with the Halloween strike and in protest of a real terms cut in university workers’ pay.

Protestors occupied the Conference Centre on the third floor of the building at approximately 6:45pm on 26 November with the intention of staying the night, with the collection of food and comfort provisions such as duvets hinting at a possible longer stay.

Citing publicity for the national strike on 3 December as the primary reason for the occupation, one student involved said that Bramber House was chosen as Chartwells’ offices are based in the building.

One protestor said to The Badger that the occupation was “peaceful and done in the best way possible.”

However, police were called by the Director of Estate Services following an alleged assault by a member of the occupation on a member of staff.

A Spokesman from Sussex Police confirmed that the force were currently in-

vestigating the issue and were reviewing video evidence of the incident.

As of the evening of Thursday 28 November, possession proceedings had been issued at Brighton County Court.

The Court directed that there will be a hearing at which the University will be seeking an order for possession of the Campus.

The hearing will be held on the morning of Tuesday 3 December at Brighton County Court.

Bramber House was the scene of a major occupation in February earlier this year, lasting almost 8 weeks before being evicted following a High Court injunction.

The University has disclosed that their spending on ‘legal fees’ in relation to the previous occupation amounted to £81,812 between the dates February 7th 2013 and 28th October 2013.

The Badger spoke to a number of students about the issue, some of whom believed that the University was right to take additional steps to police the protest, whilst others described that the level of security as “excessive” and “disproportionate.”

Michael Segalov, part of the Sussex Against Privatisation campaign, criticised the University for, what he described as, wasting money “on legal fees evicting students from their own campus, and banning protest action for a period.”

In the midst of a demonstration against outsourcing on 27 November, a 20 strong faction split off from the crowd and raced to the back entrance of Bramber House in order to bolster the numbers occupying in the conference centre, successfully breaching the building, despite security guards efforts to keep them out.

In a statement on their Wordpress page, Sussex Against Privatisation called on management to meet five demands including a reversal in the decision to outsource catering and estates and facilities, publically addressing the issues of the upcoming strike and demanding more funding for higher education institutions from the government.

In the immediate aftermath of the occupation, the University took the action of closing the Co-op and Sussex Food services.

An email sent to Co-op staff in the wake of the occupation stated that “we have taken this action to ensure the safety of our staff.”

Responding to the occupation, a spokesperson for the University said that they have “started legal steps to bring to an end the disruptive occupation”.

They added: “Students used the cover of an event for postgraduate students to unlawfully gain access to the conference centre” and that “staff felt intimidated by the protestors’ behaviour, which included

wearing masks and covering up CCTV cameras.”

The spokesperson also explained that they are working to keep disruption to a minimum, stating: “facilities in the rest of the building continue to run as normal.

These include Sussex Food services at Eat Central and Dine Central, the Co-op store and the seminar rooms on the second floor.”

However, they admitted that “activities on the third floor of Bramber House have been disruptive. The protestors’ actions have prevented planned staff events taking place in the Conference Centre.”

John Duffy, University Registrar, said in a statement: “This same minority of students who were involved in occupation earlier this year are once again seeking to disrupt the University community.

Those undertaking this disruptive activity are a very small number of students out of a community of 15,000 people.”

He added: “The University is right to take swift action to end this occupation as quickly as possible.”

Occupiers at Birmingham University have expressed solidarity with those at Bramber House and have encouraged Sussex occupiers to make joint statements to embolden students across the country to occupy their campuses.

At the time of going to print the occupation contined.

ter saved for another discussion.

Nevertheless, despite these shortcomings, debates at a university level remain a good thing to practise. They don’t somehow mean that the “right” position wins, or that the “wrong” position looses, however they do usually mean that those who attend the discussion leave the theatre better informed than when they arrived – and I certainly count myself in this category.

The debating society is in the process of deciding the motions for the next term.

Eduard Mead

makes for a better and much more atmospheric discussion, although the man who shouted “racist scum” at UKIP councillor Donna Edmunds added nothing to the evening other than to lower the tone.

Marina Pepper’s speech was passionate, but at points unrelated to the topic of discussion. While a charitable observer would describe her discussion of Rupert Murdoch and the Naked Bike Ride as adding spice to the proceedings; an uncharitable one would describe it as substantially unrelated to the motion.

Likewise, Donna Edmund’s exposition of UKIP’s immigration policy, albeit responding to an equally off topic question, would have been bet-

Fiery Page 3 debate bares all

A VIEW FROM THE CHAIR

Abraham Baldry

On the 21st of November, The Badger ran a public debate over whether ‘Page Three’ should be banned. The speakers included MP Caroline Lucas, UKIP councillor Donna Edmunds, activist Marina Pepper and current glamour model Summer St Clare.

Here, debate chair Abraham Baldry gives his unique perspective on the event.

I was fortunate enough to chair the ‘This House Would Ban Page Three’ debate run by The Badger last week.

Turnout was great, and some members of panel and the audience made great points, but as a whole. it could have been a better discussion.

One speaker arrived having not prepared a speech. Debating without notes is like middle-aged man doing hip-hop: if done well, it’s impressive to watch, but if done badly, it’s upsetting, and inevitably ends in awkward

silence. Although she raised a number of salient points, Sumner St Clare’s defence of page three unfortunately fell into the latter camp.

Because of this, it was even more regrettable that Neil Wallace, a former Editor of The Sun, was unable to attend the discussion. Caroline Lucas, on the other hand, will probably consider the evening a success: playing to a favourable crowd, her speeches were met with raucous applause.

An enthusiastic audience always

If you have a topic you’d particularly like to discuss, send me an email at debatingsociety@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

THE BADGER

2 DECEMBER 13

NEWS • 4

Rossdale: Not much hope Poorly students for Guantánamo prisoners suffer in the cold

Christian Engel “Six years of hell” were the words exGuantánamo detainee and Australian citizen, David Hicks, recently used to describe his time in the secretive US prison in Cuba. A talk on Tuesday evening organized by the Politics Society (PolSoc) sought to reinforce this description.

In her lecture “Abuses in Counter Terrorism - Detention, Torture, Release”, to around 100 students, Polly Rossdale, from the UK non-profit organization Reprieve, told those in attendance that the jail “violates human rights” and that there is little hope of an imminent closure.

At present there are around 164 detainees being held in the Guantánamo Bay detention camp.

Rossdale argued that none of them have ever been charged or trialled and that she believes the majority were probably never involved in terrorism.

She also revealed that 86 percent of all previous Guantanámo detainees were sold for bounties.

According to Rossdale, this is due

to the history of the detention camp.

When the US opened the jail in January 2002 as part of its counter-terrorism policy after 9/11, it offered rewards, of between £3,000 to £5,000, for the capture of terrorists in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Rossdale discussed how this may have led to the arbitrary arrest of strangers by natives who wanted money; “The US really did not know who they had.”

Nevertheless, she continued, the detainees were massively “tortured”, with techniques ranging from sleep deprivation and religious harassment to physical violence and sexual abuse. Solitary confinement was another of techniques Rossdale insisted was practiced in the prison.

In theory, this was only allowed for up to 30 days, Rossdale reported, but some detainees claimed to have been kept in isolation for up to 18 months.

The consequences of this treatment, she stressed, were severe: Eight men have died since the opening of the camp; six of which are deemed to have committed suicide.

However, Rossdale highlighted that the conditions within Guantanamo Bay

have improved; over 600 of the 779 detainees have been released, and a number of the “unlawful treatments” have been abandoned.

Despite this, Rossdale was keen to note that the situation is nonetheless still bad in the extreme, prisoners still having to suffer ‘beatings’ and ‘electric shocks applied to genitals’, she alleged.

In the discussion after her talk Rossdale described the work of her organisation: Reprieve represents 15 current prisoners of Guantánamo.

To date, 65 of its clients have been released. Home nations are often reluctant to take back ex-prisoners; in these instances the organization helps them to resettle in a new country.

For many of the former detainees, she argued, although release frees them from physical imprisonment, many suffer severe emotional trauma.

In addition, Rossdale slammed US president Barack Obama for not closing the prison and lamented that the difficulties faced in pressuring the US government on the issue; a six-month hunger strike by 100 prisoners at the beginning of this year was not enough to close the prison.

She concluded by highlighting the ongoing struggle to find new home countries for the remaining prisoners, for these reasons it is unlikely that they will be free men soon.

This is especially true for the 46 “indefinite detainees” who are deemed to be too dangerous for release. When asked about the prospects of these prisoners, Rossdale replied: “There is no optimism at all”. Reprieve is constantly searching for volunteers. If you would like to get involved you will find further information on the website: www.reprieve.org.uk

Students’ Union update The Students’ Union has been doing loads of things over the last few weeks, and here is just a selection of what we’ve been up to. You can find out more through our regular updates at sussexstudent.com, following us on Twitter @USSU, or finding us on Facebook at facebook.com/thestudentsunion.

We’re currently working to improve student housing in the local area. We met several local letting agents to discuss issues raised by students such as high fees and poor service.

We have lots of advice on the website, including what to do if your property falls into disrepair, and tips for living in the local community.

Remember that there is no rush to secure housing for next academic year. Keep an eye out for our #dontrentyet campaign online and on campus in the coming weeks.

We’re also co-hosting a series of housing talks this week and in the new year.

Don’t forget to tell us what you want the Students’ Union

to do for the next three years. It’s simple and quick to have your say and shape the Students’ Union - just tell us what the Union should start, continue and stop doing: sussexstudent.com/ournewstrategy. We’ve already had almost 1,900 suggestions submitted.

As part of our Time to Change mental health campaign, students from UniTV, the Union’s award-winning online TV station, and our campaign volunteers filmed students and staff talking about how mental health issues affect them, in an effort to overcome some of the stigma associated with mental health issues.

We’ve had lots of events going on recently. Lots of societies have been putting on events in conjunction with the Students’ Union recently, including the Indian Students’ Society celebrating Diwali, MEXSAS holding a Day of the Dead event and the Islamic Student Society celebrating Eid. World AIDS Day is also coming up on 1st December, and a whole series of commemorative events are being held.

Ho Wah So

Rosanna Dodd 51 percent of students say they become ill due to living in cold accommodation, a recent survey discovered.

The results have revealed that 49 percent of students have avoided putting on their heating in order to save money on their energy bills.

A third stated that they would not have the budget to fund their essentials if they were to accommodate paying for heating. These figures illustrate that students are often forced to decide between heating or eating.

This is actively having an impact on health and as a result, students’ studies.

The survey found that 51 percent of its respondents have fallen ill as a result of the low temperature in their accommodation. 54 percent believe that their work has actively been affected by having a cold room.

With 2013 recently predicted to be Britain’s worst winter since 1947, for most, a well-heated household is to be considered a top priority.

With the price of university education higher than ever, it leaves little, if any, leeway for surplus funds. It is the student population who have emerged to potentially be some of the worst hit from the cold snap.

The fall in weather conditions has been met by a rise in fuel prices. British Gas has recently announced an 8.4 percent increase in gas prices, along with a 10.4 percent bump in electricity prices.

On top of this, the ‘Big Six’ energy suppliers have raised their prices by an average of 8.2 percent, and EDF Energy have planned to do the same to theirs, by 3.9 percent.

This abrupt upsurge in prices has forced many students to go without heating; maintaining a warm environment in their homes has simply become too costly to implement.

Jim Bower, a third-year politics student commented on the issue: “Three of my housemates have come down with something in the last couple of weeks and have missed lectures as a result; two of them have even had to make a trip to the medical centre on campus. I would definitely put that down to the cold”.

Sophie Field, a second-year psychology student agreed. She commented on the issue: “We put the heating on for one hour a day, anymore and it just becomes too ridiculous to maintain financially”.

Thumbs down for Ratemash

Madeline Weng

A new website has been quietly uploading students’ Facebook pictures without the owner’s consent, and posting them publicly for strangers to rate their “hotness”.

Ratemash.com has uploaded the profile pictures of 150,000 students, from 116 universities, in their bid to “sort out your nightlife” by showing which clubs are near ‘hot’ students.

Narinder Kapur, a student at the University of Sussex, who found himself on ‘RateMash’, shared his privacy concerns with the Badger: “It's quite offensive, and a breach of my privacy. I don't think I've given them permission to do this.”

Colum McGuire, NUS Vice President for Welfare told the Telegraph: “It is concerning to hear that students appear to be featured on this website unknowingly or without their consent.

"Those who have been featured without being asked should immediately contact the website owners and ask to be removed.”

However, Michael Healy, 19, founder of ‘Ratemash’, has previously stated that users who wanted their photos removed would have to sign up for the site - connecting it with their Facebook

profile - and then delete their photo, before emailing him to remove their account.

A description on the website says that “Ratemash is a buzzing community with members within universities mostly in the UK and around the world who like to go out, party and enjoy themselves.

The idea of Ratemash is to make it easier to meet new people in universities and to make going out cheaper, more fun and seamless.”

“I think, as a website, it’s not that bad an idea,” said Adrian Kralic, a Law and American Studies student at the University of Sussex.

“I am not very worried about it because my Facebook profile is public anyway. But I think they definitely should ask first for your permission and then add your photo.”

Crissy Stavila, an undergraduate student, studying Business Management and Marketing, agreed: “Personally I don’t like it, but it’s very common nowadays. If a person wants to be rated, then fine, that’s their decision, but it should be voluntary rather than just taking somebody’s photo and posting it without their knowledge.”

The site features the ‘top 50’ boys and girls at a number of UK universities.

Cindy-Lou This week: Why I Love Christmas!

The very word ‘Christmas’ fills most people with a sense of nostalgia, and images instantly come to ones mind of the usual wintery scenessnow falling, glistening christmas trees lit in windows, open fires roaring, gleeful families revelling at the arrival of the coca-cola advert (!) etc. But what makes it so special for myself (and I’m sure most) is the remnants of the innocence we all once possessed as children.

Most of us will remember having parts in the Christmas play at school; standing in the corridors in single file- Mary at the front with her blue felt costume held together by a safety pin, the three wise kings all gathered with their tea towels and robes, angel Gabriel’s white dress and slanted gold tinsel halo, and of course the sheep all beaming proudly at the back. Everyone was always more than prepared after the countless dress rehearsals and the words to ‘Once in Royal Davids City’ were firmly embedded into their heads by an overly enthusiastic music teacher… It was all so magical.

Of course, the fun doesn’t stop at the remembering, we all grow up and realise *sigh* Santa isn’t real and out comes the ‘snowballs’ and champagne the moment we awake on Christmas morning and are reminded of the fact that we have (or certainly will) become Santaour bank balances confirming this!! After the lavish feast and every M&S ‘pig-in-blanket’ having been consumed, ‘Once in Royal Davids City’ evolves into ‘A Fairytale Of New York’ which is simultaneously vocalised by the entire drinking population on numerous occasions while the older few still don their christmas cracker crowns in the corner of every living room across the country… Families and friends are united the world over sharing love and happiness, if only for this time, which is why for me, Christmas is the best time of the year.

Harry Hennah

Makes 15

The Big Bauble Debate Best Christmas Cracker Jokes 1. Where does Father Christmas go to recover? The Elf Farm.

2. Where do snowmen go to dance?

The Snowball!

3. What do you call a blind reindeer?

No eye deer.

4. How do penguins get around? By icicle.

5. Who hides in the bakery at Christmas? Mince Spies.

THE GRINCH This Thisweek: week:Why Silence I Hate Is Golden Christmas “Happy Silence. Christmas!”

What does that That’s word what suggest you’lltobeyou? hearing If forsoon. you, itYou’ll means bump you into should a friend munchand loudly as you’re on loudsaying food in goodbye: loud packaging, “Happy Christmas!” scream and They’re shout like telling Britney you to and bemake happy.sure To have everyone a “Happy can hear Christmas!” how awesome They’ll say: your“What musicare is, you you’re doing doing foritChristmas?” wrong. Likeand so many you’ll say people “I’ll in probably the ‘sibe lent’ at home, areas ofwith the my library, Family” you’re and doing they’ll it wrong. reply “Well, Beingthat’s in a library, nice.” one would expect others to have the capacity to read. Yet apparently the It’ll word be‘silent’ on theprinted radio, on onthe banners television, all over decorations the walls,in has the been streets, elusive. people’s homes. Christmas songs will play and you’ll know all the words.

Slowly If therebut was surely, nowhere they’ll forget youtoto you. go You’ll to discuss startwork, to shop, I would finallybegiving more in. understanding.

You’ll buy presents, However, andwithin dress up, theand confines your work of thewill library havethere a party, are and an abundance you’ll get drunk, of ‘social’ and and shovel even down ‘quiet’food, areas and where kiss your someone friendsyou can hate. audibly However, try to help deepyou inside, withyou’ll yourgradually degree. I be know getting thatmore sometimes irritated, it’s questioning busy. It mayyourself. not be by “Why choice amthat I doing you this? have Who to work is Santa? in a silent Whyarea, did Ibut justthose buy my are Dad still the a box rules, set of whether Miranda. youDoes wanthe to even be silent likeor Miranda? not. I’m Who not working is Miranda?” in the silent area because I don’t want to socialise with Eventually, my friends,you’ll I’m insee here thebecause sign: ‘Visit I haveSanta a massive in hisdeadline Grotto!’ and So you’ll don’t start wantto distractions! plan it, listing the questions you need answered. Soon, you’ll be there. Waiting to meet Santa.

“Hello, Apparently, Santa” Sussex you’llstudents say. “I have think some the dictionary questions about definition Christmas.” of silent Whilst is: ‘characterized trying not to byblurt friendly out “Icompanionship HATE CHRISTMAS!” or relations; a social “Well club.’ come The definition on in, sir.of Where socialare is: your ‘making children?” no sound’. Obviously these “Iare have theno other children way around.

Santa, I Perhaps need to ask if people you some did not questions…” confuse the one You for the will other, ask him stressed, why everyone unhappy getspeople so excited would about be able Christmas, to focusand on that theiryou work. don’t Whilst understand essay writing all theinfuss a silent behind area it,earlier, its so over I discovered the top and thatoverrated.

‘Alex’ (who was talking very loudly) wasn’t let into Funfair because he had a green face?

Every year I have to put up with the burden of Christmas shopping, Please of others using happy the library.

Moan moan me! moan. the costthink of presents andwhen the overly people all around There is no getting away from it, I hate Christmas!!

Creatures of the Night @SussexSays #Moan Maddy Smithers Alex Redmond

Share your moaning moments

Mince Pies Recipe

Preparation Time: 15 Mins Cooking Time: 20 Mins

What you need: 230g Butter 120g Golden Caster Sugar 350g Plain Flour 300g Mincemeat Milk (for brushing) Icing Sugar (For Dusting) Method: Preheat the oven 200C/Gas 6/Fan 180C 1.

Mix the butter and sugar together in a bowl and sift the flour into the fix until it becomes a firm dough.

2.

Roll the dough out and line the cupcake trays with the dough and spoon the mincemeat into the pies.

3.

With the remaining dough, cut lids out and place on top, press the edges gently together.

4.

Pour milk into a cup and use a pastry brush to brush it over the tops of the pies.

5.

Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.

6.

Remove the mince pies from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes, once cool dust with icing sugar and enjoy!

HAVE a very merry christmas and a happy hanukkah

the badger

2 deCEMBER 2013

Letters • 7

LETTERS

Festive Frivolity

RE: ‘Tutors marking mayhem’

Dear Badger, With Christmas now fast approaching, I have realised that I should probably start thinking about doing some festive shopping.

However, as a very poor student, this year my beloved friends and family will have to be satisfied with the treats from the ASDA bargain bin and my poor attempts at hand crafted presents. It would be a lot more convenient if Papa Noel really did climb down your chimney on Christmas Eve and leave you with a mountain of gifts. But, as he doesn’t, my sister will have to be satisfied with her knitted iPad. I like to think that I am quite creative when it comes to giving Christmas presents; I normally go for something quite personal. For example, one year I got my parents a picture frame with a photo of the family and had it engraved with a sweet little message. My sister on the other hand doesn’t tend to put as much effort in. Last year she bought my mum an egg timer, as a genuine Christmas gift.

Since coming to Sussex, I really appreciate Christmas a lot more. Besides being something to look forward to when I’m still in University at 12am stressing about a deadline, the whole festive season is an excuse to go out with friends drinking mulled wine and eating mince pies.

I even look forward to my day long pilgrimage back up North, hauling my suitcase through St Pancras station, ensuring I trip at least 2 businessmen men up along the way - now one of my festive holiday traditions.

I think the best thing about Christmas day, has to be Christmas TV. By 6pm I am lay on the sofa in my onesie, eating my third helping of trifle, demanding silence as I wait for the Doctor Who special to come on.

Ultimately I am most excited to go home to a warm, mould-free house, where I don’t have to wear gloves indoors.

Merry Christmas!

Rachel Roberts

Dear Badger, The Badger has recently printed two misleading articles questioning the commitment and competence of Sussex tutors, based upon anonymous anecdotes and partial truths. As Associate Tutors, Teaching Fellows, students, and faculty at Sussex we feel that these attacks on tutors are not only uninformed but unjustified and divisive. We have complained to USSU. ‘Tutors [sic] marking mayhem’, alleges that a Sussex tutor remarked in class that he or she did not believe in dyslexia. The article also criticizes the provision of tutor training relating to the needs of students with learning disabilities. We note that no teaching staff or representatives were interviewed for the article.

The report of a tutor dismissing the impact of dyslexia is serious. It was not clear whether it was reported to the university authorities. Until properly investigated and reported, it remains an anonymous anecdote about an unnamed individual. It says nothing about the approach of ‘tutors’ to marking, and fails to accurately depict the marking process.

The anonymous source remarks that “It doesn’t make sense to me that some tutors are allowed to announce things like that openly in class”. To be absolutely clear—tutors are not “allowed” to say anything so blatantly false and discriminatory. We are bound by the 2010 Equalities Act, not to mention by professional ethics.

Until this year, tutors were required to undertake training led by the Teaching Learning and Development Unit (TLDU). This semester-long course included guidance on the needs of students with learning disabilities.

The TLDU, however, no longer exists.

The Badger may wish to ask the Vice Chancellor why he’s closed it.

Tutors have clear guidelines for teaching and marking, and access to support documents via Sussex Direct for all students with learning disabilities. We take our responsibilities to these students, indeed to all students, very seriously.

All assessed work is double marked and then verified by an external examiner.

email: badger-letters@ussu.sussex.ac.uk This is not ‘mayhem’. Another article, ‘University tutors valuing pay cheque too much’, suggests that tutors are motivated more by money than by a passion for teaching.This breathtaking generalization is based on nothing more than a single anecdote. Even as an editorial, this isn’t really journalism. It’s just malicious gossip.

We take immense pride in teaching.

No-one would choose to work as an AT if they were motivated by financial gain. We invariably work many more hours than we are paid for – some must teach for free. ATs are not faculty and have little job security.

USSU’s recent ‘Associate Tutor Report’ makes this situation very clear.

The Badger would serve students’ interests better if it investigated these issues properly and determined the facts. The spurious, unsubstantiated rumours and partial facts published in these articles only sow division and mistrust between teachers and students.

USSU has upheld our complaint and issued a final written warning to the Editor in Chief, Bree Allegretti. We welcome this, and are pleased to note the retraction and apology carried in the Badger.

Yours sincerely, Sam Appleton, AT, Department of IR, Jessie Seal 3rd Year International Development Rep, Dr. William McEvoy – Lecturer in English, Matt BattenCarew Postgraduate IR Rep, Dr. Chris Kempshall, AT, Department of History, Melissa Lazenby, Dphil candidate, Geography Department, Dr. Martin Paul Eve, Lecturer in English, University of Lincoln (ex-Sussex AT), Dr. Maia Pal, Lecturer and AT, Departments of IR & Sociology, Neil Dooley, AT, Department of IR, Stella Sims, Dphil candidate, Department of Media, Film and Music, Tom Martin, AT, Department of IR, Dr. Sian Edwards, Teaching Fellow, Department of History, Tim Carter, AT, Departments of Politics & Philosophy, Dave Boyne, School of History, Art History & Philosophy, Pedro Salgado, Dphil candidate, Department of IR, Sanjeedah Choudhury, AT, School of Psychology, Sahil Dutta, AT, Department of IR, Sophie van der Ham, Welfare Officer USSU, Juliette Cule, Education Officer, USSU, Adam Fishwick, Dphil candidate, Department of IR,

Phillip Homburg, AT, Department of Philosophy. Dr. Sam Cooper, AT, School of English, Adriano Mérola Marotta, MA, Postgraduate Association Chair, Rebecca Partos, AT, Department of Politics, David Hull, AT, Department of American Studies, Ross Davidson, Undergraduate, English Language, Tanya Kant, Postgraduate Representative, School of Media, Film, and Music, Erica Consterdine, AT, Department of Politics, Busra Sultana, AT, School of Media, Film, and Music, Huw Rees, AT, Department of Philosophy, Dr. Shamira Meghani, Lecturer, Faculty of Arts, University of Leeds; former Tutorial Fellow, University of Sussex, School of English, Darius A’Zami, AT, Department of IR, Dr. Tom Bentley, AT, Department of IR, Kit Eves, Departmental Coordinator, Department of IR, Evren Eken, Dphil candidate, Department of IR, Dr. Kerem Nisancioglu, University of Westminster, former AT, Department of IR, Dr. Heba Youssef, former AT, IR/ Intl.Development/English/Histor y/ Media/Summer School, Zac Rowlinson, AT, Department of English, Gráinne O’Connell, AT, Departments of History & International Development, Jeremy Young, AT, School of Psychology, Katie McQuaid, AT, Department of Anthropology, Maxine Sherman, AT & AT representative, School of Psychology, Patrick Levy, AT, Department of Philosophy, Elena Gorianova, Dphil, Sussex European Institute, Molly Budd, Undergraduate, Department of IR, Michael Segalov, Undergraduate, Law, Politics & Sociology, Lizzie Reed, AT, Department of Media, Film and Music, Ezra Cohen, AT, Department of Philosophy

# T hebadger the week in tweets @EducationUSSU If our inflatable had gone up then the loan book probably wouldn’t have been sold :’( #rain #thebadger

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

Editor-in-Chief Aubrey Allegretti

badger@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

@Anastaticc Can I thank god for £2.50 doubles plz #skinttuesday #thebadger #eastslopebar

‘Tutors Marking Mayhem’ and ‘University tutors valuing pay cheque too much’ The views and opinions expressed in this publication do not nessesarily represent those of the Student’s Union, unless explicitly stated.

BADGER

THE

A complaint regarding the articles ‘Tutors Marking Mayhem’ and ‘University tutor values pay cheque too much’, published on 28 October and 11 November respectively, has been received by the Students’ Union, with allegations that the articles contain misleading and unsubstantiated information. The investigation into the two articles is currently ongoing.

The Badger should be, and always aims to be, in the interest of all those on campus, and should promote good campus community relations.

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

communications@sussexstudent.com

the badger

2 december 2013

FEATURE • 8

FEATURE

The symbol of recovery from NEDA- National Eating Disorders Association

I am anorexic...

This week, an anonymous writer opens up on their experience coping with Anorexia and shows those suffering that recovery is hard but ultimately recovery is possible I am anorexic. I am not shallow. I do not believe that skinny is attractive.

I am not ignorant to the damage that starvation can do to my body. I would not promote it to other people. I am not repulsed by food. I am anorexic, and I wish that I was not.

When I was 13 years old an attractive, popular and moronic young man at my school announced to the school dinner queue that I could do with losing some weight. By 14 I was lost in a sea of calorie counting, avoidance, lies, regimented mirror checks, scales and self-loathing.

There is a danger when speaking about personal experiences of anorexia, because for people who are suffering, comparison is at the forefront of any conversation or glance - “Am I as ill as she was?” “Was she thinner than me?” “Does he eat less than I do?” “Are they in more control than I am?”.

As such, I will not go into details describing the state that I got myself into, but please trust me when I say it was a bad place and I am both fortunate and elated to have removed myself from it. More to the point, my personal experience of this cruel and pervasive disease is not the cause for my writing. This article is instead intended to shed a little hope on those who are suffering.

There is a stigma around eating disorders that cannot be ignored. A

common response to my situation is frustration; mutters about my obvious stupidity and selfishness.

I cannot stress enough the error of this misconception. I am not selfish, I never spent a day without hav-

“I have achieved what I can honestly say I had known to be impossible. The pleasure I am now able to find in food is stronger than the fear that I used to drown in” ing to bare the overwhelming guilt over what I was putting my parents through. This is guilt that I would not have been expected to bare had I been diagnosed with Cancer. Anorexia is a disease, it is something that happens to people and like a disease, it feels near impossible to cure and while you’re ill you forget how it feels to be well. Fortunately for me, the guilt I bore was incentive to seek help.

With fluctuating diet and weight, I have lived the past seven years miserable in my own skin, and when the stresses of my degree finally got the better of me, the minimal control that I had over my disorder was extinguished and I became very ill.

I returned home from university for the holidays in April and was met with a look on my mothers face that could have shattered glass. I contacted a service near my home who agreed to meet me and over the summer I met with a support worker once a week.

We spoke very little about food, but she supported me in a slow and controlled increase in my food intake. We talked out the thoughts and feelings that possessed me, and she taught me tools to cope with them.

She described me as a patient who was equally as courageous as she was terrified and I have never been prouder or more flattered.

I have achieved what I can honestly say I had known to be impossible.

The pleasure I am now able to find in food is stronger than the fear that I used to drown in.

While I was ill, my cognitive functions were running on empty, which meant that everything seemed black and white, all or nothing, fat or thin.

The intake I have managed to reach and maintain has meant that I am able to think clearly, understand my

body and its needs and cope with the negative thoughts and feelings that I would otherwise have let consume me.

The energy that I now have, which I had thought to be lost for good, allows me to function in day to day life in a way I’d forgotten I could. The impact on my mood has meant that recovery suddenly felt possible just as I was feeling I should give up.

With actual nourishment my body and mind are happy; it feels like I’ve shaken a thick grey smog that has been weighing me down since I was that 13 year old girl in the dinner queue. I find it hard to believe that I’d forgotten that healthy can be happy.

I am writing as a means to tell you that recovery is hard, recovery is scary, recovery is painful – but I am proof that recovery is possible.

I implore you to take some time to think. Separate yourself from this disease.

Every time you think about restricting or purging, every time it crosses your mind that you would feel better or safer without that food, every time you find comfort in the prospect of a busy day with no time for meals, every time you are riddled with panic at the thought of a dinner party, or weeping into the mirror – Stop. Remind yourself that those thoughts are not the same as the

thoughts you have about your crush, or your fashion choices, they are different from your choice of friends or classes, those thoughts are a symptom. You are not your anorexia.

Good luck, stay strong, take the step – trust me, it’s worth it.

Help and Advice - helpfinder.b-eat.co.uk - www.nationaleatingdisorders. org - Brighton and Hove Eating Disorder Services offers support through GP referral.

Help is also available from Counselling Services and the Student Life Centre.

follow and facebook Who knew Badgers could use computers?

Follow us @thebadgernews and find us on facebook.com/thebadger. ussu

the badger

2 DECEMBER 2013

Comment • 10

COMMENT

Who does our Students’ Union really represent?

Ellamay Russell

The ‘About Us’ page on the USSU website begins, ‘The University of Sussex Students' Union aims to make the lives of its members better’, but how is the student experience to be improved?

The website’s opening statement says the union ‘aims to make the lives of its members better by providing opportunities such as sports clubs and societies, advice and support services on issues such as housing and coursework and student-friendly shops and bars on campus’ a statement that reveals much about the low expectations of the USSU. Its recent track record is at best, poor. Under the Chancellorship of Michael Farthing and amidst an international whirlwind of neo-liberalism, we have seen continuous attacks on education at Sussex; such as department and course closures, privatisation, job losses, the closure of the centre for community engagement, the introduction of external trustees to the SU, fee hikes, the privatisation of the crèche, interactive lectures replacing face to face teaching... the list goes on.

Part of the problem undoubtedly lies in the way that the union and its officers have confronted problems,

and more importantly, how they see their role on campus. For some, positions within the SU, particularly the NUS, are treated as a springboard to high flying careers.

Most infamous in these respects is former NUS president and labour party member Aaron Porter, who following his condemnation of the student protests of 2010, went on to become an ‘education consultant’ charging University managements £125 an hour for the benefit of his services.

Getting a career boost from working within the union is fine, in today’s job climate students should take what they can get, the problem lies in the glorifying of USSU as being useful for anything other than a stamp on its officer’s CVs. Admittedly, another persistent problem in the efficiency of student representation is the apolitical nature of Students’ Unions. The ideal students union is, in the eyes of management, just another outsourced service, running bars and providing entertainment and Ubuntu Cola, while retaining the illusion of Sussex as a more progressive and ‘student-friendly’ institution.

In fact, the management ideal of the students' union is reproduced by those who manage or aspire to manage the

union. Student union elections are characterised by vacuous sloganeering, bad rhymes, abstract commitment to defending education and attention grabbing gimmickry.

It is a given that Sabbatical officers achieve results only by keeping on the good side of University management, results materialising in, for example, a much needed new night club. In a climate when the majority of attacks on education come directly from management, this means that as students we are witness to a mass capitulation.

A union conducting a ‘healthy’ relationship with University management is an union on its knees, as proved by UNISON at Sussex, whose tactic of appealing to the better nature of management in the privatisation dispute has been disastrous for campus workers.

This is not just a top-down take-itor-leave-it directive communicated to our officers from management, the Student’s Union relies on the funding mechanism controlled by management to function.

Like all students’ unions in the UK, USSU is dependent on the University and therefore University management for funding, facilities and communications and are therefore accountable to them, not to the students they are sup-

posed to represent.

The repercussions of this at Sussex are evident where the University has removed the SU’s ability to email its members following the use of emails to encourage students to oppose the closure of the linguistics department in 2010.

The threat of the withdrawal of funding has also seen the SU back out of a boycott of the NSS (national student survey) despite a members meeting voting as a majority in favour of a boycott.

The problem of students unions is, however, not primarily a problem of bad leadership. When those committed to fighting for education and student welfare are elected, they often find themselves banging their heads against a brick wall, that is against management teams with total executive power as well as the other full time unelected bureaucracies within the unions themselves.

These officers are either absorbed into the management style of unionism or alienated by their disempowerment. Students unions lack any executive power over universities, they are financially dependent on hostile managements and unlike trade unions, they hold absolutely no structural power.

At best students unions can be used to publicise and support actions to wider layers of people, elections and sabbatical roles can be used to raise arguments and agitate against attacks on education. However, it is vital to confront the vacuity of the SU and its reputation amongst the student body.

USSU in its current shape is pointless. Instagraming Library Square never did anything to change the criminal rent on campus, to stop the erosion of teaching time, or put more books in the library, or tackle the rising bus fares, or delouse East Slope, or stop deposits being stolen by cowboy estate agents, or to in any way engender a more positive collective spirit which might be a force to make students lives better.

No one turns up to EGM’s because they are manifestly pointless. We need to face the fact that the apathy in the student body is a product of the inadequacies of our own institutions.

We need to rethink our relationship as students to our university, we need to change the power relation and our representation, not just within the university, but to one where the university responds to and reflects a student body engaged with making their own lives better and transforming these tired institutions in the process.

For failing to clean up its act- lets dump Veolia

Hichem Maafi

No, Veolia is not my girlfriend and I don’t want to break up with her. Veolia is a multinational company that is currently supplying the waste management on Sussex campus.

While I think that the overfilled bins at East Slope are already a good reason to end Veolia’s contract, there are many more reasons why Veolia’s business is even dirtier than you may think.

First of all, Veolia is complicit in the illegal occupation of Palestine, in one way operating the Tovlan landfill.

There, Veolia dumps waste from illegal Israeli settlements onto Palestinian

lands. That’s rubbish! It’s also illegal under international law. In UN Resolution 63/201 the UN General Assembly explicitly called upon Israel to cease the dumping of all kinds of waste materials in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Even though Veolia claims that it sold the Tovlan Landfills two years ago, the Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection confirmed in January 2013 that Veolia is still the sole owner and operator of this landfill site.

Veolia also has a long history of union busting and treating its workers like trash, often leading to strikes. For example, the city council in Boston, USA, outsourced the school buses to Veolia. Once they took over, it tried to

force the drivers to re-apply for their jobs, to give up some pay and to give Veolia permission to look into financial and social media aspects of the drivers’ lives.

This drove the workers crazy, so they refused to board the buses on the morning of the 8th of October demanding a meeting with the company’s officials.

Instead of listening to the workers, Veolia sacked four of the Union leaders and locked down the bus yard.

The drivers had said they were ready to pick up students from school that afternoon, yet Veolia used police force to prevent the drivers from entering their workplace.

Veolia is also the biggest profiteer

from water privatisation in the world.

As one can imagine, by treating water as a commodity than rather as a human right, Veolia seems to be more interested in profit than in people.

Veolia’s water privatisation policies not only failed in Europe and the US but more importantly in the Global South. Skyrocketing prices and water shortages have forced the company out of deals in Brazil and Argentina.

This was mostly due to organised grass-roots resistance by people thirsty for justice.

Furthermore, Veolia’s water subsidiary was voted one of the ten worst polluters in the country by the UK Environmental Agency. Incidents included illegal sewage pumping into

SPOTLIGHT ON: RE:CYCLE Sussex Bike Hire Co-operative Lyndsay Burtonshaw

We are a student-led project, launched in September, hiring out 28 bikes on a termly-basis to students who would have otherwise found it more difficult to get on two wheels.

We are a Students’ Union society, so everyone can get involved! If you want to hire a bike, or if you are interested in helping with marketing, communications, social media, bike mechanics via Freewheelers, and hiring out the bikes. Contact us on recyclebikehire@gmail.com.

As a co-operative, we have a set of principles we operate on: 1. Our vision: open to all. We want

more people on bikes. Cycling is a happier, healthier, greener, cheaper, and self-propelling means of transport. We rescue bikes that otherwise would have gone to landfill. We want to make it easier for people to cycle, in a city where access to bikes can be expensive and intimidating.

2. Empowerment: cycling is an empowering activity, which enables you to engage more directly with your body and your surroundings. We seek to provide a solution to being at the mercy of public transport price increases across the country.

3. Safety on the road is a right: we seek to increase the cyclists’ safety by providing safety equipment, information, training and conscien-

tiousness.

4. Democracy: we have an open volunteer-based membership, so both bike-hirers and general public can be involved. We work in a horizontal manner, so contributions from all members have equal weighting in the decision-making process. There is no profiteering.

5. Safe space: We seek to provide a space safe from discrimination based on- age; disability; gender; gender reassignment; marriage/civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race; religion or belief; sex; sexual orientation. We will not tolerate this discrimination.

6. Community: we collaborate with local grassroots organisations to

help spread the benefits of bikes: Cranks, Freewheelers, Bike Train, Lewes Road for Clean Air, Brighton Bike Project, Sustrans, University of Sussex Cycling Club.

7. Co-op movement: we seek to promote the proliferation of co-op principles and knowledge, and encouraging the creation of new ones.

rivers, leading to the loss of wildlife.

This also cost taxpayers lots of money to clean up. That stinks!

The good news however, is that Veolia’s contract at Sussex is running out next year. However, Interserve have taken over the responsibility to award the next contract, so basically management has outsourced the outsourcing.

If you want to help lobbying Interserve to not renew the contract with Veolia then come to our next campaign meeting on Wednesday 10.30am at Jac’s Office (First Floor Falmer House). For more updates visit the Facebook page “Dump Veolia – Keep Sussex Clean” or email environment@sussex.ac.uk.

THE BADGER

2 DECEMBER 2013

COMMENT • 11

LETTERS COMMENT Reoccupation: a rebellion without a cause?

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

Alexandra Piletska About a month ago the world woke up to a new world order, a post-Brandian utopia, if you will. Wealth was redistributed, voting ceased and beards were everywhere. It was glorious. Or it may have been, had Russell Brand had any specific ideas, plans or ideologies that extended beyond the vague notion of equality and a list of qualms with the current system.

It’s easy to complain, it’s a lot harder to propose a better way of doing something while taking into account the wider picture and the many repercussions even a small change can have. It’s easy to be vague.

The fact of the matter is that although we do have problems as a society, we are able to complain about them from a position of luxury and it is insulting to millions around the world to pretend otherwise. This is not to encourage our moral crusaders to

quit while they’re ahead, but rather a reminder to place their dissatisfaction in context in their call to arms for an overhaul of a system that’s working really quite well – objectively well, in fact – and above all, to be specific. If you want to change society, you have to have a concrete plan with concrete ideologies and demands.

I experienced what a lack of specific demands and a youthful desire to rage against the machine looks like first hand when the Occupy movement filled the Bramber House conference centre as we were leaving on Tuesday night. On my way out I exchanged a few words with the group, the tone of which was largely critical.

Outside, I reflected on my dismissing attitude. The arena of socio-political views is largely dominated by an ‘us and them’ mentality: you pick a side and stick to it. The way we consume news only reinforces the divisiveness; with an almost infinite list of online news sources we can, and do, pick the

views we agree with and ignore the ones that don’t. Even our brains seem to be wired to promote this selective acquisition of information through a process of confirmation bias: facts that favour our view are attended to, facts supporting an opposing view are ignored.

So we pick a side and we stick to it.

Maybe it leads to some form of positive contribution to society. Maybe it leads to the shutdown of the US government for an embarrassingly long time. Either way, how many times have you wished for the chance to really explain your position to someone from the other side and have them really listen?

So I walked back up the stairs and asked for permission to stay to listen and ask questions. I assured the security guard I would not be staying and I assured the protesters that I had no other agenda beyond listening to what they had to say. I disclosed my previous voting history and my reservations with their movement.

They were initially friendly and welcomed me into their group. The first shot fired was an alleged assault on a member of the security team. The second incident happened within twenty minutes of the occupation as a member of the protest group was allegedly caught in the process of stealing drinks from behind the bar.

If true, acts like these make it hard to defend the movement as anything other than the youthful desire to rebel, hard-wired into our brains.

The people I met were good people

but goodness and a desire to improve the world is not enough to be a respected political movement. Despite an initial friendly welcome, as the evening continued, I was met with increasing unease and suspicion. My initial questions were basic.

I asked them what their aims and demands are, how long they are planning to occupy the building, what the university can do to resolve this, etc. I got different responses from different people.

Some valid points were raised, such as issues with staff contracts, but there wasn’t much unison in their goals.

Their manifesto began and ended with ‘equality’. Even when they focused on specific goals, very few realistic strategies were proposed. Instead they marched under the flag of vague idealism. Three more questions I asked and the deeper I probed, the more I was seen as an outsider and a spy. I was asked to show my phone so they could be sure I wasn’t recording anything; I obliged.

As I began to ask more difficult questions, they began to freeze me out.

When asked whether they knew what they were disrupting by occupying the Conference centre, most people begrudgingly conceded that they did not but argued that it wasn’t important as the main people organising the event surely did in an attitude that can only be described as blind faith.

One member added that they’re disrupting financial activities. The event I was attending when they arrived was a scholarship event focused on funding

post-graduate education. When their logic was questioned, they retreated and went on the offensive. They began using personal information I shared with them to distract me and change the topic. I was asked to leave after around three hours lest I asked more difficult questions.

The whole experience sadly reinforced my existing opinion of the movement. Although my initial position was a critical one, I did more than they would have done for me: I gave them three hours of my time to listen. I was prepared for my views to be changed.

However, listening with an open mind does not and should not mean accepting without questioning. No one should change their mind on an important issue without asking difficult questions first and receiving satisfactory answers.

The assumption that doing so somehow makes one antagonistic, disingenuous or a spy whose only aim is to destroy your movement from within is childish, unscientific and illogical. If you’re going to take over a university building, you have to have a strong, logical argument behind the big gesture. You have to be able to answer difficult questions.

You have to know what you stand for instead of counting on the leaders in your ‘we don’t have leaders’ movement to provide the answers. Without that, you’re just part of a crowd, blindly following because Russell Brand is cool and complex political issues are not.

The story of an international student Hazel Tong

Kelly McBride President

Campus strike action On Tuesday 3rd December, the three trade unions represented on campus - UCU, Unison and Unite - are likely to undertake a second day of strike action alongside staff in higher education across the country.

The strike follows the final offer of a 1% pay rise for staff, which the unions have pointed out represents a 13% reduction in pay over the last five years. This time staff will be joined by their colleagues in further education.

The Students’ Union fully supports the right of all staff to challenge practices they deem unfair.

This strike will be the second in a series of actions taking place through the trade unions to ensure a fair

working environment, equal pay for all genders, and against the further marketisation of higher education.

We ask students to stand alongside their tutors, porters, administration staff, lecturers, librarians and many more in a show of support.

On Monday 2 December, join a variety of speakers in Library Square at 1pm to hear more about what it means to go on strike.

On Tuesday 3 December, the national day of strike action, will see University and further education staff up and down the country on strike, and we ask students to show their support by not coming to campus, and joining alongside picket lines.

As an international student, I have experienced the barriers and difficulties to accommodate in a new country. Sometimes, students might be intimidated when it comes to integration and engagement in the University community.

I cannot express in words how anxious I was when I first arrived in the UK for my first-year. I was the rather quiet one in my flat. Coming from a place where drinking and clubbing aren’t culturally-normative behaviours in University, I was a bit put off by this culture. Spending most spare time in my room, I didn’t make too many friends. Two words to summarise my first year: quiet and passive.

In my second year, realising the cultural diversity at Sussex is something that I should make the most of, I started to open myself a bit more, try to embrace cultures that I had never experienced and more importantly, make new friends.

You are not obliged to like clubbing just because you are studying in the UK. I am not a big clubber - noise and crowd sometimes irritate me. I do it occasionally and I have control over whether I go to an event or not. You won’t lose real friends if you kindly reject them. If you have never been to these events before, my suggestion is to treat this as an opportunity to check out

the local culture with your friends. If you don’t like it, you can always leave early there’s no pressure! There are always alternative ways that you can socialise with them like having a coffee break (with cakes!) after your lectures and seminars.

Some international students tend to stick with others from their own countries and only communicate in their native language. But then there is no point in coming all the way to the UK to do so.

Living in this country provides the perfect opportunity to practice English and integrate with other students.

According to Psychology research, those who practice integration have the best adaptation and experience the least mood disturbance and social difficulty when compared to others. Try to reach out to students with different cultural backgrounds and have a chat. University life is not just about studying but also building a globalised social circle that you otherwise could not. It can all begin easily with a smile and a greeting!

As a member of the Students’ Union’s Welcome Team this year, I knew much more about our Students’ Union, met some awesome Union staff members and the Full-time Officers, who made me realise that I could actually take part in making positive changes to improve students’ experiences at Sussex. Without student representation and feedback, changes, if

badger-letters@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

any, would not be reflecting our views.

I then decided to run for Psychology Student Rep and International Students Representative.

You might think that these roles are for those who are assertive and have self-confidence. I am a shy person. But I stepped out of my comfort zone and did a lecture shout-out for my campaign.

I approached and talked to students about my manifesto. In the end, I won!

You would never know what you are capable of without trying out new experiences.

Studying in university is far beyond achieving a degree. It is also about finding yourself and positioning yourself as a member of the University, community and the world.

Striving to learn about and engaging in issues occurring at Sussex, like the recent strike and occupation, can be your first step to get involved - you have nothing to lose! I can’t tell you in words how much I love my roles and how proud I am of myself - you will know when you experience it yourself.

The Students’ Union’s strategy states that “Students should not be passive consumers but active participants providing services, experiences and complementary education for themselves”. It is never too late to get started. So what are you waiting for?

the badger

2 december 2013

SCIENCE • 12

SCIENCE New rare disease strategy brings hope Philippa Clayton The long awaited UK Rare Diseases Strategy is being backed by the UK government.

This will help improve the lives of those affected with rare diseases and maintain the UK’s footing as the world leader in associated research.

Launched on the 21st November by health minister Lord Howe, the strategy looks to give more support and improved communication to those affected and involves “revolutionary genomic research to help transform diagnosis and treatment”.

It strives for a highly personal approach for each patient to be implemented with specialised clinical centres and better training so that earlier diagnosis and treatment is possible.

This brings hope to the future when currently four in ten patients find it difficult to get an accurate diagnosis, some who have “waited years and even decades”. A Rare Diseases Translational Research Collaboration (TRC) is also being established with access to £20 million over four years.

Advances are already being made

science factoid of the week

Antibiotic resistance is like terrorism Obviously one of your main concerns in life is becoming resistant to antibiotics. Well now all of your worrying seems worthwhile.

Antibiotic resistance has been compared as being just as big a threat as terrorism and even global warming according to our favourite Chief Medical Officer, Dame Sally Davies.

Considering we haven’t developed a new antibiotic in over a decade, it’s no wonder that over half of bacteria have resistance to at least one drug.

Davies concludes: “if we pussyfoot and fart around, we will die”... comforting words there.

that could aid with rare disease including a programme to map the whole genome of 100,000 NHS patients.

Rare diseases, those affecting less than six in 10,000 people with a lifethreatening or chronically debilitating disease, are often overlooked in research.

This is due to other more widespread diseases whose research if successful could positively affect a much wider population.

However, there are many different types of rare diseases (5000-8000 and increasing due to identification), so combined they have a large effect on the population.

It is estimated that in a lifetime one in 17 people will suffer from one which is not a small number at all (3.5 million in the UK alone).

Around 80% of rare diseases are genetic in origin so those afflicted could be passing them on to their offspring unknowingly.

Early diagnosis could help prevent this and could potentially find a way to eliminate the risk posed to those offspring.

This is particularly helpful considering that 75% of rare disease affect

children, with 30% of those dying before reaching five.

Alastair Kent, Chair of Rare Disease UK and involved with the strategy development, said that it was “the first time... [the UK] recognise and respond to the needs of rare disease patients systematically, structurally and in accordance with the founding principle of the NHS that treatment should be a response to need”.

In 2009, a recommendation called for each EU state to have a rare diseases plan by the end of 2013. Following this in 2010, the Chief Medical Officer of England highlighted this need in his annual report.

In 2012, the UK Health Departments asked for development ideas which received many responses leading to the strategy produced this month.

Many have concerns on how successful the implementation of this strategy will be in this time of change within the NHS, therefore planning and monitoring outcomes and patient response will be crucial.

Detailed plans will be submitted

by February 2014 on how the 51 recommendations will be introduced in each of the countries.

Hannah Howell

ing interviews with experts in the topic area, who are usually some of our very own lecturers on campus. Then our presenters break down the facts giving clear and concise explanations.

But most importantly, we like to make sure students from campus are involved. Therefore, we often take our science question to students to see what most people believe or know about the topic we are investigating.

We believe it’s really important to have students involved in our episodes as they are the audience that we are creating the show for and we want you to feel part of it.

Science Uncovered looks at a wide variety of topics from psychology to chemistry, biology to physics, neuroscience to theoretical scientific studies; something for everyone.

We believe our episodes are easy and fun to watch where some are longer than others where we delve deeper into investigating our science question or we may have had the opportunity to go to an event.

But now we are attempting to do something we have never done before and we would love to gain the support from everyone on campus.

On Friday 6 December, Science Uncovered will broadcast live for an hour, jam packed with science goodies including a very special wintery weather report asking how snowflakes form, special sci-

Science Uncovered live show

As well as the brilliant media outlet that is the Badger, there is also an award winning student television station at the University of Sussex, called UniTV. At UniTV we produce a variety of shows from covering the news, events on campus and producing original drama and comedy.

One show produced by UniTV that has been particularly successful this year is Science Uncovered, winning the Best Factual category at the National Student Television Awards in April. This was a great achievement as the awards are judged by professionals from the TV world.

The judge of the factual category was BBC producer Alan Holland, who has worked on factual television programmes such as Bang Goes the Theory and Stargazing Live. He said that: “This entry was a joy to watch. It looked brilliant, was extremely well edited and had bags and bags of highly original content.

The film-makers clearly have a great understanding of the tools in their television armoury”.

The main aim of our show is to make science more accessible to the masses by presenting science topics in a fun and engaging way.

The format of the show involves answering a simple science question us-

ence reports about why we give gifts at Christmas, alien hand syndrome, how violins work, hallucinations, the story of DNA and why Santa has red cheeks.

As well as this, we have interviews with the University of Sussex’s research scientists Hans Crombag and Natasha Sigala.

There will be special performances from the Ukulele Society as well as a live

experiment and a quiz between the science societies, Q-soc and Life Sciences, to find out which society is the most knowledgeable about science.

To find out where to tune in please go to our website, www.unitvlive.com, facebook /ScienceUncovered and twitter @Sci_Uncovered and please tune in, it’s sure to be un-missable.

the badger

2 December 2013 ARTS • 14

ARTS

Interview Special

In our biggest coup for a feature yet, Arts Editor Will Fortna talks to James McNew, bassist of Alt. legends Yo La Tengo since before you were born. The conversation flowed from vast record collections to prospective tribute bands and college with Stephen Malkmus and Bob Nastanovich of Pavement.

Kins

The Hope 21st November

George Hutton

Yo La Tengo Press

Yo La Tengo Will Fortna Arts Editor Described routinely as an “indie rock institution”, the “quintessential critics band” and “barbecue connoisseurs”, Yo La Tengo are the best band of the 90s still going strong today.

Earlier this year, the trio (husband-and-wife team Ira Kaplan and Georgia Hubley are joined on bass

by James McNew) released the wonderful Fade, the group’s thirteenth album.

The record demonstrated that, despite releasing consistently brilliant albums over four different decades, the band are still keen to experiment – this was their first effort in seven albums without trusted producer Roger Moutenot.

Last week, I was lucky enough to speak to James McNew. McNew joined the band in 1992 for fifth record May I Sing With Me, and its no coincidence that it was the next album, Painful, that solidified the sound that generations of music fans since have come to know and love.

As such, its hard to imagine Yo La Tengo without the bassist.

From a room hidden in the upper corridors of Falmer House, I phoned James’ Stockholm hotel room and, despite forgetting all my notes and questions at home, had a very pleasant conversation.

We spoke about Swedish food (“dynamite”); his college days with Steve Malkmus, David Berman and Bob Nastanovich; and how touring gives a good sense of the evolution in hipsters’ hairstyles, but not of wider, historical changes to the countries visited.

The band are in the middle of a European tour that sees them eschew larger British cities like Birmingham and Manchester in favour of the cosy delights of Bexhill-On-Sea, just down the coast from Brighton.

Since last year, the band’s tour has consisted of playing two sets a night – one quiet, one loud.

This setup, as James is quick to identify, suits the band’s discography perfectly.

Indeed, you could quite easily deconstruct Yo La Tengo and reassemble them into two or three separate bands.

One would play the gentle, hushed beauty of a song like Shadows; one

the upbeat pop of Moonrock Mambo; and another the screeching electric guitar that Ira Kaplan, on songs like And The Glitter Is Gone, has made his own.

McNew describes this two-tiered set as allowing the band to “show different grades of quiet and different grades of loud” and I would argue that a kind of graded colour chart, in which one can select different shades of the same colour, is an extremely apt way to think of the band’s sound(s).

Yo La Tengo are known for their expansive record collections, demonstrated in the many covers they perform, and these different sounds – from punk to country, folk to bossa nova – find their way into each album.

The band’s understated and tasteful character though, exemplified in Kaplan and Hubley’s vocal melodies, ensures that the songs remain unified, and each is unmistakably the work of the three.

If I had to choose a band to make me a mixtape, Yo La Tengo would definitely be one of my top picks, and indeed McNew is clearly tuned in to unsigned, underground musicians – enthusiastically reeling off his favourite new bands from Austin,

Brooklyn and Ohio (which has “a terrible attitude but fantastic bands.”)

McNew’s tone throughout is understated yet wry – while still displaying the passion of a self-described “obsessed” music fan. For example, when I ask him who, if YLT were a tribute band, they would cover, McNew laughs and suggests a band “whose songs weren’t that difficult and lyrics weren’t that hard to remember.”

This modesty and playfulness is characteristic of a band that have been critically acclaimed for decades without ever losing their integrity or their down-to-earth approach to the life of an indie musician.

Maybe this stems in part from the fact that Yo La Tengo have never had a real breakthrough-into-mainstreamsuccess moment, despite flirting with the kind of 90s MTV attention that saw bands like Pavement and Dinosaur Jr reach larger audiences.

You get the sense though that the band like it this way – consistently releasing great records and quietly selling out venues like the Barbican, all whilst maintaining the kind of DIY integrity, humility and cool that seems to be in short supply in the 21st century.

Here’s to thirteen more albums!

Originally hailing from Brighton, Melbourne are now based in Brighton, England, Kins released their debut album, featuring a well-received selection of ethereal indie pop in July.

Performing live, they deliver their music with more dynamism and intensity, while still retaining the spacious and melodic guitar/bass interplay which defines the album.

The drums are weightier, and the tightly-wound percussive bursts are compelling to watch and listen to.

A beat is never missed, thankfully, as this coordination is integral to the band’s tight, hypnotic rhythm.

Thomas Savage is a charismatic front man, confidently delivering his melancholic brand of introspective lyricism with a wistful, wavering tone.

New single ‘Aimless’ is a particular highlight, showcasing his vocal talents as well as his penchant for unpredictable melody.

By this point the audience’s satisfaction is distilled to a serene ambiance, bar one instance of incoherent heckling from one member.

The band ignore the disruption professionally, while the man, having faced annoyed retorts from the rest of the crowd, leaves the room, and the distraction is thankfully mitigated.

As soon as they leave the stage, Kins are faced with immediate calls for an encore.

They seem all too happy to deliver, and Savage accepts, modestly anouncing that they would “love to play one more for you”, before they launch once again into mellifluous sound.

Kins are tight, talented, and appear fully aware of the sounds they want to explore.

This understanding between the band members is vividly evident in their awareness of each other’s aural presence.

The band have already been compared favourably to existing indie titans The xx and Alt-J, though Kins successfully manage to craft a unique, fascinating sound of their own.

I would like to thank the Orchestra for giving me the chance to see such beautiful pieces in such a beautiful place, and would recommend to all!

the badger

2 DECEMBER 2013 ARTS • 15

Reviews Brighton Film Festival - CineCity Special The 11th edition of Brighton’s annual two-week long international film festival ended last weekend.

Third year English student Jinan Golley volunteered at this year’s festival, and shares her experiences below.

Jinan Golley Brighton has a rich cinematic background; the Duke of York’s opened in 1910, and is (allegedly) one of the oldest cinemas in the world.

When I arrived, thrilled at the prospect of immersing myself in film outside of the wider international releases I had as my only option in Dubai, I was somewhat disappointed that this legacy (both Brighton’s and Britain’s) wasn’t especially visible.

When I found out that Cine-city’s Brighton Film Festival was recruiting volunteers for stewarding, I was excited: the opportunity consisted of more work experience (that frustrating, infinitely useful thing), free films, and a chance to connect with that cinematic legacy.

Another great aspect of the volunteering that I hadn’t anticipated was the chance to chat about films with people I didn’t know.

On my first night stewarding, a director who worked with Ben Whishaw came to talk to me about

Cinecity The Invisble Woman Duke of York’s 23rd November Olga Leonhard

Truth be told, I love me a good costume drama.

Naturally then, settled in a snug cinema seat, surrounded by grannies and the smell of old lady-perfume, I could not wait to be transported back into time.

Back to the elegance, the fashion and, most of all, the dramatic romance of the Victorian era.

The Invisible Woman (dir. Ralph Fiennes) being a biopic about Charles

Rabbit Bandini Productions Gravity and Tarkovsky.

It’s wonderful how much authority a badge can give you.

Volunteering generally consists of getting to the venue half an hour early, handing out film rating slips and surveys, occasionally guiding people to their seats, and smiling.

The highlight was definitely last weekend. On Saturday night, I ushered a double screening of Interior.

Leather Bar and Cruising that started at 11.30pm – I didn’t get home til 3.00am, and then spent a while contemplating both Friedkin’s problematic portrayal of the “impact” of homosexuality and Al Pacino’s gorgeous, troubled face. Six hours later, I was back at the cinema, steward-

ing a series of shorts by Švankmajer (grotesque, disturbing and touchingly beautiful).

As soon as the shorts were over, I ran to The Basement for a further ten hours.

The Basement’s interior: exposed brick, candle-lit, slightly cold. The exterior: a quiet part of Kensington Street.

As a backdrop to a day of experimental music and film, it was pretty effective in “setting the scene”. Split Screening, a series of shorts by the Brighton-based visual artist Ian Helliwell, was particularly suited to its venue, and my favourite screening of the day.

Helliwell was on site to provide

Dickens’ love life, there were definitely Great Expectations involved.

As the film starts rolling we see a beautiful young woman strolling along the shoreline, her long Victorian dress just inches from touching the sand.

This, we realize, must be her: Nelly Ternan, the secret, “invisible” love interest of Charles Dickens.

Because, as the title suggests, the film is as much about this mystery woman as it is about England’s great literary legend.

Through Nelly’s recollections, we see the love story unfold in a series of flashbacks.

The wait is for Dickens to come into play. I imagine a handsome, sensitive young writer sweeping her off her feet.

Finally, Nelly gets introduced to an old bearded dude by the name of Charles Dickens.

Wait, this must be his dad, right? As minutes pass, it slowly dawns on me that the old guy is, in fact, the great, not-so-young Charles Dickens.

Had I done some prior research, I would have known that Dickens was actually 40 years old and married with 10 children by the time he met the 18 year old love of his life Nelly (portrayed beautifully by Felicity Jones).

Okay, so old men can be sexy and a 22-year age gap just wasn’t as perverse back then as it usually is now.

The problem with The Invisible Woman, though, is that there is little chemistry between Dickens (in an okay’ish performance by Fiennes himself) and Nelly.

On top of that, Dickens here is presented as a jolly joker-storyteller figure rather than a charismatic passionate writer, doing little justice to his reputation as one of the most popular novelists of his time.

The Invisible Woman does give you a glimpse of an interesting, little known part of Dickens’ life, with good acting across the board.

As both a love story as well as a portrayal of “one of Britain’s greatest writers” (as it reads on his gravestone) though, it sadly fails to convince or sweep you off your feet.

BBC Films

a short introduction to the films, which made for a degree of intimacy, and the sight of him scurrying around behind the screen setting up multiple projectors added a D.I.Y. element.

At the Glitterball (2011) was excellent. The premise is simple: four coloured points distort on the screen in an imitation of sound-waves.

The execution, however, is stunning – pulsating and mutating, the waves battle for dominance and space in a technicolour assault.

The music did not punctuate the film but engulfed it.

The film featured sound from an array of instruments the director designed, built and played himself,

cinecity

A Teacher

Duke of York’s Komedia 24th November Charel Muller

This year’s CineCity festival has brought many excellent new films to Brighton.

Hannah Fidell’s low-budget, American indie “A Teacher”, however, is not one of them.

Diana is a young, good-looking teacher in Texas. Afraid of growing up and the attendant responsibility, she behaves like a teenager instead.

The film is structured around an affair with one of her students, the wellbuilt Eric.

This illicit relationship is at the centre of the film, and also its biggest problem. Diana lets herself be completely dominated by Eric, sexually as well emotionally.

Whenever they are together, she transforms into a giggly, clingy 19-year-old, who cannot believe that she gets to be with the “hot boy,” and does whatever he tells her to do.

This not only raises a number of questions about the film’s gender politics, which I won’t go into, but also makes it very difficult to like or even feel much sympathy for her.

an all-encompassing dirge of analog synthesizers.

Mobile Home (2009) was also personally significant, an epileptic display that induced vivid memories of playing FIFA on a PlayStation with a broken video card, the screen switching languidly between blue and purple, after some MXE. Not that that ever happened.

The night concluded with a performance by Robert Stillman and a screening of the documentary In Search of Blind Joe Death: The Saga of John Fahey.

Stillman’s main performance was Station Wagon Interior Perspective, a four-movement requiem for Fahey that was both incredible and confusing.

A conflict between consonance and dissonance, Americana and experimental industrialism, it was meant - he told us - as an attempt to connect with a man he’d never had the chance to meet, and this yearning was perfectly captured.

I’d encourage anyone who’s in any way entranced by the eclectic range of performances and screenings to volunteer at the film festival next year – and to you, entirely disinterested, I’d say you should do it too.

You’ll get to help make a great festival what it is, meet people, and see free films.

Why not?

She is clearly at fault for her problems, and comes across as rather pathetic.

Watching her make the same mistakes over and over is a frustrating experience, like watching a bad horror movie, in which the characters go into a dark cellar to check out a creepy noise.

The other characters are underdeveloped and two-dimensional. We learn hardly anything about Eric outside of his sexual relationship to Diana.

Diana’s roommate only exists to give her someone else to talk to and hide the relationship from.

On the whole, the plot is predictable and doesn’t really do anything interesting or new with the premise.

The soundtrack is particularly bad and intrusive, trying to build tension where there is none.

That said; it’s not all bad. The central performance by Lindsay Burdge is actually very good and convincing.

Fidell’s visual style, using a lot of handheld shots and frequent camera movements, is quite interesting and fits the material, giving it a sense of grittiness and realism.

The film’s short running time also does it a lot of favours: the narrative is tight, and there is little unnecessary or indulgent material, which makes it more or less watchable.

the badger

2 december 2013 ARTS • 16

LIFESTYLE Beware the humble bragger, my love!

The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!

JOIN THE CLUB Digital

Anonymous I do not like humble braggers.

I do not like them on Facebook.

I do not like them via text.

I do not like them in the flesh.

If Jesus – the ultimate tryhard died for our sins, I have sighed for theirs.

While you may call me Miss Messianic Hope if you really want, I am actually just a moany bitch.

Not that I make any apology for that, it’s the only way an occasional depressive can have any fun - trust me.

A few years ago, I could have sworn that the fatalistic forces charged with dumping me at the University of Sussex did so with shopping and boys in mind.

As with most things, I was wrong.

If you’re going to acquire any skill at this university, it’s going to be in moaning.

Here’s a selection of commonalities in the field: ‘The Bagder is like a tabloid’ / ‘The Badger is boring’; the anti-privatisation movement / the anti-anti-privatisation movement; ‘the Students’ Union isn’t doing enough to engage me’/ ‘I wish the Students’ Union would fuck off and leave me alone’.

As someone who knows little about student poltics - and thinks it might just be a jungle gym for social climbers who have yet to realise

Bella Cockrell that we are no longer in secondary school anyway - my fix is found in cyberspace: the humble bragger’s home ground!

These people.

Oh my god.

No vision of light has ever parted from them, put it that way.

Explaining exactly what they are would be as traumatic as being tricked into having a smear test, so through the medium of modified but

genuine Facebook stati - I will show you instead: ‘Editing is so boring.’

‘God damn, Doris! Why do you always have to go thousands of words over the limit!’

And then they infect the forums: ‘Hey guys, I was just wondering if semicolons are included in the word count?’

‘Does anyone know when we’ll get the marks back?’

This shit is always going to be boring to read, but it’s a kick in the crotch if you have yet to start the work yourself - I’m a bannerman for the procrastinators.

If the humble bragger movement was limited to its online presence, we might just be able to survive it.

Sadly, they are as corporal as you or I, with their worst offences committed under a guise of sociability.

Just as a penis must find an orifice, humble braggers actively seek out procrastinators to use in a similar fashion.

I know you’re only telling me how ‘stressed’ you are for me to reveal that I have ‘done nothing’, you can’t pull your extensive essay plan over my eyes.

Not to mention that if I was going to be anybody’s cumbucket I definitely wouldn’t be yours, babe.

A friend of mine has even had to seek refuge from her favourite spot in the library because of the invasion of a particularly sadistic humble bragger.

It’s not always about academia, though.

We’ve all borne witness to people complaining about how ‘hot’ they are going to be on holiday.

But hotter in hell.

Honey, I stole your room: the familial politics of Feng Shui and fast storage Hermione Berendt My room.

The place where I studied, slept and played with Barbies.

The walls I lovingly decorated with posters and photographs.

The sanctuary where I hid away from the rest of my family throughout years of teenage angst.

Gone.

My sister had whitewashed the walls, Feng Shui’d the furniture and packed every single one of my belongings into cardboard boxes.

The few nights I stayed at home were spent in the spare room surrounded by a jumble sale of my stuff.

Of course, I can’t say I hadn’t had any warning.

Even before I left she had starting dropping very unsubtle hints.

Then after the big move came the thoughtful daily updates on how she had ‘totally transformed the bedroom’ and how she ‘couldn’t wait for me to see it’.

Heather Gwyther I tried not to care, but somehow it was still a little bit sad.

I also had the same feeling of loss when I stayed at my boyfriend’s house a few weeks ago.

The change was nowhere near as drastic (although his parents had adopted his TV) but there is something entirely devastating about the bare bones of an unlived-in room.

This got me wondering about how

many other people had had similar experiences.

I’m sure some people’s parents have kept their room wholly as it was, a little shrine to the baby they lost as university life beckoned.

However, for the majority it seems like our family couldn’t wait to be rid of us.

I’ve heard instances of rooms being turned into gyms, studies or just

storage spaces.

People opened their wardrobe and it was full, not of their clothes but a selection their mum’s dresses.

In the night they tripped over their dad’s rowing machine, something they knew for a fact definitely wasn’t there before.

Fair enough we all have our own rooms here, but no one wants a room that looks like a cross between a Travelodge and a big yellow selfstorage unit.

I guess it’s something we will all have to learn to let go of.

In the end, a room is an abstract idea that isn’t really dependent on the physical space we associate with it.

We all need to close that chapter in our lives, and move onwards and upwards.

Well, at least that’s what I was telling myself whilst lying amongst the rubble salvaged from my sister’s 50 minute makeover.

Matthew Mcgregor-Morales Sitting under the arches on Brighton’s seafront, Digital is an unashamed concrete bear pit of a club.

A queue often shorter than Coalition’s next-door takes you straight into the vaguely CarmelH square dance floor, the central podium rising opposite a DJ booth at the front that bangs out dance classics and four-to-the-floor chart toppers with abandon.

Digital know their market: weeknights see UK-wide club night C.U.Next.Tuesday; Wednesdays are Fresh Meat Wednesdays; and the rock-centred Stonelove is on Friday - all leading in to The Clinic on Saturday with a special guest DJ each week.

Monday and Thursday are days without the £3 entry fee (on guestlist) and £1 drinks.

The prices, too, look like they’re aimed at emptier pockets.

A bottle of Carlsberg goes for £1.90, whilst spirits and mixers start at £2.50.

Jägerbombs are £3, so any night is a cheap(ish) one.

A glass-fronted balcony above the main bar hides the second place to grab a drink, but be warned: this and the third bar on the way out to the smoking area are cash only, and the main bar has a minimum spend of £15 on card.

Be warned, though: the ratio of guys to girls sees the former come out on top, and the atmosphere is more animalistic rowdiness than cultured dancing.

Digital is a great no-nonsense night out, but both genders probably need to be up for getting shoved halfway across the floor and being elbowed in the face (which did actually happen to a friend).

Stick around until the end, though, and you’ll be treated to a sing-along finish that usually has a bit of Sinatra, a bit of Grease, and a lot of shouty youths.

the badger

2nd December 2013 ARTS • 17

Sussex Showcase - ‘Reflections’

Fah’d Khalid

Shima Jalal kamali

Courtney Lovejoy Daniel Hadley

Fah’d Khalid

Cassie Summers

Ben Pitt

Chunchun Hsu Week

Courtney Lovejoy

Fah’d Khalid

Twelve’s theme Christmas is FROST

after

Send your creative pursuits to frampley@gmail.com by 15th January

the badger

2 december 2013 Arts •18

Arts

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

Gigs

Film ALTERNATIVE Kurt Vile & The Violators Concorde 2 Tuesday 17th December, 7:30pm SOLD OUT

indie Palma Violets Concorde 2

Wednesday 4th December, 7:30pm SOLD OUT

Having previously supported the likes of Django Django and Alabama Shakes, the London four-piece are close to finishing their own major headline tour. Bringing their raw energy to Concorde 2, they’re live performance is something you wouldn’t want to miss.

Another American guitarist will be descending upon Brighton this month. Playing alongside his band the Violators, the Philadelphian will be showcasing his supreme talents via material from his new release, Wakin’ on a Pretty Daze.

Film Sidewinder Cinema: Bladerunner Sidewinder Monday 2nd December, 8pm Free

Continuing their screenings of the best 80s and 90s films, Sidewinder will be showing Ridley Scott’s masterpiece, Bladerunner. With free popcorn and offers on drinks, there’s no excuse to stay in.

Thursday 15th December, 7pm £12.50

Following 2008’s ¿Cómo Te Llama?, The Strokes’ guitarist returns to The Haunt with plenty of lo-fi guitars and sweet melodies. Having recently released his new EP in October, the direction of his sound remains a departure from that of The Strokes.

Expect a heavy dose of cool rhythms to get you on your feet.

THEATRE ‘Twas Eleven Nights Before Christmas, And All Through The House Marlborough Theatre

Saturday 14th December 7:30pm £6

classical Sussex Symphony Orchestra Society Winter Concert St Mary’s Church

Shopping

Conducted by Ed Huges and lead

by Saki Tapsell, the USSO will be performing a special Winter Concert at St Mary’s Church, Kemp Town.

Promising to bring lots of festive cheer, what better way to start of the season.

An evening of improv, entertainment and reflection over the past year, this performance is probably not one for the shy. Expect tonnes of audience participation and lots of laughs to keep you going through the festive madness.

SHOPPING Mini Christmas Market North Laine Pub Every Saturday and Sunday from 12:30pm to 4:30pm

Saturday 7th November, 7:30pm £3

Instead of having to hear the same old Christmas songs in the shops or on the radio, why not attend this fundraising event which promises lots of tongue-in-cheek covers and drinks a-plenty.

Featuring local artists, bakers and craftsmen, if you’re looking for something unique to get your loved ones, then this is the place to go. With an everchanging selection of traders and a mulled wine at hand, forget Churchill Sq and opt for gifts with a unique twist.

PREVIEW: Yo La Tengo Saturday 7th December, De La Warr Pavillion, 7pm

PREVIEW: Hammer & Tongue Thursday 5th December, Komedia, 7:30pm

Lottie Brazier

Victoria Rodrigues O’Donnell Arts Editor

Yo La Tengo returned to the indie rock scene earlier this year with their new album ‘Fade‘ - and it was well worth the wait.

The perseverant New Jerseybased band only met critical acclaim with their eighth release ‘I Can Hear The Heart Beating as One’. The band can be considered somewhat a rarity in that they remain consistently interesting,

whilst always managing to avoid the stamp of a definitive sound.

‘Fade’ sees the group drawing on their usual eclectic influences, this time suggesting repeat listens to 60s/70s psychedelia and the odd bit of “krautrock”. This sonic variety is a feat of sorts, considering that they have been going for a while now (approaching their 30th Anniversary). Just going on this alone, you can bet that they’ll be on top form as usual.

Promoting the best of local poets, both aspiring and professional, Hammer & Tongue returns to Komedia for their annual final.

Hailed by The Guardian as having “revinted the medium for the hip hop generation”, the event looks set to be as captivating and intense as ever.

Winners of their monthly po-

CLUB Wonder Yeahs Christmas Special The Haunt Friday 20th December £3

Brighton’s favourite 90s night has a festive twist this time. From Weezer to The Prodigy and many more hits which hark back to the ‘noise of the 1990s’, you may well turn up to see hipsters dancing madly along in Santa hats. Not a bad way to get into the spirit of the season.

Clubs CLUB Christmas Covers Party Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar

Friday 6th December, 7:30pm £2.50

ALTERNATIVE Albert Hammond Jr. The Haunt

Theatre

etry slams will be pitted against each other in a bid for the title of Brighton’s Hammer and Tongue Slam Champion 2013.

Featuring a special guest, Simon Munnery will bring aspects of oddball comedy and surreal observations alongside a mixture of live theatre and visual material.

Playing to an audience who appreciate performance poetry, the night will continue to showcase all that spoken word has to offer.

CLUB Stay Sick Christmas Special The Blind Tiger Club

Saturday 14th December, 9pm £3 If you really want to embrace your inner-Grinch and avoid all the Yuletide classics, then the Stay Sick Christmas Party is the answer. Playing weird and wonderful psychedelic grooves from the 50s and 60s, you’d better leave the mince pies at home and put on your dancing shoes.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE ARTS TEAM XXXXXXXX

the badger

2 December 2013

SPORTS Spring term: the preview Michael Morrow Sports Editor Believe it or not, but it’s Christmas time already. It may feel to many of us that we’ve barely shaken off our Freshers Week hangovers, but yet here we are getting ready to pack our bags and head home.

The first term may well seemingly be leaving no sooner than it arrived, but it’s been a term jam-packed with sporting action. But this is no time for warm-hearted reflection, oh no, this is a time to whet the appetite of Sussex sports players/fans/editors everywhere as we look ahead to what’s in store in the second term.

Of course, the headline event of the sporting year is still to come.

Next term the annual Varsity competition between Sussex and Brighton will take place, and having had our crown snatched off us on our own turf last year, you can be sure that our teams will have vengeance on their minds as Sussex will travel to Brighton’s facilities for a day of sporting rivalries like no other.

Expect excitement, elation, dejection and, well, sport in what is sure to be a nail biting competition.

The second term will also include ‘One World Week’, a week dedicated to celebrating the international community at Sussex, including sport.

All sports clubs and societies will be marking the event in their own way, for example the dance society will be

Sarah Hall hosting two days of all day lessons in many different forms of dance from cultures all around the globe.

The basketball teams will be putting on a 3-on-3 World Cup whilst the women’s rugby team will be hosting their very own 6 Nations tournament to celebrate One World Week.

As ever, our sports teams and societies will do their bit in aid of charities and campaigns, fundraising and raising awareness for great causes.

The men’s football team will once again speak out against homophobia as they will take to the field as part of their ongoing support of the ‘Football versus Homophobia’ campaign.

It is also the intention of several other clubs and even four of our very own Student’s Union Full-time Elected Officers to run the marathon in aid and support of many charities, both local and international.

If you asked every member of a Sussex sports club to tell you the single best thing about being a member of the club in just one word, you would probably hear the word “Tour” more than a few times.

Each year all of the clubs say goodbye to the south of England for a week and hello to a much sunnier European destination for a week of essential team bonding activities; most of which takes place in nightclubs. This year the tour party will descend on Croatia for what is sure to be a memorable week for all of our teams.

So whist we will all undoubtedly enjoy going home for Christmas, where the heating will be switched on for more than an hour a day and our overdrafts will get a well earned rest, there’s much to look forward to coming back to in January. It’s been a great term for sport at Sussex, and here’s to another one!

SporTS • 20

Basketball charity marathon Rachele Megna

On Friday 6 December, for the fourth consecutive year, the Sussex basketball teams will continue their legacy of actively supporting charities by challenging themselves in the annual basketball marathon.

Players will start the five-on-five game at 6 am, and the aim is to keep playing until 6 pm. As if a 12 hour basketball match wasn’t enough, there will also be a series of mini-tournaments and shooting competitions taking place throughout the course of the event.

In previous years, our club has supported various charities including Childreach International and Women for Congo, and fundraised over £800 through the marathon. This year, the marathon will raise money for a cause closer to home; Rockinghorse is an organization aiming at improving the lives of sick children in the Sussex area.

Having now been active for over 45 years, Rockinghorse has dedicated itself to supporting healthcare services for babies, making sure that the environment in which young patients are treated is better suited for their needs.

The basketball marathon not only represents an opportunity to make a difference for the local community, but it is also the chance to show great sporting will and determination.

All participants will be physically testing themselves to the limit in this grueling marathon, with the knowledge that all their efforts are contributing to-

wards a great cause.

In previous years, we have enjoyed the participation and support of many non-team members.

Supporters have been greatly helpful by donating money as well as creating a fantastic atmosphere in the sports hall, making the event even more enjoyable, and accompanying the players in their effort to keep the ball moving for all twelve hours.

The event is a great way to raise awareness for an issue of incredible importance, whilst showing inclusive sportsmanship and having a lot of fun We hope to see as many people as possible supporting us, and maybe even actively participating if you wish!

CONTACT BADGER SPORT If you or your club would like to write for us then please get in touch via the email below. Match reports, upcoming events and candidates for future player profiles are all encouraged. badger-sports@ussu.sussex. ac.uk Alternatively please subscribe to the Badger writers list by emailing badger-writers@ussu. sussex.ac.uk or find us on Facebook at ‘Badger Writers’

Sussex Saxons get first ever league win Peter Collins Sunday, November 24th marked the Sussex Saxons American Football team’s first BUAFL league win ever, against the University of Oxford Lancers, 40-18.

After losses to Solent Redhawks (4020) and league favourites Portsmouth Destroyers (48-14), the win came as no surprise to anyone involved in the Saxons camp who were witness to the dedication and perseverance of the players and coaches.

As league newcomers, the team was expected to struggle mightily against even the weakest of the South Coast Conference. The losses, though disappointing, provided an encouraging basis for which the team were able to improve on going forward. Against Solent, Sussex held a slim 8-6 lead at half time, much to the surprise of everyone in the BUAFL. A more experienced Solent eventually pulled away in the second half, but there were many positives to take away after the Saxons’ first ever league

game.

A midday kick off on a sunny Sunday afternoon at Brighton’s 3G field, where Sussex will play their home and Varsity games this season, provided an appropriate backdrop for a Saxons team determined to prove their worth in the league.

Leading 26-12 at half time, a dominating second half on both sides of the ball was only blighted by a last second Oxford touchdown to make the scoreline less imposing.

The offensive performance was paced by international student Alessandro Mella, who caught several key passes and a touchdown from quarterback Dominic Ashworth, whose clinical performance allowed Sussex to control the game from the opening kick off.

Mella now has over 400 receiving yards through the first three games of the season and will hope to continue this run of form. The defense intercepted Oxford three times, including one that was returned 35 yards for a touchdown by game MVP Callum McGregor.

The Oxford team were able to capitalise on a rare Sussex mistakes to keep the game close until the second half.

Coach Duncan Wokman was quick to sing the team’s praises after their first victory, “After 2 tough opening games the guys finally got the win that their hard work deserved.

“Many teams take a long time to record their first victory so lets not underestimate this achievement”. Defensive captain and team co-founder Matt Burden stressed that the team “would appreciate any support from the Sussex students” as there will be one more home game and the Varsity match against Brighton after the winter holidays.

Joshua Paroussis, also a co-founder, said: “I am very proud of how far the team has come and look forward to what we can achieve in the future.”

The Saxons’ next home fixture is February 2nd against Brighton Tsunami. The team encourages anyone and everyone to come down and support your University in what should be an exciting prelude to the Varsity game in April.

Peter Collins

Peter Collins