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GALLEON
Introducing:
Photo Credit: Mike Cooter
The Purple Presidents! Meet your new Sabbs see p.g 3
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Result and match reports p.g 21 - 24
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The Galleon
Thursday 30th March 2017
NEWS Our Team Editor: Fred Stonehouse editor@galleonnews.com Deputy Editor: Jasmine Richards deputy@galleonnews.com Copy Editor: Josh Herbert copy@galleonnews.com Design Editor: Charles Makemson design@galleonnews.com Photography Desk: Victoria Wilton photography@galleonnews.com News Editor: Vacant news@galleonnews.com Lifestyle Editor: Ryan Benjamin features@galleonnews.com Arts & Ents Editor: Jordon Osborne artsents@galleonnews.com Reaction Editor: Jude Fensterheim reaction@galleonnews.com Sport Editor: Vacant sport@galleonnews.com Technical Manager: Nile Lowerson tech@galleonnews.com PR and Social Media Manager: Sophie Wood marketing@galleonnews.com
News:
Deputy Editor: Vacant Senior Reporter: Vacant
Lifestyle & Culture:
Fashion & Beauty Editor: Brogan Kirkby-Bott Sex & Relationships Editor: Jasmine Brimson Travel Editor: Trushali Chudasama Food & Health Editor: Carmen Pugliese Showbiz Editor: Lucy Morris Film Editor: Olivia Newman TV Editor: Michael Pusey Gaming and Technology Editor: Nick Cabuy Music Editor: Warren Bradley Arts Editor: Lottie Moulster
Opinion:
Deputy Editor: Becca Gilooly Deputy Editor: Isabelle Bilton Sport: Deputy Editor: Vacant Online Editor: Vacant
Small Print Produced fortnightly by student volunteers at the University of Portsmouth Students’ Union. Printed by CNN News Print The Galleon bears no allegiance to any political party and discriminates against no-one. Editor in Chief Alex Paschali alex.paschali@upsu.net Send any complaints to mediacomplaints@ upsu.net Visit us at The Student Centre, Portsmouth Students’ Union, Cambridge Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 2EF.
Writers’ Meetings News TBC Lifestyle & Culture TBC Reaction TBC Sport TBC
Union News
A Final Message From the Editor Fred Stonehouse Editor
It is my esteemed pleasure to present The Galleon’s tenth and final issue of this academic year. In this final edition; we have coverage of the Student Union Elections, Varsity, the recent London terror attacks, plans for the summer, arguments for the Freedom of speech and a rip-roaring look ahead to 2017’s most anticipated films. Amongst many other excellent articles. I’d like to take this opportunity to
thank each and every contributor who has written for The Galleon throughout this year. In having the guts to put forward your work, open your ideas up to criticism and express yourself in an overtly public way, you’ve each demonstrated why the University of Portsmouth and the Student Union, should fight tooth and nail to make student media accessible for each and every student. I believe this to be as important now, as it ever has been before. We should never allow the University to curb, curtail or even censor the diversity of student voice that we have here in Portsmouth. This newspaper stands for the very best in our creative expression, both politically and artistically, and others must continue to fight for it in the future. Three years ago, The Galleon and it’s then editor, Danielle Butler, held an open meeting for potential writersa meeting which I very nearly didn’t
attend. At the time, I had deemed newspapers as backward, boring and probably not something I felt were particularly engaging. Fortunately, I attended the meeting, met my old editor Danny Randon, and the rest as they say is history. I’ve written over 100 articles for the paper, edited throughout, interviewed some incredible people and worked with some truly brilliant individuals. I owe all this to having a bit of backbone, getting involved and most importantly because of the encouragement and commitment from others. The Galleon isn’t perfect. God knows, I’ve moaned about it more than anyone else. It has a constant battle ahead against the Union’s budget cuts, engagement levels need to be improved, technological issues with Indesign, wordpress and the website are all yet to be resolved. Often we’ll miss silly mistakes (I’m sure this article
has a few), typos and facts also won’t be as thoroughly checked as they should be. We know all this. We know this, because we’re a student newspaper and not The Times. Our jobs is, and always will be, to offer students a starting platform to practice their writing and editing. It is here to provide a publishing space where students can test their abilities, express opinions, report news, hone their critical writing skills and above all else- have fun while doing it. In my three years, I’d like to think I’ve helped facilitate that. It has therefore been one of the greatest honours to lead this paper, and now I can reassuringly pass its management into the safe hands of its new editor, Jordan Osborne and his team. Good luck to all aspiring writers and Galleon contributors of the future. I look forward to reading all the great content soon to be written.
National News
Boaty McBoatface set for Antarctica on its Debut Expedition The yellow submarine’s first expedition will be in Antarctica Jordan Osborne Arts and Entertainment Editor
Following the poll that was intended to give a £200m polar research vessel its name, Boaty McBoatface has finally been given its first assignment. The poll came to light last year when the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) asked members of the public to put forward suggestions for the ship’s name. The poll took an infamously unexpected turn when BBC Radio Jersey presenter James Hand suggested the name ‘Boaty McBoatface’ in jest, sparking a strong online campaign. ‘Boaty McBoatface’ gained almost 125,000 votes- almost double the amount received by the four next best candidates combined. However, the NERC did emphasise that they would have the final say on the name and eventually chose to name the research vessel after the well-known naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough, which oddly placed 5th in the poll. Other suggestions included RRS Onion Knight, RRS I Like Big
THE CONTROVERSIAL BOATY MCBOAT FACE
Boats & I Cannot Lie, RRS Capt’n Birdseye Get Off My Cod and RRS It’s bloody cold here, which gained 395 votes more than the eventual choice RRS David Attenborough. Still, a minor victory was to be had; democracy was restored as Boaty’s name was preserved for a submersible.The autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) will map and track the movement of the deep waters of the Antarctic’s Orkney Passage, which plays an integral role in the regulation of the earth’s climate. Boaty’s new expedition may
seem inferior to its initial engagement, but the yellow submarine is still set to play a crucial role in an extensive project. Boaty will travel with the DynOPO (Dynamics of the Orkney Passage Outflow) expedition on the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) research ship James Clark Ross, led by Prof Alberto Naveira Garabato of the University of Southampton. Boaty will be released by the James Clark Ross into a 3,500m-deep gap in an underwater ridge northeast of the Antarctic
Peninsula. The ridge, known as the Orkney Passage, provides the entry point for much of the ‘bottom-water’ that is created as sea-ice forms on the outskirts of the White Continent. Boaty, who can reach depths of 6000m, will travel under this ice collecting data that will help improve our understanding of climate change and predict its trajectory over the remainder of this century and beyond. Following its debut mission, Boaty McBoatface is set for further research and development in the near future. In 2019, the submarine will be fitted with acoustic and chemical sensors for its next operation in the North Sea. The sensors will help the submersible to detect the release of gases beneath the seabed. Beyond that, Boaty will attempt to make history by completing the first-ever crossing of the Arctic Ocean under ice. The journey is being labelled as a significant moment in oceanic and climate studies as the breakthrough could heavily increase scientists’ ability to study change in this important region.
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University News
Elections: New Sabbatical Officers and Student Officers Elected Fred Stonehouse Editor
After weeks of campaigning, the University of Portsmouth’s Students’ Union has its new Sabbatical Officers and Student Officers have been elected. Having put forward their respective manifesto points and participated in a gruelling student elections question time, the candidates have been elected for the 2017/2018 academic year. Despite a poor voter turn-out of 19%, 81, 615 votes were cast for the positions available. The new elected President of Students’ Union went to third-year student James Thompson. The voting for President resulted in 10, votes, with Thompson receiving a 6% swing to become the Union’s new fearless leader. James Thompson had campaigned in previous years, but had previously failed to get elected. This year, with a strong campaign team, and a manifesto in which he pledges to pressure the University to provide free sanitary products, increase the block grant given to the Union and improve the ‘Have your say’ process, Thompson emerged victorious. In dramatic scenes, Thompson dropped to his knees when the news was announced and pledged to do his utmost to fulfil his election promises. Thompson later tweeted; “Words cannot describe how excited I am to be the next President of
ANGEL LAYER. PICTURE BY MIKE COOTER
PRESIDENT AMES THOMPSON DROPS TO KNEES. PIC BY MIKE COOTER
@PortsmouthSU. Looking forward to the year ahead.” In a competitive election to become Vice President for Education and Democracy which went to four round of voting, Angel Layer was elected to the role. 10,742 voted in this election with a swing of 4%. Angel, who has experience in the UK Youth Parliament and is a faculty rep, promised to make
sure students receive value for money. She also committed to increasing the level of diversity at university meetings and to promote the reporting of crimes that happen within the uni. On her victory, Angel said: “Can’t believe I got elected to be the new VP Education & Democracy, what amazing candidates and what an amazing week this has been.”
ANITA MCMAHON. PIC BY MIKE COOTER
Three strong contestants put forward their respective cases to become the new VP Activities. On the night, Amber Mathurin took the glory, winning with an 8% swing, with votes for role reaching 7,389 students. In her manifesto, Amber pledges to; increase social mixing, promote more inclusion and offer more opportunities. In the voting for VP Sport, three candidates went toe-to-toe for the role. In a comprehensive victory, Marcus ‘Campo’ Campopiano won the voting. 8754 votes were cast for the position. In his manifesto and especially during the students’ question time, Campo promised to; increase links between the Department of Sport Science and the AU. He also wants a better support system for committees and generally a more inclusive AU. Later on his Facebook page, Campo wrote: “Pleased to announce that I will be your VP SPORTS next year!!! Thank you everyone for the support, an amazing feeling.” For the position of VP Welfare and Community, 13,735 votes were cast. Eight candidates applied for the role, but there was only one winner on the night. Victory went to Anita McMahon, who claims in her manifesto that she is aiming to; promote welfare and advice platforms that advise students online. She also aims to strengthen the rapore that the university has with the local community, and wants increase bike
AMBER MATHURIN. PIC BY MIKE COOTER
security around campus- providing better bike storage. On her Facebook page, Anita excitedly posted: “I honestly still can’t believe that last night, after an unbelievably tight margin of 14 votes, that I was elected as the next VP Welfare and Community. She continued, “I cannot thank everyone that voted for me enough! It’s an incredible feeling. Thank you to the rugby girls for helping me throughout my campaign and my mum for spending 4 hours cutting out and ironing on T-shirt transfers!” Earlier in the night, the Student Officers were elected. Current VP for Welfare and Community, Beth Moody was voted to become the new Good Governance Officer. Rubie TargemaTakema was elected to become next years International Students’ Officer. Rhiannon Jenkins was confirmed as the new Disabled Students’ Officer. The new Environment Office was given to Oli Flanagan. Ashleigh Mills was elected to become the LGBT+ Students’ Officer, while Raheem Ahmad was voted as the new BAME Students’ Officer. The new Sabbs and Officers will be begin work in September next year. Speaking of the election night, current President, James Belmonte tweeted: “Amazing night at results night last night. A pleasure to host. Congratulations to the winners, you guys will smash it!”
CAMPO. PICTURE BY MIKE COOTER
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The Galleon
Thursday 30th March 2017
NEWS
National News
Lone-Wolf’s Terrorist Attack Leaves Five Dead but London Remains Resilient Fred Stonehouse Editor
A terror attack in London has resulted in five deaths and up to 40 people injured. On Wednesday 22nd March, a single man ploughed his car through pedestrians on Westminster Bridge before crashing outside parliament. The man went on to fatally stab a police officer before being shot and killed by armed police. The attack, which is the first real terror attack, since the 7/7 bombings has left London shocked yet resilient. It is believed that ISIS have claimed credit for the attack, which took place on the anniversary of the Brussels airport atrocity. In dramatic scenes on Wednesday morning, a man named as Khalid Masood drove his car across Westminster Bridge, a popular tourist route, and ran down several people with the grey Hyundai i40. People captured the scenes of devastation across the bridge on their phones, while a CCTV camera caught the moment the car forced one woman to jump off the bridge, in order to avoid being hit. Having hit the Bridge, the car proceeded to speed through red lights and subsequently crashed outside gates at the back of the parliament building. Masood fled his car and proceeded to
attempt access to parliament, before being intercepted by brave police officer Keith Palmer. Khalid Masood proceeded to stab PC Palmer, an officer of 15-years, in front of the press offices at West Minster. Masood proceeded to approach the building before being shot by armed police officers. Witnesses close by reported hearing some four shots being fired. Ambulance and police responses arrived on scene within moments and proceeded to attempt to clear the area while attending to the hurt. In heartbreaking scenes, a brave MP, Tobias Ellwood attempted to perform CPR on Keith Palmer, while others looked on. Mr Ellwood was seen walking away from the scene with blood over his clothes, and visibly upset. Despite paramedics, Mr Ellwood and help from St Thomas’ hospital nearby, PC Palmer died as a result of his wounds. Police have said that he was a husband and a father. The attacker later died of his wounds, despite paramedics valient attempts to save his life. As well as PC Palmer, three others who were hit on the bridge also lost their lives. The first victim to be named was Aysha Frade, 43, who worked as a teacher in the city. She was the motherof-two and had family in Betanzos,
Galicia, in the north of Spain. Her death was confirmed by the mayor of the town. The second victim to be named was American tourist Kurt Cochran. In a statement, his brother Clinton Payne confirmed that Kurt had been killed. He and his wife Melissa were in London to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. Melissa remains in hospital with serious injuries. The police and paramedics have been praised for their strong responses to the
attack. Londoners have also come out in force to show solidarity against terror. Tube stations and tweeters have been using the hashtag #WeStandTogether and #WeAreNotAfraid to show their defiance. Prime Minister Theresa May described the incident as “sick” and “depraved” and said in a statement to Parliament: “We are not afraid and our resolve will never waiver in the face of terrorism. “We will all move forward together,
HERO: PC KEITH PALMER KILLED BY TERRORIST. PICTURE FROM MET POLICE
never giving in to terror and never allowing the voices of hate and evil to drive us apart.” The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said of the incident: “My message to those that want to harm us and destroy our way of life is: You won’t succeed; you won’t divide us; we won’t be cowed by terrorists.”
5 news@galleonnews.com
National News
Ex-Chancellor Sandi Toksvig and Noel Fielding to Co-host Great British Bake Off Prepare to have your hearts ripped out through your kneecaps Jordan Osborne Arts and Entertainment Editor
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he University of Portsmouth’s Chancellor Sandi Toksvig and comedian Noel Fielding have been selected as co-hosts for Great British Bake Off in its debut season on Channel 4. They will join food writer and restaurateur Prue Leith, who previously featured on Great British Menu, and the only remaining original judge, celebrity chef Paul Hollywood. With the beloved duo, Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins, deciding to leave the popular baking show following its move from BBC to Channel 4, the show’s producers were forced to acquire an adequate duo to bring a frolicsome and comedic palliative to the more critical application of Hollywood and Mary Berry’s replacement, Leith. It was announced last year that the
Bake Off would end its seven-season affiliation with the BBC, following a supposedly tumultuous and steadily worsening relationship with the show’s creators Love Productions. Following
the termination of the lucrative £25ma-year contract, further controversy arose when Paul Hollywood accepted a significant pay rise to follow the show to Channel 4, despite his original three
co-presenters opting to decline despite similar increases in pay. As for the new recruits, Leith and Toksvig, the latter of whom bravely took over presenting duties from Stephen Fry on QI last year, come in to their new roles with significant presenting experience. As for Fielding, presenting a show, especially one of this scale, will be a different challenge but still one where he can apply his quirky comedy styling. Alongside the safer, more equanimous choices, Fielding is definitely a thorn that will spark debate but surely attract a new audience to Bake Off. Fielding’s eccentric cult status that he cultivated on The Mighty Boosh will present an interesting contrast to Toksvig’s academic as well as adding that wayward edge
that Channel 4 consistently executes well compared to the more vanilla BBC. In general, the programming on Channel 4 is riskier and more open to controversy than that of the BBC and Fielding’s inclusion is an extension of that mantra. For Bake Off to work in its new surroundings it simply has to adapt to its new audience; a break from BBC’s past is a great way to do that. Because of the show’s success at the BBC, the unveiling of the new co-hosts was always going to draw criticism. And even if the Bake Off sinks quicker than a souffle on its maiden Channel 4 voyage, it’s sure to make for some delicious car-crash television.
Uni Mourns Death of Former Sabbatical Officer and Galleon Writer Fred Stonehouse Editor
The former Sabbatical Officer and ex-Galleon writer, Roxana Negru has sadly passed away, the Students’ Union has confirmed on its website. Roxana, known as ‘Roxy’ was a Sabbatical Officer at the Students’ Union during the 2013/2014 academic year. She attained an undergraduate degree in Psychology at the University and went on to become the LLC Coordinator at the University Arts Londons Students’ Union. She latterly returned to the University of Portsmouth to undertake an MSC in Forensic Psychology. Roxana, as detailed on the Students’ Union website, was an “active member of the Criminology Society” and got heavily involved in the international
student community. Between 2010-2013, Roxy wrote several articles for The Galleon including pieces on sex & relationships, politics and an interview with metal band The Murder Dolls. You can access all of her articles here. During her time at the University, Roxana was known to be an active member of a several student groups, and helped the Union with the RAG group. She helped them to achieved approximately £200,000 in donations through local and national charities. After finishing her time as Vice President of Activities, Roxy wrote on her Facebook page about the “awesome volunteers” at the Uni, and that she was inspire to “never take no as an answer”. Transforming her into a “warrior of light”. Former student Alex Vince, knew
Roxana well as a friend, having also shared an office with her for half a year. He told The Galleon: “Roxy demonstrated the best qualities a Sabbatical could have. She always put other students first and immediately dropped other things to support someone who needed help. “She took up her post in a period of immense change at UPSU and fought hard to make sure that students were at the forefront of it. Our societies, media groups and RAG were lucky to have her supporting them.” Kerrie Oak, former head of Pure FM and now Union employee, was equally saddened by the news. She said of Roxana: “Roxy was one of my closest friends when I was the Society Executive Chair and she was the VP.” She continued, “She was a friendly, bubbly and intelligent individual and
everyday was a pleasure working with her. She was a shining light and now the world is a little less bright without her.” Our current VP Education & Democracy, Dolapo Bolaji, told the SU website:” it’s always heart-wrenching to hear of a student death, but particularly more so of one of our members who did so much good for the University community as both an active member and a Sabbatical Officer. “I understand from Union staff members that Roxy was a beacon of light during her time at UPSU bringing a positive, bright and bubbly personality to the role. Collectively we share in the grief of her friends and family and pass our deepest sympathy to those closest to her.” The Union has set up a book of condolence that will be available from Monday 27th March in the Student
PICTURED: ROXANA NEGRU. PIC UNION
Opportunities Centre, upstairs in the Union, for those wishing to share memories of Roxy. Additionally, there is also a quiet space and support area available in the Union Advice Centre in Gun House. Information taken from the Students’ Union website.
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The Galleon
Thursday 30th March 2017
OPINION
Politics
The Fight for Free Speech Free speech is allowing speech you disagree with. If you have a problem with people with differing opinions speaking as freely as you, then you are no advocate of free speech.
Yash Patel
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he definition of free speech that I stand by is the ability to express oneself without any boundary, except when one deliberately incites direct violence. Free speech tracks its history back to the creation of the United States Constitution. The First Amendment of the Constitution says that: “Congress shall make no law prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech”. George Washington, Thomas Payne and other scholars who lived generations before had the idea of free speech and we owe them greatly. Free speech is the foundations of liberty that hold other social movements together. Without the ability to express oneself the development in women’s rights, LGBT+ rights or civil rights would not have occurred at such a fast rate. This is why we have the moral high ground. It is the one underlying difference between the West and the rest of the World. One of the reasons we have it is to speak out against those in power without fear or arrest and we should cherish this right. Instead, my
generation is wasting it away. Free speech is something that should unite everyone in this Country. It should be the norm for us in the West, like women’s rights or same-sex marriage. Unfortunately, free speech is a right that people, particularly those on the left, are squandering. Many students have political views to the left, which is understandable as I am left-leaning. However, there are some authoritarians who demand the prohibition of anything they happen to disagree with. In November of last year, the student union at City, University of London passed a motion banning the Sun, the Daily Mail and the Daily Express - all of which are right-wing newspapers. I loathe each of these newspapers, but I will never lampoon my own political opinions onto the rest of a university campus in the hope that everyone has to follow my opinions. Therefore, these newspapers should be allowed around a campus. If newspapers are going to be prohibited in a prominent London university, what does that say about attitudes to free speech amongst young people? Bad ideas are there to be
exposed, not silenced. Silence them, and more people would be inclined to be in favour of those bad ideas. A proud tradition a university campus has is the freedom of thought, speech and discussion. This goes back to the 1960s when students at the University of California, Berkeley protested a ban on political activities on campus, which later led to the Free Speech Movement. This has enabled us to freely speak on current affairs without fear. The actions of some students today not only stain the image of the rest of us but also disgrace those students who fought for our freedom. It is not just university campuses that are triggered. Two years ago, journalists at French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo were targeted and killed in an Islamist terrorist attack. Charlie Hebdo pokes fun at all political parties, all major religions and has a history of publishing cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad, which is forbidden in Islam. The response by some Muslims and non-Muslims on the left who said Charlie Hebdo should not have published the cartoons was a disgrace to the journalists who died for free speech.
Malala Yousafzai, the girl who defied the Taliban and religious law, fought for women’s rights and was shot for challenging the status quo. Should Yousafzai deserve to be shot because she freely expressed herself? The same principle of free speech stands with her. When Charlie Hebdo journalists were killed, free speech stood with them. When people resort to violence, the message is that they cannot beat us on the battlefront of ideas. You cannot ban people from writing something, drawing something or saying something, because when you have a status quo there will always be challengers. Not everyone is in agreement on everything. I would love to see more people from my side of the political spectrum defend the Charlie Hebdo cartoonists. But some pander to fear of offending people and will not support the liberty they supposedly stand for. Last month, alt-right poster boy Milo Yiannopoulos written a book published by Simon & Schuster, which led to an outrage, with some calling for a boycott on the publisher. I disagree with almost everything Yiannopoulos says, but the anger from the far left on
social media about banning the book was ridiculous. Mein Kampf is still in circulation. As is the Communist Manifesto and the Little Red Book. Not that I am comparing Yiannopoulos to Hitler, Stalin or Zedong, but if something as vile as Mein Kampf can be bought so can Yiannopoulos’ book. Exposing ideas people disagree with is what free speech is about. I do not defend what he says, but I defend his right to say it. Free speech is allowing speech you disagree with. If you have a problem with people with differing opinions speaking as freely as you, then you are no advocate of free speech. Protect the speech we dislike more than the speech we like. It is good to hear opinions that you disagree with because you may hear something new and therefore you will broaden your thinking and you will be educated. If you still disagree, at least your argument is reinforced and reaffirmed. Criticism is a good thing. Once an adult cannot take any criticism, they become a child.
7 opinion@galleonnews.com
World
No Institution is Beyond the Sphere of Critique. Yes, that Includes You, Organised Religions of the World Our refusal to knock the sacred cow of organised religion leaves a glaring hypocrisy within our society. Alex Jensen
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o idea, concept or institution is beyond criticism. This sentence doesn’t seem controversial, yet political figures across the world utterly reject this simple idea with regards to religious institutions. When Margaret Thatcher drove the United Kingdom into a new neoliberal direction, imagine if she was not able to express her scathing rejection of socialism while attempting to bring about a new era of free market capitalism. It would be bizarre, and yet this is exactly what we are finding today with regards to social equality and the inability of many forces across the spectrum to criticise Islam or the Catholic Church. More regressive elements of the left will speak of the unfair social advantages that men enjoy, while simultaneously denouncing those who criticise elements of a religion which at its fundamental level, believes that women do not deserve an education. I do not hold personal issue with someone for no reason other than belonging to a particular religion, for this is like saying that my criticism of radical libertarian ideas should be taken personally by all who harbour them - they shouldn’t. I simply find it disturbing that I should be considered prejudice for standing up and saying that I am not okay with high up figures in the Vatican covering up and thereby aiding child molestation. Indeed, in 2016, the Catholic Church stated that bishops are not obliged to report clerical child abuse, rather it is the responsibility of only victims or families. This sort of statement directly contributes to the worldwide problem of mass underreporting of sexual abuse, something that I hope we can all agree is abhorrent and yet where were the political figures standing up and saying that no, this isn’t okay? They are cowed into fear of offending their voters. Surely a practising Catholic should want these problems to be addressed out of wanting their institution to be better and retain claims of moral fibre? Perhaps comparing political philosophy to a religious body is unfair,
even slightly eccentric, but I do not believe my overall message is distorted
attacked or its head of state expected to take responsibility and apologise. Yet,
some might argue that saying people have a right to offend, I am not
gross issues of inequality in our world. I fundamentally believe that we are
accounting for the needs and wants of those in far-off reaches of the world. To this I say, where do you draw the line? If I say, you know what, I think your teachings against homosexuality are detestable, have I gone too far because being homophobic is core to someone’s being? No, what I want isn’t complicated. It is that all ideas are free to be criticised, that politicians shouldn’t flinch from calling out religious associations for disturbing, unpalatable acts, that debate should be free and open if we dare to address
rational beings, so let’s stop allowing ourselves to be silenced for the sake of not causing offense. It is time we took a long hard look at this contradiction of the tolerance of intolerance and stopped being afraid to call out draconian practices where we see them else otherwise we become the politician who will preach their own ideas, while at the expense of all they hold dear, being unable to dismiss those of the opposition. The right to a religion doesn’t remove the right to be offended.
PICTURED: SALMAN RUSHDIE. VIA ATHEISTREPUBLIC.COM
at all. Why should a certain set of ideas be immune from criticism but others not? I am not disrespecting anyone’s right to believe in scriptures, gospels or deities, I am talking about the reallife consequences of what these bodies preach. Indeed, this imbalance exists within the scope of religion itself. If one were to portray religious figures in a satirical and/or unfavourable way, many people would be offended, as is their right of course. I would however, not expect the embassies of the host nation of our hypothetical satirist to be
this was exactly what happened with the 2005 Danish cartoons controversy. I do not think the caricatures of the Islamic prophet were funny or even remotely clever and the author deserved to be called out for his cheap humour, but as it is my right to say this, it was his right to publish them in the first place. If you start telling people they are only allowed to satirise certain things you set a dangerous precedent, one that goes against the very foundations of western societies. Maybe I am being closed minded,
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The Galleon
Thursday 30th March 2017
OPINION OPINION
World
We Must be Free to Criticise Israeli Apartheid Jude Fensterheim
Israel of operating an apartheid regime
regime.
he thirteenth annual Israeli Apartheid Week was held at the end of February this year. This is a co-ordinated, international series of events designed to raise awareness of what many deem to be an apartheid regime operated by Israel in the West Bank. Indeed, many might go so far as to refer to it as “settler colonialism”. The campaign focuses on the west bank, an area with a hundred-yearlong history of occupation, but also the area that is the centre of efforts to build a Palestinian state, efforts that are recognised by 70% of the United Nations member states who voted to officially recognise Palestine as a state in 2013. However, much of the West Bank is under Israeli control, despite the fact that most of the population of the West Bank are Palestinian. Only pockets are under the control of the Palestinian National Authority. There are a number of Israeli settlements in the West Bank that are all approved and protected by the state of Israel. There is a general consensus (especially among academics) that these settlements are illegal under international law. Yet the Israeli government continues to approve them whilst accusing the UN and any critics of being biased against Israel. Moreover, in a report released on the 16th March 2017, the UN accused
in the West Bank. This is because Palestinians in the West Bank live under military law whilst settlers are given privileges. This discrimination is the very trademark of an apartheid
In a mark of the disregard the Israeli government have for international law, at the end of January this year they announced that they had approved the construction of 2,500 new housing
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units in the West Bank. To many people this is probably not new or surprising information, but it is necessary that the context of Israeli Apartheid Week is understood, particularly given the attempts to censor criticism of Israel. Many political groups at UK universities decided to engage in the week of campaigning against this apartheid regime, only to be censored by their respective Universities. Groups at various universities, including UCL and the University of Exeter, had their events cancelled, often with the only justification for this being ‘security and safety fears’, which may refer to fears of violence towards specific communities. The accusation most often levelled at groups who organise such events is that they are promoting anti-Semitism through their criticism of Israel (or even just Israeli settlements). This accusation has no actual grounding in reality. Most people with a shred of intelligence are able to distinguish legitimate criticism of a state and its oppressive policies from hatred towards a particular ethnic or religious group. It is also important to consider that criticism of what even the UN has referred to as an ‘apartheid regime’ in the West Bank is not itself necessarily anti-Israel let alone anti-Semitic. Many politicians and academics who advocate for a two-state solution, such as John Kerry - who in December 2016 gave a long-overdue speech in
which he criticised the construction of settlements - have publicly expressed opposition to the construction of settlements in the West Bank. “Anti-Semitism is being used as an excuse by some to bully Universities into restricting the free speech of student groups.” Coming from someone from a Jewish family, anti-Semitism is a deeply serious accusation. The entire Jewish community lives with the collective cultural memory of the Holocaust, which was caused by wide-spread and normalised anti-Semitism and racism. However, anti-Semitism is being used as an excuse by some to bully Universities into restricting the free speech of student groups. In addition to this, the free-speech brigade who seem to constantly complain about what they deem to be attacks on freedoms of speech and the “safe-space culture” at Universities stay mysteriously silent in this situation, one where free speech is being directly attacked. It’s almost as if they only care about freedom of speech when it applies to voicing their own opinions. Anti-Semitism must be taken incredibly seriously, but it must not be used as an excuse to bully groups into cancelling events when they are not promoting anti-Semitism in any way, but rather engaging in legitimate criticism of the actions of the Israeli state.
Britain’s Filthiest Pride: Thirty Million Tons of Litter Emily Priest As a nation we take pride in our loyalty to the Queen and country and that patriotism is perhaps what makes us British. Yet, if we love England so much, why do we continue to litter our streets? Even with the introduction of the 5p bag laws and 2015’s ‘Clean for the Queen’ campaign, we continue to relentlessly dirty the streets. Plastic bags, crumpled coke cans, snotty tissues and even old, broken furniture can be found down my road in Portsmouth. Is this rage of rubbish part of our national pride? It must be if we keep doing it what a contradiction. Organisation, Keep Britain Tidy, estimates that more than 30 million
tons of litter is found on the streets of England. The cost to clean all this up has also risen to 1 billion pounds. In Hampshire, 1.4 million pounds was spent on fly tipping alone; 73 thousand pounds of that was just for Portsmouth. 73 thousand pounds of tax payer’s money is spent on cleaning our streets. Imagine what better use we could put that money to. How about the arts? Imagine putting all those pennies into supporting independent arts communities and maybe using it to keep the beloved Arts Lodge open. Who am I kidding? It would probably go towards some expensive and weird art feature that no one asked for. Littering is laziness and we can all admit that (myself including) we have done it several times. We’ve all eaten
a pack of crisps and slyly dropped the rubbish onto the floor when no one was looking. The bin was just too far away of course. A few steps might as well be a few miles, right? However, fly tipping is more than just laziness. Dumping large quantities of garden waste or unwanted furniture on the street, isn’t as easy as sticking your gum to the underside of a table. There’s other reasons for this and it may not necessarily be the perpetrator’s fault. The local landfill sites in Portsmouth, particularly Paulsgrove, have limited use for a van. After twelve trips you must then pay so if you are moving house or refitting your kitchen, removing your waste can soon add up. Furthermore, in October last year,
Hampshire County Council increased their prices to remove and bin an item from your property. It used to be £2.50 per item yet is now £10. Gosport Councillor, Peter Chegwyn, states: “It costs more to dump a piece of plaster at the tip than to buy it”. At these prices he is right. A large square of plasterboard will cost you £5.98 to buy from B&Q. Take a walk through the streets of Portsmouth and I guarantee you will see soon enough a discarded piece of furniture or an oversized chunk of rubbish. What would you rather do? Pay £10 for someone to take your broken chair to the dump or leave it on the street for it to become someone else’s problem? Or you could take it to the landfill site yourself but you’re
looking at a forty-minute round trip. Pride isn’t enough to clean our streets anymore. With Brexit and the promise of the Country’s independence, surely as citizens we should start putting in more effort to make our city’s dazzle? And what about all the patriots who are hell bent on ‘taking back our country’ from ‘all the immigrants’? How often do they litter? If you love your country so much why not walk an extra minute to the bin or pay the dump costs? If you want to take back the country then I think it is not the immigrants you should be removing, it’s the litter we spend 1 billion pounds a year to clear up.
9 LIFESTYLE & CULTURE features@galleonnews.com
Lifestyle
Can We Hygge in Portsmouth? The Quintessence of Danish Happiness Giada Nizzoli Cold weather and gloomy winters. We lead our lives underneath similar skies as the Danes. Nevertheless, we were ranked number 23 in the ‘World Happiness Report’ drafted by the Earth Institute and Columbia University in 2016, whilst they were… well, first. The possible explanations are two: either they were all happily tipsy on mulled wine during the survey or we’ve got to accept the truth and face the fact that the Danes are much happier than us. The silver lining in our everlasting cloudy sky, though, is that their secret to happiness is not a secret at all and it can definitely be learnt. One word, both a noun and a verb: hygge (hoo-guh). True, despite being shortlisted for the Oxford Dictionaries ‘Word of the Year 2016’, hygge is quite difficult to pronounce and even more difficult to define, since there isn’t a precise English translation. On the other hand, it’s easy to achieve once you find out what it is. To explain it with one among hundreds of possible definitions, hygge is the Danish ritual of enjoying life’s simple pleasures, feeling comfortable and being happy. Picture yourself tucked under a blanket in a candlelit room on a Winter evening, sipping a hot chocolate from your favourite mug, reading a book or chatting with a couple of close friends, maybe playing board games together. This is just an example, of course, but if you want to find out more, a good recommendation is definitely reading Meik Wiking’s The Little Book of Hygge. In a world of fast food and even faster lifestyles, social media and frenetic
Snapchat stories, this book won’t fail to pause everything and allow you to take a break without feeling guilty for not being busy doing something else. Here are a few tips from Susanne, a lovely Dane who, despite being busy working for a computer company, can always find the time for hyggelige moments. “Hygge”, she explained: “is whatever makes you feel good. Alone, with a special someone, or a few. It’s also about intimacy, just being there in the moment.” Whilst for the Danes it comes naturally, our disadvantage is that we had never really heard about it before Morley College in London introduced Hygge classes in 2015 and it became popular in the rest of the UK the following year. Nevertheless, the thought of hygge usually evokes a wooden cabin lost in a quiet, peaceful Danish village, so it’s fair to wonder: can we hygge anywhere else, especially in our big cities like London or, to stay local, Portsmouth? Luckily we don’t have to wonder for long: Hello Hygge -the biggest English on the subject- was created by Kayleigh Tanner, content marketing manager at Totara Learning, who, as she described by herself, is a ‘born and bred Brightonian’. If hygge can be achieved in a tourist, crowded seaside city like Brighton, then it can also be found in Portsmouth -what do they have that we don’t, other than an actual pier that they can walk on? As you probably guessed, Kayleigh agreed to an interview, which took place in the most hyggelig bakery in the Lanes, with the satisfying smell of
warm bread and freshly ground coffee. Instead of using encyclopaedic definitions, Kayleigh captured the essence of hygge in three words: ‘Cosiness, comfort and safety.’ You can definitely make your Portsmouth home cosy. Maybe taking the time to light up a few tealights, snuggle on the sofa with your favourite handmade blanket and listen to a record crackling in the background. Unfortunately magazines and websites can’t talk about hygge without promoting all sorts of scented candles, expensive wooden furniture, pillows and hipster decorations: items that - let’s face it - wouldn’t really suit a student’s tight budget. “It’s more about the atmosphere than buying stuff ”, promised Kayleigh. “A lot of companies are trying to market it as a buy-this, buy-that trend, but you don’t need those things at all: you can use what you have, because it’s very personal.” The aim is basically rearranging your house or even just a room in a way that makes you glad to be back home
after a long shift or a boring lecture. You could even create a proper Danish ‘hyggekrog’ (a snug place): it can be any cosy nook in the kitchen, living room or bedroom - maybe next to the fireplace or by the window - where you can sit, read, chill and instantly feel comfortable. Susanne added that “almost always, when a cup of coffee is offered, we tend to think it’s hygge”. That’s good news for all coffee lovers, since Pompey boasts a large variety of cosy, independent cafés - the quirky ones that you can’t find anywhere else - from Albert Road to the smaller streets of Southsea. “It’s about exploring”, confirmed Kayleigh, “take time to wander, not just go on TripAdvisor and find the most popular places in town. And it’s good to speak to locals to discover hidden places with a good atmosphere.” The southern part of Jutland is also famous for its ‘kagebord’, a selection of cakes, biscuits and pastries offered with coffee, so if you want to treat yourself to some sweets you can justify it as a typically hyggelig moment.
Another false myth about hygge is that it’s strictly an indoor lifestyle to survive the boredom of terribly long winters. No. “Nature is very important to the Danes”, confirmed Kayleigh, and that’s why, as Susanne emphasised: “Hygge is definitely all year round.” After all, in Denmark they say that “There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes”. So you can hygge inside as well as outside, whether it’s sunny or cold. Going on a ski trip is hyggeligt and so is picking flowers in a meadow or stargazing on a friend’s balcony; you can hygge in Spring organising a picnic with friends or even hiking in the woods in Summer. Since Portsmouth’s most characteristic landscape is the pebbly beach, would it be possible to hygge there? “Not only it’s possible, but highly recommended”, smiled Kayleigh. “Maybe a BBQ or a spontaneous gathering for a drink on the beach. Especially somewhere like Brighton or Portsmouth where the seaside is such an important part of the landscape.” The long promenade from the dockyards to Eastney beach, then, offers a whole new range of possibilities to hygge. You could organise an afternoon with your friends on the beach, or perhaps a picnic on Southsea Common, or how about some mulled wine by Southsea Castle whilst gazing at the sunset over the Isle of Wight? Now that you have discovered the quintessence of Danish happiness, make sure you put it into practise. Come on, we can do better than 23rd place in the next ‘World Happiness Report’.
Food & Health
48 hours into Quitting Smoking Carmen Pugliese Food & Health Editor
Hundreds of toxic substances are released when we light a cigarette, dozens of which are also carcinogenic. Smoking has long been known as one of the top preventable causes of premature death. Likewise, the effects of this habit on our health are also quite known. But what happens when we decide to stop smoking? After 2 hours, the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal begin: black humor,
dizzy, tension, trouble sleeping. This is because nicotine promotes the release of hormones such as serotonin and dopamine, which, ironically, is the same mechanism that helps to create the addiction to cigarettes. After 8 hours, the blood begins to clean. The blood of the now former smoker begins to release carbon monoxide, a gas that has the ability to bind with the hemoglobin. The concentration of carbon monoxide in the blood limits the ability of absorption of the oxygen. In longtime smokers, in par-
ticular, the carbon monoxide increases the size of red blood cells, causing more dense blood and increasing the chances of clots. Moreover, blood pressure and heart rate return to normal levels and frequencies. This is because nicotine stimulates the release of adrenaline and norepinephrine, two neurotransmitters that increase heart rate and constrict blood vessels. Due to minor blood vessel function, smokers tend to have cold hands and feet, but 8 hours after the last cigarette, the feeling should be passed.
After 24 hours: You’ll start to cough. It’s a physiological reaction. The body is trying to get rid of toxins still present in the airway. Furthermore, even if only one day is passed after the last cigarette, at this point, the risk of developing coronary heart diseases also starts to drop. After 48 hours: nicotine begins to disappear. Nicotine and its harmful by-products begin to be permanently eliminated from the body. The nerve endings, altered by these substances, begin to recover and repair itself. Furthermore, the taste buds of those
who smoke, usually flattened, fewer and less sensitive than those of nonsmokers, begin to re-gain sensitivity and the food finally seems tastier. These are just some of the many advantages linked to the decision to stop smoking. Although the most difficult moments, especially in terms of will, come subsequently to 48 hours, with a bit of willpower, they can be overcome. From there on, it’s all downhill.
Galleon 10 The Thursday 30th March 2017
LIFESTYLE & CULTURE
Food & Health
Here’s the Scoop The Best Ice Cream Ships in Portsmouth Georgina Monk Is that a bit of sun peeking through the clouds? Just a sliver? Whether you’d like to believe we’re coming into British Summertime or not, it’s become increasingly difficult to deny the surplus of flip-flop wearing, sun hat touting shoppers and students spilling out onto the streets in the past few weeks. And with the weather starting to improve, shouts of ‘Let’s go the common!’ and snapchats of people wading in the chilly waters of Southsea beach are starting to become more common. And what’s the first thing these fanciful beach-goers reach for as they dip their toes into the oncoming waves? Ice cream, naturally. Vanilla, chocolate and mint are always in debate for the best ice cream flavour, but what about the possible places to pick your daily dose of sugaroverloaded joy from? Before the luxurious taste of frozen sugar dances on your tongue, it’s handy to know where you’re heading for.
Sprinkles
The great Sprinkles VS. Scoops de-
bate has been raging for what feels like an eternity. With their gelateria’s competing almost opposite each other, it seems close to impossible to decide how to choose between them. However, any frequent visitor of both establishments could tell you that Sprinkles is better if you want a greater range of flavours. From gooey chocolate brownie to the heavenly biscuit tang of Malteasers, it’s hard to think of a flavour or chocolate bar that they haven’t got on display. It’s difficult not to get a sugar high from here. With its wide range of puddings, from crepes to waffles to cookie dough, there’s something to tickle everyone’s sugar sweet craving. Being situated on Commercial Road also means that is incredibly accessible after a tiring Saturday shopping session full of screaming kids and grumbling adults.
Scoops
Having spouted Sprinkle’s praises, there is something to be said for Scoops too. Not only does it have a more student friendly location (with a branch situated in Southsea), but it’s menu is also simpler. Although the same on the
surface, the ice cream connoisseur will notice that it’s much easier to decide what to order in Scoops. With more sauce on the waffles and more satisfying milkshakes, their lack of brownie toppings is soon made up. Although their whippy ice cream is not quite Sprinkles, the proliferation of booths and top hits (normally with additional sexy dancer music videos) has a much more relaxed vibe away from the central crowds. What is especially beautiful about both these branches is that they open until midnight, which is just about the time the ice cream hunger starts to dig in its claws. These cafes are a life-saver, without a doubt, especially when drunk and wanting something to soak up the alcohol.
Clarence Pier/Arcades
Saying this, who wouldn’t want the true ice cream experience? Forget sitting in an overly bright, commercial environment and get out in the sun. With the added excuse of eating ice cream to you cool down, the beautiful views looking out to the Isle of Wight are made even more special with an ice cream clutched in your sticky fingers.
Although there won’t be the posh flavours of Scoops and Sprinkles, the experience is worth downgrading to the traditionalism of Vanilla and chocolate, if only to remind yourself of a simpler past. If you don’t feel like going out, if it’s raining, if our deadlines are making you tear your hair out - never fear. Ice cream can always be at your door now
that Deliveroo fills our streets. With determined cyclists, you can get your ice cream fix anywhere. From restaurants to the local shop’s freezers to making it at home (with milk and cream, if you’re not much of a chef), ice cream doesn’t need to be an occasional treat anymore. ‘Ice cream for all!’ should definitely be the next electoral slogan; it would make university a much happier place.
5th year has established itself well and truly in the Southsea community. Victorious Festival runs through the August bank holiday weekend from Friday 25th August to Sunday 27th August on Southsea Common for its best year yet, with tickets prices ranging from £20-£42 per day. The line up so far consisting of Stereophonics, Tom Walker, Frank Turner and more, Victorious is definitely on the to-do list. Tickets are available at https://www.victoriousfestival.co.uk/buy-tickets/. For a calmer atmosphere that is more geared towards tickling your taste buds rather than your eardrums is the Southsea Food Festival, which descends on Palmerston Road for its ninth year. This event is free (unless you decide to dabble in the 101 street food vendors and have yourself a bite or two… or three). Palmerston Road is also home to the Love Southsea market, Hampshire Farmers Market and an Art & Collectables Market. There’s
always a great deal to see and eat - it’s a great place to simply enjoy the great outdoors. Finishing the Summer down at Southsea Common is the Portsmouth International Kite Festival. This free event is held on Saturday 12th August and Sunday 13th August starting at 10am and finishing at 5pm on both dates. Feel free to bring your own kite, or just take in the views and fun of others. Anywhere in Portsmouth, there are plenty of fun and quirky places to see and things to do. Never forgetting the city’s history, you can never go wrong with a visit to the Navy Dockyard where you can have a wander around HMS Victory and HMS Warrior 1860, or get on board and get a real sense of its power and history. You really cannot knock this city - it offers something for everyone, it’s just a case of finding it and getting out there to do it.
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Travel
Fun in the Sun Things to do and Places to see in Portsmouth This Summer Stephanie Lukins Portsmouth is immersed in both history and modern day happenings. It isn’t nicknamed the ‘Waterfront City’ for nothing. With continuous happenings and events occurring all over the city this Summer, you won’t be left bored of doing the same old ‘walk down the beach’ routine when the sun is shining. There are the typical cliché things to do and places to see in Portsmouth, such as standing 170m above the ground, with 360’ panoramic views of the harbour courtesy of Spinnaker Tower. Back on the ground, you can meander your way through the crowds around Gunwharf Quays and immerse yourself in a shopping experience, which (thanks to the not so student friendly targeted retail outlets) your bank account will not be grateful for. Even the perfectly pebbled sea front in Southsea is a place to enjoy the Sum-
mer rays and enjoy a game or two of mini golf alongside everyone’s seaside favourite, Clarence Pier. Tucked away just up from the seafront, you can also find the historic Southsea Rose Gardens. This hidden gem of Southsea is a beautiful place to sit peacefully and relax, have a picnic or delve into a good book. However, more credible events and things to do and see in Portsmouth are the ones that you should find yourself getting excited for in between the little trips to the seaside and Gunwharf Quays. Take advantage of the waterfront at your door step this Summer and head to Gosport to enjoy a three-hour afternoon cruise with the chance to indulge in a cream tea whilst taking in Horse Sand, No Man’s Land, Spitbank and St Helen’s forts. The cruise finishes with a grand tour of Portsmouth Harbour. With several dates spread across the Summer months, you should be able to
get on board with this Summer experience.
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With events occurring all over the city this Summer, you won’t be left bored of doing the same old ‘walk down the beach’ routine when.”
Those who love their music can visit The Portsmouth Music Experience Exhibition in Guildhall, which celebrates the city’s rich music heritage from the 1950s all the way to today. Alternatively, there is an Isle of Wight Festival Exhibition where entrance is £3 extra. Open from Monday to Saturday until October 2017, get in there before it finishes. Sticking to the music scene, an up and coming festival which is only in its
11 LIFESTYLE & CULTURE features@galleonnews.com
Album Review
Laura Marling: Semper Femina - A Delicate Ode to Femininity The revered English folk artist returns with her sixth album in nine years Warren Bradley Music Editor Two years on from the incredible Short Movie, Laura Marling returns with a new album, cementing herself as one of the finest British songwriters of this generation. Her sixth record Semper Femina takes on new territories, whilst keeping the folky charm she has displayed throughout her career. She continues to evolve but does not alienate her listeners.
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Full of ballads dedicated to female friendship and its aching complexities.”
After moving on to an electric guitar on the sun-soaked, desert-tinged Short Movie, Semper Femina embraces a return to Marling’s finger-picking acoustic glory. The record is magnetic in its balance between folk song familiarity and sonic exploration. Musician Blake Mills, who has worked with Fiona Apple, is brought on board as Producer and Co-songwriter and it works incredibly well. All at once, the sound is fleshed out with a swell of delicate strings and an enticing guitar and yet it seems stripped back in large parts, letting Laura’s gorgeous vocals take the spotlight. This is illustrated no better than in the first single and opening track, ‘Soothing’. The track favours the rhythmic throb of the double bass and a much jazzier tone than we’ve ever heard from her before. It’s incredibly sexy but
torturous too. It’s very reminiscent of Joni Mitchell’s work and I wish we’d have got a bit more of this particular
sound throughout the album. What really sets the album ablaze is its eponymous feminine focus lyrically. Semper Femina, translates to ‘always a woman’ from Latin, stemming from a line from Virgil’s classic poetry. Marling has even got it tattooed on her upper thigh, and the woman-centric moral is similarly etched into the entire album. She hardly uses male pronouns and she stated that she initially ‘started out writing Semper Femina as if a man was writing about a woman’. This soon led to the realisation that it rang truer if she wrote from her own innately feminine perspective. From this, songs like the hauntingly gentle ‘The Valley’, reminiscent of Nick Drake’s Five Leaves Left, and lilting guitar tune ‘Nouel’, an ode to a
muse of hers, became ballads dedicated to female friendship and its aching complexities. A true standout lyrical line strikes as Marling curses the voyeuristic male gaze and its romanticisation. “You always say you love me most when I don’t know when I’m being seen/Maybe someday when God takes me away, I’ll understand what the fuck that means,” she sings. She surely has a hell of a bite when she wants to. Semper Femina comes to an end with the track, ‘Nothing, Not Nearly’, which, in its sleazy slur of electric guitar and spoken-word vocals, offers a sense of optimism. And with that, she leaves us wanting more, with the sense she’s not anywhere near finished. Not even nearly. An absolute gem of an album, as Marling continues broaden her reach, going from strength to strength as she does.
Gig Review
Live Review: Two Door Cinema Club @ Southampton Guildhall Warren Bradley Music Editor Anteros opened the show with such stage presence for a first support act that anyone would’ve thought it was their headline show. The silky, happy tones of their latest EP’s title song ‘Breakfast’ saw the whole band bobbing in unison. The indie pop four-piece played beautifully, getting the crowd to clap along and dance despite barely anyone knowing the words. The audience held their arms firmly in the air creating a picture worthy scene. All in all, a bloody good start! Sundara Karma, who came out to a somewhat overwhelming response from the seemingly tipsy crowd, were next on the bill. Drinks, people and even bras were flying everywhere when they opened with ‘Young Understanding’. Aside from the slightly lifeless bassist, this performance, and in particular ‘She Said’ and ‘Loveblood’, affirmed frontman Oscar Pollock as the most adorable androgynous man currently on the indie music scene. As if
the crowd weren’t going well and truly ballistic already, a few decent dance tracks got the audience through the break, most notably Darude’s ‘Sandstorm’. By this point, there was a definite buzz in the air and the moment finally arrived for Two Door Cinema Club to grace us with their presence. They strolled onto stage in a blinding flash of strobe lighting and opened with Tourist History classic ‘Cigarettes In The Theatre’, which sent the crowd into a frenzy. This was followed by ‘Undercover Martyn’, which was proudly screeched by most members of the audience. The lyrics, “She spoke words that would melt in your hands, and she spoke words of wisdom,” could be heard from all corners of the venue. It wasn’t until after the first two tracks did front man Alex Trimble introduce the band with a rather husky ‘Alright Southampton?’ and a cheeky grin. A beautifully executed rendition of ‘Do You Want It All?’ resulted in more attempts at singing and many cracked voices from the crowd. The
packed hall was then treated to another two classics; ‘This is the Life’ and ‘Changing of the Seasons’, which were followed by ‘Bad Decisions’, the first showing from album Gameshow.
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The crowd went crazy for the ’80s disco vibes. In all honesty, I think the crowd would have been happy if they’d have played ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ at this point.”
The band didn’t leave much time for talking as they headed straight into ‘Lavender’, another Gameshow track. The sheer production value poured into these tracks was evident on the night, and perhaps a credit to their four year break since 2011’s Beacon. As I heard those first few synthy waves followed by some infectious drum beats I knew it was time for my favourite Two Door song, ‘Next Year.’
Everything about this song was pure perfection, and despite having seen it played live twice already, I blubbed like a baby throughout the entire nearlyfour-minute song. The rest of the gig was a happy daze as the band rattled through ‘Come Back Home’, ‘Ordinary’, and ‘Something Good Can Work’, the latter sending the audience into cardiac arrest trying to scream the lyrics and simultaneously bounce along to the infectious high notes. ‘Je Viens De La’, another Gameshow album track, was tested on us. As one can imagine, the crowd went crazy for the ’80s disco vibes. In all honesty, I think the crowd would have been happy if they’d have played ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ at this point. Throwing me back into my early teens, they played ‘I Can Talk’ and ‘Sleep Alone’ back to back, which was appreciated greatly by the ecstatic crowd. Two absolutely classic tunes followed in the form of ‘Eat That Up/ It’s Good For You’ and ‘Sun’. The electric atmosphere that these songs left in the venue was enough to tide us over
through the break before an absolutely mind blowing encore. The encore consisted of ‘Someday’ and a sobering rendition of ‘What You Know’. The three piece played the crowd perfectly with the tantalising drop of ‘What You Know’ sending the audience into one collective bouncing organism as a ‘last hurrah’. I left the venue with a signed copy of Sundara Karma’s debut album Youth Is Only Ever Fun In Retrospect and a cute little yellow cassette tape from Anteros which made for some perfect post gig listening and small reminder of a memorable night in the Southampton Guildhall.
Galleon 12 The Thursday 30th March 2017
LIFESTYLE & CULTURE
Television
Netflix Has Zero Chill A new era of television has dawned... Hannah Jones The age of internet television subscriptions has slowly infiltrated the market with services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Sky’s Now TV providing realistic competition to the traditional format. Over the past few years, there has been a significant transition amongst viewers from scheduled television to anytime and anywhere subscription services. But what is the reason for this shift away from a beloved episode of Bargain Hunt at 12 o’clock in the afternoon? And what could this change mean for the future of TV? Although scheduled television still maintains the highest ratings amongst viewers, the industry has witnessed an increase in rival TV and film subscription services being used. Now, nearly a quarter of all British households have Netflix accounts (not including the others who use their parents’ account for free as one of the 4 devices allowed - P.S. thanks Mum and Dad), with 1.4
million people joining the service in 2015 alone.
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What once seemed like a far off luxury is now an easily accessible reality…without the bombardment of marketing interruptions advertising Nicole Scherzinger’s disturbing love affair with yogurt.”
It is easy to see why this change is occurring. In many cases, these subscriptions are offering something that scheduled TV can’t- On Demand TV, sans adverts. What once seemed like a far-off luxury is now an easily-accessible reality, with seamless viewing of an array of TV shows and films without the bombardment of marketing interruptions advertising Nicole Scherzinger’s dis-
turbing love affair with yogurt. Netflix and the like have established a market where the viewer is essentially in complete control of their viewing time. However, despite this convenient development in the digital age, a few problems do arise. Most notably and perhaps relatably, the main one being the inevitable binge-watch marathon. Many of these subscriptions allow you to watch consecutive episodes of your chosen shows for hours on end until you inevitably get the dreaded ‘are you still alive?’ notification just to reiterate how much of a couch potato you are. Whilst this may not be a massive issue, what tends to happen whilst watching three seasons of AbFab in a day is that you lose all sense of time within the show, as opposed to being limited to one scheduled episode a week and one series a year. One minute, Saffy is a geek in high school and the next she’s completed her degree and has a baby. What these subscription services have created is an impatient audience, who
are not satisfied until they can access all episodes of any TV show they desire. Furthermore, these TV subscriptions all have different exclusives which means you are required to sign up for each service separately in order to view the shows and films you want. Therefore someone who wants to watch Orange is the New Black, Vikings and Game of Thrones will have to create accounts with three different providers. Whilst the competing exclusives have ensured a rich and diverse range of programmes to become engrossed in, to the point where you have devoured yet another packet of sharer crisps entirely by yourself, it can either prove greatly expensive or it pushes the lowly student further towards illegal streaming. It may not just affect TV either. With ever-increasing prices of cinema tickets, people could be tempted to stay
at home rather than pay around £10 each for a film and a minuscule portion of Ben & Jerry’s. Whilst it is difficult to tell whether services like Netflix are affecting the size of cinema audiences, it has been a discussion amongst experts for some time now. So what is the future for TV? With reduced revenue being made through advertising, there could potentially be less funding for the programmes we know and love, as well as the new ones. It is also possible that the BBC could be under further threat as fewer people choose to renew their TV licences. Although the increase in popularity of subscription services could see a greater variety of shows and films on offer to viewers of all tastes, it could lead to a greater Americanisation of British television.
Television
From Game to Gogglebox Michael Pusey, Television Editor, Thomas Clement and Tom Parsley Video game adaptations have a chequered history on both the big and small screens. Assassin’s Creed opened in cinemas in January of this year to mixed reviews from critics and fans alike; the same can be said for last summer’s blockbuster Warcraft. We’ve even had April Fool’s pranks, promising a Legend
of Zelda adaptation that got fans hyped up. With news coming out recently that Netflix are actually developing their own video game adaptation of the beloved Castlevania franchise, longtime fans will be itching to see how this latest venture pans out. Given this news, we thought we’d look at several video games that we think would make the transition from game to television series.
series would have ample opportunity for exciting interactions and well-choreographed fight sequences.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Having poured hours of my life into The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, it was my immediate pick for this list. Revolving around central character and graduate in bad-assery, Geralt of Rivia, The Witcher series of games would not be short of content for a potential television series. Graphically, the game is stunning, with a wide variety of locations to feature in episodes. The roster of characters is diverse, each with their own backstory that would allow for further exploration as a potential series.The game itself follows Geralt as he searches for his missing lover and adopted daughter, all the while traversing the land in search of beasts to slay. As a monster hunter, or ‘witcher’, Geralt often finds himself fending off beasts of all natures, and any kind of television
Given the fantastical nature of the game, it could be argued that a Witcher series may struggle to garner fans against the goliath that is Game of Thrones, but I think the game’s good reputation and potential for a crossover would be enough to maintain interest alone. With an ensemble cast of equally exciting characters, intriguing plotlines and a breathtaking world to be explored, The Witcher could make a fantastic series. MP
Assassin’s Creed
I know we already have a fledgling film series of Assassin’s Creed, but I think a television show would work in its favour. The best part of the series was the different time periods and settings, something that can change with season to season. Similar to American Horror Story or True Detective, each series would have its own cast and place in time, with different story arcs, tones, and themes. If they are still going with the whole ancestors thing, having the same core cast return in older or newer times, with a revolving recurring cast for those specific times would make for an interesting concept. A change in settings would allow for an expansion on the places that the game series hasn’t explored yet. Feudal Japan is a place that has been criminally overlooked again and again by the series, and would be a great opportunity to get some Asian actors into mainstream television. Similarly, the series could return to its roots with an Arabian aesthetic, giving Middle Eastern actors more roles than the stereotypical “terrorist”, as Riz Ahmed recently stated. The series could also revisit places that weren’t explored fully in the games, like Assassin’s Creed: Unity‘s French Revolution, just from a different view-
point. Say, a Templar’s response to the Assassin’s work? Just junk the modern day stuff, yeah? It was the worst part of the film. TC
L.A. Noire
L.A. Noire is the perfect fit for a TV adaptation. Rockstar’s open world detective masterpiece already plays out as a number of separate cases that slowly flesh out main character Cole Phelp’s overarching story. These individual cases could easily fill out individual episodes with the story of Cole’s rise and fall providing the overarching story that spans the entire series. The key to its success however, would be how well the mystery of each case is managed, transferring that sense of achievement when you solve a case. Rockstar already created a magnificent, twisting tale of lies and deceit, and a TV adaption has the potential to be fantastic. TP
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Arts
The Rising Trend of ‘Bookstagram’ Because there are other things besides the Kardashians on Instagram... Lottie Moulster Culture Editor
short series on her Instagram “story” of the process behind her photos. She
One of the biggest social media sites of today is Instagram, a photo sharing app used by all types of people across the world, from Barack Obama to my mum. But Instagram isn’t all selfies with Starbucks cups and ‘food porn’ (or, in my mum’s case, pictures of our cats). The rising trend on the social media platform is the “Bookstagram” account. Bookstagram is a community of people who take photos of books and post them online. This sounds pretty dull on the surface but, as a bibliophile, I find these photos beautiful. ‘Bookstagrammers’ put a lot of effort into taking the perfect photo, using nature to complement books as well as surrounding them with things like fairy lights and even socks! One ‘bookstagrammer’ posted a
has a special white box used only for book photos, an array of props and a special photography light. The series was about ten clips long as she showed her followers how she set up the book and chose the right props to go with the theme and aesthetic of the book before working out the best angle to take the photo. Then of course, there’s editing the photo on the computer before even starting to upload it to Instagram. Bookstagram is a full-blown hobby for
a lot of people.
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Of course, these aren’t the only reason people post photos of their books. To me, it’s a good way to appreciate books both in a literary and aesthetic sense.”
Some may wonder why people go to such an effort just to take photos of books. One of the reasons is that it actually has a pretty big following! Some of the bigger Bookstagram accounts that I follow are @quoththebooklover who has 15.3k followers, @paperfury who has 24.4k followers and @bookstagramfeatures who has 85.1k followers! I can’t claim followers as the reason behind my attempts at bookish photography; my book account (@lottie_reads_ books) has only 173 followers; I do it
because it’s fun. I love thinking of new ways to represent books photographically and looking at the end result. Of course, these aren’t the only reason people post photos of their books. To me, it’s a good way to appreciate books both in a literary and aesthetic sense. I have over 200 books just because I like looking at them and taking photos of them. I also find that it’s a great way of getting inspiration on what books to read. If I follow an account with a similar taste in books to me I can see what they’re reading and then read it myself. Scrolling through my Instagram feed is like going book shopping!
Arts
Book Review: Louise O’Neill’s Asking For It A timely dissection of rape culture in the social media age Madeline Goodwin Set in a quiet village in Ireland with the tightest of communities, Emma O’Donovan is Queen Bee. Everyone recognises the type; bitchy, spoilt and irritatingly perfect with a loyal gang of followers. The book, written from the perspective of protagonist Emma, begins by showing the life of the aforementioned Queen. She messes about in class, flirts with boys and parties hard. But the book takes an unexpected and incredibly compelling twist that will leave readers reeling with sympathy. Emma is at a house party, drinking excessively, taking drugs and leading on boys. Her friends encourage her, optimising the ‘sheep’ that they are. She then sleeps with the gorgeous, muscu-
lar, and extremely popular football star. The author, O’Neill, gives the reader a sense of reality. We’ve all seen what happens after excessive alcohol consumption and too much partying. After waking up the following morning with absolutely no recollection of the night before, Emma logs into Facebook.
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The author accurately portrays today’s taboos surrounding rape culture and victim blaming.”
O’Neill uses social media as the enemy. In a world where teenagers live their lives through Instagram and pop-
ularity is based on how many likes your selfie receives, she presents Emma’s downfall through this demon. In a brutal cyber-attack, Emma is faced with many photos of herself from the party in which she is naked and being raped by three boys from her year. Conflicting thoughts plague her, especially when her friends reject her from their friendship group and she is labelled a ‘slut’. The author accurately portrays today’s taboos surrounding rape culture and victim blaming. Emma was ‘asking for it’. She had been drinking and was under the influence of drugs. She was dressed inappropriately with too much flesh on show. She is promiscuous and had had consensual sex the same evening. The victim is torn between wanting her rapists to face trial and punishment
for what they did, whilst wishing that her life could return to how it was prior to the attack when she was in control. O’Neill effectively draws on these confusing personal thoughts and allows the reader a deep and sensitive understanding of how victims of rape must feel. The book ends, as is not all that surprising, on a cliff hanger; urging the reader to feel at a loss - reflective of the protagonists’ emotions throughout the entirety of the novel. This is a brave and vitally important
book about the issues in today’s society regarding rape culture, sexism and victim blaming. It addresses the horrific, yet disturbingly accurate, views of rape among young teenage girls and will leave all readers feeling engrossed in the life of Emma O’Donovan.
Galleon 14 The Thursday 30th March 2017
LIFESTYLE & CULTURE
Travel
Countries to Visit in 2017 The Top 5 in US News and World Report Survey Trushali Chudasama Travel Editor
Switzerland ‘debuts’ at the top of the US News & World Report, whilst the United Kingdom comes in at third place. Other top five spots include Canada, Germany and the United states. But what exactly goes into this top 5 decision? Packed with treasured cities and the largest lakes to border two countries, Switzerland is the land of mountains and scenic castles. Full of beautiful lakes but one in particular comes to mind when you think of Switzerland. Lake Geneva borders both France and Switzerland but is one of the largest lakes in northern Europe and therefore the perfect holiday spot for a romantic weekend away with more than enough affordable activities such as a mini safari around the lake. Mountains are a key part of the Swiss experience and the Alps cannot be missed. Although most of the northern area is located in Switzerland, the southern part is on the bordering France, Liechtenstein, Italy and Austria. If climbing and skiing is not your forte then brush up on your biking skills and hire a bike in Zurich, Geneva, Bern or even a more remote and scenic route around Switzerland for a romantic bike ride or for a catch up tour with your best friend this Summer.
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With cities such as Vancouver, which is dubbed the #1 best place to live by many surveys, it was obvious that Canada would remain in the top five countries.”
Canada came in 2nd place for best city to visit and there is no surprise there, taking into consideration the amount of cities and their open arm culture to people from all walks of life. With cities such as Vancouver, which is dubbed the #1 best place to live by many surveys, it was obvious that Canada would remain in the top four countries. Vancouver has a lot to offer in terms of living but not much for tourists. Although having said that, Vancouver is known for its wide open outdoor spaces, perfect for the hikers, bikers and climbers with places such as Grouse Mountain and Stanley Park. Quebec is ideal for people looking for a bit of history of Canada, with its Old
Quebec quarters which is coveted as a UNESCO’s world heritage site. Quebec is a beautiful city for all those photographers keen to capture historic and architecturally magnificent photograph. What is interesting to note that many people confuse the capital as Toronto due to its various skyscrapers and shopping-ville area and with everything a capital should offer. However, Ottawa has much to offer as well with places such as Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica which has free entry, National Gallery of Canada and Rideu Canal for a scenic walk through Ottawa city centre. Keeping mind that Canada is famous for Niagara Falls based fairly close to Toronto then it is worthwhile taking a short visit, as it is supposed to be a beautiful natural phenomenon. Dropping from 1st place in 2016, Germany takes its place in at 3rd. But fear not, there are more than enough sites and castles to keep your inner Disney child alive. Some famous castles include Neuschwanstein Castle. Located in Southwest Germany, the castle is famous for being open to the public only seven weeks after the death of King Ludwig II in 1886. Eltz Castle is another nostalgic German castle located between Koblenz and Trier (another historic city that definitely deserves a
visit). Only one of three castles left on the bank of the Rhine, it serves to give a perfect view of a Disney princess castle. If castles and fairy tales are too far removed from reality then Berlin is perfect for a lesson in Germany’s divided history, with various locations that can be seen on one tour, such as the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie and the location where Hitler died (spoiler alert, it is now just a measly car park). If you are travelling to Germany you cannot miss out on their varieties of Wurst (German hotdog) and if you are vegetarian then do not miss out on the chance to eat some sauerkraut and German hot chocolate or even the speciality of Koln beer to keep you warm if you are planning to venture out for a Winter holiday.
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Dropping from 1st place in 2016, Germany takes its place in at 3rd. But fear not, there are more than enough sites and castles to keep your inner Disney child alive.” Our favourite place in the world
managed to bank itself within the top three spot. The United Kingdom has so much to offer, with four countries, of which three can be travelled to without a passport. Starting with England, of course, we all know that the capital is the perfect place for a weekend away with the squad or with your partner. There is always something to do in London may that be the obvious tourist attractions such as London Tower, Buckingham Palace and South Bank, however the capital is filled some very quirky and fun places to visit if you are bored of the mundane attractions. Camden is the perfect place to go to see hipsters in their prime location. But if you want to see some of inner city London then Shoreditch is also a great hangout spot for a quirky night out. Bored of the city? Then head out to the historic sites such as Stonehenge located near Salisbury. If you want to venture away from England then head up north to windy Scotland for some amazing haggis and a chance to visit Edinburgh. Summer is the perfect time to go and stroll through Edinburgh Castle and go for a romantic climb up Arthur’s seat for fantastic view of Edinburgh. Dublin is also a great place for history and culture, and if you are need of a drink then do not hesitate to book a booze up holiday with the group at Temple Bar. With various affordable Airbnb options Ireland is a great country to go for a cheap holiday which is not too far from home.
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It’s measured on a variety of metrics and our research has been used to formulate the perfect holiday.”
And finally, the country to take the
final place in the top 5 was Japan. Although it is expensive to travel to, the cost of tourism within Japan is fairly cheap in comparison to Western countries. An interesting fact is that the Japanese enjoy a bit of karaoke just like Portsmouth students on a Friday night at the Waterhole. Google any popular bars in Tokyo or Kyoto and find yourself attempting to sing Japanese songs to any bar-goer in ear shot of your sultry* (*read: maniacal) tones. If you are feeling a bit out of your depth and want to find your inner peace then Sens≈ç-ji is a great way to experience Japanese spirituality. It is Tokyo’s most visited temple and it is believed that the shrine of Kannon (the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy) was pulled out in roughly 628 AD. It would also pay to familiarise yourself with Tsukiji Market, which manages to trade over 2000 tonnes of seafood daily. Make sure to check the calendar whether it’s open, but normally trading begins around 5am. If in Japan then it is a must to see some Sumo action in play, and Ry≈çgoku Kokugikan is the perfect place for this. Normally it lasts for 15 days during each January, May and September and is hosted in Japans largest sumo wrestling stadium. Tickets are available one month before every tournament. Kinkaku-ji (The Golden Pavilion) is located in the heart of Kyoto and deserves a visit, whether it is in the Winter snow or during Summer where the lush green or snowy white surroundings gives the Pavilion a beautiful backdrop. Admission is about 400 yen from 9am - 5pm. If memoirs of a Geisha piqued your interest then head over to Gion, the last remaining Geisha district in Japan. Filled with beautifully historic wooden buildings and exclusive Japanese restaurants, you may even glimpse a Geisha struggling to walk between the buildings.
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It might even be worth trying to save up and move to one of these higher ranking countries.”
All five of the survey’s best countries have their own unique qualities that validated their top five status within the US News and World Report list. It is measured on a variety of metrics and our research has been used to formulate the perfect holiday. It might even be worth trying to save up and move to one of these higher ranking countries.
15 LIFESTYLE & CULTURE features@galleonnews.com
Technology and Gaming
The Big Nintendo Switch Review The eagerly-anticipated Nintendo Switch and its marquis title, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, are the subject of a comprehensive double review Dominic Scannell
The Switch tablet is wider than expected, with a great weight and feel similar to a giant Playstation Vita. The small, touch-sensitive 720p screen hosts a surprisingly crisp and bright image, which helps to keep the display mostly unhindered by screen glare. The console doesn’t get alarmingly hot, and, from my experience, comfortably gives three hours of wireless playtime on maxi-
can easily be charged using a portable power bank, at least. Unfortunately, this charging point lies on the bottom of the console, meaning that when the console is stood on a flat surface using the worryingly thin kickstand, it cannot be charged. Perhaps second only to the Gamecube’s handle, the “Switch” gimmick integral to the console’s place both in the hands and upon a larger display is polished to perfection. Upon slotting the Switch into the dock, which connects to a TV via HDMI, display is instantly transferred to the screen, without the need to even pause. The dock also connects to the AC adapter, and has a USB slot inside. Once the Switch is docked, the joycons (controllers) can be removed, and held in each hand or slid into a more traditional controller shaped adapter. These controllers integrate a HD Rumble feature, along with a supersatisfying click upon attachment to the sides of the console. I very quickly fell in love with the two joycons, which feel similar to a more streamlined version of the Wii Remote & Nunchuk combo, with the exception of a wire between the two. This reveals a very niche feature I never could have known I wanted: the ability to play video games with my hands as far apart as I like. Although, playing Zelda with one hand behind the head may not appeal to all players as it does to me. The lack of wire between the two in combination with their size and weight spells a surprisingly appealing future for Switch motion controls, exemplified by 1-2 Switch. That said, early Wii U titles such as Nintendoland ended up unfortunately being some of the only
mum brightness- a dramatically lower figure than it’s dual-screened cousin. The inclusion of a USB Type C charging port, however, means the Switch
software to take advantage of the second screen gimmick. Future software incorporating these motion controls such as Arms require a strong launch,
Though I would argue for the value of its ‘quality over quantity’ library, It certainly isn’t unreasonable to claim the Wii U was a burn. Key issues in Nintendo’s previous home console included a lack of hardware power to compete with other HD consoles, in addition to a lack of extensive third party support. £279.99 is a completely different investment at the launch of the Switch compared to a few months down the line, after some more releases, as the console’s library is effectively defined by The Legend of Zelda. Though I have played the outstanding Snipperclips demo, this review will focus on the Nintendo Switch hardware itself, and its accompanying flagship title.
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The console doesn’t get alarmingly hot, and, from my experience, comfortably gives three hours of wireless playtime on maximum brightnessa dramatically lower figure than it’s dualscreened cousin.”
based on a strong existing foundation. The online functionality of the Switch is as of yet unfinished, and is thankfully free until completion around Autumn 2017, when it will disappointingly follow other consoles into a paid online service. Nintendo will also offer temporary free games and exclusive deals to members of their online service. Another disappointment is the persistence of friend codes: ridiculous, forgettable 12-digit puzzles unique to each player, required to add friends through the system. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of
commonly overplayed in games, though the thought put into the way in which historical details are revealed means that the discovery of Link’s past is surprisingly refreshing and meaningful. The cast of characters that fill the world are as bright, quirky and charming as ever, giving each location a distinct atmosphere, a great strength of the series.
been, with depth and variation resulting from weapons and shields breaking upon their durability depleting. Players need to adapt to situations based on the Wild the materials at hand, and cannot settle Platform: Wii U, Nintendo Switch into just using one type of weapon or Retail Price: £49.99 playing style, highlighting the presence Disclaimer: Due to an unfortunate disof an incredible variety of equipment sertation deadline, I have not been able and approaches both to combat and to puzzles. The lack of a toggle option for sprinting can make other actions such as jumping or looking around require awkward finger positions, however overall the control scheme is simple and refined enough for new players to pick up with ease. A “Pro” UI option removing the minimap, time of day and noise meter displays are welcome inclusions, giving an experience more reliant on player intuition and involvement. The true hero of Breath of the Wild Visually the game, while strug- is, of course, its world, brought to life gling in regards to framerate in through well considered zones which to finish the main story of The Legend of high density areas, is otherwise gor- contribute to an aversion of the usual Zelda at the time of writing this review. geous. Charming animations with an emptiness and alienating issues within I am around half way through both ex- impressive level of attention to detail open worlds in gaming. World puzploring the world and completing the also helps tie Link’s surroundings to- zles are peppered throughout, with main storyline quest, so will be unable gether. Marking out features from van- their astounding density making up to comment on content from the third tage points is an integral part of game- for variation in their quality. Time cyact of the game. As a result, this review play, which can suffer from reduced cles and dynamic weather, all of which avoids analysis of the late-game progres- detail at long distances. Conservative affect gameplay, help to keep hunting sion and plot of Breath of the Wild, how- use of nostalgic audio cues and motifs and foraging engaging, and different ever, some early plot spoilers are present. play on a strong series history without enemies use their surroundings in a Within five minutes of turning getting pushy, however a sparing use of range of ways, forcing the player to Breath of the Wild on, the player is in- a strong soundtrack can occasionally adapt based both on conditions and troduced to simple, accessible gameplay leave a feeling of emptiness in an oth- the environment. Where exploration framed in a varied, but forgiving, open erwise warm world. in previous entries in the series was area. It’s clear from this stage that NinA large portion of gameplay can be often constrained to the interiors of tendo knows how to handle an open attributed to the survival mechanics, themed dungeons, the inclusion of far world, as the introduction to key utility a new addition to the series, mainly fewer dungeons gives a focus on reand puzzle solving abilities is enjoyable involving hunting plants, animals, warding overworld exploration. More at one’s own pace. The main quest takes and monster parts. Stealth mechanics regimented, smaller scale combat and this freedom to the next step, with an similar to that of Wind Waker are in- puzzle sections are scattered throughobjective as loose as “get out there and tegrated through sneaking up on prey, out the world in optional shrines linked meet people, Link!” showing a clear and are also key to combat encounters to player health and stamina increases. understanding of the importance of the too difficult for an early-game player. This serves as a manageable option for exploration of Hyrule. Link, having lost This is important considering within struggling players to become stronger, his memory results in discovery of the a few hours the entire world of Breath while also incorporating simple chalworld, is at the same pace as the player. of The Wild is accessible, with the re- lenges to help with an understanding However, the world has not forgotten quirement to sneak around dangerous of the wider application of abilities and Link, which goes a long way towards areas and foes giving the world a more playing styles. making the player feel more important unforgiving, varied and realistic tone. and welcomed. Memory loss tropes are The combat is as simple as it has ever
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Conservative use of nostalgic audio cues and motifs play on a strong series history without getting pushy, however a sparing use of a strong soundtrack can occasionally leave a feeling of emptiness in an otherwise warm world.”
Galleon 16 The Thursday 30th March 2017
LIFESTYLE & CULTURE
Showbiz
Celebrities Coming Out In Preparation for Pride Georgina Monk As we come into Pride season, which usually takes place during the Summer months, we ought to get ready to dig out our rainbow flags. Pride, being a season celebrating the LGBT+ community, is often the time where people feel most comfortable and supported in ‘coming out’. However, for some, ‘coming out’ is harder that for others, especially when they live their lives in the public eye. Although, choosing to live authentically is no longer a new thing in the celebrity world. But living in the nosy, media-led society that exists today, each celebrities’ revelation of their sexuality often leads to rampant newspaper headlines and endless TV interviews. This is especially difficult for celebrities who usually come under the spotlight for stereotypically contrasting activities and careers. Keegan Hirst, the first openly gay British rugby player to
come out, stated that he had nothing but support from fans. It’s undeniable though, that a sports player, in a sport typically associated with masculinity and heterosexuality, would have to address the issues of the taboo surrounding this subject. Although it would be great if we did not have to address these issues, Hirst said that he thought: “it would be a bit of an issue, but it wasn’t at all.” It can only be hoped that his example helped others to go against the social normality in being honest about their sexuality and unlike him, not having to bend towards more traditional forms of relationship (he had only just separated from his then wife at the time) before doing so. Charlie Carver also came out last year in 2016 after struggling with his sexuality for many years. Doing this, he hoped to challenge stereotypes surrounding masculinity and its role in celebrity culture. In an Instagram post, he said: “I owe it to myself, more than
anything, to be who I needed when I was younger,” and to not be “limiting myself to a type, to a perception with limits that I was not professionally comfortable with.” This highlights some of the difficulties of coming out in an environment watched by the media and a potentially bigoted public. In this statement, he suggests that the privacy of celebrities should be valued just as much, if not more, as their professional life. However, there are complications to this for some people. One of these complications centres around famous people coming out in the sphere of politics. Justine Green-
ing came out last year to major support from other political candidates. This must be particularly hard in politics where personal life tends to be avoided and gay people do not always get the representation that they deserve. Greening, however, was met with statements of solidarity from the then Prime Minster David Cameron, along with many others. Colton Haynes, the 27 year old actor, made a statement when he came out saying: “People want you to be that GQ image that you put out, but people don’t realize what it’s like to act 24 hours a day. I’d go home and I was still
acting.” By linking his homosexuality to his career, he represents ordinary people’s struggles to fulfil their own identity against presumptions, especially in the celebrity world, where media attention spurns on other aesthetic and mental issues such as body image. This could represent gay people who have to act a certain way to perform a socionormative identity. Whilst it is idealistic to think of a future where people will not find revealing their sexuality daunting and where there will be no presumptions about sexuality, for now, it is important that celebrities come out and stand up against discrimination. This not only helps others to have the courage to come out, too, but be who they are without having to side-line their own desires to fulfil a certain sexuality or lifestyle.
Fashion & Beauty
Getting Graduation Ready Brogan Kirkby-Bott Fashion & Beauty Editor
Graduation season is just around the corner. Family, friends and class mates will all be there to celebrate the blood, sweat and tears you put into your degree so the least you can do is to look your best. For the girl who likes to keep things simplistic but lady like, an effortless knee grazing frock is perfect for the day. The style of the dress really is not something that should be of worry when wearing your cap and gown. However, a full skirt should be avoided to prevent the robe itself from looking bulky - it all comes down colour. Seeing as the ceremony is taking place in the summer neutral tones, blush pinks and soft powder blues are timeless and set to be on trend this Spring/Summer. Continuing with the seasons colour palette, choose a feminine lip colour and give the skin a natural glow with BB cream and a sweep of mascara where needed. To ensure the perfect graduation snap, minimal makeup should be worn rather than going all out with false lashes, crazy contours and cakey foundation. If a dress is not the chosen outfit then opt for the perfect pairing, a clas-
sic white blouse (pussy bow is optional) and a timeless pair of black cigarette trousers. Choosing to wear a blouse is not only simple and easy to wear, it’s practical when wearing a robe as it can sit easily in place and be held there in order to avoid a potential nip-slip. Wearing such an easy combination allows time for experimentation with accessories and makeup, as a vibrant red lip can be worn as a pop of colour being the perfect partner to a feline flick and comfy pair of flats. This look suggests attitude going against the typical preppy graduation look. Both men and women should have no problem when deciding what to do with the barnet when wearing a cap. For foolproof hair that looks current and effortless wear the hair down, adding either a braid or a few hair grips to
keep any flyaways at bay. Now this may seem a little too basic for such a big day, but remember the cap may need to be gripped in place so carry a few bobby pins and a traveled sized hair brush if the weather has a turn for the worse. Most women envy men when it comes to picking the perfect outfit for occasions. Just choose a shirt, tie, trousers and a pair of shoes, it could not be any easier. Wrong. Mens fashion has changed drastically since high school prom with there being different patterns, textures, colours and style. Always begin with the shirt as this will be the foundation of the outfit. A white or neutral coloured shirt allows bolder and vibrant accessories to be paired with other parts of the look. Highstreet favourite Topman sell an assortment of ties in different materials and prints for
as little as £5 or if the classic tie is a no for you, it might be worth trying a textured bow tie. The fun ends at the shoes for both men and women. Comfort is essential bearing in mind the shoes are going to worn all day. Men should keep their eyes peeled for in store offers in shops like Burton where they frequently provide deals on shoes and other items. Currently shoes are being reduced to £30 and are also being offered in a two for £45 deal. If the decision in buying shoes is just too much, buying a second pair when on offer is a sign. There will be no need to ponder on which style suits you best or whether the colour matches the outfit. Lastly for women, sky high heels really are not appropriate for the day in terms of comfort and, of course,
walking on to the stage to collect your degree certificate. A pair of block mid heels are the perfect companion, allowing support around the ankle and foot. The heels themselves are still very chic and sophisticated and can be purchased from as little as £19.99 in New Look - coming in a range of Spring/ Summer appropriate colours and textures. If heels really are not your thing, a handy tip to get anyone through the day would be to carry around a pair of flats allowing a quick change before and after the ceremony. This will also easily take the outfit from day to night in order to make it perfect for any festivities after the event. Despite the stress of having to find the perfect outfit, hair and makeup on the day itself should be enjoyed. So long as you have the perfect post-graduation snap and your smile is genuine the day itself will be a success. If not, there are always second chances. For many graduating this will not be the only time a gown and cap is worn if planning on doing a masters after you leave. Which ever path you take, good luck and appreciate all memories from your time at university.
17 LIFESTYLE & CULTURE features@galleonnews.com
Film
Film 2017: The Most Anticipated Releases of the Year Jordan Osborne, Culture Editor, Michael Pusey, Television Editor, Olivia Newman, Film Editor, Abigail Nobes, Alexander Williams and Georgina Monk
can you not want to see it? It is set to
2017 didn’t start out great, but don’t fear there’s still hope! Here are our writers’ most anticipated films for the year ahead. Start stacking up on your popcorn and pre-booking your uncomfortable VIP seats at the cinema.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
Pirates of the Caribbean has sailed too far to dock the ship. Orlando Bloom’s hotly-anticipated reappearance as Will Turner, along with trailers of burning ships and leads that look suspiciously like Will and Elizabeth from the first films hints that the latest instalment will uncover a darker side to the roguish pirates we all love- and wonder if the franchise will ever meet its end at the bottom of Davy Jones’ locker. GM
The Beauty and The Beast
March 2017 marks the arrival of the new remake of The Beauty and the Beast. Now you may be thinking, been there, done that, but with Emma Watson as the leading protagonist, how
The first film was such a success that I pray the sequel is just as good. This time around, Eggsy and Merlin (Taron Egerton and Mark Strong) are set to work with the American version of the Kingsman. With Channing Tatum starring, I look forward to the dynamics the chnage of location has to offer. Egerton has stated that the film is “absolutely crazy”, so I’m hoping Colin Firth somehow makes a reappearance as Harry Hart. ON
Power Rangers
be a spectacular film, full of beautifully made costumes and settings that will make you feel like you are part of the action. It is rumoured that this will be a rather modern take on the classic, updating the film for contemporary audiences. So if you like a good timeless classic, go and see The Beauty and the Beast! AN
Kingsman: The Golden Circle
Any ’90s kid will testify to wishing they were a Power Ranger when they were younger. So, when I first heard they were remaking Power Rangers as a movie, I was more than a little hesitant. Could the remake come anywhere close to matching the magic and get me on board the nostalgia train? Casting news sparked my interest, with Bryan Cranston, Bill Hader, and Elizabeth Banks among the more famous names on the cast list. When the first teaser trailer dropped, my interest levels kicked up another notch as I was intrigued to see if they’d remain somewhat faithful to the original shows. Then the full trailer was released and I eventually caved in. I got excited,
but not without my initial reservations, which I’ll maintain up until I inevitably go and see it. To see the Rangers in full armour, Zords powered up and kicking ass, Power Rangers could be a new and exciting take on a ’90s classic. MP
Star Wars Episode 8 - The Last Jedi
One of the biggest franchises ever delivers at the end of the year with its eighth instalment. The title “The Last Jedi” has had many fans excited about seeing their old favourites back on screen. The film will feature more of Mark Hamill’s Luke Skywalker which has pleased fans as he didn’t feature in the previous instalment The Force Awakens- apart from a small cameo. Star Wars 8 will hopefully have as many more memorable scenes as its predecessors and no doubt will be one of the best films to see in 2017. AW
Alien: Covenant
As I’ve found from asking a number of friends, Prometheus was a bit of grower. After the first watch I was underwhelmed but after revisiting the fifth instalment of the Alien series in the following months, I fully realised Prometheus‘ status as a modern scifi horror classic. But if Prometheus was missing one thing (albeit not a deal-
breaker in my opinion) it was the infamous xenomorph. The decision to put the xenomorph at the forefront of the marketing campaign for Prometheus‘ sequel, Alien: Covenant, certainly raises the stakes and will hopefully attempt to find that balance between the brilliance of the original instalments and cutting edge modernity of Prometheus. Add an eclectic cast including a returning Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup and, rather oddly, James Franco and Danny McBride, and you have the potential for a fascinating addition to an already magnificent franchise. JO
Movie Review
Logan Review: The Gory Wolverine Spin-off that Marvel Fans have been waiting for Wolverine may be an old dog but he’s still razor sharp Alexander Williams With the huge success of Deadpool in 2016, it was hard to see another Marvel film with the capacity to match its ratings, however Logan delivered. Marvel have yet again shown their ability to deliver much more than their main competitor, DC, with Batman V Superman and Suicide Squad both failing to live up to the hype. The story follows Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and Wolverine/Logan (Hugh Jackman) six years after the end of the X-Men franchise. Logan is forced out of retirement when a woman approaches him and asks him to help a young girl named Laura who has been
bred with mutant powers. The film’s main antagonist Donald Pierce and his army of genetically enhanced mercenaries, the Reavers, attempt to use the young girl Laura for the purposes of developing her into a weapon. There were many surprises that I had not predicted and some genuinely funny moments especially from Patrick Stewart’s Charles Xavier who had me in stitches at times. The film really focuses on Logan’s moral compass and whether he has it in him to do the right thing. There are also some hilarious moments from Caliban (Stephen Merchant), who I’ve always been an admirer of. Revealing the truth about a new breed of mutants who were designed
for warfare purposes, Logan is persuaded by Xavier to try and save Laura and the other mutants as he had once helped Wolverine. Unlike the X-Men films, Logan didn’t seem as much of a superhero film as some of its predecessors, which makes it very watchable for a wider audience. Logan, much like Deadpool, also bucked the trend of not being very family friendly and had a much more mature take than the other Marvel films have had. My only real criticism was that during the middle of the film there were some slow scenes, however these were helpful in building context and character development. The villain, Donald Pierce, was
sometimes a bit cliché and unimaginative. Not being a comic book reader, this villain was a bit of a stranger and his motivations at times were unclear on why he wanted Laura or the other mutants or what his previous history with Wolverine was apart from him “being a fan”. I would have liked to see some flashbacks of this perhaps to make me root for or against him more but he seemed like just another generic villain. Not to be too PC but some of the kills were brutal from both Laura and Logan and there was a lot of swearing making me wonder how the film was only rated a 15. In regards to future films involv-
ing Wolverine, Hugh Jackman has said he is open to continuing the role, whereas Patrick Stewart has said that this was his last time as Xavier. Marvel could therefore focus on the huge realm of X-Men characters that have yet to be seen on screen. Nonetheless, Logan has provided a unique twist on the stereotypical superhero blockbuster, with the writers cleverly leaving the door open for a welcomed potential sequel.
Galleon 18 The Thursday 30th March 2017
LIFESTYLE & CULTURE
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Sex & Relationships
Geeky Sex Toys and Unicorn Dildos Jasmine Adell Brimson Sex and Relationships Editor
From unicorn dildos to Pokémon dildos, Geeky Sex Toys is one of the most unique sex shops on the net. Whilst many of us are familiar with a standard dildo, or have heard of butt plugs and rampant rabbits, it seems that there’s a lot more out there than we actually think. Geeky Sex Toys are based in Australia but ship worldwide to provide customers a unique range of toys. They believe that sex toys shouldn’t just be pleasurable, but they should be “visually pleasing, entertaining, and fun.” They want to re-imagine sex toys in a fun and nerdy way. They mainly focus on fictional characters such as Superman, Batman and good old Pokémon, but recently people seem to be going absolutely crazy for
their latest release - the unicorn dildo. For some reason, everyone is a bit obsessed with unicorns recently. Whether it’s a plastic beaker or phone case with a unicorn design, there’s certainly a massive trend amongst young women it’s no wonder why these dildos are so popular.
“
Whilst many of us are familiar with a standard dildo, or have heard of butt plugs and rampant rabbits, it seems that there’s a lot more out there than we actually think.”
The unicorn dildo, sold by Geeky Sex Toys, admittedly looks very cute.
It comes in three different pearlescent colours which means they shimmer in the light, giving them a mystical feel. 7.5 inches long with the base circumference 5.5 inches wide going to just 2 inches at the tip, the dildo is the ideal shape and size. The flexible unicorn horn is made from 100% medical grade silicone and spirals for extra pleasure. The amazing thing about the dildo is that it can be used multiple ways. Its suction base means that you can attach it to anywhere you want - be it the floor, the wall or even your head. It sounds pretty bizarre, but for those who like a bit of geeky role play, it’s the perfect accompaniment for when they’re feeling a little bit horny. All of the toys do the same thing as any others that you can find from more popular stores such as Ann Summers. They just happen to be a lot cooler, edgier and geekier. Regardless as to wheth-
er these products, or toys in general, are your thing, sex toys have been proven to enhance couples sex lives, as well as singletons. Magical orgasms, that’s all a person could want, right? If the whole idea of sex toys is a bit too much for you, the unicorn dildo,
amongst many other products from Geeky Sex Toys can make great gifts for friends. Who wouldn’t want to witness their best friend open up a gift, thinking it’s a superman figurine only to discover it’s a vibrating sex toy?
Fashion & Beauty
10 Tips to Make Yourself Summer Ready Adelina Marin Whether or not your’e training hard to get the bikini body on, the body itself will not glow unless you hydrate and exfoliate it properly. Every woman wants to look and feel their best, and these ten tips are exactly the place to start.
Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
The skin, the body - everything. Make sure that wherever you are you have a bottle of water with you. Water is rich in minerals that will keep your skin healthy and glowing at all times. On top of this, be careful when choosing the face cream. Always be sure to double check that it suits your complexion before purchasing. For the Summer, it’s best to go for something that contains thermal water, which will not only soften your skin, but it will protect it against sun damage as well. Our recommendation: Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light Hydration, 50ml (Boots, £12.00)
Get Rid of Cellulite
We have found the perfect cream that will get you closer to the smooth supermodel bum. The Brazilian Bum Bum Cream is addictive. It’s all about the bum bum in Brazil and that is why Brazilians have a special secret - a cream, rich in Guarana, a native Amazonian plant whose fruit contains one of the most potent forms of caffeine on
the planet. Together with the Brazilian Beauty Blend of Cupuaçu Butter, Açaí and Coconut Oil; Guarana caffeine helps stimulate circulation and keep posteriors smooth and tight. For better results, apply twice a day. Your bum will look like the peach emoji except only larger. Our recommendation: Brazilian Bum Bum Cream (Sephora. com, £30.00)
Sort out Dry Skin, Knees and Elbows Never wear shorts or short dresses if your skin feels more like scales. Exfoliate, use a body scrub, and follow up with skin oil. Better yet, make your own body scrub. In a jar mix two spoons of coffee, two spoons of sugar, one teaspoon of olive oil and two spoons of melted coconut oil. Apply the concoction on your legs, bum, arms and tummy using circulatory movements. Rinse with warm water. Your skin will get a caramel colour and feel super smooth. This scrub also fights cellulite. Once your skin is dry, apply some skin oil. Easy-peasy, isn’t it? Our recommendation: Moroccan Argan Oil (Lalys Pharmacy, £3.00)
Control your Underarm Sweat
Excessive underarm sweating is an embarrassing problem, leading to stained clothing, body odour and anxiety. In some cases, underarm sweating is easily controlled with the correct
jackets. Our recommendation: 721 High Rise Skinny Jeans (Levi’s, £40.00)
Embroidery, Prints, Flowers
Experiment with colours, with prints, be different, be unique, make this Summer unforgettable. Wear a Hawaiian inspired crop-top with a pair of denim shorts and some feminine sandals to create that folk power look. Our recommendation: Off Shoulder Top (New Look, £20.00) application and use of antiperspirants. Women’s antiperspirants seem to adhere to the rule that women sweat less than men. If that’s not your case, why don’t you switch to men’s antiperspirants? Trust us, we know. Our recommendation: Dove Men Care Anti-Perspirant Deodorant Stick (Boots, £2.50)
Treat Sunburn with Natural Remedies
When you soak in too much Vitamin D you are at risk of getting sunburnt. To avoid this, ensure you lather on Spa Of The World‚Ñ¢ Hawaiian Kukui Cream from Body Shop an any affected areas after being out in the sun. With all natural ingredients, this fast-acting moisturiser absorbs quickly, helping to hold in moisture that was lost due to the sun’s rays. Otherwise feel free to opt for a less expensive treatment. Our recommendation: Cold Milk
Compresses (Tesco Milk, £0.90)
High-Waisted Stretch Jeans
Stretch fabrics, along with proper tailoring, will allow your clothes to hug and lift your booty, rather than squash it down. And if you are looking for a great pair of jeans for your butt, you may want to consider a curvy skinny jean over a traditional skinny for a more figure-flattering shape. If you are going for a high waist pair of jeans, they will also hide your potential abdominal imperfections. Dress smart to look hot. Our recommendation: 721 High Rise Skinny Jeans (Levi’s, £40.00)
Emphasize your Booty by Highlighting Your Waist
The smaller your waist looks, the rounder and more delicious your booty will look by comparison. Go for trousers, skirts, and dresses that fit snugly at your natural waist, and pair them with cropped or tucked-in tops and cropped
Avoid Big Prints
It is true, the bigger the print, the bigger you look. This counts for bathing suits as well, so if you’re going to go for a print, choose a smaller pattern. Our recommendation: Splodge Print Ruffle Blouse (Topshop, £15.00)
A Killer Bathing Suit
If you are tall and skinny, opt for a bathing suit with ruffles. They will add volume around your hips and breast to make you look curvier. Contrastingly, if you are thicker or your abs are not as flat as you would have wanted, opt for high waisted bikini bottoms with a colour-matched top. Our recommendation: Embroidered High Waisted Bikini Bottoms (New Look, £13.00) Which one will you try? Regardless of your choice, remember to be confident. Wear your body with pride and remember that your external beauty is only a signifier of the beauty within.
Galleon 20 The Thursday 30th March 2017
LIFESTYLE & CULTURE
21 sport@galleonnews.com
UoP Netball Pack a Punch in Varsity Encounter Stephanie Lukins The University of Portsmouth Netball Club, with its five BUCS teams and 2 intramural teams entered, had been raring to go since the beginning of the season. Despite the typical and traditional Portsmouth Varsity weather, it was no deterrent for the players, home or away. The home crowd support was everything that the teams needed to chase those all-important wins. Portsmouth Netball 5th team were first on court along with the Portsmouth Intramural Netball 1st team. Both teams began strong, and the 5th team leading after the first quarter by 8 goals - a deficit which was critical to the remainder of the game. Despite some controversy arising from the Southampton side against umpire decisions, Portsmouth 5th team remained clean and steady in their style of play. However, as the game gathered momentum so did Southampton and by the final quarter there were only 2 goals between the two sides. The effort from the Portsmouth 5th team defence was not quite enough to capitalise on Southampton’s errors where they were able to get away with the score line. What was a close game during the first 3 quarters of the Varsity fixture with almost every goal for goal, Southampton trumped Portsmouth and won by only 7 goals - 38-31. The Intramural 1st team also were motivated by both goal lead and home crowd support. Mirroring the game play of the Portsmouth Netball 5th team, the Intramural side were playing the ball well around court and forcing errors from Southampton which the Portsmouth side were able to capitalise on. The Portsmouth Intramural 1st team pushed hard for the final quarter and their efforts were rewarded with a
31-16 win over the visiting side. As the day progressed, the enthusiasm did not tire from the home crowd or the players. Next up was the Portsmouth Netball 3rd team and the Intramural 2nd team. Never more than 14 goals between the final scores, the University of Portsmouth Netball Club were keen to show Southampton how to play a real game of netball.
Southampton Intramural side were dominating. Although the Intramural 2nd team pushed for every interception and swift pass, this was never enough to catch up with the Southampton score which finished in a 65-10 win over the home team. Despite the morning’s games not going quite to plan, the Netball Club’s ability to keep cheering and remaining
NETBALL TEAM IN ACTION. PICTURE: STUDENT UNION
The Portsmouth Netball 3rd team despite a flat start soon found the momentum needed. By the 2nd quarter the game was back goal for goal between the two teams, with some incredible defence partnerships working to get the ball turned over and back down the court, Portsmouth attack was quick to convert their shots into goals. Unfortunately in the final quarter, Southampton found a spark which knocked Portsmouth’s confidence and in the end Southampton won the game by 14 goals. The Intramural 2nd team despite their unity and continuous support both off court and on court, the
positive was second to none. The Netball Club 4th team almost mirrored the same game played by the Netball 5th team from the morning. With goal for goal up until the final quarter, Portsmouth were capitalising on all of Southampton’s errors with effortless passing and drive down the court it was a game which was considered to be a Portsmouth win. Unfortunately, Southampton picked up their pace in the final quarter and put the real pressure on the Portsmouth side, this caused Portsmouth unable to keep possession and the score line, with Southampton winning by just 9 goals - 39-28.
On the other courts, the Portsmouth Netball 2nd team were also fighting for the win. During the 2nd quarter, Portsmouth gained a 6 goal lead from 6 consecutive goals. The attack was motivated and with clear interceptions carried down the court it was proving that the game was in Portsmouth’s favour. Again, it seemed a common theme that despite the majority of the game going in Portsmouth’s favour, Southampton during the 3rd and 4th quarter of the game matched Portsmouth’s shooting streak and trumped it. On court and off court encouragement was not enough for Portsmouth to hold onto their well fought for score, and Southampton won 55-45. The final game between Portsmouth Netball 1st team and Southampton 1st team was soon underway. With barely any turn-around time, every supporter was on the side line with banners and chants galore. The same was done by the away crowd too. Portsmouth wanted one BUCS win of the day and it was promising with the almighty home crowd. Motivated by their other 5 wins of the day, the visiting side wanted to keep their number of wins going up, and it was by no means an easy game for either side. Portsmouth proved their potential by making a strong start and finishing off some excellent shooting from all areas of the attacking circle. It seemed a struggle for Portsmouth 1st team though to maintain their strong stance from the beginning of the game, and soon Southampton were the obvious dominator’s. Overtaking Portsmouth’s score was not enough and Southampton continued to make Portsmouth work for every ball possible. Tensions were high on court and off court, and it was a disappointing loss for the 1st team with the final score being 37 - 61.
Varsity: Futsal Roundup Liam Govey On the same day Portsmouth went down to a 3-0 defeat to Stevenage, the University of Portsmouth Futsal team could have shown the League Two side a thing or two about winning in style. An emphatic 7-1 win didn’t flatter the home side at St John’s Sports Centre, as an ill-tempered affair left the away side ruing two red cards. The deadlock took a while to be broken, but it was broken in style by a terrific free kick. Advantage Team Pompey. Moments later, Portsmouth grabbed a second, with the wild celebrations arguably more impressive than the goal itself. Southampton managed to half the deficit before half-time, but after the break, Pompey re-established the comfortable two goal cushion. The fourth goal came fairly soon after, which opened the floodgates for the home side. Frustrations got the better of the away side, as two red cards were dished out by the referee. The second of which caused much controversy, with the player in question choosing to pick a fight with the referee. Needless to say, he left in somewhat acrimonious circumstances, much to the amusement of the lively home crowd. Soon after, the home side made it five, six and a magnificent seven, all within mere moments of each other. Though Southampton lost their heads, it shouldn’t take away from what was a real masterclass in Futsal from the Pompey boys.
Men’s Tennis Overcome Competition with Convincing Victory The Portsmouth Men’s Tennis team make easy work of their opponents during their Varsity fixture Jordan Osborne Culture Editor
With the threat of rain and testing winds throughout, the Portsmouth Men’s Tennis team faced more than just the prospect of stiff competition from their Southampton counterparts. However, as the scoreline suggests, their opponents provided far less resistance than the conditions themselves. The first team were in inspired form, carrying out a ruthless 5-1 rout. As for the second team, they managed to eek out a more modest result, winning
4-2 overall. Still, despite a close overall scoreline in the second team fixtures, the match of focus suggested a much more dominant affair. Second team doubles pairing Robbie Gratton and Ellis Drayton faced seemingly tough opposition in Arthur Hill and Southampton’s second team captain Jack Harvey but they made quick, comfortable work of their rivals, eventually winning the match 6-2, 6-1, without dropping a single service game. Drayton and Gratton formed a comprehensive partnership throughout, making it very difficult
for Hill and Harvey to gain any sort of foothold or momentum during the one-sided match. Drayton’s service was consistent and laid the foundations for solid offense, keeping the Southampton pairing pinned back close to their baseline. Gratton was equally composed at the net, providing a seemingly impenetrable barrier. Even during Southampton’s service games, both Gratton and Drayton were confident moving forward to the net even when Hill and Harvey attempted to apply pressure. But one of the key elements of the
match was in fact a mastery of the elements; Gratton in particular used the wind to his advantage, utilising an elegant backhand slice multiple times to kill any momentum that the Southampton team were gaining. The drag from the wind gave the Portsmouth pairing time to re-position themselves during periods of pressing from Hill and Harvey on serve and it proved vital as Drayton and Gratton went on to break their opponents seven times en route to victory. Drayton and Gratton’s convincing win would prove to be a microcosm
for the Portsmouth Men’s Tennis team’s impressive overall haul. With a 9-3 aggregate across the two teams, the victory was a real highlight of Portsmouth’s Varsity campaign.
Galleon 22 The Thursday 30th March 2017
SPORT
Portsmouth Men’s 2nds Edge Southampton in Tense 5-Goal Thriller UNIVERSITY OF PORTS3 MOUTH MEN’S 2NDS UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH2 AMPTON MEN’S 2NDS Jordan Osborne Culture Editor
The Portsmouth Men’s Second team provided a worthy curtain raiser for the Varsity weekend’s football, as they did well to overcome a spirited Southampton side 3-2. Portsmouth started lethargically, caught on the back foot by a pressing, high-energy Southampton side. In the early minutes Southampton sensed Portsmouth’s tentativeness as even their defensive line began to push into Portsmouth’s half. However, Southampton failed to convert any of their offensive pressure into meaningful chances, with their labour in the first fifteen minutes of the match culminating in a penalty appeal that failed to convince the referee. As Southampton’s early effervescence faded, Portsmouth settled into the game and provided the first big chance, hitting the bar twice within a matter of seconds. After drawing a foul in the opposition half, Portsmouth’s No.21 sent his free kick deep into the area where the Portsmouth No.9 bravely headed the ball from close range onto the bar. The ball rebounded quickly back to the No.9, who failed to control his second header, hitting the bar once more before the Southampton goalkeeper hastily up gathered the loose ball. Southampton responded quickly, as their No.9 did well to keep a half volley from the edge of the box on target, forcing the Portsmouth ‘keeper
to parry the ball out for a corner. But Southampton came closer still as No.9 dribbled past two players on the left side, firing a driven cross through the six-yard box. Unfortunately, the pace of the delivery was just too much as
goal, the frustrated defender attempted to tackle No.9 from behind, conceding the penalty as a result. Portsmouth No.12 put the penalty away coolly, drilling the ball into the roof of the net to open the scoring.
GOAL MOUTH ACTION. PICTURE BY LAUREN HASLETT
Southampton’s No.11 was inches from connecting for a certain goal. At this point, the game was very open, with Portsmouth and Southampton trading blows like a couple of prizefighters. Portsmouth again came close as No.9 capitalised on defensive hesitance, robbing a defender in the Southampton area. No.9 then picked out Portsmouth No.21 well 12 yards out, but his scuffed effort dribbled disappointingly wide of the right hand post. But No.21’s blushes were spared, as Portsmouth won a penalty minutes later. No.9’s continued pressure paid off, as he won a ball deep in the opposition half once more. As he raced towards
At this point, Portsmouth’s grip on the game tightened. No.45, No.21 and No.9 worked particularly well together in attack, drawing a number of saves from the impressive Southampton goalkeeper. But he could nothing about Portsmouth’s inevitable second goal. No.45 utilised his pace well, driving forward to the byline before standing his cross up tantalisingly at the back post for No.9 to power his header into the top left hand corner. It was a deserved reward for No.9’s relentless pressing throughout the first half. The second half began nervously for Portsmouth, as the relatively untested goalkeeper played the ball to
the Southampton No.9 at the edge of the box. Thankfully, the Portsmouth No.2 was aware and managed to apply enough pressure to the Southampton No.9, whose tame effort was blocked easily by the apologetic Portsmouth ‘keeper. As the match surpassed the 60-minute mark, the pace of the game slowed considerably and more errors seeped into play. Portsmouth looked lethargic once more, as the Portsmouth No.45 provided the only real source of industry at this point in the match. The fatigue would prove costly for Portsmouth as the Southampton No.3 pounced on a loose ball in midfield, with his flick header looping the ball in behind the Portsmouth backline for the Southampton No.9 to chase. No.9 handled the 1-on-1 well, slotting the ball in off the post from the edge of the box, reviving Southampton’s chances of a recovery. The Portsmouth coach responded almost instantaneously, bringing on No.16 on the left wing to hopefully inject some energy into his tiring side. And No.16 almost made an immediate impact as No.21’s searching cross bypassed everyone to find him at the back post unmarked. Unfortunately No.16 was still a bit too green and fired his shot way over the bar from less than six yards for what should have easily been 3-1 to Portsmouth and most likely victory secured. But as previously iterated, the game was one where chances came in twos and threes, and No.16 soon made up for his howler with a carbon copy of Portsmouth’s second goal. His enticing cross found No.21 lurking at the back post and he made no mistake in powering his header into top right hand corner, far out of the
Southampton ‘keeper’s reach. The celebrations were short-lived though as Southampton were awarded a penalty on their first attack after Portsmouth’s third goal. This time Southampton’s No.10 stepped up, powering his penalty in off the left hand post to bring his side into contention once more. The final minutes predictably produced much drama as Southampton pushed desperately for an equaliser and Portsmouth dug deep in their attempts to hold out for the win. However, Portsmouth had yet another chance to seal the win as No.21 had his flicked header tipped brilliantly onto the underside of the bar by the Southampton goalkeeper before Southampton came incredibly close to levelling the game. No.10 came close to his second goal as his driven shot from the edge of the area was deflected onto the post before the ball was cleared for a corner. As the game entered stoppage time, Southampton continued to bombard Portsmouth’s defence, with the goalkeeper even making a late charge upfield for a corner. Fortunately, Portsmouth’s resilience was enough as they held out for the win, kicking off the Varsity football campaign with a well-earned victory. This encouraging win is sure to boost the Portsmouth Men’s Second team ahead of their final fixture of the season. With four wins in their last six games to go alongside Varsity victory against their rivals Southampton, Portsmouth will be confident of solidifying 3rd place in the division when they play second-placed Buckingham New on March 22nd.
Varsity Cricket: UPCC Claim Cricket Crown Over Southampton Holly Morgan It had been four years since Portsmouth saw a cricketing victory over Southampton. However, after two wins from four and a draw, Southampton left the Spinnaker Sports Hall defeated. The first game, Portsmouth 3rds against Southampton 3rds, began just after 1pm, and was a nail biter. The team, captained by James Suddens, scored 99 runs after the first innings, with Mabs Allam making 28 of them. In the second innings, Southampton
only needed one run to win in the last over, with two of their batsmen retiring. Southampton timed their four perfectly, allowing the rivals to win by two wickets. Despite the loss, the crowds were still chanting with encouragement for Team Portsmouth. The 2nd team opened the batting with Elliot Evans and Kurt Richardson stepping to the crease first. Leading from the front, captain Elliot’s top knock of 28 and 50 extras bowled by Southampton, Portsmouth reached a healthy 125. The sec-
ond innings saw our opponents closing the gap fast. However, the fielders managed to delay the close till the last ball, off the last over where six runs were required for a draw. To Southampton’s credit, the batsman hit the ball for six, ending an exciting game. The possibility of a Portsmouth triumph was still very much achievable, as the Portsmouth 1st team padded up. Captain, Marcus Campopiano faced the ball first, and together with his team, scored 87 runs with a couple of commendable sixes in between. Although
the last-man-standing was caught in the ninth over, the boys delivered a phenomenal standard of cricket in the second innings. Campopiano managed an astonishing six wickets, entirely by himself, after the seventh over allowing for the first Portsmouth win by 26 runs. The final game of the day saw the women’s team, captained by Alex Woodward, under a lot of pressure to maintain a winning standard. However, the worrying was unnecessary as Portsmouth absolutely annihilated the Southampton Women’s 1st team, win-
ning by an impressive 75 runs. The whopping score was a result of phenomenal batting from Emily Windsor, who also bowled and kept the wickets remarkably well making her the undoubted star of the show. FORZA POMPEY
23 sport@galleonnews.com University Sport
Lacrosse: Men’s 1sts Battle to Victory with the Heart of Lyons PORTSMOUTH MEN’S LA12 CROSSE 1STS SOUTHAMPTON MEN’S 8 LACROSSE 1STS
Varsity: Basketball Roundup Liam Govey
I
Fred Stonehouse Editor
In one of Varsity’s early kick-offs, the Men’s Lacrosse First team squared up for a feisty encounter with Southampton Tridents. The two teams took to HMS Temeraire for a 9.45am start with a huge crowd of loyal Portsmouth fans adorned in purple shirt and face-paint, each ready to give the Southampton Lacrosse players a right royal Pompey ‘bantering’. In the first quarter, Portsmouth demonstrated their skilful running ability and concise passing. A range of huge hits went in early doors, while sticks clattered all over the pitch. Team Portsmouth seemed initially more focussed on knocking seven shades of shit out of Southampton, and therefore momentarily lost concentration and conceded the first goal. However, Portsmouth knuckled down and pulled back two goals to take the lead, with Lyons and Melder scoring clinically. Southampton equalised for 2-2 just before the end of the first quarter. As it drew to an end, an almighty brewhaha erupted with
University Sport
THE 1ST POST-MATCH. CREDIT UOP STUDENT UNION
players and supporters on both sides invading the pitch to get stuck in. The simmering tension between both sides was ignited by an accidental trip, which a Southampton player took umbrage
BARNIE LYONS ATTACKING. CREDIT: STUDENT UNION
to. After a few minutes the referee dispersed of the unpleasantries and called an end to the first quarter. After a brief interval, the match continued at the same rate with both Portsmouth and Southampton pegging one another back, making it 3-3 and another goal from Lyons. Having equalised, Portsmouth broke and with concise running and passing Lyons scored again to make his hat-trick and put the score at 4-3 to the boys in white and purple. As the game progressed, Portsmouth extended their lead but were continually pegged back by Southampton who kept at least within two goals. By the end of the second quarter, Portsmouth led 7-5, with goals again from Lyons and Milbourne. In the final two quarters Portsmouth put the game to bed with further goals from Lyons and ‘Bob’, who helped confirm victory for Portsmouth with an impressive 12-8 victory. Given that the previous Mens Lacrosse team hadn’t won a game in two years, this year’s team exemplifies the improvement and determination of the current crop of players. Southampton’s Lacrosse team are not only better funded, but are two BUCs divisions above Portsmouth, making this one of the results of the weekend for Team Portsmouth.
Speaking to The Galleon post-game, six-goal hero Barnie Lyons, said of the team’s preparation for the game: “We’d a great game [on] Wednesday against Kingston, where we won 21-8, [which] was good preparation for weekend. [We] fielded a strong side, and we wanted it a lot more than [they] did, our attitude was a lot better than theirs.” On his stand-out performance in which he netted six-times, Lyons continued: “I was pretty nervous early door, [and] dropped a couple at the start, but it clicked at some point. [The] last couple of weeks my shooting has just clicked, so yeah, [it] was one of those day where it all goes right.” Portsmouth currently sit second in their BUCS league behind Brighton, and have one fixture left against local rivals Chichester. Given the team beat them earlier in the season 20-0, the team are confident they can finish the season in a strong vein of form. However, the team are just beyond reach for BUCS promotion. Despite this, the strides that the team have made, and the crowning achievement against Southampton at Varsity, tops off what has been one of the most stand-out performances from an AU club this year. The Lacrosse team will hope to continue their successes next year alongside the new VP for Sport, Campo.
t was a day to forget as far as Pompey were concerned, as Southampton University won three of the four matches played at St John’s Sports Hall. The first of the three meetings occurred between the Portsmouth and Southampton Mens First teams. It was a resounding 89-39 loss for Portsmouth, although there can be no qualms with regard to effort and intensity. Southampton controlled the game from the off, and never looked back. Fortune didn’t smile on Portsmouth either, with plenty of shots having bounced off the rim of the basket. The second game was a lot closer, albeit more agonising from Portsmouth’s perspective. It was between the Men’s Second teams, and only one point separated the two sides in a 53-52 thriller. The sides could barely be separated throughout, with each quarter finishing relatively even, and no side really taking control. However, a last-gasp three pointer sent the visiting Southampton fans into raptures. It was a superb fight from Portsmouth, however, and the players can hold their heads high for sure. As for the Women’s First team fixture, despite a resilient performance, Pompey suffered their third defeat of the day, losing 67-44. It was a close game, with the scoreline perhaps flattering Southampton somewhat. Nonetheless, their clinicality in front of the basket told, and they became the third Southampton basketball team to secure victory. It turned out to be fourth time lucky as far as Portsmouth were concerned, with a 38-20 victory for the Intra team ending the day on a positive note for the Basketball teams. It was perhaps the scrappiest of the four games, yet the quality that Portsmouth possessed was enough to seal a relatively comfortable victory.
Sport In this issue... PICTURES: LAUREN HASLETT & UNIVERSITY STUDENT UNION
Lacrosse Glory P. 23
Team Portsmouth Narrowly Lose Varsity Despite Huge Points Haul PORTSMOUTH
170
SOUTHAMPTON
206
Fred Stonehouse
Varsity Netball Action ACTION. PICTURE: STUDENT UNION
P. 21
2nds Football Win
P. 22 BY LAUREN HASLETT TION. PICTURE
Editor
The University of Portsmouth annual Varsity event against Southampton resulted in a tight loss this year, despite an adventitious early lead from Team Pompey. Both Portsmouth and Southampton fielded a multitude of teams to square off in this year’s Varsity Cup. Matches were played between Friday 17th and Sunday 19th March throughout several locations in Portsmouth, including the HMS Temeraire pitches, Langstone Campus, St Paul’s Gym and other locations dotted in and around campus. Given their extensive resources, Southampton predominately came out
on top on the day. However, this year Team Portsmouth only narrowly lost, with the final result finishing at 206 points to Southampton and 170 points to Portsmouth. Early victories and the absence of Southampton Rowing teams gave Portsmouth a lead up until about midday. Victories came flooding in from the Rugby, Lacrosse, Ultimate Frisby and Futsal. Students from both Portsmouth and Southampton came out in the droves to see the two Universities do battle. The support, even at 9am, was exceptional for both sides - making for an incredibly lively atmosphere for the teams and their players. At around 2pm, Portsmouth’s lead
began to rescind as Southampton clawed back points in mixed Lacrosse, Netball, Squash and Women’s football. In the showcase event, the Men’s Rugby 1st team dramatically won 2018 against a tough opposition. The first team haven’t won against Southampton in five years, and it was a great way to end a day of heroics. Despite this however, it wasn’t enough to pip Southampton to the posts, who took the day with a sequence of clinical victories. Although the teams lost, a huge improvement from Team Portsmouth makes the future look that bit rosier for UOP Sport. VP Sports, Ben Conway, told the UPSU website: “Portsmouth teams for
men’s rugby, mixed lacrosse and dodgeball played particularly well in comparison to previous years. This was the closest Varsity score in recent years. I went in expecting a whitewash but Team Portsmouth exceeded expectations today. At the end of the day we lost by less than ten wins to a much bigger University with better resourced clubs - I think we can be proud of what Portsmouth achieved today.”
See inside for more results and match reports.