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Warning after two students ‘stalked through campus’ CHARLOTTE ARROWSMITH
THIS stunning image of footballers having a kickabout at dusk on Rio de Janeiro’s Ipanema Beach has seen a UCLan graduate named sports photographer of the year by the Picture Editors’ Guild. Simon Stacpoole, inset, submitted the winning entry as part of a portfolio of five PICTURE: SIMON STACPOOLE/OFFSIDE full story p3
STUDENTS have told of their fears after being stalked as they walked home in Preston. Their ordeals have prompted the students’ union to warn young women to be on their guard after two came forward to say they had been followed through campus. Abigail Cunnington, who studies British Sign Language, realised she was being trailed as she walked home. She said: ‘It was really dark and a man started calling after me. He managed to catch up to me at my front door. ‘He was saying he had seen me around campus but I was wearing my UCLan T-shirt, so maybe that’s why. ‘I had my keys out but I didn’t want him to know that was where I lived, so I told him it was my friend’s house. ‘I knocked on the front door and when my flatmate
answered, we just had to shut the door in his face.’ Rebecca Shepherd, a third-year journalism student, claimed a man followed her one night from the Greenbank Building. When she crossed the road, so did he – and when she tried to let him go ahead, he insisted she went first. He then walked alongside her, asking, ‘why were you in Greenbank?’ and ‘where do you live?’ She said: ‘More than anything, I felt stupid. Sometimes you think of yourself being in that situation and think you would act differently. I just hope it was innocent.’ Once in her flat, Rebecca phoned campus security. She said: ‘I didn’t want to because I wasn’t hurt – more than anything, I was just shook up. But I’m glad I did, because what if he’d done the same thing to other people?’ UCLan SU released a
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Sunshine and shadow scoop up film awards
Brooding: Consumption
JAMIE KEHOE ONE is a pallid inventor, the other a happy-go-lucky wanderer – but both have won national awards for their creators. The characters feature in films by UCLan graduates that have scooped prizes at the Royal Television Society’s student film awards. Benjamin Archer’s animation Consumption, about a man struggling with TB and the model he creates, was recognised during a ceremony at the Lowry Theatre in Manchester last month. LA Larry, fellow graduate Lauren Clark’s film about a man who walks through the streets of Preston dreaming of Los Angeles, picked up the prize in the open category. Benjamin said it had taken a while before he realised he had won his award.
Laid-back: A scene from LA Larry, which follows a man who chills out in Preston while dreaming he is in LA
OFF-THE-WALL SHOT IS TOP THINK of sports action shots and what usually comes to mind is a tackle on a floodlit football pitch or an athlete flying through the air. But Simon Stacpoole, who covered last year’s Fifa World Cup and the 2012 Olympics, realised he had to
‘I just kept thinking, “Listen for your n a m e ”,’
offer something different to be named the Picture Editors’ Guild sports photographer of the year. ‘I knew the competition was going to be judged primarily by picture editors – people who see thousands of images week in, week out,’ said. the UCLan graduate, who
he said. ‘But of course they said the title of my film and not my name – so, for a brief second, I thought I’d lost and
works for the Offside agency. ‘I didn’t see the point of entering pictures like the ones they see on a daily basis.’ His shot of footballers silhouetted against an evening sky in Rio de Janeiro was among the pictures that wowed judges.
slumped back into my chair. It was only when I looked around and saw my mother, sister and tutors all staring
at me that it dawned on me I’d won.’ Judges felt Lauren’s film, LA Larry, was humorous with good characters and contrasted the sunshine of the Californian city with Preston well. ‘I would just like to say that everyone at UCLan has been fantastic,’ Lauren said. Two current UCLan students were shortlisted for prizes by judges. Zak Hanley Wood’s animation How To Survive Horror Movie Cliches was recognised, while Viktorija Vrublevska’s film The Skin I’m In was shortlisted in the comedy and entertainment section.
March 2015
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Pop-up pancakes pay for Palampur A STUDENT made her house into a pop-up pancake café to help raise money for a trip to India. Hannah Bodsworth, a second-year interior design student at UCLan, will teach at a school in Palampur, in the foothills of the Himalayas, where hardship is rife despite the relatively strong economy. ‘The poverty over there is so widely spread that I’d rather visit through a volunteering project where I can help people than just to go for my own enjoyment,’ she said. She and fellow students Connor Waring and Hannah Neall will also do building work. They must raise £1,950 each for the trip and have held a cake sale and bucket collections. Anthony Gilmour
Help staff to go for gold HAS your tutor gone the extra mile? Show your appreciation by voting in the annual Golden Roses awards. The ceremony, aimed to honour workers from UCLan and other organisations, rewards lecturer, course and personal tutor of the year, and recognises university services and good student feedback. To nominate, visit www.uclansu. co.uk/goldenroses. Charlotte Arrowsmith
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March 2015
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Renting in the north is going to cost you... JOHN SHAW STUDENTS in the north are being hit in the pocket for rent as they bear the brunt of the nation’s housing divide. Seven of the top ten worst affected cities were in the north, where students pay a premium over the low cost of other properties in the area. None of the top ten were in the south, where student accommodation is relatively cheap compared with other properties. Loughborough students were worst off, paying 36.08 per cent more than
the average rate. Students in Reading had the best deal, shelling out 39.15 per cent less than the average, according to the StuRents figures. Co-founder Tom Walker said: ‘Clearly, value is relative, so comparing inter-city student rental prices purely on an absolute basis is perhaps a little one-dimensional.’ The analysis of 25,572 student properties in 51 cities also revealed that the cities where students paid the highest premiums were among the cheaper places to live in. The average overall price in
City by city....are you paying too much for rent? City Loughborough Durham Lincoln Huddersfield Middlesbrough Hull Bolton Lancaster Derby York Stafford Nottingham Wolverhampton Bangor Birmingham Plymouth Liverpool Chester Manchester Ipswich Leeds Dundee Newcastle Leicester Preston Luton
the ten cities with the highest premiums was £63.04 per person per week, while the average for those living in areas with the most generous discounts was £143.64. Bath students were among
Av rent £80.21 £94.17 £84.02 £80.86 £59.77 £70.46 £74.16 £82.86 £69.77 £77.82 £81.96 £77.45 £70.31 £77.95 £75.61 £89.88 £73.01 £90.32 £79.55 £87.89 £83.71 £73.57 £69.25 £69.36 £64.10 £99.82
the biggest winners, paying 30.87 per cent less, with student accommodation costing £86.98 per week, compared with £125.83 per week for a non-student. Elsewhere, Nottingham digs
Premium 36% 32% 28% 27% 23% 21% 21% 19% 13% 10% 7% 5% 4% 3% 3% 2% 2% 1% 1% None -1% -3% -3% -5% -6% -6%
City Bristol Stirling Swansea Exeter Norwich Canterbury Cardiff Falmouth Aberdeen Sheffield Coventry Portsmouth Glasgow Leamington Spa Stockton Southampton Cirencester Cambridge Edinburgh Bournemouth Bath Brighton London Oxford Reading
cost 5.09 per cent more than average but in Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester they are about par. Those studying in Coventry made a 14.09 per cent saving, while Sheffield students paid 12.8
per cent less. Scottish students were also found to be living at a discounted rate, with those in Glasgow paying 15.06 per cent less than average and those in Edinburgh paying 23.17 per cent less.
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Av rent Premium £93.33 -8% £79.24 -9% £66.28 -9% £92.31 -10% £71.46 -10% £90.94 -11% £76.34 -11% £80.78 -12% £120.22 -13% £72.20 -13% £82.20 -14% £83.11 -14% £89.46 -15% £85.79 -17% £50.84 -18% £78.49 -18% £88.60 -20% £111.02 -22% £95.28 -23% £82.47 -25% £86.98 -31% £98.17 -31% £202.40 -32% £102.50 -33% £80.78 -39%
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Campus ‘stalker’ warning from p1 Facebook statement warning that read: ‘The university security department is a 24-hour service and has an access route which is covered by CCTV. ‘If you stay on the route of Friargate leading up to the Adelphi pub and then around campus, you will be visible on the CCTV. ‘If for any reason you feel unnerved, or that you are being followed at any time of the day, immediately dial UCLan security and let them know what is happening. ‘They will locate you on CCTV and meet you at a spot and ensure you arrive home safely.’
March 2015
I lost bank card but raised £40k for charity AN ASPIRING beauty queen who started fundraising after a homeless man offered to lend her £3 has donated more than £40,000 to charity. Dominique HarrisonBentzen, a University of Central Lancashire student, gave the cash to Preston-
based homeless charity The Foxton Centre. Initially, she aimed to raise £500 through a sleepout but, when her story went viral, the money rolled in. Speaking to the BBC, Dominique said: ‘The experience has been overwhelming – I can’t
explain enough to people that when I started, it was just a small goal. I just set a target of £500, which seems small now, but at the time, it seemed massive. I gave myself a week to do it and my mum said, “That’s a bit ambitious”.’ Her drive started after
JOHN SHAW
A BOUTIQUE shop has opened in the UCLan students’ union. Miss Matilda’s Boutique, which started life as a pop-up in the SU, will stay there until the end of term two. Owner Emma Almond said: ‘We have plenty of exciting plans, all of which we are keeping up our pretty little sleeves!’ The shop sells clothes, jewellery and accessories. Lucy Hill and Charlotte Arrowsmith
SENIOR lecturer Dr Jane Hutchinson has died after suffering from serious breathing difficulties. The psychology teacher spent a weekend in hospital and passed away on Sunday, February 15. A statement from the school said: ‘Jane was a kind and considerate colleague, and a great friend to staff and students alike. She was very much a core part of the fabric of our school and will be greatly missed.’
Inspired: Dominique
£200m makeover ‘to create lasting legacy’
Bouti-full shop opens in SU
Tributes paid to lecturer
she lost her bank card on a night out. A homeless man, known only as Robbie, offered to lend her £3 to get a taxi home. The student declined but was so touched by the gesture she started fundraising to get Robbie off the streets.
5
New look: The plan for the new Adelphi Square, with a social hub in the centre
A £200MILLION upgrade of the Preston campus has been announced by the University of Central Lancashire. Changes include transforming the Adelphi Quarter by replacing its roads and roundabouts with a large social space. It is hoped this will provide a place for students to socialise and meet with tutors, as well as encourage communities and businesses to work with the university to regenerate the area around Corporation Street and Friargate. The first stage of the development, subject to planning approval, will be the £30million construction of the Engineering Innovation Centre, starting in January next year. Preston City Council leader Peter Rankin said: ‘This is a significant development in the continuing success story of the university. ‘A successful university is crucial for Preston. ‘We now have an opportu-
nity to create a lasting legacy for future generations of students, academics and local people – and for the city as a whole.’ Funding for the project is coming from the university, Higher Education Funding Council and the Government Growth deal. However, students’ union president Lee Mac said: ‘There is a yes and no factor in there – yes, there’s a lot of money, but for what you are getting there is a regeneration – and it’s the boost and it’s bringing the economy around the centre of the university back to what it should be. ‘At the moment, it is all unstitched – but it is bringing it back to the heart of campus and is making it the place to be.’ The university has held several drop-in sessions where students could learn more about the plans, ask questions and give their feedback on a sticky note wall. Students can also have their say by visiting www.uclan. ac.uk/masterplan.
Gym revamp praised in spite of crowds THE transformation of the sports centre’s fitness suite at the University of Central Lancashire has been welcomed by students – despite some complaints of overcrowding. The works, which were completed in September last year, saw gym equipment added and the exercise space expanded. Additionally, all students based at the Preston Main
n A LACK of interest means boxing has yet to get off the canvas at UCLan, according to a students’ union officer. ‘We have good links with Larches And Savick Boxing Club but there has been a lack of student uptake,’ Josie Linsel, UCLan SU’s activities and participation officer, told TUP. The SU has nearly 50 different sports
Campus were given free sports membership as part of their tuition fees. Michael Hiden, who
on offer, including wakeboarding, skydiving and fencing – but it seems boxing is losing out. Josie said: ‘With Commonwealth gold medallist Scott Fitzgerald giving an appearance at our sports fair this year, it’s surprising there wasn’t an overwhelming response.’ Anthony Gilmour
is studying a masters in broadcast journalism, said: ‘I think the renovation has brought improvements but I
contactUS EDITOR: CHARLOTTE ARROWSMITH Email her at prestoneditor@unipaper.co.uk
think there are issues still. ‘They extended the gym because of how busy it gets – but then they made
membership free, so it’s not made much difference during peak times. ‘The idea, in theory, was a good one and during quieter times in the gym, it has been an improvement.’ Chris Neil, a third-year neuroscience student, added: ‘The gym has improved in terms of space. There is now more room to do things like Olympic lifts, for example.’ Ross Darragh
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March 2015
focusPOINT
7
Our monthly in-depth look at the issues on campuses across the country
Well, these girls can Ad aims to shake up views on doing exercise NORA SELMANI IF you’ve turned on the TV lately, you may have noticed a load of sweaty women working out. But rather than airbrushed, toned types with thigh gaps, this lot look pretty normal, wobbly bits and all. That’s because they are part of This Girl Can – a campaign aimed at breaking down the barriers that stop women getting involved in sport and �itness. Adverts and a YouTube video show all sorts of women exercising to the soundtrack of Missy Elliott’s Get Ur Freak On. The �ilm was created by Sport England after it found just eight per cent of women and girls aged 14 to 40 did regular exercise, It said fear of being judged on their appearance, ability and weight was stopping women and girls from getting active. The campaign has been taken up eagerly on campuses across the country. Emily Cole, a secondyear English student at the University of Bristol, is right behind the campaign, saying she hoped it would help stop women feeling unwelcome at uni sports facilities. ‘In a society where I often feel intimidated at the university gym and where Setting the pace: London student Grace, 22, who was filmed climbing a hill on one of her regular bike rides for the video
Aspire to perspire: Victoria, a 29-year-old children’s nurse, appears at a spinning class in a shot aimed at making sweating acceptable the simple exercise of squatting has now become something so sexualised I daren’t do it in front of people, this campaign struck a chord with me,’ she said. ‘When I �irst saw the campaign advertised before a YouTube video, I had to stop and re-watch it. ‘Finally, after so many “new year, new me” magazine covers and gym wear advertised on incredible models, someone understood that it all comes down to being healthy and, most importantly, having fun. ‘Many girls I know forget that exercising isn’t just to get a “bikini bod”. I think this is only the beginning of a wider movement to encourage girls
that yes, we can go to the gym, sweat it out, have our wobbly bits on show and embrace the strength and beauty of our bodies. ‘I’m thankful that it’s �inally being addressed.’ Sinead O’Grady, who recently graduated with a business management and information systems degree from Swansea University, said she hoped the campaign would build on the work of women’s sports teams. ‘It is essential for bringing the issues that surround women in sports to the forefront of university policies,’ she said. ‘Swansea University has some incredibly talented female
players and teams, so it is not discrediting what they already have but encouraging others to be inspired and get involved.’ But Stuart Wilkinson, a lecturer in sports coaching at the University of Central Lancashire, said it was a problem that many of the women pictured in the campaign were still slim and conventionally attractive. ‘It hasn’t considered how such symbolism might have the opposite effect to what was intended – normalising the slender body, accentuating the desirable and undesirable,’ he added. ‘Unfortunately, while brave and bold, it will for these reasons come under scrutiny.’
what they say ‘This is a brilliant campaign. It sends a message to the nation that defies the assumptions about being feminine. I would love to know how impactful it will be in future.’ Jasmine Pokuaa, vice-president for health and social care, University of Salford
‘Netball is extremely important to girls as it not only helps us physically but both socially and mentally also. It gives me structure in my daily life, helps with my fitness and it’s something I love.’ Sam O’Connor, netballer, Northumbria University
‘This Girl Can is a really inspirational campaign and has used targeted messages that I think other women in sport campaigns have failed to address; it’s not about the way you look when you exercise, it’s about the way you feel.’ Alyx Murray-Jackman, sport development of�icer, University of Bristol
‘Most girls on our team have never touched a rugby ball before they come to uni, so playing a male-dominated sport is taking girls out of their comfort zone.’ Megan May Stammers, women’s rugby union social secretary, University of Liverpool
‘Being a woman in tennis has never stopped me from being my best. Mixed doubles shows our potential. I love playing against people who challenge me and, at times, it’s the women who do more.’ Sophie Brazell, tennis team captain, Cardiff University
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March 2015
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The hunt for the one true hipster JOE EVANS COOL, ladies and gentlemen, is no longer cool. The hipster trend has become something of an epidemic. Now, bespectacled men in cardigans and Zooey Deschanel lookalikes roam our streets. Hating Coldplay but adoring Bob Dylan, loving coffee but scoffing at anything nonorganic, they have conquered whole portions of our cities. Bookshops and vinyl outlets have been colonised. Love or loathe the trend, it appears to be flourishing. But, like punk before it, hipsterism, so to speak, is deeply
Dodging the label: Hipsters PICTURE: STEWART HONEYMAN
flawed. There is nothing a hipster hates more than the label. ‘I’m no hipster,’ they shriek. ‘So what if I love the works of Jack Kerouac and Bret Easton Ellis?’ The individualism that
defines the movement is the thorn in its side. Now let’s take a glimpse into the dystopian future I envisage. Brothers turn against brothers, girlfriends against boyfriends, in the name of finding the one true original hipster. Their hair will get messier and the clothes more and more ill-fitting in the name of becoming the one true individual. The coffee shops will turn to slaughter houses as the fight for non-conformity spirals out of control. Then Shoreditch, Digbeth and the Northern Quarter will fall silent as the hipster trend finally breathes its last.
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talkingPOINTS TASTY PROSPECT: University students are like caterpillars. After we gobble up GSCEs and A levels, we get an appetite for degrees. We are cocooned for three years until we transform into beautiful butterflies and land graduate jobs. But in an increasingly competitive market, chancellor George Osborne wants to make it easier for us to stay cocooned. He has proposed a new postgrad loan of up to £10,000 to benefit an intended 40,000 students. As someone who worked through both masters degrees, I applaud this idea. It would make the lives of working class students much easier Thomas Dowling
STRIKE A BALANCE: News that size 24, 5ft 5in model Tess Holliday had won a professional contract was met with a mix of triumph and outrage. Holliday’s unapologetic bikini-clad poses have won her a strong Instagram following and she should be commended for challenging the way unhealthy size zero figures are promoted in the modelling industry. However, her success does pose a question: is the promotion of an exceedingly overweight woman the right type of replacement role model? We need a middle ground Ellie Connell
PICTURE: STEWART HONEYMAN
LIT US BE: Dear students of the UK: When you ask us to explain our literature degrees, we prepare for questions that will make us want to blind ourselves with our Biros. Here are just a few examples: ‘So you want to be a teacher?’ Because that’s our only prospect – never mind media, PR or business. ‘It’s a pretty easy degree, right?’ Contrary to the myth that all we do is sip lattes and partake in an unrequited love affair with Mr Darcy, it’s actually a pretty tough subject. Unless you consider being assigned novels, poems and Foucault’s History Of Sexuality in the same week easy. ‘Why not maths or engineering?’ We don’t question your love for equations of a Tolstoy-esque length, so don’t knock our book fetish Ellie Tindsley
UNFAIR STEREOTYPES: As far as the media is concerned, us students should either be fun, carefree and innovative, or sheep following the system. Films like American Pie and Bad Neighbours are fun but show us drinking an excessive amount of alcohol and barely doing what we’re supposed to be doing – studying. Yes, we do like to go out and have fun – who doesn’t? But this distorted perception in film blows it completely out of proportion. We need to be taken more seriously in the media Emma Adams
DIVERSITY LACKING: Because the curriculum is heavily based on white culture, certain students from ethnic backgrounds are at risk of under-achievement. These students learn nothing about the role their culture plays in the world they live in but are taught that civilisation and knowledge are the product of white predecessors. Ensuring education is racially inclusive and gives an unbiased representation of ethnic minorities is not only essential to achieve equality but also quality – the history, culture and literature of non-whites cannot be accurately represented by white people alone. Students from ethnic backgrounds cannot be taught material that only talks about their culture in a direct comparison with Western culture, in a way that shows it to be relatively subordinate. It is imperative that contemporary literature taught to young people reflects the multicultural society we live in Yashi Banymadhub
MATTER OF OPINION: When you have thousands of young, opinionated students on campus, claims of censorship are bound to pop up. Students should, of course, have the right to express all manner of opinions – but perhaps not those that are detrimental to others. The prohibition of material such as that from extremist groups could be perceived as patronising. While the right to express individual opinions is paramount, it is also vital that everyone feels they have the opportunity to do so without being harassed Beth Sexton
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NO CONFIDENCE: ‘Political apathy’ has been a buzz phrase during the run-up to this year’s election, describing a conscious lack of engagement with democracy, including the decision not to vote. Its most famous proponent, Russell Brand, has called for revolution. With students bearing the brunt of many cuts imposed by the current government, it’s easy to sympathise. But apathy highlights a problem without offering a solution. The revolution Brand describes is an event, not an outcome. Wherever you stand, it’s worth registering to vote before the April 20 deadline. It’s always nice to have the option Lindsey Coombs
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talkingPOINTS
March 2015
9
Comment, opinion and the occasional wild rant from our student writers across the country
I regret lecturer sex for cider bet JOSIE WALKER
Grey area: Powerful men, such as Christian in Fifty Shades Of Grey, might seem attractive – but reality might not live up to the mental image
WALKING into my first lecture of my first year, I thought I had hit the jackpot. A young, good-looking guy stood at the front of the hall, wearing a close-fitting suit. All the girls around me excitedly whispered to each other that this gorgeous man would be teaching us for the next 12 weeks. As time progressed, my fascination became stronger and, by reading week, I realised I could not recall a thing that had been said in any of the five lectures. The only notes I had taken was on the first day, where I had written the title and his name, dotting the ‘i’s with hearts like a lovesick primary school pupil. My preparation for lectures
was not completing seminar tasks or preliminary reading but, instead, making sure my hair was perfectly curled, my top enhanced my best assets and my skirt showed just enough leg to be suggestive but not slutty. In lectures, note-taking was shelved in favour of hair-flipping, pen-chewing and short, seductive glances. By this time, my friends had cottoned on and they made me a bet. If I got a snog, they would each buy me a pint of my favourite cider. Getting a snog AND free booze – what girl could refuse? So, in week nine, I made my way to his office in an outfit so tight I worried that if I ate anything I would burst out. Once there, I cut to the chase. Instead of sitting across
from him, I slid my chair next to his so he could ‘explain’ the problem I had brought to him. When in place, I leaned in close, breaking the distance barrier that kept our relationship professional. He noticed – and it didn’t take long for him to give me what I wanted. It was at that moment I realised my mistake. It felt the same as when my dog licks my face. I felt a trickle of something wet run down my chin and recoiled – but he got up to lock the door, and I knew what was about to happen. But, even though I was repulsed by his kiss, morbid curiosity got the better of me and I wanted to know what it would be like to go all the way. So I did. He wriggled around on top of me like an excited puppy,
arms flailing and not knowing where to put (or what to do with) his hands. My bum was numb from being squashed on to the solid wood desk and my legs dangled awkwardly off the side. When it was over (which didn’t take long), he rolled off me and sat in his chair, panting, leaving me sitting on the desk completely naked and questioning what I had just done. It felt like the worst mistake of my life, and in that moment I wished I could go back in time and take it back. I felt dirty and guilty, swearing I would never agree to a bet with my friends again. The one perk is that I got very drunk that night. But the worst part? I found out he’s my lecturer next year, too...
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March 2015
theINTERVIEW: Nev Schulman
Being lied to takes its toll but I enjoy it W
HAT started out as a story of modern-day romance turned into a strange and twisted tale of deception and heartbreak. Photographer Nev (pronounced Neev) Schulman fell in love with Megan after talking online. However, after she avoided meeting up, he did some digging and discovered Megan didn’t exist. She was, in fact, the invention of a manipulative housewife called Angela. Nev had been catfished. His story was turned into a documentary – something he is unsure about to this day. ‘If I had been asked at the beginning if I would like to make a documentary about my life that would end up in movie theatres and exposing this embarrassing period in my life, I don’t know what I would have said. I can’t say I would have said yes or no. It happened by accident,’ he says. Then, after it aired, others started to turn to him for help. He explains: ‘People started emailing me saying: “Can you help me? I haven’t talked to anybody about this but I saw your story and now I feel like I’m not crazy and not alone.” ‘Very quickly, it became apparent to us that what we thought was an odd experience was much more common than we would have ever expected. ‘We wanted to continue the conversation – and a TV show
The Catfish host chats to JOSHUA EVANS about being manipulated by strangers, seeing your life turned into a TV show and getting back on the dating scene... was the best way to do that.’ That TV show became Catfish, which sees the 30-year-old weed out other web tricksters. So, which one was the worst? ‘The person I found the hardest to stomach was Kidd Cole, the one who pretended to be a producer and a recording artist,’ Nev says. ‘He was manipulating people for huge monetary purposes without remorse – it was just for fun. ‘He was trying to prove something to the people who never thought he’d amount to anything by taking advantage. When we confronted him, he was so cocky – that was why I threw his phone into the river.’ Nev shares the screen with friend and cameraman Max Joseph and claims it’s their relationship that keeps the show from getting too heavy. ‘He is so straight up with me,’ Nev says. ‘There are very few people who can really say anything to me and be totally honest, and Max is one of them. We give each other advice – he helps me and I help him. When we’re not filming, we’re usually so busy doing other things, we don’t spend a lot of time together.’ The pair are often lied to by the fraudsters in the show. How does that feel? ‘I think people forget Max and I are people,’ Nev adds. ‘We’re
not trying to win people over, we’re just trying to tell good stories and I think people forget that. They just see us as cardboard cut-outs. ‘So, it does take its toll – but I mostly enjoy it.’ And what about the rumours of a UK version of the show? ‘We’ve been talking about it,’ he says. ‘There was a time when we were very close to putting together a pilot. I was very excited – but for now it’s all on hold. I would love to come over as it’s fun to go to places I’ve never been and have people recognise me. Sometimes it’s weird and I don’t like it but it’s mostly fun and pretty wild.’ Now the pair are filming series four, Nev is ready to get back on the dating scene. ‘It’s been a while since I was really dating. I recently broke up with a long-term girlfriend,’ he explains. ‘I’m just starting to reconsider how I want to re-emerge and put myself back into the single world.’ So, any dating advice for us? ‘It’s important to be straight up with people and tell them how you feel even if you are unclear about what you want,’ he says. ‘As soon as you open that door for an honest exchange with someone, it just makes it nicer to be around them.’
NEV SCHULMAN is the face of Rocawear. Visit the website: www.rocawear.com
INSIDE: Fat Boy Slim speaks to us about his life on the road and the people he has met
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Eyebrows raised but no ding-dong here Omid Djalili: Guild Hall
HIS acting credits include masterful Hollywood villains, parts in James Bond and a stage stint in the musical Oliver! – but Omid Djalili appeared as much a man of the people as ever when he visited Preston for his Iranalamadingdong tour. That said, the Londonborn British Iranian supplemented his two-hour show on February 7 with a bit of belly dancing and audience participation,
while surrealist comedian, songwriter and playwright Boothby Graffoe set the standard with a quality warm-up. Djalili impressed from the moment he arrived on stage and, as ever, he did not shy away from current affairs, race or stereotypes. But his jokes fell into the category of eyebrow-raising rather than totally outrageous and would probably fail to satisfy those with a taste for the more risqué. Jokes about middle age and its problems
have been done countless times before – but Djalili’s take on them was intriguing and the laughter he was met with suggested there is really nothing wrong with appealing to the masses. One of the show’s highlights came near the end, when Djalili read out questions the crowd had written down at the beginning of the night. There were clearly some wannabe stand-ups among us, as the audience threw out such gems as: ‘If your first name is Omid, do you
have an older brother called Ohigh and a younger one called Olow?’ Oh dear. But Djalili came back with his trademark wit and used any dodgy quips as extra material. He provided the laughs at rapid speed throughout the night, clearly revelling in the audience’s response. His Iranalamadingdong tour will visit Leeds on March 12, Manchester on March 13 and 14 before finishing in London on March 28. John Collins Interaction: Omid Djalili
Turning back clock to bring in punters T
HE ’90s are back – and they could hold the key to bringing Preston’s Thursday nights back to life. Organisers of the new night, at Evoque, hope the decade – along with its matching 90p drinks and 90p entry before 1am – will bring in the crowds. Thursdays at the club are rarely as busy as its midweek student night Epik! and development manager Luke Maher said he wanted to bring people to Preston towards the end of the week when the city ‘seems dead’. The club has also started bussing in partygoers from Bolton in a bid to attract more punters. It offers a £10 deal including transport, VIP entry and a drink. And its efforts seemed to be paying off at the launch, when bar staff claimed it was busier than the previous few Thursdays. Criminology student Jessica Laurin, who went along, said: ‘I enjoyed the theme because it was nice to hear different songs from the ones Evoque normally plays – plus I love ’90s music. ‘I really enjoy the themes most when they decorate the club and go all out with it.’ But despite the positive reception, there was still plenty of space on the night for a very ’90s-style dance-off. While this may have been great entertainment for those watching, there is no way there would be room for that kind of thing on a Wednesday night, while the top floor was also closed off. Anthony Gilmour
what’sON clubs
MONDAY Monday Mayhem, Cameo & Vinyl, £5 Monday Mayhem PreBar, Source Bar, free Monday Madness, MACs, £2 Beans, Mokai, £3-£5 Quiz and Karaoke, The Adelphi, free TUESDAY Karaoke and Cocktails, Source Bar, free Treble Tuesdays, Mokai, £3-£5 Pop Idol, Popworld, free Student Night, Warehouse, £4 #Pounded, Rumes, £1 WEDNESDAY Epik! Wednesdays, Evoque, £4 Evoque Prebar, Source Bar, free Wednesday Club, MACs, £2 Popshots, Popworld, free THURSDAY YBD Thursdays, MACs, £4 ‘90s Night, Evoque, 90p before 1am The Exchange, Source Bar, free Quids In, The Adelphi, £1 Poptail Thursdays, Popworld, free Smartphone Quiz and Karaoke, Roper Hall Flavour Thursdays, Rift & Co, varies FRIDAY Lush Fridays, MACs, £3 guest list Alibi, Evoque, £4 Fridays, The Warehouse, £5 SpotiFriday, SourceBar, free The Exchange, Cameo & Vinyl, free guest list before midnight I Am VIP, Rift & Co, Varies Kuckoo, Kuckoo Boutique Bar, free Fridays@Factory, Factory, free Stejays Open Mic Night and 2-4-1 Cocktails, The Adelpi, free Bar 150, Attic, £3.50 SATURDAY Sourcey Saturday, Source Bar, free Fridays, The Warehouse, £5 Studio, Evoque, £6 Late Nights, Lofty’s, varies Indulgence, Cameo & Vinyl, £5
Return: Mike Peters is recreating the iconic ‘80s sound of his band The Alarm as he tells their story this month
Rocker aiming for a strong comeback STRENGTH is an important word for rock musician and campaigner Mike Peters. It was the title of his band The Alarm’s biggest selling album, which celebrates its 30th birthday this year, and he has needed plenty of the stuff in his battles with cancer. The
height of the band’s UK success came in 1983, when their single 68 Guns made it into the top 20 and, for many, their big arena sound defines the decade’s music. Since then, Peters has faced lymph cancer and leukaemia, and now campaigns for people
to sign up to the bone marrow register. He will present the album Strength as a one-man band, using performances, stories and images to explore the impression made on the musical style of the decade by the band. Catch him at The Continental on March 18.
SUNDAY Smartphone Quiz Sundays, Source, free Professor Craig’s Fantastorous Open Mic Machine, Roper Hall, free Cheeky Sunday, Popworld, free SPECIALS March 4: Kid Arkade, Evoque, £5 March 13: Red Nose Day Special, Evoque, £5 March 17: St Patrick’s Day Party, Ships & Giggles, free
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March 2015
what’sON
Our comprehensive guide to entertainment in Preston. If you have an event you would like included, please email us at whatson@unipaper.co.uk
pick of the month MUSIC THREE psyche-indie bands will take to the stage at The Ferret on March 13 for a foray into the genre. First up is Preston band Moon And The Beams, who draw on ‘60s and ‘70s psychedelic rock including Jefferson Airplane and The Doors for inspiration. Following them will be Sheffield three-piece The Rubber Sound Experiment, who lean towards the alt-rock end of the spectrum. They have been compared to bands such as Mogwai and praised for their energy. Last but not least will be Blackpool band The Atmospherics rounding off the night with catchy pop melodies and riffs. Doors open 8pm. Entry is free.
THEATRE TAKE a trip back in time when Roald Dahl’s Danny The Champion Of The World hits the Charter Theatre at the Guild Hall. The adaptation of the
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ART PRESTON performer Will Onda and artist Harold Offeh are the inspiration behind The Varieties exhibition, running at the Harris Museum until April 11. Work by ten other artists will also be part of the show, which will play with the conventions of 19th- and 20th-century theatre. Ghana-born Offeh’s work explores contemporary popular culture using humour and Will Onda was part of a clowning and acrobatic double act during the late 1800s. Entry is free and the museum is open until 5pm Monday to Saturday.
children’s book, courtesy of the London Contemporary Theatre company, tells the story of Danny and his dad, who live in a caravan fixing cars for a living. When a developer threatens to take over the land where their garage is, they face a struggle to stop him in time. Danny and his dad – a secret pheasant poacher – rise to the occasion. The theatre company has won praise for past productions including Treasure Island and Around The World In 80 Days. The play runs on March 30 and 31. Tickets cost £15.
MUSIC
COMEDY
THE Lovely Eggs are an underground punk rock duo from Lancaster whose ethos is that music should have no rules. They have a stripped-back sound and all the kit they need on stage is one vintage amp, one guitar and a drum kit. They have recorded sessions for BBC Radio 1, BBC 6 Music and rock station XFM, with their first
Question everything: The Lovely Eggs hit The Continental this month two albums, If You Were Fruit and Cob Dominos, winning critical acclaim. What’s more, their single Allergies, from third album
Wildlife, sold out before its 2011 release date and won the BBC 6 Music Rebel Playlist competition. Zvilnik and Sweet Deal On
PICTURE: DARREN ANDREWS
Surgery provide support at The Continental on March 19. Tickets cost £7 in advance or £9 on the night and doors open at 8pm.
THE Frog and Bucket comedy club returns to Preston on March 20. The line-up for the night includes BBC Radio New Comedy Award finalist Pete Otway, who has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe festival, as well as David Longley, Adam Rowe and Carey Marx. Doors open 7pm and student tickets cost £12.
30,000 Students in Preston enjoy themselves every month Make sure they know about your event
To place your listing please contact whatson@unipaper.co.uk
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theBEAT
I’m diving a little deeper... I’m a little darker
Experimental: B.Traits is pushing her musical boundaries
Brianna Price, aka B.Traits, 28, was a regular on Canada’s rave scene at the tender age of 14. She and MORGAN HINTON chat musical influences and the UK’s drug problem
S
INCE moving to the UK, what have you found to be best and worst about the rave scene? The rave scene here is incredible – unlike anywhere else in the world. Even just the sound of the style of music stands out to me – it’s the main reason why I didn’t move to the US instead. The worst? Probably similar to my documentary How Safe Are My Drugs? I feel like the authorities are
not doing enough to create safer raving environments. Have you found the drug problem in the UK more prominent than Canada? Yes, particularly with legal highs. They scare me most as they are so unpredictable and there’s no history to tell us what the side-effects could be. What is your favourite non-electronic musical act? I listen to a lot of rap, like Pusha T and Kendrick Lamar. But then, I have a massive
love for Alabama Shakes! What can we expect from you musically this year? I’m not exactly sure myself! I’ve gone into the studio with the idea to only create and experiment. It’s been really interesting – for the first time
in my life, I believe I really know what my sound is. What kind of listening experience does your Friday night slot on Radio 1 offer? I represent new talent for the underground dance scene. After Annie Mac and
Pete Tong, my show takes you a little deeper, a little darker. Since coming to the UK, who has had the most impact on your music? Probably Shy FX, as he’s stuck with me since the beginning. I remember the
first time I played him my more experimental stuff, I was convinced he’d hate it. But he didn’t – he loved it and pushed me to dive deeper. B.Traits plays Manchester’s Sankeys on March 21 as part of its 20th anniversary.
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March 2015
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theBEAT The ‘people’s tenor’ prefers tennis and his Xbox to plugging in the headphones Love your music? So do we! Tune in here for all the latest interviews, previews and reviews
I love the sound of silence Y
OU’VE had �ive top ten studio albums and worked with artists from Pavarotti to Shaun Ryder – but what music inspires you? You’ll probably be surprised by this, but when I’m going about my daily business I actually don’t listen to much music. I try to avoid it. I’m already in the industry and music is my life, so when I don’t have to listen to it, it’s like, ‘aww, bliss’. When I do I listen to music, it’s artists like the Black Eyed Peas or James Brown. When I’m touring, I’ll refresh my memory by listening to recordings of the tenor singing repertoire that I do – listen to the different in�lections they use. We hear Katherine Jenkins refuses to speak the day before a performance. How do you look after your voice? Well – Jacuzzis, lots of booze… no, I’m just joking – that’s a normal night! Your voice can be a bit of a pain in the a**e sometimes. If you are a guitar player and the strings start to wear out you can simply replace them, whereas it’s not so simple to repair your voice. When I �irst starting singing as a young chap, I used to go watch Manchester United and if something happened I’d be shouting from the stands, but I can’t do that anymore. What collaborations will stick in your mind for years to come? Of course it has to be my performance with Luciano Pavarotti. He was amazing and totally lived up to his diva reputation. One of the most amazing days I’ve had was when we did a concert in
Tour: Cook PICTURE: FUTURE MUSIC
Singer Russell Watson tells REBECCA THOMAS about his battle with cancer, strange rehearsals with Charlotte Church and Pavarotti and being made to rock by Meat Loaf Hyde Park where I was told I would be performing in front of 75,000 people. Charlotte Church was also performing alongside Pavarotti and we were waiting what felt like forever to rehearse with him. We walked into the rehearsal room, where he was sat on this long arm chair. He put his hands together as if he was going to say a prayer and then took a massive inhalation of air before pointing to Charlotte and saying (cue dodgy Italian accent) ‘When I point to you, you sing’ and looks at me and says the same thing and then goes: ‘End of rehearsal’ – and that was it. That was the rehearsal! We got outside and Charlotte looked at me and went: ‘What the f**k was that all about?’ Another amazing person I performed with had to be Meat Loaf up in New York. I ended up in fact singing Bat Out Of Hell with him, which was incredible. We were in rehearsal once and he asked me: ‘Are you ready to rock?’ and me, being the typical English boy, said: ‘Yes, I am.’ He replied: ‘No, I said… ARE YOU READY TO ROCK?’ and he wouldn’t let us continue until I screamed out ‘Yes!’ It was surreal. You found out your brain tumour had returned while you were recording your 2007 album Outside In. Has anything positive come out of your illness? The �irst one was bad enough. I had that operated on and thought it was gone but 12 months later it wanted to do a comeback tour. I
basically ended up back in hospital and was very poorly for a long period of time. You can look back at instances like that and think I was very unlucky to get that and ‘why me?’ but these things happen and it’s how you deal with them that is crucial. An illness like that stays with you. Before I was constantly planning, whereas now my philosophy is live for the day. What has been your biggest achievement so far? Overcoming the illness and coming through the other side – being able to sustain my career through it all. My career highlight is de�initely performing for Pope John Paul II at the Vatican. He passed away not long after. What advice would you give to an aspiring singer? There are four things I feel are important if you want to pursue a career in singing. No.1 is always con�idence – it’s is a crucial part of the make-up of a singer. But the biggest factor of all for any new artist starting out in the business is to have a plan, a good business accruement and to have a good team of people who you can trust. On your upcoming tour, you’ll be playing at your birthplace, Salford. Is there anywhere else on the tour you’re particularly fond of? I’m actually a big fan of Wales and so was my gran, she always used to take us on day trips there. As a child, it was the one of the only places I really visited outside of Manchester, as we couldn’t
Tough industry: Watson will wait before making another album
tourDATES
; March 22, The March 10, Brangwyn Hall, Swansea , Leicester; May atre The e Lowry, Salford; May 5-6, Curv rter Theatre, Cha 19, May h; burg Edin , Hall 11, Queen’s ton; June 16, Grand Theatre, amp verh Wol , atre The d Preston; June 4, Gran dule at www.russellwatson.com sche tour full ; Leeds; June 26, The Forum, Bath
afford to go away abroad or anything, so I spent most of my time holidaying in Wales as a child. What do you do to relax between gigs? I like to exercise a lot. My favourite thing to do at the moment is play tennis. I’m
playing about four times a week. I love my physical �itness, including boxing. My biggest form of escapism, though, is my Xbox One – quite sad for a man of my age (48). Do you have plans for a new record soon?
The music industry is tough. It got to the point when I was getting fed up and it almost felt like a factory churning out song after song, so I’m waiting until I’m ready to produce something that I believe in before I release anything else.
A long way from the gutter but dreaming of stars FATBOY SLIM has made some pretty extreme venues his own, from a igloo to the Great Wall of China. Over the past 19 years the DJ, real name Norman Cook, has produced some of the biggest dance anthems to date and sold 8million albums. But with an international tour coming up, he is showing no signs of slowing down. Reflecting on his rise to DJ stardom, he says: ‘I
remember the first time I heard one of my tunes on the John Peel show. It felt like the pinnacle of everything I ever wanted to do. Over the years, all these things ascend, from hearing your music being played on the jukebox at the Queen Vic to ending up at the Olympic Games closing ceremony. Every time you think you have reached a pinnacle, you find another.’ Now 51, Cook
lives with wife Zoe Ball and their two children in East Sussex. He says he would do it all again, but has one regret. ‘I never had my photo taken with Madonna,’ he says. ‘We met the first time she came to England and shared a dressing room. It was the time she had the string vest, you know, classic Madonna.’ But that’s far from his only celebrity run-in. ‘The weirdest thing to
happen to me while DJing was Kevin Spacey coming up to me heavily disguised at Glastonbury. We had a chat right in the middle of a set and nobody else realised. I can’t even remember what we chatted about. It was Glastonbury; everything was a bit of a blur. No-one else will ever know if it really happened.’ Fatboy Slim plays Common People in Southampton on May 23.
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inSTYLE
March 2015
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Want to look great and stay up-to-date with the latest trends ... all on a sensible budget? Check out our monthly guide to the best buys for students
How to be chic at a snip
B
EING a student means learning many new skills – not least the art of budgeting. But despite being able to get by on £10 of food a week, some of us find it harder to rein in the spending when it comes to keeping up with the latest trends. So, how can you be fashionable while sticking to a student budget? Go for investment buys. This does not mean blowing your entire loan on one Michael Kors bag – it’s about being clever with your spending and splurging on key pieces that will last, rather than the buying expensive ‘on-trend’ items that will soon look dated. A good pair of jeans or a quality coat can be investment buys – just keep them simple and classic. Don’t go mad at the sales – just because individual pieces
are cheap does not mean the cost won’t add up. Most shops list sale items online before they appear in store, so make a list of what you want before you go bargain hunting. Embrace recycling. Many people think charity shops are just full of old people’s clothes but among the knitted tank tops and pleated woollen skirts, you can find some real bargains. I recently picked up a Topshop skirt for £4 while it was still being sold new for £26. Many stores offer multibuys on things like socks and underwear which can be great – as long as they actually save you a reasonable amount of money. But beware – anything less than a £1 saving is a bit pointless, unless you really need to stock up. Finally, don’t forget to wave that NUS card. Many high
Wearing very Lidl clothing
Bargain buys: English students Beckey Bulman (left) and Ally Head model charity shop finds PICTURES: DAISY HOLDEN street chains offer a discount of ten per cent or more on full-price items. Daisy Holden
WE all know it does cheap food – but now supermarket chain Lidl is branching out into the world of lingerie too. For £7.98, you can now pick up a matching set of lacy underwear similar to the one pictured while you shop for your groceries. There are bras and knickers for £3.99 and a silky wrap will set you back less than a fiver. The supermarket not only offers a no-frills approach to frilly undies – it has also launched a fashion range. But will it be enough to tear us away from our beloved highstreet brands? Aliya Hussain
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hiTECH
www.unipaper.co.uk The latest in everything gadgets and gaming
Get screws in a spin to bust out of the prison
F
ANCY yourself as the next Michael Scofield or Andy Dufresne? Well, with Team17’s The Escapists, you can test yourself against the system without going through all the hassle of committing a crime. The indie puzzle game, released last month on PC and Xbox One, uses the film and TV cliché of breaking out of prison but puts you in control of the story. Developer Chris Davis told the University Paper: ‘I’ve always been a fan of prison films – Prison Break and The Shawshank Redemption – but there have not really been that many games that take place inside. ‘So, I thought maybe this will be good – the big build-up and the suspense.’
The game lets you go through day-to-day prison life – including meals, workout time, roll call and even jobs such as laundry duty – so as not to arouse the guards’ suspicion, all the while coming up with an escape plan. Want to beat a guard to death with a soap bar in a sock? You can do that. Want to dig a tunnel underneath the prison? You can do that, too. There are no instruction manuals or tooltips – how you escape is left entirely up to you. Chris said: ‘The games I grew up with when I was younger, from the 16-bit era – they never had these handholding aspects and I guess that’s what I’m used to. ‘I remember when I used to
Bloodborne, March 24 SEARCH for answers in the creepy streets of Yharnam – an ancient city hit by a gruesome plague. Fight off the violent, deranged mobs and nightmarish creatures that lurk around every corner using weapons such as guns and saw cleavers. Players can also use holy chalices to gain entrance to a network of vast underground ruins filled with traps, beasts and rewards. The game will be coming exclusively to PS4 from Dark Souls developer FromSoftware. Jake Clothier Dark Souls II, April 7
Hell in a cell: The Escapists on PC (£12.99) or Xbox One (£14.99) achieve something in a game back then, I felt a sense of accomplishment that I don’t feel you get these days with games, because everything is sort of way-pointed.’ Alex Jolly
n FOR a chance to win one of three The Escapists goodie bags, email us at win@unipaper.co.uk with your name, age, university, telephone number and address.
THE innovative fantasy series returns, remastered and reimagined, in Dark Souls II: Scholar Of The First Sin. The next-gen and PC re-release comes with a new playable character and enemy placements, which will change the way levels are handled. There are also new items
out soon available, including the ‘agape ring’, which absorbs souls collected from online kills. The developers have also enhanced the graphics and increased the player count in online play. Ben Chuter Mortal Kombat X, April 14 WE all know the format by now – two players fight against each other using an array of attacks, special moves and brutal fatalities. So, what’s different about Mortal Kombat’s latest offering? Well, new ‘living towers’ game mode allows players to fight to the death in everchanging conditions, forcing gamers to adapt their technique. Four new characters have also been added to the roster, while all the old favourites have been brought back, bringing the number of playable characters up to 24. Matt Bullin
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March 2015
onSCREEN
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Love a good night at the movies? Or perhaps you need a quiet night in front of the TV? Read on to find out what’s on...
The quick quip comedy It’s war: Shailene Woodley takes the fight to the elite in Insurgent
The Divergent Series: Insurgent THE latest film in the series based on Veronica Roth’s best-selling science fiction trilogy sees Shailene Woodley’s character Beatrice ‘Tris’ Prior go to war against the leader of the corrupt elite, Kate Winslet’s Jeanine, while Theo James plays love interest Four. Tris and Four must search for allies and unlock the answers to seemingly impossible questions. The film is set to be released on March 20 and is yet to be rated. Daniel Williams Furious 7 FASTEN your seatbelts for the latest lap of the Fast And Furious circuit. The franchise was rocked last year by the death of Paul Walker, who played Brian O’Conner, in a car crash – but the latest instalment was finished after his brothers Caleb and Cody stepped in to help. In a strange twist, the film sees Ian Shaw, played by Jason Statham, seek revenge for the death of his brother at the hands of a rival crew. The film is due for release on April 10. Zahra Faqir Child 44 ANOTHER Tom Hardy film, another accent.
After sporting a southern drawl in Lawless, going Welsh for Locke and using a somewhat unplaceable tongue as Bane in The Dark Knight Rises, the Londoner goes Russian to play Leo Demidov. The secret policeman is troubled by the mysterious deaths of boys in this thriller, based on the 2014 novel. Joel Kinnaman, Noomi Rapace and Gary Oldman also star. Out April 17. Seamus Mcginley-Hughes Avengers: Age Of Ultron IRON Man, Thor, the Hulk, Captain America, Black Widow and Hawkeye are back – and this time they’re joined by X-Men twins Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Elizabeth Olsen. The peacekeeping tool Ultron, created by Tony Stark – aka Ironman – backfires when it decides the human race must be wiped out and the heroes unite to stop it. Out April 23. Zahra Faqir
app. Laura Barns (Heather Sossaman) kills herself after finding someone has posted a drunken video of her online, before one of her ‘friends’ sets out for revenge via Skype and the dead girl’s Facebook account. Due to be released May 1. Antoniya Gerimpapazi
told us we needed to bury it in a time capsule so that nobody would ever find it.’ Determined not to bin the project, McDermott, who started making films when he was given a video camera aged 14, cut a three-minute trailer from the pilot footage, which got 25,000 hits online. It attracted the attention of Comedy Central, which funded the team and now hosts the series on its website. McDermott (pictured second from right with fellow cast members Zoe Lister, Adam Brown and Brian Capron) also stars in the series, filmed in Salford, Manchester. It is aimed at people watching on their mobiles while travelling to and
from work and uni. ‘We had to learn how to be really serious writers,’ said McDermott. ‘We had to deliver these episodes that were really halfan-hour’s worth each and put them into eight minutes – and that was a challenge.’ An added pressure has been filming each episode in a day. ‘Nobody does that,’ said McDermott. ‘It was like a military operation to get it all done but at the same time we were literally having the best time – we became a big family.’ To anyone hoping to film their own comedy series, he said: ‘Know exactly what you are and exactly what you want to be.’ See Staff Room at www. comedycentral. co.uk. Christina Sims
The Salt Of The Earth THIS documentary sees Juliano Salgado follow in his famous father Sebastião’s footsteps, as he uses images to tell the photographer’s life story. His father, now in his 70s, has witnessed the major conflicts, mass exoduses and human tragedies of the late 20th century, and this film calls on the viewer to think about what the human race does to the planet. Due for general release on July 3. Antoniya Gerimpapazi
HIGH QUALITY STUDENT ACCOMMODATION 15 YEARS EXPERTISE IN STUDENT LETTINGS ROOMS FROM £50PPPW 1-7 BEDROOMED PROPERTIES AVAILABLE
Unfriended A MIX of horror classics Carrie and I Know What You Did Last Summer, this film, directed by Levan Gabriadze, uses social media to make you think twice about opening that Facebook
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TAFF Room has trodden the rocky path from disastrous pilot to internet hit. The comedy series is squeezed into eight-minute episodes that follow two teacher friends as they skip classes, nurse hangovers and discuss everything but work. Its co-writer, Ryan McDermott, collected ideas while working in schools and teamed up with old friend Adam Brown to create it. But the pair failed to get funding for their first pilot. ‘Nobody wanted to make it, which is usually a sign not to do it,’ McDermott admitted. ‘So we said, “OK, we’ll make a pilot of this ourselves”.’ They raised just over £1,000 on crowdfunding website Kickstarter. ‘It wasn’t a lot of money but it was enough to get us going,’ said McDermott. ‘But then the pilot was a disaster. My agent
01772 888887 86 Plungington Road, PR1 7RA jonescameronlettings@yahoo.co.uk Going east: Tom Hardy
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March 2015
yourNIGHT
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March 2015
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foodBREAK
We’ve all got to eat. So whether you fancy preparing something at home or popping out for dinner, we have the recipe for a great meal
The magic of mince...
pepper. Scrunch together well with hands 3. Divide into 24 small balls. Put them on a plate and coat with olive oil 4. Heat a large frying pan on a medium heat and add two tbsp olive oil. Stir in the onion until softened and colouring. Then add the other clove of garlic and the chilli. When they colour, add several large basil leaves, tomatoes and balsamic vinegar. Bring to the boil, season to taste and leave to simmer 5. Heat another large frying pan on a high heat and add two tbsp oil. Cook the meatballs for eight to ten minutes, frequently turning them until golden brown. Check they are cooked by making sure there is no sign of pink inside. Once cooked, add to the tomato sauce and your choice of pasta Jes Needham-Bennet
IT IS the essential student ingredient – cheap, filling and easy to use. But, if all you can think to do with mince is to rustle up a spag bol, then think again... Chorizo, beef and bean stew
Ingredients: 500g minced beef, 225g chorizo, can of red kidney beans, can of chopped tomatoes, two cups of beef broth, one large onion, four cloves of garlic, one large carrot (chopped), one potato (diced), one tsp smoked paprika, one tsp black pepper, half a lemon, salt to taste Method: 1. Heat the oven to 180C. In an oven-proof pot, heat the chorizo with a little bit of oil so it doesn’t burn. When it starts sizzling, add onions and garlic and fry. Once browned, add the beef
and chopped tomatoes 2. Cook in oven for one-anda-half hours 3. Add the beans, spices, carrot and potato. Continue cooking for one-and-a-half hours 4. Serve with boiled rice and green peas Jit Pal Meatballs
Ingredients: One heaped tbsp rosemary, one heaped tbsp oregano, one heaped tsp thyme, 12 cream crackers (smashed until fine), two tsp Dijon mustard, fresh basil, 500g minced beef or pork, one egg, olive oil, one medium
Tasty and quick: Chorizo, beef and bean stew and, inset, spicy south-west burgers
Spicy south-west burgers
PICTURE: BLYTHE LEWIS
onion (finely chopped), two large cloves garlic (crushed), half a red chilli (finely sliced), two cans of chopped tomatoes, one tbsp balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper
Method: 1. Put crackers and one clove of garlic in a large bowl with oregano, rosemary, thyme, mince and mustard 2. Crack an egg into the mix and season with salt and
Ingredients: 500g minced beef, one onion (diced), three mixed small peppers (diced), one small red chilli pepper (diced), one clove garlic (crushed), one tsp cumin, one
tsp coriander, ground black pepper to taste, two tbsp vegetable oil, two avocados, four burger buns, cheddar cheese (sliced), hot sauce Method: 1. Mix the mince, onion, peppers, chilli pepper, garlic, cumin, coriander, and black pepper in a large bowl. Knead with hands until all the vegetables and seasonings are incorporated into the beef 2. Separate the mixtures into four even pieces and roll each into a ball. Put on a plate, pressing on each with palm to flatten. Leave in the fridge for at least 15 minutes 3. Heat two tbsp of vegetable oil in a pan over high heat. When oil begins to shimmer, add patties to the pan. Cook for two to three minutes on each side 4. Remove patties from the heat and place on kitchen roll to remove excess oil. Transfer to buns 5. Halve the avocados and remove pits. Use a fork to crush half of the flesh while still in the skin, then transfer to the burger, using half an avocado for each burger 6. Top with hot sauce and sliced cheese Blythe Lewis
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competitionCORNER YOU can win one of four Bulldog Skincare For Men kits – jam-packed with enough product to scrub yourself from head to toe. Each kit includes original shower gel, aftershave and moisturiser, all made from natural ingredients and no man-made chemicals
TO celebrate the DVD release of WWII epic Fury, we are giving away copies of the film, along with a Fury T-shirt, tankard, hip flask and a special Sherman Tank Haynes Manual. Fury is now available on Blu-ray, DVD and for digital download
To enter these competitions, email your name, university and year of study to win@unipaper.co.uk
March 2015
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Your chance to win fantastic tickets, trips and treats
tickets to N I W Outlook festival To enter, email your name, university and year of study to win@unipaper.co.uk
In the groove: Outlook festival takes place in a 2,000-year-old Roman fort
F
ANCY sailing around the Adriatic coastline and partying in a 2,000-year old amphitheatre in Croatia this September? All you need to do is grab your bestie and some cheap �lights, and we’ll provide you with two tickets to Outlook festival in Stinjan. The prize includes access to the festival’s camping area – so don’t forget to pack your tent pegs. You’ll also get two tickets to the opening concert and a boat party of your choice. Guests so far include Run The Jewels, Wiley, Boy Better Know, Goldie and Pete Rock. The event runs from Wednesday, September 2, to Sunday, September 6. For all the details, take a peek at www.outlookfestival.com.
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let’sTALK
March 2015 Relationship trouble? Sex worries? Feeling low? We’ve got wise words to set you right
Alice ask
treatment being a syringe to drain blood, I’d suggest you are better off sticking to your guns on this one, Aaron.
Danger: Taking tablets to boost your sex life can be risky
S
O... Student Finance doesn’t cover the summer. How have I only just found this out and what am I meant to do?! Pia, Bristol Your final instalment will be slightly higher to account for the summer; however, you still have five months to get through between April and September. So, start applying for summer jobs now – and we aren’t talking about shelf-stacking. Go to Glastonbury with DC Site Services or head down under with Get Australia. If you want to stay closer to home, how about becoming a mentor with The Challenge or even staying in halls? Most universities open them up as hotels during the summer and need all the hands they can get.
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FTER Easter I have just two months left at university... need I say more. Tom, Preston If there is one thing worse than the dissertation, it is the constant ‘so, what are you going to do when you finish university?’ – and this is before you’ve even got through finals. But, having said that, you need to start looking at graduate schemes and postgraduate bursaries now, or maybe even the possibility of extending your tenancy just a month or two longer to avoid a bout of graduation blues. Graduating can be just as good as freshers was those three short years ago... but only if you have a game plan.
S
INCE when did Viagra become the one? Even my girlfriend is keen to try it out but I don’t see
the point in either of us taking it. Aaron, Cardiff One in five 18- to 25-year-olds is necking the infamous blue pill but not for the reasons for which it
was originally intended. Much like poppers, Viagra has strayed into the recreational category. However, if you take it without prescription or purchase it online, you are
opening yourself up to a number of life-threatening and long-lasting complications – not to mention priapism. (That’s a persistent erection to you and I).With the
Struggling with your studies, wrestling with a relationship or is your social life at a standstill? If you need advice, email our agony aunt on askalice@unipaper.co.uk
Looking for a date? Try this cheeky app Founder and director of CheekyBoo Ben Mitchell, 30, used to work at Barclays before an idea came to him about simplifying the online dating process. Thus, almost two years ago, the idea for the app was born. AYNSLEIGH HOLLYWOOD asks him whether we are losing the art of meeting Mr or Miss Right in the real world
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VERYTHING happens online now. Do you think that enhances or diminishes real-life interactions? It’s just the way of the world. It’s the reason for CheekyBoo and other likeminded apps – people don’t have time to go out and meet people as much as they used to. It’s handy to meet online and it’s only going to increase as technology advances. Do you have any personal online dating experience? I’ve been on dating sites in the past and I think CheekyBoo was born from the fact that I didn’t like what I saw. I wanted to strip out what I considered as gimmicks and simplify the process of online dating.
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Where did the idea come from? Just being out and about and thinking about new ways of meeting and interacting with people, rather than having to go through the awkward ice-breaker. What work goes in to making an app of this sort? I had to come up with design images to show how I wanted the app to look. You also have to do what’s called wire frames to design the actual pages themselves and work out how one page feeds into another page. If you were explaining CheekyBoo to someone who hadn’t used it, what would you say to convert them? I’d say the biggest selling
Date night: CheekyBoo and, inset, founder Ben Mitchell (left) point is its simplicity. There is no matching of databases behind CheekyBoo. There is no Facebook account needed so it is a standalone app. With so many other dating apps, how do you stand out?
The fact that it is localised and the radar cannot be restricted or expanded – it is set to ten miles. We match people depending on whether you like their pictures or whether you like their bio. You only upload
nine photos and the bio is 140 characters. Where do you see both the company and yourself in ten years’ time? I would hope CheekyBoo would go global with millions of users worldwide.
Coming out can still be a concern I WOULD never tell you I’m gay unless you asked me. In fact, I’m not even 100 per cent sure – but I can say I’m probably more gay than I am bi. The thing is, you don’t just come out of your teenage years ‘knowing’ –you come out in stages. From there, you could say I’m coming out daily to people who are yet to ‘know’ me. I have to trust someone before I tell them. Safety is always my biggest concern in terms of what could happen if I show my affection to someone of the same gender. You shouldn’t have to care what other people think – but, unfortunately, people resort to extreme measures of showing their disapproval. Bobby Atkinson
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March 2015
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yourSPACE
Home or away? It’s up to you
L
IVING at home while studying certainly has its bene�its. But will you be missing out on the full university experience? There’s no right or wrong answer, so check out our pros and cons to help you decide. Advantages of living at home 1. Lower costs – You will probably not be paying for rent, bills, food and other expenditures, so that gives you a little bit more spending money. 2. Good grub – If you aren’t much of a chef, home-cooked
meals are a luxury that you won’t have to give up. It’s much easier to concentrate after a good meal rather than beans on toast. 3. Peace and quiet – Unless your parents are party animals, it is unlikely that you will be woken up at 3am with a �ire alarm going off or hearing drunk people in the street when you have a 9am lecture the next day. Disadvantages of living at home 1. Distance learning – Travelling can be a pain and could stop you from going
Be close to those near you
Train in vain: Commuting to uni can make you late thanks to delays to lectures. If a seminar is cancelled or plans are changed at the last minute, it can also be tough to change your schedule. 2. Social cost – It can be hard to maintain friendships. By living at home, you are excluded from the student lifestyle, so trying to meet up with mates
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outside of the university day can be a bit tricky – and getting home after a night out can be a total pain. 3. Over-reliance on parents – University is not all about your degree... learning life lessons is just as important. Without having your parents to rely on, you
PICTURE: DAVID ROBINSON
quickly learn how to look after yourself. 4. Missing out – Being on campus is a great way to get involved in other university activities. From pop-up shops to job fairs, the campus has it all and you will probably miss out if you are stuck in the house. Daisy Holden
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GOOD neighbours can become good friends. So don’t ruin it by making their lives a misery. Here are a few tips to maintaining a good relationship with those who live next to you. 1. Be considerate – Just because you enjoy singing along to loud music at 4.30am doesn’t mean your sleepy neighbours will. 2. Get to know them – A family with young children is likely to need peace at night, while if you live next to other students they will probably be more understanding. 3. Be friendly – A little kindness goes a long way, so offer to sign for parcels or even invite them round for a barbecue and drinks. Laura Harcombe
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March 2015
yourSPACE
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How to �ind the right place to live, the right people to live with and how to keep your place right
Ratting to ratings... OWEN DIXON, who founded website Rate My Roof to identify good and bad student landlords, tells LUCY ROGERS how it all sprang from a run-in with a rodent
F
OR students across the country, the spring term is dominated by the scramble to secure a home for the following year. But, in the rush to get somewhere with the right number of rooms, in a location that won’t mean an hour-long bus ride to lectures, many end up living in crumby conditions. This is a problem business graduate Owen Dixon is aiming to tackle. The 22-year-old set up Rate My Roof, a website that lets students review private accommodation, after a run-in with a rodent during his time at Durham University. ‘One time my housemate had to hit a rat with an umbrella in the living room,’
he said. ‘I was frustrated at all the bad student houses. I wanted to make the market fairer and put the power back into student hands.’ Tenants can add properties to the website, listing whether utilities such as wi�i or bills are included and giving their own comments, as well as a star rating. In the interests of fairness, the site also has a section that allows landlords to respond. And, since setting it up, Owen has heard from students with even worse experiences than his rat battle. One, from the University of Leicester, described how a tree blocked the entrance to his home. He claimed he also had to report the property to environmental health over a
faulty air �iltering unit, as well as serious damp and mould issues. But Rate My Roof is more than just a collection of horror stories. One student describes their home in Bristol as a ‘lovely, quirky �lat in an ideal location for Clifton Triangle and the
university’, while another writes: ‘Any problems we have had have been sorted straight away with the landlord.’ Despite facing problems with the original web developers when he started the site in 2014, Owen – who deferred his masters for a year to work on it – sees it
going from strength to strength. ‘I aim to have thousands of reviews from students all over the country, so that people are aware of what they are getting for what is one of their largest �inancial commitments at university,’ he added.
Calling out bad landlords: Owen Dixon
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March 2015
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studentLIFE
The best, the worst and the down-to-earth of being at university
Must-haves to make life a little bit easier FOR some, it is a well-stocked food cupboard – for others, a comfy bed and their favourite stuffed toy from home... We ask what one item you need to survive life at university
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PHONE: ‘It’s my alarm for early lectures – and my distraction when I really don’t want to be in those lectures.’ Jack, �irst-year history University of Leicester student A memory stick: ‘After losing a memory stick, I realised my life was over. Nothing backed up anywhere. I even contemplated moving out I was so devastated.’ Paul, third-year computer science University of Leicester student Caffeine: ‘If I didn’t have caffeine, I would never �inish my deadlines. In the week leading up to a deadline, I can drink a six-pack of energy drinks a day – not that I would recommend it!’ Katie, thirdyear pharmacy student at De Montfort University A microwave: ‘I tell my parents I cook all the time but sometimes I just want a cheap lasagne or something I can cook in under ten minutes.’ Eloise, second-year business management student at De Montfort University A bottle opener. ‘The most annoying thing is taking beer to a house party and not being able to �ind a bottle opener. I chipped my tooth in �irst year trying to do it with my teeth – it is a bad idea.’ Amy, second-year mathematics student at De Montfort University A dishwasher: ‘It saves time, effort and keeps the kitchen tidy – no arguments about washing up.’ Alex Jubb, University of Birmingham The clothes horse: ‘Simple, cheap and effective.’ AB Net�lix: ‘Great when you have done all your work and
exams are months away.’ AB Local off-licence: ‘Out of alcohol? Pop to the shops – problem solved.’ AB A greasy spoon: ‘Essential to help defeat the dreaded hangover.’ AB A multi-tool: ‘From the emergency bottle opener to the emergency furniture �ixer – it has it all.’ James Williams, University of Liverpool A multi-coloured pen: ‘Great for de�ining different notes and colour-coding your planner.’ JW A voice recorder: ‘Attend a lecture and fall asleep? Now you still have the notes.’ JW A tablet: ‘They’re more portable than laptops and just as handy.’ JW A �lask: ‘For the emergency hangover coffee and the get-me-through-this-essay friend.’ JW Tupperware: ‘Leftovers survive better in Tupperware than squeezed onto a plate and badly balanced in the fridge. Take lunch with you into uni – it is so much quicker and cheaper.’ Jes Needham-Bennett, University of Manchester Alarm clock: ‘Get an alarm clock – a loud one. Alarms on phones and watches can be unreliable, so it’s nice to have a back-up.’ JNB Berocca/Lemsip: ‘Berocca to make hangovers in 9am seminars more bearable, Lemsip for freshers �lu.’ JNB Blankets: ‘Heating a house through winter is expensive. Throw some cheap blankets on your bed instead.’ JNB Deodorant: ‘When you’ve overslept after a party or from
Indispensable: (clockwise from top right) The stress can be taken out of university life with the help of a clothes horse, an off-licence, Netflix, a flask and a phone workload-induced exhaustion and don’t have time to shower before lectures, invest in industrial-strength deodorant.’ JNB First aid kit: ‘You never know when disaster will strike, so it’s handy to have a �irst aid kit on hand. Include things like paracetamol and don’t forget the usual bandages and plasters.’ Daniel Williams, Swansea University
Quick-�ix food: ‘Good examples are Pot Noodles or instant soups, which can help you when time is of the essence or you just want a break from cooking.’ DW Emergency money: ‘Try to keep some money aside for times of crisis. Even if you keep a �iver stuffed in a longlost part of your wallet or in the back of a drawer, you can always make sure you have
enough for a taxi or some emergency food.’ DW Memories: ‘Bring plenty of photographs of family and friends to keep yourself from becoming too homesick. Maybe even bring your favourite teddy bear from your childhood, or anything that you think will help you get through those long terms without seeing anyone from back home.’ DW
Take a Time Out or Boost your studies over Easter? EASTER’S here and it’s time to relax and indulge in chocolatey goodness – but the break does mean the �inal deadlines of the semester are looming. With this in mind, it’s natural to assume your
university commitments will have to take some sort of priority over the holiday period. But there is no reason you can’t have a good time and get your work done, too. Spend the �irst week
chilling and put work to the back of your mind. Let yourself unwind and you’ll feel ready when the time comes to start your studies again. Use the next couple of weeks to knuckle down
but don’t forget to give yourself a break. Limit work time so you don’t stress out and make sure to see your friends – it is your holiday and you deserve it. Kelly Smith
Where do you �it into the uni family?
YOUR housemates are your surrogate family, and although at times they make you want to pull your hair out, you couldn’t survive without them. Everyone has their role in the house – so check out our guide to the university family and see where you and your friends fit in... The mummy: Normally found cooking, gathering mould in her bed and singing Taylor Swift at the top of her voice when the rest of the house is hungover. Quick to disapprove but always there when you need her. The dad: Handy with a tool kit and happy to help out – not great on the dance floor though. The twins: They could have been separated at birth. They are scarily similar and have the same sense of humour. The noise levels shoot up when these two go on a night out. Younger sibling: Wants to be the centre of attention and can annoy the house a lot. Makes a lot of noise when they don’t get their own way. Crazy aunt: Always ready to party and gives good advice when you need it most. Charity case: You’re not too sure where they came from but, after a few nights out in first year, they seem to have stuck around and become a permanent fixture on the sofa. Quiet cousin: The one you’ll find in the uni library at 9am. They are timid and dedicated to their course but can help out when you are struggling with your coursework. The pet: The most demanding of your housemates. Who said it was a good idea to get a pet? They moult, scratch the sofas and climb the curtains. Lauren Knight
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sportNEWS
Making a splash: Victorious UWE swimmers, left, and trampoliners Megan Comber, Charlotte Plummer, Maddy Perkin and Lucy Theobald from Bristol PICTURES: TWITTER Top spot: Birmingham’s Imran Rahman wins 60m gold, while Elliot DowsunHurley (Leeds Beckett) gets silver and Daniel Obeng (Loughborough) bronze
Golden moments: (l-r) Sheffield Hallam’s Karla Drew claims gold for 60m women’s hurdles, David King of Bath wins the men’s and Sheffield University graduate Jessica Ennis Hill, who trains in the city, pops in
6,000 sporting stars race for the podium
Hang tough: University of Sheffield and British climber Michaela Tracy on her way to victory
LIAM O’NEILL
20 to 22. The first day saw a take the women’s open 200m the track in both the men’s photo finish in the men’s 60m. freestyle, with Hallam’s Ellie and women’s events. Cardiff NEARLY 6,000 of the finest University of Birmingham’s Faulkner claiming third place. Met came second in both and university athletes descended Imran Rahman won gold with In the men’s climbing, local Birmingham third. on Sheffield to take part in the 6.79secs, while Elliot Dow- rivals Hallam and the UniverBut the weekend wasn’t all BUCS Nationals last month. son-Hurley of Leeds Beckett sity of Sheffield both finished serious, with the mascots linStudents competed on the took silver in 6.82secs. with a team score of 669. Hal- ing up for a mixed 200m race. track, in the pool and even on Perhaps unsurprisingly, Sheffield Hallam Universi- lam claimed gold by having a the climbing wall to win med- ty’s Karla Drew won the 60m higher-placed individual. Panther Pete from Brighton als for their teams. The final day saw Leeds claimed gold with a time of hurdles in 8.38secs, while Loughborough University David King, from the Univer- Beckett taking gold in the 30.88secs, while last-placed were crowned overall cham- sity of Bath, won the men’s. 4x200m, with Lough- Klein the Penguin from At Specsavers, if you are an easycaremen’s direct debit customer you can pions, winning 57 medals On the Saturday, Hallam’s borough winning the wom- Durham waddled home in over the weekend of February Rebecca Turner edged ahead en’s. Loughborough were the 65.35secs. get an even better deal, including a free pair of glasses, free delivery. of Bath’s Anne Bochman to overall team champions on
Family affair: Northumbria triple-jumper Emma Pringle beats sister Hannah, who gets silver
Your eye test and aftercare are also included in the price.
Voted the UK’s most trusted optician Need an eye test? Visit specsavers.co.uk or call 0800 0680 241
Cannot be used with other offers or exchanged in part or whole for cash. Initial 3-month payment required from new easycare direct debit customers. One free pair of £45 range glasses with scratch-resistant PENTAX single vision lenses every two years. Current prescription required. Alternatively, an eye test will be required at our standard charge. easycare benefits are redeemable only by named scheme member. Source: YouGov Plc online survey, 2014. ©2013 Specsavers. All rights reserved.
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March 2015
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sportNEWS
Shoot-out shows just who’s the second best JOSEPH RICHARDSON THERE is rarely any �iercer sporting rivaly than that within the same club. And so it proved to be when UCLan men’s football �irsts sent the university’s seconds crashing out of the Northern Conference Cup after a 6-5 victory on penalties. The match began controversially when �irsts mid�ielder Alex O’Rourke was dismissed for a headbutt on 12 minutes. Shortly after, the seconds were awarded a penalty but captain Mikey Allcock’s tame shot was saved. The seconds pushed on with plenty of chances to take the lead and came close with Matty Higginson hitting the crossbar. But it was Allcock who eventually broke the deadlock, two minutes into extra time, with a volley into the bottom corner of the goal. Responding immediately, the �irsts made it 1-1 thanks to a header from Eamonn
Hughes and then took the lead after captain Jamie Wynne netted from the spot. The seconds’ Josh Dunroe later received the second red card of the match for a late challenge. With the �irsts looking to be on their way through, defender Alex Chu sent the game to penalties with a headed goal in the last action of the match. Both sides missed two of their opening �ive spot-kicks and the shoot-out went to sudden death. Allcock squandered his second penalty of the game but was let off the hook when Mark McGroarty missed his. With the score 5-5, seconds winger Moss Sirisom had his penalty saved by goalkeeper Ruairi McDaid and �irsts striker Yves Zama converted to send his side through. UCLan I will play Manchester Met University (Cheshire) I to take on either the University of Manchester II or Leeds Beckett Carnegie II in the �inal on March 18.
UCLAN Rams American football team’s season ended after a defeat to Aberystwyth cost them a play-offs place. But third-year line backer Jamie Rattigan and thirdyear running back Stuart Robinson see no reason to be downhearted. ‘It’s been a history-making season for the Rams,’ Jamie says. ‘A record of 7-1 is pretty respectable. It’s the best we’ve ever had.’ And, while on the pitch the football has
been going well, the backing has also grown. Jamie says: ‘The fan support we’ve got this year has been amazing. Going from just us on the sidelines to over 150 attending our games – that was unreal.’ So, is this the end of their involvement with the Rams? ‘Yeah, I can’t leave,’ Stuart says. ‘It’s not just about the sport, it’s about the guys that you’re with. I’m playing with the Lancashire Wolverines
Going through: UCLan first teamers celebrate a victory against the seconds
Rams delight at ‘history-making’ year over the summer so I’m still with the Academy but I’m de�initely going to end up back here as a coach. ‘I’ve been here for four years, before the club even started – so I’m not going to get away too easily.’ Jamie adds: ‘I’m already defensive co-ordinator, so if I’m around then, I’ll carry on in that role. If things conspire and I’m forced to do another year at uni, that’s the way it is. The Rams can de�ine your
time at university. That’s how important they can be – it’s going to heart-breaking to leave that behind.’ The pair revealed that they were in talks with Lancaster Bombers for another varsity game. Jamie says: ‘They don’t really fancy playing us.’ Stuart adds: ‘We beat them pretty convincingly over the past couple of years.’ He ranks the 32-6 victory against
Lancaster in week �ive as his highlight of the season. ‘Beating Lancaster is a great feeling every time,’ he said. ‘We got a lot of people down on the sidelines supporting us. We beat them quite convincingly as well. They are a really good team but we managed to pull it off. It was brilliant.’ Tom Greggan
Spinners’ ultimate accolade THE ultimate frisbee team at the University of Central Lancashire has been nominated for the higher/further education team of the year award. The UCLan Spinners will find out if they have won the Preston Sports award, held by Preston City Council, on Friday, March 13. They were nominated after finishing tenth in the senior men’s competition, as well as winning the West Coast Cup with a mixed team with almost no preuniversity experience. Tom Daly, UCLan’s captain, said: ‘I’m extremely proud. We’ve put a lot of effort off the pitch raising the profile of the club and it’s paid off on the pitch, too.’ Anthony Gilmour
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