Pi Magazine, Issue 715 - Fresh

September 2016 Issue 715

WHAT HAPPENED Trump vs CAFFEINE: GRATITUDE UCL CUT THE TO STATE OF THE hillary: TO DRINK OR JOURNALS: SHOULD RENT CAMPAIGN: NATION NOVELS? A hard choice TO DITCH? YOU KEEP ONE? what happened?

Letter I

from the

Editors

t’s the start of a new year and everything seems to be changing. You’ve got a new year ahead of you, perhaps your first year at University, and as much as you look at what’s familiar, you know this year will be different. Here at Pi, everything seems sparkly and new too. We’ve got new section editors (have a look at the back pages to get to know them) a brand new issue of Pi (the seven hundred and fifteenth: believe it or not we’re seventy-one years old), new ambitions (we’re aiming to give you at least five magazines this year rather than the normal four issues a year!), and new editors-in-chief (that’s us, if you wondered).

We wanted to come at Pi this year from an innovative angle to allow everyone from our contributors and writers, to our photographers and designers to explore something new in the magazine.

With all this in mind, and a bit of drizzle in the slowly cooling air, finding a theme for this issue was easy: fresh. Fresh ideas, fresh perspectives, and—excuse the pun—freshers.

Pi Magazine is all about UCL – we want the things in it to reflect what interests UCL students and to engage with our little part of London. We hope that reading about these things from fresh points of view is as exciting for you as it was for us to write them. From a debate on student satisfaction (pp. 6-7) if you want to know what people are saying about the uni experience, or if knowing the true effects of the intense amount of caffeine in a student diet is more your cup of tea (pp. 18-19), to the London wide discussions of a post-Brexit London (pp. 14-15) or even a listical on where to go—and what to do—when the parents visit (pp. 28-29), this issue of Pi has something for everyone.

Also, we’d like to re-introduce our MUSE section – the arts and culture sections found in the latter half of this issue. MUSE showcases some of the best and brightest events London has to offer, nicely condensed for your reading pleasure. The Tate’s new exhibitions are explored (pp.

34-35) and the up-and-coming band Algiers are interviewed by one of our own student writers (pp. 36-37).

As always we’d like to thank everyone who has worked tirelessly over the summer to put this freshers issue of Pi together, it’s no small feat and it’s been accomplished brilliantly. To readers new and old, welcome or welcome back and we hope you find something fresh in Issue 715 of Pi.

Pi

Beatrix Willimont and Nancy Heath Editors-in-Chief 2016-17

Magazine’s been around for a while. It’s UCL’s oldest publication having been started back in 1946. Since then Pi’s expanded with the digital age - with PiOnline and PiTV spreading the Pi love across different mediums and making it easier for students to interact with it. Here in your hands is our 715th issue.

Enjoy - and respect your elders - we’re seventy-one years young.

Content Comment 4

Stiff Upper Lip 6

Student Dissatisfaction Features 7

Cut the Rent 12 BBC Charter Renewal

Politics 14 Post-Brexit London 16 Clinton vs. Trump Science & Technology 18 Caffeine 20 Scientific Walking Tour Sports 22 The Era of the Underdog 24 The Price of Being a Fan Travel 26 Low Cost Student Travel 28 When the Parents Visit Lifestyle 30 Veganism 32 Gratitude Journal MUSE Arts & Culture 34 Tate Performance Spaces 36 Interview with ALGIERS 38 Rise of the Remakes 40 State of the Nation Novels 42

Editorial Team

Stiff Upper Lip

Pi Magazine 715 |Comment

Daniel Klien Gives his take on the reaction to brexit

It seems Remain’s smart bit of branding – casting themselves as the sole possessors of ‘fact’ and ‘expertise’, exasperatedly combatting Leave’s appeals to plebeian bigotry – was bought very-few-questions-asked.

This thinking appealed to the natural conceit of youth, always keen to believe our parents’, grandparents’, aunts’ and uncles’ greater experience of life counts for nothing.

O

n the morning of June 24th, quiet horror accompanied the realisation by entitled youth over the country that their ‘future’ had been ‘stolen’ from them.

The undignified nature of what came next can be attributed to decades of gross child-worship. Many upper-middle-class students, having been unduly lauded as remarkably ‘gifted’ their entire lives, found themselves shaken back to reality with a jolt. But never letting an opportunity for self-indulgence go to waste, they swiftly began a process of high-profile mourning for membership of an organisation they hadn’t expressed the least interest in until a few weeks before.

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For diplomacy’s sake, I’ll repeat the truism that there were ‘good arguments on both sides’. For some, this wasn’t so obvious. On learning that I intended to vote Leave, friends responded neither with horror nor neutrality, but with the mild bemusement of those who’ve discovered that someone they’d assumed was ‘one of them’ is actually an outsider, and a probable simpleton.

Scandalised Remainers’ caricature of their opponents reveals more about themselves than it does Leave supporters; in particular, the sneering contempt some have directed towards working-class and elderly voters. Too many on the Remain side have resorted to convenient myths like ‘Regrexit’ (the baseless assertion that Leave voters regret, or are soon to regret, their choice), or the conceit that witless Leavers were herded to the polls

by a sinister conspiracy, overseen by that omnipresent figure of leftist nightmares, Rupert Murdoch.

So what are the gripes some might harbour against the shining testament to human fellowship that is the European Union?

First off, those who initiate European legislation are not elected representatives of the European peoples, but 28 appointed commissioners. An essential component of real accountability, namely the fear of the ballot box, is absent. In this respect Europe functions like an intergovernmental organization, but one which has overstepped its bounds, presuming to legislate on behalf of its member states and adopt features of statehood for itself.

the EU’s problem runs far deeper than its many institutional shortcomings Yet the EU’s problem runs far deeper than its many institutional shortcomings. Whatever our bonds of friendship and trade, the peoples of Europe are not a true demos; we lack the shared political culture necessary to hold representative institutions to account. Positive public engagement with EU institutions remains pitiable.

The conservative response is to shape workable institutions to the needs and instincts of real people. The utopian

Comment | Pi Magazine 715 left’s approach is, and always has been, to forcibly mould people to its unfaultable institutions. Of course it is European electorates that have failed the EU, never the reverse.

During the campaign, the British delusion that the EU is merely a free-trade area, whose institutional processes we can afford to ignore, was finally laid to rest. The EU has always limited our ability to trade freely with the extra-European world. Its intrusions into British domestic policy and law are blatant, and its appropriation of an independent foreign policy simply dangerous.

Until recently, Britain refused to recognise that the adoption of the euro by nineteen of the EU’s twenty-eight member states, and the deepening political integration it necessitated, meant the end of our vision for Europe. Instead we deluded ourselves that we could have, in David Cameron’s phrase, “the best of both worlds”. Today, only Britain and Denmark have a permanent veto on joining the euro-area – what influence can two sustain against the shared interests of twenty-six?

with one of the few significant democratic endorsements they are ever likely to receive - a vote not just for the status-quo, but a blank cheque for decades to come? Should we accept the primacy of the European Court of Justice over our own unique, historically-rooted system of law?

Contemporary student radicals maintain an affection for utopian clichés.

The EU was sold as an expression of ‘internationalism’, and for young leftists, defending it against the bigoted mob was an exercise in self-definition. What does it matter if that mob is largely a hallucination when the object of the exercise is not really to eliminate racism, but for us each to demonstrate our own personal godliness?

In reality the EU’s internationalist credentials are shaky at best. Its common external tariff is intended to exclude the goods of developing nations; surely a gross hypocrisy on the part of leftists, who supposedly want what is best for the extra-European world, to ignore this.

It is the dreary duty of us sceptics to drag the argument onto more solid turf. The British nation state has an appreciably better record in safeguarding its citizens’ rights and liberties than European, or indeed non-European, supra-national projects do.

The rancour among many Europhiles is that of a faction who feel their visionary solutions have been rejected by a backward, ungrateful electorate.

But the result delivered on June 23rd should actually instil greater confidence in us of the British electorate’s ability to see through the self-aggrandizing schemes of those who demonstrate that, in the words of Edmund Burke, “eloquence may exist without proportionable wisdom”. Our intelligentsia must regain an enthusiasm for democracy – it is a valuable corrective to their own mistakes.

Positive public In reality the EU’s engagement with internationalist EU institutions credentials are remains pitiable shaky at besT Had we remained, after decades of closer integration between the core EU states, Britain would inevitably have faced a further choice: adoption of the euro, the opportunity to play a ‘leading role’ in an emerging European state, or a far messier break-up than that which we are now embarking upon. Surely better to end Britain’s awkward entanglement with the EU now, as amicably as possible, than stay put as an obstructive, whinging passenger on a train we wandered onto half-by-accident in the first place.

The referendum demanded of us, then, not just consideration of our shortterm material self-interest, but questions of principle: Is our constitutional tradition worth safeguarding? Should we provide opaque EU institutions

It often asserted that despite its tangible flaws, the EU is ‘the future’ whilst British parliamentary democracy is ‘the past’. But must we subordinate our successful national institutions to unsatisfactory EU ones so that we can participate in a new, pan-European fight for democratic reform (democracy being the very thing we would erode at the national level by doing so)?

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Pi Magazine 715 | Comment

STUDENT

SATISFACTION

Beatrix Willimont wonders why UCL students are so dissatisfied with their time here

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A

rguably incredibly arbitrary, university rankings nevertheless play an important role in the world of academia. They affect how a university is perceived on a national and international level and therefore help determine the kind of person any given university attracts.

Chances are, such rankings affected your choice of university to some degree. As a UCL student specifically, you are probably eternally grateful for the existence of the QS world rankings because they don’t take student satisfaction into account. Therefore, UCL always manages to scrape into the top 10 of the world’s universities, allowing you to subtly brag to your parents, friends and strangers alike that you attend one of the ‘best’ universities on the planet.

UCL always manages to scrape into the top 10 of the world’s universities The thing is, overall university rankings are rarely similar to rankings based purely on student satisfaction.

But why is there so much disparity between the quality of education provided and our contentedness with our institution? Fairly obviously, it comes down to our academic experience being but a part of the overall university experience. Your lecturer could be the world leader in your subject, but if you can’t find a seat in the library to write the essay for their course, and they then take over a month to mark it, and the feedback is dismal, how satisfied are you going to be? As regretful as it is, universities, like all educational establishments, are there to provide a service. But education is also a right.

Herein lies the key issue with paying for your education. If you are spending money, one tends to assume that you are entitled to a say in what is provided for you. If you are not satisfied, you have the right to be, and to demand change, because, you

Comment| Pi Magazine 715 are paying. But problems arise when students expect consumer rights and assume they are there to be served, rather than be taught. The ‘I am here to learn’ mindset is arguably very incompatible with the ‘I am here to be served’ mindset. With the government currently wanting to increase fees even further, this problem only stands to get worse. In a recent Guardian article, a professor reported that students protested at their refusal to extend a deadline by arguing that they were paying them and therefore their demanded extensions should obviously be granted. How can one teach when their authority is being undermined by the assumption that they are in it for the money? This point raises the question, because we now pay exuberant amounts of cash for a university degree, can we, and should we, behave like customers?

because we now pay exuberant amounts of cash for a university degree, can we, and should we, behave like customers?

So now consider this. What are your professors and tutors there for? To provide a service primarily to academia, to the university, or to you, the student? Is it all three equally?

Then who serves them? A university is a complex organism with many, hopefully symbiotic, parts. Everyone is there to further knowledge. You are there to acquire knowledge so that you may make a contribution to the world afterwards or even during. The thing is, the academics you come into contact with don’t make extra money because you are paying to be there. In fact, the university doesn’t even make significant amounts of extra money now compared to before. What us fee paying students are doing is nothing

but footing a bill that used to be paid by the government. Most universities are about as equally wealthy now than they were before. So when you are annoyed that you are amassing a huge debt in order to earn your degree, remember you only have governmental policy to blame. Your satisfaction shouldn’t be affected by the fact that you are paying, because that you are paying seemingly doesn’t have much to do with your university.

Overall, UCL students are definitely not satisfied Back to UCL student satisfaction. UCL students have reported themselves satisfied with their courses, much more so than overall satisfaction.

Overall, UCL students are definitely not satisfied. Several students have said that according to them, many London universities score so poorly in satisfaction because when you are living in London your university simply isn’t the be all and end all of your existence. London is arguably the best city in the world in terms of opportunities for young people.

London inevitably trumps your university in terms of what it contributes to your overall life. When you study in London, chances are that your bar of choice isn’t the student bar. Your favorite study spot is probably in a café simply because London plays host to a myriad of brilliant cafés and the library in contrast is dismal and they don’t bring coffee to your table.

So really, the QS rankings may have it right. The quality of the academia being done, and the quality of your course is what matters. You are here to learn, UCL is here to teach. Perhaps we shouldn’t hate on our university so much for trying to compete and keep up with London’s ever expanding coffee scene by opening a dozen coffee outlets on campus. Maybe they’re just trying to fit in and keep us around?

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Pi Magazine 715 | Features

Cut The Ren A Guide to understanding Adil Sait charts the life of the UCL ‘Cut the Rent’ campaign

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ent: g a UCL campaign

Features | Pi Magazine 715

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Pi Magazine 715 | Features

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or any student moving to London, finding a decent place to stay in the capital is often at the front of their mind. While the housing crisis is a common challenge for all Londoners, students at London’s universities have been acutely affected by the rise in rent over the last few years. It’s from this that UCL’s ‘Cut the Rent’ campaign has emerged with an ongoing agenda of challenging the living conditions and rent paid by current UCL students.

Most recently, on the 24 June 2016, an agreement was reached between UCL, UCLU and the ‘Cut the Rent’ campaign (UCL-CTR) to end the rent strike that’s been going on since January this year.

Yet questions remain as to what this all means and what the future holds for populist student movements such as UCL’s ‘Cut the Rent’.

London’s housing crisis has been the result of the policies of successive British governments. Since the mid-1970s, when the industrial decline of Britain’s cities became a major issue, changing governmental attitudes meant a paradigm shift in dealing with housing.

Thatcherism and the deregulation of the British planning system meant local authorities in the public sector, which was then a major housing provider, stopped housing completion programmes while ‘right to buy’ reduced the social housing stock. In addition, the abolition of the Greater London Council (GLC) between 1986 and 1997 resulted in an ad-hoc approach to London’s governance. While Thatcherites believed that the private sector would deal with the demand for housing the barriers to house building, both public and private, meant that this goal was not achieved. The result was a housing crisis that was waiting to explode as London’s population grew exponentially, all looking for somewhere to live.

Since the early 2000s house prices in London have risen substantially.

Rebranding as a ‘global city’ led to increased foreign investment in the London property market by wealthy individuals from other more unstable

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countries. Much housing that would otherwise have been used by Londoners were developed by the private sector to meet the growing foreign demand for housing in London, a situation worsened by the financial crisis of 2008. Neither Ken Livingstone nor Boris Johnson were able to deal with this crisis as Mayor of London, and it is yet to be seen whether Sadiq Khan can fulfill his pledge to change the woeful situation of London’s housing market.

This has led to an interconnected urban problem that has impacted on a wide range of individuals. If the ‘winners’ of housing prices have been London homeowners, the ‘losers’ have been those who rent, including students at London’s universities.

“UCL quietly but quickly increased rent prices to an average of £180 per week” It is in this background that the UCL ‘Cut the Rent’ campaign has emerged.

Over the last year it has gained support for a change in student rent in UCL Halls and student accommodation, where the change in rent has in some cases has been seen to be dramatic over the last few years. Largely, there has been a divergence in opinions between UCLU members and the UCL management team. This has been fueled by the increase in tuition fees since 2010, which has led to more pressure on students staying in UCL accommodation, who expect more out of student housing.

In an article for the Guardian in May 2016, Angus O’Brien, a member of the UCL ‘Cut the Rent’ campaign argued that the situation has been far from equitable:

“In the years following the higher education reforms of 2010, UCL quietly but quickly increased rent prices to an average of £180 per week – £7,200 for this academic year […] it is in this context that the sudden spreading of rent strikes across the capital can be understood. By taking the first steps into the unknown, students at UCL have laid a template for action across the country and in doing so, they make themselves and others stronger.”

What this position shows is the strength of feeling in the ‘Cut the Rent’ argument, linked to a wider debate over the ‘cost of living crisis’ that has propelled figures such as Sadiq Khan, into the political limelight over the past year.

Since the start of the campaign in January 2016, it has gradually escalated and built a large amount of support with a variety of methods and a clear goal – to get UCL Estates to ‘Cut the Rent’ by 40%. Demonstrations, the withholding of rent and a prominent media campaign involving national newspapers such as the Independent and the Guardian have all raised the profile of the campaign both within UCL and on a national level. Yet a greater challenge has been realizing the ambitions of the campaign and negotiating with UCL management.

In January 2016 a UCL press release outlined UCL’s commitment to deal with the challenges of balancing rental income and student needs: “While we understand the concerns around the cost of accommodation in London, it is inaccurate to suggest that UCL is making a profit for the university. All of the money that UCL receives in rent is ploughed back into residences. While the proportions may vary year to year, we invariably spend more on residences than we receive in rental income.”

It reveals the sincerity of UCL to its role as an institution, and gives an entirely different view of the debate that can often be over looked. UCL does run both surpluses and deficits in its

Features | Pi Magazine 715

rent, and UCL Estates has maintained its position that it is committed to providing adequate accommodation. Yet one thing is clear: student expectations have not been the same as that of the university in regards to the issue of rent, especially as the discourse surrounding students has shifted from being about simply education to students as customers and universities as businesses. This shift that started with the introduction of tuition fees in 1998 under New Labour has become more pronounced in recent years and is a major part of the divide over UCL’s student accommodation.

UCL is making a profit for the university The agreement between UCL, UCLU and the ‘Cut the Rent campaign’ (UCLCTR) to end the rent strike has changed the way we might view these different positions on the debate over student housing in London. The compromise has been simple: UCL has committed to a review of its policies and several reforms, while the ‘Cut the Rent’ campaign has called off its rent strike.

Yet, the challenge of what this actually means in terms of changes to student accommodation is yet to be settled.

Potentially it raises some important questions. For the ‘Cut the Rent’ campaign this includes questions surrounding what a student-led campaign can achieve, and what outcomes may be acceptable to those who join such campaigns. For UCL the dilemma is primarily about what it can and cannot concede to student opinion, and the fine line between public access and accountability and astute financial decision-making essential to the running of universities like UCL.

Despite this, the issues surrounding the ‘Cut the Rent’ campaign have much broader implications. Its relative success or failure to meet its goals has far reaching consequences for similar movements with different aims. For example, it remains to be seen what the impact will be for campaigns such that of ‘Fossil Free UCL’, which has called for the divestment of UCL from extractive industries and oil companies.

While probably most supporters of the ‘Cut the Rent’ campaign will accept the words of Angus O’Brien, the UCLU Halls Accommodation Representative from the Cut the Rent campaign, who argued for the agreement.

“It is unlikely that concerns regarding access to education at UCL, as well as across London and beyond, will be entirely addressed in the short-term. Today’s announcement is a welcome step forward in ensuring higher education becomes more accessible to students from all backgrounds.”

No doubt there will be a few unhappy that their situation has not changed and that UCL has not entirely changed its rental policy to suit the ‘Cut the Rent’ agenda. Despite this, the change s have been positive. What the next step may be lies with the student activists and campaigners from the ‘Cut the Rent’ campaign. There is a clear choice: either all momentum could be lost or the campaign may metamorphosis into something else with a new objective.

Either way the agreement reached with UCL marks a turning point in the history of ‘Cut the Rent’ and other UCL campaigns. Though its legacy may only be realised in years to come, the implications of ‘Cut the Rent’ are a clear progressive vision for universities and students with a message to both sides to listen to each other’s arguments. There are no clear solutions, only undefined grey areas in which agreements can be reached. What the current agreement shows is a willingness on both sides to reach a clear consensus.

There are no clear solutions, only undefined grey areas UCL students must be proud of campaigns such as ‘Cut the Rent’ which provide a statement about the engagement of students in the discourse of a global city. The sentiments of students moving to London’s universities such as UCL are transforming the city’s landscape as well as the institutional landscape of universities like UCL. The question of where to live has never been a more difficult one. It asks of us what we what from our lives, and what ‘Cut the Rent’ shows us is the ability of people to make their voices heard. This can be seen not just in ‘Cut the Rent’, but also other events, such as the election of Sadiq Khan as Mayor of London. It is this sense of democracy that makes a difference in the lives of Londoners and gives, its university students in particular, a distinct public voice in dealing with the immense challenges such as housing. Yet vilification of UCL management is problematic. Rather, looking back on the successes and failures of ‘Cut the Rent’ we must realise that UCL is a complex institution. Defined by both students and management the way forward requires mutual co-operation on all sides.

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B BC

Pi Magazine 715 | Features

CHARTER RENEWAL

T

LIAM FITT ASKS “IS DIVERSITY ENSHRINED?”

here’s something both beautiful and special about the BBC. Since its formation in 1922, it has held a unique role in British society. As an organisation it has taken on numerous roles and guises: as a news outlet, an innovator of technology and a patron of the arts. Its founding principles, set out in royal charter, remain integral: the promotion of education and learning and promoting creativity for the benefit of its viewers. In 2017, the BBC’s charter is set to be updated raising questions about how it faces the challenges of the twenty-first century.

One of the major challenges for the BBC has been dealing with cultural shifts in British society. Though a radio broadcaster since the 1920s, the shift to television in the 1950s changed the BBC’s approach to culture and British identity. As Britain has become more diverse and multicultural in the decades since the end of the British Empire, the changing representation of Britain has become a priority. This issue has once more been thrown into view with the charter renewal process as the BBC seeks to diversify both on and off screen.

As Culture secretary in the Cameron administration, John Whittingdale MP presented reform of the BBC’s cultural diversity as having the utmost importance. In a statement to the House of

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Commons on 12 May 2016 he argued: ‘For the first time, diversity will be enshrined in the new Charter’s public purposes.’

The BBC faces a catch-22 For many, the move towards greater diversity is welcome. Shows such as ‘The Mighty Boosh’ may not nearly acquire the same ratings as ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ or ‘The Voice’, but their artistry sheer genius is undeniable. They emphasise the BBC as the home of innovative production, while championing cultural narrative. Ranging from gems such as Blackadder to the recent adaption of Shakespeare’s history plays in ‘The Hollow Crown’, which depicts the War of the Roses, it hints at the creative standard of the BBC. By always taking risks as with the creation of Doctor Who in 1963, the BBC has maintained a great consistency for television drama.

However, funding has always been a contentious issue and is at the heart of the charter renewal debate. The license fee model used by the BBC dates back

to the Wireless Telegraphy Act (1904) allowing government to regulate radio transmissions. Though the details of the BBC’s agreement with government have changed since the 1920s, this principle has not, despite the advent of online platforms such as BBC iplayer and the decline of traditional television. This has meant long-term reform is inevitable. Yet what these changes may look like has been a part of the ongoing negotiations.

It is easy these days to say that the BBC is flawed and has lost its vision The BBC faces a catch-22 as it deals with competition as well as financial pressures. On one hand it could introduce payment for Video on Demand services. This may put it into competition with companies such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and others, and may

Features| Pi Magazine 715

undermine the BBC’s commitment to equal access to its services for user groups such as students. Yet, on the other hand the corporation may increasingly struggle against their larger competitors due to underfunding if changes are not made, in which case innovative programmes may not be produced.

No change seems immediate as the present renewal-licensing fee is set to remain. However, the requirement of a license to watch BBC iplayer is part of measures being taken to reduce the cost to the BBC of this technological shift. Furthermore, the cost of licenses is set to rise to meet future inflation. This means that for those who rely upon tablet, phone or computer usage instead, the requirement to pay for what was until now a free resource may be a bitter pill.

These changes hope to make the BBC more accountable to government scrutiny In previous renewals the corporation has extended the license fee, so their doing so now is nothing new. Its also not an entirely one-sided move: as part of this, their backing of new technologies such as DAB radio in the past has been of instrumental importance in the rapid technological advancement and changing access to information. Alongside this, pensioners have benefited as well since anyone over 75 won’t have to pay for their license fees. This shows the BBC’s commitment to ease of access to its services.

Despite this, many MPs have voiced their concern over these plans; especially since the overhaul of the current BBC structure could well be a move towards a more state- controlled corporation. Fears are that the credibility of the BBC as a neutral organisation would be undermined if it had to bow to government pressures.

As the Guardian has reported, under the new plans the government would be able to appoint up to six members onto a new unitary board. Yet, John Whittingdale MP as Culture secretary emphasised how the role of the unitary board would not be to interfere with any ‘editorial decision-making’.

“For the first time, diversity will be enshrined in the new Charter’s public purposes” It is easy these days to say that the BBC is flawed and has lost its vision, and in striving to retain its independence it shall always face financial and political conundrums. However, as Theresa May’s government continues the reform agenda the BBC continues with thoughts proposed and changes made. Hopefully the BBC shall always retain its foundational values. It has come a long way from its foundation in radio broadcasting in 1922, the introduction of television in the 1950s and the shift towards digital in the last decade. It has been, and always shall one thing – visionary.

The neutrality of the BBC is another issue raised in the charter renewal process. Profound changes are occurring in the structure of how the corporation is to be run, with an overhaul of the BBC Trust system. One of the plans to be implemented by the Culture secretary is the restructuring of the governance system of the BBC, with Ofcom to be brought in as a new external regulator.

Furthermore, the BBC will also be subject to financial auditing from the National Audit Office (NAO). These changes hope to make the BBC more accountable to government scrutiny.

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Pi Magazine 715 | Politics

Post-Brexit Britain: Does London Stand Alone?

Hayley spore contemplates what is next for our pro-EU capital in our pro-Brexit country

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n June 23rd Britain ignored the advice of Westminster politicians and voted to leave the European Union, plunging the UK into the political unknown. We watched as Cameron stood down, Boris and Gove imploded, Labour split and Farage made a pantomime speech in the EU Parliament which had the health commissioner face-palming behind him (we know how you feel, mate). It seemed like a straightforward yes/no question with two possible outcomes, but it soon emerged the referendum was not about the UK’s place in the EU. We were deciding what kind of country we wanted Britain to be.

The tight 52% to 48% vote resulted in a sharply divided country. Rifts began to emerge: young vs. old, metropolitan vs. rural, opposing opinions within parties, talk of ‘Frexits’ between friends voting Leave and friends voting Remain.

Long before the referendum the country was gearing up to fall out, and since Leave won the uproar of Remain voters against Brexiteers has only escalated.

Fault lines opened up between London and other English areas – London voted overwhelming-

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ly to remain, whereas large rural areas were where leave gained its winning votes. The highest vote to leave was the West Midlands [NH2] with 59.11% voting for Brexit. In our beloved London 59.94% voted to remain. Perhaps elsewhere in the UK the referendum was not just about the EU, but about a metropolitan elite telling them what to do and rebelling against it. Or is London simply more accepting of those living here from other countries? I had hoped the whole of the UK would be.

Now in a divided Britain, striving for unity is key Many others in London shared my shock and disappointment – the week after the referendum a “Stand Together” rally in London was organised. Fifty thousand people were expected to attend to show that ‘London stands with Europe’. Unfortunately the number of people exceeded Trafalgar Square’s limit by a whopping forty thousand, so the event was cancelled. It is a testament to the strong pro-EU feeling in London that people still turned up.

One point of hope for London, however, is our new Mayor.

Sadiq Khan saw a boost in the polls after his first two months in office, but his new post has so far been dwarfed by the EU referendum.

This is not such a terrible thing: he has shown himself to be an inclusive, calm leader. Khan said he wanted to “send a clear message to the British people and to businesses

Politics| Pi Magazine 715

and investors around the world [...]: there is no need to panic” showing strong resolve and a will to work to get London a seat at the table during the negotiations. But in the wake of increased hate crime, uncertainty and doubt, Khan’s mantra of “hope over fear” that won him the mayoral victory needs to be truer now than ever. On June 24th he addressed the one million Europeans living in London and told them “you are welcome here”. It’s a start, and when values of unity and respect seem to be coming apart we need many more approaches like Khan’s.

Or perhaps, President Khan? After the vote for Brexit and the general dismay in London it caused, a petition calling for Sadiq Khan to declare London an independent state was signed by over 180,000 people. The introduction reads: “London is an international city, and we want to remain at the heart of Europe. Let’s face it – the rest of the country disagrees. So rather than passive-aggressively voting against each other at every election, let’s make the divorce official and move in with our friends on the continent.” It’s tempting – London is arguably the epicentre of the UK and there is apparently a widespread feeling in the lands beyond the M25 that London has a globalising agenda that, to many, seemingly disregards the ‘quintessentially British’ way of life.

We say that what’s done is done, and the referendum can’t be rerun.

less, due to the popularity of the petition, the subject had to be debated in Parliament.

A second referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU is clearly unlikely to happen. However, voters do have the right to vote on the exit package negotiated between the UK and EU before Article 50 is triggered. This means that, in the interests of democracy, the UK could have another referendum to choose between accepting the exit package on offer and remaining in the EU.

But it won’t happen. Although jumping into the political unknown is the trend of the year, an independent London is one jump too far. Besides, in a divided Britain, striving for unity is now key, and that’s what Khan is all about.

One jump that was temporarily up for discussion, however, was a second EU referendum. More than 4 million people signed a petition calling for a rerun of the EU referendum following the Brexit vote. The petition states that if the winning Remain or Leave vote is less than 60% based on a turnout of less than 75% then there should be another referendum. 52% of votes were in favour of Brexit and the national turnout for the referendum was 72% - meetingboth conditions of the petition.

A crucial detail is that the referendum was advisory – it is not binding on the government, though while Cameron was still Prime Minister he was quick to rule out a second referendum: he said that holding another vote was “not remotely on the cards”. Speaking to LBC radio in July, Khan also dismissed a second referendum because it would “lead to cynicism” about the voters’ say in the matter—a fair point. Neverthe-

A referendum on our exit package is a surely a different thing entirely?

Owen Smith, who is challenging Jeremy Corbyn for the Labour leadership, has said that a second referendum is tempting. We say that what’s done is done, and the referendum can’t be rerun. But in the interests of begrudged London voters, a referendum on our exit package is a surely a different thing entirely?

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Pi Magazine 715 | Politics

Trump vs. Clinton Who gets your vote?

John Bilton pits donald Trump against hillary Clinton, for arguments sake

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ssuming that you’ve snagged yourself a vote in the upcoming US presidential election (and why not? you’re a wily UCL student), you’d be faced with a stark choice come November: vote for ‘crooked Hillary’, the embodiment of a political insider with, as everyone knows, ties to the big banks and evil corporations that we students uniformly detest? Or vote for Donald Trump, a self-made billionaire real estate magnate (he started out with just his wits and “a small loan of $1 million” from his father) who wants to build a wall between America and Mexico and who blames female journalists’ menstrual cycles for their dislike of him.

Luckily for you, Pi is here to help.

We’ve applied our analytical minds to the problem and have come up with a deep and thorough examination of the two candidates and as many policies as we could fit on two pages. Read on.

So firstly, who are they anyway?

Hillary Clinton: The Democrat nominee for President, Secretary Clinton graduated Yale Law School in 1973.

Married to Bill Clinton in 1975.

She co-founded Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families in 1977 and as First Lady paid special attention t o children’s

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and women’s issues, stating the truth that “women’s rights are human rights” in a speech to the UN in 1995. She was elected in 2000 as the first female Senator for New York and later served as Secretary of State for the Obama administration 2009-2013. Without a doubt one of the most qualified and experienced candidates ever to run for the Presidency, she is still not without controversy: as Senator she voted to approve the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, and more recently came under fire for using a private email account as Secretary for State.

Donald Trump: The Republican nominee for POTUS is Mr Donald Trump. He studied economics at the University of Pennsylvania before, in 1973 assuming control of his fathers re-

al-estate business Mr Trump has built skyscrapers, casinos, hotels etc., some of which made money, some of which tanked. He’s been accused of bullying tactics, and the ghostwriter of his 1987 book ‘The Art of the Deal’ recently labelled him a “sociopath”. He’s flip-flopped on numerous policies, often taking whichever course is convenient at the time, and has been registered as both a Republican and a Democrat. A thin-skinned reality television star, he has built his candidacy on free media coverage of the many, many reprehensible statements he makes almost daily about women, minorities, the disabled, foreigners, etc.

Mr Trump wants to start a trade war with China, India, Vietnam, Mexico – The Issue: Gun Control Secretary Clinton aims to continue the (so far ineffectual) efforts of the Obama administration to increase gun con-

Politics| Pi Magazine 715 trol in the US – a gargantuan task, opposed by the National Rifle Association (NRA), one of the US’s most powerful lobbyists. Her nominee for Vice President, Tim Kaine, should help her in this: a former Governor of Virginia and the proud holder of an ‘F’ rating from the NRA (meaning they hate him), Kaine closed various loopholes in Virginia state law that allowed those who failed background checks to still buy guns.

Mr Trump, on the other hand, supports the expansion of gun rights – he wants to eliminate prohibitions on assault rifles, military-style weapons and other murderous armaments. His running mate, Mike Pence, is similarly pro-gun: last year as Governor of Indiana Pence signed into law a bill which limited lawsuits against firearm manufacturers. Pence has an ‘A’ rating from the NRA (they love this guy).

The Issue: Immigration Undoubtedly one of the most important issues in America at the moment: there are roughly 11 million unregistered immigrants in the country, many of whom who work hard but pay no taxes and live in constant fear of deportation (which makes them easy targets for the unscrupulous). Secretary Clinton wants to continue the work of the Obama administration, making it easier for unregistered immigrants – or at least their children – to “come out of the shadows” and work towards citizenship. A hostile Republican congress has so far opposed any serious immigration reform, and that looks unlikely to change any time soon even if they Democrats win back the house, so she’d have to rely on her Executive Powers and vetos to do good.

Mr Trump wants to build a wall to keep out the Mexicans. And make Mexico pay for it. He also wants to create a task force to round up every undocumented immigrant

and expel them. Whether he’ll actually manage to do this is another matter, but that’s beside the point by now, isn’t it?

The Issue: Climate Change Secretary Clinton calls climate change “an urgent threat and a defining challenge of our time”. She plans to invest in clean energy infrastructure and manufacturing, and reduce American oil consumption by a third.

Mr Trump reckons climate change is a hoax, “created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive”.

That’s it. He’s said very little else about it. It’s probably quite hard to insult an abstract concept.

And the Other Issues?

Secretary Clinton, as you’ve probably deduced from this, is keen on portraying herself as the inheritor of President Obama’s legacy.

Obama himself has called her his political heir. It’s a clever move on their part: after 25 years of frontline politics Clinton is deeply unpopular, while Obama’s approval rating is over 50 percent (actually pretty hard to maintain.) It’s probably

a fair assessment to say that once in office, President Clinton would continue to try and expand Obamacare, push for immigration reform, etc. That would be no bad thing.

It is also worth considering Secretary Clinton’s experience as First Lady and Secretary of State. She has extensive experience dealing with important issues of state, and of meeting presidents, prime ministers and sheiks. If there’s anyone genuinely qualified to assume the mantle of President, it’s her. Plus, both she and her husband would be called ‘President Clinton’. That’s a whole 3 skits for the Cheese Grater right there.

Mr Trump wants to start a trade war with China, India, Vietnam, Mexico – essentially, the non-whites.

He has also expressed support for Vladimir Putin, and urged Russian hackers, via Twitter, to hack Secretary Clinton’s emails during the DNC. Also, his policy line on the military on his website is: “I will make our Military so big, powerful and strong that no one will mess with us”. That, and a 30-second video showing an aircraft carrier, is it. The same is pretty much true for all his other policy videos. Finally, his hair is probably fake (whereas Hillary’s is majestic).

So, it’s Clinton right?

You’ve got to vote for Clinton. She’s experienced, tough and (whatever her opponents say) has a genuine desire to help people.

Trump is a racist, sexist, xenophobe who advocates protectionism and waterboarding. As Michael Bloomberg said: “let’s elect a sane, competent person”.

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Pi Magazine 715 |science & Tech

Feeling Fresh:

s e g a r e v e B l a i c i f e Ben

Pavan Bhatia asks, “is caffeine really our friend?”

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affeine is a stimulant. You can dump as much fancy syrup and steamed milk in your coffee as you like, but the fact is, you’re still consuming a drug. Sure, I don’t usually ask guests whether they’d like a cup of 1, 3, 7-Trimethylxanthine when they visit my house, but that’s just basic etiquette. Is our consumption of caffeine actually good for us? Or is our daily cuppa a detriment to our health? Maybe I should just switch to kale smoothies (eugh, just joking).

Cognitive effects Many people consume caffeine because of the perceived cognitive benefits. Studies have shown that caffeine consumption improves alertness and reduces feelings of fatigue especially when the individual has low alertness already. It is believed that caffeine does this through the antagonism of central adenosine receptors. Adenosine works as a neuromodulator in the central nervous system- and has sedative like properties, reducing arousal and promoting sleep. So having a morning coffee is actually a good idea if you are still half asleep and you’ve got a pesky 9am lecture. Additionally, if you’re on the road and sleepy, then having a coffee could definitely reduce your risk of accidents.

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There is a growing association between consumption of coffee and a lower risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease It is, however, debatable as to whether caffeine can enhance cognitive performance when someone is given high cognitive loads. If you’ve got an exam and are already feeling quite awake, many studies suggest that you skip the red bull as it won’t improve your exam performance, only guarantee you a loo break*. One study found that when compared to water and a placebo, caf-

feine had no effect whatsoever on cognitive performance. Interestingly, another suggests that caffeine facilitates learning tasks when information is presented passively, but not when the individual is learning things intentionally. Many studies agree that caffeine is cognitively beneficial in less complex tasks, when the individual is in a ‘low arousal state’; but it is not helpful to someone who is already feeling awake and is trying to achieve more complex tasks. Unfortunately, caffeine is not a substitute for revision. I mean, you can stop reading this now if you like. Get back to your real work.

But wait! Caffeine consumption won’t turn you into Sherlock Holmes (he wears a silly hat anyway so don’t worry) but there is growing evidence that it prevents cognitive decline. More research is needed, but there is a growing association between consumption of coffee and a lower risk of developing Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. In one study, drinking 3-5 cups of coffee daily at ‘midlife’ is associated with a decreased risk of Dementia/Alzheimer’s by 65% at ‘late life’. As we are all living longer and these diseases are becoming a more prevalent problem, this is extremely relevant to today’s society- and the UK’s aging population. I’m not promising miracles; more

Science & Tech | Pi Magazine 715 prevalent caffeine consumption probably couldn’t have prevented the EU referendum result**, but it’s a start.

Mood Now that we’ve mentioned the EU referendum- if you’re feeling low about current UK politics and general world angst- then it might be worth having a cup of coffee or tea. Caffeine has been shown to have some positive effects on mood. It reduces self-rated depression in low doses, at least for some, and may even reduce anxiety when taken in low doses. Be careful though, because high doses of caffeine may make you more anxious. If you take a single dose of caffeine above 300mg, then it will probably make you very anxious and jittery. This is an unrealistically large dose for most people*** but if you are already suffering from anxiety, then caffeine will make it worse, and it’s probably best to stick to chamomile tea. ‘Caffeinism’- when individuals have an extremely high caffeine intake of about 1000mg to 1500mg of caffeine - is said have symptoms that are ‘virtually indistinguishable’ from anxiety.

Interestingly, consumption behavior of caffeine is thought to have a high heritability (30%-77%) as revealed in twin studies. It might be worth asking your evil twin how much caffeine they consume- and if it’s similar to you.

Cardiovascular Disease and Caffeine When considering the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its association with caffeine, we have to understand that it’s complicated. Yes, caffeine is in a complicated relationship with CVD; you can look it up on Facebook. Different studies have come to different conclusions as to whether caffeine consumption increases or decreases risk of CVD. Some reports have suggested that there is a protective effect associated with a moderate intake of coffee (1-2 cups daily). Others believe that caffeine consumption poses a greater risk for CVD only in those that are already susceptible to the disease.

Looking at the genetics of individuals is also important in understanding whether caffeine consumption may increase someone’s risk of developing CVD. By using gene markers, scientists have realized that individuals with a certain gene variant may be slower at metabolising caffeine, and therefore have an increased risk of developing CVD from intake of caffeine compared to the faster metabolisers. The gene, CYP1A2, codes for an enzyme that accounts for over 95% of overall caffeine clearance from the blood plasma. Different individuals have different variants of this gene, which may be why your mate can outdrink and out-metabolise you when it comes to black coffee (I can already hear ‘down it fresher’ being chanted in the distance.)

Caffeine Conclusions We’ve established some of the pros and cons of having your daily mocha. But I wouldn’t worry too much about your caffeine consumption, unless you’re suffering from caffeinism. In large doses, caffeine can be lethal, so it’s worth checking the labels of your drinks and thinking before you have that extra Red Bull. 400mg is the recommended daily limit! However, remember, everybody is different when it comes to caffeine, so most importantly, just do what feels right. *Yes, Caffeine stimulates urine production! **No offence intended. ***surveys have suggested that the average American consumed about 176mg/day in 2010, so 300mg is an awful lot more than that.

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Pi Magazine 715 |science & Tech

SCIENTIFIC LONDON:

a do-it-yourself walking tour Imogen Malpas highlights sites of scientific discovery around london

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ew to London? Love science?

These questions are irrelevant, because even if you’ve lived here your entire life and can’t tell one end of a molecule from the other, this mini-tour of places of scientific interest in London is guaranteed* to teach you things that will come in useful at your local pub quiz*. *Results not guaranteed.

Nuclear fission Russell Square/Southampton Row Although most of us are more likely to be concentrating on not getting run over when we step off the pavement onto Russell Square, when Leo Szilard stepped off that pavement in 1933 he discovered the nuclear chain reaction.

12 years before the atomic bomb, Szilard had envisioned the possibility of hurling neutrons at an element that would then release more neutrons, causing the unstoppable chain reaction that would come to form the basis of nuclear fission. Unfortunately, the spot is marked only by the traffic light beside which Szilard was presumably

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standing as he waited to cross the road: so while we’re at it, the first traffic light in the world was installed in December 1868 by Westminster Bridge. Complete with waving semaphore arms and a policeman stationed full-time to operate it, the machine seemed a huge success – until it exploded, injuring its unsuspecting operator. The project was quickly abandoned, and the traffic light wouldn’t reappear on British roads to test the patience of pedestrians and motorists alike until 1926.

light, a method of intense lighting produced by directing an oxyhydrogen flame at a block of quicklime. Although the identity of its inventor is contested, London holds the definitive honour of being the first place in the world where limelight was used to illuminate an indoor production. The groundbreaking event took place in the heart of Covent Garden, within what is now the Royal Opera House. And yes, that is the origin of that mysterious phrase, ‘in the limelight’.

Limelight

Wireless telegraphy

Bow Street/Floral Street Going to the theatre in the early nineteenth century was, whether its proponents realised it or not, a pretty risky experience. The best available lighting at the time was the humble gas lamp, and since the light from one of those allowed you to just about read a book, a theatre had to be absolutely filled with them to make sure the audience could see what was going on: not exactly health-and-safety conscious, and resulting in more than a few fires with more than a few casualties. Enter lime-

Between Newgate Street/ St Martin’s Le Grand and Addle Hill/Carter Lane On 27 July 1896, an unknown Italian inventor named Guglielmo Marconi and his assistant sent messages skimming the ancient stone of St Paul’s Cathedral to demonstrate to the Post Office the potential of the new Marconi system, wireless telegraphy. The event is immortalised by a blue plaque that sits, rather appropriately, outside what

Science & Tech | Pi Magazine 715 is now the BT centre. Marconi went on to establish his own company, working on cross-Atlantic transmissions (previously thought impossible) as well as designing equipment to allow communication between ships and ports. As a thank you for his efforts, one ship invited Marconi and his family on board for its first ever trans-Atlantic voyage.

Marconi declined; days later the ship, RMS Titanic, would go down as the world’s most famous ocean liner for all the wrong reasons. But it was thanks to Marconi’s technology that anyone survived the most famous shipwreck in history. The two wireless operators were able to broadcast distress calls across the Atlantic, some of which were picked up by neighbouring ships that arrived to rescue many of thepassengers in lifeboats. And, thanks to Marconi, we have records of the first messages survivors sent to their families: one such message, with characteristic British understatement, reads ‘am well but slightly frozen’.

Modern chemotherapy Campden Hill Square Final stop: Campden Hill Square in Kensington, a modest park surrounded by eye-wateringly expensive townhouses. Although you won’t find any

blue plaques, it was here on an autumn afternoon in 1975 that Professor Hamilton Fairley was killed by an IRA bomb.

Intended for his neighbour, politician Sir Hugh Fraser, the bomb instead struck Fairley as he walked home. He was 45 years old.

combination chemotherapy resulted in a spike of treatment success rates Why is this relevant? Because Professor Fairley was Britain’s first professor of medical oncology. Along with his colleagues at St Bart’s Hospital, Fairley pioneered the concept of ‘combination chemo’, or using multiple chemotherapy drugs at once on a single patient.

This may seem like an obvious technique now, but in the 1970s it was revolutionary. Whereas patients had previously been subjected to one drug at a time, resulting in poor survival across the board, combination chemo resulted in such a spike in success rates that

even the doctors were shocked. At the time, medical oncology wasn’t even considered a specialism, but Fairley – never one to go along with the crowd – spent much of his career fighting for it to be recognised as an independent discipline, and for young doctors to be able to train as oncologists. And we’re lucky he did: since his death, cancer survival rates have doubled in the UK Although there isn’t enough space here to give them the detail they deserve, there are hundreds more sites of scientific interest in London. Arguably the most lifesaving breakthrough in modern medicine, penicillin, was discovered in a dirty basement that now belongs to Imperial College; the upstairs room of the shady-looking Bar Italia in Soho played host to the first, tentative, demonstration of television

by John Logie Baird; in the gardens of the William Morris society headquarters in Hammersmith, exactly 200 years ago, Sir Francis Ronalds looped eight miles of wire in circles to test his invention of the electric telegraph.

And let’s not forget that it was here at UCL that William Ramsay discovered most of the noble gases. So next time you find yourself at a loose end, consider seeking out some of these places for yourself. If you’re a science student (and in denial), you can even convince yourself that it counts as revision.

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Pi Magazine 715 | Sport

F

or the big teams, 2016 is the year to forget. For the little ones, 2016 is the year to be relished.

One morning over the summer I witnessed my compatriot break records with a historical Olympic upset: Singapore’s Joseph Schooling had beaten Michael Phelps in the men’s 100m butterfly final at the Rio Olympics. A young man hailing from a tiny island nation not known for any notable sporting achievements had overpowered the great King of the Pool.

Ecstatic as I was, I was in shock for the better part of the day – Schooling, who hadn’t even qualified for any semi-final at the 2012 Games, had challenged the greatest - and he had prevailed.

It’s the year that’s raking in some of the biggest upsets in sporting history – Leicester City clinching the Premier League title, 18-year-old Max Verstappen winning the Spanish Grand Prix, Iceland making the quarter-final of the UEFA Euros.

The tables have been turned with sporting greats bowing down to the era of the dark horse. So what went wrong – or rather, what went right?

It seems like the age old victor-generating systems have come to a slowdown, the reinforcements that have kept the same few champions in place showing signs of rust.

Could it be possible? Money, reputation and showmanship taking a back seat to something we can’t quite yet pinpoint: earnest hard work? True grit? And, dare I say it, dumb luck?

For a long time, ‘money’ and ‘cham-

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THE DARK HORSE RISES Nicola Chew considers the underdog’s sudden winning streak

pion’ had always been synonymous. It had always been the singularity in big sports like football: with big money, teams buy big players, big players score more goals, more goals draw more big money. And the cycle continued.

But somehow Leicester City managed to crack the system that perpetuated a winner-take-all complex in a sport that kept the top at the top. With no big names and no big money, their best players were picked up from the lower end of English and French football, bought by the team for peanuts compared to the football superpowers. Yet for a nine-month season it couldn’t be a fluke – they brought back to the world of football a dim reminder of how the country’s most-loved sport should be played: with pluck and strategy and not riches and ego.

Iceland’s UEFA Euros journey spells a similar narrative of guts and an unabashed will. The smallest nation to ever qualify for a major football tournament, their team comprised an odd, eccentric mish-mash of individuals – their team manager was a dentist, and their goalkeeper directed Iceland’s Eurovision entry in 2012. Yet ten per cent of the country’s population flew to France to watch the debutants live in action and crafted the most intimidating cheer that daunted even the fans of the Euro stronghold. Perhaps it was actually the Icelandic kinship and fierce solidarity that got them as far as the quarter-final. An entire nation behind one team. In Schooling’s case, it was an entire nation behind one person – five million people’s hopes for a first Olympic gold pinned on a single individual. It was a shameless self-belief clashing with low expectations, a

Sport| Pi Magazine 715 first-timer’s eagerness to see how far they could progress, and with a belief that they could go far. But here’s the best bit: it worked.

Recurrent champions are dangerously close to seeing the crown as a birthright, and they go about believing it to be so.

Yet others might say that the rise of the underdog doesn’t come without an expense by the top guns. A space has to be created at the top for someone new to fill. Therefore, the poor performance of the top four Premier League teams certainly didn’t hurt Leicester’s ascent.

More noticeably, Max Verstappen recently won his first race at 18 years and 227 days of age – the youngest F1 winner – in a fight that didn’t include either Mercedes driver - who have dominated the last two and a half seasons of Formula 1 racing. Lewis Hamilton and

Nico Rosberg crashed out on the first lap, and from there it was anybody’s game. But that is the point – it was anybody’s game, and Verstappen held off his own teammate and two world champions to break records and make history.

The most exceptional thing about underdogs is that they don’t take victory as a given. Recurrent champions are dangerously close to seeing the crown as a birthright, and they go about believing it to be so. The sport ends up feeding million-dollar egos, pandering to those who are far too comfortable knowing they are the best. Money, branding, and reputation eventually come first, and sportsmanship slips into second place.

The underdog is of course a stable of British culture - we all seem to instinctively root for them. The underdog sees victory as a privilege. They know that they are, first and foremost, there to do the jobs they’re paid to do: to finish in as high a position as possible, to score as many goals, or to hit as many clean points. To not make mistakes.

There are fewer distractions because there is less at stake – the underdog is saved from the fall from glory and allowed to climb wihtout having to meet expectations.

in the wings, the dark horse rises, and finally, shines.

However this climb does unwittingly create an expectation for the next time - a precedent of victory is created. Sporting success is a vicious circle where you fight to get to the top only to be instilled wiht the fear of falling back down.

For that first race, swim, or game though, the pressure is off as all eyes fixate on the top dogs while, in the wings, the dark horse rises, and finally, shines.

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Pi Magazine 715 | Sport

$PORT$ FAN$ Nicola Chew prices up the cost of being a sports fan in 2016 - and considers the alternatives for the student budget

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hey say that sport is one of the world’s greatest unifying factors – it transcends nationality, race, ethnic background… During any World Cup or Olympic meeting, long-standing political alliances and points of tension between nations are set aside to make way for the scuffles on the playing field, skirmishes in the sporting arena. Fans of football clubs, rugby teams, tennis players are peppered around the world, unknowingly brought together by a force of passion and loyalty. Despite this, there is a conspicuous divide between two classes of sports fans – the real question is: does sport transcend economic boundaries?

Every fan’s dream is to attend a live sports meeting – cheering on the team or athlete they’ve dedicated so many hours to supporting, miles away behind a television screen; to feel the atmosphere, so electric it’s almost

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tangibly so; to be one in the mammoth crowd pulsating with passion and an infallible collective allegiance. But most of the time this dream is only within reach of a select few: namely, those with money.

I am a massive Formula 1 fan – I’ve been following it since I was fourteen, spell-bound and starry-eyed by the race under the stars in my hometown.

But being an F1 fan comes at a very high price. F1 tickets are notoriously expensive: a three-day walkabout ticket at the Singapore Grand Prix costs about £120 – this doesn’t cover any grandstand seats, ticket-holders have to stand throughout all the sessions, it doesn’t grant access to all four zones of the circuit park (in fact, it only grants access to one) … And this is just the early-bird price!

Naturally, as an ardent fan who’s just moved to London, one of the top

items on my bucket list is to catch the British Grand Prix live at Silverstone circuit – a historic track, hosting races since the early days of F1 in the 1950s.

So imagine my despair when I discovered that a general admission adult ticket (meaning no grandstand access) for race day costs a whopping £135.

Not forgetting the fact that Silverstone is just under three hours away by train – slap on the travel costs and what you get is ‘unaffordable’.

I spoke to some other sports fans at UCL to compare the economic viability of being a dedicated sports fans, and the general consensus is that the finances required are too steep to be sustainable.

Football fans Nik Theologis and Avtar Rai concur that football is an expensive sport to be a fan of, given the prices of Premier League tickets. For Nik, a home game at Chelsea costs

Sport| Pi Magazine 715

about £50, while Manchester United supporter Avtar would have to pay £35 for a home game, excluding the equally exorbitant fares for a national rail ticket to Manchester from London.

“I try to attend United away games in London, however the competition for these away tickets is immense,” Avtar laments.

With the sky-high costs of being a sports fan, the necessary expenses are really starting to take a toll on supporters.

It seems that even football fans can’t see the justification for the ticket prices. “The ‘big clubs’ make monumental amounts of money through sponsorships, merchandising and £5 billion television deals,” states Avtar. “There is no reason as to why fans are being financially punished for their loyalty and activeness in wanting to watch their team.”

For cricket fan Pujan Gor, being an active and engaged fan is not a financially pragmatic option. “I have to stream all games on illegitimate websites online. Going to games costs a minimum of £400 which I can’t afford as a student.”

For less commercial and popular sports, the ticket prices, at least, are reasonable according to Alpine Skiing supporter Flora Boewing. A World Cup race ticket costs about 20 to 30 euros, but the financial hurdle lies in

securing accommodation and transport to remote alpine venues.

2. Volunteer:

Even disregarding the costs of attending a sports game or race, being a stayat- home fan doesn’t come without a price. The television broadcasting rights of many popular global sports have been bought over by various networks, and on-screen games are now starting to become accessible only to those who can pay the subscription fees. Take F1, for example – Sky bought the broadcasting rights for the sport in 2012, when it was previously shown on the free-to- air BBC. Likewise, for football, fans have to subscribe to both Sky Sport and BT Sport to watch just half of a given team’s games, according to Avtar.

Sometimes volunteering can give you a much better experience than a ticket – and it’s free. Look out for sporting events that are likely to require manpower, and keep checking the sporting associations’ websites for volunteer schemes that you can get involved in (e.g. the Lawn Tennis Association recruits volunteers for their summer tournaments all around the UK).

I’ve volunteered at the F1 Singapore Grand Prix for the past two years, and it’s given me more trackside action than I could’ve ever dreamed of. As long as you’re willing to sweat it out and put in the hours, there’s a high chance you’ll get a front row seat no ticket could ever buy.

With the sky-high costs of being a sports fan, the necessary expenses are really starting to take a toll on supporters. In the glitz and glamour of global sport, it would seem that all that glitters is gold. But sport doesn’t have to be a rich man’s game: strip it down to the basics, and you’ll find plenty of affordable options around you.

1. Support UCL at Varsity: It’s good, it’s cheap, and everything’s in London. It’s the Olympics of UCL’s sports season – and there is no better reason for you to slap on some UCL pride and give our athletes a boost while enjoying a good dose of high-quality sports. It won’t burn a hole in your pocket and you’ll feel good when we destroy Kings. Varsity season begins in March, so look out for announcements then.

3. ‘Settle’ for the lower leagues: It might not be the top tier tournament, but you’ll get a chance to watch rising stars before they shoot to fame and become too expensive to watch.

Check out the lower leagues like the ATP Challenger Tour (one league below the ATP World Tour) – the Aegon Surbiton Trophy (which Jo-Wilfried Tsonga won in 2007), has centre court tickets for as low as £7, with grounds passes on some days completely free of charge.

Whatever way you choose, seeing sporting events live is still a spossibility. And the suggestions above are not this is not an exhaustive list - there are many options for how to be an active sports fan - even on a student budget.

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Pi Magazine 715 | Travel

Death of a Traveller I

Luke Conor baker examines Brexit’s impact on student Travel

n the wake of the June referendum that saw the British public vote in favour of leaving the European Union, there has been speculation regarding the impact that the exit will have on students at UK universities.

Many of these possible ramifications involve travel, and the movement of students between the UK and continental Europe. There is particular concern for the future of the Erasmus programme for outgoing British students.

An EU-funded initiative, Erasmus offers home students in many different subject areas a year-long work or study placement on the continent.

Yet aside from lengthy Erasmus tenures, Brexit could also pose a threat to the weekend breaks and short holidays that in the past decade have found popularity among groups of students.

Low-cost flights in tandem with no frills accommodation from the likes of Airbnb have made affordable European adventures to popular destinations such as Barcelona, Budapest and Am-

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sterdam possible, even on a student budget. However, the eventual exit from the European Union has the potential to compromise the feasibility of such trips for a number of reasons.

The impact of this upon student travel lies chiefly in the cost of foreign currency Firstly, there is a definite possibility that Brexit could lead to budget providers of European flights being forced to raise airfares. The two leaders in this market, easyJet and Ryanair, have historically attributed their ability to of-

fer rock-bottom fares for customers to Britain’s membership in the European Common Aviation Area (ECAA). This EU initiative lifted many costly restrictions on air travel between member states and consequently saw a considerable reduction in cost for the consumer. An EasyJet spokesman recently quantified this, suggesting that there has been a 40% fall in the airline’s fares since the implementation of the ECAA. With Britain’s exit from the EU, its membership in this agreement will be subject to much negotiation. These discussions between the British government and representatives from the ECAA will determine new trading norms, taxes and levies, and without question have consequences on the price of flights that will affect the viability of student breaks. The popular student ski holiday could take a particular hit. Whereas a Ryanair flight from London Stansted to Basel in Switzerland currently costs as little as £20 return, the Managing Director of tour operator Le Ski has suggested that this

Travel | Pi Magazine 715 figure could rise by £50-£100, potentially making snowsport tourism far less accessible to students. While this is strictly speculative at present, this industry expert is not alone in his line of thought and many of his peers remain pessimistic.

Adding to the possible financial downturn of the Brexit decision is the volatile value of the pound against the euro. Following the announcement of the referendum result, the pound fell to a 31-year slump, causing panic about the future of the currency. Although the sterling has stabilised somewhat since, analysts suggest that Brexit “heralds a prolonged period of policy uncertainty that will weigh on the UK’s economic and financial performance”.

The impact of this upon student travel lies chiefly in the cost of foreign currency, with a weak pound making a budget student getaway much dearer.

Though economists have warned that these adverse conditions can be avoided by monitoring the euro exchange rate and buying travel money at a favourable time, this is not often advice that can be heeded by the student demographic given the spontaneous nature of these types of breaks (often being booked just a month or two before the date of departure).

There are countless other more subtle benefits enjoyed by British students while holidaying on the continent as part of EU initiatives. For example, as things stand under EU regulation

mobile roaming charges in member states are capped at a very low price; something of particular help to the mobile-reliant student traveller that uses phone data extensively – for everything from navigating unfamiliar cities, to cheeky inter-European flirting on Tinder. These charges are even set to be removed completely within EU member states by 2017. It will be interesting to see once Britain formally leaves (currently estimated for December 2018) if this will be upheld.

Remaining within the EEA is in fact seen by many Remain voters as a best-case scenario Additionally, in the event of injury in an EU country (common in the student traveller demographic due to alcohol-related incidents), the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) entitles its holder to free or highly discounted medical treatment. In the absence of the EHIC, if travel insurance policies are needed they will need to come from costly private companies. Experts have warned that leaving the EU might also

raise premiums for such plans, greatly adding to the total cost of a student holiday.

There is however a glimmer of hope in this matter as the EHIC is actually an arrangement of the European Economic Area (EEA) rather than the European Union. Although the two are very closely linked, certain non-EU countries like Norway and Iceland enjoy benefits such as the EHIC due to their membership of the EEA; a compromise that the UK could possibly adopt dependent on negotiation. Remaining within the EEA is in fact seen by many Remain voters as a best-case scenario and will likely be at least considered by Theresa May’s government.

In spite of the doom and gloom of this topic, it is also worth mentioning that we don’t yet know in which other ways the prime minister who will be triggering Article 50 might attempt to mitigate its impact on travel. There will be a long period of strategy and negotiation before many of the speculated effects will take hold, so for now it is best that the travel-keen London student carries on exploring mainland Europe and taking advantage of inexpensive travel for however long it might last.

The Vienna weekend break with your housemates and the boozy sports tour across Croatia might still be affordable for many years to come!

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Pi Magazine 715 | Travel

FAREWELL WC1 LEICESTER SQUARE Ani Barrett and Sam Stevenson offer four fresh ideas for entertaining your parents in London.

I

t’s always bittersweet when your parents come to visit London. On one hand, it’s nice to catch up, explore the nation’s capital and spend some quality time together. On the other, it’s never too long before they can become – being brutally honest – a bit bothersome.

The best remedy to this is to keep both your parents and yourself interested and occupied with a fun activity or two. Yet, especially after fresher year, the classic walk along Southbank, countless West End musicals, and window shopping in Harrods and Hamleys can become quite stale and repetitive, making it difficult to find original things to do.

So, with your parents’ interests (and perhaps comparatively heavier wallets) in mind, we would like to suggest a few almost-sophisticated, alternative excursions for when your folks come to town.

DAYTIME WANDERING

The Barbican Conservatory Nearest Tube: Barbican (Metropolitan Line, Circle Line, Hammersmith & City Line)

Central London’s very own Eden ProStoke Newington. ject, the Barbican Conservatory can Nearest Tube: Manor House (Piccadilly be thought of as the Rainforest Café’s Line) sophisticated older sister. This hidden If you and Mum fancy some respite away from the hustle and bustle and sirens of the Big Smoke, Woodberry Wetlands is ideal. A newly-opened nature reserve, this little-known site was originally a reservoir in 1883. It’s since been converted into an incredible urban oasis. You’ll find rich, reed-fringed ponds, pretty streams, and countless species of bird, bee and dragonfly, all in the heart of metropolitan London.

Entry’s free and there’s even a café for when you unavoidably work up an appetite exploring 17 hectares of beautiful marshland. Even David Attenborough approves, having officially opened the reserve in April. If a nod from broadcasting royalty isn’t enough to sway you, then we don’t know what is.

gem boasts tropical flora and fauna in abundance that might have you – even if just for a second – forgetting that you are in the busiest city in the country.

A relaxing bolthole in central London and a quirky alternative to the overdone Sky Garden, it’s bound to be a hit with parents. You can even book in to have afternoon tea, although this option is not cheap.

Incidentally, if someone’s feeling particularly generous, the Observatory offers a guided tour led by its resident green-fingered staff. This 60-minute circuit costs £12.50 per person and will give you a unique insight into the second largest conservatory in London.

Tickets for this can be booked online.

The only slight snag to this secret retreat is that it’s only open on Sunday.

Nonetheless, a tranquil Sunday Funday spent here with your folks is probably a welcome delight ahead of the Monday blues of work and university.

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Travel| Pi Magazine 715

NIGHTTIME D I N I N G When looking for a unique eat or interesting beverage, for guaranteed inimitability there is only one thing to do: head East. Hackney in particular boasts heaps of diversity, with edgy restaurants, bars and quirky cafés; an assurance that you will find something you can all agree on and making it worth the potentially embarrassing family tube ride.

Broadway Market Hackney. Nearest Underground station: Bethnal Green (Central Line) Although Camden Market always comes to mind as London’s “must-see” market, we believe that there are much more authentic and distinctive alternatives elsewhere that are well worth paying a visit. Of these, Broadway Market is one of the best. Every Saturday this Hackney street transforms itself into an eclectic collection of fantastic food and drink from all over the world, with over a hundred stalls filled with artisan baked goods, boutique chocolates, and hot Thai curries—to list just a few.

In addition to food you’ll also find original artwork from independent artists and designers, jewellery, clothes, and funky prints – a perfect place for any of you to pick up a one-of-a-kind gift for a friend, or perhaps for your younger sibling.

of steamed bao buns followed by a unicorn poo-flavoured meringue (we promise it tastes like caramel - really).

But whatever your taste buds’ preference there is something for everybody.

Broadway Market is an afternoon excursion and is open every Saturday between 9 and 5.

if the family fluffball has braved the journey to come to the capital then it too can enjoy all that Netil360 has to offer.

Netil360 Prepare yourselves for a few stairs Hackney. Nearest Underground station: though. No escalator in this self-proBethnal Green (Central Line) claimed “big, wooden, scruffy-roundJust around the corner from Broadway Market, Netil360 rooftop bar is the perfect spot if you really want to show off London’s edgier side. The view from the roof is spectacular and the bar area is equally pretty. As a midpoint between the smart and the casual, it features AstroTurf and wooden picnic tables set against expensive-looking light fixtures and a swanky bar.

In terms of food, during the week the venue offers light bites from its café while on weekends there are Tibetan momos and stir-fries on the menu.

There is also an extensive selection of drinks, with everything you could possibly want from Pimms to alcoholic ice lollies. Booze with a view that won’t break the bank – you really can’t go wrong!

As the evening rolls in, the fairy lights flicker on and the music gradually builds. Netil360 definitely scores a ten for atmosphere in the evening, capturing the part of London you really want to show off and making it the perfect final stop before your parents head back to boring suburbia.

the-edges rooftop”! We also recommend bringing a jacket or jumper - this is London after all and the terrace has little protection from the elements. The venue is dog friendly (even having its own resident pooch) meaning that if the family fluffball has braved the journey to come to the capital then it too can enjoy all that Netil360 has to offer, although the bar may be ill-suited to those with severe animal allergies. Open to the public Wednesday through Sunday.

You may also enjoy: * CAMLEY STREET NATURAL PARK, N1C 4PW * ADELAIDE NATURE RESERVE, NW3 3XX * THE LONDON WILDLIFE TRUST CENTRE FOR WILDLIFE GARDENING, SE15 4EE * SANTA MARIA, W5 5RA / SW6 2HA * FOUNDERS ARMS, SE1 9JH

We particularly recommend a plate

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Pi Magazine 715 | Lifestyle

Veganism: busting the myths V

eganism - a controversial trend that has been sweeping the globe over recent years. Whether you are a vegan yourself, have tried it before, know someone who is a vegan, or pictures of smiling trendy vegan urbanites have overtaken your Instagram feed, you have definitely heard about the vegan ‘craze’. But in case you’re not as clued up, a vegan diet is one which doesn’t involve any animal by-products, in addition to meat, fish or poultry.

In Britain alone, the number of vegans has risen by 360% in the last decade bringing the total to approximately 542,000. Of the Brits classified as following a vegan diet, 42% are aged between 15-34 years, according to a survey by the Vegan Society. Furthermore, the vast majority of vegans live in urban areas; currently 88%. Of this, 22% live in London. No wonder there’s been a boost of vegan cafes springing up across the capital; the demand is most certainly there. All this means the vegan trend is influencing our own community of young urbanites more than any other demographic.

You may be surprised to hear that veganism is not a new trend, but a diet which dates back to Ancient Times (of course, such ancient communities cannot technically be labelled as vegan since the term was only coined in 1944 upon the formation of the Vegan Society). Yet, despite its extensive history and recent boom, veganism remains somewhat misunderstood in common culture. Myths and stereotypes have formed, which often portray this diet negatively. Such speculations are often unfounded, which is why Pi is here to help debunk these top five ‘myths of veganism’:

1. VEGANISM IS EXPENSIVE The question is: why would you buy an expensive raw and dairy-free chocolate bar instead of a standard one which costs a third of the price? And who can

Page 30

blame the retailers for the price, based on their market? There are a lot of people who are attracted to these products and are more than happy to pay the extra. Yet, for others, this is just another example that confirms how following a vegan diet is an unnecessary expense.

However, thousands of brands have started selling vegan treats and vegan fast food. The problem is that veganism is most often linked with healthy eating, which is why many people perceive this diet as being expensive.

Superfoods like goji berries, chia seeds and spirulina powder may be Vegan and nutrient-dense, but they’re Super-expensive too. Neither are they what Veganism is all about. Foods like fruit and vegetables, beans and legumes, and carbs such as bread, pasta and rice, are all cheap, accessible and also vegan.

2. VEGANISM MAKES YOU A ‘TREE HUGGER’ There are many different reasons why an individual may choose to become a vegan - not limited to just spiritual reasons, being closer to nature or working to cleanse the soul. Ethical issues and animal welfare can be the primary reason for many. In addition, the benefits to the environment resulting from eating fewer animal products, especially following successful documentaries such as ‘Cowspiracy’, act as additional motivation. As people are finding out

Lifestyle| Pi Magazine 715

Beth Flaherty debunks the misconceptions surrounding veganism more and more about how the meat and dairy industries operate, some are deciding they do not wish to support them and that veganism is the way forwards. The publicity surrounding vegan celebrities has also spurred on many. Jennifer Lopez, Mike Tyson, Ellie Goulding, Ellen DeGeneres, Usher… all of them have raised awareness of veganism. Yet, it’s the perceived health benefits of a vegan diet that are thought to be driving the current boom - everything from a means to losing weight, to controlling an illness.

3. VEGANISM IS BAD FOR YOUR

HEALTH There’s been a lot of scientific evidence concluding that a vegan diet is good for your health. Claims range from boosting energy levels, to preventing cancer. Yet, veganism often gets a rep for the opposite. Surely vegans don’t get enough protein? What about their B12?

Despite the lack of processed foods in a vegan diet being the key reason for its ‘healthy’ label, these questions are valid. Certainly, vegans do have to be mindful to consume sufficient nutrients but really, don’t we all? Protein and B12 levels are the obvious areas where a vegan diet may lack, yet this doesn’t mean vegans are certain to become deficient - they just have to look to less obvious sources.

4. VEGANSIM IS HARD

Being a vegan is usually easy when cooking at home or for one, but no matter how many more vegan cafes London acquires, eating out and socialising can become an obstacle. Yes, vegan food is available, but can you really demand to dine in only vegan venues with your non-vegan friends?

Let alone go as far as contemplate the social acceptability of bringing your own food. Eating is a social activity, and therefore sometimes being vegan can be isolating.

This might be a controversial one. But just as veganism is growing, so is the new idea of ‘Flexitarianism’. It’s even bagged itself an entry in the Urban Dictionary: “An occasional meat-eater. Not a vegetarian, maybe not even intentionally avoiding meat.” Though mostly applied to the vegetarian diet, vegan Flexitarianism is just as common. Becoming a vegan is a personal choice, and people are now deciding to adopt it on their own terms.

5. VEGAN FOOD IS BORING Contrary to some beliefs, vegans do not nibble on salad all day long, that would not be healthy, nor make for a very exciting diet. The truth is, more often than not vegans are big foodies, because they care about every ingredient which goes into their meals. People come to the conclusion that vegan food is boring since, in many traditional recipes, meat forms the basis of flavour, as with a good steak, for example. But, lack of meat does not mean lack of flavour. When following a vegan diet, one just has to be more inventive with flavours. So yes - delicious vegan food is possible. The only way to find out?

Head out to your nearest Health Foods or farmers market to get your ingredients and try some for yourself!

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Pi Magazine 715 | Lifestyle

To journal, or not to journal?

M

Mary Newman reports back on her attempt to keep a Gratitude Journal

y name is Mary Newman and I am ungrateful.

The summer holidays have always been a time of introspection for me – a natural pause in the middle of the year – a chance to reset. There’s always the possibility though, like in some American high-school based rom-com, of returning to school or university completely changed after a transformative summer. Perhaps you’ll experience the classic nerd-to-cheerleader makeover, or ‘life changing’ gap year travel experiences that morph you into a new you with new habits… Or for me, it’s usually just new highlights.

While I’ll never be a cheerleader, this summer was the moment before I headed off for my year abroad in Chile so the idea of a summer transformation was weighing heavily on my mind (and maybe also the new highlights). I wanted some momentous change: so, with a difficult year behind me and two months of unemployment at home, a goal of ‘self-improvement’ through the the Pinterest quotes section became something of an obsession of mine.

Let’s be clear – I’m a rather negative person. Even though my life is, objectively, pretty good, I often struggle to see it and I complain daily. This negative outlook hasn’t been particularly helpful so far. So, I decided that this summer would be a perfect time to shed my ungrateful skin.

Pinterest suggested that a gratitude journal would fix my perennial pessi-

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mism. It also suggested that a pretty notebook could improve the experience. However, my track record for completed introspective projects suggested that an investment in a pricey Paperchase notebook so early on was extremely risky. So I opened a word document, put the date in WordArt’s rainbow font (the most optimistic of early 00s computer art) and then stared at the blank space for the duration of at three Taylor Swift songs.

I know I would prefer to just be thankful along the way, rather than make a chore of my gratitude.

I repeat: my life’s pretty good. I have a family that loves me, a strong academic record at a great university, and a life-changing year in Santiago ahead of me. I also have a cat. But I couldn’t think of anything to write that wasn’t blatantly obvious or utterly sarcastic.

Of course I’m grateful – how would writing that down help?

The only thing I was officially thankful for on 1 June 2016 was chocolate Weetabix. And, honestly, I’ve been thankful for chocolate Weetabix for much longer than that.

It was a cop out and I knew it. The next day I laid down the law: I needed to be thankful for at least three things. And chocolate Weetabix could only be one of them.

Although my actual journal, despite the rainbow lettering, was pretty pitiful, something strange started happening. As soon as my computer was out of reach, when I was walking into town, helping my Mum with the shopping, visiting a friend, I suddenly began to think of little things I could add to the list. Cobblestones. Laundry detergent.

Two for one deals!

This isn’t to say that I managed to remember these things: the next week’s entries remained as sparse as the first.

But while my gratitude journal remained pretty empty, my mind was beginning to note positive details.

Despite this shift in my mind-set, technically the gratitude journal was a flop. Even with a pretty notebook, no one wants to be constantly stopping to write: nicely shaped clouds rather than just enjoying the moment (or choosing the filter.)

Maybe my next project should focus on discipline instead, because there is now plenty of evidence suggesting that the ‘happy-go-lucky’ personality I’ve dreamed of, is really only a few grateful thoughts away. But honestly, as I write this now sitting in Chile, aware of the constant new experiences in my life, I know I would prefer to just be thankful along the way, rather than make a chore of my gratitude.

My life is pretty good without writing it down, and I am grateful for the fact I am now more grateful for it.

MUSE Pi MAGAZINE’S ARTS & CULTURE SECTIONS

ART & PERFORMANCE - FILM & TV - MUSIC - LITERATURE

MUSE | ART

Anna Monks discusses how innovative the Tate Modern expansion project really is.

N

ew art has always found its way into unexpected places, be it Yayoi Kusama’s political pieces in the middle of Brooklyn Bridge or the Institute of Contemporary Art’s installations in luxury show apartments a few months ago. Increasingly, established art institutions are worrying about the spaces they offer for art, whether they are hindering or excluding new art and artists by being unable to provide adequate spaces for them and their projects.

The Tate Modern has been the first to act on these concerns with their recent £250m expansion and rehang. It promises to introduce not just a new kind of gallery to the public, but new art as well.

Tate director Sir Nicolas Serota claimed the expansion would offer the opportunity for “different kinds of presentation”. But how was this to be carried out? Was this a promise of new art or a new kind of building?

Among the new installations it is those in the Switch House Oil Tanks

that give us both. Novelty enough was that I entered a disused oil tank expecting to find art, but this unusual space also delivers a new kind of art. Wen-Ying Tsai’s work Umbrella was able to take advantage of the space as a special structure could be built that heightened the effects of the sculpture that quivers to varying degrees based on the noises surrounding it.

Perhaps I read too much into Serota’s statement, but I was expecting works to be inspired by their spaces, like Koo Jeong A’s installation in the disused Jubilee line platform at Charing Cross or Anish Kapoor’s Svayambh, the remnants of which are still visible on the Royal Academy’s arches today.

Yet, the Tate’s new works were not made for the space provided.

They do not interact with the space but merely sit in them. Umbrella, after all, was created in 1971 long before the Tate Modern opened.

Really, the Tate expansion has

not given the public new art, but new artists. It now boasts displays of 250 artists from 52 countries. I was delighted to see the work of artists I had never heard of from countries as far-flung as Lebanon and Brazil. It is refreshing to see a gallery move away from an overbearing focus on Western art; in some galleries it can feel like anywhere outside of Europe and North America is an artistic black hole. Sheela Gowda’s Behold introduced me to an everyday occurrence in her hometown of Karnataka, India, where human hair is wound around car bumpers to ward off accidents. Something I would never have learned had I not walked into her display.

While the flexibility of some of these spaces has allowed for new artists to exhibit their work, other areas have been designed with

THE TATE EXPANSION

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ART| MUSE

older collections in mind. The rooms in the ‘Between Object and Architecture’ display are wide-open spaces to provide installation art with the room they need to breathe. These kinds of works were not made just to be glanced at – they require us to bend down, peer in, and walk around to fully appreciate them.

But what these rooms display best is the real triumph of the Tate’s expansion. This triumph isn’t the inspiring new art or how the thoughtful design allows works to be displayed, but a combination of the two. The use of careful hanging and a variety of art has transformed the gallery into what Chris Dercon, former director of Tate Modern, hoped it would be: a “platform for human encounters”. After walking through two rooms that display some of the bestknown modern installations, you are led into a side room with photographs of

landscapes by Lewis Blazis. These photographs of seventies America focus on the forms and shapes of structures, as well as their social message, so transform the objects in the photos into installations too, like those in the room next door. Putting these photos next to seemingly unrelated works inspires questions of why they have been placed there—this extra meaning may have been missed had the photographs been part of a traditional display of similar photography.

The old Boiler House exhibits a clever manipulation of space and art that is even more successful.

The rehang introduces us not to specific movements but to ways of thinking about art. The ‘Start Displays’ present the idea of the use of colour across modern art instead of by movement. Using Wassily Kandsinky’s 1910 Cossacks and Ceal Floyer’s 1999 Monochrome Till Receipt (White) they show how artists from different periods

have used colour to link artistic thought rather than to divide it.

A room where Andy Warhol’s screen-print Marilyn smiles across at prints by the Guerilla Girls slandering galleries for misogyny is a prime example of how identical artistic methods can communicate a very different message.

Here is the ‘new’ part of the Tate, not just the architecture or the latest acquisitions to fill the new spaces, but art hanging in areas free from category restrictions. In the Tate Britain, British artwork hangs in rooms next to paintings from the same decade. Now in the Tate Modern art from all over the world, from old and new collections, from established and lesser known artists, can hang, drape or sit in displays side by side, brought together not by the time and place they were made but by the artistic concept that unites them. A new collection is formed that is not only open to interpretation and artistic thought but actively encourages it.

A NEW SPACE FOR ART OR NEW ART FOR A SPACE?

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MUSE | Music

‘SYMBOLIC INTERVENTIons’ I

n 1965, with war raging in Vietnam and racial tension at home, Marvin Gaye asked himself: “With the world exploding around me, how am I supposed to keep singing love songs?”

From Bob Dylan to Public Enemy, Billie Holiday to Fela Kuti, protest music has never gone out of style.

Algiers are part of a new generation of socially conscious musicians fighting the commodification and sanitisation of music. As bassist Ryan Mahan says, their music “is a challenge to some levels of apathy, some levels of repression, and some levels of the erasure of memory.”

The band’s strong political voice is not only refreshing, but necessary. Contemporary popular and alternative music often indulges escapism, playing into the establishment’s hands by distracting people from their problems rather than engaging with them. By glamourising the cult of celebrity, perpetuating aspirations to wealth, or focusing solely on the individual, society’s wider issues are ignored in music that was meant to explore them.

For Mahan “the very political choice to be apathetic is problematic. When you say: ‘the world is fucked, fuck it’, and then cover that with irony, it just seeks to serve and uphold the dominant system.” Lead singer Franklin James Fisher adds: “I think people in a society, especially as part of the developed world, or whatever you want to call it, have an obligation to realise their privilege, and realise what it is predicated

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on, and do something about it.”

The band members never claim that art can bring about change “on its own”, however they do believe it can play an important discursive role, describing what they do as “symbolic intervention”. Mahan explains that: “Music is a discourse and I think the way people interpret political action is very narrow. Discourse is not just words, not just music - it actually has a real-life effect on society; it can shift things […]

I learned about politics through the Black Panthers, but I also learned about politics through music, and it actually made me politically engaged on a level I probably never would have been.”

Racial oppression and injustice are recurring themes in their first work.

“When you are talking about the United States,” Mahan explains, “fundamentally, you can’t avoid racism and I think a lot of the songs Franklin was writing lyrically were very much focused on the frustration of that fundamental aspect of the American experience being repressed.”

Fisher explains how their single, Blood, was born out of his personal disillusionment at returning to poor black communities, after Obama had been elected, to find people were “still very nihilistic”, and subscribed to “acceptable” images of blackness “manufactured […] by white middle age business men.” The haunting lyric All my blood’s in vain is “a grievance that all of the struggle that had come up to this point: everybody that had fought and died everyday of their lives trying to establish a platform for you to live your life with dignity - and it’s almost as if it’s for nothing.”

Music|Muse

Sam Taylor interviews Algiers

At the same time Fisher notes that “sometimes when people are really interested in Algiers’ engagement with Black identity, and how everything we do has to be some sort of microcosm for the Black experience, then I feel like I’m not allowed to be an individual, and we’re not allowed to be an individual band - we have to be some sort of banner.”

Their live show is an intense and electrifying experience.

The band do not think all artists have an “imperative to discuss politics in their art.” Escapism is needed to create alternative worlds, offering respite and release from a reality that can sometimes feel inexplicably dark. Art is also essential for bringing joy and beauty to life. As Fisher states: “I love music because it addresses things that can’t be articulated by conventional means, and it runs the entire gambit of the human experience so it is important to discuss everything that occurs to you because humanity has a lot of good about it too.”

With so much said about their politics and vision, it is easy to forget that their music speaks for itself. Curated from as early as 2006, yet only released last year, Algiers’ self-titled debut album exhibits impressive genredefying variety - a blend of gospel, blues, rock, punk, soul, industrial, techno, hip hop and more. It is a product of a multitude of individual inspirations (frequently cited on their Tumblr page). Fisher explains: “I think one of the biggest blessings

is that our reference points are so far apart: you can write a riff and present it to the other guys and what they hear in it is nothing like what you would ever imagine yourself, so you never really have to worry about things being too derivative.”

With choral backing vocals, discordant guitar textures, and Motown howls the glue that ties the album together, Algiers’ sound is one of the most powerful and cathartic in modern alternative music. A new album is on the way and the band are certain “to be moving towards something new.” Mahan hints: “there are a lot more stories to tell”, with Fisher specifically noting: “I’m into the idea of creating our own samples and going back and sampling things that we’ve played.

As a way of recording it appeals to me very much and a lot of people that I look up to have done that: DJ Shadow, Portishead… so I’m excited about that, and that is definitely going to happen on this record.”

Their live show is an intense and electrifying experience. Audience participation is encouraged with hypnotic clapping and dancing similar to a religious gathering.

“You want to get so inside of the songs that you don’t have to think about anything - it’s all in there”, Fisher explains.

With the strength of their ideals and message backed by the power and dynamism of their sound, it won’t be long before this innovative band reach a wider audience.

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MUSE | Film & TV

THE RISE OF THE REMAKES:

“T

here is nothing new under the sun”, says Solomon in Ecclesiastes, which is a sad state of affairs for someone writing in 3rd century BC – he didn’t even have to deal with all the Planet of the Apes remakes.

But if Solomon were to cast an eye over the media landscape of today he might find himself quite right; old stories are being given a spray tan and a vajazzle, being taught what banter means, and sold back to new audiences as the latest fresh thing. The trend is most obvious in the land of primetime television, with shows such as Once Upon A Time, Dickensian, Elementary and Beowulf all tarting up classic fiction, but it is also sneaking into film as evidenced by the release of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

Arguably, the trend of writers defaulting to existing stories but with some kind of fun new twist is a damning symptom of a lack of ideas. In a world where entertainment has turned to dating

To

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sneer

at

shows in which people weigh up the pros and cons of various ball sacks (we see you, Naked Attraction), and reality shows in which vaguely recognisable public figures jump into a swimming pool (the unfathomably commissioned Splash!) is it surprising that drama departments too are running dry on how to entertain the public? If this trend is sucking up already stretched television budgets that could be spent on innovative new drama, then surely it is something to be condemned. In an uncertain time for the BBC, which has seen BBC Three scrapped as a channel despite its frequently excellent output of dramas and documentaries, to see the channel run back to Dickens yet again, despite the series of programmes it commissioned for the people as recently as 2011, including a new Great Expectations adaptation, is a bit depressing (they did Little Dorrit in 2008, The Old Curiosity Shop in 2007 and Bleak House in 2005). Doesn’t anyone

remakes

and

have any new stories to tell?

The remake comes with other perils too. In order to play with an existing story, to subvert its tropes and surprise and delight your audience, they must be familiar with the source material.

Often in the world of remakes this familiarity is a double edged sword. Go too deep and you risk alienating your audience; Dickensian fell down because in order to appreciate every injoke, you would have to possess a Dickens knowledge that ranged confidently from Our Mutual Friend to Little Dorrit. British classics they may be, but it seems safe to assume it was a minority of Dickensian’s audience that fully appreciated every reference. However, treat your source material too lightly and you risk Beowulf; enjoyable fantasy television for the uninitiated, but badly researched and ill-informed anachronism after anachronism for those in the know, and a plot so far removed

reinterpretations

of

classics

is

Film & TV|Muse

REINTERPRETING CLASSICS FOR PRIMETIME TV AMy Gwinnett injects a breath of fresh air into the stale debate on remakes

as to be barely recognisable to those who had so much as glanced over the epic poem.

However, the idea that remakes are a modern contention is demonstrably untrue. If born a few hundred years later, John Milton would be in a boardroom at the BBC right now, saying “okay but get this guys, it’s the Bible but from the perspective of the Devil”. Paradise Lost is a remake. The Aeneid is a spin-off of The Odyssey, like when Joey got his own series after Friends finished—but funnier. As every English student has remarked at some point, Paradise Lost is just fan fiction of the Bible! It’s interesting that what’s seen as a new trend for reinterpretation is what online fan fiction has been doing for years. And here we see the ways in which reinterpretation can serve causes vital beyond the simple joy of wondering what would happen if Elizabeth Bennet came face to face with the living dead.

to

fundamentally

There are stories beloved by our society, that have filtered down through hundreds of years of publication and retellings, that have a special place in the hearts of millions for their familiar charms. But these stories tend to be near entirely populated, and certainly driven by, white men.

Consequently no matter how fantastic the story, millions of people miss out on the pleasure of fictional characters they can bond with through recognising themselves in them. This is why reinterpretation can be so powerful. As in CBS’ Elementary, John Watson can be a woman of colour. Dorothy, plucked from The Wizard of Oz and dropped into Once Upon A Time, can be a lesbian.

Representation is so important, and leaving our greatest tales up for grabs so that they can resonate in new ways with all demographics is a very special thing indeed.

their own, from the earliest stirrings of oral story tradition, adapted them, thrown in a cheeky zombie here and a gender swap there. It’s all part of the human creative impulse. To sneer at remakes and reinterpretations of classics is to fundamentally misunderstand how story telling works. That said, we could do with a wider net in terms of what we’re remaking; let’s give poor Charles a break, and instead ask where are the great reimagined George Elliot adaptations that the world sorely needs, or the feminist subversions of Richardson’s work? A queered reading of Lord of the Flies? An allfemale retelling of The Picture of Dorian Gray? Remakes could go further than they already have.

Even with the oldest words, there is always something new to be said.

People have always taken other’s stories on board and made them

misunderstand

how

story

telling

works.

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MUSE |Literature

What’s The state of our nation?

Nancy Heath takes a look at Britain today— and wonders why other people aren’t The State of the Nation novel has been a popular genre for decades, particularly appreciated during the 1960s and onwards. It lets people read about modern times, modern ways, and let’s face it: moan about modern problems.

People wanted to read about what the world was like for people like themselves—they wanted to read about the crazy, specific world they currently lived in. Authors such as Thomas Pynchon fulfilled the public’s wishes and embraced the psychedelic, com-

Page 40

mercialist haze of the 1960s, caught between relief over the end of world war two and the threat of the cold war. Despite the negatives of this time period, people still wanted to delve into it in their spare time for 800 pages. So why do people today shy away from honouring state of the nation novels about twenty-first century life?

Don’t misunderstand me: state of Britain novels are popular right now, and sure to grow in popularity with the influx of issues 2016 has brought to our island. No one has to worry about this

genre dying out—there’s never been a shortage and surely won’t be anytime soon. Our political landscape provides inspiration: the fodder of Brexit, the Labour Party schisms, and the omnishambles of the US Election will keep this genre thriving until the next political upheaval.

However, literary prizes continue to ignore this popularity and refuse to mirror the public’s enthusiasm for this genre. The last few years have seen the

Literature|Muse prestigious Man Booker shortlist compiled almost entirely fromother genres.

ry VIII’s being beheaded (history spoiler alert). Even if stories such as this (which do win the Man Booker) mirror—without the execution—the political rise and fall of figures such as Tony Blair or Alastair Campbell, it far enough away from reality for people to disconnect. History is quantifiably different enough to the present day to be acceptable. It’s a cautionary tale, but not one we can instantly write ourselves into. This level of remove allows us to look at the events with more of a veil of ignorance.

If someone writes about the state of the world today, sure, maybe we’ll read it, but we won’t recognise it At times of great as literary genius social change the state of the nation novel rears its head and is recognised - and the Victorian period perfected this genre.

The economic crash of 2008 saw an increase in state of Britain novels but, unsurprisingly, these don’t make for the cheeriest bathroom read. So, if someone writes about the state of the world today then, sure, maybe we’ll read it, but we won’t recognise it as literary genius—that’s saved for the historical novels which are enjoying a resurgence. Historical novels are easy to reward right now: describing other points in time, rather than dealing with the mess that is the world today.

In 2009 all six of the books shortlisted for the Man Booker prize were historical novels. 2009 Man Booker judge, and Head of UCL’s English Department, John Mullan after judging said: “Historical novels were once seen as genre-fiction and not taken seriously, [...] But then, most great Victorian novels – Jane Eyre, Middlemarch – were set earlier than when they were written.”

Perhaps this is it—it’s easier to connect with the current events in the world today by peering through the periscope of the past, allowing events today to be explained by their mirror image in past events than face them head on. We’ve always done this and we can hide from events more easily this way.

It’s harder to read a fictional account of a modern event that affected you or your family or friends than it is to read about a key advisor of Hen-

Alternatively, there’s the issue stemming from authors themselves—many are reluctant to name their book as a state of the nation novel. There’s a certain unquantifiable stigma around the phrase that’s permeated for around a decade now. Despite their popularity, state of the nation novels are sometimes seen as less highbrow and inherently less literary.

Such stereotypes couldn’t be further from the truth—the state of the nation novel enjoyed a time in the spotlight a century before the 1960s – through the works of such authors as the little known insignificant author known as Charles Dickens.

Dickens wrote about the London he saw around him at a time when London wasn’t the sort of place most people would want to live. The industrial revolution was throwing the city into turmoil and changing everything and Dickens chronicled the anxiety, murkiness, and uniqueness of this period through his novels. Likewise, at the turn of the nineteenth century, in the wake of the failed French Revolution, the Romantic writers took the Britain they saw before them and wrote about it in all its failings and individuality.

At times of great social change the state of the nation novel rears its head and is recognised.

if we have to live through this period, the least literature could do for us is have some genius literary masterpiece come of it.

Authors may be scared of following in the footsteps of Dickens and Gaskell’s iconic Victorian novels—but maybe the intense change of the world in 2016 will deliver similar inspiration.

We live in a time of political turmoil if we have to live through this period, the least literature could do is give us a great literary masterpiece out of it.

Who knows, maybe the next Middlemarch or Little Dorrit will be about London today? Maybe you’ll be in it - or an allegory of you at least.

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