GALAXY UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER’S FREE STUDENT MAGAZINE
LIFE IN CLARENDON PARK THROUGH THE AGES An insight into the ‘student area’ from those who know it best...
DECEMBER 2016 - ISSUE 4
FEATURES
POLITICS SCIENCE
OPINION WHAT’S ON
CREATIVES
ENTERTAINMENT
LIFESTYLE
FEATURES
SPORT
CONTENTS
SPORT
Life In Clarendon: Through The Ages TeachFirst: Get Involved
Are Poppies A Political Statement? Evans: Fresh Start for Everyone?
LIFESTYLE
WHAT’S ON
Budget Mascaras Meatcure Review Top 5 Christmas Markets In Europe Student Bites: Hunters Chicken Pride & Prejudice: Theatre Review England To Germany: First Impressions
ENTERTAINMENT
Mystery Jets - Otherworldy The Greasy Strangler
CREATIVES Shorts: Truth, El Memento Artist Of The Month: Jia-an Lee
Birmingham Christmas Market What To Do: Dec & Jan
OPINION
ROTM: Got Grammar? The Selfish Woman
SCIENCE
Charge Your Phone In 5 Seconds What Your Phone Choice Says
POLITICS
Inside The Mind Of A Student Centrist First Brexit, Then Trump, What Next? The Rise Of Right Wing Populism
TEAM Editor in Chief Priyanka Makwana pm309 Features Editor Lerah Barcenilla lmb53 Lifestyle Editor Sophie Demetriades sd348 Politics Editor Cameron Eyles ce190 Entertainment Editor Kelly Kingsbury klk13 Sport Editor Georgia Moulder gm245 What’s On Editor Nidhi India nip3 Opinion Editor Priyanka Makwana pm309 Designers Akash Shah as990 Josh Fleming jf246
Contributors
Adam Smith, Amelia Talbot, Monica Jinabhai, Maryam Peerbhai, India Wentworth, Michael Oatway, Pooja Bokhiria, Amira Richards, Eden Minnis, Hannah Stock, Jia-an Lee, Elliott Humm, Cameron Bennett, Brad Harper
Cover Image: Katja Kay
WELCOME The last issue of the term, already. Yikes. Whilst there are a couple christmas market articles and a general merriment around our magazine this month, we decided to avoid a christmas theme. There’s literally reindeer on campus, so we didn’t feel the need to overdo it (if the plastic ice rink and giant sad looking tree outside hasn’t already). What we have instead is equally appealing though, so don’t start angrily spitting your mince pies at us. Adam Smith went out to Clarendon Park to find out how the area has evolved over the years, and whether students are a valued part of the community there (or just a really drunk, hungry and emotional group of young ‘adults’). Our very own unqualified english teacher/editor-in-chief Priyanka focuses her rant of the month on ‘grammar atrocities’ (who knew), plus we’ve got articles on the rise of right wing populism and a review of black comedy ‘The Greasy Strangler’. Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas! Have a memorable (as if) New Year and good luck with your exams...
Josh Fleming President
/UoLGalaxyPress
@Galaxy_Press
Features
Words: Michael Oatway
When you hear ‘teacher’ what comes to mind?
Mentor? Leader? Guardian? I think the word leader is exceptionally important when we think of a teacher. Teachers are leaders for life; they help and train the next generation, they help manage and run schools all over the country. In order to be a good teacher, you also need to be a leader. At Teach first, our central aim is to develop our trainee teachers into just that: leaders for life. Our mission statement is to tackle and find solutions to the persistent problem of educational inequality in the British education system. Did you know that educational inequality is more deeply entrenched in the United Kingdom than in any other developed country? To give you an example, 33% of pupils on Free School Meals achieved 5 A*-Cs at GCSE compared to 60.5% of all other pupils. On top of that, If you are on free school meals, you are 5 times less likely to attend to university, compared to those who attend independent schools. Now of course, only wealthy parents can afford to send their kids to schools that charge, on average, £13,000 a year. The vast bulk of the population cannot afford that. But even within the state school sector, there is a big divide between schools that do well, and have high numbers of pupils that attend Russel group universities and Oxbridge, and those that don’t. Such a disadvantage at a young age can hamper a child’s development throughout their life and is a major cause of wider social inequality in our society. Teach First therefore focus its resources on those schools that are located in high areas of deprivation and underperforming schools. Our trainee teachers are given the time commitment and resources necessary to become leaders for life and inspire those kids that they can break the cycle of deprivation and go onto to enter higher education.
Since its founding, Teach First has had a proven track record of success. We have recruited close to 10,000 teachers and our partner schools serving low income communities across the U.K have now taught over 1 million pupils. 80% of pupils on our Futures programme progress to Higher Education – compared to 17% of students from low-income backgrounds nationally. Over 3000 teach first teachers in schools all across London have helped turn dozens of schools from failing to excellent or outstanding and over 63 per cent of A Level pupils eligible for free school meals in inner London, are now progressing onto higher education. These are great steps, but there is much, much more work that needs to be done. And that’s where you come in.
“
80% of pupils on our Futures programme progress to Higher Education...
”
Teach First is constantly looking for the next generation of committed leaders for life to help build on our work. We recruit graduates in all subject areas. If you join our two year full time leadership development programme (LDP) you will be on a paid programme that will give you a teaching qualification, a potential Master’s degree in leadership development as well as a PGDE which you will have with you for the rest of your life, enabling you to teach anywhere. Above all, however, you can make a difference to children’s lives by becoming a leader for life.
Teach first’s Brand Managers are always active on or around campus. If you would like to find out more, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of us, like our Facebook page, and sign up to our events which are held regularly. Take control of your career today, and apply for Teach First.
Get involved on Facebook by searching: Teach First at the University of Leicester
LIFE IN CLARENDON PARK
THROUGH THE AGES “Eccentric, Bourgeois, Alive”
Photography: Katja Kay
At some point during your time at Leicester, you will almost definitely spend a considerable portion of it in and around Clarendon Park. Whether you live there for your second and final year, or just end up attending a disproportionate amount of pre-drinks there due to the area’s proximity to the O2, there’s little doubt that most people reading this will know the area well. Centred around Queens Road, the vibrant artery of this leafy, trendy enclave, you’ll find a diverse mix of students, professionals, hippies, artists and academics, as well as more hip brunch spots, bars and vintage shops than your maintenance loan can handle. Moving from the comparatively barren first-year living zones such as Oadby to this neighbourhood which is practically on campus, one may feel spoiled for choice at the amount of things on offer. There’s the fabulously named brunch spot Salvador Deli, synonymous with hearty hangover cures and a boho Saturday morning crowd, as well as choice Spanish watering hole Bar Dos Hermanos, a cosy, unpretentious dive where the cocktails and tapas are as cheap as they are delicious. If you’re in need of rejuvenation half way through a gruelling day of post Let’s-Disko studying, then you can just pop into the adorable Tiny Bakery on Clarendon Park Road, or try the uber-chic newcomer The Northern Cobbler on Queens Road for your caffeine fix. Besides these there’s an endless array of eclectic, locally-run businesses such as Babelas Bar, Rosebud Café, Vintage Utopia, Cultura and Café Jones, offering considerably more than the Village Hub. In the summer you also have the sprawling Victoria Park as your own back garden, perfect for revising in the sun and enjoying some post-exam barbeques. Indeed, the area’s prime location has made it a long-time magnet for students, and Clarendon Park is pretty much synonymous with student life, with The Guardian once describing the place as "a redbrick uni nirvana", comparable to Hyde Park in Leeds, or Selly Oak in Birmingham. However, whilst students make up such a large and visible section of this neighbourhood’s population, they are only ever a temporary feature, rarely staying for more than a couple of years, and rarely engaging
with the local residents. Although students have been flocking to Clarendon Park for decades, it’s unlikely that most of them will ever become involved with the local community, or develop relationships with their neighbours who call this place home all year round. It’s not unique, as students in most British cities will often live in an academic bubble with little day-to-day contact with the locals, however it does seem a shame, especially in a neighbourhood as community-spirited and socially engaged as Clarendon. With this in mind, I spent a few days exploring the area I have lived in for two years and am happy to call my home, talking to some of the local residents. These included my own neighbours and the owners of some of the independent businesses which characterise the place, in order to hear how they felt about it, and what it’s like living shoulder to shoulder with such a large student population. One of my first ports of call was my next door neighbour Rick, 47, a former city banker turned entrepreneur living with his wife, a policewoman, and their children. Whilst Rick has lived on and off in and around Clarendon Park since 1975, he has also spent long stints in London, Moscow and Botswana, embodying a kind of cosmopolitan worldliness which I found quite common among Clarendon’s denizens. He’s lived at his current home for the past seven years, and out of all the places he has called home, Clarendon is his favourite. That the first thing he did upon arrival for the interview was hand me some colourful books, which detail the history of the area, is a testament to his affinity for it. Whilst loving what he describes as the “quaint, twee and eccentric” character of Clarendon Park, he is quick to point out the segregated nature of how the students and locals live together here. He believes that “everyone would benefit from the University doing more to engage with the area and facilitate contact between students and locals”. Many of the locals are very active members of the community, passionate to the point of protectionism, and it makes perfect sense that the university and its students should engage in a similar way so that all of Clarendon’s residents can have a say. The next stop was Clarendon Books. The dusty, cosy, Diagon Alley-esque book shop on Clarendon Park Road has proved a lifesaver countless times for me when I couldn’t find a book I needed for an assignment, or simply didn’t want to pay the prices in the David Wilson book shop.
I spoke to Julian, 50, the thoughtful-looking, curly haired owner who took over the shop in the late ‘90s, and has lived in Clarendon Park since the ‘70s. Given that he has been a part of the community for such a long time, I was eager to hear about how much the area has changed over the years. Whilst he talked of changes such as the replacement of family businesses such as butchers and grocers with the boutiques, coffee shops and bars of Queens Road, what surprised me was that for as long as he can remember, the area has always retained its “vibrant, quirky and bourgeois” atmosphere. The rapid changes undergone by Leicester in the last few decades has done little to change that. On the topic of Clarendon’s student population, he seems very happy with the diversity and business that they bring, observing that we are a largely well-behaved bunch His only complaint was the proliferation of predatory letting agents that have sprung up in the area, trying to cash in on the student housing boom. Julian, like the other residents I spoke with, was more eager to voice concerns regarding the activities of fellow locals as opposed to the students, particularly what he sees as a kind of “snobbery” amongst some of Clarendon Park’s more vocal and pushy residents when it comes to local issues such as parking and the effects of big business on the local character of the area. Strolling down towards the park, I next popped into Green & Pleasant on Queens Road, an ethical wholefoods shop which is always well-stocked with affordable vegetarian treats, and a regular hunt for my herbivorous partner. I approached the counter and chatted with Michela, 50, a cheerful Italian woman who has lived in Clarendon Park for fifteen years, working at Green & Pleasant since 2014 (the shop itself has been a fixture on Queens Road for nearly seven years). Her feelings towards Clarendon are ambivalent; while she loves the community feeling and lively atmosphere, she thinks that the local community can be quite small and insular, suggesting that it’s not just students that could do more to engage with the wider populace. However, one of the more positive changes in recent years for Michela is the increasing diversity of the area, with many of the city’s more international and multicultural elements now decamping in this traditionally white British area. She also voiced grievances over the steadily increasing rental prices in an area which is already a hotspot for Leicester’s moneyed middleclasses, claiming that, if she wasn’t subletting a flat from an old friend, she probably would not be able to afford to live here.
Like the other residents she was eager to give her opinion on some of the more recent local dramas, such as resident parking and protests against the opening of a Tesco Extra on Queens Road (which seem to have been successful), demonstrating the dedicated and civically engaged attitude to be found amongst the locals here. Above all, she enjoys this kind of frenetic energy that they bring to the area, concluding that “there is a real small life to be found here”. Saving the best ‘til last, I strolled into Vintage Utopia on Montague Road, the quirky and lovingly-curated vintage shop which was also the very first place I visited the day I moved to Clarendon Park in 2014. I got a chance to speak to the owner, Richard, 58, during a relatively quiet Wednesday morning in the back office of his ultrainstagrammable shop. He’s lived in the area for nineteen years and has ran Vintage Utopia for the past seven, and couldn’t see himself anywhere else. Having witnessed big changes in the types of businesses and facilities here, he says that “the people haven’t changed at all”, and that the area has retained its status as a magnet for the quirky and quaint. When asked about his feelings toward the student population, he smiled and began describing how he appreciates the liveliness and energy that we bring to the area, remarking that “when you go on Queens Road on an early summer’s evening, it’s like being on holiday”. He always knew that Clarendon Park was the only place in town to set up a shop like Vintage Utopia, as the ideal clientele are right on his doorstep. However, he laments the fact that far less students shop there than in previous years, which is a shame given its cheaper-thanIKEA prices for pieces that will make your student house a much less bland place than your friend’s pad. There were other people I spoke to on my journey through the lives of those who call Clarendon Park home all year round, whom I unfortunately have not mentioned in this article.
It feels to me that my conversations with the individuals above best paint a picture of the unique character of the Clarendon community, and demonstrate how we, as students, can benefit from getting involved with it. Words: Adam Smith
Photography: Katja Kay
L’oreal Paris - ‘Volume Million Lashes’
Maybelline - ‘The Rocket’ If you prefer a more natural look, then this mascara is for you. It makes your lashes look like yours but better, by providing them with more length without applying a thick coat. The cost is slightly more premium than the others surrounding it here, but it’s still a massive improvement on £30+!
No7 - ‘Lovely Lashes’
This is for those that prefer a waterproof mascara. It is sometimes tricky to find a mascara that is just as good when it’s formulated to be waterproof but this one certainly delivers on that, adding a lot of volume as well as length. The bonus of using a waterproof mascara is that it will be longwearing. However, this also means that it will be difficult to remove. Try an oil based makeup remover.
Shopping List Million Lashes - £9.99 1 Seconde - £9.99 The Rocket - £7.99 Lovely Lashes - £12.95 Thick and Fast- £10.00
Bourjous - ‘Volume 1 Seconde Mascara’
BUDGET MASCARAS The standard black mascara is a great staple to have in your makeup kit. However, sometimes it can be expensive, especially for a student. Some brands can be seen charging up to £30, a price which many of us students cannot afford. Struggling to find a good cheap mascara? Check out these bargains.
Images: WarPaint Magazine, Boots
This is the opposite to Soap and Glory mascara, as this product lengthens your lashes rather than giving you volume. Not only is this mascara a hero product of the Maybelline line but so are many of their other mascaras.
If you are the type of person who does not like to spend a lot of time on their makeup, then this is the perfect mascara for you. This mascara does everything it says in the title, with a thick and fast results. The issue with this mascara is that it is not lengthening due to the huge wand, but it does give a lot of volume so you can skip curling your lashes. Soap and Glory are also excellent at packaging, making it look expensive despite the price tag.
Soap and Glory - ‘Thick and Fast’
L’oreal is a brand known for its mascaras. This brand does many versions of its ‘Volume Million Lashes’ mascara; some focus on lengthening, some on volume and other focus on both. The great thing about this mascara is that it is buildable so you can really extend those lashes.
Words: Amelia Talbot
Lifestyle
REVIEW A couple of weeks ago Meatcure unleashed their new menu, so we were invited to check it out… As soon as you walk into the restaurant you’re hit with the general vibe of the place; exposed metal beams, bare light bulbs, the music from the vinyl player mixing with the busy sounds from the visible kitchen… It’s an urban, raw and unapologetically cool environment to find yourself in. The high bar with some serious looking taps is what draws your eye first, but before you go anywhere a waitress is there to help seat you. The first decision of the night was drinks, and already they were making it tough for us. A variety of milkshakes were inviting, but then we flipped the menu and saw the alcohol… With craft ales and lagers to boot, all seemed to be evenly balanced until Callum, the manager, introduced us to the idea of their Pilsner. Served in a giant ceramic tankard, the light ale had enough of a buzz to satisfy a lager-lover whilst maintaining enough of a hoppy flavour not to fall away as a watered down Carling. It was also pretty strong, but I’m the guy who only takes 4 beers to the party and usually stumbles home with a couple tinnies left over, so don’t take my word as gospel for that bit. You rarely meet sane humans that don’t enjoy a burger, and it’s safe to say I’ve had more than my fair share. That being said, what I was delivered alongside chips, onion rings and a couple of bbq ribs was one of the best chicken burgers of my short eating career. I’m talking about ‘My Cousin Vinny’, one of the newest selections. Meatcure, as you might’ve guessed, is by and large a haven for meat enthusiasts. That being said, it seems to me that the greatest fanatics were in the kitchen, because everything was cooked flawlessly. The texture was perfect, soft on the inside with the breadcrumb crunch outside. Combined with Serrano ham, melted mozzarella and a marinara sauce, the recipe produced a result that left me speechless. The BBQ ribs were better than soft, barely clinging to the bone and covered in their very own Mother Sauce, a spicy deep South BBQ blend.
I could (and did) talk for days about how ridiculous the entire experience was, I’d heard of Meatcure before but to go from a relative unknown to being one of my top 5 favourite eateries in one sitting is unheard of. I’d obviously recommend it to anyone with a mouth and the ability to chew food, they even do a lunch deal!
Words: Josh Fleming
Obviously the entire main course was destroyed without a trace in what I imagine has to be one of the quickest times since record keeping began, and I felt like it would be at least a week before I needed to feed again. But, for the sake of the review, we pushed ourselves into a dessert. Callum came through once more with another recommendation, the dirty white. A so-called ‘Hardshake’, it was a Vanilla and Oreo cookie milkshake with Lazzaroni amaretto, and it blew my mind. The balance of flavours was perfect; enough milkshake for it to be smooth with just a gentle kick from the amaretto that really gave it an edge.
TOP 5 CHRISTMAS MARKETS
IN EUROPE
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC In Prague, the two main markets are in the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, each just a short 5 minutes walk from one another. These two markets sell a variety of unique hand-made gifts including glassware, embroidered lace, toys, metalware, ceramics, jewellery, scented candles, Christmas decorations, ornaments and clothing. To accompany your shopping trip, you can try out some of Prague’s traditional food, including hams which are roasted on a spit or ‘Klobása’, a type of barbequed sausage and several varieties of pastry and cake such as the hot sugar coasted pastry, ‘Trdelník’. Alongside this you can have taste of the Czech Republic’s most famous beers, Pilsner Urquell, Staropramen and Budvar, or a warming glass of mulled wine.
VIENNA, AUSTRIA
There are several markets in Vienna but by far the largest and most impressive is the Wiener Christkindlmarkt at Rathausplatz. The picturesque streets provide a spectacular backdrop. Attracting a staggering 3.5 million visitors a year, the market has everything you could ever want from traditional chestnut stalls, cream-filled pastries, pretzels, hams, sausage and Christmas punch to decorations, arts and crafts, glass work and handcrafted wood ornaments made by artisans from all over Austria.
NUREMBERG, GERMANY
BERLIN, GERMANY
Berlin is the obvious choice for a Christmas market, but by far one of the best. There are markets all over Berlin, but one of the most impressive is Weihnachtszauber at the Gendarmenmarkt which sells some truly unique hand-made products including a variety of arts and crafts gifts. Berlin is a great place to try some of Germany’s delicacies such as their special cheeses, white chocolate milk and fried apple. The market is also located close to some of Germany’s most remarkable buildings, including the Konzerthaus, the Franzozische Friedrichstadtkirche and the Deutsche Dom.
COLOGNE, GERMANY
If you’re into history and culture, then the Nuremberg’s Christkindlesmarkt is the perfect place for you. The market here was first mentioned in a document in 1628 making this one of the longest standing markets in the world. Some things to look out for at Nuremberg is their famous gingerbread, or Lebkuchen as it is named in German. Not only is the market a great place to explore, but the surrounding area of Nuremberg is equally as exciting; with over 30 museums, the Nuremberg Imperial Castle and plenty of different beers to try, you’ll certainly never run out of things to do!
Each year, the small German town of Cologne provides a magical Christmas market. The air is sweetened with the aroma of mulled wine, hot chestnuts and gingerbread for you to enjoy while finding the perfect gift for your loved ones. Cologne’s largest market takes place close to the Rhine river outside the famed Cologne Cathedral, a beautiful backdrop for the market. At the market, there is also a stage for live performances, and a skating rink nearby to get you into the Christmas spirit. Words: Sophie Demetriades
Words: Monica Jinabhai
THEATRE REVIEW
Image: Flickr, Canon in 2D
PRIDE & PREJUDICE
Director Simon Reade brings a new adaptation of Pride and Prejudice to the stage, just in time for Austen’s 200th anniversary. For the benefit of those who have never read or watched Pride and Prejudice before, it is a humorous story of love and life among English gentility during the Georgian era, focusing on Mr Bennet, his overbearing wife and their five daughters. All is peaceful in their home in Hartfordshire until Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy arrive to shake things up a bit, prompting Mrs Bennet to marry off her daughters. Simon Reade begins and ends the play with Mrs Bennet, played brilliantly by Felicity Montagu who announces: ‘It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.’ This reinforces Austen’s statement on the social and economic foundations of the marriage transaction, and in doing so sees that the easily mocked Mrs Bennet does very well in this venture. References to Georgian societal values are also portrayed
through the icy and judgemental Miss Caroline Bingley, played by Kirsty Rider who made her professional debut. Rider is one of the actors I was most impressed with; encapsulating Caroline’s stern nature and snide remarks perfectly, she was a pleasure to watch. Equally as exceptional in their performance was Mr Bennet, Matthew Kelly and Mrs Bennet, Felicity Montagu who worked extremely well together. Kelly’s sarcastic tone in response to Montagu’s seemingly trivial comments produced a comedic effect which I’m sure Austen would be proud of. However, the novel’s interest lies with the liaison between Elizabeth and Mr Darcy. It is fair to say, that Benjamin Dilloway, (Mr Darcy) had a lot to live up to following Colin Firth and Matthew Macfadyen, and to an extent he does manage to portray the smouldering and stern Mr Darcy.
The only criticism I would give is that he could have been a little less comical and a little more intimate when he declares his love for Elizabeth. Unfortunately, this scene produced a laugh from the audience which I don’t think was the intended result. I know that Austen’s novel does contain witty jokes and irony but leave that to Mr and Mrs Bennet, don’t bring Mr Darcy and Elizabeth into it. In terms of staging, of course the adaptation offers a more diluted version of Austen’s novel, however, this did not stand in the way of Deborah Bruce, with an impressively well staged production. Likewise, Max Jones ingeniously creates a revolving two-tier set with wrought iron gates, which manages to accommodate each new setting. Overall, the play succeeded more as a comedy than a romance, but nonetheless it was still a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Words: Sophie Demetriades
Words: Maryam Peerbhai
Entertainment
Words: Cameron Bennett
Words: Brad Harper
Creatives The purpose of the sign is to emotionally arouse. It catches those who do not meet its expectation in an iron grip, and rebukes them for their lack of integrity. I am someone who has been caught by the sign, and in a world where frankness is valued, I will fall. Once the government became aware of the destruction that lying caused, they set out to make it right, adopting a ‘no lying’ policy that is monitored by police officials. Lying is now illegal. If you are caught, well… I am sure you can guess what happens. Adolescents and teenagers, aged 12-18, bear the brunt of this scrutiny as this is when lies begin to ‘dominate our lives and our psyche’. Each person is subjected to a lie detector test once every three weeks in order to weed out those who don’t abide by the rules. The students that are caught are sent to god knows where. The students who pass, survive. It is 11:00 AM on a Monday morning, and my lie detector test will commence in an hour. My hands are trembling whilst I wait: the feeling of dread cripples me. If I were someone who based the foundations of my morality on candidness, I wouldn’t be so terrified. But this morning, I neglected to prepare for my final exam, and the punishment for failing is almost equal to that of lying. I have few options. I could lie, and be exiled, or I could tell the truth and still be penalized later. The Society cannot risk imperfection, and school is their way of getting rid of those of us who represent it. My anxiety grows as time passes, and when one of The Officials appear in the doorway of my class, I feel as if death has come to collect me. Together, we walk in silence. The Official doesn’t say a word, yet the way that their eyes stare blankly ahead tells me more than their words ever could. After a few minutes, we stop in front of a metal door. The Official moves to stand in front of it, and almost instantly a dark blue light appears and scans their blank eyes. The door opens with a click, and that’s when I step inside. Its interior is simple: a square room encased in metal, with a metal table and two chairs situated on either side in the middle, bolted to the floor.
‘In a world where frank
I find myself moving to sit on one of the chairs, the official close behind me. As I settle in one of the chairs, my heart beat quickens.
This is it. The Official is now seated in front of me, opening their mouth, the robotic sound of a voice resonates through their internal speakers. “Hello. This is the lie detector test issued by The Society and its reigning government. You are candidate 4260, and we will ask you a series of questions, which you must respond with either ‘yes’ or ‘no’. The purpose of this test is to assess your value, so please answer as candidly as possible. Failure to do so will result in severe punishment.”
“Do you possess any radical views that could contradict the values of The Society, such as sympathy for liars?” “No.” “Are you fully registered student of this school?” “Yes.” “Have you conducted approximately 40 hours of study time per week as listed in the criteria for this school?” “Y-yes.” The silence that follows is immediate. It is demanding, but worst of all, it is condemning. They’ve caught me, but then again - did I ever stand a chance?
kness is valued, liars fall.’ “Candidate 4260. You have failed this test.” Those words are the last thing I hear, before my vision turns black. My lies become my destruction. Words: Amira Richards
SHORT STORIES Every month we include a couple of engaging pieces of creative writing from students from a whole range of courses, turn over the page for another page turner!
EL MEMENTO My mornings always start the same way. This one is no different. I’m in my favourite spot, tucked away under the book shelves. The light is good there, and people passing can’t see me. There’s a few other people here, inside and outside. The only one I recognise is the barista wiping mugs near the counter. The older gentleman only works rarely but he knows me and had greeted me when I’d come in. I test to see if I can brave the heat of my coffee yet, but it’s still too hot. It burns my tongue a little. Returning the cup to its saucer, quietly to avoid disturbing the general silence of the place, I relent to simply waiting for it to cool. The newspaper I’d picked out earlier lies folded on my table and I decide it’s the perfect way to distract myself for a few minutes. I straighten the pages in my lap, smoothing it out to better read the small printed words. Nothing really seems interesting but, as I’m about to flip the page, an image at the bottom grabs my attention. It’s mostly black with a small white smudge in the upper left of the picture. The brief words next to the image are questioning whether the smudge is something extra-terrestrial. My eyebrows draw together slightly and I flip to the next page to locate the rest of the story. That’s when the light bulb starts buzzing. I’m too busy trying to find the rest of the story to notice. The lights flicker and buzz with growing urgency. I haven’t found the story when I hear it. The bulb sounds distressed and fizzes. My eyes flick upwards towards it and, as my eyes fix on it, the glass shatters. The buzzing has stopped. I don’t really pay it attention. I flinch from the shattered glass. The newspaper covers my face but I realise the room is now completely silent soon after moving out from behind it. Everything seems still. I leave my seat, discarding the paper and the barely touched coffee. My vision skitters over everyone -- but no one moves. Everyone has paused part way through something. I spin slowly, eyes grazing the room. The wristwatch on the barista is still and that triggers the panic creeping in. My attention is suddenly called outside and the feeling of being watched filters over my skin. I have to leave. Go. Get out. Move. Warily, I step towards the exit. Light shards of shattered glass gently run over my skin. I don’t feel them, but I’m aware they’re there. My pace increases as I hurry to leave. I’m almost running by the time I’m pushing my way out. Something smashes behind me. I don’t look back. Behind me the door swings lightly, and just outside, I pause. People are moving as normal. Talking, laughing, relaxing as if nothing is wrong. But something is. I cast my head around trying to find what is unsettling me. There’s nothing there. But I’m not going to wait. I turn to my right. And I run. Words: Eden Minnis
Artist of the Month These are three pieces taken from a series that I'm currently working on titled "Sunset at 3pm".
How should I explain to you what the December winter feels like to me? You can never look inside my brain; I can never let you look inside my head. Learning to live with early sunsets and cold afternoons, trying not to associate the dimming skylight with time lost.
I haven't stopped believing in Christmas. Not yet. So I hope you'll forget everything I said and go back to the people who love you, the place that'll always be kind to you.
Lee Jia-An Third-year BA English and History
You can find more of her artwork at blueorfeo.tumblr.com
Sport
Are Poppies A Political Statement? Football’s governing body, FIFA, has turned down a request from England and Scotland football players to wear armbands that would feature poppies on Armistice Day. Does the design really breach a ban on ‘political’ symbols? The poppy itself is worn every November in order to commemorate members of the armed forces who have given their lives in war. It is traditional of British sports teams to add a poppy to their kit within the month of November. Both the English and the Scottish football associations were hoping to get permission for their players to wear poppies upon their shirts on their World Cup qualifier which happens to fall on Armistice Day (11 November). FIFA clearly states that it bans ‘political, religious or commercial messages’ from being used upon a national team’s shirt, and the Scottish FA stated that FIFA is ‘sticking to the letter of the law’. Despite this however, both the English and Scottish FAs are hoping to change FIFA’s mind. What is clear is that the poppy is neither political nor is it commercial, so presumably the concern here is whether it can be seen as political. The Royal British Legion (RBL) has insisted that the poppy is not a political statement or a ‘sign of support for war’, but is in fact a symbol of ‘remembrance and hope’. This is not the first time that such a situation has arisen either. In 2011, following an outcry by the public, a solution was found which meant that England, Scotland and Wales were allowed to wear poppies on black armbands.
However not everyone shares the same viewpoint. Many do think it is political, including Harry Leslie Smith, a 93-year-old World War Two veteran. He has not worn his poppy since 2013 as he believes that “the spirit of my generation has been hijacked” by today’s politicians to “sell dubious wars” in Afghanistan and Iraq. Another such example is Republic of Ireland and West Bromwich Albion midfielder James McClean, who has argued that it represents all the conflicts that the UK has taken part in. He cites in particular “the history where I come from in Derry” – the Northern Irish city in which took place ‘Bloody Sunday’, where British paratroopers killed unarmed civilians in January 1972. Despite such a debate, England players have been told that they will be wearing poppies against Scotland despite FIFA regulations banning them from doing so, according to the chairman of the FA Greg Clarke. It is also a decision that has been largely condemned by Prime Minister Theresa May, who had described the decision as “utterly outrageous”. What is clear, is that FIFA should be concerned with their own affairs, after it being mired in a long-running corruption, rather than wearing a poppy, which I see as a sign of respect to those that have died in war as opposed to a political statement.
Words: Georgia Moulder
Ched Evans: Fresh Starts For Everyone? The retrial of professional footballer, Ched Evans, has come to an end, declaring him as not guilty. Whilst he can now move on, the life of the complainant will never get back to normal due to how she has been wrongfully exposed in court. Back in 2011 Ched Evans was given 5 years and served 2 and half for the rape of a 19 year old woman in a hotel room. Since then, with help from a well-funded legal team and PR campaign, the footballer gained a retrial and is now a free man. Evans was said to be “overwhelmed with relief” in a statement read out as he left court last month. Life is looking up now for the 27 year old. Chesterfield, his current club, is waiting for his return as he’s nursing an injury. His fiancée, Natasha Massey, stood by him through the trial. Although Evans appears to be heading for brighter days again, the fact the court heard of the sexual preferences and habits of the complainant has caused uproar with women’s support groups and campaigners. It is now a worry that this move will prevent victims from coming forward in the future.
Words: India Wentworth
Section 41 of the Youth and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 put restrictions on the extent of evidence that could be put forward in court about an alleged victim’s sexual behaviour. In this case the lawyers have worked around that. Lisa Longstaff, of the group Women against Rape claims that “Here they’ve driven a coach and horses through the supposed protection.” There is a thin but dangerous line between giving someone a fair trial and completely exposing the complainant. This case is unique due to the public interest around Evans, but with the help he has received to be found not guilty, the exposure of the complainant seems to have gone too far and now her life is ruined. The case has been followed with controversy from the very beginning, with some arguments surfacing around whether a sports star can return to the game having served their time. The outcome of this retrial should have caused the story to slowly fade, but now with the way it has been handled in court, it is hard to see how this won’t affect future cases of rape and other sexual assaults. It is bad enough that the victim has been named on social media, but with her sexual history being announced in court, I can’t see how anyone can move on from that. The treatment of the complainant in such a public case is worrying for the future of abused women, because it could make it harder for prosecutors to get justice in future sexual abuse cases.
What’s On
Birmingham Christmas Market
Every year in many parts of Germany and many German speaking areas outside of the country the Christmas markets or Christkindlmarkt, take place to celebrate the birth of Christ alongside just being a fun way of celebrating the holiday. These markets date back as early as the 14th Century (1384 to be exact) with one of the most famous markets being in Frankfurt. Said markets often provide festive food, drink as well as seasonal items such as decorations and gifts for your loved ones. The usual Nativity scene to depict the birth of Jesus is also on display in one form or another. Tourists travel from far and wide to various European countries in order to experience such a display with the ‘opening ceremony’ of each market attracting thousands of Christmas lovers. So, why would you, a reader in Leicester, be interested in any way in such a market which takes place miles away in a faraway land? Well, running from November 17th to December 29th, the Birmingham German Christmas Market is back! This market, which is held in Victoria Square, is the largest authentic German Christmas Market outside of Germany and Austria making it an event not to be missed. Traditional food and drink such as pretzels, schnitzels and bratwursts with gluhwein and weissbeer being served (that’s mulled wine and wheat beer to us non-German speaking folk). Also, with over 120 individual stalls there is a high chance you will get most of your Christmas shopping done too. With the market running after Christmas you can avoid the rush of the Boxing Day sales by taking a gentle stroll through Victoria Square while enriching yourself in the German culture. If all that wasn’t enough for you, there is also the Christmas Craft Market which sells- you guessed it- crafts and such from all over the world including India, South America and Africa. This takes place in Centenary Square which is just adjacent to the normal market meaning that it won’t be hard to find. You will also get the chance to sample locally produced food and drink including home-made chutneys and cheeses. Both markets are open from 10am-9pm daily with the exception of Christmas day (these stallholders want to spend at least one day with their family over the festive period). There is plenty of parking surrounding the market with Birmingham New Street train station being a stone’s throw away. With regular trains throughout the day from Leicester to Birmingham there’s no reason why anyone should miss this event. Words: Nidhi India
What? Sleeping Beauty Where? Little Theatre
What? Christmas Carols Where? St. James Church
16th20th Dec
What? Open Mic Night Where? Old Plough
What? Viennese Christmas Where? Leicester Cathedral
17th Dec
23rd Dec
15th Dec WHAT TO DO IN
21st Dec
What? Don’t Dress for Dinner Where? Little Theatre
DEC & JAN What? The Twits Where? Curve Theatre
Whole Month
31st Dec
Whole Month What? Traditional Christmas Fair Where? Belgrave 10th Hall and Dec Gardens
What? U.S Grease, The Musical Where? The Curve
What? New Years Eve Party Where? Firebug
What? Wheel of Light Where? Jubilee Square
Until 8th Jan
Opinion
RANT OF THE
MONTH I am appalled, almost on a daily basis, at the poor grasp of English grammar amongst educated people. Did you go to school? Did you miss the days, weeks, months and years in which you would have been taught how to correctly speak, read, and write English? If English is not your first language, or if you have a learning disability, fear not, I’m not directing my steely gaze at you. Rather, it is you: yes you, person without disability, born, raised, and educated in England. How is it that so many people don’t seem to understand that “Sunday’s” does not nor cannot exist? Unless Sunday is a person, in which case, shame on their parents for picking that name. Plural words have never needed apostrophes, and you don’t need to start adding them now. If anything, it takes more effort to add in the extra character. “Lot’s”. “Time’s”. “Hero’s”. Typing that made me want to hit myself in the face with a dictionary.
Learn your plurals. Before you scoff and think, ‘jeez. What a stuck-up grammar Nazi. Who cares? You know what I mean, anyway’; that’s not the point! I might know what you mean, after unfortunately having accustomed myself to understand the swirling labyrinth of today’s common dialect that is the grave of the English language. I also might know what you mean if we’re chatting via text, and you write “its” instead of “it’s”, because it’s less effort. I’m not saying you need to be writing perfect English every single time you type, but if one doesn’t actually know the difference between ‘defiantly’ and ‘definitely’, or ‘affect’ and ‘effect’, then shouldn’t they be learnt?
If you write the wrong word often enough, then surely that’s what you’ll come to write instinctively and then on the day that you apply for a new job, or give a critical presentation in front of people you want to impress. It looks bad if you don’t know the right word, because if English is your first language, then you will either seem poorly educated or simply unintelligent. It’s harsh, but true. Employers bin 50 per cent of applications due to spelling or grammatical errors, according to the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC). Perhaps even more shockingly, these errors are twice as likely to be made by graduates than those who did not go on to attend university.
Is this laziness? Am I actually living in some parallel universe where everyone does in fact speak and write correctly and the seeming minority and myself are the ones who commit grammar atrocities? I’m beginning to feel uncertain. On a funny note, I went to dinner with my family at a Michelin-starred restaurant (calm down, I’m not a pretentious prick. It was a special occasion) in London the other weekend and found a spelling mistake in their cocktail menu: ‘eldereflower’. To be fair, it was probably a typo rather than an actual spelling crime because they had written ‘elderflower’ everywhere else, but still. Made me laugh. Sad, I know. But if you don’t laugh, you will cry at the calamity that surrounds you. Anyway. Since Christmas and New Year’s Eve is coming up on our calendars, please, if this has resonated with anyone for whatever reason, whether you identified with the person I was lecturing, or you know someone who will, make it a New Year’s Resolution to improve your spelling and grammar. It does matter. Words: Priyanka Makwana
A few weeks ago, I found myself sitting on the naughty step in some obscure corner of the Internet dominated by angry, middle-aged mums... It all started off quite innocently, really. To find some form of escapism from the stress and drudgery of student life, I went outside for some fresh air, meditated, then jotted down some changes I could make to my lifestyle and attitude that would make me happier (read: spent an hour scrolling through my Facebook feed). It was my lucky day. I came across a page that featured parents who regretted having children. Now if there is one thing I hate, it's overly smug parents, or smug mums if I'm being specific. ‘Yes I made that thing and I pushed it out of me and it looks like me and hopefully it will act like me because it's a narcissistic extension of myself whose potential I will nurture/destroy with my dysfunctional parenting style.’ Deep breaths, Susan. It's not that deep. Anyway, I tagged my best friend in the article with a comment that went along the lines of ‘you don't need children when you have red wine.’ In my opinion, this comment was as harmless as it was true.* Apparently not. Out came the Mummy Army waving their fists in the air. ‘What a selfish thing 2 say I luv my little ones wldnt eva give them up N THESE PEOPLE DNT DESERVE THERE KIDS !!!!! I feel sory 4 youre empty life HA!’ Oh Deborah, please. Give it a rest will you. ‘Wonder what this girls mum thinks of her. Having kids is the most selfless thing u can do.’** I was beyond flabbergasted. How does one get angry when someone else does not want children? Apparently it is a truth universally acknowledged that a person in possession of a vagina must be in want of a child. I was some perverse exception to the norm. We only have to analyse the language used when talking about women that have no children to see how they are regarded in society today. ‘Childless’. To me, that suffix is at once insulting, patronising and ignorant. Maybe I’m childfree. But do you ever think about that? No, because you only ever think about yourself. So rude.
Words: Pooja Bokhiria
Here’s a thought: plenty of women have their own reasons for wanting to be childfree, none of which need to be justified or approved by those that do have children. For me, the doge puppy beats the human puppy on every level. Sadly, I cannot conceive puppies naturally, so no childbirth for me. Share my sorrow, comrades. Secondly, I believe I am scarred for life from a primary school sex education lesson. After a weird cartoon about the importance of being hygienic, in which two characters would repeatedly tell each other 'eurgh, some of your bits ain't nice,' the class was treated to a video on childbirth from the 80s. There lay madam who was screaming her head off whilst the camera slowly descended to reveal a potato emerging from what I thought was a mohair dungeon. This is trauma at its finest. Moving away from unnecessarily graphic primary school learning resources, bringing a child into the world is not the only achievement of which I’m capable. The fact that I don’t want them does not make me selfish, stupid, or a horrible person. So, enough with the ridiculous responses. The thing that bothers me most about the situation is the fact that most of the ignorance I’ve experienced comes from other women.
‘You’re just being childish.’ ‘You’ll change your mind.’ Don’t patronise me with that irritating knowing smile. ‘Men want babies. You’re stupid if you don’t have them. No one will marry you. What are you going to do alone for the rest of your life?’ Oh, I don’t know. Not shave my legs and enjoy the extra layer of warmth every winter? And how does this decision make me stupid? I’m a relatively bright individual and this personal decision has absolutely no impact on my intelligence. FYI, if I do become a mother in a parallel universe, I’m sure I’d be a decent one. It’s not like I don’t have all the basic information. I know how babies are made (they are ordered online, duh) and I know what’s necessary for them to be healthy and happy (e.g. clean its tank regularly), SO THERE. To end this rant succinctly, I impart upon thee some of my sage wisdom: we need to move beyond the notion that womanhood is dependent on motherhood. Quite frankly, anyone that follows and prescribes this view to other women is nothing more than a nincompoop.
Science
CHARGE YOUR PHONE IN SECONDS Researchers from the University of Central Florida have created a new method for charging not just mobile phones but anything electrical, from a laptop to a car. It involves the use of supercapacitors. To break it down, a capacitor is just something electric that also stores electric energy, a bit like a battery, and a supercapacitor is basically a really good (some might say, super) capacitor. Their main advantage is how quickly you can charge them, and then how long they hold it for. Give your phone a couple of years and the charge gets progressively worse. Supercapacitors, on the other hand, laugh in the face of that lifespan. So if they’re better than batteries, why don’t all already have them? Unfortunately, lithium-ion batteries can hold much more energy compared to their size. So how much better are these microscopic dethroners of the battery? Well, with a supercapacitor inside your phone you’d probably only have to charge it once a week, for a couple of seconds. As for how long it’ll last, the standard battery won’t live longer than 1,500 charges at absolute maximum. This new supercapacitor didn’t show any signs of slowing down after 30,000 charges. 30,000! Plus, the wires make it flexible, so the technology could eventually be integrated into wearable’s too. Regrettably, if you have an iPhone, by the time these supercapacitors are commercially available Apple will have probably got rid of the charging port and you’ll have to buy a new phone every time the battery dies at 19%.
Scientists solution to this problem has been to play with nanomaterials, trying to find a structure that will be an effective supercapacitor that will also fit in your paper-thin phone. If you hadn’t already guessed, they think they’ve cracked it. Without going into too much detail, the team made the new supercapacitors out of millions of nanometerthick wires (for conductivity) with a layer of two-dimensional materials on top (for building more power).
85
Average amount of times you check your phone on a daily basis. Words: Josh Fleming
Nitin Choudhary, Chao Li, Hee-Suk Chung, Julian Moore, Jayan Thomas, Yeonwoong Jung. HighPerformance One-Body Core/Shell Nanowire Supercapacitor Enabled by Conformal Growth of Capacitive 2D WS2 Layers. ACS Nano, 2016; DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.6b06111
WHAT YOUR PHONE CHOICE REVEALS ABOUT YOU Believe it or not, the amount of people who choose an iPhone over Android and vice versa, is almost exactly 50/50 across the market. Although the debate on which user experience is better doesn’t look to be settled any time soon, research is giving us a better insight into what exactly your phone choice says about you. We all know people who would feel utterly lost if they were phone-less, perhaps we’d even recognise it in ourselves. Could this be because nowadays our smartphones are almost a digital representation of us, an extension of our personalities? Well, after a study by a team from Lancaster University, the results are in, and you might not like the implications…
ANDROID Users are more likely to be...
- Older - Male - More honest - More agreeable - Less likely to break rules for personal gain - Less interested in wealth and status
IPHONE Users are more likely to be...
- Younger - Female (by twice the amount!) - More likely to see their phone as a status object - More extraverted - Less concerned about owning devices favoured by most people
Obviously this is playing the numbers game and just because you have one phone or another does not guarantee you’ll fall into these character assessments. That being said, I have recently made the jump from iPhone to Android and, aside from that leap being enough of a thrill to last me a year, I’m enjoying life on the other side of the fence. There’s headphone ports here. Heather Shaw, David A. Ellis, Libby-Rae Kendrick, Fenja Ziegler, Richard Wiseman. Predicting Smartphone Operating System from Personality and Individual Differences. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 2016; DOI: 10.1089/cyber.2016.0324
Politics
Words: Hannah Stock
Words: Cameron Eyles
Words: Elliott Humm