e Independent Student Newspaper

Number 781 Friday 3rd October 2014

Published in Cambridge since 1947 www.varsity.co.uk Like a Virgin! Lavinia Puccetti in defence of religious art and e

Fitzwilliam Museum’s bid for the Mater Dolorosa P15 Comment

PETER GRANT Union releases Michaelmas 2014 termcard

Tll Schfer Deputy News Ed tor

e Cambridge Union has revealed its line-up for Michaelmas 2014 this week. e list of speakers balances those from the entertainment and sport in- dustries, such as the Irish comedian Ed Byrne, the current manager of the England football team Roy Hodgson, cast members of the reality TV show Geordie Shore, with those from aca- demic backgrounds, such as the sci- entist and theoretician Aubrey de Grey and the economist Peter Nolan. Topics for this term’s ten debates also span a wide range of themes. Union members can look forward to discussions on national and in- ternational politics in debates on whether UKIP has been a force for good in British politics and whether Russia is a force for global instability. Furthermore, the Union seems to be addressing accusations of sex- ism made against it by the CUSU Stripping o to stand up to cancer: e UK Undie Run, which raises money for Cancer Research, comes to Cambridge later this month Women’s Campaign since Lent 2014, when the only female speaker was the ballerina Darcey Bussell. Whilst the Lent and Easter term cards only contained one and two female £1bn on new university campus speakers respectively, the fi gure has now risen to six in this term’s line-up, accounting for roughly 30 per cent of Construction begins on e 150 hectare triangular area be- Vice Chancellor Professor Sir around a new college. Nick Hillman, all invited speakers. e women’s pub- tween Huntingdon Road, Madingley Leszek Borysiewicz believes that director of the Higher Education lic speaking workshops from last year new £1bn university site Road and the M11 will eventually the scale of this development will Policy Institute, has raised concerns will also return for Michaelmas 2014, be developed into a mixed-use site, provide for much of the accommo- about the impact this will have on along with a new ‘Women in Science’ Sarah Baxter boasting houses, graduate accom- dation, for both staff and post-grad- Cambridge student life: “I do think forum and a gender-based forum. News Correspondent modation and research facilities. uates, that the university is likely to elements of the ‘Cambridge experi- is year also revives the com- Half of the 3000 houses on the need over the next 20 years. ence’ will be missing from the site. edy debate between the Cambridge new £1 billion site will be set aside A unique feature of this devel- One is the traditional college and an- Footlights and the Oxford Revue Construction has fi nally begun on the for university staff , in the hope that opment, however, has proved the other is undergraduates, and [they] on the uses and abuses of Tinder. north-west Cambridge site in the provision of new housing will help source of some concern; unlike other do add to the greater good of ‘ is House believes the Cambridge most recent development project for to attract staff and researchers to the ‘out-of-town’ sites such as Girton and Union Society is a rip-off ’, Comment, the University of Cambridge. university in the future. Homerton, this site will not be based CONTINUES ON PAGE 5 page 15 2 Friday 3rd October 2014 Editorial

Forget Freshers’ FOMO

ambridge students are not al- rather turgid place. As others lood Facebook but is particularly acute when you start univer- ways renowned for their sense with pictures of drunken club nights, fancy sity. And it’s not just with regard to socialising of fun. It might be hard to be- dress and literally hundreds of new best friends, – the Cambridge Union Society has some of the lieve, but many people don’t it can be easy to imagine that a sad, sweaty, sor- most aggressive marketing methods known to consider setting up camp in a did night in Life may be the be all and end of the humankind, and much of this is based on ped- library, or initiating a ‘political Cambridge social experience. dling the myth that everyone else in Cambridge Cthought discussion club’, to be the pinnacle of is already a member. here are many beneits student life. It is with this in mind that many Fear Of Missing Out, or ‘FOMO’, is one of the that come with Union membership, but one of newcomers start Cambridge Freshers’ Week. most pernicious phenomena of the social me- the main reasons that people cough up £185 for Certainly, many will relish in the unparalleled dia age. Varsity plays its part as well – see page a lifetime membership is FOMO. opportunities for intellectual development that 20 to read all about what you missed at the Cambridge ofers; with Freshers’ ‘Week’ typi- Edinburgh Fringe, a festival to which hundreds of However, do not be fooled into thinking that cally lasting about four days before the irst es- Cambridge thesps decamp every year. Freshers’ Cambridge life revolves around any one hub. say is set, these students will not have to wait Week is peak time for FOMO aliction. Don’t he city may be small, but university life is not long before their scholastic cogs will be forcibly feel like going on the pub crawl? You’ll deinite- conined to the Footlights, the Union, the ‘clubs’ turned up a gear. ly never make friends. Accidentally miss the (or even to Varsity...). Sure, you don’t want to freshers’ welcome picnic? Say goodbye to any miss out on any of the exciting opportunities For others, however, having waited at home for kind of social life for the next three years. that Cambridge has to ofer, but truth be told, it weeks while their friends embarked on difer- is the students, not the schedules or the socie- EDITORIAL ent university careers, Cambridge can seem a A feeling of FOMO can haunt anyone at anytime, ties, who ofer these chances.

NEWS VARSITY SQUASH! Homophobic Preacher VARSITY OFFICES, NEW MUSEUMS SITE Ex-student takes on local evangelist in documentary on Ugandan gay rights (page 9) INTERVIEW Will Gompertz BBC arts editor talks about what makes good art and how he sets the agenda (page 12) COMMENT Is the Union worth it? Ellie Gould and Union President Tim Squirrell argue for and against the cost of Union membership (page 15) LIFESTYLE A cantabrigian abroad Kiera Summer lands on her feet (just) in her irst week of living in Paris (page 23) JONNY ROWLANDS FASHION Fall deiance Blow away the autumnal grey skies with bright colours and a sunny outlook (page 24) Tune in to Radio Varsity THEATRE Friday 3pm he art of reviewing This week: Hong Kong protests, consent Sarah Grice negotiates the delicate art of being a theatre critic in Cambridge (page 26) classes and stalking freshers...

Editor Amy Hawkins EDITOR @VARSITY .CO .UK Deputy Editor Talia Zybutz DEPUTYEDITOR @VARSITY .CO .UK Business Manager Mark Curtis BUSINESS @VARSITY .CO .UK Production & Design Editors Daisy Schofield, Sareeka Linton, Sanjukta Sen, Pheobe Stone, Daniella Brisco-Peaple PRODUCTION @VARSITY .CO .UK News Editors Sarah Sheard (Senior), Till Schöfer & Richard Nicholl (Deputy) NEWS @VARSITY .CO .UK News Features & Investigations Editor James Sutton NEWSFEATURES @VARSITY .CO .UK Comment Editors Charlie Chorley & Tom Freeman COMMENT @ VARSITY .CO .UK Science Editor Harry Taylor SCIENCE @VARSITY .CO .UK Lifestyle Editor Anne O’Neill LIFESTYLE @VARSITY .CO .UK Culture Editors Will Hutton & Ciara Nugent CULTURE @VARSITY .CO .UK Theatre Editor Marthe Ogg de Ferrer THEATRE @VARSITY .CO .UK Fashion Editor David Godwin FASHION @VARSITY .CO .UK Reviews Editor Lily Hollins REVIEWS @VARSITY .CO .UK Sport Editors Louis Williams & George Ramsay (Deputy) SPORT @VARSITY .CO .UK Interviews Editor Elissa Foord INTERVIEWS @VARSITY .CO .UK Online Editor James Taylor Varsity Radio Joe Marshall DIGITAL @ VARSITY .CO .UK Chief Sub Editor Alex Izza Photographers Jess Franklin & Jonny Rowlands PHOTOS @VARSITY .CO .UK Illustrators Daisy Hessenberger & Hannah Taylor ILLUSTRATION @VARSITY .CO .UK Varsity Board Dr Michael Franklin (Chairman), Prof. Peter Robinson, Dr Tim Harris, Chris Wright, Michael Derringer, Michael Curtis (VarSoc President), Chloe Stopa-Hunt (he Mays), Amy Hawkins NEWSPAPERS SUPPORT Varsity, Old Examination Hall, Free School Lane, Cambridge CB2 3RF. Tel 01223 337575. Fax 01223 760949. Varsity is published by Varsity Publications Ltd. Varsity Publications also publishes BlueSci and The Mays. RECYCLING Recycled paper made ©2014 Varsity Publications Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior permission of the publisher. up 78.9% of the raw material for UK Printed at Iliffe Print Cambridge — Winship Road, Milton, Cambridge CB24 6PP on 42.5gsm newsprint. Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office. ISSN 1758-4442 newspapers in 2011 NEWSPAPERS SUPPORT Deutsche Bank db.com/careers Agile minds know they do from experience

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VARSITY INVESTIGATES Oxbridge Elitism or Social Mobility?

A BLESSING IN DISGUISE? James Sutton investigates whether elitism in Cambridge might just be the university’s biggest selling point

“Pale, male and stale”: how many the likes of me’ syndrome.” his Arthur Hannah, an Education with university: “when I received my of- ahead into the application process times has this epithet been used to perceived elitism, and the problems English and Drama student who fer I wasn’t sure whether Cambridge are the ones who see Cambridge describe to government cabinets of access which are associated with receives the National Scholarship was the right place for me because as an “educational opportunity” and big business boardrooms alike? it, is something which all three Programme’s £6000 tuition fee my perception of Cambridge was of with the potential for long-term According to the Social Mobility major party leaders have spoken out waiver (awarded to those from weird traditions, gowns, wine and social mobility, whereas some of and Child Poverty Commission’s against. From this perspective at low-income homes, who have spent pretentious conversations. those who stop short of applying latest report, Oxbridge graduates least, perceptions of elitism serve to more than three months in care, “I think this is the image that the are instead daunted by Cambridge’s still make up the majority of those prevent social mobility; resulting in central colleges I visited on the open elitist atmosphere. Hanna seconds seated at these important tables and the dominance of the privileged few day, and students I talked to,...tried this view, claiming that “whilst... it would seem that attending one at the top of British society, particu- to project, thinking that this is what this kind of social mobility may of Britain’s two oldest universities larly given that there is still a strong prospective students are impressed appeal to some, I think this scares is the ticket. However, as the latest link between independent school by”. She describes the biggest issue most prospective students from less freshers arrive, and the Union pre- attendance and progression to CAMBRIDGE SCARES MOST as “a misconception of social elit- privileged backgrounds”. It would pares for a Week One debate ques- Oxbridge. On average, 40 per cent ism for prospective students” but seem, therefore, that whilst the tioning whether Oxbridge is a force of Cambridge students are privately PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS realises that “with Cambridge being potential for social mobility entices for good, it is timely to consider educated, compared with seven per immersed in history and associated some into applying to Cambridge in whether Cambridge is cursed by the cent of UK school children. FROM LESS PRIVELEGED with typically upper class activities, cases such as Hanna’s, this ‘elitism’ whif of ‘elitism’ or blessed by it. In Cambridge, however, there BACKGROUNDS societies and traditions, this is a is only a deterrent. As the Elitist Britain? report is still tension as to whether such curse which the university inevi- he ‘curse’ of elitism and the by the Social Mobility and Child elitism is an issue to be tackled. tably carries.” he very existence ‘blessing’ of social mobility clearly Poverty Commission (SMCPC) A university spokesperson said have“ received free school meals, of labels such as ‘non-traditional cannot be divorced. Whilst on the reveals, 75 per cent of senior judges, that such a question “can’t be or are a single parent), remains Oxbridge background’ – often used face of it, the university’s access 59 per cent of the cabinet, 50 per answered because it is premised sceptical. He explains that “when to describe students from low-in- schemes are essentially a major cent of diplomats, 47 per cent of on an acceptance that ‘elitism’ I applied to Cambridge it was in come homes and state schools with myth-busting operation, it doesn’t newspaper columnists, and 12 per exists.” Nevertheless, they went spite of, rather than because of, little history of getting students take a giant leap of imagination to cent of the Sunday Times Rich on to explain that “Events [includ- its reputation for a public school, into Oxbridge – only goes to prove see that these schemes are not in- List attended Oxbridge, whereas ing] Challenge Days for pre-GCSE elitist culture.” For Arthur at least, it that this perception of elitism exists tended to, and never will, complete- just one per cent of the population pupils, Summer Schools and subject seems that a ‘perception’ of elitism, and exerts an inluence over some ly succeed. he perception of elit- as a whole is Oxbridge-educated. Master-classes […] are intended whether or not the university ac- prospective students. ism which hangs over the university Whilst this appears to indicate to encourage students to aspire, to cepts it’s existence, can be a signii- However, Hanna, on arriving in is an inherent part of its prestige; that Oxbridge attendance stands provide advice and support as they cant turn-of. his is, after all, one the city, realised that her “percep- such that graduates’ fantasies of top students in good stead, the Chair of think about their future options, of the central problems which target tion of Cambridge was not the reali- employers’ hearts beating just a lit- the SMCPC the Right Honourable and to give a realistic picture of and access campaigns seek to tackle. ty” and admits that she was “swayed tle faster when reading “Cambridge” Alan Milburn argues that these Cambridge as a diverse community Hanna Stephens, a state-educated by the educational opportunity” on a CV might actually have some igures prove the existence of “A to which anyone can belong.” student at Homerton agrees that Cambridge ofers. Perhaps this is grounding in reality. And that’s closed shop at the top [which] can However, this is not quite enough there is an impenetrable impres- the line in the sand amongst pro- one myth the university certainly all too easily give rise to a ‘not for to dispel the perception of elitism. sion of elitism surrounding the spective students – those who push doesn’t want to bust. News Friday 3rd October 2014 5

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Cambridge by making it a more vi- Consent classes for freshers brant place.” However, this is a worry that Tim Holt, Head of External Communications for the university does not share. He ex- Seventeen colleges have plains that those living in north-west Cambridge will be “affi liated very signed up for the half much to a college” in the same way that hour workshops DAVID_SHANKBONE those living in Clare’s ‘colony’ accom- modation have remained an integrated part of Clare. Ma Innes Moreover, he believes that the News Correspondent north-west Cambridge development, rather than being isolated from cen- tral Cambridge, will in fact be a “nat- Seventeen colleges will have compul- ural extension to the city”. sory sexual consent workshops for Cycle routes and pathways have incoming freshers this week.  ese been planned to encourage this link workshops, taking around 30 min- between city centre and the site. utes in small groups of students dur-  e planning process also has in- ing Freshers’ Week, will include space cluded a number of public consulta- for discussion about what constitutes tions and the fi nal site will refl ect this consent and other linked issues. partnership between the university  is development is a result of the and the public. CUSU Women’s Campaign’s eff orts to Half of the homes provided will be draw attention to the issue of sexual made available for sale to the public, assault in Cambridge. CUSU Women’s whilst site amenities such as sports Offi cer Amelia Horgan said that the and community centres will be open Campaign aims “to send out a clear to all. message that sexual violence will not A Toronto ‘Slut Walk’ protesting against sexual assault  e fi rst building to open on the be tolerated in our community” and to site in September 2015 will be the dispel “the myths and lies about rape which began this month.  e cam- workshops will be eff ective: “the entire Moreover, although these work- University of Cambridge Primary and sexual assault’.” paign hopes to “make the invisible vis- notion of consent can be messy, espe- shops are listed as ‘compulsory’ on School, a co-educational school for ible” by drawing greater attention to cially when alcohol is involved or the the Freshers’ Week schedules of par- children between the ages of four serious crimes such as sexual harass- individual is in a long-term relation- ticipating colleges, with the same and eleven. ment and assault. ship, [so] to be in a space where you weighting as health and safety brief- It is hoped that the new University A survey carried out by Varsity in can discuss and try to iron out issues ings, no fresher will actually be forced of Cambridge Primary School will April 2014 revealed that 46 per cent … can only be good.” to attend. have close links with the university’s SEXUAL VIOLENCE WILL of over 2,000 respondents had been But some are sceptical of the ini-  e participating colleges are: Faculty of Education and the wider groped while at Cambridge, with 8.4 tiative: Professor Mary Beard, of the Emmanuel, Girton, Jesus, Trinity university. NOT BE TOLERATED IN OUR per cent of female respondents report- Faculty of Classics, has said that al- Hall, King’s Churchill, Fitzwilliam, Construction on the site is expect- COMMUNITY ing being victims of attempted sexual though “consciousness raising about St Catharine’s, Queens’, Newnham, ed to be completed by early 2017. assault. 88 per cent of serious sexual sexual consent has to be a good idea, Peterhouse, Murray Edwards, Clare,  e fi rst university buildings assaults went unreported. whether consciousness is most eff ec- Pembroke, Gonville and Caius, should be fi nished by December It also coincides with Cambridgeshire Charlie Chorley, former Women’s tively raised by a compulsory work- Magdalene, Robinson, Homerton, St 2016. Constabulary’s“ ‘Get Closer’ campaign, Offi cer at Pembroke, agrees that these shop remains to be seen”. John’s, Christ’s and Corpus Christi.

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Deadline for entry: To ind out more, come and meet us on: 6 November 2014 Thursday 16 October, 6pm University of Cambridge Darwin Room, The Pitt Building Trumpington Street Visit our website and apply online Cambridge at www.wpp.com CB2 1RP 6 Friday 3rd October 2014 News Cambridge back in top fi ve universities

Cambridge comes 5th in the Times Higher Education WIKIMEDIA World Universities table Sarah Sheard Sen or News Ed tor

e University of Cambridge has been ranked fi fth in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings (THE) 2014-15. Cambridge rose by two places since last year in the THE rankings. Any pride will be bittersweet and short- lived, however, as Cambridge lost out to its main rival, the University of Oxford. Despite losing its two-year streak at second place, Oxford were victorious by only slipping one place to third. Familiar American institutions comprised the top ten, with the California Institute of Technology tak- ing fi rst place, followed by Harvard University. Stanford University came in behind Oxford at fourth place, with Massachusetts Institute of Technology succeeding Cambridge in sixth. e UK “continues to punch above Imperial College London: a competitor with Oxbridge? its weight in the global rankings”, said the editor of the THE World to impress after it defeated Oxford to describe the correlation between Self-described as the “most sophis- critics, is also heavily biased towards University rankings, Phil Baty. e UK in the recent QS World University Imperial’s rise up and Oxford’s slide ticated, balanced and widely respected science-focused universities. is had more top 200 universities than Rankings by sharing second place down the two other most infl uen- academic rankings on the planet,” the is similar to criticism of the QS and any other country except the US, with with Cambridge. is year saw its fi rst tial and widely observed university THE World University Rankings were ARWU rankings as not giving enough which it remains in close competition. breakthrough into the THE top ten, rankings: the QS World University fi rst published in 2004, in association weight to humanities and arts. In the recent QS World University as it was ranked joint ninth with Yale Rankings and the Academic Ranking of with the company omson Reuters. Ross Williams, of the Melbourne Rankings, British institutions made up University. World Universities (ARWU). It seems In the 2013-14 rankings, Cambridge Institute, stated that THE’s procedures half of the top ten alongside American Imperial’s continued success lends possible that the pattern established in achieved third and fi fth place in the would favour more focused “science- universities. further weight to the ‘Impbridge’ the- the QS and ARWU rankings could be QS and ARWU rankings, respectively, based institutions with relatively few Imperial College London continued ory, a term coined by the Independent repeated in the THE tables. making it the highest placed British undergraduates” at the expense of in- university in both tables. stitutions with more comprehensive e top 200 universities represent programmes and undergraduates. the top 1 per cent of the world’s higher Phil Baty, editor of the THE World education institutions. Universities University Rankings, claimed the are assessed based on thirteen ‘indica- rankings do not privilege any one Cambridge Ghost Club tors’ such as the quality of teaching, style or nationality of university; “Of research, and citations in academic course, excellent universities come in journals. many diff erent shapes and sizes, there Some critics maintain, however, that is certainly no single model of excel- examines ‘goblin’ claims the latter ‘indicator’ undermines non- lence, and the THE World University English speaking institutions, as cita- Rankings are carefully designed to tions and publications in non-English capture excellence in teaching and re- languages are uncommon. search against a university’s own mis- Its methodology, in the view of sion and its own unique profi le.” Sarah Sheard phenomena comprised the group’s “discarnate spirits” may have privi- main activity, with discussions of Sen or News Ed tor leged him to see phenomena which ‘ghostly’ and supernatural subjects others cannot. WELCOME TO THE TOP FIVE also featuring. “I am a psychic clairvoyant with an e Cambridge Ghost Club is investi- Early members included Charles advanced facility trained over many gating the claims of an American mys- Dickens, alongside Cambridge aca- years,” Sutton said, in response to ex- tic who has apparently photographed a demics. e Ghost Club’s website also perts who disputed his goblin in his hair. claims that the poets Siegfried Sassoon claims, “or it may be 1. CALTECH John Sutton runs Transformation and W.B. Yeats were among mem- that there are none Talk Radio for a mystic organization bers, as well as the biologist so blind as those known as ‘Psychic World’ and is their Julian Huxley. that will not “resident Psychic-Clairvoyant”. He has e group, however, was see.” also published a series of his collected dissolved upon Dickens’ writings on mysticism. death in the 1870s but was Sutton sent in a photograph of re-launched in 1882 in part- 2. HARVARD his hair to the ancient Cambridge nership with members of the University society in an attempt to Society for Psychical Research. confi rm the presence of a small goblin It still meets monthly at the in it. Victory Services Club in London. He claims that the image shows Sutton hopes that the Ghost what he “believe[s] to be an elf or fairy Club will soon return “a consid- materialised” in his hair. ered response” concerning 3. OXFORD After having his claims dismissed by his goblin claim after the “scientifi c sceptical experts” and pho- proper examination tographic experts, Sutton contacted and evaluation of the historic Cambridge Ghost Club. the photographic e club’s chief investigating offi cer, ‘evidence’. Derek Green, who is based in London, He emphati- is currently examining the submission cally states that 4. STANFORD with the club committee. there has been e Ghost Club began unoffi - no tampering cially in 1885 when fellows at Trinity with the fi le, al- College began discussing ghosts and though he admits other psychic phenomena, and was his twenty years formally launched in 1862 in London. of experience of 5. CAMBRIDGE Practical investigations of spiritualist p h o t o g r a p h i n g News Friday 3rd October 2014 7 Academics condemn attacks on Gaza

Cambridge scholars have As a means of defl ecting such an ‘’abuse of memory’’ the document signed a petition condemning points to a recent petition signed by 40

Holocaust survivors and 287 of their SHAREEF SARHAN Israel’s recent actions in Gaza descendants, lamenting Israel’s treat- ment of Palestine. T ll Schfer  e list of supporters of the pledge Deputy News Ed tor includes academics from 20 diff erent university faculties, from Philosophy A group of Cambridge researchers to Physics to Geography, and from “a and scholars has released a statement range of political, religious and cul- criticizing the behaviour of the Israeli tural backgrounds”. government and deploring the living Acknowledging the diversity of their conditions of the Gazan population cohort, the group of professors and in- after the most recent outbreak of con- tellectuals has underlined the diff erent fl ict in the area. forms of criticism present under the  e academics who have signed the umbrella of the statement. online petition believe that they have a  ose of the academics specialis- responsibility and prerogative to speak ing in law condemn the breach of in- out on the contentious issue of Israeli- Palestinian tensions “as practitioners of our various subjects, as academics, or just as human beings.” According to their statement, the latest escalation of the region’s confl ict IT IS ALL THE MORE represents the most recent develop- ment in a long history of illegal Israeli IMPORTANT TO SPEAK OUT occupation that spans over several decades. NOW THAT THE LATEST A scene from Gaza during the most recent conflict with Israel Furthermore, the proponents of SPATE OF BOMBING HAS the statement refute the notion that according to the declaration. 1948. that it is all the more important to they are singling out Israel, but rather COME TO AN END Philosophers and political scien-  e main aim of the academic co- speak out now that the latest spate of that Israel has singled itself out via “ tists, on the other hand, disapprove of hort is to announce its support for bombing has come to an end, in order its claims of moral impeccability, its the moral hypocrisy of Israeli apolo- the Palestinian resistance and to call that the plight of the Palestinian peo- celebrated status of democracy, the ternational law committed by Israel gism and the discrediting of criticism for an immediate lifting of the block- ple is not simply allowed to slip from extensive support it receives from the via its illegal occupation of Gaza (per against Israel. ade of Gaza. In addition to this, the the public consciousness.” US and other nations and its politics UN defi nition) and the West Bank. Historians, however, have taken to Cambridge scholars are calling for  e statement is also to act as a of memory; for example, manipulating  e lack of a military presence in the viewing the recent events in a much peaceful co-existence between Israelis protest against the victimisation of the Holocaust into an instrument to occupied territory does not itself pre- longer trajectory of colonial occu- and Palestinians. students and lecturers worldwide who discredit Palestinian struggles. clude the legal status of occupation, pation, which can be traced back to  eir statement reads: “We believe have criticised the confl ict.

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Progress with purpose 8 Friday 3rd October 2014 News Vice-Chancellor: “the price of greatness is responsibility”

Sir Leszek Borysiewicz: skills of regional schoolchildren, was also highlighted. responsbility to solve Quoting the 2014 Cambridge pro- global crises spectus, Sir Leszek made it clear that successful applicants to the uni-

versity would not be chosen on any UNIVERISITY OF CAMBRIDGE T ll Schfer and Sarah grounds except academic ability. In Sheard the words of the Vice-Chancellor: “the education we off er is truly ac- is year’s Vice-Chancellor’s annual cessible to all with the academic address took place on October 1st in ability and potential to succeed here. Senate House. roughout he stressed ere is no ‘right background’... no the responsibility which the University right school to have attended, no of Cambridge and its academics have hidden test of social and economic towards the national and international circumstances.” common good, summarizing that “our responsibilities lie deep and wide.” Professor Borysiewicz stressed the need for close involvement with the developing world, referring to Cambridge’s various commit- ments to the academic mentoring of [PHILANTHROPY IS African researchers. e Cambridge THE] CORNERSTONE in Africa programme, which in- volves more than 100 academ- OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ics and staff , as well as the Africa Partnership for Research Excellence CAMBRIDGE and the Alborada Cambridge-Africa Research Fund, were examples cited “ by Sir Leszek. e Vice-Chancellor also out- e Cambridge Vice-Chancellor lined Cambridge’s ambitious capi- Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz wants Cambridge to help developing countries also underlined the steps taken tal programme, which involves the this year to fulfi l the University’s construction of new facilities for the of the economic downturn, the to his installation as Vice-Chancellor, is responsible for securing the uni- obligation to primary and second- Cambridge Conservation Initiative, University cannot simply depend on Sir Leszek was the Principal of the versity’s fi nances and carrying out ary education. Under Sir Leszek the Chemical Engineering and government or institutional funding Faculty of Medicine and later the ceremonial and civic duties. the University of Cambridge was Biotechnology Department, and the and instead has to turn to philan- Deputy Rector of Imperial College He is also the main representa- awarded funding for a University Maxwell Centre as well as develop- thropy. He described philanthropic London, before becoming the Chief tive of the university within the UK of Cambridge Primary School in ments at Addenbrooke’s Campus. partnerships as the “cornerstone of Executive of the UK’s Medical and overseas. Recently Sir Leszek Northwest Cambridge and for a e need for fi nancial investment the University of Cambridge”. Research Council in 2007. travelled to India for the sixth time University Technical College. e to carry out such projects was also Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz As Vice-Chancellor, Sir Leszek is as part of his ongoing campaign to importance of programmes like emphasised. Sir Leszek admitted was installed as the 345th Vice- the principal academic and admin- forge closer ties between Indian and HE+, which fosters the academic that with the fi nancial pressures Chancellor on 1 October 2010. Prior istrative offi cer of the university and Cambridge-based academics.

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fie News Friday 3rd October 2014 9 Local preacher accused of homophobia Former student takes UK CHARITY COMMISSION on Cambridge- based RULES evangelical An organization must have: FLICKR: GUILLAUME PAUMIER Sarah Sheard 1. “[O]nly charitable Sen or News Ed tor purposes which must be for the public benefit” A former Cambridge student is hoping 2. Yearly reports on “how to raise enough money to fund a doc- you have carried out your umentary into the activity of a Cam- charity’s purpose for the bridge-based evangelical involved with public benefit” anti-homosexuality laws in Uganda. Daniel Law studied at King’s College and now works with the NGO Sexual the actions of Paul Shinners, the Minorities Uganda. He aims to head of a UK registered charity in raise £800 through Kickstarter and Cambridgeshire,” he said. “I want to Indiegogo for a documentary reveal- show how there is a major issue with ing how Paul Shinners stands accused the way they investigate complaints of hate crimes in Uganda as the head against charities.” of the UK registered charity Passion Law also aims to show how an “in- for Souls Ministries. Shinners runs fl ux of western evangelicals” has led a café-bookshop for his charity in St to a “steadily increasing atmosphere Neots, Cambridgeshire. of homophobia” in an eff ort to raise In 2012 he was quoted in a Ugandan awareness of the continuing anti-gay newspaper as speaking in favour of agenda in Uganda. the Anti-Homosexuality Act, which His eff orts come as the Ugandan originally included the death penalty parliament decide whether to re-table as punishment for homosexuality and As many celebrate gay pride, homosexuality remains illegal in over 70 countries the Anti-Homosexuality Act. e MP was known as the ‘Kill the Gays’ bill. who originally proposed the bill in Although Shinners has denied this, passed in December 2013 but was nul- e Passion for Souls Ministries propaganda, which violates commis- 2009, David Bahati MP, has already be- Law claims to have found a video of lifi ed earlier this year as not enough says on its website that it is “TOTALLY sion regulations about the “charitable” gun the process to get the bill re-con- Shinners vocally supporting the bill at MPs were present at its fi rst passing. INCLUSIVE, FREE and available aspect of an organization. Law hopes sidered and re-enacted in parliament. a Christian event. “ ere is no other e original punishment of the death to EVERYONE irrespective of race, his documentary will be able to pro- A group of over 250 MPs have also nation the world over that has such a penalty was replaced with a prison creed, religion gender or SEXUALITY”. voke the UK Charity Commission into signed a petition to have the bill re- plan and through this, Uganda is go- sentence, but the Act still imposed It is supported by the UK Charity stripping Shinners’ organizations of enacted, alongside petitions from ing to be blessed,” Shinners apparently a life sentence and required parents, Commission, despite Law’s claims that their charitable status. Ugandan pastors. says in the video. teachers and landlords to report any money raised for the charity is used “I have...had extensive contact with Paul Shinners did not respond to a e Anti-Homosexuality Act was known homosexuals or face prison. for the proliferation of homophobic the Charity Commission regarding request for comment.

A 2012 protest against the Anti-Homosexuality Act in New York.

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Yew hedges at St John’s College are now being used to help scientists in the ongoing fi ght to beat cancer. e discarded yew needles from the sixty-year old hedges are sent off to £6m conference boom European pharmaceutical companies, for Cambridge where the poisonous alkaloids in the waste are developed into leukaemia- is past summer the University of fi ghting drugs. Cambridge has enjoyed an all-time While the yew’s toxicity has the record level of demand for confer- potential to be deadly at high doses, ences at colleges worth £6 million research conducted in the 1990s by to the University. scientists from Leicester University Yew needles from St John’s hedges are being used to make two chemotherapy drugs Conference Cambridge has re- and the University of Manchester has vealed a 30 per cent increase in the found that a particular compound over 365kg of usable yew clippings several gardens in Cambridge and “ ey are...sent to a company in number of enquiries into venues within could prevent cancerous cells which will go to fi ght cancer. e cut- all around the country and dry them Europe who isolate and extract the ac- during July and August, compared from growing and dividing. tings would otherwise go to waste, so to preserve and stabilise the leaves,” tive compound. is is then supplied to the same period in 2013. e compound, 10-Deacetylbaccatin I'm glad that St John's can help out Cookes said. to the medical industry to make drugs III, is at its highest concentration in with this very worthwhile cause.” Friendship Estates is currently based to fi ght cancer”. the new growth of yew needles that Matthew Cookes, of the company in Doncaster and has been in the bus- “Demand for the treatment has in- are clipped annually in the St John’s Friendship Estates, which collects siness of collecting yew from universi- creased in recent years, so we are very gardens and all over the country. the yew clippings from St John’s, was ties, gardens and stately homes since happy to have a partnership with St A yearly trimming of the hedges equally cheerful. 1992, all of which are used as raw ma- John’s College to help supply the raw also stimulates the production of the “We collect yew clippings from terials in the pharmaceutical industry. materials we need”. cancer-fi ghting compound in larger quantities. Cambridge marches on Two chemotherapy drugs, docetax- cancer el and paclitaxel, are developed us- ing yew tree extract. ese drugs are Cambridge will participate in the mostly used in the treatment of breast March On Cancer event organised and ovarian cancer. by Stand Up to Cancer. On 11th Fresh yew needles are still a very October at 7.30pm, there will be a important part of the manufacturing sponsored night-time walk, starting process for these live-saving drugs, al- at Queen’s Green and looping back though the necessary compounds can Lion Yard’s to Queen’s College. Registration now also be created semi-synthetically costs £5 per person, with all money in order to supplement the supply of raised going to Cancer Research plants. Student UK. Adam Magee, the head gardener at St John's College, said that he was very happy to be joining the fi ght against Event cancer through the use of St Jonn’s hedges. He said: " is year, we have collected For everyone in education

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© 2014 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. All rights reserved. Diverse people make us stronger 12 Friday 3rd October 2014 News The Interview: Will Gompertz

WHAT IS ‘ART’? SURAJ MAKWANA Will Gompertz talks to Elissa Foord about his journey from leaving school “just below the bottom rung” to being BBC Arts Editor

s it art?’ It’s a question that has responsible for Tate Online, the UK’s learn to love it. I tell you what, if that rest of the News agenda.’’ more sensitive to aesthetics. People provoked, inspired and haunt- most popular art website, and Tate became a major place for raves, no- Gompertz’s journalism is distinc- have much greater curiosity, and are ed the arts world of the past Etc., its most circulated art magazine. body would feel intimidated.’’ tive for its accessibility, in a time interested in things in diferent ways; century. And, as I pass him a Surely, then, here is someone who can Public interest in modern art has ex- when art has gone through change each person puts their own lens on photograph of the Cambridge answer the questions at the back of the ploded. ‘‘I think it’s a fact to say that in that some have found alienating. As the world. We’re living in a more intel- University Library, it’s a ques- minds of many of modern art’s audi- no period of history has society been the importance of aesthetic beauty in lectual society than we were.’’ ‘‘I think ‘ tion I that furrows the brow of the BBC ence. he ‘is it art?’ question. he ‘why so interested in the art of its time as art has shifted, and as scholarship has now we’re a more secular country, art Arts Editor. is my bed a bed, when Tracey Emin’s is it is today.’’ But Gompertz’s task at the become couched in ‘-isms’, it has be- galleries have a very speciic place in Now one of the best known faces ‘art’?’ question. BBC is subtler than simply pushing come all too easy for the non-expert our culture. We believe that they are in arts journalism, the arts weren’t al- he crux of the matter is, of course, observer to tell themselves ‘I don’t places where you can say things that ways the clear path for Will Gompertz. our conception of art. ‘‘Duchamp know art, so I can’t ‘get’ what I’m look- you wouldn’t otherwise say.’’ Leaving school at 16, he had ‘‘no plan; would say, ‘because the artist selected ing at’. But in Gompertz’s view such a Yet there is room for improvement. the plan was not to be at school’’. His it, that’s what makes it art.’ And also self-disqualifying viewer disqualiies In fact, there is need of it. Institutions irst series of jobs placed him ‘‘just context...if you take a urinal and put it over-zealously: art is universal. ‘‘Even like Tate dictate our tastes. heir small below the bottom rung of the ladder’’. in an art gallery, and it ceases to be a somebody with no education whatso- number of directors determine who But the turning point was a job as a urinal, then maybe it is art.’’ THE ESTABLISHMENT ever, like somebody in a tribal outit in ‘makes it’. heir sway is immense. stagehand at Sadler’s Wells. ‘‘hat’s So is all ‘art’ art? It’s not that simple. the Amazon, or a kid at the West End “It’s a bit stuck,” says Gompertz, “and when I got interested in the power of ‘‘When you put it in an art gallery its NEEDS TO STOP BEING who’s had barely any education, they it’s become a bit too institutional- art. You could see what it did to peo- purpose is to be art; the artist is asking SO CONTROLLING, AND still have an artistic impulse.’’ ‘‘It’s part ised. he whole thing’s become quite ple...What drew me in was that the that it be considered as art. hat’s the of being human.’’ predictable...I think someone like people involved with arts were really limit to which they can go. It’s up to PEOPLE NEED TO REBEL I ask if arts coverage can really be Banksy is a really, really, important interesting.’’ us to decide whether it is or not, and AGAINST IT compatible with the BBC’s commit- artist; he operates completely outside And so he founded a publishing whether it’s any good or not...for me, “ ment to impartiality. Can he extract the system. he establishment needs house. He founded a global arts maga- art is something that has no purpose his taste? Should he? ‘‘I think the im- to stop being so controlling, and peo- zine. He found himself a director at beyond itself; it has no function other partiality thing’s incredibly important ple need to rebel against it. he stuf Tate. ‘‘Not to lose my job, that was my than being art. But design has a func- arts up the agenda. ‘‘he truth of the in areas like economics and politics. In that comes through the Turner Prize attitude starting there.’’ ‘‘I was the only tion, and therefore your relationship matter is that most often the purpose the arts, it’s less important. People do and the galleries all feels quite samey.’’ non-academic. It’s the type of place with it is completely diferent.’’ ‘‘In a of that arts story on the TV News is a have a feeling of ‘come on, mate, you’ve he answer, as Gompertz sees it, is where even the cloakroom attend- way, art in the twenty-irst century is a bit of light, in all the shade. It’s know- seen it, what’s your view?’ If I say, ‘well ‘‘either artists coming out of the es- ants have a Double First in Fine Art. way of looking at the world.’’ ing your role. We’re either ‘and inally...’, on the one hand…’ I don’t think any- tablishment and operating in diferent So I was quite ignorant.’’ But that was As for the U.L.? ‘‘No, it’s not art. or at the top of the program, because one’s going to be very impressed at ields, or people being artists outside no bad thing – the opposite, in fact. ‘‘I It’s architecture, it has a function.’’ He somebody famous is dead. I think the that.’’ ‘‘If you’re asked a direct question, of the establishment, or people from represented the audience; I wasn’t a guesses the architect, Gilbert Scott, arts have a really important role be- it’s legitimate to give a direct answer.’’ diferent ields becoming artists.’’ He total specialist so I had some empathy straight away. ‘‘It’s got a gothic pres- cause actually the truth of life is that Broadly speaking, arts in the UK adds that this is happening, and will with them.’’ ence, he’s a brutalist modernist.’’ ‘‘It is people are very wonderful, and doing are enjoying a golden era. ‘‘I think increasingly happen. And that’s excit- Tate placed him at the heart of what it is; it’s got its own beauty. I’d get very wonderful things, and that’s not that’s a relection of what’s happen- ing. As Gompertz predicts, ‘‘some- the contemporary art world. He was rid of the pediment, but otherwise I’d really represented much within the ing to the country, we’re becoming far thing radical is going to happen.’’ Comment Friday 3rd October 2014 13 Underheard at Cambridge

Resident news hound Peter Lloyd-Williams sniff s out the tales no other rag will publish

2014 Freshers Dangerously famous professor before me, and still be totally for rowers, it is. It’s not normal to tell everyone Keen, Says Report obliterated,” Robin told Varsity. how shattered you are after a 5km erg, but, for “Can you imagine? Surrounded by strangers. rowers, it is.” 2014’s freshers are dangerously keen, reports 9a.m.  e smell of cheap wine on my breath. “ e saddest thing is that there is just no sup- the infl uential Cambridge Centre for the Study Trying not to throw up.  at’s the Cambridge port for rowers who realise they have a problem welcomed the decision: “King’s students realised of Youth. dream.” and want to quit.  at’s what this campaign is that, by attending King’s, they were personally “All indicators of fresher keenness are off Professor Burshell urges that, though fresh- all about.” benefi ting from centuries of preferential treat- the charts,” said Professor Brendan Burshell, ers’ may be magical, the overall goal is not to Varsity contacted CUCBC for a response, but ment. We are recognising and combating our head of the centre. “ e local nightlife has been remember any of it. no representative was available for comment, own privilege.” preparing since August. Cindies has made an “In the end, it’s not the memories we share due to “prior rowing commitments”.  e Vice Chancellor of the University of emergency purchase of 500 litres of Jaeger for that make us who we are, but the ones we forget A vigil for change is planned to take place Cambridge, Leszek Borysiewicz, reacted to the freshers’ week alone.” together.” outside the Cambridge University Boathouse decision of the college by saying it was “disap- Research commissioned for Varsity has this Sunday. pointing, but things have been heading in this confi rmed that freshers are more ‘pumped’ and A CUSU helpline is being set up in the com- direction for a long time.” ‘buzzing’ than ever before. Rowing. Not Even Once. ing weeks. King’s has a long history of experimental Hannah Robertson, formerly of Tiffi n Girls’ access projects. In 1979, the college briefl y School, confi rmed that she was looking forward With the start of the new academic year ap- refused to admit anyone.  e college considered to an absolutely mental freshers’. proaching, the Cambridge University Student King’s College Abolishes Self the move the best way to equalise admission “I can’t wait to get absolutely destroyed at Union (CUSU) is relaunching its ‘Rowing. Not demographics. pre-drinks on the fi rst Tuesday of Michaelmas,” Even Once’ campaign. In an unexpected development, the Provost of  e decision was only reversed in 1984, when she told us. CUSU President, Helen Hoogewerf McComb, King’s College, Michael Proctor, has announced the Fellowship realised the consequences of “I’m not going to remember getting to began this year’s campaign last Saturday at a the immediate dissolution of the centuries-old its decision. Observers at the time, however, Cindies, but once I get there, I’m going to throw fundraiser for recovering rowers. college. stressed the noticeable improvement in the up everywhere and have to be carried back by “Cambridge students need to be aware of the In an emergency press conference, Professor atmosphere at the college. people I met on the weekend,” she said before dangers of rowing,” Hoogewerf McComb said to Proctor said the move had been made necessary  e surviving members of the 1979 heading into Bargain Booze. the assembled fundraisers. by the collapse in support from the students of Fellowship have largely endorsed the decision of At the time of writing, Hannah also told us “Students need to know how they can be King’s College. their sucessors. that she was considering a “confusing-but-in-a- pressured to take up rowing, even by people “Following the decision of the King’s College A bidding war is now expected between good-way” relationship with her college father. they thought were friends. Students, especially Student Union to declare the 1441 decision Trinity and John’s to determine who will take Robin Browning, now of Corpus Christi, freshers, need to know that it’s okay to say no.” a mistake, the Fellowship no longer has the ownership of the King’s Chapel.  e remainder told us he was looking forward to turning up to “Rowing can do terrible things to people, and confi dence of its College.  erefore, the College of the college will be taken over by the cows. No lectures “still absolutely steaming.” they don’t even realising they’re changing. It’s cannot continue.” college has yet to object to the move. “I just can’t wait to be in lectures, with a world not normal to get up 5a.m. as a student, but, Ivan Tchernev, president of the KCSU, Millie Brierley

On dirty underwear, Nectar cards and navigating adulthood in Cambridge

Being a kid is great. You have a whole raft of people dedi- consider rolling recklessly down a deer-faeces-strewn grassy ignore this advice – who cares about rowing or amateur cated to protecting you and keeping you safe. Your only job slope as ‘fun’ (I imagine this kind of person might exist, but operatics when  e Happiest Place on Earth awaits you? is to have fun and learn new things, meaning the most mun- have no personal experience to back up this hypothesis) – 2. Conversely, if the idea of caring about Nectar points dane of objects becomes the most amazing toy anybody has might fi nd this funny old world of student loans, grocery brings you out in a cold sweat, the main things for you ever played with. You just can’t imagine wanting anything shopping and Nectar cards a little harder to stomach at fi rst. to remember are, number one, to eat; number two, that more than that big stick you found in the park the other day. But they’re also probably more likely to let loose and have Sainsbury’s stays open till eleven Monday to Saturday; and, Needless to say, this period of bliss doesn’t last long: soon fun. number three, that DOMINO’S DELIVERS (but let’s be enough, clouds stop being dragons and castles, and instead So, speaking as a seasoned second-year, let me address honest: if you didn’t know that by now, there’s little hope for become ominous indicators of rain. Snow no longer brings you freshers directly and suggest some titbits of advice, you). If you can master these three highly-related concepts snowmen, snowball fi ghts and wellington boots, but traffi c, which are guaranteed to be based on absolutely (upshot: EAT, DAMMIT!), anything else like work and sleep cancellations and delays. You eat Skittles without checking no kind of authority and to be resolutely will really just be a bonus. the colour fi rst (and, who knows, maybe you even eat the ignored by everyone who reads them. But 3. Finally – and this one goes for everyone (whether green ones). Growing up tends to mean leaving your inner humour me. yours is an inner infant or an inner geriatric) – treat child behind – that part of you that wants to eat pudding 1. If you think APRs might be your your bedder as if they were a member of minor before main course, or throw caution to the wind (and pre- thing, remember that they are incred- royalty.  ink Peter Phillips, the Duchess of Kent – sumably to hay fever) by launching yourself down a grassy ibly boring, and nowhere near as Princess Eugenie, at a push.  is woman will be the hillside in summer. thrilling as APA (it’s a referenc- reason your parents are so impressed by the clean  is is the unfortunate reality that the freshers of 2014 – ing reference – you’ll learn soon surfaces, tidy fl oor and general lack of vomit in just like every year group that has gone before them – must enough). Also remember that this your room when you Skype them – so treat them come to terms with in October. It will, of course, be easier whole university thing is exciting, as such. I’m talking more than one ‘hello’ per for some than others.  e transition into almost-adulthood and that sacred time in-between es- term, holiday gifts worth at least a fi ver and foot- is likely to be a lot smoother for those whom society tends says, supervisions and cathartic sob- long epistles of appreciation. You would also do to label ‘old beyond their years’. Personally, I have always bing is YOURS. Never again will you well to remember that your bedder sees your felt that there were more entertaining activities out there live in an environment with so many rubbish, probably the odd pair of dirty pants than hanging out behind Sainsbury’s car park in the famous opportunities, so make the most of and certainly whatever lurks underneath your British drizzle for hours on end. I’ve also always been keen it! Unless, of course, you somehow bed.  ink of your tokens of undying grati- to know what ‘APR’ means.  at said, I’m still not entirely manage to wind up in residence tude, therefore, as payment for their silence sure what it means. at Disneyland somewhere along on such delicate matters.  e rest of this year’s freshers – the ones who might the line, in which case, feel free to 14CommentFriday 3rd October 2014 Comment Debunking the Cambridge Experience

oo often, explanations of what special, about our lives here. take (holy) orders, the clerical roots crutch. Relatively nontoxic.  e bad makes Cambridge diff erent Most of us are guilty of this at some still show. Some of them are good. press garnered by the upper classes Tfrom other universities amount point – the Damascene conversion  ere is probably something religious using a place of learning as a crèche to little more than rationalisations cycling back from the library, or on about the commitment to intellec- does not need reiterating here.  ere of a wasted youth because, in many the way back from a club, when you tual inquiry: God, the truth, what’s is a curious tension between the Jeremy Wikeley ways, Cambridge is the upper-class realise that Cambridge is really, you the diff erence.  is commitment is university’s ambitions for access and boarding school from hell. Why would know, special. And we’re all entitled eased by the vestiges of monasticism: its dependency on the goodwill of any self-respecting young person put to a little ‘Moment of Wonder’ every communal life and hard drink. But the wealthy.  e gentry may even be Cambridge’s unique themselves through three years at this now and then. But life throws these there are some monkish habits that we to blame for the absurd amount of stuff y, neurotic, elitist institution? up wherever you are: something, like would be better off without.  ere is resources which we devote to rowing: origins should not  is is an unfair caricature of a nothing, happens anywhere. And no evidence that the stupid amounts rich people seem to like expensive place for which I have a great deal of this idea that Cambridge is ineff ably, of work students are expected to get sports. mask its similarities aff ection, but when you consider that inexplicably diff erent masks those through within an 8 week term and It is this constant buff eting between the ratios of work-done to grades-got aspects of the institution that really the unrepresentative manner in which the rather incongruous demands of with other university to fun-had are much better elsewhere, are strange – and explicable. grades are dished out do anything the priesthood and the peerage that experiences the question is a valid one.  ere is  is is an old story, but it bears other than foster the sort of asceticism creates ‘ e Cambridge Experience’ no single right answer - but there are repeating. Cambridge is still largely and masochism that can make people and marks Cambridge out as diff erent plenty of wrong ones. defi ned by its close historical relation- very unhappy. from most other universities, although A particularly pernicious one is ship with the fi rst two estates: the And, like it or not, the nobility is we should be careful about exaggerat- the illusory idea of ‘ e Cambridge Church and the nobility. Rather than still here: Cambridge functions as ing the diff erences. Experience’. What makes Cambridge ponder over the fruitless questions a fi nishing school for the moneyed  ese tensions are echoed right diff erent is that it is normal university of why you chose this place or what classes. Oddly enough, this has its across the university system: they just life on steroids.  e kick you’ll get it is you think you’re doing here, it is advantages. Communities cannot ring louder in these courts.  ere are from it, and the powers it gives you, worth getting to grips with the extent survive on fi ne principles alone. benefi ts to all this.  ere is plenty of more than make up for all the hard- to which your ‘Cambridge Experience’  e doggish loyalty that Cambridge gold in these hills, and much else be- work and hard-arsed company. Maybe is now determined by these peculiar encourages in its alumni translates sides. But equally, there is no need to there is something in this. But when cultures. into the sort of support, fi scal and oth- get starry-eyed about our idiosyncra- people talk about ‘ e Cambridge For instance, some of the stresses erwise, that allows the university to set sies or to suppose that, because this Experience’ they mean more than just and strains of studying here can be its priorities in ways that other similar is Cambridge, the ups are any more “University:  e Next Level” – they explained by Cambridge’s ecclesiasti- institutions cannot. Money aside, likely to compensate for the inevitable mean a whole other plane of exist- cal origins.  e modern fellow evolved rituals and traditions create the sort of downs than they are in any other time ence, typifi ed by the belief that there is (slowly) from the medieval monk. healthy sense of identity that can serve or place. Something, like nothing, something ineff ably unique, ineff ably Although students aren’t expected to as a relatively nontoxic psychological happens anywhere. Education is not for sale, make it free

his will be the fi rst year in governments have continued to push in England are facing closure. Such as well as planning actions around which all current undergradu- the marketisation of higher educa- moves undermine the idea of the the ‘week of resistance’ called by the Tates – with a few exceptions tion; tripling fees twice, cutting and university as a public, independ- National Campaign Against Fees and – pay fees of £9,000 per year, three attacking allowances for poorer ent institution, and a space for free Cuts in the days running up to the times as much as those who gradu- and disabled students, privatising thought and exploration. Students 19th. ated in the summer. Likewise, very student debt and drastically reduc- are not the only ones aff ected by this Last year, speaking in the few witnesses to the 2010 student ing research council funding.  ere trend.  e marketisation drive has Cambridge Union, the then-Univer- Cambridge Defend movement, formed in response to is now discussion of removing the brought cuts and outsourcing to the sities Minister David Willetts argued tripling fees, are still students.  is tuition fee cap altogether. We know university workplace, and lecturers that “students resemble consumers.” Education rapid turnover is natural in student where this narrative ends; in the are underpaid whilst management It’s time to challenge this discourse activism, but has the additional ef- US, student debt has increased by receive signifi cant pay rises. Last – education is not something you fect of making the movement itself $760 billion to over $1 trillion as the academic year, the Vice Chancellor’s consume. It’s not something you and the principles behind it seem second-largest source of American pay increased by six times that of purchase, use, and then discard. We It is up to students to irrelevant and outdated. Nothing, household debt, and young people lecturers.  is profi t drive also must not fall into the trap of thinking however, could be further from are regularly denied access to the squeezes support staff , leaving many of ourselves as consumers, individu- demand fairer access the truth: the past year has seen a guaranteed loans they need to fund without enough money to support als who can only express themselves resurgence in campus organisation, their education. As universities look themselves. Pressure from student by spending money and have no to education, and from traditional activist bases such to profi t-driven private interests to campaigns has made signifi cant voice, no part in the democratic as Sussex to relative newcomers make up the shortfall and prices sky- headway here, with certain colleges process. Students must instead be a more democratic like Edinburgh. Across the country, rocket, those already disadvantaged and the university itself committing understood as citizens, political university experience students have taken up the call for by systematic injustice are more and to the Living Wage in the past year. members of a community. Let us free education, and have joined their more likely to be completely priced  e university belongs to the people have a new conversation and think lecturers on picket lines and univer- out of higher education. But this sys- who live and work in it, and should again about what we want the univer- sity staff in living wage disputes. In tem is not without alternatives. Let us be governed by them. sity to be. And let’s raise our voices response, we have seen draconian not forget that tuition fees were only  us free education is more than and take to the streets this autumn. academic suspensions, illegal arrests, introduced in 1998, and were capped an education free of charge; it is a call Cambridge Defend Education and beatings at the hands of police at £1,000 per year a mere decade ago. for a democratic, emancipative, egali- meets every Monday of term time, and private security.  ese attacks Higher education is free of charge in tarian university. We need to build 8pm at the Graduate Union. have barely dented the movement: many European countries, such as a sustained campaign to put this normal students have continuously Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and in- vision back on the agenda, and this faced down management, cops, and deed Scotland. Public free education autumn we will take these demands politicians. In the process, a new is possible, and a reasonable demand, to the streets of London. A coalition Have any views on this generation of students has begun to adopted by the National Union of of students have called a national week’s comment pieces? articulate an alternative. Students in May 2014. demonstration for 19th November, Tweet us @VarsityUK, We must not allow the current Current fee policies are part of a arguing for ‘no fees, no cuts, no debt.’ state of aff airs to become accepted wider attempt to commercialise high- In full support of these demands, or write in to as the norm. Resistance has never er education. Subjects deemed eco- Cambridge Defend Education will le [email protected] been more necessary. Since the initial nomically ‘useless’ are under threat; be coordinating transport from imposition of tuition fees, successive 40 per cent of language departments Cambridge to the demonstration, Comment Friday 3rd October 2014 15 This House believes the Cambridge Union Society is a rip-off

reshers are the biggest pool college bill and deposit to pay. biggest – but neither of these super- Stephen Fry, Dame Judi Dench and freshers into coughing up this sort of of potential new recruits, and e Union, therefore, resorts to ag- latives means that it’s good. Reviews Sir Ian McKellen, but fails to mention cash only scares those from poorer Frevenue, for any Cambridge gressive marketing strategies to suc- from last year (“It was worse than a that its small capacity means only a backgrounds that Cambridge might society, so it is not surprising that ceed in funding itself through mem- college bop,” according to the Tab) very small percentage of members be too expensive for them. Although societies do everything they can to berships. Freshers’ Facebook groups do very little to justify shelling out can actually attend, and only if they the Union does provide discounted attract new members. ese societies have barely been created before a £185. More importantly, the syntax queue for several hours. rates to those in receipt of a full are also acutely aware of the particu- Union rep is on the case with a mar- of this sentence seems deliberately e committee must be aware that Maintenance Grant, those from the lar psychological state of the arche- keting post, trying to present their misleading: “most freshers who join the vast majority of Union members ‘squeezed middle’ are forced to fi nd typal fresher: nervous, keen to fi t in society as an unmissable part of that in October” suggests that most fresh- do not get good value from their £185. the cash (in their overdrafts, prob- and anxious to make sure they don’t most enticing and illusory of things, ers who join the University go to the It would be impossible for everyone ably), or be made feel that they are miss out on something everyone else the ‘typical’ Cambridge experience. ball, rather than most freshers who to do so given the Union’s capacity, missing out. is doing. ere are lines that must be drawn, join the Union. Pumping cash out of which is perhaps why there is no op- Freshers: societies need you and For the Cambridge Union Society, however, between clever marketing new students by preying on their fear tion to pay termly: people would re- your cash more than you need them. however, the task is hindered by the and exaggeration of the truth. Whilst of missing out is not fair. alise they weren’t getting enough out Some people get great value from £185 ‘life membership’ fee, a very the Union is undoubtedly an es- e Union also overstates its im- of it and stop paying. “If you use it their Union membership, but many hard sell to a new student with a teemed institution that attracts some portance to social life, something to its full potential it’s probably very more do not. Don’t be fooled into very impressive speakers, the way they know all too well is very much on good value for money, but most peo- joining just in case everyone else it presents itself to freshers is often the fresher radar. “Enjoy Cambridge’s ple don’t,” says Pembroke student and does: wait until you get here, give it a misleading. To my mind, there are biggest social hub…,” they claim. “As a Union member Angus Hopkinson. try, then decide for yourself whether four major issues with their market- member of the Union you have access What’s more, bullying nervous the Union will be worth it for you. ing strategy. to the cheapest Firstly, their numbers appear central student to be somewhat exaggerated. e bar.” ey fail Union claims that 70 per cent of to mention that undergraduates are members, the vast major- which I would question. Even if ity of Cambridge it were true, it is a far less useful undergradu- fi gure than the percentage of un- ates would view dergraduates who attend Union their own college events several times a term, a bars as their big- fi gure I would estimate to be far gest social hub, lower. ird year Union member not the Union. Izhan Khan admits that “I got the College bars are feeling that most people ended up usually cheaper, joining, which is why I ended up too. doing so.” Most impor- Secondly, much of their mar- tantly, however, keting seems to focus on the im- the Union sells portance and reputation of their itself on its high- Fresher’s Ball, “the BIGGEST and profi le speakers, ONLY fresher’s ball in Cambridge knowing that – an exclusive black tie event, at- they are its big- tended by most fresher’s [sic] who gest draw for join in October.” e tautology new members. here is evident – if it is the only Its marketing AYE: Ellie Gould ball then of course it is the video features

’ve been involved in the Union However, every year during this not yet from since the beginning of my sec- period there are a few people – a the papers. e Iond year. For me, it has been one fairly vocal minority – who try to debate was great, of the most rewarding and memo- discourage all who will listen from the atmosphere rable experiences I’ve had during joining the Union. Sometimes this was brilliant and my time at Cambridge. Michaelmas is for political reasons: they don’t afterwards I had is an exciting time for e Union, agree with a particular invitation a brief argu- because a new intake of freshers we’ve made, or think the whole ment with Peter brings in new faces - people with place is stuff y and elitist and Hitchens because new ideas, interests and skills who representative of the very worst of I thought I was come along to events, frequent Cambridge snobbery. More com- really clever (I the Union bar or help to make the monly, they’re people who feel they wasn’t) and then Union work. haven’t got value for money from got drunk and their Union membership, and they went to Life with don’t think you will either. my friends. It’s impossible for me to respond Even before I to the arguments over the page ended up on the without sounding incredibly biased. committee, I re- It’s likely that this will come across ally enjoyed what as a scrap between a plucky under- the Union had to dog journalist and a big, faceless off er. e debates competitive debaters, so even if the continent – for a pit- bully-boy institution trying to quash were relevant and engaging, and the you are going to competitions every tance, meeting fantastic people any murmuring of dissent. prospect of making a point from weekend, it won’t break the bank. and learning to argue with the best. Instead of putting across the the fl oor both excited and terrifi ed It’s also not just the world-class You could participate in the biggest Offi cial Union Line on whether me. I think it took me a good dozen speakers who get sent to competi- society in Cambridge, and be a part or not membership is worth the debates before I stopped shaking at tions: we make a point of selecting of something totally unique. money, then, let me give you my the thought of standing up in front people who contribute the most to You don’t have to take my word own thoughts on it. of 400 people and telling a world- the society by helping out in various for it. For the fi rst two weeks of I joined before term even started leading expert that they were talking ways. e more you put in, the more term every event at the Union is in my fi rst year, and I went along total balls. you get out of it. open to all, free of charge. We’ll be to the fi rst event I could. It was a I started competitive debating I think that’s probably a fair as- having three debates, some bril- debate involving the Cambridge in my second year, and reaped the sessment of Union membership in liant speakers and a multitude of Footlights and the cast of Made in benefi ts. It was time consuming, but general. It is totally what you make other events, all of which you are Chelsea. I queued around the block, as I improved I found that my ability of it. You could purchase member- welcome to attend. We also have and then got turned away along with to reason and argue in my essays ship and let your card gather dust. better drinks deals than any other around 300 other people because was improving as well – although Or you could get to listen to some bar in Cambridge - and debate- the entire building was fi lled to I now fi nd it diffi cult to go a whole of the most infl uential people in themed cocktails. Everyone loves a capacity (around 800 people). It conversation without using the the world and ask them questions debate-themed cocktail. was obviously a disappointment, word ‘problematic’ and sounding yourself. You could deliver a witty but I went back two days later for like a total tool. e Union is one putdown to an evasive MP in a Tim Squirrell is the current a debate about the riots, which of the only debating societies in crowded chamber. You could travel President of the Cambridge Union NAY: Tim Squirrell had faded from the streets though the country that can subsidise its around the country – and indeed Society. 16 Friday 3rd October 2014 Comment

Tinderella: modern dating is a fairy tale

y experience of Tinder is criminally insane social recluse. referring to Tinder. Let’s say you’re geekish. But that’s only because I as follows: Swipe left, swipe  ere comes a point in all this having a college family night, and (somewhat wilfully) choose to associ- M left, swipe left, swipe left. anachronistic judgement when the your father/mother/sister/brother ate those people with those charac- Ooh! He likes Kate Bush/James Joyce/ penny drops – these interests are has caught your attention. Ignoring teristics. Someone who likes Kate e ‘Gatsby should have put a ring shared. I too represent myself in deep, tragic feelings of incestuous Bush and James Joyce could easily on it’ Facebook page. I bet we’re soul a mixture of blasé and ridiculous guilt, you strike up a conversation also be irritating, arrogant and ex- mates. It’s only a matter of time before interests which no longer refl ect my that goes a bit like this: hausting – and of course they could we elope to Gibraltar and open up a character, and which in fact actively Son: I’ve never had anything possess characteristics which I do book shop-cum-restaurant in a cave embarrass me. Unlike the hallowed stronger than a WKD but I really not associate with my two favourite overlooking the sea. And in the eve- profi le picture, the shrine of self- don’t think this is getting me drunk. people. So the Shared Interest, if it nings we’ll swim naked in the faintly curation around which our entire Mum: at’s funny, I thought the is attractive, is a lie that we gladly glimmering waters before retiring for cyber-personae are constructed, the same thing when I was travelling in accept – an unreality upon which we a night of quiet, forceful love-making. Shared Interest is left sadly at the Nepal and my host family gave me can build the greater unreality of the Or something similar. bottom of the page to cause pain, some of the local brew to try. ‘obsessive infatuation’ kind. Matthew Of course, this impression is medi- embarrassment, and the occasional Son: OH MY GOD YOU’VE BEEN All of this could come across as a ated by the all-important portfolio feeling of deep obsession. TO NEPAL NAMASTE. needless continuation of the ‘don’t McConkey of Tinder profi le pictures. But profi le But that occasional feeling of ob- Mum: OH MY GOD NO WAY judge a book by its cover’ argument. picture etiquette is now a saturated session is important, too. Regardless DID YOU FIND YOURSELF IN THE But the reality of the situation is that fi eld of enquiry, and I would like to of whether this person actually MISTY GLADES? most communication now takes Is it still possible delve instead into something a little likes the thing they ‘like’, the Shared  e conversation continues until place across platforms that force us more unclear but nevertheless still Interest contains the idea of the Oedipal travesty occurs. In the sober- to do just that. So instead of crying to fi nd Prince (or important: the Shared Interest. possibility of a connection. When ing light of day the magic has died. into our tea-cosies and praying for  e most immediate problem with coupled with the profi le picture From now on you sit at diff erent the authenticity revival, we should Princess) Charming the Shared Interest is that nobody where he’s wearing the perfect brunch tables. continue Tindering with aplomb has ‘liked’ anything since 2009. So we chunky knit or just the right shaved  ere are a couple of diff erent – and cynicism.  ose six photo- in the world of mobile are all eff ectively judging potential side to tousled top ratio (I make no ways to think about this: either, good graphs, the 100-word bio and the dating? partners based on our 16-year-old apologies for my taste in men), that for you! You shamelessly exploited a Shared Interests represent just one selves. You fi nd bizarre interests – interest gives you something to latch niche mutual interest to earn some of the ways that people in 2014 can like Ant & Dec fan-fi ction or roller on to. And the important combina- freshers’ week infamy. Or, sorry pet, represent themselves. And represen- blading – which would be utterly tion of looks and interests explains you foolishly believed that this was tation is exactly what you’re dealing off -putting if you didn’t take a mo- the origins of Tinder’s name: like the indicative of a deep spiritual connec- with when you get to know someone ment to exercise a little reason. And fi rst time you see someone walking tion. Give your heart time to heal. in any circumstances. So walk into on the other side of the scale are the across the college court, or wear-  e question at the root of this the light of perfectly fi ltered selfi es; completely ubiquitous entries: Lady ing an ironic but still wildly attrac- is: how does an interest actually go boldly towards lightly intellectual Gaga, Florence and the Machine, tive bop costume, Tinder gives you refl ect someone’s character? For my South American fi ction; and stay FACEBOOK ITSELF – the kind of just enough information to create a part, I’d say there is a vague correla- away from men draped over heavily entries which, if your prospective fantasy. tion: someone who likes Kate Bush anaesthetised tigers. match did not share them, may lead  e Shared Interest doesn’t and James Joyce is more likely to be And if you like Kate Bush or James you to think he might be some sort of necessarily have to be capitalised, or interesting, eccentric and endearingly Joyce, message me. PETER FINGLETON

Vulture FEATURES ■ LIFESTYLE ■ FASHION ■ CULTURE ■ THEATRE ■ REVIEWS 18 Friday 3rd October 2014 Vulture Culture

Freshers' Guide: Culture in Cambridge Varsity tells you everything you need to know about Cambridge culture – giving you no excuse to spend your free time lying on your friends' floors eating toast

he Cambridge theatre Fine Arts scene is so lively that it’s actually quite frightening sometimes. Comedy and drama are Cambrige has been blessed with the reputa- both well covered by student theatre, with an out- tion and cold hard cash necessary to acquire some of the put unrivalled by other universities. Many colleges have most wide-ranging collections in the UK. very active drama societies that are worth following, but the Your irst port of call might as well be he Fitzwilliam main hubs of student theatre are undeniably the ADC and Corpus Museum, often called ‘'the inest small museum in Europe’'. You’re Playroom with four shows a week between them. hese are profes- bound to ind something that impresses you here, be it an ancient sionally run theatres and their student productions are (generally) of greek mosaic, medieval manuscript or impressionist painting. a very high quality. Ticket prices are fairly cheap for students, although Also worth a look is Kettle’s Yard. Just up 'the hill’past some bigger-budget ADC main shows can get a bit pricey. You’ll be inun- Magdelene Bridge, it plays host to a slightly more modern selection of dated with shiny lyers from Week One and programmes for both theatres are exhibitions. he current ofering –including digital works and ilms by on the ADC website so there’s no excuse for making it to Christmas without a duo Guthrie & Pope, early 20th century engravings by Gwen Raverat visit. and paintings and sculpture from Syrian artist Issam Kourbaj – is If you tire of vaguely recognising every second character from the exemplary of the gallery’s commitment to diversity. English Faculty Library, try the Cambridge Arts heatre (just round the corner he colleges are of course a valuable resource in the search from the Corpus Playroom). hey stage a wide variety of professional touring for art in Cambridge. Worth special mention is Murray productions with this month's highlights including Hay Fever, he Full Monty Edwards, where art and feminism meet in the largest col- and 1984. A little more expensive, but a often a chance to see something truly lection of art by women in Europe. For a more tradi- outstanding. tional trip, head to Trinity, where you can have lunch under the glowering stare of Henry VIII. Theatre

Some people say that the DJ at Cindies is legally obli- gated to change track every 30 seconds because they don’t own the rights to any of the music they play. While that makes liter- ally no sense, the musical ofering at the av- erage Cambridge club-night is undeniably depressing and we recommend you get your musical fulilment elsewhere. Film For a low-commitment evening, many college bars, such as Clare cellars, regularly Film bufs aren’t nearly as well served as thea- host live bands, but for any acts that might tre fans but the Cambridge Arts Picture House goes be considered famous, he Cambridge Corn far to ill the void. Located conveniently and weirdly Exchange is your best bet. his term Johnny Marr, above Spoons, they screen a selection that goes well be- he Kooks and Basement Jaxx all grace us with yond hollywood blockbusters – with foreign, indie and clas- their presence. If you’re not a fame-obsessed, main- sic ilms all common ixtures – and they also host regular Q&A stream LOSER, try the Junction, which is like the Corn screenings with directors like Ken Loach and Michael Haneke. Exchange only artier and with the odd, highly recommend- e d , Such variety in a small cinema means runs can be irritatingly club-night thrown in. It’s worth the pilgrimage to the distant plains short. Ticket prices depend on the day but it’s well worth getting past the train station. A similar vibe is ofered by the he Fountain a £10 student membership, which immediately pays for itself with Inn on Regent Street. his bar/club features a more exciting selec- two free tickets and some exciting drinks deals – this isn’t a plug, tion of DJs than the central clubs as well as the occasional live it’s just logic. act and student-run events. Many colleges also have their own ilm societies, which screen a variety of (often questionable) ilms, depending on the stu- dents' whims that week. Good or bad, they're generally free, so are an easy way to get your ilm ix. If your ilm of choice isn’t showing here you’ll have Music to go to the multiplexes at the Grafton centre or Cambridge Leisure Park, which are, let’s be honest, a real trek. Culture Vulture Friday 3rd October 2014 19 Like a Virgin!

In defence of religious art and the Mater Dolorosa

‘Why should I like a Virgin?’ the viewer tion, as modern viewers, without being may wonder, while observing the six- remote: it moves between the mimetic, teenth century wooden bust of the crystallising the concept of art as rival Mater Dolorosa, (Virgin of Sorrows) to life, and the artifi ce (thanks to its by Spanish sculptor Pedro de Mena, mannequin-like aesthetic). Reminsi- which is currently on display at the Fit- cent of an Andalusian girl, De Mena’s zwilliam Museum’s Spanish & Flemish Mater Dolorosa combines dignity and Gallery. e image of a crying Virgin, playfulness, seriousness and extrovert- with ruptured, glass-like, chestnut- ed grace. e Fitzwilliam Museum ran amber eyes and porcelain skin, raises a campaign throughout the summer to questions of why a piece of seven- purchase the piece (including £30,000 teenth-century religious art would be from the Art Fund and £10,000 from relevant to a contemporary viewer and e Henry Moore Foundation) and are even why the sculpture should be ac- set to announce whether it was suc- quired by the Fitzwilliam Museum. cessful next week. exhibitions featuring fi fteenth and Carracci’s e Magdalene in the Wil- Religious art seems to generate mixed sixteenth-century Italian Masters are derness shows the saint crying, look- e Fitzwilliam Museum’s appeal for feelings among the museum’s visitors. always crowded. ing upwards in an aesthetic pose – yet acquisition gives a feeling to our Fresh- e genre seems to call for certain se- her breast is exposed revealing erotic ers of how vibrant and committed the riousness, almost for a devotional rev- Yet, there is much more to religious undertones. e painting alludes to Cambridge art scene is. Critical minds erence in the way the piece is looked art than religion; there is also playful- Magdalene’s life as recounted in the cannot exist without creativity and at and thought of. Some may fi nd it ness, dramatic evocation of human Golden Legend, where the lives of the Cambridge is a place where students distant, a type of art for Bible connois- feelings, stage-like settings, eroticism, saints are enriched by numerous comic can nurture this creativity both intel- seurs, one rooted in a bygone era and myths and storytelling. Fourteenth and incidents. lectually and artistically. If you have representing conservative values. is fi fteenth-century viewers were more something of the painter, the poet or is why genuine public appreciation appreciative of this playfulness and im- De Mena’s Mater Dolorosa also fea- the musician within you, express it of religious art is dying, even though agination than we are. For example, the tures a disguised element of playful- by joining the Cambridge Creatives, stained glass windows of King’s Chap- ness. Tim Knox, Director of the Fit- submitting to Notes Magazine, or, of el follow a typological scheme: zwilliam Museum explains, “ e thing course, visiting a museum. Old and New Testament about this bust is that it is not one of scenes are juxtaposed, in those lugubrious virgins with rolling Kettle’s Yard, the home of Helen and a game of association. eyes that one associates with Spanish Jim Ede (curator at the Tate Gallery In the window of the religious art. Here instead is a striking- in London in the 1920s and 30s), fea- Annunciation, the ly simple, and arrestingly intense, por- tures one of Britain’s most distinctive archangel speaks: trait of a beautiful young woman – an twentieth century collections, includ- "Ave Maria, gra- Andalusian peasant girl perhaps?” ing Winifred Nicholson and David tia plena" while Jones, as well as sculptures by Henri the overhang- When I fi rst saw the sculpture I could Gaudier-Brzeska, Constantin Brancusi ing stained not resist thinking that it had a certain and Henry Moore. It is a gallery, but a glass depicts ceramic-doll likeness. Dolls are hugged home too, where the colours and forms Eve. For the by children and evoke a feeling of ten- of displayed artworks are complement- contempo- derness and intimacy. De Mena’s Mater ed by those of homely objects such as rary audi- Dolorosa recalls one of those doll-like glasses and vases with fl owers. ence, the im- Spanish processional sculptures of Vir- plicit playful gins, dressed in real clothes, such as Take a break from your essay: paint, anagram jux- the seventeenth century Virgen de la write a poem, discover hidden artworks taposing the Esperanza de Macarena in Seville. De within your college rooms or wander two was clear: Mena’s sculpture also aims at life-like- the halls of the Museum of Archeology b a c k w a r d s , ness with gently furrowed brows, nat- and Anthropology. Cambridge is as a ‘Eva’ reads ‘Ave’. ural fl esh tones, glass eyes, teardrops voyage of intellectual and creative dis- and eyelashes made from human hair. covery, so if you haven’t lost your Cam- Another work on It is an evocative sculpture, one that re- bridge arts virginity yet, then why not show at the Fit- enacts the drama of losing a son, per- let the Mater Delorosa be the one. zwilliam features a formed by an infant-looking mother. similarly subtle, play- Lavinia Puccetti ful element. Annibale If one thinks ‘playfully’, De Mena’s LINUS sculpture should still elicit our atten- 20 Friday 3rd October 2014 Vulture Culture First time at the Fringe

It’s 11.30pm on a Wednesday and I, like those around me, am crouched on the fl oor of a multi-storey car-park, desperately attempting to con- centrate on what Romeo is telling us. Romeo is a soldier and he is here BRIAN MCNEIL to protect me from the zombies. I keep telling myself that this is an im- mersive theatre experience — the zombies are actors wearing contact lenses and make-up and our ‘mission’ is to escape them — no one is going to harm me. My heart rate has not yet received this logic memo, and I'm so tense that parts of my brain are starting to question why on earth I thought a zombie experience, or indeed the Edinburgh Fringe Festival at all, was a good idea. My time at the Fringe was not at all what I expected. I had previous- ly encountered the festival in the form of what I defensively assumed were belittling conversational put-downs. Just as you fi nish your anec- dote of seeing a brilliant comedian’s most recent not-yet-on-DVD tour, someone responds with “Oh yes, I saw that at Edinburgh. Last year”. Conversation moves on and you are left defl ated and silently cursing the moron who ruined your only chance at being cutting edge. Perhaps subconsciously this has been my preconception of arts festivals in gen- eral – pretentious, and only for the show-off s. Show-off s exist in every area of life and there are always those who to see a show about fi ve women chained together?”. Before I had time will abuse a cultural experience in an attempt to outshine others who to ask the latter cast member if their show was a prequel to the one I’d are unaware of a niche – and frankly expensive – arts festival. But the just been off ered, someone else jumped into view and off ered me “A Fringe itself is vastly diff erent from this presentation, mostly due to the comedy about social anxiety, existential crises guaranteed!” constant and confusing bombardment of weirdness.  is is permit- ted because there is actually no ‘norm’ at Edinburgh - anything and Every event you attend has the potential to surprise. I am not entirely everything goes.  ere are over 2000 events at the fes- t i v a l sure what I was expecting when I attended a show called Dracula. A steampunk, rock-pop, Emo musical was certainly not it. Two audience members behind me were equally surprised — they had expected a mu- sical and were audibly horrifi ed when Dracula started biting people and drinking their blood. So, perhaps not all surprises are good ones. Com-

BRIAN MCNEIL BRIAN edy duo Guilt and Shame provided the audience with pink hairnets and paper crowns which my friends and I forgot we were wearing on leav- ing the auditorium until we bumped into someone we knew in the bar (much to their amusement). Cheap onstage tickets to James III (new writing now transferred to the National  eatre in London) meant I got to be part of a Scottish Parliament, albeit a fi ctional one, while Choose Your Own Documentary equipped the audience with multiple-choice handsets for decision-making moments, meaning each show took a dif- ferent route towards multiple endings. So, back to Romeo. Unfortunately he didn’t make it. Half way through  e Generation of Z he went to turn the power back on and never re- turned. However, thanks to my newly discovered apocalypse instincts, I realised I didn’t particularly care as long as the zombies (creepy actors) didn’t get me. I would like to think that as we all sprinted back through the multi-storey in the grand fi nale, I had some deep thoughts about how my preconceptions of arts festivals had changed and how creative and surprising they really can be. But to be honest, I was far too busy trying to outrun other audience members and zombies and having a ridiculous amount of fun. Hazel Lawrence

DIMITRY B.

(plays, comedy, live music, po- etry, burlesque, and everything in between), which means two things. Firstly, there is no way you are going to see a large proportion of what’s on off er, and secondly neither is anyone else.  at means that no one is an expert (not even the Guardian) and that’s rare in any artistic envi- ronment. It’s quite a nice change.  at’s why during the Fringe, the Royal Mile is fi lled with people shamelessly attempting to grab your attention long enough for them to off er you a fl yer to their show. Actors are dressed in costume as every- thing from Victorian gentlewomen to arty modern students, medieval monks, and World War I soldiers.  ere’s singing, dancing, statue-im- itating, chanting, posters, and pithy catchphrases as you walk by. On one particularly bizarre day the coincidental placing of two shows’ pro- moters meant I was asked “Would you like to see a show about women just released from prison?” followed immediately by “Would you like University of Cambridge

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Open since May, he Garden Kitchen is the sister restaurant to the Garden Café in the Botanic Gardens. It boasts one of the best breakfast bufets I have WILLIAM come across in Cambridge (think home-made sausage rolls and asparagus wrapped in Parma ham) as well as a wide-ranging and healthy lunch bufet, and a selection of indulgent cakes. Although primarily aimed at those grab- bing something to take away, there are a limited number of seats inside if you want to sit and have a cofee. Located on Mill Road, the Garden Kitchen may not be as well-known as the town-centre cafés, but it’s a spot worth visiting.

SmokeWorks opened its doors to meat-loving members of the public in July. his informal American-style diner, with an extensive Bourbon and whisky list, is not your typical Cambridge restaurant. Located on Free School Lane, it is the newest member of the Cambs Cuisine group (which run the ever- popular Chop Houses), and lives up to the same high standards. SmokeWorks’ popularity is undoubtedly due to their simple, well-cooked dishes. ‘Slow Cooked. Fast’ is the restaurant’s tag line, and this its their ethos perfectly. From 14-hour smoked beef on toast to smoked and pulled pork, all of these tasty dishes are served within minutes of ordering. I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone looking for a quiet, formal dinner (or to vegetarians!), but the relaxed atmosphere and buzz of conversation makes it a refreshing addition to the Cambridge food scene, serving unpretentious food at reasonable prices. he Meaty BBQ Beans would be my personal recommendation. Spoons he Urban Shed is like no other café in Cambridge. I had the pleasure of pay- ing a visit during its opening week in February, and have been back several Anne O’Neill brings you the best of Cambridge cafes in her weekly column. times since. Entering the café is like stepping back in time. With it’s striking, his week: Costa Cofee retro furniture, which includes orange bucket seats and reclaimed wooden spools as tables, you almost forget about the food. However, sweet treats like “I have measured out my life with cofee spoons” large windows are perfect for people-watching the black-forest brownie are excellent, and there is a wide selection of sand- – T.S. Eliot could have been talking about the and these particular windows, shaded by the typical Cambridge student when he wrote about café’s distinctive awning, have the curious qual- wiches, cofees and breakfast items available. poor J. Alfred Prufrock. I don’t go to a café for a ity of seeming to protect the gazer from the view cafeine hit – I can get that in my own kitchen – of those passing by outside. Located just metres but rather to connect with the real world. Cam- from Sainsbury’s, this Costa is also in the ideal bridge students talk about the ‘Cambridge bub- spot for the requisite guilt-free, post-grocery

LMKREAM ble’ and devise ways to escape it during term. shopping pick-me-up (unless you live at Sidney For me, one of those ways is reading a book Sussex – then you’re just lazy). with a bucket-sized mug of tea before me and the soothing buzz of conversation in the back- If window seats aren’t your cup of tea (see what ground. I did there?), or all the seats upstairs are taken, there is also a spacious area downstairs. Al- Corporate chain-haters reading this will roll though lacking in the light and airiness of the their eyes at my choice of venue, but there is a ground-loor, the basement seating area is ideal lot to be said for a reliably tasty tea or cofee. for any cash-strapped student who needs to However, not only is Cambridge’s Costa Cofee set up camp for a few hours without paying for housed within the conines of the 1920s-built hourly cofee reills. Staf are friendly without Montagu House, a Grade II listed building, but being overbearing, and will generally leave you its picturesque location on the corner of Sussex alone once you’re not taking up a valuable seat and Sidney Street makes this cofeehouse very during rush-hours. special to me. Next time you’re weighed down with essay dead- A much-coveted seat by the window afords you lines, grab a seat by the window and eavesdrop a view of quaint Sussex Street with its paved on real life for a while, even if it’s just for the streets and classically-inspired colonnades. he time it takes to drain your mug. Lifestyle Vulture Friday 3rd October 2014 23 A Cantabrigian Abroad In her fi rst column, MML student Kiera Summer shares her experiences of studying in Paris

ARIS P 03 My arrival in Par- ‘Hellamarriage’, with organisa- mais c’est obliga- Out on OCT

2014 D is passes with few which is run by a tions refusing toire’ (I’m sorry, bail, I R G O glitches. I lollop guy who doesn’t to believe but it is obliga- proceed A R E D U N onto the train with laugh too hard when you are le- tory) and ‘il faut to the my comedic quantity I ask for a cork- gitimate until le faire pour éviter accom- of luggage; the kind screw after acciden- you provide d’avoir des prob- modation that makes people tally buying good multiple forms lèmes’ (you must do PAR AVION stare at you hesi- wine, or when I then of ID, as well it unless you want foroffi ce half tantly, as if they’d prove unable to use as photocopies to have problems). I an hour of interro- like to come over to it. of everything want to scream the gation. I agree with point out that the you have ever lyrics of ‘Kill- everything they say, things you are car- The following day, signed. I may ing In The Name and bite my tongue rying are heavy and my folder of docu- be over-intel- Of’, quote Orwell’s when they mention multiple, and that ments checked and lectualising, 1984, and hide un- you might want to rechecked (and re- but there is der the table until rowdydiffi culties English with girls put them down soon, checked again), I something dis- this fascist state and express the hope in case you hadn’t feel as prêt as the tinctly exis- has been overthrown that I will be bet- realised. fast-food chain to tential about - but I’m not sure ter behaved. show the student this. Sartre my French would hold The Eurostar is may have had out that long. I don’t tell them suitably drab, and thinghousing ce a or offi two. a point. that I like loud gives me a body Protest stymied, I house music or binge odour complex un- At the bu- drinking. As I til I realise it is paperworkBut endish the fi is set reau, the despitefi nally getbeing my onekeys, leave, the bomb they the entire chair to test me, as lady exhib- document short of have dropped on my and train, rather it is wont to its sur- completing my sa- bureaucracy-addled than my body, that do. In France, prising cred ‘dossier’, and head begins to ex- smells. suspicion creativity am ordered to return plode: fuck, they seems to be in say- within the week to just said I would be My hostel is next the order ing no: produce it. SHARING! to the bridal shop of the day, ‘Desolé

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fall defiance As the infinitely fabulous Isabel Adomakoh-Young shows, Autumn needn’t be grey skies and old jumpers. Defy typical Autumnal dreariness: out with the grey and in with the orange, or yellow, or red (or all three!) Fashion Vulture Friday 3rd October 2014 25

Photography and Styling | David Godwin, Model| Isabel Adomakoh-Young , Makeup and Clothes | Isabel’s own. 26 Friday 3rd October 2014 Vulture heatre SCARAMUZZINO Think you’d like to be a theatre critic?

Sarah Grice talks us through the art of reviewing in Cambridge ALAN BATE heatre critic to create a productive working the space of 500 words. While this drama textbook. By all means suit Kenneth Tynan dialogue between practitioners might be entertaining for you and the word to the action: if writing wryly comment- and journalists. would make an interesting read if about a comedy then a few quips ed, “A critic is a Being a theatre reviewer in the Varsity review section was the could make for an good read, but man who knows Cambridge is not exactly the Guardian theatre blog, it is not make sure your own writing isn’t the way but can’t same as being William Hazlitt, particularly useful to the cast or trying too hard to upstage the drive the car.” His George Bernard Shaw or even potential audience members. show. self-deprecating analogy sheds light Lyn Gardner. You go to the ADC he second main readership Finally, when you are doing Ton some of the issues surrounding or Corpus Playhouse or wherever of a review will be the cast and your write up, it is essential to the symbiotic relationship between the play might be on. You pick crew of the show. A reviewer have an awareness of genre, form theatre and theatre reviews. A line up your free ticket and watch the has a platform to provide them and context. Obviously we can’t will inevitably emerge between the show. You probably have a couple with some important feedback. all be experts on avant-garde people who make art (those that of drinks in the bar afterwards. Always be honest: you are under postmodern Icelandic puppetry, drive the car) and the people that You get home on slightly the no obligation to pretend a show but if you are at all uncertain of critique it (those that don’t); in other wrong side of sober. You have was good. he actors (probably) information then at the very least Love words the thespians and the journal- roughly 500 words with which to will not hunt you down. However Wikipedia the play. I was review- ists. Obviously, these are not distinct write a decent piece of prose that if you did not like something, you ing at the Edinburgh Fringe, and categories – many reviewers have fulils the criteria before 10am must say why. A bad review is like came across a review of Webster’s Theatre? practical experience and many prac- the next morning. here are many a bad essay: one which makes as- he Duchess of Mali that opened titioners have written about theatre. ways to go about writing a review sertions without backing them up. with the grand statement: Think you can spot he most astute critics tend to be the but here are a few useful starting hink about the people that spent “Christopher Marlowe’s limp- Cambridge’s next playwrights themselves. points for writing about student weeks making the show and how ing attempt at a history play is However there is a tendency to theatre. their eforts have contributed to a challenge to perform - the long Tom Hiddleston? dismiss criticism as a creative art Firstly, you have to consider the overall efect; pay attention to dragging plot features plenty of form. In Steven Frears’ ilm High who you are writing for. A fun- the direction, set, props, lighting, sex, death, madness, incest and Then join the Varsity Fidelity (2000), John Cusack’s damental role of a review is to sound, publicity, etc. Try not to lycanthropy (yes, lycanthropy, why lonely, cynical music snob who enable theatre-goers to make an backseat direct as you write; focus not?)” Theatre team! owns a Chicago record store is informed decision about which on what was there as opposed to All well and good, except that rather disparagingly called ‘a shows to spend their money on. what was absent in your opinion. Marlowe didn’t write the play, it’s critic, a professional appreciator’ Since shows can cost upwards of Dismantling a show that you did not a history, and “long, dragging There are over 45 by his on and of girlfriend. he £10 for a main-show now, this not like is usually a much easier plot” doesn’t quite add up with shows being staged implication of both above quotes element is vital. Here is where (and more entertaining) writing the following list which outlines across Cambridge being something along the lines the diference between a ‘review’ exercise; however it can be very pretty much all the ingredients of of ‘those who can, do; those who and slightly looser term ‘criti- diicult to write well about a suc- a cracking Jacobean tragedy. this term, and we can’t, teach.’ Reviewing is a craft cism’ comes into play. here are cessful show. Remember that your So, why would someone choose need you to cover comparable to acting, produc- many types of theatre criticism praise will certainly be read and to be a reviewer? Free tickets these productions. ing or directing; each of these and reviewing is just one of very much appreciated, so if you are a major draw. But for anyone roles requires a speciic skill set them. It is limited in that you do experience that transcendental who loves writing, literature and that people can choose to hone do not have free reign to write night at the theatre, do give it the drama it is an opportunity to Varsity Theatre is not during their time at university. an academic thesis on the work; elusive ive stars. lex your creative, analytic and just reviews; we run True, it doesn’t require six weeks instead you have a word count, a In terms of style, less is often journalistic muscles. It encour- of rehearsal, admin and sleep- star rating and a duty to inform a more. While it is important for ages a critical eye for detail; when interviews, previews, less nights; this article in no way potential audience. he key here critics to develop a voice, do bear I review a show I look for impor- and opinion pieces on intends to diminish the creative is balancing your creativity and in mind that a review is not an tant quotes and moments which the eforts that go into the production an objective approach. Draw out academic essay to be read by a really capture the spirit of the of shows. If critics didn’t love and detail, informed commentary on world expert. If you’ve just seen piece. It can be such a pleasure world-renowned appreciate theatre, they prob- the production at hand but do a really great Brecht play and to write about a production that Cambridge theatre ably wouldn’t be there. However, not hesitate to give it your honest want to talk about its efects, it has really moved you in some way. scene. like all journalism, a review is an opinion, and your own turn of is not always necessary to go on Charles Spencer (recently retired original composition in its own phrase. For example, if review- about the Verfremdungsefekt. from the Telegraph), summed up right; a piece of writing that is ing a production of A Streetcar Technical jargon can be as al- the obligations of a theatre critic: If you fancy joining carefully constructed to stimulate Named Desire, please resist ienating as European theatrical “Arrive sober, stay awake, stay to debate and conversation. waxing lyrical about the obscure devices. Save that for the disserta- the end and don’t take a bribe un- us, drop an email to: It is just as important to canon of Tennessee Williams or tion. Explain what is happening less it is big enough to allow you [email protected] encourage reviewing as it is to en- attempting to become an amateur on stage and how it works without to retire in comfort for the rest of to add your name to courage theatre making in order biographer of Marlon Brando in sounding like you swallowed a your life.” the mailing list. heatre Vulture Friday 3rd October 2014 27

CAM FM’S DRAMATIC VENTURE Alfred Cumming talks to the pair behind Cambridge Shortlegs Presents

Cambridge Radio takes a new Many Cam FM alumni have gone unique dynamics that this platform direction this Michaelmas with the on to have great careers in the ields establishes for creating drama.” introduction of its irst radio drama, of radio and theatre, including Kicking of this will be Guy Clark’s ‘Cambridge Shortlegs Presents...’. playwright Peter Rumney (Arts Window Seats as well his adaptation Startled by the lack of radio drama Council England Best Play Award of O. Henry’s short story he Ransom last year, the show’s producers, 2002), Anne Morrison (Director of of the Red Chief. Future shows in Alex Cartlidge and Marthe de the BBC Academy) and Jane Ellison the series include Ed Eustace’s dark Ferrer, decided to start the project, (Commissioning Editor for General comedy Territory and Sarah Grice’s consisting of 11 new radio plays over Factual Programmes at BBC Radio 4), adaptation of Georg Büchner’s the following two months. he pair whilst notable Cambridge graduates Woyzeck, with the run ending on plan to bring new writers, directors such as John Cleese, David Mitchell December 7 with Millie Brierley’s and actors to a medium that has been and Sir Derek Jacobi have gone religious drama Creed. relatively unexplored in Cambridge. on to work on hugely popular and “I am nervous as it is such a huge he series’ producers cite their successful radio shows. Cambridge project,” says de Ferrer, “we had inspiration as coming from ‘the Shortlegs Presents… hopes to explore over 40 applications, but I am also classics’, naming shows such as he a whole new side of Cambridge delighted to be working with such a Mercury heatre on the Air and theatre. talented team.” Suspense as some of their biggest For both Cartlidge and de he pair were restrained on the inluences. Each week, a new writer, Ferrer, this is their irst foray into subject of the series’ future next term, director and cast shall take hold the world of radio. “I was really but with a run going all the way into of the airwaves for an hour with a shocked and confused by the December, it seems that Michaelmas brand new play, with the eclectic absence of radio drama last year in alone will be enough to give shows ranging from black comedy to Cambridge”, says Cartlidge, whilst ‘Shortlegs Presents...’ the opportunity religious drama. de Ferrer is passionate about “the to shake up Cambridge drama.

What’s Trending?

Anthony: A Sketch Show @CorpusPlayroom (Oct 6, 21.30) Eclectic, absurd, and rather silly - journey through the garbled minds of five semi-fresh Cambridge Comedians.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee @ADCtheatre (Oct 15, 23.00) Follow six nerdy American school kids as they compete in:The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. A partially improvised musical comedy.

Oedipus and Antigone @ADCtheatre (Oct 21, 19.45) The terrible fate of Oedipus, Antigone and their family unfolds in an evocative new production based on Sophocles’ masterpiece.

Sophiatown @ADC (Oct 28, 19.45) In 1950’s west-central Johannesburg, artists, activists and illegal bars make up the freehold township of Sophiatown, the beating heart of culture in apartheid South Africa.

Rope @CorpusPlayroom (Oct 28, 19.00) A tense psychodrama for Halloween.1929: two well-bred Oxford students who kill a fellow undergraduate just for kicks.

The Laramie Project @CorpusPlayroom (Nov 4, 19.00) In October 1998 Matthew Shepard was kidnapped, severely beaten and left to die, The Laramie Project, is a chronicle of the life of the town in the year after the murder.

After Miss Julie @CorpusPlayroom (Nov 4, 21.30) “My mother – almost on her deathbed – no, on her deathbed, made me swear that I’d never be a slave to any man.” 28 Friday 3rd October 2014 Vulture Reviews

WHAT WE’ RE COLUMBIA FILMS LISTENING TO

Petros Fessas

ANOTHER GO ROUND BEAT CONNECTION

If you can still bear to listen to   anything remotely summery, try his day job at the Home Mart and his mediocre. McCall displays the same he makes such a generic story more out this addictive single from this nights reading in a 24-hour diner, he standard improvisational fi ghting compelling than you’d expect. Chloë Seattle trio’s second album, due to appears to be running out the clock skills that we’ve seen done better in Grace Moretz is also good – albeit in be released early next year. Fusing on his life in as routine a manner as the Bourne fi lms or even Sherlock a small part. She’s absent from most tabla and sitar with breezy dance If we’ve learned one thing from possible. When he sees the brutal Holmes. His character’s backstory of the fi lm once the violence starts, rock tones, it will certainly please Taken, it’s that serious, soft-spoken treatment of a young working girl is bereft of any originality (you can and her continued presence could ears with Passion Pit or Bombay thespians are the only thing protect- (Chloë Grace Moretz) at the hands of guess how the history with the ex- have made the story less predictable. Bicycle Club leanings. And al- ing innocent American girls from Russian gangsters, he decides to uti- wife plays out), and for the bulk of  e fi lm walks a fi ne line, being vis- though it is thematically centred the claws of those devious Eastern lise his formidable ass-kicking skills the fi lm he seems nigh-invulnerable, cerally satisfying (watching horrible around a bad romance, it can Europeans. If you’re a fan of this kind in the service of the downtrodden. As emotionally and physically.  e bad- people get a horrible comeuppance certainly describe certain love-hate of movie, rejoice! Liam Neeson might the situation escalates, McCall fi nds dies are even less imaginative, com- at the hands of our hyper-competent sentiments towards the start of a be busy walking among tombstones, himself playing cat-and-mouse with prising entirely of the usual group of protagonist) without becoming as new Cambridge year. but Denzel Washington is avail- corrupt cops, local mobsters and mob stereotypes distinguished only gratuitously sadistic as Taken or the able to fulfi l your need for righteous ruthless international hit men. by their macabre tattoos and funky Deathwish series. violence.  is fi lm is directed by Antoine facial hair. Only see  e Equalizer if you have CORONUS, THE  e Equalizer is an adaption of Fuqua, master of humourless, All that said, Denzel Washington is a real hankering for vigilante fi lms the 80s TV series of the same name gritty action fi lms like Shooter and a fi ne actor who brings both gravitas but you’ve run out of good ones on TERMINATOR and stars Washington as Robert Olympus Has Fallen. Compared and serious action chops to the role. Netfl ix. If you’re looking for some- FLYING LOTUS McCall, a quiet man with a mysteri- to his previous work, he is coast- He could do this kind of fi lm in his thing great, try something else. ous past in US intelligence. Between ing here.  e Equalizer is utterly sleep, so it’s a testament to him that Ollie Bartlett In only two minutes and forty sec- onds, the third teaser from Flying Lotus’ upcoming fi fth eff ort ‘You’re   ‘Every Other Freckle’. Elsewhere,   pad.  is is seaside pop with fun-fair Dead!’ slowly builds and sweeps they do best when they let go of their fl ourishes and a dance-orientated you up in a seemingly tranquil at-     usual tricks: baptized by the band as LISTEN sound edging towards R&B, with retro mosphere, aided by a mesmerizing their most ‘non-Alt-J’ song for being instruments and ska thrown into the jazz-funk production and a gospel- (irresistibly) straightforward, ‘Left mix. Pritchard’s address to the father infused angelic choir. In an album Hand Free’ may serve as an insight who died when he was young in the inspired by the process of dying “We feel like diff erent people” drum- into how the band would rather not Like a multicoloured butterfl y explod- piano ballad ‘See Me Now’ makes for and the afterlife, ‘Coronus’ may be mer  om Green said in an interview be identifi ed. ing in slow motion,  e Kooks’ fourth a song that shouldn’t be average, but too brief to serve as a proper single this July. How could they not?  eir With this in mind, the show deliv- album Listen is messy but not too is. but one can imagine it as a strik- debut An Awesome Wave has gone ered more than I expected.  e band messy.  e erratic, screechy senti- From the personal to the political, ingly soulful culmination of the Platinum in the UK and won them the delivered a dynamic set to a reverent mentality of ‘Around Town’ opens ‘It Was London’ is a mammoth, stag- theme, soundtracking a moment of 2012 Mercury Prize. As I witnessed crowd. Although mainly comprised the album, which is the brainchild of gering anthem analysing the London transcendence. It certainly acts to fi rst-hand in their packed concert on of their Wave hits, the show gave life front man Luke Pritchard’s creative riots.  e lightweight voices of the maintain and strengthen the antici- 24th September, this has earned them to cuts from the album that may not coupling with hip-hop producer Infl o. band repeat “Can you believe this is pation for the record’s October 6th a large exalting fan-base. But not all initially stand out, such ‘Nara’, which Gospel singers ooze out ‘Oh Yeah’ London?”, yet it seems like we can release. members were prepared for this swift was a highlight. as a trumpet toots; there is a and they can’t.  e climax comes in life change: bassist Gwil Sainsbury Overall,  is is All Yours is a gaudy, jazzy keyboard solo, the opening soulful notes of ‘Down’, amicably left the group early in the solid listen. However, its interest- with syncopated hand claps a far but welcome cry from Luke’s VIOLENCE wsecond album’s recording. ing brainstorms of arrange- and percussion crashing in usual nasal vocals. With a vibrancy One approaches  is is All Yours ments might work less often later. Once the wave breaks unrivalled by the other tracks, the ANDY STOTT aware of the band’s ‘sophomore and they might be costing the it is clear that the clean- new direction of ‘Down’ is startling problem’, the weighing expectation to record its coherence. While not cut indie boys have moved but exciting and it comes too late in  ere couldn’t be a more fi tting title live up to the ‘scatterbrain’ experi- adding to the Alt-J away from their late-Britpop the album.  e other tracks are hazy for the Manchester-based techno mentation that earned them the ‘new momentum, it is origins , but may have found dreams: falsetto vocals swerve into producer’s return after 2012’s break- Radiohead’ tag. However, despite still likely to please themselves electro-pop zones in ‘Dreams’, with through piece ‘Luxury Problems’. being a band making carefully crafted the trio’s ‘Sweet Emotion’ falling back into  is spacious and minimalistic alt-pop, in this album they seem to be fan-base describing the ecstasy of love, as has track starts off with a hauntingly serving a less exciting version of their but lost at been done better before. quiet two minutes, dominated by debut’s sounds, without expanding. without sea in a storm of In 2006 Pritchard was quoted as vocalist Alison Skidmore’s smoky Apart from the odd Miley Cyrus vocal point- sound. saying: “I think rock and roll is just presence, only to then rapidly de- sample, there is nothing that grabs ing to Pritchard refers getting started” and at times it seems scend into a sinister progression of attention as much as ‘Breezeblocks’ or any new to Listen as a “world like  e Kooks are just getting started. crushing metallic beats.  e second ‘Fitzpleasure’. directions. music album”, but this  is is both a criticism and a compli- half of the song repeats this pattern Sure, their approach works per- Petros is a world of ‘ethnic’ ment indicating that Listen is perhaps to create a nightmarish painting of fectly on the two songs that solidify Fessas rugs and ‘oriental’ drugs too much, too late. scenes in dark alleyways. the record, ‘Hunger of the Pine’ and rammed into a London Sky Holmes Reviews Vulture Friday 3rd October 2014 29

M Marge Gunderson Okay, James Bond is probably the most sexist Pregnant, middle-aged, make-up free, wielding a gun: has there ever been a MathildaLeon: e Professional only has one real female movie franchise in the history of anything. Ever. better female character than Marge Gunderson? Fargo’s chief of police never character: Mathilda. Played by a young Natalie Now that the wonderful Dame Judie has been actually talks to another named female, but she does approach a serial killer Portman, she gloriously captures the complex- replaced by the equally superb, but defi nitively solo. She’s the only sane character in a movie full of men who are psychopath- ity of a teenage girl who still sleeps with her masculine, Ralph Fiennes, future fi lms may ic, pathetic or just plain selfi sh (props to Jerry Lundegaard, who is all three at teddy but has just started smoking cigarettes and struggle to present a woman that is anything once). Strong and competent, with an empathetic and maternal nature, Marge trying to seduce her neighbours. Vengeful yet more than a sexy spy or damsel in distress. But shows that female police chiefs don’t always have to be hard, and that mothers vulnerable, her tempestuous performance steals whilst she was with us, M was a fabulous exam- don’t always have to be soft. the show and she completely holds her own ple of the powerful and level-headed matriarch. alongside older and more experienced actors Gary Oldman and Jean Reno.

FailingFeminist the Bechdel fi lms? Test e Bechdel test has become a barometer for measuring the feminist cre- dentials of movies. Whilst I wouldn’t knock the value of the criteria, there are still some great leading-ladies that fail to make the grade. Jessica Barnfi eld Eowyn MulanLike Eowyn, Mulan is a fearless female war- In Lord of e Rings, the fellowship itself may be rior who goes undercover in order to protect a bit of a boys club, but who can deny the ethereal those she loves. Sure, Mulan as a fi lm has command of Cate Blanchet as Galadriel? She easily songs that manage to be sexist on multiple surpasses any other character in power, beauty and levels (‘I’ll Make A Man Out Of You’), but it knowledge – and yes, Gandalf, that includes you. still has a pretty strong message for young However, the stand-out favourite has to be Eowyn, girls. And for Disney circa 1998 it was damn who not only chops the head off the Witch-King’s fell near revolutionary. beast but thunders “I am no man!” whilst she does it. Pretty cheesy, but pretty badass nonetheless.

 festival’s organisers put into their line-up. Inclusivity is another special characteristic of Bestival. A host of family-friendly activities, such as Picture caption goes here. ONLY AT British festivals can largely be divided Rob da Bank’s DJ master classes and into two camps: those that are about face painting in the forest carried on the music, and those that are about alongside the pounding heavy metal STUDENT much more. e line-up of this year’s of Skindred without either seeming Bestival, which ranged from disco to infringe on the other. As well as legends Chic, to the electronic magic dozens of children dashing through of SBTRKT, to the surreal gymnastics the fi elds, I met one middle-aged of e Cuban Brothers, would sug- woman who had come last year with gest that it was the former. Do not be her 16-year-old son, but this year left EXCLUSIVE deceived. him at home so that she could have is was Rob da Bank’s eleventh more fun. festival, and the excitement on the A few, perhaps unforeseeable, er- Desert Island Disco themed Robin rors were minor jars on an otherwise Hill was palpable. As well as having its joyous weekend; Busta Rhymes didn’t DOWNLOAD OUR APP best acts yet, the added extras and the seem to Know What We Wanted attention to detail made the week- when he cancelled his main stage end magical. Hardly a taste was left performance at a day’s notice. Even un-catered for: the reggae stage was more sudden was Craig Charles’ set consistently popular, the food on off er inexplicably ending an hour early on represented every corner of the world the last night, leaving desperate fes- For amazing offers and an intoxicating forest dotted with tivalgoers with nowhere to direct the hammocks, theatre and spoken-word last vestiges of their borrowed energy and loyalty rewards poetry provided hazy wanderers at 2am on Monday morning. Annie with an ambient repose from aching Mac’s DJ set, on the magnifi cent Port hangovers. stage – a life-sized ship presiding As well as established mainstream over a sea of sequins and fl ares – was Simply download the app to your phone by stars such as Laura Mvula, and, heroes uncharacteristically dull. scanning our handy QR code or by searching of 2005, e Kooks, Bestival provided ese fl aws, however, were no re- a platform for more original and unu- fl ection on the festival as a whole. Over ‘wok and go’ on Google Play or the App Store sual talent. Take, for example, the 50,000 people descended on Robin then redeem our tasty offers in-store! genius that is Kate Tempest. Hill for the weekend, and un- Tempest is by no means a happy faces were few and far newcomer to the spoken- between – special credit to word poetry scene – since the dude keeled over on a Call to collect: 01223 364151 Bestival she has been nomi- busy pathway, having just Unit M6B, Bragghouse, Brookgate, Cambridge, CB2 1PG nated for a Mercury prize downed a bottle of mouth- and named by the Poetry wash as a dare, who was (Near Cambridge Railway Station) Book Society as one of the somewhat incapacitated by

Next Generation poets. his retching, but still man- FLICKR: BOND 2227 FLICKR: BOND 2227 Her threefold appearance aged to throw up a thumbs at Bestival, however, is up, along with all the vomit. testament to He knew where the % the variety party was. and pas- Amy YOUR CHOICE OF REGULAR sion Hawkins that 50OFF OR LARGE BOX the Name Fill out this voucher and hand in-store to receive your exclusive Email CAMBRIDGE STUDENT DISCOUNT

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JOIN TODAY: Call: 01223 336580 www.sport.cam.ac.uk Sport Friday 3rd October 2014 31 How Premier is your college? How does the Cambridge Premier League compare to the real deal? Dan Hanna investigates

All the greatest leagues Following a brief domi- Despite a disappointing in the world have one thing nation of the football scene, performance last year – a in common: soul. After all, Fitz’s golden generation seventh place inish was huge sponsorship deals, have moved on and their their lowest ranking in beautiful venues, mas- fortunes have taken a recent memory – the sive fan bases and the turn for the worse. 2011/12 champions world’s best players Were last season’s are my favourites for can only get you so disappointments a the title this year. far. Never has such simple dip in form or Having faced an soul been displayed the beginning of an injury-plagued as it was last season indeinite decline? and controversial when the min- Will a lack of presea- campaign last time nows of Trinity Hall son preparation prove round, they’ll have triumphed over all in signiicant as they go no excuses this year what is now widely on to face sides who if they continue to considered amongst inevitably will have under-perform. Unless my family to be one of done the same? And they get more injuries the greatest seasons in will Fitz ever again of course... their history. qualify for Europe? MANCHESTER CITY MANCHESTER UTD CHELSEA

TIT HALL FITZ DOWNING

Cambridge football’s nearly- Something of an enigma, men. A heart-breaking Pembroke make their second place inish in the highly anticipated (by league and a semi-inal someone presumably) defeat in last season’s return to the top light. Cuppers competition Following an unbeaten will no doubt have left 2013-14 season in a less than pleasant the league, and a taste in the mouths of close-run Cuppers the few college mem- inal defeat, they will bers who care about, no doubt be hoping or at least are aware to steal victory from of, their football Trinity Hall. team’s progress. Oh, and they also put Expect to see them re- seven past Tit Hall in turn invigorated. Not the cup – big things, I unlike everyone else. tell you. ARSENAL LEICESTER

CAIUS PEMBROKE

Well-organised, With the hey’re rubbish pragmatic and undeniably highest inishing thirds side and everyone hates them. ugly. But that’s enough last season, if anyone has about their captain. been investing heavily Masters of mediocrity, in grassroots football Selwyn have consist- – which no one has – ently found them- it’s been Jesus. And selves mid-table in the although the college’s Premier Division. top side didn’t quite perform in the league, On a related, but Cuppers victory (a ultimately irrelevant second for the col- note, having been lege) will no doubt placed 13th on the raise hopes for the Tompkins table and coming season. the 16th wealthiest college, Selwyn really Also, they have beauti- is unbelievably average. ful pitches.

STOKE CITY SOUTHAMPTON QPR

SELWYN JESUS JOHN’S 32 Friday 3rd October 2014 Sport

College RUBEN MATT Football Sport Which premier league team are you?

Just a number: getting old in professional sport GREAT BRITISH RACING/OLI LAWRENCE GREAT Hannah Roland Sport Correspondent

Scanning the headlines in the wake of the women’s 5000m at the Common- wealth Games, it is easy not to uner- sand exactly which piece of informa- tion the news wished to highlight: that Jo Pavey was the bronze medal win- ner, or that she was 40 and a mother of two. A few weeks later she trumped her achievement in Glasgow by winning a gold medal in the 10,000m at the European Championships, beating competitors sixteen years her junior and becoming the competition’s oldest ever gold medal winner. In doing so, Pavey pushed the bounds of a professional althete’s lifestyle. She is coached by her husband, who barks out trackside instructions with the couple’s newborn baby strapped to his chest. Should age and family life really be a restriction in professional sport? Or can the two go hand-in-hand? Consider instead, for example, that Pavey was an equestrian competitor, in which the average age is over 40. Suddenly her apparent seniority would not be such a media focus. Can sport Team captains Oli Lawrence (Cambridge) and Lizzy Hamilton (Oxford) at Newmarket Racecourse be grouped into ‘younger’ and ‘older’ categorisations, with athletics and football in the former, and golf and equestrian in the latter? Varsity rivalry gallops ahead More broadly, however, is the fact that all sports have their exceptions: Ryan Giggs, Martina Navratilova and Six top class races will precede the will all ride with the same weight – de- Racing School evidence to the con- Steve Redgrave to name but a few. e inaugural horse Varsity Horserace on Dubai Future spite one being over six foot and some trary, “I didn’t realise quite how fi t you Such fi gures, despite being anomalies race will be the fi rst and Champions Day. Some of the highest- signifi cantly less. Some will therefore had to be when I signed up but it’s just in their fi eld, are doing their best to rated two-year-old horses in the world have to carry ‘dead weight’ in the form so important.  e fi tter you are the fi ght against a bias towards youth in fastest Varsity of the year will go head to head over the hallowed of a lead saddlecloth under their saddle better your technique, the better your sport. Newmarket turf in the Dewhurst – a rare case in racing of smaller not balance and the easier it is. But it’s But this is a hard battle to fi ght. Age Stakes, a race established in 1875 and being better! not about just letting the horse run as will always be a categoriser of identity Ev e Hampson known for kick-starting the career of Since initially publicising applica- fast as it can from the off , we’ll have to – both in sport and in everyday life – Sport Correspondent many a young horse. Recent superstars tions to students in Cambridge and regulate the pace; holding them back at whether it be the age-group for which include ‘Frankel’ who won the 2000 Oxford, the fi nal fi ve riders have been the start and really pushing them on to one competes, or the cataloguing of Guineas in 2011. through an initial assessment; rigor- cross the fi nish line – that’ll be the re- results and records. Just as it would Cambridge sport had just about seen Generally, horses often begin their ous skills and fi tness training, and fi nal ally painful bit.” seem inconceivable to remove gender everything: clubs ranging from the career as young as two years old, com- Michael Tebbut from the British categories from sport, age will always traditional school sports, to modern peting within their age group. Past Racing School has been coaching the act as a fundamental grouping device games from across the pond, to the this age and they’re in the real world Cambridge jockeys and says that “for in competitive sport. weird and wacky historic games of the – three-year-olds race against all ages once in racing it’s not the horse that Having said this, age does not need UK’s public schools. 2014, however, and sizes. As they work their way up people will be looking at. Professional to be a limit to participation or success. cranks things up a gear. the ladder, horses run in ‘handicapped’ IT’S NOT THE HORSE THAT jockeys are all at peak fi tness with ex- In the 2012 Olympics, there were 187 Taking place alongside some of the races where the handicap or rating perience under their helmets – they’re athletes over 40, including a 71-year- biggest fl at races in the British Flat of each horse determines how much PEOPLE WILL BE LOOKING there to show what the horse can do. old in the dressage and a 52-year-old Racing Season, the inaugural Varsity weight they have to carry.  e best-rat-  e uni guys are new to the game. It’ll rower. However, there is a salient trend Horserace will see ten student jockeys ed horse will have to carry more weight AT. PROFESSIONAL be a combination of the jockey’s fi t- towards age being used negatively, to cover a mile in under two minutes at than the one with the lowest handicap. JOCKEYS ARE ALL AT PEAK ness and technique that determines defi ne, and often limit, expectations. the Rowley Mile Racecourse in the his- After that you get listed races and who crosses the line fi rst - and that all While it is imperative that age remains toric headquarters of British Racing, then group races, with Group One FITNESS WITH EXPERIENCE comes down to training.” a level of classifi cation, it is important Newmarket. being the best and containing the fi ve “ Newmarket is off ering all students that it does not restrict opportunities Champions Weekend combines two ‘Classics’. You can’t get better than UNDER THEIR HELMETS. and university staff free entry to the and prospects. of British Racing’s greatest fl at season the Classics, which include the 1,000 day – which includes the post-racing Just as Jeff Klein argued in his article events: Dubai Future Champions’ Day Guineas; 2,000 Guineas; Epsom Oaks; events and parties - to experience one for  e New York Times, age in sport in Newmarket on Friday 17th October, Epsom Derby; and the St. Leger Stakes. qualifying fi tness assessments before of racing’s biggest events of the year. really is “just a number” and should by followed by British Champions’ Day So, it seems that three-year-old Frankel being allowed to enter the race.  ose travelling from Cambridge and no means be disconnected from the at Ascot on Saturday 18th. Over the did quite well against the big boys (and  e relative size of the average jock- Oxford will also be entitled to a £10 notion of success. “If people become course of the weekend there will be girls) in 2011 to win by such a margin. ey to their mount gives the deception ‘Back your Blue’ deal organising their obsessed with what they can’t do as £4.5 million up for grabs, spread across In terms of the racing elite, the Varsity that they are merely a lightweight pas- travel to and from the racecourse, a they age,” Klein concludes, “well then the 14 diff erent races.  e Varsity Horserace doesn’t quite reach those senger, with the fi tness and talent of race card with all race day information they won’t do it”. Horserace has not reached that level dizzying heights - not yet at least. It is the horse dictating its success on the and a drinks voucher. Here’s hoping that for the likes of of sponsorship just yet; the jockeys will being run as a charity race, with each racecourse. Kate Walters, one of the Tickets available at the Freshers’ Jo Pavey, mother of two and running simply be riding for glory against ‘ e team choosing a charity to support and fi ve Cambridge Light Blues, has found Fair and online at www.buytickets.at/ superstar, advancing age continues to Dark Side’. fi nding a team sponsor.  e ten riders the training sessions at the British varsityhorserace2014 breed sporting success.