The Independent Cambridge Student Newspaper

18th February 2011 Issue No. 736 ESTD 1947 Stingy students dodge donations

MICHAEL DERRINGER

OPINION What £9,000 tuition fees will mean for students and academics alike p6

CULTURE Hard facts Guilt-free partying: The days before the collective charitable donation from the Varsity Majority of students opt out of May Balls’ charity fundraising initiative porn survey SAMANTHA SHARMAN 22 buyers actually chose to donate to charity donation.” A representative from Churchill news correspondent the charity – a contribution rate of less In such a system, Colleges would be Spring Ball Committee said: “We think Many students have refused to pay an than 9 per cent. able to decide on a set percentage of that the fact that no charity was chosen p9 optional donation added to May Ball “I think it’s ridiculous that people their income from ticket sales which yet when we implemented the system ticket prices, undermining the new are opting-out of a charitable donation would go automatically to charity. meant that very few people would be fundraising initiative set up by the cross- when they’re already prepared to pay However, Nick Chapman, founder likely to donate – ‘donate to charity’ college May Ball Committee. so much money,” said Freddie Tapner and Chair of the May Ball Presidents’ isn’t as convincing as ‘donate to East As Varsity reported last week, a May of Pembroke College. “This is student Committee and President of Trinity Anglia’s Children’s Hospices’.” Ball Presidents’ Committee has been stinginess gone too far.” May Ball, believes that it is important One student who chose to opt out set up to improve collaboration between Most of the Colleges suggest a chari- that the charitable donation is optional, explained their choice: “At the time I di erent Colleges. This year a number table donation of £2, which is less than and that people have the choice to opt- had no idea what charity it was going of May Balls will be donating money many alcoholic drink prices at Cindies. out if they so wish. to, and though I fi gured it was bound collectively towards East Anglia’s Chil- Speaking to Varsity, the Treasurer He argues: “While a 100 per cent to be a worthy cause, I’d still rather be dren’s Hospices (EACH). for St John’s May Ball, Andrew Dow- success rate is of course the Presi- able to make an informed choice.” However, the newly-launched sett, said that he was unsurprised at the dents’ desired result, it is important to Mr Chapman is optimistic that next scheme has already encountered prob- extent to which students have chosen remember that May Balls are not pri- year will prove more successful, seeing as lems. Now that tickets are on sale for to opt out. St John’s have been raising marily charity fundraisers; it’s easy the collective charity for 2012, IntoUni- the majority of balls, it has become money for charity through the sale of to get carried away with the idea that versity, has already been chosen. apparent that students are often opting May Ball tickets for around 20 years all applicants should feel obliged to “At this stage it matters little out of the charitable addition. and therefore are “aware of the prob- donate.” whether the donation rate is 70% or SPORT Both Trinity and Emmanuel Col- lem,” having been through this before. First year undergraduate Richard 10%,” he said. “What RAG President leges have reported that, in their ticket St John’s May Ball Committee o er Stockwell agreed: “Students should not Emma Cooper and I have tried to set Basketball Blues sales so far, around 65 per cent of stu- ticket-buyers an optional £5 donation. be vilifi ed for opting out of a charita- up this year is a mechanism through dents have chosen to give a donation to This year 507 of 824 registered users ble donation. Whether people are not which more money, however large or in Northampton charity. Both Colleges used an opt-out opted out of giving money to char- able to spare the extra money, would small the amount, can be raised for defeat rather than an opt-in system, so these ity. This means that out of a possible rather donate to a di erent charity or charity.” ticket-buyers actively chose to remove £4,120 that could have been raised, the simply do not want to give is a matter Some comfort can be found in a the donation from their bill. actual total was only £1,910. of personal choice. Charity ceases to be few success stories: Jesus College have The May Ball charity donation Mr Dowsett suggests an alternative charity when it is not done voluntarily.” raised an estimated £2910 for EACH, scheme was set up half way through system: “I would be in favour of making Part of the problem this year is that and from the 40 per cent of tickets sold p16 ticket sales for Churchill Spring Ball, it compulsory – just charging, say, £300 the charity to which a group of May so far for Wolfson May Ball, 85 per which took place last Friday, but of and not allowing people to opt-out.” Balls are donating, EACH, was chosen cent have opted in and already raised around 250 tickets sold after the Col- He added: “I like to think that next after many Colleges had started selling approximately £600. 07 > lege introduced an opt-in system, only year we will push for this compulsory tickets.

9 771758 444002 Comments to make? [email protected] 18th February 2011 2

Old Examination Hall, Free School Lane, Cambridge, CB2 3RF Telephone 01223 337575 Fax 01223 760949 ESTD 1947 Issue No. 736 www.varsity.co.uk EDITORIAL DIGITAL DIGEST

VERIFIED Not-sci: Power Balance ver the years, there have been many reports in Varsity and Another worldwide phenomenon, other publications in another million-pound market and Cambridge on the another invention backed by no scien- statusO of women within the Univer- tifi c evidence whatsoever. Our friends sity. Looking back at the archives at BlueSci debunk another of science’s you can fi nd anything from “Now myths, this week tackling the infamous King’s agrees to take women” to “Power Band.” “Women’s Campaign blasts Union sexism”. EMAILS, LETTERS & TWEETS VARSITECH We have clearly come a long way The Human(e) Machine since the fi rst headline, from 1969, and huge leaps since the fi rst female WITH SYMPATHY systems, beyond a call for democracy and Colleges, Girton and Newnham, freedom of press. To claim a monopoly over We have long waited in a hushed were established in 1869 and 1872 Dear Editors, these basic rights is arrogant and beckons silence to see what our robot overlords respectively. This term, after all, we on yet more anti-West regimes, if we are not would do next. As it turns out all they fi nd ourselves in the unusual situa- I felt I should let you know that I wasn’t careful. really wanted was a chance to be on tion of having women at the helm happy reading the article entitled “Rag Blind William Findlay TV; naturally, they went for a quiz of all three major newspapers and Hate”. I thought it was of bad taste, self- via e-mail show. James Vincent discusses IBM’s having a female president of the righteous and disturbing. Watson. Union. I personally don’t think the purpose of NO JOKE Cambridge still fosters, however, opinion space is to provide some individuals a pervasive ‘lads’ atmosphere prob- the opportunity to put on airs of heroism and Dear Editors, VULTURE RIP Weezer ably best exampled by Kat Gri th’s publicly disgrace others, especially those who RAG Blind Date (see www.varsity. have no recourse to similar platforms to justify Joking about rape in itself may not be an The best thing about selling out, if co.uk/opinion/3225). Yes, it began their actions, and those as in this case who ethical failing, but that doesn’t mean that you feel you have to do it, is that time as a joke, but it was the kind of were with no genuine malintent. In addition particular jokes about rape aren’t morally moves on and people forget. Songs, joke that could only have arisen the article had very little, if any, argumenta- reprehensible. Jokes that reinforce sexist ideol- however, remain timeless. Dan Brookes out of one kind of mentality. More tive content. ogy, jokes that are presented in a way likely laments the passing of Weezer. worryingly, that it was done at all My sympathy squarely lies with the boy to trigger trauma for those who have been and that the writer went on said who wrote the joke, given that it was obvi- through sexual abuse of some, or “jokes” that date suggests that he was not per- ously a joke, though perhaps of bad taste. I actually constitute threats of sexual violence turbed by what he had written and don’t think the self-righteous sermonising and intimidation *are* ethical failings. assumed that it would be accepted from the author of the opinion article, however As for the intimidation question, quite frankly VETEMENTS as ‘banter’. appealing to certain groups of people, helps I can’t see why anyone would criticise a Faster Pussycat: Curves and We can only admire Kat for the feminist cause in any way, but undermines woman for taking a (yes, male; yes, physi- Creativity making a point of this kind of it by the injustice done to the boy. Attacking cally imposing) friend with them to meet a behaviour. Too often it goes unsaid genuine jokes instead of genuine sexists isn’t blind date who apparently found it acceptable Each time that London Fashion Week and unnoticed, accepted as the the approach I would advocate. to threaten (oh, sorry, “joke about”) rape in rolls around, it seems to be sadly inevi- usual run of student life here in Anonymous order to confront them about their behaviour. table that the mass media – broadsheets Cambridge. It is not to suggest that via email If he felt intimidated, boo hoo - he was treated and tabloids alike – limps lamely after we should only ever see gender rela- to a lot less intimidation than Kat was. it. Louise Benson talks plus-size, mis- tions in a dour light or not see the BRIGHTER LIGHTS Luke Hawksbee conceptions and Fashion Week. potential of a funny side. But this via website was a joke too far. When there is a Dear Editors, recurrence of sexual attacks, as there A PROVOCATIVE QUESTION has been around the Newnham Just so you know: the Leeds Tealights won YOU, THE COMMENTATOR area this week, we are once again National Student “Best Student Sketch Group” Dear Editors, A pick of the week’s comments from the website reminded that to be a woman is still at Edinburgh in 2010. Beating the Footlights. to be somewhat vulnerable and the Although their show was excellent. Please dont With the internet boom, porn has become much ‘lads’ amongst us should be mind- be surprised that we arent a “complete joke”. more of a presence in day to day life whether “I hate you darnit – I’ve just thoroughly ful of their female friends. Walking It’s rather patronising. we like it or not. As I peruse my usual internet enjoyed this instead of writing my essay (due someone back shouldn’t just be seen Max Dickins haunts I cannot fail to notice the number of as a ticket into their bed. via website sexually explicit adverts that pop up, mostly A WEEK AGO tomorrow)...and I hath nay This extends to some college for various pornographic websites. Clearly authorities who have failed to warn WESTERN ARROGANCE porn has a place in today’s society and many any Columbian Blend. Fiddleshticks” female students about the attacks. people feel comfortable using it but I simply Kat Grif ths Solidarity amongst women has pre- Dear Editors, don’t think it should be so prevalent. The vailed, with many posting the article images it promotes can be extremely provoca- on Facebook pages or spreading the I am gladdened to see the e ect of popular tive and I was glad to see Varsity highlighting “The sooner people realise that being word amongst friends. However, that uprising spread across the Middle East, after the fact that this something that we need to a male student feels free to comment the tumultuous and brilliant scenes in Egypt. talk about. Porn should defi nitely be a subject o ensive for the sake of being o ensive isn’t on one post, “they were pretty fi t However, that the West should appropriate up for debate whether it is considered morally funny at all, the better. For further reference, tho [sic],” makes it di cult for any these happenings as indications of the spread reprehensible or no. woman to feel comfortable putting of Western “Liberal Values” is inaccurate Brian Woolcroft see Top Gear. ” Zing Tsjeng forward her views in a supposedly and wrong. These popular movements have via e-mail respectful learning environment. not invoked any degree of Western value-

Varsity Team Deputy News Editors Features Editors Reviews Editor Theatre Critics Film Critics Production Manager Head of Design Board of Directors Andrew Gri n, Lauren Arthur & Olivia Read Alex Donaldson Kiran Millwood-Hargrave, Jake Hollis, Charlotte Sewell George Shapter Dr Michael Franklin (Chair), Editors Jessie Waldeman & Jemma [email protected] [email protected] Helen Cahill, Alex Gruzenberg & Alice [email protected] [email protected] Prof. Peter Robinson, Dr Tim Alice Hancock & Lara Trainor Arts Editor Food Editor Ben Kavanagh & Lorenzo Bolland Chief Sub-editor Harris, Mr Chris Wright, Mr Prendergast [email protected] Santinelli fi [email protected] Michael Derringer, Mr Hugo [email protected] Yates Norton Andrew Tindall Angela Scarsbrook Designers Opinion Editor [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Visual Arts Critic [email protected] Mike Hillman, Gye (Varsity Society President), Online Editors Mr Laurie Tu rey, Mr Paul Laurie Martin Fashion Editors Columnists Music Critics Lawrence Dunn Sub-editors Chloe Taylor & Jake Evans Charlotte Wu & David [email protected] Anna Campbell, [email protected] Smith, Miss Avantika Chilkoti, Rosenberg Leah Schabas & Paula Petkova, Lettice Franklin Olivia Anness, Katriel Online Designer Miss Helen Mackreath, Mr Senior Culture Editor [email protected] [email protected] Elly Brindle, Literary Critic Cohn-Gordon, Donald Futers Joe Robertson [email protected] Joban Thomas, Josef Pitt-Rashid, Miss Lara Julia Lichnova Theatre Editor Pete Leggatt Nausicaa Renner & Leonie Taylor Prendergast, Miss Alice [email protected] Madeleine Morley & Imogen [email protected] [email protected] News Editor Siobhan Forshaw [email protected] Goodman Business & Advertising Hancock & Miss Charlotte Wu Rhys Treharne & Lydia Sport Editor [email protected] [email protected] Varsity TV Manager Onyett James Corcut Joanna Beaufoy Michael Derringer [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 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 ©2011 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. Printed at Iliffe Print Cambridge up 76.2% of the raw material for UK newspapers in 2009 — Winship Road, Milton, Cambridge CB24 6PP on 48gsm UPM Matt Paper. Registered as a newspaper at the Post Offi ce. ISSN 1758-4442 NEWSPAPERS SUPPORT RECYCLING 18th February 2011 News Editors: Rhys Treharne & Lydia Onyett [email protected] 3 UK’s lowest drop out rate? Degrading or dropping out? Subject switching or gure ddling? Varsity investigates the truth behind the University’s drop out rate of below one per cent, which purports to be the lowest in the country

CHLOE TOUZET

Causes of undergraduates degrading

Non-medical

Medical

Reasons for undergraduate dropouts

Medical Health reasons & death

Other & personal

ANNA GOLDENBERG, SAMANTHA For this reason, unlike the University’s student who degraded after Michaelmas Annual Report of the Applications me absolutely nothing”. SHARMAN & KIRSTY GRAY own statistics, nationwide fi gures from term in their fi rst year: “The College Committee to the Council show that According to HESA the national investigations, college & culture correspondents the Higher Education Statistics Agency didn’t try to push me in either direc- the committee received a request to average drop-out rate is 7.2% - much (HESA) only compare universities on tion, going or staying, which is good in change the name of the process due to higher than both at Oxford and Cam- the basis of the number of undergrad- theory but was actually unhelpful when the “somewhat negative connotations” bridge. The University of Oxford has a uate students who continue from their I felt so bewildered and unsupported. of the term. The report praises “cer- similar system to Cambridge’s degrad- A Varsity investigation into the Uni- first year to second year at the same My doctor said I needed time out, tain Colleges which require students ing, referred to as ‘self-rustication’, or versity’s dropout statistics has found a institution. and that was all the College needed to to clear a college-set academic hurdle simply ‘going down’ for a year. worrying lack of transparency behind According to HESA’s latest public hear to sign the papers allowing me to before resuming study”. the impressively low fi gures. There is fi gures (2007-08), 20 Cambridge fi rst- degrade; beyond that it felt like nobody Grae Worster, Senior Tutor at Trinity particular ambiguity surrounding the years elected to transfer to another at the University really cared whether I College, revealed parallel concerns to My doctor said I concept of ‘degrading’. higher education institution, and 0.8 stayed or left.” Varsity: “I do not like the term ‘drop- needed time out, With fewer than 1 per cent of all per cent of all fi rst year students did not Another student, who was “never out’ but I think there is an important undergraduates leaving their course continue their course at the Universi in happy at Cambridge”, explains that distinction to be made between those and that was all the every year, the University of Cam- the subsequent year. moving university was the best option students who find the courses here bridge has the lowest dropout rate in for them: “I transferred into year two unsuited to their interests (…) and those College needed the country. In 2009/10, of 12,084 doing the same course elsewhere. Now students who for various personal or undergraduates, only 46 dropped out, My Director I’m on track to get a good grade, I have medical reasons are granted leave to to hear to sign the or 0.38 per cent of the cohort. time to do lots of extra-curricular stu degrade.” A University of Cambridge spokes- of Studies was and I am doing a placement year in Another cause for concern is that it papers allowing me man accounts for the low rate with “the London next year. I’d like to think this seems easier to degrade – and therefore high level of pastoral support o ered by sympathetic, but will put me in a much better position avoid failing – for students at some col- to degrade the colleges and those who teach our employment-wise.” leges than at others. students”. lacking in advice. It The student welcomes the Varsity There is no fi xed system for degrad- As with Cambridge, the practice These o cial fi gures, however, do not was a struggle even investigation, acknowledging that the ing, which can result in confusion differs from college to college, but include the number of people taking a University was supportive but unable to among welfare sta . Several students the option to self-rusticate is available year o , or ‘degrading’. In 2009/10, to get con rmation advise them on the next step: “My tutor report that they have been misinformed across the University. At other universi- 185 students – or 1.5 per cent of the was very helpful. My Director of Stud- by their tutors, especially on the entitle- ties, although in extreme cases (usually undergraduate population – degraded, that I’d been ies was sympathetic, but lacking advice. ment for student fi nance. health reasons) a student may be able three times as many as those who left I was surprised I wasn’t asked to give “For all those miserable Freshers out to drop out temporarily and return altogether. withdrawn! reasons for leaving back at the time. It there: You’re guaranteed four years of the following year, there is no specifi c Degrading usually involves taking a was a struggle even to get confi rmation student fi nance, so if you want to do a name or system for this. It therefore complete calendar year o before con- The quality of support and informa- that I’d been withdrawn!” di erent three-year course, there’s still remains ambiguous as to whether or tinuing studies. Although it is expected tion provided for students who consider The University is clearly uncomfort- time!”, says a student who dropped out not the numbers of students degrading that students will resume contact with leaving the University depends heav- able with the uncertainty and stigma of their English course after their fi rst is included in their drop-out statistics. their college, some inevitably do not. ily on the college. Varsity talked to one surrounding degrading. The recent year because “my course was teaching News Editors: Rhys Treharne & Lydia Onyett [email protected] 18th February 2011 4

RIChARD BARTz press £9k voted through cuttings The pick of the week’s papers University Council embraces £9,000 proposal

KURIEN PAREL The Reporter will publish the details MID-EAST UNREST INFECTIOUS university correspondent of the actual decision made next week. According to the original working Following the fall of the presidents The University Council officially paper, students from household incomes of Tunisia and Egypt, violence has accepted proposals to charge fees of of less than £25,000 will receive a fee broken out in Yemen, Libya, Syria, £9000 per annum to new undergradu- waiver combined with a bursary totaling Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Jordan, ates starting in 2012 for all courses. The £4,625. The total fee waiver and bur- Morocco, Bahrain and Iran, where council also recommended a support sary would reduce linearly to zero once large and violent groups of civilians package of £4,625 for students from household incomes are above £42,000. are similarly trying to force their low-income backgrounds. The University of Oxford announced leaders from power. The final proposals will have to be that it would have to charge at least approved by the Office for Fair Access £8,000 a year to make up for the cuts to (OFFA). The announcement was not a the teaching budget. GILMOUR FACES ‘TIME’ surprise as a working paper on the pro- The working paper also addressed posals was published last week. concerns regarding state-school student Charlie Gilmour has been charged However Rahul Mansigani, President admissions. Currently the proportion of with ‘violent disorder’ at West- of CUSU and member of the Univer- state-educated UK students admitted to minister Magistrates’ Court. He sity Council, told Varsity ‘the Council Cambridge is 58%. After a description is alleged to have been involved did not adopt the proposals in the paper of A-level grade statistics for state- Mr. Asbo’s swan song with the attack on Prince Charles’ to do with the way the spending is bal- school pupils the report stated: “Noting convoy during the student protests anced – they are however proposing the that the proposed fee increase would EMILY CARLTON This aggression has been attributed to in London. same total amount.’ also have a negative impact on our abil- national correspondent anxiety on the bird’s part and, following He hailed the decision as a victory for ity to attract students from the state its treatment by the RSPCA after a dog CUSU: “We are delighted that the Uni- sector, the Working Group were unani- The Cam Conservancy, the group attacked it last year, it is thought that the SILVIO IN SEX SCANDAL versity has backed away from its proposal mous in their view that a target of more responsible for the maintenance of the bird itself would greatly benefit from a to slash the money given to students. than 64% was not achievable without River Cam, has lodged a request to more secluded area. Swans are the tech- Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi will be Cambridge’s maintenance bursaries are lowering admissions standards.” have Cambridge’s most notorious swan nical property of the Queen, however, standing trial charged with paying hugely important to thousands of Cam- The decision to officially recom- moved. when she declines ownership, the right for sex with an under-age prosti- bridge students who depend on them.” mend the highest possible fee coincided The swan, known as both ‘Mr. Asbo’ to decide an individual bird’s future tute. However Berlusconi claims he He added, “we have secured an with reports that the Government will and ‘Stalin’ is famed for attacking becomes the duty of ’Natural England’. is “not worried in the least” despite increase in the total spend on bursaries require universities to publish detailed rowers, canoeists and even motorboats A spokeswoman for Natural England having previously been indicted on and fee waivers to at least £4,600 per descriptions of what exactly students on the river. The Cam Conservancy said: “If there is no reasonable alterna- an ‘abuse of power’ charge relating eligible student. CUSU will continue will receive in return for the fees, includ- deputy manager, Jonathon Wakefield, tive, we are prepared to sanction the to the same girl. fighting not only to increase the amount ing reports on amount of contact hours has said that the swan poses as a very relocation of the swan to another suit- spent on supporting our poorest stu- in form of lectures, seminars and tutori- real threat .“There is a concern that one able site.” dents, but that this be spent in the way als students can expect. day a rower could capsize and it might Mr Asbo hit headlines over two years that most benefits those who rely on it.” even cause a fatality”. ago when he began harrassing rowers.

Sustainability Innovation Student Challenge On the insect trail... Prize for Postgraduate Researchers: 3 x £6,000 There is an ‘urgent need’ to understand how The Dow Chemical Company Foundation has created an award programme to recognise your work. The annual Sustainability Innovation Student Challenge was insects will fare in changing climates, say scientists. established to encourage and promote sustainable solutions to the world’s most pressing social, economic and environmental challenges. ISOBEL wEINBERG Entrants must: science correspondent ™ Focus on sustainability Zoologists from the University of Cambridge have ™ Take an interdisciplinary approach developed a new technique for finding out about ™ Offer a technical or a business-oriented approach to solving significant insect habitats, which has important implications problems (including business administration, environmental, forestry, finance, for understanding how insects will fare if the global chemistry, engineering and other areas of study) climate changes. Their paper, ‘On the vapour trail of an atmo- ™ Be carrying out postgraduate-level, ongoing research ™ spheric imprint in insects’, was published on Demonstrate excellence and innovation Wednesday. ™ Show how their research is aligned to the spirit of Dow’s 2015 Sustainability The new technique allows scientists to find out goals (water supplies, food supplies, housing, personal health, energy, climate the exact humidity of the environments in which change and protection of the environment; see www.dow.com/sustainability) insects live. They do this by analysing water mole- ™ Explain how the prize money would be used to further their research cules in the insects’ haemolymph – their equivalent The opposite is true for insects living in humid of blood. Knowledge of the insects’ preferred envi- conditions, where water will diffuse into the hae- To enter, please submit a max. 500-word description of your research project, ronment can be used to predict which species are molymph. Since this water contains more light including an explanation of how it meets the interdisciplinary and sustainability most likely to survive in changing habitats. oxygen, these insects will have a comparatively criteria and why you believe you should win. Entries must be submitted via email to The research was lead by Dr Farnon Ellwood, lighter haemolymph. Francesca Raphaely at the Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership by of Cambridge’s Zoology Department. “There is Whilst it might seem easier to find out about the th an urgent need for a better understanding of how insect habitats from studying the areas in which 11 March: [email protected] global environmental change will affect threatened insects are found, this is challenging in practice. plants and animals,” he said. “If we can deter- Insects in the rainforests live high in the canopy, Please include your name, contact details, and department with your application. mine the habitat preferences of individual insects, whilst others live in undergrowth or soil, making it we can use this information to predict how climate difficult to study them. The new technique makes Entries will be judged by a panel of leading academics from within the University. change will impact on a group representing three- research easier because precise information about Shortlisted applicants will be invited to present their work in early May. quarters of the Earth’s animal species.” the insect habitats can be determined in a labora- The new technique involves looking at the tory by studying the insects themselves. atomic composition of water inside the insects. The researchers who developed the technique See http://www.dow.com/studentchallenge for more details. As in carbon dating, researchers gained impor- believe that it will allow scientists to pinpoint tant information from measuring the ‘heaviness’ exactly what conditions different species of insects of atoms. They examined the oxygen contained prefer. They say, “At present, we lack a compre- within the insects’ water molecules. There are hensive understanding of the organization of two types of oxygen atom, one light, 16O, and one ecosystems such as tropical forests..., which limits heavy, 18O. In dry conditions, the water inside attempts to predict the responses of these ecosys- the insects will evaporate, and, as the lighter water tems to climate change.” molecules will disperse first, the heavy ones will be By improving understanding of how complex left behind. biological communities arise, the researchers Insects living in dry climates where lots of hope that we will be more able to predict what evaporation takes place will therefore have more will happen to those communities in a changing heavy oxygen than normal in their haemolymph. climate. 18th February 2011 News Editors: Rhys Treharne & Lydia Onyett [email protected] 5 Police warn women about sex attacks LETTICE FRANKLIN’S A string of sexual assaults around Cambridge prompts police concern

JOE PITT-RASHID EMILY CARLTON of the public. We would again urge political correspondent anyone with information no matter how small they may think it is to contact us

Police have warned women in Cam- immediately.” GOT SOME NEWS? EMAIL [email protected] bridge to be vigilant when out at night, This comes in the wake of a few sig- suggesting that six sexual assaults in the nifi cant instances of late-night violence last four months may be linked to one in town, prompting many colleges to Desperately browsing Wiki Some of Saturday’s one night ‘sex attacker’. issue warnings to students to be on their Answers for the answer to the stands lasted the distance (of three The incidents have taken place spo- guard when out at night. question that everyone – or at least days) and Valentine’s Day prompted radically in and around the city centre Experts are trying to build a profi le of everyone in my English class four hours another outburst of love. Roses sprang since 11 November; the most recent the attacker; he is thought to be white, before our deadline – wants to know: up all over the Market, peeped out from occured on 7 February. The attacks, around 6 feet tall, with short dark hair How does William Wordsworth use triumphant hands, decorated pigeon holes which took place in Silver Street, and stubble. repetition to show strong feeling or across town and restaurants were choc-a- Adams Road, Sidgwick Avenue and His age is estimated between 20 and emotion? The answer section was bloc with dates, extra tables squished in, Granchester Meadows respectively, are 30. On one occasion, he was thought to completely blank except for a link to an heart shaped dough balls served trium- said to bear “striking similarities”. be wearing to be wearing a black jacket answer to other unrelated but apparently phantly, love birds awkwardly blushing, A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire over a grey hooded jumper. more interesting question – How to fi nd their elbows awkwardly brushing those of police said that in each of these inci- The police have said they will be love? the college nurse’s squeeze... dents women had been “grabbed” as “increasing patrols” and have spoken they walked past and sexually assaulted. to officials at Cambridge and Anglia This is really the last question on University authorities are not The attacks, some of which were on Ruskin Universities urging them to Cambridge’s mind – love is all viewing the world through such students, all ended as the attacker ran warn female students to be particularly around us. That’s what it is: yes, love, amorous, rose-tinted glasses. A notice o “when victims begin struggling or cautious. actually. I really, really hope that Bill posted on the university website, this screaming”. Detective Inspector Bremner added: Nighy skims through a copy of Varsity, in week, announced that ‘lectures and Detective Inspector Billy Bremner “This is a person who is going out and Jesus “ca ”, and appreciates these little examinations will be held as usual and the has said: “We are following up several targeting lone females. The sooner we tokens of love from me to him, and to University Library will remain open’ on leads given to us by calls from members get him in custody the better.” Richard Curtis, on a break from fi lming. the 29th April, the day of Prince William Nighy chose to spend his break much less and Kate Middleton’s wedding. Cam- sensibly - attempting to take a perch on bridgeshire County Council has however Barry Flanagan’s Bronze Horse. I’d caught the love-bug and waived road actually reluctantly like to express a little closure charges on the day to facilitate the love for The Tab writer who wrote up this throwing of street parties. story: you brought out a couple of pretty MPs against automatic MAs awesome puns; I don’t want to stirrup any I spent most of my childhood’s trouble, I’m not foaling around, I could Sunday nights watching Born and cry till I was horse, you’ve really raised the Bred, a television programme about an Does Oxbridge tradition threaten “academic integrity”? bar(n) and its a bit of a nightmare for me. absolutely lovely family of doctors living Maybe the trough is I’m stallion, I should in an absolutely lovely village in 1950s give up altogether and rein in this sad Lancashire, where nothing worse than SAMANTHA SHARMAN Parliament today (Tuesday), claiming one extra year of study is required, attempt to be Cambridge’s mane punner Wilf the postman’s dog going missing for college correspondent there is “no logical or justifi able defence paying tuition fees that average £4,250. before I lose any friends that might bale a day ever, ever, ever happens. Not only of this historical anachronism” and that Chris Leslie, Labour MP for Notting- me out of trouble when I make myself did this successfully appease back-to- ‘Complimentary’ Masters degrees the long-standing tradition should be ham East, who is leading the campaign, totally mentally unstable. Maybe you school worries, it has also set me up for life should no longer be awarded to gradu- terminated “in order to preserve the described the ‘Oxbridge MA’ as “an whinny some, you lose some: I’ll give up with an awareness of what exactly a street ates from the Universities of Cambridge academic integrity of the MA”. out-dated and unfair practice.” this activity that gives me such unbridled party entails. I now know for certain that and Oxford just because they are Brit- Currently, students with a bachelor’s However, there is some confusion delight, but fi nd, in you, a soulmate... homemade bunting will be strung across ain’s oldest educational establishments, degree from the University of Cam- underlying their campaign: tradition- Trinity street, trestle tables of punch and MPs argue. bridge can upgrade to a Master of Arts ally the ‘MA’ awarded to Oxford and It’s quite probable because, to get sausage rolls set up on the hallowed grass The cross-party group of ministers (MA) title six years after their fi rst term Cambridge students was a title that sig- back to the subject, Cambridge of Kings Parade, Horace who works in will present their ten-minute bill in of study. At other universities, at least nifi ed that the student had become a full students, this week, embraced the Valen- the local corner shop will play his violin member of the university. tine’s Day spirit with open arms, and that in Market Square, there may well be It was only in the mid-19th Century wasn’t the only thing they were embrac- an actual maypole in the Maypole with that the title MA had any connotations ing, if you know what I mean. Saturday blonde ringletted little scamps frolicking of a higher qualifi cation, when the Uni- night’s Dystopia hosted by the Architec- gaily in the smoking area, Phyllis, the versity of London moved away from the ture Department was everything promised barmaid, will dance scandalously close traditional system and set up an MA and more: life models glimmered and to Eddie, the station agent and then will that was a more advanced award, dis- sashayed through the rooms of mauled perch on a stile with him gazing out at tinct from the initial degree. dead babies, beautifully decked out birds Grantchester meadows as the sun sets, the “This debate stems merely from and chicks shed feathers left, right and credits kicking in just before things get a ignorance about the education system centre, space men stripped down to the little-bit-Capital-VIP... at Oxbridge, and I suspect jealousy on waist, queues snaked down the streets, some people’s parts,” commented an as snake bite snaked down the throats of Oxford graduate on the Daily Tele- those already inside... Even with all these And, yes, of course, silly me, there graph’s website. “I do not believe that artful touches and my pretentious phrases, are always, at street parties, many our traditions should be under threat the truth is unavoidable: the party was characters sitting exams or peering long- merely due to a group of MPs who essentially a glorifi ed Capital VIP. Even ingly out of windows on the sixth fl oors of clearly have a chip on their shoulder for if they were no longer fourteen, no longer prison-like libraries, perhaps not being accepted into Oxbridge in the holding hands with your best friend set scattering confetti desultorily, fi rst place.” atremble by the testosterone, tongue- thinking wistfully of Despite this, even some academic sta fi lled environment, and possibly the jollity just out have been questioning the tradition. no longer keeping competitive of view. Speaking at Cambridge University’s tallies, everyone snogged Senate last year, Dr Neil Dodgson, a everyone, and then Computing Professor, said: “Many everyone else, and fi nd it o ensive that we should award then everyone a degree for doing nothing more than else’s little broth- being able to breathe for three years. It ers. And we were is only a matter of time before our MA expecting a spawns a PR disaster.” repressive, disil- He added: “Perhaps it is time for us to lusioned world acknowledge that the rest of the world – one can only has moved on, and to align ourselves, imagine what reluctantly, with a world that believes went down at that a degree should only be awarded the provocatively for academic achievement.” named One Night Stand...

READ MORE ONLINE GEORGE SHAPTER www.varsity.co.uk Opinion Editor: Laurie Martin 18th February 2011 [email protected] 6

SONIA TONG This House Believes... Sex education should start younger

PROP. James Evans, fi rst year, Jesus College OPINION Any fear of sex education corrupting children is com- pletely misplaced. What do some people think teachers do in sex education lessons? Hand around a copy of Nuts magazine for the children to read? Or maybe they give them some practical experience, like lining them along the wall and letting them practice fellatio one by one? Whether we like it or not, children are maturing faster and schools must accommodate this with e ective sex education for younger students. It’s not exactly a graphic study of the Kama Sutra. It is education. Otherwise, we risk a generation of children with an unhealthy view of sex. If sex remains taboo, then teen pregnancy won’t decrease. The ultra-conservative Ameri- can Bible Belt has the highest Citizens of the world teen pregnancy rate in the world, for goodness’ sake. Con- o quote the pure change in focus for both society and priorities than it is on ours, they versely, the liberal Netherlands wisdom of Sesame its politicians to recognise that such have no incentive to do this. Yet if have some of the lowest teen- Street, “when we all do global selfi shness produces far less we were to invest seriously in cheap age pregnancy fi gures. it, it soon gets done”. prosperity for the world, including and sustainable green energy, the An e ective sex education Working together as a each specifi c country, than could impact could be enormous: both for programme at a reasonably speciesT is much more e ective than be achieved by a combination of them and the world. young age would combat prob- JOHN WALLIS dividing our e orts. Yet ever since e orts. Research shows that money lems in this country that can an obscure treaty was signed in Many industrialised countries invested in energy creates over- fundamentally be traced back Westphalia in 1648, the world has already have signifi cant (if com- whelmingly more jobs and wealth to a misinformation about sex. National boundaries been split into territorial nations paratively tiny) programs for than in any other sector of the For this reason, sex education shouldn’t be an that expend far greater time and international development. Britain’s economy. Such a boost to fi nan- should start at a younger age. resources in confl ict than in cooper- overseas spending is slightly less that cial prosperity would in turn obstacle to solving ation. This ridiculous system needs £10bn – only about 0.6% GDP but signifi cantly diminish the conditions OPP. to change, fast. still a large quantity of money by under which terrorism breeds and Clare Cassidy, second year, St John’s global issues It is true that with telecommuni- any standards. In fact, it was one of thrives. College cations and high-speed travel have the few spending areas that was not Thus a single, concerted line of come increasing levels of cultural, drastically slashed by the Chancellor action can work radically to reverse ‘Earlier’ doesn’t necessarily political and economic integra- in the most recent budget. the most pressing crises of modern mean ‘better’. tion across national borders. The Politicians are, therefore, not times. Another example is the oft- Tell a fi ve year old boy that demands of globalisation have entirely ignorant of the need to cited link between gender equality he’ll start sprouting hair, his spurred the development of the contribute to development and subsequent political and voice will get deeper and his UN (and its subsidiaries), the EU, beyond the arbitrary economic development. body will change shape, and the IMF, countless scores of other borders of the state. As Kofi Annan put he’ll think he’s turning into transnational bodies and of course Aid to developing it: “When women some kind of werewolf. general multiculturalism. countries is fairly thrive, all of soci- Tell a fi ve year old girl that But despite the best intentions of popular with ety benefi ts, and she’ll start to bleed from inside these institutions, the vast majority electorates in succeeding gen- and she’ll burst into tears and of important policy formulation both Europe and erations are given a ask why she can’t be a werewolf worldwide is still aimed at the America. There is better start in life.” as well. domestic concerns of specifi c coun- no reason why the It is this kind Obviously it’s essential that tries. Most countries tackle foreign likes of Cameron, of lateral thinking primary school children are a airs only as far as they intrude Obama, Merkel that national lead- taught sex education in schools, on their own delimited diplomatic or Sarkozy could ers must learn swiftly but it’s important for it to be as position. not push for more to exhibit if we are age-appropriate and relevant Increasing globalisation will soon dramatic international to make any progress in as possible. Too much informa- make this position untenable. As policies in the near future. these key areas. tion too soon is likely to upset, has been desperately pointed out by Every day it becomes clearer that While local knowledge can always confuse and frighten children, op-ed columnists around the world, such policies are absolutely vital for play an important part, solutions to and this can be just as bad as the most signifi cant problems facing long-term global stability. Issues like global issues can only be e ectively too little too late. us today are global in scope, and climate change, world poverty and deployed at the international level. Our school, for example, require worldwide cooperation if confl ict threaten the standards of With the seemingly limitless cata- showed us a birthing video they are to be overcome. Clearly, living for humans everywhere. Not logue of domestic policy reversals worthy of the most graphic it would be idealistic and naïve to only do these problems transcend in the UK since Cameron’s govern- horror fi lm, seemingly in an Research shows call for the abolition of interstate national borders, but they are also ment came to power, it is easy to e ort to cut teenage pregnancy confl ict or for pure altruism on the interconnected. This means that lose sight of the fact that the biggest rates before our teenage years that money invested part of governments. The arrival savvy, large-scale international problems we face do not come from were even on the horizon, and in energy creates of democracy in many parts of the investment in the right places could cuts to education or healthcare, but I’ve had nightmares about world has only increased introver- bring about very positive develop- from the potential destabilisation of this Alien-esque ‘miracle’ ever overwhelmingly more sion, as politicians are incentivised ment in many di erent spheres. social relations as we know them. since. to pander to the electorate for votes. Take the climate crisis. It is obvi- We must learn to see beyond Quite frankly, growing up is a jobs and wealth than At the same time it would be ous that no matter how much we narrow territorial concerns, and scary prospect. Let children be obstinate to claim that the bizarre may reduce emissions in our own stop allowing so-called “national children for a while before crip- in any other sector of localisation of the world’s admin- country, the problem will not go interests” to blind us to the serious- pling them with the facts of life. istrative tactics against climate away until developing countries ness of the threats facing the world Don’t worry them just for the the economy. change or terrorism cannot be similarly cut back. Since the cli- as a whole. sake of being ‘progressive.’ altered. It would not take a radical mate is even lower on their list of Opinion Editor: Laurie Martin 18th February 2011 [email protected] 7 Opinion Focus Leaked documents last week revealed the University’s proposals to charge the maximum rate for tuition fees. Varsity investigates what this could mean for students and academics PRADEEPA SIVASANTHIRAN We should have our cake and eat it No Ifs, No Buts ADAM BOOTH itzbillies shut up shop expedient opportunity to address £9,000 Cambridge Defend Education without so much as a the system’s provision for social gesture towards their mobility than many would accept. ew people were surprised loyal public. A notice The University, as Nick Clegg Proposed rate for by Cambridge’s (and stuck on their shop front piously declared, would need tuition fees, beginning Oxford’s) decision to inF after-thought sellotape explained to prove their eligibility under charge the maximum pos- that Pembroke College had scrupulous standards set by the in September 2012 sible fee of £9,000, as was repossessed their land after a string O ce For Fair Access (OFFA). announcedF last week. Nick Clegg’s of outstanding rent payments. And But the University have quashed display of crocodile tears over the so students were left uninformed, hopes for reform, claiming that University’s announcement is pure on the lurch and lamenting the a change in the state school hypocrisy. Not only did Clegg and LAURIE MARTIN actions of institutions they have no quota – from 58% to 64 % – is many other Lib Dems vote for the Opinion Editor say or claim over. unfeasible. The Working Group 61-63% increase in fees, but everyone is well Though the situation with the were unanimous: the target of aware that the fee increase is merely University and tuition fees is very more than 64% was not deemed a response to the cuts in higher Explanations are di erent, the parallels are telling. achievable without “lowering Target for state education funding that the coalition We are still waiting for a public admissions standards”. school intake due government deploying. a dying breed. The announcement from the University This was an excellent There is still a huge elephant in University owes us a on their plans to charge £9,000 opportunity to make the most of to be set by the the room in terms of the fees debate tuition fees. Varsity, along with the a poor situation; a real chance to that has not been addressed – will this lot more rest of the media, is relying mostly think strategically about increasing Working Group latest fee increase be the last? Since on leaked documents and meeting availability from those from the introduction of fees and loans in minutes to inform their coverage. disadvantaged backgrounds, at the (currently at 58%) 1998, students have been repeatedly The insidious tactics employed expense of the more advantaged. told that fees would not increase any by the University smack of a What’s more, it was a real further. Yet in 13 years we have seen casual disregard for its students’ oppertunity to express – decisively tuition fees in Cambridge rise from and prospective students’ interests. – the positive side of the proposals. zero to £9,000. Let us not forget that Browsers are helpfully informed by We wanted a rationale; instead >£25,000 the Browne review actually recom- the fees section of the ‘Prospective we’ve been treated with smoke and mended allowing “unlimited” fees, Students’ web page that “fi gures mirrors. and many in the University have sug- for 2011–12 will be published as And so the University remained Total household gested a “U.S. model” for fees. soon as they are available.” There silent. No care for the damage One speaker at a Regent House is a distinct lack of regard for those they will infl ict, no hastily penned income to become discussion on fees recently said that students whom many predict will statement fastened to the window. “at £9,000 a year, a Cambridge be put o by an increase to fees. The buns are fast running out and eligible for reduced degree is a bargain”, and proposed The plans inevitably induced not even Stephen Fry’s tweets will that the University “go private” in anger from the Left, though save them. fees of £6000 and order to charge £27,000 per year. perhaps they o ered a more a tapered bursary With a decade of austerity mea- sures ahead of us, the debate over starting at £1,625 fees will not go away. So what is the alternative? View from the Academics The only real option is to fi ght s one would expect, from poorer backgrounds. quota, pointing out that many for an end to fees altogether; for the proposal makes for Whether this will do enough to of our applicants got A*A*A higher education to be funded on a Adepressing reading. The tempt such students we do not and or higher last time round. Our £500,000 sustainable basis through progressive recent funding cuts have only cannot know. The whole exercise A*AA standard o er is already taxation on income, corporations, made the University more is a dangerous experiment with a the highest in the country; it must and banks. The idea that there is no determined to charge the highest system of higher education that follow from the statistics that we money available is fantasy: Barclays fee possible. is one of the country’s greatest should be taking at least 66% of The ne Cambridge reported a rise in profi ts to over Instead of the free market assets. our students from state schools £6bn and British banks combined envisaged by the Browne review The University doesn’t seem (our current average is 58%). could face for missing are expected to announce profi ts of we have something akin to price- too optimistic about the possibility The University believes such a the requirements of £24bn for last year. fi xing, with elite universities of widening access, because it is fi gure to be unachievable, and it The rich are getting richer and the agreeing among themselves that pleading with the regulator for the might be right. the Of ce For Fair rest of us are made to pay for it. no price lower than £9,000 will lightest of fair access agreements. It should really be sending this The fi ght against fees and cuts work. Meanwhile Cambridge Having acknowledged that fl awed legislation back to the Access (OFFA) must begin with our own organisa- is hoping to o set the access 66.5% of A*AA results are government as unworkable. tions: CUSU should be linking up implications of fee rises through a achieved by students in the state DR JULIAN SCOTT-WARREN, with other local anti-cuts groups, package of ‘waivers’ which reduce sector, the working party then CAMBRIDGE AGAINST THE CUTS TO HIGHER schools, and trade unions to form a the cost to £6,000 for students argues for a 61%-63% state-school EDUCATION (CACHE) mass campaign against the cuts. There is no alternative. Have your say... £9,000: is it worth it? We asked some students for their opinions MOLLY GAVRIEL, KING’S COLLEGE SARAH BENNETT, GIRTON COLLEGE CHARLIE REITH, PEMBROKE COLLEGE ELIZABETH TAYLOR, HOMERTON COLLEGE This isn’t about ‘value What can you do with It’s an unfortunate but The investment bankers for money’. Education a BA in English? The necessary measure. It’s will be paying far more is priceless – tuition fees government’s answer: get often not acknowledged than £9000, crippled as fundamentally undermine up to £40,000 debt which that repayments don’t they are with a high rate the value of academia and you’ll struggle ever to start until you earn above of interest, while a librar- free inquiry, a social good pay back. With the cut to the national average and ian’s average salary will which must be defended the PGCE bursary, Eng- most graduates won’t pay back hardly anything and should be accessible lish students can’t even even repay the whole cost before their debts are writ- to all. We are students, not become teachers without thanks to the 30 year cut ten o . Worth it? Depends consumers. a struggle. A real shame. o . on what you want to do. Senior Culture Editor: Julia Carolyn Lichnova [email protected] 18th February 2011 8

The Varsity Photography Competition: Joint Winners

Judged by Andrew Catlin CULTURE n. a person who is self-indulgent in their fondness for sensuous luxury

sybaritic lifestyle is syn- remains the case that one can only put onymous with a state of oneself in a situation where relaxation repose. Yet there are, it is likely. The imperative ‘relax’ can be seems to me, two mistakes tactless and infuriating, to be followed which people frequently in some circumstances with ‘I don’t Amake concerning relaxation and its WANT to RELAX,’ but it is also, in a opposite – stress. Number one: because more signifi cant respect, a useless com- external sources of psychological stress mand. It is a little like telling a dog, not exist we tend to lose sight of the fact to sit, but to fl y. The dog might, if she that stress is an internal phenomenon. is as intelligent and computer-literate What occurs in the world outside our- as my dog Buster (yes, Buster is a girl), selves is possessed of no objective stress go o and make an online booking with value; it is only stressful insofar as it easyJet. But she can only put herself provokes a reaction inside us. As anyone on a plane; her will, no matter how who has ever been tired or hungover strongly bent upon taking fl ight, will knows, those internal reactions are sub- sadly be forever constrained by the jective; they are subject to our mental Basset Hound’s depressed anatomy. and physiological states when we She is, like the rest of her breed, heavily experience the stimulus which sparks o earthbound. Willing ourselves to relax our response. Even I, saintly paragon might achieve slightly better results of moral perfection that I am, will be than willing ourselves to fl y, but if your less inclined to camaraderie before anxiety is severe and chemical, wholly breakfast. Our experiences of stress are internal, largely una ected by removal relative to, but not exclusively deter- of stressors, and to most appearances Above: photograph by Edward Quekett. “This photo was taken while sitting on platform 4 of Bruxelles-Midi station, while mined by, the world around us. The random; if the anxiety is such, any waiting for the ICE to Köln.” assumption that the removal of exter- exertion of the will is going to achieve  The colours and light in this pic- nal stressors will necessarily remove precisely as much as attempting to fl y ture are beautiful. The girl’s expression stress is a falsity that many people fail to by sheer determination. and posture provide a direct connection recognise. The problem must, therefore, be and also a distance. The passport in Mistake number two is neglecting the approached side-on. You must place her hand and the pilot behind her tell fact that relaxation – on a neurophysi- yourself in a situation where relaxation their own story and defi ne place. The ological level – is not entirely voluntary. will hopefully happen to you; like movement of the fi gure in the back- There is only a limited extent to which Buster you can, at least, put yourself on ground adds an element of drama and we can juggle our neurotransmit- the plane. Or you can try what rising emphasises the sense of a precise frozen ter responses (the main culprits being numbers of American airline pas- moment in time. The picture fi res the serotonin, dopamine and noradrenalin; sengers have recently discovered to be imagination with possibilities, building what magazines like Cosmopolitan term an e ective cure for fl ight-anxiety: the an elaborate space around the frame your ‘happy chemicals’). We can a ect self-administration of muscle-relaxants and challenging the viewer to elaborate the secretion of these chemicals by before boarding. Do not overdo this, the story. altering sleep patterns (and circadian however: I saw one family at the check-  This is beautifully observed, per- rhythms more generally; melatonin in desk in Crete who had taken rather a fectly balanced, and fi lled with intrigue. also comes into play here), exercise (or lot and were having great di culty with It feels like a scene from a movie. The the lack thereof), diet and exposure to both speech and the manipulation of light is cinematic, but also very natural. stimulation of various positive or nega- their passports. The precise composition and equilib- tive kinds (being with people you like, PETER LEGGATT rium within the image is compelling, for example, releases endorphins), but it while the repetition of the two windows creates its own sense of rhythm. The almost refl ection of the two is very interesting, emphasising the odd di er- ences in each window. The hidden seats that separate them provide a strange barrier, while optically there is nothing there. Elaborate narratives and possi- bilities emerge as you study the picture further. A photograph that stood out at GEORGE SHAPTER fi rst sight and remains fascinating after repeated viewing.

Andrew Catlin is a prominent Eng- lish photographer and lmmaker. He has worked extensively with NME; his photographs are featured on albums by Nick Cave, New Order, The Pixies, and many others. His proli c scope of work includes art direction, graphic design, documentary work, music videos and books. Many of his pieces are held in galleries and collections, such as the National Gallery.

CATLIN’S COMMENT & RUNNERS-UP www.varsity.co.uk Above: photograph by Harry Carr. “An encounter with a stranger, in an airport.” Features Editors: Lauren Arthur & Olivia Read 18th February 2011 [email protected] 9 Graphic Details Erotic literature or cheap internet thrills? Aesthetically pleasing or devoid of all art? Varsity reveals your habits, preferences and opinions on all things pornographic

PORN: SOME FACTS I hate pornography In which of the following media have you seen pornography? • One in every four clicks online is porn related and everything it • The industry generates an stands for. And yet I estimated $60 billion per Magazines year worldwide succumb to watching Film Television • 420 million internet porn it. Why? DVDs pages Internet Literature • 4.2 million porn websites Art Clubs (eg strip clubs) • 68 million search engine 85% Other requests for porn daily have never paid for pornography

ornography has always been most signifi cant issues that emerged from a controversial and di cult Varsity’s survey were associated with defi - topic to discuss in any public nition, safety and ethics. sphere, yet popular interest The term ‘pornography’ clearly Unless it is against What is gripped by its visceral encompasses too many di erent media Ptransgression of social conventions. and genres to be explicitly useful. the will of the you It is the ultimate voyeuristic experi- Despite this, people raised numer- ence, and one of the most powerful ous objections to the general idea of participant, everything said... amalgamations of fantasy and reality porn, with many of the comments commercially available. With a recent questioning the moral legitimacy of is acceptable, in my surge in media interest, from the Sunday pornography, and the uncertain safety Times investigation into ‘Generation of its actors and participants. It is opinion The high percentage (major- XXX’ to the Cambridge Union Soci- interesting that whilst so many people ity) of pornography that ety’s debate yesterday evening on the expressed a desire to see some kind of shows unsafe sex surely encourages merits of porn as a public service, Var- visible assurance that all the people negative attitudes. sity decided to investigate pornography involved were stable and consenting, trends among Cambridge students. very few have paid or are willing to Pornography: erotic or artistic? The only sex that is unethical Almost exactly equal numbers pay for pornography: is sex that any of the people of men and women took our legitimate funding is involved don’t want to be having. survey, and 90% of those had surely the fi rst step viewed pornography in some towards a more Girls watch porn too. form, the overwhelming majority securely regulated  on the internet. This contrasts strongly porn industry. Both are The desensitisation of young with a 2008 study of college-age students possibilities men to gratuitously violent in America , where 31 per cent of young sexual acts is happening. women reported viewing pornography Erotic compared with 87 per cent of men. The Messed up. Addictive. Encourages dubious sexual practices. Objectifi es women. Removes any sense of emotional Artistic involvement from sex. People accept it in In my experience although ALICE EWING all my male friends and boy- marble and hate it in friend watch porn in private they don’t transfer the activities of the the esh porn. How often do Cambridge students look at porn? Should there be a moral debate about pornography? 79% would consider 32.1% replicating what they have 14.3% seen in pornography in Yes - there should be a debate 18.9% 19.3% 17.3% about the morality of pornography their own sex lives No - it’s irrelevant and unnecessary 8.1% WANT TO KNOW HOW 50.6% MANY THOUGHT THEIR Not sure COLLEGE BANDWIDTH 35.1% WAS TOO SMALL? All results online along with: NEVER YEARLY A HISTORY OF PORNOGRAPHY Haxie Meyers-Belkin MONTHLY WEEKLY THE STATE OF MODERN DAILY PORNOGRAPHY Sarah Woolley www.varsity.co.uk/lifestyle Arts Editor: Yates Norton 18th February 2011 [email protected] 10 Life en Pointe From Bucharest to Wonderland, Isabella Cookson talks to Alina Cojocaru about life Our rainforests being saved! As of yesterday, England’s forests will not as principal ballerina with the Royal Ballet be sold off to COURTESY OF THE ROYAL BALLET businesses. Why ancers hurry from one not celebrate rehearsal to the next, by huging some tutus in hand. Row upon trees in the row of delicate costumes recent sunshine line bustling corridors (so promising of Dfi lled with elaborate props for the spring)? upcoming show of Alice in Wonderland. Behind each closed door di erent She’s smart, she’s sounds ring out: the beautiful voices beautiful, she’s of opera singers, the pattering feet of a demented swan dancers practising a pas de deux, a princess – and single violin. Downstairs, in the Paul also, she can Hamlyn Hall, members of the public rap. That’s right, waltz their way through Friday after- Natalie Portman raps, and she’s pretty noon: welcome to life backstage at the badass about it too. Recommended post- Royal Opera House. Black Swan YouTube viewing. Alina Cojocaru greets me in the press o ce in a beautiful green silk Recent research from Oxford, blouse and with a timid, eager smile. Cambridge and other universities shows Surrounded by a world of theatrical that thinking happy thoughts will glamour, widely acclaimed as one of make painkillers more effective. Negative the best dancers of the modern age, her thoughts can actually cancel their effect manner is remarkably unpretentious. altogether. Think haps and There is something very self-conscious you could be on the about Alina and this refl ects strongly road to easier in her work ethic: “When I fi rst began hangovers and professionally, I would collapse after being a more work for an hour or so and then train joyous person! until one in the morning at home. I would then leave the house at seven thirty to be ready for class the next The Brit day.” Ballet dancers work hard. Behind Awards those graceful smiles and the ethereal hitting a record arms that make it look so easy are years slump in viewing of training and discipline. gures because... But ballet is about far more than everyone was too countless exercises à la barre. Talking busy watching the nal episode of Big to me about playing psychologically Fat Gypsy Weddings. So this is where our complicated characters at such a young priorities really lie. age, she said, “It was di cult. I’ve never experienced many of the things that the Speaking of swans: no more Mr Asbo. characters I played have gone through That’s right, the infamously agressive and I couldn’t just call up my mum or swan could be moved from the Cam my sister and ask them how to play a to a more secluded area, so prostitute or whatever! I remember that rowers and especially the fi rst time I played Manon. other river- I had to dance this with Johann [Cojo- journeying types caru’s on and o stage partner] before may breathe we had started going out. There is a easily once more. moment in which he has to pull down my top and could see everything! The ‘Fifth Week Blues’, ‘February fatigue’ – audience can’t see but before the show whatever we may call it, it’s getting to I felt so nervous. But in the end, when that point halfway through term when the moment came, I was so involved we all wish we were on holiday. At this in the character, and the ballet and the point, it’s vitally important to keep calm music, that this moment just felt right. I and carry on. Keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk was simply being Manon.” may help you achieve this goal. At the age of nine, Alina was amongst the fi rst group of children Alina Cojocaru: “one of the best dancers of the modern age” There is only one to be granted a passport out of post- thing worse than communist Romania to study ballet I forget the idea. Each time it’s a little whiplash injury that threatened her stress, and that is at the Kiev Ballet School. “It was very di erent. You can change a move here career and disabled her for months. Royal wedding regimented, yes, but I don’t think I was I realised what all or there, mainly just small things that “At fi rst I felt so lost. Ballet has been condoms (also unhappy there.” It wasn’t actually until most people wouldn’t see. That’s one of my life since I was so young and it was known as “Crown she was thirteen that Alina saw her those pliés and the nice things about being invited to not certain I would recover. But soon Jewels”) They fi rst ballet, “It was then that I realised companies to dance it with them. Each I discovered that there was so much also come with a what all those pliés and exercises were exercises were for. variation is di erent.” else…it was then that I felt that I grew tagline:“lie back and for. And I thought: wow! I want to be a And what does she think about new into myself, as though I as a person think of England”. dancer.” And I thought – choreography? “I love to be choreo- fi nally caught up with the dancer I had The ballet she saw was Giselle, fi tting graphed; it’s a really interesting process. become.” her fairy-tale rise to fame almost too wow! I want to be You can spend a whole day rehearsing Her love of dancing saturated the perfectly. For it was with her fi rst perfor- a new scene and then the next the conversation: “People often ask me mance as this waif-like heroine in 2001 a dancer choreographer will show up and say what I would be doing if I wasn’t a that Alina set the audience at Covent he’s completely scraped it! The classics ballet dancer. If there is something I Garden buzzing with excitement, lead- the cliché “Oh, I really hate to choose”. are always the hardest to dance though. feel that I am missing or if I wish I were ing to her immediate promotion as But then she paused and said, “Well I Not just technically but also because able to do something di erently. But if principal ballerina at the tender age of suppose that the ballet I feel I am miss- so many great dancers have performed all you have grown up with is dance, 19. And the role has never left her. She ing if I haven’t performed it that season them. The challenge is to fi nd some- you don’t miss the parties or whatever, has performed it across the globe, from is Giselle. I sometimes wake up Johann thing new to bring to the character.” because you’ve never known what it the Mariinsky Ballet in Russia to New in the middle of the night to tell him But life is not always rose-tinted was like with them. Ballet careers are York. When I asked her what her favou- some new step that I want to work on. for young, beautiful ballet dancers. very short, so I just want to enjoy every rite ballet was, she at fi rst replied with I’ll ask him to try and remember in case Two years ago Alina su ered from a moment of it.” 18th February 2011 Fashion Editors: Paula Petkova & Leah Schabas [email protected] 11

Juliet at the Capulet masked ball Ellie wears Sunray dress by Ruth Tarvydas, to hire from Girl Meets Dress. TALESfrom theBALLET

SEE thE full Shoot www.varsity.co.uk/fashion Gabby Gabby , Aurien Daisy Bard

Odette and Odile Chantelle wears Aloof Dancer dress by Suzannah, to hire from Girl Meets Dress; pearl tiara from Westwood Rocks. Glory wears Scarlet Black dress by Ruth Tarvydas, to hire from Girl Meets Waiting for Titania Ellie wears silk dress by Just In Case. Gabby wears organza dress by Dress. Betty Jackson. Both from Bown’s sale. Artificial rosebuds from Ark. Griggs , Glory - all dancersthe Cambridge University Ballerina Liu , Ellie Morgan from Assistants: Hannah Punter . Hair: Riddington . Megan up: Make Club . Westwood Rocks . and Westwood , Girl Meets Dress With thanks to Ark , Bown’s Chantelle Burton , Models: Leah Schabas . Stylist: Claude Schneider . Photographer: . Compton-Joseph , Chloe Wallis more For completed in 1848. of the Fitzwilliam Museum , entrance Shot in the historic founder’s . visit www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk information Theatre Editor: Siobhán Forshaw 18th February 2011 [email protected] 12

MILLA BASMAKOVA THEATRE character in the production. That the Three Gods (Novellie, Stage Talk The Good Soul of Parris, Bowles) are dressed up as three Szechwan jolly George Osbornes searching for goodness in an austere Szechwan, is an SIOBHAN FORSHAW Corpus Mainshow (Tues 15th - Sat 19th February) amusing detail just as the ‘Big Society’ (or was it ‘good’?) dies on the vine in the ★★★★★ outside world, even though it might be he ADC; towering redundant to suggest the outside world bastion of Cambridge hat is it Brecht does? He takes so overtly. theatre, Footlights hom- our attention and directs it at Much to your reviewer’s schadenfreude, ing-nest and Edward Wwhat’s wrong – and if anyone one of his friends turned down an o er Herring’s absolute favou- doubts whether that’s worth their while, to come for fear it might be a musical. riteT place ever. Safe and decent, the The Good Soul of Szechwan should set Like-minded individuals will be relieved ADC exudes a pseudo-cosmopolitan them right. The Fletcher Players have to learn that the music, by Joe Taylor, air and trips over itself to fl aunt its chosen not to try for an authentic look does not make this production a musi- impressive ream of alumni at every – foretold by a requisite verfremder at the cal. Instead, Taylor deserves credit for opportunity. The eyes of seemingly beginning – but otherwise been broadly creating music that works surprisingly every stock British actor to emerge true the script, and it is remarkable well alongside the play. Pleasant, almost from these well-trodden boards scru- how the cast succeed in taking this tale hypnotic at times, appropriately jarring tinise your unworthy bowed head, of ideas from the page onto the stage, and atonal when called for, and potent as you ascend the stairs. Boasting an whilst never losing our interest for the care and buy the plot. King deftly bal- and scheming than as disconsolate at in combination with Brecht’s songs, unparalleled degree of professional- full two hours. ances the complementary characters: the wedding, his voice is more at home the music is only marred by the vocal ism, the stage has leant itself to some Jennie King plays Shen Te convinc- Shui Ta is assertive and industrious as he sings a an angry, desperate song to performances, which were of variable of the most ambitious set-designs in ingly because she never threatens to where Shen Te is timid and reticent, but urge the factory workers on than when quality. Cambridge; Patrick Garety’s con- we never lose sight of their common he laments his broken dreams. Brecht uses poetry to trick us into sistently gorgeous stylistics gave us source. King is best in everyday inter- The subtlety of Toby Parker-Rees’s looking at society long enough to detect the polished, harmonious sets of The Remarkable. . . actions with friends and relatives, but Wang enriches the play dispropor- that it has evil qualities—not melodra- Merchant of Venice and The Madness of never losing our struggles to convey the acuteness of the tionately. His conversations with the matic, Aristotelian, Hollywood evil, but King George III last year, whilst Mark emotion as Shen Te falls in love with Three Gods combines his blind, astute everyday, mundane, real-world evil. Evil Maugham and Finn Beams pushed interest for the Yang Sun. deference for them in the face of their enough to make you think, regardless the boat out last term with their Benjamin Blyth’s Yang Sun gives us ever more apparent moral failure with of politics and ideology. This produc- experimental set for The Tempest that full two hours a raw and handsome contrast to Shui the tiniest hint of the mockery that tion of The Good Soul of Szechwan lets drew inspiration from the iconic sets Ta’s softness, but his portrayal of Yang comes with knowing the truth, and this the question jump at us from the stage: of Robert Wilson. The ADC allows exaggerate her good soul: it is because Sun fails to make his sense of failure interplay of tendencies, none of which Look around you – do you like what this versatility by being in itself totally she retains faith and compassion, but and contempt fully real to us. Just as is fully dominant, might just make him you see? characterless, and hence imposing only as far as she can, that we are led to Blyth is more convincing as seductive the most interesting and lifelike male EIRIK SVELA none of its own personality upon any performance. It is a blank canvas, and has played host to everything from THEATRE monologues describing the closing gap THEATRE Nell, who somehow manages to stay pantomime to Pinter. This week the between man and machine. still inside until needed, whereupon ADC proudly presents the second AND/OR Susie Chrystal as Maggie was the Endgame she pops up with some of the best ever opening of Posh, the bold and Corpus Lateshow most lively and natural onstage. In the Fitzpatrick Hall, Queens’ facial tics of an old person I have ever incisive new play by Laura Wade (Tues 15th - Sat 19th February) climactic scene Maggie becomes hys- (Tues 15th - Sat 19th February) seen. Maynard sustains a pronounced that casts a sharp look at the dubious terical (she knocks over the chessboard) limp throughout without caricaturing origins of our Government’s highest ★★★★★ and Chrystal did well to authenticate ★★★★★ himself as an Igor-esque servant, and authorities. o achieve a lasting impression the character’s rapid transition into he fi rst thing to notice about this Will Chappell (as Nag) acts with a pecu- At polar odds with the reserved with any 30-minute late show this state. Katherine Soper, as Tamsin, production of Endgame is the liarly laboured speech which perfectly dignity of the ADC stands the Tat Corpus Christi Playrooms was less convincing when conveying Tsilence. Fred Maynard as Clov denotes the weariness of the play. Howard Theatre, of Downing Col- would be di cult. AND/OR was an high emotion. The sisters’ arguments clumps alone around the stage for a lege. Gloriously camp, and imbued interesting (if brief) foray into the occurred too suddenly. Soper’s lack good three minutes, his clunking limp with a boisterous charm that oozes experimental, but ultimately struggled of build-up may have been to demon- creating a rhythm that echoes as a kind Well-designed . . . from the seams of the (GENUINE) to be much more than mediocre. strate the highly-strung nature of her of metronome throughout the whole leather seats, this place is like no other The play alternated between the two character. However, it only made the play. Theo Hughes-Morgan, as Hamm, perfectly imagined in Cambridge. Following its fl amboy- fl atmates Tarquin (Aaron Bufe) and confrontations seem unrealistic. In her sits immobile in the middle of the stage, ant debut with The Relapse last year, Jamie (Isabella Cookson), and the sisters monologue (a drawn-out description a blood-stained rag over his face. Each With so many characters rendered the stage was set for a new term of Tamsin (Katherine Soper) and Maggie of her sister getting out of a cab) Soper of the four characters gradually comes immobile, the dialogue is its most sumptuous production and lavish the- (Susie Chrystal). Jamie and Tamsin delivered the line ‘her breath smelt of to life – if this stark, post-apocalyptic important attribute, yet as Clov points atrics that continues with this week’s are making decisions about moving vodka’ with a fondness that seemed existence can be called life – and an out, “the words that remain have noth- multimedia production of The Duchess to London, and it is through this that contradictory to her earlier distain for aching sense of the past in the face of ing to say”. Time is bent as the play of Malfi , which looks to bolster the the stories parallel, brought together Maggie’s smoking, adding to a sense of the future is created. Hughes-Morgan circles around itself. Under the sepia recurrences of sex, incest and murder symbolically through the same stage inconsistency that detracted from her is excellent as Hamm: the opaque light, the stage gradually fi lls up with that thread through the play against representing their two di erent living believability. round spectacles that obscure his face props, and the characters engage them- the political backdrop of 1930s Italy. spaces. When venturing into the experimen- for most of the show enforce a curi- selves in trivialities which are a waste of One of only a few College theatres, HANNAH BOHM-DUCHEM tal, AND/OR produced some interesting ous expressivity in his motions which, time, yet simultaneously remind us that Downing competes for space in your concepts. The best were those that as an immobile protagonist, the play time is all they have and do not need. diary with the Fitzpatrick Theatre in elegantly integrated the two story-lines, must rely on. A raised fi nger by him As one character says: “Yesterday?! Queens’, whose concrete, uninspiring most notably when both fl ats had a can create the suspension before he What does that mean, yesterday?” The exterior and bare, wooden stage does dinner party on the same table. The explodes in pointless, brief rage. set is well designed and the costumes little justice to its capabilities as a per- laying of the table at the dinner party In Endgame, it is the details that count, perfectly imagined, Nagg’s hat being formance space. and the interweaving of conversations as the characters simply exist in their particularly wonderful. The drawback Crouching betwixt the narrow walls was negotiated adroitly by the actors, stifl ing and claustrophobic arena. The of this play is its exhausting nature: it is of St Edmunds Passage squats the showing good direction and imagina- discipline of these actors is startling: the two hours of relentless existence, and Corpus Playroom, which now rivals tive writing. There were moments play is an exhaustive two hours long, the purposeful pointlessness does begin the ADC in its ability to produce when the overlaying of conversations without any interval, and half the cast to grate after a while. It is, however, sell-out shows week after week. The created confusion, and perhaps if the spend the entire play in a dustbin. All darkly amusing as the cast explore the intimacy of the space lends itself nat- speech were segregated more the scene respect due to Hannah Malcolm as hilarity of unhappiness. FREYA BERRY urally to smaller shows, but has still would have been more e ective. The TIM JOHNS managed to pull o several impressive worst concepts were also seen at this feats of stage management and com- point however, such as the Tarquin plex production.The limited potential and Tamsin’s speaking in unison. It and sparsity of the stage tends to was a problematic way to unite onstage leave the production leaning on the action, and wasn’t necessary either. capabilities of the actors that inhabit Jamie opens with a speech about Had it been pulled of e ortlessly, it it; and this obvious vulnerability has dropping her cigarette (then rendered may’ve seemed visionary rather than led to an equal number of disasters unsmokeable), an e ort by the writers burdensome, but even then would and triumphs. Look out this week for to illustrate the central theme of the remain a technique of dubious merit (a the inexplicable MARGOT DE SADE: juxtaposition between chaos and choice slicker performance risked seeming too 120 DAYS OF STARDOM, which gives in everyday life. The acting however, grandiose). very little away about itself, except the was too histrionic, (far beyond any- AND/OR is a play with a few promise of ‘candid confessions, saucy thing needed to demonstrate Jamie’s moments to recommend it, but failed stories and fabulous frocks galore!’ outlandish character) so the point was to have a marked impact. As a play that Following this camp extravaganza of over-laboured. Tarquin’s obsession deals with chance and choice, perhaps a mainshow is Some Explicit Polaroids, with chess was more credible, and was the fact that an audience’s reaction which invites us to revisit the rave a slicker way to introduce the central could go either way is entirely appro- scene of the 1990s – expect fl ashing theme. Aaron Bufe’s awkward, discon- priate, though this doesn’t lend much lights and lots of double-denim. nected demeanour created a character credit to its creators. that was geeky enough to justify long HELEN CAHILL 18th February 2011 Reviews Editor: Alex Donaldson [email protected] 13

TIM JOHNS MUSIC in particular the band seemed to lose their timing, which created an uninten- The Go! Team tional and disjointed mess. In reality The Junction though, the energy and excitement ★★★★★ levels never really drop dangerously Keeping It low. The Go! Team have a real talent ix years is a hell of a long time for playing the crowd and not just play- Reel in the music business. Do you ing to the crowd: getting the audience ALICE BOLLAND Sremember The Pipettes? The to interact instead of sitting back is a Others? If you do, give yourself a key element of their performances and pat on the back. Many would have clearly it works well. predicted that The Go! Team would The vocals were, at times, completely In the heady wake of Churchill’s have falled by the wayside by the turn indecipherable due to the overpowering 7 Deadly Sins Ball, it seemed ap- of the decade, but with a new album guitars, there were far too many instru- propriate to nominate one out- garnering a decent response in the blo- ment changes and the newer material standing lm for each of these gosphere and a UK tour in the running, didn’t gel so well with the crowd. concepts – concepts which we they’re still trying to prove the doubters However, aside from these fl aws, The industrious students, I’m sure, wrong. Go! Team are an incredible experience could not possibly relate to... So Banjo Or Freakout was an interesting live. The classic ‘Ladyfl ash’ and ‘Bottle here they are, a selection of sin- choice of support for the alt-dance col- Rocket’ had the entire venue dancing fully indulgent movies to make lective, to say the least. The band have Sonic Youth. Post-rock fans should keep pop melodies turn The Junction into and singing along – undeniable girl you feel much less guilty about an extravagant, delicate sound which an eye out for their upcoming album carnival central. Frontwoman Ninja pop gems which appeal universally to your own personal blunders. is built upon distortion and loop pedals launch in March. has an all-encompassing persona, inter- more reminiscient of A Place To Bury A brief glance around the crowd acting with the crowd in a way which WRATH: Lucky Number Strangers or a lighter My Bloody Val- revealed the universal scope of The Go! wouldn’t be out of place in a panto- The Go! Team are Slevin (2006) entine than the headline act, but it was Team: to my left, there were two kids mime, whilst dancing like a member An exhilarating revenge thriller certainly an enjoyable experience. Cre- who could be no older than 15, whilst of Salt ‘n’ Pepa. With three albums an incredible live starring Josh Hartnett (looking ating these delicate soundscapes takes a to my right stood a man who delight- under their belts the band have a fairly especially lovely) as the unfor- signifi cant amount of time, and waiting fully informed me that it was his 68th strong back catalogue from which to experience tunate victim of a long-running roughly 30 seconds for each track to birthday. So what distinguishes this pick and choose, but without a shadow mob feud; a fast-paced labyrinth fi nally kick in is a major ask. In addition band from the rest? What spawns this of a doubt the crowd interacted more the hardcore fan and to the fi rst-time of a movie, with killer twists and to this, the use of a second drummer generation-agnostic appeal? While the with songs from the band’s debut record listener. The moment of the night had a stellar cast. on one particular track adds nothing Brighton sextet insist that “they’re not Thunder, Lightning, Strike. to be ‘Junior Kickstart’: big brass parts, to the performance and removes yet a party band”, there are few UK acts Yet, despite their strong back cata- immense drumming and some epic GREED: Scarface (1983) another instrument from the mix, who can create an atmosphere like The logue, there were certainly some weaker guitar work came together into one gar- This uber-violent gangster making the melody even more sparse. Go! Team. First track ‘T.O.R.N.A.D.O’ moments within the performance. gantuan anthem without words. classic documents the rise and These qualms aside, the second half of from their 2011 album ‘Rolling Sickeningly-twee number ‘Ready To Their stars may not shine as brightly fall of a young Cuban refugee, the support band’s performance was a Blackouts’ sets the tone immediately: Go Steady’ tries to bring back the days as in their 2003 heyday, but The Go! whose desire for power and real joy, throwing in complex rhythms distorted brass samples, two drummers of Phil Spector-produced girl pop with Team can still deliver one hell of a live wealth gradually cause his ultimate demise as he is enticed and distorted guitars along the lines of laying hip hop beats and the perfect cringeworthy results, while on one track performance. PATRICK KANE into the vicious world of co- caine smuggling. CLASSICAL Anne Trulove (Joanna Songi). Enter dices with the devil (literally) in a game be commended for his style: precise, Nick Shadow (Christopher Dollins), a of cards, and is miraculously trium- assured, and refreshingly unpreten- SLOTH: The Big Lebowski smooth-talking stranger with a devilish phant, but is quickly rendered insane tious. The orchestra tackled the (1997) The Rake’s Progress A cult classic from the Coen West Road grimace, who promises Tom a fortune as a parting gift from Nick. The opera challenging score with skill, but several bestowed upon him by an unknown reveals its heartbreaking undertones as shaky moments meant that the music Brothers: ‘The Dude’ (Jeff Bridg- ★★★★★ uncle. Whisked away to London, Tom we see Tom, consigned to Bedlam, in lacked the punch which it desperately es) is forced to take a break succumbs to a series of fame-seeking Anne’s forgiving arms for the last time. required. Occasionally the same was from his carefree life of drinking he Rake’s Progress tells the tale and money-making scams, including a The production featured some true of the singing: rhythmic vitality and bowling in this hilarious tale of Tom Rakewell (Gwilym bizarre marriage to bearded celebrity uncannily accurate casting. Bowen and crisp diction were vital, yet sadly of mistaken identity. Bowen), an idle youth hopelessly Baba the Turk (Joanna Harries). To cap performed the role of loveable tool with not always present. The fi nal scene T PRIDE: 127 Hours (2011) smitten with his wide-eyed sweetheart, it all, Nick demands Tom’s soul. Tom real sincerity, and his reported chest between Anne and Tom could have Danny Boyle excels with this SOUMAYA KEYNES infection strangely seemed to enhance been even more poignant had the the character’s decline. Songi, past chorus of Bedlam patients toned down fascinating exploration of pride, master in the role of innocent maiden, their manic hair-brushing and duvet- arrogance and isolation; James moved audience members to tears clad pacing in order to spotlight the Franco plays rock-climber with her fi nal lullaby. Perhaps most couple. Aron Ralston, who, having been at home in their roles, however, were Nonetheless, credit must go to direc- trapped alone in a canon in Dollins, whose suave vocal tone and tor Claudia Parkes for a production Utah, must make impossible villainous grin seemed to come all too which held together across multiple decisions. Warning: look away if naturally, and Harries, who brought changes of register, and a set design remotely squeamish. the house down, not so much with her which contrasted simplicity with fetching facial hair as with her spot-on opulence. This was a smart choice of LUST: Interview with the comic timing. Strong supporting roles opera for a student production. Strav- Vampire (1994) included Father Trulove (George Dye) insky plus Auden means witty English Sneaking in a personal and Sellem the auctioneer (Matthew text with an alluring Russian musical favourite here – but seriously, Sandy), whilst the chorus, drawn from accent. Its neoclassical style provides who couldn’t enjoy a saucy Cambridge’s choirs, relished the oppor- light accessible music with extra kicks. love-triangle between Tom tunity to swap their chapel robes for It is both funny and sad, o -the-wall Cruise, Brad Pitt and Antonio lingerie and rakish suits. Though their yet not impossibly abstract. Unlike Banderas? Based on Anne Rice’s brothel scene performances ranged Tom Rakewell, this production resisted raunchy novel, this gothic romp from slightly awkward to almost too the temptation of style over substance, offers an excellent portrayal of keen, the chorus was on top vocal form. and showcased some pretty promising animal lust and desire. Conductor Christopher Stark is to talent. ANNA CAMPBELL ENVY: Amadeus (1984) This beautiful lm follows the struggle of little-known com- ART rouse an army of enthusiastic rookies. space-monkey after another) was an some stunningly serene and elegant One visitor remarked “it’s like a cross incongruous and probably misguided Korean pottery. poser Salieri, a tortured artist between Art and the Maypole”. addition to the evening. If the event itself, with all its niggles, forced to live in the shadow of Love Art After Dark the signi cantly younger, better, Fitzwilliam Museum But for visitors who had been to Still, I saw some things that I had gets a low star rating, the museum itself the museum before, the event didn’t previously missed—the wonderful new ought to get fi ve outright – and I urge and more famous Wolfgang ★★★★★ o er much. In each gallery there were acquisition, Bruegghen’s Woman Tuning you to go. The museum will soon lose Amadeus Mozart. A story of periodic talks about the artworks – a Lute, an utterly beguiling image; and 30% of its funding; students are now blinding envy and madness. he Fitz is an important and interesting introductions, but these were MICHAEL DERRINGER being involved more than ever in cura- impressive museum, with a wide often rushed and di cult to hear. The tion e orts (with the museum loaning GLUTTONY: La Grande range of displays and collec- more ‘substantial’ talks the museum out pieces to student galleries like the Bouffe (1973) T A group of middle-aged men tions. Despite this, many students never puts on at other times are more detailed King’s Art Room); and above all, it’s visit during their time in Cambridge – (as one would perhaps expect). free. Always has been. embark on a countryside if they do, it is often with their parents. These were complemented by some So do go to the Fitz if you haven’t. get-away with The purpose of this event was to rather anomalous novelties. Two a cap- There won’t always be free wine, but the eventual get students to come a museum they pella vocal groups, singing pop songs there will be the art. aim of eating themselves to hadn’t ventured to enter before. In and the odd jazz number, seemed LAWRENCE DUNN this sense, the event was a resounding, rather out of place and slightly inap- death. Pretty almost miraculous success. It seems propriate. Similarly, the caricaturist grim stuff; the ultimate illustra- that a Facebook group, a short article (who worked tirelessly in the midst of MORE REVIEWS AT tion of self-indulgence at its on the Varsity website, and the promise a seemingly endless queue of people, www.varsity.co.uk/reviews most gruesome. of free wine, are all that is necessary to churning out one big-chinned grinning Senior Culture Editor: Julia Carolyn Lichnova [email protected] 18th February 2011 14 This week’s...

Theatre Film Exhibitions Talks Music Events Sport

POSH Top Gun Life, Legend, Beauty & British Sea Power Sappho’s Poetry Varsity Swimming Tue 22nd - Sat 26th Feb, 7:45pm Thu 24th Feb, 9pm Landscape: Attraction: in Sun 20th Feb, 7pm Sat 19th Feb, 12pm - 2pm Sat 19th Feb, 1.30pm ADC THEATRE (£6/£5) ST. JOHN’S COLLEGE, FISHER THE JUNCTION (£13.50) FITZWILLIAM MUSEUM (FREE) PARKSIDE, CAMBRIDGE BUILDING (£3) the eyes of Focusing on the scandalous Victorian Drawings On the back of their most recent What better combination than Having beaten Oxford in their beginnings of our country’s elite, If you’ve ever been puzzled by and Watercolours the beholder album ‘Valhalla Dancefl oor’, Greek poetry and the beautiful recent BUCS southern quali- your friends arguing over which this is the second-ever run of the 17 Feb - 15 May Fri 18th Feb, 5:30pm these eccentric home-grown architecture of the Fitzwilliam fi cation round, the Light Blues award-winning play from Laura of them is Goose and which is THE COURTAULD GALLERY, LADY MITCHELL HALL indie legends from Brighton play Museum? Booking is not re- team will be confi dent of a big Wade – look out for Varsity’s Maverick, come and fi nd out at one of Cambridge’s most well- quired, so remember to wander performance here. LONDON Professor Jeanne Altmann, exclusive interview. who you are. You never know, known venues as part of their down to this drop-in session for a Despised, rejected and reviled, behavioural ecologist from you might just be Iceman. current UK tour. Week 5 boost. poor Victorian works on paper Princeton University, discusses have had a rough time. Now for a the beauty of baboons. Not one Varsity Karate Somewhere Die Hochzeit fresh re-appraisal. to miss! Gruff Rhys from Old Library Tour Sat 19th Feb, 10am Sun 20th Feb, 7:30pm & 10pm CHESTERTON SPORTS CENTRE Wed 23rd Feb, 7pm CHRIST’S COLLEGE, NEW COURT Super Furry Mon 21st Feb, 2:30pm PEMBROKE NEW CELLARS (£5) Afghanistan: Mark Thomas THEATRE (£3) Animals QUEENS’ COLLEGE OLD LIBRARY Sparks will fl y in this Varsity Get your tickets early for this Crossroads of the Mon 21st - Tue 22nd Feb, 8pm (FREE) match. Cambridge will want to Set to a wonderful soundtrack by Sat 19th Feb, 7.30pm Brechtian one-night stand. This THE JUNCTION (£10-£15) hold on to the trophy as both the Phoenix, Sofi a Coppola’s (Lost in ancient world ST PAUL’S CHURCH, HILLS ROAD A rare opportunity to enjoy a tour unlikely, uncomfortable comedy Mark Thomas returns with a of the Old Library and peer at its men’s and women’s teams put in Translation) most recent o ering 3 Mar - 3 Jul (£13.50) is made all the more impres- new show following his trek of dusty tomes and artefacts hoarded good performances last year. follows a young fi lm star whose THE BRITISH MUSEUM, LONDON Multi-lingual lo-fi pop songs sive by being performed in the the Israel Separation Barrier. away: unique manuscripts, fi rst edi- easy but vacuous life is inter- from the Super Furry Animals original German. With the Taliban culture min- Don’t miss this story of “300,000 tion publications, and possibly even rupted by the unexpected arrival member in a distinctively ister leading men to smash up settlers, a 750km wall, six arrests, a mummifi ed bat! Book a place at of his eleven year old daughter. atmospheric Cambridge venue objects of Afghan heritage, the one stoning, too much hummus www.queensfestival.co.uk. following the release of his third Varsity Netball The Duchess of British Museum’s massive show and a simple question: ‘Can you solo album, ‘Hotel Shampoo’ on Sat 19th Feb, 1:30pm is not without political overtones. ever get away from it all with a Mal True Grit Valentine’s Day CU Marrow Fund- THE LEYS SCHOOL, CAMBRIDGE From gold and turquoise jewel- good walk?’” Thu 24th - Sat 26th Feb, 7:30pm Fri 18th Feb - Thu 24th Feb lery showing Dionysius and Ari- raising Ceilidh The Varsity matches are piling HOWARD THEATRE, DOWNING CAMBRIDGE ARTS PICTUREHOUSE, adne on a dragon-like monster to Mon 21st Feb, 1pm-3:15pm up this week. Here, the netball COLLEGE (£6/£5) VARIOUS SHOWINGS (£6.50) a glass fi sh, the cultural richness Caprice Bourret Clare College THE DOME, NEW HALL (£6) Blues and Jays will anticipate a The inevitable fi rst Beckett Directing heavyweights the Coen of this extraordinary part of the Wed 23rd Feb, 7:30pm Music Society tough fi ght but will feel that they of term, BATS bring you the brothers return with a remake of world can be shown without the THE CAMBRIDGE UNION (FREE FOR Come along and dance those Sun 19th Feb, 8pm should take the wins. absurd masterpiece that sits this classic western. Fourteen- fear of philistine fanaticism. MEMBERS) Week 5 blues away while also WEST ROAD CONCERT HALL (£5) helping the Anthony Nolan alongside Waiting for Godot as year-old Mattie Ross seeks the Caprice has appeared on over Possibly the best college music Trust save the lives of patients one of Beckett’s most important help of Matt Damon and Je Modern British 250 magazine covers, including society present an evening with leukaemia.With a live works. Bridges to fi nd and avenge her Vogue, GQ, Cosmopolitan Sculpture with a distinctly Russian feel: band and drinks available from Blues Football v. father’s killer. and Esquire, and she is also Orchestral Shostakovich and the college bar, a good time is Some Explicit until 7 Apr a successful businesswoman, Territorial Army ROBERT BOWMAN GALLERY, the Tchaikovsky violin concerto guaranteed! Email ak605@cam. having founded her own lingerie Sun 20th Feb, 11:30am LONDON with Rebecca Minio-Paluello ac.uk to book tickets. Polaroids Despicable Me company. Don’t miss this unique GRANGE ROAD Seen the Royal Academy’s block- as soloist followed by some Tue 15th - Sat 19th Feb, 9:30pm Sun 20th Feb, 7pm & 10pm insight into the combination of The Blues took a convincing buster show, and dissatistifed Finlandia(n) feeling with Sibelius’ CORPUS PLAYROOM (£5) ST. JOHN’S COLLEGE FISHER fashion and business. Underground win against Nottingham Trent with the gift shop replicas or a 7th symphony. BUILDING (£3) on Wednesday and will want to Welcome back to 1999, when boring catalogue? Buy your own Poetry Live Poetry In this CGI animation comedy iron out any creases in this home AIDS cocktails are the drink of works at this equally exciting Sartre on featuring the voices of Steve & Music game against what will no doubt choice, and the company includes show at Robert Bowman. Contingency: The Marriage of New Age strippers, Bulgarian go- Carell and Russell Brand, three Fri 25th February, 8pm be an organised army line up. go boys, and horny ghosts. orphans encourage a seasoned Do Not Abandon Philosophy, the Figaro THE VARSITY HOTEL (£4/£5) criminal to rethink his cynical Me Emprical Sciences, Thu 24th - Sat 26th Feb, 8pm Cambridge favourites’ The outlook. WEST ROAD CONCERT HALL Staircase Band, Drew Macfar- Blues v. Spoon-A- and Literature (£9/£15) Jacques and his 18 Feb 12 Mar lane and Benji Compston are A’s HAUSER & WIRTH, LONDON Fri 25th Febr, 5:00pm CUOS presents a new produc- going to be down at the Varsity’s Master Paul A nightmare for the misogynist: CHURCHILL COLLEGE, BEVIN tion of Mozart’s much-loved River Bar. The beats will be Wed 23rd Feb, 7:15pm Wed 23rd - Sat 26th Feb, Fri 18th Feb - Thu 24th Feb Louise Bourgeois and Tracey ROOM (£10) comic opera. Starring some of ‘spine tingling’, the poetry will GRANGE ROAD 10:30pm VUE, CAMBRIDGE, Emin meet on physical terms, A talk by Dr Michael Lewis, Cambridge’s best singers, its tale be ‘mind-blowingly good’ and The Rugby Blues have had a ADC THEATRE (£4) VARIOUS SHOWINGS (£6.45) as the doyenne of Feminist followed by a formal hall in of thwarted marriage features, if you could possibly want more mixed set of results recently. A play where past and present Simon Pegg and Nick Frost help avant-garde and Britain’s enfant Churchill College. If you’d like conspiracy, hilarity and some they will be serving Sangria out Here they will be looking to fi nd seamlessly overlap, and nothing is an alien back to the mothership. terrible fi nd their works overlaid to come, email [email protected] great music. Still undecided? of an oversized teacup. That’s their feet early and reach some quite as you remembered it... Sound familiar? Phone home. and juxtaposed. stating the number of people. 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7 8 5 3 2 / GARETH MOORE www.puzzlemix.com MMy job is to bring out the best in your long hair in a way you feel totally The Varsity S cribblepad comfortable with. sponsored by Jacques and his Master, Week 5 Lateshow, ADC. Cut and blow dry £35 lots more info on the website... cambridgelonghair.com 07974 901263 18th February 2011 Sport Editor: James Corcut [email protected] 15 From the Hockey Blues beat Bristol Commentary Box: The Women’s Blues defeat Bristol 3-1 to secure a comfortable win ahead of Varsity Hammered in BECCA LANGTON JAMES CORCUT Hockey Correspondent Stratford Having secured a comfortable mid-table position in the BUCS 1a Midlands Con- ference, the Women’s Blues entered into MIKE DAY in the Premier League, and White Hart the fi rst round of the National Trophy Football correspondent Lane averages 99 per cent full. Sadly, it’s a with a home fi xture against Bristol 2nd tiny stadium. A little context: Leeds have XI. West Ham United will, from around a bigger stadium; She eld Wednesday Following a strong run in the Saturday 2013, play their home games in what have a bigger stadium. White Hart Lane and Wednesday leagues the Blues started will have been London’s fl agship Olym- is the size of one of Cinderella’s slippers, confidently, attacking the Bristol goal pic Stadium. They won the competition more fragile, and even more caked in the with menace. They were rewarded with for the stadium and its location, and will sweat of the ugly women who were there a series of short corners, but the Achil- be allowed to redevelop the site into a before you. Daniel Levy cries himself to les’ heel of corner execution showed as 60,000-seater multi-sport stadium. sleep every night in his o ce-cum-broom they were unable to threaten the goal And it’s a travesty. Here’s the story. cupboard-cum-bedroom, taking min- truly and a number of misplaced balls The Olympic Stadium at this point is iature sips of a conciliatory thimble of sped past the posts. a bigger, whiter elephant than that time cocoa, tucking his knees under his chin However, the Blues pressure was they let Dumbo tell Tom Sawyer what to and wishing he hadn’t given his house intense, and for the fi rst 20 minutes the do. It has no value if it stays as an athlet- to those fans left outside who just wanted visitors were unable to break out of their ics stadium, because in this country we somewhere big to watch the game. defensive half. The Light Blue midfi eld continued to press high and fi nally took to begin to play more attacking hockey. don’t like athletics. In this country, we like found plenty of room to distribute the their second goal when Quick took A quick break gave Bristol’s pacey left- football. A lot. We like it more than Cali- ball and exploit the gaps in Bristol’s control of a mis-hit strike to place the winger the chance to nip inside the fornia kids like, like “like”. So when the defence. They were fi nally rewarded for ball fi rmly past the keeper and secure a Cambridge back line and finish with Olympic Park Legacy Committee chose West Ham have no their persistence when Hannah Rick- a well-placed strike past keeper Vicky to give the Olympic Stadium to the best man fi nished emphatically on the left Evans. With the score at 3-1 Bristol applicant, the only sport with realistic money, no fans and post after another corner. Cambridge will need became increasingly organised, and o ers was football. The Blues continued to press hard on began to threaten the Cambridge back- West Ham jumped in with a cutesy will be bottom of the the Bristol team. Susie Stott was aggres- to work on their line with some well worked passing play attempt to woo the OLPC by promis- sive in midfield and used her pace to that resulted in a sustained period of ing the retention of our Olympic legacy Championship next penetrate a slow back four. Training- nal-third execution pressure on the home team’s goal. with a running track around their foot- year ground hockey followed as Carolyn Nevertheless, Cambridge kept their ball pitch. They also insisted that the Grove fl oated a line ball up to Jess Stur- in order to truly heads, and began to thread passes reconstruction of the stadium into a geon on the right. The winger sent a threaten come Varsity together to retain possession well. 60,000-seater be paid for mostly with searing cross into the circle and centre Fresher Abby Gibb was strong going public money. Cheeky, I call it, but mug- To all those who hail West Ham as the forward Rachel Quick was unlucky into the fi nal 23, and was unlucky not to ging people off is what you do when claret-and-blue suited Lancelots of our to be denied by a diving keeper. Earn- strong lead as half-time approached. be rewarded for her persistence, whilst you’re from Laanndaan. Innit. Olympic legacy, they’re not. No football ing the title of Woman of the Match, Cambridge continued positively, and at the other end keeper Evans made a That’s a problem, though, because club could possibly work alongside athlet- Quick provided plenty of problems for it seemed likely that they would remain crucial last-minute save to keep Bristol West Ham have no money, no fans and ics events, and West Ham won’t. When’s the Bristol defence all game. Cambridge on top as returning right-winger Mel at bay. will be bottom of the Championship the best time for an athletics meet? About JAMES CORCUT Addy added a new dynamic to the Cambridge fi nished the game with a next year (leagues start in alphabetical 3pm, Saturday afternoons. Want to throw side. It was symptomatic of a game in comfortable win, but will need to work order, don’t you know). The club simply a hammer? Not on my hallowed turf. which Bristol sat back, packed their D on their fi nal-third execution in order to isn’t big enough to support the stadium. If you want an athletics legacy, you and played their luck fi elding penalty truly threaten come their Varsity match A club that can support 60,000+ gates, build an athletics stadium. In the light of corners that Cambridge’s third arrived on 8th March. This result, however, will who would have paid for the stadium that, giving that stadium to a football club from yet another corner. Captain Kirsty have done their confidence no harm. themselves, and who wanted it, was Tot- is a bad decision; giving it to the wrong Elder fi nished with a neat strike at the Men’s and Women’s 2s and 3s Varsity tenham Hotspur. football club is just a worse one. right post from the top of the circle. meanwhile will be held at Wilberforce Spurs need to expand. Spurs want West Ham have breezed into this sta- With the win seemingly in the bag, Road on Monday 21st February, start- to expand. Spurs have the fan base to dium like so many cowboys. Shame they the Light Blues seemed to sit back a little ing at 10.30am. All support is welcome expand. They’re the fifth biggest club forgot the Spurs. and allowed Bristol the time and space and the bar will be open. Selwyn promoted Trinity close in on title win SELWYN 5 However, just before the break there FITZ 0 tireless captain Vince Bennici snapped profligate. Akushie in particular will was a sad twist in the tale as Oliver at Trinity heels. However, for all Fitz’s have wondered how he failed to convert CORPUS CHRISTI 0 Temple was subject to a horrifi c foul. He TRINITY 1 hard work, Trinity continued to domi- a free header from seven yards out after was taken to hospital with a broken leg nate possession and chances were soon excellent work by Bussiere. JAMES CORCUT and will be sorely missed by the team as RUPERT MERCER forthcoming. The importance of the For all their frustration at not sealing Sports editor they continue with their Cuppers run. Football correspondent occasion seemed to be weighing heavy the win earlier, Trinity’s superior fi tness Varsity wishes him a speedy recovery. on Trinity’s minds, though, and several meant that Fitz were unable to register Selwyn guaranteed their promotion The second half was less eventful but On Saturday Trinity all but sealed the openings were squandered. Most glar- any meaningful e ort in the second half. with an emphatic 5-0 win over league there was time for Liam Foster to head league title that to their minds has been ing was an attempted chip by Martin Fitz captain Bennici spoke highly of his whipping boys Corpus Christi. home from a corner and complete the two years in the making. All of the Bussiere when one-on-one with the team’s attempt at stopping the Trinity With barely two minutes on the clock 5-0 rout. Speaking after the game, Cap- shouts at kick-o were of vengeance for excellent Rich Ewers, which fl ew high title march: “I thought we held Trinity Selwyn found the back of the net, but tain Joe Hyam paid tribute to his injured the title they felt was ‘robbed’ from them and wide. and battled really well for a lot of the it was disallowed for o side. However, goalscorer Temple, “I’d like to men- last season and their hunger was clear Trinity’s frustration became clear game. It was a huge blow to lose a goal moments later they notched their fi rst tion how important he’s been for us this from the outset as they set the early pace and Fitz started to come back into the from a penalty right on the stroke of goal. Konrad Grose was played in by season. He’s a fantastic player and it’s a of the game. game. Their skillful central midfi elder half-time but we didn’t capitulate and Blue Mark Baxter to slot home from a real blow to our squad for Cuppers.” Owing to waterlogging the game took Simon Court tried his luck from thirty put in a massive e ort right to the end. tight angle. As for the promotion, he was clearly place at the Cottenham Village College yards leaving Blues keeper Lars Boyde Congratulations have to go to Trinity, Corpus were continually beaten back proud of his team and ambitious for the grounds outside Cambridge and the rooted to the spot as he watched the ball they deserved the win and the league by the league leaders. On the ten minute future: “The team’s had a winning men- uneven nature of the surface meant that cannon o the post. title as well.” mark they conceded again: Oliver tality this year. This season has shown the early exchanges were frantic rather However, moments later Trinity had Trinity’s celebrations at the final Temple drilled the ball goalwards with that Division One is where Selwyn than fl uid. Trinity’s game plan was clear, the goal their dominance had mer- whistle were at a job well done. Captain too much power for the Corpus keeper should be.” to shift the ball wide while their strik- ited. Bussiere, excellent on the ball all Matthew Smith was quick to pay trib- to handle. ers, the fi ercely physical Ozzie Akushie day, fell under a clumsy challenge from ute to his team: “The key this season has And within minutes Mark Baxter, FARZANA DUDHWALA and lightning-fast Danny Gammal, ran Fitz right-back Josh Keane just inside been our application in training twice who was at the heart of all things good the channels. The pace of Gammal in the box. Alex Lunn stepped up to con- a week. We’ve kept most of the squad for Selwyn, wriggled through the hap- particular was causing Fitz problems vert into the bottom corner and had no from last year and had a couple of great less Corpus defence and slipped the ball and several chances fell to him early on, problem repeating the feat when asked freshers come in. This all means that past the keeper. most notably when he span his marker to retake for encroachment. we’ve been a really well organized unit One disallowed goal later, Selwyn Donald Bogle in the box and screwed The second half began scrappily with all season and the spirit in the dressing- were at it again. Konrad Grose was his shot narrowly wide of the near post. neither side able to impose themselves room has been fantastic.” This was a found in space by Baxter. His e ort was The confidence of being unbeaten in the first twenty minutes. However, win which displayed all the hallmarks somehow stopped by the keeper only to all season was apparent in Trinity’s Trinity soon applied the pressure when of the discipline Smith highlighted and bounce in o the head of an unfortu- game but Fitz competed hard, especially Fitz sought to counter attack. When earned Trinity a thoroughly deserved nate Corpus defender to make it 4-0. in the centre of the park where their the chances did come Trinity were league title. Sport Editor: James Corcut [email protected] 18th February 2011 To all those who hail West Ham as the claret-and-blue suited Lancelots of our Olympic legacy, they’re not Mike Day on West Ham United’s move into the Olympic stadium, SPORT page 15

SPORT IN Blues lose to Northampton BRIEF MILOS PUZOVIC A round up of the week’s sport

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL BLUES WIN OVER SUSSEX

The women’s Blues won 64-69 against the University of Sussex. They will go on to play quarter- finals in the Knockout Trophy Tournament against the University of Wales Institute 2nds or Univer- sity of Southampton 1st team next Wednesday. Though Sussex took the fi rst basket, Cambridge proved the stronger side and piled the pressure on Sussex. The win was consolidated by scor- ing streaks by Paloma Navarro and Captain Kate Beniuk who together scored 31 points. Player Sheldon described the game as “hard but played with sportsmanship”. The club is very optimistic for the games against Oxford on 26th February at Kelsey Kerridge Sports Centre, Cambridge.

NETBALL JAYS TAKE CONVINCING WIN OVER OXFORD BROOKES

The Netball Jays notched up a solid 49-22 victory over Oxford Brookes in a superb performance. Having won nine of their eleven BUCS league games the team were quietly self-assured going into this game. They started slower than they would have liked but ended the fi rst quarter with a 10-6 lead. Don’t drop the ball: The Blues were struggling with injuries but worked hard and put up a good ght Their superior fitness and skill however ensured that the result was never in doubt and with Emily The Basketball Blues ght hard but injuries prove their undoing as they fall to rare loss Lester in defence nothing was going to get past. They will take a good deal of con- NORTHAMPTON 76 of a win that would help their bid for the their second-chance shots. The teams by Tobias Uth at the end of the quar- fi dence into their Varsity match on division trophy. The team, admittedly went to half time break with a score of ter narrowed the lead to a respectable 6 Saturday 19th February. CAMBRIDGE 62 decimated by injury, travelled in high 32:27 to Northampton. points, 45:51. spirits to this quarterfi nal Midland’s Cup Northampton started the third quar- The Blues opened the fourth quar- MILOS PUZOVIC game in Northampton. ter with possession and quickly scored. ter with man-to-man defence, but their Basketball correspondent But, dumbfounded by a gym tempera- o ence was still not dangerous and nei- ture which was barely above the outside ther team scored in the fi rst three minutes. It’s been a good season for the Blues temperature and aggressive trash talk However, Northampton made the first so far. They had a strong start to the from Northampton’s players, Cambridge This rare defeat breakthrough and increased their lead to season with a 100 per cent win record, started weakly allowing Northamp- ten points. 61:51 with four minutes left. including the 106:44 trashing of Oxford ton to race to 0:6 lead. The Blues, led will help the Blues The Blues switched to a deep half-court Search: Gattuso overexcited world cup Brookes away, Milos Puzovic scoring 54 by Jan Klee, quickly replied making the zone press which resulted in three steals points. The second half of the season score 10:11 after the fi rst fi ve minutes. to identify their by Tumas Beinortas, which allowed Leo also began well but included two consec- Although it seemed that Cambridge had Parts to run riot through the Northamp- utive games against another unbeaten fi nally got the measure of their oppo- weaknesses ton defence, scoring nine points in two team in the division – Worcester. For nents, a couple of uncharacteristic errors minutes and cutting the lead to only four the away leg they had Ryan Dobran against the zone press led to three turn- A misunderstanding between Blues points. 60:64 with two minutes to go. and Chris Haar returning from injuries, overs that gave Northampton the chance players resulted in a turnover that was But with Ryan and Jan already out of so the Blues had travelled to Worcester to open a seven-point lead. Thanks to a duly punished by an easy layup. Ryan the game with fi ve fouls and with only fi ve with a full squad available but thanks to last second shot from Felix Schaaf the scored Cambridge’s first points at the other healthy players available the Blues some dubious referee calls lost 48:53. In Blues fi nished the fi rst quarter trailing by other end but the fi ght-back wasn’t to ran out of steam. Northampton were the return game the Blues frontcourt, only fi ve points, 15:20. This gave them be. Immediately Northampton scored able to score ten unanswered break points marshalled by Stuart Lee, Maurice much needed momentum at the start of a three-pointer that was followed by to take the score to 62:76 in their favour. Yearwood and Lewis Cannon, unlocked the second quarter. two steals to give them them a formi- With the Varsity game against the Worcester’s zone bringing home a con- The zone defence was working well dable lead, 29:43. To stop the rot the Oxford on 26th February this rare defeat Gattuso’s headbutt on Joe Jordan this vincing win of 77:51. against an uncreative Northampton Blues bench called for a timeout. This will help the Blues to identify their weak- week reminded us of his short temper. So going into this game against team, but the Blues struggled in o ence helped them to recover and they scored nesses ahead of their biggest game of But here he vents his anger on his own Northampton the team were confi dent and failed to take easy layups or make four points without answer. A mini-series the season. coach...after winning the world cup.