e Independent Student Newspaper
Issue 798 Friday 13th November 2015
Published in Cambridge since 1947 www.varsity.co.uk
10 Science: Global Health 13 Comment: Class Lists 19 Culture: One Direction 21 Features: John Lewis Ad
£2.5m donation to university for women in maths
CHRIS WILLIAMSON / GETTY IMAGES James Su on News Correspondent
e university has announced that it is to receive a £2.5 million donation from Charles Corfi eld, a technology start-up boss who is estimated to be worth in the region of £100 million. e money will be directed towards promoting women’s engagement in mathematics. e Department of Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics will re- ceive the donation, which will fund the foundation of an endowed teaching offi ce devoted to redressing the gen- der imbalance in mathematics. Just 17 per cent of this year’s intake of fresh- ers studying Mathematics are women, and only the Computer Science and Engineering courses have a smaller proportion of female students. Under fire: Julian Assange speaking to the Cambridge Union Society on Wednesday, with the controversial video of US military action behind e Faculty of Mathematics has three Women’s Advisers who support female PhD students and academics facing diffi culties, and in April last year received a Bronze Athena SWAN Department Award for promoting equal opportunities. Corfi eld, who is behind the latest donation, graduated with a degree in Mathematics and Physics from the Double trouble university in 1982, and went on to found Frame Technology Corp., which Cambridge to create two new joint honours-style triposes, History and Politics and was later acquired by Adobe. is is the second time that he has made a do- History and Modern Languages, amidst further changes to social sciences courses nation on this scale, having given £2.5 million in 1996 to fund the construc- Joe Rob nson and Tom other institutions. Boards of History and MML, as well ese latest proposed Triposes tion of the Centre for Mathematical According to a report submitted by as by the HSPS Tripos Management would not remove current content Sciences. St John’s College named a W lson the General Board of the Faculties, the Committee. Both Professor Chris from the HSPS or MML courses, and court after Corfi eld in 2009 in recogni- News Ed tors new triposes would supplement the Young – the Deputy Head of the are intended to “enrich the intellec- tion of his fi nancial contributions. existing Human, Social and Political School of Arts and Humanities – and tual environment of both Schools and Corfi eld’s latest gift comes as part e University of Cambridge looks Sciences (HSPS) and Modern and Dr Helen ompson lent their sup- enhance the number and quality of of the university’s £2 billion fund- set to off er two new joint History Tri- Medieval Languages (MML) pro- port to the changes. applicants.” raising drive, and was announced on poses, with Politics and Modern Lan- grammes, upon approval, which is e plans come in the wake of pro- e new triposes are also intended Wednesday alongside benefactions of guages, from October 2017. expected to be given at a discussion posals to create a new Archaeology to stem the decline in applicant num- £660,000 from the Standard Bank of In a fi rst for the Faculty of History, at Regent House due to take place on Tripos by removing that subject from bers for History and MML. e report South Africa to provide studentships the two new courses, History and 24th November. the HSPS Tripos, which was created describes an expected intake of be- for South African postgraduates at Politics, and History and Modern e recommendations from the following the merger of the Politics, tween 30 and 40 for the joint Politics Magdalene College, and over £2 million Languages, would allow students to General Board, which consists of the Psychology and Sociology (PPS) tripos, and between 15 and 20 for the from the Walters Kundert Charitable take undergraduate courses similar to Vice-Chancellor and other senior fi g- and Archaeology & Anthropology Modern Languages joint course. Trust to fund Natural Sciences fellow- the joint honours courses off ered at ures, were endorsed by the Faculty Triposes in 2013. Continued on p.3. ships and an outreach project.
INSIDE: CLASS LISTS, MODI VISIT CONFUSION, FAKE DEGREES, RAPE CONVICTION 2 Editorial Friday 13th November 2015 All change for HSPS. Again. e Troubled Tripos is again being changed. tional disciplines like history, classics and languag- Make no mistake: the courses are a clear admis- es, the triposes are based around the faculties that sion of increasing competition from Oxford and At the same time the university is spinning ar- house them, stymieing the possibility of interac- UCL, among other institutions. Even if the tripos chaeology off into its own Tripos – an admission tion apart from the rare borrowed papers in fi nal system off ers some of the broadest arts degrees in that the discipline’s “visibility” had suff ered signifi - years about which prospective students know very the country, joint honours off er a potential way cantly as a result of the HSPS merger – the univer- little. Did you know, for example, that it is already to maintain that fl exibility while also making it sity is taking the radical decision to create two true possible to combine an MML degree with a classi- far clearer to prospective students precisely what joint honours courses in Oxford style in History cal language from the Classics Tripos, eff ectively course they will be studying. and Politics and History and Modern Languages. giving a joint honours course, and that this has been possible for decades? Many don’t, including Indeed, the news History and Politics Tripos It says a great deal about the endurance of the many potentially interested prospective students, could negatively impact on its closest similar sub- tripos system that the idea of introducing two true because the option is only available as part of the ject, HSPS. Given that problems with this course joint honours courses seems so unusual. After all, MML Tripos. Hence the degree that students regarding its visibility and its course options have the system is sold to prospective students as off er- graduate with following this path is MML. Unfor- been apparent since its inception, the introduction ing unparalleled opportunities to study a subject tunately, such students also lose their privileges to of a far clearer course that will undoubtedly appeal broadly before specialising in later years. Why ap- choose any combination of fi nal-year papers from to a signifi cant number of potential HSPS appli- ply for an early modern history course when you Classics, eff ectively forcing second-years to choose cants could have a further eff ect on numbers for can apply to Cambridge’s broader History Tripos whether to follow MML or Classics near exclusive- the latter course. and be exposed to other periods that may capture ly. Hardly a joint honours system for those students
EDTIORIAL your interest more than you could have imagined? who would like to maintain their interests in both Time will tell whether the eff ects on applications disciplines, and hardly refl ective of the course path are so severe as to warrant yet another change to e trouble with this approach is that for tradi- they have followed in their fi rst two years. HSPS, rapidly becoming the Troubled Tripos.
INVESTIGATIONS Feeling the strain? Varsity Writers’ Meetings Focus on mental health at Cambridge; this week uncovers an array of support structures and their problems (page 8) Varsity will be INTERVIEWS holding meetings for aspiring writers, Jackie Ashley photographers, illustrators, designers and e new President of Lucy Cavendish discusses harass- ment, gender inequality and a reading week (page 12) sub-editors every Monday in our o ices at COMMENT 16 Mill Lane at 6:30pm. Freshers’ fi rst fi ve weeks Come along, or email [email protected] Five freshers share varying experiences of their fi rst fi ve weeks in Cambridge (page 14) to find out more. CULTURE Petar on fi lm: Macbeth Clarifi cations and Corrections [email protected] Varsity’s columnist is left broken (“in the best way”) after Last week’s Varsity story “Grossly incompetent” incorrectly attributed the statement of Senior Proctor David Goode to the latest adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic (page 18) Senior Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Duncan Maskell. As his quote later in the original article suggests, Professor Maskell remains highly supportive of the project, and said at the meeting at the Senate House: “I strongly support the North West Cambridge Development. ere is a clear need for key worker and inexpensive housing to make sure that we can continue FASHION to attract people to work for the University...” Referring to criticisms in the original audit report, he said: “Both of these reports are clear that there is no individual blame to be apportioned for this projected cost over-run, but it is clear that there are elements of process that could have been Top 10 cheap beauty buys done better... e Internal Rate of Return (IRR) for the project remains around the 6 per cent mark, which is a long way in How to look good on a budget (page 22) excess of the 4.25 per cent interest being charged by the University to the project, and the 3.75 per cent that the University is paying as interest on the bond.... ese are very healthy values for a development of this nature.” “It is important to recognise that this kind of over-run and re-baselining is common in development projects of this size and complexity... e overall long-run fi nancial return on this investment will be attractive, while the social return and THEATRE benefi t to our employees, and to the competitive health of the University, will be immense.” Furthermore, the comments attributed to Dr Susan Oosthuizen were in fact those of Dr Stephen Cowley. Dr Oosthuizen said at the meeting: “I supported and continue to support the North West Cambridge development. It has, as the Audit To read or not to read? Committee notes, a compelling rationale... It is reassuring that both the University’s Director of Finance and the Audit Gus Mitchell explores whether Shakespeare’s work should Committee regard the project as remaining on target overall.” be read or watched (page 26) We apologise to Professor Maskell and Dr Oosthuizen for the misrepresentation of their views.
E Tom Freeman @.. D E James Sutton @.. M E Eleanor Deeley @.. B M Mark Curtis @. . P E Daniella Mae Briscoe-Peaple (Senior) Kenza Bryan, Callum Hale- omson, Megan Lea, Alice Chilcott, Joanna Lee, Sanjukta Sen @.. A E Peter Lloyd-Williams @.. N E Tom Wilson (Senior), Joe Robinson & Jack Higgins (Deputies) @.. S N C Louis Ashworth, Keir Baker & Harry Curtis C E Bret Cameron @.. I E Julius Haswell & Dermot Trainor (Deputy) @.. C E Noa Lessof Gendler (Senior), Nancy Hine, Husna Rizvi & Imogen Shaw @.. S E Georgi Rusinov & Saeed Kayhanian @.. E Tom Wheeldon & Finny Taylor @.. C E Emily Bailey-Page & Shefali Kharabanda @.. T E Jonathan Shamir & Sarah-Jane Tollan @.. F E Meg Honigmann & Hannah Parlett @.. R E Amelia Tudhope @.. M E Michael Davin @.. A S E Peter Rutzler S E Charles Martland & Angus Satow @.. I E Eddy Wax & Naomi Obeng @.. O E Luisa Callander & Ellie Matthews C S-E Eliza Jones P E Simon Lock @.. I Ben Waters, Alex Shuttleworth, Megan Lea, Meggie Fairclough V B Dr Michael Franklin (Chairman), Prof. Peter Robinson, Dr Tim Harris, Michael Derringer, Michael Curtis, Talia Zybutz (VarSoc President), Tom Freeman, James Sutton, Eleanor Deeley NEWSPAPERS SUPPORT Varsity, 16 Mill Lane, Cambridge CB2 1RX. Tel 01223 337575. Fax 01223 760949. Varsity is published by Varsity Publications Ltd. Varsity Publications also publishes the Mays. RECYCLING Recycled paper made ©2015 Varsity Publications Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior permission of the publisher. up 78.9% of the raw material for UK Printed at Iliffe Print Cambridge — Winship Road, Milton, Cambridge CB24 6PP on 42.5gsm newsprint. Registered as a newspaper at the Post Offi ce. ISSN 1758-4442 newspapers in 2011 NEWSPAPERS SUPPORT Friday 13th November 2015 News 3 ‘ e university has been so muddled of late’
Continued from front page Evidence and Argument paper taught year, and will also give greater access at Part IA, and a new “general themes to relevant history courses. While the existing History, HSPS and issues” paper off ered at Part II. In 2017, the course will off er pa- SIMON LOCK and MML Triposes allow students to All other papers for the History and pers in French, German and Spanish ‘borrow’ papers from other degree Politics Tripos consist of those cur- at post-A-level standard, and Russian courses, the report notes: “It is diffi cult rently off ered in the History and HSPS available at both ab initio and post-A- to convince potential applicants that Triposes, including the History of level standards. ‘borrowing’ will give them the same Political ought papers shared be- Italian is scheduled to be added with intellectual experience as joint pro- tween the two. the second intake of students for the grammes off ered by rival institutions.” new Tripos in 2018, with plans in place e report acknowledges that “com- to introduce further languages at a lat- petitor universities run very success- er stage. is is an attempt to compete ful joint undergraduate programmes with Oxford’s History and Modern in History and Languages,” and argues Languages degree, which includes that the lack of history joint tracks with “EVIDENCE FROM OTHER the same languages as well as Czech, languages or politics at Cambridge Modern Greek and Portuguese. was encouraging talented students to UNIVERSITIES INDICATES THAT Like the planned History and Politics look elsewhere, including Oxford and Tripos, the university hopes to attract other red brick universities. JOINT PROGRAMMES ARE more talented students to study mod- e report claimed that the History HIGHLY ATTRACTIVE” ern languages at Cambridge, while At the heart of the changes: the Faculty of History Tripos, while attracting “high quality simultaneously opening up more applicants”, does not attract suffi cient Cambridge History papers to students numbers, whereas HSPS, which en- from working class backgrounds. years, and indeed we hope to go one Although the new joint track courses joys “buoyant applicant numbers,” Over the past fi ve years, the History e MML Tripos has seen an even better. will be granted further student spaces lacks “quality in depth”. Tripos has seen the number of ap- larger fall in application numbers than “ e new Tripos will draw on the by the university on top of existing e stated aim of the new History plications decrease by over seven per History, with a decrease of more than University’s longstanding strengths in HSPS numbers, some have expressed and Politics Tripos is to “raise interest cent, while the number of off ers given a fi fth over the last fi ve years. modern British and European history, concern that the new course may un- in the existing Historical Tripos” and out during that period has increased. Reacting to the proposals of a new politics and international relations, dermine the remaining HSPS courses, “attract more high quality students” e report notes that the History History and Politics joint track course, and the history of political thought, notably Sociology and Anthropology. to the faculty, giving students more Tripos has “not yet recovered” from Peter Sloman, a lecturer at POLIS but we also expect students to inte- A second-year HSPS student from paper options from both the current a long-term decrease in application and graduate of Oxford’s History grate material from across the two Emmanuel, currently taking the History and HSPS courses. However, numbers, and it is hoped that the new and Politics course, told Varsity: “I’m subjects so that the Tripos becomes Politics and International Relations students will be restricted to modern course will recruit more state school delighted that the plans for the new more than the sum of its parts. We track, responded unfavourably to how History papers at Part I of the History applicants to the study of politics and History and Politics Tripos have been hope this exciting new degree will the plans would aff ect his tripos. and Politics Tripos. e new tripos is international relations at Cambridge. approved by the General Board and encourage more potential students to “It’s a shame that the university has also intended to tackle the problem of e report adds that “[e]vidence from that we’re on track to launch the new take a look at Cambridge.” been so muddled of late with degrees fewer students taking the Politics and other universities indicates that joint degree in October 2017. However, the changes raise further in social science. International Relations track at Part II programmes are highly attractive.” “We think Cambridge is well placed questions over the sustainability of “With Archaeology breaking off and of the HSPS Tripos. Meanwhile, the History and Modern to emulate the success of the History HSPS, with the planned separation of this new course strongly mirroring e History and Politics course Languages Tripos would initially off er and Politics degree at Oxford, which an Archaeology Tripos also drawing elements of HSPS, concern about its would also contain a new “integrating” a small number of languages in its fi rst has been running for more than fi fteen students away from HSPS. survival is defi nitely warranted.”
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Learn more at lse.ac.uk/PhDFundingVarsity 4 News Friday 13th November 2015 Assange speaks out at Union event
A brief History of CHRIS WILLIAMSON Assange at the Union
Harry Curt s and take questions at the Union, Sen or News Correspondent this time via video-link from the Ecuadorian embassy in London where he had, by then, taken refuge. In the midst of all the anticipation Assange had incidentally been in- and the referendum, it’s easy to vited just months after the Union had forget that Julian Assange’s appear- played host to former French min- ance at the Union on Wednesday ister and IMF director Dominique night was by no means a debut, nor Strauss-Kahn, at the time also ac- was it the fi rst time the WikiLeaks cused of rape, in March. founder has caused controversy in e announcement prompted a Cambridge. petition signed by over 900 people Assange’s fi rst Union appearance to call for the invitation to be re- came in March 2011, giving the voked, with then CUSU Women’s Union the dubious honour of be- Offi cer Susy Langsdale accusing the A full house for Assange’s appearance via video link ing his fi rst public speech after the Union of both “colluding in the hor- warrant for his arrest was issued rifi c silence and shame around rape” Choosing to ignore the sexual alle- Question and Answer session which by the Swedish Director of Public and “enabling the rebuilding of the Dermot Tra nor and gations during his opening remarks, followed. Prosecution in November 2010, public persona of an alleged rapist.” Tom W lson Assange talked at length about the Defending Wikileaks from the crit- following alleged sexual off ences in What followed was a furore that News Correspondents challenges to freedom of speech, ics who claim it is a threat to both na- August of the same year. involved a “presidential interpreta- comparing his role in challeng- tional security and intelligence opera- Speaking to hundreds of members tion of the constitution” in order to Julian Assange made an appearance at ing “Western censorship” to that of tives working abroad, Assange replied who queued for hours in order to at- allow electronic signatures for the the Union on Wednesday after weeks Wilfred Burchett, the war-time jour- that the US government “had, under tend the event, Assange warned that petition to be accepted, after it was of controversy surrounding his pro- nalist who reported on the immedi- oath, been unable to confi rm a single the internet “is a technology that earlier insisted that they had to be posed invitation which saw resigna- ate aftermath of the atomic bombs instance of physical harm” as a result can be used to set up a totalitarian hand-signed – a stance that caused tions of Union committee members dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. of Wikileaks cables, and lauded his or- spying regime” and poses a threat a storm with disabled students. and an unprecedented referendum He claimed that Burchett suff ered ganisation as a force which has ousted to freedom of speech, human rights e topic that Assange was due on his attendance among the society’s “vilifi cation from quite substantial at- corruption in countries “from Peru to and civil life. to speak on that night in November members. tacks by US agencies”, and that “a lot Kenya”. While he conceded that the inter- 2012 was never revealed and the Assange, currently claiming asylum of what has happened to Wikileaks is In response to further questions net also allows us to “know to an un- event was eventually cancelled – in the Ecuadorian Embassy to avoid a bit like that”. regarding the leak of Sony docu- precedented level what government albeit, for the stated reason that extradition to Sweden where he faces Assange also launched an attack on ments and communications in 2013, is doing” and aids co-operation be- Assange was having technical issues sexual assault charges, did not face pro- the Western press, claiming they were within which was included staff health tween activists, Assange also took a with the video-link equipment. test at the Union as some had expect- both owned and read by “a wealthy, records and national security numbers, sceptical stance on the role of social A post on the Union Facebook ed, and spoke via a video link on the connected elite,” and that the BBC in Assange claimed that he was “proud media in the Arab Spring that was page explained that, due to the subject of “ e Challenges of Freedom “collaboration with the CIA and UK publishing this material”, claiming they sweeping Egypt among other coun- Ecuadorian embassy’s poor internet of Speech in the West” to those gath- intelligence services” was complicit in had exposed cases of the company’s tries at the time. connection, the only way to produce ered in the auditorium. During his censorship and information exchange “manipulation” of the British govern- Claiming that WikiLeaks had a two-way video feed was to use appearance, Assange played declassi- between the British and American ment during the Scottish Referendum themselves infl uenced the unrest in vans supplied by a broadcast agency, fi ed footage of an Apache Helicopter governments. in an attempt to acquire tax conces- the region – as well the US decision which was unable to provide the shooting by the US Military in 2007 in Criticism of the United States gov- sions, and a supposed link between not to back ousted leader, Hosni equipment on the night in question. Baghdad. He had fi rst shown the video ernment was a recurring theme during Sony cameras and guided missiles. Mubarak and his would-be suc- e Union were later left embar- at the Oxford Union in 2013, but it was throughout the evening, with Assange Although fi elding some friendly cessor, Omar Suleiman – Assange rassed after it was revealed that he subsequently censored on the union’s lamenting the way in which Australia, questions, Assange was put under the argued that sites such as Facebook would be speaking via video-link, event video because the footage was the country of his birth, has become spotlight when responding to con- helped the authorities round up dis- from the Ecuadorian embassy, to a claimed to have been under copyright what he called a “Pacifi c theatre US cerns about the controversy surround- sidents rather than facilitating co- conference in Hamburg on the same of the American government. aircraft carrier”, attacking the “syco- ing both his acceptance of asylum with ordination between revolutionaries. night he was initially supposed to Despite the contro- phancy and slavishness towards Ecuador and the sexual assault charges Addressing the role of WikiLeaks have been addressing Cambridge versy and national the US” in both the Australian levelled against him. more generally, Assange claimed the Union members. press ban imposed Liberal and Labour parties. Denying the charges, Assange organisation acted “within a system ough he did appear at the on the event, the Describing the internet claimed that “no women ha[d] alleged of ethics” to protect free speech Oxford Union in January 2013 and event proceeded as a tool for the “great rape against [him]” and that he had against US censorship “every bit as routinely refused to answer ques- largely calm- lateral spread of infor- been “acquitted by the chief justice of pernicious as […] censorship in the tions about the allegations against ly. Questions mation and mass politi- the Swedish supreme court”, accusing Soviet Union” and “a global system him and his decision not to return to about the role cal education”, Assange the women who levelled the accusa- of patronage which has its centre of Sweden in order to face those charg- of Wikileaks in warned against further tions of being “railroaded” into mak- gravity in Washington.” es, the fi asco of 2012 goes some relation to se- moves to place limits ing “trump-up allegations” by Swedish Fast forward to November 2012, way to explaining the long wait for curity concerns, on it in an attempt to authorities. He alleged that Sweden and it was announced that the Assange’s second Cambridge Union the abuse allega- “suppress an irritat- had only acted against him under Australian was again due to speak appearance. tions made against ing under and middle pressure from the United States, “who Assange, and his class able to speak ha[d] launched an espionage case acceptance of asy- out against powerful against [him] unprecedented in size lum from Ecuador interests”. and scale”. considering its hu- Despite a confi - In regards to his asylum in the man rights record, dent start, Assange Ecuadorian Embassy, Assange argued were the only re- was largely put that “he had accepted the fi rst demo- minders of the earlier on the defensive cratic off er of asylum” and whilst ced- discontent. during the ing that Ecuador had “its share of prob- lems”, he also highlighted his unique position “as a political refugee”. To adverise in any of our print publicaions or Although there were no protests ar- CHRIS WILLIAMSON ranged in relation to Assange’s appear- online please contact our Business Manager: ance, the CUSU Women’s Campaign held a pre-arranged forum discus- sion on the topic of Free Speech. A Telephone: 01223 33 75 75 Varsity correspondent attending the event was informed that she could Email: [email protected] not report on it because it had been declared a ‘safe space’. Web: www.varsitypublicaions.co.uk With additional reporting from Sarah Collins. Friday 13th November 2015 News 5 CUSU formally campaigns against class lists
Louis Ashworth them, and the decision to share their removing the Baxter table could “harm results rests with individual students.” the internal admissions process”. Senior News Correspondent hey said the issue of class lists was he motion was amended to “cam- highlighted by the success of the ‘Our paign to get rid of the Tompkins JOE ROBINSON CUSU Council has voted to cam- Grade, Our Choice’ Campaign, which Table”, and to attempt to change how paign for signiicant changes to the in Easter launched a petition directed “other tables”, of which the Baxter was way the university publishes and re- at the university to “to decide whether the only one discussed, are published. ports exam data. or not they appear on public university Mensah said ranking was “wrong”, In a session of CUSU Council held class lists”. he petition, which has re- and stressed that the motion opposed on Monday, CUSU called on the uni- ceived around 1,300 signatures, states the “culture” ranking created. versity to stop publishing class lists, that the publication of class lists “pro- Fitzwilliam JCR Vice President oicially began opposing the publica- motes a culture of grade shaming”. Damiano Sogaro spoke against the tion of the Tompkins Table and will amended motion, emphasising the campaign to change how other college value for colleges of ranked results ranking tables are published. within the Baxter table for purposes of he motion to oppose the publi- self-assessment. cation of class lists was proposed by Speaking to Varsity, Sogaro said: be launched to obtain the views of Committee, with CUSU’s President Poppy Ellis Logan, CUSU/GU Welfare “CLASS LISTS HAVE A NUMBER “Ranking the data seems to be a vital Faculties, Departments, Colleges and suggested as the representative. Both and Rights Oicer, and was seconded element of allowing Senior Tutors to students. motions passed with 24 voting for, and by Education Oicer Rob Cashman. OF NEGATIVE WELFARE be able to compare performance to “he consultation was launched this none against or in abstention. he motion stated: “he current sys- other colleges – merely comparing a week and will conclude by the end of here was also a motion to allo- tem of class lists denies students pri- CONSEQUENCES” college to its own past performance the year... he matter will be reconsid- cate £800 of the Council Free Budget vacy with their results and is damag- does not allow it to consider external ered by the committees next Term. to the Cambridge University Calais ing for the welfare of many students.” factors, such as diiculty of exams, “he consultation will also include Refugee Action Group (CUCRAG). he Tompkins Table, published In a previous CUSU consultation performance of other colleges and the possible implications for both An earlier version was narrowly de- annually in he Independent, ranks on class lists in 2008, 66% of students provision across diferent faculties.” Tables, and invite comment.” feated at the last Council meeting Cambridge colleges by the academic surveyed said they “like the tradition”, He also expressed his concerns he motion to campaign to stop the after questions were raised regarding performance of their undergraduates, and 91% said they were interested to about arguments against the Tompkins publication of class lists succeeded the precedent set by giving funding, based on results from inal exams. see the proportion of people who got a Table, suggesting CUSU “should focus with 20 voting for, zero against and and over CUCRAG’s lack of means- he university also has its own rank- particular grade. However, the major- on ixing the methodological concerns four abstaining. he amended mo- testing of students who wish to travel ing, the internal Baxter Table, which is ity (84%) sympathised with those who surrounding the table,” and noting the tion, to oppose the publication of to Calais. An amendment was made, circulated internally. CUSU sought to ind the lists “distressing”, and 70% table can help prospective students the Tompkins table and campaign to at Roemer’s suggestion, for the motion amend the table and any others like it, agreed students should be allowed to choose where to apply based on seeing amend the other tables, passed with 17 to acknowledge the “urgent nature” and work against its “ranked nature”. have their names excluded from public which colleges “focus on academics”. for, ive against and one in abstention. of the campaign. he motion passed, In a statement to Varsity, Logan and lists without having to state a reason. A university spokesperson told he Council passed three other mo- with 19 voting yes, only Roemer vot- Cashman said they were “pleased” the he motion “to eradicate college Varsity: “he General Board Education tions. he irst was a proposal to en- ing against it, and four in abstention. Council supported the motions. ranking tables”, proposed by President Committee and the Senior Tutors’ courage the use of access information he meeting ended with a request “We know from student testimo- Priscilla Mensah, initially sought Standing Committee on Education for events on matters such as wheel- for volunteers for the CUSU Elections nies that the publication of class lists to stop the publication of both the has expressed support for the with- chair access to venues, information Committee, which received no re- has a number of negative welfare con- Tompkins and Baxter Tables. his was drawal of public publication of class about food and trigger warnings. sponses, and the hustings for roles on sequences for many students. We also challenged by Trinity JCR President lists, but it has been agreed that a he second was a motion to ask for the Part-Time Executive, for which feel that students’ results belong to Cornelius Roemer, who suggested consultation of all stakeholders will student representation on the Bursars’ voting closed at midnight last night.
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Arcadis. Where your story begins. For more info: arcadis.com/en/united-kingdom/careers/graduates Email: [email protected] Search: #ArcadisStories 6 News Friday 13th November 2015 Rowers embroiled in row White students falling behind NEWS IN over noise and disruption in uni attendance rates BRIEF Megan Stagman Anna Men n occurs because these groups “tend to have lower prior attainment and other
News Correspondent ROWFOTOS News Correspondent characteristics associated with lower probability of participation (such as Houseboat owners on the River Cam Pupils from all ethnic minorities are being from a more deprived back- have complained about the levels of “signifi cantly” more likely to go to uni- ground)”, meaning the gaps in uni- noise and disruption caused by rowers versity than their White British coun- versity attendance increase once their early in the morning. terparts, a study from the Institute for backgrounds have been factored in. e use of megaphones and the Fiscal Studies (IFS) has revealed. e university attendance rate for creation of traffi c jams have irked resi- e study, which examined data Chinese pupils in the lowest socio- CISL warns of climate dents of the houseboats to the extent from pupils who sat their GCSEs be- economic group showed 66 per cent change impact on that they formally complained to the tween 2003 and 2008, also disclosed of them going on to higher educa- investments Cambridge University Combined Boat that these diff erences in participation tion, making them over 10 percentage Clubs earlier this week. in higher education are even higher for points more likely to go to university A new report by the University of Geoff Page, whose boat is moored ethnic minorities who speak English as than White British pupils from the Cambridge Institute for Sustainable near Midsummer Common, wrote a second language, and for those who highest socio-economic group. Leadership (CISL) has warned that that “the noise from coaches shout- live in London. global investment portfolios could ing at crews over residential boats According to the study’s authors, lose up to 45 per cent of their value and some coxes using amplifi ed in- Claire Crawford and Ellen Greaves, as a consequence of the short-term structions before 7.30am… is causing this gap has been increasing: among eff ects of climate change. It empha- a nuisance”, claiming that more expe- pupils who sat their GCSEs in 2008, all sised the need to see climate change rienced crews were launching boats those from ethnic minorities are now “IT SEEMS PLAUSIBLE as a long-term economic threat. even earlier, at 6am. signifi cantly more likely to attend uni- THAT ASPIRATIONS AND He criticised the club for allowing versity than their White British peers. boats full of novices, without the su- e IFS report also revealed par- EXPECTATIONS MIGHT pervision of more experienced rowers, ticipation in higher education has to “bounce off moored boats, banks increased more rapidly for ethnic mi- PLAY A ROLE” and each others’ boats”. He added that nority pupils than for White British on 8th November the scene on the ones. It also highlights participation river was one of “chaos”, with “rowing diff erences between diff erent ethnic e fact that stark diff erences in Senior university eights unable to move for long periods groups: for example, Chinese pupils participation rates remain even after figure backs fossil fuel of time”. ey have claimed that “at the start are almost 40 percentage points more contextual factors have been account- divestment e manager for the conservators of each term all crews are made aware likely to attend university than their ed for leads the study’s authors to posit of the River Cam, Jed Ramsay, has also of the need to keep noise to a mini- White British counterparts. that “there must be other factors that Jeremy Caddick, Dean of Emmanuel spoken out on the matter, arguing that mum and their responsibility to be ese discrepancies remained after are more common amongst ethnic College and a member of the Univer- “the Cam is arguably the busiest river considerate to other river users and the study’s authors had taken into ac- minority families than amongst White sity Council, supported divestment in the UK, and so consideration for those living close to the water.” count certain socio-economic factors British families which are positively in a talk on Wednesday. e high- other users is key if we are all to make e Club has already sent out re- and issues such as prior attainment, associated with…participation”. ranking university fi gure also tweet- the best use out of the river. I’d expect peated emails this term reminding including relevant discrepancies for Although they state they cannot ex- ed on the issue, calling for people to the boat clubs to deal with this issue”. boat crews of these rules in an eff ort Black African pupils, who are almost amine what these factors may be with sign a petition opposing Cambridge’s to reduce future confl ict. 35 percentage points more likely to at- the data at their disposal, they suggest: investment in fossil fuels. Clashes between residents and row- tend university than their otherwise- “It seems plausible that aspirations ers are not a new phenomenon, how- identical White British peers. and expectations might play a role.” ever, and this is just the latest in a long Such “unexplained diff erences” in Other research, however, suggests history of confl ict between the two. university attendance increased during the same may not be true for students THE SCENE ON THE RIVER WAS In 2009, for example, there were un- the time period covered by the report, at elite higher education institutions. ONE OF “CHAOS” successful attempts to ban houseboats with the diff erence in the likelihood of Earlier this year, Varsity reported on a particularly busy stretch of the Chinese pupils going to university ris- Cambridge Professor Diane Reay’s Cambridge’s Pint Shop named river, after countless collisions, and ing from 10 percentage points above criticism of the Oxbridge admissions one of UK’s coolest places to during a 90 minute period in January their equivalent White British peers in process as “institutionally racist” com- In response, the Combined Boat 2009, a river bailiff reported witness- 2003 to 24 points in 2008. pared with the higher education sec- eat and drink Clubs have denounced this mayhem ing eight crashes between rowing Once these socio-economic fac- tor more broadly. e Pint Shop, located on Peas Hill, as being contrary to their various rules boats, barges and birds. tors had been accounted for, the gap In her report for the Runnymede has been named one of the 25 coolest and regulations. e CUCBC forbids In addition to this, earlier in 2015 in progression to university between Trust, a race-relations thinktank, Reay, restaurants in the UK by e Times. novices from being on the water before a houseboat owner named Marinus White British pupils and certain eth- Professor of Education at Cambridge, Ranking twelfth, the restaurant has 7.30am and no coaching at all from the Venema threatened to blockade the nic minorities increased even further. called for “radical action” to tackle ad- previously earned prizes in the Great bank is permitted before this time, in famous May Bumps by swinging his e study’s authors discovered that missions discrepancies and said the ad- British Pub Awards and the Observ- order to keep disruption on the river houseboat in to the river, due to row- this is true of Black, Pakistani and missions process needed to be brought er’s Food Monthly award. to a minimum. ers damaging houseboats. Bangladeshi pupils, and claim that this “into the twenty-fi rst century”. A Modicum of confusion: potential Indian PM visit sparks anger
version was dated the 17th October “ at’s the only letter we organ- Jack H gg ns 2015, presented without the list or ised,” the student continued, add- Deputy News Ed tor number of signatories and signed ing that an external letter signed by NUMBER 10 “Faculty, Students and Alumni of some Cambridge academics has also Cambridge”. been sent around, which may explain Over the past three weeks, confusion Mr Rajesh told Varsity that he had duplicates. has surrounded whether Indian Prime “received the full text of the said letter Puzzlement concerning this story Minister Narendra Modi would visit from a journalist friend in Delhi” and continued when there were reports the University of Cambridge, with the that he had been in circulation before on Twitter of an unrelated anti-Modi possibility of a visit generating back- he posted it online. banner being projected on the Palace lash in Cambridge and further afi eld en, over a week later, a second of Westminster. Reading ‘Modi Not over his politics. version of the letter seen by Varsity Welcome’, an image of the banner An open letter addressed to the Vice was dated the 28th October, which spread fervently online and was re- Chancellor – said to have personally did carry a full list of signatories. ported in e Mirror amid accusa- invited Modi – criticised the move and Supporters included academics from tions on social media that the image Modi meeting David Cameron in Brisbane at the G20 Summit argued that the invitation had “gravely the Universities of Cambridge, Oxford was doctored. compromised” the “reputation” of the and Warwick. In addition, on Monday 9th On the same evening as this event, released on India’s governmental web- university. One supporter signed it as a ‘mem- November an event organised by social media was fi lled with comments site on Tuesday confi rms this as no e letter describes Modi as being ber of civil society’, while another used Cambridgeshire Left was held at that Modi had backed down from vis- visit to Cambridge is listed. associated with “fl agrant human rights ‘global citizen’ to describe themselves. King’s College, entitled ‘Let’s Talk iting under pressure from the academ- A spokesman for the Vice- abuses” and “the very idea of freedom Seeking clarifi cation on the letter, Modi’. A student present at the ”com- ic community, the vast bulk of which Chancellor’s Offi ce did, however, con- of speech”. Varsity spoke to a student involved pletely packed” discussion told Varsity came from Indian-based accounts. fi rm that “the University of Cambridge Confusion started, however, when in the organisation of it who said “the the conversation ranged from Modi’s en, adding further uncertainty, has extended an invitation to the dem- the initial letter seen by Varsity was letter was sent to the Vice Chancellor attacks on freedom of expression to this week e Statesman reported that ocratically elected Prime Minister of posted on the Facebook page of M.B. on 20 October 2015 with 219 signa- “why the university thought it appro- “at no stage was the prime minister to India”, going on to emphasise the im- Rajesh, an Indian MP who represents tures”, on the basis of an article by e priate/fruitful to invite Modi consid- go to Cambridge” and that “it was nev- portance of Cambridge’s partnership the Communist Party of India. is Hindustan Times. ering that he’s a ‘controversial’ fi gure”. er on the cards”. e offi cial itinerary with the country. THE ONLY RACE WHERE THE FINISH LINE CATCHES YOU
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Wings For Life Spinal Cord Research Foundation, UK WINGSFORLIFEWORLDRUN.COM registered charity no.1138804, invests an amount equal to the value of entry frees, net of vat, to spinal cord research projects. 8 News Friday 13th November 2015 Feeling the strain? Courtney Landers returns to examine the impact of government cuts, the media, and collegiate inconsistencies on the university’s mental health services
ast week, I explored the most consent when sharing information, is to ensure that teaching practices study’ assessments, and sit on several hands are tied, as anonymous reports serious mental health issue in other members of college staff are also throughout the university support and university committees. can’t be followed up and details of L Cambridge, the enormous pres- invaluable: college nurses and coun- encourage a healthy, integrated learn- On the whole then, we have an in- individual cases can’t be disclosed: sure students fi nd themselves under, sellors have a frontline role, as do our ing and working culture, ensuring that credible level of support available “ at’s the diffi cult thing about the through a series of interviews with wise and tireless porters. Even house- students aren’t eff ectively hindered by to deal with the problems academic UCS, is you can’t answer back… you the most senior fi gures of the univer- keeping and kitchen staff play a role, their environment. Harding is partic- pressure creates. Richard Partington can’t defend yourself.” For that reason, sity’s welfare systems. is week I have often spotting early warning signs. ularly keen on making lecture record- describes how “probably the sup- Dufour prefers students to come and looked into what support services are Our colleges also fund a huge por- ings automatic and available for all. port for mental health and welfare see her fi rst. “If there are issues, don’t available, and whether they are re- tion of university welfare services. If the role of the DRC is to prevent in Cambridge is, in terms of sheer take them to the student press... I can sponding adequately to. ey provide the largest portion of problems, the role of the UCS is to resource, greater than any other UK do something about it.” Mental health services around funding to the University Counselling treat them. A university counselling university.” e DRC also faces very high de- the country are overstretched. e Service (UCS), and in the case of the service has diff erent goals than other mand, but its biggest issue currently Cambridgeshire NHS is no exception, Disability Resource Centre (DRC), such services, says head of the service is the changes to disability funding on but we are fortunate as a university to they fund half of the International Géraldine Dufour. “For me the mission the horizon. Disabled students’ allow- have access to several other means of Disabled Students Fund and half of of a university counselling service is to ances – the major source of funding support, some unique to Cambridge. an Aspergers Advisor post, which, ac- support the students in achieving the for assistance and adjustments – are For starters, the same college tuto- cording to the Head of the DRC John best in terms of their education and “YOU CAN’T ANSWER BACK… to be slashed by the government. John rial system that provides a more indi- Harding, “isn’t replicated in many oth- studies. So we have to sort of really YOU CAN’T DEFEND YOURSELF” Harding explains that “...the whole vidualised educational experience also er universities”. think about the whole picture, and not premise of these changes is a rebalanc- allows for individualised pastoral care. On the subject of university servic- just think of this person without the ing of responsibility between govern- Senior Tutors Richard Partington and es, it seems we are comparatively well relationship to the context.” Just like ment and higher educational institu- Dr Jane McLarty explained to me that off there too. Students entering the the problems they treat, the UCS of- However, the picture is not entirely tions, so it eff ectively cuts a lot... about the primary aim of college pastoral university with existing conditions are fers a range of services from self-help rosy. All of my interviewees were open 70 per cent [of those services] which networks is “reassurance and triage”: supported by the DRC. Harding ex- to basic counselling, and from group about the existence of problems. Each [are] currently funded by DSAs will identifying, addressing and referring plained to me that rather than provid- workshops to individual counselling. admission, though, was immediately not be in two years’ time.” Discussions issues as they emerge. For that reason, ing therapeutic support, the role of the Most resources are aimed at treating followed by an explanation of how are already well underway between having access to a Tutor, a DoS and a DRC is based around a single question: anxiety, depression and relationship that problem is being tackled. the DRC, the university, and colleges Senior Tutor vastly increases the like- “What support does a student who diffi culties, with fewer resources for In fact, the topic which Géraldine to replace this funding by establish- lihood of a student stepping forward falls under the legal defi nition of dis- dealing with serious or chronic men- Dufour was most keen to discuss with ing what is currently being called the to talk to someone about their issues, ability require in order to have equal tal illnesses, although two dedicated me was the problem of demand. e ‘reasonable adjustment fund.’ Harding and provides at least two perspectives or fair access to their education?” For mental health advisors are available service is one of the busiest in the hopes that students “won’t necessarily on any situation or crisis. the most part, this means producing and the service maintains very close country, seeing about 8.5 per cent of notice the change” when the reason- Furthermore, Senior Tutors’ expe- ‘student support documents’ for each relationships with local NHS services. the student body, or 1600 students, in able adjustment fund takes on the fi - riences with a huge range of issues individual, liaising with colleges and e UCS is also closely involved with a year. ankfully, the service is also nancial burden. and circumstances are invaluable in departments and running training wider university: staff attend college one of the biggest and best-funded. e biggest issue faced by the college the most serious situations. While sessions for tutorial and other staff . inductions, run tutor training sessions “ ere are only about three services pastoral care system is that it is com- members of the tutorial system are ese eff orts often benefi t the student and mental health fi rst aid workshops, that are this big… we really are very posed of many staff with vastly diff er- very careful about confi dentiality and body as a whole since part of the task advise on intermission and ‘fi tness to well-resourced. It’s not to say that ent levels of experience and training. there’s no room for improvement Although Richard Partington and Dr – people will always want diff erent McLarty told me that they are work- things, and we have to adapt and re- ing on training to ensure that tutors do fl ect on the work we do, but we really not attempt to do too much work in- are very well resourced.” Dufour has stead of referring students on, it’s clear only been in the position of Head of that everyone is aware of cases where Counselling for 18 months, but has things have gone wrong. e situation done an enormous amount of work was best summed up by John Harding, in that time, although she stressed: “I who described how “...there’s a lot of don’t want to give the impression that expectations on tutors who potentially I’ve turned things around, because don’t have the skills or training to sup- they didn’t need turning around.” port students with particular diffi cul- e biggest complaint she faced was ties. And some of the cases we deal the waiting list, a problem she feels has with directly where we’re advising col- been addressed through the very hard leges and departments where things work of her staff . Student self-referrals haven’t been handled as well as they usually receive a response within 24 could have been and somebody has hours, and the resulting appointment said something that is not particularly timetable is “a work of art”, which is helpful, or in some cases you could ar- why students are strongly encouraged gue is discriminatory.” He talked about to reply to emails promptly, check how diffi cult it is to prevent all such their junk mail, and prioritise their instances, but stressed the importance appointments. As a result, the waiting of them being reported: “...hopefully list is now fairly short; Géraldine told those cases get some exposure and we me that in Michaelmas there is “hardly learn from them, which isn’t helpful any wait”, and that “In Lent term, our for the individual student but hope- busiest term, most people are seen fully will be helpful for the students within one working week, creeping who are following on behind.” up to perhaps two right at the end of Tutor training is one issue that is term.” However, Dufour still spends diffi cult to tackle properly at a col- a large amount of time dealing with lege level – university support is re- FOI requests about the waiting list. quired. Tutor training is currently on Despite their hard work and a com- the agenda of at least two university- prehensive follow-up process for feed- level committees dedicated to student back, the service’s biggest problem is welfare. ough their work takes place dealing with the media: “My team out of the student eye, most of the sig- works so hard; they really care about nifi cant mental health reforms in the the students, and everything we see last few years have originated in these is ‘the student services didn’t do this, committees, the work of which I will or didn’t do that’.” In eff ect, the team’s examine in the fi nal part of this series. Friday 13th November 2015 News 9 University to tackle fake eBay degrees JAMES SUTTON
Unusual fake PhDs available for £25
PhD in Sexual Techniques
PhD in Angel Studies
PhD in the Art of Loving
The listing as it appears on eBay: the seller offers a range of courses including Hair Creations, Immortality and Angel Studies PhD in Friendship
PhD in Immortality Joe Rob nson subject on the fake doctorates can Cambridge is not the only institution Jane Rowley stated that the Chinese Deputy News Ed tor be customised, including a range of whose name is being illegally used in seller was “breaking the law in a PhD in Virtual Power unusual subjects from Agricultural this way. e seller off ers counterfeit number of countries”. Sciences to Visual Arts. degrees from a range of other British She also claimed that degree fraud e University of Cambridge has told and American universities, including of this sort can damage the reputation PhD in Paranormal Psychology Varsity that it plans to take action Oxford, Harvard, Yale, Princeton and of higher education institutions. against an eBay merchant selling fake Stanford. Investigating the trend, BBC Radio PhD in the Spirit of Love PhD degrees over the Internet. It is thought that there is a size- Kent found certifi cates on sale over e seller, who claims the authority able business worldwide based on the the Internet for £500. PhD in Golf to dispense degrees from the ‘United “WE WILL TAKE ACTION production and sale of counterfeit de- e HEDD has warned recent grad- Global Royal Church & Institute gree certifi cates. Earlier this year, the uates not to publish photographs or PhD in Business Prophecy (USA)’, but who is based in Düsseldorf, AGAINST THIS SELLER” Higher Education Degree Datacheck scans of their degree certifi cates on off ers customisable PhD accreditation (HEDD), a government body tasked social media, in order to make it more certifi cates printed on high-quality with ensuring the integrity of degrees diffi cult for fraudsters to reproduce PhD in Psychic Powers 250gsm paper. Many of the degrees off ered as cus- awarded by British universities, be- them. e seller, who has a 100 per cent tomisable options are not genuine gan investigating a Chinese website In a statement released to Varsity, a PhD in Hair Creations positive feedback rating on eBay, mar- courses. e names and titles of the selling fake degree certifi cates us- university spokesman thanked us for kets the fraudulent degree certifi cates signatories on the degree certifi cates ing the names of a number of UK bringing the matter to the university’s PhD in Motivation at £25. are also faked, listed as ‘President’ and universities. attention and said: “We will take ac- e name, date awarded and the ‘Secretary’ of the university. At the time, HEDD spokesperson tion against this seller.” Taxi driver convicted for rape of student Ke r Baker Can you do be er?
Sen or News KIM FYSON Correspondent Formal applications are invited to edit A jury at Cambridge Crown and section edit Varsity in Lent 2016 Court unanimously found a taxi driver guilty of the rape of a 20-year-old Cambridge Application forms are now available for student on Tuesday, after he download from varsity.co.uk/get-involved drove her home from London after a night out last April. Editorial applications and applications to e student, who cannot become a section editor are now open. be named for legal reasons, was picked up by Siddiq For closing dates, please visit our website. Mozumder, 33. She reported the attack the All students are encouraged to apply. next day, claiming she recalled No experience of Varsity or any student Mozumder being on top of her, journalism is necessary; just enthusiasm and Cambridge Crown Court, where Mozumder was convicted having pulled up her bra. the desire to be part of a close-knit team. Speaking for the prosecu- tion, David Matthews explained Mozumder was a quiet fam- become an emotive issue, with If you have any questions, please that the victim was almost ily man who had never been concerns about student welfare email Tom at [email protected]. unconscious during the at- in trouble before. Kogan also during nights out being exacer- tack, having drunk up to three questioned the validity of the bated by proposals to cut street times the drink-drive limit on a woman’s claim, arguing that lighting in certain areas. Positions on the team include: nd night out. Matthews explained when the woman was inter- As one 2 year English stu- News Editor, Production Editor, that “because she wasn’t resist- viewed by police, she was not dent at Selwyn described: “It Comment Editor, Features Editor, ing [Mozumder] took it step by certain she had been raped. can be very intimidating to walk Arts Editor, Reviews Editor, step, further and further.” e jury of 11 women and home on a night out and this Sport Editor, Fashion Editor, Mozumder had denied the one man returned a guilty ver- case – along with others from Science Editor, Theatre Critic, Music Critic, Classical Critic, attack – which was reported dict, having deliberated for this year – is indicative of the Film Critic, Visual Arts Critic, to have taken place on the out- nearly 13 hours. Mozumder is danger that many students face, Literary Critic, Food Critic, skirts of Cambridge – claiming due to be sentenced at a later particularly when alcohol is in- Photographer, Illustrator. that he had been lured into sex date in Norwich Crown Court, volved, impairing judgement.” See website for full list and the woman had climbed where Judge Anthony Bate will She went on to commend into the front of his taxi and return on 16th November. the fact that the university is performed a sex act on him. A date for the sentencing has considering helping to fund He also argued that the not yet been set. street lighting, saying it repre- woman had been fully awake at is latest attack on a student sented “a laudable awareness the time; he expressed embar- may raise yet more concerns of the apprehensions of many rassment about what had hap- about student safety in the city. who feel vulnerable on their pened and shame for betraying Sexually-motivated attacks way home in a university-city his wife. against students – including where the demands of student e barrister for the defence, those on Jesus Green by Libyan life can often require late-night Barry Kogan, told the jury that soldiers earlier this year– have travelling.” 10 Science Friday 13th November 2015 Global health: everyone’s problem?
Tackling the than 1 billion people worldwide, for example. worldwide challenge However, that does mean that the solutions, which in many cases already exist, have the potential for an equally Dav d Neal huge impact. Great progress is being
Sc ence Correspondent made on malaria, on neglected tropi- ORGANISATION WORLD HEALTH cal diseases and on the vaccination of preventable diseases; millions fewer As a Cambridge student, you’re excep- people are suff ering and dying from tionally bright and, on a global scale, these diseases. you’re rich. You’re in a privileged posi- ere’s never been a better time tion, with the power to achieve a phe- to make a diff erence in global health. nomenal amount over your lifetime, ere’s optimism and there are oppor- towards whatever motivates you. For tunities and resources available but many people at Cambridge, that moti- there’s still a lot left to do. e SDGs vation might lead to a career in an in- are a long way from completion. vestment bank or a consultancy fi rm. e recently launched “Dear I want to share with you why I think World…Yours, Cambridge” campaign global health is an exciting alternative is keen to say that students of the for high achievers who care. University of Cambridge have a huge To set the scene, the United Nations impact on the world in many fi elds. is currently in the process of adopt- Unfortunately, when it comes to global ing a set of targets to shape the world health we’ve got a lot of catching up to for the next 15 years: the Sustainable do. An article published in the Times Development Goals (SDGs). Among Higher Education supplement last the 17 proposed aims is Goal 3: ensure year ranked Cambridge a lowly 15th healthy lives and promote well-being out of 25 UK universities according to for all at all ages. And that really sums the amount of global health research up what global health is all about – being done (the old rivals Oxford were helping everyone to live better, hap- top of the table). A child receives a meningitis vaccination in Burkina Faso pier, longer lives. In response to this disappointing is rather ambitious goal is divided showing, many students in Cambridge For example, a team of Cambridge lessons learned from the West Africa perhaps the biggest challenge faced by into a number of specifi c targets. On have joined Polygeia: Students Shaping students working through Polygeia Ebola crisis for community empower- the new SDG for health. If you’re up the “to solve” list are deaths of children Global Health. Polygeia is a Cambridge has spent the last 6 months writ- ment and engagement, and how health for that kind of challenge, I hope you’ll under the age of fi ve; deaths from road based student-run global health think- ing a report for the Africa All Party systems in developing countries can consider fi nding out more about how traffi c accidents; and the huge burden tank, working on real issues with a Parliamentary Group, a group of MPs be strengthened. you can get involved in global health of the 17 neglected tropical diseases. range of infl uential organisations. and members of the House of Lords Beyond tackling specifi c health work. ere are large numbers attached Even as a student there are great op- which examines issues aff ecting the problems, strengthening entire health David Neal is a fi nal year medi- to all of these problems – neglected portunities to make an impact, and a lives of millions of Africans across systems in the face of great econom- cal student and Director of Policy at tropical diseases currently aff ect more name for yourself, in global health. the continent. e report looks at the ic and environmental transitions is Polygeia
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he was deputy Director for Policy: “It for a translation barrier between world make these insults more com- Interview: was received very well, so I wanted to disciplines.” e global burden mon. With less access to maternity replicate that but on a larger scale.” “Students in particular have a lot care, newborns are more likely to suf- Gabriel Lambert Before starting Polygeia, Gabriel and to off er,” Gabriel tells me. “ ey have of epilepsy fer birth complications such as perina- Hari had worked together for both the the skills, passion and creativity, but tal stroke – a major cause of epilepsy. Wilberforce Society and MedSIN, an- most importantly can bring a fresh set Fevers from aggressive infections, par- Joy Thompson other student-led charity. Surprisingly, of eyes to a problem. We get fi rst- and M chael Baumgartner asites, malnutrition and brain injuries Sc ence Correspondent though, Gabriel himself came to medi- second-year undergraduates working Sc ence Correspondent can all result in seizures cine and public health via a History BA together with PhD [students] on the Seizures are also staggeringly diffi - at Oxford; he switched after “spending same project, and that’s really special,” cult to treat in these regions – an es- Gabriel Lambert, co-founder and di- a lot of time working for an NGO in he says. Indeed, Polygeia’s niche now When I think about global health, timated 90 per cent of cases in the de- rector of the global health think tank Western Kenya.” seems to be training the next genera- I learn about my own intellectual veloping world receive no treatment. Polygeia, wants students to be an inte- “I found that I wanted a job where tion of policy-makers, while simulta- cowardice. I don’t like approaching Epilepsy is a chronic disorder requir- gral part of science policy. Polygeia is the skills would be internationally use- neously benefi ting the fi eld of public the subject, mostly because – for a ing long-term treatment. ere is, purely student-run – Lambert himself ful,” Gabriel says, “but also evidence- health. “ e quality of our people and research-oriented individual – the is- however, a major shortage of qualifi ed is a graduate medical student – and based. I also discovered that I liked work is very high but can be delivered sues can be overwhelming. Even if the epilepsy physicians. According to one I caught up with him during a fl ying people, not pieces of paper!” he said. at a lower cost – this lets us reach a academic community makes a scien- estimate, there is only one neurologist visit to Cambridge to learn the story larger variety of clients, especially the tifi c breakthrough and develops some per 10 million people in Sub-Saharan behind this unique organisation. smaller charities.” ideal clinical drug, how can we then Africa. Furthermore, roughly a third Polygeia’s job, like that of many So where to next? Polygeia now has go about administering this life-saving of patients cannot benefi t from anti- other policy think tanks, is to re- a competitive year-long placement in discovery to regions of the world lack- epilepsy drugs at all and instead need search and write briefi ng documents Cambridge’s Social Incubator East, a ing medical infrastructure, personnel brain surgery. Even by neurosurgical for policymakers. Since its begin- SCIENTISTS AND DOCTORS support system for social enterprise and money? In the face of indiff erence, standards, epilepsy surgery is invasive, nings in 2014, Polygeia has attracted that provides the infrastructure and how can we convince people to care? intensive and very expensive – typi- an eclectic client list, some of whom NEED TO COMMUNICATE training to turn small start-ups into Epilepsy – the condition I study – is a cally requiring multiple brain scans, are quite high-profi le; their fl agship independently functioning businesses. prime example of the challenges fac- exploratory surgeries, overnight ob- commission is a report on the UK’s re- EFFECTIVELY WITH is is even more impressive consid- ing global health professionals. servation with electrode placement, sponse to the Ebola crisis, written for DECISION MAKERS ering that the incubator isn’t primarily To have this discussion, it’s impor- and more. ese procedures are dif- the African All-Party Parliamentary student-targeted. e move has come tant to know about epilepsy’s eff ects. fi cult to perform outside specialized Group. Polygeia currently does all its with a few surprises: one part of the Seizures themselves can and do kill centres, let alone in rural Pakistan. work pro bono, but next year accord- culture shock was getting used to hav- people – either directly or indirectly, While epilepsy is a problem of seri- ing to Gabriel they plan to “convert to For Gabriel, Polygeia is a “way to ing “a 30-second pitch on what your as when someone seizes while swim- ous concern in the developing world, a sustainable model, possibly involv- bridge the two worlds of the humani- organisation is about. It’s the ree- ming and drowns. Epilepsy also leaves it has hardly been solved in the devel- ing grants, corporate sponsorship, and ties – in the broadest sense – and Minute esis of the policy world!” he its mark on quality of life. For children, oped world. e standard of care in paid commissions.” medical science.” He relishes the po- laughs. recurrent seizures are developmentally the UK, US, and mainland Europe is Polygeia grew out of both Gabriel’s tential to create truly multidiscipli- To close, I challenge Gabriel to give disastrous. Without treatment, infants far from where it needs to be. is is, previous experiences with NGO work nary teams, which might combine any me a 30-second summary of the next with severe epilepsy won’t learn to to a large extent, simply because peo- and his collaborations with the other number of specialists, from medics greatest challenge to global health. walk, talk, dress themselves or reach ple don’t seem to know or care about founder, Hari Jeyabelen. e short- to public health experts and anthro- His reply: “I think all any other developmental milestones epilepsy. As a case in point, UK medi- term motivation, he explains, “was pologists: “share and compare” is the issues will be either on time or ever. is devastates the cal charities in 1998 raised 290 million seeing another paper presented in the motto here. e reference to an- shaped heavily or parents as much as the child. Seizures pounds for cancer, 9 million for lepro- House of Lords by the Wilberforce thropology comes from the Ebola made completely are a tremendous stress on day-to-day sy, and a mere 1.2 million for epilepsy. Society”, where paper, says Gabriel. “We needed redundant by life. With the constant risk of losing I realise I’ve painted a rather grim the insight of the anthropologists to climate change – control of one’s body at a moment’s picture. I suppose it has to be that explain the distrust of doctors that the economic and notice, it is unsurprising that people way – there are so many diseases in was often observed.” political destabi- with epilepsy have higher rates of anx- the world, all desperate for attention e cross-disciplinary nature of a lisation that results iety and depression. People with active and funds. None of what I have writ- Polygeia team also means that mem- will overshadow eve- seizures cannot drive, which contrib- ten is to convince you progress hasn’t bers get lots of practice commu- rything else.” Food utes to their high unemployment. been made or isn’t being made. Much nicating with others outside for a policymak- Add up these eff ects on individuals of what needs to be done is for people their fi elds. “Scientists er’s thought, fi fty million times over, and you get who, unlike me, spend their time out- and doctors need to indeed. a sense of epilepsy’s global burden. side of the lab, working to raise money communicate ef- Epilepsy disproportionately affl icts the or awareness or to deliver the treat- fectively with deci- developing world. Recurrent seizures ments we already have where they are sion makers and are, in a general sense, the result of needed. I hope this persuades you to engage well with abnormal signalling between cells in think a little more about epilepsy – an politicians,” he the brain. erefore, anything that can often invisible and forgotten condition says. “ ere’s damage or alter the brain can lead to that could really use support from new no excuse seizures. Conditions in the developing volunteers.
POLYGEIA SIMON LOCK Robots: fun and games in the uncanny valley
e second, creepier robots are the modelled off a baby seal. It likes cud- Birthday, Horrifying Japanese Child between a humanlike appearance and ones that fall into what’s called “the dles and the sound of your voice. And Bot: You’re Two” scream the headlines inhuman movements. No matter how uncanny valley”. is is the term used it showcases everything we clearly of articles written by those who’ve realistic they look, if a robot’s facial to describe the point at which some- want in a robot – big eyes, fl uffi ness, evidentially been a bit disturbed by expressions are too slow, or its walk thing is so close to human – and yet and the occasional baby-like sound to these creations. I don’t know how is jerky, you’ll secretly wish for it to not quite human enough – that those get our attention. long it takes to build a robot, but I be sent back into the fl ames from faced with it feel uneasy, even re- But we can’t expect all robot de- imagine quite a while. So I imagine whence it came. Some scientists in- pulsed. As technology comes closer signers to go around building baby it would be pretty annoying if, after sist once you spend enough time with to achieving some kind of human seals, as amazing as that might be. all that time and eff ort, you went viral a robot and adjust to the mechanical imitation, understanding this fear Roboticist Hiroshi Ishiguro, who be- as the person who built a slightly un- way it moves, you’ll warm to it – as- and how to overcome it is crucial to lieves that androids might one day settling robot once, rather than being suming you haven’t already run for making robots more acceptable. For replace popstars and newsreaders, heralded for having made an impor- the hills. example, there’s a huge market for ro- is determined to make them look as tant contribution to robotics. Perhaps there’s no getting past bot companions, especially in coun- humanlike as possible. In fact, he’s so But these headlines have a point. this. Robots are, by their nature, a tries like Japan which have an ageing determined to do this that he’s built I’ve seen a clip of the “child bot” in bit creepy. Even if we do manage to TECHWATCH population and where many elderly an android of himself, Geminoid HI- question, CB2, and it moves like a progress past “the uncanny valley” people live alone. Now, the last thing 1. Impressively similar to the real dazed toddler trapped in a rubber and construct a robot that’s so life- with you would want is to be landed with a thing, it’s made its way onto several suit. So what exactly is it that’s so off - like it’s almost indistinguishable from robot companion you’re scared to be Top 10 Creepiest Robots lists. putting about these robots? One the- a human being, it’s hard to imagine Charlotte in the same room with. So it seems is in itself is a big motivation for ory is that it’s a defence mechanism we won’t still fi nd it ridiculously in- a good idea to steer clear of the po- roboticists to build something that to protect us from disease. Rhesus timidating. If anything, it might make Gifford tentially unnerving human-like com- looks a bit more appealing: in order monkeys show a similar aversion to things even worse. You’d never know panion, and to instead draw upon to avoid the fl ack you get on the in- “uncanny” beings, which suggests for certain whether you were speaking Robots tend to fall into two catego- inspiration from the animal kingdom ternet when you accidentally animate it might be an evolutionary thing. to a human being. It’d be like Blade- ries – adorable critters, or deplorable when designing a robot. e end re- someone’s nightmare. “Boffi n builds Another theory is that we feel dis- Runner. If you ask me, we should just droids that should be killed with fi re. sult is Paro, a therapeutic robot that’s World’s Ugliest Robot”, and “Happy comfort whenever there’s a mismatch stick to making baby seals. 12 Interview Friday 13th November 2015 va r s i t y introducing Patrick is a second-year English What are the diff erences? an inspiring place to work? the work they’re doing, this fi lm student at Fitzwilliam College. He has probably wouldn’t have happened. been making fi lms throughout his time For the actors, it’s all about Defi nitely! Professional fi lm at Cambridge and is a prominent telling them to do less; the makers would pay thousands What was the reaction to the fi lm? member of CineCam, the Cambridge tiniest facial movement to shoot in Cambridge so fi lmmaking society. can portray everything. I thought: “Why not use I had lots of amazing messages I like to be in control what’s on off er?” at’s thanking me for raising the issue When did you fi rst get involved in of what I’m making. why there are so many which was really moving. If the fi lm fi lmmaking? When I was directing shots of the city and can make just one person realise the Reservoir Dogs, the the river, as well as terrifying fact that sexual assault I started making some absolutely producer dropped the nightclubs. ere isn’t about some stranger in a dark bizarrely terrible fi lms when I was out at the last are also so many alleyway, then it’s worth it. 14. e fi rst one I ever made was minute so I ended interesting things called the Fajita Fatality which was a up doing it all. going on in people’s What else have you been making? murder mystery Poirot spoof about a Although I was lives here that we don’t Have you any projects lined up? magical, murdering Fajita. very proud of the need to make a fi lm I’m defi nitely trying a bit harder now, production, I hated about saving the world Recently I’ve made trailers for Tribes but in the same way that posting a the lack of control. I because daily themes, and Living Quarters which is a very photo on Instagram doesn’t make you just wanted to make dealt with well, can be diff erent process. ere’s no narrative a photographer, back then I wasn’t it perfect and fi lm very engaging. to work with and you’re carrying out really a fi lmmaker. I was just messing lets me indulge my the director’s vision which can still about with my friends. perfectionism. e main theme is a very be very satisfying. But I’m looking sensitive one. Why did you forward to getting back to directing How have you changed since then? Would you say a space want to make a fi lm about my own fi lms and I’m making a fi lm is developing for fi lm? Is rape? about bullying with Nathan Miller I’m taking fi lmmaking a bit more it starting to challenge the called Outsiders, which is very seriously and, besides food, there are dominance of the theatre scene? e fact that rape happens so close exciting. I’ve also got one or two defi nitely other infl uences. When MEGGIE LÖNNGREN SAMPAIO to home and I know so many people other projects on the go but I don’t I was younger I watched a lot of ere’s a long way to go, but we’re aff ected by it really disturbed me. At want to give too much away. You’ll Tarantino and I remember seeing defi nitely making progress. I’m part theatre scene who take it so seriously Cambridge, you feel like you’re safe have to wait and see. Reservoir Dogs and thinking “Films of CineCam and lots of freshers have that they become ruthless but it but it’s a very real issue. I still don’t can do this”. I actually put it on as a shown an interest in it. With fi lms, should just be about friends trying understand it, but I was compelled Patrick was speaking to Ian Johnston play in Pembroke Cellars a few years there’s less structure than plays so it’s out new things and that’s what I like to make the fi lm to work out how If you are a student artist, band, back, which was an interesting way harder for a society to organise. But about student life in general. this could happen and what leads musician, poet or any other type of to explore the diff erences between this means it becomes an individual to it happening. ere are so many Cambridge creative who would like to directing theatre and fi lm. eff ort and we have more freedom You really captured student life in incredible women working to change be featured in this series, please email to enjoy ourselves. I see some in the Last Night. Do you fi nd Cambridge the situation and if they weren’t doing [email protected] Jackie Ashley: “ ere is a problem of women trying too hard” Vidya Ramesh and Jackie Ashley discuss the future of women’s colleges and tackling institutional inequality from the inside
e’re nearly at the end Control Association and vocal cam- related to students”. this harassment, Ashley’s views are political, cultural, even sex change. of this painful process paigner for the enforcement of the Controversial for Ashley is her in- unequivocal: “I feel very strongly in On all fronts she seems realistic about “Where, I’m so sorry.” Edict of Expulsion against English vitation to the conference of Maria the belief that no means no.” She is the prospects and potential for suc- Jackie Ashley, veteran political jour- Jews drawn up in 1290. Now, having Miller MP, proponent of the lowering also not afraid to articulate her opin- cess. She has already weathered the nalist and President of Lucy Cavendish fi lled the roles of presenter of BBC of the legal abortion limit, and Suzanne ion on female students’ mental health. storm of change and upheaval within College, hovers over the humming Radio 4’s e Week in Westminster Evans, the Deputy Chairman of UKIP, “ ere’s a problem of women trying her personal life, taking nine months coff ee machine in her offi ce. It’s been Political Editor of the New Statesman who have advocated the scrapping of too hard,” she refl ects. “Writing exams leave in 2013 to care for her spouse, yielding a steady trickle for the past and Political Correspondent for ITN, paid maternity leave and female job is a physical ordeal, and some get so political broadcaster Andrew Marr, two minutes. Ashley is well-equipped to start mak- quotas. Ashley did not intend their stressed in Easter term that they in- following his stroke. To know where Ashley only started her tenure at ing changes from the inside. presence at the conference to repre- termit. I often think we should have a Jackie Ashley has come from to get Lucy Cavendish at the beginning of sent the pro-feminist stance; quite the reading week in the middle.” to where she is now, might just help this academic year, but her no-non- opposite, in fact. “I wanted a debate Ashley is candid about the inevi- other women refl ect on where they sense air of pragmatism already seems between those who thought femi- tability of change, at Lucy Cavendish want their lives to lead them. No two to diff use through the college build- nism was a good thing and those who above all. She admits that “it’s a dif- women here are the same. “For some, ings. Utilitarian would be an apt de- thought it was rubbish. So I had Polly fi cult issue, the issue that we’re going getting a First or a high 2.1 is worth it, scription of the Porters’ Lodge: instead “I OFTEN THINK WE SHOULD Toynbee and for the other I’d emailed to be looking at, as to whether in the but for others it would be much more of trophies lining the glass shelves, Suzanne. She replied back saying ‘I’d much longer-term there is a future for worth their while doing something there are travel adapters and even HAVE A READING WEEK IN THE love to, but the problem is that I am a all-women’s colleges”. like drama or journalism. It’s all about shaving kits on sale, a baffl ing fi nd feminist’!” Ashley chuckles. What about their policy on trans- fi nding a balance”. in a female mature students’ college. MIDDLE OF TERM” e days of no-platforming right- gender women? Her head, previously Ashley responds to the Cantabridgian wingers like Lady Birdwood are over, tilted meditatively to one side, snaps traditions with equanimity, and a it seems. at is not to say that Ashley up and her mouth contorts into a pinch of exasperation. “I’m not trying Maybe that is what ‘Where Are e has disassociated herself from the round ‘o’. “Policy of admission?!” she to be a killjoy, but at Lucy Cavendish Women?’, the upcoming conference on more strident forms of women’s poli- exclaims, “Gosh I don’t know! We, you’re not supposed to go to the toilet gender equality convened by Ashley tics. But the tactics were inclusive well, I don’t think we’ve had any appli- between First and Second Grace dur- herself, is all about. With speak- rather than alienating. She recalls cants!” A long silence follows, and she ing Formal, which is at the beginning ers such as Harriet Harman MP and fondly “at Oxford in the ’70s it was just stares at me, stumped. “Well, you’ve of the starter and at the end of des- Sara Nathan, Public Appointments the height of First Wave Feminism got me stymied there,” she nervously sert. If you’re pregnant, as some of our Assessor, there seems to be an empha- [Ashley perhaps meant to say Second chortles. “I will have to give that students are, it can certainly be off - sis on getting women into the high- Wave, since the suff ragettes were some thought! What do you think?” putting,” she sighs. est echelons of business, media and some of the generation making up the She looks again at me in earnest, A PPE undergraduate at the relative- politics. Yet in the past decade argu- First], you know we’d be wearing bag- as though I might have the answers. ly modern and progressive St Anne’s ably the most notable achievements in gy shirts, jeans and they would set up “I mean” she continues, “which way College, Oxford, Ashley eschewed the women’s rights have been sparked by these ‘Conscious Raising’ groups both round are we talking about here? I patriarchal institutional makeup of grassroots pressure groups and social for men and women, because femi- mean if it’s a man, surely women will the debating union for “far too much media campaigns, made powerful sim- nism was where it was at.” feel slightly uncomfortable...?” Ashley political campaigning and journalism, ply by their operation outside of the e prevalence of sexual harass- tapers off . She assures me that she will and far too little work” as she puts establishment. So what about the day- ment at universities today seems a far consult Dame Carol Black, Principal it. “I remember standing outside the to-day lives of those ‘beneath’? Ashley cry from her years as an undergradu- of Newnham College, straight after Oxford Union and protesting against concedes: “You know, if I could have ate when “it was trendy for a guy to be our interview. the presence of Lady Birdwood”, aris- done this conference again, I would a feminist and men had to contribute I’ve discussed change with tocratic patron of the Immigration have focused more on issues directly to a fund for sanitary products”. On Jackie Ashley: institutional, Comment Friday 13th November 2015 Comment 13 Why college ranking tables have to go
hen an elected college rep board. We have just initiated our For those colleges at the top, sure, colleges with a larger intake of STEM tells me that students at on-the-ground Michaelmas research I’m guessing it feels great. I’m aware students and more resources. W his college are intellectual- project into provision on particular student journalists will be keen to e Tompkins Table evaluates ly superior to students at every other courses, and we continue to make the suggest this is a personally motivated students in Firsts, 2:1s and 2:2s as if College, I am not just angry on behalf argument to senior academics who attack by a Girton alumna. But I’m every student arrives at Cambridge of Cambridge students, I am furious. tell us equality of opportunity be- pretty happy with the grades I got, from the same type of school, with When a fi rst year tells me that he tween the Colleges is purposeless and wherever Girton falls on the list. the same access requirements, with is actively against equal academic impossible. the same grades, who all take the provision across the colleges because As we attempt to tackle college dis- same subject with the same levels he wants his college to be ranked top, parities from every angle, a recurring of resource. It tells us nothing about this attitude exposes a serious prob- cultural approach has shown itself to the value-added effi cacy of colleges, lem for all Cambridge students, re- pervade the instances of push-back or how academics, motivated by the gardless of college. we have experienced: a concern that, COLLEGIATE RANKINGS actual learning needs of their stu- At CUSU Council on Monday 9th if parity were to be achieved and dents, might help a student succeed November, I successfully proposed Cambridge students were actually SHOW THEMSELVES TO BE A in achieving a 2:2 who was going to a motion for CUSU to actively fi ght ensured equal access and opportunity CULTURAL BARRIER TO CHANGE drop out. Ranking colleges is a blan- Priscilla Mensah within the structures of our institu- (as the university prospectus tells us), ket that is empirically unsound, and tion to stifl e the publication of data then how might this aff ect the indi- AT OUR INSTITUTION it perpetuates a poisonous culture of which facilitates the ranking of stu- vidual chances of a specifi c college on rivalry across the university. dents’ exam performance by college. a ranked – and consequently feared I proposed the motion myself, but Our CUSU President My reasons for proposing the motion – table? is is about every student benefi t- it was passed by your college reps. I are simple: I was elected with an his- Collegiate rankings show them- ing from change and not being stifl ed don’t have a vote on CUSU Council. explains why college toric mandate to improve the parity of selves to be a cultural barrier to by individualised, reputational mo- e decision was made and the mo- academic provision between the col- change at our institution. ey are tivations. is is about combatting tion was backed by your colleges’ tables are divisive leges, and have worked tirelessly on part of the problem. the harmful rivalry created between Presidents and Chairs. It seemed, this campaign since summer. Rob, the CUSU is the central students’ students who should view themselves in many ways, to be the start of a and harmful Education Offi cer, and I have spent union, and thus it is our job to care as peers. is is about the blunt meas- new intercollegiate way of thinking. days analysing the data per college. about intercollegiate fairness. It is our uring tool of the Tompkins Table and Beyond this motion, students are We have met with half of the Senior job to make students understand how the impact this has on the sense of talking about what collegiality actu- Tutors (with the rest to follow over shocking it is that, at one college, poor self-effi cacy of students at colleges ally means at our institution, and that the coming weeks) to challenge them performance in a ranking table led to that annually languish at the bottom. is a success in and of itself. on their supervision rates. We have penalties placed on the JCR’s budget. Indeed, the Tompkins Table would Please contact me at president@ consulted with department heads. It is our job to care and implement have us believe that students at the cusu.cam.ac.uk if you would like fur- We have got the Pro-Vice Chancellor methods that alleviate the harsh im- women’s and mature colleges are not ther information on how CUSU plans for Education, Graham Virgo, on plications of this ranking culture. academically worthy, while rewarding to tackle this. CUSU: A heart in search of a body and a brain
ambridge University Student voting procedure that, in an attempt e ying of cuddly do-goodery Damiano Sogaro. Sogaro and Roemer Union, or CUSU as it is com- to let all voices be heard, traps debate makes up the greater part of the ask questions throughout, seeking C monly known, often gets a in a quagmire of speeches, questions, council attendance – the Offi cers clarifi cation, checks and balances. bad rep. As largely self-appointed amendments and votes. and Executives speak frequently, As we go through the motions (liter- arbiters of student representation, e debate on Monday centred and present the majority of motions ally), they often seem more like pan- its Executives and Offi cers are some- around votes to oppose the publica- (though the sabbs, with the exception tomime villains – sighs can be heard times regarded as being out-of-touch tion of the Tompkins Table (a yearly of the Women’s Offi cer, do not have a as their hands go up and as they make with the majority of students. If you ranking of colleges by grade that is vote). ey command a bloc: in gen- small, often pedantic changes to the explain to the typical Cantab what produced independently of the uni- eral, most of the attendees vote with wording of motions. e majority of their student union does, you’ll be versity) and to campaign against the the prevailing wind, which tends to attendees, wearisome from hours of met with the blank stare normally re- publication of class lists. We’re told be CUSU’s inner core. e majority of debate, seem appalled that these peo- served for when a Mathmo explains that the Tompkins Table suggests that these voters – sent from their colleg- ple might want to do something as their PhD topic. Student activism is students from women’s and mature es’ JCRs and MCRs to represent their selfi sh as to represent their own JCRs. alive and well in Cambridge, but of- colleges are less successful, and that, fellow students – never speak. When the time comes to vote, the ten it feels as though CUSU and the of course, all Cambridge students are All is not unifi ed, however. One resolute “No”s come from this corner. Graduate Union (GU) are a couple of equally successful. It’s a beautiful sen- group sits in the corner and fre- But they don’t stand a chance. steps behind. Some argue that it can be quently asks questions about process ere’s a persistent question raised hard for CUSU to justify the money it and due diligence, or checks up on at CUSU council: how do we get stu- gets from college JCRs and MCRs, es- whether previous motions have been dents involved, and to care about what Louis Ashworth pecially when, in the Welfare Offi cer’s followed through properly. Take, for we say? ere’s no easy answer. ose fortnightly update, highlights include example, the recent petition to stop people who attend must fi nd its pro- researching “the possibility of getting IN THE WELFARE OFFICER’S the County Council from turning out cedural form off -putting, and those a GU kitten”. the lights on a few student-frequent- in attendance who attempt to actually CUSU means well, Given that anyone can attend, and UPDATE, HIGHLIGHTS ed streets in central Cambridge from represent their colleges suff er death but you only need to freshers receive an email inviting INCLUDE RESEARCHING “THE April next year. After a lengthy debate by a thousand bureaucratic cuts. It’s them every week, CUSU Council at- in October, CUSU council vowed to clear that CUSU’s inner core means go to a meeting to tendance can be a little underwhelm- POSSIBILITY OF GETTING A GU support the existing petition, but also well, even if they occasionally disre- ing. e meetings, which take place to create their own independent one, gard the democratic mandate they understand why the in the airtight student union common KITTEN” widening the number of roads men- claim to have – at the second coun- room, typically only attract people tioned. At the meeting last Monday, cil of term, they voted to support the scepticism exists who were voted in by their colleges – the Executives weren’t able to give Campaign for Free Education, but af- at Monday’s meeting, it seems a fel- timent, but seems to broadly ignore any information about whether the ter some debate decided not to adopt low reporter and I were the only two the idea that objective facts have any new petition had been created – a part of the slogan that read “Tax the who could truly say we were there value – if some people want to know even though it appears to exist (with rich”. Cue, last week, a photo emerg- voluntarily. e room gets extraor- which college gets the most Firsts, for around 400 signatures to the original ing of CUSU’s Coordinator holding dinarily warm – if any students are example, why shouldn’t that informa- petition’s 2,300). a placard bearing those exact words. seeking a free sauna experience, they tion be publicly available? And spare e heart of this yang group is the ere’s a beating heart in CUSU, but could do worse than heading over a thought for poor Mr Tompkins (of bad cop/bad cop pairing of Trinity right now, it’s a heart without a stu- to CUSU in swimming trunks. e table-creating fame) – what will be- JCR President Cornelius Roemer, dent body, and somewhat short on soporifi c atmosphere isn’t helped by a come of him? and Fitzwilliam JCR Vice President brains. 14 Comment Friday 13th November 2015
Here’s what our irst ive weeks have been like We asked ive freshers to tell us about their impressions of Cambridge. here may be signiicant common themes...
ny expectations I had when his is it, I thought, as I cy- hould you fake being an extro- he ultimate bonding experi- feel like I’ve been here forever. arriving here are more or less cled across Orgasm Bridge vert when it doesn’t come natu- ence. Once the formalities of Not in that kind of exhausted, fed- Aa total blur. here are some T on a borrowed bike too big Srally to you? It’s the perennial Tthe fresher creed: name? (inev- Iup way I’m told strikes later in the things, though, that are relatively un- for me, in my swooping black gown, problem for us introverts who have itably forgotten), college? (the same as year (though, to be fair, everyone is a surprising: my supervisor intimidates heels wobbling in the basket. his is to engage in mandated socialising. yours, and actually on your staircase), bit exhausted), but in the sense that me and drains my mental capacities Cambridge, I decided, as I ashamedly Starting university is one such occa- and subject? (ASNAC – okay…) are I feel like I’ve never known anything in equal measure; wearing a gown pushed the bike the inal few steps sion, where everything feels like an ul- over, pal pursuing begins in earnest. diferent. I’m used to it now: I get makes me feel like a weird bat-human; and turned to admire Tit Hall library timatum and you’ve convinced your- Quickly endorsed into a new line- up in the morning, I (try to) work, I and I’ve hit new levels of drenched- and the stars. he reality was that this self this next introduction is going to age, bequeathed surrogate parents go to lectures, I work/procrastinate in-other-people’s-sweat (and body was just another in the series of mo- make or break your social life for the and a herd of new ‘blood’ siblings, the some more – the list goes on. Now it odour) at Fez. Certain things, though, ments that have felt quintessentially next three years. It’s hard to reconcile familyhood is quickly airmed with might seem like I’ve been inding the have been somewhat more unexpect- Cambridge in the whirlwind of this being a recreational hermit with the the slogans ‘sista 4eva’ and ‘ma bruv’ whole experience a bit wearing, but ed, like the Trinity mathmo who tried term – singing every word of ‘Let it Go’ fact that this is the 500th time you’ve which now plastered over chests af- that’s not really true. Yes, I have felt to pick me up in Cindies by virtue of in Cindies, debating Putin’s politics at said your name today – discounting, ter the freshers’ t-shirt party. he joy Week Five looming overhead, and I the fact that he was a Trinity mathmo 2am and waking up to drunk proposal of course, the hundred times you’ve of formal, an occasion to show your have a sense of what the blues might (“I would ask you what you do, but texts being particular highlights. To practised it in front of a mirror be- new besties how fab you look in bil- be (I think I may have already had a the real question is: Do you want to say Cambridge is very Cambridge is forehand, just to be safe. lowing black curtains, and even better trial run), but actually, in the grand come back with me?”), and the shock to write poorly, but what I’m getting When so much of the irst few once you’re suiciently inebriated and scheme of things, the sheer intensity that riding a bike in actual traic (and at here is that Freshers’ Week is some- weeks at Cambridge revolved around debating politics with your DoS. he of Cambridge is most probably what rain) is terrifying and diicult, espe- how as intense, surreal and stereotyp- being willing to form coherent sen- matriculation ish course shakes the has kept me going. cially when done to the tune of the ically Cambridge as I had hoped. tences around other people, it was dif- uneducated (in terms of cutlery us- True, there is a lot of work, but aggressive honks of drivers gesticulat- Of course, it’s not all rosy postcard icult to allow myself to take time out age) from the more uneducated, and there’s so much else to do beyond that ing at your soaking self from the com- pictures: there have been nights of to just relax. All the people I hadn’t port proves a good jolly before you hit when you leave the library. Cambridge fort of their warm, dry vehicles. Time frantically reading Spark Notes un- met yet and the things I hadn’t done Cambridge’s infamous night scene. is exhausting and intense, and that works in funny ways here, too. When til 2.30am, some vomit, and a fresh- yet hollowed me out and drained my Oh, the madness that is Cindies and can take its toll; sometimes you miss I signed up, eight week terms seemed ers lu that refuses to clear. As well as excitement. It left me with the dis- Fez. It’s epic. It’s tragic. It’s a chance home, miss your friends, miss be- like a total doss – basically half a developing respectable punting skills, comforting feeling that I wasn’t do- to show your true Strictly self, whack- ing praised at least a little, but other year of holiday – but I couldn’t have the biggest lesson I’ve learnt since get- ing Freshers’ Week right. I wonder ing out the ‘big ish little ish’ remix. times, when you do the things you en- been more wrong. I feel like I’ve been ting here is that Cambridge is, rather if I would have felt less apprehensive If the team make it to Van of Life, not joy, make new friends, and just relect here for ages, at least long enough to obviously, impossible to deine in one about the irst few weeks of term if only have you gone hard you’ve also for a moment, it doesn’t feel so bad comfortably share clothes and over- snapshot of a moment or 220 words. I had shed my introvert skin a little. undoubtedly made lifelong friends: a after all. Sometimes, I just put eve- share feelings with my staircase. Still, Although running through Cambridge But that would have been a heavily team, a gang, a posse. Five weeks in rything down and go for a walk, and though, I don’t even want to think streets, lost and late, listening to an retouched version of who I really am, and you’re already married and have it’s then that I realise what a beautiful about how shattered I’ll be in a month audio book of Bleak House at 1.5 times and after all, what are irst impres- chosen the godparents. In Cambridge place Cambridge is, and how lucky I if this is only halfway. the speed got close. sions if not wholly representative? things move damn fast. am to be here. Lucia Keijer Palau Anna Jennings Yukiko Kobayashi Lui Molly Biddell Maheen Behrana Friday 13th November 2015 Comment 15 Colour blindness cuts off important conversation
’m sure we’ve all heard it before: It is often the case that white people a nuisance. is is the thinking that responsibility for the historical vio- “ ere’s only one race – the hu- have never considered themselves to leads some white people to think that lence perpetrated against people of I man race.” Whether in an argu- be part of a specifi c race or thought black power equals white hate, or colour. If race is irrelevant, so are all Lola ment about identity politics or as a that it mattered much, because it that any recognition or expression of the events that have happened be- way to defuse heated confrontations, hasn’t had an eff ect on their lives. It love for non-white cultures is an af- cause of it. is provides the perfect the reminder that, fundamentally, has never been a source of negativ- front to whiteness. justifi cation to ignore the power dy- Olufemi “we are more similar than diff erent” ity, and so appears to be completely Perhaps this is what causes white namics that exist in our society. appears far too often. neutral and arbitrary. But when you people to roll their eyes at argu- Even if I, as a black woman, were It is interesting to examine how are constantly reminded when read- ments about identity, or deem them to fully commit to the principle that this idea is used to police and silence ing the news, walking through the futile. Engaging with privilege is a ‘race doesn’t matter’, how the world people of colour. No matter the good chore; it might make you really inter- perceives me would contradict this. intentions behind it, the insistence rogate your intentions and change Perpetuating this myth is the equiva- on focusing on a ‘shared humanness’ your behaviour. It upsets the order lent of sticking your head in the sand exists as nothing more than an avoid- of things, bursting the naïve bubble or screaming ‘lalalalala’ when an ar- ance tactic. From a young age, we that so many people exist in. Which gument becomes too intense. It is are taught that acknowledging race WHEN YOUR SKIN COLOUR is another reason why the notion of harder, and also more rewarding, to is taboo, so ignorance is suppressed colour blindness irks me – anyone critically engage with race and rec- instead of deconstructed and reveals IS THE DEFAULT, ANY non-white who wishes to explore ognise openly that if you’re white, itself in daily reminders of ‘otherness’ how race aff ects their time on earth then your race gives a structural for people of colour. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF is regulated back into silence by a advantage. People of colour always have the ‘OTHERNESS’ IMPLICITLY concept that dictates that recognis- ere is nothing radical about de- same stories of interacting with their ing diff erence is of little value. claring that we all bleed red. Instead, white peers. When race enters the BECOMES A THREAT OR A When someone tells me they don’t try to actively engage with the idea conversation, there are a number of see ‘colour’, or that race does not af- that race determines a lot more than stock responses; either white peo- NUISANCE. fect the way they view people, what I it should in people’s lives. is is one ple argue that they are ‘colourblind’ hear is: “I cannot fathom a society in of the key ways that we take away its and profusely reassure you that which we might have specifi c experi- determinative value; by interrogating they’re not racist, or they view sim- plodge, and interacting with people ences informed by race and so must how it is used for the maintenance of There is nothing radical ple descriptors like ‘black’ ‘Indian’ on a daily basis that their perceptions erase the diff erences between us.” power. ‘Chinese’ as off ensive words. ere of you are based on race, it becomes ere is a tendency toward a post- We do not have to be the same to is something extremely uncomfort- of critical importance. Your survival modernist world view that thinks be- be equal: by erasing the diff erences about declaring that we all able about being made to feel like the sometimes depends on being able to yond ‘arbitrary systems of categorisa- between us we lose the joy of diff er- fact of your being, your blackness or articulate the inevitable frustration tion’, as if they don’t have a material ent cultures and what they can off er bleed red - it only silences your Asianness, is too off ensive to ac- that comes with this. eff ect on people’s lives. us. Homogeneity is not only uninter- knowledge. It destroys the possibility When your skin colour is the de- Aside from that, the colour blind- esting and reductive but impractical people of colour of any legitimate conversations that fault, any acknowledgement of ‘oth- ness argument is harmful because if we are actually committed to erad- could be had about race. erness’ implicitly becomes a threat or it absolves white people of their icating racial oppression. Should Cantabs jump the job queue? is week, Rosie argues employers shouldn’t prioritise Cambridge graduates, and Lana tells us why they should Rosie Best Lana Crowe
tudents of Cambridge, you may want to producer of academics. e intensity of our f the University of Cambridge was a liter- acknowledged by employers. It is not discrimi- sit down for this: going to Cambridge workload, the extensive reading lists and the ary character, it would almost certainly be natory but, in fact, in favour of mobility for an S does not make us ‘better’ than everybody supervision structure of our courses all point IMr Darcy. Brooding, quizzical, mysterious. employer to appreciate my Cambridge degree. else. Life, especially employment, may be a us in one direction: academia. Whilst this is all Situated in a beautiful residence making it all If employers prioritise Cambridge degree hold- competition, but having studied at Cambridge valid and is surely good preparation for those the more appealing to potential suitors. One ers, then I have worked my way up to the same does not mean that you can sit this one out wishing to pursue a career in this area, other moment he ardently loves me, and the next playing fi eld as those born into privilege; if em- and still get a gold medal. universities might off er a placement year or fi nds me barely tolerable. Pride and Prejudice ployers are not impressed, then I return to the Emerging from the bubble, begowned and encourage their students to seek employment would have been a very diff erent story if Miss want of connection and lacking prospects that clutching a Cambridge degree, can cause a se- whilst at university. Bennett were to be married to Darcy for three my social background entails. vere case of Special Snowfl ake Syndrome and is contrast in the functioning of years and then chucked back to Hertfordshire Education is a fantastic tool for enabling unfortunately, once developed, this cannot be Cambridge and other universities might mean with a pointless knowledge of Chaucerian poli- people to fulfi l their potential. Cambridge pro- cured except with a bitter dose of reality and that we emerge with a few more essays in our tics and a £50,000 debt. Bennett’s advantageous duces students who, if men- the realisation that qualities fi les, but in terms of real world experience of marriage changes her life: so should my advan- tally exhausted and emo- such as intelligence or cre- work, students elsewhere may actually have the tageous university admission. tionally crippled, are hard ativity are not exclusive to advantage. Diff erent careers require diff erent skills: working and well-read. Cambridge students. Finally, if you think that getting a job based the university prepares its students for time- e unfairness lies in the Allowing Cambridge to on the university you have written on your CV consuming, high-pressure, intellectually chal- school system: the dis- turn you into a Special is a reward then think again. It’s safe to say that lenging work. Research shows, in some cases, crepancy between Snowfl ake is only the being at Cambridge gives a lot of us an inferior- Cambridge students work for twice as many educational prac- beginning of the ity complex, and surely more than 50 per cent hours as students at some other universities, a tice and the cul- slippery slope to- of us have wondered when we will receive that disparity that would naturally interest an em- ture in diff erent wards disappoint- email with a subject reading ‘Sorry, we made a ployer. It would be unfair for an employer to schools means ment and resent- mistake’. look at class marks as an objective indication a lot of students ment when you Being granted a job on the basis that you of ability and eff ort. University rankings are in- are not aff orded inevitably discover studied at Cambridge would just add to this vi- consequential if the benefi ts of going to a top the opportunity that other graduates cious cycle and put even more pressure on you institution don’t extend post-degree. We are to come here. Allow are equally as capa- to uphold the illusion of the all-round organ- receiving a fantastic, expert-led education. Mr Darcy to meet ble as you are. ised, intelligent, creative and generally perfect I didn’t arrive in Cambridge from a privi- everybody, and he P r i n c i p a l l y , Cambridge student (a front which you’re barely leged place; my presence here is a testament to shall fall in love Cambridge is a managed to keep up for three years). my work ethic, something that deserves to be with those who most deserve the advantages that his approval will bring. 16 Comment Friday 13th November 2015 Week Five Blues: When the cookies don’t cut it
s a naive and eager fresher, sign up for is the inability to cope Despite eff orts from organisa- deadline and the prospect of getting I came across the ominous with our own internal competition. tions like Student Minds Cambridge a low 2:2 for all their eff ort. A term ‘Week Five Blues’ within I have met students who introduce and welfare offi cers to keep the con- Secondly, students at Cambridge moments of arriving in Cambridge. themselves by their A level results, versation going, general discussion simply do not like to fail. Many e week kicked off with a bar crawl, bizarrely fi nding it easier to say among students rarely addresses the come in with a survival mentality of the epitome of fresher fun. Or what what they have achieved than who issue outside of this one week win- ‘I’ve made sacrifi ces to get in here, should have been. Unfortunately, they are. dow. Week Five has often been the and I’m not giving up now’. I’ve discussions with second-years lead fi rst time I have heard others admit heard students remark that ‘it’s only to the foreboding topic of “how to that they are struggling. While it is three years’, a similar remark to one survive Cambridge”. Tips ranged wonderful that this confession has a prisoner might make about their from sleeping in the library during occurred, it is worrying that the sentence. Somehow, amongst this fi nals to save the thirty second walk DISCUSSIONS WITH SECOND conversation seemed inappropriate mentality, admitting struggle has back to your room, taking caff eine earlier. been equated to admitting defeat. pills and “training yourself” to sur- YEARS LEAD TO THE e lack of conversation focuses If you’re reading this and wonder- vive on three hours of sleep. Within around two points. Firstly, no one ing what all the fuss is about, that’s my fi rst week, I realised the ‘blues’ FOREBODING TOPIC OF ‘HOW wants to be seen as ‘ungrateful’ to great. You have been lucky enough Emma Simpkin weren’t just centred on Week Five. TO SURVIVE CAMBRIDGE’. be off ered the opportunity to study to have the predisposition or expe- But we’ve been told right from the at the best university in the country rience to develop the skills for cop- start that it would be hard, right? and respond with grievances. I was ing with both stress and the need for It didn’t take me long In an article for e Cambridge met with incredulous looks when I perfection. But we can’t forget oth- Student, second year William Equating self-worth with success expressed to other students that if ers aren’t so fortunate. Such people to realise how serious Hewstone argues that, as students is sadly common at elite universi- I don’t like it here, I’d leave. “You’d are not a small minority, as the Tab’s at the third best university in the ties, as Shefali Kharabanda illus- just… leave? But it’s the third best Mental Health Survey found in the mental health world: “If we’re not feeling a little trated in Varsity a few weeks ago. It university in the world!” In my third 2013. Of the 1,749 responses, 46 per problem here is, and pressure, then what an earth are we is a catalyst for mental health issues. week I expressed to another student cent of Cambridge students are de- doing?” I’d agree if what was experi- Self-esteem becomes entirely con- that I’ve been struggling with the pressed, with 21 per cent diagnosed. it’s worrying enced was a little pressure, instead ditional, fl uctuating with external stress of balancing essay deadlines Focus needs to be placed on teach- of eating-coff ee-beans-because-I- measures of accomplishment. In an with actually having a life, only to ing coping mechanisms to manage don’t-have-time-to-boil-a-kettle environment where only 27 per cent be told that perhaps I should spend the need for perfection. Week Five pressure. of us feel we can complete work to more time appreciating the archi- welfare eff orts are a fantastic place Part of the problem centres our ‘satisfaction’, the lack of a feel- tecture. While the sun setting over to start, but these attempts need around the competitive atmosphere ing of success can result in a crisis King’s College Chapel certainly is to continue across all weeks of all at an elite university. I admit that far beyond something that can be a sight to behold, it isn’t going to terms. A cookie in my pigeon hole we signed up for the external pres- addressed by sweets outside the help the student crying themselves one week of the year just isn’t going sure of academia. What we did not library. to sleep over the looming essay to cut it.
Columnist Ellie Coote celebration tonight, it’s going to be baya (litro so #PortWing, which is shouts ”#TraditionMission!!!” and #BushyRioter’s hand and recognise recently uncovered a diary totes off the charts #Bigger #Better obvs a totes unconventional joke cacophony breaks out through the three delicately positioned freckles buried beneath the fl oorboards #Preferred # esaurus! So appaz it’s ‘cause like left wing people don’t literal swarms of privileged people, and a well-meaning callous… Hugo!!! of an undisclosed room in an like the 100th anniversary of when drink port or indeed sail)... When we it’s all very #OTT ngl. So like one of I run to him as a cloud of fl our bursts undisclosed college. In this we like abolished our hereditary ad- get to High Table we’re litro met by the rioters litro sets off a bomb that forth from the throng… missions test (litro a blood test that the Master, who extends his palms like smells litro so strongly of burn- remarkable extract, we are confi rmed if you were related to upwards as we all simultaneously ing wheat… Amongst the whirlwind OMG so, like, litro just wait for more given an exclusive insight into Cromwell # eOC). Apparently it bow at a neatly forty-fi ve degree an- of oats I lean in to totes scrutinise the bizarre occurrences #NextWeek... the world of Chelsea socialite was like exclusionary or something. gle. Out of the corner of my eye I see Katrina Kettlewell, who e legend goes that like 100 years our JCR Prez totes extending to sev- seems unaware of her diary’s ago some like super radical JCR Prez enty degrees... #NoRespect #Con-
discovery and shows every was like, “So I’m like just wondering spiracy. SIMON LOCK guys, why do we actually have this?” intention to continue writing. and the college were like “OMG for So like after what Gre- Names have been changed to Christ’s sake GREGORY like FINE gory might call a “Slap- protect the innocent. we’ll STOP it but can you like totes ping Up” Meal we all reconvene in stop harping ON and ON about like the actual garden for candlelit this!!!!! #Leave(Wing)UsAlone #Past- conversation #RhubarbRhubarb and Litro just awoke to the Tense.” So like in super adorable fash- a tad of the vino. As I glance across sound of a magpie like ion some like crazy radical left-wing the lawn I’m litro eye-searching for actually rifl ing through my antique conspiracy is now like totes part of Hugo #Compound, but he’s like no- silver… I’m like “OMG like hey Mr tradition. Litro #Fave #JoinUs. where to be seen. Out of the totes Magpie like wuu2 this morning?!” to like most adorable corner of my eye I like totes warn off bad omens. And So to celebrate the memory of Gre- see Gregory’s descendent like totes then like out of nowhere this like ac- gory (he’s like totes dead by now) plodding over holding a tray of cock- tual black cat totes jumps through we’re going to have like a totes top- tail sausages. As I’m like searching the window and like chases the mag- notch formal with litro the upper for a way out I look around and see pie outside and under a ladder which echelon of the college to like cele- the shrubbery surrounding the lawn then litro spontaneously bursts into brate our generosity and pity… Oops litro like totes rustle. I’m like, “Ebony, actual fl ames. I’m like, “Litro thanks #Empathy # esaurus... Litro so is that you?” But there’s like litro no SO much Ebony, you’re like totes a #WellMeaning. GTG now, prepara- #Miaow from the bough. So like I life saver!!” and she’s like “Meow-ow- tions await! turn back to my #Rhubarb and like ow” cause like the fi re litro burnt her commence nodding when a loud tail. What a strange morning… At So like I arrive at horn noise like totes erupts across least it’s not Friday 13th!! #Forebod- #100YearsOfTheBour- the lawn. Like immediately some ing... geoisie #AndMany- masked men like totes jump out from MoreToCome event and during the behind the bushes and trees with like So like the college is hav- grace we like all link arms and walk hand painted signs! It’s like so totes ing like a super on-steroids towards High Table singing Kum- #BushyRiot!!! Some masked guy #BushyRiot #MiaowFromTheBow omg like #Hugo lol IRISH FILM BOARD
Vulture
CULTURE ■ FEATURES ■ FASHION ■ THEATRE ■ REVIEWS
See page 28 for Varsity’s review of Brooklyn 18 Vulture Culture Friday 13th November 2015 Petar on Film Petar Lekarski unpicks the latest NEW LINE CINEMA releases His Dark Materials: Macbeth and the Devastating back from the cinematic ashes Power of Grief Molly Stacey has high hopes for the return of Philip Pullman’s trilogy – this time on the BBC I recently saw the new adaptation of Macbeth and it wrecked me in the best way. I’m still trembling with the aftershocks and think- ing about its amazing moves. It was freaking intense, dear reader. Why? Because instead of being slavishly devoted to Shakespearean language, it uses the unique communicative power of ilm to make a universal statement about grief. Macbeth opens with a heart-breaking scene. It’s not quite up there with the famous prologue of Pixar’s Up, but it comes close. We see Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard mourning a dead child, huddling together for warmth. Our instinct is to do the same. he setting is remote and desolate. he at- mosphere is one of all-consuming sadness. I should note that I am not familiar with the play, nor have I seen any adaptations, theat- rical or otherwise. he ilm’s strength is that you don’t have to be familiar with the original plot or the language to enjoy it. It works be- cause the central themes of the play are com- municated cinematically, through sound and colour, slow motion and repetition. Sound irst. he soundtrack album opens with two sparse, eerie tracks – ‘he Child Part 1’ and ‘he Child Part 2’. he ilm and its soundtrack both open with an entirely human endeavour: burying the dead. Not with the witches and their scheming; not with the su- pernatural. he intention, I think, is to put us in the frame of mind of two grieving parents. We are invited to feel what these poor peo- ple must be feeling – both visually, through the framing of the scene, and aurally, through an unobtrusive score. Once we’ve accepted hen I was six years old, I fell ear- produced by Bad Wolf Productions executives dialogue and the Asriel/Coulter (or, perhaps this invitation, and thus the ilm’s premise, its nestly, ferociously in love with Lyra Jane Tranter and Julie Gardner, the women more accurately, Daniel Craig/Nicole Kidman) central themes emerge as corollaries. In other words, everything to come can be seen as an WBelacqua, who dragged me into her responsible for the unprecedentedly successful romance, and that children could be paciied expression of grief. parallel Oxford – a weirdly Dickensian fantasy Doctor Who reboot in 2005. And we should all by some talking bears and an exuberant child Macbeth is violent. Immediately and bru- world of ragamuins and zeppelins and clever be very, very excited. actor. tally. I must qualify that by saying that the vio- girls who do not for one moment question For those not au fait with His Dark Materi- Enter Gardner and Tranter. If there is anyone lence is not gratuitous – it’s not there because their ability to be tooth-and-nail, scabby-kneed als, the series is a fantasy adventure of the who knows about treading the intricate line some inanciers thought audiences wouldn’t heroines – and never let me go. A year later, densest kind, concerned with the adventures between adults’ and children’s iction, it is these respond to a Shakespearean adaptation with- His Dark Materials, the Philip Pullman trilogy of a pre-pubescent girl on the one hand, and a two; their Doctor Who reboot deals with this out it. It seems instead like a concerted efort in which my beloved Lyra starred, was adapted Milton-esque exploration of sin and criticism balancing act with aplomb. In fact, when it to help us to relate to the protagonists. heir world (not unlike that of Max in this sum- and performed by the National heatre: a beau- of the Catholic Church on the other. Unsur- came to the struggle of trying to please the pre- mer’s Mad Max: Fury Road) is ire and blood. tiful, physical performance consisting of two prisingly, this makes it rather diicult to boil existing adult fans whilst simultaneously creat- hey have just lost their child. In this context, full-length shows and featuring enormous, dex- down to a feature length ilm. While entering ing something new, exciting and, importantly, their homicidal scheming is less easy to dis- terous, human-operated puppets, the precur- the more conventional worlds of Harry Potter attractive to children, Tranter and Gardner miss as mere madness or pure evil. sor to one of the National’s greatest successes, or he Lord of the Rings means that audiences more than simply ‘dealt’ with the issue: they Macbeth is alone. He is often positioned in War Horse. Not until the creation of the iPad who have never read the books are nevertheless owned it. Doctor Who quickly became known the centre of the frame or around its edges, has a seven-year-old sat in a darkened room comfortable with the rules and rituals of wiz- for its dark, diicult plot lines played out with away from people, away from us, even when for ive hours so unfalteringly entranced, fully ards, dwarves, and elves. Yet the total original- the unlikely props of aliens, Converse and silly he appears to be looking straight towards the camera. He sees things others don’t – most convinced by the array of fantastical creatures ity of Pullman’s parallel universe – a multi- slapstick humour. Where New Line squirmed prominently the three witches. He is a ierce who seemed to breathe life – entirely in line world landscape illed with dust and daemons, at any sign of religious or scientiic controversy, warrior who is easily led astray, whether by with Pullman’s exploration of the soul in the alethiometers and angels – makes it extremely writing and re-writing in its soul-sapping quest Lady Macbeth’s hand or by nebulous super- original books. hree years later in 2007, New diicult to grasp in a mere two hours. But a not to ofend or displease anyone, the Doctor natural persuasion. his creates a fascinating Line productions spent $180 million on he television series, which as a dramatic format Who producers held fast in the face of initial duality in Macbeth’s character that Fassbender Golden Compass, a starry Hollywood adaption in the past 10 years has gone from strength to critics who saw the time traveller as too edgy/ portrays wonderfully – he’s at once incredibly of Northern Lights, the irst of the trilogy. And it strength, will do justice to the narrative intrica- too immoral/too smart – a move which has powerful and incredibly vulnerable. broke my heart. cies and philosophical undertones that make held the show in good stead for ten years. Macbeth’s hamartia is his blind trust in those who walk him to the edge of a clif and 10-year-old me was not the only one dis- His Dark Materials so engaging, even more so His Dark Materials are books I can return to tell him to jump. his is what Lady Macbeth satisied with this lashy yet diluted attempt to with the creative input of Gardner and Tranter. again and again, both for the intellectual rigour does when she suggests that Macbeth should take Pullman’s hugely popular series to the big Indeed, the brilliance of His Dark Materi- of untangling a new layer of Pullman’s criti- murder the incumbent king that night. Lo and screen; the critical reception was poor, and the als was that Pullman, himself a former school cal philosophy, as well as the sheer pleasure of behold, Macbeth does just that, terrifyingly middling inancial success of the ilm resulted teacher, never underestimated his young audi- revisiting a most intricately realised world of stabbing a sleeping man. he camera lingers in the production company’s restructuring, and ence, even if he only expected his readers to be adventure. he irst ilm may have endangered uncomfortably, the murder becoming more the cancellation of any plans to continue with the most “precocious” of their peer group. As it my love afair with the trilogy, but I have not lurid and unsettling with each strike. his the trilogy. Fans such as myself were relieved, happened, the winning mix of challenging con- been this excited about a production in a long scene is jarring for all the right reasons. It’s slow and agonising. Director Justin Kurzel’s but it was assumed the failings of New Line tent and unashamed adventure resulted in the time - and my six-year-old self desperate to be use of slow-mo to emphasise the thematic would make His Dark Materials untouchable. book being adored by adults too. Yet the task Lyra Belacqua knows it. he Golden Compass importance of certain actions should not be On 3rd November, however, it was an- of adapting a novel which was critically praised tried to sugar-coat and glitter-ify, as the Amer- brushed of as ‘showy’ or ‘gimmicky’. It is any- nounced that the BBC had given the green by adults but sold in the children’s section of ica-friendly title change demonstrates. I have thing but a gimmick. It gives us room to re- light to commission a television adaption, still the bookshop was a confusing concept for New no doubt that Bad Wolf’s ofering can bring the lect and allows time to mull over the tragedy. funded by New Line (once again proitable Line, who made the fatal error of thinking that trilogy back to its darker roots – as long as the It is uniquely cinematic; like all of Macbeth. thanks to he Hobbit franchise) but creatively adult viewers were most interested in the heavy BBC will let it. Every choice – each frame, each note of the score, each camera movement – is part of a riveting whole. Don’t miss it, dear reader. Friday 13th November 2015 Culture Vulture 19 NEW DIRECTIONS
As the band prepare to release their inal album before their scheduled split early next year, Mariam Ansar relects on a very personal history of the band
remember the moment Simon Cowell put guitars, Harry and Zayn ive teenage boys together on the X Factor showing of their falset- I stage like it was yesterday. It was 2010. I was tos, Liam securing the 15, staring at the TV screen with a magnetic strong preludes to the RINALDI FLICKR: EVA fascination which only occurs when something chorus, Louis and Niall seems signiicant. One Direction was one of embellishing verses and those things. Maybe it was the fact that I was bridges. a teenager, occupying the in-between stage of I remember streaming existing, looking for something to escape into. the album on my train It was also the idea of ive very normal teenag- down to Cambridge for ers from regions across the UK getting together my interview. It was an and bonding over more than a desperate desire attempt at escapism, to be famous. Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Liam a trust in the singing Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan capabilities of these ive seemed to stumble into stardom. hey called boys who understood themselves ‘One Direction’ because they were they were Cowell’s headed into an unknown together. capitalistic endeavour, For all the bands Cowell manufactured, there but who also recognised was a sweetness, an authenticity to them which that they worked hard, transformed them into stand-out cultural phe- were respectful, and nomena. Five years on, four albums later, and tried for the fans. It one band member down, their presence still was the pressure of the ignites that familiar, excited 1D glow inside of latter which resulted in myself and countless others. his is the efect of Malik’s departure. It’s witnessing the maturing of a group as you grow the pressure of the latter yourself. It feels simultaneous. coupled with this depar- one would expect of the boys who sang ‘What In he A.M.’s goodbye-for-now will resonate he joyful, aimless pop of Up All Night had ture which makes Made In he A.M.’s release Makes You Beautiful’ while also being impres- because it will be juxtaposed with good pop. It’s all the enthusiasm of irst-time teenage experi- so hotly anticipated. sively advanced and, well, better. the certainty of unapologetic artistry until the ences. Take Me Home featured lines and melo- What Harry, Liam, Louis and Niall put out he group just don’t have that desperate guitars are dropped and the voices stop singing. dies diicult to ignore, vivid as long car jour- will be their inal love-letter to the fans. heir desire to break free from the label of pop music he show is over. he show was good. You can neys with people you love. Midnight Memories break is scheduled. Releases from Made In or ‘boy band’, even at the inishing line. heirs leave your audience frozen in a standing ova- can be recognised as the turning-point, a fusion he A.M. are unapologetic, welcoming in the is a success which doesn’t shy away from what tion. Your audience is happy to give you that of rock, pop and vulnerability, showing the inal phase of One Direction. ‘Drag Me Down’ it is, and its this unapologetic acceptance, this because you gave them enough. After every- maturing face of the band and evidenced by and ‘Perfect’ are not self-conscious sounds. refusal of shame, which has produced success, thing, I think Made In he A.M. will be more the release of singles like ‘You & I’ and ‘Story Two singles down and Made In he A.M. truly pop hits which are infectious, music videos than enough. Of My Life’. Four was a soundtrack of acoustic feels like it’ll be the evolved, high-quality pop which are never dramatically serious. Made Mariam Ansar
Culture and the Corporate Poetry Corner
Music risks everything by cosying up to commerical interests, argues Henry Goodwin Lake Poet
John Lewis has done it again. he retail However as the consumer and music fan he story is similar in England. he an- Wrens undress feather company’s festive advert has become the that I am, I can’t help but view John Lewis’ nual British Summer Time series of concerts by feather until the unoicial klaxon that starts the countdown to latest ofering with cynicism. Personally, I in Hyde Park (or should I say ‘Barclaycard skeleton swings like Christmas. 2015’s interpretation is titled ‘he ind it utterly depressing that a song created presents British Summer Time’) caused me a lantern over the Man on the Moon’, and features a young girl with little purpose other than to manipulate great personal upset when I worked all day plum-coloured tarn. looking out into space and happening upon, middle-class mothers into purchasing over- to earn a ticket to see Arcade Fire perform you guessed it, a man on the moon. he priced crockery is year-in, year-out achieving in 2014, only to be told thereafter that the Impregnable sleep in rest of the advert shows the girl’s attempts such huge commercial success. I suppose event’s corporate sponsors had all received our eyes, awful things to contact the man on the moon, eventually the main reason for this is because music in tickets for free. coming to plague us. succeeding in sending him a telescope so that this day and age is inextricably linked with he consequences for the music industry he knows he is not alone at Christmas. Truly consumerism, branding and, above all else, are profound. Increasingly at gigs, avid fans Why are there no troops, heartwarming stuf. money. All of this begs the question: Has the eager to see their favourite acts are replaced no silks, no elegies. he legacy of the John Lewis Christmas music industry become too cosy with the by men in suits, only present because their advert has always been musical. From Ellie corporate world? boss has given them a freebie. On the more -Chloe Stopa-Hunt Goulding’s cover of Elton John’s ‘Your Song’ Corporate sponsorships are fast becoming commercial side of things, the consumer is in 2010, to Lily Allen’s take on Keane’s the backbone of artists’ revenue, outgrow- being shafted. Commercial streaming serv- ‘Somewhere Only We Know’ in 2013, it ing the dwindling revenues ofered by record ices like Apple Music and Tidal are shelling seems that a prerequisite for a successful fes- and merchandise sales. One need only look out huge amounts of money to guarantee Baby Steps tive advert is a soppy, folksy, minor-key cover at the rampant recent commercialisation of exclusive content from artists like Drake or of a celebrated track. his year’s ofering the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas to see Pharrell Williams, meaning that the average he pavement writhes with footprints, the sees Aurora, a little-known 19 year old from the industry’s emphasis shifting away from fan must fork out ever more money to stay in heat of 19 years’ sun, skipping strides that Norway, cover Oasis’ ‘Half the World Away’. providing a spotlight for burgeoning artists, touch. Sadly this process looks to be speeding graze the ground, grazes that ooze blood, For Aurora, the advert ofers an immense towards providing a platform for showcasing up rather than slowing down. Artist-brand recalling dried paint, the sodden boards of opportunity. Lily Allen topped the charts in big brands. Perhaps the most pertinent ex- partnerships are now commonplace; the mu- a tragic end, the red dress - the revulsion 2013, while Tom Odell reached number 7 last ample of this came in 2014, when Lady Gaga sic industry is quickly turning into a iefdom of mentioning it - the red dress, wreathed year. Indeed, at the time of writing, ‘Half the performed on a stage sponsored by Doritos, of the corporate world. So congratulations, in lat lame, passion, as passion, so passion World Away’ is nestled at number 5 on the dwarfed by a three-story high fake vending John Lewis, for cementing the link between passionately so, for what, a red-bricked road, iTunes chart, a position from which it is sure machine packed with human-sized bags of commercialisation and music – you’ve done a rip, a wrench, stabbed in the eye, how can a to rise over the coming weeks. Doritos. it again. rose, be just its stem and sap, and buds, when its red is a dress, worn by the wind, each petal shrugging its silken fold against the thrust of it all.
Being thus, he pavement is an awkward place On which to place your feet.
JOHN LEWIS/ BLINK PRODUCTIONS -Loïc Desplanques STudent
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Only £5 Follow us Find us at: 29 Petty Cury, Cambridge CB2 3NB and 33 Regent St, Cambridge CB2 1AB www.nannamexico.com Friday 13th November 2015 Features Vulture 21 Management consultancy: a sign that Western civilisation is doomed? It began with an ironic interview, smugly mocking management consultancy. It ended with a highly-paid, shallow existence, mark- ing the end of Guy MacKendrick’s career in Marxist academia.
left Cambridge a couple of years ago and ap- talk about how they had a nice avocado for lunch, plied for a job in management consultancy, for about twenty minutes at a time. hanks to Ipartly ironically. I turned up at the interview my milieu these days I talk about that and how and did a straight-faced pisstake, talking inces- to “maximize innovation clusters”. Yes, I’m de- santly about how I was attracted to the irm pressed. Yes, I’m nostalgic. he saddest thing because their “synergy” and “dynamism” would about Cambridge is that when you get to third combine excellently with my “outstanding inter- year, you realise that you’re leaving soon, you personal skills”. To my surprise and amusement, need to get a job and that ideally that job should the corporate drone in front of me lapped it up. I give you lots of money. You get tired of having to could tell he was the kind of mind-numbingly te- smoke roll-ups and needing to ask your parents dious moron who would like Coldplay. He made for money to fund a decadent lifestyle that’s way me want to join some monumentally savage beyond your means. So, consequently, you ap- Marxist paramilitary group. But, at this point in ply for the most boring, unnecessary excuse for my last year at Cambridge – cliché of clichés – I a profession – management consultancy. decided that I wanted a well-paying job, and so ‘Unnecessary’ is really the operative word. I took up the ofer and became a management here’s a very telling story – I’m not sure wheth- consultant. My reasoning was thus: as Spike Mil- er it’s apocryphal or not – about the late great ligan put it, “money doesn’t buy you happiness – Dowager Duchess of Devonshire, the last of the but it does buy you a better form of misery.” Mitford sisters, who transformed Chatsworth And yet, while I was living of my parents’ House from an unafordable relic of the days of money at Cambridge, I was still one of the inter- vast aristocratic wealth into a rampantly success- business, and buggered of, pocketing a hefty fee I’m fannying around with spreadsheets and tell- esting posh people – I chain-smoked Sobranie ful business. Out of curiosity, she had a manage- for the privilege. ing businesses to lay of workers and streamline Black Russians and recounted anecdotes about ment consultant come up from London, and she his is what I do pretty much every week. their management structure. I am at the rotten my aristocratic granny going on a cruise with said that basically after a few days at Chatsworth After three years at Cambridge pursuing the big core of capitalism. T.S. Eliot. Management consultancy has turned he gave her a ile of paper telling her a smidgen questions of human existence in my work by day I should have got that First and become a me into boring posh. You know the type: they of the huge amount she already knew about her and having an excessively great time by night, Marxist academic. SCOTT CRESSWELL The Grandeur of the John Lewis Advert
immediately accessible for the consumer, espe- clear sign of matured development from the very concept of a man on the moon seems to Oliver Yeates cially with the prevalence of online shopping. perhaps less directly accessible ‘Bear and the ponder the notion of “how far we’ve come”, he ever-growing rise of social media outlets Hare’ story for example. and we need only look at the aforementioned ince 2007, the John Lewis Christmas continues to bolster the efect adverts can have Above all, John Lewis successfully upholds growth of social media, the prevalence of advert has found its feet as a British over the consumer. he internet descended its committal to a theme at the heart of the cultural sensitivity (ageing) and indeed, the Stradition of its own, serving as the much upon the advert to input its own interpretative Christmas spirit – expressing love to those adverts themselves, whereby from a silhouette anticipated cue for the oncoming festive sea- signature, with the advert being re-cut into a that feel isolated – and I hope the John Lewis constructed by John Lewis products in 2007, son. his year’s ‘Man on the Moon’ edition did horror version, the Guardian posing (albeit tradition continues to grow and evolve. he we now have a man on the moon in 2015. not disappoint, comparing strongly with the loosely) a theory of “Moon Hitler”, and he adverts that have preceded it, with a sentimen- Poke’s Dark Side version ending in the hilari- tal simplicity that is heartfelt and memorable. ously inspired: ‘Now, witness the power of this he song choice is, as ever, tear-jerking, with fully operational department store.’ John Lewis Aurora’s charming cover of Oasis’ ‘Half the can essentially sit back and enjoy, as they bear World Away.’ witness to a creative origin that through such What is more noticeable about this John adaptations continues to spread and engage MEGGIE FAIRCLOUGH Lewis advert than others is the less overt link consumer interest and recognition. between the tale and the brand; Monty the Yet we should not ignore the more poignant Penguin was bought a toy companion, whilst intentions behind the advert. A message that the snowman that comes to life is shown to be can certainly be gleaned is the UK’s increasing gazing with awe at the Oxford street store. Yet age problem (something which Channel 4 have aside from the telescopes, there is very little also recently addressed through interviewing tangible product placement in this year’s ad- the lonely elderly), and John Lewis are indeed vert. Such a move signals the shift advertising working in co-operation with Age UK. While is beginning to take, whereby attention is being commendable to address an issue becom- turned to generating emotional investment ing increasingly signiicant with our ageing rather than by-the-book style sales pitches. If population, I cannot overlook an uncom- we recall some of the most successful TV ad- fortable juxtaposition between the intended verts of the past few years, such as Sainsbury’s message, and the execution. he collaborative WWI football game and Marks & Spencer’s efort between John Lewis and Age UK, though fairytale-themed Christmas adverts last year, promoting awareness, has the inherent side the hilarious but touching Volkswagen Darth efect of literally capitalising upon the ageing Vader advert, and the seductive simplicity of problem. Not only this, but the oicial John Adriana Lima holding an American Football in Lewis website doesn’t seem to fully account for the Victoria’s Secret 2008 Super Bowl spot, one the fact that age is a central theme, captioning notices the less explicit exhibition of speciic the video with ‘the story of a young girl called products and prices, but rather a preference Lily.’ On the contrary, one feels much more for story, imagery, and memorability. Indeed, invested in what is, at its heart, a story about John Lewis as a vastly ranged department store the unnamed man on the moon. his year we would sufer from trying to comprehensively can see the expanding potential of advertising; pitch its diferent departments and products. not just holding a capacity to prove creativity, Pricing speciics simply aren’t needed any more but also demonstrating an ability to deliver a in a world in which such information is so more resonant and socially aware message, a 22 Vulture Features Friday 13th November 2015
An anonymous student considers the pressures and diffi culties of practicing the Mormon faith in this university ANTOINE TAVENEAUX / 101HEATHER / CHIRUGIA PIXELHEART / 101HEATHER ANTOINE TAVENEAUX the varsity Can you do be er? cryptic crosswordSet by Glueball
Across Formal applications are invited to edit 1. Happy, dead content to and section edit Varsity in Lent 2016 be able to change! (9) 6. Starts chopping oregano, spinach, Application forms are now available for salad ingredient (3) download from varsity.co.uk/get-involved 8. Left after quiz, it’s too easy (7) Editorial applications and applications to 9. Fruit rat? (5) become a section editor are now open. 10. Proctor alive, dismembered by For closing dates, please visit our website. beast (12) 12. Sounds like fi lthy All students are encouraged to apply. place caused eye No experience of Varsity or any student infection (4) journalism is necessary; just enthusiasm and 13. Snakes, not really insects, were the desire to be part of a close-knit team. Cleopatra’s downfall If you have any questions, please 17. Support for crazy email Tom at [email protected]. yokel contest (12) 20. Bishop’s garment is where remit fails Positions on the team include: 21. A little Eastern European animal (7) News Editor, Production Editor, Comment Editor, Features Editor, 23. Sister is starting, not Arts Editor, Reviews Editor, unusually, novice (3) Sport Editor, Fashion Editor, 24. Spanish sundaes Science Editor, Theatre Critic, prepared for Music Critic, Classical Critic, Film Critic, Visual Arts Critic, ballerinas (9) Literary Critic, Food Critic, Down Photographer, Illustrator. 1. Changes book (4) 15. Shrewdness shown by the Christian Union to See website for full list 2. Within, devil established as king of demons (7) schism? Agreed! (6) 3. Top copper – when forged might work here? 16. Cook overheard doing this to eggs (6) (1,1,1) 18. Artist loses self sculpting divine being (6) 4. Body’s cold after curry (6) 19. Sets reeling a suff ering lass (4) 5. Dan asleep at sea walk (9) 22. Do drug – sounds like a lot of money? (3) 6. Map out and eviscerate heart with can opener (5) 7. Desert girl with scorn (6) Solutions will be available online at www.varsity.co.uk 11. Rovers pending internal fi nancial problem (9) after the fi rst correct entry is submitted to 14. Grunt work – entangled these at the LHC? (7) [email protected]
24 Vulture Fashion Friday 13th November 2015 BRITISH VOGUE
e top 5 fashion fi lms you need to watch right now...
e September Issue industry she works in, underlined by the sheer demands of the job, stress her vulnerability. e September Issue is a 2009 documentary e creative passion imbued with the process a lot (“If I had known how much they earned, focusing on the composition of Vogue’s 2007 of producing the magazine is utterly impres- I would have walked across the road and asked e Future of Fashion with Alexa September issue, traditionally the most antici- sive to watch and fosters a newfound respect for a job right now!” said one customer), to the Chung pated fashion-print instalment of the year. e for what is involved behind such a publication. designers, to the buyers. One story notes how documentary is, essentially, the non-fi ctional Insight into the work of Creative Director Grace one Christmas when Bergdorf’s was fi nding fur Technically not a fi lm, as it was commis- version of e Devil Wears Prada, exhibiting the Coddington is marvellously refreshing, charm- sales to be particularly hard, a call from Yoko sioned in ten-minute parts for British Vogue’s curt decisiveness of Vogue’s revered Editor-in- ing and inspiring, and her pondering she was Ono and John Lennon resulted in almost 70 YouTube channel, but now you can watch the Chief Anna Wintour and the various elements “left behind”, born an era too late for romanti- sales on Christmas Eve. e unsung hero of whole documentary back to back so it counts… behind the production of such a renowned cism, owes to the documentary’s wider atmos- Bergdorf’s, however, is David Hoey, who designs ough at times Chung seems to steer the magazine. e documentary illuminates how phere: one of self, desire, passion and a journey the windows. ese windows are everything conversation back to herself (modelling days, well e Devil Wears Prada was made, with of creation. One should take particular note of fashion is, for those who look past the shallow, presenting days) she redeems herself through the set looking incredibly accurate and Streep the relationship that develops between Wintour vain exterior: they epitomise creativity, drama, her playful and friendly attitude, her relation- matching Wintour’s ruthlessness scarily well. and Coddington, a heartfelt and challenging fel- precision and fl awless execution. e fi lm ship with those she interviews and the insightful However, Wintour is seen to display a greater lowship in the soul of the documentary. charters the progression of these fi ve particular market research she carried out. rough the sense of empathy than one might expect; her windows from storyboard to their unveiling, documentary she not only interviews big names comments on how her siblings perceive the Scatter My Ashes At Bergdorf’s where polar bears made from upholstery, brass – Olivier Rousteing, Paul Smith, Christopher birds, and jewel covered fi sh galore can be seen. Kane – but also confronts key issues with young A great insight into another side to the fashion ough at times it can feel like an excessive, design students and the British Fashion Council. industry, that of department stores. Bergdorf capitalist explosion, it is an insight into quite It is a great thing to watch if you’re consider- Goodman (‘Bergdorf’s’) would be the American how serious the American department store ing a career in fashion but aren’t sure of what equivalent of Harrods or Liberty’s – if either business really is. specifi c career path you want to venture down: came remotely close to the American league. there are a lot of options, it transpires. Where Vogue has Anna Wintour, Bergdorf’s Dior and I
ENTERTAINMENT ONE FEATURES ENTERTAINMENT has Linda Farrow – just as infl uential, just as e Devil Wears Prada cool, but a lot less intimidating. e fi lm covers Following the news last week that after three a range of diff erent jobs within the organism of short years Raf Simons is leaving the French ere wouldn’t be a piece on fashion and fi lm the store – from personal shoppers who earn house, now is the time to watch Dior and I: the without e Devil Wears Prada. Meryl Streep’s documentary following the eight short weeks Miranda Priestly has become something of a before his debut couture collection for Dior. pop-culture icon. e brutally cutting phrases You learn a lot about how the inside of a French she so wonderfully executes have secured We are delighted to confirm fashion house works – within the atelier you themselves as touchstone phrases of fl air Join our that CPFT has been rated meet Simmons’s loveable right hand Pieter, and cultured superiority: “Florals, in spring? ‘good’ by the Care Quality the head of couture and ready-to-wear, two Groundbreaking” and “By all means, move at a Community Commission. It is now our premieres – Florence and Monique – in charge glacial pace. You know how that thrills me” to ambition with your help, of dresses and suits respectively, and the whole name just two. e fi lm follows the sweet and to push towards a status team of seamstresses (one has been with Dior sensitive Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) who of All Stars of ‘outstanding’ for 36 years). ere is a huge amount of person- falls into the world of high fashion, working as ality in the workforce, and to see the high level Miranda Priestly’s assistant. Based on a novel of emotional connection each seamstress has to inspired by the experiences of a Vogue assistant, her particular dress is moving; at the end of the the fi lm is strongly believed to be dramatising fi lm one says: “We are happy and sad. It’s sad Anna Wintour’s role as Editor-in-Chief of Vogue ...and help transform lives to stop. We have to let go. It’s been ours for six America (lest we forget Wintour actually turned weeks. en it’s over. We have to let go of our up to a private screening of the fi lm dressed in baby.” e collection itself is unconventional, head to toe Prada). e fi lm is well paced, well and a number of dresses feature a print of a acted, and the costume department racked up Nurses, Therapists and Sterling Ruby painting: in Raf Simmon’s view, one of the largest bills in fi lm history thanks to it is “sublime.” At the end of the fi lm, one of the the constant use of haute couture. e fi lm is most visual aspects has nothing to do with the utterly fabulous, a defi nite watch, and will leave clothes themselves, but the way in which they you with a guilty pleasure in wanting to indulge Care Workers were to be shown. e walls of real fl owers lin- in Priestly’s resounding exclusivity: “Don’t be ing the inside of the French house caused Anna silly darling, everybody wants to be us.” Wintour to exclaim: “You didn’t have any budget What are you looking for in We’re looking for experienced, passionate issues!” Meg Honigmann and Oliver Yeates and highly skilled people to shape, form your new job? and energise these innovative and patient led services. We’re guessing it’s excellent training and development opportunities, competitive If you would like to be part of our
pay and benefits, flexible working dedicated and expert team, apply or FOX 2000 PICTURES conditions and a real feeling of pride in find out more by visiting yourself and your team. http://www.cpft.nhs.uk/about- us/integrated-care-careers.htm That’s why it’s time you joined us at Cambridge Alternatively, contact Mandy on and Peterborough NHS Trust (CPFT), where 01223 884249 or email we’ve created a happy, caring and flexible [email protected] environment for our patients and colleagues. We offer a variety of full-time, part-time CPFT, in partnership with UnitingCare, is and bank opportunities, and a generous implementing a brand new, high quality model New Hire and Relocation package, of care built around neighbourhood teams of in approved cases. community, mental health, acute and social care staff. Our new Joint Emergency Team (JET) will also play a crucial role in this model to help deliver a more personal service to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough people we serve. NHS Foundation Trust Friday 13th November 2015 Fashion Vulture 25
Rimmel London Kate Soap and Glory Eyeko Skinny Liquid Moss lipstick in 107 Solar Power Bronzer Liner All the Kate Moss range is great for This bronzer is perfect for people colour – shade 111 is the perfect who hate an overly glittery finish. I first tried this product as a free- red for pretty much any skin-tone – The product is quite matte, and is bie with a Glamour magazine, but in the Autumn/Winter months, split into a darker and a lighter but thought it was so great I have the dark berry shade of 107 is shade, so that you have the option always repurchased. The applica- perfect. of a more dramatic or subtle look. tor is great as a ‘liquid liner for The reason this product works so dummies’ approach, as it looks like well is that you cannot over-apply it; a thin marker pen, with only slight no matter how much you put on you flexibility – so as to make steady ap- can rest assured that you will not plication a whole lot easier. (It was have a fake-tan horror situation. also made by Alexa Chung – the queen of cat eye flicks). Rimmel Wake Me Maybelline Eraser Up Foundation Eye Concealer A less expensive alternative to Don’t be put off by the sponge Lancome’s Teint Miracle (£29.50), applicator – it makes the product this product gives a dewy finish that especially easy to apply, and en- is applied best without a brush. It is sures you don’t overload product in a miracle product for hangovers as one area. This doubles as a great its brightening properties give de- highlighter if you are contouring: hydrated skin a boost and eliminate use a shade lighter than your skin any traces of redness. The accom- and apply in areas you wish to cre- panying Wake Me Up concealer ate the illusion of fullness. (£5.49) is the perfect remedy for tired under-eye areas.
Tanya Burr The Drugstore Edit: Cosmetics Bronzer/ Blusher/Highlighter Trio In Peachy Glow I was dubious about this trio, be- Top 10 Cheap Beauty Buys ing part of the YouTuber influx of products, but I was very pleasantly surprised. The highlighter is the weakest product, though it still works as a very subtle highlighter. Max Factor False Bourgois Healthy However the bronzer and blusher Mix Foundation are fantastic. The bronzer is the star Lash Mascara though: it works as a great dupe for An oldie-but-goodie. This mascara This foundation is great as a medium the Nars Laguna bronzer (which re- has one of the strangest wands, coverage foundation that still leaves tails for over £27). The blusher too, but somehow really, really works. you with a light glow and feels like is formulated like many of the Nars A lot better than many mascaras of you are only wearing a tinted mois- blushers: finely milled and extremely double the price, this is one of the turiser. It has a slight fruity scent, so pigmented. It is a great product to top products that the drugstore has if you prefer unscented foundations travel with and save space, and to offer. A must buy. this might not be for you. The foun- even if you only really use the dation is great for adding moister blusher and bronzer, the products to the skin through the drying winter work out at only £4 each. months. Barry M Nail Paint Perhaps the best nail polishes around, the Barry M collection Bourgois Rouge has countless shades and finishes. Edition Velvet From matte pastel colours like ‘Ice liquid lipstick Cream Pink’ and ‘Peach Melba’ to glittery and metallic shades Once you apply these liquid lip- like ‘Masquerade’, the brand is sticks they feel wet for a little while, unmatched in its variety. Three but once they are dry, they do not Barry M paints can be bought for budge. This is great for wearing a the same price of one Essie or Nails bold lip out to dinner without fear of Inc equivalent and there is little it smudging across your face. The difference in the pigment or staying shades ‘Plum Plum Girl’ and ‘Hot quality. Pepper’ are personal favourites.
Mario Testino) on Snapchat, also enlarging its importantly, start new trends. audience enormously. Almost every fashion house is now on Democratic Fashion? Are these events signiicant enough, however, Instagram, despite initial hesitation that it to justify the huge media attention they have wasn’t ‘luxury’ enough, as Olivier Rousteing received? hey are, after all, a small number (Balmain) reminded us. his month’s Glamour Halfway through Vogue’s new documentary and Louis Vuitton brought free exhibitions to of exceptions to a general rule of exclusivity. sees Tanya Burr, a beauty vlogger who made he Future of Fashion, Alexa Chung asks former London. Mademoiselle Privé (Saatchi Gallery) Perhaps Alexa Chung’s hopes for a “revolution her name on YouTube, take centre stage on i-D magazine editor, Caryn Franklin, whether and Louis Vuitton Series 3 (108 Strand) ofered in fashion” are too optimistic. the cover. Social media provides thousands she agrees that now is a good “time for a revo- thousands an insight into the aesthetic vision However, we should consider the importance with the tools to self-publish and thus par- lution in fashion”. Earlier on in the programme, of Karl Lagerfeld and Nicholas Ghesquiere and of Vogue’s new documentary itself as a new way ticipate in this world. People can create their Sarah Mower, Ambassador for Emerging Talent a close look at their luxurious garments at no of experiencing and thinking about fashion. It own aesthetic and their own brand narrative at the British Fashion Council, tells Chung that cost. Whether this should be understood as a was released on YouTube, in a series of small with an Instagram account. he very presence the concept of an elitist and exclusive industry clever marketing tool or a genuinely progres- episodes such as ‘How To Break Into he of a documentary like he Future of Fashion is outdated and misplaced. Talent and creativ- sive move is up for discussion but it is diicult Fashion Industry’ and ‘How Social Change Can released via a medium like YouTube proves that ity, she says, are “not distributed by class or in- to ignore the importance of attracting such Help the Fashion Industry Progress’. Vogue’s use there has, in fact, been a monumental change come”. hroughout the ilm, there are countless large numbers of the public. In a similar vein, of social media to invite discussion about these in the structure and tapestry of the industry. suggestions and allusions to this one idea; the Givenchy’s September fashion show, directed in issues to a massive online audience relects he people who dictate what is and what is not world of fashion is becoming increasingly more collaboration with performance artist Marina what can be classed as a genuine change in the ‘fashionable’ is no longer restricted to a small accessible and democratic. Abramovic, invited over 1,000 members of the world of fashion. It is indicative of the acknowl- group of experts sitting at a meeting at Vogue, he release of Vogue’s new series coincides general public. his was a welcome departure edgement that in a digital age, the hierarchy Tatler or Harper’s Bazaar. hose ideas and con- with an array of fashion moments that are to the standard event set-up that includes only of a top-down industry has become much less cepts now come from a much broader group of thought to signal its growing inclusiveness. industry experts and celebrities. Burberry viable. Instagram, Twitter and YouTube provide people and their iPhones. Last month, renowned fashion houses Chanel decided to share its October campaign (shot by a platform to not only comment on but more Hannah Parlett 26 Vulture heatre Friday 13th November 2015 To read or not to read? That is the question Gus Mitchell asks about the Bard ABEL GUERRERO
f Ian McKellen, one of my own (and probably your own, and revelatory introduction to Shakespeare ‘as an actor’; and enjoy such things) as entirely separate beasts from the phenom- unknown theatrical person) favourite actors, says something through which we can see the way he gives hints and suggestions enon of enjoying him as a perennially entertaining and person- Iabout Shakespeare, it’s probably interesting to listen to; after to the performer, embedded in the text, to enact and create the ally enlightening theatrical giant. In this sense of “watching”, not all, he has played virtually every ‘leading’ male part in the entire character as he illustrates it, within his theatrical tradition. He “reading”, and seeing and feeling, rather than “studying”, Sir Ian is canon over 50 years and has probably spent more time between has also given several other demonstrations (the best being his absolutely correct. Everyone knows and complains of the atroci- the lines of the Stratford man than many an academic. He rep- deep investigation into the ‘Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow’ ties of teaching Shakespeare in schools (as Rowan Atkinson’s resents one of the two halves of authority on Shakespeare: the speech of Macbeth) of just how deep, rich, and multifarious the Blackadder berates Colin Firth’s Shakespeare, after punching world of letters – academics, writers, critics – and the world of business of interpreting Shakespeare from the actor’s point of him in the face: “Hours spent at school desks, trying to ind one performance, of the theatre and acting. hese are the two places view is. joke in A Midsummer Night’s Dream). I believe that this is the Shakespeare resides in our minds, and for many, there is no con- main thing that Sir Ian is grumpy about, and so am I. Teaching lict between them. Read him when you want to go further into hat might explain Sir Ian’s perspective: that of an actor, a man is obviously important, but for Shakespeare in particular, whose a play or examine a character, a plot or theme more closely or of the theatre, as Shakespeare was. His statement that reading language will immediately signal warning signs to most 13-year- slowly; see him for the excitement, for his words and meanings Shakespeare and studying him academically “reduces him to an olds, the theatricality and the pure theatrical magic are what can come to life before you; sometimes they are changed utterly from examination subject” may be slightly unclear in its wording and save him from being consigned after GCSEs to the dusty fate of a how you envisaged them before. And yet, some people seem to intention. I absolutely agree with the sentiment; to even suggest text-book with a dick drawn on it. ind the two approaches incompatible, even mutually threatening that Shakespeare would have had any idea, intention or under- or exclusive. Sir Ian, apparently – and, to me, rather strangely – standing of the vast majority of theories, “readings” and agendas However, I have to disagree with Sir Ian if (which I can- is one of them. that critics pin into his work is ludicrous. He was a playwright not imagine) he is suggesting that reading Shakespeare’s plays working for a theatrical company, and he had to get his plays in “privately” is a waste of time. For one it would surely make him I’ll say now that I really have no preference; I am in the camp on time, generally one or two a year; he was a craftsman who a hypocrite, not to mention all the RSC and National directors that sometimes likes reading plays, sometimes watching them. plainly often worked for money and not art (although his blend- and dramaturgs he has ever worked with. You cannot become a Sometimes watching can be a lot faster than reading; sometimes ing of popularity with pound potential was exceptional). He theatrical director, actor, playwright or colossus without studying (as in, say, Beckett), the need to stop every few sentences (full of wrote with speciic actors in mind, and with a speciic theatre plays, from both the page and the stage; they are two diferent silences and emptiness) and consider what you are reading (or and theatrical limitations in mind. To posit him as some destined worlds but very connected. If you love Shakespeare, or indeed not), means that reading can be an arduous, if rewarding, experi- inal puzzlepiece for all civilisation is the realm of the examina- most theatre, reading the plays that you love and want to learn ence. But the fact that Sir Ian, who one would imagine has prob- tion, and explains the frankly Biblical literature in, on and around more about is, at some point, both necessary and pleasurable. ably read both the Complete Works and individual plays a hun- him. In this sense, I agree with Sir Ian entirely; “reading” him in here need be no disconnect between watching and reading; like dred times over, would be so decisive on one side is startling. His the sense of “reading English at Cambridge” and “watching” him a music nerd “that guy” at a concert, carry the script with you as renowned love for and insight into Shakespeare is unquestion- in the theatre, acted by a McKellen, Olivier or Gielgud, are as dif- you would a score, whatever. able, as well as his exclusive media soubriquet before his Gandalf ferent as the hearth and the mind, the emotions and cold facts. days as ‘Famous Shakespearean/RSC actor Ian McKellen’. But stage and text are utterly diferent sides of the same coin: hat does not mean such “reading” has no value, but it does imagination, and another plane of existence. Whichever way you His one-man 70’s touring show Acting Shakespeare is a superb deinitively make their study and “enjoyment” (for those who choose to get there, there shouldn’t be any contest between them. Friday 13th November 2015 eatre Vulture 27 Passing the torch The Marlowe Society Showcase is an important event in Cambridge’s theatre calendar, as graduating actors performperfor a variety of monologues and duologues in front of a crowd consisting of casting directors, agents, and the public. Cambridge has an inter-inter national reputation for producing some of the most celebrated and fi nest actors: Sir Ian McKellen, Tom Hiddleston, Tilda Swinton, Eddie Redmayne, Thandie Newton, Rachel Weisz. The list is a bounty of household names and global celebrities who have received accolades and praise for their craft, a craft that the colourful and bubbling theatre scene at Cambridge allowed them to cultivate. Withith a new generation of acting talent ready to graduate and pursue their stage ambitions outside of the planks of the ADC, as well as a new crop of Freshers eager to make their mark & add a fl urry of CAMdram credits to their name, the Marlowe Showcase is almost a passing of the torch. Here, a few of those involved give their tips on the back of their time as Cambridge thespians before their per-per formance at the ADC on Thursday 14th November.
Never stop believing in yourself. You’llou’ll be surprised at just how much you’re capable of doing, so take risks, make mistakes, be yourself and just go for it! - Ella Duffy Rachel Corrie [My Name is Rachel Corrie], Agave The Bacchae], Ursula March [Sweet Charity]
Do things terribly wrong, which completely terrify you, and which are - for the love of God - fun. - Mark Milligan Ariel [The Tempest], Alex [A Clockwork Orange], Henry V [Henry V]
Do anything and everything, even if you think you might hate it. Being out of your comfort zone can be the most productive thing. I thought I would hate fi lm acting, then my friend asked me to be in his short fi lm and it was one of the most enjoyable and fun acting experiences I have ever had. - Rose Reade Julie [After Miss Julie], Poggio [‘Tis Pity She’s A Whore], Tessa [Lean]
Make the theatre you want to make, and allow yourself to experiment and make mistakes. The space, funding and company of other creative people available to you during your time here is unique. -Aoife Kennan Mrs Lovett [Sweeney Todd], Viola [ETG 2015: Twelfth Night], Ann Deever [All My Sons]
Don’t get stressed by audiences and reviews, just make the most of what we have in Cambridge. Be creative, experi- mental, exciting - but most of all enjoy the process. Youou will never have an opportunityoppor like this again, so push yourself! - Marthe de Ferrer Director [Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Blood Wedding, and associate director of Othello] Frozen Freshers Present: triumvirate of characters present introduces the idea of interplay between age and questions of forgiveness and justice in youth, innocence and experience. A Bryony Lavery’s play, which centres on a mother’s search for her daughter who has Boots, you are playing a male character, disappeared, a paedophile’s search for his next Ralph. How do you think having an actor of a victim, and a doctor’s search for an understand- diff erent gender aff ects the role? ing of individuals who commit crime. Intense. Boots: It defi nitely adds certain nuances. e Producer Sam Nicholls sits down with her point of Ralph is that the audience can never get fresh-faced cast: to the bottom of his character or get to know him. Having a male character played by a female How have you found being a newcomer to actor helps to explore this ambiguity; Ralph the Cambridge theatre scene? remains a mystery right until the end. Xelia Mendes-Jones: To be honest, kind of Rachel: I also think the play is about trying stressful! to break down social stereotypes. People often Eleanor Lind Booton (Boots): Yeah, theatre associate a certain gender with serial killers, here involves an incredibly fast turnaround. We so it is progressive to subvert any expectations got our parts three weeks ago, which has given people might have. us a very short time to learn lines and create the Xelia: In a production of Frozen I have seen show. before, Ralph was immediately made more Rachel Weiss: Frozen is the same length as the intimidating purely by the fact he was a man. He
other freshers’ plays but there are only three of was a physically imposing fi gure. Having a girl Photo credit: Yasin Hasan us saying all of the lines! play him is defi nitely subversive, breaking this Boots: It is exciting though, there is always down. so much going on here in Cambridge. With so many plays to see, it’s a really dynamic What’s been your favourite part of the pro- environment. duction process so far? The mystery of how the Xelia: My favourite part is yet to come; noth- What are your thoughts on the arguments ing compares to the actual performances! But that frame the production? As Agnetha says: probably so far it’s been the research that goes “Serial Killing ... a forgivable act?” into creating a character, analysing their back- Egyptians built the Rachel: at’s a tough question. My charac- ground and exploring their personality. ter, Agnetha, is attempting to fi nd an answer Boots: For me it’s been exploring a character through science, but her approach is fl awed. I who is so diff erent from my own character. pyramids has been think the important thing is that forgiveness is Trying to portray that truthfully, and bring out for the person who is doing the forgiving, rather the humanity of the serial killer, has been an than necessarily for the person who is being incredible experience. forgiven. Rachel: I do actually identify with my char- solved. acter a bit more – Agnetha is an American psy- Do you think it matters that you are chologist, I’m American, studying psychology, younger than the characters you are playing? and last year I actually did a paper on people Does it create a diff erent dynamic? with psychopathic tendencies. It’s interesting to Xelia: It makes the whole experience more see some of the ideas I researched being played interesting and certainly more challenging. out on stage. See newtheories.net Obviously we don’t have to interpret our act Frozen is running from Tuesday 17th - Saturday from an outsider’s perspective, but it defi nitely 21st November at the Corpus Playroom, 7pm 28 Vulture Reviews Friday 13th November 2015
Restaurant: The Cambridge Chop House SIMON LOCK
ucculent steak, authentic ambi- starter arrived. Just a staircase down added another layer of entertainment ence and superb service – the from this extends an entirely diferent to our dinner. he only criticism I SCambridge Chop House is world of a cosy underground vault, have for the food was that the pepper- one of the crowd pleasers of the where lovers can snuggle up with corn sauce was a little unoriginal and Cambridge food scene. I had a guest wine and families can enjoy a private a little too lumpy. One may not need visiting Cambridge over the week- dinner and unwind together. a lamboyantly lavoured sauce when end and he fancied some good old he restaurant’s pride in the quality there is a gorgeous steak that can steak for dinner. CAU, Rockers Steak of its food was evident in its dinner hold the stage alone, but the sauce House, La Maison du Steak… out of menu, which conidently presented still needed to do its job of enhanc- all the restaurants that came to my its signature steaks in the simplest de- ing rather than detracting from the mind, I went with the classic choice of scriptions with a timeless selection of lavours and textures of the main. the Cambridge Chop House – and it sauces (peppercorn, red wine gravy, hroughout the meal, we enjoyed turned out to be a delicious decision. mustard, mushroom and butter). We the perfectly paced servicing by the As we walked into the restaurant waited in great anticipation for 9oz waitress, who was friendly but acutely at around 5:30pm on a Saturday, we Sirloin and 10oz Hanger Steak, which professional with a subtle attentive- were greeted by the symbolic orna- were praised by the ladies on the next ness and extensive knowledge of ment of a cow spine and a bright table as “the best meal I have had in a the menu. She came by our table at smile of a friendly waitress. Upon while”. he steaks were indeed trium- the right time and we never had to inding that we had not made a res- phant, with a juicy, lavourful centre actively seek attention or wait an age ervation, she quickly found us a table and well-balanced side dish. to pay the bill. he price was that of on the ground loor just by the large he salad, however, was the most a student range, and relected the glass windows that aforded a beauti- exciting part of the dinner. It was food quality and quantity more than ful panoramic view of King’s Parade. fresh, light and playful with an generously. Happily situated in the centre of the adventurous combination of vegeta- Overall, I highly recommend a visit town between King’s College, the bles, mixed in perfect harmony with to the Cambridge Chop House that Corpus Clock and he Eagle Pub fa- a charming apple sauce. Its crea- promises a true delight to all meat mous for the DNA anecdote, the view tive taste really complemented the lovers. Dining there was a real feast from the restaurant ofered plentiful straight-to-the-point main course for both the eyes and the palate. conversation topics and satisied the steak. he recommended French wine appetite of a curious visitor until the gracefully encouraged our palate and Yori Endo
Exhibition: Ronald Searle – Obsessed With Drawing
ost will know Ronald A quick glance at his bibliography horrendous conditions he had ex- Searle as the man be- shows the breadth and range of his perienced during his imprisonment, Mhind St. Trinian’s and the work, a true testament to the fact that drawings which had survived due to Molesworth books, but the point he loved to draw and would try his being hidden under the mattresses of of his exhibition – ‘Ronald Searle: hand at all subjects. He collaborated his fellow prisoners while they were Obsessed With Drawing’ at the with Rupert Graves, Tom Lehrer and dying of cholera. His career only grew Fitzwilliam Museum – was to skirt the Hudson Bay Opera Company, to from then on. Film: Brooklyn by the brilliant Saoirse Ronan, and around those and show that his was name a few examples, and worked on Given that Ronald Searle had such it is the performance of the Irish- a varied and substantial career. Make illustrated copies of Dickens and the a long career, I felt the exhibition American actress that lingers with sure to follow the exhibition the right Marquis de Sade. could have done more to give an idea the viewer on leaving the cinema way round (it’s easy to go round it Although Searle lived in France of what he was doing at all stages and re-entering reality. Since burst- the wrong way, if you enter through from 1961 onwards, he grew up in in his career. he exhibition didn’t ing onto the scene with her Oscar Gallery 15 as I did!) and you’ll get a Cambridge. At just 15, he secured a mention, for example, his time as a Sentimentality is much harder nominated role in Atonement, Ronan sense of the progression and ex- paid job in the Cambridge Daily News prisoner-of-war, and so when I read to get right than one might think. hasn’t put a foot wrong, being techni- tent of his work. A constant trend as a cartoonist, and worked there about these details of his life after- Some ilms try so hard to tug cally brilliant in all her roles. is his dark-edged humour, which is until 1937, when he decided that his wards I was a little shocked by their at the heartstrings that they It is in Brooklyn, however, understandable given his experiences drawings would need to improve exclusion. A good exhibition should become more cringeworthy that Ronan takes it to during the war. in order for him to get ahead. He make you want to go away and read than emotive, while others a new level, giving the Sampled are his early cartoons studied at the Cambridge College of up about it afterwards, but I felt that overplay the subtlety card best performance of her for the Cambridge Daily News, the Arts and Technology (now Anglia in this case, the exhibition left a few to produce an understated career. It is apparent from drawings inspired by his visits to Ruskin) before enlisting in the Royal too many gaps for Wikipedia to ill result. the start that is she such the Fitzwilliam Museum, his covers Engineers at the outbreak of the war. later on. Brooklyn could have a physical performer. for Paris Match and cartoons for Le He was stationed in Singapore in However, this exhibition is only one fallen in either camp; Despite having wonderful Monde, examples of his Molesworth 1942, but after being captured by the in a series celebrating Searle’s work. telling the story of an control over her dialogue, work and the brilliantly funny cat Japanese just one month later, spent Also running in the Fitzwilliam at the immigrant in the 1950s it is when Crowley’s camera sketches. An interesting piece to the rest of the war in a prisoner-of- moment is a complementary display who has ‘spirited away’ focuses on Ronan’s face that include was one of the many photo- war camp. of work by the caricaturists most to America, leaving her the true purpose of the direc- graph albums which he kept and illed He kept drawing throughout his admired by Searle, as well as two as- mother and sister back tor’s creative objectives is fully with pictures he thought would make imprisonment; through sickness, sociated exhibitions in Anglia Ruskin. in Ireland. In the wrong illustrated. Her ability to convey interesting subjects for drawing. extreme weight loss, malnourish- I have not been to these, so I can’t hands Brooklyn could her character’s emotions without His eagerness for his work is nicely ment and beatings. Searle said later say whether or not they ill the gaps have been a painful saying a word is remarkable, illustrated by the fact that for each on that: “I desperately wanted to put satisfactorily. Aside from this, the disaster. Luckily for rendering it a performance that commission he received from Paris down what was happening, because I exhibition was concise and sharp, and us, the ilm is handled harks back to the glory days Match, he would send in several thought if by any chance there was a certainly had me leaving in giggles at almost to perfection of silent cinema more than drawings and allow the editors to record, even if I died, someone might any rate. by Irish theatre and anything else. make the inal decision as to which ind it and know what went on.” Emer O’ Hanlon ilm director John What is essential to they used. As the title ‘Obsessed with Indeed, it was after the war and ‘Ronald Searle: Obsessed with Crowley. Ronan’s performance Drawing’ suggests, he was clearly a his liberation that his career kicked Drawing’ runs until Sunday 31st Our protagonist, is that she makes her man brimming with inspiration, wit of, with the series of drawings he January in the Shiba Gallery (14), Éilis Lacey, is played character completely and application. had produced to document the Fitzwilliam Museum. Friday 13th November 2015 Reviews Vulture 29
Album: Bob Dylan – The Cutting Edge Album: Grimes – Art Angels 1965-66 IRISH FILM BOARD
ob Dylan’s mu- When Grimes released ‘Flesh without Blood’, the fi rst sical output in single from Art Angels, I was anxious. Claire Boucher has B the mid-60s been silent for three years since the release of Visions, a slick has been lauded, my- synthpop production that gained her notoriety on the alter- thologised and pored native music scene. Visions was an impressive entrance into over to a degree un- the public eye: an elegant, cohesive package. Floating vocals, paralleled by almost but few discernible words – Visions is consistently weird, any other artist. In but in a comfortable, ethereal kind of way. ‘Flesh without just 14 short months COLUMBIA RECORDS / LEGACY Blood’ stands in stark contrast with Visions. Insistent guitar in 1965 and 1966, he and distinctly poppy vocals demand your attention, and I released three of his worried for Art Angels, which I feared was destined to be fi nest albums, the another mediocre pop album. outtakes and rehears- In a way, ‘Flesh without Blood’ is representative of every als of which can be track on Art Angels, in that it doesn’t sound like any of the heard on e Cutting Edge, the latest addition to his now others. e opening track, ‘laughing and not being normal’, expansive bootleg series. is is the newly electrifi ed Dylan, sounds like a dance-orchestral haunted house. But this is keen to jettison his reputation as a protest singer; the Dylan where any connection between Visions and Art Angels be- of classics such as ‘Like a Rolling Stone’ which redefi ned the gins to unravel. ‘California’, the next track, is upbeat, breezy scope of popular music. Of all his guises and incarnations, and light; much like ‘Flesh without Blood’, it amounts to a this is probably the most instantaneously familiar, save per- quirky yet insubstantial pop song. But this is only one fl a- haps for his ragged folk days: sardonic, sarcastic, surreal and vour of Grimes’ kaleidoscopic new album. ‘SCREAM’, the invariably sporting a pair of dark sunglasses and drainpipe third single, features Aristophanes, a Taiwanese rapper spit- trousers. Even Dylan himself has admitted that he has never ting in Mandarin. We’re not sure what she’s saying, but her matched this level of creative output again, longing to rec- fl ow is unpredictable and the jarring interplay between it reate “that thin, wild mercury sound”. and Boucher’s electric guitar, drums and actual screams is e Cutting Edge provides an insight into Dylan’s often thrilling in itself. We get something entirely diff erent again haphazard writing and recording process. Familiar fa- with ‘Easily’, a grooving ballad where Boucher features vourites can be heard in a whole new light: ‘Like a Rolling the range of her vocal ability. ‘Venus Fly’, featuring Janelle Stone’ is slowed down as a waltz, ‘Visions of Johanna’ is Monáe, is martial and reminiscent, somehow, of Beyoncé’s given a shot of blues-rock adrenaline and ‘She Belongs to anthem ‘Run the World (Girls)’. Me’ appears in a serene unaccompanied form. Everything A musician-friend of mine once told me that the only way was done completely live in the studio, so we can imagine to write really good songs is by writing really bad ones and Dylan muttering something to his band about “doing it as a “getting them out of the way”. When an artist suddenly ap- blues number” and expecting everyone to come in. When pears on everyone’s radar, we see the end product of a long they do come in his band are as tight as ever, Kooper’s period of experimentation, often just a part of a musician’s organ playing adding welcome a touch of disjointedness. potential versatility. Visions was a tight production with each In its fullest form, e Cutting Edge comprises 111 items track slurring into a hazy, enticing whole, but most people of studio material, including outtakes, warm-ups, alternate would struggle to name more than two tracks. Ironically, it versions and half-complete scraps. Columbia and Legacy was almost reserved – as far as Grimes can be. Records seem intent on squeezing every penny out of this Art Angels, by contrast, sounds almost like a window period, sweeping up every little shred of tape from the cut- into Boucher’s mind – confl icting infl uences, funky beats, ting room fl oor in an eff ort to immortalise every moment random words. It is a much braver album, and has a sense Dylan so much as coughed near a microphone. It would of experimentation that Visions was lacking. Boucher has seem that many of these scraps would be of interest only to a very vocal public persona. Her much-lambasted “best diehard fans and obsessives, though given Dylan’s cultish songs of 2012” Tumblr post included Lana Del Rey, Justin following, this probably constitutes a signifi cant market. Bieber, and ‘Gangnam Style’ – Boucher takes her pop infl u- At his artistic peak, Dylan was hitting the bullseye every ences seriously. at’s why although Art Angels is a lot more time. We don’t hear ten versions of the sublime ‘Gates of accessible than Visions, it’s also more refl ective of Boucher’s Eden’ because he got it right on the fi rst take. e music diverse tastes. In the same vein, it feels challengingly girly. was going straight from his mind onto acetate. ough he As one of very few female producers, Boucher laments the would later make more carefully constructed music, this pressure to suppress her femaleness. Art Angels embraces was a fertile period where anything and everything made femininity in many forms, from girlish melodies to obsti- it on to the records. is all means that there is little in the nate yelling, a far cry from the airy cooing of Visions. way of hidden gems. If you come to e Cutting Edge hop- I need not have worried. Although every track does not ing to uncover the raw creative process, you might be left consistently hit the mark, Art Angels undoubtedly marks disappointed. e three albums of this period, an evolution for Grimes as an artist. is new Grimes un- written and released in rapid succession, doubtedly needs refi nement, but it’s better than more of the already document the full force of this vital, same. As she sings in Butterfl y, “If you’re looking for a dream untamed energy. girl / I’ll never be your dream girl.” Tom Ronan Neria Aylward believable. Éilis, while undoubtedly matched her excellence. Yet Brooklyn a likeable character whose com- more than steps up to Ronan’s mark; Music Picks of the Week, from Margot Speed pany is more than entertaining, does the screenplay, written by novelist make some illogical and frustrating Nick Hornby, is airtight, never once A member of this publication’s editorial team recently e sound of the latter track is particularly ambitious: cu- decisions during the fi lm, testing the dipping into thespian self-indulgence, remarked on the lack of any Bob Dylan in my weekly col- tesy, sonic-pitched vocals over explosive beats, eventually audience’s initial warmth towards but lingering on the moments that umn. “Ah, but you see”, I responded, “this is a column for winding up to a manic fi nish. She has also included the her. Nevertheless, Ronan, with need that extra focus. newly-released music.” As much as my love for Dylan is sound that marked some of her previous work, wander- Crowley’s careful direction, maintains While being undoubtedly sad and eternal, Margot’s Weekly Music Picks is a place for the cut- ing in ‘Butterfl y’ and ‘laughing and not being normal’ be- a sympathetic edge to her potentially melancholic, the script is also ex- ting edge only. And then the fates stepped in! As if in a di- tween alien sounds and layered, echoing synths on beats tricky character. Although Éilis may tremely funny, with Julie Walters de- rect and contrived response to my words, Legacy Records that don’t quite sit still. ere is also more structure here make some mistakes along the way, livering the script’s wittiest lines like have blessed us with Vol. 12 of e Bootleg Series: e though, and a jab at a more recognisable, if still unique, pop Ronan is able to convincingly suspend the acting great she is. All of this is Cutting Edge 1965–1966. e album includes previously sound, such as on her collaboration with Janelle Monáe, our disbelief and give the impression held under the reign of director John unreleased work by the prophet, as well as takes and ses- ‘Venus Fly’. Like any of her work, Grimes’ new album takes of a fi gure whose decisions are not Crowley, whose contribution to the sions from seminal tracks like ‘Subterranean Homesickness a while to get a handle on, but it’s well worth it. mere plot contrivances but character fi lm is probably the most unnotice- Blues’ and ‘Like a Rolling Stone’. ese years were arguably Finally, this week sees the release of that slightly-unnec- developments. able yet the most vital. His discreet the most important for Dylan’s progression as an artist, his essary annual mammoth, Ministry of Sound’s e Annual direction allows the screenplay and sound growing from its folk infancy to the angsty rock’n’roll 2016. e compilations purport to slam together the big- his actors to breathe, yet he maintains of adolescence. e production lives up to its importance, gest dance music from the UK’s best clubs, but I honest- a fi rm hand on proceedings, never though: a two or six-CD version is available and, if you ly have no idea how they determine what ends up on it. letting the story stray, and as a result have $599.99, a limited edition 18-CD collectors’ edition. Galantis, Tiesto, Skrillex and Diplo all make unsurprising tells it almost perfectly. To attempt to review even the two-CD version would be appearances, but monotony is avoided by the inclusion THE FILM IS ALMOST At the end of the day all you can near-impossible (and I laud Tom Ronan for rising to the of tracks from artists like Kokiri and Matisse that haven’t say about Brooklyn is that it’s a simply challenge); all that must be said is that this album is an his- been blasted from every radio station all summer. e FLAWLESS IN ITS SUBTLE wonderful fi lm. It’s so well told, acted torical landmark, a compilation of the best work of one of sound of so much EDM does become a little cloying, with SOPHISTICATION and directed that it seems to make the most important artists of the twentieth century during work from Axwell and Ingrosso and Avicii remaining just this cinematic feat appear the height the period when he began to defi ne his genre. too dull and overly manufactured, but there are some good of simplicity; but on the contrary Reviewing other artists after any discussion of Dylan tracks to be found. e remixes stand out in particular, Brooklyn is almost fl awless in its seems a little pathetic, but Grimes’ new album, Art Angels, such as KREAM’s of Tove Lo’s ‘Talking Bodies’ or TCTS’s It’s been a great shame for Ronan subtle sophistication. Oscar season might just do. is is the fourth from the Canadian singer, of Jessie Ware’s ‘Champagne Kisses’. At the end of the day, that while her performances in is offi cially upon us, and despite and it keeps up the dreamy experimentalism of her past though, we all know the ins and outs of these tracks are recent years have been fantastic, the Brooklyn’s modest intentions, it has work. Art Angels has sickly-sweet dream pop tracks such fairly irrelevant. Stick e Annual on at pre-drinks and fi lms themselves (Hanna, e Lovely started with a bang. as ‘California’ and ‘Kill Vs Maim’, but her fuck-you lyricism everyone will merrily bop along, and you can go back to Bones, How I Live Now) haven’t quite Will Roberts and impeccable self-production imply much greater depth. spending long hours indulging in Bob Dylan.
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AshurstGraduates AshurstGraduates Ashurst Friday 13th November 2015 Sport 31
Feeling Blue, José? JULIA NOVIKOVA Johnny Burrow gets inside the head of the under-fi re Chelsea manager
Johnny Burrow as a hint of irony – twice in the same Football Association, Cesc Fàbregas, fortnight?” and the same people who killed Sport Correspondent And some that were just plain Princess Diana. He wasn’t quite sure mean. Questions like: “José, just how about that last bit, but he knew for “I have nothing to say.” many pints down were you when you certain that it had absolutely nothing decided it would be a cracking idea to – “nothing at all” – to do with him. “José, just give me an answer please.” take Radamel Falcao on loan?” Yet despite his team’s profi ciency, ere was clearly a campaign not despite recently receiving Roman “I am so sorry, I have nothing, noth- only against Chelsea, but against Abramovich’s public backing, and ing to say. Nothing at all.” José personally – and he wasn’t go- despite the fact that dismissing him ing to stand for it. “You,” he mused to could cost Chelsea tens of millions of “José, this is getting silly now. Stop himself, “are a managerial great. e pounds, people were still spreading sulking.” Special One.” nasty rumours. Rumours that he re- “Sir Bobby Robson’s protégé. 15 ally would be “sacked in the morning.” “I’m sorry, the fans are not stupid. years. Seven clubs. A host of personal Rumours that Atlético Madrid’s Diego Interview over.” honours. Two Champions Leagues. Simeone was being lined up to replace ree Premier League titles. One FA him. “Oh for Christ’s sake José, just tell me! Cup. 22 club trophies won in total as He’d never liked that poncey What do you want for your dinner?” a manager.” Argentine. He did have a lovely beard, Defiant: José Mourinho stares down a journalist’s question “And just 11 points from 12 games though, did Diego. Mourinho sighed “...” so far this season. Seven losses. 16th in deeply, which had become something was gorgeous.) have called a hundred times!” the league. Shit. Can I wake up soon, of a habit of late. He wished he could All the drama had even ruined his “Nothing to say.” please? Where did it all go wrong?” have a beard like that. “Even that idiot preparations on match day. Where his “Hello? José? José? I’m still waiting He just couldn’t understand it. He’d Klopp has one,” he muttered bitterly, pregame ritual had previously consist- for a response, love. You’ve been sitting José Mourinho normally liked his been putting out strong sides; teams “and he’s rubbish.” ed of shadowboxing a framed portrait there, just staring into space for almost wife, but not when she asked quite liberally studded with world class “Don’t even get me started on of Arsene Wenger’s smug, punchable an hour now. What do you want for so many questions. He’d been getting talents such as Eden Hazard, Cesc Guardiola.” little face to the tune of ‘Eye of e your tea?” enough of those as it was, recently. Fàbregas and Abdul Baba Rahman. Would he really get the sack? José Tiger’, now he just wallowed in self- Probing questions. Annoying ques- Yet still they needed Willian to con- didn’t know, and frankly, he didn’t pity, staring pensively out of his bus “I cannot speak about referees.” tions. Hurtful questions. fi rm his status as their key player and care. window with Adele’s ‘Hello’ playing Questions like: “Are you aware that save them against some Ukrainian All he knew was that all of this on a loop. “Right, it’s going to be spaghetti hoops your Chelsea side are currently only team that had, as far as he could tell, was really getting him down; even But José cut a disconsolate fi gure as, then’,” snapped his wife. three points clear of the relegation been named after a dish comprised his old hobbies seemed grey, dull slowly yet surely, the great songstress’ zone?” of a chicken breast stuff ed with garlic and purposeless, eliciting no revelry, lyrics blurred into nothing more than “Fine” sighed a despondent Like: “Is there really anything par- butter. It must have been some sort of no laughter, and no joy. Playstation? just another press conference. Mourinho. ticularly ‘special’ about getting turned bizarre sponsorship deal. Nothing. Prank calling Nigel Pearson? over by a Stoke City team – a club, let’s His team, he assured himself, were Nothing. Even staring at his own chis- “Hello, it’s me.” “At least then I won’t be able to bite not forget, who play Glenn Whelan playing excellent football – they were elled, gleaming refl ection in the bath- off more than I can chew.” week in, week out without so much simply being sabotaged by referees, the room mirror. Nothing. (But God, he “Hello? Can you hear me? I must Loaded dice: why sport needs to be predictable reads: “US TV ratings slide long time. But when his powers Angus Satow without Woods in contention”. receded, tennis did not dim as Sport Ed tor Television networks estimate a golf did. Rather, the four-way 30 to 50 per cent boost in view- rivalry with Nadal, Djokovic ership when he plays. Winning and Murray has sustained, even e Big Four. e Williams time and time and time again improved the sport. Tennis fans sisters. Schumacher. Tiger made him necessary. ere still have the assurance of top- Woods. Would football, tennis, was just enough risk that he quality sport and predictability F1 or golf really be the same wouldn’t always win – can’t – but also an unknown element without them? Why is it that we be too predictable – but he of excitement and variation. so often go into a tournament was good enough to ensure he is is what football has, and or match knowing who’s going would win most times. us golf crucially lacks. Over the to win and then leave satisfi ed his fall from grace was golf’s years the dominant composi- that they did? Surely there was fall, too. In his absence, no one tion of English football has something satisfying – leaving has taken up the mantle. Since gradually changed, but never aside England’s heartbreak – Tiger last won a major back in too suddenly. Manchester in an Australia-New Zealand 2009, there have been 21 diff er- City’s money-fuelled rise was World Cup fi nal. ent winners in the men’s majors steady, rather than immediate. e question goes to the very out of 30 tournaments. is Ditto with Chelsea 10 years ear- heart of sport. Every project points to another vital aspect lier. Each year you know rough- needs a face, every sport needs for sports – rivalry. If sport is ly which of the same group of an embodiment. Often it’s an outlet for modern society’s teams will be in contention for a single individual. One line lack of warring generals – a the title. You get odd anomalies from the recently released fi lm twenty-fi rst century game of like Blackburn Rovers in ’95, e Program, about Lance Risk – then leading fi gures are but you can rely on a set group. Armstrong’s doping success, vital. A two- or three-way war ere is excitement and drama, reads: “He is transforming your is interesting – when it’s twen- but also predictability. little Eurosport into a globally ty-way though, people tend to is is where other sports signifi cant brand.” Recovering lose interest. at’s why every struggle. World Cup Rugby and from cancer and winning seven golf outlet is desperate to play Formula 1 both have dominant consecutive Tour de France up a McIlroy-Spieth rivalry that teams; they lack the rivalry that championships may be an im- has yet to materialise. characterises football or men’s possible feat, but the story and Together, these factors ex- tennis, and the dominant per- the man made cycling an inter- plain tennis’ success over the sonalities that are a feature of national sport. Just think about past ten or so years. In the women’s tennis or Woods-era it – name one of the leading women’s game, the dominance golf. e predictable World non-British cyclists now. of Serena Williams has given Cup victors failed to inspire us. ere is something deeply a personality to the sport – a So what do we really look satisfying in this repetition, the dominant fi gure who can be for in sport? As always, it’s a security in identity which sport relied on to perform regularly, mixture of human faces and so often provides. Take golf. For and one who has reached near- repetition-fuelled identity. We the last 18 years, Tiger Woods legendary status. is is a name like the danger of surprise, and, has been golf. One headline to draw in the crowds. e same most of all, we love the security from a leading golf publication was true of Roger Federer for a of predictability. 32 Sport Friday 13th November 2015 “I have nothing to say” e world according to José – See page 31
Sport Behind the Scenes at Wimbledon Sophie Penney talks with Martin Guntrip, Club Director of the All England Club, about access and tennis’ future in Britain
to. “When you see a photograph, play, so the AELTC have moved heav- Soph e Penney KATE when you fl ick a channel, everybody ily into those areas,” he tells me. Sport Correspondent knows this is Wimbledon, instantly: e way in which amateurs view that’s Wimbledon, it’s grass, there’s sport has also changed signifi cantly, e All England Lawn Tennis and no branding, they’re playing in white, and Guntrip understands this: “We are Croquet Club (AELTC) is the greatest there’s the ivy growing up the club more in this instant, got to do it now, tennis club in Britain. Queen Elizabeth house. People get it, and that’s why boom, I can cram 45 minutes of exer- is the patron, and it is host not only to people come here. at’s why it’s a cise in here.” is is a problem for ten- Varsity, but also to the greatest Grand totally sold out event, which we could nis: “We’re now competing with sport Slam event of the year: Wimbledon. sell out three or four times over.” or activity that’s on the doorstep – you Having been Club Director of the get changed, you go out and you run. AELTC for ten years, Martin Guntrip Tennis is more time consuming and is the man behind the club’s continuing you have to link up with other people success. He was ranked number nine to play. Top-level tennis will take two in Great Britain in his tennis playing and a half hours. at is tough.” years and, after a 20-year gap in com- “WE EVOLVE IN TERMS So how do the AELTC try to make mercial business, he was drawn back OF TECHNOLOGY AND sure that tennis is not lost on these into the tennis world, this time to run amateurs? Although it is technically The Pride of British Tennis: Andy Murray the UK’s most prestigious club. How EXPERIENCE, BUT HOLD ON TO the Law Tennis Assocation’s (LTA) does the club manage to synthesise job to increase participation in British improve it and increase the numbers.” “If you were top fi ve in your country in its famous traditional outlook with OUR TRADITIONS” tennis, Guntrip is adamant that lo- Regardless of their background, the football, rugby or cricket, you would thinking about access and modernity, cal clubs play a vital role: “Clubs are AELTC wants the children to feel spe- be a bit of a superstar – you’re not in and how does it handle the pressure of important and have traditionally cial: “We want people to have the best tennis. It’s tough.” Guntrip argues that dealing with the biggest tournament Certain things, however, have to been the route to success, even if ini- experience they possibly can, that’s even Andy Murray’s success is “quan- of the year? be modernised. Guntrip explains that tial keenness is shown in a park or at the ultimate aim”. tum years behind Wayne Rooney or “It’s great to be part of an organisa- they have to keep up to the minute in school. It is still a solid route.” Hence Issues of access in British tennis – someone like that”. tion that’s always moving forward and order to respond to the expectations the AELTC’s access programme. “We which fall under the remit of the LTA e players may not get the stage trying to improve, in technology and of the professional players: “ ey want go to every state primary school in – go beyond underprivileged children. they deserve, but there is no doubt that spectator and player experience, whilst an easy life with no hassle: they want the London boroughs of Merton and ere is no female Andy Murray; Wimbledon does. It was described by holding on to its traditions and values: to know where their practice court Wandsworth and introduce tennis to we have nobody remotely like the Martin Sorel, head of the WPP, the grass, all white clothing, lack of brand- is, have all the right food, the right every child in those schools. If chil- Williams sisters in this country, and, world’s largest advertising company, ing except Rolex and Ralph Lauren.” ingredients, all diets catered for.” e dren have good hand-eye, seem keen as Guntrip reminds us, there hasn’t as the second biggest sports brand af- Many are sceptical about whether this AELTC makes it happen through tech- and are enthusiastic, we invite them at been a really successful British female ter the Olympics. I ask Guntrip about balance is possible. Is there a place for nology: “We have an app which they weekends to come and play at the club. player at Wimbledon since Virginia the pressure to perform, hosting such such a centre of tradition in the mod- can book through and in their cars We get about 800 kids every weekend Wade won it in 1977. I ask him if, at an iconic tournament: “ ere’s al- ern world? Guntrip is adamant there they have WiFi.” ey have also had aged from 4–18. a tournament like Wimbledon, with a ways the odd curveball, but because is: “ ere’s no plan to change that.” to adapt to the modern pre- and post- “We are building a new centre at schedule and prize money which give the planning is so intricate, believe According to him, its traditional as- game demands. “ ere is an increased Raynes Park with six courts: three in- women equal footing, it is frustrating it or not, once the fi rst day’s over it’s pects make Wimbledon what it is, that focus on gyms, stretching areas, and a door courts and three bubbled courts, not having the female talent in the UK actually very comfortable. Our big- is what people recognise and respond lot of them having ice baths after they in order to take that programme, to back that up. He highlights the few gest issue is perhaps one of our guests UK female successes at Wimbledon turning up to the Royal Box on Finals’ in the past decade but adds hopeful- Day incorrectly dressed.” is is a not- ly: “Konta and Watson are playing to so-subtle allusion to Lewis Hamilton’s the best of their abilities. Maybe they clothing faux-pas this year, turning up can go further; we hope they can.” without a jacket or tie: “But he was However, Guntrip makes it clear that, delightful; he was very apologetic. His although British tennis may be strug- private secretary got it wrong and he gling to foster home-grown talent in was absolutely fi ne about it.” the women’s game, Wimbledon does So what does the club do outside the everything it can to promote gender Wimbledon fortnight, when it moves equality: “We are totally equal here: out of the public eye? After all, fi rst prize money, show court time, every- and foremost the AELTC is a tennis thing. We schedule accordingly, we’re club, just one where the members have pretty fair and the ladies’ matches are been good-level tennis players, at least very popular.” top-level county, if not international, One Brit is certainly performing at as well as past champions. Guntrip the highest level. Andy Murray has explains: “Last year we had about 134 transformed British tennis, increasing events, given that we’re running a participation and the country’s belief championships as well. So that’s eve- in the game. Martin Guntrip expands rything from a match against another on the Scot’s substantial impact on the club, the Oxbridge Varsity match, to Arthroscopic surgery. Ligament reconstruction. Knee replacement. British tennis scene, having seen him a national veterans’ tournament with play at the club on a daily basis: “ ere 800 players or the Road to Wimbledon A personal service. For a faster recovery. is defi nitely an Andy Murray factor. fi nals.” And it’s not all about tennis; ere was a Tim Henman factor, and there’s snooker, too. “Andy Murray has Andy is more successful than Tim. entered the club snooker tournament The Clinic is run by Mr Jai Chitnavis, Consultant Orthopaedic e BBC ratings go up if Andy Murray with Jamie Delgado – they’re unseed- Surgeon. Operations are performed by him at both private is playing.” But is this just one man ed, so we’ll have to see.” covering up for the lack of strength With Andy Murray, Wimbledon hospitals in Cambridge. and depth in British tennis? “ ere’s and 800 aspiring access juniors, the no doubt there’s a lack of strength and AELTC has a lot on its plate. Tackling depth. e thing with tennis is it’s an inequality and the march of moder- individual sport played by over 200 nity is no mean feat. Let’s hope Martin countries in the world, so it’s highly Guntrip and the club can keep up this www.TheCambridgeKneeClinic.com 01223 253763 competitive.” is makes it diffi cult for performance, maintaining Britain’s players to make a name for themselves: shining place on tennis’s global stage.