The Edge Sport Lifestyle Your guide to covers Varsity takes a trip the local music Features day in full with round the new scene with the has a go at lots of pictures Southampton latest gig guide rock climbing and results IKEA 12th March 2009

O’REALLY? O’REILLY! England voting record beaten by the biggest elections in SUSU history, full coverage inside.

www.wessexscene.co.uk The Wessex Scene team somehow only have two papers left, they are sad. O’Reilly wins Presidential race at the biggest elections night yet Josh, who were guided from backstage by Adam and display, the main fault occurred following the ELECTIONS NIGHT “I don’t know wheth- Parker, as well as a large technical team. Each redistribution of R.O.N. in the AU President cat- er to laugh or cry, announcement followed the same impressive egory, and meant that candidate Bradley Bailey Sophie Evans & Bonnie Sung this week has just pattern of scheduling; a VT of the campaign trail was mistakenly announced as winner. The blun- been fantastic.” for the role, green room chat with the nominees der caused great outrage and anger from Bailey SUSU election night 2009 set a new UK record for Sophie Patterson, chaired by Henry Potter, and then the results supporters, and many others, after the miscalcu- student voting numbers, and saw Steve O’Reilly elected VP Welfare & read by current President Alex Tanfield. Organis- lation was rectified. win President with a landslide victory. With 6165 Societies ers had clearly aimed for a high quality produc- Nevertheless, the technical team were rather votes cast over three days, Southampton’s Stu- a controversial technical hiccup saw his opposi- tion, and on the most part succeeded. On stage impressive considering that they had only four dents’ Union had the highest student participation tion Bradley Bailey announced as the winner, Tom and Josh mirrored the colour coding of the hours to set up their equipment, equipment that figures in the country, beating Nottingham’s record whilst Cassi White was re-elected in an uncon- would normally take all day to organise. Ambi- of 5895, and SUSU’s own record of 4729 from last tested race for Winchester President - though tious plans for the production of the evening “I’m so proud to be year. The race for President saw 5733 votes tallied RON came close to supplanting her, with 33 to meant the team required eight different cameras, part of the Sabbatical for the 4 candidates and RON (Re-Open Nomina- 22 votes. Alex Tanfield, current President of the some following presenters and others on dol- team, I can’t wait to tions), with O’Reilly receiving 2918 as first choice. Students’ Union, commented on the new team; start!” “I have every confidence in the new Sabbatical “I feel bad for Brad- The record break- team, and I think they will continue to lead SUSU Becky Maclean, elected ley, but just want to ing number of students forward.” VP Education & Repre- get on with it now, 6165 who voted in this The election is run as a Single Transferrable sentation and do the best I can year’s SUSU elections. Vote election, meant to improve the power of for the AU.” different categories by changing their bow-ties, Allan ‘Bermuda’ elected This incredible result meant O’Reilly, O’Really, had “It’s an hour on and whilst Jeni wore a total of 5 dresses. AU President won the vote outright as no other nominee could I still can’t believe Another first for the evening was a live link-up beat him, even with the distribution of votes in it. I can’t put it into with Loughborough University, whose Students’ lies, a continuous light show, equipment for live later rounds. The screen cut straight to O’Reilly as words” Union elections took place on the same night. interviews broadcasted from the green room, the elected, and the West Refectory, tellingly mo- Jamie Ings, elected VP Throughout the night regular interactions with frequent costume changes and colourful drapes nopolised by O’Reilly supporters, erupted in loud Media & Communica- Loughborough University were made possible by to match the election’s colours and the present- and boisterous support. tions borrowed equipment from the BBC. Adam Parker, ers’ bow ties - the evening felt more reminiscent Vice Presidential roles in the newly elected current VP Media and Communications, explained of a Eurovision Song Contest than a Students’ 2009/2010 Sabbatical team went to Becky Ma- every single voter. The preliminary stage shows the move; “After a chat with LSU TV we realised Union election. clean for Education and Representation, Sophie the number of first choice votes all the candi- we had an opportunity here to do something As well as the high electoral turnout, the at- Patterson for Welfare and Societies, and Jamie dates received, and the lowest is taken out of the unprecedented for student TV. It was a first, and tendance for the election night itself was remark- Ings for Media and Communications. AU Presi- race. These votes are then given to the remain- definitely a huge achievement for all involved.” ably high, and even though the capacity had dent was won by Allan ‘Bermuda’ Steynor, after ing candidates who were the second choice of The night was not without glitches however; been dramatically increased from last year, 400 those who voted for the eliminated party. This to 700, the West Refectory was full to capacity, process is repeated until a successful candidate ‘I’m so happy with how with a further 3,500 watching online via SUSU. “I think euphoric is is announced. Sophie Patterson, newly elected elections night turned TV’s live streaming. the word - thank you VP Welfare and Societies, showed the importance out, I’d like to thank Election night proved to be a huge success, to all the voters. I of deferred votes, lagging behind Henry Church everyone involved” preluded by months of planning, over a week won’t let you down.” until the fourth round of voting saw her surge Adam Parker, VP Media of manic campaigning, and a record number of Steve O’Reilly, elected ahead to an eventual win of 2827 to 2310. & Comms 08/09 votes. The night, which witnessed both tears of President of SUSU The evening was presented by four prominent euphoria and tears of disappointment, brought faces in the SUSU.TV team; Tom, Jeni, Holly and aside from the small technical errors with sound forward our new Sabbatical team for 2009/10. TECHNICAL FACTS DIRECTOR’S SUMMARY our, and made the largest video setup ever seen in SUSU. We even got the chance to link over 8 cameras Last year we broadcast the elections to the to Loughborough Students’ Union elections in a world online, but this year we really wanted bid to see whether we could do it! The planning 28 crew to make it bigger and better. We doubled the started back in December with endless amounts 22 screens amount of cameras, moved into the West Ref and of time spent creating content, brainstorming increased the capacity to nearly 800. With the ideas and working out how many cameras we 4 hours of broadcast events crew excited by the prospect of the new had. A large thank you must go out to all the 3,500 hits to susu.tv venue, the lights and sound were almost as large ‘stream team’ and events crew. as the gradball. We were extremely limited for 115k worth of equipment time but managed to create a venue full of col- Adam Parker Campaign Week madness spurs highest voting turnout ever, 6165

out with their hot pink outfits and aggressive lem this year was candidates affiliating them- CAMPAIGNING techniques. George Bergel, running for VP Media Campaigners were selves with popular bars such as Sobar and Jest- Emmeline Curtis and Comms, managed to attract a large crowd using every means at ers. Allowing posters and bar staff to promote with his pole-dancing girls; the pole was also en- their disposal, ranging candidates outside of the Union is technically For 10 days before the results were announced joyed by other candidates, who participated in a from extreme poster- corporate sponsorship, and against the rules. the concourse was crowded with candidates and dance-off towards the end of the week. The tune ing to eye-catching Other problems included not budgeting correctly their dedicated campaign teams, desperate to at- to ‘Footloose’ could be heard around the Union, events. for publicity used, and staging events and public- tract the student voter. Some candidates ran low as Welfare and Societies candidate Nick Thorne ity that had been rejected for health and safety profile campaigns, hoping their manifesto and urged you to vote through his reworking of the who took their campaigning to unfair levels, and reasons by the Returning Officers. ideas would speak for themselves, while others song. Sophie Paterson, also running for Welfare had to be punished. Most complaints simply resulted in a warning, relied on gimmicks and a huge presence to get and Societies, tried to prove her dedication to This year rules on internet campaigning were allowing for mistakes to be made and learned them noticed. the Union by spending the night sleeping on the relaxed, and for the first time ever candidates from. The harshest punishment exacted was the Campaigners were using every means at concourse with some of her campaigners. The were allowed the use of the internet, including confiscation of t-shirts, in order to cancel out their disposal, ranging from extreme postering of only category that was refreshingly free of crazy Facebook groups, profile pictures and statuses. some of the advantage they may have gained. the Union, shout-out’s in lectures and repetitive campaign gimmicks was the race for VP Educa- The main complaint against campaigners this There were not that many serious complaints slogans, to eye-catching events and give-aways tion and Representation. year did involve Facebook however, and the use made about candidates though, many being sim- on the concourse. Steve O’Reilly had one of the The whole campaign period was strictly po- of mass messaging. Sending out emails and mes- ply petty arguments or rumours. Alex Tanfield, largest campaign teams, who were constantly liced by Returning Officers Alex Tanfield and sages from society mailing lists and groups gives current Students’ Union President and Returning heard shouting, “Oh really? O’Reilly!” Steve’s Adam Parker, who used a new online method of some candidates an unfair advantage, although Officer, said, “This year campaign week went opposition Lenny Brown and his team were an- complaints to create transparency, and make the was mainly the fault of over-eager campaigners amazingly well, and created a brilliant vibe on other big presence on the concourse, standing whole system fairer. There were however, a few who did not realise the rules. Another big prob- campus for all involved.” Page 4 News Students: High Risk Group for the Blues New research shows the perils of a stressful life for the mental well-being of the young Bonnie Sung dents showing signs of problems. The high prevalence of stress amongst under- Recent studies have revealed an increase in cases graduates may be attributed to many factors; one of depression amongst children and young adults, significant factor could be the high student debts an increase that has been especially high amongst likely to be incurred during their time at univer- students who are said to be more vulnerable and sity. Due to increasing cost of education, fear of less equipped to deal with depression due to the failure, and the high cost of changing course may loss of their social network and feelings of isola- mean that students are under increasing pressure tion. to achieve. According to a survey conducted by the Prince’s The culture shock of university combined with Trust, one in ten felt that life was meaningless, and the stress and isolation involved with leaving ones more than one quarter (27%) of those surveyed safety net of family and friends, shared with dif- often felt down or depressed. Almost half said they ficulty of making friendships, may cause -vulner regularly felt stressed. Although medical charities ability amongst undergraduates. predict that one in five will suffer from depression A positive aspect of this may be that the in- during their lifetime, students and young adults crease in depression could be a reflection on the appear to be more vulnerable, although showing increased willingness of sufferers to come forward symptoms does not necessarily mean that one is actually suffering from depression. Depression is worryingly high among medical of the population will students; one medical school with a high occur- suffer from depression rence of depression had as many as 4 in 10 stu- during our lifetime. Depression: Warning Signs 20%

• Persistent sadness, anxiousness or general for help. low moods Dr Kevin Partington, Assistant Director of Stu- • Loss of interest in food, work or sex dent Services and Head of Student Support at the University of Southampton, commented that: “The number of students presenting with symp- • Decreased energy or lethargy toms of mental ill-health has increased in recent years, but this reflects the increasing numbers of students entering higher education and their in- • Insomnia or sleep disruptions creasing willingness to seek help for a range of emotional and mental health problems.” • Increased tearfulness Worryingly, the National Institute for Clinical Dr Partington states that: “(The University University Counselling Service Excellence has estimated that around 50% of has) invested significantly over the years in- fa Phone: 023 8059 3719 those affected with depression do not seek help. cilities and specialist support for students in crisis, Email: [email protected] • Irritableness, restlessness or short tem- including mental health crisis.” peredness You should always seek help if you “The Student Crisis Team, the Counselling Disability and Mentor Service • Indecisiveness and poor concentration Service and the Wardenal Team have been stra- Phone: 023 8059 7726 or someone you know is feeling tegically aligned to form the Student Wellbeing Email: [email protected] and men- suicidal or experiencing feelings of Service which further strengthens our support for [email protected] • Pessimism and hopelessness despair. students with mental health and other crises. We have also recently appointed a registered prac- Student Crisis Team • Worthlessness or overly harsh self judge- The University of Southampton however, does tioner in social work to increase our resources.” Phone: 023 8059 7488 ment and guilt offer a good support system for those suffering Dr Partington adds that: “You should always Email: [email protected] with depression. Students with depression can ac- seek help if you or someone you know is feeling • Feelings of isolation cess support through the University Counselling suicidal or experiencing feelings of despair or dis- Anyone with serious concerns about Service, the Disability and Mentor Service and tress.” a student’s safety can contact the Stu- the Student Crisis Team. There is also a wardenal “Students can also contact Southampton Night- dent Crisis Team out of hours through • Thoughts of death or suicide service in halls, who can signpost students to the line, which offers a confidential listening and infor- the University Security Service by call- appropriate service. mation service.” ing 023 8059 2811. Flash Mob Mass Pillow Fight Southampton students take part in giant playtime at West Quay Chris Baker This was not, of course, a spontaneous oc- first year student at the University. Jamie said he currence. The event had been planned weeks in was “really chuffed with how well it went”. “The A seemingly ordinary February afternoon saw advance via the popular social networking site - group’s first event went amazingly well. I didn’t Southampton’s city centre witness its first flash Facebook. Flash mob events, which have recently expect so many people to turn up and take part. mob event. enjoyed increasing popularity, involve large groups Next time we hope to have many more people As the clock struck one, an air horn sound- involved. Southampton - watch out!” ed and from the crowds of ordinary shoppers Next time we hope to have There are currently over 900 members in the emerged over 100 people armed with pillows. The online group, though Culkin indicated that it may mob embarked upon an enormous pillow fight, many more people involved. close at some point in the future to ensure the which lasted exactly 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Southampton - watch out! events remain secret. As to further ‘flash mobs’, Shoppers stopped in their tracks, while work- the next event is already being planned and ers emerged to watch as the merriment unfolded. of people gathering in one place to perform some Jamie has confirmed that the theme has been de- Within seconds the quiet street had become a unusual activity before they disperse quickly. Past cided upon, but is keeping quiet about any details. thronging sea of activity with phones and cam- events have included the famous ‘freezes’ that oc- There are also rumours that there may be physical eras capturing the action. Then the sound of the curred in Trafalgar Square and in various locations clues left around in the run up to the next event, second air horn blast brought the pillow fight to in the US, or the recent dance featured in a T- but as to what or where, no more information was its sudden end and normality returned almost as Mobile commercial. given. As a member of the group said, “Keep your if nothing had ever happened. The event was organised by Jamie Culkin, a eyes open!” Page 5 Editorial Your Votes Have Been Cast... Can the new VP Media & Comms keep up with SUSU media in 2010? Emmeline Curtis main points seem to be getting celebrities involved Editorial with student media, making it less about students. The people have now spoken, and the new SUSU Including guest articles by professional journalists Team Sabbatical team have been chosen by a record sounds impressive, but the Wessex Scene is for number of student voters. students to express their views and find out what is going on in their Union. Taking away the space Editor-in-Chief Adam Parker The new Sabbatical team will and opportunity for a student to get involved, so [email protected] a professional can, does not seem fair or neces- hopefully be as successful as sary to me. His ideas, extending the FM license their predecessors, but they for Surge and getting more advertising screens Editor Emmeline Curtis for example, are not possible because they are will need to work hard. [email protected] so expensive, and the Union cannot afford it. Fur- ther manifesto points, such as giving The Edge Democracy is a great thing, but sadly it does writers privileges such as free CD’s and gig tick- News Bonnie Sung mean elections sometimes turn into popularity ets, and bringing more up-to-date films to Union Sophie Evans contests - I have to admit I am surprised by some Films, show that he has no idea of how the media [email protected] of the results. Most candidates should have, and departments work and what they need. The Edge did, win because they are the ones who have vol- already has extensive music contacts that have unteered hours of their time to the Union, who been built up steadily over the years, who send Politics James Thompson know what the job entails and have excellent ideas. advance copies of CD’s and provide guest list en- [email protected] Sadly not all candidate were as dedicated to the try to gigs and events, and Union Films could only This is not an attack on the VP Media elect; the Union as some though, there are those who have show current films if they charged cinema prices, winning candidates have earned their positions no real idea because they have not put as much something no student wants! The rest of his mani- because they have put in the effort campaigning - Science Harry Campbell effort in during their time at the University despite festo is vague, with points such as increase stu- anyone who can survive that fortnight of madness [email protected] the many opportunities there are, and therefore dent involvement and awareness - something that can most likely cope with their demanding Sab- do not have the ideas to take into the job. is definitely needed to move SUSU media forward, batical role. I merely want to point out that lack The winning candidate’s manifesto for VP Me- but is already the main aim of everyone involved of experience and knowledge of the roles means Arts Holly Hargreaves dia and Communications reads as though he has in each department. lots of hard work ahead. This year we have had [email protected] woken up one morning, decided he would quite an amazing Sabbatical team who have put every like to run for VP Media and Comms, and writ- Anyone who can cope with effort into moving SUSU forward. I have no doubt ten down a bunch of random thoughts about the the campaign madness can the new team can be as successful as their pred- Fashion Hannah Pratt Union with no thought to feasibility or money. He ecessors, but they will need to work extremely [email protected] seems to think his job involves events, when we cope with their role. hard and learn quickly to match the high standard already have an excellent events team, and his set for them.

Features Carla Bradman Rachael Sigee [email protected] Response To ‘Overcrowding’

Lifestyle Bethan James The University’s Pro-Vice Chancellor replies to our investigation Lydia Teague [email protected] Alastair Fitt Building, the EEE building, the ISVR Building, the New Terrace in Glen Eyre and Montefiore 4 in I was very interested to read the ‘Overcrowded’ Wessex Lane are ten new buildings that spring im- Travel Gareth Brading article in the recent edition of the Wessex Scene mediately to mind - but the list goes on and on. [email protected] (12th Feb 2009). The author is of course quite cor- What about the library and University living ac- rect to raise the issue of growth in student num- commodation? Your article rightly drew particular bers, and I was hoping that your readers might attention to these two areas, for they are both Sport Emily Hogan allow me a little space to set this expansion in crucial to the student experience. Here again, Tim Clancy the context of both the national background and large-scale investment has taken place. Not only [email protected] the investment that the University has made in its has the Hartley Library recently undergone a capital infrastructure and services. spectacular five-year £10m refurbishment, but Throughout the period that was mentioned in further financial investment has allowed opening Photography James Eley the article, Wessex Scene readers will be aware hours to again be successfully extended. During that a great deal of pressure has been placed the period covered by the Wessex Scene article upon the University to increase its student num- the University has opened 6 new Halls of Resi- The Wessex Scene is available in bers. On a national level the current government, dence, including the recent high-profile £19m other formats. early on in their term of office, famously set an ‘Chancellor’s Court’ development at the Glen Eyre Email:[email protected] HE participation target of 50% for 18-30 year olds. Halls Complex. At the same time, the University They argued that those individuals who remained catering areas have been extensively refurbished in education and gained a degree earned signifi- across all our campuses, and our sports facilities We need... cantly more than those who did not have an HE Sainte Union and some 2000 students, merged have been upgraded with a £4.3m redevelopment qualification, thus acting as a major conduit for with Winchester School of Art (800 students), and of the Wide Lane Sports grounds and a £8m in- anybody that social change. following a successful NHS bid won a contract to vestment in the Jubilee Sports centre. Even the fancies a bit of provide education and training for nurses in South Students’ Union would be unrecognisable to the Nobody wants growth with no East England. This increased our student nursing students of 1996 after the University spent £6m writing! investment. numbers from 400 to nearly 1500 in 2001-2002! refurbishing Building 42. For nursing, of course, the majority of instruction The Wessex Scene should be congratulated During the ‘expansion years’ student groups occurs off campus at teaching hospitals in South- for raising the issue of student expansion - it’s Wessex Scene have also encouraged greater participation - in ampton, Basingstoke, Portsmouth and the Isle of provided us with valuable feedback and an op- Highfield particular our own Students’ Union have many Wight. portunity to take stock of the huge investments Southampton times championed the cause of widening partici- How have we invested in the campus? The that we have made over the last 12 years. We SO17 1BJ pation, and assisted in campaigns to attract stu- plain fact is that we have built so many new build- look forward to working in partnership with the dents from non traditional backgrounds or with no ings that students from 1996 would struggle to Students’ Union, and you can be sure that we are Advertising queries: family history of participation in HE. recognize the University campus that they knew. firmly committed to investing even more over the James Howells Nobody wants growth with no investment, so The Student Services Centre, the Students’ Un- coming years so that we can continue to raise as- 023 8059 5486 how have things changed? During the time period ion, Arts 2 Building in WSA, the Synthetic Chem- pirations, increase participation in HE and improve [email protected] reviewed in the article, the University acquired La istry Building, the Zepler Building, the Nightingale the student experience. Page 6 Politics Students Protest Against Top-Up Fees Southampton activists join other campaigners at a national demonstration in London Peter Apps has replaced Fox News, apathy has been replaced by activism, and Generation Y has steadily found On 25th February around sixty students from its voice. Southampton travelled by coach to London, in As the protesters returned to the coach, there protest against student debt and the possibility was a mixture of tiredness and contentment in the that an upcoming government review will lead to air. This demonstration is likely to be the first of the cap on top-up fees being raised or lifted alto- many on this particular issue, and we were proud gether. The University of Southampton Students’ to have been involved. Hopeless as they may Union (SUSU), following the results of a recent sometimes seem, history tells us that given the survey that showed 78% of students are against necessary numbers, frequency and passion, mass increasing fees, now publicly opposes lifting or demonstrations are capable of affecting change - raising the cap. The Union partially subsidised a hopefully more and more students will realise that. coach which took demonstrators to London. There has been evidence all over the world in the Under the current system, the average student last year that this generation, student and non- debt stands at nearly £20,000 at the end of an undergraduate degree. If not crippling, this will, without a doubt, limit students’ future career op- tions to a rat race for the best paid positions - es- pecially difficult as the availability of graduate jobs is shrinking like a burst balloon in the current eco- nomic climate. As some institutions are quoting close to £10,000 per year as a reasonable price, lifting the cap could more than double graduate debt, thereby making higher education an intoler- able burden on all but the very rich. The demonstrators (who numbered close to a thousand in total, mostly from the London univer- one of priorities. Students are bearing the cost of an hour certainly achieved this. The protesters sities but also some coming in from as far afield bankers’ mistakes and two long, bloody and very reached Kings at three o’clock and the demon- as Newcastle) were marching against this state expensive wars. They were protesting against stration ended at around four. Talk of continuing of affairs. Unfortunately, the National Union of what they see as a government prioritising war the march to Parliament didn’t materialise and the Students (NUS) refused to back the protest, and over affordable education, and the steady shift crowd was dispersed. without their support organising a national dem- from universities being about ‘knowledge for all’, In my view the day was representative of onstration was difficult. The Socialist Students’ to profit and an education for only the wealthy. something of a tide change in the political aware- The march began from Russell Square at one ness of our generation as a whole. We have be- The percentage of stu- o’clock, and progressed towards King’s College come known as Generation Y, the apathetic ones, dents at the University of Campus in the Strand, a mile and a half away whose ‘Playstations before Politics’ attitude killed Southampton who oppose through the centre of London. It was a typically 78% an increase in fees. busy afternoon, and if the aim of the protest was Source: SUSU Consulation raising awareness it certainly succeeded. The Southampton University Students’ thousand noisy students with placards and mega- Union (SUSU) officially opposes an Society and the Campaign to Defeat Fees played a phones were difficult to ignore, and the demon- increase in university tuition fees. large role in changing the stance of the Students’ strators drew enthusiastic support from office Source: Union Council minutes Union and helped raise awareness of the protest workers, bus drivers, and even a class of primary on campus. school children out on a field trip. Perhaps because of the identity of the organis- As the demonstrators passed a busy junction the revolutionary spirit of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. ers, this was a march with a very left-wing flavour. on Southampton Row, there was a call for direct Over the last year however, we’ve been part of the Anarchist and socialist flags were out in force, action and a 30 minute sit down protest took generation of young people who put a black Presi- student alike, has finally gained a political con- and while the demonstration was, fundamentally, place. Although this was one of the more contro- dent into the White House, who rose up violently science, acknowledged the mess our predecessors about top-up fees, to many there was a bigger versial moments of the day, part of the point of in Greece and France, and who took to the streets have made of the world, and started standing up picture. There is enough money in the budget - or demonstrating is to make yourself (and therefore all over the world when Israel began its recent against it. We have the chance to define ourselves so many at the march believed - to fund, or at your cause) difficult to ignore. Bringing traffic in bombardment of Gaza. As global recession has as something more. If you haven’t already, the least subsidise, higher education. The question is the centre of London grinding to a halt for half replaced economic comfort, Zeitgeist on YouTube time has never been better to join in. Page 7 Politics Wessex Scene meets John Denham MP The Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills gives an exclusive interview James Thompson leave school who have been educated entirely un- der a Labour government. So it takes a long time More than 50 students met John Denham, Labour for policies to make a difference. Member of Parliament for Southampton Itchen Obviously, the recession will make it more and Secretary of State for Innovation, Univer- difficult to improve social mobility through sities and Skills, during a visit to the University State intervention. Do you think the Govern- on 19th February. Students were able to find out ment is going to be able to achieve its anti- Denham’s views in a question and answer ses- poverty targets in Britain? sion which lasted for approximately an hour. The I think we’re determined to do everything we event was organised by the Labour Society. possibly can to remain on target, and I think that John Denham attended the University of we need to bring every tool into play. One thing Southampton in the 1970s, where he obtained I’m doing in government is stressing very strongly a chemistry degree. He was also President of that the contribution we can make is by raising the Students’ Union in the academic year 1976- the skills of adults so they are able to get better 1977. jobs. Raising a better income is one of the key In this exclusive Wessex Scene interview, ways of raising childhood income, particularly for John Denham discusses social mobility, drop-out those families who are officially in poverty whilst rates and university expansion. their parents are working. We’ve obviously got to How has university education changed support them through child benefits; we’ve got to since you were the Southampton University support them through tax credits. But if we can Students’ Union President in the 1970s? equip people with the skills for better paid jobs The most obvious change is that far more then that will enable more people to get their way people have a chance to go to university. When I out of poverty. came to university, one in ten of my generation Given the reliance of the UK university went, so now you’re talking four out of ten. The opportunities have widened enormously. I think the universities themselves have a far wider Next year the overall number of range of courses available. student places in universities will Last year several charities, including the Sutton Trust, alleged that social mobility rise by 10,000. has actually declined in the last two dec- ades. What is your department doing to re- verse this trend? sector on foreign students (due to the high- to a real decline in the quality of buildings and costs for the government, particularly in terms of The interesting thing is that the most recent er rate of fees they pay), how do you think the expansion of classroom sizes. So we’ve been student maintenance, we’ve had to say this year data actually suggests that the decline has lev- the new visa regulations and the related ID very keen to expand universities, but there is a you need to limit the growth to the number of elled off and is improving. The difficulty with so- Card scheme will affect higher education for constraint. We want it, over time, to be properly extra places we’re actually budgeted to fund. That cial mobility data is by definition: it takes place everyone? funded, and not to do it on the cheap. So that is will mean that some universities can’t do the ex- over a long period of time. Many of the surveys I don’t think the visa regime is going to affect a limiting factor. tra expansion. It’s essentially because we want that showed declines were actually talking about the desire or the ability of overseas students to An independent review on top-up fees is to keep the balance right between the numbers the experience of people during the period long come here. It’s not. But around the edges there scheduled to take place later this year. What and the fact that each student place needs to be before Labour came to power. There are now may be glitches, there may be individual cases. is your personal view on how much students properly funded. quite clear indications – which we set out in the But we’ve got to tackle those if and when they ought to pay for a university education? Last year the National Union of Students New Opportunities White Paper – that show we arise. I think that if I were to enter a personal view, (NUS) released a report describing an in- have actually turned the corner and moved in the At the Labour Party Conference in Sep- it wouldn’t be seen as an independent review. So crease in drop-out rates in universities. What right direction. tember 2007, you said that “a third of young, I have a self-denying ordinance that I don’t get is your department doing to reduce drop-out But it’s still going to be a long time for things English students will get a full grant at uni- rates and is this something that is hindered like the investment in Sure Start to work their versity, two thirds getting a full or partial by the government’s plan to expand higher way through. And so young people – who had a grant” [over the next three years]. Is this a education? much better pre-school ed- realistic policy given the loss of tax revenue I don’t think so. Our drop-out rates, if you ucation and go to school caused by the economic downturn? John Denham was measure them consistently, are amongst the much better prepared – Yes. It’s a commitment we’ve made. We’re President of the lowest in the Western world. We do quibble with are working their way determined to keep it. It’s true of this year’s en- Students’ Union people who include in the drop-out rates people through the educa- trants to university. So the people that went to (SUSU) in who change course. There are two measures. One tion system. I mean, university this year, two thirds get a full or partial 1976-1977 gives you about 13%; one gives you about 23%. after all, it’s a long grant. Actually, it’s more than a third who get a But the higher figure includes all the people who time, but last year full grant. We now know it’s costing us quite a change course. I don’t think that makes sense, re- was the first group lot of money, but about 40% of students will get ally. of 16 year olds to the full grant, which is more than we originally The other thing we need to look at is part- budgeted for. So that’s a commitment we want time study. If somebody comes to university to to sustain. involved in that discussion. The truth is that the do a part-time degree, but then after three years What are the practical problems of uni- government doesn’t have a fixed and settled view something happens in their life – they get a job, versities expanding the choice of courses on this issue. they have a career change, they have a family – and qualifications that they offer? Given that student numbers at British uni- and they don’t finish their degree, we treat them The constraint, actually, is finance. We have versities have expanded rapidly during the in the statistics as a failure. Now there’s quite a funded an expansion of higher education, but last decade, will the capping of admissions reasonable argument which says that perhaps we we’ve agreed with the universities that we don’t be required to avoid an overcrowding crisis? should actually recognise what they’ve achieved want to repeat the mistakes of the late 1980s Next year the overall number of student places and not just say, “Well you’re a failure because to mid-1990s where essentially the gov- in the universities will rise by 10,000, but we have you didn’t get a piece of paper with ‘degree’ writ- ernment said: “Universities can asked the funding council to discourage universi- ten on it.” expand as much as ties from recruiting above that. That’s partly be- But over and above that we do expect the they want, cause next year we’ll have more students at uni- Funding Council to look at institutions that have but with- versity than we were expecting even a year ago, particularly higher rates of drop-outs. There are out any because universities have always had some flex- variations between institutions which aren’t eas- extra money, ibility to over-recruit. ily explained by the students who are doing well just relying on So whilst we’ve budgeted for a small percent- there. I think if people are doing less well than the extra fee-income.” age increase in student numbers, the actual num- others then the funding council needs to work And as Chris Patten bers recruited went up by 5% one year and 8% with them to make sure there is a strategy in graphically described, this led the next year. Because those extra students bring place to help them. Archaeology Soc Christian Union Showstoppers Trip to the British Museum Easter Sevice, Missing a Peace? Copacabana – Main Show 2009 2 May @ 09:00 – 20:00, London 14th March @ 7pm 17th-21st March @ 7.30pm each night A coach leaving Avenue Campus will take us to the British Highfield Church (+2.30pm Saturday Matinee) Museum, tickets will be roughly £10. A celebration of Easter with a short talk, The Annex Theatre, Highfield Campus [email protected] followed by cakes! (next to the bus interchange) [email protected] Come and enjoy a spectacular night of musical theatre performed by Southampton University’s Musical Theatre society Showstoppers! Asian Cultural Soc Tickets available from the SUSU box office or online at Golmaal – Asian cultural show 2009! Nordic Society http://boxoffice.susu.org Sunday 15th March @ 5:30pm – 8:30pm Popstar Social Tickets: £6.50 concessions, £8.50 adults (£7.50 & £9.50 The West Refectory, Highfield Campus 30th April @ 7.30 pm, Saturday evening) An extravagant night showcasing the best of asian culture Starting in the Stags [email protected] featuring dances, singing, comedy sketch and fashion show. Dressed as your favourite Scandinavian popstar, join us [email protected] for a pubcrawl starting at Stags, with karaoke!

Gilbert and Sullivan’s Iolanthe Symphony 12th March @ 7.30pm Orchestra & Biosoc The Annex Elections and AGM with after party! Come along and support our fellow Nordsoc friends Sinfonietta 18th March @ 6.30pm while watching an amazing performance! Tickets from Haydathon TBC (see Facebook event) Boxoffice, £5 pounds for students! 13th – 15th March @ 9am – 11pm each day Make YOUR voice heard - VOTE for your new committee! [email protected] Turner Sims Concert Hall After party at Vodka Revolutions to celebrate! Madcap musicians attempt a cycle of all 104 of Haydn’s [email protected] Symphonies to raise money for Comic Relief 2009 and the bicentenary of the composer’s death. To find out more about the event including a full timetable and how to take part visit the website at www.haydathon.com [email protected]

To list your society email Lizzie Gross, Societies Coordinator at [email protected]. A form will be emailed to you. The Wessex Scene meets Desmond Tutu

Emmeline Curtis After Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s speech in the project you know, and it’s here. Students were inspired by a visit from Arch- Cube, the Wessex Scene went along to a short bishop Desmond Tutu, as the first RAG ‘Com- press conference to chat about Southampton, The Church of England particularly struggles munity Day’ proved a huge success. young people, and the Church of England. to attract people of ethnic minority back- The RAG society’s ‘Community Day’ was grounds. What do you think the Church of held on February 11th, and for one day the Have you been to Southampton before? England can do about that? Union was crowded with society stalls and lo- Tutu: No actually, I don’t think, not Southamp- Tutu: (Laughs) I think it isn’t just the Church cal fair trade businesses. Entertainment was ton. My wife and two children docked here when of England here, it is in so many other parts of the provided by the PAU, and secular societies they came to England for the first time in 1962. world where often the church has not adjusted, such as Stop Aids and Amnesty International you know, and accepted that these people have were placed alongside Jewish Society and the How have your experiences of Southampton a culture of their own, and that Christianity ought Christian Union to spread a message of soli- been? to come integrated in that culture. Often we have darity and community. Even the Stag’s Head Tutu: Obviously limited, but what I have seen tended, even in South Africa, we have tended to got involved, with exclusive RAG cocktails on of, and I mainly have seen the student community, think that God didn’t look at you, couldn’t rec- sale for the day. it’s beautiful. We drove around a little bit when ognise you unless you wore Western garb, and Crowds gathered in the student haunt we went to…I keep trying to remember the name wouldn’t recognise you if you were dancing and where the talks were shown on screens; stu- of this village where…Netley Marsh (laughs), and beating drums. But we’re getting better, I mean dents watched in silence the three main speak- it is beautiful. The countryside is lovely, and you I think the Church here is aware of this having to ers of the day: Alexander Rose, from the STOP have a very large student community. There are integrate the Gospel in a way that belongs in each campaign, Lesley Belinda, who works for the 3000 students at this University, that’s a huge particular culture. Tutu Foundation, and Archbishop Desmond We say young people are the community. It’s a lovely city. Tutu himself, there to spread his message that future, but they really are al- How do you think minority groups are being “we can only be human together.” How important to you is it to interact with seen in the UK, and what problems are they The event was a huge success, with a lot ready the present...they can young people in the way that you have done facing? of money raised for the Tutu Foundation. It is inspire you. today? Tutu: Woooo. I think they are seen in many hoped the event will become a yearly tradition, Tutu: Why, I would have thought my life was parts possibly as problems, but you know we live bringing together and raising awareness of the totally useless if I didn’t. Of course I mean they, here, and maybe we are protected by belonging many different groups, cultures, and religions they are, well we say they are the future, but they to the church community. We didn’t experience in the University. really are already the present, and I think that if the kind of racism that often is exhibited in Brit- Speaking about the day, RAG President you didn’t, you don’t have the chance of influenc- ain, which comes usually when things aren’t going Lucy Campion said, “I think it went fantasti- ing them, and they inspiring you. too well economically. Then you look out for those cally. He seemed to really relate to the stu- who look like you, and outsiders tend to get the dents, and I think they related back to him. I You obviously have an important message to thin end of the stick! hope that it reinforced the idea of community spread to people, how important is it coming within the University.” to Southampton and telling this to people? If people in the United Kingdom could do one Tutu: Well, actually I omitted one thing. This thing to better support Africa, what would “Go for it. Dream the is part of the business of making out that you it be? dreams you dream about a don’t have notes, I had notes in my head, and Tutu: Help to make poverty history. (Laughs) better world for all of us.” the one thing that I did actually forget, which I Isn’t that smart! Yes, I mean, I think it is ultimate- Archbishop Desmond Tutu should have mentioned, is that the students here ly making the economic order, the international Tutu’s speech, which lasted around thirty have been collecting funds and donating them to economic order more just, more fair. Because I minutes, focused on the role young people, or the Tutu Foundation. Sorry Lucy, that I missed mean look, you have subsidies here for your other as he termed us, ‘dreamers’. He congratu- out, I should have. I did think yes I left some- cultural. I think it was the BBC that showed in a lated and encouraged our idealism that the thing out, but then you’ll excuse an old man! You programme that in the EU they spend $2.50 per world could be a less cruel place, proclaiming see, there’s something wonderful that’s happen- day per car, and there are people round the world, that now more than ever this idealism could ing, and this tools for self-reliance is a fantastic millions, who survive on less than $1 a day. become a reality. He congratulated those stu- dents who for the most selfless of reasons give their time and money to volunteer pro- grammes, and those who take gap year trav- els to impoverished countries. He expressed his happy surprise that young people in the Western world were turning out ‘whole’ and conscientious, despite the pressures of con- temporary society. That they were asking the right questions, simple and too often over- looked questions, such as what justification can there be for spending so much money on destruction and war when there is such pov- erty and starvation in the world? There was hope in the Archbishop’s rheto- ric as he claimed the world has begun to see that the ideals of goodness and true altruism offer us the best way to live – one world with enough resources for everybody; a global community, full of love. No war on terror can be won when there are conditions in the world which make people so desperate. He left his audience with: “Go for it, dream the dreams you dream about a better world for all of us. Dream that we will one day be able to share, so that no one need go to bed hungry and that war would never happen again.” After his speech, Tutu, 77, spent time walk- ing around the stalls and talking with the stu- dents who had volunteered their time for the day. People gathered to see him as he left for a press conference; interest indicative of Tutu’s unequivocal status as an inspirational advoca- tor of human rights. He took all the attention in good humour, with a smile for everyone. Page 10 Features To Kill Or Not To Kill - The Vital Question Assisted suicide - a person’s right to choose, or a failure to protect the vulnerable? Hayley Taulbut laws surrounding euthanasia, if not change them greater access and greater choice at the end of Ok, this issue I’m afraid you’re entirely. their life, with access to assisted suicide if needs stuck with just me (Rachael), With the recent failure of MS sufferer Debbie For anti-euthanasia group Care Not Killing, be. as Carla’s under the weather, Purdy’s appeal to the govenrment to clarify the legalising assisted suicide would not provide the The fact that other countries such as Switzer- but I’ve tried to pull togeth- uncertainty surrounding the assisted suicide law, care and the protection for people when they are land have a system in place precisely for assisted er another diverse bunch the intensely debated case for and against eutha- at their most vulnerable. They feel that by making suicides slightly undermines the argument against of articles to entertain nasia is thrust into the public sphere once more. the legalisation. For sufferers such as Debbie, she you all. Debbie, now 45, has suffered from multiple Over 100 cases of assisted not only has to leave the country to die with digni- Hot on the heels of our sclerosis since 1995, and has been a wheelchair ty, but she will also have to take into consideration journalistically-advanced user since 2001. She is now coming to a point suicide have been taken to the consequences that could face her husband friends over at sport,we’re responding to their where she fears that she will lose control over court, but no-one has ever Omar Puente when he returns home. Potentially, ‘A Day in the Life of Potter’, by following our very the upper half of her body too, and wanted some she could still die with the fear that her husband own VP Media and Comms and Editor-in-Chief clarity to be provided about the euthanasia laws. been prosecuted. may go to prison for assisting with her death in a Adam Parker around for the day. Like we said Technically, assisting in someone’s death in any very small way. So how much longer can the gov- last issue, THE THINGS WE DO FOR YOU READ- small way is a criminal offence, and can be pun- the process legal they would be pressuring people ernment continue to force their citizens to other ERS! We also have a thought-provoking look at ishable of up to fourteen years under the 1961 who suffer from long-term illnesses into making a countries so they no longer have to deal with life student favourite Deal or No Deal from SUSU. Suicide Act. Yet, according to Liberal Democrat decision to end their own life with the help of oth- changing conditions? TV’s very own David Howell, and one brave writer MP Dr. Evan Harris, over 100 cases of assisted ers. By keeping euthanasia illegal, they feel that Well, that depends on your stance against as- challenges herself to take on rock-climbing (rath- suicide have been taken to court, but no-one has this removes this pressure. But what of the other sisted suicide. Care Not Killing would probably say er her than me). ever been prosecuted. If this be true, it would side of the coin? Counter organisation Dignity in that they can continue this dance of uncertainty Sticking to our debate-inducing themes of make sense for Parliament to at least review the Dying wish for people who are suffering to have forever, and that would suit them just fine. But late, we take a look at euthanasia in the UK, and Seb Buckle has written up Stonewall’s visit to SUSULGB in a very informative piece about ad- dressing homophobia in the workplace, especially relevant to those graduating this year. No Walk in the Park for Parker: VP Comms So what have I been up to since last issue? Well, for anyone who doesn’t know me personally If you thought all he did was sit around playing on Macs…then you’d be nearly right! and thus already had their ear chewed off about this…I GOT A BLACK EYE! This is quite major Rachael Sigee paign ideas and more voting posters. This almost news and I wish I had a great story of me saving results in broken office equipment in attempting some children while gallantly taking a blow in the It’s 10am and a little earlier than this (lazy) Fea- to cut more posters than the guillotine will allow; process, but actually I just got hit in the face by a tures Editor would care to be up, but I was beaten IT confirm “Adam Parker has a tendency to bite off friend during a game of basketball, AND HE WAS to it by the ever keen VP Media & Comms Adam more than he can chew.” Reverting back to David ON MY TEAM! Needless to say, my first foray into Parker. He did offer the services of his house Brent mode after this minor setback, Parker an- sport in about 6 years ended with me holding a overnight so that I could get monitoring him from nounces, “There’s no I in team but there is an I in can of Fosters on my face and swigging straight the crack of dawn, and, much as it pained me to independence”. I congratulate him on his ability from my bottle of wine. I was also working the turn him down, I decided it wasn’t very profes- to spell and ask if he has any other clichés he’d heroin-chic look for around a week. It didn’t re- sional. But what generosity from your VP eh? like to share; I am promptly informed that I’m ally help that that night I went out fancy-dressed Actually tracking Parker down proves diffi- close to being sacked, and shut up. as Madonna à la Desperately Seeking Susan – I cult, as you may only recognise him as a blur of Parker explains that in theory, his role is looked like a prostitute who hadn’t paid for her brightly coloured SUSU t-shirt, but I find him in strategic not operational, but that he is particu- drugs on time. No more sport for me, no no. the depths of the Union in the IT & Media Mar- larly hands-on. Indeed, having spent all weekend We’ve also all been caught up in elections keting Office (IMM). Having been assured that working on election plans, it doesn’t feel like the mania, and I sincerely hope that you all voted he is “amazing in the mornings”, I find that the beginning of the week for the VP. He’s rushed off because it wasn’t until I started working for the stress and strain of the elections are beginning his feet and works long days, claiming that the Wessex Scene that I realised how much the Sab- to dent the chirpy, cheeky chappy demeanour. most productive time is after 5 o’clock when uni batical team really do for the student body (as Voting opened at 9 this morning, and Parker is winding down. This is all very interesting and you will gather from reading my article about is desperate to achieve the highest ever voter indicates dedication to his role, but I’m quite con- Adam Parker). turnout, beating Nick Culley! He is putting the cerned that it’s lunchtime and a break doesn’t Lastly I just want to stress to you all that final touches to posters encouraging students to seem to be on the horizon. there are only two more issues of the Scene this vote, while simultaneously managing to harass Back in the Sabbs office, Parker is trawling year as we wind down in the run up to summer most members of the IT and Marketing teams through emails and messages on Facebook that exams (yes I know it seems like Semester 1 was and have an argument with the printer. A quick A face you can trust...? arrive as a result of his being an Admin on all only last week, but they will creep up on us). So visit from SUSU President Alex Tanfield to talk Next it’s on to some regular duties for Parker, campaign groups. Parker then demonstrates his if any of you haven’t plucked up the courage or elections and we are on the move, but not before checking in on SUSU.TV editing the video foot- favourite trick of logging onto other people’s com- haven’t found the time to write something for us I’m given a lollipop – a bribe for me to write nice age of Campaign Week, before again running back puters from his, and scaring editors in the Media then have a crack over the Easter break and send things? Well, I’m not adverse to him trying. across to the Union. Parker’s regular claims that Resources room when their computer begins act- them in – we still check emails over the holiday. he’s an excellent sportsman seem mildly more be- ing of its own accord. I have to admit, this is much The best issues are the ones with the most con- “There’s no I in team but lievable based on his fitness levels…but are prob- funnier from his position. tributions, and once again we’d like to thank eve- there is an I in independ- ably still rubbish. We bump into Henry Potter, AU ryone who has sent us in ideas and articles in the ence!” President, who finds it hilarious that I’m follow- last month; we couldn’t do it without you. ing Parker for the day, and clearly thinks Sports 20 Adam Parker, VP Media Have a lovely Easter break, good luck to eve- Ed. Tim got the better draw following him. They the number of hours that Parker’s Duracell bunny and Communications ryone buried underneath their dissertation at the get deep into secret discussions about how to in- batteries run for in a day. moment, and we shall see you all again in the Next up is a call from the TV station manager filtrate the student body and encourage voting – The afternoon begins with an Election Commit- summer term! of Loughborough University. Parker has for the these two might have careers as undercover spies tee meeting which Parker is late to, as per usual Contact us in the usual way: first time ever helped arrange a live link-up of ahead of them at this rate. I am led to believe, but we just about make it [email protected] election night between two UK universities, an Back in Media Resources, Parker is checking and are loudly greeted as ‘Parker. Parker’s bitch’. example of the work SUSU.TV does as head of that none of the Scene team have broken any of Thank you Potter. The meeting is short and sweet the National Student Television Association. De- his beloved Macs, while shouting design ideas at as everyone is busy, but important plans for re- spite me explaining that my legs are quite short editors and organising a camera for SUSU.TV’s sults night are discussed. There is a minor disa- Carla and and struggling to keep up, Parker takes 3 steps at independent elections video reporter, Shiny Dave. greement over what the Sabbs team will wear as a time charging up the Union stairs, while shout- In IT I learn the valuable nugget of information, they discuss black tie, but Parker refuses. I can Rachael ing “see, I’m an ideas man”, with more than an that while Joel can type 150 words/minute, that is only attribute this to Parker not actually owning a echo of David Brent. We then enter into some still not fast enough to keep up with Parker talking. suit, but he seems to be genuinely excited about innovative poster placement to encourage voters, It’s back to the elections grindstone now, checking a t-shirt being delivered tomorrow that he and and gloat over the very snazzy Voting Bus. up on results night graphics while approving cam- IT will be sporting. His sense of style relying on Page 11 Features To Kill Or Not To Kill - The Vital Question Stonewall Visit Southampton Assisted suicide - a person’s right to choose, or a failure to protect the vulnerable? The largest gay rights charity in the UK speak to the LGB Society what of those who suffer from terminal illness- Seb Buckle such as ‘that’s so gay’ (consider, for example, the es such as Debbie? Surely this uncertainty only reaction if someone said, ‘that’s so black’). In numbers facts makes the process all the more traumatic than The University’s Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual So- For those not au fait with the laws surrounding perhaps it need be? If the government put their ciety (SUSULGB) has welcomed a representative gay rights, it is easy to assume that the legislation foot down and clarified their position in relation of Stonewall, the largest gay rights charity in the protecting a significant proportion of the popula- 1967 to euthanasia, then everyone would know where UK, to Southampton to talk about homophobia in tion has been in force for some time. The reality before this year, sexual acts between men were they stood. Surely that is better for everyone, the workplace. As part of a number of initiatives couldn’t be further from the truth. Before 1967 punishable with a prison sentence. whether you are for or against it. launched by the current LGB to diversify their sexual acts between men were punishable with a events beyond the traditional alcohol-fuelled ac- prison sentence. It was only in 2001 that the age tivity, this sits within a programme of alternative of consent was brought into line with heterosexual • Lloyds TSB top the ‘Stonewall Top 100 En- evenings. couples at 16, and before 2006 it was perfectly le- ployers List’ of companies supporting equal The speaker, Dave Small, who specialises in gal for a company to discriminate in the provision treatment of homosexual employees. workplace programmes at Stonewall, came with of services based on sexual orientation, which first-hand experience of working in what has tra- meant shops, hotels, or bars could refuse service fear many gay men and lesbians have in report- ditionally been considered a homophobic environ- to a gay man or a lesbian. ing homophobic crime to the police, the speaker ment, having spent twenty-four years in the Roy- Although Stonewall were initially founded in pointed out that Hampshire Constabulary came al Navy. He encouraged those present to consider order to fight homophobic legislation, the success second in this list of employers, and take incred- carefully, when applying for jobs after graduating, of their organisation in lobbying for legislative ibly seriously their role as an inclusive police force. what policies the organisations have in order to changes have forced them to diversify their ac- As a result they have two hundred lesbian and combat homophobic bullying, which ranges from tions. They are now a charity which concentrates gay liaison officers (LAGLOs) who are available open hostility, to more discreet forms such as on using the changes they fought for to enact regarding LGB policing matters. He also pointed isolating gay colleagues, or making comments improvements to individual lives. Central to this out that, contrary to popular belief, and based on Debbie Purdy fights for her rights is their work with employers to ensure that the independent YouGov polls, the majority of people laws surrounding the equal treatment of gay men of faith (83%) are in favour of laws protecting gay and lesbians are enforced. The most public face of men and lesbians. It is often, unfortunately, peo- No Walk in the Park for Parker: VP Comms this is the annual publication of the ‘Stonewall Top ple with the loudest voices who we assume speak 100 Employers’ list, which this year was topped for the whole, while the liberal majority remain If you thought all he did was sit around playing on Macs…then you’d be nearly right! by Lloyds TSB. silent. Working with 465 organisations, Stonewall con- In an increasingly diversified world it is impor- SUSU branded clothing never fails to disappoint centrates on cultivating a positive attitude towards tant to reinforce the fact that all SUSULGB events and later, SUSU.TV Director Jeni Bolitho-Jones gay people, while recognising that different em- are not predicated on a gay sexual identity. SU- looks less than impressed on being given advice ployers are starting out from different points. As SULGB are keen to promote themselves as more on what to wear from Gok Parker himself. a result they only publish a list of the best people than just a group who organise weekly trips to the The rest of the day is dedicated to firming to work for, and not the worst, in order to create local gay bars (after all, you don’t need a society up the timetable for Wednesday night, in an ex- competition between these groups and a positive to do that). From sexual health-talks, which more tremely complicated but very pretty colour-coded attitude surrounding alternative forms of sexuality. than ever can affect anyone, regardless of sexu- document, planning everything down to each five Their ‘Starting Out Guide’ is the UK’s first national ality, to an alternative film night giving students minute interval, while Parker’s phone is constantly gay recruitment guide, and its twenty-thousand the opportunity to watch and discuss films that buzzing with queries and questions. print run is sent to every school and university in include references to lesbian, gay, and bisexual I leave Parker late in the afternoon to head the country. Those organisations, moreover, who characters, they are breaking the stereotype of home and write this up, but he probably won’t work with Stonewall to foster a more tolerant atti- what an LGB society is for. leave until it’s dark. He’ll spend a few more hours tude in their workplace, are entitled to include the For more information regarding SUSULGB, psyching up the promo team to encourage voters, Stonewall logo on their job adverts as a hallmark please visit their website www.lgb.susu.org, and checking edits on SUSU.TV, answering questions of their diversity credentials. for information regarding Stonewall, please visit from the Scene team on his newly designed tem- Responding to an audience question about the www.stonewall.org.uk plate, and bouncing around in the IMM office. He still hasn’t had any lunch, nor has he shut up for longer than about 30seconds – just feel grateful that I’ve only included a select few of his words Technology vs. Books Debate of wisdom. Emmeline Curtis judge a book by its cover!) and the old fashioned Essentially a Duracell bunny, hardback books with ornate gold lettering. Re- Parker is thoroughly enthusias- I love reading. I can’t think of anything better placing all of these with a single electronic device tic and not quite as stupid as he than curling up in my bed, escaping into a whole would give me a lot more space admittedly, but I new world and forgetting about my own life for don’t think it is worth it. looks. a few hours. Technology is slowly being invented to replace Apart from being an expert on the finger When I was younger I would spend hours hid- what seems like everything, but this is not always drums and essentially a Duracell bunny, Parker is ing away with a succession of books, imagining I for the better. Holding a book in your hands and thoroughly enthusiastic and not quite as stupid was part of the excitement I was reading about. turning the pages in eagerness to find out what as he looks on technical matters. Meanwhile, I’m Nowadays I have much less time on my hands will happen next is part of what reading is about, exhausted and happy we’re not doing the same to enjoy them, but there are often times I would and seeing a book that is all worn and battered thing tomorrow. It’s a particularly busy day with rather enjoy my favourite book than go out. This sounds great in theory, but to me takes away shows how much enjoyment someone has had election fever rife, but take my word for it, this Part of what I love about reading is the book part of the fun. My room is filled with books that out of it. The fun of reading would be slightly ru- VP doesn’t sit still regardless of what’s going on. I itself, and I am sceptical of the new technological I have enjoyed; I spend hours exploring charity ined by squinting at a small screen, and you can hope the next VP Media & Comms can follow the craze of digital e-book readers. A small device, shops, books shops and car boot sales to see what guarantee that just as you get to the exciting con- example of someone devoted to their Union and about as big as an i-Pod, can store thousands of hidden jems I can find. My eye is attracted by clusion the battery will die! Nothing can replace moving its media departments forward. books on it, to be read and enjoyed anywhere. the pretty covers (even though you should never the experience of reading from a proper book. Smitten in Soton

I overheard you talking about Masterchef at To the hottie propping up the bar in the Stags You were playing football at Varsity and I didn’t JJ, I love your glasses and intelligence - you Avenue campus, and I reckon I can cook you on Wednesday afternoons. You’re scruffy but sexy care about the score when I saw your legs. I was make me nervous and that’s why I’m quiet. Did up a storm. Bring your infectious laugh round and I like Baileys too. Call me. Flic. cheering you on the whole time. From Blonde you miss me the other week? Will you be my to dinner sometime. Bald but brilliant. but Shy. personal tutor? K. Page 12 Features Rock Climbing: A Big Adrenaline Rush Despite her fear, one Wessex Scene writer keeps climbing that colourful wall to the top Jazmin Sherman that far I told myself. As Ben led me downstairs I was right up against the wall, as ready as I could the anticipation was killing me, I could feel my be. I placed both of my hands where Ben had “Hey Ben! How’s it going? What are you up to?” stomach knotting as I explained to him that I am shown me to, took my first step up and began to “Oh just heading off to go rock climbing actually…” a chronic chicken, and that maybe this first time I climb. With each movement I felt all the muscles His sentenced trailed off as I zoned out complete- will just watch. He just looked at me and laughed. in my body tighten up. My breath got heavier and ly, fixated on one thing: rock climbing. I however, found nothing funny about that state- my heart raced. I gripped onto each plastic mould And that conversation is how I ended up rock ment; this was going to be…interesting. knowing that unfortunately the only place I would climbing on a Tuesday afternoon. We arrived at a door, dropped our stuff, and he go was down. From the moment I told Ben I wanted to go handed me climbing shoes to put on while he un- Then, after I was a little bit higher than half climbing, I knew I had gotten myself into trou- locked the door. When I finished tying my shoelace, way up the wall, I got stuck. “Ben!” I whined, “My ble. Don’t get me wrong, I was interested in I looked up cautiously at the rock walls towering leg doesn’t go that far! Can I just come down going, but I have a love–hate relationship with over me. Here we go again I thought. I followed now?” Somehow, I knew what his reply would be, rock climbing. Prior to our conversation I had him into the room with padded floors (where I but I had to give it a try. gone twice before in America, both times being would probably be spending most of my time I “Jaz, just pull yourself up a little more with your roped into it by a friend. It’s those experiences thought) and walls filled with different colored left hand and shift all your weight to your left side that formed my relationship with rock climbing. I grips as paths up to the top. Ben introduced me and then try. Trust me. You are so close.” I turned loved it; my stomach on the other hand did not. to his friend Helton, who had been rock climbing my head away from the floor, which in my mind It was one of those cases similar to that of going for years, which made me feel slightly better, al- was miles down, closed my eyes for a second, and to the gym - you don’t really want to, but when though not enough to stop my palms from begin- focused on his instructions. I swung my body to you’re finished you feel great. Well, I was always ning to sweat. Before I could even utter a single me. This was a battle I had already lost. the left and I stretched my right leg to the next massively scared to rock climb, but when I made sentence Ben was climbing up a wall. I stood on After some more moaning, I finally agreed. mould. With a little effort, an exhalation and some it to the top the feeling was incredible. the ground absolutely bewildered. They pointed out an ‘easy’ route and offered a few muscle tensing, I made it. The last few move- “But…where are the ropes, the harnesses, you tips, I nodded and hoped I looked more confident ments felt like baby steps compared to my last Rock climbing is a know, those lovely gadgets that keep me from fall- then I felt. As I walked towards the wall my stom- maneuver and as I got to the top I felt my smile demanding sport, that ing on my ass?” Helton looked at me and laughed, ach began knotting itself into a big tangled mess, growing wider. The adrenaline rush that flooded tests your strength, apparently this question amused him. “Here we similar to my love life, but I won’t even start on my body when I grabbed the top of the wall was endurance and bal- don’t use them, it’s just you and the wall.” Great. that topic. amazing; it came with a wave of excitement and a ance. “You cannot be serious, what about release Ben handed me some chalk to dust my hands sense of accomplishment. forms or insurance policies? What if I, you know…” with, gave me a pat on my shoulder and told me I That feeling, like a slap in the face of posi- It was 4pm on a Tuesday afternoon when we He stopped me before I could finish. I whined for could do it. I turned around hesitantly, looked up tive, adrenaline-fueled emotions is why, all hatred met outside the Cube – at least I had made it a few more minutes as he and Ben just nodded at and took a deep breath. With a few steps forward aside, I have kept at rock climbing ever since. Endorsing gambling to kids? Big Deal Why a student cult hit is not the harmless fun it may appear, but a serious risk to children David Howell the number of people ‘Advertisements for gambling must not…exploit who have won less than the susceptibilities, aspirations, credulity, inex- 36 £1. perience or lack of knowledge of children, young persons or other vulnerable persons…suggest that the number of people gambling can be a solution to financial concerns… who have won £75,000 be of particular appeal to children or young per- 23 or more. sons.’ Those are quotes from Ofcom’s regulation of by fifth-offer Deals). gambling advertisements on television. What One might think, so what? They can make up happens however, when the television show itself their own mind, and so can the viewers. Not en- becomes the advertisement? No doubt thoughts tirely true, according to Sara Lueddeke, whose will turn to call-and-lose ‘quiz TV’ shows, now as PhD at the University of Southampton is funded discredited a relic of the credit bubble as 110% by the Responsibility in Gambling Trust and inves- mortgages. But one of the most-viewed daytime tigates cognitive processes in gambling. “A lot of shows in Britain can be seen as barely different. research has stated that in certain types of framing of questions you are going to make a risk-averse A quarter of a mil- or a risk-seeking decision”, she notes, adding that lion or a penny? It’s contestants are likely to emphasise the highest what’s inside this prizes and the fact they “came with nothing” and box which makes or frame their decisions accordingly. While around breaks contestants. 75% of contestants do generally deal eventually, demonstrating some degree of free will (“they are their own person”), Lueddeke does suggest Deal or No Deal has become cult student and “it’s very hard for contestants to...act against that pensioner viewing since it aired immediately after social pressure for people to go for that jackpot.” Countdown on Halloween 2005, and quickly be- That’s not to say the show being a risk-reward money treated as some flippant, take-it-or-leave- She concludes that “children and youth should be came Channel 4’s most-viewed daytime show – a gameSmall is intrinsically innocent wrong.children Some being gambles corrupted will go intoit commodity.” a life of gambling Within months, and risk-taking... he was reneging protected from these type of risks.” distinction it has maintained ever since, consist- wrong, some will go right, and that’s the game on that promise, showing obvious approval of Apparently producers Endemol – makers of Big ently drawing over two million viewers. Although – in that sense, the show actually presents gam- risk-takers and disapproval of those who settled Brother after all – are far more concerned with Channel 4 no longer publishes a demographic bling in a very reasonably balanced manner. What for a moderate Deal, talking of ‘courage’ as the making ‘good television’. Expect increasingly overt breakdown of its audiences for daytime shows, isn’t acceptable is the overt favouritism displayed major attribute contestants need (as opposed to manipulation in a bid to create a second jackpot when it did it appeared around 250,000 children towards contestants displaying risk-taking prefer- his former use of ‘timing’), and regularly claim- winner, and remember that such overtly manipu- were watching the show each day. That’s a quar- ences. ing that Deals at the third offer – before the sec- lated television may well be ‘good television’, but ter of a million (oh, the irony of that number) who In the early days of the show, confronted with ond commercial break – are almost doomed to is always ‘evil television’. Those young, suscepti- are intended to be spared from endorsements of a hyped-up contestant keen to reject an opening failure (a demonstrably false claim – 36 players ble, aspirational, credulous and unknowledgable gambling, but are viewing a game show which offer immediately, host Noel Edmonds felt inclined have Dealt at this point and for nine it has been viewers provide a quarter of a million reasons to does just that. to insist, “I never ever on this show want to see the correct decision, a success rate bettered only disapprove of the show’s production decisions. BRING YOUR IDEAS TO LIFE. 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Lunch provided For more details contact [email protected] www.civil.soton.ac.uk All Welcome Page 14 Travel Let’s Split: Gateway to the Adriatic Sea Croatia’s second city offers an opulent 4th Century UNESCO palace and a decent beach Jordan Walker Despite being Croatia’s second city, central Split is a relatively small size, and for this reason, A cool sea breeze gushed into the train as the along with the excellent transport infrastructure, doors whooshed open at the final stop; a refresh- it makes an ideal place to visit en route to the ing and much appreciated contrast to the stag- region’s other attractions. nant smell of tobacco which permeated the gruel- The newly refurbished quayside terrace, the ling six hour journey to Split. The underdeveloped Riva, is plentiful in restaurants and bars. It is the station offered but a moments protection from perfect spot to unwind with a cold beer and people the busy street outside, which doubled as the watch while the sun goes down over the tranquil bus station and ferry terminal. The city planners old harbour. certainly wanted the transport infrastructure all in The Riva is overlooked, however, by Split’s one place. No doubt this is convenient, though a main attraction: the UNESCO protected Diokl- little overwhelming as a first impression. ecijanova Palača (The Palace of Diocletian) which The city of Split, on Croatia’s Dalmatian coast, provides the weary traveller with a restrained wel- Split provides the weary travel- coming committee – a small army of old women ler with a restrained welcoming sit close to this transport hub, fanning themselves with their signs offering rooms at cheap rates in committee - old women. a variety of languages. Private apartments are was completed at the turn of the fourth century. It in abundance in this city, though some, inevita- is a ramshackle yet grandiose structure, the most bly, are farther away from the centre than others. architecturally intact example of Roman design in Split does provide a number of hotels too, but if Croatia. The walled grounds of Diocletian domi- all you need is a place to crash for a couple of nate the city centre, shielding a collection of alley nights, an apartment is more than adequate, even ways and modest squares, which, despite its his- for the novice traveller. toric value is very much still a vivacious, function- This Adriatic city connects the capital, Zagreb, ing site. Although no longer performing its palatial with the Dalmatian coast and islands. While it is duties, it contains many shops, homes, and the the end of the line as far as trains are concerned, odd Centurion in full Roman attire, willing, at a regular buses depart for the historic World Herit- cost, to pose with you for that priceless photo. age city of Dubrovnik, as well as links to Bosnia- A short walk from the centre is Bačvice beach, Herzegovina. Moreover, a vast array of ferries line populated predominantly by locals; it is an accom- the dock ready to transport you to the many is- modating yet populous place to melt under the lands which litter this coastline, the largest and sun. The shallow bay provides a sheltered area to more popular island of Brač included. relax, a world away from this small, yet busy city. For the Snow,A collection ofor houses built For upon the Dioklecijanova the Palace Socialising? Why quieter resorts might make for great snowboarding, at the expense of a nightlife Hana Cooper slightly raunchier reds were vacant for my picking, keen to be up on the first lift the next day, but to one week in a sleepy French resort, and a week causing my style to improve significantly through- my horror, the Penken lift to the top of the moun- in a lively Austrian one, you have to ask yourself Over the Christmas holidays I was lucky enough out the week. After a full day of boarding, I was tain was already heaving by 9am! We queued for one question; when booking a snowboarding (or to snowboard in a French and Austrian resort. An always so tired in the evenings, so I wasn’t too over an hour to even get on the slopes, and once dare I say it – skiing) holiday, are you going for hour higher than Tignes, I spent the Christmas fussed about the lack of a buzzing nightlife. we were up there, it was even more rammed than the sport or for the socialising? If it’s the first, I week exploring the tiny village of Les Coches. Hav- I used my French trip as somewhat of a trial at the bottom. Comparing the main run to Friday advise you to look at the quieter resorts with a ing only one pub and a few shops, the resort was run on my new board, before venturing to Austria night on the M6 would be an understatement. The few hotels and bars. You may be sacrificing your very quiet, even over the busy period. It was lack- with my boyfriend the week after. As he is a snow- slopes were full of skiers desperate to break each social life, but, believe me, your confidence and ing a social scene, but the beauty of this meant board instructor, I was eager to show off my new other’s bones in the process of charging down the satisfaction on the slopes will benefit. If it’s the that the pistes were wonderfully clear and free. I style, and I couldn’t wait for him to check out my hill, their style left behind, at dangerous speeds. après-ski you’re after however, you will have to spent the week in a catered chalet nestled in the fresh carving technique. For New Year we travelled I was petrified! There were people everywhere – be prepared to compete with all the other snow heart of the French Alps, and I was excited to test to Myerhoffen, a large snowboarding Mecca near all seemingly determined to cause me an injury. seekers who are also after a good time. Another the empty runs. As a snowboarder, I was in the Innsbruck in Austria. Here there were masses of Needless to say, I was not impressed. option is to travel out of the busy periods, but minority on the slopes, but luckily there weren’t bars, shops and hotels, quite unlike sleepy Les After my first day of cautiously carving down with the way our terms are planned, that probably too many skiers to cut me up! The baby blues and Coches. Desperate to impress my boyfriend, I was the choked pistes, I needed a drink, and luckily, won’t be an option. So, for now, which will it be? A the nightlife in Myerhoffen was brilliant. The town week of lively drinking, but hours of queuing, or a was definitely geared for all the tourists – unfor- week of free slopes without a drink at the bottom? Choose wisely and happy boarding. To my horror, the Penken lift to the top of the mountain was al- Snowboarding In Numbers ready heaving by 9am!

tunately, the pistes were not. After a few days of clinging to my boyfriend and shouting at crazy ski- people snowboard regularly, and this number is ers (having lost all my confidence in the process), steadily rising every year. I dumped my board and took to the sky instead. Paragliding is a popular alternative in Myerhoffen, and one I hoped would give me some space on, or rather above, the slopes. Luckily, I found what 1 in 4 I was looking for, and enjoyed a spectacular view 7,200,000snowboarders are aged 25 to 44, and more than after having run off the mountain with a canopy 17% are below the age of 11. strapped to my back. I had to laugh at my fellow boarders as they were pushed to the side of the mountain in despair as I sailed past, making my own path and saving myself from injury on the 25% way down. of snowboarders are female, according to a re- I come to this conclusion – after having spent cent survey of those hitting the slopes.

Paragliding through the High Alps, near the French/Austrian border Travel The Cosmopolitan Capital With St. Patrick’s Day approaching, the time is ripe to visit Ireland Almaz Ohene Johnnie Fox’s is one pub, which, although a rounding regions boast over forty museums and Our 7th issue rolls around as the spring weather fair distance (around 35 minutes) from the hus- galleries for wide ranging tastes, from the Mon- approaches, with finally some sunny skies- mak The Guinness Storehouse in St James’s Gate tle and bustle of Dublin, is definitely worth a visit. ster Truck Gallery and Studio to the James Joyce ing the days seem less dreary. And to celebrate, Brewery is the place every Guinness lover must Situated in Glen Cullen, close to top of the Dublin Museum and the National Gallery of Ireland. And the Editor’s column has been converted to fit in visit. The towering seven-storey building, a mountains, Johnnie Fox’s is one of Ireland’s old- as with all capital cities, many of the places of with the rest of the Travel section’s colour scheme, former Guinness fermentation plant, has been est and most famous traditional pubs. It’s also interest are free, which means more money avail- with our lovely shade of midnight blue. remodelled into the shape of a giant Guinness famed as the highest pub in the country, so be able for celebrating St. Paddy’s Day in true Irish In response to our article on flying cheaply glass. Here you’ll be taught everything you ever aware that alcohol tolerance levels differ in higher style. Although it’s worth mentioning that a pint from last edition, it is important to remember wanted to know about this world-famous stout, altitudes. Live music can be heard seven nights a will put you back between 5 and 6 Euros, and with there is an alternative. If you feel guilty about from how the beverage is made to the ancient week, mostly of Irish tradition and ideal for war- the Euro being so strong against the pound these flying because of environmental reasons, you craft of Guinness barrel making in the Cooperage. bling along to. days, that works out at between almost 5 and 6 may be interested to check out www.seat61.com, Visitors to the Gravity Bar get a complimentary If it’s culture of a more refined kind that you’re pounds per pint. Isn’t it a good job we have stu- which offers advice on how to travel around the pint of The Black Stuff and can enjoy it while tak- after you’re in luck, because Dublin and the sur- dent loans, eh! world quickly and economically without flying. It’s ing in the breathtaking named after ‘The Man in Seat Sixty-One’, Mark views across Dublin City. Smith, who regularly requests to travel in Seat This year is especially 61 whenever travelling by train. It’s generally a a good time to visit, as great resource, offering information and practical Guinness Storehouse will for practically every country in the world. be hosting a massive St. I’m very pleased to say we have a bumper se- Patrick’s Day celebration, lection of choice articles for you, with a distinctly since it is 250 years since European theme. Our writers have recollected brewing originally be- their experiences on travels in Croatia, Ireland, gan at St. James’s Gate the Austrian Alps, whilst the newly formed Eras- in Dublin. Get ready mus Society offers us a glimpse into what it is like for an onslaught of rock, studying abroad. soul, roots, swing, jazz, Fancy writing for the Wessex Scene travel sec- traditional Irish, as well tion, Southampton’s premier travel supplement? as international street Drop me a line via email with your various articles performers and march- and ideas. ing bands, as over 250 Enjoy this issue, entertainers of every Gareth. description perform and [email protected] commemorate Guinness since 1759. ERASMUS: DiscoverDublin’s River Liffey, What’s as it passes through the old QuaysideOut district There The newly formed Erasmus Society explains why studying abroad is excellent fun Martin Underwood All Aboard ESNtrain You may have heard a few of your friends men- Next month, Erasmus Student Network are tion and contemplate the idea of studying abroad. running a unique chartered train which will These conversations frequently take place, yet so cross the European mainland over 25 days, many students don’t act on them. But why? Our zigzagging its way between 40 cities and stop- University offers arguably one of the most exten- ping in 18 countries. No matter where you are sive ranges of exchange programmes in the UK. headed, everyone is welcome to hop onboard. In particular there are links with no less than 150 The ESNtrain will be running from March 28th universities in 20 European countries, from Aus- to April 21st between such European cities as tria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Amsterdam, Rome, Stockholm and Vienna. You France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Malta, can visit the best museums, go on the best city Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, tours and enjoy the night life in different cities Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey. Further, across Europe. This is a great opportunity not on the International Exchange programmes you only to visit various famous locations, but also can study in Canada, Chile, Mexico, Hong Kong to meet many other students from across the and Singapore. continent. Studying abroad is a fantastic experience that You can choose to spend a single night, sev- really opens your eyes to the opportunities that eral days, or even the entire trip onboard. Prices exist abroad. Not only do you discover a whole are extremely competitive, allowing for a broad new environment and culture, you also develop spectrum of participants to join. It costs only 30 greater levels of confidence, independence and Euros for a single night, along with a one time self-assurance. You may be able to explore new fee of 20 Euros. With this, you get a bed in a topics that you previously would never have had 6 bed sleeping compartment (3 bed compart- the opportunity to study at Southampton, broad- ments are also available), a small daily break- ening your grounding in your subject. Employers fast, a guidebook and a few small surprises. understand and recognise these benefits, there- For further information on the route, train fore your experience abroad definitely enhances year abroad. If you secure a place on a Europe- I can safely say that my Erasmus exchange times, prices and availability, visit www.esn- your future employability prospects. anThe Exchange Erasmus (Erasmus Society Programme), in their natural you will wilderness be was one habitat of the best experiences of my life and I train.org. But I don’t speak another language, I hear you eligible for a mobility grant which can be up to now have so many amazing friends from all over cry! You don’t necessarily need to! There are a £3000. Further assistance is available for flights the world! number of exchange programmes that teach en- from your Local Education Authority, effectively Want to find out more? Join the newly es- tirely in English, which include Belgium, Denmark, paying for all your travel there and back. Tuition tablished Southampton Erasmus Society at eras- Greece, Netherlands, Norway, Malta and Swe- fees are not payable to the University of South- mus.susu.org. Information about our meetings is den. If you have studied a language up to A-level ampton for the year you are away, and there are also available online. standard there are obviously more options avail- no tuition fees to pay at the visiting institution, For further information on which degree sub- able to you, and there are also funded language with the exception of international programme jects are eligible for exchanges please visit: courses to get you up to scratch. universities where tuition fees are still payable to www.soton.ac.uk/internatonal/erasmus or There is funding in place to assist you on your Southampton. email [email protected] Page 16 Lifestyle Supermarket Sweep Is Somerfield actually as cheap as we think?

Hannah Calcutt the fact that Somerfield is considered a conven- ience store and so the prices are higher. Despite Posh, pretentious and pricey, Waitrose is often having a 5% student discount card, the average snubbed by the student’s of Southampton in fa- person can still expect to pay more in Somerfield vour of the seemingly cheaper Somerfield, but than Waitrose on 69% of products. Whilst this when it comes to price how do these supermarkets comparison does not include meat products due really compare. After a bit of undercover journal- to their varying standards, it does cover a wide ism the Wessex Scene has compared the prices range of products that reflect the typical student’s of 58 products, both branded and own branded, shopping basket. Some example products are in- to find some surprising results. It turns out that cluded in our table. 86% of Waitrose products are cheaper than the So remember the next time you are in the equivalent in Somerfield. market for some cornflakes, Somerfield may not This dramatic price difference is mainly due to be as cheap as you think! Lifestyle Gives You Food For Thought! Lifestyle exposes some popular dietary myths, and reveals the real truth behind them...

Bethan James Smoothies are good for you ever. If you go a long time without eating you’ll be You need to drink at least 8 glasses of Smoothies are a great way to help you get tempted to stuff your face at dinner time to make water a day: five portions of fruit and veg a day into your diet, up for the long gap between meals, so it isn’t sav- Okay, so technically this isn’t about food, but they aren’t the miracle health boost that some ing you any calories afterall. but it’s still a popular diet misconception. About diets claim them to be. For example, fruit has a 70% of the body is made up of water, so it’s high sugar content, which accelerates tooth decay. Chocolate is bad for you important to keep hydrated, but it’s a myth Also, people need a balanced diet that includes Common concerns associated with eating that you need to drink eight pints of it a day. In solid foods, and carbohydrates and fats, so liv- chocolate are that it gives you spots, makes you reality, the body needs to take in liquids, and ing off smoothies could deprive the body of these fat, and is generally unhealthy. This is not entirely they don’t necessarily have to be in the form of other vital nutrients. true however, as it also has some notable ben- water. For example, a glass of fruit juice would efits when eaten in moderation. This is particularly be an ideal substitute, and eating foods such as Eating late at night will make you put on the case with dark chocolate, which has a higher apples or grapes are equally effective ways of weight percentage of cocoa solids. For example, it con- replenishing liquids lost through everyday ac- A lot of people avoid late night meals and tains anti-oxidants which can boost the immune tivities. Unfortunately though, alcohol doesn’t snacks, thinking that while you sleep you won’t be system. Studies have proved that it helps lower count as a substitute for water, so don’t take able to burn off the calories, so you’ll end up pil- blood pressure. What a great excuse snacking on this an excuse to go out and drink eight pints of ing on the pounds. This isn’t completely true how- an entire bar! snakebite in Jesters!

Every time you switch on the television or open a magazine, there’s an overwhelming amount of information about food, health and dieting. So, with experts changing their minds everyday about what’s good for you and what’s bad, Lifestyle is here to set the record straight. We’ve gathered to- gether the most confusing food myths, along with the truth behind them…

Eating healthily is expensive You don’t have to blow your loan on the lat- est health food fads to stay in shape. For instance, head to the supermarkets at the end of the day and check out the discount sections. Or take a trip to Portswood and visit the local grocers and buy fresh fruit and veg at bargain prices. For about £1 you can make yourself a delicious and healthy salad, rather than living off pricey ready meals and takeaways.

Carbohydrates make you put on weight Blame the Atkin’s Diet for this popular myth! It’s true that if you eat mountains of carbohy- drates (such as potatoes and bread) every day you’ll probably put on weight, but there’s nothing wrong with them in moderation. They’re essential for balanced nutrition, so try not to cut them out of your diet. Also, they provide you with a slow release of energy, which is perfect for keeping you alert in 9 o’clock lectures!

It should come as a relief to countless chocoholics out there to know that chocolate isn’t always bad for you! Page 17 Lifestyle IKEA - A Real Taste of Sweden? Lifestyle reviews the new Swedish themed shop and restaurant Hi everyone, Welcome to this month’s issue of Lifestyle, which has a food related theme running through- out. Firstly, we serve up a review of the newly- opened Ikea’s restaurant. Ikea is most well-known for its quirky and cheap Scandinavian furniture, but how will it’s food fare when we sample what they have to offer? Take a peek and find out what Lifestyle really thinks… Also this issue, we reveal a truth that will star- tle most readers: Waitrose is actually cheaper than Somerfield! Many students avoid the former at all costs, worried that their loan won’t stretch quite that far, however, have a look at our price comparison, and it could change your shopping habits for good. Plus, don’t miss Lifestyle’s exposé of the truth behind common food myths, in our ‘Food for Thought’ article. For example, did you know that chocolate can actually be good for you? Well, you do now, so get eating! And finally, don’t miss our regular recipe of the month! If you can’t spare the time or cash to get to Ikea, then these meatballs are the next best thing. As always, we look forward to getting your submissions! If you’re stuck for ideas, just send us a message and we’ll help you out.

Get in touch at [email protected]

Bethan and Lydia xxx

Recipe of the Month Lydia Teague lingonberry jam or with pasta and tomato sauce. A drinks, and there is a choice of fairly priced juices, regular sized meatball meal (15 balls) costs £4.15. wine and beer. Make your own Swedish style meatballs at I watched the building of the new IKEA store with I’d definitely recommend having them with chips After having eaten and made your way round home, then you can have as many as you want! great anticipation. When it finally opened I was and cream gravy: the pasta looks a bit worse for the rest of the store, you’ll find the IKEA Swed- Serve them with pasta and tomato sauce, or impatient for a chance to get in there and spend wear after being overcooked in the hot plate, but ish food shop at the exit. This is also suprisingly you could serve them with chips, IKEA style. money I didn’t really have on pointless, wonder- the crisp French-fries are fresh and perfect. There impressive. ful household items. Also exciting (and more rel- are other main courses, and these are seasonal. 250g minced beef/pork or lamb evant to a food review!) was the opening of the On offer at the moment is fish and chips, lime Advisory Note: 1 large onion finely chopped Swedish IKEA restaurant and Swedish food shop. marinated salmon and salmon pyttipanna (salad). avoid the weekend masses! 2 chopped garlic cloves I was sure IKEA used to only sell plastic hot- As you can see, fish is a very prominent feature 1 tsp tomato puree dogs and dry doughnuts at the exit, but when I on the menu - well it is meant to be authentic As with the restaurant, a lot of the products 1 tsp mixed herbs investigated the IKEA Food website there were Swedish fare! are seasonal. At the moment there is an amazing A little plain flour promises of ‘a real taste of Sweden’ at amazingly The desserts are also surprisingly excellent. array of different flavoured herrings, and Swedish small prices. Impressed and intrigued I decided There is a wide choice, including a Daim (a Swed- Easter eggs are starting to come in stock. In Au- Cook the onions in a little olive oil until to brave the Sunday hoards and queue for some ish chocolate bar) cake, almond cake, a strawber- gust we can expect mounds of crayfish, ready for slightly softened. lunch! ry tart and a trio of Swedish cakes. the Swedish tradition of summer crayfish parties. In a large bowl mix the minced meat with Beverages are also great value here. For less Usually in stock are the popular Daim bars and the garlic, tomato puree, herbs and cooked on- The dish of the day here than a quid you can have free re-fills of hot drinks gingerbread biscuits. There is also a huge range of ions. (and the coffee is actually pretty good) or soft condiments, including horseradish sauce and fruit Use your hands to work the ingredients to- is always meatballs! preserves. You can buy frozen, low priced, salmon gether. fillets, whole prawns and smoked salmon. There Preheat some oil in a frying pan and preheat It is indeed a queue. A 45 minute queue. The is also wholewheat pasta, interestingly shaped as the oven to 200c. restaurant is surprisingly clean however, and had reindeer, and a range of savory biscuits. Mould the meat mixture into walnut sized plenty of empty seats considering the volume of You can also buy an exact replica of the meal balls and lightly roll in the plain flour. customers. The queue could easily be avoided, you may have eaten in the restaurant. The gra- Fry in batches until nicely browned on the especially by students, as I’m sure IKEA is much vadlax is available. The meatballs, boiled or outside. quieter on weekdays. The set up is self-service: mashed potatoes, cream sauce and lingonberry Oven cook for an extra 30minutes. grab a tray, cutlery, mug/glass, pick up a start- sauce can all be bought, so you can recreate a Serve and Enjoy! er and dessert and then head to the hot plates Swedish meatball feast at home. Take home a where you’ll be given the dish of your choice. taste of Sweden! There is a choice of two starters; gravadlax Overall, I thought this was somewhere a bit and a prawn and egg open sandwich. These two different to go for lunch, and I will definitely be dishes also work as a light lunch by hav- going back again. The somewhat dubious hot- ing a portion of warm boiled potatoes, dogs are still being served at the exit, along with chips or a side salad with them. The tubs of meatballs (more of them), but the qual- gravadlax (Swedish dill marinated ity of the food being served in the restaurant has salmon) was delicious and very certainly suprised and impressed me. Well worth generous, especially considering it queueing for. only sets you back £2.69. There is also a comprehensive salad bar, with the Atmosphere: 8 option of smaller or larger portions. The main dish of the day here is al- Portion size: 8 ways meatballs! You can have 10, 15 or 20 of them, with chips or potatoes, cream gravy and Food quality: 7 Page 18 Fashion London Fashion Week’s Finest Moments Christopher Kane Richard Nicoll Ossie Clark Vivienne Westwood Wiesia Wagstyl Guy Howes Sara Golec Guy Howes

Hailing from Central St. Martins, Christopher Underwear as outerwear, or ‘utilitarian lingerie’ With the revival of labels like Ossie Clark at Lon- As one would expect, the Duchess of British fash- Kane’s rapid emergence as one of London’s top was the mood of the day at Richard Nicoll’s Au- don Fashion Week, ‘nostalgia’ seems more syn- ion delivered us with a show full of fun for her Au- designers has left many of the fashion elite open- tumn/Winter 2009 show, as the Topshop support- onymous with 2009 fashion than we originally tumn/Winter 2009 collection. With Jo Wood, Alice mouthed; internships at Giles Deacon and Atelier ed designer once again offered fashion followers anticipated. Dellal and Daisy Lowe working their magic on the Versace have made the young 26 year old’s Au- something to get their teeth into. Avsh Alom Gur, the designer of Ossie Clark’s runway, the vast National Hall at Olympia took on tumn/Winter 2009 collection a must see. Whilst sticking to his usual muted palette of Autumn/Winter 2009 collection, continues the an air of the ‘Old School’ for Vivienne Westwood’s Under the theme of ‘Russian Constructivism’, feminine soft pinks, creams and greys, his collab- Clark legacy through the resurrection of 70’s icon- Red Label. Drawing on the cartoonist Roland Sear- Kane showcased a mixture of soft tulle, organza oration with Linder, an artist known for her punk ic prints that pay tribute to Clark’s creative col- le for inspiration, the collection paid homage to St and cashmere, and did not disappoint with an in- record sleeve artwork, gave the show an edgy laboration with Celia Birtwell. Gur has merged vin- Trinian’s. Diagonally and vertically striped blazers novative use of a parchment-cream palette caged twist, but without the angry clichés usually as- tage fabrics and patterns with contemporary sil- were complete with school badges and knee high with black and lace velvet. Kane seems very sociated with the punk movement. Rather, Nicoll houettes to produce clashing maxi dresses. Whilst stockings, while woollen leggings were coupled aware of the need to work with the contours of considered her later work, using 1950s soft porn the ready-to-wear collection balances the Clark with billowing capes and the expectedly tongue in the female shape, saturating his show with a chic overlaid with giant images of irises. Bodycon skirts, heritage with modern designs, the floral prints cheek pirate hats. The spirit of rebelliousness we figure-hugging silhouette that starkly contrasted dresses and ribbed basques underneath transpar- and sheer blouses certainly overpower. The Ossie have learnt to expect and love from Westwood’s with the harshness of the dark geometric lines. ent plastic macs resulted in another raved about Clark label has the potential to achieve British shows was truly on form! What was lacking in embellishment, Kane made collection that exuded enough sexual tension to global success; however the line between Gur’s up for with the use of graphic print and splashes keep us satisfied until next spring! contemporary desires and his homage to Clark’s of gold and burnt orange mixed with stripes, while vintage fashion needs to become finer in order to wavy curves brightened the otherwise gothic aes- really take off. thetic. Whilst remaining lavish to the eye, Kane’s collection remained very wearable. No doubt, there are great things to come.

Back to the Future - Year Round Classics Hannah Pratt down the future trends shown over the past few of the two together are fast becoming my favour- up your old clothes! Ann Sofie-Back and Marios days at London and New York Fashion Week and ite items...possibly ever. Schwab sent swathes of shredded fabric on to As much as I hate to use the term ‘recession’ yet comparing them to what’s available to us now, I the catwalk for Winter 2009, and Balmain have again, it seems to be absolutely necessary in de- offer a few tips to ensure fair-weather purchases already introduced torn jeans for summertime. I scribing the lines designers have shown of late, aren’t as fleeting as the British summer time. “If there are took the scissors to a pair of old yet hardly worn particularly in London. True to the mood and always chic, black is ob- jeans and was thrilled to discover that rips have a Spring/Summer 2009 proved to be the first viously always a good investment. Recently it’s no pennies left, slimming effect on legs. Thinner at no extra cost? ‘trendless’ season in a long time, where pretty taken centre stage within tailoring, particularly in What’s not to love?! Though if you feel massacring much anything goes; thrown-together looks rule blazers and fitted jackets. Well tailored outerwear rip up your old your clothes may turn out looking more shark at- again, and an emphasis on accessories updates may seem expensive, but get it right and it’ll be tack than supermodel, Schwab’s cheaper Topshop your existing wardrobe. The Autumn/Winter 2009 a permanent fixture in your wardrobe. Amazing clothes!” line includes soft as butter jersey dresses, com- shows saw designers upping the sympathy by for nights out, they can dress an outfit up and plete with ready-to-wear rips. demonstrating more continuity from their summer look good over literally anything. I like them for White t-shirts with shredded sleeves were collections. Trends are not so radically different day time wear with skinny jeans, trainers and a From one extreme to the other, blocks of colour heavily featured at Alexander Wang; think stripes, and classic pieces and colours have more longevi- long t-shirt. Come the chillier weather, they can really took off last season, so it’s hardly surpris- but with the t-shirt and your skin! Budget versions ty. Disposable fashion seems to be fading as more be layered with cardigans and scarves, and bi- ing they’re getting another look in now. And next have appeared at, surprise surprise, Topshop, but attention is bought to environmental and ethically zarrely, work really well with slouchy hats! Don’t season. And I’d put money on a few after that too. the finish is the same as cutting them in yourself. sensitive issues like sweatshops; clothes that fall worry about head-to-toe black either; with no ac- Bright, garish blocks are still seen, but there are Don’t be afraid of DIY fashion! It’s best to try it apart prove harder to justify spending money on. cessories (including eyeliner) it looks French, not many softer, muted tones emerging. Pastels are now when distressing looks high end. With really In depressing times however, no-one’s feeling any gothic. Thick knitted, oversized jumpers can be always pretty for spring, but a casual top or dress old clothes it doesn’t matter and it’s one of the brighter wearing the same thing day in day out, found in the dregs of the sales, and looser vests in a fluid, blush pink fabric will be right on the only fail proof ways to ensure individuality at low and building a capsule wardrobe can be an al- with spindly straps from Topshop Boutique have money for a long time to come. cost. Get a scissor happy friend to help you; it’s ienating concept that takes practise. By breaking seen me through many a night out. Combinations If there really are no pennies left in the pot, rip always easier cutting up someone else’s clothes. Page 19 Art Short Story: ‘Two Girls and a Cubicle’

Sophia Williams true friends.” The Chelsea girl walks up to me, right up to me, her. She is literally pinned up against the wall! I “Don’t you dare make up crap! I know what so that I smell the vodka on her breath, and gives keep darting my eyes over in their direction to As I close the door to the toilets, the music’s lyrics you’re like. Are you saying he’d just make some- me ‘the look’ that every girl has either mastered watch. And the Chelsea girl really shouldn’t wear are drowned out so that just the thumping beat thing up for the hell of it?!” or dreads. Her eyelashes are clumped together in such a small skirt. Eurg! She bent over and I could of the bass vibrates off the walls. Surprisingly, it’s “Of course I bloody am Chelsea! Everyone can chunks from excessive mascara and she only has see everything! Who wears such small pants with completely empty, so I chose a cubicle towards the see it c’ept you!” a few of her false nails intact. such a small skirt? Well actually it’s more of a non- far wall. It’s blocked. And a small cloudy puddle of “He said you were all over him! He said that for “Do you fink its funny when people have some existent skirt. And pink pants, that’s so tacky. The water covers the floor. I sigh and find a reasonably the whole of the journey you couldn’t keep your problems then love?” she breathes in my face. other girl yelps like one of those annoying little water free cubicle two doors up. As I sit on the hands off him. See it all makes sense ay. That’s She is definitely a heavy smoker with that raspy dogs. She tries her best to defend herself but fails. toilet I read some of the penned messages on the why you got in that taxi! To do that!” voice. No wonder. Chelsea is bloody huge! back of the door. ‘Dan & Soph 4eva’, ‘Glen Eyre “To do what?!” “Not at all. I really don’t know what’s going on” That’s the thing with girls when they’ve been rocks!’, ‘Call 07985467901 to have a good time!’ “YOU KISSED MY BOYFRIEND!” I answer, my tone remaining calm even though I drinking; they’re so unpredictable. One minute Wow I mutter to myself. I don’t usually notice all Her yell is slurred but still loud enough to can feel the pulse in my wrist quickening. they’re calm, laughing, having a good time, rea- the different scribbles everywhere. Normally I just pierce through the thumping bass. God! Her voice “What’s going on is I don’t like it when people sonably civilized, and the next they can be climb- sit on the toilet in a drunken daze, trying not to is so thuggish. Although look at me...I’m hiding listen to my conversations.” ing over tables ready to rip each other’s hair out. fall off. See, this is what happens when you only in a cubicle. Intimidated by two girls I can’t even “I’m just using the bathroom, I don’t mean for have one glass of wine rather than four. I look see! There’s a pause. you to think that I was in anyway listening to your Drinking can be down at my satin shoes. Damn it. There’s a dark “I didn’t. And I know you know I didn’t.” conversation with your friend.” dangerous - 1.4 million red stain on the right one near the toe. Definitely As soon as I say “your friend” the girl reels teenagers a year are shouldn’t have worn them. Her flabby hands are out- around to face the other girl that is now tidying injured in accidents. Just as I’m about to leave the cubicle, I hear stretched. Her chubby hands herself up in front of the mirrors. the bathroom door smack open. There’s a high grabbing and snatching... “Haha! A friend! A friend! Nah love, she ain’t my The white bathroom door is flung open again pitch scream and a clatter of high heeled shoes on friend. No way!” and a group of about five girls bursts through in the tiled floor. It makes me jump. The other girl’s voice changed. It’s no longer as Chelsea launches herself at the girl. For a big a flurry of colours and scents. It is now or never. “You bitch!” defensive but more persuasive and calm. She has girl she can move quickly. Her flabby arms are I pull open the door to the deafening music and “Chelsea, get off me. I swear. Bloody get off!” obviously realised that competing with her de- outstretched. Her chubby hands grabbing and make a dash for it. Just as the door closes I hear “Who the hell do you think you are?!” lightful friend isn’t an option, and that it is better snatching at the other girl’s hair, at her leopard what could have only been Chelsea yell, “What “Ow! Owww! My hair! Oh my god you cow!” to take a different tack. In any case she sounds print top, at her silver chain. She seems to jam the fuck are you looking at?!” Should I go out? They sound quite scary actu- far more sober. With that, surprisingly, Chelsea her nails, well the remaining false ones, anywhere Those poor girls...they do not know what they ally. Great, I hate being stuck in this situation with started crying, in that drunken way that allows she can that would cause pain. Thank God I’m not have let themselves in for. drunk girls. I think I’ll stay put in my cubicle for you to let go of all inhibitions and really wail. a bit. I put the toilet seat down carefully so that “I...just...huh...you’re right babe. Course you’re it doesn’t make a clunk and sit down on its cold right. I’m...I’m...such a silly cow...” Arts in the City plastic. “No, no you’re not hun” the other replied war- “So, is that what you was thinking then, when ily. Music~Languages~Film~Art~ you said you’d get into the taxi?” one of the girls “But...all you girls have been saying it...for... shouted, her voice loud and harsh. ages, ain’t you?” she sobbed “And...and I never Literature~Theatre “What?! What are you talking about?!” listen. I never bloody listen.” “You know exactly what I’m talking about!” “It’s not your fault. He’s the arsehole, in’t he?” The Mayflower Theatre Mayflower Park “I really don’t...bloody hell my head...” With that Chelsea’s crying calms a bit and Monday 16th and Tuesday 17th March 29th April – 4th May “Answer my question.” becomes loud raspy breathing. I could hear the Hot Flush Chinese State Circus clinking of her rings on the sink and knew that she Share in the friendships, the secrets, the tears, The Chinese State Circus is an international, was probably leaning over it in an effort not to be the laughs and ups and downs of four ordinary non animal circus featuring gymnasts and ac- sick or something. women - and one man - living extraordinary lives. robats as well as Chinese folklore and martial I hear the bathroom door open and the clat- “A real, laugh out loud comedy musical” – artistes. The sensational 2-hour show combines ter of another pair of high heeled shoes. Okay, BBC the martial arts warriors from the Shaolin Temple someone has come in. It was safe to leave my & The Tai An Acrobatic Troupe from the foot of cubicle! How long had I been in there for?! God The Nuffield Theatre Mount Tai – one of China’s sacred mountains and I’m ridiculous! I open the door and head straight 18th – 21st March home to some of the country’s greatest poets, to the mirrors. The girls are so involved in their Andromaque artists, scholars & warriors for over 2000 years. ordeal that they don’t even appear to notice me A rare opportunity to see this magnificent Mayflower Park - SO14 2AQ. anyway. They look like I had thought. The taller play from one of France’s greatest playwrights, of the two girls, who I put to be Chelsea imme- in a world class production. If you love theatre diately, is dressed in an inexcusably short black do not miss this opportunity. pleated skirt and a white stretchy top with ruffles “Angry ghosts emerge from dark corners at the front and buttons at the back. Her stilet- to unleash the pain, raw anger and denial that tos are flung under the row of sinks and I could are bolted into Racine’s tidy rhymes like cluster see green bruises on her feet. The second of the bombs in the sheath of a shiny artillery shell.” two girls has blonde hair, nearly white with dark **** The Guardian roots, and is wearing far too much silver jewellery. Her face is smeared with black smudges where her mascara has run and she too appears to have discarded her shoes. I take out my make-up and re-apply some blusher and re-tie my hair. “What?” “Well I can’t go out there now ay, I look a right “Is that why you got into the taxi with my Ja- state.” Turner Sims Concert Hall son?” “Hmm”, the other girl muttered in response. Thursday 19th March “Oh my god. Whatever. I’m not even gonna an- I take a quick glance in their direction and Joanna MacGregor swer that.” couldn’t help a small smile, because of course Joanna MacGregor juxtaposes the geniuses of “Ay?” she’s right. She looks hideous. Bach and Shostakovich with Mussorgsky’s show- “You’re so bloody blind! I can’t believe you just “Hey, what you smiling at love?’ piece. The piece is a musical description of walk- shut your eyes and go on and believe everything I look round. I’m the only other girl at the mir- ing around an exhibition of paintings by Victor that arsehole feeds you.” rors. “What me?” John Hansard Gallery Hartman, a friend of the composer who had died “Haha!” Her laugh is spiteful. Like a Cruella de “Yeah you.” Sunday 14th March the previous year. £10 for students. Ville laugh. I could almost imagine her white face “Oh, nothing.” Meet the artist behind the latest John Hansard and pointy features and lipstick evil smile. “Nothing my arse. You’ve been listening aint Gallery exhibition Balnakiel. Shona will introduce Turner Sims Concert Hall “You always do this; you always try and get ya?” this major new film work and installation, discuss- Monday 16th March away with it by shoving the blame on Jason.” God, I murmur. Here we go. Not so invisible ing the places, people, themes and ideas featured Helen Cope “I haven’t done anything! You just let him walk after all. within it, as well as her collaboration with cogni- A recital by Helen Cope on saxophone. This is all over you and then you get pissed off with your “No, no I really haven’t, sorry.” tive psychologist Martin A. Conway. free entry so pop by and have a listen! Page 20 Science Broadband Provider Race Speeds up Communication for the new decade due a revamp as Africa skips the landline altogether Harry Campbell ply half the population with speeds of up to 50 tions Union, found that mobile use Mb/s by mid-2009. It also comes as DIY super- in Africa has grown from 2% to 28% OFCOM, the UK’s independent communication fast internet becomes a reality, with many areas (more than 1 in 4) since 2000. It was regulator, has allowed the British Telecommuni- not prepared to wait as they have for the cur- also found that nearly a quarter of cations group to expand and invest in a superfast rent broadband network; one of the smallest DIY the world’s population has internet broadband network with few conditions. Britain’s networks will be in the tiny hamlet of Bradley in access. current average speed is “up to 4 Mb/s”; the new Hampshire, connecting just 30 homes. With over half the world connect- superfast network should range from (up to) 40- The new network will allow for the next gen- ed by mobiles, but sales of top mod- 60 Mb/s from cabinets located in each street, to eration of websites, and include impressive visual els falling with the economic down- (up to) 100 Mb/s from direct fibre optics linked to effects and much more scope for automatic video turn, companies like Nokia, Sony, 1 million homes by 2012. streaming. Speedy full length movie streaming and Samsung are busy filing patents The move has been welcomed by the giant, was recently chosen as the most desired feature for release when the market picks one of the few networks able to invest the large in a poll on the future of the internet and brows- up. New technologies are emerging sums needed to begin this incredible project. ers. These new speeds will be welcomed by the ready to be combined with current Britain had been criticized for falling behind other booming internet advertising industry, which has features like video cameras, motion countries in the worldwide internet speed race, an estimated growth of a staggering £10.8 billion sensors for tilting screens, and full and comes after Virgin Media’s plans to sup- by 2012. internet access. The most promising Meanwhile, Africa to be brought to standard phones appears to be skip- include flexible screens, allowing ping the landline en- for wrist-band like mobiles and DVD tirely, found to be quality projectors capable of creat- the largest growing ing an A4 sized picture. Whether mobile using popula- these features will prove to be popu- tion. A recent study lar or unused will not be seen until has shown extraordi- they are widely available and pro- nary growth worldwide grammes are written or adapted to since 2002, with over make use of them. 4,100,000,000 regis- Another recent development has tered memberships, been the decision by the mobile hard- well over half of the ware oligopoly to start producing universal charg- even low spec models, will be USB compatible and current world popula- ers. It is being declared as a decision toDIY reduce broadband this move may would be just reduce around production the corner... costs. tion. The study, con- hassle with format changes and an investment in Seems the future of both broadband and mo- ducted by the Interna- a greener mobile hardware industry, but in real- bile technology may be in the hand of the con- tional Telecommunica- ity is based on the fact that most future phones, sumer (literally). Science,Annoying music videos coming to theConcentrate back of a bus near you - Write your Own! Eight short science articles giving you something to think about during those little breaks The Trouble with Fingerprints... Lab-on-a-Chip Mars’ Gullies The Quickest Fix for our Skies Forensic evidence, previously believed to be all Matchbox sized cryogenic coolers are in develop- New high definition photographs of the surface Politicians are reconsidering the ramifications of but infallible, has come under fire, leading to a ment by DARPA, a pentagon science wing akin of Mars, taken by an orbiting NASA spacecraft, using geoengineering to fix climate problems, hav- slew of exonerations for those convicted because to Bond’s Q-branch. The coolers are designed have revealed the most recent known existence ing all but given up on reducing carbon levels (by of incorrectly interpreted evidence. The faults are to cool an area of just four cubic centimetres of water on the red planet. After analysis by ge- reducing outputs, allowing nature to balance the often not with the scientific evidence, for example, to -200C on just 0.1 watts. The ‘lab on a chip’ ologists from Brown University, gullies (through excess of the last hundred years) in time to pre- it is true that no two fingerprints are the same, project, which also includes 10g video cameras, which liquid water would have flowed on the sur- vent a rise of several degrees worldwide. Tactics the issue comes with whether a computer or hu- atomic clocks, gas face) have been dated vary from reforesting on massive scales by drop- man expert can tell the difference between similar analysers, radar and to within the last 1.25 ping capsules of saplings with water and nutrients specimens, especially on ‘partials’. GPS, are all being million years. They at strategic distances, to launching giant space designed with the also state that while mirrors. The major problem with some of these military in mind to be most water sublimat- plans is that they do not prevent ocean acidity ris- “low-power, small- ed (turned straight ing, which will eventually kill all sea life, one of our “Physics is volume, lightweight” from ice to gas with- most abundant food sources in crop growth. imagination in a and self contained out passing through straight-jacket.” (no need for external the water phase), they Michael Thorne John Moffat, power). Blue-sky re- have found an exam- NASA’s Happiest Snaps Physicist search is an exciting ple where it actually Next week will see the launch of a newly devel- prospect - having a existed as a liquid, al- oped 97 Mega Pixel camera; this camera will not Roz Hamlin whole self-sustaining beit for a short period be for holiday snaps, nor will its launch be on the lab fitting in a brief- of time. high street. The camera, with a whopping 1.4m Early Arachnid Activity case is an expensive diameter lens, is part of NASA’s newest toy, the An ancient spider’s web preserved in amber has dream the commercial worldChip-sized would never blood dare count machine Debris Piles Up in Space $600 million Kepler telescope, set for takeoff on been discovered by two amateur fossil hunters to invest in. The European Space Agency’s station in Darm- the 6th March. The task is simple; search for recently on a beach in Bexhill, near Hastings in stat, Germany, are working with the US Space planets with temperature conditions similar to East Sussex. It is believed to have been formed in The Unknown Sundial Surveillance Network to track thousands of items that of Earth (those necessary to sustain liquid the Cretaceous period, and is therefore the oldest The Pantheon, completed in 128 AD, may have of orbiting debris above a certain size (10-30cm water). The shuttle will trail behind the Earth in recorded fossilized spider’s web in the world. It is had a previously unknown design feature - a sun- depending on distance/risk) within 35800 km its orbit around the sun, beaming back snap shots now being studied by scientists at the University dial. This supposedly deliberate design trait allows (the edge of earth’s geostationary orbit) to en- of star systems deep within the Cygnus and Lyra of Oxford who think the web became trapped in sunlight through a grate above the door to the sure damaging, explosive, or dangerous collisions constellations. The camera is searching for ‘winks’, conifer resin after a forest fire and became - fos front courtyard on only two days a year, at the two are predicted and prevented where possible. The minute changes in the luminosity of distant stars silized as a result. This time of year is ideal for equinoxes in March and September. It was noticed space debris collision on February 10th, between which represent the passage of planets as they fossil hunting as Winter-Spring storms break up by a book researcher, Robert Hannah, who states an active US weather satellite (an iridium 33) and block light from distant stars during their orbit. strata beds, leaving fossils strewn across the sur- that it compares with a style of sundial used by a nonfunctioning Russian ‘Kosmos 2251’, was the Astrophysicists believe they could provide the clue face of beaches. Scientists are seeking confirma- the Romans for telling the date, but is debated largest ever, and has brought space litter to the to spotting a water bearing planet. NASA are keen tion of the dating of the fossil, but state that the by James Evans, a historian, who cites the lack of forefront of our attention, sparking wild accusa- to stress that the chances of finding life are small, delicate nature of the web makes it an important surviving markings confirming the awareness of tions by the uninformed media that the problem but with a minimum operation time of 3 ½ years, discovery. the architect to this interesting feature. has reached crisis level. who’s to say what they might find. Page 21 Sport A chance to understand Lacrosse! Jim Palmer teams, each trying to get a ball into the opposi- tion’s goal. As one friend pointed out to me, “its a Recently I had a pleasant social encounter with bit like upside-down hockey”. This seemed to be a the ladies lacrosse team. Lacrosse is a sport that fairly accurate interpretation of the game. Where I know very little about apart from it involves the sport departs from this description, however, running around with sticks that have goals on is primarily in its level of violence. All manner of the end of them. It turns out however, that this barging, blocking, pushing and whacking seems limited preconception and knowledge I had about to be tolerated, making it a sport that is not for the sport was not even strictly true, as no points the faint hearted. I did manage to see some form of free kick given for hitting someone over the Lacrosse is a sport back of the head with a stick, so it is safe to as- somewhere between sume that there are some rules. The presence of ice hockey and an egg a referee reassured me of this. and spoon race. There Perhaps in terms of comparisons to other sports are 19 lacrosse relat- lacrosse bears greater resemblance to hockey’s ed deaths a year. American-cum-Arctic cousin, ice hockey. This is something which any casual viewer will also recall or goals are awarded for simply catching the ball. when looking at the goals which are fairly small When first quizzing the team about their sport I and set into the field of play by a few yards, so was met with the blunt response of “even if we that players can run around behind the goal. explain it to you, you probably still wouldn’t un- One other comparison that came to mind derstand.” Oh dear. At this instance I found it diffi- whilst watching the players running up and down cult to ascertain whether their sport was complex, delicately balancing the ball in their nets, was the or more likely, whether they just thought me as a perennial sports day favourite; the egg and spoon simpleton. I suspected a combination of the two. race. The ‘spoon’ was much larger in comparison Undeterred, I thought what better opportunity to the ‘egg’ in this instance though, so presum- to find out more than at the Athletic Union’s pre- ably it is much easier. mier sporting showcase: Varsity. With the wealth In the game I was watching, Southampton’s of sport on offer I thought that there must be at lacrosse ladies crushed their Portsmouth rivals least one game of lacrosse on. And I was right; 32-0, although reports seem to vary. One thing Southampton were playing Portsmouth, this was is for sure, it was a very one-sided contest which my opportunity to find out more. Southampton utterly dominated. My introduction After a few minutes of watching the Men’s 1st to lacrosse was a pleasant one. It was a fun game Rugby, I noticed some lacrosse going on nearby to watch; fast and flowing with just about the right and wandered over to learn more. Lacrosse, as far amount of physicality. Oh, and there was a streak- as I could tell, appeared to be like a lot of sports. er, which I’m not sure is a feature of all lacrosse There are goals at either end of the pitch and two games but was quite funny, if a little bizarre. Cricketers put Pompey to Leg on Varsity Day Nick ‘Freshererer’ Jones and baiting the Portsmouth batsmen constantly, smouth ending up with 146 off their 10 overs. In the second game the toss was one once aiming to make the extra man that would spur our There was a tension in the old sports hall again by SUCC, captain Nick ‘Fresherer’ Jones de- Varsity day. A chance for the best sports men and players on. Unfortunately, the desired early wick- at this point, and when Delon Skellekie and Shiv ciding to bat first. Home favourite (due to his ten- women in the University to prove their dominance ets didn’t come, partly due to some good Port- walked out to bat the task in hand looked tough. dency to panic in far from tense situations) James over their local rivals at the University of Port- smouth batting. A below par Southampton bowl- Their wickets fell quickly putting added pressure ‘Boom’ Truscott and Sri Avandu opened up and got smouth. While the majority of teams competed ing performance saw too many extras given away, on captain Alex ‘Zimmer’ Smith, who battled well the team off to a great start, providing the solid down at Wide Lane, the cricket team, amongst Richard Barclay not helping glean any favour with scoring 49 and helping to spark up the crowd once opening partnership that was needed. Once their others, battled it out in the slightly less glamorous the umpires telling one of them to “cheer up and more. Unfortunately, it was not to be and Port- wickets fell and Presanth and Jones walked out, old sports hall. stop being so miserable!” This all resulted in Port- smouth won by 26 runs. the SUCC crowd in full voice, causing the adrena- Some non-cricketers will be wondering what line to flow and a huge internal buzz to replace we were doing playing in the old sports hall, any nerves. The Portsmouth players’ confidence somewhere which resembles a large shed more was clearly dented and one unlucky player even than a cricket pitch. Indoor cricket is a game for had their face dented when a shot from Jones cricketers who can’t swan off to the Caribbean to smashed through his hands and into his mouth play out of season. It’s a fast, frantic game with (‘Chin up’ - Ed.). The constant flow of runs left us teams of six, and runs being scored constantly with a mammoth 156 off our 10 overs. by hitting any of the walls, running between the More vociferous support from ‘Henry Potter’s wickets and as extras with strict rules on bowling Wessex Army’ helped the bowlers to maintain the line and length. Mass chaos often ensues with the momentum in the early overs, Kyle ‘Scruff’ Linzell ball pinging off walls and with all players being so and Stuart ‘Roundabout’ Mills keeping the Port- close together, collisions are pretty common. Two smouth batsmen behind the required run rate. of Portsmouth’s batsmen, for example, ran into Despite a late charge from the Portsmouth club each other mid-pitch, running obviously being a captain and a few calamitous fielding moments skill too complicated for their brains to compre- (mostly involving Boom, panicking and charging hend. into his teammates), the University of Southamp- Three games were played as part of Var- ton ended the victors. The win was all the more sity day, two for the men and one for the ladies sweet as the contribution to ‘Team Southampton’s’ team. For the men this has been a recent grudge points tally would prove decisive in the overall match, with Southampton competing against the contest. Portsmouth boys twice over recent months. With The buzz going around was huge and rubbed one win a piece it was always going to be a tough off on the women who were cheered on by the couple of games. During the week we had asked men (some knowing each other very closely!), for as many supporters to come down as possible, stuffing their opponents from Portsmouth. The ex- and they didn’t disappoint, filling the balcony and citement continued long into the night with vari- forming an army of support. Along with a similar ous moments of uncontrollable euphoria breaking number of Portsmouth fans it made for a great out, and moments were shared between players atmosphere, creating an electric feel for those and supporters. The day was just reward for all playing. the players who have put in hours of training, and In the first game SUCC won the toss and chose everyone ended the day proud to be part of the to field first. The fans were cheering every ball victorious Wessex. Page 22 Sport Lords and Ladies on SULCC’s Big Day Out Ellen Moon Sheffield Hallam setting us a target of 121 to win, restricted by a solid bowling performance from England is home to many iconic sporting loca- Wessex and a difficult catch off the nets by Gem- tions; football has Wembley, rugby has Twicken- ma Stephenson. Our initial run rate was three ham, tennis has Wimbledon - I’m sure you get my or thereabouts, and some inspired running from point. None of these has quite the significance to Kirsty Ford and Charlotte Mitchell half way into a global sporting community however, as Lords the game made victory look possible, but unfor- does to cricket. I’m pretty sure any cricketer in tunately the target proved too high and Wessex the world would give their non-bowling arm for were pipped to the post again. a chance to play on the hallowed turf at Lords Knowing we couldn’t qualify for the final, our cricket ground – the home of cricket. On Saturday third match (against eventual finalists Leeds) was 21st February, the members of Southampton Uni- used as an opportunity for a bit of fun. Wessex versity Ladies Cricket Club (SULCC) fulfilled their opened the batting with our two biggest hitters, ambition of playing at Lords, admittedly not on Natalie Howarth and wicket keeper Rachel Evans, the main pitch, but at the MCC Indoor School for who were given a free license to go for as many 6’s the BUCS Indoor Finals. as they could. Both were dismissed by impressive Qualification for the finals came in the form catches from Leeds, with Natalie Howarth posting of winning the south eastern regional tournament Wessex’s top score of the innings. A carefree at- before Christmas, which saw a nail-biting finish titude from the rest of the Wessex team resulted with SULCC’s Amy Mistry taking 2 wickets for no in a final target that was well within Leeds’ reach, runs in what proved to be the final over of the and Wessex finished their BUCS Indoor campaign tournament. in joint 7th place. Our hopes of a similar victory at Lords were The two group winners, the University of Leeds diminished when it became apparent that the and Leeds Metropolitan University, were unable to majority of the finalists were UCCE clubs (Univer- contest the final due to a power cut across NW8 sity Centres of Cricketing Excellence) who receive just before the match was timetabled to begin; large amounts of funding and coaching from the this fixture is rescheduled for 24th March. Inter- MCC – a feat that the University of Southamp- estingly, after winning the finals every year since ton simply doesn’t have the budget to match. the competition began, Loughborough (a UCCE) Nevertheless, we vowed to play our best cricket, were this year knocked out in the regional qualifi- and to not be intimidated by our opponents and ers, illustrating the strength and depth in women’s their entourages of coaches and physios. Afterall, cricket amongst the non-UCCE sides. Wessex had by far the largest number of proud Despite the result, a great day was had by all parents cheering from the balcony, and great sup- SULCC members, and the story of the day we port from the SULCC members who had joined us played at Lords will certainly be one to tell the in the minibus to London, despite not making the grandchildren. I am immensely proud of how well final squad. everyone played, and we have all certainly ben- Alice Moore triumphantly opened the batting efited from playing some of the best ladies teams for SULCC’s Lords campaign, and some great in the country. shots saw Amy Mistry and Kirsty Ford reach 20 This experience has highlighted that Wessex and 19 runs respectively. The game proved to be clearly has a lot of raw talent (undoubtedly not a nail biter, as our opponents Kent reached the just in cricket but in many other sports too) but target of 108 set by SULCC with only 6 balls to simply lacks the funding to fully capitalise on that spare. Amy Mistry recorded Wessex’s best bowl- talent. The powers that be take note; invest more ing figures. in sport and perhaps we’ll be able to transform The second match was another close one, with more BUCS finalists into BUCS champions. Sportsman of the Century Hockey’s Simon Roberts

No wonder Simon Roberts is all smiles ! and Tom Sampson gave the Wessex stu- He’s just scored his 100th goal in Univer- dents a commanding 5-0 lead. sity of Southampton hockey. But, as time went on, Roberts - with The Exeter-based geography graduate his century in sight - became more and completed a unique century of university more frustrated as he was unable to goals in the 7-1 mauling of Hampshire convert any more chances. League strugglers Gosport at Wide Lane. Then, midway through the second Roberts, who is in his fourth and final period, Roberts picked up a loose ball year at Southampton, has been a prolific just inside the Gosport half and swept marksman ever since he arrived at High- through the visitors defence to send a field from Exeter School. rasping reverse-stick shot into the net “I scored 23 and 20 goals, respectively, for his 100th goal. in my first two years and had a real vin- “It was one of the better goals I’d tage season last winter, scoring 36 times scored, so I was absolutely delighted in league and BUSA matches,” he smiled. not only to have made it to the magical “I’d scored 19 going into the Gosport 100 mark, but also etch my name into game, so I was determined to reach the the University of Southampton record milestone during that game.” books,” he said. A fervant Leeds United fan, Roberts Aiden O’Regan got the University’s looked set to chalk up his 100th goal in seventh goal. no time at all against Gosport. The victory left the Wessex students He scored the University’s opener early in second place, three points behind on and then had a hand in several more leaders Yateley, whose match with as a brace of goals each by Tom Godding Blandford was postponed. Page 23 Sport Southampton Move East AU Club Captains vote to change BUCS division to South East Henry Potter South East. would reduce by a similar percentage in a minibus, In the Western Division Southampton play and by a third travelling by coach or car. When ‘The University of Scumhampton – We Eat You On February 20th, all Club Captains of Sports that Solent and Bournemouth, but also the likes of the Club Captains were asked to air their views, For Breakfast’. If you saw any of the gaudy, hor- play in British University and College Sport (for- Aberystwyth, Swansea and Marjons, leading to Hockey representatives raised concerns regarding ribly purple Varsity Day shirts that the Skates mally BUSA) Leagues met and voted to move into journey times for our teams being the longest in the standard of play in the South East whilst a (that is a derogatory slang term for sailor) were the South East Division. the South. Costs associated with fulfilling the fix- Cricket representative questioned the data used wearing on Varsity Day, you may have noticed a tures are also extremely high for both Clubs and in the statistics. huge white rectangle on the back of them. This Club Captains voted to move the AU. After discussion the Club Captains voted to was covering the above mentioned phrase. How to the South East conference Portsmouth, formally of the Western Confer- move to the South East Conference 13 to 5, and if delightful is it that they thought they were going ence, made the same move before the 2005/06 AUC accept the Club Captains decision, the AU will to ‘eat us for breakfast’? How embarrassing must 13 to 5. season for the same reasons, and openly says be approaching BUCS later in the week formally it have been knowing that you had this, poorly BUCS Leagues, below Premier level, are split that it has benefitted their clubs. requesting a move to the South East. concealed on your back, as match by match, the into five ‘Conferences’ to reduce the time of trav- Bermuda Allan, AU Officer (and now AU Presi- might of Wessex dispensed with their rivals? At elling to fixtures. Pre-2000, Southampton played dents Elect!), presented the Club Captains with a The average time of travel first sight these shirts were an insult – after the in South Central, one of the 10 playing divisions of breakdown of average costs and travelling times will reduce by 22%, and the 24-5 drumming handed out to Portsmouth, it just BUSA, but following a league restructure South- of fixtures in both the South East and Western seems funny. ampton was moved to play in the Western Confer- Conferences, which outlined that the average costs will also reduce. If anyone was not at Varsity Day, you missed ence, despite being administratively left with the time of travel would reduce by 22%, and the costs out. Wide Lane was turned into a festival of sport, a celebration of all things Southampton and all things Wessex. From Shiny Dave commentat- ing on the American Football, to the after party Southampton 24 - 5 Portsmouth in Vodka Revs, the whole day went off without a hitch. Well, maybe one hitch. The bar, in fact, all the bars, running out of booze halfway through THE RESULTS Ladies Fencing: 135-78 win (1pt So’ton) each) the showcase football match was a shame, but Men’s Fencing: 135-58 win (1pt So’ton) Ladies Rugby: 14-14 draw (½pt each) this surely reflects the unforeseen amount of sup- Aikido: Draw (½ pt each) Ladies Football: 4-2 win (1pt So’ton) Men’s Rugby: 10-8 win, 46-5 win (1pt port that came along to Wide Lane. In some ways, American Football: 45-0 win (1pt So’ton) Men’s Football: 1sts 3-1 win, 2nds 0-1 So’ton) the worst aspect of the day was a side effect of Ladies Badminton: 6-2 win (1pt So’ton) loss, 3rds 2-0 win (½pt each) Skydiving: win (1pt So’ton) the day’s best feature – the huge amount of sup- Men’s Badminton: 1sts 5-3 win, 2nds 4-4 Ladies Hockey: 1sts 7-1 win 2nds 10-0 Swimming: 158-119 win (1pt So’ton) port that came out to cheer on Wessex. draw (1pt So’ton) win (1pt So’ton) Tchoukball: 60-50 win (1pt So’ton) Amidst all the euphoria, we must not forget all Ladies Basketball: 54-64 loss (1pt P) Men’s Hockey: 1sts 9-0 win, 2-1 win (1pt Taekwondo: 5-4 win (1pt So’ton) the hard work Henry Potter and Bermuda Allan Men’s Basketball: 88-32 win (1pt So’ton) So’ton) Ladies Tennis: 5-3 win (1pt So’ton) put in over the last few months, and we really Boat Club: 8-0 win (1 pt So’ton) Inline Hockey: 7-5 win (1pt So’ton) Men’s Tennis: 8-0 win (1pt So’ton) cannot praise their efforts too highly. If they want- Ladies Cricket: won by 70 runs (1pt Ladies Lacrosse: 32-0 win (1pt So’ton) Ladies Volleyball: 0-3 loss (1pt Pom- ed a legacy, they have created it. If they wanted So’ton) Men’s Lacrosse: 5-6 loss (1pt Pompey) pey) to show the University how important sport is to Men’s Cricket: 1sts lost by 18 runs, 2nds Netball: 1sts 44-24 win, 2nds 21-23 loss, Men’s Volleyball: 3-1 win (1pt So’ton) the student body, they have done all they can. won by 26 runs (½ pt each) 3rds 53-36 win, 4ths 39-44 loss (½pt Wakeboarding: 54-52 win (1pt So’ton) And if they wanted to humiliate Portsmouth, they achieved that too. AU PRES-OFF This issue we have an obscure look at an ob- AU Pres - Potter AU Pres - Darby scure sport with Jim Palmer penning another excellent article, the tale of when Southampton 1. What degree did you study? 1. What degree did you study? Cricket Club Ladies went to the home of cricket, Economics and Finance - 2:2 Forensic Biology - 2:2 and results, reports and representations (by that 2. Why is your Uni better? 2. Why is your Uni better? I mean photos) of Varsity Day – the best day Don’t ask me, ask The Times Good Univer- (Darby was unable to think of any reason, Southampton sport has had for a long time. sity Guide! he was too upset from the score - Ed.) Tim and Emily 3. Who is your sporting hero? 3. Who is your sporting hero? Roger Bannister Sir Steve Redgrave 4. Best game of the day? 4.Best game of the day? Either men’s football 1st XI finale, or Tchouk- Men’s Lacrosse, winning by one goal in ex- ball giving us the first point of the day. tra time. 5. Tell us a joke. 5. Tell us a joke. 24 - 5 (Darby wasn’t in a joking mood - Ed.) Lifestyle Fashion News covers Travel urges looks at takes a trip to the flash mob you to give Waitrose vs London Fashion pillow fight Erasmus a go Somerfield Week ‘09 WessexSport Southampton Crush Portsmouth

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