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Cambridge’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1947

No. 840 Friday 26th January 2018 varsity.co.uk

Don’t ditch Intermitting Two years on, still no justice Cambridge vigil for Giulio Regeni the student students let survey, Uni abandoned tells  nalists

Edward Pinnegar ● Revealed Struggling students ineligible for Senior News Correspondent bene ts are let with no government support Cambridge’s pro-vice-chancellor for education, Graham Virgo, has defended ● Lack of University aid compounds problems the merits of the National Student Sur- vey (NSS), debating CUSU Education Florence Oulds condemned the gaps O cer, Martha Krish, and Matt Kite of Todd Gillespie and Siyang Wei in government support, saying they Cambridge Defend Education (CDE). show a “lack of understanding of how  e intervention by Virgo, in Varsity Students who take time out from stud- intermission works, but also of disabled today, comes as the latest development ying have found themselves unable to students”. in discussions – fraught with tension claim  nancial support, leaving some in A spokesperson for the DWP did not about the dangers, but also the poten- serious hardship, a Varsity investigation respond directly to the  ndings of Var- tial importance, of students completing has discovered. sity’s investigation, o ering to send infor- the survey – which have been ongoing Over 200 Cambridge students a year mation about bene ts eligibility that is since 2016. ‘intermit’, taking temporarily leave from available online.  e University declined CDE and CUSU have criticised the the University to recover from an “ill- to comment on Varsity’s  ndings. NSS, saying that participation in the sur- ness or other grave cause”. Yet policy in- Except in exceptional circumstances, vey will lead to higher tuition fees and consistencies, unusually stringent tests they are not eligible to claim income-re- the marketisation of higher education. for bene t eligibility, and limitations to lated bene ts unless they already claim On the other hand, Virgo argues that the available funds have let some intermit- Personal Independence Payment (PIP), survey “provides students with a voice” ting students in dire  nancial straits – a bene t for those with a serious long- which allows the university to “identify with many of them already struggling term illness or disability. and remedy areas of concern”. with serious health issues or a lack of  e criteria for PIP eligibility are While Virgo believes fees to be “unfair  nancial support from family. extremely stringent, with the need to and unjust”, he writes that the NSS no Intermitting students are classi ed as prove inability to complete basic tasks longer a ects them as directly because full-time students by the Department for like “reading or communicating” and of a change in the law last year – a point Work and Pensions (DWP), which oten “washing, bathing or going to the toilet”. that CUSU contests. He argues further precludes their eligibility for state sup-  is is far beyond the threshold required that the publication of the results “helps port, including out-of-work and means- for non-students to claim other out-of- prospective students from all back- tested bene ts. work bene ts.  e application process grounds to make informed decisions” Compounding this, the policy of can also take several months, and only about applying to university, and that Student Finance England (SFE), which around half the claims are approved. they are “used extensively” in the prepa- provides tuition and maintenance loans, Students can only obtain most other ration of well-known league tables. is inconsistent with the DWP. SFE does bene ts ater the resolution of their rea- Remarking on the extent of the sur- not consider intermitting students to be son for intermission. vey’s bene ts, Virgo adds that the NSS full-time, and so withdraws any student Consequently, students who have in- has been useful in the monitoring of the loans and maintenance payments. termitted due to ill health and are too ill “adverse e ect of a heavy workload on Students have accused the govern- to work but not eligible for PIP can be student mental health”, adding that stu- ment of neglect, and argued that Cam- let, as one student described her experi- dents’ feedback has been “invaluable”. bridge colleges should pool resources to ence to Varsity, in “penury”. support intermitting students. What does the NSS mean? Page 11 ▶ CUSU disabled students’ officer Full story Page 6 ▶ A vigil for Giulio Regeni outside King’s on ursday MATHIAS GJESDAL HAMMER Should  nalists boycott? Page 16 ▶

Inside ● Tobacco lobbyists back Conservative Association event Pg.7 ● CUSU cash struggles Pg.8–9 2 Friday 26th January 2018 Editorial News You’re a failure. ‘Angry and Congratulations

“he world is your oyster”, they tell you. Well, I don’t know if you’ve ever eaten oysters, but frustrated’ they’re actually pretty disgusting, and the process of mak- ing the world your own is similarly debasing. Unless you’re on some kind of integrated Masters or have a small loan of a billion dollars from your father, job applications are a necessary struggle for third-year Staf prepare undergrads. When you were young and just looking for a side hustle, applying for things was simple: avoid spell- ing errors, act polite, and give the vague impression that you’re the kind of person who can be trusted with a pair of safety scissors. But when you’re contending with a thousand applicants to strike after for two places on an unpaid internship, things get more complicated. Vaguely phrased questions become closely scrutinised ‘opportunities’ to show your ‘passion’; cover letters become sycophantic ramblings, clumsy attempts to seduce some bored HR dogsbody. At some point, being pension talks basically competent stopped being good enough. here’s no wonder this process is such torture for any sane person. hese processes implore us to be narcissis- tic, to indulge in notions of our own brilliance. With this as the bar for entry into professional life, it’s no wonder fall apart that much of our society seems to be run by delusional charlatans. With every diicult skill – of-piste skiing, oil painting, processing income tax – there are people who excel at it, and this just as true for applications. For applications, it’s probably the worst person you know: that slimy networker whose private school conidence and cold-eyed ruthless- ness make up for their general mediocrity. his may be a stereotype, but its not without its justiications (especially in a place like Cambridge), and it often feels like this is the After national-level talks collapse, person that the world is trying to turn us into. I’d like to say it’ll get better – that the world is one big episode of he Apprentice, where the hubristic are smited Rosie Bradbury speaks to the staf down by a cosmic Lord Sugar. But sadly I think its more like he hick of It, one big machine running on the collec- preparing to walk out next month tive delusion of fools, rolling on from one omnishambles to the next. Studies suggest that conidence, merited or not, is correlated with success in the workplace (by which t’s a genuinely painful moral age to the student body, he remarked: include material missed during days of I mean promotion, not high performance). I dare say that situation for academics.” So “it’s a very diicult balance.” strike is unclear, given that Cambridge most women in elite professions are familiar with this says Dr Sam James, a J. H. Lectures taught or covered by non- examinations are written by individual phenomenon, seeing female peers under-promoted and “IPlumb College Lecturer at union members or those not on strike faculties. under-paid by contrast with sharp elbowed dopes. Christ’s and the current vice- will go ahead during the period of indus- A University of Cambridge spokes- his doesn’t paint a very cheery picture, I know. But president of the Cambridge University trial action, as well as any college-based person said it is “committed to provid- pessimism can be good consolation. So next time you get and College Union (UCU). James spoke teaching such as supervisions. Because ing all of its staf with access to the best a rejection letter from that publisher, or NGO, or invest- to Varsity in a personal capacity on the college teaching oicers are paid by in- pensions it can. ment bank, take solace in the fact that at least you aren’t conlicting sentiments of reluctancy and dividual Cambridge colleges which do “he University is considering a range that guy. determination felt by academics in the not have a stake in national negotiations, of cautionary measures to minimise reality of a pensions strike. union members are only legally capable any disruption to its day-to-day opera- After talks with university advocacy of withdrawing their labour from their tions.” editors Daniel Gayne [email protected] deputy editor Caitlin Smith [email protected] group Universities UK (UUK) reached a teaching and research paid for by the Representatives from UCU and UUK magazine editor Peter Chappell [email protected] deadlock on Tuesday, the UK’s largest university. attempted to negotiate a compromise deputy magazine editor Reuben Andrews [email protected] higher education union has announced Whether yearly examinations will this week over staf pensions in an ef- editor-at-large Louis Ashworth [email protected] associate editors Anna Menin, Patrick Wernham & Matt Gutteridge that strikes over pension changes “look fort to avoid strike action. he talks have [email protected] like a reality” in 61 institutions nation- stalled, however, with neither side will- business manager Mark Curtis [email protected] news editors Todd Gillespie & Noella Chye (Senior); Siyang Wei, Devarshi wide, including the University of Cam- ing to concede, and the UUK having dis- Lodhia & Sophie Shennan (Deputy) bridge. he oicial announcement of A strike in stats missed further talks. senior news correspondents Elizabeth Shaw, Rosie Bradbury, Edward when and where strikes will occur is he UCU call for strike action followed Pinnegar, Isobel Bickersteth, Jack Conway, Nick Collin, Oliver Guest & Stephanie Stacey [email protected] expected on Monday, after details such Number the results of a nationwide ballot in investigations editors Catherine Lally & Jamie Hancock as reading weeks are inalised. of voting which UCU members voted overwhelm- [email protected] he method of “escalating strike ac- Cambridge UCU ingly in support of industrial action opinion editors Felix Peckham (Senior); Belle George, Galaxy Henry, Vivienne Hopley-Jones, Jemma Slingo (Deputy) [email protected] tion” would begin with a two-day walk- 89.4% members who over pension reforms. Cambridge UCU interviews editors Harry Robertson [email protected] out on February 22nd and 23rd, followed backed strike members voted with 89.4% in favour science editor Jake Cornwall-Scoones [email protected] by blocks of strikes that will last up to action of potential strike action and 95.8% in vulture chief designer Sophia Luu [email protected] features editors Anna Fitzpatrick & Monty Fynn [email protected] ive days. he strikes are expected to take favour of action short of a strike, with a Arts editors Georgie Kemsley-Pein (Senior) place over the course of four weeks, with 57.5% turnout across the University. Dr fashion editor Eli Hayes & Robyn Schafer [email protected] a total of 14 teaching days of industrial James views the ballot support for strike theatre editors Anna Jennings (Senior); Jiayu Qiu (Deputy) [email protected] action. hey will occur alongside ac- action as relective of “how angry and music editor Perdi Higgs [email protected] tions ‘short of a strike’, including lec- Estimated frustrated [members] are about the scale film & tv editor Lillian Crawford [email protected] turers refusing to cover classes, do vol- number of staf of degradation” in pension values. sport editor Lawrence Hopkins (Senior) & Vivi Way (Deputy) 800 [email protected] untary work, or reschedule classes lost who will walk he strike action is in response to a violet editors Shynee Sienna Hewavidana (Senior) & Eleanor Swinburne on strike days. Cambridge UCU expects out next month proposal put forward by the UUK to re- (Deputy) [email protected] sub-editors Joseph Krol (Chief); Millie Kiel, Holly Knox, Fergus O’Dowd, Ben that an estimated 800 staf are likely to place deined beneit pension schemes Teasdale [email protected] participate. for incomes under £55,000 with deined video editor Gaia Reyes [email protected] “[Academics] are acutely conscious contribution schemes. he value of the varsity board Dr Michael Franklin (Chairman), Prof. Peter Robinson, Dr Tim Harris, Michael Derringer, Louis Ashworth (VarSoc President), Anna that it’s not just a relationship between deined contribution fund depends on Menin & Daniel Gayne their employer and their employer’s prof- Expected stock market performance of the un-

©Varsity Publications ltd, 2017. all rights reserved. no part of this publication may be its, but it’s also a relationship between number of days derlying investments, rather than the reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, 14 mechanical photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior permission of the publisher. the students’ education,” said Dr. James of strike action, guaranteed retirement income provided Varsity, 16 Mill lane, cambridge cb2 1rX. telephone 01223 337575. on the prospect of strikes. While he was starting in in deined beneit schemes. he UCU has Varsity is published by Varsity Publications ltd. Varsity Publications also publishes he Mays. certain that every union striker would February criticised deined contribution schemes Printed at ilife Print cambridge – Winship road, Milton, cambridge cb24 6PP on 42.5gsm newsprint. registered as a newspaper at the Post oice. issn 1758-4442. “make every efort” to avoid serious dam- as riskier and less generous, citing anal- F  26 J  2018 3 News

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Page 11 ▶

▲Model Mary LEGO CLASSICISTS

INTERVIEW Travelling in China as an cross-dresser

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SCIENCE Why more women should hack ysis by actuarial consultants First Ac- from stock market investments. ▲▼ Dr Sam reached fever pitch. “It just doesn’t feel tuarial that sta could be as much as A possible outcome from the changes James (above) very fair,” says Blair in describing her Page 13 ▶ £200,000 worse o than under de ned to the pensions scheme may be lessened and Eleanor reaction to “shocking headline  gures”. bene t schemes. demand to enter the higher-education Blair (below) Blair described a “mood of determi-  e UUK argues that replacing de ned sector, particularly at pre-1992 univer- both supported nation” among her colleagues, where OPINION bene t schemes with de ned contri- sities under the USS. Blair told Varsity strike action growing frustration over pensions over- bution schemes is a necessity, citing a that IT sta , whose skills are more easily DANIEL GAYNE rules a general reluctance to disrupt stu- £12.5bn de cit in the Universities Super- transferable across sectors, may “feel less dents’ education. Similarly, Dr. James Peter Chappell annuation Scheme (USS), the pension loyal to universities in general if [they] ❝ argued that “academics have been asked, scheme until 1992.  e UCU disputes this feel like [employers] are not putting as on pensions speci cally, to make real Not all state  gure as pessimistic. much money into sta as they could be, It just compromises, and each time it’s been schools are the CUSU Council voted on Monday in or as they previously have been”. presented as a kind of unavoidable support of a motion which backed any  e  ght over changes to academ- doesn’t feel compromise”. For Cambridge sta , he same industrial action taken by university ics’ pensions has also come to light as very fair said, the only alternative to strike action members, and which encouraged stu- criticism over vice-chancellors’ wages seems to be “to accept an unacceptable Page 14 ▶ dents to join sta in February. exceeding an ‘acceptable range’ has ❞ proposal”. Cambridge UCU told Varsity that they are “optimistic” that a strike will pre- Nadia Hourihan vent the implementation of a de ned contribution scheme, yet Eleanor Blair, Anglo-Irish a Computer O cer in the Department political of Engineering, described her feelings as “hopeful, rather than optimistic”. Having indignity previously been on the Cambridge UCU Committee and participating in past Page 14 ▶ strikes, Blair said: “it’s hard to be opti- mistic when we’ve failed previously.”  ere is a sense of culmination in Rashidat Animashoun a pensions dispute that dates back to 2011, when the USS changed from pen- Western mis- sion contributions calculated using an conceptions employee’s  nal salary earned prior to retirement, to the average salary earned of Africa over the course of their career. Dr James characterises the latest change, in not Page 15 ▶ providing sta with a guaranteed income in retirement, as the “ nal straw”. James also considers the switch to de- SPORT  ned contribution schemes as a means for the university employers to individu- Can drugs cheats be alise risk in order to place themselves in a more secure  nancial position, especially defended? in an economic climate where employers are less certain of the long-term returns Page 31 ▶ 4 F  26 J  2018 News Vigil held two years a ter Regeni death Fairytale separate vigils. of Newn Patrick Wernham  e two-year anniversary of Regeni’s walk Associate Editor murder has seen a renewal in the e orts to bring his killer(s) to justice. Earlier on GREAT ST. MARY’S – Cambridge gathered  ursday, Zeichner spoke out in parlia- A ter a on  ursday evening to remember one ment to ask what the British government of its own – Giulio Regeni, a PhD student was doing to push the case forward. sprinkling murdered in Egypt two years ago, and Saying that the case called into ques- of snow still no one held responsible. tion “very basic academic freedoms”, Roughly 150 students, academics, Zeichner went on to ask “what the on Sun- and other residents of the city congre- Government is doing to mark the event day, one gated outside Great St. Mary’s church at and also what pressure is being exerted 7.30pm to commemorate the two-year on the Egyptian Government to  nd the Newn- anniversary of the disappearance of Re- truth about what happened to Giulio.” hamite’s geni, whose tortured body was found  e Cambridge city branch of Amnesty just over a week later. Regeni was in International will on Friday be meeting photo Egypt researching trade union move- with the MEP for Regeni’s home region made the ments when he was murdered, and de- in Italy, Isabella de Monte, to discuss spite many accusing the Egyptian state the future of the campaign to bring his front page of being responsible for the killing, no killers to justice. of Reddit one has been charged.  e University tweeted its support, King’s Parade has seen its fair share of MATHIAS HAMMER saying in a post: “On the second anni- protests and rallies over recent years, but Zeichner acknowledged that many of with Italian student Mario Avesani say- versary of his disappearance, we remem- at an event to remember the brutal mur- the crowd would have been at the same ing that far from seeing it as a sad day, ber Giulio Regeni – Cambridge scholar, der of a Cambridge student, the mood event this time last year, and called the those present should take cheer from colleague and friend. Our thoughts are was unsurprisingly more sombre. lack of progress “a disgrace”. the fact they were standing collectively once again with his family, who we join Chairperson of the University Am- “I am absolutely determined that we to call for justice. in demanding truth for Giulio.” nesty International group, Laura Bates, keep on pressing to  nd out what hap- “We are doing this together,” he ar-  e University has come under re- began proceedings by thanking those pened,” he added. gued, before performing a short trumpet peated criticism in the Italian media for who turned up and inviting them to join Alex Mayer, MEP for the East of Eng- piece that prompted some in the crowd an alleged lack of cooperation with the her in a minute’s silence.  e silence be- land, noted that she had been at a simi- to start singing along. investigation. Irrespective of the verac- gan at 7:41pm, the time of the last contact lar event with her European colleagues:  e event was timed to coincide ity of these claims, on this evening’s with Regeni on the 25th January 2016. “ ere are truly shocked people from with similar gatherings in public spaces evidence it would be entirely unfair to Following the reading of a short poem right across Europe” she said. across Italy, where Regeni was originally claim that Cambridge is not interested HANNAH JONES by Pablo Neruda, Cambridge MP Daniel  e vigil ended on a hopeful note, from. In Rome alone, there were seven in  nding justice for Regeni. MATHIAS HAMMER F  26 J  2018 5 News

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Visit BARBRI-International.com or contact [email protected] to learn more. 6 Friday 26th January 2018 News revealed Intermitting students are being inancially abandoned

● Intermitting teaching support, including the use of the correct name or pronouns, as a con- students, still tributing factor to their diiculties. “It was just more than I had the ability considered full-time to cope with,” they said. “It was a con- students, cannot sistent theme that my problems would be belittled and brushed aside. It felt like withdraw government they didn’t want to make space for me. payments “he feeling I got from the Univer- sity was that my mental health prob- ● A lack of centralised lems were just like a broken arm,” they added. Eventually, they were pushed to support compounds intermit after failing several exams and feeling unable to cope with the build- issues and can worsen up of work. hey rent private accommodation all student health through the year, and are no longer in contact with their family. While study- ing, they had been receiving a full Uni- Todd Gillespie versity bursary of £3,500 per year, but are Senior News Editor no longer eligible to receive this during Siyang Wei intermission. Deputy News Editor Having initially intended to ind a job, they attempted to claim beneits when As part of our investigation, Varsity spoke their condition worsened; the Citizens’ to two students who intermitted and sub- Advice Bureau advised that they would sequently found themselves in extreme be able to claim several. inancial diiculty, unable to claim gov- ▲ Sarra Facey receiving PIP. hey applied for Housing Beneit in ernment support and left without fund- described her She added that Facey’s “ability to 2014, and was set an exam on a lan- late August, using a letter from their ing from the University or their colleges. problems after prepare well for return to study and guage module in which she says she director of studies conirming ‘inter- intermitting prioritise her recovery” were “being had “scraped a pass” in her irst year. mission for health reasons’. he Hous- “Impeded by the stress” (LOUIS ASHWOrTH) signiicantly impeded by the stress of Although she narrowly passed the mod- ing Beneit claim was rejected, citing Sarra Facey, a mature student at King’s struggling for basic income”. ule again, she was deemed ineligible to DWP rules that intermitting students College, intermitted in 2012 under pres- “It is very tiring and frustrating, and return by a new senior tutor and was are still classed as full-time students un- sure from her College after the irst year we are frustrated and tired.” forced to drop out altogether. less they have completely abandoned of her modern languages degree. he inancial tutor at King’s at the She says that her inancial hardship their course. heir Council Tax reduction She was not inancially supported by time, Tim Flack, responded two weeks had a signiicant impact on her eventual claim, meanwhile, was rejected on the family during her studies, receiving a later, writing that although the College withdrawal. She fell into debt and strug- basis that they are no longer a full-time maintenance grant and special support appreciated the diiculty of Facey’s i- gled to pay her rent, unable to ind suit- student. hey are currently appealing grant from Student Finance England nancial hardship, they were only will- able paid work. “I lacked the time and this decision. (SFE), as well as a Cambridge bursary. ing to ofer inancial support to students ❝ energy to even get close to making sure In late October, with rent and bills Upon intermission, she was no longer who were currently studying there – not I could meet my conditions for returning due imminently, they attempted to seek eligible for the bursary, and SFE paid her intermitting students. It’s very to the degree,” she added. help from their college staf. hey sent 60 days of ‘discretionary funding’ before He suggested other possible sources Facey also inconsistent support be- an email explaining their situation, ask- ceasing payments. of funding – including application for tiring and tween colleges, saying: “Some colleges ing if there were any college funds for Facey had been receiving Income Sup- state beneits, despite the lengthy expla- frustrating may have looked after vulnerable stu- which they could apply. heir director of port prior to beginning her studies, and nation included in the original email. dents who’ve intermitted instead of studies responded: “I’m not sure there’s had assumed she would be able to claim Facey did apply to return in October ❞ neglecting them like mine did. any funding source for students who are this again when intermitting. However, “It’s all so dependent on who holds intermitting.” welfare reform had made her ineligible the power and whether they decide to In the following months, they at- to reapply. She tried to work, but was What can intermitting including Housing Beneit, Income help you or not — which obviously is tempted to work but were later hos- not well enough and was ired. Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), inluenced by whether they understand pitalised. In early January, they again For the irst year and a half, Facey students claim? and Employment Support Allowance your situation at all, for a start, which, appealed to their college, asking if there made continuous attempts to access i- (ESA). For a full-time student to apply if they think everyone has a home and was any way to circumvent the student nancial support, writing multiple letters Intermitting students are normally for Universal Credit one of the follow- inancial support to go back to, they ob- registration rule without having to quit to the DWP and contacting an MP about classed as full-time students by the ing must apply: viously don’t.” their course, but were told this was not the issue. She said:“[he MP] basically Department for Work and Pensions ● You live with your partner and Varsity contacted Tim Flack, now sen- possible. said that he’d checked out the situation (DWP), which makes claiming beneits they are eligible for Universal Credit ior tutor at King’s. While he was unable “While I agree that I am not well with the Secretary of State’s oice and very diicult. Meanwhile, they are in- ● You are responsible for a child, ei- to comment on Facey’s case, he said that enough to study, intermission as a so- that they were happy with the rule.” eligible for inancial assistance from ther as a single person or as a couple, intermitting students should be “treat- lution was a way of the University re- “Which is to say that it’s totally ine to Student Finance England (SFE). if both of you are students ed in the same way” as non-students, jecting responsibility for my wellbeing,” condemn intermitting students to pen- Employment and Support Allow- ● You are disabled and entitled to and insisted that his college does pro- they said. “I am caught in a place where ury if they fall between ’too ill to work ance (ESA) Intermitting students can Personal Independence Payment (PIP) vide support for intermitting students neither the government nor the Univer- but not ill, disabled, or ‘lucky’ enough to only claim ESA if they are eligible and have limited capability for work whom they expect to return, but that sity wants to accept responsibility for my be awarded PIP’.” for Personal Independence Payment Standard allowance for single un- “the wider responsibility belongs to the wellbeing while I am unable to support In May 2014, Facey’s partner wrote (PIP). Standard allowance for under- der-25s: £251.77 per month government”. myself.” to the tutorial staf at King’s, informing 25s: £57.90 per week, rising after 13 Housing Beneit, Jobseeker’s Al- he student is currently preparing to them of the situation and asking if they months. lowance (JSA), and Income Support- “Belittled and brushed aside” apply for PIP. hey have attempted to ap- would be able to ofer any inancial or Personal Independence Payment hese can be claimed only after the rea- Varsity spoke to another student, who ply twice before, but struggled to gather administrative support. (PIP) PIP claimants must pass a strict son for intermission (often physical or wished to remain anonymous as their evidence in the timeframe given. Despite “I am writing to let you know, be- test to prove they have diiculty with mental illness, or disability) has been case is ongoing. the lengthy application process and the cause I am not sure you are aware of it, mobility or basic daily tasks. resolved, and only for up to one year. he student, who is transgender and stringent requirements, they are hopeful about the inancial bind in which inter- his has replaced Disability Living Claimants must also not have more uses gender-neutral pronouns, applied that a recently-obtained formal mental mitted students can ind themselves,” Allowance (DLA). Standard allowance: than £16,000 in savings. to intermit in May 2017, largely due to health diagnosis will help with their new she wrote, explaining that intermitting £22 - £141.10 per week, depending on You cannot claim Income Support if mental health problems and fatigue. application. referring to PIP’s reputa- students are not supported by Student severity. you are eligible for JSA or ESA. hey said that their attempts to access tion for disregarding mental health is- Finance, but are ineligible for Employ- Universal Credit his is currently Allowance rates vary depending on inancial support before intermitting sues, they also described themselves as ment and Support Allowance (ESA) while being phased in to replace beneits severity of circumstance. were not treated seriously, also citing “somewhat lucky” to also have problems registered as a student if they are not the lack of trans-friendly welfare and with physical mobility F  26 J  2018 7 News

against smoking is a chilling reminder of the evangelical temperance movement CUCA set to host of the early 20th century. Do we really want to go back to that? “I was delighted to accept CUCA’s invitation to talk about Forest’s work, tobacco lobbyists not least because it sounds like an enjoy- able evening. Smoking and the nanny state are issues that divide opinion so I’m looking forward to a lively discus- sion. Forest is non-party political so if on the front line against it. the Labour Club or Liberal Association Elizabeth Shaw “ e event in question is primarily want to invite us to address them too Senior News Correspondent social and aims to provide our members they only have to ask! Our message to with free cigars should they so wish to members of CUCA and other political Cambridge University Conservative As- smoke them (we have judged that this groups is simple. sociation (CUCA) will be hosting a po- is something that our membership in “Most important, join Forest in our litical pressure group against tobacco general would quite like).” ght against the intolerant, narrow- control activity, named FOREST, at the MacDonald insisted: “Lobbying is an minded puritans who want to sti e de- Robert Graham cigar shop on February important component of democratic bate on this and other lifestyle issues. 10th this term. political processes and our members You’re at Cambridge, for God’s sake. FOREST, short for Freedom Organisa- are adults capable of making informed Listen to all sides of the argument and tion for the Right to Enjoy Smoking To- and reasoned judgements.  ere is no make up your own minds.” bacco, receives 96% of its funding from compulsion to attend. CUSU Ethical A airs O cer, Dylan the UK tobacco industry and campaigns “As such, CUCA is committed to open Amin, told Varsity: “While there is noth- against what it deems the ‘denormali- and free debate and we will endeavour to ing we can do to prevent this association sation’ of tobacco. Branding itself as a explore controversial but important ar- between CUCA and FOREST, we are sur- “voice and friend of the smoker”, the eas of discussion, of which this is one.” prised to hear of its existence. lobbyists communicate with politicians His comments were supported by “ e arguments for tobacco control and the media, using platforms such as Vice-Chairman of the association, Dy- are coherent, powerful and backed up Twitter to call for an end to the “stigma- lan Coll-Reed, who issued a unanimous intensely by research, encouraging CUSU tisation of smokers”. statement. to be in support of it. For the environ- In its term-card, CUCA invites its In a statement released to Varsity, mental, social and moral good of the so- members to “Find out more about dif- FOREST said: “Forest neither promotes ciety our students live in, we condemn ferent pressure groups with FOREST!”. nor encourages smoking. We support FOREST’s work, making us thoroughly Connor MacDonald, the CUCA chair- freedom of choice and personal respon- smoking. ▲ Robert disappointed by this event.” man for Lent 2018 told Varsity: “While the sibility, which is quite di erent. Tobacco “Once you’re 18, however, you are an Graham Whisky Other upcoming events this term Association does not necessarily endorse is a legal product enjoyed by millions of adult and old enough to make informed and Cigar Shop include a proposed visit from the con- the views of FOREST, we appreciate the adults.  e health risks are well-known choices about all sorts of things, includ- on Sussex Street troversial Eurosceptic Tory Jacob Rees- dangers of regulatory overreach and and we support all reasonable measures ing smoking and drinking.  e idea that MATHIAS GJESDAL Mogg on February 8th, alongside regular want to hear the perspectives of groups designed to discourage children from students should join a moral crusade HAMMER ‘Port and Policy’ meetings. 8 F  26 J  2018

News CUSU Finances CUSU budget review produces limited light

❝ student union receives additional fund- Catherine Lally ing from the central University. Senior Investigations Editor ere was CUSU’s attempt to give an appearance Louis Ashworth a commun- of belt-tightening, however, was marred Editor-at-Large slightly by the context of those savings. ication  e most substantial overall saving made CUSU began its attempt to escape nan- issue be- was to its expenditure on a liation to cial woe this week, revealing limited in- the National Union of Students (NUS). formation about its ongoing expenditure tween TCS CUSU has been charged just £250 so in an e ort to boost transparency and far this year – it had budgeted to pay accountability. and CUSU £10,527. Broad positives for the struggling stu- ❞ At Council on Monday, where the g- dent union, including a cut to to its pro- ures were presented, CUSU president jected losses this year, were marred by Daisy Eyre expressed apparent surprise a semi-public scrap with CUSU-funded at the saving. She told Varsity on  urs- paper e Cambridge Student (TCS) and a day that CUSU “routinely make it clear muted reception at Monday’s Council. to the NUS that our budget is small com- Using year-to-date expenditure sta- pared to other unions, and it seems that tistics, CUSU reassessed its predicted they have responded to this.” losses for this year: expected now to be “We are very happy that they have in the region of £70,000 including sav- reduced our fee; though ultimately dis- ings, possibly falling even more once the mayed that a union at a university such

BRUNCH as Cambridge should be paying such a In a brie ng document released ahead ▲ Eyre small fee compared to comparable NUS of Monday’s council, CUSU wrote: “Print presenting to BRIEFING a liates,” she added. continues to perform far below that Council on NUS did not reply to a request for expected with a signi cant loss in rev- Monday night comment on why CUSU had been enue from TCS expected for the end of LOUIS ASHWORTH charged a reduced fee. the year.” When contacted by Varsity,  e relationship between CUSU and the TCS board of directors stated that e Cambridge Student was publicly they were “surprised to nd [their] - strained at the beginning of the week, nancial situation discussed in the mid All the big news with both releasing statements admon- year nancial budget review,” and had ishing the other – before settling upon contacted Eyre “about what we perceive an unclear resolution. to be regrettable inaccuracies.”

in Cambridge. unions, or those experiencing substantial nancial issues – rather than the £10,527 Will the Random? CUSU had expected to pay. Two years ago, when Cambridge stu- CUSU’s dents narrowly voted to remain a liated Condensed. NUS stay so to NUS ater a heated debate and refer- shifting endum, the low a liation fee CUSU paid NUS fees had formed a major part of arguments cheap for made by those who said Cambridge 2015–16 should remain associated. £250 Last year, ater having budgeted for CUSU? the expected £250 fee, CUSU revealed 2016–17 it had been charged £5,765, which pro- £5,765 voked an outcry in some anti-NUS quar- ters, but amounted to little change. Register for the Brunch Brieing, 2017–18 CUSU’s general manager Mark Mc- Louis Ashworth (budgeted) Cormack said in comments revealed at Varsity’s concise round-up of Editor-at-Large £10,527 the time that he had attempted to ne- the week’s biggest stories at the gotiate a reduction, but had been un- University, every Sunday.  e National Union of Students’ (NUS) 2017–18 successful. decision to charge CUSU just £250 so (actual so far) As it prepared its annual budget pres- far this year is the latest twist in a long- £250 entation, the student union was forced To sign up, go to: eepurl/cygSCT running saga of major swings in Cam- to acknowledge not only its own sub- or scan the QR code to the right. bridge’s a liation fees to the national stantial overall losses, but that the NUS body. fee would shoot up again. Despite this, It appears that NUS is charging its CUSU argued that the a liation o ered hardship fee – reserved for small student value for money overall. F  26 J  2018 9

CUSU Finances News

In response to this, Eyre said that CUSU had “con rmed to [TCS] that the document accompanying the Mid-Year budget review is accurate.” Beyond this, Despite some boosts, the Eyre added that CUSU have “no plans to change TCS’ funding.”  e subject was raised again at Monday’s Council, when Eyre spoke of wanting to clear up “inac- outlook stays grim for CUSU curacies” surrounding TCS overspending its budget – an accusation which had not been made by either party to begin with. cordantly with the Freshers Fair Careers Analysis Zone in 2018-19.” Catherine Lally  e most concrete part of CUSU’s pro- Investigations posed solution appears to be asking the Editor University for increased funding. It asked for an uplit in funding of £80,000, which was backed by the CCSSU and is yet to ▲ e Cambridge Student became the Following the release of CUSU’s ‘Mid-Year be approved by the University’s annual centre of debate this week Budget Review’, a tangible improvement Planning Round, for which submissions LOUIS ASHWORTH in the student union’s strained  nancial were accepted in November. situation does not appear to be on the Varsity reported in November on On  ursday, Eyre told Varsity: “Over cards.  ere was a brief discussion of the ▲ CUSU’s  uctuate again. CUSU’s failure to meet any of the eight the weekend, there was a communica- document at CUSU Council on Monday, headquarters on It is also unclear as to whether CUSU targets set out in its Strategic Plan 2014–17. tion issue between TCS and CUSU that but no JCRs expressed concern about Mill Lane has a  rm idea of how it will replace its  ese included aims to a liate all Cam- led to some confused press coverage. the issue – possibly due to many JCR SIMON LOCK lost revenue streams, having operated bridge common rooms, a satisfaction  is was resolved through private com- presidents having only recently been ap- at a de cit since the 2014-2015 academic rate of 58% from recent graduates in the munications between ourselves and TCS pointed, or not in attendance, and a new year. Many of its current  nancial woes NSS survey, and a move to greater inde- in which we con rmed that the paper requirement that questions to be submit- stem from the termination of its pub- pendence in its funding. Following this was making a loss. Overall, we are con- ted at 4pm on the day of Council. lishing contract with St. James’s House, disappointment, Eyre spoke of wanting centrating our e orts on other income  e document was released in the which previously provided the student to make the process of developing its streams, such as our new careers project interests of transparency and in prepa- union with an annual £140,000 of “un- next Strategic Plan “more organic” and and on BlueSci, our other publication. ration for the next budget in Easter, but restricted funding”. While the document “more  exible.” In an email sent out to While print advertising is in decline, the next round of planning is unlikely makes vague references to a new “re- students on Wednesday, Eyre showed niche publications like BlueSci are do- to be any easier.  e student union’s placement careers initiative,” it admits signs of continuing in this approach, ing better.” trustees have resolved to keep budget that this “underperformed  nancially in asking students to  ll out a survey on CUSU’s budget for the 2018-2019 aca- allocations for 2017/18 at their current its  rst year,” despite supposed “positive” aspects of the next Strategic Plan and sign demic year is set to be passed in Easter levels. While CUSU has forecasted “a feedback.  e student union claims to be up for its focus groups. For now, only term. Its new “careers initiative,” which slightly smaller loss than that budgeted,” moving forward optimistically, with the time will tell whether students take up made its debut in 2017, underperformed with a £31,000 positive variance once careers project expected to run “con- the call.  nancially in its  rst year.  is was at- outstanding funds from the University tributed to “limited market informa- have been transferred, it is still working tion to work upon” and not promoting at a loss. Its budget was passed in May the event until “the start of Summer.” 2017, with expected losses of £75,000 for However, with claims in the budget re- the 2017-18 academic year. Even with view that feedback on its new careers new savings, the student union is still South Expedition Africa initiative was “positive,” and “presents expected to run a de cit of £44,000 by optimism going into future,” CUSU trus- the end of the year. tees have decided not to change income Some of CUSU’s savings have come projections. from its ‘Representation and Campaigns’ Embark on an authentic Meanwhile, the CUSU  nancial en- budget - with the second-largest saving, quiry has begun its investigation into £2,917, in salary costs for sabbaticals. By the student union’s substantial losses. far the largest saving has come from a African adventure Connor MacDonald, who is chairing the discount in its NUS A liation fee. In enquiry, said: “we had a very produc- spite of having budgeted £10,527 for East Africa is the cradle of civilization and a tive  rst meeting. Daisy and CUSU have the fee, CUSU unexpectedly was only natural and beautiful area where tribes and been very helpful, and we look forward asked to pay £250. President Daisy Eyre Ethiopia to a more in detail meeting next week.” told Varsity that CUSU had repeatedly clans have been left untouched by the ravages In its next meeting, the enquiry plans emphasised its  nancial hardship to Kenya of today’s global nonsense. If you believe in to meet with Gareth Marlow, CUSU’s the national union: as things stand, we Tanzania longest-standing trustee. don’t know for sure that this  gure won’t the philosophy of ecological tourism to explore countries in a more human way South Expedition

Re-a liation was strongly approved ▼ NUS president charge did not materialise, and appears Africa is the right tour operator for your trip. once again during Council last Easter, Shakira Martin to have slightly sotened the blow CUSU the statutory annual vote NUS UK had anticipated this year. South Expedition Africa offers a wide range of on NUS a liation hav- Whether CUSU can count on the fee services and tourism activities in Ethiopia, ing previously been Kenya and Tanzania. From sightseeing, bird postponed amid Percentage concerns regarding of Cambridge watching, indigenous tribes and National Park the fee increase. 51.52% students who visits to trekking, boat excursions, safaris As events have voted to stay in and game drives. unfolded, that the NUS in 2016 To those looking for adventure, we will never being charged is questionable, guide you through fabulous landscapes. however: NUS did not reply to Varsity’s A once in a lifetime experience, at an questions this week about why the discount had apparently been applied, affordable price. and given the  uctuations seen in recent years, may change its mind again before the next CUSU budget is set.  e discount is only a small dent in the losses CUSU is expecting. A cash in- jection the student union is anticipat- ing from the central University notwith- Contact Nathaniel Taffere - www.south-expedition-africa.com standing, its losses have been reduced Tour Operator & Owner telephone: +46760967856 only from £75,000 to £70,000 – if the [email protected] facebook: south.expedition.africa NUS fee goes up again, losses could even be worse than expected. 10 Friday 26th January 2018 News Michael Bristow: China in drag ❠ ‘Before the internet my teacher thought he was alone’

Felix Peckham talks region, namely South Korea and Japan. ‘here are two primary important fac- to the Asia journalist tors for China.’ Bristow tells me ‘One, it doesn’t want North Korea to become a about his new nuclear power, because that could have ramiications for the whole region— book, which charts which we’ve seen with South Korea a journey through taking in more American weapons for example, which China feels threatened China with his cross- about, and this could lead to an arms race which would destabilize the region. dressing teacher North Korea’s nuclear weapons could even threaten China at a later date. So they aren’t happy about that.’ y first attempt to in- ‘But what it’s less happy about is the terview the BBC World uniication of North and South Korea Service’s Asia and Pa- which, in efect, wouldn’t be a uniica- Mciic editor is thwarted tion but would be South Korea swallow- by North Korea. Michael ing up whole North Korea because it’s Bristow is called away moments into our just a basket case in terms of economic interview with the breaking news that development. And you would have an North Korea is potentially pulling out of American ally right on China’s border. the Winter Olympics, hosted in South It wants that even less than it wants a Korea in just a few weeks’ time. he BBC nuclear North Korea. So, at the moment, needs a knowledgeable mind to broad- China is unwilling to completely cut ties cast this news to its diaspora audience with North Korea. At some point in the around the world. Bristow is an obvious future that balance might change.’ choice, as someone who has spent eight From the giant and complicated state years in Beijing as a BBC Foreign Corre- of China, to a giant and complicated cor- spondent, and who has just published poration, I ask Bristow about his employ- a book, China in Drag, about the story of er, the BBC, and its reputation abroad: Modern China and its ramiications for ‘It might come to a surprise to people in the wider region. Britain how much the BBC is respected We manage to grab a few minutes across the world and it really adds to between breaking news on the Korean Britain’s soft power. We are a tiny na- peninsula, and Bristow gives me the tion but we have some cultural aspects endearing story of his book, though he which allow us to get a punch above admits it’s less his book than that of his our weight in terms of our impact on cross-dressing Mandarin teacher: ‘His the world.’ Despite recent controversies stories were really the stories of modern over pay inequality, for example, Bristow China.’ Crucially, at the outset of his trip is keen to defend the ‘brand’ power of to write the story of China’s rise over the the organisation, emphasizing that the past ifty years, Bristow was entirely un- BBC is ‘trusted’ and respected for do- aware of his teacher’s cross-dressing. ing its ‘best to give as impartial news ‘On our irst trip away he surprisingly as possible, to try to get the truth and revealed himself to be a cross-dresser. to relect opinion.’ his is a man who was nearly sixty at the ‘Journalism is fascinating because you time, and its unusual enough in China get to see all aspects of life.’ I can’t help anyway, particularly for someone who is ▲ Michael net my teacher thought he was alone Bristow tells me, which is a result of but wholeheartedly agree with Bristow. a little more elderly. He was born about Bristow is the — he thought that he was the only man China’s rapid economic growth: ‘China It would seem diicult not to feel this the time the Communists took power – BBC World in China who liked to wear women’s has become richer and it feels more con- way about the profession having trav- his ups and downs are mirrored in their Service Asia and clothes. When he got on the internet ident. Previously it would hide its inten- elled around one of the most exciting fortunes as well. I thought it would be Paciic editor it connected him like it’s connected so tions or keep a low proile, but now it’s and complicated nations in modern a good vehicle to enable me to tell the (SANDSTONE PrESS) many people. He found out there are more willing to show themselves. Just history, with a cross-dresser, tracing story of China, so we decided to travel others like him that he could connect this week when they announced their changes in attitude in a traditionally around to various places associated with with, meet up, form groups with, and increased economic growth igures, the conservative society. his story. Our story became his story, and go to clubs. hat was the turning point leadership were talking about a ‘New particularly that of his cross-dressing in his life, and I can’t emphasize enough World Order’, and how the world needs and what people said and did when we how much of a relief that was for him, China. It is increasingly emboldened, encountered them.’ to ind out that he wasn’t alone.’ which has happened at the same time Most bookshops have a healthy col- Despite not naming his teacher, to as the US has a president which has un- lection of books on modern China, espe- ❝ protect his identity, Bristow is keen to dermined America’s traditional support cially its rapid economic development. emphasize that one of the conclusions for freedom of speech and free trade.’ Many have whole tables and shelves China that China in Drag reaches is that ‘Chi- here is no more pertinent or conten- dedicated to the topic. And yet few seem nese people are actually quite tolerant tious issue than that of a nuclear North to talk of the social transformations and the when it comes to things which aren’t Korea. he repressive authoritarian state that typically accompany such a fun- leadership normally expected, such as diferent is a political hot potato, nestled between damental economic shift. ‘I don’t think sexual or gender expressions — tolerant South Korea — a staunch, heavily mili- there has been massive social change in is really in many ways more than people in the tarized US ally — and China, a iercely China.’ Bristow tells me, explaining that West, which in some respects you would independent foe of the ‘traditional’ Xi Jinping’s Communist Party has been emolden- imagine to be more advanced.’ Western concept of a World Order. North ‘obsessed with keeping a lid on any group ed to Few would doubt that Donald Korea is a complex issue for China, and is Bristow’s ▶ which is outside of its control.’ Trump’s reactionary and incoherent at the top of its foreign policy agenda. It book considers While internet censorship is rife in lex its rhetoric has altered the power balance is a chance for it to assert its independ- China’s rapid China, Bristow asserts that the internet muscles to some extent in the region of South ence and foreign policy might, but also economic and has, nonetheless, been revolutionary East Asia. ‘China and the leadership is an opportunity to strengthen diplomatic cultural changes for Chinese society: ‘before the inter- ❞ really emboldened to lex its muscles.’ links with the US and key players in their (SANDSTONE PrESS) F  26 J  2018 11 News

BUILDING BRIDGES ADCINDIES Fitzwilliam Master Cindies to host ADC to step down plays in Easter term Classical gurine Professor Nicky Pad eld, the Master of  e ADC  eatre have announced that Fitzwilliam College, has announced to Cindies and the Round Church will be the college’s governing body that she some of the venues used for productions e social intends to step down from her as part of their ‘ADC on Tour’ pro- media position at the end of the aca- gramme.  e nightclub will provide demic year 2018-19. Pad eld, the venue for Zanna Don’t in Week page who is also the Director of 3 of Easter term. Refurbishment ‘LEGO Cambridge Centre for Crim- works at the theatre, including inal Justice and Professor in the installation of a new venti- Classicists’ Criminal and Penal Justice, lation system for the auditorium, made a became Master in October 2013 mean it will be closed for six months mini Mary and has been a fellow since 1991. between April and October. Beard LOOKING FOR DOGGO BUILDING BRIDGES Cockapoo Cantabs help launch kidnapping hotspot Parliamentary group LEGO CLASSICISTS Cockapoos have become increasingly MPs and peers from across the political popular with dog thieves in Cambridge- spectrum have come together to launch shire, comprising almost 10% of missing the All-Party Parliamentary Group for dog cases, according to new police data. Future Generations.  e All-Party Parlia-  e dogs are currently the seventh most mentary Group (APPG) will be chaired by Everything you need to popular breed in the UK according to Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner, and was a poll conducted by ITV. Sta e cross- created by students Tildy Stokes and breeds still remain the most common Natalie Jones, who will serve as Secre- choice for thieves, with six recorded tariat.  e aim of the APPG is to combat know about the National missing last year. short-termism in politics. , Student Survey debate Looking for paid work in Cambridge this summer?

Noella Chye Cambridge Student Assistants Senior News Editor An opportunity to work for the University’s  e tension surrounding the controver- world-renowned International Summer Programmes. sial National Student Survey (NSS) will Rewarding customer-facing work assisting academics reach fever pitch this week as ‘Boycott the NSS’ campaigners are set to burn the and adult students from over 60 countries. bright-yellow NSS pamphlets in a bon re this Saturday. • 4 - 7 weeks’ employment, starting 3 July 2018 Today’s edition of Varsity also fea- tures a debate (p.16) on whether stu- • Includes four days of training dents should complete the NSS. Pro- • 36.5 hour working week on a rota basis vice-chancellor for education, Graham Virgo, writes in its defence, against CUSU • Free single-room College accommodation education o cer Martha Krish and Cam- • Up to four free College dinners each week bridge Defend Education’s Matt Kite.  e NSS, commissioned by the gov- • Valuable transferable skills to enhance your CV ernment’s Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and sent to For details including how to apply, email: nal-year undergraduate students every [email protected] (closing date 23 February) year, is used to produce the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), an annual publication now in its third run.  e TEF evaluates higher education institutions across three metrics — graduate employ- ment, student retention, and student satisfaction — with the latter being cal- culated using the NSS.  e framework awards gold, silver, ▲ Pro-vice-chancellor Graham Virgo UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE bronze and provisional standards to its 293 participating institutions.  ose awarded gold in the rst ‘trial’ TEF pub-  e CUSU and CDE campaign to boy- awarded gold and silver standards may lished in June 2017. 115 institutions were cott the NSS was renewed this year on then be allowed to raise their tuition awarded silver, and 53 bronze. 5th January — with the backing of Krish ADVERTISE fees. In 2017, the NSS became the target and Kite — just before the 2018 NSS was Following a vote in the House of of widespread criticism, with the NUS sent out to nalists on 8th January. Commons in April last year, the link be- advocating for a national boycott.  e campaign’s latest development, tween the TEF and tuition fees will only In Cambridge, CUSU and Cambridge described on its Facebook event page WITH US. be introduced in 2020, and will require Defend Education (CDE) supported the as “a FIRE where we will ceremonially an independent review of the TEF to be boycott alongside 25 student unions, burn the horrible yellow nss lea ets cur- To advertise in any of our print publications or presented to parliament. urging eligible students not to take the rently being distributed”, will be “open online, please contact our Business Manager:  e core questionnaire of the 2017 NSS survey. Leaders of the boycott claimed to anyone who likes re and let wing asked students to rate their institutions to have achieved success in August last politics”. by evaluating their level of agreement year, when Cambridge’s results for the Meanwhile, on page 16, Virgo chal- tel : 01223 33 75 75 with 27 claims, such as, “Sta value NSS were declared invalid due to an in- lenges Krish and Kite with his claim that email: [email protected] students’ views and opinions about the su cient turnout, along with 11 other “completing the NSS, whilst still consti- web: varsitypublications.co.uk course”. universities including Oxford, Manches- tuting a metric for the TEF, will not have Cambridge was one of 60 institutions ter, and Bristol. an impact on tuition fees.”

F  26 J  2018 13 Science Cracking the code of gender disparity at the 2018 Cambridge hackathon

● Hack Cambridge took place at the Corn Exchange over the weekend with 67 women and non- binary participants ● Second place was taken by the only all- women team

Stephanie Stacey Senior News Correspondent

Last weekend, over 300 students gath- ered at the Corn Exchange to participate in the third annual Hack Cambridge, a 24-hour-long competition designed to urge teams to develop innovative tech- nological projects, and the rst year that special e orts were made on the organ- isers’ part to encourage women hackers to take part. In Cambridge, women accounted for just 13.6% of undergraduates studying for the Computer Science Tripos for the 2016-17 academic year, making them an underrepresented group. Despite annual variations, with the proportion of female students in the sub- ject falling below 10% in some years, lit- tle progress appears to have been made in attracting young women — the pro- portion of women students sixteen years ago, in 2000-01, for example, was at a ▼ e second- at the hackathon, with hackers eager to Meanwhile, others chose to focus on ▲ 21% of similar level of 13.3%. placed creators see and learn from the various projects developing medical technology, includ- hackathon Tech success  is gender imbalance is oten very of Pantry Log on display around the room, as well as to ing programs to aid the visually impaired participants visible at hackathons. Peter Scharrer, with their share their own creations and insights. and those su ering from ts or seizures. were women e best projects Communications Manager for Hack design STEPHANIE A huge range of projects were un- Speaking to Varsity, one participant, Alex MATHIAS HAMMER Cambridge, told Varsity, “ is year we’ve STACEY dertaken, with some aiming to tackle  orne, said that his goal was to “use worked really hard to try and minimise important issues in society — such as computers to provide much-needed as- Bad Flamingo the gender disparity.” seizure identi cation — and others to sistance to those struggling with mental  e game functions like a high-tech ver- In the lead-up to the event, Hack create enjoyable, oten humorous, pro- health issues,” noting speci cally that sion of Pictionary, in which players at- Cambridge worked with several female grammes. technology can help us to “understand tempt to draw objects su ciently ‘badly’ and non-binary organisations, includ- During the twenty-four hours, one ourselves better.” or uniquely that the computer is unable ing Women@CL, a positive action pro- team of hackers created ‘Bad Flamin- Many teams, even those who created to recognise them, but not so strangely gramme for women in computing re- go’, a high-tech version of Pictionary in games, considered practical uses.  e that their partner is unable to identify the search, and the Cambridge University which players attempt to draw objects creators of ‘Mission Hack,’ a “modern image.  e 'Bad Flamingo' team scooped Women in Business Society (CAMWIB), su ciently ‘badly’ or uniquely that the treasure hunt” with the goal of “game- up rst place at the Hackathon for their “to make sure the recruitment process computer is unable to recognise them, ifying the environment,” suggested that "innovative, technically challenging and reached as many talented female stu- but not so strangely that their partner is possible applications of their project in- well-designed project." dents as possible.” unable to identify the image. clude education as well as health and  ey also organised a dinner with one  e creators of ‘Bad Fla- safety training. Pantry Log of the event sponsors, Improbable, solely mingo’ took home the Hack Scharrer described the hackathon Created by the only all-women team to for female and non-binary students. Cambridge trophy, ater their as “a collaborative programming ex- participate in the event, Pantry Log was Scharrer added, “Mainly our outreach game was judged to be the perience that brings together talented awarded second prize.  e app seeks to e orts have been attempting to make “most innovative, techni- students and allows young computer minimise kitchen waste by monitoring clear that hackathons, and computer sci- cally challenging and scientists, engineers, and designers to ❝ users' food purchases and the expiry ence, are for everyone and certainly not well-designed project.” hone their skills in a social and enjoy- dates of perishable items. Its creators something that so many brilliant young Only one team able environment." He contined, “Every is year said that they had been inspired by “a women should feel turned away from.” consisted entirely of year we try to work with some really combination of love for food and a tech According to statistics from Hack women.  ey designed inspiring companies to provide our hack- we've addiction.” Cambridge organisers, 67 of 322 partici- ‘Pantry Log,’ an app to ers with a huge range of hardware and worked pants (20.8%) identi ed as a gender other monitor food purchas- sotware with which they can produce Mission Hack than male. es and expiry dates in their projects.” really hard Among the more light-hearted entries to Although a wide variety of subjects order to minimise Although most were rather sleepde- this year's hackathon was Mission Hack, were represented at the hackathon, in- waste, for which they prived by the end of 24 hours of cod- to try and described as a "modern treasure hunt" cluding Law and Linguistics, the vast won second place. Team ing, several participants described the minimise that would enable players to "game-ify" majority of students were undertaking members Silvia Sapora, experience as “enjoyable and valuable". their environment. Its applications are technology or engineering based de- Elena Liu and Ami Zou said Many seemed keen to participate again the gender not wholly frivilous, however, with its grees, with almost 50% studying pure the project was inspired by in future; if the organisers' campaign has disparity designers suggesting that their creation Computer Science. “a combination of love for been successful, more of them will be could be deployed as an educational tool,  ere was an enthusiastic atmosphere food and a tech addiction.” women. ❞ or during health and safety training. 14 F  26 J  2018 Opinion Privilege is about more than paying school fees

debate on variation between schools. choice is Chancellor’s School, where 70% Educational privilege is more than a 400 Government decisions have exacerbat- of GCSE pupils achieve 5 A*-C grades. e ed the problem. e introduction of league bottom of the pile is Mount Grace. Mount year history and a cricket pitch tables for comprehensive schools by the Grace is known as ‘Mount Disgrace’, such Major government meant that headteach- is the shame in attending it. Families who rivate schools are a Bad ing. ers focused on beating other schools, not know how to work the system, who can Any reasonable person ad- on nurturing their own pupils. Under Tony a ord to fund accruements like violin tui- mits it. Everyone knows 7% of Blair, we were warned there would be “no tion or rugby training are more likely to Pchildren are educated at fee- hiding place” for schools not striving to be successful in the school race. People paying institutions, yet they improve themselves. League tables might get rightly het up about grammar schools dominate ‘the establishment’, making have had positive e ects: they have been institutionalising education inequality, up nearly 50% of the Cambridge under- the  rst step on the road to recognising but aren’t these disparities in the com- graduate population. But our  xation on variation within the school system. Diane prehensive system having precisely the Peter Chappell misbehaving private schools, with their Reay, Cambridge’s Professor of Education, same e ect? is a third year at nice blazers and mummies in Range Rov- told e Guardian, “because the schools that We have a system where children born Downing studying ers, distracts from the huge disparities in working-class children mostly go to are not in the same ward of the same hospital English the quality of education within compre- doing well in the league tables, there’s a lot and educated in the same ‘comprehen- hensive schools. Where you live, what of pressure on their teachers and heads to sive’ school system have wildly di erent your parents do, how much they earn, increase their league table position. at chances in life. e media are obsessed and the priority they place on education means they focus ruthlessly on reading, with stale stereotypes of where power and (read: how much they will punish you if writing and arithmetic”. Working class kids wealth have their seat: articles on ‘elitism’ you don’t do your D.T homework), mat- may do alright in maths, because without and education privilege are illustrated with ters every bit as much as if you went to it you really are screwed. But education is images of Eton, Harrow and Westminster. the comp or to a school founded by Royal about so much more than that: good com- e conversation about what a good school, Charter sometime before 1400. prehensives have the bandwidth for art, for education and student mean is too narrow. Children on free school meals are ❝ music, for PE, because they can a ord it, or is article hasn’t even taken into account 27% less likely to achieve  ve or more their parents can pay for clubs, or the kids the complex social hierarchies which ex- GCSEs at grades A*-C. Half of all free school There are are being tutored at home, meaning they ist within schools themselves: everything meal children are educated in just a  th huge dis- pick things up quicker in class. from the state of your uniform to having of all schools. Deprivation and poor educa- Let’s say you are looking for a school for the space at home for a desk speaks elo- tional attainment is highly concentrated, parities in your eleven-year-old in Potters Bar, a town quently of your class and of your chances. and hidden. Cambridge may be a middle- bordering North London. e school where Many students at Cambridge have had class  efdom, but so are the good comps education everyone wants to go is Dame Alice Owens, these disadvantages, and have overcome from which it draws many of its students. within com- which brags 96% of GCSE students secur- them through hard work. is should be ere are mainly middle-class schools, and ing 5 A*-C grades and 21 Oxbridge o ers celebrated, but we need to have a more then there are mainly working-class and prehensive in 2017. e situation is made particularly candid discussion about why they had to ethnic-minority schools. Both are part of schools ▲ Diane Reay has spoken out against tricky because Owens’ catchment area ex- be overcome in the  rst place. Whether the ‘comprehensive’ system, but there is lit- the use of league tables YOUTUBE tends all the way into Islington, but only you are privileged is about a lot more than

Peter Chappell Chappell Peter tle comprehensive about it: the term sti es ❜❜ FREEDOM TO LEARN PROJECT into a tiny bit of Potters Bar. e second whether you paid school fees.

More meme than MP? e Irish crisis of political dignity

hiss in outrage. an act of national self-sabotage. British Nadia Hourihan notes how British But social media is a Trojan horse, politicians scramble to appease opposed smuggling foreign spectators into the groups of people, with opposed promises. politicians are following in Ireland’s national psyche. Anyone who follows the Serious questions are being asked of the online musings of Irish people can get in health of the Government’s supply and defensive, self-depreciating footsteps on the jokes we make at our own expense: con dence agreement. e Conservative’s Simon Harris, the Minister for Health is three-legged race with the DUP might yet not-so-secretly a vampire and TD (MP) Jack collapse before the  nish line. ith all due respect, in the most out having enough money in the national Chambers has never seen his own nipples. On a world stage, the UK is throwing “Wunparliamentary language, pocket. Ater the Celtic Tiger bloated our Irish twitter is a strange place, and the na- a tantrum directed at its most important fuck you Deputy Stagg! Fuck balance sheets, the following  nancial ture of our online lives has welcomed the trading partner: the European Union. is you!” crash hardly helped us take ourselves more ❝ world to gape at our perversions. is proving to be more self-sabotage than “Eh-eh-eh-excuse me” seriously. e last twenty years have con- Ireland’s successful defense of the an assertion of sovereignty. A gulf exists “I apologise now for my use of unparlia- ditioned the Irish to be wary of self-styled I do urge national interest in December’s Brexit between how the UK sees itself (seri- mentary language”  nancial Messiahs. negotiations will leave less of a mark ous, powerful, the land of Churchill and “Deh-deh-deputy Gogarty, that is most On a world stage, Ireland threw tan- attention in the minds of the young than our Shakespeare), and how it is seen abroad unparliamentary language”. trums over its treatment by a key trad- to Irish accidental legalization of ecstasy, (not so serious, a declining power, the A week into  rst year, an English friend ing partner: Britain. Time and again, this crystal meth and mushrooms in land of Farage and Katie Hopkins). It all quoted this to me, which took place in the proved to be more self-sabotage than the history, for 2015, Gerry Adam’s weird tweets, sounds eerily familiar. So, next time you Dáil (the Irish lower house) in 2009. e desired coup de grace. e gulf between and Leo Varadkar’s tank tops. see a Maybot meme, remember that the popularity of this clip is surprising, until how Ireland has seen itself (serious, im- there are But, for what feels like the  rst Irish have been through the same crisis of you think about the meme-centric ways portant, the land of Yeats and Wilde), and lessons to time, the UK is su ering a crisis seriousness. When such a crisis threatens we now consume politics. We consume how it has been seen abroad (not so seri- of seriousness too. a nation’s dignity, scapegoats are found. humiliation and blunders before serious ous, not so important, the land of Father be learned e UK is struggling to take For the Irish, a contempt for Britain has journalism. e Irish have long known that Ted and Mrs Brown’s Boys) generated a jeal- from it its politics seriously. e Brexit been exploited to make up for a slighted our political establishment is a bit embar- ously guarded self-deprecation. Us Irish referendum has infantilized sense of self. I only hope the British don’t rassing. Irish politicians swaggered round have license to say vicious things about ❜❜ parliament, which now must  nd a similar punching bag in the Euro- making promises as big as their egos with- ourselves, but if anyone else giggles we pursue what it thinks of as pean Union. F  26 J  2018 15

Lara Erritt

We must not teach a one-dimensional view of Africa

in Nigeria (2014), Ghana (2016) and even- did we learn about Africa? I remember Rashidat Animashaun explores the tually in Gambia (2017) should be celebrat- years of re-learning Tudor or World War ed more, thus refreshing the continent’s Two history, but aside from the transat- misrepresentation of Africa in Western image as a land of dynamic economies lantic slave trade, the history of any Afri- and societies hungry for change and suc- can country did not appear. Why should culture, and what can be done to rectify it cess. Let us not be too hasty to criticise only British history be considered so im- the slow improvement in African democ- portant as to teach it multiple times in racy; even the most successful democracy school? Understandings of the Kingdom of in the world, the USA, is grappling with Kongo, the Benin Empire or the Kingdom ith Trump’s recent remarks the daily depictions of Africa are of the a leader willing to promote conspiracy of Kush were let for me to explore indi- Wabout the whole of the Afri- malnourished bodies of African children, theories of a “deep state”. vidually. Students in my school wanted to can continent in mind — yes, or young men smuggled across seas look- So, why isn’t this new image of Af- write their A-Level coursework on African a continent, not a single country — it ing for salvation in Europe. Even though rica as visible on our frontpages or our history, but were dissuaded by teachers must be asked, why are we surprised? Africa still su ers many of these prob- TV screens as the old image? Why are so because it was, supposedly, too compli- Aside from Trump’s history of racism lems, this image is frequently the only many stories regarding Africa limited to cated to mark accurately. It is the failings and xenophobia, his new statements aspect of Africa shown in the West.  us, poverty, war and corruption? Is it pos- of the British and American education about Africa have expressed not so much it may not be so shocking for many people sible that the persistence of a colonial systems that must be held accountable Rashidat Animash- a fringe opinion, but rather one a silent to see Africa as essentially a “shithole”. narrative of Africa facilitates a colonial for the one-dimensional understanding uan is a rst year minority holds. But as a child of Nigerian immigrants, response: Africa as a place of low intellect, of Africa. Trump is simply a symptom of at Trinity Hall From as young as I can remember, the I know this to be a very shallow under- savagery and therefore in need of a white a larger institutional problem. studying HSPS narrative around Africa has focused on de- standing of Africa. Rich in history and saviour?  e recent British news coverage ❝  e point of this article was not to tar- picting the continent as the “sick man” of culture and energised by the hunger of delighted in the fall of Mugabe, but what There's still nish anyone with the label of racism, but the world. Plagued by poverty, corruption a growing middle class and an impas- was neglected from many articles about to o er a more critical lens as to why and and failed political experiments, nothing sioned diaspora, many nations on the Britain’s long history with Zimbabwe was a habit of how Africa is still depicted in a way that good had or would emerge from it on its continent are growing rapidly. Two thirds that Mugabe was once Britain’s darling, a makes the comment of “shithole” accurate own. In 2000 e Economist produced a of Africa’s growth since 2000 came from highly praised democrat.  ere remains telling a for some. To tackle this one-dimensional front page called the “Hopeless Conti- wholesale, retail, transportation, telecom- a habit of telling a modi ed version of modified narrative requires an education system nent” which illustrates the point that this munications, and manufacturing. Africa’s history when it comes to Africa’s woes. that explores Africa in a more nuanced is not an imagined opinion of Africa, but economic future is on the rise. Although Instead of poking fun of Africa, we should version of way.  is cannot be limited to just one, one that is willingly constructed by the African political experiments with de- be equipping ourselves with more knowl- history oversubscribed third year Africa module, media. Although CNN runs more cheerful mocracy have been hard and sometimes edge about its history and people. but must begin in our compulsory educa- segments such as African Voices, many of bloody, the successful transition of power In compulsory education, how much ❞ tion and our international news. 16 F  26 J  2018 Opinion: e NSS Debate Marketisation puts higher education in jeopardy

tudents should not  ll in the cott of the NSS, to oppose and to ob- ❝ education which is becoming increas- tion” between TEF and NSS, and that National Student Survey (NSS) struct those changes. At 12 universities, ingly inaccessible and elitist. is shows NSS results punish innovative teaching because we must refuse to be including Cambridge, that boycott was We itself in the use of NSS results, which even when it works well. Scomplicit in reforms that will successful enough that the NSS results show racial and gendered bias, and pro- At Cambridge we have an unusual damage our education system. were invalidated due to low response have an duce data which is a blunt instrument power to make a statement. Our actions e NSS is bad for teaching quality, could rates and didn’t count towards TEF. e that does a poor job of describing the attract national attention that is dispro- be used to raise fees, and continues to boycott was mentioned in the House of unusual actual experiences of students. Research- portionate to the size of our institution wear down the idea that education Lords discussion of the Higher Education ers at the University of Reading found and no-one need worry that unpublished Matt Kite is a should be a public good, not simply a Bill and led to concessions from the gov- power to that BME lecturers are rated consistently NSS results will cause signi cant damage member of commodity that students buy as an entry ernment, with a delay on di erentiated make a worse on the survey, which they said to Cambridge’s reputation as a leading Cambridge Defend fee for graduate employment. fees between universities, and no link indiscriminately reproduces the biases university. CUSU has contact with many Education. Martha e government’s current agenda for between TEF and fees this year. statement of respondents. student unions that oppose TEF, and that Krish is CUSU universities was announced in a white e objections to participation in the Universities obsess over how they wish they could boycott the NSS, but Education O cer. paper called Success as a Knowledge NSS last year still hold true. ere has ❞ perform on each of the NSS questions, that fear having their funding cut if they Economy, written not by the Depart- been no guarantee that the temporary forcing departments that perform poorly do. is makes it especially important ment for Education but by the Business freeze on tuition fees will continue or on particular metrics to waste time and that we use this opportunity to stand up Department. It explicitly aims to create a that the link between NSS, TEF and fees scarce resources improving their scores for an education system for everyone. competitive market in higher education, will not exist in the long term. In fact, on a questionnaire which oten does not We hope that students will continue where students are customers and an there is every reason to believe that the re ect students’ views or priorities ac- to ignore emails asking them to  ll in the education is a product. One part of that upcoming funding review will reinstate curately. Pressure from metrics de- survey, and not be fooled by advertis- is the creation of the Teaching Excellence that link. Removing the cap on tuition signed to measure grade in ation, ing claiming that the NSS o ers Framework (TEF), a system designed to fees so that universities can compete on for example, gives departments students a real opportunity to rank and create competition between price as well as reputation is at the heart a disincentive to tackle racial “shape the future” of higher universities. of the government’s long-term plan; we attainment gaps or welfare- education. In reality, it will It uses metrics including drop-out should not be molli ed by temporary related underperformance only be used to allow the rates, graduate employment statistics, delaying tactics aimed at pushing op- because of the risk that government to keep push- and results from the NSS. TEF was  rst position into the long grass. solving those pressing ing an agenda that will be announced alongside a promise to link e TEF will use results from the NSS problems would dam- bad for us all. We encour- performance with funding, persuading over three years, so building on the suc- age their statistics. age students to join with universities to participate in the reforms cess of last year’s boycott is the only ▶Former NUS e Royal Statistical those at Oxford, UCL, with the promise that if they did well on way to ensure that Cambridge students’ president Malia Society told the gov- SOAS and others nation- TEF they would be allowed to charge views are not co-opted as part of this Bouattia headed ernment it was “not ally who are refusing to higher fees. agenda. Boycotting the NSS remains one last year’s aware that there is have their data used in Last year NUS and universities across of our best opportunities to make a clear NSS boycott any evidence of a changes that we should

Martha Krish Krish Martha Kite & Matt the country coordinated a national boy- statement against the direction of higher FACEBOOK statistical associa- all oppose.

e NSS is an opportunity to improve Cambridge

he National Student Survey and departments this year to determine While the Teaching Excellence Frame- (NSS) has run each year for how these recommendations should be work is controversial, it does mean that more than 10 years and the implemented. there has been a renewed focus on the Tfeedback which students In addition to the main NSS questions, quality of teaching and learning at uni- have provided through this we make use of the facility to add other versities, a matter of real importance in survey to the University has helped to questions from a bank of optional ques- the light of high tuition fees. Students are improve teaching and learning support tions, and we also add two questions now paying a lot for their university ex- in many subjects. each year proposed by CUSU, which are perience and need to have con dence in Graham Virgo is Feedback from the NSS is collated and speci cally tailored to the student ex- the quality of their education. I share the pro-vice-chancellor analysed by the University. In my role as perience at collegiate Cambridge. With views of many students that the intro- for education pro-vice-chancellor for education, I take the support and engagement of CUSU, duction of tuition fees is unfair and un- at Cambridge the NSS results very seriously. Following responses to questions about workload just (I was one of the students who was University the 2017 Survey, as in previous years, I were fed into a review in 2016, which lucky to be educated at Cambridge at a made it a priority to meet with senior resulted in a number of important rec- time when grants meant my education academics from those subjects where ommendations about managing student was free). Initially, the government pro- student satisfaction fell below the high workload at Cambridge. I continue to posed a direct link between performance standard we all expect of Cambridge monitor carefully responses from the in the TEF and tuition fees. at link was teaching. In these meetings I challenged NSS about student workload, bearing broken by the Higher Education Reform heads of department and directors of in mind my concerns about the adverse Act last year, so completing the NSS will teaching to develop action plans with e ect of a heavy workload on student not have an impact on tuition fees. their students to address any shortcom- mental health. is year Cambridge is participating ings. anks to the input of Cambridge If NSS results in a particular subject in a pilot testing di erent models for students, signi cant improvements have and for a University as a whole reach subject-level TEF. is is an important been, and continue to be, implemented. the threshold of a 50% return rate, those opportunity for us to in uence the shape I also contacted those faculties and de- results are published on the Unistats of the exercise for future years before partments that achieved exceptional re- website so are available to potential we consider participating again in 2020 sults, including three subjects last year applicants to assist them in determin- when our current Gold rating expires. that scored 100% satisfaction. ing whether they wish to apply to Cam- For those students who are eligible At University level, we use the NSS bridge. ese published results are also to complete the NSS, typically  nalists, results to identify and remedy areas of used extensively in the league tables when you decide whether to do so, I concern. A particular focus over the produced by the national and interna- would urge you to keep in mind the in- past few years has been assessment and tional press, in which the University valuable role which your feedback plays feedback. is prompted the launch of does so well. in helping prospective students from all a Review of Examinations which was Published NSS results also feed into backgrounds to make informed decisions completed last Easter term, and which the Teaching Excellence Framework, and in improving the Cambridge experi- contains a number of recommendations alongside other measures, but in re- ence for future students. Students must to ensure that the examination system sponse to pressure from a number of be at the heart of the higher education is  t for purpose, including the adoption universities, including Cambridge, the system and the NSS provides students of a wider variety of modes of assess- ▲ e NSS provides data that is used to determine rankings weight attached to NSS in future itera- with a voice which we really want to LOUIS ASHWORTH

Graham Graham Virgo ment. I will be working with faculties in the Teaching Excellence Framework tions of the TEF has been halved. hear. Features [pg 20-21] What is addiction? Fashion [pg 22-23] Play time photoshoot Film & TV [pg 24] Bryan Cranston interviewed by Lillian Crawford Arts [pg 25] he Art of the Deal Vulture Music [pg 26-27] Vulture Tunes heatre [pg 28-29] Romeo and Juliet

Vintage Winter Chic

Photgraphy by James Luis

Vulture Fashion got playful this week, as we took to the swings and slides for a late winter photoshoot. Patterned dresses and thick jumpers were paired with classic converses and denim. All our clothes came from local Cambridge shops Fantasia and Barefoot Vintage – check them out! [Pages 22-23] 18 Vulture Friday 26th January 2018 Vulture

○ Features 20-21 ○ Fashion 22-23 ○ Film & TV 24 ○ Arts 25 ○ Music 26-27 ○ heatre 28-29

Fantasia and Bare Foot Vintage Check out our irst photoshoot of term. All pieces are from local Cambridge shops, Fantasia and Bare Foot Vintage

Making art within the third space Brian Cranston interview Our opinionated Film & TV Editor Lillian Crawford he exhibition will also feature a metre-wide Elizabeth Howcroft chats with Jay painting by Kayoon Anderson, who explores sits down with the star of Parekh about BME art in Cambridge the deinition of identity through a portrait Breaking Bad to chat about Wes of her brother, Seungyeon. Kayoon and Se- Anderson and Trumbo ungyeon both have British and Korean pass- n he Location of Culture, critical theorist ports but Kayoon considers the sibling bond Homi Bhabha discusses the 'hird Space' between them to have formed her identity – a hybrid place, inhabited by those who more than any physical place. Iare caught somewhere between 'here' and he photo series Apology to Green Street by Far- 'there', belonging to two cultures but fully ia Tabassum captures the multicultural London occupying neither. It is from this concept that street where she grew up. In a powerful essay the upcoming exhibition of BME artwork gets of the same name, written for Gal-Dem, Faria its name. discussed the shame she felt as a child. “I would Jay Parekh, a third-year architect at Sidney, complain about the smells; heavy from the Vulture Tunes tells how a lecture on postcolonial theory in- sweat of bustling crowds, pungent from raw Everything Everything, Gregory spired the exhibition. “I remember a lot of us meat and ish. Implicitly, my issue was with coming out of that lecture so angry, but also the people who occupied the spaces, created Porter and Superfood all make feeling empowered. One of those moments the scents and existed visibly and vibrantly. the cut on this most eclectic of where everything just clicks, and you feel like People who were no diferent from me and my mixtapes doing something about it.” mother, both irst-generation immigrants from Held in Sidney Sussex’s squash court, third Bangladesh. My egotistical snobbery wanted space will display artwork by BME students. to separate myself from the very people whose “It’s not just art by BME people”, Jay clariies, relentless labour built up a safe community for “it’s art about being BME.” marginalised people to occupy.” “It’s about exploring the issues that we face; Just how individualised this “third space” such as representation, marginalisation, dis- is becomes clear through the variety of forms placement, communication, discrimination through which it is expressed. Jay’s ilm, which etc.” will be shown at the end of the night, is a docu- One of the most interesting ways that people mentary about cooking the ancient Gujarati have got involved in the exhibition is through meal, okra, from recipes passed down through Of the page family photographs, which often tell the most generations. Far more complex ideas of iden- personal stories. tity, culture, one’s home and one’s self, are at Bea Santos gives her top Kaye Song’s photo series shows a tradi- play here and their exposition is as careful and ways to experience theatre tional ceremony of ancestral veneration she intellectual as it is personal. away from the written word, attended with her father near his hometown Find the full version of Ellie's piece online. he breathing some life into your of Guangzhou, in China. She is reduced to the exhibition ‘third space’ will be at Sidney Squash role of spectator as she watches relatives she Courts on Saturday 27th January, 7-11pm, with reading list had never met take part in rituals which were a live poetry reading at 9pm, followed by a ilm unfamiliar only to her. screening ●     Vulture 19

PHOTOS BY KAYE SONG What’s On is Week

THEATRE RD TH, CORPUS Conviction Surreal characters, strange comedy, confusing storylines and a st made of ham. Head start your Lent term with a blast of hilarity.

MUSIC TH, KING'S CHAPEL FILM TH, CHRIST'S COLLEGE Verdi Requiem Cambridge University Orchestra, Cambridge e Room / Christ’s Film University Chamber Choir, and the Choirs Once dubbed the Citizen Kane of bad of Caius, Jesus, Selwyn and St Catharine’s movies, Tommy Wiseau’s cult classic is Colleges unite for a night of Verdi. showing this Saturday—come along, don’t be a chicken, cheep cheep cheep.

FASHION TH, ST PAUL'S MUSIC TH, KING'S CHAPEL Vintage Kilo Sale Supplied by Europe’s LARGEST Endelienta Baroque vintage wholesaler,  e Endelienta Baroque presents an Vintage Clothing Kilo Sale is exciting array of works by J.S. £3 earlybird and £1.50 general Bach on period instruments, as a part of the KCMS Sunday Recital Series. THEATRE RD TH, ADC

Piranha Heights THEATRE THRD, ADC Phillip Ridley’s play is an apocalyptic vision of society at con ict with itself, as family e Oresteia drama quickly becomes fatal. A must see  e Marlowe Society brings Aeschylus’s for lovers of dark theatre. classic to the ADC  eatre for ve nights of vengeance, justice and bloodlust.

THEATRE RD TH, CORPUS COMEDY TH, ADC BAR ere is a War, A Comedy Tom Basden’s bleakly comic play about the Quick re: More or Less absurdity of war is being performed for ve  e Impronauts attempt to impress you nights at the Corpus Playroom. with improvised tales. Don't like 'em? Say the word and a new director will step up.

RADIO THURDAYS AT PM, CAM.FM e Vulture Show Our hosts Pany Heliotis and Martha O’Neil bring all of Vulture’s culture chops to the airwaves, with interviews, previews, and all the best stu from our print edition. From our Chief Designer... Need some artistic inspiration? Our Chief Designer Sophia Luu is here to help

eading is boring after a while. What I like Rto do when I can’t concentrate any more is to twist the reading on it’s head. Pick a nice section – it could be a word or a sentence – from different paragraphs of your read- ing and turn them into a poem. Then you can illus- trate it, and find a whole new dimension to your work. That way, rather than just been a means of doing an essay, your read- ing can show you all the amazing ways writers ap- proach things differently. 20 Vulture    

“ e key as I see it is ritual”

make something far more di cult to kick Grayson Elorreaga unpacks the processes that than otherwise. But the psychology around addiction as we understand it now is clear: reinforce addictive behaviour dopamine plays a big role, and you can get a dopamine hit from plenty of things other than a key-bump or the odd joint. avid Foster Wallace gured that Especially when we’re talking about the Sports seem like a solid answer to the ques- everyone was addicted to some- pleasant ones. tion of: ‘how am I going get my x today?’ I thing. In light of that, the real Dopamine is the big factor in addiction, certainly don’t mind. It’s a preferable option Dquestion is: what should we be and it isn’t di cult to understand why. It’s to the alternatives. But it can be anything as addicted to? Maybe it sounds the hormone that determines behaviour rein- simple as cleaning your room or folding your outlandish to suggest that we ought to be forcement. Everything from your little prob- socks.  e key as I see it is ritual. Studies addicted to this that or the other thing. But lem with your Instagram feed to a hardcore show that some of the biggest dopamine hits maybe it’s also the case that it couldn’t be porn addiction can be understood in terms of are results of ritual or preparation rather than any other way. If that’s true, what does it say dopamine. Here’s the bit that gets me most the substance itself. Anyone who has tried to about how we should live our lives? of all: anything really fun will involve its in- quit smoking will know that it’s signi cantly You can’t escape routine in some form or teractions in some form or another. easier to do if you nd yourself some other another, no matter how adventurous you try Obviously, there are toxic factors, and excuse to get your daily fresh air. to make your life. It’s easy to think of rou- quick withdrawal from certain substances Regularity in any form is comforting, it’s a tine as a pair of proverbial irons around the can cause serious damage. It can even kill fact. It doesn’t matter if you’re trying to quit ankles, but I’ve found that in the course of you. Recovering alcoholics are oten advised hard drugs or cut down on your sugar intake: trying to shake some of my own bad habits, to not go fully cold turkey because of the in the course of changing your habits you’re positive habit-forming is an invaluable tool physiological strain this could cause. In other going to experience a little pinch. Finding in the process of getting your life together. cases, the intensity of the dopamine hit can another, healthier source of comfort can be the necessary bridge over troubled waters. Sadly, one of the biggest predictors for developing addiction is social isolation. It’s well known that during the Vietnam War, plenty of GIs defaulted to readily accessi- ble heroin in order to deal with the trauma and discomfort of their daily lives. It might surprise you to learn that those GIs who re- turned from overseas to healthy homes and family lives were signi cantly less likely to continue use compared to those who did not have such happy homes to return to. It seems pretty clear to me that healthy emotional at- tachment can be a signi cant predictor for recovery from addictive behaviours. Social factors play a huge role in matters of addiction. Coming back to our smoking example, I de nitely found it easier to quit smoking once I stopped spending so much time with smokers. Not that there’s anything wrong with smokers, the problem is that I just get too much dopamine from spending time with them!  ere’s this saying: “Neurons that re together, wire together.” It’s really fun and catchy, but there’s serious truth in it. Positive social interactions lead to some of the larger dopamine releases; this is how you catch yourself living the life of a ‘social’ smoker. It’s no lie that we live the high life in a number of respects here at the good ol’ University of Cambridge. But we also live stressful, and at times very lonely lives due ❝ to the sheer volume of work that each of us are saddled with on a daily basis. Contrary Regu- to the intuition, people don’t form negative addictions for no reason and then start living larity a bad life because of the addiction.  ey form addictions because they’re already living bad in any lives. Bad can mean stressful, and it can also mean lonely. form is As an American looking in over the course of the last twelve-or-so-years, I’ve grown to com- fear and respect the mighty British drinking culture, especially as it is manifested among forting the student population. If you know someone at risk, the best thing to give them might just ❞ be a bit of unconditional care ●     Vulture 21

Ana Ovey Grief can be easier with Bob Dylan blowin’ in the wind

have a handful of close friends who were home, I found that though e Sound of Music I able to provide me with glimmers of ca- was a featured  lm on the  ight, I couldn’t tharsis during grief-slumps at Cambridge. watch it. Even the title screen hurt to look ese were best friends, or people going at. I settled on Mary Poppins — essentially through similar bereavements. But in my total subbing one Julie Andrews  lm for another. aversion to disclosing the personal with new I still cried inexplicably. friends, I failed to consider the possibility that Loss makes us rethink art. But, as is in the any one of them may be enduring precisely paradoxical nature of grief, art inevitably what I was — and feeling, no doubt, unable makes us rethink loss. Sometimes conversa- to vocalise their own isolation. tions — however supportive — simply cannot e notion that beyond my circle of friends, do the same. hundreds of students in the same university I, too, have a playlist entitled Dad. ere are will be grieving not only for a parent but for songs I listen to that I never got the chance a sibling, a cousin, or a best friend was a re- to listen to with him. ey still provide the minder I sorely needed. It’s easy to forget, strange kind of relief the other songs on the but nobody is exempt from personal tragedy. playlist a ord. ere are words that act as re- And more people than I knew were bereaved, minders, words that act as my own — though struggling to balance work and heartache, and I never could have rendered them — words just as needy of emotional outlets as I was. that act as a chance for renewal. Equally, there Of course, we all mourn in di erent ways. are  lms I watch because I watched them But seeing one of my friends share a playl- with him; not at all highbrow, not remotely ist dedicated to her father ater his death, I emotional, that in watching make me feel considered that, of all outlets, art is one of closer to him. ere are  lms I watch now the most profoundly intimate. which make me weep all the more because of Heartbreak inevitably lits veils of under- their new context, just as there are narratives standing that oten shroud music,  lm, litera- I watch and rewatch to help me understand ture. Ater my dad died, I listened in particular my own. to three songs almost on repeat, feeling an We grieve in di erent ways. But art helps. unfamiliar sensation of both help and hurt To those mourning: immerse yourself in it, as I did so. I continue to listen to them now: however brie y. Cry or laugh or cringe at the Leon Bridges, River; Bob Dylan, Don’t ink favourite  lm of the person you miss. Sob or Twice, It’s Alright; and e Sound of Music’s smile to their most beloved song. One of the Edelweiss. Latin words I remember my dad hammering ere were other songs, too, and I’m sure home to me — hilariously, as we watched e I will discover or recall new songs with the Island — was renovatio: renewal. Friends, art, progression of time. But in the early weeks nature, memory — these are what provide us of Michaelmas term, unwilling to broach the with that. And this is how, in Cambridge, of all subject of death yet again with old friends, places, we carry on in spite of tragedy ● and unable to share it with new, I turned consistently to artistic expression for relief. Formal words alone cannot render grief as understood, nor can they communicate it. But art has always tapped into the sorrows of the human soul to express them in astute and unexpected ways. Why else should we tear up at Auld Lang Syne? ere are things of which we cannot speak—not from choice but from capacity. ese marked the absolute limits of my honesty with friends and family. And yet the intimacy of art has a corrosive e ect on emotional blockades. Not a week goes by when I don’t listen to Bob Dylan. We have a friend whose husband died several years ago, now, who  nds herself un- able to listen to certain songs she listened to with her husband, so overwhelmed is she with emotion. Heartbreak is a funny thing. I learned that my dad had died via phone call a SOPHIA LUU week ater I had set o for a six-month trip to Australia. Days later, on an emergency  ight ANA OVEY PLAY TIME

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Lillian Crawford sits down with the Oscar-nominated FOX SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES actor to talk plays, misogyny, and animated dogs FOX TELEVISION STUDIOS SONY PICTURES TELEVISION

prospective law enforcement stage himself. “I love all aspects of storytell- ❝ imperfect, and it’s not absolute.”  ose looking officer turned actor, Bryan ing, and I like to challenge myself,” he con - forward to the lm might nd this a slightly Cranston’s life sounds like the dently asserts. He tells me that he cares little As long ambiguous statement, Anderson being cel- narrative of one of his dramas. for the quality of his piece provided it gives as we ebrated for his exquisite production design AOnly rising to prominence in him a chance to nd out his skills in the eld. and dialogue. Cranston revealed that the actors his forties as Hal in Malcolm in the Middle, Rather than seeing it as “a stepping stone to artists were given pages of script as they went along much of it was spent out of the spotlight. “No something else”, it is about seeking opportunity move without ever receiving a complete story. He said one ever tells you how to handle ‘celebrity’”, and learning from the experience. that Anderson was even keen to take his own he says, although today one cannot enter Such an ethic might be applied to the Wein- people notes on-board as the lm was being made. It an entertainment retailer without seeing stein E ect currently tearing down the more to some seems that when it premieres at the Berlin Film caricatures of his face emblazoning corrupt aspects of Hollywood, which Cranston Festival, that glorious ensemble cast will be as doormats, mugs, and t-shirts. His Union seems entirely optimistic about. “I think it’s emotion uninformed as the rest of Anderson’s fans. talk clearly a part of a hectic schedule, wonderful,” he reveals, a sense of earnestness in then Convinced of aesthetic subjectivity, Cran- I manage to squeeze in a couple more his voice. It is apposite to raise the subject, visvisit-it- I take ston’s sanguinity is rather infectious. His be- questions before he is hurried out of sight. ing Cambridge on a day when many students lief that “everyone is correct” would probably Cranston is not unaware of his talents, wore black in solidarity with the Time’s Up that as a render lm criticism pointless if it were true, and while he puts a lot of his fame campaign. “Sometimes you can’t have a break- victory but he still admits that the best art will inspire down to Vince Gilligan’s phe- through without going through a breakdown” debate. Re ecting on the release of Trumbo, he nomenal series Breaking Bad, – perhaps Cranston’s sermon goes beyond the ❞ found that playing the blacklisted screenwriter he knows the part he played lm industry to a lesson for all of society, to was worth it for the seed he planted into con- in cementing its success. He bring about a new age of “mutual respect”. versation. “As long as we artists move people is currently leading a sold- Indeed, Cranston appears to always have to some emotion, whatever that is, then I take out production of Network his mind on the bigger picture. Inquiring ater that as a victory.” Given the cheers at the end of at the National  eatre, and his role as Chief in Wes Anderson’s upcoming his talk from a packed Union building, it would now claims that he wants animation Isle of Dogs, he stated that “what’s seem that Cranston is a man who knows what to turn to writing for the so great about it is that it’s imperfect – art is he is talking about ●

BLEECKER STREET

REVIEW  e plot lurches from manufactured cri- sis to manufactured crisis, the strain put on the simple ‘can he make it to Ernesto de la Coco Cruz by sunrise?’ premise resulting in several tiresomely needless scenes.  e failure of the Dir. Lee Unkrich villain simply to rip into pieces a crucial item In cinemas now proved a source of immense frustration. ★★★ Talent contests, meanwhile, do not behove Pixar; oten, Coco seems dispiritingly bog- standard, reeling out ideas encountered time iguel, the single-dimpled protagonist and again in the works of lesser animation of Pixar’s latest vindication of the studios.  e little heralded Chinese-American Mlaw of diminishing returns, is an production Rock Dog, for instance, also fo- appealing sort. He does not have all that much cussed on a talented guitarist electing to pur- in the way of distinguishing characteristics, sue his dream in spite of his family’s ban on but he is peppy, earnest, and crucially is music per se.  e alebrijes, or spirit creatures, not forced to spend the film receiving a to be found in the Land of the Dead, moreover, series of trite life lessons. One understands are less enchanting than the bioluminescent completely his obsession with the Mexican were certainly held rapt, but the dearth of ▲ Hector rabbits from Smurfs: e Lost Village. Elvis Presley-type Ernesto de la Cruz, and giggles was noticeable. inspires  ere is assuredly little joy to be had in Coco, the destruction of his beloved guitar at the ❝  e lm’s noble intentions as a positive within but as a weepie, it functions well.  e melan- hands of his disapproving grandmother presentation of Mexican culture undoubtedly Miguel a cholic musical numbers are simple ditties, is consequently a distressing moment. Its inhibit the entertainment.  e lm is unsure, lust for but powerful ones, powerfully performed by For all Miguel’s strengths as a character, the relationship for example, whether an encounter with Frida music and the lm’s cast. lm in which he nds himself is sadly, for the Kahlo should be respectful or satirical. In the life (WALT Pangs are in plentiful supply towards the most part, a humdrum a air.  e comedy, with the Día end, naturally, it manages to be neither. Kahlo DISNEY lm’s conclusion, and the viewer should be barring one half-decent gag about a dentist, de Muertos comes o as an impenetrably pretentious ego- MOTION prepared for jolts and twinges. If Coco were is decidedly uninspired. Jokes involving, for tist, yet her papaya and cactus performance PICTURES half as exciting or amusing as it is a ecting, instance, skeletons’ want of noses, and the rather piece is not absurd enough to generate even it would be a formidable proposition. As it existence of a substantial bureaucracy in the resembles a the slightest snigger. Some might nd them- is, it is a mundane movie with a half-decent Land of the Dead, are passed over quickly, fetish selves caught up in the lm’s anthropological main character who is occasionally capable of suggesting a lack of conviction on the part of angle; however, its relationship with the Día stirring one’s heart, in between the bits with the lmmakers.  e tiddlers in the auditorium ❞ de Muertos rather resembles a fetish. the slobbery dog ● Hugh Oxlade     Vulture 25 Arts Yes, Donald Trump is a conceptual artist

❝ keep the statues remaining, namely, for the historical record. Also, given the petition is not Büchel is openly political, arguments about whether it should be torn down in the future for an al- a foreigner tering moral code should be eschewed.  e pressuring a right may view the prototypes as a historical government into artefact, whereas the let may view it as a sol- emn reminder of the xenophobia permeating conforming with through the American public at this time.  ey his desires as an are not just a 30-foot-tall sight gag, they are a considered statement, with the meaning of the outsider artwork so clearly coming from the viewer. ❞ Büchel’s work is not the only artistic petition, as another conceptual artist Luis Camnitzer requested that the land artist Christo build the wall as a new version of his Running Fence (1972-76) – a temporary installation piece which involved a white fabric fence extended across the hills of northern California. But Büchel’s ◀ Prototype work stands apart as it lacks the gimmicky slabs of the overtness of the other art, as well as raising US-Mexico questions of how meaning and value are as- border wall cribed, and by whom. (FLICKR: U.S.  e wall prototypes re ect values chosen CUSTOMS and voted for by the American people: Trump’s AND BORDER monoliths, for better or worse, embody the PROTECTION America of today ●

stone facade, while concrete and razor wire James Dickinson celebrates greet the eyes of Mexican viewers. Christoph Büchel’s petition Being Swiss-Icelandic, Büchel is not directly Magdalene College, Cambridge a ected by the sculpture.  us his project is to recognise Trump’s initially surprising. “My political position, FLICKR: U.S. Mexican border wall as art that’s not interesting in this context,” he tells CUSTOMS AND the New York Times.  is seems fairly obvious. BORDER PROTEC Büchel is a foreigner pressuring a government TION ith over twenty- ve cities into conforming with his desires as an out- in the US having removed sider.  is is reminiscent of analogous situa- Confederate statues in 2017, tions of the US thrusting its ideals onto other debates about history and nations, or the pertinence of the US forcing Wpolitics in public art have the wall onto the Mexican people. Perhaps never raged as ercely as they do today. It is the most interesting part of the petition is therefore unsurprising that conceptual artist the artist: Büchel rejects credibility, recog- Christoph Büchel’s online petition to have nising Trump and his American supporters Trump’s border wall prototypes recognised as as the authors of the work instead.  ere is THE PETER PECKARD ESSAY PRIZE Land Art and declared a national monument a long tradition of appropriation in the art has caught public attention. world with gures like Marcel Duchamp and Magdalene College is delighted to invite submissions for  e eight test walls bear a striking resem- Richard Prince using pre-existing objects or blance to both American twentieth-century images in their work. However, where these its annual ‘Peter Peckard Memorial Prize’ worth £1000. minimalist art and Kubrick’s monoliths in gures almost invariably take credit as creator, 2001: A Space Odyssey. Yet for all the sparseness Büchel violates this norm, reminding us that Essays or contributions in other media are welcomed of the prototypes, they embody a meteoric the responsibility for the border lies with the from all undergraduate members of the University of change in American history – akin to how American people, and not himself. we view Stonehenge within human history  e petition has been met with some criti- Cambridge. Collective entries by a University or – and can be viewed as a great work of land cism, mostly for its lack of an overt political art itself. statement. Andrea Alessi of Artslant criticised College Society are also welcomed. The prize will be Büchel claims the works are apolitical, as- Büchel for failing to take a political stance, serting that the artistic value of the mono- denigrating it as a mere PR stunt. awarded for an essay or equivalent contribution on some liths should be assessed purely in aesthetic While Büchel has a history of pro- egregious form of human exploitation in the world today terms. But even the aesthetics of this work vocative art (for the 2015 Venice are political, as the domineering forms dis- Biennale he commissioned a and the actions needed to eliminate it. Special attention rupt the surrounding desert and cloud- mosque to be built inside the less sky.  e o cial design criteria are walls of a former Catholic church) may be given to the role of the United Nations. even more politically charged.  e the subtlety of the current wall only has one visual require- work shows great per- For more information and to submit entries please visit: ment: that the side facing the sonal artistic growth. US be “aesthetically pleasing”, Considering recent www.magd.cam.ac.uk/peter-peckard-memorial-prize with no such considerations discussions about being made for the side facing Confederate monu- Closing date for receipt of entries is 1 July2018. Mexico. One of the prototypes, ments, it is evident Please contact Mr William Southwell on [email protected] costing $470,000 and made by that the wall ful ls Texas Sterling Construction, the arguments used with any queries. features an arguably pleasant by Republicans to 26 Vulture     Music

William Poulos Vulture TUNES Can songwriters be poets? Alt pre- drinks

tart o your night with these tunes from some lesser- known artists as well as some alternative remixes of some big songs. Ease it to the pre-drinks with some Schilled funk and blues vibes before transitioning into some reggae and then moving into the realm of EDM. ink odd, catchy vocal samples that will  oat round your head for days

Rowland Scherman and slightly manic buildups which drop into smooth bass. espite being praised as a poet by ❝ Poems, also, are bound to their authors in Sit back and wait for every- eminent literary critic Christo- a way that songs are not. Everyone knows one at the pre-drinks to com- pher Ricks, Bob Dylan is famous Poems that Edgar Allan Poe wrote “quoth the raven, pliment your alternative music HIGHLIGHT Das one of the best songwriters of are nevermore,” but how many people know who knowledge and ask you the name the 20th century. e Nobel Prize wrote a song that everyone can sing, such as of every song. committee carefully explained its decision to bound ‘I’ve Got You Under My Skin’? When people award him the 2016 Nobel Prize for literature to their hear it, they think of Frank Sinatra, who sang in anticipation of the clerisy’s quali ed disbe- the most famous recording, but Cole Porter lief: sure, he’s a great songwriter, but songs authors wrote it, yet it doesn’t seem his. You and I e Trouble With Us are not poems. in a way can sing ‘I’ve Got You Under My Skin’ without Marcus Marr, Some of Dylan’s admirers were quick to thinking of Sinatra or Porter because songs Chet Faker point out that the distinction of songs and that are collectively owned. Liquid Spirit (20syl remix) poems occurred only recently: in classical songs e idea of the singer/songwriter compli- Gregory Porter So Good Greece, poems were either sung by the poet are not cates this a little: ‘Blowin’ In e Wind’ can’t NAO, or skilled performers; Petrarch, one of the help but bring Dylan to mind, yet it retains a A. K. Paul most important  gures of the Renaissance, ad- ❞ certain impersonality. No matter who wrote Double Dutch dresses those who ‘sing’ his scattered rhymes; them, lyrics seem to speak for their audience Superfood and poets of the 19th century are said to have and not to it: have you ever disagreed with More an Me “chaunted” or “intoned” their poems when a song? When Chris Martin from Coldplay Eliphino reciting them. Dylan’s literary award, and the sings ‘Fix You’ we don’t imagine that he’s sing- Sunset Lover (Clarian remix) publication of his and other songwriters’ lyr- ing to us; we imagine that, with him, we’re Petit Biscuit ics in book form, seems to reforge the broken singing to our (sometimes imaginary) lover Can’t Do (Blinkie remix) link between poetry and song. or friend. Everything Paradoxically, the division between written Modern poets could win back their audi- Wandering Eye Everything poetry and songs also occurred rather early: ence by writing more songlike lines. Ronsard’s the Latin poetry of the  rst century AD is full advice to young poets was to recite your lines Fat Freddy’s Drop HyperParadise (Flume of references to writers and readers, not sing- aloud, or even better, sing them. Yet poems remix) ers and hearers. and songs are di erent things, and reach their While songs and poems share many char- goals di erently. Great lyrics are an achieve- Fantastic Hermitude acteristics – rhyme and rhythm – there are ment which do not need praise from the lit- Flume, things one can do which the other cannot. erary world, either by receiving awards or Dave Glass Animals Even poets who consciously associated their being called a poem. e palm should go to poems with songs illustrate this. John Keats, the poem which, because it is so easy to quote whose favourite topic of conversation was and memorise, can be called a song ● described as “melody in verse,” called some of his best poems Odes (from the Greek verb meaning ‘to sing’) and in one of them refers to himself as a singer. e Odes rhyme, have a regular rhythm, and most of them consist of identical stanzas, resembling verses in a song. Yet they cannot be e ective songs: the syntax is too complicated, and the images too detailed. One can grumble that songs are only about a few di erent topics, or that they’re repeti- tive, but this is necessarily so. A song exists only as it’s being sung, so its lyrics must be intelligible and a ecting on  rst hearing; they cannot be reread. e music compensates for ▶ Keats was this simplicity, which is why even the best a master lyrics are dull when read. Poems, on the other of ‘melody hand, must have their own music, which is in verse’ why adding a melody to them is oten exces- WILLIAM sive, like adding glitter to a painting. HILTON     Vulture 27

Boy sold out. It certainly hasn’t done them because they’re just not very good.  ere is ‘Genuinely annoying’ any harm to sell out, racking up countless a cryptic backstory to this album where the ‘Best International Rock Band’ awards from band either delayed the release because they homogenous radio stations, performing large considered it not to be up to scratch, or be- Fall Out Boy fail to impress arena tours with bargain bin rappers, all with cause lead single ‘Young and Menace’ tanked. the sneaky notion hidden in the back of their Whatever was altered on the album, it still minds that if it doesn’t work out, and the Spot- sounds like an undigni ed, incoherent mess. all Out Boy have evidently come a long ify hits for their new simplistic adventures  e ‘big choruses’ that every song builds up to way since ‘Head rst Slide Into Coop- begin to grind to a halt, there is always the amid a succession of predictable jittery beats Ferstown On A Bad Bet’ or ‘I’m Like A prospect of an In nity on High album tour and are the most crushingly dull and repetitive Lawyer With  e Way I’m Always Trying To an accompanying ‘back-to-basics’ release. examples of their type. Opening the album, Get You O (Me & You)’. No longer are we What happened Pete? In Fall Out Boy’s ‘Young and Menace’ has to be applauded here subjected to largely indecipherable lyrics that rst incarnation, they had a supreme knack for at least sounding bizarrely yet unsuccess- impressionable Kerrang! readers will paste for combining odd lyrics with inventive and fully bonkers compared to the snooze-fests all over their rooms and themselves. No, no, catchy melodies. With 2013’s comeback record that are the aforementioned ‘Champion’ or no. Now we have hard-hitting, inspirational Save Rock and Roll, that all got thrown out in ‘Bishops Knife Trick’. ‘Church’ de nes the gen- words. Words for Coachella ghouls to try vain- favour of uninspired pop songs. eral lowest common denominator appeal by ly to mouth along to while lming themselves Ultimately in Fall Out Boy’s case it’s not having irritating church bells clanging around at the show. ‘going pop’ that causes the damage, but rather throughout. ‘ e Last of the Real Ones’ is mar- “Champion, champion” goes the lead sin- the greedy desire to have the best of both ginally better in a Europop sort of way but gle. Lyricist Pete Wentz has associated these worlds; to make a move for the cool kids while doesn’t really connect. words from ‘Champion’ with his own ‘cham- still hanging out with the old ones in case And yet, this is the band that made ‘Sugar pions’, such as Nelson Mandela.  is is such a things don’t work out. Look at guitarist Joe We’re Goin’ Down’ and the vastly underrated ripe target for ridicule that one can only hope Trohman wielding his axe with vigour – but Folie à Deux. Deep in there, the real Fall Out that it’s steeped in some perverse irony. For a hang on… there’s no audible guitar. Perhaps he Boy must be straining for freedom. On MANIA band that once removed the vowels from the hasn’t been plugged in?  en it hits you. It’s all it surfaces in the form of ‘Wilson (Expensive title of perhaps their biggest song, ‘ nks Fr M A N I A a ploy, the instruments all props. Boys, if you Mistakes)’ with a soaring chorus distinct from  Mmrs,’ to mock the record label checking Fall Out Boy want to make loud pop songs, that’s ne, but the other disappointingly cynical ones, and a them for their verbose track listings, this is it’s simply insulting waving around guitars performance from Stump thankfully not dis- what is known as selling out. Island Records when all we can hear is lame dancehall. torted with a vicious assault of grating vocal It is regarded as far too hyperbolic today to ★★☆☆☆ But perhaps the core reason why the songs modulations.  ey’re still in there. Who knows say that someone has sold out. Well, Fall Out on M A N I A are so genuinely annoying is if they’ll ever emerge again ● Miles Ricketts

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s every English student option. Try exploring a new Aknows, holiday equals venue or company; these tackling a reading list. are often cheaper. Make use Bogged down with the sheer of youth passes: you can number of books, it can be purchase tickets for five easy to forget that the plays pounds if you are under 25 you are reading in preparation for example, the National for academic study were in heatre. here are countless fact designed to exist alive, annual theatre festivals all on the stage. So here are some over the UK if you want of the things you can do, a lot something close to home of them for free, to bridge the or the excuse to travel! divide between the written and the ‘living’ drama. 6. Cinema and Archives National Theatre Live 1. Youtube here is a wealth of broadcasts performances to productions online, including cinemas all around the world. old BBC TV adaptations. he next play coming up, Further pleasure can Cat on a Hot Tin Roof laura wells be derived from directed by Benedict watching clips: Andrews, will be you can quickly in cinemas on 22 he Relaxed heatre Company explain the compare Laurence February 2018. importance of producing accessible theatre Olivier, Christopher You can also pop Plummer, David along to the National Tennant and Maxine Peak Theatre on Southbank ast year, Cambridge Arts heatre the way we view disabled adults. By refusing all playing Hamlet. here are and request to view film put up three relaxed performances to create adult art in which Autistic and lots of snippets promoting footage of any production of their Christmas pantomime, other developmentally disabled people can modern productions: since the company began in LJack and the Beanstalk. Two shows participate, are we not suggesting that we watching these short 1963! If you live in London, were for local schools, and one believe (as much of the global population interviews with actors and make sure to make use of (performed at 11am on a Saturday) for the do) that they are essentially children? directors can give you a their wonderful archive. general public. During the course of last Infantalisation and dehumanisation are rife; lavour of the performance. year, they also performed relaxed versions we rob neurodiverse adults of autonomy, 7. he body An actor acts, of two other shows, he Grufalo and Awful speak over them, and essentially treat them 2. DVDs Sounds obvious primarily, with his body. Being Auntie. Relaxed performances are generally as sub-human. enough, but why read a aware of posture, expression, created for Autistic audiences (although It’s a difficult and fractious issue. Current Shakespeare play when you slapstick, and choreography often extended to include those with Down’s efforts to make theatre more accessible are can watch a ilm adaptation are all important ways to Syndrome, Tourette’s Syndrome, and other undoubtedly wonderful: I feel incredibly happy or a recorded production assess a performance. Bodies developmental disabilities). he performances that my children will be able to enjoy West- at he Globe? he English that are sadly always absent alter sound and lighting levels, leave house End shows and Christmas pantomimes in a Faculty Library has a great on the page become incredibly lights on dim, and allow free movement within way I never could. But we, as theatre lovers, stock of DVDs. Personally ,I important in their own clunky and outside of the auditorium during the show. need to acknowledge that accessibility, and prefer a good jig after any or delicate way onstage, hey also provide additional information and true disability activism, should be universal: performance: he Taming of so make sure to assess the well-trained staf to help disabled audience applied to theatre-goers of all ages and shows the Shrew (2013) and Twelfth physical in performance! members to understand the pre-show process, of all types. Night (2012) are favourites. and enter the theatre peacefully. Is it time to do away with strobe lighting? At the Relaxed Theatre Company, we feel Should every show have a space outside the 3. Read aloud Gather a these performances should be moving more theatre where people can go, mid-show? group of willing friends (i.e. into the mainstream. Although the movement Should we be insisting every disabled fellow English students), has progressed significantly in the last decade, character be played by a disabled actor, and do sit in a garden if it’s sunny, there is still a long way to go. With few away with Curious Incident-style ‘inspo porn’, or, more realistically, with exceptions, relaxed performances are usually where abled people walk away feeling they’ve hot chocolates on the sofa. 8. History of performance. targeted at primary school-aged children, and done their bit for the disabled community Assign yourself different Did you know that he Tempest these performances are incredibly important. simply by watching the show, without any characters, and prepare was originally performed by Young disabled people are already often left commitment from the writers or theatres to yourselves for some comic candlelight? Or that they used out of activities neurotypical children take for cast or even liaise with real Autistic adults? doublings along the way… real horses and even deer granted, and theatre is no exception. Complex As active participants in the theatre in Victorian productions of social cues and amplified lights and sounds scene, we can all contribute more to 4. Put on a play his was Shakespeare? Learning about can make generic theatre distressing and ❝ existing efforts that are bringing Relaxed perhaps only socially productions throughout the downright frightening. For children coming Theatre to the mainstream. I would urge acceptable before the age of 10. ages can provide delightful to terms with their disabilities, theatre and its It’s a any budding theatre-maker to seriously Luckily for us in Cambridge, insights into how plays novel narratives can and should be a comfort diicult consider improving accessibility measures amateur theatricals is taken were experienced. The in the confusing world of neurotypicality. in their shows,and to think critically about to the next level: what better Elizabethans, for example, Relaxed Theatre makes this possible, and thus and the roles and implications their shows way to get your head around went along to see ireworks, allows more children to enjoy theatre. fractious impose upon the disabled community. a play than to direct it? sumptuous costumes and Yet, by allowing the relaxed theatre industry The Relaxed Theatre Company perform Any Little bloodbaths. to be dominated by children’s theatre, perhaps issue Thing at Fitzpatrick Hall, 24-27 January ● 5. Go see a show his is Oh, and they also enjoyed we are only revealing deeper problems with ❞ Georgina Evans probably the most expensive soliloquies, I suppose ●     Vulture 29

and most seasoned comedians, what they music that is witty beyond merely its lyrics. Vulture reviews PREVIEW love to do the most is laugh–and they never I ask the performaners how they want their hesitate to. In fact, directing on Stacey’s part audience to leave feel leaving the theatre. during this rehearsal seems, amusingly, like “Wholesome LOLs,” says Bella Hull concise- Piranha Heights controlling a group of very enthusiastic and ly. “LOLsome,” Downie appends, even more 19.45, ADC Theatre capable children. “We keep them on a tight concisely. “It’s about friendship,” elaborates ★★★ leash,” she tells me. e job of a Director in Noah Geelan – and that’s the buzzword that ☆☆ a sketch show, I’m informed, is broadly dif- gets them all going, each expanding further ferent to directing an already scripted show. with their own words that link back to key ere is a War “In comedy you always need an extra eye,” ideas of friendship, loneliness, connecting and 19.00, Corpus Playroom says Magliano-Wright. “Not necessarily one reconnecting. It’s a theme that is pleasantly ★★☆☆ of any particular skill, just one that has a dif- light and yet somehow also earnest. Look- ferent point of view and di erent ideas.” Both ing at the sheer amount of sketches that the she and Molly came onto the show ater mate- performers have come up with, it’s clear to Conviction rial had already begun to be written, making see that this broadness has translated to the 21.30, Corpus Playroom their work less about creative control and theme of letters. ★★★☆ Footlights Presents: Pen Pals ▲ This more about leading the conversations which, Each performer has their own monologue, ADC eatre sketch when you put the entire cast together, seem in addition to sketches of various forms – 11pm, 31 January - 3 February show to always be in full  ow. songs, shorts, ‘vox pops’ (one-liners to throw certainly Funded by the Cambridge Footlights, this at the audience), and sketches with intriguing promises show provides audiences with the rare and titles such as ‘Gareth of Unlimited Potential’ ’d just like to say that I think this whole fun (Robert exciting occurrence of a high-budget sketch and ‘ e Queen gets a Buzz Cut’. Whether sing- experience has been one of friendship”. Eager) show. e cast are keenly aware of this, in ing, dancing, or delivering sharp one-liners, “I is is not the opening remark of the ways that vary from ordering their own em- the ‘Pals’ take to their work with unmitigated Footlights Presents: Pen Pals cast, but the one broidered polo shirts for costume to having enthusiasm and palpable love for each other that comes when I prod them for  nal com- recruited two musicians to help bring their and the work they’ve created together. “ ank ments on their show experience. It’s deliv- show to life. e two-person band brings a you, Footlights, for presenting us!” Leo de- ered by Emmeline Downie with deep sincer- wonderful musicality to the songs written clares half-jokingly. But the pleasure is bound ity, but the resulting howls of laughter from for the show, and they take particular joy in to be all theirs, and that of any audience who her fellow cast members – as well as Direc- translating the performers’ gut feelings into take an hour out of their evening to partake tor Molly Stacey and Assistant Director Ania harmony and melody. e result is songs such in the ‘wholesome LOLs’ that this group have Magliano-Wright – indicate it’s only half seri- as ‘Dear Pen Pal’ and ‘One Night Stand’ which created ● ous. Predictably for seven of Cambridge’s best elevate themselves beyond ‘sketch songs’, to Mariam Abdel-Razek Let’s start at the very beginning Tom Hiddleston in Romeo & Juliet

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS P O E T R Y • P R O S E • A R T W O R K

Since 1992, The Mays has published an annual selection of the best and most exciting new writing and artwork from students at the VARSITY ARCHIVES universities of Cambridge and Oxford. It is distributed to prominent literary agents and s a young Classics undergrad, Tom later, the Cambridge Arts eatre again hosts Hiddleston’s rendition of Romeo in a student performance of Shakespeare’s widely credited with launching the career of Athe Cambridge Arts eatre Show Romeo and Juliet. is performance is led by was reviewed in a Varsity article back in the Marlowe Society, which was founded in Zadie Smith. 2001. e actor is pictured staring lovingly 1907, and has produced many distinguished into his Juliet’s (Lydia Fox) eyes and his renditions of Shakespeare plays over the performance was praised as being “polished years, including a Romeo and Juliet which was Submission guidelines can be found at and unobtrusive”. While Hiddleston clearly watched by Winston Churchill and an Edward www.themaysanthology.co.uk/submissions impressed the reviewer as “a Romeo who II in 1958 which was broadcast by the BBC. really can vault over orchard walls as if on e Marlowe Society also boasts several the wings of love”, Lydia Fox (also now a noteworthy alumni such as Sir Ian McKellen, Email your submissions to professional actor) seemingly let a lot to be Rachel Weisz and James Norton, all of whom desired. e reviewer appeared to  nd her have lent their voices to a recorded reading of [email protected] performance over zealous and almost comical the play’s prologue for next week’s production. as she wrote of her “chasing Romeo round is year’s directive team have opted for a by 6pm on 15th February 2018. the bed ater their night together”; a line performance in uenced by Carmen and Lorca; normally laden with emotion, “wherefore no doubt the 2018 rendition will prove as art thou Romeo?”, apparently elicited a titter “imaginative” and “e ortless” as Hiddleston’s from the audience. did 17 years ago. www.facebook.com/TheMaysAnthology/ Star of e Night Manager, or and e Romeo and Juliet runs at the Cambridge Arts Avengers  lms, Hiddleston began his acting eatre until Saturday 27 January ● career at Cambridge; this week, 17 years Francesca Vella-Bonnici Town vs Gown Boxing

Cambridge’s men and women do battle against boxers from the military and rival clubs in an unmissable night of action.

Details The Guildhall, Market Square Doors open 5:00pm Saturday 3rd February Tickets available at: - www.cuabc.org - The Hawks Club Friday 26th January 2018 31 Sport Drugs cheats should not be denied the opportunity to ight their corner

Sharapova, who had taken the drug Ben Cisneros over a long period of time, tested posi- Sport Columnist tive in January 2016, along with many other Russian athletes, including swim- In the media frenzy that is modern sport, mer Yuliya Eimova, who was booed by the term 'drugs cheat' is bandied about spectators and criticised by competitors an awful lot. Every positive test, every on her return at the Rio Olympics. She 'adverse inding', and every doping ban had last taken the drug in 2015, when leads to a swirling storm of rumours, it was legal. opinions, and headlines which ruin an Mamadou Sakho, Lizzie Armitstead, athlete’s reputation in an instant. Ath- Kasul Perera, and Patrick Tuipulotu are letes that cheat are those who dishonest- another four athletes whose reputations ly attempt to gain an advantage through have been called into question, only rule-breaking. Contrary to popular belief, to have their cases thrown out due to relatively few bans are handed out for mistakes by the anti-doping authorities. such dishonesty, and yet 'drugs cheat' is We should never jump to conclusions repeatedly used to refer to anyone who when we hear athletes have failed a has been convicted of an anti-doping drugs test. violation. his needs to change. Yet, when it was revealed Chris Unlike in criminal law, athletes sus- Froome had failed a drugs test, people pected of breaking anti-doping rules are immediately wrote him of, and called not innocent until proven guilty; they for him to be removed from Sports Per- are presumed guilty. Under the World sonality of the Year. He maintains he Anti-Doping Agency Code, “it is each did not exceed the permitted salbuta- athlete’s personal duty to ensure that mol dose, and is arguing the test result no Prohibited Substance enters his or her must have been caused by his liver body”. Accordingly, “it is not necessary failing to process it properly. Indeed, that intent, fault, negligence or know- there is no evidence salbutamol has ing use” be demonstrated to establish a any performance-enhancing beneits, violation. hus, upon returning an “Ad- other than allowing asthmatics to reach verse Analytical Finding”, it is extremely the same level as non-asthmatics. Until diicult to avoid punishment – and the it is proven otherwise, Froome is not a resulting media backlash. “drugs cheat”. Given the absolute need to ensure a Of course, for those who do inten- level playing ield, the reasons for this tionally seek to enhance their perform- rule are clear. However, it means ath- ance, there can be no defence. Lance letes are sometimes punished despite whom he was in a inancial dispute, and ❝ to publish an article that actively called ▲ Justin Gatlin Armstrong deserved the punishment he having no intention to enhance their who, the night before the competition, for Fury to be called a “drugs cheat”, a has been cast received, and cannot argue with being performance. allegedly applied a diferent product to We should term it also stated is not “incorrect or as the villain of called a “drugs cheat”. As he admitted, Justin Gatlin, perhaps more than an- Gatlin’s legs. Having been tested on an- never unwarranted” when applied to Justin world athletics his career was “one big lie”. However, yone, can attest to this. When he won other 34 occasions, before and after the Gatlin. It is, frankly, lazy journalism bor- for much of his there is a big diference between him and Gold in the 100m at the World Athletics competition, not one of which indicated jump to dering on defamatory. career Gatlin, Fury, Sharapova or Froome. Championships last year, he was booed the presence of testosterone, his claim conclusions he list of those whose reputations (KENT CAPTURE) he media are all too quick to spread by the London crowd. Many people – was “far from frivolous”. As one panel- have been tarnished goes on. the populist view on doping violations. myself included – thought the result a member noted, “if sabotage did occur, it when Maria Sharapova was labelled a “drugs High-proile cheating cases, like Arm- disgrace. How dare he, one of the sport’s would more than likely be impossible for cheat” when she received a two-year strong’s, have created the idea that any- most infamous “drugs cheats”, ruin Bolt’s Mr Gatlin to prove”. we hear ban in 2016, having taken meldonium, one who breaches the rules must be a fairy-tale ending?! herefore, though he is repeatedly la- athletes a drug which was legal for years and cheat, meaning athletes are forever being Yet, after reading Demonising Justin belled a “drugs cheat”, it has never been whose performance-enhancing efects unfairly demonised. his is an attitude Gatlin by sports lawyer Mike Morgan, proven Gatlin is anything other than an have failed are strongly doubted. It is taken by many we need to change. I was appalled – at myself, for having honest athlete, something he maintains a drugs test people in Eastern Europe due to reported Next time you read that a player has scorned what was a stunning victory. to this day. Why else would a man with health beneits, but was added to the failed a drugs test, or has received a dop- Despite continually calling him a “two- nothing left to lose continue to proclaim ❞ prohibited list in January 2016, without ing ban, at least pause to consider that it times drugs cheat”, few know Gatlin’s his innocence? prior warning to athletes, despite the may not be a cut-and-dried case. Don’t full story. Unfortunately, he is not alone. In 2013, fact it can take months to be excreted jump to conclusions. And maybe have a According to the authorities, his the Athlete Ombudsman for the US Ol- by the body. little look into it. irst violation was “at most, a techni- ympic Committee revealed 40-60% of cal or a paperwork” violation, after am- US doping cases are inadvertent, a trend phetamine from his attention deicit which is seen worldwide. disorder medication showed up in an Tyson Fury provides just the latest in-competition test, despite him having example. He tested positive in Febru- stopped taking it days before. As such, ary 2015 for nandrolone, a compound he received a mandatory two-year ban. naturally produced by the body in small However, the anti-doping panel stated amounts but which, in large amounts, Gatlin was “certainly not a doper”: indicates steroid use. However, it is sci- “his Panel is very concerned that Mr entiically proven that eating red meat Gatlin’s reputation not be unnecessarily can also lead to increased nandrolone tarnished as a result of this decision… Mr levels. As Fury had been eating large Gatlin neither cheated nor did he intend amounts of ofal (uncastrated wild boar) to cheat. He did not intend to enhance his while training in France, this was the performance nor, given his medical condi- only explanation he could ofer. Sub- ▶ Russian Maria tion, did his medication in fact enhance his sequent tests were all negative which, Sharapova is just performance…” given intravenous steroids often take one of a number Two months later, the IAAF reinstated time to leave the body, further corrobo- of athletes who Gatlin with immediate efect. rated his claims. here was, again, far have faced hen, in 2006, he was banned again from frivolous evidence suggesting he unchallenged after testing positive for exogenous tes- did not cheat. accusations of tosterone. Gatlin claimed he was sabo- And yet, when news of the back-dated doping taged by his physical therapist, with two-year ban broke, the Telegraph saw it (JUSTIN SMITH) 32 Friday 19th January 2018

Drugs Scandal: Should all athletes banned for doping be labelled as “drugs cheats”? 31 Sport

CUHC 1

OUHC 2 Dark Blues lick their way to victory

again, but Briscoe made three fantastic ive minutes before half-time, sending ▲▼ The two sides will face off again in Darling unleashed an incredible cross-ield Vivi Way saves to keep the ball out, which on the the ball through to Bella Padt, who ired the Varsity Match on March 4th pass, which was picked up brilliantly by Deputy Sport Editor inal time hit a defender’s foot and re- wide. (DOMININkIS zALyS) Burrows. She drove straight into the at- sulted in another short corner. In a reversal of their performance in tacking circle and hit the ball straight past After a 2-0 loss against Oxford earlier in It was third time lucky for the drag- the irst half, Cambridge came out with the keeper, much to the delighted of the the season, Cambridge women’s Blues licker whose powerful strike went blistering pace at the start of the second. assembled crowd. hockey were hoping for a change of straight into the left-hand corner and Cambridge’s forward line harassed Ox- his deserved goal set up a frenetic end- fortunes when the Dark Blues visited gave Oxford a deserved lead. his was ford’s defence more efectively and gave ing as Oxford were trying to rebuf this re- Wilberforce Road. his was their last to be a lead the Dark Blues would not them less time on the ball to pick out energised Cambridge attack as they pressed chance to practice against their Oxford relinquish for the rest of the contest. an incisive pass. for an equaliser. he ball was whizzing to counterparts before their Varsity game As the game went on, Oxford for- Eventually, this extra pressure told both ends of the pitch, but the only deinite in ive weeks’ time. wards kept sprinting past Cambridge’s and Padt managed to win the ball from a chance came from another Oxford short Oxford started the irst half very ag- defence. Briscoe managed to save a bar- full-back on the halfway line only for her corner. Again, their drag-licker took the gressively and won a short corner within rage of shots but was helped twice by attack to be thwarted by a good tackle shot but as testament to how Cambridge the irst couple of minutes. he resulting Amy Edwards bravely saving shots on from a rapidly retreating halback. Nev- had adapted throughout the game, they drag lick was well-saved by goalkeeper the line. Despite chances to relieve the ertheless, Oxford were still in the game managed to charge the ball down and keep Freddie Briscoe, but was a sign of the pressure, the defence were continually and only an excellent tackle from Ed- the deicit to a single goal. dominance that Oxford would assert for turning the ball straight back over to wards prevented one of their forwards his is the last time that Cambridge will the rest of the half and that ultimately Oxford. from having a free run in on goal. meet Oxford before their Varsity game. Al- would carry them to victory. he attacks and the short corners Cambridge won their irst short cor- though it did not start well, Cambridge grew Another theme of the game was kept coming and Oxford once again ner of the game 11 minutes into the sec- into the game and were the better side by very quick counter-attacking play took advantage of their dominance by ond half as a result of their improved the end of the game. from both sides. he irst of these was converting another drag-lick to give attacking outlook. he ball was deftly Despite this narrow 2-1 loss, on the made by Cambridge, after a crash ball themselves what would prove to be an slipped left but well stopped by a player evidence of this performance Cambridge found Annalise Whitehead alone in the unassailable lead despite Cambridge’s on the post. should take conidence that they can defeat shooting circle, only for her shot to ire best eforts. he Light Blues were retaining pos- the Dark Blues in March at Southgate Hock- wide. However, this was a rare ven- Only at 2-0 down did Cambridge be- session for longer periods of time and ey Club and avenge last year’s defeat. ture towards the opposition’s goal for gin to carve themselves a foothold in the won two further short corners after good Cambridge in the irst half, as their inal game. hey started marking Oxford’s link-up play between the half-backs and CUHC Women’s Blues: Freddie Briscoe, Hatty passes kept going awry. key players better, and Hatty Darling’s the forwards. he chances became more Darling, Molly Buxton, Amy Edwards, Lu- Oxford’s relentless pressure and su- disguised passes were starting to suc- threatening and only a good save from cia Corry, Hattie Bevan, Alicia Murphy, Clare perior speed eventually told when one cessfully reach the forward line. the Oxford keeper kept out Burrows’ Marsh, Bella Padt, Georgie Burrows, Annalise of their forwards won a short corner When Rhiannon Osbourne came on, reverse stick delection. Whitehead. after a quick break down the right-hand she made some powerful forward leads Eventually the higher intensity of Replacements; Rhianna Miller, Bethan Mon- lank. Oxford’s drag-licker stepped up and created the best chance thus far the Light Blues paid dividends when cur, Rhiannon Osborne, Lydia Copeland.