www.thegryphon.co.uk @_TheGryphon Issue 3 14/10/16

Theofficial newspaper of LeedsUniversity

Varsitycancelled? Violence and misbehaviour at this year’s match Page 3

Leeds Light Night Firefliesand Phoenixes:All thebest from this year’s festival In The Middle page 12-13

China’s Missing Generation Author Xinran discusses the deep -rooted effects of the one-child policy Fugitive Found Page 15 Hiding in Leodis Police raid findsgunmanhiding in Leodis flat

JessicaMurray 2.30am on Wednesday 5October and further enquiries. student and Leodis resident, toldus, Editor-in-Chief following theraid three people were Four men have been charged with “Itfeels kind of unsettling that this arrested, aman aged 34, believed to anumber of offences relating to the can happen and we have been given Afugitive was found hiding at a be the suspect in question, and two incident in Bradford and have been no reassurance or even an explanation flat in Leodishalls of residence in women aged 19 and 22. remanded in custody. as to what actually happened which is the early hours of 5th October after a The 34-year-oldman was later One Leodis resident told The Gryphon, weird seeing as we have had so many planned police raid. charged with possessingafirearm “I was surprised to see two huge police police cars and vans on-site”. The suspect was being sought with intent to endangerlife.He vans outside my accommodation, West Yorkshire Police have not following afirearms incident in appeared at Bradford Magistrates when Iheard it was due to afugitive confirmed whether afirearm was Bradford, in which someone was Court on 6October and was remanded staying with aresident in another recovered from the scene. seriouslyassaulted and afirearm was in custody. block, Iwas shocked as Iwould The University of Leeds declined to discharged. The two women were arrested on never expect something like that in a comment. Witnesses say that anumber of suspicion of assisting an offender and university accommodation.” police vans turned up at Leodis at were later released on bail pending Chris Worsnop, afirst year Chemistry 2 | News thegryphon.co.uk Editor’s Letter: As someonewho haslived in criticising those whodon’t or aren’t able to do so is wrong Britainall my life,inarelatively andoften hypocritical. non-diversetowninNorth East We forgethow toughlifecan be forimmigrants in this Contents England, it’s sometimeshardto country, adapting to ourculture andway of life.Meng appreciate theexperiences of Xian writes abouthow disorientating andalienatingeven thosewho come to thiscountry something as simple as shoppingcan be in aforeign country. 3-6 News from abroad. (page14).Stuffwetakefor grantedcan be ahugeobstacleto In ourincreasingly isolationist, people encountering Britishculture forthe first time. 8-10 Views post-Brexitsociety,our landis During Hate CrimeAwareness week,and with 16%of becomingagraduallylesswelcoming students reporting that they’veexperienced some form of 12-15 Features placefor immigrants andrefugees. hate crimeduringtheir time at university,it’stimeweall Last week,the government announcedplans to make startedshowing abit more empathyfor thosewho come to 16 Society companieslistthe number of foreignworkers they employ thiscountry forrefuge, work or education. in an attempt to encouragebossestohiremoreBritish staff, They bringsomuchwiththem, andhaveenhancedlifein 17 Business thelatestinalonglineofexamplesshowing ourgovernment theUKtosuchagreatextent: we just need to be abit more becomingincreasinglyhostile to multiculturalism. understandingofhow ourculture,especiallythe drinking 18-19 Science In thisweek’sissue Ispeak to Xinran,aChinese author and cultureofuniversitylife, canalienatesomestudents. With journalist whohas livedinthe UK foroverforty years(page ahardBrexitlooming on thehorizon andagovernment

20-24 Sports 15). Shetold me that “The Britishmedia andsociety,they’ve whichseems determined to buildwallsaroundour island,

nevercomeout of thewellofthe Imperial.The wholeworld it’s important-now more than ever -thatweshownot just

hasmoved on butthey’re stillthinkingthatway.” empathy, butrespect, forthose braveenoughtoventure to

Quoteofthe Week Sheoften complainstoher BritishhusbandthatEnglish- thiscountry forthe first time. speaking people travel theworld andoften don’tbothertotry “ “ “ I can not believe “ andlearn adifferentlanguage. ShefeelsthatBritish people JessicaMurray oftenarrogantlybelieve English is theuniversal language; Editor-in-Chief that fatcanary Ed something RabeeahMoeen discusses in Features thisweek [email protected] balls is through to (page13).Whileassimilation of languages does make for amorecohesive andcommunicative society, shamingor “thenext round of strictly

Lord Sugar voices his displeasure at this weekend’s Strictly Writefor Us: results Want to become aGryphon journalist? Whether you’re Credits passionate about politics or pugs, news or Netflix, we want you to join our team!Search us on Facebook and Editor-In-Chief ~ JessicaMurray come alongtoone of writer’s meetings to get started!

AssociateEditor ~ DominicJohnson SectionMeeting Times:

DigitalAssociate ~ AllinThe Gryphon office upstairs in LUU FloraTiley MONDAY News ~Polly Hatcher, Sarah Berry, Euan News -1pm Hammond Science -1pm (Old Bar)

Society ~ElsaAmri, Bea Society-2pm Warleta Fashion- 4pm

Features ~Jessie Arts -5pm Florence Jones, Hannah Macaulay, Ella Healing TUESDAY

Views ~RoryClaydon, Music -3pm (Room 5) LiamKerrigan, Jess Lifestyle &Culture -4.30pm Readett Blogs -5pm Science ~Sam McMaster,Dougie The first Gryphon social of the Phillips WEDNESDAY Business -1pm academic year at Akmals! Business ~Sam Bailey, Features -5.30pm MatthewMoore Twitter: @_TheGryphon Sport ~LukeEtheridge, THURSDAY JamesFelton, Zoe Instagram: @thegryphon Thresher,JohnGibby Views -5pm Facebook: The Gryphon

Design ~Becky Nolan, Frazer Sparham FRIDAY Sports-2pm thegryphon.co.uk News | 3 “Varsity could be cancelled” followingrowdy behaviour

Charlotte Mason

AUniversityofficial has warned that the future of Varsity could be in danger following disorderly behaviour at the men’s rugby final last Wednesday. Headingley Stadium has handed out astring of £1,000 fines to students who ran on to the pitch on the night of the game. Police are also reviewing CCTV footage after an alleged assault, in which afemale spectator was apparently punched amid ascuffle. Further reports of rowdy behaviour include damage to seats and fans who urinated in cupsbefore throwing them into thecrowd. The University’s Higher Education Police Officer PC Matt Guy told The Gryphon:“Varsity will potentially be cancelled if this behaviour continues. We’re Image: Daniel Mortimer potentially going to have adeath. It’s arealshame”. Both the University and Headingley Stadium refused to confirm names or details of individuals being fined match was still going on. One supporter said, “They “Streakers will not be tolerated at the Varsity finale for pitch invasion while investigations are ongoing. were told by the Leeds Uni players to get off as the and will incur a£1,000 fine!” However, several witnesses told The Gryphon that they game hadn’t actually finished”. However, The Gryphon understands that the fans appeared to be wearing clothing that suggested they Some students shared experiencesofthe night on who invaded the pitch were fully clothed. were from asports society of Leeds University. social media,withone unfortunate spectator tweeting, The men’s rugby final at Headingley Stadium Reports claim that asmall number of University of “Lol gotacup of piss in ma face #leedsvarsity”. attracted arecord 15,535 people, with the University Leeds supporters ran on to the pitch when the clock The Leeds Beckett Varsity Facebook page had posted thrashing rival Leeds Beckett 20-9. ran down to zero, apparently failing to realise that the awarning the day before the game, explaining,

Historic Headingley Building on Otley Road to become aWetherspoons

Christopher Tobin Emma, afirst-year Fine Art student, said that become aprimeOtley Run stop, and many local pub she feels it’s a“wasted opportunity forabeautiful owners have expressed fears the Wetherspoons will Wetherspoons has finally applied for pub licence for building, but Iwon’t complain about aWetherspoons divert customers from their own establishments. £1.5 million property on Headingley Lane it purchased that close to me”. Due to it’s location, it’s likely to in 2014. The former Sunday school, designed by Leeds architect William Peel Schofield, opened 1914 and later became the music and arts block for Leeds Girls Grammar School, named the Elinor Lupton centre. The site has beenemptysince 2010 after the school closed. The building was originallysought after by community campaigners who planned to use it for local purposes as asocial enterprise. Wetherspoons told The Yorkshire EveningPost that they “were attracted to the building due to its architectural interest as this fits in with [our] standard model of bringing historical buildings back into use”.Whilstthe company looks to keep changes limited they are going to install abalcony area whilst keeping the internal parts of the site intact. The company went ontosay that, “The building has been left without maintenance for five years and requires intervention. Without such works, the building and surrounding site will stand unused and be subject to more vandalism and continue to be an eyesore to passers-by.” 4 | News thegryphon.co.uk

UniversityofBuckingham Paws for thought: meet thepupsmakinga Campus 1 difference

TheUniversityofBuckinghamhas recently welcomedanew edition to campus,and you cansee whypeople areexcited. Tanlaw-Millie(or Milliefor short)isafive monthold cockapoo that is provinghugelypopularwithstressed students Watch -sopopularthatshe even hasher ownOutlook calendar for appointments! In fact,the demandfor canine cuddleshas been so high that DeeBunker, Head of StudentWelfare,has foundaplaymate for Millie–asix monthold blackand whitecockapoo named Darcie.“Both Millie andDarcielovecomingtoworkevery day,” says DeeBunker, “theygiveunconditional love to anyone that says hello.”She addsfurther that studentsare now“more eagertotalk abouttheir issues with thehelpofafew cuddlesand licksfromthe puppies”. With mental health amongstudentsand young people becominganincreasing concern, thisschemeis encouragingstudentstobeopenabout theirmentalhealthstruggles,ratherthan feelingisolatedoroutcast by them.Ifsuccessful, it mayperhaps inspire otheruniversitiestotakeonacampuspuppy of theirown. King’s CollegeLondon Godsave ourfar right HollySmith nationalists? 2 UniversityofWitwatersand TheVicePresident forWelfare andCommunity at oneofthe UK’s topuniversities, University reopens followingstudent King’sCollege London,has called forthe national anthem ‘God Save theQueen’ protests to be scrapped at official ceremoniesbecausehebelievesthatitsupportsfar right 3 nationalism. TheUniversityofWitwatersand (Wits),South Africa hasreopenedafter student Mahamed Abdullahiexplained in asocialmedia post: “I want to getrid of the demonstrationsforcedits closurelastweek. national anthem at graduation because it’s outdated andnot reflectiveofthe Nationwide protests calling forfreeeducation have highlightedthe continuing ‘global’ values that thecollege espouses.” senseofinequalityfeltbymanyblack students, more than twodecadesafter the However,hedid go on to saythatthe anthem was‘outdated’and ‘justabit endofapartheid. shit.’ Many universitieswereforcedtoeitherclose or consider closing-justbeforethe Despite theviews of MahamedAbdullahi,apetition wascreatedwhich opposed exam period -inordertodealwiththe discontent. theban of theanthem. Thecreatorofthispetition, PhDstudent JamesFindon, Upon reopening, demonstrators at Wits hurled rocks at security guards,while commentedthatthe controversywas “a distraction away from therealissues police fired tear gasand rubber bulletsastheyattempted to disperse thecrowd. A that arefacingthe studentsthathe[MahamedAbdullahi]istryingtoclaim to number arebelievedtohavebeenarrested. represent.” AUniversityspokeswoman confirmed that lectureshad resumed, andina TheNationalAnthemhas represented Britainsince thebeginning of the19th subsequent statementWitsurged studentsand staff to returntoclasses,evenif century. disruptionsoccur. Wits hasvowed to increasecontrol of accesstothe university, including FaithDunne comprehensive andsporadicchecks of allvehicles, andhas stated:“Allpersons arrested by thepolicemay immediatelybesuspended.All suspensionswill immediately be processed forfinalisation throughdisciplinary hearings.”

JonnyChard

University of Ghana 4 ‘GandhiWillFall’:statuetoberemovedfrom University of Ghana

Just four months after itsunveiling,astatue of MahatmaGandhiistoberemoved from the UniversityofGhana campus in Accra,following 3,4 acampaignled by professors andstudentswho denouncedGandhias‘racist’. Theseclaims arenot unjustified.Whilst working as an attorney in SouthAfrica, Gandhi boastedthat Indianswere‘undoubtedlyinfinitely superior to thekaffirs’. Theirony lies in thefactthatthe statue was 1 intended as agiftfromPranab Mukherjee, the presidentofIndia,asasymbolofunity between 2 thetwo countries. This followscontroversyearlier in theyearover astatueofCecil Rhodes at OrielCollege,Oxford, wherein Orwellian questionsover‘editingthe past’ were called into play.

Serena Smith thegryphon.co.uk News | 5 5 ‘TentCity’protestersleave CentralVillage

Charlotte Mason spokesperson called Ricky said, “We had brought together people with Protest group Tent City has left Central Village some very diverse problems relating residence following an eviction order from the from mental health to addictions University. and alcohol use. Without Tent City, Volunteers and homeless people from the campaign their problems would never have group began leaving on Tuesday after five days been addressed. Unfortunately, camping on landoutside the student halls. somebody’s land needed occupying Activists from Leeds Voice for the Homeless started and the University gave our volunteers arriving at Central Village last Thursday. AUniversity and homeless security via manned source told The Gryphon there were up to 30 people at teams and CCTV.” the site. He added, “Allhomeless people The University had successfully gained acourt have weapons, every last one of order to evict the campaigners, although they left them. They usually live alone and are voluntarily. constantlybeaten and robbed.” Police responded to several anti-social behaviour The group have been forced to move incidents on campus which were allegedly linked their tents three times since starting to the group. Aman was arrested on suspicion of their campaign outside Leeds Art carrying drugs and aknife near the multi-story car Gallery last month. Four people were arrested after an AUniversity spokesperson explained: “The park. Alocal supermarketalso reported shoplifting attack on protesters in the city centre on Wednesday protestors set up tents outside student accommodation allegedly carried out by an individual from the group. 5th October. last week. Their protest was not aimed at either the There were also reports of fighting and urinating The group has now ended its 18-day ‘tent-city’ University or its students. Our priority is the security outside the student halls. campaign, which aimedtohighlight the issue of and welfare of our students, so we immediately put However, asource told The Gryphon that protesters homelessness in Leeds. in place round-the-clock security to ensure, for had “engaged with the University quite positively” The protest was run by agroup called Leeds Voice for example, that none of the protesters entered any of during their occupation on campus. the Homeless and, during the campaign, they pitched the residential blocks.” However, one student reported that the protesters dozens of tents at four different sites, an effort which “The land was occupied unlawfully and the had been “starting fires outside my flat at 1am”. they say has helped secure permanent or temporary protestors were asked to move on. The University had Another Central Village resident tweeted that they housing for31homeless people. begun proceedings to regain possession of the site “Can’tevendealwiththe homeless people and their Ricky from Tent City told The Gryphon,“We are just through the courts, but in the event the protesters “tent city” on my accommodation any more.” returning to running the street kitchens and clothes left voluntarily”. Responding to the allegations, aTent City banks likewedid before Tent City came about.” NUSmarchthrough London planned for November IanWhite which must be addressed, however there are worries The National Union of Students is organising a that the broad brush demonstration in central London to raise awareness aims of the upcoming of the rising costs of attending higher education demonstration could and to oppose cuts to collegefunding. The march is make it difficult for the scheduled to take place on the 19th November. NUS to get its message The NUS hopes the march will highlight the across clearly. impending rise in tuition fees laid out in the Higher Nevertheless, the Education and Research Bill which was passed by leadership of the parliament in July. Now that the cap of £9,000 ayear NUS insist that the hasbeenlifted universities will be able to raise fees in demonstration will be line with inflation. According to the NUS, this could successfulinraising the meanfees hitting £12,000 by 2026. issues students face, As well as opposingtuition fee increases the NUS with particular focus also hopes to raise awareness of the government’s being given to the effect cuts to maintenance grants for less advantaged of Brexit on Britain’s students, which has lead to adrop in the number of universities. Sally Hunt, students attending university from less privileged general secretary of backgrounds. The march will also aim to highlight the UCU, hopes the cuts to college funding, the reduction in the number march will “call on the of placesonoffer and the quality of the facilities government to ensure that universitiesand colleges education over the past six years and has argued that available. remain open and inclusive in post-Brexit Britain”. their reforms have improved the higher education The broad range of issues has led to criticism that The government’s hardline stance on overseas system -something which many university students the march lacks aclear focus, unlike the march in student numbers will have done nothing to alleviate and staff would dispute. The NUS demonstration on 2010, for example, which focussed solely on the hike these concerns. the 19th November is an opportunity to voice those in tuition fees. There is little doubt that the higher Universities minister Jo Johnson has consistently disagreements. Whetherthe government is willing to education system is facing awiderange of challenges defended the Conservative’s record on higher listen remains to be seen. 6 | News thegryphon.co.uk Your Union:Forum proposals The upcoming UnionForums are discussing some hottopics in thecoming weeks. The Gryphon has cherry picked some of the very best and interesting ideas to inspire you to get debating, get pro-active and get involved Female-onlygym hours? Should theunion Namrah Shahid has proposed that the Edge provide support students female-only gym sessions for 1or2hours each week. in opposing the The Edge already provides afemaleonly swimming session which is attended by many female students -beitbecause they new online check feel more comfortable without their male colleagues attending, they get astronger sense of camaraderie with like-minded students, or in system? it simply fits better into their schedule. But as yet, no female- only gymsessions are on the schedule, something Shahid wants to The roll-out of theUniversity’s new change: onlinecheck-in has been arocky “Iwantthis for many reasons. As aMuslimfemale, Iamvery pro road atbest. encouraging our Muslim girls out there to get into being fit, active and healthy. It’ssoimportant to look after our bodies despite the An update to the UniLeeds app allows fact that we cover it. And nobody should be deprived the privilege students to register in lectures and seminars of exercising. My idea would also benefit females of other religions with just the touch abutton (or three). But the “This system -imposed in the greater that require them to keep covered in frontofmales.” update has facedits fair share of resistance context of new stricter rules for international However, Shahid’s incentives are not just from areligious from the student community, many seeing it students -isdraconian and infantilizes the standpoint as she thinks the proposed sessions would benefit all as an unnecessary and inferior departure from university community. female students. traditional pen and paper. “Furthermore, [online check-in] unfairly “[Thesessions] will also benefit females who may be self- In particular, those who do not own an Apple impacts students with learning difficulties. conscious and may feel intimidated by males in the gym who clearly or Android phone cannot download the app, Iamnot alone in feeling that often the know what they’re doing/how to gym.” and therefore have to register via the portal on recordings are more accessiblethan the Alex,asecond year biotechnology with enterprise student, said “I acluster PC within the university. lectures themselves. With this new system we understand the reason behind this suggestion -women are not only Nathan Blott, who has proposed the topic for are forced to attend the live lectureswhich are aminority in parts of the gym (specifically the weights section) but the forum, summarizedthe animosity around oftentoo fast.” also subject to the occasional stare or comment. Every person should the update: have the right to feel comfortable in the gym and not intimidated. However, users of the gym are aware of how oversubscribed and busy the gym gets and preventing membership holders from using the gym only works to exacerbate this issue, but is also unfair and Should LUUlobby against the impracticable. The problem requiresasolution but Idon’t think one hour aweek willsolve it. Maybe instead atraining room could be dedicated to becoming awomen’s only section.” changestoHigher Education?

With the government’snew Higher EducationBilllooming, EducationExec, Euan Hammond Melissa Owusu, poses thequestion of whetherLeeds students should back opposition to proposed changes.

“These changes all culminate in the for new incentives for improvement within UK marketization of the Higher Education system universities. as opposed to asystemthat is publicly funded Owusu ends her proposal with arousing and driven only by academic curiosity -not explanation of her motives: money.” “As education should be apublic goodand Owusu goes on to ask whether quality of not driven solely by the competition of the teaching in higher education institutions can market, Universities should not be raising fees be assessed on what she calls “a collection of any further and we need to put pressure on vague metrics.” Last week’s announcement of the government to continuefunding higher the ‘medal-style’ categorization of teaching education. Education should be open to all and quality has evoked amixed response. Some the recent proposals are not conducive of this.” Image: leeds-list.com criticise its simplicity while others have praise Other Proposals Should LUU Should the Should the Should LUU lobby Should LUU lobby Should LUU campaign to university offer union lobby the thecouncil to thecouncil to campaign to make protect the UK’s freeforeign University to provide lighting make it easier PrEP [a drug membership language courses provide more by theWoodhouse forstudents to whichprevents of the Erasmus forall? mental health Moor basketball register to vote? HIVtransmission] programme? support courts? available?

Jamie Ali Adriana de las Martha Taiwo Ogunyinka Jamie Ali Emma Healey Cuevas Salgado McGuinness welcome uni

nundated with freebies! prepare to geti get... the best one you’ll we'll kick it off with

pizza free

re onburley road localdomino’ssto pop intoyour ee pizza on us!* and claim your fr or in headingley , 12 st annes road,headingley unit 3the triangle leeds,yorkshire, ls6 3nx delivering 2burley road,leeds,ls3 1jr 01132 899 559 24 hours 01132 458 889 ,

/DominosPizza @Dominos_UK Click Tapthe app PopIn Call 8 | Views thegryphon.co.uk Views As hissecondtermcomes to an end, TheGryphon asks:willthe worldlookbackfavourablyon Obama’stimeinoffice? Yes Steven Atkins

ThefirstAfrican American President or being chargedmorejustbecause Currently, theAmerican economy affordable, expanding taxcredits and of theUnitedStateshad alot to do in they’vebeenill.137 million Americans continuestoextendits longestperiod overseeingthe largesttwo-yeardropin ordertodeliver thehopethathehad with privateinsurance areguaranteed of private-sector jobgrowth on record childpoverty since2000. promised.The quietrevolution that preventive care coverage.Thishas been andthe unemployment rate hashalved Thereare hundreds of achievements Obama hasled,despite having to work achieved whilst cuttingthe budget to underfive percenttoday. theObama Administration hasmade with aRepublicanCongresswhose deficit andkeeping health care inflation ThePresidenthas fought foreveryone over thepastseven andahalf years. “top politicalpriority”was to “deny to itslowestlevelsin50years. during histimeinoffice. He has From ordering theraidthatcaptured PresidentObama asecondterm”,has In 2014,President Obama launched ensuredequality forLGBTAmericans by OsamaBin Ladentoplaying hispart resulted in astrongernationand a “MyBrother’s Keeper”, an initiative repealing ‘Don’t AskDon’t Tell’, fought in thehistoricParisclimate change fairer future forall. providinggreater opportunitiestoforafairercriminaljustice system by agreement, PresidentObama hasslowly When PresidentObama took office, young menfromblack andhispanic establishing agrant programtoexpand butsurelychanged hiscountry’s course. more than 16%ofAmericans were communities. Partnering with the theuse of effective communitybased Thepathofprogressmay be slow.We withouthealthinsurance.For people privatesector, it’s createdmentoring alternatives foryouth detention,and mayget frustrated at howlittlevisible that didhavecoverage, insurance programmes,apprenticeships and extended opportunities forthe disabled change is taking place. Butifwestop companiescould either deny this internships, ensuring that all Americans with aproject that helpspeople with forasecondand remember howfar coverage or charge more,justfor regardless of theirbackgroundcan disabilities remain remain in the Americahas come andthe livesthat beingsick. PresidentObama changed achievetheir potential. workforce. have beentransformed, we should be that with theAffordable Care Act: the Despite taking office during the ThePresidenthas also tried proud,weshouldbehopeful andwe nation’s uninsuredrateisnow below worsteconomiccrisissince theGreat to tackle povertybyexpanding should say“Thanks Obama -Yes We 9%.Upto129 million Americanswith Depression,President Obamastabilised economic opportunityand investing Can”. pre-existing conditions no longer theeconomy,reformedWall Street, in neighbourhoods andcommunities. facethe risk of beingdeniedcoverage andsaved theAmerican auto-industry. Examplesinclude:makingcollege more No Sophie Wheeler

With theObama eracomingtoanend financial institutions andshutting Obama hadinspiredhopeinmany ThefailureofObama’s legacy can thisNovember,itisnaturaltowonder down Guantanamofor good soon fell that throughelectinghim as president be seen in theprevalenceofthe Black what hislegacywill be.Itseems clear by thewayside.Someofthe blame he wouldbeable to representthose LivesMatterprotestssweepingacross to me that hispresidencycan be best maybeattributedtoRepublicancontrol AfricanAmerican communitieswhich Americainresponse to violencefrom summed up in threewords:symbolism over Congress.However,whathas hadbeenignored formanyyears by those sameverypeople meanttoprotect over substance. As thefirstblack contributedtothelegacyofsomeof thepolitical establishment. However, andserve.Unemployment maybe presidentinAmerica’s history-elected America’sgreatest presidents,such coming to theend of hislasttermas down,but therates of unemployment not just once, buttwice -his election as Franklin D. Rooseveltand Lyndon president, we can seethathehas failed forAfrican Americansisstill twicethat alonemay be considered oneofObama’s B. Johnson, hasbeentheir ability to to deliveronmanyofhis promises.He of whites,and he couldbesucceeded greatest achievements.Aculmination gain crossparty supportfor theirgreat hasbeenunabletoget ahandleongun by apresidentialcandidate whoopenly of allthe strugglesofthe civilrights reforms. laws,despite variousmassshootings makesracistremarks aboutblack movementsand leaders that hadgone No communityhas sufferedasthat have turned many of thepublicin andHispaniccommunities.Under before him. much as aresultofObama’s inaction favour of stricter regulations. Buthehas thepresidency of theself-proclaimed However, aftertwo termsinoffice, as America’sblack community. also failed hisown community. Race ‘progressive’candidate,America Obama hasfailedonmanyofthe Historicallythe turnoutofAfrican relationsinAmerica areworsening, appearstohaveregressed. policies he hadpromisedduring American voters hasalwaysbeenlow, especiallyinregards to police brutality LookingbackonObama’s legacy,he hiselectioncampaign. “Yes we whetherthrough oppressive statelaws with over 100unarmed blackpeople haspromisedsomuchand yetdelivered can”quickly became“No we can’t”. or throughalienationwithinapolitical killed by police in 2015 alone, five times so little,alienatingthousands of African Proposalsmade concerning stricter system whichdoesnot represent thenumberofunarmed whitepeople American voters in theprocess. guncontrols, reforming America’s African Americansortheir interests. killed. thegryphon.co.uk Views | 9 My IssueWithBlack HistoryMonth

Elrica Degirmen bytheir race or gender. This is It also begs thequestion whywhite thecaseand inequality stillpersists in BScPhysics completely wrong, as aperson’s Englishpeople cannot celebratetheir thisworld.

achievementisisolatedand should ownheritageintheir owncountry,but BlackHistory Monthtypically takes not be seen as more worthybecause Ipresume theremay be callsofracism. placeinWesternised countrieswhere Across thecountry manypeopleare of aperson’s skin colour. Individuals This is sheerhypocrisy. we have accesstoarange of services celebratingthe contributionsofblack create andshape thisworld,not When onelooks back at history, one to allowpeople to lead adecentlife. Yet people throughout historyfor Black representativesofparticularrace. wo“ uldrecognise that slaveryand the thereseems to be anarrative that black History Month. It is celebrated annually Even if identity politics didhavesome civilrightsstruggles areprominent.But people arestill beingvictimised. Ican in February in theUnitedStatesand merit, it does not justifythe existence to teachthatthese events exclusively only speakfor theUnitedKingdom but nowinOctober here in theUnited only occurred forblack people is false. thiscountry couldnot be more tolerant Kingdom. Many universities, such as Indeed,the slavetrade hasnot stopped of people from arange of ethnic theUniversityofLeeds, hold events Identity politics todayand occurs in many partsofthe backgrounds. In my view,there is no relatedtothe cultureand traditionsof incorporates recognising world, not to mention that people are such thing as institutional racism and theAfrican diaspora. people’s achievements stilldeniedtheir basic humanrights. blackpeople have as much opportunity Thereare,however,manyissueswith through characteristicssuch It canoften be hard to imaginethat as anyone else –excluding factorssuch this. Formeitisthe idea that thereis as their raceorgender. This manypeople do not have thethings as one’ssocio-economicbackground. adesignatedmonth to celebratethe is completely wrong... we take forgranted, andIfeelitdoes We shouldnot judgeonpeople’s race contributionsofone particular race. adisservice to those whoare being or skin colour, yetBlack HistoryMonth This canonlyharmracerelations enslaved anddeniedabasic standard makesabig deal outofpeople because betweenpeople as it justifies theuse of living by upholdingthe view that of thesefactors.Identitypoliticsneeds of identity politics.Identitypolitics of amonth celebratingone race.Itgoes theseissueshaveoccurred in thepast, to be stamped outand ideallyBlack incorporates therecognisation of “againstthe ideals of racial equality andhow they specificallyoccurred for History Monthshouldbescrapped people’s achievements as characterised andfosters resentment from others. those who happen to be black. It is not completely. “MyBody, My Business”

Maja Stefańska Ordo Iuris, so they proposed changing BA Arabic theabortion lawtothe onethatis currentlyrespectedinthe Vaticanand October3rd couldhavebeenamassive Malta-one whichbansall abortion.The

game changerfor Polish women. An negative side-effectsare oozing from Estimated20,000 protesters,dressed thenew lawdraft.Implementingthe in black, made it to streetsofover60 Ordo Iuris’ regulationswould provide cities andtowns alloverthe countryto an ultimate endofprenataltests and

standupagainstthe anti-abortion bill. wouldcause unjustified imprisonments Theprotesters wore blackasasymbol of innocent women that have gone of mourning over women’slostfreedom throughmiscarriage. andtoshowtheywouldn’tbereduced Theinhumane‘Stop Abortion’project to therole of mere incubators.They st“ artedanationwideragethatinvolved were carrying banners with pro-choice notonlypoliticians,but also doctors, the sloganssuchas“A governmentisnot like clergy (because apparently priestsare apregnancy –itcan be terminated”and know-it-allswhenitcomes to women’s “Mybody, my business”, andbrought sexual health), students, professors, journalistsand social workers (not to mentionthe third-wave feministsand far-left organisations).Polishsociety Theprotestersworeblack seemed to be dividedbetween the as asymbolofmourning pro-life supporters,usuallywithvery over women’s lost freedom limitedknowledge aboutthe topicand thepro-choice‘blackprotesters’. Theprotest resulted in an unexpected plot twistinPolishpolitics-the metalcloth-hangers,symbolising the government rejected thepro-life illegalabortionmarket. Thestrike projectand won’tsubject it to further Image: Łukasz Kamiński/Agencja Gazeta/Reuters wasinspiredbyIceland’sprotest from discussion.Poles themselvesseemto “1975 andwas oneofthe largestmass be surprisedwithwhattheyachieved protests in post-1989Poland. as thecurrentleading party, Lawand Catholic circlesare so oddlydetermined nowget markedly harder, as theblack As of today, Polandhas oneofthe Justice(PIS), is knownfor remaining to restrain Polish women’sfreedom,but protestgainedinternational attention strictest anti-abortionlawsinEurope aloofoverwhatcitizenshavetosay, onething is certain:pro-choiceactivists throughBBC,Al-Jazeeraand the New whichbansabortions except in cases especially when theirbuddythe mighthavewon thebattle, butthe war York Times.Polandisonlygoing to get of rape,incest, foetal defectsorifthe Catholic Church is involved. is stillongoing.Catholicorganisations more interestingfromhereonout - mother’s life is in danger.Clearly, It’s hard totellwhat-according have already announcedthattheywill andfromajournalisticperspective, its currentrestrictionswerenot rigorous to thepro-lifers-is wrongwiththe strive to restrict theabortionlaw in fascinating to wonderwhatwillhappen enough forthe pro-life organisation currentcompromiseand whyPolish Poland againstall odds.Their jobwill next. 10 | Views thegryphon.co.uk

Mental Illnessisnot aWeakness

Natasha Zack However,suggestingthatvarious that very fewsoldiers,who have you weak.Whenyou have an infection, BA Philosophy veteranswho have committedsuicide unfortunatelycommitted suicide, no onecallsyou weak.Whenyou have

weren’tfitfor combat in thefirstplace, actuallyexperienced direct combat theflu, no onecallsyou weak. Recently,whilsttalkingabout purely becausetheyended up suffering during war, thereforeithas much less So whyisitthatmentalhealthisn’t mental health,DonaldTrump said from PTSD,isoutrageous! Idon’t feel to do with direct combat as it seems giventhe samerespect? It shouldbe that variousveteransreturning from tobe. givenasmuchattention as anyofour warwithPTSD(Post Traumatic Stress “ Researchhas shown that menare four physicalneeds.Weneed to create an Disorder)aren’tstrongenoughand Whenyou breakyour timesmorelikelytodie from suicide environmentwhich givespeople the can’t “handle” fighting. He talksabout than womenare,because they’reless spacetofeelateasewhenconfronting it as if suffering from amentalhealth leg, no onecalls you likely to talk aboutit. Furthermore, mental illness. When Trumpgives the problemand committing suicideisa weak.Whenyou have individualslesslikelytotalk about impression that he viewspeople who sign of weakness. theirproblems,whichever genderthey commit suicideorsuffer fromPTSDas Iwould like to pointout that an infection, no one maybe, aremorelikelytocommit weak,he’screatinganenvironment suggesting that mental illness occurs calls you weak.When suicideastheywould nothavereceived wherementalillness is being shunned. because that personisweakand informationonhow to help themselves. In aworldlikethatwewillbeunable cannot deal with what they arebeing youhavethe flu,noone Therefore, by suggesting that it’s more to tackle mental illness, less help will confronted with is very detrimentalto calls you weak. beneficialtohavemilitants whoappear be giventothose whoneed it as they’ll anyone’smentalwell-being,whether “ stronger andseemokfromthe outside feel that speaking up will causeothers they have mental health issues or not. is actuallymakingthe issueworse.If to look at them differently,and notas Beingcalled weak at anypoint can we label people as strong,theymay not thestrongperson they were seen as make youfeeluseless andincapable, as if Trumphas adeepunderstanding want to appear weak andtherefore will before. regardless of whetherthe task that of mental health if he viewsPTSDasa not speakupifthey’re suffering from We arenot weak if we’redepressed. you’reconfrontedwithoccursevery sign of weakness. mental health issues. We arenot weak if we’resuicidal. dayorduringsomething such as war. Moreover, researchhas shown When you breakyourleg,noone calls We arenot weak if we have PTSD. CastingaBlindEye Over Aleppo

Zaki KafAl-Ghazal Thereisconsensus that theproblem reallysee it as complex? Thereisno onewould hope thisisoutlandish, LLMInternational Law of ISIS in Syriaisinfactone of need to gointoextremenuances -a oursilence on thehorrors of Syriais Assad’smaking; heneedsISIStogain campaign to forceAssad andRussiato deafening. “WhatisAleppo?”, wasthe question legitimacy forhis warand to sayhe stop barrel bombingSyriancivilians What startedasademocraticuprising theLibertarian nomineefor president is attackingthemand they need him wouldbeagoodstart. againstthe Assadregimehas descended of theUS, Gary Johnson, responded to provetheyare creating an “Islamic Or more worryingly,one worries into amultifacetedtransnational war with when he wasasked what he would Caliphate” away from thesecularstate. whetherthe eraof“post-truth politics” betweenvarious factions andstates, do aboutthe carpet bombed Syrian Assadistryingtobebotharsonistand haswelland trulyarrived.Are people with more than 400,000 killed and city if electedpresident thisyear. His fireman.Itcannot andmustnot work slowlybeginning to believe theliesof millionsmoredisplaced sinceMarch comments were quiterightly mocked both ways. Putinand theAssad regime?Has hatred 2011. anddisparagedand he wasclearly out Whilst we seethe global population forthe West andour owngovernments When theUSholocaust museum of touchwithreality. mobilise forvariousmovements and reachedsuchalevelwhere even the begins to raiseawareness on the Butcometothink of it,his response againstcountless wars whichare no condemnation ofthe Assadregimeby Syrian issuethenitisclear that the wassadly indicative of theworld’s doubtnoble efforts,wesee extremely apoliticianprovokes us to back the situationthere is dire.Ifonlywecould indifferencetothe plight of the little onthe Syrian issue. Do people opposite of ourgovernment? Whilst have beenproactive andstood with the Syrian people andthose in Aleppo in particular.The city in northernSyria hascomeunder intense bombardment from Russiaand Assad’sforcesand little is beingsaidordonebyordinary people.Whilstgovernments talk toughonPutin and“suspendco- operation”, in reality thisamounts to nothing.Putin is free to continue backingthe Assadregimetothe hilt as hisgovernmentdeliberatelytargets civilianstoterrorise them andforce thereality of hisgovernanceupon them.The internationalcommunity hasultimatelyfailed thepeople of Syria. Theintentional targetingofmedical facilities in particular hasreached a newlow.Nohumanitarian lawseems to applytothe Assadregimewhich unleashesfrightening barrel bombs on itswomen andchildren, hiding behind theexcuse of “attacking terrorists”. Image: AFP HALLS 12 | Interview thegryphon.co.uk TheLabourdilemma: LLS Chairon why we must notforget the centreleft

Joshua had been akeenLabour supporterfor most of hislife and has this year taken up the position of Chairfor the

Leeds Labour society. He’s worked in Washingtonand Parliament,and campaigned hardwith Ed Balls during the general election. Oisin Teevan talkstohim here about lifeafterBrexit, the leadership result and alookback over the New Labour years we grewupin.

What was your vision of Labour whenyou joined Well of course winning in ‘97 was the high point. Ithink New Labour in government did more the Party and how does that compare to your vision You know we won three successive general elections for working people than any Labour opposition of it now? after eighteen unbroken years of Tory government. has ever done, because we had power. We tooka “ “ “ “ “ “ “ Iwasn’t alive to experience what it was like to live “ million children out of poverty becausewe’dbeen So Igrew up in aLabour household with parents who under Thatcher, but it was an awful time forthe in government; you tell me that’s not improving the both worked in the NHS. As Ibegan to study politics country and an awful time for our movement. We lives of working people. Ithink there are awhole more Ilearned that the Labour Party has been the turned away from the country and we gave the Tories range of factors that led to the Labour party taking greatest movement for social change this country’ has the opportunity to do what they wanted, we all know one view at the referendum, and alarge shareof ever seen. When Igrew up Gordon Brown was prime what happenedthere. As Tom Watson said in his Labour voters, particularly in parts of northern minister, and to be honest, Ithought the best days England, voting differently. Ithink alot of that comes were ahead of us. Isaw some great leaders coming down to immigration, but some of it has to do with through the party and Isaw the party as aparty for “IItthih nk we becacameme sovereignty and democracy, with pay and conditions. all people, for Britain. What Ifear now, to answer If you’re not getting afair deal with work, or if your the second part of the question, is that the party is laazyz with powerer ” community is suffering because of the cuts that this anarrowsectofpeople who have averynarrowview government has imposed on it, then of course you’re of the world, and don’t necessarily understand the going to say ‘What’s the EU doing forme?’ needs of the people from other parts of society. conference speechonlyafew days ago “I think we’ve So do you think when it came to the referendum So is thatanopen criticism of the party? got to stop trashing New Labour”. Ithink we did alot itself, Labour could have done more to help the ofgood from the minimum wage to Sure Start, rights Remain campaign? Well, yeah. Idon’t think it’s thefailure ofany one“forpart-timeworkers as well as full time workers, I part of the Labour party.Ithink thoseofusonthe could go on forever. Clearly the financial crash was Absolutely. Ispent the campaign knocking on doors middle-left side of the party failed towards the end the next big turning point. People turned against day-in-day-out, as did thousands of Labour Students of the last Labour government and in 2015, during us because of that, but they also turned against us across the country, and too often Labour voters just the leadership contest, to offer aclear, coherent - because we’d beeninpower for thirteen years so I weren’t aware of our position or thought that we were but compelling -vision of what Labour stoodfor.I think that in away it wasanaturalpart of politics. against. Ithink thatwas because our party leadership think we became lazy with power and because of that should have been clearerabout the position we had Ican understand why those on the left of the party, Do you think that Labour’s move towards the agreed as aparty, and that criticism has been levelled including Jeremy and his supporters, rose up into the centre, arguably away from white working class at Jeremy and the leadership already. Ithink that’s party and got newsupporters to join. people in deprived areas, is aprecursor to theBrexit definitely areasonwhy the Labour vote wasn’t as result? firmly in Remain as it could have been, and Ithink we Looking back over the past decade or so what do could have done more as aparty than did. you think were the major turning points for Labour? In TheMiddle

Issue3 14.10.16

Music•Clubs •Fashion •Arts•Lifestyle andCulture •Blogs 2

Credits

Editor-in-Chief In The Middle Music Clubs Jessica Murray Associate Editor Jemima Skala Reece Parker [email protected] Mark McDougall Sam Corcoran Julia Connor inthemiddle@ Robert Cairns [email protected] thegryphon.co.uk Juliette Rowsell [email protected]

Fashion Arts Lifestyle and Blogs Victoria Copeland William Rees-Arnold Culture LaurenDavies Meg Painter Xa Rodger William Hoole Charlie Collett Ashleigh Stern James Candler Charlie Green [email protected] Beatrice Rae Heather Nash Megan Fryer Hannah Brown [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Design Front Cover Frazer Sparham Photograph by Camille Hanotte Becky Nolan 3

Contents

5

This week’s freshbeats include 16-17 releases from GreenDay andWhite Lies. Leedstransformed into acityof light-see what ourwriters thought of thevarietyofart whichwas on 9 offer last Thursday andFriday. Clubscaught up with SlutDrop -see what they have in storefor Leedsand beyond. 20-21

10 In lightofthe recent Savile documentary, Lifestyle andCulture Fashiondelve into theworld exploreTV’sdepiction of Operation surroundingintellgence andbeauty Yewtree. with theiroriginalphoto shoot. 23

13 Blogswriter, BradleyYoung speaks up aboutthe politicalconfusion LeedsStudemtRadio hasstarted amongstmoderatevoters. broadcasting,check outtheir huge schedule andtuneintoone of their shows Math Rock: Leeds’ best kept secret

Image: Charlie Cummings

JonnyGleadelldelvesintoLeeds’underrated musical trend If youlikewhatyou

into the odd Radiohead review and is often the figurehead hear,besure not to The roots of math rock are traceable to multiple points term journalists use to describe the frenetic interlocking miss... of departure, from 90’s Midwestern emo and expansive grooves of Everything Everything’s first album Man Alive. prog-rock, to the noisy post-hardcore scene and the instrumental virtuosity, tonal diversity of jazz. Math There has also been agrowth in festivals catering to the often- October: rock is an all-encompassing term, the sort of phrase that noisy, ever-experimental sector of rock music, such as Truck, hallmarked the early work of Foals, EverythingEverything 2000 trees and the seminal ArcTanGent. American Football and Dutch Uncles but has equallyfound itself attached to and Owls have smashedout massive reunion tours and The 15thPulledApart By Horses (Sup- the less poppy likes of King Crimson and The Mars Volta. Fall of Troy have followed suit. And So IWatch You From Afar porting Twin Atlantic)-Beckett have wound their way up to more mainstream festivals like StudentUnion For years the question ‘‘what is math rock?’’ has plagued Leeds, Reading and Tramlines. Tall Ships have frequented 15thTall Ships (Supporting Lonely numerous forums across the alternative music sphere. Huw Stephens’ show on Radio One and eventhe under-loved theBrave) -The Key Club The technical answer (involving discussions of time likes of Leeds’ own NGOD have penned big record deals. But the 19th VASA / BearfootBeware - signatures, polyrhythms and other musicaljargon), most rewarding thing to bear witness to is the immense surge Belgrave Music Hall &Canteen while often illuminating, fails to capture the diversity of underground bands. Almost every week Iinadvertently 22nd Tall Talker -The Key Club and richness of the genre. From post-hardcore to prog, come across an event page for agig and the imagined sound emo to pop, twinkles to riffs and simple three pieces like of the three solid math rock bands on the bill feed simulated 30th Bearfoot Beware -The Tangled Hair to the textural onslaught of Oceansize, anthems and ersatz riffs to my ears foraprecious moment. Brudenell Social Club math-rock channels awiderange of genres and moods. 31stWill Joseph Cook -The To experience the real thing is amust, an imperative Brudenell Social Club Ihave followed this scene for many years, conducting offered by Leeds almost every week. From Headrow reviews and interviews from all across the country, all House to Nation of Shopkeepers, the collision of melody, the while running awebsite dedicated to charting its complexity, riffs and noise can be found molded into November: rise, simply titled The Math Rock Blog.I’vespent ayearat atypical rhythms and performed by some of math rock’s Newcastle University following the surge of an embryonic finest. So if you like the new cabalofchorus-pedal synth 6th Bad Owls Presents: Tomor- northern scene,spent months in Scotland getting ataste pop bands, check out the tropical waves of Joey Fourr or row We Sail, Jacob Reece,MYRR– for post-rock and frequently travelled to the southern the pristine pop of Will Joseph Cook. If you want more strongholds of London, Bristol and Brighton. But for complexity without the noisy hardcore influences, local alt- Wharf Chambers my money the best that math rock currently has to offer pop 3piece Tall Talker are asafe bet. If noise is precisely 13th Mono / Alcest -The Brudenell is found in the northern musical powerhouse of Leeds. what you’re looking for, Leeds’ very own Bearfoot Beware Social Club are creating some of the most brilliant nostalgia-filled, 20th Three Trapped Tigers / The It’s not uncommon to hear math rock bands name 90’s sounding grunge and hardcore jams. Relatively fresh- Physics House Bands -Belgrave the inimitable Brudenell Social Club as their favourite faced Unwave are releasing their debut album in the same Music Hall &Canteen venuearound. With the rugged charm of alow stage, a musical vein whilst Leeds’ alternative rock veterans Pulled 26th HerName is Calla -The permanent balcony for agreat view fromall angles, seating Apart By Horses are on the cusp of finishing their fourth Brudenell Social Club for contemplative music. as well as awideselection of album, supporting Twin Atlantic in the finishing stages. famously cheapbooze, it’s not hard to see why. Dirty Otter and Bad Owl Presents are likely to provide the bulk of the But if foundations in the smooth, groovy and wizard- best math rock in the city,the former hosting an annual like complexity of jazz are moreyourthing, The Physics all-dayer as its flagship event and the latter throwing House Band and Three Trapped Tigers are soon to come together the eclectic sounds of post-metal, post-rock and to Belgrave to blow your minds with some the most hardcore with smatterings of math in everything they do. accessible technical math rock in the scene. But if all that sounds too intense, then lookout for math rock’s Despite having so much to offer, the insular island of math ceremoniously allied cousin post-rock, with Japanese rock still finds itself marooned in aquiet corner of the pioneers Mono and theUK’s most pensive rock band Her alternative music world. But things are starting to change. Name is Calla both visiting Leeds in the coming weeks. As the titanic tectonic plates of prog rumble slowly beneath and as the convection currents of amuch lovedpost-rock Jonny Gleadell rise to their glorious crescendo, these bigger genres and their attendant marriage to math rock are slowly helping the cause for all of alt-rock music. The math rock descriptor has creeped 5 Fresh Beats

LetThemEat Chaos by Kate Tempest

South-East London wordsmithKateTempest returns syncopated beatsand chromaticmelodies,possible forher anticipatedfollow-up to 2014’s acclaimed drawing influence from thelikes of AphexTwinor andMercury Prizenominated EverybodyDown.Her John Hopkins. There’salso an industrial feel coming musicaldebut caught theattention of manywithits through, with droningdistorted synths andsharp very delicate stylisticbalance betweenhip-hop and hi-hatsontrackssuchas‘Ketamine forBreakfast’, spoken word,the storyittold andthe intriguing ‘Perfect Coffee’ andthe album’sconcluding tracks. instrumentals. ‘EuropeisLost’ –unlikely to be aEuropeanUnion This newproject exploreslyrical themes of lamentasthe song waswritten in 2015 –takes a existentialism anddystopiainterspersed with separate more politicaltoneasKatefrustratesabout people’s very short stories. Thesethemesare complimented supposedlackofawareness aboutthe world’s with theusual mostly syntheticand experimental problems.The song –alongwithmostofKate’sother instrumentals. The‘short stories’ discuss thepersonal politicalsongs –was alittleclichéand ‘preachy’ situations of sevenindividualLondoners andwhat neitherdid it come off so well as Kate spokeso they’redoing in theirrespective housesat4:18 AM. genericallyabout problems with no solutionsexcept On thefinaltracks, thecharactersall come outinto “love”.It’spolitical outlooks like thisthatdisincline thestreetand meet each other. me to take politicalmusicseriously.

Theopening track‘Picture AVacuum’ –along with In conclusion,thisisasolidand decent releasefor some of theinterlude tracks –isquite minimalist Kate Tempest. Though it won’tnecessarily challenge whileKatetells astory of onetravellingthrough heraudience, it will certainly be challenging forhip- ourSolar System toLondon. Tracks like ‘Whoops’, hop traditionalistswithits vocalstyle andproduction. ‘WeDie’and ‘Grubby’ definitelychannel elements of IDMand experimentalwiththeir polyrhythmic Fred Savage

FollowingMyIntuition by Green Day

As thefirstdreary notesofalbum opener ‘Somewhere melodies like thosefrom‘She’saRebel’and ‘Jesus of Now’ wilt outofthe speakers,there’s an overwhelming Suburbia’, that carrythisalbum across thearduous feelingofhorror. Will Revolution Radio become the terrain of trying to remain relevant. dreaded‘cuatro’- thesequeltothe triple tragedyof ¡Uno!, ¡Dos!, ¡Tré!? Thankfully,Green Day’stwelfth That being said, Revolution Radio does lack apinch of studio albumalmostwipes allmemoryofthat, character. GreenDay’s admirableattempt to producea unfortunately, unforgettable failure. Almost. strong albumwithnosurface levelweaknessesmeans the45minutemoshpit allblendsintoone.There’s It takes50seconds forproceedingstosuddenlykick nothingnew.Lyrically it’s fairly uninspiring.It’s into overdrive, and50morebeforeyou know thisis ‘saferadio’atbest. Butatthe endofthe albumthere’s arefreshing returntoformfor thetrio. It’s aloud, abittersweet moment of pure,satanic satisfaction,at brash, exceptionally well pacedfire breather of an therealisation that thebandthatgot you through albumthatisaspolishedasitisvicious. Whilst it puberty managed not to fuck it up thistime. mightnot reachthe infernotemperaturespresent in theband’sheyday, it stillmanagestolight theembers WhetherGreen Daywillproduce anotheralbum of even theleast rebelliousoflisteners. with as much significance as Dookie or American Idiot is doubtful,but at leasttheir latest venturewas a Part of what makes Revolution Radio succeed is it’s respectableattempt to keep thepunkrockfire alive. ability to be inspiredbyits past.Borrowing upon the musicaltropesofclassic Green Day, it’s thethumping Robert Cairns drum rollsreminiscent of ‘St. Jimmy’,the delightful

Friends by WhiteLies

WhiteLies’ number onedebut To Lose My Life setthe overtime. Synths stillformthe backbone,although trio in theirways, showing off theirmortality vibe taking ashift into acheesier80s styletoaccompany to live audiences. Theirimage thus farhas ledto themoreupbeatmelodiesthistimearound. them tobelumpedinwithsomeother post-punk pals –suchasJoy Division andInterpol–but their Lead singer McVeigh’slow,mellowstyle is fantastic latest album Friends hasgiven them alittlemakeover. throughout,accompanied by thecinematic feel we expecttohear. Stand-outsingle‘Take It OutOn When the BigTVTour came to aclose in 2013, Me’provokesinfectiousfoot-tapping,while White WhiteLiesfound themselves withoutarecord Lies’traditionallymid-tempo bigchorusesare label.Havingended theirunion with Fiction,the heardintracks ‘IsMyLoveEnough?’and ‘ComeOn.’ band startedalone on work fortheir newalbum. Like teenagers giventhe first tasteoffreedom This fourth albumshows howWhite Lies have lifted from theirparents,producing thisrecordwithout into amoreindie/synth-pop genre with theirgiven guidance hasreallyhelped thebandfind theirfeet. freedom.Think of amoredepressing A-Haoraless upbeat version of TheDrums,and you have Friends in Friends givesoffamorethoughtful, slightly less gloomy anutshell. feeling, focussingonthe ebband flowoffriendships KittyPandya 6

[Image: Dazed&Confused] In The Middle with Gabriel Bruce Iwas privileged enough to meet up with the extremely talented yethumbleGabriel Bruce ahead of his show at HeadrowHouse. Despite being incredibly nervous as abig fanofhis, Gabriel wasverydowntoearth, friendly,and more than willing to talk about his tour,experiences and brilliant music.

This is thethird dateofyour UK October tour, how has it been so far and Do you have any weird tourexperiences? since therelease of new album Come all Sufferers? Ionce gotleft up amountain. IthinkIwas talking to someone, Iwas really It’s been interesting. Idon’t have very many fans so when Irelease an album drunk and the whole band just left and went to the hotel. Iwas stranded up Ihopethat Imight get some more, so Ithink Igot 4or5this time round. If I this mountain on my own, Ihad no idea where the hotel was and Ididn’t keep on doingitatthis rate Iwill haveaprettydecentfollowing. know howtoget down. Iended up walking round this town for like four hours crying. Finally, Imanaged to convince people in acar that if they drove Do youever get nervous before gigs? me backtomyhotel they could have my hotel room.

Iused to but notreally anymore. Iplayed my first gig when Iwas 14; I’m 27 nowsoIhave been doing it along time. Ithink it’s to have complete IreadinNME that you areafossil dealer? disrespect for yourself and then you don’t mind if you make an arse of yourself. Knock yourself off that pedestal, then you’re free to wallow in the Iworked forafossil dealer. Iwas tasked with disassembling amammoth mud. skeleton, so on my first day Iwas straddling this mammoth spine trying not to drop it. In November, ahugebit of petrified wood fell How was theprocess of making this album different “Dancing is oneofthe on my hand and crushed it, so Ihaven’t been working there to yourlast release in 2013? best things youcan do since. Imade Love in Arms with Craig Silvey,afantastic with your body,upinthe What type of music are you listening to at the moment? record producer. We made the whole record in top three... Theothertwo that studio over the course of amonth; it wasall arenaughty” Mainly just Kendrick Lamar. Ireally likeSweat, anew band traditionally recorded. My new album was made over fromLondon,they’re one of my favourite new bands. Jack two years with my laptop in my bag; the onlything I Burrell, CatPower, Joanna Newsom always, she is such a recorded in the studio were live drums. Self-producing genius. it sort of became likelearning anew instrument, it was very liberating. You’ve got to keep yourself interested in the process. If you could tour withanyonewho would it be?

Do you do anything to keep yourselfentertained ontour or in the studio? Iwould have liked to have seen Jimi Hendrix play. Arcade Fire, Isigned to Universal Records because they said they would getmeasupport slot. Ireadbooks. Iwas playing Pokémon Go. Ihavealwaysloved Pokémon.I once got mugged formyPokémon cards, Iwas 11 years old and they cut me. I Do you have any hiddentalents? tell you what though, Ikept the cards. Ihave alittle scar on my chest. Ilike to blow my own trumpet so you have asked me agood question. Ifeel Your music videos are all unique and quite different.Whenyou are writing like Ihave alot of diverse skills, I’m ajack of all trades kind of guy. asong do you have aspecific idea for whatthe videocould be like? Youseem to do alot of dancing; thatseems like atalent? Once the song is done Istart thinking about the videos. With this record Iwantedtokeep the videos relatively straight forward, Ididn’t have any Definitely, dancing is one of the best things you can do with your body, up in budget or anything so Ihad to be quite resourceful. It’s abig job and it’snot thetop three… the other two are naughty. reallywhatIgot into thisgame to do. Phoebe Berman Whatisthe best gig you have ever played?

The Moth Club in London, just areallygood vibe. When Istarted touring this album Ihadn’t played ashow in two years and the first showweplayedwas supporting Florence and the Machine. Iplayed with Lydia Lunch and she gave me aback massage so that was pretty exciting. 7 Gig Roundup

Bishop Nehru @ Bishop Nehru’s set was preceded by agrime duo wasaunique andrefreshing experience. For agenre trying far too hard to sound like Dizzee Rascal, and which seems to have given innovation in rapping HeadrowHouse unfortunately, they failed to get thecrowd of about abackseatinfavourofinnovation in production, 25 people sufficiently hyped for Nehru’s entrance. Nehru’s never-ending creativity is abreath of 5/10/16 fresh air in modern hip hop. Almost as if to prove Nehru’s actual entrance was announced by the DJ that point, there was afantastic section of thegig making the audience half-heartedly chant ‘Nehru’, where the music cutout,and Nehruproceeded to untilthe Nanuet-based rapper was, himself, hyped do aremarkably long freestyle with no beat behind enough to getonstage.This was met with great him, which actually got the loudest applause of the applause from the audience, which luckily had begun evening. to grow exponentially after the opening act left the stage. Simply put, Bishop Nehru is afantastic artist, and seeing him live has only reinforced my opinion of Despite the awkward start, Nehru’s performance was him as being miles ahead of other contemporariesin on point that evening. Known forletting his beats the game. take abackseat in his music, Nehru made sure that the set predominatelyfocused on his signature style Zack Moore of rapid-fire lyricism, and flows smooth enough to slide on. Rating:

As an artist acclaimed for being able to mix old- [Image: biz3.net] school rap techniques into amodern context, his set

Kaiser The Chiefs @ Bulletproof HMV Bomb @ 7/10/16 Brudenell 6/10/16

There was aclear feeling of a It’s easy to forget that songs, The Bulletproof Bomb brought their ushered in by the keys and the lead homecoming as excited fans crammed especially thosethatrocket in three date tour to abeautifully chaotic singer, Joel, began to spit over the fear into the HMV store, spilling in between popularity, are written about real close in Leeds this week, as the five of not being here in 100 years. rows of vinyls to get closer to the small people and experiences, but as Wilson unlikely lads from London played to a stage the Leeds-born Kaiser Chiefs performed, looking around the shockinglysmall crowd in Brudenell’s The Bomb are one of the few bands were performing on. The band walked room and waving at friends, family GamesRoom. that really seem like agang on stage, on, frontman Ricky Wilson sportinga and long-time fans, theemotional side smirking and cheekily bumping toothy grin, and launched into the first detachedness of thefirst fewsongs ‘Suitcase’ set afast, unrelenting pace into each other wheneverpossible. two songsfrom their new synthpop- morphed into acasual familiarity. for the night. Each song that followed Passion oozed from every note, as if infused album Stay Together. rolled endlessly into the next, giving they hadsome desperate need to play. The boys ended their set with the the crowd no time to gain their breath Wilson was visibly tired:“I stillhave aptly-chosen ‘Coming Home’ from before another set of lyrics furiously Ending with oneoftheir first singles, my makeuponfromBBC Breakfast” their 2014 album Education,Education, flew from their mouths. Not amoment Five Green Bottles, the crowd exploded he mumbled. At points, it seemed as Education &War.Wilson’s visible was wasted talking or advertising their with newfound energy as everyone though Ricky was performing outof fatigue, whilst hindering the newer latest This Ain’t Rebellion EP,whichis came together to cry “la-da-da” until obligation. This was clearest when the songs, lent this song its necessary free on Soundcloud, and even the slow the last chord left them buzzing in an band performed songs from the new emotionalweight; Wilsonand theband and wistful ‘Vapid’ was infused with exhausted but ecstatic mess. album; the pre-recorded synths and are getting old, but are, at their core, aheavy ska beat to keep the crowd string sections that sound effortlessly still the same band that Leeds have moving. Jenny Pudney catchy on the album ringing hollowin always loved. the small venue. The band’s unique sound can only be Mikhail Hanafi described as asynth infused blend of There was astrange disconnect Blur and Jamie T, an energetic mix between the band and the music Rating: that is perfect for liveperformance. Rating: which the audience, less thrilled than ‘EveningTones of the Skull n expected, could sense. Andthen Wilson Crossbones’ also showed the band’s announced the next song: “This experimental edge as they seemed to song’s called ‘Ruby’, and she’s in the merge two songs into one. Starting audience here today.” That was when off as afastindie rock song, it soon the band kicked into gear. eclipsed into alonelyriff which entranced the rowdy crowd to deathly silence before adifferent tune was 8

Arcane

Arcane is anew event looking to shakeupthe clubbing scene in Leeds. With their debut event in the city this last week coming after asuccessful starter in London, we sent Joshua John to speak with one of their founders,Oliver Outen, to see howtheir midweek revolution has come about.

“Arcane Events is aclub night and collective pushing their plans for the future, stating: “We have another the best in underground drum &bass music” midweekevent scheduled at Wire before the end of explained Oliver. “Having started at the beginning of the year. Expect the same high quality, underground the year we felt that there was agap in the market – drum &bass with atakeoverfrom one of the biggest to hearthis amazing music we’d always have to pay labels in the scene.” upwards of atennerand wait until the weekend.” For Arcane, Oliver explainedthat his aim was to Oliver has begun performing as one half of Deadline change this by “putting on acheaper,midweek alongside PeterVan Dongen, who is also afounder student night without compromising on booking of Arcane. Deadline perform at each event, and Oliver some of the finest selectors thescene has to offer”. was happy to show how important they are to the set up, explaining “part of the reason we started Upon the suggestion that drum &bass had become Arcane was avessel forustoplay out more under asaturated market in Leeds, Oliver replied: “The Deadline.” wholeidea behind the company is to promote great drum &bass music but at an affordable price for “It’sreallydifficult to break into the scene and students. We plan ourlineups very carefully to this was an easy way to promote ourselves. We’ve represent the entire spectrum of the genre, booking been attracting alot of attentionand in the past some of the mostrenownedartists in the scene year we’vesupported Sub Focus, Dimension and alongside talented up and comers who are on the Skankandbass.” verge of breaking through.” He continued: “We try and make each set at our night special –our first When asked what we would say to thosedithering on event in Leeds featured the headliners Annix playing buying aticket in future, Oliverresponded ‘‘Ifyou a History of Annix set, with their own productions, really love your drum &bass and don’t have a9am oldgems, classics and never before heard dubs!” the following day, there’s no excuse!” After the success of their first event, Oliver hinted at

DubbyVibes @HydeParkBookClub

Loop HoleDub Station seemedasifabunchofmates threw together alittle event just to vibe to their favourite records, but it cametogether in the best possible way. The night had arefreshingly DIY feel to it with fairy lights strung across the ceiling, candles dotted around the decks and acoupleofdub FX boards stacked on top of acrate of orange juice cartons.

Despite this amateurish style, the Groundforce soundsystem they had imported filled out the tiny room easily, the bass shaking you to the core and bringing these rare roots records to life.

Loop Hole beautifully emphasised the unique culture surrounding vinyl. There was astand selling asmall collection of reggae and dub records on both 12” and 7”, where you could have alistenonthe turntable they’d set up before you buy, which seems to be ararity nowadays. It was the perfect atmosphere to enjoy music in one of its purest forms, and the love of the genre was clear with arealsense of community betweeneveryone who was there.

It took acouple of hours for the Hyde Park Book Club to fill out, but once it did, it was so full that the crowd was spilling outside. Loop Hole seemstohave al- ready outgrown its tiny capacity and it’s clear that they’re on to something big.

Isobel Moloney 9

DIYclub events in Leeds are often commonplace, so muchsothatitcan be diffiuclt to adhere to this philosophy and still mark yourself out as unique to the student population. One collectivethatnails this trickybalancing act is Slut Drop,busting both patriarchy and fixed genres since 2014.Wesent HulyaErzurumlu to talk to Cat Snell, who, after careful consideration involving the other twopoints of The Triangle in Bernie Snell and Oonagh Ryder, supplied us with the following,

Who are you guys? like areal milestone! Madam Xheadlined plus Mina, DJ Tee Tee and TACAT(me) and we also had some bands from Chunk on before the DJs. The music and vibe I’m Cat, currently holding it down for Slut Drop in Leeds. Me, Bernie and Oonagh, that night was pure fire from start to finish. Although the turn outwas really aka The Triangle, set things up back in 2014. It’s our event but we work with good, it’s not something I’moverly bothered about. Yes it’s important to break our BFF, Chunk. Last yearBernie moved to Manchester and Oonaghmoved to evenand if youmakeaprofit it goes back into runningmore successful nights, London for anew job so right now I’m flying solo,though you should lookout but ultimately I’d always rather have asmall crowd of people having thebest forinteresting developments in Manchester too. The last few events have been time, getting to know each other and bringing areally goodvibe than aroom at collaborations but I’ve been getting anew team together to help run Slut Drop,so full capacity but no soul. if anyone is interested in running events and is feeling ourvibe –get in touch! What wouldyou saytonewcomers to your event? Whats yourethos? Slut Drop is all about bringing the best in experimental, boundary-pushing elec- Slut Drop is aDIY party/club night and happens at Chunk. We had our first night tronic. Expect genres to be mixed up and messed around, be ready for some big in Manchester this yearsothere will be more parties happening there too. Aes- sounds and come with an open mind. Remember where you are; we are nota thetically, we’ve tried to make the whole experience more personal -aninviting main stream venue or night sototreat the space with respect, make friends if interactive space. Our aesthetic changes abit for each party, which addstothe you want –everyoneissuper friendly and the cheapdrinks will keep flowing! uniqueness and originality of each one. In the beginning, Ithink the music really set us apart from other nights; you couldn’t findsome of the experimental and What is your next event? electronic sounds we were putting out anywhere else in Leeds. That’s one of the major reasons behind us startingthe night. Ithink that’s changed alot in the The next event will be Nov 26th at Chunk; it’s acollaboration between us and last fewyears and there is much more of ascene for that music in Leeds now. 8MANA who are afairly new addition to the Leeds music scene but already mak- The fact that the night is mostly run by women and our line ups are predomi- ing big waves. Our musicaltastes are super compatible and their DIY attitude nately women still sets us apart from mostother club nights. Alot of nightsstill makes us agreat match. 8MANA and Slut Drop residents will all be playing back don’t put enough energy into booking femaleartists and I’ve actually spoken to back. Plus specialDJsets from Nik Nak, Leeds based producerand DJ warm- to alot of people who want to change this. We always seek abalance between ing up with an excellent selection of Hip Hop. Holli William$, sometimes known putting together aline-up of predominantly women, and getting the music just as Shuga -anewcomer from Manchester, playing an impressive banging mix of right. You just don’tsee enough girls behind the decks or putting on events and styles. Plus alive DJ set from Mike Drones, co-founder of Permahigh,aLeeds- that’s something we are tryingtochange. If we give women DJs that exposure, based label and collective. We will also be hosting anetworking and live music then other people can start booking them. Most of the DJ’s we’ve had play at Slut event on December6th with brand new collective GAIA who describe themselves Drop have gone on to bigger things which is areallyrewarding thing to see! It’s asgirls who likegirls and GREAT music! All the details can be found on our so important forother womentocome and see women playing, to see it, and for Facebook page. Plus we’ve got abig event coming up in February next year so it to just be normal. There’s just not alot of inspirationtogoout there and do keeps those eyes peeled. it. If youdon’t see other women doing it, Ithink it’shardertoperceive yourself doing it. We wanted to make it lookdo-able, and have agood fucking time too. What was it that inspired you to set up Slut Drop?

What haveyou done in the past andwhatare youaiming for in thefuture? Some of it came from frustration at the lack of experimental music in Leeds at that time; we were regularly going to Manchester and Londonchasing those We’ve mostly been busy organising each event, but also lots of networking on sounds. It felt abit like arevelation when we sat back and were like, “Hang on, the ground and helping support people trying to do similar things. As forthe lets just start our own fuckingnight!”. We’d been out loads and hadn’t seen future, there is alot to come. We’ve got some pretty big collaborationscom- many women DJs and Ihad been DJing for ages but only in my room and at ing up and the monthly open deck sessions start this month. Girls –feel free to house parties. When we thought about all the other women out there playing come down, evenifyou’veneverseen aset of decksbefore in your life, the space behind closed doors we wanted to bring these onto the club circuit. is just cooltosee!The future for Slut Drop is hard to say; we’re still growing and the team is changing, I’d like to getmore‘manpower’ behind us. You can get a CatchSlutDrop next on November 26th at Chunkfor their collaboration with8MANA. lotmore done when you work cooperatively, so I’d like to build that and make Expect electronic experimentation andaDIYVibe. Onetowatch forsure. the night more regular.

What is the best night you think you’ve done?

That is areallyhardquestion! Ithink it might have to be one fromlast year. Before that we hadn’t been able to book onlywomen while sticking to the music we wanted to play so it was the first time we had an all female line up and it felt 12

Image: Studio Canal The Return of the Music Documentary In the Middle reviews RonHoward‘s Eight Days aWeek and Mat Whitecross‘ Oasis: Supersonic.

Eight Days aWeek: The Touring Years Oasis: Supersonic

The first question that is inevitably asked about anew Beatles documentary From the off we are thrust in to the utterly mad world of Oasis, joining is whether or not it cansay anything fresh about such awell-knownstory. them in their helicopter soaring above a125,00 strong Knebworth By deciding to focus on The Beatles’ touring years (1962-1966), Ron Howard crowd. Then with aseamless transition to aManchester basement is able to marshal famous interviews alongside previously unseen footage three years prior we are treatedtohuge amounts home footage. to give the audience areal insight into the tumultuous peak of Beatlemania. From here we follow their not so gradual rise to the top, and while especially nearer the start there are gaps in footage, the sharp and The Beatles achieved apopularity that had no precedent and that, to this fast paced visual storytelling of Mat Whitecross, with the hilarious day, has no equal. The film shows the band as they reach stratospheric and often brutally honest narration, means we don’t miss abeat. heights of success in America, before they went on to conquor every corner of the planet. Situating the story Despite current tensions, touchier band moments including Neil against the backdrop of the JFK assassination and the Civil wrapping acricket bat around Liam’s head, are handled in good, Rights movement, the band arrived into afractured American “its greatest two fingered spirit, as is the philosophy of Oasis. This philosophy, society. Whoopi Goldberg, ayoung girl in the 60’s, speaks and it’s two Mancuniandisciples, give more reason than any for in the film of how The Beatles seemed to have no colour; success is in the non-fans to watch the film. As while the term ‘‘best band in the onlyanobvious love of fun which was all inclusive. Indeed, presentation world’’may notbetotally true,the fast livingbrothers give Oasis there is footage of an interview in which Paul refused to an edge few other groups possess, and the same can be said for entertain the idea of playing to asegregated crowd. However of the band this film. The sheer chemical-fuelled madness of Liam with the the sheer impossibility of playing music to 50,000 screaming calculated yet volatile coolness of Noel drives the film through fans led The Beatles to end touring permanently in 1966. themselves.“ what could become repetitive events and give the film it’s heart.

Just as refreshing however is the fact Supersonic istold only This is asuperb documentary, and its greatest success is in the through the voice of tour and band members,family and presentation of the band themselves. The strength of the four’s relationships managers; resulting in acondensed and intimate perspective seemed to save them from losing their identities in the great entity that was on both the wildest and more sensitive aspects of their story. The Beatles, from which it is clear that they felt some distance. McCartney later describes how the touring years took their tollonthe band, forcing While some may be surprised or disappointed by the optimism of them to grow-up and to grow apart. After 1966 they played live together the ending, with no mention of the band‘s decline and split, Mat onlyonce. Thefootage of this performance, on aLondonrooftopin1969, Whitecross’ film does an excellent job of letting us see how this is is apoignant end to the film and it is incredible to think that all four the end the Gallaghers always wanted, and which Oasisdeserved. were still in their twenties when the band broke-up the following year. Joe Scott Guy James

Image: NME Spoken Word:it‘s time to talk Image: Zimbabwe Press

Free Verse(Speak Up!) @West Yorkshire Playhouse

In the years since its beginning, Furnace, part of West Yorkshire family, giving each of the five poets diverse backstories that managed, Playhouse‘s Artist Development programme, has garnered quite through an endearing combination of humour and drama, to stillfeel the reputation as the best place to find amazing completely organic. The story pivots around small piecesoftheatre before they officially hit the ‘‘ The cast moments. The dialogue reflected this, telling the tale stage. Speak Up,arehearsal reading of Zodwa of what drew each member to the world of competitive Nyoni’s second Playhouse commission, shown performing script- slam poetryinsmall, easily missed anecdotes. towards the end of the two-week festival, was This allowedthe audience to become friends with perhaps ahighlight, proving popular among both in-hand and without the cast just as they grew closer to each other. old and young members of the 50-strong crowd. aset only served to This meant, that when the third act of the play started Though the showing was an intimate one, the heighten the raw and the plottwist came,itwas all the more gut- work-in-progress mix of rap, poetry and beat- wrenching. The audience were allowed no distance box certainly lived up to its billing as a“blistering human powerofthe fromtheemotionandfoundthemselvesattemptingto coming-of-age tale”. Dealing with the story of story‚‚ rebuild alongwiththe rest of the characters. The fact five young Leeds poets preparing for acompetition that the showproved so compelling, even with stage abroad, the reading felt authentic, even with the directions being read aloud and stumbles betraying constraints of the studio. The cast performing script-in-handand the fact that the young cast had had only one day’s rehearsal, proved without aset only served to heighten the raw human power of the story. the show is certain to be asmash hit in whateverformittakes next.

Across the two hours, the plot knitted together themesofclass, race, and Rhiannon-Skye Boden

Image: The Stage

The Scribe GIAG@LS6,ClockCafe

What started as atypicalartsy student sit-in, laden with anarchy and questionable talent, morphed into ashowcase of raw emotion Other poets and musicians included Emma Ward, Taiwo Ogunyinka and immense depth. This was The Scribe’s firstGIAGofthe semester and Kasambala. Kasambala’s impassioned verse on the tensions at LS6, The Clock Café in Hyde Park. The showkicked off in acosy experienced by black people in society was particularly moving, upstairs room with JoeNodus, an esteemed and much-loved local provoking thoughts on currentissues across the Atlantic. The poet, who read ashort selection of his works. They were short but audience was in awe of them all, showingusall how it‘s done. sweet. What followed was slightlymore dubious; some kind of To top it all off, Mr OutSpoken,alocal hip hop artist, closed with vetting process would have been more suitable, in order to discern three of his songs.Needless to say, all attending clappedupabeatfor the genuine fromthe frivolous. him.

Thankfully, the show maintained an admirable calibre. Young poets The Scribe is off to an impressive start this year and anyone is free to Lucy Cunningham and Clara Nascimento-Pillitz, amongst others, get up and perform at their events, readsometouching verse on matters of love and relationships, laced held twice each semester. Makesure with vivid imageryconcerning memories and the natural world. you’re on it. Compared to the poignant odes of Cunningham, Nascimento-Pillitz’s verse was more prosaic in its sounding, reading in someways as George Jackson though it were an inner monologue, making it all the more relatable. 12

Light Water, Dark Sky

It is very rare that feeling immediately underwhelmed by apiece of art goes on to add to its beauty, yet that was the experience formyselfand my companions at Squidsoup’s piece, Light Water, Dark Sky.

The installation was designed to be an ‘immersive and emotive headspace’, and it was just that. Immersive,intimate and ethereal, it simply could not be experienced from the outside, you had to be in it. Leeds Lights Up You are on apontoon,inthe dark, in the middleofthe Clarence Dock. You are wearing headphones, no onlooker can hear what you hear. The music starts, slowand simple,and forevery sound you hearabulb, or acluster of bulbs, burst into light. The music builds up and up, and as it does you can see the excitement on the faces of those around you building up too. More and more lights turn on and off in every colour. Sight and sound become indelibly connected, as if they are reacting to each other, like thunder and lightning. You are floating in music and light.

The experience ends as suddenly as it started, and as you leave the pontoon, you feel adeepconnection to everyone around you, asense of belonging and community. None of the people you pass on the surrounding streets can understand the experience you have shared. Yet now you all go your separate ways, into the night, knowing you are unlikely to ever see each other again.

My advice? If you see that Squidsoup are displaying near you, do [Image: Warner Bros] yourself afavour and go.Itisanexperience you will notforget.

Connie Lawful

Camille Hanotte

Fireflies&Phase Revival

Ifound myself in the Crypt of the town hall. The pillars which were scattered throughout the room had been decorated to resemble tree trunks. From the branches hung multiple small lights, which could be manipulated with the tug of astring. The darkened room with its quaveringlightswas intended to resemble aforestpopulated by fireflies. The quiet rustlings of woodland life were playing in the background to further enhance the atmosphere. In order to get down into the cryptwehad been required to walk through the town hall.

This gave me the opportunity to enter the Victoria Hall, aspectacular roomwhich Ihad never had the chance to see before. The hall also contained an art work entitled Phase Revival. It consisted of anumber of swinging pendulums which refracted the light passing through their lenses. The oscillating shadows only accentuatedthe beauty of the room. As much as Light Night gives us the chance to see interesting and unusual art, it also shows us the fabulous architecture of Leeds, illuminated in amanner which impresses upon the viewer its beauty.

Xa Rogers 13

On the 6th and 7th of October,the centre of Leeds playedhost to range of art, performance, and community participation. Once again Light Night wasbackintown. In the Middle sent out a teamofwriters to see howthe evening panned out... Hidden Gems of Light Night

Asense of theetherealprevailed in much of the city, with unearthly music drifting from Millennium Square and four themed ice sculpturesglistening in the centre of Briggate, each illuminated by adifferent coloured light. The Central Library brought its children’s fiction section to life with eerily lit likenesses of adragon, awitch and the BFG.

At QueensHotel, Dave Lynch’s gigantic digital waterfall cascadeddown the façade,with droplets bouncing off the windows and pooling on the terraces of thebuilding. And for those who stayed around, the water transformed first into amontage of blue and indigo brushstrokes, and finally into hundreds of individual molecules, surging across the façade as if caught in acurrent. NataschaAllen-Smith

Daniel Mortimer

The Phoenix and the Stone

The Millennium Square light display projected on to the Civic Hall is always one of the festival highlights, and this year didn’t disappoint. Illuminos returned following the success of Momentous in 2013, and The Phoenix and the Stone was avisual masterpiece.

The story followedthe phoenix across the four corners of the earth, through light, earth, wind and fire, and although visually pleasing, I found the narrative itself was too abstract and obscure to be entertaining. However, with the building flowing from agorgeous leafy green to sparkling fiery ambers, the visual display more than made up for the weak storyline. Jessica Murray Jessica Murray Owl‘s Shadowonthe Moon-lit Earth

In the Central Library was Owl’s Shadow on the Moonlit Earth by Douglas Thompson. Handmade cut outs were displayed which depicted animals and nature. They were shown on screensand appeared out of focus; they could onlybeseen to theirfull potential when 3D glasseswere worn.

At this point the picturescame to life as aspects of the animals were emphasised, such as an owl against acolourful background.

The result was aunique viewing experience. Thompson explained that, by using colours that cancelled one anther out, certain elements were brought to the foreground. This was an interactiveand exciting exhibition. Lucy Ingram

Ben Hutchinson Ben Hutchinson 14

The Brains

Style Editor Ashleigh Stern tells of howshe is finally able to embrace both intelligence and fashion

Intelligence is much more than just acing exams and having an extensive vocabulary. Intelligence is being an independent person with astrong sense of self. When Ithink of the word intelligence, the first word that comes to mind is confidence, closely followed by passion. These words are also both often attributed to fashion and style as it takes real confidence to express yourselfthrough your individual styleand aroaring passion to develop yourself. Women who look after their appearence are often stereotyped as ‘stupid’ or ‘non-academic’, which is outrageous and unfair assumption. There is literally no correlation between awomen’s exterior and her ability and capacity to work. Coco Chanel once said, “Fashion is not something that is in dresses only.Fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.” Idon’t think there could be abetter summary of our photoshoot; the styleisn’tmerely artificial but is adeep rooted art of expressionand practicality. The models portray themselves through their style, and style doesn’t hold them back from their studies but enables them to think more freely to nourish their intelligence.

My passions in life have always been designing, styling, reading and writing, and Iaspire to be afashion journalist. I’ve always been academic throughout my school life and did wellinmyexams. However, Ialways felt that whenever Idiscussed my love for fashion people became disinterested and replied with ‘‘ahh that’s sweet’’, viewing me as ditzy rather than respecting me as afellow academic. The more time went on, the more Istopped seeing myself as an intelligent women, but as merely a‘creative’ and began to believe that as Ihad dropped thesciences I wasn’t deemedclever. However, when Ireceived the grades to get into the university, Istopped to think about my opinion of intelligence and my love for fashion and finally once again viewed myself as an academic. Irealisedthat whatever the subject area is, be it English, Medicine or Fine Art, if you work your best and push yourself you can be intelligent. My desire to design and write about fashion has ledmetowrite some of my best essays. Iwas awardedfull marks in an exam when Ifocused on howclothing in the novel is used to depict the characters and their social hierarchy. I’m inspired everyday by everything Isee andIalways use this creativity to express myself and show the world my intelligence.

Ashleigh Stern 15

Behind the Beauty

What is an intelligent woman? Style Editor Beatrice Raegives her opinion

It is often suggested that awoman may be stylish or intelligent, not both.

But why is it that an intelligent woman is often considered to have no interestinfashion, style and beauty? Must we be sorted into boxes of thosewho can think well and thosewho can dress well?

To me, an intelligent woman is anumber of things. She is capable of intellectual thought, independence and afulfillingcareer. She is also capable of expressing herself through fashion.Her coatisher armour, her shoes helpher walk taller and her bag can keep her secrets. Fashion does notdefineher, it accentuates her.

Noted editor and “Fashion Empress” Diana Vreeland said: “The only real elegance is in the mind; if you’ve got that, the restreallycomes from it”, suggesting that if awoman has brains, style Faux Leather Dress: Mango, £49.99 follows naturally. In this shoot we wanted to break White Tee: Mango,£9.99 through stereotypesofwhat intelligence looks like Red Tote Bag: Mango, £39.99 inawoman. Faux Fur Gilet: TKMAXX, 49.99 Black Hat: Lipsy at TKMAXX, 8.99 We created what we believe to be stylish and chic Black Polo Neck: H&M, £6.99 looks, accompanied by the beautiful architecture Photography: Louise Aron of of the BrothertonLibrary, to remind people that Completely Candid Photography

Makeup:Anika Vadukuland Gabrielle Elise Bentley 16

The Real Brains and Beauties

Amal Clooney Alexandra Shulman Lawyer, activist and author Amal Clooney Editor of British Vogue, journalist and has alonglistofnotable achievements. novelist. Alexandra Shulman is notonlya British- Lebanese Clooney is currently big name in the fashion industry but is also abarrister forDoughty Street Chambers atalented writer. She is ahuge role model and specialises in international law and to many as she defies the archetypal fashion human rights. Her list of clients includes editor and promotes body confidence and numerous high profile figures such as Julien diversity. Aside from Vogue,Alexandra is Assange, founder of Wiki Leaks, who is an accomplished writer, bringing out books fighting against his extradition. Clooney such as Can we Still be friends and Parrots. has adegree from Oxford University in Not only does Alexandra have absolutely no Jurisprudence and an LLM degree from fear when it comes to speaking out about New York University. Since graduating, herindividual style and willnot hide behind Clooney has worked for major law firms ‘expected trends’, she is highly regarded in NewYork and London. In addition to for her business credentials as the longest her extensive achievements in her career, running Vogue editor, fully deserving of her Clooney is seen by many as astyle icon. title OBE. This fashion editor is an all round She was nominated for Best British Style academic and promotes serious issues in the at the British Fashion awards in 2014 and industry working to improve the wellbeing despite the award ultimately going to Emma of models, so is aperfect example of how Watson, Clooney’s styleisclosely followed style can further intelligence. by publications around the world. Her beautywalks.com wedding to American actor George Clooney HuffingtonPost.co.uk receivedworldwide media coverage,alot of it based around her stunning Oscar De La Renta gown. Amal Clooney servesasa woman many aspire to, with her extensive careerand timeless sense of style. Dr Marga Gual Soler Emma Watson Dr. Marga Gual Soler is aProject Director Best knownfor herrole as Hermione at the Center for Science Diplomacy at the Granger in the Harry Potter series, American Association for the Advancement Watson has become both astyle icon and of Science (AAAS). Dr Soler develops the intellectual figure. She graduated with a Center’s global science diplomacy education degree in English Literature from Brown and capacity building initiatives, leads a University in Rhode Island, USA. She is also research project analyzing science-policy aprevalentactivist in fighting forwomen’s connections around the world, and serves rights around the world, being appointed as asenior editor of the open-access policy as aUNWomen Goodwill Ambassador in journal Science &Diplomacy. This women July 2014. In addition to her academic and is ahugename in science and medical charitable achievements, Watson has had spheres, contributing to major research major success in the fashion world too. In yet she takes great pride in her appearance 2009, Watson became the face of Burberry and doesn’t allow style to hold her back, and starred in their AW09 andSS10 using it to exhibit another dimension to campaigns. In 2011,Watson was awarded her. Dr. Marga GualSoler, is not just a the ELLE Style Icon award, presented well-regarded academic, or apioneering by Dame Vivienne Westwood. These are style icon, but both;both these attributes just two examples of Watson’s extensive construct her identity as an intelligent involvement in the fashion world. One her woman. most memorable fashion moments was when she revealed her super short pixie- Beatrice Rae and Ashleigh Stern Elle.com cut after the final Harry Potter film. Watson Dr.MargaGualSoler@ Twitter.com said that she had “never felt so confident as [she] did with short hair”. Notafraid of critics, Watson made the bold move with herhair fornoone but herself. Watson embodies theyoung, modern woman, combining both academic success and alove of style and fashion. X

The country’s largest student radio station, Leeds Student Radio is now broadcasting live, sevendaysaweek, 24hours aday.

To get involved email [email protected] To buy your membership, visit https://www.luu.org.uk/groups/lsr/ To listen in go to www.thisislsr.com or download the app on your smartphone.

Courtesy of LSR 18

HowTelevision Depicts the ControversyofOperation Yewtree

National Treasure is acritically acclaimed four part TV drama concluding next Marc Munden, thoroughly explores this idea and, in the same vein as Savile week starring Robbie Coltrane and Julie Walters. The BBC drama was written looks at how those around the accused are affected by the charges. Iparticularly by Jack Thorne, also known for Skins and This is England,aswell as HarryPotter liked the way each episode focuses on adifferent person with the first focusing and the Cursed Child;itisthe first British drama to directly address Operation on Pauland the original accusations with the following two episodes focusing Yewtree. on his daughter and wife respectively and how the claims affect them and their relationship with thedisgracedcomedian. The show explores what happens when Paul Finchley, acomic no longer at the height of fame, is accusedofrape -and how National Treasure can be seen as latest in along line of this affects his immediate family and friends. true-crime inspired dramas, comparable to The People VS Showing on Channel 4ataround the same time, “what must be commended is the OJ Simpson as well as ITV’s hit Broadchurch.Inmyopinion, Savile is afollow up tothe documentary Theroux bravery of its creators to broach this is astrength of both Munden and Thorne, showing did in 2000 which was part of his When Louis Met… such an important subject which their ability to keep the audienceenthralled. Whilst it is series. Channel 4voted When Louis Met Jimmy one traditional media seems to have quickly revealed that the anxiety-riddenPaul is definitely of the ‘Top 50 Documentaries’ of all time in 2005. an unsavoury character, having embarked on multiple Although National Treasure is based on fiction, shied away from...” affairs during his marriage, one of which takes place the premise of the show relates to the Savile within days of being accused, they also still manage to documentary in the sense that both are sympathetic make the audience unsure if he really is guilty or not. to how the relations of those whoare accused of paedophilia are affected. Both Whilst he advocates his innocence, his unsavoury nature makes it difficult for shows present acharacter who either doesn’t believe the accusations or who the audience, and the general public in the show, to believe him, but at the same chose to overlook the rumours in an attempt to savour the goodmemories. Both time, he still appears as asympathetic characteratmultiple points throughout are aportrayalofhuman behaviour and the coping mechanisms which come the series. with this sort of unbearable crime. Overall, National Treasure is athought-provoking, albeit controversial piece, It is easy to deduce that National Treasure has been asuccessand, arguably, this which is worthy of its acclaim. Whilst the acting is stellar, what must be could be downtoits controversial nature. Rather than just hinting at Operation commended is the bravery of its creators to broach such an important subject Yewtree and the repercussions the British public have seen over the past five which traditional media seems to have shied away from. Its importance is years, it directly addresses it, with Finchley evenlamenting,‘‘Theythink I’m highlighteddue to it airing around thesame time as Savile,and the very recent Jimmy Savile’’. Whilst National Treasure definitely does focus on the accusations conviction of former BBC DJ Chris Denning, once again bringing to light atopic surrounding the comic, it also looks at the bigger picture and as Julie Walters, which should not be allowed to be forgotten. Robbie Coltrane’s steadfast and stoic wife Marie and arguably the star of the show, has expressed, National Treasure is about the ‘‘human stuff’’. Director 19

In The Middle takes alook at howtelevision is confronting the all-too-current and controversial issue of sexual abuse by examining Louis Theroux’s latest documentary, Savile in contrast to the BBC’s four-partTVdrama: National Treasure.

When Louis met Jimmy was made in 2000, before the truth about Jimmy Savile was see it themselves. Sylvia Nicol forexample, who worked with Savile in Stoke knowntothe public. The documentary paints Jimmy Savile as aweird, eccentric Mandeville hospital, said she “only saw the good in Jimmy Savile” and tried to and extremely confident character and contributed to what the majority of onlyknowthe “good”. This is described as acoping mechanism, as is explored people already thought of him. in National Treasure.

What was also showcased was the friendship made between Jimmy and Louis; The 2016 documentary also sympathises with what it was like forthosewho did where they would joke, hang out in the garden and generally get to know each know the truth. Theroux asks what the victims thought of the documentary, to other. 16 years later, in acontextwhere everyone is aware which the general consensus was sympathy towards Theroux of what Savile reallywas,Theroux has made afollow-up himself as they knew he was being lied to. The concept of the documentary exploring his role as someone who knew Savile “What was victims, after describing the harrowing acts Savile did to them, relatively well but was unable to see the truth. overlooked in 2000 being sympathetic to Louis and asking him how he feels signifies nowhas an intensely the kind of camaraderie that has taken place between all of You can’t help but feel angry and unsettled when watching sinister meaning.” Savile’s victims, regardless of how minor or drastic his effect Louis, who is loved by so many, acting amiably towards was on them. aman who should’ve beentreated far less than that. But the point is he didn’t know; he even asked and wasn’t told The documentary has been critiquedfor notsucceeding in trying the truth. That is one of the most significant scenes of the 2001 documentary, to findout why and how Savile got away with so much. These reasons are said when Louis directlyasks Jimmy about the rumours, to which Jimmy replies to have been explored better through National Treasure.Personally, Idon’t think by questioning how anybody would know if he was or wasn’t, which in itself trying to find out ‘why’ matters. Ithink what’s most important is that victims creates an ominous air. are able to usethe documentary as aplatform to voice their experience in away they weren’tallowed to before, in an attempt to move forward with their lives Savile constantly refers back to shots of the prior documentary. This is so that have beenripped apart by Jimmy Savile. powerful because whatwas overlooked in 2000now has an intensely sinister meaning. One uncomfortable example was ashot where Jimmy is holding Despite National Treasure being afictional drama, it is obviously based on two young girlsinappropriately and the camera pans round to showLouis true events, highlightedbythe constant referencing throughout the show to take no notice and smile at something else. That’s part of why you watch the Operation Yewtree and offenders like Savile and Rolf Harris. This, together with documentary in disbelief, because all the signs seem so obvious. But it’s easy for the arguably well-timed airing of Savile,goestoshowhow important it is to it to seem obvious when we already know. keep this conversation open, particularly in how the allegations affect those whoare involved with the accused, something bothTheroux and Munden do Something that Idefinitely wasn’texpecting was interviews from people who exceptionally well. knew Savile, but who seemedtonot want to believe the truth. Despite the piles and piles of evidence, some disregarded the truth simply because they didn’t Jess Daley and Daisy Scott 20 The Apprentice -asruthlessasever?

It’s that time of year again. Backfor its twelfth series, eighteen business tycoons aresuiting up to battleitout forthe chance to win a£250,000 investment fromLord Sugar, and, as ever, this year’s contestants aren’t exactly shy andretiring...

“I’mgoing to be the prime minister of the UK one day, but before that I’m going skills with asomewhatunusual technique, tellingthem “I likebargain hunt”. to be amillionaire” was the bold claim made by IT consultant Karthik, the same man who is also filmed walking past amirror mouthing ‘‘I love you’’ at his The task begins with both teams being sent to alock-upgarage filled with a own reflection. Karthik isn’t the only onebrimming with confidence. 32-year- mixture of antiques. Here they must suss out what’s valuable, before flogging it oldex-karate champion, Frances, provided somecompetition when it came to to traders and members of the public. Simple, surely? embarrassing himself in theform of onesentence, as he comparedhis energy to anuclear explosion, which is,initself, pretty terrifying. Lord Sugar’s advice is clear; ‘Don’t rush outlike lunatics selling it tooquickly. Think about where the value is’. But the girls don’t seem to hear him, selling Having invested £1.25 million in winners of the showsince the change in random items left right and centre for any price offered. The boys don’t do much format in 2011,Lord Sugar is clearly keen to add another successful business to better as Mukaicomments on how ‘‘Itfeels like we’re flogging aloadofshit’’. his collection. As always, he won’t be messed around and his horrifically bad Not exactly pulling in the punters. humour was on point as he asked for all moaners to send all their complaints to ‘lordsugar@idon’tcare.com’. So, The Apprentice is back. If you’re worried that it’s been on too long and the format’s beginning to flag, fear not. Week one kicked off with the aspiring The contestants are as self-centered entrepreneurs being separatedinto asever, their enormous egos begin to boys vs. girls, becoming ‘The Titans’ vs clash within minutes, and Lord Sugar is ‘Nebular’. 38-year-old Aleksandra, who ready and waiting to take them down a came up with the unique girls team peg or two. name, is quick to insist that ‘Nebular’ refers to acloud of gas and dust in Following adesperate boardroom outer space from which stars will battle, in which the aspiring business emerge, but Lord Sugar isn’timpressed, partners are quick to turn on each telling the girls‘‘You might as well other, there is even arefusing-to- have called yourself smog’’. hug-before-getting-in-the-taxi snub which, this early in the series, can only As usualinweek one everyone is suggest that the candidates are going to keentoshy away from being project bearuthless bunch. manager, apart from Paul who persuades the boys of his leadership Irenie Forshaw OKTOBERFEST,not exactly Germany...

Running from the 6th to the 9th of October, the I’ll admit, after finishing my stein, my memories of event describes itself as an authentic celebration the night are atad hazy. But snapchat revealed later of German food, beer and music. Held in the that there was alot of dancing and singing with grounds of famous former local brewery The Tetley, thetraditional Bavarianbrass band. Ido, however, the venue was impressive. Agiant 2,000 capacity remember eating aGerman pretzel and meeting German tent had been transformed into atraditional aman called Paulwho introduced us to his kids. beer hall, with long wooden tables, abar, stage and Clearly Iwas in themood for making pals, as friend various food stalls. requests and photos show that we befriended a group of girls from South Korea… It wasanearly6pm startfor us on the Friday, but the atmosphere was bustling and lively, and the bar Checking the Facebook page the next day, with a waspacked. At firstglance, it was astruggle to spot slightly sore head, there were alot of complaints anyone under the age of 40, and the crowd slightly about how understaffed the bar was. Officials resembled an after work office party, but on closer apologized, insisting these were ‘teething problems’ inspection we managed to spy quite afew students and that things will run smoothly on the Saturday and happily set off towards the bar. and Sunday.

Drinks prices were fairly steep, and with tickets Although Idefinitely had fun, on balance, Ithink it costing £10 we haddecided to have afew drinks was pricey for what was offered. When Iasked my before hand. This turned out to be the best decision friendwhat she thought the next day, she summed we could have made, as it tookover 40 minutes to up our evening in aWhatsapp messagetelling me getserved due to atechnicalissue with the taps. The ‘‘it didn’t feel likeIwas in Germany’’, and Ihave best optionwas definitely an £8 stein, which ran to agree, it wasn’t quite the authentic experience out just after we got adrink. Beer bashers weren’t promised. forgotten about though, as there was aGerman wine available too. Irenie Forshaw 21

West(eros) world?

With such astrongcritical reception after only oneepisode, and with many the gratuitous violence found in Game of Thrones is not any less gratuitous in viewers clamouring for the next instalment, it has the potential to become as Westworld.Neither is the nudity, which we have all come to associate with much afixture in our lives as Game of Thrones. any show released by HBO.Both pilot episodes excel at managing to be both horrifying and intriguing in their first fifteen minutes, and in true Game of In many ways, Westworld is very different to Game of Thrones. To begin with, the Thrones fashion, the plot is taking its sweet time to unfold. show is amix of the science fiction and western genres, which is afar cry from its fantastical counterpart. The park might be afantasy land for its patrons, Sadly, Game of Thrones is coming to an end in the next few years. While we but in this world,there is no throne to fightover; instead it is steeped heavily might never have another well-written, intricate fantasy series, Westworld in the science of the future. The shows’music might be scored by the same promises to followinits great footsteps. Even if you don’t particularly like sci- composer, but you definitely would nothear old-timey versions of Radiohead fiorwesterns, just remember that not everyone who started watching Game and Soundgarden songs in any episode of Game of Thrones;and while the death of Throneswas afantasy fan. Whether or not you love Game of Thrones, Iwould tollinWestworld’s pilot episode far exceeds that of the Game of Thrones highly recommend giving it achance. pilot, death for robots is not as eternal as it is for humans. Jade Verbick Westworld has many of the elements that makes Game of Thrones such abig hit with audiences. Poison and swords are replaced by guns and knives, but Is Marvel’s Luke Cage bulletproof?

It seems like these Netflix shows are starting to similarities -exceptperhaps the recent success of bang the same drum. Let me pitch this to you: Netflix Original The Get Down. there’s ashow with asuperhero, they are struggling financially, are up against some form of mob boss/ The show’s pacing is not brilliant; although Cage’s criminal and are unsure of their abilities. Which bulletproof antics provide some great moments, property is it? Daredevil? Jessica Jones? Luke Cage?It’s the show somewhatfalls short in progressing a all of them. This unoriginality beat me across the saturated story that could have been shortened down face afew episodes in. to ten episodes without loss.It’s also impossible to compare the fight scenes to that of Daredevil, which Onething that came as anice surprise with Luke involve gritty martial arts and skill. Luke Cages are Cage is thesetting. The neighbourhood of Harlem uninspired fistfights that usually end with someone felt comfortably filled by an array of talented black being thrown through awindow. actors. We haven’t really seen many black characters in Marvel up to now, and it seems that Luke Cage and That brings us to theendingofthe series: an the upcoming film Black Panther are aiming to change uninspired fistfight which was poorly executed.The that. Allofthe performances are solid; Mike Colter’s climax didn’t fit the showand to top it all off, the ‘Cage’ is acorny, quiet man, but he shows off Cage’s fight finishes with half an hour of the episode left to strength and his caring character. Simone Missick go, which made for adissappointingending. plays ‘Misty’, the detective whose brash character and strongwill make the ‘Police Procedural’ aspect of the show ajoy to watch. In the end, Luke Cage is enjoyable television, but suffers from being in the Netflix For me though, Theo Rossi’s ‘Shades’ is by far the best character. He is part of Marveluniverseofshows;ithas toomany similarities to the others, but also acomplex web of power which he intends to climb, whilst his calm demeanour in some waysdoesn’tstack up to them at all. Despite it bringing interesting hides his scheming andbrutal ways. elementstothe table, we will just have to wait for The Defenders,and see if that does forcomic bookshows what the Avengers did for comic bookmovies; blowall With every episode being named after aGang Starr song and Method Man even others outofthe water. writing asongfor theshow, it’s obvious that the show has strongties to music and Hip-Hop. This link extends to most episodes too,asthe club ‘Harlem’s Will Nelson Paradise’ features real artists most episodes. This idea is brilliant, and helps set it apart from the other Netflix programmes, despite their aforementioned 22 Is Calorie Countinga Waste of Time?

Mars Barinthe cupboard. Your walk home from your exposed to weight-loss techniques that can easily long dayoflecturesfeels great- maybe you even go be abused or incorrectly applied to their own diet. to the gym- and you get home feeling pretty proud. Unfortunately we are surrounded by imagesand But once you are home, you grab acup of tea, sit adverts telling us to lose weight, and calorie counting down and track everything you’ve eateninan is becoming asortoftrend;focusing on what appornotebook. You spend at least 20 minutes you eat and less upon what daily exercise you do. aday like this, counting up the tiny bits of energy your body has received,and congratulating Ifearthat this is an unhealthy view of your health, and yourself for staying within the calorie limit. encouragesthe myththat food cravings are ‘sinful’ and ‘bad’ (as many clean-eating bloggers discuss). Healthinessisgreat, and eating more fruit and There is nothing wrong with drinking akale smoothie vegetable based meals is so important, especially for breakfast, but there is also nothing wrong with when studying hard for an exam.Exercise is eating abacon sandwich: it is all about the balance. also important, whether you do it at the gym, byswimming or justbywalking lots each day. Going through life forever sticking to your allocated numbers and allotted meals is, in reality, fairly But Ipersonally disagree with the concept of counting unrealistic. You can work on your fitness or mental calories. All it ever caused me was obsession and a wellbeing whilst still joining your friends forapub desperate hunger- not for food- but for beating my mealorhaving alazy stay-inside-all-day Sunday. It’s Monday Morning -Perhaps you’ve been targets every week. These food targets were too low, telling yourself for the past few weeks that this and didn’t give my body enough fuel to function Life and happiness should always come before your is the day. No more digestives at 11pm. No more properly, and lead to many mental health issues. foodandexerciseplan.Attheendoftheday, desperately takeaways. No more food that you love; from refraining from eating apiece of cake may help you now on it’s just porridge, greens, and smoothies. Please don’t take this the wrong way. Iamnot to lose adress size, but will it make you any happier? against calorie counting if you get expert adviceon It probably goes well for the first day; you’re feeling how to calorie count: it can be an effective way to Charlie Collett refreshed and energized, just likeahealthy girl on a lose weight if you medically need to. It just worries smoothie poster. You haven’t eventhought about that me when young adults and evenchildren are The Art of Sexting

If you’re reading this, don’t be like me. Don’t take It’s undeniable that they have facilitated friendships notes of what to say, they’ll be uselessinthe moment and relationships. Nowadays, we can keep in touch anyway. During my “first time” Iwas so busy with childhoodfriends who live in different cities and overthinking what to write -typing and backspacing, even lovers who live in other countries. Iamforever typing and backspacing -that it became anear grateful to Skype and WhatsApp for making my monologue on my boyfriend’s part. Iwas silent with long distance relationship with my boyfriend work. the occasional interjection of encouragement. Forget snail-mail. The secret to ahappy longdistance relationship is sexting, Imean texting. Iwas gutted thinkingthat Ihad performed terribly. However, when Ifinally worked up the courage to talk When Istarted my long distance relationship with my to my boyfriend about the conversation, Idiscovered boyfriend, Iwas abit apprehensive but optimistic. he actually enjoyed it! Turns out he prefers to take the Iknewthe distance would be achallenge but Ialso lead anyway. That revelation put me at ease and ever knew that we were both committed to making ‘us’ since then I’ve stopped taking myself too seriously. work. Add technologyinto the mix and Ifigured the I’ve even become quite the prolific writer myself. odds were in our favour. What Ididn’trealise was the imaginative ways in which I’d be keeping in touch. So, what should you take away from this very personal, In an age when our digital presence is just about but hopefully amusing article? You don’t need to be a as important as our physicality, and smartphones Go ahead, call me naïve. It’strue. Until Istarted my sexting guru to keep romance alive in along distance are basically as important as our vital organs, long distance relationship, Ihad never sexted before. relationship. I’m certainly not. In fact, some couples communication has reached new heights. When Irealisedthat kind of written exchange was prefer not to sext at all. However, if you do venture Curiously enough, it’s not verbal communication probably going to happen at some point during the down that path, don’t be nervous. Rememberthat you that’s most popular in the digital age but in fact weeks Ispent apartfrom my boyfriend, Ientered a can say next to nothing and still get away with it. the use of texting. state of dread, obviously anticipating my painfully awkward performance. Ihad to findawaytoavoid Mariana Avelino It can be argued that we’re losingtouch with reality saying the wrong thing in the wrong way, so I and forgetting how to be sociable. Nevertheless, in shamelessly turned to my unfailing friend, Google. some wayssmartphones and messenger apps can be seen are ablessing. 23 Slim Pickings forModerate Voters

The Conservatives to theconverted,but Momentum promote aradical, Ah yes, the Conservatives -aparty built on emotional commitment to their leader that ironically maintaining the status quo, apparently. Yet the past looks an awful lot like the personality politics Corbyn two governments have beenasradicalasThatcher. so detests. Inconceivably large cuts to disability benefits, welfare, public housing, and socialserviceshave been Liberal Democrats masked under the rhetoric of “necessary”austerity The Lib-Dems may not be radical, but not much measures. This is on top of drastic legislation actuallyremains of them. They have neither very regarding privatisation, surveillance, trade union law many MP’s norprinciples left. To paraphrase Fall and education. Out Boy, when Clegg got into bed with Cameron he should have shown the general public the spine he The current batch includes aclimatechange sceptic, wassaving for Dave’s mattress. Andrea Leadsom, working as Secretary of State for theEnvironment; Jeremy Hunt, aSecretary of Health But if you are amoderate who’s thinking of voting whose past work experience amounts to acareerin Lib-Dem, I’ll leave you with this. One definition of public relations and afailed entrepreneurial venture insanity is repeating the same action and expecting to export marmalade to Japan; and, of course, different results. Theresa May, who is currently advocating ‘a move toward the centre ground’ despite previously trying UKIP to forcethrough themostextreme mass surveillance UKIP without Nigel Farage is like agroup of snake legislation in history. charmers without their snake; just abunch of guys After three years studying politics, it has occurred to making alot of noise nobody wants to here. No me thatthe more Ilearn,the lessIknow. My political Labour moderatesatleast, as UKIP currently sit on the right beliefs have,particularly at university, been thrown This week, North Korea, on the brink of war, labelled of the conservatives, occasionally blurting racist up in the airand Inow lounge in an ideological black South Koreas president an “imprudent bitch.” Yet comments like areanimated Enoch Powell mistaking hole.There are onlytwo principles left of which Iam Kim Jong-Un’sstate media ramblings sound like the Twitter for his Google search bar. certain; everything in moderation, and Hitler could loveletters from one half of ahigh school couple in have been more easy going. theirhoneymoon period comparedtotheanimosity So with asnap election possible at any moment, there betweenthe Parliamentary Labour Party and the is little out there for me, the moderate voter. As far Itisthe first (Aristotelian) belief that is the focus Corbynites of the wider Labour membership. as my personal affinity with Labour is concerned, of this article. Apart from the occasional utopian Iwillnot yetreduceanentire party simply due to outburst, Iamamoderate voter. Ihave anatural Corbyn, though achampion for some important its extremities. After all, if everything should be in affinity with the centre left. So when Iwas walking issues ignored by the Conservatives, has so far lacked moderation, should not moderation be in moderation? out of my British politics lecture on Monday and a thecompromise to attract the support of his own This being said, Iwouldn’t judge you for spoiling your Blairite friend asked me “who would you vote for in parliamentary party,let alone the wider electorate. ballot next election. asnapelection?” Iwas stumped. In such apolitical Much of hisefforts have been invested in rallying his climate,where is the moderate to turn? party base, Momentum. Not only is this preaching Bradley Young HowtoLivethe ‘Hygge’ Life

Although, the fact Iwas getting to spend my summer achieve hygge alone. But don’t let the statistics put you in such abeautiful country probably playedapart off. Is there really anything betterthan the feeling of in my soaring happiness levels, Ican’t shake the getting in to bed after along day, withacup of tea and feeling that the way the Danes live, and the fact that Netflix to keep you company? Well, not for me at least. Iwas trying to fit in as much as possible by copying then, is inherently happier than how we live our With deadlines that seem to be forever hanging lives in the UK. Time and time again, Denmark is over you, it can sometimes be difficult to gather a ranked first for the happiest country in the world, group of friends together to just enjoy one another’s and it’s not difficult to see why. The concept of company.But hygge doesn’t have to be abig hygge plays ahugerole in Danish culture and event. If anything, it should be quite the opposite! their general attitude to life, but what is it exactly? If you’re hyggehjørnet, or simply, in the mood for The Danes are quick to correct anyone who translates hygge, then your flat or house is agoodplace to start, hygge (hue-gah) to simply mean coziness, as it’s so and it’s extremely unlikely that you haven’t been doing much more than that; it’s pretty much away of life. it already.For example, hyggesnak means to have In short, it’s actually really hard to describe, but think chit-chatthat doesn’t involve controversial topics; of it as ‘taking pleasure from the presence of soothing Søndagshygge refers to the hygge you might have on things’, as Meik Wiking says in The Little Book of Hygge. aSunday, such as aslow day where you might just Feeling hygge is perhaps subjective; what’s soothing watch TV or listen to music, and my personal favourite, to one person might not be forsomeone else, but hyggebukser, refers to that pair of comfy trousers examples could include those winter nights where you that you loungearound in when you’re at home, huddle under ablanket with the fire on, or simply going but wouldn’t be seen dead wearing them in public. Last week for In the Middle,Iwrote about how to for acoffee in aquiet and cosy café with your friends. deal with the stresses of university life, discussing Now that you’ve read this, you’ll probably realise that ways to relax and just taking time to do the things With autumnwellupon us; arguably the best season you actually spend alot of time doing things that are you love. This got me thinking back to my summer to enjoy hygge, could this Danish concept help us to considered hygge, but now you actually know the abroad course in Denmark that Icompleted acouple stay happy and comfortable during the colder months? name for it. So gather some friends, sort out some of months ago. Despite having to complete the The best thing about hygge is that the rules on what cosy lighting, and let the hygge flow. work for the equivalentofa20 credit module in it is aren’texactly strict. If you think something is less than three weeks, combined with some of the hyggelig (hygge-like) then so be it! Although, almost earliest starts and latest finishes I’ve ever had to 60% of Danes think you need three or four people Lauren Davies encounter, my time in the country was absolute bliss. to enjoy hygge, with ameasly3%believing you can

thegryphon.co.uk Features | 13 LearnYourLines:Should all British citizens speakthe English language?

In acountry thatdoesnot offer foreign language lessons as early as other European countries, it seems rich that England is increasingly pressurizing immigrants to learnthe language. Wequestion

the motivationfor this:isthis another mask for xenophobia,orhelping immigrants to integrate?

Rabeeah Moeen become acitizen of acountry, you must be able to entering into, seems to comparatively minimal. Other speak with the words they speak, talk the language European countries start to learn Englishinprimary “ Assimilation and integration of cultures is well that is spoken in the place you want to call home. school. Here it seems only the most privileged documented in modern society, with increasing In fact, with the multitude of airport books and institutions offer this, leaving the rest to wait until exposure and arich history. Research has been done language apps, learning alittle bit of anew language high school. into immigration and the creation, blending and is encouraged evenfor aholidayorabrief visit. loss of various cultural identities. But how does this

translate into language? Speaking to the locals properly ensures an ease and Assimilation is starting acomfort not present when you’re trying to enunciate Earlier this year, before he retired in ablaze of and gesture your way through aconversation nobody glory, David Cameron promised anew £20m fund to understands. to become arather bitter

help Muslim women learn English. He suggested that thosewho were unable to speak the language were But forcing alanguage is not far off from word. more likely to be linked to extremism and ‘traditional encouraging aone-nationdom and homogenisation - submissiveness.’ Aside from all the outrageous terms everybodyspeaking onelanguage only. Assimilation, used, the focus on learning English was linked “ in an Oxford English Dictionary translation, speaks Being able to speak the language of your country of inextricably to assimilation. more of conformity. Definitions using phrases such residence is of course beneficial. Aunited language as ‘becoming like’ tell tales not of aunity but a“creates cohesiveness. But it should also not be a frightening dissolution of uniqueness. The rhetoric of problem that some people do not. It should not be ‘shared values in Britain’ that we are now hearing so aproblem that people choose not to speak English, Howmany languages often does not suggest we must all be the same. The despite the fact that Urdu on buses and Arabic word we are lookingfor,whenwetalk of immigrants on planes is met with fear and abuse. It should be did Britain learn from all speaking English when they come to Britain, is contested when alackoflanguage skillsleads to integration. deportation. thecountries it invaded Assimilation first cameinto the public awareness To any child who has ever spoken first alanguage as an Empire? with the mass migration movements of the 50s and otherthan English, this will be afamiliar tale. The 60s, but it has no doubt been around for alonger time erasure of mother tongues –inessence, the loss of period than that. When Channel 4interviewedwomen language as immigrants become first and second about David Cameron’s language policy, one woman and third generation –isaby-product of cultural “It is not only the former PM who wanted to said, ‘how many languages did Britain learn from assimilation. Language represents culture, and the encourage the fact that immigrants must learn all the countries it invaded as an Empire?’Itistrue lack of focusonmulticulturalism, that is, accepting English. Ahorde of government figures have asserted that there is adouble standard, for whateverreason. other cultures, means assimilation is starting to the importance of everyone learning and speaking the For example, what of expats in Spain? The pressure become arather bitter word. national language. In essence, it does make sense. To upon ourown Brits to ascribe to the culture they’re

Image: Embod on Flickr 14 | Features thegryphon.co.uk Nightatthe Circus: An International StudentViewonShopping in Leeds

With alarge number of Asian students in Leeds, Meng Xian highlights areas of student life that make fresher’s week seem more of aculture shock than expected. From shopping to cups of tea, this is an insight into the

difficulties international studentsmay face when coming to littleold Leeds.

Meng Xian shoppers are used to cheap products and regular Iwondered how bigger things,suchaseducation, sales. Stores also like to attract people with discounts socializing and language would challenge me during

It’s September 27th. The Parkinsonbuilding’s clock at least once amonth by using festivals or social the next couple of years. strikes six; my friends and Iare stuck in acrowd of media to appeal to young people. The many discounts It’s September27th, Iamstill in the Trinity people. It almost feels like ariver, and we are in aboat lead to agreat demand fromcustumers, and of course shopping centre, and stop my daydreaming to observe drifting downstream. Laughing, yelling and talking this contributes to many people engaging in shopping my surroundings. Girls and boys flood into shops all at once, the sounds of the masses surround us like “ every day. Because China has such abig population, while talking loudly, and having agoodtime. The astorm. It feels like our figurative boat is strayed; everywhere can feelcrowded at any time.Always otherthree girls and Iobserve queue after queue and until suddenly the harbor, Trinity shopping mall, is having to queue is normal to most Chinese people, but it is making all of us quite dizzy. We decide to go right in front of us, and we feel somewhat at peace. it doesn’t mean that they enjoy the activity, especially back home to our accommodation. We sit on the sofa not theimpatient, young generation. with acup of tea, and feel that it is the better choice In China, shopping has now turned into adaunting for us—we are too tired and overwhelmed to spend competitive activity that one participates in with ourtime in queueslikemanyBritsapparently enjoy We assumedthatshopping strangers that just want the same products as you. It doing; luckily the comfort of the tea makes us feel a is no longer apersonal, social experience. little more settled and calm.

is thesamewhereveryou Eventhough shopping can seem like auniversal and easy concept Irealized how, even this simplest of areinthe world. concepts differs from culture to culture. Ifound this from attempting to find comfort in the familiarity

of shopping in the big, unknown city of Leeds. I We’rethree girls, all from China. When we arrive recognized that everything in anew country would be at the shopping centre we look at each other feeling very different for me after all. Iwould have to adjust numb and frozen, half from the cold autumnwind to adifferent lifestyle in aEuropean city. Shopping “andhalf from our failure to become locals. The two is an insignificant part of my day-to-day life, one “ girls next to me left China two days ago, and Ihave Ioften engageinonline, butthe realisation of how been in Leeds for two short weeks. To get involved different it could be in anew country still baffled me. with student activities and the city,wedecided to join Trinity Student Night; we assumedthat shopping is the same wherever you are in the world,and it would thereforebeaneasy task to conquer, comparedto We aretoo tired and other cultural barriersthat we have encountered. overwhelmed to spend our However, we are terribly wrong. Shopping is very different in China than in Leeds. time in queues likemany Brits Although both places share the many discounts and endless consumers, queuing in shops has become apparentlyenjoy doing. surprisingly usualinmyhome country. With over half of the world’s products being made in China,“ thegryphon.co.uk Features | 15 “Whereare those 30 million missing girls? Where was their righttolive?” TheeffectofChina’s One-ChildPolicy

Image: James Mitchell

XueXinranhas spent the past forty years researching and interviewing the people of China, from the poor in the countryside to those whose lives have been overtaken by theisolation ofthe technological age. Here she chats to Editor-in-Chief Jessica Murray abouther latest book, BuyMeThe Sky,whichtackles the repercussions of China’s one-child policy,ahead of her Meet the Authors talk at the Business School...

When Iasked Xinran why she chose China’s one- woman with his car on his way home, and instead of me asking forhelp and Icouldn’t help them child policy for the subject of her latest book, she helping her, he stabbed her to death with afruit knife “I couldn’t sleep, and even now Iget nightmares replied simply, ‘I am aChinesemum to aChinese in fearthat she would report him and ruin his future. hearing their voices on the telephone. So this is the boy’. Xinran’s son, Panpan, wasborn in 1988 and is “The whole of China split in to three groups. One reason Igave up China. My health was very bad, I aproduct of the one-child policy which controlled the group said he should be punished because he killed was taking 4-6 sleeping pills every night and Iwas families of China from 1979 to October last year. someone, and he should be given the death penalty. drugging myself to death. Lots of people think Iwas Xinran isn’t afraid of highlighting the positives Another group said that because he was asingle successful in China, but Iknow in my heart and soul of such apolicy; the Chinese population has been child, giving him the death penalty would mean that it’s not true –Icouldn’thelpand Ifeelvery

reduced by some 400 million as aresult andithas giving his parents and four grandparents the death guilty about that. Istill do.” given the country abreak from an increasingly tough penalty also. Evenmore shocking, another group of Xinran is akeenadvocate for women’s rights in war between population and food: “That’s abig gift university students, from the single child generation, China; not only does Chinese culture leave women to this planet, when we’re so overcrowded trying to said they would do the same thing in that situation. lonely and voiceless, but the one-child policy has

share nature’s resources.” They see their lives as having much more value than had an evenmore monumental effect on the female Her latest book, Buy Me The Sky,isfilled with apeasant’s. That kind of impact is muchbigger and population. By 2020 there will be 30 million more men interviews with children born during the one-child deeper than the government or anyone thought would than women in China, aresult of parents favouring a policy era in an attempt to understand and provide happen.” son over adaughter. “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ avoice forone of the most unique generations in “ “Chinese society is worrying about those men and history. As Xinran says, “I think it is important to how they will find wives, but my question is, where give them avoice and listen to them. They are not just are those 30 million missing girls? Where was their today’s China but also the future as well.” “Ifoonundthatsomany Chinese right to live?” “Your family is your first classroom. When you grow Her journalism and booksgosomeway to opening up you learn about sharing, conversation and fighting arre llono elybecause of our up Chinese society and providing avoice for those from your siblings. You share parents, aroof, space. cultul re andeducation, andtheyy who may go unreported, both in the censored Chinese “So when the children come to the classroom, they media and anarrow minded British press. don’t know how to respect each other or how to were comingtomeaskiinng fforor In 2004 she also set up acharity,the Mother’s respect the teachers.” Bridge of Love, which helps Chinese girls adopted by Xinran mentions throughout our talk that family help andIcouldn’t help ttehem”” Western families find their parents, simultaneously values areatthe very heart of Chinese culture and by providing booksand resources for the poorest villages placing such an intrusive restriction on reproduction,“ in China. the family dynamic has been turned upside down. Xinran is most well known for her first book, The As Xinran says, China is improving andbecoming Parents now shower their single child with adoration, Good Women of China,based on her time presenting a more open, with ahost of newlaws and reforms, offering to ‘buy them they sky’ if that’s what necessary women’s hour on aradio show in China. While many but education is stillseverely lacking. “I think it is to keep them happy, while the singlechildren grow often refer to the radio showassuccessful, she’s so important to give women more of achance for up with the burden and responsibility of caring for candidly open about the traumatic sense of failure education. It’s not about the big international or their parents and grandparents when they get old – she felt when producing the show. Anumber of the political things, it’s just the basic knowledge of what China doesn’t have apension system, with the duty women who came on the show committed suicide women’srightsare”. falling to the younger generation to look after the old. shortly afterwards,leaving Xinran feeling helpless Xinran visited Leeds University as part of Meetthe To demonstrate the long-lasting effects of the and frustrated. Authors, aseriesthat runs throughout the yearwith a policy, Xinran refers to astory in which apromising “I found that so many Chinese are lonely because of range of interesting talks and speakers. first year university student accidentally hit apeasant our culture and education, and they were coming to 16 | Society thegryphon.co.uk Gryphon Gave It AGo: Cheerleading

remember now. We then went straight into pirouettes, whichwas interestingtosay theleast! Just when I thoughtitcouldn’tget anyharder, we moved onto a varietyofjumps,including pike jumps, toetouches andherkies. We then watchedChloe andHannah do akick- line;picture thecancanbut with sky-high legkicks. It looked amazing, andhas definitelyinspiredme to practice kickingthathigh. Next was theall- importantdance routine. Ireallyenjoyed this. It was fun, butitwas also challengingstaying in time with thecounts. We practicedthe routineseveral times. When Ilookedaroundeveryonewas taking it very seriously, as if they were actually auditioningtobea part of theprestigious CelticsPom team.Thankfully, we didn’t have to performthe routineindividuallyin frontofeveryone. We hadour phototaken andwere videoeddoing theroutine in groups,something that Image: ZacharyOwen Photography no oneshouldprobablyeverwatch again! We didour all-important kick-line, andasIwas number five AmyBrown by afriendlycommittee,all of whom were wearing andonthe end, Ianticipated that it couldonlygo theircutecommittee bows andjackets.Withan horribly wrong. Iwas right. We then hadtochoose On Friday 30 September,the LeedsCeltic amazingturn outofover50people,weweregiven a ourfavourite jump to perform, andfor someonewho cheerleaders hosted theGiveitaGo fortheir Pomteam number andalettertostick onto ourselves. ‘jumps’onlyout of fear,‘favourite’ probably wasn’t in Cromer Terrace.The Pomteamhas participated in We startedout with an energeticwarmuponthe thewordI’d have chosen. Nevertheless, Igavemy competitionscountrywide,including in Sheffieldand mats,which,havingnot done anyexercise all summer, best attemptatwhatIcanonlydescribewas an odd Birmingham last year.The LeedsCeltics even hadthe definitelygot my heartpumping,and Ibegan to think combination of them all. incredible opportunitytogotoGermany earlierthis that thiswould be achallenge. Ihad agreattimegetting an insightintothe world year to compete. Pomisadance that includes,well, We were then left to do ourown stretches,followed of cheerleading;the danceroutineswereexcitingand pompoms(thetitle is abit of agiveaway),aswellas by jumpingstraightintolearningarm motions. We thecoaches were so enthusiastic, making even novices avariationofkick-lines, tumbling andformation were taught by twosassy,but informative, coaches, like me feel at home. Although,sadly,I’vecometothe changes. Don’tworry Ididn’tknowwhattheyall Chloeand Hannah, whodefinitelyset thestandard conclusion that cheerleading is notfor me.Iwish the were at first either! high.Westartedout with armmotions, all of which Pomteamluckfor therestofthe season. Go Celtics! We arrivedtothe GIAG at 5pmand were welcomed hadtheir variousnames andnoneofwhich Ican Five Ways To GetFit On aBudget

Bea Warleta Ultimate Frisbee An extremely fun way to exercise. While they also Not everybody wants to pay £173 (at the least!) to regularly compete at aregional and national level, exercise. The Edge can be expensive, and in the age you are free to opt out of that and simply take part of Instagram, with beautiful people drinking kale in their sessions only, or eventake part in some of smoothies and working out twice aday, with abs you their beginner tournaments. Membership is £22 for could grind cheese on and bums rounder than Kim the whole year, or £15 forone semester. Kardashian’s, there has never been more pressure to be fit and healthy. Luckily, our Union has some great Sportfor Non-Sporters societies that can help you get the workout you crave The perfect society if you want to get involved in at astudent-friendly price. team sports and exercise,but you’re not quite into the competitiveness of the main sports teams. It’sa fun way to keep fit and stay active, as well as the perfect platform formeeting like-minded people and socialising. The membership fee is just £20 for the Image: LUUYogaSociety whole year.

Cross Country if you want to get abit competitive. Membership is Whetheryou’re arunnerornot,this society accepts only £22 pounds. all kinds of abilities and is agreat way to get into running. You can train as much as you’d like, and Yoga Society membership is only£15. With all kinds of sessions, from Power Yoga to more meditation and breathing-focused yoga, this society Squash and Racketball is only £4 for students. Don’t let the meditation side With avarietyoftraining sessions available for all of it fool you though –yoga is agreat workout that abilities, this society is perfect if you want to exercise; will leaveyour muscles aching for days, and will help whether you want to try out anew sport or you’ve been you become stronger than ever, whilst still keeping Image:LUU Ultimate Frisbee playing it for years. They also have regular matches, you extremely relaxed. thegryphon.co.uk Business | 17 BlackHistory Month:Inspiring Entrepreneurs As part of Black History MonththisOctober, LUU talks to threeinspiring BAME entrepreneurs who have successfully set up their own start-up businesses. Allatdifferent stages of theircareers, we talktothemabout the enterprises they haveworkedhardtoset up, how they felt their ethnicity has played apartintheir success, and their tips on starting your own enterprise.

Busayo Longe is the Product Manager for Form Plus, It’s true there aren’t always all the resources we institutions. Eventhough we were too small at that an online form building company he cofounded while should have in Nigeria but this has only strengthened point to carry it out, the fact that there is that level studying at University. Having lived and completed his my resolve to progress and get it done! of demand out there for our product pushedustogo undergraduate degree in Nigeria, he has recentlygraduated further. from amasters in Engineering, Technologyand Business Have you come across many otheryoung black or Management from the University of Leeds. minorityentrepreneurs who have set up their own Any tips for student entrepreneurs looking to start businesses? up their own business? Hi Busayo, can youtellusalittle bit about how you There are alot of enterprises in Nigeria and alot It’s atime to experiment, leave your comfort zone started your enterprise? of external interest in what’s going on there –Mark and give it ago. Ihad threestart-up businesses before The idea for Form Plus started out as part of the Zuckerberg recently invested $24m in aNigerian start FormPlus in tourism and agricultural technology and GoogleApps Developer challenge which we won for up called Andela and came to Nigeria afew weeks eventhough these fell through it didn’t stop me from Sub-SaharanAfrica. We didn’t knowhow far it would ago to see what entrepreneurs were up to. He was facing further challenges. You learnt alot from it, go at that point but we saw people wanted to see more really pumped by theenergy he saw there –it’s really about yourself and about the world –soyou just have so we developed it further. contagious! to give it all you have! Having worked for an e-commerce company in Ithink there are alot of young entrepreneurs in Nigeria, Ilefttostart my masters at Leeds University. Nigeria who will become really well known in the In one of my lecturesIfound out about SPARK at the future. Careers Centre who then encouraged us to develop Form Plus further, so after Igraduated Ichanged my What’sthe best thing about starting up and visa to work here permanently. Now we have 1,200 running your ownbusiness? userspaying monthlyand 50,000 free users creating Getting the chance to try things and bring your ideas forms for free every month, so we have alot of to life. It’s true you don’t have the security you might interest! want and there’s no guarantee it’ll go well, but it’s exciting! Ididn’t evenimagine I’d be here working As ablack entrepreneur, in what way (if any) do in theUKatthis point so it’s developed my ability to you feel your background has played apart in your explore. success? It’s stronglyaffectedhow far we’ve come. Form Plus What would you say has been your biggest came about due to the environment we grew up in, successes so far? studied, andworked in. There’s agreat enterprising So far it would have to be that we’re basically spirit in Nigeria and it was attending acourse held by making double what we were last year. MIT in Nigeria that really exposed me to programming Alsothe level of interest we have makes me very and the idea Icould start my own company. excited! We even had interest early on from the State of Colorado in the US to use Form Plus across their

Griselda Togobo is the Managing Director of Forward me and say Iamarolemodel as asuccessfulblack thinking of starting your own business, but until you Ladies, awomen’s network which aims to unlock potential female entrepreneur, this feedback inspires me to take that leap you’ll never know.Once you do, things in professional women. She has also founded and manages achieve more. will start to come together. Awovi, abusiness consultancy. Some people do feel disadvantaged and don’t get For students Iwould say that starting your own the same opportunities, but Ichoose to seeitina business now is more viable. You have no mortgage, Can you give us abrief introduction to your different light. Ican’t control how people act but Ican no commitments, you can start any venture.You’re enterprises? choose how Ireact, andIchoose to see it positively. young, resilient and full of energy -there’s no time Forward Ladies is the UK’s leading women’s Just focus on what you can control and what you can like the present! business support organisation. It’s is the most diverse achieve. and inclusive network of its kind. My goal is to inspire women to achieve their goals. Have you come across many other minority entrepreneurs who have set up their ownbusinesses? What inspired youtoset up your own business? Isee alot offemale entrepreneurs from minorities. My mum.She had anumber of businesses when Statistics show that women fromminorities are now Iwas growing up including aconstruction business one of the most enterprising groups in the UK. They and atextile factory and seeing her work hard to earn don’t often get the same level of support or visibility, aliving was inspiring. It’s not something Irealised at but black women are some of the most entrepreneurial first but later on when Ihad kids, IrealisedIwanted women. to followinher footsteps. What challenges have you come across? As ablack entrepreneur, in what way (if any) do Ibought Forward Ladies from averywell-known you feel yourbackground has played apart in your and successful woman who had abig personality and success? stepping into someone else’s footsteps and making Minorities tend to stand out, but Isee this as an your own mark was very challenging in the beginning. opportunity. Businesses spend alot of money trying to be different and stand out but as aminority you Any tips forentrepreneurs looking to start up their stand out by default –take advantage of this fact. It’s own business? something that drives me, when people come up to It’s always ascary idea in the beginning if you’re 18 | Science thegryphon.co.uk Scientistsofthe year 2016: AGuide to theNobel Prize

Image: Adam Baker

Louise Müller in many diseases, includingcancer, thistobuild ananocar).Together, these a‘pretzeltopology’,i.e.moreholes, will Parkinson’s anddiabetes; therefore molecules form atoolbox whichisused always have greaterconductivitythan When Swedishscientist Alfred Nobel ProfessorOhsumi’sfindings have todaytodevelop increasingly advanced materialswiththe ‘bagel topology’. died in 1896,his will declared that formed thebasis formuchoftoday’s constructions, such as robots, batteries This becomes importantinexplaining hisentirefortune shouldbeusedto research trying to finddrugs which anddrugdeliveryvehicles, believedto thepropertiesofvariousmaterials and reward thescientistswho contribute targetautophagy to treatthese diseases. form theindustrialrevolutionofthe also in identifyingnew materialswith “the greatest benefit on mankind”. Wisewords: “I don’tfeelcomfortable 21stcentury. specialpropertiessuchastopological Henceforth Nobel PrizeLaureatesare competingwithmanypeople,and Response to thegoodnews: “I don’t superconductorsand topologicalmetals announcedinOctober each year and insteadIfind it more enjoyabledoing know what to say. I’mabit shocked,I’m whichfor example maybeusedinfuture outstandingscientistsare rewarded somethingnobodyelseisdoing. In a honoured andemotional” Prof.Feringa generations of today’selectronics. fortheir significantcontributions to way, that’s what scienceisall about, Response to thegoodnews: “I’m a helpingusbetterunderstand theworld andthe joyoffindingsomething Award: Physics bitBritish,orphlegmatic, aboutthese we live in.Sowhatnew discoveries inspiresme.” Who? ThreeBrits nowworking at things, so Ididn’tfaint or anything” have beendeemedworth of awardthis acclaimedAmericanuniversities: David Prof.Haldane year? Award: Chemistry J. Thouless,UniversityofWashington, Atopology joke: Q: What is a Who? Jean-PierreSauvage,University USA; F. Duncan M. Haldane, Princeton topologist?A:Someone whocannot Award: Physiology or Medicine of Strasbourg,France;Sir Fraser University, USA; J. MichaelKosterlitz, distinguishbetween adoughnutand a Who? ProfessorYoshinori Ohsumi, Stoddart,NorthwesternUniversity, BrownUniversity, USA. coffeecup. Cellular Biologist, TokyoInstitute of USA; andBernard L. Feringa, University What? Fortheoretical discoveries Technology,Japan. of Groningen, theNetherlands. of topologicalphase transitionsand ThePeace Prizewas awardedtothe What? Forhis discoveriesof What? Forthe design andsynthesis of topologicalphasesofmatter. Colombian PresidentJuanManuel mechanisms forautophagy. molecularmachines. Why? This is whereitgetsreally Santos forhis efforts to endthe civil Why? Autophagy, or self-eating, is Why? Howsmall canyou make mind-boggling. Topology is thestudy warwhich hasbeentearing Colombia amechanismbywhich cellsrecycle functional machinery? By chemically of aphysicalspace whichremains the apartfor over 50 years. internal components whichare no altering bondsand structures, this year’s sameirrespectiveofadeformation such ThePrize in EconomicScienceswas longerfunctional.Large proteins and Laureateshavemanagedtolinktogether as stretchingorbending.The Nobel awardedtoOliverHartand Bengt worn-outorganellesare engulfed by moleculesinsuchaway that they can Committeetooktopastriestoexplain Holmström fortheir contributionsto autophagosomes inside thecell, broken function as nanomachines, responding further;ifyou compareacinnamon bun, contract theory. down andconvertedintoenergy. with mechanical movementstoa abagel andapretzelyou couldsay they BobDylan wasawardedthe Nobel ProfessorOhsumifirstdiscoveredthe relevant input. Thethree scientists areall different,havedifferentshapes Prizefor Literature “forhavingcreated mechanisms of autophagyinyeast each createdanew kind of molecule andflavours,but to atopologistthe only newpoeticexpressionswithinthe great cellsthrough aground-breaking that wouldformthe basis forfunctional interestingthing aboutthese shapes are American song tradition”. experiment. By blocking thefinalsteps nanomachines. Sauvageinventedanew theholes(or absence of them,asinthe In additiontothe 8million Swedish of degradation andsimultaneously method forlinking together various case of acinnamon bun).The number kronor (£739,680) andahandshake stimulatingautophagy,Ohsumi moleculesinchains(cantenanes); of holesinapastrywould be referred to with theSwedish king,the prestigious couldvisuallysee autophagosomes Stoddart createdrotaxanes,aring- as thetopological invariant. This year’s prizealso includeshavingyourportrait accumulate inside hisyeast cells. Later, shaped molecule attached to an axle physicslaureateshaveusedtopology painted, an 18 caratgold medaland a he showed that thesemechanisms are andFeringa manipulatedthe random to describe thepropertiesofmaterials visittothe iconicVasaShipmuseumin also essentialfor human cell survival. spin of molecules to create thefirst in extremephases,suchasinextreme Stockholm. Autophagyhas sincebeenimplicated molecularmotor (and in 2011 also used cold. They showed that materialswith thegryphon.co.uk Science | 19

Anti-sceptic: the truth What’snew behind germs inScience?

•Scientists from the University of California havebeen pondering the question of whether future Martianexplorers will be able to remember any of it after considering a phenomenon called “space brain”. The scientists have found that exposure to high energy charged particles-like those found in cosmic rays - could cause long term brain damage resulting in cognitive impairment and dementia.

•Research from Cornell University suggests that, as aconsequence of thewarming Earth, the chance of amegadrought (lasting more than 35 years) in the American Southwest has risen to a20to50% chance in this century. Byworking to reduce greenhouse emissions, thesechances can be cut in half. “Megadroughts are rare events, occurring onlyonce or twice eachmillennium. In earlier work, we showed that climate change boosts the chances of a megadrought, but in this paper we investigated howcutting fossil fuel emissions reducesthis risk,” said lead researcher Toby Ault.

•Using data from10years of medical tests with over 2,700 patients, researchers at Johns Image: NIAID Hopkins Medicine have concluded that calcium supplements may raise the risk of plaque build- Michelle Heinrich is best to showeraroundfourtimes aweekand when up in arteries and lead to heart damage. Adietin we do,use showergel sparsely. calcium-rich foods seems to protect from such Sometimes we do notknowwhatisbestfor us. Youmight have also heardthatlittleexposure risks. The researchers urge people to seek medical Many of us have been told that thecleaner,the better. to viruses andbacteriaearly on in childhoodcan advice before taking any such medication. Recent studieshaveshown theoppositetobetrue. increase theriskofdeveloping asthma andallergies. Germs, includingbacteriaand viruses, canbefound Severalresearchers have studiedthistopic after •Just when you think you may have everywhere:inour hair,onour skin andinour gut. allergist-immunologistDrHolbreich first suggested seen it all, new research from the University of This is notnecessarily abad thing andnot allbacteria thistheoryin1989. Holbreichnoticed that Amish Cambridge has revealed that mice court each areathreattoour health.Thiscommonmisconception children hadfewer allergiesthan children in the other with ultrasonic love songs that are inaudible can make it difficultfor people to understand that a suburbs of developed countries. In ordertosupport to the human ear. The study has revealed that high degree of cleanliness isn’talwaysinour best his“HygieneHypothesis”,hetestedAmish children the mice produce these high frequency sounds interest.Reduced exposuretogerms earlyinlife andchildrenfromthe city by usingaskinexperiment in amechanism that was previously only seen in mightleadtoanincreasedriskofdeveloping allergies used to identify someone’sallergies.50% of children supersonic jetengines. andasthma,someresearchers claim. Lookingatthe from suburban areasreacted positive to theallergy HygieneHypothesisinmoredepth anddiscussing skin test, butonly7%ofAmish children did. Basedon •Asthe Juno spacecraft made its first newresearchinrecentyears,you shoulddecidefor theseresults,Holbreich suggestedthatsince Amish orbit around Jupiter, it recorded radio emissions yourself if you feel “too clean”. children live in ruralarea such as farms, drinking raw fromthe planet’s huge aurorae at adistance of What is cleanliness? We cantakethe absenceof pasteurisedmilkand increasedexposuretoanimals 2,600 miles. Afterconverting these emission bacteria,orpathogensingeneral,asabroaddefinition -especiallyhorses -helpedtoprevent allergies and recordings into sound files, the team described of cleanliness. As such,the closestwecan gettoa asthma.Ingeneral,the averagechildinadeveloped the sounds as “haunting”. This research will perfectstate of cleanlinessisasterile environment countryhas less exposuretothese factors. It is help to understand how Jupiter has such an butthisisnot always in ourbestinterest. Asterile of course not possibletoprovethishypothesis energetic atmosphere and how charged particles environmentisessentialinthe medicalfieldbut not comprehensively butitdoes highlightthe fact that are acceleratedtoform the phenomena. in average, dailylife. We have thisperception that we we should rethink ourrelationship with cleanliness. have to shower andwashour hair dailyoratleast As you can see, thereisalot to sayabout cleanliness frequently,which mayactuallybemoreoften than andwhether we mighttakeittoo serious. Yes, it is ourbodiesrequire. Nature hasgiftedour skin with importanttohave cleanwater andyes,itis important amassive number of beneficialbacteriaand natural to have acertain levelofcleanliness,but we mightbe oils.These bacteria reside on thesurface of ourskin better off taking astepbackonour cleaning habits.If to fight pathogenic organismsthatwanttoattackthe you have children,orwill have children in thefuture, humanbody. Everytimewetakeashower, we wash it mightbeworth thinkingabout lettingthem“play off theharmful,pathogenic butalso thebeneficial in thedirt” at playtime to lettheir immune system get bacteria.Frequentshowering also leadstodry skin usedtothe environmentthatour bodyisn’t immune Image: NASA/JPL andcan causecracksthatpathogens canuse as a to from birth. breeding ground.Researchers currentlyadvisethatit 20 | Sports thegryphon.co.uk Delight in Dublin forVan Gerwen

Luke Etheridge Bothplayers suffereddoubletrouble in thefourth Darts legofthe fifth set, with acombinedeight darts missed to winthe legbeforeAndersonhit double 10. PDCnumberone Michaelvan Gerwen recovered However,hefailed to scorewithhis first sixinthe from hisdefeatinSeptember’sChampionsLeagueof next leg, allowing vanGerwentomoveone setaway Dartsinthe best waypossibleinDublin, winninghis from thetitle.Anderson wonthe next four legs to take third WorldGrandPrixtitle.The Dutchman averaged thesixth set andmovealeg up in theseven against 100.29,the best ever in aGrandPrixfinal, as he thedarts.However,the Dutchman’s clinicalscoring defeated reigning WorldChampionand worldnumber andfinishingturnedthe setaround, winningthe title twoGaryAnderson 5-2, to winhis twenty-firsttitle with a160 checkout,the highestofthe match. of 2016. Although thetournamentended with thetop two VanGerwenhad theadvantage of throwing first in seedsfacingoffinthe final,there were anumberof thefinal, andmade themostofthisashemanagedto upsets over theseven days.Eleventimechampion preventAnderson from gettingaleg in thefirstset. Phil Taylor wasknocked outinthe first roundfor the This tournament is uniqueonthe PDCcircuit,asit second year running, with SteveWestrepeating what requires adoubletostartthe legaswellasthe usual Vincentvan derVoort managed 12 months earlier, double to finish. This is whereAndersonstruggled with West being defeated by DarylGurneyinthe last themost, failing to scorewithhis first eightdarts 16.Gurneyhad himselfcausedaminifirstround at onepoint in thesecondset.Thisopportunity was shock,beating theinformMensurSuljovicfrom seized upon by ‘MightyMike’,who doubledhis lead oneset down.Formerfinalist andfive time world in thematch. champion Raymondvan Barneveldhad an average Thethird setstarted much better forAnderson, 2016 so far, dropping outofthe top10, buthewas back appearing in hisfirsteverGrandPrixfinal, as he to hisbestinbeating Mervyn King,AdrianLewis and threwa12-dart legtobreakvan Gerwen’s throw. Benito vandePas before beingbeatenbyAndersonin This advantagewas short-lived, with MVGthrowing thesemi-finals. Anderson will be hoping that he can an 11-dartleg of hisown to putthe setbackonthrow, go onebetteratthe Alexandra Palace in January, as before acheckoutof70gavehim histhird legina he aims to becomeonlythe third man to winthree rowand athree setadvantage.The fourth setwas consecutive worldtitles. VanGerwen, on theother much better from Anderson’spoint of view,withthe hand,will be hoping forhis second Ally Pallycrown 45 year old Scotsman winningall threelegstoclose to further cement hisplace as adarting great. Image: GettyImages thedeficittotwo sets. Athletes on thedefence over drugs

Zoe Thresher have physicalperformance enhancing effects, hence In light of this, is it fair to consider that WADA may it being newly banned. The drug enables athletes to sometimes be too harsh? Lizzie Armitstead was pulled 2016 seems to have been arevealing year for endure performance, enhance central nervous system up prior to Rio 2016 for missing three drug tests drug scandals in the sporting world.From Lance functions and improve rehabilitation post-exercise. within 12 months.For this, she was given atwo-year Armstrong’s prolonged cheating, to the exposure of Since the discovery of Sharapova’s drug use, she was drug ban. However, following emotional interviews the Russian Olympic squad, will athleteseverlearn to handed a2year ban, whichwas reducedto15 months and appeals to WADA, the Court of Arbitration for stay clean? on appeal. Sport upheld her cry for appeal. Armitstead was on In the final months of 2015, Tyson Fury became Bradley Wiggins has recently denied that he and his the verge of tears in interviews in the run up to the the third man to beat Ukrainian, Wladimir Klitschko, doctor, Geert Leinders, had any involvement in using Olympicgames, emotions that she had to put to the to win the unified WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight abanned steroid substance to treat allergies. Wiggins side as she stepped up to race in Rio. With drugs championships. Despite this achievement, his victory himselfsays that his use of drug triamcinolone was testing becoming more and more prominent, this is was somewhat clouded by allegations proving that he completely approved by the cycling governing bodies likely to be astory that carries on formanymonths. tested positive forabanned performance enhancing before three of his major drug called nandrolone. Nandrolone’s effects mimic races. This information many of the same physiologicalresponses that was onlyrevealedwhen anabolic steroids do, including muscle hypertrophy Russian hackers leaked and quickened muscle recovery, therefore being able data from the World to train harder for longer. Not onlydid Fury test Anti-Doping Agency positive, but so did his cousin Hughie, with both system and published claiming that they were “baffled” by the allegations. it online themselves. Tyson Fury has also tested positive for cocaine, and This is asimilar case to has been stripped of his boxing license while this is Fury, whose speculations investigated. were publicised before Maria Sharapova, however, poses aslightlymore the case was complete. controversial case. Having used asubstancecalled In the situations of meldonium for the last ten years for medicinal Sharapova and Wiggins reasons, it has since beenadded to the list of banned there is certainly some substances from January 2016. Sharapova uses confusion of what are this drug to treat lack of blood flow as she is at a moral intentions of drug disadvantage to her competitors without it. However, useare and what WADA there have beenrecentallegations that suggest considers to be abusing athletes have been abusing the substance in order to the guidelines of sport. Image: GettyImages thegryphon.co.uk Sports | 21 ‘There’s definitely toomuch moneyinthe professionalgame’

As the Premier Leaguegets richer, it is no surprise that teams in less developednations struggle to fund facilities. One such nation was Pohnpei in the Pacific Ocean, and The Gryphon’s JamesFelton spoke to former coach Paul Watson, about how he made the transition from football journalist to international management in Micronesia.

You studied ItalianatLeeds. What do you remember materialise. Instead, you became acoach of the [Paul’s Mongolian side, which he owns] has enough from your time at Leeds University? international team Pohnpei in Micronesia. What money to run forthe remainder of the 2016 season. motivated you to pursue this pathway? In your fundraisingad, you state that “As aclub we It feels like along time ago now! Idefinitely still standagainstdiscrimination and corruption and have really goodmemoriesofmyErasmus year in The playing idea was in away somewhat of ajoke, have tackledboth head on”. What,then, do you Verona and Imet alot of amazing people at Leeds - abit of adrunken idea that gets cooked up between make of the recent corruption scandal in England, I’m still good friends with some of them now. mates (although we were actually sober at the time), which caused Sam Allardyce to be removed from his but when we had the chance to meet the man who’d post as England manager just 67 daysafter being You then became ajournalist for Channel 4on run footballinPohnpei foradecade he said that there appointed? Italian football, what advice would you give to was no team but adesperate need for organisation budding journalists? and coaching. As soonaswe heard this, the project To be honest it didn’t come as that much of a became more serious and worthwhile -wewere surprise. I’d say asignificant percentage of managers The football journalism industry is changing fast clearly under qualified but the idea of re-starting a would’ve done what Allardyce did, especially if their and, if anything, getting much harder because there’s whole national footballprogrammefrom the ground advisors gave it the go-ahead, there’s just such a so muchfree content out there and sites are struggling up was something Icouldn’trefuse. culture of pushing and bending the rules, the greed is to make money so jobs are tough to find. Iwould incredible. Iguess like most industries football is all advise journalists to find atopic they are passionate Youlaterwroteabook about this experience, about who you know and the people at the top usually about and start getting their work out there,evenif called Up Pohnpei. The Big Issue described it as a have good enough connections to get awaywithmore they have to work for free quite alot to start with. ‘refreshing counterpointtothe commercialexcesses or less anything. It also doesn’t hurt to have aniche. For example, of the English Premier’. Would you say there is far there are always thousands writing about the Premier too much moneyinthe English game? What can be done to combatthe homophobic, sexist League, so Ihad an easier time because there weren’t and racial discrimination, which is still prevalent in as many journalists in the UK who spoke Italian. There’s definitely too much money in the football? professional game, but things can’t go back now. I You –and Matt Conrad -initially attempted to think alot of people are gravitating towards local It needs to be addressed properly and education at become international footballers, but this did not non-league teams or lower league teams to find atype all levels is crucial. Playersatall levels need to be of football that they can still relate to. In my opinion accountable for their actions and to develop as players what’s so valuable about footballishow teams relate knowing there’s no place for homophobia, racism or to their communities, how they create an identity and sexism in the game. There has beensome progress but bring people together -assoonasyou have agroup of it was farcical that FIFA decided its Anti-Racism task teams owned by oligarchs whose players would move force had done their job -that’s exactly the kind of overnight if they were offered more money, you’ve attitude that prevents any change. I’d say that one of lost the heart of thegame. the biggest dangers at the moment is the feeling that especially racism but also sexism and homophobia is In areview of yourbook, Amazonwrote that athing of the past just because it’s not as explicit as ‘[Pohnpei has] apopulation whose obesity rate is 90 it was in the 80s -there’s still amassive problem, percent and [their] toad-infestedfacilities[are] in for example, the lack of black managers at the higher one of the world’s wettest climates’. What were the levelsofthe game and the absence of any openly gay hardest challenges of this adventure? players.

The weather was certainlyatough challenge. More An awful amount of time and effort of your coaching or less every day it would rain suddenly, as if the career has been motivated by your desire to promote world was ending, which made it hard to play tiki- footballasaway tobring about social change. Do taka football!There were no indoor football pitchesso youthink footballcould do more to promote social we just had to deal with it and alter our playing style change, especially in light of the vast amount of accordingly! The conditions were always ramshackle money in English football? Does the Premier League -wepainted the pitch with house paint for the league have aduty tomakethishappen? games (which washed off) and for the final of the cup the floodlights blew so everyone had to park their cars I think football can do so muchmore in general to alongside the field and put the headlights on. There’s enable positive social change, but the Premier League not much encouragement for young athletes on the has its own agendas. However, there are loads of islands so many turn to drugs, like the local narcotic amazing projects that Iadmire all over the world that sakau, which acts like an anaesthetic. It was tough are doing truly inspirational things with football and to convince people that you could make something for all the bad there will always be many more good of yourself through sport. people in the game.

Youare currently fundraising so that Bayangol FC 22 | Sports thegryphon.co.uk Nervous EndingasEngland Win

Thomas Lambton the match in England’s favour as Bangladesh’s lower The series was therefore level at 1-1 as the teams Cricket order suddenly cracked under the pressure. Ball, on headedtoChittagong for the final ODI. Allbar one of his debut, was particularly impressive. Bangladesh’s top 5made scores in excess of 40, which An England series victory, the outcome most fans After adefeat of this manner, England may have propelled them to astrong total of 277-6 off their 50 and pundits alike would have beenexpecting. Yet, if expectedthe rest of the series to be somewhat of a overs. For ayoung and inexperienced team, such a there was ever aseries that demonstrated just how far forgone conclusion, particularly when the hosts were run chase may have appeared daunting, yet England Bangladesh have progressed as acricketing nation, teetering at 169-7 during the 2nd ODI in Dhaka. went about chasing the total assuredly as Duckett and this was it. Indeed, were it not for their extraordinary Bangladesh responded admirably and after afine Billings compiled excellent half-centuries. There was batting collapse in the 1st ODI in which they slipped partnership betweenMortaza and Mahmadullah, aminor collapse as England lost both Butler and Ali from 271-4 to 288 all out, chasing 310, the outcome propelling the hosts to acompetitive total of 238, in quick succession, however the tourists held their would have been very different. In truth though the England’s batsmen struggled as they were dismissed nerve tocomplete afine serieswin. Next-up, England series was decidedinterms of which team could for 204. The day belonged to Bangladeshi skipper have two back-to-back warm up games before the handle the pressure. This was England, who showed Mortaza who, after batting so well, rippedthrough test series which starts on the 20th October. exactly why they have become such aforce in this Englands top order, format despite the absence of their captain Eoin picking up 4for 29. Morgan and opening batsmen Alex Hales, who both England’s captain, Jos withdrew sighting security concerns. Butler, also performed In the first match of the series aBen Stokes well with abattling 57 inspired England compiled acommanding total of -yet he received little 309. Stokes’ maiden ODI century provided further support as England’s evidence of his advancing maturity. He arrived at batsmen struggled on a the crease with England struggling at 66-3, yethe slow pitch. Butler later calmly set about rebuilding the inningsand through bemoaned the lack of amagnificent partnership of 153 with the impressive aggression, which has debutant Ben Duckett, he ensured that England become such afeature were in astrong position. Apartnership of similar of England’s recent ODI proportions between centurion Kayesand Shakib, success, in chasing what however, appeared to have securedthe victory forthe wasavery attainable Image: Sporting Life hosts. Jake Ball and Adil Rashid dramatically swung target. WiganTamethe Wolves in Final

John Gibby for2016. Ryan Atkins efforttoadd to Warrington’s wasclosedout at 12 points to 6. Rugby League lead in the54thminutewas adjudged to have come Allthingsconsidered, Wiganprobablydeserved looseand wastaken off by thereferee.Moments later, theirwin,despite it not beingavintage performance Warrington Wolves’ 61 year wait to be crowned Oliver Gidart snuckintothe opposite corner forWigan from theCherryand Whites.Itfeltappropriate that domestic championswillcontinueafter they fell to to add four more points forthe Warriors andscore Josh Charnley concludedhis RugbyLeaguecareer defeat at thehands of WiganWarriorsinthe Super the100th tryinthe historyofthe GrandFinal.Smith with atry in aGrandFinal whichcontributed to his League GrandFinal at OldTraffordlastweekend. missed theconversionbut in theend it didn’t matter; side’s victory. ForWarrington, it wasacaseofclose Despitewinning theLeagueLeaders Shield andbeing thedepartingCharnleycarried theirteam’ssecond butnocigar once again. It feelslikethe Wolves must aheadatthe endofthe first half,The Wirewere tryofthe matchtomakethe score10-6. Afterthat, be closing in on aSuper League trophy before too eventually undone by thedoggeddetermination of Warrington neverlookedlikegetting back into it. long,but fornow it’s Wigan’stime–they’veput in theWarriors, whoreliedonafineperformance from Smithredeemedhimselffor thetwo previousmissed thehardwork, andtheycan revelintheir successes LiamFarrell andthe RugbyUnion Premiership-bound conversionswithatextbookpenalty andthe game untilitall begins againnextyear. Josh Charnley to fight back in thesecond-half to take thespoilsby12pointsto6. Three-time Championssince theSuper League was createdin1996, Wiganstartedthe game in spritely fashion with MattySmith’s penaltygoalafter eight minutes, puttingthe Cherry andWhitesinfront.Josh Charnley previouslythought that he hadincreased theadvantage with thefirsttry of thegame, only to be denied by thevideo refereedue to aforward pass from AnthonyGelling.The first tryended up going to Wire,whenDeclan Patton went over,converting thepointshimselftogive histeamafourpoint lead. Thosewerethe final additionstothe score-line in the first half,but Warrington continuedtoask questions of theWarriors’ defence, andwerethe deserved leaders goingintothe break. Thesecond-half lookedmorepromising forWigan, andinthe enditwas just twoshort minutesthat changedthe complexion of theentirefinaland ultimately determinedthe SuperLeagueChampions Image: Wigan Warriors thegryphon.co.uk Sports | 23 Mixed emotions for badminton teams Ryan Wan stop the diehard attitude of the second doubles pair Badminton in representing their University. Similarly to the first singles match, they also had achance to take the Leeds University hosted three teams on Wednesday match into athird deciding game, but again narrowly to kick off the first series of matches for this missed out 18-21. season’s BUCS league.The Women’s 1sts faced the In areversal of fortunes, the Women’s 2nds and Birmingham 1st team in the PremierNorth, while the Men’s 3rds managed to record easy victories against Women’s 2nds were pitted against Huddersfield’s 1sts their respective opponents. Sunderland managed BUCSfixtures in Northern 2B and the Men’s 3rd came up against very few points against afar superiorLeeds with 19th October Sunderland 2nds in Northern 5B. their players cheering like they had won the lottery Unfortunately, before the first match had begun, wheneverthey managed to win apoint. One of one of the 1st team players became unavailable, the Sunderland players evenmanaged to forget Full fixtures and resultsatbucs. meaning they had to call up aplayerfrom the 2nds to hissportswear andinstead playedinhis jeans. org.uk fill the Singles 2slot. Both of the first round singles Unsurprisingly, the Men’s 3rds managed to beat the matches were won by Birmingham in two games, but Sunderland 2nd team 8-0. Badminton Mens 1st vs Liverpool 1st: 2pm, The the reality was that it was afar closer affair. Leeds The Women’s 2nds recorded an identical result, Edge were very unlucky not to take the first match to a whitewashing their oppositionaswell. The Badminton Mens 2nd vs Northumbria 1st: 2pm, third set with great defence around the court keeping performance of the day –from any of the sides - The Edge them in the match, but afew shotsmarginally wide undoubtedly came from Hannah Charlton with a of the line resulted in Birmingham narrowly winning dominant singles display where she only dropped one Basketball Mens 1st vs Sheffield 1st: 5.30pm, the second game 19-21. point in the first game to win the match 21-1, 21-0. The Edge The first doubles game was arguably the match of It was, therefore, amixed bag of results forthe Basketball Mens 3rd vs Huddersfield 2nd: the day with Leeds coming out of the blocks strong, badminton teams, but there were plenty of positives 7.30pm, The Edge winning the first game 21-17. However, Birmingham to build upon for the remainder of the season. Indeed, tookthe next game, tying the match up and bringing both the Women’s 2nds and the Men’s 3rds start to Fencing Womens 1st vs Nottingham 1st: 2pm, it down to the third and crucialfinalgame. Leeds the season is extremely promising after managing The Edge fought hard in the last game, but Birmingham were easyvictoriesagainst both of their opponents, whilst as equally determined, resulting in a20-all deadlock, the 1st team score seemed harsher on paper than it Football Mens 3rd vs Leeds Beckett 4th: 1.30pm, which meant that two clear points were needed wasinreality.Theywill no doubt face plenty more Sports Park Weetwood for victory. Despite avaliant effort from Leeds, stiff competition throughout the year, since they are Football Womens 3rd vs Durham3rd: Birmingham managed to secure these two points to in the top Northern conference, but the same attitude 1.30pm, Sports Park Weetwood end the match. and some better luck will definitely lead to better By the time the last match was to be played results for Leeds. Hockey Mens 1st vs Leeds Beckett 1st: 5pm, Birmingham had already won, although, this did not Sports Park Weetwood Hockey Womens 3rdvsYork 2nd: 1.30pm, Sports Park Weetwood

Lacrosse Mens 1st vs Northumbria 1st: 2pm, Sports Park Weetwood

Netball Womens 2nd vs York St Johns 1st: 5.30pm, Gryphon SportsCentre Netball Womens 4th vs Northumbria 3rd: 3.30pm,Gryphon Sports Centre

Rugby League Mens 1st vs Northumbria 1st: Time and venue TBC Rugby League Mens 2nd vsLeeds Beckett 2nd: Time and venue TBC

Rugby Union Mens 1st vs Nottingham Trent 1st: 2pm, Sports Park Weetwood

Squash Mens 2nd vs Northumbria 1st: 3pm, Gryphon Sports Centre Squash Mens 3rd vs Durham 3rd: 1.30pm, Gryphon Sports Centre

Table Tennis Womens 1st vs Newcastle 2nd: 2pm, Cromer Terrace

Tennis Womens 3rd vs Edge Hill 1st: Time and venue TBC Image: 1610Trinity 24 | Sport thegryphon.co.uk LeedsUniversity62-50 Sheffield

Image: James Felton Uniontarget against Yorkshire rivals

JamesFelton forthe Leedsoutfit.The introduction of Jordan Davis points forKing, before afantastic runfromFisherto Men’sBasketball 2nd seemed inspirational,ashecomposedhimselffor a assist King.Anoutstanding composurefromone of fantasticthree pointertoreducethe lead to15-17.The thestarsofthe matchJordanDavis meantLeedswent As theopening roundofBUCSfixtures gotunderway, home side startedtoput huge pressure on Sheffield. into thefinalquarter with an eleven pointleadasthe therewas joytobefound forthe Men’sBasketball This quartersaw theLeedsduo,Scott Fisher and scorestood Leeds47-36 Sheffield. second teamasthey beat localrivals, Sheffield, in Jordan Davis,starttogive Leedsthe advantage. A Sheffielddid notgiveupwithout afight, although an extremelycompetitive affair. Leedswentintothe fantasticsolo effortfromthe latter made thescore at thispoint in thematch it didseemquite likely that game knowingtheywon last season’sfixtureagainst 26-28, before theformermade it 28-28, in amatch Leedswould be thevictors.Alatemini-resurgence theiropponents 76-66and hoped to emulatethis that Sheffieldhad perhapsslightlydominatedup from Sheffieldmeant that at onepoint they fought performance,orthe result at least. Team-work, strong untilthen. Pooyan Khalili then scored twopointsof back to make it Leeds52-49 Sheffield. However, defence, quickcounter-attacks andcamaraderiewere hisown to make thehalf-time scorereadLeeds30-28 everything Sheffielddid,Leeds didtoo.Itwas like a just some of themanyqualities shown by theLeeds Sheffield. Thebig question,could theGryphonskeep game of poker. They matchedus, andweraisedthem. side,which bodeswellfor therestofthe season. thisexcellent play up? With just twominutes left on theclock,the scorewas Pooyan Khalili gotthe first points on theboard for Thesecondhalfbegan in excellentfashion as Captain 56-49. King scored twodecisivepointstoincrease the Leeds, in afirstquarter whichwas,inall honesty, NiallMurphy scored asoloeffort to increasethe lead lead to nine points,and from then on,the game was quitenervy.Not surprisingly,since theplayers arestill tofourpoints. Thesubstitutes were cheering from the clearlyover. Eventually,Leeds wouldscore afew more gettingtoknoweachother andadjustingthemselves side-line, giving alltheir support, thiswas clearly points to make it finish62-50. back into theUniversityseason, thefirstperiodsaw, asidewithanabundance of teamwork.Sheffield, This was, in theend,arelatively comfortablewin, from both sides, some straypasses,someeasyfouls however, pulled back to putthe game on aknife’s edge buteasilycould have gone either way. Thefacial committedand severalmissedopportunities.The at 34 apiece.JordanDavis,characteristically, scored a expressionsonthe player’s faces said it allreally. aforementioned Khalili scored awonderful triple brillianttriple,and,after threemissed attempts,John Leedswereecstaticatthe prospectofwinning their throwtoreduceSheffield’s lead to 11-7 afterjustseven King scored twopointstogivethe home side afive openinggameofthe season, whilst Sheffieldwere minutes. However,after asublime triple of theirown, pointleadbeforeaTime-Outwas called.Thiswas in disappointed that they didnot do more to take the andaspeedy counter-attackingmove, theawayside orderfor thecoaches to give theirtacticalanalysis, win. Unfortunately, thesetight marginsare theway took a16-12 lead as thefirstquarter of thematch andany bitofencouragement whichcould make that sportworks,especiallyinsuchaclose andcompetitive drew to aclose.There was, naturally, alongway to smallbit of difference. Leedswere, at thispoint,very sportasbasketball. go in theencounter. much in theascendancy. Thethird quarterended Thesecondquarter was, however, aturning point magnificently forthe home side:afantastic couple of