Eating disorders at university can Liz FREE be catastrophic – without help Take a Fraser copy e Road to How to handle mental health at Lawn of Recovery Oxbridge the Dead An experience at Cambridge News  Where has all the grass gone? Features  News  Better Together? It’s Scotland’s turn to ght for an exit Comment 

Cambridge’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1947

No. 814 Friday 21st October 2016 varsity.co.uk Referendum fever grips Cambridge ● CUSU sets November date ● ‘Sex Club’ for Class Lists referendum prepares for Pexit vote CUSU will give an indication to the way Ankur Desai students feel about Class Lists, and so Deputy News Editor could in uence the way members of Regent House vote. A referendum to change CUSU’s stance CUSU initially voted to oppose public Harry Curtis on abolishing Class Lists will run from display of Class Lists at a council meeting Senior News Editor the 1st - 3rd November, it has been an- in November last year, where there were nounced. 20 votes to zero in favour of abolition,  In what seems to be be- All students who are members of with four abstentions.  is came ater coming something of a Michaelmas tra- CUSU will be allowed to vote in the a petition by ‘Our Grade, Our Choice’, dition, a Cambridge JCR will be asking election, presented with the question: which called for the University to allow its members whether or not they ought “should CUSU campaign to keep the students to opt out from the Class Lists to remain a liated to CUSU later this Class Lists, with an easier opt-out proc- based solely on their preference for do- term. ess?” ing so.  is petition was sent to the Uni-  is year it is the turn of Peterhouse’s It is understood that the ‘Save the versity, who then backed a review of the JCR – the grandiosely named Sexcente- Class List’ campaign will become the usage of Class Lists. nary Club (or, less grandiosely, the ‘Sex main campaigning group in support of However, the move to abolish the Club’ for short) – to decide whether their an opt-out system. A bidding process to Class Lists was opposed by the campaign future lies with or away from the Univer- become the o cial group for supporting group ‘Save the Class List’, who created sity-wide union, when they vote in a ref- the ‘No’ option will open shortly. a petition that gained more than the 350 erendum on the matter in Week Four.  is is the third referendum of the cal- signatures needed to trigger a CUSU ref-  e referendum, which is scheduled endar year, following a vote on CUSU’s erendum.  e group supports an opt-out to run between the 28th and 29th Oc- a liation to NUS and on the creation system, as opposed to complete aboli- tober, with a debate to be held on 26th of a full-time Disabled Students’ O cer tion of the Lists. October, comes on the heels of a letter for CUSU. In April, results from the University’s sent to the Sex Club’s Committee in  is vote will not formally decide internal consultation on the future of the Easter term, claiming that CUSU had whether the Class Lists will be abolished lists, revealed by a Varsity Freedom of In- “let down Jewish students” in the way or not, which will be decided by a vote formation request, revealed that none of they had dealt with the furore over Ma- of the University’s Regent House – com- the stake-holding bodies consulted sup- lia Bouattia’s controversial election to prised of over 5,000 senior academics ported the idea of an opt-out system. the presidency of the National Union of and sta members – towards the end of Reasons for the lack of support have Students (NUS). Michaelmas term. However, it has been not been fully laid out, but may relate to suggested that the referendum held by extra costs which could be incurred. Could Peterhouse be heading for the exit? JOHN TURNER Continued on page 7 ▶ 2 Friday 21st October 2016 EDITORIAL News

Brace yourself for the drop Lawn of

nd just like that, we’ve reached the peak of the roller coaster. here’s a short stop, a rush of anticipation, and then the plummet begins. the Dead Referenda, continued debates Aover Palestine and, bizarrely, a plague of lawn-munching bugs has descended upon us. For those who feared the worst after a couple of weeks with the types of incidents which could occur anywhere, you can exhale. What’s eating Cambridge is itself again. Where does that leave your average student? One thing’s for sure – you’re about to see a lot of campaigning. For freshers, this may come as a system shock: the mass proile pic changes, constant invites Cambridge to voting events and ‘personalised’ private messages from campaigners. Going on prior form, we should expect gratuitous rule-breaking, dodgy dealing and maybe some gentle back-stabbing. Also, we should expect a fantastic, if lawed, display of the democratic act on display in courts? Cambridge. Turnout for the two previous referenda this year has been unprecedented – a sizable number of students are engaged and informed about what’s going on, and exercise their votes with care and consideration. Every vote does count – our vote on NUS membership, a hugely emotive issue, produced a lively, heartfelt and strong debate. hat the eventual ● A cocktail of crows, grubs, and outcome was so narrow testiied not only to the nuanced way in which the issue of ailiation afected students, but also to why holding referenda is such the EU is causing a headache for an important practice. he role of the student press in this process is an important one – the pressures of work and life can Cambridge’s gardeners make it diicult, if not impossible, to maintain a clear understanding about what is going on. We attempt to approach these delicate areas with balance, and endeavour to give a platform to all sides in debates. his matches with the wider aim of Varsity as a paper: we are here to inform and entertain, but also to train and develop, and allow people to cut their teeth. If you think an opinion isn’t being heard, tell us. hough dreadfully young by Cantabrigian standards, we’re still old enough (approaching our 70th re- birthday) to be somewhat of an institution. Despite this, we are never more than the sum of our parts. We always need you – the student, staf member or Cambridge resident – and what you can bring us. Want to ind out more or get involved? Our emails are sandy soil like the soil at Selwyn. Wolf- ▲ Fountain below... Sophie Penney son and Robinson don’t have the prob- Court at Murray Senior News Correspondent lem because they’re on clay”. Edwards has editors Louis Ashworth and Callum Hale-homson [email protected] Steve Elstub, the head gardener of been ravaged deputy editor Millie Brierley [email protected] Iconic Cambridge courts are being dis- Clare College, expanded on this, say- (PHOTOGRAPH: magazine editor Kitty Grady [email protected] business manager Mark Curtis [email protected] igured, as crows attack the lawns of at ing: “here are light soils around the SOPHIE PENNEY) associate editor Jack Higgins [email protected] least seven colleges. River Cam because of the silts. his is an news editors Anna Menin, Harry Curtis & Daniel Gayne (Senior), Jesus and Pembroke have had to open, free draining soil that helps grubs

Siyang Wei, Matt Gutteridge, Sam Harrison & Ankur Desai (Deputies) re-turf entire lawns, and signs are up to grow at a larger rate. his means that [email protected] senior news correspondents Amy Gee & Sophie Penney around colleges about the problem, colleges closer to the river have been political editor Joe Robinson [email protected] while at least ive other colleges, includ- more afected by the grub. Colleges away investigations editor Tom Richardson [email protected] ing St Catharine’s, Emmanuel, Murray from the river have heavier land, mean- comment editors heo Demolder (Senior), Peter Chappell, Emily Robb, Edwards, Selwyn and Clare, have seen ing it is more diicult for the adult chafer Haroun Mahmud & Carl Wikeley (Deputies) [email protected] interviews editors Anna Jennings, Elizabeth Howcroft & Patrick lawns destroyed as a constant battle is beetle to lay in”. Wernham [email protected] waged between gardeners and crows. In terms of spreading from one col- science editor Jon Wall [email protected] However, the birds are not the root of lege to the other, Gallant explained that features editors Katie Wetherall & Richelle George [email protected] the problem. his year central Cambridge the chafer beetle cannot ly very far or culture editors Jon Cooper & Sarah-Jane Tollan [email protected] fashion editor Agustin Ferrari Braun [email protected] has seen an inlux of large populations very high, so it is unlikely to travel from theatre editors Mimi Robson & Lana Crowe [email protected] of chafer grubs, the soil-dwelling larvae college to college. However, he said that music editor Karl Schwonik [email protected] of chafer beetles. hese grubs feed on Selwyn’s infestation had come over from reviews editors Olivia Childs & Rosie Best [email protected] the roots of the grass, making the lawn the Sidgwick site. sport editors Keir Baker (Senior), Tom Higgins Toon & Charlie Stone (Deputies) [email protected] vulnerable to damage. Adding insult to injury is the fact sport reporters Paul Hyland (Senior), Devarshi Lodhia (Deputy) Crows like to feed on these grubs, ▼ he chafer grub that the main control measure for this online editor Imran Marashli [email protected] and the weakened grass roots mean is the root of the problem has been outlawed by the EU. digital editor Nick Jones [email protected] that when they do, they dig up the turf. problem (PHOTO- In April 2013, the EU enforced a Europe- video editor Jed White [email protected] arts editor Jade Cuttle [email protected] he large amounts of chafer grubs mean GRAPH: JESUS COL- wide ban of three bee-harming pesti- chief sub-editor Max Gibson [email protected] that the crows are constantly feeding LEGE/FACEBOOK) cides called neonicotinoids, including varsity board Dr Michael Franklin (Chairman), Prof. Peter Robinson, Dr on them, giving the turf little time to imidacloprid, which is the active ingredi- Tim Harris, Michael Derringer, Michael Curtis, Talia Zybutz, Callum Hale- recover, and creating the mess that we ent in the insecticides previously used homson (VarSoc President), Louis Ashworth see in Cambridge today. to get rid of the chafer grub.

©Varsity Publications ltd, 2016. all rights reserved. no part of this publication may be Many people are asking why some In January 2016, this ban was re- reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior permission of the publisher. colleges are afected and not others. Paul viewed, but in April it was conirmed Varsity, 16 Mill lane, cambridge cb2 1rX. telephone 01223 337575. Gallant, the head gardener of Selwyn, that imidacloprid is highly toxic to bum- Varsity is published by Varsity Publications ltd. Varsity Publications also publishes he Mays. Printed at explained to Varsity that it all depends blebees and it was deinitively taken of ilife Print cambridge – Winship road, Milton, cambridge cb24 6PP on 42.5gsm newsprint. registered as a newspaper at the Post oice. issn 1758-4442. on the type of soil. “he grubs like light the market. Friday 21st October 2016 3 News

RACIAL DISPARITIES Ethnic bias found in grad admissions

An often overlooked topic compared with its more scrutinised undergraduate equivalent, Varsity has uncovered con- sistent gaps in the success rates between white and non-white applicants to post graduate courses at the university, with black applicants prospects of a place particularly stark. Scrutinising igures from the last ive years, for both the Uni- versities of Oxford and Cambridge, the results suggest the elite institutions’ pal- lid complexions are unlikely to change anytime soon. Page 9 ▶

SCIENCE AND RELIGION Anti-medicine ‘cult’ investigated

Jon Wall looks into the activities of the Christian Science movement, an America-based religious group which has been subject to numerous contro- veries. Christian Scientists believe in a doctrine which emphasises the healing power of prayer, and states that conven- tional medicine is comparatively inefec- tive. Christian Scientist children have frequently sufered from preventable illnesses as a result. he group has an operation in Cambridge, with a a church near the Botanic Gardens. Pages 10–11 ▶

MEAN GIRLS MENTALITY You can’t sit with us!

Jokes about hating the poor chalked up as ‘ironic’, casual sexism scoring points on a swap, Anglia Ruskin degraded and mocked. In this week’s column, Anna Fitzpatrick takes on Cambridge’s infa- Elstub said “this is part of a wide- the grubs goes deeper into the soil, out mous elitism, Mean Girls style, as she spread protocol from the EU to reduce of range from crows and birds. hey have looks at the exclusivity behind the ‘you chemical use in general because of their also tried covering the areas with netting can’t sit with us’ mentality. With recent possible damaging efects on wildlife as a deterrent to the crows, allowing the statistics suggesting that 40 per cent of and the potential for them getting into turf time to recover from the grub. state school teachers don’t encourage the water system”. Gallant of Selwyn College says that their students towards Oxbridge, it’s Instead, colleges are opting for the use there is a new product that is not harm- time to evaluate the part we have to play of nematodes, which are microscopic, ful to crows, which he intends to employ in creating an inclusive, forward-moving whitish-to-transparent worms that eat a company to apply. he priority is that university. Inaccessible is no longer fetch and destroy the chafer grubs. However, the grub removal method isn’t harmful and you can absolutely sit with us. nematodes can only live in wet soil that to the crows: “as long as I don’t have a Page 14 ▶ isn’t too cold, which means that the soil lawn full of dead crows”, Gallant said. needs to be irrigated. Large areas of turf He ruled out the possibility of re-turing are hard and expensive to irrigate, mean- the lawn as it would require too many BEAUTIFUL GAMES ing that this natural, biological control hours of labour and would therefore be measure can only be used to great efect too expensive. Puncturing the on areas of 15 to 20 metres squared. If noticed early, the threat can be Jesus College have had to re-turf their political football entire irst court lawn as the area afect- Crows are ed is too large for the use of nematodes. tearing up It must be hard for politicians to ignore A post on the College’s Facebook page several courts the engaged audience of the world’s said: “he situation has become quite (PHOtOGRAPH: weather will make the grubs go deeper ▲ Jesus, Selwyn, most popular sport. hroughout the severe over the last two to three weeks SOPHIE PENNEY) into the soil and out of range of the Pembroke and years, prime ministers and presidents and large areas of lawn have sufered crows. However, Gallant hopes to re- Emma have also have looked to football as a way of reach- as a result, First Court in particular. he reduced before it really sets in. Elstub ❝ move the grub before they bury down, been alicted ing out to voters, usually with little to use of nematodes has proved unreliable. said: “he egg laying takes place in June in order to prevent further problems in (PHOtOGRAPHS: no success. […] Our gardeners will apply topsoil and and July and at that time, if you spot the As long as I spring and, most importantly, for the JESUS COLLEGE/ Indeed, as Percy Burton Preston ex- seed along with fertilizer (which the adult chafer beetles on the lawn, you May Ball. he chafer grub problem goes FACEBOOK, SOPHIE amines, there remains a confusing state birds dislike) once the destructiveness can mow the lawns accordingly with a don’t have back 10 years or so and colleges have PENNEY, DANIEL of afairs: while the actions of people like has ceased”. rotary mower and collect up the adults. a lawn full experienced the problem before. It is also GAYNE) David Cameron and Sepp Blatter have Clare College, only afected in a few, However, there is only about a two week a problem nationally. left the beautiful game unavoidably and small areas of roughly four meters window for this and sometimes it is dif- of dead “We’ll never be rid of the problem,” embarrassingly political, it is they – and squared in its memorial court, are also icult to spot them”. crows said Elstub, “it’s a case of managing it others – who continue to ardently assert trying other methods including rolling he winter weather could temporar- and dealing with it in the most appropri- the opposite. the land to make it a bit harder so that ily help solve the problem as the cold ❞ ate way possible”. Page 30 ▶ 4 F  21 O 2016

News Brexit Week Brexit: Cambridge academics speak out on Britain and the EU

British people. Vote is the ‘tip He was followed by Dr Victoria Bate- Is it OK man, the Caius Economics fellow who of the iceberg’ notably turned up naked to a faculty to be meeting earlier this year to protest the possibility of Brexit and sought to ex- bored of plain the referendum’s result in historical Joe Robinson context, seeing it as a “working-class Brexit? Political Editor revolt” with its roots in the Industrial Revolution. The University of Cambridge’s ‘Brexit For Bateman, it represented a reaction Week’ began on Tuesday, inaugurating to the deindustrialisation of the atcher Jack Higgins several days of lectures and talks that period, but noted that it brought together Associate Editor sought to interrogate the causes and im- disparate groups from disa ected north- plications of the UK’s shock vote to leave ern industrial areas and southern Euro- In his talk as part of ‘Brexit Week’ cur- the European Union on 23rd June. sceptic towns in an uneasy coalition. rently running at the Faculty of Law, Poli- In the  rst of these events, entitled Bateman noted that Brexit “seemed seeking greater and greater legitimation tics academic Chris Bickerton stressed ‘Brexit: how and why did we get here?’, to o er all things to all people”, and that from their membership of the EU. one of the key positives of leaving the the Faculty of Law’s Professor Catherine social conservatives for whom “the clock e referendum, he suggested, result- EU: that politicians can no longer use Barnard chaired a discussion of academ- needs to be turned backwards” wanted ed from the “hollowing out” of democ- it as a smokescreen to avoid being held ics from the  elds of history, economics entirely di erent outcomes from Brexit racy and the poor relationships between accountable by the British electorate. and political science as they o ered di- than post-industrial areas. citizens and their governments. When I interviewed him earlier this year, verse views on how the leave vote came Inevitably, she argued, people would According to Bickerton, the key chal- he had stressed that breaking away from about. “feel betrayed” and that the referendum lenge at the heart of the referendum was Europe would put an end to “the political e  rst speaker, historian Professor would inaugurate a new series of con- how to govern across the “void” creat- class looking to the EU and saying: ‘this Robert Tombs, o ered an explanation  icts as the extrication process began. ed by the retreat of politicians into the is Brussels’ fault’”. that centred around the long history of e  nal speaker was Dr Chris Bicker- state and the public into their private is may well be true when we  nally British Euroscepticism and Britain’s dis- ton from the Department of Politics and spheres. He suggested that the referen- leave, but at the moment Brexit itself tinct politics and culture. International Studies (POLIS), who dur- dum o ered the prospect of enhanced has become the very smokescreen it was “We’re not very enthusiastic Europe- ing the referendum campaign advanced accountability for politicians who, fol- supposed to banish. e vote was 120 ans,” he observed, noting that only Cy- a let-wing case for Brexit based on the lowing Brexit, could no longer hide be- days ago, yet not a single one of those prus rivalled the UK for its ambivalence enhanced accountability of politicians hind the EU as an excuse for their failures days has passed without the subject to the continent’s political union. to the British public. or shortcomings. being plastered across every news out- Tombs argued that not only had Brit- Bickerton observed that the referen- Bickerton postulated that this trend let. As I write, in the last 24 hours e ain’s retention of the pound made leav- dum campaign “didn’t actually focus on of elite and public withdrawal, having Guardian alone has published at least 29 ing easier versus those countries limited the EU”, with the Remain and Leave sides blended with the previously marginal by their membership of the single cur- exclusively concerned with the economy force of Euroscepticism in the UK, would Brexit means rency, but he postulated that the UK had and immigration respectively, and that spread throughout Europe, with the pos- Brexit means an entirely di erent “political culture” this was because of a conceptual issue in sibility of referenda in Italy and France Brexit means from our European neighbours. how the European Union is conceptual- ▲ Christopher in the near-term. Brexit? On the result of the referendum, the ised. He compared it to a “mirage”, argu- Bickerton, author Brexit was, for Bickerton, only the prominent Eurosceptic argued that “sot ing that it “appears tangible at  rst, but of bestseller e “tip of the iceberg”. What lies beneath Brexit is not Brexit” and that only full the closer you get it begins to tremble European Union: the water is other EU member states for articles referencing Brexit. And that’s in exit from the single market constituted and quiver”, eventually giving way to a A Citizen’s Guide whom the EU will not be a settled issue just one publication, six months before an adequate re ection of the will of the reality made up of national governments DANIEL GAYNE for some time to come. we’ve even triggered Article 50. is is not to say that Brexit isn’t im- portant. I’d be a fool to deny that we date it. e question of parliamentary should be ignoring the biggest political Brexit will be a involvement was quickly heralded as a and economic issue of modern British key factor, as the risk of parliamentary history. However, at a time when the Herculean task organisation to manipulate the terms government is developing a ‘Brexit strat- of any move towards pushing the big egy’ – or so it claims – it is important to Brexit button plays on eresa May’s remember that it really isn’t the sole job micromanagement mind. Runciman of May’s government, contrary to what Brónagh Grace denigrated this fear of e ective opposi- headlines suggest. And this is particu- News Correspondent tion as unfounded. larly signi cant given that there are argu- Ultimately, Runciman declared that ably more important debates to be had It’s di cult to turn on the news with- politics never stops, citing the Witney at the moment: how do we, amid con- out confronting the latest plot twist in by-election taking place that day. When tinued talk of crisis, keep the NHS alive? the ever-unfolding drama that is Brexit. a comparison was made between the Is austerity working? And how do we e turbulence of the political landscape 10-1 odds against a Liberal Democrat able the gargantuan process of undoing solve the crippling housing shortage in could easily leave one rattled as the pan- victory and the 10-1 odds on a Trump EU law only augmented this sense of the UK? If these issues are simply buried tomime of colourful characters and un- win, Runciman noted that “the thing tragedy, with Elliott concluding that with beneath the cacophony of Brexit noise foreseen events playing out on the news about one in ten chances, is that they such a potential transference of powers – this piece notwithstanding – it may reports seems a legitimate alternative to tend to happen one in 10 times.” e roar from the legislature to the executive, the cause some to simply switch o , which Net ix. e University of Cambridge’s of laughter didn’t quite mask the wisp stated aim of Brexit to restore legislative is self-evidently bad when it comes to ‘Brexit week’, organised in conjunction of nerves. sovereignty “rings hollow.” holding the government to account. with ‘UK in a Changing Europe’, aimed Professor Mark Elliott, Professor of e large turnout and eagerness to And this argument isn’t just the con- to engage students and the community Public Law at Cambridge, gave a run- ask questions seemed to re ect the sig- jecture of a disillusioned student. For in discussion around the realities of this down of the formalities of leaving the ni cance of a political moment quite example, the BBC recently reported that too-oten dramatised narrative. EU containing, like all good instruction unprecedented in many of our lifetimes. even some Tories at their own conference ursday’s ‘Process and Politics’ talk manuals, as much bewilderment as clar- Both speakers led us through the wind- were said to be su ering from ‘Brexit o ered an analysis of the legal dance ity. Elliott disparaged the ‘Great Repeal ▲ An EU  ag ing, obscure passageways of the Brexit fatigue’ due to the “endless speculation of Brexit. Head of Department at POLIS Bill’ as clever marketing and called the hangs from a labyrinth, indicating the complexities Breaking news, about what’s going to happen next”. If a Professor David Runciman provided in- atermath of Brexit “a Herculean task”. balcony on King’s of both the politics and process. e tra- around the bunch who tend to be particularly keen sight, if only to verify the obscurity with e suggestion of ‘Henry VIII’ powers Parade FELIX jectory of Brexit’s plot? Like any good clock for prattling on about politics are bored, which we are faced rather than eluci- being conferred on the executive to en- PECKHAM drama, it’s complicated. varsity.co.uk what hope is there for the rest of us? F  21 O 2016 5

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and neuroscience while at Cambridge in the early 1990s, recalled her own experi- ‘ is is your life. Run ence with anorexia and mixed comedy with cautionary tales. “I lost weight, I lost focus, it was hard to see. I walked up to the Senate House board and didn’t see my name beside the 2:1s. It turned your own race’ out I was on the board on the other side of the building for the really, really bad people,” she joked. “And yet, my friends from Clare still had no idea about my illness.” ere were mixed reactions to Liz Fraser’s Union She added this observation to the practice of students exaggerating the speech, which tackled the psychological challenges extent of their workload, or lack thereof, as a further example of the intensity in unique to Oxbridge. Danny Wittenberg reports Cambridge. “Don’t believe what anybody around you says. ‘I’ve done no work’ – bullshit.  is is your life. Run your own Cambridge University exists to nurture argued for the reinvention of mental race,” she recommended. “ ere is a gen- minds, yet the decline in mental health wellbeing as a universal issue so that uine increased pressure at Cambridge, among some students remains one of the society might open up to mental illness. so don’t feel guilty about sensing it. If questions it has struggled to resolve. “We need to rebrand mental health com- mental illness a ects one in four people Despite divided views within the pro- pletely,” Fraser told members. “It is an in the world, it is probably closer to 30- fessional and public spheres, it is still unfortunate term that makes us think of 40 per cent here.” taken as a fact that one in four people madness and weird people.  e truth is Confronting the likelihood that every will su er a mental health problem, in- that everybody is abnormal, therefore student will know a su erer of anxiety, directly a ecting almost everyone.  e we are all normal.” Fraser seemed to advocate adopting a reality for Cambridge is believed to be a When Fraser asked the audience ❝ hard-line approach to friends. greater  gure. whether anyone had never felt panic, The onus is “ ere are two schools of thought: one Liz Fraser – a comedian, social com- depression, anxiety or forms of stress, is to continue to be nice, and the other mentator and Clare College alumna – the debating chamber descended into on you to is to say: ‘I’m out’.  e second method returned to Cambridge on Tuesday, in a rare silence. carries high risk but everyone has their ▲ Liz Fraser, who order to deliver an equally hard-hitting A danger particular to Oxbridge, she recognise turning point. studied at Clare set of solutions, as well as discussing cautioned, is the false sense of security that you’re “ e onus is on you to recognise that QIUYING GIULIA LAI the institution that posed her the tough- given by the collegiate system. “You can you’re not feeling okay,” she added. est intellectual and psychological chal- literally disappear if you want. Cam- not feeling “You have to decide that you’re going lenges. bridge can be so lonely and this does okay to change things and you can’t blame ◀  e Cambridge In a poignant talk at the Cambridge not help perceived mental health.” the world.” Union SIMON Union, the Natural Sciences graduate Fraser, who specialised in psychology ❞ An author of books such as Lifesham- LOCK F  21 O 2016 7 News

however. CUSU-GU Welfare and Rights O cer, Sophie Buck, said she was “scep- Pexit referendum date set tical of the ‘stylish’ Headcase endeavour Fraser is proposing”, and that “Its focus on making mental health ‘sexy’ trivial- ises what can be exhausting, frighten- ing and disabling experiences of mental term, they are thus by far the only college health problems.” ▸ Continued from front page pressing ahead and putting the matter Buck also took issue with how Fraser to a vote – rumblings and rumours of “puts too much focus on individual re- e letter, which was signed by 17 anony- referendums at Queens’ and Clare having sponsibility for one’s own health”, saying: mous Petreans, was sent on the day ater come to nothing. “It’s important for service providers to Cambridge voted to remain part of NUS, It all begs the question of whether make their services accessible, for tutors and argued that this latest failing added CUSU a liation is still the hot political and DoSes to be checking in with their to “longer term concerns about the or- issue it was at Peterhouse in the height- students, for supervisors to set clear ganisation’s incompetence”, concluding ened climate of rampant democracy that expectations for work and, on broader that the only way forward was to split took over the University before the long levels, for systematic oppressions to be from CUSU. summer vacation. reduced, and trauma prevented. ese e letter resulted in an open meeting Indeed, past disa liation pushes and relate to mental health, but are by no of the Sex Club, with a referendum on moves to re-a liate have hardly cap- means the fault of the individual and CUSU on the agenda alongside another tured the imagination of the student their ability to self-care or self-refer.” contentious issue – the return of a PS3 body at large. Student Minds president, Keir Muri- to the JCR, discussion of which, accord- Having disa liated in 2006, Trinity son, was more forgiving in his appraisal ing to the minutes, was delayed until College Students’ Union (TCSU) later re- of Fraser’s address, “Liz had some very Michaelmas. a liated in a move that one Trinitarian important messages about self-help and Just who the ‘Peterhouse Seventeen’ said was met with “absolute apathy”, are, however, is curiously murky terri- and which was only possible because a CUSU Welfare tory – strongly suspected signatories in- Varsity reporter pushed the attendance O cer Sophie clude University Challenge winner Julian of the re-a liation meeting up to meet Buck criticised Sutcli e, and Eloise Davies, whose 21st the quorum. parts of Fraser’s birthday cake (a scaled-down replica Last year, students at Fitz expressed approach of the 700-year-old college rendered in their lack of interest by voting not to sponge and fondant icing) shocked Daily have a vote on leaving CUSU. e last bles and e Yummy Mummy’s Family taking responsibility for your own health. Mail readers in March. time a college actually put their CUSU Handbook, Fraser recently founded the ere were some messages we disagreed e identities of the primary backers membership to a vote, the result was website ‘Headcase’, which claims to be with (the SMC committee present) but of a so-called ‘Pexit’ is not the only un- a landslide result in favour of Churchill “beautiful, sexy, clever, funny, occasion- there is no right answer when it comes known in this latest potential secession ▲ Will Cam- retaining its ties. ally downright rude” and states its aim to mental health treatment. We aim for from CUSU. While Peterhouse weren’t bridge’s oldest If history is anything to go by, Pe- as being to “change the face of mental  exibility and understanding from all the only college where dissatisfaction college leave the terhouse’s referendum probably won’t health”. parties in life to get the best outcome with CUSU had reached calls-for-a- students’ union? change anything and, even if it does, it’s e project is not without its critics, for everyone.” referendum levels at the end of Easter AZEIRA unlikely many people will notice.

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BCG.COM/ BUILD. CONNECT. GROW. CAREERS 8 F  21 O 2016 News Students divided over report into NUS anti-Semitism

Jewish students, with the implication “outright racism”. Sam Harrison that she has failed “to represent all sec- Bouattia has defended herself in writ- Deputy News Editor tions of the student population”. ten evidence to the Select Committee. Analysis Bouattia has sparked controversy She distinguished between opposition Representatives from student unions and with remarks that have been interpreted to Zionist beliefs and anti-Semitism, other organisations across the country as anti-Semitic, notoriously calling the commenting that “Zionist politics are Student have divided over a Home A airs Select University of Birmingham “something held by people from a variety of di erent Committee (HASC) report that accuses of a Zionist outpost” and referring to the backgrounds and faiths.” indi erence the NUS of an ine ective response to the UK media as “Zionist-led”. However, the Union of Jewish Stu- is Bouattia’s problem of anti-Semitism.  e Select Committee report address- dents (UJS) has welcomed the report,  e report particularly criticises NUS es these points of contention in strongly- with Josh Nagli (Campaign Development  rewall president Malia Bouattia, accusing her worded terms, reprimanding Bouattia’s O cer) stating that it con rms “what so of “defensiveness and apparent unwill- “choice of language” and labelling the many Jewish students have been saying ingness” to engage with the concerns of “Zionist outpost” comment a piece of for some time.” He added that the re- Sam Harrison port proves that Bouattia “treats Jewish Deputy News Editor students’ concerns di erently to those of others”. Only three things in life are Reaction among other students has certain: death, taxes, and Malia been mixed. An open letter in support Bouattia-related controversies. of Bouattia had been signed by 350 stu- ▲ Josh Nagli, an o cer of the UJS, Bouattia, we may assume, is dent union o ce-holders, academic sta condemned Bouattia UJS going nowhere: partly because and students when Varsity went to print. she still has the support of O ce-holders and students are not ex- However, not all student leaders have many other student leaders, but plicitly distinguished from each other been willing to back Bouattia. 98 mem- mostly because the almost 2.3 in the letter. Among their number are bers of student unions and other student million students at universities NUS Vice-President Sorana Vieru and 15 organisations, including the president of in the UK are almost entirely members of the union’s National Execu- the UJS Josh Seitler, the National Chair indi erent to the whole a air. tive Committee. of Labour Students Kate Dearden, and Passionate cases in favour of  e letter welcomed the report’s hard four members of the National Executive and against Bouattia have been line on anti-Semitism, but accused it of Committee of the NUS, have signed a made by Jewish students and failing to address “the large majority of rival letter which has called upon Bouat- admirers of the NUS president. anti-Semitic abuse and crime” that is tia “to issue a full and formal apology to But the fact remains that the committed “by the far right”, instead fo- Jewish students, and indeed to her entire majority of those students who cusing on the NUS in the spirit of what membership.” do not feel either ideologically it calls “partisan selectivity”.  is letter suggests that for an NUS devoted to, or physically threat- It also repeated Bouattia’s distinction president to be accused of utilising racist ened by, Bouattia’s comments between “legitimate criticism of Zion- language is an “unprecedented situa- regard the dispute as a remote ism” and anti-Semitism, insisting that tion”. It also states that Bouattia’s com- struggle unrelated to their own “Zionism is a political ideology… held or ments following the report do not “go far interests, conducted by people rejected by both Jewish people and non- enough in acknowledging or apologising they have never heard of. Jewish people” that “should be open to for the signi cant damage that her ac- Last time an NUS president discussion, scrutiny and debate.” tions and language have done to NUS”. was forced to resign in 2011, Finally, it criticises the report’s “selec-  e letter concludes that if Bouattia he was facing widespread tive and partisan approach”, claiming “fails to acknowledge the need for an im- discontent among students for that it “attempts to delegitimise [the] mediate and full apology” and refuses to his perceived failure to resist NUS, and discredit Malia Bouattia as lay out a strategy for accommodating the tuition fee rises. Without similar its president.” It then concluded by de-  ndings of the report, she should resign popular pressure, Bouattia’s po- manding “a revised report that is impar- from her post as president of the NUS. sition will be not be threatened. tial and contains factual evidence.” CUSU requested £100k for o ce refurbishment last year

as the new space was bigger “than had “unrealistic” by the Committee, “in the Amy Gee previously been available” and lacked context of the  nancial position of the Senior News Correspondent “furniture, or furniture of the right type, University, where all departments were to make the space comfortable and in- being asked to do more within their ex- Minutes from meetings with the Council viting” for students “on the outskirts of isting budgets”. Committee for the supervision of the stu- Cambridge who had no obvious base  e funding bids had come at a time dent unions (CCSSU) have revealed that when in town”. of  nancial de cit for CUSU. Accounts CUSU requested non-recurrent funding  e minutes call the cost evaluation from last June show CUSU had run a Well of £100,000 for the refurbishment of the “provisional” and suggest that “detailed de cit in 2014/2015, and were £32,454 connected... CUSU o ces at 17 Mill Lane, in Novem- work would need to be carried out over worse o than they were at the end of Printers for the University ber 2015. the next year to  nalise the costs”. the 2013/14  nancial year. of Cambridge, Cambridge  e request at the time was reject-  e Committee rejected the initial Minutes from February 2016 reveal it Science Park, Cambridge ed by the Committee, partially on the request because “the costs as set out was “already expected to be a particu- Rugby Club, The Royal British grounds that “the space at Mill Lane had in the paper were not  nal and would larly di cult year for new funding bids”, Legion, and many other been refurbished prior to CUSU mov- not be ready in time for the submission and in May the Committee acknowl- Posters Lealets

Cambridge based companies Booklets ing in”. deadline” in December 2015, and con- edged “the di culties that CUSU faced Postcards Brochures Stationery Magazines

and organisations. Handbooks  e request was presented within sequently suggested “the bid should be in trying to balance a tight budget with a drat of CUSU’s bid for funds, along- held over until the following year”. its aspirations to do more for students”, side other bids for increases in funding,  e bids were also criticised by the welcoming that the “CUSU Board was some of which were later endorsed by Committee for their length, running to making decisions based on CUSU’s stra- the Committee in May 2016. “50 pages”, and the Committee recom- tegic priorities.” 01223 870266 [email protected] Minutes from September 2015 show mended “a more succinct  nal version “ e Committee encouraged CUSU Lithographic & Digital Production www.langhampress.co.uk that funds were hoped to stimulate the for submission”. to formulate clear priorities to guide its “development of a student-facing space”, Other bids for funds were also deemed future aspirations and spending”. F  21 O 2016 9 Investigation Revealed: black graduates less than half as likely to gain admission as white applicants

● Large disparity also 100 present at Oxford Analysis ● University strongly 80 denies racial bias Grad admissions: 60 Important issues Tom Richardson Investigations Editor deserve more scrutiny 40 A Varsity investigation has revealed con- 29.6% sistent and striking disparities between Tom Richardson the success rates of applicants to post- 20 14.8% Investigations Editor graduate courses from di erent ethnic 10.3% groups over the past six years.  e data, which are publicly avail-  e media and politicians from Prime come complacent at attracting the able online, show that the proportion 0 Minister Gordon Brown down have best talent, and at best the system of black applicants con rming places has White All non- Black long criticised disparities in Oxbridge needs  nessing to accommodate the averaged 10.3 per cent over the period, admissions at undergraduate level, to wide variety of backgrounds from around a third of that of white appli- white varying degrees of accuracy. which talent might emerge. cants, which averaged 29.6 per cent. Yet it is at postgraduate level that Talent, unlike graduate admis-  e success rates of both groups were ▲ Average success rate 2010-2015 application cycles a large number of undergraduates, sions, is colour blind. If academia also remarkably steady, with black ap- around 30 per cent of the total youth is to move forward, and learn from plicants in all years enjoying a success average rate of 16 per cent and non- not attract applications from the most population, become a tiny number campaigns such as the NUS’s ‘Why rate of between 10 and 11 per cent, while white applicants at a rate of 16.3 per talented black students then it runs the of experts, ultimately determining is my Curriculum White?’ then it the white success rate ranged between cent, compared with 29 per cent for risk of losing out to universities that the character of future academia.  e needs to address its own complexion. 28 and 32 per cent. white applicants, re ecting marginally can.” consistency of the  gures Varsity has While the new strategy for expanding For the latest two cycles for which more parity between the groups than A spokesperson for the University of unearthed, and the striking symme- graduate recruitment is a good start, at Cambridge. Oxford said: “Discrepancies in o er rates try between the two dominant uni- there remains a signi cant success ▼ Proportion of con rmed places Commenting on the  gures, Chad Al- are attributable to a number of factors, versities in the UK, can no longer be gap for those black graduates that 2015/6 cycle, by ethnicity len, president of the Graduate Union at including degree and course choice... Ox- ignored. do apply. Cambridge, suggested that of “a number ford monitors its postgraduate admis-  e University’s argument, that For better or worse, Oxford and of factors… the e ect of unconscious is sions procedures to ensure our selection their admissions process is race- Cambridge dominate academia and Black (3%) no doubt a contributor”.  is suggestion criteria and processes are fair and do not blind, is plausible in as far as it is their admissions decisions can shape Undisclosed (5%) was strongly denied by the University, discriminate against candidates based unlikely direct bias plays a signi cant the future diversity of whole disci- who said: “we admit the best quali ed on nationality or ethnic group.” role. Yet the end results for black ap- plines.  ey must do better, and the Other (30%) students irrespective of their ethnicity…  e University of Oxford and the plicants remain shocking. At worst media must do better at scrutinising White (63%) the application form which departments CUSU BME campaigns did not respond the two universities may have be- them. and colleges assess does not include in- to Varsity’s requests for comment. formation on ethnicity at all.” “Di erences in success rates by eth- information is available (2014/15 and nicity are due to two factors alone,” the 2015/16), the data was broken down to University said, speci cally that “a higher include how many o ers were made, and proportion of international applicants”, showed that an average of 22 per cent who it pointed out were more likely to of black applicants were made o ers, be of an ethnic minority, “will have ob- compared with 50.5 per cent of white ap- tained a quali cation that does not meet plicants, suggesting the overall success the University’s requirements”. of black applicants cannot be attributed  e University also noted that “the to them turning down o ers in higher level of English language pro ciency at join.rolandberger.com numbers, or failing to meet the condi- the point of application” among inter- tions set by the o er. national applicants was lower, a ecting In absolute terms, the number of the quality of the application. black applicants, successful or other- Similarly, Allen suggested “the na- wise, was also low. An average of 3.3 ture of the graduate application proc- per cent of applicants and 1.8 per cent ess… can be complex”, and those from of successful applicants identi ed them- “non-traditional backgrounds” might selves as black.  nd it harder to tackle, suggesting this A small proportion each year did not barrier came down to the requirement disclose their ethnicity. for “a self-drated research proposal or where you want to be. Disparities also exist between success knowledge of supervisors with projects rates for white and non-white applicants on o er”. more generally. On average, non-white Commenting on the low total num- applicants had a 14.8 per cent chance of bers of black applicants, Allen said: “this With more than 50 ofices across the globe and a track-record of nearly con rming a place, and represented an must be a consequence of Cambridge 50 years, Roland Berger has successful operations in all major international average of 47.6 per cent of total applica- previously having had no explicit gradu- markets. Our key values of entrepreneurship, excellence and empathy tions.  e only non-white group to con- ate recruitment strategy”. are irmly rooted in our culture. We deeply value unique and diverse sistently out-perform white applicants However, despite criticising “the un- personalities and strongly encourage entrepreneurial spirit and novel ideas. were Arabs, of whom an average of 50.2 acceptably low rate of black applicants”, per cent secured a place. Allen expressed “con dence” that the At Roland Berger, we ofer you the freedom to develop your career and Figures obtained from publicly avail- University’s new graduate recruitment reach your goals. You can take on responsibility from the start and actively able admissions data for the University strategy “will begin to remove barriers… shape your career, while we help you develop your potential. We are looking of Oxford show remarkably similar pat- which evidently strongly a ect black for people who pay attention to detail, but keep sight of the big picture. As a terns. students.” consultant with us, you can be where you want to be. Across the four admissions cycles “Cambridge needs to attract the very from 2010 to 2014 investigated by Varsity, best graduate researchers from every Oxford admitted black applicants at an background,” he said. “If Cambridge can- 10 F  21 O 2016 Science e slow death of Cambridge’s anti-medicine ‘cult’?

●  e Christian Science ◂ A Christian essentially illusory compared to God. Science reading As such, Science and Health teaches movement investigated room DISTILLATED that there is nothing to be healed but the soul. is prohibits Christian Scientists from using doctors – if all that needs to Jon Wall be healed is the soul, why are physical Science Editor remedies needed? In fact, Christian Sci- ence teachings suggest that healing is Along the series of shop fronts on Regent more e ective when medical profession- Street heading out of town, there are a als are not involved at all, instead relying few which stand out: Pizza Hut and Nan- on Christian Science practitioners, who na Mexico, for example. As we continue essentially pray for the su erer. past Downing College, though, the shops is, naturally, has led to a series of get smaller and more niche. It’s easy to library in nearby Elmdon. Cambridge, Christianity as a ‘cult’. e unique selling controversies, particularly in the United miss the Christian Science reading room, though, is relatively small fry as far point of Christian Science was – and still States, by virtue of the larger Christian a space smaller than a John’s accom- as Christian Science is concerned. e is – that Mary Baker Eddy had discovered Science population there. A series of ❝ modation room, yet many of us pass it movement is largely US-based, with a new ‘Divine Science’ which constituted child deaths from preventable causes Mary Baker by unthinkingly every day – and why headquarters in Boston – and it is here a return to primitive Christianity and such as diabetes and meningitis led to not? It’s a harmless little place, empty that the movement’s origins and major emphasised healing. an increased drive against ‘religious Eddy had the vast majority of the time, and only controversies lie. She documented this revelation in freedom’ standing in the way of caring open three days a week. Christian Science was the brainchild Christian Science’s central text, Science for children, and several convictions discovered However, the Christian Science move- of Mary Baker Eddy, a widower from and Health, which outlined how healing of Christian Science parents for man- a new ment as a whole is harder to dismiss. In New Hampshire, and came into being could be accomplished through prayer. slaughter. Cambridge, the movement has repur- in the mid-19th century, at the same time is had two major implications:  rstly, While other minority religious groups ‘Divine posed an old Methodist church near the as Mormonism – a religion with which in a spiritual sense, Christian Science with similar views on modern medicine Science’ Botanic Gardens, and as well as the town it shared a number of similarities, not prayer involves a struggle to realise the have had members face jail sentences, centre reading room, there is a research least in being deemed by mainstream metaphysical truth that this world is however, Christian Scientists have been ❞ Perspectives: e relationship Jack Slater God is dead, and it was science that killed him – but we can still tackle some issues from a religious perspective

God is dead, and it was science that discussion, not the only voice. Examples killed him. Or at least, that’s the message of this work abound – from this very you may well take away from some of university I can think of Sarah Coakely the more prominent atheists in the pub- and Rowan Williams as two excellent lic eye – particularly those who can be examples of religious scholars who take loosely clustered around the category of secular work very seriously. Certainly New Atheists, such as Richard Dawkins this humility, for want of a better word, or Sam Harris. is sorely needed at times among some And it is in fact a claim that has a fair of the more prominent members of the amount of merit, although probably not scienti c community. in the manner the New Atheists intend. Prominent examples of scientists It is in the enforced humility with which overstepping their bounds might include many religious thinkers today have re- Stephen Hawking’s assertion last year sponded to the ‘Death of God’ that we that philosophy is dead (which, rather can see a model for how science, religion, amusingly, is an inherently philosophi- and other schools of thought can come cal statement). is assumption that ex- together to address some of the most pertise in science gives one credentials pressing issues we face today. to speak authoritatively in other  elds Whenever someone talks about God is part of the ‘scientism’ that is gaining dying, they are almost always (con- grounds in certain circles. Not only is sciously or not) referring to the German it bad science, but it represents a very philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche in  e unhelpful way in which science can in- Gay Science and, just as frequently, they teract with other  elds. are entirely missing the point. Nietzsche Increasingly, though, some of the wasn’t talking about a literal death of most pressing questions of the day are God, nor was he claiming that it was now not ones that can be easily described as apparent that God did not exist. Instead, the sole purview of science or religion. Frontline recruits outstanding individuals to be leaders in social work and he was simply noting that religion could Dogmatic insistence that science or reli- broader society. Successful applicants will take part in an intensive and no longer be relied upon as a moral com- gion is the only applicable analytical tool innovative two year leadership programme and gain a master’s degree. pass and a source of meaning in people’s in any situation (an insistence one  nds But most importantly, they’ll be working to transform the lives of vulnera- lives. While Nietzsche predicted that the spouted by the fundamentalist wing of death of God would lead to widespread both sides of the theism-atheism divide) ble children and young people. nihilism, he didn’t predict that science is a position which far too oten mate- might come to  ll the role religion once rialises. held in Western society. Instead, we need to consider the What is really quite interesting is how whole range of voices that can make this has forced religious thinkers to re- contributions to a discussion – scienti c, spond – most notably, taking seriously ▴ New Atheist religious, philosophical, historical – if we WWW.THEFRONTLINE.ORG.UK the work of secular scholars and propos- Richard Dawkins are to avoid a studied deafness to voices ing religious thought as one voice in the DAVID SHANKBONE that might be di erent from our own. F  21 O 2016 11 Science

largely protected, due to the foresight  is is a signi cant contrast compared shown by some of their members. to the early half of the 20th century, Christian Scientists had tended to be when the movement experienced a peak middle-class and aspirational, playing of around 300,000 active members in the prominent roles in government. Two of mid-1930s. Today, the Church stands at Richard Nixon’s most trusted advisors fewer than 100,000. were Christian Scientists who success-  ere are a number of reasons for this. fully introduced a series of pieces of leg- Early Christian Scientists were mainly islation giving the movement exemp- women, drawn by the increase in career tions from important medical policies, opportunities which the movement of- such as mandatory vaccinations. fered. As these opportunities became However, in the wake of increasing mainstream, the movement declined. legal scrutiny, the movement now in- Christian Science also – unlike Mormon- sists that its members follow local laws ism – does not use missionaries to spread – even though these may contradict its the religion, leading to low conversion core teachings. I spoke further about this rates, even within families of Christian with David Willman, the organiser of Scientists. Cambridge University’s Christian Sci- However, the most signi cant reason ence group. is advances in medical care. While in the He said that Mary Baker Eddy’s teach- past prayer may have been as e ective ings in fact appreciated the work of as the dubious remedies of 19th-century medical professionals, suggesting that doctors, discoveries such as antibiotics they were positive in uences on her life, and breakthroughs in the understanding though he still maintains that healing is of diseases meant that Christian Science most e ective without the in uence of have not been fully investigated or cor- why is this religion popular? became substantially less e ective. modern medical treatments. roborated by medical professionals.  e  e simple answer is that it isn’t – As such, it is hard to see a future for He also spoke to me about his person- Christian Science movement as a whole at least, not any more.  e Cambridge the movement.  e growing age of its al, documented experiences of Christian relies on veri ed anecdotal accounts of congregation is relatively small, and ❝ members means that this religion will Science healing, citing several examples. healing such as these, published regular- positively tiny within the University. Globally, likely eventually die out, with its healing  ese included an incident when he was ly in the movement’s journals, in order to David Willman suggests that there are methods increasingly discredited. hit by a squash ball in the eye, went tem- make its claims for healing.  ese anec- single-digit numbers of Christian Sci- a third of Given the number of people, particu- porarily blind, yet following a minute’s dotal claims are extremely vulnerable to entists across the University – including larly children, who have su ered from prayer was completely “healed”. He of- false positives and mis-characterisation, just one undergraduate. church preventable illnesses because of the fered a further example of an occasion and are not con rmed by outside sources David himself is a retired academic, members movement’s teachings, I’d have to say when a painful lump or growth under as a matter of course. his age typical of many Christian Scien- that this is no bad thing. his let arm vanished ater a period of All of this begs the question: if we ▴  e Christian tists. Globally, at least a third of Church are aged Frequently unnoticed, Cambridge’s prayer. have little good evidence for the healing Science Mother members are aged over 65, frequently over 65 small Christian Science reading room While backed up by the Church, these powers of Christian Science prayer, and Church in Boston living together in clumps of retirement and community may soon fade into the ‘healing events’, as far as I am aware, thus their particular view of the world, SARAH NICHOLS communities. ❞ city’s history. between science and religion A business with an So a Weiss While science and religion may disagree, the important inspiring future thing is coexistence How will you shape it? Some of those reading will likely be ▾ A scientist scientist has managed to prove that cold aware of the ‘Cold Dark Matter  eory’ with faith, Albert fusion doesn’t exist, but most would as- for the Universe’s formation and its illus- Einstein SOPHIE sign a low probability to it because the AstraZenecaHow pushes will the boundariesyou shapeof science Throughout it? all of our Graduate Programmes trious co-developer: Joel Primack.  ey DELAR not-insigni cant number of attempts in to deliver life-changing medicines. As a you will have the opportunity to complete may not have known – until now – that their quest have been all but fruitful. global, innovation driven - biopharmaceutical multiple rotations, providing a breadth of Primack believes in God. On learning One might interpret this to mean that business, we invest heavily in our scientiic experience that will enable you to discover this fact, one of two reactions is likely to individuals – including fellow scientists – and clinical capabilities, and are proud to your passion. You will have frequent ensue: they will gasp and roll their eyes, are still free to believe that their religion have a unique workplace culture that inspires opportunities to review your progress as you discovery and collaboration. train, experience ground breaking projects or they will smile smugly in that eas- has not yet been disproven, and perhaps and build a strong support network, gaining Our ambition is to improve the lives of 200 ily recognisable ‘I-told-you-so’ fashion. even consider this su cient evidence an extensive understanding of our industry. Ater all, science and religion are still in favour of their convictions. However, million people, and be a $50 billion company, largely cast as opponents in a battle for anyone who seeks to bring science into by 2025. With a range of programmes spanning the entire drug discovery process and beyond into human minds. the argument must acknowledge that Our Graduate Programmes provide you global operations and IT technical leadership Such dissonance extends to the sci- the evidence thus far is weak, especially with the opportunity to be involved in real projects in a global organisation with real – whatever route you take you’ll ind that enti c community in its near-entirety. when it is combined statistically, for ex- AstraZeneca is an organisation with a diverse responsibilities from day one.  ose who question religion oten con- ample, in the fashion of meta-analysis. range of perspectives, challenges and ideas. tend that every piece of data that we pos- Such a judgement does not, however, We are building a culture that values and sess indicates that the Universe operates merit the bashing of the religious among promotes scientiic curiosity, that is agile and according to unchanging, immutable us. When we consider the integration of high-performing, and which attracts, develops To ind out more, please visit: www.astrazenecacareers.com/students. laws. Yet 20th-century breakthroughs in science and religion, I believe that the and retains great people. chaos theory and quantum mechanics, task has been incorrectly de ned. Coex- for example, also suggest that the work- istence is not a question of whether the ings of the Universe cannot be predicted two issues can resolve their di erences, with absolute precision. Hence, even make friends and skip together hand-in- What science can do as science progresses, moving towards hand into the horizon. It would seem to deeper understandings of particles and me that the vital issue is whether e ec- Cardiac regeneration AstraZeneca is investigating the role forces, there still remains a ‘why’ at the tive science can be achieved by scien- of diferent signalling proteins in stem centre, as to why the ultimate rules are tists, religious and otherwise, working cell activation for self repair of heart the way they are. At this critical frontier, in tandem. Empirical evidence would muscle tissue. some scientists  nd religion. Indeed, to suggest that the answer to said query is many, their conclusions may not be that a resounding yes: just look at Primack. di erent from religious revelations. In this light, Einstein’s infamous aph-  e crux of the issue as an omnipres- orism that “science without religion is ent clash lies in the burden of proof: em- lame, religion without science is blind” pirical data is the basis of the scienti c seems rather irrelevant.  e more per- method. Followers of many religions tinent realisation is that science and have long sought direct evidence for religion can and do coexist in our labo- their beliefs, and systematically come up ratories, and that perhaps the hour has dry. Of course, this is also true for when come to end the trivial arguments and scientists looked for, say, cold fusion: no get back to the business of discovery. 12 F  21 O 2016 Comment A tale of two unions: will Scots call time on the UK? Easa Saad e Unionists’ case was strengthened by the EU. e government’s pursuit of ‘hard Brexit’ threatens that Prevent has no place here s a Scot, I voted No in economic uncertainty and leaving the the 2014 independence EU were key factors which made me Cambridge students may have recently referendum, and if the vote No. I felt that membership of the received an email from colleges about referendum were held EU was too important for our country. needing a ‘Prevent approval’ before Atomorrow I would vote And it would seem, at that time, many booking external speakers, but many No again. My decision others were persuaded by these argu- do not know what ‘Prevent’ is. in 2014 was based on the economic un- ments too. So it is no wonder that many Under the Counter-Terrorism and Se- certainties which Scottish independence Scots are outraged that, a mere two years curity Act 2015, the ‘Prevent Duty’ was Jenny Young entailed and I believed that, all things ater this vote, we face the prospect of placed on higher education institutions. studies MML at considered, we were ‘better together’. being dragged out of the EU by the UK  is was an extension of ‘Prevent’, the Homerton College However, Nicola Sturgeon announced government. government’s controversial counter- at the SNP conference that an Independ- Facebook newsfeeds are never a great terrorism programme, which, accord- ence Referendum Bill would be pub- place to be the morning ater an elec- ing to critics, served to “stigmatise” the lished this week. While Sturgeon has tion, but one thing that struck me the Muslim community. In 2011, then-home refused to present a timeline for another morning ater the EU referendum was an secretary  eresa May criticised univer- referendum, or even say that there will image of the electoral map of Scotland, sities for being “complacent” in tackling de nitely be one, many believe that they with every local area coloured yellow extremism. will soon be voting on the future of their for Remain, shared by lots of Scottish Universities will have to ful l the nation once more. friends.  ey were all, more or less, ex- requirement to report “vulnerable” stu- I know lots of people who don’t want pressing the same sentiment: this result dents, while having stricter guidelines another referendum; they say we should is not fair, it in no way re ects the view on speakers considered “radical” – plans accept the results of 2014 and this year’s of the majority of Scottish people. ▴ A European- for the future of this industry from the that the Joint Committee on Human EU referendum and get on with it. It’s not  e result of the EU referendum rein- leaning Scotland Yes campaign, the price of North Sea Rights have said would “sti e academic that they are happy to be leaving the EU, forces an underlying issue which led so is at odds with a oil per barrel is now closer to $50 – not freedom”. but they want to move on from these many to vote for independence in 2014: United Kingdom happy reading for supporters of Scottish  e legislation attempts to extend the divisive ‘us and them’ campaigns. while Westminster may occasionally pay CALLUM HUTCHIN independence. In 2014, the Yes campaign scope of laws limiting speech to cover Yet in their manifesto for the 2016 lip service to Scotland, we make up less SON seemed to avoid getting into the specif- the expression of opinions which contra- Scottish Parliament election, the SNP than a tenth of the UK population, so ics of the economics of Scottish inde- dict the seldom-de ned ‘British values’, said that another independence referen- even if we all voted for the same result in pendence, as no one really knew what out of concern over ‘non-violent’ forms dum would only be called if there was an election, if the rest of the UK votes for those economics would be. Arguments of extremism which can serve as a ba- “sustained evidence” that a majority of a di erent result then we have to accept in favour of independence were seen sis for ‘radicalisation’. But is there any Scots wanted independence, or if there the outcome. While this seems unfair to by many as matters of the heart rather evidence that regulation of university was a “signi cant and material change in many people, if Scotland is just another than the head. With the economic out- speakers is a solution to this issue? the circumstances that prevailed in 2014, region of the UK, then this is the way it look for an independent Scotland look-  e University of Cambridge found no such as Scotland being taken out of the should be. But even as a No voter myself, ing even less favourable now, it is likely link between universities and radicalisa- EU against our will”. Scotland made its I think there is something distinct about that a future independence campaign tion, a conclusion echoed by the Chief feelings on Europe pretty clear, with 62 would focus on the same again, and Executive of Universities UK in 2011. per cent of votes cast for Remain. Now, not necessarily be unsuccessful; the EU Indeed, academic freedom is one of the ◂ Ex-Leader of it looks increasingly likely that Scotland referendum showed that these ‘heart’ best means for tackling extremism. the SNP, Alex will be taken out of the EU against its arguments can be extremely powerful Where do we draw the line as to which Salmond will. and their impact on the voters should views are unacceptable? Segregation of SCOTTISH GOV. While I wouldn’t vote for Scottish in- not be underestimated. men and women at events on university dependence tomorrow, I understand the But the Better Together campaign can- campuses has been a big issue over the betrayal that Scots felt on the morning Scotland which cannot just be subsumed not argue that voting against Scottish last few years, with the consensus being of 24th June. One of the key arguments into the rest of the UK. While on my Year independence is a vote for continuity that the practice is in opposition to those put forward by the Better Together cam- Abroad in France last year, whenever and economic stability, as the UK looks ‘British values’ and an insult to gender paign in 2014 was that, by leaving the someone asked where I was from, the set to leave the EU and the value of the equality. But is it helpful to equate con- UK, Scotland would lose its member- answer was always ‘Scotland’. Why not pound falls rapidly. Facing an increas- servative religious or cultural practices ship of the EU.  e dangers of Scotland Britain? Ater all, that’s what my passport ingly uncertain future within the United with ‘non-violent extremism’? ‘going it alone’ outside of the EU and says, I am a British citizen. But national Kingdom, it’s still not clear which path By criminalising these views, we are losing the supposed in uence that the identity in the UK is more complicated Scotland will take. telling a large group of people that they UK had in the EU were emphasised by than that and this, in part, is where the may not be heard.  e email received by the No campaign. Scotland would not problem lies. students was about external speakers, automatically become a member of the While many argue the case for inde- ❝ Scotland will be but how long before student’s views – EU, they argued, and so would have to pendence in terms of Scotland being a particularly Muslims – are scrutinised? negotiate a possible entry into the EU, self-governing nation, a major stumbling  e University has a responsibility to which would bring further economic block to Scottish independence remains: taken out of the EU foster a trusting environment, where uncertainty. the economy. Once reaching $120 per dialogue and debate trump stigmatisa-

Jenny Young Jenny Speaking from personal experience, barrel and despite optimistic predictions against its will ❞ tion. F  21 O 2016 13 Comment

Cartoon by Ben Brown

Opinionated? Sign up at varsity.co.uk/ get-involved Charity fop: from Ann Summers to Help the Aged

My mother used to dress me exclusively from GAP. And not just Gap. I browsed apparel I less and less eccentric. My friends came couldn’t a ord in boutiques I’d never along too, and we’d march in formation So how did I become an accidental trend-setter? heard of, and even found a store promis- like a packet of crayons in search of more ing “30% O Swimwear” (I needed new glad rags. e Devil may wear Prada, we ’m going to lay my cards on the that (and believe me, few do). I never had trunks so this was ideal), though I haven’t thought, but only because he doesn’t table: I’m one of those twats who one of those rebellious teenage phases been back to Ann Summers since. know about Help the Aged. Ilikes colourful jumpers. ere, I said where I was a goth or an emo or a mod. But then I discovered the joy of char- I was never quite cool enough to it. I was once genuinely asked by Well, I say that… ity shops. ey became my stomping pull o the true streetwear vibe that a friend whether I was colour blind be- ere was a period when I was 11 ground, and I think this is probably the vintage fair darlings of this zeitgeist cause they couldn’t understand what when a friend and I proudly declared about the point at which I started to in- so e ortlessly managed. And if you’ve had possessed me to buy a particularly ourselves punks. We listened to a lot of advertently dress like a set of fairy lights ever met me you’ll know from that last garish crew neck. As it happens, I had the Sex Pistols (despite knowing very (you know, back when they were mul- sentence that I’m also a specialist in un- Will Hall been tested as a child for this optical de- little about sex or pistols) and politely ti-coloured, before it suddenly became derstatement. I was just someone who studies English at  ciency that was so famously immortal- informed the rest of Berkshire that we the fashion to have them all the same happened to have bought a few of Colin Emmanuel College ised in song by Darius (remember him?) were committed anarchists, whatever shade called something like ‘ice white’ from Wokingham’s oh-wasn’t-that-a-fun- and o ten performs back in 2002, because my grandfather that meant. is all came to a sorry end or ‘cool frost’). is was for the simple out t-in-the-eighties-but-it-no-longer- at Footlights was colour blind. when I pricked myself trying to attach reason that all charity shops, no mat-  ts-you-darling-so-let’s-give-it-to-Oxfam Smokers e opticians had concluded without a safety pin to my school blazer, and ter what cause they support, will stock jumpers, rather than an edgy fashionista doubt that my juvenile eyes were able to besides, I thought, I really quite like the the following items without exception: with an innate taste for all things vogu- comprehensively digest a Dulux sample- Queen. But other than that, my youthful a brown suit, beige shoes (I know) and a ish – but we did brie y overlap. chart – plus I knew all the words to ‘I wardrobe was pretty standard fare. luminescent jumper from the 80s. ree So there, my confession is over. I Can Sing A Rainbow’ – so it was case My mother bought all my clothes un- guesses what I let with. have no skeletons in my closet, just a closed. It was my fashion sense that was der the unwavering rule that if it wasn’t In time I graduated from small towns few moth-eaten pullovers which once awry, and I knew exactly who to blame: sold in Gap it wasn’t worth having. But to the bright lights of London: a walking belonged to the now potentially-dead. charity shops. then one day – I think I was about 13 Rubik’s Cube on a tight budget. Friends I’ve worn the jumpers a little less lately, Little did I know, however, that I had – a friend asked if I wanted to go ‘into at  rst were sceptical, but over time more but I still rather like them, in all their accidentally blundered, albeit pre-emp- town’ with him. I was not one to say no and more people had jumped on the sec- ▲ “I’m one of refulgence. e odd looks have been tively, into the unchartered waters of to an adventure like this, and, armed ond-hand, polychromatic bandwagon, those twats who replaced by appreciation. However, if ‘cool’. Well, almost. with my trademark derring-do and £7.40, and I realised I had, quite accidentally, likes colourful mullets,  ares and double denim are To understand how this all came accepted. stumbled upon the fringes of the vintage, jumpers” anything to go by, I’m not resting on my about, we need to stroll back through It turned out that going into town ba- retro, wavey-garmed trend of the post- MATTHEW SEC laurels. I’m o to get my eyes tested, just

Will Hall the history of my ‘style’, if we can call it sically meant going clothes shopping. noughties. My get-ups started to seem COMBE in case we’re all wrong. 14 F  21 O 2016 Comment Mutual fear is driving Russia and the West apart

As winter approaches, increasingly frosty relations sia” – a claim that seems incongruous, given that he outright blamed the coun- re ect a clash of governments, not civilisations try for the attack. Russia have picked up on this, with Putin calling the comments ’m sorry, I don’t have my pass- cyberwar on Russia. What next?’.  ese “a storm in a teacup of muddy London port. I le t it at my house,” I o er a snapshot of Russia’s view of the water”. “Istuttered in highly anglicised US. Such antagonism towards the UK,  e Americans are no less antagonis- Russian, to a stern-faced po- however, is far less prevalent. tic. Amid allegations that the Russians lice o cer in a St Petersburg Metro sta-  is view is given voice in Putin’s have been hacking into private US docu- tion. “My house is on Vasilyevsky Island. words, too. Speaking at the International ments, the CIA have been told to draw I’m a student, from England.” Economic Forum in St Petersburg ear- up plans. Obama, Biden, and Clinton Upon hearing these last two words, lier this year, the Russian President said are all behind this.  e latter has called Matt Gurtler the Politsiya man’s shoulders relaxed that, when the US withdrew from their Russia’s hacks “a direct assault on our studies German and he waved me through the barrier, Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty back democracy”. and Russian at leaving me to carry on with my jour- in 2002, having been in force for 30 years,  e only prominent  gure in Ameri- Emmanuel College ney. I clearly looked foreign – or else the they “delivered a colossal blow to the en- can politics who does not condemn Rus- policeman wouldn’t have stopped me tire system of international security”. sia is, of course, Donald Trump. When ▲ Presidents ing war upon the battleground of Syria – but if he didn’t have a problem with It was surprising to me to hear such asked about who hacked the US system, Putin and Obama to childish name-calling. an Englishman wandering around St powerful words spoken against the US, he responded: “It could be Russia, but it hide their fear However, this bleak view of the rela- Petersburg without his passport, what a country which is rarely painted as pos- could also be China. It could also be lots behind glacial tionship between Russia and the West was he checking for? Most probably: ing a risk to international security by UK of other people.” smiles is o ten misconstrued as being upheld Americans. parliamentary leaders.  e reactionary comments seem to KREMLIN.RU by every single citizen – a notion which Due to the similarities in culture, lan- Far more common is for British politi- conceal the real feeling between the seems so ridiculous when written in guage and our political relationship, it cians and journalists to demonise Russia, West and Russia: fear. It’s an emotion print that it’s hard to believe it is so of- is easy to group the UK and the US into with headlines such as ‘Putin shows who that seems weak and so nobody wants ten thought to be true, although perhaps one beautifully convenient group – ‘ e is boss in Crimea’ and Foreign Secretary to display it, but it underlies everything only subconsciously. West’ – but the Russians don’t necessar- Boris Johnson’s recent comments in the that Vladimir Putin said in his Economic ❝ My encounter with the police proves ily make the same connection. House of Commons, suggesting that the Forum speech. When he discussed Amer- Fear this, and the fact that I and several other From the point of view of Putin’s gov- Russians should come before the Inter- ica’s decision to put nuclear warheads in students were welcomed into Russian ernment and the media, it was the US national Criminal Court. Romania, he was clearly worried. And underlies people’s homes, given food and treated who hovered their  nger over the big To provide some context for John- Boris Johnson, for his part, desperately patiently when making feeble attempts red button, during the Cold War, and it son’s speech, a UN convoy was recently tried to backtrack on his statements, everything at Russian conversation does too. is the US who have refrozen the thaw- destroyed in Syria, en route to providing scared of how Russia might react. Putin and  e media would have us believe that ing relationship now by getting involved humanitarian aid. Johnson says that, al- Spokespeople each side are making Russia and the West are constantly at in Syria. though they deny it, all evidence points no e ort to appease the other side, but Johnson each other’s throats, but the real truth Russian newspapers feature headlines to Russian responsibility. are very quick to take o ence at anything say is that only the governments are in such as ‘ e C-400 will leave the Ameri- He insisted, however, that his words said against them, reducing the serious disharmony. And even then, it’s really

Matt Gurtler cans behind’, and ‘ e CIA has declared weren’t said “out of any hostility to Rus- issues of the US, Europe and Russia wag- ❞ about fear. You can’t sit with us: Cambridge’s image problem

I can see why so many with life. We navigate within the con- hate the poor ‘ironically’. To me, you’re  nes of a gothic architecture, furnished still a posh boy and those words are far state school teachers are with entrenched traditions and a Bul- from satirical when they’re articulated reluctant to encourage lingdon image. Being within this struc- in a gun-boat admiral voice. ture, we can try to break these con nes, Even before arriving at Cambridge, I applying here to make it accessible. But contrary to the remember the freshers’ Facebook page story told by university prospectuses, I being littered with sixth formers in- aybe this isn’t unique to am yet to sit under a tree with my mul- dulging in how superior they believed Cambridge, I don’t know. ticultural friends, laughing at a joke that themselves to be to Anglia Ruskin. One MBut at my comprehensive – despite our contrasting experiences – comment read: “I heard they’ll be our school, gagging to prove we all somehow get. waiters… lol”. Whether this was ironic how special you are wasn’t a ‘thing’ like Maybe it’s to compensate for no long- or ‘just pretend’ is irrelevant. To me, it’s it seems to be here. er being seen as special upon arriving in in gross taste that Cambridge students Open ambition was received as arro- Cambridge. Maybe we’re all realising that seem to get a thrill from the idea that gance and was met with a sort of o end- being good at exams is not a substitute they are  e Elite. In the notion that they Anna Fitzpatrick ed bewilderment. One of my teachers, for having a personality. It seems that are the best, they take comfortable ref- studies HSPS at upon my explanation that I’d missed her here, everyone is desperate to prove that uge in the delusion that their place here Magdalene College lesson due to being at an Oxford open they are interesting. Being nice doesn’t was gained entirely by merit; that it was day, responded with gu aw: “Oxford?! ▲ Students at a pleading with them to drop it so that make you useful, or endow you with cul- not at all in uenced by the thousands of You have a cheek thinking you’ll get into formal hall event, the (predominantly middle-class) kids tural capital that people can pro t from; pounds Mummy and Daddy spent on ANY university at this rate.” I already wearing gowns who were already set on doing English it doesn’t make you a network. their education – or from being told since had an A, which was way above average SKITTLEDOG Literature could have access to the scarce Networking has its place.  at’s what birth that they shit glitter. in my overpopulated class. Apparently resource of education. LinkedIn is for. But in Cambridge, a cul- If you want to see a direct conse- I should have been content with that; So the recent revelation that 40 per ture of your social status de ning your quence of a culture that worships ex- I should have been grateful. It didn’t cent of state school teachers rarely or value as a person runs deep. ‘You can’t clusivity, look no further than our gov- seem to occur to my teacher that a few never advise students to apply to Ox- sit with us’ has seemingly lost its ironic ernment. It is the culture at Oxbridge more UMS points could be what decided bridge doesn’t shock me.  e general dimension and has become the actual that in uenced a consciousness that whether I got into Cambridge or not, be- attitude was that Oxbridge was not for philosophy of Cambridge students. What enabled the justi cation of austerity; cause an A was “more than good enough ❝ us. In this context, it’s easy to direct the this is saying is that to be inaccessible is enabled them, so detached from the for most unis.” lens towards working-class people and to be desirable. implications of their policies, in a ‘you An assembly was held in which a ‘You can’t blame them for their hostility. But the  e Regina George of Cambridge is a can’t sit with us’ exclusivity, to make the teacher tried to persuade sixth formers prejudices felt by my friends are founded damaging character I’ve seen performed cuts that forced my teachers to persuade to drop English Literature because the sit with in the very real experience of class seg- too many times. Guys on my  rst swap sixth formers to drop English. class was oversubscribed. Many of these us’ has regation.  ey are right to suggest that I reassured my crying fresher self that Being inaccessible doesn’t make you students were taking the subject against might feel alien at Cambridge; to suggest they didn’t mean it when they slammed interesting or cool; it makes you unpleas- the forces of their background, which al- become a that it wasn’t made for me.  ey are right the table and declared “ ne if the last girl ant. I’m not that special. Neither are you. ready told them that it wasn’t their place philosophy – there is a cause for their hostilities. you had sex with was asleep”, and that What we must emphasise, to people of to be academic, or to use big words. Yet, As its population, we are the actors they didn’t actually hate the poor, like all backgrounds, is this: you most cer-

Anna Fitzpatrick a teacher was standing in front of them, ❞ that inject the concept of Cambridge they’d shouted. I don’t care if you only tainly can sit with us. Indie moment Inside the ideals Velvet Overground Varsity Introducing Sweet as honey Chat with he Mystery Jets Body image explored he lush, plush fabric is back he barbershop balladeer American Honey in review

Relapse & Recovery What I’ve learned from surviving an eating disorder at university

by Gabrielle McGuinness

Vulture

FEATURES ∙ CULTURE ∙ FASHION ∙ THEATRE ∙ MUSIC ∙ REVIEWS 16 Vulture    

Does being a Cambridge student enable disordered eating? Gabrielle McGuinness takes an honest look at the e ects intense pressure has had on her body image

Illustrations by Georgie Joseph

’ve done a few scary things in my life upon a section of my life where I was half- so far, varying from a tandem sky dive existing: physically present but with my brain to cycling drunk to braving Danger totally  xated on the illness. Spoons, but writing this article is Eating disorders aren’t about wanting to Iprobably the most di cult thing I be skinny; they’re about feeling unworthy in have ever done. My worrying lack of a deeply psychological way. Your brain to- real self-esteem became a serious problem tally takes control. But it becomes trickier when I was in secondary school and began to to battle these thoughts when the society develop an eating disorder. Since starting uni- around you seems to encourage your feel- versity, my issues have morphed. Although I ings of inadequacy. Disordered eating is not learnt to battle it to some extent, it is di cult exclusive to women but the omnipotence of to shake o old feelings of self-loathing and a largely homogenous and unattainable ideal bad habits. It has always been my secret. I’ve of female beauty in  lms, adverts, music vid- never been good at team sports but I  nally eos, porn or even # tspo Instagram photos found a game in which I excelled.  e players make it challenging to grow up as a teenage were me, my brain and everyone else, while girl without developing a fraught relationship the rules were to trick others into thinking with food. I went to a competitive all-girls’ I was completely  ne so I could su er in a grammar school where we weighed ourselves self-in icted silence. Except for a select few against one another constantly; both grades friends and eventually my own mum, it has and appearance were key factors to quantify. been seven years of lying about this – which I know that my mixed-race identity felt like cannot go on any longer. a constant reminder that I would never be It began around year nine, when my insecu- accepted. rities overwhelmed me, so I chose to become Unfortunately, the intense stress of a Cam- my own bully. When everything felt beyond bridge term makes it a breeding ground for comprehension, it was the part of my life I disordered eating, and I have met several other had power over. I got trapped in a cycle in people who have experienced similar issues. I which I became so skilled at deception that eventually learnt that I could not sustain these I tricked myself into proving the feelings of habits if I also wanted to live happily, healthily ❝ unworthiness that triggered it all in the  rst and successfully. Or, at least, the rational part place. Towards the end of sixth form I began of me knows this. But even though I am no It is an oversimpli cation to try overcoming these issues but the proc- longer starving myself, my brain still obses- of the matter to speak of ess is slow: old thoughts oten come back to sively tracks and worries about every crumb haunt you. I swallow every single day. ‘recovery’ At my worst, achievements were falling So it is an oversimpli cation of the matter ❞ asleep with a stomach so empty it echoed or to speak of ‘recovery’. Eating a slice of cake being momentarily overcome with dizziness; does not mean I am ok with myself now; the days where I invented a new excuse to there is still an inner voice I cannot exorcise ▲ We dinner while simultaneously being in denial skip lunch or managed to disguise the noise that chides me for eating breakfast or should about having an eating disorder. Or the fact of vomiting my unwanted dinner so that my for not being as thin as I could be. feel more that I’m having doubts about writing this ar- parents couldn’t hear. I have memories of big I still can- not look in the mir- open about ticle, trying to convince myself I’m perfectly family Christmas dinners or friends’ birth- ror without passing severe judge- discussing healthy and always have been. By keeping it days that are marred with the subsequent ments upon my re ection. these issues secret for so long, I have held this lucky card memory of slipping away to the toilet Or, there’s the hypocritical part (Georgie close to my chest that I can play as a way to to purge – at times even taking of me that feels unbelievably Joseph) regain some power whenever my insecurities laxatives. I can re ect back guilty for  nishing my plate at resurface. I have developed coping strategies over the years to avoid a full relapse, such as plan- ning lunch dates and making sure I frequently regulate feelings of self-hatred. But I do con- ❝ fess that I am guilty of slipping in and out of old habits. When you develop these thought The intense mechanisms so young, being able to program stress of a yourself di erently feels impossible.  e unavoidably competitive atmosphere Cambridge in Cambridge is a glaring reminder of those term painful school days. Suddenly I’m the 16-year- old me all over again. Some days I rely largely makes it on co ee and cigarettes to sustain me. While a breeding I might start the term with the aim of becom- ing a paradigm of healthy living, everything ground for changes ater a week or so when the essays disordered pile up and the array of verbose articles on the reading list seem beyond comprehension. eating Our courses are constructed in such a way ❞ that we are constantly under microscopic     Vulture 17

examination, through the constant stream of deadlines, the weekly contact with supervi- sors, and the silent tension between peers in lecture halls. It becomes logical to exchange  e ideals of body image lunch for a torturous shi t in the library. Starvation seems to balance out perceived underperformance because Cambridge cul- tivates irrational thought patterns. It’s the It’s what’s on the inside same reasoning that says it’s totally justi ed for someone to stay up all night  nishing an that counts, argues essay, proceed to attend their lectures, and then play a few hours of sport in the evening. So a Weiss We set unrealistic expectations for ourselves and so we shackle ourselves to failure from the o set.  e result is that some of us are le t feeling powerless. Moderating food in- take becomes an easy way to regain some semblance of agency. During low periods at Cambridge, I have told friends I wouldn’t be going to the college buttery as I was cooking my own dinner sepa- rately, when really I needed an excuse for skip- ping the meal and thus sacri ced the social, stress-relieving function of those occasions. I have used an intense day of work or a few extra-curricular commitments in the evening t will not have escaped our readership’s Body dissatisfaction seems to me to stem as a way to distract myself from my hunger. attention that we live in a world highly from two assumptions: the  rst, that a body I have bought incredibly dull food or barely Iconcerned with physical appearances. For can be shaped at will, so that the only barrier stocked my cupboards so as to deprive myself both men and women, socio-cultural pres- between any mortal woman and perfection is of the sorts of foods I actually enjoyed. sures – the most nefarious crux of which is e ort, and secondly, that an imperfect body arguably the mass media – have set strat- re ects an imperfect person. On these two ospheric standards with regard to the ‘ideal premises, it is facile to superimpose a highly body shape’. In my particular experience as unrealistic body ideal, and to lead women a woman, this ideal has been painfully clear: into the con ict with their own bodies that thinner is better. we know negative self-perception, and the Indeed, in the face of the universal truth eating disorders that emerge from it, to be. of the teenage years as an era of rapid body Tentatively, I would then suggest that a nec- change, I have o ten found myself forced to essary aspect of resolving this problem is to incessantly reiterate within my own psyche attempt to stop reading character into the size that Marilyn Monroe wore a size 14, or that of people’s bodies – whether they be those of Barbie’s proportions would, if she were a real others, or ourselves. woman, reduce her to walking on all fours. I Indeed, we who  nd ourselves at university, have, in fact, built for myself a barrage of such especially at an institution like Cambridge, facts in a vague attempt to are fortunate enough to be enveloped in a ❝ retain a semblance of peace milieu that not only enables, but actively en- with my body in a society courages, us to cra t our characters in ways is ideal that seems to strive for the entirely external to our appearance. Here, we has been very antithesis of such. Have can be activists or artists, academics or all of I succeeded? In earnest, no. the above, and be valued for such not only painfully I still struggle with my phy- by others, but in our own estimation. Indeed, clear: sique and the paradoxical de- when we begin to externalise our image of sire to minimise it, to shrink ourselves from our appraisals of our bodies, thinner is it almost into oblivion, if not we begin to loosen the shackles of the pathol- better quite. I do not wish to sound ogy of self-hatred. too disparaging, however. I It is my hope that society, and we as in- ❞ do not believe that this issue dividual microcosms within it, will learn to ▲ Now feels like the right time to open up will be a de ning feature of accept variations in body shape and weight Cambridge because I have felt stronger lately than I have my future, especially now that I am  nally at as we do those of hair colour, eye colour and can be an for a while. I’m terri ed, but by making these university, where the opportunity to pursue height, among others. Yet, in the immediate alienating problems real and public by putting  ngers my passion is a reality, not a schoolgirl folly. term, I strive to remember that my body is place at to keyboard, it transforms it into something Instead, I am choosing to ask questions, and merely a transport vehicle, and one that will times that the former me su ered from but that the seek answers. Why am I at all interested in inevitably succumb to the decay of senility. It (Georgie present me wants to truly leave in the past. the bodies of others, namely waif-like models is in these times that I am especially reassured Joseph) A ter all, the health risks of anorexia include with unusual genetic dispositions? What is it by my father’s once annoying words: “darling, liver damage, osteoporosis, infertility and, in about my contours that proves so troubling? it’s what’s on the inside that counts” ● serious cases, death. I’ve been lucky to avoid these but I feel the e ects of it on my digestive system as well as my mental health and wellbeing. Cambridge is a stressful environment in which people develop all sorts of issues such as anxiety, physical self-harm, an alcohol problem, gam- bling, insomnia or physical conditions. I am guilty more than anyone of being secretive for too long; but I’m a fervent believer that we need to begin a genuine dialogue where we Read more speak freely about our own personal struggles online at with our mental health without fearing the varsity.co.uk/ appearance of weakness, because it reminds features us that no one is alone ● 18 Vulture Friday 21st OctOber 2016 Culture

n the decade since his debut album It’s Not A Rumour was released, Akala – rapper, writer, educator and poet In conversation with – has released ive more albums, Icarved a name for himself as one of Britain’s most politically vocal artists and is now embarking on something of a vic- tory lap. His upcoming album and tour, Ten Years Of Akala, is a retrospective look back at AKALA the past decade. he album is a compilation of twenty songs chosen by his fans that gives “the power to the people”, and the tour prom- ises to be a massive celebration, stopping of at the Cambridge Junction on 31st October. I caught up with Akala to discuss his up- coming tour and ind out the thinking behind his work. he irst thing I ask him is about what we can expect from the tour, and he launches into the irst of many luent, minute- long speeches. “What we’ve always prided ourselves on is having a level of production that is two or In anticipation of his performance at the three steps beyond the size of the venue we’re Cambridge Junction on 31st October, playing. We’ve mastered all of the music and Leila Mani Lundie speaks to the muscician the individual elements separately so it gives about art, politics and cultural appropriation. a really phat sound. We’ve got a drummer, a DJ... We’ve got full visuals for the whole set. Costume changes. hat kind of real theatrical, ▲ Akala He brings up roots again when I ask him he did not – there’s showmanship energy.” at the what he thinks of the current state of UK a sensitivity around For Akala, art and politics go hand-in-hand. Hull Jazz grime and hip hop. “A lot of people who ac- acknowledgement To get a sense of this, you need only listen to Festival tually practice grime and hip hop don’t know of origin. In the con- one song of his to be convinced that his poli- (Ben Pugh) that grime in particular is a very direct ad- text of modern mu- tics is intrinsically tied up with his art. I ask aptation of Jamaican sound system culture. sic it’s often been a him about the relationship between art and I feel in some ways I have a place in making racialised conversa- politics: should art be political? “Art is politi- my upcoming album and having that whole tion.” cal. If we talk about politics as the science of discussion around the impact that Caribbean Throughout our managing human afairs, there’s nothing that music has had on British popular music.” interview, I get the isn’t political. he price of rice is political. How Somewhat self-indulgently, I inish my sense that Akala is much it costs for a pint of milk at the corner interview by asking him about cultural ap- someone who is un- shop is political. Everything is political. It’s not propriation. I mention that university spaces ashamedly proud of just what happens down in Westminster.” – Cambridge, in particular – are hotspots for his art and his work With an almost superhuman-like eloquence, cultural-appropriation-based controversy. – and rightfully so. and without needing to pause to think about True to form, Akala ires of another one of his Not only does he what he wants to say, he luently continues: eloquent speeches. “I think it’s about irst of reach hip hop fans, “One of things I really wanted to commu- all understanding what appropriation is and he is also able to nicate to my generation really, particularly isn’t. See, a lot of people seem to deliberately draw people to his to young people who feel politically disen- want to misunderstand the issue. Cultural music through ar- franchised, is the sense of their own political exchange – borrowing from diferent cultures ticulate and impas- power. Because they might not choose their – is beautiful, healthy, perfectly normal, and in sioned communication of his politics. How leader directly, or feel that they have a stake fact has been one of the key drivers of human has he managed to attract such a diverse fol- in what goes on in Westminster, it does not progress forever.” lowing? “I have a really interesting and eclec- mean they’re not engaged in politics. Opening So what, then, is the big deal about cultural tic group of people that I would say engage a soup kitchen in your local neighbourhood appropriation? “I think appropriation, and with what I’m doing. I deliberately wanted to is a political act. Helping out the homeless is speciically around the music industry where cultivate that from the beginning. I wanted to a political act. All of those things are forms there’s been a lot of sensitivity, is because afect and provoke thought and make people of political engagement. Choosing to make black American music has been the driving think and feel and engage with what I’m try- music that questions the dominant culture is ❝ force of the 20th-century American music ing to put out.” political. Choosing to make music that rein- industry. But black people were pioneering “I put my heart and soul into my art, it’s forces it is also political. Artists can choose to I put my this industry in America at a time when they not just something I do because I wanna make engage in progressive politics, or to pretend heart legally didn’t have the right to vote in certain money. I wanna make art that I really fucking that they’re some sort of apolitical norm – and soul states, where there was racial segregation, love, and hopefully other people do to” ● which I don’t believe that there is.” where they were literally prevented from go- he importance of knowing and under- into my ing on the radio in some states in favour of Tickets to see Akala at the Cambridge Junction standing roots comes up on numerous oc- art white DJs who ‘were told to talk black’. In that on 31st October are available at junction.co.uk. casions during our discussion. Akala’s own history, where people believe that Elvis Pres- For the full version of this interview, visit varsity. roots, of mixed ancestry – his father is Ja- ❞ ley invented rock ‘n’ roll – which, of course, co.uk/culture maican, his mother Scottish – are highlighted in his newest single, ‘Giants’. Unlike most of his previous music, ‘Giants’ is more reggae- inluenced. As someone who “grew up on the Cambridge Film Festival / Various Venues Jamaican sound system”, why did it take him Until 27th October 10 years to release a reggae track? “I just feel Don’t miss » in general I avoided reggae because it was the In 1996, Christoper Nolan had a short ilm selected for the most obvious thing for me to do.” he track festival’s programme, and the event continues to celebrate is something of a “homecoming” for him, a ilm of the past, present and future. From outdoor screenings homecoming inspired in part by his upcoming Upcoming events you in Grantchester Meadows to a cinematic experience in the BBC4 documentary Roots Reggae and Rebellion, Heong Gallery at Downing, from Casablanca to Dogtanian and which will air in October, and his recent trips can’t aford to forget the hree Muskhounds, there is a space and a ilm to delight “back to Jamaica”. everyone. Now in its 36th edition, the festival will screen 148 ilms over eight days.     Vulture 19

Find more cultural content online at: varsity.co.uk/culture

nd OCTOBER  th OCTOBER What’s on Behind College this week?

paintings TREASURES OF THE UNIVER SITY LIBRARY / North Reading An alienating reminder Room, University Library of Cambridge’s past? Ruby Reding explores

t glows golden in an unusual way and has ▲ Old out of Eton anymore, and so the art should a sky and horizon in the background that portraits reflect that the student body and political Ieasily hides itself, appearing delicate and are a climate has likewise changed (sort of). tranquil. Thornhill’s paintings are recognised mainstay of I think it’s also important to establish when TOP PICK as integral to the Baroque style of painting, all college art should take on different responsibilities in and I remember seeing some in a book at halls different spaces. school for the first time in year 11. (Composite: For instance, the New Hall Art Collection at Expert curators give 10-minute talks on But for most people, the page of a book Jon Cooper) Murray Edwards is the largest body of wom- the ancient treasures that are harboured is as close as they come to experiencing a en’s art in Europe, which is pretty amazing. within the library’s walls: the Cairo Gen- painting like this. It houses works from Tracey Emin to Ghisha ziah is explored on Tuesday 25th, while When a friend at Cambridge told me that Koenig. These pieces, however, are in an ex- ursday 27th will feature the  rst book the Virgin Queen painting of Elizabeth I was hibition space and do not line the walls of printed in the West. 10am, 12pm and 2pm hung above Trinity College’s high table in Oc- halls and corridors. on 25th and 27th October. tober last year, I was  rstly amazed that this It’s impossible to expect art to be repre- fact could be true; and secondly, I thought it sentative everywhere, but when it’s placed was great that there was some female repre- in a different social context it must take on sentation going on. different responsibilities. Saturday 22nd But ultimately the idea that you should eat In addition to this distinction, I think we Trinity Hall Concert: every day in the presence of something so must also recognise that art is inherently po- Anniversary of the Organ grand was really daunting and unfamiliar. liticised, because of the disparity in opportuni- Trinity Hall Chapel, 7:30pm I don’t want to rely too heavily on my own ties available for artists who aren’t privileged, experiences of feeling isolated at Cambridge: white and male. Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the I can say, however, that if I felt amazed and The problem lies not just in what is visually Carsten Lund Organ (and launching the intimidated by the interiors in my first few apparent in artwork, but also the guise of what most recent college CD, e Young J. S. weeks here coming from a state school in goes on behind gallery walls. As the Guerilla Bach), the chapel of Trinity Hall is o er- London, then I can’t begin to comprehend Girls point out, this problem is institutional ing a £5 ticket price for students. the experiences of those who face this kind in the social and economic realm of art. The trinhall.cam.ac.uk of alienation outside of Cambridge. Guerilla Girls are a group of female artists who Part of this amazement at seeing so many have been campaigning for gender equality in Sunday 23rd dated paintings comes from an appreciation ❝ the art world since 1985. Apple Day at the of the history of the art, so why not also rep- Murray There is also a sister organisation called Botanic Garden resent contemporary history that recognises Guerrilla Girls Broadband, who have recently Cambridge University Botanic Garden, the importance of diversity? Edwards revived old campaigns, and argue that these 10am-4pm If the artwork in college halls is a marker [has] the issues can’t be left in 1980s feminism. of the “political, cultural and intellectual con- I also don’t want to dismiss the work that Featuring apple tasting and a marquee text” in which Cambridge has developed, as largest has been and is being put in place to trans- bursting with locally produced ciders, Trinity College’s website states, then surely body of form the interiors of Oxbridge. For example,  avoured spirits and other edibles, the ◀ Akala there should also be a marker for the develop- photography portraits of female fellows in Botanic Garden basks in the delights during ment towards a more diverse body of fellows women’s a series called Portraits that Matter by Fran of autumn. £3 for students with uni- a 2016 and students. As well as this, the amazing ac- art in Monks have been hung in the hall of St Peter’s versity ID. interview tivism going on by BME, LGBT+ and women’s College in Oxford, among other works such botanic.cam.ac.uk (YouTube: campaigns should get the recognition they Europe as a portrait of the first female bishop in the DJVLAD) deserve. Not all students in Cambridge stride ❞ Church of England. Homerton College’s col- Friday 28thth lection of art is also a lot more diverse. GoGo Penguin The problem of acclimatisation for students Cambridge Junction, 7pm. from different backgrounds is a much greater Cambridge Festival of Ideas / problem in universities than the old paintings is acoustic-electronic trio from Various Venues Until 27th Oct that hang on the walls of college halls. Manchester, shortlisted for the Mer- But if some of the peeling oil paint of dead cury Prize in 2014, are in uenced by e 9th year of the festival o ers talks from white men was replaced with contemporary Massive Attack and Aphex Twin (as “Brining Listz’s Sardanaple to Life” to “Pu- art, or even more representative traditional well as Manchester’s moody streets). tin’s Russia: Dangerous or misunderstood?”. art, then I truly believe the halls here would junction.co.uk Celebrating the arts, humanities, and social seem less intimidating. sciences, the event aims to engage the public Culture and art are political, and even more ◀ to explore these areas in an inspiring way. so when displayed in institutions renowned If you’d like to submit a listing, send Intermezzo Speaker highlights include Lorena Bushell for elitism. Cambridge cannot deny this prob- details to [email protected] (1936) and Professor Claire Hughes. lem forever ● 20 Vulture Friday 21st OctOber 2016

Who are Fitz Barbershop and what do you ego trip. Almost every piece is a solo piece! For do? the audience, at least in this country, it’s not something they often come across: there’s a We are a group of singers, all male, who dress novelty aspect to it. up in silly costumes: clashing waistcoats, bow- ties, and boaters. We sing at various events, Do you think barbershop has a certain repu- like May Balls, wedding anniversaries, and tation? Is it not taken seriously, and do you we went to the Edinburgh Fringe last year. even want it to be? It’s knowingly ridiculous: I don’t think we could ever be accused of taking ourselves too I think in the layman’s sense it’s not taken seriously. seriously, and that’s ine. It’s kind of a niche interest. Given that most of our performances What kind of form do the performances are not given to certiied barbershop fans, we take? end up playing up to that. here is however a small culture of people who take it very At Edinburgh we did it jointly with the Fitz very seriously. It’s much bigger in the US and Sirens, the female equivalent. We split the Canada, but there’s also small pockets of it in show into four quarters, alternating. It was a Sweden and New Zealand. collection of songs that intersect, rather than Varsity Introducing... a through-narrative. Do you think things like Pitch Perfect and ❠ Glee are helpful for you, or do they give a In layman’s terms, what makes barbershop Jonno Goldstone skewed image of that barbershop actually barbershop? is? he simplest thing which deines it is that the hey’re not really barbershop at all. hey’re a tune is not the top part. In most music, the he creative force behind the Fitz Barbershop talks to Patrick cappella. And a cappella has become its own melody will be the highest voice: in a choir Wernham about the group, what attracted him to the music, thing; barbershop in the strictest sense is still it’ll be the soprano. With barbershop, it’s the a cappella music, it’s still unaccompanied, but second voice down. here’s an extra voice and the pernicious inluence of Pitch Perfect they’ve gone on very diferent paths now. My on top of that which is kind of decorative. problem with Pitch Perfect and Glee is that I here’s some extra music theory stuf going because everyone knows them, songs which tenors goes ridiculously high, and everyone can hear the autotune; you could almost see on which makes it barbershop as opposed to you do because they’re musically really in- laughs. It’s the perfect song! the binary going across the screen! I kind of just a cappella. teresting, and songs which you do for sheer wanted to hear what these people actually comic efect. We have some which have the What’s the attraction? sounded like. Does all barbershop tend to be humorous? combination of the three: we do a version of Bohemian Rhapsody, which obviously every- From my perspective, I’ve always liked sing- Jonno performs regularly with Fitz Barbershop It tends to be either humorous or ballad-y. one knows, and there’s some really cool musi- ing, and I’m fortunate because the part that at locations both in Cambridge and nationwide. here’s a kind of mix of songs which you do cal bits, and there’s also a bit where one of the I sing is the tune: it’s kind of a little bit of an Check them out at itzbarbershop.co.uk

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Students work in LSE’s new PhD Academy 22 Vulture    

Check out Varsity Fashion’s Instagram photos: Fashion instagram.com/varsitycambridge Can the corset’s clasp be broken? Eléonore Dées de Sterio explores the nature of this sti ing and oppressive lingerie piece With art by Emily Dan

id you know that corsets make  e only ones who remain impermeable to not ignore, negate or torture the you su ocate?  at they jail, this opinion are perhaps the creatures of haute body, but gives it volume. contain, and suppress the couture, whose deeds succeed with scandals As much as the relationship simple reality that some and create more crony capitalism than an between the corset and Dwomen have pulpy bodies? investment banker and with more fussiness the body may have been  at they were created by than a diva.  ey like corsets, but nobody like that of two Russian and for the exhilaration of sheer carnal and really cares. A few days ago, my neighbour Matryoshka dolls built masculine instincts, poured into an oppressive, at a formal told me that, for most people, into each other, the submissive and generally unfair intuition occupies a much smaller one representing sociological mould? Did you larger space in the mind than the imprisoned body and also think that we, supposedly that of its intellectual creations. the larger one the hermetic the children of freedom, taking  e ‘passage’ from intuition corset, it is now very obvious equality for granted, were against to creation is therefore the that the linings of the two this unfair imagination of the extraction of the internal formerly separated and con icting parts have womanly stomach? look and its projection in the operated in a gentle symbiosis. Well, I have just world as it is able to be It is not a mere idealised symbol anymore. discovered it and I share understood. It may be argued that it never completely my astonishment with When it came to corsets, was. And it is therefore useless and stupid to you. Wearing and loving my intuition was double. continue living by clinging to a regime of corsets is nowadays – First, I thought they were positive discrimination towards certain in our enlightened deeply beautiful. Secondly, I garments. generation – sensed severe stupidity (or at  e image of pouring  esh is and judged by an least shallowness) in the more was enjoyable. So is and was the idea assumption: to embellish or less diverse discourses about of upholding (a tool for grandeur, a (factually and discursively) them in 21st-century Europe. I also crutch for con dence and arrogance); an artificial construction of felt a strong desire to draw on this encircling (a material protection, a the body means hindering train of thought and release this perfect skin); and revealing (with its the expression of its natural inherent contradiction.  ere counterpart, hiding, the two very beauty. To strictly feminise exists a tension between the purposes of all clothes). this construction means, belief that the modern corset Gustave Flaubert, the famous 19th- by extension, to obstruct is an aesthetic garment and century French writer, understood women in reaching and that it is only and still set up ❝ the pettiness of the subject. Vividly strengthening their full through super cial idealised depicting the burden of wearing a corset, he potential to express symbols of the feminine, and this is Corsets wrote: “She undressed brutally, tearing o the themselves freely. the view I wish to support. have been thin laces of her corset that nestled around It is a shame that I must disagree here with  e modern corset, because of the very fact her hips like a gliding snake.” what seems to be, in the history of human that it is an insertion of an idealised body onto negative in Hence, I would like everyone to tear o the quarrels, the attainment of an undisputed an actual body, acts as a gesture rather than every social thin intellectual laces of the corset apologists and unnoticed consensus. Corsets have been just as a mere symbol.  e modern corset gives that I have described above and let their minds negative in every social sphere, in every sense more body to the body, just like a light gives sphere escape into a world where women can liberate of shape and for every body. more shape to a face. In our generation, it does ❞ their bodies from its clutches ●

 rst produced, this complex process was neutral spin on a former trend, dressing her time-eating and expensive, making it a fabric female models in velvet suits, waistcoats and Velvet, back bought only by those with money. Its ori- bow-ties. Because velvet is such a sumptu- gins are unclear; possibly it was  rst worn ous material, it brings elegance to this for- in Baghdad, and from then on we know it mal wear. Ellery, in contrast, adds a mere above the was sported in Cairo, Mali and Venice, mostly touch of brilliant regal sapphire to out ts by the nobility. with high-heeled boots. Allessandro Michele  is material’s popularity exploded during seems highly aware of velvet’s Renaissance Ground the Renaissance. You may have seen Hans history in his latest collection. Holbein’s portrait of Henry VIII in Trinity, He slams together the style of the old Eng- Miriam Balanescu in which he  aunts a red velvet robe with lish monarchy and 70s-80s trends, pairing se- gold ornamentation.  e Tudors were very quins,  orals and Oriental-inspired patterns f all things, velvet is one of the most fashion-conscious. with velvet.  ough the designs are certainly Oluxurious. Along with candles and Yet velvet was only worn by members eclectic, the di erent eras are maybe uncom- incense, it shouts sensuality. Perhaps of the Royal Court and the clergy, and the fortably forced together. this is why it is one of the most popular fab- fabric was exported from Italy.  ough it is From chic evening-wear of the 1920s to the rics, returning again and again to the cat- now more available and a lot cheaper, there iconic little dress of 90s grunge, velvet does walk. It has evolved, become much more is still the notion that velvet is only for few steal looks, draw glances, and works best as accessible, and yet many know little about individuals, belonging to dandyism or glam- the statement piece of an out t. the material which has come back to collec- orous occasions, and that it should be kept It is tricky to incorporate it into casual tions this fall. to a minimum. clothing, and oten, it seems, less of it is Velvet is made of looped silk; it is woven, Vanessa Seward ignores this sentiment in more. But there’s no doubt that this trend and cut to create a pile e ect. When it was her latest collection. She gives a more gender ▲ Henry VIII (Holbien) will continue to survive ●

24 Vulture Friday 21st OctOber 2016 heatre

review ‘A unique sneak peek behind closed doors’

A production that aims high, and delivers both humour and darkness, writes Rose Lander

Posh more diicult to swallow as we consider our ❝ trayed by Beth Hindhaugh and Isobel Laid- Corpus Playroom complicity. ler, only feature as marginal characters, there 18th - 22nd October, 7:00pm his play stands in its own right, though Being a to serve and please the club members. he ★★★★☆ having recently watched the ilm adapta- member production succeeds in portraying worrying tion, he Riot Club, it is diicult not to draw scenes which raise questions of consent, rape comparisons and a couple of things stick out of the culture and perceived entitlement. osh is a unique sneak peek behind to me that are perhaps more efective in the right club However, this could have been even more the closed doors of Oxbridge’s se- screen version. powerful if more of the dialogue had been au- cret societies. he Riot Club are While Alistair Ryle’s unnerving speech gives you dible throughout, particularly during the scene hosting their termly dinner in a about “them” and “us” did succeed in mak- a free in which an escort is asked to do things she is pub outside Oxford as nowhere ing the audience squirm in their seats, it was ticket to uncomfortable with. he uproarious behaviour Pin the city will host the notori- softly delivered and could have done with of the men is conveyed very convincingly, with ous group, a thinly veiled ictionalisation of a bit more of the punch that was present in power improvisation lending a natural feel to the the Bullingdon Club. And we’re all invited. the movie. Perhaps Seth Kruger, playing Ryle, ❞ raucous dinner, though sometimes this was he audience watches as the extravagant de- could not quite bring himself to mean the at the expense of the dialogue. bauchery descends to sinister depths, and are shocking words he was saying, which is very he quiet, chilling end was performed very left feeling quite unsettled. ▼▲ Posh in performance understandable. well – the ight scene involving Kruger and Keir Without a doubt the best part of the produc- (Oscar Yang) he women in the play, powerfully por- Baker as Chris was hauntingly realistic – and tion was the superb acting. here was not a forces us to come face to face with the social single member of the cast who let the ensem- elitism in our society: where being a mem- ble down. he humour, the grit, the improvi- ber of the right club gives you a free ticket to sation and the impressive dance moves were power, where despicable things said or done all accomplished with lair. Even unexpected in youth are passed of as “silly japes”, and mishaps were dealt with deftly by the per- inluential people look after their own. formers. An unfortunate lighting problem at As the audience leaves the intimate Corpus the very opening of the show left the audience Playroom, they walk over the stage, through waiting with baited breath while two actors the world of he Riot Club, and are able to see stood on a dark stage for what felt like an age. in detail the true extent of the ‘trashing’. All Dan Sanderson, playing Guy ‘Bellend’ Bell- I can say is that I feel very sorry for whoever ingield took the brave initiative to apologise had to clear it up. I hope they were given a for the technical diiculty, which he did very blank cheque…● professionally. he tension was broken, the spectators burst into raucous laughter and the awkwardness was soon forgotten. Anna Jennings’s direction is brilliant, with quieter, more well mannered moments con- ADVERTISE trasting with the riot that ensues. Humour is used very efectively in the opening scenes to WITH US. reel the audience into this world of the Oxford elite, a task made easier by the familiarity that To advertise in any of our print publications or the Cambridge audience may feel with the online, please contact our Business Manager: characters: the barely understandable Made in Chelsea drawl, the dinner jackets, the bow tel : 01223 33 75 75 ties. We share the ‘banter’ with the boys as if email: [email protected] web: varsitypublications.co.uk we have become members of the club, making the controversial moments in the play even     Vulture 25

More reviews are available online at: varsity.co.uk/theatre

rium, insisting that they are not playing char- sibilities inherent in breaking down the con- REVIEW acters. They speak in incantatory objections, straints of performativity. While they make it their speeches interweaving: this is not a play. amply clear that they are dissolving the invis- Opening Time is not suspended in a fictional dramatic ible barrier between performers and audience, universe. They assert that there is no plot or they never reach through the fourth wall to this week narrative. One senses that there is no script make onstage and offstage universes interact either; at several highly awkward moments, significantly – except to invite the audience Sunday 23rd the performers hesitate or seemingly utter ‘onstage’ midway through the performance ‘Anything could transpire, the wrong line. But, as the play would have for crackers and pineapple juice. Impronauts Quick re it, this is precisely the point. It is not sup- The production climaxes with performers ADC but nothing does’ posed to consist of artifice – it is not really a donning clown masks and shouting profani- 8.00pm performance at all. The ‘actors’ talk directly to ties at an audience wearied by an hour’s rep- the audience, making disconcertingly direct etition of the same phrases. By the end, your Monday 24th O ending the Audience ▲ ▶ eye contact and drawing attention to move- sense of being an audience member has un- Corpus Playroom O ending ments – while an anonymous performer walks dergone a ruthless Derridean deconstruction. Dido and Aeneas 18th - 22nd October, 9:30pm the Audience with handheld camera, projecting live But you are not particularly offended. Sidney Sussex Chapel ★★ ☆☆ (Rachel video images of audience members The obscenities screamed, along 9.00pm (’til 25th) Tookey) onto two large screens. The self- with the recursive monologues, consciousness each audience have a numbing effect and are Tuesday 25th ow does one review a play that repeat- member feels is probably not stripped of any shock value edly insists it isn’t a play? Faced with unlike the way an actor feels by the already iconoclastic Blink Hthis dilemma, I have little choice but onstage, with all eyes on him. nature of the performance. Corpus Playroom to take the Corpus Playroom’s production of We are suddenly aware of Ultimately, Offending the Au- 7.00pm (’til 29th) O ending the Audience, directed by Zephyr the expectations we uncon- dience devolves into Waiting Brüggen, as exactly what it claims to be: it sciously bring to theatre, our for Godot. The audience is left Teahouse is not a spectacle; it is not a representation; unspoken assumptions of plot in anticipation – a feeling some- ADC its stage is not a world, and the world is not and audience anonymity, precisely thing significant is about to hap- 7.45pm (’til 29th) a stage. because this ‘anti-play’ subverts them. pen – that is never fulfilled. The play You are told this soon as you enter the thea- The performance jarringly levels and partially is, essentially, anticlimactic. Its repeated for- Wednesday 26th tre. This production repeatedly defines itself inverts the player-audience hierarchy of tra- mulaic phrases are like a broken record that by negation. Repeatedly. For a good hour, its ditional drama. The audience, the speakers never quite moves past the skipping point. Bohemian Lights Spartan cast of three (Ellen McGrath, Carine repeatedly assert, is the subject. Anything could transpire, but nothing does, ADC Valarche, Andreas Bedorf) stands at close But the play doesn’t deliver on this promise. despite the work’s interesting conceptual ele- 11.00pm quarters to the audience in the tiny audito- The performers never exploit the infinite pos- ments ● Vanessa Braganza

GUIDE FOR FIRST YEAR

UNDERGRADUATES [email protected] careers.ashurst.com

Know what to apply for and when Law firms typically target their vacancies towards students at certain stages Manage your workload in their studies. Check firm websites for information about application While this may seem fairly obvious, make sure that you keep on top of your deadlines and what you are eligible to apply for. workload and manage your time effectively. Firms will ask for your first year Ashurst’s top tip: While they may differ from year to year, look at different firm’s grades when making an application. So although these grades may not count application forms to familiarise yourself with the types of questions they ask. towards your final degree result, they will count towards your career. Network Ashurst’s top tip: Look ahead and know what university contact time, exams and other Although you may not yet be eligible to apply for a vacation scheme or deadlines you have scheduled. This will get you in the habit of planning your time – a training contract, network as much as you can at this stage. As mentioned useful skill for when you are attending interviews and assessment days. above, meeting firm representatives are a good place to start. It may also be Get involved beneficial to explore any connections your university may have – there are Get involved with university life as much as possible. Societies and other often mentoring schemes in place with alumni. clubs are a great way to develop your skills, while meeting new people and Ashurst’s top tip: Law societies are a good source of useful career information. Members broadening your network. Firms are looking for well-rounded candidates that who are further along in their studies may be able to pass on knowledge from their own have something to say outside of their studies. applications. Ashurst’s top tip: If you can hold a position of responsibility in any society or club Develop your commercial awareness you join, this will help enhance your application, demonstrating your team work and Firstly, ensure that you understand what the term ‘commercial awareness’ communication skills. means. Once you are confident with this, focus on developing your own Do your research commercial knowledge. An understanding of the wider commercial world is a Research different law firms and find out which ones you are most interested key competency firms look for when reviewing application forms and during in applying to in the future and, more importantly, why. Once you have made interviews. your shortlist, focus on meeting them when they are on campus and at any Ashurst’s top tip: Subscribing to relevant magazines or emails is a great way to receive up open days they may be hosting in their offices. The best way to identify the to date information on a regular basis. right law firm for you is to meet their people and experience their culture. We will be recruiting for Ahead with Ashurst, our first year spring vacation Ashurst’s top tip: Our essential guide to researching law firms provides you with a list of scheme, between 1 September 2016 – 8 January 2017. Please visit our website useful questions you could be asking and where to start with finding the answer. for more information. 26 Vulture     Music

FEATURE INTERVIEW

Mystery Jets 30 Days, in conversation with 30 Songs Rob Bowman and Emily Bailey-Page Miikka Jaarte explores the good and bad tracks of the protest project hey say you should never meet sense of this in the lines: “they say there’s rotest music against ‘Can’t You Tell’ your heroes. Well, we met Mys- nothing you can do/ but that’s what they want Pboth candidates in the Aimee Mann tery Jets, and they were angelic. you to believe.” As it happens, Will says this US presidential election We were only supposed to have is the band’s favourite song to play o the is nothing new, but the 30 Aimee Mann has always been T ve minutes of the band’s time, new album. Days, 30 Songs project, started a masterful storyteller who but they gave us 45 over quiche ere’s a certain inevitability, being in a by novelist Dave Eggers, is un- can inhabit a diversity of in the Fitzbillies on Bridge Street. Jack, bass- band now a decade old, that you’ll be con- doubtedly the largest organ- characters. Here she tackles ist, clad in an elaborate fur coat, twiddles a stantly dragging around all the older versions ised project we’ve seen so far. the point of view of the man second-hand camera from the Oxfam next of yourself, preserved for all time in a music It is a playlist of 30 songs, one of the hour – Donald Trump. door. e band are performing in Cambridge video from 2008. But this is a burden the band released for each day remain- Mann describes an uneasy tonight and are touring the Oxfam stores lo- bear with characteristic humility. Requests ing until election day, “writ- Trump, surprised that he cal to their concert venues to promote the from fans to play the old favourites, Will says, ten and recorded by artists for ever made it this far on a bid ‘Oxjam’ festival. isn’t annoying; it’s  attering. a Trump-free America”. e ▲ Amiee that was originally merely Will, vocals and guitar, explains how the “Our job as musicians and artists is to up- thing about political protest Mann goes a blind attempt at attention connection is personal for the band, not just date and inform what we have done in the music is that it can very eas- ater Trump and power. because they have performed in several char- past with what we are doing now. Inject it ily go very wrong. Indie rock, with her ity concerts before, but as keen charity-shop- with fresh energy, like a new set of clothes.” being a genre dominated by song e Bad pers themselves. As he says, “it’s what a lot of e Mystery Jets seem to be saying yes, there straight, middle-class white (TEE people in their twenties get up are elements of futility, but that guys, is especially victim to ZEBEN) ‘ e Same Old Lie’ to... so it’s nice to acknowledge doesn’t mean everything’s this polarisation. At its best, Jim James that.” ❝ hopeless. protest music articulates the But that’s an age most mem- And in fact, live later that thoughts and feelings of the Jim James, lead singer of My bers of the band are leaving be- You appreciate evening, hopeless is about as voiceless in an authentic way, Morning Jacket, delivers an hind, a concern around which for the rst time far from the atmosphere in the without oversimplifying is- adequate song, given that both their recent album, Curve the scale of what Cambridge Junction as you sues or patronising its audi- you do not speak a word of of the Earth, and their most re- could get. e crowd laps up old ence. At its worst, it is the English. e guitars, synths cent EP, e World is Overtaking you’ve been and new songs alike, and the Green Day-esque cheesiness and James’ voice are hyp- Me, clearly revolves. Jack tells involved in band respond to the surge of en- which treats its audience as a notic and beautiful, so much us how they started out trying ergy, Jack still spinning around child that has to be won over so that I would really like to to write a space-rock album, but ❞ in that  amboyant fur coat. by a series of edgy-sounding ignore the incredibly patron- then realised the common de- One true constant, through 10 truisms that seem to focus ising lyricism. But with lines nominator of all the songs was years of music,  ve albums and more on the saintliness of like “Follow on just like most scale. one traumatic line-up change still remains: the noble performer than everyone/But you and me we Will clari es: “scale through our eyes”, a Blaine’s dad, Henry. A member of the band the issues at hand. 30 Days, ain’t like most everyone”, no new sense of perspective on your own past. in its earliest days, he is welcomed onto the 30 Songs, so far, has featured amount of pretty instrumen- “You appreciate for the  rst time the scale of stage for the  nal song, leading the audience both. tation can salvage James’ what you’ve been involved in.” e record is as everyone sways from side to side in time contribution. de nitely one of their most autobiographical, with the music. e Good and personal, to date. ey dedicate ‘ e End Up’, the last track on ‘Demagogue’ It’s a far cry from the bubbly nostalgia of the new album, to a soon-to-be-married cou- ‘Millon Dollar Loan’ Franz Ferdinand Mystery Jets’ earlier songs. Is this an album ple in the audience who’ll be using the song Death Cab for Cutie about loss and hopelessness? e band cer- as their  rst dance. Earlier that aternoon we ▼ Death Franz Ferdinand is unques- tainly show some signs of despondency about mention to Will as the interview closes how, Death Cab has never made Cab for tionably one of the biggest the state of the world, in particular about our as wide-eyed young freshers, we cemented an angry song in their career, Cutie’s song bands involved, so it is dis- technologically-saturated lives. It’s a depress- our friendship over repeated listenings of their so it is not surprising that highlights appointing that their song ing time in America and in Europe, Will says, song ‘Sister Everett’. Will smiles. “ e Mystery this track is a quiet voice of America’s is a hurried mess. e lyrics and the world seems to be self-destructing. Jets have a knack for that.” ● protest. Accompanied by a inequality referencing Trump’s shocking “It makes sense for people to disengage from beautiful music video, the (MARKUS Planet Hollywood tape from the body and the material: to exist somewhere track is the best thing Death FELIX) only a week before the songs else inside computers.” At the end of the day, Cab have released in years. release give this hurriedness though, you have to pick your battles. Would It’s a somber denunciation away. e song is structured Will like to lead a crusade against music of America as the land of around various one-liners, streaming culture, in which artists receive the opportunity. “A million describing the tired tropes only the tiniest fraction of the pro ts? Yes, in dollar loan/Nobody makes of Trump-satire (“ ose tiny an ideal world, but that would take an army of it on their own without a vulgar  ngers on the nuclear lawyers, and as Will puts it: “I’d rather make million dollar loan” frontman bomb”) and a refrain of shout- music.” Ben Gibbard sings, backed ing “He’s a demagogue!” ater In fact, the main theme of the album ap- by a beautiful instrumental every single one. pears to be accepting what you can’t control, combining the classic sound and holding onto the things you can change. of acoustic guitars and tender You can follow the project at In the song ‘Bombay Blue’, there’s a de nite percussion. 30days30songs.com     Vulture 27

★★★★★ = AMAZING ★★☆☆☆ = OK ★★★★☆ = GREAT ★☆☆☆☆ = BAD To listen to Varsity’s Spotify playlist, go to: ★★★☆☆ = GOOD ☆☆☆☆☆ = ABYSMAL goo.gl/psEVsJ

New releases st OCTOBER  th OCTOBER

ALBUM ings of Leon are a marketed as an edgy new Highlights band that most people output in which “the walls Kknow of but few seem come down” and the band invested in these days. e gets personal. This, their of the week family band from Tennessee seventh studio album, lives haven’t really been the same up to expectation. It is fresh, since the monumental success interesting and full of the sort of Only By e Night and their of things that Kings of Leon subsequent meltdown. eir do best. All in all, this is an Saturday 22nd Monday 24th ★★★★☆ music hasn’t had the edge album which sees the band Flit Jamie Lawson of Youth & Young Manhood  nally relax and make music Cambridge Junction, 7pm (doors) Corn Exchange, 8pm Walls or the power of their more which may not be ground- Some of today’s most in uential Calum Scott opens for Lawson on popular hits. Their latest breaking, but undoubtedly musicians, including Adrian what could be an epic night. Kings of Leon o ering, WALLS, has been good ● Sarah Taylor Utley (Portishead) and Dominic £20.50 adv Aitchinson (Mogwai). explore themes of migration through Tuesday 27th ALBUM onny McCaslin and his heading. e album features darkly atmospheric songs. Cambridge Modern high-flying electric, drum grooves, electric bass, £25 adv Jazz: Tina May Dcutting-edge and jazz- sustained keyboard chords, Quartet inspired band o er up their soaring sax solos – all of Sunday 23rd Hidden Rooms on Jesus new album full of powerhouse which have come to de ne Stravinsky’s ‘ e Lane, 8pm grooves and virtuosity. Hot o McCaslin’s distinctive Rite of Spring’ A superb vocal and the tails of their last record, approach. A transformative King’s Chapel, 9pm piano quartet led a collaboration with the late ensemble, led by a visionary is already epic piece by the seasoned David Bowie, on which this soloist and composer, this will be played by two May. ★★★★  quartet pushed music limits record further cements the talented Cambridge £12 otd to create a masterpiece, legend of McCaslin and his musicians on the Beyond Now Beyond Now is another shining bandmates as the leaders of King’s Chapel organ. example of the direction modern jazz music ● Free Donny McCaslin some modern music is Karl Schwonik Tina May at Hidden Rooms

IN CONVERSATION WITH

GoGo Penguin

tal, and they utilize the individuality within Perdi Higgs each track to create an overarching theme for their albums. When speaking to Chris, he hen it highlighted the importance of recognizing comes those who listen to their music based upon Wto GoGo each individual track on shu e, and those Penguin, the band who listen to their albums in their whole are excitingly unde- form. e band has evidently worked to ac-  nable. eir music commodate both these listening approaches. is an eclectic mix of classic jazz in instrumen- e intention is to create “a progression and tation and style, alongside the contemporary story” that creates a sense of ful llment. is addition of synth, drum and bass, and modern has been a successful formula and the band’s production. work has been increasingly recognized and e three-person group is made up of a well received – most noticeably in 2014, when drummer, Rob Turner, double bassist, Nick there album V2.0 was nominated for Mercury Blacka, and pianist, Chris Illingworth. Yet Prize, alongside groups such as Young Fathers when you listen to their music, the layers and FKA Twigs. and complexity make it seem as if there is a Speaking to students in Cambridge, the whole orchestra involved. band is popular. is is interesting because, is ambiguity in genre is something that as basic as this sounds, it is unusual to  nd a Illingsworth himself stressed in our conver- band popular with younger people without sation. e problem with such an attempt spoken word that isn’t exactly drum and bass to de ne one’s genre, is that it can oten be or deep house. GoGo Penguin’s repertoire dis- limiting. For GoGo Penguin, their priority is to plays incredible instrumental creativity and be as “free and open as possible”. In order to ability, without any vocals. is makes them make their music, they need to exist outside a uniquely peaceful listening experience, on of these barriers. the ‘studying’ playlists of multiple friends of eir approach to their work is experimen- mine ● 28 Vulture     Reviews

THE TOP Animated Films

Toy Story (1995) BFI London Directed by the now leg- endary John Lasseter, Toy Story a not only a techni- Film Festival cal breakthrough for ani- mated features but it is also poignant, quotable Jacob Osborne and hilarious for kids and adults. gives us a sneak peak at some of the best lms at the festival Spirited Away (2001) Directed Hayao Miyazaki, or the past two weekends I’ve ▲ Emma ship with his family, but it nevertheless con- Spirited Away is a surreal travelled down to London to ex- Stone tinues.  e lm has a deliberate slow pace, but and visually captivating perience what has turned out to and Ryan is remarkably powerful in places; the director exploration of a fantasy be a highlight of my year – the Gosling in Boo Junfeng shrouds the corridor leading to world discovered by the FBFI London Film Festival (LFF). the widely the gallows in near-total darkness, the sounds protagonist, 10 year-old Celebrating its 60th anniversary anticipated of footsteps and clanging machinery contrib- Chihiro. this year, the festival is a chance to explore La La Land ute to an unbearably tense nale. the very best of contemporary (and recently (Liongate) Much lighter, though with shades of dark- restored) lm, with 248 features shown over ness, was the intriguingly titled My Life as a 12 days. It’s also an opportunity to explore Courgette. Popular at Cannes, this stop-motion London’s many cinemas, from the booming animation brings to life the story of Courgette, Chicken Run sound of the Odeon Leicester Square to the a young boy who is sent to an orphanage af- (2000) intimate setting of the Curzon Soho. ter a terrible accident at home. Beautifully An under-appreciated  e lms I saw over the two weekends animated, and with an abundance of warm stop-motion lm from demonstrated a real mix of style humour, it speaks both to adults and to chil- Aardman, Chicken ❝ and perspective. One of the best dren, one of its greatest triumphs. Run tells the story of a was Graduation, the latest from Another superb animation I saw was Your group of hens and their With an highly-praised Romanian director Name.  e lm’s plot is complex, revolving attempts to escape their abundance of Cristian Mungiu. It focuses on a around a metropolitan teenage boy and a fate of becoming Mrs middle-aged doctor, Romeo, who teenage girl in the countryside who inexpli- Tweedy’s chicken pies. warm humour, is anxious for his daughter to do cably swap places at certain times. it speaks well in her exams so that she can I loved the youthful energy of the music, the go and study at university in the themes of loss and regret, and the stunning to adults UK. Ater an assault days before clarity of the animation, and thought it ranked Beauty and the and her exam, leaving his daughter in with some of the best anime I’ve seen. a state of despair, Romeo begins to But the most high-pro le lm I saw at Beast (1991) children With stunning music seek morally questionable ways of LFF this year was La La Land, the latest from by Howard Ashman ❞ improving her grades. With almost Damien Chazelle, the director of Whiplash. and Alan Menken and a no music in the lm, and with a ▼ e Given the intense competition for tickets, I beautifully crated story, camera that hovers claustrophobically close beautiful was astonished I managed to get one. Beauty and the Beast to its characters, Graduation is a stunning ex- stop- Far more astonishing was the lm itself. captured the hearts of a position of middle-class male paranoia. motion, Opening with a fabulous song-and-dance generation of viewers. Another lm, Apprentice, depicts the life of My Life as routine performed by commuters stuck in a young Singaporean prison attendant and his a Courgette tra c, it depicts the romantic relationship deepening fascination with the prison hang- (Gebeka between a struggling jazz pianist (Ryan Gos- man. His new interest threatens his relation- Films) ling) and a struggling actress (Emma Stone) in contemporary LA. Shrek (2001) It depicts with great pathos the disappoint- With a brilliant sound- ments of pursuing artistic dreams in Holly- track and hilarious paro- wood. It’s also a modern musical, and features dying of other fairytail some of the most overwhelming visuals and lms, DreamWorks’ Shrek music of any recent lm I’ve seen, which let is the story of a crude ogre, me smiling like an idiot. It’s not perfect, but of his sidekick Donkey and everything I saw, La La Land was the only lm their quest to save Prin- which made me dance as I let the cinema. It cess Fiona is truly unmissable. Check Most, if not all, of these lms will be re- out more leased in British cinemas in the next few reviews months. I would urge you to watch as many Got your own Top 5 List? online at: as you can, and experience at least something Email it to [email protected] varsity.co.uk/ of the diversity and wonder that made this reviews year’s London Film Festival ●     Vulture 29

★★★★★ = AMAZING ★★☆☆☆ = OK ★★★★☆ = GREAT ★☆☆☆☆ = BAD To read more of the latest reviews, go to: ★★★☆☆ = GOOD ☆☆☆☆☆ = ABYSMAL varsity.co.uk/reviews Recent releases

◀ Phiona FILM Oyelowo), a young and talented engineer who (Madina can only  nd work as a part-time football Nalwanga) Queen of Katwe coach. In his spare time, he teaches chess to is mentored the Pioneers (a rag-tag bunch of Katwe chil- by Robert : 21   dren). Oyelowo manages to play Robert with- (David out any trace of irritating saintliness, and is Oyelowo) ★★★★ believable and endearing throughout. (Walt Of course Robert doesn’t only teach chess; Disney this is a Disney underdog movie, ater all. Pictures) If you like feel-good but not soppy, funny but rough the game, he teaches the Pioneers not slapstick, and inspiring but not Tony Rob- courage, discipline and a  ghting spirit, all bins (for non-Americans, that’s Tony Robbins of which Phiona will need to overcome the the self-help guru and business mogul), then hardships of life in Katwe, and the resist- Queen of Katwe is for you. is simply told and ance of Harriet, her protective mother, played beautifully acted  lm tells the true story of with prickly dignity by the marvellous Lupita Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga, a revela- Nyong’o. tion, all poise and quiet strength), a young Harriet worries about not being able to girl from the Katwe slums in Uganda who feed and house her children, not being able discovers that though she cannot read, she to buy them uniforms were she ever able to can reason – and reason her way eight moves send them to school, and the disappointment ahead in chess. Phiona will inevitably face. Now, chess may not be the most exciting Mira Nair’s Queen of Katwe is compassion- thing to bring to the big screen. Unlike sport, ate, vivid and beautifully shot. It is moving ▼Sasha there are no goals or touchdowns, and unlike and refreshing, and a rare close-up of urban Lane makes poker, there is no high-stakes gambling. But Africa. Despite rave reviews, it hasn’t done her film the stakes couldn’t be higher for Phiona, as very well at the box o ce, suggesting main- debut as chess slowly becomes the means for her to stream (white) audiences are rather too con- Star (Parts lit her family out of poverty. servative in their choice of entertainment ● and Labour) She is coached by Robert Katende (David Yasmin Shearmur FILM American Honey : 14  ★★★★★

American Honey, now showing at the Arts Pic- turehouse, plunges you into an exciting and exploitative world of door-to-door magazine subscription sales in a dystopic vision of the United States, rife with drug epidemics, eco- nomic inequality and shattered families. e opening scene of the teenage protago- nist Star (Sasha Lane) standing in a dumpster because you aren’t selling magazines, you’re Looking for a to scavenge for food behind a supermarket an- actually selling yourself. So does Jake actually nounces the  ip side of the American Dream. care about Star, or is it all a mask, as the crew career in law? Star decides to break out from her desperate manager Krystal (Riley Keough) tells Star? life in Oklahoma when she locks eyes with British director Andrea Arnold majestically Jake (Shia LaBeouf), a mis t dancing with his orchestrates this 163-minute epic and im- Recognised for its friendly and supportive internal friends in a Walmart. She leaves her younger mersive experience, and her work was justly network, Woodines is the perfect place to begin or siblings with a sleazy relative before heading awarded the prestigious Jury Prize at the 2016 progress your legal career. o to Kansas City with Jake and his crew, who Cannes Film Festival. o er her the opportunity to become part of e acting is striking and nuanced; Sasha Based across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and their team of itinerant salesmen. Lane made a riveting  lm debut as Star, and Buckinghamshire, we provide high quality legal Jake entices Star with the prospect of a job, Riley Keough – Elvis Presley’s granddaugh- a surrogate family, and even love. But what ter – was spot on in her interpretation of the support to businesses and individuals, in order to starts out as a care-free road trip through the ruthless Krystal. help them to achieve their goals. American Midwest slowly turns into a bad trip is  lm echoes Larry Clark and Harmony as unexpected and surreal situations break Korine’s works, such as Kids, Ken Park and out. e sti ing pattern of work-play-travel Spring Breakers – and most de nitely surpass- To ind out more about our career and echoes the absorbing hip hop and rap sound- es the latter in cinematic eloquence and narra- training opportunities, please visit: track of the salesmen’s existence. tive nuance. e  lmic aesthetics of American www.woodines.co.uk/legal-jobs e question is, which path will Star Honey are mesmerising and contemporary, choose? And does she have a choice? American with Instagram-ish lighting and a perpetually Honey’s explosive, highly sensual and personal wavering camera that echoes mobile phone coming-of-age story makes you laugh, yet all  lming. the scenes are tinged with an expectation of Go for a ride with American Honey for its violence, and a gut feeling that something coming-of-age story, social exposé of a de- could go wrong in a split second. caying American society, impressive acting, While Jake trains Star, he shares his big- engrossing soundtrack and beautiful 21st- gest sales secret: judge the potential client century American landscape ● in the  rst split second and adapt your spiel, Sarah-Anne Aarup 30 F  21 O 2016 Sport

Donald Trump is in the WWE Hall of and V taking place at Trump Plaza in But this all pales into insigni - Fame. Atlantic City. Trump also brie y owned cance compared to the wheelin’ n Yes, the ambitious corn dog that Monday Night Raw in 2009, and he dealin’ of Trump. Flair might have escaped from the concession stand at famously participated in the Battle of walked around in alligator skin a state fair and stole an unattended the Billionaires at WrestleMania XXIII shoes, but he never threatened to wig is in the WWE Hall of Fame. in a  ght against WWE CEO Vince Mc- rival the Great Wall of China on e path to the White House has Mahon. It ended (as only a wrestling another country’s dollar. been fraught with self-detonated match featuring Donald Trump could) Perhaps wrestling’s most endur- land mines that would have sunk any with him triumphantly shaving Mc- ing heel, though – and a direct other political candidate, but instead Mahon’s head while ‘Stone Cold’ Steve rival in the ‘most deluded sexpest Devarshi Lodhia have helped catapult ‘ e Donald’ to Austin energised the audience with a billionaire’ stakes – is none other becoming the most polarising presi- follicular-themed rant. than WWE’s CEO, Vince McMa- Trump: e dential candidate in modern American With his repertoire of dyspeptic hon. While Trump is incapable of history. Yet there’s arguably nowhere smirks and hovering cloud of hair, referencing God’s glory without ultimate more suited to him than the world of Trump  ts right into professional adding, “but I’m pretty glorious professional wrestling. wrestling’s atmosphere of perpetual, myself!”, McMahon is a man who wrestling bad Trump’s history with WWE goes petty one-upmanship and theatrical infamously challenged God to a tag guy back decades, with WrestleMania IV ultra-violence. ‘Sports entertainment’, ▲ Donald Trump GAGE SKIDMORE team match and won. as WWE call it, may be meticulously Self-made men with the help of choreographed, but provoking primal are reminiscent of the ‘Million Dollar multi-million dollar inheritances, emotions can suspend disbelief. Man’ Ted DiBiase, a man who created both are famous for shouting, Trump is undoubtedly a master his own ‘Million Dollar Champion- “you’re  red!”, and both are friends of this. Give him a microphone and ship’ and even bought the WWE World with raging racist Hulk Hogan. an audience and he is a showman, as Heavyweight Championship from Neither seems to have the slightest watchable as wrestling’s greatest bad André the Giant. One of the greatest sense of self-awareness, and both guys (or ‘heels’), from Ric Flair to ‘Hol- heels in the business, Ric Flair, is well- have faced lawsuits for sexual lywood’ Hulk Hogan and Triple H. known for the phrase: “You’re talkin’ harassment. Trump’s entire presidential cam- to the Rolex-wearing, diamond-ring- So, while the pantomime villain paign has been a masterclass in classic wearing, kiss-stealing, wheelin’-’n’- may not become president, he will heel tactics. His self-aggrandisement dealin’, limousine-riding, jet- ying, son always have a home in the world of and obsession with his own wealth of a gun!” professional wrestling.

Political football? Everyone’s at it

is that it o ers a refuge from these con- Percy Preston cerns, for players and fans alike. Yet this Sports Reporter rationale hides a more pernicious reality, as it implicitly absolves those involved Politics has no place in football. in football of any political responsibility. But try telling that to a politician on It perpetuates the belief that football’s the hunt for votes: for them, football’s problems are not political issues. Instead, popularity is too enticing a prospect to the most pressing concerns confronting pass up. Yet, in the end, as all fans know, football’s governing bodies are the use football can be a cruel game. of goal-line technology, or changes to In a speech delivered on the South the o side rule. London stop of the Conservative Party’s Ironically, it is precisely this thinking general election campaign trail, David that sees football repeatedly embroiled Cameron scored an own goal: he for- in political scandal. Decisions like those got which team he supports. Imploring to award consecutive World Cups to Rus- members of his audience to support sia and Qatar can be justi ed on the basis West Ham, Cameron apparently failed that FIFA does not involve itself with pol- to remember that he, in fact, claims to itics when choosing host venues for their be an Aston Villa fan. Later he cleared tournaments. Deliberating over factors up any confusion: he was su ering from such as a country’s human rights record, that well-known politicians’ a iction – for example, would be a little too close to “brain fade”. politics for the comfort of many at FIFA. Politicians using football to generate (If accusations are to be believed, FIFA popularity is nearly always disingenu- ▲ Barack Obama PETE SOUZA relies on more impartial and empirically ous, and oten embarrassing. Yet, aside robust measures to elect a host a nation, from o ering a case study of political in- Yet Blatter’s rhetoric is at odds with for example, an association’s capacity to sincerity, Cameron’s mistake highlights the events of his presidential tenure, bribe FIFA o cials.) something more essential about football the  nal few years of which saw an FIFA’s attempts to defer moral and po- in the 21st (and perhaps any other) cen- FBI investigation into the awarding of litical responsibility do little for migrant tury: it is, unavoidably, political. As much two World Cups, repeated allegations workers in Qatar, nor for LGBT+ people as fans, players and anyone involved in of bribery and extortion against senior in Russia. And while FIFA can hardly be the game might squirm at this, it is an in- FIFA members and condemnation by held responsible for the latter’s struggles evitable consequence of the fact that the Amnesty International over the treat- in particular, awarding the World Cup sport attracts such a large global fan base ment of migrant workers in Qatar. FIFA to these nations confers all the legiti- and even larger amounts of money. has also sought changes to local law in macy and cultural cache that inevitably Join the Float Revolution But it is a truth repeatedly rejected Qatar that would allow for the drinking comes with the one of the most prestig- by those at the very top of the global of alcohol in designated public areas: a ious sporting competitions in the world. Art of Float has arrived in Cambridge game’s governance. In September of last move designed to please sponsors, but Whether FIFA likes it or not, ownership Experience zero-gravity in a specially designed Float year, disgraced former UEFA Secretary one with considerable political impli- of the World Cup comes with consider- Studio, housing a scientifically Michel Platini gave assurances to the As- cations. able political responsibility. sociated Press that, if he were to become e question, then, is not whether Indeed, it is perhaps FIFA that stands designed water environment to FIFA president, his presidency would football should be political. It clearly is. to lose the most from the false division suspend and relieve the body from be “about football, not politics”. And e question is why the opposite is so of politics and football. By repeatedly the stresses of gravity visit Platini’s stance is hardly unusual: the ardently asserted. embroiling itself in political controversy, artoffloat.com former president himself, Sepp Blatter Platini, like Blatter, might argue that oten as a direct result of its pretence of or call – like Platini currently suspended from football ought to be a space divorced impartiality, FIFA will become the archi- 01223 660673 to find out more footballing activity – has repeatedly re- from external, and speci cally political, tect of its own irrelevance. At least with and to join the Float Revolution jected the idea that football and politics pressures. And this is an attractive ra- insigni cance might come the possibility can, should, or even do mix. tionalisation: one of football’s great joys of political neutrality. Friday 21st October 2016 31 Sport A shift in wealth: the rise of the Aviva Premiership

whose salaries sit outside the cap. his Wasps’ opening game of the season were around £70m per season. his deal, as Ben Cisneros enables clubs to recruit world-class tal- England-qualiied. well as greater attendance and increased Columnist ent, while up to £500,000 is available to his shows a system which is working investment from sponsors, has grown clubs in the form of Home Grown Player well, in contrast to the TOP 14 in France, the league’s inancial clout consider- he last two weekends have seen the Credits, striking a balance between the where the huge number of foreign play- ably. start of rugby’s European Champions recruitment of top players from abroad ers, particularly at clubs such as Toulon, he efect of this has been seen do- Cup, with some great matches and some and the development of English rugby. Racing 92 and Montpellier, has had a mestically and internationally: ive Eng- eye-catching performances. Saracens’ Teams are also allowed to spend an extra disastrous efect on the French national lish teams made it to the quarter-inals victory against Toulon was particularly £80,000 on their wage bill per player team. Parallels are clear with the Premier of the Champions Cup last season and memorable, as it was the irst time that called up for England international League and the England football team. the England national team won a Six the French giants had been beaten at duty. he TOP 14 is fuelled by multi-million- Nations Grand Slam. Success breeds suc- home in the Champions Cup. It was like his balance is so important, and ap- aire owners and massive TV deals: very cess, and the exciting rugby that English the Saracens’ forwards were wearing All pears to have been struck well in the few of rugby’s biggest names are outside clubs have started to play has clearly Black, such was the quality of the skills Premiership. Having two ‘Marquee Play- of the reach of France’s elite clubs. Japa- enticed more top players to come and on show. ers’ allows teams to boost their proile nese superstar Ayumu Goromaru has re- play in the Premiership. With the right Yet something which stood out was and to supplement their squads, while portedly become the highest-paid player controls, this is good news for English the number of ‘star players’ ielded by ensuring that English players are given in the world, having signed a deal with rugby fans. the Aviva Premiership’s teams. his sea- Toulon worth over £1.4m a year, while It is not quite such good news for the son, more than ever before, Premiership English rugby All Black legend Dan Carter earns similar Pro 12 and Super Rugby, who simply can- clubs have signed some of world rugby’s Premiership’s at Racing 92. Several of the world’s other not compete. hey do not generate the best players, leading to a hugely compet- £6.5m new salary cap highest-paid players are also at Toulon, revenue or investment that the French itive league and, hopefully, competitive for players where Matt Giteau earns £900,000 and and English leagues do, meaning they European campaign. Ma’a Nonu earns £600,000. What’s more, struggle to retain some of their talent. Wasps have perhaps led the way, owners have found ways of circumvent- In fact, the Pro 12 is rumoured to be having signed the likes of Kurtley Beale, the chance to develop. ing the TOP 14 salary cap, by ofering in discussion with American investors Willie le Roux (though neither have yet If there were no limit on players’ players additional income from image about the possibility of making the played), Danny Cipriani, and Kyle East- salaries, clubs would undoubtedly ind rights and other endorsements – which league Trans-Atlantic, in order to stimu- mond, while Leicester have brought in themselves in unsustainable debt, and don’t come under the cap in France – al- late growth and attract players. South Africa’s JP Pietersen and Austral- the league would likely become uncom- lowing their clubs to put together such Such desperate measures relect the ian Matt Toomua. Big back-rowers Schalk petitive. talented squads. hard reality of modern professional Burger and Louis Picamoles have made he strength of a club would rely en- he league’s attraction, though, has sport, where money seems to be eve- an impact at Saracens and Northampton tirely on its investors’ wealth and, unlike been reduced somewhat thanks to the rything. respectively, and Sale have signed Welsh in football, English rugby does not have Aviva Premiership’s new four-year TV ▲ Matt Giteau, one of rugby’s highest- Only time will tell us of the full impact veteran Mike Phillips from Racing 92. dozens of billionaires willing to pump deal with BT Sport, thought to be worth paid players (CLéMENT BuCCO-LECHAT) of this shift in rugby wealth. Outside of the Champions Cup, endless funds into its teams. It is there- Premiership side Bath have brought fore a positive step that the salary cap in Welsh stalwarts Luke Charteris and will remain at £7m for three successive Taulupe Faletau, along with the hugely seasons from next year. talented Kahn Fotuali’I, while Worcester he beneits of this system are clear at have captured Ben Te’o and South Afri- Wasps, who have made some great sign- can speedster Francois Hougaard. ings over the past two seasons. Last year, It was one of the busiest summers of Marquee signing Charles Piutau made transfers in Premiership history, when, a devastating impact, helping them to in previous seasons, many of these play- reach the semi-inals in both the Pre- ers would probably have chosen to play miership and European Champions Cup. in France, as clubs such as Toulon and George Smith was also on a one-year Racing 92 put together their squads of deal and hugely inluential, not only ‘Galacticos’. around the pitch but on the develop- his must largely be attributed to the ment of Wasps’ back row. homas Young £1m increase in the Premiership’s salary emerged as an outstanding number 7, cap this season, to £6.5m, which will while Sam Jones, Nathan Hughes and rise again to £7m for the 2017/18 season, James Haskell improved markedly, dem- bringing it much closer to the French onstrating the importance of being able limit of 10€m (approximately £8.4m). to bring in world-class players. With this increased inancial incentive, Wasps are, in fact, one of the richest the gruelling French TOP 14 season – clubs in Europe now, following the open- which spans from 20th August through ing of their retail bond in May 2015, but to 4th June – has become less appeal- they remain full of bright young English ▼ Saracens play ing, and the Premiership evermore at- players. Kurtley Beale may have become French side tractive. the highest-paid player ever in the Pre- ASM Clermont In addition to the £6.5m, Premiership miership, with a £750,000-per-year deal, Auvergne clubs are allowed two ‘Marquee Players’ but 14 out of the 15 players who started (zEGREG63) 32 F  21 O 2016

Ben Cisneros More money, more talent in English Rugby Sport Page 31 Nomads leave spirited Warwick looking lost in 7–1 walkover

Keir Baker Sports Editor All sports are created equal

uring my short tenure as Sports DEditor, two things have struck me. Firstly, there is a craving out there in Cambridge sporting circles for more attention and coverage, and not for the reasons that people might expect.  e delight of the Light Blue athletes I have interacted with as they  nd out that their match will be in Varsity is a joy to see, and makes this job worth it. Sports people at Cambridge, with a few notable exceptions, are not arrogant ▲ The players in action on Wednesday PAUL HYLAND or elitist, in the sense that they do not look down on their non-sporty counter- to chance with a high line that won back And they certainly helped add the in our half and [the Nomads] did not give parts. Rather, they want to see tales of Cambridge 7 possession time and again. third before half time.  e Blues won the us an easy ride but we didn’t go down their sporting feats in Varsity, because But a ter the Nomads squandered ball high up the  eld, and before anyone without a  ght!” it accords recognition to the time, the a series of penalty corners, suddenly knew it, Georgina Baker had received the However, Warwick did nothing to hard work and the dedication that they Warwick found themselves in behind the ball just inside the defensive area, and stop the o cials awarding about as put in. Warwick 1 home side’s defence. An overhit back- unleashed a howitzer of a reverse stick many penalty corners against them as Indeed, whether it be the sounds of pass out of mid eld was just out of reach shot to soar past Swathi Vankayalapati in the  rst half, though it seemed that all rugby players training on the Grange for Rhianna Miller. Warwick’s Elsa Keep in the Warwick goal. the stoppages had robbed the Nomads Road pitch reaching my room seemingly licked her lips – the chance handed to her Baker was not the only one whose of some of their momentum. Much more every night, or being woken up by my Paul Hyland on a plate – and duly dispatched it under performance raised eyebrows.  e No- spirited than in the  rst period, Warwick girlfriend as she heads o to swimming Chief Sports Reporter the boot of the Light Blues’ keeper, Liza mads’ Alicia Murphy, positioned between o ten managed to reduce the Light Blues training at 5 in the morning, there are Hartley, and onto the backboard. defence and attack, was perfect: hardly to shots from distance and misplaced always signs that those who have the Cambridge University Hockey Club When sucker punches land, heads can putting a foot wrong from  rst whistle to passes into the  nal third. honour to pull on a Light Blue shirt are women’s second team – commonly drop. But Cambridge were not about to But concede too many penalty corners trying to live up to the honour. known as the Nomads – produced a let that happen. Mere minutes a ter Keep e number of at your peril.  e home side’s  th penal- And yet, it is also hard to escape the scintillating display of attacking hockey had put Warwick one to the good, the penalty corners ty corner brought with it their  th goal. feeling that some sports in Cambridge, on Wednesday a ternoon to secure a umpires spotted yet another penalty 5 which Warwick  is time, the brilliant Murphy passed and some athletes, do not get just re- 7-1 win over Warwick II at Wilberforce corner – one of the countless Warwick conceded to the along the ground to Teplensky, and her ward for their e orts. Dismissed as ‘not Road. were to concede.  e ball was sent in Nomads shot de ected past the keeper. real sports’ or ‘easy half-Blues’, these are Just a week a ter a chastening 4-1 de- short with just enough momentum to  e Nomads were not about to stop sports that, as sports editor, I am hoping feat away to Coventry, the match gave set Michelle Teplensky up nicely for an last, her low centre of gravity allowed her there. Mere moments a ter the  th, a to give fair coverage to, both through the Nomads an excellent chance to get equaliser. to weave between markers as if invisible. completely unmarked Alice Jones wel- sending correspondents to cover match- their season back on track. And while the And the Nomads soon reversed the She instigated arguably the best passing comed a driven cross from wide right es and via our online ‘Rogue Sport of  nal scoreline appears emphatic, the ini- arrears thanks to Cat Cox’s free hit from move of the day with a characteristic with open arms,  nishing easily past the the Week’ column. Kor all, ultimate tial stages hinted at a much closer a air. the 23-metre line,  nding its way wide burst forward out of defence, passing keeper to make it six. frisbee and cheerleading may not be Warwick’s energy and purpose were on right so an excellent driven cross could well to Tamara Norman, who handed And there was time for one more. steeped in Cantabrigian tradition like display from the  rst whistle, with the be stabbed home by Georgina Baker for over possession to Annie O’Neill, her- Two minutes before the  nal whistle, rugby and rowing, but history can never Nomads’ consistently excellent Rhianna 2-1. self evading a series of markers before the Light Blues’ Rachel Brennan col- justify a contemporary state of a airs Miller soaking up all of the early pres- Warwick put up a spirited  ght, but putting away for 4-1. lected a loose pass in the centre and ran – just ask any law student. And it’s not sure. All day, Warwick tried to feed their the Light Blues were the more expansive Second half underway, it appeared all the way into the defensive area with about measuring their talent against forward line with longer passes along the side at each turn, widening the pitch that whatever had been said to Warwick scarcely a challenge to face. She unself- their counterparts in football, hockey or ground, yet Miller’s innate sense to drop well and  nding space behind a defen- at the interval had worked.  e away side ishly tapped the ball in the direction of tennis: I know a Blue or two who could deeper or push higher when needed, put sive line that was never given a minute. looked much more organised, holding Rosie Vince, whose turn and shot put not throw a Frisbee with any great ac- paid to almost all of her opponents’ at- While most of Warwick’s defending was their defensive shape more easily, and the cherry on the icing on the cake for curacy. tacking threat. done behind their 23-metre line, most keeping Cambridge at bay for longer. the Light Blues.  e Cambridge sporting scene is With a calming in uence at the back, of Cambridge’s defending was done in Indeed, as Warwick’s Lily Covington brilliant at facilitating success in BUCS the home side were also comfortable their opponents’ half.  eir lightning told Varsity a ter the game: “We thought Nomads: Hartley, Miller, Murphy, Cox, and Varsity matches. But it must not do going forward.  e Light Blues monopo- transitions from high pressing to quick that we played well and put up a good Barker, Czink, Baker, Pavey (c), Teplensky, down, ignore or malign anyone who lised the ball, stretching the play the full attacking helped to turn this a air into  ght for a team that we knew beat our O’Neill, Brennan, Jones, Vince, Norman, takes the time out to represent it, what- width of the pitch, and leaving nothing a drubbing.  rst team! It was a good defensive game Hampel ever the sport.