www.felixonline.co.uk @felixImperial /FelixImperial felix@imperial.ac.uk Keeping the cat free since 1949 issue 1590 November 28th 2014 Inside... Science gets trippy investigating LSD

International A Capella competition to come to Imperial News, page 7 Science 12-13

Technical failures Medical bring exam to halt Rugby team

appeal News 6 GamerGate: what rejected went down online after Union

sanctions Games 25 A screw loose: mascotry leave them between CGCU and RSM broke

News, pages 4 and 5 Clubs and Socs 38 2 28.11.2014 THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON FELIX This week’s issue... [email protected] Felix Editor Philippa Skett

EDITORIAL TEAM CONTENTS Editor-In-Chief Two sides to the same PHILIPPA SKETT News 3–8 Deputy Editor PHILIP KENT Comment 9 Treasurer issue THOMAS LIM Features 10–11 Technical Hero LUKE GRANGER-BROWN Science 12–14 his week, we have a THIS WEEK’S EDITORIAL strong, with a great interview with smorgasbord of content to keep Imperial’s own LSD expert Dr Robin News Editors Technology 16–17 Tyou busy in the library café as Carhart-Harris alongside their usual CAROL ANN CHEAH you chow down on a jacket potato or news pieces. We have a great spread of KUNAL WAGLE Film 24 three, depending on how many hours Games this week which is catching up you are spending within the library and Tom Wheeler, one of the people with Arts, and Arts again have blown Comment Editor Games 25–27 doing end of term coursework. There who approved of the sanctions in it out the water with their topic this TESSA DAVEY may be three weeks left still, but it the first place. However, they show week being transformation. Technology Editors Arts 28–31 seems work always begins to pile on at how there are two sides to every story If none of that is of interest, we JAMIE DUTTON this time of year. so we have printed both in their have our usual puzzles, offensive OSAMA AWARA Fashion 33 In the news this week, we’ve looked entirety, so you can make your own horoscopes and our Fresher is having at the aftereffects of the sanctions minds up on the matter. issues with his latest squeeze. If that Science Editors LAUREN RATCLIFFE Hangman 34–35 held against the Imperial Medicals: We also have the more cheerful isn’t enough, we also have a double JAMES BEZER the rugby team of ICSM who smashed news of the International A Cappella centrefold spread, although we like to Puzzles 36–37 a coach window whilst on tour. competition making its way into our think we are a bit better than Playboy Games Editors Despite vowing never to put the Great Hall in January. Although I and you pick us up for the articles too. MAX EGGL C and S 38 rugby team of either IC or ICSM on have sadly been told Fat Amy will There is only two issues left, but still CALUM SKENE the front page again, here we are, not be making an appearance, I plenty of time to get involved. We are Arts Editors Sport 39–40 the third time in nine weeks. It is have been reassured everything else looking to expand our news reporter FRED FYLES an interesting case with opposing will basically be like the last twenty team, so if you fancy getting some KAMIL McCLELLAND opinions held by those involved. minutes of the film Pitch Perfect. journalism experience and seeing the When we initially persued the story, I’ve put you on the front page guys: I office in all its festive glory, drop us a Music Editors GRACE RAHMAN we did not expect such lengthy and expect front row tickets in return! lone at [email protected]. We have AMNA ASKARI in-depth responses from George After the success of our Science just invested in an office biscuit tin Cross, the Captain of the Medicals last week, the section is still going and everything. Television Editors GIULIA GABRIELLI JOHN PARK Film Editors What’s on this week: ELLEN MATHIESON JACK STEADMAN JOHN PARK Union General Meeting: deciding on Books Editor DIANA LUCACI the Higher Education Fashion Editor Funding Policy. CECILE BORKHATARIA

Food Editors 18:30 onwards, Monday 1st, CAROL ANN CHEAH December, Lecture theatre 1 in Blackett Coffee Break Editors TESSA DAVEY ELLEN MATHIESON It needs 200 people to Travel Editor attend to meet quorum. YUNG NAM CHEAH Please attend otherwise Hangman Editor it’ll be a bit awkward. We’ll SKILLIPPA PHETT be discussing the Higher Welfare Editors Education Funding policy, The simultaneously best and worst advertising we have seen all week: props to DIBA ESBATI CHANON WONGSATAYANONT and every person who you ACC, and good luck with your Geeks and Freaks Bar Night next Wednesday at attends can have a say on the Union. Do that 2007 Word Art proud. Clubs and Societies Editor BEN HOWITT the matter. Sport Editor Entry is free, obviously. KUNAL WAGLE We are looking to expand our news Democracy is free too. COPY EDIT TEAM reporter base: fancy joining us? Copy Chiefs SKETT’S BOX OF SHAME STEPHEN BALL Email: [email protected] ELLEN MATHIESON Apologies for a mistake in Issue and let us know! Copy Editors 1589: ANNINA SARTOR TOM RIVLIN -We said last week that the London BEN HOWITT Forum for Science on Policy “Can Felix, Beit Quad, Prince Consort Road, Printed by Iliffee Print Cambridge, Winship Road, JUNE GAN Education Fix Britain’s Youth London SW7 2BB Cambridge. MICHAEL FAGGETTER Email: [email protected] Registered newspaper ISSN 1040-0711 MATTIN MIR-TAHMASEBI Drinking Problem?” came with free JASPER MENKUS drinks. Awkward. Apologies. Tel: 020 7594 8072 CECILY JOHNSON Front image credits: Ian Gillett/ Ben Lester (Through Bens Lens) Copyright © Felix ABBY GOLDBLATT FELIX THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON 28.11.2014 3 News [email protected] News Editors Carol Ann Cheah and Kunal Wagle This year’s University Challenge team inalised Philippa Skett reports as the inal team is chosen following weeks of quizzes

he University Challenge team 60-question test culled down 100 across the country. Imperial College London has won Economics to the title in 1996, and has been finalised after an hopefuls to 16, who had a call-back for The series is due to air during the the popular quiz show in previous again in 2001, beating St John’s Textensive selection process. The the evening of Friday 21st November. second half of August. years; they beat London School of College, Oxford. new team consists of 5 male students The final trial was a mock-up of and was selected after passing several teams being questioned, Jeremy rounds of quizzes and a final trial Paxman style, and observed by stage. Imperial College Union President The team consists of three Tom Wheeler and Student Trustee undergraduate students and two PhD Thomas Lim. students. Ben Fernando, a third year The 16 students were judged on physics student and Captain of last how they interacted as a team and year’s team, has made a reappearance total scores were also taken into alongside James Bezer, a third year consideration before the panel physics student (and one of Felix’s decided on the final five. esteemed Science Editors). The team will now have another New to the team is Ashwin Braude, interview with the producers of the a fourth year physics student, and show in January where they will be Onur Teymur, who is working on a asked more questions, and in the last PhD in statistics. Also joining them weekend in February filming will is Patrick Dunn, who is a physics commence in the Granada studios in student, also currently working on his Manchester. doctorate. 28 teams make it to the televised The selection process started a finals. few weeks ago, with quizzes held Last year the team was knocked out by Imperial College Union in at the January stage, so did not make conjunction with Quiz Soc. The it onto the screens of households Photo: Emily Maunder

College to investigate Imperial College returns to top of the circumstances Research Council Grants Table KUNAL WAGLE SECTION EDITOR surrounding percent – the third largest decline seven out of the top 27 institutions in the table. On the whole there has have seen their success rates increase. mperial College has returned to been a large decline in the number of Imperial’s rate is unchanged from Professor’s death the top of the league table for applications. There were nine percent 2012-13. Iresearch council income for the fewer applications overall in 2013-14, Behind Imperial in this year’s year 2013-14. It is the fourth time in with only seven institutions actually table were Oxford, who had £94 the last five years that the College has submitting more applications than in million, UCL with £78 million PHILLIPA SKETT addressing policies and procedures topped the table, having been in third the previous year. and Manchester with £58 million. FELIX EDITOR relevant to the case. The review will place for the year 2012-2013. Despite the drop in numbers of Cambridge, Bristol, Edinburgh, King’s be done by the Director of Human In this edition of the league table, applications, the success rate has College London, Southampton and Resources at Imperial, accompanied Imperial was awarded £114 million, also dropped across the board. Only Nottingham complete the top ten. professor from the Faculty of by the Senior Consul, Professor an increase of £11 million on 2012- Medicine, Professor Stefan Richard Thompson. 13. This meant that the College was A Grimm, was found dead in Any findings will then be reported one of only ten institutions that saw September of this year in Northwood, to a group of senior college staff, led an increase of more than £10 million. Middlesex. by the provost, who will then put into University College London (UCL), Several colleagues of Professor place any recommendations deemed who were last year’s leaders, saw their Grimm spoke to the Times Higher suitable. value of awards fall by 42 percent. Education (THE) and described how An Imperial College London Cambridge saw their value diminish he was under a lot of pressure at work. spokesperson told Fe¬lix that: “Stefan by 45 percent, as it fell to fifth in the They also said that he had been placed Grimm was a valued member of the rankings. under a performance review, and had Faculty of Medicine and news of his Donal Bradley, Vice-Provost been unsuccessful in a number of death at the end of September came (Research), said that he was “delighted grant applications. as a great shock to colleagues. The to see the dedication and hard work of They told THE that Professor College has been in touch with his our staff paying off in what remains a Grimm had felt let down by Imperial, family since his death to offer our difficult funding climate”. and was not supported in the months deepest condolences. Imperial was successful in only 29 leading up to his death. “At a time when family, friends, percent of its applications, which, A College investigation is colleagues and students are still when compared to other Universities ongoing into Professor Grimm’s coming to terms with a death, it is in the top ten, is quite low. However, death, although no conclusions important to undertake any reviews this means that Imperial’s value of have been drawn as of yet. The in a manner that respects these awards was significantly higher than college is conducting reviews of sensitivities, and that does not create other Universities in the list. the circumstances surrounding a more difficult or challenging Overall, the number of applications the incident as a whole, including environment for those people.” went down from the College by 19 Table: Times Higher Education 4 28.11.2014 THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON FELIX News [email protected] News Editors Carol Ann Cheah and Kunal Wagle Medicals Rugby team left broke after U Philippa Skett investigates the inancial state of the team after the punishments received for smashed coach window on tour

mperial Medicals Rugby Football Club, one of the rugby teams Isuspended earlier this term for smashing a coach window, appealed against the sanctions placed against them last week. However, their appeal was rejected, and they could now be facing extreme financial difficulty as a club. With the costs incurred from the coach damage, fines for missing matches and the loss of earnings from the Reynolds Bop they can no longer run, they may be out of action by the next academic year. The sanctions involved included banning the whole club from socialising, and also having to forfeit several key games. Those involved with the incident will also have to take part in Union community service. The appeal was escalated past Imperial College Union President Tom Wheeler through to the chair of the Union Trustee Board, Dame Julia Higgins, but was then rejected. It was rejected on the grounds that they thought the original sanctions to be justified enough; they had no desire to modify them further and considered them an appropriate measure to stop such behaviour in the future. The appeal, backed by the Imperial College School of Medicine Student Union (ICSMU) President, Dariush Hassanzadeh-Baboli, was made via email on the 17th of November, and authored by George Cross, the Club Captain of the Medicals team. His extended statement on the matter is below. The appeal was rejected the following day. Cross appealed specifically against the social ban element of their punishment, as the sanctions levied against the club currently prevent them hosting the Reynolds bar’s Christmas Bop. Traditionally, the bigger sports clubs with greater financial pressures, such as the Last year's Imperial Medicals team celebrate their JPR Williams Cup victory at the Stoop Photo: Ian Gillett Medicals Rugby team, run the Christmas Bop, which are very Said Cross in his appeal: “It will be the committee stated that the club that he was “Concerned that the against Imperial Medicals against popular and often attended by both an opportunity where we can prove is “resigned” to the drinking culture Governance Committee did not those that were held against Imperial medic and non-medical students. our responsibility as a club and within the club. take into account the financial College Union Rugby Football Club, Running the Bop would have showcase the fact we can be sober at Cross outlined that “before ramifications the sanctions would usually known as ACC (Athletics hopefully recovered some of the costs events as we will be responsible for sanctions were imposed by the Union, have on the club.” He pointed out that Club Committee) rugby. These too lost, although it seems doubtful it stewarding.” the club had begun to address this with the costs to repair the coach, the were suspended from playing and would be able to recuperate all of the They also challenged details that issue already, by creating a series British University & College Sport socialising due to the ruling of the costs from the coach incident. They were taken in the minutes by the of documents including a ‘Club league fines the team having to pay governance committee in response have already missed several matches, Governance committee. Although Alcohol Policy,’ ‘Tour Etiquette,’ and for missing games and also the loss of to the incident involving team and incurred fines as a result, and Cross stated in the appeal that “My ‘Statement of Aims and Objectives.’” earnings from being unable to host players stripping on tube platforms, have also had to cover the costs of the committee was and continues to The appeal, made by email, also the bop, the team will be “financially which took place towards the end of coach damages and loss of earnings of be embarrassed by the situation,” featured a letter from Dariush to deficit within two years.” October. the coach company. they took issue with the fact that Dame Julia Higgins. In it he stated He also compared the sanctions Dariush highlighted that despite FELIX THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON 28.11.2014 5 News [email protected] News Editors Carol Ann Cheah and Kunal Wagle fter Union sanctions put in place George Cross gives his side of the story involved in the Heston incident, sanctions would have on the club. £10,000 loss to the club, which will and therefore feel they may be all players in the third team were Our club is currently not sitting on render the club inancially defunct disproportionate to what actually banned from social activities for steady inancial footing. by the end of the 2015/16 season. happened. two months. For those involved in This is not helped by the fact I feel that if the Governance I personally also felt the coach incident, we enforced a that Imperial College Union, who Committee were aware the extent uncomfortable by the way I was club-wide ban on socialising to end claim to treat both clubs for all the inancial implications would treated by some of the senior mid December. We also introduced college students and medic-centred effect the club, it could call into authority igures involved with GEORGE CROSS a club Alcohol Policy, and a Tour clubs on equal footing, give the question whether Imperial College the process, who acted in ways ICMRFC CLUB CAPTAIN Etiquette Document. medic rugby team 37% less grant Union have an alternative motive I thought were inappropriate These addressed the perceived compared to IC Rugby; Both IC and as to shut down ICSM clubs, to seek bordering on aggressive in drinking culture that surrounds us have 3 teams, both our First XV a merger; a rumour that has hung meetings I had with them. I We as a club fully understand the rugby and they also show that compete in the BUCS 1A league. over our heads for the past few approached Tom Wheeler about severity of the two incidents that we are addressing the perceived We always exceed our years. these issues I had, and he was we have been implicated in. We do drinking culture surrounding rugby. membership targets and we Another point that is particularly unable to rectify them, stating he not condone activities that cause Both these internal sanctions and bring home more silverware for annoying is that we feel incorrect was: “[the authority igure] was offence to members of the public these documents have shown the the university and enter more minutes from a previous meeting frustrated that he was struggling to nor activities that can lead to extent of our co-operation with the competitions as well as earning were passed on to the Governance get to an answer [from Cross].” I felt potential damage. Union, College Tutors and Faculty Sport Imperial more BUCS Committee due to a clerical this was reprehensible given I had We also do not instil a culture and was our attempt to try and deal points. Somehow the Union have issue, without our knowledge. been so co-operative throughout of excessive drinking of alcohol with these situations as quickly and “justiied” this large disparity in The minutes were in the revision the whole process. within our club. smoothly as possible. their budgeting system and they process, but the inalised version of I do not feel that the welfare When these two allegations Although we understand then also deemed their inancial the correct minutes never reached of myself nor my implicated were placed against the club, my the sanctions we feel that the sanctions towards our club the Governance committee. We feel committee members has been committee and myself enforced Governance Committee overlooked appropriate in light of this. this may have impacted the decision addressed by anyone senior at internal club sanctions. For those the inancial implications the These sanctions will enforce a made concerning our sanctions, Imperial, except for Dariush. The Union President responds... ‘addressed’ the culture, but I do fully just over £7,200, of which roughly teammate’s assessment of the Whether the activity is organised support the Club for taking its irst £1000 was due to non-window window immediately after it was by a Club that falls within the ACC steps towards doing so. related repairs (including cleaning damaged. Some of those present (ICURFC) or a Constituent Union On the complicated subject of vomit from toilets). The remainder of on the coach at the time decided such as CGC, ICSM, or RSM is Union Subsidy of ICSMRFC compared the “£10,000 loss” is the opportunity that the window was only fractured, irrelevant to us. with ICURFC, the fact of the matter is loss of ICSMRFC being banned from and did not pose a risk to other road Throughout this process, we that they budgeted for signiicantly social activity until 1 January 2015. users, and therefore did not tell the have offered to sit down with the TOM WHEELER different expected costs in the CSPB It was deemed by the Governance driver, demonstrating very poor club and discuss the inancial ICU PRESIDENT Budgeting process. ICURFC spends Committee that allowing the Club judgement. situation that they are in, and considerably more on Instructors, to host a Social event (from which it The most frustrating point raised by offer support where it is needed I disagree that ICSMRFC “[does] Ground Hire and Travel Expenditure proits ~£2,000) after the Club failed George Cross in his statement is that with a view to ensure activities are not instil a culture of excessive and had 17.4% more members at the to behave properly during previous the decision “could call into question not curtailed past their banned drinking” as this directly contradicts end of last year. Social Activity was not acceptable. whether Imperial College Union period. This support can take the with the fact that a bottle of Port On the point regarding a “£10,000 The conversation referred to have an alternative motive as to shut form of allowing the club to use an was listed on the Tour’s kit list loss to the club” it must be stated that as “inappropriate bordering on down ICSM clubs”. This is thoroughly overdraft, for example. We were because it is “more eficient” to the Club caused signiicant damage aggressive” demonstrated the Chair absurd. The Union only ever works to fully aware of the implications of drink port. I do not believe that to a Coach, which led to signiicant of the Governance Committee’s ensure that all members who want the sanctions at the point of passing the actions taken by ICSMRFC repair cost. The inal invoice came to frustration with Cross and his to participate in Union activity, can. them.

better co-operation from the Medical co-operative and have shown their such a high level, the overheads are £5,000 offered up as a “gesture” only acquired around £3,000. Said rugby players than ICURFC, whose eagerness to change to ensure similar expensive. They can probably cover by the team captain has yet to be Dariush, “People just don’t want to captain is now facing a vote of no- events do not occur in the future.” their expenditure for next term, but deducted. sponsor students who will end up confidence from Imperial College Felix spoke to Dariush to expand in the next academic year they will Fines for having to skip BUCS working for the NHS. There is no Union Council, the Medical team upon the issue further. He explained struggle.” matches come to around £600, which incentive there for them to do so, so sanctions may have more adverse that, with the Medical team unable Currently, the Imperial Medicals they are yet to pay, and the loss of an they struggle to acquire funds.” effects than those of the sanctions to acquire sponsorship as easily as have £7,439.01 in their SGI, and expected £2000 from the Christmas Dariush concluded: “ICSMSU will suffered by ICURFC. ICURFC, and still having similar £2,724.96 in grant money. So far, the Bop means that financially the club do anything to ensure the Medicals Dariush stated in his support of the costs in running as a team, the money to pay for the coach repairs will be nearing the ends of their can continue functioning, like they appeal that the rulings against the financial costs of the incident could and to cover the loss of earnings funds very soon. Over the past seven ICSMSU would do for any club facing Medicals will “financially cripple, stifle the clubs ability to pay for by the coach company (it was off years, ICURFC had an income of unprecedented financial issues. and possibly disband, a club who have training, transport and facility the road for seven days) has been around £45,000 from sponsorship However in reality for the club to admitted their mistakes, have been hire. “For a team to function at deducted from their funds, but the alone, whilst the Medical team continue it will be a struggle.” 6 28.11.2014 THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON FELIX News [email protected] News Editors Carol Ann Cheah and Kunal Wagle Blackboard crashes during test Thomas Lim reports as 450 students are left “confused and frustrated”

ast Thursday 450 students were left confused and frustrated Lafter Blackboard crashed during a Business Economics online. The test was scheduled to start at 18:00, and within ten minutes, students started reporting issues with their tests, such as images and formulae not loading as expected. Shortly afterwards, Blackboard went down. Course Lecturer Dr Ralf Martin emailed students immediately afterwards, telling them he was “super furious”. He told students they had received “multiple assurances” that Blackboard would be able to handle the number of students running the test simultaneously. Dr Martin made his opinions very clear to students, telling them in another email “I can only speculate that their [College ICT’s] server is so badly managed that it cannot handle 450 students.” Speaking to Felix about the incident, he said, “I wasn’t personally promised that someone from ICT would be present but it took them a long time to respond, we still haven’t had a formal response. We couldn’t reach anybody until reach anybody until several days after.” Dr Martin was also unimpressed with apparent issues with Web Browser compatibility, citing other tests that had issues due to students using Google Chrome instead of Firefox or Internet Explorer, leading him to tell students, “Chrome is not some weird exotic browser. Almost every lecture I would spend saying not to use chrome but maybe that was not the reason.” The lack of contact from ICT with Dr Martin has left him confused and still trying to understand why it had failed. He speculated that smaller courses have used Blackboard successfully with Chrome, so it was more likely an issue with the total number of Photo: Karsten Seipp students taking the test. In an email to Directors of the test inconvenient, one saying, The Business School have received 13 November had to be terminated of Blackboard Learn to determine Undergraduate Studies who have “It is extremely inconvenient for praise for taking students’ views into due to a technical problem the cause of the issue and to reduce students enrolled on the course, me as I both have interviews and a account when deciding how best to with Blackboard – the College’s the risk of a future outage to the Edina Hamzic-Maguire of the funeral abroad in the coming weeks, proceed, something most students virtual learning environment – e-Learning System. The College is Business School told colleagues that meaning that I will not have much believe is unique to the Business through which the test was being grateful for the input of affected the outage did in fact not register on time at all to refresh everything School. “The business school have administered. Affected students students who have been invited to College ICT systems. The Business which I studied for the test.” and done a good job in considering were polled on when the test share what they experienced when School were also told by ICT that another adding “It’s all very well what’s best for students. An online should be re-run and, to minimise attempting to use the system during the “test will be recorded in the saying that all we did is “study the survey for the best way to deal with inconvenience, two alternative dates the test.” team calendar and someone may material of a module you signed the situation is something most will be offered. Planning for the test to be done be available out of hours to trouble up for,” but the fact is that if there departments wouldn’t do, and giving “Advance checks showed no issues again is underway. In order to reduce shoot”. When it came to the evening, hadn’t been the blackboard test I two different dates to do a test isn’t with Blackboard, which has proven the stress and inconvenience to a phone call to ICT was made, but would not have chosen to prioritise something I’ve heard of before.” a reliable system for the College, students, two different times will be it went straight to a standard out of my time towards this module. The An Imperial College Spokesperson with 99.99% service availability available: one before Christmas, and hours message. ICT later told the fact that I did so at the detriment of was keen to point out Blackboard’s between Oct 2013 and Oct 2014. the other after. Business School that no staff were my other modules, job applications, track record of reliability, issuing Unfortunately on this occasion, an The Business School have decided available to be on standby past 18:00. and extra-curricular activities, the statement: “The College regrets unforeseen problem occurred. not to use Blackboard for the retests, Students found the cancellation only to find the test cancelled, is that an online Business Economics “ICT is working closely with the instead load testing alternative and subsequent rescheduling of extremely inconvenient.” test scheduled for the evening of Business School and the supplier software. FELIX THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON 28.11.2014 7 News [email protected] News Editors Carol Ann Cheah and Kunal Wagle Imperial: Prepare to get Pitch-Slapped Ben Howitt on the International singing competition to be hosted at Imperial

mperial College A Cappella Society has been chosen to Ihost the UK semi-finals of the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA), presented by Varsity Vocals. The competition, now in its 20th year, was featured in the 2012 film Pitch Perfect, which introduced the world to the now widely known ‘Cups’. The sequel has been confirmed for release in 2015. On January 24th, 2015, eight a cappella groups from UK universities will compete to win a place at the International Final, to be held in New York City. This is the first time that there has been a round held outside of the USA, although video entry has been allowed since 2012. The event will be organised by Matthew Shirer, the ICCA Overseas Producer at Varsity Vocals. Although the A Cappella Society is hosting the event, Varsity Vocals initially contacted the individual groups separately regarding the price tag of £200 – double that of an use of the Great Hall. There were entry to VFUK. some issues with getting the space The three groups who chose to enter for a reasonable price, with Henry filmed their audition videos in the Harrod, the A Cappella Society Chair, recently renovated West Basement describing the situation as “pretty studio, with Media groups assisting heated in that respect”. with lighting and sound. Henry Following close to four weeks of acknowledged “teething problems”, negotiation on the price, Henry was with this being one of the first times on the phone to Varsity Vocals to the Studio had been used in anger, cancel the College’s participation but pointed out that all three groups in the event, when Campus Services that auditioned had been selected to offered a discount. compete. Take Note, the society’s “As I was sitting there, I got other all-female barbershop group, the email through from Charles chose not to enter. [Gallagher, Head of Hospitality and The Deputy President (Clubs & Events], at the very last minute, and… Societies) and the Deputy President ICCA’s accepted over the phone.” (Finance & Services) have already Three of the eight groups confirmed their attendance at the competing are London-based. event, and other major figures on Imperielles, The Scopes and The campus will be invited, including Techtonics all perform regularly Charles Gallagher, the campus official and have previously competed in who sent the eleventh hour email that The Voice Festival UK (VFUK), the saved the event. UK version of ICCA, The Techtonics The event will also feature a guest reaching the final in 2014. This will performance from Birmingham be the first time that Imperielles University’s Sons of Pitches, who and The Scopes have competed at a competed at the 2013 ICCA Final in national competition. New York. All the King’s Men, from They have since gone semi- King’s College London, round out professional, having released the London-based groups, with their debut EP, Not Too Shabby in The Scopes performing at Summer Ball 2014 (bottom) and Imperielles (top) Photo: Imperialelles/ Ben Lester four further groups coming from December 2013. Despite this, they Birmingham, Durham, and Exeter. continue to compete, singing against on recording releases, with The A representative from The Scopes The movement of A Cappella to All of the teams perform regularly, The Techtonics in the VFUK final Techtonics aiming to release a single said: the UK has been a slow one, but the including visits to the Edinburgh last year. close to Christmas, and an album in “We’re so honoured to be addition of a true international Fringe Festival, and many have A Cappella Society was founded in August 2015. competing in the first ever UK competition is a big step in the right placed in national competitions. November 2010 and now comprises All of the groups have expressed ICCA’s Semi-Final and it being held direction. Entries to the competition were four groups, with two more in the their excitement, with Peter Noden at Imperial was just an added bonus! We here at Felix wish the by video audition, to be submitted works. Each of the groups has a (The Techtonics Chair) describing it We can’t wait to see the other groups competing groups the very best of by 15th November. A successful different style, and all maintain as “the opportunity to perform and perform and to show the judges and luck, and hope that the competition is audition would give a place in the a set to be performed over the meet with the best of the British and the local crowd what we’ve been appropriately aca-awesome. College-hosted semi final, at the hefty year. Multiple groups are working global a cappella communities”. working on!” 8 28.11.2014 THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON FELIX News [email protected] News Editors Carol Ann Cheah and Kunal Wagle RAG holds successful charity bike auction

from those left on campus over the PHILIPPA SKETT FELIX EDITOR summer, came in various shapes, sizes, and states, but many went for prices below their actual face value. The auctioneer was Neil Mosley, AG held their charity bike auc- head of Sport Imperial and apparent tion last Thursday, raising an owner of a megaphone. Rimpressive £4,500 after selling RAG have also announced their roughly 30 bikes. charities for their upcoming RAG The auction took place on the steps week; they will be raising money for leading up to Queen’s Tower, and was Tiny Tickers, Mines Advisory Group attended by around 150 students. and St Mungo’s broadway. Half of the funds raised will go to the RAG Chair Ben Fernando said of Bike Users Group (BUG), a student the day: “An absolutely amazing day club that oversees students who cycle that raised a huge amount of money on a regular basis. for our chosen causes. The other half went to RAG’s main “We’re proud it went so smoothly charities, twenty20, Kids UK and and that so many people were able Lively Minds. to become more environmentally RAG also had police present to friendly through the purchase of a mark bikes to track them if stolen, cheap bicycle. and mechanics there to check over the “We look forward to more bikes themselves. The bikes, sourced successful bike auctions!” Prospective buyers take a look at the bikes on offer Photo: Amy Whistlecroft World News: Ferguson unrest calms on Thanksgiving Kunal Wagle discusses the two nights of protests in the St Louis suburb in Missouri

he St Louis suburb of Ferguson them from Los Angeles. and had refused to disperse in Los arrests after the transport system was present the case to a new jury. was calm on Thanksgiving The police have since released a Angeles. blocked by over 300 protestors. However, the US Justice Tmorning, after two nights statement saying that protestors had In Portland, Oregon police were The state governor for Missouri Jay Department has launched a federal or protests. The suburb has been vandalised buildings in Oakland forced to use pepper spray and make Nixon said that he would not try to investigation. unsettled since 9th August when police officer Darren Wilson shot and killed civilian Michael Brown. Mr Wilson, who shot Brown six or seven times said that he “feared for his life”. Witnesses, however, claimed that Mr Brown, who was not armed, had his hands up when the first shots were fired. On Tuesday a jury chose not to charge Mr Wilson for the killing and as a result clear the police officer of any wrongdoing. This sparked protests in Ferguson, which were peaceful. The protests, which consisted of an estimated 100 people marching through the streets, were conducted in the snow. It is believed that the bad weather may have had an effect on the number of people protesting. Police Officer Wilson said afterwards on television that he had “a clean conscience” over the shooting. This statement was branded as “disrespectful” by Mr Brown’s mother, who went on to add that she does not believe the policeman’s account of what happened that night. Mr Brown’s father said that prosecutors had “crucified” his son in a character assassination. He then requested that all protesters remain peaceful. Meanwhile, in California, protests turned violent in Oakland and Los Angeles. More than 100 people were arrested in demonstrations, most of Police gather after the news of the grand jury's decision broke Photo: Charlie Riedel/Associated Pressww FELIX THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON 28.11.2014 9 Comment [email protected] Comment Editor Tessa Davey Attending University can be a risky business George Butcher discusses how to determine the value of education was sat in a job interview, nervously trying to justify my I existence to a stranger and I was asked “Why did you chose to study at Imperial?”. I think I managed to persuade him it wasn’t because Cambridge had rejected me and that it was in fact, “Imperial’s academic rigour and forward thinking ethos”. If I’m honest I applied because it was top of the league tables and I came because I managed to get the grades. But how do aspiring students GEORGE BUTCHER choose universities? This is the COMMENT WRITER question a recent report by Which? tried to answer. It’s important because with fees at £9000 per annum, sixth form students are expected to make rational consumer decisions and commit to spending around £45,000 on a degree. All this before you’re legally allowed to take out a normal loan. Last year the student loans company paid out £12.5 billion Photo: Mid-Cheshire College I’m fortunate. I’m very confident that my £3,450 per year fees are company paid out £12.5 billion in where the shareholders risk their a worthy investment. Simply loans to students and that’s set to investment if the customers leave. comparing the mean Imperial rise. The higher education sector is If students are to be consumers, graduate salary with the median haemorrhaging money. then we need the protection and UK salary is enough to show that. If you arrive at a university and rights that come with that. This But that isn’t always the case. The find that your lectures aren’t quite should be one of the benefits of the Which? survey (which didn’t mention worth the £50 each you’re paying, tuition fee system but it has yet to Imperial specifically) found 3 in you’re stuck. There’s no chance happen. Why? Because if a course 10 undergraduates thought their to transfer to another university can’t keep its students happy, and experience was poor value and that – you just have to start again and they all leave with refunds, that 35% said they are “unlikely to have pay another set of fees. If you drop course won’t be open for long. The attended university faced with out completely you have to pay good departments will flourish but higher fees”. back the fees, but you’re not even the poor departments will close. The risk that a course is a waste of a graduate. In most industries the It’s creative destruction capitalism time and money is not just borne by consumer is protected by a regulator. – students got their brunt of the the student. It’s a loan you’ll only "3 in 10 If you buy a broken car, you get it deal when the fees trebled. Now undergrads pay back if you earn enough money, replaced or refunded. But if you get "It's the universities have to face the reality so the risk is also with tax payers, thought a useless course, you’re stuck with students of the economic market too, and who are the very people we tried to their it; no refunds apart from extreme something tells me they won’t like reduce the burden on by introducing situations. The universities bear a and the it either. fees in the first place. education very small amount of risk in the government The transition of the tuition In fact, the government now was poor game, it’s the students and the who take fee model won’t be complete till loses 45p of every £1 it lends to value" government who take the risk. The the risk" departments who don’t pay for students. Last year the student loans exact opposite of normal business themselves have to close. BT is moving back into mobile. Panic stations?

n Monday Spanish newspa- with O2 and EE over the past couple prices as a result? At the moment will not help matters either. When pers reported that BT were of years. analysts are split, with some saying BT last spent this much, our line Oin talks with Telefonica over With this deal (whoever it may that prices will increase, whilst some rental costs went up by a significant a potential takeover of O2. It later come from) BT will suddenly have a believe that it will, in fact, decrease. amount. Expect similar things to emerged that BT are also discuss- market share of more than 29% (EE Early indications would suggest that happen if you choose not to go with ing the purchase of EE from French actually has 33% at the moment), if Quad-Play is something that you Quad-Play. company Orange S.A. and German and a platform from which to launch are interested in then this is great The other intriguing point that company Deutsche Telekom. But a new ‘Quad-Play’ service. Quad-Play news, as bundles in Europe have stems from this is whether other what would this mean for us? Should is a package currently on sale in Eu- been sold at significant discounts. companies will follow suit. Vodafone we be worried, or excited? rope that offers Internet, television, The other side of the coin, though, have already been touted to form The move from BT shows clear landline and mobile in one bundle. is BT’s costs. Having spent more a partnership with BSkyB if BT’s intent to enter the mobile market. It has proved to be popular in Europe than £2.5 billion to upgrade its fibre move proves successful, and it is also KUNAL WAGLE Since spinning off O2 in 2001 (then but is largely unproven in the United optic networks and £2 billion on thought that TalkTalk will be look- COMMENT WRITER called BT Cellnet), BT has often Kingdom. Virgin Media attempted television rights in sport, BT have ing for a partner. regretted not being in the mobile it, but with limited success. a lot of money to make up. The One thing is for sure though – market. They have made attempts to So, what does this mean for us? estimated £10 billion that will be many will watch BT’s next moves slowly move back in through deals Should we be worried about rising needed to complete the takeover with fascination and intrigue. 10 28.11.2014 THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON FELIX Features [email protected] EditorFeatures Philippa Editor Skett VACANT Xuan Chen visits HYPER JAPAN and meets some of the stars behind the convention

he biannual gathering of to see what was going on. Between dedicated Japanese markets performances, J-POP (Japanese Tand exhibitors took place pop music) greatly enhanced the two weekends ago, and managed an ambience of the whole event. exhibition which was a verifiable Cosplay, or dressing up as fictional smorgasbord of Japanese culture. characters found in anime, manga, Exhibitions like these are a video games, films, etc is a noticeable clarion call for like-minded small theme in the convention. Contests and medium business owners to were on for the best costumes but come together in one place to show I only recognised Hatsune Miku, themselves to curious wanderers. The a “humanoid persona voiced by a self-styled HYPER JAPAN Christmas singing synthesizer application” after Market succeeds brilliantly in watching a quasi-3D performance in a creating a thematic atmosphere, side room of her songs. Sounds pretty presenting not just the Japanese weird to someone passing by, but I products, but stages and performance greatly admire the Japanese creative areas which emblazon every single spirit and Hatsune Miku has turned aspect of Japanese culture, from out to be a massive marketing success idiosyncratic fusion bands to for the company behind her. traditional Japanese tea ceremonies Although cosplay is one of the loci and dance theatre. HYPER JAPAN of the event as one of the pillars of boldly claims that it is the best modern Japanese culture, it is not by depiction of Japanese culture outside far the main one. In fact, one of the of Japan, and as an outsider to the major successes of the convention event whilst knowing a fair amount overall was the fact that there wasn’t about the country, I am utterly a single, individual focus; rather, a Two girls cosplaying at HYPER JAPAN. Photo: Xuan Chen bought by their claim smooth amalgamation of all aspects The event takes place in Olympia of Japanese culture presented in culminated with the tuna mercilessly incredibly diverse, ballpark outline of National, near Hammersmith and tandem which are consciously dichotomised by a five-foot long every imaginable and unimaginable West Kensington. The bottom floor recognisable but simply flow together sword. I can testify that this smooth- aspect of Japanese culture. However, has an array of delicious smelling and feel natural. filleted tuna beats John West with one performer’s story stood out as food stalls, all selling Japanese dishes On the upper floor, there are a regards to taste and texture by particularly galvanising. I snuck and slightly bigger businesses along group of retro arcade machines “HYPER formerly unimaginable amounts. backstage to get a cheeky interview in with a huge stage at one end, whilst and Japanese video game consoles, JAPAN By far the most enjoyable was the after the performance had ended. the top floor seemed to be reserved including a Dance Dance Revolution boldly sampling of all the sake, whisky, Her name is Diana Garnett, an for independent shop-owners and a on which I witnessed meteoric and umeshu alcohols for sale. The American singer who shot to fame smaller display area where martial competition which redefined my claims exhibitors were generous with “HYPER last year by winning Song for Japan, arts and other demonstrations were definition of “pro gamer”. that it is their samples and light-headed JAPAN described as the Japanese equivalent carried out. In contrast, downstairs belonged to the best gratification led me to purchase a to The Voice, Britain’s Got Talent, From any point in the exhibition big Japanese video game developers bottle of Choya Umeshu, a delicious showcased and the X-Factor all rolled into one. hall, whatever was coming from the such as Square Enix and Capcom depiction citrus-smelling and flavour wine. a strikingly “I’ve wanted to become a singer in speakers beside the stage could be which promoted their latest products of Japanese Ume is a sweet Asiatic fruit which is extra- Japan since I was seven,” Diana tells heard, and the stage could be seen and merchandise. culture described as somewhere between an ordinary me. “My dad watched a lot of anime from any point on the top floor, Soon the crowd was gathered apricot and a plum. so I had exposure to Japanese music which mean that you never missed a around a sushi stand, and I outside of The stage is full with back-to-back cultural and I wanted to be a performer before thing – and never had to push your managed to find myself witnessing Japan.” displays of sake mixing, technodelic event." I’d figured out all the details, like how way through crowds or fight for seats a tuna cutting display. The show performances, karaoke, and an far Japan is from Washington DC.” FELIX THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON 28.11.2014 11 Features [email protected] EditorFeatures Philippa Editor Skett VACANT Let’s get hyper

Her bubbly personality and cheerful “As a schoolteacher, I often get Japanese only; is the language barrier pop artist whose gained prominence watching anime, despite growing demeanour brings smiles to the kids coming up to me when they’re a problem this way? through his song ‘Closer’ being used up in Los Angeles. “I had to teach English audience. young with their dreams of becoming “The focus of the songs is not for the opening song of the anime myself,” he tells me, “but the comics Chasing your dream through Pokémon masters, superheroes, and the language, but the sound and series Naruto. Joe is well-known for are definitely the number one twenty years of hard work and famous ice skaters along with all music,” Diana tells me. Japanese is playing all the instruments in the Japanese textbook.” As well as playing perseverance paints a clear image sorts of wonderful things. But then naturally a very lyrical and expressive backing track when he records a new all the instruments in all of his songs of the undeterrable heart beneath they grow up and settle into their language due to its liquid consonants song – in fact, his Facebook page and composing all of them himself, the easy smiles. Diana first moved perceived reality of just being able to and this makes it still remarkably description includes the line “Plays almost all of his song lyrics are in to Japan at the age of sixteen, a live as an office worker somewhere. communicative even to a non-speaker all instruments.” I manage to get Japanese too. It’s Joe’s first time in daunting prospect enough for anyone It’s heart-breaking. I sing for my like me. As a musician myself, Diana a few words with him too, after he Europe and he expresses confusion at wishing to move to a country with fans and anyone who happens to be and I concur by bringing up the agreed to marry a fan in the audience. the reason why the audience weren’t 0.07% native English speakers. On listening, in the hopes that they’ll be indisputable fact that music is the It remains to be seen if he is as true to receptive to his American-style jokes her third and most recent visit to brave enough to follow their heart true universal language of expression. his word as he is dedicated to the red about boobs and such on stage. I tell Japan, Diana also became an English once again.” The realisation of a dream may not bean ice cream he claims he loves – him that they’re just being polite. teacher, instructing schoolchildren Fundamental differences in the necessarily come as a single, cathartic, “it’s delicious and healthy,” he claims, HYPER JAPAN showcased a around middle school age. I asked construction of sentences, such as watershed moment. Diana continues right before Diana quips back “it’s not strikingly extraordinary cultural her about the motivation behind her omission of articles and subjects, to work on her music and she starts healthy, it’s ice cream.” event, with a very strong inspirational singing – a fervent and passionate all contribute to the difficulty of by collaborating with Joe Inoue, Joe was born to Japanese aftertaste. The message is clear. intensity which can be felt during her learning English as a native Japanese announcing their work on December immigrants in California, and learnt Pursue your dream, and you’ll end up renditions. speaker. Diana’s songs are all in 1st. Joe is an American-born Japanese Japanese from reading manga and living it. 12 28.11.2014 THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON FELIX Science [email protected] Science Editor James Bezer & Lauren Ratcliffe Dr Robin Carhart-Harris talks about LSD and the Psychedelic state Lauren Ratcliffe interviews Imperial researcher and learns how and why LSD could be used to treat depression and addictions

omplete understanding LSD DISCOVERY grew almost synonymously with the behind the powerful effects of To fully understand where science hippie movement, taken as a way to Cpsychedelics on the mind has is today we must take a brief look it’s get in touch with the self, other people remained a mystery for many decades. past. The discovery of LSD’s unique and the environment, or to quote Over 60 years has passed since effects arose accidently by Albert Leary: “Turn on, tune in, drop out.” the first discovery of lysergic acid Hofmann during the 1930s. In 1966, due to bad publicity and diethylamide (LSD) and since then Then a 37 year old medicinal political concerns, the authorities surprisingly little concrete knowledge chemist at the pharmaceutical took direct action against LSD and of its effects on the brain has been company Sandoz in Basel, Hofmann made it illegal in the United States. established. began isolating active components of What shortly followed was the Legal restrictions and long- medicinal plants, one of which was implementation of the UK Misuse held preconceptions surrounding ergot - a parasitic fungus that grows of Drugs Act in 1973, classing LSD psychedelics have hampered the in rye and used back then to reduce under Schedule I, which by definition progression of research into these maternal bleeding during childbirth. assumes it has little or no therapeutic elusive compounds. Dr Robin Carhart- During this pursuit in April 1943, value. Harris of Imperial College University he inadvertently exposed himself to is one of a few scientists on the pursuit LSD, an ergotamine derivative, and SUGGESTIBILITY to bring a more scientific approach came home one day to find himself Since then, the story has stayed to modern psychedelic research and tripping balls, or as he puts it: “I much the same and drug policies has found evidence to indicate that perceived an uninterrupted stream more or less haven’t changed psychedelics are more than just a of fantastic pictures, extraordinary since the 1970s. In the Centre faded hippie emblem. shapes with intense kaleidoscopic play for Neuropsychopharmacology I met up with him in his offices in "Psychedelics of colours.” at Imperial College, however, Dr Hammersmith and discussed, among Robin Carhart-Harris is pioneering other things, the rise and fall of LSD are more CONTROVERSY investigations into LSD with results in the scientific and public domain, than just a Soon after this quirky discovery, that suggest a change is long overdue theories behind hallucinations, near- further scientific research established as current drug laws suffocate the death experiences and his research in faded hippie that LSD could lower ego defences progression of neuroscience research. using LSD to understand the inner emblem." and potentially allow access to the By piling up strong evidence-based workings of the mind. unconscious mind, revealing it as a scientific knowledge on LSD’s potential tool to use in conjunction effects on the brain, Carhart-Harris with psychotherapy treatments. is bringing a refreshingly scientific Between the 1950s and mid-1960s approach to this weird and wonderful over 1,000 clinical papers and several drug. dozen books were published alongside With a background in psychology six international conferences on LSD- and psychoanalysis at Bournemouth assisted psychotherapy. However, University, Carhart-Harris what Hofmann could never have later moved to the University foretold was the progression of LSD of Bristol to continue a PhD in from medical remedy to recreational psychopharmacology and is now a drug. research associate at Imperial College’s When, after more than ten years Hammersmith campus, where I found of uninterrupted scientific research, him one fresh October morning. Dr Robin Carhart-Harris is bringing LSD research back to the 21st Century with his scientific approach Photo: Independent the drug began to take on a more With an infectious enthusiasm for public profile as sensationalist his work and a clear, careful way of however, was his discovery of the book newspaper reports on LSD’s curious speaking, Carhart-Harris describes ‘Realms of the Human Unconsciousness: effects opened the doors to public his progression from psychology to Observations from LSD Research’ by experimentation. psychedelic research when, during his Czech psychiatrist, Stanislav Grof, One figure that spearheaded this undergraduate years, his studies failed who worked on LSD in the 60s and transition was Dr Timothy Leary, to satisfy his deep curiosity in wanting "...deep 70s. “I read it in a day, was blown a known apostle of LSD, who held to understand the human condition. curiosity in away and then thought this is really a vision that progressively diverted “[Psychoanalysis] doesn’t have much wanting to what I want to do, understand LSD in from scientific research and moved grounding in a scientific approach… it the mind and put some real meat on towards the dangerous game of social was more going around the edges and understand psychoanalysis,” he says. and psychological revolution. not getting to the core of what is really the human Carhart-Harris’ research uses American counterculture against the Vietnam war People began taking LSD for interesting and juicy,” he explains. condition." LSD as a way to manipulate Photo: Robert Altman pleasure and popularity of the drug What truly changed the game, the mind and understand what FELIX THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON 28.11.2014 13 Science [email protected] Science Editor James Bezer & Lauren Ratcliffe

A recently published study of his investigates the effect of LSD on imaginative suggestibility; he would read out a script asking volunteers to imagine, with eyes closed, a succession of sensory experiences, like eating a juicy orange or smelling freshly cut grass. “[Volunteers] fall into a fantasy state where they are imagining what I am suggesting,” he says. When they asked participants to rate the vividness of the experience, the extreme being it was just like reality, the participants of the study that had the LSD treatment rated it as significantly more vivid compared to control. Without needing hypnosis or any authoritarian commands, LSD induced a state of plasticity in the Visualisation of homological scaffolds (a) placebo (b) psilocybin treatment. Increased volunteers’ perception of the world, functional connectivity can be seen in the brain under psycobilin, suggesting more flexible indicating big potential for use in cognition. Photo: RoyalSociety doi: 10.1098/rsif.2014.0873 psychotherapy. However, it remains a territory that abstain from smoking 6 months after within the body that do important some people from a strict medical the treatment, a better result than the things in terms of psychology, like perspective might question. “There is current best treatment for tobacco serotonin for example,” he says. this psychological element that some addiction. There are many wild and wonderful people might find too qualitative and “I have a strong conviction that theories surrounding DMT and abstract. But you just have to look at [psychedelics] will develop into people have theorised that it may be the placebo effect to see how effective therapeutics in the coming decades,” responsible for certain endogenous it can be,” Carhart-Harris explains. Carhart-Harris says. psychedelic, mystical-type experiences and how these arise in certain ADDICTIONS HALLUCINATIONS circumstances such as near-death. Alongside apparent heightened Out of interest, I thought I’d pick the “I’m not sure I agree, it’s good to keep suggestibility, Carhart-Harris’ doctor’s brain on his theory behind an open mind… but there is another research indicates that LSD could the manifestation of hallucinations theory that is more intuitively help with the treatment of addictions while under the influence of appealing – that states of naturally and depression. “Ordinarily when psychedelic drugs. These phantom occurring psychosis, when people go we experience the world, we do so in visions have historically played a ‘mad’ so to speak, is due to endogenous such a constrained manner...habits huge role in mysticism, the history of psychedelic-like compounds being and routines we have are all about religion and the religious experience. released in the brain, DMT is the main digging certain channels in a way that “I don’t have a really good candidate for that – but there is no we slip into,” he says. “Psychedelics explanation for hallucinations, but evidence.” start to fill in those channels that have we have some clues,” he says. “One In order to get some conclusive already been dug out so that they are explanation I could offer is that the backing for this theory, researchers shallower and you can start falling brain holds priors or predictions would need to carry out a spinal tap into different channels.” about what it is going to be given in and analyse the cerebrospinal fluid This happens not just on a terms of sensory information. We (CSF) to give a good index of what’s metaphorical level but also mirrors come into this world with some innate in the brain in someone in a state of what Carhart-Harris has found in information about what the world acute psychosis. “Some of the best changes of brain activity. “Brain will be like, but you also develop an studies that would really crack a activity is governed to a large extent incredible amount of knowledge about problem, are simply not feasible,” by important hub structures that are how the world is and this develops Carhart-Harris says. important for governing the channels over time so that we can process the Psychedelic research is still very of activity that the brain supports, world much more accurately and young, but seems to be an incredibly and to some extent constraining the precisely. fertile domain and on the up. Of circuitry of the brain. What we see What you see with psychedelics course, these compounds are to be with LSD and other psychedelics is is that these priors and predictions treated with caution and Carhart- that these hub structures are affected start slipping into conscious when Harris’ research is carried out under and their activity is disturbed, which not induced,” he clarifies. “Essentially carefully controlled settings. “The seems to allow the brain to work in an what you are seeing under LSD is the dangers with psychedelics arise when unconstrained manner. Cognition can brain itself, the information that the they are taken without the proper be more flexible and to some extent brain already holds is slipping into caution,” he says. broader as connections can be formed our normal consciousness.” For many drugs the decisions to between regions that are ordinarily classify them under Schedule I in the not connected or weakly connected, so DMT current UK drug legislation was made Dr Robin Carhart-Harris is bringing LSD research back to the 21st Century with his scientific approach Photo: Independent we see this heightened plasticity and “There are always drugs we would before modern scientific methods intercommunication within the brain like to look at, but are unable to allowed a more comprehensive processes are underlying common that we would not see ordinarily,” he because of limited resources and understanding of their pharmacology psychopathologies. “It is under explains. prioritising research” Carhart-Harris and toxicology. As a result, drugs were appreciated by mainstream Using psychedelics to disrupt says when asked if there were any lumped into groups not based on any psychology and cognitive reinforced patterns on the brain in other psychedelics he would like "...studies consideration of their physical harms neuroscience quite how important people with addictions or depression to investigate apart from LSD and but on the assumption they had no and useful psychedelic drugs can be "...new could introduce a suppleness of the psilocybin. that would therapeutic value. for explaining the mind,” Carhart- things can mind, where new things can be learnt “An interesting one is N,N- really By breaking the 50 year taboo Harris says. be learnt whilst old things are unlearnt. A dimethyltryptamine (DMT), which crack a surrounding psychedelics in research “Psychedelics are powerful scientific whilst old recent study in the United States into occurs endogenously within the and confronting the mysterious tools, in order to understand any psilocybin (magic mushrooms) and human body and in other organisms, problem are with honest scientific methods, Dr phenomenon, a powerful strategy is to things are tobacco addiction, found that 80% of and is prevalent in the plant world. simply not Robin Carhart-Harris and his team of perturb the phenomenon, which LSD unlearnt." smokers treated with psilocybin, with It is amazingly similar in molecular feasible." researchers have found evidence that does.” the intention of giving up cigarettes, structure to other chemicals present contradicts this assumption. 14 28.11.2014 THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON FELIX Science [email protected] Science Editor James Bezer & Lauren Ratcliffe Having Trouble Sleeping? Utsav Radia reports on Imperial’s research into getting a good nights sleep n the UK, 1 in 4 people suffer suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is analysis to compare the levels of objects equally. from some form of sleep disorder believed to be centrally involved brain activity during the sleep-wake Dr Xiao Yu of Imperial College Iresulting in excessive daytime in synchronising many other ‘local cycles in control mice (i.e. those with London, lead author of the study, sleepiness. Researchers at Imperial clocks’ that collectively modulate the Bmal1 gene in the TMN) with expressed how “exciting [it is] to find College London, led by Professors our body’s state of activity. However, those mice bred with the gene deleted significant evidence of a local body William Wisden and Nicholas Franks until now, we were not able to (test mice). clock. Now we know that the master of the Department of Life Sciences demonstrate the effects of these ‘local Wakefulness and recovery from clock is not working alone, but relies and Dr Mick Hastings’ group at clocks’ in the brain or explain the sleep was assessed by placing pieces of on lots of helpers to wake up our the MRC Laboratory of Molecular mechanisms by which they influence paper and plastic tubes in the mice’s whole body”. Biology in Cambridge, have shined various areas. chamber to discourage sleep. It was Furthermore, the next steps are new light on exactly how the body In this experimental study on mice, found that after 5 hours of sleep- to investigate if there is a direct controls when you wake up and when the contribution of one putative deprivation, the control mice had an link between the SCN and other you fall asleep (the circadian rhythm). ‘local clock’ in histaminergic neurons average of 6 hours more sleep than ‘local clocks’ to decipher how sleep- The human circadian system in the tuberomamillary nucleus the test mice. Memory was assessed "Scientists wake messages are interchanged. regulates the rhythm of the human (TMN; lies outside the SCN) to the by observing the ability of the control selectively Nonetheless, this study has helped body by establishing normal regulation of the sleep-wake cycle was and test mice to recognise two us to establish a platform to better sleep and wake phases. During the tested. The underlying hypothesis previously familiarised objects after deleted a understand how circadian control transition from wakefulness to of this study was that histaminergic a fixed period of sleep deprivation well-known may be occurring in humans. sleep, the brain gradually becomes neurones in the hypothalamus are and a period of recovery. For both 'clock gene' Hopefully, we are not far from less responsive to visual, auditory silent during sleep (i.e. they release groups of mice, sleep deprivation called translating this understanding and other environmental stimuli no histamine) and only start firing impaired performance in recognizing into tangible benefits for patients and relatively more responsive to after the onset of wakefulness. The the objects; however, the test mice Bmal1." suffering from sleep disorders. internal stimuli. We now understand subsequently released histamine, performed worse and explored all the this transition better in terms of made by the enzyme histidine the stages of sleep – stage I being decarboxylase (HDC), enhances the most superficial and stage IV wakefulness by acting on areas of the requiring the most stimulation to cerebral cortex. wake an individual; REM (rapid eye The scientists selectively deleted a movement) sleep is either considered well known ‘clock gene’ called Bmal1 separately or as stage V sleep. from histaminergic cells in mice and Previously, sleep was thought found that this led to higher levels of to be a very passive state of HDC expression and subsequently unconsciousness with decreased body higher brain histamine levels (especially brain) activity. Nowadays "Previously during the day. As a result of this, we know that sleep serves a variety sleep was the test mice had more fragmented of functions: from restoration and and shallower sleep, prolonged recovery, to energy conservation, thought to wakefulness, hindered recovery after metabolic replenishment of the brain be a very sleep deprivation and even impaired and even memory! passive memory. A ‘master clock’ found in state." The researchers used the hypothalamus called the electroencephalography (EEG) Sleep isn't as simple as this mouse makes it look. Photo: Shutterstock

First baby has been born after womb transplant

In early September this year, a absolute uterine factor infertility, of intensive animal research by the than being life-saving, yet it is 36 year old woman made history there were doubts as to whether a team of scientists before achieving costly and fraught with many by giving birth to the world’s transplanted uterus could provide this goal. health risks. However, advocates irst womb-transplant baby. Ab- nourishment to the foetus, and The Swedish woman was 15 when believe it helps women to fulil solute uterine factor infertility, whether a post-menopausal womb she was told that she would never personal dreams of having a child caused by either an abnormal wowuld even work. Eight other bear children of her own after being and developing a maternal bond or absent uterus, is considered women are currently involved in diagnosed with Rokitansky syn- which could be missing from other the only untreatable type of the transplantation trial and the drome, a congenital absence of the options, namely surrogacy. female infertility. It affects many research team has recently an- uterus. The woman received the This live birth has opened up women throughout the world, nounced that two more women are uterus from a 61-year-old family the possibility for treating women some of whom have resorted pregnant having undergone the friend, and after in-vitro fertilisation with absolute uterine factor infer- to other motherhood options same procedure. (IVF) treatment with her partner she tility and is a reflection of the long such as surrogacy and adoption. Scientists have to consider the underwent a single embryo transfer and challenging journey taken Several uterus transplantations ethical caveats that surround such a year after the surgery. by Dr. Brannstrom and his team. have previously been attempted research, which has been described Vincent was delivered prema- “I want people to know that what but no live births have been as one that requires “greater ethi- turely at 31 weeks, He is normal and they think is impossible can hap- reported until recently, as part cal justiication than other organ healthy, much to the delight of his pen,” said the new mother who of a groundbreaking clinical trial transplants”. Critics have questioned parents and the research team. hopes that other women will be led by Dr Matt Brannstrom of whether the operation would be a Before this case became a proof- encouraged and can tell the same It's a boy! Baby Vincent the University of Gothernburg. realistic option since it only seeks to of-concept for uterus transplanta- story in the future. Photo: TheGuardian It has taken more than a decade improve one’s quality of life rather tion as a treatment method for KAY YI CHONG Imperial's Student Science Magazine Autumn 2014 issue out soon! I,SCIENCE

TIME Autumn 2014 look out for your copy around campus 16 28.11.2014 THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON FELIX

[email protected] Tech Editor Jamie Dutton & Osama Awara 2014: a monumental year for tech, but w

Laptops/Tablets Smartphones Google Nexus 6 art device. It comes out of the box Apple iPad Air 2 with the newly released Android 5.0 The Nexus 6, the successor to the Lollipop OS but at just under £500 for It has been claimed by some as much celebrated Nexus 5, is here and pre-order, it is expensive compared to “the best tablet ever made” and its bigger and better than ever. Now its predecessors. when you consider you can pick up manufactured by Motorola, with an the 16GB version for about £350 it improved 2.7GHz quad-core CPU, a Apple iPhone 6 Plus is very good value too. It took on a massive 5.96 inch AMOLED display, very good tablet in its predecessor the option of 64GB of memory and So if you have an iPhone, but either and improved the processor and a 12 megapixel rear camera, I believe the screen is smashed beyond repair camera whilst also introducing a this device is going to sell very well or you feel you need a bigger screen ingerprint sensor. this Christmas. The significant size of to look at pictures of cats or watch In the quest for thinness, Apple the phone means it can accommodate videos of cats… the iPhone 6 Plus had to sacriice the side switch Photo: IGN.com a large battery (3220mAh) and its is the probably the phone for you. which started a few teething issues Quick Charge technology means it can It comes standard with a 1.4 GHz with its users but this has not 7340mAh capacity battery which on top of 6.1mm of well-crafted operate for six hours after just fifteen dual-core CPU, a 5.5 inch Retina HD detracted from their achievement. will give you about 10 hours of work technology. I feel a few of these minutes of charge. It also comes with display, a 8 megapixel rear camera Onboard is a 1.5GHz triple-core or play. Even more impressive are are going to end up under the Qi wireless charging which is the and its battery holds 2915 mAh, so it CPU, a total of 2GB of RAM and a its dimensions - a 9.7 inch screen Christmas tree next month. icing on the cake for this state-of-the- may seem inferior to the new Nexus. Toshiba Chromebook

If you fancy something different this Christmas then maybe a Gaming Chromebook is for you. Data is not really intended to be stored on the device, but a Wii U with Gamecube 16GB solid-state drive is part of controller adapter the package with an extra 100GB provided on Google Drive for free “Honey, I think we need to talk. I for two years. It runs on Google’s think we need a new addition to the own OS and doesn’t have the family. I think we need a Wii U”. This snazziest of specs. pleading will probably manifest in at What this computer lacks in Photo: htechnews.com least one home this Christmas time. toys, it makes up for in comfort It may or may not have something and design. It’s easy to type and and, like the Air, works with a regular use. You can pick this up to do with the recent release of Super move the cursor with the trackpad 1.4GHz processor. for less than £220 online, making Smash Bros. for said console. Yes, it and is as stylish as Apple laptops. Another pro is the battery life this one of the best budget will definitely be a nostalgia-gasm It has a standard 13.3 inch screen which will give you about 7 hours of laptops available. but the problem is about ten people in the country own the console. So Apple MacBook Air 13 inch 2014 go on… be a hero! Get a Wii U so your friends can come round your The Air is back again and although house and continually humiliate you there have only been a few tweaks with Pikachu. And while you’re at on previous iterations, this version it, get the Gamecube adapter so they of the MacBook looks like one of can bring their own controllers and the best laptops you can buy today. pummel you even more. I promise Its main selling point is its battery it’ll be fun. You can pick up an 8GB life, going for about 10 hours Wii U online for less than £170 and a depending on the display mode. Gamecube controller adapter for less It comes with an i5 processor than £18. runinng at 1.4GHz and 4GB of RAM. The design is much the same as before (not many people will argue that they are unattractive) Other but what you lose out on to other Photo: pcmag.com laptops is the relatively poor quality of screen, but igures such are going to be critiqued by the other laptops with similar specs MisMisit Flash as contrast ratio and sRGB colour keenest of eyes. At just under £700, but that won’t stop them flying off space coverage are those which the Air is a bit pricy compared to the shelves. The more I read about this product the more I wanted it. It’s not clear Also worth a look... from the name but it is described as a Photo: Amazon.co.uk ‘personal physical activity monitor’ The Surface Pro 3 reviewed by Aorus X7 V2 – If Santa has won to be a modern masterpiece of and in a nutshell it tracks how you’re required and runs on replaceable Osama Awara in issue 1586, your local lottery recently and you computer engineering. However, exercising and sleeping. It has a batteries which last up to six months. probably established itself as the like gaming you might want to with a price tag of £1729, this writer simple circular LED display which It can be found for less than £50 best ‘lablet’ you can buy (which will consider this beast. With a CPU would recommend building a very monitors your heart rate for different online and is a bargain considering set you back about £1250 for the that can be clocked at 3.6GHz and competent desktop for the same activities (cycling, football, running how relatively new the market is to whole tablet + keyboard package). 16GB of RAM, this is considered amount or even less. etc). It can double as a watch when this type of technology. FELIX THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON 28.11.2014 17

[email protected] Tech Editors Jamie Dutton & Osama Awara , but what do you want under the tree?

However, it is a very attractive piece megapixel camera. Its size limits the of kit and it runs smoother than battery to a capacity of 2070mAh, most of its competitors. At £660 it is lasting about a day of heavy use. Smart Watches probably not feasible to buy this for a However, for such a reasonable family member or a significant other, price, this is almost (as Kevin Bacon Pebble Steel but for yourself it could be a cracking would say) a no-brainer. investment. Smartwatches are coming into the Also worth a look... mainstream and the technology Moto G 4G owes a lot to Pebble. The Steel OnePlus One it may be the new kid is elegantly designed and gets One of the hottest budget on the block but its earned a lot of its name from its stainless-steel smartphones you can buy right plaudits this year despite beginning as casing which protects the 1.36 now, at under £145 the Moto G is an invite-only product. It costs under inch black-and-white display. It a fabulous device for the money. £260 for the 16GB model. doesn’t discriminate between Unfortunately, the 4G iteration is phone makers; with its interface only available with 8GB of memory The Sony Experia Z3 Compact offers compatible with both iOS and but the Moto G has many qualities everything from its predecessor apart Android. With a battery life of up to which put it on a level playing field from a full HD screen. It’s perfect for 5 days and currently being sold at with the rest. Playstation 4 owners with the PS4 £165 this watch is an absolute steal. Photo: Wikimedia commons The second generation G (released Remote Play feature but also good all September this year) has a 1.2GHz round in the smartphone department. Moto 360 quad-core processor, a sizeable 5 The Z3 can be found for under £330 inch display and like the 6 Plus, an 8 online. Paul Balaji reviewed this piece of kit last week and his impressions were mostly positive. He was particularly impressed by the 1.56 inch LCD screen and its sleek design. It comes with different coloured straps and bodies giving it a personalised feel and running Android Wear allows great options for the default clock interface. Its optical heart-rate monitor, pedometer and water resistance make this a solid buy at under £200 (RRP, seemingly more at the Photo: flickr.com moment online). LG G Watch R

What differentiates the LG G Watch R from its competitors is its appearance. It boasts a 1.3 inch circular P-OLED screen and looks like a chunky Citizen watch at irst glance rather than a typical smartwatch. Like the Moto 360, it runs on Android Wear but it processes tasks with a whopping 1.2GHz CPU (which can currently only be matched by the Asus ZenWatch). At under £220, the LG looks on par with its competitors for value, but unless its design suits you, I would give it a miss. Photo: androidpolice.com Coming next year... X4 Quadcopter The Apple Watch, arriving guns- I watched a South Park episode a-blazing to the soundtrack of recently which lampoons the use of a new mediocre U2 album, the drones and depicted how they could Apple Watch looks the perfect be misused by the public on a grand accompaniment to your new scale, resulting in the need for police iPhone 6 or 6 Plus. drones and culminating in riots (Due Spring 2015) between the police and public drones controlled from the comfort of your The Samsung Gear S. With a bed. As I was watching I was just plethora of new features including assuming that a decent drone with a a massive 2 inch curved screen, an camera would cost you hundreds of accelerometer and a gyroscope, pounds but with a quick search on when the Gear S (right) arrives it Amazon I found that you can get one will likely be the best smartwatch for less than £35! Photo: Amazon.co.uk you can buy. (Due Early 2015). Photo: slashgear.com ts Union Page

Union General Meeting takes place Monday 1 December

We’ve had your feedback about Higher Education Funding, and now it’s time for YOU to decide what your Union is going to do about it.

We’re holding a General Meeting on Monday 1 December at 18:30, Blackett Lecture Theatre 1 to determine what our stance should be on tackling the issue of Higher Education Policy. Should we be lobbying for…

A Free Education A Tuition Fees A Graduate Tax A or none of these?

This is your chance to help us try and shape the future of university funding for students like you.

A General Meeting is also a chance to talk about anything, and you can submit a paper to the Union Council Chair for a subject to be raised. Papers must be sub- mitted by email to [email protected] by Monday 24 November. You can find information about how to write and submit a paper on our website.

Find out more online imperialcollegeunion.org/hef_factsheet Free STI Clinic Entertainment Survey

Free STI testing at Imperial College Union, provided by the Terrence Higgins Take our Entertainment Surveys and give us your thoughts on the Reynolds Bar Trust and Earls Court Health & Wellbeing Centre and h-bar!

Gonorrhoea, chlamydia and HIV tests will be available, as well as contraception Situated in Charing Cross hospital, Reynolds bar offers competitive drinks and sexual health advice. prices, entertainment and two large screens with Sky screening live sports.

Appointments are free but availability is limited. The h-bar has been open since November 2013, and has become a great loca- tion for Postgraduate students and staff on campus. Please email [email protected] to request a slot, including your preferred time. We want to get your feedback on the Reynolds and h-bar and what you would like to see.

imperialcollegeunion.org ’ in the Rain

cademy. Tickets: £6 Students, £8 Non-Students MTSoc Presents Carrying the Union Concert Hall

3rd-5th Dec 19:30 Free!

Carryingg the Banner A Musical Revue ICMSU Light Opera Present: Singin’ in t

8th – 12th December at Burlington Danes Acade imperialcollegeunion.org/whats-0n 24 28.11.2014 THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON FELIX

[email protected] Film Editors Ellen Mathieson, John Park & Jack Steadman The hardest working man in show business Although Jack Steadman probably isn’t the hardest working man in Felix

moments in Brown’s life before the The fact this review has mostly Get On Up inevitable jump back to the early centred around the lead actor and the Director: Tate Taylor days. An elderly, borderline delirious director is a reasonable reflection of Screenplay: Jez Butterworth, Brown threatens some conference- the impression the film gives off – the John-Henry Butterworth types with a shotgun for the crime supporting cast all put in excellent Cast: Chadwick Boseman, of using his toilet, and a younger, turns, with no noticeably flawed Nelson Ellis, Viola Davis, successful Brown berates a pilot performances beyond the occasional Octavia Spencer under fire in Vietnam, insisting that ‘man with one line’ being a bit dull, they make it to their gig for the army and the music inescapably glorious, despite the explosions rattling the is, obviously, but it all keeps coming craft. Two very different moments, back to Brown, and Boseman’s electric two very different snapshots of performance. Looking anywhere else Brown. But immediately, two things or noticing anyone else, is tricky. iopics have a weird status in the are clear. Even in those moments where film industry. Most struggle First: This is Chadwick Boseman’s Brown is being borderline malicious, Bto assemble some form of finest hour so far. He is utterly Unfortunately, you don’t look quite this good whilst singing karaoke sociopathic even, it’s still him you end narrative arc around the messy lives consumed by the role, as magnetic Photo: Tate Taylor/Universal Pictures up rooting for. of the famous, but some – and only a screen presence as you’d expect Get On Up is a clever piece of some – transcend that to become – as you’d demand – from James underrated piece of genius, Edge of subversive nature slips through in film-making, an alluring cocktail something greater. Brown, and if this doesn’t prove to Tomorrow), his scattershot approach Brown’s winks and nods to camera, of snapshots from a true industry Just occasionally, a film like Tim be the (potentially Oscar-nominated) to chronology can sometimes make culminating in one point with his legend, all bound together by Burton’s Ed Wood or Spike Lee’s breakout role that launches him things a little jarring – following walking out of a scene while talking Boseman. Despite the time-jump- Malcolm X comes along, proving that into the acting big leagues, I’ll be those first two scenes, the film ends to Dan Aykroyd’s manager, instead whiplash, there’s an undeniable sense really can be something more to investing in an edible hat. The recent up with whiplash from jumping back opting to continue the argument with of momentum, and an infectious joy biographical films than just ‘re-telling announcement of his casting as Black to the beginning, at which point it the camera. that spreads throughout – making the the story’. Faced with the life of James Panther in Captain America: Civil War starts to meanderingly tell the story The most extreme example of its moments where the film pulls the rug Brown, one of the most influential, and Black Panther’s own solo film in vaguely chronological order, kind, that little diversion manages to from under you all the more painful. if not the most influential, figures probably means I won’t need to worry replete with the occasional scene from overcome its oddities to help cement It may not be to everyone’s taste, in music, Get On Up has high too much about that hat, but just in a completely different point in time. the concept of this being Brown’s and it may be a tad too long, but Get expectations saddled on it from the case. But there’s a sense of fun pervading story from Brown’s perspective, a On Up grabs your attention and keeps start. Secondly: The Help director Tate it all that makes you want to let the tale – a legend – that he is spinning it for its entire 139-minute running And damn, if it doesn’t deliver on Taylor is having an absolute blast film off the hook – and besides, the audience, even if that occasionally time. Which is, whichever way you them straight away. The opening here. Working off a screenplay from telling the story straight would be means letting him off the hook look at it, a pretty damn respectable is riddled with an infectious Jez and John-Henry Butterworth far too obvious for a film about a somewhat for his less endearing achievement. momentum, picking out two (the duo behind the summer’s most man who defied the obvious. That activities. Second time’s not that much of a charm

JACK STEADMAN laugh rate per minute speaks volumes written characters and a total waste SECTION EDITOR about the talent of the cast – it’s just a of the ridiculously talented cast, not pity that they’ve been lumbered with least Christoph Waltz. a film that feels so oddly happy to Horrible Bosses 2’s cast really is its wallow in mediocrity. biggest strength. The soundtrack Horrible Bosses 2 works best when is utterly abominable (perhaps Horrible Bosses 2 it allows the focus to stray outside predictably), pushing the ‘popular Director: Sean Anders the leads – as likeable as the actors music that’s sort of relevant Screenplay: Sean Anders, John themselves are, their characters are right now’ button repeatedly, Morris largely unlikeable jerks, so spending while the editing is lazy and the Cast: Jason Bateman, Jason any real length of time with them cinematography standard for Sudeikis, Charlie Day, Chris quickly becomes a drag regardless of American comedies – a bunch of Pine, Jennifer Aniston Photo: Sean Anders/Warner any jokes they come out with. Chris talking heads, a few predictable sight Pine and Jennifer Aniston both gags, and that’s your lot. There are a sequel in 22 Jump Street. genuine laughs aside, the majority steal the show – the former bringing few inspired moments – the montage The Jump Street sequel was an of the humour fell into the standard a manic energy that channels his of the trio’s plan for the money exercise in knowing what made trap of aiming to be offensively Captain Kirk at his worst, the latter drop that forms the film’s centre- the first film so entertaining, and amusing, and simply turning out to turning up the nymphomania of her piece is hilarious, and the editing/ his year has been an interesting respecting that while also making be smirk-worthy. The saving grace returning, eponymous horrible boss cinematography suddenly up their year for comedy. We’ve efforts to carve out new ground. It’s came from the natural talent of the beyond the levels of the first film. game to match – but mostly the Thad the hilarious-but-not- a high benchmark for comparison, cast, who are genuinely funny people. Both Pine and Aniston inject the film whole thing just feels like a missed strictly-a-comedy Grand Budapest which makes it a shame that, from the The film seemed mostly content to let with life right when it needs it most, opportunity. It’s an entertaining Hotel and Guardians of the Galaxy start, Horrible Bosses 2 wields almost Bateman, Sudeikis and Day bounce blasting away the cobwebs of the missed opportunity, and if you have (amongst many, many others), a glut none of that charm. off one another, leading to several excessively long scenes of bickering two hours in your life that you need of resoundingly mediocre entries This was a much more traditional scenes that simply drag on too long to produce something genuinely to fill with a comedy on the big screen (looking at you, Last Vegas), a few sequel, one which adhered to the with unfunny riffs on various themes, funny. The same can’t really be said you could definitely do worse, but pieces of questionably quality, and spirit of the original (albeit with a with the occasional flash of genius. for the rest of the supporting cast in the end, Horrible Bosses 2 is just lastly the prime example in how to new director) without straying too The fact that the out-takes, played – there aren’t bad performances by another not-bad, not-great either properly do an American comedy far from its comfort zone. A few over the credits, provide the highest any means, it’s more a case of poorly sequel. It’s a shame. FELIX THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON 28.11.2014 25 Games [email protected] Games Editor Max Eggl & Calum Skene Newest release: Binding or does it (I)saac? Calum Skene on the sequel to one of the biggest indie successes

s a big fan of the original have with this game the random Binding of Isaac I was very elements of this game means that Ahappy to see that one of this there is aways a lot to see and month’s Playstation Plus games discover even in the early levels. As is the shiny new remake entitled you play more and improve you will Binding of Isaac: Rebirth. begin to recognise patterns in how For people who haven’t played the game plays and get excited when the original, Binding of Isaac is a your favourite item pops up. game based on the biblical story The ‘rebirth’ of the game takes of Abraham and Isaac, except this the flash-based original and makes time its Isaac’s mum who is trying it what it always should have been. to murder him. You play as Isaac The game now crashes less, has and must traverse through many an even more beautiful Edmund floors, each of which are randomly McMillen art style and has about generated each time, and defeat the 100 new items. The game has been enemies with your tears. Each floor left alone in all the right places contains many rooms and these whilst also being improved and can contain monsters, treasure and expanded. Everything that was items. At the end of each floor you already great and addictive about must face off against a boss to open this game is now even greater and the trapdoor to the next floor. Each more addictive. Even players who floor gets harder and harder but mastered the original game will this is balanced by the items you want the new version because of its find which serve to give you more new hard mode (as if the original health, let you deal extra damage wasn’t hard enough). The PSVita and much more. version plays very well, controls The main attraction of this game naturally and the nature of Binding is its rogue-like play style. Each of Isaac means its perfect for a train time you play the game you get Photo: Bindingofisaac or bus journey. different items, face a different Overall this game isn’t new but layout and have to defeat different on an average run I can do 3 or 4 – I can do more. There is a steep but pro players can consistently it is definitely worth picking up enemies. Binding of Isaac is (at levels but on a good run – which learning curve; beginners might get to the end and defeat mum. whether you are new to Isaac or least for me) a hard game where is a mixture of skill and good luck find it hard to get past the first level No matter what level of skill you even if you’re an avid fan. From the KSP Mission Control In the irst of a weekly installment Matt Allinson mourns his brave Kerbals

saw Bill become the first Kerbal to Jebediah Kerman Bill Kerman achieve orbit. Or rather it would’ve Day 1, Hour 4 Day 2, Hour 3 done if he hadn’t decided to let go of the side of the spacecraft whilst on EVA. Unfortunately ground-control t’s with a heavy heart and a he Kerbal Space Centre regrets hadn’t actually noticed that Bill had tear-tinged eye that the Kerbal to announce the death of taken such a rouge action for quite ISpace Centre has to announce the TCommander Bill Kerman some time, as they were busy taking passing of Captain Jebediah Kerman after a spacewalk inadvertently went screenshots for the KSP forum. this week, following a rapid and completely bollocks up. Commander Questions are being asked about slightly less-controlled-than-planned B. Kerman had nobly stepped into ground-control’s attempts to rescue landing of his space craft — The Ugly the shoes of Jebediah Kerman Bill, as various commands sent to Duck II — about 20 metres south of (which miraculously had survived his EVA suit saw him drift wildly the launch pad he had departed from the wreckage of the Ugly Duck II far away from the craft as there was 30 seconds beforehand. RIP Jeb and Bill: Their sacrifice will never be forgotten Photo: Tumblr disaster almost intact) and had been decided confusion as to whether or Cpt J. Kerman had already the primary pilot of the subsequent not the shift key meant up or down. demonstrated his excellent flying the list as programmed into the destroying them and sending the 2 missions launched as part of the By the time common sense capabilities as pilot of the first ever game. His tragic death was a freak whole craft into an unrecoverable Kerbal Space Program. prevailed, Cmdr Kerman was 2km mission launched by the Kerbal accident, inasmuch as the engineer spin. We can all take encouragement As commander of the Ugly Duck III away from his craft, and out of Space Program, the Ugly Duck I. who designed the Ugly Duck II knowing that Jebediah died doing mission, Bill became the first Kerbal monopropellant. Friends and family Jebediah was always first in line had forgotten to check the staging what he loved: experiencing 4 vertical to leave the atmosphere, reaching have all taken solace in the fact that, for missions with the KSP based in commands properly so that when g and 6 lateral g whilst pointing a record height of 82,000 metres in death, as in life: Bill was too stupid part on his enthusiasm, courage, the main rocket engines fired, the straight at the ground travelling at above the surface of Kerbin. The to realise what abject peril he was and default setting at the top of parachute deployed simultaneously, 140m/s. A true Kerbal Hero. subsequent Ugly Duck IV mission constantly in. 26 28.11.2014 THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON FELIX Games [email protected] Games Editor Max Eggl & Calum Skene GamerGate: not about ethics in journalism Social Justice Wizard Tom Rivlin gazes into the internet abyss

nyone with an interest in feminism, social media, video Agames or nerd culture in general has probably heard this term over the past few months: GamerGate. What exactly is it? Why is it so awful? To get to the bottom of this we need to take a long, ugly look at gaming culture… The short version of the story behind the Twitter hashtag is as follows: Zoe Quinn, an indie game developer, was accused by her ex-boyfriend of cheating on him in a long, ranting blog post. She was accused of sleeping with a reviewer for the popular gaming website Kotaku. The internet (mostly 4chan and Reddit) ran with this, accusing her of sleeping with said journalist in order to get a good review for her game (it turns out he never reviewed her game, of course). At around that time, feminist critic Anita Sarkeesian released the latest in her long series of videos highlighting systemic sexism in popular games. Also around this time, there were several opinion pieces by games journalists Photo: Forbes with provocative titles like “Gaming is Dead”, and “There are no more disagreement. Many gamers use the impossible. against the movement, she was doxxed Gamers”. They may not have been term ‘casual’ (in a derogatory way) to This insane mess is all driven by a and abused incessantly. wrong. describe people who play games but thoroughly anti-feminist worldview, if Some female game developers have Here’s the deal: video games used to don’t fit their idea of what a ‘gamer’ that’s not already clear. GamerGaters even quit the industry as a result. Who be a niche hobby only we nerds did, but is. Mostly this means they don’t own a will deny this, of course. “Actually it’s can blame them? Is it worth putting now everyone plays them, from your console or dedicated gaming PC. about ethics in games journalism” has up with all this to make games that toddler cousin to your grandma. Before It may seem silly, but words have been used as a stock response by them people will hate because they hate you? it was cool, the community defined a power, especially labels people use for to the point of parody. GamerGaters GamerGaters claim it’s about their term to describe themselves: gamers. It "It was themselves. Just think of how often a (i.e. anyone who uses the hashtag and SJW agenda, but it’s really about their was simple: anyone who played video new letter is added to ‘LGBTQ+’! Many supports the call for boycotting of gender. games was a gamer, everyone else simple: (self-identified) gamers see their hobby ‘compromised’ websites) have been in GamerGaters, of course, claim these wasn’t. anyone as escapism from less-than-ideal lives. their 4chan/Reddit echo chamber for so women are lying about being abused, These days, however, it’s become a who played To them, the ‘dilution’ of the term long they don’t realise how backwards have faked it all for attention, and are lot harder to pin the term down. Is a undermines an identity that they’ve what they believe sounds to the outside ‘professional victims’. Sarkeesian’s businessman who plays Candy Crush video invested heavily in, meaning these world. response to this is at once a stirring on his morning commute a gamer? games was opinion pieces were a direct attack The ‘villains’ to GamerGate are the quote, and a shocking reminder of how Or do you need to have beaten Halo 3 a gamer, on not just their hobby, but their way Social Justice Warriors (SJWs): their bad things are: “one of the most radical on Legendary difficulty? Clearly the everyone of life. Of course, all the writers were pet name for anyone who wants crazy things you can do, is to actually believe answer is somewhere in the middle, really saying was that gaming is no things like well-developed female women when they tell you about their and whenever that’s the case you get else wasn't." longer niche, and wondering whether characters, racially diverse game experiences”. we need a word to describe gamers protagonists, less overly-sexualised Although it’s died down a bit by when everyone is one, but you can see imagery in blockbuster games; basically now, the abuse has not stopped for how the conflict arose. anything a sensible person would see these people. Every day is a day they Steam Greenlight All these things combined together as obviously a good thing. All of this is have to wonder if that last death threat Game of the Week to form a perception that games anathema to GamerGate. was credible or not. But there is a bright journalists had somehow ‘betrayed’ the If this all sounds harsh, it’s because side: heavy-hitter mainstream media gaming community they catered to it’s deserved. Quinn and Sarkeesian have taken an interest in this story. This weeks game found on Steam is Crystal Rift. This game and came from. People were shocked to had received abuse and credible death Sarkeesian has been interviewed by is a 3D dungeon crawler, that was developed with Virtual learn that some game journalists were threats, had their personal information news sources from the New York Times Reality in mind. This means that if you have a Oculus friends! Their review of GTAV might leaked online (‘doxxed’) and their to The Colbert Report, and has spoken at Rift or anything similar (and I seriously envy you if you be their personal opinions, possibly websites hacked before all of this various conventions. Her story is being do), then this is a game influenced by people they know, started. After GamerGate began (the "Seeing this told and people are listening. you should seriously instead of some abstract ‘objective’ hashtag was coined by actor and vocal Seeing this level of harassment has consider looking at. The review. They thought any mention of homophobe Adam Baldwin in August) level of shown many people why feminism British-based team has social issues like feminism, diversity, the torrent of abuse grew and spread to harassment is still necessary. GamerGate has done a lot of work with or inclusivity must be evidence others, mostly women (but also many has shown introduced so many to feminist issues the game, introducing of journalists working together to men who stood up for them). it’s a wonder why no one’s suggested interesting-looking promote their own ideology, not A great example is how actor and many why it was a ‘false flag’ by the SJWs all puzzles, married with a realising, of course, that this is just the ‘nerd-celebrity’ Wil Wheaton was feminism along. At points GamerGate made me great atmosphere and zeitgeist of 2014. In short, these people vocally anti-Gamergate for weeks with is still ashamed of calling myself a gamer, but superb graphics. have no idea how reviews of works of no harassment, but as soon as his friend necessary." deep down I know we’re better than art work, and are asking for something and colleague Felicia Day came out that, and I’m proud. FELIX THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON 28.11.2014 27 Games [email protected] Games Editor Max Eggl & Calum Skene Always the Story, Sometimes the Choices, Mostly Monsters Sanchit Sharma reviews a humble bundle purchase he actually plays

lways Sometimes Monsters is that would have taken away from the an indie game by Vagabond message. You come across situations ADog and Devolver Digital. The throughout where you need to decide if first time you load it up, you’ll see a tiny you’re going to do the right thing or the (560x454) window with the game logo thing that will further your own goals, and 3 buttons – New Game, Credits, and there’s a ‘fate’ score that reflects and Quit. Yeah, no options. This is a how much of a dick you’ve been. In the pretty simple game. You can adjust the end, you only have 30 days to raise the window by pressing F6 or F7, which cash you need though, so sometimes make the window bigger and fullscreen being a dick is necessary. Through the respectively. If it didn’t have those game, the player is constantly presented options, the size of the window would with interesting choices – some of these make Always Sometimes Monsters have no impact and others have impact pretty much unplayable. far beyond what you might first expect. When you press New Game, a I should level with you at this point: cutscene will start. This shows a hitman I haven’t finished this game yet. Steam walking away from his employer, trying Photo: irrationalpassions tells me that I’ve been playing for 3 and failing to quit. He’s interrupted by hours, so I expect a good 2-5 more hours a random guy on the street, who offers of the game, which is good because I was For the most part, you explore the before I do so. Maybe my story will to tell him a story. You have the choice starting to get motion sickness from all town and try to get money. There are end with my protagonists (Samantha to shoot the guy or listen to the story the body-jumping! a few work minigames that mean that and Lizzie) reuniting. Maybe not. But – shooting the guy will end in the guy Fast forward a year and your partner it’s impossible to run out of cash, but that’s what this game is about. We don’t dying, and the hitman carrying on with left you, you’re about to get kicked these can be avoided if you do all of the know how it’s going to end, we don’t his life. Game over. out of your flat, and your book deal is ‘quests’ correctly. know when it’s going to end. What we A few things happen in quick falling through. To top it all off, once "This is a The inventory management leaves do know is that our decisions matter, succession if you choose the (obviously "Your ex you’ve been evicted you find that you’re game about a bit to be desired and sometimes and when it does end everything that intended) listen option. The guy tells is now not getting any more cash for the book decisions, it’s not overly clear what you need happens will have been as a result of the the story of a man hosting a party, as getting you were supposed to be writing, and and how to do. Overall though, this simplistic choices we made along the way. a celebration for his new job. He talks your ex is now getting married halfway gameplay works quite well. The Trigger warning: Always Sometimes to a bunch of people, and you choose married across the country in a month. So what each majority of the game is plot, and that’s Monsters has content with racism, someone for him to drink with. All of a halfway do you do? Scrounge together as much decision how it should be. sexism, homophobia, transphobia, sudden, the character you’re controlling across the money as you can from wherever you we make This is a game about decisions, and mental health, sexual assault, child switches for the third time. The person can get it and rush madly across the how each decision we make affects both abuse, animal abuse, drug abuse, and you chose to drink with needs to go out country in country to stop him/her, of course! affects us and those around us. Even the first suicide. to the balcony to fetch his/her partner. a month. The core of the game consists of both us decision of the game, whether or not Always Sometimes Monsters is After a little bit of this, it becomes So what do controlling this third character through and those to listen to the guy on the street, has an available from the Humble Store (with apparent that this is the character you do?" various scenarios. It’s pretty open- enormous impact on the game. Sure, a Steam key) or directly from Steam for you’re going to be controlling for most ended, even though there’s a final goal. around us." they could have forced you to listen, but $9.99 or £6.99 respectively. Enforcing the Law: Simulator Style

beta, so lots of features are currently car into town, I immediately got a causing problems. After scanning I tried to send her to jail. So it wasn’t MAXIMILIAN EGGL unimplemented and there are still call to pick up a drunk who had been my HUD I realised that I could find my choices! SECTION EDITOR lots and lots of bugs. this menace on the minimap. And The experience of the constant When I was offered this game I was So I did. However, midway through crashing really ruined the game for super excited. I get to play as a police my handling of this rowdy character me, especially since it was one of the ecently Felix Games was officer (maybe rampage a bit, GTA I was called in to take care of some major mechanics of the game that offered a steam key to Enforce: style), as well as do some of that stuff murderer who was wondering the caused the crash, meaning that I RPolice Crime Action, to test that makes the Sims so fun. However, streets. I had to make the hard almost couldn’t play. and try out, review and break! And almost never playing any simulator decision which one was the bigger So presently I am pausing the game that is exactly what we have done. games I did not know exactly what to menace to society, and in the end I and waiting for it to be in a better A little overview; Enforcer is a “life- expect. decided that the drunkard definitely state before I play it again. Currently, simulator” game, with an emphasis I jumped into the game as Frank could cause more harm (also I was like the AI is quite stupid, there are quite a on the police force side of things. You (the most generic policeman name right next to him so…yeah). However, few bugs and lots of crashing. I mean, are a police officer, starting out in a ever!), and saw how efficient the when I tried to apprehend him the potential is definitely there. I felt new little mountain town, and the existing police force was in my town. and send him to the can, the game really badass (yes okay I know I am aim is to advance your career in the After pulling out my sub-machine crashed. Maybe the game judged me sad) when I was breathalysing people force with the ultimate goal of being gun and gunning down some people, on my ethics? and giving them tickets, but on the the chief. However, in addition to this I came to the conclusion that they Oh well, so I started the game up other hand I couldn’t really send you can also live your life, designing were pretty useless. No sirens, no calls again and tried to make the good them to jail because the game would your home, having fun with your pals not even the bystanders seemed to choices. This time I was trying to then crash. and visiting the town. Lastly since care! Hmm, I definitely would not be arrest some woman who had stolen So I would advise y’all, as much as this game is a simulator, everything relying on my colleagues here. So I from the bank. Not only did I end up you love simulator games, to wait this is done with hyperrealism (as far as promptly changed into my uniform chasing her for about a mile, the game one out. The game will be awesome, possible). Right now the game is in and started policing. As I drove my Photo: excalibur-publishing ended up crashing once again when but not in its present state. 28 28.11.2014 THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON FELIX Arts [email protected] Arts Editor Fred Fyles & Kamil McClelland Editorial: The A Reimagination of Biblical Size Transformation Issue Clara Clark Nevola takes on the ENO’s gospel interpretation FRED FYLES KAMIL MCCLELLAND wo huge, historically successful SECTION EDITORS institutions which have Trecently lost their appeal, The Western Canon. For some, it is their relevance and many of their the creme-de-la-creme of artistic dedicated followers: Opera and expression; a source of extreme Christianity. What better way to beauty, and due recognition for a show the reviving powers of art than number of writers. For others it is to create an exciting, contemporary an outdated concept, one that reeks opera about the Passion of Christ? As of Western imperialism, racism, pretty much everything in this new and misogyny. But what happens piece by John Adams, it’s a good idea when you want to reinterpret a with truly disastrous results. classic work? In this issue of Felix, The Gospel according to the we are looking at how classics are other Mary, which the composer transformed by contemporary describes as a “Passion oratorio”, artists. is a companion piece to his much We start off with the ENO, who acclaimed piece El Nino, about the are taking on possibly the most birth of Jesus. It aims to tell the other well known piece of art in the central Christian story, the Passion entire world: The Holy Bible. In The of Christ, though even this simple Gospel According to the Other Mary, concept is not necessarily obvious John Adams has scored a dramatic from the staging of the production. retelling of the story of Jesus. In an attempt to score triple brownie Clara Novela Clark delves into this points (contemporary opera, opera, and lets us know whether it contemporary take on Christianity is a biblical success, or just an epic and awareness of social injustice and failure. gender issues) the opera is recounted Elsewhere, Jeff James takes on a from the point of view of the women new reimagining of Sophocles’ who partook in Jesus’ life: Mary ancient drama Philoctetes; through Magdalene, her sister Martha and careful adaptation and radical the downtrodden, disenfranchised direction, James has transposed the and exploited women who made up play into the modern age, turning the core of his early followers. Mary it into a treacle-soaked production Magdalene is initially a promising - Stink Foot. Peter Sarvari heads character; jailed for political protest, down to The Yard Theatre to give abused and mistreated in her past, his judgement on the play, while we she is an unstable, self-harming and John Adams' The Gospel According To The Other Mary at the London Coliseum Photo courtesy of the ENO sit down for a chat with the director mystical character, embodying the to ind out the challenges of taking ambiguous sensuous-spiritual love for is the recounting of Biblical stories props in a school play. The one on a classic. Christ that the traditional redeemed- through the eyes of women. To glorious exception to this (almost the Peter Sarvari also heads down to prostitute view of her hints at. After do this Sellars, who also wrote the redeeming feature of this production) The Barbican Centre to check out a few hopeful scenes however she libretto, took female-friendly (or at is Banks, an astonishing flex-dancer Howie the Rookie, a dive into the seems to just drift around pointlessly, least neutral) texts from both the who represents the moods of each alcohol-soaked realm of Dublin’s leaving the leading role to secondary Old and the New testament, bulking scene. The second act is completely criminal underworld, bringing with characters. This is a real shame, them out with an interesting array taken over by him, as he is the only it ierce lyricism and manic energy. as the reinterpretation of Mary in of 20th century poetry and texts alive, vibrant and interesting thing The lack of multiculturalism in this modern key is one of the most from Saint Hildegard of Bingen (a left in the performance. Certainly his the Western canon is taken on by original ideas of this derivative and 12th century mystic). These create presence is a bit odd, and definitely Indira Malik, who utterly destroys repetitive production. excellent juxtapositions, taking distracting from the story, but his the idea that medieval art features The opera is split in two acts, each the edge off the preachy-ness by performance is so extraordinary only Caucasian people. Taking on of which recounts key stories from integrating well known biblical compared to the flat, lifeless and a whole range of examples, from the Passion. The staging is modern phrases with emotionally charged, convoluted production that his Black Madonnas to Hieronymus but so sparse and inconsistent that it graphic language. Regrettably, the presence is defiantly a relief. Bosch, she explores how black and is hard to place. We’re told that Mary libretto does not shine as it should, It’s a shame to have picked up so Asian people have largely been has been to prison, in which her cell despite the very competent soloists. many promising ideas and to have written out of this art history. mate was a drug addict going cold The dramatic text and rousing ruined every one of them- John Finally, Kieran Ryan challenges turkey and that Martha runs a hostel (though long winded) music don’t Adams and Peter Sellars would have the idea that the impossible for homeless women, setting the do enough to lift the drab stage and done well to take tips from Andrew "It's a is unobtainable. Taking an scene for a tough urban setting. Most passive cast. The opera is trying to Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice about shame inspirational quote from author of the large choral scenes, showing tell us that the motives and problems how to make an edgy contemporary Neil Gaiman as a starting point, he large dissatisfied rebellious crowds, that motivated Jesus and his early opera about Jesus- the Gospel to have gives some examples of artists who are sung in Spanish, evoking scenes of followers are as pressing and relevant According to the Other Mary has picked up have achieved the impossible, and 20th Century workers protest in South today as they were then, but how can none of the snappy popularity of so many in the process transformed the art America. Above it all floats a moving we believe it when the cast display so Jesus Christ Superstar, none of the world around them. One such artist cloth with painted images of the little involvement and commitment? intimate spirituality if faith and promising is Llew Watkins, who will be giving prostate body of Christ. It is doubtful "It's a Their passivity is slightly mitigated nothing that could keep the audience ideas and a talk at Imperial next Wednesday. whether Peter Sellars, the director, good idea by four “dancer” figures, who animate in their seats past the interval. to have So that’s it for this week’s issue; had a clear idea of what he wanted the characters like shadows. Most hopefully we should have showed the stage to look like, but if he did, he with truly of the time they’re an annoyance, The Gospel According to the Other ruined you that it is possible for art to certainly did not get round to telling disastrous and further confuse the story as Mary runs at the ENO’s Coliseum until every one transform not only your view of anyone else. results" they are not fixed to their character, 5th December. Tickets available from £5. of them" classic works, but the whole world The interesting idea in the opera flitting from one to the other as too. FELIX THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON 28.11.2014 29 Arts [email protected] Arts Editor Fred Fyles & Kamil McClelland Taking on the Classics: A Director’s How-To Guide Fred Fyles chats with Jeff James about theatre, traditions, and treacle ow do you go about would be to live alone”. Alongside reinventing the wheel? This this theme of alienation and ethical Hwas the question facing Jeff compromise, the play also explores James when he decided to take on “the difficulty of having a body; Sophocles’ classic piece of drama the materiality of it”, as expressed Philoctetes; directing and writing through the ever-present, stinking the adaptation himself, James has foot of Philoctetes. shaped the play into something It can be difficult to adapt any new, renaming it Stink Foot after classic text, and James is aware of the Philoctetes’ main feature: his rotting, possible pitfalls: “when you adapt stinking foot. It was this foot that well known texts people can get quite led to him being abandoned on the upset if they come to see it and don’t island of Lemnos for ten years, until recognise the play exactly as they it is prophesied that he is needed know it”. But taking on Sophocles back in Troy in order for the Greeks comes with its own challenges: to win the war; it is up to young “the form of the play is so strange”, Neoptolemus to convince him to explains James, “Sophocles had so return, using every ounce of skill many radical ideas about the theatre, and cunning in his mind. It’s a heavy and it’s so exciting that he engages mantle to take on, and so we sat with the form at that level... but every down with James for a chat about the other line in the play is a reference challenges of adapting Greek drama, Stink Foot by Jeff James. Daniel Millar (Philoctetes) and Joshua Miles (Neo). Photo: Bronwen Sharp to a classic story or figure, the kind the relevance of the play to modern that would be relevant to Greek life, and the dangers of using gallons Luckily he wasn’t alone in the just lost in this shit”. the maxim of George Devine, one audiences”. of treacle on stage. endeavour; he has enlisted the help of Like many things in the theatre of the founders of the Royal Court’s So what is his solution to this So firstly, when did James become designer Alex Lowde, with whom he (pyrotechnics, children, live animals), resident company, who said “treat problem, which can lead to the ‘play aware of the play? ‘I’d read Sophocles worked in a Young Vic workshop the working with treacle can pose a new plays like classics, and classics resisting you’? “I tried to cut out all at university, and thought that this previous year. Together they came unique set of challenges for the like new plays”, but admits that it the references”, says James, “except play was very interesting, funny, and up with an ingenious staging device: actors. These can be both physical – can sometimes be easier to access the the ones where we could show the profound – I kept coming back to treacle. 250 kg of the stuff, which ‘the actors would slip everywhere... classic texts: “these classic plays exist, audience exactly what we meant”. it, but thought it was too difficult’, oozes out of the sores on Philoctetes’ the treacle pulled out body hair’ – and and it is easier to access them than Ultimately any form of adaptation says James; eventually it was a friend leg, eventually covering the pristine mental – James mentions that “it to access the very best new writing, is daunting, and James has set his who pushed him to produce the stage. “The treacle idea actually was interesting to see how a person’s which often goes straight to the Royal sights high by starting with one of play, saying ‘if that’s the play that’s came really early on in the process”, acting style can change as they Court”. the founding fathers of the theatre, obsessing you, then you should go says James, “a nasty black pool is become covered with the treacle.” The But are these plays still relevant to but during our conversation his for it’. And taking on Sophocles as an interesting way of representing presence of the treacle means that it’s the modern age? “Yeah, I think these energy and passion for the project his first adaptation, was that always Philoctetes’ foot, which is supposed a fine balance (literally) between the classic plays still explore modern is evident. Does he hope that this the plan? “No, initially I didn’t know to be the most horrible foot in the actor’s intentions and their physical ideas”, says James, who explored the will encourage a new generation to I would write it,” admits James, “but world.” But the treacle takes on a limitations. link between Sophocles and urban explore Greek theatre? Perhaps. “It’s there were things that I could feel more symbolic role too: “the play is This isn’t the first time James life in his article The Desert Island not a question of accessibility, more in the play, and wanted to express”. about morality; Neo is employed to has turned his attention to classic and the City. “The desert island about communicating the things After a period of deliberation – “one trick Philoctetes, who is essentially a theatre, having previously directed never becomes a home – even after that I really want to get across. But if scenario was to employ a writer, and lonely disabled man. He starts off by plays by Anton Chekhov and Harold years there, the castaway still wants people get into Sophocles because of adapt it in collaboration” – James saying that he isn’t the kind of person Pinter, but he admits that he is “a bit to return home”, he writes, “we are this, that would be amazing.” ultimately felt that by writing the to trick people, but it’s a question of bewildered by the distinction between unable to get used to the strangeness Stink Foot runs at The Yard Theatre adaptation himself it would be “easier ethical compromise”. As James puts new writing and classic texts in the of living alongside so many other until 2nd December. Tickets are £12.50 to get these ideas across”. it succinctly: “in the end everyone is British theatre industry”. He follows people, but the only thing worse adults, £10.00 concessions Stink Foot: Greek Theatre Reimagined PETER SARVARI son of Achilles, is overly straight. and lively, but the cast exceeded my James’ innovative means of depiction: Philoctetes has a magic bow, a reward wildest expectations. displaying pain with harsh noise, ARTS WRITER for saving Hercules’ life, but was The story may not be long and having Philoctetes’ foot ooze golden abandoned on a desert island by complicated, but it can be interpreted syrup, using a DJ mixer to convey wo men fight half-naked Odysseus, simply because no one in in a myriad of ways. It shows us divine messages – these are all ways in a puddle of golden syrup. Greece could bear the smell of his two entirely different characters, to bring the audience closer to the TOne has a magic bow in his poisoned foot. But now the Greeks employing two different kinds of performance. hand and the other tries to avoid need to use of the bow in the long persuasion, allowing us to see the Perhaps I wouldn’t recommend him shooting down the lady playing "... giving ongoing Trojan War. result of each. this play for those who are expecting Odysseus. The shadows on the wall When I set foot in the Yard Theatre It is like good cop versus bad cop, a full, epic story, or all night reflect the play on the stage. An us an and walked across the stage – built one being kind and empathetic, the entertainment, given its snappy innovative performance, such that insight from recycled materials – to find other authoritarian, while giving 70 minute run-time. But for those you have never seen before, at student into the my seat, I knew I was going to see us an insight into the ruthless and who enjoy watching well developed, friendly prices. A must-see. something unusual. But it is perhaps selfish nature of humanity. Even "Theatre fleshed-out characters, appreciate Stink Foot is a new adaptation of ruthless more accurate to say that there without any interpretation the story excellent lighting and sound design, Sophocles’ Greek tragedy Philoctetes; and selfish was no stage at all, with the actors was easy to follow; despite the rather has never and are interested in the director’s Philoctetes’ foot is not stinking, but nature of performing right in front of, and simplistic plot our attention was felt so panache, then I couldn’t recommend smells like sweet treacle, Odysseus humanity" sometimes behind us. I felt that what maintained due lively dialogues, alive!" Stink Foot highly enough. Theatre is a female, and Noptolemus, the I would see would be really involving brilliant acting, and director Jeff has never felt so alive! 30 28.11.2014 THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON FELIX Arts [email protected] Arts Editor Fred Fyles & Kamil McClelland Ruthless. Disgusting. But Honest, with Truth to Tell.

PETER SARVARI the candidness of the play and is a ARTS WRITER consequence of its topic. If you want to see a romantic fairy tale with your loved one as a Christmas treat, this owie the Rookie is an 80 play might be one to avoid. minute single-actor play But if you are bored with the Hdirected by Mark O’Hove and mainstream theatre, and want performed by Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, something innovative, special and playing from the 19th to the 29th modern, you have just found it here. November in The Barbican Centre’s The play is definitely funny, if you Pit Theatre. The piece won two prizes, are able to stomach its novelty; what attracted critical acclaim, and also makes the story a lot more involving won the Irish Times Best New Play is Vaughan-Lawlor’s amazing acting award. After all these fancy lines let (and it wasn’t just me that thought me now dig deep into soul of the play this – one lady used that term at and show what I found. least five times afterwards to express It all starts with that fearful her admiration), the fast dance-like repetitive sound. It describes the Tom Vaughan-Lawlor brings the energy in Mark O'Rowe's Howie the movements, the really skilful use of mood of the night really well, the Rookie Photo: Patrick Redmond tone, and the mysterious lightning, pub and the pitiful characters, who which combine to make the drama, have no way out of the wood. This and complicated diatribe, aimed at sometimes funny, or eye-opening, or the action and the whole story lively first sentence leads me to discuss explaining how one actor can give truly sad, or even all at the same time. "If you and irresistibly involving – despite one word: character. Yes, but in what birth to several ones who are playing The message the writer is putting want the fact that there is only one man on sense? Vaughan-Lawlor played one "It is different characters, one is very likely across is not within a soft shell, but the stage. Due to Vaughan-Lower’s character – Howie – and then in the to ask if the storyline can be followed. – through the staging of the action – something strong presence you start to feel you second half of the play switched to sometimes The answer is yes; partly because of bursts out in a non-fearful way. innovative, know the characters, you grasp the Rookie; during this, sometimes he funny, the wonderful acting (more about That being said, the storyline and plot and, by the end of the play, the played others, sometimes he did this later) and partly because of the the characters could be enhanced. special and story is your own. or eye- modern, not. But we know others existed, opening, or storyline, which barely exists. The There was – I found – perhaps because he both mentions them plot the writer wants to convey is a too much in terms of swearing you have Howie the Rookie runs at The while he was acting, and also since truly sad, mixture of short stories; situations or fighting, making it difficult to Pit Theatre at Barbican, until 29th social interactions with other people based around one guy or two. He find a character with whom one just found November. Tickets are £18 for adults. or all at the it here"" were expressed by Vaughan-Lower’s same time" depicts a bunch of hopeless guys and could sympathise. But this must be students can gain a discount through the original character. After this long girls, and their way of living; it is attributed to the ruthlessness and Young Barbican scheme.

Nothing Is Impossible Student Art Neil Gaiman is possibly the most interesting. These peoples’ mindset is that quotable living person. In his “Make For example, my sister and I love they have this thing, this idea, and Good Art” speech in Philadelphia the band Elbow, and we’ve been to they assess it based on merit, based two years ago he gave a rousing see them twice. Last week for my on how well it’s going to do the encouragement to young practicing birthday she surprised me with a thing they want to do. And then creatives, and his take on some T-shirt on which she’s painstakingly they do the thing. of today’s art practices. He also drawn some of their lyrics, and a Responding to the world around came up with about 10 epiphanic flock of starlings, and on the back you in an honest and open manner lines; “make glorious and fantastic the logos of the O2 Arena and Echo I think is crucial to making things. mistakes”; “do the stuff that only Arena. It’s important to know what other you can do”; …you have no idea what Or think of the early Youtubers, people have made, but it’s really, you are doing. This is great.” who in ’07 and ’08 realised that really important to know that what As inspirational/soppy as this may talking into a camera for four other people have made does not seem to you, I’d like to talk about minutes was more engaging than in any way deine what you can or one in particular. It goes like this: almost all of television. Think of can’t make. There are no criteria. “The rules on what is possible and making up your own chemical There are no rules. If it’s interesting impossible in the arts were made symbols because the originals to you, it’s worth making. by people who had not tested the are rubbish. Think of the “Notes Llew Watkins is speaking on bounds of the possible by going to a Fresher” series that Felix ran Wednesday 3rd December at 13:00 in beyond them. And you can.” last year – short creative pieces by Blackett LT1. I think this is an important one, Imperial Horizons students. He will talk about interdisciplinary because it’s precisely the attitude Think of the artist Ben Wilson practice – art that is based on collabo- that you need as a young creative to who paints miniscule images onto ration and bringing together different make something new that is true to the blackened chewing gum on areas of expertise.He will talk about your abilities. An open mindedness the Millennium Bridge (Seriously, the term post-internet art and what to new things. Google it). that means, however especially his in- Consider that the Impressionists, Think of an arts magazine that you terest in the straight-forward bringing Turner, Van Gogh, and many other can literally walk through – huge together of ilm, politics, performance, huge canonical art igures were pages of drawings and video and text, image, sculpture and internet to scoffed or thought little of in their poetry - that’s the idea for Roulade, tell a story. lifetimes. But even more than this – the magazine co-edited by artist and Perception is continually called into because fame and even widespread poet Llew Watkins who is speaking question throughout this poet and critical acclaim I don’t think are at Imperial next Wednesday. His artist’s work, creating raw and daring the end-goal of an artist – think of work and interests are thoroughly work at the boundary between mind the mindset of anyone you know interdisciplinary, and his sculptures and reality. Venus de Starbucks by Indira Mallik who has made something actually often exist only temporarily. KIERAN RYAN FELIX THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON 28.11.2014 31 Arts [email protected] Arts Editor Fred Fyles & Kamil McClelland Transforming Modern Perceptions of Medieval Art Indira Malik explains how prejudices have clouded our appreciation of art arlier this month, the author in – that, probably for Egyptian or Saladin Ahmed wrote on Abyssinian reasons, the Mother ETwitter “the fantasy vision of a of God is portrayed as brown, and medieval Europe devoid of people of the face of Our Saviour printed colour isn’t realism. It’s a different on Veronica’s veil was also given a word that starts with ‘r’ and ends with Moorish colour – may be clarified ‘ism’.” when that part of art history is more I’ve always been interested in art, closely examined.”” and in all of those years of admiring As modern viewers we need to Renaissance and Medieval artworks, recognise that our perceptions of the thought that I was not seeing history and art have often been the whole picture never occurred formed by people such as Goethe to me. The absence of art depicting whose racist and colonial views people of Asian and African descent have informed our idea of what was in European art history seemed ‘normal’ in Medieval or Renaissance to me more an artefact of the Europe. lack of globalisation rather than Art history may not seem like the erasure of existing artworks a significant issue in the face of because they don’t fit in with our on-going racial unrest. Only this preconceived ideas of Medieval and week, violent riots have resumed Renaissance society. But even my in Ferguson, Missouri when state most rudimentary of research has prosecutors declined to bring charges shown me that people of colour have against officer Darren Wilson who been depicted throughout European shot and killed Michael Brown, an art history, often as any other citizen unarmed Black teenager. But, history would have been, at all strata of forms a large part of our identity and society; yes, as slaves, but also as the way we see the people around us. courtiers, nobility and men and In Black Indian: A Hidden Heritage, women of wealth and power. William Lorenz Katz writes “If These artworks are not even as you know I have a history, you will obscure as one might imagine, often respect me.” and the sentiment was the true story lies in looking closer at reflected by Chimamanda Ngozi familiar works of art and recognising Adichie in her 2009 TED talk: what is already there. The Garden “Power is the ability not just to tell of Earthly Delights – the triptych the story of another person, but to painting by the Dutch master make it the definitive story of that Hieronymous Bosch dates from the person. Show a people as one thing, late 15th century; three oak panels, only one thing, over and over again, it depicts a scene from Genesis, and that is what they become“. showing amongst others things, the Representation is important; it is presentation of Eve to Adam by God. imperative that the history of people It has been heaped with praise and St Veronica by Robert Campin of Flémalle (1410) of colour in Europe does not become even inspired Joan Miro and Salvador tied wholly to slavery and that the Dali; but what art history books fail never existed. theories have now mostly been diverse heritage of Medieval Art is to mention is the incorporation of So if this art has always existed, debunked, showing that hues would not lost in the tired trope of racism not one but at least 17 figures that why is it not taught in our schools? have deteriorated to a distinctly weakly disguised as ‘historical are clearly of African descent in Why do we as children grow up Martian green as opposed to the inaccuracy’. addition to many others of different with an idea of Renaissance and brown of darker skin. The erasure of people of colour skin tones. This highlights the power Medieval society as one that is deeply In the 18th and 19th century from the narrative of Medieval art that erasure and miseducation segregated? Evidence suggests that many of these were painted over, is not only essential for the way we holds; because we have been taught this may have more to do with the including the statue of Mother and relate to various groups of people not to expect it, we often dismiss it influence of the 18th and 19th art Child in Tindari, Sicily with its Latin today but to the art itself. As the altogether. historians than historical truth. inscription “nigra sum, sed formosa [I famous Guerilla Girls piece reads, People of colour (who were Take for instance the case of the am dark, yet beautiful]”. ‘Explanations’ “you’re seeing less than half the definitely not enslaved) have Black Madonnas of Europe. Over 450 for Robert Campin of Flémalle’s picture without the vision of women been incorporated into tableaux ‘Black Virgins’ exist across Europe, 1410 St Veronica painting with its artists and artists of colour”. But this throughout European art history – including those attributed to Saint dark skinned Christ are never offered could so easily refer to the art as well there are black bystanders in Liberale Luke who is said to have painted his up by artists of the time. It is only "... perhaps as the artists. In his essay on art and da Verona’s work Dido’s Suicide, an copies from life – a dark skinned in later centuries that we find art ultimately propaganda George Orwell wrote: Ethiopian envoy forms part of one of Virgin Mary from an African or historians trying to justify them as “every work of art has a meaning Carlo Saraceni’s frescoes created in Middle Eastern background. What by this time, colonialism had meant it reveals and a purpose — a political, social 1617. Scenes depicting the adoration is striking is that accounts of these darker skin tones were seen as of less more about and religious purpose… our aesthetic of the magi have always shown at "The pieces do not hint that contemporary aesthetic value. our own judgements are always coloured by least one king of the three to be a viewers found her anomalous in any In From Majesty to Mystery: Change ideas and our prejudices and beliefs.” man of Middle Eastern or African idea of a way, simply referring to her as ‘Our in the Meanings of Black Madonnas It is important that we learn to descent. These depictions range completely Lady’ without comment on skin hue. from the Sixteenth to Nineteenth prejudices recognise our prejudice as artists from Spanish paintings to Italian white It is only in the 18th or 19th Centuries the anthropologist Monique than but also as modern critics; it is true frescoes to German wood cuttings, century that these were seen to need Scheer notes that “Johann Wolfgang it does as Goethe writes that Medieval art showing that Europe has always been Europe explanation, the perceived darkening von Goethe also expressed a sense of needs to be more closely examined, a place that people of all nationalities simply of skin tone was attributed to an aesthetic disappointment in black about the but perhaps ultimately it reveals and skin colour have travelled to, has never accumulation of smoke, careless Madonnas in a comment from original more about our own ideas and worked and settled in. The idea of a handling by worshippers and 1816: “How the most unhappy of artists" prejudices than it does about the completely white Europe simply has existed." deterioration of pigment. These all appearances could have crept original artists. Have your say Union General Meeting Monday 1 December, 18:30, Blackett Lecture Theatre 1 We’ve had your feedback about Higher Education Funding, and now it’s time for YOU to decide what your Union is going to do about it. We’re holding a General Meeting to determine what our stance should be on tackling the issue of Higher Education Policy. Should we be lobbying for…

Free Education Tuition Fees Graduate Tax or none of these?

This is your chance to help us try and shape the future of university funding for students like you.

A General Meeting is also a chance to talk about anything, and you can submit a paper to the Union Council Chair for a subject to be raised. Papers must be submitted by email to [email protected] by Monday 24 November. You can find information about how to write and submit a paper on our website.

To find out more about each model for Higher Education Funding, please visit imperialcollegeunion.org/hef-factsheet.

imperialcollegeunion.org FELIX THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON 28.11.2014 33 Fashion [email protected] Editor Cecile Borkhataria Model of the moment: Kendall Jenner Cecile Borkhataria on how Kendall is taking centre stage on the runway

f you haven’t heard of Kendall shoe and handbag collection for Jenner by now, then you Steve Madden. The budding model Iprobably live under a rock. Her has even ventured into writing, and face has been plastered on every in 2014 released a novel co-authored magazine cover, from the likes with Kylie called Rebels: City of Indra of Vogue to the edgy Dazed and (which was actually ghostwritten by Confused. She is part of the new Maya Sloan). wave of social media powerhouse Kendall has said that her models, with multiple selfies posted reputation as a reality tv star has on her instagram account – a de made it difficult for her to break rigueur daily ritual. Many will into the fashion industry, and she know of her from her childhood has had to work a lot harder to be appearances alongside her sisters on taken seriously and build a career in the hit US reality tv series, Keeping modelling. up with the Kardashians. Despite the With her recent rapid rise in fame she acquired from appearing fashion, rumours about her life on the series, she was determined have run rampant. Recently, it was to become a model from an early reported that fellow models were age, without the Kardashian name. mean towards her during fashion In an intervew with Juju Chang on week, would bully her backstage Nightline, she explained that she and put their cigarettes out in has worked hard towards achieving her drinks. However, in her latest her newfound succcess as a model, magazine interview with Dazed and saying “In reality I worked pretty Confused, Kendall confirms that hard for this, running around these rumours are exactly just that: doing tests. It wasn’t like I just got rumours. In the issue, which hits it magically.” When she was asked newsstands on the 27th of November, why she wanted to become a model, she said “Everyone’s been really she said “I would always be looking cool to me. I’ve never had one girl be at these supermodels, they were mean… so far.” just so amazing to me, they were The rumours about her don’t just like superheroes… I want to be some stop at the runway either. Being little girl’s superhero. I want to the as famous as she is, she has been best role model I can be to a little romantically linked to many high girl or a little boy or to anybody.” profile stars, including Justin Bieber, Interestingly, she has asked her Chris Brown, Harry Styles and sisters not to attend her catwalk more recently, Dallas Mavericks shows, because she feels that this basketball player Chandler Parsons. would take the attention away from Earlier this month, Kendall her, especially if her uber-famous celebrated her 19th birthday sister Kim Kardashian West were in at Chateau Marmont in West attendance. Recently, in an attempt Hollywood, where she re-united to distance herself from her Keeping with her close friend Selena Gomez. up with the Kardashians persona, The two were feuding after Kendall she dropped her last name so that had been spotted out to dinner with she would be taken more seriously. Justin Bieber, Selena’s ex-boyfriend. She said that she did this at all her In a recent interview however, model castings last year, where she Kendall set the record straight, only went by her first name. Kendall clarifying that her and Bieber enjoyed her big-break as a runway were in fact just very close friends. model in September, for the Spring/ Another rumoured frenemy, Cara Summer 2015 fashion season, which Delevingne, also attended the party, saw her walk the runway for 13 ending rumours that the two are labels at New York, Milan and Paris feuding. Both Cara and Selena sang fashion weeks. Among some of the happy birthday to Kendall. big names she walked for were Diane So, what’s on the horizon for the Von Furstenberg, Chanel, Givenchy fashion sensation? The star will soon and Dolce and Gabbana. Her global be featuring as the new face of Karl success as a fashion sensation has Lagerfeld’s own fashion label, and only just began, and two weeks ago it’s been rumoured that she may she announced on her instagram replace Cara Delevingne as the face and twitter accounts that she would of Chanel. This isn’t so implausible, be the new face of beauty cosmetics considering that Cara Delevingne brand Estee Lauder. has announced that she will be Kendall is not only a hugely focusing more on her acting career successful model, but she is also a "I want to next year. businesswoman, much like her older be some Kendall has compared her busy, sister Kim. With her sister Kylie little girl's whirlwind year to living like Jenner, she has launched a jewellery Hannah Montana. She told the line called ‘Metal Haven,’ a clothing super New York Times “It’s definitely two line called ‘Kendall and Kylie,’ sold hero." different worlds. I feel like Hannah Kendall Jenner walking for the Diane Von Furstenberg runway at the New York Spring 2015 at US retailer Pacsun, as well as a Montana. But it’s fun.” Fashion Week. Photo: Glamour.com 34 28.11.2014 THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON FELIX

HANGMAN [email protected] Deputy President (Welfare) Students steal CT scanner to has smooth irst date, but recover club costs doesn’t seal the deal ources have revealed to Hang- SKILIPPA PHETT her, so didn’t know what to ask about. man this week that a group ANONYMOUS UNION SOURCE She talked a lot about education Sof men took a large piece of policy which was interesting, but my machinery to a local Cash Converters phone died so I couldn’t google a lot with hopes of receiving cash in hand. ources close to Hangman of what she was saying.” Upon closer inspection it was found revealed this week that Chris Chris also found it difficult to to be a CT scanner, which was dam- SKaye, our esteemed Deputy enjoy any privacy during the date. aged but still useable, although has President (Welfare) took a female “Obviously, I am kind of a big deal, now been deemed a health hazard. senior member of staff out for a so people were coming up to me and Although it is uncertain as to date – to Reynolds. The staff member saying hi. People also recognised where this CT scanner was sourced, it in question was keen to investigate my date from things like the coincides with Charing Cross hospital Reynolds and its perceived drinking student prospectus, being on stage reporting last Wednesday that one culture, and Kaye seized the on graduation and having her own of their own scanners had gone opportunity to accompany her. Wikipedia page.” missing. The scanner was seemingly “She invited me,” he blushed, before However, the date seemed to dismantled and carried out of the continuing, “Or rather, I did maybe go smoothly, and although Chris building, in a manner that, according invite myself along but she was wouldn’t say if they left together, to a mechanic “would imply those pleased I think for the company.” he did say they would be seeing removing the scanner has some crude The couple were spotted catching each other again. “We sit on a lot of knowledge of medical machinery.” the number 10 bus outside of the same advisory boards, so I will CCTV was unable to capture the the Royal Albert Hall towards actually be seeing her next Tuesday culprits on camera, as those cameras Hammersmith, before walking up morning to discuss the outcomes to located in the vicinity were also to the bar under the Charing Cross the General Meeting for the Higher dismantled and removed too. The Hospital. The pair braved Wednesday Education Funding.” same mechanic told hangman, “It was Sports night, a venue some would He told us that although its not his like these culprits had experience with It is uncertain if the men suffered from any radiation issues after consider challenging at best, and preferred second date of choice, he this sort of crime: the latest footage to downright terrifying at worst for a understands she is a busy woman. be recovered shows a group of men, skulking through the corridors the boys seemed desperate. first date. “She’s so important, like myself, so we semi-naked, approaching the camera lumbering the large chunks of metal, “All of them were talking at the Chris said it was one of the more have to just make time where we can with an apparent look of apprehension dragging wiring along behind them. same time in the store, but I caught difficult first dates to navigate, if we are going to make this work. on their faces. They then purposefully Said one patient who was walking the snippets of something to do with a especially as he had not met her on “It is still early days but you know, grasped the side of the camera, and the corridors after being unable to sleep: broken window, some sort of fine and Tinder. “I hadn’t had a chance to stalk YOLO.” screen goes blank. “It looked and sounded like a bunch having to pay for training next year. “It was like they knew exactly how of cavemen dragging carcasses down “They also managed to produce to stop a camera from capturing what the hall. I couldn’t quite work out who about 30 silver sterling stethoscopes, they were doing. Maybe they had been they were or what they were carrying, 50 copies of a yellow and green A5 caught on camera in the past?” but I kept getting wafts of beer from handbook in various states of distress Sources from the hospital said them as they stumbled out of sight.” and some sort of large bird costume.” they then saw a group of ten or so The students, who appeared to be of The shopkeeper said she handed males attempting to “unplug” the an “athletic physique,” then offered over roughly £2,000 for the lot. “They equipment, before descending into an up the scanner once reassembled for seemed pleased: one of them said argument about how to remove the cash in hand early Thursday morning. something about how that it was more technology in question. They were willing to take the first than “stewarding” would have got A patient said she could hear offer presented to them. them anyway.” mutterings, various “grunts” and large The shopkeeper told Hangman In unrelated news, Imperial bangs from inside the CT consultation they don’t usually trade in medical Medicals have managed to raise room. equipment, especially pieces that enough funds to pay for their training, It seems the team of men later looked like they had been forcefully coaching and transport for the next managed to dismantle parts of the dismantled then reassembled and was academic year. The team are reported machine, and were seen apparently leaking some questionable liquid, but to be “ecstatic.” Is this Imperial's most eligible and most well endowed bachelor?

Impotent student takes up sport

t was revealed to Hangman this new Imperial Sport programme, hoping that finally I can get week that a student was left “upset known as “Impetus.” some more information on my Iand confused,” after picking up The scheme, that costs £30, limp handshake but I really what he thought was a leaflet ad- allows students to play sports don’t want to risk searching dressing erectile dysfunction. After without the having to commit for it using the hall’s Internet initially glancing at the subtitle “get and play in leagues. Sport service.” active, no hassle,” the anonymous first Imperial provides the scheme When asked if he was aware of year aeronautics student was hopeful for “competitive sports” such the incognito searching mode, that finally he might get some infor- as Table Tennis, and Ultimate he refused to comment. He mation on how to address his flagging Frisbee. did add however that he might issue. Said the student, “I’ve been give Ultimate Frisbee a go now However, he was left worried about my little problem though, as “maybe a bit more disappointed when upon closer for a while, and it seems to exercise may put some wind in inspection he realised the leaflet be a common shortcoming the sails.” was actually advertising the with a few of my friends. I was FELIX THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON 28.11.2014 35

HANGMAN [email protected] Diary Of a Fresher, aged 18 3/4 Saturday 22nd November Dear Diary, Today I went ice skating with Dorothy, as she had never been before and wanted to take pictures of us together on the ice for Facebook, instagram and twitter. She took about 150 photos and all were blurry as I kept slipping and sliding about on the ice. She posted them all and then tagged me, and Mum liked some of them, then started to ask me about Dorothy during our Saturday night Skype call. She wants me to bring her over for the weekend. MY BEDSHEETS ARE EVEN MORE EMBARRASSING AT HOME GOD NO

Sunday 23rd Dorothy knocked on my door super early this morning, asking if I wanted to go for a walk in Hyde Park. I was planning on having a lie-in (I was up quite late on reddit) but she pretended to go in this sort of childish strop until I said I would.

She still won’t sleep with me, she says if I love her I will wait until “she’s ready.” That’s fi ne (obviously, I am a feminist after all) but when did we start telling each other we loved each other? This is meant to be a big point in a relationship, and we have been only going out like a week? Need to Skype Mum about this.

Monday 24th Received 55 whatsapp messages from Dorothy. Many consisted of just strings of emojis, some of which I didn’t even recognise or even know what she was trying to say by using them. Dating is hard.

Received a letter from Kris Kraye in jail in Turkmenistan, and he is coming home next weekend! They dropped all the charges and apparently he had started an underground gambling circle with some of the cellmates, and he’s a liability or something but it doesn’t matter, he is coming home! I am going to meet him at the airport, and Dorothy really wants to come along too.

Tuesday 25th I spent the afternoon off in the library. I went to the fourth fl oor (where all the fresher’s study obviously, I am not ready for the imposing silence of the second fl oor yet). It is so warm! Even though it is November people are walking around in shorts and t-shirts, and at one point I swear I saw someone literally tackle another person for trying to move their desk fan.

Wednesday 26th I told Dorothy that I was going to the ACC Bar night next week (as a geek lol so I can just wear 3D glasses from that cinema trip in freshers week) and she got super upset before I had even had a chance to ask her to come with me.

I don’t understand this woman . HOROSCOPES CANCER TAURUS GEMINI VIRGO ARIES LEO

This week you are an oversized This week, you are studying for an This week you are still DPW. You This week you do your first all- This week you decide that you are This week, you plan your outfit spanner. Upset about being exam and write all of your revision decide to ask an older woman nighter in the library. You spend so jealous of all the students that for the ACC Bar Night. You use brandished by your committee notes on your dick. After nipping out on a date – to Reynolds. seven hours “prepping” yourself get reading weeks that you decide the hall washing machine to clean members in an attempt to to the toilet to examine your shaft As you sip on a midori bomb mentally, three readjusting to take this week off. After missing your BDSM gear for your “get yo overcompensate for their own of knowledge, you realise your together, your date is crashed by your seat and two moaning on all your lectures, the head of your freak on” outfit, but fall asleep (personal) shortcomings, you crotch sweat has blurred the black four naked medics. You watch in facebook to friends about having department calls you into their with it still in the machine. You run away, hobbling awkwardly ink, making them unreadable. sadness as they enthusiastically to pull an all-nighter. You cram office to tell you that as a lecturer wake-up chained to your bed with into the night. Some RSM Once you go black, you never go lead your date away, who seems all your work in between 5am you are being employed to teach your Hall Senior standing over Is this Imperial's most eligible and most well endowed bachelor? douche picks you up, and back; you hobble back to halls just as happy to join them. Don’t until 8am, but you crash out as and, unlike your students, you have you wearing nothing but your claims you for their own. Sweet instead, knowing there is no way be sad, there are plenty more your work prints and miss the to turn up to lectures. Personally knee-high leather boots. Life just freedom was so close. you would pass the exam anyway. swipes to be made on tinder. deadline entirely. you can’t see the problem as all got a whole lot more fun. your students love you. CAPRICORN SAGITTARIUS AQUARIUS SCORPIO PISCES LIBRA

This week you take a nap in EEE. This week, on the advice from a This week, you are the Felix GO ON, YOU FUCKING This week you have to calm the This week you are so hungover You wake up and find someone friend, you try to cheat on a test Editor and have to write the WRITE THESE THINGS, Felix editor with some sedatives you puke right in the middle has uploaded a picture of you by writing your notes on your horoscopes avoiding any Felix LIKE LITERALLY COME TO as she has a breakdown trying of the library. However, being napping to facebook. Aroused dick. Sadly, the test is online, in-jokes due to all those that THE OFFICE AND GIVE ME to write the horoscopes so near Imperial, no-one bothers to by the voyeurism of it all, you and not only that, was plagued complained about the in-jokes. 50 HILARIOUS WORDS OF to the deadline. As she lulls into look up, someone absent- browse through the site getting by so many technical difficulties Now you are an in-joke too, how DEPTH AND MEANING unconsciousness on the floor of mindedly shushes you and hard. You wake again; it was a that it gets cancelled anyway. fucking meta is this. We still TWELVE TIMES OVER LIKE the office, you secretly change you simply return to your seat, dream within a dream and now You wipe the ink off your shaft think you are a wanker, you try I BET YOU BLOODY CANT the title of Felix to “The Library pale and dazed. Better crack someone has uploaded a photo of of knowledge dejectedly; maybe writing these fucking things EITHER Café Magazine.” No-one notices on with that problem sheet, it you napping with a boner. next time eh. every week. the difference. won’t do itself. 36 28.11.2014 THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON FELIX Puzzles [email protected] Puzzles Editor Michael Faggetter

Quick Crossword James Dutton

Across 1. An embarrassing mistake (4,3) 5. Flatters, suits (7) 9. Sound of a pigeon (3) 10. NFL team based in Detroit (5) 11. __’_ Al Ghul; villain from Batman franchise (3) 12. Sign of the zodiac (5) 13. Followed by Dorothy and Toto (6,5,4) 19. Country, second city Tel Aviv (6) 20. Wine grape variety (6) 21. An unethical lawyer (9,6) 29. The ____; British rock band (1963-96) (5) 30. Body part (3) 31. Defunct British car manufacturer (5) 32. Assist (3) 33. Wrongful, evil (7) 34. Talk incessantly (7) Down 1. ______Towers, comedy TV series (6) 2. Out of fashion (6) 3. Common name for sports’ medical personnel (6) 4. Beetle held sacred by ancient Egyptians (6) 5. Art of growing miniature trees (6) 6. John ______, actor (Con Air, 2012) (6) 7. Country, gained independance from Spain in 1821 (6) 8. Took hold of (6) 14. British racing town (5) 15. Wife to Fred Flintstone (5) 16. Artifact, antique (5) 17. Stand-up (5) 18. Place of residence (5) 21. Salt, dissolves to give solution with pH > 7 (6) 22. Boxing class, ______weight (6) 23. Red Dwarf character portrayed by Craig Charles (6) 24. To be expected (6) 25. Give physical form to (6) 26. Neighbourhood of New York City (6) 27. Vicious, ferocious (6) 28. Old TV shows broadcast again (6)

Nonogram Stephen Ball FUCWIT

Send in a scanned copy of your completed puzzles !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! to [email protected]. !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! 2! !! 2! !! !! !! !! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! 1! !! 1! !! !! !! !! !! !! 4! !! !! 1! !! 2! !! 3! !! 3! 2! 2! 1! 2! 2! !! If there any puzzles you would like to see on these two pages, email me and I’ll make one for !! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! 3! 1! 2! 2! 4! 5! 5! 5! 4! 3! !! 1! 2! 2! 1! 3! 1! 3! 3! 1! 3! 1! 3! 3! 2! you! !! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! 1! 2! 1! 3! 1! 1! 1! 1! 2! 1! 4! 6! 1! 7! 1! 7! 2! 7! 2! 1! 1! 1! 1! 1! 1! !! !!! !!! !!! !!! !!! !!! !! 4! 5! 5! 6! 6! 7! 7! 6! 3! 1! 2! 2! 3! 4! 3! 3! 3! 3! 2! 1! 1! 3! 4! 4! 5! Points are awarded for each correct solution. Bonus points (in brackets) are awarded to the first !! !! !! !! !! !! 9! 14! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! correct answer! !! !! !! !! !! !! 7! 12! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! 1! 6! 4! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! Quick Crossword Nonogram !! !! !! !! 1! 6! 3! 4! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! 3 points (+2) 2 points (+2) !! !! !! 1! 1! 3! 10! 2! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! Acrostic Grid Triple Word !! !! 2! 1! 3! 1! 1! 7! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! 4 points (+2) 2 points (+2) !! !! !! 2! 9! 1! 1! 2! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! 2! 4! 1! 1! 1! 1! 1! 1! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! 1! 2! 4! 1! 1! 1! 1! 1! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! Leaderboard !! !! !! !! !! !! 6! 6! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! 9! 6! 1! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! Individuals: Teams: 1. Adam Stewart 62 !! !! !! !! !! 9! 1! 3! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! 1. Mindsuckers 28 2. Catmelon 39 2. L3Gendary 25 !! !! !! !! !! 8! 6! 4! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! 3. Kebab King 21 3. Fully Erect 13 !! !! !! !! !! 8! 9! 4! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! 4. Jem Ong 10 4. Aerodoku 2 5. Gabriel Quek 2 !! !! !! !! !! 8! 11! 4! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! 5. Guang <3 Le 1

! FELIX THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON 28.11.2014 37 Puzzles [email protected] Puzzles Editor Michael Faggetter

Acrostic Grid Paul G. Triple Word

The solutions to each pair of clues are anagrams of one another, but only one of them belongs in the These three circles contain words with a common theme. grid. When the correct solutions from each pair have all been entered, the first column will give a Find the missing letter and discover the link! Disney character. Clues: ! Y" 1. Close || So N" 2: Animal cry || Pivot A" A" H" L" 3: Accompany || Part of a circle M" I" R" 4: Concerned || More boisterous C" P" 5: Parts of transistors || Social insects ?" 6: Captain || Fish R" C" L" 7: Research dissertation || Robberies 8: Recorded || Skilful ! S" 9: Close || Deserve G" T" U" O" E"

Benedict Cumber-bros

Last week’s solutions As editor for the puzzles page, I take full responsibility for the typo in the Nonogram last week. Word Search The clue for the 17th column should have read 2,3,7. If you submitted a solution which was otherwise correct then I have awarded you the points. Thank-you to all those who emailed in. The remaining letters spell out PINA COLADA and SCREWDRIVER.

CREME DE COCOA GIN ABSINTH Quick Crossword Nonogram MENTHE VALPOLICELLA TEA CAPPUCCINO COFFEE OOLONG CUPPA CHAMPAGNE COKE MILK BRANDY CAMPARI COCKTAIL MEAD ROS KIR LEMONADE RAKI RUM ARAK LAGER LATTE SAUVIGNON BORDEAUX ALE OUZO SHERRY BUCK’S FIZZ ESPRESSO GROG BITTER BASS SODA SPIRIT BREW BLOODY MARY POP LIMEADE BOURBON MILD PILS SCHNAPPS SHOT DARJEELING WINE SHANDY TEQUILA SQUASH RIESLING CHERRYADE CHABLIS SCOTCH PORT COINTREAU SANGRIA DOM PERIGNON IPA PUNCH RETSINA KEG ! SAKE SLIVOVITZ CLARET BEAUJOLAIS Word Ladders: 1. PINK MINK MIND MEND MEAD MARTINI VODKA CAVA LASSI PINT NOG VEUVE COCA-COLA 2. FUNK PUNK PINK PINE TINE HOOCH BEER CLICQUOT or ADVOCAAT STOUT JAVA FUNK JUNK JUNE TUNE TINE ASTI CALVADOS DRAMBUIE 38 28.11.2014 THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON FELIX Clubs and Societies [email protected] C & S Editor VACANT Mascot Mayhem at Tri-Union Bar Night Philippa Skett reports on the loss of CGCU’s mascot

t seems that City and Guilds actually means but was not inclined College Union (CGCU) have been to investigate. Ifoiled again; this time having After being granted access to the their mascot, Spanner, stolen from office by security, the student went to Why is he wearing a cloak? Photo: Facebook right under their noses. return the mascots, but was greeted The mascot – a giant spanner by the CGCU Media and Marketing upon the weight of bag. Despite working on the bolts of Tower Bridge imaginatively named, well, Spanner Officer (MMO), seemingly fresh-faced being a hair from discovering the for which it is allegedly designed to – is over a metre in length and weighs after the previous night. intercollegiate espionage occurring do, for the president and Spanner in at 64lbs [why am I reporting on a The MMO did not recognise when under her nose, the miner managed bearer to do yards of alcohol and fucking spanner!? Ed.]. the RSM student lumbered the to escape with the spanner much to CGCU to write a grovelling letter of This cumbersome piece of brass large, overbearing piece of hardware the embarrassment of the CGCU apology. was taken from the CGCU office last into his Mary Poppins-esque sports Mascot Bearers.” Felix has kindly printed the letter, Friday morning by a member of the bag, then left, Spanner in tow. Said Photos later surfaced of two mostly because we find it hilarious, Royal School of Mines Union (RSMU) the MMO “I thought the spanner members of Skinner’s Bottom – one satisfying one of the four ransom committee, despite a member of the was already in the secret mascot wearing what appears to be a fresher’s note demands. Since the Tower CGCU committee also being present. stronghold safe from the slimy hands "one would pub crawl t-shirt as a bandana – Bridge walkway is closed after a The RSM student, a member of RSMU.” assume brandishing the large spanner in dropped beer bottle smashed its of “Skinner’s Bottom” (The RSM Felix spoke to Ben Warnick, who a cloak front of the RSMU office. Both are new glass walkway, it is uncertain if mascotry team) visited the office gave us a hilarious recount of what wearing top hats, and one also appears students will be allowed up wielding to return another mascot and a ... why am happened. Said Warnick, “As soon would only to be in some sort of cloak, although a heavy piece of weaponry to attempt tankard that was stolen from CGCU I reporting as the CGCU’s officer’s attention hinder the it is unclear if the outfits are integral to unscrew any fixtures, but at time of on Thursday evening during the Tri- on a strayed, the spanner was hidden movement to the mascotry stealing, as one would press a spokesperson of Tower Bridge Union Bar Night. According to CGCU deftly in a hockey bag and the Miner of a large assume a cloak would only hinder the declined to comment. President, stealing mascots during fucking beat a hasty retreat. movement of a large metal spanner. Felix has every faith in Tim the night was off limits “so that they spanner? “The weight of the spanner in the metal RSMU then issued a ransom to the Munday, CGCU President, that he could meet for a play-date.” Felix Ed. bag was not insignificant, sufficiently spanner." CGCU, asking for £250 to be donated can indeed down a yard, and wish him remains uncertain as to what this so that the Guildswoman commented to RAG, for evidence of Spanner every success in his endeavour. The letter of Apology Dear Guildsmen,

It is with great shame and sadness that I must write this apology. For apologies I must for the loss of our dearest, most spanneriest mascot, the Spanner. Unbeknownst to the CGCU Exec, most of whom spent the morning in question recovering from the Tri-Union Bar Night, the cunning President of the RSMU had hatched a dastardly plan to robe us of our most scared of artefacts. Having somehow gained access to the CGCU Ofi ce he was able to search unabated for Spanner. Until, that was, he was walked in on by our Media and Marketing Ofi cer. To her shame she did not recognise the violation that was occurring in front of her or the incredibly heavy bag he walked out with. She believed all too easily the story he told about returning poor violated Bolt and did not recognise the flattery he bestowed upon our ofi ce as the distracting lies they were. But what chance did she have when up against such an astute, calculating individual as the leader of the great RSMU. What chance would any mere real engineer have when confronted by the wit and skill of those who study the rocks. It is i tting that we take this total defeat valiantly and it is right that we congratulate the RSMU on their patience, their adeptness and their determination. And now lonely Spanner, so far from home, faces the indignity of having to appear next to the so much more impressive, shinning edii ce of Davy and our union faces the humiliation of being so clearly bettered by the RSMU. So I apologise to you all for the loss of our mascot and the shame brought upon our Union by it. I ask you for your forgiveness and promise that this will only make us more dedicated that one day the CGCU will reach the dizzying heights of success of the RSMU.

TIM MUNDAY CGCU President FELIX THE STUDENT PAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON 28.11.2014 39

Sport Editor: Kunal Wagle

Racism in football: Is the sport living in a deluded bubble?

MAX EGGL SPORTS WRITER

acism is unacceptable. Regardless of who you are, the Rsituation you find yourself in, or any excuses you may offer up, the moment you bring up someone’s race is the moment that you have crossed the line. However, there seems to be one area where casual racism is endemic, and is rarely punished. I am talking about football. If you Google football and racism, you will come upon scores of results, and ones about the lack of it are rare. While you may believe this is actually about sport in general you only have to look as far as NBA to see how racism is treated in other sporting activities. In April this year, TMZ released a recording from September 2013 between LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling and a female friend. Sterling told V. Stiviano: “It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people”, and, “You can sleep with [black people]. You can bring them in, Malky Mackay and Dave Whelan are currently under investigation by the FA Photo: Wigan Athletic Football Club you can do whatever you want”, but “the little I ask you is ... not to bring banter” – a statement they soon off as worse. Yet, no forced sales, nor more examples, but all of them seem in banning people, they risk losing them to my games”. The person she apologised for. What! lifetime bans, for either of these two to reach the same ending; nobody is profits. If they had banned Luis had posed with on Instagram? Magic However, it seems that this did men. In fact, the FA and by extension really punished. Suarez or John Terry more severely, Johnson, a Basketball Hall of Fame not seem to be the end of Mackay’s FIFA itself is doing next to nothing If nobody is ever really severely they may have faced lawsuits, and player. After the comments he made career, as it justifiably should have to stomp out this disease. punished, this casual attitude to lost ticket revenues. Do they think he was subsequently forced to sell his been. Instead he has now found new They may have their high profile racism will continue. Imagine therefore that it is much better to franchise, and now has a lifetime ban. employment as manager of Wigan campaigns, but honestly is this really saying comparable things to your give a slap on the wrist, and hope it all This all happened within the space of Athletic. You may think that would cutting down on racism? There have fellow students or work colleagues. blows over? roughly two months. be the end of this story. But wait, been so many high profile cases, You would rightly get the sack I am not trying to say that racism Now consider the strange situation there is more. which never really lead to any sort immediately. Anybody who thinks has been eradicated in all other of Malky Mackay. Almost three In response to the controversy of meaningful punishments. John something as horrid as one race being sports, but in football it seems so months ago text messages of that surrounded the appointment of Terry? Was found guilty, fined about better than another is an individual much more prevalent. What really homophobic, racist and sexist nature Mackay, Dave Whelan, the Chairman two weeks wages and missed four who should not be part of our society. frightens me is that whilst this game were revealed, which had been and Owner, made equally horrible games before resuming like nothing But football is one of the only fields is able to transcend race, culture, written by Mackay during his tenure statements in support of his manager. had ever happened. Luis Suarez? where leniency is upheld. Why? Is it language and sex, it will never be as manager of Cardiff City. This was He tried to veil his comments as Once again found guilty, (strangely that FIFA in their inexorable quest able to cross boundaries, because further exacerbated when the League compliments as well as comment that enough supported by his team and for profits has forgotten how to keep certain individuals permeate football Manager’s association declared that certain words weren’t actually racist, manager) and now living the high the beautiful game unblemished? and certain authorities refuse to do this was all just “friendly text message but this resulted in it just coming life in Barcelona. There are many One of the possible reasons is because anything about it.

Phil Hughes: The world mourns death of young batsman 8th March 2009, Kingsmead, batsman to score a century in the out” against the short ball by tribute, saying “Even in your last Durban. An Australian batsman Shefield Shield Final when he Andrew Flintoff in the 2009 Ashes, innings they still couldn’t touch you. is entertaining the crowd with a scored 116 against Victoria to lead and had to settle for being the irst 63*” superb hundred. It was his second his side to victory. It was his maiden alternative for the national side. Hughes died from vertebral artery of the game, and meant that he, at First Class century. That didn’t stop him from scoring 86 dissection, an injury that has only the age of 20, became the youngest On Tuesday, when playing for from 75 balls in a win against New ever been recorded a hundred times. man to score two hundreds in a Test his adopted side South Australia Zealand and his third test century And only once due to a cricket ball. Match. It was just his second test against his former side New South against Sri Lanka in 2011. He was The injury was described by doctors match. This week, we mourn his Wales, Hughes was struck by a selected for the one-day squad in as “extremely rare and a freak passing. bouncer from former colleague Sean 2013, where he became the irst injury”. Phillip Hughes, who would have Abbott. Hughes fell forward onto his (and only) Australian to score on a He leaves behind his mother, father, turned 26 on Sunday, was largely face. He would remain unconscious hundred on debut. He would add brother and sister. considered one of Australia’s most until his death in the afternoon on one more in the same series. And a grieving cricket world. talented batsmen when he started Thursday in Sydney. In his inal game Hughes was on 63 out for New South Wales at the Hughes struggled to make the not out before that fatal ball. His KUNAL WAGLE age of 18. He became the youngest Australian team, after being “found team mate Kane Richardson paid SPORT EDITOR Photo: Mike Hutchings/Reuters Issue 1590

[email protected] Sport Editor: Kunal Wagle Imperial Athletics dominate Phil Hughes, Lewis Hamilton, and SPOTY – the University of London Champs World Sport Column

GARETH HOLDEN KUNAL WAGLE SHIV PATEL Aguero provided two goals as SPORT EDITOR Manchester City came back from IC CROSS COUNTRY 2-1 down to beat Bayern Munich 3-2 to keep their hopes of qualification n Sunday 23rd December, n the early hours of Thursday, alive. But it was another frustrating Imperial College Cross Australia batsman Phil Hughes night for Liverpool, as Ludogrets OCountry and Athletics club Iwas pronounced dead at St scored in injury time to draw the along with the ICSM (Imperial Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney. He had match 2-2. Liverpool go into the final Medics) athletics club competed in been struck on the side of the head game knowing a win over Basel at the annual University of London championship at the Lee Valley Athletics centre. Having (somewhat unfairly) lost out to LSE last year in the battle for the top spot, our team was hungry for a chance to take back the championship, which has been won by Imperial for 10 out of the last 12 years. It became apparent as the medals started pouring in that this was our Photo: IC Cross Country year. By the end of the day we had racked up a massive 12 gold medals, the day has to be Emma Watkins who Of course, no athletics event would 10 silvers and another 9 bronze to could barely stand upright under the be complete without the standard take the championships, pushing our weight of her 5 medals, including a club curry to round off a good day of arch-rivals LSE down to 3rd place and gold in long jump. UCL-bashing. The real competition Photo: Getty Images winning twice as many golds as 2nd In a very tense men’s 60m final, of who could brave the vindaloo was place UCL! Chris Chung managed to edge won by James Roughneen who didn’t by a bouncer from New South Wales Anfield will send them through. In Star performances in the field came out James Roughneen and Sidney even break a sweat (almost). The bowler Sean Abbott in a Sheffield the Premier League Wayne Rooney from Stephanie Koumbas and Erik Chan to win gold and complete an trophy proved to be the perfect vessel Shield match on Wednesday. In scored as Manchester United beat Tropp who won gold in the high jump impressive Imperial 1-2-3. Gareth for toasting our success and ensuring response, Cricket Australia chose Arsenal 2-1 at the Emirates. with an all-Imperial podium in the Holden faced an inopportune fire sufficient levels of merriment all to abandon the round of domestic In tennis, Andy Murray has men’s. George Cross led an ICSM alarm delaying the race start in round. The last leg of the day (pun matches being played this week. They announced his engagement to dominated men’s shot put and Ines the men’s 400m but managed to intended) involved a trip to Be at One, also chose to cancel India’s warm- girlfriend Kim Sears. The couple Kubler revealed her hidden strength take home the silver medal. This, Hammersmith where two for one up fixture ahead of the series in met at the US Open in 2005. In to take gold for the women. of course, led to the inevitable fire cocktails went down very well. This Australia. Pakistan and New Zealand January, Murray joked on Twitter It was also the women who stole alarm selfies and a certain photo of rounded off what was a spectacular chose to extend their test match by that he would be getting married after the show on track. Fresher Alex one Movember participant (who shall day for Imperial Athletics and a a day and suspend play on Thursday Wimbledon, a statement he retracted Mundell wowed the competition with remain nameless) that will surely not fantastic team performance to mark out of respect, while England and Sri an hour later. two golds in the 400m and 800m, a be forgotten. In the much anticipated record levels of participation! It’s not sign of what we can expect over the relays, the Imperial women’s team too late to get involved in ICXCA, next 6 years! Final year medic Sian and the men’s 1st team claimed the there will be many more events in the Mitchell took gold in the 200m and silver medals, both narrowly missing new year. Email [email protected] or find 60m hurdles. However, the athlete of out on gold. us on Facebook.

Photo: Getty Images Lanka will have a minute’s silence In actual tennis, Roger Federer ahead of their match on Friday. An helped Switzerland win the Davis obituary for Phil Hughes is on page Cup for the first time in their history 39. with victory over Frenchman Richard In Formula 1 Lewis Hamilton won Gasquet. He had lost his opening the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the match against Gael Monfils. Yas Marina Circuit to win the World The BBC has announced the Championship. Nico Rosberg, who nominees for the Sports Personality was the only person who could catch of the Year award. They are: Gareth Hamilton, was only able to finish Bale, Charlotte Dujardin, Kelly 13th, after his car had power issues. Gallagher, Charlotte Evans, Lewis In the Champions League Chelsea Hamilton, Rory McIlroy, Jo Pavey, produced the “perfect” performance Adam Peaty, Max Whitlock and Photo: IC Cross Country as they beat Schalke 5-0. Sergio Lizzy Yarnold.