From Mike Leigh to Peter Pan Varsity walks you through British cinema - and ends up in Neverland Page 20

No. 606 The Independent Cambridge Student Newspaper since 1947 Friday October 29, 2004 Architects still working

GU president sacked he after dramatic vote t Mockel-von-dem-Bussc Graduate Union saga comes to a close as ousted r lbe president Tharakan blames lack of support for failures A Amy Goodwin have confirmed the general sense of frustration and disappointment. For RIBU THARAKAN was sacked as many of those involved in the GU, Graduate Union president last night. Tharakan’s absence during the crucial In a notably acrimonious debate, hand-over stage in July foreshadowed

MCR presidents and graduate facul- iona Symington all subsequent problems. ty representatives voted 23-6 in F The highly personalised and frac- favour of a motion of no confidence tious battle that marred the last proposed by members of the GU weeks of Tharakan’s tenure resulted Executive. In an emotionally fraught in David Riley being obliged to state plea to the council, Tharakan accused he would not himself run for presi- the Exec of reneging on their respon- dent ‘should the job become vacant’. sibility of supporting him in his role In addition to his mistrust of what he as president. He told Varsity:‘I have calls the ‘old guard’ of the GU, come to work here without a func- Tharakan pointed out that he had tioning Executive or support staff. I held the post for only four months have tried to work for the students, and had not had time either to suffi- but without these important people I ciently familiarise himself with the have been unsuccessful’. organisation or implement changes. The debate was disrupted when All of the main speakers emphasised Tharakan broke down. It was pro- their recognition that the job of pres- posed that the council should ident was, in the words of last year’s adjourn the meeting after it became president Sarah Airey, ‘too much for clear that Tharakan was unable to one person’. They concurred with continue a coherent defence of his CUSU president Wes Streeting, four months in the post. However, chairing the meeting, who said that the substantial body of GU members the GU’s problems were ‘historic and who had gathered for the vote decid- deep-rooted’. ed to resume proceedings, as it was Riley admitted in his rebuttal that Amol Rajan Board of the University, make him a felt that the GU would be neglecting ‘things were unarguably bad last year’, suitable replacement for Short. the University’s graduate community but stated that the situation had CUSU, UNDERGRADUATES and In a public statement on Wednesday if it failed to immediately resolve the begun to improve during Sarah staff at all levels within the Department morning by Professor Andrew Cliff, situation. Airey’s tenure. He then claimed that of Architecture have urged the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Personnel, it David Riley, who proposed the all of this progress had been ‘stalled’ University to continue to fund the emerged that academic but not financial motion, declared that the currently over the summer as a result of department for the next three years, problems within the department could ‘farcical’ state of affairs made it clear Tharakan making his case last night Tharakan’s inaction. At this stage claiming that there is no serious cause for lead to its closure. The statement noted to all that Tharakan’s presidency was Tharakan apologised to the GU both concern over its future. that the General Board felt “insufficient ‘not salvageable’. The GU has been ence at either the Freshers’ Fair or for the ‘commotion’ that he had Professor Alan Short has stepped progress” had been made in improving in a state of escalating crisis since the the CUSU Societies Fair. The union- caused earlier in the evening and for down from his post as the head of the research standards, and that “closure of beginning of the academic year, with run shop was closed due to staff the initial mistakes that he had made Department, and, pending ratification by the Department and redeployment of many services inoperative, numerous shortages throughout this period. as president. University authorities, will be replaced by the staff to other allied Departments key resignations and accusations of The Union has been plagued by The latter part of the debate Professor Marcial Echenique, a veteran would be justified.” financial mismanagement. internal disputes, allegedly stemming focused on the future of the GU. It with over 30 years experience in Support for the Department has been Tharakan has been held personally from Tharakan’s leadership. He has was agreed that whatever the out- Cambridge. ArcSoc called an open forthcoming. CUSU is to launch a cam- to blame for many of the setbacks been accused of large-scale misman- come of the vote, its role and struc- meeting with Short last Friday evening, paign to avert the department’s closure. that have impeded the Union’s recent agement, organisational apathy and a ture need to be radically rethought if which was open to all students and staff, After tabling an emergency motion, it has operations and damaged its image in lack of vision for the union, in con- it is to succeed in its aim of meeting at which he announced his departure. resolved to aid student representatives on the eyes of the graduate community, trast to the ambitious initiatives out- the specific needs of graduate stu- A joint email sent earlier that day by the General Board and University although he claimed last night that lined in his manifesto. Relations with dents within the University. The him and Echenique said that the Council in “opposing any moves by the ‘not one of the problems was the both MCRs and the University have meeting ended with the passing of a Department was “entering a period of University to close the Architecture direct result of my actions’. Foremost deteriorated due to a lack of commu- motion which invested the vice pres- intense negotiation and strategic plan- Department”. Other senior figures with- amongst the issues discussed was the nication and actions conflicting ident, Rhiannon Mohammed, with ning”, and that Echenique would “lead in the University have also offered their Union’s virtual invisibility during directly with those mandated. Recent the authority to organise elections these discussions”. Echenique’s support. A final decision will be made on Freshers’ Week. Handbooks for new resignations from the Executive, and pledged to reassess the situation appointment has been widely welcomed December 8th as to whether or not the graduate students were not distrib- including that of former president in ten days’ time. by students and staff, who feel that his proposals be taken to Regent House. uted until two weeks after the last Sarah Airey who was co-opted onto experience of University management, - Architecture’s impact in had arrived, and the GU had no pres- the committee to ease the transfer, -Editorial: Page 11 including a term of office on the General Cambridge: Page 6 “OXFORD HAS AN INFERIORITY COMPLEX” PAGE 7 VIRGINIA WOOLF WILL BLOW YOUR HOUSE DOWN PAGE 16 2 NEWS October 29, 2004 www.varsity.co.uk

Tiddlywinks tournament at Queen’s Student attacked for £15

Chine Mbubaegbu warning to students urging them to be services to students, such as alarms or vigilant whilst in the city at night. taxi services, in order to protect them THE ISSUE of student safety has been Sergeant Jonathan Hutchinson, head from such vicious attacks. highlighted again as a student found of the newly formed robbery squad CUSU’s Welfare Officer Richard himself the victim of a vicious attack in said: “I am giving people practical advice Reid said “Obviously we’re very con- which he was robbed for just £15. on how to try to reduce the risk of them cerned by these attacks, as we want our Kristian Coates-Ulrichsen, who is becoming a victim of a street robbery. students to be safe. It can be difficult for studying for a PhD in history at Most commonly this type of crime is colleges to ensure the safety of students Pembroke College, was on his way from committed by opportunistic thieves, so I when they are outside the college area, t Mockel von dem Bussche-Ippenburg von t Mockel

r a formal to the college’s graduate accom- am urging people to, as much as possi- but obviously we would encourage col-

lbe modation in Grantchester Meadows on ble, take that opportunity away.” leges to do what they can.” A Thursday when the incident occurred. Kristian Coates-Ulrichsen, who Having formerly been a student at He described how he was followed along suffered cuts and bruising to the face UCL in London, Coates-Ulrichsen the towpath near the Mill Lane area by and ribs, said that he is lucky the men highlighted the differences between two young men who subsequently struck did not have knives. He emphasised the two cities. Although people may him from behind and began to assault the importance, however, of the see Cambridge as a small University him. Both men kicked and punched University doing better to protect its town, it does not necessarily mean LAST WEEKEND Queen’s College cation to two-hour daily practices nor Ulrichsen, demanding that he give them students. He told Varsity: “The that it is a safer place. London stu- hosted the premier event of the his personalised squidgers were of any his wallet. They continued to assault Mr. University and colleges could make it dents are more vigilant, and since the Tiddlywinks calendar, the World use once up against the UCL lecturer’s Coates-Ulrichsen even after he threw safer for students who live in college capital is more populated, there are Singles Tournament. Andy Purvis, exceptional combination of manual his wallet to them. The PhD student accommodation to commute into and always people around. Coates- enthusiast of the “noble art” for nearly dexterity and mental strategy. told of his ordeal and explained that after out of Cambridge, particularly during Ulrichsen added: “Because of the twenty years, has claimed the title of Purvis was unstoppable last weekend, punching and kicking him in a “frenzied the winter when the roads and paths high concentration of pubs and bars World Tiddlywinks Champion from going on to win the National Singles attack,” the two men pushed him into that lead to many of the college in Cambridge, and the open spaces, his American rival, Larry Kahn. Tournament also held at Queens’. the river before running away towards accommodation houses in places like there is a lot of potential for trou- Purvis beat the defending champion, Purvis feels indebted to Cambridge the Fen Causeway. He then pulled him- Newnham, Grantchester Meadows or ble.” He also raised the issue of the winning with a score of 30 and a third where he learnt the game as an under- self out of the river and returned to Grange Road are very quiet and dark poor lighting around Cambridge. to 11 and two thirds and played a high graduate, and indeed, where students Pembroke in order to raise the alarm. at nights… If colleges are going to This is an issue that the PhD student risk game strategy; all guns blazing, he invented the modern version in 1955. The police arrived at the scene within offer accommodation to students out feels very strongly about. attempts to tiddle all his winks into the The demographic of the thriving CU ten minutes, cordoning off the area and there, they ought to consider the safe- Reid said that, as part of CUSU’s pot as fast as he can. His attack is Tiddlywinks Club shows it to be a sending in dog handlers in order to try ty issues involved.” campaign to improve lighting relentless; he takes no prisoners. Kahn sport which transcends all boundaries, and catch the attackers. Nick Champion of the University around Cambridge, it will be run- plays a safer, more conservative game as undergrads, fellows, and the local This incident is the latest in a series of Press Office explained that the ning a one-off event called “Light by trying to cover-up his opponent’s population gather alike to practice their attacks on students in the Mill Lane area University does not have a formal Up Parkers Piece” on November winks so that they are out of play. skills and tactics on infinitely squared this month. The earlier assaults took plan in place for preventing student 19th. He said “We would like as These diverse tactics made for an excit- boards. place at the beginning of the month. In crime because, in recent memory, no many students to come along and ing match, and the crowd fell silent in The Varsity tiddlywinks match will two separate incidents, male students such incidents have been reported to take part in a candlelight protest, as awe of the competitors’ intense concen- take place in March. were attacked by a group of men whilst have taken place on actual University well as bringing along as much light tration. However, neither Kahn’s dedi- Kay Drage walking along Mill Lane. property. He stressed, however, that as possible.” Cambridge Police have issued a the colleges themselves do provide Protestors in Cambridge back fox hunting ‘compromise’ y Phillips Luc

Pro-hunt demonstrators stand outside the new crown court last Friday chanting”No ban” as Lord Falconer arrived for the official opening; the Bill is currently in The House of Lords

Lucy Phillips quite vocal”. He explained that after hunting have a valuable role in manage- direct relation to their degree of debility. discussed in the House of Lords. On the official ceremony Lord Falconer ment of the countryside. It has worked No other method of culling performs Tuesday they voted, by a majority of 250, OVER 200 people attended a pro-hunt met four delegates from the demonstra- for hundreds of years”. this function, and, were hunting to be to amend the Hunting Bill so that a ban demonstration outside the new tion and “has brought back their con- “We are not afraid of being licensed banned, the welfare implications for all would be replaced with a ‘compromise’ Cambridge Crown Courts when they cerns to Westminster.” and if they do not think that we can hunted species would be profound.” licensing scheme. The amendment were officially opened by Lord Falconer He added, “The matter is not down to police ourselves effectively it would be “In our man made countryside, control hopes to recreate the Government’s orig- on Friday. Lord Falconer or to Alun Michael better than an outright ban.” of an over-successful species is best inal proposals for strict regulation of Lord Falconer, a former undergradu- [Minister of Rural Affairs], it’s down to Mr Higgs, who has been hunting all achieved by a combination of legal meth- hunting instead of a ban. ate at Queen’s and now the Secretary of Parliament – for the Lords to scrutinize his life, noted that at this year’s University ods undertaken by farmers, gamekeepers, However, the Government is still like- State for Constitutional Affairs, had and the Commons to vote.” fresher’s fair there was more interest than landowners, naturalists and huntsmen, ly to use the Parliament Act if it cannot originally backed a total ban on fox hunt- Sarah Booth, a first-year Land ever to join the club and that nobody had with their divergent interests using the break the division between the ing. However, earlier this week he Economist at Newnham and a member expressed any animosity towards them. appropriate methods of control for their Commons and the Lords. Pro-hunt became one of 58 Labour peers to vote in of the Trinity Foot and South Herts “Several people said that they did not like particular circumstance.” MPs insist that they will not compromise favour of a ‘compromise’ to regulate Beagles, was among a group of it but that we ought to be allowed to Aubrey de Grey of the University on a ban. hunting under a licensing scheme. University students who attended the carry on.” Department of Genetics said, “I’m cer- Despite events in the House of Lords The police praised protestors for a protest. She said, “Hunting is a natural Twink Allen, CU Professor of Equine tainly strongly against fox hunting: I pro-hunt demonstrators hit the national peaceful demonstration. Liz Mort, of thing in natural environment. It’s in the Reproduction and chairman of the regard it as barbaric. So I think MPs news again on Wednesday. Commons the Countryside Alliance, said, “People dog’s instinct and the best way to control Veterinary Association for Wildlife have the right to ban it, like anything else leader Peter Hain was pelted with eggs here in Cambridgeshire will not accept a foxes. Hunting ensures that only the Management, in a recent meeting at the barbaric. But this is a purely personal and his aide punched during a protest at ban on hunting. It is corrupt politics. weak are culled, around 90% of healthy House of Lords, explained, “The vital emotion, not at all based on anything sci- Oxford University. Mr Hain con- Our protests are always peaceful.” ones survive. Hounds kill the animals contribution that hunting makes towards entific; it’s not a matter of whether the demned the incident as “violence and Peter O’Connor, Spokesman for the quickly, whereas a gun shot fox could wildlife management is through its fox feels pain or anything like that, it’s thuggery”. Two people were arrested. department of Constitutional Affairs, take up to 2 weeks to die. ” search and dispatch function whereby purely the nature of the activity itself and On the same day a fox was let loose in described the protest as “democratic Matthew Higgs, Master of TFSHB, the weak, the sick and the injured are dis- its effect on the humans involved.” the Houses of Parliament but it is not yet and peaceful” and “non-aggressive but told Varsity, “Hare coursing, stag and fox covered and humanely dispatched in The Hunting Bill is currently being known if it was part of a protest stunt. www.varsity.co.uk October 29, 2004 NEWS 3

MP U-Turn? Crystal clear cosmology News in Brief Sarah Marsh Ice-cream mayhem LABOUR MP Anne Campbell faced harsh criticism last week for endors- NASA Over 200 litres of free ice cream

ing the deployment of British troops y of attracted hundreds of members of the es to a US-controlled region of Iraq. t Cambridge Union on Saturday night. Campbell’s “U-turn” on Iraq exac- The evening, sponsored by Ben & erbated the growing disillusion with Cour Jerry’s, was the largest of its kind ever her wavering policies. Mark held at the Union, attracting almost a Gettleson, Chair of the Cambridge quarter of its 4000 members. Student Liberal Democrats, argued: Musicians from Crumbassive, who “Anne Campbell declared ‘no tuition played at last year’s Queens’ May Ball, fees here’ and then voted for them, and Cambridge Magic Society’s Miles then opposed variable top-up fees and Bullock and Simon Evans entertained subsequently voted for them – and the crowds as they patiently waited in we’re now meant to trust her and line for a scoop of a selection from Ben Tony Blair on Iraq?” & Jerrys’ favourites. Campbell, however, defended her- The night was hailed a great success self: “I voted against the war and even by all. resigned a governmental post in order Barney Jones to do so. But now we are involved, I believe we have a certain responsibil- ity, in particular to make sure that Might the new Lucky Imaging technique developed at the Institute of Astronomy reveal more about the wonders of space? Apple aficionados elections are safely held in January.” Apple appetisers were aplenty at the She tackled defence secretary Steve Elliott to selectively combine thousands of way images of distant galaxies are dis- 8th annual Apple Fair held at the Geoff Hoon in the House of high quality pictures, eliminating torted by invisible dark matter, some- University's Botantical Gardens on Commons and met with the Prime ASTRONOMERS IN Cambridge atmospheric blurring in a process thing of great importance for cosmology. Sunday. Minister to express her doubts. “I was have invented a new method of photo- called ‘Lucky Imaging’. This is the first time we may have a Over 30 varieties of locally grown assured that that this was a military graphing the universe from the ground, Dr. Mackay explains: “If you are out technique that will allow the tracing of apples were available for enthusiasts, decision rather than a political one. with a quality previously available only on a warm day then you will often see a dark matter throughout the universe to families, tourists and students to try The Black Watch is needed to fill in from telescopes hundreds of miles above. shimmering or heat haze on the hori- be tackled properly.” snd buy. behind US marines when they go in Charge Coupled Devices (or CCDs) zon. This is caused by the hot air close This technology will not replace proj- A record number of people turned to secure the rebellious city of Falluja, were previously used for ground-based to the ground bubbling up and distort- ects such as the Hubble Space Telescope, out for what was a truly British cele- and is one of the few regiments out observations of the skies, such as auto- ing our view of what is in the distance. but instead allows high quality pictures bration of our favourite fruit, involving there that could do the job.” matic detection of supernovae, exploding You know that if you take a photograph to be taken over large portions of the sky, queueing, tasting, drinking and buying Campbell pointed out that the stars that would dwarf the Sun. then you will not see anything very which has not been possible with previ- of everything and anything to do with British troops are to be sent as a However, the accuracy of CCD images much at all because of the blurring this ous equipment. In fact, Lucky Imaging apples, and some things, like the WI's peacekeeping force, at which they are is limited by ‘noise’ generated inside the causes. However, if you continue to stare was first proposed in 1978, but has only home-made plum chutney for exam- “much better than the Americans device, making it impossible to take an at the horizon you will find that from been possible now due to advances in ple, that were not. who are more aggressive and antago- extremely clear picture. Chelmsford time to time you get glimpses of what is CCD technology. Laura Cledwyn nize people. The British soldiers based E2V Technologies Ltd have beyond and can identify trees, houses, Research is continuing to make the really try to win over the hearts of developed a noise-free device. people and so on. Your brain is synthe- imaging process more automatic, and the people.” This enables Dr. Craig Mackay’s sising an image that is free from much of new improved CCDs will follow with Historic passage reopens Critics doubt whether they will team at the Cambridge Institute of the distortion.” time, but Lucky Imaging has already Plans to reopen Christ’s Lane and succeed though, in what has been Astronomy and Professor John According to Dr. Mackay, Lucky made a large step towards bringing the bulldoze Bradwell’s Court have been described as the “triangle of death”. Baldwin at the Cavendish Laboratory Imaging “will allow us to measure the mysteries of the universe down to earth. given the green light. The passage way, which runs between St Andrew’s Street and Christ’s Piece along the wall of Christ’s College, was blocked Trinity’s race against the clock WISE award nomination off in the 1960s and will now be reopened for pedestrians only. Members of the Cambridge Charlotte Forbes involves monthly visits to schools Cycling Campaign are asking for it to and the annual TechLinks pro- be made into a cycleway as well but gramme at Duxford in which chil- Councillors want pedestrians to be A CAMBRIDGE PhD student has dren work in small groups on proj- able to walk freely down it safely. been nominated for a national award in ects such as building model hover- Shops and apartments will be built recognition of her dedication to pro- crafts, robots and rockets. The aim of on the former Bradwell’s Court site. moting science and engineering oppor- such schemes is to demystify popular Despite concerns about the disruption tunities for women. misconceptions about engineering that would be caused during construc- Laura James, who is in her final year, and encourage students to get tion, the new passageway is thought to is one of six finalists for the Women involved. “Children often don’t have be of historical importance. Into Science and Engineering (WISE) an idea of what engineering can Excellence Award, the results of which involve. When they take part in such Student dials 999 are to be announced next Tuesday. hands-on work and see projects “I’m delighted to be a finalist for come to life, their faces light up. It A Kings’ student dialled 999 for an the WISE Excellence Award. It’s gives them a wonderful sense of ambulance to fetch some pain killers really exciting, I never thought I’d accomplishment,” she said. last weekend. The 19-year-old was get through. I would never have Laura has also been heavily suffering from period pains when she found out about careers in engineer- involved with Women@CL, a made the emergency call because she ing or stuck with it for so long if it national scheme based in the had run out of her usual pain relief. wasn’t for the help of many people University, providing support to The Ambulance Service is now urg- who have given their time to advise women engaged in computer ing people not to call 999 unless it is an or mentor me,” she said. research and academic leadership. emergency since inappropriate calls Laura has been invited to attend a The group organises regular lunches “can cost lives”. Wes Streeting, ceremony presided over by the Princess with speakers such as Shirley CUSU president, is encouraging stu- Royal, who is the royal patron of WISE, Jamieson to show women in the field dents to make use of their college at the Engineering Employers’ that they “really can reach the top.” Nurse. Federation (EEF) in London. Currently only a quarter of those She is currently working with Intel studying for PhDs in computing in Police enquiry at Girton Research Cambridge at the new women, and there are only 1 in 20 Centre for Advanced Photonics and female computing professors. A brand new college map that was Electronics (CAPE) on a project to The WISE campaign was stolen last week from the porter’s lodge build an optically switched network launched in 1984 to attract more at Girton has been found in the college

f for short distance data transport. This women into science, engineering and pond. JCR President, Pete Quentin, will enable information to travel with- technology and support organisa- said “fantastic”. in computer networks at a much faster tions that enable women to advance t Malie r speed over short distances. their careers and stay in the sector. Don’t forget... However, the award also recognises Since its launch the number of Robe her efforts to promote science to both women in engineering has doubled. British Summer Time ends on The annual Great Court run took place last weekend. Athletes compete to run children and female students. For more information on SETPoint Sunday.Clocks go back one hour at the 367 metres in the length of time it takes the college clock to strike noon. Laura has worked at SETPoint for visit www.satromidanglia.co.uk; see 2 am. There are 43 seconds between the first and last chimes. This year nobody com- some time as a Science and www.cl.cam.ac.uk/women for infor- pleted the circuit in time and the front runner was tripped up by a bystander. Engineering Ambassador, which mation on Women@CL. Lucy Phillips 4 NEWS October 29, 2004 www.varsity.co.uk

Green Cam

CUAI path to freedom national A NEW energy contract signed er between Cambridge University and Sarah Marsh Min Ko Naing was arrested on Scottish and Southern power has March 24, 1989, tortured and sen- made Cambridge one of Britain’s LAST WEEKEND Cambridge tenced to twenty years in jail for organ- biggest purchasers of Green Energy. University Amnesty International izing peaceful student protests against The contract, which runs until (CUAI) volunteers sat in a wooden the Burmese military regime. Will October 2006, guarantees that less cage outside King’s College, cam- Moy, chair of CUAI, explained: “this than one percent of the University’s paigning for the release of Burmese case was assigned to all student groups y of CU Amnesty Int es energy will come from fossil fuels. prisoner of conscience Min Ko Naing. across the country as it is about stu- t 76% will be generated hydroelectrical- Volunteers took shifts over 48 dents’ rights to freedom of expression.” ly in Scotland, while 23% will come hours to sit inside the cage or stand Both Wes Streeting, CUSU presi- Cour from other renewable sources such as outside collecting donations and dent, and local MP Anne Campbell solar, wind or wave power. encouraging passers-by to sign a peti- turned up on Saturday morning to In the previous contract 88% of the tion for the release of Min Ko Naing. publicly support the campaign by sit- University’s energy came from fossil They succeeded in collecting 1,359 sig- ting in the cage and signing the peti- fuels. The CUSU Green Campaign natures on forty metres of cloth, and tion. Streeting told Varsity: “although has long campaigned on this issue, nearly £200. CUSU generally refrains from getting warning that “climate change and the involved with international politics, an environment must be taken seriously event like this focussing on the stu- and acted upon in the near future”. “this case is about dent’s right to protest engages the However, the fact that the students’ rights to responsibility of students and student University has only recently decided to leaders around the world.” follow their advice suggests that the freedom of Visiting the cage for the first year, switch was sparked by financial con- Campbell undertook to lay down an cerns: the current surge in oil prices expression” Early Day Motion at the start of the and the government’s tax break incen- new parliament backing the cam- tives on renewable energy. The cage event has been held by paign to free Min Ko Naing. CUAI Nevertheless, Tom Russon, the CUAI for 30 years and is the organisa- hopes this will prompt other CUSU Green Officer, commended tion’s major annual event for fundraising Amnesty International student the move as “a great step forward”. He and raising awareness of the continuing groups around the country to request added that he hoped the University struggle against human rights abuses. their own MP’s support. would “continue down this progressive This is the first time however that Will Moy reflected that this case and responsible road”, urging it to it was geared towards a specific cam- was “difficult as Burma pays little “look beyond immediate financial fac- paign. Tim Austin, who is on heed to external criticism. But the tors and give due priority and recogni- CUAI’s executive committee, com- fact that Burma now faces hassle from tion to environmental considerations.” mented, “in the past the Cage event ASEAN (Association of South East Currently, less than 3% of the UK’s was a little vague and didn’t make it Asian Nations) and that it is an energy is supplied from sustainable clear exactly what we do. But this unstable military regime gives sources. The government has set a tar- year we wanted to both raise Amnesty hope that the current situa- get of 10% by 2010. Amnesty’s profile and involve all tion of grave human rights abuse can Tom Kingsley members of the community in the be resolved.” The Burmese Prime fight against human rights abuses”. Minister was arrested last week. CUAI collected 1,359 signatures last weekend in support of Min Ko Naing

6 ARCHITECTURE ANALYSIS October 15, 2004 www.varsity.co.uk

Eric Parry- Principal Dan Changer and Why it matters: Luke McLaren - Joseph Bedford - of Eric Parry Mike Gibson - 5th ARCSOC President Graduated in 2003 from the archi- Architects Year Diploma tecture society It is quite probable that the That the General Board has recom- The Diploma course has Universities should be places where University is unaware of the impact mend closure of the Department of been at the forefront of we consider universal questions. They that the closure of the Department Architecture is only public confirma- architectural education for expose students to broader concerns Fundamentally important to the dis- of Architecture at Cambridge will tion of a situation the students were 50 years. The announce- before being cast into a complex and cussion about closing the Department of have. In the longer term there is no already familiar with. This is not news ment of the suspension of the Diploma contingent world and asked to make Architecture is the question of research. doubt that the culture of the built that needs to be sensationalised. The course in 2003 sent shockwaves judgements that affect so many peo- Cambridge University exists primarily as environment in this country will be department is entering an exciting through the architectural community. ple’s lives. I am no longer able to do the a centre of excellence for academic badly undermined and it is there- period of change and has taken meas- Our department is not alone in the m.phil and PhD course which would research. The university General Board fore not just a parochial university ures to ensure its continued status as an struggle against quantitative research have been a chance to consider the have made no secret of the fact that their issue but one of national impor- integral and unique part of university assessments both in the architectural deeper philosophical and ethical recommendation to close the tance. It has uncomfortable echoes life. Personnel have already been re- world and within other Cambridge dimensions of Architecture before Department of Architecture is directly of the closure of the Bauhaus by shuffled to manoevoure the depart- departments. Whilst other universities being thrown to a world of market linked to the research rating of ‘4’ it the Dessau Parliament in 1932. It ment into a strong position for pre- such as UCL have underwritten their forces, regulations and planning policy. received in 2001. would be wise of the General senting its case to the General Board post-graduate rchitecture courses, we I am saddened that the University As a world leading institution, Board to raise its head above the on December 8th. The suggestion of feel disappointed that the General views Architecture only as a ‘bricks and Cambridge expects all of its research parapet of its financial strictures closure is not one we are willing to Board cannot see the value in a depart- mortar’ subject, that it’s somehow not departments to achieve a minimum and look at what impact this deci- consider. The department will contin- ment that actively fuses humanities ‘academic’ enough. Why is it that other RAE rating of ‘5’. Given that the sion will have judged by the ue to offer the best architectural educa- and sciences, and instead are pre-occu- leading research institutions such as General Board has not recommended accomplishments of thealumni of tion in the country. Students for the pied with assessments that do not take Harvard, Yale and Princeton, consider any other departments for closure, one the Department. 2005/06 academic year will be accept- account of the heart of the subject. We Architecture to be a central discipline would assume that no others had been ed as usual. It is sad that the university have no doubt that the department will within the University? It would be rated ‘4’, but this is not the case. Eric Parry studied and has taught does not recognize one of the jewels in play a leading role in the re-invention very sad indeed if this course of action Architectural Research Quarterly, an at the Department of Architechture its own crown, but there is a huge voice of architectural education as it did in was being taken without a proper independent publication, asserts that ‘the and is now Principal of Eric Parry of opinion growing- one which knows the 50’s and we look forward to the re- understanding of the long term value RAE has driven a wedge between teach- Architects in London. the effect any closure would have on introduction of the post-graduate the department has in the wider archi- ing and research…Worst, it seems to be the built environment of the future. courses in the near future. tectural community. threatening to divide the science from the art of architecture.’ There is no clear- er statement that such a multidiscipli- nary subject as architecture is unques- tionably suffering under these restrictive Needing structural support means of research evaluation. “The Research Assesment has driven a wedge between teaching and research”

“Many of Cambridge’s buildings have been designed by Cambridge architecture alumni and the department continues to have a considerable influence on the way the city looks” Research funding works on the basis designers on the panel. Additionally, ment receives £2400. Including compo- There is a danger here that student that for each project submitted for ANALYSIS RAE panels are obliged to take advice sition fees, this leaves the department bodies separate from the department assessment, the associated department from international referees. Although 6 with £3400 for each student, whilst the could sensationalise these concerns for receives a financial lump sum from the JAMES DACRE international referees were appointed by resources required for teaching students their own benefit. For CUSU must raise government. It would therefore seem the panel, they only saw a tiny proportion amount to around £10, 000. The awareness of the problems besetting the logical to submit all departmental of the submissions, made no valid com- department survives through the money department and encourage pronounced research projects to secure maximum ments and changed no ratings. Five of the it makes from research; it is dependent student resistance to its closure; for them funding. Unfortunately, departments ambridge will seriously damage seven 5 star rated Universities in the upon the RAE. The department lost a to be the centre of the campaign could be are increasingly concerned about their her academic reputation, and country had full-time members of staff on potential £400, 000 by being graded at 4 detrimental to its cause; people often RAE score, and only submit their best Crisks jeopardising the teaching of the judging panel. instead of 5. The council of the School jump from a sinking ship.This is why we candidates to ensure a ‘5’ or better Architecture as a subject across Britain, Of the nine British universities grad- of Arts and Humanities must help the have chosen not to run with a “disaster” research rating. It is unfortunate that if, on December 8th, she chooses to pro- ed above Cambridge by the RAE, only faculty for the next 3 years, to make up emblazoned front page. such politically motivated decisions ceed with proposals to close the Cardiff, Bath and Sheffield offer for the deficit until the next REA report The department contributes hugely are denying the university of increased Department of Architecture. All current Architecture. Furthermore, in the inter- is published. In 2008 the department to the infrastructure of university life in government funding. anxieties about the future of ests of fair assessment, Cambridge made will be assessed under the category of a way that few others are able to. There The list of departments to have Architecture at Cambridge began in the unnecessary mistake of submitting “Architecture and the Built is a huge degree of cross-pollination taken this precaution is surprising: 2001 when HEFCE graded the depart- all of their staff for review. The hope was Environment.” This will constitute a between the department’s resources and genetics, veterinary science, computer ment with four out of an expected five that the more they submitted, the more significant change. university life and Architects are science, economics, english…the list points in a Research Assessment funding they would receive. Bath only New department head Echenique is trained to be able to offer unique design goes on. Their decision to omit weak- Exercise (RAE). Despite this, the submitted 4 of their 13 research staff. So, keenly aware of the importance of teach- skills to the University. This very week er research projects from the RAE research performance of the when broken down, Cambridge poten- ing, and assured me that ‘We are not a a space is being designed for the assessment is reflected in their ‘B’ rat- Department of Architecture is in the top tially only ranks second, behind Cardiff, pure research institution; this is an educa- Student Art Exhibition by a group of ing for ‘proportion of staff selected’. It ten percent of the UK. A number of in this review. tional institution and we will protect that architects, plays are being produced that does, however, mean that they have other departments in the University, For Cambridge to cease to run the at all costs. The Undergraduate will not are designed by architects, the depart- avoided pressure from the General including Physiology and ‘Politics and course would be a statement of defeat suffer.’ The RAE has done everything ment is hosting three unique seminar Board. The Department of International Studies’ received the same likely to cause a domino effect through- possible to tear apart research and teach- lectures and two new websites have Architecture, having submitted all of score, but have not been threatened with out the country. The Department of ing. In some universities these have been been launched, all by undergraduates. its research, rated ‘A’. The assumption closure. Architecture must not be made Architecture is not alone in its problems split into completely different units. At Many of Cambridge’s buildings have is that the General Board are content an example of, nor neglected, as no real regarding research. It is the smallest Cambridge, there has been a crisis of alle- been designed by Cambridge architec- to allow some departments to with- problem with its academic profile exists. department in the country and without giance, with staff attempting to balance ture alumni and the department con- hold sub-standard research from The RAE is widely thought to fail in the subsidies and infrastructure of bigger teaching alongside research and being tinues to have a considerable influence being assessed, yet jump on others try- it duty to fairly assess subjects that can- departments it is only natural that it is the stretched too thin. on the way the city looks. ing to secure further government not be clearly classed as either Arts or first to encounter these problems. The Vice-Chancellor, Alison Richard, There is no significant reason why funding. How does the General Board Sciences. Architecture is by definition an The Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor told me of the importance of being “as the Architecture Department cannot explain a clear prejudice in whom it inter-disciplinary academic method; a Cliff ’s statement suggests the department open and candid as possible,” about the survive and prosper. The closure of any decides to close down? mother to the arts and sciences. faces problems on “academic, not finan- state of the department. Recent events department would be highly detrimen- Nationally, the problem is only HEFCE fails to provide a category for cial grounds.” He doesn’t explain the have been so secretive that the Head of tal to the reputation of the University intensified. The department is not the assessment of Architectural depart- implications of the University cutting the Department didn’t know about a vital and the reputation of the staff in the alone in struggling to be recognised for ments nationwide, and so the subject is department’s budget. This ultimately led press release until after it had been pub- department. The closure of the depart- the varied research it carries out. bundled in under the assessment catego- to a depletion of non-teaching research lished. Now, a number of Director’s of ment would be an obvious sign of weak- Architecture is bundled in under the ry of ‘built environment,’ which is dom- staff, as the department didn’t want to Architectural Studies proved ignorant to ness that would deprive the Higher assessment category of ‘Built inated by construction and surveying compromise its teaching standards. the happenings. Professor Cliff ’s state- education sector and the Architectural Environment’ and, quite apart from courses. Architectural research is conse- Alison Richard conceded to me that ment was only released by the University industry of a centre of teaching that is competing with other architecture quently directly compared to quantitive “financial concerns are part of the overall Press department following the intrusive undeniably at the forefront of its profes- schools, it has the unenviable task of scientific research. concern.” A very senior departmental fig- interests of a national newspaper into the sion. It is because of a legacy of poor measuring up against institutions that Of the 11 members of the 2001 ‘Built ure confirmed that ‘It is very clearly a state of the department. There seems to support and a confusion of priorities exist purely on a quantitative research Environment’ panel that assessed the question of money.’ be a crisis of confidence amongst students from the University that the department basis. These are not reasonable architecture department, only two had The university receives £3800 from and staff alike that must be calmed so that is in this supposed crisis. The university grounds on which to make compar- interests focused on architectural HEFCE for each architectural student a careful and united strategy of response management have a duty to sustain the isons, both within Cambridge and research. There were no practicing here. Of that, the Architecture depart- can be established. department until the next RAE report. throughout the UK.

www.varsity.co.uk October 29, 2004 OPINION 9

“Nepotism is not Oxbridge Wars unlike sleeping Our correspondent from with your cousin” the Other Place, Jamie AC

Rann, wonders if we’re Berwick really so very different have always imagined A C Berwick (to refer to myself in the third per- I son for a moment) as the archetypal i - I just got back from beneath contempt, or, as patriotic working-class hero, the happy-go-lucky Oxbridge University.” Oxonians have suggested, are you too maverick ragamuffin living off his rogu- So said Halle Berry’s dumb to invent one? (Fordies? Oxes? ish wit and dashing good looks alone. doe-eyed (albeit One can see, on reflection, why you Arriving to chance his arm in “Hintermittently fat-thighed) predeces- wouldn’t bother). Cambridge, he assumed that nepotism sor as Catwoman, Alicia Silverstone, in Where could such a complex come wasn’t for the likes of him, the down- the unremittingly awful Batman and from? Why, it’s the league tables, stupid. trodden boy from the mean streets of Robin. But even in a film that bad - We are constantly reminded that we are Chelmsford. How wrong he was. why Oxbridge? Why couldn’t they lagging behind. But perhaps it goes fur- In Cambridge, nepotism is a way of choose one or the other? Were Varsity ther back than that: Robert Hooke was life, disarmingly egalitarian, and by no lobbyists campaigning for equal repre- great but no Isaac Newton; Shelley means limited to those with four ini- sentation? Or is it simply because to good, Byron better; and whilst Roger tials, a trust fund and a lazily-stereo- the rest of the world Oxford and Bannister certainly ran very fast, Crick typed first name. Nepotism is for all, Cambridge are identical? and Watson discovered the basis of rich or poor; good, bad or ugly. Well, After all, barring minor and obsolete human existence. Bastards. not ugly. (Don’t you just loathe ugly distinguishing features - for Oxford people? So selfish. Always ruining per-

Brideshead, for Cambridge gay spies - ve fectly good photos.) hi they are, essentially, the same university till, for us Oxonians there are rea- c I can’t imagine how I ever lived with- out nepotism. Why advertise any kind of in two places at once. Like the sons, more and less plausible, to be y ar Scandinavians, Oxbridgeans are so fix- cheerful. Cambridge’s recent position, and risk that you will end up

S arsit

ated on their own differences that they higher academic profile has predictably V with some drooling idiot, when you can can’t see no-one knows or cares which is led to Oxford students seeing it as hard- Bosh! But the well-reputed rivalry’s hard to find outside the sporting arena get somebody good to do it? If they are which. This is not a call to arms (clois- er working. Even physicists here can be your friend, why, all the better: you can tered geeks of the world unite! You have heard to say of Cambridge that “it’s a bit when placed alongside the fact that pride is merely something freshers pick guarantee you’ll get on. Nepotism’s the nothing to lose but your virginity), but a sciencey there, isn’t it?” Oxford sees fewer Cambridge students live out, cre- up in their first term because they most friendly way of conducting busi- question: if each university is the same, itself under an oak in summer leafing ates the impression that life at Oxford is remember seeing the boat race once, ness: you want to have as many friends as why can students at each list hundreds through Ulysses, while Cambridge toils that little bit closer to life at a ‘normal’ and like the idea of belonging. possible to help you get that spot as head of reasons why theirs is far superior? diligently over a Bunsen burner. university. That, and the fact that you It really is trying too hard, like wear- of the Chipmunk Players/Wombat But I say this with a nagging worry. I The most common Oxford response don’t engage in the Oxford religion of ing one of those tourist-friendly hood- Drinking Society, and in return you worry that I am preaching to the con- to Cambridge is that the university is darts. What a bunch of losers. ies, emblazoned with your university’s receive the adulation of all the eager verted. I worry that the good people of fine but the town is a bit of a village. Nevertheless, beneath all this postur- name. And this half-arsed rivalry is still prospective Wombats/Chipmunks in Cambridge do not take such vitriolic This has more bite: though I applaud ing, most students can remember the subordinate to that between some col- order that they can join in the fun once glee from victory in the Varsity shove Varsity’s campaign to save Gardies, that time when they chose between Oxford leges: the high street here regularly you are at the top. With all of this con- ha’penny. I worry, in short, that Oxford sort of thing just would not be necessary and Cambridge. If they are honest, echoes to drunken cries of “I’d rather go geniality being spread around like muck has an inferiority complex. This com- in busy Oxford - I can see three kebab they’ll remember that, unless they were to Cambridge than to Queens.” Outside on the spring fields, it is almost possible plex manifests itself chiefly in the jingo- shops from my bedroom window. studious enough to know what their the heated rivalry of Blues’ shove to forget that you don’t really like anyone istic and incestuous world of student Perhaps, though, this is a lazy steeww- course contained, there was not much ha’penny, or the bitter rancour of defeat apart from yourself. journalism. Headlines such as “Tabs dent point of comparison, so let’s wheel between them. I for one (don’t tell my in Varsity elephant polo, the truth is - Of course in an ideal world we would trounced” are not uncommon. What out the big guns. The Bodleian’s a better tutors) plumped for Oxford because of no one really cares that much these all be friends with everyone, and so concerns me is less that particular bit of library than yours, the Ashmolean a that exotic and slightly louche ‘x’ lurking days. You Tabs are all right by me. nepotism would be irrelevant. However, clumsy alliteration than the fact that we better museum, and we have a decent in the name. Frankly, if there were a inevitably, some people insist on being have a derogatory word for you, and you modern art spot. So there. This sense of university in Ashby-de-la-Zouche, I’d The author is in his third year at losers (generally the ugly people, bitter do not seem to need one for us. Are we Cambridge’s parochialism, in particular probably be there. A sense of university University College, Oxford because everyone used to cut them out of their photos in high school), and so we must accept that they will object to nepotism. Perhaps if they spent less time moaning about never having fun and more time drinking then they could get I’d vote Kerry, but I’m not writing any letters about it involved as well. Because, you see, secretly everyone administration may be bombastic, but I can think of nothing more likely to competed to see whose cheeks could aspires to be the head of the Wombats, they have been stung badly by events in enrage me than someone I don’t know glow the most effulgently scarlet in their whether they admit it to themselves or the Middle East, and will think long and earnestly suggesting that I vote a certain fulmination. not: this is, after all, how success is Jonathan hard before any further foreign capers. way for the good of mankind. The The Guardian is an intelligent and measured in Cambridge, and the only Conversely, a Democrat victory (headed Guardian argued that it would be “spec- provocative read. Its problem, which has basis upon which people like the by a half-Jew and staunch supporter of tacularly patronising” to suggest that emerged in this instance, is that it wants Varsity editor can claim to be celebri- Beckman Israel) is hardly likely to convince Osama Ohioan voters were so flammable that to matter. The liberal Guardian reader- ties, a trend that appears to be some- Bin-Laden to retire to Bexhill-on-Sea they would vote for one party if someone ship are generally middle-class, comfort- what en vogue. (Incidentally, could I for a few hands of bridge and regular wrote to them advising the opposite. able and satisfied but with an admirable have your autograph please, Archie? ext Tuesday is the most impor- dialysis. I suppose it’s not spectacularly patron- pang of conscience about the obvious Cheers.) No-one ever seems to object tant day in the history of the The Guardian, which can always be ising to inform Americans that foreign inequality around them. The letter-writ- to nepotism on purely moral grounds; Nworld. Ever. Listening to left- relied on for a blast of liberal piety, was so policy decisions made by their President ing initiative was an attempt by the paper complaints come from the slighted leaning demagoguery, a stark picture worried about a Bush victory, though, might, conceivably, have consequences to tell its readership that they were sig- and the excluded, but not the morally emerges: if George W. Bush is victorious that it encouraged readers to write letters for people throughout the world. But nificant and could save the world from superior. In this respect, nepotism is in the USA general election, the world, to undecided voters in the swing-state of hey, don’t we all know that all Yanks evil. Finally the rank odour of guilt not unlike sleeping with your cousin. gloomy with smog pumped from the oil Ohio. Though scrupulously balanced in think that abroad is a myth, and Iraq is would be expunged from the sweet smell The only ones who object are those refineries of venal and portly moneybags, its presentation, it was obvious, as the an uppity island off the coast of Alaska? of success. that got knocked back. will inevitably be plunged into a terrify- sample missives showed, that most Floating voters don’t wobble because Instead, the correspondents mean- And yet we should hate nepotism, ing Hades. Rivers of blood will flow would urge support for Kerry. they are stupid or uninformed. Most dered through personal anecdote, senti- for it represents the start of a life that from mountains of bodies, and so on. The response seems to have taken the people are never going to be able to align mentality and abuse, unable to avoid will be wonderfully comfortable – by A win for John Kerry, on the other instigators by surprise. The Guardian was all of their views with the position of one arrogance and condescension. I hope that third year there is no need to venture hand, will bring light, love, peace, joy, deluged with replies pointing out that of the two parties. When people vote Kerry wins on November 2nd; but I also off the well-trodden path from the bright copper kettles, warm woollen mit- Britain was an insignificant latrine, they choose which issues matter most for know that my hopes are insignificant, college bar to Cindy’s – but irre- tens and brown paper packages tied up known only for castles and bad teeth. them. But in the Guardian piece, in place and that Americans will choose what deemably dull. When was the last time with string. I’m not so sure: both parties, Even Democrats Abroad pointed out the of any nuanced political analysis, John Le they think is best for them. And if they you met someone who really surprised however reluctantly, will be stuck in Iraq detrimental effect of such epistolary Carré and Richard Dawkins (who get it wrong, it won’t matter that much you? Think about it: maybe it’s time for a long time to come. The Bush advice on the Kerry campaign. labelled Bush a “smirking gunslinger”) anyway. you started getting out less. 10 OPINION October 22, 2004 www.varsity.co.uk .com ry 11-12 Trumpington Street Cambridge CB2 1QA

johnker 01223 353422 Editor Archie Bland [email protected]

Deputy Editor Amol Rajan [email protected]

Online Editor Sam Richardson [email protected]

Arts Editors Henry Bowen Oliver Tilley [email protected]

Photos Editors Fiona Symington Albert Mockel- Von-Dem-Bussche [email protected]

Chief News Editor James Dacre News Editors Charlotte Forbes Chine Mbubaegbu Sarah Marsh Lucy Phillips [email protected]

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Science Editor Krystyna Larkham [email protected]

Interviews Editor Ronojoy Dam “This newspaper doesn’t have a vote, but it has its fingers well and truly crossed”. [email protected]

Travel Editor Michael Fordham [email protected]

Idler Editor Oliver Batham Why aren’t there any [email protected] Theatre Editor Alice Harper [email protected]

Republicans in New York? Music Editors Ned Beauman Jessica Holland It may be a 50-50 nation, but in the city that never sleeps, Bush is a dirty word [email protected] Classical Editor Nicola Simpson have a new ambition. I’ve been An article last Sunday by Ron [email protected] in New York now for nearly Suskind in The New York Times has three weeks, and I still haven’t Tim Sowula: become the talk of the town. Suskind Film Editors Agata Belcen met a Republican. I’ve been out “You know what says that in 2002 Mark McKinnon, a Lucy Styles andI about, and met a lot of people, senior media advisor to Bush, tried to [email protected] NY but not a single person I’ve spoken to, these folks don’t explain to Suskind the Republicans’ from lawyers to cabbies to policemen position on this: “Let me clue you in. Literature Editor Rachel Willcock like? They don’t Cantab to anyone, has had admitted to sup- We don’t care. You see, you’re [the [email protected] porting the Grand Old Party. This is like you! anti-Bush brigade] outnumbered 2 to partly because New York, as a state, is ” 1 by folks in the big, wide middle of Visual Arts Editor Sophie Priestley a Democrat dead-cert, so the America, busy working people who [email protected] Republicans haven’t bothered to don’t read The New York Times or campaign very much. But I’d still like of fun, remember – for Kerry to win clustered around the Great Lakes (plus Washington Post or The L.A. Times. Fashion Editors Sally Jennings to meet one – you know, see what every vote cast in California, New New Mexico, which Gore won by 365 And you know what they like? They Johanna Z-Sharp they’re like, measure their skull size, York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, out of 550,000) would be coloured like the way he walks and the way he [email protected] that sort of thing. lose the states of Texas, Ohio,North blue for the Democrats, and every- points, the way he exudes confidence. On the other hand, my workplace Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Indiana, thing in the substantial middle, the They have faith in him. And when Sport Editor Adam Edelshain hosts a constant stream of email ban- and Tennessee, by one vote each, and ‘heartland’, would be red for the you attack him for his malaprops, his [email protected] ter which is decidedly anti-Dubya. therefore come away with 24.5 mil- Republicans. The rural heartland is jumbled syntax, it’s good for us. Someone yesterday sent a message to lion more votes than Bush, and yet what counts for Bush, and, quite right- Because you know what those folks Sub Editors Abi O’Reilly the whole office which advertised only win 126 electoral votes compared ly, the voters there have just as much a don’t like? They don’t like you!” John Howlett George Bush toilet paper, and debate to Bush’s 129. right to choose the President as their This got me thinking. I’m con- Laura Whittle commenced over whether we should more cosmopolitan fellow-citizens up stantly comparing stuff to good old get it for the staff toilets. In all the I’ve been in New on the edges. Blighty, and in a way, the Republicans Production Managers Ifti Qurashi little shops lining 5th Avenue, “ remind me of Millwall F.C. Very few David Wyatt traders are making a mint with anti- York for three weeks ut because of the now stark people know a Millwall fan, as they Bush paraphernalia. He’s not very and I still haven’t ideological differences between tend to remain in their ‘heartland’ of Business Manager Eve Williams popular here. Bthe two candidates, this has south-east London. They play dirty, [email protected] But the scary thing is, it really does- become more than just a vote to and their fans will stop at very little to n’t matter. Kerry will win the State of met a Republican decide the next American President. win a fight. Their mission in to ” Email the business manager to enquire New York, and the Republicans don’t A tension is beginning to emerge Europe this season was a disaster. about placing adverts. Letters for publication give a monkey’s. Because of the elec- There are only eight states left now between the two sides of America, They’ve got a moronic manager, who should be emailed or posted to the editor. toral college system, the national pop- which are still considered in the bal- and because both passionate used to drink too much, has a habit of ular vote is technically irrelevant. Each ance, and both the Democrats and Democrats and Republican now real- saying the wrong thing, but is ultra- To get involved in a section, email the rel- evant section editor listed above, and come state has a certain number of ‘electors’, Republicans are concentrating all their ly don’t like each other, a slightly hos- passionate. And their theme tune is along to a meeting. No experience necessary. dependent on its population. There are resources there. So for Bush it’s unim- tile atmosphere has become apparent. ‘No One Likes Us, We Don’t Care’. 538 ‘electors’ in the College, and to portant whether I wipe my arse on his A friend told me, quite seriously, that See the similarity? Varsity is published by Varsity Productions become President, you need to have face next week or not. New York’s she wouldn’t feel comfortable being in However, Millwall aren’t looking Ltd, and printed by Cambridge Evening News. All copyright is the exclusive property 270 of them. But you only need a never particularly been worth his a room full of Bush supporters. Some too good this season, whereas the of Varsity Publications Ltd. No part of this majority of 1 vote to win the whole efforts. Because of demographic people I’ve met here, highly educated, Republicans F.C. have taken the game publication is to be reproduced, stored in a state, so if Kerry wins New York by 1 quirks, if you look at a map of America well travelled, wise and witty, all say to penalties. To famously quote Brian retrieval system or transmitted in any form or or 6.5million, he’ll still get 33 electors. based on which state voted for Bush or they genuinely can’t understand why Moore, “it’s up for grabs now!”. And by any means, without prior permission of the (Peter Snow mode now). It’s tech- Gore in 2000, all the north-eastern anyone would vote for Bush. whatever happens, half the ground will publisher. nically possible – and this is just a bit states, the west-coast states, and those But they can puzzle all they like. go home very disappointed. www.varsity.co.uk October 29, 2004 EDITORIAL 11

Letters [email protected] Letters may be edited for space or style.

Character in Bloom Dear Sir, from competitive rowing. Ms Day con- President past cludes that the crews return home "with You may not have noticed it, but when much work to do." And so farewell, Ribu. A stormy passage in the Graduate Union’s Sir: enough people think you are famous (and otherwise obscure history seems to have come to a close, in extreme- write about it in newspapers), then you The only work these men are likely to ly sad fashion. Whilst this situation is in large part the result of poor Whatever the truth is about Rebecca are. This holds even if your supervisors do be doing is in City offices. A more inter- decision-making in the short term, it is nevertheless clear, as one Bowtell’s allegations of sexual harassment not recognise you anymore. esting story for Ms Day to report is the attendee pointed out at last night’s meeting, that the GU would be against Godfrey Bloom, what comes victory of the real Cambridge crew in in dire straits whoever was in charge. Tharakan should not be vili- across quite strongly in your interview Best regards, Boston, USA, on October 24. In the fied after his difficult period in office, and it is to be hoped that this (News, 22nd Oct) is what an unpleasant annual Head of the Charles regatta, separation of ways will be for the good of all concerned. person he is. To vow to be ‘a complete, Sebastian Raedler Cambridge soundly beat the Olympic sil- So much for this unhappy narrative: the GU must now look for- total 18 carat bastard’ rather than simply Hughes Hall ver medallist Dutch eight and every US ward. Unfortunately, the view is not a particularly encouraging one. to uphold the truth (even Jonathan university crew in attendance. There is, understandably, a conspicuous absence of enthusiastic Aitken could manage that, albeit in the applicants to fill the departing president’s shoes. David Riley, who most flowery way imaginable) is childish Poetry made plain Yours sincerely, tabled the motion of no confidence, has had trouble convincing and unguarded. many that he has no interest in the post, and he may well emerge as Wayne Pommen the inevitable replacement; but at the moment he insists he does not Similarly, attacks on Ms Bowtell’s char- Dear Sir, CUBC President 2003-2004 (Ret.) wish to become president, and if he means it, the options look rather acter (Isn’t the type of Christianity she sparse. This leaves the GU in something of a quandary. Getting rid practises irrelevant? One of those girls from The much-needed coverage of one of of presidents, and dismissing ideas, is all very well; replacing them a school where they let in people with C Cambridge's many poetry readings in successfully is a different order of task altogether. grades? What?) show a very mean-spirited, your paper this week (Literature, October Union debate Meanwhile, CUSU continues to insist it has no interest in taking and, might I venture, defensive attitude. 22nd) was wholly undermined by your over the organisation. Wes Streeting was at last night’s meeting, but correspondents' patronizing and narrow- he had his neutral cap on. No-one would be very surprised, though, Of course Mr Bloom is hurt by these minded attitudes. Sir, if the GU had moved considerably closer to its bigger sibling in the allegations, particularly if they are untrue. not-so-distant future. The ideal is clearly for the GU to run its own But the way he has reacted in this particular Rachel Willcock's article makes direct Last week's Varsity editorial, "incom- affairs autonomously, but if it is incapable of doing so – and it will situation, even without considering his infa- links between the English Faculty and patible truths", seemed to unfairly suggest take a President of superhuman administrative capabilities, or, bet- mous comments about women and women’s poetry readings, even poetry production, that the Cambridge Union was doing its ter still, a sabbatical staff – a merger, or something like it, begins to rights in the past, make me very unlikely to yet she does nothing to refute endemic best to stir up controversy over the appear inevitable. Graduates have inevitably different priorities to support him. Mr Bloom is only undermin- prejudice towards arts students by role- Godfrey Bloom affair. I invited Bloom to the main student body, and there seems no straightforward answer ing himself – this situation would be far playing for her friend's entertainment. speak on the Europeean Constitution at as to how a common organisation will effectively represent both of better resolved for him if he remained quiet the Union during the summer, many these interests when they clash, as they inevitably will. and tactful. Thoughtless, poorly researched and months before the Rebecca Bowtell scan- But these are questions for another day. For now, all those groundless analysis of poetry does indeed dal emerged - any suggestion that the involved can at least breathe a sigh of relief that this dismal busi- Gloria Dawson confirm Olly Buxton’s lazy stereotype of Union asked him to debate as a reaction ness is concluded, for better or worse, and, perhaps, reflect: if one Emmanuel College English students as 'pretentious bullshit- to the press coverage he received due to of the chief problems the GU faced was lack of publicity, it can ters'. No one would argue that all poetry Bowtell's allegations is simply untrue. make no such complaints now. Whoever succeeds Tharakan will is equal, 'good' or even engaging, but the be on a very public stage indeed. Dear Sir, almost banal symmetry in these articles Yours, shows a lack of independent thought. Rebecca Bowtell has had a terrible time Bobby Friedman recently, and it seems wholly undeserved. The merit in poetry readings is that you President, Cambridge Union President future Above all, her treatment at the hands of the may be provoked, enthralled or repulsed Cambridge Women’s Rugby Football Club by poetry you would not otherwise Varsity regrets any misunderstanding, and is A website called editorandpublisher.com is keeping a running tally has been distinctly shabby: one must ques- encounter; you do not go for a pre- glad to acknowledge that the Union invited of newspaper endorsements of the two American presidential can- tion their motivations when so much of Cindies drink. Frankly, to send Buxton to Godfrey Bloom to speak before the Rebecca didates. At the moment, the score stands at 149 for the challenger their income depends on keeping Godfrey a reading by the school of poetry pio- Bowtell incident. If any inference was against 126 for the incumbent, and, in circulation terms, 17.7 mil- Bloom - who, on the evidence of your inter- neered by Prynne (and charted in these drawn to the contrary, it was not intended. lion to 11.11 million. This is a significant margin, and this particu- view, is not a particularly pleasant character very pages just last term), is as presump- lar battle is probably a) already won for Kerry, and b) of no great sig- - onside. Whatever finally emerges from tuous as an arts student arriving at the nificance, except as a matter of wonkish interest; still, we hope he this case, there are those who have cause to engineering faculty, a glass of wine the will be pleased to learn (as he presumably will) that Varsity is put- be ashamed of their lack of support for Miss worse for wear, and expecting to gain Har(r?)assment ting its full weight – and influence with its readership of 15,600, no Bowtell - but seems unlikely they will ever from going to a Part II structures lecture. fewer than a few of whom are American, and might even vote – acknowledge this. behind the Democratic bid for the White House. Willcock is quite right that there is a Dear Sir, This will probably come to no great surprise to anyone with a pass- Yours sincerely market for 'high brow literary events' in ing familiarity with Cambridge demographics. If the US electorate Cambridge, and if she wishes to hear Where you had ‘harassment’ in your front was composed sheerly of British undergraduates, the margin would be Neil Gregory more 'narrative poetry' she might do well page headline, TCS had ‘harrassment’. a resounding one. Apologies, then, if this is predictable; apologies, Selwyn College to go to narrative poetry readings, or even Which is it? I think we should be told. too, if you think this isn’t our remit. open a popular anthology. Newspapers - even those written by and for The thing is, even if it’s a cry into the void, it’s hard to ignore the students - remain among the last bastions of issue. There are those, like our columnist Jon Beckman, who assert Cambridge Celebrity Well done for undermining the status our fne language, and I am keen for you and that this election isn’t actually all that significant, because even if of poetry, English students and even the your staff to retain an acute perception of Kerry does win he’ll be stuck in Iraq with no hope of a quick exit, and new faculty building in one fell swoop - your responsibiities in this area. a likely Republican majority in the Senate will limit his room for Dear Sir, but then maybe I'm just being an over- Orwell wrote in 1942 of the decline of the maneouvre on domestic policy too. Well, it’s hard to argue, when the analytical English student - we're all just English language. He suggested that in ideological chasm is so deep, and so wide, that there won’t be palpa- I must commend you for last week's hysterical beret-wearing wannabes any- times of war, when the very fabric of civili- ble differences in policy on issues as diverse as stem cell research and article ‘The cult of Cambridge celebrity is way. sations are being threatened by hostile ene- the budget deficit – but even if this were the case, this election would simply a fantasy’, (Opinion, Oct 22) mies, the media, with their tendency for still matter. It would matter because Kerry’s election would give which was not only correct, but also Yours, sensationalism, facilitate a cultural disregard America some kind of clean slate with the many nations it has alien- excellently written. As Varsity editor how- for the rules of grammar, spelling and syn- ated in the past four years. It would matter because Kerry is a leader ever, you are central to the machine that Celia Davidson tax. These are times of war, and I hope that who might respect the fundamental importance of the separation of feeds this damp hysteria. Queens' College your writers and headline-conjurers do not church and state. It would matter because it would demonstrate that play a part in spreading what I consider to you can’t rely on lies, and scare-mongering, and lazy stereotyping, as a The ludicrous "Varsity Power 100" of be a most virulent disease. Our language is surefire election winner. It would matter because – last year was bad enough, but now I see Merrily down the stream at stake. There isn’t space. George W Bush’s record, in the words of the New you are rolling out a new initiative, "The Yorker, which has endorsed a candidate for the first time in its illustri- Varsity Talent List", for which a full-page Yours &c ous history, ‘has been one of failure, arrogance, and incompetence’. advertisement appeared on page 17. I can Dear Sir, Above all, when faced with a defining moment in his country’s histo- only assume that it will be similar, and Allen A.Johns ry and offered the chance to use it to unite the nation, and indeed the worse. Are you not fanning the flames of I read with amusement Olivia Day's Fitzwilliam College world, around a set of common ideals which might have helped forge the very absurdity you so elegantly lightly researched article on the Oxford- a better future, the president chose instead to go down a calamitous satirised? Cambridge rowing trip to Zambia earlier unilateralist path which has created the bitterest ideological divisions this month (Sport, October 22). The This week’s prize winner in American history, and done terrible damage to his country’s reputa- Yours faithfully, British crews attending the regatta were is the uncomfortably tion as a defender of freedom. George W. Bush has made the world a not "the" Oxford and Cambridge crews, accurate Jonny Mather, more dangerous place, not a safer one. There can be few bitterer or Jonny Mather but rather were made up of CUBC and who wins two tickets to more compelling indictments of this administration’s catastrophic fail- Girton College OUBC alumni, most of whom are retired the Arts Picturehouse. ures, both of competence and of conscience. This newspaper doesn’t have a vote, but it has its fingers well and truly crossed. You and us. A winning partnership for an outstanding career.

UBS invites all students interested in pursuing an exciting and rewarding career in financial services to join us for events during the Michaelmas Te r m .

Sales & Trading Skills Session Recruiter's Drop-in Session 3 November, 2.00pm - 3.00pm, Mill Lane Lecture Theatre 4 November, 2.00pm - 4.00pm, 2nd Floor, South Granta Place

G A M P r e s e n t a t i o n IBD Case Study with Cambridge Future s 3 November, 5.00pm, GAM Offices, 12 St. James's Place, London 4 November, 6.30pm - 8.30pm, Mong Building, Sidney Sussex College

To learn more about registering for these events and to apply for a position, please visit our website: w w w. u b s . c o m / g r a d u a t e s

© UBS 2004. The key symbol and UBS are registered and unregistered trademarks of UBS. All rights reserved. TRAVEL www.varsity.co.uk October 29, 2004 13 A Small Step to Kyrgyzstan Escape Anil A. Stocker discovers the hidden gem of Central Asia Explore &

lanning a trip to Kyrgyzstan is almost like planning a trip to the Pioneer moon, the only difference being P Ian Ball that most people know more about our lunar neighbour than this young

Central Asian republic. Announcing Adan Edelshain EVERY SUMMER since the early my travel plans met with blank expres- 1950s Cambridge Students have sions, confused attempts to locate the been going to the far flung corners destination and even concerned disap- of the Earth in search of science and proval. Forming part of the Soviet adventure. CU Expeditions Society Union until full independence in (CUEX) is here to help it happen, 1991, this small country now finds offering advice and expertise to help itself tightly squashed between its expeditions become a success. large neighbours Kazakhstan, Expeditions allow you to experi- Uzbekistan, China and Tajikistan, in ence some of the remotest and most what is one of the remotest regions on beautiful corners of the earth. They the planet. offer you an incredible opportunity Bishkek is known as the ‘Garden to gain a deep and fulfilling appre- City’ of Central Asia. Seemingly drab ciation of cultures and ways of life, Soviet-era apartment blocs are smoth- to get to know people who don’t ered by spruce, juniper and nut trees look and think like you, to visit which create a gentler feel, especially places as far as the eye can reach and as the sun shines brightly most days of be inspired by natural wonders and the year. The 800,000 or so population Kyrgyzstan specialises in eco-tourism; by venturing into the mountains on horseback you can truly appreciate its beauty exotic wildlife. are extremely diverse. Not all settled From mountaineering, communi- here of their own accord: a Turkish to foreign conquerors such as in, pay five som (0.05 pence), and tell at 1600 metres above sea level. ty development projects to scientif- taxi driver explained how his family Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan the driver to drop them off wherever Kyrgyzstan specialises in eco- ic research, an expedition can be was ‘picked up’ by Stalin and ‘dumped’ and Timur of Samarkand. they want. There are also trolley-buses tourism, particularly trekking and anything you want it to be. Some here; the Soviet premier similarly relo- The local university students give and taxis, in which you usually have mountaineering. I spent 4 days on expeditions are subject based; others cated part of his German minority to the city a young energetic feel. The the opportunity to practice your basic horseback traversing the high-altitude are pure adventure, such as crossing the region prior to the Second World cafés are filled at lunch time with Russian with the animated characters plateau between Song-Kul Lake and over the centre of Greenland using War, and a number of Koreans also national dishes such as ‘lagman’ (thick behind the wheel. the town of Naryn. The scenery varies kites. Previous projects have been took refuge here to avoid the imperial- noodles served with meat), ‘plov’ (an You soon begin to appreciate how from a tree-less lunar landscape done on high altitude medicine ist Japanese. Uzbek dish of rice and lamb) and far your money goes in a place like around the lake, to steep inclines with research in the Andes, coral The result is a highly tolerant socie- shaslick (grilled meat) in hot demand. this: I had private tennis coaching touches of snow, and then finally research in Fuji, conservation ty which embraces many religions, declines into warmer tree-filled valleys projects in South East Asia and although Muslims are officially in the with the rivers flowing at only a small Rock Art surveys in Lesotho. majority. However, theirs is a looser trickle during the summer. form of Islam than that which exists in “Planning a trip to Kyrgyzstan is like It was with some sadness that I th other parts of the world: hardly any boarded my flight back to the normali- women in the capital wear headscarves planning a trip to the moon, only most ty that is Cambridge. I had only dswor and certain Russian traditions have scratched the surface and am already remained, not only with regard to edu- people know where the moon is“ planning a return trip for next summer. cation and the emancipation of Kyrgyzstan has a lot to offer, especially women, but a hearty toast over a large if you are willing to learn some Russian dinner would not be complete without Road side kiosks sell ‘Komist’- a fer- from the former Kyrgyz national and connect with the students through the swigs of vodka that follow. mented drink from mare’s milk with a champion for 10 dollars an hour, and the universities in Bishkek as well as Matthew Wor Independence has sparked an effort highly unique taste, and ‘Kvas’ – a sta- he quotes his rate as ‘very expensive’. appreciate the countryside. Its manage- to re-establish a coherent national ple drink from the Soviet Union Only by venturing out into the able size makes it a gateway to the rest identity balancing Siberian ancestry derived from bread. countryside do you appreciate the true of the region: who knows, next time I and the legendary Manas who suc- Getting around by ‘marsrutka’ (a beauty of this country. 94% of might take a drive to Almaty, ceeded in driving the Chinese armies minivan turned bus) is highly enter- Kyrgyzstan is mountainous and the Kazakhstan, or a train to Tashkent, back over the Tien Shan mountain taining: locals wave them down at any second largest alpine lake, Issyk-Kul, Uzbekistan. Forget the moon, the true range, with long periods of submission point along the route, cram themselves can be found in the east of the country adventure is in Central Asia… As a student expedition you potentially have access to many funding sources; make good use of them while you can. Once your expedition has been approved by the Cambridge Expeditions Committee, you are entitled to privileges such as The Kenya Project: a different style of travel charitable status and the CUEX medical scheme. Tom Ebbutt catch the night bus to the next back- ly sit here and quote them at length We aim to make sure that every packer hostel, you stop, shop at the but I would just be shamelessly expedition goes out with the appro- am firmly of the belief that there market and bargain for a chicken. pulling heart strings, so in return for priate skill set for a successful expe-

are two very different types of I say to the next backpackers’ hostel sparing you that, I hope you see what im Button dition. Most expeditions have a Itravel experiences. but if you choose your destination I mean. T medical officer, and he or she will The first takes place as you skim well there won’t be one. Over the past There are benefits from any sort of normally attend the Royal across a country, or quite often a con- two summers (yes, this is the bit travel for those that you visit. To take Geographical Society (RGS) tinent, stopping to take pictures where I declare my vested interest) one example, the Nepali economy wilderness medicine training whenever the Lonely Planet decrees I’ve spent 3 months up in the high- relies (post-Maoists perhaps relied?) course. and mixing mainly with those who are lands of south west Kenya in and almost solely on tourist dollars and It doesn’t matter if you’ve never from roughly the same background as around a town called Kisii working for welcomes every visit with open arms. done anything like this before; if you but with rather longer hair. the Kenya Project Partnership, a edu- Hopping from city to city can give you have an expedition idea we The second allows you to become cational development charity which you just as good a feel as spending half want to hear from you. There are part of a country rather than an has its roots at Cambridge University. a year holed up in a north Dakota many experienced people in the observer of it, and to become to the This summer I spent my time out summer camp. On the other hand, the university who will guide you along people upon whose lives you are there working to organise HIV/AIDS wrong sort of work can do more harm the way and CUEX is here for you. imposing not just an extremely large education for our network of schools than it does good, though there is also If you like the idea of an expedi- pound sign but, and at best this in partnership with an international an argument that says perhaps the tion but aren’t sure what to do or should work in both directions, some- NGO called Merlin. Every week cultural exchange and capital flow are where to go, come to our one from which something of another since arriving home I’ve received positives that should also weigh heav- Introduction Squash on Thursday world can be taken, and hopefully a emails of some sort or other from Joel ily on this equation. 4th November at 8pm in the friend as well. Mwencha, the HIV/AIDS supervisor However on the whole this contrast Latimer room, Clare College. For This kind of travel is somewhat dif- in Kenya, informing me of the holds more than true. Those who go Applications for the Kenya Project more information visit our website ferent. You plan, you go, you stay, you scheme’s progress. Last week there travelling without working are depriv- Partnership close on 6th November. www.srcf.ucam.org/cuex or email learn from what surrounds you. arrived in the post a series of letters ing both them and the country they To get more information, or down- CUEX at [email protected]. Instead of passing through and maybe from teachers and pupils at the visit of invaluable benefits to both load an application form, visit picking up Coca Cola before you schools involved. I would quite happi- sides. Discuss. http://www.okp.org.uk/ 14 INTERVIEW October 29, 2004 www.varsity.co.uk Hippy communes, white cubes, and YBAS Ronojoy Dam talks to e Cube (London)

Sam Taylor-Wood, Brit hit Art’s leading lady

idday on a Monday and and I make it. I love challenges and Sam Taylor-Wood is not this is definitely a challenge for me." I feeling too great. But she heard a rumour she wanted some sort is still in a warm and of Johnny Cash influence upon the Mfriendly mood. I am slightly taken Blake character. "The Johnny Cash aback by this, expecting somewhat parallel was something of a Blakean y of the artist and Jay Jopling/W es more of a proud and shirking arro- revelation in the middle of the night, t gance. Instead I am greeted with a which stemmed from Blake’s some- Cour genuine honesty, joviality and belief what rock ’n’ roll character." that is immediately endearing. Fundamental human emotions, Described as the ‘renaissance such as desire, anger, loneliness and woman of the British art scene’, Sam boredom, are at the core of Taylor- Taylor-Wood graduated from Wood’s work. She creates provocative Goldsmiths College in 1990 and has situations that hinge on an unremit- since been critically praised interna- ting urge to defamiliarise and a manip- tionally for her work in film and pho- ulation of audience expectation tography, receiving the Illy Café Prize through an ironic and subversive use of for Most Promising Artist at the her media. The play of reality against Venice Biennale (1997), a Turner Prize artifice is inherent within her art and nomination (1998), as well as being this can be seen in her recent work the youngest ever artist to have a solo ‘Crying Men’, which depicts exhibition at the Hayward Gallery, Hollywood’s leading men such as Paul London (2002). Leaving art school, Newman and Benicio Del Toro in var- Taylor-Wood found her focus in a dif- ious states of sorrow. "I’m fascinated by ferent field. "After graduating, I portraiture. People are so used to smil- worked at the Royal Opera House. ing in front of a camera. It’s what Goldsmiths had been very intense and they’re used to. I wanted to reverse I just wanted to get away from art." those expectations. I used actors for However to art she returned, "I had the project because they challenge been studying sculpture at college and your perception of reality with regards photography and video work seemed a to the picture you see in front of you. very natural development from that." You are forced to question how gen- Human vulnerability and strength is uine the sentiments on show are." at the core of much of Taylor-Wood’s Taylor-Wood took a different take on work. For a mother who has fought portraiture earlier on in the year with two battles with cancer, I ask her how her film ‘David’ for the National she feels events in her personal life Portrait Gallery, capturing the have affected her work. "Motherhood England football captain in a serene and serious operations are, and have state of sleep. She has been criticized, been, a major part of my life and obvi- however, by what some see as a gratu- ously they have affected my work but itous use of celebrity. How does she not in any one single particular way." feel about such comments? She shrugs Self Portrait Suspended VIII 2004 However, Taylor-Wood is not an artist this off without a hint of bitterness, without a sense of humour. Last year saying, "People who make that sort of the history of art. I like making work There is even something saintly and her involvement in the notorious YBA she was persuaded to sing on a version criticism are not looking closely where you’re demystifying, decoding rather reverential about her ‘Crying (Young British Artists) movement, a of Donna Summer’s ‘Love To Love enough at the work." and looking at things with a new per- Men’ and ‘David’ portraits too. Are the title that covered a wealth of artistic You’, which she performed at a night Taylor-Wood is famous for her use spective." It is religious imagery in roots of this perhaps to be found in diversity. "The YBAs was a name given club bedecked in black wig and sun- of classical references in works such as particular, especially that from any personal religious belief? "I’m not to us rather than a name taken. A lot of glasses. It seems like an adolescent her reconstruction of Michelangelo’s Renaissance and Baroque painting, religious and not a big fan of organised strong artists emerged from it like shower-singing ambition being ful- ‘Pieta’ (2001) in the form of a film of that Taylor-Wood often incorporates religion at all. However religious Damien Hirst. People provided its con- filled. "What do you mean teenage?! her cradling a semi-naked Robert into her work as she explores the divi- iconography has provided an estab- troversy rather than the actual art. All It still is a dream to be a pop star,” she Downey Jr. "I use a lot of sources from sions between sacred and profane. lished art form for thousands of years that we really shared was that we were says with an ironic indignance, “The and I’m completely fascinated by it." all young at the same time." Pet Shop Boys work in the same stu- Taylor-Wood is calm and light- So what’s exciting her right now? dio as me and are good friends. It was hearted throughout our conversation "What excites me?" she repeats with a their idea. I was totally up for it and it and not at all guarded or edgy but toying deliberation. And then immedi- was a lot of fun." much of her work exudes a sense of ately she replies with a slight laugh, She spent her teenage years in a solitariness and inward looking. With "Lemsip for the next two hours and my Sussex hippy commune with her moth- a humble frankness she explains, new show at the White Cube." At the er and stepfather but she does anything "Isolation is a difficult one to explain. end of my emails I have the tag line but go all trees and lentils on me when I often feel the need to be apart from from Rocky: "His whole life was a mil- the topic comes up in our conversation. people, to be in my own little world, to lion-to-one shot." As our conversation "Growing up in a hippy commune, I be on my own, you know?" A lot of her draws to a close, this is one of the last knew it wasn’t normal. It really pissed e Cube (London) focus rests upon the individual within things I expect to come up. While I get me off. I longed for normal." She hit society and ideas about identity ready to say goodbye, she hurriedly becomes even more endearing. whether it be 1993’s ‘Fuck, Suck, blurts out, "And honestly your Rocky Taylor-Wood is currently working Spank, Wank’ self-portrait or her new quote at the end, I loved it. That’s the with Ray Winstone on a feature film photographic series ‘Self-Portrait only reason I did it because I thought based on the life of William Blake. Suspended’. These expressions of ‘Oh God I’ve got so many interviews to This seems like one of those ideas fragility and strength seem to be do. I can’t do them all’ but when I read hatched in the early hours of intoxicat- indicative of something very close at that I thought I’ve got to do it. It’s the ed midnight rambling adrenalin. She the heart of Taylor-Wood. "Political same sort of thing as how I feel in life; elucidates that, "Making a film about and cultural context is intertwined you can’t always be so serious. You have William Bake was Ray’s idea. It’s very with the personal. It’s part and parcel to take a chance on some things." exciting to be involved with a film, of the same thing. You cannot avoid it. y of the artist and Jay Jopling/W

which is something I’ve never done es Sexuality is of course a major part of Sam Taylor-Wood's exhibition of new before and the drawn out process is t our lives. It’s inherent within it and is work is at White Cube, from 28th

one that I’m not used to. My art Cour definitely important." October to 4th December 2004 process is very direct. I have an idea Jude Law from ‘Cryin Men’ 2003 She is still very much associated with WEB www.varsity.co.uk October 29, 2004 15 Is Big Brother watching your computer? The University knows everything but does nothing, says Sam Richardson r very single web page request- months after pleading guilty to 18 alke

ed by every Cambridge stu- charges of making indecent images of W dent in a College room is children, and two of possession,

logged and stored by the reflecting the 1,420 pornographic pic- Luke EUniversity. The powers that be have a tures involving children as young as record of every item students have two months old. downloaded in the past six months. Nonetheless, potentially at least, Since the Regulation of the University is more spying than Investigatory Powers Act 2000, the spied against. However, the reality is above situation is a fact of life. far different. CUDN is not actively According to the website of CUDN policed, but instead stores its infor- (Cambridge University Data mation in case organisations such as Network), ‘users need to be aware that the Police (generally investigating their communications may be inter- hacking or child pornography) or the cepted by IT staff as permitted by UK BPI (the British Phonographic legislation. The legislation allows the Institute, which represents record interception of network traffic without companies) find evidence of illegali- consent for purposes such as recording ty. The network is, therefore, policed evidence of transactions, ensuring reg- passively rather than actively. ulatory compliance, detecting crime or This is partly simply due to time unauthorized use, and ensuring the constraints. The sheer volume of traf- efficient operation of University com- fic that passes through CUDN is munications systems.’ enormous, and separating the deliber- This ‘unauthorized use’ includes ‘the ate misdemeanours with accidental downloading or storage of offensive wanderings would be very difficult. material including pornography For example, this Summer CUSU set (whether technically legal or not) and up the website camexams.com, to Who’s looking over your shoulder? What you do in the comfort of your own room may not be as private as you think copyright material’. This copyright assist students taking their exams. material includes music MP3s and However, typing in camexam.com led her assets’ on the camexam.com web- even reserve the right to demand imme- of the proverbial ton of bricks) video files, which, according to one IT a number of students to an entirely site, but rather the Joint Academic diate entry to a student’s room in order The main disincentive against Officer, over 90% of Cambridge stu- different website, which promised Network facilities which are shared to inspect a computer. Yet, despite this downloading is the moral one, and the dents have on their computers. ‘tasteful adult content’ such as ‘I just by universities across the country. potential, less than fifty students across fact that serial downloaders (such as a Furthermore, using the computer for turned 18’ and ‘nude cam’. CUDN is merely the middleman, and Cambridge have been deaned for com- Jesuan who told Varsity ‘at HMV all personal profit is a very grey area, and Furthermore, CUDN is one of no its user rules are similar to those of puting offences (excluding excessive use you really pay for is the CD’s packag- theoretically everything from selling less than three organisations which, in JANET’s. Below this are the colleges, of bandwidth) in the past five years. ing, so by downloading a song I’m not stuff on ebay to setting up a high inter- a Weberian bureaucracy to rival only which retain some of the most strin- The likelihood is that students who actually stealing at all’) feel compelled est bank account could be clamped the organisation of the SPS faculty, gent rules of all. wish to break the law, or to satisfy their to try to justify themselves show that down on if the IT bigwigs felt like it. can lay claim to the authority to police The rules on the use of College IT urges on adult sites, can act with this is the case. But Cambridge’s IT officers don’t our computers. And each of these services vary widely. The rules of use impunity so long as their actions do But if you do get caught, don’t have it all their own way. In March of organisations has its own set of rules. tend to reflect those of CUDN, but not threaten other users (stealing user blame us. Big Brother is watching. this year Andrew Perry, a 22-year-old At one end is JANET. This is not often the punishments could involve identities or sending viruses would, for But, for the time being at least, that’s IT Officer at Trinity, was jailed for 18 the ‘Janet, 18, who wants to show you being fined or deaned. Some Colleges example, invite the immediate falling all he is doing. Latest footy sims battle for the top prize Luke Walker

Every year, a new version of EA’s FIFA simulator comes along with all the unwanted inevitability of the Cambridge winter, but nonetheless it maintains a car-crash-like ability to attract the gaze of console football fans. However, for some years now an upstart has upset the money-making machine that is the FIFA series. Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer (nee International Superstar Soccer) is the Brian Clough of the football games: doing great things when no one expected it, enthralling and frus- trating in equal measure, providing brilliant performances but with FIFA Football 2005 is the eleventh installment in EA’s legendary football series...... But in Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer 4 it has serious competition rough edges. FIFA, on the other hand, has tra- priate starting point, since it really is players move off the ball, although in stunning.Who needs to move their of time locked in your room practic- ditionally been the Manchester starting point of all football sims. reality this just seems to result in players around off the ball, when ing free kicks. United of the gaming world: it’s FIFA International Soccer came out them being caught offside, by a they make such realistic runs? The And EA need to be locked in their glossy and glamorous and was the on PC in 1994, boasting a quasi-3D meticulously detailed 3D linesman. referee, just like real life, is a prima room, until they will realise that the dominant force in the nineties, but it isometric viewpoint, and Tony The player is, in some ways, ele- donna with a penchant for harsh key to a football game does not lie in has underachieved in recent years, Gubba’s commentary which was the vated to a spectator. The show on sendings off and bizarre penalties. graphics or in having hundreds of and tends to be supported mainly by greatest ever to grace a football parade is gorgeous to look at, and Like Eric Cantona, Pro Evo is frus- teams, but in being something that boys in the home counties who don’t game. However, the Manchester never have the graphics of a sports trating and brilliant in equal meas- you want to play with your mates, know much about football except United striker was called Brian game looked so good, or paid so ure. Just when you think you’ve got it and beat them at. Don’t get me that Daddy will buy them the new Plank. much attention to detail. But FIFA mastered, it will come and karate wrong, FIFA 2005 is a competent version of FIFA every Christmas. Since then, the FIFA series has at does, ultimately, seem like a show kick you in the groin. game. It has the icing, but Pro But a student’s money is much times been guilty of spending too and not a game. When you get down The graphics, while still inferior to Evolution Soccer has the cake. harder earned. Have these franchises much effort on getting real leagues to pitch level, everything happens a FIFA’s, are pretty impressive, and the done enough to be worthy of your and players, and not enough on the little slower than it should do – just new free kick system is a vast FIFA Football 2005 (EA Sports) forty quid. Or should you, like Alex gameplay. Even now, the controls what you’d expect from the true vet- improvement. Winning at Pro Evo £39.99 (PS2 and XBox) Ferguson, rest on your laurels and remain unresponsive, and the slide eran that FIFA is. comes down to a combination of Also on PC, GB and GameCube. hope that Santa will still go down tackles seem to lack the ferocity Pro Evo, on the other hand, pro- flare, luck, determination, and your chimney as easily as Wayne you’d find on the average Saturday of vides the most involving gameplay of unplugging your opponent’s con- Pro Evolution Soccer 4 (Konami) Rooney goes down in the box? college football. The main gameplay any sports game on any console. The troller at the vital moment. Winning £39.99 (PS2 and XBox) We’ll start with FIFA: an appro- enhancement is the ability to make players’ artificial intelligence is truly at FIFA requires you spending lots listings powered by /stage FRIDAY 29 FRIDAY 29 19:45 ADC Top Quark Productions present Oxygen QUEENS Cyberia Dance / Electronica 23:00 ADC CUADC present Landscape/ Elle est la FEZ Stu Banks Chunky house 19:45 Arts Theatre Premiere tour of witty romantic comedy Clouds JUNCTION Pop Art Indie / Alternative LIFE Boogienight 70s and 80s night SATURDAY 30 SATURDAY 30 19:45 ADC Top Quark Productions present Oxygen 23:00 ADC CUADC present Landscape/ Elle est la CLARE C.R.Y.P.T.I.C. Breaks and bootlegs from the freelance 19:45 Arts Theatre Premiere tour of witty romantic comedy Clouds Hellraiser and ZerO (Streetwise) QUEENS Rocky Horror Halloween Cheese SUNDAY 31 FEZ LIquid People Africanism All Stars & Defected Records 19:45 ADC CUMTS Bar Night SUNDAY 31 19:30 Arts Theatre The Crofters - Distinctive and entertaining folk music COCO Sunday Roast Cheese and Chart MONDAY 1 FEZ Funky Affairs Vibe FM’s Rick Grooves LIFE Sunday Session Commercial dance, party, r’n’b 19:45 Arts Theatre The Complete Works of William Shakespeare MONDAY 1 TUESDAY 2 FEZ Fat Poppaddaddys Mix of Funky Grooves 19:45 ADC CUADC presents Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead 23:00 ADC Footlights: Smoker TUESDAY 2 19:45 Arts Theatre The Complete Works of William Shakespeare BALLARE Top Banana CUSU’s Best Cheese WEDNESDAY 3 COCO Licked That urban flava LIFE Unique LBGT extravaganza 19:45 ADC CUADC presents Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead 22:30 ADC The Marlowe Society present Rostov’s House WEDNESDAY 3 19:45 Arts Theatre The Complete Works of William Shakespeare BALLARE Rumboogie Sports Men and Women come out to play THURSDAY 4 THURSDAY 4 19:45 ADC CUADC presents Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead 22:30 ADC The Marlowe Society present Rostov’s House COCO Urbanite C USU Hip Hop and RnB 19:45 Arts Theatre The Complete Works of William Shakespeare /guide /the rest FRIDAY29 13:10 Charles Siem - violin and Caroline Jaya-Ratnam piano wll perform works by Grieg and Vitali. Amongst the permanent collection at Kettle's Yard. MONDAY 1 Admission is free. Concerts will be over by 2pm. 13:00 - 14:00 CU Baha’i Society 10 min readings from many religions on “Peacefulness” followed by a free simple lunch. Newnham College MCR

Oasis Restaurant, 84 Regent Street, 01223 307 581 Lunch 12-2.30 Sunday - Thursday 6-11 Friday - Saturday 6-12 15% Discount for students www.varsity.co.uk October 29, 2004 LISTINGS 17

Does the Science-Religion Lost Keys? Dialogue Still Matter? Locked Out? Speakers: You don’t have to Dr Fraser Watts Sleep on that Park Bench (Starbridge Lecturer of Theology and the We will get you in, Natural Sciences) Prof Colin Humphries This is Cheaper (Goldsmith Professor of Material Sciences) Than smashing that Window! Rabbi Ori Fish Call For Rapid Response (Cambridge University Chaplain) 07900 480350 SUNDAY 31ST OCTOBER, 8PM Save this number The Centre Culanu, between Oxfam in your mobile and The Galleria, Bridge Street.

FOOTLIGHTS announces the return of… THE HARRY PORTER PRIZE awarded annually to the best one-hour comedy play. Judged by Stephen Fry, the winner will be put on at the ADC in Week 8, Lent Term. Scripts must be submitted by Monday 24th Great January. For more information please con- tact Simon Bird at sab77. tasting, great value pizza for delivery and collection

The Pembroke Players invite applications to direct/produce in Lent Term 2005. Deadlines: Dominos, ADC - Midnight Wed 3rd Nov New Cellars (wks 4&7,main&late) Cambridge: 01223 355155 and elsewhere - Mignight Mon 8th Nov 27 Hills Road, For ADC and elsewhere shows you must apply separately to venue to secure a slot. Cambridge, CB2 1NW Contact Holly, hbs23. Info and coversheet at www.pembrokeplayers.org 18 October 29, 2004 www.varsity.co.uk Cambridge architecture: ancient joke Olly Batham and Martin Brown investigate a startling intellectual design mystery CAMBRIDGE ARCHITEC- over-privileged morons convincing TURE has been one of the world’s themselves that useless 14th century longest running practical jokes, new ornamentation is somehow central to research suggests. The completion of their lives.” the English Faculty building on Would finished his lecture by stat-

West Road has led to the discovery ing that King’s College could lift iona Symington of documents which suggest that a itself out of its ‘burgundy debt’ prob- F sinister, now international coalition lem without having to concede any- of architects, decided in the late 13th thing to the students by selling off all century that they were to wreak aes- the superfluous stone of the college thetic havoc upon the university that to a cut-price housing organisation. had just been founded. The more recently founded out-of- University officials, concerned town-centre colleges did not escape about the future technical stability of Would’s diatribe. He accused them of their buildings, have been consulting being of a ‘council estate-cum-prison’ Dr. T.R.Would, an international design, the ‘enormous abstract con- expert on subversive architecture, crete clitoris’ of New Hall (recently and more recently a successful swim- voted on the BBC website as being mer. Would’s controversial theories one of the most hideous architectural concerning Cambridge architecture vulva in the country) receiving par- first came to light after he gave a lec- ticularly vitriolic attack. ture entitled ‘Marble: Why?’ The The Idler contacted Would to inter- most debated points were his com- view the man about his views on the ments on the older, central colleges. recent English faculty discoveries. “The architects are just getting ‘Look at the con- lazier, so their ancient, dark joke is becoming more and more evident,” fused, chaotic Would stated, sat nude upon the Doric column that makes sole seat of The new English Faculty building: the latest in a centuries-old tradition of dark, subversive architecture mêlée of the his home, eating tuna. “When it was the really clever guys, Isn’t it vulgar? Of course they missed the in-joke has become a fully-fledged Would finally delivered his chill- Sidgwick Site!’ like Wren, they could design something point completely with Cripps’ Court.’” nightmare that shows no signs of stop- ing solution to the chilling problem. that was so unbelievably hideous that Would pointed to the ‘confused, ping. First they build that enormous red “We either pave over everything “Many would point to the beauty of only Cambridge University members chaotic mêlée’ of architecture at the History turd, then the corporate, soulless right now or resign ourselves to see- these colleges as being a high point of could possibly conceive that there might Sidgwick Site as being indicative of the hall of the Law faculty is erected, and ing enormous marble dragons with Cambridge architecture, yet this atti- be something aesthetically redeeming spreading problem in Cambridge as a finally this! The giant pink doughnut of six eyes fondling Tit Hall by 2025. tude smacks of the inbred views of about it. Just look at the size of St. John’s! whole. “What started out as a bit of an the English department!’” I’m only trying to help you.” Sporting shock extra Idler’s international roundup Olly Batham University sport, for many of the Chris Smyth would like to join the Right Government refuses teams, although ‘twats’ has come up Honourable member for Folkestone American request for troops SINCE THE dissolution of as an important bodily part more Tony Blair apologises; critics and Hythe in congratulating him for CUWRFC’s UKIP Division due to than once. Bottom of the relevant forgive him admitting his errors, and excusing THE DEFENCE secretary Geoff the discovery of a sordid back-door sporting word table is ‘sperm.’ him from any further consequences. I Hoon has announced that Britain refrigerator orgy, The Idler has com- Furthermore, The Idler’s investi- THE PRIME Minister today offered believe we can now draw a line under will not be acceding to an American missioned an independent survey gations have led us to believe that a full and unreserved apology for mis- this issue, and get on with fighting request to send troops into the Sunni into the political ties and sexual sporting teams being courted by leading Parliament and taking the the General Election on the Liberal triangle, in support of the US assault activities of University sports teams. political parties is nothing new – in nation into an unnecessary war. “I’m Democrats’ strong ground of crime, on Falluja. “We have considered the Our mysterious deep throat in the fact, the outcomes of the past ten sorry,” Mr Blair announced during schools, and pensions.” military situation carefully,” Mr General Elections were accurately Prime Minister’s Question Time. More vocal critics of the Prime Hoon told the Commons. “And we predicted by a method using the “I made a grave misjudgement Minister also echoed these words of have decided that this deployment is results of various college and when I told you in 2003 that absolution. not in British interests. Therefore we University teams and their requisite Saddam Hussein was a growing “I have previously called on the have refused the American request.”

ndy Sims sponsors. The intricate, arcane sys- threat to this country. I believed it Prime Minister to resign for his lies The Pentagon was philosophical A tem that has been devised by these strongly at the time, but I accept I and betrayals,’ said former about the decision. “It’s a disap- political diviners is, as yet, undiscov- should not have exaggerated intelli- International Development Secretary pointment,” said spokesman Lt Col. ered: what is known, however, is that gence reports to convince others. For Clare Short. “But this apology Fulton Hughes. “But we respect the the attitude of certain sports teams that I sincerely apologise.” changes things. I can see he is gen- decision of our allies and partners.” in becoming so public about their The announcement was greeted uinely upset about his mistakes and I Col Hughes denied that the refusal ‘sordid money grabbing’ has not with delight and forgiveness by think he has suffered enough now.” would cause a significant military gone down well. “We’re not pimps,” opponents of the war. “I welcome the Playwright and activist Harold problem. “We’ve got plenty of troops said one source, who preferred, Prime Minister’s words,” said Robin Pinter, who has previously con- over there. And if we need more, we unusually, to remain anonymous. Cook, the former foreign secretary demned the ‘warmonger Bush and can just call some more Reservists “Any extras that come are purely who resigned over the conflict. “I am his greasy lapdog Blair,’ said in a over from Missouri. I don’t think down to the discretion of individual glad he has had the courage to admit statement that “in apologising for his that will cause any major problems.” Sport: sexy, costly, evil? members.” Whereupon, he had to to his mistakes and express contri- lies and war crimes, Blair has shown return to his job punting. tion for them. I for one forgive him, he does have a conscience after all. University sporting scene, Mr. In other University sporting news, and as far as I am concerned, this He’s done his grovelling, now let him INSIDE Gloom, provided us with a state- public drive-by abortions have now ends the matter.” get on with running the country.” ment, claiming that “Arses, tits and become the third favourite extra- Liberal Democrat leader Charles Polls suggested that the Prime Hostage Crisis! Does media cov- willies are important parts of curricular activity in Cambridge. Kennedy was also full of praise for Miniser’s trust rating had risen sig- erage encourage the Kidnappers? University sporting life. Don’t you “It’s not just a life – it IS life!” Mr Blair’s decision which he called nificantly as a result of the apology, See pages 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 17, 94 think the Osprey’s new calendar, stated one enthusiastic exponent of ‘courageous’. “Mr Blair has done the with one swing voter calling Mr with all those nubile, flexible, moist the sport. The winners of the half statesmanlike thing in apologising,” Blair’s words and his single, glisten- Harry Crisis! Do paparazzi snaps young delicious bimbettes proves blue are likely to be invited to special Mr Kennedy told the Commons. “He ing tear “very convincing” and encourage hounding of Royals? See that?” Circumstantial evidence high- dinners, perhaps even on the and I have disagreed on this issue “deeply moving.” pics, pages 2, 8, 9, 10, 11, 19, 108 lights the significant role of willies in Continent. from the beginning, but today I check www.varsity.co.uk for more idler... send any contributions to [email protected] October 29 2004 varsityarts Silence on the radio: let the airwaves flow

Churchill (although apparently on a Queens’, obscure bands at the ed by their student unions. Leeds Henry Bowen tunes into the state good day it can reach as far as Junction or Amnesty meetings in Student Radio even has a full-time Bedford). However, the station is also King’s. Perhaps this secretive move- sabbatical position on the student body of the student radio station available to listen to online, and with ment is responsible for swelling the in charge of the radio station, and Bath many student rooms having comput- listening figures of CUR1350. University recently built a new TV and Last week, the student radio station ers out there, who listen to the sta- ers connected to college networks, the Fortunately, come the evening, the Radio broadcasting facility at a cost of CUR1350 was nominated a record tion not because they’re listening to station is available to most of the uni- musical tastes broaden considerably. £1.4m. Without even a central union eight times for this year’s Student their friends, but just because they versity at high quality. So-called ‘specialist’ music shows take building here in Cambridge, it’s Radio Awards. But this fairly impres- enjoy it? Of course, being able to listen to the to the airwaves, and many of these are unlikely we’ll see that level of support sive feat has gone almost completely Like all broadcast media, CUR1350 station doesn’t mean I want to listen well worth listening to. Most of these for a long time. unnoticed by much of the student has no direct way of telling how many to it. The shows have to have some- are run by music lovers rather than CUR1350 is 25 years old this year, body; in fact, many students have people are listening to their station. thing I want to hear. And to be quite budding Marks or Lards, so you actu- but for much of its history it func- been surprised to find out that a stu- The usual measurement is carried out honest, most of them don’t. The pre- ally get to hear something fresh most tioned purely for the people in the dent radio station exists at all. by means of a survey, and the last one, vailing style during the daytime seems of the time. However, any DJs hoping studios. The audience was neglected, My first experience of a CUR1350 about a year ago, estimated that there to be attempts to replicate daytime to mix live on air are going to be disap- and the station was instead used as a show was sitting on my mate’s floor was an audience of just short of 1000 commercial radio – forgettable music pointed: the decks and the mixer in the possible jumping off point for people listening to a show being presented regular listeners. This is a pretty interspersed with even more forget- CUR1350 studio are placed so far who wanted to get a career in radio. by a friend of his. It seemed fairly healthy number, far larger than what I table chat about nothing in particular. apart that only Inspector Gadget could Only in the last few years has the sta- boring and unstructured, but the fact had expected from my own limited And even more frighteningly, there be expected to mix on them. tion been trying to focus equally on that the DJ was a complete stranger experience. The fact that I’ve never also seems to be a heavy bias towards Unlike many other university radio the audience, and to provide a station to me seemed to hinder my apprecia- actually been able to tune in on my indie with many of the presenters. stations, CUR1350 is completely self- that would be as popular with stu- tion of the show: my mate was loving radio was probably a factor. Ah yes, the indie scene. This funded. Paying for their licence fees by dents in general as with the presenters it. I left with the general impression CUR1350 broadcasts on the AM strange crowd are rumoured to lurk advertising and sponsorship alone, they and their mates. Even though there’s that the structure of CUR1350 was radio frequency. The licensing laws deep within your college, jealously have little to spare on their studio or still a lot more to do, considering how built around a small group of friends, restrict the broadcast to a low power, guarding their record collections. their production. Therefore it is all the far it’s come, there’s no reason to with one half being behind the mikes which probably explains why the sig- Bitterly scorning the delights of more impressive that their station is expect anything but a student radio and the other half listening intently nal never seems to reach much beyond Cindy’s or Coco’s, they congregate comparable with other university sta- station that keeps improving. in their bedrooms. But are there oth- the immediate surroundings of occasionally at indie nights in tions which are often generously fund- www.cur1350.co.uk pick of the week image of the week picking the wheat from the chaff

L’Avventura (Re) Arts Picture House,Thursday 4th November, 5pm.

Antonioni, Italian and top banana. It may be black and white and old but don’t hold this against it.You would be cheating yourself.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead ADC, 7.45pm, November 2nd - 6th Tom Stoppard was ridiculously young when he wrote this and, depressingly, it doesn’t show. Watch it and develop an inferiority complex.

Christian Wolff Kettle’s Yard, Monday 1st November, 6.30pm or 7.30pm. Kettle’s Yard hosts a 70th birthday celebra- tion of the influential American composer Christian Wolff with a concert and a talk by the man himself an hour earlier.

John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers The Corn Exchange,Tuesday 2nd Nov

British rock’n’roll was born when musicians like Eric Clapton and the Rolling Stones picked up American blues, and John Mayall photo courtesy of was the man who started it all. Don’t miss it.

Trial By Jury Union Chamber, 30th Oct - 1st Nov www.phocus.org.uk The University Gilbert and Sullivan society ‘Voyage’ competition - reprise their popular May Week version of enter now this satirical operetta of jilted brides and Roma unrequited love. 7.30pm , by Petra Vertes

BRITISH CINEMA BONANZA FILM, PAGES 20-21 MASAAKI SUZUKI COMES TO WEST ROAD CLASSICAL, PAGE 27 SKIN-TIGHT SEVENTIES SHIRTS AND HAIRDOS MUSIC, PAGE 28 LIVING WITHOUT ILLUSION THEATRE, PAGES 22-23 20 BRITISH FILM October 29, 2004 www.varsity.co.uk The split personality of British Film The Janus face of the British film industry highlights the clash between the Loach/Leigh school of uncompromising realism and the Working Title wish-fulfilling chocolate-box fantasy of England

Harry Joll system. Ruth Palmer ed sufferings throughout. .net Social comment is central to both e Amid a raft of flawless supporting Another year, another repressed-mid- filmmakers’ work, and if that doesn’t Hollywood’s favourite Englishman, performances, James Fleet excels as dle-class-man-meets-glamorous- sound like bubbly, light-hearted giggles .imag Cary Grant, may have dashed to a an Englishman with a literal castle, American-woman insipid injection of that’s because it isn’t. However, to lump church or two in his time but he was but also a puppyish exuberance which saccharine to the brain. Richard Curtis the films together as unrelentingly dour www never captured on celluloid reversing treads in cowpats and makes has a lot to answer for as Wimbledon would be not only inaccurate but unfair. up the M25 in a clapped-out old appallingly ill-judged speeches. (essentially his bastard child) stammers There is huge diversity between the Mini Cooper. Where the cinematography its way onto screens nationwide. darkness of Bleak Moments and the com- In the expletive-laden opening seduces with a chocolate-box fantasy But for all those worried about the edy of Loach’s Riff-Raff. sequence of surprise 1994 hit Four of England, the characterisation is face of the British film industry this These two directors in particular Weddings and a Funeral his namesake ruefully, comically candid. Beyond presents to the world, there is another stand out as having consciously resisted, successor, Hugh Grant, looked less Kristin Scott Thomas’s icy but vul- way. Directors such as Ken Loach and indeed rebelled against, the cash-tinged like the standard-issue romantic lead nerable Fi, the only elegance is in the Mike Leigh offer work of great quality. lure of the American studio system. It’s and more like Basil Fawlty audition- writing. Leigh and Loach have much in com- for the best – not only are we spared ing for The Italian Job. A Union Jack A decade on, and the luxuriant mon. Both cut their teeth in television. more artistic whoring and drain of talent on the car roof could not have made wedding cake of a Working Title With the exception of the former’s across the pond, but their brand of the message clearer: then-minor pro- Romantic Comedy has acquired debut, Bleak Moments (1971), his output British socialist realism probably would- duction company, Working Title, more frothy, elaborate icing with was at first made for the medium and n’t have translated too well. wanted us to Buy British. each tier (Notting Hill, Bridget Jones’ barely seen outside England. Their decision comes at a price. Poor There was no guarantee that the Diary, Love Actually, Wimbledon). After the video revolution, his films distribution is one of the crosses direc- cinema-going nation would comply Yes, the usual plot is recipe-formula- have come further into the public eye. tors who remain in Britain have to bear. because, as it happened, Working ic: upper-class Englishman meets The Short & Curlies (1990) and Secrets Others are that financial success does Ken Loach’s Kes 1969 Title wasn’t selling another Fawlty sassy American, falls for her, falls out And Lies (1996) exemplify Leigh’s range, not always follow critics’ praise, and Towers-meets-a-Mockney-heist with her, and is variously aided and his abilities both as a writer and director backing is simply harder to find. Despite caper. Four Weddings would follow hindered by eccentric friends or fam- .net to strike a balance between the serious- this, a huge amount of talent opted to e the romantic entanglements of a ily into realizing the strength of his ness of the issues he examines and the stay and determinedly convert their thirtysomething public schoolboy feelings and making a mad dash comic characters or situations he creates. ideas into movies. Actors such as Robert .imag and his band of merry toffs as they (typically to an airport) to declare his He develops a script by collaborating Carlyle were launched from the sauntered between manicured lawn love in an impossibly feel-good final with his actors in an improvisational Leigh/Loach school, and are the better www and gilded ballroom, champagne set piece. atmosphere. It is this kind of flexibility for it. flute in hand. This is filmmaking with half an eye that lends his films such refreshing Perhaps their methods and films can Scriptwriter Richard Curtis’s previ- on the transatlantic market: unpredictability. best be summed up in one word as ous creation, the conniving snob unashamedly commercial and In Loach’s case it was documentaries ‘uncompromising’, and the idea of studio Edmund Blackadder, would have been implausibly wish-fulfilling. But pro- that formed his distinctive style. He interference is an anathema. Everything a safer bet in terms of audience vided Working Title continue to mastered the technical side of his craft, from their style to their substance stems appeal. Yet - budding Marxist- ensure that for every creamy, beguil- learning how to suit hand-held cameras from a desire to follow the path they set Leninists look away now - Curtis’s ear ing American starlet, there’s an and grainy 16mm film stock to his style. out to follow. for a self-deprecating one-liner made unshowy but upstaging performance He developed a sharp eye for the The escapism of Curtis and co. has a the upper crust ensemble endearing from a stalwart British talent; for everyday, as well as the exceptional, that place, but I’d choose innovation, unpre- embodiments of a national character. every meltingly sweet romantic led him to make one of the finest British dictability and the best actors in the Grant’s portrayal of Charles is one moment there’s a Welshman pulling films of all time with the acclaimed Kes country on most days. Certainly, it can part diffident Old Etonian charm to muscleman poses in ancient Y-fronts; (1969). The story of a young boy and his be harrowing stuff but this is filmmaking two parts uncanny knack for social for every implausibly festive London escape from hardship through his both accomplished and unflinching; the embarrassment. Bashing his forehead tableau there’s a sherry-sodden hero- friendship with a falcon offered at least humour is subtler and darker perhaps, penitently against a satin-draped mar- ine telling a party of carol singers to the glimmer of hope in a grim look at but when found it makes for a much quee support at one stage provides a bugger off, Britishness on celluloid is the stifling impact of an unfeeling class more profoundly satisfying experience. Grant: man or mouse? neat metaphor for his wedding-relat- in really rather good hands. .net Earning his free cup of coffee e .imag Lucy Styles talks to legendary British film-maker Ken Loach www The great Polish director Kieslowski actors very different from that suited their own hand. It’s a huge privilege to said he’d be a slave to no man. But he’d to the experienced? do my job, I don’t want to be dictato- buy Ken Loach a cup of coffee. This is If the right people have been cast, the rial. a testament to his ability and following rehearsal process is simple and quite Is that why you don’t approve of the the recent release of Ae Fond Kiss, Ken brief. I look to set up various scenes phrase ‘a Ken Loach film’? Loach discusses filmmaking, politics outside the script that bring out the Yes, because no project is mine, it and how the extraordinary is to be essence of the personalities and the belongs to everyone involved. I only found in the most ordinary of circum- relationships between them, so they write and direct - it would be more stances. can develop the right mannerisms correct to call it a “a Kodak film” if You repeatedly focus on the rawness without killing the film. By the time anything. of everyday life. Is this because you we shoot, the actors know their char- With so little cinematographic prepa- feel that most cinema denies ordinary acters so well that I don’t need to tell ration, do you have to do many takes people their voice? them what to do – they do it intuitive- of each scene? Most cinema is about making a com- ly. My role as director is merely to We shoot the scenes quickly so that modity that people will want to see, trigger that intuition. I can’t simply tell the footage that reaches the screens is escapism for those who don’t want to someone to be more angry, the others fresh and the actors are bright-eyed. confront aspects of their own lives. in the scene need to justify it. Much more time goes into the editing The ordinary becoming extraordinary In a single word, how would you process. is integral to our existence and we try describe your directorial style? Was this formula in part dictated by to reflect this in the films. Reckless. I don’t work things out shot limited budgets? Is this why you tend to work mainly by shot. We begin filming and see Yes, at first this process emerged out of with non-actors? where the shoot takes us. It’s a risky the practical factor of having to work Non-actors tend to have a more intu- process - we could easily come away with small budgets where it was itive response to the script. Though of with nothing. It would be pointless to impossible to do innumerable re- course once they’re in the film, they’re decide the shots in advance because I shoots. We had to work with what we essentially actors. believe that the inflections of the con- had in post-production. We continue Ken Loach How do you choose these people? versation should dictate the rhythm of to work this way because it seems that It’s a long process. It means meeting the footage. in general less money leads to more fully penetrate a culture other than flicts that I think ought to be made but some of them on eight or nine occa- If the process is so organic, how do creative freedom. The only real limita- your own is another limitation on your I don’t know that I would be able to. sions and putting them in different sit- you draw it to a conclusion? tion is your imagination. filmmaking? Finally, do you have a favourite uations. If they can move you each The actors know that the conflict of You have been criticised for your film- Fair comment, I feel much more com- amongst the films you have made? time, you know they can do anything. the film needs to be resolved, but they ing on foreign land as in Bread and fortable on British soil. There are a lot Films are like babies – you can’t prefer Is the rehearsal process for untrained are free to draw the arc of the film in Roses. Do you feel that an inability to of films about foreign political con- one to another! www.varsity.co.uk October 29, 2004 BRITISH FILM 21

Power of imagination fails to impress A bit of Leigh way

Finding Neverland, Marc Foster’s There is no denying that Mike Leigh position as a writer and director. He is .net follow-up to Monster’s Ball, tells the e understands film; he knows the smell of not trying to dictate to the audience story of JM Barrie’s relationship with its morning breath and how to butter its what we should think, or what the right the Llewellyn-Davis family, the .imag bread. So for Sandra Hebron, Artistic choices might be, and so conciously he long-acknowledged inspiration Director of the London Film Festival, avoids outrightly polemical direction. behind his classic work of children’s www Vera Drake, Leigh’s latest offering, was a But when the police come to arrest literature, Peter Pan. self-evident choice for the opening night Vera for carrying out abortions, the cam- From the opening bars of its Sugar Gala. “So beautifully crafted and per- era rests on her, at eye-level, as she sits. Plum Fairy-esque soundtrack, Finding formed. It is a film that makes you think There is only the smallest change in her Neverland soon lays aside any preten- as well as feel.” And with these words expression, in her eyes, but it is so precise sions to being a serious literary bio-pic. she defined it absolutely. that it is almost terrifying. So it’s not that Instead, this is going to be one of those Seemingly mundane daily tasks are Leigh is afraid to use emotion-invoking ‘heart-warming’ tales about the power focused upon throughout: we watch performances to stimulate controversial of the human imagination to overcome Vera (Imelda Staunton) unbutton her thought. In fact, once employed they mortality, economic realities, the basic jacket and take off her hat, then her continue until the end and this is why laws of physics and just about anything daughter do the same. Later scenes are you can leave the cinema feeling some- else you care to throw at it. dedicated to the laying of the table and what drained. Rather than criticising or analysing the unpacking of a bag. But these Vera begins to deteriorate after her Barrie’s tendency to romanticise child- unavoidable life tasks are not portrayed arrest. Vigorous and agile for the first hood, the film is annoyingly content to so that one can philosophise over the part of the film, constantly rushing participate, offering an over-simplistic meaningless of it all, nor to attribute around, walking briskly through one division of characters into either tyrants some ritualistic sanctity to the actions shot straight to the next, she becomes or playmates; those who disrupt the of the lowly ‘heroine’. They are includ- inward and very fragile in the slow ulti- fantasy and those who collude in it. ed because life does necessitate that we mate scenes, not even being able to sit Barrie’s wife (Radha Mitchel) and the take off our outerwear and prepare din- down without assistance. icy Llewellyn-Davies grandmother ner, so why fool ourselves for two hours And that’s when things started to ( Julie Christie) are both depicted as into thinking that it doesn’t? annoy me. Why are Vera and her hus- unsympathetic “baddies,” because they A lost boys’ picnic But equally it’s not that Vera Drake is band Stan so short, and their son Sid so question Barrie’s innocent (though but the fleeting appearance of Pirates of little too easy to resist what charms suffering from meta-film sensibilities. It tall? That’s not very realistic. And who is undeniably suspicious) involvement The Caribbean collaborator Mackenzie Finding Neverland may have and find isn’t trying to comment on the illusory playing the female officer, taking away with the boys. In a suggestively inter- Crook serves as a wistful reminder of yourself asking why this irresponsible nature of filmmaking, and Leigh doesn’t from Staunton’s emotionally-charged textual nod to Hook, Dustin Hoffman the heights of camp brilliance he has man doesn’t start facing up to his hesitate to use traditional filmmaking performance with her wooden lines? plays the only viable anchor to adult reached in his portrayals of other responsibilities – a question entirely at techniques. For above all this is a story. Vera Drake unashamedly sets out to reality, Barrie’s world-weary, cynical English eccentrics, while Kate Winslet odds with the spirit of Peter Pan and That of a woman like so many “who have make a social comment, and there is no producer, Charles Frohman. might as well be reprising her role from moreover unsatisfactorily answered by always been in the backstreets for hun- catharsis to take the load off. But it suc- Aside from the dependable brilliance Titanic as yet another plucky, rosy- the film. dreds of years”, Leigh comments, helping ceeds because it does make you angry of Hoffman, the only other perform- cheeked Edwardian femme, the As a literary bio-pic Finding other women who get in “trouble”. and it does make you feel, and above all ance of note comes from twelve-year Llewellyn-Davies mother. Neverland lacks insight, and as a chil- “My job is to present a moral dilem- you find yourself asking why is she being old Freddie Highmore, impressively Despite the beautifully realised fan- dren’s film it’s simply a little dull - dis- ma, because this is a moral dilemma, punished for this? Which is all that moving as the boy who grew up too tasy sequences, designed in pleasing appointing on both counts. which you [the audience] have to con- Mike Leigh asks for. fast, Peter Barrie. Depp is competent, homage to Edwardian set design, it is a Ellen E. Jones front.” Leigh has no qualms about his Agata Belcen

Inspiring children, motivating colleagues and developing a career as a true leader in education. That’s what Fast Track Teaching’s all about.

Come and meet Fast Track Teaching and the Teacher Training Agency at the following events:

Cambridge University Teaching Event 4th November at 6:00pm 1st Floor South, University Centre, Granta Place, Mill Lane, Cambridge CB2 1RU

Careers Information Event 11th November at 12:30pm - 6:00pm University Centre, Granta Place, Mill Lane, Cambridge CB2 1RU

Get to talk with a number of representatives from the Fast Track programme as well as a Fast Track teacher. For details of the benefits and rewards, challenges and opportunities opened up to you by Fast Track, please visit: www.fasttrackteaching.gov.uk

www.fasttrackteaching.gov.uk 22 THEATRE October 29, 2004 www.varsity.co.uk There’s life in the old clowns yet Harriet Walker previews the Stoppard classic, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead “Every exit is an entry to somewhere ery as Rosencrantz, time and again.The else.” Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and he duo’s mutual enthusiasm and innate Guildenstern are Dead has long been interaction are wonderful to watch. celebrated on a wall of the Baron of The leads are supported by a host of Beef, but attempting to locate these consistently good smaller characters: exits during the ADC’s latest produc- Hamlet, played by Ben Dabby, is still an tion of it would be a serious error. The on-Dem-Bussc enigma, but the commentary that team that brought us Stephen’s l-V Rosencrantz and Guildenstern provide Berkoff ’s East as a lateshow, and won is humane and insightful. For those

the Play of the Year award for it, have t Mocke familiar with Shakespeare’s text, it is come through again for Cambridge r fascinating to see recognisable scenes lbe theatregoers, this time with a fully A from new angles. deserving mainshow. The production will no doubt be Stoppard’s play can perhaps be seen slick and thoughtful. Director Victoria as a ‘safe’ option. Its blend of poignant Scopes’ plans for the set are minimalist wit, the snigger factor and intellectually but loaded with relevance. The charac- sound throwaway comments has ters find themselves trapped within a ensured an enduring popularity with play and the scenery reflects and revs up audiences since it was first performed in Tom Secretan and Ben Deery as Stoppard’s interchangeble clowns this sense of dramatic claustrophobia. 1966. His intelligence, humour and Costumes on hire from the RSC are straight down-the-line theatrical com- tion is sensitive and competent the intellectual guff of Prince Hamlet’s bly strong and sets a solid base for the equally striking, though with mon sense make the play an amiable enough to convey both aspects. There indecision. Their attempts to make play, allowing the production to flow Stoppard’s script and the pairing of the and thought-provoking spectacle. is a fine balance between the comical- sense of their situation make light of well and constantly keep the audience two lead actors, superficial glamour is This is not a work of uproarious ly ridiculous and the tear-jerkingly the tormented prince on whom our on their toes. Stoppard’s high-flown not really needed - take it as a bonus. hilarity, but it doesn’t try to be - plen- heart-rending throughout. gaze is normally focussed. Suddenly hypothesising is at times confusing, as it This production will make you wipe ty of wry smiles, titters and snorts of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern is based T.S. Eliot’s ‘attendant lords’ are placed is meant to be, but Deery’s confident your eyes, scratch your head and wish agreement with the lovable main around Shakespeare’s Hamlet and pro- centre stage and Hamlet is pushed off and posturing Guildenstern (though you too could be as clever as Tom characters are on offer. This is absur- vides us with supposed bloopers that to mutter to himself in a corner. they have forgot which one each is sup- Stoppard. dist humour at its most endearing, yet the Bard left out. Summoned to the The sense of a rapport between lead posed to be, so distinguishing the two with a fair amount of existential angst royal court on an unknown whim, the actors, Ben Deery and Tom Secretan as can be tricky) is brought back down to At the ADC Theatre from 2nd - 6th lurking beneath it, and this produc- pair are bewildered and forgetful, lost in the interchangeable clowns, is incredi- Earth by Secretan’s exquisite buffoon- November at 7.45 p.m. Rostov’s House Wainwright’s theory of relativity Martha Spurrier Tom Kingsley paced, and, ultimately, moving. rably capturing the instant of the Populated by appreciably complex sudden tension quickly created and The epitome of the middle classes: In Relatively Speaking, Dan feels he characters, it’s a satisfyingly human released when he first kisses Matt. banality itself. Rostov is the height of the can’t talk to his father about his job, his piece of writing. Indeed, the script With Jonathan Lis’ magnificently bourgeoisie (a member of the Duma) friends or his holiday. Or his new was shortlisted for the 2004 intimidating portrayal of Ralph, the and Rostov is a wanted man. That is, if boyfriend. And Ralph can’t talk to his RSC/Marlowe Society ‘Other Prize’. father’s sympathetic vulnerability is the protagonists could find him. wife. She’s dead. As the title suggests, The first stage direction describes occasionally visible behind his façade Rostov’s House is a play which chal- relatives only speak to each other up to concisely the extra power one can gain of imposing hostility. His seemingly lenges genre by combining an intertex- a point. It’s difficult to communicate from performance: “the more a line innocent lines are given a disconcert- tual perspective with the classic ele- with your relatives precisely because suggests a character is upset or angry, ing emphasis, to the extent that simply ments of Russian farce, as the narrator you know them so well. or excited, the more casually and asking Matt how he knows Daniel himself admits, “how hard it is to say The family’s superficial calm is ruined offhandedly it is to be delivered.” becomes a sinisterly barbed question. anything original these days when there upon the arrival of Dan’s boyfriend Mark Wainright, directing his own It is only Daniel’s godmother who is are so many good slogans around”. The Matt. But this unwelcome intrusion of script, conveys this idea intelligently – sufficiently open to allow both Ralph premise involved is the hunt for the elu- reality doesn’t bring the characters to while the words may suggest one and Dan to confide in her. “You sive Rostov. Rostov, however, is nowhere their senses – it makes them even more thought, their emphasis suggests should come more often, Judith – I to be found, in an exploration of the desperate to hide them. another. In this, the actors are gener- might find out what my son actually mentality behind the Revolution of Relatively Speaking is so immedi- ally successful. does,” says Ralph, only able to com- 1917. If this were merely a political ate, so natural, and so unpretentious, The sarcasm Daniel presents to his municate with his son through some- drama it would be simple to address the that I found it impossible not to be father as a defence mechanism is one else. meaning of this RSC/Marlowe Society A symbol of Russian decadence absorbed by its depiction of a trou- rapidly relaxed once among friends. prize-winning text. Yet the experience al stage, we could suggest that the pro- bled family constrained by civility. Lewis Westbury balanced these two At the Corpus Playroom from 2nd - of the cast and crew belies the complex- duction may be carried on the strength It’s frequently funny, always fast- sides of Daniel’s character, memo- 6th November at 9.30 p.m. ity of this new drama. of his performance. Director Allegra Galvin envisions a As a piece of new writing, the skills of play with many dimensions, whereby director and actors have been taxed: a clowns pontificate on the nature of the large element of interpretation has been Theatre bridging the language gap action, and a typical farce evolves into demanded. Galvin believes one of the an altogether different drama by the most exciting elements of the Joseph Dance men and women can become isolated, time. What is more, the final scene’s conclusion. The script, written by Cambridge drama scene is that of inno- enraged, and obsessed by the ambigu- well thought-out visual homage to Cambridge graduate James Topham, is vation. This is a conspicuous trend Pinter, with his stilted colloquialisms ities of verbal communication. Edward Hopper makes this an aes- a pacey and informed version of micro- within the rehearsal process of Rostov’s and subtle graduations of silence, and Landscape, the first half of the double thetically challenging production. cosm versus macrocosm, taking place House, and one that Galvin views as a Sarraute, with her mocking effacement bill, is the story of a frustrated couple’s Sarraute’s Elle est là similarly deals over the space of a night. Although the constant dialogue between writer, direc- of character and non sequitur dialogues, inability to interact with one another. with the problem of language as an Revolution occurs beyond the perceived tor and actor. rarely present the average student direc- Duff, played by a slightly overly vocif- imperfect vector between thought and stage, the set continually concentrates The technical design of Liz Bell fol- tor with a ready-made opportunity to erous Nick Mullet, is a cellar-man verbal expression. To give a synopsis of upon the disintegration of the old order, lows the direction of the script by utilis- entertain. On the contrary, amateur pro- working in a once “grand” stately the work would be to do it injustice, as at and with it the established knowledge of ing multiple revolutions of backdrop to ductions of Pinter tend to be variations home. He and his wife Beth spend the face value its immediate topic matter is the regime. As characters explore both mirror the outside world; immediate on the “I’ll-sit-down-and-you-stand- first twenty minutes or so each telling decidedly mundane. I was initially disap- their own personalities and the internal upheaval underscored by constancy. up-oh-dear-god-there’s-something- their own hermetic tales, occasionally pointed that it hadn’t been coupled with world, Rostov himself is no more This paradox is reflected in the figures menacing-yet-indefinable-outside-let’s- pausing to reference one another another of her short works, C’est Beau, approached than he is distanced by the onstage: the farce that ends in death, the have-a-shouting-match-and-not- before moving on to narrate another which almost always forms the perfect increasingly brief scenes leading to the idealist that falls in love, and the protag- resolve-anything” theme, failing to mutually exclusive experience. theatrical counterbalance. climactic ending. onist that never appears. address emotional nuances of the lan- The jagged blocking of both the However, I can appreciate what Aït- In fact, this is a tactic employed This is well worth a visit for either guage, or crucial whispers of humour characters and the few domestic props Touati is wanting to achieve, and besides effectively by Allegra Galvin to encap- the remarkable nature of the writing, which inform the narrative. Aït-Touati has allowed on set lend an the acting in this second play was so sulate the amplifying motion of the or the dramatic talent involved – A technical rehearsal for Frédérique unnerving atmosphere to the proceed- beautiful that I quickly forgot any preju- production, a rapidity which lends together they could create a revolution Aït-Touati’s latest production of Pinter’s ings. As Duff ’s temper frays, and dices I might have once harboured. See itself to a steady disillusionment, a fea- in drama which would make the intel- Landscape and Sarraute’s Elle est là Beth’s recollection of her past becomes them both, if only to witness an incredi- ture of the narrative standpoint con- ligentsia proud. changed my mind. more disjointed, the scenario starts to ble performance given by Esteban Buch. veyed by Adam Shindler. Adam‘s mas- The idea behind the two-play per- become increasingly frenetic, culmi- terly portrayal of student “Paul” is a At the ADC Theatre from 3rd - 6th formance is a thematic one, with both nating in some of the most expressive At the ADC Theatre from 27th - 30th delight to watch. Even in the rehears- November at 10.30 p.m. works exploring the ways in which gestures I have seen on stage in a long November at 11.00 p.m. www.varsity.co.uk October 29, 2004 THEATRE 23

Ask the audience OXYGEN The big bad Virginia Woolf

Aine Mulkeen Miriam Gillinson previews a sexy take on Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? New Hall They juxtaposed Who’s afraid of Virginia Woolf? The Ben Hadley, playing George, lingers

the science and playwright Edward Albee interpreted over these tender moments with perfect oy theatrical stuff this song to mean ‘Who is afraid to live timing. Near the end of the play, George well - they had without illusion?’ I, for one, am pretty says to his wife, “Lord, Martha, if you court dances and intrigue as well as shit scared if this play is the result of such want the boy that much…have

scientific details. The acting was up fearlessness. him…but do it honestly, will you? Don’t Beth McEv to scratch too! This is the stubborn and ruthless goal cover it over with all this…all of the protagonist George: a life without this…footwork.” It is an electric Rebecca illusion, which also means a life without moment, as we see George’s pledge to Jones sensitivity. No illusions; no emotional honesty begin to destroy his marriage. Churchill boundaries or taboos. The problem that Megan Prosser and Ben Hadley spark You could tell a emerges in this play is that this life with- incredibly off each other, capturing the scientist had out illusion is just another game. It is the balance between hatred and love. They written it - mother-ship of all illusions. The games are mercilessly cold towards each other, sometimes the the characters play are chillingly real but the actors’ dialogue and their obvious dialogue jarred though, with George as ringmaster of enthusiasm during these verbal match- a bit and was a bit unnatural. The his own personal favourites: “Humiliate ups enforces the fact that these two real- acting was good. the Host”, “Get the Guests” and “Hump ly do work as a pair. LANDSCAPE/ the Hostess.” The rules are written by The dynamic seen between ELLE EST LA George, and the drama shows him play- George and Martha was not as suc- ing with his guests’ and wife Martha’s cessfully within Honey and Nick’s Nick Phillips emotions, sending them down snakes so relationship. They are a tricky couple Ben Hadley and Megan Prosser take chunks out of each other Pembroke he can climb up his own twisted ladders. to play, being stuck at a party which tators on the sofa, is one of the sexi- Honey) suffered a miscarriage. Real life The subtitles The play dates from 1962, with the has begun to question all their val- est moments to have ever graced the came to reflect the play in a disturbing were out of sync halcyon days of the 1950s still lingering ues. Caroline Roberts seemed slight- Playroom boards. fashion. In Albee’s play, instead of just a with the dia- in the background. Writing during the ly uncomfortable in her role: not The play and the space work well miscarriage occurring, Honey is accused logue. The Cold War, Albee was responding to a quite sure whether to break down together. Director Sebastian Raedlar has viciously (but perhaps correctly) of “mur- weirdness of the Sarraute play was public that was just beginning to ques- completely, or retain some dignity. not ignored the particular qualities of dering” her babies. Albee takes real life, something to hide behind rather tion the simple ideals of the 50s; Honey As a result, she didn’t quite get to this stage, and he uses its claustrophobic puts despair in its place, and makes us than a feature. Some of the Pinter and Nick (George’s guests) are products grips with Honey, unsure of what she effect perfectly. Martha, Nick, Honey question if our lives are quite as lively lines were destroyed, as if they of that era. George’s aim is to crush these was trying to say. Patrick Gleeson and the audience are all just watching after all. lacked the confidence to pause. already receding ideals. Cruel truth is the (Nick) and Megan Prosser screamed George’s games unfold. Overall, it was quite self-indulgent. dominant theme here, which means that though; in fact, they almost came. During the filming of the screen At the Corpus Playroom from 2nd - 6th the rare tenderness materialises onstage The scene when they dance, with adaptation of Who’s afraid of Virginia November at 7.00p.m. in a strange, subtle way. George and Honey as helpless spec- Woolf, the actress Sandy Dennis (playing Euripides Bacchan action Private living Lottie Oram on pure entertainment Mathilda Imlah on a student adaptation of The Bacchae This is not a classical tragedy. This is The works of Noel Coward epito- sake of entertainment. 1930’s Thebes, the last act for mise the fading decadence of the But it is hard to appreciate in this Dionysus, lord of the music hall. The 1920’s and 30’s. Set in a gin-soaked desensitised, very un-private world Pembroke New Cellars are trans- world of perpetual twilight filled of today, just how risqué and poten- formed into a smoke-filled den of with shallowness, wit and regret, his tially scandalous this play would depravity, wherein suited Bacchantes cut glass characters bark and bitch have been when it was first per- proffer the nectar of the gods to a less with fabulous intensity and wonder- formed. Before the days of Heat than ancient audience. The emotional ful stupidity, alongside a roaring magazine, Piers Morgan and Trisha, excess of the standard tragedy is given soundtrack of ridiculous mishaps people had a chance of keeping their a hedonistic backdrop of drugs, sex, and romantic entanglements. Private business off the grapevine if they and jazz. Simon Evans recasts the god Lives is of course no exception to wished. as a figure of iconic celebrity, famous this formula. Coward relentlessly portrays vio- for parlour tricks: a magician of It concerns the amorous escapades lence, infidelity and mendacity Houdini’s heyday with a reputation for of Eliot and Amanda, once married, through a succession of selfish, over- sensual magnetism. now divorced, who remarry very privileged, morally relaxed characters Despite transporting the play to unsuitably and then decide to run off to create what is essentially a playful the modern day, Evans remains loyal together all over again. Naturally the yet satirical assassination of upper to the plot and themes of Euripides. course of true love does not run class wantonness. Indeed, one of the Rumour and suspicion are rife, lives smooth for the obstinate, tempera- slightly worrying reasons why depend on reputations and families mental couple. The tension between Coward’s work is still very popular are quite literally torn apart. The Miles Bullock as the sinister and seductive Bacchus, with Bacchants this volatile pair and their weak, today is that we can often identify original rejection of all that music, and the Maenad dancers in graphed emotion, but deliver both cloying new partners, Victor and with the actions of many of his char- Dionysus embodies by Pentheus, gaudy lingerie. with alacrity. Sybil, creates an exasperatingly acters; ignoring the “hamming it King of Thebes, incites the destruc- The staging, like the play, holds a The direction is simple and intu- comic atmosphere. up”element, that core of instability tion of his monochrome and monot- strong element of metatheatre; the itive, ensuring that the classical and This is a wonderfully melodramat- and fickleness that drives Coward’s onous kingdom. audience are the citizens of Thebes, the modern are simultaneously dis- ic comedy fraught with frightful plays is also mirrored in the heart of Evans exploits the idea of a conser- deceived by the colourful decadence tinct and complementary without coincidences, borderline violent modern society. vative society in conflict with the ani- of their surroundings, their chronol- being over the top. The comfortable slapstick, vicious one-liners and Essentially, though, Private Lives malistic abandon heralded by the ogy dictated by the Master of setting is corrupted by the tragedy, plenty of opportunities for the play- is just a slick, funny play and can be arrival of the travelling mountebank. Ceremonies, Coryphaeus (played by making the experience altogether ers to “ham it up”. This is something enjoyed without any unnecessary The lone voices of reason, of modera- Evans). Cory runs the show like a perverse and disturbing. This, at that the Pembroke Players are relish- philosophising or justification. The tion in all things, are the aged (and ringmaster, whose circus spirals least, is Evans’ aim; as the audience ing and they have, in rehearsal, pro- play will be performed in contempo- occasionally drunken) prophet Tiresias increasingly out of control in a sip their wine it becomes clear that duced a quartet of brilliantly camp, rary 1930’s style costume, accompa- and Cadmus, grandmother of the sequence of vaudeville performances. they are not only voyeurs but partic- exaggerated, acerbic and pathetic nied by appropriate set and lighting King. Pentheus’ stubborn refusal of The impulse to script, direct and ipants in the action. characters. design, which should give the whole counsel and constant attempts to perform in this production demon- No doubt the evening will be an This is going to be a fun produc- production an authentic, sophisticat- restrain the elusive Dionysus end in a strates Evans’ dedication to the text enjoyable one, if for no other reason tion: the director Ben Irving promis- ed feel. Entertainment for the sake horribly ironic version of curiosity both on and off the page. His back- than that (as promised by es no pretentiousness, just an enjoy- of it, seeing Private Lives will require killing the cat. ground in classical performance Coryphaeus himself), “Amongst the ably chaotic ninety-minute farce and no depth of thought nor demand The sinister and seductive allows for a truthful adaptation, and blood, the gore, the razz-ma-tazz, the opportunity to buy cheaply intelligent conversation afterwards. Dionysus is convincingly portrayed one that is driven by a great deal of were games, and toys… and all… priced refreshments during the Have a laugh and cringe and forget by Miles Bullock, who casts a roving energy. It is this energy which will, that… jazz!” interval. As this is an ensemble about work for a while, I’m sure it’ll eye over chorus and spectator alike. we hope, give the play the momen- piece, filled with rapid-fire dialogue do us all some good. The atmosphere promises to be one tum which was evident on the At the Pembroke New Cellars from and visual gags, the impetus will be of extravagance and intensity: the rehearsal stage. The actors walk a 2nd - 6th November at 10 p.m. on style and pace over substance and At the Pembroke New Cellars from magician in his scarlet livery, the live fine line between raw and choreo- depth: entertainment for the simple 2nd - 6th November at 7 p.m.

Careers Service event

Teaching Event

Thursday 4 November 6.00 – 8.00pm

University Centre, 1st Floor South, Granta Place, Mill Lane

Find out what teaching is really like – what makes a good teacher, routes to training, rewards and prospects.

Teachers, the Teacher Training Agency, Fast Track Teaching and Cambridge University Faculty of Education

will all take part.

Everyone welcome!

• TEACHERS TALK – teachers talk about life in the classroom

• ROUTES TO BECOMING A QUALIFIED TEACHER – Teacher Training Agency

• The FAST TRACK scheme: how it works; is it right for you? – Fast Track Teaching

• QUESTION TIME – put your questions to a panel of speakers, and staff from

the Faculty of Education

• REFRESHMENTS and INFORMAL DISCUSSION with all the participants

Cambridge University Careers Service, Stuart House, Mill Lane, Cambridge www.careers.cam.ac.uk

Careers Service event

Museums, Galleries & Auction Houses

Careers Evening

Tuesday 2 November, 6.30-7.45pm, Mill Lane Lecture Rooms

PROMPT START

Speakers include:

Mary Guyatt, Curator, Victoria and Albert Museum

Haydn Smith, Director, Oakham Galleries

Sarah Shaw, Joint Museums Officer, Cambridge University

Sarah Ward, Curator and PR Officer, Essex Police Museum

Katharine Edgar, Lecturer, Leicester University Museums Studies

Find out about the enormous range of employers and types

of work in these fields and how to get started in them

Cambridge University Careers Service, Stuart House, Mill Lane, Cambridge www.careers.cam.ac.uk www.varsity.co.uk October 29, 2004 CLASSICAL 27

This week...

Bach Conductor’s UK Debut ...why not try one of these: Richard Wilberforce reviews the Academy of Ancient Music’s West Road Concert This Wednesday at West Road, Joanna MacGregor gives the Harmonia Mundi’s comedy CD only negative point I will make European première of James release, The Three Countertenors, does about his extremely good perform- MacMillan’s Piano Concerto No.2, not do much for all those budding ance. The Cantata poses notorious with MacMillan himself conducting

countertenors out there trying to range difficulties as it lies very low ncient Music Britten Sinfonia. persuade attractive women that and therefore necessitates frequent A www.brittensinfonia.co.uk there’s more to their art than being a gear-changes from falsetto to chest On Monday, Kettle’s Yard are doing man who sings like a woman. It did, voice that can have listeners in fits of a special concert to celebrate the demy of however, give a great deal of (debat- laughter when it goes wrong. This a 70th Birthday of influential ably good) publicity to the singer can’t be said of Bertin who handled Ac American composer Christian Wolff Pascal Bertin: a young and trendy it with ease, even during the semi- at 7.30pm with a pre-concert talk Frenchman with a rather beautiful quaver runs. 6.30pm by the man himself. voice, who was the featured artist in But it was in the second half that www.kettlesyard.co.uk last Wednesday’s West Road Concert he really excelled, as he gave a stun- The Cambridge Taverner Choir open of music by Bach. ning performance of the fiendishly their Choral Music of the Renaissance You may be as surprised as I was to difficult Cantata No. 35, which in series on Saturday at 8pm in St John's hear that one of the world’s finest contrast to the first, is all very high. College Chapel with John Tallis's period instrument orchestras is based It was up here that Bertin seemed Spem in Alium. in Cambridge. The Academy of most happy as he floated some lovely www.cambridgetavernerchoir.org.uk Ancient Music has an impressive top E’s with his understated and very Our own talent are battling it out discography of landmark recordings, easy sounding voice. As a reviewer, with the best of them. Check out which all showcase the orchestra’s you don’t expect to find yourself writ- CUCO’s concert on Saturday, also at impeccable ensemble, and with ing about the recitative, but Bertin’s West Road, featuring Mozart’s Christopher Hogwood’s skills of pace, diction and musicality made it Symphony no. 38. featuring music by Masaaki Suzuki makes his UK debut with the Academy of Ancient Music interpretation, they have earned some of the best I’ve ever heard and Janacek and Martinu. worldwide notoriety. This concert was certainly worthy of mention. nature and obvious rapport with the I’ve never seen the West Road part of a series in which guest conduc- However, it was their guest con- players. Concert Hall so packed, and the per- The Clare College Music Society’s tor and acclaimed Bach interpreter ductor for this season who was cer- His Concerto in D Major for sistent loud applause was more than Term Concert is this Thursday at Masaaki Suzuki makes his UK debut. tainly the star of the show. One of harpsichord was impressive, if only aptly rewarded with the first movement West Road at 8pm, featuring, In Bertin’s first Solo Cantata the most respected interpreters and for the fact that he played a concerto of Bach’s best-known Alto Cantata, amonst other pieces, Utopia by (no.54), I wondered whether the conductors of Bach in the world, whilst conducting an orchestra. Vergnügte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust Christopher Willis, a CCMS somewhat pained expression on his Suzuki is famous for his gigantic When I asked how he managed to (No.170). Although taken at rather a Commission and World Première, face was to reflect the morbid text of project with the Bach Collegium in do this so proficiently, he helpfully brisk pace for my taste, it was the icing conducted by the composer. Satan, Sin and Sodom, or simply Japan: to record the complete Bach replied ‘very hard – takes much prac- on the cake, and ended what was an all- www.clare.cam.ac.uk/life/music down to not knowing the work well Cantatas. What sets Suzuki apart tice.’ That’s me told then. I didn’t round fantastic concert. Better than enough. I suspect the latter, as his from the rest is his concern for draw- think then was the time to start Rumboogie, without having to put up Visit the websites for more informa- eyes rarely left the music stand, and ing feeling and religious meaning making jokes about The Ha-re-ru- with the sticky floors. tion and details of ticket prices. this certainly was a shame as it is the from the works, along with his lovely rah Chorus… Spoilt for choice Jazz@John’s put to the test Nicola Simpson reviews Cambridge’s musical diversity Tom Morey while Mike Spencer-Chapman on John Turville on keys. Andrew Macaskill horns soloed with an incredibly Unfortunately the lack of variety The past two weeks have seen a stupen- jazz club, and lifted the atmosphere bright sound. in tempo slightly marred the overall dous number and variety of concerts in with the first note they played. The fact that this is the first time The addition of a beautifully soft performance and it was clear that the Cambridge, leaving us quite breathless Our attention was immediately Jazz@Johns has ever received a melody line by Niccie Simpson gave audience was yearning for a more and exhilarated in their wake. captured by a rendition of Feeling review in Varsity seems surprising, as an extra edge to the band, and it was obvious and accessible groove. The highly-acclaimed Fitzwilliam Good, opened by a solo intro by their the night has been going at least as clear that by the end of their set, the This is hardly a criticism of Jon String Quartet came to the Fitz audito- incredibly charismatic and engaging long as we have been around. audience were right behind them. Opstad for he clearly makes a delib- rium on Sunday the 17th to conclude female vocalist. However, it does show just how good This gave Jon Opstad and his trio erate effort to produce jazz in a post the college music society’s Weekend of The repertoire was varied and audi- this popular jazz evening actually is, the perfect platform for his headline modern, minimalist way. But for a Music, and had no problems defending ence-friendly, ranging from Stevie in that it is consistently able to fill up spot. Having heard his very atmos- crowd consisting mainly of casual their well-deserved reputation. Wonder and Michael Jackson covers to primarily, by word of mouth. pheric and minimalist album, it was jazz enthusiasts, one got the feeling Their program, at first glance, seemed Carol King’s soulful ballad Natural Throwing off the stereotypes associ- interesting to hear how this could be that his style on the night was slight- somewhat random and unconnected, Woman. There were some ambitious ated with jazz nights, of smoky, dimly carried over into a live performance. ly misplaced. but as the performance went on it choices – Elvis’s A Little Less lit rooms, the atmosphere is friendly, The introduction using an E-bowed On the whole, the night was a real became very clear how all the pieces Conversation and Joss Stone’s Super the bar cheap and the room full. bassline set the tone well for the per- success, and as Jazz@Johns is one of were intrinsically linked. My personal Duper Love – but they all fell easily The support act, Jazztank, provid- formance to come. the few forums for showcasing local favourite was perhaps their first number, within the capabilities of the band. ed just what was needed, a wide vari- Opstad himself provided deft cym- jazz talent, one can only hope that it

Purcell’s Music from the ‘Fairy Queen’. et ety of funk-tinged jazz standards to bal work and throughout had an continues to increase in popularity as t The ornamentation was graceful, the start the night on the right note. inescapable sense of time. Together, it so clearly deserves to. tempo never flagged and it was always Bassist, Rich Cummings, provided a the Opstad brothers provided the per- played with all the delicacy and elegance wonderfully unobtrusive groove, fect base for the obvious talents of necessary for the music. The (fairly hefty) demands of the itzwilliam quar more modern pieces (Dyson, F Shostakovitch and Janacek) were met y of es

with relish – double-stops, harmonics t and rapid swaps between arco and pizzi- cato were deftly handled, and there was Cour a pleasing sense of communication The Fitzwilliam String Quartet between the four, with each piece being finished with a satisfying flourish. The instrumentalists provided a per- As a reviewer, one goes to a concert fect accompaniment to the vocals, main- hoping to find at least one criticism to taining a fine balance throughout. Their avoid seeming overly sychophantic, but timing was impeccable, not least due to in this instance, it simply wasn’t possi- the direction of the animated MD, and ble, and I felt privileged to be a listener. the soloists improvised with flair and Wednesday night, however, rapidly originality. Perhaps special mention dragged us away from highly-strung should go to the rhythm section, and in (no pun intended) elevated chamber particular the drummer, for their consis- music scene right to the other end of tently strong support. All that was need- town, when the Renegade Big Band ed in order to gauge their success was to hit the newly renovated Junction with see the number of people they managed a fusion of swing, funky blues and to lift out of their seats and get shaking soul. They managed to transform the their booty. Great stuff. still rather dark and oppressive sur- So, another mission of a musical week roundings of the venue, for a short done and dusted, bring on the next one time at least, into a lively, swinging - aren’t we lucky students. 28 MUSIC October 29, 2004 www.varsity.co.uk The Delays: Faded Seaside Clamour Mary Bowers talks to the harmonious heartbreakers before last week’s gig at the Junction

Cambridge hipsters take note: boys, it’s purred in perfect tune, and presided all about tanktops, skin-tight seventies over by Greg’s dulcet falsetto (‘a lot of de shirts and, most of all, hairdos – and people come to our gigs assuming the Tra we’re not talking wash‘n’go here. The singer’s a girl and being really sur-

Delays are almost as serious about their prised’). It is almost impossible to Rough demure coiffage as the late Kula Shaker. overlook the fact that there is an There is something touchingly self- incredibly grown-up tenderness in the deprecating about the Delays (‘we went Delays’ style, especially in the gorgeous to a charity shop and bought loads of ‘Bedroom Scene’ - their first song of shit clothes’ declares Aaron) but don’t the set. ‘A lot of our songs evoke the be fooled - there is no shoegazing evi- same mood as bands like My Bloody dent in tonight’s performance from Valentine, Ride and Slowdive. But Gilbert brothers et al. They are signed we’re just as much into Abba and Daft to Rough Trade now. They have had Punk.’ It is this mix of the ethereal and one summer radio hit single in the form the electro that make the Delays of the toe-tapping, La’s-esque ‘Long appeal to both sides of the mainstream Time Coming’ – and a best-selling divide, and in tonight’s crowd dad- debut album Faded Seaside Glamour rockers nod their heads alongside under their hipster belts. shaggy-maned popsters. ‘Lose yourself These boys are well out of the realm through touch / Lose yourself in love’ of support-band apologetics, having croons Greg’s refined falsetto. These just returned from a US tour with boys may seem gauche, but they sure Franz Ferdinand. When I meet up know how to break hearts - and they with drummer Rowly he seems effu- do it in three-part harmony. sive: ‘In Toronto Drew Barrymore Tonight at the Junction, newly refur- came backstage to say she was a big bished and still looking pristine, there fan…she’d be like “Thank you so much are a few twee neck-boppers about. Is for the beer” and you’d be like “Thank Cambridge the kind of crowd the you for ET!”’ So, has their debut suc- Delays are used to after returning from cess changed them - or are they just the US? ‘They danced in this really Southampton lads made good? ‘We all Manchester Bez-like manner, thinking live on the same street, and there’s not that’s the dance you do to English much to do there, so whenever we’re Bands. It’s really sweet.’ Tonight, our not on tour we spend all day every day surroundings are more Byker-Grove ‘Come on! Give me tiger! Rrrrr! Roar like a tiger! Rrrrrrrr!’ in the garage.’ than Boston, and despite the thought Don’t be fooled - the Delays are not that at any moment we might be ‘Nearer Than Heaven’, and leave this them as young and cheeky upstarts in studio we don’t know how it’s going to just a bunch of naïve Byrds/Hollies passed a plastic cup of Geff ’s orange Cambridge bunch happy with a pre- the world of guitar-pop. After the be.’ Judging by their new single, ‘Lost replicas, despite the retro-pop shots squash rather than a pint of Carling, dictable encore of ‘Long Time glamour of a national tour they’re in a Melody’, - an excursion into the fired at them by the music press. What The Delays provide us with a more Coming’. There’s a bit of fan worship hibernating in the hills of Wales, rather world of 80s disco/electronica (‘It’s like distinguishes the sound of Faded grown-up gig than their retro-reputa- tonight, but no Drew Barrymore fight- than retreating to their trusty seaside shoegaze meets Daft Punk’ according Seaside Glamour is its maturity. These tion might lead us to believe. ing past the bouncers to get backstage. garage in Southampton to record their to Rowly) and due to be released on are not boys singing to their high They say ‘Thank you very much’ a So what’s next for the Delays? Fan- next album. ‘It’s going to go more 22nd November - they continue along school sweethearts, gawkishly nodding lot, and have little time for banter in worship and comfortable mainstream extreme than the last one, it won’t the road of hip-swivelling, sugar-coat- their heads and twanging away gaily what seems essentially a get on - get off status? Success really hasn’t been a long sound like a debut album. We’ve all ed pop pills that get more than a few on their telecasters. These are gor- gig. They hammer out the tunes, the time coming for them, the audacity of been listening to the Brian Wilson carefully-styled barnets nodding this geously layered fragile harmonies poptastic ‘Hey Girl’, the retro-ethereal their debut album already signalling Smile album a lot. Until we get into the evening. More hairspray, anyone? Hail to the Blank Generation Album Reviews The Koreans DFA Records The Koreans Compilation #2 Jocelyn Beats goes in search of London’s most elusive scene

What is Blank? Asking this question is Zealand, are out of work but can’t stop ences, they are to be found in the mini- Out now November 1st like losing sight in one eye. I hadn’t playing. There have been Blank releases malist Japanese pseudo-pop of (Storm Music) (DFA) heard of Blank before one still and star- on local indie labels, but the tag isn’t Cornelius, or the deliberate pastiche of ry night at Clapham Common’s band- used and no Blank band retains the New American indie bands like I find it extremely difficult to con- DFA Records is so over. So, so over. stand. On a late night bus service a same name (or members) once each Cerberus Shoal. Not the least confusing jure up in my mind anything more In fact, they’re so over that, give it a friend and I met Stu the hefty New project is finished. The bracket is loose thing about these groups, however, is the passé than disco-punk. Electric Six few months, and they might even be Zealander, who matter-of-factly asked – not quite a musical style, not saying variety of instrumentation they use and have thankfully fucked off back to ironically meta-hip. us to come and hear him play his anything shocking – a last bastion of the range of moods they seek to provoke. whatever pit they came from; fagin- The label started mind-blowingly ukulele for free. A chance like this can- resistance to the work done by the music The exhilaration of subtle computerisa- friendly waifs The Rapture have well back in 2002 with ‘House of not be ignored in innocence. press which makes bands passé before tion proclaiming just cause with Bartok’s reverted to a secluded NY life, steal- Jealous Lovers’ by the Rapture and We stood with a crowd of perhaps you know anything more than how they Romanian Folk Dances is unfathomable ing silver pennies from the rich to ‘Losing My Edge’ by LCD forty silent people who had come for the look in a full page spread. though, and it all hangs together on the feed their poor, electricity starved Soundsystem, two of the greatest occasion equipped with flasks of tea, and conviction of those involved. Every one 909’s in the wake of DFA selling its tracks of the century so far. But now watched not only Stu play with an of the people I met at Blank concerts in soul (see right). they’ve been bought out by industry acoustic ensemble calling itself the A last bastion of Clapham and Camden was friendly and With this in mind, it’s a consider- megalith EMI. And the one thing Closed Marriage Treaty but several resistance passionate about music. The arrange- able feat that The Koreans have which I do not understand, is that other acoustic musicians and a bearded ments may be secretive and the outdoor made this tired genre sound so virile. for a long time the only format on man with a laptop whose battery ran out locations frankly uncomfortable, but I Perhaps it’s because their influences, which they released, was vinyl. before his set finished. The sound of all The ‘Blank’ reference is an obvious soon began carrying my own tea and unlike the above, sit on the cusp of As a record label, you do that the instruments from brass to strings was look back to seventies punk and the accepting the situation for what it was. retro’s current early nineties wave, all because you want to be cool. That’s simultaneously simple yet unrepetitive, ‘Blank generation’ coined by Richard However much you theorise, Blank sampled dial-ups and Stonehenge okay, we all want to be cool. But if soothing yet disturbing. It was the sound Hell of Television. Yet whereas punk speaks for itself. harmonies. Maybe it’s the produc- you want to be cool, you definitely of musicians with a clinical psychological bands were rebelling against the lie that The summer was over before I felt tion; their guitars come in warm, don’t sell yourself to EMI. understanding, and I was hooked. artists had to be talented to be famous, any of it could possibly have actually fizzy Pixies chunks rather than Maybe they listened to their own Grabbing Stu when the music fin- Blank is reacting against the lie that you happened. Without publicity, stars, Sandinista soup tins, and there is a compilation and said to each other, ished I learnt about the host of Blank have to want to be famous at all - an long-term record contracts or a defin- gratifying dearth of slap bass. ‘We have the Rapture. Awesome. We events taking place over the summer, idea not easy to digest amid Pop Idol, X- able fan base, Blank may well be Whatever the reason, they don’t have LCD Soundsystem. Awesome. and naturally asked what Blank was. Factor and the host of musicians whose doomed to premature death. The last sound like PiL, they don’t have light And we have - oh. We have endless With a gleam in his seeing eye he careers say only ‘love me: buy me’. time I saw Stu I asked him what he up codpieces, and they’ll make you dull prog-disco-punk. Not awesome. responded ‘Bollocks Luck And Nobody If the larger Blank collectives around thought would happen next. ‘It’s like the jig without having to sport an oblig- When people realise, we’re doomed. Knows’. Blank musicians, many of at the moment (Pride of the F`orce Fed, First World War’ he said, ‘It’ll all be over atory 45-degree fringe. Time to sell out. Get on the phone.’ whom are from Australia or New Non-Conference) have specific influ- by Christmas.’ Tom Durno Ned Beauman www.varsity.co.uk October 29, 2004 FASHION 29 MAYBE BABY IT’S THE CLOTHES WE WEAR...

he Student has never been a major fashion trend. We’ve had preppy Tcool and The Uptown Boho, both of which are crucial elements of The Student, but never a season completely dedicated to the sartorial melting pot which constitutes scholarly chic. The whole thing is sur- rounded by a hazy stereotype of anti-war t- JACKET:£49.99 shirts, tie-dye trousers and Doc Martins. H&M Student chic is about looking good in POLO SHIRT: things that aren’t meant to look good. £14.99 H&M Scruffy and effortless, yet well presented: The Student never looks like they tried too hard. Over-sized jeans and tiny tops; retro eighties shell suit tops with cords; flip flops on a Sunday. The Student foregrounds comfort but is not dictated to by it. Narrow jeans, kitten heels and a blazer work equal- ly well at lectures or in the pub, as do bat- tered jeans, vintage tees and old converse trainers. On the other hand, stilettos and micro-mini skirts are also passable down at the faculty. The range of student fashion, beginning with chinos and smoking jackets, and end- ing with high waistbands and sensible shoes, is rife with ‘types’ and hybrids. The alternative Indie Kid, influenced heavily by SOLE-TRADER YUKIKO ALICE JOE Topshop. The post-modern Edwardian Gent with umbrella, pocket watch and Evisu pumps, armed with GHD straight- eners. And The Ethno-Ra, bedecked in gap-yaaar jewellery, Paul’s Boutique and Miss Selfridge. The Student adapts or rejects what they are given and employs initiative to find what best suits. The same thing seems to happen with lectures and essays. On the flipside, The Student is a mere fashion spring chicken. The transition from fresh-faced Cambridge ingénue to addled library hag is an alarmingly easy one to make, so outfits that celebrate a youthful JACKET: PINK JACKET:£24.99 H&M £59.99 H&M zest for life and flamboyancy are another PINK LACE TOP:£9.99 H&M necessary strong point. Practicality has never been a young person’s trait and there- in lies the strength of The Student. Our clothes are meant to look good and make people wonder, not to keep us warm or dry. A ballet tutu, worn with woolly tights, vin- tage shoes, an over-sized cardigan and lots of pearls is a useful way of reminding supervisors that university is actually about being frivolous, decadent and downright stupid a lot of the time.

Harry Walker

CARDIGAN: OLLY & NANCY £58.99 REISS ANTHEA SHOES:FROM £25 MISS SELFERIGE photos: Sally Jennings, Johanna Z-Sharp

T-SHIRT:£32.00 DOGFISH

JACKET:£54.99 RIVER ISLAND INDIA JAMES SIMON 30 SPORT October 29, 2004 www.varsity.co.uk Blues try to see a point through the red mist nothing could put Blues skipper Jon glancing header missed by inches. hanging cross was powerfully headed beat Edwards to cut in a low cross. University Football Darby off his stride, as he slammed the But the Blues efforts seemed to home from eight yards by none other The Lincoln keeper claimed the CAMBRIDGE 1 penalty into the top right-hand corner peter out towards half time, as than the Lincoln captain. cross, and then threw the ball out of to earn the Blues a one-all draw. Lincoln managed to calm the tempo. The Blues struggled to create any play because Edwards was injured in LINCOLN 1 Darby’s pre-match email had Indeed, they could have stolen the clear opportunities until just before the challenge. promised that “we owe these fuckers lead. The impressive Heath did well Darby’s penalty. Up until that Such was the bad blood by this Sam Richardson from last year”. Lincoln had been to keep out an outrageous lob from moment, they had been in a battle. stage that Darby ordered the Blues promoted behind the Blues last sea- his opposite number, but could only After they took the lead, they were in not to give the ball back to Lincoln. son, after beating Cambridge at watch as another long-ranger pinged a war. Smith limped off after going in The throw-in was taken quickly, and CLASS WAR burst onto the football home and losing away. At one point off the angle of post and bar. for a crunching challenge, Matt Mugan cut in on goal only for the ref- pitch on Wednesday, as the Blues in the game at Cambridge, a ginger- The Blues came out of half-time Clamp needed treatment for a bloody eree to apply some common sense took a hard-earned BUSA point haired supporter who looked suspi- confident, but in the end they had the lip and substitute Mike Adams was and give a foul throw. A scuffle against Lincoln, from a game that saw ciously like Prince Harry had been stuffing knocked out of them by a kicked while the ball was at the other ensued, which resulted in a Lincoln no less than four players sent off. heard to shout, “Let’s turn UCAS soft goal ten minutes in. end of the pitch. player being sent off for throwing a This was the Blues’ first BUSA points into goals”. The warning signs had been evi- It was Adams, returning from punch, and Rich Payne being sent off game of the season, and it hinged on However, it was Lincoln who start- dent already, as two Lincoln corners injury, who proved the biggest threat for “aggressive walking”. an incident in the seventy-fifth ed more strongly, as the Blues defence had resulted in a free header wide and in the closing stages. Firstly he cut Lincoln’s goalkeeper was later minute. A Cambridge cross came in seemed to be caught cold on a chilly a deflection into the side-netting. into the channel and hit the post with shown the red card for arguing with too deep, leaving the Lincoln goal- afternoon at Fenners. A Lincoln long Then, at the third time of asking, the a shot from a tight angle. Then he the referee. keeper and Alex Mugan entangled on throw found a man in the box who

the ground. The Blues turned the ball appeared to be Iain Dowie’s bigger, dson back across, and with the keeper still uglier brother. His knock-down left stranded, Nick Pantelides drove a Rob Hale five yards out, but his crisp shot goal-wards from eight yards. A volley was superbly blocked by keeper am Richar

Lincoln defender on the line Duncan Heath. S stretched out a hand to pull off a save On closer inspection, the bald of which Gordon Banks would have colossus turned out to be Lincoln’s been extremely proud. captain, a centre-back who went by The referee, in line with his efforts the name of Jonah Edwards. His throughout the afternoon, appeared foray forward proved to be a rare one to have missed the incident. in the first half, because he and his However, the linesman, sporting a fellow defenders found themselves posh voice and a double-barrelled besieged by a Blues onslaught. name, pointed immediately and cor- Steve Smith’s header (pictured rectly to the spot. Ten minutes of right) was well tipped over by Lincoln wrangling ensued, during which goalkeeper Dan Vaughan. Rich Payne wannabe goalkeeper, now already sent pounced on Alex Mugan’s drilled off, spat at the linesman and com- cross, only to see his goalbound shot plained that he was a “posh cunt”. ricochet off a defender. Mugan then The shout of “let’s take these toffs clipped a shot from twenty-five yards down” emanated from the Lincoln that the keeper flicked over the bar, University side on the touchline, but and from the ensuing corner Payne’s Cambridge’s Stevie Smith heads on goal, but the keeper tips the ball over the bar to stop the Blues taking the lead www.varsity.co.uk October 29, 2004 SPORT 31

England run out of escape routes Sport In Brief Mark Adair deliberates on England’s doomed tour of Zimbabwe RUGBY LEAGUE - The Rugby WITH THE English Cricket team on their funding. The ECB are terrified of dence by a touring England side. To er could save England’s cricketers League season kicked off in style the verge of a tour that few want to see, ICC sanctions which could bankrupt suggest that sport has nothing to do from touring Zimbabwe, yet the with a Nick Rusling hat-trick and a it seems that the question of whether English cricket if the team refused to with politics is extremely naive as issue is likely to resurface as the tour win at St. Mary’s. Not so positive sport should have a consciience has tour Zimbabwe or if they choose to send many corrupt dictators have used approaches. however was a loss on Wednesday to reappeared with avengeance. However, a reserve team. The ICC have also made sport to portray their regime in a In his Sunday newspaper column Bristol 22-18. Cambridge was on as the stakes are raised and financial threats to suspend England from Test good light. England’s Steve Harmison, the cur- top for most of the game but were rewards grow, it seems that the English cricket if they do not tour. Ian Botham has urged the British rent Number one bowler in the world, unable to convert this into points. Cricket Board may be turning a blind However, putting aside all moral Government to intervene and order perhaps summed it up best when jus- eye to Zimbabwe while looking issues, the tour is a waste of time as it the England cricket team not to tour tifying his decision not to tour on squarely at their bank balances. cannot even be classed as a contest. Zimbabwe. This would, he believes, moral grounds: “It’s not been an easy HOCKEY - The men’s Blues There are many English fans who The fifteen best white cricketers in make a stance against Mugabe’s [decision] to make after what were destroyed 10 - 0 in the EHL simply want to see their cricket team Zimbabwe are refusing to play for regime. Botham said “As long as England have achieved this year, but cup on Sunday. They played well for rule the world and beat every team out their country in protest as what they [Zimbabwe] is run by a barbaric nothing has changed in Zimbabwe long periods of the game but made there. They believe that ‘sport and pol- see as the racist selection criteria of regime that sponsors genocide and since we pulled out of playing there in too many unforgiveable errors. The itics should not mix’. Now that the picking players based on the colour of starvation, [England] shouldn’t be the World Cup [2003], which is why Wanderers won 3 - 2 against Long council have confirmed that the play- their skin rather than their cricketing going anywhere near the place.” I can’t go now.” Other players may yet Sutton at home. ers will be safe, then they should go. ability. As a result, the Zimbabwean Now it seems that only the weath- follow suit. There can be no doubt that the current team are a group of inexperienced government in Zimbabwe is abhor- cricketers with an average age of only ROWING - Although having to rent, but what has a game of cricket twenty-one. No match for a full lshain cope with very windy conditions on got to do with that? England side who are currently num- Saturday, the Cambridge Autumn Meanwhile, England are gradually ber 2 in the world. Head took place. Churchill was the winning back the goodwill of the Perhaps the tour should be boy- fastest college, beating Emma by one International Cricket Community cotted for moral and political reasons Adam Ede second in the men’s 8+ category with (ICC) after their refusing to play as well. Eighteen months ago, the 9.55mins over the 2.6km course. Zimbabwe in a World Cup match in England and Wales Cricket Board Pembroke won the women’s with Harare last year. This decision not to outlined a powerful case for boycotting 11.38, nine seconds ahead of Jesus. play was made on “safety and security Zimbabwe as a gesture of revulsion at Churchill also came first in the grounds” rather than for moral rea- President Robert Mugabe’s tyranny. women’s fours event. sons. To jeapordise their standing in They noted that non-participation in the cricketing world would do English sport helped to bring down the regime cricket enormous harm. in South Africa. AND FINALLY.... It is also argued that the criticism of It must be remembered that CORRECTION - Varsity sport England and Wales Cricket Board is President Mugabe is closely tied to would like to apologise for inaccura- deeply unfair given that the tour itself Zimbabwe’s cricket hierarchy. He cies in the article in last week’s issue won’t generate much money. It is himself is the patron. A corrupt and concerning the Cambridge boat that financial threat by the ICC that is dictatorial regime, such as that in raced in Zambia. (see letters, page 11) forcing the ECB to try and preserve Zimbabwe, should not be given cre- Only the weather could conceivably come to England’s rescue Men’s College Rugby League Blues beat London Wasps Division 1 Place Team Pl W D L F A PD Pts University Rugby Sevens international Roberts, punished the score 13-11. With the Wasps team 1 St. John’s 3 3 0 0 92 6 84 12 the faulty defence mercilessly. He raced shedding players at an increasing rate, CAMBRIDGE 23 into the space afforded him and cut the early departure from the scene of 2 Jesus 2 2 0 0 49 13 36 8 LONDON WASPS 13 beautifully inside the last remnants of recovering first teamer Fraser Waters cover for a fine, solo try under the posts. being the most disappointing, the tide 3 Downing 3 1 0 2 32 44 -8 6 The momentum that Cambridge had of the game flowed gradually away Michael Henson been building seemed to have been from the professionals. 4 Girton 2 1 0 1 12 40 -28 5 brought to a shuddering halt. Roberts, The quick running of a penalty close who racked up a hat-trick in the 41-10 to the Wasps’ line led to a knock-on 5 Trinity Hall 2 0 0 2 5 44 -39 2 IN FRONT of a home crowd swelled victory over Oxford last week, sensed that seemed to have let them off the by the presence of Zurich another student sacrifice to his own hook once again. However, the weak 6 St Catharine’s 2 0 0 2 16 59 -43 2 Premiership headliners, the Blues young talents. attempted clearance kick from Edd landed a first pre-Varsity psychologi- Yet Cambridge’s forwards imposed Thrower gave Hughes the chance to Last weeks’ results: St. John’s 22 - 3 Downing cal blow squarely on the Oxford chin. themselves around the fringes and in run the ball straight back. Cambridge Tit. Hall P - P St. Catz Jesus P - P Girton Where the Bees were swatted away the loose. James Cure crashed into the crept closer and closer to the Wasp’s with relative ease last week, it was Wasps’ backline, relishing the opportu- line before finally, with the backs beg- expected that the Wasps would prove nity to cross the gain-line and keep the ging for the opportunity to scythe Men’s College Football League a much more testing adversary. And opposition on the retreat. Nathan through some ragged backs’ defence, so it proved. Yet the Blues met the McGarry continued his impressive no.1 James Cure hurled himself challenge and, in the process, filed an form as he roamed looking to pilfer ball through the last few yards to seize the Division 1 ominous progress report for those at and turn defence to attack. lead for the first time for the Blues. Place Team Pl W D L F A PD Pts Iffley Road to consider. Wasps maintained dominance in A quick penalty was the option taken Through the mists of exertion that possession and territory however, even again by Ufton just a few minutes later, 1 Fitzwilliam 2 2 0 0 5 2 3 6 hung around the players in the chill as the Blues kept them at bay with some with much more favourable conse- night air, their delight at this result was stout defence. As they struggled to quences. His try put the Blues 10 points 2 St. John’s22004136 clear. While the win in itself is reason string phases together they were limited out in front at 23-13, a gap that the enough to celebrate, the promise that to just a penalty and drop goal to extend Wasps never managed to close. Indeed 3 Jesus 2 1 0 1 7 4 3 3 came with it will be a more sustained their lead. Indeed, just before half time it could have been an even bigger win. source of happiness for the team. It is it was fortunate that the embarrassment Carter and Akinluyi, a hugely pow- 4 Trinity 1 1 0 0 3 1 2 3 from performances such as these that of options that presented themselves to erful combination in the centres, the Blues will know what they are capa- the Wasps’ no. 8, as he broke free proved drilled their men back in defence and 5 Downing 2 1016513 ble of, where they will look when all to be of such distraction that it prevent- were a constant menace in attack. isn’t going quite so well. ed him picking any of them. Some wonderfully improvised inter- 6 Churchill 2 1 0 1 3 3 0 3 Cambridge forced the opposition Just after the break, a scuffle broke play involving the pair and Hughes onto the back foot through the sheer out and served as a catalyst for the unfortunately failed to put Desmond 7 Darwin 2 0 1 1 2 3 -1 1 energy and tenacity of their play early forwards to wrestle further control of into space, forcing him to check back on. Abiola just failed to sweep up a the match from Wasps. Wheeler espe- into the swarming masses. McGarry 8 Caius 2 0 1 1 2 4 -2 1 bobbling ball with the line at his mercy, cially, restored to the starting back- and Wheeler both had breaks of luck Ufton saw a penalty fly wide. However, row, grew stronger and stronger as the attributed to foul play as the referee’s 9 Girton 1 0 0 1 1 5 -4 0 this early pressure was eased in a most game went on. A powerful forwards whistle dragged them back as they unsatisfactory, if dramatic, manner. drive over the Wasps line underlined bore down on the tryline. By the close, 10 St. Catharine’s 2 0 0 2 2 7 -5 0 From inside their own 22, Wasps dared the point. McGarry’s emergence from buoyed by such an important victory to zip the ball out wide to expose an the very depths of the mess that becoming reality, it was the students Last weeks’ results: Darwin 2 - 2 Caius; Downing 1 - 3 St. John’s; Fitzwilliam overlap which Desmond tried in vain to resulted was enough to draw further rather than the professionals who 2 - 0 St. Catz; Girton 1 - 5 Jesus; Trinity 3 - 1 Churchill stem. His opposite man, England positive attention to himself and make seemed to be finishing stronger. SPORT October 29, 2004

Red mists form over Lincoln Four sent off in action packed football match

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Ladies’ Lacrosse Surprise win for Jesus teams both win comfortably

College Football needed with goal scorer Bowie having to The next goal would prove decisive, Tragically for the home side, there CAMBRIDGE 18 be replaced after being sandwiched in and it was Jesus who snatched it on 70 was still time for Richard Staff to break Luke Pickering the penalty area, only for the refereeto minutes with a speculative shot that flew a bone in his foot in an innocuous chal- LONDON 4 wave away appeals to the dismay of the from the foot of Tim Swain into the top lenge. Keeper Jones is set to be side- typically vociferous home support. This corner to the delight of the travelling lined for a full 11 months, with defen- Sascha Grimm GIRTON BEGAN the defence of time the Jesus team were able to seize Jesuans. The visitors continued to attack sive lynchpin Staff out until the New Annalise Katz-Summercorn their title with a shock 5-1 home upon the confusion among the Girton to secure victory with Blues squad mem- Year. The psychological damage this defeat to Jesus that has immediately ranks after a floating free kick was final- ber Russell grabbing the game by the game has dealt Girton could take just as sprung the title race wide open. In an ly tapped home by unmarked midfielder scruff of the neck with two fine strikes long to heal. Jesus, meanwhile, can CAMBRIDGE DESTROYED a incident packed game, the league Brenig-Jones, with Girton having failed from the edge of the box as Girton heads dream about the title. poor London side that were expected champions, who were undefeated for to clear the danger. began to drop. In other games, Fitzwilliam, who to put up much more of a fight. The all of last season, lost no fewer than The away team continued to press edged past Jesus in their first game of match got off to a flying start, with four players to injury. with last ditch defending, led by softly the season, are top of the table after a Cambridge taking a firm hold of the With the ceding of their frontline spoken captain Jamie Knibbs, keeping ‘Fortress Girton’ comfortable win against last year’s run- game with a goal within the first to graduation, star man Alex Mugan the score level as half time approached. finally succumbed ners up, St Catherine’s. St John’s are minute. There was some strong pres- to blues commitments, and numer- Yet the action was far from over. also still unbeaten but only after a shaky sure on the ball in defence, holding ous injuries during the game, Another of Jesus’ many penetrating to a Jesus side start in an unconvincing 3 - 1 win at back the opposition and some great “fortress Girton” finally succumbed through balls saw Girton’s Phil Downing, while Churchill lost 3 - 1 to passing and driving up the midfield, to a Jesus side that grew throughout Gomersall and keeper Jones clear the Trinity. Trinity have played just one leaving London far behind. the game ably led by influential cap- danger but only at the expense of an hor- Finally, late substitute and Jason Lee game after their match with Girton was Despite being one man up, tain John Russell. rific injury to the irreplaceable Jones, look-a-like, Theo Bard, shook off the postponed but are one of only three Cambridge kept the level of game It could have all been so different. who boasted six clean sheets in the jeers of a disgruntled crowd and nodded teams that remain unbeaten. high, playing their advantage clever- Girton looked to begin the season as league last year. home with his pineapple shaped haircut ly. Work around the goal by the they had ended the last, with good pres- A 12-minute stoppage ensued as the to score Jesus’s fifth of the game. -League Table on page 31 attacks was fluid and showed a high sure from striker Tom Baden forcing the stricken stopper was transported to level of teamwork, with a number of otherwise impressive Jesus back line to Addenbrooke’s with a broken tibia. great cuts leading to several well- ing fumble the ball into the path of oncom- With no substitute keeper on the bench r timed goals. Fresher Tanya Wallis ing Sam Bowie, who poked home to and desperate attempts to reach the sec- and Phil Geering scored a finally break his goal scoring duck. onds’ keeper proving futile, it was left to respectable 9 goals between them. However, the joy was to be short-lived, novice goalkeeper Andy Owen to fill the Fresher Lizzie Maughan really com- Luke Picke with the replacement of Girton midfield sticks. manded the goal circle with some maestro Donald Davidson after 15 min- Jesus continued to attack until the inspirational saves. utes proving a harbinger of the problems break, but wasted numerous attempts to The whole team exhibited drive that were later to beset the reigning trouble the fill-in keeper and so the score and determination, with each indi- champions. remained level at a goal a piece as the vidual showing a great awareness for Chances continued to be created at half-time whistle blew. the other players. For so early on in either end with both keepers showing Both teams came out for the second the season, this result is a great their class. First, Girton’s own answer to half searching for the win, with Girton achievement and bodes well for the Peter Schmeichel, Rob Jones, saved looking dangerous via the clever use of rest of the year. bravely at the feet of an oncoming for- the long throw, a tactic that saw the Meanwhile, the Kingfishers, ward. Then Jesus’ answer to Jens powerful Jamie Knibbs isolated with his Cambridge’s second team, lost to a Lehmann, Sam Richardson, put his marker at the back post, but to no avail. strong Oxford side 8-4 in a thrilling kicking problems behind him to acro- Jesus themselves looked threatening encounter. batically tip over a Mike Dankis drive. with a looping shot from winger Ed This being the first real match the Once again, a Girton reshuffle was Bond clipping the cross bar. team has played together, it was clear Girton chase back as Jesus attempt another quick counter attack that there was a lack of cohesion in the first half, leaving Oxford 6 - 0 up. The play was far from poor, but Manchester Relays help prepare Hare and Hounds for Varsity race the players hadn’t managed to click into place with each other. Jacob Eisler Prior to the actual running race, how- higher bank of a small stream and a log on by much of the team over the last However, in the second half it was ever, was the race to reach Manchester obstacle, confronting racers with the 400 meters as he raised the men’s team as if a different team had stepped from Cambridge before the 2pm start, a dilemma of either hurdling it or run- to 14th place. For both teams, the swift onto the pitch – the defence was ON SATURDAY 9th October, most task complicated by several factors, par- ning around it, provided a variety of ter- anchor runners proved crucial in secur- impenetrable and as soon as Oxford members of the Hare and Hounds ticularly the crush of football fans out to rain. To complicate matters further, as ing the team positions. had the ball, they were forced to lose either diligently prepared for the see the Wales-England game in the race proceeded, the banks of the possession of it. Some extremely pounding roads of the Fresher’s Fun Manchester. Our mighty captain’s deci- stream were reduced to mud, making impressive saves by Amanda Casto Run or recovered from the start of sion to leave the hand brake slightly on things a bit more challenging for the lat- in goal ensured Oxford weren’t going the first real weekend of the year. for the entire forward journey further ter competitors. to inflict a repeat of the first half. However, a few brave or foolish souls complicated matters, as did going The races themselves were fairly Runs up the pitch took the ball to woke at the crack of dawn to venture around the final traffic ring at impressive. On the women’s side, Wood the attacks, who suddenly began to the Manchester Relays and repre- Manchester a total of 5 times. With (13.12) and Cundliffe (13.44) both pro- really working together controlling sent Cambridge at one of the larger roughly 3 or 4 minutes to go before the vided solid efforts despite relatively little the pace and setting up goals. relay events of the year. Consisting start time of 2pm, Ms. Wood began to warm-up time. This set up Willer for an A fantastic goal by Helen Leppard of six two mile laps for the men and lace up her spikes while still cramped in impressively speedy finish (12.11), earn- seemed to be the catalyst. Mentally and three laps for the women, the meet the back seat. Meanwhile, the men’s ing the women a final position of 10th. physically Cambridge were back in the gives the CUHH the opportunity to team could only take solace in the fact On the men’s side, the alumni provided game. Two more goals by Helen flex its muscle prior to the onset of that the two alumni had arrived early, a strong start with Barker (10.50) and Leppard and one from Sascha Grimm College League and Varsity matches. and could register and start the race in Davies (11.05) both securing fast meant that the second half score finished The men’s team, otherwise known the absence of the rest of the team. results. Bell (11.00) and Chambers 4-2 to Cambridge, though the final as “The Cambridge Mums”, consisted However, a delay on the part of the (11.17) also demonstrated good speed score was 8-4 to Oxford. of two fleet alumni, Dave Barker and relay organisers spared the Haries any in the first race of the season, and Eisler However, Cambridge dominated Ben Davies, and four current Haries, great stress, and even the first racers (12.18) recovered from a brief mix-up at right to the final whistle and it was Andy Bell, Ed Brady, Dan Chambers, were allowed a bit of time to warm up the turnover to show a solid kick at the clear that the team had finally man- and Jacob Eisler. The women, fondly and prepare for the race. The course finish line. The most impressive per- aged to gel and work with each referred to as “Baddeley’s Bitches”, itself was a flat, smooth and fairly fast formance on the men’s side, however other. A barrier was overcome in the were ably represented by the trio of two mile loop, mostly grass or dirt with was by Brady, whose classically heroic match, and the future holds much Lucy Cundliffe, Claire Willer and a few short patches of tarmac. A fairly stride helped him make up several promise for Kingfishers. Catharine Wood. steep water jump from the lower to the places as he ran a swift 10.43, cheered One contestant takes it less seriously

RUGBY BLUES BEAT WASPS PAGE 31 JUST NOT CRICKET PAGE 31 BLUES FIGHT FOR POINT PAGE 30