SPRING/SUMMER / / 2020 / / ISSUE 2

BENTON BUGLE

WRITTEN BY STUDENTS, FOR STUDENTS

Letter from the Editors

ABIGAIL KITWOOD AND ELOISE HAINSWORTH

Welcome to the lockdown edition of The Benton Bugle! We know it has been a tough time for many people as the COVID-19 pandemic has struck and fundamentally altered everyone’s lives. Our school lives have been changed by the pandemic, with many of us working hard at home to ensure we stay on top of the work that we’ve been set. Over the past few weeks, Year 10 and Year 12 students have been returning to school and it has been great to see our school community back and stronger than ever. Although it’s been strange, the staff at school have been incredible in ensuring that we can all be safe and continue our learning, even in these Georgia was a previous student at Benton Park and now attends St. Andrews University circumstances. As the summer holidays begin, we hope that you enjoy yourself and take a well-deserved break from the challenging past few months. Although it may not be the summer that we were all hoping for, it’s important to take a break for yourself, away from Benton to St. Andrews school and homework. Now that lockdown restrictions are easing, we hope that you will be able to see your friends and family in a safe environment. GEORGIA FIELDING But getting to this point was scary, I have to Maybe we’ll even be lucky enough to enjoy some UK admit. I spent many hours debating where the sun. It’s important not to underestimate how difficult best University for me was or whether I should this has been for many people; we have included some I can’t bear the thought of change. It makes me advice on page 5 about looking after your mental feel ill, my stomach churn and my head spin, even go in the first place. It is a hard decision health, which you must do so that you come back like I’m on a rollercoaster looping round and for anyone, regardless of being Autistic, and feeling positive in September! round. It doesn’t even have to be a big or there is an insane amount of pressure to make This edition is a mixture of articles written both outrageous change; I’ll cry if one of my classes sure you make the right choice. Deciding on a before the lockdown in school, and written by students is cancelled, even if it’s my German lecture at university is supposed to be exciting, from home. It seems strange to think that we were 5:00pm on a Monday evening and I get to go motivating, an insight into a life beyond the planning to write articles explaining what home early. But that’s autism for you – its strict, walls of Benton where you sat exam after exam Coronavirus is and how it might affect us. We controlling and its biggest fear is change. about subjects that maybe you didn’t even care couldn’t imagine how much it would change our lives about. But I struggled to feel anything but terror. and how quickly. It is an issue that is about our That being said, I don’t even know how I managed the change from Benton Park School Why couldn’t I just stay within those safe walls interests: our team wanted to share with you our that I had been for the past eight years? Why thoughts about a range of topics that we feel affect or to St Andrews University. Of all the universities can be effected by young people. We’d like to thank in the United Kingdom, I chose one about 182 couldn’t I just keep all my current friends who I everybody for their hard work in writing the many miles away from my home in Leeds, nestled on loved being around? Why couldn’t I just stay at great articles included in this edition. From Year 7 to the east coast of Scotland between Dundee and home, in my own room and familiar bed and Year 13, as well as former students, so many people Edinburgh. Leeds is bustling, full of shops, my never have to move into a new one? Why were involved in creating this edition and it’s been job, home, friends and family… St. Andrews couldn’t I just be nineteen forever and never really nice to see this part of the school community couldn’t be more different; there’s a beach, grow old? Thankfully, I am now aware that my pull together. A massive thank you to Mrs Wearing, three streets and a bitterly cold climate. fear of change was just my autism thinking it Miss Monks, Mr Gaillet and Mrs Cooke for their help But here I am, lying on my bed in a building was protecting me and I am more than glad I in creating this issue. didn’t let it scare me out of making the greatest We hope you enjoy this edition of The Benton Bugle that looks like it was plucked straight from a Harry Potter movie, defying all the odds and decision I have made to this date. and have a great summer! We are really looking Confirming your first and second choices on forward to producing more editions of the school stereotypes associated with being Autistic and newspaper from September. Join us then to get your just about to finish my first semester located UCAS is a surreal experience. voice heard and make a contribution. Thanks very 182 miles away from home. More on page 2 much from the whole Bugle team!

IN THIS ISSUE BLACK LIVES MATTER LOCKDOWN STORIES Y7 LETTERS TO Y6

PAGE 1 SPRING/SUMMER / / 2020 / / ISSUE 2 BENTON BUGLE

CONTINUED BLM AND DANCE Benton to St. Andrews What is ‘Breaking’? Continued from the front page RUBY DRAKES In support of the Black Lives Matter GEORGIA FIELDING movement, I wanted to write about an aspect of Black history and origins of Breaking which I As you hover over the ‘submit’ button, you realise learned from a man called Damien Anyasi in a you could be making a decision that could either be BLM History of Dance broadcast. the start of something really spectacular or could just Breaking is a dance style under the ‘umbrella’ leave you hopping out of one educational institute of Hip Hop that originated in the South Bronx into another, stricter one. What a risk. All the in the late 1960s. The Bronx used to be a unknowns were petrifying. One of the things about successful business town until it was redlined. being Autistic is that I have to have everything This means it was split in half with one side planned out, right down to the last minute. I need to cared for and the other side neglected. For the know what I’m doing constantly, who with, when and You’ve got one already! neglected side, they had to do what they could where. I need to know silly little details like what I’m to live therefore drugs, crime, robbery and gang having for dinner in two days or, if you want to culture infiltrated the town. The town had also socialise with me, I need to know at least a week in had a ‘white flight’: 2/3 of the population in the advance, otherwise I most definitely will not turn up! town had been white however many Applying for University is anything but known. prejudicially moved out when black people Everything from friends, accommodation and subject started moving in, resulting in the population teachers to module choices, timetables and location of being 2/3 black. All of this tore the town apart buildings are unknown until the very moment that you therefore Breaking was born as a way for the arrive at your new home. And that was…horrendous. people living in this time to forget about the Nevertheless, on A-level results day 2019, I officially situation they were experiencing and to take accepted my place at the University of St. Andrews to ownership of their culture. study Spanish, Italian and German, starting only three Earlier, I mentioned Breaking coming under weeks later. Truthfully, I think the fact that I had such little time to think about it meant I couldn’t focus on the ‘umbrella’ of Hip Hop. Hip Hop literally how scared I was about the things I didn’t know. translates to ‘current energy’ which tells us how Instead, I acted practically, by going on numerous relaxed and natural the style was. The name IKEA trips, filling out an endless amount of forms Breaking was named after both the breaks in the that no one tells you about and shoving clothes into a Read our review of Star Wars: The Rise of music and how it takes you to your breaking million bin bags. It wasn’t until I was in the car on the Skywalker – on page 3 point when you can’t help but dance and let way there that the true scale of the change hit me. yourself go. The Hip Hop motto is ‘Peace, Benton felt safe, comfortable. I knew teachers, the Love, Unity and have fun.’ This is exactly what location of classrooms, there were familiar faces on people needed to get them through the current every corridor, the rules were simple, and second situation. Breaking is the dance part of Hip nature but now I was in a car, heading far North and Hop. DJ-ing is the music side, graffiti the art away from everything and everyone I knew. side and rapping the music side but the most It is incredible how rapidly change stops being change important part of Hip Hop is having that and drifts back into being normality. I never thought background knowledge about the origins of the that doing my laundry at 1am would become normal dance you are performing. or that eating pasta for dinner so often would either. I DJ Hurc is known as the godfather of Hip never thought sitting at the beach in between my Hop. He emigrated from Jamaica in 1967 at the Italian and Spanish tutorials would become normal. I age of 12 and brought his skills and energy to never thought that actually looking forward to The Bronx. Breaking was further used for returning to my room to study would become normal. things such as settling people’s differences by

I never thought that bumping into at least four people expressing who you are through dance. Many I know just out and about would become a normal, people wanted hope for the town and to be daily occurrence. Undoubtedly, I still miss parts of my old normal: my family and the people who helped noticed for their dancing which makes the style me get to here but this new normal has just as many very individual and personal. People managed unbelievable positives to it and I love it. to explore who they were through Breaking So, I suppose that is the overall message of this which is what makes the style so special, article; I was terrified of change and I still am. I am fascinating and beautiful. Autistic and that’s something, ironically, that will never change. But if I had let my fear of unfamiliarity PUZZLES rule my post-school decisions, I would have missed out on something really spectacular. If you are having doubts, all I can say is, try it and see what might happen! Anything really is possible. Can you find all of the NHS rainbows in this Georgia is an ex-pupil from Benton Park, edition? (There are 7!) who now attends St. Andrews University in Scotland. She has written for the University newspaper and graciously offered to write ANSWERS FROM LAST ISSUE (LEFT) an article for us. If you any questions about university or autism that you would like to (this rainbow is included) ask, feel free to ask for her email.

CHARITY CORNER: RAISE YOUR AWARENESS

PAGE 8 SPRING/SUMMER / / 2020 / / ISSUE 2 BENTON BUGLE

PDSA: Saving Pets, Changing Lives

LIBBY WRIGHT AND HANNAH PIDD Across the UK, they have 48 Pet Hospitals and, as They also run an online shop so you can well as treating pets, they also campaign to raise donate by purchasing products through The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) is awareness of pet obesity and the role that animals them or you can fundraise or volunteer. a veterinary charity in the UK. It was founded in play in contributing to their owners’ wellbeing and They have loads of suggestions on their 1917 by Maria Dickin who was determined to help lives. website. those in need. The purpose of the charity is to provide PDSA are also very concerned with educating pet For more information about PDSA, visit care for sick and injured pets that belong to people owners of all ages and they offer lots of resources their website www.pdsa.org.uk. Please who may struggle to pay vet’s bills if their pet for schools and children as well. raise awareness of this brilliant charity; becomes ill. You might also see a van at some point that has the they really do make a huge difference. The mission of PDSA is to make sure that no pet slogan ‘Petwise on Tour’. This offers free suffers due to the financial hardship of its owner. microchipping and doggy MOTs to support owners. They will support pet owners who need help to care PDSA is a charity that receives no government for their pets so that the animals can have ‘a lifetime funding so they rely entirely on donations and of wellbeing’. fundraising.

Dear Year 6 Student, Dear Year 6 Student, A view of Benton Park from Y7 A view of Benton Park from Y7 ISAAC DARBY-VINCI POPPY CARVIS

Dear Future Benton Park school student, Hi, my name is Poppy. As you know, lockdown hasn’t been easy. We’ve had to do work at home, and I am currently a Year 7 student at Benton Park School. I have been in your we haven’t been allowed to see our friends properly. It’s been boring. Imagine shoes once: that feeling of nervousness, anxiety, and above all… I felt small being with your friends, getting taught in person (not behind a screen) and - especially coming here to ‘big school’ from somewhere so familiar. being able to socialize. Benton Park will be like that, this September. I am writing to welcome you, and also to reassure you about your upcoming At Benton Park, you will have chance to make friends and be a better you. time at Benton Park. I came to BPS from Parkside Primary, a small, close- You will be more independent in your actions and choices. You also have a knit school in Calverley. And, although the schools are very different in different teacher for each lesson, so your lesson will be taught as best as it many ways, I found my transition to be smooth and enjoyable. My form possibly could by a person who is an expert in their subject. You have a form; teachers have been incredibly helpful, and I’m sure you will find yours to be you will do activities and have lessons with this form (a form teacher you will the same: you see, every form group has a designated classroom and form also have). One of my favorite things is the school meals! For the school meals, teacher, for me, this was like a safe space so, if you ever get lost, confused you have 3 different styles of food to choose from, each station has different or frightened, you can go there and get support. plates from around the world! One of my highlights of the school year was the disco! We had photo booths, You may have fears about moving up: being late, being without friends, not popcorn, a DJ and so many sweets - you name it, they had it. I also met one knowing what's going on or getting lost. Whilst these are all possible, it’s most of my now closest friends there, and made many more. That’s what is so likely that it won't happen to you: if it does happen you can always talk to great about high school, there are so many more opportunities to grow your someone about it. A good way to not get lost is to ask an older student or a circle of friends. teacher what to do or where to go. People will be friendly and helpful. You will be given a timetable of what lessons you will have in a day. Within Since the beginning of the year, I’ve grown so much and not just a few weeks, you will have found out what lessons you like and what lessons academically, but personally too. So, if you’re walking through the doors you don’t like (my favorites are Art, English, Music and History). My advice thinking to yourself ‘ I have no clue what I want to be when I’m older’ then for if you don’t like a lesson, is to just go with the lesson. You might start to please don’t worry, I did too, but there is absolutely no pressure to have all enjoy it! your future planned out and it is more important to just enjoy the journey! Our community here at Benton Park can’t wait to meet you all and welcome I hope you are excited about Benton Park and are looking forward to joining you into our school. Have a great summer and see you in September! us in September! “Keep your mind open, free and curious.” - Philip Pullman

REVIEW Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

ISAAC GREGSON-KAHN

December 2019 saw the epic conclusion to one of the The film follows Rey (Daisy Ridley) as she waits  53% Rotten Tomatoes world’s greatest film sagas. Disney released Star for a much-anticipated confrontation with evil and  6.9/10 IMDb Wars Episode IX: The Rise Of Skywalker on the 19th conflicted Kylo Ren, along with X-wing pilot Poe  4/5 TechRadar of December within the territories of the United (Oscar Isaac) and ex- Stormtrooper Finn (John Personally, I thought it was brilliant and a Kingdom. Boyega) as they lead the resistance against the fitting conclusion to the most famous film The film was made with a budget of between $250- diabolical Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid). franchise of all time. You can watch it 300 million USD and the box office saw it bring in So far, the film has received a number of now on Disney Plus or DVD/Blu-ray at $428 million USD within its first 15 days of release. comments and reviews: home!

PAGE 8 SPRING/SUMMER / / 2020 / / ISSUE 2 BENTON BUGLE

OPINION Can young people change the world?

ABIGAIL KITWOOD On the 14th February 2018, a gunman opened fire in Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Florida killing 17 people. 14 of these Often as a young person, it is easy to feel powerless but in reality, were students while 3 were staff members. The shooting made headline young people can have a massive impact on the world around them. news as more and more students began to use social media to talk about In August of 2018 Swedish climate change activist, Greta Thunberg their experiences with the shooting using hashtags such as began her school strike campaign where she protested outside the #EnoughIsEnough and #NeverAgain. The day after the shooting, student Swedish parliament for action against climate change. Following her 20 Cameron Kasky and other students formed the anti-gun activism group day strike, Thunberg continued to strike on Fridays, creating the climate Never Again MSD. Their Facebook page gained 35,000 followers in 3 movement Fridays for Future. Greta has been diagnosed with days and their speeches such as Emma Gonzalez’ ‘We call BS’ speech Asperger’s Syndrome, OCD and Selective Mutism and has been went viral. The group created a campaign in which on the 14th March recorded saying that “She only speaks up when it matters”. Her climate thousands of students across America walked out of school to protest change protests have led to her becoming an icon for climate change and gun laws. The group also organised a protest in Washington DC named confronting people such as Donald Trump on their attitudes towards it. The March for our Lives. 1.2-2 million people showed up to the march Her actions have led to the issues of climate change becoming a key and it gained the support of many celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, political debate in our time. Steven Spielberg and Justin Bieber. Other celebrities such as Ariana Another influential young person is the Pakistani activist for female Grande, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jennifer Hudson joined the marchers education: Malala Yousafzai. In 2009 at the age of 11, Malala began to in Washington. The students faced much backlash during their protests write a blog for BBC Urdu detailing life under Taliban occupation under with many people saying they were crisis actors. As well as this, Emma the pseudonym Gul Makai. This blog allowed Malala to gain a platform Gonzalez experienced much online hatred for her sexual orientation (she to promote activism for females in school which was a right that was identifies as bisexual) as well as her ethnicity and haircut. The students’ increasingly being denied under the Taliban. On the 9th October 2012, protests gave a clear message on the lack of gun control in the United at the age of 15 Malala was shot in the head in retaliation for her States and even led to an increase in school security and also an increase activism promoting education as a fundamental right for all girls. Her in the age to buy a gun from 18-21 in Florida. Even after going back to shooting led to the Taliban being denounced by international school the students continued to protest. One way was demonstrated by governments, human rights and feminist organisations. It also led to Cameron Kasky. The students were forced to use clear backpacks on protests in Pakistan and over 2 million people signed the Right to their return to school. In protest of this Kasky filled his bag with Education campaign, leading to the first Right to Education Bill in tampons in a comedic form of protest. The organisation continues to Pakistan being ratified. The UN also launched a campaign demanding work promoting gun control today and putting pressure on government that no child be left out of school by 2015. Malala had a profound to make changes before other young people die needlessly. impact on the world through her activism and became the youngest Within Britain, young people are also making a difference. Amika recipient of a Nobel peace prize at the age of 17. George is a North London school girl who has been protesting against Young People have had an impact on the world throughout history, period poverty for women. She began a petition encouraging the not just during modern times. A key example of this was Sophie Scholl, government to pass a law giving girls free period products in school. a member of the anti-Nazi White Rose Movement in Germany in the Her petition gained over 200,000 signatures and even led to a law being 1940s. The White Rose Movement aimed to create change and fight passed in March 2019 giving free period products in schools up and against the Nazi Party through nonviolent resistance. Sophie and her down the country. brother Hans founded the White Rose Movement and helped to So while sometimes it may seem like young people can’t make a distribute anti-Nazi pamphlets instructing people to resist the Nazi difference, evidence shows that we can if we simply make our voices regime. Their work was dangerous due to the high security of the Third heard. Reich and both Sophie, her brother and other members of the movement were arrested by the Gestapo. After being interrogated by the Gestapo From left to Sophie was found guilty of high treason. She, Hans and their friend right: Christoph Probst were executed by guillotine on the 22nd February Greta 1943. She was only 21. The actions of the White Rose Movement were Thunberg, only one of the resistances against the Nazi party however they showed Emma Gonzalez, that not everyone bowed to the Nazi propaganda and fear tactics which Malala they used to maintain control between 1933 and 1945. Their campaign Yousafzai has been called ‘the most spectacular moment of resistance in the 20th Century.’

ALICE FRIEL What am I looking forward to in life after lockdown?

I think everyone is excited about reuniting with loved ones, who we Lockdown may have made people friends with schoolmates they hadn’t talked to couldn’t see in person or be close to during this lockdown. Due to this before. Another good thing that has come out of lockdown is people have focused lockdown some of us have realized how much we care about other people on their gardens: my family and I have re-done the entire garden, which has been in our lives. After all of this is over and we can be with people with no a project we enjoyed together and now we can enjoy our efforts. Another thing restrictions, we will all appreciate the time with each other more and make people might have enjoyed about lockdown is learning a new skill, I’ve improved plans to see each other. I know I am certainly going to see family who I my Spanish, my dad learned how to make furniture and I think almost everyone wouldn’t normally go on a journey for 2 hours to see. I personally will has learnt to cut hair, while the hairdressers and barbers have been closed! also be looking forward to going back to school to see friends and starting Personally, I am looking forward to being able to go out to see friends and not being to learn new subjects for GSCEs for when I go back in Year 10. worried about coming home and self-isolating; just being free to go into the shops, Arguably, there have been some good things to come out of lockdown. without queuing outside to get in will be brilliant. Even though when lockdown is For some people, this situation has made them closer with their families over the queuing might still remain, I can still be with people that are not in my than before. It’s given a new perspective on lots of things and made them household. I can’t wait for the small shops to open again and go with friends to the appreciate more basic things. milkshake shop near Benton. That first milkshake is surely going to taste incredible!

PAGE 8 SPRING/SUMMER / / 2020 / / ISSUE 2 BENTON BUGLE

Hello, Hello is DYSTOPIAN FICTION: HOME this thing on?

LUKE PATRICK LUKE PATRICK

Later that day, he lay awake only his jacket and Technology: the world’s excuse for getting out of The smoke twirled upwards, as if someone had drawn a a thin bed roll to keep him from the cold that board games this year. The advances made in blade across the sky, drawing its acrid blood. The wound wrapped itself around him wanting to keep him computing can offer us an amazing range of activities ripped opened and the infection seeping through. forever. He lay there listening to the barrage of and experiences. But, as is the case for everything, Leeching the colour, happiness and joy from the world. liquid bullets above his head. One small piece there are people who are not too clued up on how to It cloaked itself in ashen fog. of comfort that he could hold onto was that he use these mysterious and magical devices. This could This is where he was now, out in the remnants of a was finally away from that place, one less have been a particular challenge to a large proportion society that had long since passed away. Regardless, he person in the Oasis wasn’t going to make much of the elderly population, many of whom are having stumbled on. He had been running for three days, of a difference to them. Just one less mouth to to shield as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic. through the fog and ash. Forever looking over his feed. Alone and anxious he eventually fell into Whether its muting themselves on FaceTime or shoulder. the welcome arms of sleep. putting their thumb over the camera on their phone is Scared, anxious, waiting. Before the horrors of war had scarred the world a problem, at times, it can have quite funny results. Terrified they would find him and drag back into the hell forever, this place where he lay would have Lockdown. Everyone’s at home, staying safe, and from which he had fled, he remembered sitting in the been thriving with life. The light was almost getting through multiple bottles of wine (so I hear!), living room where he had been safe and happy. If only holy and had shimmered through the vast as they try to explain online shopping to their parents he had known then to cherish it. Where he was safe to canopy of leaves overhead. The cries of birds or grandparents for the 5th or 50th time. Lockdown has play, getting excited at new games or playing with his had filled the air with sounds as sweet as the been an unprecedented change to our lifestyles. Most friends. But this new reality changed even his memories: roses that reached for the daylight. significantly the over-seventy population who have they were no longer safe. As he walked, he thought But that was gone now… been told to shield from the virus as they are at higher about how they were now murky and disjointed as if Instead he awoke brushing the ash from his risk. The challenge for them now is keeping being viewed at the bottom of a lake. clothes as he maneuvered out from under the themselves occupied on a day to day basis, as they are Outcast, cut off, alone. cover of the broken lorry that had sheltered him not going out. One way that this is being achieved is He reached a crest of a hill and stopped. He surveyed the that night. Greeted by the ruins of the world that via group FaceTime calls with family. This inevitably, landscape just like he had been taught at the Oasis. That man had created, he did not hesitate and heaved heralds the cries across the nation of “YOU’RE was what they called it at the start, a safe haven for his backpack onto his shoulder. That harbored MUTED!” An imaginary study determined that this people who were being destroyed by the war. The the few supplies he had left, he braced himself invokes more shouting at our screens than during a children conscripted to be the next generation and led for another day. Every step took him closer to football match. the population to “a new world, a safe world”. The lie home. Though ‘home’ was now an abstract One person told The Benton Bugle that the popular broadcast to the population over every frequency, the concept but, without hope of some leftover game Fortnite had become a competition to see who most potent message of all, one of hope, peace and familiarity remaining, there would be nothing can get to the highest level across their extended stability. left. family. A lovely idea! Everyone involved in a game Walking down a steep hill that overlooked the town, the

with a goal. Surely that would involve bonding? Fun? small rocks skittered away from his dusty boots. It felt MENTAL HEALTH Teamwork even? No. Their stepdad doesn’t like barren and void, as if even the buildings were cowering anyone being a higher level than him on the game and from the world around them. A town that was nothing therefore plays obsessively until he reaches a level but a skeleton now, bones picked dry by the elements 246! Parenting win! Sort of. and left in the dirt like a fallen martyr. He reached the Mental Health in It seems that nowhere is immune to this torrent of main square: a wide-open space surrounded by local tech related missteps. Another story told to our shops and low buildings on all sides. He wanted to allow isolation reporter involved an online meeting call with 170+ himself to bask in the memories of home, to cling onto

people. After their presentation, one person forgot to the light amidst the unimaginable darkness. But he turn their camera off. This person then proceeded to quelled the urge, from his experience, the memories of With everything going on in the world right pick their nose, much to the disgust but also life before the war just brought more pain and a now, it’s very easy to feel overwhelmed. It’s amusement of the assembled audience. I’m going to devastating sense of loss. He allowed himself only a few okay to not be okay! And it’s good to talk. go out on a limb and say that they are not going to live seconds before he was dragged back into the cold As great as social media can be, it’s that one down in a hurry. It really has developed a embrace of his own reality. important to take a step back sometimes, as whole new comedy genre! There are so many great This was happening more and more, no matter how humans are not designed to absorb so much stories online. much he tried to fight it. Dreaming of the past in order information all of the time. Take leisure time All joking and funny stories aside, this is a to avoid the present. He pulled the pistol from his belt. and do an activity that you enjoy: be it genuinely very difficult time for everyone, especially Back at the Oasis, they had often talked about the reading, watching a fun TV show or going savages that roamed the plains. The only ones left out the over 70s. Try to put yourself in their position stuck outside for a walk. at home for over twelve weeks, hardly able to leave there: hunters and mad men. This was a risk he had to You can also talk to someone you trust if you the house, some living alone. Just think how much that take, to reach that light at the end of the tunnel. The light family Facetime call means to those living alone. that no matter how hard the last few years had been for have any worries or concerns, such as a him, in that place, had never dulled. It was always there family member, a teacher, or a close friend. to guide him, it was the only thing that had kept him If you’d rather talk to someone who doesn’t going, but even now after almost three days on the run, know you personally, there are some great the doubts were there. Reaching into his mind with long online forums, such as Childline, who can be dark and unwelcome hands. They were the same: always reached at childline.org.uk or by calling there, always waiting. 0800 1111. You can also find more information and coping strategies from the mental health charity Young Minds, at youngminds.org.uk. It’s coming up to the summer holidays so remember to take a break from your schoolwork and enjoy time for yourself. We hope everyone stays safe and enjoys the summer!

PAGE 8 SPRING/SUMMER / / 2020 / / ISSUE 2 BENTON BUGLE

REVIEW Team Starkid

ABIGAIL KITWOOD SPORT As the quarantine period continues and people are spending time at home the need for content for people to watch is growing. From sports events to school many things we all took as a staple in our lives have disappeared in return for more and more El Loco time spent trapped at home. One thing that has suffered as a result of the lockdown CHLOE HAINSWORTH has been the experience of live theatre and as a result, more and more recordings of shows have become available online. However, some theatre companies have managed to debut and grow as a result of posting their content online. One shining You have probably heard of Top Trumps, but have you heard example of this is the American theatre company Starkid Productions more of the all-new Top Trumps, featuring specific questions that commonly known as Team Starkid. don’t actually apply to anyone else? Let’s just hope you Starkid first rose in popularity in 2009 after their musical parody of Harry Potter: A haven’t (for copyright reasons). In fact, here is a limited- Very Potter musical went viral online. Featuring music by (and starring) Glee’s edition card. Can you guess who it is? Yes you can. The name Darren Criss and written by brothers Nick and Matt Lang what started out as a has been written below several times, and if you can’t work it student-produced production hosted in a tiny theatre at the University of Michigan out from that, it is Marcelo Bielsa (the Leeds United Manager). soon became an online phenomenon and has since gained 16 million views on Sneak ability: 8/10 YouTube and still remains extremely popular today with songs and quotes from the As you may have heard, in January 2019, Leeds United were show being quoted both within the general Harry Potter fandom as well as going fined a modest £200,000* as a result of Bielsa having sent staff viral as audios on TikTok. The show is arguably what launched Darren Criss’ career to spy on every opposing team for years. Being the all-round as it later enabled him to star as Blaine on the musical-comedy series Glee. The nice guy that he is, Bielsa insisted on paying the full fine out YouTube format of Team Starkid allowed them to also go on to create two sequel of his own personal money. At this point, you are probably musicals for A Very Potter Musical titled A Very Potter Sequel and A Very Potter wondering why he has a whopping sneak ability of 8 - although Senior Year. ‘whopping’ is probably not the word you would use, because What began as a one-off 3-day production of a parody musical became so much he got caught and fined. Well, Bielsa admitted to having sent more than any of the original cast could have anticipated. Starkid went on to create someone to spy on every single opponent that Leeds had faced many more parody musicals from Twisted, a parody of Disney films in the style of that season. And, as if that wasn’t enough, he went on to Wicked focusing on Jafar from Aladdin to Ani, a Star Wars Parody or even Holy conduct a 70-minute-long PowerPoint presentation, detailing Musical B@man parodying much of the DC comics. Each production is so unique the analysis he undertakes before every match. In fact, he was with all being hilarious while also containing enough emotional moments that you so thorough with his analysis explanation, that he basically told could be crying one moment and dying of laughter the next. Starkid’s popularity the whole football world how to beat Derby County (the team hasn’t waned in the eleven years since they first posted A Very Potter Musical with that reported his spy) in a football match. If that isn’t Audacity: their YouTube Channel gaining 650,000 subscribers. If parodies don’t appeal to you 10, then what is? Team Starkid have also created a range of original productions from the space opera Fame level: 7/10 musical Starship to the caveman inspired Firebringer (which also went viral on Vine Of course, being the character that he is, Bielsa was always as a result of its song ‘I don’t wanna do the work today’) all providing the perfect bound to attract media attention, but having a stadium named Starkid formula of comedy and emotion paired alongside the incredible storytelling after him was not expected. Estadio Marcelo Bielsa is the providing a perfect watch for a few hours. stadium of Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina. Bielsa was their More recently Starkid has found success in their original musical series titled ‘The former manager and obviously had quite the impact on the Hatchetfield Series’. The series began in 2018 with the musical (ironically) titled club. Also, there is actually a song about Bielsa! It may sound ‘The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals’. Set in a small American town named familiar to a certain Queen song, but Bielsa Rhapsody is an Hatchetfield this horror-comedy musical follows the adventures of an average guy absolute masterpiece created by the Fat Chance Podcast. named Paul who (you guessed it!) doesn’t like musicals as his town is taken over by Definitely worth a listen. an infectious virus which turns the citizens into musical singing zombies. The show Bucket loving factor: 10/10 has since gained a sequel entitled ‘Black Friday’ and the series will soon be gaining One of the championship’s greatest mysteries for a while was a third instalment entitled ‘Nerdy Prudes Must Die’. The Hatchetfield series is truly the small matter of Bielsa’s blue bucket. What is this bucket, I some of Starkid’s best work and is perfect for almost everyone with perfect comedy, hear you ask? Every game, Bielsa can be seen sitting on a blue incredible storytelling and aspects of every genre from horror to sci-fi and even bucket, which now has its own special cushion and supernatural all paired with incredible music. sponsorships. Why can’t he just sit in the dugout like everyone While all of Team Starkid’s shows are equally incredible one of the best aspects of else? The Leeds United dugouts are below pitch level, so the their business model is how they publish their shows. While to some the theatre can bucket gives him a better view of the game. Although, that often be inaccessible due to distance or high ticket prices (or at the moment a global doesn’t explain why he brings the bucket to away games. Fun pandemic) Team Starkid make their shows easily accessible on YouTube so anyone fact: you can actually buy yourself a blue bucket from the can watch them at any time for free! So, if you’re feeling like diving into a new Leeds United shop for a bargain of just £80! world full of incredible stories paired with wonderful music and actors that you can So what have you learned from this? Maybe that Bielsa is a really come to love (and don’t mind some strong language) why not give Team perfect example of a football manager that knows exactly what Starkid a try? he is doing and why he is doing it, or maybe just that he has a combined top trumps total of 25/30. Either way, you now know Joe Walker, something about him and that will be useful for your next game Darren Criss, of the all-new Top Trumps: featuring specific questions that Joey Richter don’t actually apply to anyone else! and Bonnie *You can buy 133333.33 200g Dairy Milks from Sainsburys Gruesen in A with £200,000. Very Potter Sequel

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BLM should hold our own leaders to account to the same extent as it does other countries’. As a country we have to consider, is being better than Editorial Comment - Racism in the UK Hitler the metric by which we should measure the success of our leaders, or can we hold them accountable? Of course, acknowledge the good, ELOISE HAINSWORTH These far-right activists have been outraged but we also need to recognise and learn from the by the BLM protests in general, claiming bad. Over the past month, we have seen that they are violent (the overwhelming predominantly peaceful protests for the Black majority of protests have been peaceful) and TRAVEL GUIDE that they believe our police forces should be Lives Matter movement happen across the ISAAC HOBBS UK. These were triggered by the murder of protected from violence. However, such George Floyd by police in Minneapolis, violence doesn’t seem to be an issue for USA, and there has been a lot of media them when the perpetrators are white and on coverage in the UK of the systemic racism in the right wing. Five police officers were The Very Best Travel the US. There has not, however, been as injured at a far-right rally in 2018, with much coverage of the racism here in the UK. protestors throwing bottles, metal barriers Destinations With scandals such as Windrush, and the and other objects at police. If a man being That you can reach without driving underrepresentation of black people, and found guilty of contempt of court makes other ethnic minorities, we should learn and violent protesting an acceptable measure for because I would never advocate for the work against racism here, equally, if not such people, surely, they should understand breaking of Social Distancing laws. more, than focussing on situations overseas. the anger that has built up from decades of As recently as 2015, British taxpayers’ slavery followed by centuries of racism. The Now, I know we’re all sat at home in quarantine, money was being spent on paying back debt violence at protests has also increased waiting to be able to leave our houses again. Which from compensation for slavery. But massively since the far-right have begun to means that now is the perfect time for me to capitalise shockingly, this money was paid to white stage ‘counter-protests’. On Saturday 13th off of that fact by tantalising you readers with all the slave owners, whose families continue to June more than 100 people were arrested in wonderful places you could be going right now. First benefit today. Many people found out about London, as crowds surrounded war of all, outside! this for the first time, when HM Treasury memorials and the boxed-up statue of Remember that? Remember trees? I sure do. The first tweeted this “surprising #FridayFact” in Winston Churchill, in order to ‘protect’ outside™ we’ll be looking at today is a place I come February 2018, them. across often along my government mandated daily The Winston Churchill statue had been walk: Field with cows in it. graffitied in protests before this, which is why it had already been boxed-up. The word racist had been painted onto the statue, which sparked anger from those who revere him as a war hero. Churchill referred to white people as “a stronger race, a higher- grade race” in 1937; said that the “Aryan stock is bound to triumph” in 1902, when talking about the Chinese; and he played a huge role in the Bengal Famine of 1943. Yet many still say that without Churchill, the presenting yet again the false idea that the Nazis would have won the war: Churchill British ended the slave trade and had a himself cannot therefore have been racist, as FUN FACT!!! consistently pro-abolitionist approach to he defeated the most racist regime in the Did you know there are actually 1.5 billion cows slavery. After an unsurprisingly horrified world. In my opinion, this is unfair to those on Earth? That means, if they turned against response from the public, the tweet was who fought and died during the war. There us, each person in Britain would have to fight 22 quickly deleted, thereby showing our were many people who played a huge role in cows at once! unwillingness to even acknowledge our the war effort, and to disregard that by saying we would definitely have lost the war Field with cows in it is one of my favourite horrifying past involving the slave trade, and destinations. All the vivid emerald sheen of a field; the British Empire. This is a past that is without Churchill dishonours their work. Alan Turing, Joan Clarke, Bill Tutt, and the grass that bends and flutters in waves under the light continually celebrated, so that around a third push of a gentle breeze; yellow dandelions poking their of Britons think that the empire was other men and women at Bletchley Park; Jacqueline and Eileen Nearne, who were heads here and there, ready to cast their seeds to the something to be proud of, and that it left the heavens in a shower of silver raindrops, with the added colonies better off. This is underpinned by spies for the Special Operations Executive during the war in France; Sir Thomas bonus of having cows in it. the education system in the UK and statues of Fields with cows in them have existed for thousands of slave traders on our streets, which many of us Peirson Frank, an engineer who saved London from flooding at least 121 times; years. Perhaps even longer than the similar, albeit pass by without realising who they were and wholly inferior, fields with sheep in them. I think, what they did. The outrage over the tearing and many more, all deserve the credit of being war heroes, as well as all of the when man first domesticated the cow back in 8,500 down of the statue of Edward Colson in BC, he knew, deep in his heart of hearts, that one day Bristol, for example, was telling of the soldiers from Britain, India, Nepal, Ireland, Canada, the USA, the USSR, and many those fields would have so many cows in them. And I mindset of many British people today. think that’s beautiful. Obviously, in an ideal world, there would be other countries. To credit Churchill alone in winning a World War is quite an extreme But unfortunately, I am now reaching two miles from no destruction of public property, but our my house, meaning I must turn back on my walk or it world is unfortunately not ideal, and, if it claim. As well as this, helping to win the war should not automatically excuse him from will no longer be standard length and someone will were, there would already be no celebration have to call the police on me. Fortunately they will be of slave traders, in the form of statues and his other racist remarks and actions. Stalin was also instrumental in winning WWII, but unable to place me under arrest from two metres away, having streets and buildings named after so I will see you back next edition with another them. Outrage over statues being taken down, we are not taught about his heroic involvement throughout our education, and, outside. I hope to bring an in-depth review of Field or vandalised was particularly prevalent with sheep in it, and exactly why the Field with cows among the far-right, as supporters raged on if we are taught about him, we learn about how his regime caused the death of millions. in it is so much better. the internet calling for their followers to ‘defend statues’ against ‘left-wing The education system hooligans’.

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