In the Face of Inancial Hardship, Two Students Went Into Sex Work

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Cover shoot: At home in enough. Kettle’s Yard Fashion 22 he systems for students reporting misconduct are inadequate. One speaks out about her experiences. Eat your greens Opinion 16 Vulture 26

No. 857 Friday 23rd November 2018 Arts 26-27 varsity.co.uk

Cambridge’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1947

44% of Oxbridge entries from 143 schools

Edwin Balani, Sarah Orsborne, and In the face of inancial Catherine Lally Over 1,140 schools sent no students to Oxbridge between 2006 and 2017 despite their students having applied, a Varsity investigation reveals. his is compared to more than 6,000 students admitted from hardship, two students the top ten schools for Oxbridge admissions over the same time period. Students from the top schools made in excess of 15,800 applications to the two universities. Of a total of 4,041 UK schools that had students apply, there went into sex work were 2,974 schools that sent only ten or fewer students to Oxford or Cambridge in the same time period. By contrast, there are 143 schools which have sent 100 or more students to

Continued on page 10 ▶ College ▲ A photo illustration outside Senate House (JOe COOK) disciplinary expenses. live in private rent accommodation, alongside necessary work for their de- Niamh Curran Taylor told Varsity that they went along with unforeseen expenses, and gree. hey had previously left home due into sex work while in Cambridge be- costs relating to their disability. hey to a “hostile” relationship with their fam- lapse Its “I struggled to balance the need to per- cause they could not obtain the inan- were unable to live in college accom- ily. his, alongside their family’s inancial form sex work, to aford necessities, the cial support needed to cover necessary modation because they required mental situation, meant they could not turn to impact on need to attend lectures and do academ- expenses. Another student who spoke health provisions that the college could them to help with rent payments. ic work, and my need to rest and look to Varsity, Sam*, said that they entered not accommodate. he student reached out to two difer- one student’s after my diminishing physical health. sex work because they felt it would ofer At one point, changes in their living ent members of University and College I couldn’t manage it”, said Taylor*, a inancial independence they could not situation meant they had to pay a sum staf to seek inancial support, but their Cambridge student who took on sex otherwise obtain. upfront, which they could not aford. experiences with these two individuals PTSD work alongside their degree after fac- Taylor said that they needed the ad- he nature of their disability also ing severe diiculties covering inancial ditional inancial support to aford to meant they could not work long hours Full story page 9 ▶ News page 11 ▶

Inside ● Studying in the ‘hostile environment’ Pg.7 ● Class lists released in irst year of opt-outs Pg.8 2 F 23 N 2018 News

FEATURES Bringing the untold story of a Kenyan Bina Agarwal: queer love to Cambridge ‘You’ll never get Page 15 ▶ anything until OPINION Dear Cambridge, I’m not buying it you ght for your Page 17 ▶ rights’ FEATURES Diabetes and me: what are the implications of e award-winning Economics Professor speaks incurability? to Merlyn omas about her work on women’s Page 12 ▶ property rights and challenging the traditional model of the household vulture Magazine

“I read Marx’s Das Kapital when I had u She chuckled, “So I made a lot of ❝ Merry once. I was wowed by it.” Brilliant and friends because I was very happy to Christmas, humble, Professor Bina Agarwal’s titles share my food with others.” She leans When you Sir Elton precede her person. in to tell me indignantly, “ e only veg- have land Born in the dusty heat of Rajasthan etarian! Can you imagine?” or a house, John where her grandparents lived, before Embracing her time away from home, Bina and her family moved to Delhi, painting and reading poetry in her spare you have (Lewis) the cultural capital of India, she remi- time, it is no wonder that her vision as a credible nisces about her childhood fondly. “It an economist is more unconventional Page 26 ▶ was fantastic. My paternal grandparents and imaginative than most. exit option. moved to the foothills of the Himalayas Ater completing her degree, she If you have and my other set of grandparents stayed returned to Delhi to do a PhD, where a place to in Rajasthan. So we spent our summers she began to specialise in her scope of sometimes in unbearably hot climates subject. “ e choice of subject was very go, you can Noella Chye [email protected] and sometimes terribly cold ones.” much decided by the problems India was leave Merlyn omas & Catherine Lally [email protected] An early-achiever from the o set, facing”, while she says that “India was Vivienne Hopley-Jones [email protected] Joe Cook [email protected] she went to sixth-form early when she an agrarian society predominantly both ❞ Mark Curtis [email protected] was teen. Although she has excelled in terms of proportional GDP and also Rosie Bradbury & Stephanie Stacey (Senior); Isobel Gri ths & now in every respect in her eld, as a the number of people located in farm- Millie Kiel (Deputy) [email protected] Jess Ma, Alexandra Giannidi, Sarah teenager she had never even considered ing.” She adds: “plus, there was a lot of Orsborne, Kiran Khanom, Elizabeth Haigh, Amy Batley, Maria Stragapede doing economics. Stuck between phys- poverty.” Jack Conway [email protected] ics and English literature, her parents In India, a country with gaping Maia Wyn Davies (Senior); Dan Wright, Nick Harris, Priya Bryant, Tom Nixon (Deputy) [email protected] nally suggested she study econom- inequalities in wealth and a rapidly Joseph Krol & Gesa Sophia Borgeest [email protected] ics, “Economics is a scienti c subject expanding economy leaving behind Isobel Bickersteth & Jess Tan [email protected] Nick Collin [email protected] but you can also tell a good story, so I vast swathes of society, there is much & James Dickinson [email protected] thought why not?” progress to made with regards to gender Miles Ricketts & Alice French [email protected] Perhaps what is most striking about equality. And it is here that Agarwal has Julia Davies [email protected] Iris Pearson & Niamh Curran [email protected] Agarwal is that she is totally down to focussed much of her e orts, but par- Ella Jones [email protected] earth when it comes to the gravity of ticularly in the gender gap in command Marcus McCabe (Senior) & William Ross (Deputy) her accomplishments, casually telling over property. [email protected] Devarshi Lodhia [email protected] me about her days as an undergradu- Wedged between Kazuo Ishiguro’s e Belle George & Oliver Rhodes [email protected] ate at Cambridge, studying Economics Buried Giant and Khalil Gibran’s poetry Jamie Hancock & Nick Chevis [email protected] at Murray Edwards, at the time called anthology, on the bookshelf in her of- Cordelia Lam [email protected] Fancy - Vivi Way (Chief); Aimee Wragg, Gabby Handberg, Helen Grant, New Hall. She adds: “I was quite young interviewing ce, lies A Field of One’s Own, Agarwal’s Helena Mackie, Emily Kilner, Imogen Childs, Jasmine Phull, Naomi Hayes, when I came. I was 17 and a half and I interesting award-winning book. She is perhaps Poppy Kemp, Ruth Moss, Allison O’Malley-Graham, Phoebe Harris, Shannon had never lived abroad so in many ways best-known for this work, whose title Phillips [email protected] people in Raphael Korber Ho man it was wonderful. It was a growing up Cambridge? was inspired by Virginia Woolf’s A Room Raphael Korber Ho man period. It was really marvellous in that Email us at of One’s Own. When she wrote it in 1994, Edwin Bahrami Balani [email protected] Caitlin Smith [email protected] sense. But there were just ten women in interviews@ “no one was working on the question of Reuben Andrews, Felix Peckham, Anna Hollingsworth a class of 150. And I was the only Indian varsity.co.uk women’s property.” [email protected] woman. e only brown woman.” An economic staple and a contempo- Dr Michael Franklin (Chairman), Prof Peter Robinson, Dr Tim Harris, Michael Derringer, Caitlin Smith, Noella Chye, Louis Ashworth, Anna Dining options at Cambridge during rary feminist literature in its own right, Jennings, Anna Menin, Daniel Gayne, Ellie Howcrot Agarwal’s undergraduate years were her book demonstrate the limits of the a far cry from today’s meat-free Mon- commonly-held idea that women’s em- days. Agarwal was the only vegetarian powerment simply means jobs in the in college in her time at Cambridge. urban workplace.

© VARSITY PUBLICATIONS LTD, . All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be “But College did something wonder- Instead she emphasises the impor- reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior permission of the publisher. ful for me. I used to tell the chefs in tance not only of women being in the Varsity, 16 Mill Lane, Cambridge CB2 1RX. Telephone 01223 337575. advance when I was coming to buttery agrarian workforce, but for them to be Varsity is published by Varsity Publications Ltd. Varsity Publications also publishes e Mays. and they would prepare special hot truly empowered, they need to have Printed at Ili e Print Cambridge – Winship Road, Milton, Cambridge CB24 6PP on 42.5gsm newsprint. Registered as a newspaper at the Post O ce. ISSN 1758-4442. dishes for me.” their own elds to which they have full Friday 23rd November 2018 3 News

continued to work in the city to bring in additional income. She recounts the story, and says “I asked them, ‘Who will this land go to?’” hey then “told me, ‘Well it will go to the oldest son’, but I asked, ‘Shouldn’t you be getting it because you’re the ones working and toiling away for it?’” hey were silent initially, she tells me. So she asked again. “We do understand your question ... no one has ever asked us before.” Agarwal paused for a moment to look at me, waiting for this to sink in. “Often, when you’re disadvantaged, you don’t ask for what you most need because you never imagine that you’ll get it.” Agarwal’s heart for gender equality is not newfound, she explains “I irst spoke about women’s rights when I was 15. It was in school. It was an exercise to hone our debating and presenting skills. Some people talked about how to lay the table. I talked about the importance of women voting and their rights. And I remember saying, ‘When we have the right to vote, let’s all decide we need to vote for women.’” She laughed, reassuring me, “I wouldn’t do that today, but for me, it was important, because I saw in Rajas- than – a place that’s fairly conservative for young women – that even better of families don’t send their girl children to school beyond a few years.” She adds, “of course, things have changed a little now.” She talks fondly of her childhood. “My parents were very keen on all of us – three daughters and one son – and we were all very well educated. But when I went back to my grandmother’s village, I could see that lots of the households had very conservative attitudes towards girls, and so made me very conscious that it was very unjust. Children tend to think things are fair or not – it hits you very quickly.” It comes down to the idea of owning something, Agarwal insists. During her talk, she speaks fondly of her dadiji, her grandmother, who – like most Indians – kept her most treasured belongings under her bed and on top of wardrobes. “She had a big, old metal trunk that she’d keep under her bed and would never let any of us go near. Each time she went away she’d tell us, ‘Nobody should touch my trunk.’ We’d reassure her, saying ‘No no, dadiji. Don’t worry.’” legal rights and titles. grammes predeined as male household whether they had land or house, both or ▲ Agarwal “When she passed away and we sort- Agarwal says: “he book came out at heads – whose members share common neither. When women owned neither says her choice ed through her belongings, we inally the right time. It hugely caught the at- preferences and interests, she outlines house nor land, 49% experienced do- of field was opened the trunk and found there was tention of both civil society and current in her talk. But she contends that this mestic violence. Of those who had land, influenced by very little at all in it. But it was her bar- policymakers.” abstract does not work in real life. 17% experienced domestic violence. Of the problems gaining chip. It was a way of say “You’re “In 1995, I was asked to chair a vil- Using her ield research, she ran her those who had a house, 10% experienced India faced at not going to get whatever’s inside here lage council election, in Madhya Pradesh. irst campaign in 2005, where she suc- it. And of those who had both, 7% expe- the time (MERLYN if you’re not nice to me.” here were all these women who were cessfully amended the Hindu Succes- rienced domestic violence. he results tHOMAS) For Agarwal, she has been an ‘only’ really enthusiastic, and I shared some of sion Act, essentially removing gender speak for themselves.” type of woman for most of her life. he my ideas about their rights to land and I discrimination with regards to property “When you have land or a house, only vegetarian in her college, the only saw the sparkle in their eyes. When you rights. you have a credible exit option. If you Indian woman studying Economics in start talking about something like land, Although most programme’s work- ❝ have a place to go, you can leave”, she her year, the only person to have started they say ‘well nobody’s every thought ing with women in developing countries Often, when explained. work on gender equality in property. of us.’” focus on getting women into employ- But she has still faced a great deal of his ‘only-ness’ is one of the things that Agarwal is a rare economist in her ment, Agarwal says there can be a per- you’re opposition: “Often [they] say, ‘women makes her most warm and gracious. A ield who has sought to explicitly ex- verse efect to this: “in cases where the disadvan- don’t need land of their own because pioneer of sorts, and lone person at times amine gender asymmetries, not only woman is employed but her husband taged, you their families have land and they’ve in her ield, she is adamant but fervent to challenge the traditional model of a is not, there were the highest reports never asked for it anyway.’ Yet I found in her imagination. household and its intra-family relation- of domestic violence”. In this sense, don’t ask for when you talk about it to women, it is She summarises her talk with the ships, but also to weave these into public Agarwal goes against the grain, arguing what you very important to them. Just because same revolutionary vision with which policy. that it is a woman’s command over the they have not asked, does not mean it’s she begins it, using a rallying cry from India’s inheritance laws are compli- property she works on which ultimately most need not important to them.” the Bodhgaya movement in Bihar, where cated, to say the least. Diferent laws ap- afects her welfare to the largest extent. because you A particular group of women stands women struggled to have land put in ply depending on religion and state. he She explains how, “we looked at how never im- out in Agarwal’s memory. During a work- their own names: “We had tongues but traditional idea of the household sees command over property afected rates shop she ran in Pietermaritzburg, South could not speak, we had feet but could a benevolent leader. Most economic of domestic violence in Kerala, a state agine that Africa, in 1997, she met with a group of not walk, now that we have the land, we models and laws treat the “household” in the south of India. you’ll get it women who had just returned from have the strength to speak and walk.” as a single entity, one with an altruistic “Looking at 500 randomly selected towns after leaving their jobs to culti- She later tells me, “you’ll never get any- family head – and in government pro- urban and rural households, we checked ❞ vate plots of land, whilst their husbands thing until you ight for your rights”. 4 F 23 N 2018 News Colleges lack su cient information and understanding of step-free and wheelchair access, says CUSU report

free access’. assessment” of the extent to which the versities and College Union (CUCU), as Stephanie Stacey In the report’s introduction, CUSU majority of the University’s colleges are well as a vigil organised by the newly Senior News Editor Disabled Students’ O cer Emrys Travis compliant with the 2010 Equality Act, formed Disabled People Against Cuts Kiran Khanom writes,“Even physical environments which requires that anticipatory reason- Cambridgeshire & Essex branch. Senior News Correspondent populated by newer builds than those in able adjustments be made for disabled Events included a ‘Know Your Rights’ Cambridge fail with shocking frequency ❝ people. drop-in, introducing sta and students Many of the University’s Colleges hold in- to provide access for wheelchair users, Travis said it is “shocking” that many to the 2010 Equality Act, as well as an ‘Art su cient information about wheelchair and for other disabled people who need We urgently people “seem to think the conversation for Mental Health’ event in collaboration and step-free access, and several do not step-free access.” need to see has ‘moved on’” and oten assume that with the ‘Welfare is Political’ series. appear to fully understand the require- Cambridge, “with its greater than av- tougher wheelchair users, as the group oten re- e Day of Action, which precedes ments of disabled students, according erage number of old (and oten listed) exively thought of when disability and Disability History Month (22nd Novem- to a recent report produced by the CUSU buildings (never mind the cobblestones)”, rules for accessibility are mentioned, are su - ber – 22nd December), was initiated by Disabled Students’ Campaign. can therefore cause particular issues for employers ciently catered for already, declaring that the national UCU Disabled Members’ e report was released on Wednes- disabled students and sta . this “is absolutely not the case”. Standing Committee in order to organ- day, on the inaugural Day of Action for According to the report, only three of ❞ One of the report’s main recom- ise against discrimination and focus at- Disability Equality in Education, which the University’s 31 colleges were able to mendations is that colleges buy into tention on challenges faced by disabled was marked both in Cambridge and na- provide an up-to-date ‘access audit’ – a an incoming initiative spearheaded by students and sta . is Day of Action tionwide. document detailing an assessment of a Cambridge’s Disability Resource Cen- was the rst event of its kind, and was Entitled ‘To boldly go where every- college’s sites compared against best- tre, which will see the University make marked nationally by campaigners, some one else has gone before: Step-free and practice standards. Of these documents, use of AccessAble, an accessibility au- of whom met in parliament to call for wheelchair access in the University of one dated to 2017, one to 2011, and the dit sotware. AccessAble aims to create action on key issues a ecting education, Cambridge’, the report used testimonies other to 2004. Many colleges were unable an ‘access map’ of all central university such as the need for statutory rights to to illustrate issues still faced by disabled to respond to the Freedom of Informa- sites and faculties in Cambridge with disability leave and further measures to students and sta , and raised concerns tion requests submitted by the Disabled the aim of aiding disabled students and ensure buildings are fully accessible. about the extent of colleges’ compliance Students’ Campaign, and, even when full sta . However, this map would not au- UCU national head of equalities, with the 2010 Equality Act. audits were provided, these were “oten tomatically include the University’s 31 Helen Carr, said: “We urgently need to It highlighted insu cient clarity of lacking in detail”. Varsity has reached out colleges. see tougher rules for employers, and a provision for those with disabilities, and to the University for comment. e report was released on the inaugu- real commitment from government to pointed to “a lack of understanding on Due to the lack of available data, the ral Day of Action for Disability Equality in tackle these issues so we can make our the part of some Colleges” as to what report concludes that it is “essentially Education, which saw a series of events education institutions more accessible constitutes ‘wheelchair access’ or ‘step- impossible” to make “any signi cant hosted by CUSU and the Cambridge Uni- for disabled people.” ▲ On Wednesday, the inaugur

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THE KING’S MUSIC OVERTURE TO HOME King’s launches Tchaikovsky’s cloak Apple Music playlists returned to Russia

King’s College has become a curator on Russian composer Tchaikovsky’s mantle, Apple Music, a digital music and video which has been held by the University for streaming service. e College will pub- 125 years, has now been returned to the lish playlists on the history of the College Tchaikovsky House Museum in Klin, in and speci c selections to accompany Russia. Tchaikovsky was given the man- major festivals throughout the year. tle for an honorary doctoral title when he e playlists will be curated by current was invited for a special reception during King’s students and prestigious alumni. the 50th anniversary celebration of the Current playlists include selections from Musical Society of the University. e the College Choir’s new album, an Intro- mantle was mentioned in Tchaikovsky’s duction to Choral curated by prominent diary alongside a detailed description of British composer and King’s alumni Bob the ceremony. e return of the mantle Chilcott, as well as a ‘tourguide’ playlist was scheduled in the programme of the about the College. ‘Tchaikovsky World Tour’.

SUFFRAGETTES LIVE ON VOICES FOR THE MIND Newnham marks Clare choir sings for su rage centenary Student Minds

Newnham College held two workshop Clare College choir was seen singing un- series for students in Cambridgeshire der the Raised Faculty Building at the and Petersborough to commemorate the Sidgwick Site on Tuesday aternoon. centenary of partial women’s su rage Around 20 members of the choir sang, and raise awareness on the interdisci- as part of fundraising e orts for Stu- plinary nature of humanities and social dent Minds Cambridge, a student char- science research. Students explored ity which aims to engage with students issues of su rage through a myriad of and University sta about mental health humanities and social sciences subjects, in the University. e choir added to the with a chance to undertake their own Christmas vibes currently growing in research project. Outstanding projects Cambridge, following the Christmas light , the inaugural Day of Action for Disability Equality in Education took place, with a series of events organised in Cambridge EMRYS TRAVIS would receive prizes. switch-on last week. HIGH TECH. NE T TECH.

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www.oxam.com www.burges-salmon.com/careers/ 6 Friday 23rd November 2018 News ‘It makes poor students feel like burdens’ Delays in college hardship funds cause students distress

accrued hardship”, declining to comment Rosie Bradbury, Isobel Griiths, and on individual cases. Jess Ma as downing’s access oicer, Hayes pointed out that she helps students in “i do understand that people can make inancial diiculty without writing thank mistakes in their job, but i do think it you notes, saying: “i don’t need to feel is a bit unacceptable to have mistakes the pressure of indirectly helping future be so easily made when it afects the students through my own emotional la- student so much.” bour.” several students have spoken to Var- “Coming from the background i come sity about their experiences with delays from i want to help, but i want that and logistical complications in receiving choice to be mine, i don’t want to feel inancial support, and have criticised the like it’s my fault if disadvantaged stu- suggestion by some college development dents don’t get here because they don’t oices that students write thank you have the money to get here – that’s your notes thanking donors. job, you get paid to do that job.” eimear Ní Chathail, an irish student at dr Guy Williams, the senior Tutor at Magdalene College, told Varsity about the downing, told Varsity that it was indeed logistical diiculties she faced when try- not the university’s policy for students ing to receive her bursary. she receives a to be required to write a letter of thanks scholarship from the irish government, to the donors. He added that no students but on the condition that the college were sanctioned for not writing a letter sends a letter of conirmation that she of thanks. is coming back to study each year and Meg Gibson, also an access oicer at has passed her exams. downing, explained that the administra- “hey never, ever send it back until i tion of receiving hardship grants was literally show up at their door.” she ex- also an issue for many students. every plained that this year, when she rang the time students need to receive money, college to remind them to conirm that they are required to ill out a physical she would be returning, they had lost the form. letter from the irish government, and it “you shouldn’t have to keep illing out was up to her to get another one. his the form, college knows your circum- meant that she did not receive her bur- stances”, she said, “especially when it sary until early November, as opposed can be diicult reaching out in the irst to the beginning of october. place.” she also faced a delay in the bursary she added that students can often be she receives from the college. While they ▲ Eimear Ní Chathail is a fourth-year at Magdalene (Rosie BRadBuRy) left waiting for money during the admin- did delay the deadline for her college istrative process. “some people have had bill, “the combination, this year, of them ❝ an exception for me and put the £100 of thanks should be reserved for speciic diiculties where they’ve submitted a [not sending the letter of conirmation in my bank account because i was run- grants, and not asked of students for the hardship form to a tutor and the tutor to the irish government], and the fact I was ning out of money for food, and [they] Cambridge bursary. she added that she hasn’t submitted it on time, which delays that the bursary they were giving me made it seem like i was being very in- understood the university and college them getting their money ... it shouldn’t was delayed, meant that i had no money running out convenient.” may each sponsor half for the bursary, be dependent on things like that.” until last Friday.” of money another downing student, eleanor but that would mean “some students in august, Varsity revealed that Cam- “hey sent me a letter saying my bur- Hayes, explained that her college had have to thank various grants for the bridge’s senior Tutor’s Committee is con- sary was coming, they emailed me say- for food, tried to make it a “condition” of receiving Cambridge bursaries and others don’t, sidering to cover all tuition and living ing i had to provide them with informa- and they any hardship funds that the students in depending [on] where the college inds expenses for the university’s poorest tion to get my bursary, which i provided, receipt must write a letter of thanks to the money from”. students in the form of “debt-free” stu- and then they never told me my bursary made it the donors. according to Kite, the chair of Cam- dentships. wasn’t coming. ever since Hayes’ mother, her sole bridge’s senior Tutor’s Committee wrote alongside major proposals for in- “hey did not not seem particularly seem like I carer, lost her job in between her irst to college development directors that creased inancial support, a university organised in that respect.” was being and second year, she has been reliant students should not be asked to write Bursary task force also examined ex- steven Morris, the bursar at on the college’s hardship fund, as well thank you letters for the Cambridge panding the Barnard scheme – a “sup- Magdalene, explained that the college very in- as the government loan and the Cam- bursary. plementary” support scheme being had been facing technical issues with convenient bridge bursary. Melliar-smith commented that being developed at Trinity – to be rolled out their sLC system, which caused some Writing to the students, the college asked to thank donors for bursaries is “a across all undergraduate colleges. students to not receive their bursaries ❞ encouraged these thank you letters be- bit patronising” since bursaries provide Hayes explained the issue as one on time. cause it was “very motivating for do- “the bare minimum for the quality of life of a gap between college institutional “all students have been given an apol- nors to understand the diference that you should have as a student” and is not structures and the individuals who work ogy and will be given temporary inancial their gift has made to individuals and by something one actively applies for. there. she explained that her tutor, for support by the College to avoid further providing this information you may be “[it] makes poor students feel like ❝ example, has always been supportive, delay and until the issues are resolved indirectly helping future students.” burdens”, she concluded. I explained and the bursar was willing to split her with the sLC,” he explained Hayes pointed out that the language on her experience with getting hard- college bill so that she could make the a downing student similarly stressed changed over the course of her study, ship funding, Melliar-smith received a that it payments more easily. that the urgency of these situations can with the language of it being a “condi- £500 loan to be repaid in four weeks “here’s a massive disparity in college often be ignored by colleges. When her tion” only appearing in her second year. when she applied for an emergency bur- would between individuals and their opinions, laptop broke, she went to the college for she challenged this in an email sent to sary when she was in “lots of debt” from be very and the actual system of doing it”, she inancial help, as she was already on the those who had sent her the original re- lending. she was told that the money she said. maximum student loan and Cambridge quest, and her tutor and senior tutor. got was to “tide me over”, but that repay- stressful for However, she added that some of bursary. she did not receive the money “i explained that it would be very ing her debt was not a short term matter. me to write those working at the college were not until two terms later. stressful for me to write a thank you Melliar-smith pointed out that she got supportive of her inancial situation: “in she explained that the onus was put letter, like, thank you for letting me £350 when she got a irst at the end of a thank conversations i’ve had where i’ve sug- on her to chase the college up for the survive.” the year. “hey clearly have money, but gested i wouldn’t be able to study unless money. “eventually i went to [a member Cusu education oicer Matt Kite it’s just in diferent funds”, she said. you letter, i have this money, i was told that that’s of senior college staf] because i hoped to said, “[there] needs to be an open conver- a spokesperson for Trinity Hall told like, ‘thank the way life works. ind some sort of sympathy and aware- sation about [the practice of asking for Varsity that the college “has a reason- “it does make people feel unwelcome, ness that i was only asking her for help thank you notes] and the impact it has, able provision of funding available to you for that you have to beg for money and then because i really needed her to use her joining up the people who are asking for assist students experiencing inancial letting me show how grateful you are for it.” position to move things along, but in- these letters to be written and those who hardship”, adding that “nearly all Col- Do you have a story to tell about your stead she was quite cold and didn’t make know about student experience”. lege funds are administered through the survive’ experience with college bursaries and hard- an apology”, she explained. Rhiannon Melliar-smith, a inalist at Benn Bursary Committee, which meets ship funding? Get in touch: news@varsity. “i had to beg the [college] to make Trinity Hall, argued that writing notes termly to address cases of unforeseen, ❞ co.uk Friday 23rd November 2018 7 News

He claimed that the measures already onus is on them.” rolled out by the University’s adminis- Speaking about the ‘hostile environ- Students and tration showed “little democratic over- ment’ in general, they added, “his is a sight.” government policy that has discretion “he University markets itself as a as its hallmark”, explaining that “no case staf raise lags global institution and a world leader in looks the same but they’re all caused by research. It has a duty not to leave it to one and the same thing: institutionalised staf and students to face the burden of racism and institutionalised apathy.” over immigration the ‘hostile environment’ alone”, added As for future eforts to improve condi- Yaqoob. tions for international students and staf, A University spokesperson said that a workshop has been held by URBC, and policies “the University’s International Student the UCU intends to embark on a ‘Map Oice provides dedicated support to all Your University’ scheme. his will en- international students applying for a able immigrants to trace the ways in student visas to study at the University”. which they have been institutionally he Cambridge UCU graduate represent- victimised. Millie Kiel and Isobel Griiths ative emphasised the University’s role in he UCU also plans to conduct a Deputy News Editors changing government policy: “Oxbridge survey of international students, say- has the power to lobby against a lot of ing simply: “For now we’re gathering Although they noted that they “haven’t these hostile environment policies.... he ▲ Students & staf protest the ‘hostile environment’ (URBC) information.” been victimised in any way as of yet”, one international graduate student said ❝ that the government’s ‘hostile environ- The Univer- ment’ immigration policy is “like a spi- der’s web in which you’re already stuck” sity markets or “a ticking bomb”. itself as a he Cambridge branch of the Univer- global sity and College Union (UCU) has recently begun campaigning on the issue of institution the government’s ‘hostile environment’ and a world policy towards immigrants. At the beginning of November, Cam- leader in bridge UCU held a meeting with rep- research resentatives from Unis Resist Border ❞ Controls (URBC) and International and Broke, two groups campaigning against punitive immigration measures, with the aim of ofering staf and students the opportunity to discuss ways in which to push back against the government’s policies. he Cambridge UCU graduate repre- sentative, currently on a Tier 4 student visa, told Varsity that students on this type of visa are left “on their own” in the collegiate system if unable to produce the money required for the visa in full, amounting to around £1,000, because Tier 4 visas are not covered by the loan system at Cambridge, nor at any other university in the UK. hey described the ‘hostile environment’ policy as “horrible policy that has ruined the lives of a lot of people”, adding: “there’s something horribly wrong with the immigration system in this country”. Another student, Ahsan Memon, an Engineering postgrad, said that during a long and confusing application process, he felt that he was being “passed around admissions oices”. Memon also told Varsity about his diiculties procuring a Conirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), something required by UK immigration laws to prove that a university will sponsor the application for a student visa. Having arrived at the University, Where are solutions Memon formally complained about the way he had been handled by various ad- ❝ missions oices, but eventually with- There’s before they’re found? drew this complaint, explaining that he “didn’t come to Cambridge to ight with something the admissions oice”. horribly Welcome to the home of the curious. Following campaigns by international wrong with A place for those who know that imagination, staf and students, some progress has the immi- ingenuity and solution fi nding are what been seen in recent years, including humans are made of. We off er life-changing reimbursement measures to cover visa gration costs and policies aiming to prevent careers and professional qualifi cations, deportations. A UCU campaign also system in across all industries, to those who are true brought about a change in government this country to themselves. Those who set no limits to policy to allow migrant workers to exer- ❞ their dreams and ambitions. cise their right to take industrial action without afecting their ability to remain Explore our opportunities in Cambridge - applications closing soon in the UK. deloitte.co.uk/careers Speaking to Varsity about Cambridge What impact will you make? speciically, however, Cambridge UCU branch secretary Waseem Yaqoob, said that “the response of this University has been characteristically weak”. 8 F 23 N 2018 News Analysis In the rst year with a simple opt-out, class lists o er a distorted view of attainment

tion of class lists, particularly in light of ranking of colleges based on exam re- Stephanie Stacey new data protection regulation and the sults, would be able to continue. Senior News Editor simple opt-out procedure, the Reporter Peter Tompkins, who has created the Elizabeth Haigh team said: “Class lists will continue to be Table annually since 1981, said that al- Senior News Correspondent published in the Reporter until such time though this year he was unable to see as the Regent House approves a contrary results and calculate the Table himself, e University of Cambridge has pub- change to the relevant regulations.” he was able to ask a college tutor “who lished the class lists, the annual record of In June, a Varsity Freedom of Informa- has access” to the results of all students Tripos results, in the rst year following tion request revealed that 36.5% of eligi- – including those who opted out – to the introduction of the simple opt-out ble students chose to opt out of having make the calculations using his formula. procedure. Released on Wednesday 21st their marks displayed both online and on Every tutorial o ce was provided with November, signi cantly later than in pre- notice boards outside of Senate House, two versions of the class lists: the rst vious years, this year’s class lists o er a representing 4,570 undergraduates and excluded students who had opted out, potentially distorted view of overall at- 103 postgraduates out of a total of 12,803 the version published this week, while tainment, due to the fact that more than eligible students. the second was a con dential version a third of students chose to opt out of Opt-out rates were particularly high containing the results of all students. having their names and grades listed. among rst-year female students and In April 2016, Varsity revealed that a In the past three years, the class lists arts students. is is clearly demon- review by the General Board of Facul- have been released on 12th October, 15th strated when comparing, as one exam- to 182 in 2018, a trend that was similarly ▲ e ties had recommended that class lists September and 7th September respec- ple, English and Maths Tripos results. re ected among rst and second year introduction of be abolished, a view which the Univer- tively. In mid-October, the Cambridge Student numbers listed for the English students. In the cases of both Maths and the simple opt- sity Council echoed. However, attempts University Reporter team, responsible Tripos have more than halved since the English, the percentage of those listed out system saw to abolish the class lists were halted for the publication of the class lists, easy opt-out was introduced last year, who attained a First was higher this year 36.5% of eligible in November 2016 ater a referendum told Varsity that they expected the class with 193 Part II students listed for the than the year before, while the percent- students opt out launched by campaign group ‘Save the lists to be published “a little later than 2016-17 academic year compared to just age of those listed to have attained a 2:ii from class lists Class Lists’ found 55.2% of students in usual but for no reason other than [the 88 for 2017-18. Contrastingly, the pub- or ird decreased. LOUIS ASHWORTH favour of an easier opt-out rather than Reporter team’s] availability to complete lished Maths Tripos results saw a far e introduction of the simple opt- total abolition, and ater Regent House the work on it.” smaller drop: 217 Part II students had out option for Class Lists cast doubt on blocked a Grace that had proposed the Asked about the future of the publica- their results published in 2017 compared whether the Tompkins Table, the annual lists’ elimination. F 23 N 2018 9 News

I’ve been afraid of being thrown out.” visit mind.org.uk. eir fear is, in part, due to the fact that e following organisations also provide the University has no explicit policy on support and resources: students engaging in sex work. Breaking the Silence: the University’s e dangers two Taylor remains unsure about whether campaign against harassment and sexual they will be able to return to the Univer- misconduct (includes reporting mecha- sity to nish their degree. nisms). “I sustained a lot of trauma from the ❝ Cambridge for Consent: a student-run chronic stress I went through dealing campaign to promote consent. students faced with all these issues and I don’t think I I’ve found Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre: a charity could face it again, knowing that nothing for female victims of sexual violence. has changed, that there still isn’t any real that many Cambridge Nightline: a con dential support,” they said. clients in- night-time listening service. If you have been a ected by issues men- Students’ Unions’ Advice Service: the in sex work tioned in this article, you can contact the terpret ‘no’ University’s con dential, independent and Samaritans in the UK on 116 123 or email impartial advice service. ◀ Both students [email protected], and the mental health as ‘yes’ * e names of the students who spoke who spoke to charity Mind by calling 0300 123 3393 or ❞ to Varsity have been changed. Varsity entered sex work to achieve greater nancial stability JOE COOK ADVERTISE WITH US. understand that even sex workers have ▶ Continued from front page boundaries and consent still matters. I To advertise in any of our print publications or Content note: is article contains mention have been strangled without warning, of sexual assault held in a location only to be sexually online, please contact our Business Manager: assaulted without payment, pressured put them o approaching anyone else in into drinking [and] drug use”. the University for advice or assistance. For Sam*, their decision to go into sex tel : 01223 33 75 75 ey were o ered some nancial as- work was made in order to gain nancial email: [email protected] sistance, however it was insu cient to independence and stability. web: varsitypublications.co.uk cover their expenses. ey said, “Coming to Cambridge and A spokesperson for the University seeing how nancially unstable I was said, “We take student welfare very se- compared to everyone else, as well as riously, and we encourage any student how many people constantly relied on who is struggling nancially or with their parents, sex work seemed a natu- mental health di culties to seek help ral way to gain nancial stability in an from their College or the University.” independent and comfortable way, since Believing themself unable to nd it was a bonus and not necessary for me nancial support elsewhere, Taylor en- to survive.” tered sex work: “I felt that sex work was Sam works mainly in sugaring – hav- the only reliable choice.” By the end of ing a sugar daddy – because they said the process, they said they had started this is the thing they’re most comfort- to feel ashamed for being poor – a shame able with. they did not feel when it came to sex Sam’s disability meant that they had work. few ways available to them of earning Taylor has now intermitted. Cur- money. rently, they rely entirely on sex work as ey, too, have found themself in very a source of income, their funding hav- dangerous situations. “I nd that many ing stopped once they intermitted, as clients interpret ‘no’ as ‘yes’, and only is standard practice of Student Finance stop when threatened explicitly with England, which does not consider inter- police intervention,” they said. mitting students to be full-time, and so e nature of sex work oten makes withdraws any student loans and main- workers vulnerable to harm. A 2016 NUS tenance payments. Earlier this year, a survey of students who identi ed them- Varsity investigation spoke to students selves as having been involved in sex let nancially abandoned when they work found that 47% of those surveyed intermitted due to government policy had experience sexual assault while inconsistencies in providing state sup- working, and 30% reported a physical port. assault. Shortly before intermitting, they said Due to the taboo nature of the work, that the pressure of balancing their de- 82% of those survey respondents said gree, covering their nances, and look- they had not reported incidents that ing ater their worsening mental health occurred while they were working to ❝ caused them to be “in constant distress”, the police. and that they “ended up attempting is leaves sex workers as a group Coming to suicide not long before [they] had to who are simultaneously in need of pro- intermit”. tection, and di cult to protect. Cambridge, “Sex work granted me nancial secu- For Taylor, turning to sex work was sex work rity and independence in a way [I was something they felt to be a nancial ne- otherwise unable to], and has allowed cessity, yet in doing so, they now feel un- seemed a me to survive whilst intermitting when able to seek support from the University, natural I have no student loan, no access to ben- their college, sta or fellow students due e ts and cannot work more than a hand- to the stigma surrounding their work. way to gain ful of hours a week,” Taylor said. Both Taylor and Sam fear being kicked eir sex work has placed them in out of the University if they come for- financial situations of intense risk. ey told ward with their work. Taylor said, “I’ve stability Varsity they have been assaulted “sev- never spoken to sta members about it eral times”. “I think some men do not because the stigma has felt so intense ❞ 10 F 23 N 2018 News Access denied Nearly half of Oxbridge entries from top 3.5% of schools

the largest problems with outreach is ● Of a total of 4,041 schools the di culty in reaching certain popula- tions within the UK, oten a result of lack that had students apply of teacher engagement ... Supporting a over the 11 year period, there handful of students in the application were 2,974 schools that sent Scattered success: process to selective universities is not Oxbridge applicant seen to be cost-e ective in schools under only ten or fewer students to real funding constraints. success rate by constituency “Universities should continue to Oxford or Cambridge lobby the government to provide adequate funding to primary and secondary schools to allow them to support ● More than 6,000 students students, as well as ensuring that policy mitigates fundamental di erences be- were admitted from the top 30% tween children on the basis of socioeco- ten schools for Oxbridge nomic demographics.” Admission statistics for the 2016 cy- admissions over the same cle, released earlier this year, placed Ox- time period ford and Cambridge in the bottom ve in 25% the UK with respect to the proportion of students admitted from areas of low participation. However, the two universities have seen some improvement in their 20% access gures, with Cambridge admit- ting 4.5% of students from areas of the lowest participation in 2017, compared to around 3.2% in 2016. Senior Pro-Vice Chancellor for Edu- 15% cation, Graham Virgo, told Varsity last month that, “we work incredibly hard to ensure the very best students are being admitted to Cambridge.” He added, “we 10% work very hard in the access and widening participation area and we have made very signi cant improvements in terms of what we are doing and the success by which we are doing it. “I can see over the last [ ve to six] years in particular very signi cant improvements. ere is more that can be done and we are well aware of that.” Cambridge recently announced a £500m fundraising campaign for student support, part of which will go towards a foundational year and a bridging course, to be rolled out in 2021. e hope is that the two programmes will help both im- 0.6% prove the success rates of students applying from disadvantaged areas as well as boosting the numbers applying. 0.4% Similar schemes are already running in some Oxford colleges, namely Lady Margaret Hall and University College. Senior sta from both colleges told Var- 0.2% sity last month that they have since seen an increase in the number of applications from students from disadvantaged Capital constituencies backgrounds. Last week, e Oxford Student revealed conquer: % Oxbridge intake that two Oxford colleges, Wadham and by constituency. London saw Brasenose, o er some scholarships ex- the highest intake. clusively to privately educated students. And earlier this month, award-winning grime artist, Stormzy claimed that the ▶ Continued from front page University of Oxford rejected his o er to fund black students at the University to Oxbridge in the same eleven-year peri- to widen access and diversity, which the od, representing just over 3% of applying University has denied. schools but making up 44% of the total “I’m never going to criticise anybody Oxbridge cohort over the time period. for putting the spotlight on us and saying e top two applying schools were Eton you should do more,” Virgo said. College and Westminster School, which “What I will say is, seeing it from in- have respectively seen 910 and 951 stu- side and knowing how colleges and the dents attend the two universities. University take this so seriously, there e top ten schools for Oxbridge ad- are times when I get very concerned missions in the state sector had 3,566 about some of the coverage that does students accepted by Oxbridge over the not re ect on what hundreds of people 11 year period. are doing, including students, academics CUSU Access and Funding O cer and [other] members of sta regarding Shadab Ahmed, told Varsity: “One of access and widening participation.” Friday 23rd November 2018 11 News ‘Considered half the problem’ One student details how college disciplinary procedures exacerbated her PTSD

❝ sexual misconduct cases – by encouraging disciplinary procedures to be There [are] handled by the central University, once revised University procedures are intro- too many duced in 2019, following a consultation gaps in process on OSCCA proposals. Speaking to Varsity, Fiona Drouet, finding a national campaigner on the issue of sexual violence on campus, argued that meaningful “in the situation of the accused having justice for previous reports against them, [a central- ised procedure] helps to build a pattern people of behaviour.” ❞ Last week, Varsity reported one student’s experience navigating her college’s disciplinary procedure after reporting another student of rape. She described her college’s failure to discipline the student who remains in her college, and to support her welfare during the process. In September, Varsity spoke to two students who felt that complaints which they brought to their college were not taken seriously. Both cases – one of inap- propriate remarks by a supervisor, and another of not being told of a lecturer’s past paedophilia conviction – faced bu- reaucratic pushback from the colleges. “[he process] made me feel very exposed. I felt repeatedly judged and not understood. I was desperately trying to rebuild both my conidence and my trust in others”, said Cooke. If you have been afected by any of the gotiated instead that she provide a writ- ▲ CUSU have come forward with a complaint and issues raised here, the following organisa- Rosie Bradbury ten statement to be read out. Women’s Oicer other stakeholders – in order to minimise tions provide support and resources: Senior News Editor he college’s procedure occurred prior Claire Sosienski- students having to repeat their testimo- Breaking the Silence: the University’s to the case going to trial, where Cooke’s Smith spoke at nies to multiple members of staf during campaign against harassment and sexual Content note: his article contains men- ex-partner was convicted of criminal a Reclaim the disciplinary procedures. misconduct (includes reporting mecha- tion of sexual misconduct, abuse, and Post- damage and cleared of assault. Night rally in Sosienski-Smith described the inves- nisms). Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Cooke also described certain college March (EVELINA tigator role as taking “steps toward the Cambridge for Consent: a student-run “It sometimes felt like I was con- staf voicing their opinions on her case GUMILEVA) idea of us centering the survivor and the campaign to promote consent. sidered half the problem, rather than in communications with other students survivor’s welfare”. She added that at Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre: a charity a victim”. – one of whom “[making] it clear they present, “there [are] too many gaps in for female victims of sexual violence. Over the past year, as CUSU Women’s did not believe me”. inding meaningful justice for people”. Cambridge Nightline: a conidential Campaign has led eforts to reform the Christ’s College did not respond to Sosienski-Smith said that in calls for night-time listening service. University procedures for cases of stu- request for comment. reform, WomCam is hoping to address Students’ Unions’ Advice Service: the dent misconduct, college disciplinary he formal and informal disciplinary the question, “Why have we had so many University’s conidential, independent and procedures have come under scrutiny. procedures in cases of student miscon- anonymous reports, and so few formal impartial advice service. Cambridge PhD student Sophia Cooke duct have been the subject of campaign- reports?” has detailed in Varsity today her expe- ers’ eforts over the past year to reform Sosienski-Smith said of Breaking the ▼ In May, students tied ribbons to Senate House in riences navigating college procedures, the disciplinary procedure, to centralise Silence, the University’s lagship cam- solidarity with survivors (FELIx PECkhAM) after reporting her ex-partner to Christ’s policies, and to push for any college staf paign to prevent sexual misconduct College in early 2017 for emotional and involved in cases to receive training in in Cambridge: “we don’t want that to physical abuse. speaking to students who have been merely be a gesture”. Campaigners have Over two months, Cooke said that sexually assaulted or abused, to have called for the University’s formal discipli- multiple discussions on, and several “clear and survivor-focused reporting nary procedure – most publicly in a Sen- consecutive changes to, her ex-part- systems” on a collegiate level. ate house discussion held last term – to ner’s ban from the College caused her CUSU Women’s Oicer Claire Sosien- move from a criminal burden of proof to “further emotional trauma”. She said ski-Smith spoke to Varsity about “sys- ❝ a civil burden of proof, which the major- that the process of appeals and discus- tems [which] can [be] put in place to ity of Uk universities employ. sions on disciplinary action caused her empower students to report”, adding I was Speaking to Varsity in April, ex-CUSU “lashbacks”, and “exacerbated PTSD that “college procedures so often let desperately Women’s Oicer Lola Olufemi and one symptoms”. down students”. of the major forces behind changes in “Each time [meetings and discussions At present, students who wish to trying to University policy on sexual violence, took place], I would sufer debilitating report a case of misconduct of an inti- rebuild described Breaking the Silence as “ad- panic, rendering me incapable of do- mate nature have four options: reporting mitting that we have a problem”. ing anything until the uncertainty was anonymously to the University through both my “Are we willing to pressure colleges – resolved”, she said. an system introduced last year, reporting every single college – to have someone Cooke said that the College’s actions informally or formally to the University, confidence that students can access, that works spe- during the disciplinary procedure were or reporting to their college. and my ciically on sexual violence and assault?”, “seemingly without understanding of Among their calls for reform, cam- Olufemi added. the fragility of [her] mental health”, in paigners are pushing for the introduc- trust in Campaigners are also looking to ad- asking that she present her testimony, tion of the position of an investigator others dress the diferences in procedures of and hear the testimony of her ex-partner, – a person designated with mediating individual colleges – which each have in a meeting of college tutors. Cooke ne- communication between students who ❞ individual procedures for dealing with Features12 F 23 N 2018

Diabetes, my body and me While I am one of the small percent- ture, control, rebellion, identity, values. ❝ dimension, or perhaps with gentler, Fi teen years a ter age of people with type 1 diabetes, I tell Eating is a societally-digni ed activity humbler inquiries about a lived life. e her diagnosis, this story as an example we might per- through which, whether consciously or In some unanswered question contains multi- haps all relate to. In our body we are not, we create meaning. is is tangible days tudes, holding awe and tenderness, vul- fundamentally alone, and in our mind now, as the year’s end approaches us nerability and fear at once. Cathy Fisher we harbor preoccupation that can be with its season of holiday parties, pub coping feels My questions have been rewritten, re ects on her invisible. On some days coping feels quizzes and dinners. like a converging into a singular one: why not like a clumsy struggle, and on others, a I nd myself re ecting on my diag- clumsy me? graceful dance. nosis, which took place exactly teen I am stunned by these teen years, relationship with For me, the struggle is inextricable years ago this week. I was a rst-semes- struggle, which have somehow returned me to a her diabetes from meals. Type 1 diabetes is an au- ter freshman at Duke University, and on a on others, place of beginning anew. toimmune condition in which the body rainy weekday morning collapsed in the a graceful I walk down Trinity Street and see the sabotages its ability to produce insulin, dining hall over a bowl of cereal. I awoke questions of my younger self re ected in a life-sustaining hormone that is meta- from a diabetic coma with a new diag- dance❞ students’ faces as they bicycle to class bolically crucial, particularly when we nosis and a new life, one that had taken or pour over books in the library. I don’t he evening of my matriculation eat. People with type 1 rely on synthetic a scalpel to some of its innocent parts. A pretend to know their stories or the bur- at Selwyn, I was anxious. My insulin to do the work the pancreas is no sandwich was no longer a sandwich. dens they carry, the questions that gnaw anxious mind wrestled with a longer able to. is requires all sorts of te- Amidst the brightness of that holiday at them, or will. But I do know my story Tquestion that was primal, that dious calculation, thought and planning season, I had questions with a dark edge. is not unique. We all carry loads that came at me like a bullet. ere would around what goes in the body. Eating can What were the implications of incurabil- are invisible. I marvel at the people who be a post-ceremony dinner: what would become frightening work. ity? What is the nature of an illness that’s pass, at the beauty of their place and we eat? How to reconcile this? Food is life- chronic? What did it mean to have a body time in the universe, one that is so bril- Having diabetes creates ample op- giving in the literal sense. It is also life- that attacked what was vital? Would I liant it almost explodes. In our bodies we portunity for food-related anxiety. On the sustaining in a broader way. We gather ever be loved? Could I love myself? Did may be alone, but in the human experi- evening of my matriculation, I worried around it in expressions of our humanity. I even want to? Underlying them was a ence we are rich in companionship. whether I’d be able to eat what would We design physical spaces for it, with small voice: why me? This week, Americans celebrate feature on the menu. As is the nature dining halls, restaurants and kitchen Fiteen years ater that rst Novem- anksgiving in gatherings of food, fam- of anxiety, from this single worry grew tables being fundamental structures in ber, I am again a student, now in the ily, and gratitude. is being my diag- others. Would I administer insulin in the support communion of food, ideas and rst term of a graduate program at nosis week, in my mind I return to the right dose and timing? In the absence people. Meals bring us together in honor Cambridge. My mind returns to where emergency room and the day when a of diabetic-friendly food, would I eat of a special event, perhaps a birthday. I started. I think about my freshman-year sandwich stopped being a sandwich. My at all? Would I pretend to? Would peo- rough food we express hospitality, self and its questions, to which I can see returning sense of loss can feel incom- ple notice? What would they assume? inviting people into the intimacy of our ❝ Eating there was never an answer. I suspect patible with a festive exercise in giving Questions have an exhausting ability to living space. Perhaps we return to our can become there can be none for the questions that thanks. But I no longer seek to reconcile reproduce. childhood homes, to tables that have frightening most pain us. the asynchronous. I want the palpable It turns out I’d had nothing to worry been set and cleared for decades, that But time is a potent sotener, and life texture of the unanswered question. about. e team at Selwyn had prepared have silently held space for association. work there is solace in what goes unanswered. ▲Illustration by I want to hold the dualities, at once the all the accommodations I’d needed. What Food is in nite in its interpretational pos- ❞ Where there is no explanation, there is Zoe Matt-Williams bitter and the sweet. I am grateful that I’d so feared never manifested. sibilities: it can be love, altruism, adven- a vacuum to ll with new thought and for Varsity life can contain both. Friday 23rd November 2018 13 Rethinking the canon with PhD student Sarah Jilani

Jonathan Chan talks to a PhD student from King’s in his penultimate column on decolonising English

Sometimes I’m grateful that I did not have my formative years in Oxbridge,” remarks Sarah Jilani “(Ph.D., King’s), “because I wonder if I would have had the conidence to work on the topics I’m working on today.” Sarah studied for an undergradu- ❝ ate degree in English at the University of York before going on to a Master’s There are programme at Oxford. As a Ph.D. candi- simply not date, Sarah is one of a handful of doctoral enough students in the English Faculty whose academic areas of interest lie within the resources realm of postcolonial studies. he work available of these students signiies a departure to facili- from the type of research ordinarily un- dertaken in the Faculty. Her arrival also tate these coincided with the ascension of the De- kinds of colonise English campaign, in which she research❞ has continued to play a role in pushing the boundaries of discussion within the English Faculty. Born to a Kashmiri-British father and Turkish mother in Istanbul, Sarah grew up in a bilingual household negotiat- ing the tenuous relationship between being a foreigner and a local in Turkey. Bearing British and Turkish passports, Sarah found herself confronted by the challenge of proving she was a home student upon arriving in university. “In some ways, I never had recourse to the works of Turkish literature through her ▲ Jilani grew up uting articles to he Economist, he Times Ph.D. students the AHRC funds every certainty of one answer when it came mother, the relative ethnic and academic in a bicultural Literary Supplement, and he Independent. year, Sarah is the only one in her 2017 to self-deining notions based in race, homogeneity of the UK university struck household that he concerns she grappled with in uni- cohort undertaking postcolonial studies nationality, and mother tongue,” Sarah her as insular in focus, similar to the Eng- spoke Turkish versity continued to shape her freelance in English. She addresses the fact that notes. “So I had to choose between let- lish Tripos. Tripos. Her Master’s program and English (ROSIE career: she wrote articles foregrounding the AHRC funds topics it inds to be of in- ting indeterminacy being a crippling or in Oxford proved even more rigid and BRADBURY) artists and ilmmakers of colour; of ar- terest and urgency, but wonders if post- an empowering thing.” canonical in its focus on such writers tistic movements around the globe; and colonial studies has not been given that Sarah’s experience as a mixed race as Virginia Woolf, T. S. Eliot, and Ezra reviews of world cinema. A short stint in same sense of critical weight. Given the person with an international school Pound. hrough her four years of uni- the Istanbul oice of a global advertising small number of English Ph.D. students education has equipped her with the versity work, Sarah found herself drawn irm cemented a desire to remain in the pursuing such topics, Sarah argues that ability to think critically about her herit- to postcolonial approaches to such ca- UK, where she felt the workplace had it is inevitable that there would not be age. With one foot in the cultures of the nonical texts. For example, she examined less sexism, homophobia, and racism. enough supervisors who feel equipped Global South and another in the met- tensions surrounding the constitution of “Academia and journalism both warrant or interested in marking essays by un- ropolitan centers of the West, Sarah’s British identity in Eighteenth-century a jail sentence in Turkey at the moment,” dergraduates on gender, race, intersec- intellectual interests have continued to poetry and on anxieties around black- she laughs, “but they’re the only things tionality, and practical criticism in non- dwell on the non-Eurocentric ways in ness in ilm adaptations of Othello. hese I know how to do.” Western contexts. “here are simply not which people’s lives have been deined questions of identity, nationality, and Embedded in her research is the fun- enough research students in the current around the world. Her study of postco- race are often central to postcolonial ap- damental question, “How do we talk English Faculty working through these lonial literatures has not simply been proaches to literature in any era. about postcoloniality and selhood?” lenses,” Sarah argues. “It trickles down shaped by a desire to read and study It was only during a module on lit- Sarah describes how the idea of the self to the ways in which undergraduate stu- narratives about people who have had eratures of resistance in her third year has long been associated with the type of dents are taught.” similar experiences as her. Rather, she of undergraduate study that she was in- bourgeois individualism usually rooted he situation Sarah inds herself in argues that texts that deal with ques- troduced to literature that was explicitly in Western liberal discourses. he colo- proves to be one in which she will con- tions of discrimination, mixed identity, political. he theories of identity she’d nial process of grouping people led to a tinue to be culturally alienated in the and representational justice are the very previously worked on began to feed into lattening of their humanity, in which UK’s higher education system. She re- questions she wants to delve into. “I the material dimension– the lived experi- the colonised were often seen as mass- marks that as more people grow up hav- identify with these texts in an emotive ences of people and nations struggling es rather than individuals. At the same ing the same experiences as her — one and an intellectual sense,” she remarks, to recover autonomy. She examined the time, colonialism oppressed collective deined by a perspective that results from “because they are preoccupied with the literatures produced during periods of ways of self-identiication, and instilled multiple belongings — these questions things I have been preoccupied with all decolonisation in the 1960s and 1970s inferiority complexes. Because they at- of representational justice will become my life.” in nations newly independent from tempt to rethink both self and society, even more pertinent in the academic Arriving at York proved to be a depar- the British Empire. his interest was Sarah argues, ilms and literatures after sphere. “More and more of us belong to ture from the educational and cultural sharpened in her master’s dissertation the independences treat subjectivity as several places, cultures and histories,” environment Sarah had become accus- at Oxford where she focused on the re- a key concern. she remarks, “and we are all coming of tomed to. Having been exposed to the lationship between decolonisation and More practically, Sarah notes that age.”It is in future academics like Sarah works of writers of colour like Chinua the self in post-independence literature there remains a dearth of funding for whom we can continue to place our faith Achebe and Toni Morrison while tak- and ilm. his fed in to later work as a Ph.D. students attempting to do research in to transform Cambridge and drive the ing the International Baccalaureate, and freelance arts and ilm journalist contrib- in postcolonial studies. Of the 60 or so most important discussions of today. 14 Friday 23rd November 2018

FeaturesFEATURES In the dawn of MeToo, a culture of disbelief persists Drawing on her own perspective of MeToo, columnist Priya Edwards writes that the conversation is still being unfairly driven by women speaking out

hilst watching Dr Chris- tine Blasey Ford throughout Kavanaugh’s conir- Wmation process, I felt a constant conlictual desire between ighting for Dr Ford, for myself, for women recovering from trauma everywhere, and wanting to run away and hide from all of it. he ‘rationalistic discourse’ surrounding the conirmation of Kavanaugh to the US Supreme Court was intensely diicult. When having conversations about it, I felt horribly exposed to people’s ‘impartiality’. It was enraging to have to sit in a kitchen, or a pub, or a college JCR and ‘debate’ whether or not Kavanaugh was guilty, why Dr Ford has only now come forward, whether someone’s sexual behaviour discredited their professional qualiication. My anger came from this feeling that in order to justify myself, I too had to expose my- fortunately, I cannot help but see such ▲ Students tied nists, the underwear a teenager wears irmly on the victims. When we are self, to recount some form of injustice misogyny echoed in movements here in purple ribbons to can be utilised against her in court. Vic- ighting against sexual assault, what it at the hands of men in order to explain Cambridge. Breaking the Silence is again the gate of Senate tims who speak out on a public platform required of victims is nothing less than to people, often men, just how trauma an incredible force for change within House before a are stunningly brave. Nevertheless, I a public exposure of what is, in many – particularly sexual assault – haunts the university; however, the implication discussion earlier object to a climate in which there is a cases, the worst thing that’s happened a person. behind ‘breaking the silence’, again, is this year (FeLIx burden on victims – and victims alone to them. Asking victims to publicly recount that for silence to be broken it encour- peCKHAM) – to ight their oppressors, particularly #MeToo can sometimes feel like a explicit details of their trauma in order ages victims – regardless of gender – to in a legal system where it is dispropor- cautionary tale: here is a woman who to bring down the powerful men who come forward, showing how much more tionately hard to prove anything. has been broken, forced to tell the have harmed them is a recurring theme work we have to do in challening our #MeToo and the subsequent begin- world about this brokenness, only for in #MeToo. It exposes them not only conceptions of sexual misconduct. he nings of a revolution where women have ‘the world’ to completely disregard the to the non-believers, those who imply anonymous reporting system does en- said ‘no more’ to rampant cultures of emotional resilience it took for Dr Ford or outright state that ‘she probably de- able victims who feel they are not able harassment and assault that dominate to convey that brokenness. We must all served it’ but also to the personal and to come forward publicly to feel like workplaces across the world is no less work to make sure no more women suf- emotional burden of reliving their worst they are contributing to a change, but ❝ than incredible. he empowerment of fer like her. As a movement, #MeToo is experiences on a public platform. I had that does not account for the signiicant I object to a victims and potential victims to inally a powerful force for good, but it is not no desire, as I have little desire now amount of trauma that victims are re- climate in say no to sexual aggression is hugely enough; it does very little to alleviate the writing this article, to reveal details of quired to relive by just recounting the important for me personally. For how victims sufering. he assaulted cannot my assault just so that other people can incidents. which there many women can recall a time when become un-assaulted through confession recognise and legitimise the emotional ❝ My anger he WomCam campaign to lower the is a burden they have put up with someone, often and revelation, and we as a society must impact it has on victims, that explain burden of proof in the university’s dis- on victims - a man, making them uncomfortable for ind ways to better accommodate the why we may be unwilling to come for- came from ciplinary procedure does go some way fear of confrontation? hurt of victims in institutional spaces. wards, why we would prefer to focus this feeling to alleviating pressure upon victims to and victims Yet, seeing Dr Ford on the verge of hat begins by encouraging allies to on our own personal recovery. I felt my that I too constantly have to prove themselves. But alone - to tears, seeing men speak against lowering speak up, to say ‘I believe you’ to their own choices not to come forward and if conversation surrounding high-proile fight their the burden of proof in the university’s friends, colleagues, strangers. It begins engage in disciplinary action were being had to cases of victims speaking out continue disciplinary procedure, I can’t help but by those who can ight for what is right implicitly put on trial. expose my- to blame or question victims, the cul- oppressors feel that #MeToo inevitably falls short. speaking up and leading where survi- Instinctually, asking women to take self ture that keeps them silent will not be ❞ Like many anti-oppression movements vors cannot. Until we alter this culture on this burden, from private conversa- changed. We live in a society where, still, over time, the burden of reliving trauma of disbelief, institutional abuse will tions to a global stage, feels wrong. Un- ❞ in spite of all of the work done by femi- in order to alter the status quo remains continue. Friday 23rd November 2018 15

Features Raiki: dismantling the myth of an ‘un-African’ queer love

From Monica Arac de Nyeko in Uganda, ❝ an African country to reject an entire ▲ Two queer used to ensure that the process of nation- Waithera whose short story inspired Raiki, to Ni- group of people as part and parcel of its women at the building, or (after we inevitably abolish geria’s Wole Soyinka and Tendai Huchu This film process of postcolonial nation-building. heart of Rafiki our borders) community-building, on the Sebatindira in Zimbabwe among many others. So ties me to Most of the rhetoric in which African (RAFIKI/yoUTUBE) continent is a truly decolonial project. why decide to organise a panel event a Kenyan homophobia is rooted insists that ho- The lgbtq@Cam programme has relects on about Raiki in particular, and why in mosexuality is somehow “un-African” – a invited three incredible panellists to Cambridge? community Western import. he primary weapon I tackle these very questions at a screen- screening Kenyan Beyond my personal connection to that I’ve see used against this myth is the excava- ing that has been co-sponsored by the the ilm’s setting, the political response yet to fully tion of evidence that same-sex sexual university’s African Studies depart- ilm, Raiki to its release threw up a lot of press- behaviours and ritualised practises ex- ment. In chairing the panel I hope to ing questions for me – questions I felt engage with, isted long before Europeans unleashed come away from the evening with a set aiki is not the irst queer love could be answered well if I had access but one that their tyranny (and their culture) on to of new tools. A greater understanding story to be told on the Afri- to the University’s resources. Screening I know is our continent. of the inherent contradictions involved can continent, nor will it be a ilm costs money, and I suspected that waiting for his is important work and I feel vali- in building an anti-colonial nation state. the last. he ilm follows two academics would justiiably be more in- dated by it. I love the idea of existing as A stronger capacity for solidarity across R me when I young women living in Nairobi, daugh- terested in taking part in a panel that a hybrid; someone who is not totally the nations within the continent; the chance ters of rival politicians, who expose would be useful for their career as well return home product of her culture’s pre-colonial past to learn about the diferent ways that deep-seated political rifts and the dan- as eye-opening for myself and whatever but who has also not assimilated fully LGBT+ Africans deine themselves and gers of widespread homophobia when audience I could gather. ❞ into the culture of her former colonial their experiences. Another weapon they fall in love. It’s a moving love story Upon its release, Raiki was immedi- masters. My identity as a queer woman against patriarchy to better articulate the drawn together by young but seasoned ately banned by the Kenya Film Classii- is made richer when I combine the queer ways in which feminist and sexual jus- director Wanuri Kahiu and, refreshingly, cation Board for “promoting lesbianism” semiotics I’ve acquired by being in Eng- tice goals are inextricably tied. And hope it lacks the voyeurism so often found and posing a threat to Kenyan values (the land with a history of non-normative ❝ for an African future in which the politics in movies about women in love, which Supreme Court has since struck down sexualities within my Kikuyu tribe that I wanted that has emerged within communities of are usually directed by men. But beyond the ban). It struck me that I’ve been hear- have nothing to do with Western inlu- an event sexual minorities is championed in the that, Raiki is signiicant for me because ing similar rhetoric while studying in ence. decolonial struggle and, in the process, it adds a new dimension to my under- England, where immigrants and their But more needs to be done (and is be- that would used to create new communities that standing of my queer self. Coming out in allies are regularly deemed threats to ing done) because myths such as these examine ex- recognise the creative function of dif- Cambridge was made easier for me by a “British values”. I asked of my own coun- are not propagated purely because of actly what ference in our lives. My primary reasons community of queer black women, but try the same questions I ask while I’m ignorance. Lies about minority groups are selish: I want to understand myself the images of queer love I saw here were here. What are these so-called values? persist because they uphold structures these struc- better and see where my politics and I still overwhelmingly white, and inevita- Who lays them down? Are LGBT+ Ken- of power. tures are in it within the political climate in Kenya bly British. his ilm ties me to a Kenyan yans incapable by virtue of their very I wanted an event that would exam- country-spe- and other African countries. community that I’ve yet to fully engage existence of upholding Kenyan values? ine exactly what these structures are in Raiki will be screened at the Bateman with, but one that I know is waiting for Are they Kenyan at all? country-speciic contexts, what work cific contexts Auditorium at Gonville & Caius College on me when I return home. he question has been asked in vari- is being done by grassroots activists to ❞ Wednesday 28th November. he screening he themes in Raiki have been ex- ous contexts before, but I wanted to achieve sexual justice, and explore the will be followed by a reception and panel amined by other African storytellers. look speciically at what it means for ways in which LGBT+ politics can be event. 16 Friday 23rd November 2018 Opinion

Colleges are improvising when met with abuse claims. It’s time for this to change.

A student Content note: his article contains refer- come to terms with what had happened over me. Here, he was able to afect my ▲ Illustration by the problem, rather than a victim. changed colleges ences to sexual assault, intimate partner to me and desperately in need of support, life and intimidate me still. Kate Towsey for After the trial, in which he was found following her abuse, and PTSD stability and safety, with which the ban After several more changes, he was Varsity guilty of criminal damage but not of as- old college’s Last year, I reported to the Police and helped. However, he quickly appealed given full access to College, at certain sault, the ban was fully lifted. I asked treatment of my college that my partner, another PhD against it, and was supported in doing so times of the week. his whole process to move to a new college, where fortu- her experience student, had been emotionally and phys- by staf members he was close to. had taken over two months and involved, nately I have been welcomed, believed of intimate ically abusing me. He was arrested, and he process that followed was one I was told, around twenty members of and publicly supported. his has been partner abuse. the case went to trial seven months later. of extreme unpredictability, which se- staf. I should have been reassured and instrumental in helping me feel I can She speaks In those months, I experienced the chaos verely impacted my mental health. A made to feel safe, but instead felt judged belong in Cambridge again, but it has about how of my college’s attempts to deal with meeting of college tutors was arranged, and not understood. I was desperately taken me a long time to recover from survivors the situation, something it was clearly to which we were both invited to speak trying to rebuild both my conidence the trauma I experienced. could be better unprepared for, and consequently suf- for ive minutes. Being too terriied to and my trust in others. his process had If my old college had policies to han- protected at a fered a great deal of further emotional talk about it, to a group of staf mem- added both to my anxiety of not being dle a situation like this, many of the college level trauma. bers I had mostly never met, I agreed to believed and the feeling of worthlessness stressful and humiliating events I ex- Currently, a student can report sexual provide a written account of everything my ex-partner had instilled in me. perienced could have been avoided. Situ- violence or intimate partner abuse to that had happened in the relationship. Without the proper training required ations like these allow perpetrators, who the University through the informal or I felt very uncomfortable sharing this to handle these situations, staf members can be extremely adept at manipulating formal disciplinary procedure. he in- but was desperate for the risk he posed can cause serious harm to victims. he both systems and people, to exercise this formal procedure (instigated under the to me, both physically and mentally, to staf members who had supported my ability. It is vital that colleges either have Breaking the Silence campaign in 2017) be understood. I felt my life in College ex-partner, for example, continued to trained staf and clear survivor-focused has been an important step forward for would be rendered impossible if he was make it clear they did not believe me. policies in place to deal with situations the University, although the formal dis- allowed back in. hey brought him into College on days like mine, or work to support students ciplinary procedure is still not well set he ban was retained, but for only he was banned, and actively voiced their through an improved central University up for issues such as these. half of College. However, this did not opinion on the case with other students, ❝ procedure. Alternatively, they can report to last long – more appeals, meetings and going so far as to judge and criticise my After moving to my new college, I their college. Most colleges, however, hearings followed. Each time, I would family and me. One even contacted my Many of released a blog and a series of articles lack clear protocols, which results in the sufer debilitating panic, rendering me department suggesting I shouldn’t be the stress- about my experiences. I have also been handling of such reports varying greatly. incapable of doing anything until the there, shortly after my ex-partner had campaigning for universities in England, his leads to inconsistent and unpre- uncertainty was resolved. Providing in- seen me walking in. ful and hu- including Cambridge, to acknowledge in- dictable responses, often involving staf formation for these meetings caused me I am incredibly grateful for the very miliating timate partner abuse as an issue among members who are untrained in dealing to relive everything I had gone through, kind support I received from other staf students. Cambridge has listened, and with these issues. As in my experience, exacerbating my PTSD. To make things members. However, with so many mem- events I ex- has proposed including it in the Univer- the efects of this can be disastrous for worse, some fellow students were also bers of staf involved, some of whom sity regulations. his is, of course, fan- already-traumatised students. involved in discussions about the ban, fell out over the matter, I felt trapped in perienced tastic, but it is not enough. What also With no protocol in place, the College and it was suggested that I should ask a chaotic and unpredictable situation could needs to change is the way issues like my ex-partner and I both attended had to them to which events I should go and to which made me extremely anxious and these are handled, not only by the wider improvise. When he was charged (with which my ex-partner could. I was even prone to panic. I felt many staf mem- have been University body, but by individual col- criminal damage and assault), College uninvited from some events, which left bers did not appreciate the impact of the avoided leges too. By writing this article, I hope initially banned him from the premises. me feeling very hurt and low. During the situation on my mental health, and it to prevent other survivors from going

Sophia Cooke I was sufering from PTSD, struggling to relationship, my ex-partner had power sometimes felt as if I was considered half ❞ through the experiences I did. Friday 23rd November 2018 17 Opinion Dear Cambridge, I’m not buying it

Cambridge’s What should Cambridge do next?” tive efects on the lives of prisoners and ing Wage, while spending an estimated for it to change. latest It is a question at the heart of de- students alike, it would be crazy to argue £19,498 on wine. It is not that Cambridge University marketing bates over divestment, University that Cambridge has not contributed to It is telling that when the University should not be marketing, or should be video is “links with arms companies and the world in many positive ways. website titles a section “enhance our discussing their problems in their pitch- beautiful. It ongoing access failures. Perhaps sur- I don’t doubt Vice-chancellor Stephen environment” they discuss the colle- es for donations. However when they paints the prisingly then for an institution that Toope’s sincerity when he claims in the giate system, libraries and museums, use calls for change in order to solicit picture of a has seemed reluctant to act on the con- video that he wants “Cambridge to be a not facing up to their own impact on those donations it would be less frus- world leading, cerns of students and staf, it is also the university that does not only relect the the environment through links to fossil trating if there was some meaningful progressive question asked in the new video promot- society it serves but one that makes it fuel companies. To take just one exam- action in tackling these issues, so that institution, but ing the university’s £2bn philanthropy better”. He claimed in a meeting with ple, engineering freshers were presented Cambridge really can make society bet- is it really? campaign. student representatives in April that in with data booklets sponsored by Shell ter. Who knows, maybe with £2bn in You have to give it to the video crea- his self-described “servant leadership this year. new donations Cambridge will be able tors. Featuring beautiful interviews with role”, he has little power to change things When the marketing video features to live up to this mission, aford to take famous faces such as David Attenbor- because he lacks authority over those the much loved David Attenborough a stand by divesting from fossil fuels and ough, Stephen Fry, Clare Balding and in the University who do not report di- discussing how “the generation of en- arms and pay their workers fairly? George the Poet, it portrays a world rectly to him. Even though this was a ergy… has caused so [many] problems here is no doubt that it is up to the leading, progressive institution, aware questionable claim, it’s a fact that the with the production of carbon dioxide”, elite donors and alumni to make their of the responsibility it has to the world ❝ entrenched traditions and institutional there is unsurprisingly no mention of own mind up about if they would like to and ready to adapt and change. he sleek power of colleges mean that the issues the University’s investments in fossil give their money to the University. With website for the campaign - ‘Dear World… Without the University faces extend beyond the fuel companies. After all, this is a “small such a well made marketing campaign I Yours, Cambridge’, is similar, focusing on highest level of management. investment fund”, as Toope said in an wouldn’t blame them. the “new and daunting challenges” that action to However, we must consider whether open meeting with staf and students But I hope they bear a thought for the “our planet faces”, with an emphasis on follow up the University’s current actions demon- earlier this year, but one that proponents estimated 85,000 children who have died how Cambridge University’s “ideas and strate this commitment to improving of divestment claim is large enough to of malnourishment in Yemen country insights are needed to solve them”. these bold society beyond the scope of its mar- be able to pressure some of the world’s since the Saudi-led coalition launched It is a nice prospect and a great marketing strategy. he University has an largest companies into changing their an air strikes campaign in 2015. Although keting campaign. However without claims it is estimated £337m invested in fossil fuel behaviour. they deny complicity in reported war action to follow up these bold claims just that: industries, while colleges hold around I remember watching Zero Carbon crimes in Yemen, BAE Systems signed it is just that: another spin victory for £20.7m, plus £6.5m in investments in protesters at the start of irst year shout- a deal to provide 72 ighter jets to the Cambridge. another arms companies. Meanwhile colleges ing about “Corporation Cambridge” and Saudis in 2014. Cambridge University is undoubtedly spin vic- pay hundreds of staf under the Living the “marketisation of the university” and he company is listed on the Universi- a world leader and its researchers have Wage in one of the most expensive cit- dismissing them as too radical. Yet with ty website as having previously been one contributed a great deal to society. From tory for ies in the UK. Taking one example: as of marketing campaigns like this, making of the Cambridge’s “industrial partners”. numerous Nobel Prize winners to great this summer Freedom of Information claims about the need to “be bold in Is this what Toope has in mind when he small scale initiatives such as Learning Cambridge requests revealed that, King’s College, pursuing its mission” of contributing talks of Cambridge being “a university Together, a program run by two criminol- ❞ renowned for its comparatively left-wing to society, it seems that Cambridge has that does not only relect the society it

Joe Cook Joe ogy professors that has had transforma- values, paid 114 workers below the Liv- even found a way to marketise the calls serves but one that makes it better”? he study of history here is not in a good place. Why are we so reluctant to change it?

True he study of history in the UK is the expectation that certain histories are the RHS report) but about enriching the ❝ to study ‘proper’ history. I hate to disap- decolonisation not in a good place. his much only important to certain people. I am discipline as a whole. In this respect, I point, but this is not an adequate sub- of the history was clear as soon as I arrived in sure that many BME students studying implore a long overdue departure from We need stitute for decolonisation. Painting over curriculum TCambridge: despite being en- history will share the same bemusement the mentality that diversifying history some real the cracks with tokenistic gestures, and will not occur thralled by the charms and challenges of I do that, whenever a topic vaguely con- will somehow ‘dumb it down’. Pervading then scuttling of to our safe havens of until we realise the University, I was acutely aware that cerning our heritage or experience arises, our discipline there is a potent, unspo- change: elitism, will not ix history’s quite frankly that non-white I was struggling to ind fellow BME his- the onus is on us alone to care and to ken fear: the fear that the status and aca- alarming diversity problem. We need, as narratives tory students and staf. he decolonisa- understand its importance. demic rigour of history will be somehow more BME clichéd as it may sound to some, ‘real would enrich tion of the history curriculum may seem We are still attached to the outdated undermined by the proper integration of academics, change’: more BME academics, more the discipline as like well-trodden ground to some – this assumption that only black academics BME narratives. BME students and more respect for those a whole article is by no means the irst to call care about Africa; that only Asian herit- We see this in the teaching of so- more BME already in the ield. out the discipline for its Euro-centricity age academics care about Asia and so called ‘world history’ in universities he study of history in the UK sufers and whiteness. on. And, if we work on this hypothesis, – which attempts to cram a plethora students, from a crippling lack of diversity and However, the shameful statistics what’s the point of integrating BME of non-European experiences into one and more historians seem reluctant to face the found by Royal Historical Society’s ‘Race, narratives into the history curriculum non-compulsory paper – and the way problem, due to a long-standing com- Ethnicity & Equality’ report, and the fact when only 6.3% of history staf identify in which BME narratives are pushed to respect placency surrounding integrating BME that the UK has waited until 2018 to have as BME and only a tiny proportion of the peripheries of the curriculum. he for those narratives and fears of ‘dumbing down’ its irst black female history professor, black students study history at A-Level Atlantic slave trade may constitute a the subject. We need to ask ourselves demonstrates that these discourses or university level? he issue becomes tiny sub-section of a British economic already in the question: why are we so scared of have not been taken far enough. Now imbued with a degree of complacency – history paper, or we may scratch the sur- diversifying history? his will be a re- we know that there is a problem, we due to the assumption that the majority face of exploring the concept of ‘race’ in the ield lexive, uncomfortable question to ask: need to search for its origin to have any will be unafected. one lecture. Why do we feel the need to ❞ we’ve been up in the ivory tower so long, chance of inding a solution. We need However, this is a belief based on en- ‘other’ these historical narratives and we’re scared to look down and evaluate to ask ourselves the question: why are tirely false premises. If there is a seeming keep them separate from British and ourselves through the lens of race and we so seemingly reluctant to diversify lack of interest in BME narratives, this European history? Why do we not give ethnicity. However, it is what needs to history in the UK? is the product of a narrow curriculum them the time and space on the curricu- happen. UK historians need to start hav- Part of the reason we approach the which continues to disregard them, not a lum they deserve? ing earnest conversations about how to diversiication of history with such apa- genuine rule that people only care about I for one am convinced that these is- seriously improve the diversity of our thy in the UK is that we do not see the histories very obviously related to their sues stem from an inherent elitism en- subject. For too long we have paid lip- need to incorporate BME narratives into own heritage. Decolonising the history trenched in the historical discipline, an service to the issue, or simply recognised a majority-white discipline. Although I curriculum is not just about meeting the elitism we are unprepared to face up to. that there is a problem and then hoped by no means want to see the study of needs of non-white students (although At present, the inclusion of BME narra- it would just go away. Students and staf BME narratives dominated by white this should be a priority considering the tives is merely a quick break from reality, deserve more than that, as does the fu-

Freya Lewis Freya historians, we need to rid ourselves of diversity statistics recently unearthed by an afterthought before we hurry back of ture of our discipline. 18 F 23 N 2018 Opinion Student activism and local politics should go hand-in-hand in Cambridge

Students have ast week’s march once again ous. It’s called local politics. is is not to accuse student activ- versity has all the institutional power an explictly proved that Cambridge students Already the idea may seem faintly ists of having completely neglected lo- stacked in its favour; it pays to remem- political and will not tolerate injustice silent- ridiculous. “Local politics?” you might cal politics. Nevertheless, the unique ber that we have our own, democratic powerful Lly. As student activists are well ask. “Can you even get anything done at opportunities provided to us by living sources of institutional power which we voice as both aware, studying at Cambridge gives us a local level?” e answer is a resound- in Cambridge are too oten overshad- can turn to in response. residents of unique leverage over the University and ing yes. In fact, we have greater political owed by the opportunities provided by Local politics has one nal advan- Cambridge and its colleges. is is a rare opportunity, power here and now than most of us will studying at the University. Local politics tage which should help tempt the members of the one available to very few, which we can have ever again in our lives. is rarely splashed across the front page of wariest of activists. e lowest level University use to change things for the better. But Students make up about one in ve Varsity. Our voice within the University of commitment – registering to vote, the mirror image of this opportunity is Cambridge residents. In many election is ampli ed, while our voice within the making sure your friends are registered oten forgotten – we have another voice, wards across the city, vote margins are city is mu ed. to vote, and actually turning out on an explicitly political voice, as residents so small that even tiny uctuations in By this point, some may be wary of the day – is quick, simple, and can still of Cambridge. student turnout can ip them one way where this argument is headed. Am I make a decisive impact. For those who When students push back against or the other. is combination of factors arguing that student activists should for- ❝ would like to dedicate more time and injustice, we do not have to look far to gives us a rare opportunity to make a get trying to change the University, and energy, there is rich and varied scope nd it. Cambridge has previously been meaningful di erence, and it’s one we turn all their energies to local politics? Our dual for that too. ranked the most unequal city in the UK, cannot let slip. Absolutely not! ere is no tradeo to voices, as Even outside of local politics, chari- with the bottom 20% of earners taking Local politics does have an image be struck between the two opportuni- table causes o er immense opportuni- home only 2% of total income, and we problem. It can look pointless, petty, ties. Our dual voices, as students and students ties to make a di erence in Cambridge. can see the consequences every day. and slow. But on the ground it looks as residents of Cambridge, are stronger and as Local charities are always enthusiastic ere’s no hiding from it. like building hundreds of new council when united. about the support of students, and en- My college, for example, had an in- homes, helping one thousand house- In applying pressure on the University residents of gaging in charitable work – volunteer- come which outstripped its expenses holds avoid homelessness though a to change, there are few tools better than ing with a food bank or homelessness by more than £5 million pounds in 2016- homelessness prevention strategy, driv- allied political o ces. From Cambridge Cambridge, charity, for example – is one of the most 2017; it spent almost £20,000 on wine ing businesses towards paying a living MP Daniel Zeichner’s calls for divest- are strong- direct ways students can help those for events last year. Yet when I look out wage, and campaigning for the county ment, to Cambridge City Council’s sup- in need. of my window at night, I can see the council to divest from its £90 million port for college Living Wage campaigns, er when Most important of all is that we sim- rough sleepers shelter under the shop investments in fracking. ese are core, having local political power on your side united ply remember what comes with living fronts opposite. bread-and-butter issues for student ac- is an advantage which should not be un- in a city as unequal and politically mal- ere is, at least, a way we can try to tivists, tackled by a method which is too derestimated. ❞ leable as Cambridge: a strong political

Padraig Cu e Cu Padraig right these wrongs, but it’s not glamor- oten forgotten. Sometimes it can seem like the Uni- voice, and the duty to use it.

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www.jakemp.com/careers F 23 N 2018 19 Opinion We must not allow Oxbridge’s access problem to fuel elitism within top professions

Improving he access debate in Cambridge shown to be dominated by privilege – are ❝ top professions. taged. Many of our journalists, doctors, access will is usually focused on accept- included within the state school statis- Of course, colleges are not responsible lawyers and MPs have experienced life break the ance into the institution. Hav- tic. is insulated, elitist environment, e lib- for the many deeply-entrenched years of through an intensely privileged lens, un- dominance Ting previously directed my completely alien to most people, is being eralism privilege which arrive on their doorsteps deniably blurring their understanding of of those from column toward discussing the way in given the loudest voice and not enough each year, but they are responsible for the issues a ecting the non-elite. privileged which this neglects a class-related dis- people are talking about it. of many their choices beyond this: the proportion It is so easy to forget this when we backgrounds cussion of post-admissions access within Let’s put Cambridge’s role in even of students from various backgrounds come into contact with the wealth of in the most Cambridge life, I think it is also vital to greater focus. In April, Varsity reported Cambridge they accept and the extent of their own liberal and progressive minds here at competitive recognise how this continues to a ect that between 2006 and 2016, over a third students outreach e orts being two immediately Cambridge. But the liberalism of many careers life post-university. of Cambridge students were educated at obvious examples. em not combat- Cambridge students is not a substitute Figures show that inequalities faced only 100 schools. is not a ting the elitism at play within society at for the presence of actual diverse socio- by young people prior to becoming And, no, the domination of top ca- large, has far-reaching and unacceptable economic experience. Cambridge must Cambridge students are not erased by a reer pathways by private-schoolers and substitute consequences. open its doors to a wider pool of students Cambridge education. e Sutton Trust’s Oxbridge students is most certainly not for the Not only does wealth serve as a if it is to justify its place as a top univer- 2016 Leading People Report exposed because they are naturally more skilled. much higher guarantee of success, but sity, capable of bringing out some of the how independently-educated Oxbridge Privilege correlates to success, not intel- presence it threatens to lock it into a vicious cycle. best talent and contributing this to the grads saturate the highest-paying ca- ligence. For students attending a Russell of actual e Oxbridge graduates who occupy po- jobs market. reers: those who went to private school Group University with one A* at A level, sitions of power choose their successors, Ultimately, the University, as a strong- constitute 74% of those in the judiciary, state school students were likely to per- diverse enabling inequality to prosper. Elitism hold of privilege, will perpetuate the in- 61% in medicine, 51% in journalism and form better than their privately-educated breeds elitism. equality of post-university career paths, 50% in cabinet politics. From this, 74% peers. socio- Are we really going to continue to al- or become a bastion of change. Its role of professionals in the judiciary, 54% in Yet a 2017 report by the Social Mobility economic low the most privileged one percent of is not just to educate the students who journalism, 47% in cabinet politics and Commission warned that, at the current our population to dominate areas as vast arrive on its doorstep, but to actively 40% in medicine went to Oxbridge. rate of progress, it would take 120 years experience and in uential as politics, law, medicine seek out those whose schools or back- If this blatant inequality hasn’t hit before underprivileged young people are ❞ and the media? We must remember that grounds aren’t historically connected to you hard enough yet, consider the fact as likely as their wealthier peers to gain A these are careers which put people in the doors of its colleges. Its estrangement that only 7% of children are educated level or equivalent quali cations. Parents prison, save lives, and decide key so- from reality perpetuates and enables the privately and just 1% of the population send their children to private schools not ciopolitical issues. What’s more, those alienation of the less privileged from top attended Oxbridge. Let’s not forget that because of the grades they promise, but within these elds are the leading gures careers, a practice that has no place in those who went to grammar school – because of the privileges they guarantee, who claim to represent the underrepre- the fairer and more equal society for

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▶ Fashion living in art∙ 22-23 ▶ theatre THE MYTH OF BLIND CASTING∙ 24 ▶ arts exhibition review of the anglia ruskin fine art show ∙ 25 Photographed by Sarika Datta 22 vulture Friday 23rd November 2018

Kettle's Yard is embedded in Cambridge's aristic and cultural history. Vulture shot in the home-turned-gallery of Jim Ede, inspired by his philosophy of harmony and balance, and his belief that art should be lived in, not simply observed.

Kettle's Yard, University of Cambridge. Free Admission. Friday 23rd November 2018 vulture 23

◀ Kettle's Yard was conceived with students in mind, with curator Jim Ede holding 'open house' afternoons during term time (sarika datta)

Photogra- phy: Sarika Datta. MUa: Majida Begum. Models: Jes- sica Kayode- newman and Alex Spencer. Creative directors: Vivienne Hopley-Jones and Julia Davies. 24 vulture The myth of blind casting Mariam Abdel-Razek type?” she said, cryptically. a rm idea of how much of that is because, that there seems to be a prevailing ignorance Of course, what my friend meant by saying in addition to their skill, they visually t a and disappointing lack of commitment to at- explains why we are I wasn’t the “right type” was that I wasn’t pre-existing idea of that part. And this is so tempting to understand the implications of blonde – and, more to the point, you couldn’t di cult to examine further is because the bias a programmed season with regard to visual kidding ourselves when slap a wig on me and pretend I was, because I is unconscious. e director is not deliberately politics, and it’s holding back our theatre’s we claim to be casting wasn’t white. And it didn’t matter if I had the prejudiced, but a ected by what they’ve seen accessibility. range or not: it was something a little past the and heard and understood as a member of a It’s not enough for directors to say when blind, and what we traditional suspension of belief. biased society. proposing a show that they will cast blind. should do instead What my twelve-year-old self was encoun- If unconscious bias is at play in everything It’s more important that there is real energy tering for the rst time was the fact that as we cast (which we simply must accept is true, in balancing out casting processes, and ex- he first musical I ever saw live was much as the body can be an actor’s most valu- for all members of the theatre community), ploring the role unconscious bias has within Legally Blonde. I was nine years old, able tool, it can also be a restriction. Unlike then its power is ampli ed tenfold in pieces of them (a subject that in any other profession is Thadn’t even seen the film version music, where auditioning behind a screen is theatre which have characters at their centre regularly agged and discussed). In program- (my mum had a thing against 12-rated hardly unheard of, you have to be seen in an that already exist as a shared visual idea in ming our larger-scale shows that are intended movies), and, by the end of the show, I was audition room for an acting part: that’s part public consciousness . We then have a situa- to re ect to a wider community the best and completely in love. I went on to see it live of the deal. tion where a person of colour (for example) brightest talents we have to o er, both on twice more. I learned the score backwards, In Cambridge we seem to have fallen into who wishes to be considered for a part that and o stage, we would do better to nd and met Sheridan Smith at the stage door, the concerning (and incorrect) pattern of pre- is not traditionally “assigned” to them within shortlist shows that leave as little room as pos- and, most importantly, I wanted to be Elle tending that our theatre scene is somehow the show is having to work ten times as hard sible for unconscious bias to be sitting in an Woods. above this preoccupation with looks. We have to do so. If they’re then cast, the director faces audition room alongside a directing team. I don’t mean that I wanted to be a lawyer told ourselves, perhaps, that it may be an un- the choice of whether or not to embrace this ere are no necessary easy xes to our or go to Harvard, or nd a hot but stupid boy- fortunate aspect of the professional acting clear break away from the typical gure that accessibility problems in Cambridge theatre friend who could dump me so that I could world, but that amateur drama is not only would exist in the universe of the show and – and even if there were, it wouldn’t be my realise I was better than him (though all three removed from this idea, it is committed to make it a point within the production. For ex- sole place or responsibility to o er them, but were dreams I did have, and have taken an ensuring that it doesn’t permeate our casting ample, if you cast a person of colour as Rolf in a shared one across the community. We could embarrassingly long time to relinquish). I processes: we use words such as ‘race-blind’ e Sound of Music, are you going to address start, perhaps, by appointing an access o cer mean I wanted to be dressed in pink, standing and ‘gender-blind’. through allusion the natural paradox that this (a professional, not a student) to our theatre, on that stage, and belting an Act One closing e fact of the matter is, there is actually creates or pretend it doesn’t exist? Is a BME or making adjustments to the requirements number with a chorus of backing singers. no such thing as casting race-blind, because Iago in Othello a demonstration of internal- of pitching processes, or even keeping the I expressed this secret desire of mine to a we’re not blind. Any director who sits in an ised racism? If you’re a white director, are you Marlowe BME Shakespeare production from friend a few years later. She gave me a funny audition room – regardless of their ethnicity even equipped to make these choices? consistently being programmed at alternative look. or background – is a ected by a basic ele- My point is not that these issues are ones venues. Whatever we decide, we need to stop “Really?” she asked. “You?” ment of race theory, which is unconscious we should shy away from. On the contrary, treating identity politics as an aterthought in “Well, I have the range,” I replied. (In retro- bias. When a person walks into a room, de- they are interesting challenges bound to invig- theatre. It’s not. It’s vital to creating a com- spect a bold statement for a twelve-year-old, livers a speech or song, and suddenly “feels orate our already exciting theatre community. munity that re ects all the members of it – as as I simply didn’t.) “Why not?” right” to the director for a part, no one in that But we’re not actually reminding ourselves joyously diverse, di erent and individual as “Do you not think you’re not quite the right room, on either side of the casting process, has that they exist. And what I am trying to say is they are.

ecember, 2016: Matty Healy critical opinion. I had an enlightenment mo- ticity. Undoubtedly, he believes he has some stumbled on stage at the O2 with a ment, when I spoke to Lucas Jones, (frontman answers to life’s unanswerable questions. I Drose in his mouth and a glass of wine of local band e Rose A air) who pointed feel that the band gains so much from him, A brief in his hand. He tripped over his sentences, out that Healy knows his fan base, how they but equally loses credibility as a band; it’s not attempting to give words of wisdom, before react and pick up on subtleties and references uncommon that listeners do not know the surrendering, “Let’s just sing some songs,” in the lyrics and videos – he can market a other members. is is unsurprising: he is the and, “Fuck politics, let’s dance.” ‘A Change band. Although this took the shine o , I nally only one to talk during live shows, he does of Heart’ sounded like a flat can of coke. started to see them as they were, shaking o the interviews. A lot of the fans elevate him inquiry He tangled himself in microphone wires, what had manifested itself as an unhealthy to a divine status, when I can’t help feeling before kissing the technician that came relationship with the band. I no longer turned they are brainwashed to try and nd truth in out to assist, crying a weak, “Help me.” In to their music when I was down – they be- a drug-induced bumble. American popstar Halsey’s song ‘Colors’, came real party songs, to dance and release I should re ne this – pre-2018 Matty Healy. into the outspokenly written about him, she to. I am so glad that I was able to see them Now, at 29, he is out of rehab, supposedly o condescendingly sings, “I hope you make it live with this realisation, as I may have been heroin, healthier looking and more articulate to the day you’re 28 years old.” I insured my disappointed otherwise. I see their albums in the few interviews he’s done. It is di cult tickets. as atmospheric, energetic indie/pop explora- to judge the authenticity of his character: the Yet it was one of the best concerts I had tions, peppered with occasional downbeat extent to which his cocky front was drug- 1975 ever been to in my life. It was otherworldly. sentimentalities. induced, or whether it is his personality. Now e only thing that unsettled me was his state. By chance, reviews of the band took a 180. he is allegedly clean, the contrast should show. Having loosely spoken about a ‘past tense’ Having been cruelly awarded ‘Worst Band ‘Sincerity is Scary’, he writes, and up until Lottie Reeder re ects on cocaine addiction in interviews, illustrated in of the Year’ (which, I believe, is purely due this point, I do not think he has been sincere. the band that made the songs such as ‘UGH!’ And ‘Milk’, it didn’t seem to music critics’ irrational hatred for bands From the ve singles released, I get the dis- so past tense. Yet the crowd cheered louder that have a large teen-female following) by tinct impression of a self-realisation; he has soundtrack of many of at his moments of instability. NME, they received ‘Best Live Band’. Despite encompassed the clichés of a rock star and is our teenage years My relationship with e 1975 has devel- being one of the most controversial bands re ecting on them, almost parodying himself. oped and uctuated over six years, more so currently on the circuit, mostly due to their For the rst time, I feel that e 1975 are no than any other band. In the earlier years, I frontman’s antics, musically they are fantas- longer trying to do something monumental, hijacked the aux at house parties in the later tic. Once the songs can be separated from and by doing that, they are. hours, to play their mellow songs – ‘You’, ‘Me’, the personality and the fan base, their talent When asked about the lyric content of ‘Give ‘Medicine’ – when people had stopped paying shines through, and this can be said for all Yourself a Try’, Healy suggested that there is attention. Painfully cinematic, each song felt their work, not just the critically acclaimed I no point picking apart art sometimes, as the episodic as you sat through it. To me then, like it when you sleep. meaning will uctuate. I found that to ap- ▲ Healy in the music embodied emptiness, hollowness is does not eradicate the fact that Matty preciate the music in its entirety, you have to the band's – a tragic epitome of teenage years. It haunts Healy is outrageously problematic. He steals, stand back and treat it at surface level. I am music video me now. but gets away with it by being friends with looking forward to approaching the new era for 'Give At 16, my shit in opinion coincidentally those he’s robbed, (take LCD Soundsystem’s of the 1975 in this way, particularly seeing the Yourself A Try' corresponded with the release of the singles ‘All My Friends’ against ‘Sex’, they even have new Matty Healy in action in January, again YOUTUBETHE from their second album, as well as a shit in the same rst line) despite preaching authen- preaching to an arena. vulture 25 ‘Disguises, Disguises, Disguises’ exhibition review

the edges of reception: Willow Kirkby, creator of a series Delving into the works of the canvas to of collages addressing taboo subjects in our ne arts students at ARU, make it more society, explains that she always begins her of an object creative processes with a questionnaire, to Emma Morgan gives than an im- start a conversation with the wider world an overview of the new age. In giving and to place her pieces within a social con- the textures text. She deliberately let her piece untitled, exhibition at the Ruskin of his paint- saying that she ‘didn’t want to name it for gallery work such a someone else’, as this might limit the vari- tactile qual- ety and openness of people’s reactions to ity, he brings her ideas. nglia Ruskin’s BA Fine Art the clamour Public platforms such as Instagram have Exhibition, Disguises, Disguises, of suppressed certainly shaped the way in which we dis- ADisguises, is a simultaneous masking thoughts that tribute and receive creative works, and this and unmasking, an exploration of the we’d rather new generation of artists are perhaps the rst public personas which whitewash the ignore to the whose artistic consciousness was conceived private reality they conceal. It is a collection fore, so that and developed within this culture. When a which stages a journey beyond the visible they demand person, scrolling through their newsfeed, surface of Generation Z, touching on the intimacy with stumbles across an image that they like, the anxieties and the desires which flicker the viewer, hugely accessible and plural nature of such beneath. Concentrating on work produced and refuse media platforms automatically encourages by second years at the Cambridge School ▲ 'Lying awake, you're asleep', oil on canvas to hide behind the more lucid ideas that we them to search for more of the same. Adept of Art, this exhibition allows students to DAVID CHAMBERS present to the world. at the art of the Facebook stalk, they may reflect their developing artistic identity For these students, just as in the pieces that then scour the artist’s pro le, forming their to the public for the first time, as well as black and streaked brightly with strong yellow they create, art contains both private and per- own impressions, not just of their material, learning how to curate their work. Through lines. At rst glance, the painting reminded sonal dimensions. According to Kira, one of but also of their personal identity. Art, and painting, embroidery, collage, print-making me of the lights that ash across the insides the most enjoyable aspects of the project was the person behind it, therefore become more and photography, these artists step up to of your eyes when you close them at night, the ‘open dialogue’ which developed between consumable than ever before, transformed the challenge, presenting us with an array and when I talked to David, he explained how, her and her sister as they played around with into something to be icked through, screen- of different techniques and perspectives, through the piece’s writhing background, he’d the composition of her photograph. e pri- shotted and critiqued by anyone and every- which unite in a thought-provoking and wanted to evoke a sense of all of the ‘sleeping vate satisfaction at work behind the image is one. It will be interesting to see how these diverse demonstration of talent. thoughts’, the barely conscious concerns and a central aspect of her love for art; she says emerging talents, bound up in this cycle Perhaps the most arresting piece of the abstractions, which teem at the back of our that it makes her heart ‘beat a little faster’ with of consumption, will tackle social media’s whole exhibition is David Chambers’ Lying minds as we fall asleep. He told me how he’d excitement when she sees her ideas visualised propensity for falsi ed images of perfection, Awake, You’re Asleep: two canvases painted spent time building up and sanding down in the formal gallery setting. Other students and continue exposing the less-than-perfect thick with oily darknesses of green, grey and the layers of paint, working it up to and over have a more acute consciousness of public concerns of everyday life in their work.

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his is the irst book from the award-winning blog Angry People in Local Newspapers. https://aplin.co.uk/ 26 vulture Third year is the time to play the day. Yes, I had finally entered the realms into my rst supervision of term, and ater the out all of your bad habits, forgetting the con- Columnist Holly Platt- of both social and academic freedom. obligatory ‘how was your summer’ conversa- cept of learning objectives which you were no Higgins ponders her Film likes e History Boys, Starter For tion, my slightly wacky supervisor started ex- doubt inundated with at school. And, you go 10 and e eory of Everything had lled pressing his excitement for the year ahead. He through this massive learning curve by testing supervisor’s analogy of me with fantasy and anticipation for what said something which has stuck with me over yourself out and making your mistakes on the rst and second year at awaited beyond the drudgery of sixth-form these last six weeks and I think aptly describes really old material, that you don’t care about, Cambridge as eating your and A-levels; I would be totally in control of most arts students’ experience with the rst which sits gathering dust at the back of the what I did and when I did it and who I did two years of Tripos, ‘well’ he said, ‘the rst library. Only to arrive in your nal year, with vegetables it with. I imagined I would drink a lot of red two years are kind of like eating your peas; an enriched contextual catalogue, speci c wine and leisurely sit reading eighteenth- and now you’ve done that, you can get down interests, direction, conviction, improved abil- century poetry which I would later discuss and play.’ While I wouldn’t exactly say that ity, a honed skill set – and only then, are you with my DoS; who had obviously, become the past six weeks of studying Tragedy has allowed the academic freedom you’ve been both my friend and mentor. been an experience entirely synonymous with yearning for. Rather disappointingly, this was not the child-like playing, I get the point my supervi- It’s ingenious because it’s conditioning. case. e red wine I drink is pretty lthy be- sor was making. Once you’ve gone through By your third year, yes, you’re a much better cause it’s usually the cheapest option in Sains- all the compulsory-canon the university puts student but also, you’re incredibly grateful. bury’s, I don’t actually think my DoS likes me on your plate, you can broadly do what you Grateful to nally be relinquished from the and, as it turns out, the rst two years of my want with the rest of your time here. clutches of ‘compulsory’ and able to swan English degree were lled with compulsory By the time you are allowed to pick your about indulging in you academic interests. papers which quite frankly didn’t interest me own texts and questions and be let loose on And although third year is much harder in at all. Spending eight weeks studying medi- the unsuspecting faculty library, you’re es- terms of your work load, because it is always eval literature, which actually isn’t very good, sentially equipped to do justice to what you’re teetering on the edge of actually being enjoy- didn’t exactly stimulate me. In fact, I was so genuinely interested in; rather than butcher able, of playing, you really don’t resent it half wholly disengaged with this particular pa- it as you no doubt would have don’t in rst as much as you would. per, that two days before my Tripos exam I year. Obviously I hate Tripos, in the way that As usual, I’m drowning in work, but in a made the unfortunate discovery that I was everyone hates Tripos: it’s stressful; there is strange way I’m kind of enjoying it. Being ▲ Trinity Lane, Cambridge. June 2018. VIVIENNE required to complete two set text sections a ridiculous amount of content; some of the submerged in thoughts about my dissertation HOPLEYJONES in the paper, rather than the single one I had questions you get given are a joke; no exam- and questions about how best to break into been anticipating. Luckily, a friend of mine iner’s report has ever been encouraging in my weekly tragedy essay, doesn’t make me the remember coming to university with gave me her notes. With these and 48 hours of anyway at all, and at least half of the time you edgiest person in Cambridge, but it does make Ithe expectation that it would be nothing revision, I was just about able to fake a reason- don’t really know what you’re doing but you me feel like I made the right choice in coming like school. I was finally away from my able understanding of Troilus and Criseyde. keep doing it because you don’t have time to here. Very rarely in life do things turn out as tiny town in Kent, in a real, if equally tiny, ( e spelling of whose name I have just had stop and gure out what’s you’re really meant you hoped they would, but I feel like third year city. I had my own key for the first time. I to google.) to be doing. But, if you think about it, the is being made bearable, by ultimately ful lling had a kettle. I no longer had to register my But, when third year suddenly appeared, Tripos system is actually ingenious. my aspirations for my academic experience presence with anyone, at any point during the rules of the game had changed. I went It probably takes about two years to bash at university.

son that the thought of it can make me feel so advert becomes an escape into nostalgia. modi cation of Christmas, amidst the shots warm inside. As one friend tells me; ‘at least e story of John’s fame is played in reverse. of Elton John’s childhood, there lies an image Elton John once I year I get in bed and watch all of them As super cial evocations of past eras whiz of hope. An image of what Christmas should in a row and then cry.’ How has this happened? past, we sense that the fantasy of the lm and could be about. John Lewis has always ey are oten beautifully constructed, a com- is a search for meaning. is meaning isn’t understood that people, especially ater the (Lewis) bination of warm visuals, covers of popular present in any of those famous people parties nancial crash, are sick of the overconsump- songs, and nity storytelling. It’s probably or the adulation of his fans, but only in his tion of the Christmas period. is is why their indicative of our time that some of the best roots – the sitting room of his grandparents’ adverts rarely feature more than one or two In the leadup to artists alive spend their time crating adverts council house where he lived whilst his dad gits. To an extent, John Lewis is using this Bridgemas, Fergus Lamb for a Highstreet Retail brand. I put the kettle served in the RAF and rst played the piano. cynically to associate their products (which on and settle in. e genius of John Lewis’ advert is to nd aren’t ‘gits that are more than just gits’) with asks how an advert has e advert opens on Elton John playing in Elton John’s story an analogy for a lonely this trend. However, they’re also important taken centre-stage in our the piano in his big empty house. He’s sing- Britain, a Britain besieged by the collapse of because adverts now ful l the function of tra- ing ‘Your Song’, which he wrote, and which community that arrived with late-cap- ditional media – they’re the medium through holiday festivities has been covered countless times, from Ewan italism, one nostalgic for a post-war which we tell stories about ourselves. McGregor in Moulin Rouge to Ellie Golding in, consensus when it seemed like that ose distraught over the corruption of omplaints about the corruption of well, a John Lewis Christmas advert. community existed. Christmas should take relief in this develop- CChristmas are a boorish cliché of As he plays, we’re transported back through Buried within the John Lewis ad- ment. Within the very core of the commodi- the season, as much a tradition as time as we see him perform multiple itera- vert, the heart of the British com- cation of Christmas hides a purer vision: mulled wine, mince pies, and the Queen’s tions of the song; he plays in stadiums, on family, love, community, the very things that speech. From the right, the accusation is planes, sporting a mohawk, in a record- we seem to have let behind. that Christmas has become secularised, ing studio, in a town hall. Now he’s a child its religious content stripped to make it again, running down the stairs on Christmas more palatable for the masses. Meanwhile, morning and his mum and nan are there. He’s the left argue that commodification has tearing the wrapping paper o of his present: ruined Christmas, that a celebration of it’s… a piano. It’s the same piano he was play- community has become one of commerce. ing in the opening shot. He begins to play and The two critiques are not as different we’re back in Adult Elton John’s empty man- as they originally seem – both maintain sion. He closes his eyes. ‘Some gits are more that Christmas used to mean more than just a git’, reads the catchline. and now means less. However, it’s not Something about the advert feels o –may- liberals, per se, who are responsible for be I’ve become older and more jaded (it’s true stripping Christmas of its holy content, that Christmas feels less special with every but neo-liberalism. As that great Santa year that goes by.) ere’s a darkness to that impersonator, Karl Marx, once said: the nal shot of Elton alone in his hall that can’t logic of capital is such that ‘all that is solid quite be encapsulated by the advert’s sticky melts into air, all that is holy is profaned.’ sentimentality. He’s like a latter-day version It is amidst this culture war that, as I walk of Orson Welles’ Charles Kane, the piano tak- back to college in the bitter cold, my phone ing the place of ‘Rosebud’, the sledge that pings: ‘John Lewis debuts new Christmas ad- connects Kane with his happier but poorer vert.’ ere’s a real absurdity to this: an advert childhood. When seen through the per- has become such a feature of our holiday sea- spective of this loneliness, the rest of the ▲ e advertisment shows stages in the life of Elton John YOUTUBE JOHN LEWIS PARTNERS

28 F 23 N 2018 Science “For real progress, it’s about the balance between curiosity and drive”

Sir Jony Ive is the latest oten springing from ideas and concepts recipient of the Hawking rather than worldly absolutes, which then both re ect and shape the very Fellowship. Varsity reports on fabric of society and culture. his inaugural speech, on ‘ e He gives as an example a 2002 project Creative Process in a Team he directed which centred on the development of multitouch technology. e Setting’ broad idea would that it would end up as natural and intuitive, and through the course of the design process the interface Edwin Balani and Joseph Krol started to take on a remarkably familiar form – a series of speci c, individual app e Hawking Fellowship, while a rela- interfaces with which the user interacts, tively new honour, is already starting each of which is designed with the pur- to boast a remarkably strong list of re- pose of the app in mind, rather than each cipients. Set up by the Cambridge Union having to submit to the same form. Society last year, the inaugural award “ e starting idea wasn’t a direct re- went to Professor Hawking himself; sponse to any particular problem,” Ive following his passing, it has since been explains; “indeed, the technology took renamed in his honour. e Fellowship is years to catch up with ideas like this awarded annually by the Committee to one”. However, ater a lengthy process a recipient who is both distinguished in of customer-facing development, in- STEM (science, technology, engineering cluding a major focus on user opinions and mathematics) elds and who has, ater interacting with a tangible prod- in some way, in uenced the progress of uct, it eventually reached its prime. at social discourse. In this second year of technology rose from quite humble be- the Fellowship, it has been awarded to ginnings into the massively in uential Sir Jony Ive, the London-born industrial sotware superstructure we call the App designer who has headed Apple’s design Store. team since 1992; over the years he has For Ive, this is just a single example overseen such familiar projects as those of a unifying theme in his creative ex- of the overall looks of the iPhone, iPad perience. “Problems are measurable,” and MacBook. he says, “they are easy to talk about, Ive opened his speech at the Union which is exactly why we tend to focus on on Monday with a few remarks about them. But this totally problem-oriented ❝ the “surprise and sense of honour” he approach can de nitely be damaging.” This felt ater receiving the award. A keen He cites his experience of working in reader of Hawking’s works, he recalled large design teams, in which he thinks problem- characteristic turn of phrase, he explains revolutionary ideas, he says. But in the that through them he “glimpse[d] the it’s much harder to remain genuinely oriented that the creative process is “fabulously real world, there are also plenty of times way that [Hawking] saw things”, espe- curious, since outside ideas quickly terrifying”. when one needs a strong determination cially the physicist’s strong concerns end up feeling somehow uncomfort- approach What, then, is the key to his colossal and resolve to focus on a single problem over the collective future of humanity. able; “there’s a tendency for teams to can success in his creative eld? “It’s about at hand in order to get through it, oten With these themes in mind, he launched gravitate back towards what is known the balance between curiosity and drive, when working towards deadlines. “It’s into the speech proper, which he titled rather than to what is unknown”. ese definitely which is required to continually make ▲ Sir Jony Ive very demanding to have to switch be- ‘ e Creative Process in a Team Setting’. teams would do well, in his opinion, to be real progress,” he claims. ere are lots is the latest tween these two mindsets when the In the potted life story with which he recentre their attitudes towards shared damaging of occasions on which the smart move Hawking fellow need arises,” he admits, “but it’s what started, he emphasised the idea of in- discovery and learning. “You have to sus- is to deeply explore issues, question WIKIMEDIA needs to be done to bring great products dustrial designers as the creators of tools, pend your disbelief,” he declares. With a ❞ received wisdom, and cast about for to market.”

tinct sources of drag on a rowing boat given by the product of this force that ❝ as it moves. For instance, some is gen- they are working against and the veloc- erated on the base of the boat, essen- ity at which they are moving, making it To tially because as the boat moves quickly proportional to the cube of the velocity. double over stationary water, it accelerates the In other words, in order to double the Varsity explains water directly below it, causing energy speed at which they are travelling, each their loss. However, the principal source of rower must put in about eight times as e physics of speed, drag comes from perhaps the most in- much e ort. each tuitive source – the water hitting the Beyond simple heuristic arguments rowing pro le of the boat as it moves along. like this, the maths quickly gets very rower e Reynolds number, named for a rather ugly. Indeed, the general equa- must put Queens’ College mathematician, is a di- tions describing this kind of ow are mensionless quantity that essentially notoriously di cult to solve, with a Joseph Krol in about compares the strengths of the forces due million-dollar prize on o er ‘merely’ Science Editor eight to inertia and the forces due to viscos- for proving that unique solutions exist ity in a system. On the scale of rowing in all cases. How di cult can it be to explain times as boats, the Reynolds number turns out Given that many of the speci c stud- something as simple as how a boat much to be relatively high, and as such the ies only took place over the last couple moves through the Cam? As it turns inertial drag on the boat is roughly proof decades, with many avenues yet to be out, there’s probably more to it than effort portional to the square of the velocity. explored, it may well be a case in which you might have expected. ❞ e power that the rowers must then the rowers’ intuition has outpaced even ▲ Rowing: more to it than meets the eye ere are several structurally dis- exert in order to keep a steady speed is the most earnest uid dynamicists. LOUIS ASHWORTH F 23 N 2018 29 Science What’s the beef? How lab-grown burgers might be the saviour of humanity

ing a method for the rapid di erentiation ▼ Dr Mark ods will be able repeat the manufactur- meat, veganism is becoming increasingly ea Elvin of pluripotent stem cells into speci c Kotter’s ing cycle in three weeks or less, with popular. In a survey by e Vegan Society, Science Writer cell types. Pluripotent stem cells are development one cell being su cient to sustain the it was estimated that there are 600,000 extremely adaptable and have the po- of the OPTi- technique and “create enough burgers vegans living in the UK, almost quadru- Is it possible to grow a bee urger? e tential to di erentiate into any of the OX technique to feed the world”. ple the number there were in 2014. e Cambridge Department of Clinical Neu- three germ layers (the primary layer of is a major As this generation becomes more and food industry has also started to cater rosciences is pioneering a new method of cells that forms in an embryo). breakthrough in more aware of the ethical and environ- to this trend. Dairy company Danone growing specialised cells from stem cells Kotter was interested in the biomedi- the production mental implications invested $60 million last year in dairy- that could lead the way in preventing a cal applications of growing these cells of arti cial meat of eating free products, ice-cream brands such as global food crisis. for treatment of diseases such as Alzhe- ALIREZA ETEMADI Ben and Jerry’s and Häagen-Dazs have Livestock farming has one of the larg- imer’s and heart disease. Di erentiating begun to produce mainstream vegan est environmental impacts of any indus- ❝ pluripotent cells is usually a complicated options, and in 2017 the UK meat try, requiring a remarkable amount of This al- and lengthy process, and can take several free market was estimated to be natural resources. To produce just 1kg months from start to nish; however, worth £527 million. of beef requires 15,000 litres of water, ternative Kotter’s research group has found a way Growth of meat in a lab almost as much as one year of showers. method to turn on a particular subset of genes could help to meet the On top of this, the ethical arguments con- allowing cells to grow in a matter of days, growing demands of an cerning raising an animal for slaughter may in a technique called OPTi-OX. increasingly environ- are increasingly under question, leading hold the Kotter has since collaborated with mentally-conscious many to seek alternative diets and food Daan Luining, founder of the Dutch com- public. Despite its production methods. answer pany Meatable, which will use the OP- many negative re- e science ction-like idea of growing to the Ti-OX technique to convert pluripotent percussions, meat meat in a lab is not a new one. Previous problem cells into bovine muscle and fat cells and contains nutrients research in this area has been focused manufacture beef burgers. e method that a completely on the growth of muscle precursor cells; of meat involves taking cells from the umbilical plant based diet can- however, these not only have a limited consump- cord ater a calf has been born and repro- not provide and switch- lifespan, but require serum made from gramming them into an induced pluripo- ing to a meat free diet is animals to keep them alive, meaning tion tent stem cell, meaning that no animals not considered an option by they aren’t totally cruelty-free. ❞ need be harmed in the process. Ater an many. is alternative method Dr Mark Kotter stumbled across a new initial research and develompemt period may hold the answer to the prob- solution to this problem when research- of three years, Meatable claims its meth- lem of meat consumption.

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How can you increase team output using people on the other side of the world, you time saving features? And how do you can share your work instantly so that helps allow this with an easy system that allows a lot when you are trying to minimize the both coordination and alignment? By using impact on resources and time. Everything Design Systems! To introduce the topic to is faster, cheaper (and it’s getting cheaper us, we have Paula who started working at and cheaper) but it’s also changing every Portaltech Reply 4 years ago as a UX/UI day. You can also share your work, check Developer. other people’s work and keep learning.

Tell us about yourself he future of Design Systems?

I studied graphic design but I see myself as We (UI designers) aim to keep working in a designer in general because it doesn’t that way, but it also depends on who’s matter in which ield you are: as a designer managing your team and sometimes you you will need to solve problems. I worked need to ‘reeducate’ clients. hey have clear for more than 10 years as a graphics ideas of what they want but maybe it’s not designer and now for almost 4 years, I the best solution for them. So if we keep jumped into front end and web pushing to work in the current way, it’ll applications when I joined Portaltech. It’s become the standard for anything really. not fully coding or designing, it is mainly about information. Reply of Photo courtesy How does Reply support your research of each component will help you to build and development? Your education? the layers, and without the heart of this it In Portaltech, if you ind a course or won’t work. It is clean reusable code. I was born in Mexico and studied most of seminar or anything, basically show my life in Mexico. I did some short he history of Design Systems? interest in keeping on learning, they will speciality courses in Florence, Italy, but support you. You just have to let them they were more focused on illustration and here is a UI expert called Brad Frost. He know that “this is what I need” and they’ll art and then some courses in Cologne in pushed for this methodology of work. I support you . You have to take ownership Germany. Nothing really related to can’t say for sure that he’s the one who of your development into your own hands. technology or IT until I moved here, to started it, but he’s the one who popularised Portaltech in London. it and standardised it for UI designers and How does it feel to be in a growing coders. company? Can you introduce Design Systems to us? NASA in 1976 were suggesting to have a Before moving to London, I never thought A design system is an eco-system built similar way of work to the design systems about it, but now that I’m here it’s really with guidelines, rules and principles to we have now. To some, that would be the exciting! You see clients whose products solve a problem. he main thing is how to start. you were using and now you get to look at make this work in any context and be the behind the scenes. For me it’s exciting reusable at any time. How did you get involved with Design to see how they’re working and how we Systems? he basics of Design Systems? can help them. I got really involved with it when I started hey change the way you interact with At the same time you’re challenged to keep working with speciic clients. Sometimes your team. hey make everything faster, improving yourself and pushing yourself you’d already be working in this way but and demand a clearer consistent code to for higher quality work. you wouldn’t realise that it was that rely on, so that anybody can reuse it easily. mindset or concept. I’d just like to add, it doesn’t matter if hat’s the basics of it. you’re in front end, or back end or a How has the evolution of technology Brad Frost deined it as atomic design. We business analyst, since technology is afected Design Systems? tend to think things are complex and try to always changing, you too can always solve them in a complex way rather than I think in general everything is easier change. You can always learn. the very small parts – that’s where the nowadays. Technology brings people atomic name comes from. he smallest part closer, you can work simultaneously with friday 23rd november 2018 31 Sport Light Blues captain Kate Marks relects on the past 30 years of the women’s Varsity match With the Varsity match only two weeks away, Marcus McCabe catches up with Cambridge University Rugby Union Football Club women’s captain Kate Marks

URUFC Women’s captain Kate that many female rugby players have Marks is still in her training kit not been able to experience, and stresses when I meet her in the stands the role of the women’s Varsity match in Cof the Cambridge University raising the exposure of women’s rugby. rugby ground on Grange Road. She sits “A lot of female internationals will never perfectly at ease looking out onto the get the chance to play at Twickenham newly-mowed playing ield where the and it means a lot to have a game tel- Light Blues have dominated their BUCS evised on BBC. Even though we are at league once again this season. Cam- ❝ the amateur end of the game, to actually bridge rugby certainly seems to be her here is be able to see women’s rugby on the tel- natural habitat. evision in a historic stadium which has And in her role as captain this year, the nothing traditionally only had men playing in it 30th anniversary of the Varsity match, quite like is incredibly poignant and a huge step one of her main objectives has been to forward for the women’s game.” unite the current success of the Cam- a Varsity Exposure leads to better inancial bridge women’s rugby team with the day. Seeing sponsorship which in turn leads to the players that have laid the foundations accelerated development of women’s for their current success – all the way the stands rugby – this is a pattern that recurs across back to Sophia Peggers, the Cambridge full of the women’s sport. “I think inance is a huge captain who co-founded and won the barrier to participation and barrier to irst ever women’s Varsity match against light blue playing at that highest level and being Oxford in 1988. Marks explained, “it’s an colours of able to access stadiums like Twicken- honour to be a captain in an anniversary ham.” But once the women’s game gets year and it’s a chance for us to cement Cambridge the funding it deserves, Marks believes our links with our alumni and ofer some makes that the rest will naturally follow. thanks to them for everything that they his is visible at CURUFC where, have done to get us to where we are now, for a very while there are still improvements ▲ Marks scored build up a very strong bond in the lead ers who have really, really developed this but also to inform the girls on what it special oc- to be made, the amalgamation of the a try in last up to the Varsity match so being able season. But I think I see my role now as was like back when those players started men’s and women’s RFU clubs in 2013 year’s 24-0 to step onto the pitch at Twickenham to steady the ship. hose wins are great, up the Varsity match in the irst place.” casion has meant that both teams have access Varsity win (KATE and know how much it means to every but those wins are behind us now and “At the Varsity match we’ll have cel- ❞ to Grange road and the same facilities. MARKS) single one of the players makes it even actually going into the Varsity match is ebrations speciically for the alumni. he success of the women’s side in recent more special than it would be if you were a whole diferent ball game.” hey will be providing the guard of honour years is testament to the power of these there on your own.” So, over the coming few weeks, the when we run onto the pitch at Twicken- equal opportunities. Indeed, Varsity is incredible for team- Light Blues will be continuing what has ham and standing with us on the pitch Kate Marks of all people would appre- bonding, but it is also something that can worked for them so well so far. “We’ll be when we sing the anthem. Most of them ▼ CURUFC ciate the magic of Twickenham, having be shared more widely. “We are on the building the intensity for another week never experienced the chance to play at women after already triumphed at the home of rugby ❝ amateur end of the game, so we can’t be and then things chill for a little bit. We Twickenham so for them to be able to yet another win herself. She scored the third try from taking Twickenham and just enjoying it have put in all the hard work – no-one come onto the pitch will hopefully go over Oxford scrum-half in Cambridge’s 24-0 demoli- here is for what it is. We’ve got to be using that could fault the girls for the efort they’ve some way towards righting that wrong.” Brookes (KATE tion of Oxford there last year. It is both nothing for some kind of social good as well and shown this season. I’m incredibly proud Marks is conscious of the fact that MARKS) a cathedral and an amphitheatre, she that to me is incredibly important part of of how far people have come and how playing at Twickenham is a privilege relects: “Playing at Twickenham is the quite like the whole package of the Varsity match.” much time people have put in. To be do- pinnacle of quite a lot of rugby player’s a Varsity Whether it be coaching and access work ing all of that training pretty much every careers. in inner-London schools, hosting mini day, sometimes twice a day, alongside a She says, “I don’t think there is any- day. seeing Olympic games between local disabil- Cambridge degree is an impressive feat thing quite like walking onto that pitch the stands ity schools, or fundraising for mental in itself and to be keeping your head and feeling the sense of gravity in that health-awareness, Marks sees the club above water is incredible; in the last situation.” full of the as having an impact outside the white week before Varsity all I want them to “Even when the stadium is empty light blue lines of the rugby pitch. do is enjoy it.” there is a special aura. We’re lucky On the ield, of course, the wom- On a inal note, she added: “Last week enough that we get to go and have a kick- colours of en’s rugby team have been going from we were lucky enough to go down and ing session the day before and feeling the Cambridge strength to strength too. he Light Blues train with the Saracens squad in London quiet, the silence in the stadium the day have won six games from six in convinc- so we’re trying to keep pushing ourselves before is almost as special as actually makes ing fashion and top BUCS Midlands 1A and making sure we aren’t resting on our running out on Varsity day.” for a very with an almost unassailable 15-point lead laurels. We’ll be going into the Varsity “But there is nothing quite like a Var- over second placed Worcester. But Marks game with a quiet conidence ... Oxford sity day. Seeing the stands full of the light special oc- is keen to avoid complacency: “I’ve loved are a good side and any captain would blue colours of Cambridge and friends casion being captain of a winning side. We’ve ... be stupid not to recognize that. We love and family being there as well makes for had some real successes and some really the feeling of winning and we don’t want a very special occasion. As a team you ❞ solid individual performances from play- it to stop now.” he Varsity Michaelmas sports round-up: a term in review and three losses to date. footballers went to the inal of the World ingly and both are in second position in he women’s Rugby Union Blues have Marcus McCabe Following the opening of two new Elite University Football Tournament in their respective leagues. he badminton achieved a similar level of domination Sport Editor hockey pitches at Wilberforce Road Wuhan, China. In the league, the Blues women’s team are third while their male in BUCS Midlands 1A, winning all six of Sports Ground in October, the Men’s have struggled somewhat, inding them- counterparts are in ifth. their matches in one-sided fashion. he he Men’s Basketball Blues are top of Hockey Blues have won all four of their selves in ifth position in BUCS Midlands Varsity watched the women’s Lacrosse men’s rugby Blues who don’t participate BUCS Midlands 2B, winning all four of matches and sit atop BUCS South B, 1A. he women enjoyed a stronger start Blues come back to beat Exeter and since in BUCS have also had a positive run in to their matches thus far, including a thriller while the Women’s Blues have had a to the season and ind themselves in then they have continued to beat every- the Varsity match, winning three, draw- against Oxford Brookes covered by Varsity. slower start, winning two and losing third position at the halfway point. body in their path. hey are six points ing one and losing one. Most recently, he women, meanwhile, ind themselves ive. Both men’s and women’s tennis clear at the top of BUCS Premier South Varsity watched them beating Trinity mid-table in Midlands 1A with three wins Before the start of term the men’s teams have started the season convinc- with seven wins in seven games. College Dublin at Grange Road. 32 F 23 2018

Varsity kicks o . Women’s rugby union captain Kate Marks on the team’s “quiet con dence” 31 Sport

Queens’ 4

Downing 1

Women’s Cuppers clinches decisive Queens’ victory

seemingly at will. cushion, a fair re ection of their rst-half ▲ Queens’ found from 25 yards out which trickled into William Ross It is testament, therefore, to the domination. themselves on the bottom right corner. To their credit, Sport Editor Downing side’s defensive tenacity and In spite of an impassioned half-time the front foot however, Downing were rewarded for resilience that they managed to prevent team-talk from a Downing supporter on from the first their resolve and e ort throughout the On paper, the second-round Cuppers tie Queens’ from running riot in what was the touchline, the second-half brought whistle NICHOLAS game with a late consolation goal scored between Queens’ and Downing prom- a very challenging opening half hour for more of the same, with Queens’ continu- FOONG with the last kick of the game: Queens’ ised to be a closely-contested a air: both Could you be the Downing side, keeping Queens’ at ing to dominate possession, while their rst defensive lapse of the game meant teams sit in Division Two of the Cam- a match for bay until ve minutes before half-time. well-organised defensive work meant that Molly Becker was let free at the bridge University Women Association Varsity? Email e deadlock was nally broken, when that Downing struggled to create any back-post, who tucked home a smart Football League, where only three points our sport team a driving run from a Queens’ mid elder clear-cut chances. Again, it seemed only nish. separate the two sides. at sport@varsity. drew a foul inside the box, leaving the a matter of time before Queens’ would Downing, then, can be proud of their From the start, however, it was clear co.uk to get referee with little choice but to award score and put the game to bed. e orts in ghting to the end against an that the Downing side, perhaps weak- involved a penalty, which was con dently dis- And so it turned out: within the rst impressively talented Queens’ side, ened by the absence of regular captain patched by Katie Woods. Minutes later, ve minutes of the second half, Mellor who reached the Cuppers Final in Lent Freya Robson, would struggle to cope let-winger Rosie Mellor’s superb curling capitalised on an errant defensive pass 2017. Queens’, meanwhile, march on into with the Queens’ free- owing passing e ort into the top right-hand corner from to re in from close range before capping the Quarter-Final’s, with their hopes of game, a style which allowed them to dic- the edge of the box ensured that Queens’ o a ne individual display by complet- recreating their heroic cup-run of the tate possession and carve out chances headed into the interval with a two-goal ing her hat-trick with a precise e ort 2016/17 season very much alive. New to a Blue: Finding your way with the University Orienteering Club CUOC Captain Fiona Bunn order, navigating the best route between navian Fjords, perhaps under the danc- I could do better and improve on which evening training nights. You can even each. Electronic timing chips register ing lights of Aurora Borealis, doesn’t keeps me coming back for more!” do ‘armchair training’ from the comfort talks to Marcus McCabe as you pass each checkpoint, and spe- sound half bad to us and Fiona also Because Orienteering consists of both of your home by studying maps and old cial detailed maps are used (normally agreed that a major perk of the sport is physical and mental components, unsur- courses.” Cambridge University Orienteering at a 1:10000 scale). e terrain can be the way in which it immerses runners prisingly training involves both physical For the Cambridge Club, this hard Club has been running, map in hand, extremely varied; from forest to open in the great British outdoors: “I particu- and mental practice sessions. ere are work of both mind and body has been since 1970, making it 48 years old. And moorland, mountains to complex sand larly enjoy orienteering because it gives “two key parts: physical and technical paying dividends. in recent years it has gone from strength dunes.” me the opportunity to visit new areas training, both of which are provided “ is year the team came second in to strength, awarded “University Club Originating in Sweden towards the and run through di erent terrain, so weekly in Cambridge. Physical training BUCS, beating Oxford on their home of the Year” by the British Orienteering end of the 19th century, Bunn explains the challenges are constantly changing.” is all about improving speed and endur- terrain” and, just as impressively, “two Federation in 2017. But, Varsity asks CUOC that initially the sport “was used as a For example, last year the Varsity match ance, and is similar to a normal cross athletes competed for GB in the Junior Women’s captain Fiona Bunn, what ex- military training exercise, covering was held in the Peak District where the country runners regime, although ath- World Championships in Hungary (U20 actly is it? ground with a map and compass. e women triumphed and the men su ered letes may focus more on ability to cross team) and one competed for Ireland in “Orienteering is a running-based sport rst race open to civilians occurred in a narrow defeat. any type of terrain rather than remaining the World University Championships in oten described as ‘cross-country with a 1897 in Norway, and Orienteering re- Bunn continues, “it really is a run with on the tracks all the time. Finland.” map’. Races are usually in a time-trial mains extremely popular in the Scan- a di erence, providing both a physical “Technical training aims to improve So, if you want to avoid getting lost format, and athletes must complete the dinavian countries now, being taught and mental challenge. I’m motivated, like navigational skills such as compass work, ever again, getting t and out into the course on their map in the fastest pos- in most schools.” many others, by the aim of having a per- map memory, route choice and so on countryside in the process, it’s time to sible time by visiting the checkpoints in Navigating around glittering Scandi- fect run: there is always something that and this is the focus of our Wednesday get out that map.