e Independent Student Newspaper

Issue 804 Friday 5th February 2016

Published in Cambridge since 1947 www.varsity.co.uk

8 Investigation: Fellows on Grindr 9 News: Bridget Kendall 19 Culture: Jack Garratt 26 eatre: Measure for Measure Gender pay gap SIMON LOCK a ‘wake up call’

● 89 per cent of university’s top earners are men ● ‘Matter of deep concern’, says equality champion

2016, only 10 per cent of the top jobs aware of and which it is undertaking Jack H gg ns in the university are held by women.” work both to analyse and to address”. Sen or News Ed tor She went on to say that “the prob- She continued by saying that the lem is not that women are strongly “pay gap has to be seen within the discouraged from entering a career broader context of the opportunities A Freedom of Information request by in academia, but they are not encour- for progression for all members of Varsity has revealed that of the 101 aged” and that “above all we need a staff regardless of gender or any other staff paid £140,000 or more by the culture change”. aspect of diversity.” University of Cambridge in 2015, only “At a time when Cambridge is mak- “ e signifi cant drop-off of in the 11 are women. ing great eff orts to improve diversity percentage of women from under- is follows a similar request among the student body, it seems odd graduate through to the senior levels last year which revealed that at the not to take a look at the academics is evidence of the historic challenges University of Oxford “only 8 per cent too.” facing women seeking a career in aca- of its top-paid staff are women”. By A spokesperson for the Women in demic life across the sector (not just comparison, women represent 10.9 Academia campaign – part of CUSU’s Cambridge).” per cent of these high earners at Women’s Campaign – told Varsity She added that the issue was “multi- Cambridge. that “this information isn’t particu- layered” and that whilst “there is a long e university’s response to the larly surprising but we expect that it way to go” there is “deep commitment Freedom of Information request said doesn’t show the full story”. among the senior leadership”. that “these fi gures relate to salaries “When we look at employment sta- “ e goal is not just one of numbers paid by the university” to “members of tistics such as these, it is also impor- and pay packets (although they are academic or administrative staff of the tant to look at where specifi c groups important) but of developing a culture university” in the “fi nancial year ended such as women of colour, trans wom- where all people can be supported in 31 July 2015” and excludes “non-salary en and disabled women fi t into the giving of their best within the institu- payments”. pattern. It would be interesting to see tion — which is the only way of ensur- In 2014, the University’s Equal Pay the diff erences in salary between and ing that it continues to be a leading review found that the pay gap between among these groups.” centre of creative intellectual dyna- men and women across the board had e University of Cambridge’s cur- mism, attracting and retaining the full closed by £110, but that women on rent Gender Equality Champions, range of talent.” academic contracts were earning on Professors Judith Lieu and Anne Davis, To this end, Professor Lieu said that average £8,400 less than men. At the recognised the issue when speaking to the university is taking “a number of time, the university said it was making Varsity but said that the university was active steps” to combat this, such as “positive progress” in addressing the actively taking measures to address “active participation in the Athena pay gap. the problem. SWAN Charter which was set up to Responding to the information, the Professor Lieu said that the “gen- support women’s careers in the STEM President of Lucy Cavendish College, der disparity at the top bands of pay subjects and has now been extended Jackie Ashley, told Varsity that “these is obviously a matter of deep con- to include the Arts, Humanities and Over the moon: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at Senate fi gures should act as a wake up call to cern.” However, she added that it is a Social Sciences.” House on Wednesday to accept his Honorary Degree the university. It’s not right that in problem which the “university is very Continued on page 4 INSIDE: ETHNICITY REPORT, RAINBOW FLAGS, DSO REFERENDUM, ACCESS ISSUES 2 Editorial Friday 5th February 2016 A milestone, not a landmark

It’s been a big week for Cambridge. Not that the university’s own Ethnicity & Di- should only ever be seen as a milestone So too with LGBT History Month, in any material sense, of course – the versity Report has found that only 24.4 on the way towards further change. Per- which is described on its website as be- usual to-ing and fro-ing of work contin- per cent of undergraduate students are haps it would be more helpful if we view ing “celebrated in February in the UK,” ues – but in some important and highly black or from ethnic minorities (page the raising of the rainbow fl ag in Cam- but comes with the insistence that “work symbolic ways. 4), or that the Social Mobility and Child bridge less as a celebration and more as to challenge homophobia, biphobia and Poverty Commission has condemned the raising of a standard – an announce- transphobia continues throughout the e victorious Yes campaign in the CU- the fact that not a single pupil eligible for ment of the push which needs to follow. year”. SU-led referendum billed the creation of free school meals in Cambridgeshire got a Disabled Students’ Offi cer position as a place at either Oxford or Cambridge in When thinking about these sorts of pro- We might think that such a bold state- a “positive step for greater equality and 2014 (page 6). gressive issues, we often try to fi gure ment of continued campaiging spirit is liberation.” Likewise, rainbow fl ags have moments such as the realisation of sig- superfl uous – of course LGBT+ people fl own from fl agpoles at colleges across ese aren’t simply problems which have nifi cant disparities or systematic preju- are going to continue campaigning for the city this week to mark the beginning been consigned to the past, the prod- dice as a sort of line in the sand; a turn- further recognition and equality! – but of LGBT History Month. As Dominic ucts of years of systematic prejudices ing point after which nothing can be the it is indeed necessary when faced by the Cawdell rightly points out (page 15), this (although this is, of course, one side of same again. e crucial thing to remem- somewhat fantastical impulse to turn is a landmark moment for an institution the coin). ese are also real-time issues: ber, though, is that lines in the sand can every slight change into a big headline, which has historically excluded, and in we only have to look at the way in which easily be washed away: without action, and to transform every victory along the some ways perhaps continues to exclude, thousands of students seem to have change will not stick. way into the end of the struggle. certain groups. dropped off the electoral register (page 9) to realise that people are still being is is precisely the case here. So while is is why we cannot be too celebratory is history of exclusion is still what we denied a voice. we may hail the creation of the Disabled when much remains to be achieved, and fi nd when we report that female academ- Students’ Offi cer as a step in the right why we must be wary of headlines which ics are struggling to make it to the top Becoming aware of the problem of exclu- direction, that’s all it is until someone is try to tell us that the ‘change’ we see be- EDITORIAL of the university’s pay scale (front page), sion is often a ‘landmark moment’, but it elected to that role and begins to enact fore us is a grand historic landmark. changes.

Referendum passes to create CUSU Disabled Students’ Offi cer Lou s Ashworth small part down to the excellent cam- paigning techniques and dedication of Sen or Invest gat ons Ed tor

those involved.” JOE ROBINSON Implementation will now be hand- Results for the Disabled Students’ ed over to the Union Development Offi cer referendum show it has been Team – composed of CUSU President a success for the Yes campaign, with Priscilla Mensah, Cornelius Roemer 4,315 for and 336 against. and Umang Khandelwal. e referendum on the creation of e referendum question was a full-time Disabled Students’ Offi cer phrased “Do you accept the proposed for Cambridge University Students’ constitutional changes, which would Union (CUSU) saw a 92.22 per cent add a Disabled Students’ Sabbatical vote for the Yes option, with 4,679 Offi cer to the CUSU Full-Time Elected votes cast. is comprised a 21.4 per Offi cer Team?”, with “Yes” and “No” as cent total turnout. the responses. It was run under tight e referendum ran from rules for campaigning and social me- Wednesday 27th January until 9am on dia. is included a blanket ban on Wednesday 3rd February. any posts which advocated either It proposed adding the role of voting option from public social me- Disabled Students’ Offi cer (DSO) dia groups, including JCR and MCR CUSU will now have seven sabbatical officers to the six current sabbatical offi cer pages. roles: President, Education, Welfare, e offi cial Yes guidance off ered by She also said that how quickly the Reacting to the outcome of the ref- Options proposed by CUSU to fund Women’s, Coordinator and Access. CUSU Elections Committee said that position could be created “depends on erendum, a spokesperson for the Yes the newly created post include “ceas- e fi rst DSO will be elected by “all the creation of a full-time DSO would the university’s response to us going campaign said: “ is is a huge victory. ing existing activities” and “looking to those ordinary members who self- be a “positive step for greater equality forward and showing them the formal We hope that we can build on this raise additional income”. CUSU is cur- defi ne as disabled”. is would oper- and liberation” within the university. results of the referenda”. support and mobilise more students rently in the early stages of pursuing ate in a manner similar to the election ey said that a student elected into When questioned about whether the to get involved with the Disabled a general re-negotiation of its funding for Women’s Offi cer, whose electorate this role could “feed into general dis- entire sabbatical team was behind the Students’ Campaign, and we will con- model – seeking to gain money di- consists of self-defi ning women. cussions on whole-team Sabbatical result, she said: “Yes, because it’s the tinue working relentlessly to make rectly from colleges rather than from e DSO will operate as head of Offi cer campaigns with both personal result. e result is the result”, adding Cambridge a less disabling place. [...] JCRs and MCRs. is new approach the autonomous CUSU Disabled and representative experience much that she thinks “everyone’s happy with We want to thank every single student has received mixed responses. Students’ Campaign. ey will work more easily”. it because... I think I speak for every- who took the time to vote and engage e vote was triggered by a peti- full-time and be paid £20,000 a year, It was also suggested that the crea- one when I say we’re delighted about with the campaign.” tion held by the Disabled Students’ the same salary as other elected CUSU tion of the new role will “set a prec- the extent to which students engaged Concerns were raised about the val- Campaign at the end of last term, offi cers. edent for other Students’ Unions” with the referendum”. ue for money that a full-time Disabled which gained the 350 signatures re- In a statement, Jemma Stewart, around the UK, as full-time offi cers “ e result is just a real testament to Students’ Offi cer would off er. e quired to trigger a referendum. CUSU Co-ordinator and Returning for disabled students are currently a how we can democratically engage stu- CUSU guidance for the No campaign According the university’s Equality Offi cer for the referendum, said: rarity. dents, and that’s a real delight. I think stated that an “additional full-time of- & Diversity Information Report for “CUSU Elections Committee would Speaking to Varsity about whether we potentially have diff erent views on fi cer would increase the demands on 2014-15, “numbers of students who like to take this opportunity to thank CUSU could aff ord the DSO, President how representation works and what staff support, which may consequently have diagnosed a disability continue to all those students who voted in what Priscilla Mensah said that the refer- it looks like, but I think we’re all be- result in a need for more roles within rise”. 8.1 per cent (968) of undergradu- is now the highest voter turnout in a endum had to be “separate from the hind the fact that disabled students of the support staff team”, and stated ates and 5.9 per cent of (497) gradu- CUSU referendum in over 6 years.” practical questions as to how it can be course deserve great representation”, that this could have its own “fi nancial ates disclosed a disability in 2014-15. She said the high turnout was “in no implemented”. she added. implications”.

E James Sutton @.. M E Callum Hale- omson @.. B M Mark Curtis @.. A E Tom Freeman @ .. N E Joe Robinson & Jack Higgins (Senior), Anna Menin & Harry Curtis (Deputies) @.. S N C Sarah Collins, Daniel Gayne, Elizabeth Howcroft, Esha Marwaha, Kaya Wong & Siyang Wei C E Ethan Axelrod @.. I E Louis Ashworth (Senior) & Steven Daly (Deputy) @.. C E James Dilley (Senior), Charlotte Taylor, Anna Jennings & Maya De Silva Wijeyeratne (Deputies) @.. S E Nicole Rossides @..  E Imogen Shaw & Meg Honigmann @ .. C E Will Roberts & Katie Wetherall @.. T E Eleanor Costello @.. F E Laura Day & Vicki Bowden @.. R E Charlotte Giff ord @.. M E Michael Davin @.. S E Ravi Willder & Felix Schlichter @.. I E Alice Chilcott & eo Demolder @.. O E Charlie orpe & Ellie Matthews C S-E Imran Marashli P E Simon Lock @.. I Ben Waters, Emma Wood, Luke Johnson, Ben Brown V B Dr Michael Franklin (Chairman), Prof. Peter Robinson, Dr Tim Harris, Michael Derringer, Michael Curtis, Talia Zybutz (VarSoc President), Tom Freeman, James Sutton, Eleanor Deeley

©VARSITY PUBLICATIONS LTD, 2016. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be 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. Varsity, 16 Mill Lane, Cambridge CB2 1RX. Telephone 01223 337575. Varsity is published by Varsity Publications Ltd. Varsity Publications also publishes the Mays. Printed at Iliffe Print Cambridge — Winship Road, Milton, Cambridge CB24 6PP on 42.5gsm newsprint. Registered as a newspaper at the Post Offi ce. ISSN 1758-4442 N THINKING

INTRODUCING FELLOWS HOUSE AT MITCHAMS PARK, CAMBRIDGE

Our final 3, 2 bedroom apartments remain at are a selection of shops, restaurants, pubs and Fellows House and are ready to move into this music venues – ensuring residents are always Spring. Don’t miss your opportunity to get entertained. onto the property ladder, with Help to Buy. Help to Buy makes stepping onto the property These homes benefit from a secluded setting ladder much more affordable. The scheme and yet are perfectly positioned so residents enables you to buy a new home with a 5% can enjoy all the area has to offer. The bustling deposit. You’ll need to take out a 75% mortgage city centre, Midsummer Common, the River Cam on your new home and the remaining 20% and colleges are all just a short stroll away, as will be funded by a government loan.

2 bedroom apartments available from £465,000 - Available with Help to Buy*

Marketing Suite and Show Home open daily from 10am to 5pm MITCHAMS PARK Westbrook Drive, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB4 1YG CAMBRIDGE CB4 Selling Agents – Savills: 01223 347175 132-134 Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 8PA

www.crestnicholson.com/mitchamspark 01223 656338

*Terms and conditions apply. Please speak to a Sales Advisor for further details on Help to Buy. Digital illustration is indicative only. Show Home photography. Pricing correct at time of press. 4 News Friday 5th February 2016 Cambridge is taking ‘active steps’ towards equality, despite evidence of top-level pay gap

Continued from front page returning from maternity leave”. Cambridge is just one of seven She added that the “ e Senior higher education institutions that has Academic Promotions scheme has an Athena SWAN ‘silver institutional been changed to ensure all contribu- award’, and was the fi rst HEI to sign up tions are treated fairly and has result- to the 30 Per Cent Club – a private- ed in more women being promoted” THE INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS sector initiative to increase represen- and will help to “address the historical tation at senior levels in the corporate gender imbalance at the senior level”. world. Speaking to Varsity, Professor In 2015, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dame Athene Donald, current Master Sir Leszek Borysiewicz said he was of Churchill College and Cambridge “delighted to have overseen an un- Equality Champion from 2010 to precedented level of activity to sup- 2014, said that she did not “believe the port women and advance equality university discourages women from with the university” with regards to academia or is inherently sexist”. Cambridge’s performance in relation “However, the way pay is negoti- to the Athena Swan charter. Professor ated can disadvantage women who are Anne Davis – also a Gender Equality anyhow in small numbers in the pool Champion – endorsed what her col- from which those who could earn up- Professor Dame Athene Donald believes that the university is making progress on inequality league told Varsity and added that “in wards of £140,000 could be drawn. the university there is an historical e university is acutely aware of the off ers from elsewhere and are better revealed by the Freedom of Information interested to know how many of these gender imbalance” and that this was issues and actively attempting to fi nd able to “negotiate salaries upwards”. request, CUSU Women’s Offi cer, 11 women are women of colour, or “more pronounced at the senior level” solutions.” She added that there was “plenty of Charlotte Chorley, said: “ e fact that disabled, or lesbian, or trans women. but that the university “is trying to ad- She also said that the university was social science evidence” showing that only 10 per cent of those earning over Because, to talk about the gender pay dress this in a number of ways”. the fi rst of the Russell Group institu- “women who negotiate are less likely £140,000 a year are women is testa- gap without any recognition of how She continued by saying that the tions to publish an Equal Pay Review to be successful and so may not even ment not just to a gender pay gap, but both pay and promotion are aff ected university is partly addressing the and that this “in itself is a demonstra- try”. a gender gap in recruitment and re- by other identity characteristics ig- problem with the ‘Returning Carers’ tion of its commitment to equality and She added that recent measures to tention of women in this university. nores the fact that the University of fund, open to staff members who re- transparency”. tackle the problem may “not yet fully “While the statistics are shocking, Cambridge is not just discriminatory turn to work “after caring responsi- Explaining the pay disparities, Dame be refl ected in the salary fi gures you they are not altogether unexpected, in terms of gender.” bilities so that the member of staff can Athene told Varsity that a key factor see” and that “crude fi gures can hide especially at this institution. e uni- Varsity has reached out to the ‘kick-start’ their career after a break” was that men tend to be more “mo- complex facts”. versity should be doing more to ad- University of Cambridge for comment and has “mainly been used by those bile”, can often demonstrate attractive Responding to the information dress its bias. I would, however, be on this matter. University report shows progress on minority representation

Lou s Ashworth ere has been an increase in the ere has been an increase in places AHSS staff . In STEMM, women make e report states that with regards percentage of non-white students. fi lled by women in university govern- up 46.2 per cent. However, among ac- to transgender staff members, num- Sen or Invest gat ons Ed tor BME students made up 24.4 per cent ance – from 18.8 per cent of commit- ademics within the faculties there is a bers disclosed “remain too small to of undergraduate students and 33.3 tee members overall in 2012 to 27.5 lower proportion of women: 38.2 per publish but continue to be monitored New data from the university’s Equal- per cent of postgraduate students in per cent in 2015. e 10 female staff cent with AHSS, and 20.9 per cent in internally”. ity & Diversity Information Report 2014-15, compared with 23.2 per cent who attend the University Council STEMM. e report also features pay scales shows small increases in representa- and 33 per cent respectively the year make up 50 per cent of its number. One area where representation for all staff . e proportion of women tion for women, BME and LGBT+ before. e proportion of women in the of women remains low is among the peaks within the fi rst four pay grades, people, and disabled people within the BME students are more likely to get roles of Senior Lecturer, Reader and Head of General Boards Departments, with 62.1 per cent of those receiving university. undergraduate fi rsts at 22.1 per cent, Professor all grew from 2012, increas- in which women make up just 11 of the Grade 4 pay (£21,391–£27,864 PPA e report, which covers both stu- compared with 21.9 per cent of white ing respectively by 7.2, 5.4 and 0.9 per 63 places, according to the University’s for the time period covered by the re- dents and staff within the university, students. cent, to new levels of 37.6, 25.3 and “Pyramid of Power 2015”. All six Heads port) being women. e proportion refl ects the most up-to-date statistics 968 (8.1 per cent) of undergradu- 16.7 per cent. In the case of Professors, of Schools are currently male. then “decreases through the remain- upon all issues related to Equality & ates and 497 (5.9 per cent) of gradu- this means an increase in real terms e university has developed new ing grades”, with women making up Diversity. ates identifi ed as disabled, an increase from 89 in 2012 to 103 in July 2015. processes for handling applications 17.4 per cent of those in the top pay e percentage of female under- of 0.1 per cent and a decrease of 0.1 e proportion of women in the role of for promotion, after studies “appeared Grade (12), which for 2014-15 covered graduate students is lower among percent respectively. ‘University Lecturer’ dropped slightly to show that while female academics salaries from £67,411–£173,346 PPA. those studying subjects in Science, e proportion of minority groups in the same period, from 34.5 per cent were just as successful as their male Data covering the gender of staff Technology, Engineering, Maths and among staff has increased as well. to 33.6 per cent. Overall, women make counterparts if they applied for pro- against their age reveals that, after the Medicine (STEMM), at 35.7 per cent ere has been an increase in the up 28.1 per cent of academic staff at motion, they were less likely to do so”. age of 60 onwards, female staff make compared with 58.5 per cent of those number of BME staff . Of the 81.2 per the university. Across the university’s 11,086 em- up an increasingly low proportion studying Arts, Humanities and Social cent of staff who disclosed their eth- Women are more prominently ployees, the report stated that 49.4 per of staff numbers. e average age of Sciences (AHSS). nicity, 11.4 per cent are BME. is found across the faculties of the cent (5,471) identifi ed as female and staff dropped slightly from 2013/14 to Among prospective undergradu- is a 0.4 per cent increase on the year AHSS, making up 52.3 per cent of all 50.6 per cent (5,615) as male. 2014/15, from 42 years old to 40. ates, there is presently a higher pro- before. Of those who identifi ed them- portion of male applicants, at 54.9 selves as BME, the biggest groups were per cent (compared with 45.1 per cent those listed as ethnically Chinese (3.5 female applicants). More female appli- per cent), and Asian or Asian British cants pass the interview stage – they Indians (2.5 per cent). JOE ROBINSON make up 47.3 per cent of Cambridge’s e highest proportion of non- acceptances, compared with 52.7 per white staff is amongst researchers, of cent who are male. ese numbers whom 20.5 per cent are BME. show an increase in the proportion of 66.9 per cent of staff are from the females from the year before, in which United Kingdom. e university states males made up 56 per cent of appli- that it does not hold data on the na- cants, and 57 per cent of those admit- tionality of 16.1 per cent of its staff . ted. Across the UK, women are 35 per 2.9 per cent of staff identifi ed them- cent more likely to go to university selves; however, this is out of just 15.6 than men. per cent who responded to the ques- e fi gures for postgraduate admis- tion. Over a third did not specify their sions show no change from last year disability. – 44 per cent of those admitted were e university states that it holds female. sexual orientation data for 21.4 per ere has been an increase in the cent of staff . Among these, 6.7 per overall percentage of undergradu- cent identifi ed as “lesbian, gay, bisex- ate students getting Firsts, with male ual or other”. students now being nearly nine per 55.6 per cent of staff described cent more likely to get into the top themselves as having ‘no religion’. e grade boundary than females, at 29.4 next biggest group is those who de- per cent of males to 20.6 per cent of scribed themselves as ‘Christian’, at females. 35.3 per cent. so you have a great degree l now o ou eadeshi eeloment oamme what’s next? teachstouaduates business, industry  
 

or the city? maybe you’re set on changing society? wherever you’re heading, become

a inspire leader young people teach first leaders for life

Toib Olomowewe Teaches: Business Studies 6 News Friday 5th February 2016 Cambridge ‘failing’ local disadvantaged children

abolition of Educational Maintenance Anna Men n Allowance by the previous

Deputy News Ed tor Conservative and Liberal Democrat SIMON LOCK government, describing the Allowance as “a lifeline for young people from Children from disadvantaged fami- poorer backgrounds”, and claiming lies in Cambridge have less chance of that they “also left Cambridgeshire gaining good exam grades than those schools woefully under-funded.” from the most deprived areas in Lon- “Getting to Cambridge is only one don, a report has said. e report, by measure of success, and many of our the Social Mobility and Child Poverty young people do very well at other Commission, ranked every English educational institutions, but a very council by the prospects of their dis- divided society is bad for everybody”, advantaged children. he claimed. Identifying Cambridge as a social “I am sure that the University of mobility “coldspot” (meaning it is Cambridge will want to look once among the worst-performing 20 per again at the admissions process, but cent of areas), the report condemned the real challenge lies earlier, and there Cambridge as one of the “affl uent ar- is much to be done.” eas” that “fail[s] young people from However, Julian Huppert, former poor backgrounds”. Cambridge Liberal Democrat MP, told e report also found that of chil- Varsity that “one of my priorities as dren eligible for free school meals in the MP for Cambridge” was to secure Cambridge, only 15 per cent go on to more funding for the city’s schools, university, and only 2 per cent to a se- claiming that “neither the previous lective university. Tory or Labour governments had been By contrast, in London’s Tower prepared to do anything about it.” Hamlets, which has the highest rate of child poverty in England, 39 per cent of children eligible for free school St Catharine’s College, the “dedicated Area Link College” for local schools meals go on to university, and 10 per cent to a selective university. Professor Dame Athene Donald, She appealed for people not to “We are currently considering our e report also revealed that not CAMBRIDGE IS A VERY Master of Churchill College, also spoke “blame Cambridge” as a university local outreach provision and we have a single Cambridgeshire pupil eligi- DIVIDED CITY about the report this week. Writing for this “failure”, saying: “Look to who identifi ed this as a high priority area ble for free school meals took up an on the Times Higher Education web- controls the purse strings that directly for future widening participation Oxbridge place in 2014. site, she noted that “for many years, impact on children’s opportunities.” work”, he added. Speaking to Varsity about the re- Huppert also stated that he was Cambridgeshire schools have been When questioned about e spokesperson also highlighted port’s fi ndings, Cambridge’s Labour “pleased with other measures [the underfunded compared with neigh- Cambridge’s eff orts to improve ac- the fact that schools in Cambridgeshire MP, Daniel Zeichner, said: “People are coalition] introduced to help pupils bouring counties”. cess for local children, a University and Peterborough “now also have a di- right to be shocked by this report’s in need across the country”, citing Furthermore, she acknowledged of Cambridge spokesperson said that rect way of developing a relationship” fi ndings – but it comes as no surprise “the pupil premium” and “infant free that although “[d]uring the past year, it is “already running projects spe- with the university through a “dedicat- to those of us who have been pointing school meals” as examples. this shortfall has fi nally been made cifi cally aimed at raising the academic ed Area Link College”, St Catharine’s, out for some time that Cambridge is a “We simply cannot tolerate the way up”, but “it will take time for this to in- attainment and aspirations of disad- which organised events that “led to very divided city.” our education system has let people crease the numbers from the poorest vantaged young people in Cambridge, more than 1,500 student interactions” Zeichner also condemned the down for so many decades”, he added. families entering Cambridge.” Cambridgeshire and Peterborough”. in 2015. Oxbridge academics push for ‘morally sound’ investments Dan el Gayne research side; it would be great to see Back in Cambridge, 40 Cambridge those contributions refl ected in the JCRs and MCRs (including the under- Sen or News Correspondent investment strategies of Europe’s two graduate representatives at all colleg- largest university endowments.” es) have supported the statement. Over 300 Cambridge and Oxford aca- Deben, currently the chair of the In a statement to Varsity, Zero demics have signed a joint statement government’s offi cial climate change Carbon congratulated PIC on the “tre- SIGNE KOSSMANN, PIC imploring their universities to pursue advisory committee added: “Positive mendous news”, but emphasised that “morally sound” investment policies. investment is a crucial element of any “above all else, fossil fuel investments e letter, announced this Tuesday plan to keep global warming to safe have to go”. in a press release by activist group levels.” Unlike PIC, Zero Carbon is a divest- Positive Investment Cambridge (PIC), e statement comes on the back of ment group pure and simple, arguing contains the signatures of former student pressure within the university, only for the university to remove its Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan spurred on by the successes of students investments in fossil fuels. Williams, ex-Cambridge MP Julian at other universities. But they were nonetheless keen to Huppert, and Sir David MacKay, e University of Glasgow be- point out that the 2,000 students who former chief scientifi c adviser to the came the fi rst academic institution in signed their own petition showed Department of Energy and Climate Europe to divest from fossil fuels in that “the message is clear” on ethical Change. 2014, withdrawing £18 million worth investment. e call is also being backed by of investments. Hoping to fulfi l their more ambi- Cambridge alumnus and former Tory For its part, Oxford has ruled out fu- tious goal for an active and ethical in- environment secretary Lord Deben, ture investments in coal and tar sands, vestment policy, PIC have created an who said: “ ese universities are doing but remained mute on divestment education document and announced tremendously important work on the within their existing portfolio. in their statement a seminar for jour- nalists on the topic. Positive Investment Cambridge’s press conference on Tuesday “We’d like to create a template for the smartest, most ethical investment that “considerations such as sustain- So far they have succeeded in press- strategy there has ever been,” said ability are not presently being consid- ing the university into commissioning Ellen Quigley, a Cambridge PhD stu- ered or engaged with systematically”. “a thorough and unique review” of the dent who helped with the campaign. She also mentioned the diffi culty in environmental and social aspects of in- eir hope is to bring the univer- fi nding out what exactly the univer- vestment decisions and set up a work- sity’s investment in line with their sity is investing in, since the university ing group to develop on this evidence. mission statement, which holds as a believes this would compromise their e working group, which includes central value: “concern for sustain- fi nancial advantage. However, it is two members of PIC, is due to pro- Advertise with us ability and the relationship with the highly likely that they are investing in duce a report for presentation to environment”. resources like fossil fuels because they the University Council, expected by To advertise in any of our print publications or on our website, e University of Cambridge re- tend to make excellent returns. spring, which will be responsible for please contact our Business Manager sponds that it already “seeks to invest e campaign is being advised by action taken thereafter. Telephone: 01223 337575 responsibly for the good of the univer- green and ethical investment special- e joint statement commends this sity in accordance with our mission to ists Abundance Investment, who’s co- development while asking the univer- Email: [email protected] contribute to society”. founder Bruce Davis said: “Investing is sity to take a strong stand when the is- Lily MacFadyn, a member of PIC, not just about future returns, it is also sue comes to the University Council. Website: www.varsitypublications.co.uk appreciated the positive contribution about building the future you want for e University of Oxford is yet to to education and research, but noted yourself and future generations.” respond. Friday 5th February 2016 News 7 Oxbridge admissions processes condemned as ‘intimidating and complex’ by Sutton Trust report

rate was 56 per cent. However, the Anna Men n Sutton Trust points out that just 7 per

Deputy News Ed tor cent of young people in the UK go to TONY HISGETT a private school, which rises to 14 per e Universities of Oxford and Cam- cent among sixth formers. bridge have been condemned by the In response to their report, the Sutton Trust for the “intimidating and Sutton Trust’s chair, Sir Peter Lampl, complex” nature of their admissions described Oxford and Cambridge as processes. “simply Britain’s greatest universities”, e educational foundation called stating that: “[o]ur research over the for both universities to “standardise years has shown their importance… in their admissions processes across sub- moulding the elites who shape all our jects and colleges” to help students lives.” and teachers who are “unfamiliar with “ at’s why it is so important that the process”. we do all we can to ensure that both e same report, entitled Oxbridge universities benefi t from talented Admissions, also recommend that the young people of all backgrounds”, he restriction that means that students added. can only apply to either Oxford or Lampl acknowledged that both uni- Cambridge “should be reviewed”, with versities are “far better focused on ac- “further information on the access im- cess than ever, and are led by people plications [of this] gathered”. with a strong commitment to improv- It also compared the acceptance rate ing opportunities for able students of state school applicants to all Oxford from low and middle income homes”, and Cambridge colleges from 2012 to adding that “there “has undoubtedly 2014. Five Oxford colleges (Brasenose, been progress” in this area. Brasenose College, Oxford, the alma mater of Prime Minister David Cameron St John’s, Worcester, Keble, and However, he noted that the Trust’s Merton) rank within the six with the research has shown that “fi ve elite report, a spokesperson for the apply.” to widening participation whilst main- lowest acceptance rate, alongside one private schools and sixth form col- University of Oxford said: “We are A spokesperson for the University taining high academic standards” and Cambridge college, King’s. leges send more students to the two disappointed that one of our long- of Cambridge claimed that the uni- “continually review our admissions However, all of the fi ve colleges with universities than 1800 state schools standing access partners is actively versity has worked closely with the processes and the eff ectiveness of the highest rate of successful state combined”. perpetuating some of the most com- Trust to improve access, and “[w]e are our extensive widening participation school applications were Cambridge Lampl also claimed that “as our mon myths about how the selection therefore disappointed that this report work”, they added. colleges: Newnham, Sidney Sussex, greatest universities”, Oxford and process works.” demonstrates a lack of understanding is report comes just days after Girton, Homerton, and Murray Cambridge also have a “responsibili- ey claimed that “[t]hese myths of our admissions process and makes Cambridge announced that from Edwards. ty” to “constantly review practices that are a fundamental barrier to Oxford’s a series of incorrect and unjustifi ed 2017, prospective undergraduates will In 2014, 62 per cent of successful owe much to tradition, but which can access work, and only reinforce per- criticisms and recommendations”. have to take written tests as part of the applicants to Cambridge were state militate against fairness”. ceptions that deter exactly those can- “We have a proven track record of application process, intended to rem- educated in the UK; at Oxford, the In response to the Sutton Trust’s didates we try hardest to encourage to improving access. We are committed edy the loss of AS-Levels. Latest fi gures show gross disparity in college endowments

Sah l Ch noy e diff erence between the wealthi- million — but most colleges spent Grants can be made from the fund report. est and least wealthy colleges, Trinity about £10 million in 2014-15. to colleges to support individual or re- Other programs to equalise fund- News Correspondent and St. Edmund’s, grew by £62 million Funding is partially equalised by current projects. ing across colleges exist, primarily the from 2013-14 to 2014-15. contributions to the university’s But some, including Paul ff olkes Isaac Newton Trust, which supports e latest release of college accounts But endowment and net assets Colleges Fund, which diff er in size Davis, Trinity Hall’s bursar, have ar- fellowship schemes for less well-en- reveals a more than tenfold diff erence might not have a direct impact on stu- according to the fi nancial position of gued that the program “needs review”. dowed colleges to hire young teachers in the fi nancial resources per stu- dent life in the way that the college’s each college. “ e system is creaking, and the and researchers. dent between the wealthiest and least expenditures do. In this regard, the Last year, Trinity’s contribution to- time when the Colleges’ Fund which wealthy colleges. colleges still display some degree of taled £2.2 million, while Peterhouse’s supports the younger, poorer colleges Trinity College, with net assets of inequality — Trinity spent £67 million was £241,000 and Sidney Sussex’s was will need to be overhauled is fast ap- more than £1 billion, has resources compared to Murray Edwards’ £7.7 only £33,000. proaching,” he wrote in the college’s on a vastly diff erent scale than St Edmund’s, with assets of about £13 THE SYSTEM IS CREAKING million. Amid concern over inequality be- tween colleges, the 2014-15 reports Trinity College, which founded the highlight that the disparity in the size Isaac Newton Trust and contributed of fi nancial resources continues to £1.5 million last year, claims that 20 grow. per cent of its budget provides for stu-

Trinity — historically the wealthiest STEVE CADMAN dent support and teaching across the college — is followed by St John’s, with university. assets of £690 million. e other col- “[Trinity] College’s relatively healthy leges each have assets less than one- fi nancial position must therefore be third that amount: Jesus, with £295 seen in the perspective of the College’s million, and Peterhouse, with £284 many responsibilities,” according to its million, are next in the rankings. website. In terms of assets per capita, Trinity Its total donations dropped, howev- — with more than £1 million per stu- er, from £5 million in 2013-14 to £4.3 dent — is a far cry from Queens’, with million last year. only £90,000 per student. Fitzwilliam College endowments depend in part and Homerton are also near the bot- on their history. e size of Trinity tom of the list, with £95,000 and College’s assets is in part explained £120,000 per student, respectively. by “astute investment decisions” that “I think that students at Homerton have built upon Henry VIII’s origi- are keenly aware of the diff erences nal endowment in 1546, said Fiona between colleges in terms of money Holland, the communications offi cer and funding,” said Ruth Taylor, the for the college. Homerton JCR President. “I also think In terms of absolute size, Cambridge the issue is one of perceptions as much is the wealthiest university in Britain as resources themselves.” with an endowment of £5.9 billion, e graduate-only, mature and compared to Oxford’s £4.2 billion. Still, women’s colleges fall even further both pale in comparison to the assets below. St. Edmund’s has only £33,000 of private universities in the United per student, and Lucy Cavendish, States. Harvard, for example, has an £67,000. Trinity, with net assets of more than £1 billion, is the wealthiest Cambridge college endowment of about $37.6 billion. 8 News Friday 5th February 2016 LOUIS ASHWORTH

Male students and academics are heading to Grindr to find casual sex together. Is technology changing power dynamics within the university? Tom Freeman investigates.

en* waited for Simon’s reply to he was “turned on” by the attention then he should declare it to the college best friend about sleeping with a fel- that dynamic so much worse.” come. from older, powerful men. and recuse himself, for that person,” low if it was in a compromising situa- Seb also expressed reservations. “It’s B A irst-year English student, Seb graduated last year, and was a he argues. tion that you didn’t enjoy or didn’t feel not so much that I actually wanted to he was outside the Buttery at the frequent user of the app and simi- Grindr allows you to unilaterally like you consented to.” go – I know a friend who went and he Sidgwick Site on a hot day in exam lar services before leaving. In to- ‘block’ users at any time, preventing But Ben believes apps actually help found it weird. At one point they blew term. Simon was not the irst man tal, he estimates he slept with four you from seeing and getting into con- to clarify diicult issues like consent. all the candles out, and then people he had met via an app – he describes supervisors he met via apps – and tact with each other on the app. “If I respond to a message, then it’s were outside, in the deer park, having himself as a “massive fan” of them. they weren’t hard to ind. Academics Seb saw one of his own supervi- from the same position as if I’d sent sex in the bushes.” He is quite open about using them who state their occupations are easily sors on the service, and blocked him the irst message, so there’s no real Chris, who has been going to the frequently, and about the encounters found on the service. One describes “because it would have been too awk- tangible diference,” he believes. As dinners since his MPhil four years ago, he has as a result. “I don’t pass round himself as “proudly indiscreet”. Others ward”. Supervisors frequently admit one maths supervisor put it to me: is sceptical. names,” he says. But this meet-up was even specify their areas of research. to doing the same: one PhD student “Nothing wrong with other under- “It’s never been a hook-up thing,” he diferent. I spoke to who supervised Part 1A grads on apps, if they are consenting says. “I ind it quite funny that people “We were chatting,” he says. chemists blocked one of his students adults.” always have this idea of this sleaze of “Standard lirty chat. I don’t remem- when he saw him. Chris, a PhD student and supervi- academic power dynamics. ber who made the ofer to do what For James, an undergraduate at a sor, agrees, and sees no problem with “he people getting of in the bush- irst, but we went to his room near the central college, one fellow, Bill, stood sleeping with an undergraduate in his es, it’s always undergrads with under- Sidgwick Site.” “OH MY GOD,” SHE CRIED. out in particular. faculty. grads,” he claims. Simon, who described himself on “He’s sent me messages before, even “It depends on how mature the per- Is Grindr having an impact on the Grindr as a “member of the university”, “THAT’S WHERE I HAD pics, but then blocked me when he son is, and you can very easily gauge society? “I don’t think there’s any cross- was in fact a Senior Lecturer, Director found out I went to his college. But how mature people are,” he says. over. Grindr is not a virtual version of of Studies, supervisor and a fellow of MY INTERVIEW!” then a couple of months later, he does a ive-course dinner in Peterhouse.” a central college. he room in ques- it again.” For Chris, the distinction between tion was his college-owned accom- he second conversation was much Grindr encounters casual sex facilitated by an app and a modation, something Ben describes Seb admits that he might have slept the same as the irst. No pleasant- dinner is crucial. as “reckless”. with more, however – some never told ries were exchanged: the supervisor “If you just talk to someone on “I left cordially, on good terms,” he him what they did. As Ben tells me opened by saying “hot”, which disap- Grindr, go round to their house and says. “We chatted again a few times on about both of his meet-ups with fel- pointed James, who was mindful of have a shag, yeah, you’ve met them, the app afterwards… but it was an of- lows, he wasn’t aware of their exact oc- when Bill did this the irst time. He de- but if you sit next to someone at din- the-cuf suggestion that happened the cupation until “a decent way through cided to continue the conversation, to ner and have a conversation with them, same day. the conversation”. see if Bill would cross Seb’s boundary. that’s a completely diferent context. “I never saw him again in real life.” Initial discretion, however, does “I just said ‘thanks’,” James says. “He “If you’re saying, ‘Has Grindr Ben’s experience is not uncom- not equate with hiding: Ben believes asked what I was looking for. I said: changed the ability for students and mon. Grindr, a geosocial networking that neither of the fellows he slept ‘Nothing in particular,’ and asked what supervisors to meet to have sex?’ of application that shows a list of proiles with were actively trying to conceal he was. He said something along the course it has, it’s a lot easier. But it of men near you, has revolutionised their occupation. “It didn’t really come lines of ‘Hot fun with hot guys’, that he wouldn’t be fair to not distinguish be- how gay men meet – for hook-ups or up,” he states. It is simply a matter of was ‘very oral’ and that I could turn up tween those two types of meeting.” otherwise. It has become a staple in choice: some fellows launt their sta- to his room, have my cock sucked, and Undergrads put of by the society’s the global gay community, available tus; others prefer to be discreet. leave.” reputational baggage, however, ap- in nearly 200 countries, with millions Some students feel a strong attrac- his time, Bill sent a photo of his pear not to be likely converts. Grindr of users. A cursory glance illustrates tion to igures of authority. nude relection in a mirror. James is here to stay. its popularity in Cambridge: at most As one geography fresher put it: “he showed it to a friend. “It seems a much more egalitarian hours of the day hundreds of men are idea is kind of hot: to be the object of “Oh my God,” she cried. “hat’s approach,” Ben believes. “here’s a lot online, and its users are highly active. desire of an older, very intelligent man where I had my interview!” more agency with the student. It felt Many are associated with the universi- is lattering, and I think a lot of young After sending more pictures, Bill he new normal? much more like something that hap- ty – students, researchers and lectur- guys will be drawn to the whole expe- also sent a location, a room in a build- pened between equals.” ers can all be found on the service, and rience and power dynamic.” ing James already knew. What about that other gay Cambridge It’s not just used for hook-ups, ei- the level of anonymity it afords makes It doesn’t matter for Ben whether “At this point I told him I was at his institution: the candlelit Adonian ther. Seb tells me that he dated a su- it easy for people to meet almost any or not the older man is a fellow – it is college, and he blocked me.” Society dinner at Peterhouse? Many pervisor and Director of Studies in type of man they want. more the case that, in a small univer- He also spoke on the app to an- cited it as a turn-of. Land Economy “for a bit – not in my “One of my theories is that sity city, many older men in the centre other fellow and lecturer in Languages “Grindr provides a nice bufer to go- subject – but he got too intense. He’s Cambridge people on here don’t really of town have a connection with the who, after a brief, lirtatious conversa- ing up to someone at high table and now in Chicago”. have time for real socialising, and end institution. But while not speciically tion, told him: “I shouldn’t play with asking for their number, which obvi- Perhaps paradoxically, the net efect up using Grindr more than people in attracted to the power dynamic, Ben undergrads.” ously you wouldn’t do,” Ben says. “You of the explosion in app culture is to re- other places because of how insane admits that the idea of sleeping with a Student users readily acknowledge don’t need to wait for an invite.” inforce the separation between public Cambridge is,” one student user told supervisor was a turn-on. the potential for risks and abuse, in- He argues that apps have changed and private. Students and their superi- me. “It was collaterally exciting, espe- cluding the fact that abuse means stu- the dynamic, facilitating meetings ors have been hooking up for far longer cially doing stuf like going to fellows’ dents are far less likely to speak freely between supervisors and students than the university has acknowledged. “It’s always been a fantasy of mine” rooms… it’s the context of a college, about their experiences. without troubling a teacher-student By making encounters easier and especially the older colleges, that “I don’t think the university has a dynamic – unlike the dinner. providing an outlet for those who do For Seb, this widespread popularity makes it feel quite clandestine.” problem, because a problem is when He received an invite from someone ind attraction in age and experience made certain things much easier. Everyone I spoke to drew the line at the dynamic is abused, and in those he met at the university who ofered to imbalances, without forcing them to “It’s always been a fantasy of mine, their own supervisor, however. As Seb cases people are a lot less likely to “sponsor” him, paying his £70 ticket. resort to clandestine dinners or their to have sex with a supervisor,” he ad- put it: “It crosses boundaries.” come forward anyway,” Ben argues. “he reason I turned the invite own supervisors, the student-teacher mits. He consciously sought out su- “I think a supervisor should never “You’re much less likely when you’re down was because there was then that relationship is reinforced. pervisors and fellows, revealing that sleep with a supervisee, and if he does, quite drunk to have a giggle with your dynamic… Him ofering to pay makes *All names have been changed. Friday 5th February 2016 News 9 Concerns raised over student voter registration

800,000 people falling off the electoral Registration (IER) is most likely to Haroon Mohamoud register, according to claims made by aff ect university students who do not

News Correspondent the Labour Party. live at home for most of the year. SIMON LOCK  e party fears that the change,  e Electoral Commission itself Changes to the way in which voter reg- from household registration to a has raised concerns about the way in istration takes place risk an estimated new system of Individual Electoral which IER is being implemented, with the speed of the change prompting it to encourage the government to un- dertake a voter registration drive.  e Electoral Commission has also warned that without a signifi cant pub- licity drive, the government is risking up to 1.9 million people disappearing from the register. However, a Cabinet Offi ce spokes- person told e Guardian that the system of individual registration was Looking for work being implemented to tackle fraud. OPTIMISM REMAINED  e spokesperson said: “We have worked hard with local authorities per cent drop, while Cambridge and Cambridge City Council’s records. this summer?MEASURED for years now to clean up the register Dundee West both experienced a fall Cambridge has around 20,000 stu- – any entries removed will be people of 11 per cent. dents who are eligible to register and 28 June – 13 August 2016 who have moved house, died or never Since the introduction of the new vote, with 12,000 of them living in uni- existed because they were registered system, Cambridge has seen a fall in versity accommodation. The University of Cambridge International Summer fraudulently.” registration numbers.  ere was a Although it is not currently possi- Programmes is ofering challenging paid work for In December 2015, the fi rst elector- drop of 10,104 electors between the ble to say exactly how many students al register fi gures to be released under fi gures published in December 2014 are actually registered to vote due to Cambridge undergraduate and graduate students. IER showed a drop in the number of under the old system versus those a change in the way Cambridge City As one of a team of nine Cambridge Student registered electors compared with published in 2015 under the new one. Council reports its data, the body ex- the year before.  e eff ects of these pects to have this remedied in the near Assistants you’ll need customer-care and changes may be felt in the upcoming future. elections in May. Vicky Breading, a spokesperson for administrative skills, initiative and tact. Although the changes have been Cambridge City Council, told Varsity implemented to make the register that “we have invested a lot of time in For full details and an application form, more accurate and to stop fraud and CAMBRIDGE AND DUNDEE encouraging students to register, by errors, approximately one in ten peo- holding events, using social media, call network: 60850 or 01223 760850 ple have not been automatically trans- WEST BOTH EXPERIENCED A placing registration cards in pigeon ferred to the new list of voters. FALL OF 11 PER CENT holes and sending direct e-mails”. or email: [email protected] Among the 1.8 per cent of voters Today is National Voter Registration Closing date for applications: 21 March 2016. estimated to have dropped off the Day. As part of this, Cambridge City register, areas with high student pop- Council will be running a registra- ulations are most severely aff ected. As of 1st February this year, there tion desk, organised by CUSU, on the For example, Canterbury saw a 13 were 81,395 voters registered on Sidgwick Site from 1pm. BBC journalist named new Peterhouse Master

women on the walls, so having a wom- S yang We an as Master is very signifi cant.” Seno r News Correspondent Despite this, she acknowledged that

ALI GHANDTSCHI this is merely “a step” in the right di- Peterhouse has announced that jour- rection; the college and university can nalist Bridget Kendall will become the “always do better”. fi rst female Master of the college.  e Julian Sutcliff e, LGBT+ Offi cer for journalist will take over from Profes- Peterhouse, also described the ap- sor Adrian Dixon, a Professor of Med- pointment as hugely positive, calling icine, in June 2016. it “an historic moment for the college A graduate of Modern Languages that will hopefully mark a change from at Oxford and Harkness Fellow at Peterhouse’s reputation as the most Harvard, Kendall has worked at the conservative college”. BBC for over three decades.  e outgoing Women’s Offi cer, She joined the Corporation in 1983 Ellie Myerson, shared this optimism, as a radio production trainee for the commenting: “I was warned against World Service, then became a foreign applying to Peterhouse by a teacher correspondent in the early 1980s, and who suggested it might not be the best was named BBC diplomatic corre- place to study as a woman, but I’ve had spondent in 1998 – a post she has held a really positive experience.” for the past 18 years. “[ e appointment] really marks In 1992, she won the James Cameron a big shift for Peterhouse and shows Award for distinguished journalism in how far the college has come and what recognition of her reports as foreign changes it is intending to make in the correspondent in Moscow during the future. Apart from anything else, we’re breakup of the Soviet Union, becom- certain to get at least one portrait of a ing the fi rst woman to do so. She has named woman now!” also been the principal host of the “ is appointment makes me proud World Service discussion programme to go to Peterhouse”, she added. e Forum since 2008. Peterhouse’s outgoing Master, Peterhouse is the oldest Cambridge BBC journalist and new Master of Peterhouse Bridget Kendall Professor Dixon, said: “Peterhouse college, and also became the penul- has enjoyed great benefi t by electing timate college to admit women in Cambridge University.” “I am thrilled to be joining the student body has been similarly posi- masters from a wide range of back- 1985. Of the 31 constituent colleges of She added: “On my visits to the College and look forward to collabo- tive. Following the announcement, grounds: these include the church, the Cambridge, nine are currently led by College I have been struck by its rating with everyone at Peterhouse Stevie Hertz, the college’s newly elect- armed forces, the diplomatic services women. friendly atmosphere and the way it on the challenges and opportunities ed JCR Women’s Offi cer, expressed as well as academia.” In a statement released on the col- has turned its reputation of being the ahead.” hope that the new Master would be “a “Bridget will bring to the college lege’s website, Kendall said: “I feel very University’s oldest and smallest col- A former student of the Perse sign to the world that Peterhouse has her exceptional skills in communica- privileged to have been chosen by lege to its advantage: balancing a re- School for Girls in Cambridge, before changed”. tion and knowledge of international the Fellows of Peterhouse to be their spect for traditions with a readiness spending two years in Russia through Commenting on Peterhouse’s desire aff airs. She also provides an outstand- next Master.  is is an exceptional to adapt and innovate, and remaining British Council scholarships, she has to leave behind its conservative his- ing role model for students and young College with a distinguished history small enough to foster an intimate en- further described the move as “both a tory, Hertz added: “[Bridget Kendall’s] academics alike.” and record of academic excellence. vironment, yet seek engagement with new chapter and back to [her] roots”. presence alone is hugely signifi cant; He said that he “look[ed] forward” It represents all that is best about the wider world.”  e reaction from Peterhouse’s we don’t have any portraits of named to working with her over the summer. 10 News Friday 5th February 2016

‘should shAme our CouNtry’ News in Brief Cameron criticises universities’ diversity ‘A feW Corsets ANd sWINg dresses’ sWIftkey sold to mICrosoft WomeN more lIkely to go to uNI Top universities have defended themselves against David Cameron’s recent criticism concerning the numbers of Women’s Cambridge grads Applications black and ethnic minority students they admit. he Prime Minister argued in he Sunday Institute goes sell company for gender gap Times that the low numbers of black and eth- nic minority students securing places at elite burlesque £174m remains universities “should shame our country” and said institutions need to “go the extra mile” Cambridge City Women’s Institute, A irm started by two Cambridge he gap between male and female to tackle the “ingrained, institutional and the members of which range in age graduates has been bought by school leavers applying to British uni- insidious” attitudes holding people back. from those in their twenties to those Microsoft in a deal estimated to be versities sits at record levels. UCAS Cameron has announced new rules that in their sixties, have taken part in a worth £174 million. Swiftkey, which igures show that young women are will require universities to publish data on burlesque workshop. is known for its smartphone predic- 36 per cent are more likely to apply to applications broken down by gender and “here was deinitely a buzz in the tive keyboard software, was founded university than young men in England. ethnicity.

room. here were a few corsets and a by Dr Ben Medlock and Jon Reynolds his gap is the widest on record and he University of Oxford said that it did “not NUMBER 10 few swing dresses and we did a little in 2008. he pair claim that their soft- the same as last year. he number of see the need for further legislation”, arguing that routine based on the Diet Coke ad- ware has led to “100,000 years of re- women entering higher education has for many years it had been publishing the very infor- vert,” said Jo Beal, the group’s leader. claimed typing time” for its users. now superseded men for many years. mation that the PM was now demanding.

‘A bIt overWhelmINg At the momeNt’ ‘urgeNt restorAtIoN’ he Week in Numbers Cambridge union begins olympic hopeful consultation he number of female academics and staf at Hayley Simmonds, a Cambridge PhD he Union is hosting a public con- student who is reading experimental sultation this Friday for its upcoming 11 Cambridge who earn more than £140,000 chemistry, is in contention for a spot site development. in the Rio 2016 Olympic cycling team. he consultation will be open to She is currently battling to inish the public from 1pm to 8pm and will her thesis before the end of the next give people a chance to look around he percentage of people who voted Yes in the month in order to focus her eforts on and ask Union executive members making it into Team GB. about the development. 92 Disabled Students’ Oicer referendum Simmonds told Cambridge News he Union announced the devel- that “it’s a bit overwhelming at the opment a year ago, stating that it was moment” and that she is writing her seeking to “inance the urgent resto- thesis on her rest days. She’s going to ration of its 149-year-old home”. How much each student would receive if Trinity America in March for two months, he restoration is likely to include saying she will be “over the moon” if a new student-only Bar and a public- £1m College divided all of its assets among them she gets her Olympic spot. facing café. body of missing Cambridge student found in Cairo rainbow lags ly in Cambridge

over the tragic death”. Joe Robinson he ambassador, Amr Mostafa Harry Curtis Senior News Editor Kamal Helmy, was said to express Deputy News Editor “profound condolences for Regeni’s TOM FREEMAN he body of Cambridge PhD student death” and has “assured [the ministry] Colleges around Cambridge this Giulio Regeni was discovered by Egyp- that Egypt will cooperate fully in ind- week lew the rainbow lag as part of tian oicials in Cairo this week. ing those responsible for this criminal initiative co-ordinated by the CUSU Regeni, a 28-year-old PhD student act”. LGBT+ campaign to mark the begin- from Fiumicello near Udine in north- Late on Wednesday, the ministry ning of LGBT+ History Month. east Italy, had been in Egypt since stated: “he Italian government has While the pride lag was conspicu- September. asked the Egyptian authorities to make ous by its absence atop some colleges, He had been conducting research every efort to ascertain the truth […] among the colleges where it could be for his dissertation on Egyptian labour and immediately launch a joint in- seen on Monday were Clare, Christ’s, movements, which he had been un- vestigation with the participation of Downing, Emmanuel, Homerton, dertaking at Cambridge’s Department Italian experts.” King’s, Magdalene, Pembroke, of Politics and International Studies Italian police and forensic experts Robinson, Selwyn, Sidney Sussex, and (POLIS). are expected to ly out to Cairo to as- St Catharine’s. He had last been seen on 25th sist in the investigation. Corpus Christi College joined the January, when he was leaving his resi- Egyptian media have speculated ranks of the colleges lying the lag on dence in the Duqqi district of Giza to that the PhD student might have died Tuesday following a meeting of the visit a friend. as a result of a robbery which turned college’s governing body, where the he date marked the ifth anniver- violent. motion was passed with little resist- sary of the Tahir Square demonstra- he Egyptian prosecutor leading ance. he lag was only lown for the tions which led to the downfall of the the investigation team on the case told day, however. presidency of Hosni Mubarak in 2011, media that authorities had discovered On Wednesday Newnham College leading some commentators to suggest Regeni with stab wounds, cigarette also raised the lag, having previously that Regeni may have been caught up burns, cuts to the ears and signs of lown their college lag at half-mast on in a police raid against demonstrators. beatings and a “slow death”. Monday for reasons that Varsity has His body was found on the Cairo- Debora Serracchiani, President been unable to ascertain. Alexandria Desert Road on the out- of Regeni’s home region of Friuli- Elsewhere, the rainbow lag skirts of the city, after several days Venezia-Giulia, said: “We had hoped will continue to ly for the dura- of increasing concern on the part with all our strength that this would tion of February, for instance above of the Italian media concerning his not be the outcome.” Emmanuel College’s South Court. whereabouts. She added: “All our thoughts are his is not the irst time the pride While Egyptian media have specu- with his family, who are going through lag has been seen in Cambridge, how- lated that he might have died as a re- indescribable agony.” ever. St Catharine’s College hoisted the sult of a robbery which turned violent, A spokesperson for the University lag in 2014 in honour of the actor Sir security oicials have suggested that of Cambridge told Varsity: “We are Ian McKellen after he was awarded an Regeni may have died in a car crash. deeply saddened to hear news of the honorary doctorate by the university. In a Facebook post that has since Jesus College is also yet to ly the Following news of the discovery of death of Giulio Regeni. Our thoughts Likewise, Homerton has previously been deleted, Trinity College Students’ rainbow lag, as the college awaits his body, the Italian Ministry of Foreign are with his family and friends.” he lown the lag. Union (TCSU) said that Trinity would the outcome of a vote by the College Afairs and International Cooperation Vice-Chancellor and the Mistress of Among the colleges that didn’t ly not be lying the lag as the college did Council on the issue. In the meantime, summoned the Egyptian ambassador Girton College have been in contact the lag were Gonville and Caius, St not want to “set a precedent to deviate however, the lag is visible in the Jesus to Rome to express its “bewilderment with Giulio’s family. John’s, Trinity, and Wolfson. from the traditional lag schedule”. College porters’ lodge. Friday 5th February 2016 Science 11 Zika virus: global emergency? Graphene: the neuron of the future? Kane Toh size, a symptom of a neurodevelop- However, the Aedes aegypti mosquito Sarah Foster recently shed light on the enormous mental disorder called microcephaly, vector is common in the US only in potential of nanomaterials. Sc ence Correspondent are often born from infected mothers. Florida, along the Gulf Coast, and in Sc ence Correspondent In particular graphene, a two-di- Numbers rose from 147 cases in 2014 Hawaii, although it has been found as mensional honeycomb lattice of car- Unlike its related counterparts in the to 2,782 cases before the end of 2015. far north as Washington, D.C. in hot Implants that communicate with and bon, is a tantalising potential material virus family Flaviviridae, the Zika vi- Coincidentally, 2014 was also the year weather. So even if infected individu- infl uence our brains may seem like the for the fabrication of neuro-electric rus does not have the luxury of a pet- that the FIFA World Cup was held in als return from an overseas trip, the stuff of science fi ction. However, such interfacing devices. Graphene is re- rifying title. Yet the Zika virus, with Brazil, during which the Zika virus is mosquito vector may not be present to neuro-electric interfaces are eagerly markably stable, maintaining struc- only its exotic-sounding name to bear, thought to have made its entrance. e cause human-to-human transmission pursued by biomedical scientists and tural and electrical integrity even in is alongside Donald Trump on the sen- Zika virus is also strongly associated in the United States. engineers who envision a revolution harsh biological environments. It is sationalist headlines of most American with an autoimmune disease called ere are no vaccines available for the in the treatment of a vast spectrum of also fl exible and has excellent electri- newspapers. the Guillain-Barré syndrome, where Zika virus, despite their availability for neurological pathologies. cal properties. e Zika virus is spreading like wild- the body’s immune system perceives other fl aviviruses. Nikos Vasilakis, of Some neuro-electric implants eir work published this past fi re, and it does not appear to be stop- one’s own peripheral system to be dan- the Centr for Biodefense and Emerging could help translate raw brain proc- December in the journal ACS Nano ping its juggernaut-like invasion any- gerous and starts launching a ceaseless Infectious Diseases, predicts that 10 to esses into action, providing a pathway explored neuronal growth on graph- time soon. Once a virus restricted to chemical off ensive against it. 12 years may be needed before an ef- to Luke Skywalker-like cybernetic ene-based substrates (GBSs). e re- the narrow equatorial belt from Africa If the Zika virus does not have the ca- fective Zika virus vaccine is available limbs or to restoring motor function searchers grew rat neurons on GBSs to Asia, it was a virus unknown to the pacity to cause a worldwide pandemic, for public use. With the virus causing in patients paralysed by stroke or in- and glass control surfaces and exam- Western hemisphere until it started we can perhaps be a little less worried. largely asymptomatic infections, many jury. Other implants might suppress ined the density of neurons and non- spreading eastward across the Pacifi c Yet, we do need to bear in mind the people may be aff ected carriers and abnormal brain signals, such as those neuronal brain cells as well as the Ocean to French Polynesia, then to recent Ebola crisis where the World not know of their condition. is is thought to cause the characteristic emergence of nascent communica- Easter Island and, in 2015, to Mexico, Health Organisation (WHO) failed to compounded by the fact that effi cient tremor of Parkinson’s disease. tion networks among the neurons. Central America, the Caribbean, and implement effi cient measures and did diagnostic measures are still not in e requirements for a successful Cells grown on GBSs seemed iden- South America, where the outbreak not announce that the Ebola virus had place, given our limited knowledge of neuro-electric interface are strict. tical to their sister cells grown on has reached pandemic levels. caused a pandemic. is inaction led the Zika virus. e best we can really Much rests on the physical and elec- glass, leading the authors to conclude Like some zoological viruses that af- to thousands of preventable deaths. A do at this point is to protect ourselves trochemical properties of the im- that GBSs do not appreciably alter fect humans, mosquitoes (specifi cally healthy amount of worrying commen- against these mosquitoes through the plant’s material. It must be able to neuron and synaptic growth. Notably, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus) surate to the degree of virulence of the religious use of insect repellents and receive and to communicate electri- the surfaces used in this study were are friendly hosts to the Zika virus. We viral agent is required. e United attempting to clear sites of stagnant cal signals to neurons, but it must not pure graphene, free of any coating. expect that the geographic distribu- States Center for Disease Control and water, as with any generic mosquito- disrupt the delicate network of elec- Frequently surfaces are coated with tion of these pesky insects should be Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level borne viral disease. However, with the trical communication. Furthermore, proteins to facilitate cell growth and similar to the incidences of Zika virus 2 travel alert for people travelling to Summer Olympics to be held in Rio de implanting foreign material in the adhesion. However, such coatings infections, and indeed this is the case. certain countries where the transmis- Janeiro, the second-hardest-hit region human body is tricky. e presence may impede the transmission of elec- e problem is, therefore, that these sion is ongoing. It also announced in Brazil, it seems that stopping the of foreign materials and trauma from trical signals between the implant mosquitoes are extremely versatile 31 cases of Zika infection among US Zika virus will require a lot of scien- surgery can trigger an infl amma- and the neurons which make naked breeders and are prevalent in hot re- citizens who travelled to areas aff ected tifi c progress and political tory response, and induce a protec- surfaces optimal. gions. With objects that hold even the by the virus, including the fi rst case gamesmanship. tive layer of glial cells to surround e ability of GBSs to support and minutest amount of water, you can bet of sexual transmission of the virus. the implant, ultimately insulating it nurture healthy neuronal growth that the Aedes mosquitoes are dining and dulling its communication with without disrupting the formation of and courting like all hell let loose in a neurons. neural networks has important impli- Shangri-La hotel. Any materials implanted over long cations for the use of GBSs as a ma- If the Zika virus was simply as periods of time must be non-toxic terial for constructing neuro-electric harmless as an attention-seeking to cells (biocompatible), fl exible, interfaces. While further examination friend, then there would perhaps and electrically stable even in harsh is necessary to reveal how such sub- be no cause for alarm. However, aqueous environments. e design strates would actually compare to the there is very strong evidence that of neuro-electric implants therefore squishy 3D environment of the brain, the rise in the Zika virus is associ- E.A. GOELDI presents a formidable challenge to ma- this study provides a fi rst indication ated with birth malformations and terials scientists, but an interdiscipli- that GBSs may play a prominent role neurological syndromes in af- nary collaboration of scientists from in realising the immense potential of fected individuals. Newborns the Cambridge Graphene Centre and neuro-electric interfaces in the near with reduced head the University of Trieste in Italy has future. Brains left, right, and centre: the biology behind politics

and why we are so stubborn about Nature all the way through to the for order. (Intriguingly, they were scientists agree with the old truism it. science pages of the Economist. also more likely to have neat and that conservatives resist change organised living spaces!) Liberals, while liberals embrace it. Political views can certainly be A decade’s worth of psychological in contrast, were more open to unshakeable. Imagine two people research seems to agree. In 2005, for new experiences and change. Jost So what does this mean for political arguing about an emotive issue: each instance, political scientists Hibbing concluded that the diff erences debate? Political tendencies might tries to prove they’re right, but rarely and Alford analyzed the political between left and right could stem be written in our DNA, but it manages to convince the other. We opinions of 300,000 identical and from our underlying psychological doesn’t mean that the energy we also speak off -handedly of ‘inheriting’ fraternal twins. e results, published make-up. spend arguing is wasted. Certainly it our beliefs from those who helped in American Political Science Review, would be folly to stop all protests on shape them. But is this brainwashing were startling. Identical twins were Personality could thus be the the mere assumption that because or biology? As it turns out, biology more likely than fraternal twins to missing link between genetics and presidents cannot change their may be more important than we give the same responses for every political stance. Take, for instance, genes, they cannot change their think, and several studies suggest political question on the test! Since the ‘Big Five’ model of personality policies. Public opinion and policy that even our political leanings may identical twins share all their genetic used by many psychologists. do alter over time, and without be infl uenced by our genes. material, while fraternal twins share e big fi ve traits are openness, vigorous debate the change would NEUROPOP only half, this was a tantalising conscientiousness, extroversion, be far slower… but that could just be It’s also true, though, that the ‘Make correlation between genetic agreeableness and neuroticism the writer’s liberal genotype talking. with America Great Again’ gene has not inheritance and political beliefs. – and several studies have now Joy been discovered, and probably never (It’s still one to be interpreted with shown that they are all moderately will be. On an evolutionary timescale, caution, though; in twin studies, it’s heritable. (30 to 50 per cent of the Thompson political debates are such a recent notoriously diffi cult to control for variation in these traits can be traced invention that it doesn’t make sense extraneous factors.) to genetic diff erences, depending to have specifi c genes encoding our on the study.) Most importantly, ballot-box output. Instead, it’s more So much for DNA, but do politics and two of the Big Five traits associate US election drama is once again in full likely that our genetic inheritance personality traits match up? A large- closely with political leanings: swing. e presidential debate has shapes our collection of personality scale 2003 survey in Psychological liberals have signifi cantly higher been and gone, pundits are arguing, traits, and that these in turn Bulletin, by John Jost and colleagues, openness scores than conservatives, and the tension increases with infl uence our political views. is is suggests that they do. In this study, while conservatives score higher for every poll. Amid the rush, political the increasingly popular hypothesis conservatives tended to score conscientiousness. Jost’s conclusions scientists and psychologists have of ‘genopolitics’, which periodically higher on measures of dogmatism, were also consistent with this overall. been seeking to explain what drives turns up in journals ranging from intolerance of ambiguity and need In short, psychologists and political us to vote liberal or conservative – 12 Interview Friday 5th February 2016

people who varsity introducing know exactly what you’re talking about. I also don’t often tell there’s nothing people what the songs are about, so to do. You have the time that’s how I get round it. to think when you’re travelling. You’re studying medicine – are you What’s the best song you’ve considering music as a career path? ever written? It’s the classic question. Every time  at’s a diffi cult one! Well, I I’m interviewed on the radio they’re think the best song I’ve ever like, “so what are you doing at the written is the one I’ve just moment?”, and I say I’m a student, When did you start writing written, every time. But and they pry further, and I’m like, oh IMOGEN RAE is a singer-song- songs? I’ve written a new one I’m a medical student... at Cambridge. writer studying Medicine at Sidney called ‘Doctor Doctor’,  en they’re like, “so do you actually Sussex. A past winner of the OpenMic When I was thirteen. I know which I like a lot. It want to sing...?!” But if you look at UK Future Music Award, and fi nalist this because we used to have depends what it’s for, I any songwriters around, until they in the UK Songwriting Contest, she something called the House think, because I have are big, they all have a job.  ey have released her second album, Queen of Music Festival at school. It was quite a lot of diff erent to, because you can’t aff ord to just be Hearts, in 2015. always the Sixth Formers who styles. Probably, a singer-songwriter, really. Why can’t did the Composition category, lyrically speaking, that job be medicine? I think they’re because they were doing A-Level ‘Mr Uniform’ has both compatible, because I’m most Music, so it was always a classic to be up there, stimulated when I’m really busy, and I How would you describe the style of piano-accompanied fl ute piece or just because it’s so defi nitely am with medicine, so! your music? whatever. But our house was rubbish sassy. I feel really at music at that time, and they were cool when I sing Where do you see your music going I think it’s a fusion of jazz, and like, “can you write us a song?”. I it. in the future? increasingly pop. I also like to throw had two weeks to do it, and I won IMOGEN MECHIE in a bit of story-telling as well. the competition, beating all the Sixth It’s a cliché, but a I really like being challenged. Earlier Formers! It was incredible – I realised lot of your lyrics seem like diary this year I got a request from BBC What are your main musical / lyrical I could actually write songs, and from entries. Do you write about real or Radio Lancashire, and they said they infl uences? there I just carried on writing. imagined life? needed a jingle for a thing for Children in Need, so I wrote them a jingle, and Number one is Tim Minchin – I Did singing or song-writing come How do you start a song? A huge combination of both. When I that sort of thing is amazing. So if I absolutely love the guy, I think he’s fi rst? was a bit younger, almost all my songs could get suffi ciently well-known with incredible. I also really like Sara If I’m honest, normally an interesting were make-believe. As I’ve got older, my musical style, I’d love to be asked Bareilles.  e thing about music and I think singing probably came fi rst... phrase or an interesting idea will come there have defi nitely been events in to do really cool writing, any type of lyrics is, in my opinion, both music I’ve always been good at music – as into my head. It’s usually lyrics, or lyrics my life that sparked an idea. Maybe I genre – I’ve written a musical, and I’ve and lyrics have their own merit, but if a youngster I played the piano, the and a melody - the accompaniment fabricated things from the idea, but the written for the 24-hour musicals at the you put them together and they work drums, the clarinet, the violin, the can change, and does change as you idea was a real one in the fi rst place. In ADC.  ese days, I don’t mind singing together than the merit is more than recorder, everything. But I never write the song. If you record it then, the phase when you write songs about to anybody. I’m suffi ciently comfortable just the sum of the individual parts. I dreamed of being a singer. But ever and listen to yourself in two months real people... I remember singing this with my piano and singing, and I’ve get inspired by lots of rhythmic things. since I’ve been writing music... I love playing it, you’ll realise how much it’s song to about 250 people, and the made pretty much every mistake you But musical ideas – I think they’re writing, and I really want to promote changed from the initial version. I fi nd person in my view was the gentleman can make. I’m getting so much better completely separate. Every song has my writing more than just my singing, whenever I stop for a breather, I tend who I’d written the song about! It was a at covering them up – it doesn’t bother its own, some are better than others, because I’m perfectly aware that there to do a lot of writing. I’m a very very very peculiar scenario. I have actually me any more, So, yeah. I’ll sing to any but every song has its own lyrical idea are better singers in the world than I busy person but I often fi nd I write shied away from properly opening my audience, anywhere. and I don’t think you can pinch from am, but there’s only one songwriter things on planes or on trains, just heart up, otherwise you end up singing other people’s lyrical ideas. like me! [laughs] when you’ve got protected time when your diary, literally, to an audience of Imogen was talking to Alice Chilcott

Kate Hoey: “there is a very credible left-wing argument” to leave the EU eo Demolder speaks to the Co-Chair of Labour Leave about democracy, internationalism, and ‘the fear campaign’

Following CULC’s 9-6 decision last would fi rst of all get our seat back on just our money back.” going to somehow drift away.  at’s grown up hearing how wonderful the week to affi liate to the Labour In cam- the World Trade Organisation which  is dislike of EU bureaucracy, she the idea of it – to link the whole con- EU is – it’s only really beginning to paign, I spoke to one of the party’s is crucially important, instead of hav- tells me, is informed by her time as tinent, which of course we’re going to dawn on them that it’s not this great most prominent eurosceptics: Vaux- ing someone from Belgium represent a Minister, during which she had to stay a part of, with the 27 other coun- supporter of workers’ rights and equal- hall MP Kate Hoey. the whole 28 countries of the EU… We work with Brussels. tries out of something like 56 or 57 in ity – it’s actually much more about I began by asking her about the latest maintain that leaving would actually “I found the wheeling and deal- Europe.” She laments, too, claims by supporting global corporations.” story from Britain Stronger in Europe, lead to more jobs – and the EU coun- ing very undemocratic. And also the some Europhiles “that somehow any- It strikes me that if any case for a which had appeared in the papers that tries which depend on selling to us whole paraphernalia of Brussels; it’s one who speaks up for us to be an in- Leave vote has a chance of winning morning; Karren Brady had said that aren’t going to stop selling to us.” clearly done by people who have no- dependent, democratic country again over students leaving the EU would be “devastating” body to be accountable to.  ey don’t is some kind of ‘Little Englander’ en masse, for British football. Hoey, a former really care about spending other peo- stroke racist – which is the other it’s the one Minister for Sport, chuckled. ple’s money.  eir accounts aren’t thing which gets thrown at peo- Kate Hoey “I have to say, I fi nd that one the even properly audited. Whatever you ple…  ere’s a real feeling around is mak- most ridiculous. It’s the sort of story say about MPs, at least we have a con- that this is going to be a battle with ing. that will actually back-fi re… It will THEY DON’T REALLY CARE stituency to elect us, and who can kick the cosy cliques of the leadership only help to show that the Remain us out.” of all of the main political par- campaign has got very little argument. ABOUT SPENDING OTHER She went on to quote renowned ties, the establishment, in terms of We fi nd that when we do debate with PEOPLE’S MONEY Eurosceptic Tony Benn. banking and some of the media – them, they come out with the same “If you cannot get rid of the people and that will actually count in three or four things – it’s all doom and who govern you, you do not live in a our favour… And I’ll have gloom, it’s all depressing – they’re the democratic system”, before adding: “I very diff erent reasons for fear campaign. Everything they want Emphasising the costs of member- want to see the U.K. be a free country coming out from some- to say is about fear.” ship to our economy, she continued: again, where we can co-operate with one like John Redwood, One particular fear I asked her “It’s hugely expensive: it really is the rest of the world, be internation- who’s on the right of the about was the fear of harm to the worth repeating – £50 million a day, alist, and get away from this little EU Tory party.  ere is a economy from leaving. She noted that £350 million a week, £19 billion a year clique which is full of people who are very credible left wing the EU market is “shrinking practi- – and we get back something like £11 more interested in working with glo- argument.” cally by the week. It’s the emerging billion of that, but how that money is bal corporations than with working And, Hoey tells economies of Asia and South America spent is all decided by unelected com- people” – adding that the EU’s insta- me, this is now gain- where the growth is; we have a huge missioners… You have to ask anyone bility makes leaving the safer option. ing traction at events opportunity as a country which has who’s speaking up for the Remain We turned, then, to discuss the by Labour Leave and our language so widely spoken to sign campaign at a senior level ‘what are ‘Britain Stronger in Europe’ campaign, other campaigns with our own trade deals… If Iceland can your links with the EU?’, and of course and she told me that its name was in which they work. have its own trade deals with China universities are a classic example: the itself a bugbear. “It’s just so inter- and India, the idea that somehow we idea that somehow all the universities “It is a deliberate ploy to call it esting… particularly would suddenly be isolated and have are going to fold because they get this ‘Europe’ – that anyone who votes with younger peo- FRANCES O’GRADY no one to trade with is nonsense. We great support from the EU – but it’s to leave is leaving Europe, as if we’re ple who’ve only ever PATRIOTIC POPULIST Comment Friday 5th February 2016 Comment 13  e obvious choice: refl ections on the referendum

ell, thank goodness for that. “cease existing activities”, which I can easily taken for granted that people rather than winding everyone up. It would’ve been pretty deal with because, you know, equality with disabilities should just get extra  ey might not have universal sup- W embarrassing otherwise. is more important than the Freshers’ support and that’s that. Let’s think port yet, but at least people seem to And I don’t mean just for CUSU, Week pub crawl, and that they’re for a moment, though, about the life- know what they’re doing, and the whose track record for getting people “looking to raise additional income” changing diff erence this vote is going President, Priscilla, even made it onto to participate in referenda and gen- (which they’re always doing anyway, to make for so many people. I remem- the Tab’s ‘Biggest Name on Campus’ erally getting stuff done isn’t exactly so no big deal). ber just last year when Corpus fi nally shortlist this week.  at list might be premier. It would’ve been embarrass- So come on, you 336 no-voters. voted to have a ‘gender equalities’ of- a disgraceful concept and an embar- ing for the entire student body if not Get with the times. Access is crucial fi cer on our JCR (and we only voted rassment to be associated with, but enough people had cared about peo- and you can live without your Union yesterday on whether this should ac- Priscilla’s presence on it does show ple with disabilities to vote, or, even perks. tually be called the ‘women and non- that she has an audience. Which of worse, if people had actually voted But, in all honesty, I didn’t fi nd the binaries’ offi cer). Taken for granted her predecessors did? no. success of the Yes campaign that sur- and considered an obvious choice by So hopefully, the new full-time As you might be able to tell, I’ve prising. Most people in Cambridge many from other colleges, this was ac- Disabled Students’ Offi cer role will been a strong supporter of the Yes aren’t complete and utter wankers, re- tually a ground-breaking change. help to further this trend of engage- campaign since the referendum was gardless of the Daily Mail’s preferred  ink about how much more sig- ment and awareness. I hope that the Noa Lessof Gendler proposed. My reason for this was that angle and the impression given by the nifi cant a change it’ll be for those with visible support for disabled students there was no good reason not to be. people who write for the Tab. From disabilities to have a sabbatical offi cer is encouraging for those whom it per- How do you justify opposing an of- within my comfy left-leaning friend- representing them to the university. sonally aff ects; and I hope that the fi cer designated specifi cally to aiding ship group, it seemed to be a given It’s one more protective layer that’ll overwhelming landslide pushes eve- We’ve won the battle, and liberating some of the most vul- that the motion would pass, and that hopefully stop people from slipping ryone else to challenge the ableism nerable and disadvantaged students enough people would recognise the through the net into unmanageable that they encounter, from the girl but not the war... yet at the university who, incidentally, need for a new kind of representation diffi culties.  is isn’t just a ticked box who used horrifi c, outdated terms make up 8.1 per cent of undergrads in our students’ union. For me, in the for the liberals, another accolade to to insult people she didn’t like, to and 5.9 per cent of grads? same obvious way that you try not to show how PC we are – this has the the non-wheelchair accessible stage I suppose that the 336 people who be racist, you also try to recognise the potential to have a hugely positive im- that prevented a speaker from sitting opposed the motion did so based on diffi culties that people with disabili- pact on many lives. alongside her fellow panellists.  ese how expensive it would be for CUSU ties face in their lives, and you auto- But that will only be the case if the situations are avoidable, but so far we to fund another full-time sabbatical matically expect everyone around you individual who takes up this role ac- haven’t done very well as a commu- position. But, to be honest, I can’t to do the same. tually manages to do something with nity in countering them. Voting for a think of a better place for the money But that’s quite clearly not the ex- it. At the moment, CUSU seems to sabbatical offi cer to spearhead these to go. What’s more important than perience many disabled students have be on a roll: the last presidential elec- changes is the fi rst step, so well done, enhancing the experiences and abil- had during their time in Cambridge, tion was record-breaking in its turn- Cambridge. Now let’s bloody well ity to succeed of those most likely considering that the petition trigger- out, just like this one, and this year’s support whoever fi lls the role and to be overlooked? CUSU have said ing this referendum was signed by sabbatical team seems to know how make some equality happen around themselves that they may have to well over the required 350 people. It’s to make a big noise in their favour here. Sugar Babies are a sign of capitalism gone wrong

rom the outset, I should con- I hope I am not alone in rejecting can ‘buy’ a personal dinner or private prude, but I think it is rather obvious fess that it was very diffi cult to this commodifi ed, thoroughly self- retreat with someone, even without that we do not construct our society F write this article. Having gone ish view of relationships as one that the sexual component, should imme- in a moral and ethical vacuum. Why through the website seekingarrange- is both utterly vile and has no place diately strike us as suspect.  e fact should we accept as a fait accompli a ment.com to gain some background in our modern, equal(ish) society. that there are people who actively try community where relationships are knowledge, I found myself so appalled  e feminist critique is an obvious to create relationships through prior devoid of any meaningful connec- that I sat speechless in front of my lap- one: the fact that the vast majority of agreements and reciprocal benefi t tion? Why can’t I call the practice of top. Rarely do I have moments when Sugar Daddies are men and the de- should be immediately concerning. I buying sexual services for money de- I despair for modern society, but this pendent Sugar Babies are women am sure many of us would call any re- praved, and one that we should aim to was certainly one of them. demonstrates that a site like this en- lationship built purely on some sort of eradicate? When we accept the idea Upon opening SeekingArrange- courages ideas of female dependency material reward a sham, but now we that relationships can be bought and ment, I was greeted with the sim- on the fi nancial prowess of her male can fi nd one online instantly. sold, and subsequently commodi- ple tagline “Relationships on Your protector.  is equation of personal relation- fi ed, we are accepting a society where Terms”, as if romantic and personal ship with business deal seems to be a emotional bonds gradually get bro- relationships are some sort of busi- natural outgrowth of our selfi e cul- ken down and replaced by pure self- ness deal where it would be helpful to ture, a culture where it is easier to interest. have solicitors present. I then clicked excoriate someone online than it is Finally, to those (including a friend Connor MacDonald on the “Sugar Daddy” tab, where a se- to confront them directly, where it of mine who writes for Varsity), ries of wonderfully helpful graphics SEEKINGARRANGEMENT IS THE is easier to hook up regularly while who argue that the Sugar Baby phe- appeared. “A Sugar Daddy is someone drunk than it is to seriously commit nomenon is really an indictment of who comes with a variety of fi nancial DARK SIDE OF CAPITALISM, to loving another person for longer high tuition fees and marketisation: commitments including: family…” AND LIBERALISM GENERALLY than 24 hours.  is is a culture in you are missing the point entirely. e Sugar Daddy (who would have guessed?). “Sugar which it is easy to buy a night of good Undoubtedly, many are feeling the babies are an expense that must be ac- conversation with a beautiful woman squeeze of high tuition fees, but that culture points to counted for” and “Sugar Daddies are but infi nitely harder to ask someone should never excuse exploitative and all about business”.  e very words ‘Sugar Baby’ con- out on a date. selfi sh behaviour. Indeed, as one of broader issues  e defi nitions for Sugar Babies jure up images of a dumb gold digger, I rarely say this, being a free- the women in last week’s Varsity in- were no better: “ e Sugar Baby is a stereotype we should rightly extir- market Tory, but I believe that vestigation put it, it’s an “easy and in modern an individual seeking mentorship, pate from our discourse. Similarly, SeekingArrangement is the dark side convenient way to support myself” – fi nancial support”.  e site also help- they evoke Sugar Daddy images of the of capitalism, and liberalism general- as if getting a real job or taking out relationships fully points out that a large portion 1950s à la Don Draper, whose femi- ly.  ose two -isms have undoubtedly a loan aren’t acceptable alternatives. of Sugar Babies are in university, nist sensibilities were non-existent. given succour to millions and rights I object to the fact that some choose “aiming to graduate debt free”. It also However, I think this critique, to many, but they have also deprived the easy path over the right one. I be- warns Sugar Babies that revealing a while obvious to anyone with half us of any ability to actively discuss lieve, in the long run, our society will Sugar Daddy could be harmful to the a brain, misses the wider point – values in the public sphere. bear the costs – in ephemeral, vacu- Sugar Daddy’s “career or personal namely the fact that society wants to We are told that this is a matter of ous relationships that will have as life”. Again, useful, if totally obvious, replace real human connection with choice, that it really is of no concern much meaning as the Snapchats we advice. artifi ce and façade.  e idea that you to anyone else. Excuse me for being a send every few minutes. 14 Comment Friday 5th February 2016

We should fi ght the privilege, not the privileged

recent row at Acland Burghley educated at independent schools. Recognising the endemic nature of Oxbridge than those educated in the School, a north London com- However, it is unfortunate that too the problem is the fi rst step in fi nding state sector, and only one in every A prehensive and my alma often this legitimate frustration with real and lasting solutions. 1,000 students eligible for free school mater, illustrates how divisive the is- an unfair system takes the form of re- Counter-intuitively, to create a meals get in. sue of privilege is in British society. verse snobbery.  e danger of this is more progressive, egalitarian soci-  e diffi culty for Cambridge is  e row erupted after former pupils that it sets a bad precedent by which ety we must strive to extend privilege how to distribute places more equally argued that it was inappropriate to in- people can be attacked ad hominem by distributing opportunities to as without compromising the fi rst-rate vite old Etonian actor, Damian Lewis, for their background. You might think many people as possible.  is means education that makes this university to take part in the school’s 50th anni- this a trifl ing issue and to some degree encouraging children at comprehen- the envy of the world. While quotas versary celebrations. Given that Lewis it is. But ask yourself: would a society sive schools to emulate the example are a blunt instrument, measures is an amiable and popular member of where people are pigeon-holed based of successful people from all walks of must be taken to ensure that places the local community and the school is on schooling benefi t those who cur- life. In other words, we must adopt a go to those who truly deserve them. a performing arts college it seems an rently sit at the top or the bottom of nuanced approach that recognises the Studies have repeatedly shown that eminently sensible decision to invite the pile? role that privilege plays in the success students from state schools rou- the Homeland star. However, a small  is is not to say that those who of people like Damian Lewis without tinely outperform students from the group of campaigners did not agree. seek a more equal society should not dismissing them as individuals. independent sector with the same  ey argued that Lewis should be call for radical upheaval. In fact, that Social mobility cannot exist unless grades. Alex Mistlin disinvited because of his “elitist edu- this anger is often directed at easy everyone works to break down the Perhaps admissions criteria could cation that provides a small minority targets like Damian Lewis refl ects the class barriers.  is means being sym- better acknowledge the diff erent con- with vastly more opportunities than small-mindedness of many campaign- pathetic towards those who would texts in which grades are attained in the rest.”  is is undoubtedly an ad- ers. Snubbing or criticising someone like to use their considerable privilege order to better identify the students e Damian Lewis mirable sentiment but it represents a who has benefi ted from their privi- to prevent others being let down by a with the most potential.  is is an row calls into simplistic analysis that does not ad- lege might make you feel better but system from which they have benefi t- incredibly complex problem that equately address social inequality. it does not address the real drivers of ed. Prejudice towards the privileged cannot be unilaterally solved, but question the best I’ll begin by conceding the fact that inequality. has the pernicious eff ect of entrench- the admissions process must adapt the protestors had a legitimate point. Papering over the cracks with ing class divisions while alienating to ensure Cambridge is academically way to deal with Our society cannot be considered misplaced anger might mean that those who have the power to address rather than socially elitist. truly meritocratic while it is domi- there are a few less prominent public the issue. To the dismay of the protestors, privilege nated by a privately educated elite. In schoolboys, but it will not change the As an elite institution, the University Damian Lewis bravely accepted 2014, a study by the Social Mobility status quo. For instance, inequality of Cambridge is in a diffi cult position. Acland Burghley’s invitation, insist- and Child Poverty Commission in early years provision means that As a product of an unjust society, its ing that his critics had missed the found that 43 per cent of newspaper privileged children far out-perform admissions statistics make for grim point. He is right; reverse snobbery columnists, 33 per cent of MPs and their peers well before they take up reading. Independent school pupils does not solve the privilege problem. 71 per cent of senior judges were that place at Eton or Winchester. are fi ve times more likely to go to It merely perpetuates it. Friday 5th February 2016 Comment 15 Cambridge is right to raise the rainbow fl ag

n Monday, the fl ag-poles of With this rich history at work, to recognition demonstrated by some campaign is over. We have come so many Cambridge colleges fl y the LGBT+ fl ag is not just a mean- (but, not all) of Cambridge’s historic far, and we have much to be proud O were adorned (many for the ingless gesture, but brings our fl ag colleges is a positive step, but there is of, as we look back at the sacrifi ce of fi rst time) with the Rainbow Flag, into this tradition – our symbol, the much about this institution which re- those who have gone before and the fl own to mark the beginning of LGBT banner of our campaigning eff orts, quires reform.  ose of us who have hard-won liberation which means History Month. For many queer peo- is taken up and displayed for all to found the acceptance and freedom to that our colleges can fl y the Rainbow ple in Cambridge it was a day to be see. Flying from the ivory towers of be who we are have a duty, born from Flag, but there is more to be done. proud of; a day when our feeling of a university which often seems so re- our shared history of oppression, to Unless we strengthen our solidar- belonging in this university was af- luctant to change – in a society where continue to campaign for those in the ity with one another, continue to fi rmed. In a small way, we have struck gender-binaries and heteronormativ- LGBT+ movement who still face daily demonstrate to our colleges and uni- yet another victory on the path to- ity still retain their currency – these and systematic oppression. versity the ways in which it continues wards the full and equal inclusion of small fl ags remain radical signs of As Jack Renshaw’s Students of to oppress those who don’t fi t into LGBT+ people in our university. Of hope for anyone willing to look up Cambridge video highlighted, the preconceived notions of gender and course, some of the colleges were no- from the streets to see them.  ey mainstream acceptance of LGBT+ sexuality, and to challenge our own tably absent from this move – Girton, represent publicly our fundamen- people tends to focus heavily on the prejudices and assumptions, then the Dominic Cawdell Trinity and St John’s, to name but a tal belief that LGBT+ people belong ‘LGB’ aspects of the movement.  is fl ag will be meaningless. We have to few – which has raised anger in some to this university as much as anyone month, we have a golden opportunity use this month to stand under the student bodies. But what is all the else, and I hope pictures of our histor- to turn the spotlight towards trans- Rainbow Flag, in solidarity with one fuss about? ic buildings hoisting these wonderful gender folk who still suff er underrep- another, and with those around the It’s a step in the right Believe it or not, the fl ags of our fl ags will be seen far and wide. resentation, and have not received the world who still live with the risk of direction, but fl ying colleges are important. We may not However, the fl ags of history are same acceptance as LGB people have capital punishment for their sexual- have the kind of pseudo-idolatrous not just symbols to adorn our build- in our university. Under this fl ag, we ity. I don’t excuse myself of the need the rainbow fl ag is practices seen in the States towards ings but banners under which to cam- have the opportunity to draw our col- to continue to raise awareness and our fl ags, but they remain part of the paign. For those of us who felt that leges’ and university’s attention to the change attitudes; I write as an or- by no means the end backdrop of collegiate life and repre- our place in this university was af- systematic exclusion of non-binary dinand (trainee-priest) of a church sent a signifi cant aspect of our histo- fi rmed and that our rights have been people with gendered language in which still refuses to acknowledge goal ry.  e Union Jack or Royal Standard confi rmed, LGBT History Month re- offi cial documents; the retention of the legitimacy of same-sex marriage. fl ies on the Monarch’s birthday, the minds us how far there is to go. Deeply gendered dress codes and bathrooms; I know when I am called to ‘fi ght the college fl ag is fl own on graduation entrenched attitudes of prejudice and and the failure of the university to good fi ght’ (so to speak). day and major Christian and national suspicion still have to be changed. educate supervisors about their use To fi nish, I would like to off er a festivals, and the fl ag fl ies at half- For some of us, especially gay men, of gendered language. Until the whole personal thanks to all JCRs, LGBT+ mast to mark the death of a member it can feel like the fi ght is won – but, LGBT+ community is fully welcomed groups and students who campaigned of the college.  ey are symbols of as long as others in the LGBT+ com- and accepted in Cambridge we simply for this, and to all colleges who will fl y our modern values and respect. munity suff er, it isn’t over. Yes, the can’t rest on our laurels and think the the Rainbow Flag this month. H e a d s p a c e In her fourth weekly column, Rhiannon Shaw discusses how to tackle talking to family about mental health

neither you nor your partner burst should speak to your parents about there’s someone who’s… maybe… a you to fi nd yourself a surrogate fam- into fl ames because you slept in the mental health, even if you’re healthy. little bit shit and unhelpful. It’d be stu- ily who know about your illness and same bed will garner the retort that Talking about an article you’ve read or pid for me to demand that you tell your can check up on you whenever, wher- they never thought that would hap- a campaign at uni is a simple way to parents because telling your parents is ever. Opinions aren’t going to change pen – just maybe that the neighbours broach the topic. Point out the lovely defi nitely going to solve everything – quickly and you shouldn’t put pres- would take you off the Christmas card cartoons that my pal Luke Johnson I’ve heard enough horror stories to sure on yourself to try and make your list. does for this column every week. know that isn’t true. Bringing up your family see sense when your mental Mental health issues aren’t new and  ey’re pretty cool. university counsellor in conversation health is at stake – it’s exhausting, it’s they weren’t ‘invented’ by some inter- Another reason is the simple fact may not feel like the safest thing to dangerous and what matters is you net entrepreneur who has it in for your that your family is an important sup- do when your father has made a dis- getting better. Fighting some outdat- parents. But the more and more open port network, and, assuming they paraging comment about someone at ed social mores is tough enough, even we become about depression, anxiety, listen to your concerns, they can be work being ‘lazy’ rather than seriously when you’re feeling fabulous. eating disorders and addictions, the the fi rst people you call in a crisis. ill. Going to a parent and having your I’m lucky and I don’t take that light- Rhiannon Shaw more foreign the world becomes to a I’ll never forget coming home after a experience utterly invalidated can ly. If you’re not as fortunate as me in generation that just didn’t talk about terrible few weeks and getting a hug make you believe, incorrectly, that the random lot of family allocation, it. It’s unlikely that anyone of any age from my little brother. You’d be sur- you’re alone. don’t ever think that you’re alone. It elling your parents you’re not or walk of life has sailed through with- prised how unexpectedly kind and  ere aren’t any hard and fast rules may sound cheesy (pretty camembert- ship-shape up in the brain out, at some point, at least knowing wonderful people can be if you give when it comes to mental health, but y, in fact) but you will fi nd people who T area is a great way to add a someone who has a mental illness, them a chance. even if you feel like you can’t tell your love you no matter where your head’s dash of excitement to any family oc- but it may have been brought to their But for every hero of the hour, parents or family members, I urge at. I promise, they’re about. casion. Will they get angry? Will they attention as a secret – an embarrass- start crying? Will they kick you out for ment, even. being ungrateful about all the things And maybe we have a right to be they’ve given you? angry about that. I certainly get angry “Back in my day I had to work at thinking about the people, just like a fi sh and chip shop to pay my way me, who were sectioned and isolated through university and it was the from their families, treated like crimi- Seventies and I didn’t even have an nals rather than given the necessary iPhone – you didn’t see me wallowing help to become healthy and happy in a pit of despair!” again. I get angry that so many were Cross-generational communica- told to just ‘get on with it’, because tion can be diffi cult even at the best their problems weren’t worth anyone’s of times. Explaining why you’d prefer time. I get really angry when I think of they shared cute cat gifs rather than those whose way of life - their gender, endless ranting Daily Mail articles their sexuality, their way of thinking - on their Facebook wall will end in was wrongly and horrifi cally patholo- fury rather than fl uff y kittens. Trying gised. I’m not saying that any of this to convince your grandmother that has ended, either. Injustices in mental Skype isn’t a way for criminals to see health are, unfortunately, not a thing into her kitchen won’t stop her from left in our grandparents’ or our par- covering up the camera with her fi nger ents’ youth, but at least we’re making every time she wants to chat to your strides to talk about it. uncle in Australia. Pointing out that  is is one reason why I think you 16 Comment Friday 5th February 2016 Barbie’s new body: marketing to reverse falling sales

n December 2005 the University of drop in profi ts last year, leading to hairstyles, 22 eye colours, 14 face wouldn’t be able to lift her six-times- Bath released research on young the sacking of the chairman and chief shapes, seven skin tones, four body bigger-than-her-waist head and would I girls’ disavowals of their Barbies, executive Bryan Stockton. In 2014 shapes. Notice how, curiously, the be 5ft 9 but under eight stone and so branding it a “rite of passage and a Frozen’s Elsa doll beat Barbie as the numbers go down as we get to the im- lacking the BMI normally needed to rejection of their past” which came in top-selling doll, while Lego overtook portant stuff we’re all supposed to be have regular periods. Does this really forms as diverse as the classic shaven Mattel (who also sell Hot Wheels and excited about. mark change from the 1963 Barbie head to the more off -the-wall decision Polly Pocket) as the top-selling toy which came with a diet book with just of some 7-to-11-year-olds to micro- brand. one piece of advice: ‘don’t eat’? wave their dolls. It is, perhaps, some-  e fi rst major change for Barbie Holding up the changes announced what surprising that actual academic (apart from a temporary split from last week as if they’re some brilliant research had to be done to fi gure Ken in 2004) came last year, when progressive move on Mattel’s part just out that destroying old Barbies was Mattel introduced 23 new dolls to its BARBIE NOW COMES IN FOUR doesn’t make sense. Ultimately they’re a tweenage millenial rite of passage. Fashionistas line.  e dolls had more BODY SHAPES: ORIGINAL, just matching modern consumer de- Almost every conversation I’ve had varied skin and hair colours and, most mands and desperately trying to re- with female friends in the wake of the excitingly, had actual fl at feet as op- TALL, CURVY, AND PETITE verse their falling sales while repack- news of Barbie’s transformation in the posed to the weird semicircle things aging it as some bold new move. A past week has ended in discussions of Barbies had before. For the fi rst time bolder move would be dolls which are Lucia Keijer-Palau how we lovingly mutilated our treas- in her 56 years, Barbie could wear Barbie now comes in four body actually curvy and maybe really tall, ured dolls once we had decided they fl ats.  e big news now is that versions shapes: original, tall, curvy and petite. too. Or with some kind of non-super- were no longer worth playing with. A of Barbie are being released with ac-  ere are more than a couple of issues fi cial physical disability. Or a Ken that favourite of mine was full body tattoos tual curves. Supposedly, that is. here: for starters, curvy Barbie looks questions male body expectations – e new Barbie dolls in various shades of sparkly nail polish, Under the codename ‘Project Dawn’, like a size 12/14 whilst the average Dad-bod Ken, perhaps. are a sign of a more but it’s a question of personal taste. a team at Mattel has spent two whole UK size is 16.  ere are also problems  e new Fashionista range only re-  at Barbie’s sales have been fall- years revamping the classic Barbie with the categorisation of Barbie’s fl ects changes that have already hap- progressive society, ing for nearly fi ve years now is hardly shape to make it sellable to what body - she is either tall or curvy or pened in consumers’ expectations; it’s a massive shock: she’s barely changed Evelyn Mazzocco, head of the Barbie petite but never more than one, which a weak nod to the rise of pop culture not a genuine step to since her ‘birth’ in March 1959 when brand, has called the ‘millenial mom’ gives an underlying suggestion that feminism in the last fi ve years.  is is Ruth Handler sensed a gap in the toy (millenial dads don’t buy kids toys, in it’s somehow okay for there to be one fair enough: Mattel employs 28,000 end discrimination market for more adult-looking dolls. case you were wondering).  is is all deviation from the ‘original’ but that’s people worldwide and needs to keep Handler based Barbie’s body on a very well and good. Some change is it. Ladies, you can be ‘fat’, that’s cool, profi ts up. But what this means is that German doll called Lilli who had ris- better than no change, I guess. But the but just don’t think about being short last week’s unveiling of new Barbie en to prominence via artist Reinhard picture changes if we take a step away at the same time. isn’t really a story about Mattel but, Beuthien’s cartoons and was what one from the hype and consider some of Equally, the norm for Barbie hasn’t rather, one about the important - if might call an adult novelty toy. the numbers involved in this year’s changed. Barbie ‘original’ still has such still only partial – ways in which our Barbie’s manufacturing company, new Barbie Fashionista line.  ere unrealistic proportions that if she expectations of representations of the Mattel, suff ered a painful 59 per cent are 33 new dolls, 30 hair colours, 24 were a real life woman she probably female body have begun to change.

Miranda Slade

t’s Week 4 and with it comes the properly nourish oneself and con- great (FYI: she always looks gorgeous judgement’ constantly. But ignor- haviour as masochism would be too end of January. Need I emphasise sider the ethical value of the food I and has one of my favourite laughs ing those better judgements every grandiose but, to use a tired cliché, I how painstakingly I have count- was consuming? Sure. Would I be ever).  is comment was not strik- so often incites just enough reckless sometimes doing the wrong thing ed out the 31 days of Veganuary len- tempted to remain vegan any longer? ing in itself, but by comparison to behaviour to satisfy our need for he- just feels so right. While we may not til by lentil? On this cold February Hell no. the conversations I’m used to having donism. Little and often, deviance have learned much we didn’t already afternoon I celebrated the end of a with friends around the subject of in- should be a staple of everyone’s diet. know from these experiences, they month of discipline by sitting down I’m proud of myself. I never thought dulgence, it stood out. seem imperative in the moment, and in Fitzbillies and making two of my that I would be able to exercise certainly keep us entertained (or at best friends watch me inhale a cream enough self-control to abstain from I’ve become so accustomed to hear- least occupied) in the aftermath. I tea. I could barely hear the clotted all of my favourite foods for a whole ing friends – most often, but not would go as far as to say that these cream clogging my arteries above the month, but here I am. When it comes exclusively, female – apologising for fuck-ups are endearing. rhapsody being sung in my brain. to desire, I am not at all monkish. I such behaviour. How long has it been am always disproportionately im- since a brownie has been eaten by a WE ALL REVEL IN THE  e waves of ‘clean-eaters’ who gaily For some people, a vegan or gluten pressed when I come across people woman who hasn’t fi rst reproved it as post picture after picture of them- free or 5:2 diet may truly make them who don’t smoke, don’t stay in toxic a ‘naughty’ treat, I wonder. CHAOS THAT WE CREATE selves gazing lovingly at quinoa sal- feel amazing. I found myself scrolling relationships, and for whom a few ads or modelling a spray tan and a through many blogs by such people glasses doesn’t inevitably become the Everyone needs indulgence, and it is FOR OURSELVES full face of make up in the gym are while I was looking for vegan reci- whole bottle. wrong to assume that any deviance doing so to reap likes. In reality, no pes. I take the authors of those blogs from a totalising notion of ‘clean liv- such judgment needs to factor. Be- at their word, and believe that their While I am impressed when such ing’ spells disaster. When any seem- cause of this obsession with having ability to turn a courgette into some- people fl aunt their self-control, I ingly positive lifestyle choice based Placing such restrictions on your our lifestyles affi rmed over social thing resembling pasta really does remain very sceptical of being gov- on abstinence turns into self-fl agella- behaviour really limits the creativ- media, we may feel as though we can emotionally and spiritually move erned by restraint. tion as soon as it is broken, the entire ity with which one can spectacu- only enjoy things that would receive them, but I am not one of those peo- premise of ‘health’ is shaken. When larly fuck up one’s own life. Truth- approval from our followers. Balls to ple. One of the healthiest things I’ve we think about wellbeing we need to fully, we all revel in the chaos that that. heard recently was from a friend in think about pleasure as much as we we create for ourselves. Who hasn’t When embarking upon Veganuary I the pub over the Christmas break. think about balance, and this extends been tempted by the lure of Danger- Too often do we let our virtues tri- was, vainly, hoping that I would shed She described how wonderful her far beyond one’s diet. spoons despite being fully aware that umph over our vices, not recognising the ‘my sense of humour is my most Christmas had been, and rather  e Regal on a Friday exposes the that the two are far closer than they attractive feature’ skin which I have than the obligatory self-deprecating Pleasure in itself is both specifi c and dark recesses of the human condi- may seem. Savour illicitness - I can worn for so long, and be reborn as a ‘too many mince pies… too much unique. What’s more, it’s a complex tion? And who hasn’t achieved the say with some authority that incon- glowing goddess. Sadly this did not alcohol’ comment, she said she had concept - Cindies capitalises on our magic proportion of drunkenness gruity tastes far sweeter than Alpro come to pass, but did it make me gained a bit of weight over the holi- so-called ‘guilty pleasures’ every to proximity and jumped back into Soya. You can have your cake, and think more carefully about how to days and that she thought she looked week. We act against ‘our better bed with an ex? To describe this be- eat it too. BARBARA DIETZSCH/FITZWILLIAM MUSEUM 18 Culture Friday 5th February 2016

THE ALTERNATIVE OSCARS RACE

Will Roberts asks why so many talented BME actors were missing from the Oscar shortlist

Another year, another list of Oscar nominees, another disappointment. But this time people have had enough. Only nominating white actors has put the Acad- emy in serious trouble this year; while last year people only complained about it on Twitter, this time round things have got serious, with many actors and fi lm- makers of all races condemning the Academy. Some even boycotted the event, forcing the Academy to implement changes to its predominantly white, male and, let’s be frank about this, tired and irrelevant voter base.  e frustrating thing for me is that there were plenty of performances out there that could have been nominated. When you look at this year’s fi lms, the idea that the best performances of the year just happened to be by white people simply isn’t true. To remedy this, I’ve picked my favourite BME performances of last year. Hopefully the Oscars will pay more attention next time.

05 01 02 03 04 KITANA RODRIGUEZ & IDRIS ELBA: OSCAR ISAAC: RINKO KIKUCHI: KARIDJA TOURÉ: MYA TAYLOR: BEASTS OF NO NATION EX-MACHINA KUMIKO GIRLHOOD TANGERINE

Two weeks ago, Elba seemed a Oscar Isaac is on the rise. Ever Kumiko, e Treaure Hunter French director Céline Sciam- Tangerine is quite an extraor- dead cert for an Oscar nomi- since the Guatemalan-born is a wonderfully bizarre fi lm. ma has a tendency of picking dinary fi lm. Not only was it nation. With BAFTA, SAG actor appeared in the Coen Directed by David Zellner, the out complete amateurs and the singularly most indescrib- and Golden Globe nomina- brothers’ Inside Llewyn Davis, fi lm follows Kumiko, a woman transforming them into movie able fi lm of 2015, one critic tions under his belt, pretty he hasn’t put a foot wrong, who, after watching the fi lm stars, as seen in previous getting close by dubbing it the much everyone expected his recently seen fl ying planes in Fargo, goes to the frozen tun- masterpieces such as Tomboy “the best transgender revenge name to be called. And yet, by Star Wars: e Force Awak- dra of Minnesota to search for and Water Lillies. Luckily for comedy drama of the year”, some turn of events, he was ens, doing dodgy deals in A a satchel of money that was us, Karidja Touré is no excep- it was shot completely on an left off the list. Perhaps it was Most Violent Year, and win- buried in the fi lm, which, as tion. Don’t be fooled, it may iPhone on the streets of Los to do with Beasts of No Na- ning Golden Globes for his you can guess, doesn’t exist. have been Touré’s fi rst fi lm Angeles. While fi lms shot on tion being released on Netfl ix, performance in HBO’s Show While Kumiko, e Treasure role, but she still has a tough a phone can prove extremely or the tough subject matter Me a Hero. His best perfor- Hunter has a slightly off -kilter job; she’s in pretty much every naff , Tangerine is undoubt- of the fi lm putting voters off . mance of the year, however, premise, at the heart of it is frame of Girlhood, a wonder- edly the most vibrant and Whatever the reason, a huge came in Alex Garland’s Ex a very human performance ful fi lm documenting girl gang electrifying fi lm of the year, oversight it most defi nitely Machina, playing an enig- from Rinko Kikuchi. With- life in urban France. Yet Touré with its two lead actresses was. While Elba dominates matic CEO and inventor of a out Kikuchi, the fi lm would is never intimidated by her screaming, swearing, singing, the screen with his powerful creepily realistic A.I. Isaac’s descend into caricature, or role: at times she’s vulnerable, smoking and strutting their speeches and vicious dia- performance is pure genius would become one of those at others she’s wickedly fi erce, way through 88 minutes of logue, it’s his physicality more because we never quite know well-intentioned, yet unbear- yet she’s always completely pure magic. However, don’t than anything that makes the intentions of his character. ably kooky and torturous believable. She manages to judge Tangerine before you’ve his performance, fl exing the Isaac lets us just close enough indie fi lms. Yet Kikuchi keeps create a character that is com- seen it; while it may look like muscles of both his face and to be interested, yet distances us absorbed; her delicate per- plex, at times diffi cult, and yet a sass fest from beginning to his body to ignite fear in the himself before we fi nd out too formance draws us in, never totally relatable and engag- end, thanks to Rodriguez’s viewer. Elba’s body and facial much. It’s a fi ne line between quite letting us know whether ing, making the experience of and Taylor’s performances, expressions often tell us more intrigue and frustration, that Kumiko is mentally ill or just watching a young girl grow, it’s not only full of attitude than his words, turning his a more inexperienced actor naively optimistic, turning an develop and more importantly but also incredibly moving otherwise cardboard cutout would have failed to negotiate. otherwise astute and quirky change right before our eyes and poignant, plunging you character into something far Yet Isaac, with his trademark fi lm into an extremely touch- into an invigorating experi- head-fi rst into the world of more complex. subtlety, plays it to perfection. ing one. ence. transgender sex workers.

 e Fitzwilliam Musuem, which celebrated its 200th birthday yesterday, has revealed lurid details of the private life of its founder Richard, 7th

Viscount Fitzwilliam of Merrion, including the fact he had a passionate love SCOBLE ROBERT aff air with a dancer from Paris during the French Revolution. New letters THE revealed that Fitwilliam fathered two children with Marie Anne Barnard: ‘Fitz’ and ‘Billy’.

Trumbo, which follows the life of blacklisted American fi m writer Dalton Trumbo, opens in UK cinemas this weekend.  e Oscar-nominated fi lm, WEEK starring Bryan Cranston and Helen Mirrenis, is showing at Cambridge Picturehouse at 2pm and 9pm today.

Annie’s Leibovitz’s exhibition Woman: New Portraits enters its last week in IN London before embarking on the next stage of its world tour.  e photo- graphs feature woman of oustanding achievement, from Amy Schumer to the Queen. CULTURE A Banksy artwork worth £8,000 has been stolen from a fl at rented out by AirBnb in Islington, North London. Last week, Banksy unveiled his latest mural of a young child refugee in the iconic style of Cosette from Les Mis- érables outside the French Embassy. Friday 5th February 2016 Culture 19

track the fi rst time it came on. live show. Garratt holds it all Garratt, on the other hand, together himself, the ultimate

JACK GARRATT just doesn’t sound like anyone 21st-century one-man band: else. Or rather, Garratt sounds vocals, guitar, keys, drum/

LILA 9TH PRODUCTIONS like more other people than bass pad, the whole nine yards. anyone else. Listening to the If people were impressed in title track on Garratt’s debut 2012 when Ed Sheeran fi rst single ‘Water’ is an experi- fronted a concert with nothing ence akin to going to a house but an acoustic guitar and party and gradually noticing a loop pedal (and we were), the entire Hollywood A-list is then Garratt has upped the there. When it opens with a stakes.  is begs the important nice echoey guitar riff , you’re question: can he rock out? fairly confi dent you know what Short answer: yes. For weirdos you’re in for. A minimal hip- like me who would rather see hop drumbeat and subby bass Matt Bellamy power-sliding are the fi rst surprises. But then across centre-stage than David the gospel backing vocals turn Guetta fi ddling behind a bank up, then the Eighties power- of computers, Garratt is your riff , then the piano solo, and man. His performance might suddenly you’re wondering be confi ned to small spaces, how on earth your mate knows but it’s a little typhoon of soul- all these celebrities.  e amaz- ful synth-rock.   ing thing is that Garratt has somehow synthesised all these  at said, will he keep it that ingredients into a consistent way as the venues get bigger? style. He fuses an intensely Or will he recruit a band to POPMASTER modern, digital sound with the keep things ticking over and so old-school groove and lyrical give him a bit more freedom? anuary 2016 will not be on Jack Garratt and why he’s dexterity that so often escapes He seems like the type who remembered as a good changing the face of British pop pop music these days, particu- might not as a point of pride: JACK GARRATT/DANIEL A HARRIS PHOTOGRAPHY JACK GARRATT/DANIEL Jmonth for British pop larly at the more electronic only time will tell. It’s too early music. However, those feeling end. for wild predictions of success, shell-shocked at the loss of but Jack Garratt is certainly one of contemporary music’s No surprise that in recent surprising. He is original not greatest innovators might be interviews he’s listed Stevie because he owes nothing to feeling a bit better by the end Years Wonder and Tom Waits as what has come before, but of February. February 19th and some of his most signifi cant because of the diversity of his sees the release of Jack Gar- First, Years put infl uences. What’s more, his debts. He is the only inhabitant ratt’s debut album Phase, and a confes- out some music is infectiously catchy. of the intersection of a Venn fi ve days later he’ll be onstage sion: I am not great synth pop, ‘Worry’ has a chorus refrain diagram linking Tom Waits, at the Brit Awards Ceremony interested by a lot of modern but I couldn’t tell you what that is harder to get out of Ed Sheeran, AlunaGeorge receiving the Critics’ Choice pop music. I know I am in the puts them ahead of M83 or your system than a January and Bastille. He’ll combine award, whose previous win- minority, I know I am a fossil. I Passion Pit. Catfi sh and the cold.  is distances Garratt the strange and the familiar in ners include James Bay and appreciate the technical ability Bottlemen’s frenetic indie rock in an important way from interesting ways. If, like me, Adele. Needless to say one and hard work of everyone in is really good, but I’ve still got probably his closest musical you had stopped paying atten- award maketh not a Bowie- the charts, I just don’t like their all my Bloc Party/ e Kooks relative, James Blake. Garratt tion to British pop music, now successor. But for the fi rst time music very much. Garratt ex- albums so I probably won’t buy is as inventive and downright might be a good time to start in a while British pop has pro- cites even me, and a compari- theirs. I can’t be the only one bizarre, but feels signifi - again. MAGNOLIA PICTURES duced a sound that confuses son with the other nominees at who thought ‘Take Me Home’ cantly more accessible. All this and excites in equal measure. the Brit Awards explains why. by Jess Glynne was an Adele makes for a very particular ANNA’S CULINARY CORNER

ack in my early school I also have a wholehearted emerge from the fridge as pure up-to-the-minute breakfast fear. A great deal of very ad- days, I had a teacher admiration for the religiosity perfection in the morning. choice. I hid in the corner with vanced photoshopping would Bwho would repeatedly with which a friend of mine Initially, I cringed: what could my sorry bowl of porridge-to- have been needed to make my drill into our obnoxious ten- starts his day with a fresh ba- be worse than cold porridge be so as to avoid my neighbour porridge blog material, but I year-old heads that breakfast guette and four diff erent types in the darkness of January in witnessing my fall from grace. braved a taste. And soon it was was by far the most important of cheese (a French student, a room suff ering from your all gone (eaten up, not in the meal of the day. How – and obviously). college’s decision to stop Understandably, the next bin). I had found an unlikely why – she managed to fi t this global warming by saving on morning I did not crawl out new breakfast best friend. I into every and any subject Sadly, though, neither my heating? Yet, as with all trends, of bed full of anticipation, as bring to you, Gets-You-Out-of- class, I still don’t know. Of clothing size nor purse can my resistance eventually failed intended, but rather full of Bed Banana Overnight Oats. course, most of this was lost aff ord any of these options and I found myself googling on my young, cheese-on-toast- as a regular alternative to an recipes for the perfect por- fuelled mind; but my wiser, alarm clock. Now, one of my ridge. It turns out that you can

MIRIAM older student self has found a teacher’s recurrent breakfast have pretty much anything in grain of truth here. topics involved the superior- porridge form: carrot cake, ity of porridge over all other peanut butter, and brownies It’s not that I have converted breakfast foods. I’m a great are all featured in food blogs BANANA into a great believer of the lover of porridge, but I simply dedicated to oats. However, for nutritional values of a proper don’t have the time – read: once, I got my sugar addiction breakfast and all the keep- self-discipline – to be Nigella under control, and settled for OVERNIGHT full-and-work-effi ciently until on a daily basis and rise before a healthy fruity recipe that I lunchtime nonsense. Rather, dawn to boil my oats to perfec- adapted to a Sainsbury’s and OATS I’ve discovered that there is tion. For a while I survived off budget friendly version. nothing like the promise of a the microwaveable variety, but yummy breakfast to get me having gone through diff erent Shopping for my porridge For a big bowlful, you will need: out of bed instead of hitting makes resembling everything ingredients made me feel snooze once again. from water to glue – not so more trendy and hip, just like One banana much actual porridge, funnily the food I was about to make, 1/3 cups oats Cambridge has all the options enough – I gave up on the than I have ever felt before on 1/3 cups Greek yoghurt for a brilliant start to the day. queen of proper breakfasts. a Sainsbury’s run.  ere I was, 1/3 cups soya milk I’ve been told that the eggy reaching for soya milk instead bread with maple syrup and  is was until I started hearing of the standard semi-skimmed, Mash up the banana, and mix in all the remaining ingredients. bacon at Michaelhouse Café whispers of the new vogue, placing it into my basket to is well worth forking out that is – overnight oats. It was keep my oh-look-at-my-cool- Cover up and leave in the fridge overnight. £5.75 for. I enjoy the touristy not long before all the trendy food Greek yoghurt company. vibe at  e Copper Kettle and hip food bloggers were  e high was not to last, how- For extra taste and aesthetic appeal, in the morning top your on King’s Parade, and I love posting artsy, vintage-fi ltered ever: back in my gyp room, the porridge with blueberries, raspberries, maple syrup, pecans, or people-watching down the shots of their equally trendy mix of oats, yoghurt and soya granola–basically anything that takes your fancy! For the visual street at Nero’s with an apricot and hip creations they had put milk was rapidly turning into, side of things, using a pretty bowl or a glass jar will guarantee croissant and a hot chocolate together the night before in well, something resembling you a much more bloggable breakfast than my initial attempt. complete with whipped cream. a matter of minutes, ready to a toilet in Life rather than an LONG ROAD, CAMBRIDGE CB2

‘A manifesto for modern living...’

FORM LIGHT SHARED FOLLOWS AND DETAILS EFFICIENCY QUALITY AMENITIES SPACE FUNCTION SPACE

Form follows function at Halo, with a stunningly Halo is a visually engaging mix of light and stylish collection of 1 & 2 bedroom apartments spacious apartments and houses located on and 3 bedroom homes. Contemporary in design Long Road in Cambridge. Perfectly positioned for and inished to a luxury speciication with the City living without the hustle and bustle, Halo is open look and feel of space, combined with within easy reach of Cambridge City Centre, The open plan living and high ceilings, means Halo M11, Biomedical Campus and some of the best forms to your lifestyle. colleges and schools in the area.

Talk to us today to discover a range of incentives to help get you moving to Halo!

1 & 2 BEDROOM APARTMENTS PRICED FROM £475,000 Image includes optional upgrades at additional cost.

3 BEDROOM HOUSES, PERFECT FOR SHARING WITH FRIENDS, AVAILABLE FROM £660,000

[email protected] Selling Agents – Savills: 01223 347175 Marketing Suite open daily 10am – 5pm 132-134 Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 8PA WWW.CRESTNICHOLSON.COM/HALO 01223 656701

Show Home photography. Pricing correct at time of going to press. HMC TEACHER TRAINING:

A DIRECT ROUTE INTO • Train in an HMC independent secondary school THE TEACHING • Earn a salary while training to teach • Follow a PGCE course to gain Qualiied Teacher Status

PROFESSION • Register your interest and sign-up for vacancy updates at www.hmcteachertraining.org.uk

the varsity cryptic crossword New Career! Set by Glueball Make Their Future—Your Future Across 7. Speak for zero interest (5) www.gov.uk/government/news/your-future-their future-new teacher-recruitment-campaign 8. Sense I’m becoming somebody’s enemy (7) 10. Ring piece, en prise Thinking of training to unclear (7) 11. Tasty fungus, tomato Teach? in sandwich (5) 12. Music making gold box for artist (9) Then come along to a 14. Damaged car in bent shape (3) Teacher Taster Day 15. Islanders ring vocal amateur (3) th th th th th 16. Distress bird, sweep Friday 5 February , 4 March, 6 May, 10 June or 8 July into trap (9) 18. A tsar from the East 9.00am –3.30pm follows Jah (5) 20. Cromwell cooked a At The Buckingham Partnership turnip (7) 22. Important, like a genus member (7) SCITT, Royal Lain School, Chandos Road, 23. Long note’s reverb, produced with no Buckingham, MK18 1AX resistance (5) 13. European Commission still happy (8) 14. Nervously concerned about start of social Our friendly team will discuss with you how you can train to teach in both Primary and Secondary . Down media (8) How to apply and prepare for interviews and how our programme is tailored for your needs. 1. Business mistakenly sold for governing body 17. Gore – I look wan? (6) Why don’t you visit us to see how your passion to help children and support their future can become your (5,2,5) 19. Spots running back and forth (4) 2. Mother character plays Latin music (8) Future too! 21. Jests, in stitches (4) 3. Egotistical internet phenomenon (4) E-mail: [email protected] / [email protected] 4. United Nations’ ‘peace’ ends in turmoil (6) 5. Angry at regime, leave country (8) Congratulations to Jake Choules for submitting the 6. Goddess is repetitive (4) fi rst correct answers to the crossword in Issue 803. to book a place or follow us on Twiter:@bpscit 9. Like a tam o’ shanter – incredibly hot! (6,6) Please submit answers to [email protected]. 22 Features Friday 5th February 2016

01 04 DRINK STAY CALLUM HALE-THOMSON Caff eine addicts will par- We stayed in the ticularly enjoy Stockholm.  e neighbourhood of Sofo Swedes takes coff ee breaks in Soldermalm – often immensely seriously: fi k a is compared to Shoreditch the term given to a leisurely for its myriad of vintage pause in the working day for shops, edgy cafes and coff ee and sandwiches (more mildly pretentious hipster fi ka needed in Cambridge, vibes. Most of its streets, methinks). Our favourite was however, are peaceful and IlCaff e, a shudderingly cool residential, and within coff ee house-cum-gallery-cum- walking distance of pretty fl orist, serving devilishly strong much everything. We fl at whites and fl uff y cinnamon found Air BnB to be the buns. best value option.

  02 03 SEE EAT ESCAPE FROM Situated right on the waterfront in an Art  e wonderful Scan-

Nouveau complex, Photografi ska is one of the dinavian tradition of DON MCCULLOUGH n December largest contemporary photography galleries smorgasbord means my friends CAMBRIDGE in Europe. We knocked back some strong that many restau- Iand I made an coff ee and saw it all: unforgiving celebrity rants off er you free uninformed, spon- three days in Stockholm portraits from Martin Schoeller’s Up Close, range of an impres- taneous decision to followed by the glossy Seventies opulence of sive buff et spread at go on a mini-break to Guy Bourdin’s Image Maker, startlingly juxta- a reasonable fi xed Stockholm. Common posed against Magnus Wennman’s haunting price – the best op- sense should have fore- images of young Syrian refugees in Where tion for those with warned that December the Children Sleep. In the city’s modern art tight budgets and big in Scandinavia consists of gallery, Moderna Museet, we fell in love with appetites. bitterly cold days and very Danish visual artist Olafur Eliasson, who long nights. But, after mistak- famously installed a sun in the Tate’s turbine Having nearly the ing the 2pm sunset for a solar eclipse hall in 2003. His latest interactive exhibition highest rate of veg- on our fi rst day, we resolved to spend our Reality Machines was full of vibrant synthetic etarianism in Europe, afternoons immersed in Stockholm’s indoor delights, namely its fantastic art galleries colours, squirting water and convex mirrors - there is an excep- and coff ee houses.  e ‘Venice of the North’, the Swedish capital sprawls over clusters baffl ingly brilliant. Il Magasin III was another tional standard of of islands, remaining in constant visual dialogue with the glassy waters of the Baltic highlight: a contemporary gallery housed in a plant-based cuisine, Sea. My preconception of Swedish culture had been a hazy, ignorant conglomeration converted shipping warehouse. From the out- as well as plenty of of Abba and Ikea, but the reality was infi nitely classier: minimalist, ergonomic interiors side unassuming and accessed via a discreet traditional swish fare and charming Swedes with a sense of style to match. Far from pervading the place with industrial lift, entrance is free to students and including smoked a kind of cold sterility, such insidious elegance makes Stockholm, not unlike Berlin, a the exhibitions showcase the avant-garde of fi sh, rye bread, and decidedly modern city, teeming with youth, innovation and cutting-edge creatives. Swedish and international contemporary art. meatballs (yum). HOW TO PRETEND TO BE A PRINCE

Hamish Ungless suggests invoking the powers of alcohol and a bad Swiss accent

ow, this is the story all about that people at Cam- awkwardly by the bar I was gawped at, whispered about, how I became the fresh(ers) bridge do actually (come on, who put and introduced to more people. And N prince of Cambridge. have fun and can be Fun on the playl- no one suspected anything – a chill- down to earth (al- ist?) when another ing indictment of people’s varying Alcohol is a social lubricant. But beit in the grandeur awkward group of states of inebriation.  e fascination who might have known it could even of the world’s oldest proto-friends shim- with minor European royalty (or suffi ciently lubricate the class system debating society); a mied over. We all did even major national royalty) is some- to allow the ascent of a mere fresher quantity of comple- the obligatory nod of thing I’ve never really understood. to royal status? It was the fi rst week- mentary alcohol so acknowledgement, In any case, the prospect of meeting end of Freshers’ Week – we were still great that there was before moving onto a prince clearly fl oats certain boats, naive to the dark truth that “week” the potential, with actual conversation. because before long a veritable salon was not a term to be taken literally some perseverance, “So, what are your had formed around us. People spoke – and the foetal entity that was my to get your money names?” Cue ridicu- to me and were actually interested still-forming friendship group were back on the single lous pseudonyms – I in what I had to say. All types “just living out every possible stereotype greatest expense have no idea why – wanted a word”. I was even accosted at the Union Freshers’ Ball. Free incurred by freshers and equally ridicu- by a Marxist. I was introduced to champers was quaff ed – free, here, all term. lous giggling. As an some Old Wellingtonians who had taken to mean £185 (special discount aside, I just want to been at school with a Habsburg prin- membership) – and dozens of With the oysters say how glad I am cess, and others wanted a piece of oysters lost their squelchy, innocent having set the regal to be at Cambridge, me too. I was in demand. It was dire. little lives to my newly ‘vegetarian’ atmosphere of the where everyone has friend and me – “Wait, so, are you night, and the booze such sophisticated Moral: If you want to be admired saying oysters aren’t vegetables?” soliciting rather senses of humour. and surrounded by people who *cue confused/concerned looks from more scintillat- think that titles and breeding are shell-shucker*. ing conversation Continuing down fundamental prerequisites to a last- than the standard this ‘hilarious’ ing friendship, by all means do as  e ball was exactly what we belea- freshers’ fare of “Are BEN BROWN conversational jaunt, I did. If, however, you’re a normal guered freshers needed: music that you northern or our characters were functioning human being and actu- wasn’t tragic, yet generic enough southern?’/’Why would anyone in- drunk that the whisky/wine combo, realised, with back-stories more and ally want to have fun on a night out, to facilitate movements that might, tentionally study Classics?” etc. etc., forgiving as such concoctions can more elaborate. Several whisky cokes don’t. Tennyson pretty much hit the superfi cially, be mistaken for danc- we hit the D-fl oor.  e alcohol really be, merely allowed us to wallow (well-bred specimen that I am) and a nail on the head: “Kind hearts are ing and singing (so as to conserve is key here, without which the caper in blissful ignorance of the actual dodgy, Mitteleuropa-ish accent later more than coronets, and simple faith the meticulously crafted façade of (if you can call it that) could never convincingness of our hilarious [read and Hans, Crown Prince of Swit- than Norman blood”. being a normal person); photo op- have been pulled off . In fact, I’m not “sad”] japes. zerland, was born. As it transpires, portunities to make school friends even sure whether we did “pull it off ” Switzerland doesn’t have a monar- green with envy and demonstrate or whether we were just so blind- At one point we were all standing chy. Nor has it ever. Nevertheless, But then, didn’t he become a baron? Friday 5th February 2016 Features 23 CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY

Shefali Kharabanda on why sorting out a summer internship isn’t the be all and end all

don’t know why, but for some rea- And you might befriend a Very son when you get to your second Important Successful Person who will Iyear of uni people start acting provide you in future with employ- like it’s your penultimate year. It’s so ment so you can have a house, a car, inconsiderate. e word ‘internship’ and a personalised garden gnome. crops up too often in conversation. You never know when it’s going to But I don’t think choosing not to rear its ugly, responsible head. For scour out the perfect internship is me, it’s like marmite: you either hate necessarily irresponsible, or a rejec- it or you really hate it. I understand tion of future success. We are young. that there are benefi ts. Maybe you We are so young. Now more than follow someone impeccably dressed ever is the time to while away the around for a week and do more than summertime. I don’t think we have to, learn exactly how much soy milk to or will, leave this place as confi dent put into their coff ee. adults with fully formed opinions about everything we want, and I can Okay, so maybe my perception of an understand the desire to minimise intern has been somewhat infl uenced the big scary openness of the world by fi ctional characters portrayed by outside of inter-collegiate football Anne Hathaway. I get it, there are matches and labelled staircases. And benefi ts. ere must be. You get to maybe for some people internships explore diff erent career options, and are the right way to learn more about later, when you realise doing that was themselves and what they want to a complete waste of a month, you can do. But learning more about yourself, kick back and reject with the sweet, EMMA WOOD what you value, what you want to sweet taste of making an ‘informed protect, and how you are going to do decision’ in your mouth. Oh, also, you that, does not have to be about struc- might fi nd out exactly what you want tured, planned work experiences. to do, I guess. We have time to wander.

A VEGGIE MONTH OR A VEGGIE LIFE?

Finnoula Taylor recounts her experience of meat-free January

o it’s safe to say I’ve joined the tweets, articles on climate change, or veggie friends saw me as venturing to living off carrots and cheese toast- dancy as a cheese-eating vegetarian masses entering the world of videos of chicks crushed to death, all the dark-side, one fi lled with smug- ies. Forced to familiarise myself with became abundantly clear. S Vegeanuary, Janetarian, or worming their way into your guilt- ness and hypocrisy. My mum’s fi rst the infamous ‘pulses’, I now keep a however you want to put it: I’ve gone ridden mind. We’re a product of this reaction: “Oh, Finny, why? You’re not stash of said quinoa and lentils up my What I do know is that there is an veggie for a month. at’s full blown, age of ‘Cultural Enlightenment’, where becoming one of those smelly politi- sleeve, ready to hurl into a pot of boil- explorative fun behind the change, by the way, none of this pescetarian we can see the impact of our actions cal vegetarians?” Smelly and political? ing water with vegetable stock cubes, and a weird sense of solidarity with stuff . Why care about such an article, on the planet, and so easily voice our It felt like my tombstone had already yelling “pulses for all”, at the expense other veggie-eaters. And like every you might ask? Perhaps the same opinions. You can’t touch a cup of soy been written and soon enough it be- of angry and indignant looks from my social movement, it just takes the fi rst reason I started this escapade in the milk without fl ashes of the Amazon came a self-fulfi lling prophecy. Maybe host and or guests. few dominoes to fall before the others fi rst place; it’s happening rainforest burning. it was the tofu or Quorn chicken, but come down too. If every- everywhere. I prepared the next time an old friend saw me I have reached the end one reading this went myself to smugly I’m ashamed to she remarked on how I smelt like “our of my month as a veggie for a month, declare my veg- admit it, but not school cafeteria’s tomato soup”. vegetarian and I maybe we’d see a etarianism on the even these were still feel like a diff erence. Your fi rst of January, enough to As for the political side, as much as I bit of a cynic change might only to fi nd convince me. tried to resist, I felt myself succumb- inside, not just cause others that fi ve other Instead, what ing to the preaching vegetarian. Even because my to change. friends had really pushed as I write this article I’m researching new ‘home e age-old already done me over the new, seductive material on depleting smell’ is that argument: it’s so before vegetarian fi sh stocks and deforestation. e of garlic and in our ‘nature’ me. At fi rst I edge was an change from a meat-heavy diet to a tomato soup, to eat meat, is was disap- FINNOULA TAYLOR unfortunate leafy-green one certainly felt like a but because understand- pointed in my run-in with shock to the system. As someone who I’ve always able. I like the apparent lack a vein-fi lled takes part in a variety of sports, I was questioned ‘sabre-tooth of creativity in corned beef particularly concerned for my energy the numbers tiger-killing my chosen New sandwich. It’s no levels. And for the fi rst few days I did game behind it. hominin’ as much Year’s resolution, doubt I am a meat- feel hungry, tired and snappy, while Can one person’s as the next. But in but eventually I began lover and always swore dreaming of succulent pieces of pork choice really make a reality, we in Britain to see the slow social con- I would never turn to the (though I blame the doubled intake diff erence? How did my are more the ‘killing hours formity as a far more interesting earthy-coloured side. But as I vi- of cheese for that). Not to mention awkward rejection of the family in the offi ce’ type hominin. From phenomenon. cariously chewed on the little rubbery that I was heckled with random bouts friend’s Sunday roast really help the blubber-based diets to the tuber-diets vein, I felt my meat-eating days come of the shits. As weeks progressed, planet? e truth is, no one really of the Pacifi c, the ‘natural’ diet of the Take a moment to think about the crashing down, every bit of gristle, I started to see light patches in my knows the individual eff ect. And human varies and adapts across the number of vegetarians you knew fi ve every crushed chick, every acre of dark, broccoli-fi lled mind. Energy lev- there always seems to be more to do. world. I can see that I’m becoming years ago, a number you know now. Amazon rainforest, every guilty els rose. My dire culinary skills were is whole month I’ve been told that my own worst nightmare: a preach- It might be a change in the age or size McDonald’s. I was fi nished. Suffi ce it fi t only for DepressingMeals.com. But to really help the planet I should go ing vegetarian. But I’m going to stick of a social group, or it might just be to say, reactions to my new vegetarian vegetarianism and bad cooks don’t vegan, and after watching the infa- with it, and I beseech thee – join me! the subtle impact of Facebook posts, mantra were not fully positive. Non- go well together, unless you’re happy mous Cowspiracy, my own redun- It feels great. 24 Fashion Friday 5th February 2016

sometimes hourly depending on that you enjoy doing, is enough. Al- though, even the most body positive people in the world cannot deny the creeping in of negative feelings about the way they look, or what size they wear, when they see the so-called ‘ideal’ body image. For men, this is muscly and toned.

FOR WOMEN, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THIS ‘IDEAL’ IMAGE IS SIMPLY SKIN AND BONES

CARMAKOMA

 ink washboard abs, bulging biceps, and legs of steel. For women, more often than not, this ‘ideal’ image is simply skin and bones. And who   are the worst culprits for project- ing this ideation?  e answer is straightforward, and right , like many before our eyes: high-street other young BREAKING shops. Ipeople before me, have Many a clothing shop has inevitably felt THE RULES been struck by the perils of PORTLAND FASHION the pressures to negative social media in recent look a certain stepping through the minefi eld of years, as customers have way, fi t into a posted images of the rake-thin certain dress size, body image discussions doesn’t plastic clothing models, as well and conform to have to be terrifying as the apparently ‘plus-size’ ones, a specifi c image which come in at a size 10. When of body perfection the average women’s dress size in which, quite frankly, the UK is currently a size 14, this more often than not labelling of size 10 as ‘plus-size’ is not was bloody impossible to only ironic, but also disgusting. What achieve. Yet, as things begin kind of image does that force upon to change in the world of fashion, young shoppers? something is changing in the minds of young people as well. Whenever I For many reasons, this is probably log onto Facebook, there are a myriad when they have access to online linked to the sudden surge in body of images relating to body positivity, media etc., with images of how they positivity companies and social articles popping up containing man- should look, what they should be media accounts in recent years. tras to keep fi t for strength, not to be wearing, what they should be eating, From a clothing brand for women skinny. It’s empowering and certainly and what exercise they should be called ‘Healthy is the new Skinny’, ticks all the boxes when it comes to doing. At times it is too confusing to to plus-size models such as Tess getting a confi dence kick. But there try and fi gure out which diet is best, Holliday, the rules are beginning to still are ways that shops, designers, or which training regime will garner be broken. No longer are the glossy and the media could project a better the right results, or which new- pages of magazines kept only for the sense of healthy body image. It’s as if fangled celebrity lifestyle is the one to top supermodels, but now women it is a never-ending battle against a emulate. and men with real bodies are gracing perceived state of bodily perfection, the pages, showing the world that, which is not the reality for most of  ere are so many avenues to explore, while it’s alright to be skinny, it’s also the population. Both men and women that sometimes it is easy to forget that acceptable to be you – whatever size are bombarded on a daily basis, just eating right, and fi nding exercise that may be. TESS HOLLIDAY Empowering self-love or encouraging obesity? Emily Fishman investigates

old, big, and proud; three lifestyle’. Of course, obesity does obesity related illnesses, we should words which describe Tess come with a range of risks: heart question our defi nition of what con- BHolliday’s presence. Recently disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, stitutes a healthy body, what even is there has been a seismic shift in liver disease, and those suff ering ‘normal’, when the preferred body conventional modelling, and Tess’s from obesity are more likely to type has been and continues to be new face is more than just a breath suff er from depression. Sure, many in constant fl ux. But with mounting of fresh air into the soulless size other models and celebrities who pressure to look a certain way and 0, stick thin and 6ft tall repressive are not a size 22 engage in activities be a certain shape, society fails to modelling industry. But Tess has which are not considered ‘healthy’. recognise our achievements, our aroused controversy; at size 22, this Drinking, smoking, and stress also ambitions, our dreams. Instead, we is a quantum leap for the modelling come with added risks, yet their are classifi ed by our body image; the world, where plus size is anything lifestyles are rarely questioned and labelling of ‘plus size’ perpetuates after a size 8/10. only in extreme cases are bought to this attitude. Tess isn’t glorifying attention. ‘fat’ or encouraging obesity – blame One of the problems facing Tess is, the fast food takeouts, global brand- despite her gorgeous style and edgy Yet are Tess’s critics genuinely ing, sugary drinks and our inactive tattoos, society has a problem with concerned for her health? Indeed lifestyles for the destruction of our ‘fat’. We associate fat in a purely there are many inherent prejudices health. Tess is simply making a negative sense; you are lazy, worth- which our society has against body point – a big point. less, selfi sh, and greedy. More im- image, we consider anything not portantly the controversy surround- classed as ‘normal’ to be abnormal  at before anyone else can love Models Edison Rragami Photography Beth Cloughton ing Tess has been more a campaign therefore unhealthy. Whilst Tess’s you, you must learn to love and Charlotte Grace against her glorifying an ‘unhealthy size does put her at greater risk of respect yourself. Lauren Brown Richelle George Friday 5th February 2016 Fashion 25 BANNING LOW-BMI MODELS

...a necessary measure? Asks Katherine Smith

he idea of preventing un- mass and density, incorrectly placing of the food I ate. Despite what was healthily underweight models them in the ‘overweight’ category, implied by my BMI, I was never un- Tfrom working in the fashion when, in fact, they could be in excel- healthy or malnourished. It therefore industry is gaining momentum lent physical condition. BMI is a seems inappropriate to use BMI to throughout the most important fl awed measure of ‘healthiness’ and decide whether or not to allow young fashion hubs of the world. Italy therefore, perhaps a much better ap- models to work; especially in a time demands health certifi cates from proach would be to consider a greater full of opportunity, when they could models working at catwalk shows in range of health indicators rather than be just starting their careers. Surely, Milan, and Spain already bars models just one which uses average popula- the only way to justify this decision below a certain BMI from partaking tion values. would be to impose the same restric- in Madrid fashion shows. tions on overweight models, which is Furthermore, it seems desperately likely to be unpopular, given the de- France has recently passed new unfair that in the current state of af- mographic of the majority of Western legislation which imposes heavy fairs, models classed as underweight consumers. fi nes of up to £55,000 on modelling according to BMI face work restric- agencies that employ supposedly tions, while plus size models do not. Game-changing decisions, such as malnourished models with very low Currently this is true even if the plus those recently made in France, do BMI values. Although the new laws size model in question happens to indeed have the potential to start are still yet to defi ne the exact value fall into the overweight, or even the combatting the high levels of anorexia of BMI under which the penalties will obese categories. If we are to ban found in and around the fashion be applied, it is likely to be between models that have unhealthily low BMI industry. It would be nice to see any 16 and 18. values from working, then surely, money taken in the form of fi nes by the same logic, we should also be from large agencies translated into Despite receiving much criticism in banning models with unhealthily high improved healthcare and support the past, BMI is still widely used as BMIs, not encouraging them in the for those suff ering from body-image a reliable indicator of human health. name of ‘body positivity’. related mental illnesses. It is important, however, to consider the limitations of BMI when making Models are often scouted when they However, using BMI as the sole a decision as important as preventing are very young and still growing, up measure to determine whether a a person from working, especially in to the ages of 18 and 19 (the average model is healthy enough to work in fashion, which may be the aspiration age females and males, respectively, the industry, whether over or under- of many young people. For example, stop growing). At that age, my own weight, seems to be extremely risky as BMI often falls fl at when calculated BMI was 17, no matter how much or a strategy. for a tall person with high muscle how little I exercised and regardless

Alice Chilcott examines changes in attitudes towards body image KATDISH A BRIEF HISTORY OF ‘THE PERFECT WOMAN’

arbie’s makeover might seem women. ‘Normal’ Barbie - if ‘normal’ nings of a body image backlash. In revolutionary, but there is isn’t a slightly dangerous adjective to the last few years, campaigns like Bnothing new about shifts in slap onto a hyper-sexualised toy - has ‘ is Girl Can’ have celebrated all body image ideals. roughout histo- become progressively slimmer over body types, emphasising not only ry, the image of the ‘perfect’ woman her lifetime. their beauty, but also their strength has been shaped by her role in soci- and endurance. Even as customers ety. For the Victorians, who believed However, the most major shift in the criticised Topshop’s unrealistically that physical appetite was linked to 20th-century was that the consumer slender mannequins, and Urban sexual desire, a tiny, corsetted waist market, for the fi rst time, took con- Outfi tters was slammed by the eat- was a sign of a woman’s chastity and trol of women’s self-image. Western ing disorder community for selling self-control. Meanwhile, wide hips women rarely shaved until a 1915 a t-shirt with the slogan “Eat Less”, and a full bust denoted fertility. advertisement in Harper’s Bazaar consumer surveys discovered that promoted the removal of “objection- women are more likely to spend Today, the corset is largely seen as a able” underarm hair. By the 1970s, money when retailers present symbol of patriarchal oppression. But the diet was marketed as the yellow- them with a body ideal which more one paradox of the rise of Feminism brick road to the woman you’ve closely refl ects their own. Mattel, is that it led to body image trends always wanted to be. e invention the company which makes Barbie, which are, for the majority of women, of airbrushing ensured our continued present their new model, ‘Average harder to achieve than the hourglass thralldom by placing the objective Barbie’, as a response to the evolution model they replaced. A rejection tantalisingly and eternally out of of American beauty ideals. A cynical of the ‘traditional’ feminine roles reach. Naomi Wolf, in her wonderful translation of this might be that Mat- produced an emphasis on slender- book e Beauty Myth, sums it up tel have realised that there is profi t to ness and muscularity over voluptu- perfectly: “Somehow, somewhere, be made out of making women feel ousness. Women moved closer to the someone must have fi gured out that good about themselves. image of the men whose world they [women] will buy more things if they inhabited for the fi rst time. However, are kept in the self-hating, ever- is is not to say that body image this model is becoming more and failing, hungry and sexually insecure issues are disappearing. But the 21st- more extreme, despite the fact that state of being aspiring ‘beauties’.” century is at last giving us a platform the slim-hipped, long-legged ideal is to fi ght against them, and we ought natural to only around 4 per cent of But we might be seeing the begin- to seize it with both hands. 26 eatre Friday 5th February 2016

Eleanor Costello gets a glimpse behind the scenes of the much-anticipated Marlowe Society production at the Cambridge Arts eatre JOHANNES HJORTH

MEASURE FOR MEASURE

n my head, it looks and feels gets slung in prison for impregnating to command that huge auditorium. frowns, deep in concentration. think that there is a straightforward like a really good TV-thriller. his fi ancée. And this man’s sister is a But just being in the Arts eatre answer. We begin in a place that is a “IPeople go on and on about it nun. And she straight away goes to is amazing, because this is a profes- “Mercy”, Mark eventually says, softly. city falling apart, and it’s because a being a ‘problem play’ – I don’t even the dangerous ruler, and the danger- sional production with a profes- “Mercy, mercy, mercy.” ere is a ruler, the Duke, sees everyone else’s know what that is. at’s a made-up ous ruler off ers her a deal.” I gaze at sional team. Simon Kenny, who is our long pause, where I begin to wonder point of view too much and conse- thing.” Tom, spellbound. “It’s a movie pitch!” designer, is brilliant; he can usually be if that’s all that he’s going to say. en quently never enforces justice of any he concludes. found at e National or e Globe. he goes on: “He’s the protagonist, the kind. And then you switch to a ruler Tom Littler is the profes- “I think I’ve seen that fi lm!” And Tom knows his Shakespeare hero; he saves the day, but the way who enforces justice at the cost of sional director of Shake- Robbie laughs. really well, so he has brought an ele- that he achieves it is really question- everything else, and the city’s a mess speare’s Measure for ment of brilliance to the production. able. at’s the great thing about the in a diff erent way, and still it doesn’t Measure, e Mar- Tom nods. “He’s so Well, I’m saying this with him in the play; there’s so much malleability and actually make the city any better. And lowe Society’s modern, Shake- room,” Robbie grins sheepishly, as fl exibility, and it raises a lot of moral then you have a woman, Isabella, who annual produc- speare, he’s so he looks at Tom. I ask Tom how he and ethical questions about the Duke has every reason to, with full justice, tion at the of our time. In cast the actors. “We were doing a fair and his conduct. He’s realising that if punish Angelo – but she doesn’t. She Cambridge Shakespeare’s bit of converting of the characters’ you are going to be a leader or a poli- extends an act of mercy, even though Arts eatre. own time genders, which meant that it was tician, it’s about having this balance the ‘just’ thing to do would be to pun- We’re sat they under- quite open. We were prepared to be of mercy.” ish him. We see justice and mercy put around a stood it, but persuaded by people coming in, and into confl ict again and again, when table in the then Puritans surprised by people, so there were Tom sits thoughtfully, mulling over the ‘just’ thing and the ‘merciful’ thing penthouse got hold, and quite a lot of characters that we had this. We all look at him expectantly. are not necessarily the same.” rehearsal obviously it both men and women auditioning He makes us wait for a few seconds space at the is the Puri- for.” Tom stabs his salad nonchalantly before he answers. “I’m uncomfort- Robbie agrees enthusiastically. “You theatre – a tans who get a with a fork. I ask him how comfort- able with the idea of a message from defi nitely walk out with lots of ques- huge, airy room slam-dunking in able he feels with gender-swapping Shakespeare”, he says. “I don’t know if tions, thinking ‘what would I have with lots of win- the play. So from parts and playing with Shakespeare’s he thinks in those terms. He prob- done if I had to deal with that?’” I ask dows, littered with 1640 onwards it wasn’t script. “ ere’s a big push for female lematises things, complicates things, Robbie about his favourite moment of chairs and scripts. Robbie shown, it was out of the roles at the moment and it’s really throws up questions, takes stuff that the play. “I’m quite jealous of all the Taylor Hunt, the assistant di- rep for nearly 300 years. en exciting. It’s easier with Shakespeare you think you are really comfortable characters who get to romp around rector, and Mark Milligan, who plays when it was fi nally shown on stage than some other playwrights because with and throws it around, disrupts being prostitutes and brothel owners. the Duke, are sat with us. Initially again it had to be rewritten and they you have a certain fl exibility; we can the pattern of your thinking – in ex- In our version we have a female pimp both very chatty, Robbie in particular put songs in it, because they just pick a world in which it makes perfect actly the areas Mark has highlighted. and male prostitutes, so we’re not is hard to ignore; he greeted me in the couldn’t deal with it. It seems to me sense for Escalus, as an authority I think the repression thing is really being super gendered. It’s just a free- foyer with a loud to be completely of our time, with our fi gure, to become a woman.” Tom interesting. Somewhere in the middle for-all of sexual deviants. A particular “Eleanor, at last! I’ve just been assault- obsession with the self and our wor- clarifi es with relish that this produc- between being repressed and doing favourite moment involves Pompey, ing several young women hoping that ries about how to behave.” tion has six male actors and seven whatever you want to do is a middle who is a pimp played by Aoife Ken- they were you!” But as soon as Tom female actors. path, where you are healthy but also nan. She is arrested, and she manages entered the room, Robbie and Mark It’s fascinating to hear Tom speak you’re not hurting people. Because to manipulate the executioner so that became much quieter, always watch- about the play, because I can hear Tom is fi ercely opinionated on adapt- Angelo swings from someone who they’re best friends and drinking bud- ing him out of the corner of their that his language and his ideas have ing Shakespeare for a modern audi- is completely repressed to someone dies – and she does a little seducing eyes. Tom continues: completely seeped into Mark and ence: “Occasionally I’ve swapped out whose ‘id’, to put it in Freud- with a pencil,” Robbie laughs Robbie’s perceptions of the play. Mark a word I don’t think anybody under- ian terms, takes over, wickedly. “I don’t think that Shakespeare is is a very experienced actor, and I’ve stands for a word that I think people which makes him a remotely worried about tragedy and seen him in several student produc- do understand. I always keep it within very dangerous “Gosh, don’t give comedy. is is a drama, a thriller. tions in Cambridge, shifting each the vocabulary he uses within his person. Shake- that away!” Tom I think in contemporary terms it time almost beyond recognition as he plays. I’ve done that because I think speare is ex- scolds. “Maybe would be a two-part BBC-HBO co- inhabits each character. In the fl esh, if we, sitting in this room analysing, ploring what’s it’s with a pen, production, and it’s kind of moody he’s very intense, as some actors are: can’t understand it and fi nd a way of healthy but or with a hole- and side-lit and dark, and really grip- quietly watchful, very focused, puls- using it that makes sense to us, then also consid- punch,” Rob- ping, really exciting”. He leans back, ing with energy. He was the lead in it’s perverse to keep it. at’s a debate erate. bie is quick to munching on his salad contempla- e Marlowe Society’s Henry V last in Shakespeare performance at the add. I laugh tively. “It’s a great, great story. I mean year at the Arts eatre, and he talks moment: Greg Doran says that you “One of the along with if you’re telling this story to people about working in the space. “Realising can cut the play, but never change other things him. When I who don’t know anything about the the bigger scale is really exciting. At a word. Nick Hytner says: “What’s he asks is how turn around play you say – “there’s a dramatic one point I looked up and suddenly the point of saying it if people can’t you balance, Tom is giving pause. I know that what is about to went ‘Oh, there are people above as understand it? I don’t see the point whether it’s me a specula- follow is going to be good”. Tom leans well!’ It’s a very diff erent feeling and of doing incomprehensible work for in government tive look. “So,” he forward. “ ere’s a Duke who gives very exciting. e space feels really the sake of a playwright – who [sic]I or your life, the says, “Did you get up his power,” he says slowly, in a low epic, and you need that authority. revere, love and who has changed my competing demands what you came here voice. “He hands it over to this really Working with Tom as a professional life – but who has been dead for 400 of what is just and what for?” dangerous man, deliberately, knowing director working in industry is also years. I think he’d be okay with me is fair, what is merciful. It’s he’s really dangerous and kind of un- so great because it’s such a diff erent changing it.” I move the focus back about the New Testament world of hinged. And then having said that he process.” to Measure for Measure itself, asking forgiving wrongs; when people wrong Measure for Measure is on at the is going away to Poland, he stays. And what they think the message is at the you, how do you respond to that? I Cambridge Arts eatre at 7:45 pm, he watches, in disguise. And the fi rst Robbie is similarly enthusiastic about heart of the play. Tom looks at Mark, think Shakespeare is really interested Wednesday 10th - Saturday 13th Feb- thing that happens is that this nice, the theatre. “ e stage is massive, and who hesitates. “Go on, I’m curious in that, and I don’t think he gives ruary, and at 2:30 pm on ursday middle-class, Waitrose-shopping man that’s an important factor. You have to see what you say,” Tom says. Mark a straightforward answer. I don’t 11th and Saturday 13th February. Friday 5th February 2016 eatre 27

he White Devil sits as one of Service agent’s murder, poisoned with was photographed wearing a £1,900 practice of female sexuality”. Feminin- Jacobean theatre’s less well- polonium-210, ingested in a cup of gold Breguet watch, which was then ity is her greatest weapon and her Tknown pieces. Written by John tea in the Piccadilly branch of Itsu, unsuccessfully photoshopped out, greatest weakness, weaponised for her Webster in 1612, it is often eclipsed sounds too outlandish for even the refl ection revealing the truth own advancement, but also the cause by its fl ashier cousin, e Duchess the most cliché spy fi lm. Other of the image. As a church of her downfall. Vittoria, Dubow sug- of Malfi , other bombastic revenge high-profi le murders include heavily involved with Putin’s gests, embodies an interesting debate tragedies like ‘Tis Pity She’s A Whore the opposition journalists regime, and especially in in modern feminism about the nature (last staged at the ADC in Lent 2015), Paul Klebnikov in 2004 Russia’s socially conserva- of women’s sexuality, and how it can or Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus, and Anna Politkovskaya  - tive ‘morality laws’, such be wielded.  e audience should which is so gruesome that audi- in 2006, and opposi- as those which ban ‘ho- expect to see a nuanced and dramatic ence members regularly faint during tion politicians Sergei mosexual propaganda’, portrayal of female sexuality, with the performances. It certainly does not Yushenkov in 2003 and the religion depicted threat and fear that it causes driving lack the drama of its better-known Boris Nemtsov in 2015. THE WHITE in this production of much of the action of the play. alternatives, centred on the violent I spoke to the Director, e White Devil will consequences of a dangerous aff air Frank Martin, about how be just as powerful Staging a revenge tragedy always has between the Duke Brachiano (Tom Putin’s Russia, especially DEVIL and destructive as its its diffi culties.  e eventual bloodbath Chamberlain) and Vittoria Corom- the violent years of his original Renaissance can be comedic — in a bad way.  e bona (Beth Dubow), and the perils of early premiership a dec- speaks with the cast and crew of incarnation. fi nale of e White Devil is not like all-encompassing ambition.  ey are ade ago, provide a new that of King Lear or ‘Tis Pity She’s a circled by a litany of malcontents and lens to view a revenge the upcoming ADC mainshow I spoke to Beth Dubow Whore, when the ensuing brutality murders, such as Vittoria’s brother, tragedy. who, in playing the is sprayed out across the stage at the the ultra-ambitious Flamineo (Ryan complex and ambitious same time, but instead spread entirely Monk), the corrupt Cardinal Mon-  e parallel, he says, is Vittoria, grapples with the across the performance (expect your ticelso (Joe Spence), the vengeful “startlingly appropriate”, as construction of femininity and fi rst murder early on). When T.S. Francisco (Adam Mirsky), and the it emphasises the play’s central feminine power in a world defi ned Eliot said that Webster saw “the skull reviled Lodovico (Seth Kruger).  e theme of corruption: in the state, by violent patriarchal misogyny. In beneath the skin”, he was referencing body count is high, and the cast is in the church, and especially in the some productions, Vittoria is a victim the nihilistic worldview that the play bumped off in all manner of imagina- interrelationship between the two. of her circumstance, bartered for depicts — the good suff er and the tive ways. Its latest appearance on the “Nowhere else in the modern world”, ies one of the most ubiquitous of Jaco- power by her brother, Flamineo, who wicked prosper, and there isn’t much ADC stage as week four’s main show Martin says, “has a political culture bean theatrical tropes: the corrupt uses his sister for her sexual value. In hope for the future.  is nihilism sees it reset from Renaissance Italy so murderous”, especially somewhere Catholic ‘charity’. Vittoria proclaims this production, Vittoria cuts a more makes the play darkly entertaining — to contemporary Russia, emphasis- with such signifi cance on the inter- at one point: “thou art seldom found complicated fi gure. Dubow describes from the rehearsal I saw, the murder ing the play’s exploration of politics, national stage. I’m usually a sceptic in scarlet”. He is the mouthpiece of Vittoria as a ‘Desdemona gone wrong’, and intrigue will be packaged with a religion, morality, and murder. of transferring the setting of plays some of the most violent misogyny one of the very few obliquely sexual darkly comedic edge. — most of the time ‘concept produc- of the play, as master of a Kangaroo female characters who comes out of  is production seems timely.  e tions’ underwhelm and don’t make Court, which accuses a female char- drama in the seventeenth century Strong performances and an inter- shadowy world of post-Soviet Union sense — but this time I’m convinced. acter of, amongst other things, being – even Lady Macbeth, arguably the esting reinterpretation means that Russia sees the truth sometimes be- Nowhere else in the world could accu- “worse than dead bodies”.  e Russian most iconic female character of them e White Devil is set to be both a come stranger than fi ction. Only a few rately parallel the openly murderous Orthodox Church replaces the early all, is not driven by sexuality as much thought-provoking and hugely enjoya- weeks ago an inquest into the almost political sphere of sixteenth-century modern Roman Catholic Church, in as Vittoria. She spoke of how Vittoria ble production that is defi nitely worth unbelievable assassination of Alex- Italy than Putin’s Russia. an interesting thematic parallel that is is “wrestling for agency in a society watching. ander Litvinenko saw the fi nger of seeped in conservatism as well as cor- which is based around the subjection blame pointed in the direction of not In the original text, state corruption ruption. Martin talks about a strange and objectifi cation of women, which White Devil will be on at the ADC at only the Kremlin but Vladimir Putin is one and the same as that of the tale involving the Patriarch Kirill (a defi nes women by their sexual value, 7:45pm from Tuesday 9th - Saturday himself.  e former Federal Security church. Cardinal Monticelso embod- position similar to the Pope), who but also shames and criminalises the 13th February 2015. JOHANNES HJORTH

What makes Ten Plagues unusual What is a song cycle? What is your favourite line of the  at’s all that matters by that point. as a production? play? TEN  e song cycle form is another Mark Ravenhill is a name that

‘Plague’ is a word that immediately reason I think this is an unusual pro- “And pulling up your shirt keeps coming up in the theatre PHOTO: AMELIA OAKLEY conjures images of the large-scale. duction, particularly in Cambridge! Showed me scene in Cambridge. What do you PLAGUES Ten Plagues shows us the experience Out of the huge amount of theatre  e token think is so attractive about his of such an epidemic entirely through that’s put on every term, song cycles Hard and round writing? the interiority of one man. are very rarely staged – most people A silver penny don’t know what they are, and before Of contagion” I’ve noticed the popularity of staging We hear about death and devasta- I read Ten Plagues I’d never heard Ravenhill at other universities as tion in the music, but from a single of the term. A song cycle is a group What do you hope that the audi- well. I think his work is very appeal- tightly constrained perspective that of songs designed to be performed ence will take away? ing to young people. He doesn’t shy demands total attention from the together in sequence, unifi ed by away from dark or ‘controversial’ audience – helped by the song cycle a theme or plot. Another way to I’d like to be able to convey that the themes and he always writes with form itself. describe it might be as a novella in brutality of survival comes not from them well. He’s also got an especially song form. Mark Ravenhill dubs it any kind of action, but rather the good sense of humour, always sharp,  e piece is less about the plague “an intense dramatic journey for lack of it: the turning inwards the act and sometimes acid – even in Ten and more about this man and his single voice and piano”. requires, and the tedium and selfi sh- Plagues.  at’s an attractive combi- survival. To me, that’s also a compel- ness that arises from it. One of the nation for young adults interested in ling take on the Great Plague of Working with such an unfamiliar songs, ‘ e Hermit’, addresses the theatre to cut their teeth on. London in particular, which is gener- form has been very challenging, man’s withdrawal into highest isola- Varsity talks to director ally discussed in terms of its body especially as a fi rst-time director, but tion. “I wear my fi nest clothes/Alone Yasmin Freeman about the count and gory details rather than its also exciting.  ere are a lot of mer- I feast and fast/Alone, But how like Ten Plagues will be performed from upcoming song cycle human impact. its to it – it opens up a lot of scope death/ is solitude.” He understands ursday 11th Feb – Saturday 13th for a performer. it’s a Pyrrhic victory, but he’s alive. Feb 2016 at 8pm. 28 Reviews Friday 5th February 2016 JAN VAN KESSEL/FITZWILLIAM MUSEUM JAN VAN

to show the importance of colonialism the carnivorous plants which were for the development of the botanical of particular interest to botanical il- EXHIBITION illustration genre, as well as the grow- lustrators for obvious reasons. Georg ing trade links between continents as Dionysius Ehret’s “textbook perfect” Crawling with some of the etchings were done after drawings focus on these beauti- the importation of exotic fl owers from fully disguised traps whose apparent Life distant countries began. beauty gives no clue of their trickery. Prized possessions, these works It really is like an allegorical represen- Fitzwilliam Museum, 02/02/16 feature minute detailing and vibrant tation of the century’s obsession with pigments. Jan van Huysum’s busy vase fatal attraction or tragic death, fea-   compositions are just what you’d ex- turing in many novels or works of art s you walk in, go through the pect to fi nd in Dutch art of the time: a of the 1700s and 1800s and of pretty Impressionist room, then plant encyclopaedia’s worth of diff er- much every century ever since, mean- A down the Renaissance cor- ent fl owers, glistening water droplets ing that the botanical illustrations are ridor, past the Old Dutch masters and insects galore, most of them out- still very relevant today. and you’re there. Tucked away in the lined or even entirely painted with a If history, love and death haven’t so Shiba room is the latest Fitzwilliam single-haired brush. Refreshingly or- far tickled your fancy, feminism must. Museum exhibition on botanical art, ganic, the works in Crawling with Life  e genre was largely seen as the a small space that possibly befi ts the lack the suff ocating veneer of their only acceptable mainstream form of generally dismissive view of this par- more valuable contemporaries, hav- art with which women could engage ticular genre.  e works are rather ing usually been painted on vellum or liberally, which is why almost half of misleading in their apparent banality a fi brose type of paper with watercol- the exhibits were created by women. and unassuming nature - no pun in- our, befi tting their subject matter and Viewpoints can diff er; some see this tended - compared to the oil canvases showing signs of their venerable age as an oppression of the female art- of the Jan Brueghel father and son in the form of crumples and smudges ist, bound to slave over microscopic duo but the story the exhibits tell, col- where the artist’s hand rested in the detail that no-one would notice while lectively, is one of adventure. process. others regard the attention to detail Disclaimer: there are very few in- Much like a #nature Instagram and graceful execution by a woman’s troductory words as you step into post, the works have a varying degree hand as superior to their male equiv- the Crawling with Life exhibition, and of verisimilitude;  omas Robins the alent - just one close inspection of quite disappointingly the curators Younger stands out due to his attempt Barbara Dietzsch’s textural tour de have not made an overarching link at a faded landscape in the background force is enough to prove that. between the works that would reveal of a frangipani fl ower being circled by Although probably not the high- some secret or other of the artistic a butterfl y while Wenceslaus Hollar’s light of the Fitzwilliam Museum’s cal- genius. I would say that the exhibition prints are decidedly scientifi c and endar, Crawling with Life is nonethe- taps into a 17th-century European two-dimensional. Walking around, less a great introduction to a popular mania for collecting, travelling and you get the sense that the painters genre of the 17th century and the way By his own admission, Fred Ballinger dissecting (see also: e Anatomy are trying to be artistically virtuous it so artistically discloses nature’s se- FILM understands music better than emo- Lesson by Rembrandt). Most paintings as well as true to a subject matter crets. Did I forget to mention the huge tions, and it is precisely this apparent and etchings on display were done by that can often be imperfect due to its taxidermic butterfl y and beetle?! apathy that makes his relationships North-European artists, which goes natural creator. An example of this is Ana Persinaru Youth with his wife, daughter and friend dir. Paolo Sorrentino, 118 mins more moving. It enables Youth’s explo- ration of ageing to go beyond treating the quality of singing and acting.  e enemies instead of people putting on  old people as sympathetic objects of cast made the most of the space by a show.  e subtle exchanges, glances study but as competent agents capa- OPERA striding frequently down the centre and emotions in their faces spoke vol- star-studded cast, a naked ble of making their own choices, even aisle. It almost seemed as if the per- umes, and although I didn’t under- Miss Universe and the Queen: when those choices are sometimes Idomeneo formers weren’t even aware there was stand a single word of the Italian, the A walking into the cinema, I harsh or mistaken. Young and old are an audience.  e ensemble of violins, performances did justice to the idea struggled to dissuade myself from la- always interacting and contrasted, and Trinity College Chapel, 30/01/16 violas, cello and harpsichord was just that eyes are the windows to the soul; menting Paolo Sorrentino’s descent the fi lm’s focus on the human body is  as intrinsic to the magnifi cence of the the emotional content of what they into what the fi lm’s protagonist calls particularly eff ective in this respect. opera as the actors, and I found the dy- were saying was clear. “the most obscene job in the world” – Beautiful and ugly, naked and clothed or one night only, Trinity College namics they used, which mirrored the Although individually there were that of a pop artist. However, despite – in all its splendorous and sometimes Chapel was fi lled with Italian acting, quite astonishing. It was like extraordinary voices, when they came the triteness of its themes, Youth man- off -putting reality, the human body F voices for the performance of a conversation between voice and in- together it was even better.  e chorus ages to rise above its shortcomings features heavily in Youth, uniting the Mozart’s Idomeneo. Performed by strument, seamlessly integrated. Not deserves a special mention; dressed in and become a deeply human explora- characters in their eventual realisation the Lambe Company, the opera is set to mention, who doesn’t love a good white and appearing to glow, each per- tion of ageing and the importance of that, where words fail, physical con- in Greece and has the ‘full Monty’ of timpani roll for a bit of drama? son put in so much eff ort and passion, the choices we make in fi xing a past tact can often be a more appropriate Gods, guts, love and monsters. I didn’t  e cast was outstanding, to say the and yet they functioned in complete our memory will revise and shaping a means of communication. understand a word or really follow the least. I honestly can’t pinpoint a single synchrony, moving and working with future our decisions will amend. Love betrayed, friendships cut plot, but I didn’t need to and wouldn’t star, as they were all so confi dent and, each other. I was amazed that so many Youth follows the summer vaca- short, old age, familial relationships have wanted to. I just sat back and lis- most of all, passionate about what they strong voices could go together in har- tion of Fred Ballinger, a retired com- and fi lms within a fi lm are all themes tened, and was transported to a sort of were singing. I’m undoubtedly new to mony and essentially sound as one, poser, and his friend Mick Boyle, that have been extensively treated daydream where people were singing the world of opera, but I was complete- despite individually standing out.  e a fi lm director (played by Michael in recent fi lmmaking (and even in the most beautiful melodies with the ly shocked at what power can be put highlights, in my opinion, were the Caine and Harvey Keitel respectively). Sorrentino’s own fi lms) but in Youth, most emotionally charged and realis- into words, beyond a poetry recital or momentary silences between acts, or Fred Ballinger is asked to conduct they are treated with an appropriate tic fl uency. Knowing the precise de- so-called ‘moving songs’ by the likes of the pauses of the singers where there his ‘Simple Songs’ for the Queen and light-heartedness, so that they never tails of the storyline was unimportant Adele; this was in a diff erent league al- was not a sound to be heard; despite Prince Philip on the occasion of the become too obvious or intrusive – ex- compared to just soaking in the at- together. It was every man for himself, the number of people everyone was latter’s birthday. His decision and its cept perhaps at the appearance of Miss mosphere of the chapel. It was amaz- however, with nowhere to hide in the holding their breath which just refl ects impact on his relationships with his Universe, which gives the impression ing to see just how much the perform- lengthy solos.  e individual perform- how enchanted everyone was. family forms much of the core of the that its main purpose was to titil- ers cared about what they were doing. ers were tasked with taking the atten- A much better way to spend a fi lm and leads Fred to re-evaluate his late the trailer viewers into watching  e venue made the whole night and tion of the whole chapel, and they suc- Saturday night than watching e attitude towards his work and his life the fi lm, and subsequently to redeem the chapel was packed, but this did not ceeded purely by internalising their Voice at home! as a parent and husband. Youth’s seriousness by having her take away from the performance and roles fully; they were lovers, fathers or Meggie Fairclough Friday 5th February 2016 Reviews 29

ALBUM ALBUM Sia - This Is Acting Bloc Party - Hymns

FOX SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES released 29/1, RCA released 29/1, Infectious  

was disappointed. Oddly, I think that was the point. n 2005, Bloc Party burst on to the UK’s burgeoning in- At fi rst blush, the concept behind Sia’s latest release die scene with the excellent Silent Alarm. Its thrilling I seems gimmicky – an exercise in the singer playing at I combination of jagged Wire-esque guitars and barbed not being Sia. At worst, it comes off as an attempt to capi- lyrics briefl y made stars of the band and its acerbic singer talise on songs others had rejected, releasing them with her Kele Okereke. More than ten years later, following a tur- original vocals and packaging the off cuts as a studio album. bulent hiatus that saw half of the band’s original members Such criticisms, of course, risk taking the enterprise depart, Bloc Party are back with a new album, a new rhythm too seriously. With her seventh studio album, the fi rst section and a new sound. released since 2014’s 1000 Forms of Fear brought her the Inspired by a Hanif Kureishi talk Okereke saw in London, widespread renown that had thus far eluded her, the now- Hymns is awash with religious imagery. In particular, the ubiquitous Australian takes evident pleasure upending evangelical overtones present on ‘Only He Can Heal Me’ her reputation as a balladeer and singer of pick-me-up make for a stark change from the band’s seedy depictions anthems. ‘Reaper’, a perhaps unexpected collaboration of apathetic East London. Sonically, the band has evolved with Kanye, fi nds her drawling the slightly aff ected patois further away from the post-punk of their debut. ‘Into the employed to great eff ect on ‘Chandelier’ over a softly chug- Earth’ features the telling line “Rock and roll has got so old / ging groove; ‘Sweet Design’ fi nds her rapping about her Just give me neo-soul”.  is is largely what the album deliv- junk, of all things. It’s brief and messy; delightfully so. ers and while it is tempting to applaud original members Even those tracks that play to type upend her songwrit- Okereke and guitarist Russell Lissack for trying something ing formula. ‘Unstoppable’, which recycles ‘Titanium’ and diff erent, it cannot be sensibly argued that Bloc Party 2.0 this album’s ‘Bird Set Free’, is clichéd karaoke until you represents an improvement on the ancien régime. untangle the laughably bad lyrics like “I’m a Porsche with  e album opens with lead single ‘ e Love Within’ and no brakes” and “I don’t need batteries to play” from among its infuriatingly bouncy synth riff , which somehow man- the raspy vocal acrobatics. ‘Footprints’, a lyrical reference ages to be simultaneously overblown and monotonous. to the hackneyed Biblical poem, is a platitudinous middle- Fortunately, it does not set the tone for what follows it.  e of-the-road religious song Beyoncé was never going to re- third track ‘So Real’, with plaintive lines like “What am I lease, but is mischievously undone by ‘Sweet Design’, which supposed to do / When the only good thing about me was follows (also written for Beyoncé) with its lyrics: “Bump, you”, would have slotted in nicely on Silent Alarm. ‘My True bump, I’mma rub it up on you / My peach, juicy soft and so Name’ is also a highlight; built around a spiky riff , the song delicious”. We’re a long way from ‘Big Girls Cry’. features some of Okereke’s strongest ever vocals. All but one of these tracks was written for other artists, However, ‘ e Love Within’ aside, the problem with the including Adele, Rihanna and Shakira.  e resulting lack rest of the album is not that it is awful. On the contrary, of coherence is not necessarily a problem on a pop album: it is pleasant enough without ever being truly arresting. half of the fun is imagining what the intended artists would Regrettably, too much of Hymns feels laboured, and this is in have done.  e problem comes once you ask why some of no small part due to the fact that Lissack’s guitar playing has them were rejected. been eff ectively neutered. Where it was once the antagonis- Musical ideas are shamelessly recycled, as when the tic driving force, it is now a mere passenger. Consequently, caterwauling on ‘Bird Set Free’, the album’s opener, picks this allows perfectly good songs like ‘Fortress’ and ‘Virtue’ to up exactly where ‘Dressed in Black’, the closer on 1000 be weighed down by either their subject matter or Okereke’s Forms of Fear, left off . Some of the production is dated: the own lofty expectations. two key changes in ‘Broken Glass’ don’t channel Beyoncé’s Meanwhile, new bassist Justin Harris’s contributions are ‘Love On Top’ so much as Westlife at their most turgid; largely unremarkable, but former drummer Matt Tong’s ab- ‘House on Fire’ is a potentially powerful chronicle of an sence is sorely felt. Without him the band feels blunt and, abusive relationship sung fl atly over nondescript perkiness. subsequently, at times Hymns sorely lacks momentum.  ere was no need for Shakira to release the chaotic ‘Move Ultimately, it’s a shame that this album consists of many Your Body’ when the “feel my rhythm in your system” vibe promising songs that plod their way towards predictable was far better articulated on ‘Hips Don’t Lie’ ten years ago. conclusions rather than igniting in a ball of frenetic energy.  ose songs that echo her classic output also pale in Bloc Party’s biggest strength was that previous hits like comparison. Gone are dark, intelligent metaphorical fl ush- ‘Banquet’ and ‘Hunting For Witches’ managed to impart the es (“you’re twisted up like a slipknot / tied by a juicehead wisdom of a 21st-century pessimist within the confi nes of who just took his t-shot, and I know / there’s a hungry dog taut indie rock songs that never overstayed their welcome. produce a witty riposte to one of the problems.  is extraordinariness tugging at your frayed ends”). Instead, we have awkward  is is not a strength that Okereke seems willing to play holidaymakers’ insults. Sorrentino’s allowed Sorrentino to create an ex- similes (“We fall down like dogs playing dead / Well our to, as Hymns confi rms the suspicion that he never was a wry and surreal humour is served in travagant fi lm fi lled with riddles and love’s not worth playing chicken with”) verging on the bi- gifted lyricist.  e album features some particularly jarring large quantities, and although it might allusions. Fred Ballinger, despite hav- zarre. It leaves you wondering what the album’s instances of clumsy wordplay such as “the have lost some of the elegant intellec- ing been a great artist, is just an or- irony was intended to achieve. fungi is helping this fun guy deliver” tuality of his earlier fi lms, it is still very dinary man facing the problems of And then the musical chameleon that do not mesh with the sombre at- eff ective and keeps audiences amused ordinary men. He inspires respect but drops all pretence when ‘Space mosphere Bloc Party often tries to throughout. not wonder. As a result, Sorrentino’s Between’ reveals the chanteuse create. cold, cinematic photography, with its of moving ballads like ‘Lullaby’ While the album, with its reli- languid long shots and mesmerising that won over her early fans. A gious themes and pleasant verses, lighting, used in Youth as in La Grande natural showcase for her rough, makes for a decent Sunday morn- Bellezza, sometimes feel as if they are soulful vocals and near-un- ing playlist, I can’t shake the being wasted on characters who, quite paralleled ability to write and feeling that this is a missed op- A DEEPLY HUMAN frankly, seem to be too banal and mun- perform songs that fi nd their portunity. Hymns is, at best, dane for them. Sorrentino has often home in montages during a tentative reinvention. EXPLORATION OF AGEING been accused of valuing style over sub- stance, and it seems that, whether this accusation (or compliment) is fair or A comparison with La Grande not, compared to La Grande Bellezza, Bellezza, arguably Sorrentino’s great- Youth has a little less of both. est work so far, is not out of order At the end of his vacation, Fred here and might indicate why, in spite Ballinger returns to London with of all its good qualities, the fi lm falls promises broken, commitments re- the short of greatness. Compared to La considered and loved ones betrayed season fi nales of American Grande Bellezza, Youth is a very mod- and lost. What is left to the audience TV series, the track is her On balance, erate fi lm.  e fl amboyant blazers is the inexplicable sense of nostalgic most emotionally direct, the this album is a reasonable and confi dent pocket squares of Jep optimism that so often accompanies end of the aff air she began addition to Bloc Party’s cat- Gambardella have been replaced by the ending of Sorrentino’s best fi lms, in ‘Fire Meets Gasoline’ alogue, but I doubt it will the grey woollen suits and the tex- and an end-credit sequence that fi xes (“We’re too tired, we let the be lovingly recalled in ten tured ties of a man who, in contrast viewers in their seats until the music embers cool”). It’s a power- years, and certainly not in with Gambardella, feels and dresses has stopped and the screen has turned ful reminder of her uncanny the way Silent Alarm has his age. Sorrentino’s great achieve- completely black. Sorrentino’s latest knack for penning piercing been. Okereke himself ment in La Grande Bellezza was the work is no masterpiece but, thanks to metaphors, undoing the rest earnestly remarks on creation of the unique character of the his masterful direction, beautiful pho- of the album’s mischief. ‘Exes’ that “these words unapologetically hedonistic intellectu- tography and potent humour, it cer- Frustratingly, it also suggests will fall short but I must al whose sharp wit, self-indulgent taste tainly deserves our attention. the seeds of a much sharper mu- try” and this sums Hymns and elegance made him an extraordi- sical project. Here’s hoping that’s up perfectly. It is a good eff ort nary individual facing extraordinary Georgios Topaloglou where she’s heading. that ultimately falls short. Tom Freeman Alex Mistlin 





















 Friday 5th February 2016 Sport 31 Youth: the commodity of football Akuan Liu analyses football’s preoccupation with fi nding the stars of tomorrow, and asks whether this is healthy for all involved

Football is a game played by the com- performances at the tail end of the the case of Memphis Depay, signed by 20 paratively young. Past the age of 30 2014/15 season, the fi gure is mind- Manchester United from PSV at the players start thinking about retire- boggling. City might have recouped age of 21. ough initially he played ment, and rarely will you see a player some of their investment with the well, the winger soon fell out of favour at the top level hit 35. e majority of good performances Sterling has put due to his inconsistency. When he top players have played competitively in this season, but they took a mas- does make a rare substitute appear- from a young age, so it makes sense sive risk at the time. For half the price, ance he tends to try too hard to im- that clubs are always on the lookout Bayern Munich signed 25-year-old press: a vicious cycle. for youthful talent. Young players are Douglas Costa, who has since shown In fairness, some youngsters do per- often evaluated not only in terms of himself to be consistently one of the form consistently to a high standard. their on-pitch performances, but also best players on the team. In recent times we have seen players for the promise that they exhibit. ey Even transfer rumours have become such as Hector Bellerin and Anthony have ‘potential’ – that mysterious and ridiculous. Last August, Everton re- Martial become staples in their re- little-understood quality. jected a £30 million bid from Chelsea spective clubs’ starting 11 due to their e tale of hyped-up young players for their 21-year-old centre back John consistently strong performances, who have failed is a common story. Stones, who has since been subject with the latter perhaps already worth Take Freddy Adu for an example. After to criticism for his poor form. In the his colossal £36 million base fee – a being fi rst picked in the 2004 MLS same window, Spurs signed 26-year- fi gure that was a huge outlay for a rel- SuperDraft by DC United at the age of old Alderweireld for £11.5 million, atively unknown player. Looking fur- 14 and appearing for the US national who has undoubtedly been playing ther back, the well-known ‘Class of ‘92’ team at the age of 16, it all went down- better. consisted of six players at Manchester hill. Stints at Real Salt Lake, Benfi ca, United who won the FA Youth Cup in and AS Monaco amongst many others 1992 and proceeded to play important ultimately ended in failure, eventually roles in United’s treble-winning season leading the player once dubbed ‘the in 1998-9. eo Walcott and Wayne next Pele’ to doing side jobs such as Rooney were tearing up the Premier hosting club nights and selling vacu- PLAYERS ARE THRUST INTO League at the age of 18. But are these um cleaners. Is it possible that Adu’s players the rule or the exception? failure was in part due to the impos- THE SPOTLIGHT AND EXPECTED Gone are the days where young sibly high expectations set upon him TO PERFORM IMMEDIATELY players were ‘one for the future’. With from a young age? more and more money being spent Nowadays, English clubs are in- on acquiring their services, consist- vesting a lot of money on relatively ent performance is now expected im- inexperienced young players. Raheem e problem is compounded by the mediately, rather than being nurtured. Sterling moved for a record fee of £49 high expectations that come with an Players like Dele Alli and Kurt Zouma million from Liverpool to Manchester expensive signing. Players are thrust might be playing fantastically despite City last summer, at the age of 20. into the spotlight and expected to the pressure, but are they fl ying too For someone who proved he was in- perform immediately, otherwise they close to the sun? I guess we’ll soon consistent, with his string of poor are quickly deemed to be a ‘fl op’. Take fi nd out. The now lesser-spotted Freddy Adu rose to fame as a youngster OPEN DAY 23 MARCH 2016

Currently a first year law student? Curious about commercial law? Considering a career at an internationally renowned law firm?

Gain insight into life as a trainee; participate in commercial awareness and negotiation skills workshops; fire questions at partners, associates, and trainees during our speed networking event; and visit the Sky Garden!

Apply to [email protected] by 12 February 2016. Include your name, email address, university, and A-level results.

Apply now as places are limited.

20 Fenchurch Street, 24th Floor, London, EC3M 3BY www.velaw.com 32 Sport Friday 5th February 2016 The folly of youth Akuan Liu questions the importance football places on age. Page 31

Sport Withstanding the test of time In light of last week’s Australian Open, Santi Willder wonders whether an athlete can ever wind back the clock

Sant W llder

Sport Correspondent RICHARDFISHER

In the post-match interview after his career-ending defeat in the second round of this year’s Australian Open, two-time Grand Slam champion and former world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt remarked: “I’ve been very fortunate that I’ve had such a great career that I had the opportunity to go out on my terms. A lot of great sporting athletes don’t have that opportunity.” Indeed, refl ecting on the 34-year-old’s fi nal professional tennis tournament, it would appear to have been the perfect send-off for one of the sport’s greats. For the Australian was able to bow out of the game to raucous applause from his home fans with his head held high after simply being ground down 6-2 6-4 6-4 after battling against both in- jury and the wiles of world No.8 David Ferrer. Although he failed to wind back the clock by putting together a string of victories at his closing tour- How many more Australian Opens will the graceful Roger Federer compete at? nament, Hewitt’s swansong cannot but be deemed a success since he fi n- of perseverance and determination. suggest that the evergreen 34-year-old winner of the women’s singles, Flavia desire for consistency and drawn-out ished his career at the atmospheric Until the very end Hewitt proved him- should hang up his racquet while he Pennetta, announced her retirement dominance within the sport. A case Rod Laver Arena in a tournament in self to be as confi dent and competi- still stands a reasonable chance of add- moments after raising aloft her fi rst in point might be 29-year-old and 14- which he has competed for a stagger- tive as always, daring to dream aged ing to his formidable collection of 17 (and last) Grand Slam trophy, aged 33. time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal, ing 20 years in a row. 34 by proclaiming “I want six more” Grand Slams, the prospect of watch-  is decision to retire at the very peak who recently exited the Australian Turning our attention to the fi nal after his fi rst-round victory in this ing the current world No.3 dwindle of her career seems rather poetic, and Open in the fi rst round for the fi rst few years of Hewitt’s sporting career, year’s Australian Open against com- with age and slide miserably down the perhaps was motivated by a feeling time in his history.  ough writing off however, tells a far more dishearten- patriot James Duckworth.  at said, rankings hardly bears contemplation. that, already in her mid-thirties, she Nadal at this moment in time is ab- ing story. In the last fi ve years (begin- the question remains as to when you would be unable to scale such dizzying surdly premature, it warrants consid- ning with the 2011 Australian Open), should hang up your racquet in an in- heights in the game again having nev- eration whether his best years might Hewitt has reached the last 16 of a creasingly mercenary sport that could er before even reached a Grand Slam already be behind him and whether he Grand Slam on only two occasions be accused of fi nancially prioritising fi nal. Furthermore, when asked about might have already begun on the same out of the 18 times he has entered appearance at a tournament over per- the reasons for her premature retire- downward trajectory that Hewitt ex- the main draw of a major, and indeed formance in it. AN UNHEALTHY OBSESSION ment the Italian cited “una stanchezza perienced during the later stages of we have to cast our gaze all the way Indeed, we spectators may well har- fi sica e mentale” (physical and mental his career.  e Spaniard has struggled back to Wimbledon 2009 to fi nd the bour a penchant for nostalgia in ten- WITH EVERGREEN PLAYERS fatigue), pointing to the immense toll with injuries, and may never recover last time that he reached the quarter- nis, that is to say that we thrive on see- that competing at the highest level the form that won him 14 Slams. fi nals. Without taking anything away ing players, whom we have known and week-in week-out takes on the elite Ultimately, how can players pos- from the legend’s achievements in the loved for years, continue to perform at players of this sport. Indeed, Federer sibly know when is the best time to sport, we can surmise that Hewitt’s the highest level and keep an iron grip Does this mean that it would be himself has recently been ruled out drop the curtain on their career? Such career had been on the wane for the over the most prized trophies in the more fi tting for one of the best play- of action for a month following an deliberation on their part might well best part of a decade, marking a some- game. One need only hear the screams ers to have ever graced the sport to injury to his knee picked up during prove futile given the unpredictability what disappointing trajectory for a that perpetually greet the Swiss maes- go out in a blaze of glory and call it his Australian Open semi-fi nal defeat of the game, and indeed is not a con- man who at the mere age of 20 became tro Roger Federer as he steps onto quits while he is still near the top of by eventual winner Novak Djokovic. sideration that any truly competitive the youngest ever player to be ranked court to realise that, especially in an his game?  is notion may sound  ese revelations point to the fact that player would dwell on for very long. world No.1 in singles. However, individual sport such as tennis, we outlandish, but in recent years we the exhausting format of today’s game However, we must come to terms with though the Australian failed to keep bear a reluctance to bid farewell to can see that a precedent for this sort means that it is becoming increasingly our unhealthy obsession with ever- up with the dizzying precedent that our favourites and perhaps encourage of behaviour has been established. diffi cult for a player to remain at his green players whose duty it is to keep he set for himself in his early twenties, them to play on well past their prime. Indeed, we need not look any further or her peak for an extended period of entertaining us beyond the constraints we surely cannot fault him for lack While it would certainly be unfair to than last year’s US Open, at which the time, thus thwarting the spectator’s posed by age.

nial conqueror Novak Djokovic, that eventual winner, Angelique Kerber, however, has aspirations to make the a clear plan to wrestle the top spot out Brits Shine at should not detract from what was a she provided a much-needed boost jump up to world number one (an of the hands of the formidable Novak superb and historic tournament for of optimism to British female tennis, achievement that would surely draw Djokovic. those of a British persuasion. after the declines of Laura Robson and envy from Andy, who seems destined Finally, Gordon Reid won the Aussie Open Johanna Konta was rewarded for Heather Watson due to various inju- to remain world number two for a Australian Open wheelchair singles her valiant eff orts with a move up the ries and loss of form. while yet), saying: “I got to number title with a three-set victory over Rav W llder rankings to inside the world’s top 30. Meanwhile, Andy’s older brother two so why not get to number one? It’s Joachim Gerard, winning his fi rst  e Australian-born Brit reached the Jamie managed to upstage his younger one fi nal step to try to get to number Grand Slam. In doing so, he ended Sport Ed tor semi-fi nals of the women’s tourna- yet more illustrious sibling by win- one.” It’s refreshing to see fi ghting talk British tennis’s week on a high, al- ment last week, and in doing so be- ning his fi rst doubles Grand Slam title from at least one Murray recently. though his remark that “it’s been a While the Australian Open may have came the fi rst British woman to reach with his partner Bruno Soares.  is One can only hope that Andy will great weekend for Scottish tennis” ended on a sour note for one Andy the semi-fi nals of a Grand Slam in 33 resulted in a move up the rankings to take a leaf out of his brother’s book may have perturbed more than a few Murray at the hands of his peren- years. Even though Konta lost to the doubles world number two.  e Brit, and return from paternity leave with English fans of the game.