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Issue 1082 08 10 04 In this fortnight’s edition... UniS: officially the university of love | what does your body language really mean? | where do tuition fees go? contents 1 editorial 2 Surrey students top the pulling charts October is upon us and term is now well underway. Freshers have been here almost two weeks now, rapidly 5 Nights out in the Library are soon to be a reality adjusting as best they can to life at uni, and the moans and groans of 6 Where does your tuition fee go? The Deputy VC explains other students, already bogged down 12 Have you been offending people without realizing? with coursework and deadlines, are becoming increasingly audible. This 14 barefacts gets an inside view on speed-dating issue brings you news of developments that will hopefully make life at least a 16 A dummy’s guide to writing a symphony little easier, including extended library opening hours, the part-time Union 19 Have our photographers caught you out in Rubix? Executive Officer and NUS delegate elections (students voted in to represent 20 Take time out, learn more about meditation your needs and opinions, not only at campus but also national level) and a 21 At a loose end? Consult our calendar of local events detailed interview with the Deputy VC explaining how the University uses your 22 Film offers comment on the latest releases tuition fee money. On a lighter note, you can learn how not to offend any of your 24 Music lends an ear to a selection of tracks and gigs fellow students with extravagant hand gestures, and bask in the knowledge 27 Literature gets philosophical that Surrey is officially the University of Love. I kid you not, there are stats to 33 Careers advice for the confused prove it. Pretty suspect stats, but stats nonetheless. 34 The Alumni Office tracks down graduates abroad Enjoy 36 Sport Do you have a good eye for the ball? Catherine the barefacts team Editor-in-chief: Catherine Lee Editor: Neil Christie Deputy Editor: Nicole Heel News Editor: position vacant Sports Editor: Pete Nichols Music Editors: Jon Allen and Dina Mystris Film Editor: Neil Boulton Literature Editor: Arvind Virdee GU2 Press Officer: Jay Butcher Assembling the whole editorial team A big thank you to Matt Adams this fortnight for being together proved nigh on impossible, but a whizz with a mike and a minidisc player for the inter- here a few we could cobble together so views! you could put names to faces or, well, just laugh at us really Contributors: Amy Brown, Dan Brown, Ronan Callaghan, Bjorn Candel, Paul Canning, Russ Clark, Matthew Conacher, Jon Darzi, Corin Douieb, Chris Driscoll, Iain Forrester, David Glossop, Sophie Hammonds, Richard Hartley, Duncan Hills, Piers Karsenbarg, Ben Lee, Kat Legge, Carol Main, Ewan Panter, Simon Pearson, Amy Price, Ayiesha Russell, Anna Shaw, Nathan Whitaker, Peter Wigfield 2 news [email protected] 08 10 04 Surrey students luckiest in the The first Union Council of the year took Flo will be looking after things such as place on 5th October at 6pm in Seasons Arts and Culture week, International lovestakes Restaurant and included the part-time Week, and also having a big input into According to a recent survey at Union Executive Officer and NUS the Entertainments Committee. www.virginstudent.com, Surrey Delegate elections. University is the best University... not No other positions were contested, for rent prices, not for pint prices, but 204 ballots were received on Tuesday other than that of NUS delegates. The for... pulling. Yes, pulling. Surrey is the evening that indicated preferences for positions filled were Accommodation only university in the UK with a four candidates standing in this year’s part- Officer (Nathanael Roome), star rating for its achievement, beating time executive elections. Bored already? Campaigns Officer (Ben Acaster), Warwick, Manchester and Cardiff to Well, there’s a lot of reasons why you Ethics and Equal Opportunities Officer top the “where am I most likely to pull shouldn’t be… (Michael Ogunseye), Academic Affairs within a month” chart for the second Officer (Alex Collins), Placement and year running. This ‘pulling potential’ These elections are part of a process that Employed Students’ Officer (Rebecca ranking apparently comes from elects individuals that, over the course of Moore) and one Non-Portfolio officer students’ own views of their university, the next year, will do their best to help (Gregory Scott). voted for online by registered you in various aspects of your time at members of virginstudent.com. University. The results of all the elections are Thanks goes to you guys then, for online – just surf to www.ussu.co.uk voting us straight to the top. The Firstly let’s deal with the contested and from the front page there’s a results have sparked interest from elections. For Union Chair, a position link to the election results for all the not only local radio stations Eagle responsible for chairing Union Council positions. and BBC Southern Counties, but and improving awareness of the Union’s also the national press, keen to learn democratic nature, there were two Enough of names and figures, what do more about student antics here on candidates. Chris (“Chef”) Connor, and they mean? Well – if you have issues campus. Hash Alsaidi, President of Neil Christie. in any of the above categories (your the Students’ Union, speaking on BBC course, housing, placement, racial Southern Counties Radio, claims it’s A tightly fought battle between little and issues etc) then you have someone to “something we should definitely be large, the mic stand certainly got changed represent you. These representatives proud of”. So with all this love in the a few times during the speeches. This will have their own agendas but it’s up air, its almost certainly time to shrug time around David couldn’t slay Goliath to you as a student to take your issues off those inhibitions, read more into and the big man won the battle, by 7 to them – and make sure they’re that meaningful eye contact and votes. Chris is the Union Chair for this sorted. Hold them accountable to reassess the sentiments behind those year and if you want to start proposing their promises and make them work tactile gestures. What are you waiting motions in order to change the way for you. That’s why they stood and for? Alternativley, simply get down to your Union works (from drinks prices, that’s why the positions are there. Rubix, strut your stuff and bust some charging entry for Rubix, the way your grooves... tonight could be your lucky Society or Club gets money…. literally Contact details will appear on the night. any aspect of Union life) then Chris is the website shortly, so keep checking man to speak to. ussu.co.uk for that information. In the words: catherine lee meantime, go and find one of the six Culture and Events was also contested sabbaticals who will help you out with – three candidates this time. Piers your queries and problems. Karsenbarg, Susanna King, and Folarin Letters to barefacts must be received (“Flo”) Oyeleye. After much tension Flo words: neil christie by 12pm on Friday before the publica- emerged the clear winner with 117 votes. tion of the next issue to be included. (that’s Friday 15th October this time Unfortunately, despite an increased turnout for the elections, Union Council round) Email [email protected], was inquorate when the agenda reached motions. Although no motions were with “Letters” in the message title passed, the minutes of the meeting, including the Executive Committee Report, please! questions to the Executive Officers and the Students’ Union Financial Report can be found online at www.ussu.co.uk/council. [email protected] 08 10 04 news 3 Feeling hot, hot, hot... Following the improvements made to Union House over the summer vacation, you may have noticed that Rubix has been a considerably hotter venue than last year. The installation of conditioning is currently being investigated, it is unlikely that soundproofing so as to minimise noise pollution directed at the Students’ Union will be able to invest in such a project in the Stag Hill residences acts like an extra layer of insulation, the foreseeable future. causing the temperature inside the building during main events such as Citrus and Flirt to soar. Haris Bar and Helyn Rose Bar Concern has also been expressed as regards the sound seem to be the worst areas affected, though opening the doors levels in the building. The Union operates a strict policy for downstairs in HRB goes some way to its staff; earplugs are also available on request from the front alleviate the problem. Ben McCauley, desk for any students visiting the venue. Alan Roy, Events Venue Supervisor, says the most Manager, says “If you are concerned about your hearing, try important thing to do is “keep to avoid loud personal stereos and visiting nightclub venues hydrated. If you’re uncomfortable on consecutive nights”. with the heat move towards the bottle bank area as this is considerably words: catherine lee cooler.” Although the cost of air Calling all Freshers Exhibition Excitement Angels.... Freshers Angels are now able On Monday 5th October, the Students’ to collect their money from Lisa Union hosted the annual postgraduate Widdows, Representation & exhibition. The University was well Welfare Co-ordinator, in the Student represented, and as well as a number of Activities Centre. The deadline for commercial trade stalls, many societies collection of payment is Friday 8th and sports clubs sent representatives to October so get your skates on if you want to get paid! mingle with the crowd.