Your Free Union Magazine November 2008 Straight from the Big Top ADVERT Illustration: Murray Somerville

EDITOR’S NOTE Hey everyone, welcome to the second issue of Spaghetti Junction this academic year! I hope you all enjoyed the Freshers’ edition and that you are ready for another great issue (if I do say so myself). As ever, we have coverage of all the latest Union happenings, as well as all the latest music, film and DVD reviews. For all you avid readers out there, we have a book review for you. So make sure you check it out, so that when you head down to Waterstones to pick up whatever it is on your reading list, you will know what’s hot and what’s not outside of all that ‘academic’ literature! If after all that book related excitement you are feeling peckish, be sure to check out Natalie’s Cookery Corner for some cheap and tasty recipe ideas. So, that’s it from me and the team until January when we shall be back with our Winter special. See you all then! Roxanne Carmen Hawker Editor: Roxanne Carmen Hawker [email protected] Editor-in-Chief: Jennifer James [email protected] Deputy Editor:Natalie Marchant [email protected] News, Current Affairs, Features & Student Groups Editor: Georgie Campbell [email protected] Design & Graphics Co-Editor: Jak Flash [email protected] Design & Graphics Co-Editor: Poppy French [email protected]

UP FRONT Documentary 4 New Street Station 8 Scratch Radio 9 Union News 10 Recycle 12 LGBT 13 Charity 14 Jew Society 15 City North 16 Food Miles 18 FEATURES Sports 21 Stampede 22 Big Squeeze 24 STUDENT CULTURE Beauty 27 Fashion on Campus 28 Natalie’s Cookery Corner 30 Student of the Month 32 Study Tips 33 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Bands in University 35 Reviews 36 Horoscopes 42 UP front documentary

In this article Jak Flash investigates Heart of the one of the greatest social divides in Britain; looking into those who have no home and the Homeless ramifications this status can hold.

N ow, I can’t quite tell what the the man who comes on the bus in to give exact numbers and find driving point was for me to write his dirty ragged clothes, smelling statistics that detail on the number this article. I’m not charitable and of urine, bottle in hand, shouting of people who are homeless in my general outlook is you get obscenities to each passer by, and England. This is because you out what you put in. I was always I imagine it’s true for most of us don’t register as being homeless, under the impression that people that we pick up pace whenever we its just something that befalls you. who where homeless never tried see someone in our path selling A report was created in hard enough to be homed. For the Big Issue. Before they’ve even 2007/8 detailing the reasons for whatever reasons they came asked, you’ve made the decision homelessness and grouping them to live on the streets, it was you don’t want it and respond with into percentages. It was also their own fault and, if they really some minimal dismissal. speculated that approximately 500 wanted, they could get a job and Homelessness is a social people sleep rough each night, find somewhere to stay. I feel the category for people who do not although many people argue that real reasoning for this is the fact have a home, if you live in a hostel this statistic is much lower than that I moved out when I was 16 you are also considered homeless the actual reality of those without with little financial help from my as they are only short term fixed residence. So I wanted to parents, so if I could do it, why abodes. There are an estimated investigate what homelessness couldn’t everyone else? 100 million people world wide who was and open the doors on these We’ve all stuck our nose up at are homeless, however it’s difficult social outcasts. Hostel today, gone tomorrow

T o begin my research, I wanted to find out what help was available and where homeless people could stay so, using the Birmingham City Council website, I sought to find some local hostels so I could investigate the living conditions there. The first thing I noticed from the list was that 7/9 hostels only housed men and each hostel had a specific age limit. From the list, I contacted Milner Court hostel (just outside of Digbeth) that specifically homes men aged 16-21. I found this one particularly relevant, as it’s an age range applicable to a lot of university students. I rang up and arranged a visit and, although they seemed very busy and eager to maintain the confidentiality of the residence, they managed to fit me in. The man I spoke to on the phone helped me to find the hostel by giving me directions and saying: ‘you won’t miss it, it looks like a hostel’. In my mind, I envisaged a shabby old council building in desperate need of fixing up, with bars on the windows and those common place council design signs. However, I was faced with something contrary to my previous belief. Here before me was a brand new building with a modern design, clean walls and intercom doors. I was quite shocked at how high the building’s quality was. It turned out that some time ago a Milner Court is funded by ‘The Supporting People programme’ which helps people indeed improve their quality of life by providing a stable environment helping them to live independantly. man named Reverend Milner set up a night shelter in Digbeth

4 SPAGHETTI junction UP front documentary that was called The Boot. Then, on the grounds where Milner Court stands, a second shelter was established- The New Boot. Last December, the shelter was revamped and renamed Milner Court Hostel after the Reverend who set up the initial shelter. 11 members of staff run the hostel with its 25 bedrooms, which are pretty much always in use. The hostel allows its residents to stay there for a maximum of 28 days, and provides them with breakfast, an en suite shower room and kitchen and, I must say in my opinion, the quality of these rooms was far beyond that of Hamstead Halls. The hostel isn’t just a place to relax and get away from it all though, you’re given a key worker and provided with help to set up benefits and things in order to get your life back on track. There are many reasons that people may find themselves staying in a hostel; for Milner Court I was told common reasons are such things as family breakdowns, people seeking asylum and people released from custody. There are restrictions in this hostel though, not just anyone can stay here. They will not admit anyone with previous arson, sexual or violent offences. Milner Court has established a close bond with the police who will arrive almost instantly if there is even a hint of trouble. To get a place in a hostel you first have to attend a meeting in the St. Basil’s Link, which is located near the Gosta Green campus, and then receive an interview/induction at the hostel.

I feel that the homeless have a stigma attached to them that we aren’t willing to easily investigate or question. Before writing this article, I had little place in my life for these people and disregarded them as something I didn’t have time for. When faced with a homeless person, many of us presume upon first sight how that person may have come to the position they’re in. Generally, I feel the initial reaction is just to apply excessive drunkenness to loss of belongings and home, but what we have to remember is that these situations can be very complex and fighting our personal demons can often be a battle lost without the correct help. Affordable housing, unemployment, lack of healthcare, drugs, mental you’re pretty illness, domestic violence, prison release, natural disaster and eviction are some of the many reasons that may leave a person without a home, left to seek refuge upon the streets, in doorways and train stations. much a social Once the onset of homelessness begins, it can be a dangerous and tragic spiral, with the few hopes you have dwindling away. outcast, but On the street, you are without proper healthcare and the nights can be cold, the floor is dirty, your five a day fruit and veg will be out the window things can get along with all proper nutrition. You won’t have the opportunities to have a good education and won’t be suitable for employment. With no bank to save your money and no technological communications, you’re pretty worse much a social outcast but, things can get worse because the moment you’re on the streets, you’re subject to discrimination and possibly violence, regardless of the reasons you have to be without a home. I imagine most of us come from loving parents and have a lot of support from our families ‘back home’. It may be that the guy you see on the street was thrown out by his family and now without a fixed residence is unable to continue the education that we’ve take for granted.

It is possible for the homeless to take the first step though. There are charities and businesses available that help the homeless to better their living conditions. The Big Issue for example, is a business that helps the homeless to raise money for themselves. The homeless have to register and then are given 10 free magazines to sell. After this free instalment, they have to pay for the magazines which cost 70p and retail at £1.50.

“Because we deal with vendors in a commercial way, we help give them the skills they need to get on in a commercial world. Our philosophy is to give people ‘a hand up, not a hand out’, and provide them with a way to earn a legal living and get their lives back together that requires input and hard work from them.” www.bigissue.com

The Big Issue helps people to help themselves. It’s their starting point to get off the street. Now I myself have heard Big Issue vendors receiving verbal abuse like ‘Oh, go get a job!’. Well, this is a job! It is near impossible to get employed without a fixed residence, bank account or legal documents, so this is the only chance people have to help themselves.

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I wanted to find out what it was like to be homeless by asking someone who was currently in that position. Not just anyone though; someone who was making an effort to do something about it. With a brief knowledge of what the Big Issue does after acquiring the information from their website, I set out in search of a distributor. I came across the young Daryl Tustin selling the magazine outside of New Street Station. I asked him if I could interview him and told him I would give him some money for his time. He was willing but keen not to waste too much time, time that could be spent selling the magazine. I was always sceptical whether anyone actually brought the BI but sure enough, as I was planning my questions, a woman came over an bought a copy. into a hostel but there’s never what I mean, saying ‘oh get a job’ no spaces at salvation army like and all that sort of shit, but I’m just and I’m on a waiting list to get a trying to do my best. council flat. So you don’t feel you deserve Does selling the Big Issue help to be treated like that because you alot? they don’t know anything about Yea it can help me. If I haven’t got you? much money one day I’ll like just That’s what I mean, they don’t go and buy like two copies, that’s know my life’s background. I don’t like £1.40 and I can make like a want to be doing this but some couple of pounds, you know what I days it’s my only option to get mean, just so I can get something some food, but sometimes I can to eat and that. go to like places to get free meals How long do you work for? and food and stuff like that. So I just do it once a week some days I’m alright, but some sometimes, you know what I days when I get stuck I just fall mean? Once or twice a week. back to this. DARYL And how old are you? So it’s good, you are trying to TUSTIN I’m 23. help yourself, you don’t want to So how did you become Have you been to school be homeless: homeless? before? No, and I’m on a Methadone I was in a children’s home since I Yea, I did do school. Whilst I was program at the minute. So I’m not was younger like, and then when in the childrens home they used to doing drugs at the minute. I’m on I left the home I moved into a get a private teacher to come in. I Methadone yea. flat, and err I ended up going to did really well at school but I didn’t What drugs were you on, was it prison and they didn’t pay the rent take my GCSE’s but I can read Heroin? whilst I was in prison, and I come and write perfect. And I’ve got a Yea, Heroin, yea. out of prison and I lost my flat forklift licence aswell. Any other drugs besides that? basically. And since then I’ve been Do you have any plans for the Just crack Cocaine as well. I used homeless. future? to do that as well. For what reason did you go to Yea, I want to get a job. I want to How did you get onto that? prison? start fork lift driving again, but I I started off smoking Cannabis Because I got involved with drugs just need to get a permenant place when I was younger and then and that. to live first, before I do that. And I started doing Speed then ecstacy Do you live in a hostel now? want to get settled down with a girl which led onto Heroin and Crack No, err, I was in the salvation and that. Cocaine. army for three days right, like in Is it easy selling the Big Issue? Was it easy to get hold of? an emergency room but they ain’t Err, not... it is and it ent because Yea, so easy to get hold of. It’s got no permenant spaces to I had some people come up and give easier to get Heroin than it is to to move out. But I’m trying to get you a bit of stick, do you know get Cannabis these days.

It seems that drugs are the root cause for Daryl’s homelessness. My previous association with homeless people and drugs would have put me into the mindset of giving him little pity. We may think that someone who uses ‘smack’ deserves what they get for using such a dangerous and dirty drug. However, after speaking to Daryl, I realise that he didn’t initially intend to be a Heroin user. He started on speed and ecstasy which are common place recreational drugs for a number of university students across the country. For whatever reason he felt the need to try Heroin, he did. It could have been peer pressure, it could have been curiosity. I for one know how easy it is to accept drugs when people you know are offering them out. Heroin is an strong drug that creates a physical addiction. It changes the chemicals in your body until it comes to be that your physical being is reliant on its intake. Holding back from Heroin can create some aggressive withdrawal symptoms, so it’s not something you can easily quit. It’s a pitfall that many vulnerable people can easily fall into. What I did like about Daryl was his personality and his willingness to help himself. He’s out there selling the Big Issue because he can’t get a job without somewhere to live. The life he leads is not the one he wants. He’s just a young guy like you and me trying to make his way in the world, however difficult that may be. 6 SPAGHETTI junction UP front documentary

My next mission was to find someone who’d been homeless and managed to build up a life away from the street. Luckily I managed to find someone with a direct relevance to the student body; a photography lecturer named Paul O’Donnel, who works at BIAD. Paul was willing to give me some of his time so he could tell me his story of how he’d been on the streets, and overcome them. Paul O’Donnel had no great fears of living on the streets because he had a lot of previous rock climbing experience, that had given him knowledge on how to sleep rough. A common spot that he’d taken to staying in was Hebdon Bridge Railway Station, which I imagine was a safer bet than a random doorway. He did have the option to stay at his relatives, but with the grief and guilt that they would give him about getting a job he felt pressured, and found that the streets were more inviting. This is a problem that we never really take into account. We all so I was curious to know what All work and no play etc etc. know how stressful family is and the weather conditions had been Now of course Paul is sat before sometimes the only option is to like, as he would have had to me in the photography office, get away from them. Whether it be endure the seasonal variations. eating his sandwich, drinking out to move out or take to the streets, Luckily for Paul, with his previous of his large Guardian newspaper there isn’t always someone you rock climbing experience, he had mug, right next to a Mac, so it’s can fall back on. attained a good quality sleeping a safe bet that he’s no longer As I speak to him, he jokes and bag that kept him warm so the homeless. I enquire into how it tells me that the most curious weather was never too much of was that he managed to escape place he’d ever slept in was a issue. the tumult of the street and return on the back of a lorry that was For Paul times were different, to society. carrying large concrete drainage we’re talking 30 years ago here It turns out that back then, public tubes. When he’d climbed in in when he was about 25 and most baths weren’t uncommon so order to take refuge, the lorry of us weren’t even born. We all maintaining a level of cleanliness was stationary and the carriage think we’re strapped for cash now, wasn’t such an issue. After a good wasn’t attached so it seemed like scrapping away at our loans and scrub, Paul would ‘hang around’ a reasonable shelter. Eventually tunnelling into our overdrafts. Rochdale Art College in North though, he was awoken by the Well, living on the streets means Manchester. He managed to fix rumbling of engines as the lorry you have serious financial issues. himself up with an art student and began to drive away with the Paul would work short jobs on eventually moved into her flat! I carriage in tow. So with a quick places like farms, and to endure guess this was a lucky break as I dose of courage, he made his this labour you needed energy. can’t imagine things would turn out agile dismount from the moving The first thing the farmer would so rosily in today’s judgemental vehicle. I suppose it’s a key fact to do is feed you. Getting this free society. There’s a man I often see take into account that when you meal would have been a great sat on the Gosta Green walkway, have no fixed residence, you don’t benefit. Living without a fridge and there’s no chance I’m inviting know where you’ll be sleeping and cupboard space means him back to my house! next and how it is you’re going to you can’t stock up on your local A long time has passed since be woken up, and what you’ll be supermarket bargains. Paul’s time living on the streets. faced with when you do. We have After working and gaining a small He works as a lecturer in to remember that not everyone wage, Paul informed me that the Birmingham City University, he’s is caring and understanding. If first thing he would do is take managed to secure a family, (and someone finds you sleeping on his money and go on a ‘bender’ a narrow boat it seems). So all or in their property, they may not around Manchester. is not lost. Being homeless isn’t welcome you with open arms. I suppose that if you are living on the end of someone’s life. They Paul told me that he was on the street, the last thing on your can rejoin society and escape the the streets all through the year, mind is starting a savings account. stigma of being a bum. In writing this article, I set out on the task to broaden my own knowledge of the homeless, to give me reason to give them my time or help. By doing this, I’ve come to the realisation that these people are people too and no matter how cliché it sounds, we’re all human and deserve equal treatment. Don’t run out and give all your money to charity, but next time someone asks for help, consider their situation and how much they’re doing to help themselves and what you can do to help give them the opportunities you’ve had. SPAGHETTI junction 7 UP front new street station BRAVE NEW LOOK “Don’t we Brummies deserve to travel in style?”, I hear you cry! We are the second biggest city after all!

Well, with over 35 million people travelling through New Street Station every year, it was fair to say that the place was in need of a good lick of paint. But, boy, they have not stopped there! Birming- ham City Council, Network Rail, Advantage West Midlands and Centro have all clubbed together to give our station the £600 million pound makeover that it desperately needs. The BIG revamp; also known as the Gateway Project is full of new, visionary and breathtak- ing designs. Chairman of Gateway Funders, Cllr Mike Whitby said: “The Birmingham Gateway, which will support over 52 million passengers a year, demands a world class architectural vision to embody the rebirth of New Street Station.’’ The daring reinvention was revealed to Birmingham City passengers in September, including plans for three high tech digital displays that will mark the main entrances to the station. New Street station will not be missed that’s for sure! It is expected to be three times the size it is now, and as if that wasn’t enough; the entire station will be covered with reflective metal. So finding it is easy, navigating your way around it may be slightly trickier though. Not only will it impress the parents when they finally make it up to bring you some home cooked food, but your mates will be gagging to come back. This is another string to Brum’s bow in making this city one of the best for its construction and design achievements out there. The development will also bring economic benefits by creating an estimated 10,000 new jobs for the people of the city. Chief executive of Network Rail, Iain Coucher said: “We listened to the people of Birmingham and made New Street a top priority – with this new design we can be sure of a top class station for the millions of people who use it every year.” Maybe going home won’t be such a drag after all? We can now travel in STYLE!

Kirsty Booth

8 SPAGHETTI junction Scratch radio, the University’s own radio There are various departments withing Scratch: station will be on air 24/7 starting from early January. The studio is open for registered Music Department - This department works volunteers now until December 6th for studio in conjunction with labels, receiving and training sessions, and to pre record shows reviewing new releases ready to add them to ready for the launch in January. the studio playlist keeping the station’s music at the forefront. For more information, contact Whether presenting, promoting, production [email protected] or recruiting, or just spinning some wax is your [email protected] interest. Scratch is more than welcome for you to get involved. Also, if your interested in News and Sport - Keeping Scratch up to date music, radio or working in the music industry, on the latest news regardless of the topic along by registering with us as a volunteer will prove with all the latest sports. beneficial to you and will put you in contact [email protected] with other like minded people within the University and in the business. Promotions/Publicity - Keeping the station in the public eye, through various mediums. For Three is the magic number (just like De more info contact [email protected] la Soul preached); in order to become a volunteer. All three departments are keen to work with new students. 1. Apply for the application form at [email protected] Get Involved if you want to be heard. 2. Complete the application form 3. Return the complete application to [email protected] UP front UNION

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SPAGHETTI junction 11 Illustration: Daisy Whitehouse

UP front recycling

Recycling Goes Green

We have finally reached the last stretch; the end is in sight, but just how far away are we from reaching our goal?

Ok, so maybe the recycling campaign isn’t moving along as fast paced as the 100m sprit, but you catch my drift. Progress has been made, I repeat, progress has been made. The Freshers’ Fayre not only saw pink fresh faced youths creeping around campus, oh no... a whole new light was shone on the recycling fiasco. Representation and Campaigns Officer, Hannah Newland said: “I hope that students noticed our proactive approach to recycling at the Freshers’ Fayre this year. “We had recycling bins outside Bar 42 and also made sure we had some large wheelie bins available to recycle all the cardboard boxes. This is a lot more than we have done in the past.” Now, don’t be fooled in thinking that is all that is being done. A few extra bins are, of course, a step up from our previous facilities, but it is not nearly enough to minimise the unnecessary rubbish produced by the students on all Birmingham City University campuses. With over 150 people expressing an interest in joining an environmental society at this year’s Fayre, it’s pretty obvious that we do want something more permanent and effective to be done. Birmingham City Students’ Union proved, once again, to be very active in supporting the students’ concerns. Hannah explained the plans to set up “the first ever People and Planet society meeting!” Attracting a lot of students at this year’s Freshers’ Fayre provoked a coalition between the Union and one student, named Aaron Carford. Working with other members of staff, Hannah and Aaron are the driving force behind our recycling campaign, so thumbs up and a pat on the back to them both! With recycling in the bag, and the Switch Off Scheme still running in student halls of residence, we should rest easy knowing our Union is making a difference. Georgie Campbell 12 SPAGHETTI junction UP front

The universities join forces for their common cause... and party!

LesbianGayBisexualTransgender

BY COALITION Cherie Lyster

students were lucky enough to have their academic year kicked off with an innovative, inter-university Freshers night. Coalition, the organisation behind it saw Birmingham City University’s lesbian, LGBT gay, bisexual and transgender society join up in partnership with other Midland’s universities to put on a spectacular night out! The night began at Glamorous on Hurst Street where LGBT students from across the Midlands gathered for the event, and they were dressed up military style (that was the theme). They received free goodie bags and enjoyed exclusive drink promotions and competitions, with Birmingham City University’s own Dan Porterfield winning a free bottle of champagne. The party, made up of LGBT Freshers and returning students then moved on to trendy club Chic, where the students were given free shots at the bar. University rivalries were left at the door as students from various LGBT societies met strangers and crawled home with new friends.

The idea of Coalition began within our own LGBT society, with the motivation to create a more united front for student LGBT societies in the Midlands. For the first time in years, Midland’s LGBT societies will be working together on campaigns and club nights, this being the first of many LGBT events to come for Midland’s students. The night was a huge hit amongst the students who can’t wait for the next event, which is being planned for the end of November. They can also look forward to workshops and campaigns which will be taking place throughout the year.

As a united group of Student LGBT associations and societies in the Midlands, Coalition 2008; whether it be for partying or campaigning, promises to be a force to be reckoned with. Facebook group: Coalition Birmingham SPAGHETTI junction 13 UP front charity A HUNDRED CUP CAKES LATER...

Chocolate c u p c a k e s , fairy cakes, rice crispie cakes and carrot cakes...I can only be talking about one thing- oh yes, the coffee afternoon held on behalf of Macmillan Cancer support. Monday 27th October hosted the most successful coffee afternoon that has ever been held at the TIC. In one afternoon, we raised £200, from the sale of cakes and beverages! We are very grateful to all those who participated and were generous enough to contribute. Margaret Mulhall, who holds the fort at the TIC and Gosta Green Student Union offices approached me about getting involved in this. At first, I just liked the idea of being involved in something and meeting new people. However, after doing some research I realised what this task meant. It meant Macmillan’s could have a greater chance of sustaining its unfailing support of cancer patients and families; from funding nurses to holding conferences that inform about cancer. I committed a lot of time making up mini leaflets and baking cupcakes. Avi Sehmi, Edna Bates and Graham Gambin all donated cakes to the event where Lewis Read, Kat Harris and myself served cakes and beverages for donations. A lot of people had a personal interest in the charity for the work they do. Before the day was over, I was made aware how important our collective was. I have every confidence that the effort was worth it and I would encourage people to get involved with volunteering. I know that for me, this has been one of the prominent highlights of my university life so far. It is a great way to extend your social network, hosting skills that sometimes go unnoticed, learning new ones and in doing so benefiting worthy causes. If you do want to get involved, contact the Students’ Union, there are loads of things that you can do. Doing new things and growing as a person are part of the university experience, and volunteering goes beyond this as it allows you to have a positive impact on somebody else’s life. Mica Castillo 14 SPAGHETTI junction UP front jew society A belief behind a belief Judaism: it’s a love hate relationship with me, especially being both Jewish and irreligious. The University of Birmingham has allow people to connect on both only educate others, but also to more than 800 Jewish students, a spiritual and social level. Just interact with other societies, both there are 100 in Aston University passed was one of the holiest at Birmingham City University and and 250 here at Birmingham City days of the Jewish calendar, Yom Aston and Birmingham university. University. Taking into account Kippur, a day where Jews all over JSoc have done events with those relatively small numbers, the world are to fast and pray for societies from both Birmingham in comparison to the thousands forgiveness for all their sins. This and Aston university, such as the of students that study at those involves spending the majority LGBTQ and LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, universities, the Jewish Society at of their time in a synagogue. So Bisexual and Transgender society) Birmingham City University tries inevitably, JSoc provided a service and Sports Soc, organising to involve all the universities and that no more than 50 people were football tournaments and so on. As colleges, in order to create one expected to attend, as many go we live in a country which is more large Jewish student community. home for this day. Yet, 175 turned liberal and accepting, it is more The general associations that up to stand together. This can important now than ever to show surround Judaism are those be interpreted as evidence of that we do care for social diversity that do not entirely associate JSoc influencing Jewish solidarity within our lives. with JSoc. The ideology that this throughout Birmingham. But after praising such a student society has, is based The arguments have been society, what realistic negatives around social interaction rather put forward however, that JSoc, does it hold? Well the main thing than religious intervention. With and for that matter any other I can think of is that the diverse club nights, football and poker religion-based group, is an number of people whom involve tournaments, to volunteering in the exclusive club that can be thought themselves in JSoc is limited, and old age home, it is more of a party to alienate other people. It seems we are in dire need of others who way of life. There are nights that it would be easy to disprove want to help raise the awareness JSoc in Birmingham are famous this idea as the Jewish Society of Judaism amongst us. I am a for within the Jewish Student ensures that it does volunteer Jew, someone who might not community of the UK; such as work with outside organisations be as religious as some, but Booze for Jews, a clubbing night – packaging Christmas presents nevertheless, I am very proud of vast proportions - an event that for the needy, donating blood, of my heritage and have been most larger universities take part inter-society relations and so on. completely honest throughout this in. There is also Wasted Wej - an Also, technically, anyone of any piece. intense bar crawl throughout religion and ideology is able to In such a commercial and Birmingham. For those events join JSoc. Obviously the majority modern world, appreciating one’s alone, collectively about 2000 are Jews, but at JSoc, we have past and a lifestyle involving people came to party till the early an ideology of social and political religion is not something to go hours of the morn. So, it would acceptance, that we are soon amiss. It is part of an identity seem that JSoc is nothing but to delve into once university that few are proud of; you an excuse for getting drunk with has finished. I know I have met should never be afraid of being people of the same faith. However, numerous people who have said an individual, and following alternatively, JSoc follows up with that they have never met a Jew, or delving into traditions that many other events that celebrate and they seem so excited when I have been passed down from Jewish festivals as well; the most announce I am one. It is as if they generation to generation, even recent being Simchat Torah, are learning cold facts about some if it is for your own curiosity as which celebrates the end of us long forgotten religion, as though opposed to having to necessarily reading through the Torah (the Jews are some dead specimen believe. This is what JSoc stands Jewish Bible), which is read every on a Petri dish. People seem to for: making the statement that week at synagogues. In truth, the forget that there is still a large Judaism exists and will continue amazing thing about JSoc is that Jewish community within Britain to do so. it can bring together students from at the moment. So in turn, an all four corners of the UK, and important aspect of JSoc is to not Joshi Sallon

SPAGHETTI junction 15 Pictures: Caron Taplin

UP front city north

It’s all going on up North City North Campus is situated around 3 miles building, which includes Bar42, the Arc, several north of Birmingham city centre, and easily shops, SCRATCH radio station, Ria’s hairdressers reached via both train and bus services from and a Fair-trade coffee shop. Within the Students’ around the local area. First impressions of City Union building you can join numerous sports North Campus may leave you feeling blasé about teams, volunteering services and societies, such university life. Admittedly, not much is appealing as hockey, football, netball and rock climbing. to the eye; drab, grey buildings surround For more information on our Students’ Union, the middle walkway and the ever-confusing see: http://www.birminghamcitysu.com/. The quadrangle imitates a prison-like feel. Look closer Union organise frequent nights out, including the however, and you will find that Birmingham City acclaimed Toons (at Bar42), Wednesdays Are University’s North Campus boasts a wide range of Great (at Dragon Eye, now known as Sneak on facilities; both for academic related purposes and Broad Street) and The Big Squeeze (at many also social activities. pubs in the Broad Street vicinity) for which all you To aid your educational development, the need to produce is your student ID card…and William Kendrick Library, situated near to the some money. Students’ Union holds thousands of books, The campus car park is accessed via Wellhead journals and resources to do with all aspects Lane (behind the front entrance to the campus) of your course. Study rooms are accessible on and you are advised to arrive early so as to secure the 2nd and 3rd floor, both bookable and non- a space and avoid disappointment. bookable. However, it is advisable to book a room All in all, City North Campus, as the main campus in advance using the library website (http://library. for Birmingham City University, has a copious bcu.ac.uk/) if you are to definitely get a vacant amount of amenities for your benefit. They are all room. there to assist you during your time at Birmingham City North Campus is the University’s key City University so, why not use them? campus, and houses the main Students’ Union Emma Shilston 16 SPAGHETTI junction ADVERT UP front food miles A Meal Less Travelled With the environment and what we eat becoming a major concern for today’s society, Poppy French heads to Birmingham’s Wholesale market to investigate our food and where it’s all coming from.

The Government and the media (DEFRA), airfreight generates 117 are constantly bombarding us with times more green house gases than messages about our health, with shipping. However, it is important statistics like: “eat five portions of to note that food from abroad is fresh fruit and vegetables a day” often grown in much and “by 2050 60% of men and greener conditions 50% of women could be obese”. than food from [Department for Health] So, for the UK. For the good of our health, we are example, encouraged to change the way green beans we live. But with our tastes grown in changing and becoming Kenya are as international as they grown have ever been, how without is the way that we eat the use of affecting the environment tractors, and around us? the waste In the last century, our from cows is attitudes to food went through used as fertiliser. serious social and economic They also have low- changes in the UK; with the tech irrigation systems in world becoming a smaller Kenya, as well as providing place, all the taste sensations employment to many people from around the globe became in the developing world. available to us. This also Waste is also a huge allowed the constant supply factor in food, the of our favourite fruit and environment and basic vegetables from abroad. We economics. Birmingham City are now able to have access Council has estimated that to these all year round. This an average family throws has left us in the situation out £420 worth of good food where ‘half the vegetables every year and, according to and 95% of the fruit we the Love Food Hate Waste eat comes from abroad’ campaign, this is the same as [bbc.co.uk/ food]. With buying three bags of food and more recent concerns throwing one away. Obviously about the environment, as students, particularly those a neologism has been living in halls, we cannot be coined (by Dr. Tim Lang, described as an average family. Professor of Food at But have a think, how much of London City University) your student loan ends up in to explain the distance the bin? Milk or fruit you brought food travels from too much of and then it went off field to the plate, before you could eat it, vegetables known as food miles. you didn’t know what to do with, Increasingly, food is or a meal you cooked too much of arriving by plane as and then you threw the rest away. this saves valuable I certainly don’t want to preach as freshness time I myself am guilty of these things and, according to too but, with careful thought I have the Department of come up with some tips to help Environment, Food stop food waste, both benefiting the and Rural Affairs environment and your pocket.

18 SPAGHETTI junction UP front food miles

Get together with the people who share your kitchen, what foods do you have in common? Are there any meals you could make together and buy ingredients in bulk (often making them cheaper) and making enough This should be the same of meal so you can freeze portions with fruit and Vegetables and eat when ever your hungry? find it difficult to eat a whole bag of carrots or bunch of bananas before they go bad? Then share with a friend.

I always end up with mouldy bread, but have recently discovered it Only make you want. Think keeps perfectly in the freezer, so carefully about how much you you can have one slice whenever want to eat before you cook it. you want as it defrosts fine in the Think carefully about the times toaster. Frozen vegetables are also you haven’t finished all a meal a good idea as they will keep for and thrown it away. Could it have months in the freezer and you can been saved for when you were just use a portion when you need it. hungry later? Check out the lovefoodhatewaste website for information about portion sizes.

Enough of statistics though, as aspects of the catering industry. for the market; the current site has what do they actually mean to The food suppliers have seen become more difficult to update us students? Most of us feel that many changes in the habits of with recent consumer changes. we need to be more responsible consumers. It goes without saying So, the market will move to a new for the environment, whether it’s that we now do most of our site with better composting, water by joining in with Birmingham shopping in supermarkets, and and waste management systems. City Students’ Union recycling we now prefer our meat cut off If you visit the Bullring market, campaign, or taking the bus rather the carcass in portioned pieces. you will find produce from the than driving. But how many of Believe it or not, this has helped to wholesale market on sale. The you have considered the notion reduce food waste. For example, produce is more reasonably priced that what you eat affects the lamb from New Zealand is now than the supermarkets. Although environment? I wanted to know if being sent over cut off the carcass supermarkets are often branded my theories about people’s buying and vacuum packaged, meaning enemies to the green consumer, habits were on target, so I headed more food for consumption can be with the excess of packing and down to Birmingham Wholesale sent over. rejecting of more organic shaped Market to meet up with Simon The market also recycles. For fruit and veg, it is still possible Hughes to investigate further. example, for the products that to buy seasonal and often local Birmingham Wholesale Market is a come in Polystyrene, the packing produce. 21 acre site of Pershore Street, in can be reused or it can be turned So, whether you care about the centre of Birmingham. In 1974, in to briquettes, used in insulation. the environment or not, changing the market opened to trade in Also, all the pallets through- out your attitude towards food and meat, fish, poultry, fruit, vegetables the market are constantly reused your eating habits could save you and flowers. The market and then sold back into the some pounds whilst giving the provides goods for greengrocers, industry. environment a little boost as well. butchers, restaurants, and all I was also told of the new plans

SPAGHETTI junction 19 ADVERT Pictures: Poppy French

Features rugby society

A game for thugs, played by gentlemen

It was Oscar Wilde that said “Rugby is a good going to be a really easy game, and was seen occasion for keeping thirty bullies far from the as a training exercise, giving the whole of the 25 centre of the city.” And for his part, Wilde was right strong squad the opportunity to play. This certainly about one thing; Birmingham City Students’ Union was a strong start to the season. Men’s Rugby team’s first game of the season The rugby team has been was certainly miles from the city centre. described as being one of However bullies they were not, they all Birmingham City Students’ Union played like gentlemen towards the most successful sports teams. team from De Montfort, who were Squad member Jimmy Moore of a lesser ability than our brilliant spoke of how the team was a team. With a record breaking really social society with many score of 138-0, it was certainly a nights out, as well as practice one sided match. Our team was every Monday and Tuesday, with mostly made up of guys from a match on Wednesday. If you want last year, with some significant more information on the rugby team, new players. When the game had login to the sports section of the Union begun, it was quickly realised this was website-www.birminghamcitysu.com

SPAGHETTI junction 21 Features stampede

The plains of Broad Street were open, and everyone was off on the prowl. However hunting wasn’t on the mind of every fresher; tigers were drinking with rabbits, lions were sharing watering holes with the lambs, we were certainly a serene bunch! But with the drinks starting to flow, the roars and howls could be heard all over Broad Street as the sold out Stampede made its way up to Dragon Eye, the home of the Student Unions’ Wednesday’s are Great. Here you furry lot pranced and preened in three rooms of fabulous tunes, the favourites for the animals! After such a grrrreat, evening we must say the biggest animal thanks to the stewards. The top steward being Elgan Hughes who got a free ipod & the worst steward Jodie Gibney who got a wooden spoon. With fur beginning to fade, there were certainly more than two sleepy beavers out, we all headed home, back to holes, nests and hutches for a well deserved rest.

Snog a Steward

Collect a Thong

Hug a Rugby Player

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Illustrations: alex Hovey Illustration: Alex Hovey

Features big squeeze

24 SPAGHETTI junction Features big squeeze

With faces ranging from Heath Ledger’s ‘Joker’ to finely painted designs, we all headed out to Broad Street for some serious clowning around. From crocodiles to conjoined twins and everything in between, you were certainly a well-dressed bunch! After a perfect performance through the bars of Broad Street, we sauntered into Walkabout where the shenanigans continued. With the dancing moving into some impressive amateur dramatics you were all at your best and we at Spaghetti Towers were impressed! With make-up beginning to slide and comedy flowers starting to wilt, having left the clown cars at home, we all headed back in taxis, trying to fit the clown feet and balloon animals in the door; where we all headed off to bed to dream of the next fancy dress encounter...

SPAGHETTI junction 25 ADVERT

Moisture Student Culture beauty O kay, so not only have those wild nights during Freshers’ (together with somewhat excessive binge drinking) taken their toll on our skin - but we now have to face up to the facts. British weather is getting greyer (if that’s possible) and with autumn round the corner our skin craves a little TLC! But girls (and boys for that matter), don’t lose all hope just yet. We have hugely appealing tips to retain moisture for chicks on the move! We could just sit back and blame the weather or Mother Nature – but wisen up kids! Central heating and air conditioning. These may be technological marvels but they’re dermatological disasters! We are often unaware of just how much moisture is drawn out of the air and our skin as we resort to central and air conditioning to keep us warm. Too much ‘cleanliness is next to godliness’! When it comes to retaining moisture within your skin, water can appear to be the enemy. Inside your skin it keeps the cells plump and moist, but it has the opposite effect when you are met with it on the surface. Stripping your skin’s natural oils whilst believing you are ‘deep’ cleansing is a common mistake. Even if you suffer from the odd nasty spot it is important to retain a comfortable moisture balance so aim to get ‘soap free’ products. Moisture

MUsing a PH balancedaniac! face wash will maintain your skin’s natural oils while removing dirt and impurities. Ensure you use warm water as hot water will take away the skin’s natural moisture. Increase your water intake. This is the most important and cheapest way to stay hydrated and it keeps your hangovers at bay! We are expected to consume at least two litres of water per day, and with the typical student’s busy day to day lifestyle, juggling social activities with education, surely we would need to consume more? And if you use radiators to keep warm, then a bowl of water will soak up the heat instead of leaving it all to your skin to soak up!

Skin around the eyes is the most delicate and is often the first place to collect fine lines and, much to our disappointment the area that reveals tiredness and exhaustion. Using eye creams is essential this month and will ensure the area causes no discomfort. Top Tip: Mix a little eye cream with your favorite concealer and apply around the eyes. This will give you a natural coverage leaving the eye area hydrated for longer (even in attempting to cover up last night’s drunken antics/ facing a hangover during the following morning lecture!)

Chapped lips happen to the best of us and it doesn’t help when it’s self inflicted! Last night’s snogging may have left them a bit rough round the corners but not to worry, thanks to Dermalogica’s climate control lip treatment. Shea Butter, oat and lavender extracts enhance the barrier function of the skin. Not only will your lips stay looking luscious and tasting great but the lavender acts as an antiseptic barrier making that pout extra sexy for that special someone! Written by Roshan Adam For Roshan Adam’s Top 5 Beauty Buys visit the Spaghetti Junction fan page of Facebook by searching ‘Spaghetti Junction Student Magazine’.

Picture: Alis Pelleschi Student Culture fashion on campus

We’re more than a month in now and you crazy cats are still parading down the catwalk we call university life, and that’s what we like to see! This issue we’ve hunted down some of the fashionable folk from Birmingham’s Institute of Art and Design at Gosta Green. So people, feast your eyes on this sauve of students and maybe next time you’ll find yourself amongst these colourful pages.

Amy Amy

Fashion Design Studies at BIAD Glasses- D&G Dress- Punk Shop Jacket- Charity Shoes- Punk Shop Top- H&M Top- H&M Trousers- H&M Scalf- H&M Shoes- H&M If you need your Amy happens room redesigning to be a culinary don’t worry, call genius with Sushi as in Amy, she’s her speciality! on speaking terms with Kevin McCloud from Grand Designs!

Gina Lisa

Studies at BIAD Studies at BIAD Dress- Miss Selfridge Scalf- Market Top- Topshop Jeans- H&M Shoes- Office Jacket- Charity Scalf- Market Top- Charity

It’s not just the Forget your Prozac? sauce that’s from It’s okay, Lisa loves to Worcester, so’s this make people smile! spicy number!

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Stewart Daniel

Studies at BIAD Illustration Shirt- River Island Top- Topman Jeans- H&M Shirt- Topman Trainers- Schu Jeans- Topman Shoes- Converse Stewart wouldn’t shave his head Beam him up for less than Scotty because £1m. Sounds like Daniel loves to someone’s in need draw Sci-fi! of a reality check!

June Linda

Fashion Fashion Shirt- H&M Hat- Taiwan Skirt- China Top- Forrina Shoes- China Jacket- China Jeans- All Saints And you thought Shoes- J.U.S.T. Poppy and Jak were sleepy Noodle bars watch beavers, well June out. Linda’s not can sleep for 16 picky she likes all hours! the noodles she can get her hands on!

Antony William Visual Communication Studies at BIAD Hat- Topman Coat- Debenhams Jacket- Topman Trousers- Topman Top- Topman Trainers- Hong Kong Jeans- Topman Jumper- TK Maxx Shoes- Converse William doesn’t like Antony’s a talented to see food go to young fellow, waste, he’ll even with the ability eat the chicken’s to down a pint in feet! three seconds. That’s quite an achievement!

SPAGHETTI junction 29 Student Culture natalie’s cookery corner Natalies Cookery Corner

Hey all, I hope you like these scrumptious meals, that all use cheap and eco-friendly ingredients; in keeping with the theme of this issue of reducing your carbon footprint! So, you can keep the environment healthy as well as yourself! Enjoy! Toad in the Hole with Mashed Potato(40 minutes) This is a favourite of my flatmates and I and it is also a great winter warmer. It can use either pork or vegetarian sausages, and is best served with creamy mash, gravy (and some vegetables)! 1 120g flour (sifted) 2 240g sausages 3 2 eggs 4 300ml milk 5 Pinch of salt 6 Large knob of butter Here’s how you do it: To make the batter, put the sifted flour, eggs, milk and a pinch of salt into a mixing bowl and beat well until bubbles appear in the mixture. Take the sausages, brown them for about ten minutes at a high temperature in a frying pan with some oil. Heat the butter in an ovenproof dish or baking tin and pour the batter mixture into the dish. Then drop the sausages in the batter. Cook on 200 degrees for about 40 minutes. While the toad in the hole is cooking you can make the mash! It takes 20 minutes in total.

You’ll need: 1 3 pounds potatoes 2 water to cover 3 125ml to 175ml milk 4 6 tablespoons butter, room temperature 5 3/4 teaspoon salt 6 1/8 teaspoon pepper Peel the potatoes and cut into large chunks. Boil water in saucepan, and put ¾ of the teaspoon salt in the water. Cook the potatoes in boiling water with a lid for 15-20 minutes until they’re tender. Drain the potatoes. Mash in a large mixing bowl until no lumps remain. Add milk in small amounts, beating each time, until correct consistency. Add the butter, ¼ teaspoon salt, and pepper, beating until mashed potatoes are light and fluffy. Makes enough mashed potatoes for 6 to 8 people.

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Picture: Jak Flash Student Culture natalie’s cookery corner Flapjacks Flapjacks are very quick to make and satisfying for any sweet tooth. Below is the basic recipe, but of course you can experiment and put in nuts, dried fruit, or chocolate chips if you fancy! 1 225g Rolled Oats 2 75g Brown Sugar 3 3 Tablespoons (75g) Golden Syrup 4 100g Margarine Here’s how you do it: Put the oven onto 180 degrees and grease a baking tray. Mix the margarine, sugar and golden syrup and heat gently in a saucepan. Once the mixture has melted, pour in the oats and stir. Then place mixture into the baking tray and press down firmly to ensure all the mixture will be stuck together. Cook in the oven for around 20-25 minutes. Take out the oven and let it harden a bit. Then cut it into sections before it completely cools. When cool remove from the tin and eat!

Macaroni & Cheese (20 minutes) Everybody’s favourite! Simple, cheap and tasty. Lots of cheese...how can you go wrong really? This recipe serves four people – so you and your friends can have a quick meal – as it’s ready in about 20 minutes! You’ll need: 1 250g macaroni 2 40g butter 3 40g plain flour 4 1 pint of milk 5 250g cheddar (grated) 6 50g parmesan (grated)

Here’s how you do it: Cook the macaroni according to the instructions. At the same time, melt the butter in a saucepan that’s bigger than the one you used to cook the macaroni in. Add in the flour and mix together. Then gradually whisk in the milk and cook on a low heat for 10-15 mins. Pre-heat the grill at this time. Add 175g of the cheese to the sauce and make sure it is all melted in. Then add the macaroni and mix it all together. Then, transfer it to an ovenproof dish and sprinkle over the remaining cheeses, then place under the grill. Leave it until the cheese on the top is golden and bubbling. Then serve and enjoy! Yummy!

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Picture: Poppy French Student Culture student of the month STUDENT OF THE MONTH

Studying down at Bournville, Rachel Anderson is sewing up a storm. Recommended by her elective teacher for her outstanding textile work, Rachel talks to Spaghetti Junction about her work, her prizes and her future. After winning £500 for her Alice in Wonderland inspired collection, Rachel continued on at Birmingham City University, where she is currently taking her second year.

Why did you choose to stay in Birmingham to take your degree? After college I wanted to do the foundation course, and I was told Birmingham City University was the best place locally to go to. So, after the foundation course, it just seemed like the obvious place to study as I was already there.

Why did you choose to do Visual arts by negortiated study? I was initially enroled on the Textile Design course- but then at the end of the foundation course, my work started to become more fine art/textiles, which I felt the textiles course wouldn’t accomodate for. The Visual arts course allows me to work with textiles, but also allows me to work in a more fine art sense, which is much better suited to what I do; plus I get to write my own projects, so I focus on what I want.

How are you finding the course, and do you feel it’s helping you to develop your skills? I’m really enjoying the course as a whole- considering the fact that it wasn’t a course that I initially considered, I think it has definitely worked out to be the best course for me. The tutors really encourage you to push your work further, and to incorporate different disciplines within your own work, which I think has really helped me push my skills forward and helped me to develop my ideas.

How long have you been interested in textiles? I did fashion at secondary school, but I started to be really interested in textile based art whilst I was at college. I think the foundation course really helped me to realise where my interest lies, and since then I have just kind of developed my interest in textiles.

You won £500 at the end of your foundation course from the Royal Society of Decorative Arts, what did you have to do to win that? I won it for my end of year project, which I based around the children’s story Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. I created the key characters from the story out of textiles and kind of ‘recreated’ the Mad Hatter’s Tea party, which is one of my favourite projects I have done. It was a real surprise to win the money. I was really pleased though, and the money helped me buy the materials for last year.

After finishing your degree what would you like to go into? I’m still really unsure as to where I would like to be in the fututre. I’m kind of using this year to explore the possible careers I could take, though at the moment I am quite interested in costume design, which is something I’m going to look into.

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Picture: Jak Flash Student Culture study tips Essential Study Tips for the Modern Day Student So, we’ve realised by now that things are changing. No more do students lock themselves away in dark and dusty rooms for three years with their heads buried in an old leather-bound book. Oh no, times have changed and so must we. Of course, I’m not condemning books, far from it! Books should be every student’s best friend. But choosing the right book, learning to skim read and effectively summarise can prove challenging at the best of times. So here goes... essential tip of the day: read the ‘contents’ page. It may sound simple, but believe it or not, most students pick books solely by their title or blurb. Academic books and journals are not written in a confusing way on purpose, but after combining several studies it would be hard to summarise the entire book in a two paragraph blurb on the back cover. Reading the introduction and conclusion can normally give you an idea what the article or study is about, avoiding wasted time reading something that is totally irrelevant. Effective studying can make the ideal student, but how do we go about retaining the information? Does the answer lie within your diet? Actually, yes! Believe it or not, what we eat does affect our memory. So, tip number two: eat fresh fruit and vegetables. I know, I know, you don’t want to be nagged at to eat healthily, but it will honestly affect your studying. Dark green, leafy and root vegetables, such as broccoli, carrots and sweet potatoes are especially good for you. If the green fingered approach is not your thing, whole grains (such as brown basmati rice or oats and rye) oily fish (such as sardines or mackerel) or even eggs have been proven to give your memory a boost. You’ll by wishing you’d paid more attention to this advice when sitting in an exam with “writer’s block”. So get down to your local supermarket and stock that fridge! So we’ve got the body and brain sorted, but what about group work? This is a tricky one. You either like or you hate it. But there are ways to work through it without tearing out your hair. If you prefer individual work, it will help to divide the group into sections. Working on a single section will allow some individual work, whilst collating together as a group for the overall project. If you are the complete opposite and prefer to work in groups, you will of course suffer on individual assignments. To conquer this... talk to a classmate about your work. Getting advice from someone else provides similar support as in a group. With these tips in tow, everyone can become the “Student Idol”. Eating healthily and reading the correct material may seem simple but it will help. So, armed with essential tips, you will overcome anything your course can throw at you. Georgie Campbell

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Picture: Alis Pelleschi ADVERT Words & Picture: Jak Flash Arts & Entertainment bands in university

Kneale Brown A child in the eyes of the Lord

Solo artist Kneale Brown takes it as it comes. He’s During his performance, Kneale stopped to talk to not seeking fame or money, he seems to be in it for his listeners. It was already personal with us sitting the music alone. He’s studying Music Tech, which he so close but still Kneale persists in reminding us that doesn’t see as being a course that will throw him into he’s human, just like the rest of us and he’s here to the music industry and believes if it does happen, it’ll share the music. He discarded the microphone and be purely by accident. To him, a degree is more like preformed directly and if anything, it increased the an experience, not something that necessarily puts vitality of his melodic ballads. you into a career. He’s under no delusions about his He started singing at school and was asked to join future and it’s this honesty and openness that makes a band by his friends when he was 14, which is where him so inviting. he learnt to play guitar. Clearly with time and practice In the expanse that is Bar42, Kneale played to a his talent progressed, bringing a new perspective to small crowd, strumming away at his guitar, playing a variety of music. He used to like a lot of 60s bands something he calls ‘acoustic pop’, although from the like The Doors but, since coming to university, his lyrics and the intensity he brings across in his voice, taste has deviated into the works of processed beats it’s clearly something deeper. from the likes of Aphex Twin and Björk, leaving us With the crowd spread across the room, Kneale with the artist that he is today. calls everyone in telling them to bring their chairs, He took a year out before coming to Birmingham making the whole set a lot more personal. He’s got a City University and played an assortment of gigs with great vocal range and it’s clear he’s dedicated to the Indie and function bands, whilst managing as many music as it rides through him. We see him briefly lift short or free college courses that he could. off his seat, carried away by the momentum of the He believes not that music should be free, but music and, playing his new song Fresh brings the that the artist should really work for what they earn. tempo of the music up. He’s currently recording it with Instead of paying a great expense for an album, a guy called Sidney Kabul from the Conservatoire, Kneale would prefer to give you his music for you to and hopefully it’ll be released onto his Myspace in enjoy. coming months. It’s definitely something to look out for. www.myspace.com/knealebrown SPAGHETTI junction 35 Arts & Entertainment live review

See that girl over “there? She’s TheBeggars been to every single gig we’ve played this tour.

She’s made us a new hearty set full of old and new song as intricate as Leonard fan page and all...” Well, gems. Their new material, Cohen’s The Future and not with fans like that, this such as Mays Lane, is fail miserably is a result band really must have more mature and that most could not something. What’s more is r e f l e c t i v e , achieve – yet they that they appreciate their showing the do, and they fans and their devotion. a u d i e n c e truly make it Wednesday 8th October t h a t their own, was a fine night for the t h e r e ’ s replacing Carling Bar Academy. a lot to Cohen’s Reading-based Indie band, c o m e gravelly Beggars, had arrived in from the voice with Birmingham. The quartet band – Girdlers. have supported no less h a v i n g Their than The Courteeners, b e e n M y s p a c e Babyshambles, and Joe t o g e t h e r page lists a Lean and the Jing Jang for less than mountain of Jong at different points three years, but influences from this year, and (at the time having known each Buffalo Springfield to of writing) are currently other since childhood. The Kinks via the likes of on their own 21 day This bond can be seen The Beatles, The Libertines headlining tour of the UK through their performance; and Bowie. Through this, that culminates at London’s Jamie Girdler along with they’ve managed to forge 100 Club mid October. his brother Justin and the their own completely There wasn’t as large of a two Dan’s -Webb and Starr, natural sound that is like a turnout as one could have showcase songs about love, breath of fresh air on the expected for these boys, life, drugs and politics... competitive indie scene. who have played to sold- that they make somehow Oh, and just to top it out crowds across the tie together into anecdotes off, they’re all good country, but this was not that you don’t want to end. looking! A recipe for going to stop them from “Lost in thoughts of past success? I think so... putting on a blinder of a set. regrets, scattered thoughts You’ll be hearing more There was an air of mystery and cigarettes/making plans of Beggars soon, in the room, as the band, you forget” introduce the trust me on this one. who don’t behave song Someday too Soon Find their blog on http://www. like most other and have a sort of youngmodsforgottenstory. rising talents melancholy grace, blogspot.com and on the scene, compared with the more information on quietly took catchy lyrics of You their myspace page, to the stage and Me, one of www.myspace.com/ and then their older tunes. beggarsband gave the After all, a band Natalie Marchant audience a who can cover a 36 SPAGHETTI junction Arts & Entertainment live review

THOU SHALT NOT F**K WITH THIS

When a gig starts at 7:00 p.m, and at 7:00 p.m you are the only one there-and I mean the only one there, you get a little bit worried. I’m talking like I wasn’t just first in the queue, I was the queue! Luckily for me (and Akala’s ticket sales I guess), more people arrived, the doors opened and I was in, out of the cold and wet! This was my second Akala gig and my first time at the Bar Academy, part of the Carling Academy family. The man himself wasn’t due on stage until 9:30p.m so there was a bit of time to kill. Luckily, there was a DJ on stage to keep the crowd entertained. I say luckily, what I actually mean is the man was awful! I have no idea who he was but I think I could have done a better job! It’s like dude, learn AKAhow to use the decks and you might get somewhere!L AAs fun as it was listening to a bad DJ, myself and my fellow Akala fan Caroline decided that now was a really good time to go to Macdonalds. I have to say, in my whole life, I have never been so happy to see that big yellow ‘M’. After filling up on fries and milkshakes, we headed back to the BA where thankfully, the DJ was almost done. Time for the support act-a rapper named Sincere, who, I’ll be honest, I felt was anything but. He had some talent, but he was nothing special. Maybe I felt like that because I was comparing him to Akala...who knows? When Mr not so Sincere in my opinion sauntered off the stage, I felt like I was going to burst from sheer excitement! I knew what was coming next, the Shakespeare of the urban world... Akala! As the comparisons with Shakespeare suggest, this man is legendary. The crowd went crazy the second LIhe stepped ontoVE the stage. He performed tracks from his current mixtape (The War Mixtape Vol II), some of which were updated versions of his earlier work, like Roll Wid Us (featured on the Kidulthood soundtrack). Another highlight of the night was Bit by Bit, a track taken from his second album Freedom Lasso. He performed it acoustically which was a beautiful thing to witness. Also on the playlist were Electro Livin, Bulls**t and Freedom Lasso, all songs which get the crowd going, as well as a few freestyles thrown in for good measure. Then, the track that proves why he is referred to as Shakespeare, Comedy Tragedy History, where he incorporates all the titles of Shakespeare’s plays, as well as quotes from them. If that isn’t lyrical genius then I don’t know what is. His set had flown by, and I loved every minute of it. The last song of the evening was (of course) Shakespeare, one of my favourite Akala tracks, and with good reason. As amazing as Akala is, he is still very much an underground artist and I have no idea why. He is, by far one of the most talented rappers the UK has ever produced, if not the most talented. All of the self proclaimed greatest rappers could learn a few things from him...as the man says himself ‘Thou shalt not f**k with this’! Roxanne Hawker

SPAGHETTI junction 37 Arts & Entertainment album reviews ALBUM REVIEWS Shakespeare said that music was the food of love…here at Spaghetti Junction, we say that music is the reason why Shakespeare said that. Clever, I know. Here are some of the latest album releases reviewed, just for you, enjoy!

ASHANTIthe vault After three platinum selling albums, Ashanti returned this year with her fourth album that has struggled to reach gold status, never mind produce a hit single. With The Declaration being labelled a flop, it could be said that her new release is the label’s way of countering their losses, as The Vault is a collection of unreleased tracks the former R&B sensation recorded during her early years; otherwise known as 2001 when Murder Inc. were still called Murder Inc. and people still bought Ashanti’s albums. The old recordings have been revamped as they have been paired with present day beats, created by some of the hottest new producers. Kidd Kold produces the majority of the album, adding irresistible, exciting beats, but the highlight comes from the single Let’s Do Something Crazy which was produced by newcomer Migs. It must be said that The Vault does contain some hidden gems, but it’s sad that Ashanti has to turn to recordings from her once golden era to keep her in the charts. SUGABABEScatfights and spotlights Despite scoring one of their biggest hits last year with About You Now, the babes have lost some of their sparkle, and are attempting to put some electricity back into their sound, with Catfights and Spotlights. The girls are touting the album as their most “mature” outing yet - no bad thing for an act now on its sixth album. More alarmingly, the group who’ve given us some of the best pop singles of the 21st century - Freak Like Me, Push The Button to name a few, are claiming to have moved on from pop. But no need to fear just yet- lead single Girls with its brassy chorus, is as radio-friendly as anything they’ve ever released. Highlights include new single No Can Do and Mercy which pays homage to the sixites. Catfights and Spotlights is a far more sensible album than we’ve seen before and is the sound of Sugababes growing up gracefully. 4/5 Lee Lawrence

OASISdig out your soul Liam, Noel, Gem and Belly are back with their 7th studio album Dig Out Your Soul, along with new drummer Chris Sharrock (let’s see how long this one lasts!) They appear to have ventured towards a more psychedelic, slightly electronic, electric guitar and heavy drum lead sound you would expect to hear from Kasabian and, at times, The Chemical Brothers’ lighter stuff. The cynics may laugh this album off, but it’s a step in a different direction. Bag It Up, a song that will be recognisable for the lyrics: “got my heebijeebies in a little bag”...whatever that means, is definitely good. Watch out for I’m Outta Time, a song which took Liam Gallagher a self proclaimed nine years to write, in dedication to the memory of John Lennon. Overall, this is a respectable return to form from the Mancunians, with eight out of 11 tracks being worthy, the boys are a definite Oasis in the desert that is the music world... 4/5 Ash James 38 SPAGHETTI junction Arts & Entertainment DVD reviews DVD REVIEWS There is nothing better than completely ignoring your university work and settling down with a good DVD. With that in mind, Joel Harley has reviewed some of the latest DVD releases. Although, be warned, he seems to hate Family Guy... THE HAPPENING Marky Mark Whalberg talks to a potted plant. A plastic one at that. People start to commit suicide because Mother Nature and her plants tell them to through the means of some chemical or something. Zooey Deschanel looks bewildered (and a bit stoned) throughout. And a man feeds himself to a lawnmower. Yes, the worst movie of 2008 is now on DVD! M Night Shyamalan’s The Crappening manages to out-terrible his entire back catalogue (including the one in the village and the one with the fish lady), with 90 minutes of idiocy, bad acting and ineptitude on all fronts. Pretty much everything here is awful, the only redeeming point being its unintentionally comic undertones. Seriously, there are some hilarious moments in this film. If you really hate yourself (and I’m talking an intense self loathing), buy the two disc special edition, which includes an extended cut. I don’t know about Mother Nature, but this film sure made me want to kill myself. 0/5 FAMILY GUYseason 7 Yes, they recomissioned it again. Season seven of everyone’s favourite Simpsons rip-off arrives on DVD, as original as ever. Sorry, did I say original? I meant faux- offensive, unfunny and stupid. I could summarise some episodes, but the plots are interchangeable really, and just a collection of repetitive non-sequitors. There’s nothing particularly new, just a slew of the same old “remember that one time…” jokes, mostly without punch lines, and a reliance on FAT MAN FALL DOWN FAST and I REMEMBER THAT FROM THE 80s stuff, all served up with a side order of bad characterisation and extra servings of Seth Macfarlane’s horrible ‘acting’. There is also an evil baby with an ‘British’ accent, as well as a dog that can talk (and drive and read and write...) More of the same then. If you liked the first six seasons, then you’ll like this. Incidentally, this gets one star simply because it isn’t American Dad. Don’t get me started… 1/5 DOCTOR WHOcomplete series 4 Who would have thought that Catherine Tate could make such an endearing sidekick? Many were sceptical, but Donna Noble is a success. Her relationship with the Doctor (David Tennant) is great to watch, the pair making a funny, organic odd-couple act. It’s a refreshing change from the unrequited love-ins of past companions. Series 4 is consistently strong. Standout episodes include the library double bill, and the tense Midnight. Of course, everyone will be talking about the series finale, which reunites old favourites and characters from other series, as well as Davros and the Daleks. It feels a tad self indulgent at times, and the ending is a bit… easy, but these are minor qualms. It’s a cracking tale, and Doctor Who remains the last word in Saturday night family entertainment. Also included on the DVD is the Christmas special, and the Comic Relief thing. A good box set, with plenty of bang for your buck. 4/5

SPAGHETTI junction 39 Arts & Entertainment film reviews FILM REVIEWS

Wondering what’s hot and what’s not at the cinema? We have reviewed some of the latest releases to hit the silver screen! So, happy viewing-but don’t blame us if your popcorn is stale, we just review the films not the cinema!

BURN AFTER READING Low-level CIA data analyst Ozzie Cox (John Malkovich, on fine, sweary form) quits his job, just as his wife (Tilda Swinton) decides to take her affair with her horny lover, Harry Pfarrer (George Clooney) to the next level. Things get complicated when a couple of blue collar gym workers (Frances McDormand and Brad Pitt) find Ozzie’s bitter memoirs in a changing room. Mistaking them for something important, they decide to blackmail Ozzie. Things escalate, strangeness ensues and John Malkovich swears a lot. The Coens have assembled a great cast. no one to care for. Even McDormand’s sad gym Clooney and Pitt remind us that they still know how instructor is a tad too selfish to invite sympathy. to act, with George giving the serious political plap Many people won’t like Burn After a rest, and Brad stepping out from under Angelina’s Reading simply because it isn’t No Country For Old big pouty shadow. Pitt, particularly, is a revelation. Men. Next to that particular masterpiece, it inevitably His character is a bouncing, childlike fool with bad comes up short. But in of itself, this is a funny, clever highlights. Every moment he’s onscreen is a great and original piece that’ll have you thinking about it for one. Clooney gurns like crazy beneath his slightly iffy days afterwards. You’ll enjoy it, but you’ll question beard. Unfortunately, this over-the-top brainlessness why. It’s fun, but disposable. The title, perhaps, is from all involved hurts the film slightly; full of somewhat apt then… 4/5 Joel Harley characters that are all idiots, deviants and crazies, who are we supposed to root for? Really, there’s THE HOUSE BUNNY Shelly (Anna Faris) is a big Bunny on Campus at Hugh Hefner’s Playboy Mansion. With her 27th birthday approaching, Shelly eagerly anticipates the fulfilment of her dream: of being the centrefold of the month. Sadly, her dreams are dashed when Shelly learns that she is being booted from Bunny land for being too old. She finds herself with no family or place to call home. Desperate for both, she stumbles across the socially inept sisters of the Zeta Alpha Zeta sorority. With no hope of attracting new pledges and the consequent threat of losing their sorority, the girls family that needs her most. of Zeta take in Shelly as their new “house mother.” Faris (who co-produced the film) is a comic delight as Shelly immediately sets to work, helping the Zetas Shelly, with a perfect blend of sexy charm and sweet- bring out their inner Glamazons whilst also catching natured cluelessness. Supported by an excellent cast the eye of Oliver (Colin Hanks), who forces her to of fresh faces, The House Bunny is an irresistible tale realise that it will take more than the Playboy Mansion of inner beauty and “sisters” sticking together. and her bunny ways to win over a good man. Finally Its tag may read Legally Blonde meets Mean Girls (and perhaps somewhat predictably), Hugh Hefner but strip away the second hand attire, and The House calls to offer Shelly her dream centrefold shoot. It Bunny manages to stand on its own thanks to Anna is then that she must make a decision: fulfilling her Faris’ comic genius. 4/5 Lee Lawrence dreams and returning to the family that loved her best or leaving that behind and saving her new sorority

40 SPAGHETTI junction Arts & Entertainment theatre & book review THEATRE & BOOK REVIEWS For those of you who are a bit more cultured, we have both a book and a theatre review. So, when you have read the book, you can pop down to the theatre for some general thespian type activities. Woohoo! BLOOD BROTHERS Blood brothers are two males related by birth, or men who aren’t related by birth, who swear loyalty to one another. The musical tells a story revolving around twins who were separated at birth. The twins’ different backgrounds take them to the opposite ends of the social spectrum, one becoming an Oxbridge graduate and the other ending up on the dole. With a twist of fate, the brothes become best friends and both fall in love with the same girl. Ultimately, this conflict leads to their tragic death. The mother of the twins, Mrs Johnstone, was played by Niki Evans who was the runner up of last year’s X Factor. She had a fantastic voice and an amazing stage presence. She also had a very convincing scouse accent even though she’s actually from Birmingham. Niki played the part excellently and you could really empathise with her character. The musical was also humorous throughout which actors who played the twins, switched flawlessly from complimented the dramatic storyline. They even made hyperactive children to troubled adults and had such a joke about the fact they’d used the same actor for good chemistry that you would actually believe they the milk man and the doctor. were brothers. The narrator worked well alongside the Blood Brothers had a justified standing ovation. storyline, flittering around the characters as though However, I wouldn’t recommend it if you don’t like he was a conscience or a shadow. I wasn’t however, loud bangs, or if you know the story well and aren’t overly impressed with his singing voice. accustomed to change as the ending is apparently I didn’t know the storyline before seeing Blood different to the play. I also felt it was quite abrupt to Brothers at the Hippodrome. This made me a finish, which spoiled the atmosphere, but overall I bit apprehensive about it, but I thought it was think it’s a musical that is definitely worth watching. well performed and you could easily relate to the Kirsty Dronfield characters which made it even more moving. The GONE FOR GOOD harlan coben This heart stopping thriller is not one to be left on the bedside table for too long. Full of unexpected twists and turns, it will not only impress every student out there but is guaranteed to leave you looking for more Coben novels. After eleven years of being known as a murderer’s brother, Will Klein’s life finally seemed to be getting back on track. The Klein family were left at the centre of an international manhunt, when a young girl was found brutally strangled in her basement close to the family’s home. Will’s brother, Ken found himself in the frame but disappeared and had not been seen since. Convinced his brother is dead, Will tried to get on with his life, securing a job and a girlfriend, but the cracks began to show after his mother reveals Ken is still alive, over a decade since his disappearance. Shocked and heartbroken by his mother’s news, Will’s life shatters as he discovers his new girlfriend Sheila is missing. Determined to find her, Will crosses over to a side of town he swore he would never go to again. Looking under every stone in the New Jersey for clues as to Sheila’s whereabouts, Will stumbles across some life changing information... that Sheila is wanted for a savage double murder herself. Is history repeating itself? Will everyone that gets close to him become a villain? Georgie Campbell SPAGHETTI junction 41 Arts & Entertainment horoscopes

HOROSCOPESby joel harley SCORPIO (Oct 24-Nov 22) TAURUS (Apr 21-May 21) A particularly vicious bout of flu is in the Destiny hands you a key. But not a proper air this month, so you might want to watch one: one of those metaphorical things that yourself. I’d suggest carrying a gas mask don’t mean anything really. I know you’re in your bag, just in case. Also handy for disappointed, but pretend to be happy anyway. dealing with those fellow students who Hopefully next time it’ll be keys to a Bentley. aren’t too up on their personal hygiene.

GEMINI (May 22-Jun 21) (Nov 23-Dec 21) SAGITTARIUS Nipping into a public toilet, you might recognize a Ho hum, you lot don’t live very interesting lives, do certain phone number on the cubicle wall. If you you? It’s like trying to read biscuits. Those ‘nice’ don’t, give it a call anyway. It’s the number to my biscuits with the word ‘nice’ printed on them. Spice psychic hotline. Calls charged £1.50 a minute. things up a bit: go join a fight club or something. Downmarket, maybe – but do you know how much newspaper advertising costs these days? CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 20) You remember I said you were gullible before? CANCER (Jun 22-Jul 23) No? I did, take my word for it. Anyway, double Your love life is looking up this month. No that for this month, because people really start not there, I said look up. It’s parachuting to take advantage. Maybe it’s because they at you from a great height. So, uh, take read it in a previous issue. Incidentally, did cover. It’s raining men, hallelujah. Or you know that gullible isn’t in the dictionary? not, depending on your sexual orientation.

AQUARIUS (Jan 21-Feb 19) Leo (Jul 24-Aug 23) Your obsession with a certain Indie comedy Love life looking a bit gloomy? Hit the town programme sees you earmarked as an idiot this with a few chums and paint it red. There’s no month, so stop spouting stupid catchphrases guarantees you’ll pull (what am I, psychic??) like you invented them. Get into My Family but you’ll have a good time, all the same. instead. People will think it’s ironic and hey Think Sex and the City. Only the city’s presto, you’ve invented “the next big thing.” Birmingham and the sex is a bit rubbish.

PISCES (Feb 20-Mar 20) Virgo (Aug 24-Sep 23) Like a cat chasing its own tail, you’re not going The answer, apparently, is yes. I know to catch that prize no matter how hard you try. that’s not very helpful, but cold reading isn’t And, like a dog chasing traffic, there’s going easy, and I’m not very good at it. Just keep to be a messy accident if you don’t give it up. asking questions, and sooner or later you’ll get whatever it is you’re after. Possibly.

ARIES (Mar 21-Apr 20) LIBRA (Sep 24-Oct 23) I know what you did last summer. And you’re gonna Oh no you didn’t!!! Actually, no, you didn’t. have to pay generously to keep me quiet. That And now you’re going to regret it for the rest thing you did with the… thing… and the hooks? of your life. A little downbeat perhaps, but Damn, that was harsh. Like I said… generously. them’s the breaks. I just tells it like I sees it.

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