WWW.BADGERONLINE.CO.UK
PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
FREE
21 OCTOBER 2013, WEEK 5
THE
Scan to find us online
badgeronline.co.uk @TheBadgerNews /thebadger.ussu
SUSSEX SAYS
BADGER
THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE STUDENTS’ UNION
FEATURE
The impact black Page 3 have had on players the ‘beautiful game’ Page 8 Page 5
Ant and mum’s Saturday Night Takeaway
SCIENCE DEBATE
Should the UK boy14 winter cottPage the 2014 olymins in Russia Page 11
ARTS
A focus on the vibrant electirc music scene in Brighton Page 14
SPORTS TUNE IN ONLINE
Tired of seagulls? Try the Whitehawks
Page 20
‘Project L’: campus party out of control ‘TWERKING IN THE KITCHEN SINK, GARBAGE DUMP FOR A KITCHEN FLOOR AND DRIED VODKA AS A TABLE CLOTH’
Zoe Ambrozewska A party on campus on Friday 11 October became “uncontrollable” when an estimated 500-700 people turned up, leaving disorderly behaviour and plenty of damage caused to property in its wake with a similar figure confirmed by University staff. Residents of Lancaster House accommodation had used various social networks to organise the party, nicknamed ‘Project L’, with over 500 individuals accepting the open Facebook invite. With growth in the use of social media over the past few years, Facebook events are now notorious for breeding destruction, and recently led to the eruption of a riot in a Dutch town. Hundreds of students descended on the Lancaster House building resulting in drunken, unruly and damaging actions by some of the more rowdy students. One of the Lancaster House residents at the helm of ‘Project L’, who calls herself “Mintie”, told that: “We had no idea of the way people would behave”, and went on to recall various events, including a smashed window and damage to four of the fire extinguishers. Despite the danger associated with
these acts, however, nobody involved in causing the damage and none of the residents have been cautioned or reprimanded by the University housing office. Additionally, facilities in the kitchens and bathrooms were subject to more destructive behaviour; with corridors leading up to the flat covered in broken bottles, cigarette butts, and general litter. The University has warned that “Although this party passed off largely without incident, it is a timely reminder for students to be mindful about putting up open invitations, whether on Facebook or elsewhere”. While cautious that large numbers might flock to flat, Mintie insisted that she wasn’t expecting the event to draw as monolithic a crowd as it did. “We really weren’t worried about the numbers I guess because there is quite a lot of space on the floor”, she said. “We had no idea how many people would turn up as we couldn’t be sure if it was all just hype. “If I’m honest I was quite sceptical because I thought the most people I’d seen at a uni house party was about 50, so there was no way 500 plus people would come to ours.”
Continued on page 3...
A campus party spiralled out of control when up to 700 people congregated at Lancaster House, with accusations of broken windows, busted fire extinguishers and stolen possessions.
Sussex excels at student dissatisfaction Gabriel Webber
Statistics released last month show that the University of Sussex received almost four times more formal complaints from students than the national average for institutions of a similar size. The Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) revealed that one in every 63 students had filed a formal complaint against the University last year, with Sussex coming second in the band of institutions with
up to 7,000 more students. For the last eight years, students across England and Wales have been able to refer unresolved complaints about their universities to the OIA, which also has the legal power to demand information from higher education institutions. Of cases which were escalated to this final stage at Sussex, 3 complaints were found to be either ‘Justified’ or ‘Partly Justified’, compared to an average of 1. The University declined to provide The Badger with a summary of any of these appeals. The results compare ‘Band E’
universities with between 12,000 and 20,000 students with an overall average of 53 formal complaints per year. Sussex, with its 12,500 students, falls at the lower end of this range. In 2012, ‘Band E’ institutions received, on average, one such complaint for every 480 students they had registered. At Sussex, one in every sixty third student filed a formal complaint, behind only Cardiff Metropolitan University. By contrast, Canterbury Christ Church received only one complaint for every 2,248 of its students.
Recognising the “relatively high number of Completion of Procedures letters” issued, a University spokesperson said, “We would argue that this is because we are scrupulous about advising students of their right to go to the OIA once appeals processes are completed.” The University also disputes the relevance of the statistics, claiming that 95% of Sussex’s Completion of Procedures letters related to the academic appeals process, and only 5% to general complaints such as those relating to accommodation, discipline or discrimina-
tion. “The issuing of a Completion of Procedures letter does not signify the ‘seriousness’ of any complaint,” said the statement, “It simply means that all the internal avenues for appeal have been completed.” Juliette Cule, Education Officer for the Students’ Union, said, “I am glad that our students feel confident enough to lodge complaints against the University. The Union’s Advice and Representation Centre can offer independent advice for students who wish to lodge a complaint.”
the badger
21 OCTOBER 2013
in pictures • 2
IN PICTURES In pictures: what’s happening on your campus Disney Pub Quiz winners - Anim8s
Sussex Live Society bake sale
Naomi Horsfall USDS and ELSA debate
Purna Sen talks to the Politics Society
Lily Tomlinson
Motorbike showcase in Brighton
Ho Wah So Bike Day Mina Rassouli
James Galand-Jones
Sailing Society
Juliet Grenville Sussex Investment & Trading Society event - Anton Kreil
Stelian Nenkov
Mina Rassouli Poster sale
Mina Rassouli
the badger
21 October 2013
NEWS • 3
NEWS Brighton MP pleads not guilty Imitation Project X hits Brighton Continued from Page 1
An anonymous ‘non party person’ and Lancaster house resident, who spent the evening locked in their room, said: “For the next several hours all I heard was breaking glass, unnaturally loud bass, and profanities of all natures. The next morning I was met with a garbage dump for a kitchen floor, and dried vodka as a table cloth. I weep for humanity.” Another party attendee called the night “hectic but decent”. One revealed: “Twerking in one of the kitchen sinks was a personal highlight”. University security began turning people who were not proved to be residents of Lancaster House away at the door at approximately one o’clock, and over an hour later began escorting people from the premises. A student, who had finished work at the Co-op at around midnight, recalled seeing a small police presence near the scene, saying: “I saw a police van and two cars as I walked past Bramber House after finishing work”. One of the ‘Project L’ organisers defended the gathering, explaining: “The event was free, people love house parties and they tend to be more wild because there aren’t rules like there are in clubs or at events, later adding that it “felt like the whole of campus was in this one building”, and concluded by saying “I don’t regret being a part of it”.
MP summoned to Crawley Magistrates following arrest at Fracking Protest
David Hutt Caroline Lucas appeared in court today and pleaded not guilty after being arrested in an anti-fracking protest in August. The Green MP for Brighton Pavillion, an outspoken and prominent opponent of fracking, joined hundreds of protesters in a day of ‘direct action’ outside of the Cuadrilla drilling site in Balcombe, West Sussex. She was arrested along with 29 other protesters during the demonstration and charged with two offences: breaching section 14 of the Public Order Act and wilful obstruction of the highway. In a letter to her constituents earlier this week, Ms Lucas made it known that she intended to plead not guilty. She also explained that her commitments as an MP would not be impeded by the charges, and defended her actions as being part of a “proud tradition of nonviolent direct action in this country.” Quoting Ghandi, she added outside the court: “I believe in the importance of speaking out the whole truth and acting accordingly”. However, the Crown Prosecution Service felt that it was “in the public interest” to prosecute Ms Lucas for her role in the demonstrations. She was summoned to Crawley Magistrates court this morning to deliver her plea of not guilty. The trail is expected to begin
early next year. In a written statement, Ms Lucas stated: “The campaign to reduce the threat of climate change has been incredibly important to me throughout my political life. Fracking for shale gas seriously undermines efforts to tackle the climate crisis, which in turn means that our children and grandchildren will inherit a more dangerous world.” Permission to drill near the village of Balcombe was granted in 2010. Protests erupted several months ago when US energy company Cuadrilla began its exploratory operations. Since July, more than a thousand cam-
paigners have set up camp outside the site, and over a hundred have been arrested, including Ms Lucas. According to campaigners, test drilling might lead to hydraulic fracturing, better known as fracking. This method is controversial due to the large amounts of water that must be transported to the site and the possible release of carcinogenic chemicals, both significant environmental risks. There are also concerns that it can cause small earth tremors, as happened in Blackpool in 2011. Protests have since simmered out as planning permission set in 2010 meant drilling on the
Lonely hearts Daniel Green
Concern over election turnout
Bree Allegretti Editor-in-chief
The Students’ Union has closed its polls in the annual election of over 250 student representatives, with academic and welfare issues in the foreground of last week’s campus politics. Undeniably a feat for those who secured the backing of eligible voters, concerns have been raised by some students over the level of engagement and representation that the new cohort of elected officials will offer them. The University, in partnership with the Union, opened positions for 233 electable student reps, in a bid to increase student engagement and help feed back students’ comments to their respective departments. However just over a quarter of these 233 positions remained vacant on Monday, when the results were announced, with no contestant and no rep, leaving many students asking whether there is enough being done to encourage students to participate in the democratic processes of voting. Despite Sussex playing host to an active and resilient political scene, the turnout for the most recent October elections remained a little under one
fifth of all students at Sussex, coming in at 2,600 of 13,000 potential voters. Although data released by the NUS earlier this year put the average turnout for students’ union votes at 22.6 percent, the recent student rep election turnout was only 19.9 percent. Despite an average of just over £1,500 being spent in a bid to increase the democratic legitimacy of students’ unions in and around the UK, the turnout falls just under the second lowest national peacetime election, that of the European Parliament in 1999, with 23% of the British electorate casting their ballot. Although the student rep scheme is designed to engage students from across all subjects, the full-time and part-time elected officers –the most senior elected positions within the Union-come from only three out of the twelve schools that make up the academic components of the University. Despite the Students’ Union announcing “a record number of Sussex & BSMS students” had voted, only 7.91% of medical students cast a vote, coming third only to Educational and Social Work and the Institute of Development Studies for the lowest turnout figures.
site ended on September 28. Cuadrilla closed its rig, but intends to apply for planning permission to continue their search for fuel. Francis Egan, chief executive of Cuadrilla, said: “The well is now closed off for the coming months as [we] apply for planning permission to come back and test flow rates.” Anti-fracking campaigners, who have temporarily left the area, dismantling their camp earlier this month have said that they will return if Cuadrilla is granted permission to begin drilling again. Speaking after today’s hearing, Ms Lucas said: “By joining the peaceful protest at Balcombe, I wanted to join with others in actively opposing the exploitation of yet more fossil fuels.I’m in the privileged position of being able to make the case in Parliament. “I’ve tabled motions, arranged debates, put questions to Ministers, and spoken out in the media. But the Government is not only refusing to listen to the evidence, it is choosing to become flag-waver in chief for the fracking industry, allowing them to hold senior roles within Government itself”.
A University spokesman said: “In this autumn’s student rep elections, we filled a higher proportion of rep vacancies than ever before – 65%, which is 16 percentage points higher than autumn 2012. “It is not uncommon to have spaces unfilled at this stage of the process. Some Schools – such as Education and Social Work – have a relatively large number of rep positions to fill and a small pool of students to draw from. “Schools will now continue with the normal process of filling these remaining positions. “For the first time, this year we have recruited rep ambassadors to publicise the scheme and encourage nominations and voting and have incorporated publicity videos into induction events.” One new Psychology sttudent rep backed the scheme and agreed that promtion of elections via the Union’s social media was effective, but suggested having past reps, or even head of schools, come to lectures and say a few words in the weeks leading up the election. International Student Rep, Hazel Tong, has said she wants to encourage more engagement with reps, saying
that people were more likely to vote or even stand in elections if they were aware of changes or succeses that had been achieved by the scheme. Imogen Adie, Students’ Union Communications Officer, said: “Sussex students are some of the most engaged in the country, and we saw this last year with 43 percent of students voting in at least one set of our elections or referenda. As we provide more opportunities for students to engage throughout the year, through shaping our strategy, elections and referenda, the current figure of 19.9 percent of students voting will continue to rise. Imogen continued: “The Student Rep scheme is vital in shaping the student experience at Sussex, and Reps help to bring about really exciting and important change. Hundreds of student represent the views of their peers each year, and it is vital that students engage with the system, meet and chat to their Student Rep, and help to bring suggestions and comments to their school and department. “The growth and development of the scheme throughout the year will be really exciting, and we really hope students will see it as a great opportunity to shape their education”.
One in three Britons aged 16 to 24 have had a ‘friend with benefits’, but over half have secretly hoped for love, according to statistics released by relationship charity OnePlusOne and youth charity YouthNet. As part of a survey on ‘friends with benefits’, roughly 33% of respondents claimed they had engaged in casual sex with a friend, with 53% hoping it would develop into a serious relationship. In an official statement, Penny Mansfield CBE, Director of OnePlusOne, stated: “This research shows that sex without commitment, or ‘friends with benefits’, is increasingly common amongst young people. Evidence shows that while experimenting can be fine and fun for some people, most people want a serious relationship that involves an emotional bond as well as sex. Over half of them are seeking a more secure emotional connection with their current sexual partner, but if that isn’t the case for both people involved then it can cause problems.” One anonymous student said to The Badger: “Sometimes you don’t want to be in a relationship, you may not be in the right place of mind or not ready. However, a friend with benefits can help bridge the gap. It’s not such a big deal as it’s just having sex with a friend for fun; not having a relationship eliminates commitment and the stress that comes with it.”
THE BADGER
21 OCTOBER 13
NEWS • 4
Brighter prospects for graduates Matthew Fallon The latest available data of those who graduated from the University of Sussex in 2012 shows that 84% have since found a job or are now in postgraduate study. This follows a difficult year for the University, when Sussex fell significantly in both the Guardian and The Times university rankings. The Guardian largely attribited the drop to falling employment prospects for graduates. In 2009/10, when 92.2 per cent of Sussex graduates were employed or studying within 6 months. In a statement the University remained optimistic, stating that : “The data… [shows] that unemployment rates among Sussex graduates have fallen by a third in one year, with just 8 per cent of those who graduated in 2012 looking for work six months after graduating.” This compares to 12 per cent of 2011 graduates seeking work. Sussex is level with top universities and is better than the national average for universities in terms of graduate employment.
The university also championed the changes made over recent years to its employment support for students, which appear to have led to a 60% increase in students using the careers service. It cited a diverse range of new careers initiatives and the relocation of the Careers and Employability centre into the library as the major improvements. A survey, by graduate recruitment research company, High Fliers indicate there has been a 4.6% increase in hiring amongst the 100 largest corporations such as Marks and Spencers and Apple who recruit graduates since the 2008/9 financial crisis. This is still below pre-recession levels. The report concluded that Sussex was within the top ten universities targeted by Britain’s top graduate employers in 2012-2013. Subject wise, the status quo appears not to have been disturbed with students studying Medicine, medical related courses, Law or Education still seen as the most employable, with employment rates above 90%. Computer science graduates once again come bottom of the list for employability.
University announces Interserve as winning bidder in facilities takeover Craig McVegas University of Sussex management announced on 14 October that construction and support services company Interserve are to take over facilities management. The outsourcing will affect services including security, estates, cleaning, conferencing and health and safety. The takeover is expected to come in to effect on 1 January 2014. The announcement comes over a year since the procurement process began in May 2012 and marks a milestone in the campus-wide outsourcing programme, which has met fierce resistance over the last year from campaign group Sussex Against Privatization. Following the ending of a court-enforced ban on protest, sought earlier this year in response to the occupation of Bramber House, Sussex Against Privatization demonstrations have resumed on campus, with what they claim to be over 200 protesters turning out on 27 September. Interserve
attracted criticism in the national press in 2009 when the company was found guilty of illegal bid-rigging and fined £11.6million by the Office for Fair Trading as part of a significant inquiry into illegal practices across 112 firms, which were found to have been embroiled in bid-rigging across 199 contracts including hospitals, schools and universities. John Duffy, Registrar and Secretary, said: “Interserve understand the University’s needs and our values. I know they will help us to retain and enhance our unique Sussex campus ethos.” The multinational conglomerate is now expected to begin laying the groundwork for the transition of University staff to Interserve contracts. The University were keen to stress that the terms and conditions of remaining staff who are not taking voluntary redundancy will be unchanged under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE). However, following a meeting with Interserve on 16 October some affected employees have expressed concern over the move and the potential for
a decline in conditions. Under TUPE, the incoming employer is still able to change terms and conditions according to economical, technical and organizational reasons. Furthermore, incoming employees will not be guaranteed the same terms, conditions or wages as present employees. Sussex Against Privatization have said the move is indicative of a ‘race to the bottom’ whereby employees will be squeezed for profit. It is expected that on 31 October the first university-wide cross-union strike will take place as the University and College Union (UCU), Unite and UNISON take coordinated industrial action over a 13% real-terms decrease in pay witnessed across the sector since 2008. Although the strike officially relates to pay, it has been widely reported that personal motivations for strike action pertain to a myriad of reasons, including the creeping privatization across higher education. With around 150 staff believed to be implicated in the Interserve takeover, it is as yet unclear how the trade unions involved will respond. Ussu
Three Sussex students stabbed in attack Sophie van der Ham Welfare Officer
Shoutback Sussex - we’ve got your back Have you ever walked down the street and had someone tell you to ”smile”? I have. It made me angry that a stranger told me what to do, and it made me even angrier that there was very little I could do about it. In 2010, the NUS surveyed female university students and found that 1 in 7 of them had experienced physical or sexual assault during their time as a student, and 16 percent had experienced unwanted kissing or touching. Although male students weren’t surveyed, other research suggests that millions of men experience sexual violence every year. However, many don’t believe us. They tell us that it can’t be that bad, that it’s just ‘banter’, that we’ll miss it when we’re older. Some tell us it’s our fault, that we were asking for it, that we shouldn’t be walking alone, wearing those clothes, being in those spaces. Shoutback Sussex is a way for us at the Union and beyond to stand up to that attitude. None of us should feel that we should just expect sexism, harassment and abuse. None of us should feel alone, or think that we are the only ones experiencing this.
At Shoutback, we believe you when you tell us your experiences, and we want you to know that we’ve got your back. We have set up a Facebook page and Twitter (@ShoutbackSussex) account called Shoutback Sussex, where people can send in their experiences anonymously. We will then post these experiences anonymously, which lets the perpetrator know that what they did is not okay. A small team of three volunteers from the Zero Tolerance campaign team at the Union read all submissions, and the only identifying info we need from you is what year you’re in, or what you study. If you have any questions/concerns, message us on Facebook or at shoutbacksussex@gmail. com. It is part of a wider zero tolerance to sexual harassment campaign at the Students’ Union, which you can be a part of by emailing welfare@sussexstudent.com. We publish experiences from people of all genders. We also recognise that abuse based on race, sexuality, class etc. intersects with gender-based abuse, and we publish those experiences too.
Hannah Dickinson A first year Biology student from the University of Sussex was physically assaulted trying to protect a man being attacked in Brighton. The incident occurred when the student and his two friends, also students, left Concord 2 in the early hours of Sunday morning, when they came across a group attempting to mug a man. Recalling the incident, the student said: “It was horrible, really vicious; he was lying on the floor and being kicked in the face. Even though we did not know him we knew we could not just leave it. So we intervened – but the attackers turned on us”. After coming to the stranger’s aid, all were cornered into Madeira close and stabbed, with one of his friends sustaining a server head injury and had racist abuse hurled at him. Initially unaware of the severity of the injuries they sustained, the student explained: “It was horrible...I first though I had been punched but then I realised it was more than that”. The students were rushed to the Royal Sussex County Hospital A&E where they spent the next 12 hours being treated for their life potentially “life changing” injuries. All three students are now co-operating with the Police investigation to track down the culprits. Detective constable Paul Ash hailed the intervention as “incredibly brave”, adding: ““There would have been a lot of people in the area at the time and I desperately want
to speak to anyone who saw the incident or heard what happened as the violence spread from Madeira Terrace to Marine Parade” The Police are also urging the man who was initially being attack to contact them. The attack is the second occurrence of knife crime in the space of a week, following the stabbing of an international student from Libya in Kemp town the previous Wednesday. The victim, who was waiting at the bus stop, was also subject to racist abuse. In July, The Complete University Guide announced The University of Sussex as having the second highest levels of crime at any university in the south east of England, with only Brighton University registering a higher rate of student relevant crimes, listed as cases of robbery, buglary and violent crimes.
OUTSOURCING we want your views We’re looking for students from all years of study to take part in a survey on campus catering. Whether foodie first year or frougal finalist we want to hear your views on Students’ Union and Chartwells run outlets. Take part in the survey by visiting our website or head straight for: http://ow.ly/pqBS5
THE BADGER
14 OCTOBER 2013
SUSSEX SAYS • 5
SUSSEX SAYS
Claim To Fame
Ant and Mum’s Saturday Night Takeaway Jordan Brown My parents wanted to celebrate twenty long years of happy marriage by renewing their wedding vows in the stunning location of the Maldives. They could not have picked a more beautiful location. It was one of the best holidays of my life for two reasons: (1) Because of the a-MAY-zing food and (2) because we were riding on the back of a golf buggy when my dad yelled out, “Hey!
him, sunbathing on a deck chair. Many questions were raised. Why is he here? Why is he wearing a t-shirt while sunbathing? Where is Dec? These were all mysteries that were soon to be solved when my mum sent me scampering up to him with my dad and a camera. As a twelve year old with crippling shyness who couldn’t even ask for a napkin in Starbucks, this was the ultimate challenge. If I was star struck by a barista how would I ever overcome the star quality of Ant?! Thankfully, he was lovely. He agreed
“It wasnt until later, when we were chilling by the pool that we spotted him” That was Ant from Ant and Dec!” He was pointing crazily at the golf buggy which had just driven past us in the opposite direction. Of course, nobody else had seen the mysterious ‘Ant from Ant and Dec’, even though neither of them are actually in a show called ‘Ant and Dec’. Considering my dad to be mad, and more importantly wrong according to my mum, we forgot about the entire situation. It wasn’t until later, when we were chilling by the pool that we spotted
to have a picture taken with me and I managed to utter the words which my mother had instructed me to say, which were, “My mum fancies Dec.” However, this wasn’t just one brief encounter. We saw him again later on in the bar and my mum, who has absolutely no qualms, strode up to him and began speaking to Ant and his wife. She sat chatting to them for hours and got on so well with them that we basically spent the rest of the holiday chilling
with Ant. Of all the celebrity encounters I have had, I think I’ll remember this one the most. Mainly because of Ant being a genuinely nice guy and also because my mother is still waiting for him to mention “That mental woman I met in the Maldives” on Celebrity Get Me Out of Here.
HAVE YOU GOT A CLAIM? Swooned with a celebrity?
THE MOAN ZONE This week: Night Bus Terror Two categories of people,exist on the bus at night-time. ‘The Drunk’ and the ‘Irritated’. In a state of lesser inebriation, or at worst, sober, the bus ride into town or back from town to campus has the ability to make me despise my own gender, my own generation, sometimes just humanity in general. Paradoxically, the bus ride to and from town and campus can be the most enjoyable start or end to a night. The primary effects of drunkenness on public transport tend to lead one to behave like a cocky arse, whose opinions need to be vocalised loudly and obnoxiously and whose volume control is lacking. Recently I found myself in the unfortunate situation of having overslept my nap and thus being unable to pre-drink, as such I went out totally sober at around 11.30pm and sat in front of three girls who became essentially devil spawn in my eyes after the half hour journey. I don’t know what it is about liquor that makes singing Beyoncé so appealing. I was stuck listening to three girls with less than pleasing voices belting out ‘If I were a boy’ became almost preferable to their endless bitching about boys, their sex lives, and whatever else they deemed acceptable to blurt out drunkenly and loudly to the rest of the bus.
Done something so embarrasing in front of your hero you’ve never told anyone?
Obviously this put me in a mood that could only be remedied by getting absolutely wasted myself, and with remorse I must admit that on the bus ride home, at around 4 am it was myself and my friends who made total arses of ourselves singing Beyoncé and airing out our dirty laundry much to our oblivious discomfort at any surrounding passengers.
E-mail Sussex Says at lmh34@sussex.ac.uk
Conclusively the only possible remedy to the situation is to remain in a constant state of inebriation, and if as such your health suffers, at least your mental health is at rest and your general attitude towards mankind seems vastly improved.
Creatures of the Night @SussexSays #Moan Lana Glantz
CREATURES OF THE NIGHT Hannah Joad Pre-drinks at the house, ‘choons’ blaring from the iPod, ‘Ring of Fire’ being played. Essentially, it was your typical Friday night out after a long, hard week of uni work. We got to the club and queued for about a million hours to get into the place as usual. We went to the bar to get more drinks when a girl, who seemed to be attempting the Gangnam Style dance, bounced into us and spilt her giant drink all down my friend’s brand new dress. Needless to say she was not impressed and neither was I, considering we were still without drinks and had only been in the club five minutes this was not ideal! I found myself wishing people had more spatial awareness when gyrating on the dance floor in clubs. Nevertheless we partied in there for a while, occasionally interrupted
by boys trying to slur greasy chat up lines at us, and a rather forward girl who took a liking to my male friend. One of my friends was sick all down himself from too many Sambucas when we got outside into the fresh air, people were beginning to look at him disapprovingly…even in their own drunken state! Some people were even filming it on their phones (awkward). This meant there would be no more clubs or pubs for us- we couldn’t walk around with the smell of sick trailing behind us and quite frankly I was looking forward to getting into a nice warm bed (it was freeeeezing outside!) In my infinite wisdom I had decided to wear my new neon pink and black ‘killer’ heels. After many many hours of walking, dancing and jumping and more dancing, I was yelling “man down”! I could walk no more. I had to be half carried half dragged back to the house by my friends (not the one who was covered in sick) which just made our whole situation look tragic. I wasn’t even that drunk! ‘Killer’ was evidentially the operative word to describe my shoes because when I took them off I discovered that one of my big toe nails was black- even
though I had nail polish on! It took 6 months for the nail to go from black, to blue, to green, to pink to normal. So, those heels won’t be coming out anytime soon and my friend won’t be having Sambuca’s just yet! Happy times experiencing the nightlife at the University of Sussex!
Share your moaning moments
TOP CELEBRITY TWEETS OF THE WEEK “Too much strip club action, is no good. WIFE NOT PLAYING LOL” @50cent “’If you have to do it, do it here’ is the ad slogan for Atlantic City and also my toilet” @oliviawilde “Note to self: do not eat dinner quickly and then put on Spanks” @RebelWilson
HAVE YOU GOT A STORY? Had any eventful nights out in Brighton recently? We want to hear it!! E-mail Sussex Says at lmh34@sussex.ac.uk
“When your headphone cord touches your leg and you have a freak out – its time to stop jogging and head home” @bonblossman “Taking my kids to a drive-thru feels like the mommy version of the walk of shame”@KyleRichards18 “Did you ever think I would be giving lectures about drinking too much, what’s this world coming to?” @biggangVH1
the badger
21 October 2013
Letters • 7
LETTERS
The Fascistic Nature of Drinking Games Dear Badger, Can’t we talk of the difficult questions of life with the aid of social lubrication before descending into a night of awkwardly standing by men and women who look as if they’d never seen children frottage? Laugh and joke in a manner not governed by the near identical steps followed by every other group of students on their way out for a bit of clubbing on the windy streets of Brighton? No, my friend: we have to go on with the ritual; otherwise, how would the night progress? Now, ‘fascistic’ is clearly too strong a description for the enforced fun of drinking games. However, it’s sure eye catching (I’ve learnt my style of writing from a few shame inducing perusals of the Daily Mail website). Due to a sense of liberal guilt, I’ll go for totalitarian. It’s much less hyperbolic. Logically, most drinking games are pointless: the punishment is to drink, which is the whole point of the predrink event. It’s part of the title. Presumably, drinking would take place anyway - the purchasing of four cans of cheap larger and the acquisition of a few sips of vodka through the promise of later reciprocation would seem ridiculous otherwise – and therefore the enforced ritual is unneeded. The only identifiable outcome that wouldn’t arise from substituting the games with a bit of a natter and a misplaced joke or two is that some poor victim, the misfortunate individual who has the dirty pint, finds themselves in a cheap chip-shop in the wee small hours of the morning debasing themselves by shouting and humping the counter to the sound of Blurred Lines being pumped through tinny speakers. The tortured cashier thinks, “Why do I have to deal with this self-entitled student scum? I thought they were the intelligentsia of the adolescents.” And then the night finally ends with an act of stomach clearing libation in honour to the gods of lost dignity and future topics of ‘BANTER’. Must the price of ‘Mushroom’ be so high and placed upon just one? And no,
I’m not bitter. Don’t try to step away from the ritual though, sipping your drink in the corner at intervals more rapid to ready yourself for the night to come between breaks of chain-smoking and looking moody, for you’ll be pilloried and thought of as a curmudgeon. So you think that you’re better than the game, better than us? No, I think that we’re all better than the game and I am your saviour. I am tearing down the system. I am Christ and Johnny Rotten combined. I am here to instigate beautiful discussion. Or perhaps I’m just miserable and heading towards a lonely adulthood lamenting poor life decisions. Alex Mason
The news? More like the blues Dear Badger, I opened up the BBC news webpage today and I couldn’t help but be smacked in the face by a whole page of stories of death, despair and destruction. It was quite a depressing experience. The happiness of the morning (in particular my relief at not being terribly hungover after a big night out) had vanished as quickly as Nick Clegg’s popularity. I can’t help but feel in these grey autumn days, a little bit of light and humour wouldn’t go amiss in our daily dose of news. The way I see it, this negativity we get in our newspapers or on television at six o’clock, is down to a mixture of two things. Either we are naturally a negative species and as a result we are addicted to doom and gloom which is played upon by the media, or good news just doesn’t happen as much. These are both deeply depressing statements but without meaning to echo Hugh Grant’s character at the start of Love Actually I tend to disagree with the latter argument. It is obvious that news surrounding events in Syria or stories of our politicians behaving badly cannot be ignored, but should this be the only news we are presented with? It is undeniable that the 2012 Olympics bought about a positive change in public mood and I think part of the reason was that the
The views and opinions expressed in this publication do not nessesarily represent those of the Student’s Union, unless explicitly stated. University of Sussex Students’ Union Falmer, East Sussex, BN1 9QF
email: badger-letters@ussu.sussex.ac.uk
BADGER
THE
newspapers had cheerful and inspiring stories to print for a change. It’s a shame that this doesn’t happen more often, but perhaps the reason it doesn’t is because we are drawn to negative news. The fact of the matter is that a negative story provides a better topic for conversation and water-cooler gossip than good news. I guess that’s why ‘Eastenders’ has run for nearly 30 years. Kate Reader
Pity for the daddy long legs Dear Badger, I’m a tireless crusader for a lost cause. If you live, or have ever ventured forth into the Favelas of Sussex (formally known as East Slope), you’ll know that the human residents share their flats with an incalculable amount of species commonly known as the daddy long legs. These harmless creatures hover about the place minding their own business. I like to think they sometimes chill in the kitchen whilst we pre-drink because they enjoy our company or want to hear our bizarre stories behind the confessions brought out during games of ‘Never Have I Ever’. I for one don’t particularly mind them there but once my flatmates, who are usually quite liberal and fun, detect a daddy long legs relaxing in the corner, a great change washes over them. Their faces contort into masks of hatred and passionate anger and they instinctively grab the nearest blunt utensil to them. They lunge forward, not giving my miniature flatmate a chance to flee. A scream escapes my lips. Time drips slowly and the daddy long legs’ inevitable destiny is set into motion, there is no hope for the daddy long legs. Just like that, in less than five seconds, a life has been lost and my murderous flatmates pat each other’s backs and open the cava in celebration. Tears stream down my face as I look down on the limp, lifeless body of the daddy long legs whose only wish was to be accepted as part of the group. Okay, I’m perhaps being a little melodramatic but I just don’t think it is
right to kill a living creature just because its presence bothers you. Don’t get me wrong, I am not a vegetarian; the thought of a large juicy stake cooked medium rare makes my heart palpitate and I realise most of you reading this new addition of information will automatically label me a hypocrite. But I for one don’t believe I should be lumped together with my heinous flatmates. An animal dying to serve a purpose, sustaining the nutritional needs of humanity, is extremely different to a creature dying because it merely bothers a few inebriated people. The latter serves absolutely no purpose. In conclusion, I wish to pose a question in the hope that it will echo in your mind the next time you are found holding a spatula, about to smack down on the defenceless daddy long legs: Is it really so difficult to clasp it in your hands or simply guide it to an open window into freedom? Monica Cherrie
# T hebadger the week in tweets @nicolajh Been back at uni for a month and I still have yet to see a clock that actually displays the correct time #comeonnow #sussexuni #TheBadger @dbatchelor94 Still cringing over the weird looks I got yesterday whilst having my photo taken in the sea for #TheBadger @collins_the_boy Just finished my article for #TheBadger looking forward to hearing people’s thoughts @jblay2 ‘i can’t believe how prompt that 25 bus was!’ - No one, ever. #TheBadger @MillerJonathan_ Think @BrightonHoveBus need more 25 buses in the mornings or Sussex and Brighton Uni only buses to accommodate students (they’re) always full
GOT AN OPINION? If you’re troubled by seagul strife, want to air a campus grievance, or want to respond to an article in the paper, send a carrier pigeon to:
badger-letters@ussu.sussex.ac.uk
Editor-in-Chief Aubrey Allegretti
badger@ussu.sussex.ac.uk
Deputy Editors-in-Chief Emily Sutherland badger-news@ussu.sussex.ac.uk
Cat Gough badger-arts@ussu.sussex.ac.uk
Tom Pearson badger-opinion@ussu.sussex.ac.uk
Head of Publicity Amy Bracewell badger-publicity@ussu.sussex.ac.uk
News Editors Yasmin Centeno, Lucy Hartland, Jack Williams badger-news@ussu.sussex.ac.uk
Letters & Societies Editor Deborah Batchelor badger-letters@ussu.sussex.ac.uk
Features Editors Holly Davis-Bollard, Nicole Estwick badger-features@ussu.sussex.ac.uk
Comment Editors Nick Godshaw, Paul Millar badger-opinion@ussu.sussex.ac.uk
Arts Editors Will Fortna, Tom Powell, Heather Gwyther, Cesca Rampley, Victoria Rodrigues badger-artspages@ussu.sussex.ac.uk
Science Editor Katherine Hardy badger-science@ussu.sussex.ac.uk
Sports Editors Karoliina Lehtonen, Michael Morrow badger-sports@ussu.sussex.ac.uk
Photo Editors Naomi Horsfall, Mina Rassouli badger-photo@ussu.sussex.ac.uk
Publicity Team Zoe Mallett, Jemma Rix, Annie Pickering, Hannah Shaw Online Editor Steve Barker Students’ Union Communications Officer Imogen Adie
communications@sussexstudent.com
the badger
21 october 2013
FEATURE • 8
FEATURE
Icons on the pitch
As Black History Month nears its end, Jordan Collins explores the impact of black footballers in the history of the ‘beautful game’ As a football fanatic, one area of interest to me which may not spring immediately to mind when considering black history, is the pivotal role that certain footballers have played in helping to combat racism. When Darius Vassel replaced Michael Owen in England’s World Cup Quarter Final against Brazil in 2002, the nation reached a milestone in footballing history. This was a moment where for the first time England had fielded more black players in the national side than white. The journey to this historic moment however was far from plain sailing, with many black players forced to endure the unimaginable levels of ignorance and bigotry which were so prevalent in English football at the time. This feature will document the rise of a few iconic black footballers and note their significant contribution to promoting equality in the face of difficult circumstances. Three of the most prominent figures of the late 1970’s were Laurie Cunningham, Brendon Batson and Cyril Regis of West Bromwich Albion who were famously nicknamed “The three degrees” by manager Ron Atkinson. During the 1978/79 season, West Brom for the first time fielded all three of these incredibly gifted black footballers in their first team, culminating in an impressive 3rd place finish in Division One. At this time, The National Front would use football matches as the
platform to distribute racist literature to the masses, so with the novelty of fielding an unprecedented three black players, West Bromwich Albion became the focal point of their unwanted attention. Regis for example received bullets in the post, threatening violence on him and his family should he ever represent England. Together
“footballers can use their status to collectively nullify such deplorable behaviour” they faced ridicule in the press and far reaching levels of verbal abuse from crowds in excess of 30,000 people on a weekly basis. Despite these barriers, Cunningham went on to play for Real Madrid and both he and Regis were capped several times at international level for England. To commemorate the legacy of these football icons West Brom will be erecting a £200,000 statue outside their Hawthorns stadium in 2014. Regis, an FA cup winner in 1987, told the BBC “This is not about Brendon, Laurie and me, but it represents the journey and progression made by black footballers…” The achievements of “The three de-
grees” in English football were the catalyst which galvanised the next generation of black footballers to prosper in the sport, as former Wimbledon striker Robbie Earl explains: “Without the inspiration provided by the likes of these players, I might never have considered football as a career”. A brief look back over football’s history will show that black footballers were present in the English game as early as 1885. This is really a damning indictment on the painfully slow evolution of social attitudes that England’s first black player was not selected until 1978, when Viv Anderson was called up to the squad. In fact during the 1920’s , Jack Leslie of Plymouth Argyle was selected to play for England, only to have his call up withdrawn when the Football Association realised he was “a man of colour”. This attitude of the footballing bureaucracy remarkably continued for another 50 years before players could be selected on ability alone. As the first black player to be selected for England, Viv Anderson’s contribution to black history is tremendously important not just because he inspired others to achieve, but because of the social significance of being the first player judged on his ability rather than the colour of his skin. Another player to have a significant impact on the game is two time FA cup and Division One winner John Barnes, who went on to accumulate
an impressive 79 caps for England in a career spanning across the 1980’s and 1990’s. Barnes was a regular target of racial abuse from the terraces, but it wasn’t until his move to Liverpool (a club of huge stature in world football), that Barnes’ struggle against racism received the publicity that it so desperately needed. In an infamous incident against rivals Everton in 1988, Barnes was photographed casually back heeling one of several bananas which had been thrown at him by opposition supporters. The image of Barnes back heeling the banana essentially removed the objects symbolic significance to the abuser and stuck two fingers up at the narrow minded individuals attempting to throw him off his game. This moment perfectly encapsulated the spirit in which black footballers approached their profession, with unwavering belief and mental strength in the face of absurd racism. Importantly it was John Barnes, one of the best footballers in Europe at that time, who could use his status in a symbolic act of defiance showing football fans just how unacceptable and out of control the conduct of many individuals had become. Given the amount of effort put into achieving racial equality in today’s game, alternative reactions to racism can now be equally as effective as the outright dismissal of ignorance employed by the likes of John Barnes in
the past. During a friendly game in Italy, when subjected to racist abuse from spectators, Kevin Prince- Boateng simply walked off the pitch.In a show of solidarity against racism his team mates did likewise and the match was immediately abandoned. Had John Barnes or Cyril Regis attempted what Kevin Prince-Boateng did in their day, it possibly would not have had the effect that the Ghana international’s decision produced. The refusal to continue playing sent the message that enough is enough and efficaciously removed the platform from which a few idiots could vent their abuse. Particularly pleasing was the show of support from his peers demonstrating that footballers can use their status to collectively nullify such deplorable behaviour when they stand united against it. Today we see football actively seeking to prevent inequality rather than being reactionary as it has been in the past. The “Kick It out” campaign, formed in 1993, was devised specifically to remove racism from the game. Refreshingly it has been embraced by clubs, players and fans alike across the footballing pyramid and stands as a marker of the progress which has been made. What the black footballers of the past have stood up for and achieved is the blueprint from which modern day footballers can draw inspiration in tackling the more intricate forms of racism, which still remain in sport and wider society.
THE BADGER
21 OCTOBER 2013
COMMENT • 10
COMMENT Questionable funding for new Israel Chair David Walmsley In 2009 Sussex became the first Students’ Union in the UK to boycott Israeli goods, an action which 72% of students voted in a referendum to extend in the previous academic year. This, as well as the twinning of the Students’ Union with Al Quds Open University in Palestine and the occupation of Arts A2 during Israel’s assault on Gaza in 2009, is evidence of the strong solidarity the Sussex student community has with the Palestinian people. As part of efforts to combat Palestine solidarity activism on university campuses, one of only three Chairs in Israel Studies in the UK has now been established at Sussex. Lord Weidenfeld, at whose initiative the Chair was
Society of the week Amnesty International Society
set up, has said that such positions are “very important to have in some key universities, particularly those with an anti-Israel … presence”. In 2009, at a conference convened by Israel’s foreign minister, a working group – which included the then NUS President Wes Streeting - was held on how to combat the growing BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement. The document that came out of this working group suggested the development of “Israel Studies as an academic discipline” as a way of combating Palestine solidarity activism. Furthermore in 2009, staff at the Reut Institute, a prominent Zionist think-tank, wrote that “the suggestion to create Chairs of Israel Studies in leading UK universities could act as an
important component of Israel’s strategy” against its critics abroad. The development of Israel Studies as a field of study is clearly part of a broader effort to improve Israel’s image and to undermine Palestine solidarity activism. That the new chair is being funded by right-wing Zionists shows that the introduction of the Chair is motivated by a specific political agenda rather than by a genuine desire for understanding of the region. An illustrative example is Gerald Ronson, a multi- millionaire who used a one day release from prison for a medical examination to meet the current Israeli PM (then a government minister) Binyamin Netanyahu, demonstrating his close ties to right-wing Israeli politicians.
Other examples include the R & S Cohen Foundation which has given $10,000 (£6,272) to the Jewish National Fund, a quasi-state Israeli organisation involved in ethnic cleansing in East Jerusalem, and the Blavatnik Family Foundation, a financial supporter of the UK Friends of the Association for the Wellbeing of Israel’s Soldiers. Lord Weidenfeld himself has expressed concern at “a hostile media campaign against Israel in Europe”, opposed the Palestinian bid for UN membership, and described Zionism as the central plank of his life. This should remove any lingering doubts about the political agenda behind the Chair’s introduction. The University should not have accepted money from wealthy donors to
introduce a Chair that is motivated by political rather than scholarly aims. However, now that the position has been established, a Chair of Modern Palestine studies should also be created to provide the much needed balance. This would be especially appropriate seeing as Sussex is hoping to develop its research base in Middle Eastern Studies and has already created 3 new lecturer posts in the area.
Taraneh Fathalian
tured confessions, imprisonment for political views and many more fundamental issues of humanity. We have meetings every fortnight in which we discuss different issues taking place all over the world, including cases of human rights abuse. This year we concentrate on the issues located in the Middle East and North Africa. Syrian refugees, demonstrations in Egypt, women of Afghanistan and tortured confessions of Iranian political prisoners are examples of some of the current issues in the Middle East that we raise and discuss. We then take various actions such
as letter writing to politicians who are involved, or letters of support for victims of oppression. We also promote protesting and fundraising in aid of freedom and fairness. In addition to our educational meetings, we sometimes invite people from outside of the university to speak for us on different topics. Last year we invited an ex Guantanamo Bay detainee to talk about his experiences, explain where Guantanamo Bay is and how prisoners are being treated there. This year we have many events coming up; on October 18th we have a pub quiz in Falmer back bar.
There is a £1 entry to raise funds for the society and of course winners get prizes! We have also invited Andrew Wilkes to talk about the lives of people on death row- this will be taking place on November 7th, at 6PM Arts A. We will have petitions, debates and cake sales (for fundraising) during the coming year and we welcome all your creative ideas. We meet Thursdays 6PM meeting room 5 five Falmer House, you can like our Facebook page to get more information and you are more than welcome to Join us!
Are you interested in human rights? Do you think you have ideas to share about how to promote peace and justice? Get involved! Amnesty International welcomes all the people who care about human rights and want to stand against tyranny and injustice. The society follows the main agenda of Amnesty International and aims to raise awareness and campaign against human rights’ abuse, persecution, tor-
Union box
Is crime rife on campus? Juliette Cule Education Officer
Student Reps and Union representatives elected! Your new Student Reps represent the views of their year group and subject to their department. Reps will be starting to make themselves known this week, and you should use this opportunity to get to know your Rep. Through informal and formal representation, Student Reps have the ability to take an active role in shaping our University. By supporting and speaking with your reps, you empower us as a community of students.
You also elected your Union representatives – Councillors, Student Trustees, Representatives and a new PGA chair. Check out who our Union reps are, and speak to them about the things that are important to you. The Students’ Union can have a big impact on your time at University in all sorts of ways, and these students have the power to shape what we do. Congratulations to all who were elected – we look forward to working with you this year!
Hannah Davenport Brighton. The place of funfair rides, rock candy and pebbles. A bubble of student living seemingly removed from the ‘big city’ issues many of us accept as second nature- like the late night call of sirens or constant public bag paranoia. On coming to university - more specifically a campus university – it’s easy to become quickly detached from the threats of crime that, for a Londoner like myself, provides a casual feature of day to day life. Danger seems quite removed both from the Disneylandesque illusion of a protected campus to the toy town of Brighton.
However, a steady filtration of various crime-related experiences have started to leak through the student grapevine as the weeks go on. They range from unexpected and bizarre laundry thefts - a student recently returning to Park Village laundrette to collect his dried clothing only to find an empty machine, to more serious attacks taking place. Last week a Sussex student was stabbed by a group of boys on a night out in central Brighton. A scenario more suited to the back roads of Croydon as opposed to the Laines. The notorious bike thefts were common knowledge even before arriving on campus, with the flood of vulnerable
Fresher’s providing a perfect wave of shiny wheeled targets. This is not intended to instigate feelings of crazed paranoia or fear. Of the student body as a whole such stories remain in the minority and there are equally many more reflecting the joys of communal living such as the girl who managed to recover, with much surprised delight, a forgotten half bottle of vodka left in an open fireextinguisher holder on East Slope for a week. Thus while risks must not be forgotten or overlooked, campus life comes with a rare and unique liberty experienced in few other environments - give or take a few stolen pants.
the badger
21 october 2013
comment • 11
THE BIG DEBATE
Should the UK boycott the 2014 Winter Olympic Games? The Badger asks whether or not Team GB should abstain from next years Winter Olympic Games being held in the Russian city of Sochi, in an act of protest against Putin’s recent anti-gay laws
No
Rosie Dodds
The recent crackdown on gay rights that has emerged from Vladimir Putin’s government has been met with a deservingly fierce backlash. Rightly so, Russia’s state-sponsored homophobia is completely backwards; an offense to basic human rights. So it is in every respect understandable that the idea of boycotting the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, Putin’s prized project, has been considered an appealing form of resistance. However, there is a fundamental difference between resistance that is appealing, and resistance that is effective. Boycotting the 2014 Winter Olympics would prevent athletes that have trained ineffably hard for years from competing, a waste of relentless preparation and talent. Of course, one wishes that these Athletes could present their skills in a more civilized host country, but missing the opportunity to exhibit our athletes’ talent is borderline self- sabotaging, and not within the spirit of the Olympic Charter anymore than Russia is. Moreover, attending Sochi has the potential to publicize Putin’s hateful legislation even more than it already has been, as it is very doubtful that the LGBT supporting media and reporters will lie quietly. Thus, competing in the Olympics has the potential to inspire further sympathisers to the position of the gay, lesbian, and transgendered population in Russia, and
the power to generate more opposition to Putin by method of the media. It is up for debate what significance a boycott would in fact have. Of course boycotting would appropriately express our condemnation of Putin’s legislation, but other than that, other benefits are ambivalent. Previous Olympic boycotts can also be registered as relatively insignificant; America’s boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics did nothing other than inspire a boycott from Russia in return in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. So why should we waste our athletes’ abilities to simply engage in a petty game of tit for tat between nations? Arguably a much better use of the UK’s time would be to bring the objection of Putin’s laws to Sochi; incorporating methods of anti-homophobia campaigning into the games perhaps, such as the rainbow lace campaign used in football, and the rainbow nail varnish seen on athlete Emma GreenTregaro; a subtle blow at Russia’s “gay propaganda” law. Then, athletes would both be able to compete in the Olympics, and make a stand against Russia’s homophobia; a solution far more effective than a total boycott. The Olympics, above all, are about exhibiting the sporting merit of our a nation’s athletes, and by boycotting the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, the UK would be denying its athletes’ right to compete after having trained unimaginably hard; and that is simply not within the spirit of what the Olympics stand for. Of course it is important to show condemnation of Russia’s recent homophobic laws, but a boycott of the Winter Olympics will simply match Putin’s petty behaviour, and thus will prove to be ineffective in making an active stand against him.
Yes
Cat Cough
A boycott may not be economically punitive enough for David Cameron to justify pursuing, and perhaps there is a potential that the Sochi Games in 2014 could provide a platform for this generation’s LGBT version of Jesse Owens. But there is more at stake here than a symbolic snub against Putin. In 1936, the world witnessed the Olympics in Berlin. Few participants were able to, or did, say a word about Hitler’s campaign against the Jews. Whilst history books have pointed proudly to the mockery that Jesse Owens’ triumph made of Hitler, I would point sadly to the Holocaust and world war that followed. Before the anti-gay laws were ratified by Vladimir Putin, a young man was murdered in Volgograd for being gay. He was beaten, violated, his clothing was set alight, and his head was crushed with a rock. This was in May. Since then, the Russian state and police have routinely turned a blind eye to violent attacks against the gay community and those supporting them. In June and July this year, Putin approved a series of anti-gay laws. These laws blatantly contravene articles eight, ten and fourteen of the European Convention on Human Rights. They make, as pointed out by Steven Fry, “any defence or sane discussion of homosexuality” a crime. One law, classifying “homosexual propaganda” as pornography has such vague wording that it could subject anyone arguing for tolerance or educating children about homosexuality to arrest and fines. Holding aloft the Olympic flame this month,
Putin claimed Russia had always been imbued with the qualities of “openness and friendship”. The recent treatment of Pussy Riot; the gulag-like penal colony conditions they are now subjected to; corruption; the monitoring of ‘all communications’ at the Sochi games and the decision by a Moscow court to send a protester to face forcible treatment in a psychiatric institution, seem to be a clear signal of an abhorrent return to Soviet-era practices designed to silence dissent. Yet David Cameron, the IOC, Lord Coe and many others have said it would be better for us to participate in their Olympics. “The Olympic games belong to the athletes and not to the politicians” Avery Brundage, heading up the American Committee for the 1936 Berlin Olympics, repeatedly asserted. He continually argued that boycotting the Berlin Olympics would contravene these principles. Politics and sport, he said, should never be entwined. The Olympic Charter demands the recognition that sport occurs within a framework of society. Politics and sport are not, and cannot, be separate. The fundamental origin and meaning of the word ‘politics’ ridicules the attempt to disassociate the two; it is a move of pure stupidity. Forms of “discrimination with regard to a country or any person on the grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise” (article 6 of the Olympic Charter) are clearly being supported and propagated by Putin’s legislation, and the vehement rhetoric of the Russian church. To participate in Russia’s Olympics is to tolerate their intolerance, and doing so will only bolster and support the homophobia endemic in Putin’s Russia.
the badger
21 october 2013
SCIENCE • 12
SCIENCE Should psychology be considered a science?
The Badger asks one of the most debated questions among the scientific community. Everyone has their own strict opinion, but who’s side are you on?
No Dan Price
Imagine the scene: it’s a sweltering Friday afternoon and the teacher at the head of the class opens the topic of discussion: what defines a science? The eager student at the front flicks open the dictionary to ‘S’. Science: systematic knowledge of the physical or material world gained through observation and experimentation. With that question answered the students pack up their things and rush for the door. The teacher breathes a sigh of relief as he sneaks a bottle of whiskey from under his desk. However, is it really that simple? Sadly not. Science has a rigorous definition which I think is best summarised by the microbiologist Alex B. Berezow. For a given discipline to qualify as a science it must fulfil 5 criteria: clearly defined terminology, quantifiability, highly controlled experimental conditions, reproducibility and predictability and testability. In essence these criteria ensure that a scientific field produces findings which are repeatable, reliable and understandable. The American Psychological Association defines psychology as “the study of the mind and behaviour” and that “the discipline embraces all aspects of the human experience… the understanding of behaviour is the enterprise of psychologists.” Unfortunately for psychologists, attempting to quantify human behaviour within the aforementioned scientific boundaries, is simply not always possible. Human behaviour cannot always be predicted to the degree that reliable outcomes can be repeatedly obtained. We are free to choose our own actions at any given time; we are random, unpredictable, and chaotic because we can choose to be. A sticking point for many in this debate involves the definition of terms. Berezow has posed the question: how exactly should “happiness” be defined? Quipping “Today, personally, I’m feeling about a 3.7 out of 5. How about you?” Of course a concept such as happiness is highly subjective to a given individual, but it’s also very difficult to quantify and express without speaking relative to your past experiences. We have terms like ecstatic and euphoric to attempt to convey a sense of our utter elation but
how can an individual possibly quantify that in relation to another person? Hand out a questionnaire with a choice of several tick-boxes ranging from 1, very sad, to 5, very happy? Despite this only being one aspect of psychology, that just doesn’t cut it. If terms are not properly defined then it makes it notoriously difficult for other research teams to refute or corroborate any findings. The history of science is composed of theories being refuted, reimagined and revised to further our understanding of the world. Many would argue that if such revisions are not possible, because the definitions are so vague, then psychology cannot be deemed a real science. Some psychologists reading this can likely relate to the University of Virginia’s Professor of Psychology, Timothy D. Wilson. When he despaired in a 2012 LA Times article “during a meeting at my university, a biologist mentioned that he was the only faculty member present from a science department. When I corrected him, noting that I was from the Department of Psychology, he waved his hand dismissively, as if I were a little leaguer telling a member of the New York Yankees that I too played baseball”. Such is the divide that has been established between the ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ sciences. Psychology cannot be defined as a science because it cannot always stand up to the rigor that scientific conclusions must be able to withstand. Yet does this mean that the findings of every psychological study are invalid? Of course not. So while psychology shouldn’t be considered a science, it can still be shown to produce findings which help to explain certain questions. ‘Help’ being the key word. Science by its very definition deals with reliable, repeatable findings with minimal subjectivity. Psychology by its very definition deals with unpredictable behaviours and as such cannot be held to the same standard of reliability present across the sciences. Therefore, psychology findings aren’t invalid, but the conclusions taken from such findings cannot be held to the same level of ‘truth’ as other fields. Working in tandem with other disciplines, psychology becomes something more than scatterings of subjective findings. Coupled with neuroscience it potentially gives insight into the human mind leading to medicines combating depression. This is where psychology undoubtedly flourishes, not in quantifying happiness on a numerical scale. I’m a 4.2 out of 5 by the way. How about you?
Yes Poppy Gardiner
Break down the word psychology and you are left with the prefix ‘psych’ and the suffix ‘ology.’ Now study the term ‘ology’ and you will find that it means scientific study of. The ‘ology’ is in this case defined as the scientific study of the mind. On first impressions it appears that psychology is a science. This can be supported by defining what we mean by the term ‘science.’ Now with regard to psychology we can say that studying the’ structure and behaviour of the physical and natural world’ is the key component. Psychology is the study of people’s behaviour and the structure of socialisation, growth and development. Taken a step further, past definition and understanding, psychology is still widely considered a science. For example, at the University of Sussex, the psychology course is deemed a BSc, meaning a bachelor of science. This goes for many other prestigious universities such as the University of Bath, Durham University and many more. If academics class it as a science, then so should we. Now we’ve considered the definitions and teaching of psychology, let’s consider the research side. Most research for psychology would be conducted using a controlled experiment. To determine and define something as a science, many would agree that there needed to be experimental variables, data plotting, controls of validity and a method. All of which can be found in psychology. The most important of all of these is the method. One starts with a hypothesis, gathers participants to make the sample, tests the subjects and then records the findings before making valid and reliable conclusions. This method can be transferred across all of the traditional sciences, and is, used in psychology. For example, a cognitive psychologist would compare the brain waves of a child compared to the brain waves of an adult by the use of a lab to have a controlled experiment, just like a neuroscientist would. The way that data is gathered in psychology is also true of the way it is gathered in the traditional sciences. Most psychology uses an empirical approach, i.e. evidence based. This theory contrasts that of a rationalist who believes rea-
son is evidence. In chemistry, chemicals are tested to prove a hypothesis, in biology animals and plants are tested to prove a hypothesis and in physics, motion and weight are tested to prove a hypothesis. This empirical approach is also shown in psychology. If a hypothesis is trying to be proved correct then participants will be tested to find the evidence to support the hypothesis, again – empirical. In both psychology and the traditional sciences, work is carried out to try to prove a hypothesis correct or incorrect. Both of these subjects use a method known as falsification, a term coined by Karl Popper. In his famous example, ‘No amount of observations of white swans can allow the conclusion that all swans are white, but the observation of a single black swan is sufficient to refute that conclusion,’ we can infer that falsification is the only way to be sure. We have to find the ‘odd one out’ to prove the rule. Both psychology and the traditional sciences do this in their experiments, furthering their similarities. But what other subjects deserve science status? Is sociology a science just because it has the ‘ology’ ending? Or does it deserve “social science status”? Is maths a science? Science is defined as a discipline that investigates the ‘structure and behaviour of the physical and natural world,’ which we can argue maths does. Maths is in every part of the natural world, whether it be in the average rain fall calculation or predicting weather changes. Maths is in the physical world also, whether that be in the angles of fine architecture or elsewhere. By using this definition of science, it is clear that we can say maths is a science. So where draw the line? If every disciple can be deemed a science based on the definition ‘study of the structure and behaviour of the physical and natural world’ surely most disciplines will be scientific? There is clear and sufficient evidence to suggest that psychology should be considered a science. Through the literal meanings of the terms psychology and science, through the way that psychology is taught and through the experimental processes and method, including the research that it provides. If all that wasn’t enough, just think of the medical research that psychology has been responsible for. If it weren’t for scientific testing and research that psychologists have conducted, we would have a much weaker understanding of mental health amongst many other fields of medicine.
the badger
21 October 2013 ARTS • 14
ARTS
Music
Machinedrum The Haunt
Monday 14th September
Raymond Jennings If Travis Stewart’s latest album, released under his Machinedrum alias, is the aural construction of an imaginary city, then his latest audiovisual live show is him giving you a guided tour of it. Joined on stage by an incredibly talented live drummer and equipped with two laptops, an array of synthesizers and drum machines, and even an electric guitar, Stewart translates the electronic blueprints of his latest album into fully realised songs. As the pair blend each track into the next, so too is the audience taken from one area of Stewart’s Vapor City to another. We are guided through open, empty squares, taken to abandoned amusement parks, driven to closed ports and directed through disused underground rail networks, all before finally being taken to the heart of the city. There, as the music intensifies, strange figures surround us, forcing us to duck through dark alleys and into uninhabited buildings. Escorted through narrow corridors as the beats and bass grow louder and heavier, the shadowy figures surrounding us begin to dance. When Stewart ushers in standout single ‘Eyesdontlie’ and it’s B-side ‘Body Touch’, there is little we can do but join in. Soon, however, everything starts to get a little bit more hostile: as the duo blend the footwork beats of Stewart’s more recent work into the much more aggressive rhythms of jungle, complete with samples of the now infamous Amen break, the figures on screen shift into ominous, threatening shapes, dancing through shades of red and black light and edging ever closer towards us. As the sense of danger grows the bass continues to swell, haunting and enshrouding the audience. With the drums hammering out relentless, jerking rhythms, we feel a sense of claustrophobia and fear instilled in us. Just as we are completely overwhelmed, the beats drop out of the mix and the bass eases off. The narrow corridors come to an end and suddenly we’re outside, rushing through the city and out into the forest. The rest of the set follows this theme, with slower, softer songs ensuring us our tour of the bleak city Stewart has created is over and that we are, at last, safe. With deft skill and immense creativity, Stewart has managed to bring his imaginary city to life with a perfectly paced live show; Vapor City may be unsafe, but it’s more than worth a visit.
Southern Electric
This week we focus on the vibrant electronic music scene in our city - we’ll give you live shows, tell you where to go and review a new night that’s already started proving a real success with students.
Editor’s Picks
Arts Editor Thomas Powell brings you the lowdown on his favourite electronic music nights in Brighton.
Kim Nelson
West Pier Dance Society 10 Below
Friday 11th October Kim Nelson Torrential rain hammered the streets of Brighton on Friday night. Even Brighton’s coastline, which usually carries an abundance of drunken people stumbling their way towards the seafront clubs, seemed surprisingly desolate. Yet if you wandered up Ship Street, you would have witnessed a different scene altogether. A good-sized queue of eager punters had formed outside of the recently renamed 10 Below, to bear witness to West Pier Dance Society’s Brighton debut. West Pier’s aspiration to bring a series of nights to Brighton, endorses a diverse array of good, independent dance music. This night was the first, and the genre in question was Garage: a musical genre that swept into the UK music scene during the 90s, and marked a defining part of our coun-
try’s dance culture. The culture that developed during the decade of Garage was coherently celebrated (as much as it can be by 100 or so middle-class youngsters) by the swathes of happily dancing people. Of course, the odd bucket hat, a guy dressed in a tracksuit, and people gunfingering in front of the dj booth added a certain authenticity to the night. Most important though, was the music being played, which was not only varied but also held true to the roots of Garage; West Pier had successfully showcased the diversity of the genre. Tunes ranged from UK two-step classics, with the likes of ‘Stone Cold’ by Groove Chronicles (1997), ‘Colours’ by Stephen Emmanuel (1998) and ‘Neighbourhood’ by Zed Bias (2000) to more recent Garageinfluenced songs such as ‘Get Things Straight’ by LB Lynam (2012), an alias of Daphni. As the night progressed, rapidly passing the billed closing time, people were still dancing energetically while the last DJs on the bill Harry Forshaw and James Tooley blended dubstep such as ‘Hyph Mngo’ by Joy Orbison effortlessly into their set.
Although a slight divergence, you could clearly hear the extensive influence that the fast-paced, highlysyncopated beats of UK Garage on has had other (later) dance music genres. Frank Nankivell, one of the curators of West Pier’s night said, “it has been a resounding success, especially for the first night. Generally feedback has been great”. He added, “its great to have a night in a smaller, more intimate space such as 10 Below, which helps to keep the overt focus on the music that is being played, something which is West Pier’s top aim to achieve”. For the next night on the bill, the focus will turn to the seminal Genres of Chicago House and Detroit Techno, at mention of this Frank said: “We’ve booked Donga [a co-founder of Brighton’s own Well Rounded Records] for our next night. He’s an established DJ and Brighton local, he’s guaranteed to play a really interesting set. Hopefully it should be another crackin’ night”. Get down to 10 Below for Week 2: Chicago House and Detroit Techno 10pm- late on Friday 8th November.
Warehouse - Saturday at Audio Audio’s flagship Saturday night has proven itself to be the top night for lovers of underground house and techno on the south coast. Often providing a stage for well known DJs who need to warm up for (or cool down from) London shows on the same night, there are some truly breathtaking sets on offer (even if it means the headliner is on relatively early or late sometimes). Some of my personal highlights from the last 12 months include Paul Woolford, Oneman and Nina Kraviz. If you missed those sets but still want to get stuck in, entry is generally free on the guestlist before 12 or £5/7 after. Some hot tips for the rest of this term are Detroit Swindle, Daniel Avery and Waze & Odyssey, so why not get down and enjoy Audio’s sound system. Akakaroar - Friday at Concorde 2/Audio Having ended their 3 year relationship with Life on the seafront, Akakaroar looks to pastures new to provide Brighton with an occasional night to showcase some of the UK’s top talent in house and garage. When the night ran every other Friday at Life, the bills were fantastic, with sets from Boddika, Blawan and Levon Vincent to name but a few. However, the venue itself was always cramped and hot, with a sound system that left something to be desired. The night’s move away from Life will hopefully give it a chance to rejuvenate and truly spread its wings. Having met success on launch at Concorde 2 with a session from Swamp 81, everyone is anticipating huge things from Hessle Audio boss Ben UFO at Audio this Saturday, Akakaroar marches on without Life.
the badger
21 october 2013 ARTS • 15
Reviews COMEDY
art
Brighton & Hove Gallery
Invisible Dot: The New Wave
12th October to 9th March
12th October
Subversive Design
The Old Market
Lotte Brazier
Hiral Gandhi
It’s not often that you hear Vivienne Westwood vocalising her political opinions from your TV set (or laptop screen), anymore. It seems poignant, yet fitting that the mercurial Godmother of Punk should raise her voice again, now. With the recession, there is a feeling that we are finding ourselves at the cusp of political entropy. This feeling is, however, nothing new - humanity’s fascination for cyclical creation and destruction is a seemingly boundless artistic font. Brighton Gallery’s ‘Subversive Design’ is an attempt at visually rendering our collective sense of sociopolitical doom. Here, Vivienne Westwood’s original punk project returns alongside other artists of an equally revolutionary nature. Some choose to do this through a playful mix of shock tactics and absurdity. Take David Shrigley, who chose to give addictive substances a domestic twist with his cocaine and heroin salt/peppershakers and knitted ciga-
Fulfilling expectations set by previous productions, The Invisible Dot produced an intelligent and versatile show with the Brighton leg of its New Wave comedy tour. The line-up comprised of four comedians, in a well-ordered structure that began with Adam Hess, winner of the Chortle Student Comedy Award 2011. As there was no compere for the evening, Hess had the difficult task of warming the audience up, which he did quite successfully in the very mainstream fashion of storytelling his disastrous love life. Having won the Chortle Student Comedy Award with a one-liner set, this flexibility will allow him to continue to expand his comedic horizons. Second in line was Claudia O’Doherty, Australian comedienne and nominee for the 2012 Edinburgh Comedy award. Claudia brought on stage a refreshing new angle; the main plot of her set consisted of pitching her sponsor to the audience. The topic really utilised her bla-
Art
Mutator 1+2: William Latham The Phoenix Gallery Ellen Harber Had I known the title of the exhibition I was heading to (‘Mutator 1+2’ by William Latham,) I probably would have decided a more productive use of a rainy Sunday would be to finally tackle my odd sock pile. However I arrived at Brighton’s Phoenix Gallery with an open mind and after my initial surprise found the concept fascinating. Latham was a pioneer of computer art in the 1980s and has been working to create a synthesis of art and science. While most people see the two as oppositional, Latham and the mathematicians he has collaborated with recognize that in fact, they couldn’t be more complimentary. This was not your average art exhibition encouraging hushed tones and walking around at a snail’s pace. Indeed, one room was interactive and visitors could, using computers, manipulate the 3D art projected onto the gallery walls. Latham’s career has come full cir-
CatGallery Gough Sebastian Brajkovic. Courtesy Carpenters Workshop rette packets. Or Jonathan Boyd, whose interests lie in the uprooting of language as coherent or informative. By turning Wittgenstein’s Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus into a wearable brooch of letters, Boyd makes the philosopher’s writings doubly unreadable both practically and as a difficult philosophical text. Perhaps the only downside to ‘Subversive Design’ is that it is visually jumbled. The exhibition is like a trip to the supermarket, with the most garish packaging designs competing for at-
tention. Consequently, the subtler, cleverer pieces such as Shrigley’s salt/peppershakers, look lost. Despite its eclecticism, ‘Subversive Design’ is held together by the sheer standard of its artists, and by the relevancy of its mission statement. So much for art being useless. ‘Subversive Design’ reaffirms the idea that art can express the rollercoaster ride of living in an impermanent culture. Artists have, after all, always sought to illustrate the human condition as it socially rewrites itself.
cle since his education in art, and this progression is mirrored in the layout and curation of the gallery space. His earlier work consists of handdrawn geometric shapes that gradually build in intricacy until they transform into more complex structures. These were then computerized to create shapes that resemble ‘fantastical futuristic organisms’, some of which can run for thousands of years without repeating themselves. His named influences were diverse - ranging from Dutch still life paintings to American graffiti artists - but the overwhelming theme throughout is that of man’s harnessing and manipulation of nature. Latham compares himself to a ‘gardener’, taking natural forms such as a strand of DNA and generating art. While it may not be the most beautiful exhibition I’ve seen, it’s certainly one of the most thoughtprovoking.
Film
sé sense of humour, expressed via feigned enthusiasm. Unfortunately the third act, Jamie Demetriou didn’t live up to the benchmark set by his predecessors. Appearing as a character act - as Michael, a suave alcoholic - he just couldn’t relate with the audience (despite being the only act with significant audience participation) and went on far too long with what felt like little direction. Perhaps it was a bad crowd for Demetriou on Saturday; surely The Invisible Dot saw enough talent to warrant his place on the tour. Tonight however, only very weak threads of humour came through in the light of social awkwardness. Liam Williams did an excellent job of closing the show. Narrating the story of his life in a rather dry, dead-pan manner, the matter-of-fact nature of his performance picked up on the quirks of idioms - making devoid emotionallyoverwrought prose. Overall it was a well-executed show. If ever The Invisible Dot are producing a show in a town near you, there’s a guarantee that the acts will be of a certain pedigree. However it would also be well worth seeing a Liam Williams or Claudia O’Doherty solo show. It is difficult to decide which of the two stole the show, but both owed their success to digression from mainstream comedy and the insertion of personality into their sets.
Secrets and Lies
Sussex Film Appreciation Society/African Caribbean Society 14th October Cassidy Hansen If you’re looking for an easygoing, light-hearted romp for a Monday night in with the rest of the flat, then Mike Leigh’s 1996 drama Secrets & Lies is not the film for you. The heavy, downbeat narrative follows a young, middle class black woman named Hortense (Marianne Jean-Baptiste) as she seeks out her depressive, white birth mother, Cynthia (Brenda Blethyn). If the story sounds like it might be challenging, that’s because it is. The film begins with the death of Hortense’s adoptive mother, and from there on out it only seems to go downhill. We are quickly introduced to Cynthia, an emotional wreck who is attempting to understand – and control – her rebellious and anti-social daughter, whilst her brother, a barely successful photographer, is struggling to come to terms with his wife’s inability to become pregnant.
This seemingly hopeless set of family situations is accented by the recurring cello motifs in the minor key score, and indeed by the sterile and hospital-like lighting and cinematography. At a glance, this may all seem like hard work, and at two hours and fifteen minutes, it sort of is. However, through this bleak setup emerges a film that is unbelievably believable. Each character’s predicament seems so real, whether it’s the discovery of a lost child and the shock upon discovering she is of a different race, or simply dealing with the harsh realities of having next to no money. The issues of class and race divisions are presented, but also overcome, purely through the very Brit-
ish ‘just get on with it’ attitude. Leigh has created a film with a sincere and hopeful message, and I am personally very relieved that it managed to avoid the originalitysmothering blanket that Hollywood occasionally wields. The next instalment of Sussex Film Appreciation Society and ACS’ Black Britain season is Isaac Julien’s ‘Young Soul Rebels’. Monday 21st October, Arts A2 Lecture Theatre, 6pm.
the badger
21 october 2013 ARTS • 16
LIFESTYLE Splitting the bill? That don’t impress me much: the etiquette of first dates Jordan Brown I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a hopeless romantic. My idea of a perfect date is being rowed in a boat by Ryan Gosling through a lake full of swans. Extra points if he brings food. Extra-extra points if he proposes. Unfortunately, I think that’s a bit farfetched. However, when it comes to first date etiquette, I have views which are seen as a bit old-fashioned. I think a man should open the car door for you when you get out; that he should let you walk first through a door; and, most importantly, I think a man should pay on a first date. Cue screams of horror. I’ve always had this view, most likely because I was raised in a family where my mother a) let me watch Disney films nonstop and b) let me know how I should be treated by a potential partner. Don’t get me wrong, it’s entirely down to the people who are actually on the date; the majority of people I have met contradict my view entirely, saying that you should half the bill. But I think if I sacrifice a large chunk out of my valuable time to grace a man with my presence, then he should pay. When I was younger and informed
others of my opinion, I would be greeted with appalled looks. This did not stop me from proceeding to search for ‘Mr. Right’. I decided to get a guy who had previously asked me out (and I had turned down) to re-ask me back out. After a couple of weeks of texting, he finally asked me on a date. My first ever date! Needless to say I was dead nervous. I had never even kissed a boy and when I arrived at the cinema I was shaking like a leaf. He was a fair bit older than me (I was eighteen and he was nearly twenty-two) and I was so nervous of doing something wrong that I stayed silent more or less throughout the entire date, until the end where I thanked him for taking me out and left. I thought it had all run pretty smoothly considering I had had no idea what I was doing. He had even paid! The next day my phone buzzed and it was a text from the boy I had been on a date with. I was so excited! I thought that he must want to go on a second date with me! Yet my hopes were shattered when I opened the message. It simply read: “Just a tip, next time someone takes you on a date
Annie Pickering Publicity Team
Georgia Lewis you could at least offer to pay.” Yeah. Seriously. I felt my heart sink. It had been my first date ever, and I thought that I was in the wrong. I replied, apologising pathetically for absolutely nothing, hoping he’d forgive me for my absolutely dire mistake. For the few dates I had after that, I paid my way, believing that perhaps everyone was right. Maybe my dreams of old-fashioned romance were just that. But then I met the man who is now
Maddie Carver
Maddie Carver as a replacement and sadly waved goodbye to my hopes of eating an authentic Caribbean dish. An hour later I received a phone call to tell me not that my food was waiting outside, but that the delivery driver couldn’t find my house. Instead of waiting in the warmth for someone to deliver food to my door (the generally acknowledged takeaway format), I had to go out
The Haunt
Brighton Noise
my boyfriend. I offered to pay and he immediately said, “Why would I want you to pay? It’s a date.” And we’ve been together for over a year now. Don’t worry, I’m not suggesting that your dream man is the one who will pay for dinner, but what I discovered through the disaster of my first date is that when you find someone with the same traditions and values as you, something just seems to click. Now where’s my row boat?
hungryhouse.co.uk: Caribbean with Cummin Up When selecting a takeaway to review, Cummin Up - a Caribbean place - popped up amidst a sea of pizza places, curry houses and Chinese restaurants delivering to the BN2 area. Intrigued by the idea of a takeaway that was not the aforementioned soggy pizza or questionable curry and envisaging vibrant food, I was excited to try something new. But oh, Cummin Up, how you disappointed me. I ordered a vegetable rundown (a coconut-based vegetable curry) but within 10 minutes of placing the order they rang (after a prolonged and complicated mix up with my phone number) to tell me it was unavailable. The only other vegetarian option was a chickpea curry that -unnervingly - had no description on the menu. I reluctantly chose this option
JOIN THE CLUB
onto the main road to direct the girl calling me from the restaurant as she in turn directed the delivery guy on the other line. Is GPS too much to ask for? Unfortunately, things did not get much better once the food finally arrived. My chickpea curry tasted like someone had tipped a can of chickpeas onto my plate and then
just mixed them round with a bit of stock on top. The goat curry that my dinner date ordered was apparently wellcooked but definitely not the vibrant affair he had been hoping for. Even the corn on the cob that we ordered was a sad affair: soggy, shrivelled and best left alone. The worst part of the meal, however, was the rice. I had never imagined that it was possible to cook rice as badly as Cummin Up managed to. It looked and tasted as though it had been cooked days ago and then reheated several times in between, lending it a gloopy, starchy texture that had even congealed into large clumps in some places. I’m sorry to say it, but our meal from Cummin Up had no redeeming features at all. I was sorely disappointed and wished that I had just gone for that soggy pizza instead.
CarmelH The Haunt has become a haunt of mine. Monday nights play host to Fat Poppadaddys; they play the same stuff each week - but the same good stuff. You’d dance around alone in your room to this music normally, but here everyone is there with you. Expect to hear the likes of The Jam, Stevie Wonder, Kings of Leon, Bloc Party, Outkast, Nirvana, Major Lazer, Daft Punk and The Specials - to name a few. It’s a good night out - and only a fiver for five Jägerbombs - as long as you ignore how sweaty the dancefloor gets. The Haunt also features other regular club nights such as Cat Face - where you draw whiskers on your face for a discounted entry fee - and Wonder Years, their 90s night. Saturday night, however, is amazing: It Is Still 1985 is the ultimate 80s party, but in 2013. It’s overloaded with everything from emotional fist-clenching power ballads to corporate radio rock to blockbuster soundtracks to the glory of synthpop - completely awful yet utterly fun. The Haunt is also a great venue for new artists of almost all genres. As the music on offer is so diverse, make sure to go on a night that’s right for you otherwise it might not be your cup of tea. Then again, it might be nice to try something new?
the badger
21 October 2013 ARTS • 17
Sussex Showcase - ‘Derelict’
Daniel Hadley
Jessamy Hawke Ink on paper
Ben Pitt
Rhiannon McCluskey
Dnaiel Hadley Week six’s theme is:
DELIGHT Cesca Rampley
Send your creative pursuits to frampley@gmail.com by 1st November
the badger
21 October 2013 Arts •18
Arts
The agenda This week’s cultural highlights that you must see
Gigs
ROCK Temples Komedia
Reggae
Theatre
REGGAE Rub a Dub Club Present An evening with Bunny Lee Riki Tik
THEATRE Landscape II Brighton Dome
Comedy
Monday 21st October, 7pm
£9
Rock Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Brighton Dome
Playing a selection of their critically-acclaimed psychedelic catalogue, including last year’s debut single ‘Shelter Song’. Dripping with flower power, you wouldn’t want to miss this young, but promising group.
Thursday 24th October, 8pm
SOLD OUT
Wednesday 23rd October, 7pm
Local resident Nick Cave will be characteristically reining the Brighton Dome with the Bad Seeds and their latest album, Push the Sky Away. Playing material from their 15th studio album, you wouldn’t want to miss this gothic legend’s prowess.
Legendary Reggae producer Bunny Lee will not only be hosting a DJ session with his son and Prince Fatty, but will also be screening his new documentary, taking part in a Q&A and signing copies of his new book, ‘Reggae Going International.’
Free
Film
FILM Nothing But A Man
Duke of York’s Picturehouse Thursday 22nd October £7
The film follows Duff, a black railroad-worker, as he faces oppression and hostility from within the black community. Though receiving massive appraisal within the arthouse scene, this 1960s film has only recently resurfaced as being a pioneer of American neorealism.
PREVIEW: Veronica Falls x Bleached Thursday 24th October, The Green Door Store Victoria Rodrigues O’Donnell Arts Editor Joining their “special friends” Bleached, Veronica Falls will be playing The Green Door Store as part of their UK Tour this October. Mixing harmonies with melancholic lyrics, the four-piece group from London will most certainly be playing to a crowd who adore their particular brand of indie
A powerful hybrid of performance, film and sound art is used to generate this unique solo performance. Expect to be immeresed.
Pub
£25
Returning to Brighton after four sell-out shows in May, Micky swaggers back with his cockney charm. A regular on panel shows, it will be refreshing to see him back on stage with new material and well, who can resist laughing at his cheeky anecdotes?
CLUB/PUB I Am Arcade Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar
Wednesday 23rd October, 7:30pm
£12.50
£10
Wednesday 23rd October 7pm
Club
LO-FI Washed Out Concorde 2 One of only 3 UK dates, Ernest Greene returns with his own particular take on chilled out shoegaze. Playing his new album, ‘Paracosm’, it will definitely ease those who are still clinging on to those late summer nights.
Tue 22 Oct 2013, 8pm
COMEDY Micky Flanagan Brighton Centre
pop. Think Velvet Underground. Expect the band to play a catalogue of new and old songs, including material from their album, Waiting for Something to Happen, released earlier this year. In contrast, Bleached are an LA band who mix punk (‘77, duh.) and SoCal surf melodies. Love and loss feature heavily in both bands’ repertoires, but leave the tissues at home for a night of swaying (alcohol free) tunes.
Wednesday 23rd October, 8pm
Free
Whether you just want to relax and play retro coin-op style games (think Street Fighter) or compete for pizzas and pints is up to you. This requires your inner game geek on full mode.
CLUB/PUB Tea & Biscuits The Fishbowl Wednesday 23rd October 10pm
Free
If you like your nights with a retro twist, Gareth Stephens will be playing some sweet sounds along the lines of Jazz, 50s R&B, Soul and Swing.
PREVIEW: Clipping. Sunday 20th October, Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar Victoria Rodrigues O’Donnell Arts Editor Though the LA three-piece are yet to release their label debut (set for 2014) for Sub Pop, their music is definitely for those who love nothing more than letting their hair down. “Party music” is not something unheard of in Brighton, but clipping. bring together a mixture of talented artists merging ideas of
sounds together. Formed as a remix project in 2009, the band have been perfecting their mix of rap, harsh noise and concrete music ever since. Having members come from film scoring backgrounds also adds an extra cinematic element. Precise, yet quick with words, make sure you go just to see frontman Daveed Digs almost effortlessly punctuate the heavy sounds.
COMEDY Bill Bailey Brighton Centre Thursday 24th October 7pm
£25
As expected, Bill Bailey will be bringing a wide range of instruments to the Brighton Centre as part of his current Qualmpeddler Tour. Satirical and idiosyncratic, let’s just say it would not be surprising if he plays a dub version of Downton Abbey.
watch, write, review Get involved in the Arts team by joining us at our writers meetings or searching on Facebook for : “Badger Writers” See submission guidelines on the Badger website
the badger
21 October 2013
SporTS • 20
SPORTS
Dislike seagulls? Try the Whitehawks Christian Ritter
You have to feel success has come at the wrong time for Whitehawk FC. They are currently competing, for the first time, in the Conference South, the joint-6th tier of English football and two promotions away from the football league. However this ascent to the fringes of the professional game has unfortunately come at the same time as the rapid rise up the divisions of the club’s more famous neighbours, Brighton and Hove Albion. Both clubs have had extended periods of success in recent years, and it feels cruel to think that were the Seagulls still playing at the soulless sixth form sports-day venue that was the Withdean, a few more Brightonian football fans would be extolling the virtues of Hawks as a further addition to the increasing number of promising teams in Sussex instead of overlooking them as the much of the local population and press has. (See recently-professional Crawley Town, playing at the highest level in their history.) While the Seagulls’ impressive shiny stadium proudly crests over the South Downs, the home of Whitehawk is a little more humble, but arguably has much more charm. Their literally-named ‘Enclosed Ground’ nestles in a slight valley east of Wilson Avenue, a few hundred
yards before the marina, and averages under 250 fans a game. In response to last week’s article regarding Brighton and Hove Albion’s one-off £15 student ticket tariff, it must be mentioned that the ticket price for a Whitehawk game is £10, paid at the gate. There’s no exotic megalomaniacs here, and the ‘stadium’ is not sponsored by the world’s most recognisable credit card brand; but when was the last time you were able to watch an Albion match with a pint in your hand? When do you ever converse with away fans who have known their teams players personally since they were boys? When are you ever allowed to stand?! Whitehawk have had what can be described as a good start to life in the big league, sitting 15th in the table of 22, doing considerably better than 21st-placed Gosport Borough, also promoted last season. My sole experience of seeing the team play this season was a 1-0 victory over Basingstoke Town in early September, in which Whitehawk were at times outplayed by the Hampshire club’s seemingly fitter and better-prepared players, yet Hawks held out for three points. However their season’s highlight so far cannot be anything other than the 6-2 away win against Dorchester Town in August. Consistent form has been elusive though, and a lower-
mid table finish would be welcome in East Brighton come May. But I hear you ask: what does this all have to do with me, reader of the Badger’s back pages in the hope of finding out the successes of our university’s sports teams? Well aside from the low cost of supporting such a team, perhaps Whitehawk FC have natural allies in the guise of Sussex Ultimate Frisbee Mohawks. That is, both existing as Brightonbased perpetually under-appreciated and over-achieving teams: Hawks in need of bigger attendances and Mohawks in need of funds – a potentially successful community joint sports initiative comes to mind. Regardless of possible joint ventures, a day out to watch Whitehawk FC is well worth the time and money of anyone fancying a more intimate and down to earth football experience. Although official non-league day has already passed this season, there’s little stopping students hopping on the number 23 bus to the Enclosed Ground, where they can experience football as it should be, and not as an identikit, sanitised television programme.
To find more information on Whitehawk FC visit the clubs website at www.pitchero.com/clubs/whitehawk
Tributes pour in for ‘brilliant climber’ PLAYER PROFILES - Martin Schellert Hutton Potts family
Michael Morrow Sports Editor Three weeks ago, The Badger gave their tribute to Sussex student Jack Hutton-Potts, who tragically died in a climbing accident over the summer. Jack (23) was involved in a fatal climbing accident alongside his close friend and former teacher Vaughan Holme (48) in Anglesey, where they had been climbing together during the summer. This week, Jack’s family and friends have shared with us the legacy and memories that Jack has left behind for them. Jack’s sister Anna says of her brother, “My brother was always the boy with a brilliant mind. “Bright beyond everyday smart. Energetic, enthusiastic and generous and kind natured. “He had a fervent need for knowledge, he always had an opinion and wasn’t afraid to voice it, even if it was controversial. “We all miss his boundless en-
ergy, cheerful voice and endless positivity. “Jack was a talented, brilliant climber, but he was also a scientist, a fantastic writer, an activist, a feminist, as well as keen runner and cyclist. All who knew Jack are suffering hugely with the gapping whole he has left behind.” Close friend to Jack, Beth Boom, told of how Jack’s death has left a gaping space in her life: “Living without Jack is sometimes unbearably difficult, and when it’s not I have temporarily forgotten people will either completely understand this or not understand it at all. “He was a human supernova and the world is darker for his death. I was a friend of his for years.” Jack evidently touched the lives of all who knew him, and it is clear to see that Jack’s fun-loving spirit will live on and be thoroughly cherished by his family and his friends, and through this he will never be forgotten.
Karoliina Lehtonen Sports Editor As a exchange student from Germany last year, Martin Schellert quickly realised that one of the best ways to meet people and make friends was to join a university sports team. Swimming, a sport which combines the skills of an individual while still maintaining an atmosphere of a team sport, was the perfect mix of ingredients for Martin when he arrived at Sussex, he says. Socialising with likeminded people as well as meeting people from different departments and backgrounds is a key reason why swimming at Sussex has thrived in the past couple years, despite still being a relatively new team at the University. This year the team hopes to increase their membership numbers, improve performance at the BUCS fixtures and defeat long-time rivals, Brighton University. Spending time in the pub with the team after a tough training session
is balanced out by the hard work that Martin puts in when competing in BUCS. Among his greatest achievements last year are defeating a Brighton university athlete in the 50m backstroke event, as well as winning the 100m backstroke event. Martin recommends joining the team if you want to improve your fitness, swimming technique or even if you simply want to learn how to swim. Joining, he says, helps you set and achieve personal goals as well as learning how to be responsible for your own success. Having just finished a European Economic Studies degree from the University of Bamberg, Germany, Martin is currently doing a postgraduate degree in Global Political Economy and working at the AMEX part time. After university he says he would like to stay in Brighton to pursue a career and experience the city from a non-student perspective, while still swimming to keep up his fitness, of course.