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In the second ever magazine to hit Surrey's campus, find out about Google's flagship device as well as our Travel themed articles covering the Philippines and more...
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MAY 2015Issue 82
FREE
THE GUIDE TO TRAVELThe Features team bring you all
you need to know about the best places to travel this summer
LET’S TALK NAILSThe Beauty team bring you 5
minutes with Dina Amai, as well as an exclusive 20% off
in her salon!
GOOGLE’S LATEST FLAGSHIP DEVICE Find our breakdown on this current technological release, from handling to design and phone features
MEET THE TEAM
JOSIE PULLEN HEAD OF DESIGN
IBRAHIM SARWAR HEAD OF MARKETING
REBEKKAH HUGHES EDITOR
TAMI KHRAMTCHENKO ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
TAMI KHRAMTCHENKO ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
JOSHUA LANGLEY OPINION & ANALYSIS EDITOR
AKEY KHATUN FASHION & BEAUTY EDITOR
KATIE SANDS FEATURES EDITOR
ALEX PAGESOCIETIES EDITOR
HOLLY HALLAMARTS EDITOR
HANNAH KAINE DESIGN EDITOR
DAGMAR ELLEFSENDESIGN EDITOR
LEO BLANCHARDLITERATURE EDITOR
LOUIE LEWIS NEWS EDITOR
RICHARD REECESPORTS EDITOR
WRITERS
Ian AikmanAyo Akinfenwa
Rebecca BlakeburnArdy Cheung
Nick DuffyEllie EgletonTom Hagar
Rhiannon HutchingsConnor Ibbetson
FRANCESCA GILLARDSCI-TECH EDITOR
Banseka KayembeJoshua MartinOlivia MurphyYe-Kwang Pang
Jo ReynoldsJoshua RyeShiri ShahJoel Silver
Megan Wilson
CONTENTS©
Matthew
Boyle
@thestagsurrey @thestagsurrey /TheStagSurrey
The Stag is an editorially independent magazine and is published by the University of Surrey Students’ Union.
The views expressed in the paper are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the educational team, the Students’ Union or the University of Surrey.
Trinity Mirror (South)8 Tessa Road, Reading
RG1 8NS
The Stag reserves the right to edit all submissions and the right to decide which articles are published.
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Learn how to make Beany Cheesy Crunch Casserole
with Jo!
London Super Comic Convention
LETTEROPEN
The Rise of Fantasy Fiction
Find your way in the Philippines
Katie Hopkins presents the ugly face the immigration debate
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“If Surrey wants to stay in the Top 10, then it needs to clean up its act when it comes to racism”
“I’d rather vote UKIP than Green”
Salem’s Lot Review
Interview with author, Sarah Perlmutter
Library Tips for the Exam Period
Travel Tips
The Return of Thunderbirds and Star Wars
Photography
“Ignorance is Bliss: Unbreakable Kimmy
Schmidt”
“Baby Like Fonkin’ It Up”: P-funk Review
Significant Albums of my Life So Far
‘Upcomers’ Worth Your While
Review of Google’s Nexus 6
5 Minutes with Dina Amai
Bling Rings
Fashion’s ‘Did You Know?’
“Surrey EARS Celebrates 50 Years”
Surrey Student Pen: The Freedom to Read & Write
Club Spotlight: Taekwondo
Britain’s Sporting Enigma
Surrey Surf Tour Success
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TRAVEL
EDITOR’S LETTER
It somewhat pains me to write this down, but this is penultimate issue of The Stag for this academic year –
time truly has flown. And what makes this all the more poignant for me is the
fact that I’m writing this the day of our AGM! So, as committee changes are made ready for next year, people keen and willing are setting themselves up for their year in position to hopefully take The Stag onto bigger and better accomplishments. It’s been an exciting issue: we’ve successfully compiled a lovely Travel section within Features, held an interview Dina Amai, a young entrepreneur working in the beauty industry who is generously giving our readers 20% off services at her salon, and on top of all this, we’ve managed to introduce a Photography section, showcasing one of Photosoc’s stunning photographs in the centre spread. The best thing about issues like
this is seeing the range of ideas people conjure to fill their sections; going out of their way to bring something engaging and new to The Stag for you lovely ones to read! It’s great that we’re ending the year strongly, hopefully inspiring many more fresh faces to join the team! As this is the second ever #Stagazine, we’re still ironing out the creases, and so we’re still very happy to receive your feedback on how to improve! Let us know what you think and what you’d change. Better still, get involved! You may have missed our AGM, but we have something for everyone to be a part of The Stag.
Hello from the Careers Service! It’s been quite a while but we hope that the Easter vacation
and sunshine has left you in good shape and ready for the remainder of second semester. Time has flown by and coming towards the end of the academic year you may be considering career plans, especially if you are graduating. Or perhaps you are wondering about placements as you approach the end of your first year. Of course, we’d like to congratulate those of you who already have jobs or placements secured! Although many companies start recruiting in the Autumn term, the start of Summer invites another surge of employers looking to fill remaining placement and graduate vacancies or even summer and future positions. So do not be disheartened if you have yet to
secure an opportunity as there are many still available. On 13 May, the Careers Service held the Summer Recruitment Fair on the PATS field. We hope that you were able to attend it and found talking to employers from various companies and finding out about career opportunities with them a useful and inspiring experience. If you missed this and if you are returning, be sure to look out for the Autumn fair next academic year. It is one of the biggest and most popular events of the year and the University is lucky to attract so much employers. A lot of opportunities including full and part time, graduate positions, internships and volunteering have recently been advertised on our Online Careers Vacancies Service. Make sure you sign up as you can also receive email alerts for new vacancies in your desired
sector. Go to the Careers website www.surrey.ac.uk/careers and click on ‘Latest Job Vacancies’. A few of you have come into the Careers Service recently to ask about internships. Internships offer temporary positions to gain training for a specific job role or industry. The Santander University Internship Scheme, which offers paid 3 month internships at small and medium enterprises, is open to us as current students of the university. You can find out more information on our website: www.surrey.ac.uk/careers under the ‘Information Leaflets’ page. You are also more than welcome to pop in and talk to us about it at the Philip Marchant Building on campus, which is open Monday to Friday from 9am-5pm. Meanwhile, we wish you luck with your career planning plus any forthcoming exams and coursework!
Your Summer Career Plans and Internshipsby Ardy Cheung, Careers Ambassador
I was the victim of abuse on campus and my attacker is walking free.
It’s only after you start your first few weeks of university that you are exposed to the atrocities that people
can commit against you. Rape and abuse statistics aren’t really the forefront of inspections on places when searching for a suitable institute for education. Whilst this holds some sense, I worry that students don’t feel safe when speaking out about their experiences. University is meant to be an era of wonderful opportunities and new friends, but there’s an ugly truth about university life that’s veiled under the guise of club promotions and drink deals. All in all, the only warnings I get about sexual assault have been – “How to Spot a Spiked Drink” or “My Ex Accused Me of Raping Her and Now My Life Is Over!” – the kind of patronising rhetoric no victim needs to hear. I see these sensationalist click baits everywhere I turn on the Internet, and my heart sinks. I don’t know what kind
of elaborate liar the ‘Ex’ in question has to be, because from my experience, all the evidence in the world can’t seem to get you anywhere. After I had reported the incident of sexual assault I was subject to, it seemed that Surrey Police had humoured me for a while until they decided there was “not enough sufficient evidence to continue the case.” Without going into unnecessary detail, I must disagree. After they had said that I wonder what kind of “evidence” they would need for me to feel like I hadn’t been a laughable waste of time. I doubt they laughed it off, but having not taken my attack seriously I’m left to assume that was their thought. Having dropped the case, I have seen my attacker twice on campus. It doesn’t fill me with ease that an attack could go on after an on-campus room had been invaded without consent and they are able to continue with life and
get a degree while I’m suffering with severe trauma. What I’m trying to say is: if you’ve experienced this trauma, report it. Don’t let the ambivalent loyalties of official figures deter you or a loved one. Let your voice be heard. I’m writing this article with the hope that those in positions of power will step up and ensure the safety of students and those whom are a part of this university. As part of a community that has helped me grow, I hope this atrocity sparks feelings of protectiveness from you all to prevent your friends and fellows from going through the same thing. Rape needs to be taken more seriously, and it won’t change without protest.
LETTEROPEN
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OPINION If Surrey wants to remain in the top 10, it has to clean up its act
when it comes to racism
by Shiri Shah, Opinion & Analysis Writer
The university has a race problem. I am not speaking about the official institution,
rather its flimsy control over social media platforms that are affiliated with the University of Surrey. In the past, Facebook pages such as “Spotted” have encountered Surrey Police involvement as a result of bullying, sexism, and homophobia. I do not look at those pages as they are nothing but harmful to me. I had heard about a new page called “Surrey University Secret Admirers.” Immediately alarm bells went off in my head, so I decided to ignore this new fad much like I had ignored the others and held it in contempt. Despite my efforts to avoid harmful spaces on the internet, I was quiet literally notified about this atrociously racist status. Had the P-word been shouted in public on campus, it would be a criminal offence. Instead the racist in question filtered their misogyny through an anonymous Facebook page where the admin clearly thought this was acceptable for the diverse range of Surrey students to witness. As you can see, I was called to attention. There was no way for me to avoid seeing this unless I possessed some psychic powers. If I had possessed such a quality, I would have deleted my Facebook two weeks prior or I would never have signed up
in the first place. Sadly, this is not the only incident of combined racism and sexism. I would hope that the students of Surrey would not require me to deconstruct the interactions between (supposed) fellow students. These issues call to my mind several questions:1) Why is there no social media officer regulating Facebook / Twitter pages? How long does it have to go on for before the police get involved yet again? 2) Does the university not care for the wellbeing of their students? They pride themselves on diversity and profit off of international students, so one would
expect there to be a level of respect for all races and genders. If they do then why is this allowed to go on with minimal controversy? Much to my disappointment, after sharing the offending status with the caption “white people cannot understand racism as there is no term rooted in post/colonial violence to remind them that they are merely props for sexual amusement” I was met with more mistreatment. It must be quite a stretch to assume I meant people were too “stupid” to understand racism but I was surprised many had made that reach. To clarify, I mean white people cannot understand the fundamental experience of racism people of colour face on a daily basis on an overt and covert level. I will not post screenshots to save face, but it was clear to me that there must be more education on racial politics. How else is this generation meant to live in harmony without dismantling racist institutions? Instead of tackling racism, people unwittingly become complicit in the system whilst turning a blind eye to their own ignorance. So, Surrey, what are we going to do, if anything?
I'd rather vote UKIP than Green
by Joshua Martin, Senior Opinion & Analysis Writer
Hang on, put that pitchfork down. Let me explain: I am not a UKIP supporter. I didn’t
vote for them in the election. But, imagine this for a second. Let’s pretend an earthquake happened in the middle of Westminster, swallowing up the Houses of Parliament and dragging all politicians inside it into the middle of the earth. The Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats all cease to exist as a major political force, and a huge power vacuum is created. The only major parties represented across the UK able to fill it are the Greens and UKIP, and a general election is held immediately with both as frontrunners. Who would I cast my vote for? UKIP. Now why do I say that, when most of their ideas are awful? UKIP want us to leave the EU and stop immigrants coming to this country. Now the EU has huge flaws, but only the most militant Eurosceptic would disagree that leaving would have a hugely negative impact on our economy. Stopping all immigration would also have a negative impact, not just on our economy but on our culture also. However, I can sympathise with why UKIP would want to do this. Immigration does have many negative side effects. It increases pressure on public services and demand for housing, and it puts many low-skilled working people who are unable to compete out of a job.
It’s a shame that rather than trying to truly address these issues, UKIP exploit peoples’ anger and concerns to their own advantage. But here is the problem: the Greens are exactly the same. Many of us are driven to vote Green for the same reason many older people would vote UKIP. We feel politicians don’t listen to us and don’t address our concerns. They’ve failed us on tuition fees, and increasing opportunities for young people. In the same way they’ve failed the older generation on reducing immigration and providing financial security. It’s completely understandable we have these concerns. But the Greens are not the answer. A party that does not believe in economic growth cannot claim to be a progressive party that will lead us to a better future. It saddens me that so many young people would turn to vote for a party that seeks to stigmatise businesses that create jobs and opportunities for people. A party that stigmatises people who are successful and do well for themselves financially. Isn’t this something we should aspire to be in the future? Their plans to massively increase taxes and spend money recklessly would not make this country a more equal place; it would make all of us poorer. Do many wealthy people perhaps earn too much money? Yes, to an extent. Is the answer to take
most of that wealth from them? No. (Does immigration have a negative impact? Yes, to an extent. Therefore should we stop all immigration? No.) So with that in mind, why do people vote for these parties? Because for their supporters it’s not just their policies that are attractive, it’s their fundamental philosophy. The current system is broken and we’ve given up hope, and we need to find alternatives to fix it. This country does have issues, including immigration and inequality between the rich and the poor. But if we’re to solve it, voting for radicals that will drastically change this country for the worse is not the answer. This columnist certainly hasn’t given up hope, and I believe the way we address these issues is by following the path that we’ve been taking, not drastically changing direction. UKIP have begun to understand this, and have tried to move towards a more positive message with their campaign slogan ‘Believe in Britain’. This doesn’t change the fact that they have some awful ideas, which is why I didn’t vote for them. But I do ‘Believe in Britain’, which is more than what I can say for the Greens. People have been saying UKIP will cause a political earthquake and swallow up the Westminster establishment. Well if that happens Nigel Farage rather than Natalie Bennett should be Prime Minister.
OPINION
Opinion - 7
Katie Hopkins: The Ugly Face of the Immigration Debate
by Banseka Kayembe, Senior Opinion & Analysis Writer
An estimated eight hundred migrants travelling through the Mediterranean to Italy in search of a better life, drowned
in the worst ever recorded capsizing of a migrant vessel. In a sensitive fashion, The Sun Newspaper decided to print an article by resident hate figure and general revolting human being Katie Hopkins, to give a view on her solution to the matter. She proposed swapping rescue boats for gunships to ward off migrants from trying to enter Europe, as they are “cockroaches”, a comment which wouldn’t have sounded out of place at a political rally in Germany circa 1939. She reduced them to vermin, a mere irritant on Western Europe who need to be extinguished, in language so vitriolic the infamous xenophobic politician Enoch Powell is probably w*****g in his grave. She is determined that we “get Australian” on the issue and start threatening migrants with violence if they attempt cross our boarders. I suppose the irony that modern Australia is in fact a nation founded on mass immigration is lost on her. She’s one step away from advocating a Dulux colour chart as standard immigration policy; anyone darker than “soft vanilla” simply won’t be allowed in. It would be easy to dismiss Hopkins as just a crazed, self-parodying idiot, espousing fringe opinions. I’ve no doubt she needs to shock and cause controversy to make her money and feed her children. However, her ugly words are endemic in the mind-set of many, they merely rephrase in crueller tones typical immigration rhetoric politicians adopt. Many policies proposed in this upcoming election are essentially bred on a fear and suspicion of immigrants, not viewing them as human beings, but parasites coming here for health and benefit tourism. Some of the political parties are proposing increasing the amount of time immigrants must wait until they are able to claim in work or out of work benefits, despite figures that immigrants are sixty percent less likely to claim benefits, compared to British born people. Last year two leading UCL
economists published a journal which showed that EU migrants made a net contribution of £20 billion to the UK taxpayer between the years 2001-2011. Few politicians seem interested in these truths, but rather in winning votes. So they willing to pander to the UKIP hysteria surrounding immigration and in turn help to cultivate a climate of hostility and fear just as surely as the likes of Katie Hopkins. It’s difficult to have a logical discussion about immigration, when no one is really willing to acknowledge that Britain’s own historic meddling in many of these countries has systemically ruined their economies and created long term instability. “You want to make a better life for yourself? Get creative in North Africa” Hopkins writes, a point which only makes sense in a universe where these countries weren’t plundered of all their wealth and resources by European countries in the first place. We are encouraged to blame these people for their own poverty, as though they are simply not entrepreneurial and savvy enough to create their own wealth for themselves. Forget that they are human beings, it’s their fault they are desperately destitute, not ours. Katie Hopkins, as a well off, middle class woman writing for a newspaper which whilst pretending it is for the every-man is merely part of the fabric of the establishment, is a perfect symbol of the powerful deflecting the real economic and social issues away from themselves and towards the most vulnerable in society. It is much easier to turn against the powerless immigrants, than to explain to ordinary people that the reason they struggle to find work is the fault of those in powerful positions. I fear we are living in a culture where humanity and compassion have become like gold dust, viewed as an unnecessary expenditure in an increasingly cruel world. “Show me pictures of coffins”, Hopkins stated “show me bodies floating in water…I still don’t care”. Well, there are hundreds of coffins and dead corpses, many of children bobbing in the Mediterranean Sea as I write this. I hope you are happy Hopkins.
OPINION
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Review: Salem’s Lot by Stephen Kingby Nick Duffy, Senior Literature Writer
Salem’s Lot, originally titled ‘the second coming’ but changed at the behest of his wife, is essentially Stephen King’s take on Dracula. It’s
obviously inspired by Dracula and King even admits that but, having read both novels, I think this one’s better than the inspiration. It follows more or less the same structure to an extent towards its climax except, unlike the longwinded house-to-house search in Dracula (no, that’s not a spoiler; the book’s 118-years-old) Salem’s Lot mixes things up a bit, and often humorously references how similar it is to Dracula. Anyway, the book, Stephen King’s second after Carrie, is a horror story about vampires in Maine, is good. I’m going to compare it to a somewhat similar Stephen King book (written
under the pseudonym of Richard Bachman), The Regulators. That’s because you’re introduced to a town full or people, told about their lives, and then watch those lives collapse. Without spoiling anything, an author returns to Jerusalem’s Lot, somehow becomes romantically involved with a woman he meets in a
matter of seconds, then notices some strange things going on. The ‘illustrated edition’ found in Surrey’s library adds two additional short stories, ‘One for the Road’ and ‘Jerusalem’s Lot’ that I feel detract from the original text. However, the reader may enjoy reading them as they bookend the original Salem’s Lot narrative. So, to conclude, Salem’s Lot is like an alternative Dracula. However, I personally enjoy Stephen King’s writing style and those that don’t may not enjoy the book to the same extent. Also, you have to learn the names of practically an entire town’s population to make sense of some parts.
You can find Salem’s Lot in the campus library - Level 2, Shelf 813.54/KIN
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LITERATURE
Literature - 9
London Super Comic Conventionby Ellie Egleton, Senior Literature Writer
As talked about in Sean Howe’s ‘Marvel Comics – The Untold Story’, the world’s first comic
book convention was held in New York City on July 27th, 1964. This small event organised by a group of fans had guests who are now larger than life, including the marvellous marvels, Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. This nameless convention, considered to be a rare event back then, has since set a trend with numerous conventions emerging such as the famous San Diego Comic Con, which attracts major movie stars and major crowds each year; the Emerald City Comic Con, the New York City Comic Con and, very recently, the London Super Comic Con. The London Super Comic Con – often referred to simply as ‘LSCC’ – takes place in the Excel Centre early each year. The show promises to mimic the conventions held across the pond and this was absolutely the case in 2012, the first year it was held. For the first time in four decades, Stan Lee (aged 89 at the time) was here to meet his loyal fans, sign hundreds of comics and host fantastic panels. My little sister, Lily
each had their own exclusive comics! We also met some amazing guests such as Klaus Janson, a long time penciller and inker who has worked on the likes of Batman and Daredevil. There were numerous panels including one ran by the popular TV programme, Storage Wars.
and I even managed to interview him after bumping into his agent, Darren Passarello. Every year since I have attended LSCC with my Dad and sister and we have never been disappointed. With an ever extending guest list of comic creators, numerous stalls selling a huge variety of merchandise from comic books to graphic novels, superhero cupcakes to cute accessories, a range of panels to attend and an opportunity to cosplay, LSCC offers fans a chance to meet and celebrate their love for their hobbies, even if it’s only for one weekend a year. There’s also an opportunity at London Super Comic Con for aspiring comic creators to showcase their work. It’s possible to book a table in artist ally, an area where a number of writers and illustrators sit to sell their work and sign their books. Aspiring creators may also bring portfolios of their work to show to key publishers in the industry. The highlights of LSCC 2015 which took place on Saturday 14th to Sunday 15th of March included some great retail stalls such as Forbidden Planet, Limited Edition Comix and Midtown Comics who came all the way from New York City. These three stalls
Dad getting his first ever comic, Daredevil #126, signed by the friendly Klaus Janson
10 - Literature
A bustling San Diego Comic Convention, 2012
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Upcoming London Conventions:
The London Film and Comic Convention Featuring many film and TV guests as well as sport stars, comic creators and authors alongside various
merchandise stalls!
When? 17th-19th July, 2015.Where? Olympia London,
Hammersmith Road,Kensington,
W14 8UX, London.Entry Fee? One day tickets, from £12-£18.
A weekend pass is £40.
MCM Expo The MCM Expo has stalls dedicated mostly to manga
and anime. However, there is a comic village, a gaming area and space to cosplay.
When? 22nd May – 24th May, 2015.
Where? Excel, Royal Victoria Dock, London,
E16 1XLEntry Fee? One day
tickets, from £15 - £22.A weekend pass is £50.
The London Comic MartThe London Comic Mart is a great escape from the
super-sized comic conventions which can sometimes be overwhelming. The comic mart has 130+ stalls selling back issues, modern comics, graphic novels, trading
cards and action figures.
When? 3rd May, 2015 7th June, 2015
5th July, 2015 2nd August, 20156th September, 2015 4th October, 20151st November, 2015 6th December, 2015
Where?Entry Fee? £5 early entry. Free from noon.
Comic Book Catch Up
Events that have taken place since the last issue of The Stag...
R.I.P Herb Trimpe Comic book legend, Herb Trimpe,
sadly passed away at age 75 on the 13th April, 2015. Trimpe was the first artist
to draw Wolverine in the Incredible Hulk #181 and worked on many other Marvel titles. He will be well missed by family, friends and fans in the comic
book community.
Marvel Announces Secret WarsThe news on the next big Marvel
event was released just in time for Free Comic Book Day. A new eight issue series which
starts this May and ends in December
will change the course of the Marvel
Universe forever. Definitely something
to add to your pull list!
Netflix’s DaredevilOn the 10th April, Marvel Studios
released Daredevil season one which consists of 13 episodes. These dark episodes cover the childhood and
origin of the man with no fear who is played by Charlie Cox. Already, Daredevil has been renewed for a
second season.
Howard the DuckSince appearing in the Guardians of the Galaxy film, Howard the Duck #1 and #2 have hit the shelves of comic book
shops. This is the first time Howard the Duck has appeared in his own ongoing series since the 1970s when he ran for
president among other crazy adventures.
DC Comics’ Convergence From April – May, DC have launched the event called ‘Convergence’ which
goes across all of DC’s main titles. It takes characters such as Batman,
Superman and Harley Quinn back to their classic selves which were featured
before the 2011 ‘New 52’ re-launch.
LITERATURE
Literature - 11
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Author Interview: Sarah Perlmutter
Sarah Perlmutter is an English teacher from Pennsylvania who recently self-published her Young Adult apocalyptic novel The Blast. It follows the story of Beatrice and her family as they fight to survive in the aftermath of a nuclear apocalypse, exploring themes of moral choices and humanity. The novel has been very well received and its current highest rank on Amazon is #26 in YA Dystopian! Sarah agreed to answer some questions about her novel and her self-publishing experience.
Why did you choose to write a story set during and after the apocalypse?I’ve always been interested in human nature, and what better way to test it than to put people in extreme survival situations? I also really enjoy the science fiction genre, especially post-apocalyptic and dystopian stories, so I wanted to contribute to that genre of YA literature with my own take on the world’s end.
The Blast is fairly short, did you consciously choose for it to be a short novel or did it just turn out that way? I did consciously choose for it to be a shorter novel, because I wrote it to be a companion piece or prequel for the trilogy I’ve been working on for a couple of years now. I meant for it to only be a novella but, at its current word count and length, it’s straddling the line between novella and novel. Once I started writing, I had more to say than I initially anticipated I would.
How did you build the cast of characters for The Blast? I built the cast of characters based on characters in my trilogy. I knew Beatrice, Eleanor, and their parents had to be in The Blast, but some of the other characters I added to help explain who they became as adults, like Henry and the Smiths. Characters like Jacob and Mr. Timmons were included to help explore themes in the novel, while characters like Drew helped me to flesh out the community within which Bea and Eleanor grow up and later raise their children.
The Blast is a prequel to your Deathless trilogy. Which idea did you come up with and write first?
I came up with the idea for the Deathless trilogy first, and then halfway through the second book, I realized that I didn’t know nearly enough about Beatrice or what happened before the trilogy begins. I began writing The Blast as an exploration into Bea’s character and as a way to bring the entire world to life for myself. The trilogy now exists in a world that is much more believable and complete than it did before I wrote The Blast.
The Blast is available NOW to purchase on Amazon for Kindle and in paperback. Follow Sarah on social media:Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SarahPerlmutterbooksTwitter: @SaPerlmutterWebsite: http://www.sarahperlmutter.comPinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/saraibunbury
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Quick Fire Questions!Are you an organised or messy planner? - I am a messy planner masquerading as an organized one. I always have a plan, but it will be in 15 different notebooks, in the notes on my phone, on my Pinterest boards, and in my mind.
Favourite character from The Blast? - I have to say Bea. When I finished writing The Blast, I really felt homesick for her perspective. But I also love Ellie. I didn’t think I would, but by the end of the book, she was one of my favorite characters to give dialogue. I love her voice.
Would you survive the apocalypse? - Not likely. My husband and I are not at all prepared like Bea’s family was, and I’ve never even held a gun.
What made you decide to take the self-publishing route? I sent out maybe 5 queries for the first book of the trilogy when it was not in the proper shape to be published, and, not surprisingly, received 5 rejections. I began researching self-publishing then, and learned that it can actually be a viable route for publishing these days. I wanted to test out the waters of self-publishing as an alternate option, and after receiving positive feedback on The Blast from readers on Wattpad, I decided that would be the perfect book with which to test self-publishing. I’m glad I did, because now I feel like I have a better handle of the whole industry.
Literature - 13
What do you think the pros and cons of self-publishing are?The huge pro of self-publishing is how much creative freedom you have. The book is exactly as you want it, as is the cover and all other materials for it. However, as a self-publisher, you really need to be ready to invest serious time and money into your project. Good cover designers and editors cost money, as does professional formatters for your manuscript. That’s the con of self-publishing: Because you are in control of everything, it requires much more work to get your book into reader’s hands. A lot of writers just want to write, but when self-publishing, you must also be your own editor, production manager, designer, marketing professional, advocate, and internet personality.
Has self-publishing been a positive experience? So far I have really enjoyed my experience with self-publishing! I have learned so much more about the industry than I would have if I kept querying, and I love experimenting with different marketing platforms for The Blast; however, I will still try my luck at traditional publishing for the trilogy and for any future projects. If it doesn’t work out with traditional publishing though, I’d be happy to self-publish again.
Do you have any advice for writers hoping to be published? Write! Write so much that it becomes an obsession. Write books, stories, plays, and poems of all genres. The more you write, the more pieces you have to choose from for submission calls, and the more likely one of your pieces will be chosen. Have fun with the submission process, and find a new way to view rejection. Rejection shows you’re living your dream, because every single writer you’ve ever heard of was rejected just as much as you. And if you like the idea of self-publishing, do it. Don’t wait. Get your manuscript ready, and do it.
LITERATURE
What would be your weapon of choice – force or diplomacy? - Diplomacy for sure. I’m a teacher by day, so I feel like diplomacy is second nature to me. Force, not so much. Favourite book? - So difficult! It’s a four-way tie between Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, The Giver by Lois Lowry, Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman, and Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison.
Favourite film? - My gut’s telling me to go with Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
Favourite character? - Oh man, even more difficult! I love so many characters for so many different reasons! Right now, because I recently finished reading All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven, I really enjoy Finch’s character.
The Rise of Fantasy Fiction by Rebecca Blakeburn, Literature Writer
While JRR Tolkien remains probably the most influential figure in the genre (specifically the alternative
universe variety), fantasy fiction has surged in popularity over recent decades, with George RR Martin’s saga A Song of Ice and Fire perhaps being the most notable example of fantasy fiction today. Its television adaption ‘Game of Thrones’ is one of the most successful TV franchises to date and its Season 5 premiere boasted approximately eight million viewers in the United States alone. Furthermore, the genres popularity can be measured by the overwhelming reaction to the death of fantasy writer Terry Pratchett or the eager anticipation for the release of The Buried Giant, the latest offering from renowned author Kazuo Ishiguro. All this considered, can fantasy fiction finally be considered a part of mainstream literature? Ishiguro has recently spoken about the breakdown of the barrier between fantasy fiction and “high-brow” fiction. For decades fantasy fiction has been dismissed and separated from “serious” contemporary fiction yet successful novelist John Lanchester states that George RR Martin’s popular novels encourage literary enthusiasts to cross the ‘unbridgeable crevasse’ between fantasy novels and more high-brow fiction. Where JRR Tolkien provided orcs, dwarfs and elves, Martin foregrounds men and women in his saga, albeit the presence
of dragons and an alternate universe solidify the fantastic elements of A Song of Ice and Fire. The success of Martin’s fiction can perhaps be accredited to the mixture of such human and fantastical elements. The novels deal with issues of power struggle, familial relationships, sexual relationships, abandonment, isolation, feminism and confronts taboo issues such as incest. Although such issues are clearly hyperbolised within the fantasy novel, characters such as Jon Snow and Tyrion Lannister appear far more human than the protagonist of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings: Aragorn. Although issues within A Song of Ice and Fire are unlikely to be mirrored in the outside world, the more human characteristics of Martin’s characters invites a more empathetic reader than perhaps Lord of the Rings and Tolkien did. Martin’s refreshing and updated take on alternate universe fiction has ostensibly bridged the gap between fantasy fiction and “serious” fiction and highlighted the prevalence of contemporary, real-life issues amongst fantastical, supernatural qualities of the novel. JRR Tolkien was undoubtedly an influential figure and paved the way for fantasy fiction and Martin has furthered such offerings and forced many literary enthusiasts to reconsider the place of fantasy fiction within the contemporary literary canon.
14 - Literature
Top Library Tips
Top Library Tips
Silent Study: Levels 1,2 and 5. These areas should be kept
completely silent, so please turn off your mobile phone and any
music players.
Quiet Study: Levels 1,2 and 5. You can work here in ones and twos.
Please use low voices to avoid disturbing others working nearby.
Group Study: Levels 1,2,3 & 4. You can work here in small
groups.
1, 2 and 5 1, 2 and 5 1, 2, 3 and 4
In the lead up to exams here’s our top tips for making the most of your time in the Library;
Don’t desk block or reserve seats for friends – it wastes space (and makes other students very angry!). You’ll find that in the run up to exams we’ll be making every effort to remove belongings which have been left for more than 45 minutes so please take them with you!
If there’s anything else you need help with please drop by to support desks on Levels 1 and 3 (SPLASH) of the Library or send an email to [email protected].
Book a group study room if you’re working with a larger group. You can select a room and book in advance on the Library website surrey.ac.uk/library. Don’t forget to cancel your booking if a room’s no longer needed!
Are you an early bird or a night owl? With our 24/7 opening you can visit any time of the day or night.
Visit SPLASH on Level 3 if you need any help with your studies or exam preparation. You can drop in between 10am-4pm or book an appointment on the Library website: surrey.ac.uk/library/learning
Use our text alert service on 07972 218326 to let us know if you’re being disturbed by noise and we’ll respond as soon as we can.
Don’t forget, if you want silent study we now have an
additional 60 silent study spaces on Level 2!
FEATURES
Features - 15
Find your way in the PhilippinesWhether it’s looking at beautiful landscapes or partying on the beach, the Philippines has plenty on offer, whoever you are and whatever you like to do. The country has a whole host of exciting spots to visit, and while there’s lots of hype around Thailand and Vietnam, this is one place that definitely shouldn’t be skipped on your South East Asian adventure. With student travel agencies such as STA Travel offering great flight deals from as little as £399, there’s so many reasons to visit this hidden gem:
It boasts some of the best beaches you’ll ever get sunburnt on…
One is the famous Boracay beach, which is the jewel of the Philippines. It’s home to both luxurious hotels and cosy hostels, sunbeds and water sports and last but not least cocktails, and lots of them. If you want to party the night away there’s plenty of bars and clubs to satisfy you and if you stumble upon the Full and Black Moon parties, you’ll be sure to have one of the best nights of your life. If that isn’t enough, Bulabog beach will set your adrenaline pumping with its wind and kite surfing activities.
No amount of photos will replicate quite how stunning the sites are…
The Philippines offers some of the most glorious views and natural landscapes you’ll ever see. The Rice Terraces really are a sight to behold, having been carved out of the mountain sides about 2000 years ago. You can trek through the terraces and stand in awe as you see them stretch across the landscape. For the best viewing spots, head to Banue or Batad to gaze at this amazing wonder of the world.
If you thought the natural beauty ended with the
Rice Terraces you’d be very wrong. How about taking a bite of the Chocolate Hills? A sight possibly better than the taste of the delicious treat, you can spend some time marvelling at the unusually shaped group of hills nestled in the tranquil countryside of Bohol. STA Travel offer package tours where you can take in the hills in the morning and then head out to see the world’s smallest primates, the endangered Tarsier monkey, which are definitely worth a look - if only to decide whether they’re cute or ugly.
You can soak up some culture too…
The capital city Manila is packed with things to see and do, from theatres and art galleries to parks and museums. Send your taste buds into a swirl at the Salcedo Community Market which offers a range of local cuisine that will have you wandering the market for hours.If history’s your thing, the famous walled city of Intramuros is where you should head to. If the history doesn’t lure you in then perhaps the segway tour of the city will, an offer difficult to refuse. Intramuros is home to Fort Santiago, a Japanese prisoner of war camp in WWII, which is now a popular tourist destination. Equally, the San Agustin church and monastery has some interesting architecture to peruse.
16 - Features
by Katie Sands, Features Editor
And even volunteer in the local community…If you really want to get to know a country, you need to immerse yourself completely within the local community and become part of the activities of everyday life. The Philippines offers plenty of opportunities to volunteer, from teaching in schools to helping on farms. A fulfilling and rewarding experience, you are able to learn new skills like cheese and chocolate making while giving something back to the community at the same time. STA Travel can help you organise volunteering trips that put you right into the heart of local life.
There’s more to be seen beyond the land…
The Philippines provides just as much under water as it does on land. Coron is a great place for your first diving experience. The clear waters and amazing lagoons allow you to see colourful coral gardens and underwater marine life. There’s also a diving school, giving you the opportunity to take a 3-day course and earn your license there and then.
With so much on offer from the Philippines and so many deals available with STA Travel, this is a country that you can now afford not to miss. For more information and ideas, head to: http://www.statravel.c o . u k / p h i l i p p i n e s - t o u r s . h t m
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Features - 17
FEATURES
Day Trip: Living in Guildford means there are amazing places to travel right on our
doorstep. London is a wonderful place to see lots of interesting things in one
area. Catch the train to London Bridge Station and spend the day exploring the upmarket food stalls in Borough
Market. Visit Southwark Cathedral that is right next to the market, then take a 5 minute walk down to Southbank and enjoy walking by the River Thames. You could even pop into the Tate Modern or see Shakespeare’s Globe, which are both
along the riverside.
TRAVELCity Break:
There is a train from Guildford station that goes directly to Portsmouth and Southsea, a perfect way to have a spontaneous day by the beach! If you have a little more time, there are
a range of B&B’s and cheap hotels to book for a few nights. Eat your fish and chips on a bench by the sea and, if you’re interested, check out
the Royal Naval Museum. You could even get a ferry from Portsmouth to the Isle of White or
France.
Think Big: Got a little more time and
budget? It may seem early with exams looming, but now is the
time to plan those big trips abroad this summer and look
forward to them through those long hours of revision. Whether
you are interested in Europe, Australia or Asia, the best way to make the most of a trip is to plan
ahead. There is an STA Travel store on Guildford high street
filled with travel experts who can help you plan your trip to the last detail. This is great for travellers who want to explore something completely new and gain some
insider knowledge!
by Katie Sands, Features Editor
18 - Features
Whilst I love planning holidays and making sure every detail is right, sometimes it’s just not possible.
Especially as a student, being unsure about what the next 6 months could mean for you is common. We don’t know whether we will be in a job, in another part of the country, let alone what our travel buddy of choice will be up to. The flexibility of the student lifestyle in circumstances like this can become an inconvenience, as it’s just not possible to plan to travel ahead of time. While this may put off many travellers from going away, I’d like to consider it a blessing in disguise. Planning your holiday late can lead to some of the most free and surprising trips you’ve ever had. Whether it be a last minute road trip to the seaside, or checking plane tickets online and travelling anywhere you find with cheap and available tickets, who knows where the holiday will take you! The costs of last-minute holiday plans
can also be a draw as sellers compete to fill that plane seat or hotel room so they don’t have an empty space. Of course, this could go the other way, and you could end up in a shabby hotel room that no one wanted. But hey, you’re a student. If not now, then when? It may also be the last time in our lives where this impulsiveness is encouraged, or even possible, before commuting to a full time nine to five job.Surely student travel is all about taking the opportunity to try new things? Letting yourself go off the rigid holiday planner is something we should embrace. Anywhere at any time can be fun, as long as you have good company.So, if you are not in the position to plan a holiday this summer, it is worth remembering that there is a positive side to being able to live spontaneity whilst it’s convenient. We have the rest of our lives for long term schedules!
The Beauty of Spontaneous Travelling
Features - 19
FEATURES
Y’know What Really Grinds my Gears?
I’m an angry person. Throughout my numerous daily routines, such as getting a giant morning
Starbucks and staring at inanimate objects in a sleepy stupor, rambling incoherently like a drunken washing machine, many things irritate me. Menial daily things irritate me, like food, old people, bad wine, the weather and stupid pointless things like ready-made packaged jacket potatoes. As humans, we will eat and cook until the day we end up dying, cold and alone as old withered indebted shadows of the content people we once were. But let me begin
with my deep hatred of people who don’t understand the simple remedy involved in cooking a steak. Firstly, a steak should not be cooked well or medium-well done. By the time a chef has cooked your 28 day cured Coby sirloin well done, every ounce of flavour, texture and aroma has long since been ruined. Whilst the chef is basting your steak in his own heartbroken tears, probably because he has hand selected that very steak for its flavour and texture, you might as well go and buy a £3.99 rump or flat iron from Sainsbury’s, it will taste better, (until you charr and macerate
that one too, of course). The tender £21 steak you once dreamed of is gone. For those winging incoherently about their “steak being undercooked”, Beef is an inert meat – you can eat it raw without any risk of being poisoned. Steak tartare for instance is completely raw beef, mixed with lemon, lime, spices and shallots served with a raw egg on top. Of course, it’s your prerogative as a customer to order a steak how you like it, but please don’t go bleating to your waiter or waitress that the steak is tough. You ordered it tough, matey.
Angry Cows & Sobbing Chefsby Louie Lewis, News Editor
Beany Cheesy Crunch Casserole(1) Soak the beans by covering with cold water and leaving overnight.(2) Drain and place in a saucepan, cover with cold water, bring to the boil and boil rapidly for 10 minutes. Lower the heat, cover and simmer for 30-35 minutes or until tender. Drain.(3) Heat the oil, add onion, bacon or chorizo, garlic and celery and fry until soft.(4) Add the tomatoes and break down if whole, including juice and stock. Stir in the chilli powder, drained beans, salt and pepper. Bring to the boil.(5) Turn down heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. If cooled, you may fridge your casserole for now and re-heat on the hob later or proceed as below.(6) Transfer to an ovenproof dish. Mix together the cheese and breadcrumb and spoon over the top.(7) Place under a grill to brown or in an oven for 10-15 minutes.(8) Serve on its own or with crusty bread and a crisp salad.
by Jo x
300g Mixed Dried Beans (Kidney, Black-eyed, Butter etc) 1 Large onion, chopped2 Celery sticks, chopped
100g Bacon, chopped or use lardons or chorizo2 Tablespoons Oil
2 Cloves Garlic, crushed2 Tins tomatoes (397g) chopped
or whole150ml Chicken or vegetable stock
¼ Teaspoon chilli powderSalt and pepper
100g wholemeal breadcrumbs (or breadcrumbs and mixed seeds)
100g Cheddar cheese, grated
20 - Features
What about a night time supper in the back garden before the BBQ season
starts? Light some candles (put tea lights into jam jars and make a handle using strong twine or wire). Gather lots of blankets and cushions and grab some chairs. Lighting a bonfire or a firepit would be ideal! This heart-warming casserole is easy to prepare in advance. Re-heat on the hob when needed, top with crunchy topping and pop in the oven/under grill to melt and brown. If you want a vegetarian version, just leave out bacon/chorizo and use vegetable stock.
Serve with crusty bread or a crisp salad...
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Sci-fi: The return of Thunderbirds and Star
Wars
The arrival of Thunderbirds are Go on ITV over Easter is only surpassed in excitement for me
by the knowledge that we are just over six months away from the return of the Star Wars franchise. From being a small child, I have delighted in the science-fiction genre and at one time or another have been an avid viewer of Doctor Who (brought back in 2005), reruns of Captain Scarlet and Stingray as well as Thunderbirds; and am I am currently watching the box set of Smallville. Science-fiction was, and still is for me, a means of escape from the daily pressures we all experience. I think the reason for this is the nature of its subject: so futuristic that it is beyond the realms of our everyday lives, but also based on a loose connection to the realm of the scientific. Sci-fi also has another more special connection for me. It was something I used to watch with my father, Robert, when he was still alive, so it reminds me of happy memories of my early childhood. I still remember when he introduced me to Star Wars for the first time and how in awe I was when I discovered the biggest surprise in cinema history, that Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker’s father. Also a great fan
of Gerry Anderson’s classic television series, my dad was so pleased when the BBC decided to reran the original Thunderbirds series in the late 90s, as it provided him with a reasonable excuse to watch it all again. The new Thunderbirds continues in the tradition of Anderson’s original; following the five Tracy Brothers of International Rescue in their quest to save those in danger from natural disasters and criminality on a global scale. Back also are Lady Penelope, now voiced by Gone Girl actress Rosamund Pike and her trusty Butler Parker, voiced by David Graham from the original series. A little cheesy at times with details like Tin Tin being renamed KO because she has a great right hook, this cartoon is certainly better than the completely Americanised 2004 Film, starring Bill Paxton. This version has given greater emphasis to the Villain from the original series, The Hood, who has appeared in every episode so far. Gone also is Kyrano, brother of the Hood and father to Tin Tin, with greater significance instead given to the character of Grammar Tracy, who took a minor part in the original. Due for release over Christmas,
by Joshua Langley, Opinion & Analysis Editor
Entertainment - 21
ENTERTAINMENT
Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens will see the stars of the original trilogy, Luke Skywalker played by Mark Hamill, Han Solo as played by Harrison Ford and Princess Leia played by Carrie Fisher reprise the roles they last played in 1983’s Return of the Jedi. It will fulfil the dreams of many thousands of children from the seventies and subsequent generations who have dreamed for years of the Millennium Falcon rocketing across the sky once more. The Star Wars franchise is also fulfilling all expectations of its owner Disney; who bought Lucasfilm for $4 billion back in 2012. When the second trailer was released the value of Disney rose by almost $2 billion, adding to a successful tenure under current CEO Bob Iger. The release of box office smash Frozen and the constant stream of Marvel films including current instalment Avengers: Age of Ultron in Cinemas now Disney’s soaring success is set to continue.
PHOTOGRAPHY
I recently finished watching Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt on Netflix, and my has Tina Fey created
a little gem here. Funny in the most bizarre of ways, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt follows the journey of Kimmy as she is freed from an underground bunker. This said underground bunker has been her 'home' for the preceding 15 years, as she was a part of a strange cult, trapped with four other women. On her freeing from the Reverend Richard Wayne Gary Wayne, Kimmy ventures to New York to begin anew - sunshine and smiles all round.
Kimmy finds Titus Andromeda, a gay unfulfilled wannabe broadway star, living in a basement of whom she finds herself renting with - the irony is laid bare for all - and so, this unlikely pair, form a friendship: Titus somewhat educating Kimmy on the way of the world, and Kimmy relighting the extinguished flame in Titus' ambition and lust for life. Kimmy's ignorance is the pivotal component to this comedy series. Yes, there are other elements: the Auto-Tuned credit sequence playing up to contemporary understandings of social media and the viral (which is utterly impossible to get out of your head), the almost pitiful attitude of the materialistic Jacqueline Voorhees (what a great surname, by the way) and who could forget, Lillian, the slightly deranged landlady of Titus and Kimmy, kept by her stubborn views and hilarious ideas on the world. Also, there's something about Carol Kane's voice (the actress who plays Lillian) that truly makes her character - the rough, somewhat screeching tone, is totally on point. Kimmy's character is infectious, and as well as being essential to the comedic values of the series, her ignorance also makes her all the more loveable. She's dopey, extraordinarily happy and infallibly optimistic about pretty much everything. In this colourful series (Kimmy's clothes and sparkly sneaker choice early on demonstrates
this perfectly,) Ellie Kemper who plays Kimmy, bounces around like an excitable puppy making up for the life she missed out on in style.
I think however, that it's the way in which Kimmy is contrasted with the other characters around her that makes her, and almost every other main character on the show, outstanding. For me, the best examples of this, are Kimmy's work-friend-confidante relationship with Jacqueline, and her relationship with roommate Titus. Jacqueline, the trophy wife obsessed with looking young and being rich, ends up being Kimmy's boss. As the new help, Kimmy not only potters around the house, cleaning and fulfilling other duties, she also ends up being the motivation and shoulder to cry on for Jacqueline. These women support each other, even if at times it's lop-sided with Kimmy helping Jacqueline more, but that's a product of her being self-depreciative to the point of attention seeking. In a way, Kimmy helps Jacqueline become independent, living for herself, rather than to please her adulterous husband, and so sharing the benefits of freedom. Xanthippe, a name I genuinely would assign to a robot if given the chance, is Jacqueline's step-daughter. Kimmy, who pretty much has the mentality of a teenager, has an almost sibling rivalry with Xanthippe, with just enough authority to ensure the relationship stays the right side of boring. Their encounters are funny, but also relatable, with an undercurrent of mutual respect that comes into its own when Xanthippe asks for Kimmy's help to stay in Manhattan during the divorce of her father and Jacqueline.
Titus is, in my opinion, an adorable character: he's struggling, but he's sassy, and that's fantastic. I love his nature, he's competitive, but has enough savvy to be able to help Kimmy out when she needs it too. The intentionally
dramatic qualities Titus brings that then pairs with Kimmy's pure excitability creates hope and determinedness for both Kimmy and Titus' futures. I do believe though, that Titus comes into his own with the recording of his song "Peeno Noir": it's wacky and utterly stupid, but admittedly funny and truly catchy, have a look on YouTube. Underneath all the sparkly happiness and funny quips the show provides for your entertainment, it also subtly tackles Kimmy's position in the world as a rape survivor. The issue or occurrence of sexual assault is never explicitly addressed; only inferred to or suggested at. It's an almost, blink and you'll miss it, situation. It's discussed how the women in the bunker were 'snatched' and taken against their will into the bunker. Their judgement was clouded by the mis-teachings of a man claiming to be religious and righteous, but in fact was just abusive and maniacal. It appears in moments, that can almost underpin Kimmy's overzealous nature (she's almost too keen and naive), such as when she suggests taking it to the "next level" with her then boyfriend Logan, and she reacts by intensely overwhelming him - almost attempting to smother him, some might say - but it’s shown in a split second. It's then that you realise how it may be laughed off as strange humour because the emphasis on what is behind that action is lifted and only ever alluded to. The survival of the "Indiana mole women" is celebrated: they're "unbreakable" and we're told "females are strong as hell". So, yes, there are dark undertones to the plot, but the premise is survival and achievement; not being broken by an unfortunate past. No matter what you do, how many episodes you watch, whether you like it or not, this series is inescapably addictive and, dare I say it, almost Mean Girls level of quotable.
Me too, Kimmy. Me too.
"I STILL BELIEVE THE WORLD IS GOOD. THAT BUNNIES ARE NICE, AND SNAKES ARE MEAN. AND THAT ONE DAY SANDRA BULLOCK WILL FIND SOMEONE WHO DESERVES HER."
“HEY KIMMY. 1996 CALLED. IT WANTS ITS CLOTHES BACK.”“HEY XAN. 2090 CALLED. YOU’RE DEAD, AND YOU WASTED YOUR TIME ON EARTH.”
"SMILE UNTIL YOU FEEL BETTER. I CALL IT KIMMYING."
"HASH BROWN, NO FILTER"
by Rebekkah Hughes, Editor
IGNORANCE IS BLISS: UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT
Baby Like Fonkin’ It Up:George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic Review
16/04/15, O2 Academy Oxford
George Clinton is a 73 year-old great grandfather of at least two. He’s also one of the funkiest
human beings ever to walk this planet, and one of music’s greatest pioneers. As leader of the P-Funk mob, Clinton has influenced swaths of musicians and his music was sampled by almost literally every hip-hop artist of the 90s. Trading in his signature rainbow dreadlocks for a dapper three piece suit, Clinton is touring to promote the latest Funkadelic release, first ya gotta Shake the Gate, with a band comprised equally of P-Funk veterans and the younger members of his own extended family. Of the newer members, one of the standouts was rapper Tra’zae Lewis-Clinton who most likely would not be touring the world if it weren’t for his famous grandfather, but nonetheless has a fantastic stage presence, smooth flow and an almost inconceivable level of swagger, especially during his turn as the squeaky-voiced ‘Starchild’ character from the P-Funk mythos. The mixture of long-time funkateers and new additions from Clinton’s family created an interesting tension when his most scantily-clad daughter took centre stage and sang, “Booty is the only duty for me,” while the other band-members
awkwardly averted their gaze. And though Clinton’s offspring (and his offspring’s offspring) are undeniably talented, the biggest cheers of the night were reserved for P-Funk stalwarts Blackbird McKnight and Ricky Rouse, whose duelling lead guitars brought the house down on several occasions; and sprightly saxophonist Greg Thomas, whose solos seemed to astonish even Clinton himself. A medley of new material was played to open the show, but unsurprisingly for a band whose back catalogue stretches back to the early ‘70s, the setlist was comprised mostly of crowd-pleasing classics. There were several show-stopping moments after which the band could have walked off stage triumphantly and left no one disappointed, including an incredible ‘Cosmic Slop’ and a boisterous ‘Bop Gun’, but the band just kept on giving. At one point Clinton yelled: “There ain’t no party like a P-Funk party ‘cause a P-Funk party don’t stop!” And it didn’t. For at least three hours that night, a sweaty room in Oxford was the funkiest place on Earth. The combination of pounding drums and rumbling bass shook not just the gate, but quite possibly the entire town. Clinton’s style as a bandleader is much more laid back than funk’s other
forefather, James Brown, and he actually cued the audience on when to clap more often than he cued his band members on when to play. As a result, the band was often quite loose and a little sloppy. But knowing Clinton, this is exactly what he wanted. Because while James Brown told everyone to get on up, Clinton just wants them to get down. One of Funkadelic’s biggest hits, ‘Who Says a Funk Band Can’t Play Rock Music?’ was particularly poignant when the band stripped down to its core members and swapped righteous rhythms for riotous riffs. But the show reached peak P-Funk when Sir Nose, a toned, shirtless man in white feather-laden chaps with a matching pimp hat and strap-on Pinocchio nose, did a headstand on the tallest amplifier in the building. Aware of concerns about his age, Clinton titled his recently released autobiography, Brothers be yo, like George, Ain’t That Funkin’ Kinda Hard on You? He responds in the song of the same name: ‘I was hard when I started/I’ll be hard when I get through’. Nobody in the audience would question that. At the end of the night the band’s deep-voiced vocalist asked: ‘It’s 4.20, do you know where your mind is?’ And at that point, I honestly didn’t.
by Ian Aikman, Senior Entertainment Writer
©N
atalie Curtiss
26 - Entertainment
(What’s the Story) Morning Glory? – Oasis
I vividly remember stating to my parents in the car when I was around 8 years old I ‘don’t get music and I’ll never be in to it’. Thankfully this was not the case and Oasis played a huge part in encouraging me to take my first tentative steps ‘into’ music. The raw energy of (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? matched that of a young teenage boy, Liam’s drawling vocals saturated in confidence and swagger. Tracks like Hello and Roll With It aren’t particularly clever but turn up your headphones and a stroll to the shops turns to a strut – ‘You’ve got to roll with it / You’ve got to take your time / You’ve got to say what you say, don’t let anybody get in your way’. One track in particular, Don’t Look Back in Anger, still resonates strongly with me. It can turn a dull drive home after work in to a lighter waving, air drumming, head banging belter. One of the album’s enduring mysteries is surely that Wonderwall is its most commercially successful track, with (in my opinion) much better songs such as The Masterplan only making B-sides.
Honourable mentions: Hot Fuss by The Killers, Origin of Symmetry by Muse, Costello Music by The Fratellis
Significant albums of my life so far
The album that started it all:
by Tom Hagar, Senior Entertainment Writer
If You Wait – London Grammar
In perhaps this most personal of categories, my choice is If You Wait by London Grammar, a sparse, reverb drenched collection of poignant tracks sung soulfully by Hannah Reid. This album became significant to me at a time that I’d wake up and go to sleep on the edge of distress whilst trying to keep myself together long enough to get through work. I pushed play the moment I left my house in the morning and listened to the 11 tracks start to finish as I travelled through London on my commute. I’d do the same the instant I left work. The second that I heard the familiar first notes of Hey Now hit me I felt calmer, more detached and less overwhelmed. It’s difficult to put in to words how music can soothe you like your old bed at home or the presence of someone you know and trust, but that’s what this album means to me.
Honourable mentions: Red by Taylor Swift, Tape Deck Heart by Frank Turner, English Rain by Gabrielle Aplin
My album for catharsis:
Sigh No More – Mumford and Sons
I could just have easily chosen Babel, Mumford’s second album and winner of a Best Album Grammy, but I fell for their debut like a prince for a Disney princess – it was instant, defied all logic and I was more than a little obsessive. Released in 2009, the folky, banjo-orientated melodies all sounded so new and exciting to me. This was ironic considering the album is a throwback to simpler times, when romance and spirituality rather than anaconda butts were prominent lyrical themes. Start to finish there isn’t a track on Sigh No More that I don’t absolutely love, it’s a perfectly constructed piece of work which is in equal parts uplifting, raw and heartfelt. I’ve never had a sense of euphoria at a gig as I have watching Mumford perform Sigh No More and Babel live; they’re the whole package.
Honourable mentions: The Suburbs by Arcade Fire, Speak Now by Taylor Swift, The Black Album by Jay Z
My all-time favourite album:
28 - Arts
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Arts - 29
Youness Benali is a Swedish-Moroccan Director ( of music videos) graduated from Central St Martins and Royal College of Arts. His style is minimal, graphic and emotionally driven. He recently directed TroyBoi ft. Y.A.S.’ new son “No Substitute” which cleverly uses light and dance to enhance the mood of the song.Youness is signed with The Sweet Shop and his videos can be found at www.thesweetshop.tv
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The English singer-songwriter and musician started her career on YouTube where she found fans across the UK and the whole world. She made the X Factor panel cry when she performed her own song ‘Tea and Toast’. In her own words she performes ‘A-Flop’ - a mixture of hip-hop, folk and acoustic. Her new album ‘We Are’ is her scond studio album and features her new single ‘Unsinkable’.
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MoYou London is the HOT topic for stamping nail art and they have a new “Holy shape” collection coming out 22nd of May with an exquisitely eclectic style full of geometric shapes. Nail stamps make it easy to create a unique look, and this new collection perfectly captures and mimics the geometric universe of Camille Walala. The collection is available in Boots or at www.moYou.co.uk
Google’s Latest Flagship Device
The Nexus 6by Connor Ibbetson, Science and Technology Writer
SCITECH
Google’s Latest Flagship Device
by Connor Ibbetson, Science and Technology Writer
Usability and Handling Recently, I got my hands on Google’s latest phone, the Nexus 6, built by Motorola. Upgrading from my old iPhone 4S to this giant was a bit of a shock. However the size of the nexus 6, for me, is perfect. It fits comfortably in two hands and the size does not seem to limit practicality. The introduction of the “Ambient display” option which when the phone is picked up, turns on the screen in black and white to show the time and notifications is fantastic and means you aren’t fiddling turning the screen off and on all the time, allowing you to pick up your phone and check it with one hand. The Nexus 6 is also seamlessly integrated with Google Now, a service that organizes everything from emails, appointments and news into one place, it coordinates my Google account for example, to track packages from amazon automatically, follows my favorite sports team, the Boston Celtics, to tell me when the next game is, and shows the location and opening times of nearby shops and restaurants.
DesignA full glass front gives the Nexus 6 a sleek design, and Google and Motorola have done well to limit the size of the device while maximize the screen area by wasting as little space as possible, squeezing in that glorious display despite being only 5mm wider than its main rival, the iPhone 6 plus. The aluminum sided chassis definitely gives the nexus a solid, well-built feel, and the curved back panel sits the palms of your hands beautifully.
FeaturesThe display itself is likely the best on the market to date, with the only competition being the Galaxy Note 4, but with a resolution of 2560x1440p (that’s higher than most TVs) the AMOLED display pushes out stunning colour and depth. Couple the display with two full front facing speakers, and you’ve got a fearsome media device. Behind that display lurks a massive 3320mAH battery, alas giving out a slightly disappointing 4-5 hours of screen on time, but with light to medium use the battery will last you the day. Google includes its own so called “Turbo charger” which promises another 6 hours battery life from a 15-minute charge, if that’s not enough, the Nexus 6 also supports wireless charging.
A 2.7GHz SnapDragon 802 quad-core processor and 3gb of RAM power Android 5.1 Lollipop, Google’s latest OS, and being Google’s flagship, you can bet the Nexus 6 is first in line for software updates too. Google saw fit to introduce a higher megapixel camera, going for a 13MP back camera, capable of recording in full 4K video, and 2MP front camera, capable of 1080p video. The 64gb of onboard storage, coupled with Google Drive backup means a lot of room for apps and the like, however the Nexus 6 falls short of other Android devices by lacking expandable memory.
Science & Technology - 31
5 Minutes with Dina
Amai...
Interview by Akey Khatun, Fashion Editor
“It’s taken a long
time to get here but
you can’t cheat that,
you can’t cheat the
journey, you have
to experience it and
that’s just how it is.”
The Stag Beauty Editor had the privilege to interview Dina Amai, a young entrepreneur and English Literature graduate who started her first salon at the age of 24. Dina had a brilliant start to her career by opening her first salon, that now she has opened her
second!
Dina has achieved many things such as,
• The title of Sweet Squared’s Nail Entrepreneur 2013• A part of the “Scratch” Magazine Columnist• Being the assistant to Trish Lomax for Burberry Prorsum at London Fashion Week • Amaí is the first salon in the UK to be Fully Qualified Master Shellac Painters
32 - Beauty
Hello Dina! It’s a pleasure to meet you! So tell me a bit about yourself?
So I’m 28 and I started up my first salon when I was 24. I come from a background where my family have always had a hair salon. They have never had a nail or beauty salon, but I basically got a degree and worked as a PA. So I came up with the concept of a beauty and hair salon and let my dad know, we went into partnership together and it pretty much took off from there. So that’s a bit about me and how I’ve come to this!
You said you had a degree, what did you study at university?
I studied English Literature, which has nothing to do with hair and beauty!
So what inspired you to open a salon and how did you keep it going?
What inspired me was the fact that I think nice salons are hard to come by and people spend a lot of money. So I just thought women should feel and experience when they go and get their hair or nails done. So for me I used to go get my nails done and I found that all the salons were the same, and there was no system and the service wasn’t good. I thought that we should have something where there was a system and that the service was good. I used to sit and I wasn’t spoken to in English and my nails were being burnt, they were sore and it was dirty. I just thought, “You know what? This should be something nice and fun”. It’s not like I’m spending nothing and that it’s cheap but it should be something in between where you shouldn’t have to go to a spa just to experience it. So I decided to start up a salon offering hair and nails to be done nicely but with a good experience. This is why we offer wine or pink lemonade, we have loud music and we engage with our clients; we also do a consultation and that’s what it’s meant to be about. To be honest, that’s what made us busy and built our reputation.
So Dina what are you top tips for looking after your hands and nails?
If you have a nail technician then you NEED to listen to them! You need to try and stick to that nail technician because it is a journey. That’s why we educated our clients because before it was like “oh, let’s just get my nails done” and they didn’t know that getting acrylics aren’t getting your nails done! People come in saying I want my nails done, we would be like what do you want done? They would say “well extensions obviously?” No, it’s not obviously. That’s not the only option. You could nurse your nail into a longer natural shape with the right advice from your nail tech. So what I would say is, I don’t know how many of the students are going to be cooking, cleaning and scrubbing! But when cleaning make sure your hands are covered and avoid hot water. Eating and drinking the right food also helps your nails and hair. I don’t have healthy nails but I have healthy hair, my nails never grow! Nail oil really helps and having something on your nails supports them. Leaving them natural is not for everyone, if they’re not growing and they keep breaking then keep them a reasonable length to stop them from fraying or breaking off.
And finally Dina what message would you like to send out to the all the students at Surrey?
I would like to say HI!! Thanks for reading and say that I went to university myself, enjoy it because that’s the last bit of fun you are going to have for a little while! People are told a lot of things, like that there are no jobs available for students, but that’s absolute rubbish! You can do whatever you want, whatever you put in now, you will get out later. So get involved in extra things like societies as much as you can. Even if that means writing for a magazine or running an event, get involved because looks good on your CV. When I was at university, I wanted to be a journalist for my career so I volunteered my time for free and worked for The Sun. Now’s your chance to get stuck in, do as much as you can and just embrace it! Also, have a good time because when I look back, it was such a crazy time and it was fancy dress every week!
How do you feel now that you opened a salon? Do you regret it or not?
No I don’t regret it. I did at first when I opened my first salon because I wasn’t prepared at all and I thought it was going to be a lot easier. If I’m honest, I wasn’t a natural manager. I don’t like having that responsibility of managing people and its taken me a good 3-4 years to the point where I know my place and that’s come with a lot of experience. I’m not a nail technician, hairdresser or beautician, so I had to find my happy medium and I’ve got to a point where I know what I’m doing. I know what I want and I know what to expect. I work very much on a mutual respect with my staff that is why we are a good team. It’s taken a long time to get here but you can’t cheat that, you can’t cheat the journey, you have to experience it and that’s just how it is.
So now for the fun part! What colours are in for Spring/Summer 2015 and what are your favourite colours!
Hmmm, I think for spring/summer pastels are always going come in some form or another. I know its cliché because the Kardashians are trendsetters for everything, but I’m looking a lot at what Khloe Kardashian’s wearing. Kendall Jenner is rocking that blu-tack blue. I like the mint green and they were around last summer, but what I’ve seen come forward this summer is pretty much the same with a mix. We always mix things up with glitter and that’s always a hit! I love the classic white with “Rockstar” glitter and I have that on my toes all year round, I think that white on toes look banging! But what I’m rocking at the moment is that electric orange and that’s what I got on my hands now. I’m really safe with colours and one of those types of people that like to coordinate with everything I wear. I want my nail colour to take me from day to night, so nothing can go wrong with a red, dark colour or nude! Something that can go with all of my outfits. The blues are not safe for me! But this electric orange I absolutely love!
A massive Thank You to Dina from the Beauty Team for doing this interview for us!
20% offall services
for The Stag readersJust quote
“TheStag20”
Dina’s favourite colours...
Mint Convertible
Sun Bleached
Blush Teddy
Azure Wish
Left to right:
The Stag’s Favourite Spring/Summer Colours 2015Left to right:
Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Nail Paint in “Prickly Pear” (£3.99)Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in “Pinky Promise” (£9.99)
Essie in “Haute In The Heat” (£7.99) Rimmel London Salon Pro Kate Moss in “Hip Hop/317” (£4.49)
Eye Candy Colour Flip in “Green With Envy”(£6.99)
all from Boots
Our editors have come together and picked out their favourite colours
for Spring/Summer 2015! We have all gone for the pastels and the vibrant colours that will give you and your outfit an extra edge for this summer!
Coming up in the next issue...
Beauty - 35
The Bling Ring EditionOur Fashion Editor and Editor have a major obsession for rings! We thought, why not get all the other girls into
this obsession? Both Editors have different choices and style of rings, so there’s obviously something for everyone!
Left to Right: Mejuri - Evil Eye Ring 18k yellow gold,
Michael Kors- Rose gold plated arrow ring, and Michael Kors - Gold plated stone set triple bar ring
P.S. Mejuri gives you 15% off when you subscribe to their email address!
Left to Right: Camden Markets - simple, slim silver band
Pia- Social Circles Silver RingPia - Be True, Be Happy, Be Yourself Silver Rings
Pia - Twist Again Silver RingWatch from Argos
by Akey Khatun, Fashion Editor & Rebekkah Hughes, Editor
Akey’s Rings
Rebekkah’s Rings
Our best places to buy?
• Pia• Mejuri• Accessorize• Fashionology• TheBohemian
Collective
“I tend to keep things simple, and I steer towards silver bands that are easy
to wear, but may have small and intricate detail. I prefer rings that are the same all the way around, so even with a bit of movement around the finger, the primary detail is still
visible.”
“I’m more of a gold girl, but I do like the occasional silver now and again. I do believe in owning dainty
pieces so that you can wear them all the time and so it
doesn’t look too much. Plus, my little collection of rings goes with all of my outfits!”
Did you know The Stag’s Fashion & Beauty section has an Instagram?
Follow us @thestagfashionandbeauty
Although Levi Strauss and Co. patented the copper riveting that made jeans famous in 1873, the material had been used by fishermen in the Italian city of
Genoa five-hundred years ago. The French translation of Genoa is Genes, which is how we got the name of our favourite pants.
Did You Know?
The Bardot top was named after an animal rights activist?Brigitte Bardot made wide neckline tops popular in the late 1950’s. She also popularized the gingham print when she wore
a pink checked dress for her wedding. Two style staples this season reborn from the past.
London Fashion Week is moving – to Soho! Normally held at the prestigious (and dare we say, very posh) Somerset House, LFW will now be
held at Brewer Street car park in Soho, hoping to create a more diverse audience and allow the site’s vibrant, modern atmosphere to influence the designers’ shows.
by Rhiannon Hutchings, Olivia Murphy & Ayo Akinfenwa, Fashion Writers
Fashion - 37
The Electronics and Amateur Radio Society has gone from strength to strength in the past year. Membership numbers have more than doubled
(from 40 to 90) since this time last year and the range of events and training put on has expanded almost beyond belief.As published by the Radio Society of Great Britain in its monthly periodical, RadCom, the society celebrates its golden jubilee. Just predating the University, generations of committees have kept the society alive and always adding to the wonderful things that happen at Surrey.The year has seen a shift in the role of EARS from a society that runs and manages projects directly into a provider of resources and training; a change that provides greater value for our members and the hobbyist electronics, radio and space communities.EARS began the academic year by delivering a five week ‘Introduction to Arduino’ microcontroller programming course which taught 40 people the basics of programming and embedded electronics in a practical, hands-on fashion. This was rated well by the students.This was joined by the amateur radio training and licensing programme, achieving a society record and a notable nationwide figure by putting out around 50 amateur radio operators. This exciting hobby provides an avenue to develop practical electronics and radio skills, work on exciting projects, improve students’ resumes and have great fun as they get in contact with amateur radio operators around the world over the air.
Surrey Electronics & Amateur Radio Society Celebrates 50 Years
38 - Societies
We hosted the largest event in the society’s history, the 2015 National Student Space Conference – a two-day event organised
by the UK Students for Exploration and Development of Space and attended by over 300 people from across the UK, Europe and the US.The society also took an active role in giving back to the community. It hosed the Godalming District Scouts for the Jamboree On The Airwaves, an annual event where Scout and Guide groups across the world communicate with each other via amateur radio. It also provided robotics workshops on behalf of the Electronic Engineering department for both the Headstart and Botball programmes. This brought national and on one occasion international school children to the University, promoting subjects in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).EARS gathered positive press coverage for several of our activities, including a front page Surrey Advertiser article for our charity high altitude balloon launch and coverage on both BBC Radio Surrey and BBC Radio Cambridgeshire. Members also gave
presentations about society activities at both the National Student Space Conference and the AMSAT Colloquium (UK amateur satellite organisation).EARS stands in a rather unique position, uniting various factions within the university under common interests without declaring affiliation to anyone other than the Union, and by extension the student body. We exist to support the transition and training of those new to our areas, to provide the facilities to experiment and grow in those areas, and to be a collaborative and cross-disciplinary environment for those already experienced to meet and to discuss and work on projects together. In this way EARS provides a student community and vital practical experience to students lacking such opportunities in their degree courses.We believe that the sky is the limit, and look forward to another exciting year with even greater accomplishments. We wish the best of luck to the incoming committee, and can’t wait to see the society grow under their leadership.
73,Abdullah Al-Shakarchi
EARS Radio Officer2E0OAO
SOCIETIES
‘Freedom to Write’ Enoh Meyomesse freed
‘Freedom to Read’ Books for Prisoners: restrictions lifted
In October I wrote a ‘Campaign Focus’ article concerning the unjust imprisonment of Cameroonian author and poet Enoh Meyomesse. He was sentenced to seven years in prison
despite the prosecutor having no evidence or witnesses and not allowing Meyomesse to defend himself. Enoh’s appeal hearing began on the 30th March 2015, after being postponed more than 20 times. On the 16th April he was acquitted of the charge relating to the illegal sale of gold, but found guilty for handling stolen goods and received a sentence of 40 months imprisonment.Having already served more than this amount of time in prison, Meyomesse was freed on the 27th April 2015. PEN International and its subsidiary organisations have been campaigning since Enoh was arrested in November 2011 and continue to do so in light of his further appeal to the Supreme Court for complete acquittal.
In November 2013, restrictions were placed on sending books to prisoners in England and Wales, categorising them as part of ‘perks and privileges’ which were to be reduced
in an effort to make it more difficult to smuggle drugs into prisons. Since the introduction of these restrictions, English PEN and campaign partners, the Howard League for Penal Reform, have protested against the misguided policy with the support of authors from the UK and around the world.A legal challenge to the policy was brought by inmate Barbara Gordon-Jones, who was represented for free by her lawyers in the judicial review after initially being denied legal aid. In December 2014 Mr Justice Collins, the judge hearing the case, concluded that “in the light of the statement made about the importance of books and the absence of any intention to prevent or interfere unreasonably with prisoners being able to have access to books, to refer to them as a privilege is strange” and ruled that the policy was unlawful.Following this ruling, the ‘Incentives and Earned Privileges Scheme’ was revised and as of the 31st January 2015, “Friends and families of prisoners are able… to order books from approved retailers, who will source and send the books on to prisoners”.
by A
lex
Page
, Su
rrey
Stu
dent
PEN
Pre
ss O
ffice
r
40 - Societies
This year we have wanted to vocalise our club more in order to maintain Taekwondo as a widely recognised
sport of the University. This along with our amazing results in previous and most recent tournaments, and the growing number of students signed up is why we have been selected to feature in this month’s Club Spotlight. There is a huge demand for this Korean martial art, which is evident through our 62 signed up members and lots of new faces that are popping along every week to give Taekwondo a try. From those who give this sport a go there is a high percentage of staying on and becoming regular attendees at the 3x weekly training sessions.We are a very well integrated sports club: the older members train and work with the freshers to build friendships creating a high-spirited, hardworking and stimulating atmosphere. From our training sessions there are plenty of opportunities to not only learn how to perfect and refine techniques in kicking, footwork and sparring; but it is also well balanced with the more traditional elements of Taekwondo with emphasis on Poomsae patterns. Following on from our late November success at the Imperial Open (4 golds, 2 silvers and 7 bronzes), we continued to showcase our club to the best of our ability at the National BSTF (British Student Taekwondo Federation) tournament. From February 28th-March 1st we saw 28 participants compete in either traditional Poomsae patterns, WTF Olympic style sparring or even both. We found high success in both disciplines of Taekwondo; in the patterns we walked away with an impressive 2 golds, 1 silver and 4 bronzes to finish in 3rd place overall. To add to the first day of medals were the 5 golds, 2 silvers and 9 bronzes won in sparring the following day for an overall finish of 4th place in sparring out of the 42 universities that competed. Everyone really deserves more than a mention, but I guess a select few it shall
by Ye-Kwan Pang, Surrey Taekwondo
Club Spotlight:
be. Where else to start but the President of the club himself, Maz Islam. A double gold medallist in both the patterns and sparring! What’s more is that he is not the only dual medallist with Ellen Alves winning silver in patterns and gold in sparring. We had amazing results from our beginners with Chris Lam medalling gold in patterns as the first fighter of the day; Inhye Song and Hannah Cheung winning golds in the female category and Yusuf Duman winning the last as he walked away with yet another gold for Surrey in sparring. To keep up to date with the club check out our Facebook page: “Surrey Taekwondo” and follow us on twitter @SurreyTaekwondo.
©Re
publ
ic o
f Kor
ea
Taewkondo
Sports - 41
There are three types of people in this country: the religious, the non-
believers, and those who follow sport. Britain loves sport, it’s the lifeblood of this country’s twisted, floundering nationalism. Football, Rugby, Cricket, Tennis, Formula One… All have thousands, if not millions, of people waking up in a cold sweat night after night as their beloved sportsmen struggle in the face of competition.Yet, somehow, one sport has spectacularly failed to impose itself on this fair country, and that is the terrifyingly magnificent spectacle of Ice Hockey. So, the point of me writing this article is to try to persuade you, the reader (yes, this is 4th wall breaking stuff), to dip your toe into the luscious, hot spring pool that is Ice Hockey fandom. But, what actually is it? Well, it’s in the name: it’s hockey, but on ice. In a nutshell, it’s a bunch of burly men or women (or sometimes, God help us, both) skating around an enclosed rink at terminal velocity trying to shoot a plastic puck into a net. There are 12 players on the ice at any one time; 6 per team, including the goalie. At the highest level, games are split into 3 ‘periods’ of 20 minutes, with the ultimate victor being decided by who scores the most goals. I could go on to explain icing calls, the offside rule, puck freezing, and the increasingly permeable division between a legal hit and a penalty infraction, but The Stag Editor only gave me 600 words, and even I couldn’t keep focus on that level of detail.
So, why should you try it? Well, because it’s a sport that’s almost universally likeable. There’s something in it for everyone: like fast-paced, high-scoring action? There’s loads of that! Earlier this NHL season, the Winnipeg Jets beat the Philadelphia Flyers 9-8… That’s 17 goals in one game! Enjoy high-octane competition boiling over into fights and punch-ups? There’s loads of that too! Not 5 minutes goes by without players getting up in each other’s faces, and sometimes all 12 players on the ice can end up in one brawl! Like fantastic in-stadium atmospheres that you can experience from your couch at home? Great! The crowds at home games are often so loud that you can’t even hear the commentators calling the game, and if you’re ever lucky enough to actually attend a professional hockey game, the fans are diverse and dedicated enough that you’ll always be included in the fun, even if you have no idea what’s going on! The list of reasons goes on and on... It’s the sort of sport that you can get into on an extremely casual level, then the next thing you know your donating bodily fluids to a sperm bank in an effort to obtain the golden ticket to your teams final playoff game. It draws
you in with its easy to understand rules and its 12-hours a day game schedule, but don’t be fooled. You can sit there on the edge of the pool, ankles deep in the water, but if you’re prepared to, you can jump in head first at the deep end and let it consume your whole life. As you can tell, I’m pretty emotional about Ice Hockey. I spent last year living in Canada, where people quite literally eat, live and breathe the sport, and when you’re that surrounded by it, it’s impossible not to get involved. It has the competitiveness of Football, the intensity of Rugby and the intricate tactics of Formula One… All wrapped up in a package with a fan culture unlike any other. So please, dip your toe in. Be the person to bring an ounce of Ice Hockey from North America, Scandinavia, or Russia to the country that so sorely lacks it.
Just please, please don’t become a Toronto Maple Leafs fan.
by Joel Silver, Senior Sports Writer
Britain’s Sporting Enigma or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and
Love Ice Hockey
©Ja
mes
Hea
ney
42 - Sports
Surrey Surf Tour Success
by Joshua Rye, Treasurer, Marketing and Merchandise of Surf Club
The UoS Surf Club spent their time in Lagos, Portgual chilling, surfing, singing songs by the campfire, going crazy and almost getting tattoos...
The University of Surrey Surf Club has just got back from an awesome week in Lagos, Portugal. We spent
our time out there chilling, surfing, singing songs by the campfire, going crazy and almost getting tattoos. We were treated to a villa that housed all 48 of us and were bathed in sun for almost all of our time there. A stunning 35 of our 48 trip-goers were absolute beginners and by the end of the week all of them were standing up, carving the white water and some even caught some clean unbroken waves! When you join Surf Club, you join part of a family. Our Surf Tour happens in Easter every year and is when our club comes into its own. As we’re not near the sea, we don’t get to surf a lot. But every two months we run a surf trip to Newquay for the weekend and we make the most of it in every aspect! We have a May Trip coming up (22nd-25th) which goes over a bank holiday weekend and is sure to be crazy and chilled all in one - what more could you ask for?! If you fancy joining our family, check us out on Facebook (The University of Surrey Surf Club) and come along to some of our events - everyone is welcome! We’re also on Instagram @SurreySurf. Follow us, get involved and have fun!
Sports - 43
What’s inside?
