Newspaper of the students of the University of Surrey Issue 48 Wednesday 3rd October 2012

NEWS
Man arrested over
Guildford stabbing...
Page 3
FILM
Anna Karenina reviewed
by Ellis Taylor...Page 27
LItErAturE
What lengths would you
go to if your manuscript
was rejected? ... Page 26
SPOrt
Is pole dancing for you?
fnd out on...Page 31
SCIENCE & tECH
Windows 8 previewed by
Alex Smith... Page 15
MuSIC
the xxs Coexisit: is at as
good as their debut? Find
out...Page 23
FEAturES
Top fve graduate
worries by Megan
Cherry... Page 11
Did the Paparazzi catch you?
Check out our centre spread,
courtesy of Aaron rush.
Your Sabbs give you
great tips to settle
in at Surrey pg. 6
S
urrey is excited to announce our new Director
of Careers Service, John Watkins. John has an
exciting and varied history, beginning with a
Sociology based degree at Exeter University, he
had a talent for Student Radio and spent most of
his free time broadcasting. This led to a job in a
local BBC Radio station. John then moved into a
seemingly vastly different feld, for 15 years he
worked as an Accountant. As John rose through the
ranks, he began to focus on people development,
recruitment and running training workshops.
Through his work in recruitment John built links
with Universities, including this one, eventually
leading to his latest post here at the University of
Surrey. With his wealth of experience in different
felds, and far reaching talent John seems the
perfect candidate to bring our Careers Service to
exciting new heights.
Surrey is famous for its impressive
employability rates, but after dropping off the top
spot I was curious to see what Johns plans were
for the upcoming year. His primary intention is
to build the profle of the Careers Service here
at Surrey, as although it is an excellent service, it
is small. John agreed that although the Careers
Service has helped Surrey maintain a high level of
employability, the job market, in our post-recession
economic climate, is perhaps more serious
John noted that graduate unemployment is still
By Alexandra Wilks, Editor
SURREY FALLS IN
EMPLOYABILITY
Continued on page 3...
ex
clusiv
e
s
t
u
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n
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surrey sports park student membership
*
195
per year
5302-0912 SSP Stag Newspaper Student Membership Advert.indd 1 13/09/2012 13:30
EDItOrIAL 2 the Stag | 3rd October 2012 editor@thestagsurrey.co.uk
Editor | Alexandra Wilks
editor@thestagsurrey.co.uk
Editor-in-Chief | Abbie Stone
ussu.editor@surrey.ac.uk
Deputy Editor (Design) | Hannah Roberts-Owen
design@thestagsurrey.co.uk
Design Team | Paul Richmond, Tina Morman
Deputy Editor (Marketing) | Becky Richmond
marketing@thestagsurrey.co.uk
News Editor | Rachel Thomason
news@thestagsurrey.co.uk
News Team | Sophie Vickery, Jack White, Melissa Raske, Chris Sibthorpe,
Kathryn Braid, Hattie Elkins, Hannah Craig, Beth Goss,
Opinion & Anaylsis | Justine Crossan
Features Editor| Ellis Taylor
features@thestagsurrey.co.uk
Features Team | Hannah Wann, Katy Sawyer, Megan Cherry
Science and technology Editor | Alex Smith
sciencetech@thestagsurrey.co.uk
Science and Technology Team | Siobhan Harris, Lawrence Finn, Melissa
Raske.
Societies Editor | Shalini Thondrayen
societies@thestagsurrey.co.uk
Societies Team | Jess Blake
Dance and theatre Editor | Tiffany Stoneman
dancetheatre@thestagsurrey.co.uk
Dance and Theatre Team |
Film Editor | Candice Ritchie
flm@thestagsurrey.co.uk
Film Team | Joanna Zalis, Becky Worley, Becky Richmond, Ellis Taylor
Music Editor | Becky Worley
music@thestagsurrey.co.uk
Music Team | Candice Ritchie, Ankur Banerjee, Bakita Kasadha
Literature Editor | Emily Smart
literature@thestagsurrey.co.uk
Literature Team | Sophie Vickery
Sport Editor | Anna Giles
sport@thestagsurrey.co.uk
Copy Editors | Hannah Wann, Sophie Vickery, Tessa Morgan, Tina
Morman
copyteam@thestagsurrey.co.uk
Webmaster | Andrew Smith
webmaster@thestagsurrey.co.uk
Webeditor | Samatha Murray
webeditor@thestagsurrey.co.uk
Photo Editor | Tessa Morgan
photos@thestagsurrey.co.uk
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.
W
ith the introduction of new
tuition fees, students are
keen to see what they are paying
for as this summer saw record
numbers of prospective students
attending open days.
Students and parents value the
opportunity to speak with staff
and existing students following
fnancial concerns that 9,000
a year may not be a worthwhile
investment, especially when
employment remains diffcult and
highly competitive.
Nevertheless, universities
maintain that higher fees will
enhance academic standards
and beneft surrounding areas
as graduates support local
employment.
Universities across the UK
have been reporting a higher than
average number of prospective
students attending open days. The
University of Bristols frst open
day welcomed 15,000 prospective
students, 5,000 more than last
year whilst the University of Bath
expects an increase of 12,000. The
University of Surrey had to run
another welcome talk to meet the
demand of the high number of
visitors in June.
With the prospect of fewer
applicants, competition between
universities remains ferce. Open
days are an important part in the
process of attracting students by
showcasing the unique strengths of
the university and to the prospect
of having a degree.
By Sophie Vickery, News Team
Record numbers of students attend
university open days this year
D
irector of the Surrey Space
Centre at the university and
founder and executive chairman
of Surrey Satellite Technology
Limited (SSTL), has received an
international award.
Sir Martin Sweeting was
presented with the International
von Krmn Wings Award for his
contributions to the aerospace
industry. In particular, he was
recognised for his concept of rapid-
response, low-cost and highly
capable small satellites for Earth
observation, communications and
space science.
The award, which has been
received every year since 1985, is
presented to aerospace engineers
who have made outstanding
contributions to their feld.
Sir Martin said: It is a privilege
to be recognised in the von Krmn
Wings Award, and to share this
accolade with visionaries and
innovators that I greatly admire.
President and Vice-Chancellor
of the university, Professor Sir
Christopher Snowden, added:
Martins work setting up SSTL
and at the Surrey Space Centre
was extremely important to the
university. For many people space
and Surrey are synonymous. He
has created a legacy that will go on
for many, many decades to come.
Director of Surrey Space Centre
receives prestigious award
By Rachel Thomason, News Editor
Surrey Space Centres Sir Martin Sweeting
has made outstanding contributions to
space science
Letter from the Editor
W
riting these
Editorials is not
getting any easier. I
thought once I had
the frst one out of the way Id have it in the
bag. Not so Im afraid. At the time of writing,
Freshers Week has not happened yet. However,
now youre reading this, it has. And what a week
it is. Wonderful and awful and bizairre and
beautiful. Freshers Week just sort of happens,
it washed over in me in a daze of gin and chips.
My main memory is trying to be nice to my new
housemates when I was so hungover I wanted
to stick my head in the sink and run cold water
over my face until I could remember my own
name. I hope yours went better. As for us over
here at STAG TOWERS (AKA the Union Building)
weve been working tirelessly as ever to bring the
very best articles. But theres always room for
improvement, as much as it pains me to admit
it, so if you reckon we could do better, let us
know and get involved. OK, thats the PR bit over.
Seriously though, come chat to me if you see me
scurrying around (Ill be easy enough to notice-
Im always lugging a computer about and usually
have a hot beverage in hand). Im friendly to the
point of creepy. Like, a Yorkshire Terrier on heat,
but with better hair. So if I havent scared you
off with my canine similie, do introduce yourself
and tell me what you want from your Student
Newspaper. Or you know, you could just e-mail
me. Whatevz.
Alexandra Wilks Editor
editor@thestagsurrey.co.uk
The Stag is an editorially independent newspaper 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.
NEWS 3 the Stag | 3rd October 2012 News Editor: rachael thomason | Copy Editor: tina Morman
W
ith freshers and parents
turning out in force last
weekend, The Stag asked them
about their hopes and fears for the
forthcoming year.
Greek fresher Michael said,
Its amazing all the buildings
are brand new and Im near my
course. Im looking forward to
having a great time. Asked if he
had any worries Michael said,
I have been to two universities
here for summer school, so Im
used to it.
Parents said that they had no
worries about their children. A
Cambridgeshire mother said, Ive
no worries. Were quite happy
about it our daughter is a very
outgoing girl. On the new fees and
funding regime she said, I think
if you want to go to university you
just have to take it on the chin.
Union President Dave Halls
said, It went amazingly. All the
Angels are happy, smiley people
and it was exactly what we wanted.
The best part of Sunday was that
despite the rain the Angels were
still smiling, still being just as
helpful and just as welcoming. A
massive thank you should go to
them for their hard work.
The Freshers Angels are
mostly unpaid volunteers who
help by signposting around
campus and helping new students
move luggage.
For two years running, the
Freshers Angels Team at Surrey
have helped maintain its position
as Best Welcome Week according
to the prestigious Student
Barometer survey. International
students also appreciated the
welcome they received, ranking
Surrey ffth overall in the same
survey.
A
fter the 31
st
October, students
and staff will no longer be
able to access Surrey ULearn as
SurreyLearn becomes the new
Virtual Learning Experience
(VLE).
SurreyLearn, a name
submitted by students Abdullah
Qadri and Jack Lacey, offers a
secure environment to support
learning through course guidance
and tools for professional
development.
The online interaction allows
students to directly contact staff,
participate in discussion forums
and access student profles,
providing vital communication
for group presentations.
A key advantage of the system
is the option to receive emails
sent from the site to Surrey email
accounts, widely used by students.
There is even a students diary
with a calendar and reminders
for deadlines and upcoming
coursework.
Students can also access
SurreyLearn on the move
with availability on iPads and
smartphones, making it easy to
access resources during vacation
periods.
The change comes after
the university invested in its
Transforming Teaching and
Learning Strategy (2010-2017).
The new hardware is more reliable
in its integration with other IT
systems to reduce administration
time and chaos at the start of
semester.
It will give staff the
opportunity to upload lecture
material, useful learning tools
and assignment details. They
can also provide audio responses
to students through the system
which will greatly improve the
feedback system for students.
By Sophie Vickery, News Team
SurreyLearn replaces
ULearn as the new VLE
Comment...
In light of the raised fees, what is more
important to you: the love for your degree
subject or the career youll get at the end of it?
Im studying economics mainly for the career prospects
but of course I fnd it interesting. Spending thousands on
a degree if youre only doing it for the love of the subject
seems irrational. - tom Icke, second year, Economics
Fresher spirit left undampened
by rain on moving-in weekend
P
olice have charged a teenager
with murder after a fatal
stabbing in Guildford on Saturday
22nd September.
Police were called to a property
on Roundhill Way around 7.45pm
Saturday evening after reports
that a man had suffered serious
wounds during a confrontation.
Emergency services attempted
to resuscitate the man but he was
later pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim has since been
identifed as 19-year-old Jake Bates
and a post-mortem revealed that
a stab wound in the neck was the
cause of death.
Offcers arrested 18-year-
old Liam Martin on suspicion of
murder a short time later. He was
initially taken to the Royal Surrey
Hospital to be treated for a minor
injury before he was taken into
police custody for questioning.
He has since been charged
by detectives and appeared in
Guildford Magistrates' Court on
Tuesday 25th September.
He will next appear in Guildford
Crown Court on Thursday 27th
September.
The property was cordoned off
by police while the inquiry took
place. Outside, fowers have been
left to pay tribute to the teenager.
Guildford man arrested
for murder after stabbing
By Rachel Thomason, News Editor
I think it should be a balance. Job prospects are important
but you need to enjoy the subject. - Emily Barrett, frst
year, Nutrition and Dietetics
With dance there is no guarantee of a job... When I started
the degree it was for love of the subject... But now, I would
choose a degree with more stability, especially with the
fees. - Kate Lewers, fnal year, Dance
By Jack White, News Team
Freshers Angels were still smiling on Sunday despite the wet weather
to contribute to the News team, you can get in
touch with us at news@thestagsurrey.co.uk
worryingly high and stressed that he wished to bring
in new initiatives to help Surrey students get the very
best out their time here, for example the Careers service
will be running two events on the 4th and 5th October.
These events are aiming to provide useful skills for
students, whilst also being fun and lighthearted. Focus
will be on competitive team exercises and students will
be running around all over Campus to complete their
challenges.
Johns ideas seemed brilliant and intuitive, yet was
this really enough? With the fee hike and very little
promise of a job at the end of a three year degree,
these are dark times to be an undergraduate. John
agreed with my concerns, its a competitive world,
Universities have begun to invest more heavily in
careers, since the increase in fees. Some Universities
have attempted to introduce employability skills into
the syllabus of study. The University world is more
of a business, than it has been before, Universities
really need to attract students in the frst place, and
show them and their parents (who are often ftting in
the bill) that Surrey will provide them with the skills
they need to get a job. John stressed that he was less
interesting in concentrating on the much quoted job
in six months as this is when the data is taken to
provide the statistics, but in fact to help students build
a life time career.
The fee hike has particularly affected arts based
subjects with applications. I wanted to know what John
had planned for arts based students, who are defnitely
feeling the heat. He stated, No subject is more or less
important to me. Some degrees have greater diffculty
in fnding obvious career paths for students. We need
to be conscious of providing them different things.
The employability activity days I will be running will
transcend everybody, and will be suitable for everyone.
John will also be running Join John on Tuesday
evenings, which will provide a weekly hour session on
employability with interactive tasks. This session is
open to anyone and will hopefully include employers
as well. The session aims to be fun and interesting, as
well as developmental.
Continued from page 1...
Interview with John Watkins
NEWS 4 the Stag | 3rd October 2012 news@thestagsurrey.co.uk
G
uildford town centre could
soon see the opening of a new
nightclub based on Bedford Road.
The company behind the new
venue, Wonderland, is Guildford
NSD Limited which also currently
operates Casino and Players Lounge
just around the corner on Onslow
Street, as well as four other outlets.
Guildford NSD Limited want
to open Wonderland in the Old
Orleans restaurant which has been
derelict for two years, and are
waiting for the premises license
application to be approved.
Tickled Ivory Piano Bar and
Flares are just a few of the other
late night venues in the area;
however Wonderland aims to be
different. It will offer flm clips,
live and recorded music as well as
late night refreshments and laser
systems.
David Stokes, chairman of Holy
Trinity Amenity Group expressed
his concern about crime and other
late night venues in the area.
However, Wonderland wants to
limit this with CCTV, registered
door staff and by working closely
with the police and licensing
authorities.
The council plan to re-develop
the rest of the Bedford Road area
as part of their new vision for the
town.
By Hannah Craig, News Team
Owners of Casino to open new Wonderland club
T
housands of spectators lined
the streets of Guildford on
Sunday 16
th
September to cheer on
the 100 cyclists battling it out in
the Tour of Britain Cycle race.
The intense high speed race,
which covers more than 90 miles
of Surrey roads, entered Guildford
at 1pm and concluded on the
cobbled high street at 4pm.
Despite the turnout exceeding
expectations, Surrey Police made
no arrests and the atmosphere
was described as fantastic and
charged with excitement.
The Olympic spirit ignited the
air as the crowd cheered Mark
Cavendish to the fnish line and
exulted as Jonathan Tiernan-
Locke claimed the overall frst
place to claim the frst home win
in 19 years.
Tiernan-Locke was
overwhelmed by the thousands of
voices joined in a roar of praise as
he won the Tour of Britain.
The event was a reminder
that although the Olympics had
come to an end, the united spirit
that was aroused in the country
continues to support sport in
Britain.
Chief Inspector Clove Davies
praised the crowds fantastic
support of the race and the local
authorities for their excellent
organisation of the event.
The local council went
to great lengths to organise
transportation to and from the
race and also ensure the safety of
all involved.
Surrey police, council and
partner agencies poured months
of planning into hosting the cycle
race and look forward to hosting
more cycling events next year.
By Kathryn Braid, News Team
Cycle fever continues in Guildford
with the Tour of Britain race
Mark Cavendish crosses the fnish line over Guildfords cobbled streets

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The Old Orleans restaurant in Guildford awaits approval for a new nightclub

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G Live celebrates
its first birthday
A
fter a successful frst year, G
Live has established itself as a
contemporary and classy venue for
live entertainment in Surrey.
The 25 million government
project was completed in
September 2011 and has marked
the end of its frst year by winning
a Regional Royal Institute of British
Architects (RIBA) South East Award
for its stunning design.
Both environmentally friendly
and sustainable, the efforts in the
design of the building have been
acknowledged with a BREEAM
(BRE Environmental Assessment
Method) rating of Excellent.
The main concert space has
a capacity of nearly 3,000 people.
With a studio space for workshops,
gigs and events, a foyer containing
a pre-show cafe/bistro and bars on
each level of the building, G Live
provides plenty of space for both
large-scale and intimate events.
The building has both
transformed the area and given
a major boost to local economy
in diffcult times following the
recent recession. Entertainment
ranges from dance and orchestral
performances to comedy and
childrens shows; the venue caters
for all tastes and ages.
Earlier this year, the venue
also was home to the University
of Surreys Colours Ball. Stephanie
Gooch, a Surrey student who
attended the event, says of the
building: I thought the venue was
great, the space was well utilised
and it surprised me by how modern
it all was.
She added: On arrival I was
greeted by friendly and helpful
staff. Overall I had an unforgettable
night and think it would be a great
venue to use for future events.
The success of G Live in its frst
year shows that not only is it going
to thrive in years to come, but that
it is destined to become a landmark
for the city.
By Hattie Elkins. News Team
G Live is decorated for the universitys Colours Ball 2012
I
n an undoubtedly haunting
experience for all involved, a
prop coffn fell on a family at a
Guildford fairground on Thursday
13
th
September in Stoke Park.
A fre crew had to rescue the
father and his two children because
they refused to leave the Hells Gate
ride after the shocking experience.
The father was not gravely
injured but received a black eye
after the skeleton flled coffn fell
on him.
By Beth Goss, News Team
Coffin falls on
family riding
ghost train
Future of GuilFest uncertain after
low ticket sales and bad weather
G
uilFests future is in doubt
after the company have
announced that they are ceasing
to trade due to low ticket sales.
Organisers of the festival,
which has been running for
21 years, have blamed adverse
weather conditions and intense
competition from other festivals
for the fall in ticket sales.
Tony Scott, of Scott Events Ltd
and the festivals founder, said in
a statement: GuilFest has ceased
to trade due to poor ticket sales at
this years event in July.
It continued: We assess that
this was down to the worst weather
conditions we have experienced in
history of the festival On-going
matters now lie in the hands of
the insolvency practitioner Leigh
Adams LLP.
The company also expressed its
gratitude to everybody who has
been involved in working with the
festival in its 21 years, the artists
who performed and of course the
thousands of attendees.
It added: It has been a
privilege and a pleasure to
organise GuilFest and see it evolve
into the renowned festival it has
become.
By Rachel Thomason, News Editor
NEWS 5 the Stag | 3rd October 2012 News Editor: rachael thomason | Copy Editor: tina Morman
T
he Duke and Duchess of
Cambridge have been involved
in legal action after the French
version of Closer magazine
published topless photos of Kate
Middleton.
As the couple continued their
Jubilee tour, it was revealed that
the photos had been taken whilst
they stayed in a private chateau in
Provence, France.
Published on Friday 14
th

September, St Jamess Palace
commented that the photos are
reminiscent of the worst excesses
of the press and paparazzi during
the life of Diana, Princess of Wales.
Unlike Prince Harrys recent
naked pictures from Vegas, British
press have refused to publish the
topless photos because there is no
justifcation and doing so would
breach the editors code.
However, since the publication
of the photos in France, the Irish
Daily Star, Italys Chi, the Danish Se
og Hr (See and Hear) and its Swedish
sister magazine have all published
the images.
This comes after the Duke and
Duchess took legal action against
Closer. As a result, the magazine
was banned from selling or reusing
any more of the photos.
It was decided that the
publishing company will be fned
10,000 (8,000) for each day that
they fail to comply with the order.
A separate case has been
opened to investigate whether
privacy laws were breached by the
magazine and the photographer of
the images.
If Closer is found guilty, it will
face a fne of up to 45,000 and its
editor could be jailed for up to a
year.
By Rachel Thomason, News Editor
Royal Family has
privacy invaded again
with topless photos
O
n Friday 21
st
September, the
National Union of Students
(NUS) celebrated the UK Border
Agencys (UKBA) decision to allow
international students at London
Met to continue their studies.
This comes after the NUS fled
to intervene as an independent
third party on Thursday 20th
September, for which the court
granted them permission the next
day.
Around 2,600 students were
directly affected by the decision
to revoke London Mets licence to
sponsor international students.
Many of these students had
already invested tens of thousands
of pounds on their education.
Prior to NUS intervention,
UKBA had announced its intention
to serve all international students
with notice of 60 days leave to
remain in the UK.
However, at the courts
suggestion, the UKBA has agreed
to allow legitimate students to
remain at the University until the
end of their course or up to the end
of the 2012/2013 academic year,
whichever date comes sooner.
Speaking about the future
challenges, NUS President
Liam Burns said: The future
for international students at
London Met after July 2013 is still
uncertain and we need clarity as
soon as possible.
He added: This whole ugly
episode has also thrown up wider
questions about the treatment
of international students in this
country,
Unless these questions are
urgently addressed, the UKs
global reputation for higher
education remains tarnished.
By Melissa Raske, News Team
NUS intervention leads to relief for
London Metropolitan students
D
eputy Prime Minister and
Liberal Democrat leader Nick
Clegg has publicly apologised for
making a pledge to students on
university tuition fees, describing
it as: a promise we were not
absolutely sure we could deliver.
The Liberal Democrats had
previously campaigned during the
2010 general election campaign,
and signed a pledge from the
National Union of Students, to
oppose any rise in tuition fees.
Fees were raised to a maximum
of 9,000 per year shortly after the
election.
The Lib Dems have been
widely criticised for abandoning a
policy that was seen as such a key
election pledge to try and win the
support of voters.
Business Secretary, Vince
Cable, has already confrmed the
Lib Dems had promoted the policy
whilst knowing privately that it
was unaffordable.
Mr Cleggs apology has been
remixed by satirical website The
Poke and released as a single
titled Nick Clegg Says Sorry.
Clegg agreed to it being released
if all profts went to Sheffeld
Childrens NHS Foundation Trust,
of which his wife is a patron. The
track had entered the UK Top
40 within twelve hours of being
released.
Liam Burns, president of the
NUS, responded to the apology
by saying: Nick Clegg should be
apologising to voters for breaking
his pledge, not for making it in the
frst place.
He added that Clegg should:
Reach out and apologise to those
he betrayed by breaking his fees
pledge and to make amends by
changing his policies.
By Chris Sibthorpe, News Team
Nick Clegg apologises
for not fulfilling pledge
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge enjoy day eight of their Jubilee Tour in Tuvalu
whilst the offending photos are published

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uNION 6 the Stag | 3rd October 2012 editor@thestagsurrey.co.uk
A
t the start of each year, you will
be given a Course handbook
by your department (some will be
paper based, some online, some
even on departmental branded
USB sticks) but no matter what
format; dont let it gather dust it is
quite the important document.
In your handbook, often short
on pictures and colour, will be all
the information on regulations
e.g. what are, and how to submit
for recognition of extenuating
circumstances, details on penalties
for late submission and academic
misconduct... serious stuff!
As well as useful information
such as room locations and contact
details of key departmental
academics and administrative
staff.
If you have any queries about
the content, or require help to
understand aspects of what can
be quite a wordy document, get in
contact with your personal tutor or
another academic who lectures on
your course.
You may also get a handbook
to accompany each module,
if there are any differences in
the information relayed in the
two formats, make sure you ask
someone in your department for
clarifcation as it will be the course
and not the module handbook that
takes priority.
I know this sounds serious, but
it pains me to see people fall foul of
the regulations just because they
didnt know so... keep up to date
with the details, your degree could
depend on it!
Sabbaticals Say...
Dave Halls
Union President
Arabella Gilby
Union VP Sports
and Recreation
S
o a week and a half in to
university life. Hows it
all going? Getting used to
lectures, new buildings and your
housemates? Freshers week can be
a bit overwhelming and not just
for Freshers! If you feel you missed
out on any sporting opportunities
do not fear! It is not too late to get
involved, If you head to ussu.co.uk
and click on sports and societies
you can fnd all the information
about each sport club, alternatively
look out for the Team Surrey events
wall planner containing all the
training times, so just head along
to a training session and try it out!
Two things to look out for is the
Sports Executive elections, these
are taking place in the second sports
standing in November, we have the
Management and Communications
positions available, the team work
with me and some of the staff up at
Surrey Sports Park to ensure that
everything in sport runs smoothly.
If youre at all interested drop me
an email at ussu.sports@surrey.
ac.uk and I can give you some more
information.
Also keep your eyes peeled for
Team Surrey Sports Ambassadors.
If youre passionate about sports
this may be an opportunity for
you. The Sports Ambassadors are
a team of volunteers, some going
into the community to after
school primary sports classes and
others volunteering in sport on
campus, working towards coaching
qualifcations. If you want to gain
some experience and qualifcations
come along to the frst informal
meeting on Wednesday 10th
October, 6.30 in TB18 Dont miss
out!
Bakita Kasadha
Union VP Welfare
H
ere are 10 tips to help you get
settled at Surrey:
1. Register for an on-
campus GP (doctor). Registration
forms are available at www.
guildowns.nhs.uk so head over
to Guildowns (University Court)
with your completed form.
2. Save money: buy a NUS
extra card and get discounts at
many popular shops. If youve
bought one, dont forget to pick it
up from the Union!
3. Socialise: join in a club,
society or volunteer. Head over to
your Students Union and fnd out
more.
4. As Christmas
approaches, its getting darker, so
make sure youre planning well-lit
routes home.
5. When inside your room,
leave your the door ajar so that
you can talk to your housemates
as they walk past.
6. Go out with your
housemates (but remember, not
everyone is comfortable with a
night of drinking).
7. Try again: so you headed
over to that club, society, or
group on your course but your
personality didnt come through?
It takes time to settle and feel
comfortable in new situations.
Try again, and if it doesnt work
another time, just join a different
sports club; fnd new interests.
8. Unwind after the frst
couple of weeks: go for a 2.50
swim at Surrey Sports Park www.
surreysportspark.co.uk
9. Become a Welfare
Warrior, promoting and creating
wellbeing campaigns. On-line
applications close on 8th October
2012.
10. Look out for Welfare
campaigns over the course of the
year, for tips and information
on how to stay happy, safe and
healthy.
If that settled feeling still
hasnt kicked in and your
university experience isnt feeling
quite right, dont forget that you
can visit me in the Union, email
ussu.welfare@surrey.ac.uk or
head to the Student Services
Centre for more advice and
support.
Have a fantastic fortnight.
To fnd out more information about becoming a Welfare
Warrior, please visit the Welfare page on the union website:
http: //www. ussu. co. uk/advice/Pages/Welfare. aspx
Sam Ratzer
Union VP Education
Sam on all the things youll
find in your course hand-book
Arabella tells you more about Team
Surrey and how to get involved
I
write this weeks article the
day before Moving-In Weekend
begins. Im therefore going to
take a few creative liberties about
what may or may not be about to
happen over the course of the next
week (thats last week, for those of
you now reading this), and thank
every single student for making it
a great way to welcome in a new
year here at Surrey!
A massive thank you to those
hundreds of happy, smiling
Freshers Angels who helped
the new students into their
new homes and begin to settle
into life here at Surrey. It really
comes as no surprise that Surrey
has consistently been awarded
the number one university for
welcoming new students when
we see the levels of enthusiasm
and community spirit embodied
in all students, Angels or
otherwise when the new students
arrive.
Since I frst started at Surrey,
its been incredibly noticeable the
growing sense of community here
at Surrey. There is an increasing
sense of pride on the campus, and
long may this continue.
Its also around this time
of year when students, new or
returning, may begin to feel
overwhelmed by being back at
university, whether thats for
academic reasons, or for more
welfare-related reasons. There is
absolutely no shame in this; and
the best thing you can possibly do
is share. Theres a huge amount of
support available on the campus,
from popping in to see Bakita or
Sam in the Students Union, to
visiting the Wellbeing Centre; or
perhaps having a chat with your
Court Life Mentor. Talking about
any concerns you might have is
the best way to deal with it, rather
than letting something fester
and possibly seem a bigger issue
than it really is; and there are a
multitude of people just waiting
to help! You may have noticed a
friend or housemate is having
trouble settling back into the new
school year; and thats where that
community spirit comes back in.
Maybe give them a nudge, ask
them how they are, or point them
in the right direction to talk to
someone about it. You might just
help keep them here at Surrey!
Daves advice to ease you
into the new academic year
10 tips to get you
settled at Surrey
#DEMO
Educate | Employ | Empower
Wednesday 21
st
November
Central London
To register for updates and buses:
surreydemo2012@gmail.com
www.demo2012.org.uk
2012
OPINION & ANALYSIS 8 the Stag | 3rd October 2012 opinion@thestagsurrey.co.uk
Opinion & Analysis
T
heyre all liars. They
are all the same anyway!
Coupled with a few more, perhaps
unprintable, comments. These are
some opinions of politicians that I
have encountered when discussing
politics and politicians specifcally.
Certainly with the media image
that they have, it is not hard to
understand this point of view.
There has been a lot of evidence
against politicians in recent years.
The Liberal Democrats made
certain declarations they believed
they would enact and havent. The
expenses scandal has also served to
turn this country against its own
ambassadors of Parliament.
However, I would quickly like
to propose a couple of points that
point to politicians being more
integral and honourable than our
beloved tabloids make out.
Firstly, politicians come and
go. They will swap offces and they
will be up for re-election often.
So dont get too comfortable with
any opinion of any politician that
you have as in a certain amount
of time they will either be gone
or in a different role. How does
that make them more credible?
Simple. They are not experts in
their feld of work by any means.
Thats the civil servants and
Whitehall, there is a reason it is
called the House of Commons, and
it is exactly that. Common. While
some will be more important than
others and more experienced I,
perhaps misguidedly, believe that
politicians will have a very diffcult
job to do. This makes an average
politician an incredible statesman.
If you then think of all the average
politicians, then you perhaps have
an idea how challenging it can be to
run a country with an electorate as
brutally punishing as our own.
My fnal point has more to do
with the political system than the
people that involve themselves
in it. The political system that we
occupy has holes. Many of them.
This is seen in beneft thieves, tax
dodgers and politicians expenses.
If our system makes it easy and
technically legal, many things will
slip through the cracks regardless
of ethical pre judgement. However
this does not represent all of
the individuals that occupy
parliament and it never will. So
why do all politicians seem to take
punishment as if it does? A small
minority of us, the public, steal
from the state with defnite intent.
However, we would be openly
offended if an outsider was to
label us, the normal public, in the
same light. The same logic should
also be applied when discussing
politicians.
We should remember one thing,
this is the institution that defends
our freedom, stands for democracy
and integrity and that is actively
chosen by us. Countries have the
politicians that they deserve, we
deserve ours. Quite frankly I for
one am happy with that outcome.
A short defence of politicians
E
ver since the internet blasted
onto our computers in the
millennium, the liberty of the
people has been something I
have been waiting on to change
and the government to take
control of. Our freedom of speech
on so many social networks
and communication of course
benefts us but there has got to
be a reason the state is allowing
us to be so open with ourselves,
they must be getting something
out of this as well! The individual
is under constant surveillance
by posting so many details
about their lives and giving the
corporations such insight and
power even the F.B.I couldnt
match up to.
Many politicians have been
exposed through the release
of secret e-mails they had
sent each other they obviously
thought were personal -
otherwise wouldnt have been so
open about their dirty laundry
but happened to be splashed all
over the covers of newspapers.
If these respected members of
society can be so easily hacked
then think about the magnitude
of information the state can hold
on every single one of us. Today
when something is deleted, it
is not really deleted; there will
be a record of your activity
somewhere. If an M.P really
wanted to get up to something
fshy he would not e-mail or text,
he would write a letter or whisper
because when does a ripped up
piece of paper found in the bin
ever get used as evidence??
The communications data
bill is a worrying thing and
possessed a sweeping nature of
provisions where it will be legal
to compel telecommunication
operators to retain or collect
information- what does that
even mean? Listening to our
personal conversations? The
home offce wants every type
of electronic communication
stored and available for
inspection. A quote from a
liberal democrat states there
was no objection in principle to
extending the capability of the
police and security services to
access communications data
from emails, texts and mobile
phones to Twitter, Facebook and
other new forms of social media.
Twitter and Facebook were
supposed to be social media sites
that were not monitored by the
government, Twitter being the
medium of the movement in 2009
when vicious Iranian protests
prevented any media journalists
from entering the area, twitter
being a non controlled network
allowed all information to fow
freely. If fltering and policing
is now happening online will all
the benefts from these websites
totally go down the drain?
With iPhones being the must
have accessory today anytime
you access the internet, your
history shows your location,
what youve looked at, googled,
facebooked, taken photos of and
anyone youve communicated
with. This is sold to us in a
positive way when buying such
smart phones but that is because
of the benefts these companies
are getting as everything about
us is so easily accessible now. WiFi
is underground in a lot of central
London tubes, so what train your
getting will be known, your route
to work and place of work. Are we
just becoming a long list of data?
The retention of information will
apparently cost the home offce
1.8 billion over the next decade.
That is a lot of money for a hell
of a lot more information. The
home offce also wants to operate
without any borders, a blanket of
monitoring across every country
in the world.
This expansion of
Communications Data Bill and
money put toward monitoring
of all communication networks,
e-mails and social media sites
have been explained by saying
it is the best way to catch
criminals. But with all this
personal information and data
on every single one of us and the
way corporations are expanding
today Im sure this information
will not just be sitting on a dusty
computer somewhere, it will be
used for proft and in my opinion,
mostly for control.
Where is my privacy?
Justine Crossan
Opinion & Analysis Editor
Joseph Lopez
No Muslims allowed in Moscow
U
p to 2,000 people rallied in a
Moscow neighbourhood after
local authorities announced the
building of a Muslim cultural centre
and mosque in the area. The protest
ended with offcials being forced to
cancel the planned construction.
The impromptu demonstration on
Wednesday evening was because of
social networks and the residents
of the Mitino district came to voice
their fears over the plans to build
the cultural centre which would
be able to accommodate 60,000
Muslims for a prayer service. The
would-be Muslim prayer house is
subject to much speculation, even
though construction project is far
from being fnalized. The rumour
mill describes it as a 13-story mega
mosque, which would broadcast
calls to a morning prayer all over
the neighbourhood which many
Russians are apprehensive about.
The protesters living in the
residential area were concerned
that its infrastructure would not be
able to deal with increased traffc
after the building of the mosque
is fnished. This would result in
terrible traffc jams during Friday
prayers and large Muslim holidays,
they said. There are also fears that
the infow of worshipers, many
of whom would be guest workers
from Central Asia seeking their
fortune in Moscow, would drive
up crime rates. Why specifcally
crime rates were mentioned, I do
not know, is crime related to Asian
workers or the affect they are
believed to have on the people in
Moscow? This disaffection towards
Muslims was evidenced in some
online comments on the event as
well where someone commented
we are fooded with those aliens.
Which is disgraceful, how can we
be living in the 21st century where
a person would be so discriminated
merely due to their religion? Where
is the root of the problem, the
education system? Parenting?
The plans to construct more
mosques to accommodate the
needs of several million Muslims
living in Moscow have been
discussed by the citys authorities
for quite some time. The Russian
capital has only four mosques at
present, which is evidently not
enough. There has been tension for
years over how Moscow Muslims
celebrate major holidays, which
include mass praying in the streets
and slaughtering of animals for
a feast. Less-tolerant Muscovites
are objecting to what they see as
an invasion of foreign culture into
their lives, and it is a diffcult task
for authorities, religious leaders
and civil rights activists to fnd
common ground on the issue. If
Muslims are being allowed into
Russia, they should be accepted
with every aspect they come with,
bad or good and as long as no harm
is being done to people then is this
protest is just a result of ignorance
and discrimination?
Yasmin Joseph
OPINION & ANALYSIS 9 the Stag | 3rd October 2012 Opinion Editor: Justine Crossan | Copy Editor: tina Morman
Join the campaign at
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March&Rally_2012_Generic_A5_Flyer_CMYK_AW.indd 2 08/06/2012 11:07:29
Aspiration, debt and a
very middle-class rip-off
R
eceived wisdom states that
from the mid-1970s until 2008,
the West underwent a huge social
change: that of the expanding
middle class and contracting
working class. Spearheading the
ideological propaganda of this
now bygone era was the idea of
aspiration. It was a wild idea
and a revolutionary one: working
people were not content in their
lives the theory said; they wanted
the same degree of opportunity
for themselves and their children
that the upper class had. So far, so
revolutionary.
And so a new economic and
social philosophy came into the
public imagination, where people
of all social backgrounds should be
afforded the opportunity to make
it big, make it rich and achieve
their wildest dreams. Even as late
as 1997 when John Majors deeply
unpopular government fnally
gave way, Tony Blair and New
Labour came to power on a wave
of aspiration for a socially mobile
Britain, where being born the son
or daughter of a miner could still
mean retiring from a job as a City
CEO or rich business-owner.
The trouble was that it was all a
big, big rip-off. The huge majority
of people never really left the socio-
economic background they came
from, while a minority of working-
class kids went on to do extremely
well. Britain had never lost its class
structure, but had disguised it
most cunningly, in defance of all
the evidence.
By heavily relaxing consumer
lending practices, the fnance
industry was able to paint a picture
of a rapidly expanding middle
class, where almost everyone was
able to afford expensive modern
gadgets washing machines,
TVs, video/DVD players, personal
stereos etc. Between 1980 and 2000,
the percentage of people with loans
worth more than two and half
times their income skyrocketed
from 5% to over 60%.
The consumer credit age raised
the bar for many, many people
fnancially, but it was temporary
and bestowed no additional
economic power. In an era where
the upper class cares less about
your social background, the son of
a miner (or a call-centre worker)
may earn 10bn and own a bank,
but almost none of them did.
It never mattered that we
could all afford Bluray players and
iPhones. It never mattered that
we werent all from a forgotten
council housing estate. We never
gained the economic power to stop
the rise of the corrupt political
clique, or the rise of the billionaire
international banker. The middle
class was a purely social construct,
a way of buying public attention.
We are all working class
really people with no economic
power. This realisation makes
it all the more important for
working people, such as 99% of us
will become, to re-engage with
political ideas that challenge the
propaganda of aspiration and social
mobility and that fnd their basis in
an acceptance of economic class
upper class and working class and
that seek to fnd ways to give real
power to ordinary people.
Jack White
Transgender rights: the irony
of the European Courts
B
oth the European Court of Justice and the
European Court of Human Rights have infamous
reputations amongst the British public for over-
zealously interpreting human rights legislation,
and while this belief does partially stem from lies
perpetrated by the disastrous British press, it is safe
to say that as a whole they do a fairly thorough job of
upholding human rights law. However, for one often
forgotten and ignored minority, the European courts
seem to be doing a very thorough job of ignoring
them.
Even in progressive Europe, transgender people
face more discrimination than perhaps any other
minority group. Living in the UK, where legislation
related to transgender people is relatively fair, it
is easy to be ignorant of the struggles transgender
people face in day-to-day life. I certainly was, which
is why when I read into the subject I was so appalled.
In some areas of Europe up to 50% of transgender
people are unemployed, and the suicide rate is as high
as 30%. Indeed, part of the reason why discrimination
is so rampant is because the legislation to enable
transgender people to live a normal life doesnt exist
at a state or European level, and the European courts
dont seem to be hugely bothered either.
Current general anti-discrimination directives
adopted by the European Court of Human Rights
currently do not cover transgender people
whatsoever, and directives on sex discrimination
have only a vague mention of gender reassignment,
meaning that only 10% of the transgender population
of Europe is covered. The consequence is that in 11
countries within the European Union, it is entirely
legal to be refused a job, house or any other service
because you are transgender. Equally, in spite of
the European Court of Human Rights stating in
several cases that European states should provide
for hormone treatment and gender reassignment
surgery, an estimated 80% and 86% of the transgender
population respectively are refused state support.
As if that isnt bad enough, it is only in 4 countries
(the UK being one) that you can change your gender
without the need of hormonal or surgical treatment.
It seems that the majority of European states feel
that they are better equipped to defne your gender
than you are.
Unfortunately, that really is the tip of the
iceberg. Equal marriage rights for transgender
people are merely a pipe dream in some countries,
and state support for help groups is a rarity across
the continent. Of course we should not ignore the
huge advances made across Europe in recent years in
relation to transgender rights, in part due to rulings
from the European Courts, but their eerie silence on
a modern-day rights struggle is despicable. So, next
time somebody tells you that European Courts need
to stop interfering with state legislation, you can
point them to at least one area where they are doing
quite the opposite.
Jonny Knapman
FEAturES 10 the Stag | 3rd October 2012 features@thestagsurrey.co.uk
Features
W
eve put together a brief
profle of Guildford for
Freshers who have just moved to
this beautiful town and are yet to
fully explore the cobbled streets
and encounter the treasures
Guildford has to offer - such as
the bearded lady. Weve comprised
what we feel are the bests of
Guildford; the places to go that
not everyone might know about,
mainly based on value for money
and a good time.
Best eatery: GBK
There are a lot of restaurants
and food chains in Guildford, most
of them all pretty delicious, but
GBK encompasses the two most
important things: taste and serious
discount. At most GBK restaurants,
including Guildfords, you can get a
free student discount card with a
nice big 40% off everything when
eating Monday to Thursday.
Best cheap pint: Wetherspoons
Not a big surprise, Spoons takes
the title as the best cheap pint (or
nearly any drink). The Guildford
Wetherspoons is one of the biggest
Ive been in and wait for it- it has
a dance foor. The cheapest pint is
around 2 and they do quite tasty
pitchers of cocktails, although
pretty weak.
Best cocktails: The Slug and
Lettuce/The Five and Lime
We were stuck between two
options for good cocktails; The Slug
and Lettuce and The Five and Lime.
The Slug and Lettuce is always a
good shout, with 2 for 1 cocktails
from Thursday-Saturday, 4-10pm,
they are about as cheap as you can
get cocktail-wise with them still
being strong enough and yummy.
Located at the top of North Street,
its got a relatively nice bar but
isnt too fancy. The Five and Lime,
on Leapale Road off North Street,
is a slightly more upmarket bar/
pub but with a young clientele,
defnitely worth checking out. Our
advice: just visit both.
Best bar: Fahrenheit 55
Apart from The Five and Lime
which we previously mentioned,
one of Surrey students favourite
bars and a somewhat hidden
secret is Fahrenheit 55. Its slightly
concealed on a road off the high
street and is a unique tapas bar with
good drinks (including cocktails), a
lively atmosphere and live music
every Wednesday night. Its great if
youre looking for a different place
to go, although a bit of a walk from
campus, it also does tasty sharing
platters and (obviously) tapas, if
you get hungry.
Best place for live music: The
Star Inn
The Star Inn is an old pub
located on Quarry Street and is
Guildfords longest running venue
for live music. A range of different
artists and bands play there as
theyre a specialist, fully-equipped
music venue and theres an open
mic night on Tuesdays.
Best hidden secret: The Lido
Few students know about
Guildford Lido: an open-air heated
swimming pool with nice grassy
areas to relax, sunbathe and picnic.
It wont be useful to you for several
months as its only open May
September but when heat waves
strike its a god send. Its about
5 to get in as a student and only
a 5-10 minute bus journey from
the bus station. A really nice day
out if the weather is good and you
want to get out of campus and the
bustling town centre.
Best place for fancy dress:
Primark/Party Shoppers/Party
Superstores
Three main options for fancy
dress in Guildford: Primark
(obviously), Party Shoppers and the
new Party Superstores. Primark
is good for the basics such as 2
t-shirts youre going to ruin, the
other two have more specialised
dress and accessories. Party
Superstores is pretty easy to fnd
as its in Debenhams, but Party
Shoppers is a small but stocked up
shop located on a narrow alley off
the right of the High Street, sign
posted to the Tudor Lounge.
Best place for culture: The
Electric Theatre
The Electric Theatre, behind
ACM and Wetherspoons, hosts a
range of events spanning comedy,
dance, drama, flm and workshops.
Upcoming events include a
comedy festival and a Guildford
book festival in October, with the
flm festival just fnishing. There
are concessions for students and
its the place to go to experience
something a little more cultured
and different.
The best of Guildford, student style
By Hannah Wann, Features Team
N
o, Im not being pedantic because Im
an English Literature with Creative
Writing graduate (shout out to my fellow
FAHS peoples). No, this is common sense.
Dont be confused, Im moaning about people
who purposefully choose to rite lyk dis
(yeah, exactly like that). Im going to write
something that should
only ever be said: "But for why?" Why do
this?
There is a time in everyone's life to grow
up and realise thoughts command words,
words deliver action, action leads to change.
So, when moving along this maturation
ladder and progressing from thoughts to
words, why not spell those words correctly?
You know what ends up happening?
They get into the habit of misspelling words
in the wrong environment. Twentiiies' and
defnately. Why put letters there that the
Oxford Dictionary has clearly stated have
no place being there? Why place the letter 'i'
there consecutively three times, when once
will suffce? If you wish to play around with
letters, make up your own words and work
hard to get them featured in the dictionary-
e.g.:
AXLtrEWDJFJF(noun) (Plural): People
who do silly things, on purpose, because it
seemed cool when they were younger and
now they can't break out of the habit, which
results in them being mentioned in Grind
My Gears (a featured column, in The Stag-
a Surrey campus newspaper, as a topic of
irritation).
Nobody knows how to spell 'defnitely'
anymore. Its sad. I am actually hurt by
this. Youre going to accidentally do that
in an email (the way you insist on typing it
on facebook and twitter) and you'll lose a
chance at a job interview. Or maybe I'm the
mug who's spelling it correctly, and will
end up being turned down by a prospective
employer because I've written 'defnitely'
when they never knew this 'version' of the
word existed.
It's cool, wouldn't have wanted that job
anyway.
You know why it irritates me the most?
In Britain where we've only had the ability
(because of laziness, and not ability) to grasp
one language, which actually is the case for
many of us Britons, why butcher the English
language in such a way? The only language
that you can communicate in?
"But for why?"
When it comes to this topic, I am actually
a moany mare. All the time. It really grinds
my gears.
See, for the frst time in three and a half
years, your ways have even made me edit my
end (and established) tag-line.
Yknow what reallly grinds my gears...
Ppl in dere twentiiies who rite lyk dis
By Bakita Kasadha
Our Editor is a tit!
W
e thought it would
totally hilarious to
have a bi-monthly photo of
Alexandra, our Editor, doing
something utterly ridiculous
because shes is a massive fool.
If you think you come up with a
suitable caption for this issues
photo, either comment on the
photo on our facebook page, or
e-mail it to Ellis at features@
thestagsurrey.co.uk. The most
humourous caption will win
the amazing priviledge of
seeing their name and caption
in print.
This issue, we found
Alexandra in sleeping in a
somewhat unlikely place...
Are you hilarious?! Your hilarious caption can go here!
FEAturES 11 the Stag | 3rd October 2012 Features Editor: Ellis taylor | Copy Editor: tessa Morgan
T
he University of Surrey is
ranked number 12 in the
Guardian League tables and our
Students Union is one of the best
in the country. Not to mention the
university is top for employment
with an employment rate of
96.9%. However, many students
who graduated this year will fnd
their job search particularly hard
because of social networking
sites like Twitter and Facebook.
Launched in 2004 Facebook has
over 955 million active users and
Twitter active since 2006 has over
500 million. Both of these sites have
changed the world and the way
people live their lives, giving us the
freedom to have constant contact
with all of our friends and stay
connected. We also have the ability
to express our views and with the
dreaded timeline, document our
life.
Admittedly we all do a bit
of harmless Facebook stalking,
especially when you can access
such a large catalogue of
information within a few clicks.
However, many companies are
using these methods to check out
potential prospective employees.
For many of us they would simply
fnd a bunch of holiday snaps and
a selection of sensible retweets
but this is not always the case. In
some circumstances employers
may seem to have the perfect CV
with a glowing academic record
and countless extra-curricular
positions of responsibility.
Nevertheless after grilling the
applicants Facebook or Twitter
page they are faced with a digital
footprint full of inappropriate
photos from drunken nights out
and explicit statuses and tweets.
With a world that is so paranoid
about security it is hard to believe
that people dont follow the same
rules with regards to their internet
security settings.
Social networking is not all
bad, if you use it in the right way!
We have recently seen a sense of
community with such sites for
example when Tom Daley (bronze
medal winner) was targeted.
Also, many people have found
themselves to be landing jobs by
advertising their skills on Twitter.
Employers have also been heavily
criticised for judging applicants
solely on their social life. Such
sites can also display applicants in
a good light, showing them to be
to be extrovert people and good
communicators. Many companies
also advertise and head hunt for
applicants with attractive sets of
skills through Linkedin, a profle
based social networking site.
So, a message for Freshers and
returning students, have fun in
Freshers week and beyond but
beware because the next friend
request or follower you receive
could be your future employer!
By Katy Sawyer, Features Team
Can social networking
cause unemployment?
I
ts your last year of university; a
time to really buckle down and
focus on your studies. Gone are the
days of attending every citrus and
firt, busting out an assignment
the night before its due in, and
rolling out of bed 10 minutes
before a lectureor maybe not.
You still have one more year. But
perhaps some of you have started
to think about life after uni and
the daunting task of entering the
working world. Perhaps some of
your friends have already lined
up a graduate job after their
placement, and you are still
wondering what do I want to do?
Here at Raw Egg Interns we know
only too well the concerns that
creep in during our fnal year as
were recent graduates or current
students too.
We have been talking amongst
ourselves and to our followers
to compile the top 5 things that
worry todays graduates. Heres
how you voted:
With unemployment fgures
being splashed across every
front page on a daily basis, it is
no wonder that Securing a job is
the number 1 concern for todays
graduates. We dont blame you, all
that effort to get the perfect job
after uni, and it turns out you have
almost the same career prospects
as the people who dropped out in
frst year. In short, it sucks.
Following in second place we
have Paying back student fees, a
no brainer considering not only
are there limited jobs, there is
also limited money. On the bright
side if you have a loan and no
job, you can sit pretty for a while.
Will I get onto a post-grad
course? This is a nice way to
climb back into that university
bubble and get those brain juices
churning once more. Our concern
with this point is that, normally
you have to apply for your post-
grad stuff during your third year
needless to say, it is distressing.
Moving swiftly on, number 4,
Should I stay in the UK? For those
who fancy travelling the current
global crisis, which spans money,
politics and climate, is making it a
tough decision. Staying in the UK
probably means camping out with
the rents until youre 50. Going
abroad runs the risk of global
collapse being blamed on your
extravagant souvenir purchases
and stealing jobs from the locals.
Whats a grad to do?
Last but by no means least
Losing touch with friends - At uni
you start a whole new life, and
then suddenly in the blink of an
eye it all vanishes and you can
feel a bit isolated, the sensation of
loneliness creeps in and you start
to question whether or not to
change your Facebook occupation
to Hermit.
But Hey, turn that frown
upside down fnal years, as we,
at Raw Egg Interns, are going to
turn our fndings into solutions,
especially for you. Most of you
have probably already done a
placement in your third year.
Hopefully you will have found it
to be a rewarding experience even
if you didnt get a job out of it in
the end.
Raw Egg Interns was set up by
students such as myself, a fellow
Surrey Uni fnal year, to help
graduates just like you fnd work.
We are fnding paid internships
for the mutual beneft of graduates
and businesses. So if you are
wondering about life after uni
why not consider an internship.
You can gain valuable experience,
insight and connections in your
chosen feld.
But in the meantime, stay
open to new opportunities and
enjoy your fnal year!
Top 5 Graduate Worries
By Megan Cherry, Features Team
T
welve months ago I was speaking at
induction events to new students as a
guest employer. Now I have the privilege
of being on the inside and having constant
access to the whole student population as the
Director of the Universitys Career Service.
If you are actively seeking a graduate
role, placement position, pursuing part time
opportunities or looking for inspiration on
the path to follow, your Careers Service is
here to provide help, advice and support.
We also offer contact with employers and
organise a comprehensive range of events
designed to develop your employability
skills all aimed at giving you the edge in a
competitive environment.
Aside from the personal development
opportunity, engagement with the Careers
Service will expand your network, give you
a chance to win prizes and hopefully be fun.
Our competitive team exercises on 5th and
6th October will certainly be entertaining
and the weekly Join John sessions (to build
your personal value) will have you actively
enhancing your skills in a lively hour.
Our largest event of the year takes place
on the PATS playing feld on 11th October
when more than 100 organisations will
be looking to impress (and be impressed).
Whilst the big name graduate recruiters
are prominent, there will also be rather
more niche organisations and some you may
never have heard of. It is a great opportunity
to fnd out how people have built their
careers as well as assessing your suitability
across a range of sectors. There should be
something for everyone, even if you think
that your degree may not ft with certain
graduate schemes. Remember that only 1 in
4 organisations specify a preferred degree
the majority value the broader graduate
skills and indeed embrace the diverse
backgrounds of prospective employees. I am a
good example I studied a Sociology degree,
worked in my vacations at a local BBC Radio
Station, trained and qualifed as a Chartered
Accountant before fnally reaching the very
top Director of Careers Service at the
University of Surrey!
Raw Egg Interns Ltd. use a unique
two-way internship process to bring
out the best in graduate brains and
in-house experts by pairing them
up to work on business development
projects.
Raw Egg Interns Ltd.
info@rawegginterns.com
Careers Service - Building Employability at Surrey
By John Watkins, Director of Careers Service
The Careers Service can be found
in the Philip Marchant Building
and at :
www.surrey.ac.uk/careers
www.uniofsurreycareers.
wordpress.com
www.facebook.com/
surreycareers
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FEAturES 12 the Stag | 3rd October 2012 features@thestagsurrey.co.uk
I
went a bit mental last year. Not
in a good, swinging from the
lampshades by my tights kind of
mental. But proper mental. Like
crying and feeling like crap all
the time. Thats the only way I can
describe it really. I literally felt crap
all the time. I didnt like doing any
of the things I used to love: reading,
drinking, seeing my friends. I
didnt even like music very much.
I used to drift off and realise Id be
listening to Celine Dion by accident
for an hour. I mean, thats when
you know youre sort of not right.
I was scared of everything, so
I just stopped doing things. When
you dont do anything life gets a
bit weird. 4am becomes a normal
time to be chilling in your dressing
gown, stone cold sober. 10am is a
totally OK time to have a glass of
wine. I realised one day I hadnt
brushed my teeth for a really, really
long time. My roots were really bad
as well and I never, ever have bad
roots.
Thats around the time my
friends stepped in (no need for
names, you know who you are and
I love you more than words in a
column can say) and more or less
saved my hair from two tone hell.
My department at University where
totally amazing about it as well
(the whole mental illness thing,
not the bad hair). I started taking
anti-depressants, which I often tell
people are anti-psychotics (because
Im hilarious like that) and I started
going to counselling. Counselling
was one cringe after another but,
you know, needs must. And now Im
all bett betts.
Well not quite. But I feel OK. I
dont listen to Celine Dion for hours
or hide under the duvet anymore. I
also no longer have atrocious hair.
The autumn leaves excite me, as
does the prospect of a Topshop sale.
I devour the newspaper like its my
last gasp of oxygen. I am happy.
I wanted to write this, in my
over simplifed silly way, to show
that going a bit mental is pretty
normal. And that you dont have
to subject yourself to terrible 80s
music in your dressing gown. There
are so many people who can help
you. From your friends, to your VP
Welfare, to your lecturers, to your
Doctor, to the counsellors at the
Centre for Wellbeing. Its a little
bit embarrassing letting the whole
of Surrey know that I once didnt
brush my teeth for over 48 hours
but if it helps then so be it. I think
the thing I learnt is its OK to be
human. Its OK to f**k up, cry about
it, get some help, and its OK to talk
about it. Its even OK to put it in The
Stag so other people can read it and
not feel quite so alone.
Celine Dion, Dressing Gowns
and being pretty bloody sad
By Alexandra Wilks, Editor
Challenge your wardrobe
By Ellis Taylor, Features Editor
Abi Amey, level 1, Sociology
Abi works the midi skirt look
brilliantly, keeping colours simple to
let the skirt do the talking, whilst the
zebra top adds some interesting detail.
The backpack is a great alternative to
a handbag.
Natalie Mazin, level 3, Psychology
Girls, take note from Natalie as to
how to work the patterned trouser
trend. The cropped cut is fab, and by
adding a denim jacket the look is given
that effortless look.
Stavros Kylakos, Level 2, Civil
Engineering
A simple look executed perfectly.
Stavros does double denim by using
two different shades, and adds some
colour with a red checked hoodie.
Tessa Morgan, level 2 English
Literature and Creative Writing
Tessa is working a look Ive been dying
to try out for a while, VAMP. A velvet
dress, opaque tights and DMs play their
part well in this look, while a denim shirt
thrown over the top stops this looking
being a bit goth, and more wearable.
: Street Style
We have a new feature! Welcome to street style, a selection of the bessed dressed on campus
each issue. So don your best outfts and see if you get snapped. This issue, we had a little
hunt around Freshers Fayre and found these beauties for you to take inspiration from...
By Ellis Taylor, Features Editor
D
o you know what is crap about
fashion? Copying. Looking at
an outft, buying the same pieces
then walking out the front door
like a shop window mannequin.
That sucks! Do you know what
also sucks? Getting stuck in a
style rut and not having a clue
which way is up, like a fsh with
a broken swim bladder. But arent
those two wardrobe problems
the same thing pretty much? Yes
they are, and Im going to punch
these clothing issues in the face
because it is so so so easy to get
back into the boat of smooth
sailing fashion.
Firstly, whack out your laptop
and bookmark sites like lookbook.
nu, stylescout.blogspot.com and
any other site you fnd that is
flled with unknown people who
have different styles that cover
a humongous spectrum. Look at
the pictures properly. Focus on
the clothes, the accessories, the
prints, the colours, the shapes,
and the overall effect. See how
the outft has been pieced
together, and get the feel of it.
Next, watch some cool
flms. My fashion faves are An
Education (take me to the 60s,
please), Thelma and Louise
and The Help. Once again, this
is about looking at the details
and the overall effect. Without
looking like youve been trapped
in a time warp again (guess the
flm!), try to take elements from
characters looks. I wish more
than anything that I could pull
off the badass look of Thelma
(post-murder/t hef t/general
badass things) but I would look
ridiculous. So I occasionally pop
out a denim jacket or another
inspired item and blend it with
less badass items.
Finally, give yourself a
challenge. Dont be weak and
fall into a go-to outft, because
they are poop and should only be
used in emergencies. Select the
items from your wardrobe that
you wear most and ban yourself
from wearing them for that day.
Yep, hide those jeans or that top
and delve into the back of your
wardrobe (by doing so you are
responsible for your own safety,
wardrobes can be a dangerous
place). How could you forget that
awesome thing youre holding?!
And OMG that top is fab. BE
ADVENTUROUS. Remember,
its all about inspiration and
interpretation, fashion isnt a
game of Simon says.
FEAturES 13 the Stag | 3rd October 2012 Features Editor: Ellis taylor | Copy Editor: tessa Morgan
Games
Answers in the next edition of The Stag. Send correct answers to letters@thestagsurrey.co.uk to get a mention in the paper.
Sudoku
Wordsearch
6 2 4 3 9 8 5 1 7
5 8 7 1 6 4 9 2 3
9 1 3 7 5 2 6 8 4
1 3 8 2 4 9 7 6 5
7 5 6 8 3 1 4 9 2
4 9 2 5 7 6 1 3 8
2 7 9 4 1 3 8 5 6
3 6 5 9 8 7 2 4 1
8 4 1 6 2 5 3 7 9
fauxlo
turing
reefer
wakeboard
societies
bilateral
haynes
soitis
magicmike
devito
armstrong
J N r u O M W W A F u F H I r
L B L A N F W W t M V C P N G
D I G S W B W H t P Y K D P D
t L Y E r Y K M F M r N t K t
Z A V S E I t E I C O S u K A
t t M D r A O B E K A W r t B
r E C N Z D C K u B t A I V E
G r E F E E r J E B M J N F K
B A L G G t G P S O Y Y G K A
O L L H E K I M C I G A M K B
Q K V H Q G L E H A Y N E S A
L I Q V S G N O r t S M r A D
u S Q O L X u A F S O I t I S
t G B H G C C u F V u I D V G
V Z t W C A V D E V I t O F r
4 9 3 2 1
8 4 3
5 7 8
7 8 4
3 7 2
9 1 6
4 3 8
9 6 1
5 4 2 9 1
K G D W N r A E L Y E r r u S
P F X O C A r E E r S Y S J P
A r F r A H r I B D S A E G E
Q E u u Q H W P O L E J D Y L
E S P B O O B I E S D G u E L
V H I O A S E B L t M B Z S I
u E E S t u D Y G E B B Y N N
H r S r A A K G S D Y S P A G
N S G F F A C E B O O K W E I
M I L K H D t K S u A W F L J
P O L E D A N C I N G E A r S
B E t L I u W t r E M u I O r
W Z G A E t A u D A r G L D B
u D E I O J D Y N D S Q u L K
I L r E D r u M P J F J O D
boobies
careers
facebook
freshers
graduate
murder
old orleans
Pole dancing
sPelling
study
surrey learn
wiley
SCIENCE & tECHNOLOGY 14 the Stag | 3rd October 2012 sciencetech@thestagsurrey.co.uk
T
he Human Fertilisation and
Embryology Authority (HFEA)
launched a public consultation in
mid September to gather views a
controversial IVF treatment which
involves the use genetic material
from three people.
The issues revolve around two
similar techniques which could
potentially be used to eliminate
mitochondrial disease in a
population.
Mitochondrial disease affects
around one in 200 babies born every
year. In some cases the disease has
very mild effects or none at all.
However in others it can have
severe effects including muscle
weakness, intestinal disease, heart
disease and could shorten the life
of the child.
Mitochondria are bodies
contained within cells that produce
the energy needed for the cells to
function.
The majority of genetic material
in humans is contained within the
23 chromosomal pairs inherited
from a mother and father, however
in addition to this a small amount
is in the mitochondria.
The mitochondria that are
passed onto a foetus are contained
in the egg and therefore always
come from the mother; therefore
if there is a genetic defect in the
mothers mitochondrial DNA, the
child will inherit it.
The techniques, which are
currently at the research stage,
would involve replacing unhealthy
mitochondria in the embryo from
the parents with healthy donor
mitochondria.
In the frst technique this is
done by removing the pronuclei
containing the DNA from the
original embryo which has
unhealthy mitochondria and
transferring it into a donor embryo
containing healthy mitochondria
which has already had its own
nucleus removed. This early stage
embryo is then implanted into the
uterus of the mother.
The second technique involves
movement of the DNA from the
egg cell prior to fertilisation and
inserting it into a donor egg cell
which can be fertilised.
Both techniques would mean
that the resulting embryo would
have DNA from both of its parents
as well as a small amount from the
donor.
It is thought that these
techniques could beneft
those couples who have severe
mitochondrial disease and
currently have no other option
for having a healthy child that is
biologically theirs.
Despite this, there are ethical
implications that may concern
many of the general public. These
include whether or not the identity
of the donor should be unknown
and should the child have the right
to know who their third parent is.
Opponents of the techniques
claim they could lead to a slippery
slope meaning once a technique
has been devised for altering
genetic material, it cannot be
predicted how they will be used in
the future.
The HFEA has been asked by
the government, as an impartial
body, to inform the public about
the techniques and gauge their
opinions on them.
Chair of the HFEA, Professor
Lisa Jardine spoke about the task:
The decision about whether
mitochondria replacement should
be made available to treat patients
is not only an issue of great
importance to families affected by
these terrible diseases, but is also
one of enormous public interest.
We fnd ourselves in
unchartered territory, balancing
the desire to help families have
healthy children with the possible
impact on the children themselves
and wider society.
We will use our considerable
experience of explaining
complicated areas of science and
ethics to the public to generate a
rich debate that is open to all.
The HFEA has created a
consultation website with
information on the techniques
and as a place where anybody can
register their opinion.
A
fter more than 60 years of
efforts from an international
team led by the Royal Botanical
Gardens, Kew, the fnal part of the
Flora of Tropical East Africa (FTEA
- a publication cataloging over
12,500 plant species in Uganda,
Kenya and Tanzania) has fnally
been completed.
Since 1948, a team of botanists
and authors from Kew Gardens
have endeavoured to map all
plant species and families in
eastern Africa, with 2500 plant
species found solely in this
ecosystem.
After a brief hiatus since
publishing the frst sections in
1952, it took 153 people from 21
different countries to complete
the fnal and most ambitious
part of the project - originally
expected to take just 15 years.
Now FETA will give botany
a solid foundation from which
all work can be built upon in
the region and allow botanists
and conservationists to identify
plant species,map diversity in
the and will be used as the go to
encyclopedia and scientifc tool
on east African fora (covering
2-3% of all plant life on earth).
Science & technology
By Alex Smith, Science & Tech Editor
One baby, three biological parents; is it ethical?
By Melissa Raske, Science & Tech Team

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The Flora of East Africa
Battling Bioterrorism
By Alex Smith, Science & Tech Editor
E
leven years ago to the month
there was widespread panic
across the west as the fear of
bioterrorism manifested itself
in the postal anthrax attacks of
2001, which infected and killed 5
Americans in the wake of the 9/11
attacks.
In response US troops found
themselves being vaccinated
against anthrax to protect against
any threat of biological warfare
and terrorism.
Now, Cardiff University is
leading a NATO project to create
a vaccine to combat the threat of
bioterrorism.
Although it will most certainly
be impossible to carry out effective
clinical trials (in the US or Europe
at least, as this will mean infecting
several thousands of people with
the deadly disease), in Central Asia
and the Caucasus however, anthrax
accounts for a signifcant amount
of disease in animals and humans.
The international team has
joined forces with Turkey and
Georgia in what has been described
as an unparalleled opportunity
which can be used to test potential
vaccines.
Finding and using an effective
vaccine would not only improve
the life of farmers in Central Asia,
but it would also provide the west
with a stronger defence against
bioterrorism and the possibility of
more anthrax attacks.

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SCIENCE & tECHNOLOGY 15 the Stag | 3rd October 2012 Sci/tech Editor: Alex Smith | Copy Editor: Sophie Vickery
Legal war over
patents continues
as Apple wins again
A
fter a $1.05 billion victory
over Samsung in August and
a reputation for patenting other
companies ideas, then suing those
companies for using them, it will
anger some that technology giant
Apple has won yet another case;
this time against Motorola.
A Munich state court in
Germany recently ruled that
Motorola infringed an Apple
patent on mobile technology called
Bounce-Back, also allegedly stolen
by Samsung. Motorola are sure to
be embarrassed, with Apple having
won their third case against them
and especially after their failed
attempts back in August to get an
import ban on the iPhone, iPad
and iPod touch for more supposed
patent infringement. Maybe its
time they cut their losses.
Samsung should do the same,
after all the lawsuits against them
have already prevented the sale of
the Galaxy 10.1 tablet in the U.S.:
Although Samsung has a right to
compete, it does not have a right to
compete unfairly, by fooding the
market with infringing products
judge, Lucy Koh, said.
But It Doesnt Take a Genius
argues Samsung, promoting
their Galaxy SIII smart-phone
and mocking the iPhone 5, whilst
directly criticising Apples Genius
Bar specially trained staff.
Rumours are that Samsung is so
stung by their loss, that they now
harbour plans to sue Apple for
LTE infringement since Samsung
already holds many of those
patents.
Nevertheless, the spotlight is
on Apple this week as it unveils its
iPhone 5, and despite attempts by
Samsung to undermine the release,
it has so far been a huge success
with over 2 million orders placed in
the frst 24 hours.
By Siobhan Harris, Science & Tech Team
Preview: Windows 8
It wasnt that long ago since
we saw those mildly irritating Im
a PC and Windows 7 was my idea
adverts for a much loved operating
system which was essentially
designed to cover-up Vista by
marketing its key features as new
Windows 7 ones.
Now comes that time again
where we wait to see if Microsoft is
still on the money with Windows
8 and if it will be able to keep its
share of the OS market.
Having downloaded the
operating system, formatted all
my hard disks, freshly installed
Windows 8 on my laptop (and of
course, had a little play-around) I
think I am in a good place to give
you this fnal verdict.
The frst obvious difference
is everything - a ridiculous
statement I know, but what was
once a desktop with a start menu
and a Recycle Bin has become the
home-screen of a Windows Phone.
The operating system was
clearly designed with touch-
screens in mind, as the tile layout
makes it simpler to open programs
and has created an aesthetically
pleasing desktop at long last, and
will be released for phones, tablets
and PCs alike, however browsing
through the vast array of tiles is
a tad more diffcult with a mouse.
The visuals are quite
impressive and everything
becomes a lot more full-screen
and attention seeking. I would go
as far as to say Microsoft has given
up with the concept of windows
and embraced the world of the
app (yes, apps...).
Programs have almost
been replaced by phone-like
applications which are great to
use but also very limiting - not
only because there are so few apps
right now before the release date,
but because it asks you to conform
and lose a degree of control over
the software.
Take internet explorer. The IE
app lets you browse the web, but
has a habit of hiding the url bar.
The settings menu is literally as
follows: get app for this website,
fnd on website, and view website
on desktop app and is a lot slower
than previous versions. If you do
manage to fnd it there is a way of
getting a private browsing session
(for all you cheeky monkeys out
there).
Also there are no apps by
anything Google at the moment,
or really anyone at all, which
leaves you Bing-ing away at things
and using Internet Explorer as
your primary browser (please, no
one utter the name Firefox).
Built-in there is a rather
large app which I alluded to
earlier,called desktop. Its kind of
a get-out-of-jail free card which
you can use to go back to the
Windows 7 format. However, be
aware there is no start menu (in
the usual form) and the windows
key will only take you back to
the tiles and back to Windows 8 -
which Microsoft desperately want
people to embrace.
After all it is a lot faster, more
gentle on battery life and slick and
easy to use, but I cant see it being
popular with program developers
and people who work in IT, simply
because it tries to take away the
windowed computing, which is
what made Microsoft so popular in
the frst place, and leaves you with
less control overall - including the
user account controls which gave
Vista and 7 such harsh criticism.
But for the average student
this piece of software is absolutely
wonderful and in-touch with
the smartphone generation. I
can see this going down a treat
on campus - especially as the
University will pay for our license
keys, making it free to download.
However, one word of warning:
If you have an old machine (like
me) which was made in the early
days of Vista, then there may be a
driver issue or two with your built-
in hardware. An incompatible
graphics card has left me using
only one monitor again and has
forced me to install Ubuntu - a
free and open source operating
system for whenever I need to
multi-task.
The fnal verdict: for the
average user it may be worth
embracing the Windows OS that
gave up windowed computing
(if you dont part with any cash),
otherwise youre better off
sticking with Windows 7 - at least
until there are more apps or your
current computer starts flling
the room with smoke and needs
replacing.
By Alex Smith, Science & Tech Editor
A matter of gut
instinct...
We all dance to a mysterious
tune, intoned in the distance
by an invisible piper, wrote
Albert Einstein on free will
and they dont come much more
invisible than the microbes in
our guts! Otherwise known as in
the intestinal microfora, these
bacteria help fend off harmful
bugs, aid digestion and could even
be affecting our behaviour, recent
research has revealed.
The idea that microbes can
infuence behaviour is not new.
Mice infected with Toxaplasma
gondii for example, are known
to develop an affnity (rather
unfortunately) for the parasites
ultimate host: cats. However,
scientists at McMaster University,
Ontario, are among the frst to
reveal the effects that microbes
can have on brain development in
mice at the genetic level.
The researchers took two sets
of mice, with and without their
intestinal microfora, and placed
them in open pens equipped with
shelter to compare their behaviour.
Those with the bacteria had a
noticeable preference for cover than
those without - a typical survival
strategy for avoiding predators in
the wild. This was accompanied
by marked differences in gene
expression.
Mice with the bacteria
expressed higher levels of brain-
derived neurotrophic factor
(BDNF), which previous studies
have shown to be linked with
anxiety. However, BDNF levels
werent the only difference.
Mice with the bacteria also
expressed lower levels of NR2B,
which forms part of the serotonin
receptors in the amygdala, a region
of the brain involved in fear and
memory. Blocking these receptors
in mice has been shown to reduce
anxiety and the formation of
fearful memories, so it comes as
little surprise why reduced levels of
NR2B may have had a similar effect
on the mice in the experiment.
Because we are physiologically
quite similar, the results may well
be translatable [to humans],
commented lead researcher,
Jane Foster with important
implications. If for example,
the intestinal microfora plays a
similar role in anxiety in humans
as it appears to in mice, this could
open up a whole new avenue for
treating psychiatric disorders.
By Lawrence Finn, Science & Tech Team
the Stag brings you a full review of Microsofts latest offering,
Windows 8, before its release on October 12th.
I would go as far as to
say Microsoft has given up
with the concept of windows
and embraced the world of
the app
Windows 8 is an operating system created for all platforms and strongly resembles the Windows Phone and the new Xbox
Dashboard. The tiled desktop relies on touch-screen monitors becoming more popular and creates a simplifed user interface
to replace the start menu.

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Big thanks to Aaron rush and all
the other union photographers
who catchyou at your best (and
worst) throughout the year!
DANCE & tHEAtrE 18 the Stag | 3rd October 2012 dancetheatre@thestagsurrey.co.uk
Dance & theatre
...natural speech... a
symbolic set... and ultimately
a human ordeal...
A
t this time of cuts and unemployment,
many are questioning arts degrees and,
even more so, arts placements. Is there really
much point in taking a year out to work for
an industry that is more cut-throat and
unpredictable than ever? Simply put, yes,
there is a point. And that point is unbeatable
experience.
Lauren Walsh is part of the second cohort
of Theatre Studies students at Surrey, and
took up the opportunity of a placement year
with the English Touring Theatre (ETT).
As a second year you are set with fnding
a placement within an already highly
competitive, yet rather inclusive, industry.
Theatre might be booming to the public eye,
however trying to get a foot in the door is one
of the hardest things - especially for students
with little to no professional experience. You
are also up against the fact that it is extremely
unlikely you will get paid. Travel expenses
maybe, but a starting wage, no.
Beginning my placement at ETT was one
of the most exciting and daunting points
of my student life. Being set housekeeping
tasks is something Ive realised should not
be frowned upon - they have given me an
insight in to how a theatre company, and any
company, can run and the jobs which have to
be done. From updating databases, answering
the phone and doing research for marketing
campaigns, in my short time at ETT I have
learnt that as a placement student you are
a vital person within a team, whether you
are just making tea or giving your ideas in a
meeting. The best part so far has been helping
the company prep for the press night of their
newest production, by watching a run of the
play, making presents for cast and crew, and
helping with the running of the evening.
After just two weeks one of the most
important things I have learnt is that
everything is based on your reputation within
the industry. If you have a good reputation,
people will be very happy to work with you
and take your advice. And that is where
placement is vital to a theatre student,
making the beginnings of the reputation that
will precede you for the rest of your career.
Even if you dont want to be within an offce
environment as your career, it is a crucial
experience that will teach you more then you
realise, as your knowledge of how the theatre
actually runs will be challenged and changed
for the better.
I myself am not opting for a placement,
fnding small bits of experience as I go along
in a variety of industries, but I have no doubts
that it is one of the best ways to be sure of a
job once you graduate. Ill end on some fnal
words from Lauren:
If you get the chance to and can afford
to do a placement then I would advise anyone
wanting a future within the theatre to go for
it. But choose your company wisely because
your experience will all be down to who you
are working for.
Placements in the Arts
By Tiffany Stoneman, Dance & Theatre Editor
T
he English Touring Theatre is the UKs leading touring
company, taking shows across the country to a variety of
venues and audiences. Non-traditional theatre is becoming
increasingly popular and taking the theatre outside of the
usual auditorium means that travelling companies are
received with open arms by all manner of stages. The ETTs
newest production, The Sacred Flame by W. Somerset
Maugham, is currently touching down at the Rose Theatre
in Kingston, whose artistic director is the former director of
the ETT.
The Sacred Flame is the sad tale of Maurice Tabret, an
invalid Great War hero who dies peacefully at home. But
when the nurse cries foul play, the family, including Maurices
wife and brother, are pushed into a mess of accusation,
jealousy, love and hatred. Directed by Matthew Dunster, this
insight into post-war life and the modernising views of the
time is presented simply and without embellishment. The
set, designed by Anna Fleischle, comprises of a tall framed
window looking into Maurices room, fanked by a ceiling-
high shelf covered in bottles and photos and a stark staircase.
We get the impression of both a picture frame and a prison,
the invalid bed ever present behind the familys chairs.
Jamie De Courcey played the pallid but chipper Maurice,
spending the entirety of the play in bed (a job I think wed
all like!) and yet providing an energy and heart to the stage
that made the frst act vibrant, and the second morose.
His ever-present Nurse Wayland (Sarah Churm) was both
attentive and ominous, in the background and yet constantly
in the audiences sights, only to burst on more fercely post-
interval. Maurices young wife, Stella, and brother, Colin
(Beatriz Romilly and David Ricardo-Pearce), railed through
all possible emotions without pushing too far into farce,
despite some very comical moments. But it was Mrs. Tabret,
played by Margot Leicester, who stole the show for me.
As Maurices mother, she was doting and yet aware of her
daughter-in-laws presence, respectful of their privacy but
conscious of her sons diminishing health. It was this wholly
genuine reaction that made her both relatable and likeable.
This production of The Sacred Flame combines
wonderfully natural speech with a symbolic set, yet makes it
more relatable than some Chekhov plays, depicting a middle-
class scandal as real, possible and ultimately a very human
ordeal.
The Sacred Flame comes to the Yvonne Arnaud on the 23rd
October.
The Sacred Flame - An ETT Production
By Tiffany Stoneman, Dance & Theatre Editor

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DANCE & tHEAtrE 19 the Stag | 3rd October 2012 Dance/theatre Editor: tiffany Stoneman | Copy Editor: Hannah Wann
Bits O The
Bard
As in a theatre, the eyes
of men, after a well-graced
actor leaves the stage, are
idly bent on him that enters
next. Duke of York,
Richard III, Act 5 Scene 2
Comedian Ben Miller talks about the best bits of
science in an engaging show. perfect for those who love
all things spacey as well as the spark of theatricality.
What: Its Not Rocket Science
Where: School of Management Lecture Theatre
When: 19
th
October, 7pm
Cost: 5 (8 Full)
Coming up at the Ivy:
What: Fings Aint What They Used To Be (GSA)
When: 31
st
Octboer - 3
rd
November
Cost: 9 (10 Full)
Two of the Universitys theatre based societies,
MADSoc and MTSoc, are busy planning their frst
performances of the year for November. So keep
watching this space for more information!
Watch this Space:
Arts at Surrey
J
im Cartwright is a very familiar
name in the theatre world. Not
only is he a famous Laurence Olivier
award-winning playwright, but
he is also a director of both stage
and screen. Needless to say I was
immensely excited by the prospect
of meeting the man himself and
seeing the opening night of his new
production, The Rise and Fall of
Little Voice.
The play is centred on Little
Voice (Jess Robinson), who lives in a
council house in Northern England
with her loud alcoholic mother
(played wonderfully by Beverley
Callard). As her name suggests,
Little Voice is quiet, shy and only
comes alive when she plays and
sings along to her deceased fathers
record collection. When her mother
brings home new boyfriend Ray
(Joe McGann), he hears Little Voice
sing and is convinced he can make
her a star.
Upon arriving at Guildfords
Yvonne Arnaud I was immediately
greeted by the larger than life
character of Lou Boo - club owner
and presenter - who mingled with
the audience chatting to the ladies
and blinding everyone with his
gold sequined jacket. Suddenly,
other cast members were spotted
amongst the crowd, all of them in
character, chatting, buying drinks
and creating a really exciting
atmosphere of what was to come.
Speaking to the director himself
later in the evening, he told The
Stag: We wanted to create a
setting for the audience as soon as
they walked in. The idea was for
them to be in a proper Northern
Working Mens Club - where Little
Voice is about to take to the stage.
And thats exactly the atmosphere
it creates, as we were treated to
a ukulele act, a George Formby
impersonator and a tap dance and
spoon playing duo. By the time the
play began, people were singing
and clapping; a real buzz flled the
air.
The cast of Little Voice
played their parts with real fare;
Beverley Callards aggressive yet
touching portrayal of a mother
who has nothing was beautifully
played. Although Beverley could
be criticized for choosing a role
so close to her famous Coronation
Street character, like her on-screen
portrayal, her stage character
shines brightly.
During Act One, I wondered
about McGanns casting as Ray
Say - the talent spotter who plucks
Little Voice from obscurity. All
my doubts were proved wrong in
Act Two when McGann delivers a
speech with such conviction and
venom that any budding actor
would do well to take notes.
The supporting actors also
triumphed; Sally Plumb played a
subtly comedic role as the friend of
the family and, although she didnt
have many lines, many scenes were
stolen by her moving performances
or laugh-out-loud pieces of
slapstick. I was a little disappointed
in Ray Quinns performance as Billy,
the love interest role made famous
by Ewan McGregor. Ray had big
shoes to fll and I dont believe he
succeeded as a few uncomfortable
line fuffs robbed his character of
warmth.
Ultimately, the show was stolen
by the title character. Little Voice
isnt an easy role to play - not only
does one have to act to perfection
but also be able to impersonate
some of the music industrys
biggest divas. Jess Robinson, with
an impressionist background, does
so in a very elegant and beautiful
way. In Act Two she wowed the
audience with a 5-minute nonstop
medley of Shirley Bassey, Marilyn
Monroe and Judy Garland among
others. Many of the audience
were applauding before shed even
fnished. Although a relatively
unknown actress, this will surely
be the production that makes her.
Jim Cartwrights new
production, written and directed
by the man himself, is a wonderful
adaptation; a fresh take on the
working mens club and featuring a
new star that will hopefully allow
this production to rise and rise,
rather than fall.
The Rise and Fall of Little Voice
By Alexandra Vickerman, Dance & Theatre Team
DANCE & tHEAtrE 20 the Stag | 3rd October 2012 dancetheatre@thestagsurrey.co.uk
S
yracusan merchant geon has his world
torn in two when during a ship-wreck
he is separated from his beloved wife, one
of his twin sons and that son's bound slave
(also a twin). Many years later, geon's
remaining son, Antipholus of Syracuse, turns
up in Ephesus with his bondman Dromio of
Syracuse, looking for his twin brother. Little
do they know that their brothers, Antipholus
and Dromio of Ephesus, are identical to
themselves. Lunacy ensues in A Comedy of
Errors as the brothers unwittingly track
each other down.
The possibilities for hilarity are endless
and Shakespeare exploits them to full
measure, as do the cast and crew of this Royal
Shakespeare Company production. The key
comedic parts are those of the two fraternal
duos. The frst two acts are dominated
by Antipholus of Syracuse (Jonathan
McGuinness) and his thoroughly accidental
destruction of his brother's life. McGuiness
strikes the perfect balance between the
straight-faced confusion of being mistaken
for his brother, the highly-strung hysteria of
dealing with the Dromios of Syracuse (Bruce
Mackinnon) and Ephesus (Felix Hayes), and
the swagger needed to go along with it all.
When Antipholus of Ephesus turns up in
the third act, Stephen Hagan too manages
to perfectly balance initial (and no doubt
customary) bravado, with his later manic
desperation.
The whole cast excels, but for the sheer
laughs that are the centre-point of the play,
the show revolves around the Dromios and
Antipholus of Ephesus' wife, Adriana (Kirsty
Bushell). The formers' bumbling persona and
harsh treatment at the hands of their masters
are perfectly complemented by Bushell's wild
swings between tears, rage and raunch.
It is notable that the cast and the director
(Amir Nizar Zuabi) of this visually modern
production eschew the founcing canter
of Shakespeare's actual writing for a more
conversational infexion. While the longer
passages of speech inevitably challenge
particularly when so much of it is delivered at
high speed by thoroughly manic characters
this delivery generally reduces the burden
of language for the casual Shakespearite.
Hayes is a virtuoso in his performance as
Dromio of Ephesus, his body language and
natural cadence saying as much or more
than the words he utters. Bushell too makes
a mole-hill out of a mountain; her screaming,
cooing, marching and thrusting make for a
character so strange she must be real. It is a
pleasure to see an actor take the work of a
playwright known for his deft use of words
and make it merely a model upon which to
hang their own capability.
The Comedy Of Errors
By Jack White, Contributor
W
hen Julie Walters agrees to play the lead part in your
play, you know youve written a cracker. Especially
when its your debut show and it is being shown at the
Nationals Lyttelton Theatre. Actor-turned-playwright
Stephen Beresford has done just that with his debut play The
Last of the Haussmans, revealing the life of a dysfunctional
family and the legacy of the 1960s.
Beresfords experience as an actor
has helped him to create some brilliant
characters that make the play shine. Judy
Haussman, played by the fabulous Julie
Walters, is an upper-class, aging hippy recovering from
cancer. She has an infectious cackle and a hilarious free
spirit; fashing herself to the neighbours and asking the
pool boy to let the body take over.
Her outlandish, homosexual, drug-taking son, Nick, is
all nerves and nail polish, trying to fee the family house at
every possible moment. Whilst her daughter Libby is rather
petulant and resentful; bearing the burdens of her mother,
brother and daughter. Libby is desperate to clean up the old
hippys house as she feels its her rightful inheritance.
Its hard to forget that the main focus of
the play is the property, as Vicki Mortimer
has created an amazing aged art deco setting
full of lanterns, bunting and fairy lights.
The revolving set is absolutely breathtaking,
successfully capturing the beauty of Beresfords play.
The Last of the Haussmans
By Rebecca Tubridy, Dance & Theatre Team

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MuSIC 21 the Stag | 3rd October 2012 Music Editor: Becky Worley | Copy Editor: Hannah Wann
I
n a festival season marred by the
mood-spoiling, tent-drowning
British weather, the sunny climate
of this years Bestival marked an
anomolous culmination to live
music this summer - and greatly
recieved it was. As 55,000 people
descended upon the Isle of Wights
Robin Hill Country Park, clad
in weird, wonderful, and often
incredulous fancy dress (this
years theme was wildlife), the
sun imparted a giddy joy amongst
festival goers, who, in British
weather-obsessed tradition could
not believe their luck.
Less than 10 years old, with its
roots in dance music, Bestival has
not only broadened its capacity,
but its musical horizons too since
Basement Jaxx and Fatboy Slimm
headlined its debut festival. Bestival
2012 boasted an eclectic line up
which left no reveller unfulflled.
From the nationally adored Emeli
Sande in all her Olympic Ceremony
glory, to hardcore-punk Gallows,
the disco funk of Sister Sledge to
seasoned reggae DJ, David Rodigan
MBE, no genre was overlooked
and no taste left unsatisfed. A
forest amphitheatre even provided
midnight screenings of Tarantino
classics for those who wanted to
conclude their evening with some
ultra violent cinema.
Feelings of uncertaintly
amongst a few preceeded the
The xxs Friday night Main Stage
appearance. Could Romy, Oliver
and Jamies ice-cool melancholic
intimacy penetrate such a vast
crowd? Or would it simply dissolve
in the open air? In the same way The
xx failed to succumb to the often
inevitable curse of the Diffcult
Second Album, they proved
sceptics wrong in their ability to
attract what has rumoured to have
been one of Bestivals largest ever
crowds; the vast open space only
contributed to their allure and
rendered their set all the more
chilling. Opening with Angels,
celestial guitars make what is in
essence a love song, a haunting
whisper to each of the thousands
that watched, engrossed.
A tranquilising set by The xx
was quickly contrasted by Fridays
headliners, Florence + the Machine,
who, dressed in what appeared to
be a Poison Ivy homage, put on a
characteristically theatrical show.
Opening with Only If for a Night
and What the Water Gave Me,
the set soon sent the crowd into
pandemonium with Calvin Harriss
dance remix of Spectrum, and a
spectacular cover of Take Care.
Saturdays highlights include
Delilah, whose gorgeous tones were
a pleasant surprise for those who
could not get in a hearing radius
of Ben Howard (questionable line
up timings form Bestivals only
criticism). Middle of the road indie-
pop threesome, Two Door Cinema
Club in all their twee yet catchy
goodness enlivened the crowd
with an energy that is somehow
neglected on record, ready for
New Order, whose accompanying
visuals are enough to leave even
the most sober of revellers slightly
unhinged. Climaxing with a
thunderous take on Joy Divisions
Isolation, any previous accusations
of wobbly live performances were
certainly dismissed.
On the periphery of
mainstream success are Brooklyn-
based quintet, Friends, whose set
of playful rhythms and handclaps
showed exactly why theyre on
everybodys radar: Im His Girl and
Friend Crush exhibited the quirky
coolness that epitomises Samantha
Urbany and co.
The exponentionally growing
anticipation for Sundays nights
headliner, an unlikely sight on
such shores, came to a head as
thousands of wide eyed ticket
holders impatiently waited for
souls biggest legend to grace the
stage. And Stevie Wonder did not
disappoint. Armed with a full
band, and his voice as impeccable
as its ever been, Stevie crooned
his way through timeless classics.
Superstition, Signed, Sealed,
Delivered.. and Isnt She Lovely?
made for unforgettable festival
moments, it was particularly
poignant as his daughter joined
him for the latter. The triumphant
occasion culminated in Bestivals
annual frework display - a
reminder of the deserved
celebration for Britains most
exciting festival.
Music
Bestival ends festival
season with a bang
By Lily Pearson, Music Team
Early Bird tickets for
Bestival 2013 are now
on sale at: www.
t i c k e t l i n e . c o . u k /
bestival-tickets. The
festival will take
place on the 5th to
the 8th of Septmeber
at Robin Hill country
park, Isle of Wight.

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MuSIC 22 the Stag | 3rd October 2012 music@thestagsurrey.co.uk
W
riters Block is the intimate
music event dedicated to
promote unsigned
musical talent for
the last two years
and this August,
Writers Block -
Summer BBQ was
held. The showcase
of performances,
held on Sunday
12th August 2012,
brought together a
mix of talents and
tones, connecting
its audience with
the range of
musical artists
here in the UK.
M i s p h i t s ,
the energising
indie-hip hop
headlining pair,
better known for
live performances
on the London
Un d e r g r o u n d ,
were popular
amongst the
audience. Their
unique fusion of
the two music genres combined
with their personalities, had the
crowd eagerly participating and
interacting making the pair an
instant hit.
Kersha Bailey, described as the
future queen of UK Soul/Jazz,
was able to carry her audience
back decades to rekindle a love
of jazz. Each of her performances
had their own unique identity,
which were married together
with her soothing tone to produce
empathetic music. With every
performance, her heart was
nowhere else but in her words.
Writers Block also hosted:
Desta Haile, who had a charismatic
connection with the audience;
former Brits School student, Jody
Brock, with his exciting mix-match
of style and tone; Jay Norton, the
headliner. Jay, (contestant on The
Voice), cleverly created a melody-
mix of Wiz Khalifas Black &
Yellow and Aloe Blacks, I need
a dollar as well as
performing his own,
My Ex. Writers
Block Compre,
the charming Miss
Tracey D explained
that they (behind
Writers Block)
discover acts for
their shows through
recommendations;
social media
as well as live
performances. Miss
Tracey D went also
added, Its like
people are waiting
for Radio 1 to tell
them that they
[musical artists]
are good enough.
The need for
us to discover
less well known
artists is not only
a necessity, but
also simple with
the use of YouTube
and social media.
Writers Block has proven that the
talent (whether that be through
poetry, spoken-word or song
lyrics) is waiting to be discovered
and enjoyed at affordable prices.
No need for an A-list DJ to give you
a heads up!
Writers Block supports
live music in Guildford
By Bakita Kasadha, Music Team
T
hose who are fans of Mumford
& Sons four times platinum
album Sigh No More will not be
disappointed by what Babel has
to offer. For many fans their fear
is a dramatic departure from
an artists previous style, which
cannot be said for Mumford &
Sons.
Their new album Babel,
which was released on the 24th
of September, features very much
the same passionate folk-rock
which saw their fan-base grow
to momentous heights, especially
when coupled with their
enigmatic festival performances
which completely brought their
songs to life. Anybody who
thought folk music was boring
was, quite simply, proven wrong.
The success of the single Little
Lion Man showed the publics
thirst for this invigoration of the
folk genre that Mumford & Sons
provided, as they have done so
again.
Versatility is key in this album;
Mumford & Sons tinker with the
listeners emotions through their
range of songs. I think theres
more subject-matter on this
album, and I think weve grown
up a little bit, says Mumford. I
feel like its more exposed, more
naked. Ted always talked about
wanting to make an album like a
story, he adds. Not necessarily
one that has a plot, but one that
you can listen from top to bottom
and it makes sense. I think thats
what weve tried to do, and what
weve done. This is apparent from
the way the album fows from
the up-beat crowd pleaser I Will
Wait to the heartfelt melancholic
lyricism of Lovers Eyes and the
intensity of Hopeless Wanderer
with ease. With no other band
championing this new brand of
folk music with as much success,
Mumford & Sons clearly have the
formula and arent giving it up
that easily yet.
Mumford & Sons
new album: Babel
By Becky Worley, Music Editor
Bloc Party album release: Four
By Imogen McPhillips, Music Team
A
fter listening to Bloc
Partys new album Four
in a somewhat dubious manner
(most defnitely expecting the
worst) I came to the startlingly
quick conclusion that some way,
somehow, Bloc Party had managed
it. After three years off the music
scene, theyd pulled it off.
Many fans shyed away from
the band, after they transformed
themselves into a sort of Pop/
Electronica, lets remix
everything sort of group. Not
what fans were used to. However,
Bloc Party seem to have responded
to this, bringing their old
traditional guitar set up back into
the forefront of their sound.
So He Begins To Lie certainly
kicks off the album with a bang,
with Russell Lissack sounding as if
he is going to smash his guitar with
every note; the music is simple
yet impressive. The second track
3X3 is a sensationally creepy
song, with Keles hushed tones
repeating the lyrics, No one loves
over and over, one word - chilling.
This crescendos to a screeching
vocal chorus, that seems to explore
themes of violence and sexual
assault, repeating no means no.
The reason this album is
exciting to listen to is the extreme
mix of muddled up music. Its
chaotic, to say the least and at
sometimes a bit hit and miss,
particularly with Colosseum a
track that mixes dusty blues with
rock, that doesnt seem to gel quite
as well as one would like and will
certainly be a track to either love or
hate. On the other hand, Octopus
seems to combine the exact amount
of chaos and complexity to create a
fantastic song. Its catchy, its fun
and its appealing to many music
listeners. The album itself is more
likely to reignite a fame for many
Bloc Party fans, but for people who
have never listened to, or dare I
say, never heard of Bloc Party, it
may not be quite so refreshing.
Insider Info on Babel:
Mumford & Sons wrote the songs Lovers Eyes and Hopeless
Wanderer during time spent in Nashville, America.
Mumford & Sons recorded the title song for the
soundtrack to the new flm Wuthering Heights.
Several songs on Babel were recorded live. When youre
in a room with headphones and microphones and no
one else, you play it quite differently to how you play
it live, says Mumford. Having played live as much
as we have these past fve years, its probably made us
a bit more high-octane, a bit more adrenaline-flled.

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MuSIC 23 the Stag | 3rd October 2012 Music Editor: Becky Worley | Copy Editor: Hannah Wann
P
!nk is known for her often
controversial lyrics, cheese-
flled pop tunes and rock-chick
appearance, but until recently,
shed been unheard of in the
music industry for four years.
Since the release of her Funhouse
album in 2008, and the subsequent
individual release of many of the
albums songs, we hadnt heard
of the extrovert star until July of
this year, when One Last Kiss was
released. Now shes well and truly
back with her new album The Truth
About Love, still with the same
energy as before, and this time
with her newly-born daughter,
Willow Sage Hart.
Listening to her on the radio
on my way to work, she seemed
so down to earth, and maybe a bit
too relaxed when she announced
that she hadnt performed since
her 2010 tour, and hadnt even
rehearsed for the gig that night.
The Roundhouse theatre in
Camden was packed, but as a result
of getting there considerably early,
I managed to get near the front.
As she busted out Are We All We Are
upon her entrance, she had the
crowd screaming, and the cheers
only got louder as classics such as
Just Like A Pill and Family Portrait
emerged.
Her constant swearing, amid
her justifcation that her babys
asleep, and the way she shrugged
it off when she messed up a
song (simply starting again and
laughing about it) only lived up
to my expectations of her. What
is admiring about P!nk is that she
doesnt care what people think.
In a celebrity-oriented culture,
where aesthetics rank above
temperament, her Stupid Girls
mocking of the girls who push
out [their] bra and own itsy bitsy
doggies is refreshing. One thing
I also noticed was that, unlike the
stars who head downstage for a swig
of water in-between performances,
P!nk had a coffee (extremely
American), highlighting just how
relaxed on stage she was.
My only down-point of the gig
was that, for at least a third of the
time, I struggled to see. Standing
gigs are not for the short people.
My opinion was that I should
instantly be granted front row
viewing. I wish! It was also a great
disappointment that she didnt
perform Get the Party Started which,
to my knowledge, is her most well-
known song. Fortunately, my only
criticisms were minor, and P!nk
nonetheless outshone on the stage!
Her new album The Truth About
Love is out now, and I recommend
the single of the same name. I
fell in love with it when she frst
performed it at the gig, and Ive
been listening to it ever since!
The moral of the story - dont
forget about the old acts which lit
up your teenage years. They come
back with a bang, as good as ever!
Pink rocks the
iTunes festival
T
he xx have an almost cult like
following. Their marketing
is beyond clever for starters. Im
sure you remember the posters
for their frst album. The simple
white X on a black background.
It was weirdly intriguing, so
much so I had to fnd out more.
Their frst, self titled album was
brilliant, and they rightly won the
Mercury prize. The thing about
the xx is theyre grow-ers not
show-ers. Their music is almost
disturbingly simplistic, and yet
so addictive. This is music, sure,
but its stripped right back. So lo-
f its particularly horizontal.
Their second album Coexist
doesnt disappoint. Its much
in the same style of their frst.
Simplistic, bare vocals laid over
dreamy beats. But theyve up
the tempo slightly, with some
more interesting noises, I think I
heard a steel drum at some point.
The male/female vocal dynamic
works amazing well, and is not
something you hear often. I
love The xx. It feels like theyre
singing from the bottom of the
ocean, or another planet. I keep
returning to the word simple,
and its often used as a criticism,
but in this case, it makes the
layered beats and complicated
synths on so many other tracks
seem overdone and fussy. Like a
kid at a tea party, all fussy bows
and needless ribbons. The xx
are the musical equivalent of an
LBD. Classic and perfect on their
own. The perfect dress needs no
accessory and neither does this
album.
The xx: Coexist
By Alexandra Wilks, Editor
I
ndie rock band Two Door
Cinema Club are back this
year with their latest album
titled Beacon, which has been
inching steadily towards the top
of alternative/indie charts in
many markets. It continues in
the footsteps of their frst album
Tourist History; every single track
in Tourist History was one with
catchy lyrics that you can see
yourself wanting to dance to, and
even though Beacon is much in
the same strain with electro-pop
tunes it feels underwhelming.
Nothing in this album least
of all the lead single Sleep Alone
quite matches up to the calibre
of their previous hits such as
Cigarettes In The Theatre, This Is The
Life, or Undercover Martyn. It starts
off well with Next Year but by the
time Sleep Alone rolls around
everything sounds decidedly
meh. What does feel refreshing,
because it sounds different from
anything else in the album, is
Sun, a much slower-paced track.
Also worthy of a listen is The
World Is Watching which features
newcomer Valentina Pappalardo
accompanying on the lyrics.
Two Door Cinema
Club: Beacon
By Ankur Banerjee, Music Team
By Candice Ritchie, Music Team

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MuSIC 24 the Stag | 3rd October 2012 music@thestagsurrey.co.uk
F
reshers Week at the University
of Surrey brought us two
unique performances from one
of the Universitys very own
home-grown acts: U-NeaK. First
performing at Chancellors on
Sunday 23rd September, U-NeaK
which comprises of the two quirky
producer/DJs, Simon Rackham and
Shervin Althem set an ambient
mood with a progressively quirky
choice of tracks, giving the bar the
fresh air of class reminiscent of a
London Covent Garden-esque bar.
On Friday 28th September,
the duo put on a very different
set in the downstairs club of the
student union, The Living Room,
DJing a wide range of tracks from
commercial house and Romanian
club, to melodic drum n bass and
dubstep. Through their unique
performances, U-NeaK hope to
gain exposure for their new single,
Let the Rhythm Take You Away,
now entering its fnal stage of
production and soon to be released
on Spotify, iTunes, and most major
digital music stores.
Speaking of their debut single,
Shervin says: Its got all the
elements of a great dance track:
catchy, quirky, classy vocals; a
modern yet distinctive production.
Its got bags of personality but still
keeping with whats current in the
charts. Were really excited about
this!
Weve tested it at a few local
venues now, Simon adds, like
Channies and Rubix, and weve had
great reactions so far... It seems to
get people moving, and thats what
U-NeaK is all about: hyping up and
getting people going!
Prior to their Freshers week
sets, U-NeaK members, Shervin
and Simon, have been working
behind the scenes for a while and
together have over twenty years of
songwriting experience: they have
worked with established producers
including Jud Friedman (Whitney
Houston), Ryan Bowser (Nelly),
and Andy Baldwin (Coldplay;
KT Tunstall). Simon even has a
family relation to Adrian Wright
member of the BRIT-award winning
group, Human League, who became
successful for their Number 1
winning single, Dont You Want
Me Baby. The two Surrey alumni
are excited to fnally be launching
their music and look forward to
a successful year of songwriting,
producing and DJing ahead, with
a number of dates at Surreys
Student Union lined up; including
a set when Sub Focus pay a visit to
the Union on Friday October 12th.
N
orth Londons Union Chapel,
found itself the last stop on
musician Kimbras frst European
tour. An ideal venue for Kimbra
and her supporting act.
The evening began with
Cody Chesnutt. Known for his
collaboration with The Roots on
the track The Seed (2.0), Chesnutt
performed fve acoustic songs,
including Thats still your mama,
What kind of cool will we think
of next? and Love is more than a
wedding day.
Chesnutt and his guitar
had taken the reliable saying,
write what you know and had
transformed the words into
lyrics. Thats still your mama,
inspired by his misbehaving
nephew, was Chesnutts reaction
and a way to spank of his
nephew, through the medium of
song!
Everybodys brother was born
to motivate, towards progression,
those who Chesnutt was
surrounded by, those struggling
with social issues. According
to Chesnutt, Everyone knows
someone in this song and
the message of conviction,
persevering and no turning
back was ever more poignant as
it was performed in a converted
Chapel.
Chesnutt confessed that
the piece Love is more than a
wedding day was written for the
piano but honestly, this clear
and important message could
have been translated using
any instrument. Substance,
simplicity and skill combined
to create the signature of this
earthly act, Cody Chesnutt.
The head-liner and amazing
performer Kimbra rightly
dominated the stage throughout
the evening.
Well known for her
collaboration with Gotye on
Making Mirrors and Warriors with
Mark Foster and A-Trak, this New
Zealand natives Union Chapel
gig was her opportunity to show
exactly why it was time for Europe
to recognise her as the main, and
no longer a featured, performer.
She immaculately reached each
range of tones and pitches,
portraying the authenticity of a
freestyle with the smoothness of
a radio recording.
Her energy and the amazing
connection with her band rippled
through each performance.
Kimbras dedication to perform
with all of her being, gave the
impression that she was willing
to tear her voice with each song
so that she would forever be
remembered for her complete
and faithful emotion.
Kimbra sensationally
peformed the well loved songs
from her debut album Vow,
including Two way street, Cameo
lover and the Nina Simone cover
Plain Gold Ring.
I have no doubt that the new
release Come into my head will
be as, if not more, popular the
previous releases on the Vow
album.
Kimbra be sure to make this
the frst of many European tours;
next time, spend a little longer in
Britain!
U-Neak prepare
launch of debut
single after freshers
week success
By Bakita Kasadha, Music Team
Kimbra dominates the
stage with debut album

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www.stagtv.co.uk
If it's happening on Campus,
it's happening on StagTV
Your University TV Station -
keeping you amused, entertained
and informed.
LItErAturE 25 the Stag | 3rd October 2012 Lit Editor: Emily Smart | Copy Editor: Sophie Vickery
Literature
E
x-navy SEAL, under the pseudonym of Mark Owen, has
recently published The Firsthand Account of the Mission
that killed Osama Bin Laden. The book recounts Operation
Neptune which occurred on the morning of May 2nd 2011.
Owen claimed the reason behind the publication was to
honour and pay tribute to those who took part in the operation
process, as well as the past, present and future Navy SEALs.
The account offers the reader an understanding not only
of the killing but the gruelling preparation the team had to
undertake beforehand.
Understandably, this book was going to cause controversy
from the moment the pen hit the paper, yet the dispute
most signifcantly occurred when the book was found to be
published by Dutton-Penguin Publishers, without submitting
it to the Department of Defence for editing.
At the Pentagon, press secretary George Little said that
after an offcial review of the book, it does in fact reveal
sensitive and classifed information.
Due to Owens failure to submit the book to the Pentagon
before publication, they are currently reviewing what legal
options should be taken against the author.
Little continued that, when you have special operations
units that perform these missions, there are tactics,
techniques, and procedures, not to mention human life, that
are in play. He added, and it is the height of irresponsibility
not to have this kind of material checked for the possible
disclosure of classifed information.
Many are worried that Owens book will give away these
tactics and techniques to future enemies which could put
many navy and army recruits in danger.
By Emily Smart, Literature Editor
Books still mean business
A
s one walks up the local high street
these days, it is not uncommon to
feel a sense of nostalgic occur when
noticing the loss of the corner bookshop.
A place where one could guarantee a
warm, fuzzy feeling as stepping inside;
that familiar smell of ageing paperbacks,
the cosy chaos of crooked bookshelves
sagging under the weight of whispering
novels with Orwell murmuring austerity,
Austen humming elegance and Swift
singing adventure. Sadly, these corners
have been silenced due to the dominance
of e-readers and online bookshops.
Web developer Baldur Bjarnason
has been said to parallel the troubled
bookshop with the loss of comic books.
During the nineties, comic books vacated
public spaces and once unseen, they were
soon forgotten. As publishers raise prices
to libraries and retailers like WH Smiths,
Bjarnason argues that the departure of
books will result in a similar loss. Even
the national bookshops are suffering,
with Borders closing its doors last year
whilst Amazon announced that sales of
e-books had tripled in the past year and
now sell more than printed books.
However, the business sector refuses
to shut the book on high street bookshops.
Last Spring HMV sold Waterstones to
Russian billionaire, Alexander Mamut,
for 53m. Subsequently, Mr Daunt, owner
of seven bookshops in London was given
the role of managing director of the 300
branches. The change from managing 45
members of staff to 4500 and the battle
against e-readers is daunting, yet Daunt
expresses a hope that we wouldnt
have to close any shops. He argues that
There are three essential elements to
running a bookshop. You need really
good books in them, it needs to be a really
nice environment and you need really
good people. Plus, he ensures that each
store has an average of 30,000 books on
offer. He also acknowledges that digital
is important and that Waterstones will
need to enter the business of selling
reading.
In September 2011, Daunt showed
another way to support business by
ending the 3-for-2 deals on books, after
more than 10 years. He replaced the
promotion with a new pricing structure
of books sold for 3, 5 and 7. The
business proposal was commended by
Ursula Mackenzie, chair of the Trade
Publishers Council. He said, Im not sure
that the 3-for-2 is what people are looking
for. They want one book, at the cheapest
possible price. Another business strategy
initiated by Daunt was the removal of the
apostrophe from the name in January
2012, to improve branding and offer a
more versatile, practical spelling in a
digital world of URLs and email addresses,
a more versatile and practical spelling.
However, one does begin to wonder that
if practicality is being overruled by being
grammatically correct, what hope really
is there for likes of Orwell, Austen and
Swift?
By Sophie Vickery, Literature Team
An autobiography like no other
No Easy Day by Mark Owen
Female authors ranked
in high earners list
J
ames Patterson, currently the highest
earning author with $84 million to his name,
could soon be beaten in the list of the top ten
richest authors.
According to Forbes.com, female writers
are gaining ground as more of their books are
fying off the shelves. Jeff Bercovici of Forbes.
com said that the female trio, consisting of
Suzanne Collins, E.L James and J.K Rowling are
said by to be making a big impact.
Each author has produced books that
have rapidly taken the world by storm as flm
producers snap up their ideas and hang on
their every word.
J.K Rowling, well known for the Harry
Potter series, is currently tenth of the list
with $17 million. However, this is expected to
increase now that her new novel for adults, The
Casual Vacancy has been released for purchase.
Two spaces above Rowling, Collins resides
sitting on her bed of $20 million following the
successful Hunger Games trilogy.
Lastly, the most recent member of the
trio; E.L James, was the women to create the
biggest craze of the summer as 50 Shades of
Grey appeared on thousands of female bed-side
tables across the country, earning a hefty $1
million a week.
Despite not being included on Forbes list
this year, many female writers expect to see
their names appearing among the impressive
list next year.
By Emily Smart, Literature Editor
LItErAturE 26 the Stag | 3rd October 2012 literature@thestagsurrey.co.uk
L
iterary agent, Pam van
Hylckama Vlieg, has come
face to face with the perils
of being one of the top book
bloggers in the United States. The
American wife and mother joined
Larsden Pomada Literary Agents
as an associate earlier this year,
however has recently failed to
please one author.
On Thursday 13th September,
on Vliegs journey to collect her
daughter from school, a man
unknown to her at the time
appeared in front of her car. She
stated to the Huffngton Post that
just before I turned the corner,
my passenger-side mirror popped
and. I thought Id hit someones
trash can. Then a guy walked out
in front of me, with a baseball bat
in his hand. Having stopped the
car, the man was able to reach
inside the car and violently slam
her head against the steering
wheel.
Fortunately, her pet dog
inside the car noticed that she
was in trouble. The dog bit the
mans arm, providing a big
enough distraction for Vlieg to
quickly drive away.
The police were quick to
inspect the social networking
aspect of her life due to her career
type and soon found unpleasant
messages that had been sent to
her professional email address.
Vlieg commented that these
messages were sent after she
rejected the authors manuscript.
From an address written on
one of the messages, the police
were able to immediately locate
this man, who incidentally had a
dog bite on his arm.
It is believed that the man was
able to trace the literary agents
whereabouts with ease due to
her frequent use of Foursquare, a
location-based site, thus proving
once again the dangers of social
networking even in a professional
environment.
Literary agent beaten
for rejecting manuscript
By Emily Smart, Literature Editor
Alexandra
Wilks reviews
Caitlin Morans
Moranthology
I
ve loved Caitlin Moran ever
since I was intelligent enough
to read The Times (so maybe for
about 3 years...). Her column
Celebrity Watch is hilarious and
ridiculous. How to be a Woman,
her Galaxy prize winning
Feminist polemic, was the book
on everyones lips last summer,
oh how times have changed now
weve got Fifty Shades of drivel
instead. Incidentally, How to
be a Woman is one of the most
wonderful things Ive ever read.
Feminism and funny are like
porridge and ketchup, rarely
on the same plate. And yet,
because it is Caitlin, because
she is a God amongst all living
creatures, it worked. It worked
so well. So well that I read it
four times in a year. So it may
come as no surprise that I loved,
loved, loved her latest book
Moranthology. Admittedly, I
thought the title was utter crap.
Caitlin if youre reading this,
I am so, so, sorry. But it is a bit
poo.
Moranthology is a
collection of articles from
Morans career, ranging from
the funny to the profound and
the political. Morans writing
on the Big Society and cuts are
particularly insightful. Her TV
reviews provide light humour
and the inclusion of Celebrity
Watch is obviously brilliant.
This is the perfect book to dip
into now and again (if you can
stop yourself from devouring it
in one delicious gulp) because
the articles are short and sweet.
So basically, buy one
copy for you, one for your
best friend, your lover, your
Mother...Anyone you like, or
even someone you really hate.
Because we can all become
united over our mutual love for
Caitlin. Or maybe Im just high
on how much I loved this book.
Either way, I cant recommend
it enough.
By Alexandra Wilks, Editor
Michael McIntyre parallels
books with ready meals
B
ookshelves are for storing
books. Wardrobes are for
storing clothes. Cupboards are
for storing utensils. And yet, the
wardrobe and cupboard have
doors to hide their contents,
while books are left for all eyes
to see. Throughout history
libraries and bookshelves have
been admired by visitors as an
admirable refection on their
owners. It is common for society
to take pride in having bursting
bookshelves, boasting classics
and canonical hardbacks, as a way
of gaining status and to impress
others. Michael Mcintyres
recent tour satires this nature
as he highlights that, despite
enjoying a ready meal as much as
a book, he doesnt put the packet
on display after consumption.
Somehow a cardboard sleeve
of chicken korma doesnt quite
match the gold lettering of
Gullivers Travels. Naturally,
it would be criminal to simply
dispose of a book after it has
been read, but they could simply
be stored in boxes. However, the
majority look to add to their
visible collections.
Unfortunately, this taints
the true value of books; the
characters, story, language and
assumes books are merely tools
for self-promotion. However,
while vinyl records and
photographs are left to gather
cobwebs in the attic, perhaps
books should count themselves
lucky that they are still beheld
with such admiration.
By Sophie Vickery, Literature Team

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FILM 27 the Stag | 3rd October 2012 Film Editor: Candice ritchie | Copy Editor: Sophie Vickery
Interested in flms?
Whether you prefer Cannes, Hollywood or
just your local Odeon, we are looking for
you! Get involved and become part of The
Stag, just by reviewing releases new, old
or obscure. Get in touch through flm@
thestagsurrey.co.uk.
Anna Karenina
By Ellis Taylor, Features Editor
A
n adaptation involving Keira Knightley and a
Tolstoy novel from 1873 doesnt sound particularly
exciting at frst glance, but Joe Wrights Anna Karenina
is far more than your average costume drama.
Set in 19th Century high-society Russia, the flm
carries you through the scandals and sufferings
of Anna Karenina (Keira Knightley), a woman in a
passionless marriage with Alexie Karenin, played by
Jude Law (alas, hes not hot in this flm). Annas life is
drastically changed by her meeting with Count Vronsky
(Aaron Taylor-Johnson - that dude from Angus, Thongs &
Perfect Snogging/Kickass) and suddenly shes caught up
in a whirlwind of intense sexual tension and appears
to fnd his creepy moustache/beard thing attractive.
Alongside the main plot runs the tales of two other
relationships; that of Annas brother Oblonsky and his
wife Dolly, as well as Oblonskys friend Konstantin and
his desperate efforts to woo Kitty (a rather annoying
character, I found).
At frst, Anna is a typical Knightley character, lots
of pouting and looks of confusion. And that doesnt
change; she just gets a little more intense. But somehow
this works for the character. Sure, she doesnt really
make a believable mother, but her ability to create
such tension and attraction is brilliant. In contrast,
Law and Johnson-Taylor are totally different from roles
they have previously played. They really fll out the
characters and use a naturalistic approach that it is
easy to forget who they are in real life. This naturalistic
acting style is used amongst other characters as well,
which is a good technique to contrast and compliment
the incredibly dramatic flming and staging methods.
In the flm, Wright has used a theatre to create each
scene. At frst, I wasnt sure how this would work; I
expected it to be a bit messy, but it was absolutely
seamless. It created a sense of cohesion between scenes
and events. But he didnt just use the stage; the lobby,
backstage and audience foor were also used. Fantastic
use of setting.
Overall, Anna Karenina is a very impressive flm in
terms of cinematography, drama and an intoxicating
tale. Also, the costumes were wonderful and suited the
theatre-theme. However, the characters dont feel as
true or engaging as they could do, but maybe if they
were more intense the flm would seem a little OTT. Its
a great adaptation, and if you like dramatic love stories
then this is the flm for you.
Innocence of Muslims
By Alexandra Wilks, Editor
H
ow ironic that the flm of the
year may turn out to be less
than a flm, and merely a grainy,
badly shot youtube video displaying
blatant Islamaphobia. Innocence
of Muslims is a thirteen minute
trailer depicting what appears
to be Christians under attack and
a medical clinic trashed by an
Islambic mob in Egypt. The flm
itself has only been shown in public
once, on Hollywood Boulevard in
Los Angeles, on the 23rd of June.
Despite a woman stood outside the
cinema coercing people to go and
watch it, the audience consisted of
less than 10 people.
The video has caused
controversy the world over and
shockingly, the US ambassador for
Lybia, Christopher Stevens, was
recently killed by a rocket attack
to his car in Benghazi. Three other
embassy staff were also killed when
a crowd attacked the consulate, to
protest against the Innocence of
Muslim flms.
President Barack Obama
described the killing of Christopher
Stevens as outrageous.
My Favourite Actor
Colin Farrell
By Joanna Zalis, Film Team
T
he frst movie I saw featuring Colin Farrell was the Phone
Booth and after that I was under the spell of his irresistible
smile, beautiful eyes and attractive body. After seeing a few more
movies such as Minority Report, The Recruit and Alexander, with this
incredibly handsome man, Ive realised that he looks amazing no
matter what he wears or what crazy colour his hair is (blonde in
Alexander). I was not surprised when I found out that in 2003 he was
named one of People Magazines 50 Most Beautiful People.
For me, one of his most attractive features is the fact that he is
Irish and I know that there are few women in the world who do not
love men with an Irish accent. Its sexy, a bit cheeky and promises
fun. Because of this, In Bruges is my favourite of his movies. In this
movie, he speaks with his proper Dublin accent, is not afraid to
show his emotions and proves that he can be very funny.
I guess his bad-boy image and rather shady (past) personal life
(in 2005 he checked himself into a rehab centre for drug addiction,
but since then hes been clean) adds to his irresistible charm.
His involvement with a rather naughty tape also caused great
controversy, although I wasnt at all disappointed!
His favourite book is Irvin D. Yaloms When Nietzsche Wept (I
love men who like reading books) and he appeared in a commercial
for Cadbury (chocolate AND a sexy Irish man; life cant get any
better than this!).
All in all, Mr. Farrell cannot be beaten in my books. Now, fnd
me that guy!
Brendan Gleeson and Farrell as their characters Ken and Ray in the 2008
flm In Bruges
FILM 28 the Stag | 3rd October 2012 flm@thestagsurrey.co.uk
Review: In Time
I
n todays flm industry, it can be
hard to come up with something
unique for a plot, and thats why
many releases within the past
decade are merely reworks of the
same story. My biggest peeve of
these is the body swap storyline.
From the successful Freaky Friday,
to The Hot Chick, Its A Boy Girl Thing
and more recently The Change-Up,
producers never seem to tire of
this overused concept. So when I
saw In Time and realised it was a
brand-new idea, it was extremely
refreshing!
Will Salas (Justin Timberlake)
lives in a world where people stop
ageing at 25, and are genetically
engineered to live only one more
year unless they fnd time. Time
becomes the new currency, it is
earned and spent, and one lives
day-to-day according to their
clock (no, seriously, a person
is born with a digital timer
embedded in their skin). In a
society controlled by capitalism,
the rich have decades of time,
while the poor must steal or
borrow in order to gain more,
and different classes must not
cross borders. But when Will
unexpectedly acquires a century,
he decides to use the time and
live his life to the full, including
crossing the border. Here, he
meets the elite-born Sylvia Weis
(Amanda Seyfried), and what
follows in their connection is a
rejection of the system and we
come to see how the rich struggle
when they are thrown among the
deprived.
Amanda Seyfried steps away
from her usual role as girl-in-
love (Dear John) and it is bracing
to see her take on the main role
in an action flm. Who would
have thought she could pull it
off so effortlessly? Her auburn
wig changes her appearance so
dramatically that at frst, I had to
double take. This is a clever move
by director Andrew Nicoll; it
almost acts as a ploy to steer the
audience away from recognising
her, in order for her to appear
more believable in her role. It
certainly worked on me. I forgot
who was playing the character at
times as she looked much more
sophisticated and a far cry from
the innocent blonde she is so
often known for. Least I forget Mr
Timberlake; he is brilliant as per.
It seems far-fetched nowadays
to think of him as that young
N-Sync kid and the solo pop-
singer we used to know. Why the
hell did he hide those acting skills
for so long?
The concept of In Time is
brilliant in its ability to make
you think about how much time
we actually waste, how we take it
for granted, and how precious it
can be. This has to be by far my
favourite flm of the past year.
Review: Lawless
Hope Springs
By Becky Richmond, Marketing Editor
Y
ou never know what to expect from a
flm when youre the youngest person
in the cinema by about 20 years. But I have
to say that I was pleasantly surprised by
Hope Springs. Tommy Lee Jones and Meryl
Streep make a fantastic duo, and give
wonderful heartfelt performances that
even at 20 years old I can relate to. Steve
Carrell plays a therapist, Dr. Feld, whose
amusing approach to sex makes you feel
a little awkward when surrounded by
60 year old couples and their 40 year old
children.
The flm follows Kay and Arnold;
a couple married for 31 years, as they
attend a week long intensive therapy
session in Maine to try and rekindle the
passion lost in their marriage, having
reached the point where they no longer
sleep in the same bed. Dr. Feld pinpoints
their issues to a lack of intimacy and it
seems sex, or lack of it, is the main issue
behind their failing marriage. As the flm
goes on and you get to know the couple,
you really hope they stay together and
start having sex again, as strange as that
sounds!
All in all, its a wonderful feel-good
flm that makes you feel a bit fuzzy
inside, and I hope I can still be in love
when Im 60-something. The only thing I
would say about Hope Springs is that when
an issue arises, it is never really resolved
(not wanting to give anything away), but
in the end they seem very happy, so well
let that problem slide (just this once).
Id defnitely recommend watching the
flm, but it is absolutely one for a DVD.
Being surrounded by elderly couples in
a cinema while watching one particular
scene in the flm is a little too awkward...
Youll see what I mean if you watch it!
By Becky Worley, Music Editor
L
awless follows the story of a bootlegging gang
during the Depression in Virginia. Confict is
sparked when a new deputy (Guy Pearce) decides
he wants a cut of their profts. When refused, he
does all in his power to eradicate them.
In my opinion, Lawless seems to have
succeeded where other flms have fallen short.
The action is believable and gripping, scripted
and directed perfectly, and creates tension and
shock value. It doesnt fall short of a graphic scene
or two, with necks splitting open and broken
with bare hands, making it uncomfortable to
watch, yet strangely compelling. This action
is seamlessly intertwined with the storyline,
which is an interesting narrative during the
prohibition, featuring dodgy police, double-
crossing and gangster politics to complicate.
Guy Pearce is perfect as the villain of the piece;
his sneer and slicked back hair adds to an
overall feeling of simmering hatred. This leaves
the audience rooting for the outlaws, played
by Tom Hardy and Shia Labeouf, who are also
brilliantly portrayed. Hardy invokes a powerful,
indomitable presence, dishing up a lot of the
violence and punchy one-liners, while Labeouf
adds a touch of humanity in his characters
naivety and determination to prove himself as
a criminal.
This flm isnt lacking in emotive scenes
either. Stories of love run alongside the violence,
creating three dimensional characters whose
lives become complex, and as an audience you
seem to lose yourself in them. An unsung heroine
in this flm is Jessica Chastain, whose characters
strength and vulnerability beautifully depicts a
turbulent life of abuse and escape.
Overall, this flm seems very different
to other releases at the moment, featuring a
historical story rather than a futuristic one,
making it stand out. The director, John Hillcoat,
has done a fantastic job in recreating the 1920s,
as well as a believable yet dramatic story with all
the essential elements. Aside from my approval,
it has also been nominated for an award at the
Cannes Film Festival 2012. So, dont just take
my word for it, it is a brilliant flm well worth a
watch. I would give Lawless four out of fve stars.
By Candice Ritchie, Film Editor
SOCIEtIES 29 the Stag | 3rd October 2012 Societies Editor: Shalini thondrayen | Copy Editor: Hannah Wann
Societies
Come on, Coppafeel on those boobies
A
fter successfully launching
this summer at some of the
UKs biggest music festivals, such
as Beach Break Live, Bestival
and V Festival, the breast cancer
charity CoppaFeel! has begun
to spread their CoppaFeel! in
the shower campaign to 36
universities nationwide.
Specifcally targeting young
people, this fun and dedicated
campaign aims to raise the
importance of self-checking, to
become part of every students
daily routine. Founder and
C.E.O, Kristin Hallenga explains,
Whens the best time to check
your boobs? Well, in short, any
time is good for Boob Time. To
keep it simple, were reminding
students to do it in the shower.
No more excuses, youre already
starkers and your boobs need
some attention!
Sponsored by very.co.uk,
dedicated student ambassadors
known as the Uni Boob Team
Leaders urge those who are
passionate and interested in
this cause to join the Boob Team
mission and help spread the
word! Boob Teams will be active
all around campus with friendly
reminders to students of the
need to check breasts regularly
and to be familiar with what
they look and feel like normally,
as well to know the signs and
symptoms of breast cancer.
Kristin Hallenga states, By
educating the young people of
today, we can shape the future of
breast cancer survival in times
to come. Knowledge is power,
this power will in turn save lives.
I only wish that someone shared
this knowledge with me.
CoppaFeel! Boob Teams
have a whole host of activities
up their sleeves in order to
get you boob-aware and they
want you to get involved! From
playing the CoppaFeel! game to
forming a team to participate in
the ultimate charity Boob Ball
match (a.k.a dodgeball with a
difference). So next time you are
in the shower, think about this
article and give your boobs the
once over.
By Jess Blake, Societies Team
Got a sweet tooth?
Join Surreys new
Baking Society!
S
o to start off the academic year
2012-2013, the Universitys frst
EVER Baking Society is here to offer
you the opportunity to join in and
try your hand at baking!
Dont be fooled, whilst baking
on campus is not possible due to
the large numbers, we still have
lots of treats to offer! We have
come up with plenty of events to
get all members involved, such
as cake decoration and sugar art
sessions, trips to famous bakeries,
campus bake offs and University
bake sales for charity. We also hope
to get involved with some famous
personalities in the baking world.
As a brand new society we
are extremely excited about this
coming year and cant wait to share
this experience with all of you! Our
society webpage can be found on
the USSU website, where you can
become an offcial member for only
6. Please also join our Facebook
page in order to keep up to date
with all of our activities!
So get prepared for the sugar
rush and be a part of our one of a
kind society!
By Sanjana Sreekumar & Betty Kelly
This is the Mad Hatters cake the Society made for our Sign up event
Meet GU2!
W
hether you want to be a
presenter, fancy yourself as
a technician or would like to give
producing a show a go, theres so
much you can do at GU2!
Come to our frst social of the
year on 4th October and join us
for our freshers pub crawl around.
See what GU2 is about and discover
which committee positions you
could run for. Weve got tonnes
lined up to help you get to know us
and each other, so meet us at TB18
at 19:30.
Were in the Living Room on
Friday the 5th October with Dench
for your ultimate dose of hip hop
and RnB. Witness our DJs at work
and see whats possible with GU2.
Entrance is included in your Flirt!
ticket so theres no excuses!
For more information visit
www.gu2.co.uk, www.
facebook.com/Gu2radio or
www.twitter.com/Gu2radio.
Freedom of Speech and why you Should Care
S
o, what did you get up to this
summer? Say on the 31st of
July? How about the 8th of August?
Or maybe the 17th? You mightve
been on holiday, gone out for some
drinks or you probably dont even
remember. For various people
around the world, however, these
dates will always stick in their
minds.
In Vietnam on the 31st of July,
Dang Thi Kim Lieng set fre to
herself in a suicide protest against
her daughters arrest and pending
trial, where she faces up to twenty
years in prison for writing online
articles criticising the countrys
communist government. On
the 8th of August, journalist
Lydia Cacho was forced to fee
Mexico - a country where every
year countless journalists are
murdered and their killers never
brought to justice - after receiving
death threats through her hacked
home security system. A couple of
weeks later, the much publicised
trial of Pussy Riot also came to
a conclusion in Russia, with the
band members receiving two
years each in jail for their musical
protest.
When you live in a country
where you have relative freedom
to say what you want, no matter
who you are, it is easy not to think
about these things, but throughout
the world each day there are
many people who are silenced,,
imprisoned and even killed due
to their views or beliefs. This is
where Surrey Student PEN comes
in. We are Surreys leading human
rights society, representing the
charity English PEN, the founding
centre of PEN International,
which has been working in over
100 countries, for over 90 years, to
help ensure freedom of expression
while giving people the freedom
from persecution.
Despite only being ratifed as
a society in the last year, Surrey
PEN has already grown massively,
holding acclaimed events with
bestselling writers and journalists
such as Monica Ali and Jon
Ronson, participating in cultural
and volunteering festivals,
coming together for unique and
entertaining socials and generally
bringing the work and campaigns
of PEN to Surrey. We are looking to
expand even further throughout
the next year, which is why we
want as many people as possible
to get involved.
As a fairly new society, we are
especially open to new people
becoming a part of Surrey PEN.
Whether you want to be on the
committee and help run the
society, part of the street team
and lend a hand sometimes, we
will always welcome it, no matter
how much experience you have.
Please visit our website at
www.SurreyPEN.org.
By Shaun Gosta Millis
Want more info?
Call Surreys Boob Team Leader Jess
Blake (07917061852) or Uni Boob
Teams Manager Sarah Magee (0207
566 3456) or email: sarah@coppafeel.
org
FB: www.facebook.com/
CoppaFeeluniS
tWIttEr: @coppafeelpeople
WEB: www.coppafeel.org
Sign up to CoppaFeel!s free SMS
reminder service which sends you
a free monthly reminder to check
your boobs. Its easy to join simply
text SURREY to 70500! And remind
everyone you know to Cop-A-Feel-
it could save their life.

Volunteering
Fayre
Thursday4
th
October68pm
Rubix

Hearts for Hospice

Wednesday 17
th
October 123pm
Rubix

ArtsAfternoonat
ParkBarnDay
Centre
Wednesday7
th
November14pm

SPOrt 31 the Stag | 3rd October 2012 Sport Editor: Anna Giles | Copy Editor: tessa Morgan
Sport
W
hen you are just starting
out at university you are
in a new place, surrounded by
different people. It is not unusual
to feel slightly uneasy for the frst
few weeks. However, there are
many ways to help adjust to any
new situation whether it is a new
start at university or in the future
when starting a new job. The best
way to adjust, in my opinion, is to
do activities with which you are
familiar get a Surrey Sports Park
membership and join one of Team
Surreys sports clubs.
The rules of sports do not
change regularly. It is about
keeping the ball between the
lines, such as in tennis or football,
performing to the highest level
possible and beating an opponent.
If you have a sport that you have
taken part in before coming to
the University of Surrey, joining a
sports club will help you settle in.
Nothing quite creates the feeling
of ftting in like being part of a
collective victory something
every team sportsperson knows.
This, however, is not only
applied to team sports. Sports
which are more individual,
such as golf or judo, still allow
for camaraderie and a sense of
belonging through the events that
occur within the society or club.
The common ground it provides
with others, simply through the
understanding of the rules of
a sport or the intricacies of an
activity, will quickly make someone
feel more at ease.
Having the opportunity to
discuss the latest professional
action of a sport you love, with
those whom share a passion for
the sport, will defnitely make
someone feel more at home when
they frst start at university.
Even discussing a sport, not just
playing one, will help to reassure
someone that they do belong to a
higher education beyond simply
the academic requirements of their
course some may fnd it ten times
easier to talk about their favourite
sport over their degree subject.
This does not only apply to
those whom have a gift for a sport,
the great facilities provided to
us by Surrey Sports Park can be
used to help relax the mind, not
just tire out the body. The benefts
of exercise are undeniable; they
are drilled into us every day. The
gym is designed for all, it is not
exclusive to sports clubs and it does
provide some comfort, especially
if you have used a gym previously.
If you are not familiar with a gym
environment, the excellent staff
who work at Surrey Sports Park
take you through a quick and
informative induction, leaving
anybody in a position where they
are comfortable with using the
equipment.
A treadmill will always be a
treadmill and a twenty kilogram
weight is always going to weigh the
same amount, it is not different
from any gym you would use all
over the world. This is a comfort
that can be gained by getting into
a routine at the gym which has
helped many students acclimatise
to university life, it is something
that I did and I would recommend it
to anyone. While it may seem to be a
more lonesome activity than some
of the great team sports discussed
earlier, it is the sense of familiarity
it can provide that is so benefcial.
Familiarity leads to feeling more
comfortable when in a new place
and for those who are feeling far
from home, it is something that can
be really helpful.
I have not even included any
discussion of the health benefts
that regular exercise can have for
the body and mind, as I am sure
we have all heard these a hundred
times before. However, the exercise
will put you in a better position for
studying and socialising in terms
of creating a healthy balance.
For anybody reading this the
best thing I can suggest is to make
the most of everything that is on
offer to you; the opportunities are
endless, especially at the start of the
academic year. Societies and sports
teams are for everyone; people of
all abilities and ftness levels, but
if you arent one hundred percent
comfortable in a new situation,
become part of something familiar.
Surrounding yourself with those
who are passionate about the
same things as you will make the
transition easier.
Settle in with sport
By Connor McLoughlin, Sports Team
F
or the frst time ever, University
of Surrey is offering pole
dancing classes to you! A form
of dance that was once exclusive
to strip clubs, is now the latest,
hottest form of ftness for men and
women of any age or size.
University of Surrey Pole
Dancing Society is aiming to
show students how benefcial
this dance form can be: gaining
ftness, strength and co-ordination
combined with a cheeky confdence
boost which is what this class is all
about! There will be a free taster
session on Wednesday 10th October
from 2-4pm at the Students Union,
followed by a pub-golf social and
a chance to meet fellow polers.
Regular sessions will follow every
Wednesday from 2-4pm.
Pole Dancing
By Jasmine Smith, Pole Dancing Society
W
hether you race regularly,
enjoyed sailing on holiday or
have never set foot in a boat before,
theres something for everyone
at the sailing club. Come and join
us at our new home, Papercourt
Sailing Club, just 7 miles away from
campus for our most exciting year
yet!
We will be getting into team
racing, training in a fight of
frefies at Papercourt before
pitting ourselves against other
universities all over the country,
at some of the best weekends
away you can get with fantastic
competition on the water and great
nights out on dry land. Team racing
is a form of the sport where teams
of three boats sail hard and fast,
often taking out opposition boats
to try and get the lowest combined
score over the fnish line. Races are
short, sharp and action packed,
perfect for winter sailing. If youve
never tried team racing before its
great fun and THE discipline for
university sailing, come and give
it a go!
There are also opportunities to
feet race with the inter university
nationals in Plymouth next month
where we hope to build on our
success of a bronze medal in 2011.
For the more casual sailor theres
as relaxed as you like club racing at
Papercourt which will incorporate
the surrey racing league. There
are also plans afoot for yachting
trips both for fun and to gain
qualifcations on bigger boats.
If you fnd the prospect of all
this racing a bit daunting, well be
running a start racing course to
help you get in the groove, and for
those completely new to this great
sport theres a learn to sail course.
Drop us an email at ussu.
sailing@surrey.ac.uk to book our
free taster day this Wednesday 3rd
October and fnd out if the sailing
club has something for you (we
do!!!).
A new era dawns for the sailing club
By Andrew Wishart, Sailing Club
SPOrt 32 the Stag | 3rd October 2012 sport@thestagsurrey.co.uk
U
ltimate Frisbee doesnt always
have the best reputation -
almost every player will have
heard isnt that for dogs? at some
point. Yet Ultimate is played in
over 40 countries by hundreds of
thousands of people around the
world. Read on to fnd out more
about the sport and the University
of Surrey Ultimate club.
What is ultimate Frisbee?
Ultimate Frisbee is an
athletically demanding sport
with an important social side
that helps make it one of the
fastest growing sports in the
world - the main competition in
the UK attracts over 80 teams to
a series of tournaments over the
Summer, a professional league
has recently started in the USA,
and online coverage is becoming
more common and increasing in
quality; this is an exciting time
to be part of the Ultimate scene.
There are two versions of the sport:
outdoors is played on a football
sized pitch between two teams of
seven players, and indoors with
fve-a-side teams on a basketball
pitch. The rules of both games
are essentially the same: each
end of the pitch has a scoring
area or endzone, and a point is
scored when a team completes
a pass to a player standing (or
more commonly, running) in
the endzone they are attacking.
Players cannot run with the disc
and the offensive team must pass
from player to player attempting
to work the disc up the pitch. The
defending team attempts to stop
the offence by either intercepting
play or forcing the attacking team
to drop the disc. An important
feature of Ultimate Frisbee, and
one that helps to make it unique,
is that it is self-refereed by the
players, even at World and National
Championship level. Players are
responsible for making foul calls
and a code of conduct called Spirit
of the Game ensures fair play.
Who are team Surrey ultimate?
Team Surrey Ultimate (TSU) is
the University of Surrey Ultimate
Frisbee club. Since its inception
in 1999, the club has steadily
grown to its current size of 30+
members. With strong open, mixed
and womens teams we regularly
reach UK Nationals across all
divisions. We welcome players of
all abilities and provide training
and tournament opportunities for
everyone. We work hard and we
play hard but off the pitch we party
even harder; Ultimate Frisbee is a
fantastic way to make new friends
and our social nights out have
been some of my most memorable
experiences at university.
If youre interested in fnding
out more or having a go, come along
to a training session and well teach
you why its called Ultimate
Frisbee. Off the feld we can often
be found in Roots Bar.
training times:
Tuesday- 7-8pm - Surrey Sports
Park, Arena C (frst team/invite
only)
Wednesday - 2-4pm - PATS Field
Saturday - 10am-1pm Surrey
Sports Park, Rugby Pitch
Sunday - 7-8pm - Surrey Sports
Park, Arena A
The Ultimate Frisbee Society
By Ricky Imbriano, Ultimate Frisbee Society
W
hether you are training for
a race or just want to keep
in general shape, Team Surreys
Running & Athletics club will help
you reach your goals. Forget the
chore of a gym treadmill, training
outside with your peers will quickly
make you a better runner. Into
cross country? Discover dozens
of new routes around Guildfords
rolling countryside. Fancy yourself
as a sprinter? Our members raced
on the 2012 Olympic track during
the BUCS championships.
By Joe Livesey, Running and Athletics Society
Running and Athletics
Be part of the Coes Olympic Legacy yourself,
come and join us. We train on Wednesdays and
Sundays, with the option of racing Guildfords
speedy locals every Saturday. Email us at ussu.
running@surrey.ac.uk
Surrey Angels Cheerleading society
E
ver wanted to be a cheerleader?
The Surrey Angels is one of
Team Surreys most successful
clubs with national and
regional awards behind them.
Cheerleading is the perfect
union of dance, gymnastics and
performance. Compete with
Competition Squad at regional
and national competitions, or be
part of the newly formed Games
Squad, performing lively routines
at Team Surrey matches. Whether
youre a boy or a girl, arts student
or science student, be part of this
exciting sports club.
By Kim Hooper, Cheerleading Captain
to fnd out more email us at ussu.cheerleading@surrey.ac.uk
If youre interested,
come and fnd us at
the Freshers Fayre or
visit our website:
ussu.ultimate@surrey.ac.uk