+STYLE ON THE STREETS 22

We check out your Autumn & Winter fashion around campus

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It’s beginning to look a lot like christmas+

THE CHRISTMAS CITY 26Here’s why you should visit

Ljubjana this Christmas

+MERRY CHRISTMAS BRITAIN! 12Is the EU still on our Christmas card list

a� er the latest bill for £1.7 billion?

Issue3.indd 1 24/11/2014 13:07:50

02 WELCOME

Wessex Scene Team Contact the team at wessexscene.co.uk/contact

Editor Tahlie Cooper Deputy Editor Kerry Sclater Head of Design Sam Bailey Image Editor Jess Cox Features Shaun Harvey & Hebe Neate-Clegg Science and Environment Jennifer Allerton Politics Bridie Pearson-Jones Winchester Kalisto Bancroft Opinion Isabella Hunter-Fajardo Travel Anna Jenkins Lifestyle Laura Cox International Emma Clarke Sport Ross Wilson & Jack Pethick News Emma Cheshire & Chloe Fabregas Pause Aidan Pittman Publicity Corinne DugdaleEditor-in-Chief Megan Downing

WELCOME EDITOR'S LETTER

Seasons greetings!It’s hard to believe that we’re already reached our fourth magazine of the academic year. Wow!

Just when I thought we had made it to the half-way point, the Wessex Scene team got the creative juices flowing and we are hoping to have even more issues out in the second half of the year. These exciting and exclusive issues will be in addition to our monthly magazine, so keep your eyes peeled for any up and coming surprises from us!

Well I suppose I should talk about Christmas…not that I’m complaining! It’s that time of year when deadlines will soon be a distant memory and our focus is towards gift giving, tree decorating and mostly eating mince pies and drinking bucks fizz. Everyone cannot wait to depart the lecture room and revel in the winter festivities! I know I can’t!

Of course our gift to you is some jolly reading; we’ve got some handy tips in this month’s issue on how to dress to impress during the party season and how to do Christmas on a student budget. So if you need some light reading to accompany your gingerbread latte, or you simply need to procrastinate some more because your deadlines are unjustly in the final week of the year – keep reading!

But it can’t always be about Christmas, and in terms of what we’ve got in this issue that certainly isn’t a terrible thing! We’ve got plenty of good reads for those who don’t feel like putting up the tinsel just yet. Politics takes a look at the West Lothian question, sport explores the future for American sports in Britain, and the list goes on.

Although we went a little crimbo crazed with the cover, we hope that there is something for everyone this issue. Our resolution is to continue to bring you more new and exciting content so watch this space Southampton!

So seeing as we won’t be returning until next year, on behalf of the Wessex Scene, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Tahlie

TAHLIE COOPEREDITOR

FRONT COVER BY MUSFIRAH WAJIHAH

editor@soton.ac.uk

Issue3.indd 2 24/11/2014 13:07:50

WELCOME 03

FEATURES

5 cheap ways to do christmas 04

that first trip home 06OPINION

taming the trolls 08

medical students and the ‘m’ word

10

POLITICS

MERRY CHRISTMAS BRITAIN! 12

THE IMPOSSIBLE QUESTION 14SCIENCE & ENvIRONMENT

DINOSAUR KARATE & SEA MONSTERS 16

SUPER SCIENCE STOCKING FILLERS 18LIFESTYLE

FESTIVE FANCIES 20

SOUTHAMPTON AUTUMN/WINTER STREET STYLE

22

THE BEST BEAUTY BUYS ON A BUDGET 24TRAvEL

lJUBLJANA: THE CHRISTMAS CITY 26

ISSUE 3decEMBER2014

wessexscene.co.uk

fb.com/wscene

@wessexscene

POLITICS 14 Th e Impossible Question - Cameron Ridgway. Image by Joshua Samways

WINCHESTER

numbers: THE SIMPLICITY OF COMPLEXITY

28

INTERNATIONAL

EBOLA: THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT?

30

SPORT

american football and a very british future

32

SUCCESS FOR UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON’S GYMNASTICS TEAM

34

PAUSE

CRYPTIC CHRISTMAS CROSSWORD 35

Issue3.indd 3 24/11/2014 13:07:52

5 cheap ways to do

CHRISTMAS

Secret SantaIf you’re the sort of person who, like me, gets far too excited at the prospect of buying (and, yes, receiving) presents, you’ll probably be aware that this can be a costly hobby. It sounds obvious, but a Secret Santa with your housemates or friends can be a really good way to avoid spending too much money, because as much as I’m sure your friends will appreciate your effort, there’s always going to be that one person who, after you spent months pondering the perfect gift for them, opts for some soap. And, let’s be honest, we don’t have time for “it’s the thought that counts” – we’re students! So just agree a price limit with your friends, whatever you all think you can afford. This way you can all keep the cost low but choose the perfect present for one friend rather than several mediocre ones for all.

The festive period is truly upon us students, as the decking of halls and trimming of trees have been put on hold to finish up assignments and hit the town. But are we just stalling to stop

ourselves spending? Here’s some tips on how to get into the holiday spirit without spending a fortune.

HEBE NEATE-CLEGG FEATURES EDITOR IMAGES (RIGHT) BY CHARLOTTE SCARROW

04 FEATURES

Issue3.indd 4 24/11/2014 13:07:52

Cheap Christmas DinnerIt might feel like you can’t even afford to have more than baked beans on toast sometimes, and so you might not think you and your friends could actually have anything more than some pre-sliced packet turkey for Christmas dinner, but it is possible to have a slap-up meal that, yes, may not be as good as your mum’s, but which is cheap and fairly tasty.

As well as Asda, obviously infamous for its low prices, don’t forget Aldi and Lidl. I myself only recently discovered the delights of these German Supermärkte. As well as the prices being , the food is actually really good! Put some money in a pot with your flatmates and go together to one of these stores and you should be able to get a pretty cheap meal that you can all cook and enjoy together.

Vouchers and DiscountsMake the most of that 2 for 1 offer voucher you’ve been hoarding since May, and keep an eye out for deals wherever you can. I would say that you should try to buy in advance of December, before all the shops hike up their prices, but all I can hope is that you’ve already done it and/or will listen to my words of wisdom for next year.

Don’t forget your student discount! So many shops nowadays will offer student discounts and it’s simply a waste if you don’t use them – you can easily save a couple of hundred pounds a year from my experience, just use it wisely. There’s also Unidays online, which offers the same thing, so don’t forget to whip that out on sites like Asos.

Wrapping paperYou wouldn’t think this is a particularly big money-eater, but every little helps. When it comes to saving money on wrapping paper, there are things you can do. Now, it may be a bit of a cheapskate move, but recycle wrapping paper – don’t necessarily use the same bits of paper with the same person more than once, but if you’ve bought some nice wrapping paper and it remains mostly in one piece after having been opened, then flatten it out and use it again for someone else. It’s not actually doing anyone any harm, and they’ll never know unless you tell them.

You can also use alternatives to wrapping paper. For example, use the Financial Times pages as wrapping paper – newspapers can look unique and retro, and is probably cheaper and less obvious than brown paper.

PresentsFriends and family might be just as happy with something you’ve made as they would with something expensive but meaningless. Being a hard working student is time consuming enough, but if it can save you money and look more meaningful – there’s only one right answer. Don’t get me wrong, if they’ve told you/if you spot in the shop some perfect idea for a gift, go ahead and get it, but thinking about presents can be as equally important than the amount you spend on them. Things like cheap picture frames that you can spice up are really easy to make and something they can always use.

FEATURES 05

Issue3.indd 5 24/11/2014 13:07:53

ATHAT FIRST TRIP HOMEAfter some of the busiest weeks of her life, full of new friends, new plAces And new subjects, writer Alice HeAring couldn’t wAit to go home And recuperAte with her fAmily.

IMAGE BY PAIGE NICHOLAS

Issue3.indd 6 24/11/2014 13:07:54

AAfter four weeks of non-stop working and socialising and discovering, you return to a strangely familiar place you call home. The word ‘home’ has seeped its way into your vocabulary over the past few weeks in reference to a different place – your new accommodation, whether it’s in halls or private rented.

There’s always going to be one thing that you do first, something you’ve been thinking about constantly. The first thing I did was try to start my dented, old, rusted blue car. Clearly my want of adventure never ceased because here I was, trying to drive a car that refused to start, abandoned for a month with a grudge against me for leaving it to rust a little more. I think it missed me and I missed it too.

You suddenly realise how much your family means to you.

I was speeding down country roads blaring The Smiths as loudly as I possibly could with my dad in the passenger seat duetting with Morrissey like the best friend I never had. The occasion became a memory.

These become memories you and I can keep of the life we lead back home.

You begin to indulge in the luxuries of non-student life – the food that isn’t own brand, a hot bath and a flat screen TV. You run around like you’re five years old at Disneyland, on a mad frenzy, taking it all in as much as possible. You seek out your pets, attacking them with hugs and strokes, ignoring their avid attempts to escape your grasp of long lost affection. You run upstairs to fall daringly backwards on to your parents’ double bed, feeling the rush of the air past your ears before landing upon blankets dominated with the smell of washing powder. And maybe you run to every window to see a different view, faintly remembering all the different ways they looked in each season.

I boiled the kettle just to hear the satisfying click.

Personally, on my first evening back, I was caught by emotion in a familiar scene that I realised I’d been homesick for all along. I was sitting on the sofa in front of Have I Got News For You in my pyjamas with a cup of hot tea, facing our warm open fireplace. I took in my surroundings, observant. To my left was the wooden

statue of a giraffe my parents had brought back from Africa, to my right a mask from India. Behind me was a grandiose mirror, an antique passed down through my family, and the fireplace was ornate and slightly out of place. My old house bore strange looking beams on every wall and ceiling. Upstairs my dad was tucking my little brother into bed. The familiarity stunned me; I never realised how much I’d missed the simple things. All my family were home at once this weekend and this being such a rare occasion, it felt like Christmas. It was a wonderful quality of life.

Strange, how enlightening it is to realise the real differences between university life and home. After talking to a few different people, I realise that they have had different experiences of coming home. Some people leave it longer before returning and so their feelings might be stronger. On the other hand, some people have returned home almost every other weekend so the feeling won’t be as strong. Others have found the return more relaxing rather than emotional. However, the first homecoming is significant and certainly a great relief to anyone feeling homesick.

If you’re reading this and you’ve been missing home, it would not be home if you do not miss it. Feeling this way means appreciating what you really have. Hang on in there. It takes surprisingly little time for something wonderful to happen that will distract you from missing home so much and maybe it will make life a little more bearable for now. Hold on to this sentiment and know that you are not alone.

FEATURES 06

Issue3.indd 7 24/11/2014 13:07:55

TAMING THE TROLLSP u t t i n g t h e m u z z l e o n i n t e r n e t t r o l l s i s n o t t h e a n s w e r w i l l i a m b r o o k s

T hus begins the prolific cyberlibertarian John Perry Barlow’s “Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace”. This intriguing (and admittedly somewhat romanticised) rhetoric was first published in 1996 in protest to the perception that the United States government was attempting to impose

its own agenda on the internet and its many users. With the news last week that Justice Secretary Chris Grayling intends to quadruple jail sentences in the UK for ‘internet trolling’, I found my mind wondering back to the Declaration, and how it reminds us that party policy and cyberspace do seldom make for a happy marriage.

Now, before I go any further, I feel obliged to categorically state that I do not condone the actions of the more offensive and belligerent internet trolls out there, nor am I seeking to offer up an apologist stance in this article. But while internet trolls can be among the worst examples of the consequences of an “unregulated” cyberspace, there are many reasons not to compliantly nod through yet another hard line restriction of personal freedom.

Straight away I feel that the lettering of Grayling’s argument is extremely poor; the word “troll”, referring to internet wrongdoing, is his and not mine. I am aware – as quite possibly Grayling is not – of the obscure, ever-changing, inflammatory definition of the term “troll”. This case is perhaps best demonstrated by the McCanns, or specifically, the abuse

“Governments of the Industrial World, you weary giants of flesh and steel, I come from Cyberspace, the new home of Mind. On behalf of the future, I ask you of the past to leave us alone. You are not welcome among us. You have no sovereignty where we gather”.

that has been aimed at them on social media in recent weeks. With the endorsement of Sky News, supporters of the family took it upon themselves to hunt down these internet bullies, which resulted in the uncovering of Brenda Leyland as one of the McCanns’ more prolific tormentors. Within hours of her exposure Leyland committed suicide. Leyland was classed by many branches of the media as a “troll”, but did this woman (with a history of mental-illness) deserve such a label? And more importantly, did her actions merit a jail sentence over professional treatment?

This is just one micro-example of what police and courts will face on a daily basis in an anti-troll war, and we swiftly discover that the lines do not cease to be blurred over the issue of mental health. For many people “trolling” is simply the act of mischief-making. Say, entering a Led Zeppelin forum pretending to be a Justin Bieber fan, or feigning ignorance on a football club’s history to get a delicious rise out of the resident pedant. Juvenile? Certainly. But we should never overlook the internet’s ability to provide the kind of escapism that the constraints of a modern, politically-correct society can never offer. In these very common cases Grayling would potentially be propelling countless people into the court process for being bored, immature, drunk or simply attention-seeking idiots.

Aside from the reservations I have over the practicality of such proposals, there are far more ominous implications that should concern us all. Take the police prosecution of Azhar Ahmed back in 2012 as one example. He confessed to posting several Facebook messages within days of the killing of six

08 OPINION

Issue3.indd 8 24/11/2014 13:07:55

TAMING THE TROLLSP u t t i n g t h e m u z z l e o n i n t e r n e t t r o l l s i s n o t t h e a n s w e r w i l l i a m b r o o k s

British servicemen in Afghanistan: “All soldiers should die and go to hell,” one read. Certainly this is a deplorable statement, but if expressed in different terms, it is not far removed from the belief that British troops should not be in “Muslim lands”, which is a political sentiment, rather than a criminal act.

A spokesperson for Yorkshire police said: “He didn’t make his point very well and that is why he has landed himself in bother”. According to the police then, the price for not expressing oneself “very well” is a two-year community sentence. To add to the sense of arbitrariness surrounding these proceedings, the district judge who presided over Ahmed’s sentencing claimed his remarks where “derogatory, disrespectful and inflammatory”, and he was guilty of sending a “grossly offensive communication”. The idea of potential two-year jail sentences hinging on this lettering in the near future is a particularly worrying one. Who is to determine what constitutes “offensive communication” in such matters? No government should be able to get away with such a catch-all charge. The subjective nature of the term “offensive” is also problematic, as it is open to political manipulation by both the government and strident interest groups.

With the 2015 General Election fast approaching, Grayling’s comments in the wake of several prolific cases of internet trolling smack more of a party appealing to voters’ emotions

than about protecting their rights and freedoms. Ministers should instead be taking this opportunity to reflect calmly on the problem of internet abuse instead of viewing it as yet another vote-attracting opportunity. Jangling prison keys in such a manner makes it all the more apparent that Grayling is speaking less to the actual and potential victims of this type of behaviour than he is to his law-and-order constituents, specifically those who have little real understanding of the issue and its complexities but are scared of it anyway.

Poorly conceived, knee-jerk laws aimed at arbitrating what can and cannot be said by the citizens of a modern democracy should arouse suspicion even in the slowest mind. It is important to remember that two years is an extremely serious stretch of prison time, and is a potential sentence for selling knives illegally, causing death by dangerous driving, racially aggravated common assault, ill treatment of patients or imprisoning a woman. As offensive and damaging as trolling can be, placing it alongside such crimes feels disproportionate to say the least.

Cases of overwhelming public interest which appeal to our feelings and distort our judgment are always worthy of our scrutiny, and Grayling’s latest headline-grabbing initiative is a perfect example of a well-known legal adage: “hard cases make bad laws”.

OPINION 09

The subjective nature of the term “offensive” is also problematic, as it

is open to political manipulation by both the government and strident

interest groups.

Issue3.indd 9 24/11/2014 13:07:55

MEDICAL STUDENTS AND THE ‘M’ WORD

Most of us probably thought we’d finally made it when we secured a place at medical school, or at least I thought I had. However, it’s becoming more apparent that keeping our place can be even harder.

Friends and family begin assigning us with labels once we’ve achieved a place; we’re now the smart ones, the perfect and the ‘elite’. It’s easy to talk about the benefits of medical school and we’re grateful to be on such a respected course, a course that many people unfortunately fail to get into every year.

So why is it that sometimes we are eager to brush the subject of mental health under the carpet?

While there is a lack of research into medical students suffering from mental health conditions, existing studies do suggest that medical students are occasionally more likely to suffer from depression compared to students on other degree courses.

But does this possibly suggest that medical students are less likely to come forward with any problems regarding their mental health? And why might this be the case?

The healthcare system is built on a cycle of competition. From the minute we click ‘send’ on our UCAS applications, we willingly insert ourselves into a lifelong trajectory. It all starts with the race for a place at medical school. Eventually this evolves into a race for the best possible class ranking at the end of our five year degree. This only further progresses into the race for a spot at our desired hospitals to work as junior doctors. The competitive nature never ends. So is it therefore hard to seek support from our fellow classmates when in reality, they’re also competitors? Does revealing the most intimate parts of our lives only arm them with more ammunition against us?

Or do we keep our problems in the dark because of the constant striving for perfection? We might have left secondary school as the brightest and smartest. In a class of A/A* students however, it is incredibly easy to feel ‘average’. So we begin to compare ourselves to each other. We try to outdo each other with more revision and clocking more hours in the lab. The self-doubt inevitably starts to trickle in and we wonder whether we’ve made the right decision in picking a rigorous degree.

However, Tessa Davies, one of the pastoral tutors within the faculty, reiterates that this is perfectly normal,“Sometimes students try to live up to impossible standards and expectations. And the best thing to do can be to just take a step back and revaluate.”

So how do you spot someone in need of help? Tessa notes that the first sign is normally social withdrawal. There may be periods of prolonged absence from lectures and some may sleep excessively, or not even get enough of it.

The flip-side of this seems to be a ‘large jump’ in the number of students who are willing to talk and ask for help.

As a speaker said in one of my recent lectures: “none of us are superhuman. We all have our kryptonite”. We can’t start a dialogue on mental wellbeing if everyone decides it’s better left taboo. Sometimes the bravest (and maybe the most professional) thing to do is to ask for help.

If you are a Southampton medical school student and feel like you need to talk to someone, you can book an appointment with the pastoral tutor, Tessa Davies by calling: 02380595571. Alternatively, contact your personal tutor or get in touch with anyone within the faculty and help will be provided.

Among All the pressures of being A medicAl student, the biggest chAllenge cAn be our own mentAl well-being.

SASHA SANTHAKUMARIMAGE BY MUSFIRAH WAJIHAH

10 OPINION

Issue3.indd 10 24/11/2014 13:07:55

Don't be tempted to walk home alone, take the safe route

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Issue3.indd 11 24/11/2014 13:07:59

i n case anyone missed the news, Britain has been handed a bill for £1.7 billion from the European Union. Why? Because of Britain are economic prosperity in the last decade was higher in than forecast.

David Cameron has said that the UK will not be paying the bill by the deadline of December 1st. Although this is not to say that some, if not all, of the bill will be paid at some point. But what does all this mean for British politics?

For Britain this is a crucial time economically. Despite a double-dip recession, wages are not increasing at the same

MERRY CHRISTMAS BRITAIN!love from the European Union x

DAn linSTeAD eXplores the relAtionship between britAin And the eu, And why the lAtest bill could proVe costly

IMAGE BY JORDAN STEWART

12 POLITICS

Issue3.indd 12 24/11/2014 13:07:59

rate as inflation and Bank of England rates remain at an all time low. The country seems to be surviving, and prospering, albeit at a rate of yearly economic growth of around 2%.

Would paying the £1.7 billion bill affect any of that? Well if we are to believe that our economic prosperity is the cause for the bill, then yes it will have an effect on our economy. Although, perhaps not as noticeable as in previous years. It’s unlikely that this bill would cause many, if any, cuts on public services (other than those already planned) before the general election. Furthermore, it can be expected that the bill would not do serious harm to the economy; it would be detrimental to the EU to post a bill that would do more harm than good.

However, Britain is already one of the EU’s biggest contributors, paying 15 billion Euros in 2013, receiving just 6.5 billion in return. Moreover, other big contributors, France and Germany are due to receive a rebate from the EU, to the tune of £801 million and £614 million respectively.

Britain has to pay millions in fines to the EU on a daily basis, for things such as not allowing prisoners to vote or using different farming pesticides. This is another reason as to why there is outrage surrounding this extra bill. It may be fair to have to pay a fine for breaking the rules, which is no different than a parking fine for example. As Britain is already among the top five contributors to the EU, and including the fines added on to Britain, the amount that is paid to the EU does seem a rather large amount.

This leaves the question, why does the UK have to pay so much whilst others are refunded so much? Because of the high levels of prostitution and drug use in the UK. Yes really, these are now included as part of the economic forecast, but were not at the time of the EU’s original forecast. This may sound strange, particularly considering how Germany has previously bailed out countries, such as Greece (which could perhaps show that Germany deserves some form of rebate). But if Britain were to pay this bill in its entirety, it would show a green light to Brussels that they can give any bill and the country is expected to pay it. Ironically, it is a German MEP, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff that has insisted the UK pay ‘their duties’.

Politically, this is a hot subject, particularly with the general election just around the corner in May. All parties are currently vying for political favour, and with the continued rise of UKIP, who now have their first MP in Douglas Carswell (and possibly a second by the time this issue is printed), an issue like this could make or break a party’s election campaign. Nigel Farage has aired his views on this, describing it as ‘pretty outrageous’ and that people will be ‘very very angry’. A situation like this could help build hostility towards the EU, and hence boost

UKIP’s favour in the opinion polls and in the election result itself, particularly if David Cameron does pay the full amount to the EU.

In contrast it could have the opposite effect. UKIP are seen by many as a watered down racist party, not helped by acts such as Mike Read’s calypso song. If David Cameron were to take the strong stance he appears to take now, it could prevent voters from abandoning the Conservatives and voting for UKIP, something Cameron is desperate to avoid following the departure of multiple Conservative MPs to UKIP. Additionally, should he stick to this strong statesman figure that he is demonstrating? It will undoubtedly boost opinion polls for the Conservatives as a whole (Cameron regularly appears top of ‘favourite current party leader’ type polls already). What is sure, is that come the time of the Leaders’ Debates in the Spring this particular issue will rise again, regardless of whether the bill is paid or not.

BRITAIN HAS TO PAY MILLIONS IN FINES TO THE EU ON A DAILY BASIS, FOR THINGS SUCH AS NOT ALLOWING PRISONERS THE VOTE

As stated, some MEP’s in Europe expect Britain to pay the bill, but this looks like it might not be a simple case of just paying the bill at any date. The EU are allowing an emergency meeting to discuss how the bill was calculated – more specifically than simply a higher than expected growth in the economy. Additionally, this meeting will discuss why Britain has to pay the bill at all. This must ask, if this is still up for debate, why issue the bill originally? And indeed, surely this can show that there is the potential for Britain to not pay the bill at all, making a somewhat unnecessary drama.

This controversial issue does not seem to be going any time soon, and the longer this goes on for, the more people will begin to have a view one way or the other. Ultimately, this should not destroy our blossoming economy but its effect will be most clearly seen at the General Election. With the EU already being a determining factor for voters, if David Cameron buckles under EU pressure it could signal the end of this coalition government. However, should Cameron stick to his guns, this could be the determining factor in terms of a full Conservative government come May.

POLITICS 13

Issue3.indd 13 24/11/2014 13:07:59

Since 1977, when Scottish MP Tam Dalyell raised the issue, the West Lothian question has become a perennial issue in British politics. CAMERON RIDGWAY INVESTIGATES

THE iMPOSSiBle QUESTION?

IMAGE BY JOSHUA SAMWAYS

14

Issue3.indd 14 24/11/2014 13:08:01

T he West Lothian question concerns whether or not Scottish and Welsh MPs should be able to vote on issues which are only to the pertinence to England has split debate since the 70s.

Many people are, perhaps rightly, annoyed that certain elements of important policy can be influenced by those who are unaffected by it. It has led to political decisions which do not represent the will of the people. Even though, for the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish, many areas of policy such as health, policing and education have long since been devolved from Westminster control, and often the vote will have no direct effect on MPs from constituencies where powers on such issues have long since been devolved.

Concern over the issue has grown due to the recent referendum on Scottish Independence. According to a YouGov poll of English voters conducted at the time of the referendum 72% of respondents said they wanted Scottish MPs to be banned from voting on ‘England-only’ issues.

However, despite the gravity of the issue from a political and democratic standpoint, it would appear that there is no clear solution or answer to the question. Devolution varies between areas of the UK, which would mean that the effect

of limiting voting on certain issues to English MPs could have an adverse impact on other areas of the UK. This also raises the issue of what exactly can be determined as an ‘England-only’ issue, as the potential effect on Scotland, Wales or Northern Island would be difficult to assess. There also appears to be little initiative among politicians to consider proposals to resolve the issue. The Conservative Party has only just started discussing the issue in light of the result of the Scottish independence vote and pledges made in order to incentivise voters to stay in the UK. While the Labour Party appear to be worried about the impact of any change to the status quo on their electoral performance as 40 of its MPs in Westminster represent Scottish constituencies.

One major proposal to deal with the issue is the creation of a separate ‘English parliament’ that would deal specifically with policy and issues which are only of importance to England. This may be the best proposal in terms of giving constitutional equality to all areas of the UK.

This proposal has failed to gain much support in England and it could become problematic if the party elected to lead a devolved English institution, which was different from that elected to control a UK wide parliament. This could potentially lead to a situation where no party could guarantee that it would be able to fulfil its manifesto promises if they referred specifically to England.

Simply banning MPs from Scotland, Wales and Northern Island from voting on issues which are only of importance to England is another proposal, though this could prove tricky to implement due to the political implications for parties involved. Especially those, like the Labour party, with more Scottish MPs than other nation-wide parties. One thing is clear, in light of the changing political landscape in Scotland the demand for an answer to such a complex question is only going to increase, and it will not be easy to find.

15

Issue3.indd 15 24/11/2014 13:08:02

STEGOSAURUS KICKS ALLOSAURUS IN THE CROTCHScientists in Houston have found the remains of a prehistoric duel which saw an Allosaur dinosaur conquered by a Stegosaur over 147 million years ago.

The fossilised remains of an allosaur, a dinosaur famed for its predatory capabilities, was found to have a small injury between its legs, thought to be the cause of its demise. Until now, the origin of this injury was unknown but scientists have matched it with a sharp weapon on the tail of a stegosaur, an equally ferocious dinosaur it seems. Due to the placement of the wound, it was thought that the extended damage could easily lead to infection, with a fossilised abscess present.

Palaeontologist, Robert Bakker of the Houston Museum of Natural Science commented that the infection would have spread, and eaten away bone the size of a baseball, before infecting legs and reproductive organs. This means that the stegosaurus conquered the allosaurus. In fact, caused it to limp for some time while becoming more infected over a long time period.

Well, he should’ve never looked at Mrs Stegosaurus that way.

However, if we put aside the sheer childish pleasure of an awkward pose frozen in time for millions of years, it holds real scientific value.

A previously slow, herbivorous stegosaur attacking and triumphing over a carnivorous allosaur gives new clues into dinosaur behaviour in a prehistoric world, where survival was a daily struggle. In fact, the stegosaurus spines in the tail show reduced stiffening which gives them three-dimensional dexterity, showing their capabilities in a whole new light. This has been compared to cow horns in modern life.

This evidence challenges our preconceptions on who ruled the prehistoric ages, plus it puts an immature grin on all our faces.

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KIRSTY BRADLEYIMAGE BY JOSHUA SPACKMAN

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AMPHIBIOUS SEA MONSTER FOUNDOne of the biggest gaps in paleontology has been the link between land and sea creatures, but scientists at the University of California have found a significant part of the jigsaw: the discovery of a sea monster that was in fact built for land and sea.

Within deposits previously unexplored by humans, the new dolphin-like ichythosaur is the first sea creature of its kind found, to utilise both terrestrial and marine worlds, creating a more complete picture of how life transitioned from land back to sea.

The later ichthyosaurs were numerous and successful 200 million to 145 million years ago, and were giants, almost 11 times human size, at about 20m. This amphibious icthyosaur could be visualised with a behaviour much like sea lions, with unusually large flippers for the sea reptiles.

Cartorhynchus lenticarpus was 0.5m in length and thought to have lived 248 million years ago in the early Triassic period. It had a short snout and strong wrists much like a sea lion, but powerful limbs and ribs which would have made it a successful swimmer in shallow waves. Dr Montani hypothesizes that the creature was adapted for foraging on the seafloor; its anatomy is thought to be similar to that of a slow, shrimp-eating creature. However, not all the questions have been answered with this discovery. There is still debate over what it ate, how quickly it could swim and how its descendants could develop long dolphin-esque tails and snouts for hunting faster prey.

This fossil helps to highlight that it took 4 million years for marine creatures to recover from the Permian-Triassic mass extinction, 252 million years ago, where 90% of marine species were lost. After this disaster they were seen to originate from Chinese deposits before beginning their global ocean take over. This poses the question: why was this part of the world optimal for their recovery?

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The Geek Manifesto: Why Science Matters Mark HendersonThe concept of this book, as Henderson details in the introductory chapter, can be summed in the words “precisely what politicians think is less important than how they think.” It asks the reader to consider whether they think scientifically, and how doing so can improve many varied areas of society.

In the following eight chapters, he presents his arguments for “why science matters to…” politics (voting), government (policies), the media, economics, education, justice, medicine and the environment. A true scientist, Henderson encourages us to question what we are told, and he presents strong evidence to support his arguments (references included so that you can see for yourself ).

A must for politics students, and interesting reading for anyone else.

For the Love of Physics Walter LewinIn this book, Professor Walter Lewin tells the story of how one man fell in love with physics, encouraging you to do the same, be it for the first time, when your eyes are initially opened to the magic of science, or allowing you to fall all over again after the frustration of exams or thesis writing or living in the real world has turned you bitter.

You will be enthralled by all the little everyday things you previously took for granted. Lewin is an especial lover of rainbows and the wonders of light. The journey he takes you on is also incredibly personal, detailing what it was like to grow up in the Netherlands during the Second World War, and what his life is like now.

I would say with confidence that I don’t think any teacher has ever been more loved and appreciated by their students. And he has so many; he has affected the lives of not just those who have been in his classes in Cambridge, Massachusetts, but worldwide. This is with good reason. It is very easy to make new, ground-breaking science exciting, but to make the core, fundamental “boring background concepts” seem magical the way Walter Lewin does takes a real gift.

Galaxies: A Very Short Introduction John GribbinThe Very Short Introduction series are published by Oxford University Press and feature a range of authors who are experts in their subjects, with now over 400 titles. Gribbin’s introduction to galaxies is one in particular, picked here for its full coverage of the topic in an easy style to follow, starting from the very basics of the physics of astronomy, and including the history and future of the study of galaxies.

It may now be common knowledge that we live in a galaxy that is just one of many billions more of these hosts of millions of stars, but it was only proven that there are other galaxies outside of our own as late as the 1920s; it is a young science, and since then the study of galaxies has taught us so much more about our universe, including bringing us the discovery of the evidence of dark matter. If you are burning to find out more, you needn’t be an astrophysicist to follow a VSI to Galaxies.

How to Live Forever (and 34 Other Really Interesting Uses of Science) Alok JhaSince followed by How to Solve the Da Vinci Code (&34ORIU of Maths) and How to Destroy the Universe (&34ORIU of Physics), by Richard Elwes and Paul Parsons, this is an easy-to-pick-up-and-put-down-again-as-you-please book that you can read bit by bit in any order, good if you are often short on time.

Alok Jha is a science writer for the Guardian and ITV News science correspondent, and unsurprisingly a very engaging and informative science communicator. How to Live Forever is a light, entertaining book, which won’t have you bogged down in complicated concepts, but brings to life the things that science can do, including how to start a plague, how to build a brain, and how to become invisible – recommended (by Dallas Campbell, science presenter) for “anyone who hasn’t thought about science since school”.

SUPER SCIENTIFIC STOCKING FILLERShopefully this will either help you find some present ideAs for difficult people, or some new wAys to procrAstinAte oVer the christmAs reVision “breAk”.

JENNIFER ALLERTON SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT EDITORIMAGE BY BETHANY WESTALL

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1. What’s your ultimate festive party outfit?I love dressy separates with more casual pieces, so for example a sequin skirt and heels with an embellished sweater or roll neck jumper. It’s refreshing to show you don’t have to go completely all over sequins and sparkle to do party, you can keep it wearable and stylish with classic pieces.

2. Where do you recommend to shop for Christmas party-wear on a budget?F&F (at Tesco) have actually got really nice party-wear this season. They’ve covered all the key trends and have really upped their game. Likewise is Next, their shoes and handbags are amazing, and perfect to add to a LBD to get instantly party ready without having to buy a full outfit.

3. What’s a key accessory this Christmas?It’s all about the faux fur this season. Anything from an all over furry clutch bag to a pom-pom keyring, it doesn’t matter whether you go statement or keep it simple, it just adds a little bit of chic to party-wear.

4. And the perfect party-wear cover-up?Again, faux fur is a winner! A little cropped faux fur in a pastel colour gives party dresses a vintage feel, and I like the way they channel a bit of 50s Hollywood style.

5. What should the man in your life be wearing?The man in my life would have to be wearing shirts with sweaters and a sharp suit for the Christmas parties, preferably grey because, well, every man looks good in an a la David Beckham grey suit! Also, a classic Fairisle patterned jumper is a must for the festive period!

6. Whose celebrity wardrobe would you most like to raid?I would love to raid Olivia Palermo’s wardrobe .She always gets it spot on and is so good at layering and clashing different looks. She has all the latest designer outfits and I like how she always keeps her hair and make-up subtle to let her outfits stand out.

7. What item is at the top of your Christmas wishlist?This year I really want a gorgeous pair of heels, ideally they would be Nicholas Kirkwood but they may end up being a Toppers pair seeing as they have such good shoes at the moment!

Thanks Harriet!

festiVe fAnciesThe Christmas season fast approaching means that party invitations just keep coming. I caught up with Reveal Magazine’s fashion assistant Harriet Davey for her take on 2014’s party-wear staples, so you’ll have no excuse to turn down an offer this holiday season…

ELLE LARSONIMAGE BY ELEANOR MAN

20 LIFESTYLE

Create a brighter future.Excel Southampton Placement Programme

Placement opportunities that build up your CV, expand your network and open graduate recruitment opportunities

We offer a wide range of 4 – 12 week structured, paid internships over the Easter and Summer breaks, based both on campus and within a wide variety of external companies.

Project lead and person specific, our opportunities are carefully selected to ensure that you receive the most valuable, inspiring and exciting experiences.

Excel Southampton Placement Programmeplacements@southampton.ac.ukwww.southampton.ac.uk/careers/placements

Issue3.indd 20 24/11/2014 13:08:06

Create a brighter future.Excel Southampton Placement Programme

Placement opportunities that build up your CV, expand your network and open graduate recruitment opportunities

We offer a wide range of 4 – 12 week structured, paid internships over the Easter and Summer breaks, based both on campus and within a wide variety of external companies.

Project lead and person specific, our opportunities are carefully selected to ensure that you receive the most valuable, inspiring and exciting experiences.

Excel Southampton Placement Programmeplacements@southampton.ac.ukwww.southampton.ac.uk/careers/placements

Issue3.indd 21 24/11/2014 13:08:06

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elle lArSOn And lAUrA cOX recently hit highfield cAmpus to scout out the chicest looks of the dAy! here our some of their fAVourites.

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1 AbigailWe loved Abigail’s cosy faux fur gilet and the use of pastel colours in Au-tumn/Winter. Ripped jeans are pretty much an essential item this season as they’re so versatile! Abigail also added some gorgeous jewellery to her look. She shops mostly at Topshop and Zara.

2 HENNAWe love Henna’s vintage printed shirt, which she paired with leggings and ankle boots both from New Look.

3 jackieJackie, an Accounting and Finance student, combined a fl uff y red jumper with denim dungarees, red Dr. Marten boots and a chunky gold chain for the perfect casual look. She also shops mainly at Topshop.

4 BENBen, who studies Mechanical Engi-neering, wore a mix of diff erent labels including Zara,Massimo Dutti and TK Maxx. He teamed a printed t-shirt with a wax jacket and brogue boots for a casual yet smart look.

5 ALICEAlice, who studies marketing, teamed a red shirt from Primark with H&M leggings, black ankle boots and a chic black hat, also from Primark.

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BEST BEAUTY BUYS on A budgetOne thing I realised went I got to university was that I had to budget. Gone were the splurges on insignificant things. Instead, any spare cash was going towards food or bills. However, for somebody who is as much of a beauty junkie as myself, there was no way I was going to cut down on my buying totally, so I started searching for the best bargain beauty items, and here are my top five!

HANNAH MYLREA IMAGE BY OWEN WEBB

MUA Eye Shadow palettesAt £4 these palettes are a steal. Comparable to the Urban Decay Naked Palettes, they’re highly pigmented and all come with a huge (twelve!) range of colours, in both matte and shimmer shades. My personal favourite is the ‘Heaven and Earth’ palette, but, of course, they’re all incredible.

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection ConcealerA cult favourite. The best concealer I’ve ever used, period. There’s a reason it’s one of the most hyped products in the blogosphere, try it and you’ll see why. Many bloggers even choose this concealer over high end beauty brands. As well as expertly covering dark circles and blemishes, it’s water resistant and stays put for up to 16 (!) hours.

Natural Collection Blushed Cheeks BlusherNatural Collection productions can be hit and miss, but their blushers (specifically peach-melba and pink cloud) are lightweight and pigmented. At £1.99 they’re definitely worth a try!

Rimmel Soft Kohl Eye PencilA classic. Strong colours and lasts all day; this is the best bargain eyeliner.

Barry M Nail PaintsIn almost every colour under the sun, I think that the Barry M Nail Paints have become rather obsolete in the past few years. Once the holy grail of nail varnishes, they’re now passed over for the Essies and OPIs instead; but there’s no need for this! The Barry M formula is better than ever, so there’s no need to be spending more than £2.99 on nail varnish!

What are your favourite bargain beauty buys?

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T his year Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital was chosen by Lonely Planet as the second of 10 top European destinations travellers should visit ASAP. In case you were wondering, the first one was Greece – but

while everyone has heard of Greece and most have probably been there already, Slovenia and its capital remain relatively unknown to the majority. I have even met some people from the countries bordering Slovenia that weren’t entirely sure about its location on the map.

Even though just trying to pronounce “Ljubljana” may discourage you from ever setting foot in the country, I can assure you it will be worth your while. Ljubljana is a beautiful city with fairy tale-like qualities, which become most apparent at Christmas time.

Not to sound cheesy, but there are plenty of reasons why you should visit the city this December (or the next):

1Christmas lights are everywhere – but in Ljubljana, they somehow look more charming than tacky. They cover the city centre also known as the ‘old town’, due to the

baroque, medieval and classical architecture. When you take a walk along the river Ljubljanica, surrounded by pastel-coloured old buildings and trees covered in fairy lights, it seems magical – especially after having had a nice hot cup (or two) of mulled wine.

2Cute wooden stalls are scattered across the city during the holiday time, where you can buy a variety of little gifts, toys and some vaguely useful things such as

handmade scarves and home-made jams, chocolates, candied almonds and corny Christmas movies. And, of course, plenty of mulled wine.

Ljubljana: THE CHRISTMAS CITYfrom picture-perfect snow scenes, beAutiful Architecture And delicious treAts, here’s A few reAsons why you should Visit sloVeniA’s cApitAl this winter.

MAšA VOVkIMAGE BY ZOE COLLINS

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3The city of Ljubljana lies on flat ground between mountains – that means that from any point of the capital you can see snow covered mountain tops. On a

small hill covered with forest in the middle of the city, lies a mighty medieval castle where extravagant parties are held and which forms the backdrop for the annual New Years fireworks display.

4Ljubljana’s river runs through the city centre and around the castle hill. It reflects the colourful lights in the evenings, and you can take a peaceful boat ride

along it if you want to see the city from a different perspective. Alternatively you could just sit in one of the many little vintage coffee shops or bars at the riverside and enjoy a traditional Slovenian walnut roll.

5The old town is also famous for its bridges, built through the various eras of history. The most famous one is the Triple Bridge, which is actually three bridges with old-

style lamps at the sides, connecting the main city square and the high street to the other side of the town. Recently another new bridge has been built nearby; it has become heavy with love padlocks – but even if you are single, do not worry – just put the name of your crush on that lock, I have been told it works like voodoo.

6Ljubljana resembles a Christmas card – every December, there is a giant Christmas tree set up in the Prešeren square, in the town centre. And every

now and then we get a white Christmas – complete with a snowman on every corner, happy children running around, falling over sledges and angry couples taking it out on each other via snowball fights.

7In Slovenia, you don’t just get Santa, but also Saint Nicholas, who brings chocolates and dried fruit to good kids in the early December. However, it’s important to

be careful, as he has an entourage of demons that deal with the bad kids – so if you’ve been naughty you better watch out!

8Travelling to Slovenia from the UK doesn’t take long and is really inexpensive, especially since tickets can be bought through low-cost airlines such as Easyjet and

Wizzair. With a bit of advance holiday planning, you could well get a return flight ticket for under £50. There are also very nice hostels all around the place (one of them having been selected as the ‘No. 1 Hippest Hostel’ by Lonely Planet).

So, all in all, what is there not to like? I have listed some reasons why you should visit, and now it’s your turn to Google the exact location of Slovenia (not to be confused with Slovakia!) and organise a trip. I can promise you would not regret it!

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NUMBERS:THE SIMPLICITY

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Numbers have been shaping our universe from the beginning of its existence, from its primordial frame to the far more complicated canvas that was stretched over millions of years by the ongoing evolution of mankind and the expansion of the universe.

We come across numbers in every aspect of our lives – the buildings you see when you walk down the street, the meal you’re cooking and the thoughts you’re thinking.

Everything can be measured because there is always a pattern. The universe itself is made of patterns that we like to call numbers. Einstein’s well-known equation e=mc² tells us how numbers lay at the very heart of space and time.

The patterns are everywhere – for example the number 3, which is considered sacred in some cultures, is found in religion, song writing, traffic lights and so on. It is the central point of many religions: the Holy Trinity formed of Father, Son and Holy Ghost. We see this number in our everyday life – the 3 meals of the day, the kids learning their ABCs and the “ready, set, go”. Not to mention the song “Row, row, row your boat”. It is also found in Fibonacci’s sequence and in the triangles that are a fundamental part of mathematics, architecture and even art.

Fibonacci’s sequence applies to everything we find in nature. Every number in the sequence is the sum of its two predecessors, except for the first two numbers, 1 and 1. So it goes like this: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13…. If we use squares of the

sizes in the sequence and connect their opposite corners by drawing circular arcs, we can even use numbers to create the representation of the so-called “golden spiral”, that, amazingly, looks like the shell of a snail. The sequence has applications in computer science (the Fibonacci search technique) and mathematics, but the patterns are also found in nature; the petals of a flower, the branches of a tree and the structure of a pine cone.

Music is another art from which is more based on numbers than you would think. Pythagoras, the great mathematician, had discovered the 2:1 ratio, and from that, he developed the musical scale of today. He is also the inventor of one of the fundamental theorems that lay at the heart of mathematics, x²+y²=z², which describes the relation between the sides of a right triangle. Fibonacci also gave a contribution to music; the piano. For example, if you take the major C scale, you will notice 8 white keys (numbers of notes in an octave, also a number from the sequence). The chromatic scale has 5 black keys in it (number found in the sequence), 2 and a separate group of 3 (also numbers from the sequence).

The recipe for that delicious cake you’re eating has numbers in it (how many eggs, ounces of flour, pints of milk). When you drive, you shift from the 3rd gear to the 4th. The music you’re listening to is just the interpretation of a frequency, of a few 1s and 0s. The beauty lies in its simplicity. There is an infinity of numbers, and an infinity of infinities. Everything around us is made of numbers. You are made of numbers, and so am I. Enjoy that feeling.

NUMBERS:THE SIMPLICITY

OFCOMPLEXITY

THE BEAUTY OF THE PATTERNS THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES…

ANDREEA ZAHARIAIMAGE BY HOLLY LAWSONN

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THE EBOLA OUTBREAK HAS CREATED AN INCREASED ATMOSPHERE OF NATIONAL CONCERN, BUT IS IT TRULY A SERIOUS THREAT TO INTERNATIONAL STABILITY? SAMUEL TYLER EXAMINES THE FACTS

EBOLATHE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT?30 INTERNATIONAL

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Origins of the Ebola OutbreakIt is widely accepted that the recent Ebola outbreak began in late 2013. The ‘Patient 0’ of this outbreak was a two-year-old Guinean toddler who died on the sixth of December of that year. That is correct: when some of you were revising for your university and mock A-Level examinations, the outbreak had already begun. However, most of you would not have heard about this outbreak, which has so far infected approximately 10,000 people within the West African region in just eleven months, until recently. But what threat does the disease really pose?

The True Threat of EbolaLiberia, the worst affected nation of the Ebola outbreak, has an estimated population of 4.09 million people. As of 23 October 2014 there have been 4,665 cases of the disease in the country. That is correct, just cases. The current outbreak has infected a mere 0.1 per cent of the population, a fact that may seem surprising to some. When we look past the World Health Organisation figures, which claim that the number infected has reached the ten-thousand mark, and actually examine the current outbreak,we find a disease which isn’t actually posing as serious a threat as its predecessor. And just to provide a little more perspective: the Black Death (1348-1350) allegedly killed 1.5 million people out of an estimated population of 4 million people in England alone. That equates to 37.5 per cent of the population of Medieval England dead within two years.

Interestingly, these two cases are very comparable. Both Liberia and Medieval England share similar population sizes (approximately four million people) and in neither of the countries did the diseases originate. However, the difference between the two figures is surprising. While 0.1 per cent of the Liberian population have been infected by the disease since the virus reached the country in July of this year, 37.5 per cent of the population of Medieval England’s population died from the Black Death in just two years. This would suggest, therefore, that the Ebola virus is not as threatening as other diseases that humanity has faced in the past, despite the overwhelming anxiety that surrounds it. That said, this does not mean that there are no risks that arise from the Ebola epidemic.

A Risk-Free Situation? Arguably, Ebola may be a somewhat exaggerated threat to the world, but this does not mean that the disease is no cause for concern; it does still pose a potential threat to our collective welfare as a species. We still do not possess an effective treatment method for Ebola that has a high enough success rate to be classed as a ‘cure’. Moreover, a vaccine to

immunise individuals against this deadly virus still doesn’t exist, which is also a genuine worry (especially considering the 50-90 per cent mortality rate).

And then, from an international security perspective, there is also the risk of the Ebola virus being used as a biological weapon for terrorist purposes. Not only would it threaten our well-being, but there would be a risk of outbreak in the United Kingdom or other western countries that terrorist groups have targeted before.

Nevertheless, with regards to a cure for Ebola, the reality is that scientific investigations were not as heavily focused on the Ebola virus in the years prior to the 2014 outbreak as they were after the virus reached Liberia in mid-2014. The reason for this is the allegiance that the United States feel towards Liberia as a former colony of the American Colonisation Society for freed slaves. Consequently, ever since the disease reached Liberia in mid-2014, Harvard University’s Broad Institute began to sequence the genomes of multiple Ebola viruses by 28 August 2014 and the World Health Organisation announced that a vaccination is expected by 2015.

The aforementioned terrorist threat can be seen as a very real one, but not from Islamic State (IS). The reason for this is quite simple: IS have no effective means to transport the virus from West Africa to the UK or the US and, it would arguably act contrary to their interests. The jihadists’ primary concern is the development of a ‘neo-caliphate’ within the region of Iraq, Syria and the other regions surrounding these states using extremist methods. This therefore means that, while the US and UK foreign policies are a threat to IS, the terrorists are not prepared to begin extensive attacks on Euro-American soil. Whilst the brutal executions of aid workers and journalists are used as acts of terror against Britain and the US; they have not yet executed attacks within these countries and, in this way, IS can focus their forces on developing an Islamic State. Realistically, it seems there is no indication of a plan to infect Euro-American countries with the Ebola virus.

Should we truly fear Ebola?The answer to this question is obviously not simple. Ebola does still pose a threat to our welfare but the severity of this threat is massively exaggerated due to the various inaccuracies that are being presented to the public. The most likely result of the Ebola outbreak is that a vaccine will soon be created to combat the virus and people will be able to be immunised from 2015 onwards. Ebola is infectious but, perhaps we should consider that it is not as infectious as the media have presented it to be.

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Issue3.indd 32 24/11/2014 13:08:26

AMERICAN FOOTBALL AND A VERY BRITISH FUTURE

It is fair to say that American football has gained more popularity in the UK than ever before. London -more specifically Wembley stadium- has encouraged the sport as an occasional spectacle, often with an average payment of £100 a head. Financially it is an extremely lucrative sport at the moment.

There can also be no doubt that audiences are on the rise. After all, it is worth bearing in mind that crowds are not arriving in their thousands to witness the equivalent of, let’s say, Arsenal versus Manchester United or indeed Chelsea facing Manchester City. The most poignant example I can give is that of the September encounter between Miami Dolphins and Oakland Raiders. A crowd of over 80,000 watched what could be described as the American footballing equivalent to Crystal Palace against West Brom. The fact that the NFL returned to UK in late October and early November resulted in around a total of 250,000 spectators and subsequently a figure of £25m in gate receipts.

It is currently difficult to think of another sport apart from our football - or soccer to those from across the pond - that would fulfil a Wembley capacity on three occasions in a short time period. Certainly not with sides whose reputation doesn’t feature in the upper echelons of their domestic leagues. Indeed, it is worth mentioning that increasingly it is the corporate sector and wealthy novices who are becoming hooked by the media circus surrounding the sport.

Back in 2007 there would be a lower attendance and very likely just one mid season clash here in the UK. Since then progress has been not so much steady as a sharp incline. What does this mean for the near future? Well there are serious talks surrounding the founding of a London based outfit, who would in turn compete far more regularly than the showings currently on offer. For many it is more a case of ‘when’ not ‘if ’ a London franchise will emerge from the increased accessibility of American football. Surely if anywhere in the UK could successfully boast a franchise it would be our capital city. Furthermore head offices of the NFL which are located

in New York would likely find that if the current enterprise continues to flourish and snowball, then London is the eventual answer.

Southampton Stags have been at the forefront of sporting success in representing the game here at the university. The Stags narrowly missed out on victory in the South Coast league last year, racking up fourteen points compared to the winners Brighton, who collected sixteen. Belonging to a tier 1 division they sit alongside the likes of universities from all over the country: Glasgow, Newcastle, Leeds, Nottingham, Swansea and Brunel to name but a few. The increased cup matches alongside league rivalries has encouraged a strong American football presence on the university scene.

That is not to say it has become ingrained into mainstream sporting media, it is merely in the process of being shipped to more and more people. You are still unlikely to find many avid football/soccer fans who affiliate with a particular side or who can list an abundance of players of American Football. Not at all. However come five to ten years that may not be the case.

From what has been looked at, it is vital that for any sort of success, there needs to be success from the bottom up. That of course means support for lower tiers: a foundation always needs to be strong. Looking solely at the elite level, yes a London based team could play a block of say three matches at home, then move to the US for the same amount of time. However, smaller factors like whether players would be happy to spend weeks away from their families are worth considering. Would there need to be a salary cap for a team in the capital? Also there would clearly be tensions surrounding availability of Wembley in the autumn between the national side and an otherwise brand new invention. The furore surrounding the quality of the pitch would be a potential nightmare.

American football faces difficulties and it hasn’t yet stamped total authority over here. That said it isn’t hard to see why it could, and in the mega rich world of sport, solutions are more than often found.

IMAGE BY ALExANDER MAvRONICHOLASROSS WILSON SPORTS EDITOR

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The University of Southampton gymnastics society had success earlier this semester at the British Veteran’s competition in Newport. The men’s captain Simon Duncan came sixth overall, with first place on Parallel Bars, and third place on Rings, helping his team to become the Artistic Team Champions. After a shaky start on Vault, women’s captain Rachel Ogilvie did a good Beam routine, nailed her Floor routine and was fantastic on Asymmetric Bars, managing to complete some challenging routines which had only been performed in practice before.

At the end of the competition, I grabbed a quick interview with President Millie Cooper:JP: Congratulations on your success at the British Veterans competition, how does it feel to have won the category of best Artistic team?MC: Thank you, we’re very proud! It was a real surprise for us as there were many clubs competing who made a formidable opposition. We tried to work out during the competition how our team was performing but there were just too many combinations for us to calculate. Luckily it was our execution that separated us from the other teams and got us the trophy.

JP: What do you put your success down to?MC: Definitely the variety in our team. In order to win the competition your team needs to perform well on all 6 pieces of apparatus. Our success was largely down to the fact we had a team that could cover all pieces. Some of us are far more precision and technique based and performed well on floor and vault, where as others are far more strength and power orientated and put in some solid performances of rings and parallel bars.

JP: How tough was the competition out there?MC: The competition was of a high level across all categories of competition. Many of the categories had 20+ competitors in from around 12 different clubs, so there was a wide range of

competitors from all over the country.

JP: Are you hoping that successes like this will help develop the gymnastic society here at Southampton?MC: It is always a good result when you perform well at an important competition and we are hoping this will spark some interest from people who haven’t even thought about trying gymnastics before but thought ‘I’ve seen that on TV and it looks pretty cool’.

JP: Following your success do you have any eyes on some success at any upcoming competitions?MC: Of course we do, unfortunately gymnastics competitions are quite sparse and we only have a few a year but our next one is BUCS in February, so a solid follow up performance there is what we are aiming for. Then of course we have Varsity, which we won last year, and at the end of the year the Basingstoke Open Competition. We are also hoping to potentially do a couple of competitions between different universities.

JP: Whenever I watch gymnastics at the Olympics etc. they all seem very intense, what’s the social side of gymnastics like, especially here at the UOS?MC: It is very intense at the international level competitions, but at our competitions it’s significantly more friendly and relaxed, and at training it’s a completely different scenario. We are very laid back, it’s more fun than anything else; our favourite social is the gymnasium sleepover, where we spend the night just playing about and sleeping in the foam pits and on the trampolines.

Hopefully their fantastic success can be replicated in their future competitions later this year, and spur further interest in the sport itself.

SUCCESS FOR UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON GYMNASTICS SOCIETY

34 SPORT

JACK PETHICK SPORTS EDITORIMAGE BY SAMMIE BURSTOW

Issue3.indd 34 24/11/2014 13:08:32

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The Wessex Scene’sCRYPTIC CHRISTMAS CROSSWORD!

PAUSE 35

AcrOSS2 the reindeer’s stag do ended up in which club? (7)4 before it was festive sick outside the brewery it... (7)6 reindeer in a blender (7)9 odd devil with talons; children better be bloody good (5,5)

DOWn1 An elf’s skin condition (4)3 the true meaning of christmas (8)5 the reception to the snowman’s new trick with his carrot (6)6 the messiah?! (5)7 A merry christmas; deal or no deal? (4)8 santa’s post jesters snack. might take him longer to get home though (6)

Answers ACROSS 2 Lapland, 4 Wassail, 6 Blitzen, 9 Santa Claus, DOWN 1 Xmas, 3 Presents, 5 Frosty, 6 Brian, 7 Noel, 8 Donner

Issue3.indd 35 24/11/2014 13:08:34

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