Issue 7 - Platform Online

Transcription

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Platform is an independent publication
and any views expressed herein are not
necessarily those of the Editor or of the
Nottingham Trent Students Union and its
Officers. Companies advertised in Platform
are not necessarly endorsed by Nottingham Trent Students Union. No part of this
publication may be reproduced without the
prior permission of the Editor.
Letters should be addressed to:
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Platform
Nottingham Trent Students Union
Byron House
Shakespeare Street
Nottingham
NG1 4GH
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (0115) 848 6224
Platform Team 06/07…
Editor: Andrea Vassallo - (0115) 848 6224
Designer: Stephanie Combs - (0115) 848
6211
News Sub-Editor: Sam Phillips
[email protected]
Music Sub-Editor: Luke Eldridge
[email protected]
Film Sub-Editor: Ed Smith
[email protected]
Arts Sub-Editor: Please send emails to
[email protected]
Fashion Sub-Editor: Emma Hunt
[email protected]
Health Sub-Editor: Laura Johnstone
[email protected]
Sports Sub-Editor: Tim Spiers
[email protected]
Pictures Sub-Editor: Louise Furlow
[email protected]
To contact the relevant Sub, please either
email them directly or email platform@su.
ntu.ac.uk and put the relevant section in
the subject area.
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To advertise with us please contact
Simon Rhodes – (0115) 848 6244
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Cover Photo: Patrick Taylor
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Thanks to Polar Group Limited
www.polargroup.co.uk
Printed by Polar Print Group using Low Alcohol
technology and Vegetable based inks. Printed
on 9lives 55 Gloss 100 gsm (25% post-consumer
waste - 30% pre-consumer waste - 45% virgin ECF
from sustainable forests).
Hey guys & gals,
I’ve got a deadly serious question: how many of you
have forgotten all about your coursework and can
now blame those sleepless nights on worrying about
what to buy/not buy for the day dreaded by singletons & loved-up couples alike!
My plan is simply to listen hard and pick up on that
fleeting remark about the DVD that certain someone
has always loved but never actually added to their
collection…it’s fool proof (I think!) but I’m not worried
about ‘the big night’, because I’m off to Kinki Kupid to
celebrate early, and I hope to see you there!
In the mean time, we have packed plenty of distractions into Issue 7 for you – from
Bafta nominations and predictions to our bumper sized sports section, the low down
on where to go for a great variety of interesting talks hosted by NTU Islamic Society
during Islam Awareness Week and hot tips on how Student Volunteering Week can
help you enhance your CV this month.
Our Health Section centres on National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, in a
bid to raise awareness and understanding of the complexities of the illnesses that
control and cut short so many people’s lives.
Don’t forget that Executive Committee nominations are still open until the 8th of
February, which is then also the day for online voting to decide which of your passionate fellow students get to represent you as Trent Delegates at NUS Conference in
Blackpool this Easter.
I hope you have a fantastic fortnight and keep well.
Happy Reading!
This Issue:
4
8
News
What’s On on Campus?
• Student Volunteering Week is coming...
• NUS Conference 2007
• Executive Elections 2007
12 Music
16 Film
20 Fashion
22 Health
28 Sports
Platform Volume 15/Issue 7 • 3
Warning - Works in Progress...
SEX WARS
Arguably, prostitution is the oldest profession in the world and
although there are valid arguments as to why it should remain
illegal, surely the recent slayings in Ipswich give credence to many
people’s belief that this illegality dramatically increases the risk to
those involved.
Prostitution is technically not illegal in itself, however, many
aspects such as pimping, kerb crawling and brothels are – not to
mention the drug dependency culture that is intertwined within it.
Ironically, it is the illegalisation of these elements that leads prostitutes into dangerous situations and into the lairs of predators.
Eighteen months ago, Nottingham embarked on a prostitution
‘crackdown’ and created The Kerb Crawling Task Force; The Task
Force is a partnership between Nottingham City Council, Nottingham Police and local agencies’ Prostitute Outreach Workers
(POW) and The Jericho Road Project. Sgt Neil Radford of The Kerb
Crawling Task Force at Nottinghamshire Police believes the project
to be a success: “We will continue to make it extremely difficult
for both kerb crawlers and prostitutes to operate in our city”. Nottingham has already taken a ‘no tolerance’ stance against kerb
crawlers and has rejected plans to create a licensed red –light
zone in the city.
Whilst it is reassuring that Nottinghamshire Police are addressing
the problem, clearly, the selling of sex will never be abolished, and
by legalising it society would be claiming some control of the situation. There is a reasonable argument that it is a woman’s right
and personal choice to use her body how she wishes and, by denying this option, we are subsequently violating individual human
rights. In addition, instead of monitoring the problem, its illegality
is sending it underground and into dangerous realms.
4 • Platform
Volume 15/Issue 7
The legalisation of prostitution would allow our society to establish
safe brothels, which could be made secure not only by the presence of security but also by the encouragement of regular health
checks and the practise of safe sex. There is an increased chance
that prostitutes would be healthier in such conditions, therefore
limiting the spread of the ever increasing sexually transmitted
infections.
Students at Nottingham Trent University seem to be split on
the subject. Sophie Blundell, an English student, thinks Nottinghamshire Police’s campaign will have a negative effect: “It’s a
woman’s choice whether or not she chooses to prostitute her body.
Legalisation would make it much safer for those who choose to do
so.” Whereas, Sports Science student Vicky Goodyear is worried
about our future generations: “We’ll just end up with even more
messed up kids!!!”
The male camp at Nottingham Trent is equally split in opinion;
Tom Lorde believes that legalisation will make the situation even
worse: “It’ll be loads more dangerous: more diseases spreading because people will use them more, like on stag parties and
birthdays…when lads can’t pull, they’ll definitely resort to buying
it if it’s legal.”
Whatever your views on the legalisation of prostitution, different
actions need to be taken. Clearly zealous indignation and moral
high ground is having an adverse effect.
Ellie George
When you walk around Nottingham on
your way to your favourite nightclub or
for an afternoon shopping for a bargain in
Primark, do you look around and admire
the city’s beautiful architecture and open
spaces? Don’t worry, I wasn’t expecting
you to answer ‘yes’, Nottingham’s pretty
grim in reality. There are the odd buildings
of note, the Arkwright building, the Castle
and many of the buildings up in the lace
market, but compared to most major cities,
Nottingham’s just not quite getting it.
Marian Way through to our very own Students Union. The award for most offensive
building in the city must go to the Broadmarsh shopping centre. The monstrous
concrete structure was only built in 1975
and now stands like a barricade to the city.
One of the main criticisms placed upon the
Broadmarsh, other than it being one ugly
mess is that it splits the city in two. The
main public transport gateway into the
city, the station, is separated from the city
centre by the Broadmarsh.
Many big cities allow you to immerse
yourself in their unique atmosphere and
beauty; visit Edinburgh, Oxford and even
Manchester and these cities seem to
celebrate there own assets. However,
Nottingham gives you the feeling the city’s
stuck in some kind of horrific mid-70s
concrete time warp.
A city’s transport links and its accessibility are crucial to how visitors perceive it.
Nottingham has a beautiful tram system
now and this is one of the first steps in
the city’s rebirth, it opens up different
sections of the city and ensures easy links
all around town, in a way the tram rejoins
the station with the city centre. Along
the ‘tram corridor’ the city’s rebirth has
begun, with the beginnings of building work
appearing.
Like many UK cities though, Nottingham
is going through a period of change, a
late step into the 21st century you could
say. Now, from the outset I want to make
it clear this is not a Nottingham bashing
article, and this sentence is the only time
you’ll read the infamous two words ‘gun
crime’ but at the same time it’s important
to look at where the city is current failing
in order to make improvements.
In the 60’s and 70’s Nottingham City
Council allowed some appalling building
proposals to be built that should never
have been passed. The city appears to
have accepted planning applications by
drawing them out of a hat, because some
of the buildings from this period are more
than questionable. Running from the castle
all the way down to Lenton is the Park
Estate, home to some stunning houses;
you know the 28 bedroom mansion types?
Well what could have been a stunning area
of housing, has been spoilt with awful grey
concrete extensions and random rows of
70s ‘ram everyone in closely’ housing. Why
were these beautiful houses allowed to be
altered in such a way?
Elsewhere in the city, there are a variety of
offensive looking buildings dotted around,
from the horrible college building on Maid
Next to Pitcher and Piano, in what currently appears to be a crater where a
meteor has hit, the City Council is spending £13million to build the Centre for
Contemporary Arts Nottingham (CCAN).
The plans show the building is set to
look modern and dramatic but with a nod
towards history, with a lace inspired cladding. The gallery will host major touring
displays of modern art as well as work by
Nottingham’s upcoming artists. On top of
the gallery, will be what is described by
developers as a ‘planted roof’, the aim of
which is to reduce sound pollution inside,
as well as looking good. You see, buildings
can be both attractive and practical!
Just a little further up from the CCAN site,
by the Lace Market tram stop, construction work continues on another major investment in the city. A major dual purpose
building is being built, consisting of retail
units in the lower levels, with a hotel above.
The development on Bootle Lane features a
striking glass façade which will house two
floors of shops and cafes. Above the two
retail units is a roof garden terrace, which
acts as the entrance to the four storey hotel. Modern in design, the hotel promises
to offer interrupted views of the city.
First impressions are all important, for
people arriving by train into Nottingham
for the first time they must be more than
slightly concerned by what kind of city they
are entering. It’s dingy, with its’ grey platforms, a confusing labyrinth of stairs and
exits and a non-existent selection of shops
within the station building, all creating a
very negative introduction to Nottingham.
With the expected tram expansion, plans
are being developed to cope with needed
changes to the station layout, which
will include a tram ‘flyover’ taking trams
over the top of all the platforms. In a big
move, the plans feature a large extension
from the WHSmith end of the ticket hall,
which will house retail units, cafes and
bars, all of which have been crucial in the
redevelopment of the likes of the stations
in Manchester and Birmingham.
And so to the future of the city’s major
blackspot, the Broadmarsh. Well within a
few years the whole site will be cleared,
yes that’s rights it’s going to be knocked
down! Only 30 years after it was opened
the site is to be cleared in a move to create a much more accessible city, with the
new plans hopefully making it easier to
get from the station to the centre of the
city. Once demolished, the centre will be
replaced by large individual retail space
with wide roads and open spaces breaking
them up. To prevent the monotony of the
current building, the developers have commissioned a number of different architects
to work on the different elements. The new
development’s aim is to work as an extension to the city, as opposed to a separate
shopping centre.
So there’s no denying Nottingham’s not a
beautiful city, but with its historic buildings
and the many exciting new developments
in the pipeline, the city could soon be feeling the benefits of its facelift.
Paul Fernley
Let’s Not Be Racial
“Sadly ignorance is not in short supply,
there is an ugly underbelly in society
only too ready to point the finger at
the foreigner.” The words of Dr. John
Sentamu, the Archbishop of York,
adding his opinion to the subject
which has engulfed the media both in
the U.K. and India and put Celebrity
Big Brother not only at the fore front of
all idle chit-chat but on the agenda of
Prime Ministers questions and Gordon
Brown’s visit to India.
One must question the society we live
in when the actions of Jade Goody
can dominate the press and threaten
over sixty years of positive and crucial
relations between the UK and the
worlds largest liberal democracy. Nine
million people, including this author,
watched with amazement as Jade
Goody, the tabloids under-privileged
darling, was evicted from the Big
Brother house, an exit only bettered
by her mother, Leo Sayer and Shabbaz.
The 25 year old mother of twos’ presence first disgraced our lives and dramatically increased the level of abuse
hurled at the TV, when she appeared
on the non-celebrity Big Brother show.
It seems however that in Miss Goody’s
case that if you live by the sword you
die by the sword. The very system
which shot Jade Goody to an apparent
wealth in the region of £4 million and a
plumpish appearance on every coffee
table will evidently be her downfall.
Yet, as fascinating as the rise and
fall of Goody may be, one must
recognise the fundamental issues at
hand. The comments made by Goody
et al., which verged on lunacy and
can undoubtedly be called offensive,
demonstrate the “ugly underbelly” the
Archbishop of York is referring to.
Unfortunately, this belly does not end
with Jade Goody. Whether it is racism
is still questionable, but most certainly
it is ignorance, stupidity and an unsettling lack of desire or even interest in
anything within the proverbial banner
of foreign. The majestic cultural
foundations which shaped Shilpa
Shetty were so far from what Goody
could even conceive. This ignorance
runs deep and all generations rife with
isolationists in such a beautiful world
must be shown how to embrace and
understand other cultures if there is
to be any hope that the next reality
TV show won’t continue to devastate
international relations.
Rob Vardy
What Are Your Thoughts?
NTSU is looking for volunteers to attend a focus group run by UK Youth regarding how to promote safe and
responsible drinking to young people. You will look at various adverts and be asked to give your thoughts.
The event will take place in Byron House at 4pm on Thursday 15th February 2007 and will last for around
2 hours. For your trouble you will receive a £20 HMV voucher, a free t-shirt, and refreshments will be provided.
If you are interested in attending the session, please contact [email protected] by Monday
12th February.
UK Youth is the leading national youth work charity, supporting over 750,000 young people and helping
them to raise their aspirations, realise their potential and have their achievements recognised via non-formal, accredited education programmes.
6 • Platform
Volume 15/Issue 7
NUS Conference 2007!
What’s On on Campus? Who
goes? YOU decide!
Fancy filling your fortnight with something a bit different?
Student Volunteering Week is coming…
John Tucker Must Die
Picture the scene. You’re about halfway though your year at University, the deadlines
you had in January have come and gone and your tutors are now telling you to start
thinking about your C.V and your placement before its too late. Perhaps you just may
be thinking that you want to do more for your own benefit. Uni isn’t just about drinking,
deadlines and going out!
Valentine’s Day is just around
the corner, so to help you get in
the mood we’ve got hold of three
copies of Jesse Metcalfe’s latest
romantic comedy John Tucker
Must Die. So, if you fancy a night
in with Jesse, then just answer
the following question:
Student Volunteering England aim to make it easier to for students to change the world
through voluntary action. That sentence alone can make volunteering seem like an
unachievable or slightly scary thing to become involved in but it isn’t! Student Volunteering Week runs from the 26th February to March the 4th and the Junction Committee
(and the newly comprised Student Volunteering Week Committee!) are currently working
on an array of events to help students at all three campuses get involved. The best thing
about volunteering is the flexibility of it and how an afternoon or even an hour offering
to drive a minibus can and does make a real difference to people. Junction are hoping
to maximise participation this year by providing a variety of events, which will increase
student leadership and help within the community.
Events so far include a tea dance with the elderly in Southwell, a conservation project
at the Clifton Wildlife reserve, a joint project with Nottingham University at Stonebridge
City Farm, a Sports evening with a Nottingham Troop of Girl Guides and Scouts, and a
renovation of Nottingham Women’s Refuge. On top of this, the following week will see
Stride run a life skills session concentrating on how to sell your volunteer experience in
the workplace!
If you are interested in any of these then please get involved and email me on
[email protected]. Regardless of whether you have been a volunteer before or are
wanting to take part randomly, Student Volunteering Week is there for students to develop themselves in the community and give back to the place where they are studying.
However much time whether it is an hour or an afternoon helps Junction Projects to run
so please jot down the dates in your diary and make a difference!
Laura Armstrong
Student Activities Officer
[[email protected]]
Term 2:
New for Clifton!
Stride @
t the
Check our more
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website ffo
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Competition
Jesse Metcalfe is dating which
member of Girls Aloud? (If
they haven’t split up again
since we went to press!)
Please send your answer along
with your name, student username and postal address to
[email protected] by noon
Wednesday 14th February.
John Tucker
Must Die
is available
to buy on
DVD on 12th
February
2007 from
Twentieth
Century Fox
Home Entertainment. ©
2006 Twentieth Century
Fox Home
Entertainment LLC.
All Rights
Reserved
Remember the AGM? Well NUS Conference is similar
in that it acts as a massive forum for discussion and
decision-making. Issues for attention are national
topics, which will affect all Students Unions and their
relationship with NUS.
Trent’s delegation for the conference
is 15, this is one of the largest from
any Students Union, so it’s imperative
that we take the opportunity to vote
for who we feel will really represent
Nottingham Trent and the student
population.
The delegates will be taken to
lovely sunny Blackpool, given accommodation and a free hoodie
for the 3 days of Conference,
as well as the opportunity to
converse with students from
other Unions. The National
Executive will be elected
during the Conference and
it’s our Trent delegates who
have the opportunity to vote
for who they think are the
best candidates. So now its
over to you.
The candidates wanting to go
to NUS Conference 2007 are …
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And of course there is also the
option to vote for “No Suitable Candidate”.
The candidate’s manifestos will be
online at www.trentstudents.org/
elections for you to read before you
make your decision.
The voting date is the 8th February
and the election will take place online. To vote you must be registered
with our Students Union website
using your student username. Voting will be open online for 24 hours
so you can even do it all from the
comfort of your own home!
If you want more information on the day, Kelly Silk
will be available in the City Executive Office between
9am and 6pm on the 8th February. If there are any
problems with your voting, please feel free to get
in touch with Kelly in person, emailing or calling
01158486200, and asking for Kelly.
Candidates, good luck. Voters, don’t forget to vote on
February 8th at www.trentstudents.org/elections, Who
goes? YOU decide!
Kelly Silk
Democracy & Education Officer
Dan Booth
Zoe Dodd
George Hathaway
Claire Haywood
Zafar Iqbal
James Lindsay
Natalie Read
Carl Rodgers
Thomas Ross
Kelly Silk
Jen Skuse
Lindsay Wheatcroft
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8 • Platform
Volume 15/Issue 7
Executive Elections 2007.
It’s your call.
Only a few more days to go until the final
deadline closes for Executive Committee
nominations!!! If your still umming and
aaarring about whether you would
be the right person for the position or
considering what the role entails, you
better decide soon! Nominations close
on Thursday 8th February and there
will be a candidates meeting on the
Friday 9th February.
There are 14 Executive positions
available, 8 full-time Sabbatical,
and 6 part-time Non-Sabbatical. All
positions are open to anyone who
would like to have a huge say in how your
Students Union is run.
This year Elections regulations have changed due
to amendments made at Union Council. Some of these new implementations
include allowing only 10 campaigners per team (this includes the candidate
running), colour allocations for each position and an extremely involved voting
campaign run by the wonderful and active Elections Committee!!!
The places to vote have also been moved due to physical changes within the
Union. City voting will now be in the Security Office (on the balcony at the top of
the stairs), Clifton’s voting has been moved to the new and improved, Union Central,
and the Brackenhurst voting station will be in the Student Advice Office. The voting
dates are the 7th, 8th and 9th of March so you have a long time to think who will
be best suited for each role.
Of course the campaign will be continuing the theme for this years Elections - Deal
or No Deal?. The Committee will be Elections Officials with their own t-shirts and
identity, encouraging you to get involved and vote for who you feel should, and
most importantly, you think is able, to run your Students Union. If you like the work
and enthusiasm of this Committee and would like to get more involved please contact Kelly Silk for more information at [email protected].
Watch out for all the campaigners coming your way soon, telling you why you
should vote number 1 for them. For more information please check out the website,
www.trentstudents.org/elections. All the candidates will be explaining why you
should vote for them in Issue 9 of Platform (out 5th March) so keep you eyes peeled,
actually I doubt you can miss them!
So who’s offer will you accept? Or will you be making an offer no one can refuse?
Deal or No Deal?
It really is YOUR call.
Kelly Silk
Democracy & Education Officer
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10 • Platform
Volume 15/Issue 7
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12 • Platform
Volume 15/Issue 7
Kate Jackson photo: www.chrismsaunders.com
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Platform writer Paul Roberts
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made an impact on his life
• Prodigy – ‘The Fat of the Land’ (1997)
Attitude!
The most notorious rock stars have always had attitude. Sid Vicious exemplified the word back
in the 70s, Slash just stood there with it in the 80s and Liam Gallagher told everyone about it
in the 90s. Attitude is throwing televisions out of hotel windows, swearing on live television,
drunken acceptance speeches and brawling in German nightclubs. For years it has been in the
domain of men. Though there has been a scattering of women-with-attitude in music, most
notably the untamed Courtney Love, the headlines have traditionally gone to the men.
Back at the start of this millennium, the female frontrunners of the music world were coffee
table stars. The likes of Norah Jones, Joss Stone and Katie Melua could be found in the collection of every casual music fan in the country. They were the soundtrack to the nation’s dinner
parties; serene, unassuming and squeaky clean. Despite the fact they weren’t the most interesting characters to study, gold and platinum albums still followed.
Now in 2007, the faces have changed and the attitude is back. In the era when our future
stars are created on Myspace, it was no surprise that a personality like Lily Allen would pop
up. Though she has a private school upbringing, Allen’s early life in the London borough of
Islington shaped her ‘street’ image. Party dresses and Reebok Classics is certainly a move away
from the pastels and sensible tops from 2000’s stars. Allen’s lyrics show a sense of unashamed
subjectivity about her surroundings; ‘A fella looking dapper - and he’s sitting with a slapper,
Then I see it’s a pimp and his crack whore’. Her public comments are not any gentler, she claims
that ‘pop stars who pretend they’re virgins are probably taking it up the arse more than anyone’.
Hot on her heels has been The Long Blondes lead singer Kate Jackson. Since the band’s debut
album ‘Someone To Drive You Home’ was released in early November, Jackson has steadily
added a more glamorous diva image to the band’s New Wave sound. Early photo shoots showed
a conservative woman lacking the confidence of her contemporaries, but with success came a
level of arrogance, sharp comments to the press and more risque shoots. The bra was shown, the
naval exposed, the album was released and the rightful success ensued.
An injection of attitude has also worked wonders for the career of Amy Winehouse, the woman
quoted as saying, ‘I’m not a lesbian… not before a sambuca anyway’. The gleaming public image from her debut album ‘Frank’ did not last long before alcohol-related stories started appearing in the tabloids; vomiting on stage, drunken television appearances, allegedly assulting fans
and heckling Bono at the Q Awards. As these events transpired, it became public knowledge
that Winehouse was a clinically diagnosed manic depressive. Her current weight today is a few
too many dress sizes down from yesteryear, but her star is shining brighter than ever. The wild
hair, the tatoos and the outlandish behaviour has helped her new album ‘Back To Black’ reach
#1 in the UK.
It appears that attitude is the way to go for music’s women of 2007. The coffee table stars have
long since been tucked away on the shelf, whilst this ferocious lot fight over column inches and
fashion magazine photoshoots. So look out, they’re coming to get you.
Luke Eldridge
The hardest
part of starting
University for
me was leaving
behind my two
best mates.
Back in school,
we were a
really tight
unit. The three
of us grew up
together and experienced everything that
troubled teenagers go through; the first
girlfriend, the speculative trip down the
pub when we were still only seventeen, the
rollicking from our parents… everything.
Prodigy’s ‘The Fat of the Land’ was our ‘going out’ record when we were in college. It
is such an aggressive, in your face record
that it’s perfectly suited for those kinds
of situations. We would listen and shout
along to ‘Smack My Bitch Up’ and ‘Diesel
Power’ in my bedroom whilst we put on
our cheap, nasty shirts and even cheaper
and nastier aftershave. Looking back it all
seems a bit cringe worthy, but at the time
we thought we were invincible. We always
walked with a bit more attitude after getting ready to ‘The Fat of the Land’.
I thought the three of us would always be
friends, but now I’ve come to study at Nottingham Trent, we don’t really see so much
of each other. Even though I told myself I’d
pop down to Bournemouth or Bristol to go
and visit them, I knew in the back of my
mind that that would probably be it for our
close-knit friendship. I guess that University does that to you; it makes you realise
that life never stands still and that the only
person you can really rely on is yourself.
A few weeks ago the two of them came up
to visit me in Nottingham for a flatmates
birthday party. It was really awkward at
first as we hadn’t really spoken to each
other properly for a long time and I was a
bit worried whether they would get on with
my University mates, who were different.
As it happens, the three of us were the
last ones up at the party. We hadn’t really
chatted that much and then as we were
about to call it a day, one of the lads stuck
on ‘The Fat of the Land’. All our stupid
memories from before just came flooding
back and we all fell about the place laughing and remembering the good old days.
We had all changed as people and we knew
our friendship had probably ran its course,
but for one last time we were invincible.
Gig Review
mon 12th february
The Draytones
Radar @ Stealth – 25/01/07
If you wish to succeed in the music industry then James Endeacott
is a good man to impress. The former head of A&R at Rough Trade
saw enough of The Draytones after a handful of gigs to convince
himself that they were worthy of a place on the roster of his new
1965 Records label.
Their gig at Stealth marked the first night of ‘Radar’, (our replacement for Club NME) profiled in the last issue of Platform. With
the great institution’s logos ripped from the walls and London’s
premier beat group on stage, strolling into Stealth feels more
like strolling into The Star Club in Hamburg. Comparisons to The
Beatles are obvious for such a 60s-influenced band, but The Draytones are more than a regurgitation of methods much used.
For a band still in their fledgling years (this gig could almost
double up as their first birthday party), they show remarkable
onstage confidence. The harmonies between singer Gabriel and
drummer Luke are effortless; all the easier for a band that look as
if they enjoy performing as The Draytones do.
The tough Stealth crowd twist and shout to the likes of ‘Time’ and
‘Keep Loving Me’, but show little appreciation in between songs;
keeping their cards close to their chest. What they do grasp is the
magnetism of the trio onstage; put simply, The Draytones music
is fun. When stripped back to its simplest form of guitar, bass and
drums, the quality of the songs is clear to see, and these are precious slivers of the swinging sixties.
Given that this was the first time the band have played in Nottingham, on their first nationwide tour, in support of their first single,
they could be excused for being a little rusty. But The Draytones’
sound is refined, the harmonies are spot on and the trousers are
sharp. Expect to hear much more of James Endeacott’s latest find.
Words: Luke Eldridge
Photo: Andrew Kendall [www.andrewkendall.com]
But for me… the reason I was there… was to see if he could pull
off the live version of what I consider to be one of the albums of
2006 (Chronicles of a Bohemian teenager). I mean, it’s not every
day you find yourself listening to a cross between Billy Bragg and
the Wonder Mints, and if you have had the pleasure of listening to
either you will appreciate the complexity of their music.
I should never have doubted their live talent: Sam and the boys did
not disappoint. They didn’t miss a note. With the sound team working over time and boasting the talents of aspiring young producer
Adam Menczykowski, the crowd around me were mesmerised and
inspired by their swan song sound of true bohemian banter being
courted by the beautiful brass band.
Get Cape Wear Cape Fly
NTSU Byron House – 25/01/07
Was it a bird? Was it a plane? No not quite… it was Sam Duckworth and his brass based master class Get Cape Wear Cape Fly.
On Thursday 25th January, supported by the unique no-holds-bared
ramblings of Kate Nash, the mood was set for what was an eagerly
anticipated gig in the ‘boho rodeo’ that is Nottingham’s effervescent music scene.
14 • Platform
Volume 15/Issue 7
However, though there may well be plenty of room for the new Billy
Bragg in our slightly lack-lustre music scene, I personally think
there isn’t enough room for another Bono. Put another way, Sam
Duckworth’s political preaching between songs became slightly
aggravating to those of us who go to gigs for the music and not to
improve our awareness of international conflict and persecution.
His approach could be likened to the reason that everyone thinks
Coldplay are a bit naff and why Gwyneth Paltrow is now mother to
a child named after a fruit.
Anthony Hagan
at ocean nightclub
date TIME: 9:30PM-4AM
romantic rhymeS:
PARTY MUSIC WHICH WILL MAKE
YOU DANCE ALL NIGHT LONG
pulling pants: Cherubs/Angels/Red Devils
Brazen Husseys/Gimps/Pimps & Hoes
Angelic Virgins/Prom Dates/Venus
Brides & Grooms/Romans/Greeks
PRICE: �3 TICKETS/�4 DOOR
Press Screening
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Bafta
Predictions
The thing that I love most about awards ceremonies is the whole buzz surrounding who will win
what award. My movie-loving friends and I are
constantly arguing about who we think will win.
This year’s winners are going to be a mixed bunch
and I don’t think there is going to be one film that
sweeps board. In more recent years the trend has
been to dish out the awards in a more even manner, Lord Of The Rings excluded obviously!!
I’d love the ‘Actor In A Leading Role’ to go to
Daniel Craig for, in my opinion, the best portrayal of 007 ever... but realistically this won’t happen.
DiCaprio is coming into his own recently with
films like The Departed and Blood Diamond, but
I’m certain that he hasn’t made his stand-out film
as yet. My bet is on either Forest Whitaker or
Peter O’Toole to take home the gold.
Best Film
‘Actress In A Leading Role’ is
always hard; there is never anyone in the mix that is undeserving. But, this year there is only
one person in the running in
my opinion, and that is Helen
Mirren for her outstanding
portrayal of The Queen in the
film of the same title.
Babel
The Departed
The Last King Of
Scotland
Little Miss Sunshine
The Queen
The David Lean Award
– Best Director
Babel - Alejandro González Iñárritu
The Departed - Martin Scorsese
Little Miss Sunshine - Jonathan Dayton/Valerie Faris
The Queen - Stephen Frears
United 93 - Paul Greengrass
Actor in a Leading Role
Daniel Craig - Casino Royale
Leonardo DiCaprio - The Departed
Richard Griffiths - The History Boys
Peter O’ Toole - Venus
Forest Whitaker - The Last King of
Scotland
Actress in a Leading Role
Penelope Cruz - Volver
Judi Dench - Notes on a Scandal
Helen Mirren - The Queen
Meryl Streep - The Devil Wears Prada
Kate Winslet - Little Children
The Orange Rising Star
Award
Emily Blunt
Eva Green
Naomie Harris
Cillian Murphy
Ben Wishaw
The Orange British Academy Film
Awards are on the 11th February 2007.
16 • Platform
Volume 15/Issue 7
The ‘Rising Star Award’ is
always a bit of fun in my eyes,
mostly because the people
nominated could be anyone and
everyone. This year’s nominees have all
been in outstanding films. I’d like to see
the award go to Cillian Murphy, who you
might know from 28 Days Later, Batman
Begins and The Wind That Shakes The
Barley.
Royalty v Royale
It’s Royalty verses Royale as ‘The Queen’ and ‘Casino Royale’ lead the battle for
the awards at this year’s Baftas. Other films in the running for Best British Film
include the moving 9/11 docudrama ‘United 93’, ‘The Last King of Scotland’ (a
film adaptation of Giles Foden’s award-winning novel), and the powerful drama,
‘Notes on a Scandal’, starring Dame Judi Dench.
‘The Queen’ tops the list this year with the most nominations with a total of ten,
Casino Royale comes a close second with nine nominations. ‘The Queen’ has
already won a number awards including ‘Best Screenplay’ at the Venice Film
Festival, and ‘Best Picture’ at the Toronto Film Critics Association Awards. Helen
Mirren has also won awards for her portrayal of the Queen. Despite this, I think
the film could loose out to another British icon, Bond.
Before ‘Casino Royale’ had even been released it had received constant bad press
and criticisms from Bond fans and critics for the revival of the Bond franchise,
and for casting the “ugly blond”, Daniel Craig for the role of 007. However, ‘Casino Royale’ has become a global success and became one of the biggest blockbusters of the year, as well as the most successful bond film of all time. Craig has
been acclaimed by critics as the first actor to ‘really nail 007’ and has also been
nominated for the ‘Best Actor’ at this year’s Bafta’s. Winning Best British Film
could really be the icing on the cake for what has been a successful year for Bond.
Now, for the two biggest awards: ‘Film’
and ‘Direction’. Let’s deal with ‘Best Film’
first and start by saying that all are amazing films in their own right, which were
made with an obvious amount of passion,
love and care. Babel has received a lot of critical acclaim and seems to me to
be the obvious winner, but maybe too obvious. While The
Queen was good, I’m not sure it will get the top gong and
Little Miss Sunshine kinda slipped under the radar from
nowhere. It’s between either The Last King Of Scotland or
The Departed for me.
Now for ‘Best Direction’: again I must say that all the directors nominated are legends in their own right and the films
they are nominated for are also equally amazing. Scorsese is
on top of his game with every film, choosing the best scripts and actors to work with.
However, I’m thinking the quirky Little
Miss Sunshine director combo of Jonathan
Dayton & Valerie Faris is in with a real
chance, along with Paul Greengrass for
United 93.
Dreamgirls
Released: 2nd February
Starring: Beyonce Knowles, Eddie Murphy,
Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Hudson.
So, after my journey through what felt like
middle earth (London’s Soho), I finally found
my way to Paramount’s UK head office where
the screening took place. Prior to watching
the film I had read a lot about it, as there has
been much talk about Oscar nominations and
how amazing the film is. So I had high expectations… and was not disappointed.
The film is based on the Broadway musical
of the same title, which is loosely based
on the rise and fall of Diana Ross and the
Supremes! It starts (in the 1960’s) with the
Dreams entering a singing competition in
their hometown of Detroit. They don’t win but
do get the chance to sing back-up for James
‘Thunder’ Early (Eddie Murphy). Reluctant at
first, they take the gig which lands them on
tour with the hip swinging, singing sensation.
As time passes the girls become restless and
want to sing in their own act, but when they
finally get their dream it is short lived as Effie
(Jennifer Hudson) who usually sings lead is
relegated to backing with Lorrell (Ankia Rose)
for Deena (Beyonce), which they are both not
happy about. After a little sing song it all gets
resolved and they are back on stage with their
own act.
Time passes and all seems fine but soon
cracks emerge and it all starts to fall apart. Effie reluctantly leaves the band (who is secretly
with ‘bun in oven’), the Dreams add a new
member, their manager Curtis Taylor Jr (Jamie
Foxx) is stiffing people for money, James Early
(Murphy) turns to drugs and, well, by the end
it’s a right royal mess.
Most things get resolved by the end, some on
a high note, some on a low note! The film is, I
have to say, fantastic. I am a massive fan of
these musical-turn-film’s anyway so I knew I’d
love it, but funnily enough it was not for the
reason I thought it would be. While Beyonce’s
name is heading the film, it should really have
been Jennifer Hudson’s at the top. She has
got an amazing voice and way more screen
presence then the Destiny’s Child star. Also
she has more screen time then Knowles. For
every note Jennifer sang I had a goose bump.
If anyone wins anything for this film it should
be Jen, she stole the show.
However, while the film was very entertaining
and well made, I’m not sure it’s going to have
the same Oscar success that Chicago did.
However, the small profile films could take the lead this year. ‘United 93’ has
been very successful at previous award ceremonies and its success could continue
at the Bafta’s. Equally ‘The Last King of Scotland’ and ‘Notes on a Scandal’ are
both worthy of taking home the Bafta. We will just have to wait until the 11th of
February to find out who wins!
Whatever happens is always a surprise, so
tune in on the 11th February to find out.
Thanks to Caroline from Sublime for inviting
Platform to London to the press screening and
conference for the film, it was a fantastic day.
Paul Kacarevic
Edward Smith
Edward Smith
Preview
Classic Quote
Rocky Balboa (12A)
Starring: Sylvester Stallone
He’s Back!! Sylvester Stallone brings back his most infamous character to date, Rocky “The Italian Stallion” Balboa. A virtual simulation game pits Rocky against the current heavyweight champion
Mason “The Line” Dixon. In this, Balboa proves that it is heart not
skill that made him the all time people’s champion, as opposed to
Mason’s immense skill. It also gives Rocky one last chance to get
rid of the “stuff in the basement”.
The film is amazing; it has the same hit and adrenaline rush as the
others. It stays true to the characters; it stays true to the story,
while providing some lighthearted humour and manages to recover
it’s losses suffered from the previous attempt aka Rocky V.
You will find yourself once again on the edge of your seat willing
the Italian Stallion to ‘jab jab hook’! This film is definitely a must
see for all! No matter if you are a die-hard Rocky fan or just stuck
for something to do, you will undoubtedly love it! It is definitely a
knock out!!!
Vicky Edwards
“Friends... This is the day that you
will ALWAYS remember as the day
that you almost caught captain
Jack Sparrow!”
Review
Black Book (15)
A film with subtitles about a Dutch Jewish woman desperately
fleeing from, and then conspiring against, the Nazi’s, after she has
witnessed them massacre her family. Doesn’t sound like the most
appealing premise. But this is no slow, emotional drama as might
be expected: it’s a fast paced, action-packed thriller from ex-Hollywood director Paul Verhoeven, whose previous films included ‘Total
Recall’ and ‘Robocop’.
Where most modern war films have failed is their lack of truly
absorbing, unpredictable story line, and this is what ‘Black Book’
has in abundance. It’s a roller-coaster plot of twists, double-crossing and conspiracy, that forces you to resist going to the toilet,
however desperate you are, through fear of what you might miss.
[Hot Fuzz]
[Charlotte’s Web]
[Dreamgirls]
Out Now [by Jerry Li]
Dreamgirls (12A)
Charlotte’s Web (U)
Hot Fuzz (TBC)
Starring: Dominic Scott Kay, Dakota
Fanning, Julia Roberts
Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Bill
Bailey
A recent Golden Globe winner, with
Beyonce Knowles and Jamie Foxx starring
in a film based on the Broadway musical, a
story of a trio of black female soul singers’
desire to become pop stars whilst facing
troubles along the way. Guaranteed to entertain and allow you to bask in the wonder
of this musical haven.
An adaptation of a classic Children’s story,
this film promises that adults and children
alike will be in for something memorable,
showcasing the vocal talents of Julia
Roberts (Oceans 11, Closer), John Cleese
(Monty Python, Die Another Day). Make
sure you check out Dakota Fanning (War of
the Worlds), showing you why she is one of
the best child actors available.
From the creators of Shaun of the Dead
and Spaced comes a film pairing Simon
Pegg and Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead,
Spaced) as a pair of police officers in the
sleepy town of Sandford. But the town is
not as sleepy as it seems. Action-packed
and full of laughs, this film is not to be
missed.
Volume 15/Issue 7
she has to in order to infiltrate the Nazi regime. She is also the
only character whose intentions you can trust.
Interesting moral questions are raised - whether individuals can be
blamed for social regimes, whether corruptibility is equally rife in
both sides of a war. After German surrender, the Dutch are shown
to round up all ‘traitors’ and abuse them in such sickening, inhumane ways that they seem no better than the Nazis themselves.
It’s a genuinely stunning film, and will go down as Verhoeven’s
masterpiece.
Phil Bond
Rachel Steinn, played outstandingly by newcomer Carice Van
Houten, is the protagonist who will sing to and sleep with whoever
Rumour Control
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Beyonce Knowles, Eddie Murphy
18 • Platform
Jack Sparrow (POTC)
Starring: Carice Van Sebastian, Koch Thom
Beverly Hills Cop 4
Ok, so we’ve had Sly back in the ring, Bruce dying harder, and Harrison to
shortly dust off his whip… Clearly, all the oldies are goodies and so this is
maybe why Eddie Murphy is strapping on his holster and returning to the silver
screen as the infamous Axel Foley! No word on plot or release thus far, but if
the success of Dreamgirls is going to do anything, it will give Eddie the golden
ticket he’s been waiting for!
Ed Smith
Trend Report
Guys: Spring/Summer 07
Fashion Sub-Editor’s Blog
This issue we have some money saving
fashion buys from under the same roof
as you get your fruit and veg!
New Rave
The Look: Glowsticks optional… acid brights, (stick to accessories or one key piece), teamed with neutral basics and battered
jeans, complete with obligatory whistle.
Seen At: D&G
Inspiration: The Klaxons, 1990s rave scene
Key pieces: T-Shirt £16 asos.com
If you need a time out from that dreaded
dissertation this fortnight, try our fashion word search for a bit of light relief.
Guys take note this issue if you are
stuck in a fashion rut as we give you the
low down on this season’s key trends, us
girls expect to see you rocking them in
Climax next Saturday! No excuses!
This issue, Fashion has collaborated
with other beloved Platform sections
to show you that fashion is indeed,
everywhere…
Britpop
The Look: Military detailling, laundered vintage looking outerwear, converses, leather jackets
Seen At: Moschino
Inspiration: Blur, Oasis
Key Pieces: Leather Bomber £45 asos.com, Bomber Jacket £90
All Saints
Yours fashionably,
Emma xxx
Retro Sportswear
Fashion in Film - Bobby, starring Lindsay
Lohan. Look out for LiLo in trademark late
1960s era clothing and prepare to be
inspired as 60’s is a key look of the coming
season. In cinemas now.
Factory Girl, starring Sienna Miller as Edie
Sedgwick, Andy Warhol’s muse will be a
60s fashion bonanza, this time in London.
Look for mod styles throughout. Coming
Soon.
The Look: Polos, hooded sweats, teamed with jeans and leather
for a directional look. But not full on tracksuits- Vicky Pollard is
not what we are aiming for here, boys.
Seen At: Fred Perry, Lacoste
Inspiration: David Beckham
Key Pieces: Polo Shirt £35, Reversible Harrington Jacket £60
both U by Umbro
Americana
The Look: 50s subcultures, Rockabillys, Bikers, quiffs, western
check shirts, gingham check, waistcoats, converse all stars,
leather wrist cuffs.
Seen At: D&G
Inspiration: Contemporary bands such as The Bravery and The
Villains
Key Pieces: Gingham Shirt £22 Asos.com, Western Shirt £45,
Lee
Fashion in Music - The Rave / Indie scene
is so hot right now, thanks to New Rave
Aficionados, The Klaxons and this trend has
been replicated in the fashion world, with
rock as rave trends hitting the high street.
See the trend reports and style notes in this
issue for how to work the look.
Emma Hunt
Fashion in the Arts - Kylie Minogue’s
long awaited exhibition at the V&A museum
will feature Kylie’s many wardrobe creations
over the years, from Charlene in Neighbours
overalls, to those gold hotpants in the Spinning Around video and various costumes
from her current sellout Showgirl tour. And
better yet it’s free admission!
Emma Hunt
Style Notes: Girls
Hot new trends coming your way…
Romantic ruffles – look in the All
Saints sale for these and hold back on
the jewellery
Satin rucksacks- let’s hope this one
is a joke
Laundry bags @ Louis Vuitton- Practical and spacious but that image of
Dot Cotton is lurking in the back of my
mind…
Metallic and fluorescent leggingsPlatform Tip: try Topshop’s sale rail
for these last season cast offs, and
team with neutrals to tone the look
down a notch
Dresses, dresses and more dresses
Romper suits- as seen on the runway
at Stella McCartney, look in Topshop
for can’t-tell-the-difference copies
Futuristic- metallics are a look that’s
here to stay, replace last season’s
sequins with sheeny gilded fabrics.
20 • Platform
Volume 15/Issue 7
A neutral pallete of powdery, putty
colours- This looks best layered in
jersey fabrics
Micro minis- get exfoliating now!
High waist jeans- wear with heels or
avoid this look altogether.
Layering- Seen at Chloe and Marc Jacobs.
Stick to 3 layers max to avoid looking
bulky. Platform Tip: try a cropped jacket
with a long sleeved top underneath to
master this look.
Patent wedges- Bring out that pair from
last summer for a fashion revival.
Americana- Lumberjack jackets teamed
with quiffs were spotted in Diane Von
Furstenburg’s new collection.
Sporty- outsized anoraks and racer backs
in mesh-y and nylon techno fabrics. Try
Topshop for these.
Emma Hunt
Gold Mac,
£25
Bag, £10
Supermarket Sweep!
Parka:
Topshop,
£55
Floral
Scarf, £3
Whilst browsing the aisles of Asda for your baked beans, pot
noodles and toilet roll during your bi-monthly shopping trip, take a
leaf out of good old Coleen’s book and stop by George at Asda en
route!
• The Fast Fashion section churns out catwalk trends just as they
come off the runway, with lines updated almost daily, with amazing
price tags.
• Key accessories and jewellery will give you that fashion fix whilst
you do the menial task of deciding what’s for dinner the next week
or so.
• Asda can be found in Hyson Green and West Bridgford.
• Check out some of the key pieces for the new season!
Emma Hunt
K
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Delve into this puzzle of everything fashion and find all the words
listed below, just if you’re bored, there’s like, no prize or anything…
Words go forwards, backwards, diagonally, upside down, inside
out… you get my drift.
Kate Moss
Pumps
Waisted Belt
Paul Smith
Topshop
Platforms
Patent
Marc Jacobs
Pencil Skirt
Bonnington
Paddington Bag
LBD
Skinny jeans
Vogue
Couture
Chanel
Size Zero
Catwalk
Shift dress
Vintage
Emma Hunt
February 4th to the 11th is
National Eating Disorders
Awareness Week. Eating
disorders are still very much
misunderstood amongst
today’s society, and yet
students like you and me are
within the high risk group. So,
I have dedicated the health
section entirely to eating
disorders for this issue in a
bid to raise awareness and
understanding. Any one of
us could be sitting next to
someone in a lecture who is
suffering in silence, and we
would know nothing about
the pain they are in. If there
is one thing we can do, it is to
try to understand what eating
disorders are about, and not
judge those suffering. You
cannot judge the actions of
anyone until you understand
what they are feeling, and
what they have been through.
Eating disorders are actually serious mental illnesses for
which early detection and treatment is vital. Anorexia
actually carries the highest mortality of all psychiatric
illnesses. Restrictive dieting (anorexia) and purging
(bulimia) act as a coping mechanism for traumatic issues
which cannot be dealt with. Emotions are removed from
real life, and placed solely upon food and the body. Those
who develop an eating disorder are usually perfectionists
22 • Platform
Volume 15/Issue 7
Emotions and traumatic events can
have very different effects on everybody.
Bulimia is just another example of how
some learn to cope when things around
them appear to be out of control.
Life with anorexia, no matter what some ignorant people may say, is not a lifestyle choice.
You would not choose to live in the hell that is anorexia, you wouldn’t even wish it on your
worst enemy. Essentially, anorexia is like being held a prisoner within your own body. It still
looks like you and sounds like you, but thoughts and actions are dictated by the greater
thought that is Ana.
Bulimia and anorexia are often linked
together, and although they do hold
similarities, there are also very significant
differences which can become vital to
identifying the problem. Both anorexia
and bulimia are focused around body
issues, weight, and food, but the control
of food within bulimia manifests itself in a
secretive manner.
Ana is the voice of anorexia. She is the one who doesn’t allow eating, she is the one who
dictates how hard you have to push your body, and she will not be satisfied until you have
destroyed yourself. The solution may seem perfectly simple from the outside, just ignore Ana
and eat more. But it is far away from being that simple. Ana is stronger than anything you
have ever experienced before and will not let go. If you don’t comply with her orders not to
eat then Ana screams at you, bullies you and beats you into submission. If you think of the
emaciated bodies of anorexia sufferers, this occurs because the voice of their illness is so
powerful that they are surviving on as much food as they can bear to eat. If they eat any more
than this then they are facing hours of mental torture and abuse. Ana tells you how fat you will
get, that you have eaten too much, that you don’t deserve to eat the nice things everybody
else does because you are a failure.
Closing the bathroom door and getting
rid of all the bad food they think they ate
is their way of having some control within
their life. They can say how much food is
inside them, and how their body looks. It
may sound strange and irrational, but the
act of losing control with a binge and then
controlling through vomiting gives them a
sense of control over everything.
Binging and vomiting can become an
addiction which gives them a high when
they achieve the control they cannot have
over anything else.
Understanding Eating Disorders
It is estimated that there are 90,000 people within the
UK receiving treatment for an eating disorder, and many
more may be suffering in silence. With a better social
understanding of what sufferers are actually experiencing, maybe more will seek help.
Living with Anorexia
The desperate fear to avoid food and
ultimately putting on weight is a way of
focusing emotions. Binging on large
amounts of food (or often what they
perceive to be a large amount) is a
tranquiliser. It blocks out all of the awful
thoughts they are having both about
themselves, and the real trauma they are
avoiding. Some do not even remember
the act of binging until it is over and the
feeling of shame and disgust hit them.
The food has to go.
Laura Johnstone
Eating disorders are often misunderstood. Due to their
physical presentation it becomes easy to dismiss them
as superficial acts of todays diet obsessed society. Yet
eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia are actually
as far away from vanity as you can get.
Bulimia
and high achievers, and they may feel a failure for having
problems in the first place.
What I am trying to say is that eating disorders are not
wilful states of vanity or methods for attention seeking.
They are illnesses, and just like any other, nobody asks
to be ill. You don’t wake up in the morning and decide to
develop an eating disorder. These things just creep up on
you. It could happen to any one of us.
All I ask is that you remember this if you or anyone you
know develops an eating disorder. They need understanding, and even more importantly they need friends
who will remember who they were, and still are, behind
the eating disorder.
Nobody should be misjudged, and nobody should feel
ashamed.
Laura Johnstone
Before long food has become a phobia. Consider the worst fear you have, it could be spiders,
snakes, flying, anything which would give you a panic attack. Well this is the same effect food
has on an anorexia sufferer, and consequently prevents eating. This leads to a degrading
and self esteem battering existence. Yet you go along with it because the effects of long term
starvation affect brain function. What seems irrational from the outside is perfectly logical on
the inside. You are trapped into a belief that you are ok because you are in control. Anorexia
is distressing and painful, both emotionally and physically. Imagine the fear of feeling your
life slipping out of your control and not being able to do anything about it.
Therefore when you hear people discussing issues such as anorexia, with the opinion that
sufferers should just ‘pull themselves together and stop being so self obsessed’, please
show them this article. Misjudging and leaving anorexia sufferers alone is cruel. Although
they may resist help, this is just fear, deep down it will be a relief.
It takes up to and over seven years to recover from anorexia and in my opinion, sufferers do
not receive the credit they deserve. It is a long and hard battle with many frustrations and
challenges along the way. If you are recovering (or have recovered) from anorexia then you
should feel proud of yourself and realise just how strong you are. This is an achievement to
be acknowledged, not something to feel ashamed about.
Laura Johnstone
This illness is a clear sign that someone
is really suffering inside, but they can be
helped if someone takes the time to stop
and listen to how they are feeling. Just as
anorexia sufferers are expressing their
trauma on the outside, bulimia sufferers
are expressing it internally.
The problem with bulimic behaviour is
that it is very hard to pick up on and can
go undetected for years. Some sufferers
may even manage to maintain a healthy
weight which makes it harder to realise
that someone you know and love could
really need your help. So I have compiled
this list if things to be aware of;
· Going straight to the bathroom after
eating
· Spending large amounts of time
alone in their room
· Increased dental problems or bad
breath
· Bruised knuckles from self induced
vomiting
· Drastic mood swings which are unusual for them
Laura Johnstone
Compulsive
Over-eating
NOTTINGHAM
ARENA
29 JANUARY / £27.50
4 APRIL / £35 & £50
PUSSYCAT DOLLS
& RIHANNA
LIONEL RICHIE
When people start talking about eating
disorders no one ever really looks at compulsive over eating. The assumption being
that this is just an excuse for people that
just ‘can’t be bothered to diet’. But for some
people the harsh reality is that food is an
addiction that takes over their lives.
Compulsive over eaters tend to be over
weight and are aware that they have abnormal eating habits, but food is a comfort for
them. I’m sure we’ve all seen Austin Powers when Fat Bastard says ‘I eat because
I’m unhappy and I’m unhappy because I eat’
and although I’m sure we all find this funny,
its true. It is a vicious cycle that seems
impossible to break. Sufferers tend to eat
at strange times, so as not to be caught and
often have a hidden supply of food.
9 APRIL / £21.50
1 - 4 FEBRUARY / £10 & £12 - £24
INCUBUS
PETER PAN ON ICE
12 APRIL / £37.50
SHAYNE WARD
ONCE IN A LIFETIME
REWIND TOUR
15 FEBRUARY / £20 & £25
DAVID ESSEX, DAVID CASSIDY,
THE OSMONDS & SHOWADDYWADDY
HOLSTEN PREMIER
LEAGUE DARTS
13 APRIL / £15 - £18.50
18 FEBRUARY / £23.50
PASSION 4 FASHION WORLD TOUR
13 FEBRUARY / £25
NELLY FURTADO
BRATZ
17 - 20 APRIL / £32.50 & £40
X FACTOR LIVE!
TORVILL & DEAN’S
DANCING ON ICE
25 FEBRUARY / £23.50
21 APRIL / £25.50 & £29.50
21 & 22 FEBRUARY / £25
Society’s tendency to stereotype overweight people as lazy and the obsession
with being the same size as Victoria
Beckham does not help. Compulsive over
eaters hide what they are doing in much
the same way that people with other eating
disorders do; they lie about what they have
eaten and join in the jokes so they have
the appearance of normality. But it isn’t a
joke, its an addiction which is as serious as
alcohol and drugs, compulsive over eaters
are more likely to suffer from high blood
pressure and cholesterol, be at higher risk
of heart disease and strokes.
KEANE
DANIEL O’DONNELL
3 MARCH / £22.50
24 APRIL / £31.50
NINE INCH NAILS
DEEP PURPLE
4 MARCH / £26.50
27 MAY / £26
THE KILLERS
GIRLS ALOUD
12 MARCH / £29.50
29 MAY / £25 - £40
WESTLIFE
IL DIVO
17 MARCH / £25
6 JUNE / £41 & £56
FAITHLESS
BEYONCE
26 MARCH / £17.50
7 JULY / £8 & £14
MY CHEMICAL
ROMANCE
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SNOOP DOGG
& P DIDDY
WAR OF THE
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24hr TICKET HOTLINE
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PREMIUM TICKETS & VIP PACKAGES (Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm)
0115 853 3008
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www.nottingham-arena.com
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Sufferers feel guilty about their dependence on food and tend to have low selfesteem. Binge eating as it is sometimes
referred to can also be coupled with bulimia.
It is a form of control and can often start in
teenage years when someone is developing and growing both physically and
emotionally.
IN PERSON
Nottingham Arena at
The National Ice Centre,
Bolero Square,
The Lace Market, Nottingham
Compulsive overeating is not a gendered
eating disorder. Statistically both males
and females are just as likely to suffer from
the disease. Although I do not suffer from
compulsive over eating, I have sat in a doctors surgery and been told I was obese, it
was the worst moment in the world and all
I wanted to do was run to the shop and buy
the biggest bar of Galaxy in the world! But
I knew this would not help my problem so I
asked the doctor for help and they did. To
be a big person in today’s size zero society
can be heart breaking; a simple shopping
trip can be hell when you have to ask the
size 6 shop assistants if they have the
top you like in an 18. But it is important to
remember, whatever shape or size you are,
you are beautiful and always will be. Food
is not going to make whatever is hurting in
your life stop. If you are worried about your
weight or feel that you may be eating more
than you should then talk to someone about
it. Hiding it and hoping it will go away is
never the answer. Never think your alone in
what you do, there is support everywhere.
Jennifer Skuse
iiss
iiss
iiss
is
FFaatt
FFaatt
FFaatt
Fat
NNoot
NNoott
NNoott
Not
aa
aa
aa
FFeeelinngg!
FFeeeelliinngg!!
FFeeeelliing!
My jeans don’t fit, I hate my stomach, my essay is crap, I burnt the
toast, my hips are too big, my legs wobble, and someone has taken
the book I need from the library. I feel fat!
If any of this sounds familiar, you are not alone. These are common,
perhaps everyday feelings for some, which can be self destructive
and harmful to self esteem. It is also more than likely that, when
you are complaining about how much you hate your stomach and
how fat you feel, you are actually not overweight at all. I know this
because fat is not a feeling!
When you do feel fat, there is something else going on in your life
that you are not happy with. Perhaps uni work is getting on top of
you, or you are feeling a bit homesick. Whatever it is, feeling fat
and abusing food is not going to change it or make it go away. All
you will do is put the bad things to one side where they will accumulate until you eventually decide to deal with them. By this time you
will be facing a much bigger problem.
So, the next time you find your subconscious thoughts entering the
realms of ‘I feel fat’, stop for a minute and try to identify what it is that is
really making you upset. When you find out what is bothering you, speak
to someone about it. Try your friends, family, tutor, or someone within
student support or counselling. Anyone that makes you feel comfortable.
Resolve the problem and I guarantee that you will feel better about yourself
because, as Jessica Weiner said… fat is not a feeling!
Laura Johnstone
nt!
Ask Agony Au
Q:
I live in a house with three other girls, and while we all try to eat healthily, I think
one may have taken it a bit too far. She appears to eat hardly anything at meals, and
she is starting to look tired. I know that we all have a lot of stress with deadlines at
the moment but this can’t be good for her. I am not really sure whether to say anything or to
just make her eat a bit more. I’m really worried.
Stress can present itself in many ways, and loss of appetite is very common. Many
people resort to a lack of hunger when they are upset or anxious about something,
but this does not mean that it should not be of concern. You are right to be worried
about your friend because not eating correctly will not help her in the long run. A diet which
does not meet your body’s calorie and nutritional needs will not function as well as it should.
Your friend is obviously a conscientious student and as such she should be aware that not
nourishing her body will impair concentration, and ultimately the quality of work she hands in.
A:
When it comes to approaching your friend, I would be extremely careful. Approach her with
caution. By all means if you are close then perhaps express you concern, ask her if she is ok.
The one thing you should not do it try to make her eat more. If she is developing an eating
disorder then this is a job for professionals. You trying to dictate how much she eats may
induce her to restrict her food intake even more as it is more than likely that this is the way
she creates a sense of being in control. If her eating does not improve after the impending
deadlines then she should see a doctor, or even contact Student Support or the University
Counselling Service.
Laura Johnstone
26 • Platform
Volume 15/Issue 7
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Panthers took advantage of the extra man and took
the lead, causing the whole place to erupt in celebration. The
public address bloke took no time in informing us, ‘when you’ve got something
to celebrate, do what the Panthers do, go to the Cornerhouse!’ This sponsorship lark was
getting a bit too much to take. Indeed, at regular intervals we were told about the Panthers main sponsor, short sponsor, home penalty sponsor, helmet sponsor, and so forth. After further celebrations and
music, the game restarted, and less than a minute later a Phoenix player was absolutely clattered into
the wall, which was greeted with a massive cheer and no whistle from the referee – fantastic!
The number 9 for the Phoenix was impressing me, first with a dazzling run from defence to attack, taking on a few players and testing the Panthers goaltender. He then scored a great goal as the Phoenix
took advantage of a power play and equalised, with a long range effort which flew into the top corner,
very impressive. He would end up being the Phoenix man of the match, and after looking him up on
the internet I discovered he was a 40 year old Scot named Tony Hand who had played in the NHL in
America. So there’s plenty of time for us to become ice hockey stars yet Platform readers!
In the second period the action continued at a furious pace, as did the violence. After a couple of
players become involved in a shoving match, everyone else piled in and there were handbags flying all
round. The crowd were loving it, egging the players on; ‘go on Ryan give him one!’ shouted a chap to
my right, and indeed he did! Of course with all the protection the players were wearing, there was not
much chance of anyone getting hurt, but it’s all great fun none the less. After a lengthy delay and plenty of cheering and booing from the crowd, two players were sin binned from either side for ‘roughing’.
The game continued to ebb and flow for the rest of the match, with the Panthers clearly having the
stronger team, winning 5-2 in the end. Cue big celebrations from both fans and players; unlike most
sports, there seems to be a genuine bond between the supporters and the team.
Overall I certainly enjoyed my first experience of ice hockey, and despite being told the quality of the
league is nothing compared to that in America, I was very impressed with some of the skills and effort
on display. However the constant advertising and music did start to grate, and as a neutral the game
didn’t keep me enthralled its duration. But I can certainly see how,
as in most sports, the game becomes fascinating and very exciting
if you actively support a team.
It’s also great family entertainment; for the kids there’s loud music, oversized novelty foam hands and competitions. For the adults
there’s a very enjoyable game, as well as a light hearted peppering
of blood thirsty violence. If the game was given more coverage in
this country then it could certainly attract a large following.
Words: Tim Spiers
Photos: Patrick Taylor
Nottingham Panthers v Manchester Phoenix – 23/01/2007
I’ve watched many sports in my life; football, cricket, tennis,
snooker, formula one, rugby, darts, and even speedway to name
but a few. But not once have I ever sat down and watched a whole
game of ice hockey. So when our Editor asked me if I wanted to
review a Nottingham Panthers game for Platform, I was dubious,
but more than prepared to give it a go.
As I approached the National Ice Centre on a cold January night, I
was surprised to see just how many people were doing the same,
most on them clad in bright yellow Panthers jerseys. Indeed the
arena, which can hold 6,500 people, was well over half full, quite
impressive for a sport which gets little to no media coverage in
this country. But then I gather that the Nottingham Panthers
have quite a notable history in the game, and are in fact the only
original member of the Premier League formed in 1983 to still be
playing at the top level, now re-branded the Elite League.
Taking my seat just before the start, the first thing I noticed was
the small but vocal number of away supporters tucked into the
corner opposite me – it’s quite a way from Manchester to support
a team most sports fans will never have heard of. Out onto the ice
rink came the three match referees, who then proceeded to warm
up for a couple of minutes, showing off their skating skills; is this
the pre-match entertainment?! Manchester’s team then did the
same before the lights went out; music blared from the speakers
and out came the Nottingham Panthers racing onto the ice rink,
their names bellowed out by the public address speaker as they
did so to a massive roar from the home fans. Everyone was then
told to stand for the national anthem as the two teams lined up in
28 • Platform
Volume 15/Issue 7
unison; strange I thought, as over half of the Panthers squad were
foreign. Anyway, after all the melodrama, finally the action began!
What first struck me was the immense speed these guys reached
whilst racing round the rink, as well as their quite phenomenal
close control, with the puck seemingly glued to their stick. The
action moves continuously from end to end as attacks on the opponent’s goal are launched. And then, with less than a minute gone,
a Panthers player is replaced with one from the sidelines. What’s
the matter with you man, are you knackered already?!
Suddenly the play stops for what I presume is a foul and immediately the Adams family music starts playing. The crowd clap along
and I look around half expecting to see an Uncle Fester look-alike
coming on to the ice. Just as abruptly, the music stopped and
play restarts – I was getting confused. The Panthers had certainly
started the match with more attacking intent and were penetrating the Phoenix goal area on a regular basis, with their goaltender
making some fine saves. The task was certainly made easier for
him by the strikingly huge shin pads he was wearing, which would
surely look more suitable on the Michelin man.
The atmosphere around the arena was building, with regular
shouts of ‘let’s go Panthers’. The Phoenix fans responded with
their own imaginative chant of ‘Phoenix, Phoenix’, which was the
only one they could muster up all night. A Phoenix player was
then sent to the sin bin area for two minutes for a ‘high stick’, and
we were all promptly told that the away team penalty area was
sponsored by SBS; well thanks for that important information! The
Muhammad Ali – Still Inspirational at 65
On the 17th January, the self-proclaimed ‘Greatest’, Muhammad Ali turned 65. I’m
not even going to speak much about the genius of a boxer he was, we’ve heard
all of that before. In fact, you have probably read the rest of what I’m going to say
before somewhere, in the crowded field of literature about him. However, since he
is still one of the most recognisable faces and one of the most respected men on
the planet, I’m sure I’ll be forgiven.
As an aspiring boxer myself, I have to admit that my style wouldn’t exist without
Ali. However, it’s not so much his physical technique that I try to emulate, as opposed to his mental technique. In his prime, he was as razor sharp with his wits as
he was with his fists. It was his positive attitude that carried him through the numerous wars, not merely his ability to dance rings (literally) around his opponents.
Hence, I hear you ask, what does Muhammad Ali have to do with Trent? Well, he
could have a lot to do with it, or more specifically us students. As most of us will
soon embark upon the yearly routine of exams, there are invariably going to be
excessive levels of stress, and there will be countless students doubting their
abilities to succeed. Many will attempt the risky procedure of doing no preparation
until the last minute, often due to a fear of trying hard, and still not performing; I
however, wouldn’t dare do such a thing. I’m no longer brave enough with exams to
exemplify Ali’s proclamation that, “He who is not courageous enough to take risks
will accomplish nothing in life.” Instead, I’d rather follow his dictum that, “It’s
the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a
deep conviction, things begin to happen.” If I replace ‘affirmations’ with ‘lecture
notes’ I think I’ll have found myself a winning formula.
Happy Birthday, Champ.
James Easy
[Photo: www.sportboxing.co.uk]
Well it’s that time of year again; the Rugby Union RBS Six Nations is upon us and,
with this being a World Cup year, the tournament holds that little bit extra significance. Each nation will be gauging their strongest team and tactics, as well as trying to gain some momentum, ahead of France 2007 which starts in September. Last
year’s tournament was a close run thing, with France and Ireland separated only
on points difference, and this year seems even harder to call. Here we assess each
team’s prospects for the tournament.
England – D:Ream once memorably
sang, ‘things can only get better’, and
if the England players listen to any
music before their six nations opener
against Scotland, they may well
put this on full blast. After a torrid
2006, new Head Coach Brian Ashton
will need to instil some confidence
into his fragile players if they are to
make any kind of impact in this tournament. The return of Jason Robinson from International retirement,
and the un-earthing of a potential new match winner in Rugby
League old boy Andy Farrell will freshen the team up, but the
loss to injury of Charlie Hodgson was a blow. A record-equalling
losing streak in the autumn suggested that they will struggle to
beat anyone other than Italy this year, and even that might be
pushing it. Prediction: Time to rebuild – 5th
Italy – Since joining the Six Nations
in 2000, Italy have made steady but
unspectacular progress. After struggling for the first few years, Italy
competed admirably in every game
they played last year, unlucky to pick
up the wooden spoon once again. But
they achieve their first away point,
in Wales, and if they can go one step
further this year and win away from
home, as well as continuing their
impressive home form in Rome, Italy
might well cause a few surprises.
Prediction: Continuing improvement, but still lacking
quality – 6th
Wales – They’ll be hoping to rediscover the form which saw them
crowned champions in 2005, but a
repeat of that success is unlikely
on current form. Captain Stephen
Jones will need to inspire his team to
punch above their weight, but young
fly-half James Hook is causing a stir
in the valleys, and could well make
an impact. Their opening match
against Ireland will show what this
Welsh team are made of. Prediction: Not consistent enough to
mount a challenge – 4th
France – The reigning Six Nations
champions, France will be attempting to make 2007 the year of ‘les
bleus’, with a World Cup on home soil
just around the corner. However, two
heavy home defeats to New Zealand
in the autumn showed that they are
not quite world-beaters just yet, and
at times they looked in disarray.
Having to play three of five matches away from the Stade de
France may also hinder their chances. Prediction: One eye
on the World Cup – 3rd
Ireland – They are arguably favourites to lift the trophy after showing
quite outstanding form towards the
end of 2006. After coming so close
last year, Brian O’ Driscoll and his
team are perhaps better placed than
any Ireland team in recent history to
end their 22 year wait to be crowned
champions. It will be interesting
to see what effect moving to their
temporary home of the 82,000 allseater stadium Croke Park will have
on results. Despite being run down
and ancient, Lansdowne Road did
offer a unique atmosphere which was
so inspiring to whoever played in it. The form of Ronan O’ Gara
will again be crucial, and if their big players perform, Irish eyes
should be smiling. Prediction: Champions at last – 1st
30 • Platform
Volume 15/Issue 7
Scotland – The Scots ruffled a few
feathers last year, beating France
and England, before losing heavily
to Australia in the autumn. Injuries
have dampened fans hopes for this
campaign, particularly that of Captain Jason White. A lot will depend
on whether the medical team can get
the players out of the treatment room
in time for a potentially tournamentdefining opener against England at
Twickenham. However if their strong
defence holds firm Scotland have the
quality to challenge for the title this
year. Prediction: Surprise package – 2nd
Tim Spiers
[Photos, clockwise from top left: Jason Robinson - www.lionstour.com; Marco Bortolami - www.bbc.co.uk; Stephen Jones - www.bbc.co.uk; Chris Paterson - www.telegraph.co.uk;
Brian O’Driscoll - www.bbc.co.uk; Fabien Pelous - www.bbc.co.uk]
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RB review
P
Horseball
I am writing from the Nottingham Trent University
Equestrian Club regarding horseball, which is a new area
into which we are expanding. We are training weekly for
horseball, alongside our regular riding lessons and training
for our three BUSA teams.
Horseball basically is considered to be a cross between
rugby and basketball on horseback. Each team has six
members. However, only four members will be on the pitch
playing at the same time and the ball is a junior football
with six leather handles attached.
The idea is to gain possession of the ball and score as
many goals as possible by shooting through one metre
wide hoops which are on poles suspended 3.5 metres.
Before a goal is scored, three consecutive passes must
be made without it being dropped. Should the ball be
dropped the rider must retrieve it by sliding from the
saddle to pick it up. The rider’s stirrups are connected by
a belly strap which means that he or she can lean down
without falling off.
We have recently begun weekly training and hopefully
will be arranging matches with other universities which
have also recently started playing. Anyone wanting to get
involved either with horseball or just wanting to come for
regular riding can e-mail us at ntuequestrian@hotmail.
co.uk for more information.
Lucy Sturgess
Platform Sports Teaser
Continuing with the six nations theme, a simple Rugby question this week: Can you name me the current
international record cap holders for each of the six nations - England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and
Wales? Good luck!
Last week I asked you if you could name the ten players who have scored for at least five Premiership clubs
since 1992. They are: Andy Cole, Chris Sutton, Benito Carbone, Nick Barmby, Mark Hughes, Stan Collymore, Les
Ferdinand, Marcus Bent, Ashley Ward and Teddy Sheringham. Well done if you got those!
Tim Spiers

Issue 7 - Platform Online

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