edify issue 4

Edify | Issue 4

www.westlondonsu.com/edify

Edify | Issue 4

Edify | Issue 4Edify | Issue 4 Edify | Issue 4

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Edify | Issue 4

Have You Heard?By Hannah Young

In case you have not heard the exciting news, the University of West London is now the new name for Thames Valley University. The announcement highlights a strategic shift for the University to its West London campus, with a new ‘educational hub’ opening in Berkshire at the start of the new academic year, primarily for Nursing students.

The University is looking forward to building on relationships with local organisations so that the value of the new name is shared in West London and the student experience is developed.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter John said: “This is a natural progression for the University, which is now a very different institution to that which was granted university status in 1992. The name change is necessary in order to align our new direction of travel with our clear brand and geographical identity which now lies at the heart of West London”.

Students’ Union President Daniel Whittal said: ‘We have been heavily involved in rebranding the University from day one and we remain 100% supportive towards the name change. The senior team acted upon feedback from students and there is a buzz on campus about putting the University of West London on degree certifi-cates. When the Union rebranded as West London Stu-dents’ Union it really helped to enhance our relationship with local businesses and the student experience, we believe the same will soon be said about the University’s new name.’

For the latest information and conversation, join the University’s new social media profile ‘West London Guru’ on Facebook and Twitter.


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Edify | Issue 4

Louka and I have been doing the show for 2 and half years on Blast - we’ve always had fun doing it and we never take ourselves seriously, as regular listeners will know. But through the banter and laughs, we do try to convey some sense of professionalism. So essentially, I’ve answered the question on what we do. Louka and I sit in the studio, our chat bouncing off one another, discussing anything and everything and hopefully enter-taining our audience - that’s the aim anyway.

Because our show on Blast is classified as specialist, the music we play ranges from acoustic to drum and bass to indie to the music that’s currently in the charts. We’re not shy of playing music from the past either, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles and Pink Floyd are regulars on the show. Louka and I work so well together because we don’t just listen to one genre of music. We aim to educate our listeners on new music and are equally edu-cated by them if they request something we’ve never heard before. I think that’s what we love about our show as music is to us, as it is to a lot of students at the Uni-versity of West London, very important.

Apart from blether about what’s going on in the world as well as in our personal lives we do other things on the show; we play some games, forever trying to find some-thing fun and interesting to do to entertain our listeners. There are obvious restrictions with radio on what you can do with features such as games but that’s the beauty of having a show on Blast. As much as we want our shows to sound good, it’s also a perfect place to experiment and if something doesn’t work it doesn’t matter too much be-cause you can always try again and improve for the next week. I know Louka and I are going to miss doing the show next year, having to go from having a fun time in the studio to potentially a professional radio environment and putting all the skills from Blast into actual practice.

This is why I would urge everyone and anyone who’s in-terested in radio as a medium to have a show on Blast. To make the most of the facilities available and have fun with it! There are playlisted shows so presenters can con-centrate on their spoken content rather than the music. And then the specialist shows that give the presenters the freedom to brand their show with their choice of music. Louka and my show is one of the many specialist shows currently on Blast but there are also shows to suit any audience member’s musical and content preference. So take the opportunity to get involved with Blast as it’s fun and a great way to meet lots of people interested in the same sort of things as you. There’s always room for one more personality.

Remember to tune into the Louka and Ellie show, every Thursday 6 – 8 pm!

Louka and Ellie Show on Blast


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Edify | Issue 4

Top 5 gap year companiesBy: Rose MacDonald

1) Responsibletravel.com If you want to experience the places as a local when you visit, then this is the company to go with as they work hard to only use tour operators that offer unique and authentic experiences. All companies that are used by Responsibletravel.com give back to their communities in some way: building schools, medical centres and pre-serving forests and beaches. The company also advo-cates eco-tourism, encouraging you to fly less where you can, using other forms of transportation. It’s a brilliant company that is passionate about giving their customer an all-round amazing experience.

2) Madventure.com Madventure is a company specialising in volunteer proj-ects. They are very much aimed at students or young people and frequently have money off offers. Their de-posits are small, starting at £50 and prices for the trips are reasonable. They offer peace of mind with a fantastic safety record; they have strict criteria that all placements have to meet. The company helps with all areas of your travel experience, including visas and tips on fundraising. This is a well-established and trusted company to go with on your volunteer adventures.

3) Gapwork.com Although you don’t book through the company itself it is a fantastic resource for anyone planning some time abroad, however short or long. Gapwork.com is a really easy to use website where you can plan your gap year. Every destination possible is on the site along with ev-erything you could possibly do there. This website has a fantastic database of all jobs, voluntary or not, that are available in the destination of your choice. It also has advice on all the finer details of your trips, like visas or working permits. This is a great website for those who aren’t too sure what they want to do, where they want to go or how long for.

4) Campsinternational.com This company specialises in Africa and Asia. The idea is that you are completely immersed into the community and culture for the whole time that you are with them. They want you to experience everyday life in your cho-sen destination off the beaten track. You will be involved in community work and conservation work along with experiencing amazing wildlife and enjoying a vibrant so-cial scene. The company works hard to try and give you everything that you may want in your gap year, under one roof. It’s a brilliant company to go with if you know exactly where you want to go but can’t make up your mind on what you want to do.

5) Statravel.co.uk Sta Travel is possibly one of the best-known student travel companies and that’s because it is really good at what it does. Its prices are reasonable and its destina-tions and experiences are varied. Unlike the other com-panies mentioned, Sta Travel helps you plan a round the world trip with a very useful section on its website. The company helps you with every aspect of your trip and if you’re completely stuck on what to do they also have an ‘Inspire me’ section.


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Edify | Issue 4by Tamanay Grinion

Food Review Carluccios, Ealing BroadwayAs most of us will agree, students don’t have the best diets in the world, with some of us more than happy to live on rice and cheese. Occasionally though, we’ll splash out on something more tasty, although as a student, I like to splash out a little too often! So, seeing as I do this quite a lot, I figured it would be good to let other students know where we can eat, if we get discount and if it’s value for money. This week I ventured to Carluccio’s, just down the road at 5-6 The Green, Ealing.

The restaurant itself was really welcoming and we only waited for around a minute to be seated. Whilst looking at the menu, we ordered a Bellini for me and a soft drink for my fellow diner. The menu was quite varied with quite a few pasta dishes, fish dishes and loads of meat. Don’t worry though, as vegetarians are also catered for. However, I wouldn’t say the restaurant is exactly student friendly, as you’re not going to be full without spending at least £25. Personally, I don’t think it’s a bad price but I know that £25 is good weekly shop for one person. There is a set menu that is cheaper and two courses cost around £20 so this may be a better option.

I ordered the calamari for starters and my partner in crime ordered some bruschetta. The calamari was fine but the br-uschetta was damn tasty – I’d order that instead if I went again! For the main course we had a steak and pasta with spicy sausage. I ordered the steak medium rare but it came out cold and well done. I spoke to the manager and she brought me another which was lovely. I get slightly an-noyed when restaurants don’t cook steak right - surely it would be one of the first things you’d pick up? The steak came with some roasted potatoes and some spicy tomato sauce. I don’t think it would fill many people up and I knew it wouldn’t fill me so I had a tomato and onion salad with it. My friend had the pasta which was really good and bet-ter when on a budget as you get more for your money - it was on a menu that was cheaper than mine. The steak was overpriced, as it usually is.

The dessert was shared between both of us - meringue crushed up in some whipped cream with a fruity sauce. Re-ally nice and so filling, I couldn’t have eaten one to myself. All in all, the meal was really good and I’d go again but prob-ably spend less, as the bill came to over fifty pounds and as a student that’s too steep to be paying all the time, I did get quite light headed from the Bellini. - it was really strong!


FactsThe Anatolian peninsula, comprising most of modern Turkey, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited regions in the world. The earliest Neolithic settlements such as Çatalhöyük (Pottery Neolithic), Çayönü (Pre-Pottery Neolithic A to Pottery Neolithic), Nevali Çori (Pre-Pottery Neolithic B), Hacılar (Pottery Neolithic), Göbekli Tepe (Pre-Pottery Neolithic A) and Mersin are considered to be among the earliest human settlements in the world. Every Turkish male has to serve with the Turkish armed forces - the army, the navy and the air force.

Survival Speech•Merhaba = Hello•Günaydın = Good Morning •İyi akşamlar = Good Evening•Nasılsınız = How are you?•Çok iyiyim = Very well•Evet = Yes•Hayır = No•Lütfen = Please•Teşekkür ederim = Thank You•Pardon = Excuse me•Ne? = What? •Nasıl? = How?•Ne kadar? How much

Trylingual - TurkeyBy Pinar Mehmet and Terry Smith

The University of West London has one of the largest multicultural student populations of any University. We believe this should be acknowledged and celebrated. ‘Trylingual’, as we’ve so poignantly named it, gives Edify readers the opportunity to pickup some interesting information and bits of language from various countries around the world - or at least enough to make you look good!

FlagRed and white. The red in the background is the representation of Turkish military blood leaked all over the riverbed. The term ‘Ay Yildiz’ is just an expression of the symbolic representation of the moon and star. The moon and star is not a significant symbol in Islam.

CurrencyNew Turkish Lira (TL). £1.00 GBP = 2.50613 TRY

SightseeingAnkara (Capital). Kizkalesi means “Maiden’s Castle,” the romantic name for the crusader castle floating in the blue water 150 metres offshore from this eastern Mediterra-nean beach resort town.

MenuTurkey is famous for its kebabs, especially the Adana kebab on pide flatbread, served with (clockwise) parsley, onion salad, grilled tomatoes, and peppers.

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Edify | Issue 4

Edify | Issue 4


Edify | Issue 4

112711

CountryJapan (otherwise known as Nihon)

Flag Known as Hinomaru (sun disc). The circle in the middle of the flag represents the sun and Japan’s name translates to “The land of the rising sun”. The white represents honesty and purity and the red disc is a sun symbol meaning brightness, sincerity and warmth.

CurrencyYen (¥). £1.00 GBP = ¥135.159 JPY

SightseeingTokyo (capital), Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima

MenuSashimi (Fresh raw seafood, sliced and served with dipping sauce), Onigiri (rice ball), Teriyaki (boiled fish or meat marinated in a special soy, sake or mirin sauce).

FactsThe people of Japan have the longest life expectancy of any country in the world. It also has the second lowest homicide rate in the world after Singapore. Whilst there is an Emperor as well as a monarchy, Japan is governed by a Prime Minister and a house of 480 representatives. It is a leading nation in sci-entific research, particularly technology, machinery and biomedical research. The leading religion is Buddhism. Sumo is considered the national sport, however baseball is the most popular. Japan’s na-tional flower is Sakura (the Cherry Blossom) which is beautiful but seasonal so be sure to go at the right time of year to see it in bloom.

WLSU supports the japan relief effort. You can contribute at: www.redcross.org.uk/JapanTsunami

Survival SpeechHai (hi-ee) = YesIe (ee-yeh) = NoNani (nah-nee) = WhatItsu (ee-tsoo) = WhenDoko (doh-koh) = WhereDôshite (dohh-shee-tay) = WhyDô (dohh) = HowIkura (ee-koo-rah) = How much? / How many?Dore (doh-reh) = Which one?Sumimasen = I’m sorryArigato/Domo arigato gozaimasu = Thanks [formal/informal]

Konnichiwa = Hi/Good afternoon.Ohayo gozaimasu/Ohayo = Good morning [formal/informal]Konbanwa = Good eveningOyasumi nasai. = Good night Sayonara. = Goodbye

Otearai wa doko desu ka = Where is the restroom?Kore wa ikura desu ka = How much is this?Kore wa nan desu ka = What is this?Gakusei waribiki wa arimasu ka = Do you have students discounts?Tasukete kudasai = Please help!

TryLingual:JapanBy Pinar Mehmet and Terry Smith


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Survival SpeechHai (hi-ee) = YesIe (ee-yeh) = NoNani (nah-nee) = WhatItsu (ee-tsoo) = WhenDoko (doh-koh) = WhereDôshite (dohh-shee-tay) = WhyDô (dohh) = HowIkura (ee-koo-rah) = How much? / How many?Dore (doh-reh) = Which one?Sumimasen = I’m sorryArigato/Domo arigato gozaimasu = Thanks [formal/informal]

Konnichiwa = Hi/Good afternoon.Ohayo gozaimasu/Ohayo = Good morning [formal/informal]Konbanwa = Good eveningOyasumi nasai. = Good night Sayonara. = Goodbye

Otearai wa doko desu ka = Where is the restroom?Kore wa ikura desu ka = How much is this?Kore wa nan desu ka = What is this?Gakusei waribiki wa arimasu ka = Do you have students discounts?Tasukete kudasai = Please help!

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Edify | Issue 4

In order that we can communicate with returning student representatives throughout the summer, and to ensure that they are in place at the beginning of the academic year, we are asking you to elect your student representatives for 2011 – 2012.

Student Representatives are your way of voicing your views on how to improve your academic experience by working together with the University of West London and West London Students’ Union.

They participate in the decision making process at programme level on matters regarding assess-ment, academic quality and standard of facilities, amongst others.

Madhawa Senanayake,VP Education

Student reps are students like you who understand what it’s like to be a student on your programme and so can there to represent the views of other students.. They are also a useful link between staff and students and help students get their voice heard during their time at the University of West London.

Being a Student Representative gives you an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the university and the union. As a Student Rep you get to meet loads of new people and make friends with students from all across the university on different programme pathways.

An induction presentation and full training will be delivered to all student representatives throughout all campuses.

If you are interested in becoming a Student Representative follow the link below for further details and to register.http://www.westlondonsu.com/reps


Looking for work over summer and beyond? Not sure of your next steps?

If you’re a student looking for summer work or a graduate then make sure you have registered with the Careers & Employment Service and that your contact details are up to date.

We email out many part-time, vacation and full-time graduate career opportunities each week (you can tailor these to your preferences). You should also let us know if you have already registered with us but want to change your jobsearch criteria to reflect the fact that you have completed your studies.

Graduates can use our services for up to three years after they have left the University. You can arrange an appointment to get help with your job search, applications and interview skills. There will also be a range of summer workshops for finalists and current students (see our website – details to follow shortly).

Our website www.uwl.ac.uk/careers contains a wealth of information including lists of vacancy sites containing student / graduate opportunities. More specialist literature can be obtained directly from the Careers Service. You will also find Careers Event listings on our website and these include graduate recruitment fairs in London and beyond. You can also follow us on Facebook (search for University of West London Careers & Employment Service).

We are open throughout the summer vacation and look forward to seeing you soon!

Opening hours:Monday – Thursday, 10am – 4pm (Fridays by appointment)

Careers Drop-in advice: Monday – Thursday, 1pm – 4pm

Location:B Block, Ground Floor, Library, St. Mary’s Road, Ealing

Telephone: 020 8 231 2700Email: [email protected]

Looking for work over summer and beyond?

Not sure of your next steps?

BY Alex Loveless, UWL Careers Service

Madhawa Senanayake,VP Education

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Edify | Issue 4

Hey guys, We are a team of 2 Students’ Unions (SU) professional staff members who support students regarding the University Regulatory Framework all year round. We are not students ourselves being full time employees employed by the SU and are independent from the university acting only, on your behalf. Our service offers advise and support to you, the students if your circumstances take a toll for the worst! We advise, support and represent you in issues relating to :-Disciplinary Interviews/Hearings i.e plagiarism, breach of the universities code of conduct-Fitness to Practice Hearings-Mitigation-The appeals process-Complaints-General academic advise and course related problems

We operate on an appointment based system and you can expect the following from us:To provide you with accurate and relevant advise, information and representation

To make you aware of all your options available to you with regards to our case

To refer you on to a third party (both within University of West London and externally) if relevant and helpful to your case

To be impartial, non-judgmental, empowering and maintain confidentiality Hopefully your time at UWL will flow smoothly without any difficulties however, if you experience any of the above do get in contact with us and we will endeavour to support, advise and represent you in your best interests. All the best Gurpreet ChaggarSenior Education Representation [email protected] Sonia JalafEducation Representation [email protected]

The Education Representation CaseworkersOur role in Supporting ‘YOU’-The Students’

Edify | Issue 4


Edify | Issue 4

Flat15 wrote:Our mate has been totally hooked to his computer since starting uni. We think he’s addicted to Facebook. What can we do?

A: Sounds like it’s time for an intervention! If you need to, drag him out of his room, but hopefully it won’t come to that. All of you need to tell him he’s acting like a loser and that he needs to find the fun. Organise a big night out and don’t take no for an answer. Remind him of everything he’s missing out on.

HOMEWORK: (Watch) Smallville – Season 9Chloe becomes absorbed in her Watchtower duties since Jimmy’s death. Her friends manage to convince her to step out from behind the computer screen and back into the real world.

Trainspotter wrote: I’m hanging out with a new group of friends. We get along great but they all do drugs of some kind and I think I might be making some of them uncomfortable. The stuff they take seems to be safe, should I just join in?

A: Well peer pressure is just about the weakest excuse for taking drugs. Also you can never tell if something is ‘safe’ or not until it’s too late. If you all get along as well as you think then it shouldn’t matter that you’re not into it. If anything, it’s probably handy to have someone with a clear head in the group. However, if you’re determined to do something silly then make sure you’re educated. Call FRANK on 0800 77 66 00.

HOMEWORK: (Listen) The Verve – “The Drugs Don’t Work”

Harder Hitting Advice with Terry Smith

DarkFairy wrote: I’ve been self-harming since I was about 16. I really want to stop now but I’m not sure what my first step should be.

A: Sounds like you’re willing to change your behaviour and that’s key. The first thing you may want to try is using avoidance techniques, activities that will stop you from being able to hurt yourself, whether it’s going for a run or getting rid of all sharp objects etc. Here’s a top tip for those times when you really feel out of control, wear a rubber band on your wrist and when you get the urge to self-harm simply snap yourself with it! These are all first steps but the best thing to do is see a trained counsellor who can help get to the root of the problem.

HOMEWORK: (Read) uwl.ac.uk/counsellingHere you can find information on the University of West London Counselling Service and how to get in contact with them. The service is completely confidential and free to all current University of West London students and staff.

The coming break will be a good chance to recover from a year of hard work on your course. With the weather the way it is at the moment it will be pretty tempting to check out early and start the summer break right away. Try to hold out a little longer. Find out when your last assignment hand-in or exam is and plan a party or night out for that evening. Once you know the date you’ll have something to look forward to and you’ll be able to focus on what needs to be done before then, i.e.. doing the best you can in your studies! After that the world is yours, for a couple of months at least. Enjoy the summer and see you next year!

Now remember the ‘In Agony’ twist! Sometimes the advice is already out there but you just need to know where to look. So, with your response I will also be giving HOMEWORK. This will include anything from a specific song or film, to a book or TV show episode for you to research, which will hopefully shed some light on your issue.

Vol. 7


ZEDD wrote:I can’t dance! Help!

A: Dancing is like art, it’s subjective, but if you want to attempt to look like you know what you’re doing you can try moving the bottom half of your body to the beat and the top half to the bass during the verses. Then mix it up when the chorus kicks in. Although no one will give you praise for it. It’s a lot more fun to dance like no-one’s watching and you might even get some compliments out of it! Just get lost in the music!

HOMEWORK: (Listen) Taio Cruz feat Kylie Minogue – “Higher”

Terry will give anything a go so send your problems, embarrassing illnesses and secret shames to Edify Facebook page inbox with ‘HELP’ in the subject box and leave an alias for how you want to be addressed

Ask Terry

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Edify | Issue 4

The worst thing about these next few months is…deadlines! Whether it is an exam or course work, we are forced to sit indoors whilst the park is screaming for love and attention. If this is a stressful point in your uni experience (which for many it is) then why not kick it back a “notch” with a spot of Minecraft?

Minecraft, if you haven’t already heard, is a sandbox game with some pretty original aspects to it. It’s kinda like Lego for grown ups! Pretty much everything in the game is made out of blocks in some form or another - the hills, the rivers, the trees, the pigs, the cows and the chickens.

So why is the game made with such graphics and reso-lution? Well, it wouldn’t be Minecraft any other way and the game relies on this simple, yet truly effective engine to run.

You play as the acclaimed “Steve”, a friendly chappy with 3 main capabilities: mining by destroying blocks, crafting materials and placing the blocks you have acquired.I admit this doesn’t sound very exiting at first, but once you delve into the world of Minecraft you’ll see the only real limits are your imagination! Don’t like the look of that mountain over there? Well… why not tear it down and erect a giant fantasy castle in its place… or some other giant erect things ...*cough*.

On a serious note, people have built some pretty fantastic things within Minecraft - from a scale-to-scale model of the starship enterprise to the land of Hyrule; the building possibilities are endless.

Yes, that’s right, zombies and all sorts of other creepy crawlies come out at night with one sole purpose: to whoop your ass! Surviving your first night will be uncom-fortable and feel alien for the best of us. But once you’ve spent and experimented a few nights within Minecraft you’ll start to feel at ease and learn the rules about pro-tecting yourselves.

Let me give you a heads up on crafting. The crafting in Minecraft works on a 16-grid basis, and depending on what materials you use and where you place them, dic-tates what you create. Place two blocks of stone above a stick, and you’ll have yourself a fine sword! Sandwich some coco beans between two stacks of hay; you’ve got yourself COOKIES! Yeah that’s right, a sword and some cookies! Ray Mears can’t touch that!

Finally, there are different game modes to consider. The game has a free version, with which you can simply build and place blocks. This is still a pretty damn fun mode and you can play it in your browser, but if you want the full experience with the zombies, cookies and swords then Minecraft will set you back around £10.

Let me point out that Minecraft has been growing since its May 17, 2009 release and will continue to grow for years to come. The £10 you pay now covers all future updates and release material, so it’s a worthy investment for any gamer.

Check it out at http://www.minecraft.net/There is also a huge amount of fan videos on YouTube, so you can check it out for yourselves there! Hope you all have a fantastic summer and good luck with your up-coming studies!

By Dylan Harriman-McCrea & Nick Strode

MINECRAFT – THE PERFECT GAME FOR HANGOVERS


Well, it’s been a five-year wait since their last offering “First Impressions of Earth”, but they are back… New York based band ‘The Strokes’ have finally graced us with their latest offering, “Angles”.

The Strokes could have so easily found themselves beside the likes of Razorlight and Toploader in the pile of re-emerging artists that may struggle to find a place in 2011. But they’ve avoided such a fate by putting together what might actually be their very best album yet.

Compared to their freshman record “Is this it”, there are some striking similarities, namely: tinny guitars, catchy riffs and the resonant tones of lead singer Julian Casablancas.

I for one love this record. The opening track ‘Machu Picchu’ is an awesome, funky retro sounding piece that brings out the best in the band. This is followed by the lead single from the album, “Under cover of darkness”, which you may have been lucky enough to get for free during a three-day period earlier this year and which is absolutely fantastic. It represents everything I love about this band. Other tracks worth a listen: ‘Taken for a Fool’ harks back in production tonality to the scratchy lo-fi charm of ‘Is This It?’ but flexes significantly developed, melodic muscles compared to a decade ago – this is a track, one amongst several, that will bury itself into one’s head for the long-term after even the most fleeting of encounters.

The last album I felt was a bit hit and miss but I am glad to see them back at their very best.

The Strokes - AnglesReleased March 2011

Review

Get it in your collectionVerdict

The Strokes: Angles

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Edify | Issue 4

How did you come up with the name “Obscene Locals”?Since we’re all from West London, we chose the name ‘locals’ as a sort of reference to the fact that we all live close by to each other and we decided on the word ‘Obscene’ as a sort of joke reference to some of the random people we’ve encountered in our everyday lives from living around this area - the people and the area we’re in have influenced us in the music we make so we felt that a name to reference this would be the perfect tribute!

How did you meet and come together as a band?We first met in 2008 when we all studied together in Acton but didn’t form the band until a year later when we all enrolled at TVU on the same course - we all really love UK and American hip hop as well as soul and R ‘n’ B so thought we’d attempt to play it live - so far it seems to be working!

Who or what has influenced your music the most?We all have an eclectic taste in music and the EP is a reflection of that, but our love of hip-hop stands out the most. Artists like The Roots, J Dilla and when it comes to making Hip-hop beats we like Rza of Wu tang, Dr Dre, Kanye West, Swiss Beats, Just Blaze and also a lot of British rappers including Lowkey, Jehst, Klashnekoff and Roots Manuva. And soulful stuff too - anything with a strong melody - lots of motown and neo-soul but we can get a bit heavy like Rage Against the Machine.

How would you describe “Obscene Locals” in 5 words?Probably the best band ever.

You recently released your debut EP “Quarter-Life Crisis”, how has the feedback been so far? Positive. Even though it hasn’t been widely promoted, everyone that has listened and given us feedback is really impressed with what they hear. Some might say “I’m not really into hip-hop but these guys have a great sound”. So we’re concentrating less on promotion and more on warming up for gigs so once that’s ready the buzz should pick up a bit.

What’s next for you? Any plans for the summer?Currently we’re working on a mixtape similar to the concept of our EP but slightly more tracks as well a few more guest appearances from other people we’re working with at the moment. We’ve already written a few tracks so will be in the studio most of summer - as well as the occasional gig here and there!

Where can our readers find out more about you, upcom-ing gigs, listen to your music? The EP Quarter-Life Crisis is out on iTunes now! We have various video clips up on YouTube as well as a few live videos to come, Twitter, Facebook and Myspace, etc, just search our name and you’ll find us.

A bit of a random question, what’s your favourite sandwich? Chicken salad, banana and nutella with a pinch of salt.. As you can tell we’re very strict on our nutrition!

Finally, any last words?Check out our EP and follow us on Twitter for regular updates!

by Marion Legrand

Edify caught up with Obscene Locals, an emerging hip-hop band from West London. Here’s how it went down...

Obscene Locals


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Edify | Issue 4

Ultimate Festival GuideYour Comprehensive Guide To The Summer’s Finest Festivals

What do you get when you combine several thou-sand people, a field, terrible toilets and a cracking line-up? My festival senses are tingling and I can feel the excitement already, so I thought it was high time I shared it with you guys, and brought you the lowdown on this year’s choicest selection!

Lying on a beach for a week? Forget it. Skiing? Nah. Ditch the Easy-Jet, leave the hotels alone, swap your flip-flops for wellies and come and join me in a field for a few days, and I promise you won’t regret a thing. I know many of you will have already done the festival route, but if you haven’t, then I seriously recommend, as many of you stu-dent types say, ‘getting on it’.

Get on what, exactly? Well, there’s always the chal-lenge of gradually exchanging all your blood for ci-der. No? Or, how about dancing ‘til 3am to some of the best bands around, surrounded by an electrify-ing atmosphere? What about singalongs with 5000 people? BBQs? Making friends with someone just because they have a fantastic beer cooler? If none of the above tickles your fancy, then maybe you should stop reading.

>>Continues...

By Sadie Higham


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Edify | Issue 4

The Ultimate Festival Guide

Still with me? Good! I’ve kindly compiled a quick checklist, which, in my experience, is completely essential for any festival experience; read on, and learn!

ChecklistWellies. I cannot express how important they are, but I’ll try anyway: WELLIES. WELLIES!! WELLIES!!!

Phones. It’s 3am, it’s dark and you’re lost. Your tent might be in that field, or maybe in that one over there? A quick phone call to a friend can save hours (or even days) of aimless wandering.

Alcohol. When your days start at 10am and finish at 5am, never underestimate how much you can get through. The beer tents will charge you several limbs per pint, and it tastes awful too. Take your own!

Tent. If you hadn’t figured this out yet, then maybe you should stop reading.

Waterproof clothing. A jacket, a plastic mac, even a bin liner would do the job, but the weather is as unpredictable as ever, and keeping dry is essential!

Friends. Take friends, meet new ones there, maybe buy some (alcohol is currency at most festivals), just make sure to stick with them at all times. I’m not going to lie, crime rates at festivals are on the rise, don’t let it happen to you!

Food. Cider does not have the same nutritional value as a meal, whatever you may have heard, and you need energy to dance and sing and laugh. Try getting regular meals, even if it’s just a burger, and you’ll feel 100% better!

Stupid headwear: Compulsory.

Edify | Issue 4


Edify | Issue 4

3rd-5th June Wychwood The Charlatans, The Waterboys10th-12th June Download Def Leppard, System of a Down, Linkin Park10th-12th June Isle of Wight Kings of Leon, Foo Fighters, Pulp10th-12th June Rock Ness Kasabian, The Chemical Brothers, We Are Scientists22nd-26th June Glastonbury Morrissey, Mumford & Sons, Queens of the Stone Age1st-3rd July Cornbury The Faces, The Saw Doctors, Satus Quo8th-10th July Wakestock Biffy Clyro, The Wombats, Ellie Goulding8th-10th July T in the Park Arctic Monkeys, The Strokes, Blondie8th-10th July Sonisphere Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth13th-17th July Larmer Tree Jools Holland, Imelda May, Seasick Steve14th-17th July Latitude The National, Suede, Bright Eyes28th-31st July Cambridge Folk Laura Marling, Frank Turner, Newton Faulkner29th-30th July Global Gathering Pendulum, Tinie Tempah, Chase & Status4th-7th August Big Chill Kanye West, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Chipmunk12th-14th August Bloodstock Motorhead, W.A.S.P, Immortal12th-14th August Summer Sundae The Maccabees, Toots & The Maytals, Young Knives20th-21st August V Plan B, Eminem, Kaiser Chiefs26th-28th August Leeds/Reading My Chemical Romance, The Offspring, Muse27th-28th August Creamfields David Guetta, Tiesto, Armin van Buuren8th-11th Sept. Bestival Pendulum, The Cure, Primal Scream

The Big Ones

Sounding good? Now all that’s left to do is decide which festival to go to! There are hundreds to choose from, so here’s a list of the best, complete with appearances; pick one, grab some friends and I’ll see you at the mainstage!


3rd-5th June Wychwood The Charlatans, The Waterboys10th-12th June Download Def Leppard, System of a Down, Linkin Park10th-12th June Isle of Wight Kings of Leon, Foo Fighters, Pulp10th-12th June Rock Ness Kasabian, The Chemical Brothers, We Are Scientists22nd-26th June Glastonbury Morrissey, Mumford & Sons, Queens of the Stone Age1st-3rd July Cornbury The Faces, The Saw Doctors, Satus Quo8th-10th July Wakestock Biffy Clyro, The Wombats, Ellie Goulding8th-10th July T in the Park Arctic Monkeys, The Strokes, Blondie8th-10th July Sonisphere Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth13th-17th July Larmer Tree Jools Holland, Imelda May, Seasick Steve14th-17th July Latitude The National, Suede, Bright Eyes28th-31st July Cambridge Folk Laura Marling, Frank Turner, Newton Faulkner29th-30th July Global Gathering Pendulum, Tinie Tempah, Chase & Status4th-7th August Big Chill Kanye West, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Chipmunk12th-14th August Bloodstock Motorhead, W.A.S.P, Immortal12th-14th August Summer Sundae The Maccabees, Toots & The Maytals, Young Knives20th-21st August V Plan B, Eminem, Kaiser Chiefs26th-28th August Leeds/Reading My Chemical Romance, The Offspring, Muse27th-28th August Creamfields David Guetta, Tiesto, Armin van Buuren8th-11th Sept. Bestival Pendulum, The Cure, Primal Scream

Edify | Issue 4


Edify | Issue 4

The sun is out, and your out in the park or around town. This is how we think summer should be, spent on a couple of crap deckchairs, in the garden with your stereo speakers hanging out the window. Temperatures are going to soar this summer so here is edify’s desert island summer playlist.

Edify’s Summer Deckchair Playlist

Weezer – Island In The SunExample – KickstartsKing Tubby – Ragga Muffin Stylee DubMarlena Shaw – California SoulDuck Sauce – aNYwayRJD2 – GhostwriterEd Sheeran – You Need MeJohnny Osbourne – We Need LoveStereophonics – DakotaDee Edwards – Why Can’t There Be LoveKanye West – All Falls DownThe Beatles - Here Comes The SunBloc Party – So Here We AreBob Marley – Could You Be LovedJamirioquai – You Give Me SomethingBlack Eyed Peas – Don’t LieIncubus – Are You InThe Cure - LovesongDario G – SunchymeKing Tubby – Take FiveNas & Damien Marley – Africa Must Wake UpIsley Brothers – Summer BreezeGuru Josh – InfinityBlur – Fools DayKings of Leon – RagooIce Cube – Today Was A Good DayDe La Soul – Eye KnowSub Focus – Could This Be RealHot Chip – And I Was A Boy From SchoolIncubus – DriveShawn Lee’s Ping Pong Orchestra – Kiss The SkyWax Tailor – Que SeraBig Mountain – Baby I love Your WayCrazy Town – ButterflyDr. Dre – Still DREThe Foals – MiamiWarren G - Regulate


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Edify | Issue 4


Edify | Issue 4

So, this is it. Last issue before the break up for the summer.

First of all; watch out for the End of Year Beach Party on Friday 20th May!! It’s honestly going to be fantastic fun!

Usually I fill my update with what I’ve been working on, what’s been happening and what is coming up. But now if I may, I would just like to take this last opportunity to say thank you and goodbye.

Although by doing this I fall in line with the boring and perhaps expected norm, I feel there is no other option as it is important to tie up loose ends properly, offer credit to some of those that helped you along the way and give support and hope for those that will continue hereafter.

I know some will say good riddance, though I hope many will appreciate some of the upward struggles that I have faced in order to provide - or at least move more in the direction of giving - what students should have (entertain-ments wise) at a University. Perhaps my most important of aims, my underlying drive and my focus was to prog-ress this Students’ Union. Although I have fallen far short of my aims (and this hurts, regardless of obstacles put before me that prevented it) I still think, at least some ex-tent, I have achieved what I set out to do.

Entertainments Update

It has been an absolute privilege to be at TVU (UWL), meet so many wonderful people and work closely with some that are really inspiring… some of which have filled my time with laughter and so many of you have become an extended family. If you are wondering whether or not to get involved with the Students’ Union team, I implore you to do so, especially in aiming for a sabbatical post as, whatever area you are in here, it is a great job.

I wish all that continue to study here the very best. To all that continue working here; keep trying, even though sometimes it’s incredibly hard. If there is a wall, try to break it, no matter how impenetrable it may seem, as that is the only true way to progression. Elliott Hall (fraggle) will be taking my post next year. It is a hard job, but, I am sure he will do impeccably, especially when given support by all those around him. And to everyone, thank you.

x

Raoul Sanchez, Vice President Student Engagement


So, you have found true love or a boyfriend for the night and the heat of the moment meant the concern for contra-ception went out of the window. Now the pregnancy test is positive - what do you do? Is this the end of your life or simply a new chapter? There are many options avail-able, even though it may not seem like it, but whatever you decide remember that your decisions will all have conse-quences - good and bad.

Abortion may seem like the easier or rational option in some people’s eyes but remember that this is YOUR DE-CISION, not anyone else’s as you will have to live with the consequences. Abortions can be performed in two ways; the pill method, in which you will have to take a tablet oral-ly and then have one inserted into your womb by a doctor. This is normally used for women in the early stages of pregnancy and will cause intense stomach cramps and heavy bleeding similar to a painful period. The second method is normally used in the later stage of pregnancy and involves a surgical procedure in which a tube is insert-ed to vacuum the embryo out of your womb. There may be some discomfort and pain afterwards. Both methods not only have physical effects but also psychological such as major trauma, guilt and/or and will take a long time for you to come to terms with your loss. For some women coping with abortion may be easier as they are confident in their decision and know it was the best they could do at the time, for others dealing with their loss may take a lot longer so be prepared for either reaction.

Adoption is a very responsible decision for some young mothers, but be aware that the fears and worries of par-enthood do not end at the hospital. During your pregnancy you may develop a maternal bond with your unborn child making it harder to let go when the day comes to give the baby to your chosen adoptive parents. The process of finding suitable people to raise your child will take time, you want the baby to have a good future, stability and love and it will be hard to find people you trust to give the baby that. You will be on an emotional rollercoaster and you need to be prepared to handle your emotions and let go.

There is also the decision of whether you want an open or closed adoption; an open adoption means that you remain in contact with the child and receive regular updates of the baby’s progress - how much contact and correspondence is debateable. A closed adoption means that your involve-ment and rights to the child end at the birth. Choosing adoption can give you a sense of relief as you know you were the best parent you could have been at the time and you are giving your chosen couple their dream of being parents.

Keeping the baby can be scary as your life will change drastically. During your pregnancy you will experience various cravings and you will feel the baby move which can feel really weird. You may get morning sickness (not just in the morning). You will have to attend various doctor appointments and scans where you will get regular blood tests to measure yours and the baby’s progress. During the third trimester (the last three months of pregnancy) you will not be able to fly on an aeroplane as the baby can arrive at any time. You may experience looks and whis-pers from your peers and colleagues which you have to rise above to focus on your work, unless you decide to take a gap year, which is another sensible option available. You need to think about money and all the baby basics (e.g. nappies, clothes). You need to accept that you may not get as much support as you would like and you are go-ing to have to sacrifice your social life and sleep at times. But despite all these negative aspects of motherhood what people do not tell you is how much you will enjoy bonding with your new baby, the instant love and protectiveness you will feel and the comfort in knowing you are needed.

The moral of the story is to be prepared to live with the consequences whatever you decide if you do find yourself pregnant at a young age but at the same time pregnancy does not have to be a negative experience so try not to see it as the end of your world but simply as a new chapter in the story of your life. Until you are ready to take responsi-bility for a child be safe, stay protected and enjoy yourself - with contraception

Student Guide to PregnancyBy Megan Saad

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Edify | Issue 4


Edify | Issue 4

Well guys and girls, here it is, my last update of the year as your Vice President Sports & Societies and the next time you hear from me I will be the new Vice President Recreation :)

An amazing year from the Recreation Office and I just want to say a big well done to all of our sports teams. I am so very proud of each and every one of you. Soci-eties have been outstanding, with many new societies set up and I look forward to working with you next year. If you are interested in setting up your own society, please feel free to come to the Recreation Office or simply go to our website at www.westlondonsu.com.

On a rather sad note, I will be losing my partner in crime at the end of this academic year - Calley Wilson. For those who don’t know this young lady, she is simply an asset to the Recreation Office and all of the extracur-ricular Students’ Union activities. You will be missed Calley, so from me a great big thank you for all that you have done, I wish you all the best for the future!

Now onto a hint of what may be coming during Fresher’s….well, I am afraid I am giving nothing away! Can’t spoil the surprise now can I? It just means that you’ll have to be aware and if you are on Facebook, please find the ‘WLSU Party Central’ group on there and join. Nearer the beginning of the next academic year all the nights shall be revealed. So keep locked in, get involved and let’s en-joy a great year!

Elliott Hall,Vice President Sports & Societies

Sports & Societies Update


The aims of this module are as follows:•To support students who participate in extra curricular activities to analyse and reflect on their experience using an appropriate model of reflection.•To support students to develop constructive engagement in their chosen activity environment and learn from this experience.

The module is free of charge to all University of West Lon-don students.

To find out more and to register contact Dieter Herde on 020 8231 2300 or [email protected]

Hope you will take this opportunity to get yourself some well-deserved extra credits.

Madhawa Senanayake,Vice President Education

Student Community Engagement

If you fancy your volunteering work to be recognised and you would like add-on credits, then sign up to the Student Community Engagement Module to have 20 extra credits, which will look good on your CV and give you that added extra when applying for a job.

This module has been developed and validated by INSTIL, the Institute for Teaching, Innovation and Learning at Uni-versity in cooperation with West London Students’ Union.

University of West London recognises that students par-ticipate in a number of varied extracurricular activities such as representing other students or the University, participat-ing in Clubs & Societies and volunteering in the community whilst studying. These are examples of activities, however it is not exhaustive. This module will provide students with the opportunity to utilise their experiences as a volunteer by providing a structured method of recording and reflecting on their experiences to enable them to achieve academic credit and enhance their transferable skills.

Education Update

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Edify | Issue 4


Edify | Issue 4

Edify | Issue 4


edify issue 4

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