the Medwire March Edition 2013

the MedwireExclusive: The dangers of drag racing exposed

March - May 2013

Is Medway a student town?

P10

P8 - 9

PLUS: SUMMER PARTY RETURNS P4

Conman preys on students

P6

What’s Inside? 4 - 6 Campus News 7 Your Uni Updates 8 - 9 A Student Town? 10 Drag Racing 12 - 13 Mental Health 14 Work Experience 15 Medders’ Profile 16 What’s On? 17 Student Cafes 18 - 19 - Sports

Who does what?

Editor: Jem Collins Deputy: Kieran Watkins Deputy: Matt Charles

News Editors:

Campus: Clarissa Place Local: Michelle Gleaves Politics: Molly Pike Sport: Uzoma Jemade Nightlife: Ola Ojuko Comment: Jade Edwards

Staff:

Cecily Snowball Jasmin Sahota Cian Hodge Lianne Carpenter Katie Palmer Alex Norman Victoria Polley Stine Wannebo

The Medwire Student Media Limited is a non profit company with all capital used to produce free and independent student news and entertainment. We aim to report events, both on an off campus, accurately, contemporaneously and are staffed by volunteer students.

the MedwireWelcome back to the Medwire and

our second edition of the year. We’re even more excited about

this one than last time and we’ve tried to cram in as much stuff as possible to see you through until the Easter holidays.

There’s big news going down at the Medway campus this term, so we’ve expanded campus news to four pages.

If you’ve been keeping an eye on our website, you’ll already know that UMSA is disbanding next year and we’ve done a whole investigation into the situation for students at the Medway campus. There’s some great news about events though and we’re pleased to reveal that the Medway Summer Party is set to return and some great cinema discounts for students.

We’ve also done an exclusive investigation into the dangerous world of drag racing in Medway, the state of mental health services on the campus and where exactly is the best place in Medway to go for a quick cuppa and a cake if you’re on a budget.

You’ll still find all of our regular features, sports news and a guide to all the events happening this term and we’ve pinned down Marcus Marsh, head of Medway Amateur Dramatics, to tell us all their plans. Whether you’re a Kent, Greenwich or CCCU student you’ll find a dedicated news section for you and there’s loads more on our website.

If you haven’t yet checked out our shiny new website then make sure you do - we’ll

be updating it daily will all the latest news. Once again it’s just left for me to say

thank you to the fantastic team I have behind me who’ve helped to produce our best edition yet and I couldn’t be more proud. If you have any comments or suggestions do let us know - we’d love to hear your feedback.

Jem CollinsEditor

Want to join us?We’re always on the lookout for new people to join our team - whether you’re looking to get involved as a writer, are a dab hand at photography or think you’d be good at selling adverts we want to hear from you!

To get involved, or just to find out a bit more infomation visit us online or email the editor at [email protected] all the latest news and updates from

the Medway campus just scan the QR code to get straight onto our website!

Find us onlinewww.themedwire.co.ukTwitter: @the_medwireFacebook: www.facebook.com/themedwire

Campus NewsJust because we’re a small campus doesn’t mean there isn’t loads going on. Campus News Editor Clarissa Place and her team have rounded up all the latest gossip.

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Summer party is set to returnThe Medway Campus Summer Party will return to Coopers this year with a promise that it will be “bigger and better”, The Medwire can exclusively reveal.

Last year’s event was held at Coopers and featured live music, food and plenty of sunshine.

It was also widely heralded as a success by students from all three universities on the Medway Campus.

Looking to succeed on last year’s event, Coopers manager Gareth Gay, music student and Kent Union Vice President (Activities) candidate Jack McDonnell and Activities Officer Clarissa Place will be organising the festivities.

Talking about the plans for this year’s party, Clarissa Place said: “We are hoping to make the event bigger and better than the previous year, hopefully with more societies able to take part.

“The event is for students from all the universities on campus to celebrate the end of term and hopefully they’ll come down whatever the weather.”

The summer party is expected to take place on Saturday, May 18 (to be confirmed in the next few weeks) and will include 12 hours of live bands and DJs throughout the day.

The theme is set to be “Exam Buster” to celebrate the end of exams.

New additions to the party this year will include a planned marquee allowing for bands to play outside, as well as various showcases and displays from the campus’ societies.

The popular Coopers BBQ and cocktail bar will also return, with

a range of drinks deals to be revealed closer to the event.

Coopers will also be hoping to provide a range of summer themed refreshments, including ice cream.

A motion to charge students to go to the event has, however been scrapped, The Medwire

understands.A consultation meeting for the

Summer Party is scheduled to take place later this month, with more details to be released in the coming weeks.

Make sure to keep an eye on The Medwire online to find out more details.

by Kieran WatkinsDeputy Editor

LEFT AND ABOVE:Students of the Universities of Medway enjoy the sun at the highly successful Summer Party.

Calls for more health events

Medway Council should promote more health events says Tomasz Kompf, one half of the Medway Health Challenge team.

Alongside fellow Sports Management student Agnieszka Uba, the pair invited local sports groups and nutritionists to share their knowledge about health and fitness as part of their coursework. But Tomasz would like the day to have a long term effect.

Tomasz said: “There should be more events such as this one as Medway has one of the highest obesity rates in the whole of UK.

“It would also help if Medway Council would be more willing to support such initiatives.”

The third year students present-ed a “Healthy Lifestyle” exhibition where visitors could relax, have a massage or reflexology treatment and speak to Gillingham Football

Club, Medway Dragons Wheel-chair Rugby and others.

The pair were helped out by students and societies, with Capoeira proving popular with young children.

Tomasz added: “People’s awareness of sport and nutrition should be reinforced all the time by understanding what a healthy lifestyle is.”

Approximately 100 people at-tended the event at Brompton Academy on Saturday, March 2.

by Clarissa PlaceCampus News Editor

ABOVE: Agnieszka Uba and Tomasz Kompf

Students to hold fine art exhibition

Seven second-year students will see their collective artwork feature in a new exhibition this month.

The Fine Art students from the University of Kent have collabo-rated together on the project, called “Twice in the Same River,” which looks at the development and change of the River Medway over time.

The installation will focus on Chatham’s Sun Pier, from its col-lapse to its revival as an up-and-coming art venue, where the students’ work will feature.

The installation by the students is one of three exhibitions at the Sun Pier House complex, which will be fully refurbished later this year, and is part of the “pARTici-pate Medway” campaign.

Talking about the event, the students said: “Translating the event to inform the viewer in an immersive and interactive experi-ence that plays with the senses, the installation hopes to pay homage to the collapse and par-ticipate the audience in a journey through time.”

A private view of the work will take place on Monday, March 18 from 6pm to 10:30pm. The exhibi-tion will then be open to the public on Tuesday, March 19 from 10am to 5pm.

A second exhibition, run by the Playground collaborative will also be running at the same time.

The seven students who will feature in the exhibition are Tom Pilcher, Sophie Brown, Caitlin Hy-att, Julia Moyes, Victoria O’Brien, Claire Orme and Stephanie Rondel.

For more information visit the groups Facebook page: www.facebook.com/twi-

by Kieran WatkinsDeputy Editor

Cinema discount at MedwayMedway students can benefit from cheap cinema tickets at the Odeon thanks to Rochester Film Society.

The group, set up five years ago by Nick Walker, an ex-student at the University of Westminster, hosts weekly meetings every Thursday, which students are welcome to attend for no membership fee.

Nick said: “We are trying to create a film culture in the local area and then sustain it by producing special regular events in the local area that people of all ages might enjoy.

“It is a great opportunity for

students to see films that often don’t get a theatrical release locally, so rather than traveling to Canterbury or London they can see films at their local cinema.”

Students receive a special two for one deal when attending the Rochester Film Society showing and a valid student card is all that is needed, to bag tickets at just £3.25 each.

Their showing of Les Miserables was attended by actress Isabelle Allen who played young Cosette, with viewers treated to a Q&A with some of the film’s extras.

Nick said: “There is always an introduction to the films followed by a post-screening discussion over a drink so again students can get a context to the film and have the opportunity to share their thoughts.”

The societies’ committee costs £1 to join and all members are part of the process to decide the programme.

You can sign up to the newsletter and join the Facebook page for more details on further screenings.

by Clarissa PlaceCampus News Editor

ABOVE: The Rochester Film Society

Uni RoundupsWe all live quite happily alongside each other, but that doesn’t mean we don’t care about our own university. Lianne Carpenter and Matt Keeble have all the latest.

Medway Committee President ElectedMedway students have voted to elect their second committee president, Matt Keeble.

He will succeed current president Nick Duffy in the next academic year.

The Medwire has taken this opportunity to let the new man on the block introduce himself, and provide a mugshot!

You may or may not have heard that Medway has a new Student Committee President, well either way you have heard it now and I’m that new guy.

If you haven’t heard about this role before what I will be up to (with the help of the student committee who will be elected in September) is representing Medway students in Kent Union meetings, and making sure we get the changes this campus truly needs.

I have been studying on this campus for three years (two years studying and one working at Kent Business School) so I know that this campus does have its issues, however this new role will allow us as students to have the power and representation to lobby the university and improve things.

I’m sure you are all aware that it will take more than a year to make this the perfect campus, and so next year I will be focusing on what I see as Medway’s big three problems to start the improvement ball rolling here: one) more social space, two) Liberty Quays pricing and three) making students feel like Kent students.

So that’s all from me, I would just like to say a quick thank you to all who voted for me, and if you do have any ideas on how to make Medway better just give me an email ([email protected] ) or collar me when I’m walking around campus.


Students warned over hoaxesby Jasmin SahotaMedway Police are warning that a brazen conman has been operating in the area preying on student households.

The rogue knocks at resident’s houses creating various fictional stories and asking for small amounts of money, while checking the premises for valuables.

A burglary of a student house two weeks ago on Richmond Road is thought to have been conducted by the same man.

The theft occurred after the unknown man was supposedly locked out of his house and needed to use their phone.

That night the house was burgled.

The tenants told the police: “We thought there was something strange with the man; we definitely noticed him looking around the house but didn’t think much of it at the time.”

The unknown man has been described to be white, roughly 5’8” and has black hair.

The conman has been circulating Gillingham, forming

fictional accounts to work out who lives there, when the house is free and what kind of valuables they possess.

The fictitious tales range from the conman’s daughter being in hospital to his car breaking down.

Henna Kirpal, a student at the University of Greenwich and victim of the conman’s lies explains: “I saw this man at my door, he acted really distressed and said his daughter just died and needed money for a taxi. He came up with a great, believable story.

“We asked if he had gone to our neighbours but he said he did not want to disturb them, at this point we realised this man is dodgy and just targeted our house.”

She found it strange that the unknown man seemed to target the student house and recalls him trying to look around the house, while standing at the front door.

Ms Kirpal then went on to say there was a gathering of people at the local corner shop who said this man has also targeted their houses while creating different

stories.“One story that stuck in my

mind was that his car had broken down and needed a screw driver, which is worrying because he could use this as weapon.”

Cllr Mike O’Brien, the Medway Council member for community safety said: “It is vital that students challenge those who call at their homes to make sure they are genuine.

“If you are concerned about a cold caller please report the matter to the Trading Standards helpline on 08454 040506 and if you feel threatened or intimidated report the matter to the police.”

ABOVE: The rogue conman is targeting student houses in the view to steal their valuables

Culture Shock is success Diversity fayre to come to Medway

After last year’s fayre, this year’s organisers promise it will be big-ger and better.

The Medway Diversity fayre will be a chance for students to find out more about different cultures and beliefs.

It is open to all students from the three universities and will showcase dancing, henna tattooing and free food samples.

The fayre will be held be-tween 11-2pm on Wednesday, March 13 in the Pikington Building.

by Katie Palmerby Clarissa PlaceCampus News EditorAsian Society’s Culture Shock brought together an evening of song, dance and drama, all in the name of charity.

Performances from the Heal-ing, Music, Rock Solid and Drama societies attracted many students to the event in the Pilkington building’s main lecture theatre.

Tickets were five pounds and proceedings would be split between Comic Relief and Mind for their work nationally and the local community.

Capoeria kicked off the show, follwed by a perfomance by the Medway Amateur Dramatic Society.

The audience were treated to belly dancing, Dhol drums and a drama sketch from the Asian Society.

ABOVE: Students celebrate at the Culture Shock event

Students will soon get the opportunity to vote for the president and three vice-presidents of the student union for the coming academic year.

Voting is open from Friday, March 8 for one week, and this year for the first time ever the voting is completely online through the student portal.

The candidates have all put together a manifesto that will be published online for all students to access and read to help aid their decision.

Christchurch Students’ Union (CCSU) have been trying to raise awareness of safe sex in their SHAG (Sexual Health, Awareness and Guidance) week.

They have taken a light-hearted approach to the subject to try and keep the students engaged, with a range of games and activi-ties to try and teach them vital skills, including classics such as putting a condom onto a banana.

For more information on the week and its activities, visit www.ccsu.co.uk/shag.

Student elections fast approaching

SHAG week gives safe sex advice

Greenwich electing new presidentAt the time of the Medwire’s printing, Greenwich students are halfway through voting in the Student Union’s (SUUG) annual elections.

Standing for president is Alex Brooks (Change Greenwich) and Austine Obiezewani (United We

Stand).Medway campus officer

candidates are Kishan Abinantha (United We Stand) and Aziz Quadri (Change Greenwich).

A full list of candidates for all offices can be found on the Medwire website.

March is “Soft Skills” month for Medway with Kent Union and the university offering a number of courses in sign language and listening skills.

They will be held in buildings across campus on a variety of days in the coming months.

The next available workshop is “Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults” on Wednesday, March 13.

For more information and to view the availability of such workshops, check the Kent Union website.

Learn ‘soft skills’ with Kent Union

The MedwayExperience

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The Medway student experience is often one which is called into question. With just one bar on site and all three universities using it as a secondary campus, it makes a harsh contrast to the likes of Canterbury and Greenwich.

A Medwire survey last week revealed that 84% of those on the campus thought the area was student friendly with a further 91% saying the experience was inferior to that of their university’s main campus.

Common complaints included a lack of student friendly venues and the need for more events and activities, both on and off campus.

One student commented: “Compared to other universities we have nothing going on, it’s crap. I’m not enjoying my university experience at all, I feel like it’s catered for old retired

people. Absolutely nothing goes on here.”

Others said there needed to be more investment and a better engagement with the local area. One went as far as to say the campus should be “burned ceremonially” whilst another suggested that Medway should be “swept out to sea” and all courses moved to Canterbury.

Students are not the only ones to sense a divide between locals and the universities. Cllr Tristan Osborne, the parliamentary Labour candidate for Chatham and Aylesford in the next election, said Medway Council had failed students.

“Being a student is not just about the quality of the course, but also the quality of life and social sphere that is offered to the student. It is called the ‘student experience’ and it is something

84% say Medway is not a student town

Medway has failed on in my mind.

“Medway Council, run by the Tories, has failed its student population and that matters because it’s you that brings important income into the local community.”

He added: “It angers me that there is a disconnect between the council and students in supporting theatre and arts. The council rarely celebrates the excellent departments and services our universities offer.”

However current MP for Chatham and Aylesford, Tracey

Crouch, insists that it is not a problem unique to the area.

She said: “You see it in any university town. When I was at Hull University there were certain nights you weren’t allowed to go into certain parts of the town at certain times because it was ‘local’s night’.

“The university population here is incredibly important to the town because of course you have a lot of economic impact. You’re spending money in the towns in the bars, the restaurants and the clubs. It is important that you are welcomed.”

Ms Crouch said the disconnect could simply be down to a lack of awareness from local people to what is on their doorstep, an attitude she believes could soon be changing.

“With the advent of tuition fees people are making more local decisions so they don’t have to have those other combination of costs, so maybe it will shift over time”.

She did acknowledge, however, that studying on a secondary campus could be a “weird” experience and come without many of the perks seen in larger university towns.

Ms Crouch suggested that this could perhaps be combated by the three universities joining forces more to form their own Medway groupings.

Yet the suggestion comes just days after it was announced

that the Universities at Medway Students’ Association (UMSA) is set to disband in 2013.

The union will be replaced by a new partnership between the University of Kent and Greenwich, with Canterbury Christchurch set to leave.

In a joint statement from the presidents of Kent and Greenwich Union, Tom Ritchie and Kazi Haque, said: “This new partnership between Greenwich and Kent students’ unions will ensure that Medway students continue to have access to all the shared services they have now, such as clubs, sports and societies, Coopers Bar and the Advice Centre.

“But by working more closely together through this new partnership, both unions will provide their students with a greater level of support, through collaborative events and communications.”

The new union will form with a new name and identity, but there will be no change in the location of services.

Yet whilst the news may bring relief to Kent and Greenwich students, it raises questions for

1,800 Canterbury Christchurch students.

Andy Holme, a 19-year-old Operating Department Practice at the university, said that CCCU students already feel out of the loop.

“I get why people would want their own union, as we are kind of the odd ones out. Near the beginning of the year nobody ever realised we were part of the Medway campus when we said we were Christchurch students.

“Personally I don’t give a crap what happens because I’ve never used UMSA for anything.”

A statement from Canterbury Christchurch Union also insisted that dissolving the partnership was the best move for its students.

They said: “CCSU has been working hard over the past year to create a plan that will enable

us to better support you and your life as a student at the university.”

The union plans to employ a dedicated member of staff to work at Medway and will offer its students the option to continue representing Medway alongside Kent and Greenwich students in sports teams and societies.

Not all students remain unsatisfied though, with 21% of students rating their experience at the campus as good and a further 1.5% as excellent.

One respondent said: “All the other students need to stop bitching about Medway when they don’t even bother to give it a proper go.

“Negativity breeds negativity. Everyone that complains about Medway is either boring or lazy.”

The idea that there is potential in the Medway towns is one echoed by Nick Duffy, president of Kent’s Medway Committee.

“From other student towns I’ve been to like Canterbury it is a very different experience. You get off the train the very first thing you see is a sign saying welcome to Canterbury and the University of Kent.

He added: “The university has deals with partners which are advertised everywhere and you can’t go anywhere without seeing that it is a university town.

But Nick says there is potential in the towns. “We have amazing discounts for our students that people have haggled their lives away to get. They just aren’t advertised throughout the towns.

“Medway could be a good student town, if those things were in place.”

UMSA to disband in August 2013MP insists problem is not unique to areaLabour PPC says council has failedJem Collins, Matt Charles and Kieran Watkins report.

ABOVE: Students on campus have criticised the area as “unfriendly.”

“It is important youare welcomed”

“Personally I don’tgive a crap”

“1.5% rated Medwayas excellent”

www.cover4mobilephones.com www.cover4travel.com

www.cover4students.com www.cover4insurance.com

97248 Cov4Ins Uni of Kent Advert.indd 1 01/03/2013 11:18

theMedwire.co.uk 10

A recent spate of crashes on the Medway CityEstate has raised wider questions over road safety. Matt Charles investigated a gang of illegal street racers who use the area.It is a surreal sight to watch and yet it is one around the corner from campus. By day, the Medway City Estate is a place for work and industry. But on a Friday night, the atmosphere is strangely different. Up to 300 people gather on the kerbside to watch young people hurtle up the road in modified cars, reaching speeds of up to 130mph.

Steve*, 28, found himself addicted to it from the age of 18. He thought it was exciting and craved the feeling of acceleration.

He said: “It just feels like you haven’t got a care in the world. You just want to race, listen to the engine and watch the speedo climb. It’s an adrenaline rush.”

Steve’s friend Mark*, 21, never took the wheel during the numerous drag races and drifting contests. But he has been in the passenger’s seat and said the experience was so “fucking scary” that he cried.

They were part of a gang that operate on Medway City Estate and have been doing it for more than five years now and it is getting bigger and more popular. They organise themselves through a hidden Facebook group that has over 400 members. Members post photos and videos of their antics – they even did a version of the Harlem Shake at their last meet.

Both men agreed to talk to me because they believe that racing on the Estate is becoming too dangerous. Mark remembers when he was standing on the side of the road, when a spinner flew off a passing car and was inches away from slicing a girl in half.

As a former racer, Steve is highly critical. He said: “The drivers are ridiculous. They sit up each other’s arses with centimetres of each other. The racing is dangerous at high speeds.

Mark went into more detail, saying: “Sometimes, you get the little one litre Saxos that think they are ‘Billy Big Bollocks’ and drive up there at stupid miles an hour. But sometimes, you get your big highly powerful turbo cars that will crash straight into a wall.”

It is very risky business, knowing that a faulty spinner or a small bump in the road or just a single delayed reaction could mean the difference between life and death. It is also illegal but the gang have a system to avoid any contact with Kent Police.

Mark said: “They know when the police are coming. You have people at either end of the road, so you can see them coming down.”

However, Mark said the police were starting to make an impact

on the gang. He explained: “They have done quite well lately. They have been around there and checked people’s cars so if they are not road legal, see you later, your car is gone.

Despite attempts from Kent Police and Medway Council, both men agreed that the gang will not be stopped. They previously used a site at Laker Road near Rochester Airport until speed bumps were fitted.

“You’ll never stop them because there will always be one person who wants to go bigger,” Mark said.

Steve agreed. He says the last time he was at a meet was three months ago but says he does not regret what he did.

He said: “At the time, you don’t think it is illegal.”

* Names have been changed

Kent Police could not be reached for comment. For more reaction to this investigation, check the Medwire website.

“It’s so fucking crazy I cried”

“They know whenthe police are coming”

Medway’s own illegal racers

ABOVE: Racers risk both a criminal record and their safety when they take part

Stress and anxiety. Two things that can affect us all and can ruin what could be a fantastic university career. Sometimes it’s things we all deal with, but we all deal with it differently. Flatmates causing trouble, future exams and homesickness. You talk it out with friends and hopefully it won’t bother you tomorrow. But what if it does? What if it gets worse? What can you do?

According to the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the demand for mental health support in universities has gone up, with 29% of students demonstrating signs of psychological distresses and even more shockingly, female student suicides have increased by 50%.

The Mental Health Foundation also reported that 50% of university students have experienced severe anxiety and over one in ten have shown signs of clinical depression. This is not a one time, one term issue. This is something that needs to be addressed.

It doesn’t take a scientist to realise why this occurs. It’s not a big secret that the big move is hard on lots of us, and the Canterbury Campus is doing its best to help those in trouble with mental health issues.

On the 20th of February, to help raise awareness for Mental Health Week, Canterbury celebrated Wellbeing day, a day dedicated to removing the stigma attached to mental health and helping those in need. The day was set up by the national charity “University Mental Health Advisors Network,” an organisation devoted to helping students suffering from

Mental health: is thereUniversity can be a demanding time, but are campuses doing enough to support their students? Cecily Snowball investigates.

enough help?mental health issues.

Kent Union is also committed to helping its students stay healthy and happy. The Wellbeing Day coincided with Kent Union’s Mental Health Week. Events included open discussions about mental health in the LGBT community and events, such as “How the Mind Works”.

Layla Haidrani, a history student at the University of Kent who took part in the Wellbeing Day, says universities need to do much more than dedicate one day.

She said: “Universities need to address problems such as depression, which many students have and instead of focusing on merely one day in the calendar, we need to make this an all-year round effort.

“Kent has succeeded in raising awareness over campus, but more needs to be done to support the students as opposed to merely campaigning. More actions need to be done.”

According to Layla, the limitations at Canterbury range from little support to limited hours, and Medway is not far behind. Awareness about student mental health has not hit Medway in the same way. The campus did not hold an event for Wellbeing day, but the limitations are due to size and numbers. Nick Duffy, Medway President for Kent Union, suggests that to raise more awareness, more has to be done to integrate both campuses.

He said: “Even in a perfect world where the Medway campus

has everything it needs, as the smaller campus it will always host less great events, debates and campaigns than the more populous Canterbury campus, so the two student populations need to learn to work together and integrate”.

So what can Medway offer you in times of need? The counselling services at Medway provide students with close and personal support. Each student who contacts the counselling services receives an assessment and then six sessions of counselling.

Sarah Kenyon, student services assistant, says that the Medway services have improved over time, with more counsellors added for each day to give maximum support.

She also said: “Counselling provides a safe, supportive and confidential space which helps to look at any problems they are facing in a non-judgemental way. Staff are really friendly and approachable and are used to dealing with nervous students.”

You should not be afraid of seeking help where it is needed. Anything can conjure up feelings of stress or anxiety and you should not be scared about receiving help.

Sarah added: “In general, many relate to stress, relationship issues and bereavement. Anxiety in all kinds of forms is one prevalent area.”

Issues don’t just stop once term ends. Out of term time, students are encouraged to contact alternative people, such as their

GP or The Samaritans.Lily* decided to ask for help

after a family member suddenly became ill. She made the difficult decision to go into counselling to let out the emotions that had burdened her for so long.

She said: “It gave me time to let out what I was really feeling. I didn’t want to burden my friends of family with what was upsetting me.

“I had always thought counselling was for people who were at the very end of their tether and really needed help.

At my first session I asked ‘is this the right thing to talk about?’ The answer is ‘yes it is.’

“Counselling shouldn’t have a stigma but it does and I realise that now.”

She added that the counselling services were not only hard to find, but also overstretched.

But sometimes it’s not just about what the university services can do for you, but what you can do for others. As suggested by Mental Wealth UK, talking it out can heal a lot more than originally thought.

Rosie Tressler of Mental Wealth UK says that talking it out can lead to much more than a sigh of relief.

She said: “Students can speak to their peers on the same level and also be much more creative about getting the messages across, whilst offering a welcoming space for students to get involved.”

* Names have been changedtheMedwire.co.uk 12 theMedwire.co.uk 13

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theMedwire.co.uk 15

When he arrived on campus in September, Marcus Marsh was gutted to find out that Medway had no dramatic society. He wasted no time in creating one and they are about to stage the first play our campus has ever seen. He tells Molly Pike just why we should be interested in Look Back in Anger.

So why set up a drama society?

“It was out of selfish reasons, re-ally. I’ve always had an interest in theatre; I can’t live without it so I set it up for myself. I think lots of people here want more things on campus so I think more students need to get involved and make things happen in Medway. We’ve had great feedback not just from our members but from other societies. It’s great to put a bit of life back into Medway.”

Do you even know what you’re talking about?

“I acted in school and I’ve attend-ed quite a few acting workshops in London trying to learn from people in the industry. My proud-est moment was playing the lead in an adaption of The Trial by Kafka to 300 people. Directing is new to me but I’m really enjoying it, I’m working with the students at Medway. It’s hard trying to put on the play but it has been very rewarding. “

So what exactly is Look Back in Anger?

“The play is set in 1950s Britain. It’s about Jimmy Porter who is an educated young guy angry with having no money and no future. He bullies his wife Alison because her rich family don’t like him but

all she wants is a peaceful life. Alison has a close friendship with Cliff, their Welsh lodger, who tries to keep the peace between the married couple.”

Why should people come to see Look Back in An-ger?

“It’s something new; nobody’s ever put on a play on campus before. There’s not much going on at this campus so I think people should definitely come and see it. Although the play is set in the 1950s a lot of its themes are still relevant today. It’s set just after the Second World War when nobody had any money which I think people can relate to.”

How are you raising the money to fund the play?

“We are hosting a fundraiser on Thursday, March 14 to raise some of the money. UMSA has provided us with a fund which we are using for lighting, sound and props. Our fundraiser will be a pub quiz with some comedy and music in between. The pub quiz is 1950s themed as the play is set in the 50s which should be good.”

What’s next for Medway Amateur Dramatics? “We’re looking forward to writing our own pieces of theatre; pieces

that are our original work and are more modern. Everything is per-formance, look what happened in the riots a couple of years back, people are trying to speak out and theatre is a way in which we can do this. If you join the drama society you get that freedom of speech, doing things you want to do and bringing up what you think is important as a student.”

ABOVE: Marcus in rehearsals for a previous show

Look Back in Anger is set to be perfomed on March 18 / 19 at the Medway Campus

For more information, or to sign up, visit the society’s section on the UMSA web-

site. Membership costs just £5 for the year .

www.umsa.org.uk/clubs/medway_amateur_dramat-

ics_society_mads

Work experience is vital for youby Katie Palmer

Summer will be with us soon enough and everyone deserves to have a break after exams – however if you are wishing to sit around all Summer, you may wish to rethink your plans.

John Timpson is the chairman of the high-street key-cutter store Timpson, and last year he spoke to the Telegraph about why work experience is vital for pupils. He explained how health and safety has “almost wiped the ‘get out into business week’ off the timetable” in most cases, and so it has become crucial to find your own work experience whenever possible.

Work experience is not all about sitting at a desk waiting to file papers or make tea at break time; some places offer challenging responsibilities that would look professional on a CV. Also, experiencing different fields

of work will help you to decide which career path to take in the future, if you are still unsure.

By completing work experience, you will show a genuine interest in your chosen field of work. Molly Pike, a 20-year-old Journalism student was given the chance to work on a local newspaper where she interviewed a pop band on her first day.

She said: “I was chuffed, I’d always toyed with the idea of being a music journalist and it was my first real shot at it.

Over the next couple of days I was calling up sources and securing lots of interviews and quotes. I’m not a fan of talking on the phone. With an accent like an extra on Eastenders, I’m a little frightened of it..”

She continued to say: “There was my article, my writing with my name right next to it. It was the best I’d ever felt.”

A High Fliers report on nebusiness.co.uk last month showed that “more than a third of the jobs available will be taken by people who have already worked for the firm while studying.”

Mark Palmer is a maintenance manager at Farleigh Hospice in Chelmsford who interviews the staff who work for him. He said: “Work experience shows that the person isn’t work shy and is obviously keen to learn the job.”

To help finding work experience, visit the National Council for Work Experience or allaboutcareers.com.

ABOVE: One of the organisations that can help you in your search

theMedwire.co.uk 16 theMedwire.co.uk 17

What’s On?Can’t wait for the Easter holidays already? Don’t panic, there’s still plenty going on in Medway. Victoria Polley has all the details of what’s happening both on and off campus.

Companies combine for free concert

Kent journalist to reveal all in talk

Students to hold fine art exhibition

Fight off the easter egg weight

Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day

Learn to relax yourself

World’s biggest flash mob?

Medway question time for union

Look Back in Anger on Campus

The Capella Theatre Company and group River Voices will be combining

their musical talents to present an afternoon concert on Saturday, March

23.The concert will be filled will solos, group performances and acapella pieces and will run from 1pm at St George’s Centre, Pembroke Road,

Chatham. Tickets are free and donations are welcome.

Interested in journalism? Kent born journalist Bob Ogley will be giving a lecture entitled “My life as a newspa-

per reporter.” The event will take place at Wigmore, Gillingham at 8pm on

Wednesday, March 20 and tickets are £3.75.

Bob will talk about some of the peo-ple he has met, the colleagues he has known and the events he has covered during a lifetime and has also written 22 books and has lived in Kent all his

life.

This year’s Medway Festival of Steam and Transport will have an extra

special twist; the unique opportunity to walk around the set of popular BBC

drama series “Call the Midwife.” If you’re staying in Medway for Easter Bank Holiday (29th March- 1st April)stop by hundreds of classic vehicles

grouped by decade, live folk and blues music, animal encounters, shire

horse wagon rides and even take a trip on a vintage bus. Full details can be found at www.thedockyard.co.uk.

If you are worried about eating one too many Easter eggs this year, then worry no more. If you failed on keep-

ing any fitness related New Year’s resolutions then you can start again

with Zumba classes at Medway Cam-pus Sports Hall.

The Latin inspired workout classes run every Wednesday from 5:30-6:30pm

and are a fun way to keep fit and bet-ter still- a great way to ensure a guilt

free Easter!

Friday, March 15 is Comic Relief 2013. Make sure you look out for events around the campus that might be

“Doing Something Funny for Money” or why not organise your own?

www.rednoseday.com has plenty of fundraising ideas - and make sure you drop up a line at the Medwire to let us

know what you’re up to! Don’t forget to buy your Red Nose!

“Give It A Go” are holding a two hour taster class teaching participants how

to perform relaxation techniques. The master class on Monday, March 18, will teach hand massage, Indian head massage and Aromatheraphy with guidance and the opportunity

to practice on partners. The class will take place from 2pm-4pm in the Pilkington building (107). The perfect skills to learn to ensure you can relax

for the busy months ahead!

If you’re planning to stick around once the academic year is over then get

yourself to Canterbury to take part in an attempt to stage the world’s big-gest flash mob. Emily Cook is hoping

to break a Guinness World Record. with choreographer to the stars,

Ash Mukherjee, who has previously danced for Mother Teresa and Michael Jackson. The gates will open at 12pm

at Abbey School playing field in Faver-sham, and learning the dance will

begin on Saturday, June 29.

Kent Union will be holding “Medway Question Time” as part of the Leader-ship Election 2013. Medway students

will get the chance to hear what candidates in the Leadership Elec-

tion 2013 think and what they want to do. The event, which is being help at Coopers on Tuesday, March 12, will also include drinks promotions at the

bar. Don’t miss out!

Medway’s Amateur Dramatics society are holding 50s inspired quiz night to raise money for their upcoming

performance of “Look Back In Anger” on the 18th and 19th March. The

quiz night will be held at Coopers on Thursday, March 14.

For more information check out this edition’s Medders’ profile.

Imaginary scientific research has shown that coffee and cake is amazing. But where is the best place in the Medway Towns to get it? Stine Wannebo took a lookaround.

The guide for coffee loversCoffee is a part of the student experience; it is as simple as that. But even though we are blessed with a multitude of different cafés on campus, the more adventurous of students might want to venture outside their comfort zone and into the stirring world of the Medway Towns.

Although the town is lucky to have familiar names such as Latino’s and Costa, the ultimate student café is actually neither of them.

Latino’s is pleasantly located between Sainsburys and Subway inside Pentagon Shopping Centre, and is likely to be a good place for a rest after a good run between the nearby shops. Despite good coffee, Latino’s is not the place to sit down for a chat, as the seating area is in an open space and often very noisy. Only those with excellent concentration skills can really make use of the free Wi-Fi that they offer. A take-away on the benches along the Riverside is a much better option on these sunny days; the birds will be your only disturbance.

Chatham’s very own Costa is known to draw students down from the Dockside, but sadly that is due to the Costa-brand more than anything else. The coffee is great, as always, but the café could probably use a facelift. The place comes across as dark and worn, but certainly nothing that cannot be overlooked in great company. Most tables are just a little too small to work on, but with only a laptop you can probably make it work. Go for the table in the

bottom corner, and you are likely to be left alone. The café is located close to a Subway, but this time on the High Street. When you see Debenhams, you are nearly there.

Café Nucleus just off Chatham High Street describes itself as an “oasis” in the middle of busy Chatham, and with its modern interior, free Wi-Fi and the many exotic plants the description is actually quite fitting. The inside area is varied, with both proper dining tables and smaller coffee tables, and there is even benches outside if one wants some air. The tables are a good size for studying, and the place is far from busy. Free Wi-Fi is also a bonus. Café Nucleus does also have plenty of different cakes and pastries, the coffee is good and they even serve hot, freshly made food from a kitchen in the back. Judging by the amount of liquor behind the counter it seems the café might turn into a bar at night. Look for a brightly blue building at the Tesco-end of the High Street, it is hard to miss.

Dickens’ historic Rochester is not short of cafés, and there is one

literally on every corner. The Deaf Cat is one of these, perfect for the student who likes a bohemian and artsy environment. The atmosphere is a mix between a coffee place and an auction hall; everything from the vintage sofas to the art covering the walls is for sale. But what matters is that the coffee is cheap, and often wonderfully decorated, but watch out for the take-away thimble-sized small cup.

The Rochester Coffee Co. is right across the road from the famous cathedral. The place is lovely, the window filled with six to seven different cakes and the walls covered in different options of coffee. This is definitely the place for the adventurous coffee lover, as half of the menu is unknown to most. The staff wishes to especially point out the alcoholic coffees, and the young and stylish atmosphere of the café – perfect for students, they say. Maybe not for hardcore study, and maybe not for those on a strict budget, but the Rochester Coffee Co. is certainly a place worth visiting.

A nice way to put it is that cafés simply are not Gillingham’s strongest suit. None of the few cafés look particularly inviting, and from what the Medwire has experienced, an attempt to buy a simple chocolate-chip cookie can easily end in total fiasco. In these instances a coffee lover needs to keep to what they know and settle for a hot cup from either Subway or Greggs.

Chatham

Rochester

Gillingham

Sport Our own UMSA Sharks crossed paths with British Olympic stars and posted yet more personal bests at this year’s BUCS long course meet.

The success of last year’s short course BUCS was difficult to follow, but the team’s aims remained ambitious, producing first-rate swims from the outstanding swimmer of the weekend, third year Steve Bayles.

European champions Liam Tancock and Hannah Miley were also in the pool over the three days of highly competitive swimming, chalking up some top times in their specialist events.

Sharks founder, Clare Freeman, said: “The best swim definitely goes to Steve Bayles as the last time he swam was in a time trial, and he still did a personal best!”

Unfortunately, Clare could not muster a best in her last BUCS competition, but remained happy, as she added: “We swam

with Liam Tancock in the warm up and he touched me to go past.”

The team suffered from some key swimmers who were unavailable to attend the event, resulting in the men’s medley relay being pulled out.

But Maddy Harris remained all smiles when the team arrived back in Medway, when she said: “Everyone swam really well.”

“A few PBs, I got a long course 50m butterfly PB, while Steve Bayles swam a 27.0 50m freestyle and 30.0 50m butterfly PB.

“We saw Amy Smith, Hannah Miley and Liam Tancock swim. Clare and I did in fact swim in a warm up lane with him. We were star struck for the rest of the day.”

The Saturday night out in Sheffield was a hit once again, this time the theme being anything but clothes.

Maddy explained: ”Girls fashioned dresses from bin bags, newspapers, wrapping paper,

pillow cases and bed sheets. “The boys had a card board box

outfit, a sleeping bag and some tin foil.”

For more information on how to join UMSA Sharks email [email protected]

by Cian Hodge

ABOVE: Members of the UMSA swim team celebrating their successes

Swim team success

It has been a promising term for the girls firsts basketball team, in what is only their second year.

Basketball is one of the fastest growing sports in the UK, and is relished nowhere more than at Medway.

The girls, captained by Sharayne Robinson, have shown fine progress this term, sitting at the top of their league with a genuine chance of promotion.

The team recorded an unprecedented 154-6 victory over the University of Essex, with Hannah Cox scoring 58 points and Robinson 28.

The Medwire recently caught up with the girls to discuss their season and general feelings on women’s basketball.

When asked about how they see women’s basketball at Medway developing, Hannah said: “Hopefully we can get better, we’ve got a good squad this year.”

Sharayne added: “It depends on the people who come in; the talent amongst the girls is different every year.”

Quizzed about why they chose basketball over netball, which is traditionally popular amongst girls, Hannah said: “ I actually did try out for both, I got into the netball first team as well but

basketball is definitely a better sport and I get along with the girls better.”

Sharayne said: “I played basketball before I came to university, that’s my sport I play.”

When asked about what’s the hardest thing about playing basketball, after some deliberation they agreed it was the physical side.

Sharayne said: “It’s the stamina. Hannah added: “Physical fitness, apart from that I wouldn’t say

there’s anything that hard.”Hannah said: “Our aim is to get

promoted, if not we know we will be top of the table if we don’t get promoted, we know that we’ve played well this season.”

Despite the big win over the University of Essex, they disagreed that this was the highlight of their season so far.

Hannah said: “It was probably our first game against UEL when Sharayne scored a three pointer in the last second. Everyone got up and it was like One Tree Hill!”

The men’s team also secured third place in their league in addition to reaching the quarter final of the BUCS cup.

From basketball to rowing, there’s a wealth of sport at the Medway Campus and our dedicated sport team have rounded up all of the latest news in two handy pages.

Ladies’ Basketball takes off in Medwayby Uzoma JemadeSports Editor

ABOVE: Sharayne Robinson (Left) and Hannah Cox (Right) of the ladies team


As spring came to life, so did the Universities at Medway Rowing team who since the New Year have racked up some promising results.

Building on second place in both the novice pairs and individual medley coxed fours, students Huw Jones, Reuben Grice, and Sam Anderson fought valiantly in their next event, the indoor BUCS league where Grice earned them their first points for the season.

The club’s latest and most successful meet this season came at Maidstone, where Sam Anderson was part of the winning individual medley coxless, with fellow students Iwan Jones and Reuben Grice finishing second in the same field.

Grice and Huw Jones continued the success of the day with a second place finish in the novice coxed fours too.

Despite being inundated with a high number of new members and a lack of coaching staff, the form of the club has been upheld in competition.

Out of the eight club members who helped the club come in seventh place at their Bedford Head meet, five of them were University of Kent students, whose speed saw the team register as the 25th fastest out of 200 teams competing that day.

Even more impressively the club’s time on the water at Greenwich Head saw them finish as the fifth fastest boat of the day in what Jones called “a competitive field.”

Talking about the impact of new additions to the University boat club, Huw Jones said: “The club has had an impressive number of novices join this year, all of whom have shown impressive progression.

“And this progression suggests a successful summer to come.”

Rowing enjoy good resultsby Alex Norman

BUCS LEAGUES ROUNDUP

Badminton: The Medway Men’s first team are at currently sitting second in the South Eastern 4B League, after losing

3-5 to King’s College last month.

Netball: Medway Womens’ 1sts are bottom of the South Eastern 4B league, with just one win after eight games. The 2nds are sitting in fourth in the South Eastern 9B league and the 3rds are in fifth place in the 10B league.

Football: Medway Womens’ 1sts are joint top of their league, unbeaten after four games. The Mens’ 1sts are also second, trailing Essex 3rds by four points with two games in hand. The Mens’ 2nds are top of the 5B league, the 3rds are fourth and the 4ths are second.

Karting: Medway’s karting team are closing in on the top ten of the British Universities Karting Championship despite a mixed rounds three and four in Llandow. The next round of the series will be hosted at Buckmore Park in Chatham.

“Basketball is betterthan netball”

“The hardest thing isthe physical side”

Your MoveStudent Houses

Houses to let in Gillingham now and for 2013/2014.

Large selection of student properties available, so look no further

79 Balmoral RoadGillingham, Kent, ME7 4PD

[email protected]

01634 852345

View houses from Your Move online by visiting: theMedwire.co.uk

the Medwire March Edition 2013

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Transcript of the Medwire March Edition 2013