Friday, March 29Royal Holloway's offical student publication, est. 1986

Author: Laura Denham

Lifestyle

February Footwear

February is that limbo stage where one day it's pouring down with rain, and the next day sun rays are peeping through the clouds. We have seen the comeback of the conventional heeled boot – the cut-out buckled boots. We have even seen Karl Lagerfeld sporting the laidback trainer trend on the Paris Fashion Week catwalks, with Chanel's Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2014 collection transforming the traditional bridal look into a sporty snow queen style by pairing chic dresses with conventional trainers. So we can continue wearing our classic converse: a timeless shoe-cupboard essential that can tone down any outfit and ensure day-to-day practicality. The fashion predictions of Spring/Summer 2014 foresee us fashionistas transitioning from dark shades to lighter hues and sporting pastel loa...
Lifestyle

Exploring the Amalfi Coast

I've never been one to enjoy winter weather, especially not when it consists of seemingly endless rain. When I find myself feeling particularly despondent in the face of another downpour, I begin to daydream of sunnier climes; if you, too, resort to this technique, then look no further. Here is a comprehensive list of places to go, in and around one of my favourite parts of the world – the sunny and gorgeous Amalfi Coast, where I was lucky enough to live on my year abroad last year. Sorrento Only a ferry-ride away from the beautiful Capri, but not a place to be overlooked. Sorrento showcases stunning sea views wherever you are in town. Perfect to get yourself in a sunny mood by sitting at a bar by the sparkling water, sipping a cocktail and building up a glamorous tan. Pompeii You'd th...
Lifestyle

Nail Art: Nail Stamping Tutorial

Intricate nail art has been a huge trend in recent years, and artistic nails are sure to be a fashion statement that lasts! With the return of London Fashion Weekend this month, I wanted to try something a bit more complex. Some designs are simply too detailed to achieve with a brush, which is why nail stamping is so fantastic: the design is already made for you to transfer onto your nails. I was so impressed by how simple it was to achieve this look and how well it turned out. To get started you will need an image plate, a stamper and a scraper. These are available in kits from Amazon for around £15, and I'd definitely recommend investing in a set if you're a nail art enthusiast. They look fantastic on and there's no limit to the designs you can choose as the plates are reusable! Start...
Lifestyle

The Vegan Experience

Hold the Facon jokes and jump on board the vegan experience. Veganism is unquestionably hot in the celebrity world right now, and it is a trend that is not going away… I'd be lying if I said compassion for animals had driven me to experience veganism: a friend had poked fun at my incessant love for meat and cheese, challenging me to go vegetarian for the week. Not being one to resist a dare, I foolishly extended my elimination of meat to a full vegan diet. The moment the words slipped from my mouth I knew I would regret it – as did she. I knew a vegan diet would be difficult for me to convert to, with meat and dairy being the focal point of all my meals. Lulling myself into a false belief, I professed: ‘How hard can it be to stay away from meat, milk, eggs and butter?', but upon scou...
Features

SURHUL Elections 2014

The nominations for the annual SURHUL elections are now open until March 7th. Although you may be preparing to dodge the flood of campaign teams lobbying outside Windsor building as you skate to your next lecture, or getting ready to brush off the hundreds of campaign leaflets that are about to clog up your bag - I ask whether if it has ever crossed your mind to take part in these elections? With the whole campus entrusted to elect, four Sabbatical Officers, Student Trustees, the entire Executive Committee and the heads of the student media organisations: The Orbital, Insanity Radio, and RhubarbTV – the Students' Union are urging Royal Holloway students to consider running in the 2014 elections. Elections are key to ensuring the student voice is heard within the University and the Studen...
Features

Spoken Word: Much More Than Words

Amongst the numerous art forms that exist within the creative world, spoken word is without a doubt one of the most thought provoking types of art. So what is spoken word? This particular talent revolves around the poet's articulate delivery of words on a specific topic which is usually presented in the style of storytelling. Its success is dependent on the poet's lyrical fluency and expression conveyed within a single performance. The poet aims to captivate his/her listeners and generally seeks to challenge and inspire the audience to see the world through their eyes. You may be surprised to know that spoken word is not a new form of art; it has existed throughout history. Ancient Greeks would include spoken word poetry during their Olympic games as a way of making political and social c...
Opinion

Stop Putin Up With It

In June of last year, Russia passed a law classed as child protection that banned propaganda of any non-traditional sexual relationships among minors. The fact they are still using terminology such as “non traditional” shows how outdated the opinions are that this law stems from. It serves to remind ourselves that homosexual relationships were presumably only decriminalised in 1993 so that Russia could join the European Council. The Russian Orthodox Church and strong Conservative Government encourage views that non-hetero relationships are seen as a decadence; it is people acting purely for pleasure, and against their natural role as reproducers (there is still a strong belief in Russia that women are made to be mothers). On top of this, it's been suggested that around three quarters of Ru...
Features

Lost In Translation: ‘Just a small town girl living in a southern world’

For the ‘minority', living in Surrey can seem disparate, bewildering and alien. Particularly at Royal Holloway where the Southern supremacist reigns, one can feel anomalous, isolated and misunderstood. I am of course referring to that special (and quite frankly friendlier) category of homo-sapiens that is the humble Northerner. It has become commonplace to be introduced in the manner of “this is Chloë, she's Northern” as though my geographical habitation is my ‘fun fact' to allow people to get to know me. Having spent all my life living in the North West (although knowing that such thing as ‘the south' existed), being launched into a comparatively subterranean world can take some adjusting. Thus, it is not unusual, having said something, to be greeted by a blank face with shifting eyes to...
Opinion

NekVominations

A recent epidemic has left the nation wide-eyed and retching. With sales of Stella Artois, Soy Sauce and baby food at an all time high, biological laws have been challenged regarding how much curdled milk the body can really consume without vomiting. Sound bizarre? Not if you're one of the unlucky few that has had a #NekNomination, the controversial online drinking challenge that has permeated Facebook. On the day of writing this, I have seen eight such nominations on my Facebook Newsfeed. And admittedly, I have watched all of them. I can't work out whether I find them hilarious or repulsive thus far, but I do know that there is a part of me that always hopes that the next one I watch is a little more gross than the last. Twisted I know, but such expectations are obviously acknowledged ...
Features

Student Poetry!

The Poets of Royal Holloway Late. The moon in its seven haloes, sugar-crust and frosting on ponds. The gong for one, two into the unbroken day. * The hooting trains in dells where owls hold parliament. * Or slow. Dregging the pond at midnight in green mermaid hair, a suckling thought pressed to your breast. * Scorched toast and no milk, but there is always someone willing to share the tear and wear of a favourite pair of socks. * The blue of the low-lying sun on brick dust like blusher on the brow of the hill. * Even more than the monochrome screech - One for sorrow – of brylcreem magpies - Two for joy – * And a hint of a glint in the uppermost turret a kind hand feeds the tits and finches, rears early irises by runways and runaway time. * Something with lime and...