News – The Orbital

The Church of Self-Optimisation: Can We Pursue Success and Spirituality Simultaneously?

11Sep

By Rhian KilleNo Comments

News

The Church of Self-Optimisation: Can We Pursue Success and Spirituality Simultaneously?

By Rhian Kille, Associate Opinion Editor The start of a new year is one of my favourite seasons. A time of year dedicated to new beginnings, introspection, and goal-setting is music to the ears of this Virgo. It’s been a couple of months now since we ushered in 2026, but I’m sure I’m not the only one still thinking every day about how I could be more on top of things. This is in part due to the fact that I am now in my final year of university, making me prone to fretting about plans for next year. It is so easy to blindly pile on the pressure in an attempt to seize some level of control over the future. This usually leaves me, pathologically perfectionist and type A, lying in a pile of yellow sticky notes of to-do ...

From Lecture Halls to Boardrooms: Zaid Khayal on post-grad life

9May

By Fatima DadabhoyNo Comments

Lifestyle, News

From Lecture Halls to Boardrooms: Zaid Khayal on post-grad life

By Fatima Dadabhoy, Senior Lifestyle Editor A conversation on ambition, work ethic, and pre/post-grad life. 1. What was your time at Royal Holloway like, and what are you doing now? My time at Royal Holloway was a lot of fun it was both intellectually challenging and personally formative. Studying Economics gave me a structured way to understand how markets, incentives and human behaviour intersect. I valued how I was taught how to think, not just what to think. It was during Covid times, and we got to experience everything first hand. We endured online exams and lectures but overall, the experience really did prepare me for the working world. I now work for Deloitte Middle East as an analyst within the Strategy, Risk and Transactions. Working with different clients across ...

In Conversation With… Louise Parker and Insanity Radio: How Radio Is Shaping the Path For The Future of Media.

15Apr

By Ruby SharkieNo Comments

Music, News

In Conversation With… Louise Parker and Insanity Radio: How Radio Is Shaping the Path For The Future of Media.

By Ruby Sharkie, Associate News Editor With the rise of streaming services, on demand and AI, its easy to assume that radio is an old and dying industry… and that may also have been my opinion, before I found out what it really is when researching this article. I found that radio isn't dying, it's constantly evolving and adapting. From the 19th century to the 21st, radio has helped humans to wirelessly communicate - whether it be Morse Code, military messages, news, drama performances, music and so much more. So, whether it’s a shift from interior design to the BBC or student presenters finding their voices for the first time, the "magic" of the mic is as potent as ever. I went behind the scenes to speak with the producers and presenters who prove that radio’s heart is still beat...

Students Call For More Funding of The Royal Holloway Gym.

23Mar

By Ruby SharkieNo Comments

News

Students Call For More Funding of The Royal Holloway Gym.

By Ruby Sharkie, Associate News Editor It was one Thursday evening in early February, and I had gone to the university gym for an evening workout. As I turned the corner, I saw a collection of students huddled outside the entrance. There were more people inside, standing just before the entrance barrier. They were queuing to use the gym! Confused, I asked a group outside what they are waiting for, not fully believing that people - students - are queueing to work out. “Yeah, it's gonna be a while” Students at Royal Holloway, University of London (RHUL) have been calling for a refurbishment of the student gym for a while now. With a growing influx of gym-goers, the building has proven too small and the equipment outdated. With gym usage rising and stud...

Student Loan System or ‘Debt Trap’? The Recent Debate Around The Student Loan System

23Mar

By Ruby SharkieNo Comments

News

Student Loan System or ‘Debt Trap’? The Recent Debate Around The Student Loan System

By Ruby Sharkie, Associate News Editor In a recent Prime Minister's Questions, Kemi Badenoch demanded Keir Starmer cut the interest rates on student loans. She said that "The system is now at breaking point for graduates, (...) I believe student loans have become a debt trap”. This comes as Labour MPs have urged Starmer to reform the repayment system and lower interest rates. Reports show that the average students are estimated to graduate with over £50,000 in student loans debt, with many watching the number climb drastically via interest, as they make their monthly installments. When and how much you pay back your student loan depends on when you attended university and what ‘plan’ you are on. There are currently four main types of payment plans for student...

Students’ Union Leadership Election Results 2026

22Mar

By Ruby SharkieNo Comments

News

Students’ Union Leadership Election Results 2026

On Thursday night, the Students' Union (SU) hosted its Leadership Election Results Night, announcing all the winners of the 2026 Leadership Election and The Orbital’s News editors (along with others) were present to report on it. When News Editors, Ruby and Maddy arrived at the SU venue, the event space had been transformed into an exciting venue with a buzzing atmosphere of anticipation and celebration. With the help of complimentary drinks and professional photography, the guests filed in and soon the room was filled with the chatter of contestants and their parties. The ceremony was hosted by the current President (Olivia Davies), VP Wellbeing and Diversity (Vaishnavi Vajja) and VP Societies and Sport (David Gallardo González) - VP Education, Matthew Paterson...

In Conversation With… Olivia Davies, Student’s Union President: Community Cupboards.

10Mar

By Ruby SharkieNo Comments

News

In Conversation With… Olivia Davies, Student’s Union President: Community Cupboards.

By Ruby Sharkie, Associate News Editor On Wednesday 12th November, Olivia Davies, the president of Royal Holloway’s Student’s Union (RHSU), launched the ‘Community Cupboards’ initiative as part of Financial Support Week. The cupboards allowed students to freely take what they needed from a range of non-perishable foods, toiletries, and other house-hold goods, supplied by RHSU. Olivia told me that these cupboards are match funded by the Student’s Union (SU), SU shop and the Royal Holloway University itself. The cupboards come as a part of Olivia’s Priority 8 initiative to provide more financial support for students across campus. This priority was assigned to her by the students’ vote but Olivia said she was very passionate about the cause and want...

SU Elections 2026: Everything You Need to Know

10Mar

By Madeline SidgwickNo Comments

News

SU Elections 2026: Everything You Need to Know

By Madeline Sidgwick and Ruby Sharkie, Senior and Associate News Editors We at The Orbital Magazine deem voting in the Royal Holloway Student Union Elections an act of undeniable importance. Below is our summary of the candidates for the roles of President, VP Education, VP Wellbeing and Diversity, and VP Societies and Sports. For full transparency, The Orbital tagged all candidates that we could find on social media in a call-out Instagram story for this piece! Although this may seem like a long article, we recommend you ‘control F’ the issues that you deem most important. The information is all in one place, making it easy to find who stands for the issues you care about. Below is the list of candidates that actively responded to our call-out! Delilah Ferry-Swainso...

Three Royal Holloway students attacked at Egham Station, 6th February 2026

4Mar

By Madeline SidgwickNo Comments

News

Three Royal Holloway students attacked at Egham Station, 6th February 2026

By Madeline Sidgwick and Ruby Sharkie, Senior and Associate News Editors TW: violence, stabbing, police involvement Royal Holloway confirmed three students were attacked at Egham train station on the 6th February, with a fourth victim having been assaulted. British Transport Police (BTP) officers were called at about 9:00pm along with Surrey police and paramedics. The victims included: two 20-year-old men, a third man aged 22, and an 18-year-old police have reported. The three men and teenager were taken to hospital with non life-threatening or life-changing injuries. The victims were Royal Holloway students and members of Royal Holloway Men’s Rugby. In total, four people were arrested, with three released on bail. 21 year old George Turner was charge...

Founder of Academics Against Assault Molly Hanning,“Prevention is all about education expansion”

3Mar

By Madeline SidgwickNo Comments

News

Founder of Academics Against Assault Molly Hanning,“Prevention is all about education expansion”

By Madeline Sidgwick, Senior News Editor TW: Sexual assault, rape, trauma, PTSD, and violence against women. Over a Diet Coke at the Armstrong Gun, I met with Molly Hanning, the founder of Academics Against Assault (AAA) and Royal Holloway Masters Student. Our conversation covered many bases including the origin story of AAA, Molly’s personal experiences, and building the group on a national level - including a trip to Parliament. Molly is truly an inspiring woman and I extend my greatest thanks to her for such a productive and insightful conversation. How did AAA begin? Academics Against Assault began after Molly was raped in her first year of university and found it “hard to gather any support at all.” In reflecting on her experience, she recognised a clear lack of accessib...