Features

Free school meals were introduced in the early 20th century when a nursery school pioneer, Margaret McMillan, lobbied for the Provision of Meals bill in 1906. McMillan argued that if education were to be compulsory for children, then it should therefore be the responsibility of the  state to provide meals for the children coming to school, particularly for those coming from lower income families.  There has been great uproar following the recent debates regarding whether free school meals should continue to be provided throughout the ongoing pandemic and school holidays to lower income families. Many politicians voted against the continuation of this, including Matt Hancock,  the Secretary of State for Health.   Someone whose voice has particularly stood out in this uproar is profes...

If you feel like you’re witnessing a still from the Hunger Games, you wouldn’t be far wrong. On January 6th, a riot of Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the Capitol building in Washington DC. The supporters gathered around the building in the morning, having flown in from states all over America. Trump has repeatedly stated that he doesn’t accept the result of the US election, where he has been voted out of the White House, beaten by Joe Biden who is to take his place on 20th January. Trump has repeatedly made comments about the integrity of the election results, where he has gone so far as to accuse Biden of rigging the election to aid his win. These statements have created much confusion and suspicion amongst his followers, who have been fed false information which led them to believe t...

Thea Drake When you think of how you can be sustainable, you probably imagine recycling your rubbish, not littering, and trying to use less plastic, but you might not think that one of the biggest ways we can be sustainable is by changing our diet. All aspects of food production contribute to the emissions that are causing climate change. The planet we live on and depend on is suffering because of the way we eat. If we all chose to eat less animal products, it could have the impact needed to save our planet. Research has shown that by reducing consumption of animal products, we can cut down on the impact that we have by reducing the energy required, land and water used, pollutants produced, and overall greenhouse gas emissions. The impact of the meat industry Greenhouse gas em...

Emily Downie With the increasingly pertinent issues of global warming and climate change, it is now more important than ever to act in the most sustainable and caring way that we can towards our planet. Here are 21 different ideas for the upcoming new year, for ways in which you and others around you can adopt a more sustainable lifestyle. It’s the small steps that make the big difference.   1 — Avoid purchasing brand new clothes — either up-cycle clothes you already own (cut pieces of clothes up, sew things together, iron on badges to turn an old item into a brand new one!), or buy second-hand clothing (take a trip to vintage markets, or scroll through Depop for some great finds).   2 — Purchase from ethical companies — make sure the products you buy come from companie...

SU President Kate Roberts University can often be a transformational experience for students, providing the space and freedom to allow us to question our thoughts and values, and reshape who we want to be in the future. As we work to understand our place in the world, this can often lead us to questions about the environment and sustainability, namely how can we ensure that this planet provides for ourselves and for future generations? The global fight to stem rising temperatures and combat climate change is being led by the youth movement, and now we, as students, have a huge platform to make our voices heard and create change. Unsurprisingly, as a place of radical thought and progression, the conversation about sustainability has been hovering around universities for a number of y...

Tiger-Lily With 1 in 5 young people suffering from a mental illness (teenmentalhealth.org) and society divided between those who understand what people are going through and those who do not, the tension continues to rise. Ignoring the need for better education and support around mental health is not the answer. By ignoring the rain it does not mean you don’t get wet, and not everyone has an umbrella to keep them dry. The same goes for mental health. It is time to make sure everyone has an umbrella. Seeking help is a positive step in the right direction, but sometimes this can be difficult to take. Ultimately, the key to making progress is listening to your needs. Your progress may start with something as simple as discussing with someone the support you need or exploring what optio...

Emily Downie There is an ever-present stigma surrounding the discussion of male mental health and its importance in today’s society. In most cultures, there remains the antiquated yet widely accepted view that it is more attractive for a man to be silent and strong rather than showing “weakness” by exhibiting poor mental health. Alternatively, it is seen as more acceptable for a woman to express vulnerability, and that it is the man’s role to protect and be strong for her. Indeed, if roles were to be reversed, the man would be deemed “too effeminate”. Phrases are thrown across adverts, in magazines, on social media — “be a man about it”; “men don’t cry”, “man up”. In some cultures, the ‘cereal packet family’ concept still remains solidified in societal expectations and norms. This i...

Alice Goode Invisible illnesses – who’s heard of them and what actually are they? Other names used for such disabilities are chronic conditions/illnesses or autoimmune disorders. Whilst they have slightly different meanings, they fall under the same classification of conditions that cause similar symptoms such as chronic pain and fatigue and are often undetectable when one solely looks at the person diagnosed. Someone with an invisible illness looks like anybody else, but underneath that appearance they are struggling with constant excruciating pain, exhaustion and a multitude of other equally unpleasant symptoms. Hence invisible illnesses are one of the most underrepresented forms of disability.  The common image and idea of those with disabilities is that of wheelchair users....

Emily Downie Racial injustice has always been extremely prevalent in the UK. However, it has not been brought to the attention of many simply because of a lack of education surrounding the injustice. Following George Floyd’s passing, there has been a large increase in promotion of diversity and discussion of racism by young people throughout the UK across all social media platforms. There are many ways to support the Black Lives Matter movement, including educating yourself and others on racial injustice within the country and abroad, donating to charities and anti-racism organisations, protesting, and supporting small black-owned businesses. This article centers around the latter, and I have compiled a short list of black-owned businesses which you can check out and support. Hair a...