front page – The Orbital

Evacuation Confusion Reveals RHUL Emergency Unpreparedness

19Mar

By Jack ChellmanNo Comments

News

Evacuation Confusion Reveals RHUL Emergency Unpreparedness

On Wednesday afternoon, a suspicious package at the George Eliot mailroom prompted Surrey Police and College Security to evacuate nearby buildings on campus. Given the spate of bomb scares across the UK this month, one would hope for a well-coordinated response to a similar threat at Royal Holloway. Unfortunately, the university’s evacuation fell far short of “well-coordinated” and contradicted a spokesperson’s suggestion that “the College spends considerable time and resources on emergency planning.” Interviews with community members and an analysis of evacuation messaging reveal the university’s inability to quickly and clearly articulate emergency protocol. To adequately protect its community members, Royal Holloway must address its emergency unpreparedness and communicate more effectiv...

19Mar

By Michele TheilNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Theatre & Performance

A Glass Slipper is No Match for MTS

As a self-proclaimed Musical Theatre geek, I was surprised that I hadn’t heard of Musical Theatre Society’s (MTS) spring term production, Soho Cinders. It is described as ‘Cinderella with a Twist’, adding in elements of contemporary London and bringing in an LGBT+ relationship as well. It is an interesting show, with catchy up-beat numbers that definitely stick in your head long after it’s over. The show starts slowly, with the ensemble filing in to the room subtly – people barely notice until cast members interact with and speak to audience members, catching their attention and keeping their focus for the first number. A narrator, played by Reuben Havelock, appears to introduce us to the characters as they sing Old Compton Street. Bryony O’Hare as the sassy best friend Velcro shines fro...

“Suspicious package” reported at George Eliot Mailroom

13Mar

By Becca BashfordNo Comments

News

“Suspicious package” reported at George Eliot Mailroom

At 1.05pm today, students at Royal Holloway were evacuated from various buildings across campus. Students were told to evacuate and move towards the other end of campus and to congregate at The Hub. Shortly after, security were given the all clear and students were allowed to return. The Orbital spoke to Surrey Police officers that were present during the incident, and they confirmed that a suspicious package was reported in the George Elliot mailroom, and hence George Elliot, Windsor Building, Emily Wilding Davison library and Founders were all evacuated. The officers noted that the students were difficult to move, and that some remained on campus and officers had to knock on doors and make them move. They ask that students comply and remain vigilant during incidents such as these...

BBC Music Introducing Live: Making it in Today’s Industry

7Nov

By Maria GreenNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Music

BBC Music Introducing Live: Making it in Today’s Industry

BBC Music Introducing Live invites aspiring artists, producers and music managers to their three-day event where attendees will learn everything about how to get into the ever-changing music industry. Held at London’s Tobacco Dock on 8-10 November 2018, BBC Music Introducing Live features talks, panels, performances, masterclasses and more, to inspire 15,000 future music industry leaders. BBC Introducing are giving young creatives the opportunity to meet the biggest names in the industry, including brands, record labels, streaming services, artists, BBC DJs and producers. As well as live performances with Ben Howard, Deadmau5, Duke Dumont, Tom Grennan and more, the event includes a UK music careers fair, bars, markets, and surprise performances. BBC Music Introducing Live is th...

25Oct

By Maria GreenNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Music

Introducing: Lesedi

So perhaps we can start with you guys introducing yourselves. Who are you, what do you play and what do you study? E: I'm Eve! I play sax, flute, and sing, and I study music along with Dan and Tom. D: I’m Dan, I’m going into my second year studying music and I play keys for the band. T: I'm Tom, I'm also going into second year and I'm the drummer! Awesome! Did you all meet on the music course at Royal Holloway? D: Yes we did! It didn’t take us long to realise we were all interested in similar things, and Eve approached Tom and I and asked us to start a band with her! T: We mainly play funk music, which ranges from covers to originals but we also cover rock, pop and plenty of genres in-between. An interesting mix then! Who are your greatest influence...

21Oct

By Lina PlamenovaNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Theatre & Performance

A Truly Amazing Night At The Theatre

Ever imagined, even in your wildest dreams, seeing Morticia Addams, Dorian Gray, and Romeo and Juliet all in the same place, at the same time? No? What if they were accompanied by wild dancing performances, amazing musical numbers and sketches that make you laugh so much that your stomach hurts? Then apparently, you have never been to A Night at the Theatre (ANATT). If you have never even heard of ANATT (where have you been all this time?!), it is an event that features performances by more or less all the creative societies at Royal Holloway, varying from dance, drama, musical theatre, fashion, pole dancing and the works of some independent artists. It is an excellent way to spend an evening, leaving all your worries behind, while watching your fellow students express their creativity...

Transphobic Literature Distributed Across Campus

14Oct

By Becca BashfordNo Comments

News

Transphobic Literature Distributed Across Campus

Content warning: Transphobia, Transphobic Language Transphobic literature has been discovered in various places across the Royal Holloway campus, including the women’s bathrooms in the Wolfson, Windsor, and Boilerhouse buildings. The leaflets and stickers were created by a prominent transphobic group ‘Fair Play For Women’, who have started a widespread campaign against the Gender Recognition Act (GRA), claiming that reforming the GRA to be trans (including non-binary and inter-sex) inclusive is ‘the worst assault on women’s rights in over a century’. Their campaign includes a full-page ad in the Metro newspaper, which was met with public outrage last week. The government is currently in the process of reforming the Gender Recognition Act, and have released consultation forms to be...

12Oct

By Jordan ThorneNo Comments

Sports & Socs

An interview with LINKS First Aid

First Aid is one of the most useful skills you can learn: teaching you how to treat small-scale injuries, such as cuts and sprains, to dealing with life threatening situations. I asked the president of the society, Alex Mullen, to answer a few questions regarding his experience as a member of LINKS. How would you pitch your society to potential new members? We are a First Aid Society; with strong, foundational links to St John Ambulance. It is the goal of the charity and therefore our goal to ensure that nobody suffers from a lack of trained first aiders. Everyone has been in the classic 'caring for a drunk friend' situation, but would you know what to do if they fell and hit their head, or became unresponsive and stopped breathing? We teach loads of useful first aid skills, and al...

Interview with Marshea Makosa, President of Comedy Society

12Oct

By Izzy SwansonNo Comments

Sports & Socs

Interview with Marshea Makosa, President of Comedy Society

How did you first get involved with Comedy Society? I got involved after performing at the Monkey’s Forehead (now The Packhorse) as a solo act and the then president, Ned Sanders, was in the crowd and invited me to come along, check out a workshop and maybe perform with the society. I went and it was a very chill way to challenge and compound my comedic tastes. You’ve just returned from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, which the society attends annually, how was the experience? The fringe is really fun! It’s a whirlwind of flyering, talking to performers from all around the world, performing and working on your craft in real time, improving with your fellow comics, going to shows (and going to bars) and just feeling engaged with the mystery of the ‘comedy circuit’. It's intense and ...

12Oct

By Emily BradburyNo Comments

Sports & Socs

Interview with: AbHarm

What does a day-in-the-life of an Absolute Harmony member look like? So on a typical Monday we’ll have a rehearsal with our main choir and Hardcore Harmony together; this always starts the week off on a high note!’ (Pardon the pun!). The choir is genuinely so close that friends are always made. At rehearsal, the choir learns an amazing arrangement which one of our two brilliant Musical Directors will have arranged! As you walk in, the song selected for the arrangement will be playing and you automatically feel the buzz of excitement! Rehearsals always start together as a whole choir with our fun warm-ups. After, each vocal part goes off into different sections and rehearse their part with their teacher (someone selected from the choir). Once we’ve learnt our individual parts, we all c...