frontpage – Page 14 of 20

27Oct

By Amal AbdiNo Comments

Lifestyle

Designer Dupes: Luxe on a Budget

As students, we all know how real the struggle is when it comes to keeping up with the latest trends. Unfortunately our budgets don’t tend to cover designer items, so I have chosen a few shoes and accessories that are particularly sought after at the moment and have offered a high street dupe for a fraction of the price – you’re welcome! I’m going to start off with a belt, and no - it is not the classic Gucci belt! The belt I would like to focus on is the Off White Industrial Belt, which retails for £145. Off White has been gaining a lot of attention on social media lately and naturally the high streets have caught on. Sold at Urban Outfitters, Iets Frans offer a “Slogan D-ring Belt” at less than ten percent of the price at only £14. Whether you love the tiny sunglasses trend or still as...

Fortnite: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

26Oct

By Anna IrwinNo Comments

Science & Technology

Fortnite: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

For those who don’t know, Fortnite is a video game in which around 100 players skydive from a plane onto an island. The goal is to be the ‘last man standing’. Players find weapons hidden throughout the island and are also able to collect materials and build structures – think Hunger Games meets Minecraft. There are many unique elements within the game, which is what makes it so popular. However, what those elements stand for changes as you go on. Sure, Fornite may be good to play but, it can also be bad and, sometimes, a little ugly. Fortnite has been a huge success across the world. Many players, including myself, find it a light and easy game, meaning it is easy to just pick up the controller and start playing. The determination to obtain that all-famous screen with “#1 Victory Royale” ...

RuPaul, transphobia, and remembering your Herstory

26Oct

By Becca BashfordNo Comments

Opinion

RuPaul, transphobia, and remembering your Herstory

“If you can’t love yourself, how in the hell are you gonna love somebody else?”, “We’re all born naked and the rest is drag” … we’re all familiar with RuPaul’s famous one-liners, which are often expressions of self-love; defending our right to be authentically and unapologetically ourselves. RuPaul’s status within the LGBTQ+ community cannot be understated. Bringing drag into mainstream culture is no small feat, but being the most famous drag queen in the world also comes at a price. So when RuPaul recently sparked a debate about who can or can’t be a drag queen, it made me wonder how valuable RuPaul’s opinions still are when he’s clearly forgotten his Herstory. In a recent interview with The Guardian, Ru shocked us all when he said he wouldn’t accept a transgender contestant on his...

Royal Holloway’s sexual assault victims deserve better

26Oct

By Caitlin RobinNo Comments

Opinion

Royal Holloway’s sexual assault victims deserve better

Feminism Society recently launched a petition to ban Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke from playing at Student’s Union venues. They released a statement on their social media outlets promoting the ban, arguing that the song “incites violence against women and utilises rape rhetoric and language that rapists often use to silence their victims” and “has no place on campus.” Don’t get me wrong, I don’t disagree with this argument at all. Back in 2013, when this song was first released, the song was heavily criticized worldwide for the use of misogynistic lyrics which degrades and objectifies women. Yet, despite this controversy, it remained very popular and was played very often... in 2013. So, why are Feminism Society trying to chase this up now? How often is it actually playing in the Student’...

26Oct

By Samantha DavisNo Comments

Lifestyle

Don’t Throw Away Your Shot

The old adage is true: did it really happen if you didn’t take a picture? University is no different and you’ve got to make sure you’ve got the best shots. Whether it is to keep pestering parents knowing that you are happy, or showing off to others how great your university is, here are some hot spots on and off campus to show off these new adventures. Founders Building Did you ever really go to Royal Holloway if you have not posted at least one picture of this iconic building? From any angle, or in any light, the castle-like exterior and the increasingly uncommon red brick is sure to draw attention and steal focus in amongst drunken Fresher pictures. Founders Square A recent addition to our beautiful campus and an area that creates many photo opportunities. An Instagram photoshoot ...

25Oct

By Michele TheilNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Film & TV

Crazy Rich Representation

Asian representation on both the small and big screen is reaching a peak at the moment. We’ve got Crazy Rich Asians, To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before and even veteran show Fresh Off The Boat all trying to represent Asians in pop culture and give us all someone to look at that is reminiscent of the face in the mirror. Fresh Off The Boat, Crazy Rich Asians and To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before are vastly different stories. And yet, having Asian characters at the forefront of any story is so powerful that my Twitter feed is exploding with praise and love for what they represent: a milestone through which culturally, we are accepting that Asian characters are what acceptable and will be popular, especially as it seeks to give a voice to those that didn’t have one before. Crazy Rich Asians i...

25Oct

By Jasmine CoxNo Comments

Opinion

Safety of Student Data

As thousands of new Freshers embark on their university experience this September, new information and data will be given to institutions. Under the Higher Education and Research Act 2017, the Office for Students (OfS) is permitted to share student data with bodies such as the Student Loan Company and HMRC. The OfS holds information such as mental and physical health, graduate employment and academic growth of all students. This is under Section 63 of the Act, which declares OfS may cooperate and share information where it considers appropriate to do so. A Department of Education spokesperson said that it is important that OfS has the right to distribute information in order to avoid issues such as poor quality of management and governance, protecting the student experience and any poten...

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...

24Oct

By Clement JonesNo Comments

Opinion

Unethical Investments

Being your Students’ Union Vice-President of Education last year was extremely rewarding. As I was a course rep for three years, I was extremely excited to represent your academic interests to the College, and I’m pleased that Jack O’Neill has now picked up the reigns. However, another burning desire of mine was to ensure that, as an academic community, we were taking drastic measures to fight against what the famous United Nations’ Copenhagen Accords acknowledges as “one of the greatest challenges of our time”: climate change. I ran to be your President on a flagship manifesto point of pledging to ‘Clean Up Our Campus’ by lobbying the College to make sure it is investing its money in socially responsible industries. The Copenhagen Accords maintain “that climate change is one of the gre...

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...