RHUL – Page 14 of 24

Hycean Worlds: A Possible New Frontier in the Search for Life Beyond Earth

15Oct

By Jessica CopelandNo Comments

Science & Technology

Hycean Worlds: A Possible New Frontier in the Search for Life Beyond Earth

The search for extraterrestrial life has conventionally been focused on Earth-like exoplanets -- terrestrial planets orbiting within the habitable zone of their host stars. This method is based on the premise that as life has risen in Earth’s conditions, somewhere with similar conditions could also give rise to life. As such, various exoplanet surveys over the years, including the Kepler and TESS satellites, have catalogued a few thousand Earth-like candidates for further investigation, finding that 1 in 5 Sun-like stars have an Earth-like planet in the habitable zone. However, the candidate pool may have just expanded. In August this year, researchers at Cambridge’s Institute of Astronomy proposed a new hypothetical class of habitable exoplanets and dubbed them Hycean worlds, a ...

Cristiano Ronaldo Takes Manchester United

15Oct

By Joseph OSullivanNo Comments

Sports & Socs

Cristiano Ronaldo Takes Manchester United

In an eye-catching turn of events, the 36-year-old legend, Cristiano Ronaldo, returned to Manchester United in a deal worth £19.8 million. Ronaldo’s incredible career so far first ignited when, at 17, he joined United from Sporting Lisbon. Being managed by the remarkable Sir Alex Ferguson, who Ronaldo still says is a “father figure” to him, helped him to develop into the superstar footballer he was destined to be. When he left united in 2009 at 23, he was an £80 million player with a Ballon dO’r, Uefa Champions League and three premier leagues to his name. Cristiano Ronaldo is known worldwide; he’s transcended ‘football star’ and entered the realm of celebrity. His return to United, and the worldwide reaction, is evidence of this. Football is still revelling in a summer transfer ...

Brexit Party Removes Royal Holloway Video

18Jul

By Jamie WoodsNo Comments

News

Brexit Party Removes Royal Holloway Video

On Tuesday, The Brexit Party released a campaign video pledging to "scrap interest on student loans". The video was produced in collaboration with the Student Brexit Group, a Royal Holloway based student group representing pro-Brexit students. Abby King, a recent Royal Holloway graduate, quickly realised that scenes in the video had been filmed on the University campus, and was quick to respond on Twitter. https://twitter.com/abby_king96/status/1151762108234772480 The video contains several scenic shots of the university's famous Founder's Building, and several university students have expressed concern that the inclusion of these clips makes it appear that the university endorses the video and its message. The video has been viewed more than 75,000 times. Credit: The Brexit ...

Back Gate To Close Overnight, Following Resident Complaints

16Jul

By Jamie WoodsNo Comments

News

Back Gate To Close Overnight, Following Resident Complaints

In what has been described as a "difficult" decision, Royal Holloway College have today announced they are going to resume closing the back gate overnight. From the start of term in September, the gate will be closed at 12:30AM each night, and re-opened at 5AM. The back gate originally closed at 12:45 on Friday and Saturday and 11:15 throughout the remainder of the week. The back entrance to campus is located on Spring Rise by the Senate House Library depository. It had been opened overnight in January 2018 following lengthy campaigns run by students and the Students' Union, starting with a petition in 2015. Access had been provided through the use of swipe cards outside of regular hours. The announcement follows lobbying from local residents, who told the college that students ar...

Royal Holloway’s Dance Society and Varsity

2Apr

By Francesca TyerNo Comments

Features, News

Royal Holloway’s Dance Society and Varsity

Please could you give a brief description of your society? Dance Society is one of the most unique societies on campus! We not only offer classes in every style of dance you could think of, but also have competition teams, socials, shows, volunteering, performing and choreographing opportunities! We actively try to get as many people involved in the society as possible. Whether you’ve never danced before or if you’re practically professional, there’s something for everyone. What will your Varsity performance involve? At Varsity, we will be competing with several of our award-winning competition teams! The styles vary and it will be a wonderful performance for all watching. Does your piece have a name? We are competing with several different pieces, the names of which are cur...

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...

“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...

Financial Privilege: Academia’s Worst Kept Secret

23Feb

By Maliha RezaNo Comments

Opinion

Financial Privilege: Academia’s Worst Kept Secret

Academia is limited to a privileged few, and there needs to be a more significant push to create a space for those lacking such privilege. The means test is a critical part of the university admissions process but, regardless of the support systems fashioned by some institutions, many students from low-income backgrounds fall at the first financial hurdle. Universities, or more specifically the makeup of the university; its staff and students, need to acknowledge that this is a systematic failure that they are all too complicit within. Some students are unable to wage a space in the academic world as it becomes a commodity that is afforded by a few. This embrace of commodification favours those with an element of financial privilege. However, the growing marketisation of academic institut...

22Feb

By Caroline HusbyNo Comments

News

Essay Mills

Every student at Royal Holloway knows the feeling of stressing over deadlines, essays, and assignments. From midterm to the end of the term, the level of stress reaches an all-time-high. Some students decide to take the weight off their shoulders by contacting ‘essay mills’ or by using fellow students to write their essays. An essay mill is a company that provides provides academic essays in exchange for money, tailored to any course, module, or specific essay question. These companies have professional business models; they are very easy to find and contact. I decided to get in touch with an essay mill to see just how easy it was to commission a piece. Within five minutes, I received an offer of a 3000-word essay for a price of £150. The person in the chat-room was extremely pushy and wa...

SU Support for ‘Ask for Angela’ campaign

19Feb

By Becca BashfordNo Comments

News

SU Support for ‘Ask for Angela’ campaign

The ‘Ask for Angela’ campaign - first launched by Lincolnshire County Council and now officially supported by the Metropolitan Police - has been rolled out in the Student Union. The main goal of ‘Ask for Angela’, according to the Sexual Violence & Abuse Strategy Coordinator for Lincolnshire County Council, is to “promote a culture change in relation to sexual violence and abuse … and to empower victims to make a decision on whether to report incidents. Sexual abuse and violence is a national issue and all councils have a responsibility to tackle abuse.” The campaign offers discreet help to anyone who is made to feel uncomfortable or unsafe, whether that be by a stranger, a tinder date, or anything in between. Venues which support the campaign provide posters which are displayed in to...