For some, university is about progressing to the next level – in the

lecture hall, on the sports field, or in relationships. For others, it’s

about getting away from home and the attention of parents for the

first time. But for a large number of students, riding into university

on a wave of optimism, it’s a huge opportunity to try something

a bit different. Issue One - Spring 2013

Filling in UCAS form

s isstraightforw

ard, the realitybehind the process isdaunting. D

egree˚is designed

to give you an insight intowhat you w

on’t experienceduring O

pen Days, Visit D

aysor presentations fromlecturers: w

hat it’s really liketo be a student, on a day-to-day basis at Edge H

ill University.

In this edition you’ll read about som

e of theopportunities you’ll have – joining student societies, seeing live bands, living aw

ayfrom

home, probably for the

first time, cleaning – again,

possibly for the first time, and

some of the characters you

might m

eet around campus.

Nothing really prepares you

for the roller-coaster ride of the real thing, but D

egree˚hopes to answ

ersom

e of your questions, allay som

e of your fears, and prepare you for the m

ostexciting stage of your life…so far.

02°

Welcome Round the Edge

Contents

02° Round the Edge

04° What’s on Your Wall

06° Money Talks

10° Join the Club

12° Liverpool Live!

14° When I Grow Up...

16° Heady Brew

18° Decks Appeal

20° Live: Kyla La Grange

22° Field of Dreams

24° Pinhole Wizard

26° Do You Remember the First Time?

28° Stand Out in the Crowd

30° Volunteers: Your Community Needs You!

Production Team Sam ArmstrongAndy ButlerNick LodgeMark Molloy

Our campus is home to12 unique sculptures, including several pigs

and a group of orang-utans, madefrom a variety of materials.How many can you find?

There have been 93 annual Isle of ManTT Races, the first being in 1907. Runs 25 May - 7June 2013

The distance in km of the Pendle Predator,

one of Britain’s toughest cycling challenges,

including climbs totalling 3122m

.

93

31% Full-Time Undergraduate

3% Full-Time Postgraduate

19% Part-Time Undergraduate

47% Part-Time Postgraduate Rooms available

on campus, in 40 halls, over 160 landscaped acres.

The campus lake is home to 175 Mallard duckswith approximately 3 pairs of Canadian Geese,24 doves and 18 wood pigeons which provideregular photo opportunities for passing students.Check out the wildlife, amongst many othercampus snaps, on our Facebook page.

175

175km

EHU Students

41 stu

dents

27,9

53 stu

dents

7,3

27

20,6

25

1,700+

Edge Hill celebrated its 125thanniversary in 2010 with a series ofcommemorative events involvingseveral Edge Hill alumni, includingbroadcaster and writer StuartMaconie and actor Jonathan Pryce.

125years

Ormskirk market is held twice a

week – Thursdaysand Saturdays.The market wasestablished by a

Royal Charterthat was granted

by Edward I ofEngland in 1286.Thursdays has

been market dayin Ormskirk since 1292.

2Take a quick trip round Edge Hill, Ormskirk and the North West with our facts and figures infographic.

EHU Students

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ehu.ac.uk/27h

Number of iron men on Crosby Beach, Antony Gormley’s ‘Another Place’ (2005).

100

17: O�cial UK chart singles by The Beatles to reach No 1 • 33: Most num

ber ones written - Paul McCartney and John Lennon • 57: Number One singles by artists f

rom Liverp

ool, g

iving

the c

ity th

e titl

e of C

apita

l of P

op in

the G

uinness Book of Records. So far... •

1.16million copies‘Blue Monday’ by New Order

is the biggest selling 12” singleof all time

National Trust sites, including theShakespearean Rufford Old Halland the childhood homes of the Beatles.

Racecourses, including Aintree, home of the GrandNational, which attracts over150,000 spectators each year.

394

NW beaches recommended bythe Marine Conservation Society, including Formby, home to nativered squirrels, and Southport.8

Listed buildings in Liverpool, plusa UNESCO World Heritage Sitefeaturing the Three Graces on the city shoreline.

2,500+The North West has

over 25,400 listed buildings, more than 1,300 scheduled monuments,

130 registered parks and gardens, 3 listed battlefields,

and over 860 conservation areas.

18% of the region is in a National Park.

With a further 11% in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Michelin Star Restaurants5 of the best restaurants in the UK: Fraiche, Birkenhead; Northcote, Langho; Simon Radley at The Chester Grosvenor, Chester; L’Enclume, Cartmel; Sharrow Bay Country House, Ullswater

5

Top speed reached by Stephenson’s Rocket

in the Rainhill Trials of 1829.

30mph

Professional football teams in the North West, including fiveEnglish Premier League teams.

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What’s on Your Wall?Degree° 04°

With 1,700 rooms available, in 40 halls, over 160 acres, it’s busy on-campus. Andthat’s not mentioning off-campus accommodation.

So how do you stand outin the crowd?

Uni accommodation can be bare,but look at it as a blank canvas, a space for you to stamp yourpersonality on unfamiliarsurroundings.

So, with little or no make-overbudget, how do you make theright first impression? With a bitof imagination, a sprinkle ofhumour, a little self-confidence,and access to the regular campusmarket days, your room canbecome your new home. Firststop, the poster stall, doing aroaring trade, as usual.

Students and posters go togetherlike a horse and carriage, ormaybe John Travolta and Samuel L Jackson in PulpFiction. Best sellers this yearinclude Audrey Hepburn for the girls, DC comic superheroesfor the boys, and the Mixologycocktail recipes for all. But thebiggest seller, by some way – in fact, it had actually sold out – was ‘Bazinga’, a phrase popularised by uber-geek Sheldon Cooper, from The Big Bang Theory.

We asked a few student shopperswhat was going to be on theirwall this term, and made a few ofour lecturers look back at theirown time as students, mostlythrough the gaps in their fingersas they covered their eyes.

Alice, BA (Hons) Design for Performance“I’m studying costume design, so I like the vintage look – Breakfast at Tiffany’s with Audrey Hepburn is a classiclook, and she’s pretty. You needto assert your personality – and this is what I’m after.”

Ruby, BA (Hons) Primary Education“A map of London because itreminds me of home.”

Becka, BA (Hons) Primary Education“I’ve got a poster of One Direction. Quite girly but it’s something nice to look at inthe morning.”

Ste,BSc (Hons) Accountancy“I’m a big fan of The Big BangTheory and DC Comics, so Iwent for two awesome posters of them.”

Matthew, 21, BA (Hons) Secondary Religious Education“I bought a couple of VW vanposters. It’s to cover up thebrown doors and yellow walls – make your room a bit moreyour own. I’ve got a VW van,and every summer I go to a fewVW shows. It’s a bit of homefrom home.”

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Housemates Sarah andOlivia, BSc (Hons) Psychology and BA (Hons) PrimaryEducation

“We wanted to pimp up ourliving room so we went for agiant poster of Audrey Hepburn.We also got one each for ourbedrooms – but we’re notobsessed! She’s classy andsophisticated, and that’s the look we’re after.”

Sarah: “I also got my boyfrienda poster of a chimp. He pullsfunny faces, and that’s my namefor him.”

Olivia: “My boyfriend’s a bit ofa geek, so I got him the shot ofNY skyscraper constructionworkers eating their lunch on agirder in the 30s [it’s calledLunch Atop a Skyscraper (1932)– student posters ed.] recreatedwith lego. It’s just a bit classierthan the usual 18 year old boy’sposters. But I also got him one of a superhero.”

Robert Sheppard, Professorof Poetry and PoeticsBA English Literature (with History Minor)University of East Anglia“A collage covering it all,carefully fragmenting magazineimages, gig tickets, and a bigposter of Allen Ginsberg thatfrightened me one day when I woke up and thought there was a crazy man in my room!”

Dr Mari Hughes-Edwards,Senior Lecturer in EnglishLiterature, BA (Hons) inEnglish Literature Bristol University“A massive picture of Keanu Reeves holding anArden Shakespeare. Beautiful man plus great work of literary art…”

Dr Lauren KnottBSc (Hons) PsychologyLancaster University“A collage of photos of oldfriends and new, of family andloved ones, of great nights outand favourite places from backhome – anything that triggereda happy memory (I’m a memoryresearcher after all!)”

Roger Spalding, BA Historywith English Literature minorUniversity of East Anglia “A very large portrait poster of Leon Trotsky, who, at thattime, I saw as an ideal rolemodel. Employability did notoccupy a large part of myoutlook as a student.”

Dan Pantano, Reader in Poetry andLiterary Translation“I had a giant FriedrichNietzsche poster on my wall, which read, “Have a Nietzsche Day!””

So, what’s on your wall? Let us know at:

facebook.com/edgehilluniversityand you could win vouchers tospend to make your room just

that little bit more homely.

facebook.com/edgehilluniversity

A student and his or hermoney are easily parted,especially when there’s not agreat deal of it in the firstplace. But other sources ofincome are available fromEdge Hill University, as wellas advice on how to makeyour cash go that little bitfurther, if loans andoverdrafts aren’t enough tokeep you in diamonds, furs,or budget baked beans.

Bursaries and scholarshipsFor prospective students we havea whole range of scholarshipopportunities, designed to rewardoutstanding ability, hard workand enterprise.

If you achieve 320 UCAS pointsor more at one sitting, you’llautomatically receive a HighAchievers Scholarship worth£1,000, while the NationalScholarship Programme is aimedat outstanding students fromlower income families, and couldnet you up to £3,000 in benefits.

If you can demonstratedetermination, commitment andachievement outside your studiesat school or college, in areas suchas sport, creativity, enterprise orvolunteering, you could findyourself up to £2,000 better offover the course of your studieswith Edge Hill’s EntranceScholarships.

Finally, Edge Hill’s recentFreedom of the City award fromLiverpool is celebrated in theLiverpool Scholarship, aimed atLiverpool-based students whoachieve outstanding results. Up to £3,000 is available tocontribute to a full-time students’ first year fund.

Once you’re here, there are morebursaries available, includingawards for poetry, academic andpersonal achievement,overcoming personal difficulty,and community work – go to ourwebsite to find out more: edgehill.ac.uk/scholarships

Earn while you learnPart-time employment: manypeople have their first taste ofwork at university, and earningyour first pay cheque is verysatisfying. You do need to makesure you have the balance right,though – ultimately, you are atuniversity to earn a degree.

Other popular student jobopportunities include bar andhotel work, waiting tables,working in call centres, and shopwork. And working at things likemusic festivals can give you freeentry and accommodation inreturn for a few hours work a day.

Heather PowellBSc (Hons) Mathematics KeyStage 2/3 Education with QTS

“For me, the decision to take onpart-time work was more for theexperience than the money, as I felt that it would better prepareme for my career. I work for theUniversity, and opportunitiesrange from administrative andmailing work within the office, to showing prospective studentsand families around our campus,to assisting with school visits and open days. I’ve been involvedin leading workshops withschool/college students, as wellas giving presentations on my student experience, andattending HE Fairs on behalf of the University.”

Three key things you need toknow about your Student Loan• Until your salary reaches £21,000 or more you will pay nothing.

• If you still owe money after 30 years, all remaining debt is wiped.

• View the student loan as a graduate tax, rather than a loan. It’s repaid through the income tax system, the amount repaid increases/decreases with earnings, and it won’t affect your credit history.

Money TalksDegree° 06°

Feature:

Information applies to Home/EU students on full-time undergraduate degrees charging full fees.

Eddy LoweBSc (Hons) PhysicalGeography and Geology

“I took on part-time work whilestudying in order to improve mychances of getting a graduatejob, and to help fund my studies.I contribute to campus tours,accommodation tours, andcampus events such asconferences, and have also done some administrative work,including mail distribution.Completing these jobs hasallowed me to improve mycommunication skills, given me confidence and an insight intothe workings of the university.”

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“The extra money allows me to enjoy more leisure activities and provides extra money for fieldwork projects, but I’ve also been saving to go travelling once I graduate.”

ehu.ac.uk/2q1

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Budgets, Beansand Bog Roll

‘“My other pieceof advice, Copperfield,” said Mr. Micawber, “you know. Annual incometwenty pounds, annualexpenditure nineteennineteen six, resulthappiness. Annual incometwenty pounds, annualexpenditure twenty poundsought and six, result misery.The blossom is blighted, theleaf is withered, the god ofday goes down upon thedreary scene, and, in short,you are for ever floored. As I am!”’David Copperfield,Charles Dickens

Feature: Money Talks

To help you avoid any blossom blighting or leafwithering, we asked one of our student financialadvisers for some handy tips to ensure you don’t runout of beans or toilet roll halfway through your firstterm.

When researching student bank accounts, alwayslook for the best terms for you, rather thanautomatically taking the best introductory offer.Some accounts will automatically transfer you to anaccount which charges full interest rates on overdraftsonce you graduate. Other accounts may well give youa fixed period of low or no interest following graduation.

Explore student financial support options. Everyuniversity has an Access to Learning Fund, designedto assist students suffering financial difficulty.

Visit the National Association of Student MoneyAdvisers (NASMA) website. They have a studentsection, containing advice and guidance, contactnumbers, and discussion areas, as well as an appthat you can download to help you with yourfinancial decision-making. nasma.org.uk

If you want to work out how much an item will cost you over the course of a certain period, try The Demotivator at moneysavingexpert.com.The cost of that morning cappuccino over the course of a year could really keep you awake at night.

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Never shop on an empty stomach, and try theshopping basket exercise. Do one shop with onlybranded goods, then do another of own-brand, or discount brand, goods. The difference can besubstantial, especially over the course of a year.

Take your own lunch, it could save you over £750per year (based on spending £4 per day on lunchover a 39-week academic year).

Shop at the end of the day, as many supermarketswill reduce the price of fresh items before they passtheir sell-by date. However, you may need sharpelbows to get past OAPs with similar ideas.

Always weigh your own fruit and veg, rather thanbuy the pre-packed versions. They are alwayscheaper, and you will have less waste, because youare likely to be buying only what you need.

If in doubt, make a list. Separate the must-havesfrom the would-like-to-haves. Compare your incomewith potential outgoings. Anything you can’t affordgive the heave-ho. Don’t feel pressured intospending money. If there’s something you reallyneed, look at alternative ways of supplementing yourincome (see page 6).

You can find plenty more ways to save money online. Start at facebook.com/StudentMoneyTipsor Vouchercodes.co.uk

ehu.ac.uk/2q3

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The dizzying hubbub of theFreshers’ Week market-placepresents an almostoverwhelming range ofstudent societies, so we‘vecherry-picked a few of theactivities competing for yourattention.

As you would expect, sports featurequite prominently, with the usualsporting suspects, such as football,cricket, badminton, athletics,tennis and netball. Following thehigher profile given the sport by theOlympics, the Women’s Footballteams are going from strength tostrength, at all ability levels, andcompete with other universities inthe North West.

If you’re looking for something onthe sporting fringes, maybe youcould chance your arm at Handball.This breakthrough sport is currentlyexperiencing the “Olympic effect”and attracting students curious tosee what all the fuss is about. LisaSarodnick, a 3rd Year Business andManagement undergraduate, is thedriving force behind the society:

‘It’s the fastest growing sport in theUK, and after the Olympics peoplewant to give it a go. Everyone’swelcome to join, and we’re hopingit’ll get the BUCS [BritishUniversities and Colleges Sport]seal of approval next year, with aleague of its own.’ It lost out thisyear only to American Football.

Or why not dive into Pool? Lastyear the team was triumphant,winning the 9-ball league, andfinishing runner-up in the 8-ball.The team counts Englandrepresentatives and a formerprofessional snooker playeramongst its number.

However, they are keen to changethe game’s image by attractingmore women, and losing itsperennial ‘pub game’ tag.

Kate Johnson, studying for adegree in Children and YoungPeople's Learning andDevelopment, likes playing withfire. Literally. She became addictedto learning new tricks performingpoi, a performance art whichinvolves swinging weights througha variety of geometric patterns:

“I like to perform with fire – if Icould dance with fire every day, Iwould – but the key to the society’ssuccess is letting other people justhave a go.”

Her mad skills were attracting theinterest of more and more people atEHU, so she decided to form theCircus Skills society, hostingregular workshops, and invitingguests to perform and teach, suchas professional hula hoopers. Thesedays it’s a properly-regulated realvocation, but Kate doesn’t want torun away and join the circus just yet:

“I’m looking at taking the skills I’velearnt into schools, showingchildren that there’s more tocircuses than clowns and juggling.”

When Amy Radbourne, a CreativeWriting and Drama student fromNorfolk, and Liverpudlian LaurenParkinson, studying EnglishLiterature and History, met Jasperthe Parrot, Mimi the Monster, andAlbert, they knew they’d foundtheir soulmates. They’re puppets,of course, and the Puppets GoneMad society is always looking forpeople to bring life to a variety ofinanimate characters, whether asperformers, scriptwriters, setdesigners, or just for fun.

Find out more atfacebook.com/groups/EdgeHillPuppetsGoneMad

If you’re looking for a quieter life,though, how about talking aboutlife’s big issues over a nice cuppa?That’s pretty much the philosophybehind Philosotea. Memberssuggest the topics of conversation,and anything goes, from making asandwich to the origins of man. Aslong as you make it past the thornyissue of Darjeeling or Earl Grey.

Starting a new life at university canfeel a little like hurtling through thespace-time vortex. So where betterplace to materialise than in the Dr Who society? No longer aprogramme with niche geek appeal,there’s a whole new generation offans, of both sexes, discussing whothey think is the best doctor.Society companions Nye and Brianare clear who they think has thebest behind-the-sofa manner: Matt Smith. Disagree? Debatethe Doctor’s relative characterdimensions at regular events,perhaps over fishfingersand custard.

Finally, students seem to lovedressing up. If you also likewielding an ancient weapon,running about in a field, andcharging once more unto thebreach, before hitting the pub, then you’ll love the Medieval Re-enactment society. Focusing on12th century history, be prepared toalso pick up a few pointers oncrafts, clothes, foods, and life anddeath under the feudal system.

If you’d rather make up your own history, why not have a go at Tabletop Gaming? Previously a male preserve, the world of multi-player, fantasy roleplayinggames is attracting a growingnumber of women, keen to showthey can hold their own amongstwizards, warlocks, warriors, andthe downright weird.

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Join the Club

ehu.ac.uk/2q4

African/Caribbean * Amnesty International *Anime * Atheists and Sceptics * Cheerleading

* China * Christian Union * Circus Skills * ClimbingMountaineering * Dance and Drama * Debating

* Digimon * Disney * Dr Who * Edge TV * Fantasyand Sci Fi * Feminism * FIFA Fridays * FightingGames * Film Making * Game Development *Geology * Green/Environment * Handball * HipHop Streetdance * History * Horse Riding *International * Islamic *Labour *Law and Criminology

* LGBT+ * Medieval Re-enactment * Moving Image

* Murder Mystery * Musical Theatre * NFL * NUT

* Philosotea * Photography * Poker * Pole Dancing

* Poland * Primary Education * Psychology *Puppets Gone Mad * Rock and Roll/AmericanDance * Sign Language * Singing * Social Sciences

* Stage Notes * Swimming * Tabletop Gaming *Transcendental Meditation * Vibe Magazine *Vibe Online * Vibe Radio * Vibe TV * Video Gaming

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A cross-section of what’s on offer – there’s many more things to explore…

Take a closer look atedgehillsu.org.uk/getinvolved/societies/

And if you can’t find what you’re after, maybe you could do something about it…

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Liverpool Live!

liverpoolsoundcity.co.uk

ities have always had a talent for reinvention,embracing the new in order to shock old bonesback to life. Music scenes play a vital role in this, acreative space where people have a voice, andwhere like-minded souls can share fresh ideas.

Ever since The Beatles revolutionised popular music in theSixties, Liverpool has always punched above its weightmusically. And now there’s a real buzz about the place again,the sound of young bands with something to say, and,crucially, somewhere to say it.

Liverpool Sound City, a three-day music and live arts festivalheld every May, aims to bring people back to the city and putit back on the map, using the annual Texan band gathering,South by South West (SXSW), as the model for a city-basedmusic festival.

2012 was its biggest year yet, incorporating dozens of venues,from Professor Green at the Liverpool Echo Arena to SweetBilly Pilgrim upstairs at Leaf, Liverpool’s tea-emporium-cum-bar-cum-occasional-knitting-club-host, fitting in rising starslike Alt J, Django Django and Jake Bugg somewhere betweenthe two.

And the festival finds plenty of room for local favourites (andEdge Hill veterans) such as the effervescent Tea Street Band,psychedelic noise-rockers Mugstar, upwardly mobile folk-poppersStealing Sheep, and the frankly indefinable Forest Swords.

And Edge Hill Uni is in the middle of this scene with its bandnight Cantina, working with Liverpool Sound City to bring thebest local talent to Ormskirk – and to you. Vibe editor NatTomlinson turned up and tuned in:

“Cantina is definitely not to be missed. Beg, borrow or steal toget a ticket to one of these fantastic nights. Forget anothernight sat in the same old pub; grab a friend and head down toThe Venue instead for a night full of fresh, local, live musicthat is guaranteed not to disappoint.”

If you’re interested in this stuff, you should also check out thework being done by other local promoters such as Harvest Sun,who lure bands initially loved from afar to the Mersey shores.

The North West really is a deep pool of musical and culturalactivity, if you’ve got a taste for excitement and adventure, takethe plunge.

And if you’re really into music, but on a tight budget, tryvolunteering with Sound City. You may actually have to do somework, but you’ll also get access to many new and potentiallylife-altering cultural experiences: liverpoolsoundcity.co.uk

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When I Grow Up...Southport girl Natalie Tomlinson is in her second year studying English Language. She’s also the news editor of Vibe, Edge Hill University’s online student magazine www.vibemedia.co

Let’s start with her work on Vibe.How did that come about?

“I’ve always wanted to be ajournalist. I’m very nosey – it getsme into trouble! From when I was11 or 12 I liked to read the papers,and I’ve always loved to write.Through school, and then college,there was never a place for peoplethat have an interest to write – it’s so hard to get workexperience now.

“A group of us got involved withVibe over the summer, developingthe website, drumming upattention – we’re still goingthrough that at the minute. Theyhad a radio station last year, and amagazine, but the rest of it’sbrand new. It’s very exciting.

“I’m the editor of the online newssection, so we do the news, sport,reviews everything that doesn’t gointo another box comes my way.”

Natalie is looking to make it thego-to news site for Edge Hill:students:“We want to write about whatstudent’s want to hear about.We’ll find a place for any EdgeHill student with something tosay. The nice thing about being incharge of a particular section isyou’re free to implement what you want to.

“We’ve had quite a lot of interest,and we’re just acting on that now,getting people involved, gettingpeople to write. Absolutely anyonecan contribute, but it’s brand new and a work in progress at the minute.”

As “a bit of a feminist” and theonly girl on board at the moment,

Natalie is keen to attract otherfemale writers, to ensure Vibe has a good balance of stories and perspectives:

“The last thing I wrote was a bigpiece on the International Day ofthe Girl, on women’s problemsand violence, education, thingslike that. I’m the only female[currently working on Vibe], soit’s important to me that otherfemales get into it, because Ithink, even now, we’re supposedto be equal, but we’re not.”

And more people also reduces theeditor’s workload:

“I’ve been up at midnight, one inthe morning, because things arecoming up. If someone writes anarticle, they send it through to me,I have to check through all thegrammar before I can put it on,and you have to check picturecopyrights, lots of things you don’tthink of initially.

“We’ve had more first years thananything else. They come up withfresh ideas all the time. Forexample, one lad came up with theidea of a science section, whichcould be amazing. I would neverhave thought of that, but I wouldlove to read something like that.”

And then there are her own articles:

“You can lose hours withoutrealising, a lot of internetsearching, going through articlesthat have already been written onthe subject, finding statistics onwebsites. You do find the samestory on different newspaperwebsites told very differently, butI think it’s important to beimpartial, which is a really hardthing for me to do, so I’mdefinitely learning.”

Read more of Natalie’s work atwww.vibemedia.co

I’ve been up atmidnight, one in

the morning,because thingsare coming up.

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www.vibemedia.co

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by Natalie Tomlinson Heady Brew

The Tea Street Band

Artist:

Edge Hill Students Union

Venue

Autumn 2012

Date:

ehu.ac.uk/2q5

Find out who else has visitedOrmskirk’s number one livemusic night

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uite simply, Cantina rocked. The first in a seriesof live music nights at Edge Hill’s Venue had beenset on a pedestal in the local area, meaning it hadhigh standards to live up to. It did not disappoint.

The night had charisma, style and an electricatmosphere, but was undeniably stolen by thefeatured group, The Tea Street Band. Cantina, a

new venture from Edge Hill's Student Union in collaborationwith Liverpool Sound City, was always going to please. Aimingto bring the best of the local indie and underground scene toour ears can be nothing but a good thing, saving us all fromanother night of the usual mainstream hits.

The Venue, frankly, has not played host to so many people.Loud enough to be classed as a 'proper night out' but relaxedenough to actually enjoy yourself and have a good chat, EdgeHill's bar is the ideal place to spend a few hours after a hardweek. Whether you nip down early to take advantage of thebargain drink prices, or make a night of it and stay late, this barrivals some of the best in town.

The band itself, however, really made the night. There's onlyone thing better than watching a band who so obviously loveevery minute of their set, and that's watching a band love everyminute whilst being completely in sync, in tune and in timewith each other. The songs were gritty, the voices smooth, theplaying faultless. The Venue was filled with the haunting,lingering sounds of what must be one of Liverpool's bestunderground bands. Their line-up of original songs meantthere wasn't one second of this set that wasn't a wonder tobehold. If every band Cantina has to offer are in anywhere nearthe same league as this one, nights on campus have beenchanged forever.

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Profile

Superstar DJ!

Decks Appeal:Danny Howard

djdannyhoward.com

ig room sexy house. Not thedescription of your average dwellingin London’s stockbroker belt, butDanny Howard’s preferred dancemusic genre. Not that Danny’smusical tastes can be quite so

easily pigeonholed. His love of all musicelectronic has helped him land a Saturdayafternoon BBC Radio 1 slot, spinning danceanthems to the nation.

But DJing was not a career path originallyconsidered by the Edge Hill University Sportand Exercise Science graduate:

“I definitely saw myself with a career in sportof some kind. The DJing came about almost byaccident. One of my friends had some decksthat he never used so I borrowed them andstarted messing around. Once I learned how tomix two records together, I really got the bug.

“My first proper gig was at The Venue. Ipersuaded the Students’ Union to let me playat one of their events, then, afterwards, got mymates to tell the SU manager how much theyloved the music and the DJ. It was a bitcheeky but it led to a weekly residency.

Danny was coaxed into entering Radio 1’sSuperstar DJ competition, and the day afterwinning the public vote in a live mix challengeon Chris Moyles’ show, he found himselfopening a Radio 1 party in Ibiza!

Since then Danny’s played to crowds of 3,000with Fatboy Slim, DJed in some of the biggestclubs in the world, and taken the torch fromDJ legend Dave Pearce, former presenter ofRadio 1’s Dance Anthems. Most recently, hemade his live debut at Liverpool’s top studentclub night, Medication.

“Sport studies might be an unlikely start to acareer as a DJ but if I hadn’t gone to Edge Hill,none of this would have happened. So EdgeHill did help my career, but in a way I nevercould have expected.”

Dance Anthems with Danny Howard is onSaturday 4-7pm, Radio 1.

Find out more at: djdannyhoward.com

Read interviews and reviews of Danny’s DJtalents at facebook.com/MedicationLiverpool

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Centre Stage forArts at Edge HillThe last few months at Edge Hill University havebeen pretty hectic,culturally. The Arts Centrehas been refurbished andrevitalised – with a roster of acts to match, we’velaunched a brand new bandnight for students, and ourPerforming Arts studentshave been wowing Festivalaudiences in Edinburgh.

The Arts Centre relaunchsaw a host of shows,exhibitions and gigs, as well as a parade, descendupon Edge Hill Uni.Watford’s finest, and name-for-the-future, KylaLa Grange headlined theRose Theatre, bringing her self-penned debutalbum to life in front of a rapt audience.

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Kyla La Grange+ Deafen The Creatures

Artist:

TheArtsCentreat Edge Hill

Venue

October 2012

Date:

ith the release of her debutalbum, Ashes, our cover star KylaLa Grange put herself firmly intothat growing group of “womenwith attitude”, Florence Welch,Natasha Khan, Adele, Kate Nash,

Kate Bush even, all epitomising a growing confidenceamongst young women to step out on their own,armed initially with only their talent and a fistfulof tunes.

Her gig at London’s Scalafeatured stilt-walkers andcontortionists, and couldaccommodate over a thousandscreaming punters. The newArts Centre at Edge HillUniversity, with a smaller butequally appreciative audience,was, then, something of a detourfrom the path to the arenas.

That didn’t stop her belting outa full band set, although shedid disappoint by not deliveringher customary bad joke.

The album was perhaps trying a little too hard,overplaying Kyla’s subtly dextrous voice, and witha little too much going on, but live the Cambridgephilosophy graduate from Watford breathed lifeand depth into moody power-ballads like ‘Courage’and ‘Vampire Smile’.

Where women used to have to walk through wallsto be noticed, now they simply write crowd-pleaserscalled ‘Walk Through Walls’.

The recent single arrived mid-set and is anothernew anthem for another new generation. But it’s agoodie, placing a huge tick in the box marked‘catchy but inspirational’.

For this reviewer, though, it’s in the quieter, morethoughtful moments that she really shines. Relyingon that voice, rather than any studio trickery, todeliver moving confessionals about the all-consuming nature of love, she’s at her most

effective on ‘To Be Torn’. A songfor romantic teenage dreamerseverywhere, the unobtrusivebacking allows Kyla’s voice totake centre stage. Nice ‘Oo ooooo’s, too.

The simple piano chords thatopen ‘Heavy Stone’ set thescene for Kyla’s voice to onceagain grab the spotlight withminimum fuss. It’s a familiartale of heartache and woe, butwhen the band’s backing vocalsjoin in the effect is quitemoving, mournfully beautifulbut simultaneously uplifting.

A couple of stompers later and she’s gone, but notbefore a well-received encore, a new song to rewardthe Ormskirk faithful.

Amidst the album’s slightly claustrophobicatmosphere lies an undeniable talent. Kyla’s songsjust need room to breathe.

That didn’t stop her belting out afull band set,

although she diddisappoint by not

delivering her customary bad joke.

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Kyla La GrangeLive:

Catch our video to ‘Walk Through Walls’ at

edgehill.ac.uk/walkthroughwalls

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Field of Dreams

ehu.ac.uk/2qa

Whatever your level, Edge Hill is constantlyinvesting in its sports provision in order todeliver high quality sporting opportunities.

Further developments to campus facilities willbe available for the 2013/14 academic year:

Profile: Dean WilliamsSenior Lecturer in Physical Education

Dean Williams represented Edge Hill at the 2012 LondonOlympics. He was selected as Chief Field Referee,supervising a team of technicalofficials, and ensuring thateverything was above boardand by the book.

What was your generalimpression of the Games?“Just being part of a fantasticOlympic Games in general, knowingthat the country had done a greatjob. The atmosphere around theOlympic Park was superb, the giantscreens showing live performancesand the looks on people’s faces.Staying in the Olympic village wasalso an interesting experience — thefood hall was about the size of twoaircraft hangars.

“I remember the decathletes sayingthey had never seen the likes of thesupport before at morning sessions,as 50,000 people stayed in thestadium to see them complete their pole-vault during the session break!”

How did it feel to be in astadium regularly filled with 80,000 people?“The crowd supported all theathletes, but the decibels went upconsiderably if it was a Brit. Iremember seeing young KatarinaJohnson-Thompson from Liverpoolbeing announced at the start of theHeptathlon 200m and she wasamazed at the roar she got, shelooked around and could only say‘oh wow’!

“The crowd were also incrediblysensitive. During the Paralympicvisually-impaired jumps, forexample, the athletes use a guide todirect them using auditory signals.80,000 people were silent to allowthe athletes to hear the guide, butthen heard the roar of applause fortheir performance afterwards.”

What was your sportinghighlight of the Games?“I was the referee on the Men’sLong Jump Final on “SuperSaturday”, and it was great to seeGreg Rutherford’s disbelief atbecoming Olympic Champion. I wasalso fortunate to be at the start forthe Men’s 100m final, won, ofcourse, by the amazing Usain Bolt.In the Paralympics, it was AledDavies winning the F42 Discus forGB in a new European record to aroar from the crowd theParalympics has probably neverheard before!”

As a coach and teacher, is there anything you tookaway from the Games?“As a coach, it was interesting to seethe variety of techniques used insome of the events, and how theathletes prepared themselves for theevent.

“As a teacher, it was the importanceof taking part: for example seeingathletes from smaller countries whofinished way behind the rest of thefield but were just proud toparticipate as Olympians. The waysin which they can still strive to takepart in sport and physical activityfrom the community level up, ascoaches, officials, volunteers, ormedical support staff.”

In terms of a London 2012legacy, what would you like to see?“I’d hope that there’s a legacy ofparticipation in sport across allgroups in society and an interest inlifelong healthy activity. Hopefully itwill have inspired many youngstersto take up sport and to focus onwhat they can do to overcome anyadversity they may face and to enjoyparticipation in physical activityboth recreationally and competitivelyright up to the highest standard. I’dalso hope that the magnificent jobthe Olympic and Paralympicvolunteers did would be a catalystfor more people to volunteer in their communities.”

Dean’s Heroes of the Games

“I thought Jessica Ennis was superbin living up to the intenseexpectations that had been putupon her, and delivering in style.There were many inspirationalperformers in the Paralympics but Iparticularly admired theperformance and tenacity of IliesaDelana in winning the F42(amputee) High Jump with 1.74metres for Fiji, their first everParalympic medal.

“And finally, the volunteer ‘GamesMakers’ who at their own expensedid so much to make the Olympicsand Paralympics the success theywere, and always with a smile!”

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Creative Commons flickr.com/photos/28247785@N03/7804653792

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Pinhole Wizard

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Check out Neill’s pinhole wizardry

Inside EdgeName: Neill CockwillJob title: Lecturer in Media

Best part of your job?Working one to one with students, seeing them grow intellectually.

Holiday where and why?Berlin – the best city in the world. OrTurkey – friendliest people in the world.

Who, alive or dead, has inspiredyou in life/do you most admire?I’m inspired by, and admire, differentpeople depending on my mood, butfavourites would be [photographer] SallyMann, Frankie Boyle, Terry Gilliam andEric Morecambe.

Culturally, I never miss..?Sadly, You’ve Been Framed… it makes mehappy to recognise evolution and naturalselection at work.

Growing up I wanted to be..?A chef.

What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?Tomato grading, where I had to makevalue judgements on the redness of a fruit – for eight hours a day.

Guilty pleasure?I don’t feel guilty about anything thatbrings me pleasure.

How do you relax?With coffee, cigarettes, and time to think.

What’s in your mp3/cd player at the moment?I’ve had an iPhone for two years and don’thave any music on it. I’ve just bought a1970s radiogram, so the last two LPs Ibought were the best of Acker Bilk andthe best of Roxy Music....and in the car?Original 1950s lounge music.

What book/reading material is onyour bedside table at the moment?I’m revisiting 1984 by George Orwell, and there’s always a copy of the Fortean Times.

What car do you drive?A black London taxi.

What has been your most embarrassing moment?No chance!

What was on your student bedroom wall?I was a married, mature student, so no student wall.

Advice for prospective students?Make the most of your time at university,it’s the single most important influenceon happiness in your work and home life.

Finally, tell us a joke…Why don’t worms have balls? Because they can’t dance.

Media lecturer Neill Cockwillis going back to the future inresearching his passion.Photography junkie Neill has a deep-seated fascinationwith the humble pinholecamera, the earliestphotography technique.

“I love photography, but I have aparticular passion for pinholecameras. I get obsessed with theway the long exposures offer adifferent perspective onphotography, and in today’s over-processed digital world, pinholephotography feels authentic. Ithink it’s the purity of the processthat’s so appealing. A box with apiece of film in it and a hole at thefront, nothing has changed in theprocess in over 160 years.”

The latest addition to Neill’scamera collection is the ‘RollsRoyce’ of pinholes, the Zero Image,picked up in Hong Kong, but themajority of his cameras arehomemade:

“The beauty of pinhole cameras isthat you can make them out ofanything that is light and tight. I'veseen pinholes made out of humanskulls, tortoise shells, wheely bins...”

“It’s such a simple process, youchoose the size of camera you wantin relation to shooting on filmnegative or photographic paperthen build the camera aroundthem.”

Neill’s latest project aims todocument the construction of the£16m Creative Edge building,which will provide TV studios with full broadcast capability,recording and sound editing suites,radio, animation and photographystudios, and laboratories forstudents on media, film,animation, advertising andcomputing programmes.

“The exposure will be around 6-8months and should document the'rise' of the building. Hopefully the shot will offer an ‘x-ray' as itgoes up.”

Neill will wax lyrical about thebeauty of pinholes ad infinitum, ifwe let him:

“The photographs become almosttangible; the same light that isreflected off the subjects is thesame uninterrupted light thatburns the silver-halides in the film.What you’re seeing is a direct linkto the original subject. It’s not justa moment in time, it’s a tangibletemporality of seconds andminutes that have literally beencaptured and preserved…for me itfeels so pure…real photography.

“I know that sounds reallypretentious, but we live in a real world, not a digital one.”

You said it, Neill, but where should fledglingphotographers start?

“Pinhole Photography: FromHistoric Technique to DigitalApplication by Eric Renner is thebudding pinhole photographer’sbible, and there are loads of Flickr sites, with really gooddiscussion forums.”

And if you’ve caught the shutterbug, or just want to know yourSLRs from your CCDs, join ourphotography society.

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Do You Rememberthe First Time?

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Find out how to negotiate your first year at Edge Hill from our Student bloggers

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You’ve packed yourbags, stocked up ongroceries, revitalisedyour music collection,upgraded to the latestiPhone, and used your

parents’ credit card to splash outon a whole new wardrobe. Butno amount of planning can quiteprepare you for that first day atuniversity. Here, a few of ouracademics reveal the hopes, fearsand hair-anguish that markedtheir own arrival on campus.

The most important thing is tostudy a subject you’re passionateabout. Studying, living, breathingsomething you absolutely lovedoing will enable you to live a full,authentic and rewarding life.What more could anyone ask for?Dan Pantano, Reader inPoetry & Literary Translation

None of my family had degreesand I didn’t have a clue what toexpect of academic work.Coming from a small countrytown, I hoped to find excitement.My fear was that I wouldn’t fit inwith my middle class peers fromthe Home Counties. I wanted towear what I liked, grow my hairlong and do my best to shock.My university had a studentoccupation protest every term,so that wasn’t hard. Roger Spalding, Senior Lecturer in History

There are many importantdecisions to make when applyingto university. What course do Iwant to study? What careerchoices should I make? Butequally important is, whatuniversity should I choose? You’llknow when you visit, you’llinstantly feel at home, like youbelong, and you'll feel excitedabout the prospect of studyingthere. Make sure you choose auniversity that fits you.Lauren Knott, Reader in Psychology

Bus to Northampton, train toRugby; change for New Street,train to Shrewsbury, two-carriage diesel to Aberystwyth,and almost two hours onMorgan’s Coaches. No car, nophone at home, and a threemonth postal strike. I couldn’tsee, speak to or hear from amember of my family for anentire term. And I guessmentally I never went ‘backhome’ again. Living in a freezingTerrapin hut for ten, one sharedloo, I played every sport, ran theGeogSoc, booked bands, madelifelong friends and even didsome work. Looking back,memories erased, no regrets, I guess those first few weeksmust have been pretty tough… John Cater, Vice-Chancellor

I remember struggling with areel-to-reel tape recorder (withtapes of Soft Machine, Zappa,Pink Floyd, Miles Davis) fromBrighton to Norwich on thetrain. Long hair and stragglybeard were not good ideas butstudying hard and playing hardwere. I hoped that I’d be able toread the great modernistwriters, write about them, andwrite creatively out of thatexperience. I did.Robert Sheppard, Professorof Poetry & Poetics

I remember how much stuff Itook! I never travel light. I recallthe Ford estate car my fatherdrove was packed to the roofand then some… I remembergetting to my hall and meetingthe extremely laid-backAntipodean Senior Resident (agood friend today). And I alsoremember saying goodbye to myparents that first time – and thelump in my (scared to death)throat as they drove away.Mari Hughes-Edwards,Senior Lecturer inEnglish Literature

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Stand Out in the Crowd

udition rooms are abreeding ground forfear (def: an unpleasantemotion caused by thethreat of danger, pain,or harm) andnervousness (def:feelings of anxiety or apprehension).

But despite the negativeconnotations, fear andnervousness in the face of anaudition are totally natural. Andyou’re in good company, withmany a star of stage and screenhaving endured the process.Robert de Niro always tells actorswhen they go in for an audition ‘don't be afraid to do what yourinstincts tell you. You may not getthe part, but people will takenotice.’

And Al Pacino would turn up just‘to have the opportunity toaudition…another chance to get upthere and try out [his] stuff, or tryout what [he had] learned and seehow it worked with an audience,because where are you gonna getan audience?’

The key seems to be to treat theaudition as a great opportunity.Having survived the Edge HillPerforming Arts audition process,our students are able to be farmore objective about auditioning.

“We do a class with prospectivestudents, and a lot of them say “I’venever done anything like this before, Idon’t think I’m going to be able to getin here, I’ve not trained like this,” andit was good for me, feeling the sameway in my own audition, to be able totell them that it’s nothing to worryabout. Lecturers are looking to seeyour potential, rather than how goodyou are on your audition day. It’smore about what you can get out ofthe course, rather than how good youare on that day.”Chelsea Bell, BA (Hons) Dance

Josie was another nervous auditioner:“The Rose Theatre was packedwith people here for audition and Iwas just thinking ‘wow, this mustreally be a great university for allthese people to come and auditionhere.’ We did the workshop whichhad a bit of dance and physicaltheatre, and I had such a greattime. I’m still friends with people Imet on the day.”Josias Bertrand,BA (Hons) Dance & Drama

Auditions can be overwhelmingsituations and nerves will alwaysplay a part, so work out how tocontrol them, rather than viceversa. Develop your own routinesto help you relax and focus.

Here are a few tips:- Give yourself plenty of time to

get to the audition, and therefore plenty of time to prepare.

- The people in the audition room want you to be good, so treat them as an audience, waiting to be entertained. Let them see how much you love to perform.

- Be confident (even if your insides have turned to jelly). Creating a good positive impression will always work in your favour.

- Do something you’re familiar with – so practice, practice, practice. That way you can focus on other aspects of the performance, such as beats, character, and feelings.

- Relaxation exercises can be useful – techniques such as stretching, deep breathing, meditation or visualisation can help you control your nerves.

- Finally, believe in yourself.

Now go in there and break a leg!

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Audition DayName:Emma HeronJob title:Senior Lecturerin Drama

“Most applicants will work withstaff from their chosen course ina workshop which can include bothgroup and individual exercises,such as a dance solo, or a dramaimprovisation. Design applicantsare interviewed, but there aresome sample questions on ourwebsite to help them prepare.

“Following this, they’ll be given ashort writing task, on an aspectof performance.

“There’ll be many opportunitiesto ask questions, and currentstudents from a range ofprogrammes will be around totalk about what it’s like to studyat Edge Hill.

“There’ll also be opportunities tosocialise with other visitors,participate in tours of thecampus, student halls, thePerforming Arts department, andour new Arts Centre, and attendtalks on things such as studentfinance. During workshops andinterviews, anyone accompanyingapplicants on the day can enjoytalks and tours, or they can relaxin the Arts Centre Café.

“Applicants find the afternoon ofactivities enjoyable, and it offersthem a chance to meet peoplethey may see if they choose tojoin the course. The reallyimportant thing to remember isthat meeting us and visiting thecampus will help them discover ifEdge Hill Performing Artsprogrammes will be right for them.”

Further informationabout audition day can be found atehu.ac.uk/2q7

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YOUR COMMUNITY NEEDS

YOU

Volunteers

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Amid all the talk of a “lost generation”,triple dip recessions, even accusationsof laziness levelled at young people,the one group of people who are nothanging around for things to happen,or feeling sorry for themselves, areyoung people themselves.

With jobs before, during and afteruniversity currently thin on theground, the best thing the career-minded, forward-thinking studentcan do is to build up their portfolioof work-related skills. This couldgive them a crucial advantage in ahighly competitive job market.

And they are doing just that, with over 5,000 students a year in the UK involved in some form ofvolunteering activity. Our youngpeople clearly refuse to accept defeatin challenging economic times.

But apart from gaining vitalexperience and confidence in theworkplace, what are the benefits of volunteering?

• You develop job-specific and transferable skills

• You can gain accredited training • It can help you find the right

career path • You contribute to, and engage

with, the local community• You build a network of contacts

And, of course, it can lead to theholy grail of volunteering: paidemployment opportunities. But it’salso about engaging with the worldand finding something you’repassionate about, something you’rewilling to donate your time to, forno material reward.

“Volunteering is all about givingback and helping to create confidentcitizens. To me, volunteering andcampaigning actually overlap.Sometimes people start volunteeringin a soup kitchen and end up beingthe most informed policy advocatesaround issues such as poverty andhunger, becoming integral to acampaign,” says current NUSpresident Liam Burns, and judgingpanellist for this year’s StudentVolunteer of the Year.

Thomas Holt (right), a Children'sNursing student at Edge Hill, is alsoa Jujitsu instructor’s assistant, cubleader, scout leader, a mentor, a 1-2-1 tutor and a Childline counsellor.This commitment and generosityhas earned him the title of StudentVolunteer of the Year 2013:

“I’m really humbled by the accoladebecause volunteering is really justpart of life for me. It’s part of myday and who I am. I hope this willinspire others to put an hour or twoaside a week to volunteer.”

“People often ask why I do what I doand how I can get up in the morningknowing I have 12 hours of children'sactivities to plan and run, alongwith assignments and uni work. Thetruth is I enjoy every second of it.No matter how a session has gone, I look at the smiling faces as thechildren leave and think of thedifference I’m making.”

“I've been a drama, music, homeworkclub organiser, sat on seven differentcommittees, worked with 11 differentcharities in two different countries,and words cannot describe what atime I've had!”

There’s never a better time tovolunteer than while at university,whether it’s for two hours or twodays a week. Volunteering Co-ordinators Helen Rimmer andJennie Owen are part of Edge Hill'sCareers Centre:

"With the jobs market morecompetitive than ever, volunteeringis seen as key experience byemployers when recruiting. This isthe perfect opportunity for studentsto build their CVs and gain the skillsthey need for when they startapplying for jobs."

There are many rewards to earnfrom volunteering, and the finalword goes to our Student Volunteerof the Year:

“Volunteering helps youto either build yourself or discover somethingnew you like. It gives yousomething to talk aboutat an interview – andfinding something you'repassionate about makesyou look more employable.Volunteering should besomething you enjoy,something challengingbut something fun.There’s a volunteeringopportunity out there foreveryone. Do what youlike, but like what you do.”

For further informationand advice on volunteeringehu.ac.uk/2q8

Open DaySaturday 15th June 201310.00am -3.00pm

Come and take a closer look...Edge Hill University, St Helens Road, Ormskirk, Lancashire L39 4QP

T: 01695 575171

edgehill.ac.uk/opendays

study@edgehill.ac.uk

ehu.ac.uk/2q9