Lent 2013 by The Griffin Magazine

The Griffin lent 2013

The Griffin

his term is one of limbo. Second years have had their landmark Midway dinner and even the weather seems undecided - veering from snow to sunshine. Exams are dimly visible now, though this term feels hardly wrapped up. But amidst feelings of uncertainty, one thing is certain: Downing’s lawns are flecked with crocuses, spring is in motion. Spring is the season to reflect, revise and edit. It is with this in mind that we have decided to move away from some of the old Griffin classics. Out with the old, in with the new. For anyone who thinks they’ve endured one too many nights in a sweaty Cambridge

club, we’ve gathered Downing’s biggest party animals to revive your enthusiasm. We’re also celebrating a revival of the dramatic variety, as Victoria Fell reflects on Pseudolus: The Liar. And if this term has been particularly testing, Uncle Brodie is here to ease your woes. This is our last Griffin. It has been tough, but we’ve loved representing you all. We started our time as Editors hoping to strike a balance between the professional and the creative. We hope you have enjoyed reading our editions. We now hand over to Shannon and Kate who, in turn, will be taking the Griffin in a new direction.

CONTENTS

Lent 2013

The World According to Dave 2 By Dave Hodgson

Ask Uncle Brodie 3 By Ben Brodie

Pseudolus: The LIAR 4 By Victoria Fell

what the delhi rape shows us 6 By Abi Calver

DOWNING ARCHITECTURE 8 By Claire Elford

FASHION

Photography by Nicholas Schulman

zen and the art of cold warfare 16 By Corinne Barber

having the time of your life 18 The griffins club 20 By Chris Tapper

Kristina Bugeja

Beth Oppenheim

SPORT 21

Editors Kristina Bugeja & Beth Oppenheim Template Tristan Dunn & Louise Benson Cover Image Nicholas Schulman

The World According to Dave

anyone who is friends with dave hodgson will be used to his witty takes on the modern world. Here is our selection of his best bits:

Ask Uncle Brodie Hello everyone! You might not believe it, but even in stress-free Cambridge people have problems. As a result, the lovely Griffin editors have asked the self-appointed ‘most caring man in College’ to be your collective agony uncle, to help you feel better when a City Kebab is not quite enough. So here goes! I’m very concerned. This term my best friend has worn lycra every day, mentions that she is tired two or three times a minute and keeps telling me how worried she is about being ‘bumped’ (is that a euphemism?!). Help! Love, Anonymous fresher. I have some very bad news for you. It seems that your ‘best friend’ is a rower. Even worse, I hear that there will be even more lycra-wearing, bumping and grinding next term. In a situation as dire as this there is very little I can do. Sorry.

That’s all from me for now, so all I can say is have a super-chilled Easter holiday and Easter term. I know I will! XOXO

Photo: Beth Oppenheim

Dear Agony Uncle, I came to Cambridge thinking that it would be full of edgy, indie, well-dressed and generally awe-inspiring hipsters like me, but I have been proven wrong. I can’t find anyone cool enough to be friends with me! What should I do? Love, self-appointed Coolest Fresher #youshouldknowme Of course I know who you are! Gosh, I am so honoured that a BNOC has asked little old me for advice! While I know that no-one here is cool enough for you, I hear the kind of skinny-jeanwearing, checkered-shirt-bearing, earringclad, tattoo-laden guys you are after hang out in Fez now. If not, try King’s? Alternatively I hear that Harry Hurd is also #toocoolforschool. You could try him.

Pseudolus: The Liar Victoria fell on preparing for pseudolus: “Professor Virgo has asked Saul and I to put on a show at the Howard Theatre, the first Downing Drama Society show for a little while. Great, we both really like theatre… how hard can it be?” r 2012 , funded Mid-Decembe e booked tr a e th , n e and a Play chos undation o F rd a w o director by the H riter and w tp ri c s ellent. respected entor. Exc m r u o e m that we has beco realisation e th s e e get Then com n a month after w a th YTHING. have less DO EVER ly e v ti c e lm stress. back to eff resents ca p s a tm s ri Ch

Mid-January 20 13 First day of auditio ns. 4 people turn up. FUCK. Fortunate ly, quality not qu antity prevailed, and Sa ul’s penchant for ‘big dirty stinking ba ss’ keeps the au dition room happy. Se cond day of audi tions and we have a ca st! And then we do n’t, because of vario us dropouts. Se veral gr ov el lin g/ th re at en in g/ gr ov el lin g emails later, we ha ve a(nother) cast !

13 End of January 20 costumes. s ed ne y pla NB: a and general Fortunately, ex-prez udia Blunt fountain of wisdom Cla directing me comes to the rescue, a costume to an Aladdin’s cave of and two shop. Seven togas er, a postridiculous helmets lat lming me. Shopaholic bliss is ca

One week before the show Someone has a job interview in London during the dress rehearsa l, the final run through before we ope n. I’ve never before begrudged any one employment opportunities, but there’s a first time for everything…

Dress r ehearsal After an incredible in the w run-thro ugh earl ee ier and all th k, everyone is exhauste e energy d has gon cry. I fee e. I la when I in s disappointed a want to vited the s the tim Spice Gir e birthday ls to my party an 7 th d still blam they did n’t come e Ginger) . Howev of greatn er, mome (I ess are s nts hining th dress me ro ans goo d first nig ugh. Bad ht, right? FIRST NIGHT After a medicinal G&T, I’m ready. POST-FIRST NIGHT I am on Cloud nine. The cast performed better than I have ever seen, the set and the technical elements looked fan tastic and everything was so smooth! A glowing four-star rev iew from Varsity the next day co nfirms this.

Morning after final performance Exhausted, hungover and in pain from deciding to sleep on the floor (#arty), I am still ecstatic. Big thank you to all the cast and crew, and especially to our director Saul Boyer. The calm yin to my angry yang, you were all we could want in a director: knowledgeable, funny and a connoisseur in early-90s rap. Vae victis!

What the Delhi Rape shows us abi calver reflects on what we have to learn following the harrowing events in delhi

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e are often said to live in an age of moral progress, an age clearly distinguishable from past eras. Yet have we actually made any moral progress at all as a society? The fact that it takes the eruption of horrifying events, as seen most recently with the Delhi rape, to shock our moral conscience implies not. Why is it that only when these events flare up, disrupting our everyday lives that we question the underlying values and behaviours in our world? We live in a world characterised by ‘thematter-of-fact’, held together by the ‘that’s just life’ mentality. Such a world cannot have truly made moral progress. Now that the furore surrounding the Delhi rape has died down, most of us will cease to think about rape anymore. At least until the next brutal instance is highlighted by the media. Yet rape happens every day all over the world; in 2009

50,000 rapes took place in Britain alone. Worryingly it has become part of our culture, part of the everyday. This is echoed by the lack of media coverage of all but the most horrendous cases; it seems that the media sees fit to highlight a rape only when it feels it will generate a response from people, hence only the most violent or disturbing rapes are splashed across our headlines. Other types of rape will not generate a reaction – rape is ‘just one of those things’. The number of unreported rapes tells a similar story. Women feel that they cannot speak out for shame or fear and in many cases they worry they will be stigmatised. Ultimately rape remains a taboo subject. If we really had made moral progress this would not be the case. We would have created a society that clearly delineates acceptable and unacceptable behaviour both in private and public. We would

have created a world where men understand that women are not simply there to satisfy their sexual urges. We would have ensured that the same morality that erupts when a young student is gang-raped and murdered seeps into our every day lives without exception. Rape is unacceptable and women should not feel unsafe because of its spectre, because we have failed to tackle this issue head on. A placard pictured recently at protests about the Delhi rape sums up this point perfectly: ‘don’t tell your daughters not to go out, tell your son to behave properly’. Rape is arguably the most sickening manifestation

of the sexism that is inherent throughout our world. We may have made practical progress in boardrooms, schools and governments, but arguably we have made little moral progress when it comes to attitudes towards women. Women are still there for men, for sex. This is a message that is apparent in societies across the world, it screams out at us from men’s magazines and page three, from internet porn sites, slogans on clothing and advertising in general. Until we eradicate this message I fear that rape will continue to be forgotten about during our everyday lives, only occasionally jolting us awake. 7

DOWNING COLLEGE ARCHITECTURE : THE SENIOR COMBINATION ROOM Claire Elford

It's not a building often frequented by students, but the Senior Combination Room (fellows only, you see!) is a key part of Downing’s architectural history. Hidden away behind the Hall, it is a modern reinterpretation of the ubiquitous Classical style of the college. Designed in 1966 by Howell, Killick, Partridge and Amis Architects, it evokes neoclassical temples with beautiful concrete beams and columns. The structure is clearly expressed to recall the ‘primitive hut’ described by Vitruvius - a basic building constructed from entire trees which eventually inspired Greek stone temples like the Parthenon. The concrete elements were designed to slot together, so you can see arms coming out of the columns on which the beams rest. Its minimal use of structure and detail provides an interesting juxtaposition next to the delicate scrolls and carvings of the Hall, and is compensated by the use of beautiful, rich materials such as fine concrete, Ketton stone and varnished timber. The interior has a warm ambience and provides views of the Fellows’ Garden and Hall. Although it seems a great contrast to the rest of the college, I think the SCR complements Downing’s traditional architecture successfully, and is well worth a visit if you ever get the opportunity!

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Photography Nicholas Schulman Models Maddie Whelan & Alex Sharpe Styling Kristina Bugeja

Zen and the Art of Cold Warfare corinne Barber gives us a satirical, and fictional, account of how to deal with problematic housemates

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Illustration: Beth Oppenheim

e’ve all been through our fair share of awful ballot days, filled with frantic phone calls and tears, but nothing compares to what comes next. If you’re lucky, you’ll end up in a house of people you know and like. If you’re unlucky, you’ll end up with at least one housemate who drives you insane, be it through playing loud music or simply because they’re breathing near you. After three years of hearing tales of woe and misery, here is my guide to harmonious living. Set some boundaries: If you do end up with a nightmarish housemate, the best thing you can do is make sure you have some space. The easiest way to do this is to follow the example of the animal kingdom and mark your territory. As we’re slightly more civilised than animals, pee is not necessary unless you’re willing to face the inevitable retaliation. Instead, pick a bathroom and fill it with your stuff so it’s clear that this is your area. This is the perfect time to whack out those unwanted bath products that have been given to you as gifts over the years.

The kitchen should be a neutral zone. This is the oasis of the house; everyone needs to be able to eat and drink in peace so stow the attitude and play nice. Even animals manage to keep watering holes in a state of uneasy truce, so as Cambridge students, creating a facade of civility should be simple enough. However, some people just can’t resist certain facts of shared accommodation, such as pointed post-it notes. If you’re living with one of those, then you’re living with the human equivalent of a crocodile. They can only be beaten by biting back. Harder. Crocodile wrangling: When your neutral zone has been compromised, a boundary has been crossed and you now need to strengthen your position to show that you won’t tolerate such behaviour. Dealing with crocodiles, it’s best to stick with the method we know best: passive aggression. It’s cold warfare at its finest and oh so British. Stick to the little things like rearranging the contents of their cupboards (to make them paranoid) and replacing their free range eggs with battery farmed. Don’t steal other people’s food or allow friends to steal housemate’s alcohol. These are just crass acts that will inevitably lead to you becoming the hate figure of the house. Not speaking, or at least maintaining a veneer of civility is best. This may be difficult, which is why I advocate using an iPod.

Saying a ‘Hello’ through gritted teeth is so much easier to stomach when you have Nicki Minaj’s ‘Stupid Ho’ blasting into your eardrums. Cold warfare: if your housemate continues to annoy you then it’s time to move out of the neutral zone and into the rest of the house. You’ll need to know a fair bit about your housemate’s tastes so it’s best if they’re still talking to you, or at least Facebook stalkable. If they use a certain product as a treat for themselves, make sure you buy it often and flaunt it around the house. The most obvious, and simplest, way of paying your housemate back is to have as much loud sex as possible. This will be fairly easy seeing as you will be aided by the thin walls College so loves. It may also push them into putting all that energy they’ve been putting into irritating you into getting some action between the sheets. If you’re stuck with a frigid housemate, annoy them by wandering around the house in a state of post-coital bliss or showing off your many conquests in the no-longer neutral kitchen. The bonus side of this method of housemate control is that your orgasmic afterglow means they’re less likely to niggle you with their unusual habits, and you’ll have a bolt-hole at your bed fellow’s place to run to if life in the house gets too much.

Having the Time of your Life Let our carefully chosen connoisseurs guide you through cambridge nightlife (MINUS FEZ - TOO #EDGY FOR WORDS)

Rachel Spiro & Bea Downing Queens of Spoons

“I made so many new friends, and they even let me wear my shark towel”, an avid Spoons lover once said. Not only is Spoons the closest club to Downing, where the cheapest drinks are served and entry is free, it is also the only club open all day, everyday. There’s never a dull moment, and with an ambulance usually parked outside, it’s safe to say the best nights happen in Spoons. After Rachel was groped and then knocked over in one of the more violent outbursts, and Bea was sick in the bin then chucked out for sliding down the bannister, we vowed never to return. But the huge queue on a Friday and Saturday night says it all. Spoons doesn’t hold a grudge, and neither do we.

Julia Rose Loyal Lola-Lo Attendee

Cindies and Life are synonymous with Cambridge ‘nightlife’. But don’t dismiss Lola Lo’s too quickly. Two floors of varied music and an open-air roof terrace are welcome alternatives to the sweatiness and repetitive music at Cindies and Life, and the colour-changing dance floors and ‘tiki’ decorations should be enough to get anyone in a good mood. So if you’re not quite drunk enough to endure the Circle of Life remix, sweaty swappers and sticky floors, try giving Lola’s a go sometime.

Luke Thompson Cindies Devotee

Tuesday means a couple of things: Game day for the Rugby club, followed by a post-match social and its inevitable end in Cindies. There couldn’t be a better place to end a night. You walk in and join your victorious team-mates for 2-for-1 cocktails (Long Island’s being the preferred option). With enough ‘Dutch courage’ you make your way onto the dancefloor, more to sing than to dance though, as you enjoy Cindies’ unique combo of catchy new tunes and songs from your childhood. Later on, you can step outdoors to cool off and chat to people you can’t quite seem to remember (was he here last week? Is she the one?) And best of all, you can come tomorrow and do it all over again, if next week seems too far away.

Rosie Irvine She’s luvvin lyf

We tried to find an image as cheesy as the Cindies playlist. We succeeded.

Life. Could there be a more appropriately named place in all the world? Formally known as ‘The Place’, a visit to this Downing favourite will force you to explore your deepest nature, to rid yourself of the outer trappings of ‘Cambridge edginess’ and embrace your inner, jaegerbomb-fuelled teenager. Where else can you encounter a mix of Gangnam Style and The Lion King? The exhilaration of being shoved around at such speed that you’re basically dancing? The self-affirming joy of not being “that girl in the toilets?” The pride of being able to sport a resurrection stamp to Monday’s 9am? So this Sunday evening, reach for the stars and drop it like it’s hot at Life on a voyage of cherry VK flavoured self-discovery.

The Griffins’ Club

ent started with our annual training camp in Seville. The warmer conditions and empty river allow the Club invaluable training time to get a step ahead of other colleges. Off the back of camp, the squad hit the ground running with Winter Head in week one: M1 finished 2nd and W1 finished 1st. The momentum gained drove the squad on - as the alarm is set earlier each day, and water freezes to the oars as you row (!), it is essential to keep motivation high, and the squad have been fantastic this term. The next races occurred off-Cam; again, we performed strongly, with M1 winning their division, and W1 placing 2nd. Just one week later the squad were tested yet again at Pembroke Regatta. W1 were determined to win this year, and they were victorious in the final as night set in. M1 had a strong start with some comfortable wins. However, they had a disappointing defeat to First and Third BC. Finally Lent Bumps arrived. W1 dominated the women’s races and maintained their Headship title in excellent form. M1 gave fantastic performances, easily moving off the boats behind them, although a bump remained elusive. M2 had an unfortunate week with injury, but rowed over to avoid the dreaded spoons. W2 bumped twice gaining their place in the 2nd division More recently, W1 have been to the Thames for the Women’s Head of the River Race. They out-performed their expectations by placing 38th, beating many University crews, and finishing 36s ahead of the next Cambridge college! Soon it will be the turn of M1, who look to equal W1’s performance. Term will end with W1 taking on St John’s, Oxford in the intercollegiate race at the Henley Boat Races. An excellent term throughout the squad. Feroces Ad Mortem! Zara Goozee

INTRODUCING THE NEW GRIFFINS CLUB, LED BY CHRIS TAPPER Since it’s rebirth in the 90s, The Griffins Club has been steadily regaining its position as one of Downing’s prominent sporting societies, due in no small thanks to Master Everitt. The Griffins exists as a society within which talented and enthusiastic sports people come together to support each other and share their enthusiasm for their respective sports. Anybody can join the Griffins providing they have represented their country, the University, captained a College team or gained two colours. Recently appointed this Lent term, the new committee (featured below) have 3 aims for 2013/14. These are: - Provide financial support for participation in University Sports. - Promote sports participation throughout college. - Provide events for all sports people of the college.

Secretary Nikhila Ravi I’m a third year Engineer who been playing for the University Women’s Cricket team since first year, representing Cambridge in the Varsity match at Lord’s and receiving a full blue last year. This year I’m Vice Captain of the team.

Photo: Nick Schulman

President Christopher Tapper Currently in my 2nd year of Medicine, I became a Griffin through captaining the Downing Hockey team this past year and I also play college football and lacrosse. In my own time I enjoy long distance running. Treasurer Cameron Smith I’m a third year Manufacturing Engineer, and this year’s Ball President. I play golf for the university, and play tennis, badminton, croquet, and squash for Downing, as well as the occasional football match.

Rowing

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Football

ent term, as always, is the ‘business end of the season’. The 12th man becomes integral, 6 pointers become 12 pointers, and boys become men. This is true for DCAFC, who, despite impressive performances across all 3 teams, have been short changed in terms of trophies. The Premier League title, however, still remains in sight. The Firsts have won every league game so far, currently sitting 2nd in the league table with two games remaining. Despite a performance in the demolition of Selwyn worthy of Swansea or Brazil, the firsts’ brand of football has become increasingly ‘northernised’, long throws, long balls, and hefty tackles becoming the norm. Though this was not enough to reach Cuppers Final, (the lads were knocked out by Jesus in the Semis) the blow was softened by their previous, memorable 2-1 victory to Caius, with goals in the 92nd and 121st minutes. In the league, if Fitz fail to win their final game, Downing can snatch the title in a Man City-esque fashion against Jesus on the penultimate day of term. The Seconds sit mid-table in Division 3, the highlight of their season being a Shield Semi Final appearance. Like the Firsts, Downing was again unlucky to lose out, to Selwyn II on penalties after a 2-2 draw. The Thirds sit near the foot of Division 5. Although unlucky with results, despite their strong performances, they have avoided relegation with the grit, determination, and togetherness which typifies the club. Thank you for all who have played for, and supported, DCAFC this season. The hard work and commitment has been fantastic, though we have not been rewarded with silverware; yet. “I still believe this club can win things” - Alan Shearer. Rob Dunn

Rugby

his term has seen DCRUFC build upon their successful Michaelmas campaign; maintaining an unbeaten record in the Colleges First Division and reaching the final of Cuppers, to be played on the last day of term. The Rugby Club started well, putting 50 points past Homerton in no time at all, before beating Fitzwilliam 52-3 in the first round of cuppers. In a fortnight that will forever be remembered by all those involved DCRUFC edged out a 13-nil win over fierce rivals St Johns, before beating them again two weeks later in the cup. This means Downing have now defeated the Redboys on four consecutive occasions – even more impressive considering St Johns went ten years without losing a single match prior to this. The Rugby club’s most recent fixture ended with a 14-29 defeat of Pembroke. Downing remain firm favourites to win Cuppers. [The final will be held this Wednesday, 2.30 kick-off at CURUFC on Grange Road] Rob Hall

Photo: Graham Bates

Hockey

ith fixtures few and far between due to the weather, DCHC played their first match of the term against the reigning champions St Catherine’s in a Cuppers/League double or nothing match. With 10 men against a Blue heavy opposition squad, Downing produced an excellent performance but lost 3-1. The team took heart from a great performance and followed this with a 2-0 win over Robinson. Unfortunately, DCHC has been plagued by a lack of availability and was unable to field a full team against Jesus, losing by a walk over. With the end of Lent term came the changing of the guard with Alex Sharpe and Angus Keeley being made co-captains for next year, the club wishes them all the best! DCHC’s mixed team were again unfortunate to be drawn against Division 1 opposition early in the competition and exited to Girton in a 1-0 game they were unlucky to lose. The girls’ season has been an odd one. Shadmin, snow and a struggle for players mean that there have been a few rocky patches over the past two terms. However, it’s been a lot of fun and we’ve managed to finish a very respectable 5th in the top division. We’ll be sad to lose a few key players, including last year’s captain Heather Shakerchi, but next year looks to be a good year for Downing hockey, with the team in the very capable hands of Jess Stewart! Chris Tapper and Rachel Spiro

Netball

his term has been a success for all four netball teams. The Ladies Firsts made it to the Semi-final of Cuppers before losing to Murray Edwards, the eventual winners, and having only lost one match in the league, they look to set to finish high. The Ladies Seconds performed well at Cuppers, missing out on a place in the quarter-finals but have done well in the league – they go into their final matches of term having lost only one, so there is a chance they will move up a division. At the time of going to press, the Mixed teams have yet to compete in Cuppers but both are expected to do well; the Seconds have won every match this term, and in their captain Bea’s own words “we’re awesome”. Meanwhile the Mixed Firsts, who according to Fran “are even more awesome”, have only lost one match so hope to progress well in Cuppers. Celia Harrison

Lent 2013

Kristina Bugeja â&#x20AC;˘ Beth Oppenheim