Uproar as linguistics axed

One of the highest-ranking degree programmes at Sussex will close to new applicants at the end of the current academic year.The University announced last term, without any prior consultation with staff or students, that there will be no new students accepted on to Linguistics courses from October 2009. Read more

Iona Leigh – Beside the Waves of Time (Crescent Moon)

The truth be known, I’m not entirely adverse to folk music of the Celtic variety. Of course, it’s probably true to say I may not have bothered with it at all, had Roddy Woomble of Idlewild fame never branched out to create the solo records I grew to love so much. Equally, I’d perhaps not be so forgiving of the traditional wail of Celtic song had I not misspent that one year at Glasgow University, immersing myself in the surrounding culture, ceilidhs and all. Even so, I feel obliged to confess that, very possibly, the fondness I’ve deduced from such experiences is largely superficial; a bit like proclaiming your undying love for The Beatles, but in fact neglecting to own a copy of Sergeant Pepper’s. Nevertheless, I wholeheartedly believe it’s these haphazard foundations which have pushed an alternative spin upon my taste in music – and why, I reckon, I don’t entirely loathe Iona Leigh’s sophomore record on first listen.
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In the thick of it

Peter Capaldi has probably found the role of his life as ‘Malcolm Tucker’, the acid-tongued Downing Street spin-doctor, last seen in the award-winning “The Thick Of It” which is, of course, the brainchild of Armando Iannucci. Iannucci, who also created I’m Alan Partridge and The Day Today, sat down with Capaldi to talk about his first foray to the big screen, In the Loop. Read more

SUDS’ good clean fun?

‘Porn for the Blind,’ The Marlborough, 18/03/09

‘Porn for the Blind’ is an off-the-wall black comedy, reminiscent of Monty Python’s work, and written and directed in all its weird and wonderful glory by Sussex students James Hamilton & James Stewart. 

A witty sketch show without a distinctive plot to thread together the diverse collection of scenes, it amuses, shocks and confuses. Which was exactly what Hamilton intended: “Our goal was to not only create something that would make people laugh, but also to weird them out, confuse them, and unsettle them a bit with our comedy.”�
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What’s the buzz about The Maccabees?

It’s a warm March evening in Brighton and The Badger, as usual, is struggling to enter Concorde 2 due its over-zealous Clint Eastwood bouncers. Upon stealing around the back however, we bump into The Maccabees’ guitarist Felix White, who promptly whisks us up to the Maccabees’ dressing room. For a band that have sold out every night of their tour months before their second album is even due to be released, Felix is pleasantly relaxed and happy to discuss The Maccabees’ past relationship with Brighton and the University of Sussex.
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Bhaskar embraces new role as Chancellor

As Sanjeev Bhaskar arrived on campus for the first time during the spring break, The Badger met with him to talk about his own academic experiences, how he is settling into his role as University figurehead and his plans to hug every single graduate at this year’s ceremonies…
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New head of English: “Life isn’t concrete”

Last Wednesday a meeting was held between linguistic students and Steve Burman, the Dean of Humanities, Tom Healy, head of the new School of English, and Peter Boxall, Director of Taught Programmes and Lecturer in English. They came to answer student’s concerns about the impending closure of the subject. Read more

A Bit of a State

In 2003 the BBC created a thriller that instantly received critical acclaim from many of Britain’s newspapers. Now Hollywood has got its mitts on it and moved the centre of the attention away from Westminster and into the world of Washington DC and Capitol Hill.
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Sussex University Cricket tour a success for debutantes despite friendly defeat

Due to the cancellation of the second match of the day, the Sussex squad was divided between a batting eleven and a fielding eleven to play in a friendly Twenty/20 match against Bude Town in Cornwall.

On a murky afternoon in Cornwall, on the Bude Town cricket field, the prospect of a match seemed unlikely due to what appeared to be an ever strengthening downpour. Mercifully the appalling conditions abated, allowing the Sussex University First Team captain William Roe to win the toss. In a brave and somewhat uncharacteristically aggressive move the captain chose to put the home team in to bat. Considering that Sussex had been defeated batting second on the very same wicket two days before, his decision seemed questionable. This was emphasised when the home side had cruised to 28-0 and the match seemed to be turning against Sussex.
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Doves – Kingdom of Rust (EMI)

What with all the hoo-ha surrounding Elbow’s recent Mercury Prize winning album, you’d be forgiven for forgetting all about Doves, that other band of glum and dishevelled Mancunians. Like Elbow, Doves have never been particularly ‘cool’ or ‘of the moment’ – they’re too old and too ugly – but have nevertheless set about releasing a series of consistently quality albums in their brooding, melodic, Mancunian way. The thing is, in the wake of Elbow’s sudden leap into the limelight, the brooding, melodic, Mancunian stakes have been significantly upped, and Doves’ latest effort can’t help seeming a little disappointing as a result.
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