Speaking with the religious and spirituality site, patheos.com, three women—Tchiya Amet, Ashley Watson and Katelyn Allers—detailed accounts of sexual misconduct at the hands of Tyson.

Amet, who was a student at the University of Texas at the same time as Tyson, claimed that the astrophysicist drugged and raped her while the two were at college. Watson accused him of making unwanted sexual advances when she worked as his assistant, causing her to quit her job. Allers has claimed he groped her at a part in 2009.

Tyson has since refuted the very serious accusations. In a Facebook statement published on Saturday, the TV host said that he welcomes an impartial investigation into the sexual misconduct claims made against him.

Tyson wrote: “For a variety of reasons, most justified, some unjustified, men accused of sexual impropriety in today’s ‘me-too’ climate are presumed to be guilty by the court of public opinion. Emotions bypass due process, people choose sides, and the social media wars begin.

“In any claim, evidence matters. Evidence always matters. But what happens when it’s just one person’s word against another’s, and the stories don’t agree? That’s when people tend to pass judgement on who is more credible than whom. And that’s when an impartial investigation can best serve the truth—and would have my full cooperation to do so.”

He continued: “I’ve recently been publically accused of sexual misconduct. These accusations have received a fair amount of press in the past 48 hours, unaccompanied by my reactions. In many cases, it’s not the media’s fault. I declined comment on the grounds that serious accusations should not be adjudicated in the press. But clearly I cannot stay silent.”

Fox and National Geographic, the producers of Tyson’s upcoming television program Cosmos, due to premiere in 2019, have responded to the claims. In a statement, they said: “We have only just become aware of the recent allegations regarding Neil deGrasse Tyson. We take these matters very seriously and we are reviewing the recent reports.”

They added: “The credo at the heart of Cosmos is to follow the evidence wherever it leads. The producers of Cosmos can do no less in this situation. We are committed to a thorough investigation of this matter and to act accordingly as soon as it is concluded.”

These allegations of sexual misconduct come as a shock to the science community, who previously held Tyson in high esteem. The author of several popular science books including Astrophysics for People in a Hurry (2017) and Welcome to the Universe (2016), Tyson is also the first black person to hold the role of director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

Further reading: Join the Fight Against Sexual Assault

The post Neil deGrasse Tyson Accused of Sexual Misconduct appeared first on College News.

Tell me a bit about yourself.

This is largely intended to be an ice-breaker—what it is not, however, is an opportunity to reel off your life story, so try to avoid mentioning where you grew up and what your favorite hobbies are. Hiring managers expect candidates to discuss relevant skills, academic qualifications and work history leading up to this point. To prepare, write down key experiences you have that relate closely to the job you are interviewing for. For example, if you are interviewing for a sales position, your skills and academic qualifications may include:

• A business or retail degree
• Previous work in shops/telemarketing, which developed negotiation skills
• Strong communication and public speaking skills
• Good at building relationships
• An interest in the industry.

Why this position?

“I just need a job” is not the correct answer to this one, sorry. When hiring managers ask this common interview question, they want to know the depth of your knowledge about the company and what makes you the right candidate for the role. Thoroughly research the company prior to your interview: Find out their philosophy, achievements, what it is they do and their primary service or product. Then consider how your skills and experiences align with the company as a whole.

What can you bring to the role?

Bragging is a massive faux pas when it comes to interviews, so try to avoid the hard sell when asked this common interview question. Use this time to highlight your skills and how they can increase the company’s overall success for the future. If you are interviewing for a marketing assistant role, you might want to emphasise how your excellent writing and analysis skills gained throughout college can be put to good use. Offer an example of a successful social media campaign you ran that reached a high volume of people, and how that resulted in active sales or drove more traffic to a website.

If you are applying for a sales position, you may want to emphasize your strong negotiation skills. Give a sound example of when you successfully negotiated at work or university and the immediate result. Carefully planning your answer in this way shows hiring managers the effort you have put in to how hiring you would be good for the company.

Further reading: Free Courses to Boost Your Resume

What are your strengths?

Focusing on the strengths that closely relate to the job you’re interviewing for is the best way to navigate this awkward question. Hiring managers ask this question to gauge whether your skills and abilities align with the needs of the company, and whether you would be able to hit the ground running with your new role. Your strengths might include leadership skills, the ability to work both autonomously and within a team, ability to work to tight deadlines efficiently and accurately, or that you are calm under pressure.

What are your weaknesses?

Yes, career coaches tend to advise answering this common interview question with a positive spin. But if there’s anything you take from this article today, it’s that you should avoid “I’m a perfectionist.” This answer is extremely common. Hiring managers hear this very often and it won’t make you stand out from other prospective candidates. Instead, think of an occasion where you effectively turned a previous weakness into a positive. Examples of this might be:

• You once found it difficult to delegate tasks to others, but now are able to do it with ease.
• You once tended to overcomplicate your work, but now you look at them logically and create to-do lists to manage your time more effectively.
• You once found it difficult to speak in public, but after pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and practising throughout college, you can now do this with confidence.

Answering these common interview questions doesn’t require rocket science, just simple, old-fashioned research and practice. The more interviews you have, the more at ease you will become.

Further reading: Avoid These Interview Mistakes

The post Common Interview Questions & How to Answer Them appeared first on College News.

The 24-year-old, who is a former first-round NFL draft pick, was charged with one count of first-degree misdemeanour domestic violence after attacking his 28-year-old female companion. He was booked into the Hillsborough County Jail in Florida.

The victim said that Foster “slapped her phone out of her hand, pushed her in the chest area, and slapped her with an open hand on the right side of her face.”

Appearing in Hillsborough County Court via a video link, Foster’s attorney argued in his defence. He said that he was employed, that he does not reside with, or have children with, the alleged victim, and that a past domestic violence charge involving the same alleged victim had been dismissed previously. Foster was released from custody on Sunday on a $2,000 bond.

In a controversial turn of events, major NFL team The Redskins signed Foster just days following the arrest and release from the San Francisco 49ers.

In a statement, Doug Williams, The Redskins’ senior vice president of player personnel, said: “The Redskins fully understand the severity of the recent allegations made against Reuben. If true, you can be sure these allegations are nothing our organization would ever condone.

“Let me be clear, Reuben will have to go through numerous steps including the full legal process, an investigation and potential discipline from the NFL, as well as meetings with counsellors associated with the team before he will ever have the opportunity to wear the Burgundy and Gold as a player.

“That being said, we decided to investigate the situation with Reuben further by claiming his rights after candid conversations with a number of his ex-Alabama teammates and current Redskins players who were overwhelmingly supportive of us taking this chance.

“Nothing is promised to Reuben, but we are hopeful being around so many of his former teammates and friends will eventually provide him with the best possible environment to succeed both personally and professionally,” he added.

Foster has a known history of domestic violence charges and arrests. In April 2018, the former San Francisco 49ers linebacker was charged with felony domestic violence for allegedly attacking his girlfriend. The victim was left with a ruptured eardrum and bruising, but the arrest was redacted after she recounted her statement.

Further reading: New York Jets Make Sam Darold Quarterback

The post San Francisco 49ers Release Star Reuben Foster Following Domestic Violence Charge appeared first on College News.

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp oil
• 340g fully cooked chicken sausages, sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, sliced
• 2 cups cannellini beans, rinsed
• 425ml chicken broth
• 425g diced tomatoes
• 1 bunch kale leaves, torn
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Slices crusty bread, to serve

Method

1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Add chicken sausage and cook until browned for about 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Stir in the garlic, and cook for a further 2 minutes.
3. Add the cannellini beans, broth and tomatoes to the pan and bring to the boil.
4. Stir in the kale and season to taste. Simmer until kale has wilted (this may take 2-3 minutes).
5. Ladle steaming chicken sausage stew into bowls and serve with crusty bread for dipping.

Love this warming chicken sausage stew? Try out our delicious mushroom risotto, here.

The post Warming Chicken Sausage Stew appeared first on College News.

Ingredients

• Dark chocolate (70%)
• 200ml milk
• 350ml double cream
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 1 ready baked tart case

Preparation

1. Melt the chocolate and reserve. Mix the milk and cream together.
2. Bring to the boil, pour on to the eggs, whisk together.
3. Pass this mix straight on to the melted chocolate.
4. Pour into ready baked tart case, place into the preheated oven at 350F/gas mark 4 and bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
5. Leave to cool before serving slices of chocolate tart to guests.

Like this chocolate tart recipe? Try our Tasty Chocolate Truffles 

The post Recipe: Sumptuous Chocolate Tart appeared first on College News.

But fans should focus their attentions to the 29-year-old’s latest major role as Billy Moore in A Prayer Before Dawn. This gritty, primal boxing drama is based on the true memoirs of Billy Moore, a UK boxer who moved to Thailand and found himself incarcerated in two of Thailand’s most notorious prisons after dabbling in drugs and crime. While inside, Moore takes up Muay Thai boxing in an effort to—quite literally—fight his way out of prison. The film, which received Official Selection at 2017’s Cannes Film Festival, was released July 20 2018, and has lauded much critical acclaim since. (“It seems like people are enjoying the movie,” Cole says, humbly.)

Getting into character

Getting into the mindset of a true-to-life character—who is still alive—is unlike anything the actor has ever experienced before. “I actually met him [Billy Moore] when I was doing Peaky Blinders,” says Cole. “He’s a super charismatic, interesting guy with incredible anecdotes and life experience and he’s a joy to have around…So I got to know him really well and he opened up to me more and more in the build-up to shooting the movie. It was kind of amazing—he really gave himself to me, more than what’s in the book.”

I ask the actor how did this role come to him and what did he have to do to prepare for such a versatile character? “I actually share an agent with the director,” he explains. The film’s director, Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire, made his stamp directing hard-hitting cult movies including Johnny Mad Dog (2008) and A Dios (2001). For his arguably bravest venture yet, the French director had his eyes firmly set on Cole to play his latest leading man after seeing his performance in prior films. “I trained a lot. I got to Thailand and was put in these real gritty Thai boxing camps where you wash with a bucket of water and kind of just really get stuck in and have these Thai guys beat you up for 10 hours a day [laughs],” Cole says. “That’s essentially what I did; and I ate Pad Thai.”

 “I remember at one point I got a massage off of three murderers at the same time—getting a massage from three guys who’ve killed three people!”—Joe Cole

A new experience

What makes this award-nominated film so interesting and special is that, besides Cole himself and Thai actor Vithaya Pansringarm, the characters we see on screen are non-actors. Ex-convicts, boxers still incarcerated and locals found in bars were anointed with these exceptional starring roles, where a glaring sense of truth underpins the entire narrative.

“It’s an all-encompassing life experience,” Cole says. “It was a real experience, you know, working with ex-cons, prisoner boxers, a trans girl who we found in a club in Thailand and just all these people who hadn’t acted before and shooting in a real prison and what comes with that. It was just pretty amazing.” To my utter disbelief, the 29-year-old actor tells me, “I remember at one point, I got a massage off of three murderers at the same time—getting a massage from three guys who’ve killed three people!”

Cole fondly recalls non-professional members of the film’s crew who helped bring a deft authenticity to the narrative as a whole. “I remember a guy teaching me how to smoke Ya ba [a drug containing caffeine and methamphetamines], which is one of the drugs Billy [Moore] smokes in prison. He was the assistant props guy. He’d spent a few years in prison and was addicted to Ya ba. So he showed me how to make this Ya ba pipe and he’s actually done it for real, you know?

“Jean [is] a real advocate of getting the ‘truth’ in there. I’ve worked on films where directors have just said, ‘That’s fine, it looks good,’ whereas Jean is all about truth and authenticity ad he wants to listen to the real people. He doesn’t want to listen to the people who think they know, he wants to listen to the people who do know and they worked in front of and behind the camera. We spent a lot of time listening to those guys.”

Cole explains to me that all of the sparring that occurs during the film’s fight scenes is completely real. “We had to actually be physical with each other, and when you’re doing that 18 hours a day, it takes its toll. I remember I nearly got knocked out by a Southeast Asian boxing champion who also spent seven years in the prison in which we filmed. He showed me his bed where he slept, which was just a bit of floor space, and we actually shot in that cell a bit. And he actually nearly knocked me out [laughs],”—by accident, he adds hastily.

A new frontier

Acting is a notoriously difficult industry in which to succeed, so I thought it only pertinent to dig into how the Kingston-born-and-raised star did it himself. “I suppose it was the thing I was best at, at school,” Cole confesses. But it may surprise you, reader, that this actor is self-made in a way that makes you think that anyone can do this. “I didn’t know any actors, I didn’t have family [in the industry], obviously my little brother now [Finn Cole, Peaky Blinders]. But I didn’t know anybody in the industry. I never saw it as a logistical career path.” Cole tells me that his moment of career clarity came at a point when he had failed his A Levels at school and had been dealing with a bad breakup, all while watching his peers go off to university. “I just thought, you know what? This sucks. I need to pull my finger out.” After taking a drama course at the National Youth Theatre in London, Cole confesses that acting took over his life. “It is all I thought about. It was kind of weird. I was very passionate and obsessed almost. I was writing a lot; I wrote a television show that helped me get a better agent, and I was more interested in writing my television show than I was going out clubbing, for example. It was almost a necessity.” Cole’s advice for aspiring actors is not to simply ‘dream big’ or ‘aim for the stars’; it’s more rational than that. “I say this often to young aspiring actors: You’ve got to really want it; you’ve got to really, really want it.” He explains that to get to where is he now, he focused on what actors just one echelon above him in terms of career were doing. “When I hadn’t done any television work, I was looking at those actors who had done bits and pieces on television and trying to copy what they were doing. And then after that, I was looking at the next level of actor and seeing what they were doing and trying to replicate that.”

“I say this often to young aspiring actors: You’ve got to really want it; you’ve got to really, really want it”—Joe Cole

Looking forward

Cole’s mission to depict interesting and diverse characters and tell culturally taboo stories doesn’t stop here; in fact, this actor is just getting started. “I’ve just finished a show on Channel 4 [viewers can access this channel online] called Pure,” he tells me. “[Pure is] a true story based on this woman’s memoirs [Rose Bretécher]. She had a condition called Pure OCD which is a form of OCD where you have very vivid and intrusive thoughts constantly. In her case, it’s sexual thoughts. I play a guy with a porn addiction, who the main character meets, and we try to help each other with our problems.”

If this conversation wasn’t inspiring, then I don’t know what is; A Prayer Before Dawn will be available to buy on DVD from September 24 2018.

This feature was originally published in College News magazine, Fall Edition 2018.

The post Joe Cole on A Prayer Before Dawn appeared first on College News.

The popstar, 28, had deliberately kept her political opinion close to her chest in the past, telling Time magazine in 2012, “I don’t talk about politics because it might influence other people…And I don’t think that I know enough yet in life to be telling people who to vote for.”

Beneath a black and white photo of herself, she broke her scrupulous silence on the topic, saying, “In the past I’ve been reluctant to publically voice my political opinions, but due to several events in my life and in the world in the past two years, I feel very differently about that now.

“I believe in the fight for LGBTQ rights, and that any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender is WRONG. I believe that the systemic racism we still see in this country towards people of color is terrifying, sickening and prevalent. I cannot vote for someone who will not be willing to fight for dignity for ALL Americans, no matter their skin color, gender or who they love.

“As much as I have in the past and would like to continue voting for women in office, I cannot support Marsha Blackburn. Her voting record in Congress appals and terrifies me. She voted against equal pay for women. She voted against the Reauthorisation of the Violence Against Women Act, which attempts to protect women from domestic violence, stalking and date rape.”

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I’m writing this post about the upcoming midterm elections on November 6th, in which I’ll be voting in the state of Tennessee. In the past I’ve been reluctant to publicly voice my political opinions, but due to several events in my life and in the world in the past two years, I feel very differently about that now. I always have and always will cast my vote based on which candidate will protect and fight for the human rights I believe we all deserve in this country. I believe in the fight for LGBTQ rights, and that any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender is WRONG. I believe that the systemic racism we still see in this country towards people of color is terrifying, sickening and prevalent. I cannot vote for someone who will not be willing to fight for dignity for ALL Americans, no matter their skin color, gender or who they love. Running for Senate in the state of Tennessee is a woman named Marsha Blackburn. As much as I have in the past and would like to continue voting for women in office, I cannot support Marsha Blackburn. Her voting record in Congress appalls and terrifies me. She voted against equal pay for women. She voted against the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which attempts to protect women from domestic violence, stalking, and date rape. She believes businesses have a right to refuse service to gay couples. She also believes they should not have the right to marry. These are not MY Tennessee values. I will be voting for Phil Bredesen for Senate and Jim Cooper for House of Representatives. Please, please educate yourself on the candidates running in your state and vote based on who most closely represents your values. For a lot of us, we may never find a candidate or party with whom we agree 100% on every issue, but we have to vote anyway. So many intelligent, thoughtful, self-possessed people have turned 18 in the past two years and now have the right and privilege to make their vote count. But first you need to register, which is quick and easy to do. October 9th is the LAST DAY to register to vote in the state of TN. Go to vote.org and you can find all the info. Happy Voting! ???

A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) on Oct 7, 2018 at 4:33pm PDT

Spinal Tap director Rob Reiner took to Twitter to praise the singer’s political opinion, saying, “A big shout out to Taylor Swift for speaking out. You can single handedly change this country. Impress on your fans how critical and powerful their voices are. If you get them to the polls on Nov 6, everything you care about will be protected.”

While Swift’s views have been applauded by many (attracting around 1.6 million likes, including by Chrissy Teigen and Reese Witherspoon), the post also caused much controversy among Republicans.

The president of the conservative group Turning Point USA, Charlie Kirk, tweeted: “You just endorsed a Democrat in the Tennessee Senate race with a ridiculous statement saying Marsha Blackburn, a woman, is against women. You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.”

Donald Trump told reporters, “Marsha Blackburn is doing a very good job in Tennessee. She’s leading now substantially, which she should. She’s a tremendous woman. I’m sure Taylor Swift doesn’t know anything about her. Let’s say that I like Taylor’s music about 25 percent less now, okay?”

While Swift’s comments may have the power to sway the political opinion of her fans, her endorsement is no guarantee of a vote. In 2016, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was publically supported by superstars Jay Z and Beyoncé in Ohio, but the state still swung in favor of Trump.

Further reading: Join the Fight Against Sexual Assault

The post Taylor Swift Speaks up about Political Opinion appeared first on College News.

If global warming temperatures exceed just half a degree, the risk for major natural disasters such as floods, droughts and extreme heat will significantly increase. Maintaining 1.5C is essential in preventing the extinction of coral reefs, and will ease pressure on an already buckling Arctic, say researchers.

The world currently sits at 1C warmer than preindustrial levels. The IPCC sates that, with an increase in hurricanes in the Carolinas, flooding and record drought in South Africa’s Cape Town, global warming is already a very real threat. The study says that maintaining the 1.5C target will mean “rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society.”

Debra Roberts, co-chair of the IPCC’s working group on impacts said, “It’s a line in the sand and what it says to our species is that this is the moment and we must act now.

“This is the largest clarion bell from the science community and I hope it mobilises people and dents the mood of complacency.”

The report was commissioned by policymakers at the Paris Climate talks in 2016. The Paris Climate Agreement is an important agreement between member countries of the UNFCCC to combat climate change. Since then, however, president Donald Trump has pledged to withdraw the US from the Accord while Jair Bolsonaro—presidential candidate in Brazil—has pledged to follow suit, worryingly widening the gap between politics and science.

What’s next for climate change?

If global warming temperatures reach even 2C, the IPCC suggests that the global sea level will rise by approximately four inches, potentially exposing 10 million people to the risk of flooding.

Kaisa Kosonen at Greenpeace said, “We are already in the danger zone at one degree of warming.

“Both poles are melting at an accelerated rate; ancient trees that have been there for hundreds of years are suddenly dying; and the summer we’ve just experienced—basically, the whole world was on fire.”

Member of the IPCC, professor Jim Skea, said of the urgency of combatting climate change that, “They [world governments] really need to start work immediately. The report is clear that if governments just fulfil the pledges they made in the Paris agreement for 2030, it is not good enough.”

Further reading: Climate Change Fears as Arctic temperature Rises

The post 12 Years to Halt Climate Change Catastrophe, Warns UN appeared first on College News.

Bitter Orange, Claire Fuller

Set in the luridly hot summer of 1969, Bitter Orange follows one woman’s claustrophobic obsession with a couple she meets in a run-down country house in England. Best-seller Claire Fuller’s third novel is the psych thriller you never knew you needed to read this fall. This intoxicating story breathlessly meshes themes of betrayal, right versus wrong and secrecy together; a chilling read for a chilly season.

This Will Only Hurt a Little, Busy Philipps

Actress—and Instagram’s favorite mama—Busy Philipps (well known for her roles in 2004’s White Chicks) has written a memoir and it’s every bit as refreshing, funny and honest as you’d hope. Philipps delightfully touches on life growing up in Arizona and those painful, formative teenage years to the Hollywood experience in this all-encapsulating autobiography. No wonder it’s high up on our list of best books to read this fall.

Becoming, Michelle Obama

Former First Lady Michelle Obama’s highly anticipated memoir is due to be published this November—and we can’t wait. The autobiography is a candid illustration of her life’s path from growing up in Chicago and motherhood to balancing the challenging responsibilities that come with being one of America’s most important women. Obama is a sharp writer, a purveyor of unwavering wit and totally unabashed in sharing her failings.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Heather Morris

After being sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau, Lale Sokolov is tasked with the job of tattooing fellow victims with numbers—a symbol now so synonymous with the violence of the Holocaust. When he meets a woman waiting in line to be marked, he falls in love. Lale makes it his mission to protect himself and his love in this gripping, courageous and unforgettable tale of life during the Holocaust.

A Spark of Light, Jodi Picoult

Of course Jodi Picoult is included in our list of favorite books to read this fall. The number one bestselling author returns with a heart-stopping story about a gunman who takes victims hostage in a reproductive clinic. The lives of those who happened to be at the clinic on that fateful day begin to intertwine, as Picoult explores themes of abortion, women’s rights and empathy. 

See What I Have Done, Sarah Schmidt

If you’re a fan of Netflix’s Making a Murderer (2017), then this is for you. Author Sarah Schmidt reimagines the unsolved true crime case of the Lizzie Borden murders. Be transported back to 1892 and enter the Borden household to discover tales of jealousy, sibling rivalry and dark, insidious secrets in this glittering novel. Paula Hawkins (The Girl on the Train) calls it “eerie and compelling”.

Further reading: 10 Best Books of 2016

The post Six of the Best Books to Read This Fall appeared first on College News.

Go on, get in the fall spirit with our hearty—and super tasty—pumpkin soup; the perfect meal for lunch with a book.

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 600g pumpkin flesh, chopped
• 2 celery sticks, chopped
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1tsp coriander
• 800ml vegetable stock
• 200ml coconut milk
• 1 tsp pumpkin seeds

Method

1. Using a food processor, whiz the pumpkin flesh until nearly smooth. Then add celery, garlic, cumin and coriander and process for an extra 30 seconds. Empty the mixture into a large pan.
2. Pour vegetable stock and coconut milk into the mixture and combine. Bring to the boil and simmer for about 15 minutes.
3. When ready, pour into a food processor and whiz until smooth. Spoon into bowls and garnish with pumpkin seeds. Excess soup can be stored in airtight containers in the freezer.
4. Serve with bread (optional).

Adapted from Good Housekeeping. 

Love this pumpkin soup? Try our creamy mushroom risotto, here.

The post Food for Fall: Pumpkin Soup appeared first on College News.