CTRL+ALT+MDX (mud article)

I am dressed up in catholic armour, standing in a dark kitchen filled to the brink with people dressed up as nuns and priests, next to me this guy is wearing a priest collar, stockings and high heals, the rusty amplifier in the corner suddenly goes quiet. Sam Norris & David Wooldridge, the people behind alternative nights at Middlesex, climb on top of a couple of chairs and announce the beginning of the University’s new alternative student union CTRL+ALT+MDX.

I meet up with Sam and David some days later, early morning, almost too early, to get to know more about the student union that has been responsible for the recent theme parties that has popped up around campus.

“It’s generic” Sam says with a calm voice, as he tries to stop the bleeding from this mornings shaving accident. “The parties that are backed by the university show no diversity, their all based on that everybody must love RnB and Hip Hop. We want to bring something fresh to the table, something exiting and different.” Dave nods in the background, pulling his coat, its freezing. “Fever nights can be a bit intimidating with all the compulsory dancing and mandatory ‘hands up in the air’, give the Indie-kids a chance!” Sam adds sarcastically with a smile, and I can’t disagree.

Since early December the two of them have been responsible for starting the Face book group: Alternative nights at Middlesex, which counts over a hundred members, and because of the massive response, the two of them have decided to take it to the next level, and form a student union, backed by the University, under the name CTRL+ALT+MDX. “We want to recharge the Middlesex music scene by organizing alternative band nights with new acts, well known names supported by up and coming new groups” CTRL+ALT+MDX wants to reach out to those people who so far have been neglected, and they intend to do so by cooking up alternative parties made by the people for the people. Sam & David will every Monday meet with the members at the Forum and discuss different concepts and arrangements so that everybody has a chance pitch in if they want.

As we are trying to figure out the camera to take some pictures for this article, I try to get to know these guys a little better.

Sam is currently studying psychology at Middlesex University, but his real passion in life is music. The last nine years he has been behind the drums of the new up and coming Indie band “pictures of Shanghai” playing concerts in and around the London area. Asking him what he would rescue If his flat suddenly caught on fire he replies that his drum set, Ipod and his hoody.

Dave is not as obsessed with music as his accomplice, but shares the belief that the music scene at Middlesex is too narrow and excluding. As of now he is studying Bio Medical Sciences, cruising along, trying to contribute to the Middlesex social scene. “The first thing I would get out of the flames would have been my hair straighteners and my toaster.” Dave answers with all sincerity “you should have said the picture of your girlfriend” Sam adds on “you could have scored some easy points” he laughs.

After just two weeks over fifty members has joined the union, underlining the need for a more diverse social scene at Middlesex. In the near future they will host a big party in the forum to kick it all off, recruit members, and show what the fuzz is all about.

If you want to join CTRL+ALT+MDX you can either hunt down Sam or David at the university, send a request to the CTRL+ALT+MDX face book group, or just send an e-mail to altnightsmdx@hotmail.co.uk and the guys will take care of the rest, giving you leads on some of the more alternative happenings around campus. The members fee is £3 and will be well worth it. “Tell the alternative kids we are coming” pause “ eh, but not in a dirty way” Sam says as they walk away.