The Courier 1415 - The Welcome Issue

Issue 1415 Monday 27th Sept 2021

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thecourieronline.co.uk

Boundaries: where do they lie? 251 students answer

Meet the team!

Be introduced to our wonderful senior editors + hear from NSR & NUTV about their plans for 2021

Relationships | page 8

Rah-ticle 2.0

Back to answer the age-old question: what is a rah?

Student Media | pages 14-15

Campus Comment | page 5

The Welcome Issue: hello from all of us at your student paper With Student Media ready to set sail for the year ahead, this ‘Welcome Issue’ special of The Courier will tell you how to get involved & more George Boatfield - Editor | editor.union@newcastle.ac.uk

W

hat you’re holding in your hands right now has fittingly been dubbed ‘The Welcome Issue’ of The Courier. September is normally a time of introductions and reacclimatising,

but right now that is more the case than ever. So welcome back to campus! After a year on Zoom, it’s been easy to forget what it’s like to share a study space with others, to walk to class with a flatmate, or to simply see a bustling community of students going about their business.

Next, welcome to NUSU! If you’re one of the many students to pick up this issue in the ‘Discover Newcastle’/Companies Fair in Venue, you’re already familiar with the building. But there is still plenty to explore! Venue itself, on level -2 of the building, is housing an unprecedented number of live music events this year right on campus. Next up on floor -1 is a variety of food outlets plus Luther’s bar, a communal space that you can sit in and enjoy regardless of wheth-

er you make a purchase. The ground floor houses the SU Co-op as well as the reception desk and the Student Advice Centre [SAC]. The SAC is an invaluable aspect of NUSU’s charitable purpose regarding students, and has just begun accepting in-person appointments if you need to speak to someone urgently about anything from housing, finance, academic issues to mental health. Heading up is floor 1, where you can find the Activities and Go Volunteer spaces, as well as the offices of NUTV, NSR and The Courier. Stop by here if you would like to find out more about how to get involved in clubs, societies, sports, community volunteering projects and, of course, the venerable Student Media.

For the top floor of the building on level 2, you can find a study area with plenty

of natural light from outdoors as well as individual hubs to work in alone or with friends. There really is so much to see and do at NUSU, and the team of staff and volunteers provide so much to enrich the university experience.

And now for the big one… Welcome back to The Courier! After a four month break and a year away from our usual weekly print schedule, this issue is to welcome you, but also to welcome back a sense of normality for the production of this thirty-two page beauty.

Inside, you will find a range of content across Current Affairs, Life & Style and Culture supersections. These sections are run by an editorial team of over forty people and constructed from the contributions of over two hundred writers, photographers and illustrators. Each

sub-section is overseen by a senior team member - introductions to the senior editors can be found on page fourteen of this issue. So, if you’re struggling to find a point of contact, please feel free to reach out to one of them. As for getting involved, please reach out with an email (check page two) to hear about our next Student Media Afternoon [SMA] or to pitch your own article idea. No experience is needed, and that’s what’s so great about Student Media at Newcastle you’ll get feedback on your creations in order to help you grow and learn. Sharing knowledge is something that the positive, creative Newcastle community does so well.

run by an editoral team of over forty people and constructed from the contributions of hundreds of students That creative community is something really worth focussing in on, as this year The Courier, NSR and NUTV are united and set to tackle multimedia production. NSR and NUTV, the respective radio and TV stations of NUSU will both be present at the Student Media Afternoons (Wednesdays during term time) and frequently presenting their opportunities to attendees. On top of this, SMAs will feature guest speakers during the second half of the meetings, so it’s well worth sticking around to hear multimedia advice from the pros.

And without further ado… it’s time for the rest of the issue! I hope you enjoy the content we’ve got in store for you and see the effort that our volunteers have gone to. Who knows? You may well soon be joining them in creating it!

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2 Inside 27th September 2021

GET INVOLVED WITH

THE

Current Affairs | Science

Join our Discord for updates on Student Media Afternoons!

Exploring the physics of freshers Jon Deery gives the freshers the advice that the worlds best minds would want them to know.

Page 7

Life & Style | Blind Date Blind Date is back!

This week our Relationships sub-editor heads to Las Iguanas for a Blind Date - find out how it went! Page 9

Life & Style | Travel The Courier's Metro stop tour The Senior team take on the Metro to help you find the hidden gems around the North East.

Page 13

Culture | Film Spilling the tea on Tyneside cinema Claire Maggie Dowens delves into the changes now that Tyneside cinema is under new management. Page 20

Culture | Arts Shit statues: campus edition Peter Bath shares his thoughts on statues you can find around the University campus. Page 22

Welfare | Drug Safety In conversation with SSDP Newcastle Find out what SSDP are doing to encourage drug safety this academic year. Page 27

Meet the Sabbs Get to know this years NUSU Sabb Officers Your Sabbs delve into their plans and aims for the academic year ahead. Page 28-29

Sport | AU Officer Interview An interview with this years AU Officer The Courier quizzes Fergus Mainland on his sporting aims for the 2021/22 academic years.

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COURIER

THE COURIER

SECTIONS Editor

Deputy Editor

Social Media

Current Affairs

Life & Style

Culture

George Boatfield -- editor.union@newcastle.ac.uk

Senior editor: Elizabeth Meade -- e.a.meade1@newcastle.ac.uk

News

-- courier.news@ncl.ac.uk Ruby Story-Dartford Harry Jones Becca Alexander Renzo Szkwarok

Comment

-- courier.comment@ncl.ac.uk Humphrey Jordan Rosie Norman Emily Kelso

Science

-- c2.science@ncl.ac.uk Jon Deery Erika Armanio

Sport

-- courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk Senior Editor: Peter Bath -- p.l.bath@ncl.ac.uk Katie Siddall Castor Chan Lucy Rimmer Ethan Todd

Muslim Taseer -- courier.deputy@ncl.ac.uk

Senior editor: Meg Howe --m.j.howe1@ncl.ac.uk

Relationships & Blind Date

Annabel Hogg Gabbi de Boer

Lifestyle

-- c2.lifestyle@ncl.ac.uk Faye Navesey Leanna Thomson Molly Taylor

Fashion & Beauty

-- c2.fashion@ncl.ac.uk Sophia Ayub Josie Broome

Food

Marcel Shamshoum Scarlett Welch

Travel

-- courier.travel@ncl.ac.uk Lenka Minarovicova Alice Holmes

When you eat pasta, does it become past-a?

-- George Bell, Courier Jester and Film sub-editor

Sarah Lahiri -- s.a.n.lahiri1@newcastle.ac.uk

Senior Editors: Maud Webster --m.webster4@ncl.ac.uk Hattie Metcalfe -- h.metcalfe1@ncl.ac.uk

Music

-- c2.music@ncl.ac.uk Evie Lake Oren Brown Charlotte Airey

TV

-- c2.TV@ncl.ac.uk Rachael McCreanor Carly Horne Rebecca Sykes

Film

-- c2.film@ncl.ac.uk George Bell Jess Bradbury Autumn Keil

Arts

-- c2.arts@ncl.ac.uk Tom Wrath Claire Dowens Maja Mazur

Gaming

-- courier.gaming@ncl.ac.uk Michael Duckworth Haaris Qureshi Joesph Caddick

Puzzles

Joeseph Caddick

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Monday 27th September 2021

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News

“Get involved, agitate, and demand better”: NCL's new Farrell Centre Maud Webster investigates the uni's newest building Maud Webster —Head of Culture

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lans have been released for the Farrell Centre, a new on-campus multipurpose exhibition and events space dedicated to addressing the big questions facing architecture and urbanism in the coming decades. It will be named after Sir Terry Farrell, who studied at Newcastle in the fifties before embarking on a successful career as an architect and planner, and has worked on local projects including The Centre for Life, the Hancock Museum and Newcastle’s Quayside development. The centre will house a gallery, exhibition and events space designed to flexibly accommodate a wide, interdisciplinary programme of events, exhibitions and discussions.

The “new type of public institution” will also offer subsidised studio spaces for start-ups working in the built environment, on the building’s top floor, and will open at the start of the 22/23 academic year. Owen Hopkins, who was appointed director of the Farrell Centre back in 2019, envisions a strong relationship between the university, its students and the Centre: “We hope, at the very least, students will be a core part of our audience.

But we also hope that students will be able to contribute to the programme as well, which can work in a number of ways. I’ve run a couple of different research projects for master’s students who are basically undertaking a research project, which contributes in some way to the Centre. The first one was about the Urban Room itself. The second one is about a project that may eventually become an exhibition. So there’s opportunities there, there’s also opportunities for working directly with some of the [School of Architecture’s design] studios. So maybe down the line, once we’re up and running, some of the studio subjects could have an output at the Farrell Centre in mind, whether that’s work being made

Image: Wikimedia

for an exhibition, or whether the exhibition itself is the work. If students want to go on and do something, and it fits with our overall ambitions, then that’s great. We can offer curatorial and organisational expertise and experience to help shape and guide as much or as little as is necessary or useful.

"...some of the opportunities that you’ll get in a city of this size are far bigger than you might get in the City of London.”

agitating for positive change. The goal of the Farrell Centre is to engage people with architecture in cities, to empower them to get involved and agitate and demand better. These urban questions, which the Farrell Centre hopes to host activities to facilitate discussion about, include thinking about what cities should do with post-retail spaces. You read every day, the stats of something like one in seven units on high streets are currently unoccupied. I mean, it's kind of staggering. And it's hard to think what's going to fill those spaces and particularly for a city like Newcastle, which has historically been an industrial city, but has also been a shopping city. And yes, it still has Fenwick, one of the small, still surviving small chains

of department stores, there's still a big John Lewis. And there's now a massive, gaping hole where Debenhams was.

And what's going to fill that building?"

Hopkins is also interested in the future of the central motorway, a very useful piece of city infrastructure, but also one which is widely considered by most urbanists as disastrous. This urban issue is something which, as he puts it, “the type of thing that afflicts many cities, across Britain and indeed across, certainly the US, and much of the Western world because this was a sort of playbook of urban renewal in the 1960s.”

This nods to another one of the centre’s aims, which is to encourage collaboration and connection between Newcastle and other cities, to help address

urban issues on a wider, more impactful scale. Sir Terry Farrell commented on the centre to the university: "The Farrell Centre will realise my combined visions for an urban room for Newcastle alongside a vibrant and multi-dimensional hub in which architecture/planning professionals can grow new businesses and interact with the public in a dedicated space that champions conversation and the exchange of ideas and creativity. I can think of no greater honour than to have this building in my name."

You can find more details about the new Farrell Centre, opening on campus towards the end of 2022, on their website, or keep up to date by signing up to the newsletter.

Image: SPACE

The centre also hopes to be a way to help retain graduating architecture studentn Newcastle. Hopkins intends for the careers service to be linked to the studio space for start-ups available on the top floor of the Farrell Centre, and wants to use the space as a way to say “actually you can start a practice in New castle and there’s plenty of work so that some of the opportunities that you’ll get in a city of this size are far bigger than you might get in the City of London.”

The Farrell Centre focuses on the concept of the ‘Urban Room’, recommend ed by Terry Farrell in the 2014 Farrell Review as a space for a city’s citizens to come and engage in debates about architecture and planning, and have a say in their city’s future. This will serve as a Newcastle City Council via Facebook place for more democratic and accessible discussion around the big questions facing architecture, planning and cities in the coming decades.

As Hopkins says: "What the Farrell Centre can do is to connect the public - not just a segment of the public, but everyone, is our aspiration - with these debates, because for them to be meaningful, they need to have the voices of the community. Otherwise, it's just debates and discussions that are sort of self referential. There’s this interesting activist, sort of bottom up aspect to it, of engaging the public, connecting them with what can seem distant, remote, inaccessible language of Architecture and Planning, and through that hopefully

Zoom & Room: is blended learning viable?

Should we zoom away from zoom? Harry Jones looks into the future of University education Harry Jones

— News Sub-Editor

With the start of the 2021/22 Academic year, the question of in person learning has emerged across higher education. With 20 of the 24 Russell Group Universities declaring they will continue a form of online learning.

Whereas, Newcastle University will continue with blended learning.

Blended learning however differs in definition across higher education with Universities terming it as in person learning being for "smaller groups".

This means a core of campus life, 'large lecture' being delivered remotely.

However, not all Universities are in agreement in their approaches as some are focusing purely on in person, such

as Southampton who emphasised that all teaching will be "in person" and "on campus". Whilst some Universities are going the opposite direction, offering online only courses.

However, with movements in the previous Academic year, such as 9k4what and the National Rent Strike Movement, the backlash emerging in response to online learning is not unusual, with local protest groups in Warwick University.

Whilst a survey done by the Independent, of 2000 students, found Over 80% of the those who took part in the survey said their education had been affected negatively by the pandemic, mostly referring to less time on campus, less face-to-face teaching and an increase in online learning.

These concerns still lay amongst students are towards a repeat of the 2020/21 Academic year, where a possibility of a return to full Online Learning for some courses still exists.

However with the Education Secretary declaring that “What I do want to make clear is that I do not expect to see online

learning used as a cost-cutting measure” the pressure lies on the Universities.

It was found that only 48% of the 184,964 that replied to the survey were content with the delivery of learning and teaching of their couse during the pandemic With teaching staff outcrying against the possibility of Covid transmission within in-person, the question of whether blended learning will become the norm will be gauged in the oncoming Semester.

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Campus Comment

The changing game of university drinking culture Lockdown has affected nightlife, but how has it conditioned student drinking Kayleigh Fraser

— Comment sub-editor

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ou hear it all before you apply. The nightlife, the bars, the student deals... it's inescapable. Drinking culture at university has cemented itself as one of the most critical factors in choosing where to study. But, after a year and a half of lockdowns and restrictions, how has the culture changed?

Once again we anxiously await the

beginning of a brand new academic year. Whilst this time of year is always associated with the turning of leaves, new adventures and the passing of time, 2021 overall will forever be synonymous with the journey back to 'normality'. Yet, as we embrace the return of so much we thought we had lost; it's more important than ever to look back and see what's changed.

In my opinion, one sector of life that has completely transformed is our relationship with alcohol and the way we drink. Whilst university has always been associated with alcohol, coronavirus has altered how, where, and what we drink through restrictions, lockdowns and isolation.

Some bars and nightclubs spent 16 mont hs waiting to open - a night out clubbing wasn't possible anymore.

Drinking socially (if at all) centered around bookings, organisation and time slots. Spontaneity was out of the question. Despite this changing dynamic, a survey ran by The Courier discovered that 72% of people still believe university has a drinking culture.

Of course, this culture comes from the endless list of freshers deals, entry lists and gigs we all loved pre-covid.

Therefore, when you take the social aspect away from drinking and add quarantine, it can get quiet and lonely very quickly.

To gain more of a insight into drinking habits, we asked how many units (on average) students drank before, during and after lockdown(s). We found that despite venues opening up again, people are drinking less than they did before the pandemic. When asked on their consumption before lockdown, the average amount of units was 20 per week compared to that of 15 units during lockdown.

Above all, this demonstrates the remaining presence of alcohol in students lives during lockdown(s) despite having no public events or venues to drink with others.

Consequently, could this also prove a growing dependency upon alcohol among students to help through challenging circumstances?

72% of people still believe university has a drinking culture To explore this, we asked if participants were worried about their friends and peers alcohol consumption during the pandemic. 45% of responses expressed concern about their friends habits. One response said: "I have seen people rely on alcohol so much more. It's very evident that boredom has increased this, but let's not sugar coat it, it's not boredom, it's dangerous signs that the people in question may have a slight over reliance on alcohol to get them through a difficult period." - Anonymous It's not just university students who have experienced this change to their relationship with alcohol. In August of last year the BBC spoke to Chris McLone who developed a severe dependency upon alcohol from March 2020. "Every day is Friday" the sales manager said, "I

Monday 27th September 2021

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andrew_t8 on Pixabay

promised myself I wouldn't do it again tomorrow. Of course, the exact same thing happened the next day."

To discuss this, we spoke to Harry Hay, President of Newcastle University Sober Social Society and asked what he thought about staying sober after the pandemic and how drinking culture has changed.

45% of responses expressed concern about their friends habits He said "The pandemic has maybe changed the image of heavy drinking for the better. A lot of students have had to go without a night out so I think people who were more invested in that culture have had to adapt and find new ways of socialising."

"I think with the reopening of night clubs and vaccination of the majority of our population, sobriety may be harder to maintain post-lockdown with the return to a normal life being an obvious pull towards clubs and pubs."

However, the draw of venues reopening may not have made much of a difference to students alcohol consumption. Our data found that after restrictions ended students admitted to drinking an average 14 units per week.

Despite there being no restrictions, this is only one unit less than the reported 15 units people were drinking during lockdown.

Whilst the pandemic may in some ways be a memory, the impact of COVID-19 will be felt for years to come. Clubs and bars have flung open their doors to youngsters with a wholly different relationship with alcohol - the pandemic has changed life forever.

If you or anyone you know needs support on their alcohol use, please reach out. Resources can be found on the NHS website.

Image: UCL

Are we engaging with the 'student experience'?

Elizabeth Meade discusses what going to university really means Elizabeth Meade

F

— Head of Current Affairs

requently used as a business term, the phrase 'student experience' is often seen in student surveys and ads directed at potential enrollees. But what does it mean? Particularly, what does it mean now that face-to-face learning has been decreased or non-existent for over a year?

Speaking as a Chemistry student, the phrase 'student experience' makes me think of a few key points: coursework, studying, and social activities such as societies and clubs.

Most students would probably agree that these are cornerstones of what it means to go to university in the UK in 2021. While distance learning has changed what these look like significantly, they still undoubtedly exist in some form.

The real question remains: are students still engaged with the 'student experience'? After all, the 'student experience' is not something mass-produced by the university; students must participate in creating it. Whether they are playing a sport, meeting with friends to study at the library, or critiquing their

course, they are engaging with the experience. Students who merely fulfill the requirements of their course certainly gain the knowledge they have paid to be taught, but don't necessarily find the same sense of community at university.

The pandemic in the past year has had a notable impact on engagement.

Students have often complained about university decisions and the Students' Union on social media.

Clubs and societies have had trouble getting and retaining new members, and sometimes even meeting at all depending on what the nature of the activity. Academically, student performance has varied a lot between heightened stress levels and professors and students alike being forced to use new, unfamiliar tools.

However, despite the various obstacles to student engagement, it hasn't disappeared entirely. Many societies have met over Zoom, including new ones such as Blank Canvas which took a more distanced model into account from the beginning. Student Council, student media, University Challenge, and other Students' Union activities have continued. Engagement can and does occur, and frequently has a positive impact on the experience as a whole. At this point the question is that of how to build the experience that students want coming out of lockdown. What do you want out of university, and what are you willing to do to get it?

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Campus Comment

The anticipated sequel: What is a RAH? Muslim Taseer

A

— Deputy Editor

year ago, in the previous welcome issue of this fine publication, I authored a groundbreaking anthropological study getting to the heart of a question prominent in the minds of every single poor sap coming to study at Newcastle University. The article was based off a survey I’d conducted asking people to define a Rah. I received over 250 responses, demonstrating just how much of a bedlam of debate this issue is.

Last year, I concluded that the Rah could not be so easily defined as a checklist of characteristics and

mannerisms, as one survey response had so poignantly pointed out, rahness is ‘a state of being and of mind’. Still, science often calls for approximation, and this is one such instance. Thus, rah was approximately defined in my piece last year as a pejorative term for a type of student that is generally rich, white, southern, posh, annoying, and who dresses a certain way and hangs around certain types of establishments. I then went on to elaborate on these certain characteristics to the best of my ability, armed with my survey responses.

However, it wasn’t enough. I thought I had put the matter to rest, but like a well-fed, poorly-dressed skeleton in my closet the question kept gnawing at my psyche. I would lie awake at night, wondering just what a rah really was, and whether I had done the topic justice.

It is this drive that has caused me to revisit the topic a year later, armed with not just my survey responses, but with first-hand experience.

You see, much like Hunter Thompson’s year spent living with the Hell’s Angels, in an act of fearless gonzo journalism, I spent my entire second year living in the eye of the storm. The hub of all rah power and intelligentsia; West Jesmond.

I lived amongst the Rah. I ate with the Rah, I shopped with the Rah, I went out with the Rah and I slept with the Rah. (Okay, not really, but I needed a fifth thing.) In my time in Jesmond, I witnessed a great many horrors. Marco Polo’s last words come to mind; “I did not tell half of what I saw, for I knew I would not be believed.” I am referring, ofcourse, to countless instances of rahs treating service workers and bouncers like shit.

Nevertheless, I come to you now a changed man, with a new, deepened understanding of Rahdom. More than just pointing out that rah is apparently an acronym of ‘rich asshole’, or ‘rich and homeless’, or the sound that rahs make upon greeting each other, More than just pointing out that over 80 of the responses pointed specifically to wealth as the main characteristic of a Rah, more than any other single attribute, and more than telling you what bars they drink at. (Just all of Osborne Road really. Walking past there is like visiting the rah gallery.) More than pointing out their fondness for North Face and flares and rollies and ketamine. More than all this, I come to you with the essence of a Rah.

“My daddy works for BP and my mummy is in financial insurance but they're not bad people" Straight from the horses mouth, here is a selection of survey responses from self-professed rahs, (and a few cultural observers), that, to me, signify the essence of Rahism. Firstly, I think these two responses by self professed rahs really encapsulate what it means to be a Rah. “A word poor people use to describe people better than them” and “a name given to someone who has come from a wealthy background,  as poor people are jealous , they get called rahs to get over the fact that

they themselves would take that sort of money anyways, mainly a lefty sort of thing”. Now believe me, I only wish it was a ‘lefty sort of thing’, considering how many people use the term, but no such luck. Another respondent, who apparently does not identify as a Rah, said that Rah is  “A thinly veiled attack on somebody’s upbringing and personal (sic) based almost entirely upon a bed of insecurity, jealousy, and petulance.“ Another called it a form of upwards classism, comparing it to the word ‘Chav’. What these reveal is that not only does the rah attempt to cosplay as working class, as discussed in last year’s Rahticle, they also seem to detest the actual working class! Very peculiar indeed.

But enough class analysis, there’s also these highly illuminating responses.

“My daddy works for BP and my mummy is in financial insurance but they're not bad people, they thought the gulf oil spill was simply dreadful!

Drinks at Barluga later?” and “Whisky in a high backed armchair in front of a roaring fire after a tough day on philip robbo floor 2”. Now that’s Rah essence!

I close with one of the survey responses. “You are rah, and so am I. The dog I can hear barking is rah, and so is the tree outside my window.

However, snow falling from the clouds is not rah. The computer you’re using to read this article is not rah, and neither is a chair or table. The parts of a chair that are made of wood were once rah, but they aren’t any longer. If you were to burn the wood in a fire, the fire would not be rah either.

What is it that defines rah? How can we tell that one thing is rah and another

Image: Maud Webster

is not? Most people have an intuitive understanding of what it means for something to be rah. However, it’s surprisingly hard to come up with a precise definition of rah. Because of this, many definitions of rah are operational definitions—they allow us to separate rah things from non-rah ones, but they don’t actually pin down what rah is. To make this separation, we must come up with a list of properties that are, as a group, uniquely characteristic of rah organisms.”

I hope I have done them proud.

Covid considerations: predictions for this academic year Emily Kelso

—Comment sub-editor

A

s students and staff return to university this year, or are arriving for the first time, there is one question on most minds: how will COVID-19 disrupt this year?

For some, COVID-19 may no longer be a concern: university learning has shifted back towards in-person teaching; shops and nightclubs are open for students to freely visit; 80% of over-16s have been fully vaccinated as of the 8th of September. Our

current situation is deceptive, however: university learning now consists of both online and in-person teaching; most shops still require masks upon entry; 12% of the over-16 population haven't had a single dose of the vaccine and are still at ris.

Restrictions might have mostly disappeared, but COVID-19 is still a cause for concern. Positive cases and deaths after a confirmed case have been steadily rising since August.

As of the 9th of September, there was a 15.3% increase in the total number of positive cases compared to the previous week and an 18.5% increase in the number of deaths after a positive COVID-19 test compared to the previous week

The mass rollout of vaccinations has significantly helped to reduce cases and deaths, but they are not a perfect solution. Firstly, not everyone has had the vaccine. Vaccinations are still being withheld from under-16s, who were estimated to account for 20.4% of the total UK population in 2019. As already stated, 12% of those eligible for the vaccine have also yet to receive their first dose. Vaccines can also only offer a certain degree of protection, hence why cases can still rise amid a well-vaccinated population. Public Health Scotland found in a study that two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine offered 92% protection against the Alpha variant but 79% against the Delta variant. Clearly, infections are still possible hence why

further measures to protect the public are under consideration.

There is no need to predict whether booster jabs will be offered or not, as declarations have already been made that such jabs will be offered for those especially at risk from September onwards. A more pressing concern for most is whether another lockdown will be implemented. Rumours have already been circulating over a ‘firebreak’ lockdown during the October halfterm holidays if the NHS were to be overwhelmed, which first originated in the newspaper ‘i’. The Department for Education have tweeted denying this, but the spokesperson for PM Johnson has since stated a ‘firebreak’ lockdown is still a last-resort option.

So what does this all mean for the upcoming academic year? It is likely the blended learning approach will help somewhat but there will undoubtedly be a local spike in COVID-19 cases. Whether a spike in cases will trigger further lockdowns or not is difficult to predict considering the government is adamant we simply learn to live with it. Ultimately, I consider a future lockdown likely, but not necessarily inevitable. One thing is certain, however. Whilst the worst may be over, we are not out of the woods just yet.

Image: Wikmedia Commons

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Monday 27th September 2021

Science

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Exploring the Physics of Freshers What would they do?

Career advice from the most brilliant minds Jon Deery

B

— Science Sub-editor

eing a ‘fresher’ is an overwhelming experience.

You’ve moved to a new place, started a new stage of education, one whose rules you haven’t even begun to get used to, and you’re still working out what exactly to expect from the year(s) ahead.

Given how complex this is, the Science section of The Courier would like to make clearer what ‘freshers’ means exactly, by comparing

it with something notoriously simple: quantum physics.

This is, more than anything, a time of ‘uncertainty’. What will my flatmates be like, how will I cope with my new responsibilities, what will my lecturers be like? Luckily, some of the greatest minds of the last century have all had a crack at understanding uncertainty, and none more influentially than Werner Heisenberg.

Heisenberg’s ‘uncertainty principle’, to simplify, states that you cannot know everything about a particle. In the very act of measuring a particle’s momentum, for example, you interact with the particle in a way that means you will never, ever, get to know its position at that time. You have to choose one path, and once you’ve found out what’s there, you can never go back.

Nothing exists independent of interaction. Everything only exists in relation to something else.

You’ve chosen your degree, your university, your accommodation. You’ve chosen the knowledge it’s possible for you to receive, you’ve committed to a path, you are about to determine years’ worth of observations. You will never know what experiences you would have had if you picked differently. At some point, you chose one path over another.

So you’ve got to make the most of it while you’re here.

But how to know you’re making the most of it, if uncertainty is inevitable?

To answer, I’d like to introduce another physicist: Carlo Rovelli. In his book Helgoland, he argues for a ‘relational’ view of the universe: he claims that nothing exists independent of interac-

tion. Everything only exists in relation to something else.

Take this paper you’re holding right now, for example. It has certain properties - it’s printed on white paper, folded in the middle. But the whiteness of the paper isn’t an inherent property: colour is the result of light interacting with the page, bouncing off into your eyes, and being converted into electrical signals in your brain. And the fold is something you move every time you turn the page over. The paper’s properties exist because of its surroundings, and you are among the many surrounding influences. Much in the same way, a university doesn’t exist independently of students - it is changed by, and it changes, all of us.

But perhaps even more relevant to freshers, no human being exists independently of their relations to others.

What is vital to freshers is to embrace your role in this relational universe, to reach out, to shape others and allow them to shape you in return. Trust me, it’s the best time to make friends - everyone (including the second years) is only just entering the large particle collider that is campus, and excitement is a requirement for fusion.

Every factor of your future university experience - the course, the friends - currently exists in a state of quantum superposition.

Both exhilarating and terrifying, both rewarding and demanding. But we all must make the leap - the quantum leap - to break the uncertainty, to define our world and ourselves.

And now’s the time to do it.

To end, here’s Carlo Rovelli: ‘In this essentially uncertain world, it would be foolish to ask for absolute certainty… But this doesn’t mean either that we are completely in the dark. Between certainty and complete uncertainty there is a precious intermediate space - and it is in this intermediate space that our lives and our thoughts unfold.’

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Image: Wikimedia Commons

The diary of a science student Elizabeth Meade

— Head of Current Affairs

Ever wanted to live like a science student? Well, step foot into the land of STEM with this day by day diary entry

Image: Pixabay @Galletita_arts

20th September Today was the first day of induction.

I had to sit in an auditorium and listen to a boring talk about safety. We will have to wear goggles and a coat in the lab. Who does that? Apparently it is really important though. They also want us to record everything in our lab books, which are legal documents. I don’t know why anybody from the government would want to read my homework!

21st September

22nd September

23rd September

21 September--I had some more introductory lectures today. I had no idea that science involved so much math and so many numbers. There are also a lot of diagrams they want us to draw with things like hexagons. I hate drawing hexagons. There are too many sides and they come out looking like circles.

22 September--More lectures. The professors gave us a lot of info about office hours and the lecture schedule.

There is a lot that we need to cover and I don’t know how we are going to learn all the material. I met a few people from the course and they seem nice. We can put our heads together on some of this and try to figure it out.

23 September--Just found out that nearly everything is on Canvas. That will make this a lot easier since we can look at the slides on our own time. The professors have been very approachable as well and answered a lot of our questions. Maybe this year won’t be so bad after all?

Image: Pixabay @kidaha

Image: Pixabay @mohamed_hassan

Monday 27 September 2021

8

Relationships

Where do you draw the line? An analysis into the ‘science’ of relationship boundaries Meg Howe – Head of Life and Style

I've always wanted to dissect the way I behave when I'm in a relationship, and now I get to compare it to the behaviour of 251 other people

D

espite hunting through endless articles written by self-proclaimed “relationship guru’s”, I couldn’t seen to find a concrete definition of “relationship boundaries”. Every ‘expert’ defines them as something different. Really though, this didn’t come as a huge surprise! I don’t believe that you can define something as subjective and personal as relationships; my own experiences prove this well.

Every relationship, situation-ship, or FWB I’ve had, has been different. Whether there was a discussion or it was something I did in my own head, a set of limits have been put in place to *try* and protect myself from getting hurt (what we might call ‘boundaries’).

to setting boundaries. Similarly, I agree with the 168 who “agree” that setting boundaries constitutes a healthy relationship, as knowing someone’s likes, dislikes and needs is necessary in order to respect those that we care about.

Surely we're past the point where gender matters when it comes to friendships?

In order to understand how far peoples boundaries can be pushed, I came up with a series of scenarios and asked people how uncomfortable they would feel if their partner(s) behaved in particular ways. Unsurprisingly, the responses to many of the scenarios were divided, which does indicate that it is hard to draw conclusions on a matter that is so subjective. One thing that is certain, all of these scenarios are incredible situational and depend entirely on context.

I have always struggled to set boundaries when it comes to casual dating. Really though, what is

of communication and honesty, then that’s how a successful relationship is established.

I was keen to hear specifically from participants over 25 (because my own unconscious bias means that I automatically assume that with age comes maturity, and with maturity comes totally different views on relationships), and I was not disappointed. One male, over 25, states that if his partner was to do any of the scenarios then “they’ve made their choice [and it’s] time for [him] to move on”; he goes on to say that if boundaries are crossed “with no repercussions”, then this leads to a pretty unhealthy relationship. To some extent, I would have to agree, but I honestly think that moving on without communicating about the issues really leaves the other person feeling a little lost (not speaking from experience or anything…).

Another male over 25 has a pretty similar view point to myself. Having trust in your partner is the most important thing, because if the trust is lacking then its “quite pointless to pursue it”. I

I have always struggled to set boundaries when it comes to casual dating

?

With the help of 251 individual responses, I’ve established a pretty detailed report as to where we draw the line when it comes to setting boundaries within our relationships. It’s important for me to preface here, that participants were able to give as much (or as little) explanation to their answers to the questionnaire as they wished, and as you’ll see, I’ve interpreted this using my (limited) knowledge on relationships.

So, without further a-do: where do you draw the line?

I wouldn’t be happy if my partner defined their own boundaries independently and didn’t take my feelings into consideration Before understanding what peoples boundaries are, I think it’s important to come to a sensible agreement as to how and why we establish boundaries in the first place. 66 responses admit that they are either somewhat or extremely “collaborative” when they are establishing boundaries, and therefore will work with their partner to establish shared boundaries. Honestly, I was surprised that this number wasn’t higher!

Thinking about what I want from relationships, I wouldn’t be happy if my partner defined their own boundaries independently and didn’t take my feelings into consideration. Unlike the 28 participants who admitted to being “extremely independent”, I feel as though working with a partner to make sure that you both feel heard and your needs are met is the most important thing.

Saying this though, for me, this depends on the type of relationship I have with someone. I am more likely to create boundaries that favour my own desires and feelings if the relationship is less serious. Admittedly, this is because I am less likely to have a trust in someone that has not committed to a serious relationship with me – for obvious reasons – so, if that sense of trust is missing, then I will always prioritise my own needs when it comes

dating? When do you stop seeing other people? When is it the right time to have ‘the talk’? It seems that 118 participants agree with me, and are unsure if they would feel uncomfortable if someone they had been on two dates with went on a date with someone else.

In 2019, I went on a total of three pretty pleasant dates with a guy. And, we all know what they say about the unwritten three date rule! Would I have been uncomfortable if he had gone on a date with someone else? The honest answer is ‘yes, probably’, but we’d had no discussion as to whether we could see other people, and in hindsight I’m pretty glad I didn’t get too attached, because nothing came from it in the end.

The most unsurprising response was that 231 participants would be uncomfortable if their partner(s) sent nude pictures to someone else: pretty self-explanatory, right? But what is the most surprising to me is that 22 participants are either “unsure” or would not feel comfortable if their partner(s) is friends with someone who is the same gender that they are! Correct me if I’m wrong, but surely we’re past the point where gender matters when it comes to friendship?

But that’s another issue for another day.

When I asked participants to leave comments about the scenarios, some of the most frequent answers included the words: “exclusivity”, “trust”, “honesty”, “respect”, “communication” and “context”. For me, this is clear that as long as trust is built through the use

agree with this participants when he states that “jealousy is normal”, however, from my experience, when someone seems to be jealous, to the point where they try to control my life outside of the relationship, I quickly lose interest. A personal boundary, that I’ve always drawn, is that anyone that I have a relationship with needs to support and respect the things that I find important in my life, and while I’m willing to make compromises to help strengthen the relationship, there are things that are more important to me than the relationship itself!

There’s a lot more that I could delve into when it comes to the way that we set boundaries, but I don’t want to proclaim myself as a ‘guru’!

What I have learnt from the 251 responses is that it’s really hide to draw a solid line when it comes to boundaries, but as long as you’re doing your best, then really that’s all you can do, right?

THE

Trouble finding a seat in the Robbo? Housemate won't take out the bins?

Or somoene got your coffee order wrong?

The Courier's Agony Ant is back! Whether you're looking for a helping hand or need to have a little rant; no problem too big or small! So, send us your woes and and we'll do our best to send you some advice.

Your submissions will be published in The Courier, but will remain completely ananymous.

Agony Ant is in collaboration with NUSU's inclusive buddies, who are a diverse bunch of friendly students, including BAME, LGBTQ+, international students and those from lower income backgrounds.

To seek advice from Agony Ant, send your submissions to: m.j.howe1@newcastle. ac.uk Disclaimer: the Agony Ant is not a replacement for the University's Welfare services. If you are struggling with your mental health, or any other welfare issues, we encourage you to reach out for ongoing support from health professionals through the University wellbeing service: ncl.ac.uk/ wellbeing/

Image: Pixabay @fauzan291

COURIER

Illustration: Ella Williams

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COURIER

Monday 27 September 2021

Relationships

Sponsered by Las Iguanas Rate the Date

Annabel, English Lit, 19

Why did you sign up for blind date?

I was greatly encouraged by my wonderful head of section (wonder who that could be) and figured that it's something to cross of the bucket list! As a relationships sub-editor, I have to lead by example What were your first impressions of Robert?

I thought he was really friendly! He told me he was super nervous which I thought was sweet. Overall just nice and polite What was the most awkward moment of the date?

Um I don't really think there was any massively awkward moment. The waitress took a while to get to us whenwe wanted to pay and leave so many then!

What did you have to eat/drink at Las Iguanas?

I had the vegetarian fajita, a glass of Prosecco, a mojito and a Long Island iced tea!

If Robert was a cocktail from Las Iguanas, which one would he be?

Probably a mojito! I feel like a mojito is quite a middle ground drink!

What was something interesting you learnt about Robert?

He's president of the debate society which is pretty cool!

Describe your date in 3 words Nice, chatty and good food (I know that's 4 words but it counts) Finally, will you be meeting Robert for a second date?

I don't think so! We didn't exchange numbers or anything but I was very straight up about not looking for anything serious at the moment

Rate the Date Why did you sign up for blind date?

It was hard to meet anyone during the pandemic and it seemed like it would be fun What were your first impressions of Annabel?

She seemed nice and easy to chat to What was the most awkward moment of the date?

Probably the start, conversation wasn't flowing the easier and I get very nervous.

It got better after drinks, as it usually does What did you talk about?

We just got to know each other, found out about University and the pandemic and hobbies and stuff If Annabel was a drink from Las Iguanas, which would she be?

Probably a mojito because it's nice and literally one of the only drinks I can remember What was something interesting you learnt about Annabel?

That she's incharge of relationship advice for The Courier, so I can confirm you're getting good advice Describe your date in 3 words Awkward but fun Finally, will you be meeting Annabel for a second date?

Probably not, she's lovely but I don't think there was really a spark

Robert, Politics, 22

9

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Monday 27 September 2021

Lifestyle

THE

COURIER

Smart study habits A letter to a fresher

It's important to start the year as you mean to go on! Start these study habits from day one to make the most of your study time Annabel Hogg - Relationships sub-editor

rate from your ‘relaxing space’ is so important.

Whether you enjoy studying in the bustling atmosphere of the library or with fairy lights at your desk, make sure you differentiate work from life.

Less is always more You don’t need to write down everything the lecturer says. That’s it, that’s the tip.

Concentrate on active recall

S

tarting University is one of the most exciting things in life – unfortunately, however, the thrill of the endless freebies and messy nights out of Fresher’s Week goes by in a flash. Somewhere in between losing your Soho virginity and graduation day is your degree, and when that initial buzz dies down, you might find the change a little daunting.

Thankfully though, with the right motivation and study system, University is nothing that you can’t handle. So, without further ado, here are my smart study habits to implement from day one!

Rumour is, if you say ‘flashcards’ three times whilst looking in the mirror you’ll get a 2:1 in all your assignments. On a serious note, active recall is such an effective way of studying. If your degree is science based, then perhaps quick questions and answers will be your thing. If you’re degree is essay based, then write a concept on a piece of paper and write everything around it that you can remember to see how much you understand!

Keep everything organised

If you’re studying an essay-based subject, you may be surprised by the amount of contact time on your timetable – don’t be fooled. After my initial relief seeing I only had two days of teaching last year, it only took a few weeks for me to be up to my neck in scholarly articles and classic novels. If you struggle with self-motivation, it might be a good idea to timetable pre-reading into your week the way you would with proper teaching.

It may sound obvious, but mundane things like having a different folder for each of your modules, starting a new page for every seminar and making sure things are accurately titled is a huge step in academic performance. There’s nothing worse than writing an essay and having to flick through badly presented notes, desperately trying to find what you’re looking for.

Reference as you go Would this really be a study tips article if I didn’t offer this piece of wasted advice? Spend time familiarising yourself with the referencing style and create your bibliography before you even start writing. The last thing you’ll want to do after finishing an essay is google the difference between Harvard and MLA (trust me; I never follow my own advice).

Use a table for research Using a table for research is such a great way of keeping everything easily identifiable. Start with the name and citation of the paper, then how it relates to the question, any key quotes/points and then whether it’s for or against your hypothesis.

This makes things so much easier when it comes to actually planning!

Have a good study space Having a clean and tidy space for work that is sepa-

Remember that contact time isn’t your only work

Have a vague idea of what comes next If you’re studying an essay-based subject, you may be surprised by the amount of contact time on your timetable – don’t be fooled. After my initial relief seeing I only had two days of teaching last year, it only took a few weeks for me to be up to my neck in scholarly articles and classic novels. If you struggle with self-motivation, it might be a good idea to timetable pre-reading into your week the way you would with proper teaching.

Take care of yourself If you take one thing away from this article, please let it be this. 8 hours sleep and something other than a pot noodle every once in a while does a whole lot of good. No student is going to tell you that they’ve never missed a 9am lecture or never gone a day without a single vegetable – it’s simply a rite of passage. But brain food, rest and taking a break when you need it goes a long way.

Y

ou’re frowning at yourself in the mirror of the lift in your student accommodation, furiously dabbing your forehead because you sweat up a storm when you’re nervous and don’t want to be known as ‘Sweaty Girl™’ by your flatmates. Or, at least, that was my first fresher experience. Whether you’re painfully self conscious like I was, stride in with the conviction that everyone is going to love you or are just diving head-first into the unknown, whatever you’re feeling is okay The independence and responsibility of uni life can feel like a heavy weight to bear at first - especially if you’re like me and often either

As someone who always had a really hard time fitting in at school, uni turned out to be exactly what I’d been waiting for accidentally binge an entire Netflix series or end up in Soho instead of being productive.

But lecturers aren’t as scary as they seem - one of mine literally emailed me telling me to have “a nice cup of hot chocolate and watch a silly rom com” when I had a bit of a meltdown once - and you’ll find that one person who finds the time to do all the further reading and knows everything is a minority that you don’t have to compare yourself to. Additionally, when I first moved into halls, I had 0 cooking experience and didn’t know how to switch a washing machine on. Nowadays, I’m quite the domestic goddess if I do say so myself (I made king prawn linguine last night!), and if I can do it, you can too.

The world outside your flat and your course is just as important. Newcastle is such a vibrant city; whether you’re into music, nightlife, art, history, nature, there’s a place for you - so take some time to go out there and find it! The uni is such a diverse community with so much going on, from sport, theatre, volunteering, and of course student media *cough cough*, so there’s every opportunity for you to find your crowd here. As someone who always had a really hard time fitting in at school, uni turned out to be exactly what I’d been waiting for, and is the best thing I ever did. I finally found my people sweaty forehead and all. I have every faith that you will too.

Love from.

- Leanna Thomson, Lifestyle sub-editor

W

Images: Pixabay @saydung89

hatever you’re worrying about is going to fix itself. If you're worried about making friends, keeping up with work or any of the multiple things that made my anxiety skyrocket before starting university. None of it is worth stressing yourself out over. Some of the things I was most worried about when I started are the things I treasure most about it now.

My biggest piece of advice would be to get to know your surroundings but don’t feel like you have to do everything all at once. I know being cooped up in the pandemic has made us all eager to be busy all the time and that's great but being a Fresher is scary enough without pressuring yourself to be constantly social and enjoying yourself. So by all means go out, get to know your flatmates, get involved in societies etc. But it's really not a big deal if you’re not doing stuff at all times. You're going to be in Newcastle for at least three years, you have time to take breaks. On the flip side don’t lock yourself away, I know when you’re homesick this is tempting but balance between being social and having time for yourself is absolutely crucial.

When it comes to actual work for the first few weeks you truly don’t have to worry for the first few weeks. Your lecturers and tutors are well aware that you’re settling in and I promise any academic stress you put on yourself is absolutely unnecessary. Not to sound like a broken record but give yourself time to settle in! Newcastle is an incredibly lovely city and even if it takes time to get used to being here, it will happen!

Love from, - Faye Navesey, Lifestyle sub-editor

A guide to nigh Going clubbing for the first time can be a little daunting, so here's a list of essentials to make life a little easier Molly Taylor - Lifestyle sub-editor

I

t's been a long time coming, but nightclubs are open and students are 'out out' again!

Whether you’re a nightclub veteran, or are going out for the first time, it’s important to be prepared for anything the evening could throw your way. That banister was sticker than you expected? No problem, you’ve got hand sanitiser.

Your card gets declined at the bar? No worries, you’ve got a little spare cash on you. It’s always important to be prepared for whatever a night in the Toon brings, and of course, to have fun as well! So, I present here a list of things you might not have thought of, that I personally carry with me on a night out

1. Bum Bag

Images: Pixabay @no-longer-here Pixabay: @nathallie_art

Shoulder bags are nice, but I have found them to restrict my questionable dance moves.

I realised pretty soon into my university experience that a bum bag is much more practical and allows you to have a good time without worrying that your bag

THE

COURIER

Monday 27 September 2021

Fashion & Beauty

13

Campus Fashion... we're back baby!

Missed us? Our editors kick off of the year by showing us what they'll be wearing upon return to campus this Autumn

Josephine Broome

C

omfort is key to my clothing on campus.

My yellow wool Acne Studios suit is my favourite thing in my wardrobe at the moment, and it’s going to be a dream to layer with as the weather gets colder.

Power suits are my secret weapon when it comes to motivating myself to work, you've got to look the part! This year I’m ditching comically large platform trainers for ASICS neon green running shoes.

My advice for sustainable fashionconscious shoppers on where to get designer bits on a budget this year is Vestiaire Collective.

I’m trying to end my nerve-wracking Depop purchases, spend a little more for quality and wear for longer.

htclub essentials I always bring a very small amount of cash with me on a night out (usually around £10 in smaller notes or change), as well as my card. It’s useful to have a bit on you in case you need to get a taxi home, or your card gets declined.

3. Drink lid This is something that I have invested in recently and has given me peace of mind on a night out.

Although relatively uncommon, drink spiking is something to be aware of, as it can have serious repercussions. Various brands have made drink lids that protect your drink against being spiked, including different designs that are both reusable and disposable.

4. A phone with your location switched on 'Find My Friends' is useful not only from a safety perspective, but also so you can meet up with the friends you didn’t realise were also on a night out.

Although Snapchat has this feature, I've found it to be not as accurate.

Hopefully this list has helped you think about things you haven't considered bringing on a night out before. Of course, safety is vital, but it's also important that you meet new people and have a good time with your friends!

M

y outfit is inspired by my two fashion icons; Stevie Nicks and Lorelai Gilmore.

They taught me that it's impossible for anyone to not look great in heeled boots, flared jeans and a trusty leather blazer. I love turtlenecks more than most (I'm pretty sure I have one in every colour of the rainbow) and I think they look really effective in the autumn and winter months when paired with other staple pieces.

I think that investing in simple pieces of clothing that can create multiple varied looks when paired with other items is a great way of reducing your contribution to fast fashion, whilst on a student budget!

Sophia Ayub

might slip off your shoulder.

2. A small amount of cash

Annabel Hogg

Fashionistas...

The Courier needs YOU! Campus Fashion is making a come back, and we want to showcase your unique style and individuality. We'd love to have your original images and outfits featured in the paper, as well as some text to go alongside these.

Get in touch with our Fashion sub-editors to have your images featured!

Images: Pixabay @HaticeEROL, @janjf93, @200degrees

T

he greatest trend to blossom out of summer 2021 in my opinion, has to be how a multitude of varied brands and labels have embraced such lively shades of varying colours, such as fuchsia, lemon, and my favourite, all the vibrant shades of blue. Now personally before this revival of all things colourful, I would usually never naturally gravitate to this dress solely due to its colour.

However, when I came across it on SHEIN, I simply could not resist. Its seamless silhouette positively shapes my body, displaying a sophisticated, classic appearance. Both its length and cut enables it to remain timeless. Here I’ve accessories this dress with an oversized pinstriped nude shirt from prettylittlething, paired with both beige Balenciaga triple s’s, and a bone Kurt Geiger Kensington bag, both elevating the overall look to create a more high-end illusion.

Both the shirt and shoes I believe paired with the dress immerse the 90s, laid back, casual yet smart appearance, which many people actively seek in their wardrobe, to be both fashionable, yet comfortable. This outfit not only gave me the confidence to move about freely, but also feel truly empowered, but I think I owe that to the glasses. What could embody a more mysterious, in control demeanour, than a pair of teeny glasses, perched perfectly on the tip of your nose?

Monday 27th September 2021

12

Food

Simple Recipe: Marcel Shamshoum – Food sub-editor

The only Ragu sauce recipe you'll ever need: perfect for cooking in bulk, popping in the freezer and reheating at a later date

T

his ragu recipe is one of my personal favorites as its extremely easy to make; suitable for freezing, and can be added to many pastas like tagliatelle or lasagna. Perfect after a long day of studies or work; you just pop it out of the freezer and heat!

First time shopping on your own? Fear not, these five simple steps will make shopping as a student easy as pie!

Scarlett Welch – Food sub-editor

D

oing your own food shopping for the first time can be overwhelming, particularly if you’re new to the area.

It can be difficult to know where to start, so here are some tips to make your food shop a success as a student:

1. Decide on what you’re buying before you get there

- 500g minced beef

If you don’t set yourself a rough amount to stick to then you are far more likely to pick up things

- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil - 120ml red wine or beef stock - 2 tins of finely chopped tomatoes (800g) - 2-3 sprigs fresh thyme - 2-3 sprigs fresh rosemary - Salt and pepper to taste

Method

Step 1: In a large pot, over medium heat add the olive oil. After 2 minutes or when the oil is hot add the pancetta and cook until brown and crispy. Be aware that the pancetta will release a lot of fat; therefore we are going to use this fat to cook our onions. So, add the onions with the pancetta and cook for another 4-5 minutes.

Step 2: Once the onions begin to become transparent, add the beef. At this stage you might feel that there isn’t enough oil in the pan to cook the beef; if so you can add another tbsp of olive oil before adding the meat. Cook until the meat is greyish-brown.

you don’t need which can end up costing you a lot on a weekly basis.

3. Making the journey to a larger shop is worthwhile

In the city centre you will find lots of small, convenient food shops that you can easily walk to.

However, the range at these stores is small and they are not great value for money. By making the journey to a larger supermarket, you will find plenty of cheaper alternatives and a much wider selection so

Online shopping saves you the stress and time of going to a supermarket

Make a shopping list before you go, or at least have a good idea of everything you want to get.

This will stop you from wandering the aisles aimlessly and making impulsive purchases.

It also means that when you get home, you will have got the right ingredients for preplanned meals, rather than lots of random items that you liked the look of in the shop.

2. Similarly, set a budget beforehand

- 1 large yellow onion

COURIER

The Courier's guide to shopping as a student

You will need - 75g diced pancetta (optional)

THE

You'll find yourself in Tesco at some point, so it's worth ordering a Clubcard you are not always eating the same things.

If there isn’t a big supermarket in walking distance, why not split the cost of an Uber with your flatmates? The money you save will make it more than worth it.

4. Alternatively, order your food online

Online supermarkets have the biggest range and you can shop from the comfort of your home. It also saves you lugging back heavy bags of food.

Online shopping saves you the stress and time of going to a supermarket, and it’s the easiest way to search for the best deals, as everything is in one place. Just note, most online shops have a minimum spend so again, it might be worth joining with some flatmates.

5. If you shop at Tesco, get a Clubcard!

Image: Pixabay @prawny

They’re free! They can save you so much money with Clubcard prices and money off vouchers. It’s likely you’ll find yourself in Tesco at some point, so it’s well worth ordering yourself a Clubcard at the start of the year.

The best places to eat and drink in NCL Alice Holmes – Travel sub-editor

Exploring the food scene in a new city can be overwelming, so here's a list of places to visit during your time in Newcastle

T

he Newcastle food scene offers a great variety of cuisines for affordable prices, great for students on a budget. For new students moving to Newcastle, there is an abundance of new places to try.

Here, I’ve compiled a list of the best places to eat and drink, ranging from breakfast to cocktails, Italian restaurants, and Japanese street food.

SOHO NCL

This small Korean and Japanese street food restaurant is nestled beneath St James Park stadium and offers a vast menu and a delicious range

of richly flavoured food in a warm welcoming environment. I would recommend the beef yaki soba and the tebaski chicken wings. They also have a large sushi menu for you to choose from. Insta: sohoncl

UNOS This authentic Italian is situated on the scenic quayside with an affordable menu filled with pasta, pizza, risotto, and plenty of other dishes. It’s a great place for students to go for a classic Italian meal as it’s great value for money with large portion sizes.

They even do a pizza/pasta happy hour with discounted prices for selected hours. Insta: unostrattoria

OLIVE AND BEAN This café, located near Grainger market, serves breakfast and lunch, plus a large selection of delicious cakes and brownies. The fresh and vibrant interior is a great place to sit and try their delicious iced coffees. They also do takeaways if you’re in a

rush. Insta: oliveandbean

HORTICULTURE

This restaurant/bar offers a delightful brunch menu and in the evening a variety of small plates made for sharing. The food is fresh, local, and therefore sustainable and environmentally friendly. Additionally, it tastes amazing and is great for a meal with friends to sample a range of different plates. Their drinks menu is also expansive with over 40 different espresso martinis – you need to try the chocolate orange espresso martini. Insta: horticulturencl

LOLA JEANS Specialising in burgers, their menu is filled with delicious food and cocktails to enjoy in a beautifully decorated environment. The staff are friendly and the service is excellent. I would recommend the buffalo wings to start and either the Korean chicken or Baja fish tacos, both of which were delicious. Equally, this would be a nice place to visit for drinks. Insta: lolajeansnewcastle

Step 3: After the meat has fully cooked, add the wine and deglaze the pan. Then add your herbs, salt and pepper. After the wine has reduced by half, lower the heat and add the tomatoes. Simmer for 15-20 minutes.

Step 4: Once it’s done leave to cool. Then store in airtight containers or heatproof zip lock bags to be stored in the freezer. By all means you can double this recipe or half it for smaller portions. Other than that buon appetite.

Recipe suggestions with ragu : - Lasagna - Chicken parm (you could also do this without the meat)

Photo: @Alice Holmes

Photo: @Alice Holmes

Photo: @Alice Holmes

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COURIER

Monday 27th September 2021

Travel

13

Your senior (editor) citizens on a Metro stop tour!

Take a trip along the Metro Central line with the Senior Team and stop was Central Station, where we headed get to know the best places in the First over to indie favourite spot the Dog and Parrot.

With cheap deals on drinks and cocktails North East George Boatfield, Meg Howe, Muslim Taseer, Hattie Metcalfe, Pete Bath, Elizabeth Meade, & Maud Webster – The Senior Editor Team

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he Tyne and Wear Metro is the perfect way to explore the North East.

Connecting 60 stops, the Metro is a quick and efficient way to get around.

A day saver that would allow you to travel all the way to the coast is £5.40! Newcastle University’s History Society were the inspiration behind this trip: their metro social allows people to explore the city via The Metro, and so The Courier’s Senior Team took on the challenge themselves.

Below are a few words of encouragement from the HistSoc Committee, if you fancy taking on The Metro, too!

"They say that imitation is the highest form of flattery, which I suppose is why the Courier is copying the History Society’s annual MetroLine pub crawl. HistSoc has been running this infamous social for years and as a veteran of 2 of them I thought I’d give you some top tips on how to survive the day. First – buy yourself a day saver metro pass, trust me you’ll save more than you would on a Popcard.

Second – make sure you know your way around the metro beforehand, don’t end up stuck going the long way round like I did as a fresher! Third – there’s no shame in a half pint or a glass of water, it’s a long day after all. And finally, of course, have fun and enjoy getting to see more of Newcastle!"

-Izzy King (President)

(especially the legendary trebs), classic indie music as well as great vibes all round, it’s no wonder that it’s one of the most student-friendly places in town. But say it was a little too early for drinks - I probably would’ve dragged the seniors over to Pink Lane coffee. Their single origin coffee is ethically and responsibly sourced, so rest assured your caffeine fix is coming from a good place! It’s pretty good for your bank too, with coffee (cold brew or hot) only coming in at a couple of quid, but the pastries and cake are a tempting add-on…

Monument Monument can be seen as the bustling heart of the metro, a station which connects green and yellow, and offers metros running in all four geographical directions. Disembark here and emerge in the middle of toon, with Northumberland, Grainger and Grey streets all at your feet. Some highlights I can offer you: the Stack, just a few metres away from the metro, Grainger Market, which sells very cheap veg, and of course Monument itself, a tall statue nodding to Charles (Earl) Grey (yes, the tea guy).

The Stack is a jungle of ex-shipping containers, with different food (some incredible options) and drink outlets on offer. Though it’s on the pricier side, for the location and vibe it’s a nice place to start your night out, or to have a couple of drinks, or to go for food. Monument is also round the corner from Grainger Market, an indoor market dating back decades. All kinds of things are on offer, and I can recommend getting your fruit and veg here it’s waaay cheaper than you’ll find in Tesco. If chain stores are more your thing, Monument is very close to Newcastle’s main shopping streets as well as the big ol’ Eldon Square. I can also recommend the top of the Eldon Square Car Park for nice views of the centre of town.

Japanese street food outlet Shijo. Their veg gyoza curry is highly recommended. Nearby, your food options include all the usual chains, of which Greggs is the only choice for the real Geordie experience.

On an night out, Five Swans Wetherspoons round the corner is a student favourite due to cheap pints, while The Hancock also has a fun atmosphere thanks to student discounts, music and live sports.

There's also The Percy Arms, The Hotspur, and of course Luther's in the Student's Union. If you're looking for less alcohol-heavy destinations, there's a bubble tea shop, a Cafe Nero and plenty of other cafes and restaurants right outside.

West Jesmond West Jesmond. An eclectic mix of retiree and student coming together to live in a posh neighbourhood like no other. The home of the Rah (and Wittgenstein, briefly in the 40s!). This stop is home to a large portion of Newcastle's student population, and is a great place to live or to visit!

Stepping out of the Metro station, you'll see student favourite pub 'The Lonsdale', which holds events such as quizzes and poker nights every week. If a beer garden or a bar is more your style, just a few minutes away is the famed Osborne

missing a trick.

Anyway, our attention promptly switched to an extremely attentive and four-legged staff member of this stranded contraption. A DOG! This little chap was a joy, but didn’t do a great job of showing us to a table. In fact, it was more the case that we were the ones who needed to do the guiding.

Elsewhere in Jesmond is the serene Jesmond Dene, and plenty of nourishing eateries along the way in the form of Aidan’s Kitchen and Little Green Social. And despite being in ‘student central’, this particular stop was nice and secluded, with few interruptions to the pints and paws.

Whitly Bay Do you like the beach? Do you like the breeze? Do you like taking Instagram-ready shots of seagulls squawking at you and eating your chips? Then Whitley Bay is for you!

If you like fish and chips, mushy peas, ice cream, and other snacks like fried halloumi with curry sauce, there are plenty of places to get them here.

There are some little shops as well, including For the Love of the North, which is known for its Northern-themed tea towels and art prints. I got my mother a tea towel of the northeast of England so she would have something from the place I'm going to school, as she's back in the US.

Haymarket "I will warn you now, prepare yourself.

If you are daring to go on a metro crawl, be ready to be in it for the long hall. Our metro crawls normally start at midday and end a full 11 hours later, so it really is a long day. I have a very vivid memory of sitting in a pub in Tynemouth with all my friends, none of us talking to each other and looking like zombies because of how exhausted we were. However, it is an unmissable experience. As students, we tend to stick with the hustle and bustle of busy town centres but events like these are a fantastic opportunity to explore the unknown with friends new and old."

- Eloise McGeady (Charities Officer)

Next on the line is Haymarket. The closest stop to campus, any new students can expect to see a lot of this one. If you're way out in West Jesmond there's no shame in sacking off the walk to uni and getting the Metro here to get to lectures. Along with St James', it's also the closest Metro station to a lot of student accommodation, so if you're planning a trip to the suburbs or a day at the beach this might be stop for you.

The last of the central Newcastle stations before Jesmond, Haymarket has good access to both Newcastle and Northumbria campuses as well as Northumberland Street, the main high street for shopping in the Toon.

The station itself is hard to miss. As well as the Metro, the big dome at the top of Percy Street and Northumberland Street also houses shops including a barbers, a bank, and the brilliant

Photo: Meg Howe

Road, a street stuffed with pubs and bars. There's more to do than just drink, however. If you're looking for a bite to eat there's no place better than Pollo on Acorn Road, a great chicken place with incredible shawarmas and burgers. On the same road is a Tesco Metro for all your shopping needs, an ice cream parlour called 'Local' and a bagel place! Happy Eating!

If you're looking to walk around a bit and see some sights, make your way down to St. George's Church (You'll see the spire), which has a lush courtyard perfect for picnicking or just relaxing.

Or head down to Jesmond Dene, one of the prettiest places in the city and home to St. Mary's Chapel, a major pilgrimage site over 900 years old! According to local legend, an apparition of the Virgin Mary was seen there shortly after the Norman conquest. Spooky Drinks, food, shopping and religious pilgrimage, West Jesmond truly has it all!

Jesmond

Photo: George Boatfield

Our journey may have begun at Central Station, but only at Jesmond did we truly reach the student hub of the North East…

Right from leaving the metro, we swerved between suburb and subway until we quickly found our destination in The Carriage. A fitting location for a social like this one, much of The Carriage’s seating is housed within a repurposed train interior. This immediately conjured up thoughts of my hometown York, and the spectacular National Railway Museum. What are they doing not having a pub like this? True, most of the carriages in their possession serve as exhibits, but they really are

MORE FROM THE HISTORY SOCIETY...

The History Society is a fun and welcoming place for all history lovers, whether you study history or not! As a society we run regular socials, such as our infamous White T-Shirt social (taking place this year on September 30th), and the Metro Line social as well as many more throughout the year.

But we don’t neglect our academic roots – our pub lectures are always a hit with staff and students alike. And not to forget our Winter and Summer balls which are the highlight of our calendar. If you are at all interested in joining HistSoc please buy your membership, follow our socials, and join us for a brilliant year!

Follow the History Society for regular updates!

Instagram: @histsocncl Izzie King, President: I.King2@Newcastle.ac.uk

Monday 27th September 2021

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Student Media

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Welcome to Student Media! Get involve Here's to kicking off a year of student-led collaborations. Getting involved in these projects starts right here George Boatfield - Editor | editor.union@newcastle.ac.uk

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ourteen pages into this Welcome Issue, you may be wondering what goes into making The Courier.

Essentially, it’s produced for students by students. That means that The Courier needs content by you to fill these pages.

Contributing to the paper is so straightforward, and no experience is needed in order to write articles, take photos or produce artwork for The Courier. You’ll get feedback on your creations in order to help you grow and learn. Sharing knowledge is something that the positive, creative Student Media community at Newcastle does so well.

Each sub-section is overseen by a senior team member, so if you're struggling to find a point of contact, please feel free to reach out to one of us. To help you get to know us all a little better, we've got a set of introductions here on this page.

As for getting involved, please reach out with an email (check page 2) to hear about our next Student Media Afternoon (SMA) or to pitch your own content ideas. The first SMA will take place on Wednesday 6th October, and generally take place on Wednesdays during term time. Until then, be sure to keep an eye out on email and social media for more details!

George, Editor in Chief

Muslim, Deputy Editor

Elizabeth, Head of Current Affairs

Hi everyone, I'm George Boatfield. I came to Newcastle for a degree in Journalism, but I stayed for The Courier, our incredible student newspaper. A strong interest in games media meant that I quickly found myself writing for The Courier's Gaming section. Before long, I was a Gaming sub-editor, and then a part of the senior team. There, my interests shifted from the subject of video games to the task of helping people better engage with their own interests through this creative medium. Now, I feel blessed to say that I'm the custodian of our wonderful Student Media community.

Hiya, I’m Muslim Taseer, a third year Law student. As my degree’s famously an absolute breeze I thought I’d take up even more responsibility and be the Mark Antony to George’s Julius Ceaser. I started out for the Courier with some gaming pieces for George (the first of which I completely forgot to submit) before branching out to other sections that tickled my fancy, like Comment and Music. When second year rolled around, I joined the Comment sub-ed team - one of the most fulfilling experiences I’ve had at Newcastle. This year, as your Deputy, I implore you to reach out with questions, pitches; anything you’ve got.

Hi, my name is Elizabeth Meade, and I'm starting my third year of studying Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry, with the ultimate goal of conducting my own original research. I have previously been a Science sub-editor, but have also written for every section of the Courier. Most of my work relates to Science, Comment, and Arts, but all of it has a touch of mischief. I am passionate about cooking, obscure films, gaming sociology, and rock albums.

When I’m not working on The Courier, I am interested in chaos (mathematical or otherwise), environmental activism, and crossword puzzles. I can’t wait to meet the rest of the team this year!

Learn to broadcast at your best with NUTV Miles Ogden - Deputy Production Manager | NUTV

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UTV is Newcastle's fastpaced student television station. It is home to scores of original shows and live broadcasts, all of which are filmed, produced and edited by fellow students.

Founded in 2007, it is the youngest of the three branches of student media, but while it lacks in years it most certainly does not in enthusiasm. We are always on the lookout for interested students, exiting events to cover, and the tightest shots throughout the university year. Do you have a yearning to create something, but never had the equipment, know-how, or a team of lovely people to make it happen? Have you ever wanted to get in front of a camera or work behind the scenes, but never had the opportunity? Well, then NUTV is the place for you.

We aim to be a platform for as many students as possible, regardless of your prior experience, the course you study or where your passion lies. And

like all the best things in life, and all the branches of student media, we are completely free to join.

Some of our most popular shows over the years are the glorious Fight Night, the gripping NUSU election coverage and the enlightening Societies Spotlight. This year we aim to produce new shows and bring back old favourites, spanning news, sports, entertainment and more. There will be plenty of opportunities to get hands-on experience using our extensive collection of professional kit, no matter if you’re a pro or have never heard of a ‘TV’ before reading this.

After a year of hibernation, now is the best time to get stuck in the middle of the action through

the camera lens. Whether you want to present a show, produce from behind the scenes, or flex your editing muscles, come check out NUTV! We shall be hosting a welcome meeting for all new and returning members on the 30th of September, the details of which can be found on our social media accounts.

More information about NUTV is available on our page on the NUSU website, and our full back catalogue of shows is hosted on our NUTV YouTube channel. Get in touch with any questions or queries at NUTV.union@ ncl.ac.uk or through social media.

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Monday 27th September 2021

Student Media

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ed in NSR, NUTV or this very newspaper

Meg, Head of Life & Style

Hattie, Head of Culture

Maud, Head of Culture

Peter, Head of Sport

Ey-up! I’m Meg and I’m the Head of Life and Style this year. I’m in my final year of my History degree, specialising in enslavement in the USA. I first wrote for The Courier in my first year, which was a piece on the death of Caroline Flack for the lifestyle section (very serious, I know). Since then, I’ve written a lot of personal stuff including an article on female masturbation and a note to my younger self. Student Media has become such a huge part of my life, and has really defined my University experience. I’ve met some of my best friends, and have really embraced the supportive community that comes along with it.

Heya! My name's Hattie and I’m your co-Head of Culture this year alongside Maud, as well as being in my third year of studying English Literature.

Student Media (but especially this lovely looking paper) is one of the best things I’ve ever got involved with at uni, and I’m lucky to have found an incredible family of friends at The Courier. I started writing in my first year of uni, with a review of the fifth season of Peaky Blinders, where I gushed over IDLES music in the soundtrack and Cillian Murphy’s performance. I can’t wait to see what the team produces this year - it’ll be brilliant and I’m so honoured to play a role in helping it come together.

Howdy, I’m Maud and I’m your co-Head of Culture this year (alongside Hattie!). If you have any questions about our sections I’m happy to field them! I think my first article for The Courier was about diabetes, but I’ve written for most sections since and my favourite topics to write about are complaints about the UK’s rail infrastructure and probably political pieces. I love The Courier (and Student Media more generally) because of the friends I’ve found, opportunities I’ve been given to improve my writing, editing and illustration skills. It’s definitely been the highlight of my university experience so far, and it could always be yours too...!

I’m Peter, and I’m starting my third year of English Literature. I’ve been working on the Courier for all that time - first as a writer, then as an Arts sub-editor, and I’m really excited to put together the Sports section this year. The Courier is such a great environment, and it’s given me the chance to make some great friends and write about the stuff I’m interested in.

When I’m not studying or in the Courier office, I follow and have played football and cricket - I’m a decent centre-back and a rubbish fast bowler respectively. The rest of my time is split between Twitter and tending to the herbs in my garden.

The student voice with a soundrack: this is NSR Joshua Watson - Deputy Station Manager | NSR

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SR is both the voice and soundtrack to your time at Newcastle University. Whether you're tuning into our Breakfast Flagship show hosted by a wide range of Student voices or our late-night alternative music sets, there's something there for you.

We have a wide range of shows available on NSR, playing the full gamut of music genres byond chart music. With over 100 shows each week, we are sure you’ll find at least one of are talented

presenters fits your radio taste. This includes a multitude of shows presented by all the best societies – so there will always be a show for you. We also work with many societies, performing live DJ sets at their socials which is a great place for future turn-table masters to learn and improve.

By far the largest live event we participate in is Fight Night, where we perform a wide range of roles from punditry to interviewing the contestants – a great way to practise your journalistic skills. If you fancy yourself being the next Scott Mills or Greg James, we offer a variety of different workshops from stations such as BBC Radio 1 and Global throughout the year to express that a job in radio is a feasible and exciting post graduate career option! It's also worth mentioning that, like all of Student Media, the whole operation of NSR is run by students. This means that there are opportunities available across every element of the production pipeline. If you'd like to get in touch to find out more, please send an email to nsr.stationmanager@newcastle.ac.uk As for listening in, you can tune into NSR through our website (thisisnsr.co.uk) and on your smart speaker. And who knows, you may even hear us being broadcast around campus!

Monday 27th September 2021

16 -+-+

Puzzles

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0

Roll a dice each turn to determ end of a year, your next turn sta first player to get to the end of t

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Monday 27th September 2021

Puzzles

Word Wheel

mine how far you move. When you get to the arts from the first space of the next year. The their third year is the winner.

Create as many words as you can which are three words or longer using the word wheel above - you can only use each letter once, and each word must contain the centre letter. Can you find the word which uses all 9 letters?

Sudoku Welcome 2021 Difficulty: Easy

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Monday 27th September 2021

Music

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Newcastle’s music menu: the best venues about Toon Nevermind battle of the bands, what about the venues they play in?

O2 Academy offers some good shows from touring bands and artists (as well as a WIDE range of tribute bands - Fleetingwood Mac or Antarctic Monkeys, anyone?). Be warned the bar is very pricey (I still have a vendetta from first year) but overall it’s a pretty nice, mediumish-sized venue.

Upcoming gigs include Rag’n’Bone Man (3/10), Easy Life (11/10) and Sleaford Mods (24/10).

If classical music is more your thing, you can hop across the Tyne to the massive, glinting, sil-

Image: Wikimedia Commons (john Lee Cockton )

The bar is very pricey (I still have a vendetta from first year) but overall it’s a pretty nice, mediumishsized venue.

Check out the Utilita if you fancy seeing the eclectic mix of JLS, Rick Astley or Sam Fender.

With a capacity of 11,000, the Utilita can be found to the east of the city just by the river and is the largest concert venue in the North East. Huge names in the music industry have played here over the past couple of decades, including Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Justin Bieber, Cher and bands such as The

Image: Wikimedia Commons (john)

I

f you’re a live music fan and have just moved to Newcastle, get ready to be spoiled with choice when it comes to venues to see your favourite artists grace the stage. Gig venues of all shapes and sizes can be found all around the city - from huge events with big headliners at the Utilita Arena, to more intimate, up-and-coming talent at the Ouseburn’s Cluny.

Round the corner from the station, Newcastle’s

Backstreet Boys, Take That and Little Mix. Check out the Utilita if you fancy seeing the eclectic mix of JLS (22/10), Rick Astley (12/11) or Sam Fender (18/11).

In Newcastle’s hipster district, the Ouseburn, you can find the Cluny - a pub / music space which hosts a huge range of up-and-coming artists covering many genres. The Cluny’s playing host to Liz Lawrence (3/10), Joesef (12/10) and Porridge Radio (9/11) if any of these take your fancy.

This is just a little preview into the venue offerings Newcastle can bestow upon you.

There's heaps of other places playing all kinds of live music so be sure to make your own discoveries!

If you have a favourite place you’d love to rave about in writing, get in touch with one of our music editors and share your thoughts with the Courier’s readers.

Image: Wikimedia Commons (Raph_PH)

Maud Webster - Head of Culture

ver building called the ‘Sage’ (it looks a little like a big metallic slug… but that’s for acoustic reasons).

You can cop student tickets to Royal Northern Sinfonia shows for a fiver a piece - and this includes a free beer, if you need some persuasion.

Your campus has it’s very own music venue - aptly named ‘Venue’ - which you can find below Luthers in the main student union building. It hosts frequent club nights as well as booking many solo acts and bands on tours.

Artists playing the SU soon include Inhaler (1/10), Beabadoobee (2/10) and HRVY (18/10).

The soundtrack to Freshers Week

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ou’ll definitely notice a theme with these songs; unless I’m really sad, I tend to listen to upbeat music that fills me with some kind of happiness and joy. As many of you can probably relate, music is such hugely emotive to me and without getting too soppy, it’s pretty hard to share how much listening to music improves my day!

As a Fresher, I always had music playing, and now many of my favourite songs have significant memories from my first year attached to them. So, without further a-do, if there was a soundtrack for my Freshers’ experience, this would be it…

When I’m missing home, all I want to do is remember why I moved away and my reasons for being at university; On Top of the World

by Imagine Dragons does exactly that! This

I don’t think it’s even possible to have a successful party without a bit of ABBA! Dancing Queen is the obvious choice, everyone knows all the lyrics and it’s easy to get everyone in the party spirit. Plus, you can really channel your inner Donna and pretend you ran away to Greece.

I think that anything by the Arctic Monkeys gets me in the dancing spirit and helps me forget anything that was on my mind - but especially R U Mine? I can dance around my room and pretend that I’m right at the front of an Arctic Monkeys concert.

Plus, it makes me feel like a bad b*tch!

The best song to listen to while you wash the dishes has to be Ophelia by The Lumineers. Ophelia has lyrics and rhythm that are super catchy, and it won’t take you long at all to have the have this tune in your head 24/7. I realise this isn’t the most upbeat rhythm, but it does have a pretty groovy guitar riff!

Image: YouTube (LoFi Girl)

Image: Wikimedia Commons (Lucas Tavares)

song makes me feel so powerful and reminds me how I feel when I’m not missing home.

I’m such a sucker for learning lyrics and then belting them out at the top of my lungs, so it’s super important that when I study I don’t have any lyrics to distract me from the work in front of me. Not only do lo-fi acoustic tunes have no lyrics, but they also have a muchneeded destressing rhythm to help me focus.

Meg Howe - Head of Life & Style

Monday 27th September 2021

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Film

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There's no place like home! So what's on at the movies

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Image: IMDb

fter 18 months of a Cinema-less void, the world of film had shrunk into our tv’s, laptops and god forbid, our mobile cellular devices. While I had ventured out into post apocalyptic streets of Newcastle in 2021 to watch Cruella, Spiral and (most crucially) Godzilla vs. Kong, none of these titles had given me that iconic eye widening cinematic sensation (you’ve seen that cineworld advert, you know the one).

What started as a reluctant capitulation to my boyfriends wish to use this film as a chance to practice Mandarin turned into a surprisingly thrilling cinema going experience.

The witty sense of humour (carried excellently by sidekick Katy (Aw kwaf ina)), the likeable and believable cast of heroes, villains, antiheroes and sidekicks

and the smooth, dance-like fight scene choreography was topped off with a cgi spectacle finish that felt much more creative and bold than the shallow and unsatisfying endings of Marvel’s past. The 130 minute run time did seem a little gruelling at first but the time flies by thanks to the films use of building tension and excellent pacing. While the film is following the inter-dimensional super-baddy trope that phase 4 of the MCU seems really passionate about, Shang-Chi is tied back to earth with a heartbreaking tale of family, grief and reconciliation that makes this comic book movie stand out from the oversaturated crowd.

If you’ve been sat on the fence about returning to the cinema, Shang-Chi has the extravagant visuals and sound design that I feel can only the truly appreciated on the big screen, and it certainly isn’t one you want to miss.

Image: in

stagram

@ Tynes

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George Bell - Film sub-editor

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ince returning to Newcastle, it would be a lie to say I haven't been living in the cinema. With so many titles to catch up on over the past year, I needed to get my fix - and with Tyneside reopen and Cineworld around the corner I took every available chance I could to go. While not every film was great (cough cough Snake Eyes cough cough), every time I was in that dark room with the big screen was the best feeling after not having it for so long. Being able to switch off from the outside world for a couple of hours was something I took advantage of before, but after months of constant social media and a never-ending stockpile of bad news, it was the best feeling ever.

As I mentioned, recently I've been to the cinema a lot. Seeing a healthy, if not weird, range of films from Free Guy (2021) and Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins (2021) to The Sparks Brothers (2021) and Another Round (2020). But while it may not have been my favourite movie of the bunch, one of my favourite moviegoing experiences was watching Pig (2021) starring Nicholas Cage and Alex Wolff.

Showing at Tyneside, I didn't expect many people to be at the Pig screening and I only went myself to see Nick Cage be angry over a pig for two hours. But to my surprise, the screening was actually busy.

While initially, I was worried about so many people in a close place, I realised that everyone was social distancing, masks were worn and, most of all,

they were eager to watch this film. The bustle of people moving to get to their seats, the rustle of popcorn already half-eaten before the film started and hushed voices really brought me back to a time before COVID and made me even happier to be back in the cinema. During the film, there were laughs and gasps, screams of anger (mostly from Nicholas) and the best part of being in the cinema - being able to watch films with others but be as alone as you want to be.

Do I know if everyone enjoyed the film? No. But I like to think that everyone enjoyed the experience. Laughs were had and at least some aspect of normalcy returned. And I hope that as you all come back to Newcastle, you get to experience the same thing.

Now excuse me while I go book several more film screenings.

Image: IMDb

Michael Duckworth - Gaming sub-editor

Spilling the tea Having a faced a number of serious allegations last year, Tyneside cinema is reopening under new leadership. But what's changed?

Claire Maggie Dowens -Arts sub-editor

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t’s no secret that Newcastle’s beloved Tyneside Cinema has faced turbulent times over the course of the past year.

Last July, over 200 current and former employees signed a statement accusing the management of mishandling workplace harassment and sexual abuse allegations. The statement detailed how current and former staff were “dismayed by the accounts of how complaints of this kind [had] been dealt with by the organisation” and that “until these issues [were] addressed, Tyneside Cinema [would] remain a workplace that [was] neither safe nor inclusive.”

Following this, the cinema’s Board of Trustees announced a comprehensive independent review into all aspects of its workplace culture.

A total of 74 recommendations were issued to help transform the cinema into a safe working environment.

The review, conducted by Turning Moment, identified that there had been serious failings in the cinema’s management, governance,

procedures, and behaviours. It was revealed that issues of sexual assault had been catastrophically mishandled, ignored or even kept under wraps by previous managers and current senior managers.

In addition, it was identified that across some parts of the cinema, a toxic workplace culture had been allowed to prevail which resulted in employees being subjected to intimidating and bullying behaviours. It was made clear that the cinema had failed considerably in protecting employees’ rights and a total of 74 recommendations were issued to help transform the cinema into a safe working environment.

Tyneside Cinema has since undergone dramatic changes in its attempts to steer back on course.

In September 2020, both the Chair of the Board of Trustees, Lucy Armstrong and Chief Executive Officer, Holli Keeble resigned. None of the staff implicated in any of the serious issues identified by the independent review continues to work for the cinema.

Our efforts to make Tyneside Cinema fit for purpose, now and in the future, are genuine.

In November 2020, Simon Drysdale was appointed as Interim CEO. Working closely with the senior management team, Simon has ensured that the urgent recommendations outlined in the report from the independent review have been successfully implemented. Having been forced to close its doors over the past year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they finally reopened in July. Commenting on its radical transformation, Simon Drysdale said: “We invite all those who love the cinema to come and experience for themselves the difference in how we are working. Our efforts

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Monday 27th September 2021

21 Film The repercussions of COVID on the industry With the film industry establishing its 'new normal', just how serious has COVID been for the movies?

we now look for to sharing No Time To Die next year”.

Other films, such as Christopher Nolan’s Tenet were not so lucky and only reached $41 million in the US when released in 2020.

The international earnings were better at $280 million, however, the lack of the film’s success in the US was

Jess Bradbury - Film sub-editor

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ven though COVID restrictions have eased now to the point where cinemas are back open for business, planning a trip to watch the latest blockbuster film still feels like a nostalgic event. But there’s no denying that the recovery for the film industry is going to take time as the far-reaching effects of the virus still come to light.

Possibly the most damaging repercussion of the pandemic to the industry was the force placed on companies to delay the release of their films. Most infamously, the 25th instalment of James Bond, and Daniel Craig’s last outing as the character, has been pushed back three times in total since the pandemic started - its first release date was scheduled for April 2020, then to November of the same year. But with the virus still rampant around the world, it was then delayed to April 2021, before once again being pushed back to October 8th as cinemas remained shut earlier this year.

It is a move that was seen by companies as the best way to protect their films from box office failure and in a statement last year MGM, Universal and the Bond producers simply said: “We understand the delay will be disappointing to our fans but

Many people postlockdown have chosen to stick with streaming rather than visit a screening.

due to the remained closure of cinemas in three main markets - New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

A week later, Warner decided to push Wonder Woman 1984 from October to Christmas due to similar concerns about box office underperformance.

Similarly, Disney pushed back the release of multiple films and eventually came to the decision to s i mu lt an e ou s l y

screen in cinemas and offer them on Disney+ for a premium fee. But whilst these companies try to protect their potential earnings, the knock-on effect for cinemas is a huge one, as many people post-lockdown have chosen to stick with streaming rather than visit a screening.

Moreover, it’s not just the financial side of the industry that COVID has had an impact on. Filming itself on multiple sets had to be shut down due to cast and crew members testing positive, something which has major implications down the line for its success. In a viral clip, actor Tom Cruise was heard last December ranting at the production crew on the set of Mission Impossible 7 for allegedly ignoring COVID-19 safety protocols.

He admitted later on that he had become emotional at the prospect of the set being shut down after it had already experienced two delays in filming.

It still remains to be seen how quickly the industry can fully bounce back.

Image: IMDb

Image: IMDb

Image: IMDb

Many other projects experienced the same thing, but with rather less shouting from their lead star, and to this day it still remains to be seen how quickly the industry can fully bounce back.

on Tyneside and events, and how to apply for membership, visit tynesidecinema. com.

Image: instagram @ Tynesidecinema

to make Tyneside Cinema fit for purpose, now and in the future, are genuine. We want as many people as possible to join us in celebrating the changes we have made.”

Last month saw the successful reopening of the cinema’s quirky café and its stylish streetside coffee and cocktail bar Vicolo. With an exciting array of screenings from groundbreaking independent films to huge blockbusters including the highly-anticipated, latest James Bond instalment, No Time to Die, set to be shown at the end of the month, it’s clear that the Tyneside Cinema is well under way to being restored to its former glory. I’m confident that movie magic has returned to the iconic venue’s screens, issues have been rectified and that most importantly, a safe working environment has been achieved.

We reached out to Simon Drysdale for comment, who told us that "huge amounts of work have done here at the Cinema to address issues and ensure the safety and happiness of both staff and guests."

Students can also apply for a Young Tyneside membership which offers 10% off tickets and hospitality at the cinema. For more information and updates on the review, as well as screenings

A

t Newcastle University’s FilmSociety, we have a screening at the beginning of every week on campus where we show all kinds of movies, and even have an option for members to make their own suggestions.

We also host non-weekly events like bar crawls, cinema trips and our annual spring ball. We host weekly writers room/production workshops where members can be given the chance to write and produce their own short films. We then showcase these in our own yearly Student Film Festival.

We have a weekly radio show where any of our members can go on and discuss the topic of the week!

If you want to talk all things film, we have a weekly radio show where any of our members can go on and discuss the topic of the week!

If you would be interested in joining the society, sign up at: https://www.nusu.co.uk/getinvolved/ societies/society/filmsoc/ or like our Facebook page: @newcastlefilmsoc and we look forward to seeing you there!

Monday 27th September 2021

22

Arts

THE

COURIER

Dazed andConfused:Which Shit Statues: Campus Edition books represent our twenties?

Peter Bath

C

— Head of Sport

Becca Alexander

W — News sub-editor

hether you’re twenty two and fresh out of third year, swapping late night hip flasks for early morning hot flasks, or twenty four and still in the job that was only supposed to be for the summer of 2017 – finding your feet as a twenty-something can be tiring.

Reared in a society that dedicates most of its resources to preparing the individual for a life of mindless work, it is of no surprise that many of us reach young adulthood teetering on the brink of existential crisis. Though popular culture is filled with unwelcome reminders of vibrant young lifestyles – those which for many of us are frankly unattainable – a growing branch of contemporary literature appears to grant our troubled minds some further representation.

In fact, writings concerned with the difficulties of being at such a fragile age are now so common it is not unusual to find a selection of novels, say on BookTok, grouped into ‘books for aimless twenty-somethings’. Perhaps at the top of this assortment we would find at least one novel

by Sally Rooney. Whether it’s exploring the emotional turmoil of holding down romantic relationships in her widely successful second novel Normal People or investigating the complexities of modern friendships and relationships in her debut Conversations with Friends, Rooney has an undeniable talent for making relatable characters that create an almost instant attachment to the reader.

Rooney has an undeniable talent for making relatable characters that create an almost instant attachment to the reader.

Though Rooney’s novels are works of fiction, memoirs – like that of Dolly Alderton – also make important contributions to this area of literature. Everything I Know About Love is a highly emotive yet strikingly humorous first-hand account of Alderton’s twenties. Filled with stories of hilariously bad dates, a dangerous relationship with alcohol, and heart-wrenching periods of grief, Alderton reminds us that one of the most

constant forces in our life is that of friendship.

Though some relationships may bitterly pass before us, there is deep comfort in the fact that the durability of companionship is far greater than the disappointment of a rejected job application.

Image: Penguin via Amazon

Combining elements of fiction and reality is the slightly lesser-known novel of Saltwater, by the North-East’s own Jessica Andrews. Saltwater closely follows protagonist Lucy on her journey from her hometown of Sunderland to her new undergraduate life in London, a plight similar to the authors own. Saltwater poignantly confronts issues of class and identity at university, considering how feelings of inadequacy can penetrate far into a sense of self-worth that is carried forth into later life.

Though all of these novels have their differences, each woman tells a familiar story – either of her own or of another – that will resonate with many a young person grappling with growing up and all that comes with. Perhaps the way our conversations and our shelves are filled with stories of others entering their second decade with a lacking sense of purpose and direction is proof that we aren’t supposed to have it all figured out just yet. We’re doing okay.

Image: rosalind_art via Instgram

ampus can be a pretty bleak place when you’re trudging to a 9 A.M. lecture, and from piles of rust to giant heads, the uni has made some *interesting* attempts to spruce things up. The Courier has its say on the best and worst…

Generation The three colossal heads which sit at the heart of the main campus are pretty cool, actually.

Created by Newcastle alumnus Joseph Hollier, each represents a different age of industry, with an angular bronze sculpture, then a realistic steel head, followed by a stainless steel web-like one. A lot of the abstract stuff can just blend in with the other junk on campus, but these are pretty hard to miss. There is something creepy about the way the giant eyes stare out at you while you’re off to a seminar, though.

The Clasp It’s pretty impressive that Newcastle has a piece

by Angel of the North sculptor Antony Gormley on campus, and it’s given pride of place in front of the Students’ Union. But this heap of rusty metal doesn’t exactly liven up the place. It’s got all the rust of the Angel of the North and none of the angel.

Like a cast iron game of Tetris got left out in the rain. Sorry, Tony.

Spiral Nebula Sculptor Geoffrey Clarke built this spiky grey thing to go along with the Herschel Building when it was put up in 1962. To be fair, it was probably very edgy in the 60s.

Today though, the sculpture has lost its edge but none of its repulsiveness. The story goes that the piece originally had a shiny aluminium coat, but it was upstaging the new Herschel building and so the architect had it painted grey, which might explain why it’s like that.

A letter to the Courier at the time described it as a "repulsive object" and expressed regret that isn't "combustible".

Three Mosaic Murals Another piece of abstract art from around the time the uni was expanding and breaking off from Durham, Dorothy Annan’s murals on the wall above the Courtyard restaurant in the Old Library Building are actually decent. They depict figures which are supposed to symbolise space travel, architecture and mining, for some reason. Unlike Geoffrey Clarke’s effort at that post-war futurist look, these are neither an eyesore nor outdated.

Naturally, then, t h e y ’r e tucked away, too high up to get a proper look at, and they blend into the brickwork, to ensure they don’t brighten anyone’s day on campus.

Image: Gerard Loughlin via Twitter

by Jon Deery Travel

Campus

Fresh dandelion

Another year arrives,

Seeds blown to fertile fields,

Asks last year for directions;

Taking root, anew

We're new to here too.

Wristband

Fresher

Wristband is a loop,

The overwhelming

Ouroboros of nightclubs,

Tastes, too much too sweet too soon,

Changed by every wrist

Will pass. Eat while fresh.

THE

COURIER

Monday 27th September 2021

Gaming

23

Local multiplayer to get to know your new housemates Joseph Caddick gives some suggestions for great multiplayer games you can challenge your new housemates to!

Joseph Caddick — Puzzles sub-editor

M

oving in with new people is a big adjustment and breaking the ice can be a tricky task. But there’s no better way to break the ice than with a little bit of friendly competition, and here are some of the best local multiplayer games to get the ball rolling!

Mario Kart: When you think of local multiplayer, Mario Kart is one of the first games that comes to mind. The combination of luck and skill makes it both approachable and satisfying to play (except for when a Blue Shell makes you lose first place).

The amount of playful trash talk that this game can generate is unparalleled, and I love it all the more for that. As some people bring older consoles to university with them, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe may not be your only Mario Kart fix on campus.

Mario Party: In a similar vein to its racing counterpart, the Mario Party franchise is chaotic and exciting in equal measure.

When a player’s Star gets stolen it’s always as frustrating as it is hilarious, and despite how competitive it can get, everyone ends up getting invested in the game and has a great time. And with Mario Party Superstars coming out at the end of next month, there’s going to be a whole new selection of minigames and boards for people to enjoy soon.

Super Monkey Ball: You can tell that this franchise started out as an arcade game, because it’s capable of creating the same atmosphere as when everyone crowds that one arcade cabinet to see someone beating the final level of a game. And not only that, but it comes

packed with a variety of minigames that are perfect for local multiplayer, including golf, bowling and so much more. With Banana Blitz being remastered on the Switch and a remaster of the original GameCube games coming out on the 1st of October, it’s a great time for Super Monkey Ball fans.

Overcooked: Unlike the other games in this list, the Overcooked G a m e s are co-op rather than competitive.

You must make a bunch of different meals and send them to customers in time before they get tired of waiting and leave. Organisation and communication quickly become key when you get onto some of the trickier levels, because they can become incredibly hard and chaotic. If you communicate well with the other players, it can be a great way to break the ice. Overcooked!

All You Can Eat contains all the levels from the first two games and bonus content as well.

Images: IGDb

Image: Wikipedia & Maud Webster Image: IGDb

What can Newcastle offer game developers?

George Bell

N

— Film sub-editor

Silent Games Nosebleed Interactive isn't the only game developer in Newcastle with relative newcomer Silent Games sure to make a splash in the industry very soon. Founded in 2018 by two former Ubisoft developers, Sally Blake and Joseph Rogers, the goal of Silent Games is to build a "Double-A" Studio

ewcastle is a hub of many things for us to be proud of with things like film, football and Greggs. Game Development is no exception with numerous companies, groups and individuals working on fantastic upcoming titles.

Image: Silent Games via Twitter There is plenty to get excited about and even more to look into. Here's what is around in Newcastle for all you budding game developers.

Nosebleed Interactive One company making a name for itself in the game industry (and beyond) is Nosebleed Interactive, and their offices are located smack bang in the middle of Newcastle.

This multi-award winning independent studio has worked with numerous big names like Sony, Doctor Who and The Disney Channel.

With Nosebleed Interactive having numerous accolades including, but not limited with a focus on to, being named as one of the "giving players a sense of Top 50 Creative Companies Autonomy, Mastery and in the UK, winning the Purpose". With a new IP PlayStation Mobile Pioneers in development, Silent competition and best small Games is forwardto medium business in the thinking with multiple Newcastle Business Awards it games set in the same ook is clear they are spearheading universe that will ia Faceb v t.

In d game development in the North feature "asynchronous oseblee Image: N East and very much deserve our cooperative multiplayer". The attention. "But what kind of games company has strong relations with students do they make?" I hear you cry; bloody good ones and the next generation of developers, hiring that's what. Great titles like Arcade Paradise and both graduates and having plenty of internship Vostok Inc just highlight the Geordie charm of opportunities which just goes to show how much this indie company and you'd be doing yourself a of a force to be reckoned with they could be in the discredit to not check them out. future.

Game Dev North East But what if you aren't interested in joining a company yet? What if you just want to get to know people behind the games of Newcastle.

Look no further than Game Dev North East.

Hosted monthly, this is the perfect opportunity to meet like-minded people who are in the industry, hoping to break in soon, develop for fun or just like playing games! Open to all levels of experience and across the spectrum of game development with coders, designers, digital artists, musicians and writers all being welcome. Students are no exception so be sure to check this out when you get a chance for a great opportunity to network, share ideas and get to the heart of the art that is game development in the North East.

Image: NUCATS via Facebook

NUCATS If you are looking for something even closer to home, look no further than Newcastle University's Computing and Technology Society - NUCATS. While aimed mostly at computing students, NUCATS is open to all with a large range of events from bar crawl and quizzes to 24-hour gameathons and game jams. While talking with this year's President, Jonathan White, about this upcoming year's Game Jam, he said that they "have a game jam scheduled for reading week in January/February" and are currently "on the hunt for sponsors".

NUCATS have a "game jam scheduled for reading week in Janruary / February" and are currently "on the hunt for sponsors".

Not too much more is known at this early date but is sure to be a great opportunity to make your own games, and friends, as well as see some of the other creative minds around Newcastle University!

Be sure to keep an eye on both NUCATS and The Courier for more updates.

Newcastle can sometimes feel like a big place, but you will always find like-minded people passionate about being creative and making the next best thing. What's stopping you from being one of those people?

Monday 27th September 2021

24

TV

THE

COURIER

The best reality TV to hate-watch together Rachael McCreanor

I

— TV sub-editor

f there’s one sure-fire way of bonding with your new housemates, it’s hate-watching a reality show - nothing brings strangers together quite like shared hatred. Still, the question remains – which one to choose?

TV is flooded with reality shows, with new ones being released seemingly every other week. Whilst there is plenty of genuinely great reality TV, Drag Race, The Great British Bake Off or MasterChef to name just a few, when trying to alleviate the awkwardness of the first few days in your new flat, you don’t want Emmy winners – you want a show that is objectively terrible. Here are a few options to get you started.

If you're looking for a show so bad you can't stop watching, watch this Channel 4’s recent release, Married at First Sight UK - a spin-off of the American original - is quickly setting itself up as the ultimate guilty pleasure watch. The show follows a group of singles about to walk down the aisle to marry (as the title suggests) a complete stranger. Whilst the American version has been around since 2014, it’s only this year that the UK has been given its very own show and it does not disappoint. Despite the countless fights,

deception, toxicity and truly incredible amount of drama, somehow you can’t help but route for the couples. If you are looking for a show which is so bad you can’t stop watching, watch this.

One of the more popular reality shows released by the streaming giant in recent years, Netflix’s Too Hot to Handle has taken the wide world of island dating competitions by storm. After a day or so left to mingle in paradise, the group of singles are informed by an AI cone named Lana that in order to win $100,000, they must not partake in any kind of physical contact with each other. The aim of the show is to promote a focus on their emotional rather than physical connections, although as you can imagine, that is not what happens. If you’re looking for a show that is so ridiculous it becomes strangely touching, this is the one for you.

This final reccommendation is possibly one of the weirdest shows to come out in recent years, sexy beasts.

It’s terrible, which makes it perfect. Narrated

by Rob Delaney, the show sees a group of singles eager to leave the superficiality of modern dating behind. Donning intricate prosthetics, we see the cast endeavour to determine their emotional attraction to each other whilst trying to ignore the terrifying physical appearance of their partners. If you want to watch a devil and a baboon attempt to kiss through three inches of latex, this is the show for you.

Whichever reality show you choose to hate-bond over, just remember the one cardinal rule: the worse, the better.

Images: Netflix via YouTube

TV sub-editor Racheal McCreanor catches us up with the besy reality TV to hate-watch with your new flatmates

Are these TV characters better or worse than your flatmates?

Can you image moving into Leazes with Lucifer or The View with Jake Peralta? Rebecca Sykes suggests who would be the best TV characters to live with...

Rebecca Sykes

T

— TV sub-editor

here’s nothing quite like moving into a new home with people you’ve never met before. Will they be nice? Will the flat be a mess? Will we get on? Those were a few of the questions running through my head in the days leading up to movein day. My stay in halls was great, but what would it have been like living with TV characters, such as Wanda Maximoff? Well, she would probably choose my answer for me. So, here’s some of the worst and best characters to live with.

Worst: Wanda (WandaVision)

A different style every week, Wanda would share her wardrobe. The whole flat would have to go as Sokovian Witches for Halloween. She’s creative, a little weird, and every day would be interesting.

She's creative, a little weird, and every day would be interesting.

She can whip up a meal superhumanly fast and would always make sure the flat was the cleanest it could be.

However, she wouldn't cope with stress well, may have babies in the flat, and mind control everybody. She’s well-meaning, but enslaving flatmates is a no-go.

Verdict: 3/10 – Sorry, Wanda.

Lucifer (Lucifer)

Lucifer is an honest and protective devil. If you’re named Chloe, chances are he’ll look after you.

If he’s left the kitchen a mess, he’ll own up to it.

Owning his own club means he’ll know his way around drinks and the toon. Be prepared for a night of sin and criticising other clubs.

Yet, he’s too obsessive and arrogant. He’s obsessed about sin and desire. Everything is about him, I get it he’s lived a long life, but it would be too much.

Verdict: 4/10- Living with Lucifer would be more stressful than fun.

Dishonourable Mentions:

Sherlock (BBC’s Sherlock), Joe Goldberg (You), Louis Litt (Suits)

Best: Alexis Rose (Schitt’s Creek)

Alexis Rose would spill her life story on the first night. Her stories would be so concerning that you’d wonder if they happened until she brought out proof. She’d

walk with you on the streets of Jesmond (not cycleshe can’t ride a bike) and plan fun adventures for the flat.

She’d promise to swap accessories but forget it and everyone’s birthdays. She’s a gossip that’s impossible not to love, even if she gets into situations that only distract from studying.

Verdict: 7/10. A good flatmate, if a little entitled.

Jake Peralta (Brooklyn 99)

He’s a good guy, got lots of friends, and has a steady income. Not only is he good at karaoke, but he’s led a line-up rendition of ‘I want it that way’ making him a perfect candidate for starting flat karaoke. Jake’s an entertainer, who excels at creating the Jimmy Jab Games and could bring hilarity into the flat.

Just don’t let him near the kitchen, he’s unlikely to tidy, clean, or organise.

Verdict: 9/10- The Halloween Heists alone make Jake the best.

Honourable Mentions:

Jane Sloan (The Bold Type), Monica (Friends), John Watson (Sherlock)

Images: IMDb

THE

COURIER

Monday 27th September 2021

Welfare

Safer drug use on Campus: SSDP Society Maud Webster – Head of Culture

Drug safety amongst students is a pressing issue, learn more about the society that wants to keep you safe!

N

ewcastle University’s Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) relaunched at the start of last academic year with the aim to promote safe drug use amongst students, and provide a safe and approachable space for students to openly talk about drugrelated issues.

SSDP’s president Chloe Rowe feels that having these important discussions around drug use is crucial: “following the recent deaths [of two Newcastle students] in 2020, we felt it became even more important to educate students on safe drug taking practice.”

“Allowing students to openly discuss, without the fear of judgement, may prevent future tragedies.”

Conversations around safe drug use are particularly pertinent in a university setting; Vice reported that roughly 70% of UK students have taken an illegal substance at some point, with Newcastle and Northumbria having some of the highest percentages in the country for use of MDMA, ecstasy, ketamine and cocaine.

Over the past year the society participated in online seminars run by SSDP UK, which discussed the potential for illegal drugs to be used for treatment-resistant disorders including depression and PTSD. They have also worked with the student union’s welfare team to create a drug misuse policy, which focuses on harm reduction and wellbeing as opposed to punishment, and built a social media presence, sharing educational posts about safe drug use.

SSDP want to build on their success over the past year; Chloe explains they hope to “work alongside the SU to make free, anonymous drug testing kits available to all”, “deliver informative material via social media and handouts on campus” and “gain presence and recognition within the university, so more students can benefit from the information”.

Students can volunteer to help SSDP spread

They have also worked with the student union’s welfare team to create a drug misuse policy information, and are invited to contact the society through Instagram and Facebook with any drugrelated queries students may have.

Chloe’s advice for freshers and returning students includes: “Always be honest with paramedics in an emergency situation, you won’t get in trouble. Try

and test your substances before you take them.

If you message us on Instagram, we have some testing kits available for Ketamine and MDMA, before they become permanently available in the SU. There is a current MDMA shortage in the UK, therefore dealers are selling alternatives e.g.

4CMC, PMA and eutylone. These alternatives have long lasting negative effects e.g. paranoia and anxiety, some of the other long lasting effects are still unknown as these are new drugs to the market.

Students should be extra careful when buying what is being sold to them as MDMA as there is a high chance it isn’t. The best way to check is by using a drug testing kit.”

For more information, visit SSDP’s Instagram (@ ssdp.newcastle) or Facebook, and take a look at their society page on the NUSU website.

A message from your PG Officer Hi everyone! Whether you’re joining us in person or virtually we are so excited to welcome you to Newcastle. As your postgraduate officer at the Students’ Union this year, one of my big goals is to help bring the postgrad community closer together and provide more opportunities for postgrads to get involved and meet one another.

Especially after how isolating and difficult the last year has been.

So, if you’re looking for a way to meet other students, we’ve got loads of exciting welcome events happening and some postgrad socials which you can sign up for on the SU website to meet other postgrads and myself, I hope to see some of you there! We also have a discussion group on Facebook for postgrads to connect and any postgrad is more than welcome to join. I know this is a really exciting but also stressful time so please don’t forget we have the new welfare space, student advice centre, nightline and you can always pop to our office for a chat! Over this year I’ll be running more postgrad events and opportunities to connect, so hopefully you’ll have plenty to get involved with. Wishing you all the best for the start of term!

Photo: SSDP Newcastle via Facebook

Staying connected when studying abroad Sophie McNally – The Courier's New York Correspondent

All the way from Buffalo, New York, Sophie McNally gives her advise to stay connected while studying outside of the UK

on the keyboard can make you feel immediately connected when you’re feeling cut off from it all back in Newcastle.

Don’t get me wrong though, technology and communication are certainly not a one-stop-shop solution to feeling isolated from everything back home. Things can get tough really quickly

L

anding in a different continent over 4000 miles away can feel more than a little overwhelming. The new sights and sounds are enough to knock you off balance before you’ve even stepped foot out of the airport and, as magical as it is, it can easily all start to feel very intense.

So, how on earth can us study abroad students feel connected to our University when its on the other side of the world? Let’s just say you better have a phone and some good Wi-Fi connection on your side.

Active communication is undoubtedly at the heart of how you can feel connected when you’re on your year abroad. Even something as small as an email to your study abroad coordinator or personal tutor to check in, or swiping up on your society’s Instagram story can make a whole world of difference.

The technological age we live in is an absolute godsend for this. A quick double tap or swish

sometimes when you’re out there by yourself and your support network is on a totally different time schedule to you. So I definitely urge anyone on a year abroad to reach out to Student Health and Wellbeing (and any equivalent service at your university abroad) if things start to get too much.

Another massive pitfall of feeling connected to the uni when you’re abroad is that you mostly have to instigate that communication. If you don’t take that step, then you probably won’t get any more connected than bi-monthly emails from uni staff wondering if you’re still alive.

To anyone who’s on their year abroad right now, just know that no matter how hard it gets this is going to be one of the best years of your life and you’ve got this in the bag. I promise!

If you’re ever struggling, remember you can always reach out to the Student Health and Wellbeing Services on: +44 (0) 191 208 3333, Or via the enquiry form https://apps.ncl.ac.uk/ contact-us/general-enquiry.

Image: Pixabay @LillyCantabile

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Image: NUSU

Monday 27th September 2021

6

28

Your Sabbs

THE

COURIER

Your seven sabbatic Here to empower you and ener

Livia Scott Education Officer

Abbie Hutchinson President of the Students' Union

Eleanor McCarthy Postgraduate Officer

Briana Gordhan Welfare & Equality Officer

I've studied both my Undergraduate and Postgraduate degrees here at Newcastle, and have seen what works (and what maybe doesn't!) for our students. I want to ensure that the student voice is at the centre of all of the University's decision making, so that all of our students' feel heard, and valued.

Something that I feel is vital in this role is to ensure that the learning environment at Newcastle University is as vibrant, accesible and inclusive it can be for all.

My aims for next academic year are to ensure all essential learning resources are online, priotising wellbeing and improving access to academic support, keeping student opinion at the forefront of everything we do, make the Student Rep System more accessible, reduce inconsistencies and improve the quality of learning in person & online.

I came to Newcastle in 2015 for my BA History & back again in 2020 to study my MSc in Global Public Health.

Having experienced being an UG, a confused graduate and PG, I feel motivated to improve the entire uni experience, including the Newcastle community beyond graduation.

This past year's been really tough (for some people more than others) & I want to make this next year the social, memorable time that all students deserve to experience! The overarching vision for me is for our campus to be a vibrant, welcoming, inclusive, and sustainable place whereby we can all thrive both academically and personally.

My aims for the next academic year are to prioritise your social experience, advocate for student mental health and well-being, create a graduate support program., commit to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion as an underpinning principle to policy, continue work on Decolonise NCL, lobby and campaign to change cultures and improve student safety and welcome students back to campus!

Hi, my name is Eleanor! I've lived in Newcastle for 4 years, first doing a BA in Dance and then starting at Newcastle University last year for my MA in Arts, Business and Creativity. I am so excited to help support postgraduates, fighting for their views to be heard and helping to improve the postgraduate experience for all!

Over the next year I hope to increase PG mental health support and help combat feelings of isolation, run PG specific events, continue work on decolonising the uni, improve treatment of PGRs who teach and represent all PG views at all university levels, advocating for what they need. Please don’t hesitate to email me at pg.union@newcastle. ac.uk with any questions or just to have a chat, hopefully I’ll meet some of you in person soon too, hope you all have a great start to the year!

I've just finished my undergrad in Film Practices after moving to Newcastle from New Zealand for the course. You'd think I'd be itching to leave after a global pandemic but nope, the toon can't get rid of me!

For a lot of us the past year has been challenging, and that is why I aim to make sure everyone, no matter their background, feels safe and supported during their time at Newcastle University. At the same time, I am also very passionate about advocating for the rights of women, people of colour, sustainability, and those identifying as part of the LGBTQ+ community.

My aims for next academic year are to review structures for students with disabilities, introduce mindfulness and CBT workshops, prioritize judgement-free harm reduction, challenge & improve the Uni's Wellbeing services, empower further work on decolonising NCL, remove the stigma surrounding student sex work, build a sense of community as we return to campus, amplify the voices, perspectives, and ideas of minority groups.

THE

COURIER

Monday 27th September 2021

Your Sabbs

29

cal representatives rgise your student expereince

Fergus Mainland Athletic Union Officer

Haris Nadeem Activities Officer

George Boatfield Editor of The Courier

I came to Newcastle University because of its strong sporting reputation. After completing my undergrad in Politics and spending last season as President of the Boat Club, I now have the fantastic opportunity to have a positive impact on the student sporting experience and give them the opportunities I had before the pandemic.

My aims for next academic year are to ceate a 'Team Newcastle' Supports Kit, introduce a 'Doors Open' Weekend, publicise Home Fixtures, promote Positive Changes in Women's Sport, easy access to a Sports Psychologist, better sports psychology resources.

Before graduating in International Business management at London campus, I was heavily involved in representing the student voice throughout those three years. Beginning as a student representative, I was shortly selected as the student ambassador in 2019.

I really hope to make the university experience more fulfilling here in Newcastle. To do this, my aims for the next academic year are to encourage collaborations between different societies, represent international students, increase employability opportunities for the students, celebrate 'Societies of the Month', train & support our new committees.

Having my picture in this issue not once BUT TWICE really is a bit greedy. I have a more extensive bio on page 14, but for now, here are some of my aims for the next year.

Firstly, I would like to introduce new Student Media Afternoons, simultaneously fostering greater collaboration & opportunities. Also, I will introduce dedicated Social Media Managers, provide additional work spaces for NUTV & NSR, allow a representative student voice to speak about important issues unfiltered by the Uni, and rework Courier Creative Contributors to allow more resources and provide artwork.

If there's anything you need, we are all just an email away. Alternatively, feel free to stop by NUSU to speak to us directly!

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Monday 27th September 2021

Sport

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Your A-Z of sports clubs on campus.....

There are over 60 sports clubs at Newcastle University, and with many clubs running teams for all genders and ability levels, there’s no reason not to get involved with sports on campus this year.

“Newcastle University Triathlon Club, fondly known as TNT, allows students to take part in triathlon training and racing while at Newcastle.

While swimming, cycling and running as part of one race sounds intimidating to many, we do everything we can to help everyone try tri!

The welcoming and friendly nature of TNT makes it one of the best teams at Newcastle. Whether you are new to the sport or have done triathlons before, TNT is the club for you.

We want to welcome as many people as possible and show you why we love training and racing together. If you think you might be interested, come along and see us. We will be hosting lots of events so you can see what we are all about!”

- Liam Blatch, President

For more details on any club go to www.nusu.co. uk/getinvolved/sport/ clubs

Image: Nicholas Dash

Photo: Caving Club

American Football j.hill8@newcastle.ac.uk Archery Club archery@newcastle.ac.uk Athletics & Cross Country Club nuaxcsoc@newcastle.ac.uk Badminton Club k.smith22@newcastle.ac.uk Basketball Men’s Club j.warn@newcastle.ac.uk Basketball Women’s Club e.court-johnston1@newcastle.ac.uk Boat Club a.colley@newcastle.ac.uk Boxing Club k.chayah1@newcastle.ac.uk Brazilian Jiu Jitsu & Mixed Martial Arts Club https://www.facebook.com/groups/ NUBJJMMA/ Canoe Club r.baker7@newcastle.ac.uk Caving Club a.taylor23@newcastle.ac.uk Cheerleading Club r.l.allanson1@newcastle.ac.uk Clay Pigeon Shooting Club nacnewcastleuniversity shooting@ outlook.com Climbing Club A.pinborough@ncl.ac.uk Cricket Club r.barker3@newcastle.ac.uk Cycling Club j.shaw9@newcastle.ac.uk Dance Club c.price5@ncl.ac.uk

“The Caving Club explores the underground world, using a combination of climbing, scrambling and abseiling to access wide networks of passages containing impressive formations. We also collaborate with our friends in other university caving clubs to run frequent inter-uni trips that provide an excellent opportunity to make friends with similar interests across the country. We run a weekend trip every three weeks and day / evening trips in between, as well as having a social every Thursday evening."

- Anna Taylor, President Darts (NUDS) Club S.Parsons@Newcastle.ac.uk Dodgeball Club l.mole@newcastle.ac.uk Equestrian Club h.n.lowther1@ncl.ac.uk Fencing Club b.granville1@newcastle.ac.uk Football Men’s Club d.dekanski@newcastle.ac.uk

Football Women’s Club a.c.silcock1@newcastle.ac.uk Futsal Club s.m.elliott@newcastle.ac.uk Golf Club s.westwood1@newcastle.ac.uk Gymnastics Club a.baker9@newcastle.ac.uk Hockey Men’s Club b.few1@newcastle.ac.uk

Sailing & Yachting Club nusyccommodore@gmail.com Ski & Snowboarding Club https://www.instagram.com/ nusscnewcastle/ Squash Club j.knowlson1@newcastle.ac.uk Sub Aqua Club r.perry2@newcastle.ac.uk Surf Club S.Robson10@newcastle.ac.uk Swimming Club c.burns8@newcastle.ac.uk Table Tennis Club j.clark14@newcastle.ac.uk Taekwondo Club a.hicks@newcastle.ac.uk Tennis Club ncltennis@outlook.com Thai Boxing Club l.webb4@newcastle.ac.uk Trampoline Club n.garratt@newcastle.ac.uk Triathlon Club l.blatch@newcastle.ac.uk Ultimate Club v.cook@newcastle.ac.uk Volleyball Club k.r.bastian2@newcastle.ac.uk Water Polo Club phoebelh9@gmail.com

abilities. As the name suggests, these are sports restricted to play within the university - so if you want to play, then you’ll be up against other Newcastle students only.

Starting a sport can seem intimidating, especially if you haven't played for a while or if you've never given a certain game a go before. Intramural sport bridges this gap between wanting to start playing and starting to play competitively; it's fun and friendly and lacks a rigid training schedule that accompanies club sport.

Depending on your chosen sport, Newcastle offers league games or weekly coaching - which means it’s an easy way to stay active (and meet new people) with a minimum time commitment.

Currently intramural sports run term time and Football (Men’s and Women’s leagues), Basketball (weekly coaching), Netball (leagues), Mixed Hockey (leagues), Rugby Union (leagues), and Squash (leagues / coaching) are on offer.

Often societies will enter teams into

league games, so it’s a great way to continue your participation within societies and spend more time with like-minded people. Similarly, you can enter teams of your friends or mates from halls. Or if you don’t fancy getting competitive, some sports (including Basketball and Squash) offer coaching sessions where you can develop your skills.

What is intramural sport?

Maud Webster —Head of Culture

N

ewcastle has a TONNE of sports clubs you can join, and whatever your level (or however much time you want to dedicate) there are always options for teams and sports to join. If you don’t feel ready to commit heaps of time, want to try a new sport, or just fancy playing it friendly this year then Newcastle’s programme of intramural sports may be right up your street.

Whilst you have to trial for many of Newcastle’s competitive sports teams, intramural is open to players of all "Newcastle University Surf Club is a Sports Club for all. We welcome surfers of all abilities, and offer lots of opportunities to learn to surf and experience waves in the North Sea, up and down the UK and abroad. I first got involved in Surf for its really inclusive community and to be a part of a low-pressure Sports Club, and have loved it ever since! Look out for our Annual Beach Party Sat 2nd Oct!" - Sophie Robson, President

Ice Hockey Club h.danks1@ncl.ac.uk Jiu Jitsu Club y.jeon2@newcastle.ac.uk Karate Club l.mcpeake1@newcastle.ac.uk Kendo Club a.lee1@newcastle.ac.uk Kickboxing CLub c.mifsud@ncl.ac.uk Korfball Club e.mcbain@newcastle.ac.uk Lacrosse Men’s Club h.p.gill1@newcastle.ac.uk Lacrosse Women’s Club h.jackson4@newcastle.ac.uk Ladies Hockey Club ladies.hockey@newcastle.ac.uk Motor Sport Club T.miyagawa1@newcastle.ac.uk Netball Club j.langley1@newcastle.ac.uk Parachute Club l.gowen@newcastle.ac.uk Polo Club e.birch@newcastle.ac.uk Pool and Snooker Club s.shore@newcastle.ac.uk Powerlifting and Weightlifting Club t.wilson9@newcastle.ac.uk Rugby League Club m.j.flanagan1@newcastle.ac.uk Rugby Men’s Club j.children1@newcastle.ac.uk Rugby Women’s Club m.newman4@newcastle.co.uk

"Often societies will enter teams, or form a team of your friends."

"It bridges the gap between wanting to start and playing competitively."

The programme proves popular with students, with over 3,200 students participating each year. For more information, head on over to the NCL Sport website.

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Sport

....... and a guide to sports teams off it —Sports sub-editor

Beyond campus, Newcastle and the North East have fantastic sporting opportunities.

Newcastle United may dominate the headlines, but Katie Siddall uncovers some of the area's hidden gems.

F

or those of you who are new to Newcastle, and looking for sports teams you can join or support - beyond St James' Park - or even those returning who have never gotten around to looking – this article is perfect for you.

Hopefully, this selection of sporting teams are what you are looking for.

Netball The first sport is… NETBALL! Netball, this fun, “easy-going” (which it really isn’t! – trust me, I play and umpire) sport happens all year round, except August. There are many different teams to try out for, including The Seatonians, whose league play on Mondays and Wednesdays. Specifically looking at The Seatonians netball team, whether you’re new to the sport or not, they have a range of teams to trial for depending on your ability. They’re a fun team to play for, who also make

you play your best because you want to! Whichever netball team you choose, the league matches are played at the Blue Flames Sports Hall. Not only can you play netball and enjoy your time, if you are currently going through umpire training, there are amazing coaches and mentors around to continue that journey up in Newcastle.

"They're a fun team to play for, who make you play your best because you want to."

Cricket Meanwhile, for those who love to swing a bat – cricket could be the one for you. Newcastle Cricket Club has multiple teams for all different abilities, like the Seatonians. Each team plays in different leagues from the North East Premier League and the Tyneside Cricket League. There is also a women’s team playing in the Northumberland Women’s Cricket League! Newcastle Cricket Club plays at Jesmond Cricket Ground, which happens to sell alcohol whilst matches are played. Those of your flatmates or housemates who come to watch can have a fun day in the sun.

"Gosforth Tennis Club is as reasonable as £2 Tuesdays at Greenhouse."

Tennis Another batting sport? Why not?

Tennis could be the one for you! As well as swinging your racket at the courts in Leazes Park, you can take your chances at Jesmond or Gosforth tennis clubs. Venture out of town and see where you could be living next year (Jesmond being the student area of all student areas) whilst walking/biking/ uber-ing your way to play. The cost of Gosforth Tennis Club is as reasonable as £2 Tuesdays at Greenhouse, which we all adore, because per court is £8 for two hours. If you need floodlights, as we head into winter, then you’ll have to pay £2 for those two hours of lights on top of the court. Pricing-wise, if you go as two doubles – how cheap? VERY! Between September and March, the Gosforth Tennis Club also holds men and women’s nights – look on their website for more information.

Football Then for those football fanatics, you can go and watch - or kick a ball about with - Newcastle Benfield F.C. They are currently in Division 1 of the Northern League. This league only holds amateur clubs, as in 1906 at an annual meeting it was decided that professional clubs were no longer allowed to enter this league. There is an annual dinner at the end of the season, whereby they give out awards – that’d be one crazy, fun and (potentially) drunk night for you to enjoy.

No matter what sport you choose, you’ll have fun and make plenty of friends! Now there are no restrictions, make the most of your time and do what you enjoy.

Newcastle Benfield F.C. Image: @StuartLaundy via Twitter

JOIN OUR TEAM OF SPORTS WRITERS!

• Do you play sports at uni?

• Do you want experience in sports journalism?

• Do you want to see your club's sporting successes written up in print every week?

The Courier is looking for sports writers. Write match reports on your team's games, submit photos of your matches and events, and give your opinions on sports from university leagues to the Premier League.

Get in touch with Head of Sports Peter Bath at p.l.bath1@newcastle. ac.uk for more information!

"From the Tyne to Tokyo": Toon alumni win bronze with mostly empty stadiums and tight restrictions on athletes, they were forced to perform in difficult conditions.

Emily Ford credited her time at the university and the Boat Club with her ability to deal with these: "Newcastle taught me a lot, and made me more resilient

Peter Bath

—Head of Sport

N

ewcastle University was represented well in Team GB's summer of sporting success, with four graduates competing and two taking home bronze medals.

The Boat Club have particular cause to celebrate as teammates James Rudkin and Tom Ford won bronze in the Men's Eight Rowing, while fellow former Newcastle student - and Tom's younger sister - Emily Ford competed in the Women's Eight Rowing.

As well as the rowers, former politics and economics student Harry Glover narrowly missed out on a medal in the rugby sevens as Team GB lost to Argentina in the bronze medal match.

James Rudkin described the experience to the Courier: "Winning an Olympic medal was the culmination of years of hard work and commitment.

There was a whole mix of emotions happiness, relief, disappointment and a lot of pain!"

On his connection to the university, the 27 year old added, "It felt especially poignant to be representing Newcastle at the Olympics. Tom, Emily and I all attended Newcastle at similar times,

Men's 8 Olympic team. Image: @BritishRowing via Twitter

"It felt especially poignant to be representing Newcastle at the Olympics. Tom, Emily and I all attended at similar times."

and to bring that shared knowledge and experience from the Tyne to Tokyo was incredibly special."

Despite Team GB not making a podium place in the Women's Eight Rowing, Emily Ford was pleased to make her Olympic debut. She told the Courier, "Competing at the Games was so special and like nothing else I have done before. It was made extra special to do it alongside my older brother."

Due to the pandemic, the Newcastle quartet faced a tournament like no other. Postponed from 2020, and

"It was made extra special to do it alongside my older brother." which helped me to overcome the Games being delayed by a year."

The four will hope for further success over the coming years and at the next Olympic Games in Paris in just three years time.

Harry Glover, Rugby Sevens olympian and Newcaslte graduate.

Image: @harryglover1 via Instagram

Katie Sidall

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Fergus Mainland interview: meet your new Athletic Union Officer The sporting sabbatical officer reveals his plans for campus sport this year.

the box. Plenty of taster sessions and lots of Give It A Go Opportunities Last year's AU Officer, Benthe Tanghe, managed to secure gender inclusive sportswear for Newcastle athletes. What plans do you have to make sports on campus more inclusive?

Breaking down barriers is one of the key objectives for the whole Sabb team and we all want to work together to ensure there are equal opportunities for students to engage with everything we are doing, and this includes sport.

I hope to continue the good work that Benthe has done and also learn from a BUCS Conference I recently attended about what more we can be doing, particularly for disabled students, about inclusive sporting opportunities.

As a former Boat Club president, how has it felt to see the success of Newcastle students and alumni in rowing at this year's Olympics as well as the u23 European Championships?

Utterly brilliant! Head Coach, Angelo Savarino, has built this programme up to be a dominant force in UK rowing and now we’re seeing this at the very pinnacle of the sport. It is such an inspiration to all of our current students and it is testament to the culture of success that has been created over the years. James Rudkin, Emily Ford and Tom Ford are legends of Newcastle Rowing and I hope their successes will continue to drive the club forward and see it continue going from success to success. The whole club and the alumni are incredibly proud of our three Olympians.

Peter Bath

H — Head of Sport

ow have you found the position of Athletics Union Officer so far?

Busy!

It’s been fascinating learning about how all the other sports clubs work and operate. I think this will be a very rewarding job and hopefully I can help drive a lot of positive change in the way we deliver sport at Newcastle. There’s been lots to get up to speed on but the Activities team have been brilliant.

How would you describe your job?

What is the AU Officer responsible for?

The Athletic Union Officer deals with all things sport-related and leads the development, training and support for Sports Clubs. Main responsibilities have included club grant allocation, overseeing BUCS/ Non-BUCS fixtures and chairing the AU Executive Committee. This role leads on many projects such as Inclusive Sports Week, This Girl Can, as well as Mission Nutrition. In recent years, the AU Officer has also been inputting ideas to the development of sports facilities at NCL and organising the AU Ball. I’m also in regular contact with the university to ensure the student sporting experience is at the heart of their decision making process.

"There really is something for everyone.”

"I want to reignite passion and participation in sport."

What are a few of your top priorities in your role this year?

This year, I want to reignite passion and participation in sport once more. I’m hoping to reengage the student body and have have more students involved with sport on all levels than in 2019. I want to: • •

Provide sports supporters kit in the NUSU merchandise shop.

Work with the University and the Sports Centre to provide resources for sport. For example, providing access to a sports psychologist and

•

•

more resources for our student athletes.

Run a women in sport campaign.

This would be to both encourage women into sport and men to better understand the issues that may be a barrier to women in sport.

Change the culture within sports clubs to ensure that they are more accessible to all.

Outside of sport, student housing is quickly becoming a top priority making sure students are fully aware of their rights when renting and holding the city council and landlords

accountable.

Based on your time at Newcastle, just how important is sport to the student experience and our community here?

I can’t overstate how important sport is.

Not just for the student experience, but also for all the health benefits that sport has. I have made some of my closest friends through sport at university and I only have the best things to say about my involvement with sport.

Last year was strange - campus sports were suspended due to the pandemic.

How did you find this, particularly as president of Boat Club, and have you learnt anything from the experience?

It was hard, particularly tough in

the first semester with numerous lockdowns. Being away from the river and away from my friends was very challenging but my heart went out to the freshers who arrived and then went into isolation pretty much immediately.

A lot of these students picked Newcastle because of the rowing and to see that taken away from them was utterly rubbish. The day we were all back, March 29th, was one of the best days of the year.

Now that sports on campus are back, how do you plan on getting participation up to pre-pandemic levels?

It all starts with Freshers and clubs being proactive and thinking outside

Finally, have you got any words of advice or encourageme nt for new Newcastle students looking to get into sports?

GO FOR IT! It’ll be the best decision you make and there really is something for everyone. Email me or message any of the sports clubs and they will be delighted to have you come along and get stuck in. towards this goal.

Pick up a weekly Courier to read Fergus’ regular column throughout the year.

INSIDE SPORT TODAY f

Uni Sports Clubs A-Z The definitive rundown of every Newcastle Uni Sports Club and where to go to get involved Page 30

Toon to Tokyo Former Newcastle students tell the Courier how it felt to win Olympic Bronze Page 31 Image: Tatsu Miyagawa

Hidden Geordie gems Katie Siddall gives a whistlestop tour of Newcastle’s lesser known sports teams Page 31 Image: @harryglover1 via Instagram