www.thecourieronline.co.uk Monday 13 October 2014 Issue 1295 Free
The Independent Voice of Newcastle Students
PLAY AGAIN?
PERFECT TEN
Read our brand new gaming section p.31
Jonty Mawer meets England hero Jonny Wilkinson on his return to the North East p.38
Est 1948
SNAP TIME
The best and worst photos of Freshers’ Week p.31
Halls well that spends well? Accomodation rents jump £300 on average since Sept 2012
Freshers charged £58,000 for damages in same period
Uni: “Rents represent exceptional value”
No more A to Zzz: Robbo sleeping pods rejected by SU council By Charlie Dearnley News Editor
The perpetually popular Richardson Road, where rising rents have done little to dent demand for rooms. Image: Mike Quinn
By Charlie Dearnley News Editor In the past two years the annual rent for Newcastle University’s on-campus halls of accommodation has risen on average by £304.30. The steepest rise in rent has been seen in en-suite rooms, as between the academic years 2012/13 and 2013/14 the annual rent increased by £399. The lowest rise in rent occurred in rooms with no washbasin, with an increase of
£234.08. All undergraduate contracts for Newcastle University’s halls of resi“It will be dence remain at a length of necessary to weeks, and invest heavily 38 include heatin improving ing, water, electhe quality of tricity, internet and the residential connection, personal posstock” session insur-
ance. Whether or not this rise in rent is mirrored in the quality of life that the halls of residence provide is a matter of concern for the undergraduate students taking up occupancy each year. Paul Bandeen, Newcastle University Flats Manager has commented that, “The University recognises that it will be necessary to invest heavily in improving the quality of the residential stock as part of the Accommodation Strategy.”
While improvements to accommodation are planned, and considered hugely important, Bandeen stated it is vital, “for the rental income to fund the repayments back to the University to ensure that our residential expenditure is not subsidised by teaching or research income.” Alongside the rising rent, the University has also charged undergraduate students £30,328.83 in 2012/13, and £27,678.26 in 2013/14 for damages and Continued on page 4
A motion to install sleeping pods in the Robinson library was defeated t student council on 10 October. The proposed idea was to install an area for individuals to sleep in the 24 hour facility; for students who found themselves studying into the early hours of the morning and in need of rest, but not wanting to walk back to their homes. The motion was defeated with 82% of voters against it and only 12% in favour. 6% abstained from voting. Olivia Jeffery, the University’s Welfare Officer, spoke out against the proposal in council, claiming that it would be promoting an unhealthy life style. She commented, “It is far healthier for students to go home and get two hours sleep in their own beds... get a change of scene.” This council coincided with World Mental Health day, for which Jeffery was campaigning outside Newcastle Student Union to raise awareness of mental health issues. Jeffery stated that, “mental health issues are a serious concern among students, and the sleeping pods would only have been sending the wrong message to the student body.”
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News
Monday 13 October 2014
News Editors: Charlie Dearnley, Antonia Velikova and Kate Dewey Online News Editor: Mark Sleightholm courier.news@ncl.ac.uk | @TheCourier_News
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NEWS
6
In
Union rolls out poster campaign against sexual assault
- Winston Churchill
COMMENT
9 11 CULTURE
REGALLY NOT ON
Why the royals don’t always have it easy
Bubble Trouble A man tried to travel 1,033 miles in a homemade inflatable bubble. Reza Beluchi, marathon runner and extreme adventurer, attempted to go the distance between Miami and Bermuda in his “Hydro-Pod” in order to raise money for charity. His journey ended abruptly at 185 miles when Coast Guard got reports of a man “disoriented and asking for directions to Bermuda.” Initially, Beluchi refused to leave the raft, but exhaustion took over and he caved in. Apparently, he wasn’t even on the right track to reach Bermuda.
24 38
Health
Itchy cricket-ear
@TheGreenJ
Marine gossip
GOGGLEBOX QUIZ
Find out which couch potato is your spirit animal
Ruth Loeffler and Claire Hawthorn
Life at sea
OLD SCHOOLIN’ LIFE Using Will Ferrell’s opus as a guide to Uni
@Ahmed Rabea
Adventure
HE FOR SHE FOR EVER
Tips for men who want to become feminist allies
Blame the ‘rents
Scientists in Seattle have discovered that how people are affected by coffee is actually genetic. It is thought that in the future they might be able to detect who ought to have help to cut down on caffeine.
ix
NO MEANS NO
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts”
Science
m
5
Trojan virus sweeps across campus causing untold havoc
e h t
Wise words:
EMAIL MELTDOWN
The Courier
@JoshBythesea
Unlucky irony
In a jam
News broke on Tuesday that a Halfords’ lorry with the words “we fit” emblazoned on the back got wedged underneath a bridge. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) got called at 13:15. The firemen were not amused and tweeted: ““Going the ‘extra mile’ might have been the better option rather than trying to squeeze under a bridge in Beckenham.” A spokesman for Halfords admitted: “clearly, we didn’t fit.”
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Cross-species communication is very uncommon but in a recent study, it’s been noted that killer whales try to mimic dolphin sounds in order to communicate with them. The study was carried out on ten Killer Whales, 3 of which were kept with bottlenose dophins whilst the rest were living with other Orca Whales. Researchers found that the Orca wales mimicked dophin whistles and clicks. However, due to the fact that Orcas and Bottlenose Dolphins never come into contact in the wild, this study’s legitimacy and relevance has been questioned.
Jeff Belmonte
A man living in India, who wishes to remain anonymous, visited his doctor at the beginning of last week reporting an “itchy ear”. The doctor then proceeded to extract a 3 inch cricket from inside his ear canal by using tweezers and gently pulling the cricket out. 3 inches (7.6 centimetres) is about the length of your actual ear. It is thought that the cricket crawled into the suffering man’s ear at night and continued to bury itself further into the ear canal. Unbelievably, the cricket, which has been identified as an Indian House Cricket, was still alive and wriggling when extracted by the doctor. This type of cricket prefers living in warmer climates and so shouldn’t be found in Britain. The doctor videoed the whole removal process and the footage is available online.
Technology
Phone obsessed? The average person checks their mobile phone 1500 times a day. According to a report by Marketing Company Tecmark most people have already caught up on the news, weather and sent texts before they have even got out of bed. According to the research, the average phone user first looks at their phone at 7:31 each morning. Apparently the number of hours individually spent on our phones adds up to one full day a week.
Nature
Naked in the docks
Bizarre
Till death do me part A 31 year old woman in North London has married herself. Yes, after six years of being single Grace Gelder decided it would be “empowering” to propose to and marry herself. At the end of the ceremony and under the loving eyes of her family and friends she sealed the deal by kissing herself in the mirror.
Editor Tom Nicholson News Editors Charlie Dearnley, Antonia Velikova, Kate Dewey and Mark Sleightholm Comment Editors Victoria Armstrong, Matt Corden and Ruth Davis Culture Editor Kate Bennett Lifestyle Editors Tom Tibble, Annie Lord, Jack Dempsey and Holly Suttle Fashion Editors Amy O’Rourke, Hannah Fitton and Hannah Goldstein Beauty Editors Charlotte Davies, Charlotte Maxwell and Kathy Davidson Arts Editors Becka Crawshaw, Lucy Chenery and Jess Harman Film Editors David Leighton, Rosie Bellini and Lucas Fothergill Music Editors Jamie Shepherd, Dominique Daly and Chris Addison TV Editor Helen Daly, Ellie Mclaren and Rebecca Dooley Science Editors Penny Polson, Laura Staniforth and Jack Marley Sports Editors Jonty Mawer, Peter Georgiev, Huezin Lim and Josh Nicholson
@VictorGrigas
Naked enthusiast Steven Gough has already spent eight years in prison due to his barefaced passion. He even walked from Lands End to John O’Groats wearing nothing but a smile and a pair of boots. Determined to spread his joy of naturism, ‘The Naked Rambler’ left custody in nothing but his shoes and consequently was sentenced to a further 2 years in prison. He even stood naked in the dock.
The Courier is printed by: Print and Digital Associates, Fernleigh House, 10 Uttoxeter Road, Derby, Derbyshire, United Kingdom, DE3 0DA. Established in 1948, The Courier is the fully independent student newspaper of the Students’ Union at Newcastle University. The Courier is published weekly during term time, and is free of charge. The design, text, photographs and graphics are copyright of The Courier and its individual contributors. No parts of this newspaper may be reproduced without the prior permission of the Editor. Any views expressed in this newspaper’s comment pieces are those of the individual writing, and not of The Courier, the Students’ Union or Newcastle University.
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news.3
Monday 13 October 2014
Pro-democracy protesters show solidarity with Hong Kong rallies Newcastle University students have organised a demonstration in support of pro-democracy rallies in Hong Kong outside the Students’ Union. Protesters in Hong Kong are calling for an end to what they see as a restriction of the political rights of Hong Kong residents. Beijing’s attempts to increase its influence over the politics of Hong Kong has angered many people across the world, including here in Newcastle. The Hong Kong Society helped to
can make it seem much closer. Regina hopes that with enough international pressure the Chinese government will be forced to back down, and so it is vital that the world outside Hong Kong understands what is going on there. While this was happening on campus, other demonstrators situated in Grey Street held banners calling for total democracy in Hong Kong. This was organised by Northumbria University lecturer Bobo Ng, who said: “This is the first time I have expressed political views like this, the first time I
organise an expression of support and respect for the Hong Kong protests, alongside other students from Hong Kong. They felt that, whilst they could not physically join in the protests in Hong Kong, they had a duty to do what they could here in Newcastle. Two days later this had grown into a group of around 20 students outside the Students’ Union singing songs of support. Moses Ng, president of the Hong Kong Society, said: “We’re not protesting, we’re just promoting support for our friends in Hong Kong.” They handed out leaflets detailing their views on the Hong Kong protests to passers-by. They also wore and distributed the iconic yellow ribbons. These yellow ribbons represent a peaceful way of expressing a desire for democracy, and reflect the non-violent approach of the demonstrators in Hong Kong. The protests have developed from a boycott of classes, with students later combining forces with the powerful Occupy Central movement. Newcastle supporters were keen to condemn any violent action, and highlight the lack of looting or criminal damage that is so often a feature of protests. They also pointed out that the protesters are cleaning up their litter and have even organised recycling bins, showing great respect for their city. The use of tear gas and pepper spray by the Chinese police has attracted coverage and criticism by Western media, but so far the demonstrations have been mostly peaceful. Along with yellow ribbons, the umbrella has become a major symbol of the Hong Kong protests. Originally used by protesters to shelter them from the rain or sun, they have since been used as a shield against the tear gas and pepper spray that the police have directed towards protesters. One of the students in Newcastle was dressed like the protesters in Hong Kong, holding an umbrella and with his mouth and eyes covered (to protect against tear gas) to show other Newcastle students the reality of the situation in Hong Kong. One of the main organisers, Regina Ng, highlighted the close connections between Newcastle University’s own Hong Kong students and their counterparts in Hong Kong. “We have friends and family on the streets in Hong Kong right now,” she said, adding poignantly that they “feel helpless and useless”. Newcastle may be literally on the other side of the world from Hong Kong, but the personal ties between the two cities
have stood up, but I feel like I must. It is now or never.” The large group of supporters with Bobo suggests that many others feel the same way. Newcastle has the eighth largest Chinese population in the UK, and is home to one of the five Chinatowns in England. Bobo believes that some Chinese students and residents in Newcastle are afraid to demonstrate their support for Hong Kong in case it affects their visa statuses. However, this did not stop a large number of Chinese and Hong Kong students participating in the Grey Street demonstration. Local MP Chi Onwurah also attended and was “impressed and pleased to see a moving, peaceful testimony to the commitment to democracy in Hong Kong.” While the primary aim of these Newcastle demonstrations was to raise awareness and show support for the protesters in Hong Kong, one positive side effect has been to bring the city’s Hong Kong residents closer together. Bobo recognised that political change in Hong Kong is not an easy undertaking, and said: “I am not too confident this can be achieved quickly but we can fight over time and hope this is not for nothing.” Indeed, like many of the Occupy protests of the past few years the demonstrators in Hong Kong seem prepared to remain there for weeks, if not months. The Hong Kong situation is particularly relevant to Newcastle and its universities because of Britain’s close involvement with Hong Kong in the past. The UK was responsible for the administration of Hong Kong until 1997, within the lifetime of current Newcastle University students. In the seventeen years since the handover of sovereignty to China Britain has maintained close links with the region, as demonstrated by the high number of students from China and Hong Kong at Newcastle University. As part of the agreement with China Britain promised the people of Hong Kong fifty years of a high level of political autonomy, and Regina, Bobo and the other demonstrators feel that Britain now has an obligation to honour this agreement. So far the British government has not got involved in the dispute, but those involved with the Newcastle demonstrations hope that this will soon change. Their ultimate wish, however, is to see an end to the disturbances in Hong Kong and a peaceful resolution to the protests. Additional reporting by Sean Edward Seddon
By Mark Sleightholm Online News Editor
“We have friends and family on the streets in Hong Kong right now. We feel helpless and useless”
Photos: Mark Sleightholm
4.news
Monday 13 October 2014
The Courier
£1 million boost for child cancer fund By Alix Pickles
Following the donation of £1 million from the Barbour Foundation the Future Fund campaign has taken a significant step closer to its goal of establishing a state of the art children’s cancer research facility at Newcastle University. The Future Fund is a collaborative project between the University, the North of England Children’s Cancer Research (NECCR) fund and the Great North Children’s Hospital. It aims to raise £5.5 million over the next 18 months. Medical advances “8 out of 10 over the past children now made 30 years mean that diagnosed 8 out of 10 children diagnosed with cancer now cancer will will be cured” with be cured. Whilst survival rates have improved, less toxic therapies are needed as current treatments can have chronic side effects. Dr Katie Harland, Senior Development Manager at Newcastle University, highlighted the importance of the Future Fund: “the work that will be done in the new research centre will have the potential to offer all children a future free of cancer and the side effects of treatment. The fact that the leading team in this area of research is based right here on the Newcastle University campus is an incredible achievement.” Thanks to the backing of famous patrons such as the author Bill Bryson and musician Mark Knopfler, the fund has
managed to quickly raise a large amount of money. The total stands at £1.7 million after just 11 weeks since the campaign’s launch. Dame Margaret Barbour said: “Childhood cancer has been one of the success stories of modern medicine, in large part thanks to the work of researchers and clinicians in Newcastle. The Future Fund campaign will enable this progress to move on to the next level. I am extremely proud to be associated with this vital work.” The new facilities will bring researchers together under one roof enabling them to work more closely together on developing innovative approaches to the treatment of childhood cancer. Professor Chris Day, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Medical Sciences commented: “The NICR (Northern Institute for Cancer Research) is already the leading centre for research into childhood cancer in the UK and it is poised to become one of the major centres for paediatric oncology research in Europe. Creating the advanced laboratories needed for our world-class research will enable us to build on our strong track record and achieve our goal of changing the lives of more children.” Professor Josef Vormoor, Director of the NICR, added: “Fast forward to ten years from now and I believe we will have completely changed the way we treat children with cancer. Though we clearly won’t achieve this on our own, I believe that the team in Newcastle will be key to making that step change.”
BARBOUR BOOST: Dame Margaret Barbour, Prof. Josef Vormoor, Chris Peacock, and Mary Dafter ,PDJH 3UHVV 2IÀ FH
“While no dramatic change to rental charges is envisaged, it will be necessary to maintain an appropriate level of increase” 4500 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 2012/13 St Mary’s College
2013/14
2014/15 Bowsden Court
“A rent rise of 4% for standard rooms and 5% for ensuite rooms has already been agreed with the Students Union for 2014/15”
Henderson Hall en-suite
Continued from front page repairs to student rooms. Concerning these figures, Margaret Hunter, Director of Accommodation and Hospitality Services said she is, “happy to note that these fell over the last two years.” These jumps in annual rent can be expected to continue, as Bandeen commented that “While no dramatic change to rental charges is envisaged, it will be
necessary to maintain an appropriate level of increase.” A rent rise of 4% for standard rooms, and 5% for en-suite rooms has already been agreed with the Students Union for 2014/15. Accommodation for couples and families, including studios, and two to three bedroom apartments have witnessed a lager increase in rent than any
of the undergraduate halls. In two years the average annual rent for this class of housing has risen by £431.58. Studios alone have seen a rise of £516.04. With no end in sight for this rise in accommodation fees for University owned properties, Paul Bandeen commented that, “We still believe our rents represent exceptional value for money...
5000 4500 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0
2012/13
2013/14
2014/15
Standard room, with washbasin
En-suite room
Standard room, no washbasin
Catered room (Castle Leazes)
Newcastle University rents are in the bottom quartile with one of the lowest en-suite rents in the sector and the cheapest in Newcastle.” This increasing cost is still a concern for many students, as university is becoming an increasingly expensive endeavour.
Left: Total annual rent for campus halls of residence (£) Right: Total annual rent for off-campus halls of residence (£)
The Courier
news.5
Monday 13 October 2014
Trepidation after Trojan virus terror By Jack Parker
Students have been warned not to open any suspicious emails or attachments following an attack by a Trojan virus on University email accounts. Newcastle University’s IT Service detected emails on the evening of Thursday 2 October that were being sent to University email accounts containing a malicious and unknown Trojan virus. The virus was contained in an attachment that was sent in an email with the subject “Your document”. It is believed that 45 University computers have been infected with the virus. A Trojan virus is a type of malware program containing malicious code that, when executed, carries out actions determined by either the virus itself or the hacker, typically causing loss or theft of data, and possible system harm. They often act as a ‘backdoor’ for the hacker, who is then able to remotely control and gain unauthorised access to the affected computer. They are most commonly sent in email attachments disguised as something inconspicuous. If opened, the attachment would have infected a user’s PC and would have then been able to send itself onto other contacts listed in the user’s address book. Such is the seriousness of the Trojan
“Trojans often act as a ‘backdoor’ for the hacker”
virus in question, the IT Service were forced to completely rebuild the affected PCs as a precautionary measure, to ensure that they were completely free of the virus. The IT service then worked around the clock to block the fraudulent email from harming any more PCs by blocking its access to the network. In theory, the University antivirus software and firewall will have blocked any further emails being sent to other PCs. There are no further University computers or emails being affected by the virus. However, some PCs and email accounts may still contain the virus. If you see an email with the subject “Your document” it is strongly advised that you do not open it and delete it immediately. If you have opened the email on a home PC or personal device, the IT service recommends that you reset the device to its factory settings to ensure the Trojan has not affected your device. A statement from Steve Williams, Director of University IT said: “On Thursday evening (2 October 2014) some members of the University received an email with an attachment which was infected with an unknown Trojan virus. “We have monitored the situation over the weekend and our anti-malware software is detecting and blocking the Trojan before it enters the University’s network. “If you are at all unsure about any emails you receive, please do not click on any links, supply your details or open any attachments. Simply delete the email or contact the IT Service Desk on 0191 208 5999.”
BARK WORSE THAN BYTE?: Concerned students wait on more news of the virus Image: Kate Dewey
Library to expand next summer By Antonia Velikova News Editor
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The Robinson Library will be expanding in summer 2015 to provide more study and storage spaces. A building has already been purchased and renovation is under way. The home of the new library will be on Sandyford Road, one of the main arterial routes in Newcastle. It will provide 500 new study spaces, along with allocated space for various archives currently located in the Robinson Library. “The sucAdditionally, the cess of the new library space Pop-Up will accommodate a Library research group and proved a doctoral training that we centre for Human need more Digital Interaction, space.” currently housed in Culture Lab. “The building is very well suited to be used as a library,” said Wayne Connolly, Director of Academic Services and University Librarian. “It has large open floor space on several storeys, which is very adaptable, much like the Robinson Library.” The building is situated at approximately the same walking distance from King’s Gate to the Robinson Library. It is a 25-year-old detached purpose-built office building arranged over basement, ground and four upper floors. The total floor area is 3,200 square metres. Connolly explained: “The need to provide more library space has become very apparent over the past couple of years as student numbers have increased, but also because students are coming to the Library more often and spending more time here.
“As soon as we completed the refurbishment of the Robinson and Walton Libraries two years ago, use of the buildings increased quickly. We are close to being overcrowded at busy times of the year, and students have told us that they sometimes find it difficult to find places to work. That is why we set up the PopUp Library in the King’s Road Centre last summer – to meet student demand.” The Pop-Up Library was the University Library’s experimental project earlier this year. It received shining feedback from students, who were extremely satisfied to have additional study spaces during exam period. “The success of the Pop-Up Library proved that we need more space, and when the Sandyford Road building is ready to open next summer, it will provide a more permanent solution,” Connolly added. “The main purpose of the new building will be to provide extra study space and more PCs. We are currently discussing what else we might put there, and we expect to involve students in those discussions so we make sure we provide what they need.” By 2017, it is expected that the entire building will be a part of the University Library, containing archives and study spaces, as well as group study rooms. Student surveys from the past show that students seek a combination of a traditional library environment enhanced by new technology for work and study, and this is what the new library space will aim to provide. The Libraries in Newcastle University are ranked first in the Russell Group for student satisfaction in the latest International Student Barometer study and fourth in the UK in the National Student Survey 2014.
6.news
Monday 13 October 2014
The Courier
Union campaigns to stop sexual assault By Sophie Sharp
ZERO-TOLERANCE: NUSU aims to battle sexual harassment and rape. Image: Antonia Velikova
A new campaign has been launched by the University to tackle the issue of sexual assault. Posters brandishing the campaign’s slogan ‘No Means No’ can be found distributed throughout the Students’ Union in places such as on the back of the toilet cubicle doors. ‘No Means No’ is an anti-rape campaign that questions what counts as sexual consent by highlighting the “Newcastle fact that the word University will no is not open to interpretation, not tolerate whilst discourrape or sexual aging any misinterpretations of harassment” silence. The campaign works towards making the outlines of sexual consent more concrete and clear. Some of the key aims of the campaign are to raise awareness of the laws concerning rape, as well as making it clear that alcohol is not considered a legitimate excuse for any form of sexual abuse. The campaign also hopes to encourage those who have suffered from sexual abuse to come forward and report the incident whilst endeavouring to inhibit young people becoming involved in sexual abuse, either as victims or as the perpetrators of this. Olivia Jeffrey, NUSU’s current Welfare Officer, spoke to The Courier about the
University’s involvement with the campaign. “The posters were produced through meetings with my predecessor and the Northumbria Police as well as Northumbria’s Welfare Officer. The police are really keen to send a message out on consent as it is obviously such an important topic.” Northumbrian authorities are not the only supporters of the campaign. On their website, the Lincolnshire Police state that by supporting the campaign, they endeavour to ensure that “there is no place for sexual abuse in society”. Lucy Morgan, president of Newcastle University’s Feminist Society (FemSoc), said: “FemSoc fully supports the ‘No Means No’ posters and are thrilled that Olivia Jeffrey, our Welfare and Equality Officer, has focused on a campaign that produces a clear message that Newcastle University will not tolerate rape or sexual harassment. “When statistics come in saying that only 77% of young men agree that having sex with someone who has said no is rape, as in the ‘Where Is Your Line’ survey, it is clear that these posters are well needed in order to support and educate men and women on campus.” With 1 in 7 female students experiencing some form of sexual assault, the posters represent NUSU’s desire to raise awareness amongst the student body, who these statistics indicate may be affected by issues of sexual consent more than people of other age ranges.
The Courier
news.7
Monday 13 October 2014
Ready, set, glow: RNIB fun run dazzles By Lucy Morgan Last Friday 10th October, Gateshead International Stadium played host to the Glow Neon Fun Run 2014, to raise money for blind and partially sighted people. The North East “We’ve tried has become the first region to host to create a multi-sensory the Glow Neon Fun Run outside experience London since that everyone of the event started can enjoy” last year. Inspired by the full moon parties in Thailand, which every month see party goers dancing along the beach to the sounds of techno music, it is clear that this is no ordinary fun run. Runners are encouraged to run, walk, dance or “even moonwalk around the track” while being sprayed with luminous glow paint along the way. Also contributing to the carnivalesque ambience is the addition of a huge sound system and DJ’s blaring music to motivate runners as they go past. The colourful intensity of this run is linked closely with the charity towards which the minimum sponsorship money and entry fee goes: the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB). The idea is that the neon aspect of the run simulates the challenges of individuals who actually suffer from sight loss or impairment. Helen Rogers, one of the fundraisers
for the event, advocated the fun run by pointing out: “The very fact that the run is taking place after dark will get people thinking of the additional challenges blind and partially sighted people face in everyday life.” She also explained that “by incorporating live music and the neon paint into the event we’ve tried to create a multi-sensory experience that everyone can enjoy.” The response from blind or partially sighted people within the community has been highly positive. A press release from the RNIB makes reference to a Newcastle teaching assistant getting “ready to ‘glow’ to support others with sight loss”. Alongside support from within the community, the event has also received attention from celebrities such as Stephanie Pratt. In a September media release from the RNIB, Stephanie encouraged people to take part in the event saying: “I love the 80s neon vibe, RNIB Glow is a really cool way to have loads of fun with your friends and you get to raise money for a good cause at the same time.” Newcastle students have played an instrumental role in this event with Helen describing “an army of Newcastle University students volunteering at the event, which is brilliant, we’re very grateful for their help.” If you want to get involved with future volunteering and fundraising roles contact Helen on helen.rogers@rnib.org.
5($'< 72 */2: 1RUWK (DVW À UVW WR RUJDQLVH *ORZ 1HRQ )XQ 5XQ RXWVLGH RI /RQGRQ Image: Phil Roeder
Nominations for Freshers’ Week Organisers and Part Time Officers elections open By Antonia Velikova News Editor Nominations for Freshers’ Week Organisers for 2014/2015 are now open, the NUSU informs students. Teams have already started planning for the upcoming Freshers’ Week Organisers elections in November. Those elected get the unique opportunity to organise one of the biggest weeks in many students’ university experience. The position is full-time for the period between November 2014 to October 2015. The successful candidates are paid a full time salary from late June to early October and they are expected to be full-time members of staff at the Students’ Union during this period. Freshers’ Week Organisers need to run in teams of four and conduct their own promotional campaign so that they can come on top of elections. Candidates are free to keep the week as it is or reinvent it completely. Many students are tempted by this unique opportunity so competition is always fierce. As well as the organisers, the Union is also running nominations for part time officers. The positions advertised are for Students with Caring Responsibilities Officer and Students with Disabilities Officer. Part time officers are a crucial part of the Students’ Union, as they support and represent students while working closely with the Welfare and Equality officer. Additionally, part time officers sit and vote on Student Council meetings, assist the full time officers, as well as organise different events and forums. All those interested can apply on the Students’ Union website at http://nusu. co.uk/vote. Nominations close on Monday 27th October at 10am and voting and campaigning week runs from 4pm on Monday 10th November to 12pm on Thursday 13th November 2014.
Uni welcomes first in-house Muslim cleric By Ed Howe
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Mohammed Rahman, the newly-appointed Newcastle University Muslim Chaplain, has taken up the responsibility to represent some 1,500 Muslim students. He spoke to The Courier about what the year will hold for him and for the University’s Muslim community. Aside from working as an Imam in a Mosque for the last 6-and-a-half years, Mohammed frequently does lectures on medical ethics, engages with voluntary work in hospitals across Newcastle, and regularly participates in charitable work - and more recently he’s been helping out at food banks across the city too. He confessed that, it being a new job, he’s still learning the role and, just like the thousands of freshers who arrived two weeks ago, he’s still struggling to find his way around campus. Mohammed summarised that he in“He intends tends “to provide and loto provide education gistical support in e d u c a t i o n areas where there and ORJLVWL is a need for it”, and a Chaplain he’ll cal support” as be here to provide moral support and emotional wellbeing. Mohammed said his plan for working at the Chaplaincy is “to promote a more cohesive atmosphere within the university and help to better facilitate under-
standing by staff for students’ needs”. As Muslims are required to pray five times a day, lecturers need to be aware of when this takes place because prayer times change frequently “Newcastle has which can result in clashes D PXOWL IDLWK the Unichaplaincy with with versity’s more representatives concrete timeIRU most ODUJH table. Newcastle has UHOLJLRQVµ a multi-faith chaplaincy with representatives for most large religions - a point that Muhammed was extremely proud of. He believes that religion provides solace and inspiration as well as good morals and cohesiveness, he claims, “through providing a talking point: it means everyone has something in common”, which is certainly a vital aspect of making friends at university. Mohammed added that he can be found at the main Chaplaincy at 19/20 Windsor Terrace, which is just behind the Robinson Library, however he stresses that he is happy be contacted at mohammedrahman1981@gmail. com and can meet anyone anywhere on campus. Alternatively, you can also contact the Chaplaincy directly at chaplaincy@ncl. ac.uk. There is no need to have a religion to benefit from their advice and support.
Monday 13 October 2014
8.nationalstudentnews
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Meningitis death at Northumbria Job  Title:  Administrator  Employer:  Newcastle  University Closing  Date:  19/10/14 Salary:  £20,198  -  £21,391  pro  rata  Basic  job  description:  Required  to  work  in  the  Technical  Services  section  of  the  Robin- son  Library  providing  administrative  support  for  the  North  East  and  Yorkshire  Academic  Libraries  (NEYAL)  purchasing  consortium.  7KLV SRVW LV Âż [HG WHUP IRU RQH \HDU +RXUV of  work  are  18.5  hours  per  week. Person  Requirements:  You  should  be  educated  to  A  level  standard  or  equivalent.  <RX PXVW EH Ă€ H[LEOH DQG KDYH DQ DGDSW able  approach  to  work,  with  the  ability  to  work  under  pressure  whilst  maintaining  a  high  level  of  accuracy.  Good  communica- tion  and  interpersonal  skills  are  essential,  DV DUH H[FHOOHQW LQIRUPDWLRQ WHFKQRORJ\ VNLOOV DQG H[SHULHQFH RI RUJDQLVLQJ PHHW LQJV DQG HYHQWV ([SHULHQFH RI ZRUNLQJ ZLWK book  and/or  serial  acquisitions  would  be  an  advantage. Location:  Newcastle  University  Campus  Employer:  Kenton  School  Closing  Date:  17/10/2014 Salary:  £15  per  hour  Basic  job  description:  We  are  seeking  outstanding  and  inspiring  individuals  to  join  our  University  Tutor  team.  We  offer  1-Â1  tu- toring  to  Kenton  students  across  key  stages  3  and  4  in  Maths  (ages  11  –  16). Person  Requirements:  Candidates  must  possess  or  be  studying  towards  a  degree  in  or  related  to  Maths.  Candidates  must  SRVVHVV H[FHOOHQW RUJDQLVDWLRQDO VNLOOV EH proactive  and  able  to  plan  and  deliver  learn- LQJ WR VXSSRUW VWXGHQWV 3UHYLRXV H[SHUL ence  tutoring  would  be  desirable  but  is  not  essential  as  a  full  induction  will  be  provided. Location:  Kenton,  Newcastle  upon  Tyne   Job  Title:  Care  Worker  Employer:  Age  UK Closing  Date:  31/12/2014 Salary:  £6.75  per  hour Basic  job  description:  We  are  seeking  Care  Workers  to  join  our  growing  team  de- livering  care  and  support  to  people  in  their  own  homes  in  the  north  of  Newcastle.  Part  time  hours  are  available  am  and  pm.  Person  Requirements:  Candidates  should  possess  the  following;Íž  have  a  sensible  and  level-Âheaded  approach,  ability  to  work  within  a  team,  good  communication  skills,  tact,  courtesy  and  patience;Íž  sympathy  and  sensitivity  to  the  needs  and  aspirations  of  frail,  older  people,  their  families  and  carers  and  an  ability  to  work  with  a  minimum  level  of  supervision. Location:  Newcastle  upon  Tyne   Job  Title:  Data  Collectors  Employer:  6N\ +LJK 7HFKQRORJ\  Closing  Date:  26/10/2014 Salary:  £8.00  per  hour Basic  job  description: 6N\ +LJK 7HFKQRO ogy  Limited  collects,  analyses  and  reports  data  for  transport  planners,  public  transport  operators,  highway  authorities  and  transport  data  users.  We  use  industry  leading  tech- nology  across  the  full  range  of  automatic  and  manual  data  collection  techniques  and  provide  high-Âlevel  consultancy  advice  and  training  to  and  for  transport  professionals.  We  are  currently  recruiting  for  market  re- searchers  and  interviewers  in  the  Newcastle  area  to  conduct  face-Âto-Âface  interviews  with  members  of  the  public  on  trains.  Person  Requirements:  The  work  being  FRQGXFWHG LV IRU D KLJK SURÂż OH FOLHQW DQG therefore  requires  polite  and  professional  in- dividuals  who  will  follow  supervisor  instruc- tion  and  work  hard. Location:  Newcastle  upon  Tyne  Job  Title:  Event  Staff Employer:  ([SRVXUH (YHQWV Closing  Date:  15/10/2014 Salary:  £9.00  per  hour   Basic  job  description:  Event  cover  at  a  EXVLQHVV H[KLELWLRQ *UHDW UDWHV RI SD\ Person  Requirements:  Candidates  should  be  hardworking  and  reliable  with  good  IT  skills. Location:  Newcastle  upon  Tyne Â
Job  Title:  GCSE  and  A  Level  Biology  Tutor  Employer:  Tutor  In  Limited  Closing  Date:  30/12/2014 Salary:  £20  per  hour  Basic  job  description:  A  talented  and  committed  GCSE  and  A  Level  biology  tutor  is  required  for  a  growing  startup.  The  posi- tion  requires  face  to  face  and  online  tutoring  to  students  in  the  UK  and  abroad.  You  will  have  a  deep  interest  in  biology,  demonstrat- ed  by  achieving  an  A  or  better  at  A-ÂLevels. 3HUVRQ 5HTXLUHPHQWV ([SHULHQFH WHDFKLQJ and/or  tutoring  is  a  plus,  but  we  are  willing  to  provide  training  to  the  right  candidate.  <RX ZLOO SULGH \RXUVHOI RQ KDYLQJ H[FHOOHQW communication  skills,  patience,  and  a  sym- pathetic  ear.  We  transparently  rank  our  tu- tors  on  subject  knowledge,  professionalism,  conscientiousness,  personal  growth,  and  emotional  intelligence.  The  ideal  candidate  will  use  this  ranking  as  the  basis  for  continu- ing  development. Location:  Online Job  Title:  Sales  Advisor  Employer:  Sky Closing  Date:  01/02/2015 Salary:  Competitive  +  Bonus   Basic  job  description:  Taking  calls  from  customers  who  are  looking  to  get  more  value  from  their  Sky  package,  you’ll  make  them  feel  like  they’re  your  top  priority.  Then  you’ll  work  out  how,  with  our  innovative  products  and  brilliant  services,  you  can  win  them  back.  It’s  sometimes  a  tough  job  and  you’ll  have  targets  that  stretch  your  skills.   Person  Requirements:  Working  in  a  lively  team,  you’ll  need  plenty  of  energy  and  passion  for  our  products  and  delivering  outstanding  customer  service.  Location:  Newcastle  upon  Tyne   Job  Title:  1HZFDVWOH :RUN ([SHULHQFH –  Business  Development  and  Marketing  2IÂż FHU Employer:  Love  Leaf  Tea  Closing  Date:  21/10/2014 Salary:  £700  Bursary  Basic  job  description:  Love  Leaf  Tea  is  a  small  online  tea  shop  who  also  sup- ply  around  30  retailers  with  loose  leaf  tea,  infusions  and  a  selection  of  glass  tea  ware.  They  are  seeking  a  placement  student  to  support  them  with  the  general  develop- ment  of  the  business.  Placement  tasks  will  include;Íž  Social  media  promotion  using  Facebook,  Twitter  and  Pinterest,  website  updates  including  blog  writing,  support  at  Christmas  consumer  shows  and  assistance  with  online  orders  and  distribution. 3HUVRQ 5HTXLUHPHQWV ([FHOOHQW FRP munication  and  writing  skills  are  essential  for  this  role.  The  ideal  candidate  will  be  self  motivated  with  a  passion  for  teas  and  healthy  products.  A  good  knowledge  of  how  to  promote  our  product  using  social  media  is  essential. Location:  Newcastle  upon  Tyne  Job  Title: 1HZFDVWOH :RUN ([SHULHQFH Âą ,QWHUQDWLRQDO 2IÂż FH $VVLVWDQW Employer:  Newcastle  University  Closing  Date:  19/10/2014 Salary:  £700  Bursary  Basic  job  description:  The  International  2IÂż FH IXQFWLRQV SULPDULO\ LQ WZR FDSDFLWLHV to  recruit  international  students  to  study  at  Newcastle  University  and  to  develop  and  maintain  partnerships  with  other  universities  and  organisations  abroad.  There  are  two  key  areas  that  we’d  like  a  student  to  support  us  in  researching;Íž  sharing  of  a  disability  between  institutions;Íž  and  how  we  support  study  abroad  students  to  have  the  best  H[SHULHQFH SRVVLEOH 7KH UHVHDUFK SURMHFW will  involve  contacting  other  universities  and  partners  to  understand  best  practice  across  the  sector,  distributing  and  collating  ques- tionnaires,  and  organising  focus  groups  with  VWXGHQWV DERXW WKHLU H[SHULHQFHV Person  Requirements:  The  successful  FDQGLGDWH ZLOO EH D VHOI VWDUWHU ZLWK H[FHO lent  written  and  verbal  communication  skills,  EH FRQÂż GHQW LQ GHDOLQJ ZLWK D UDQJH RI LQ GLYLGXDOV EH FRQÂż GHQW XVLQJ WKH WHOHSKRQH DQG KDYH H[FHOOHQW ,7 VNLOOV Location:  Newcastle  University  Campus  Â
A female Northumbria University student has died of a meningitis strain which mostly affects babies, pre-school children and young people. Meningitis is a potentially life-threatening disease and epidemics typically occur in spaces where many people live together for the first time, such as University campuses or military barracks. The Student Support and Wellbeing Service at Northumbria has however assured students, staff and families that the disease is difficult to contract and that no immediate danger persists. A spokesperson for Northumbria University has said, “We offer our deepest condolences to her family and friends.�
Sexism scandal shuts LSE rugby The London School of Economics (LSE) is in the spotlight after its rugby club handed out sexist flyers during Fresher’s Week calling women “netball slags�, “mingers� and “trollops�. An investigation by the Student Union was launched after complaints and outcries on Twitter. The LSE men’s rugby team has since published an apology in student newspaper The Beaver promising that further incidents will not take place. Established Universities Oxford and Cambridge drew attention because of similar episodes last year, but it seems the trend of sexism, especially in sport teams, continues despite extensive campaigns and a revival of feminism around UK campuses. Images: Andrew Curtis, Boilingfruit, EPaunov72, Tim Green
Jana Fey
The Courier
.9
Monday 13 October 2014
Comment
thecourieronline.co.uk/comment
Comment Editors: Victoria Armstrong, Matt Corden and Georgina Moule Online Comment Editor: Ruth Davis
So you think you’re a male feminist?
The He For She campaign is gathering momentum, and more and more men are MRLQLQJ WKH IHPLQLVW FDXVH )ROORZ WKHVH WLSV WR EHFRPH D ¿ UP DOO\ WR ZRPHQ
Grace Brown
M
aybe you’ve come to university and felt uneasy at the way those lads in your halls speak about that girl on their course, or maybe you’ve seen Emma Watson’s #HeForShe speech and felt a new sense of understanding on why gender equality is so important, or maybe you’re still in the dark ages and think feminism is pointless or just for women. Whatever the case may be, coming to identify as a male feminist can be hard enough, let alone knowing what to do once you’ve come to that realisation. But don’t worry: whether you’re a self-identifying male feminist wanting to be a better ally, or just wondering what a man’s role in feminism should be, these handy tips are here to guide you on your journey to feminist enlightenment.
BE QUIET
1
It’s great that you’ve identified as a feminist and want to help fight for women’s rights in the quest for equality of the sexes but the first, and perhaps the most important, rule in your journey to becoming the perfect ally is knowing that your voice is not the most important in this conversation. As a man, your voice has always been privileged over a woman’s and every day across the globe women are denied their right to a public voice. Feminism is a space for this voice to be heard. Whilst understanding and accepting your privilege can be a very hard pill to swallow, if you can stomach it and know when to be listen you’ll definitely learn something from the lived experiences of the women that surround you.
BE LOUD Just as how in spaces where women are given a voice it is important to listen, when in spaces where women are often denied one it is even more crucial that you reiterate and amplify the anecdotes and messages that you have learnt from your feminist friends. Realising your privilege is important and actively using this privilege to combat everyday misogyny and sexism is vital. This could mean anything: whether you refuse to participate in lad culture, or say something to that guy in the club who won’t stop touching a girl who clearly isn’t interested, or even just calling out examples of online misogyny, using your male-ness to interrupt sexism is undoubtedly the most important aspect of your ability as a male feminist.
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“Using your maleness to interrupt sexism is undoubtedly the most important aspect of your ability as a male feminist”
DON’T ‘NOT ALL MEN’
Firstly, if ‘not all men’ is what comes to mind when you hear about street harassment or domestic abuse or rape, you’re completely right. Not all men are street harassers, or abusers, or capable of rape but in conversations about such topics this isn’t a point that needs to be made: even though not all men are misogynistic, all women have to navigate a world where misogyny exists, probably having experienced their own fair share of it on the way. Pointing this out doesn’t further the conversation, it derails it and prevents any progress being made in the wider world.
FIND COMMUNITY
This doesn’t just go for male feminists, but for anybody who is part of a marginalised group. Surrounding yourself with like-minded people can go a long way in getting rid of feelings of futility. Just because you are the only man in your flat who finds jokes about women in the kitchen dull doesn’t mean you’re the only man in the world who feels this way. Joining a feminist society or going to feminist events is one brilliant way of doing this, but often so is just speaking out. If you make a point about not liking the way one of your mates speaks about women, you might surprise yourself in finding out that actually, the rest of the guys feel weird about it too. By speaking up for women in everyday situations like this where they can’t, you’re providing other men the opportunity to feel comfortable to do the same in similar situations of unease.
DON’T EXPECT SPECIAL TREATMENT
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“Wear your feminism as a badge of honour, but don’t expect adoration as a reward for it” Illustration by Daisy Billowes
Wear your feminism as a badge of honour, but don’t expect adoration as a reward for it. What can be extremely hard for many men to come to terms with is the concept of male privilege: social, economic and political advantages or rights awarded to men solely on the basis of their sex. Whilst recognising and trying to combat male privilege is a noble act, if you find yourself wondering why you should bother in the first place if your efforts aren’t appreciated in the way you feel they’re deserving of, you’re not combating anything and still expecting experiences of privilege. That’s not to say that the feminist movement isn’t grateful for and thankful of your support; your efforts are definitely appreciated, but the benefits to be reaped from this are a better society and more positive lifestyle, rather than personal gain. As long as misogyny exists it’s not just women that are oppressed: the patriarchy is toxic for everyone. So thanks for joining the cause, your efforts haven’t gone unnoticed - just ensure you listen to what we have to say and then vocalise what you’ve learnt in spaces where you’re better equipped than we are: we promise it’ll be better for all of us in the long run.
10.comment
SOAP BOX
Monday 13 October 2014
The Courier
Protest in the people’s republic
As mass protest stirs Hong Kong, Regina Ng discusses her perspective on the movement
LAUGHTER To ‘make spontaneous sounds and movements of the face and body that are instinctive expressions of lively amusement’ - or, to put it simply, to laugh - is a response we all have ingrained into us. Anyone familiar with Radio 2’s series What Makes Us Human will know that they recently discussed how within the Navajo nation, a child’s first laugh is seen as a rite of passage, marking its birth as a social being. This leads us to question why we all have this in-built response, even as children, and why it is such a big part of most cultures today, with some people going to the extreme of opting to receive ‘laughter therapy’ rather than medical treatment. Everyone has heard the phrase ‘laughter is the best medicine’, and studies suggest that this may hold more truth than first thought. It has been shown to the extent that even hearing shrieking teens on the back of your bus every morning brightens your mood, whether you like it or not. Whatever your opinion, laughing has become a major influence in our lives and in the media today, so the benefits it brings should be more than welcome. Lexie Barton
BLUNTNESS I don’t believe in stereotypes much, but I do follow the stereotype that’s been dogging British people since time immemorial: we never really say what we think. I say this because I am an outspoken person. I do not mangle my words – if I don’t like something then I will say so. I don’t profusely say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ more than necessary (believe me, once is enough). And I come under fire from others for my straightforward ways, a lot. “Oh Will, you’re so blunt”, they sigh, as if describing a really bad personality trait. I do not wish to hurt people’s feelings, I just have things to get on with. Similarly, I do not wish to skirt around the point much either. I travelled around Europe this summer and felt taken aback quite often by the forwardness of a lot of the locals in the places I visited. Then I realised, it’s not rudeness, it’s just their way of operating. Maybe we’d save ourselves a lot of time and anguish if we were more blunt. Will Ibbott
BOLD CHARITY As fantastic as Oxfam is as a charity, the words I would use to describe the promoters and collectors they’ve employed around the Monument aren’t so complimentary. We’ve all walked passed them; gingerly looking down at our shoes while we zig-zag around in an often futile attempt to be left alone. Then comes the audacious approach, my own experiences of which have been particularly cringe worthy. “Get your phone out,” one promoter insisted, “and text this number to donate £5.” It was as blunt as that. Another woman genuinely began sidestepping alongside me as I walked to grab my attention. Since when have charities had to harass and bully people on the street to get their funding? A large and exemplary charity like Oxfam should know better. Even the Jehovah’s witnesses – not famous for being humble or reserved – manage to canvass outside Haymarket without aggressively preying on all those who just want to get to where they are going. Kudos to them. Matt Corden
Image: Willy AuYeung @ Flickr
I
Regina Ng
t is an extraordinary picture: tens of thousands of people pouring into the street of Hong Kong demanding a fair and democratic way of choosing the government head, the Chief Executive. However, it is not just another demonstration happening somewhere halfway around the world, not only because it illustrates how ‘civilized’ a civil disobedience campaign can be with protestors recycling the garbage and volunteers cleaning up nearby public bathrooms regularly, but also because it acts as an indicator of what kind of nation China will become over the next few decades. When the Occupy Central Movement with Love and Peace that sparked off the protest today was first proposed a year ago, the attention from the western hemisphere was slim to none. Talk to European businessmen and their first instinct is to keep their heads low; they care little about hu-
Jack Goodall
man right and democracy in China as long as the world’s third-most important financial center behind London and New York is still safe and stable to invest in. It is not until the circulation of the striking image of the Umbrella Man, a protester holding his umbrella up in the midst of tear gas fired by riot policemen which closely resembles the Tank Man in Tiananmen Square Massacre of 1989, that world news is stirred up. Till now, the mentioning of the incident is still forbidden. China is infamous for its limited freedom of speech. When Arab Spring broke out four years ago, we Hongkongneses jokingly said the Beijing government needed not be afraid as social media contributing to the uprising were blocked in China anyway. Instead of Twitter and Facebook, Chinese people use Sina Weibo and Renren network which function very similarly to the former two, except both are automatically filtered and sensitive posts considered ‘dangerous’ by the Beijing government are deleted. How about information from the outside
world then? When people in Guangdong, the nearest Chinese city from HK, watch the news from HK, the television program would abruptly jump to commercials then back to the anchor again upon mentions of the protests. Ironically, some Chinese were questioned by the police because they were holding an umbrella on the street. This is how serious censorship is in China. It is undeniable that China is a rising economic power. Yet free flow of information is essential to the running of a capitalist economy, so investors can make well-informed decision. In the short run, the west would continue to invest in the land of cheap labor and high demand. In the long run, however, would the entrepreneurs enlist their companies in the Chinese stock market when free flow of information is not guaranteed? This is not just a protest of Hong Kong. To China, it is a test of its governance style meeting the world. To the world, it is a prediction of the country which could shape global politics and economy for a generation.
The Courier
comment.11
Monday 13 October 2014
Honey, we trapped the Tory With Brooks Newmark’s career at a sticky end after falling into a honey trap, we ask whether the Sunday Mirror genuinely acted in the public interest
The
Voice of
Wisdom
T
5XWK /RHIÁ HU
T
he latest scandal to sweep down the halls of Westminster involves the now infamous paisley pyjamas of MP Brooks New-
mark. We’ve already had secret gay partners, documents left on tubes and Cameron having a gossip about the Queen. I feel like I’m back in high school again, and it seemed to be only a matter of time before naked pictures came out. In all fairness, this poor bloke has been completely and utterly played by some freelancer ready to do anything to make a few waves. The basic story is that a ‘Tory PR girl’, fabricated by The Sunday Mirror, began following Newmark on Twitter. After an exchange of comments about tennis, the MP followed with a private message. This eventually led to a conversation on his personal mobile where they swapped a few cheeky snaps. You could argue that this 56 year old MP for Braintree and Minister for Civil Society should have seen through this
‘Sophie Wittams’ facade. (You’re bald. She’s 21. Do the maths.) But then again, maybe that’s not the kind of education they receive down in Eton.
“In all fairness, this poor bloke has been completely and utterly played by some freelancer ready to do anything to make a few waves” The Sunday Mirror has released a statement saying that this ‘investigation’ has ‘clear public interest’ due to Newmark’s public and authoritative position. Interestingly, they’ve said nothing about the fact that the pictures used to entice the MP to expose his paisley privates came from a model’s Instagram without her consent or knowledge. The journalist maintains that he was investigating MP’s misuse of
social media. Frankly, the fact that I now unwillingly have an image of this man’s paisley pyjamas in my head is a misuse of any kind of media. Of course, I see the irony in Newmark’s lecherous behaviour when he co-founded the Women2Win campaign, which encourages more women to join politics. He also funds a Girl Scout led project encouraging young women to pursue an interest in politics. He saw a pretty face and objectified it - not very encouraging for either of these campaigns. Nevertheless, I also see the irony in The Sunday Mirror’s claims to be doing the public a grand favour in revealing sexism in Westminster, when all they’ve really done is exploited the Swedish model, Malin Sahlén, by using her personal pictures to destroy a man’s career. Surprisingly, at the conclusion of this sordid affair there is at least one positive. M&S have released a statement that they have entirely sold out of paisley pyjamas. This does, however, lead to one disturbing sentiment; in this day and age, could we have possibly made a sex symbol out of pyjamas and middle-aged MPs?
On her Majesty’s secret solitude As Will and Kate warn photographers to respect their privacy, Rob Granger asks: are the Royal family more deserving of the right to a private life than other celebrities?
Rob Granger
T
he old battle: to what extent ‘celebrities’ are entitled to privacy in certain aspects of their lives, when they court media attention in others. This was reignited last week by the issuing of a stern warning by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge that they would pursue legal action against photographer Niraj Tanna if he did not ‘cease harassing’ their infant son, Prince George. Arguably, the Royal Family do constitute a special case when it comes to drawing the boundaries between the public and private lives of high-profile figures, because they do not ‘put themselves out there’ in the same way. They are simply not comparable to the actors, comedians and pop stars who ply the Friday night chat show circuit, lark around with Holly and Phil on This Morning, and give magazine and weekend supplement interviews, to tout their latest film, book or album. This is not to excuse unacceptable breaches of their privacy, merely to point out that they have almost all ‘opted into’ and embraced ce-
lebrity culture. The royal family, by contrast, have not; they have been thrust into the limelight through accident of birth or marriage. When members of the Royal Family do embrace publicity, they are not engaging in self-aggrandisement, but promoting particular worthy causes that they have adopted: wounded service personnel in the case of Prince Harry for example.
“The Queen does not relish fame: she does what she does because she considers it to be her duty”
It is not an exaggeration to assert that most, if not all, members of the royal family are almost entirely indifferent to ‘celebrities’. The Queen does not give interviews, publicly respond to either criticism or acclaim – she has always adhered to the maxim, ‘never complain, never explain’ - and has perfected the art of affecting obliviousness to the cameras exploding all around her as she glides serenely
through official engagements. She does not relish fame; she does what she does, quite simply, because she considers it to be her duty. This does not mean that the monarchy should be immune to legitimate scrutiny - far from it. It is perfectly right and proper that the press should report and comment on matters of genuine and justifiable public interest, such as Prince Andrew chartering taxpayer-subsidised aircraft to attend the Golf Open Championship. The private lives of members of the royal family, however, are not public property. The monarchy is buffeted by the contradictory currents of popular opinion, whereby we demand ‘normalcy’ – whatever that means – of our royal family, whilst simultaneously expecting them to live in the relentless glare of the modern media, something most ‘normal’ people would find utterly unbearable. So, much as we all enjoy cooing over pictures of cute, cherubic babies, let’s all take a step back and reflect on the fact that Prince George’s nanny probably has more than enough on her hands already, looking after the 15 month old future king, without being trailed by photographers whenever and wherever she takes him out in his pram.
hird year is going crackingly so far. Some say third year is the hardest but I think it will be the best: the culmination of two years of work and friends, plus one develops so much as a person. I reckon you really find yourself at university – I arrived at Castle Leazes in September 2012, AirMax’s unleashed and a crate of Belvedere for Freshers’, and now here I am: so far removed from that pretentious lifestyle. The only time you’d catch me in AirMax’s now is if wearing them ironically. I may still drink the Belvedere, but you can’t really put a social label on quality so it’s not really pretentious. I signed up as a mentor this year for my course – philosophy – which is going to be amazing, getting the opportunity to share and teach all the things I’ve learnt; hate to think of valuable insight being wasted. Originally I chose it as an easy option but little did I know how much it would blow my mind. I went right from Nietz-who? to Nietz-babe. So glad I didn’t choose Geography for the easy 2:1. I would never have realized how much I fucking love Heidegger and co. I mean, Philosophy may not have the natural attached prestige of medicine or whatever, but I think if one really thinks about it, Philosophy is the best degree because it is literally like ‘Why’. The ‘why’ to everything – it questions the fundamental nature of life, whilst medicine is just learning to match disease to cure – no originality. And that’s what it’s ultimately all about y’know? Originality. Daddy disagrees but as long as he keeps funding my degree he can think whatever he likes. He just doesn’t like knowing that I’ve surpassed him intellectually (whatevs, over it).
““I went right from Nietz-who? to Nietz-babe” It’s weird to think about just how much things have changed in two short years. To go from bopping about Waikiki and Dirty Little Secret, to realizing how empty these conformist, shallow nights are and finding my true self in the house beats of Cosmic Ballroom. I’m really proud of the transformation I’ve made. The transformations don’t end there. No longer do I choose to listen to my music in modern format, a record player and some Radiohead LPs is all a man needs to affirm his individuality. And done that I have. Now when my philosophy course mates come over we light up a dooby and bask in the genius of Thom Yorke.
“A record player and some Radiohead LPs is all a man needs to affirm his individuality” Rugby union has become an ever bigger part of University life. It really is a badge of honour when I strut onto the metro in my rugby kit from West Jesmond, asserting my male dominance by being overly loud and play fighting with my team mates. The entire carriage just stinks of testosterone. These are just little perks mind, nothing compares to the thrill of a big match, which is after all what we’ve all worked so hard towards. It’s not a bad life in further education really, and I’ll continue living the high life ignoring the fact I might have to find a real job in less than a year’s time.
Hugo
As told to Victoria Armstrong Illustration by Lewis Bedford
12.lifestyle
Monday 13 October 2014
The Courier
Lifestyle Editors: Jack Dempsey, Annie Lord, Holly Suttle & Tom Tibble
Emily Watton That Third Wheeling Feeling
W
e’ve all been a third wheel at some point, whether male, female, popular, unpopular, single or in love. Usually it isn’t so bad and you can laugh about it afterwards. But, there are exceptions. The couple’s dynamic can range from friendly banter to excessive hogwash, and you’re stuck there until you figure out a way to escape. Awkwardness and third wheeling go hand-inhand, but I use it as a social safety net. The awkwardness will act like a fire alarm inside my head and I’ll politely head for the nearest exit. Couples need their alone time – I get it and I don’t want to see it. My most extreme case of being a third wheel was when I went to the Scottish Highlands with a close friend and her boyfriend, which included an eighteen-hour round trip. They’re a nice enough couple to be around, but I was cautious. You can’t jump out of moving vehicle when there’s thigh grabbery in the passenger seat. If a fight ensued over what direction to go in, or about one another’s driving ability, I’d just stay out of it.
5 typical Freshers’ Week conversations
E
veryone knows there is a certain script that comes with starting uni. You’re nervous, unsettled and desperate to make friends. Chuck in some alcohol and a sprinkling of questionable social skills and here you have the most repetitive week of your life.
1
First place goes to the classic, ‘where are you from?’ conversation. It is the go-to question when faced with an unknown human being. The ironic thing about this conversation is that, especially for me, it fills you with great regret when you realise how little you know about the geography of Britain. ‘Ah you’re from Preston... yeah I think I’ve heard of it...’ When it gets down to it the universal answer is a nod, a smile and a general, ‘oh, is that north then?’
3
‘Where are you staying?’ is the standard follow-up question. You think you’ve got this, you’ve looked through the accommodation site before coming here, and you’re in control now, yes! ... Turner Court? Is that what he just said? Where the hell is THAT?! Oh well, chances are you’ll eventually
4
2
“It wasn’t just the Scottish climate to blame for the unseasonably chilly atmosphere’’
Or when I discovered that I could make cute little lesbian quips about stealing the girlfriend away, but not the other way around. It wasn’t just the Scottish climate to blame for the unseasonably chilly atmosphere, and this was me, the unattractive friend who offers no competition whatsoever! However, that was a small road bump, and just goes to show that you can never be too cautious; it’s third wheeling not freewheeling. Mainly, couples can be great to hang out with and it isn’t always awkward, but when the awkwardness arises, you’ll find me walking the dog.
The world famous conversation starter that appears in EVERY club scene from Colchester to Ibiza begins like this: ‘Excuse me, do you have a lighter/filter/Rizla/gimme a goddamn cigarette.’ No one really believes that Freshers would be so unequipped. Oh no, this is a careful thought process. You are not merely asked, you are CHOSEN, and probably because you look fit (let’s face it, first impressions count) by a Fresher desperate to keep up with their flatmates on their ‘Pull Chart.’ The rest of this conversation is up to you but ultimately you’re already in there. After talking to people for a while (well done, you got that far) the inevitable, ‘what course are you on?’ conversation
will erupt. Your reactions for these answers must be practised. For a medic: ‘Oh gosh! Sooo much work!’ or, ‘holy mother, you must be smart.’ For accounting and finance: ‘GET ME OUT OF HERE before I pass out with boredom.’ For media: ‘Wow, your parents must be super proud of you.’ For an engineer: ‘Oh my God, I’ve been looking for someone to fix our toaster.’
5
The panic of every gap year student (me) goes like this: ‘Are you a fresher/ how old are you?’ First thing we ask ourselves is am I being chatted up by a minor? Basically, we are new, but the impression I get from most freshers is that because I don’t look as lost/petrified/trashed as they are and am not wearing a bright yellow FRESHERS’ CREW t-shirt, ‘WE DON’T KNOW WHO YOU ARE’. I guess it’s fair enough though, because in the ultimate worst case scenario you might even be talking to someone from... Northumbria. Ruth Loeffler
Ask Rainbow & Knobhead Auntie Rainbow & Uncle Knobhead impart their wisdom to solve your woes
“You can’t jump out of a moving vehicle when there’s thigh grabbery in the passenger seat’’
Another way of avoiding third wheel awkwardness was simple, too simple really: I’d increase the number of our group to the minimum of four. See how easy that is? This fourth member was my dog, Pepper, who was squashed in the backseat with me. I’d let my friends have their couple-time, while I walked the dog. If an argument got too heated, I’d laugh and say: ‘Hey! You’re making Pepper nervous, and you know what happens to nervous dogs…’ Another friend, or even relative, would do equally well, but in this situation there was no room for another person. Something I learned from that holiday was (though now thinking about it was so bloody obvious) that the casual ‘I’m going to steal her’ remark is funny and okay, whereas making the opposite joke about the boyfriend….? Not a good idea. So, overall, I’d say I handled the situation quite well. Well, except when I made the fatal error of pointing out my third wheel status to them, and the girl-half of the equation immediately jumped in with matchmaking possibilities. This always happens to me when I’m with a couple, I don’t know if it does with anyone else, I suppose it’s to do with them being happy and wanting you to be as happy as they are. But, suffice it to say, I put a roadblock to all plans and schemes.
find someone vaguely near you to become your new instant best friend. Occasionally you find the hidden breed; the people from...The View. Some say they have bathtubs, others say they have balconies. There have even been rumours that their toilets flush themselves. You don’t care, this person is your way inside and you’re not letting them go anytime soon.
Conundrum #1 Conundrum #2 Conundrum #3
I
slept with my flatmate during Freshers’ week, and now it’s so, so awkward! I think she likes me, but I wasn’t looking for anything serious. I don’t want to make it awkward in the flat, what should I do? Auntie Rainbow: Well that was stupid, wasn’t it? Why can’t flatmates keep it in their pants? This is a lesson to be learnt my friend — like many other students, you have just signed the contract to Awkwardville for the next two semesters of your life. I would explain to her that it was just a one-night thing. Give her some space for a bit, but then crack on with the year. Keep doin’ the do, just make sure you remember the top rule: NO COCK WITHIN THE BLOCK.
“Casual sex is a naturally occurring phenomenon, like raining frogs”
Uncle Knobhead: Just get on with it. Casual sex is a naturally occurring phenomenon, like active volcanos or raining frogs. It isn’t your fault she now feels attached. Maybe you should have laid down some T’s and C’s first, but still - you’re all clear!
I
have a huge crush on my best mate’s exgirlfriend - I don’t want to make things difficult, but I’m really good mates with both of them and everyone thinks we’d be really good together. He has a new girlfriend now anyway, but I don’t know how he’d take it. I’m 100% bros before hoes, but I really like her. Got any decent advice? Auntie Rainbow: This is a tricky one — we all love our mates, but when there’s the possibility of sex on the cards, sometimes the boundaries are hard to read. This one really depends on how bad the breakup was between your best mate and her, and how you feel about the girl. If you really like her, then work out whether it’s reciprocated (without making a move), then if yes, it’s worth talking to your mate about it and telling him how you feel. If he’s not cool about it, then you’ve got to decide whether it’s worth losing a mate over, or if she is potentially a girl who’s going to be sticking around for a long while. Uncle Knobhead: Mate, that’s a no brainer. I literally see no reason why you shouldn’t go storming in. He’s got his new piece, so what’s up with you going after his old one? Just make sure that you outperform him in every single way (sexually, romantically, intellectually) because there’s no pride in being second-best.
H
elp! I have a huge crush on my seminar teacher, he’s only 26 and he’s a post-grad studying for his PhD. We flirt quite a lot, but I’m not sure if he’s just overly friendly or whether he wants me in his bed. Should I make a move on him? Auntie Rainbow: Whoa, hold it right there — this guy is your SEMINAR leader! He’s going to be grading your work - you don’t want him grading you on anything *extracurricular*, and I’m not talking about netball practice or SCAN fundraising.
“I know a thing or two about knobheads - make sure this one isn’t manipulating you’’
Uncle Knobhead: Listen, this guy sounds like a real creep. It’s natural to be attracted to authority figures, but you should try to remain romantically uninvolved with someone so involved in your education. I know a thing or two about knobheads, and this one sounds like he’s manipulating you. Leave well alone and go manipulate a knob attached to someone who doesn’t have the power to pass or fail you.
The Courier
.13
Monday 13 October 2014
Culture thecourieronline.co.uk/culture
Culture Editor: Kate Bennett Sections: Lifestyle, Fashion, Beauty, Arts, Music, Film, TV, Gaming and Science courier.culture@ncl.ac.uk | @CourierOnline
Blind Date Annie on Tom
Where did the two of you decide to meet up? I suggested we just go to a bar, so he insisted on Hustlers - a pool hall. What were Tom’s first words to you? To be honest I can’t really remember. He had a habit of mumbling and rambling on with himself, I found myself having to tell him to speak up a lot. What stood out to you the most, Tom’s looks or personality? The first thing I noticed about Tom was how little effort he had made dress wise. There I was in a new strappy dress I’d ordered specially, and he was literally wearing joggers. Dirty joggers. But in terms of personality, surely he redeemed himself? He was a really intense listener. To the point where his face got a tad too close for comfort while I was talking. But I suppose it was a refreshing change from the usual bragging dickhead you tend to meet on these dates.
“He tried to slip an arm around me at one point, but quickly changed his mind and tried to pretend he was picking a piece of lint off my shoulder”
Did he strike you as someone you could see yourself have a relationship with, either romantically or professionally? Well considering I like a confident, well-spoken type of guy, no, not at all. Professionally maybe, if he would speak a little clearer. Who bought the drinks? He bought himself drinks. Jagerbombs. I got myself a vodka coke. He’d had four jagerbombs and a pint by the time I finished it. Did the date go anywhere else after the pool hall? Well I suggested we go to Digi, but apparently he’d had some trouble with the bouncers previously and was barred. So we went for a little walk by the quayside. And did he try anything out on this walk? He tried to slip an arm around me at one point, but quickly changed his mind and tried to pretend he was picking a piece of lint off my shoulder. It was pretty wet. So maybe Tom wasn’t the perfect guy for you, but could you see yourself ever going out with him again? As a colleague, I think Tom will be a really great guy. As a potential boyfriend, he’s got a lot to learn.
Annie Lord, 2nd Year Philosophy meets Tom Tibble, 3rd Year English Literature
Tom on Annie
Where did Annie want to go on the date? She didn’t really seem to know where she wanted to go. So I thought it would be kind of quirky to take her for a game of pool. Did she greet you like a future workmate or as a date? Well I thought the whole thing would be pretty chill considering we’re going to be doing The Courier together and everything. But I really did get this vibe like she thought it was a real date. Did you feel attracted to Annie? I definitely thought her a good looking girl, but I was pretty shocked by what she had on. All the guys in the pool hall were clearly checking her out and she seemed quite embarrassed and I really had no clue how to react. It was really weird. But was she friendly enough during the date? As soon as we sat down I realised that this girl likes to talk, big time. It was like being in a lecture, I had to concentrate that hard to keep up. I thought a game of pool would break the ice nicely but she smashed straight on through.
“We went for a walk down to the quayside - I find it the perfect location for seduction”
Could you ever see her being more than a friend? I don’t like to speak too soon, but she seemed fairly keen. I’m casual about these things though so we’ll just have to see.
Did you have a drink on the date? It’s hardly a date if you don’t a drink! My Dad once told me that if a girl doesn’t like a drink, she isn’t worth it. So I put her to the test and hit the bar hard. You must have been in the mood to go out afterwards then I’m guessing. Where did you go? I was actually feeling rather mellow so we just went for a walk. I took her down the quayside because I find it the perfect location for seduction. And did anything occur? Well I expected her to wait for me to the make the move, but she was very hands on actually, I was taken aback. So what did that lead to? Anything? I walked her home, and when we got to her front door she was basically trying to drag me inside. But then I had a moment of clarity: If I’m going to have a healthy working relationship with this girl, I better keep it strictly above the belt. So I scarpered. Rate your date? A scorching eight.
Rate your date? Five. Perfectly mediocre.
Campus crush I
hate how much I want you, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting you. I knew you were a dick when I first met you in our induction lecture. I asked you, “How was your night last night?’”; you replied, in your nasal Essex accent, “Sick mate, messy night though.” “Where are you from?” I began to ask, before you cut me off. “I was about to shag this girl but I was well sloshed so I put my penis in the wrong hole you
know what I’m sayin’…”. You went on for a while. I was repulsed by everything you were saying, but how could I protest against those words when the lips they spilt out of made me breathless, like someone had punched me in the stomach. When I speak during seminars I can feel your eyes flick toward me, you look at my face for a while and then they loll down and focus in on my lips, and then down further to my boobs. I want to hate it but how can I when I look back at you and
you are smiling, the upward motion of your cheeks creating a map of emotion across your face. Every time you bring up that time when one girl sucked you off whilst the other sucked your balls all I can think is - why isn’t one of those girls me?
Send in your anonymous campus crushes to c2.lifestyle@ncl.ac.uk
Someone caught your eye? Looking for love? Send in your details for the Blind Date to c2.lifestyle@ ncl.ac.uk
14.lifestyle
Monday 13 October 2014
The Courier
Lifestyle Editors: Jack Dempsey, Annie Lord, Holly Suttle and Tom Tibble
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W
ith your mum nowhere to be seen to cook you something delicious and nutritious, and that Dominos menu staring you right in the face, it can be fairly difficult to stay trim, fit and healthy as a student. Alas, hope is not lost, as my unusual ways to keep fit will transform you into an Olympic athlete in no time (almost).
“My unusual ways to keep fit will transform you into an Olympic athlete in no time. Almost”
Drag your flatmates, course mates, society mates, ANY mates out for a night of boogying at Flares. With those S Club 7 hits blasting, it will be hard to resist those cheesy, aerobic dance moves. Calories burned for an hour of vigorous dancing to 90s and 00s music: 286. Just be sure not to enjoy a sneaky kebab and chips on the way home - it’ll ruin all of your fantastic work. Waking with a raging headache from last night’s festivities, only to realise that your lecture begins in twenty minutes, is not fun. So what do you do? No time to shower, barely any time to dress, you sprint out the door to make that lecture you are positive will have an attendance sheet. Calories burned in a brisk ten minute jog: 106. Bravo. You’re one step closer to Rio 2016. Retail therapy. It’s tough on your bank account but it’s tougher on your love handles. After just a few hours of shopping you could have burned off up to 385 calories. Impressive huh? Time to put the student discount to good use. The more you buy, the more you burn. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how you justify a brand new autumn/winter wardrobe. You are welcome. You know what they say… save the best ’til last. Sex burns up to 207 calories every 30 minutes. So get it on - but make sure you play it safe. Suzanne Maguire
Hidden gem: Quay Ingredient D
espite being a Newcastle local, I stumbled upon this week’s hidden gem only last month. Located on the Quayside, buried underneath the Tyne Bridge, is a delightful café and coffee house – Quay Ingredient. At first glance, the café could be easily ignored. However, to its regulars, this is the place you cannot miss. Impressively, it’s ranked number 8 on the Newcastle TripAdvisor site for the city’s restaurants, despite its small capacity and selective menu choice. On the surface, the café could be observed as fairly crowded due to its small table selection, but the five to ten minute wait for a table is well, well worth it. On my first visit, I opted for one of the most highly-recommended breakfast dishes on the menu – Eggs Benedict. Served with either smoked bacon, parma ham or spinach, for a reasonable price of £5.95 this is the best dish going. It’s not quite cheap enough to constitute a student budget, but you can afford to treat yourself on loan day/payday (or when you simply can’t be bothered to cook). Alternatively, Quay Ingredient is a perfect place to take your loved ones when they visit - if only to
prove you don’t live on a preservative and E-number filled diet of energy drinks and Pot Noodles, but so your folks can fork out the cash. My friend went for the cheap and cheerful Boiled Eggs and Toast Soldiers option for the very affordable sum of £2.95. Perfect for those who ultimately try and fail to create a successful ‘dippy’ egg themselves, getting food here reduces the risk of nearly burning down your flat. Aside from the breakfast options – which are extensive – the café’s sandwiches, soups and salads are equally as appealing. Fresh soup with a crusty baguette or a pulled beef and BBQ sandwich are among the crowd-pleasers on offer. For a quick lunch bite that won’t break the bank, try a simple cheese and tomato toasted sandwich for £1.95.
“The jasmine snowflake tea instantly adds a sense of decadence to your lunch”
Opening times: 8am-5pm every day Quay Ingredient can be found at 4 Queen St, Quayside, NE1 3UG
Easy eats: Coconut dal
Don’t feel down about leaving your town Jack Dempsey tells homesick Freshers why they should dry their eyes
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Hate dirty dishes? Maisie Steadman recommends this one-pan wonder
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his is a bold statement to make, but I’m going to go ahead and make it anyway; this is just about the easiest recipe ever. It’s so simple, all you need to do is chuck your ingredients into one pan and stir! Perfect if you like to economise on washing up like me. This recipe is ideal if you’re a fan of creamy curries like korma. It’s a delicious, healthier and cheaper alternative to an Indian takeaway. And, it’ll be ready even faster than one could be delivered! Ingredients: 2 medium tomatoes (chopped) 250g red lentils
As for drinks, a coffee or infused tea is not to be missed on your visit to Quay Ingredient. For the tea enthusiasts out there, why not try a Jasmine Snowflakes tea? Served in a quaint teapot with a vintage tea strainer, the drink instantly adds a sense of decadence and sophistication to your lunchtime treat. If pure caffeine is what you require - essential for that two-hour seminar you’re heading back to, or to help with your walk back up the steep bank – then opt for a classic cappuccino or latte. Good, strong flavours which also come with an optional flavoured syrup shot for an extra 50p – an ideal coffee for those who would rather support a local, independent café than the campus Starbucks. Overall, Quay Ingredient is truly a ‘hidden gem’. Whether you fancy breakfast, a quick lunch or simply a refreshing coffee with a Danish pastry, this charming local haunt is a must-visit for your time at university – particularly in the next few weeks before your student loan is little more than a memory. Sometimes it’s nice to forget that you’re a struggling student with a cupboard full of pasta ‘n’ sauce. Charlotte Nixon
400ml tin coconut milk 1 onion (chopped) Green chillis (as many or as few as you require) 1 teaspoon turmeric Method: Put all the ingredients in a pan with 300ml water and simmer for 20 minutes until the lentils are tender. There’s just one step, how easy is that? Make sure to stir throughout as this does have an annoying habit of sticking to the bottom of the pan. Serve with some flatbread or add some chicken if you want to make the dish more meaty, then tuck in and enjoy.
ad about leaving home? Whether you’re a baby-faced fresher or a curmudgeonly postgraduate, flying the nest can have its painful associations. But do not despair, for here is a list of reasons why moving out is not as bad as it seems: You will never be bored again. Nor will you ever know peace again. It is no secret that cohabiting students do not spend their evenings poring over Nietzsche with a nice chianti and Bach on quietly in the background. All student digs invariably contain a roomful of slovenly man-children anaesthetising themselves on TV and video games. If they are not doing this, then they are out listening to similarly mind-numbing music and drinking themselves sick. With options like this, why would you ever need to be alone, or think about anything important again? Your bank account has never looked healthier. With a lump sum you did not earn but have no problem spending, you may feel a newfound sense of a freedom and an urge to buy all those things those once seemed unattainable, such as a Slanket. Although only a few fleeting weeks will pass before that money seems as nonexistent as the Slanket you
never use, right now it is yours, so go buy yourself a jazzy pencil case. The past is dead. No longer do you have to be the guy who is regularly forced to do a shot through his earhole because you did it at a party one time when nobody was giving you any attention and it was unanimously deemed your ‘party trick’ thereafter. Polish your non-prescription lenses, dust off the Cuban heels and adopt of a look of pained intellectualism, because every new place requires a new look. This isn’t to say forget who you are, or were, but try not to get trapped in old ruts because ingesting vodka through your ear will inevitably lead to damaged hearing.
“The world is your oyster, so take its pearl and fashion a nipple ring out of it”
Your parents are gone… because I have killed them. MWAHAHAHAHA. No, hopefully this is not the case. What I’m actually trying to say is that their job is as good as done for the time being. You are now free to get that tattoo you always wanted, or learn an extreme sport, or try out a controversial style of dress or possibly a new sexual orientation. The world is your oyster, so takes its pearl and fashion a nipple ring out of it. Finally, do the things that you always wanted to do. This is nobody’s prerogative but your own. Lean into the uncomfortable and never disregard something because it’s ‘too hard’. And, to end on an ever important cliche: enjoy the ride.
The Courier
lifestyle.15
Monday 13 October 2014
Should  summer  love  die  in  the  autumn?
<HV OHW LW EXUQ “The ‘quirky cute’ No,  let  it  live
L
et’s snap back to reality, shall we? Summer is over, and so is your summer lovin’. That honeymoon period that you two shared has inevitably come to an end. Be it your neighbour, the cute boy you met at the Eiffel Tower during your travel or that hot girl you spent those romantic nights in LA – it is over, sweethearts. Summer, as we all know it, is the time we break free from our responsibilities as a student and decide to embark on some adventure. Enter the dreamy boy/girl. You hit it off with them immediately and everything seems to fall into place. It becomes a Disney film! You two want to run off into the sunset and never return. During that summer break, both of you only shared all things rosy and nice. Every thing that you two did was adorable to the other, to the point that people around you got awkward about it. You don’t notice that she’s overly suspicious or that he’s disgustingly messy. “Those are just their quirks! Cute isn’t it?� No. Those very ‘quirky cute’ things are going to drive you so mental once summer is over. You are going to feel like they are interrupting your life once uni is back on. This is for the one who is taking it casually. What if you are at the other end of the spectrum? You want to make this summer fairy-tale work and you imagine how it’s going to make an amazing love story to tell your mates. Well, you are going to miss all the opportunities of actually meeting someone for real. Or have any fun at all. Do you really want to be that sad person? Have a good time and have a laugh. It’s called ‘summer break’ for a reason. Benazir Parween
things which you loved in summer will drive you mental once summer is over�
Holiday  hunter:  Budapest,  Hungary Paige  Roddam  on  why  Houdini’s  home  town  should  be  your  next  destination
T
hinking of booking a student holiday soon? Want to enrich your cultural knowledge AND indulge in dirt cheap nights out? Look no further than Budapest. Probably not the first place that comes to mind when considering a holiday, but bear with me. I visited Budapest this summer as the final leg of my interrailing trip and I was completely blown away. Budapest boasts one of the best nightlife scenes in Eastern Europe, from the ßber-trendy ruin bars in the centre of Pest, to the increasingly popular Bath Parties scattered all across the city, you’re certainly not spoiled for choice. Walk into any pub, bar, or restaurant and you can score yourself a pint for around £1 – absolute bargain. If you are planning to stay in Budapest for a few days, I can guarantee you that you’ll have a jampacked schedule. For the thrifty folk among us, Budapest’s flea markets in the gorgeous City Park every weekend boast a wide range of trinkets and collectables, ideal for souvenir shopping. It’s so easy to lose a day in this park itself, with 302 acres
of stunning greenery and a lake spanning 12,000 square meters, and I thoroughly recommend spending a hangover day in the SzĂŠchenyi Baths, wandering around Vajdahunyad Castle gardens, or even taking a cheeky nap on the banks of the lake.
“Walk into any pub, bar, or restaurant and you can score yourself a pint for around ÂŁ1 absolute bargainâ€? And for all you culture and history buffs out there, Budapest has plenty for you, too. From St. Stephen’s Basilica to Hungary’s Parliament Building, everywhere you turn all across the city you are completely immersed. So, if you’re looking for cheap booze, cheap food, a killer cityscape to cure your hangover the next day, Budapest is the one for you. Total cost: under ÂŁ300
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ummer love is far from over. Yeah, so what? You might have just had a fling and thought nothing of it. But on the other hand, that person who you spent all of summer with, every second of everyday, (and still didn’t get tired of them), might be more than just that. Why not keep it going? If they’re worth it and you feel the same, then don’t waste all those shared summer memories! You know you’ll be dreaming about them and fantasizing you were back in the nostalgia summer ‘14.
Everyone knows that it’s inevitable when you are single to want to be in a relationship. So when there’s that summer love available for you who has the same amazing stories and that great beach body, you know you’ve hit jackpot. Quite honestly, if you can make it work, you’re the luckiest person in the world — you can have the Uni high life and the fantastic relationship at the same time. You can meet even more people through them. Think of it this way: Now you’re both back in the real world, you’ve taken the best souvenir you can back home with you. And who said University was the real world anyway? Let’s be honest, it’s not. It might be difficult to establish a routine at first, whether your romantic figure lives close by or not, but when the choice is there, why wouldn’t you opt for regular sex? You can have as much sex as you like. You can get shitfaced on a night out, rock up at their house (if it’s closer, then high five bro) and get even MORE sex. And if you’re having a bad day, guess what? You’ve got the emotional support of someone who knows you at your best. They know how great you can be. They’ve probably seen you with no makeup on, looking like a drowned cat in the sea. And bullshit about it all being fairytale and romance; yeah, it’s got a lot of that in there, but if YOU were involved in a serious car crash with your summer romance, and then you experience loss together through one of the kids at your summer camp dying, (heavy, I know) then maybe you wouldn’t be saying, “Yeah, it’s all just unicorns and rainbows�. If they’ve looked after you through something like that, you know it’s more than just passionate lust. Again, I will bring up the point about regular sex. So, there you go. My summer romance is far fro over. It’s only just the beginning. Holly Suttle
“When the choice is there, why wouldn’t you opt for regular sex? You can have as much sex as you like�
16.fashion
Monday 13th October 2014
The Courier
Fashion Editors: Amy O’Rourke and Hannah Fitton Online Fashion Editor: Hannah Goldstein
Karl It’s a first year-third year thing Lagerfailed From endless nights out to living in the library, EEmily mily Pentony entony and and Tessa Jones ones show us the evolution of student fashion
Abby Rose
Art
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Leo Williams, 19 Bio-med
Ruth Loeffler, 19 History and Politics
s a fresher, the only thing on your mind is your next night out. Whether you’re sporting Nike Airs and an oversized shirt for a night at Cosmic or some slinky heels and a bodycon for Tup Tup, your going out essentials are your main priority. Fast forward three years and those night out staples are history, festering at the back of your wardrobe, hidden behind a pile of books. Forget the dress that impresses on the dancefloor, your time is now spent creating that killer outfit for a trip to the Robinson.
Holly Martin, 20 Politics
Emily Pentony captures two freshers who exhibit the first year look. Ruth sports a Topshop denim skirt worn with a slouchy white t-shirt, a simply daytime look. She takes day to night with chunky white heels and a vibrant leopard print clutch. Leo’s look smartens up a casual checked shirt and skinnies with a pair of sandy desert boots, meaning he can go from casual drinks at the pub to a night out. Three years later, and the heels are history and the docs are on. Tessa Jones explores how third years
James Murphy, 20 Politics
still retain a stylish edge, with a casual look. James’ day time looks can be described as stylishly comfortable, with a change into smart yet relaxed for those rare nights out. Jeans make a regular appearance, which can be easily styled up or down. Holly is a fan of the high street, with New Look and Topshop being favourites. She doesn’t focus on trends, instead sticking with clothes that suit her personal style. During the day, Holly changes between cute dresses and skinny jeans.
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Placards also included flippant statements that attempted to be funny such as ‘Tweed not Tweet’ - a truly profound slogan - and ‘Make Fashion, not war’, while models screamed into quilted Chanel megaphones declaring that they wanted tweed, and they wanted it right now! Lagerfield’s reputation as a misogynist who once publicly stated that people prefer to look at “skinny models” and those who said they didn’t were “fat mummies” draws critique to the facade of his show - ultimately, his clothes are still designed for the rich minority, and there is little to back up his new found feminist claim, apart from a superficial remark that “my mother was a feminist”. The whole charade ended up reducing the show to a vapid attempt at looking current and political. Having said that, the exposure created at least kept the topic of feminism in the press for Illustration by another week, and the Daisy Billowes clothes were pretty.
Topman
“It seems that Lagerfield has used this to create a flurry of publicity with little meaning behind it”
“There is little to back up his new found feminist claim, apart from a superficial remark that ‘my mother was a feminist”
y
New Look
arl Lagerfield’s Chanel Spring Summer ‘15 collection did not draw attention just because of the clothes - although they were fun, colourful, and practical, in typical Lagerfield style. The set was transformed into ‘Boulevard Chanel’, a street setting in which models sauntered up and down, emulating everyday work life. However, when placards appeared at the end of the show, reading statements such as ‘History is Her Story’, it was clear that Lagerfield had taken note of the publicity surrounding Emma Watson’s recent ‘He for She’ speech to the UN, and decided to take advantage of the current trend of bringing feminism to the forefront of society.
A statement, yes, but looking at the show cynically, it seems that Lagerfield has used this to create a flurry of publicity with little meaning behind it, not to make a political comment. Of course, most press have relished this spectacle, women’s magazines declaring that feminism is now being celebrated, with photographs of the show being posted everywhere on social media (Lagerfield has clearly taken note of the hashtag culture), but it seems that there is little true meaning behind Lagerfield’s cause.
ller
Brandy
As Chanel jump on the HeForShe campaign bandwagon, we ask: is it just a desperate bid for publicity?
Best Da
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The Courier
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Monday 13th October 2014
thecourieronline.co.uk/fashion Instagram:@thecourierfashion | Facebook: facebook.com/thecourierfash |Email: c2.fashion@ncl.ac.uk |
Best Days Vintage
Be in the line up
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Want the chance to win D ZKROH RXW¿ W FRXUWHV\ RI Adidas Originals?
Fashion Editor Amy O’Rourke explores the world of Best Days Vintage, and tells us how to bag a vintage bargain of our own loral skirts, beautiful embellished jumpers and cute denim tote bags adorn the Best Days Vintage website, and the best part is, you certainly wouldn’t be able to buy any of it on the high street. Founded by Steve Hurdle and Jez Dixon in 2013, the store promises a mixture of classic and intrend pieces at prices any student would get excited about, especially with free UK delivery and 15% off for The Courier readers. Best Days Vintage are known for reworking vintage items, taking well loved pieces from the past and giving them a unique and modern twist, yet still keeping their original values.
“There’s nothing worse than going out in your new high street dress, and matching with the girl next to you at the bar”
Steve and Jez are keen to personalise their reworked items, saying “In the future, we will be making swing tags to show you what has been done to the clothing in order to call it reworked. You will be able to see for yourself and like us, get a bit excited about its new and exciting future, sitting
For 15% off Best Days Vintage enter Newbie15 at the checkout
on your back. “ Give a lonely shirt a new home”. There’s nothing worse than going out in your new high street dress, and matching with the girl next to you at the bar. Buying vintage stops this. Best Days Vintage campaign that ‘modern clothing if rubbish, buy more vintage’ and have created tote bags sporting this striking slogan, perfect for carrying uni books in style. For the chance to get your hands on a tote, The Courier Fashion are launching a comp et it ion for two lucky winners. Head over to our Facebook or Instagram page on Wednesday 15 October for details on how to enter. Facebook: facebook.com/ thecourierfash Instagram: @thecourierfashion
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didas have just launched their Be in the Line Up competition here at Newcastle. For a chance to go into the Adidas store and pick a whole new outfit on them, all you have to do is upload a street style picture of you onto Instagram or Twitter and include the hashtag:
#allinforncl
To gain extra brownie points entries should have a funky background, be original and a few Adidas pieces thrown into the mix too. To check out the current competition just search the hashtag #allinforncl. We will announce the FIVE winners on Friday the 17th October, so get posting.
Thrift shop throwdown
Megan Law and Victoria Thewlis DWWHPSW WR XQHDUWK D EDUJDLQ RXW¿ W IRU D ELJ QLJKW RXW
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Topsh
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£38
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s a student, regardless of whether you’re a fresher or a postgrad, there is an ever present concern regarding money, or a lack of it. While 10% student discounts at Topshop produce a smug feeling of saving, that £45 top which is now £40.50 is still hardly a bargain. Factor in the steep price tags with the likelihood you will bump into someone on a Friday night out wearing the exact same thing, and the high street leaves a lot to be desired. The solution? Brave your local charity shop. While charity shops are notoriously dismissed as congregational hotspots for the older generation and an array of slightly stained beige garments, this is far from reality. If you are willing to spend a little longer searching, I assure you will find a hidden treasure, such as the pastel blue dress I scouted in the Red Cross, adorned in intricate beading, reminiscent of an Elie Saab, coming in at a minute £3.99. The dress (a French Connection, no less) was originally a skirt, but with a little creative vision and an open mind, you can completely transform a charity shop garment to suit your needs, and give it a new lease of life. The dress lent itself well to a metallic pearl clutch with a rope detail strap, £2.00, and I teamed this with an array of understated bangle bracelets so as not to distract from the bead detailing, for a negligible £1.50 This entire ensemble, all from the Red Cross, came in at a little over £10 - a price proving that it is possible to purchase an entirely new ‘going out out’ outfit, on a weekly basis, even on a student budget, without skimping on quality.
£65
Megan’s outfit:
Victoria’s outfit:
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ant to find show stopping fashion on a student budget? This week I’ve been scouring Newcastle’s finest charity shops in search of the perfect pre-loved outfit for a night out. Newcastle is home to plenty of charity shops bursting with quality second hand clothes that need rehoming. I rummaged through the rails to create a fabulous outfit from vintage items I discovered in the British Red Cross charity shop. The first thing I spotted was this vintage black and gold peplum top, priced at just £8. The shoulder pads and low neckline on this top give the outfit an ‘80s vibe whilst still looking current. I teamed this with a REAL leather mini skirt that was a bargain at again just £8. This leather mini skirt is such a versatile piece that can be worn day or night with anything on top and is still in excellent condition. To tie in the gold from the top I chose a gold clutch for £5, although a plain black bag would also do the trick. Combine this vintage outfit with a pair of chunky heels to give the look a contemporary edge and you’re ready to hit the Toon.
Charity Shop
High Street
£10.49
£85.00
Charity Shop
High Street
£21.00
£76.00
18.beauty
Monday 13 October 2014
The Courier
Beauty Editors: Charlotte Davies and Charlotte Maxwell Online Editor: Kathy Davidson
The best of beauty This week Ellen Walker gives us an insight into her beauty highlights from Freshers’ Week
Survival Kit: Freshers’ Edition
Beauty Editors Charlotte Davies, Charlotte Maxwell and Kathy Davidson trawled campus to ask you about your favourite beauty must-haves. And after a fair bit of pestering, they managed to put together your ultimate beauty survival kit for this year
Best Lipstick Mac Lady Danger
Best Hairspray
VO5 Stronghold
“Mac lipsticks are an all round favourite of mine anyway, but this shade in particular is great for going from day to night and adds a bit umph no matter what I’m wearing”
“I love this hairspray, it’s non-stick yet always keeps my hair in place. The fact it’s weather-proof is an added bonus too!” - Caroline Embleton, Third Year Maths.
Best Female Scent Marc Jacobs’ Daisy
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resher’s week is the perfect excuse for extravagant makeup. The week holds such a variety of events, each requiring a very different look. It all kicked off on night one with the Great British Take-Off, the patriotic theme of red, white and blue gave the ideal opportunity to try out a classic bold red lip. I used Rimmel’s lasting finish lipstick from the Kate Moss collection in shade 01 and can safely say, it does what it says on the tin: no need to reapply at any point during the night. Night two brought Pandamonium: Gorgon City played in the Students’ Union. Whilst freshers sported their best panda-esque looks. I opted for a smudged, dark smokey eye, a nude lip and a pale completion to minic the monochrome hues of the bear, I teamed this with a Miley Cyrus-style bear ear updo.
Best Body Scrub Soap & Glory Breakfast Scrub
- Jenny Hale, First Year Economics
Best Highlighter Topshop
Best Hair Wax
Fish Fingers Shape Defining Wax
“It does exactly the same thing as benefit high beam but it’s a lot more affordable and easier to apply” - Beth Gray, Second Year History
“I use it every day. It’s strong, always lasts and doesn’t make my hair look greasy.” - Sam Lund, Third Year Medicine
Toon Safari was next, and Freshers’ Week just wouldn’t be complete without face-paint. Each halls of residence were assigned a different animal. As my halls were ‘flamingos’, we chose to use two shades of pink to create a dramatic and oversized winged eye with a feathered effect. The penultimate night gave way to the Festival of Light; a sea of vibrant colours, exotic dancers and an array of cuisines. I wore a bright pink lip and Barry M’s Dazzle Dust eye shadow in ‘Athena’ on my eyelids and lightly scattered onto my temples and cheek bones. This reflected the beautiful light show which projected onto the union.
The final night was Viva Las Vegas, an opportunity to glam up and create a red carpet-worthy look. I chose a simplistic, yet elegant style starting with a three tone blended shimmery bronzed eye and a classic winged liquid liner. I used my Sleek contouring palette to define the features of my face and give the illusion of razor blade cheekbones. I finished this look with a nude pink lip liner to make my lips appear fuller and larger.
“I love this scent for an everyday wear. It’s fresh, floral, fun and perfect for any occasion” - Rosie Underwood, Third Year Law
“I think the smell of this product is far too good for me to ever hunt for a new body scrub”
“For Pandamonium I went with a Miley Cyrusstyle bear updo”
“As my halls were flamingos, we chose to use two shades of pink to create a dramatic winged eye with a feathered effect”
- Emily Ashe, Third Year Law
Best Men’s Moisturiser Nivea for Men
Best Men’s Fragrance Paco Rabanne
“Just the go-to moisturiser: keeps your skin in check and nice and affordable” - Owen McDonald, Third Year Business
“I think I’ve worn it practically every night at uni... and that’s quite a lot of nights out” - Jack Beal, Third Year Psychology
Illustrations by Laura Marsh
The Courier
beauty.19
Monday 13 October 2014
thecourieronline.co.uk/beauty Instagram @courier_beauty | Twitter @CourierBeauty
The Big Review: Skinature
Blokey beauty
This week we review Skinature’s all natural beauty products, designed for sensitive skin
The Gym, Yes
Michael Onoba talks bodily beauty and tender loving gym care. Whether it’s a sweat based struggle or how to go about your transfor- mation snaps, he’s got the answer
Day Serum
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his serum by Skinature is an all-natural, ethically made product, free from animal testing and nasty chemicals, always good to know. The serum retails at £34.99 for 30ML. It claims to tighten and firm skin on the face and neckline and also soothe and hydrate.On first impressions, the packaging and overall presentation doesn’t give the feeling of being a high end product. The serum is extremely light yet took a while to be absorbed into my skin fully. It had quite a masculine fragrance; I would’ve preferred a more delicate scent from a skin product. I was left with moisturized skin but it also felt quite sticky. If you’re applying this in the morning it’s an awful base for makeup. However, the majority will use this in the evening, but still, no-one wants to be left with a sticky face from an expensive product, do they? Overall, I’ve not really felt any positive changes, although my skin felt moisturized, I didn’t notice any increase in firmness or tightness and my skin didn’t feel particularly soothed by the product. For the price, I think there are products available that deliver better results without the stickiness.
Body Oil
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his week I have been trying out Skinature’s bath and body oil in the scent ‘jasmine flower’. The first thing that struck me about this product was the sweet-scented jasmine aroma which is lovely. Not only does it smell fragrant whilst applying, but the scent lingers around for hours after, even waking up with a faint trace. I put a few drops into a warm bath for a relaxing bath-time treat, and also applied this to damp skin as a post-bath moisturiser to lock in moisture. What’s great about this product is that you don’t need an excessive amount, a few drops are enough to leave you with really smooth and toned skin. I expected this product to leave a greasy residue due to its oily formula, but it is not overly greasy at all which is great as you don’t have to wait around for ages for it to dry. Moreover, this product is completely natural and paraben free, and feels really luxurious to use as part of your bath-time routine. Overall, I am pleased with this product and will definitely continue using this as part of my regime.
Milk Moisturiser
T
he first thing that stood out about Skinature Moisturiser was that it is made with natural ingredients. As someone with sensitive skin, I’m always on the look out for natural beauty products. Aesthetically, the little lotion bottle looks appealing – with its simple yet stylish design, it stands out amongst my other moisturisers. When I tested it out, I noticed its scent – it smells incredible. Sometimes other moisturisers can have a slightly chemical smell to them, but as this one contains rose oil (which combats redness and inflammation), it leaves your skin smelling amazing - definitely a bonus in my book. After applying it on to my face, I was pleased with how quickly it sank in and its easy application. It genuinely left my skin feeling soft and provided a good ‘canvas’ for applying makeup. I did notice my skin felt a little waxy after application, but it didn’t bother me particularly, and the sensation faded pretty quickly. Overall, I would definitely recommend this soother to other people, and I’ll be keeping an eye out for more Skinature.
Lucy Cochrane
Harriet Lane
Anna Ross
Spotted on campus Our eyes on campus Ashley Williams shares the top three beauty looks she hunted down this week
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ogwarts, Narnia, the scene at your local watering hole after one too many, and the gym. What do all these places have in common? They’re all magical places where anything and everything is possible. Why the gym, many may wonder. The most common answers most guys give would be to get healthy, get fit, look firing or admire any other attractive gym-goers. Anyway I digress, as always, but nonetheless there are plenty more viable reasons to join the gym of course. To make new long lasting friendships; your gym buddy is a buddy for life. When a self-respecting person agrees to lie down heaving heavy weights up and down while you dangle your sweaty dangles precariously over their face, you’re now basically married until death do you part.
“You’ll need a good body scrum and a good face scrub to clear sweat-blocked pores”
Sweat happens; it’s supposed to. I would say deal with it but I do acknowledge the problem of sweat causing blocked pores which I will address. You’ll need a good body scrub and a good face scrub, I recommend Neutrogena. This is not the time to be pondering life's big questions or thinking about whether or not you should go to Tesco. You should be dedicated to the cause and to exfoliating away at your hard work- you'll reap the benefits later. Your gym beauty regime isn't merely for your own appreciation. Not only can you put this on your Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and any other social circles you frequently engage with (you social butterfly, you), but did you also know you can stick it on your CV. Add to these the fact that you get all the free water you can ask for (essential for the skin) as well as all the free garbage television you can watch and it’s really a no brainer. Also, old people do some odd stuff in there, it’s truly comedic gold.
“The gym has all the free garbage TV you can watch”
Finally, although there are many more reasons I haven’t been able to visit in this article if you are still undecided as to whether the place where you don’t need to be ashamed about your smelly pits is for you then remember this, you can make friends, tell people about it, free water and free TV. Just to reiterate: freebies.
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Michael Choi, 22, Architecture
ome habits are hard to break, but this habit is definitely working for Michael. He says he’s had this cut ever since his Army days, but this style suits him just as well out of uniform. It’s true a lot of guys nowadays like to keep their manes a bit short on the sides and longer on the top, but I think Michael’s cut went a step further. It’s a clean look that ties effortlessly with his smart blazer and glasses. The gradually shaved sides make this cut feel very modern and give it a unique edge. Michael said: “It’s kind of a habit. I did two years in the Army, so yeah… it was kind of standard. And my top just kind of grew out, so yeah, that was it. Nothing to it, actually!”
I
Naomi Rumley, 18, Biology
like the simplicity of Naomi’s bun. It’s a perfect, go-to style for getting to lectures, when you don’t want to spend much time fussing about with your tresses. The Biology student says her streaks of blonde are old – but the colour is what caught my eye! The contrast adds a special touch to what could’ve easily been a plain, oldfashioned up-do. Naomi’s opted to pair her easy bun with a basic cat-eye, and minimal makeup. It works well overall as an easy and very fresh campus look. Naomi said: “It’s just and quick and easy, really. I got this colour a while ago (laughs), I’m trying to grow it out.”
Jaime Frances, 21, Translating and Interpreting
I
caught up with Jaime just as he was leaving the university – and I think his hair looks just as great while walking through town. His style held up quite well in the strong winds that day! His friends knew what they were doing when they suggested this look. Three words come to mind with this cut: cool, quick and effortless. Jaime says he can’t grow much of a beard, but I don’t think he needs much facial hair. His moustache and goatee add a touch of boyish charm to his trendy cut. Jaime said: “I like fashion, but the thing is I don’t really know how to do my hair. People tell me this is the best look for me.”
Beauty Tip of the Week By Flo Davies
K
eep unruly eyebrows under control by recycling your old mascara wand. Simply coat the palm of your hand in shampoo, accompanied with warm water until you have got as much of the excess of the product off as possible. Finish off by spritzing hairspray onto the clean mascara wand, and proceed to brush through to achieve those perfect, desired brows.
The Courier
feature.21
Monday 13 October 2014
Snapshot: Freshers’ Week It might be over for now, but fortunately TCTV’s photographers captured the full madness of Freshers’ Week for posterity
A lot went on in Freshers’ Week, and to be quite honest we’re pushed for time and space here, so we’ll be brief. The Union light show (left) still looks amazing so no apologies for including in here again. Below that are the holders of the record for most people fitted inside TCTV’s hula hoop (seven). Their prizes were three broken ribs and a dislocated shoulder. That horse with a hockey stick for a hind leg was drawn for us by Ed from Billon when he played at the Union on the Wednesday. If we had room we’d do a full psychological evaluation, but as we’re pushed for space we’ll just say he’s bad at doing faces and legs and leave it there. These crew members’ fancy dress is a classic ‘sounded hilarious, immediately regretted it’ sort of idea. Bubble football is the most naturally hilarious sport ever devised, and as a metaphor for Freshers’ Week generally (bit claustrophobic; sweaty; lots of falling over) is pretty neat. Finally: yes, that is a lovely picture of those two people (above). Yes, that is two vibrators gaffa-taped to a big stick being waved behind their heads. The owner of the stick is tantalisingly out of shot, sadly. Tom Nicholson
The fancy dress hall of fame/shame Not all fancy dressers are created equal: witness the two pictures to the bottom left: on one hand, a man with a tiny hat who couldn’t even keep the thing on his overly large head; on the other, supervisor Michael Darby who battled heroically against not just hordes of selfie-seekers but also a massive hat and woollen tights in the discharge of his duties. See also the flamingo to the
right, still balanced on one leg while getting his entry stamp, and the supremely grumpy facially-painted man who refused to look at us when we took his feature. He settled on an expression halfway between seething resentment and crumpled resignation. The seething resentment is, of course, softened by the fact that he looks like someone who’s turned up at the gates of Wimbledon hoping it will rain. Then again, there are examples of fancy dress which straddle the fame/shame line, such as the lion and the nun. This was on the Toon Safari night. One can only imagine what misapprehension the nun was labouring under. The top left group deserve a shaming for not bothering with fancy dress at all except for a bit of bunting carelessly chucked about, but they do at least look like they’ve got the makings of a solid ITV2 sitcom cast there. Finally, the bloke on the top right certainly isn’t like any panda, I’ve ever seen, he might be the reason that pandas are becoming extinct. Terrifying. Tom Nicholson
22.arts
Monday 13 October 2014
The Courier
Arts Editors: Lucy Chenery and Becka Crawshaw Online Arts Editor: Jess Harman
WATCH THIS SPACE Up-and-coming must-see events Interested in the art of lunar mythology? Visit The Baltic: They Used To Call It The Moon. 31 October 2014 – 11 January 2015. Want to witness an artistic social experiment? See Gail Pickering’s new exhibition Mirror Speech at The Baltic. 31 October 2014 – 11 January 2015. Are you a wildlife enthusiast? If so, check out Alison Unsworth’s exhibition Things To Think With at the Vane Gallery which uses an amalgamation of found objects to bring nature back to life. 29 October – 13 December. Don’t miss Tyneside Cinema’s free exhibitions in the gallery! See Chris Marker’s take on the modern world in his art works and short films from 17 – 19 October & Aura Satz’ exploration of the rise of colour in film 22 October – 23 November. Visit Tyneside’s Electra Screen if you are interested in seeing illustrator and model-maker Peter Yates’s 1976 mural Lights and Shadows on the wall.
Fancy meditating with Marina? Arts Editor Lucy Chenery visited Marina Abramovic’s new ground breaking exhibition 512 Hours at the Serpentine Gallery in Hyde Park, London
A
fter hearing many musings about Abramović’s next famous performance at the Serpentine and becoming fascinated by her previous exhibitions I walked into ‘512 Hours’ with high expectations. I queued for half an hour and was told that you could stay in the exhibition for as long as you wished, the possibility being up to eight hours. I was surprised that I managed to get in so quickly. I left my phone, watch and bag in a locker and was handed some headphones. Music? No. Silence. You are struck by the silence. You are removed from the noise of Hyde Park and placed in a cool, quiet space where time seems to stop. I entered the exhibition space and was faced with a square of chairs surrounding a low, cross-shaped platform. People were sat, stood around the room, or being guided onto the stage
appearance so I knew when she crossed my path. She wasn’t there. I moved through the crowd of mediating bodies and looked into the adjacent rooms. I found beds, in both rooms. Visitors were lying down sleeping. It was a surreal experience watching such a private act in such a public space. Someone would get up, put their shoes on and continue on their silent journey. Someone would take their place, shoes off, and begin to sleep. I still couldn’t find Marina.
“You are struck by the silence. You are removed from the noise of Hyde Park and placed in a cool, quiet space where time seems to stop”
I found myself getting frustrated as I was told she would be here for eight hours a day. As I slowly got over the fact that the celebrity artist wasn’t there, I began to appreciate and connect with the space for what it was. Marina has managed to tempt people away from their busy lives and concentrate them in a space, with so few means, where they can stop, reflect and forget time. I got the impression that people were listening
“A truly affecting experience”
by people in black to mediate, eyes closed. The people in black offered their hands to the visitors, some turned them down and some reached back. I immediately found myself looking for Marina, previously memorising her
NUTS Auditions
CALL FOR ILLUSTRATORS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS
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re you interested in photography or illustration? Want to contribute to this award-winning newspaper? The Courier is looking for you. You do not need to be a qualified photographer to sign up. We are looking for photographers who are creative and have a passion for what they do. We aim to build an online community where you can share and see other’s images. Follow us on our Instagram account: @CourierArts (see below). We are also looking for keen illustrators. Again, you do not need to have any qualifications but must be willing to visit galleries, for example, and take first-hand sketches of artists’ works. Let us know if you are interested in our next meeting this Wednesday 15th October in the planning room on the 1st floor of the Student’s Union at 1pm.
Join us on Twitter and Instagram As you can see, our followers are currently few, but think of it more as a small but dedicated bunch of enthusiasts. We’ll be sharing the best of the arts scene in the North East, and supporting student artists from across campus too. It’ll be a right laugh, honest.
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rowds of hopeful students auditioned for Newcastle University Theatre Society (NUTS) last week, eager to be a part of the six shows being performed this semester. Hannah Goring, assistant director for The Producers talked through the process; 'There are two days of auditions open to anyone. They get set bits to read through, and we ask them to sing thirty seconds of any song. The call-backs are on Friday, and then an intense directors meeting...by Friday night we know the cast.’ 'Everyone has as much of a chance as anyone. With a bigger cast, we have the freedom to get new people involved and introduce new talent.’ Students are encouraged to audition for any and every production, which this semester included: Shakespeare's The Tempest, Marc Camoletti's Boeing Boeing, and a pantomime adaptation of Les Miserables. Ellie Trent, auditioning for Les Mis: The Panto, said, “The director made me feel really comfortable. It wasn't as nerve-wracking as I thought it was going to be.”
“Everyone has as much of a chance as anyone. With a bigger cast, we have the freedom to get new people involved and introduce new talent”
Jake Hodgkinson, auditioning for Boeing Boeing, agrees, 'It's a very relaxed, very fun atmosphere. It's all about having a good time.’ Mark Bryan, a returning member, encouraged anyone hesitant to give it a go, 'Just do it. It's the best thing I've done at uni.’ Auditions are now closed, but NUTS will be reauditioning for another six shows in the second semester. Rebecca Harrison
to the silence, listening to each other’s energies. It felt like a void, a place where the present moment, for once, was being attended to. One of the most radical things is that you are the art. Yes, you are given certain objects and you are guided hand in hand by Marina’s associates but each person creates a unique experience. There was running tension around the room, should you break the silence? Should you get up on the platform and perform yourself? Should you meditate like the rest of the crowd? Marina is pushing us to question ourselves. Should we conform? Or should we stand out? I ventured into one of the adjacent rooms and decided to lie down. One of the people in black came and ‘tucked me in’. It was a little awkward. I lay there, listening to the silence and he told me to close my eyes, so I did. Hav ing no watch, I couldn’t tell you how long I slept for. I woke up disorientated and then remembered where I was. After spending about 3 hours in the exhibition space I decided to leave and reflect on what I just experienced. Sitting just outside the gallery I couldn’t quite believe the level of stillness that was going on behind its walls. I would give Marina’s exhibition an 8 out of 10. It was a truly affecting experience.
Edit
Trans-it
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collaboration between established filmmakers Forsyth and Pollard and 90s band Superstar’s own Joe McAlinden, Edit was certainly a project of relatively high expectations. The forty-second trailer implied something edgy and exciting, with hints of the much sought-after ideal of “something new.” And in many ways, Edit did titillate. This thirty-minute looped installation follows a young woman in her mysterious and unexplained grieving process, as she runs from Glasgow on an exodus to the water with a hitchhiker she picks up on the way. The long shots of a bleak northern Scotland harkens to Virginia in Jeremy Saulnier’s Blue Ruin, or Midwestern America in Alexander Payne’s Nebraska, and the music, perhaps the real star here, is haunting in its lo-fi repetitiveness that speaks to its original inspiration of tide coming in and going out.
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quick run from Newcastle University’s art department Open Studios to get to Vane’s private view of Trans-it left me a little out of breath last Tuesday. Of course what better way to be welcomed than by Sheader’s green effervescent glow of the word ‘POWER’ boosting my energy levels with its illuminating neon green from the wall. Dizzying slightly, I repeat the words ‘power cactus’ again and again, trying to make sense of the carefully balanced potted cactus next to the sign, akin to some 80s rave club.
“An eclectic mix of artwork from a range of artists across the country”
There are, however, gaping holes in Edit that decrease the films merit greatly. For instance, it becomes blatantly obvious very quickly that this film was written around the music, and the story is thus awkwardly presented and - an impressive feat given the thirty-minute running time - boring. It’s hard to critique the acting considering the depth of the dialogue they had to work with, which consists mostly of abstract clichés that a primary school teacher would cringe at (“I’ve been lost a long time too”; “Some things are better left as memories”). Edit may be worth thirty minutes of your time, but it is certainly not worth much more than that.
An eclectic mix of artwork from a range of artists across the country is an exciting way to make an exhibition. What I found enjoyable was how concerned with form over concept the exhibition was. Most interestingly Curry’s video Mixer attempts the depletion of form: a circulating cement mixer becomes a less recognisable object from above, we’re made to analyse it as an image, even just a movement - this repetition becomes a form in itself. The feeling of tension is widely explored through contrasting materials, such as in Sheader’s ‘Zimbabwe’ where a cactus is trapped by a loop of steel, and in Curry’s comb sculptures slotted together. Even the shaking arm of a woman trying desperately to pop a balloon with one hand in Potts’ balloon piece video will make you cringe with delight in anticipation. Representation also becomes a means of play in Goncharov’s ‘Tropical’, where fluorescent pink text spelling ‘Minge’ is paired with a rough palm tree sketch. Not too heavily hung, there is certainly a playful feel to this show using language and metaphor as a way of altering the objet d’art’s function. An interesting exhibition but perhaps a good dose of light therapy might’ve boosted the energy levels up.
Jack Williams
Holly Argent
“It’s hard to critique the acting considering the depth of the dialogue they had to work with: mostly abstract clichés that a primary school teacher would cringe at”
The Courier
arts.23
Monday 13 October 2014
thecourieronline.co.uk/arts c2.arts@ncl.ac.uk | @CourierArts
Institute Northern Stage
Wining and Mining: Allenheads
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irected by Amit Lahav, Gecko Theatre Company’s ‘Institute’ explores the deepest, darkest corners of the human mind in a mesmerising piece of physical theatre. In a set dominated by towering filing cabinets, the story follows the closely intertwined lives of four men, each of whom have a wealth of secrets and guarded memories stowed away in a locked drawer. As the play unfolds, we witness just what happens when these dangerous thoughts are released. Hopeless romantic Martin relives the moment his heart was broken; we see his failed proposal to his girlfriend again and again as he stumbles into an emotional breakdown. Career-driven Daniel is ambitious and hungry for success but finds himself struggling to stay afloat in a face-paced and ruthless business world.
evin Coyne on the radio, Alan (course leader) at the wheel, we lurched to a halt in the middle of the Northumbrian nowhere. I reached out and scooped up the lifeless grouse, prodding its chest with my index finger, blissfully unaware of the cars slowing behind us. Alan grinned, “tonight’s starter” he said. With the Glorious Twelfth behind us and the shooting season in full swing, the abundance of roadkill made a cocked shotgun seem pointless. When I first visited Allenheads Contemporary Arts it was to meet Bethan Turner, an artist and taxidermist preparing for a show Alan had arranged in Soho. My visit calculatedly coincided with a rare, intimate performance from Michael Garry, a successful Manchester poet and name dropper, known best for supporting John Cooper Clarke. A few bottles of red later and Alan was taking me under his wing.
“Constantly changing dynamic of movement”
“Outstanding and invaluably illuminating”
With carefully crafted choreography and a constantly changing dynamic of movement, Institute uses contemporary dance to powerfully portray themes of isolation, grief and obsession. Movements of serene fluidity are cleverly juxtaposed with stiff, seemingly laboured actions to create feelings of conflict which run throughout the piece. The use of speech was sparse and largely used to instrument sporadic moments of bittersweet humour. Interestingly, two of the four characters spoke only in French and German. Whilst this did not seem to impair the communication between characters, the audience was left ever more reliant on their interpretation of gestures and movement. Thought-provoking and emotionally charged, Institute’s message will stay with the audience long after the final drawer has been closed.
As I discovered, Allenheads’ isolation in no way represents a lack of things to do. You wander the woodland and feel alone, yet its stunning maze of glittering mines, which lie dormant beneath, give a sense of community, a reminder of those who once inhabited it. Food wise, it is outstanding and invaluably illuminating, every evening meal is an epiphany. By the time you’re out of there, your understanding of what it is to be an artist, and why it is you make art, will have developed ten fold. You’ll also appreciate the importance of roasting garlic whole. Realised almost twenty years ago, Allenheads Contemporary Arts is an unsafe haven for students who find their creativity stunted by the rules and regulations of higher educational institutions. Lucien Anderson
Emily Jeffrey
Hay Festival of Edinburgh Literature and Fringe Festival the Arts
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ust over the Welsh side of the border, Hay-onWye is renowned for its abundance of bookshops that make it the perfect location for this quirky festival. This year, to make it better than ever, the Hay Festival was loaded with fabulous feminist charm. The highlight for me was a talk by Laura Bates, founder of the Everyday Sexism Project, called ‘Everyday Sexism: The Product that Inspired a Worldwide Movement’. Bates, who is a truly inspirational fourth wave figure, presents a cool, calm attitude towards fighting misogyny; her projects have offered support to vast numbers of people. The event sold out quickly and there was a buzz of cohesion throughout the festival site as people discussed the event and tried to get hold of spare tickets.
“Laura Bates is a truly inspirational feminist figure who presents a cool, calm attitude towards fighting misogyny”
Bates was welcomed on stage by cheers and left to a standing ovation. The most moving moment was when a young boy stood up to ask what she thought of the representation of women in music videos. His contribution, genuine interest and support of the cause was an immediate positive outcome of the rousing speech, symbolising a breakthrough to one of the target audiences. Other highlights included Heather Widdows’ talk, ‘Perfect Me!’ (about her findings that women must partake in painful, time-consuming and expensive regimes to conform to a global physical ideal and be socially acceptable) and a talk about the blog and book Vagenda, led by author Holly Baxter, and a cofounder of Spare Rib magazine, Rosie Boycott (who is the equivalent of feminist royalty). I’d give Hay Feminism a 10 out of 10. Rohan Natashka Kon
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he Edinburgh Fringe Festival is the largest arts festival in the world, with the city’s population doubling in numbers during peak weekends. The Fringe is best described as organised mayhem, with thousands of shows taking place every day. It was impossible to see it all, despite my father’s efforts. Squeezing in seven or eight shows a day, our family holiday was nothing short of a military operation, however it meant that there was an opportunity to watch acts of all genres and be awed by the talents of people from all ages and backgrounds.
“Edinburgh is a city that is eternally beautiful and entertaining”
A definite highlight was a solo show entitled ‘Sea Wall’, a witty and moving story of tragic loss, described by other critics, as ‘one of the most devastating 30 minutes that you are ever likely to experience in the theatre’. This certainly rang true for the audience as the writer, Simon Stephens, successfully had everyone reaching for their tissues within minutes. The many Youth Theatres also received high praise throughout the festival, notably a play called The Electra Project which The Independent proclaims showcased ‘the best child actors on stage’, thus proving that new acts increasingly deserve as much respect and attention as the well-seasoned fringe acts of old. Of course, part of the beauty of the Fringe Festival is that it is in Edinburgh, a city that is eternally beautiful and entertaining so overall I would recommend it to anyone, as it is a festival which will appeal to all tastes and ages. Grace Melville
Dead to Me Northern Stage
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seemingly innocent comedy takes a disturbingly dark turn in Gary Kitching’s Dead to Me, which is not for those looking for a light hearted evening. The production, performed by Tessa Parr and Kitching himself, is simple enough on the surface; Kitching’s character Steven has a gift voucher for a psychic reading, and Parr’s unnamed character takes full advantage of this new customer. However, Steven is taken in by the psychic’s performance and begins to believe, slowly inverting the roles of sceptic and believer. Although Kitching’s writing exposes some sincerity in both characters, their personalities seem to wane towards the end of the play. As the psychic and Steven strip away their defences and expose their underlying characters, they leave the audience wishing there was slightly more to them both.
“While a rewrite away from being fantastic, it is thoughtprovoking and at times very chilling”
Dead to Me definitely begins to touch upon the themes of influence and manipulation, but lacks a clear identity. The tone seems undecided, the sincerity of the actors in the more serious scenes inhibiting the return of the light hearted quality, which makes the beginning of the play so enjoyable. Although Dead to Me is a rewrite away from fantastic, it is engaging, thought provoking and at times very chilling. The final monologue is Kitching at his best, both from a written and performance perspective, and despite the production falling short of extraordinary; his dark and frightening narrative certainly indicates promising productions to come. Rebecca Harrison
24.filmfeatures features
Monday 13 October 2014
The Courier
Film Editors: ditors: Rosie Rosie Bellini, Lucas Fothergill & David Leighton
Pleasure Island
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his week I must admit to my greatest guilty pleasure, my deepest, darkest and dirtiest secret: The Wickerman (2006). Whilst Robin Hardy’s original was a dark, disturbing cult-classic that kept viewers on the edge of their seat ‘til the very deeply disturbing end;,the remake is the polar opposite, a festering turd perched infamously on the original’s success. So, all things considered, what can there possibly be to like in a remake that mucked up such a classic in such a bloody awful way? Well, it certainly isn’t Nicholas Cage’s acting range, which - as usual - goes from frigid to borderline insane within milliseconds. Nor is it his penchant for subverting gender expectations in popular film by running around punching women in the face all the time.
“The Wickerman remake is a festering turd perched infamously on the original’s success”
I’m pretty sure it isn’t the monumentally slow pacing or the comically inept screen writing and it can’t be the immensely dull supporting cast of villagers. Villagers which, by the way, are so tedious, so soul-crushingly boring that it is only a relief when Malus (Cage) goes all George Custer on them and starts jawing the women. This then, is the heart of why I truly do enjoy watching The Wickerman and why (despite numerous protests) I still request it during film nights. The reason you are not enjoying The Wickerman is because you are thinking about it all wrong. Thinking differently, you might realise that: instead of watching two hours of horse-piss-for-acting, courtesy of our resident mad-man Cage, instead of watching a glacial pace and a plot you already know, what you’re really watching is a total ballbag getting his just deserts. As you watch, Cage puts you through hours of pure torture. And his recompense? He is brutally murdered in the most wonderful way. For every time he loses his mind, for every woman haymaker-ed and for every scream of ‘HOW’D IT GET BURNED?!’, there is comeuppance.
“Cage’s character is dragged to ‘the Wickerman’: tower of sticks only marginally more wooden than the actor contained within it”
First, it’s the knees, snapped gloriously to the sound of his screams. Then it’s the bees, as he is swarmed and stung to oblivion in a scene that birthed the immortal line “NOT THE BEES!”. Finally, Malus is dragged to ‘The Wickerman’, - a tower of sticks only marginally more wooden than the actor contained in it - and is set alight and left to melt like ice cream in a heat wave. Truly, it is the greatest catharsis I have ever known a film to deliver. Absolute, terrible, justice. David Leighton
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es, they’re American. Yes, they’re in their mid-thirties and no, they’re not strictly speaking in university but if you look past these minor differences, Old School looks eerily familiar. Mitch, Beanie, Frank the Tank and Blue, their shenanigans in trying to recapture their youth after the great dark grinder of adult life has begun to churn their dreams and happiness to dust, a plight we will I’m sure all learn to sympathise with in time, mirror the cycle of humiliation, hazy hangovers and panicked work that define your life here. Frank the Tank, slightly moronic beer loving party animal, is a character particularly close to my heart. He’s that friend of yours that started university all happy in a sickly sweet relationship, uses the word bae and can’t stay out too because he needs to Skype her before bed.
A month into your first year at university, he’ll get resplendently drunk and turn up skinny dipping in pond in Leazes park and from
then on he will never slip back into his tea drinking, pyjama wearing ways because he’s gone through the looking glass and knows that he is a wolf, a warrior. When Frank first reveals the tank, he streaks alone down a busy road and my god I feel him.
Now, recent events h a v e caused me to understand that streaking is not cool, but neither are clothes. Clothes are a symbol of restraint; they will hold you back and prevent you from ever truly sticking it to the man and unleashing
“Clothes are a symbol of restraint; they will hold you back and prevent you from ever truly unleashing the beast” the beast. I can feel them now, these chains of cotton, gripping me. Frank gets that and in doing so becomes a symbol of the freedom that your three years can offer. Vince Vaughn plays Beanie, embittered by suburban pedestrian life becomes the driving force to the three of them starting a Frat house. Beanie is that friend who will not take no for an answer. He’ll come to your room at nine o’clock the night before you have an essay due or something big and important with words and letters and tell you that you are going out drinking. He’ll ask you if you want to but really, he’s just doing that to offer the illusion that you have any say in the matter whatsoever. You don’t and you never did. He is the ultimate controller of all your social events and somehow pulls money out of his ass in order to finance them. Everybody needs a Beanie. And now we come to Mitch. Stable, reasonably sane, but give him enough prodding and he’ll do anything. A little dull, I will concede, but just like Frank, there is a darkness hidden within. He’ll come to halls in a bad way, just broke up with his girlfriend because he caught her participating in a gang bang, but time will fix him up and you’ll get to know the guy beneath. In effect, he’s an everyman, just like you or I who will not experience freedom until he shakes the bounds of convention and streaks down a busy thoroughfare.
Who loves short shorts?
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o, this is not an article about items of ideal clothing for summer. This is an article about short films, and why they are worth your while, often more so than regular feature ones. Feature films can be an annoyance if you need a film fix and you’ve got a 5,000 word essay to hand in the next day (in which case, I wouldn’t recommend watching anything - get on with it!). So why not try a breezy narrative that will barely give you a chance to check your watch before it ends?
“Pixar’s The Blue Umbrella is testament to the power of a tale long-told: one man’s quest to find his lady-love. Only with sentient umbrellas”
Perhaps the most famous and widely-seen shorts are those made by Pixar. Before each Pixar feature is a miniature animated tale, often heart-warming and innovative. From Pixar’s origins in the mid80s, they have been paving the way with animated shorts, successfully combining experimental animation with genuinely uplifting happenings; just look at the Oscar-nominated Luxo Jr. which features a baby lamp attempts to play with a ball. Not only did Luxo Jr. become Pixar’s mascot, his ilk lead to massive leaps forward in animation that are still being proven almost 30 years later. Pixar’s most recent offering, The Blue Umbrella, is almost freakishly life-like in its rendering of a teeming cityscape. It is a testament to the power of a tale long-told: one smitten character’s quest to find his lady-love, but this time, with sentient umbrellas. Pixar’s shorts are truly affecting films, worthy of all the critical praise they garner, speaking to us in few
words yet still saying more pertinent and original things than most expect. If animation is a little too twee for your liking, David Lynch (the ‘Sultan of Strange’) serves up the 1960s Six Figures Getting Sick whilst Martin Scorsese experimented with absurd war allegories in his disturbing The Big Shave, where a man shaves and shaves and shaves until…well, the Vietnamese conflict happens, apparently. It’s a shocking, disturbing and bloody film, yet never anything less than hypnotic as Scorsese uses horrific imagery to explore a big message, hitting it home powerfully in a limited amount of time, perhaps making this short more skilful than some of his features (yes, three hour-long Wolf of Wall Street, I get your point and I’m looking at you). For lighter fare, director Paul Thomas Anderson’s (Boogie Nights) short collaboration with Adam Sandler in Couch is a divertingly silly two minutes. There’s no shortage (pardon the pun) of spoofs in the ‘short’ genre for example Night of the Living Bread, is a hilariously silly horror comedy.
“Scorsese’s The Big Shave is more skilful than some of his features (yes, three hourlong Wolf of Wall Street, I’m looking at you)” The garishly-named Banana Motherf***er is more of the same - but with killer bananas, of all things. The shorts above are exemplary as to why short films are so under-appreciated; certain shorts pack the perfect punch for the genre or director, sometimes being brilliant examples of both. Pixar’s works are often far and away the best in the business but there are plenty of independent shorts out there worthy of your time. So whether your taste is soulful horror or irreverent fantasies, there’s a short for everyone and more often than not they’re under-rated and bloody good fun.
The Courier
reviewsfilm.25
Monday 13 October 2014
“Who am I? Who is but the form following the function of what, and what I am is a man in a mask” - V For Vendetta (2005)
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The good, the bad and the ugly: Gosling
The Riot Club (15)
B
ased on Laura Wade’s play Posh, The Riot Club is about ten students at the University of Oxford who have been carefully selected to join an age old, prestigious and slightly infamous club, which is speculated to be based on Oxford University’s real Bullingdon Club. Alistair Ryle (Sam Claflin) and Miles Richards (Max Irons) are two freshers at the university who have been chosen to become the club’s newest members. From the moment Alistair and Miles meet they become unspoken rivals. Throughout the film each character shows their good and bad sides as they get more involved with the club, making it difficult for the audience to choose who they empathize with and who they want to do better than the other. Overall, I thought the film was really impressive: the convincing acting of all cast members creates a foreboding atmosphere that lures the watcher right in. I had one main issue with the film: instead of showing several big events that then lead to the big scene where things go wrong - after which the club learns and improves - there are only a few events leading up to the big scene, which is then stretched out and used to its full extent. However, after discovering that the film was based on a play I can appreciate this structure a bit more. Wade, who
The Good: The Place Beyond The Pines
also wrote the screenplay, had simply decided to maintain the story’s original theatrical structure. It is an unusual structure to be given to this medium and one that certainly wouldn’t work for every film but I feel like for The Riot Club, it does work. If you are someone who does not like the flat-out portrayal of violence, you might want to skip this film as it does not shy away from the monstrosity of a drunken fight. If you like films that are realistic, intriguing and slightly shocking I most definitely recommend watching this film. More like this: Spring Breakers (2012) Christa Tjadens
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (12A)
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The Runner (12A)
Every week the team will zoom in on an image of a popular film scene or character. Figure out who or what the image depicts and send your answers to c2.film@ncl.ac.uk and receive a mystery gift!
Before I Go to Sleep(15)
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he second attempt at rebooting the 1960’s cult classic Planet of the Apes series met with high commercial and critical success in 2011 but it has now given birth to a sequel which eclipses its parent majestically. An exciting action film with explosions and fire, coupled with a heart-breaking plot make this a must watch even if you generally snort derisively at the science fiction genre and find it difficult to sit still for two hours. Ten years have passed since we left Caesar the chimpanzee (Andy Serkis) and his rag tag band of intelligent laboratory Apes in the redwood forests just North of San Francisco at the end of 2011’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes. The decade has not been kind to humanity, a manmade plague, the simian flu, has raged uncontrollably across the planet all but eradicating the entire human population. A small group of immune survivors led by Dreyfus (Gary Oldman) have established a colony in the ivy covered and rusting wrecks of San Francisco, desperately clinging at any scraps of electricity they can generate. Caesar’s apes are discovered by Malcolm (Jason Clarke), Dreyfus’ right-hand man, who must earn their trust to repair a hydroelectric dam and charge the city, but betrayal and a shared destructive nature of ape and man make lasting peace a giggling pipe dream. As with any film in which Serkis straps himself up in his gimp suit and breaks new ground in motion capture technology, one can expect it to be visually awesome and it certainly does not disappoint. On the other hand, if you struggle to concentrate, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes probably isn’t the film for you as it is a bit of a slow burner. For most, it will have resonance to it which will have it bounding around your head for a week after you leave the cinema.
or the first time ever the Newcastle Film Society has tried their hands at film making, resulting in the greatly anticipated (albeit by the society) short film, The Runner. The film premiered at the film-soc’s first social of the year and the atmosphere was ecstatic. As writer and director Max Taylor-McEwen introduced his 4 and a half minute short it was already clear the hard work of the cast and crew was about to pay off.When Matt (Dan Lockett) is quite literally run into by the athletic beauty Ingrid (Colette Hunter) during a walk in the Dene, he thinks he has met the woman of his dreams. However, disaster strikes when she carries on running - leaving nothing but her student card behind. With the help of his friend Joe (Ruaidhri Johnston) who provides him with a suspiciously sourced pair of trainers, Matt starts running in the hope he will meet her again and return her card to her. Although this may seem like a perfect set up to your standard rom-com, it was far from a Cinderella story. Laced with crude innuendo, casual homosexuality and terrible pick up lines, The Runner had everyone laughing out loud within minutes. Add to this a hilarious exercise montage and an aesthetically pleasing soundtrack, Taylor-McEwen manages to pull out all the stops to appeal to his audience of peers. The short never loses its sense of professionalism with a range of consistently good camera angles, sharp editing skills and smooth transitions. When the concluding scene takes an unexpected turn, it is hard to tell if you’re laughing at its complete parody of romantic clichés or Matt’s well deserved slap to the face. Although the film was perhaps more self-indulgent than tastefully perceptive, it was clearly a huge hit and a great start to film-soc’s career in movie shorts.
More like this: Planet of the Apes (2001)
More like this: Knick Knack (1989)
George Smith
“What’s in the boxxxxxx?”
M
emory loss is raised time and time again in Hollywood, this time we are treated to Rowan Joffe’s latest psycho-mental thriller, Before I Go to Sleep. Christine (Nicole Kidman) wakes up every day remembering nothing about her life, next to an unknown man (Colin Firth) - her loving and caring husband. One day’s life begins with the recalling of the past with the help of photographs and a story by her patient husband, Ben. That is until one day her psychiatrist (Mark Strong) suggests Christine creates a video diary to remember what she did and what she learnt the day before. We are left questioning if the truth she knows is only shaped by her surroundings and whatever was revealed by Christine, someone wants her to deliberately forget by the time she went to sleep. I personally found it captivating to observe how she finds the pieces of her identity, gathering the puzzle of her own life which is both surprising and delightful for the viewer. Rowan Joffe tries to create suspense where you cannot distinguish a good or bad character and becomes quite complicated leading to an ending you won’t see coming. Although the director uses a number of trivial manoeuvres, the interplay between actors creates an originality that is absolutely splendid. As the whole film is based around three actors it tells us something about the strength of their performances - although with Firth and Kidman, the pair do not need to prove what they are capable of. Here Kidman succeeds in exposing desperate paranoia whilst Firth is amazing as always (it is just impossible not to love him after the The King’s Speech). The plot may be a bit hackneyed but for those who love solving a riddle and a high quality performance of actors, it is 92 minutes well spent. More like this: Memento (2000)
Lois Hall
Valentina Egora
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ne of the great things about Ryan Gosling – aside from having been carved by the gods – is the diversity he brings to his roles; Half Nelson, Lars and The Real Girl and Drive are just a few of the plethora of masterpieces in which Gosling plays a part. In particular, Derek Cianfrance’s second collaboration with Gosling (after Blue Valentine) really delivers. Boasting the outstanding talent of a top-notch cast including Bradley Cooper, Ray Liotta and Eva Mendes, The Place Beyond the Pines is hands down one of the most emotional, wellacted films I’ve ever come across. The gripping storyline is full of twists and turns that you’d never expect, sort of split into three acts that delve into the depths of starkly contrasting lifestyles, whilst maintaining a connection that draws you deeper and deeper into the emotional turmoil of the characters’ lives. Ultimately, I decided on this as my top pick because of the fact that I’d never quite seen anything like it before.
L
The Bad: The Notebook
et’s be honest, it’s not a great film. Yes, it made lots of money and made fully grown adults cry like little babies, but overall it was a film adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks novel. Which, of course, doesn’t automatically render it worthless, but there’s plenty out there following the cliché: a couple that can’t be together for whatever reason. Point and case The Notebook, a film containing a big class divide and Ally’s (Rachel McAdams) disapproving parents that all amounts to Ally & Noah not having all of the babies the day they meet. Admittedly there’s a reasonably clever subversion of the conventional romance drama in the mode of storytelling – I won’t spoil it but it’s so flimsy you’ll probably work it out in the first half hour – but it’s definitely not a film I’d ever go back to. Ever. Yes, it made me cry, but looking back I’m never quite sure why. Was it the terrible ending that manages to trick you into being sad despite the fact that it’s actually kind of happy? Or was I genuinely upset at the plight of Noah and Ally? Who knows, it’s just a bit shit.
J
The Ugly: Only God Forgives
ulian (Gosling) has some serious mummy issues in this one. Featuring a stunning performance from Kristin Scott Thomas as Julian’s mother, this is probably Gosling’s most daring role to date. I can’t really describe it in its grotesquely grim glory without giving away a few major plot points, but it does get pretty ugly right from the off. Set in Bangkok, the film debates themes of family, death, revenge and responsibility, with lots of brutality and dark depravity thrown in for good measure – it isn’t for the faint-hearted. Whether you’re into artsy filmmaking or if you just fancy a bit of a change, Only God Forgives is a mysterious phantasmagoria combining elements of the typical thriller with Nicolas Winding Refn’s penchant for the unusual and the shocking. Gosling’s brooding, tranquil yet insane portrayal of Julian offsets the atmospheric cinematography and brilliant soundtrack perfectly, even if it isn’t quite to everyone’s taste. Rhian Hunter
26.tvhighlights
Monday 13 October 2014
The Courier
TV Editors: Helen Daly and Ellie McLaren Online TV Editor: Rebecca Dooley
T
o commemorate the finale of The Great British Bake Off, we asked our writers to contribute punny songs for the soon-to-be-released Now That’s What I Call Bake Off compilation CD.
Are You Bready For Love - Elton John Knowing Mel, Knowing Sue - ABBA
You Raise Me Up - Westlife Spice Up Your Life - Spice Girls Soggy Bottomed Girls - Queen
The Great British Bake Off BBC1, Wednesday, 8pm
N
ine weeks ago, twelve budding bakers entered The Great British Bake Off tent, ahead of the final, three had to bake it out to impress Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood to be crowned the winner. The show made the move to BBC One, and caught the attention of the British public with 10.3 million people tuning in over the past weeks. It is hard to meet anyone who has not watched at least some of this year’s series. If you’ve found yourself making strange noises at the sight of the bakes, congratulations, you like The Great British Bake Off too. Before we let our mouths water thinking about Wednesday’s final, lets look back over some of the moreish moments that series five tempted us with. The seminal event in this year’s series is Bingate. Poor Iain, an early favourite of mine, had his baked
alaska ruined, possibly on purpose, by Diana, leaving him not much choice but to put the melted mess into the bin. Such a rash decision resulted in him leaving the competition, prompting the biggest backlash by the British people in years. Iain even appeared on Newsnight, showing how much of a big deal it was to the British public. Whether it was carefully orchestrated by the producers or not, it will certainly be remembered as a highlight.
Mel and Sue made the show, leaving it oozing with humour, from dodgy Dutch accents, to Sue being able to warble ‘Bake!’ higher each week. Mary lavished us with memorable moments and delightful cakes for the bakers to replicate in the technical challenges. Innuendos played a big part in the GBBO humour, with some viewers complaining
to the BBC about such gems as Mary declaring ‘I quite like the idea of having some big ones’. With Chetna falling at the final hurdle last week, Nancy, Luis and Richard made it to the final. Fan favourite and five-time baker of the week Richard was tipped to win having practically sailed through, save for a few iffy technical challenges. Nancy, the self-taught baker from Lincolnshire certainly proved herself to be a worthy baker too, with more baking common sense than most of the other contestants. Finally, there was my personal favourite, Luis, who brought flair into the tent, with his Spanish-inspired bakes wowing the judges. All of the finalists wowed us in Wednesday’s final, with a signature bake of viennoiserie pastries and the showstopper of a pièce montée. However, it was Nancy who stole the show and took the winner’s cake stand with her intricate Moulin Rouge pièce montée, who remained consistent throughout the show, and managed to prove herself to be the best baker. A surprising result, perhaps, but one that is pleasant and well deserved. Team Nancy! Jack Parker
Ladies of London
American Horror Story
“Some viewers complained
about Mary declaring ‘I quite like the idea of having some big ones’”
Dirty Diana - Michael Jackson Sabotage - Beastie Boys
The Kitchen
Since U Bin Gone - Kelly Clarkson Batter The Devil You Know - Kylie Bake On Me - Aha I Like The Way You Prove - Body Rockers Total Eclipse of the Tart - Bonnie Tyler Rolling Pin The Deep - Adele Don’t Let The Bun Go Down On Me - Elton John & George Michael The Winner Bakes It All - ABBA
Illustration by Nina Hamer
Check more GBBO-inspired fun at thecourieronline.co.uk/tv
BBC2, Tuesday, 9pm
I
f Gogglebox were to meet Come Dine With Me, the result would be The Kitchen, a new show ready to hit our screens on BBC2. The premise is simple: stick cameras in kitchens around the country and watch families interact over dinner. Over the three episodes, the aim is to show the differences in how we all prepare food and the natural occurrences between family members. But we’d be pretty happy if it just provides a laugh or two. The Kitchen takes us into the homes of eight very different families. Among them are Londoners Hamish, Merlyn and their six children, all of whom are named after plants found in their back garden (at least Campion and Tamarisk are original). They live on a budget of £100-a-week, leaving them to find their own food from neighbouring fields. On the other end of the spectrum are the Barrys from Cardiff. They choose to spend their money on frozen food from Iceland, although they’ve said they would serve up road kill if they could find it. Nice. The ‘June-and-Leon’ of the series will undoubtedly be Marylyn and Wilf from Devon. Having originally met in a button factory where they both worked (the romance), they have been married for more than fifty years and enjoy traditional British meals every night, courtesy of Marylyn. It’s no surprise to learn that The Kitchen has been created by the same people that make the brilliant Gogglebox; hopefully, this series will be just as hilarious, insightful and moving. Even if The Kitchen is just half as funny as its big brother, they’re onto a winner. Chloe Carroll
ITVBe, Wednesday, 9pm
D
azzling parties, carefully-scripted awkward pauses, expressions of outrage filtered through faces made rigid with plastic surgery – it all sounds very familiar, but you’ll find no mention of housewives (real or otherwise) in ITV’s new(ish) series, Ladies of London. The premise is simple: we follow the lives of a select group of ex-pat Americans as they strive to make it in the nation’s capital. There’s a few natives thrown in for good measure, socialites and fashionistas whose role is generally to name-drop members of the royal family and maintain a stiff upper lip in the face of Americans’ antics.
“Fashionistas name-drop the royal family and maintain a stiff upper lip in the face of Americans’ antics”
Stereotypes abound on both sides; I wasn’t actually aware that people still used the word ‘society’ to refer to their own elite social group (or that the word ‘riff-raff ’ was still in use outside of a Charles Dickens novel). Oh, how wrong I was. While the show wastes little time in reminding us of the perils of falling out of favour with the press and the value of a pre-nup, it’s not until the third episode that there’s even a hint of a bust-up. Any one of the Real Housewives would have been proudly brandishing someone else’s wig from their immaculately-manicured talons by that point. Hannah Bunting
Fox (UK), Tuesday, 10pm
A
fter three very different seasons of American Horror Story nobody was sure what else the directors could come up with to induce fear and excitement simultaneously. Then they dropped the bomb: American Horror Story: Freak Show premiered on the 8th of October. The AHS franchise was introduced in 2011 by well-known producers Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk (the very same behind other popular TV series like Glee and Nip/Tuck) and formed quite a stable fan base from the offset. For those of you unaware of the show, it is an anthology horror series loved by many viewers who enjoy the thrill of horror pieces. But not only that; this show charms its fans by extremely unique and clever stories told each season. Some of the parts can make no sense at first (don’t we know it), but even if most of the fans, me included, agree that no season can top the first one - with such a perfectly confusing ghostly theme the upcoming Freak Show is very promising. Generally speaking the season will be about forgotten people fighting for their place in this world. Ryan Murphy has revealed that Freak Show will take place 1950s following the last freak show in the country. So you can definitely expect a woman with a beard, a man with lobster-like hands, dwarfs and more… On the 8th of October, I was definitely glued to my TV (or computer, if you may) screen. Will you be too?
Kotryna Kairyte
The Courier
featurestv.27
Monday 13 October 2014
thecourieronline.co.uk/tv c2.tv@ncl.ac.uk | @courier_tv
Eat, sleep, TV on repeat 'R \RX FRXQW µFRXFK SRWDWR¶ DV RQH RI \RXU ¿ YH D GD\" 7KHQ WDNH RXU TXL] WR VHH ZKLFK Gogglebox character you are
Start here: Are you a habitual takeaway eater in front of the TV?
Food on the sofa? What?
Do you consider it a faux pas to not be immaculately dressed whilst watching TV?
Yes No Who let the dogs out?
Would you say your skin is of the ‘tantastic’ variety?
Can you do a cracking Liverpudlian accent?
A
Do you love Pot Noodles so much that you would use the container as a cup?
Only Chanel for me darhhling
Are you a dog lover?
Onesies at the ready
Show me the grub.
No
Could you be mistaken as a couple when watching TV?
Yes
Do you consider one seat to be ‘yours’ when watching the TV?
Do you love a cheeky tipple in front of the TV?
No
Are your fingers filled with oversized, gaudy rings?
I’ll have a G&T please
That’s MY seat
spective; all of a sudden skipping a lecture for Jeremy Kyle is not a big deal”
No
No
On your feet, lose your seat
No No bling for me, please. The more the merrier
Leon and June You two are rockin’ the love/ hate vibe. Your main ambitions in life are to wind each other up. You mostly hate everyone on TV but no one more than Gary Barlow.
Steph and Dom
You’re the posh couple! You love nothing more than sipping on your gin and tonic, shoes on, whilst making educated small talk about what’s on TV.
student’s day is full of hard choices, especially during the first few weeks when the hangovers are hard, heavy and frequent. The first hurdle is deciding whether or not you need to sack off the entire day. Once you’ve decided you need to stay at home, it’s whether or not the walk downstairs is too strenuous for that all important glass of water. If you do this though, you’ve done the hard work and you can just collapse on the sofa and bask in the incredible nature of daytime television. Spongebob Squarepants is a great morning watch, especially if you splash out on some Coco Pops. Okay so it’s meant for a younger audience but that is part of its charm. Whoever thought of a sponge ‘who lives in a pineapple under the sea’ was taking some serious drugs but I thank him every day. Good stock characters, crazy plotlines, classic songs like ‘F.U.N.’ and ‘Striped Sweater’ and valuable life lessons, such as ‘being old is boring’; what else do you need? But eventually the hysterical sponge starts to hurt your head and you need something a bit more chilled. But, then again, Storage Hunters is on. Ever since its appearance on Dave, many viewers are strangely drawn in by the irritating antics and incessant bickering of Brandori, Jesse and T-Dog. Its basic premise is bidders at a storage unit auction trying to make a profit without knowing the contents. The most famous is Hunters but for those of us who don’t get enough of a fix from that, there is also Storage Wars, Storage Wars Texas, Storage Wars New York and even Storage Wars Canada with some much less irritating bidders. There is nothing better than Americans arguing about money for some good quality television.
“It just puts your life into per-
They call it puppy love Yes
Sit DOWN and watch IT, FRESHER
Chris and Steven
You have a serious potty mouth and can be downright catty with some of your comments at the TV, even if Boris Johnson’s hair is a complete disaster.
Sandy and Sandra You say it like it is, often
whilst chewing on whatever takeaway cuisine has been favoured that night... hmm... Italian or Indian? Or maybe the all time classic: the Pot Noodle.
However, as awful as these people are, they’re still more productive than you are today. You find Jeremy Kyle on ITV; with such topic headers as ‘Who’s Father to Your Baby? Me or My Dad?’, ‘I’m a Binge Drinker and a Drug Dealer but I’ll be a Good Dad’ and ‘Your Baby is Too White To Be Mine’. It just puts your life into perspective; all of a sudden skipping a lecture for Jeremy Kyle is not a big deal. But the guilt is still there so you decide you need something a bit more educational. Countdown counts. Those classic Conundrums and Numbers round are the right amount of strenuous to set your brain working enough for you to consider picking up one of those textbooks in the corner. Then you see that Big Bang Theory is on and you think ‘never mind, I’ll do it in half an hour; this is almost about physics, it counts’. It doesn’t matter you’ve seen every episode, have the DVDs or can quote every step in Sheldon’s Friendship Algorithm- you will still waste another 55 minutes watching it again. Especially if it is followed by How I Met Your Mother- double whammy of great-bad TV. The more hardcore daytime TV Watchers will also indulge in Homes Under the Hammer, Saints and Scroungers, and Doctors.. However, if you get to the stage when you are debating whether or not you prefer Jules or Allister as the host of Escape to the Country,, you know you need to find something else to do with your day. Alexandra Stonebanks
28.music
Monday 13 October 2014
The Courier
Music Editors: Jamie Shepherd, Dominique Daly and Chris Addison
S
Letter from the editors
o another year of University commences and so does another year of music. This year The Courier’s music section promises to you, the readership of Newcastle University, more of what you want: top-notch musical journalism. While the reviews and musical debates a la Talking Heads will stay pretty much the same, you can expect more from us in terms of the range and diversity of music that we’ll cover. This year, we’re very excited to announce the inclusion of a dedicated club columnist who will cover the very best in electronic music and dance events in the city (and no, we’re not talking about Skrillex and Avicii).
“We want to put the focus on you by promoting the best campus-grown talent”
With part of the editorial team being semi-local, a big thing we’re trying to push for is the promotion of music within Newcastle and the surrounding North East region. So you can expect hear more from the up and coming musicians that are the beating heart and soul of this magnificent part of the world. But of course, this paper would be nothing without you, the students of Newcastle, as you grasp your copies of The Courier, bleary eyed and on the way to your 9am tutorial. Therefore, this year, we want to put the focus on you by nurturing and promoting the best campus-grown musical talent throughout uni, and, who knows, maybe beyond… Love from Chris, Jamie and Dom
Live: Rae Morris @ Cluny 2 Tom Ardron checked out folksy fairy Rae Morris at Newcastle’s most intimate venue
I
n a dimly lit Cluny2, Cambridge native James ‘Jimmy’ Page, otherwise known as SiVu (so that he wouldn’t disappoint Led Zeppelin fans) takes to the stage for the last of his Rae Morris support dates. Apologizing for his inescapable need to doublecheck his guitar tuning, he quickly flows through stripped down versions of his releases to date. While Page’s vocals flicker between the quavering style of Jack Steadman (Bombay Bicycle Club) and the almost operatic howl of Hayden Thorpe (Wild Beasts) he keeps the crowd in silence throughout, with only a pause for exuberant cheers in between. Although a thoroughly enjoyable and polished acoustic set, the lack of accompaniment caused a disservice to some of his more electronic tracks. With a debut album produced by Charlie Andrew (Alt J’s An Awesome Wave) on its way within the next month he’ll be one to watch within the coming year.
bass, she manages to fill out a set of quite simple piano ballads with a contemporary, pop-noir performance that reverbs around the dusky corners of the venue. The obvious absence of writing partner Fryars in the duet ‘Cold’ was spared due to the magic of synth pads, once again exemplifying Rae’s ability to produce both ballads and pop songs that slowly leak into mainstream recognition. Finishing the night on her second single of the year ‘Do
You Even Know?’ before returning for a two-song encore, she cannot stop thanking the crowd. Ending the set on new track ‘Love Again’ she removes herself from behind the piano to the sound of an up-tempo laptop beat and house piano riff. A poignant visual image of her rise from the quiet Blackpool schoolgirl hid behind her piano and an impressive mass of hair to being taken under the wing of Bombay Bicycle Club and now into an almost coming-of-age moment for her solo work.
“A contemporary pop-noir performance”
Rae Morris and band shortly made their way to the stage surrounded by a crowd heavily proportioned with craft beer guzzling, middle-aged closet fan girls bellowing and echoing ‘Why Aye!’ in acknowledgement of Rae’s ‘Are we all well?’ Having only turned twenty-one at the start of the month, she seemed totally unfazed by the crowd and kicked straight into 2012 single ‘Grow’. Before long, the monumental range of which her vocals cover and the amount of genres she dips in and out of becomes apparent, with the likes of Clean Bandit collaboration ‘Up Again’ and new single ‘Closer’ upping the tempo. Backed by synths, drum pads, guitars and the somewhat surprising double
Playland Johnny Marr
Syro Aphex Twin
Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes Thom Yorke
F
A
T
ollowing a well-received debut solo album (The Messenger) it was always going to be interesting to see which path guitar icon Johnny Marr, of The Smiths fame, would take with his follow up LP, Playland. Marr stated he wished to recreate the tension and anxiety of London life and within lies a distinctly workmanlike, urban feel. Playland is based around Marr’s guitar riffs rather than his vocals. On first listen you can’t help but feel that if Marr were to collaborate with a more charismatic, ferocious singer, it would transform the driving yet slightly underwhelming opener ‘Back in Box’ and the title track. There is however a marked improvement when Marr finally lets loose in closing track ‘Little King’ but it is too little too late. The strength of Marr is within his more ethereal tracks, such as ‘Candidate’ and ‘This Tension’ whilst an explorative guitar riff and dreamy vocals mark ‘Dynamo’ as a standout track. The songs which pander more to The Smiths’ sound, such as ‘Dynamo’, ‘Speak Out Reach Out’ and latest single ‘The Trap’, will fare best amongst fans. As for the more experimental ‘25 Hours’, the frantic, Kasabianesque style neither befits Marr nor the album’s general demeanour. Marr has stuck to the same formula and created a fairly similar entity to The Messenger. Although this is not necessarily a bad thing there is a lack of adventure in Playland which leaves the listener slightly disappointed. Marr is however at his finest when he sticks to what he knows and writes spacey guitar lines complemented by his slender voice, rather than his ventures into the driving Primal Scream drum lines for which his voice is simply not powerful enough. What a difference a frontman can make. Finlay Pelling
phex Twin has been a presence in the techno/electronica scene since the early 1990s, and with his new record, Syro, has further cemented his place as a game-changer in the genre. Known for his eclectic fusion of hardcore techno elements with influences from a broad range of genres – his work tips the hat to classical music, reggae, pop and house, amongst more. His latest release is his sixth studio offering, and hotly anticipated (his last studio album was released in 2001). Is it worth the wait, Aphex fans? Hell, yes. Elements of soft trance are many and varied throughout the record to create an ambient vibe across the LP. Three tracks in, and my initial doubts about the general aimlessness of Aphex Twin’s work is replaced by an appreciation of his skill in layering so many elements together and creating something that sounds…chilled. Standout track ‘Produk 29 (101)’ is an interesting blend of jazz influences, pretty piano pieces, the kind of bassline found in a warbased video game, synths and a spoken sample. The song ‘CIRCLONT6A [141.98][syrobonkus mix]’ is a nod to more traditional techno and dance beats, followed by an interlude and then ‘CIRCLONT14 [152.97][shrymoming mix]’ which references trance in a similar payment of homage. As an outsider to electronica, techno and trance genres, my wariness quickly turned to enthusiasm. One of the record’s strong points, possibly its best, is the accessibility of Aphex Twin’s work. Regardless of varying music tastes, there’ll be a track for every listener, and plenty of points to raise discussion, so it comes with the most eager of recommendations.
Iqra Choudhry
hom Yorke returns after eight years with his second solo album, Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes, a hazy, electronic venture that demands to be revisited again and again. With the recent controversy of U2’s release of Songs of Innocence the landscape of how music is released is drastically changing. Following this, Thom Yorke continues to try and change the way we download and share music, as Radiohead famously self-released In Rainbows back in 2007 as a ‘pay what you like’ format. However, with the release of Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes, he has surprised us again and taken a new angle by making his latest album available for download on BitTorrent, last week with little notice. It is the first bundle, which required a ‘pay-gate’ of £3.69.
“A departure from the easy melodies and accessibility of The Eraser” Yorke and frequent collaborator Nigel Godrich stated in a press release that, ‘It's an experiment to see if the mechanics of the system are something that the general public can get its head around … If it works well it could be an effective way of handing some control of internet commerce back to people who are creating the work.’ After a staggering one million downloads in the first six days, it seems that their experiment is paying off. Following on from Radiohead’s The King of Limbs and supergroup Atoms For Peace’s AMOK, Yorke has completely immersed himself into the electronics. There is a departure from the easy melodies and accessibility of The Eraser, his first solo outlet producing a brooding and sparse record, highlighted through the touching ‘Interference’, a
stunningly simple piece filled with loneliness and isolation in the future. Equally haunting is the slow tempo ‘Truth Ray’, which exposes Yorke with its gorgeous and subtle tune.
“A moody and atmospheric tone looms over the whole album”
A moody and atmospheric tone looms over the whole album, which Yorke’s voice melts flawlessly into; however there also seems to be an emptiness, making listener engagement difficult. ‘The Mother Lode’ shows off the delicacy of his falsetto, creating a human touch in this overall hard electronic sound. Elsewhere, ‘Guess Again!’, one of the highlights on the record, feels very reminiscent to Radiohead’s ‘Pyramid Song’ as a subdued piano permeates throughout the song and was tellingly co-written by band mate, Colin Greenwood. Despite having these moments of brilliance, there are times when it slips into monotony. ‘There Is No Ice (For My Drink)’, seems to drag incoherently under a mish mash of skipping beats and the closing track, ‘Nose Grows Some’ similarly rattles on with droning and relentless loops. Yorke recently announced this would be his final side project before he begins work on the next Radiohead album and it feels in a way this is simply a way to bide his time. Not everything Yorke releases will be a masterpiece, and although it may not be a stand out record, leaving some listeners disappointed; Thom Yorke most certainly has delivered a beautiful and understated record made for repeat listening. Leah McAteer
The Courier
music.29
Monday 13 October 2014
thecourieronline.co.uk/music c2.music@ncl.ac.uk | @courier_music
Talking Heads
Did you wake up one PRUQLQJ WR ¿ QG 8 ¶V QHZ album had mysteriously ap- peared on your iTunes library? Emily Thompson and George Suddaby debate the pros and cons of their pioneering new strategy
L
ike most people, I love a good freebie, but when it comes to giving away music I’m not so sure it’s a good idea. As you may or may not know, U2 have teamed up with Apple to give all iTunes users their latest album, Songs of Innocence, for free. The problem here, however, is that even though bands like U2 have the money, the fan base and the connections to pull of such a stunt with little to no negative effect on them, it affect the efforts of up and coming bands.
“Where does this leave bands on indie labels, who have to tour and record around their jobs?”
Soon enough, fans might start to question why their favourite bands aren’t giving away their music for free too, and then begins a downward spiral. It could even be the case that U2 have started a new trend here, and where does that leave bands on independent record labels that have to tour and record extensively around their 9 to 5 jobs? Soon enough, those same bands will have to tour less or charge fans more for tickets or merchandise, to do little more than cover their losses from giving away their music. Fans are alienated, bands eventually disappear and in turn, independent record labels close forever, local publications that once relied on new bands call it a day and once-loved venues go into administration. I understand that we’re living in the “digital age”
and that partnerships with the likes of Apple will undoubtedly do wonders for U2’s reinvention of themselves as a band that aren’t “just for dads” anymore, but I don’t think one (bad) album should change the entire music industry as we know it just yet. Emily Thompson
I
f you are a U2 fan like me, then receiving a copy of their latest album for free is a pleasant surprise. I found out about the release through my Twitter feed, and originally thought that it was a mistake on either iTunes’ or U2’s part. But, with it being advertised more and more, I realised that the release was totally legitimate. The release shows a new dimension to the band: fans don’t feel as though U2 are using them for money, and shows a token of go o d - w i l l app e ar ing as a gift. Aside from this, it shows signs of brilliance people who would not have previously listened to U2 will now have access to their latest music for free, music which they may actually enjoy. The album itself is typical of U2. Whilst not necessarily containing songs which can take on the band’s big hits, Songs of Innocence does maintain that core soft-rock sound which has enabled U2 to capture many a person’s musical imagination. Ultimately, releasing Songs of Inno-
Album Y club
ou’ve got the initial straight up, discopop song ‘Fire’ to reel you in, then you’ve got your artsy, discordant, experimental tracks like ‘Birdy Num Num’ that really go against the grain. I found discomfort in the lyrics of ‘Tumor’, but if all music was within our comfort zone then it perhaps wouldn’t be quite as exciting. This album is really punk for its spontaneous, experimental concepts, yet also has a moderate amount of attractive beats to give a healthy sense of accessibility. Talk style vocals give an attractive nonchalant vibe and allows more of a platform for lyrical conveyance. I’m not really sure what she’s Each week we on about most of the time, but it works for rescue an album from me. James Hewitson obscurity and get four
writers to give us their take. This week: Lizzy Mercier Descloux’s 1979 no-wave debut Press Color
“Raucous DIY inventiveness”
T
o me, Press Colour is confident in all areas from the outset. Opening track ‘Fire’ demonstrates Lizzy’s skill both in utilising a vocal range which is sometimes as irrepressible as that of Bjork’s, and also in intricate musical composition. One of the most impressive aspects of the instrumentation on this record is the rhythm section, which offers hectic percussion, phased guitar as a rhythmic tool and the pounding bass line of ‘Wawa’, which proves Lizzy to be a pioneer in setting the stage for recent post-punk bands like PINS and Savages. I also love the weird, spindly guitar manipulations throughout which make Connan Mockasin’s Caramel sound perfectly tame. In an annoying two-worded cliché, Lizzy is a hidden treasure. Sophie Ahmed
“Everybody likes a freebie, and U2 have the possibility of gaining an even wider fanbase” cence free-of-charge was a fantastic idea. Everybody likes things which are free, and U2 have had the possibility of gaining an even wider fanbase. This, alongside the fact that the music is actually quite good, makes me wonder why anybody would complain about it. George Suddaby
A
phoenix would rise from the ashes of punk. A phoenix in the form of postpunk, in the form of Lizzy Mercier Descloux. This album puts the raucous DIY inventiveness of the genre through a kaleidoscope and spits out an artefact that would influence so many but would sadly be lost to time. From the funky ‘Fire’ to the disturbing playfulness of ‘Tumor’, Descloux demonstrates her astonishing ability to create interest and statement through her artform, she is a pioneer and Press Color is her canvas spread with some messed up yet engrossing paint. You won’t stop listening. Liam Keeble
Tell me lies, tell me sweet little lies We sent Will Ibbott on the hunt for some of music’s biggest liars. Here’s what he possibly, maybe, found out to be sort of nearly true
T
hose of you who love The Boomtown Rats and hate bad news: fold your ears. We’ve undertaken some rigorous research here at The Courier and have essentially chanced upon two big discoveries – Bob Geldof ’s 1979 trademark hit under his new wave outing ‘I Don’t Like Mondays’ is nothing more than a farce, and so are most musicians, it seems. Yes, you read that correctly. Your favoured minstrels are probably no more than mealy-mouthed charlatans: the artistic equivalent of high-profile politicians who probably started out well with good intentions, got sidetracked by gaining their own ends, and thus lost their way. If you don’t believe us, then please, direct your gaze to this recent interview with the frontman in question, in which he decreed his hit single “a load of feckin’ bullshit”. Geldof continues from here: “I wrote that when I was the underdog, not spearheading a celebrity campaign to deliver humanitarian aid to the world’s poorest continent. There’s lots to rise up early for when you’re rich and sanctimonious like me”. And if you can’t stomach that, then turn away now, for this is only the tip of the iceberg. Johnny Rotten, whose diatribe doings with The Sex Pistols supposedly mirrored the angst and despair of a generation without a future, also recently revealed something very unsavoury at the heart of the punk movement. “We knew the UK would never descend into anarchy. Rather, I knew the Tories would sap the will out of you while I would deliver zany post-punk/ new wave music under the moniker of Public Image Ltd., buy a fuck-off big chateau in the Loire Valley and turn my back on a nation reeking of decline and inequality”. From here on, the plot has only thickened. They
“Kate Bush announced she hadn’t even read Wuthering Heights”
ress Colour is a wonderful concoction of funky guitar riffs and memorable, psychedelic baselines. From the vibrant number ‘Fire’ - with its blaring undertones of South American Cuban music - to the more mellow musings of ‘Aya Mood’, this album has a bit of everything for everyone. I say this mainly because all my roommates approve, and we’re known for our mismatching musical tastes; I’ve even been made to save this album to my playlists - not that I needed much persuading. I particularly enjoyed the fast-paced ‘Wawa’. Though there may a song or two that do not appeal my taste ‘Tumor’ for instance: its weird fever is something that I really don’t understand.
– the anti-authority rebels - have all been coming forward now, revealing their warped morality, something you can seemingly only admit to when you’re divorced from your past and have made enough money not to give a toss about what the followers think. Prior to her comeback show in August, Kate Bush announced that she hadn’t even read the canonised Bronte novel Wuthering Heights. “I tried, but I gave up on the 10th page. In fact, I wasn’t even aware that babooshka translated as ‘grandmother’ in Russian.” She added: “That said, I am also well aware that hundreds of thousands of otherwise rational human beings would auction their organs and limbs to see me perform live. Ha ha ha ha and ha.”
Ya Wong
Will Ibbott
“A pioneer for recent post-punk bands like PINS and Savages”
P
The Courier
gaming.31
Monday 13 October 2014
thecourieronline.co.uk @Courier_Gaming
Gaming Editors: Sophie Baines and Ben Tyrer
The Mojang Merger: good or bad? Mojang has been acquired by Microsoft for a boggling $2.5 billion. Michael Hicks and Haaris Qureshi wonder if the deal will help or hinder the indie giant
Michael: It’s bad Haaris: It’s good, give them a break
S
o, the rumours ended up being true. On September 15th, Microsoft bought Minecraftdeveloper Mojang for a reported sum of $2.5 billion. As many already know, Microsoft is the manufacturer of the Xbox One, so a buyout of this scale for a small company in Sweden must be a match made in heaven, right? Well, maybe not, here is why it might be a bad thing. Let’s not forget that the company who bought Mojang out is the same company who originally intended to limit many features of the Xbox One, such as the ability to swap and resell games. The ability to play online is still gated behind the paywall of Xbox Live. Minecraft is not a free game, but one of the rea-
“For the fans, the people who breathe life into Minecraft, this can be seen as nothing but a disappointment”
M
icrosoft has bought Mein Kampf, and I’m not at all surprised. What? Oh, Minecraft! Easy mistake to make. The biggest opposition to Microsoft buying Minecraft is of course the ever present danger of executive meddling. Geeks worldwide still shudder in anger at the effects it has had on films (e.g. Spider-man, Indy 4), comics and TV (Firefly … oh God, Firefly). Why should we not fear the same happening to Minecraft? Well, it isn’t a given that a big company buying a franchise will lead to it being ruined. Take Disney buying Marvel – the films are spectacularly good - let’s not get into Disney’s treatment of Star Wars, though. Furthermore, Mojang have confirmed that most of the creative crew will stay on board. And Mojang have been working with Microsoft closely for two years now - all these point towards little changing in how things work, except
Minecraft getting a bigger backing. Notch, Minecraft’s creator, made it clear he didn’t want to run a big company. It would appear that
“There is little bad that can happen”
the only other alternative to selling would be to close it down, which I think we all agree is the less desirable outcome. So, really, only the stakeholder of the company is changing, and as long as Microsoft don’t do to Minecraft what Google are doing to YouTube (fingers crossed) there’s little bad that can actually happen here. Microsoft gains little from angering such a die-hard fanbase as Minecraft’s. Who knows, maybe having more money behind it might make Minecraft better than ever. Perhaps it’s worth giving them the chance?
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he game adaptation of Family Guy is produced by Tiny Co. and has been downloaded over 10 million times. The story is simple: Peter and Chicken have a fight and destroy Quahog; your task is to rebuild it. Whether or not you like the TV show doesn’t influence how much you’ll enjoy the game, so if you’re not the type to be easily offended, it’s definitely worth a try. New buildings can be bought with coins, the currency of the game, or clams, the premium currency, which you can get as rewards for achievements or by visiting your friends. Both of these currencies can be bought with real money and unfortunately, if you want to unlock all the content, you’ll end up using some (or a considerable amount) of your alcohol money on it. Don’t worry though, the game has plenty of notifications to remind you to spend more of your money, just in case. Constructing buildings will unlock characters. They will then ask for your help to “gather” some stuff, which is essentially the whole point of the game. Each character has a set of “quests” they can do which are of different lengths of time, and some of these will drop items that you need to collect. This allows both you and your characters to level up and unlock new actions and costumes for them to wear. The game has regular updates and themed events but this also causes lots of bugs and the game to crash. It’s not a small file either (44.73MB) and the constant updates will require you to have plenty of spare space. Although this game can be quite slow paced once you level up, it has an indescribable appeal that manages to keep it in that list of games you just can’t delete. Sakura Brandi
As time goes on, the cost of gaming seems to creep higher. Matthew Ball investigates whether this is really the case
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hat’s similar about Rayman Legends and Super Mario World? They were both very basic platformers, they were both released on the leading consoles at the time, and they both provided the graphical watermark which set standards at the time. Now, what about the differences, or rather, the price difference? Back when the SNES was in use, a new game typically cost around £25 at the time. A game released on a brand new Xbox 360 or Playstation 3 would generally cost about £30. So, does that mean that games have become more and more expensive as the years have gone by? Not necessarily. If we consider inflation and what those two games would have cost if they were released in 2013 (according to the Bank of England Inflation Calculator), Rayman Legends would have cost £40 while Super Mario World would have cost around £45. Games have instead not really moved: they still hover around the same price-point in terms of value today.
“Gaming as a culture has exploded since the 1990s. There are a great deal more people buying games now than there were in 1992”
sons it has such a huge and devoted fan-base is the colossal amount of user-generated content available out there for the game; you can bet that Microsoft would put a stop to that. I have no doubt that there will still be a large amount of additional content for the game, I just expect it to no longer be free. Microsoft has been extremely trigger-happy with this practice before; I mean, have you checked the Avatar store recently? Still, one can hardly blame Mojang for it, $2.5 billion is a whole lot of money, and Notch and the gang are now as rich as your average James Bond supervillain. Mojang’s rise to acquisition is undoubtedly a business success story. For Mojang, as a company who has done little with Minecraft for the past few years, this is a huge boon. For the fans however, the people who really breathe life into Minecraft, this news can be seen as nothing but a disappointment.
Family Guy: The Quest For Stuff Review
Are Games Too Expensive?
What I’m Playing: Ben Tyrer shares some thoughts on Diablo III: Reaper of Souls
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ew games have performed such a phenomenal turn-around as the likes of Diablo III. When the core game was released in 2012, it was fraught with issues that seemed to place the long-standing monster-bashing franchise in a state of jeopardy – an unusual position for pedigree developer Blizzard Entertainment. Its issues were manifold, but included a poorly tuned loot system – a death knell for any game whose main vehicle of progression is the acquisition of monster killing apparatus. This in turn led to an over-reliance on the in-game and Real Money auction houses, which meant players were spending more time in a spreadsheet than out slaying de-
mons. These things combined with the lack of any competitive ladder ranking – a feature which gave Diablo II such long life – made the future of the Diablo series look concerning at best. Following on a staggering twelve years after the outstanding second game, Diablo III seemed like a bad joke which had all but forgotten the elements that made its predecessors into the stuff of gaming icon. There wasn’t even a secret cow level. Fast forward to 2014, and the Diablo development team has seen some re-jigging. The game’s first expansion, Reaper of Souls, has largely redeemed the title with new game director Josh Mosqueira at the helm of the project. The questionable design choices of the core game were quickly reversed: Blizzard wisely closed the auction houses and increased the chances of finding legendary items, giving players
“The game’s first expansion, Reaper of Souls, has largely redeemed the title with new director Josh Mosqueira at the helm” the means to find their own hero’s loot. They introduced a fifth act in the story which returned to the gothic, macabre tones of the earlier games. New end-game systems like Adventure Mode allow players to level up without having to tread through the game’s campaign ad nauseam, while the addition of Seasons – Diablo III’s answer to Diablo II’s ladders – may yet endow the game with the longevity its forebears enjoyed. They even added the appropriate bovine easter-egg. In short, it’s now far closer to a fitting follow-up worthy of the Diablo name. With BlizzCon fast approaching, here’s hoping Blizzard have another excellent expansion in the works.
It seems to have a pattern: every time a new console is released, a typical launch price is set and it seems to be getting bigger and bigger every year when, in fact, it’s more-or-less the same as it was 20 years ago. There is also the evolution of brands to consider. As a consumer, you are buying the brand as well as the game itself, and over the years we’ve seen the emergence of a number of brands like Super Mario, Grand Theft Auto, and Assassins Creed, all of which have a following, and all of which are guaranteed to generate at least some sales. But that begs the question… Why are these games that are obviously so much more advanced than the SNES era of gaming still priced at around the same value? I’m not exactly an advocate for the idea that games should be more expensive than they already are, it’s just curious as to why these big companies like Activision and EA still charge 1992 prices for 2014 games. Part of the reason probably lies in inflation again. Minimum wage really hasn’t gone up that much in the 22 years between these games. It’s certainly disproportional to the rate of inflation, meaning that less money currently pays for more. But another angle is that gaming as a culture has exploded since the 1990s. There are a great deal more people buying games now than there were in 1992, meaning that although today’s games still hold about the same value as those in 1992, games companies are able to make up for that increase in cost with a drastic increase in sales. So while games haven’t really gone up in value all that much over the years, the interest in games h a s , which is probably one of the few reasons that video games are not more expensive than they are now.
32.science&technology
Monday 13 October 2014
The Courier
Science Editors: Laura Staniforth and Penny Polson Online Science Editor: Jack Marley
Hawaii the lads
Science of the Tyne Sharing your research since this week
Online Science Editor Jack Marley spent his summer in Hawaii investigating why endangered seals were so unpopular with the locals, and if this will ever change
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hen I was researching my dissertation I read that conservation is the most important thing that anyone can do because conservation is the preservation of human life on Earth. It seemed odd, so I kept reading. I learnt that the Hawaiian monk seal is a critically endangered marine mammal that lives exclusively in the Hawaiian archipelago and has, after centuries of being hunted to the limits of its survival, began to shuffle cautiously back onto the beaches of its ancestors in the main islands, where a booming holiday industry has since popped up. They’re lazy and smell bad but their eyes belie something smarter, something they’ve perhaps earned in their long existence as the world’s oldest species of seal. The opportunity to use my dissertation as a means to contribute to their pro-
Credit: Jack Marley
“Sometimes, regular people will defy the threat of serious jail time and a $100,000 fine to kill a Hawaiian monk seal. The loose threads of this marine mammal murder mystery made me want to find out why”
tection was promise enough, but then there was Hawaii itself. At a sweet spot in the vast Pacific, its clement climate attracts tourists from around
“They’re lazy and smell bad but their eyes belie something smarter, something they’ve perhaps earned in their long existence as the world’s oldest species of seal” world and its remoteness from the mainland keeps its observatories busy. But the island chain is by no means a static postcard picture of palm trees and pina coladas. Sometimes, the cooling trade winds will suddenly switch off and the islands will descend into a “Kona” stretch, with stickiness during the day and arias of air conditioner humming at night. Sometimes light pollution from the urban sprawls of the bigger islands will ruin stargazing. And, sometimes, regular people will defy the threat of serious jail time and a $100,000 fine to kill a Hawaiian Monk Seal. I’d started with ideas of monitoring disease but discovering the loose threads of a marine mammal murder mystery made me want to find out why anyone would want to kill eight monk seals between 2009 and 2012. Seals are often unpopular because of their appetite for the fish we catch, and their desire to share the shore with us. But surely this species, with only about a thousand left and the full weight of federal protection behind it could elicit some sympathy? Surely the fact that it sits on the dividing line between life and extinction would compel us to give it a break? To find out, I spent my summer at Waikiki Aquarium,
Photo: Jack Marley
catching people as they encountered the rare seal in captivity for the first time and asking where they saw themselves in the effort to keep them from dying out at our hands. I left an optimist, but now I’m not so sure. My research concluded that people were supportive of conservation, but in the final days of my visit a hurricane arrived and whipped up concerns regarding the future of Hawaii’s climate in a warming world, while a pet dog attacked a sleeping mother and her pup. Both events were human-mediated, although unintentional, but the recent announcement that Earth has lost half of all of its wildlife since 1970 helped contextualise it all. Even if the killings were an ugly anomaly, and
people wanted to preserve this species and others like it in perpetuity, it seems likely that countless lost in the last 40 years went quietly into dusty museum collections without any direct human effort to eradicate them. They just disappeared as we became unavoidable. So are our lives now so detached from nature that a future with it is impossible? I thought about this one Kona afternoon in the cool recesses of the aquarium. I was watching a world in itself behind the glass, with its own residents and visitors. “How come the sharks never eat the fish in there?” I wondered aloud. “Why would they?” someone answered. “They’re well fed”.
New Life? Coke goes green Coke Life has grown like a weed in stores nationwide. Ben McCullough dives LQWR WKH LFRQLF ¿ ]]\ OLTXLG WR VHH ZKHWKHU WKLV UHDOO\ LV WKH HOL[LU WKH\ SURPLVH
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rinks giant Coca Cola have launched a new ‘mid-calorie soda’ called Coke Life in an effort to stem the war on sugar. And it’s green. The company, who famously made Santa a marketing tool with their omnipresent ‘Red, White and You’ colour-based campaigns, now has a new hue. Coke Life will come in bright green cans and bottles.
“Stevia is roughly 300 times sweeter than sugar, has a liquorice-like aftertaste, and was famously replaced with ricin in the Breaking Bad finale ” Reminiscent of BP’s 2001 rebranding to a sunburst logo following negative press regarding their poor safety standards, Coca Cola have gone green. The ‘natural’ colour covers the Coke Life can despite the fact it contains nothing of any nutritional value. Perhaps even more upsettingly, green is traditionally the colour of Sprite. Coca Cola Life appears to be a small step in the
right direction for the soft drinks industry. It contains a third less calories and a third less sugar than normal Coke. ‘Sweetened from natural sources’, the cola contains Stevia as an organic alternative to sugar. This marks a move away from the controversial artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, used in Diet Coke. An extract of the South American ‘sugar leaf ’ plant, Stevia is roughly 300 times sweeter than sugar, has a licorice-like aftertaste and was famously replaced with ricin in the Breaking Bad finale. With Pepsi promising their own Stevia-sweetened ‘Pepsi True’, mid-calorie sodas may seem like victory for those with growing concerns over sugar content, such as the government’s Change4Life initiative. However, Coke Life is still laden with sugar. The Children’s Food Campaign stated that it contained ‘more than five teaspoons’ of sugar, with 22g per 330ml can. 25% of an adult’s guideline daily amount. Original Coke contains around 9 teaspoons of sugar per can and still outsells both Diet Coke and Coke Zero put together. In 2010, combined sales saw Coca Cola earn over 1 billion pounds in the UK alone. Proof the industry is flourishing regardless of its impact on health, with obesity levels and
diabetes diagnoses ever increasing. So despite the branding, this version of Coke still leaves a sour taste in the mouth. In further Coca Cola news, the company has
“Original Coke contains around 9 teaspoons of sugar per can and still outsells both Diet Coke and Coke Zero put together” recently responded to a 90s-nostalgia fueled Facebook campaign to bring back Surge. A nuclear green energy drink, Surge boasts 56g of sugar and a ‘tidal wave of bodacious flavor magma’. After a 12-year hiatus this Space Jam of sodas is now available to buy on Amazon, and it’s prompting some pretty great reviews; ‘My brother has been in a coma for 12 years. I whispered into his ear that they were bringing back Surge. He shot straight up and roundhouse kicked a nurse.’ Surge may be far from healthy but at least it doesn’t pretend to be.
Illustration by Amelia McTigue
The Courier
Monday 13 October 2014
technology&science.33 thecourieronline.co.uk/science c2.science@ncl.ac.uk | @courier_science
The science of getting sloshed
Lufthansa:
Natalie Farmer discusses how horrible we are to our hippocampus
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emory loss, slurred speech, stumbling along the street at 3am in desperate search of cheesy chips… we’ve all been there. Most of us multiple times, in fact. University students in particular are known for bingedrinking, but here in the North East we seem to have developed a reputation for it (who can resist those trebles?) However, few people actually stop and think about what’s happening to their bodies whilst they’re necking their ninth jägerbomb or screaming “down it, fresher!” at an innocent first year. So, to satisfy your curiosity, here’s what happens on the inside whilst we’re busy making fools of ourselves on the outside.
talking and even drinking some more, you won’t remember any of it the next day. Alcohol also causes increased levels of dopamine to be introduced to our system. Dopamine is a chemical released by nerves in response to a stimulus, such as seeing the one you love, causing feelings of pleasure and euphoria. Honestly, some people are at their happiest when they have a drink in their hand, and it’s all because of dopamine. This, coupled with the fact that alcohol causes us
to lose our inhibitions by suppressing a part of the cortex of the brain (coining the term “liquid courage”), is a cocktail for a good time – literally. Ultimately, the brain is an extremely complex organ with an even more complex and delicate balance of chemicals. A night out is definitely not the same without having a few drinks, but the next time someone offers you a fourth treble, spare a thought for your poor hippocampus. You (and your hippocampus) will be grateful.
“Honestly, some people are at their happiest when they have a drink in their hand, and it’s all because of dopamine” Unsurprisingly, the brain is the organ which is most affected by the devil’s water. The hippocampus, a part of the brain involved in forming memories, is drastically altered. When blood alcohol levels are high, the brain cells start to produce steroids, which block the processes involved in memory formation. So, although you’re still dancing and
Credit: TCTV
The Hangover: Part Floored Suffering from a hellish hango- ver? Ciara Loughrey sheds some harsh light on the subject. Where are my sunglasses?
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ith Freshers’ Week still a recent memory (by which I mean a crazy, alcoholfuelled blur) understanding a bit more about hangovers and their remedies might prove valuable in future. The formal name for the phenomenon of headaches, nausea, dry mouth and tiredness following a night’s heavy drinking is veisalgia and is due to numerous interactions of alcohol with bodily processes, not simply the commonly known dehydration. Dehydration is a major part however, since alcohol acts as a diuretic, by causing the pituitary gland
to block the production of anti-diuretic hormone; water is then sent directly to the kidneys, causing the drinker to urinate more frequently. A dry mouth is the body asking you to imbibe more water the next day, whilst headaches result from other organs effectively ‘stealing’ water from the brain.
“The formal name for the symptoms of a hangover is veisalgia”
Increased urination is also responsible for reduced nerve function, which is why you might experience a lack of coordination; electrolytes like potassium are lost with the water. This is why bananas are a brilliant thing to have to hand, or failing that, a sports drink- they help replace lost ions, as well as boosting your energy levels. This is vital
to combat the tiredness resulting from glycogen being lost from the liver in the urine. Alcohol also inhibits the natural stimulant glutamine, which is then produced in excess just when the drinker finally wants to sleep off their night of indulgence; this interrupts their slumber, further increasing feelings of fatigue. Aspirin (or another non-caffeinated painkiller) can be useful to inhibit prostagladin, which is associated with hangovers, but coffee is a no-no, since it acts as a diuretic, making you more dehydrated, and also causing increased tiredness when it’s effects wear off. As methods of prevention go, the two best known ones are also the most likely to help ward off a hangover: drinking lots of water throughout the night and eating something first (especially something fatty, so get the kebab before you start prinks).
Whale of the Week Killer Whale (Orcinus orca )
Illustration by Becky Irvine
Environmentally friendly future? The German airline has turned to biofuels. Phoebe Casey-Miller investigates
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ach year there are around 18 million flights, carrying over one million passengers a day. The aviation industry is a fundamental aspect of modern society. But what is the environmental cost of our air travel? A round trip from Newcastle to Magaluf will produce 300 tonnes of CO2, enough for an average car to be driven continuously for 486 days. The environmental cost of air travel is to some extent outweighed by its priceless advantages; unrestricted mobility and an ability to communicate and develop relationships with other nations. But, with the aviation industry contributing up to 15% of the total production of greenhouse gases, a solution to reduce the aviation industry’s carbon footprint is imminently needed. German air company Lufthansa are the first to offer a solution to the problem; completing a trial of biofuel as an alternative to fossil fuels on 1187 commercial flights. With these flights they believe they have reduced their CO2 output by 1471 tonnes.
“The tests took place on regular commercial flights, which probably meant a tense journey for the passengers, kept in the air by the energy of plants”
But what is biofuel and how is it made? Biofuels are made from organic compounds such as, plant seed or animal fats. The production involves a process known as hydrogenation: this is the process of adding the element hydrogen for us chemistry novices, followed by distillation and refinement. It has many obvious advantages, such as a 4% higher energy content than fossil fuels and a low soot formation. The tests took place on regular commercial flights, probably a tense journey for the passengers, kept in the air by the energy of plants. However, although the flights were mechanically a success, the airline were forced to question the sustainability of biofuel. Firstly, the use of biofuel raises certain ethical dilemmas. Is it acceptable to grow crops to use as fuel when one in eight people across the world are living in starvation? Also, the lengthy and complicated production process makes biofuels unaffordable in the long term for aviation companies. Although Lufthansa may not be able to sustain the use of biofuels, they have highlighted the need for further research and have taken some responsibility for the problem of greenhouse gases. However, there are many other exciting areas for the aviation industry to explore, solar, electric, and hydrogen planes are all possibilities for the future. Importantly, Lufthansa’s experiment both educates and reminds us that the next time we are stocking up on frequent flyer miles there is a sizeable environmental cost to pay.
Photo: caribb
The Courier
35.puzzles
Monday 13 October 2014
Puzzles 2
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Puzzles Editor: Kate Bennett
Courier Catchphrase See if you can guess (catch) the common idioms (phrases) shown in these two picture combos?
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1 German motorway; Kraftwerk album (8) 4 The way out (4) 6 Landlocked South American country led by President Evo Morales (7) 7 Popular singer behind classic hits ‘Milkshake’ and ‘Got Your Money’ (5) 8 Pulse often used to make soup (5) 9 Woven wool cloth, worn by Mumford and Sons, UKIP voters and other pricks (5) 12 A cow (2) 13 Nerd (4) 15 1976 horror film; portent of doom (4) 17 City in Brittany with mildly amusing name (5) 18 Shrub that smells a bit like piss; the princess from Aladdin (7) 20 _____ Youth - seminal 80s/90s alternative band (5) 21 Undead person (3)
For even more news, views, sports and cul- ture, make sure you head over to thecourieronline. co.uk
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1 Potentially deadly building material (8) 2 Dickens character who asked if he could have some more (11) 3 Listening (7) 4 You’d be blind without them (4) 5 Potentially deadly frozen spear of water (6) 10 Time traveller; 60s mod band (3) 11 _______ Washington; has played Malcolm X and Steve Biko (7) 14 Potentially deadly snake; feathery neck decoration worn by hen parties (3) 16 Post (4) 17 Nicolas Cage’s nemesis in the Wicker Man remake (4) 18 Keith Crombie’s favourite genre of music (4) 19 What you should do if you fall into a large body of water (4)
Word Link Find the word that con- nects these three words. Hint: Now that it’s autumn, these things are a necessity for anyone with an immune system
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36.sportfeatures
Monday 13 October 2014
The Shortest Road Trip in the League Owing to the enormity of the USA, it is difficult to create fierce rivalry within the NFL especially on a local level. However, there is one rivalry which still provokes a great amount of emotion from both sets of fans even though the fixture has not been contested since Christmas Eve 2011. The New York Giants and the New York Jets have been the only same city rivalry since 1995 when the Los Angeles Raiders and the Los Angeles Rams departed from the NFL. Nevertheless, due to the Giants and Jets being in separate Conferences, the opportunity for this rivalry to be put to the test is very limited. Some would consider that to be a dampener on the conflict with questions being asked of whether there can be a rivalry at all. This was evident in the comments of the ex-Jets Line Backer Bart Scott who, when asked about bragging rights in 2011, characteristically remarked “I couldn’t care less”.
However, that is the view of the minority in New York with the fixture eagerly anticipated throughout the city, and similarly in New Jersey where the current stadium of both the Giants and the Jets is located, despite both franchises retaining the representation of New York. This view is echoed in the words of the former Jets wide receiver Plaxico Burress when in 2011 he revealed he felt that the Jets v Giants clash is “what New York is all about” prior to a 29-14 defeat. The Giants currently hold an 8-4-0 record over the Jets with a streak of 5 consecutive wins. The last encounter attracted a near-capacity crowd of just under 80,000, proving that the Jets/Giants rivalry still captures the hearts and minds of the American people. The individual history of the Giants as well as the Jets suggests that there is still a lot more to come from them even with the mediocrity shown by both in recent years. The Giants have taken part in the seventh most Super Bowl encounters of
all time with five appearances in total, winning four, their latest being the 2011 win. Whilst the Jets have only one Super Bowl appearance, it was a winning occasion back in 1968. It can be argued with these stats that the Giants have had a hold over the Jets for quite some time leading back to the Jets forced to share a stadium with the Giants in 1984. Giant Stadium was the home of the New York Giants until 2010, but Jets fans refused to acknowledge the name of the stadium, instead referring to it as Meadowlands. Post 2010 the Jets still share a stadium with the Giants, but now at the more neutrally named MetLife Stadium. This will be the venue for the next globally anticipated meeting scheduled for 2015 as both sides will fight to make it to next season’s playoffs. Matthew Flannery
The Courier
Neighbours In the wake of Clash of the Titans, we look at the ¿ HUFHVW VSRUWLQJ ULYDOULHV IURP DURXQG WKH JOREH
The American Legend Some call it the greatest franchise in sport. A rivalry, which has compelled three generations of passionate basketball lovers. From the first clash between Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics in the 1962 NBA Finals, it was loud and clear that this was no ordinary contest. A decisive Game 7 went into overtime to be claimed by the Celtics (110:107) but history was yet to be written. Although the Celtics had already crushed Minneapolis Lakers in 1959, the rivalry intensified during the following decade as the latter relocated to Los Angeles. Between 1962 and 1969, both teams met six times in the Finals to mark what for many still is the golden age of basketball. Lead by five-time MVP Bill Russell, the Celtics emerged victorious in each one of those encounters and seemed invincible in the eyes of their opponents. Lakers and Celtics were not to meet again in a showdown until 1984 when
the contest was reborn featuring the legendary personal duel between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. Sublime Johnson gave his team new hope to end the Boston jinx but Bird prolonged LA’s misery after Celtics escaped with yet another championship trophy. However, the inevitable happened one year later when Showtime Lakers finally broke their opponent’s dominance. They even did it once again in the 1987 Finals to lift two titles in three campaigns. It took 21 years for the battle to arrive back on the stage of modern basketball in 2008. Although Boston prevailed for the tenth time, the Lakers took a sweet revenge two seasons later snatching back-to-back titles. Together, both teams have now won 33 out of 68 championships in NBA history. As their duel has already stood the test of time, perhaps another epic chapter is just around the corner. Peter Georgiev
The Merseyside derby
Photography: Getty
“Former Jets wide reciever Plaxice Burress summed it up when he said that the Jets v Giants clash is ‘what New York is all about’”
Jets v Giants
The Ryder Cup
Lakers v Celtics
The Ryder Cup
Photography: Getty
On Friday 26th September the Ryder Cup returned to the home of golf and the European team were not slow to put on a commanding performance to ensure glory at Gleneagles. Successfully retaining the trophy from what has become known as Miracle at Medinah in 2012, this was the Europeans eighth victory since 1991 in South Carolina where they were narrowly defeated by the margin of one point. The initial Ryder Cup took place in 1927 in Massachusetts, a matter of Great Britain and Ireland vs America, the competition occurs every two years on varying courses in Europe (then UK) and America. The competition did not take place during 1937-1947 due to World War II and following American dominance the 1979 Ryder Cup expanded to include the European continent, with Seve Ballesteros being one of the first continental players to be involved. The Europeans stole their first victory in 1985 at the infamous Belfry course going on to claim 10 outright wins and retain the trophy once on a tied score in 1989 again at the Belfry in comparison to the Americans 7 outright wins. The ‘Miracle at Medinah’ may be the
most renowned Ryder Cup win for the Europeans to the up and coming golfer but there has been a catalogue of notable moments throughout the competitions history such as the 1991 “War on the Shore” which saw a demonstration of intensity and rivalry between Paul Azinger and Seve Ballesteros. The ‘Battle of Brookline’ was coined not long after in 1999 which marked an outstanding comeback on behalf of the Americans as they trailed 10-6 on the final day to muster a 14.5-13.5 over the Europeans. 2014 saw the Europeans, captained by Paul McGinley, outshine the Americans in both class and quality. The rivalry of the competition was nonetheless stronger than ever with Ryder Cup new boys such as Patrick Reed firing up the crowd. Rory McIlroy who was not shy in showcasing why he is the current golf No. 1 won 5&4 in the Sunday singles. Although there were no final day antics quite like that of the Miracle at Medinah, the Europeans stormed to a 16.5 to 11.5 victory over the Americans standing them in good stead as holders for Minnesota in 2016. Lynsey Brownlie
Illustration by Daisy Billowes
“The Eternal Derby is annually marked with wild displays of fan allegiance ranging from setting off flares in the stadium to violent clashes” Photography: Getty
The Courier
sportfeatures.37
Monday 13 October 2014
from Hell
The Journal of Journeyman
“The Merseyside Derby divides families” Photography: Getty
The Merseyside Derby
Photography: Getty
There is a reason that Liverpool is generally perceived to be one of the purest football cities in the world: the existence of two great historical rivals, Liverpool FC and Everton FC. If you’re a Scouser, the rules are simple, you’re either a Red or a Toffee (or in the case of woollybacks, a Tranmere fan). When derby days come around each season, families are divided, which is unique compared to other derbies. This isn’t surprising when you consider that the two grounds, Anfield and Goodison Park, are only half a mile away from each other, separated by Stanley Park. On the pitch, the fierce competitiveness displayed by the teams is unrivalled. The fixture has produced 19 red cards in the Premiership era, a record. Phil ‘commentator of the year’ Neville man-
aged to bag himself two derby-day red cards during his stint at Everton. However, the rivals are capable of serving up spectacles in terms of goals; memorable matches include a 3-2 win for Liverpool in the 1989 FA Cup final in which Ian Rush scored an extra-time brace and a 4-4 thriller in the league at Goodison Park in February 1991. The last meeting ended in a 1-1 league draw at Anfield just over 2 weeks ago. Liverpool lead by 77 wins to Everton’s 60 on the head-tohead record. On a personal note, I’m half Scouse and have fortunately ended up as a Red. I’ve been to one derby, which is certainly one of the best in recent years. Liverpool’s 3-0 thrashing of Everton at Anfield, courtesy of a Stevie G hat-trick… MWAH (kisses imaginary camera). Seb Murphy
The Western Derby A sport unique to Australia, Aussie Rules Football, also known as Aussie rules or football for the people Down Under is unbeknownst to most sporting fans. With similarities to both rugby union and football, it is uncertain why this sport has not gained in popularity. There is no ball-throwing/passing in Aussie rules and to run with the ball, a player must bounce the ball on the ground every 15 metres. Kicking of the ball is a key requirement of Aussie Rules and 6 points are scored when the ball is kicked through the goal posts. . As the highest attended club championship in the world, the derbies and rivalries that spawn from this sport are fierce and highly contested. One of the biggest derbies in the sport is the Western Derby, played by the West Coast
Eagles and Fremantle Dockers. Both teams are based in Perth and a week before the derby, that is all that the people of Perth speak of. A medal, the Ross Glendinning Medal is given to the best player of the derby match, unheard of in most sports, proving the importance of the derby match to the sport. West Coast has won 21 times and Fremantle 19 times with this derby proving to be a highly competitive one. In recent times however, Fremantle has largely dominated, winning 12 out of 15 derbies since 2007. With the new season starting in March next year, fans will be looking forward to the next iteration of the Western Derby and the new AFL season. Huezin Lim
The Western derby
The Eternal Derby Referred to by many as the ‘Eternal Derby’, the Belgrade derby between Red Star and Partizan has a rich history that fills both sets of fans with passion and pride. The quality of football may have declined since the break-up of Yugoslavia in 1992 but the intense fanaticism of the fans on either side certainly has not. The derby originates from the end of the Second World War with the establishment of both teams. Partizan Belgrade which was created by Yugoslav People’s Army and backed by the government of Marshal Tito was seen by many to be the club of the communist party. Red Star Belgrade, on the other hand, was formed out of the ashes of Yugoslavia, a club that was labelled “collaborators” by Tito’s authorities because of their participation in matches dur-
ing the war and consequently they were seen as the club of the people. The Eternal Derby is annually marked with wild displays of fan allegiance ranging from setting off flares in the stadium to violent clashes. In particular, the match in 2000 was abandoned due to fans invading the pitch and the encounter in 2009 ending with riots and the arrest of 95 fans. At the moment, Red Star have won 60 of the meetings with Partizan trailing with only 43 since the creation of the Serbian SuperLiga in 1992. However, to the fans of both clubs these statistics mean nothing when it comes to derby day and there is all to play for and the whole Serbia watching. Tom Purvis
Photography: Getty
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here is always that one elder statesman at the pub who has ‘had a trial at West Ham’ or somehow, even though you’re 400 miles away in Cheshire, has ‘played against Geoff Hurst’ when they were younger. Now, I’m very much the same at my fledling age of 20. I’ve been there done that got the T-shirt in terms of playing every sport under the sun and having varying degrees of success. I have two older brothers, one of whom never lets me forget that he actually has one trophy to my zero for winning a county-wide golf competition when he was 12. The other never seemed to take an interest in playing sport and never liked the system, but always took pride in tearing pieces from his siblings’ sporting achievements. So here begins my first tale. To use a cliché, most young lads dream of being a footballer, David Beckham was God, Robbie Blake was Jesus and I was one of their many disciples. One weekend my boyhood team Frodsham Town FC were invited to play Crewe Alexandra’s youth team. Now, for those who don’t know Crewe at that time was the youth team to be part of. They were pumping out players of the ilk of Nick Powell, Ashley Westwood, Luke Murphy, the list is endless. At the age of 9, being told you’re playing a professional team is the most exciting thing that could ever happen. I’d been looked at by Chester (City, as they were then) and one of my fellow teammates had been picked up by Everton (NOT BITTER). But to play Crewe, and to be told by our coaches that if we played well they might take us on, well, that didn’t even bare thinking about.
“At the time, Crew Alexandra were the youth team to be a part of, and were pumping out players of the ilk of Nick Powell, Ashley Westwood, Luke Murphy: the list is endless”
We turned up, Dad gave me my prematch pep talk and jaffa cakes and sent me on my way to the huddle. The team was good, all of the main players there, I was the Angel Di Maria of the team, floating, finding the team, setting up the attacking movements from Central attacking midfield. Then the call came: “Josh, you’re playing left back.” WHAT?! Their best player was a right winger and I’m about as quick as a tortoise who’s been to the Fat Hippo for dinner. So that wasn’t the best of starts. I didn’t touch the ball more than once that first half. Second half: “Right, Josh, left midfield”. Ah, much better. I touched the ball twice that half, I was proud of that performance. Full time, 3-1 Crewe. Fair enough, then I got dragged away. “Josh”, said the coach determinedly, “they’re looking at you buddy, but you need to lose some weight”. I don’t know about you but at the age of nine that puppy fat stage is upon us all and there was nothing I could do about it. Why would you tell me that?! Why would you ruin my nice little bubble of thinking I wasn’t good enough?! Herein lies the message: SCREW THE SYSTEM. Josh Nicholson
38.sportfeatures
Monday 13 October 2014
The Courier
The prodigal son returns
Sports Editor Jonty Mawer meets his boyhood By Jonty Mawer Sports Editor
S
itting in Francesca’s Italian restaurant in Jesmond with a few of my closest friends, I realized that my mind was finding it hard to focus. Be it the topic of conversation, what I was going to order, anything, I just couldn’t find the wherewithal to concentrate. It was hopeless. Nothing felt important. The dinner passed over me like a blur and before I knew it, the waiter was asking for the bill and my friends were grabbing their coats and beckoning me to follow them out the door. I’m sure to many a casual onlooker in the restaurant that night, or indeed to my own friends, I must have looked unusual, if not in some way deranged. They must have felt confused, perplexed, possibly even irritated by my level of detachment. I may as well have not been there. I simply couldn’t drag my focus away from what I was going to do the next morning when I woke up, and more importantly, whom I was going to meet. The fondest memories of my childhood always involved rugby. Whether it was playing, at school or down at Richmond Rugby Club, or watching the internationals with my father and my older brother on the sofa at home, the game dominated all our lives. Growing up in Twickenham, rugby is something that is intrinsically and meticulously woven into the very fabric of the community. Whether you’re in the town centre, just off the high street, or in the leafy sub-suburb of Strawberry Hill where I live, it is impossible to escape the shadow that the stadium casts. To this day, my mother and I still stand out in the garden to hear the anthems sound before each and every match at Twickenham. Despite being several miles from the stadium itself, the atmosphere remains palpable and electrifying wherever you are.
“We were sat in my living room; eyes trasfixed on the television as the young English Stand-Off tantalizingly sent the Aussies to their doom”
When my father retired early to help look after my brother and I, he found it difficult to adjust to life without work. He spent his days doing the school run, pottering around in the garden, generally procrastinating and irritating my mother. Something definitely had to give so he started to look for some kind of part-time work with which occupy his time. He applied for a tour guide’s job at the Museum of Rugby at Twickenham Stadium, which probably seemed like a dream come true. An avid rugby fan himself, I can imagine my father literally leaping at the opportunity to work at the world’s most famous sporting theatre; the Mecca, the Shangri-La, the home of English Rugby. Luckily, he managed to pass the interview and before my mother knew it, he was a fully-fledged tour guide that could be called up at a moment’s notice. The impact of Dad’s new job however wasn’t restricted to the lives of my parents however; I too had to suffer the consequences. Every Saturday morning when my mother took my brother horse riding, I got into my dad’s car and headed straight to the stadium. There was of course never any choice in the matter, Saturday was “Stadium Day”, whether I liked it or not. Consequentially, Twickenham became very much a second home for me; I knew every conference room, corridor, artifact and trophy cabinet, including the special stories that they came with. However, as I grew older, my fascination with the stadium began to shift onto what went on inside it and the legendary players that took to the field, most notably, a certain young Fly Half by the name of Jonny Wilkinson. I remember the first time I saw him play like it
FLY HALF WITHOUT WINGS: Jonny Wilkinson speaks at the launch of the 2015 Rugby World Cup as Jonty Mawer (left) looks on was yesterday; I remember putting on my jacket and walking with my dad to the Stadium, not really aware of the enormity of what was about to transpire. The opponents of the day were Australia, the old foe, back again to wreak havoc on the still building English side. I can’t have been much older than seven, however I vividly remember being excited at the prospect of seeing Jonny in action for the first time. The game went down to the wire, and as so often was the case in those days, it was down to Jonny to slot home the winning points. Sitting in the North Stand, watching him prepare his famous kicking routine, he seemed miles away from the posts. The stadium fell silent, everyone could barely take their eyes off of this young 22-year-old as he stepped up to take his kick. As the kick was slotted perfectly through the posts, I remember the crowd rising up and making the most phenomenal
sound. Being only a seven year-old boy, I was, of course, terrified, but from then on Jonny began to hold an almost mythical aura that only continued to grow in magnitude. It was thoughts such as these that were domi-
myself- “This simply can’t be real”, I thought. I nervously got out of the car, alongside Josh, one of my co-editors, and my friend Pete who had typically somehow wangled his way into being invited along, and walked to the building where the press
“I felt like the young boy on the way out of Twickenham, clasping onto my father’s hand, knowing that I had seen Jonny Wilkinson play for the first time” nating my mind whilst on the way to the press event last Friday morning. Ten years after first seeing my idol play, I was on my way to meet him. Understandably, I was in tatters. Driving into the confines of Newcastle Racecourse, I had to pinch
conference was due to be held. Due to it being the run up to the 2015 Rugby World Cup, the IRB and the RFU have been holding various media events in cities up and down the country to promote the tournament. As St James’ Park is a venue for some
The Courier
sportfeatures.39
Monday 13 October 2014
to his old stomping ground
hero Jonny Wilkinson say which publication they came from. I sat in awe as each of the men sitting next to me, one after the other, articulated which national press publication they worked for- The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Times, you name it, and me, the Sports Editor for The Courier Newcastle, a fresh-faced, 20-year old student. I felt to me that I was distinctly up a certain creek, without a certain instrument. I had the opportunity to ask him one question,
“Being only a seven year-old boy, I was, of course, terrified, but from then on Jonny began to hold an almost mythical aura that only continued to grow in magnitude”
of the group fixtures, Newcastle has been required to host such an event, something of real benefit to the cities fledgling rugby culture. As an ex-Falcon and World Cup Ambassador, Jonny had been asked to attend and fulfill some media obligations, one of which being speaking to national and local print publications. We were greeted by the press officer who was hosting the event and taken to a table in the corner of the room where we were told to wait for Jonny to come and answer our questions. I could hardly keep still. It was as if I was seven years old again, back at Twickenham, waiting for him to run out onto the pitch. It was a child-like anticipation. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Jonny made his way over to our table, taking the seat right next to me. As he sat down, the press officer instructed all of the journalists present to introduce themselves and
and one question only and as my turn came around I somehow experienced, for the first time in the previous hours, a moment of real clarity. I knew exactly what I wanted to ask him because I had been thinking about it long and hard during dinner the night before. After dinner, Pete and I watched the 2003 World Cup final in its entirety; every minute, every pass, every kick, every gut-wrenching, heartstopping moment. During the game, we exchanged anecdotes about exactly where we were when Jonny struck that magical drop goal. I was at home with my family - my mother, my two brothers, and my father. Dad had been diagnosed with cancer shortly after he had taken me to my first England match and in the October of 2003, the disease was entering its final and most deadly stage. Nonetheless, he had been let out of hospital to come home and watch the game with us. It is one of the only times where I can remember my family getting on, which is probably why I remember it all so vividly. We were sat in my living room; eyes transfixed on the television as the young English stand-off tantalizingly sent the Aussies to their doom. I remembered every second of that morning so clearly, the tension, the anticipation and the eventual elation and I was curious as to whether he had experienced anything like it himself. He told me that a similar experience had happened to him at least twice during his childhood. He said he remembered watching the 1991 World Cup Final at a friend’s house and watching his dad run onto the pitch at full time. His father was wearing a distinctive, bright blue coat that he vividly remembered seeing as he ran in front of the TV cameras. This was an early memory of his but one that he said had really stuck. However, the clearest recollection he had of a single game was the 1995 World Cup quarter final in South Africa between England and Australia. At the tender age of 16, he distinctively remembers not being able to even watch the game; he said that the suspense was almost too much for him and sitting on the sofa at home was almost impossible. It was so wonderful to hear that this player I had so idolized as a young boy had a similar predilection for madness when watching England play rugby, and had experienced the cathartic euphoria at times of victory and the bottomless heartbreak in the wake of defeat. As he finished with my question, the press officer signaled that the conference was over and that Jonny had other commitments that he needed to attend to. Before he left, I managed to get a photograph with him and say my final farewell. He shook my hand, said his peace and left. The subsequent period of time was equally as hazy as the previous evening. I walked outside and immediately phoned my older brother and then my mother. I felt like the young boy on the way out of Twickenham, clasping onto my father’s hand, knowing that I had seen Jonny Wilkinson play for the first time and that my life was from there on in, was going to be inexorably different.
Photography: Getty
The World Cup hits the Toon With 2015 looming ever closer, the level of excitement is grow- ing as Newcastle prepares to welcome the planet’s best players, WHDPV DQG FRDFKHV 7KUHH 3RRO % ¿ [WXUHV DUH VHW WR EH SOD\HG DW St. James Park in the heart of the city. 03/10
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Photography: Getty
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On 1st October, the start of Halloween month, the rugby union first team got off to a nightmare of a start. The ghost of last year’s Stan Calvert defeat seemed to loom large over Newcastle’s performance whilst Northumbria summoned a beast to confront them. The game started with the excitement of the new season. However, things are
bin. The powerplay from the Northumbrians only continued and the game became one way traffic for most of the first half amidst the cries of “We pay your benefits” and “If you all love Uni clap your hands” from the ever faithful Newcastle support. There were positive moments for the University XV, with the energetic Banks weaved his way through six tackles but couldn’t get the ball over the tryline in the 22nd minute.
“The powerplay from the Northumbrians only continued and the game became one way traffic for most of the first half ”
never simple when you play your closest rival, it seemed like a poisoned chalice to get this game first up. Northumbria had beaten Loughborough a week earlier in their first BUCS game of the year and sent a message and that they were ready for business. Even the groundsmen at Kingston Park were impressed, and we all know how much it takes to impress a Geordie. The game started with both sides handing penalties out as if they were Christmas presents which seemed to suit Northumbria’s sizeable pack more than Newcastle’s more technical outfit. Northumbria’s power finally broke through on the 15-minute mark when the Poly forwards used their brute force to touch the ball down behind the posts. The first of two highly controversial moments did not lighten the mood when a disgusting high tackle went unpunished and a mass, 24-man brawl ensued between the two teams. Newcastle clearly felt that at least one of the Poly forwards should have walked for good; instead, only their number 2 was sent to the sin
However, this pressure was short-lived as the Northumbria No. 8 stole the ball from the back of a scrum and put the men in black 14-3 up on the half an hour mark. By this time it looked as through Newcastle heads had started to fall and half time could not have come any sooner. The usual pinpoint accuracy of Uni’s talismanic number 10 Rhodri Adamson simply was not firing on the night and his team was made to rue three missed first half penalties that would have seen it go in 15-14 up at half time. The second half did not start much better for the blue, red and white hooped shirts of Newcastle who conceded another try straight from the kick off. It’s a cliché that you don’t concede straight from a kick off, you don’t want to start on the back foot and therein lay the problem for Newcastle. Despite being run into the ground Piers Goodwill still flew into every challenge he could to try and inspire his team to try and turn the game around. Which is exactly what happened. Uni won a penalty just
over the gain line in the 50th minute which Adamson elected to kick to touch rather than take the 3 points. A highrisk action which proved highly rewarding. Newcastle drove the line out and a try, some hope, was added to the scoreboard bringing the score back to 19-10 on the 55th minute. As NSR commentators Calum Harris and Chris Young put it, the atmosphere turned electric and the game heated up. Newcastle could not seem to capitalise on the pressure created though and conceded a cheap penalty try for collapsing a scrum. It was simple to see why Northumbria have been touted as potential league winners for this year, they now had the brains as well as the brawn on their side and, quite simply put, it was frightening. Momentum is key in the game of rugby but handling and passing errors from Banks and his back row counterparts meant there was no way back into the
of the University team ran quicker than they had all match to let the helpless, writhing male on the floor know exactly what they thought of his shenanigans. Cue another 24-man brawl. In the words of Calum Harris, it was ‘the worst thing to ever happen in the history of the Clash of the Titans’. Freddie Caldwell, TCTV pundit, said: “Whilst the streaker who appeared from the Newcastle section contented himself with some mild twerking on the posts, the gentleman who subsequently appeared from the Northumbria area of the crowd seemed determined to go further. His tackle on a Newcastle player has since gone viral with over half a million views on YouTube, but whilst it is undoubtedly entertaining for the internet hordes it is a bit of a shame that it effected the game to such an extent. “I am hesitant to criticise the streaker himself for excelling in his chosen field but it is important that the officials deal
game for Newcastle. You would not be too far wrong in thinking that Newcastle did not once, other than the try, actually get near the Northumbria tryline, though they worked an opening in the 72nd minute with the score at 29-10. Thus began the streakergate scandal. Newcastle winger Dave Graham broke with the ball down the right hand side, evaded a challenge, and was looking likely to perform a Chris Ashton swan dive over the line in front of the Northumbria fans when a scantily-clad male with a pipe in his mouth performed an utterly risible attempt at a tackle. Four
with these incidents rather than letting them play out. On this occasion they had plenty of time to remove the offender and had they been able to overcome their squeamishness then the controversy could easily have been prevented. “That said it would be melodramatic to suggest that the result would have been different had the streaker been stopped, such was Northumbria’s dominance. By that point in the match the result was a forgone conclusion and the advent of the streakers livened the atmosphere considerably, as well as provoking much equally lively internet debate.”
“In the words of the NSR commentator, it was the worst thing to ever happen in the history of the Clash of The Titans”
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