www.thecourieronline.co.uk Tuesday 25 April 2016 Issue 1329 Free
FESTIVAL GUIDE p.24
The third annual Mind the Gap event took place in the Students’ Union on Saturday. The conference, organised by Newcastle students, aims to raise awareness of mental health and to start a discussion around its taboo status in modern society. Over 100 people attended the keynote speeches and events. The conference featured two keynote speakers in its nearly seven-hour programme of mental health related activities. Ged Flynn, the Chief Executive of the charity for prevention of youth suicide PAPYRUS and Bridget Hamilton, Newcastle alumni and founder of North-East based production company Verbal Remedy, discussed their own experience with mental health in both a personal and professional capacity. Both talks were well attended and included a Q&A afterwards. Ged Flynn discussed the work that PAPYRUS does towards preventing youth suicide. He pointed out that all of us should be on the lookout for telling signs that someone might be unwell and also advised everyone present to make a note of PAPYRUS’ hotline number. In an interview with The Courier af-
Est 1948
GAME OF TOON NUS CONFERENCE When the worlds of GOT and Your NUS delegates discuss
Mind the Gap tackles stigma By Antonia Velikova News Editor
The Independent Voice of Newcastle Students
Newcastle collide p.33
what went down p.13
Image: Lewis Bedford
terwards, Ged said: “I feel really privileged to be in Newcastle today, even more so because I used to live here. I’m now travelling the country, sharing a very simple message: You can save young lives. Friends, colleagues, students, lecturers, caretakers – you can make it a priority to save these lives. “Prevalence of suicide in this country among people between 10 and 34 is hugely worrying and that’s not said to scare, it’s just to make the point that this is real and we can do something about it.” Bridget Hamilton’s talk, delivered right after the lunch break, focused on the prominent issue of the mental issues in the millenial generation. “My talk is called Are Millenials Miserable or is it just me? So it’s just thinking about the sorts of things that typically make millenials miserable and enhances their mental health issues. So it’s anything from jobs, finance, housing, social media, all of that,” Bridget explained before her talk. “Also, what we can do about it and whether it’s good or bad to think of us as this homogenous group, whether or not it’s doing more harm than good. Hopefully it won’t be too depressing for everyone, it’ll just be a bit of fun.” continues on page 3
“This is real and we can do something about it”
Image: Luke Allison
NUSU bags Students’ Union of the Year award Newcastle wins University of the Year
By Antonia Velikova News Editor Newcastle University has been awarded several accolades at the Educate North Awards and Conference, winning the top prizes in University of the Year, Students’ Union of the Year, and the Employer Engagement Award for the Business School. Newcastle University Students’ Union’s Welfare and Equality Officer Luke Allison told The Courier: “I was honoured to be at the Educate North awards ceremony, where we won best
Students’ Union of the Year. I am glad that all the hard work the Union staff have put in over the last year has been acknowledged! I’m proud to have been able to work with them for the last year!” “’It really was so brilliant to be awarded Students’ Union of the Year,” Activities Officer Hannah Goring added. “Staff and students work tirelessly to make the Newcastle Experience the best it can be, and this award recognises what we have achieved as a Union.’” NUSU has also been highly commended for its access project, the
Business School best for employer engagement
NUSU Participation Bursaries. “We are honoured to receive this award,” Michelle Robson, the Widening Access Coordinator, told The Courier. “So far, the bursary scheme has enabled 512 first year students from disadvantaged backgrounds to access sports clubs and societies, meet likeminded people and gain those all important graduate skills.” She continued: “This award is recognition for our commitment to widening access to our opportunities for all students, regardless of their social background. We look forward to
developing the scheme further in the future and positively impacting many more students!” Educate North Awards and Conference, in association with The Telegraph Media Group, is a prestigious one-day conference and high profile awards event, which celebrates, recognises, and shares best practice and excellence in the education sector in the North. Professor Tony Stevenson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Newcastle University, said: “These awards reflect Newcastle University’s outstanding
quality in teaching and research along with our focus on high levels of student satisfaction. “This success follows the recent QS World University Rankings by Subject results which highlighted the University as being among the best for many of its popular courses.” The ceremony took place in the Hilton Hotel in Manchester. Rob McLoughlin, founder of Educate North, said: “The judges focus on very high levels of achievement and viewed Newcastle as ‘the complete university’.”
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Deputy Editor: Mark Sleightholm News Editors: Peter Georgiev, Antonia Velikova, Sinead Corkett-Beirne, Sophie Norris & Jack Parker courier.news@ncl.ac.uk | @TheCourier_News
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Lawyers de-stress with dogs Students fund sustainable recycling campaign
COMMENT
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2016’s eventful first quarter
CULTURE
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Blind Date:
Jonny met Jack
The 90s are taking over the fashion world Tattoos: are they art? Record Store Day: vinyl in the North East The lines are blurring between TV and film Veganism: the benefits for you and the world
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Campus lifts the lid on disability Pipe burst By Sinead Corkett-Beirne News Editor NUSU’s first Disability Awareness Week commenced on 18 April 2016 at Newcastle University which saw a range of events take place including interactive workshops, a sign language course, and disability sports such as goalball. There were also guest speeches from Paralympian Stephen Miller MBE and Adam Foster, the Chairman of the Newcastle Fibromylagia Asociation Support Group. Olivia Bucknall, NUSU’s Students with Disabilities Officer, helped to organise the week, the first of its kind at Newcastle. Bucknall said: “I’m so happy to have been able to help set up and organise this week. It’s great to see NUSU actively trying to raise awareness of disabilities, and it was fantastic to see that so many people came and got involved. Huge thank you to everyone that volunteered!” Various stalls were set up outside the Students’ Union designed to educate and raise the awareness of disabilities, whether they be physical or mental. In particular, The Association of Young People with ME (AYME) is a charity that works closely with Newcastle University to provide support to those aged up to 25 years old who suffer from the condition. Sheila Carruthers, a national support worker at AYME, said, “ME is a condition where sufferers have chronic fatigue. Newcastle University is the only university that provides support groups to students that suffer from ME. The level of service is excellent as part of the care they provide includes transfers between university and student accommodation, which may be catered according to their individual needs. Support can be one-on-one and the university may also make exam concessions.” Other charities that set up information stalls were Type 1 Kidz, which supports young people aged up to 25 years that live with Type 1 diabetes in the North East, and Newcastle Carers. Claire Briston, a young adult carer support assistant, said, “There is an enormous amount of pressure on students who have caring responsibilities. It is difficult to juggle an education with caring for another person, whether it is a family or a friend. A study conducted by the University of Nottingham found that carer students were four times more likely to drop out while 45 percent of carer students developed mental health issues themselves.” “We have a small fund which entitles a carer to spend the grant as they please. Often a carer forgets about their own individual needs so this money rewards them for their hard work”, Briston continued.
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Type 1 Kidz works alongside Newcastle University, NHS England, and other organisations. Chloe Brown, a volunteer, said, “We advocate the importance of Simply Telehealth which is a text message service that reminds a person to inject themselves with insulin or monitor their sugar levels. It may be difficult for students who have moved away from home, in particular, as they are surrounded by a drinking culture. They have to be extra cautionary as alcohol adjusts blood sugar levels.” “The charity also organises social activities whereby young people with diabetes can meet with others”, Brown continued. Type 1 Kidz was awarded second place in the Bright Ideas in Health Awards for service improvement. The Paralympian Stephen Miller MBE came to Newcastle University on Thursday 21 April to speak exclusively about his condition and his experience of growing up with cerebral palsy. Miller was awarded an MBE in January 2016 for his services in sport. He is a triple Paralympian Gold Medallist, specialising in club throw which is the equivalent to javelin. Miller has
competed in the Paralympic Games in Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, and London 2012 which he described as a once in a lifetime opportunity. Miller said, “The proudest moment of my career was in the Beijing 2008 games. I jumped from fourth position to second. I wasn’t prepared to go home without a medal.” Miller has won over twenty five medals competing internationally and is the World Record Holder from 1997 – 2008. Speaking about his life Miller said, “I was born in Newcastle and studied for a degree at Northumbria University who were very accommodating to my condition.” Adam Foster provided an informative speech about his pain management programmes for those suffering with Fibromyalgia, Ehlers-Danros syndrome, and ME. Foster said, “I was involved in an IED blast in Afghanistan in 2009 while I was serving in the army. Soon after I left as it was no longer right for me, however I developed spinal scar tissue which meant that I was constantly in chronic pain. After trying out various methods, I found that a way to cope with the pain which inspired me to help others in a similar situation.”
Stephen Miller MBE discussed life as a paralympian Image: Sinead Corkett-Beirne
Information stalls were set up on campus Image: Mark Sleightholm
Editor Victoria Armstrong Deputy Editor Mark Sleightholm News Editors Antonia Velikova, Peter Georgiev, Sophie Norris, Sinead Corkett-Beirne and Jack Oliver Parker Comment Editors Jack Dempsey, Hanson Jones and Daniel Robertson Culture Editors Ellie McLaren and Laura Staniforth Lifestyle Editors Lauren Exell, Ruth Loeffler, Katie Ackerley, Fiona Callow and Jack Oliver Parker Fashion Editors Sara Macauley, Ellen Dixon and Liz Rosling Beauty Editors Lucy Cochrane, Ellen Walker and Flo Davies Arts Editors Holly Suttle, Jade Holroyd and Emily Watton Film Editors Rhian Hunter, Simon Ramshaw and Emma Allsopp TV Editors Helen Daly, Hannah Bunting and Reece Hanson Music Editors Jamie Shepherd, Dominique Daly and Connor McDonnell Science Editors Iqra Choudhry, Louise Bingham and Anna Jastrzembska Gaming Editors Ollie Burton, James McCoull and Michael Hicks Sports Editors Calum Wilson, Alex Hendley and Lewis Bedford
cancels lectures By Emily Keliher
Dozens of lectures were cancelled last Monday after a water mains burst on campus. Owing to the effects of corrosion, the burst pipes affected the Daysh, Fine Art, Building Sciences, Claremont Tower and Claremont Bridge buildings, with all lectures held there postponed to a later date. Students were informed via email at 09.50am of the disruption, but were later assured with a follow-up email that the buildings were perfectly safe, and could still be entered for assignment submissions. The major burst affected the water supply to the buildings, meaning until they were repaired there was no heating, and no toilet or kitchen facilities. The university deemed the building thus “unsuitable for large-scale teaching” and apologized for the inconvenience, stating that they would “be in touch later in the day to let you know about teaching arrangements for tomorrow”. Lesley Braiden, Director of Student Services and Academic Registrar, commented: “Water was restored to the Fine Art and Building Science buildings later in the day on Monday 11th April and to the Tower, Bridge and Daysh buildings on Tuesday 12th April. During the repair works a leak was also found on the heating main supply, which serves the same buildings. This meant that it was necessary to shut down the heating for safety reasons whilst repairs were undertaken. This work was completed, and the heating was fully restored by Sunday 17th April”. Braiden also noted that “large classes affected by the problem were successfully re-arranged from Tuesday 12th April, and students affected were notified of the changes by email and through their personal timetable notifications”. Second Year Chemistry student Chloe Trayford stated: “I had an Erasmus meeting scheduled for that day in the Daysh building and got the email cancelling it the morning. It was all rescheduled effectively in the few days after it, so I’m not complaining. It meant I got the day off ”. A planned refurbishment of the duct and services is set to be commencing soon.
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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Monday 25 April 2016
“It’s good to see that our University has made an effort to show that they are positive about mental health”
This is the third annual Mind the Gap conference Images: Antonia Velikova continued from front page Bridget’s talk directly targeted crossgenerational prejudice towards millenials and she concluded with her “millenialfesto”, encouraging all of her peers to keep tackling mental health stigma. The conference kicked off with a brief introduction by Mind the Gap society President Alex Duncan briefly explaining the history of the conference. Alex has been involved with Mind the Gap since the very first event in 2013. “I really love how it’s grown over the past few years,” she later told The Courier. “We’ve really refined what we initially set out to do. It’s running a lot smoother than it has done in previous years, which is really great.” Andrew Lister, the society’s Treasurer, followed up with a sobering story about his own experiences with mental illness, urging everyone present to consider their own involvement in tackling prejudice and stigma. The day also involved numerous stalls with useful information from local charities and other University societies, many interactive activities and talks, as well as an all-day Quiet Room to provide guests with the opportunity to relax if they need to. The importance and impact of the annual Mind the Gap conference was outlined by all keynote speakers. “It’s great to be here in the Students’ Union, where so many young people are passionate about it and can learn about organisations like PAPYRUS to stop this terrifying surge of suicide,” Ged Flynn pointed out. “The emphasis is that we all need to take this much more seriously. It’s really encouraging to come on a Saturday morning, when people could
Keynote speaker Ged Flynn from PAPYRUS
be out doing football and rugby. Seeing young people sitting there, in great numbers. We care so much about this that we’ve given up our day to think about mental health and to save lives.” The additional talks included discussions on sport and mental health, the history of mental illness, eating disorders, mental health in ethnic minority communities, addiction and mental health and mental health in media. Interactive activities included guided meditation and muscle relaxation. Ad-
“The society is honestly like a family unit and to be a part of it is such a fantastic feeling” ditionally, a workshop called ‘The Lived Experience’ gave an opportunity to conference-goers to receive an array of perspectives from people, who have used mental health services. The workshop was led by LAUNCHPAD Team Leader Alistair Cameron. Mind the Gap has been working throughout the three years of its existence to counter all prejudice relating to mental health and their work has been defined as hugely important and lifechanging. “Based off the NUS’ data, the number of students that report having mental health issues is about 20% of all,” Alex Duncan explained. “The NHS believes that three quarters of people with mental health issues are not getting treat-
ment. That means that roughly 3,450 students at Newcastle University have a mental health condition that they’re not in treatment for. That’s a massive deal. “One of the things that we can do is talk about it. And we can make sure people know that you’re not lazy, you’re not useless, you’re not pathetic – that’s not why you’re feeling this way. You might just be ill. And if you are ill, you need to talk to someone, even if it’s just your friends and family, or to your doctor, or reach out to the University services. There are many people that can help you and it’s not your fault. That’s what we can do, as students.” First year Media, Communication and Cultural Studies student Zoe Godden led the talk on mental health in the media, along with Haaris Qureshi. She told The Courier about her experiences with her first Mind the Gap conference: “As a fresher, it’s so great to actually have a society that deals with such a taboo subject, especially as someone who deals with mental health difficulties myself. “The society is honestly like a family unit and to be a part of it is such a fantastic feeling. The commitment that’s gone into making this conference possible is outstanding and everyone gives 110%.” “I think mental health in university is really, really important,” Bridget Hamilton added. “I think it’s so great to have a conference and see all sorts of different people telling their professional and personal stories. It’s good to see that our University has made a really concerted effort to show that they are really positive about mental health.”
“University’s kind of your adopted family, so it’s really important to access as much support as you can”
–Bridget Hamilton
The Venue was bustling with different stalls
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Students raise voices in support of speech therapy By Emaline Burgess and Antonia Velikova
Students from the Speech and Language Sciences department got involved with a campaign, organised by the Newcastle University Speech Therapy Society between 13 and 15 April, looking to increase awareness of Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) in Newcastle University. The students ran an information stall outside the Students’ Union, encouraging students to use a range of communication methods (signing, writing, gesture) to request a free cake and enticing people to try a free drink with a twist, where thickener had been added to increase the fluid’s consistency, which is commonly used in the management of individuals with swallowing difficulties. The society also hosted a pub quiz and silent auction, attended by nearly 100 people for the chance to win a chocolate hamper. Items donated by local companies were auctioned throughout the night. The quiz raised £255 for the Stroke Association. The campaign is part of a national push called Raising Voice. Its aim is to demolish stereotypes of SLT and pro-
vide a more realistic view into speech and language therapists’ work. As a focal point of the Speech Therapy Society’s campaign, a public demonstration was organised on 16 April. Operating under the Giving Voice tagline - “Speech and language therapy transforms lives” - bystanders on Northumberland Street were engaged, first by a student, wandering around and trying to shout without making any sound, and afterwards by members of the society and campaign volunteers with facts, quotes, and statistics about SLT. The d e m o n s t r at i o n drew the attention of the public to speech and language therapy. 2.5 million people in the UK have speech, language and communication difficulties. SLTs work with people with a range of conditions ranging from dementia to Parkinson’s Disease and Cerebral Palsy to Stroke. Speech and language therapists work with individuals who stammer, who have no speech, who do not understand spoken words, who have difficulties swallowing, and who simply cannot communicate at all. The Speech Therapy Society commitee considers the campaign a huge and overwhelming success.
“2.5 million people in the UK have speech, language and communication difficulties”
The students concluded their campaign with a demonstration Image: Newcastle Speech Therapy Society
Newcastle ranks among top 5% of world’s unis in QS ranking By Louise Hall Newcastle University has been placed among the world’s top 5% of universities in this year’s QS World University rankings. The QS Top University rankings highlight the top universities in both overall global and subject rankings. In total 16 universities topped the leagues as first ranked in at least one of 42 subjects, more subjects than any other survey has ever considered. Newcastle University was no exception, as many courses were singled out among the world’s top. Many of the universities popular courses such as medicine, environmental sciences, agriculture, forestry, architecture and English language and literature. However Dentistry and Geography shone as the most well performing subjects at 37 and 42 within their categories. The QS base their rankings on a wide range of accolades, from academic
reputation to employer reputation and research impact. They also take into account the opinions of thousands of academics and employers. Not only did Newcastle also became one of only 14 universities in the world, and two in the UK, to achieve the five plus QS Stars. More than 150 universities in over 35 countries are signed up to the QS stars rating system. The specific student and research areas that received this prestigious tribute included; teaching, student employability, research, internationalisation, facilities, innovation, inclusiveness, life sciences and medicine. Vice Chancellor Professor Chris Brink commented; “The results of the QS World University Rankings by Subject is further evidence of our international strengths in teaching and research.” He also advised students to consider a wide variety of league tables to check whether it considers the topic they would be interested in.
“QS base their rankings on a wide range of accolades, from academic reputation to employer reputation”
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Monday 25 April 2016
Law society op-paw-sing stress with pup therapy By Calum Wilson Newcastle University’s Law School and Eldon Society recently joined forces for the second annual ‘Health and Wellbeing Week’ to raise awareness about stress and mental health amongst students. The week consisted of a number of different health and de-stressing sessions, as well as free herbal tea and fresh fruit in the Law School common room on offer to students, as they prepare for the run up to the exam period. The schedule began on Monday 11th April with stress-free smoothie making. The session, a new addition to the week, gave students the opportunity to take a break from their start-of-the-week blues. On Tuesday, the Eldon Society hired a professional masseuse to come in and give free massages to stressed out students and relieve any inner tensions. Wednesday afternoon saw the return of the most popular event of the week, ‘De-stress with Dogs’. Students were invited into the Law School common room to cuddle and pet two border collies and a westie. The Law School’s second annual ‘Mental Health Myth Busting’ event took place on the Thursday, with an informal panel for students to learn more about mental health. The week concluded on Friday 15th April with a yoga session. With attendance reportedly up from last year, Eldon Society President Chris Duddy was quick to herald the week a
Stressed out students relaxed with some pups Images: Haaris Qureshi
success: “last year was the first time it was run so we built on the success of last year.” All events were well attended, but Duddy admitted the dogs were by far the most popular attraction. “It was amazing the effect that they had. The Law School is usually very quiet around this time but the effect the dogs had on everybody was ridiculous. “I’ve never heard the common room so loud and full of laughter,” explains Duddy. “It sounds silly but you can see how beneficial it was.” The week was organised by Eldon Society Welfare and Equality Officer Abi Marshall, with support from the University’s Law School and Students’ Union. Marshall was keen to thank everyone for their help, including the Law School’s Welfare Officer, Dr. Christine Beuermann. “We’ve had so much support from the Students’ Union and the Law School so that’s definitely helped having that backing and also having Christine there.” Marshall continued, “In fact, the Law School promised to match whatever sponsorship we got for the Wellbeing Week, so it’s been a proper joint initiative, we couldn’t really ask for much more.” The Eldon Society recently announced its Officers for next year and Marshall is optimistic that the event will continue to grow year on year. “The hope is that this stuff will continue. I’ve had a meeting with next year’s Welfare Officer and she’s got some really good ideas so we’re hopeful that it will grow and get better next year.”
Library vibes rock Marjorie library rooms By Phoebe Ng Library staff came together last Thursday to brighten up a study evening with live music and spoken word performances. Library Vibes was attended by over 30 people with a lot of students castaway work they have been working on and got themselves relaxed in Marjorie Robinson Library Library Rooms. The event featured a diverse group of writers presenting an fascinating range of their own work. The line-up included John Challis, Kathleen Kenny, Catherine Warner and Dr. John Gardner. Steph, student of Physiology, and Linda, student of Biomedical Science, came to the Library Vibes today together for a break from their study. They are lovers of poetry and music respectively. The first hour of Library Vibes featured a group of writers, authors and poets performing their own pieces and talking about the inspiration behind them. In this special evening, the seating area on ground floor near the canteen has been temporarily transformed into a space full of inspirations. It kicked off with Dr. John Gardner reading his poetry works. It was followed by Kathleen Kenny reader her debut novel, the Satellites of Jupiter. She is the daughter of an Irish mother and an Irish-Geordie Father. Despite the title, the Satellites of Jupiter is not sci-fi, but a touching story
of an Irish/Geordie family living on Tyneside in the late fifties and early sixties. The first half finished with Dr John Gardner, a member of the library, presenting us with history of the North East and works of Ralph Tailors. Attendees’ experience has been topped up by live music performance in the second half. A member of the library and Durham Scratch Choir, Catherine is performing some self-composed pieces on flute. They were inspired by Joseph Lacasse’s painting ‘Rayonnement’. Local artist PEESH from Ashington has been performing on the guitar to finish off the event. Performing his own project Acoust iC a lendar, PEESH has included This is my England to pay tribute to the Queen’s birthday and a few other songs from the Album like Death of the 7” Single and Kids TV. “It was a different atmosphere than what I am used to. Here is more chilled out.” PEESH, lead guitarist and backing vocals at the band LoGOz, commented, “But it was very nice to have the opportunity to speak more in between songs.” The first ever live performance of AcoustiCalendar material was on Koast Radio on 3rd March 2015. The event was also streamed on Periscope. Library Vibes is a brain child of two members of library staff, Karina and David. Speaking about whether they would make Library Vibes a regular event, Karina said, “We’re not sure yet. We will see how it goes.”
“The event featured a diverse group of performers presenting a fascinating range of their work”
Image: Clemmy Scotswood
Music and spoken word brightened up the evening Image: Phoebe Ng
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Monday 25 April 2016
SOUP-fuelled campaign to Leave Newcastle Happy By Mark Sleightholm Deputy Editor
The second of RenewCastle’s SOUP meetings saw Leave Newcastle Happy win funding for their campaign to recycle students’ unwanted possessions at the end of the year. The campaign, run in conjunction with the British Heart Foundation and NUSU, aims to reduce the amount of waste left behind when students leave Newcastle. Students will be able to place any items they no longer want in bags that will be collected by the BHF, instead of just throwing them away. SOUP meetings, so called because different “ingredients” are put together in a metaphorical pot, are a way to fund local sustainable projects. Free food is also provided, not necessarily soup. RenewCastle, a society set up earlier in the year to support sustainability at Newcastle, held their second monthly SOUP meeting on 15 April. Four ideas for sustainable projects were presented, including Leave Newcastle Happy. Another suggestion was a scheme to up-cycle old furniture. Amy Fok, who presented this suggestion, pointed out that when Richardson Road is demolished there will be lots of spare furniture, which could be reused and donated to community centres. The other suggestions were for producing publicity for environmental projects. One was to better promote OLIO, a food-sharing app that has re-
cently launched in Newcastle. Users can display their leftover food on the app, in order to share it with people nearby who have a use for it. The final suggestion was to create flyers to encourage students to switch to environmentally-friendly energy companies. This was led by Rob Noyes, RenewCastle’s treasurer and NUSU’s Ethics and Environment Rep. He explained that most students chose their energy provider based on very little information, adding that in his house they went with Scottish Power because three housemates were Scottish. Noyes proposed leaflets that would inform students of the impact different energy companies have on the environment, to persuade them to chose companies whose energy comes from renewable sources. At a SOUP meeting, all the attendees are encouraged to donate money on a pay-as-you-feel basis, and then vote on the scheme they feel most deserves the money. The suggestion with the most votes is awarded all the money, and so Leave Newcastle Happy left the meeting £93 happier. Friday’s meeting saw a dramatic tiebreak situation, when both Leave Newcastle Happy and the scheme to better promote ethical energy companies to students got the same number of votes. Both campaign leaders spoke again to persuade the audience to vote for their schemes, with the energy leaflets losing out to Leave Newcastle Happy after the second round of voting.
“Students will be able to place any items they no longer want in bags that will be collected”
The SOUP meeting, with Anne Murray collecting the prize money for Leave Newcastle Happy Images: Camille Leininger
Revolutionary research on liver disease released By Imogen Scott-Chambers
Newcastle University scientists have developed a genetic blood test that diagnoses scarring in the liver. This breakthrough development is the first time an epigenetic signature in blood has been discovered, which helps diagnose the severity of fibrosis for people with Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). The team of Newcastle University scientists began by testing 26 patients with NAFLD to develop the blood analysis. The test detected chemical changes on tiny amounts of ‘cell-free’ DNA released into the blood when liver cells are injured. Changes in DNA methylation at genes such as PPAR, which control scar formation, are then used to arrange patients by fibrosis severity. This test opens up a world of possibilities for diagnosing liver problems early on which could lead to earlier diagnosis of liver problems for thousands of people. The research was completed as part of Newcastle University’s response to the opportunities presented by an ageing population and it was made possible
through Newcastle Academic Health Partners, which is a partnership between Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Northumberland NHS Foundation Trust, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust and Newcastle University. The research was conducted as part of Dr Timothy Hardy’s Phd Porject. He is a hepatology registrar within Newcastle Hospitals and a medical research clinical research training fellow at the University. To further cement these findings, the tests must be conducted again on a larger sample of patients to ensure their validity. But at the minute, the development has shown Newcastle University to be at the cutting edge of medical progression. Final year Biomedical Sciences student Ben Allison told The Courier “It’s a breakthrough that could eliminate the need for an invasive biopsy and detect liver scarring earlier even in ‘at risk’ asymptomatic patients’ Fourth year Newcastle University student Helen Daly told The Courier “I feel really proud to be part of a university that is constantly pushing boundaries and making life-changing discoveries”
“It’s a breakthrough that could eliminate the need for an invasive biopsy”
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Image: Don’t Panic/Phil Tragen
Divestment, part two Edinburgh
Campaigners who occupied the finance building of Edinburgh University at the beginning of April are facing disciplinary action from the University. The protestors, part of Edinburgh’s People and Planet society, were calling for a public commitment from the University to divest completely from fossil fuels. Edinburgh became one of the first UK universities to support divestment in May 2015, after a 10-day occupation of the finance building. This year’s occupation arose in protest at a lack of subsequent action on the part of the University, with the campaigners calling for complete divestment from fossil fuels. The group peacefully occupied the finance building from 4-8 April, with three protestors also chaining themselves to gates at the front of the University with bike locks on 7 April. In a statement on Facebook the organisers of the occupation state that the University is now investigating the actions of six members of the People and Planet society, which the protestors say contradicts the University’s policy of supporting peaceful protest.
So who did vote for Malia? National
Educate North awards 2016
Newcastle Work Experience - Ghost Writer (2 posts) Newcastle University | Newcastle upon Tyne | £600 Bursary Newcastle Work Experience (NWE) is a summer work experience programme providing current and graduating Newcastle University students the opportunity to undertake challenging, project-based placements within Newcastle University and North East businesses. This placement is for 5 weeks part time between June and September. NewRail is a Newcastle railway research centre based at Newcastle University. We do rail-related research and education. We been delivering RailNewcastle-branded events since 2012, including 3 editions of our summer school in freight and logistics and a rail-focused scientific conference. We will be running a next edition of our RailNewcastle activities in June 2016, this time with professors only. Our aim is to produce a ‘RailNewcastle talks proceedings’ and we are looking for 2 ghost writers who will be able to help. The job includes: - helping with delivery of RailNewcastle - attending all talks delivered from Monday 13th to Friday 17th June 2016 - taking notes and writing articles from lectures, based on the slides and talks - interviews/liaision with speakers afterwards, if needed - finalising articles into proceedings format Closing Date: 24/04/2016 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne Person Requirements: A background in English literature and/or Journalism would be advantageous. - excellent writing skills - excellent communication skills - punctuality, no issues with time management - ability to work with MS Office package - ability to work in a multicultural environment - excellent team worker Degree Discipline: A background in English literature and/or Journalism would be advantageous but not essential. How to Apply: Please apply online here http://forms. ncl.ac.uk/view.php?id=5828 stating Newcastle University as the employer and Ghost Writer as the placement title. Newcastle Work Experience - Multi-media Resources Placement Newcastle University | The placement can be carried out in a variety of spaces on the Newcastle Campus. The student will have regular meetings in Dr Dale’s office, can use the History, Classics and Archaeology Reading Room as workspace, but also use the library, computer clusters. | £1440 Bursary Newcastle Work Experience (NWE) is a summer work experience programme providing current and graduating Newcastle University students the opportunity to undertake challenging, project-based placements within Newcastle University and North East businesses. This placement is for 6 weeks full time between June and September. The successful candidate will work with Dr Dale to develop a platform(s) for archiving and presenting
multi-media digital resources that will help support students’ learning on two undergraduate history modules exploring aspects of Russian/Soviet history. The student will work with Dr Dale to ascertain the best way of presenting materials to students, and storing resources for the long-term. The resources will runalongside the existing module, and be designed to complement and enhance the reading and learning and teaching on the module. The bulk of the project will involve the student identifying, collating and storing a variety of multi-media resources, including but not restricted to video clips, audio-files, podcasts, and images. Finally, the student will help monitor reporting about “Memory Events” connected with Russian and Soviet history over the course of the work placement. Dr Dale will meet regularly with the candidate to monitor progress, and will offer some initial training and preliminary language training. Closing Date: 01/05/2016 Location: The placement can be carried out in a variety of spaces on the Newcastle Campus. The student will have regular meetings in Dr Dale’s office, can use the History, Classics and Archaeology Reading Room as workspace, but also use the library, computer clusters. Person Requirements: The idea candidate will be well-organised, able to manage their own work independently, and demonstrate good research skills. Students with a solid knowledge of Russian/Soviet history at undergraduate level, and who have previous knowledge and experience of Dr Dale’s Second Year Module – HIS2235 – The Soviet Experiment, 19171991 may have a particular advantage. The placement would also suit students comfortable with a range of computing resources and practices. This need not be at the level of an ability to code or programme, but an ability to use navigate YouTube, conduct extensive web-searchers, and use blogging packages like WordPress would be extremely helpful. Knowledge of Russia is not essential to this project, but students with some Russian or a willingness to at least learn the Cyrillic alphabet and some preliminary research terms would be an advantage. Degree Discipline: Specified Above How to Apply: Please apply online here http://forms. ncl.ac.uk/view.php?id=5828 stating Newcastle University as the employer and Multi-media Resources Placement as the placement title. Newcastle Work Experience-Sustainability Resource Assistant Newcastle University | Newcastle upon Tyne | £1200 Bursary Newcastle Work Experience (NWE) is a summer work experience programme providing current and graduating Newcastle University students the opportunity to undertake challenging, project-based placements within Newcastle University and North East businesses. This placement is for 5 weeks full time between June and September. The successful student would review and update the material currently posted on the Sustainability Resource guide hosted by the University library. This will include validating existing resources, adding new “hot topics” and sourcing information on these as
well as working with students, possibly as a focus group to assess their opinions on the site. At the moment the site is biased towards engineering due to competences on the previous students who worked on this. We want to redress this and add more societal aspects as well. Closing Date: 22/05/2016 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne Person Requirements: Student must have a keen interest in Sustainability and knowledge of key issues. Must be highly computer literate and be able to work with websites and enter data. Must be self motivated. Degree Discipline: Any degree discipline How to Apply: Please apply online here http://forms. ncl.ac.uk/view.php?id=5828 stating Newcastle University as the employer and Sustainability Resource Assistant as the placement title. School of Mathematics & Statistics Outreach Development Assistant Newcastle University | Newcastle upon Tyne | £1440 Bursary Newcastle Work Experience (NWE) is a summer work experience programme providing current and graduating Newcastle University students the opportunity to undertake challenging, project-based placements within Newcastle University and North East businesses. The School of Mathematics & Statistics is responsible for the teaching of all mathematics and statistics degrees at the University. We have active research collaborations with many groups worldwide and across the University. We also organise a range of events aimed at promoting the study of mathematics and statistics at school level in order to raise awareness of the subjects with school-age children. The aim of the project is to compile a useable database of contacts in local schools and colleges for use in the School of Mathematics and Statistics outreach programme. This will include contact information for the lead teacher for Mathematics in each school as well as the numbers of students in sixth form studying a Mathematics subject. The student will also be required to make contact with each school, by phone in the first instance and maybe face-to-face subsequently, to discuss our outreach programme with them. Additionally, the student will carry out a review of the outreach and promotional activities of other Higher Education establishments as well as those of other schools and faculties within the University. Finally, they will review the careers pages of other HE providers and create a presentation relating to Careers in Mathematics. This placement is for 6 weeks full time and it is intended that the placement will begin in June and run until the middle of July. Closing Date: 02/05/2016 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne Person Requirements: The student must have excellent skills in communication and data handling. Previous experience using Excel and PowerPoint would be advantageous and a valid UK Driving Licence is desirable. The student should be able to work independently and show creativity and initiative where appropriate. Degree Discipline: Penultimate or Final year student of a degree programme within the School of Mathematics & Statistics How to Apply: Please apply using this application form: http://forms.ncl.ac.uk/view.php?id=5828 and stating Outreach Development Assistant as the placement title.
The National Union of Students is facing a backlash across the country after the election of Malia Bouattia as president during the annual NUS Conference in Brighton. Bouattia defeated the incumbent president, Megan Dunn, by 372 votes to 328 to become the first black women to lead the NUS, but has been accused of anti-semitism. Before her election Jewish societies across Britain issued an open letter to Bouattia, asking her to explain comments she made in 2011 referring to the University of Birmingham as a “Zionist outpost”. Campaigns calling for referendums on disaffiliating from the NUS have started at several universities, including Cambridge, Birmingham, York, Aberystwyth and even here at Newcastle. Oxford’s union had declared before the election that they would not be supporting Bouattia. Most UK university unions are currently part of the NUS, although several, including Southampton, Imperial College and Glasgow, are no longer affiliated.
PhDrugs Oxford
A woman who pretended to be studying a PhD at Oxford University has been jailed after conning her parents out of £250,000. Nicola Boardman claimed she needed the money to fund her studies, which also included trips abroad. However, she instead spent the money on a holidays and drugs. Boardman also got married without inviting any members of her family, and even faked a stillbirth. She had previously undertaken a degree in social sciences at Plymouth University, and told her parents that she had been accepted to complete a PhD at Oxford. They lent her the money based on the expectation that she would make millions once her work was completed, even selling their house to fund her studies. She faked emails and letters from her supposed lecturers, maintaining the lie for four years. She was jailed for 40 months.
Student paper #solidarity Cambridge
While not every university is blessed with a weekly, award-winning student newspaper that covers such a diverse range of subjects as The Courier, the majority manage to produce some form of student publication. The Cambridge Student, one of two student papers serving the University, is facing the prospect of following The Independent into an online-only world, due to budget cuts by Cambridge University Students’ Union. The editorial staff were informed by email on 15 April that funding for the paper would be drastically cut next year, forcing an end to printed editions. The paper’s staff have protested this decision, stating that they were not consulted and were not given an opportunity to cut costs. The paper, founded in 1999, printed what could be its final physical edition on 21 April, including a plain black front cover with the headline, “The end of our paper?” and a two-page spread featuring old front pages and messages of support from former contributors to the paper. By Mark Sleightholm
The Courier
.9
Monday 25 April 2016
Comment thecourieronline.co.uk/comment
Comment Editors: Dan Robertson, Hanson Jones & Jack Dempsey courier.comment@ncl.ac.uk | @Courier_Comment
Mossack Fonseca’s secrets out in the open With exposure of the Panama Papers falling into media limelight, our writers share their opinions on the recent tax avoidances
MAX GEORGE
T
he inevitable populist clamour for ‘real change’ that comes whenever there is a supposed watershed moment should be treated with caution. The ‘Panama Papers’ were certainly elucidatory, albeit not wholly surprising, but we ought to hesitate before expecting, or even demanding, wholesale reform. The reason for such hesitancy is that, in truth, we don’t know what is it that we want, short of the airy notion of ‘an end to tax evasion’. That an end to tax evasion is desirable is self-evident; if governments were able to flick a switch and recover
“Aggressive corruption that proceeds with impunity is a real geopolitical risk”
the billions supposedly evaded, they would. Despite the rhetoric of austerity, politicians of all colours love nothing more than the ability to spend. The problem, then, is that tax evasion (and avoidance particularly) cannot be stopped just by passing a new law. Tax avoidance is legal; the loopholes that exist within tax codes are there for specific purposes – to help a certain industry, for instance. The use of a tax-free government ISA is, technically, tax avoidance. Wailing about the unjustness of the ‘system’ does not help reform the complex tax laws which make avoidance possible. We have to accept that, as part of the price paid for living under the rule of law, people will
LEWIS ELLIOTT
R
GEORGE
ecently a leak of more than 11.5 million individual files, from the world’s fourth biggest offshore law firm, Mossack Fonseca, was released from an anonymous source. Handed to the Süddeutsche Zeitung, the release highlights the numerous ways in which the world’s super rich can exploit secretive offshore tax regimes, and it involves no less than 12 national leaders. Of course the extent to which each person was involved in such dubious tax circumstances varies considerably. One notable example, involving an amount of at least $2bn according to The Guardian, leads directly back to Vladimir Putin himself – some of that money even finding its way to his own daughter’s wedding venue. The scandal also included the now former Primer Minister of Iceland, Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson, who, although small fry in comparison with the Russian President, has been effectively forced out of office in light of his involvement in the revelations.
“Perhaps it is inevitable in a world that is increasingly market driven but this in no way justifies this corruption” Such shady tax dealings are, of course, not limited to foreign countries. Here in the UK it was revealed that Prime Minister David Cameron’s late father, Ian, had long held an offshore investment fund which never paid tax the UK, despite it being financially beneficial to the Cameron family. I am personally not at all surprised by the outrage this leak has brought to bear. How can it be just that the super rich can hide their money in far away tax ha-
make use of the law to their advantage. The tax authorities cannot operate based on what is ‘morally’ right. Laws apply equally to everyone, and tax laws cannot be written only to apply to certain individuals. A law designed for sensible purposes may be utilised by someone to lower
“Tax avoidance is legal; the loopholes that exist within tax-codes are there for specific purposes”
their tax bill – all within the letter of the law. The tragedy is that as public debate has descended to infantile levels – demanding MPs publish their tax returns – the most pernicious problems are being ignored. David Cameron’s family is pilloried for having invested in a trust which was domiciled in Panama (despite the PM having paid UK taxes on his profits), yet the silence of the media and most politicians is deafening over the billions expropriated by international criminals and dictators which are being laundered in places like Panama. Aggressive corruption that proceeds with impunity is a real geopolitical risk which destabilises states and inhibits their economic development. Tax evasion is illegal and must be pursued by tax authorities. This is where the energy of governments should be directed, rather than the moral grandstanding that runs a serious risk of appearing to simply be anti-wealth. If offered the chance to reduce their tax bill through legal means, I wonder how many people would do so. Very many, I guess. vens (often UK territories) without consequence, while you or I would be hounded by HMRC and its army of bailiffs if we didn’t cough up what we owed? Perhaps it is inevitable in a world that is increasingly market driven but this in no way justifies this corruption. It would benefit everyone if we all paid our fair share of tax, right from the lowest-paid all the way up to the multi-billionaire. Public services would benefit, and more money could be ploughed into things like climate change, which will inevitably affect all of us in one way or another, rich or poor. It hinges on whether we can get people into office who will make this change. A Panamanian recently told me that she felt her country was now just a conduit for rich people’s financial dealings – and this is what must change. Perhaps this revelation will stir more people to take an interest, and maybe – just maybe – we’ll see some meaningful change in the future.
TOM SHRIMPLIN
T
ax havens have become the attention of the media recently following the Panama Papers, a leak of nearly 12 million files from the database of the Panama-based business Mossack Fonesca, the fourth largest offshore law firm in the world. Detailing who is using their worldwide operations in a number of a tax havens, from Switzerland to the Bahamas and the Seychelles, this leak has given us a peek into how the rich can avoid paying taxes. When the news of this came out I wasn’t too surprised. The fact that the most affluent and powerful people in the world are using a number of intricate, shady strategies in order to retain and hide this wealth such as through the use of tax havens should not be too much of a shock. It is just another example of plain old greed and if there are ways to keep hold of their money, then of course some people will be willing to do so. Perhaps it is the magnitude of this leak, or the fact that the people we should trust like are complicit in this morally wrong strategy, but now this is no longer an elephant in the room, with millions of documents now in the open. Already it has claimed at least one victim so far, with the now former Icelandic Prime Minister Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson resigning following the revelations relating to his wife’s financial affairs, but also has turned the spotlight onto our very own Prime Minister David Cameron. While originally thought that this was just his late father’s company, we later found out
that prior to becoming Prime Minister, Cameron actually had a stake in this offshore firm. The fact that the Government expects us to pay our taxes, when the leader of our country tried avoiding this, is detestable at worst and stupidly hypocritical at best. Yes, David Cameron has not broken the law and has indeed introduced a few rules relating to tax avoidance, but he has broken many people’s trust in him by contradicting himself, with demonstrations now appearing in London calling on him to follow his Icelandic counterpart’s suit.
“The only way to recover from this is with more extensive regulation of these tax havens, ensuring that this morally wrong practice is made more difficult” The only way he can recover from this is with stricter, more extensive regulation of these tax havens, ensuring that this morally wrong practice of tax avoidance is made more difficult and transparent, if not illegal. It’s not like those involved in this practice are going to just give us the money out of the kindness of their hearts after being found out. There needs to be real change.
10.comment
Monday 25 April 2016
The Courier
A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS: RITWIK SARKAR & PATRICK KACZMARCZYK REVIEW 2016 SO FAR The first quarter of any business is always crucial. The results either set the foundation for the coming fiscal annum, or show how far an enterprise has stumbled at the starting line. In the year 2016, it is worth seeing where our own world has come in this first quarter. If things were looking bleak last year, 2016 shows us how little mankind has progressed, and how actions within the first four months might have set a dangerous precedent for what’s to follow.
SAUDI ARABIA’S MASS EXECUTIONS (02.01.16)
CHINESE STOCK EXCHANGE CRASH (04.01.16)
Saudi Arabia, the strongest western ally in the Middle East, has proven right in the beginning of the year how its Wahhabi governmental system is, in many facets, not that different from ISIS’ ideology. On 2 January, the state executed 47 prisoners, including the Shi’ite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, who was fighting for equality with Sunnis. Most of the other executed people were accused of being al Qaeda members, an organisation that ironically received most its funds from the Saudi government itself. However, not only in Saudi Arabia, but in many parts of the world, it appears to be a contemporary fashion of calling opposing forces “terrorists”. Petro Poroshenko and Arseniy Yatsenyuk use the term in the context of Eastern Ukraine. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan does not stop accusing everyone with a different opinion to himself of being in support of terrorism, and Bashar al-Assad justifies his actions with Vladimir Putin by claiming to fight only terrorists. It’s hard to see those that died in the hospitals and schools in Aleppo during the mid-February airstrikes as terrorists. Even though it is widely accepted that terrorism needs to be fought, most conflicts have become way too complex and intertwined, so that in most instances it is not possible to say anymore, who the “good” and who the “bad” terrorists are.
The beginning of 2016 could have hardly been accompanied by any more political and economic turbulences. On 4 January, the stock exchanges opened up for their first trading day. In China, the markets crashed due to an unexpected economic downturn in December 2015 as well as the tensions in the Middle East. Once the Chinese Stock Exchange Index CSI 300 lost 7% of its value, a new protectionist mechanism implemented by the Chinese government applied, so that trade was suspended for the rest of the day. The crash on the Shanghai stock exchange sent out shock waves to other financial markets around the world. Investors obviously cannot acknowledge the fact that 25 years of double-digit growth rates would have to come to an end at some point. Sustainability and foresight are obviously not qualities that our system encourages. For those who do not understand the functioning of financial markets, there is a simple analogy to illustrate the issue: if you visit a dentist once a year, you will usually have the un-
FEBRUARY 2016
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
CRUDE OIL PRICES FALL (11.02.16)
SUPERTUESDAY INTHE UNITED STATES (01.03.16)
In a globalised world, there are hardly any local or regional events that do not affect other markets as well. The struggling Chinese economy in particular has lowered world demand for oil and other raw materials, thus sending commodity prices down the hill. Lower demand in combination with an oversupply let the oil price fall sharply throughout 2015, and marked a new historical low on the 11 February 2016. Even though the price is currently slightly higher, at around $40 per barrel, there are currently no reasons that would indicate a further price increase. The OPEC states keep on pumping more oil into an oversupplied market, the US is able to cover their own demand though fracking, the demand in the emerging economies is more likely to fall than to increase, and the world is investing more and more into renewable energies, thus moving away from a dependence on oil. Most consumers are happy as the petrol to filling up their cars is the cheapest it has been in a long time. However, there are severe downsides to that price fall. First of all, many economies existentially depend on the export of oil. Azerbaijan was the first country that needed to receive financial support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, and others are likely to follow. Venezuela’s income from exports for example, depends 96% on oil. The country’s economy has collapsed, and inflation has sky rocketed to an incredible 720%. Other emerging economies such as Brazil and Russia are also struggling with recessions and desperately need a higher oil price to pay their bills. The emerging markets were the main reason that the world economy grew after 2008, and the economic downturn in these regions will also affect the developed world. The second problem that comes with the low oil price is the danger of exacerbating conflicts in the Middle East. A direct military confrontation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, for instance, would increase the price drastically, and there are some who believe that this was the actual intention behind the Saudi Arabian mass execution on 2 January. Other conflicts in the region, such as the war in Yemen, are also causes for concern. A third problem that arises is the low inflation in the Eurozone. The European Central Bank (ECB) desperately wants to increase the inflation to 2%, which it considers critical for economic growth. The low oil price, however, drives down inflation to 0.02%, dangerously close to deflation (a spiral of price decreases). In order to fight this low inflation, the ECB has announced it will be floating the markets with €80 billion each month, in what appears to be a desperate measure. So the next time you see someone cheering about their petrol bill, do not forget about the other consequences of low oil prices.
Oscar Wilde once said, “America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence, without civilisation in between”. Looking at the current presidential entertainment campaigns (I struggle to use the world election), it’s hard to argue against this view. On this Super Tuesday, it became evident that Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are the most likely candidates for November 2016. Trump in particular receives more media attention that he actually deserves. It is surprising how much bashing Donald Trump gets, whilst other candidates are being presented as better options for becoming the next American president. Trump is without a doubt a racist and ignorant person that promotes hate and violence. However, what about the other candidates? Ted Cruz is in many regards no less radical than Trump. He also wants to keep Muslims out of the country, wants to build a wall around Mexico (and let Trump pay for it), is against all forms of migration, against homosexuals, and prefers radical solutions in his foreign policy, as often shown in his function in the US Senate. An example of his solution to destroy ISIS: “We will carpet bomb ISIS into oblivion. I don’t know if sand can glow in the dark, but we’re going to find out.” The main difference between Trump and his Republican counterpart is that Trump is perceived as a joke, whilst Cruz appears to be a legitimate politician, which is a dangerous misconception. All in all, idiocracy is nowadays obviously testing its limits in the US. The Republicans’ direct competitor over the presidential candidacy will most likely be Hillary Clinton. The top five sponsors for her campaign are Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, DLA Piper, JPMorgan Chase & Co, and Morgan Stanley – how can one expect her to promote the necessary regulations of financial markets? Also foreign policy decisions she supported turned out to be disastrous, such as the invasion in Iraq and the intervention in Libya. These policies led to the destabili-
comfortable experience and a little bit of pain once in regular intervals. If you decide not to go to the dentist for 25 years, you might not perceive any problems over that time. However, once you feel a little bit of pain and decide to finally see a dentist, a very painful session after such a long time will be hard to avoid. How is the outlook for China’s economy? Much will depend on how the country will manage the transition from an exporting economy to a service and consumption society. However, there are several significant challenges to master. Firstly, governmental regulations in the communist country severely hamper innovation and free thought, even though high potential in the Chinese population exists. Secondly, the current flow of investments indicates that China is not entirely willing to let go of its old, unsustainable, unprofitable, nationalised industries due to the social tensions that would result from this. Finally, China still faces problems of corruption and legal uncertainty that can lead to events such as the explosion of the chemical factory in Tianjin in August 2015. It’s because of these massive obstacles that many financial experts predict a harsh landing, despite the recently endorsed five-year plan which entails a growth rate of 6.5%. Interestingly, 2016 is the year of the monkey in the Chinese calendar – a symbol which predicts strong turbulences and challenges.
MARCH sation of the Middle East and the chaos that has now even brought ISIS just a few hundred kilometres away from the Italian and therefore European border. Her position regarding a necessary diplomatic cooperation with other powers such as Russia is often not that different from the US Neocons. I think it is highly questionable that she will have the right answers for the urgent questions of our time. On the other hand, who are we as Europeans to judge and laugh about what is currently happening on the other side of the Atlantic? The same radicalism and populism is making its way throughout our continent. In Poland a right wing party is already in power. In France, Marine Le Pen and her Front National could win the next election. In Germany, the AFD has just entered three federal parliaments with double digit votes. In the UK, Ukip is becoming increasingly popular. In Greece, the Golden Dawn remains a threat to democracy, especially if the situation in this poor country does not improve. Considering this political development, Europe should not point the finger at the US, but instead, look first at what is happening around us. Above all, it is important in this situation to differentiate between individuals and not to lose faith in humanity. The US does not only consist of Trumps or Cruzs, any more than all Polish or French people support right-wing movements. This development in the western world is first of all a lack of education that fosters a susceptibility to populism. Secondly, it reveals the high inequality that our governments contributed to with their politics for the elites. Getting to a culture of solidarity that respects diversity and tolerance may appear illusionary at the moment. However, before we give up believing entirely we should consider the powerful words by Nelson Mandela from his book “Long Walk to Freedom” that he wrote in prison. After decades of humiliation, suppression and intimidation, he said: “No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
TO BE CONTINUED...
The Courier
comment.11
Monday 25 April 2016
THE MONARCHY FINALLY HAS TO GO
THE MONARCHY IS A PART OUR HERITAGE
There is no harm in having the monarchy when they’re truly adored
The royal family has nothing to offer us and is a drain on our economy BENJAMIN ECKFORD
ISOBEL THOMPSON
A
s the Queen celebrated her 90th birthday last Thursday, I say it’s time for this country, which I love with all my heart, to become a republic. There are many genuine criticisms of the monarchy. It goes against democracy and meritocracy, the royals regularly embarrass us in front of the world with their selfish antics, and it’s actually cruel on the royals as people, thrusting them into the limelight whether they wish it or not. The main argument in favour of keeping it is that it’s so good for tourism. Right? Wrong. As the Independent correctly reported on 8 September last year, tourism is worth roughly £1.155 billion to the UK economy each year. The monarchists then argue that this means that the monarchy contributes £1.155 billion to the UK economy each year, meaning that it’s worth putting up with the lack of democracy or accountability. But this has been fatally exposed as the self-serving lie that it is.
“When Elizabeth dies we should be given a referendum on the future of the monarchy”
Firstly, most importantly, you cannot put a price on democracy. I’m sure it would be cheaper not to bother holding elections every five years, and just be ruled by a dictator. That doesn’t mean we should do it. Secondly, the British Tourism Authority (Visit Britain) has done its research and announced that if we abolished the monarchy, the tourism industry would not be negatively affected. France is a republic, and they make more money from tourism than we do. This shows that it is not about political institutions, but is about amazing architecture and artwork that rightfully belongs to the nation, not one family. Finally, the monarchy costs this country a fortune to keep.
not even include revenue generated from specific major events which do not occur annually, for example the royal wedding, the Queen’s Jubilee and so on. The company Brand Finance estimates an even greater contribution standing at ap-
“We have managed to preserve part of a culture and history with the help of this family”
by Daniel Robertson
Every year the royal family receives the royal grant from the Treasury. This year it was £344 million, which was a rise compared with last year. Yes, in this age of austerity, the royals were actually given a pay rise. And who supplies the Treasury with its money? We do, the taxpayer. We fund their palaces, Princess Beatrice’s eleven holidays in six months, and all the other trappings of their lives of luxury, which they have never worked a day in their lives to earn. There is literally nothing positive about the monarchy. It is a drain on our nation and denies our people their true democratic rights. At the very minimum, when Elizabeth dies we should be given a referendum on the future of the monarchy. Abolishing it would be the expedient, patriotic thing to do.
W
hile many on our little island may be disenchanted with the royal family, the rest of the world certainly is not. Although the Guardian and the Independent recently suggested that the royals contribute little to the tourism industry, the British Tourism Authority on the other hand estimate that the family attract approximately £500 million in tourism revenue every year: figure which dramatically dwarfs the Guardian’s £9.3 million estimate. The Guardian’s figures only take into account revenue generated from Buckingham Palace ticket sales, ignoring other royal venues across the UK such as Balmoral and Windsor. The staggering £500 million the British Tourism Authority estimates does
proximately £1.155 billion! So do the royal family barely contribute to the UK economy? I disagree and the figures certainly suggest they contribute more than any other British family for sure. I must confess I’m a bit of royalist, I feel a strong sense of pride that we have managed to preserve part of a culture and history with the help of this family. Admittedly they get the better end of the stick with their big houses and helicopter, but at least there is no paparazzi pervert lingering in the bushes trying a snap of me topless. While I acknowledge they’re accused of be-
“They’re accused of being outdated, when is history not?” ing outdated, when is history not? If any of you remember the news around the Will and Kate’s wedding you might remember the huge amount of tourists from all over camping out and lining London’s streets, hoping for glimpse of a royal. The world is not quite done with the British royal family and I for one never will be.
Government gags its academic opponents
Recent criticisms of the government’s upcoming law state it will stifle future academia THOMAS MONTAGUE
O
n 1st May, a new law will come into force thatwill serve as a means to prevent publicly funded academics from conducting research which will criticise government policy. This new law, originally reported on in The Observer in February will effectively be a gagging order on thousands of academics carrying out vital research, large quantities of which could have been used in order to improve government policy. The law was originally designed so as to stop Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) from lobbying the government using public funds. However, senior scientists and other researchers have complained that a side effect of this law will be that researchers funded by the Government will no longer be able to use the results of their research to criticise government policies. To put this into perspective, out of the 163 universities in the United Kingdom, only 5 do not receive some level of government funding in order to support their research. This means that 158 universities and thousands of researchers are at risk of being muzzled by this illiberal gagging order against government criticism. This is a major problem because one of the major aims of research by publicly funded universities is to help produce better government policy. Without this research, policymakers will be less well informed and policy will be of a lower quality. As Fiona Fox, head of the Science Media Centre asks, “politicians don’t have to agree with scientists, but
does anyone believe we will make better decisions without evidence?” There are a number of important policy areas that will be affected by this decision. These include, for example, housing. The new law will prevent researchers from criticising new housing regulations no matter how many potential problems they may have. A particularly worrying outcome of this law is that scientists could be prevented from criticising the government’s climate change policy, this in a government with a number of climate change deniers. There are countless other research areas which are at risk of being muzzled by this new law, which will undoubtedly result in poorer quality policy, thus leading to a country less able to compete economically, less able to provide for its people and less able, even, to defend itself - coming
“We want our government and academics to work together to formulate effective policy” from a Government claiming that Jeremy Corbyn is a national security risk. So how will this affect Newcastle University, I hear you ask? As a publicly funded university, any of Newcastle’s research areas are at risk of being muzzled by this new policy. For example, our ground-breaking genetics research could be at risk of being gagged if the government decides it is against gene modification. Furthermore, our excellent research into clean energy is also at risk
as the government increasingly turns its back on renewable energy sources and instead focuses on shale gas. This new law is a massive risk to all of our future government policies as, without the support and criticisms of top universities across the UK and their ground breaking research, lawmakers will be unable to formulate good policies. As a result this will be putting our social and economic wellbeing in great danger. On top of this, the illiberal nature of preventing academics from carrying out research because it disagrees with government policy smacks of Putin’s Russia and its political system bordering on authoritarianism. Do we really want to be a country that gags academics because their research criticises the powers that be, or do we want our government and our academics to work together in order to formulate effective policy?
The Courier
feature.13
Monday 25 April 2016
Insights into the conference Matt Wilson-Boddy I went to the National Union of Students conference doubting what could realistically be achieved by a union that has consistently failed to defend its members. I had seen an NUS running and losing “campaigns” to fight against attacks on students, such as grant cuts, fee rises and a reduction in quality of life. Campaigns based around hashtags and asking MPs really nicely to stop savage attacks to student welfare, instead of making use of the real power that the student movement has — strikes, protest and solidarity. I had seen the NUS wasting its time and money on irrelevant policies which bore no resemblance to the real opinions and attitudes of its members. I had seen the NUS fail us, those it claims to represent, over and over again, and I had no faith in the NUS leadership to turn it around. I was right. I was elected as delegate on a platform that was severely critical of the NUS from a left-wing perspective. I argued the NUS had failed us, it did not represent us, and that we needed a strong, fighting union. As a committed socialist I find it difficult to be critical of unions, I believe that only if workers and students stand together can we make progress towards a better future for us all. However, having attended the conference, having done my best to represent the students that elected me, I can no longer say I see any course of action to reform the disastrous NUS, and instead advocate that Newcastle University Students Union disaffiliate entirely. Leading up to the conference I was already growing disheartened by the attitudes of candidates for NUS leadership. The pandering began early. Weeks in advance I was inundated with Facebook messages and friend requests, each of them begging for my vote, to represent the student body in one way or another. There was little talk of reform, very few seemed to acknowledge the fundamental failings of the NUS’ democratic process or its reputation. Instead, what I saw on social media were selective and powerful cliques among candidates and current leadership figures, scrambling to praise and endorse each other, brushing off criticism of the NUS or their campaigns as racism, sexism or just right-wing lunacy. Meanwhile it appeared many of them cared little for the position itself or their own policies — and who can blame them when the NUS allows them to live in Neverland, where student leadership can be so many years older than the average student, and almost every president from 1969 to the present has been catapulted into a cushy Labour party job. The conference began with a video on appropriate behaviour (luckily I’d already brushed up on the leaflet provided beforehand, which felt the need to remind grown men and women to pack a toothbrush and a change of clothes), delegates were asked to keep their appreciation to an “inclusive level”, this meant no cheering, whooping and whistling — a rule which we were reminded of no more than six times
during the course of the day by staff. A full hour of self-congratulatory speeches followed before the motions began. Things began positively, several motions passed demanding more, that the NUS step up and do its job: defending student interests. My hopes were soon dashed when I was reminded of who would be implementing these changes: the careerist, out-of-touch student politicians who’d been popping up all over my Facebook feed. The series of speeches by candidates all seemed painfully false, and I left the conference hall unconvinced that any of those issues would ever be addressed. These feelings grew as I witnessed the debates surrounding subsequent motions. Instead of using NUS resources to mobilise against the biggest fee-rise in British history, conference-goers voted to use them to campaign to see “e-sports” (competitive videogames) recognised as actual sports, and provided facilities accordingly. Instead of acknowledging without question one of the largest genocides in human history via Holocaust Memorial Day, delegates chose to applaud speakers who claimed it wouldn’t be fair to other genocides to do so, despite the fact that the HMD website itself states that the day is committed to honouring the Holocaust among many other tragic mass-killings. Instead of acknowledging that roughly 20% of their members admit to using legal highs, with a further third of members having taken illegal drugs, the “progressive” NUS made a ridiculous decision: lobbying to criminalise its own members through the Misuse of Drugs Act, a law famously criticised for being used to target ethnic minorities and the poor. The final motion worthy of note was the One-Member-One-Vote policy, which was swiftly voted down, and would’ve allowed any member of the NUS across the country to vote in leadership elections. This would have done away with the idea that just six delegates from Newcastle University could vote for the 24,000 students who make up the student body. It was doubtful that the cliques within the NUS would’ve allowed it to pass and end the stranglehold they have held on leadership elections for years, but I believe it was the last hope for the organisation to save its credibility as the “voice of seven million students”. In the wake of the conference, a growing dissatisfaction with the NUS has spread across campuses around the UK, and I would like to add my voice to that dissatisfaction. Proponents of the union are quick to label those who denounce it as racist, Islamophobic and sexist — painting the calls for disaffiliation as backlash at the election of the first black, Muslim, female president. This simplistic view disguises the real problems with the NUS, my argument stems from a disagreement with the way the organisation is run, the damage it does to the reputation of students and its complete and utter lack of real action on behalf of the majority of members. It’s time Newcastle had its own referendum, rightfully giving students the choice of whether to remain within a union with such little regard for them.
Cynthia Adiele Generally speaking, the NUS conference was quite good - although it could definitely have been better. For me the highlights were obviously the election of the first black female president of the NUS (after 94 years) — it’s fair to say we made history! We saw so many women of different races and background standing up and getting involved in leadership. In addition are the progresses made so far with the fights against the Governments education reforms and cuts, campaigns for free education for everyone, fights against racism and anti-semitism, social media bullying etc. So many motions were put forward, both important and arguably unnecessary ones. The process of voting for motions and amendments was something I personally was not pleased with. I find it really disappointing that the NUS still uses the manual process whereby one votes by raising his/her hands (with some green paper) and the chair of the council says a motion is passed based on his view of how many hands were raised; and God forbid it’s unclear to him/her, the delegates would have to endure an excruciating 20-30 minutes of holding their hands up high while someone comes to count everyone voting one after the other. (We dare not put down our hands until this process has been concluded). Here in NUSU we use clickers, not only is it very much efficient and fast, but way much more reliable than manual counting done by people. I also felt that the infusion of politics and political party banter into the conference was too much and not appropriate. The major reason being if the NUS supposedly is to represent and up-
NUS’s President-elect, Malia Bouattia, the NUS’s first ever black female President Images: NUS YouTube hold the views and welfare of millions of students across the UK, how does it seek to achieve this without a bias? It would have been more appropriate if the council and these leaders kept their personal political interest and beliefs at home and tackle the affairs of diverse students without sentiments. I was also not pleased with their time management as most of the motions were shifted to the NEC, how do we ensure the motions delegated to the NEC will be reviewed in an unbiased manner, considering how they’re politically involved? More so I felt a democratic process would be a better reflection of the level of importance students (through elected delegates) attach to these issues. Not forgetting some of these NEC members have been out of university for over a year now, and hence could be out of touch with things important to students. There has been concerns on whether the NUS is really efficiently representing the interest and welfare of its students. To be honest, after attending the conference one cannot help but think about this, however I feel entirely pulling out of the Union might not be the best solution at the moment. I believe first ensuring a better accountabil-
“I felt a democratic process would be a better reflection of the importance of these issues”
Dominic Fearon This year the NUS chose to host their national conference in beautiful and sunny Brighton. The conference is the “largest student gathering in Europe” and it was interesting to see students coming from all over the UK with a wide range of political ideals who were all given their chance to speak. The democratic procedures within NUS are quite confusing for a first time delegate, but you catch up after a couple of motions. Their elections are strange as only the 1,000 delegates in the room get to vote for officers to represent all seven million students. This is the equivalent of Newcastle University Students’ Union Council electing our officers. This gives the officers a weak mandate and a motion by York University to make the elections national and more representative was voted down. Although several motions passed were beneficial to students, many of them were not. The NUS has been criticised for treating its membership like
children in the past, and the motion to lobby for a change to the law on legal highs means the NUS are attempting to criminalise some of their own paying membership. Additionally, their VP for Society (who has given me zero help with Newcastle’s divestment campaign this year) was almost censured for not bothering to respond to arranged phone calls or emails. The officers appear to be voted in on a popularity contest based on passion and buzzwords, which, whilst being important, needs to be matched with professionalism and competency. When I walk through campus and speak to students I am regularly in awe of the great things being achieved. I know that out of the seven million students NUS claim to represent there are much brighter eggs who could be achieving so much more with the resources available. This will not happen until there is governance reform and “ordinary” students can infiltrate their clique. This is the real tragedy of the NUS; it is not that they are awful but just that they could be so much better.
ity process can remedy this. The question is how? I think a method where we evaluate these leaders/executives (president and zonal VPs etc) either midway or at the end of their tenure through a secret ballot where university unions and sabbs (who should be in a good position to evaluate them) anonymously critique them. If there’s a poor performance they, too, secretly vote to warn or outrightly impeach them. In addition unions/delegates could also demand detailed reports on how the un-debated motions were addressed by the NEC. Moving on from there, it was an EXPERIENCE. Met with wonderful people with passion and beautiful ideas, those who’ve made positive changes in the society and welfare of other students. It was a good break from uni, the other delegates were fun to be with and Brighton lived up to its reputation.
Luke Allison
Coming out of the conference we can see that delegates from around the country have voted in both elections and in policy for an NUS focussed on a stronger more definitive challenge to changes being implemented to Higher education. Elected officers who have been at the centre of the direct action movement, organising and supporting students from the ground upwards, such as at the 2015 national demonstration. Motions calling for the boycott of the NSS which will be used to implement the Teaching Excellence Framework, linked to further fee hikes, and the #GrantsNotDebt campaign. A huge landmark has been passed with NUS being lead for the first time by a black Muslim woman. The most important motion for me on a personal level that I am thrilled passed, having seen it fall at NUS LGBT conference a couple of years ago, was for a full time Trans Officer! I was of course disheartened that we didn’t have time to talk about the NUSU motions ‘drug policies supporting students’ and on self certifying PEC forms, which will still get to the National Executive Committee. I also thought that the motion making NUS elections open to vote nationally would have furthered NUS engagement and given it a stronger mandate. However, whatever your opinion on NUS, the student movement is going to have a louder and firmer response to the changes being carried out to university and college education for 2016-17.
14.lifestyle
Monday 25 April 2016
The Courier
Lifestyle Editors: Katie Ackerley, Ruth Loeffler, Fiona Callow, Lauren Exell & Jack Parker
Sort out your summer!
Only weeks ago we were celebrating Christmas and begging our housemates to turn the heating on, but now attention has turned to what to do over the summer. Stuck for ideas? Don’t worry, Amanda Yap is here with all the advice you need. Is Easter break over already? I am positive that this is the top five most-thought-of phrases during these two weeks, right after ‘I have been unproductive during the Easter break.’ Not to worry though because in less than ten weeks, it would be the long-awaited summer break! For all those who are wanting to redeem themselves during summer break after a really unproductive Easter, there are some ways to help you spend your three months as fruitfully as possible and rejuvenating you in preparation for another gruelling academic year.
“What’s the quickest way to relieve most of that examination-accumulated pressure? Go on a holiday of course!”
Go On Holiday!
What is the quickest way to relieve most of that examination-accumulated pressure? Go on a holiday of course! After a chilly winter and an equally blustery spring, the next best place to visit is the beach where you can achieve that sun-kissed bronzed tan look by the end of summer. If you are the type who is not satisfied with a short trip to the beach, consider flying out of the United Kingdom and spend a few weeks in a country where the culture, food, people and traditions are completely different from yours. You never know what adventures lies in store for you, for all you know, you may find your next favourite holiday destination which saves you the hassle of holiday planning in the future. So let your gutsy, wanderlust spirit take flight!
“Whether it’s wildlife volunteering or community development in South Africa, let this summer holiday open your eyes to the inequality of the world”
Get me there, now. Image: YouTube
Volunteer
Let it not be about you, but about lovingly serving the less privileged. Whether it is wildlife volunteering or community development in South Africa or rural China, let this summer holiday open your eyes to the social and economic inequality of the world. Volunteer programmes have evolved to be extremely diverse these days, allowing you to hone your teaching skills whether it is teaching English to the children or preserving environmental landscapes or endangered species, you are doing something for a worthy cause while on vacation, it is literally killing two birds with a stone. Like Mahatma Gandhi said ‘Be the change you wish to see in the world.’ As humans, we often underestimate ourselves and what we can do for others, if we can create a positive impact in one person at a time, it is enough.
I volunteer as tribute!
Image: YouTube
Do An Internship
It probably wont be like the film
Image: YouTube
Throughout the academic year, we fob off the excuse of being too busy with our academic work and massively busy social life to build up our pathetic CV. Apart from the meagre intern remuneration, the experience gained is invaluable. Take the opportunity to build up your industrial contacts and leave an excellent impression on your employers, like how the seasoned veterans like to say, ‘You never know when you might need them so don’t burn your bridges too early.’ At the end of your internship stint, get a reference letter for the benefit of your future job interviews. What the point of interning at the most sought-after prestigious corporation when you can’t even wave their recommendation letter in front of your prospective employers’ jaw-dropped faces?
“Let this summer be the turning point of your University life”
Earn this summer, holiday next summer
Image: YouTube
“Take the opportunity to build up your industrial contacts”
Get a Job
If a summer internship is too draining and a volunteer programme is too time-consuming, try applying for a part-time job. This way you still have the spare time to enjoy your holidays however you want to and still earn some spare cash to finance your summer outings. Even though it is a part-time job, it is still an avenue for you to pick up unique skills or improve on your existing skills. With all these to-dos, summer would pass you by in a blink of an eye and you will feel more enriched at the end of it, instead of letting it slip by you once again. Let this summer be the turning point of your university life!
The Courier
.15
Monday 25 April 2016
Culture thecourieronline.co.uk/culture
Culture Editors: Laura Staniforth & Ellie McLaren Sections: Lifestyle, Fashion, Beauty, Arts, Music, Film, TV, Gaming & Science courier.culture@ncl.ac.uk | @CourierOnline
Blind Date
Jonny Marshall 3rd Year Physiology meets Jack Parker, 3rd Year Media and English Lit
Jonny on Jack
What made you want to do blind date? Well it was mainly because my flatmate said if he did it, then I had to do it. He did it a couple of weeks back, so it was my turn! What were your first impressions of Jack? He was a really nice guy, he was really funny and chatty. I thought there would be some awkward silences but there wasn’t, luckily. Where did you go? We went to Fat Hippo, the burger place in Jesmond. It could have been really messy, but thankfully none of us made a tit of ourselves. Was it not a little bit awkward, picking up a massive burger on a date? Yeah, it was a bit intimidating, but we both managed to keep our cool. So who got there first? I got there first, he was slightly late. Not by a lot. What did he say when he walked in, that he was sorry he was late? No, no, he just said hi. What did you talk about in general? To begin with it was just like degree stuff, and then like our mutual love of Flares, talked about Powerhouse of course, drinking came up a lot. Well that’s good at least you know you had some common…. Hobbies? Yeah, we’ll go with hobbies. So did anything strange come up? Erm, nothing really odd, he mentioned that he’d punched someone once in Powerhouse which I found weird. Did he say why? I don’t know, I don’t think they got on. Do how long did you stay for, did you just have your meal then go? We stayed for a bit afterwards, just chatting. But we both live near each other so we just walked home after that and said goodnight. Did you hug goodbye? No, we just said that we’d probably see each other in Flares soon. Did you know vaguely who he was before? Just of him, but I’d never properly met him. Well, now you have! Would you say you’re attracted to him? He was a really nice guy, but yeah, I don’t think either of us were… attracted in that way. So there was no romantic vibes? Not really. It was a nice, chilled meal, but not romantic. Well at least you got a Fat Hippo out of it! Yeah, it was definitely worth it. Did you drink? Yeah, we both had wine. How classy. If you could go back to before the date, what would your one thing be that you wished you knew? Well, I found out he was a keen karaoke lover, so perhaps we could’ve gone to Cosy Joes instead or something. Would you take him home to your parents? I think they’d like him, but probably not. Why not? I’m not attracted to him, but if I did take him home, he’d definitely be a good guy to take home. So no future dates? No, none planned. If he was an animal, what animal would he be? Probably a parrot because he chatted quite a lot. Did he dominate the conversation? It was kind of equal, but he definitely had a lot of funny stories to tell. What would you rate the date? Probably an 8, it was a really nice date overall.
Jack on Jonny
Looking for love? Send in your details to c2.lifestyle@ncl.ac.uk
What made you want to do blind date? You made me do it. You just popped up on Facebook and said ‘I’ve arranged a date for you’, and I’d had a bottle of wine so I said yes. I’m game for anything after a bottle of wine though. So you went to Fat Hippo, who chose it? I did. Why, isn’t it a bit messy for a date? It is, but I don’t really mind getting messy. And also I fucking love Fat Hippo. You were late, did you feel bad about that? No, because its good to be fashionably late. [The Courier office phone rings so we break the interview] Who was that? A woman rang from Beckett Productions. She said they’re filming a version of Blind Date in Newcastle, and they’re looking for guys between the ages of 24-34 to take part. How creepy. What a coincidence, it’s a real shame you’re too young to take part. So… back to the interview. Sometimes people perceive it as rude if you’re late for a date, what would you say about that? I’m not really bothered to be honest. I turned up, that’s all that matters. Did you fancy him? No comment… maybe. What do you think his best physical feature was? Probably his eyes, or his mouth. What was great about his eyes? They were very attentive. You know, they eyes are the window to the soul, and stuff. They really are, what was his chat like then? Yeah, yeah. You don’t sound convinced? Well I think I did most of the talking. I have a thing sometimes where I just can’t stop talking, but I did let him speak. Was that because it was awkward? No, it wasn’t awkward at all. I wasn’t even nervous. Why was that? It’s probably because I already knew who it was before because we have a mutual friend. What were your preconceptions? Well, I think I’ve met him before. I remember once he was at the bar in Flares, and I tapped him and said ‘you’re Calum’s housemate aren’t you?’, and then I just turned back, got my drink and walked off. Just randomly accosted him, pretty much. So what did you talk about? Erm… I can’t remember, and it was only last night. I had a bottle of wine before I went out. Maybe that’s why you weren’t nervous? Yeah, maybe. I don’t think I was drunk when we were there though I only had one large glass of wine. But when I got home I was just suddenly fucked, it just suddenly hit me and I don’t know why. Why didn’t you do anything after? I have no idea. We both said we wanted to go to Flares, but I guess I just didn’t have the initiative to ask him for a drink after. If you could go back to before the date but know one thing you know now, what would it be? Dunno, that I should’ve drank more. Would you date him again? Yeah probably, he laughed at the things I was saying. Is that what you look for in a partner? Yeah, imagine going out with someone who didn’t laugh. Live laugh love and all that. If he was an animal what animal would he be? I want to say a snow leopard. It just came to my mind. Out of 10, rate your date? I’d give it an 8.
16.lifestyle Foody Foddy Our favourite foodie Emma Foddy is amazed by the generous portions (and cheap wine!) at Grey Street’s Bacchus
M
y boyfriend, his mum, gran and I (quite the party) were wondering around Grey’s Street trying to find somewhere for a quiet drink when we stumbled across this little gem, Bacchus. None of us had been in before but we peered through the window and saw that it looked popular, so decided to give it a go. We managed to find a table with cosy high backed armchairs and a sofa. We ordered drinks and, although the place looks expensive, a round of four drinks including two large glasses of wine came only to £14. My boyfriend’s mum said the house white was the best wine she’s ever had! It also caters for ale drinkers and has a huge choice of locally brewed ales available. It’s got a lovely atmosphere, with the balance struck exactly right between feeling cosy and intimate, yet also giving you a break from the student life and allowing you to pretend you’re classy for an hour or so.
“The balance is struck right between feeling cosy and intimate, yet also giving you a break from student life and pretending to be classy for an hour or so ” The customers Bacchus attracts seemed to be the slightly older population rather than students, but the only reason I can think of for this is that it’s tucked away in a side alley off Grey’s street and so is slightly off the student radar. It has a great friendly feel and is perfect if you want to get away from the student hub for a little bit. The bar staff were all lovely and easy to chat to while they were pouring the drinks. It was all very welcoming! Onto the food. As I said at the beginning we were only looking to have a drink rather than find somewhere to eat, but we caught eye of the food menu and swiftly changed our minds, each of us ordering a main lunch. I was torn between the Welsh Rarebit and the melted cheddar, mushroom and leek panini which came with fries. I chose the panini and didn’t regret my decision, although ever since that day I have been intending to go back and have the Welsh Rarebit. The panini was stuffed with real (as opposed to that yellow plastic rubbish) melted cheddar that went all stringy when you bit into it, thick mushrooms and leeks on freshly toasted bread. There was a generous helping of crispy salted fries on the side. My boyfriend ordered the roast of the day panini, which on that day was roast chicken soaked in gravy piled into the panini and served with chips and gravy on the side (very Northern and very delicious). Despite the huge portions and fantastic quality of the food, each panini was only £4.95. You can see now why we couldn’t say no.
“The Panini was stuffed with real (as opposed to that yellow plastic rubbish) melted cheddar that went all stringy when you bit into it” Since then my boyfriend and I have returned twice, but unfortunately on a Saturday were unable to get a table as it was packed. We also found they don’t serve food on a Sunday, which is a shame. However, we will be heading back and hopefully it will be third time lucky! 42-48 High Bridge, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 6BX
Monday 25 April 2016
The Courier
Make the most of uni
Deputy Editor Mark Sleightholm reflects on his uni days and tells us how to make the most out of what’s left of what might just be some of the best years of our lives.
I
n a feeble attempt at rebellion, I refused to take part in any sort of extra-curricular activity at school, but on a whim signed up to write for The Courier at Freshers’ Fair. And, once I’d been initiated into the Union bubble, I was joining things left, right and centre, so much so that my degree is now just something I do in my spare time. So many students pass through their three years (or more) without even knowing where the Union is, and still have an awesome time. But that doesn’t mean there’s not more fun to be had by getting involved. Even if you don’t want to spend an unhealthy amount of time in the Union building, there are so many ways to get that little bit more out of your brief time at uni. Whether, like me, you’re desperately trying to make the most of your final few weeks, or whether you’re planning on doing in second year all the things you meant to do in first year, now is a great time to write a bucket list. Put what you like on it, but maybe prioritise uni-specific things – you can see the Angel of the North anytime, but once you graduate Sepak Takraw clubs are few and far between.
Student politics
“Throw yourself into a Student Council meeting and revel in the intensity”
Sport
One of my many regrets from my time at uni is that I never joined a sports club. OK, so I could never have made the football first team – I’d have struggled to get into the thirty-first team – but there are many, many opportunities to get involved with university sport, some serious, some less so. As someone completely devoid of athletic ability, I’m maybe not qualified to comment, but I’d guess that being part of a team makes keeping fit a lot easier, and certainly a lot more fun, than jogging round a park on your own in the rain.
Whether it’s to change the world of just for the lols, a brief foray into the dark world of student politics is a must for the bucket list. Student politics ranges from things that have an immediate impact on your degree, like more ReCap, to the rewording of obscure articles in a constitution you never knew existed. If you’re part of that large group of students who don’t know what SSC or PTO stand for, or part of that even larger group who don’t care, maybe start with something lowcommitment, like signing a petition for one of the many student campaigns knocking about. Alternatively, just throw yourself into a Student Council meeting and revel in the intensity, whilst wondering how you ever made it so far through uni without knowing exactly how we elect our NUS delegates. Talking of the NUS, this is perhaps the ultimate item on a political bucket list – an entire institution that nobody seems to quite know what it’s for, but that some people take very, very seriously indeed.
Student Media
Societies
Societies can potentially have a much bigger impact on your time at uni than any of your lectures, or that time you slid down the stairs on a mattress. There are some truly bizarre societies out there, and also some more serious ones, but if you make the effort and turn up to a few events (although joining a society and then having no further engagement with it is also something of a rite of passage), you could be opening yourself up to the best friends you’ll ever make, or maybe a career in tightrope walking.
The Courier has kind of dominated my time at uni, so I’m probably a bit biased here, but I would thoroughly recommend getting involved with student media. We’re fortunate to have one of the best and biggest student newspapers in the country, and there are opportunities with radio, filming and photography too, thanks to NSR and TCTV. Unless you’re rich/ very, very lucky, once you leave uni you’ll never get an opportunity to try out projects like filmmaking or having your own radio show with this level of support and technology, so if you’re feeling creative, now is the time to experiment! There are also plenty of chances to celebrate with the Media Awards, and everybody knows The Courier Christmas parties are, er, legendary. Student media can be great for your CV as well, and it’s how I’ve found out about most of the other things I’ve got involved in at uni, from RAG Week to the Fossil Free divestment campaign. I’ve also met so many truly wonderful and inspirational people, and working so closely together means you get to know each other really well. It’s brilliant, join it.
Of course, there are plenty of things to do outside of uni too. Go for a night out in Sunderland, or spend an afternoon at Tynemouth Beach, or start a flashmob on Northumberland Street. But please, do something more memorable than just going to lectures and writing essays and getting stuck to the floor in Sinners.
“There’s something for everyone. But please, do something more memorable than just going to lectures, and getting stuck to the floor in Sinners”
The Courier
lifestyle.17
Monday 25 April 2016
thecourieronline.co.uk/lifestyle c2.lifestyle@ncl.ac.uk | @CourierLifestyle
Eating cheap, eating healthy
Winter is over, and yet there’s a nip to the air that says summer isn’t quite here yet. Emily Chapman is here to warm you up with the perfect comfort food- Apple Pie Baked Oatmeal
I
t’s still (unfortunately) winter. It’s still cold. You still have another few weeks until you can go home for Easter, eat loads of chocolate, and ignore the fact that you are now officially “adult-ing�. Your student loan is probably running a little low too, huh? Well, I have an easy weekend breakfast for you, which uses cheap ingredients, and could
make your post-Saturday-lie-in life (before the realisation that you have three essays to write kicks in) a little more bearable. Baked oatmeal, for anyone who hasn’t heard of it, is somewhere between a muffin and cookie dough in texture. And this one tastes like apple pie. But unlike buying a muffin, or cookie dough, or apple pie, it’s actually good for your physique and
your bank balance. Also, once you’ve mixed it up and heated the oven this pretty much looks after itself. Which means that unless you really screw up, and manage to set the kitchen on fire, you can convince your flatmates that you’re also a great cook with minimum effort on your part. Feel free to follow along and to let us know if you tried to make this.
Ingredients:
Method:
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The hot seat: are you a lecturer’s pet? Benazir Parween is on hand to answer those burning questions you’ve never even known that you needed answering: does your seat speak volumes about yourself?
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our seat says a lot about you. This has been going on since primary school and sometimes the teacher notices that about you. He/she might have asked you to move forward if you sit at the back because you don’t pay attention or you cause trouble to your classmates. Do you remember the front-row teacher’s pet? Of course that kid was the class monitor. So it’s only natural that our habits mostly follow us and our personality sticks with us even here, in universities. We just tweak ourselves a little bit. Let’s divide the lecture theatre into three parts: left, centre, and right. Left and right seaters are similar and there are fewer seats compared to the centre, so let’s tackle them first. The Ninja: You enter late, you leave early, like a shadowy figure of mystery. You manage to sign the register and you disappear without anyone noticing. People on your course probably struggle to describe you and that’s the way you like it. When people suddenly do, you look so calm and collected that it does not even seem like you are doing anything wrong!
“You see everything and nobody even knows that you are observing them. You can tell politics and the drama that is unravelling� The Mystery Guest: You only grace us with your presence on the first and last day of the lecture. What you do with the rest of your time is beyond any of us. You’re never seen in the library, or indeed around campus, begging the question: ‘do you even go here?’ The only time you’re ever sight-
ed is queuing up to get into Digi, and even then it’s unclear if you’ve come alone. You come by when there are announcements about assignments. The rest of us think this module is an optional one for you or you walked into the wrong lecture theatre but you stayed anyway. Now finally our centre goers will have the glory. To make things easier, this is listed from the bottom row to the top. The NSA: Who needs Recap, am I right? You record everything – literally – using your mobile, incessantly taking notes both with your laptop and in writing. You even take note when the lecturer takes a sip from his bottle. Your notes should be taken in as evidence if the management wants to see how their lecturers fair. The Suck-up: We all know them, they know them. Not even going to try and come up with a special name for you because you annoy many. You make the lectures run late. Your voice has to
be heard for any reason and think it’s okay to start a discussion about Freud just among you, your besties and the lecturer. The Chatroom: This is probably the best vantage point at the LT. You pretend to be paying attention to the lecture and sometimes you are even taking notes. But from this arena, you are able to see everything. You see everything and nobody even knows that you are observing them. You can tell the politics, drama that is unravelling and happening between friends, couples. You pass remarks on anything. People shush you and the suck-ups give you a stare because you are disturbing their discussion!
“You enter early, you leave early, like a shadowy figure of mystery... people on your course probably struggle to describe you �
The Present: At least you made it to class, so kudos to you for that! You had one too many drinks even though you knew you have classes tomorrow. You imagine the lecturer is basically screaming, specifically at you, because of that. Throw in the gamers, social media divas and sleepers into that mix and you have a weird group altogether. You get to escape reality for a bit in that space for a few hours. We have all kinds of seaters in a lecture theatre. It’s almost an unsaid rule that once you have picked your seat in the first few weeks of your module, you are assigned to that seat until you graduate. Everybody just knows that automatically. By default, you are categorised into that group as well. So where do ZPV TJU $IPPTF XJTFMZ
Rantof the Week
What’s really eating through your student budget? Ruth Loeer tells us the biggest issue of student life: FOMO
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he issue I find with being a student is how relatively short our time is here. We have three years (or more if you’re lucky/a medic) to get it all out of our system; the drinks, the parties, the lazy days and the selfish spending. And my goodness, does the time go quick.
“FOMO springs on you when you have three deadlines to meet and your housemates have nothing but the next Digi night to think about�
Living with people who aren’t doing my course has possibly been one of the worst and best decisions. The good thing being that you can forget all about that shitty exam or that presentation you really don’t want to think about as soon as you walk through the door. The bad thing, however, is the serious cases of FOMO (that is Fear Of Missing Out for the old folks who don’t know) that spring on you when you have three deadlines to meet within a week and they have nothing but the next Digi night to think about. The amount of times that I have been persuaded into parties and nights out and then furiously, and drunkenly, tap away at NZ MBQUPQ BU BN GPS TPNF HPEEBNOFE BTTJHONFOU is just ridiculous.
“The time is ticking away to you becoming an official adult with official responsibilities�
Let’s not forget, this is not limited to the nights out. I’m talking the new pair of jeans you just bought because you don’t know when the next time will be when you have basically free money in the form of a student loan. I’m talking the fancy steak dinners you convince yourself you need because your FOMO-ing off your sibling’s dinner back at home. Unfortunately kids, it only gets worse with age. By the time you’re in third year YES of course you have dissertations which are maybe KIND OF a big deal. But... the time is ticking away to you becoming an official adult with actual official responsibilities. Next year, you will never be able to roll over and snooze that alarm for that seminar that might be important but they won’t chase you up for. Next year, you won’t have the best nightlife in England on your doorstep wiht all your friends XJUIJO NJOVUFT XBML "MTP OFYU ZFBS ZPV QP tentially be unemployed because you failed your degree for not working hard enough...
“Part of being a student is the messiness, the disorganisation, panic and then broken promises to try harder next time�
You may be thinking ‘but of course the answer to all your problems here is better time management!’ You may be right. However find me a student with decent time management skills and I’ll ĕ OE ZPV B $PTNJD OJHIU UIBU EPFTO U JOWPMWF JMMFHBM substances. We have all of adulthood to do that. Part of being a student is the messiness, the disorganisation, panic and then broken promises to try harder the next time. And then, you’ve guessed it, complain about it all over again. You better prepare yourselves, FOMO is making a big comeback for the end of term, let the late-night coursework commence!
18.fashion
Monday 25 April 2016
The Courier
Fashion Editors: Ellen Dixon, Liz Rosling & Sara Macauley
Willow Smith: The new Chanel ambassador Miranda Stoner discusses fashion empire Chanel’s newest celebrity face
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rom the age of 10 Willow Smith has been labelled a fashion icon following on from her first single ‘Whip My Hair’ which saw her splashing vibrant colours into the monochrome setting of daily life. Even then there was something fearless in the way she dressed, never holding back on lip diamantes or audacious patterns, an element of which can be seen in her style even today. Despite the primary coloured attire, there has always been something mature about her. At the time Willow described the message of her debut single as; “just be an individual…you have to be yourself and you can’t let anyone tell you that that’s wrong.” This is by no means a new theme, it is common amongst the children’s films and TV shows aimed at ‘Whip My Hair’s’ target audience. It is the fact that she seems to have held on to this ideal even as she’s grown up and worked her way into the somewhat more prestigious world of fashion that suggests maturity beyond 15 years. On appointment as Chanel’s Ambassador in March 2016 she remarked; “all I can do from here is continue to shift paradigms and continue to push the envelope further and further. But I am doing it every day just by being myself.”
“Willow’s natural hair, septum piercing and eccentric make-up advance Chanel’s ‘edgy’ image, a process which Willow describes as ‘expanding the perceptions of “beauty””
At 15 Willow is the youngest brand ambassador at Chanel, but she unmistakably manages to successfully ‘push the envelope’ through her personal style. Historically, the faces of Chanel have been conventional beauties such as Blake Lively or Kate Moss, but Willow’s natural hair, septum piercing and eccentric make-up advance Chanel’s ‘edgy’ image, a process which Willow describes as ‘expanding the perceptions of “beauty”’. It can be assumed through her Instagram hashtags #ChanelAmbassador and #ExpandParadigms that this is a subtle comment for the need for more inclusivity in the fashion and beauty industry - something that seems achievable by such an influential brand as Chanel. Karl Lagerfeld (Chanel creative director) met Willow at a fashion shoot for V magazine in 2013, where Willow was asked to bring her own clothes for inclusion in the shoot. Throughout the shoot Lagerfeld found himself using more of her clothes than his. However, it was not just her fashion sense that impressed him, he was also surprised she had turned down the role of Annie in the Hollywood film co-directed by her father in order to live an independent life as a seventh grader. In 2015 she gave up her normal life and signed a modelling contract with the Society Management (same agency as Kendall Jenner) as well as bringing out her album ARDIPETHECUS. 2016 sees her model life continuing with the responsibilities of Chanel Ambassador which include occupying the front row seat at Chanel shows, starring in campaigns and sporting much Chanel clothing. Recently she appeared on the cover of Teen Vogue in an arresting photoshoot, so who knows what else 2016 will bring for Willow? Perhaps more importantly, will the world be ready for it?
@teenvogue @willowsmith
TommyHilfigerand the return of the 90s
Fashion Editor Liz Rosling tells us how the 90s are making an almighty comeback - and how Tommy Hilfiger is leading the sartorial crowd Topshop £48
Tommy Hilfiger £80
Tommy Hilfiger £120
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Tommy Hilfiger £110
hen it comes to the world of fashion, it’s no secret that tends tend to come full circle. The same can be said for the 90s - a period of infinite variety in style and fashion. With super models such as Tyra Banks, Naomi Campbell and the iconic Kate Moss storming the industry at the time, it’s tricky not to idolise the different looks owed to the previous decade. From hip brand Tommy Hilfiger to the oncecontroversial Calvin Klein, the 90’s were synonymous with style staples such as sportswear, denim & dungarees, crop tops and combat boots. It’s no wonder we’re now going nuts for it. At the forefront of 90s fashion were brands moving towards a more casual yet still chic style. Sported by super models and celebrities throughout, the popularity of this trend was widespread. A mix and match of oversized jeans, loose-fitting tees and cropped sweat-
Tommy Hilfiger £80
ers, the decade was decked out with diversity. If, like me, you were too young to fully enjoy and actually embrace the many styles of the 90s, you needn’t worry… this 90s nostalgia has led to a widespread rebirth of trends that, one could argue, were destined to see the 21st century through.
“Heading up this revival, Tommy Hilfiger’s latest collection is full of adapted favourites fit for flaunting this 90s-chic” Heading up this revival, Tommy Hilfiger’s latest collection is full of adapted favourites fit for flaunting this 90s-chic. Personal favourites of mine include their denim dungarees (£120), flag sweatshirt and boyfriend fit jeans (£110) all flourishing the brand’s recognisable red, white and blue label.
Don’t panic if Hilfiger’s prices seem hefty (we are students after all), because brands for all budgets can be seen embracing the comeback - and with leading online retailer ASOS marketplace dedicating a page to nailing the nineties, confirming that ‘from new season normcore vibes to slinky slips and chokers… ‘90s are back in a big way’, there really is no reason not to channel your inner 90’s child. Think oversized shirts with plaids or stripes combined with denim - be it baggy jeans, dungarees or pinafores, this laid-back look compliments whilst combining comfort, a flattering style choice for sure. Topshop’s long-denim dungarees provide as a more affordable alternative, and look great paired with a stripy crop or larger T-shirt. Cheaper still, New Look currently has a range of 90s numbers on sale, so take inspiration from these basics, bag a bargain and embrace 90s fashion however you feel fits you best.
Save, spend, splurge: summer sunglasses
Ellie Trent shows us a trio of sunnies on the market, with pairs to suit every budget
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ith summer on its way and the sun (rare though it may be) starting to successfully shine through the clouds, the search for finding the right pair of sunglasses has begun. The bank account situation is never great for us students, what with takeaways and nights out being a regular occurrence. Thankfully, I’ve compiled a list of my three favourite pairs of sunnies, ordered by the extent to which you’re willing to bankrupt yourself!
Attitude: ‘Couldn’t care less about the state of my bank account because in my head money grows on trees’: Brand: Bvlgari Price: £341.00
Attitude: ‘I know I’m in debt so I probably shouldn’t spend but then again I want something that will last a while so it’s gotta be Ray-Bans’: Brand: Ray-Ban Erika Classic Price: £98.00
Attitude: ‘I’ll be lucky if I even scrape through surviving until next month... but I still need sunglasses’: Brand: Topshop Lucie Oversized Preppy Sunglasses Price: £16.00
I am literally in LOVE with these sunglasses. Their cat-eye shape widens the appearance of your eyes and draws attention to your cheekbones. What I love the most about these sunglasses is that you can either dress them up or down: their jet-black colour makes them appropriate for ordinary daytime wearing yet the crystals means that they can be worn to accompany posh attire at special occasions and events. They best suit either a heart, oval or square face shape.
You can’t go wrong with a pair of Ray-Bans. They’re the perfect accessory to complete any look, and they will always make, and never break, an outfit. These Ray-Ban Erika sunglasses feature both classic, rubber and metal detailing, whilst their oversized shape provides extra coverage and 100% protection against UV rays. Their large lenses makes them the perfect choice for remaining burn-free whilst sunbathing on the beach, still looking unbelievably classy though, of course.
These sunglasses are a great alternative if you can’t afford to spend a lot of money. For a gal on a budget, or someone who is extra clumsy, it’s not always realistic to spend more than £16 on a pair of sunnies. Their white/ peach colour means that they match practically any outfit whilst their clearly finished black lens provide a nicely sharp colour contrast. The oversized lens give the wearer a particularly elegant appearance, drawing attention to the cheekbones.
The Courier
fashion.19
Monday 25 April 2016
thecourieronline.co.uk/fashion Instagram:@thecourierfashion | Facebook: facebook.com/thecourierfash |Email: c2.fashion@ncl.ac.uk @ncl.ac.uk |
Spring has sprung
Dress for success
Izzi Watkins talks seasonal dressing, and how to tackle the unpredictable Newcastle weather Jaymelouise Hudspith on
nailing the perfect interview outfit
into your bag at the first sight of sunshine. Another great way to transition your wardrobe is through colour. Instead of reaching for your trusty black jeans and navy jumpers, try adding a pop of vibrancy. Deep fuchsias and bright oranges may seem scary, but when toned down with neutrals can work really well (and will come in handy should a freak blizzard hit the toon). If you’re not feeling quite so daring however, go for pastels instead, which can easily be paired with grey and navy winter knitwear for some transitional perfection.
“Although spring may not have lived up to your BBQ and bare legs expectations so far, it is the perfect time to dip your toe into SS16’s biggest trends” In the wise words of Miranda Priestly, “Florals? For spring? Ground breaking” so try branching out
Zara £25.99
New Look £24.99
H&M £29.99
UNIQLO £59.90
Topshop £29.00
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pring has sprung, although apparently this news is yet to reach Newcastle where the climate has been one of gale force winds, torrential rain and even snow(?!) for the past week. With such unpredictable weather, nailing transitional dressing can be a nightmare. Hindered too by the fact you probably left all of your warmest clothes at home over Easter under the naive assumption that summer term would feature some actual sun. There are, however, some clever ways you can break from the shackles of your winter wardrobe and put a ‘spring’ into your step. The only way to combat both potential frostbite on journeys to 9ams and heat exhaustion by 4pm is to turn to your old friend: layers. While thermals don’t scream sex appeal, they do allow you to wear your favourite spring looks whilst sneakily keeping cosy. UNIQLO have a wide range of affordable thermals, which have been designed by really clever people that probably did STEM degrees, meaning that not only will they keep you toasty warm, they’re super thin too. Perfect for layering! Team with a thin jumper and finish with with a light jacket such as a bomber that can easily be stuffed
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with other styles of pattern instead. Throw it right back to your primary school days and emulate that classic summer dress look. Gingham is all over the high street at the moment, most notably in Zara who have a huge collection of shirts, dresses and skirts that will take you back to your playground days. The 90s look dominated much of the colder seasons, and this is a trend that isn’t likely to change. Swap out your old boyfriend jeans for a pair of Topshop’s girlfriend fit, and made with a thinner cotton than their predecessors they’re perfect for Spring. Alternatively dust off your ripped jeans, which you can hopefully now wear without the fear of shivering blue knees. If jeans aren’t your style, go for a denim skirt instead, perfect for both day and night they really are a staple item. If you cant brave bare legs just yet, pair it with some thick tights and your comfiest trainers for that classic 90s vibe. Although spring may not have lived up to your BBQ and bare legs expectations so far, it is the perfect time to dip your toe into SS16’s biggest trends, and after all, if we can’t moan about the rubbish weather then what can we do?
From books to booze Phoebe Bower gets us from the library to the toon’ for a much needed night off T op sh op
£8
Topshop £27.99
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s we quickly approach May - the month of exams - students should be preparing to go into hibernation. From revision timetabling, to researching critical essays, and buying every colour of the rainbow in highlighters for all that reading you plan to do (let’s pray it goes in!), it’s fair to say the next few weeks are bound to be tough. However, we are students of Newcastle Uni and we can’t be expected to be keeping our heads down 24/7… Some fun needs to be had otherwise we might as well have gone to Durham. Not to mention, an evening off will keep you from burning out and help to relieve your stress. One night out, a couple of trebles, a lost phone and a cheeky smooch later, and you’ll be ready to return to the books by noon the next day. So, how to get you from Point A (ie: the library, the SU) to Point B (Digi, Swingers, Tup) Easy. First things first, take a shower. No one smells good after a stint in the Robbo, trust me when I tell you I’m speaking from experience! A refreshing shower is bound to set you on the right track, though washing your hair might take up time you don’t have, so
Topshop £36
opt to dry shampoo it. You will want to have an outfit brewing in your mind, so use that time walking back to plan a look
“One night out, a couple of trebles, a lost phone and a cheeky smooch later, and you’ll be ready to return to the books by noon the next day” that won’t take long to create. A quick outfit change is a must, otherwise you’ll risk spending all your time making yourself pretty and not enough time prinking. Fast looks are one piece items, then you’re not stuck on what to pair it with. You can’t go wrong with a LBD. An evening classic, it will suit wherever you go for the night. Not to mention, black is a slimming colour, something to hide the effects of revision energy drinks and copious amounts of comfort food. A floral playsuit for summer or a jumpsuit for something more elegant are quick solutions to how to get ready quickly. No one ever really notices what clutch your holding and shoes
@_thelustlist_
your wearing, but if you care, then black boots, either ankle or knee-length, are a guaranteed crowd pleaser. Bear in mind not to wear anything uncomfortable - you want a fun night out - not something that’s going to send you home early or on your way to the RVI with a broken leg. Hair that you’ve dry shampooed should look good loose, but if not, an updo, like a bun or a ponytail are quick and particularly effective if you like styles that keep you cool and your hair off of your face. Quick make-up means minimal make-up. I know it’s fun playing with your brushes, powders and lipsticks, but we want to be fast here. Keep it simple with a base of foundation and a couple of strokes of powder, a smattering of blush for adorable pink cheeks and mascara to make your eyes pop. Should you want a more dramatic look, add a slick of dark lipstick. Follow these quick, simple steps for a spontaneous night out. We’ll all need to turn to the Toon for a night of madness to get through the next month and a half, and if you keep it simple and sweet, then you should blowoff some steam and have a laugh, no drama, no stress. Happy studying/sambuca-ing!
e all know the importance of a good first impression. What you wear determines a person’s perception of you just as much as your body language. Wearing the right clothes won’t guarantee you the job, but why not make it easier on yourself? Dressing for an interview can be just as stressful as preparing for it, but these key tips should help make the process easier. Everyone has heard the old saying ‘dress for the job you want, not the job you have’, and this is useful to keep in mind. Whether you’re applying for a job that requires formal dress or not, you should always dress formally. However, formal does not mean always wear a plain and boring suit. You don’t have to dress all in black or so beige you risk blending into the walls. Don’t be afraid to throw in some colour. Smiling is crucial, and you want to dress to match that positivity. If black is your go-to colour, don’t stray from your comfort-zone but break the look up with small dashes of colour – accessories or a printed shirt, for example. You want them to remember you for all the right reasons.
“Confidence is equally important. If you aren’t confident then fake it” Consider how you feel in the clothes, comfort is key. If you feel self-conscious or uncomfortable, so will your employer, so to avoid this wear something you have worn before, or buy it well in advance. This way you know it won’t itch or lead to a mishap (such as your bright pink bra glaring through your cream blouse). Scratching for 15 minutes isn’t really a great look. Confidence is equally important. If you aren’t confident then fake it. If the idea of trying to be confident throughout your interview makes you feel nervous or flustered then dress in dark colours or wear something loose so you don’t feel restricted. Ideally this will help you to avoid the dreaded sweat patches. Avoid wearing brightly coloured nail varnish, or bold over the top makeup, including false eyelashes. When dressing for an interview you should strive for a natural look even if this is the opposite of what you would usually wear. The same rule goes for tattoos and piercings: avoid showing them in the interview. This will obviously differ depending on the type of job you apply for (if it’s for a tattoo artist position then you would definitely show ‘em off ) but generally it’s a good rule to follow.
“Smiling is crucial, and you want to dress to match that positivity” Your employer will look you up and down as you enter the interview. This includes your shoes, so avoid any shoes such as high heels that you can’t walk in and make sure they’re clean. Really though, no amount of tips will guarantee you the job so my most important one is just be yourself and they’ll probably love you.
@_thelustlist_
20.beauty
Monday 25 April 2016
The Courier
Beauty Editors: Flora Davies, Ellen Walker & Lucy Cochrane
Stressed skin solutions Exam season is approaching, and Phoebe Hoi Yiu Ng tells us how to avoid breakouts due to all-nighters
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umidity of spring, late nights in library, and deadlines. What do these things have in common? They are all part of the perfect formula for breakouts. Follow my tips below to tackle these annoying little things. As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. We all know the drill beauty sleep, regular exercises, clean eating. Even though it is still an urban myth that greasy fried food causes breakouts, it is certain that we should drink a lot of water in order to balance out the body. You also want to avoid generate excessive oils to compensate dehydration. Other than the above, a habit that we always do is touch blemishes with our hands. It is with our hands that bacteria and allergens have the opportunity to transfer from fingertips onto the skin. It does not necessarily cause acne, but it definitely worsens it. I know it is not an easy thing to stop doing because we often do this unconsciously. But from now on, avoid touching your skin to keep oil at bay. Clean your skin daily, especially if you have put on makeup or SPF products. Porefinist cleansing oil (£60.00) from Shu Uemura comes on the pricey side but it specifically targets pores and one bottle lasts a long time. Exfoliate around two/three times a week to clean away the layer of dean skin cells. Clay masks like Charlotte Tilbury’s Goddess Skin Mask (£45) give you a great beauty detox. This product is infused with nutrient-rich Spanish clay and hydrating sweet almond oil, it tightens pores without leaving skin feeling like it’s been wrapped. I would recommend occasionally going makeup free, to let your skin ‘breathe’ better. If the troubles really trouble you, Benefit Cosmetics the POREfessional line would be your best friend.
“For more sensitive skin, opt for milder oils like lavender” In case acne still arises, despite all the efforts you have done, essential oils would be your last weapon. Apart from the commonly known tea tree oil, there are a few essential oils, such lavender that you can reap the benefits from. The simplest and best way to use essential oils for acne is to apply 2-3 drops to the concerned area. Any oils with concentration higher than 15% need to be diluted before use. For more sensitive skin, opt for milder oils like the lavender. There are also a lot of skincare products infused with these ingredients. Of course there is Body Shop’s Tea Tree Oil Range. Apart from that, look out in the market for products containing benzoyl peroxide, anti-bacterial ingredients, and salicylic acid. It is highly unadvisable to pop your spots. But if you are going to do it, have them popped by professionals rather than by yourself. Popping them at home does not only risk leaving unattractive scars, but the bacteria inside the spot may end up inside other pores, leading to even more pimples. Another reason not to do it is you may push the debris and bacteria even deeper into your skin. Therefore, it is best to leave the job to the pros and don’t forget to apply some scar prevention cream afterwards.
Bronzers at the ready Nicole Ang shares with us her top bronzers for the perfect sunkissed glow, on any budget
Splurge
Save
Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel Bronzing Make-Up Base, £32.00
Benefit Hoola Bronzing Powder, £23.50
The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder, £13.00
his cream-based, almost mousse-like bronzer has a velvety consistency that applies smoothly to the skin without feeling heavy or cakey. It offers a satin or skin-like finish that feels very natural and luxurious on the skin while giving it an almost dewy finish. The application is totally mess-free and pretty much foolproof, and you can use your fingers or a stippling brush for easy application. As the name also suggests, this product can be used alone, under foundation, or even mixed into your foundation to give yourself a warmer skin tone.
The Benefit Hoola Bronzer is one of the brand’s most popular products, and it’s not hard to see why. It’s such a lovely matte powder that is excellent for daily use. The powder is incredibly pigmented but at the same time highly buildable, making it possible for a wide range of skin tones to achieve that lovely sun-kissed skin with the same product. Like all the other Benefit bronzers and blushes, this also comes in the iconic box packaging that comes with both a brush and mirror, making it easier for on-the-go touch ups!
According to its website, this bronzer is a honeyenriched pressed powder that gives your skin an even bronze matte finish. The Body Shop Bronzing Powder has a very lovely texture with a soft and creamy consistency that blends into the skin so naturally and easily for a healthy looking glow. This bronzer is an easy to use product for both beginners and professionals as it blends well on both liquid and powder foundations. Whether you have paler or darker skin, this bronzer also comes in five different shades so there’s something for everyone!
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NARS Bronzing Powder in Laguna, £27.50
Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder, £7.99
A cult favourite and loved by bloggers and celebrities alike, many have hailed this bronzing powder as a Holy Grail product that they could never live without. This medium-tan bronzer has outstanding pigmentation with a soft but firm texture that is excellent for contouring and warming light to medium skin tones. The NARS Laguna is a near matte bronzer with very subtle shimmer that acts more like an illuminator than a glittery powder. It also comes in the classic sleek black NARS packaging that is always a fun addition into your makeup bag!
Better known as the ‘chocolate bar’ bronzer, the Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder is a classic high street favourite among students. It’s great for those who are seeking an affordable alternative to pricier bronzers on the market. The colour blends out really well despite it looking pretty dark in the packaging at first, allowing you to build coverage as you go on. This bronzer has a slight shimmer to it without being too over the top, and gives you a healthy looking glow whenever and wherever you need. The bronzer comes in two different shades and even smells like real chocolate!
Fake it ‘till you make it
Ellie Trent gives us a tanning master class on three heavyweights in the tanning business to help you achieve that perfect subtle touch this spring, that give glow without orange. eedless to say, we all like being tanned. UTan Shimmering Gold Body Achieving that gorgeous colour and feelMoisturiser ing like the ultimate bronzed Goddess is
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quite literally the goal of most girls. However, when spring arrives and we encounter the fantastically tropical temperatures resting just above the 10 degrees point, we reach a tanning fix as we wonder: how do I achieve a naturally tanned look without looking like an orange? The biggest dilemma in this situation is knowing which brands to use and how many coats of tan to apply. I have tried many products myself and have listed my favourite subtler fake tans below, so get reading and beginning tanning yourself to create the perfect tan for spring!
Charlotte Tilbury Supermodel Body Okay, so this fake tan may be slightly more expensive than you were originally prepared to pay costing a steep £45.00, but believe me it’s worth it. Knowing as the ‘Slimmer Shimmer’, this tanning cream acts like a shapewear lingerie for the skin. It is packed with FermiProtect to make the skin firmer and to sculpt your contours, whilst its highlighter creates the ultimate glowing bronzed skin look. What is also fab about this fake tan is its method of application: all you need to do to apply the cream is roll the cooling metal massager down the centre of your limbs (which believe me feels amazing) and then to blend out the liquid evenly with your hands over your limbs. Using the massager to apply also makes the experience much less stress free as there are fewer chances of the tan going streaky which remains every girls tanning nightmare.
I know what you might think about this fake tan: that costing only £3.99 in the shops means that it’s absolutely useless, right? Wrong. I thought the exact same thing before the day I decided to try this product. Entitling this product as a ‘moisturiser’ certainly does not disappoint the consumer: the product contains Rainforest and flower extracts which massage the skin and enhance the appearance of contours, whilst helping to remove signs of stress from the skin by stimulating the release of endorphins. The Ultimo Tanning Complex, a blend of DHA’, creates a deep, rich and solid colour which remains streak-free and lasts for a longer period of time than the usual fake tan.
M.A.C Prep + Prime Golden Beauty Balm I am absolutely in love with this product. For me, and I’m sure for many of you girls, trying to achieve a naturally tanned look on your face using fake tan is quite hard because it tends to go very patchy and doesn’t stay on for long. I discovered this product last summer when I went in search of a new bronzer. However for me, this is better than using just a bronzer: you can blend the cream into your foundation to give your skin a subtle hue and can apply as many layers as you want depending how dark you want to look without looking ridiculous. What’s also great about this product is that you can apply it to your face just on its own, making it perfect for days on the beach when you may want to blend your face in with the rest of your tanned body, should you naturally be paler on the face.
The Courier
beauty.21
Monday 25 April 2016
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Behind the Boilerhouse brows Ellen Walker fills us in on her trip to Boilerhouse in Jesmond to try out their HD brows.
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he trend of big brows took the beauty world by storm last year and shows no signs of stopping. This huge trend has us cringing at photos of ourselves taken before brows became such a big deal, and had us questioning how we ever deemed the brow-less look to be acceptable. It was from this craze that HD brows were born, the ultimate treatment for getting those arches perfected. I went to Boilerhouse in Jesmond to check out what all the hype was about and to see if this eye-raising ordeal really is worth the money.
“She explained how she was removing any tiny hairs around he forehead/brow area to make my eyebrows look extra defined. She then finished off by plucking any left over hairs and tinting one more time”
Boilerhouse is located on Acorn Road, right in the heart of Jesmond. It’s extremely easy to find and is had a really welcoming exterior. The inside doesn’t disappoint either, with a pretty vintage style interior with so much attention to detail. The beauty treatment rooms are on the third floor in cute little attic rooms, all sporting sloping ceilings and detailing matching that of the rest of the salon. Even the waiting area was beautifully shabby chic, with elegantly worn coffee tables, vintage floral sofa and little trinket decorations. The stylist met me in the waiting area and went through the safety questionnaire with me and helping me fill out the relevant documents. She then took me into the treatment room and let me get settled while asking questions about how I wanted my brows to look. She went into a lot of detail about my options and made sure she took my personal style and preferences into account
while she was styling. The process was complex and took just under an hour all in all. First, the brows were tinted. This was done using a sort of paintbrush, the stylist used very precise stokes to make the colour look at natural as possible. After a couple of minutes the tint was wiped away and wax was used to remove the stray hairs from around the brows. Next up was threading, I was a bit nervous as I’d heard it could be pretty painful but honestly I was very pleasantly surprised. I barely felt a thing and the stylist was really efficient to avoid it becoming too uncomfortable for long. She explained how she was removing any tiny hairs around he forehead/ brow area to make my eyebrows look extra defined. She then finished off by plucking any left over hairs and tinting one more time before applying a special pore-closing balm and neutral powder then showing me how I could define them further by applying a little HD brow powder.
“HD brows last around 4 weeks and for only £25.00, I’d say it’s well worth the investment” I was so happy with the results, it was such a difference from my natural brows and I definitely won’t need to fill them in at all now from day to day. I was extremely impressed with the Boilerhouse; it’s a beautiful salon with incredibly friendly and professional staff that are more than happy to answer any questions you may have about the treatment. HD brows last around 4 weeks and for only £25.00, I’d say it’s well worth the investment, and I couldn’t recommend a better place to get it done than the Boilerhouse.
Visit Boilerhouse at: 9 Acorn Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear NE2 2DJ
Smells like spring spirit From Jo Malone to Miss Dior, Amanda Jane Yap talks us through the best scents to help you embrace the coming of a new season and shake off those winter blues.
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brand new season has bestowed itself upon us, so it is a reason for us to upgrade our fragrance closet once again. Whenever anybody thinks of spring, freshly bloomed flowers always come to mind- a delightful scent that should always be part of every girl’s make-up desk.
Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet Floral fragrances have always been in the rage, regardless of the season. Therefore, it came as no surprise when Christian Dior unveiled Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet. This scent has a subtle floral note to it, unlike other perfumes which have that overpowering, sickly sweet note. You are unable to pinpoint a particular flower scent, because like its name suggest the mixture of florals makes up a bouquet, though I can pick up a hint of rose and something fruity in the mix. Its bottle is also a classic simplistic design, where the perfume cap is adorned with a sweet bow as the finishing touch. This hot recommendation just hits the nail on the head.
“This scent has a subtle floral note to it, unlike other perfumes which have that overpowering, sickly sweet note”
Hollister California Vista Cove Unlike other fragrance sprays, Vista Cove Body Mist by Hollister is priced affordably, definitely within a university student’s budget. As a body mist, it lasts slightly shorter than your average perfume but it is an olfactory experience that you would never want to miss. The scent consists of blackcurrant, pink magnolia and cedar-wood, a slightly sweet but refreshing spray concoction. For quantity-wise, you are not getting short-changed, as it comes in a plastic bottle of 235ml, designed with a purple hibiscus, topped with a typical spritz feature. If you are wondering what it smells like, step inside the Hollister branch in Eldon Square.
Jo Malone Nashi Blossom (Limited Edition) Jo Malone is not classified as an aged-old brand with centuries of history behind it, but joining the esteemed Estee Lauder Companies’ family of brands, prove that it has made its mark. I’m not singing its praises because it is a limited edition scent, but simply because it smells too good to be true. This Jo Malone Nashi Blossom fragrance neatly encapsulates the welcoming freshness of spring in a single blitz. Just general information for all, the meaning of ‘Nashi’ is Asian pear. Hence, it carries that extra fruity note to it, consisting of, you guessed it! Pear blossom, lemon, rose and white musk.
“I’m not singing its praises because it is a limited edition scent, but simply because it smells too good to be true”
This special fragrance made its debut in April 2016, so you are definitely at the pinnacle of the fashion crowd. If you want it, better grab it quickly before it is swept off the shelves. Every girl should have at least a bottle of Jo Malone Cologne in their fragrance collection, it is an essential accessory that would carry you through every milestone in your life.
Beautiful bases Nicole Ang gets our bases ready for spring
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ith spring fast arriving, it’s time to switch up our make up routine to match the season. And what better way to start than by switching up to lighter bases for our skin to achieve that healthy and dewy look we all dream of!
Diorskin Nude Air Serum Foundation £33 With a blend of various skin-loving plant oils, vitamins and minerals, the lightweight and runny texture of this foundation makes it feel a lot like a serum rather than a foundation. Despite its ultra thin texture, it provides sufficient coverage to conceal redness and light pigmentations on the face without feeling and looking too much like foundation. When applied, the Diorskin Nude Air goes on smooth and leaves you with a finish that sits between velvety and dewy, perfect for those ‘no make-up’ make-up days. It applies like a dream and looks like flawless second skin.
NARS Sheer Glow £31 This popular foundation is silky smooth in texture and has a satin near-matte natural looking finish while still providing a long and sheer coverage to the skin. Despite it not being dewy, it’s a lightweight foundation that really allows the natural glow of your skin to shine through. It offers light to medium coverage on the skin but is one of those highly buildable ones for days when you feel like you need more help covering up. The NARS Sheer Glow also comes in 20 different shades so there’ll be something for everyone.
Lancôme Miracle Cushion £30 Following the rising trend of cushion compacts in South Korea, Lancôme’s Miracle Cushion is the next big thing in the Western make-up world. This technology allows for nourishing skin-friendly ingredients to be added into the cream product to give you a sheer, glowing veil that almost looks like a second skin. The formula is incredibly lightweight and cooling when applied on your skin, perfect for all the sunny days to come in spring and summer. The sponge applicator also makes it super easy to apply and the compactness of the product allows for convenient on-the-go touch ups.
Dr Jart+ Regenerating BB Cream £18 This wonderful Korean BB cream was launched in the UK a few years back, and has seen massive popularity due to all the benefits that is contained within a single product. It claims to moisturize, tone, prime, give sun protection whilst also offering good coverage at the same time. The Regenerating BB Cream both hydrates and brightens your skin, giving that natural radiant dewy look that everyone covets. It also contains SPF30 to help protect your skin against the sun on those lovely spring picnic days.
Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream £28 Similar to other CC creams on the market, this Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream is ideal for daily wear or ‘make up free’ days because of its lightweight and skin-like texture when applied. It acts as a tinted sunblock but with all the different benefits and corrective properties that come along with it. Unlike BB creams that are mainly for those with blemished skin, this CC cream aims to colour correct the redness and dark patches on our skin, leaving us with a wonderful skin-like finish.
22.arts
Monday 25 April 2016
The Courier
Arts Editors: Holly Suttle, Emily Watton & Jade Holroyd
Have you ever heard of BookTube?
The Meta-Narrative of Cole Jackson Lydia McNeillie discusses the phenomenon of BookTube and its community
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For the next three weeks we’ll be publishing instalments of Kitty Marie’s short story. Part I here:
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ole Jackson smiled fiendishly as he picked up the newspaper for the 25th September 1925; this was the third and final episode of the pulp series on page six that he had been so deeply immersed in for the past month. He turned straight to it and was immediately pulled in by the story. He often thought it was weird that someone like him was so compelled by such fiction and wondered if his life was even remotely as interesting as the lives of the characters in the story. Even though his friends believed his job was exciting, he didn’t think it was; he was only an FBI agent, what could be exciting about arresting the mafia and repossessing contraband products everyday?
“Her dark brown hair was curled and shot, it elongated her face and emphasised her bright blue eyes”
He was nearing the end of a sentence when he slipped on the sidewalk. The paper flew up into the air and came down like black and white rain. Cole was dazed and saw only sky until a figure came to his aid. As his vision cleared his jaw dropped, the woman who helped him up-she was beautiful. Her dark brown hair was curled and short, it elongated her face and emphasised her bright blue eyes. Her red lips were playful as she smiled and spoke. “Are you alright?” Cole stuttered as he spoke, “I… I believe I am now Miss.” “Do you usually neglect to look where you are going when you walk Officer?” asked the woman as she laughed slightly and picked up his badge. Cole narrowed his eyes as he stared, her accent was very English, he wondered why she was in New York City, was she just a tourist? He pulled the tall collar of his tan trench coat to his neck, “Only when I am immersed in such a good story Miss...?” he said as he gazed at the glamorous woman in front of him.
“With a wide smile, Cole remarked “Wait right here” as he straightened his black fedora and ran into the crowded street...”
“Catherine Hector,” she replied as she held out her hand. “Nice to meet you Catherine, I’m Cole Jackson.” Catherine spoke again but her words were drowned out by the sound of nearby gunfire. Cole rolled his eyes, turned around and observed a man in an ill-fitting suit flee from two cops. He sighed as he knew he must go to help his colleagues, although off-duty, it was his job. He turned to Catherine and smiled. He was about to speak but she stopped him. “Perhaps you should aid your comrades,” she said as she looked at him and smiled. “Oh, I won’t be long, then we can go for lunch if you like?” asked Cole, as he looked at Catherine. He swallowed as he thought of what he had just said ‘I won’t be long’; it sounded so pretentious. Catherine looked at Cole and contemplated her answer. “That sounds like a splendid idea.” With a wide smile, Cole remarked “Wait right here” as he straightened his black fedora and ran off into the crowded street…
ouTube has offered a video platform for people from all walks of life to talk or film about the things they are truly passionate about. So, it is no surprise that many readers have taken to the internet to talk about the books they love. This part of the Internet is referred to as BookTube by the content creators and those who watch the videos and in the past couple of years has exponentially increased in popularity, becoming a significant marketing tool in the publishing industry.
not escaped the inevitable negatives that come with this kind of growth. The commercialization of the platform means more and more questions are being asked about honest reviews as more BookTubers become sponsored for their content. Furthermore, recently Ariel Bisset, who shares 89, 000 subscribers, complained on Twitter about the unfairness of publishing houses at-
“It is this passion that makes watching BookTubers entertaining”
“For anyone who loves to hear people’s thoughts on literature of any kind, BookTube is the place
From reviews, to tags, to book hauls and interviews with authors, read-a-longs, readathons and to discussions about books. For anyone who loves to hear people’s thoughts on literature of any kind, BookTube is the place to go. It’s true, that BookTube has not yet reached the heights of the beauty guru or gaming sectors in popularity or numbers on the social media site. However, its popularity is growing and an increasing number of publishing houses have created their own channels to interact with this ever-growing audience. The increased popularity of these videos has also meant an increase in the variety of videos being created. For a time, it seemed rather difficult to find book vloggers on the site who did not solely read young adult fiction; although, there is nothing wrong with young adult fiction and many books which are marketed as young adult fiction are very good, this arguably limited appeal. Now
however, it has become easier to find book vloggers who interact with all sorts of books whether that be science fiction, classics, fantasy or literary fiction. Equally, it has used its size to its advantage and many of its creators continually talk about the “lovely” community that exists within BookTube, which in some ways differentiates them from the rest of the You Tube platform. With BookTube, there really is something for everyone.
“With BookTube, there really is something for everyone”
However, although BookTube is somehow seen as a separate entity from the various complaints that can haunt YouTube, once you take a closer look, it becomes apparent that book vloggers have
tempting to use books as a form of payment in themselves, rather than actual money for their transactions. The reality is BookTube cannot be treated as a separate entity from the site in which it interacts as well as the financial benefits that can be reaped from being a successful YouTuber of any kind in any sector. Yet, what does come across, in BookTubers big and small, is their genuine passion for books and reading. It is this passion that makes watching BookTubers entertaining and interesting, albeit potentially damaging to my student loan, as I am encouraged to buy even more books. Lydia says: “My favourite BookTuber at the moment is MercyBookishMusings. She gives honest, funny and insightful reviews. I like that she doesn’t always follow the crowd and does her own thing.” Fancy a gander? Head on over to: www.youtube.com/user/MercysBookishMusings
Check out that album artwork
Sin-Rou Chen shares her top 3 all-time favourite album cover artwork designs
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The Beatles Abbey Road
ot only was their music the most amazing of all time, so were their album covers. As well as the iconic cover of the popular album ‘Revolver’, this album cover design is one of the famous covers of The Beatles. As many people know, this photo has drawn a whole bunch of fans to the road to make their own version of this photo. The reason why the public and fans of The Beatles, including myself, love this album cover so much is because it gives a vivid impression of what a casual picture of their lives may look like: walking across the street under dazzling sunshine in the middle of the day. It’s interesting that McCartney has no shoes for a reason unknown. Furthermore, the confidence of this worldfamous rock band was revealed by their facial expression and posing, as well as something unusual on its front cover: neither the artist name nor the album title were shown. Sure, why did they need that?
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Muse Uprising
ith a gloomy sky, dark grass full of teddy bears, and the curious title ‘Uprising’, the cover expresses a sense of humour. This is one the most attractive album covers of English rock band Muse. The creative idea was thought up by talented designer, Storm Thorgerson, who has created a tonne of brilliant music album covers in the U.K. Interestingly, the fame of most ingenious and artistic album cover designers usually revolves around rock band albums. They are, usually, more creative and intend to let people’s imagination run wild. The strong contrast between the idea of teddy bears and the dusky background makes an amusing and mysterious combination: Are they heroic fighters who are going to overthrow a regime of some sort? Where is the bright earth’s atmosphere, running kids and emerald lawn that are more commonly associated with teddy bears? Did you ask those questions too? That’s why I love this cover.
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Liszt
Another World Record
his is a piece of enjoyable design involving abstract concepts. I am neither an avid fan nor an expert on classical music, but for a classical music album, I think this one is really innovative. A couple of years ago I accidently saw it online when I was searching for elements for my design module project. For obvious reasons, this outstanding design caught my eye. It’s true that when it comes to classical music albums, abstract illustrations are commonly used on the front covers. However, not all of them are harmonious and delicate like this one. To be honest, I have no idea what the music inside is about, or the name of the man on the cover. Nevertheless, I am pretty sure he is a great musician or composer. But what I do know for certain is that if I could handed artwork like this to my design tutor, I would definitely get the best grade in my class.
The Courier
arts.23
Monday 25 April 2016
Inked for life, but is it art?
thecourieronline.co.uk/arts c2.arts@ncl.ac.uk | @CourierArts
Book Review
Ritwik Sarkar gives his opinion on whether tattoos deserves to be called ‘Art’
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he permanence of art, in the unflinching rigour of time, is an aspect of life that few really savour. The thrill of producing a work of art is almost lost in the immediacy of it’s production, as one only enjoys it for the given moment, and moves on to the next phase of their lives. Tattoos are, in a manner, mankind’s solution to this conundrum that’s somewhat hard to discern. A work of art, etched into the very literal fibre of our being, makes man the ultimate canvas, ushering in a new definition of the permanence of art.
very people, giving them a wealth of personal understanding that only a handful of people ever have access to. The meaning and significance of a tattoo always fascinated me, but the idea of getting one meant that I had to commit myself to something that I really believed in, which I didn’t think I could do because I hadn’t lived enough. I lived out the experience vicariously, when I chanced upon my
“ It can be anything you want it to be, and anything you want it to stand for”
“These ‘mistakes’ transcend from initial periods of crippling embarrassment”
The process of finding something that makes you happy, remind you of an experience, or just a commemorate something important, take it to someone and have them make it permanent part of your being is an experience that surpasses normal existence. A tattoo doesn’t necessarily have to be an elaborate image of sheer artistry; it can even be as simple as a little star to remind you of your self worth. That is at the end of the day, what makes a tattoo beautiful - it can be anything you want it to be, and anything you want it to stand for.
In the modern age, tattoos have been largely associated with drunken mistakes made on lavish night-outs. These ‘mistakes’ transcend from initial periods of crippling embarrassment only to serve later as a series of hilarious anecdotes that exemplify the ‘wild life’ that someone who had the tattoo led. This conception of a ‘wild life’ dilutes in many ways what tattoo artists stand for. Craftsmen in their own right, tattoo artists are not often given their dues based on the rapid rate at which they perform their craft. However like a fine artist, their skills have taken years of practice to hone with little to any formal training. What does make their craft incredibly unique is that tattoo artists live the experiences of all their patients, or customers, whose personal stories are usually the ones that are inked. Their own artistic development is informed by the stories of those
Poetry Corner A Broken Picture. You were my gallery, -every part of you beautiful. And all I did was hang with you, alongside you -an ornament, a piece of decoration. You decided it was too much. You created another perspective, slightly askew, a different angle -you tried to adjust. Not art, not a masterpiece -a picture. A passing image; the missing piece, to be replaced -with ease. A floating fragment, left searching for the bigger picture.
Agree with Ritwik? Tweet us your opinion @TheCourierArts
Preview: NUTS Drama Festival
I am chasing my dream I am chasing my dream, Dreaming of oneiric Cambridge, And poetical Paris. Walking alone in a rainbow, Walking alone on flagstones in Cambridge to explore your impressions. I load starlight fully in the boat to wander within your heart. Your eyes have their silence. I know, In your silver eyes are things that enclose me. Like dreams, Sediment of rainbow-like dreams, Beautiful but far away. Standing alone in a romantic street, Standing alone under the Eiffel Tower and watch Seine’s sunrise. I bring a crimson cloud to render your smile. Your mouth rises gently. I know, In your red mouth are things that enclose me. Like dreams, Emanation of budded lotus-like dreams, Peaceful but have short lives. I am chasing my dream. In a dream, I and my life shut wonderfully, As the stars appear as darkness sweeps across every city. Whether oneiric Cambridge, Or poetical Paris. I am chasing my dream in a dream.
And now…broken pieces, Scattered so many. It was such a sight. All torn up. Olivia Wilson
soft spoken, ever-smiling flat-mate outside a tattoo parlour, debating on whether or not to get one. As I left her, I came to an important realization - You didn’t need to have ‘alternative lifestyle’ or deep personal experience to get a tattoo. My flatmate is person who’s at her happiest with a fridge full of exotic cheese and yogurt. So, to see her getting a tattoo, just to check off the experience on her Bucket List was something that filled me with an immense sense of wonder.
Yiwei Shan
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s the final semester begins Newcastle University Theatre Society (NUTS) prepares for its annual Drama Festival. There will be six brand new shows written by students that will take place over two nights on the 3rd – 4th May at Summer Pavilion, it’s going to be an event you won’t want to miss. There may also be a guest appearance from Durham University Student Theatre so keep an eye out. This year’s shows include: Jigsaw By Lucy Sherratt. In sessions with a psychotherapist, four patients reveal their everyday struggles with mental illness. Good Taste By Aidan Clancy & Joe Hodgson. On a series of blind dates Rose is met with some rather odd characters, from street magicians to cannibals it’s safe to say she sure knows how to pick ‘em. Dot By Hannah Jayne Leek. Inspired by a true story, Dorothy searches for her long lost brother, looking to give him the family life she never had. The Way the World Works By Victoria Kaye & Tom Merson. It’s a world where Heaven, Hell and Earth are all departments of a large office block, but after Earth receives a bad appraisal some special measures need to be put in place. Welcome to Camp Camp By Josh Turner. On a retreat which claims to cure the sufferers of heterosexuality, sexual re-orientation coaches guide the audience through a series of rather unorthodox treatments. The festival also features the 2016 Edinburgh Fringe preview of Spoon-Feeders by Patrick Watson. Voice actors who record anonymous interviews for the news are on to a big story, but how far has the truth been twisted before the story hits the air? If you want to get involved in this year’s drama festival, keep an eye on our Facebook page (/nutstheatre) for more details or email nuts@newcastle. ac.uk for more information. Josh Turner
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Jonathan Hastings reviews Anthem by Ayn Rand
nthem, published in Britain in 1938, is a novella written by Ayn Rand, who is most noticed for her work on objectivism. This is the concept that man can be viewed as a heroic being, somewhat unhinged from society, to develop their own happiness, as a means of purpose in life. Anthem, whose very story comes from this idea of objectivism, focuses on a single character who is amidst the collective, and is brought up to value the ideas of collectivism. He follows strict rules and in unable to think in the first person.
“It is this ideology that is most jarring”
This novella vaguely sits within the dystopian genre and allows the reader to make a number of assumptions within the first chapter. It is this intricate narrative that drives the Anthem at each stage, through character development and through the construction of the world. Ayn Rand, through simplistic language, has been able to capture a broad ideology and is able to convincingly portray it in a hundred pages. It is this ideology that is most jarring upon reading Anthem. Since the book is written in first person, the start of the novel tries to take you out of this personal experience by introducing the plural pronoun, we, instead of using the singular, I. This unique method of writing lends itself perfectly to the state of the character and provides a backdrop for the character’s development as well their later development. This, along with Anthem’s interesting insight into Rand’s personal experience in Russia, pre-war, is one of its personal highlights.
“The great thing about Anthem is it’s inability to shy away from the reader”
It’s this that makes the novella really stand out. Its ability to show you how pernicious these systems are and how easily you are convinced of Rand’s objectivism. Regardless of your philosophical stance, it is easy to understand her motivations through the character’s motives and how they have succumbed to this world. This novella is not perfect though; there are a lot of flaws with Anthem, although I pose these as flaws due to the shortness of the tale and the dystopian genre itself. It is very obvious now, knowing how other YA novels develop, what will happen at the end. The world could have also been further developed, as well as the interactions with certain characters, and, without spoiling it too much, it doesn’t explain why people don’t escape the system more often. As it seems that it’s almost a cascade effect, without much additional explanation. Again, though, this is likely due to the shortness of the novella, and my knowledge of the YA dystopian genre, as of late.
“Anthem’s interesting insight into Rand’s personal experience in Russia”
The great thing about Anthem is it’s inability to shy away from the reader, telling you what it hopes to achieve and giving you characters you want to invest in. I would thoroughly recommend it; it only took me an hour on the train from York. If you are fond of Orwell’s work, of which Anthem proceeded, as well as the other classic dystopian fictions of Huxley and Branbury, I wouldn’t miss it. The inconsistencies, I’ve presented, are only small and lend nicely to the world, and the imagination it provokes.
24.featuremusic
Livin’ La Vida Local: A Festival, A Parade As part of this week’s music festival special, Dominique Daly sat down with Joe Allan, front man of arguably Newcastle’s biggest buzz band at the minute: A Festival, A Parade, who are to headline the Tyne Bar at this year’s Evolution Emerging Tell us about the origins of A Festival, A Parade. The band first formed when I recruited the other lads to act as a backing band for the solo stuff I was doing, roughly just under a year ago. After a few months of that set-up, we began to write as a four piece, and as a result decided that it seemed appropriate to continue as a band
How would you describe your music? There’s a lot of gloomy, emotional bits and pieces in it, but it’s also very melodic and upbeat. There’s a load of somber, brooding vocals mixed with nigh-on wee guitar lines - there’s a bit of everything in it. If I had to give it a name, I think ‘Dark Intricate Melodic Rock’ is pretty fitting.
Was the creative process of working as a band quite different for you, being used to working solo? Definitely, at the time when the band first started, I was exhausted with the idea of being a singer-songwriter. I was really eager to get into a band, but then I didn’t realise how much planning and stuff goes into it. I had it pretty easy on my own, not having to book to practise anywhere. The song writing process was pretty natural though, I’d been in bands with all the lads in the past so we kind of knew how each other worked and what sort of music we were into. So it was logistically a bit more difficult that
night of NARC’ Mag’s 10th birthday shows. They’ll both be excellent opportunities to get our live performance perfected. We’re also in the middle of writing our second EP, so hopefully we’ll have some nice new material to share with everyone by the time Evolution Emerging comes around as well. I’m sure Reece (our guitarist) will probably put together some arty visuals to project whilst we play or something as well. We’ll do everything we can to make it special!
We’re all into all sorts of different types of music, and I think that’s evident in our tunes. However, we typically write and listen to emotional, melodic, alternative indie/rock stuff. With that in mind, bands like Manchester Orchestra, Into It. Over It., Frightened Rabbit and The Twilight Sad are all fitting influences. We’re named after a line in a song by The National, I think they’re also a pretty big influence on our stuff, particularly lyrically.
What can we expect from your set?
What act on the line-up are you most excited to see/why?
Song-wise, we’ll be playing our newly released
The Buzz around you guys has been fairly insane over the past 6 months, which is obviously great, but was that a lot of pressure to deal with everyone’s expectations before the EP had even been released? It was yeah, it was all exciting and that but we did feel like it was a lot, because we didn’t know where any of it was coming from. We hadn’t done that many live shows, so it was scary the amount of people that seemed to take an interest. But we’re pretty confident with the EP and our live show, so we just kind of used that to motivate us and its paid off.
Why should people come see you at Evo? We’ve only been going for a very short amount of time, yet the scale of how well-received our stuff has been in that short space of time is totally humbling and overwhelming. To be given The Tyne Bar headline slot before we even released our debut EP is an incredible honour, it would be really nice to have a load of people we care about there to help us celebrate on the night! Also, people seem to think our live shows are pretty special, so you might want to come and see if they’re right or not! We’ll also have new songs for you all by then as well.
Do you think some of that expectation stems from the success of your previous solo projects and the rest of the bands previous music experience? Definitely, I think particularly the Shades link, because they’re known for their energetic live performances. So I think off the back of that people expected the same from us and hopefully that’s came through.
Do you have any plans for your next move off the momentum of your success here in the North East?
Your EP ‘A Piece of Meat, An Irregular Heartbeat’ launched recently and has had a great response. Can you tell us a bit about how that came together? They were just sort of the first three songs that we wrote together as a band, so we just wanted them out straight away as a bit of a reference point, because we did have a lot of people asking about us and trying to find out what we were all about. So we just wanted something there. But the songs are all sort of about really personal stuff, they’re all about random bits of my life, masked in loads of weird lyrics and weird noises and stuff. We recorded in a Blank Studios back in November and then put it out a couple of weeks back – we just did it on a whim. So people had something to listen to.
There’s so many of our good friends and great bands on the line-up this year, it’s a tough decision. If I had to whittle it down to one, I’d probably say I’m most looking forward to seeing EAT. The stuff they’ve released so far is right up my street, they’re all really nice people and there’s an awful lot of ‘buzz’ about them, I’ve been desperate to see them live for ages and this will probably be my best chance! I’m also super excited to see Seeing Hands, PLAZA, The Welcome Party, Drifts, Immy Williams, Life Mechanics, Crying Lions, Old Prides, and probably loads more. The line-up is absolutely excellent this year, we’re so chuffed to be a part of it.
being on my own but the music came naturally.
How are you getting ready for Evolution Emerging? We’ve got a couple of gigs ahead of Evo which will act as a pretty effective rehearsals, supporting VANT at The Cluny and headlining the first
debut EP (A Piece Of Meat, An Irregular Heartbeat) in full, alongside a mixture of old and new songs, maybe a couple of interludes and stuff. People often say our live shows are pretty memorable/interesting, so we’ll certainly be pulling out all the stops to make our set as good as possible!
Who are your biggest musical influences?
We’re going to do it a lot differently now that we’ve got that foundation to work with. We’re going back to Blank at the start of May and we’re going to do two singles which we’re going to release over the next year and a half or so. We’re going to do it properly this time, going to get some press behind it and stuff. And just continue to do things right live, we’re getting on a few pretty prestigious festivals and a couple of good support slots, like we’re playing with Vant in a couple of weeks’ time. So just keep doing things like that and hopefully it will just get bigger and better.
Lastly, can you tell us a secret/an embarrassing story about someone in the band? A few months ago, I decided to take up cycling. 35 seconds into my first cycling trip,
The Courier
musicfeature.25
Monday 25 April 2016
The Courier Does Festival Season 2016 ‘Tis the season to drink warm cans of cider and enjoy fab new music! Well, that season is just around the corner, which makes us very very excited. So we’ve gathered the troops to give you the low down on four of the best festivals summer 2016 has to offer!
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oing into its 8th year, Outlook Festival is an annual pilgrimage for many UK festival-goers, with more than one person having described it as ‘a life-changing experience’. Started by Leeds reggae collective SubDub, the festival hosts an array of bass music within the grounds of Fort Punta Cristo in Pula, Croatia, promising ‘wicked music, smiling people and stunning settings’. And with the festival overlooking the Adriatic Sea at the height of Summer, can you blame them? This year brings a whole host of artists, with the festival kicking off on the 31st of August with their opening party, a separately ticketed event set within the walls of the 2000-year-old Pula amphitheatre, headlined by reggae titan Damian ‘Jr. Gong’ Marley, hip-hop legends Slum Village, and the SubDub resident soundsystem selectors Iration Steppas. The day after, the festival goes into full swing, with Andy C, Stormzy, Joey Bada$$, Noisia and Kano all set to perform headline slots over the 4-day period. However, the festival is so much more than the
“Outlook Festival is an annual pilgrimage for many UK festival-goers, with more than one person having described it as ‘a life-changing experience’” headliners. Soundsystems from all over Europe come together to host some of the largest names in underground bass music, with original dubstep dadas Mala, Kode9 and Loefah all making an appearance, alongside reggae and jungle mainstays Goldie, David Rodigan and Mungo’s HiFi. It also appears that there’s a hugely increased presence
H
idden away in an idyllic forest, by the still waters of a tranquil lake, lies an abandoned village. Its derelict buildings, overgrown paths and secret hideaways have been all but forgotten. Well, almost. For on one weekend a year (27-29 May to be precise), an insatiable beat draws tribes from far and wide to this remote Lincolnshire woodland. It is an ancient ritual, dating all the way back to 2015. They come to drink cider, dance in the moonlight and sacrifice bourguignon glazed beef shin burgers to their pagan musical gods. This is a festival like no other. This is the Lost Village. Spawned from the creative minds of Moda Black label founders, and occasional Radio 1 hosts, Jaymo & Andy George, the festival has attracted even more talent following its phenomenal debut last year. Still an intimate affair with a capacity of 5,000, they’ve now got over fifty-two DJ’s that will entertain the tribal revellers with
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hilst Bestival has always had its foothold in electronic and dance music (and that is no different this year), the line up for this year branches out to include some bands from other genres as well. One of the headliners includes 80s new wave megastars The Cure, who will be bringing classics such as Lovecats, A Forest, Just Like Heaven and In between days. Bastille are regulars on the festival circuit, and will be putting on an appearance at Bestival playing songs off their 2013 hit album Bad Blood and possibly some newer songs in anticipation of their new LP release later this year. However, Years and Years are going to be the huge pop act this year, with them currently smashing charts worldwide with hits such as King, Desire and Shine. Reggae fans will no doubt be pleased about the inclusion of Damian “J.R Gong” Marley on the bill. Rock is also going to feature with The Wytches and Wolf Alice, who are coming off the back of their number one album My
W
ay out West in Gothenburg is easily Sweden’s biggest varied festival. Whilst other Swedish musical vacations stick to one genre, favouring EDM and Metal, Way out west provides a smattering of artists from all genres, and we can see from the jaw-dropping 2016 line-up that the organisers have their fingers on the pulse of just about every music scene the world over. Taking place between the 11th and 13th of August, and set in the idyllic Slottsskogen forest, WOW has already attracted some pop festival staples like Sia, James Bay, and Critic’s Choice winner at the Brit awards, Jack Garratt. More intriguing though is its attention to detail. The past year has been absolutely dominated by Grime, and WOW does not disappoint here, booking Skepta, Stormzy, Lady Leshurr and Section Boyz, all acts that have been blowing up in recent months, with Skepta set to lock in his urban dominance with latest album Konichiwa in the coming weeks.
of grime and hip-hop acts this year, with grime crew Levelz and up-and-comers Novelist and CasIsDEAD all making their debuts, alongside the first appearance from US hiphop breakthrough A-F-R-O, an 18-year-old MC who’s been blowing minds across Europe on his recent continental tour. If bass, sunshine and vibes is what you’re after from Summer 2016, then it’s a one-way ticket to Pula. Jake Nevens
some of the world’s finest house, techno, disco and electronica. Playing across stages such as the Forgotten Cabin and the Burial Ground will be the likes of Fatboy Slim, Grandmaster, DJ Koze and the funky Horse Meat Disco. As well as another twenty live acts - that will include offerings from Henrik Shwarz and Jack Garrat the festival also has a Lost Theatre that will host comedy and a Lake of Tranquility where one can go to unwind in a wood-fired hot tub. Though lost in the wilderness, fine dining comes in the form of global street food or the tempting four course tribal banquet. As you wander the woods you may even encounter The Seer or Mr Lanius, two of the many bizarre characters that inhabit the woods throughout the weekend. For all those who dare go, a surreal and otherworldly experience lies in wait. Christopher Little
“One of the headliners includes 80s new wave megastars The Cure, who will be bringing classics such as Lovecats, Just Like Heaven and In between days”
Love is Cool. Bestival has also cottoned on to the growing grime scene by putting on Skepta and Eskimo Dance-Wiley’s huge grime ensemble that will be a definite must see this year. Nonetheless, if it is dance that you have come to see, then have no fear. This year Bestival seem to be showcasing the entire history of dance music, with the old being drum and bass grandfather Goldie, the not so old being Hot Chip and Fatboy Slim, and the new being house sensations Major Lazer and Diplo. It also should be mentioned that Bestival has some great non-music events on such as ‘Night Parades’, which, as the name would suggest, are carnivals that move right through the festival on the Friday and Sunday nights. There is also the Bollywood Tent, a hand-stitched tent that over previous years has featured DJ sets from Disclosure, Chase and Status and Fatboy Slim. Dan Pye
“Way out west provides a smattering of artists from all genres, and we can see from the jaw-dropping 2016 line-up that the organisers have their fingers on the pulse of just about every music scene the world over”
If that isn’t your cup of tea though, you’re still sorted. Hip hop fans can enjoy the trippy experimental sounds and decades of experience of Massive Attack, as well as Kanye West protégé Travis Scott, who this year alone released his spectacular debut album Rodeo, his unique style lending to club bangers like ‘Antidote’ and ‘3500’ that have shook the world of rap and propelled him to the support spot on Rhianna’s latest ‘ANTI’ tour. Scott collaborator and Swedish native Yung Lean will also be bringing his Sad Boys back home to Gothenburg. Indie and alternative fans are also catered to, with Alex Turner (of Arctic Monkeys fame) and Miles Kane side project The Last Shadow Puppets leading the bill. They are joined by Daughter, Haim and The Kills in the fight to reach the well-needed guitar quota. WOW also boasts some of the world’s hottest DJs, with Jamie XX and M83 also featuring. All things considered, it looks to be a genre bonanza this summer in Sweden, and a tough festival to miss. Jordon Oloman.
28.music
Monday 25 April 2016
The Courier
Music Editors: Jamie Shepherd, Dominique Daly & Connor McDonnell
Living La Vida Local Music editor Jamie Shepherd caught up with Cheap Lunch ahead of their Grace House fundraiser on 16th July at the Cluny So how did you come together as a band? Andrew Jones- Well these used to be in a band called Meatniks and they kicked out their old guy. Jamie Oliver- We disbanded as Meatniks but me and Alex still jammed together for ages. We wrote some songs that sounded pretty good but then we needed some bass. Andrew is aAlex Nicholson- Guitarist. JO- Yeah, he’s a guitarist but we got him in to play bass. He’s different though. He plays baritone guitar, which is a bit of a compromise. We’re a band full of compromises some would say.
Vinyl victories on RSD ‘16
Serena Bhardwaj takes us through her top buys, her wish list and the back-streets of the North East on Record Store Day 2016
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t’s 2016 and vinyl is thriving. What a time to be alive. It’s been growing for a while and sales have increased by over 60% since January. This April marked the 9th year of celebrating independent music stores and with more than 250 record labels releasing around 500 limited addition LPs, there was pretty much something for everyone. The North East’s record stores didn’t let the side down this year with many local retailers stocking one-off vinyl by an array of artists; plus local bands played sets throughout the day across town. This year saw music-lovers turning up as early as 6am to make sure they bagged some musical treasures. So, to give a brief lowdown of the day…at JG Windows they held giveaways for hi-fi systems and multimedia systems whilst stocking 80% of the ex-
“I can’t be doing with Eat4Less. It’s canny shite like” How would you describe your sound? JO- We’ve spent ages trying to figure that out. Surf/ Doom/Punk is one way you could go. AJ- In that order. AN- Loads of breakbeat... there is no breakbeat. You’re band’s name is Cheap Lunch, where’s your favourite spot in Newcastle for a cheap lunch? AN- Peggy Sues on Chilli Road. AJ- Rank. AN- Last time I was there I got mistaken for a playwright.
“We bring the noise” AJ- I can’t be doing with Eat4Less. It’s canny shite like. JO- That Time Banh Mi place. They’re doing it even cheaper now so I’ll definitely be there more. Where do you guys fit into the Newcastle music scene? AJ- There’s a lot of noisey bands and there’s a lot of shoegaze bands. We’re none of them. We bring a lot of noise. AN- Don’t use that quote. It’s gonna be a pull quote. AJ- We’ve been playing with a lot of people. We’ve played with indie pop people and heavier people. We’re quite versatile. We have ballady songs but we also have proper Sabbathy doom things. JO- Our songs go from slow and heavy to heavy and fast or slow fast and heavy or they’ll do all of these at once.
“We like the small venues. They works for us just because we have no fans”
AJ- We like messing with people. We like putting breakdowns in the middle of things or just when you think there’s going to be a breakdown just stopping. JO- We just get bored when we’re writing so we just go “That sounds cool, let’s just go with it. We share a room with Tough Tits and we fit in really well with them. AJ- They’re a great bunch of guys... JO- They’re all girls. What venues have you played? AJ- We’ve played at The Cluny which has mint sound and it was great having that wall of sound. We put on a gig around Christmas at The Little Buildings which is tiny and that was a really good atmosphere. It was proper brutal. AN- We like the small venues that works for us just because we have no fans. JO- The sound does travel better in a small room though. AJ- We practice in a tiny room so it makes sense .
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clusive LPs. Vinyl Guru in Sunderland provided tea and coffee alongside some vinyl treats whilst celebrating the existing records with their 3 LPs for £10 offer. Across the other side of town at The Bottle Shop Bar & Kitchen near Beatdown Records, DJ sets were scheduled in the evening from the likes of SoulJam and Popklubb.
“In an increasingly digital age, it’s relevant to remember that every day should be Record Store Day. Music shouldn’t just be celebrated on the third Saturday in April.” I headed down to RPM Records to see what was up for grabs. We were greeted by tea, bacon sandwiches and a surprisingly short wait. I managed to get my hands on Desmond Dekker’s ‘Rude Boy Ska’; recorded from the final studio session before he died, and “The Jimi Hendrix Experience Smash Hits’; a selection of timeless singles restored from the original tapes that were released back in 1969. Unfortunately, with the commercialisation of Record Store Day, prices have swarmed up so it was difficult to narrow my choices down to a student budget. Nevertheless, the whole day celebrates the little guys - the independent record stores. It’s undoubtedly their busiest day of the year, helping sales boost tre-
mendously and it keeps them going so I suppose I can’t complain too much. But, there were so many more LPs on the limited edition list for 2016 that I wanted to pick up. Foals released a 7” single featuring their cover of Mark Ronson’s ‘Daffodils’ and an unreleased track called ‘Rain’. As an avid Foals fan I’m gutted, to say the least, that it was sold out by the time I flicked through the remaining records. The Slits released their incredible cover of Gladys Knight and Marvin Gaye’s ‘I Heard it Through the Grapevine’ - a 10” reissue described as punky reggae. Space re-released their debut album Spiders to mark it’s 20th Anniversary, whilst Leon Bridges released Louisiana Sun, recorded from the Coming Home Sessions with tracks not on the original album. The list goes on. Even Steve Coogan’s Alan Partridge got involved with a picture disc of two episodes of the radio show ‘Knowing Me, Know You’.
“with the commercialisation of Record Store Day, prices have swarmed up so it was difficult to narrow my choices down to a student budget” Another Record Store Day down and another success. It’s an exciting time of the year for music enthusiasts with some real pearls being released. In an increasingly digital age ,it’s relevant to remember that every day should be Record Store Day. Music shouldn’t just be celebrated on the third Saturday in April. We should stroll through the LP filled isles of our local record store more than once a year.
London is getting clubbed to death
With multiple clubs in London facing licensing disputes and closures, Luke Acton looks at the future of club culture in the capital and beyond
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t’s been announced that Dance Tunnel, the venue located under Voodoo Ray’s pizza in London, is closing its doors this August due to the current licencing climate in the capital. The owners have said that they want to move to a different location, but that they’ve had to move is symptomatic of the increasingly hostile environment inner London is becoming to smaller venues, due to pressure from larger developments. Earlier in the year, a petition had to be started to save the Bussey Building from developers, a similar operation is happening across the street from Dance Tunnel, called ‘Vibe’. The video promoting it showing young people enjoying all the culture in and around Hackney.
“There’s a danger it’ll stifle it to sterility, until it’s only the neo-yuppies that can afford to do anything and a can of Red Stripe is £6” The hypocrisy of this is obvious and highlights that fact that London is eating itself. Although it’s good to hear that Dance Tunnel is moving, it’s sad that it’s have to. Hailed for its varied and quality bookings, mid-sized venues like Dance Tunnel are becoming rarer. Multi-room and smaller club venues are becoming the safest
financially, and the most common. These spaces aren’t bad, it’s just good to have variation. The loss of the venue prompted Four Tet to ask for investors to come forward to save the venue – it’s more to do with the priorities of local authorities in the boroughs. Fabric, an institution, last year was threatened with closure due to a series of drug-related deaths. People shouldn’t die at clubs but closing those places so that they go somewhere outside licensing regulations also wouldn’t be great.
“The familiar problem of prioritising abstracted fiscal gain over more growth that make people happy, promises to ruin everywhere it touches culturally” It is good to have a healthy renewal of clubs. The Venue, in its 26th year, should have, by now, been left to die quietly. This death-and-renewal process, however, is not at play here. The scene is under acute pressure to diversify in the face of bureaucratic barriers. The emergence of smaller venues like the ones that exist in pub spaces are a way of running nights indefinitely without a lot of financial risk, but, the scene can’t rely on this. The
emergence of new staples in the club scene is required. But this is not just a London problem; it is just the most intense there. The future of the club scene in the UK as a whole is in question as half of its nightclubs have closed in the last 10 years. The familiar problem of prioritising abstracted fiscal gain over more growth that make people happy promises to ruin everywhere it touches culturally. That is until ‘culture’ becomes an estate agent buzz word with no real referent. This is in no way the end, or the beginning of the end of the clubbing scene, the people won’t let that happen, but it is a sign that London and its Local Authorities have their priorities out of whack. I can’t even live in the city I grew up in. This pressure from Local Authorities, noise complaints and draconian licensing laws, won’t kill the scene, but there’s a danger it’ll stifle it to sterility, until it’s only the neo-yuppies that can afford to do anything and a can of Red Stripe is £6. A wasteland. A true dystopia.
The Courier
music.29
Monday 25 April 2016
Red Flag All Saints R
ed Flag is a bit like going for a run, while lacking fitness. You start off surprisingly well and then slowly and reluctantly realise that you’ve got a situation on your hands. You’re clearly struggling with this endeavour and you’re now aware of the depressing amount of ground you have to cover, which will only really inflict increased suffering. To fans of fitness, please don’t worry. I am aware that this is the wrong attitude to be taking if I am to achieve good health. However, with music and especially in the context of All Saints’ second come-back album it seems entirely appropriate. The album starts surprisingly well which leads you to believe that the rest of it would be as refreshing as the first 3 songs. As you get to the beginning of ‘Summer Rain’ you start to get a stitch and dramatically lose interest.
“they may be attempting to depict genuine and profound feelings and/or events, they are a scream of unoriginality and laziness” To be fair to All Saints their intentions with this album were clearly very good, as they’ve brought in elements of other genres like Dancehall, heard clearly on ‘Ratchet Behaviour’, and Trip – Hop, on ‘Make You Love Me’. Yet, it was probably their producer Karl Clive Gordon (AKA ‘K-Gee’) was most likely responsible for these refreshing diversities, found mainly in the backing tracks. This naturally leaves the 4 members of the group to deal with the vocal lines, harmonies and sadly the lyrics,. Although they may be attempting to depict genuine and profound feelings and/or events, they are a scream of unoriginality and laziness. Kicking off with the group’s single ‘One Strike,’ a song which does the job, as a good charts hit. The
Junk
M83
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83’s long-awaited album is finally here to grace our ears with the sounds we have come to expect from Anthony Gonzalez. Or are they? The first track of the album, ‘Do It, Try It’, was also the first single to be released, and it became quite apparent that the artist has been intending to go in a different direction. For the longtime fans of M83’s work, it takes a few listens for this song to become one that grows on you. In contrast, ‘Sunday Night 1987’ is probably the track most reminiscent of older work – less pop and 80s synths, more ethereal vocals by Gonzalez and a harmonica to conclude both track and album. The two tracks bookend an album that has a song for everyone. There are the instrumental ‘Moon Crystal’ (quite generic-sounding), ‘Tension’, and ‘Ludivine’, bringing us to the familiar sounds of ‘Midnight Souls Still Remain’; the last track on 2008’s Saturdays = Youth. The theme of love is heavily prevalent in Junk, with ‘Atlantique Sud’, a tender dialogue of longing in Gonzalez’ and Mai Lan’s native French; ‘For The Kids’ – a mother and child’s bond, melancholically voiced by Susanne Sundfor, who also lent her voice to 2013’s title track Oblivion; and ‘Walkway Blues’ – a funkier introduction that segues into lyrics of heartbreak, notably ‘you walked off with someone new anyway/I’m lost on the sidewalk (calling your name)’. For those who discovered M83 through 2011’s chart-topping ‘Midnight City’, Junk’s ‘Road Blaster’ is sure to satisfy the craving for a trademark M83 power tune, albeit a more 80s-sounding one. By dictionary definition, Junk may mean worthless things, but not so in relation to M83’s seventh studio album. I choose to pair the album title with the other definition of the word – belongings – M83’s dynamic, dreamy melodies. Bianca Ioncini
Electronic Blanket Sophie Ahmed talks setting up club nights and funk and food
track contains some interesting harmony, uncharacteristically good lyrics for the most part, and a catchy chorus that keeps you interested. Similar things can be said about the following tracks ‘One Woman Man,’ although may be weaker lyrically, has an even catchier chorus. ‘Make You Love Me’ is nostalgic of some of the classic anthems that the 90’s group TLC produced.
Nocturnal Nature: setting up your own student club night
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“These songs are dramatic in the description of their apparently oh-so uniquely difficult lives... to add fuel to the fire, they do so with the most generic language and description possible”
After a flying start to the album, All Saints apparently decide to shut up shop, with tracks 4 – 12 being irritatingly mediocre, especially the tepidness of the words they sing. Generally these tracks show the group attempting to be profound. These songs are dramatic in the description of their apparently oh-so uniquely difficult lives. Unforntuately, to add fuel to the fire, they do so with the most generic language and description possible, with lines such as ‘Why didn’t I see this coming?’ on ‘Red Flags’ and ‘I just can’t let go’ on ‘Who Hurt You’. However, my personal favourite is this from ‘Summer Rain’: ‘I never thought you would break my heart’. I respect the fact that not everyone listens to the music for the lyrics but the vocals are so prominent in this album that it’s hard to find them acceptable. Believe me, I could attack the vocal lines and backing tracks in these songs almost as much as the lyrics but in many ways I’d being saying the same thing. Toby Livsey
More than this Sugababes - One Touch
All Saints’ manager Ron Tom brought Sugababes together one year after he formed the UK-Canadian group. Sugababes’ debut One Touch, released in 2000 was one example of UK garage’s popularity as a genre, entering the spotlight of mainstream pop. The opener ‘Overload’ reflected their youthfulness, with lyrics narrativizing a teenage girl’s crush on a boy, and the difficulty of that situation. The song was released when original members Siobhán Donaghy and Mutya Buena were only 15. The album itself was deemed a failure, and the teenage group were subsequently dropped by London Records in 2001.
Human Performance Parquet Courts
The Hope Six Demolition Project
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P
ith a series of consistently excellent releases, Parquet Courts certainly set themselves a high bar to reach with Human Performance. As an album, it’s as clever as ever; a brilliant exploration into various mundane realities of existence, incorporating a thought-out and increasingly-mature approach to their music. This is exemplified by opener ‘Dust’, a quirky, minimal track featuring singer/guitarist Andrew Savage’s signature monotone vocals take a hilariously anxious turn in a bizarre chant discussing the prevalence of dust. Their songwriting is noticeably more ambitious, such as the aggressive, unhinged ‘Paraphrased’ seamlessly transitioning into a euphoric outro, and the tastefully messy guitar solo of ‘One Man No City’. Lyrically this album undoubtedly excels, with tracks like ‘Captive Of The Sun’ almost resembling poetry more than music. Despite these various advancements, something appears to have been lost along the way. The DIY, punk edge is played down throughout, which perhaps goes some way to explain why a number of the tracks simply are not as instantly memorable or catchy as we have come to expect. ‘Human Performance’ and ‘Berlin Got Messy’ for instance, though hardly bad songs, delve dangerously close to the realm of ‘radio-friendly’, toning down many of the qualities that make Parquet Courts so unique. The album’s biggest let-down lies in its sombre final track ‘It’s Gonna Happen’, which comes across as too experimental for its own good, and frankly a bit disappointing; compared to the likes of ‘Uncast Shadow’, it doesn’t even remotely stack up. All this being said, Human Performance is far from a bad album, showing Parquet Courts are moving in the right direction. It is a ‘sort-of ’ achievement that they were looking for and is certainly worth a listen, if not many more. Charlie Isaac
PJ Harvey
J Harvey’s been one of those artists on my periphery for an extended period of time. I’ve been told by many I should give her a spin. I’ve seen my fair share of astonished looks when I say “I’ve just not given her the time”. I’ve relished this opportunity to finally sit down and spend some quality time with the inimitable Polly Jean Harvey. Opener ‘The Community of Hope’ is a triumphant, and controversial, critique of the underside of Washington DC. In fact, the whole album was written during her travels to DC, Kosovo, and Afghanistan and it is clear throughout the album that the album exists as a mezze of different musical genres. Take ‘A Line in the Sand’, for example where Harvey’s vocals take on the ear piercing beauty of late soul singer Minnie Riperton. ‘River Anacostia’ is a haunting track all the way through, however it is the incessant and metronomic refrain of “wade in the water” at the end that imbues the track with a whole new level of menace. In contrast, ‘Medicinals’ is a boisterous and exuberant track that owes a lot to Kate Bush’s playful vocals (minus the startlingly high-pitched yelping). ‘The Ministry of Social Affairs’ feels like it should have been released by some James Chancesque no wave band in 1981 due to its wailing and diabolical saxophone ending. Album closer ‘Dollar, Dollar’ is the most experimental track on this album. It is a slow and almost alien recording that seems to bring together the melange of influences that she picked up from her travels and in life. I started this album as a novice PJ Harvey listener but after listening to The Hope Six Demolition Project a couple of times it became clear that I’ve really fucking missed it. I’ve been told that there’s better albums of hers out there, and if that’s the case I’m looking forward to soundtracking the last few assignments of this year to them. Jamie Shepherd
t’s no secret that students in Newcastle love their House nights, but more of us are starting to love managing what we attend ourselves. This makes sense as the budding entrepreneurs amongst us have inside knowledge of what we like. One example with a success story is Hugh Roke, a second year Business Management undergraduate from Northumbria University who is taking on Newcastle’s notorious nightlife with his new brand, Nocturnal Nature. From speaking to Hugh, I learnt that setting up your own student night successfully involves stress and planning and it’s much more than a hobby on the side. Finding the right venue is obvious advice but it’s crucial that you don’t settle for the first club available on any night of the week in your excitement. Competing against Cosmic on a Tuesday just isn’t feasible. Hugh’s used the skills from his Business degree to keep the monthly night at WHQ going, which was headlined by Taiki Nulight before Easter. ‘We’re all good at financial management so we’ve been able to budget without wasting money’, he said. ‘That’s what’s really kept us here’. But, he’s also recognised that it’s not all about making money. “Personally I think once you’ve ticked that box where everyone in the venue has enjoyed themselves, the profit will flow in naturally. It’s more about satisfying people”.
You need to hear: Bicep
DJ duo Andrew Ferguson and Matthew McBriar from Belfast started out as a blog called Feel My Bicep, and let me tell you that their shared bicep must be pretty beefy based on their tracks. The pair have been around for some time now and have some pretty impressive accolades to their name, including being at number 28 in Resident Advisor’s top 100 DJs poll 3 years ago. Prompted by a cosmopolitan taste for old school Italo-Disco, Chicago house and Detroit techno, Ferguson and McBriar launched feelmybicep.com to circulate the eclectic tracks they were into as teens, as well as releasing some of their own. That was a long time ago, but they’re still just as relevant today. I’ve had this one beat looping round my head for a few weeks now after hearing it in a set somewhere, and after desperately sifting through playlists and monthly charts online I realised that it was the bouncing melody of Bicep’s mighty track ‘Just’. It was premiered by Boiler Room around this time last year, but it’s still going strong. I’m sure many of you have also been haunted by its slithering synth sounds for some time now, so if you were struggling with the track ID like me, I apologise for the fact you’ll be hammering “play” for weeks to come.
Listen to: Bicep – Just
Preview: The Soul Food Yard Party 30th April- 1 May, The Tyne Bar
It’s pretty obvious at this point that my favourite thing on the planet is SoulJam, so an event which merges that with food (my second favourite thing) cannot be missed. In this column I’ve discussed some cool musical collaborations, but never before have I had the pleasure of informing you of a collab between Newcastle’s beloved venues. That’s right, the Tyne Bar and World Headquarters will be joining forces this weekend to launch summer in a way that’s never been done before. Our favourite World HQ and SoulJam resident DJs will be spinning some Funk and Disco whilst 8 stalls dish out the finest grub in the North East, from burritos, to hotdogs, to pizza. So if you like the idea of SoulJam and drunk food coming together in beautiful harmony, head on down. One more thing: the event is free.
Go follow us on intagram for live gig updates, fun pictures and the latest music gossip- @courier_music
30.filmfeatures
Monday 25 April 2016
The Courier
Film Editors: Emma Allsopp, Rhian Hunter & Simon Ramshaw
Are reviews really that important?
You don’t have to see Batman v Superman to know it’s a bit of a disaster - the critics say it all. But do reviews have an effect on profit? Katie Read investigates
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HIGH-RISE
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fter our last holiday of 2016, Emma Allsopp caught up with her bae 4 lyf Tom Hiddleston’s latest: High-Rise. Was it a towering disappointment, or the height of cinema?
The Easter break heralded a time I had literally been anticipating for years, the release of Ben Wheatley’s adaptation of J. G. Ballard’s classic novel, High-Rise. On the way to the cinema I could hardly contain my excitement, I was finally going to see it! And when I left the cinema I was still buzzing, it hadn’t let me down, it hadn’t just met my expectations, it had surpassed them.
“Hiddleston gives a terrifyingly detached performance perfect for the film, while Luke Evans is just plain crazy as another lead antihero (they’re all antiheroes), Richard Wilder” From the very first time I heard about the concept of a bunch of rich professionals moving into a high rise, and then losing hold of any social and moral rules I was hoping this would become one of my new favourites, and it did. With one of British actors working at the moment, Tom Hiddleston, taking the lead role as antihero Robert Laing this film is a hit from the opening scene. Hiddleston gives a terrifyingly detached performance perfect for the film, while Luke Evans is just plain crazy as another lead antihero (they’re all antiheroes), Richard Wilder. Not only are performances amazing across the board, but Wheatley’s direction is superb. I am currently reading Ballard’s novel, but it is clear that Wheatley, and screenwriter Amy Jump, have put their own interpretation onto this story. This is not a straight retelling with characters being added and taken away in equal measure. The soundtrack by Clint Mansell is another triumph for this film, it is simultaneously innocent and chilling which reflects the downward spiral of the high rise’s residents. If you haven’t already seen this film I highly recommend it. It’s sexy, scary, violent and just plain wrong, but it’s also a genius study of humanity and social rules, particularly what happens when they’re stripped away. This is definitely a new favourite of mine. Emma Allsopp
uring this last year, I have spent a fair bit of time writing reviews for different sections of The Courier. But recently, I’ve been wondering just how many people actually bother reading them, if any. Yes, I know that I’m not on the same level as reviewers from the big national papers, but even they seem to have lost their sway. How many times have you or someone suggested a film, only to receive ‘Yeah, but the reviews are shit,’ in response? And then you don’t go, or you go and instantly regret your decision, vowing next time you’ll look at the reviews first. True, there are also times when the reviews are generally awful but you enjoy it all the same. With Batman v Superman, however, this seems to be the case.
“How many times have you or someone suggested a film, only to receive ‘Yeah, but the reviews are shit,’ in response?”
The film only managed to get a 28% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and The Independent reviewer, Robbie Collin, mocks it as being ‘so haphazardly assembled, [he] honestly wondered if a reel had gone missing from the projection booth’ while others moan the lack of humour and that it never really gets off the ground. For all of this though, Batman v Superman is a massive hit. It’s earned around $800 million worldwide in the few weeks since its release. $800 million for a film that’s being hailed as rubbish everywhere. How? I mean, it’s not even like
Avatar, whose CGI made up for the storyline. It’s just two men in capes looking hot. Maybe it’s the cast – Ben Affleck is a great actor, as well as Henry Cavill reprising his role as Superman and Amy Adams as Lois Lane. But then other films have had big names in their lineups and not come close. Edge of Tomorrow, which was released in 2014, had Tom Cruise as its main character, scored 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and had generally good reviews, yet took less than half of what BvS has achieved in a few weeks during its whole release. The only explanation I can come up with is the success of the wellestablished Marvel films and the old Superman and Batman films, that people are hoping it will be much the same in the new crossover one. At the moment, audiences in general are loving on superhero movies, they provide a complete fantasy world, with big fight scenes and eye candy for everyone. And the storylines are generally quite easy to follow, allowing you to completely chill out – you probably go into the cinema knowing the story due to all the trailers. So, is that it? Have marketing methods finally overcome all, pulling people into cinemas and
“So, is that it? Have marketing methods finally overcome all, pulling people into cinemas and parting with their money, with their false advertising and killing off the sway of reviews?”
parting with their money, with their false advertising and killing off the sway of reviews? I’d say that’s definitely too far for the most part, but for superhero films, yes. But hey, the reviews have the last laugh in the end – films don’t win big at the Oscar’s for hauling in massive amounts of money…
The cinematic television series Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, The Sopranos...Cinematic TV is dominating. Rhian Hunter looks at how and why they’re on the rise
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n the past, television programmes haven’t had the astronomical budgets of films. But in recent years, budgets have increased, technology has improved massively, and the TV series is becoming almost, if not more, profitable than the classic film. What with companies like Netflix on the rise, the rise of the cinematic TV show seems to have reached its peak.
“Last year, nine UK cinemas even showed the first episode of season five in line with the American television premiere, breaking another record in the process – if that doesn’t scream cinematic I don’t know what does”
HBO are probably the pioneers of this trend, beginning in the 1990s to expand the medium of the television series, creating more intense, thought-provoking forms of entertainment. It’s a channel dedicated to high-quality cinematic programmes, as ‘home box office’ would suggest, and arguably came to prominence with the critically acclaimed The Sopranos’ premiering in 1999. With other big shows such as Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, True Detective and a ton more in the works, HBO’s mastered the art of the cinematic TV series.
A lot of these shows manage to pull in the large audiences with ambitious settings, large casts, and intricate plots, which only increase in scale and grandeur as new seasons are announced. Game of Thrones is obviously the best example: they have one of the largest casts on television, at least four directors per season, and film in locations all around the world. It’s broken records, made billions and has even surpassed The Sopranos to become HBO’s most popular show ever. Last year, nine UK cinemas even showed the first episode of season five in line with the American television premiere, breaking another record in the process – if that doesn’t scream cinematic I don’t know what does. Producers have been struggling to fit the intricate and epic storylines into the two-hour-ish timeframe allowed by the medium of film, so a shift toward
the TV series makes a lot of sense. I mean, try to fit one of George RR Martin’s books into two hours – I dare you. The fans would implode. That’s probably another reason behind the rise of the cinematic TV series – fans of the source material, what with the increasing influence of social media, go batshit crazy when adaptations don’t stay true to the source material, or don’t live up to their expectations. The Harry Potter franchise, while arguably being the most popular
“I mean, try to fit one of George RR Martin’s books into two hours – I dare you. The fans would implode”
extended series of films ever, had its detractors – the novels were so wonderfully intricate that it would’ve been impossible for the filmmakers to include every single fan-favourite-moment from the books, yet this still angered a lot of fans. Turning novels into TV series’ instead of films allows for more creative freedom, bigger profits, and longerrunning sagas.
The Courier
reviewsfilm.31
Monday 25 April 2016
thecourieronline.co.uk/film c2.film@ncl.ac.uk | @Courier_Film
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly: Ben Affleck
Midnight Special (12A)
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cience-fiction is a wonderful thing. The genre is inherently armed with the power to create awe-inspiring, eye-popping, surrealist worlds - often laced with acid realism. Perhaps for the medium to truly succeed, it must effectively combine these two elements; it must engross us in its own world whilst subtly reminding us of our own in a profound, provocative or meaningful way. Midnight Special achieves the latter with aplomb, affecting even I, who cannot directly relate to it, with the emotional apex of its central premise. Unfortunately, a script that aims for refinement and overshoots its mark significantly obstructs interaction with the unique context writer/director Jeff Nichols’ fourth feature finds itself in. Alton Meyer (Jaeden Lieberher) is an 8-yearold who has inspired his own religion on a Texas ranch, referred to solely as ‘The Ranch’, because of his extraordinary powers. While the extent of his supernatural potency is left unquantified, it is apparent he has a metaphysical connection with technology. His father, Roy Tomlin (Michael Shannon), aided by old friend Lucas (Joel Edgerton) and wife Sarah (Kirsten Dunst), is determined to do right by Alton, who has identified a time and place of unknown significance through his abilities. Standing in their way is The Ranch, lead by Sam Shepard’s quasi-priest, and the FBI with bright, young NSA agent Paul Sevier (Adam Driver) on their side. Having established himself as resident indiedarling of the American south over the past few
years, Jeff Nichols is a talent showing immense promise for the future. Midnight Special, however, may prove a blip in his reputation as a writer when retrospect cracks its whip over the film. A fullblown flaying may not be fair, but Nichols noticeably loses his spell over minimalist dialogue whilst trying to splice it with science-fiction, misjudging the degree to which his world must be explained in order to suspend disbelief within an audience. When sci-fi takes a back seat to the drama and is not pronounced enough in its own right, it is so very easy to enter B-movie territory. Nichols flies close to the sun, just avoiding the lick of a solar flare. Luckily for the burgeoning director, his handling of actors, particularly his frequent collaborator Shannon, is only improving. Shannon, Edgerton and Dunst are all wonderful in this film, their un-
wavering stoicism matching the stripped-back dialogue amiably. Watching them endeavour through a story of coming to terms with inevitable loss is an absolute pleasure, that message channeling strength from the calibre of actor conveying it. At the risk of sounding absurd, I contest that I can pinpoint each emotional pivot in my mind just by the way each of the trio respond to their circumstances with their eyes. It is a beautiful way to tell drama, if you have the talent at your disposal to pull it off. Midnight Special is an uneven genre-mash with plenty to enjoy, but it doesn’t quite come off as well as it should. Do not be surprised if Jeff Nichols bounces right back, though.
Victoria (15)
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (12A)
Dheepan (15)
More like this: Take Shelter (2011)
The Good: Argo (2012)
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rgo heralded Affleck’s rise to the position of bride, after many supporting bridesmaid performances. Doing what he does best, Affleck not only acts in, but directs one of the greatest movies of the past 5 years. Playing CIA agent Tony Mendez, Affleck effortlessly blends the urgency of the film’s plot with a stoic bravado and dry humour that keep this movie captivating from beginning to end. Affleck’s vision for the film, based on a true story, won him an Oscar for direction, but a snub for acting. Nevertheless, his performance as a throwback hero was refreshingly nuanced and brilliantly delivered.
William Leng
The Bad: Daredevil (2003)
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hree Sri Lankan refugees flee civil war only to face another in the gang-ridden outskirts of Paris, in Jacques Audiard’s 2015 Palme D’Or winner. Though the French capital may appear more hospitable than a country that faced 26 years of conflict, Dheepan’s titular protagonist is far from cosy in his new abode. Language barriers, poor housing, and racist abuse all await real-name Sivadhasan and his fake family as they attempt to adjust to life as immigrants. The character-driven nature of this crime drama is gripping, grounding the film with nuanced, often uncomfortably real performances (main star Antonythasan Jesuthasan is an actual former child soldier). Despite its title, fellow escapees Yalini and nine-year-old Illayaal are given equal amounts of focus; each shown as compelling, flawed strangers trying to understand a place all too similar to home. Even their gunwielding neighbours get some character development, with Vincent Rottiers’ bailed gang leader in particular adding to the film’s moral ambiguity. Tensions rise as gang-war begins, and it’s here in the film’s third act that it becomes more than an outsider sob story. Director/writer Audiard (famed for the equally emotional Rust and Bone and A Prophet) knows when to let the camera linger, showcasing some stunning dreamlike cinematography of the grimy Parisian estate torn apart by violence; almost intentionally exaggerating the plight of modern day refugees. It’s sometimes too hyperbolic, but it works to heart-wrenching effect as we see Dheepan slowly succumb to his PTSD. Yet amongst the chaos, the film never loses focus, the family’s small apartment becoming a beacon of uneasy optimism. Deserving its Cannes praise, it offers an artistic take on a true crisis. With the EU referendum lingering, it’s only appropriate for the film to cross the Channel to our screens. Poignant, brutal, and human, Dheepan is a stunning cinematic statement in today’s xenophobic climate. More like this: Dirty Pretty Things (2002) Zoë Godden
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ictoria (Laia Costa), a young Spanish woman living in Berlin, meets a group of local men, led by Sonne (Frederick Lau), whose mysterious actions have the potential to become deadly. Long takes and extended tracking shots have become very fashionable amongst filmmakers in recent years. The opening of Sam Mendes’ Spectre is presented as a single take, while Birdman, last year’s Best Picture winner, is cleverly edited so that it appears to be a continuous shot. However, no such tricks are employed in Victoria, the fourth film from German director Sebastian Schipper. Shot in a single take, lasting its entire running time of two hours and eighteen minutes, it is a technically brilliant and intense heist thriller that is executed with panache. Schipper and his director of photography, Sturla Brandth Grøvlen, make great use of Berlin as a location. The camera twists and turns through the city’s streets, creating both the film’s authentic aesthetic and its sense of urgency and panic during its action sequences – the standout being an exhilarating chase and subsequent shootout towards its conclusion, which is elevated by a tremendous display of bravura. Once the action begins, the lack of editing and intimacy of the cinematography offers the audience no respite until the story’s conclusion. However, the one-shot style and real-time structure does generate some narrative limitations. The first hour is rather slow and largely uneventful, while many scenes are much lengthier than they would be in a tautly edited thriller. Nonetheless, the stirring performances from Costa and Lau keep the audience gripped and create an unnerving and ominous mood. In spite of some first act plot issues, Victoria is a distinctive, tense and visually stunning film that will hopefully find a following amongst mainstream cinema audiences. More like this: Pusher (1996) Dan Haygarth
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atman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice offers tremendous visuals, a ton of action and the two most famous superheroes sharing the screen. It’s a shame that the flawed story connecting these beautiful shots (almost seemingly ripped off comic book pages) ignores what these characters are actually about. In terms of performances, Ben Affleck is the biggest surprise and outstanding in his role as a more world-weary, vicious and quite frankly frightening Batman. Jeremy Irons provides desperately-needed sarcastic wit as butler and almost partner-incrime, Alfred, in an exciting dynamic that easily deserved more screen time. Gal Gadot is also fine in her role as the enigmatic Diana Price. Jesse Eisenberg however is disappointing, playing up the melodrama rather than the menacing Lex Luthor we were asking for. The returnees are also mixed in terms of their acting, with Amy Adams offering heart to this film as Lois Lane, while the wooden Henry Cavill gives a one-note performance as Superman. Although the writing does not help, with characterisation and dialogue often traded for monologues, plot exposition and a dedication to keeping the film dark and humourless, making it difficult to get to know these characters. In truth, BvS is not a bad film. It is too competently made on a technical level with stunning cinematography, a beautiful soundtrack and with Adams, Irons and Affleck in particular delivering fantastic performances. However, it is flawed in terms of its confusing story, plot holes and writing. It’s a good movie to just switch your brain off to in order to enjoy the awesomely shot action. The biggest problem however is the pacing, trying to cram what should have been two movies into one, setting up for the Justice League movies plus a rushed, tiresome, CGI-filled third act, not doing justice (no pun intended) in adapting one of the most successful comic book storylines. Ultimately, perhaps a better name for this film would have been Justice League: The Prelude. More like this: The Dark Knight Returns Parts 1 and 2(2012/3) Tom Shrimplin
B
efore Affleck became ‘Batfleck’ his previous foray into the world of superheroes was a dismal failure. Donning the crimson unitard, he played Daredevil, a blind crusader in the vicious underbelly of Hell’s Kitchen. Poor writing leaves Affleck devoid of any sleekness and chock-full of smugness. In an age where the only cinematic equivalent was Spider-Man, Daredevil was doomed from the beginning. Affleck’s overstated octave drops and his wrestlerphysique failed to grasp any of the mystery and cult following that the comic had acquired. It’s a good thing Netflix and Charlie Cox were able to raise the character from the dead.
The Ugly: Gigli (2003) In what was a career dip for everyone involved with the film, Affleck does actually plumb new depths. The whole endeavour reeked of vanity project, but worse for Affleck, it didn’t even seem to be his ego that the film is serving. Instead his character is one of the most heinously emasculated ever committed to film, and had us literally squirming in embarrassment at the sheer variety of ways he found to abase himself before then-paramour Jennifer Lopez. The bewildering absence of chemistry and the excruciating plot progression have made it one of Affleck’s most perplexing roles, blurring the line between bad and worse. Ritwik Sarkar
The Courier
featureTV.33
Monday 25 April 2016
To celebrate the return of everyone’s favourite fantasy drama, Game of Thrones, TV Editor Helen Daly has found an exclusive map of ‘Newcasteros’*. *Not geographically accurate
Northumbria University
The Land of Always Winter
Tyne Bridge
It’s scary out there in the northern wilderness. You could come across anything: White Walkers, rogue animals or even worse, Northumbrians. The Wildlings live in the land of eternal winter, shivering and battling against the cold winds (seriously, anyone who has ever walked through their campus to get home knows the deadly wind tunnel) – tread with caution.
The Wall
Winterfell
Bigg Market The friendliest place in Newcasteros and truly a place you can always call home. You might not always remember your visits to the Bigg Market like ‘the north remembers’, but you’re always likely to find some friendly Starks there; people who can brave the ‘Stark’ cold for the sake of the journey between Popworld, Cosy Joes and Flares.
Almost always forgotten about and pretty much separate to everything, the beautiful and nontropical island of Heaton is always there. With gems such as Heaton Park Road and countless convenience stores, it’s basically selfsufficient. Who needs Newcasteros anyway?
Sinners
The Eyrie
Heaton
Anyone who has ever lived outside of Newcastle knows the joy of returning to it via The Wall, I mean, the Tyne Bridge. Just like the Game of Thrones equivalent, the Tyne Bridge is an iconic landmark, as well as being a portal to the unknown, otherwise known as ‘Gateshead’.
Kings Landing
Much like the infamous Moon Door, you haven’t really been in an inescapable situation until you’ve been trapped in the tight confines of the Sinners Cage, by someone with a similar name to Littlefinger. Good luck to you if you end up there, it’s a long jump down from the cage edge.
Newcastle University
Ah, the pinnacle of Newcasteros and the busy hub of civilisation, Newcastle University is the place where kings and queens are made and dreams are lived. Luxury, splendor and grandeur are commonplace here, as long as you don’t think too much about Ricky Road here.
Iron Islands Casterly Rock
Highgarden
Sandyford If you’re anything like me, you will have totally forgotten what Casterly Rock is. Wikipedia tells me it’s home to the Lannisters, which makes it the perfect substitute for Sandyford. But how, I hear you cry? Simple – everyone knows the real smart cookies live in Sandyford because it’s close to Kings Landing, of course. That and it’s full of real queens who know how to save the dollar.
Jesmond Aside from King’s Landing, Highgarden is probably the second most luxurious place in Newcasteros. Home to the wealthy, you’re nobody unless you’re seen mixing with the Tyrells on Ozzy Road. Expect grand houses the size of castles and royalty on every corner paying for the luxury.
34.tvfeatures TV Editors: Hannah Bunting, Reece Hanson & Helen Daly
Sexy Pandora’s box This week, Brooklyn Ward asks whether Channel 4’s Sex Box is cheap and cringey entertainment or a fascinating look at sex
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hannel 4 has long been thought of as the ‘wacky’ channel. They make a lot of shows about sex and fetishes and we all watch them and sometimes say we didn’t, because we are a repressed nation and Channel 4’s sexumentaries are our only escape. So I was fully expecting Sex Box- which sounds like a sexy version of the cube- to be funny but endearing and maybe include some useful information. What I was met with was…. flaccid. How could something that sounds so raunchy on paper turn out so banal? Firstly: It’s the worst parts of porn coupled with the worst parts of reality TV. The pre-coital talks feel like the casting couch in a particularly unsexy porno, but when the fun starts, they hide in a box. It’s so British, even in our free time we can’t let loose. Its escapism, but I don’t know what into. I’m all for the decensorship of the media, but Sex Box just isn’t as groundbreaking as it thinks it is. Mild innuendo gets a laugh, as it should. But are they even innuendos anymore if the show is explicitly about sex? It grew tired and I grew immune to thinking that sex jokes were funny.
“I’m all for decensorship of the media, but Sex Box just isn’t as groundbreaking as it thinks it is.” This confused me, and made me question who this show was actually aimed at. And what are the audience doing while these people are having sex? Sitting around thinking about their own sexual inadequacies? We can all do that anyway without needing a show to highlight it. This show brings up more questions than answers. Then we come to the hosts. One, Goedele Liekens, a sex therapist, clearly knows what she’s talking about and has no qualms getting down and dirty when talking about the dirty. So far so good, it was refreshing to hear someone speak frankly about sex without tittering. But the other is squeaky clean Steve Jones, whose accolades include presenting The X Factor USA and playing the interior designer in Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging. He is not an obvious choice, but that’s just how Channel 4 rolls, pushing boundaries at every opportunity. However, Jones seems to be on a mission to water down even the kinkiest of kinks and reduce them to a bunch of almost family friendly innuendos. This is a dangerous path, and one I don’t think we should tread down lightly. There’s a reason we have different swear words than we did 200 years ago. Because those swear words became inoffensive so we had to think up new ones. Is that what’s going to happen with sex? Is everyone going to be so desensitised to whips and chains that we have to find new and more brutal ways of getting it on, in a feeble attempt to outrun Steve Jones and his ever expanding banality? I don’t know, but I do know that Sex Box is the beginning of the end. Enjoy your fetish while it lasts, Sex Box is coming for them.
W a k -
i n g
Check out our website thecourieronline.co.uk/tv
Monday 25 April 2016
The Courier
BGT: best of the best With the new series already blowing our minds and warming our hearts, Alison Scurfield takes a look back over the most memorable BGT auditions of all time
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ritain’s Got Talent has had its ups and downs over the years. It might not have the same polish and panache of The Voice, but over the years it’s given us the wacky, the tear-jerking, the heart-warming, and the downright dangerous. Often the acts that came out on top at the end of each series weren’t the ones that stuck in our mind long after their first auditions. The most talked about audition came in 2009, when forty-seven-year-old Susan Boyle took to the stage, with her surprisingly remarkable rendition of ‘I Dreamed A Dream’ from Les Miserables. Boyle had everyone wrongly doubting her abilities when she first stepped out in front of the audience, with her boisterous and eccentric personality bringing out the cynic in us all.
“[Susan] soon made fools of us all, with an effortless performance worthy of west end fame.”
Mocking looks came from both the judges and audience when she claimed she was “trying to be a professional singer” and when Simon Cowell asked who she would like to be as successful as, to which she replied, “Elaine Paige”. She soon made fools of us all, however, with an effortless performance worthy of West End fame. The shock on Amanda Holden’s face reflected the feelings of the entire nation at that moment, with Su-Bo proving Britain really does have talent, and that it can be found where you very least expect it. In the same year, the judges were also wowed by father and son duo, Demi and Lagi Demetriou, better known as Stavros Flatley. Described by Simon as one of his favourite ever dance acts, the
pair graced the stage with an uplifting comic take on traditional Greek dancing. Father Demi kicked off the audition with an energetic, charismatic performance, but it was the then twelve-year-old Lagi who really stole the show, following his father in a humorous Greek-style dance off. Along with his mini-me, Demi won the audience over in a funny, entertaining and heartwarming performance that even Simon couldn’t help but smile at. They went through with a resounding “Yes” from all three judges, but couldn’t quite do enough to win that year, instead finishing in fourth place. The pair didn’t give up though, and now, aged 19 and 47, they still regularly perform worldwide.
As well as dance acts, the show has seen its fair share of impressionists over the years. 2013 saw auditionee Francine Lewis raise the bar, with her eclectic range of impressions leaving the judges stunned, e a r n ing her a standing ovation. This being her second stab at making it after a break from the industry, Francine kept her im-
pressions current and instantly recognisable.
“Francine had to do little more than open her mouth to have the whole audience roaring with laughter.”
With perfected pace, tone and mannerisms, she had to do little more than open her mouth to have the whole audience roaring with laughter. Not only was her performance flawless, but her script was fantastically witty too, proving impressions don’t always have to be cheesy and cringe-worthy. It is a sign of a good impressionist when there is no need to mention who you are impersonating, and Francine completely nailed every one, particularly Cheryl Cole, that could have easily had you believing she was there in the room with you.
Walking Dread - a finale fiasco? Following possibly the most controversial finale of this year, Katie Read and Reece Hanson give us their analysis of the final episode of The Walking Dead, Season Six
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won’t beat around the bush with this one. The season 6 finale of The Walking Dead massively let me down. I know that there’s the whole hype about who Negan killed, but even that didn’t really grab me as a great cliffhanger. I’m normally a massive TWD fan, but the whole finale just seemed like it was setting up Season Seven, rather than tying up season 6. And watching Nick and Co. driving around in the RV was boring after a while – I swear just a few episodes ago they would have simply bulldozed through the first blockade and dealt with the consequences later, which probably would have been far more entertaining. Morgan following Carol – who was making it quite clear she didn’t want to be saved – around was apparently all to introduce a new group, who might, or might not, help. But really, who knows? It’s all rather ambiguous. The general rule of TWD is that strangers can’t be trusted, they just want to steal your stuff and/or kill you. Which is exactly what the Saviours want to do to Alexandria. This was probably the best scene of the whole show – which isn’t saying all that much really. It was quite tense to start off with, but it seemed too drawn out by the end. I really think they should have just showed who was killed, as I probably won’t even care by October. I just hope it’s not Daryl. And just to finish off the travesty that was TWD Season Six finale… The sight of Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan the Psychopath has, although I was prepared for it, has now absolutely ruined the first few seasons of Grey’s for me.
Katie Read
A
midst the fury and discontent over the final few seconds of season six, it’s easy to forget the previous 89 and a half minutes. There was a lot to be fearful of going into the finale, from the point-blank shooting of everyone’s favourite crossbow-wielding, post-apocalyptic survivor to the long-awaited introduction of the comic’s most infamous villain. The tension was palpable throughout as everyone, no matter their prior knowledge of the comics, sensed something utterly terrified that something was coming. No character captured this quite as brilliantly as Rick. Andrew Lincoln perfectly portrayed the gradual transformation from his initial cockyness to the beaten and broken leader cowering before Negan. Seeing the fear etched deep into his face was as terrifying, if not more so, than the eerie whistling of the seemingly hundreds of Saviours. Despite his involvement in the contentious cliff-hanger, Negan is the man who has united all corners of the Walking Dead fandom in their rage against Scott Gimple and co. Stubble aside, Jeffrey Dean Morgan has given comic readers exactly what they’ve waited years to see brought to life. The notorious death from issue #100 may have been botched by the TV writers, but from Negan’s leather jacket to his creepily hilarious lines, it is easily the greatest realisation of a comic character on the screen. That’s not to say there weren’t issues. Would the introduction of Carol and Morgan’s new friends have been better suited to an earlier episode? Probably. Was the piling of every badass on Rick’s team into the RV reckless and illogical? Absolutely. But did the finale have my heart pounding in my chest throughout? Oh yes! Reece Hanson
The Courier
highlightstv.35
Monday 25 April 2016
thecourieronline.co.uk/tv c2.tv@ncl.ac.uk | @courier_tv
Anime-zing
Sakura Brandi is back with a round-up of the anime series you need to be watching 1. Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge (Tanaka-kun is Always Listless):
ith the most recent season of The Walking Dead concluding so controversially, my television schedule is now looking a little more bare. So thankfully, there’s not long until season six of Thrones is back. If you haven’t already seen the show, it’s got a bit of everything. From family dramas worthy of a slot on The Jeremy Kyle Show to an imp with a drinking problem, it’s most certainly worth the time to check out. However, from this point onward there will be spoilers contained. You have been warned. Season five of Thrones ended in spectacular fashion. Killing off characters isn’t an area that has ever concerned the show. Over the years, viewers of Thrones have become so familiar with death, that if everyone survived the upcoming season it’d probably be the most shocking plot point of the shows history. Notably, it’s added its self to the long list of
productions that have killed off Sean Bean, whilst also murdering pretty much every other character that you might feel a slight hint of care towards. However, there has always been a line in my mind still of expendable characters, and those who you would think to be untouchable. That list, however short consisted of characters such as Tyrion, Daenerys, and Jon Snow. That was at least until the end of season five, where the show decided to kill off Jon Snow and ruin my safety list forever. Snow’s death, took me by surprise. Although, at least for the time being, I still believe that it won’t be the last we hear from him. Going into season six, the show at that point had pitted Jon Snow as Humanities hope against the white walkers, and although someone else could probably fill his boots, the show felt like Snow’s character had a greater purpose in the plot than to die at the hands of his own men. So perhaps, he may still not be dead. Then again, just like Jon, I know nothing. However, whether or not Jon Snow is dead or alive shouldn’t be our main focus. Instead, we should be thinking about who might lose their head this time round. According to some theories,
it could be time to say goodbye more of the already stripped back stark family. However, I’m hoping that Ramsey Bolton will meet his nasty end sometime around about now. Speaking of death, there are a few characters that although likely dead, haven’t actually been shown to be on the ground, stone cold and lifeless. Until that happens, it’s fair to say that they are still just as likely to be alive than meet their end. The hound, having been left for dead by Arya Stark could still make a return, whilst Stannis Baratheon, also knocking on death’s door is not a confirmed fatality for the show. Out of the two, I think I’d prefer the one who didn’t BBQ his daughter to live. Speculating further into the different characters we might see a lot of in season six, I think we’ll see Bran’s story begin to unfold. The show left the Stark son at the end of season four sat in the company of the slightly creepy children of the forest. This season we know that he will return at some point, but how big a part he’ll have still remains unclear.
12 Monkeys
Reign
Legends
Game of Thrones
9pm, Sky Atlantic, Monday
W
W
R
eign, in the vein of historical fantasy, explores the relationships and events in the life of Mary Queen of Scots as she is essentially exiled to the French court. Engaged to a young man she hardly knows, Prince Francis II, Mary and her four Ladies-in-waiting and best friends travail to secure Scotland’s protection through her alliance with France. As Mary is beautiful, clever and fierce, she is not without her detractors, namely Catherine de Medici, mother of Francis, a perfect foil for Mary. Anachronisms aside and without revealing too much, season one builds the relationship between Mary and Francis, one that comes to show is not bulletproof. Rife with mysticism and a prophecy supplied by Nostradamus, Mary struggles with the physical (exes, amirite?) as well as the spiritual realm. Though the Black Plague will not keep starcrossed lovers apart, religious unrest will, however, destroy relationships. Season two stresses almost every character’s struggle to maintain the image of love and the meaning of true love (relationships, amirite?). Well into its third season, and just renewed for its fourth, Mary is shattered by loss and forced into an ongoing battle with Elizabeth I to safeguard Scotland’s independence (sisters, amirite?). The writers do not skimp on the absorbing youthful melodrama pitting Queen against Queen, brother against brother and friend against friend. Sweeping love, inevitable betrayal, births on the down-low and a death or two sprinkled here and there all set to a cool soundtrack wrapped in lavish gowns. What’s not to like? Elaine Dewitt
2) Sakamoto desu ga? (Haven’t You Heard? I’m Sakamoto) The weird and exaggerated, yet relatable school life of a student who somehow is always the coolest and most stylish person around, Sakamoto. Simply put, it looks like a fan of the “cool type” character in harem animes decided it was time one of them was made the protagonist. Still, it’s an interesting perspective and mildly amusing as well.
3) Boku no Hero Academia (My Hero Academia) Fast paced and energetic, this is a stereotypical shounen manga. The story line is simple: Midoriya Izuku, wants to become a hero even though he is “Quirkless”, without special powers. However, he is accepted into the prestigious Hero Academy, where his idol, the hero All Might teaches. This anime could definitely fill the void after One Punch Man, and, although the character is much younger, he shows the same kind of determination and potential that Saitama had before training.
10pm, Sky One, Monday
Netflix, Monday
9pm, Syfy, Wednesday hen I first heard that Terry Matalas and Travis Fickett were writing a TV show based on the sublimely surreal film: 12 Monkeys, I feared an instant flop. Nevertheless, the first series did justice to Terry Gilliam’s cult classic and by its end had attracted over 1.5 million viewers. The first series told the story of humanity’s destined doom. Time traveler James Cole travels from the year 2043 to the present day to stop the release of a deadly virus by the enigmatic organisation known as “The Army of the Twelve Monkeys”. A virus that caused the death of 93.6% of the world population. The series consists of Cole’s various attempts to investigate the Army of the The 12 Monkeys encountering pitfalls, questions and conundrums but by the end of the series, there is still work to be done. We know that Cole’s assistant Cassie Railly will still be by his side but the series creators have a whole heap of loose ends to tie up from the season finale alone. The public outcry for a second season has been immense; since the finale there has been a lot of internet speculation about the plot of the next season, such as the significance of the original time loop being closed and the importance of Cassie’s time travel - just how will the next season answer all the fan’s questions. Excitingly, the release is on our doorstep, and hopefully even those familiar with the film’s premise will still be experiencing some surprises. If the first season’s skillful story telling is anything to go by, the next season is set to be compelling, provocative and always engaging. Imogen Scott-Chambers
Jared Moore
A whimsical slice of life shounen anime, it has gained popularity due to its relaxing atmosphere and story. Don’t expect much of an exciting plot, but this is an anime that fits the fresh and calm mood of spring.
L
egends is a US crime drama centred around everyone’s Northern favourite – the one and only Sean Bean, master of on-screen death. Starring as Martin Odum, a deep-cover FBI agent who assumes a different persona, or “Legend”, for every single case he encounters in order to work his way into criminal organisations and the like. Despite being a deep cover specialist, his line of work has led to difficulties in finding where the line between his cover and his real life. As those working with him, including his partner and love interest Crystal McGuire (played by Ali Larter) start to have concerns regarding his mental health, it becomes evident that Odum has little knowledge on who he really is, due to his constant and consistent blurring of the lines between his fictional lives and the one he leads whilst out of deep cover. Based upon the novel Legends: A Novel of Dissimulation by Robert Littell, this series holds its own through Sean Bean’s undeniably fantastic performance throughout, however maintains the staple tropes of your standard crime dramas. If you’re one who loves that kind of thing, this show is definitely right up your street – and come on, you want to find out if they kill off Sean Bean, like they do in literally everything he seems to be in? Of course, he did survive all the way through the entirety of Sharpe, so it’s feasible that he won’t die this time – but seeing as the man is typecast for certain fatal roles (see also: Lord of the Rings, GoldenEye, Game of Thrones, et cetera…), you’ll just have to wait and see if he’s going to make it through this time! Errol Kerr
4) Bungou Stray Dogs A boy named Nakajima Atsushi gets thrown out of an orphanage and ends up saving the life of Dazai Osamu, a “suicidal maniac” and a private investigator. Dazai and his colleague Kunikida are part of a special group, the Armed Detective Agency, where each member is said to have supernatural powers. Atsushi joins them in the search of a man-eating tiger with the promise of a reward. An anime full of mystery and drama, but also lighthearted comedy and lots of clever twists; this is looking to be a personal favourite of the season.
5) Flying Witch Another lighhearted anime about a young girl who has magical powers. She moves to the countryside to live with her cousin and this is the story of her everyday life. With already three specials and three episodes out, this is currently the anime with the most episodes out. Although at first it seems like just a normal slice of life, the quirky main character, her magical abilities and the reactions of the other characters make it more entertaining and easy to watch.
Honourable Mentions Assassination Classroom (season 2) is a comedic slice of life anime with a twist. Jojo’s Bizarre Adventures part 4 has a particularly bold and vibrant art style an exaggerated style of humour. Kuma Miko, promises cute and entertaining.
38.gaming
Monday 25 April 2016
The Courier
Gaming Editors: Michael Hicks, Ollie Burton & James McCoull
Top 5 fighting game franchises
Club Trope-icana: secret areas
Salman Ali Virk takes to the streets for some fisticuffs
James McCoull spills the beans on some of the tricky bosses hiding behind Lothric’s misty walls The Abyss Watchers
Aldrich, Devourer of Gods
5. Mortal Kombat
As the plural name suggests, Farron’s Undead Legion doesn’t fight fair. Three Abyss Watchers will rise up one by one towards the start of the fight, but it’s the first one you want to focus; the others have separate health bars and won ‘t contribute to the boss’ progress. Additionally, the third Watcher is hostile to the other two, so use him to kite one while you handle the other. Once defeated, the main Abyss Watcher will absorb the strength of the others, fighting alone with a flaming sword. His attacks now have a delayed flame effect that can hit you after you dodge the first sweep, so be careful to dodge away when he launches into a combo.
The rules of engagement for the penultimate Lord of Cinder is much the same as for any other magic-user: get in close and melee until liquefied. This boss is one to get the heart rate going in more ways than one, though: in addition to being a very tense encounter, Aldrich will frequently move around the room, so stay on your toes when he disappears from view. Close the distance as soon as you can, taking care not to get caught in the storm of arrows he sends your way, and shaking off any homing magic missiles before you attack. His squishy, gelatinous bulk has no melee capabilities, so get in round the back to stay safe.
When it comes to fighting games, there was absolutely no way a list of them could be built without including Mortal Kombat. Like every other franchise on this list, Mortal Kombat has introduced its own fair share of thing to genre as a whole. The developers introduced a concept of ‘murder them in style’ to the gaming industry - ripping off heads, shredding your opponents, setting players on fire etc. However to keep it balanced the developers introduced different variation such as Babalities, where you turn your defeated opponent into a baby and Friendship where you mercifully spare them.
High Lord Wolnir In the spirit of ‘the bigger they are, the harder they fall’, Dark Souls’ largest skeleton to date is much more straightforward than his intimidating introduction suggests. When he looms into view, head to your right (facing downhill) and start piling attacks into his glimmering bangles – accessorizing is apparently very important to the undead. Each bangle will take a third of his health bar with it when destroyed. Keep an eye out for his easily dodged (but heavy hitting) sweeping attacks, and make sure to give him a wide berth when he leans back to deliver his lethal breath attack. Some mouthwash will clear that right up, my liege.
4. Tekken When Tekken made its debut, it was considered as one of the most hardcore fighting games. Each character had over 100 special moves combos, making it quite challenging for newcomers. By the time Tekken 3 landed in 1997 3D animations were introduced to the series. That and other improvements remained and continued in future Tekken games when it was ported over to Playstation. Sequels introduced new characters little by little, not changing the gameplay too much in order to keep things smooth.
Final Fantasy IX returned to the more traditional styling of the earlier games, kupo.
3. Street Fighter Street Fighter series have always been easy to pick up and play. Street Fighter series first introduced the concept of tournament in fighting games. Fighters from different parts of the globe introduced diversity in gaming industry. Marvel vs. Capcom, and Capcom vs. SNK both showcased some of Street Fighter‘s best combatants, along with gameplay that utilizes most of the now common mechanics introduced by the franchise. Heck there was even a crossover between Street Fighter and Tekken, if you are looking for a crash course in the fundamentals of the genre long combos take a back seat to good spacing, quick reactions, good responses, and matchup knowledge.
2. Too Human One of the Sega Dreamcast’s best games. It is yet another game that modernized and altered the fighting game scene in its very own special way, and it all started with something as simple as a weapon. Although weapons in fighting games were nothing knew, and even Soul Calibur‘s predecessor, Soul Edge, had weapons. But, SoulCalibur placed all of its weight on the weapons system along with its revolutionary eight-way run. Although things have gotten a bit unstable for the franchise in recent years, but there is no denying that how truly great this fight game series has become.
1. Super Smash Bros. It’s amazing how over 15 years ago no one would have thought a family friendly fighting game would be considered as one of the best out there. There were a dozen of Nintendo’s iconic characters, fighting it out in arenas from all of their more popular. Cute characters, such as Jigglypuff and Pikachu, were pit against the likes of Captain Falcon and a fire shooting Mario. What seemed like a niche little party game at first, eventually grew to unimaginable marvel. Three releases later and the series is standing toe to toe with some of the biggest names out there. Image: Warner Bros
Mortal Kombat is well-known for its brutal finishers.
Memory Card: Final Fantasy IX
With FFXV round the corner, and VII soon to have a remake, Richard Liddle returns to one of the ones you might have skipped - and maybe shouldn’t have
I
n an unfair combat with Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy IX is a game that is far too often disregarded as a piece of the saga that just isn’t worth your time. I believe in the contrary. Just last week, the game was released on the Steam store, and it’s basically the same game as it was on the PS1 but with improved graphics for characters and combat. I bought it pretty much as soon as it went on the store, knowing that there was some undiscovered potential in this game I had played a little when I was younger. The entire world of Gaia has a distinctly steampunk feel to it, yet it is infused with a more typical mediaeval-esque fantasy theme. I found it refreshing to see this in a Final Fantasy game, with the saga more commonly demonstrating a cyberpunk environment in recent times. You take on the role of Zidane, a fairly typical male JRPG protagonist, with a tail. Yep, a tail. No other character in the game has a tail, for some reason, so I guess it was SquareEnix’s way of making him unique. The plot is fast-paced, as you meander through many areas on the Mist
Continent in no time at all after kidnapping the princess, who, to your surprise wants to be kidnapped. I won’t spoil the ambiguities around the character’s intentions though.
“The graphics of the original game are of course, outdated, but I don’t think this is a good enough reason to not try playing it...” The combat of the game is turn-based with a twist. A timer bar slowly fills up alongside a character’s HP and MP that means, when it’s full, they can perform an action. It’s an incredibly tense form of combat that, in my opinion, trumps completely turn-based combat, like that of Final Fantasy X. There isn’t time to fully plan out a strategy to defeat an enemy, and you’ll often find yourself healing your characters a little too often during boss fights. It’s utter chaos sometimes, and I love it.
It goes without saying that the soundtrack to this game is just as awe-inspiring as any other Final Fantasy game, and you might even find yourself humming, or even squealing, along to the famed battle theme and it’s following victory fanfare, which can make even the most pathetic fight epic. The game also has a great way of showing that multiple events are occurring at the same time in the world of Gaia. ‘Active Time Events’ allow you to view short, often comedic, sequences of characters engaging with the world around them, rather than having to be there with the main character to see them and I find it really contributes to character development. The graphics of the original game are, of course, dated, but I don’t think this is a good enough reason to not try playing it, especially when the game is now available on PC with improved graphics. So, to conclude, if you want swearing animal people, a strange, comic-relief knight character and, quite possibly, the best way to save game in an RPG ever, give this often overlooked relic a go.
The Courier
gaming.39
Monday 25 April 2016
We didn’t start the fire In the dying world of Dark Souls III, only Jared Moore can put the lords in their place
A
s someone who generally regards themselves as a casual gamer, choosing to do a review on Dark Souls III probably wasn’t the wisest
idea. The first thing I want to talk about is the different classes available in the game. Choosing between them can be difficult - Souls is punishing even to hardened players, so every advantage you can take is one that you should. After looking through the different classes however, I disregarded all of that and chose to be a Thief because it looked the coolest. As for the classes themselves, each character has its own strengths and weaknesses. The classic ‘Deprived’ offers little but bragging rights, but other classes provide at least some help for newcomers. Playing to your own strengths will make your first play through a little bit easier. If you thrive at ranged attacks then the Sorcerer is a strong contender, whilst if getting up close and personal suits your style then the Assassin may not be a bad option. I was able to competently beat down the first handful of enemies, although my overuse of the roll and back step buttons left my character look-
ing like a member of a 90’s boy band. Feeling like I was on top of the world, I then wandered into a large open area, which to the best of my knowledge seemed enemy-free. I strutted confidently over to the doors on the other side to move onto to the next zone... and that’s about the time where I remembered that I was playing Dark Souls III. The doors were locked, and although the area
“You don’t generally beat an enemy by killing them on the first attempt”
seemed open, in the middle sat a stone statue, impaled by a large sword. It was at this point that the large open area seemed to look more like a large enclosed arena and my first boss battle would be officially about to begin. My issue with the Dark Souls series, and many people may be fond of them for this reason, is that you don’t generally beat an enemy by killing them on the first attempt. Souls takes the element of heroism out of the game, at least to a certain extent by punishing you repeatedly for the slightest mistake.
In fact, in many cases, to defeat a difficult enemy in Souls you have to learn their move patterns, and in doing so you’re likely going to get knocked down many times trying. However, this is also the game’s biggest positive as well: overcoming a difficult enemy feels like an actual accomplishment. I could defeat a difficult boss in the game and get a good grade on a modular assignment at uni on the same day, and I’m fairly sure the Souls boss would give me a greater sense of achievement. However, the game adds a deeper level of difficulty, much like its predecessors. The bosses have a tendency to mutate. They evolve. This means that just when you think you’ve finally worked out exactly when and where to strike, the enemy you think you have beaten begins to play a whole different game. And that is what makes this game so easy to fall in love with. It keeps you guessing when you think you’ve finally sussed it. It’s frustrating and you may need to take out insurance on everything within arms reach of your playing space, but it’s clever at being frustrating, and that’s why it’s brilliant.
If Gothic castles and giant crabs are your kind of scene, sunny Lothric might be the holiday hotspot for you.
What I’m playing: The Sims 4 Tom Shrimplin menish taloo, gestoofah dee - kana mey beling!
F
ollowing my article reminiscing The Sims 2 a few weeks ago (check Memory Card on the 8th March) I decided to take the 48 hour trial of The Sims 4 on Origin. Part of it was out of sheer boredom, another part of it was to actually see what the game was like considering how the latest edition of a game series that I hold dearly to my heart had gotten mixed reviews on launch. Already after few hours of playing the base game, it runs a lot better than The Sims 3 ever did, despite me using an ancient laptop rather than a slightly more powerful PC. Admittedly the game is a lot less ambitious, lacking the Create-a-Style feature and fully seamless, expansive world that was the best aspect of the previous game. Instead it has simplified the styles down into fewer options for customisability and the game world into chunks of neighbourhoods, which for me is currently a positive but if I had a better laptop would be somewhat disappointing.
“The game has been continuously updated for free: swimming pools were added to the game”
However, I like how it has kept the trait system from Sims 3, which with the added focus on emotion means that your Sims feel more lifelike. I still remember a Sim bringing other his dodgy plate of food in the housewarming party and everyone
feeling uncomfortable which was pretty neat. This brings me onto group conversations, a nice little feature which I’m surprised wasn’t added long ago. Create-a-Sim and Build modes have also been simplified, but are a lot more tactile than previous games. Making Sims is a bit more enjoyable like this than messing about with many sliders. I spent nearly half an hour dragging about my Sim’s nose with my mouse. My other favourite aspect is the nice, crisp aesthetic of the game which I think fits the series perfectly, also helping with performance as the game does not look ugly even on low graphics. The game has been continuously updated for free: swimming pools were added into the game by the time I was playing (after much protest) with other small features like basements coming later. Of course EA has continued to barrage us with Stuff Packs and the expansion Get To Work to further empty your pockets, but having only played a few hours I feel that they aren’t really that necessary at this point. I’m still surprised I haven’t killed my Sim yet considering my curse with previous games. Needless to say, The Sims 4 has not re-invented the wheel, but it didn’t need to. The point of the game is to be a virtual God and, despite stripping down to basics, does more than enough to be considered a fine addition to a well-known series, especially with the emphasis on the mechanic of emotions. I would wait until it’s on offer, though, as the £60 price tag for the base game alone is a bit steep. Also, please add toddlers back into the game already EA!
God is dead and we pulled the trigger
Image; IcyMoon Vavoom on flickr
Image; Dark Souls 3
Bring on the next generation Sam Blackburn talks Microsoftt and Sony’s hypothetical new hardware
I
t’s that time of year again where E3 rumours are leaking from every corner of the Internet and it appears the latest bit of gaming gossip is the rumoured Playstation 4K and an Xbox One 1.5 (or the Xbox OnePointFive, as I like to call it). It’s expected for Sony and Microsoft to announce a second model of their current systems, usually in the form of a smaller model made to be cheaper, feature greater hard drive space and to most importantly fix the fact that their original console was a ticking time bomb ready to die at any moment (I’m looking at the Xbox 360 here). The Playstation 4K’s big feature is that it boasts 4K visuals, which is the next step up from 1080p. What this means for you is that you can expect to see every ounce of sweat on Messi’s head whilst you play FIFA. Personally, unless you have a TV which supports 4K there’s no real reason to care and I don’t really recommend wasting your student loan on the new model.
“Sony are leading the console market, so it could be a good opportunity for Microsoft to step up” The Xbox One 1.5 is what I find to be more interesting. Sony are leading the console market, so it could be a good opportunity for Microsoft to step up: the Xbox One is easily the console which needs to be improved more. I like the Xbox One, as it’s got a decent library of exclusive games (by which I mean it has Killer Instinct) but the console itself is far from the perfect product. Overall, if you don’t already own one of these consoles then these remodels could be the deciding factor for you to finally take the plunge, but if you’re like me and own them both, I can’t see any reason upgrading just yet, even if neither console is the perfect product.
thecourieronline.co.uk @Courier_Gaming
Robots and raiders and traps, oh my! Errol Kerr returns to the Commonwealth to sample Fallout 4’s first DLC packs
S
o, over the Easter holidays, two of the three announced downloadable content updates for Fallout 4 have been released. Seeing as I’d commented on them prior to release, it’s a pleasure to be able to take a look at what Bethesda has thrown our way. Automatron was the first, larger block of downloadable content that we received, and it was brilliant. Bringing in a new storyline following the Mechanist, introducing some lovable (and hateable) robot companions, and allowing you to completely customise said companions? What more could you want? I tell you what more you could want: Codsworth as a sentry bot. You heard me right. Or even better, give him those sleek Assaultron legs and a bowler hat. Make him the sexy robot he deserves to be for looking after your abandoned home for two centuries. This DLC makes further use of the crafting mechanics of this game, so whilst you’ll obviously be spending a lot of time finding yet more materials (adhesive and screws are the bane of my life), the result will be undeniably satisfying. Trust me, hearing Curie complaining about not being designed for combat whilst firing mini-nukes and a pair of gatling lasers? Not much compares to that kind of hilarity. You’ll get the chance to explore new areas and fight against some new enemies, adding a fresh perspective to the already broad list of things to blast into millions of tiny pieces, loot, and hand to your new rolling backpack-with-miniguns… I mean robot companion.
“You’ll never need turrets again once you’ve got twenty Deathclaws”
The second DLC, Wasteland Workshop, focuses less on an extra storyline, instead expanding the settlement-building aspect of the game. Whilst this part of the gameplay might not be everyone’s cup of tea, the new additions make things incredibly interesting. Now you can place trap cages to catch anything from cats, dogs, Brahmin, Ghouls, groups of Raiders and Gunners (yes, they’re that gullible), all the way across to Deathclaws (the only one you want to hear about). You can then tame certain creatures to use to defend your settlements, should you wish. You’ll never need turrets again once you’ve got twenty Deathclaws to hack all of your enemies to bits. If defence isn’t a worry for you, you can still, you know, set up a large-scale arena in which you can pit groups of enemies against one another in a good old death-match. You and your companions can join in too, if you’d like! Or, you could join in with what everyone else is doing, and have every possible creature beat the utter crap out of Marcy Long, the ungrateful sod. Also, if you want to know whether you’ll get the chance to find out why Mama Murphy got the name “Murphy the Madwoman” – give her some armour and a gun and find out! The possibilities are endless – trap your assailants in pits of Ghouls, use the local Mirelurk population of Spectacle Island to defend it, set a Deathclaw on Marcy Long because she’s a little shit. See if she’s happy with Sanctuary after that, shall we?
Image: Bethesda Softworks
Brains and tentacles. What more could a man want?
40.science&technology
Monday 25 April 2016
The Courier
Science Editors: Anna Jastrzembska, Louise Bingham & Iqra Choudhry
Hummus where the heart is
Natalie Farmer explains the true value of veganism for the health of the environment, people and our furry friends
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here’s no doubt in my mind that every student at Newcastle University has heard the joke about how you know if someone is a vegan (don’t worry, they’ll tell you). In fact, you’ve probably also heard from some (not all) vegans that eating meat is “so mainstream”. You’ve heard that being a vegan is not only good for your health and the environment, but also makes you hipster and cool. Most of you (like me) will probably have dismissed these claims immediately. We’re humans, built to be predators and carnivores. We have canine teeth to chew meat. We evolved to kill and eat other animals. Meat is an essential part of our diet. But what if the vegans have a point? The definition of a vegan is a person who not only doesn’t eat animal meat, but also doesn’t eat animal products. That includes foods such as dairy, honey and eggs. A vegan will also avoid exploiting animals in any way, including in clothing and accessories (such as those made from fur or leather) and in medicines. Sounds like it’s basically just as healthy as a vegetarian diet, right? Not really.
Research published in 2014 shows that a vegan diet provides protection against obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart diseases – even when compared to a vegetarian diet. A recent study by Oxford University predicts that 8.1 million deaths could be prevented by 2050 by adopting a vegan diet. This is because a vegan diet contains more vitamin C and fibre. Vitamin C-rich foods include cantaloupe, sweet peppers, kale, artichoke and broccoli, to name a few. A diet high in vitamin C has recently been shown to help our blood vessels to relax, reducing the risk of heart disease – to the point where it is just as effective as aerobic exercise, in fact! Furthermore, a diet high in fibre can normalise bowel movements and promote a healthy colon. It can also slow the absorption of sugar from the gut, which not only aids in the management of diabetes, but could prevent diabetes from developing. To get more fibre, eat fruits and vegetables, whole-grain products, cereals, nuts and seeds. So couldn’t we accomplish this simply by eating m o r e foods rich in vitamin C and fibre, as well as our usual meat-and-dairyabundant diets? Unfortunately, this still isn’t as beneficial as a vegan diet (although it is definitely better than nothing). A vegan diet has much less saturated fat. Eating a diet high in saturated fat causes an increase in low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad cholesterol”) which contributes to atherosclerosis, the process that clogs up arteries and leads to heart failure. Foods high in saturated fats (and ones to avoid) include cheese, hydrogenated oils (found in baked goods, margarine, crisps and chips) and fatty or processed meat. Sorry, everyone. Not only are there countless studies and research that support a vegan diet, but there
are people, too. And it’s not always about being a strict vegan, either; making smaller changes (such as having one meat-free day per week) not only has health benefits, but may also ease the transition from carnivore to herbivore. Gary Player (a retired South African professional golfer, for those who don’t know) has eaten a mainly vegetarian diet for most of his life; this, on top of regular exercise, has made the 80-year-old look (and feel) at least 20 years younger. His advice is to “make the change over time” so as not to “shock your system”. Russell Brand and Alanis Morissette are among many celebrities that turned to veganism in order to live a healthier lifestyle.
“A diet high in vitamin C has recently been shown to help our blood vessels to relax, reducing the risk of heart disease – to the point where it is just as effective as aerobic exercise”
But it’s not just about our own health. If living a longer and healthier life isn’t enough, then think about the environment. Natalie Portman adopted a vegan diet in 2009 due to “the environmental effects of the mass production of animals”. Marco Springmann, lead researcher from the University of Oxford, says that a poor vegetables to meat ratio is “the greatest health burden globally”. Furthermore, research from the University of Exeter has found that by reducing global meat consumption by 50%, carbon dioxide levels can be “significantly lowered”. For every person who switches to a vegan diet, carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced by 1.5 tonnes per year. The reduction of this greenhouse gas (along with
methane, a gas which chickens, turkeys, pigs and cows produce) could reduce the effects of global warming. A vegan diet could save water, too, given that 1 pound of meat requires 2,400 gallons of water to produce, compared to the 25 gallons it takes to produce 1 pound of wheat. Further to this, 30% of the earth’s land mass (which is approximately equivalent to the size of Asia!) is used to raise animals for food. The statistics say it all: by switching to a vegan diet, not only could you contribute to the reduction in global warming, but you could also save water and precious space as well. Going “cold turkey” and cutting out all animal products immediately requires a helluva lot of motivation. As someone who has the willpower of a lemming, I know I appreciate vegans a whole lot more now after doing my research. But research suggests that even small changes can have big benefits for both your health and the environment. So how about next time a vegan starts to talk about how cool they are and how much good their diet does for both you and the world, you spend a little bit of time listening? There’s no denying that they’re right about the benefits. Whether or not it’s cool is up to you.
Logging Europe’s most precious forest Some policies try to save the environment, other don’t care. Anna Jastrzembska questions mass commercialisation and asks why politicians are allowed to tamper with the environment. Should there be a limit to human interference?
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e live in the world where everything is commercialised. If it doesn’t make money, it shouldn’t exist, should it? In the UK, people question the need for royalty. What are they bringing to economy? In Poland, they decide to cut down a forest. And it’s not just any forest, either. Białowieża Forest is the last and largest part of the primeval forest that covered the European Plain after the ice age. So while I do
not feel quailed to answer the question about British royalty, let me tell you about the forest American ecologist Alan Weisman described Białowieża Forest as “the misty, brooding forest that loomed behind your eyelids when, as a child, someone read you the Grimm brothers’ fairytales.” It’s where the tallest trees in Europe grow and the home to the biggest remaining population of European bison- which also happens to be Europe’s largest mammal. To be more exact, it’s the place where the species was restored after it was hunted down to near extinction at the beginning of the 20th century. Białowieża is also an IBA- Important Bird and Biodiversity Area. It is not a surprise, as there are over 20,000 animal species living there. Insects that were lost to the rest of Europe years ago still inhabit these woods. Fungi grow to a size of plate. Endangered mammals like lynx and wolves wander between the trees. W h i l e Białowieża Forest is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, it (and, therefore, the EU) protects only 16% of the forest. The rest of it is pretty
much free for taking, which is exactly what Polish Minister for Environment (oh, the irony) decided to do. Fun fact. It was the Romanovs who prohibited cutting down the Białowieża Forest in the first place. Yes, the Russian tsars infamous for their cruelty. And thank God that 58% of the forest lies in Belarus. It is not a country without its issues, but at least their politicians did not decide yet to cut down a World Heritage Forest for timber.
“Environmentalists agree that any intervention- not to mention large-scale loggingwould cause more harm than help. Managing Białowieża would be like managing Amazonian Forest, and biodiversity would be lost”
You read that right. Timber. You would think that a country that is covered in 30% with forests would find another place for logging. It is not England during the World Wars, after all. Officially, it is the spruce bark beetle that is eating the spruce trees, and, in the Minister Szyszko’s words, Białowieża is “rotting away.” It does not matter that the environmental examinations said that there is no major problem and that young spruce trees are growing in the “rotting away” parts of the forest. It does not matter that environmentalists agree that any intervention- not to mention large-scale log-
ging- would cause more harm than help. Managing Białowieża would be like managing Amazonian Forest, and biodiversity would be lost. “Why nobody reacted?” you might ask. But they did. Greenpeace camped on the roof of the Ministry of Environment. Scientists and politicians shared their disapproval. WWF spoke against it. A number of world leaders together with Barack Obama expressed their concern. Online petitions went viral. Press all over the world picked it up. Still, most defense was done by local charities and scientists. The thing is, that if EU does not react, no one will help. And Poland is causing enough problems for anyone to pay too much attention to the forest. But I believe in the power of media. I believe that if we publicize the problem enough, we can achieve something. Let me ask you: is nothing sacred anymore? Everyone has heard of the British royalty. Well, European bison is the Polish symbol. We love the animal. We named a major beer brand after it. Best-known Polish vodka is made of bison grass. We use bison-puns in advertising. And Białowieża forest is not only Polish and Belarussian heritage- it’s important to whole Europe. How can any politician have the power to overrule scientists, environmental charities and world leaders? How can we let a single person decide the fate of European biodiversity? And should politicians be allowed to interfere with the environment to such extent at all? Isn’t the problem of environment brought up often enough? Why contribute to it? Why doom the next generations for a bit of timber? Let the forest manage itself.
The Courier
technology&science.41
Monday 25 April 2015
thecourieronline.co.uk/science c2.science@ncl.ac.uk | @courier_science
new kind of Splitting the atom (and opinions) Asuperhero?
Errol Kerr and Iqra Choudhry engage in heated debate about Hinkley Power Plant
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o, it seems we’ve got a nuclear power plant on our hands again. It’s going to be in Hinkley, it’s going to cost somewhere around £18billion, and it’ll be the first nuclear plant built in the UK for twenty years. That amount of money alongside the word “nuclear”, and I can already feel Greenpeace and the CND brandishing pitchforks in my direction. But you know what, bear with me, without any of this fear of the unknown – this is a science section, right? I’m going to mention that I’m fully against nuclear weapons, here, this is about energy and research. And before anyone worries about “safety” issues, Chernobyl was human error on part of scientists and the Soviets, and whilst it did lead to hundreds of deaths, it’s nowhere near the unsupported 1 million deaths that’s claimed by anti-nuclear activists. (They’re like anti-vaxxers, it’s ridiculous.) Fukushima is a different case – natural disaster, of which the chances of that occurring over here are non-existent. What is fact is that we need a reduction in global carbon emissions soon, and if we don’t make a massive change in the next few years, we’re going to screw up the planet. We need to cut out fossil fuels as quickly as possible in a feasible, cost-effective manner which creates safe work environments with the potential for scientific research, right? Enter nuclear power. At least, as a step toward fully renewable energy, which I’m all for. If we were to build nothing but nuclear plants from here on in, we could be fossil-free by 2050. I’m not suggesting this, however,
but within a move toward renewable energy, it completely makes sense. Nuclear power generates no CO2 in power generation (all energy sources generate CO2 in construction, of course) and 90% of the used fuel can be recycled to create more energy. Even better, certain isotopes can be extracted for medical purposes, and so on, which can allow for further research into these weird and wacky elements, with all waste completely shielded, so nobody’s going to be growing extra limbs or becoming immortal anytime soon. They produce more electricity than fossil fuels in their lifetime, which has led to France pretty much running on nuclear energy for the past 40 years, which nets them €3bn a year in exports. Sounds like that could help us work toward a faster move toward completely renewable energy...
AGAINST
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he UK recently came under fire from the UN for moving backwards. Whereas 150 other countries are working towards cleaner renewable energy sources, we seem to be pushing through outdated huge power plants like the proposed nuclear plant at Hinkley Point. At the moment, France and Spain have no plans to build further nuclear power plants, and Belgium and Germany are moving towards a future that doesn’t involve nuclear energy at all. Let’s talk money. With a predicted cost of £18billion, Hinkley will be the most expensive building ever to have been built. Using new EPR technology, the plant will be a venture in innovation, but teething problems with this technology have been known to cost bi l l i ons
more than expected - Finland’s new reactor is well overdue and way over budget. Similarly, the French company EDF haven’t committed to the project, despite promising to deliver funding - if they back out, millions of pounds will be lost. The plant will be up and running in 2025, but it’s not possible to accurately figure out the price of electricity between 2025-2060 at the moment, and we can’t tell if it’ll be cost-effective. In fact, adding to the cost of the plant is its maintenance. Uranium and other fuels are far more expensive to continuously buy than investment in alternatives, and with fossil fuels predicted to be phased out by 2025, nuclear plants will not be able to meet the monumental demand.
“Wind farms could account for approximately 10% of our energy demand- the same as Hinkley, at a fraction of a fraction of the cost” However, the cost of renewable energy sources is plummeting. Research into alternative energy sources suggests that 70% of the UK’s electricity demand could be met by renewable sources by 2025. The Carbon Trust estimates that tidal and wave power could account for 20% of our demand by 2025, and the MeyGen project is investigating the efficacy of offshore wind farms, which at a cost of £5million could account for approximately 10% of our energy demand; the same as Hinkley, at a fraction of a fraction of the cost. And let’s not forget the waste issue. High-level waste takes several thousands of years to decay before its radioactivity level reaches that of the uranium first used to fuel nuclear fission. And there is no permanent facility for storing high-level waste anywhere in the world. The Fukushima disaster is a timely reminder, 25 years after the tragedy at Chernobyl, of the dangers involved in nuclear power. Technological advances have made nuclear fission safer, but the risk of a reactor leak can never be discounted.
Earth’s energy enigma
Energy means far more than just the power in a socket. Louise Bingham investigates the differing approaches to tackle the issue
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or approximately 1.6 billion people around the world, the future does not look bright; but how, in this day and age, can over a fifth of the population still lack access to electricity? Energy is one of the most under-appreciated assets we use every day. In fact, I struggle to last even one hour without using some form of electricity to power the lights, broadband, TV, oven… The western world would go into melt down if we experienced a loss of power for as little as one hour, but in some regions of the world, it means so much more. Without electricity, poverty is exacerbated, social services can’t be delivered, women’s opportunities are limited and environmental sustainability is compromised on multiple scales. With less electricity per person in sub-Saharan Africa today than there was three decades ago, the situation seems to be getting worse. But what is the solution, I hear you cry? Malawi may have found the answer through the implementation of a ‘pay-as-youglow’ scheme. Previously, less than 9% of Malawi’s population were connected to the grid which is precariously powered by hydroelectric dams from the falling water levels of the River Shire. By opening up the energy market, the quantity and reliability of the supply can be improved with a focus on solar energy. SolarAid are a charity who sell
solar-powered lights that can also charge mobile phones, providing a cheap and cheerful solution even in poor, rural areas.
“With less electricity per person in sub-Saharan Africa today than there was three decades ago, the situation seems to be getting worse” People can buy a lamp for £8, paid off over time, and the amount of light received is proportionate to the amount you have paid. The monthly cost of the lamp equates to the same as the old, paraffin lamp alternative, making it a financial success as well as environmentally sustainable. Solar power is a renewable source of energy, which lacks the fire hazard associated with the conventional paraffin lamp, meaning its benefits span beyond the immediate point of use. While the solar lamps may be just one small step on the development ladder, it is a step in the right direction. Electricity has been named as a priority to improve education, health and prosperity and countries across the African continent are increasingly turning to solar as a sustainable asset that can be utilised to their benefit. Perhaps it’s time for the developed world to follow their lead.
Word of the Week: PHOTOVOLTAIC The term ‘photovoltaic’ has been used since 1849, in relation to solar cells. The word originates from Greek, literally meaning ‘light-volt’, or a source of electricity generated by the sun’s light. Photovoltaic cells are a type of solar cell, which can currently supply 1% of the world’s electrical demand. Normal solar panels work by using energy from the sun to generate hot water and steam, but photovoltaic systems directly produce electricity. They use semi-conductive silicon with impurities, which cause electrons to be freed from silicon when sunlight strikes the cell. The movement of these electrons produces an electrical charge, generating a DC current. These systems are already used globally. On a small scale, these cells can be used to power street lamps, offshore navigational aids, and even calculators. In La Garrotxa, Spain, 60 homes are powered by photovoltaic systems alone. These systems can be made portable, and in Africa are mounted onto camels to power refrigerators, so vaccines can be delivered to remote locations. Sarah Main
Study the healthy, not the ill? Sarah McIntyre explains the logic of this inverse approach
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here has always been a tradition amongst medical research scientists to study people who are sick or differ from the norm, however an international group of scientists have turned that tradition on its head and have decided to study fit and healthy people to see if the answers lie there, and they have made some very interesting discoveries. In a study of almost 600,000 genomes, it has been found that 13 people possess gene mutations that should result in severe genetic diseases but yet show no symptoms of the disease. The study was a collaboration between 9 different groups across the globe but led by a group in New York, using data from across 12 different genetic databases, resulting in a total of 584,306 genomes for study. These genomes were scanned and analysed for gene mutations that were associated with complete penetrance for Mendelian childhood diseases. That means that the gene mutation is present in 100% of cases of that specific disease. The study limited its search to childhood diseases amongst adult subjects to rule out the possibility of the disease having just not developed yet. They also limited the study to severe diseases, as they had no access to medical records so relied on the self-reporting of illnesses from the subjects. Severe diseases ruled out the possibility of symptoms being dismissed or misreported by the subject. This narrowed the search to 874 genes known to cause 584 unique diseases.
“The “super 13” all possessed genetic mutations that should have resulted in one of these severe diseases but didn’t” The research showed that the “super 13” all possessed genetic mutations that should have resulted in one of these severe diseases but didn’t. These particular subjects were found to have genetic mutations that should have caused one of 8 different diseases. 3 of them showed the mutation for cystic fibrosis, a condition that affects the levels of mucus in the lungs; another 3 had atelosteogenesis, which prevents proper bone and cartilage growth; 2 had Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome, which affects the cholesterol synthesis in the body and prevents normal development in the subject; 1 person had autoimmune polyrndocrinopathy syndrome, which prevents certain hormones from being produced; another person had Pfeiffer Syndrome, which causes premature fusing of bones in the skull causing a prominent skull deformity; 1 had epidermolysis bullosa simplex, which causes severe skin blisters upon contact with the skin; another had familial dysautonomia, which affects the development of certain cells in the nervous system; and the last person had the mutation for acampomelic campomelic dysplasia, which affects proper bone development. This discovery obviously presents very interesting possibilities and warrants further research into the “super 13”. This however, is where the problems lie, as all the genetic data was collected anonymously with no way of contacting the mysterious few to rule out simpler explanations such as, misreported data or mosaicism, a condition that causes some of the cells within a person to have a different genetic code to the rest. The figure of just 13 may also not be accurate as the study excluded many of the samples for reasons such as, the quality of the genetic data or inaccurate or incomplete information from the databases. From this, a new study has been prompted which will involve the collection of new genetic data with contact information in order to take the next steps with this research. With a current statistic of 13 in about 600,000 this phenomenon is still very rare so the new study will be conducted on a very large scale. The project is called The Resilience Project and will hopefully lead to the next steps in combatting genetic diseases. If you would like to be kept updated on this project, you can sign up at resilienceproject.com
The Courier
puzzles.43
Monday 25 April 2016
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Find the words that make up this sentence. We’ve missed a word out, can you guess what it is?
Word search
“We’re in a pickle, screw my dissertation, we must advance towards Sinners, consuming copious amounts of trebles until the squad wakes up around Heaton Park.”
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*Before anyone complains, single words are allowed in the word search, because it’s ours, and we make the rules
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1 Orange juice in a pouch (5, 3) 2 Getting the ball through his legs - spicy (6) 3 Depressed teenagers from the noughties (3) 4 Suspicious, secretive (5) 5 Blue up above (3) 7 Descended across Europe in the late twentieth century (4,7) 8 Steal (3) 9 Smart clothes for special occasions, or a particular day of the week (6, 4) 11 Currency in Copenhagen (5) 13 Popular Newcastle club, people who swap partners (7) 16 Second largest trade union in the UK (6) 19 Live backwards (4) 20 The Beatles had a song about going back there (4)
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Find the link that connects these three words.
Puzzles Editor: Jack Parker Assistant Puzzles Editor: Mark Sleightholm
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“I’ve done a lot of soul searching, so I decided to try a word search instead”
Completing the entirety of this puzzles page will entitle you to the respect of (some of) your peers. Bring the proof of your achievement into the Courier office, where you’ll receive a firm handshake
44.sportfeatures
Monday 25 April 2016
Nick Blackwell resurrects from Eubank-induced coma The Easter break threw up a few big stories in the boxing world, the first of which was Nick Blackwell’s horrific injury whilst fighting Chris Eubank Jr. During the middleweight title fight in Wembley, Eubank Jr. landed some heavy blows to Blackwell’s face. By the tenth round, Blackwell’s eye had swollen to the extent that he had no vision whatsoever. After being taken to hospital he was put in an induced coma because a bleed from his skull was discovered, and woken two days later. Blackwell’s’ injury could well have been worse if Eubank Jr’s coach, Chris Eubank Snr, hadn’t told his son to stop hitting his opponent in the head. Back in 1991, Eubank Snr inflicted lifechanging injuries to Michael Watson in their super-middleweight title fight, and he didn’t want to see that repeated. Blackwell has since announced his retirement from boxing, but there remains no hard feelings between the two. In more positive news, Anthony Joshua managed to claim his first world title after a second round knockout. Having taken a strong right-hander seconds before, Charles Martin couldn’t recover
from the knockout punch. The lad sat on canvas laughing to himself like he was front-row at a Gavin Webster gig, reminiscent of Christoph Kramer in the World Cup final. Had he not been counted out he’d have been wanting to play in net and trade shirts with the ref. The future looks bright for Joshua, and having already undertaken some verbal sparring with reigning world champion Tyson Fury, that looks to be his next big test. However in the meantime David Haye has suggested that a rematch between Joshua and Dillian Whyte is on the cards, whilst rumours of Bermane Stiverne, Eric Molina and Dominic Breazeale as part of three man shortlist for Joshua to choose from have been circulating as well. No matter who his next fight is, we can now start to believe the hype.
Jamie Vardy crashes Germany’s Easter party Just when you thought the expectations of England were going to be realistic. Jules Rimet still gleaming, fans still dreaming but content to move to 50 years of hurt for now. Then Saturday March 26th happened. The Olympiastadion. A rival that has so emphatically dominated us in tournament football they’ve made us believe we can’t take penalties. A friendly that really nobody cares about, and nobody thinks matters other than its better than Saturday night tele. We go 2-0 down. It’s the World Champions, it’s alright, only a friendly anyway… Then Kane turns into Messi from a poor corner and Jamie Vardy keeps hav-
ing his party after some actually competent build up. 2-2 in added time. Henderson takes a decent corner. Eric Dier and a bullet header wins the match. He’s won the Euros. We’re going to win the bloody Euros. Dele Alli is the new Bryan Robson and Roy Hodgson has his proudest moment as England manager. Only a friendly. Pah, what do they know? We just beat the best team in the world with a bunch of youngsters. Get the flags and the face paint ready, chill the WKDs and check if there’s still going to be room for Rooney in the suitcase. They’ve had poor qualification anyway? They’re
world champions mate. We’re playing a team who had a poor qualification on Tuesday. Vardy again, easy. Shit. Shit again. It’s only a friendly anyway. We beat Germany. We’re going to win the Euros. Scott Trotter
James Sproston
Egg-shaped bump: Blackwell sporting a nasty cut during a fight Image: YouTube
Danny Willett’s late show leaves Spieth crucified Day four of the 2016 Masters at the revered Augusta National Golf club was a thrilling encapsulation of the fickle nature of the sport. Heading into Sunday’s round, Jordan Spieth, a 22 year-old wunderkind and reigning champion looked set to repeat his triumph from last year. Danny Willett, a vicar’s son hailing from Sheffield, was three shots back in the chasing pack. As the final round progressed, Spieth looked in masterful touch. Standing on the 10th tee, he led by five shots from Willett. If the Fat Lady wasn’t already singing, she was certainly on the driving range. However, Augusta still had yet to have her say. Spieth bogeyed the 10th and 11th holes, whilst Willett birdied the 13th and 14th. The lead had been cut to just one stroke and suddenly after threeand-a-half days of Spieth dominance, the tournament had come alive. As Spieth approached the 12th hole, the iconic par-3, few could have expected what would happen next. His tee shot was well short of the green and rolled into the water. He then over hit his next shot and landed in the water again. 11 minutes later, he rolled in his putt to card a quadruple bogey and trail Willet by two. Three holes. Six shots dropped. Spieth’s chances of regaining his title had been ended in the
The Courier
Hot cross pun: An Egg-cellent Easter of sport
flash of an iron. Willett would never relinquish his unexpected lead and became the first Brit to win the Masters in 20 years. As well as he played (Willett had the jointlowest final round); this tournament will be remembered for the unfortunate capitulation of Spieth. And once again, we
were reminded what a cruel and unpredictable game golf can be. Harry Musson
Looks better on me anyway: Spieth hands over the green jacket Image: YouTube
Not so Dier: Tottenham’s Eric Dier celebrates the winner vs. Germany Image: YouTube
Ben Stokes left with egg on his face
This March, England’s cricket fans turned their attentions away from reminiscing about Kevin Pietersen and worshiping Ian Botham’s forehead to support the Three Lions in the World T20. Not many gave England a chance going into the tournament, not least the aforementioned fallen hero Pietersen, who claimed that England would struggle to even make it to the semi-finals in the competition. The only man KP believed could save us, other than himself, was Eoin Morgan. In actual fact, England made it past the semi-finals and were six balls away from a comfortable victory. Unfortunately it was all too easy for West Indies to score the 19 runs they needed, as Carlos Braithwaite switched out his bat for a sledgehammer and hammered four consecutive sixes from Ben Stokes’ tame bowling. Needless to say England got further than expected, and it wasn’t Eoin Morgan who carried the team. The England captain averaged a mere 13.20 runs over his six innings. It was Joe Root and Jos Buttler that performed in the tournament, with help from the newcomer Jason Roy. In the field it was David Willey that stood out above all others, accumulating ten wickets in his six matches. Chris Jordan’s 4 wicket haul against Sri Lanka was also an impressive performance. Despite England’s valiant perfor-
mance, it can hardly be argued that West Indies weren’t worthy victors. Besides a shock loss against Afghanistan when they were already through, West Indies cruised through the group stages, beating England, Sri Lanka and South Africa on the way to the semis. Having beaten India in the last four, the final against England looked theirs to lose, and they nearly did exactly that. However an unbeaten 85 from Marlon Samuels and the final over master class from Braithwaite, on top of his three wickets, justified their victory. James Sproston
England’s Ben Stokes was hit for four back to back sixes in the final Image: WikiCommons
The Courier
sportfeatures.45
Monday 25 April 2016
Inclusive Newcastle: working hard to offer sports opportunities for disabled students By Calum Wilson Sports Editor Since its official launch last year, the Union’s Inclusive Newcastle program has been relentless in its efforts towards providing a wide range of sporting services for disabled students at Newcastle University. The program includes a qualified support team, student volunteers and the delivery of para-sports. Despite being a relatively new scheme, Inclusive Newcastle has already been recognised for its hard work. In November last year the Newcastle University Students’ Union (NUSU) was officially announced as an associate member of the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS). Last week Inclusive Newcastle had the chance to showcase some of its work as part of NUSU’s Disability Awareness Week. Inclusive Newcastle’s prides itself on offering its services to students of all
abilities. Liam Isaac, Inclusive Newcatle’s Coordinator, said: “we’re working hard on making our services, in particular our sporting activities, far more accessible for those with disabilities.” One of the programs main messages is to make people aware that not all disabilities are visible. As Isaac explains, “less than 8 per cent of disabled people use wheelchairs. We want to educate all students that, regardless of disability, students can access many opportunities at NUSU and get involved.”
plain to the activity leader that I have a hearing impairment. I have definitely gone to things that I wouldn’t have done if Liam hadn’t sorted things out.” The student explained how Inclusive Newcastle offers a simple, but vital helping hand. “Inclusive Newcastle has supported me my arranging a mentor at a climbing activity and by speaking to group leaders about what they can do to minimise me missing out due to my hearing impairment.” “The adjustments people need to
port network for those who need assistance of reassurance, Inclusive Newcastle also works to deliver a number of para-sports. In October the program delivered its first on-campus para-sport, Polybat. The sport is an adapted form of Table Tennis with a lower table and no net and is available to players of all abilities. Inclusive Newcastle also works closely with clubs and organisations in the local community. The program provides transport to the Percy Hedley
“We’re working hard on making our services, in particular our sporting activities, far more accessible for those with disabilities” Inclusive Newcastle aims to remove any barriers which disabled students may face within sport. One student described how Inclusive Newcastle has given them the confidence to attend sports. “I often don’t feel able to go to activities as it is difficult for me to ex-
make aren’t difficult but if they haven’t been told what they are people often think they need to shout loudly. It has been greatly re-assuring attending things knowing that Liam has been in touch with them.” As well as providing a crucial sup-
Sports Academy, who offer a number of para-sports such as Wheelchair Basketball, Boccia, Sitting Volleyball, Wheelchair Handball, Powerchair football and Wheelchair Rugby. Newcastle Student Lee Armstrong has played Powerchair Football at Percy
Right on the Mark: The Courier’s Deputy Editor makes a great stop Image: Calum Wilson
Hedley for over five years and currently competes in the National Premiership League. However, as Armstrong explains, Percy Hedley offers something for everyone: “The academy has sessions in different sports for players at all different levels, with varying disabilities.” “One thing I particularly enjoy about the academy is the social side of the sports and the friends I’ve made while playing there,” says Armstrong. “I also like the fact that I’m never patronised or held back and can be fully competitive.” Armstrong was keen to encourage other disabled students keen to play sport to use the Inclusive Newcastle service. “I would tell anyone was unsure about starting a club with Inclusive Newcastle or Percy Hedley to at least go to the first session. See what it’s like before you write it off as it could have a very positive effect on your life.”
Inclusive Newcastle’s Liam Isaac (left) jokes with AU Officer Gus Taylor Image: Mark Sleightholm
Editors play para-sports for Disability Awareness Week
Battle of the sports eds: Hendley and Wilson playing Boccia Image: Mark Sleightholm
As part of Disability Awareness Week, which took place on campus last week, The Courier’s Alex Hendley, Mark Sleightholm and Calum Wilson tried their hand at a variety of para-sports. The Awareness Week, organised by NUSU and Inclusive Newcastle, showcased three sports: Boccia, Goalball and Polybat, as well as information stalls, a sign language course and a guest speaker evening featuring Paralympian Stephen Miller and the ‘fibro guy’ Adam Foster. Boccia, closely related to Bowls, is a precision ball sport where players aim red and blue balls at the jack, the white ball. The game, originally designed for people with cerebral palsy, is now played by athletes with other disabilities. Our Sports Editors Calum Wilson and Alex Hendley played two games of Boccia. In the first match, Hendley played from the Wheelchair, whilst Wilson wore glasses that simulate a total loss of peripheral vision. Wilson took a while to become accustomed to the glasses
and Hendley took advantage by landing his ball within centimetres of the jack. In the second match, both editors were sporting sight-restricting glasses. Wilson’s gave him loss of central vision, whilst Hendley experienced loss of half the visual field in each eye. Hendley went close with the second throw but Wilson stole the win with his last effort. Later, the Sports Editors joined Deputy Editor Mark Sleightholm for a game of Goalball. Goalball is played by blind athletes who try to score past one another by throwing a ball with a bell in it into a wide, low goal. The editors went head to head with one attacker and one goalkeeper, both wearing blindfolds. Wilson started in goal and struggled to adjust to trusting his hearing over sight. Hendley fired four straight goals past his colleague before Wilson finally saved the fifth shot. Hendley showed similarly poor form in goal, letting in all five attempts. Although the Burnley-lover might point to his height as a disadvantage.
Sleightholm fared slightly better, saving two of Hendley’s shots. The lanky History student used every inch of his body to stop the belled-ball. All in all, the editors were all smiles as they enjoyed taking part in the Disability Awareness Week. Inclusive Newcastle Coordinator Liam Isaac heralded the week a success: “our main aim this week has been to increase the awareness of disability to Newcastle University student and to see students, both able bodied and disabled, interacting with our events is fantastic. “It’s about making students aware that there is a lot of opportunities out there that they can get involved with, be that sport, general caring, or any other service that they need.” Isaac described his delight at the fact that the University are finally working to promote disability: “there’s a lot of other campaigns going on at the University but disability has often been forgotten about. It’s important to bring this out in a visual and interactive way.”
46.sportbucs Hendo’s
pie of
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Monday 25 April 2016
Lightning strikes Thundercats Intramural Football
On a boiling Tuesday afternoon, many students would be preoccupied with figuring out how their barbecue works, but at Longbenton 3G there was real classic sizzling away. For both teams, the cup was the only remaining hope for any silverware this season, with Northern Irish vice-captain Smyth claiming that second division Thundercats ought to take a course in fine art due to their expertise in drawing games this season. Thundercats, a team with a core of Medical students, took on one of the Wednesday Intra-Mural top teams, Dyslexic Untied who sat in second place in the top division but can no longer prevent the Medic 2’s from taking the title.
Dyslexics the lead, a stray header whistling past the post to save the blushes of goalkeeper Martin-Harvey and his defence. Dyslexics continued to apply pressure, and one of the standout performances of the afternoon was that of Felix Tritton, who tackled consistently with dissertation-time discipline. Indeed, Tom Dallas also kept the Thundercats in the game when he was forced to creatively save the ever threatening shot from Ben Blackburn. A crucial moment, as seconds later Ben Richardson took a corner at the other end of the pitch, where a combination of a devious flight and the aggressive sun bearing down made any attempt for MartinHarvey to claim extremely difficult. Ben Stratolis met the ball cleanly, guiding the ball into the Dyslexic net. With the game slithering towards half time, and the heat sapping the energy of each player, it would be easy to assume that both teams were playing for the whistle. But not before Dyslexic once again regained the lead when Paddy Fordham headed in after Thundercats
The game began at a frantic pace, and Dyslexic began to immediately showcase their quality when the ball failed to be cleared in the opposition box. Thundercats allowed the ball to fall to the one player they hoped it would not, and Ben Blackburn thumped the ball past a helpless Dallas in the Thundercats net. It went from bad to worse for the second division side, when midfielder Tom Hannah beautifully clipped through a pass to put Ben Blackburn in with just the goalkeeper to beat. He dispatched the ball with surgical precision that many of the Thundercats would have only seen during medical work experience. The task for the Thundercats now seemed somewhat insurmountable, 2-0 down to a strong, fit and physical Dyslexic side who had been at this stage of the competition many times in their illustrious history. It required big characters such as Jack Smythe to vocalise the problem, at times to the dismay of the referee. The extra intensity of the Thundercats shocked Dyslexic, and the second division side pulled a goal back with a composed finish from Fergus Houston. The dyslexics were clearly confused at the rich fighting spirit of the Thundercats, and were nearly made to pay with a defensive mix up which nearly cost
poorly defended a corner. However, in the dying moments of the first half, the game took another unexpected turn, when Ramsey, who caught the dyslexic defence flat footed, calmly slotted home to finally complete an extraordinary half of football, with the game finely poised at 3-3. The half time team talk from Fergus Houston was like that of the parent-teacher meeting of an intelligent but work shy student, he was critical of missed tackles and too many balls over the top of the dyslexic’s towering defence, but optimistic that, with the raw abilities of the squad, an unprecedented place in the semi-finals could be achieved. The second half began at much the same pace that the first half finished. The main source of joy that was achieved by the Thundercats was through the excellent midfield duo of Josh Robins and Matt Morris. Josh Robins, a ferocious tackler, outstanding long-range passer and often critic of his teammates, remained focused in breaking up the technical quality of Dyslexics and recycling the ball into chances. Morris throughout the game demonstrated a gloss well above the division he currently plays in, with his movement at times dazzling the overheated and overworked dyslexic defence.
Dyslexic Untied
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Thundercats
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By Ronnie Reid at Longbenton
By Alex Hendley Sports Editor In a new feature, I combine my love of pies with my disdain for people. Le monde du sport is full of characters and, from this moment onwards, I shall be choosing one a week to ‘pie’ using the power of lexicon. This week, my pie of the week is Niall Quinn. For those of you who don’t know, Niall Quinn is a former professional footballer who appeared for his country the Republic of Ireland an impressive 92 times, in a career which saw him score an equally imposing 66 goals for Manchester City. However, it is his affiliation to Sunderland which ruffles my proverbial feathers. After making 203 appearances for the Black Cats, Quinn went on to become Chairman of the club in 2006, remaining in the role until 2011. All above board, all perfectly acceptable, all perfectly pleasant. Then came 2012. In 2012 Sky Sports signed up Quinn to their commentating and punditry books and has since made him a staple of ‘Super Sunday’, Sky’s blockbuster Premier League coverage. Again, so far so good. Until Mr Quinn gets assigned to Newcastle United or Sunderland matches, never mind the Tyne-Wear derby itself. Quinn is clearly blessed with a rich football history in which he has accumulated years of knowledge and experience, making him a perfectly acceptable panel member for, say, Liverpool v Bournemouth or Watford v Everton. However, very little rustles my crisp packet like Quinn’s biased views on a Sunday afternoon. The Black Cats could be battered and bruised, losing 4-0 and down to 9 men, yet Quinn would praise their passion, fight, and back them to win 5-4. The reverse applies to Newcastle, who could be 5-0 to the good (unlikely these days, but we can always dream) yet according to Quinn they’ve let down their fans and disgraced the manager. Combine Quinn with the dulcet Edinburgh tones of Graeme Souness rambling on about the modern game, and Jamie Redknapp talking about the ‘swaz’ of the game’s opening goal, and you have yourself a recipe for an infuriating Sunday afternoon. A friend of mine recently said, and quote, “The day I see Niall Quinn sign a contract extension to 2020 is the day I delete the Sky Sports app and never watch Super Sunday again”. Strong words from a fellow anti-Quinnist. All the blame shouldn’t lie on poor Niall himself, however, as it is the broadcaster who makes these abhorrent decisions to link Quinn with games he simply can’t hide his opinions on. Either way, I hope you will all join me in dreaming of the end of a punditry partisan world.
The Courier
“The extra intensity of the Thundercats shocked Dyslexic, and the second division side pulled a goal back with a composed finish from Fergus Houston.”
Ben Richardson’s corner earned Thundercats’ momentary parity Image: Ronnie Reid
Ben Blackburn posed with the match ball after netting four times Image: Ronnie Reid However, it was the quality demonstrated in the 57th minute by Thundercat skipper Fergus Houston which amazed those at Longbenton, with the midfielder striking a poor clearance first time past the bamboozled eyes of helpless goalkeeper Martin-Harvey. The Thundercats bench erupted at Houston demonstrated a dance I had only seen from his namesake Whitney back in the 1990’s. The second division side lead first division title contenders 4-3. However, on this hot day, the cream rose to the top when striker Ben Blackburn who had been quiet since the beginning of the second half, demonstrated a hallmark of any top striker when
he tapped in the ball after an outstanding save from Thundercat goalkeeper Dallas to make the score line 4-4. This proved to be as far as the Thundercats could push Untied, with the next 10 minutes seeing the dyslexics pepper the Thundercat goal. Notably, the Dyslexic’s went extremely close to securing the lead when the ball was cleared of the line by Ben Richardson. Richardson was another who proved he was division one standard, with his defensive capabilities preventing Felix Dandrea from truly proving his devastating right foot, and his own delivery of the ball a key patch in the quilt of a gripping match. Fergus Houston courageously decided to fight fire with fire when he substituted on the physical force of Emeka Okoye, who disturbed the Dyslexic defence but never quite had the final ball to prove himself. However, and not to be harsh to a valiant Thundercats side, they had simply run out of steam. The electric energy of Ben Blackburn took control of a tightly poised game when he superbly turned and struck home to make the score 5-4 in the 81st minute. The Thundercats couldn’t reply to this, and their fate was sealed when Tom Burnett rounded the goalkeeper to book the Dyslexics place in the semi-final of the Wednesday intra-mural cup. The Thundercats demonstrated quality in the right areas of the pitch, and scoring four goals against a team unbeaten until January is certainly a feather upon their cap, but Dyslexic deserved to finish winners.
The Courier
sportbucs.47
Monday 25 April 2016
Canoe Club make a splash at Wild Water Racing By Emma Bancroft On Saturday 9th April a team from Newcastle University’s Canoe Club travelled down to the River Washburn in the Yorkshire Dales to race in the annual BUCS Wild Water Racing competition. There was an air of excitement, as enthusiastic spectators of all ages lined the banks to watch the races, take photographs and to cheer on their favourite teams. After a few promising practice runs early in the morning, the 12 strong team were ready and raring to go when the competition began at 9.30am. Throughout the day the kayakers, spurred on by the guidance and encouragement of their supportive coach, Chris Barratt, took on two different white water courses - the long course taking around 10 minutes and the short course taking around a minute and a half - in a range of different racing boats; K1s (kayaks), C1s (canoes) and C2s (duo canoes). Aside from the challenging white water courses, the limited number of boats and drivers meant that a tight schedule had to be followed in order to transport the team from the end of the course back to the start line at the top in time for their next races, whilst ensuring there were enough boats for everybody to complete their runs. Not only did this require an incredible amount of organisation, which wouldn’t have been possible without the leadership of team captain Duncan Boyter, but it also meant the competitors had to deal with shorter rest periods between runs, making stamina a crucial part of the competitors’ skill set. After a tremendously long day of intense paddling, with a 5.30pm finish, and each kayaker completing an impressive average of 5-8 runs, NUCC brought home an astounding 75 BUCS points for Newcastle University; an astonishing feat from just a single day of competition. Out of the 15 university teams that attended, NUCC triumphed, with rivals, and former champions, Durham, trailing 27 points behind in second place, followed by last year’s winners, Loughborough, in third. Such a convincing victory would not
have been possible without superb individual performances from all members of the team, many of whom also walked away with medals. A very well deserved silver medal was awarded to President of the club, Daniel Leicester, in the open team race along with Crayston Renner and Ben Smith. A fantastic performance also secured 2 bronze medals for Fergus McClean and Ben Smith in the C2 long course and sprint course, with 4th place also being awarded to a Newcastle team. The day also saw a particularly impressive performance in the C1 women’s race with Jessica Playle, Carrie Bamber and NUCC captain Laura Wiley coming 4th, 5th and 6th. Commenting on the girls’ performance, Laura Wiley remarked “with less girls in the competition, we knew that we had a good chance entering into the C1 race because not many girls are at the standard to race C1s, and as a result it’s fantastic that all the girls threw themselves in at the deep end at training because we’ve come out with some excellent results.” With the team sticking to a gruelling training programme, comprising of weekly strength and conditioning sessions, bi-weekly early morning river training at Newburn, frequent trips to the Tees Barrage to practise white water paddling, technical paddling practise at Gosforth pool and river trips almost every weekend it is evident that the team’s success didn’t come without a lot of hard work. Captain Duncan Boyter comments, “it was hugely satisfying to see the hard work and months of training that all the members of the team have put in pay off in the end. While getting up for early morning training wasn’t always the most fun it really showed in the paddling skills of those who raced.” President of the club, Daniel Leicester, who was elated with club’s performance, said, “I was incredibly proud of everyone who went. Everyone had a part to play, and we wouldn’t have won without everyone being so involved and trying their best.” Commenting on their victory against rivals Durham and Loughborough, he added, “after 5 years of placing top 5 but not winning it was extremely satisfying to finally beat our rivals and come in 1st place.”
Double trouble: the C2s battle their way down the wild water course with apparent ease Image: Tom Clare (www.fb.com/tomclarephoto)
Rampant rapids: the Newcastle canoeists faced some fearsome conditions in the water Image: Tom Clare (www.fb.com/tomclarephoto)
Inaugural Sepak Takraw Uni’s Rugby women outsmart tournament proves a hit Cambridge to win vase trophy ...continued from back page
Buoyed by that victory, the home crowd were fully behind Newcastle University B in their quest to be the first ever victors of the tournament. Having beaten Balai Malaysia B in the group stages, and narrowly winning the first set, all looked to be going to plan. However, as is so common in this crazy sport, the game turned on its head and Ruzaidi Bin Ismail’s spikes seemed to be finding the right place every time. Once they’d won the second set, Balai Malaysia B were full of confidence and were able to use the momentum to take the initiative in the third set. Besides a wobble after extending their lead to five points, they were able to hold their nerve throughout to give themselves the honour of lifting the trophy. John Haswell was not only pleased with the way his team performed, but also the club as a whole. “Overall I’m delighted with how the tournament went. I think as a club we all did tremendously well to get everything together, from recruiting the teams to match day programmes and organising a meal for
everyone in the evening.” He added that he’s pleased how the sport has a secure future in the university, and hopefully in the UK. “I think the most successful aspect of the tournament is that I feel the members now realise they are part of something bigger. The final of our tournament has got over 2000 views from all over the world. We’re part of a growing sport and part of an enthusiastic takraw community. I hope that can serve as great motivation for current members and attract lots more people to get involved next year!” Having distributed medals to the players, competitor and occasional official Niall Nagar said that “the tournament was a huge success, I’m so proud of everyone who helped. Every member of the club had an integral role in helping over the weekend.” Indeed the tournament felt like the foundations of a big future for takraw in both Newcastle and wider in the UK. The success of this competition shouldn’t go unnoticed, and if the university do take notice, they have the opportunity to be national forerunners in the sport.
Women’s Rugby Newcastle
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Leeds
7 By Rosie Neal in Sheffield
The vase was a new competition created for the teams finishing outside of the top 4 of the premiership, and the final followed a thrilling 15 - 0 away vs Cambridge and took place in Sheffield on “Big BUCS Wednesday”, alongside many other fixtures and finals. We were playing old rivals Leeds who we had played twice in the premiership and were at a stalemate (1 win each) and so this game decided not only who would go home with the vase but also who would go home knowing they were definitively the better team. NWR were in great spirits before the game, relaxed and confident after their dominant away win against Cambridge.
Despite opting to start against a strong wind, the Newcastle girls took first blood with some very collected play: a few impressive carries from forwards gave the backs a good overlap, which winger Charlie Woodman made the most of. She scored the try and scrum half Rosie Neal converted. Confidence was high and NWR’s dominance continued. They pinned Leeds back in their 22m goal area and would not let up. Nearly letting their excitement get the better of them, there were a few loose balls but they managed to get the ball back and kept their composure. A number of forward balls led to a goal line scramble, with either Number 8 Tash or fly half and captain Shauna Buckley touching down. Clearly it wasn’t a clean try but it was a try none the less. Leeds woke up after 30 minutes and put some pressure on Newcastle. Luckily, a well worked “escape plan” paid off better than could be expected for the Nubiles. A box kick from Neal was chased by Woodman and the poor Leeds fullback opted to tapping it over
her head on the touch line - keeping it in. This bounced perfectly for longlegged Woodman who cantered under the posts. It was an easy conversion for Neal. The second half brought more pressure from Leeds who managed to score a try - despite getting a player sinbinned for punching our little VC Olly Critchley - and hold Newcastle off for the majority. But not entirely. In fact, in the dying minutes, NWR played some smart rugby in Leeds’ 22m zone. Drawing them one way and then the other, finally, captain Shauna spotted some space on the blindside and called for the ball. Rather than catching it she threw it over her head in a blind Stuart Hogg-esque manner and found hooker Elle Bloor on the wing who finished the move off nicely. The conversion was too difficult for the teams ageing kicker who is approaching retirement. The game ended on that high note for the Nubiles with a score of 24-7 and a lovely piece of silverware for the Newcastle cabinet.
Sport
www.thecourieronline.co.uk Monday 25 April 2016 Issue 1329 Free
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DISABILITY SPORTS P.45
Sports Editors: Alex Hendley, Calum Wilson & Lewis Bedford courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk Twitter: @Courier_Sport | Instagram: thecouriersport
INTRA MURAL REPORT P.46
CANOE CLUB CHAMPIONS P.47
University hosts international stars at inaugural Sepak Takraw tournament
James Sproston pounces for the ball in a dramtic Takraw tussle Image: James Sproston
By James Sproston After weeks of hype and speculation, Newcastle’s inaugural sepak takraw competition got underway on the 16th of April. The hotly anticipated tournament included six of the best teams Newcastle had to offer, and three allMalaysian visiting sides. Having printed the match day programmes, stocked up on sausage rolls, and set up the extra-springy nets, the tournament got underway on the Saturday. First up was the Regu competition: three-a-side matches with the first two sets to 21, and the tiebreak set (if necessary) to 15. Even though Group 1 had only four teams, it was clear that there were two top class sides. Both Newcastle University A, featuring President John Haswell alongside Vice President Jack White and Boltonian Ben Mather, and the visiting Manchester side displayed their quality in their opening fixtures against Tiki Takraw and Balai Malaysia A. When the two sides met in the final group fixture, there were some fireworks. Some world-class takraw accompanied physical prowess from both sides. After taking one set each, the match was decided in a tiebreak. De-
spite being within touching distance throughout the set, the Mancunians were able to steal it in a 16-14 win. Both teams could be optimistic about the semi-finals though. In the Group of Death, surprise package Pak Men, consisting of Newcastle’s Seb Masters and Toby Arup, took two unprecedented victories back-to-back. Looking like favourites to progress through to the knockout stage alongside Newcastle University B, they faced latecomers Balai Malaysia B to seal their place in the semis. Unfortunately the Malaysians proved to be far better than their respective ‘A’ team, and cruised
defeated. Berocca Juniors started with James “The Great Dane” Sproston in the tekong position, Harry “The Kanagroo” Van Der Hoek slotting in as feeder, and Jack “The Chunder Dragon” Cryer as the Juniors’ killer, whilst Dreamers captain Tom Woollons called upon Charlie Carr and Freddie Gollins to give his team the height advantage. Both teams felt the pressure in the first set, with Dreamers narrowly winning 21-19. In the second BJSTC’s cultured approach was overcome by The Dreamers’ physical, aggressive method of takraw. Dreamers played to their
Presidents John Haswell and Jack Taylor teamed up to as Newcastle A; they faced Berocca A’s Niall Nagar and James Sproston. The match was one of the most thrilling of the tournament so far, with the Presidents emerging victorious after clinching the tie break set. Two members of Newcastle University B, Mohamad Azni Bidin and Mohd Fadly Md Ahid, partnered up to compete as Croydon Road. As well as being favourites in the Regu, these two were fancied in the doubles as well. However their route to the final was no way near as simple as they predicted. After taking a 13-1 lead in the tie break set against
past the locals. However the real attention in Group 2 was at the other end of the table. Berocca Juniors and The Dreamers had disappointing results at the start of the day, so they were playing for nothing more than pride. With a strong social media presence, Berocca Juniors had promised their fans a performance, whilst the trash-talking from The Dreamers camp meant nothing but extreme embarrassment awaited them if they were
strengths and deservedly sealed 4th place in the group. Once it was confirmed that Berocca Juniors had finished last in the group, takraw maestro Niall Nagar added that “I think the tournament went well considering it’s our first time competing. We outdid ourselves seeing as we’d only trained together once as a team.” On the Sunday, the Doubles Regu got underway, switching from a three to a two player format of the game.
Wooden Spooners, Charlie Carr and Freddie Gollins fought back to level at 14-14. Despite the comeback, Croydon held their nerve to win 16-14. Croydon faced Jack Cryer and Harry Van Der Hoek’s Berocca B in the next round, after they had unexpectedly beaten Tom Manning and Luke Ellett of Brentford in their first round fixture. They managed to win in two sets to set up the finals against Durham London and Plynotts. Surprisingly it was Dur-
“Having printed the match day programmes, stocked up on sausage rolls, and set up the extra-springy nets, the tournament got underway”
ham London who emerged as winners, as Ruzaidi Bin Ismail of Balai Malaysia B and Mohd Syazwan Md Rahim joined forces to devastating effect. After lunch, the semi-finals of the Regu commenced. Newcastle University A were up first against Newcastle University B in the local derby. Since both teams knew each other inside out, it was a psychological test for both teams. As the bookies predicted, it was Newcastle University B that progressed, but it was no easy feat. In the other semi-final, Balai Malaysia B faced Group 1 winners Manchester. Having won every game in the group, and had Aja Hasrin firing on all cylinders, Manchester looked to be favourites. But this time the script wasn’t followed. Manchester regularly rotated their team but couldn’t find a winning formula as Balai Malaysia B caused yet another upset. Before the final took place, the third place play-off between Newcastle University A and Manchester took place. Despite taking the win in the group, Manchester still had their previous loss at the back of their minds. They crumbled as John Haswell, Jack White and Ben Mather claimed the bronze medal in some style. ...continued on page 43