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the courier
thecourier The Courier is a weekly newspaper produced by students, for students. It’s never too late to get involved in the paper, whether you’re a writer, illustrator or photographer. Just visit thecourieronline.co.uk/about for more information. Editor James Sproston Deputy Editor Alex Hendley Online Editor Jared Moore Copy Editor Laura Staniforth Current Affairs Editor Sunil Nambiar News Editors Valentina Egorova, Hanson Jones, Louise Hall, Laura Higgins and Isabel Sykes Comment Editors Jamie Cameron, Caitlin Disken and Alexandra Sadler Life & Style Editor Izzi Watkins Lifestyle Editors Sophie Henderson, Jaymelouise Hudspith, Lauren Sneath and Victoria Young Fashion Editors Chloe Bland, Sophie Schneider and Zofia Zwieglinska Beauty Editors Laura Greatrex, Lois Johnston and Susanne Norris Travel Editors Charlotte Hill and Talia Gillin Culture Editors Zoë Godden and Errol Kerr Arts Editors Scarlett Rowland and Carys Thomas Music Editors Toby Bryant, Charlie Isaacs and Ally Wilson TV Editors Jacob Clarke, Joel Leaver and Alex Moore Film Editors Helena Buchanan, Daniel Haygarth and Christopher Wilkinson Gaming Editors Gerry Hart, Georgina Howlett and Richard Liddle Science Editors Jack Coles, Christopher Little and Ciara Ritson-Courtney Sports Editors Tom Shrimplin, Courtney Strait and Mark Sleightholm The Courier NUSU King’s Walk Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8QB Tel: 0191 239 3940 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 opinion pieces are those of the individual writing, and not of the Courier, the Students’ Union or Newcastle University.
From the archives 26 YEARS AGO
Mens Bar renamed amid Lib-Lab feud Tim Farron’s time as president of the Students’ Union was nothing if not controversial. In the midst of a feud between the Labour and Lib Dem societies, a vandalised door and a proposal to rename Mens Bar created a perfect storm where the Courier’s letter page became a battleground of backstabbing and bitchiness. As one of several Lib Dems in prominent positions in the Union, Farron could not escape the drama, as accusations and counter-accusations of vandalism, homophobia and corruption threatened to tear the Union in two. Allegations that Labour Club members had broken down a door in the Union in order to print some last-minute election posters generated several weeks’ worth of angry letters to the Courier. Meanwhile, the Union’s decision – believed to have been initiated by Lib Dem officers – to rebrand Mens Bar as the Stonewall Bar prompted a tense Student Council meeting where a homophobic crowd forced the name change to be reversed. Farron again attracted criticism, this time for appearing to laugh at some of the homophobic jokes.
40 YEARS AGO ‘Punk is here to stay’ So said “your friendly neighbourhood Anarchist” at the height of punk culture. Long before he felt the need to explain his butter-buying habits, Johnny Rotten was a genuinely shocking figure. So much so that in their review of the Sex Pistol’s debut (and, as it turns out, only) album, the Anarchist felt that printing the Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols title “shattered your illusions about this paper being decent”. 40 years on and decency has evolved, but the Anarchist’s review, while not offering much in the way of musical analysis, demonstrates why the Sex Pistols were so important in 1977. “Throughout the album young Johnny’s vocal chords are in fine form,” the reviewer continues, with an admiration for the band’s ability to make “great new songs” with so little skill. “They could have faded from sight as one-hit wonders but no one would have ever forgotten the Sex Pistols. Step aside Jagger, Rotten and his rabble are on their way to Rock ‘n’ Roll heaven, and punk is here to stay whether your Mum likes it or not!”
61 YEARS AGO
Fighting on the streets of Budapest
The usual debates around NUS disaffiliation or what to name bars in the Union were put on hold as Newcastle students took on a more global perspective. The Suez crisis had already divided campus, with fights breaking out during an anti-war protest in the city, before student protests in Hungary grew into a full-blown revolution, electrifying the student population of Newcastle. George Odling-Smee organised a swift fund-raiser in support of the Hungarian students. “One would expect a collection coming so soon after Rag Week to be a complete failure,” Odling-Smee wrote in the Courier, but he exceeded his expectations and raised £72 – nearly £2000 in today’s money. Odling-Smee, in cooperation with students from other British universities, was also keen to organise an expedition to Hungary to fight alongside the students there, although was unable to provide any firm plan of action for this.
Monday 27 November 2017
CROSS-CAMPUS NEWS
Bath VC survives no-confidence vote
Glynis Breakwell will remain as the vice-chancellor of Bath University after a no-confidence vote in the University’s senate went in her favour. Breakwell has faced calls to resign after it was revealed that, on £468,000 a year, she is the UK’s highest-paid vicechancellor. The University’s secretive decision-making processes have also come in for criticism, with Breakwell herself part of the committee that decided to raise her own salary. She also stands accused of obstructing investigations into the matter. 19 senators voted in support of Breakwell in the secret ballot, compared to 16 against and two abstentions. The vote followed an emergency meeting of over 300 members of University staff that unanimously called for her resignation.
Manchester united in boycotting buses
Students voting to keep the Mens Bar name, in the nowdemolished Debating Chamber Image: Paul Seddon
Students in Manchester have launched a campaign to boycott First buses to support striking bus drivers. University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University students have united to encourage students to avoid using First buses. 96% of First drivers voted to take industrial action after they discovered they were paid less than colleagues doing the same job in other locations in the city. As well as boycotting the buses, students are encouraged to join the strikers on the picket line, with strikes taking place every Monday in November and every Monday, Wednesday and Friday during December.