Courier 1367

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Monday 12 March 2018 Issue 1367 Free

thecourieronline.co.uk

Comment Writers' thoughts on media regulation Page 11

Music Jukebox: Music's Mothers' Day special Page 22

Science Pain in VR? You're pulling my leg...

Page 33

The independent voice of Newcastle students

Est 1948 Inside today >>>

Uni fees under scrutiny Both rent prices and tuition fees are coming under student criticism News, page 5

Ghost of campus future Mark Sleightholm has been brushing up on campus' history and its projected plans Feature, page 8 & 9

London Fashion Week The most bizarre trends emerging from this year's London Fashion Week are in the limelight Fashion, page 11

Are we the funniest?

TV take a look at how a small island has had such a huge comic impact TV, page 24

Put 'em up!

Sabbatical team for 2018 unveiled at election night Ten new officers elected to represent students Student turnout reaches record low in election Three candidates drop out during election week James Sproston Editor Six new Sabbatical Officers and four Part Time Officers were elected on Friday in an election week characterised by candidate withdrawal and poor engagement.

19,692 votes were cast as Raff Marioni, Jonny Hall, Jack Green, Sophie McDermott, Maggie Elstob and Louise Hall are the new the six Sabbatical Officer candidates chosen by the student body to lead

Newcastle University Students’ Union.

They will be joined by new Part Time Officers Adam Warner, Lauren Sykes, Charlotte Boulton, and Jamie Cameron for the 2018/19 academic year.

Only 3387 students voted in this year’s Newcastle University Students’ Union elections, 2052 down on last year, as the overall turnout proportion dropped from 23% to 13%. It’s the lowest turnout NUSU has seen since 2012 in terms of the number of individual voters, and the lowest since in terms of overall turnout proportion since records began.

The huge drop in voter turnout has been attributed to the strike action and adverse weather conditions leading to fewer students on campus during campaigns week. Moreover, the lack of November by-elections and NUS delegate elections probably would account for a 9% fall in turnout.

Interestingly, for the first time in recent history, candidates have dropped out of the running for NUSU roles during the election week itself. On Mon-

day, Errol Kerr and Lucy Butterworth, respectively standing for Activities Officer and Welfare and Equality Officer, both withdrew from the process, followed by Presidential candidate Chris Murray the next day.

“The standout voting figure from the whole election cycle has got to be the 13% turnout which the incoming team have got to address" Harry Parsons, Deputy Station Manager of NSR

Whilst all three of those contenders were present for the Newcastle Student Radio debates the preceding week, three other students listed on the initial

candidate list opted out of the process before the election week started. Even at the close of nominations, there were only 25 nominations, compared to 35 the year before, and 26 and 47 in 2016 and 2015 respectively.

Though it started out with four candidates, the race for President of the Students’ Union ended up being a head-to-head between Holly Waddell, current President of the Working Class Students’ Network, and Raff Marioni, co-founder of Hardly Athletic FC. The voting figures were relatively tight, as Marioni was elected President with 1050 compared to Waddell’s 850.

Marioni exclaimed: “Blimey! I’ve got to say a massive thank you to everyone who voted and the candidates who ran against me…you’re all brilliant people.

Thanks to the dance society, my rugby league boys, Bayswater boys… Everyone who helped me out! That’s all I got.” continued on page 4

Do video games have something to answer for in today's gun culture?

Gaming, page 30

Back to basics for puzzles After two weeks of themed specials, Joey's gone back to the drawing board Puzzles, page 35

On your bike Meet the man cycling around the UK and then climbing Africa's highest mountain Sport, page 36 & 37

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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, Isabel Sykes and Zoë Crowther 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 Ciara RitsonCourtney 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 Mark Sleightholm, Courtney Strait, Tom Shrimplin, Sydney Isaacs and Matt Proctor The Courier NUSU King’s Walk Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8QB Tel: 0191 239 3940 The Courier is printed by: Trinity Mirror Printing, Barton Road, Riverside Park Industrial Estate, Middlesbrough, TS2 1UT 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

8 YEARS AGO

Butterfly emerges

In a rare acknowledgement that many students live outside of Jesmond, the Courier reported on the opening of a new cafe on Heaton Road.

The Belle & Herbs cafe had merrily fed students and locals since its opening in 2003 and was “particularly renowned for its breakfasts,” according to the Courier, but closed its doors in late 2009.

For reasons unclear to the Courier, the cafe was rebranded as the Butterfly Cabinet and reopened several weeks later in the same venue and with most of the same staff.

A new menu and new décor inside the cafe were a hit with the cafe’s regulars, who had been speculating as to the future of their favourite breakfast venue on the “Belle & Herbs Appreciation Society” Facebook group.

General Manager Simon Robson declined to explain the reasoning for the change to the Courier, saying only that he wished “the draw a line under an unfortunate past.”

25 YEARS AGO

Uni mourns death of Stan Calvert

The Courier had sad news to report in 1993 after the death of the University’s popular Director of Sport, Stan Calvert.

“He was a genuine, cultured Northumbrian gentleman noted for his wit, charm and ability to communicate,” recalled Alan Brown, who worked with Calvert at the Sports Centre.

Calvert was born in Alnwick in 1929 but studied at Birmingham University, where he played football for non-league side Bromsgrove Rovers. He spent several years as a PE teacher before joining Newcastle in 1958, where he helped to establish what is now the Sports Centre.

Calvert threw himself to university life, working as a trustee of the union and becoming a senior lecturer in 1969. He also served as chairman of the Northern Sports Council and was highly active in local and university sporting administration. In 1981 he became the University’s first Director of Sport, based in what was then the Physical Education Centre in the building now home to Culture Lab.

43 YEARS AGO

Far left defeated

Shock election results saw control of the Students’ Union slip from the grasp of the International Marxist Group.

“Newcastle University’s silent moderate majority turned out in force for the elections,” reported the Courier, defeating a slate of far-left candidates known as the “United Executive”.

The Students’ Union was bitterly divided between moderates and the farleft in the early 1970s, with the Courier itself briefly under the control of the Socialist Society in 1974. Unlike today, Newcastle’s elections of the 1970s permitted slate campaigning, and in 1975 three International Marxist candidates ran together in a bid to take control over the Union.

Dentistry student Fiz Manji stood on a far-left platform for the role of president and promised “action” over “bureaucracy”, while Roz Seymore and Halcro Drever stood for the other two sabbatical roles. All three were ultimately unsuccessful, much to the Courier’s delight.

Despite Manji looking the clear favourite, it was Simon Gardner who came out victorious, despite deciding to stand so late that his manifesto could not even be included in the Courier.

Mark Sleightholm

Stan Calvert, the linchpin of Newcastle University’s sports for 35 years Image: The Courier

Monday 12 March 2018

CROSS-CAMPUS NEWS

Oxford voting farce A very modern industrial dispute came face-to-face with one of the many ancient rituals and traditions that make Oxford such a bizarre university, as proposals to overturn proposals were overturned and then turned back over again.

Oxford, along with Cambridge, was one of the main proponents of the changes to the USS scheme that have prompted the current strikes across UK universities, including Newcastle.

Academic staff proposed revising the university’s stance to oppose the changes, but this could only be debated at Congregation, Oxford’s highest governing body, if Congregation first agreed to suspend an obscure rule regarding the deadline for submitting motions.

Incredibly, despite all of the University’s teaching staff being able to attend Congregation, the rules only required 20 members of staff to oppose this suspension - bizarrely, by physically standing up in the meeting - to block the debate from going ahead.

The melodrama continued outside, where dozens of students were already protesting against the University’s stance. Staff now held an unofficial outdoor vote to overturn Oxford’s support for the USS changes by 418 votes to two.

Given that almost all staff attending this vote wanted to overturn the stance, the two votes against was more shocking than the massive victory in favour.

The next day things got even more complicated when the University itself backed down and agreed to oppose the changes to the USS pension scheme, making Oxford the latest in a string of universities to question the benefit of changing lecturers’ pensions. <<< The answer: last week’s image showed the winners of the part-time officer elections of 1986

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@TheCourier_News courier.news@ncl.ac.uk thecourieronline.co.uk/news Current Affairs Editor Sunil Nambiar News Editors Valentina Egorova, Hanson Jones, Louise Hall, Isabel Sykes & Zoë Crowther

UCU prepared to carry out further strike action

Zoë Crowther News Editor University and College Union’s (UCU) national High Education Committee (HEC) met on Thursday 9th March to outline decisions regarding the potential next steps of the lecturers’ pensions strike.

The latest update is that sixty-five institutions could face more strike action in the examination period, unless an agreement is made before the end of the current round of strikes.

“If talks fail, we are prepared to carry out the action in defence of our pensions.”

Sally Hunt, General Secretary of UCU

UCU general secretary Sally Hunt reported: “I have given my personal commitment that UCU is serious about reaching an agreement. However, if talks fail, we are prepared to carry out the action in defence of our pensions.

Our negotiators today sought and received the further support of HEC for a series of 14 days of further strikes if no acceptable agreement can be reached.”

She confirmed that the union will now prepare a new strike timetable and fresh advice for members, as well as other ac-

tions that members can take to support the action. UCU has said that it will now gather information on when the walkouts would be most effective at different universities.

Up to 42,000 academic members of staff from more than 60 universities have so far been engaged in three weeks of strike action, in response to proposed reforms to their pensions.

Universities UK (UUK), the representative organization of UK universities, wants to change the current guaranteed retirement income to one defined by changes in the stock market.

These changes could leave lecturers up to £10,000 a year worse off in retirement. UCU has stated that younger staff would be worst affected, with some losing up to half their pensions.

UUK say the scheme presently has a deficit of more than £6 billion, and they have a legal duty to put in place a credible plan to reduce the deficit by this summer.

They argue that, without reform, pension contributions from employers and staff would have to rise steeply, with potential cuts to university spending and possible redundancies.

A UUK spokesperson said: “Both sides are currently engaged in serious and constructive talks. We will expect that industrial action is suspended while UUK consults with all employers.”

UCU claims that the current action will affect over 1 million students, and proposals for future strikes could see thousands more facing disrupted exams and assessments between April and

June. This also raises the prospect of some final-year exams being cancelled.

UCU claims that the current action will affect over 1 million students Sally Hunt, in the meeting on Thursday, stated: “HEC also agreed to sanction, if necessary, further strikes immediately after Easter in institutions where scheduled teaching continues. Strike pay will be available for any action undertaken.”

With nearly 100,000 students having signed a petition calling for compensation of their fees, and Newcastle University’s Vice Chancellor announcing his support of the striking lecturers, there is increasing pressure for a resolution to be reached.

There is increasing pressure for a resolution to be reached Rally in support of the strike took place by Monument Image: Saffron Kershaw-Mee

The talks were continued into Friday 9th March, with UCU members informed that they shall be updated when there is further news.

Arrests over racist chants at Nottingham Trent Isabel Sykes News Editor Two 18-year old men have been arrested following the emergence of a video recording racist chants outside a Nottingham Trent University student’s bedroom.

“This kind of vile behaviour will not be tolerated. Those suspected perpetrators have been suspended” A spokesperson for Nottingham Trent University

The incident happened in halls of residence at Nottingham Trent University Image: Geograph

On Wednesday 7 March, Rufaro Chisango, a student at the university, posted a video on twitter of people chanting racist slurs outside her bedroom door in university halls of residence on Monday night.

The video is a minute long and male voices can be heard shouting “we hate the blacks” and other racial abuse while Miss Chisango was locked in her room.

In her tweet on Wednesday evening, she said: “I’m fuming, the way people in the same uni halls as me are chanting “we hate the blacks” outside my

bedroom door. Words cannot describe how sad this makes me feel, in this 2018 people think this is still acceptable.”

Miss Chisango has said that she told the reception staff at her halls of residence about the incident on Tuesday.

She said that they took her details and informed her it would be “dealt with”, but by Wednesday night she had heard nothing else from them.

Nottingham Trent University were also only made aware of the incident on Wednesday and have now launched an investigation, having suspended two men suspected to be involved.

A spokesperson for the university said: “We are shocked and appalled to see the video of racist chanting posted yesterday evening,” “This kind of vile behaviour will not be tolerated. Those suspected perpetrators have been suspended immediately pending a full investigation.

“We are also working with our accommodation partner to understand why the University was only alerted to this on Wednesday evening after this was reported to them in the very early hours of Tuesday.”

Nottingham Police are also investigating the incident and have arrested two 18-year old men.

On Thursday 8 March a spokesperson tweeted: “We’ve arrested two men in connection with racially aggravated public order offences following reports of a video posted at Nottingham Trent University and shared on social media.

The men, aged 18, remain in police custody. Our enquiries are ongoing.”

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Monday 12 March 2018

International Women’s Day on campus Louise Hall News Editor Last week International Women’s Day hit campus, and the inspiration and empowerment of female student and staff alike could be felt throughout the day.

The theme for International Women’s Day this year is Press for Progress, calling for action to push towards gender equality. The International Women’s Day website states that #PressForProgress aims to encourage motivating and uniting friends, colleagues and whole communities to think, act and be gender inclusive.

NUSU shared their own inclusive photo of female staff and students on campus during the day, writing: “This is a day to celebrate how far we’ve come

in terms of women’s rights, and also to look ahead at how we can improve in the future!”

“This is a day to celebrate how far we’ve come in terms of women’s rights, and also to look ahead at how we can improve in the future” Newcastle University Students’ Union

There were many ways for students

to get involved across campus in the #pressforprogress campaign.

The Knicker Revolution event took place at Monument, where underwear bunting was draped over the famous monument of Charles Grey in an act of solidarity and protest against catcalling and sexism.

The NE Women’s Network shared a blog post on the event, writing that “Newcastle has been at the forefront of women’s radical action, from the Suffragettes plotting to break windows as they drank tea in Fenwick’s café in the 1900s, to the first Women’s Liberation conference held outside London in the 1970s, to being one of only four British cities to host a Slutwalk in 2011.”

Newcastle University Team Kenya Society held a series of charity events outside of the Student Union in aid of Team

Kenya, hosting a bake sale, a jumble sale and a raffle to the backing track of empowered female anthems.

“All women should have the rights and capability to dream freely and pursue their goals” Students and alumni of INTO Newcastle University

A film festival also took place throughout the week from the 5th to the 9th of March showcasing films about women,

each day focusing on a different theme or group of women, with guest speakers featured throughout the programme.

INTO students and alumni teamed up to produce an inspiring video with the aim of demonstrating that “all women (and anyone for this matter) should have the rights and capability to dream freely and pursue their goals.”

And even those students not on campus on International Women’s Day found ways to share inspiration throughout the day on social media, posting photos, quotes and acknowledgements to important women in history and in their lives.

The general atmosphere of International Women’s Day at Newcastle can be summarised as one of empowerment and growth, in the name of women all over the world in 2018 and beyond.

Women of NUSU on International Women’s Day Image: NUSU

“The elections saw candidates come under more scrutiny than they have in years” continued from front page

The other two-horse race in the elections was also the first Sabbatical Officer result to be announced on the night, the Activities Officer. Following Kerr’s withdrawal, the position was to be filled by either Sophie McDermott or Josh Cook. Though both candidates performed well, McDermott was the clear choice of the electorate, racking up 1382 votes, 536 more than Cook’s 846 votes.

Joining McDermott in the Activities Centre will be Maggie Elstob, after her 1096 votes sealed her position as the 2018/19 Athletic Union Officer. Elstob recorded 998 votes in the first round of voting, with Zach Thomas, Max Sharp and James Anthoney falling well short of the number of votes that Elstob accumulated.

After cracking a joke on stage, McDermott added: “Oh amazing! I’d like to say I could not have done this without the amazing people over there, in particular one person… Xanthe” Elstob was emotional when she took to the stage to address the room: “I don’t wanna cry! I wanna say thank you to the other candidates, and a massive thank you to my campaign team!“ The final female member of the 2018/19 Sabbatical Officer team is Louise Hall, who will take over the role as Editor of the Courier. Hall beat Dan Haygarth, Mark Sleightholm and Jaymelouise Hudspith to the position, notching up 849 votes in the final stage to Haygarth’s 741.

After winning the close-run race, Hall was shocked to have come out on top: “I’m so overwhelmed; I really, really did not think I was going to win tonight. A huge thank you to my campaign team and everyone who supported me this week, even for a vote. I can’t believe it!

I’m so grateful” Four different candidates were also

pitched against each other for the position of Education Officer, with Jonny Hall being elected to succeed Rowan South. Of the 1752 votes cast for Education Officer, Hall recorded 823. Gillian Salmon was knocked out in the second stage of voting, with Hall gaining the necessary number of votes in the reallocation to achieve an unassailable lead ahead of Sam Cooke and Emma Dawson.

When elected, Hall stated: “I’m so speechless right now…I’ve been sitting there in silence waiting for this. Big thank you to my campaign team. Sam Midwood for editing and filming my video, absolute hero! My family for baking flapjacks and cookies… and finally my girlfriend Sarah!”

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Chair election had plenty of coverage, leading to a total of 1579 votes. Though it had the highest number of R.O.N. votes (85) among the contested positions, the candidates still acquired a high number of votes. After Ze Wang’s votes were redistributed, Warner pipped Qureshi to the role by just 28 votes, recording 700 votes compared to Qureshi’s 672.

Following his win in the closest contest of the election period, Warner stated: “Thank you for everyone who voted

for me, and yes I’m very much excited for next year. There’s a few ideas I’m really looking forward to getting into: increase voting places, trying to get more and different people turning up to student council and make it work better for everybody.

Joining Warner in the PTO team were three individuals that won their respective elections without opposition. Lauren Sykes, Charlotte Boulton and Jamie Cameron were in turn elected LGBT+ Officer, Marginalised Genders Officer,

and Scrutiny Officer, gaining 1147, 1164 and 1201 votes respectively.

Reflecting on the campaign, Deputy Station Manager of NSR and co-ordinator of the pre-election debates said: “The election campaign saw candidates come under more scrutiny than they have in years. Footfall on campus was low and social media campaigning was key. The standout voting figure from the whole election cycle has got to be the 13% turnout which the incoming team have got to address.”

total number of votes cast in this year’s election week, 2052 less than in 2017

Hall’s co-president of RAG Society, Jack Green, was elected in similar circumstances for the role of Welfare and Equality Officer. After the votes for reopen nominations were transferred, Green’s 855 votes gave him a majority over Zoë Godden nor Sneha Vincet, whose respective totals of 545 and 296 votes were not enough to force a second stage of voting.

Green said: “Ah I can’t believe it!

Thanks so much to my campaign team…and Zoe and Sneha. It’s been an incredible week, awful and great!

Thanks to Saz for letting me in her office when I was stressed.”

The only contested Part Time Officer position was that of Chair of Council, as Ze Wang, Adam Warner and Haaris Qureshi all competed for the coveted role. Even though it is a PTO role, the

All six winners attended the NUSU hustings last Monday Image: NUSU

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Monday 12 March 2018

Survey finds rent prices are affecting mental health Charlotte Boulton The National Student Accommodation Survey 2018 has revealed how the stresses of high rent and poor living conditions are affecting student’s stress levels and mental health.

“I physically don’t get enough in my loan to cover my rent, it’s definitely stressful” Emily Richardson, 2nd year student at Newcastle University

Newcastle students feel the effects of high rent Image: Geograph

The survey polled 2,246 UK based students between the 1st and 14th February. Of those surveyed, 45% reported that the cost of accommodation impacts mental health. This correlates with the shocking fact that 44% of students struggle to keep up payments with their rent. 31% reported that their studies are affected by these rent and mental health difficulties.

These statistics highlight clear issues with the expense of rent and how students cope with the pressure of high rent and living costs. The organisers of the survey, Save the Student, suggest that

a support strategy can be useful, and provide advice on their website about securing additional funding. Some extra funding, such as bursaries and scholarships, aren’t available to everyone so are not always an option.

The survey estimated the national average for student rent in the UK to be £130.59 per week. Compared to the average student finance maintenance loan payment of £138.85 a week, this leaves many students with just £8 a week to cover all other living costs.

Average rent in the North East comes in at £105 a week, and living costs are significantly cheaper than other areas of the country.

However, the hardships felt by many students at Newcastle still line up with the survey’s findings.

Emily Richardson, a second year English Literature and History student who lives in West Jesmond said: “I can barely pay my rent. Rent for us is like £360 a month, but then you don’t think about bills which add up to £50 a month as well. I physically don’t get enough in my loan to cover my rent, it’s definitely stressful.”

More than a third of students in the survey complained about not getting value for money from their accommodation.

The quality of student housing can have severe consequences, as Georgia Corbett, a second year Classics and Philosophy student discovered in her Spital Tongues rental house.

She said: “I got gas poisoned due to my

landlord’s negligence. I pay £75 rent a week and had to pay a £300 gas bill because of the gas leak.

“My mental health issues are exasperated by all the problems. It makes me feel anxious and uncomfortable in my home and hopeless because my landlord is condescending and unhelpful.

Financial support for students at Newcastle can be accessed through the NUSU Student Advice Centre “I literally could have died. I need to be close to campus because I am really crippled by my mental health, so I have to put up with it.”

Financial support for students at Newcastle can be accessed through the NUSU Student Advice Centre, or the university’s Student Finance Advisors and Student Financial Support Fund.

These services can provide advice, support and additional funds for students struggling to cope with day-to-day costs of university life.

University-based mental health support can be accessed through Wellbeing services, personal tutors, the NUSU advice centre, the Nightline helpline or by contacting the Welfare and Equality Officer.

Students sceptical over tuition fee review Geoffrey Hodgett

The government has announced a review of the university tuition fee system, which could result in changes to how much students pay for their education depending on what courses they do.

The Prime Minister, Theresa May, revealed her plans for education in a speech to students at Derby College in mid-February; including a greater focus on skills-based vocational qualifications, more academies and free schools, and most notably a “wide-ranging review into post-18 education”, emphasising a desire to “incentivise choice and competition” and provide “value for money”.

This could potentially mean the biggest change to university tuition fees since 2012 The Education Secretary, Damian Hinds, later elaborated on the plans, suggesting that the price of a course could vary depending on how much it costs to run, as well as “the value that it has to the student” and “to our society as a whole”.

This could potentially mean the biggest change to university tuition fees since 2012, when the cap on tuition fees in England was raised from £3225 to £9000 in an effort to create a more diverse spectrum of prices; but which in reality simply trebled the prices across the board. The cap has since been raised to £9250.

At this stage it is not known what effect these proposals will have, if any, but there has been much speculation and

debate, particularly among students. A recent survey of 1019 students, carried out by the Higher Education Policy Institute, asked a variety of questions on the issue, revealing that most of those surveyed disagreed with varying prices for courses.

When asked whether full-time courses should have the same fees, 63% of students agreed. However, in the case that the changes were implemented, 57% said they would support charging more for courses with higher teaching costs.

The Courier asked Newcastle students what they thought. Cindy, a medicine undergraduate, worried how the changes might affect the NHS: “In theory lowering fees for those who will have lower salaries makes sense, however it might discourage students from going for the professions with higher fees, which in my field could be detrimental to the NHS. “Also, they have to consider course length as well. Medical students may end up paying top-level fees for courses which are twice as long.”

Andrea, a PhD student, expressed concerns about the consequences for university funding: “I think universities tend to offer an increasing amount of social or humanities courses with relatively low overhead costs purposefully to maximise profit.

“Those kinds of students pay in more than they get back. By lowering the cost of ‘cheap’ degrees, the universities would have less money, potentially hurting the provision of expensive courses like bioscience or medicine.”

Third year student Andrew addressed the lack of enthusiasm for the reforms expressed in the original survey: “It seems like a reasonable idea, but I think students are pretty exasperated with the government’s education reforms. I think whether it will work or not will come down to the finer points of the legislation. Many good ideas end up being terrible in practice.”

Theresa May revealed her plans for education in mid-February Image: Flickr

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Monday 12 March 2018

Newcastle praised in prestigious global rankings

Grace Dean Prestigious global higher education rankings have rated many of Newcastle University’s subjects as among the best in the world.

Published on 28th February, the QS World University Rankings highly praises Newcastle University, listing 28 of its subjects from all three faculties.

This is the highest number of courses that the University has ever had featured in the Rankings.

Newcastle University is the 161st best higher education institution in the world The University was even listed in the top 100 for five subjects: Architecture, Linguistics, Anatomy, Geography, and Dentistry, for which it is ranked 40th globally. Many other disciplines were highly praised, including Economics, Engineering, Medicine, Archaeology, Biology and the new Pharmacy degree programme.

Linguistics, French and German student Kate Belcher evidenced the University’s teaching success: “The Linguistics department offers a great range of modules, meaning you can study subject areas which interest you, and the department is led by staff who are knowledgeable and passionate about the subjects they teach and research.”

Linguistics, French and German Jonah Richardson similarly praised the department, saying: “From their knowl-

edge and passion it is clear that the lecturers of Newcastle University’s linguistics department are at the forefront of their field.”

Other students have also spoken highly of the University, highlighting the international context of many degrees, opportunities for working, studying and researching abroad, and the staff ’s commitment to and passion for their subjects.

The QS Rankings overall placed Newcastle University as the 161st best higher education institution in the world.

The QS compiles its ranking by analysing a combination of performance indicators including the universities’ academic reputation, employer reputation, citations per paper and an Hindex, which measures the productivity and impact of the publications of the institutions’ academics. This year the QS looked at 48 subjects from 1130 institutions in 151 countries, and analysed over 22 million papers.

Overall the UK has performed well in the Rankings, however its success in arts and humanities subjects by far exceeds its success in engineering and technology.

Professor Richard Davies, Pro-ViceChancellor of Engagement and Internationalisation, expressed the University’s delight over the findings, describing it as “a testament to the quality and impact of our research.”

The success in the QS Rankings further demonstrates Newcastle University’s powerful reputation both nationally and internationally and follows the University’s success in a variety of other league tables.

This includes being placed in the Top 30 UK institutions in the Guardian University Guide 2018 and featuring as 105th in the world in the 2017 Leiden Ranking.

QS World University Rankings highly praised Newcastle University Image: Wikipedia Commons

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Monday 12 March 2018

MP demands action over litter

Isabel Sykes News Editor Newcastle Central MP Chi Onwurah has called for the government to take urgent action regarding plastic waste on the streets of Newcastle.

In the House of Commons on Thursday 8 March, Chi asked the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to help Newcastle City Council deal with the problem of plastic and other waste contributing to a growing litter problem in Newcastle.

The Council have requested the power to force both landlords and residents to take in their bins, as well as the ability to impose a levy on businesses for cleanup operations in the city.

Since 2010, local authority budgets have been cut by 40%, causing Newcastle to lose £221 million Since 2010, local authority budgets have been cut by 40%, causing Newcastle alone to lose £221 million. These cuts have made dealing with the growing waste problem in the city more difficult due to a lack of powers and resources.

In her question to the commons Chi urged the government to give Newcastle City Council the resources and abilities it needs in order to deal with what she recognises as a pressing issue.

Chi explained that increasing waste in the city was having a profound negative impact on Newcastle residents. She

said that her constituents had seen their environment turned into a “dumping ground” due to “a flood of plastic bottles, bags, food trays, and crisp packets.”

Chi asked: “Will the Minister take action urgently and stop denying local authorities like Newcastle City Council the powers and the resources to tackle the problem because frankly right now on the environment this Government is rubbish.”

“The Minister may think my constituents’ concerns are a ‘waste of space’ but I will be inviting her to see the growing rubbish problem first hand” Newcastle Central MP Chi Onwurah

MP Chi Onwurah’s request was unfortunately not well received in the commons. Thérèse Coffey, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs dismissed the question as a “waste of space”.

Following the debate, Chi criticised the government’s lack of action over the issue. she said: “Plastic waste has a devastating impact on the streets and environment in the West End of Newcastle and this Government’s inaction is making the problem worse.”

Responding to Thérèse Coffey’s comment, she said: “The Minister may think my constituents’ concerns are a ‘waste of space’ but I will be inviting her to the West End to see the growing rubbish problem first hand.”

Newcastle Central MP Chi Onwurah Image: Wikimedia

Newcastle event celebrates renowned Japanese writer Valentina Egorova News Editor Last week, Newcastle University hosted a conference and multimedia event series about the acclaimed Japanese author Haruki Murakami.

The project, Eyes on Murakami, celebrated the works of the author that transcended into literature, art and film, and featured representations of gender in contemporary Japan.

During his career, Murakami has won many of literature’s top international prizes

A sample of Haruki Murakami’s acclaimed work Image: Valentina Egorova

Eyes on Murakami was a scholarly attempt to translate the author’s works into other languages, mediums and scholarship and to shed light on the transmedial processes. 2018 marks the 14th year since Murakami set to write his first novel ‘Hear the Wind Sing’ and brings together international experts to reflect on Murakami’s works.

The author’s most famous novels include ‘Kafka on the Shore’, ‘Norwegian Wood’ and ‘The Wind-up Bird Chronicle’ that have been translated into 50

languages. During his career, Murakami has won many of literature’s top international prizes including the World Fantasy Award (2006), Frank Kafka Prize (2006), the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award (2006) and the Jerusalem Prize (2009).

Eyes on Murakami attracted more than 100 international experts, including the scholars from Waseda University (Japan), where Murakami studied drama in 1968. The project was sponsored by the Arts and Humanities Council (AHRC) and led by Dr Gitte Marianne Hansen in partnership with a diverse group of scholars from around the world.

Dr Gitte Marianne Hansen, AHRC fellow and Lecturer in Japanese Studies, in Newcastle University’s School of Modern Languages, said: “Murakami is able to make us all feel something very individual when we read his work.

It inspires deep emotion which speaks to many people in specific individual ways.”

Eyes on Murakami saw a range of events, brand new publications and art objects. An art exhibition ‘Beyond Words: Transmediating Murakami Haruki’, held by Professor Christopher Jones and the Fine Arts Department, featured a process of the translation from text to art.

A group of artists - who have read Murakami - presented their artistic responses to the novels or stories of their

choice at the Atrium and Long Galley spaces of the King Edward VII Building, on Tuesday, 6 March.

The academic conference ‘40 years with Murakami Haruki’ explored various aspects of Murakami, his literary works and characters and was held on 8-9 March at Newcastle University.

Three films based on Murakami’s books were shown at Tyneside Cinema followed by a discussion between the filmmakers and film scholars.

“I’ve been really happy to see scholars, artists, filmmakers and the general public come to Newcastle for our events and conference.”

Dr Gitte Marianne Hansen AHRC Fellow and Lecturer in Japanese Studies

Dr Hansen, said: “I’ve been really happy to see scholars, artists, filmmakers and the general public – who travelled from as far away as Japan, Mexico and Australia--come to Newcastle for our events and conference. I hope Eyes on Murakami will lead to more links and research collaborations in the future.”

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Campus chronology: Mark Sleightholm delves into Newcastle Uni’s past, present and future

Construction barriers have been scattered across campus at a higher-thanaverage frequency over the past few years, and the results of this are starting to be unveiled to students. From the brand new buildings going up at Science Central to the renewal of some of the University’s oldest buildings, campus is changing fast, and there are several more projects in the pipeline.

Recent months have seen the Urban Sciences Building, the Boiler House and the Marjorie Robinson Library Rooms open to students, and these are soon to be joined by a Learning and Teaching Centre, an expanded Sports Centre and Black Horse House. This latter building is a converted office building located next to the Marjorie Robinson Library Rooms and will house some of the University’s support services, as part of a wider effort to relocate professional and administrative departments out of academic buildings.

The Research Beehive which has occupied a large part of the Old Library Building for more than a decade is set to be moved elsewhere, while IT Support will relocate from Claremont Tower to Black Horse House.

With student numbers seeing a consistent rise the University is experiencing increase pressure on teaching space, and there is only so much the Estate Support Service can do to use space more efficiently. With the main campus already at capacity new buildings are currently popping up further afield, with Science Central the most notable example of this.

2,400

windows need replacing in the Grade II listed Armstrong Building

Some of the estate projects are smaller in scale but still significant. Scaffolding has been up around King’s Gate for several months now, because a problem with the stone cladding is being rectified by the contractors responsible for the original construction in 2010, at no extra cost to the University. The plan is to re-clad the entire building one elevation at a time.

The Armstrong Building is currently in phase five of its major refurbishment project, which has been underway for over five years now. Last week the circular staircase finally reopened to students, while work is currently underway to replace all of the building’s 2,400 windows. This will take about three years to complete but will make the Grade II listed building considerably more energy efficient.

Indeed, sustainability is a key theme within the Estate Support Service’s strategy. As well as introducing as many double-glazed windows as possible to University buildings, they are hoping to replace fluorescent lighting with LED lights that both save electricity and emit

a brighter light.

A new entrance to the Bedson Building on King’s Road now provides level access to the building as well as “turning the building round” to face into campus instead of away from it.

A similar process has taken place in the neighbouring King George VI building, while the Armstrong Quad has made the campus-facing entrance to the Armstrong Building more visitorfriendly.

Whereas many of the older buildings on campus have relatively restricted access, accessibility is at the forefront of each refurbishment project. Wherever possible steps are being replaced by gentle slopes or level access and navigation signs are being made as clear and straightforward as possible.

Consideration is also starting to be given to using building design to help students with mental health difficulties.

The Urban Sciences Building, which opened in August 2017, includes two quiet rooms that can be used as prayer spaces or areas for students to take private breaks.

The Estate Support Service now has an accessibility group who consider the needs of all of a building’s potential users and aim to make Newcastle’s campus as accessible as possible.

Another recurring theme within the redevelopments currently underway is to make buildings more suitable for alternative methods of teaching and learning. For example, The Herschel Building is now home to the innovative Learning Lab, where PCs are able to link to each other to enable group work and multi-layered teaching.

In particular, the Estate Support Service want to include more “problem based learning space” on campus, with the emphasis on group work and student-led learning rather than, or at least alongside, more traditional methods such as lectures and seminars.

The new Learning and Teaching Centre at Science Central will include a 750-seat lecture theatre. To put this in perspective, the Curtis Auditorium in the Herschel Building can seat 360 people. The massive lecture theatre will spend most of its time subdivided into two theatres, but the option to combine these into such a large space will provide new opportunities for teaching and for University events.

Rather than hosting particular academic departments like the Urban Sciences Building next door, the Learning and Teaching Centre will be used by many departments. In particular, though, it will be utilized by the Business School, who currently need to use buildings on the main campus for teaching, meaning that business students need to regularly make the 15-minute walk to and from lectures.

One possible concern with the new developments at Science Central is their distance away from the main campus, particularly considering the addition of

the Marjorie Robinson Library Rooms in the opposite direction. For this reason the new buildings contain more facilities such as cafés and study spaces than may be expected, while the Estates team are putting considerable effort into increasing the ‘campus’ feel of the University.

A key feature of this renewed atmosphere is the development of the Student Forum at the heart of the redbrick centre of campus. Formerly the site of the Museum of Antiquities, now located in the Great North Museum, this building was demolished in 2012 to make way for a pedestrianised area with sculptures, seating and planters.

Since last year this has been further developed by the changes to the Armstrong Quad, which provide more visitor-friendly access from King’s Hall to the newly re-opened Boiler House. The Boiler House will be used for University and Union events, with graduation receptions a particularly keen future tenant given the close proximity to King’s Hall.

However, over the next few years the Boiler House may be better known to students as a teaching space. With the School of Computing moving out of Claremont Tower, its home of 50 years, last July into the Urban Sciences Building, several floors of the Tower are now largely empty, although teaching rooms have quickly been snapped up by overcapacity departments such as Geography.

Over the next three years the University hopes to completely refurbish the entire Claremont Tower, Claremont Bridge and Daysh Building complex.

This will include re-cladding the entire building, overhauling the creaking infrastructure and making the connections between the three buildings easier to find. This will provide additional teaching space to HaSS departments that are rapidly running out of room.

While this project is taking place, however, every available teaching space will need to be used by departments such as Geography and Sociology that currently call the complex home.

Another occupant of the Urban Sciences Building is Open Lab, which formerly called the top two floors of the Marjorie Robinson Library Rooms its home. These floors were then opened to students while levels one and two were re-refurbished; floors three and four will soon follow suit.

The back-and-forth nature of the Marjorie Robinson redevelopment demonstrates the constraints facing the Estate Support Service. With all buildings already at full capacity, closing one requires a considerable reorganisation of teaching space. The Learning and Teaching Centre will free up space for developments elsewhere on campus, but it is a constant process of reshuffling departments to ensure campus continues to improve and meet the needs of its staff and students.

An artist’s impression of the Learning and Teaching Centre, due to open in 2019 Image: Newcastle University

Phases of campus development: outlined buildings have since been demolished or redeveloped Image: Mark Sleightholm

Newcastle’s campus has seen many changes and additions over the years, gradually expanding in size 1888-1939: REDBRICK ROOTS

Although the University can trace its roots way back to 1834, the first development on the current campus was the Armstrong Building, which was built in phases between 1888 and 1906.

Several other redbrick buildings soon appeared to complete the quadrangle, with Newcastle’s famous arches acting as its entryway.

The fledgling institution also took over several nearby houses to convert to extra teaching space. The Students’ Union building was built in 1925 thanks to an anonymous donation, now believed to be from Cecil Cochrane, the chairman of the what was then known as Armstrong College.

In 1934 Armstrong College and the College of Medicine, both colleges of Durham University, were combined to form King’s College, and five years later the medical school relocated from what is now Northumbria University’s Sutherland Building into the purposebuilt King George VI Building.

By the outbreak of the Second World War King’s College comprised a major part of Durham University and had colonised a sizeable area of land in the centre of Newcastle.

1945-1975: POST-WAR EXPANSION

After the War King’s College expanded rapidly, thanks to a series of compulsory purchase orders from Newcastle City Council.

Much of this expansion came from buying up existing buildings, such as the Bruce Building, the Grand Hotel and the Grand Assembly Rooms along Percy Street. The Bedson Building opened its doors in 1949, followed by the Percy Building nine years later.

More controversially, the University demolished most of the Georgian terrace of buildings known as Eldon Place to make space for an extension to the then-library building (now the Courtyard Cafe), Merz Court and the Claremont Tower/Bridge and Daysh Building behemoth. The Courier of the time protested against the demolition of the “unassuming yet dignified houses” but they were knocked down nonetheless, except for the final few buildings which now house Quilliam Brothers and the Security Control Centre.

In 1963 the college finally achieved independence from Durham and became the University of Newcastle upon Tyne.

A much-celebrated extension dramatically increased the capacity of the Students’ Union, while the University theatre and the opening of a Physical Education Centre in the Grand Assembly Rooms added to the non-academic offering on campus.

By way of accommodation, Castle Leazes, Ricky Road and Henderson Hall’s New Hall were all added at this time.

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Developments timeline The next few years will see a number of new developments change the shape of our campus

The Park View accommodation site, replacing Ricky Road, opens to a new intake of students.

The ‘student village’ will cost around £75 million and provide over 1,200 selfcatered en-suite bedrooms as well as 16 single studios

1975-2007: FURTHER TWEAKS

The post-war building boom slowed down in the 1970s, but the campus continued to take over more and more of Newcastle city centre.

A further extension to the Students’ Union building saw a large underground events space added, while the at-capacity Physical Education Centre next door was supplemented by squash courts and a sports hall opposite Ricky Road.

The library had been extended several times over the decades, but by the early 1980s was once again too small to meet the needs of the growing student population. A brand new building was built on the other side of Barras Bridge, opening in 1982 and renamed the Robinson Library in 1989 in honour of local bookseller Philip Robinson.

Even this was soon outstripped by demand, and a major extension was required in 1996. By this point Windsor Terrace had also been colonised by the University, with politics and law taking up the Georgian houses on one side while new accommodation was built on the other side. At the time these luxury halls were controversial because of their high price tag, but the en-suite rooms were merely a sign of things to come.

In 1984 the Medical School moved into a new building next to the RVI, while the University theatre underwent a major refurbishment in the mid2000s, reopening as Northern Stage in 2006. The ground-breakingly ecofriendly Devonshire Building opened in 2004.

2007-2017: A NEW LOOK CAMPUS

A new Vice-Chancellor, Chris Brink, took up office in 2007 and made it his mission to make the campus greener.

Car parks were torn up and softer landscaping introduced, with extensive planting across campus.

As part of an attempt to generate a more specifically ‘campus’ feel, the Museum of Antiquities building was demolished to make way for a Student Form between the Students’ Union, Armstrong Building and the Arches.

The Robinson Library, Student’s Union and Armstrong Building all underwent major refurbishment programmes, while the Law School was extended in 2010.

Also in 2010 the University’s administration and student support departments moved from converted houses on Kensington Terrace to the brand new King’s Gate building, with their vacated buildings being converted into student accommodation.

Newcastle University entered into a partnership with INTO to offer foundation courses to international students, with a specialist INTO building and associated accommodation blocks opening from 2010, while another glassfronted building offered a new home for the Business School to the west of campus.

Several of the buildings bought in the 1940s had lain empty for several years, but in the early 2010s the Bruce Building and Grand Hotel became postgrad accommodation while Quilliam Brothers opened in the Claremont Building.

2017 ONWARDS: THE FUTURE

The current wave of developments marks a further expansion of campus beyond its traditional boundaries.

With the library once again at full capacity, a nearby office building was bought by the University in 2014, opening as the Marjorie Robinson Library Rooms in January 2016 and undergoing a phased redevelopment. The next-door building, Black Horse House, has also been purchased to house professional support services.

The Student Forum has been complemented by a newly-redeveloped Boiler House and a new Armstrong Quad, featuring a statue of Martin Luther King to commemorate the honorary degree he received from the University in 1967.

The biggest change to campus in the 2010s was the addition of Science Central. The site of a former brewery complex was bought by the University in 2005 and after a lengthy planning process the first building on site, the Core, opened in 2012.

Science Central is a partnership between the University and Newcastle City Council, where industry, teaching and research will take place in close proximity to each other. The first major University presence on site came with the opening of the Urban Sciences Building in 2017, set to be complemented by the Learning and Teaching Centre in 2019.

Meanwhile Ricky Road was demolished in 2016 to make way for a new accommodation site and a substantial extension to the Sports Centre.

NOVEMBER 2019 After several rounds of renovations and partial closures, the Marjorie Robinson Library Rooms should be fully open to students. Next door Black Horse House will be home to various support departments of the University, such as IT Support FEBRUARY 2020 Science Central’s National Innovation Centres for Data and Ageing will be completed. The centres will bring together academics, industry and the public sector to investigate big data and develop technologies and services for an ageing population

SEPTEMBER 2018 Redeveloped facilities at Cochrane Park, including three new multi-purpose artificial pitches and an extended pavilion building with additional changing facilities, will open to students after several months of renovations SEPTEMBER 2019 The extended Sports Centre reopens to students. The extension will more than double the size of the Centre and include an eight-court sports hall with spectator gallery and four squash courts. However, there will still be no swimming pool SEPTEMBER 2019 Over at Science Central, the Learning and Teaching Centre will open its doors to house lecture halls, seminar rooms and study spaces for students. The building is estimated to cost around £34 million and is listed as a flagship university project 2021 The final phase of redevelopment for the Claremont Tower, Claremont Bridge and Daysh Building complex should be completed

What does the future hold for our campus?

The redevelopment of Cochrane Park is almost ready to begin, with Henderson Hall’s New Hall set to be demolished as part of this project. Since the effectively brownfield land will be unsuitable to use as sports pitches this area is likely to be used for car parking, but Old Hall has a less certain future.

No longer wanted as student accommodation because it is so far away from campus, the building is currently empty and the University is currently considering what it could be used for.

Question marks also currently sit over the Stephenson Building and Castle Leazes, both of which are nearing the end of their natural lives and could be next to be replaced.

With the Stephenson Building the problem is likely to be finding temporary teaching space to accommodate all the displaced students. Castle Leazes could be more problematic, as one of the largest accommodation sites and being located on the Town Moor.

Freemen of the City have rights to use

the Town Moor and so any redevelopment of Castle Leazes will require careful negotiation with them.

Meanwhile the design of the Hadrian Building is almost universally hated, and with the Students’ Union pressed for space this is another possible location for future developments.

During these planned developments, it is predicted that the Boiler House, currently reserved purely for conferences and functions, will be temporarily used for teaching purposes in order to free up space for building across the university.

However, it’s not all rosy when it comes to these plans.

One thing which the university continues to refuse to include in its plans is a swimming pool, despite multimillion pound investment into sporting facilities. The lack of a pool will continue to affect water based sports clubs who will continue to struggle with both training and fixture organisation in the years to come.

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Monday 12 March 2018

@CourierComment courier.comment@ncl.ac.uk thecourieronline.co.uk/comment Comment Editors Jamie Cameron, Caitlin Disken & Alexandra Sadler

Grenfell: Stormzy takes Theresa to task Following Stormzy’s rant at the BRITs, our writers investigate whether the government are doing enough to support survivors Megan Hughes

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ednesday, 14th June 2017. The day that a disastrous fire stopped the nation, and devastated many. 71 people were killed. Hundreds of people were affected then, and are still being affected now.

Have the public and the government simply forgotten about it? It happened less than a year ago, yet the government are so ignorantly engrossed in themselves that they have ignored the issues of the fire’s aftermath.

The government are so ignorantly engrossed in themselves However, was it Stormzy’s outrageously brilliant rant at the BRITs that brought back the reality of the ongoing effects of the fire? After asking Theresa May, “where’s the money for Grenfell?”, he added: “What you thought we just forgot about Grenfell, you criminals, and you got the cheek to call us savages, you should do some jail time, you should pay some damages, we should burn your house down and see if you can manage this.”

Yes, Theresa May, where is the £58 million that you have promised for the Grenfell survivors? It would seem that it is simply a bottomless proposal.

So far, only a miniscule proportion of that amount has gone towards the aftermath of the fire, and the rest has not materialised. What about rehousing within the community? What about health support? What about mental health support? Education support? Children, who are the most vulnerable, have not only suffered with tragedy, but also in their education. Yet the government are not helping them. These children need systems put in place to give them back what they have missed. That is the least that they deserve.

Where’s the money for Grenfell?

Stormzy reminded us of this harsh reality, shedding light on the utter ignorance, practiced by the people who run this country. Lives have been torn apart, and yet, our government is not responding by giving the vital support for these people.

Poppy Couling

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n unforgiving and deadly fire engulfed Grenfell Tower in West London on June 14th, and journalists were quick to inform the public of how many people were trapped and the brave work of the emergency services team.

Now, when researching the issue eight months later, I am met with the conclusion that a Hot Point fridge freezer is to blame, and that Rita Ora used to play in the neighbourhood. Stormzy asked, whilst under an intense shower of rain, topless, during the BRITs: ‘Yo Theresa May where’s that money for Grenfell?’ The rapper’s anger rippled across the O2 and reignited a public conversation exploring how much progression the government and authorities have made in rehoming many desperate people, and helping counsel the survivors whose memories are scarred.

However, as I too endeavoured to research this myself, I was faced with further news that Rita Ora helped carry some bags, Adele cried, Lily Allen offered refuge for those affected, the ‘royal trio’ contributed to costs, Jeremy Clarkson urged the public to donate clothes, and Jamie Oliver offered free food in a restaurant that day. Since then, Stormzy seems to be one of a few public figures still fundraising and encouraging the generosity of the public.

has been made aware of the silence that has befallen the tragic occurrence.

We can only hope that Theresa’s head is briefly turned away from Europe, and is able to

tackle a personal issue much closer to home.

Stormzy seems to be one of a few public figures still fundraising As well as lacking contributions, and the rumour of a recorded song by London-born artists to raise money being well and truly stumped, the event no longer troubles the psyches of many that were once concerned. It seems music is beginning to become more of a platform for debate and discussion than ever before, allowing stars to send passionate messages to the many on their political fury and the frustrating passivity of those in power.

Celebrity endorsements dominate headlines, whilst the token interview of a volunteer becomes less impressive and unexciting. If justice prevails, we will hopefully see the incident re-enter our news, with further opportunities to help.

We can assume Stormzy’s threat directed at May to ‘burn your house down and see if you can manage this’ is an empty one, but it seems the country

Image: Wikipedia and JannetHDVagCars on Flickr

EU never know: customs deal for NI?

Susanne Norris considers the socio-political implications of the EU’s plans to maintain Northern Ireland in the customs union

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arlier this week, Brussels issued a draft plan stating that it intends to keep Northern Ireland in the customs union. This plan has resulted in countless opinions on whether this is a good idea or not. What’s certain is, whatever the outcome, there will be issues arising surrounding trading, unity and faith.

So, what are the EU proposing with this? By keeping Northern Ireland in the customs union, there would effectively Image: Pixabay and still be free trade beMPD01605 on Flickr tween both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. This is

how trade has always worked between the two countries pre-Brexit. More importantly, it is how trade has worked in accordance with conditions set out in the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. This ensured peace between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, but also referenced the EU, meaning certain clauses in this agreement would potentially have to be re-negotiated.

Moreover, if Northern Ireland were to stay in the customs union, this would effectively implement a ‘hard border’ between them and mainland UK. It would mean there would be customs tariffs and new border checks when Northern Ireland and main-

land UK wanted to trade, despite Northern Ireland being a part of the UK. There are of course, many different opinions regarding whether Northern Ireland remaining in the customs union is a good idea. For the economists amongst us, Northern Ireland remaining in

There will be issues arising surrounding trading, unity, and faith the customs union makes little sense. After all, they are part of the UK, so the Brexit negotiations should apply to them fully. What’s more, implementing a ‘hard border’ between Northern Ireland and mainland UK countries will only slow down trade processes and make trade more expensive.

However, socio-political problems could arise from not allowing Northern Ireland to remain in

the customs union. I previously mentioned the agreements set up in the Good Friday peace accord and, whilst I’m not suggesting a ‘hard border’ between Northern and the Republic of Ireland would result in war again, there presumably would be a rise in tensions. Catholics in Northern Ireland may favour them remaining in the customs union as this pushes for a more unified Ireland, whilst Protestants may argue it is important they leave the customs union to prove they are indeed members of the UK. Whilst this will by no means be the case for all members of these certain religious groups, this is a worry many journalists and Brexit analysists have expressed.

I personally believe we need more time to see where negotiations take us before we make the choice as to whether Northern Ireland remaining in the customs union is wise. Currently, there is too little information, too many negotiations going on and too many emotive views to have a well-justified opinion on the matter.

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Monday 12 March 2018

Boomerang offspring: bouncing back

As more young people move back home, Caitlin Disken gauges the emotional impact on homes

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nfortunately, it’s an accepted fact amongst myself and my peers that we will never be able to buy our own house. We will become locked in ‘generation rent’. Even Theresa May, usually so out of touch with young people, has admitted: ‘for many the chance of getting on the housing ladder has become a distant dream’.

Indeed, the figures speak for themselves. The Institute for Fiscal Studies found that, as of 2016, home ownership amongst 25- to 34-year-olds had crashed to just 27%. The same study found that 43% of people born in the late 1970s owned a home by the time they were 27. This generational inequality is staggering.

The housing problem has been brought back into conversation with the release of an LSE study. The study found that ‘boomerang offspring’ (grown-up children who move away before returning to their family home) are damaging the wellbeing of their parents.

Now, I can’t dispute this fact, but surely this boomerang culture is damaging for the children, too.

We’ve all seen the jokes about millenials not being able to afford a house because they spend too much on avocado toast and expensive coffees. Yet these jokes make light of a far more bleak situation.

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re at university and so living away from home. The independ-

ence you gain whilst at uni is incomparable. Moving back home would undoubtedly decrease this independence, and become incredibly frustrating for both parents and children.

So, what can be done? The majority of these ‘boomerang offspring’ are not so by choice. Until the government actually follows through in building affordable housing, the unattainable costs of owning a home will surely only rise. Especially in London, the government needs to pass legislation preventing foreign investors buying prime real estate and leaving it empty. Until this happens, we can all say goodbye to owning any property at all, let alone the dream homes of our childhoods.

Mass media monopolies Following Corbyn spy claims, our writers discuss the need for media regulation and plurality Charlotte Boulton

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edia monopolies are where massive corporations own the majority of the mainstream media companies, and they are dangerous. Rupert Murdoch is a name many of us will be familiar with. He owns News UK, which runs some of the most popular newspapers in the country including The Sun, The Times and The Sunday Times. This amount of power allows potentially damaging agendas to become mainstream, with the anti-refugee rhetoric seen in tabloids over the past few years a clear example of this. With such overbearing influence, it is difficult for alternative views and media outlets to even get a foot in the door. The media is supposed to represent the views of the people – how can it do this effectively if most of the views come from a select group of people at the top?

The media is supposed to represent people’s views Some of the biggest newspapers, including The Sun, The Daily Mail and The Telegraph, have recently published various stories about Jeremy Corbyn giving government secrets to a Czechoslovakian spy in the 1980s. These claims were used by the papers during the General Election last year to stir public outrage over this alleged betrayal by the Labour leader. Fresh stories have been recently released, with Conservative MPs adding in their own claims through social media. Ben Bradley, MP for Mansfield (unfortunately my home constituency) was recently ordered to apologise to Corbyn for his tweets claiming Corbyn had “sold British secrets to communist spies”. The right-wing media, which is owned by billionaires like Murdoch, doesn’t seem to care about journalistic integrity or printing truth. It is easy to rally support for the Tories when you have Tory-influenced media publications spouting nonsensical, but damaging stories about Corbyn and the Labour party. Many casual newspaper readers of these tabloids are unlikely to do their own research and will accept these lies and defamation as fact. This isn’t what a democratic press looks like and it needs to change.

Corbyn released a video via Twitter, c on d e m n i ng the smears

published by these papers. He said that “a free press is essential for democracy”.

What we currently have is not a free press: the most popular newspapers are almost exclusively owned by corporations headed

by extremely wealthy people, who can use these outlets for their own political agendas and personal gain. There needs to be a diversification of ownership, with less obvious political affiliations and endorsements from the big names in the media world. The British public deserve better from their press.

Jack Coles

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olitically, I am a centrist. I like my independence. I don’t like governments on either side of the political spectrum interfering with my life. As a general rule, I don’t like them interfering too much in market forces either due to the excessive bureaucracy that their policies often put in place. There is an exception to my rule: monopolies.

For those of you that have never studied these, a monopoly occurs when a single company has sole trading rights on a particular good or service, whether through acquisition or elimination of competitors, via patenting a unique invention, or through legislation. These are great for the producer; not so much for the consumer. When unchecked, monopolies can drastically amplify their prices and decrease quality because there is no alternative to said consumer. Consider train services; Southern Rail holds a monopoly on the entire southern area of the UK despite having more delays than a Brexit bill on a malfunctioning Roomba.

Monopolies are great for the producer So, Rupert Murdoch then (masterful change of subject there). Does he hold a monopoly on UK media? Well, I just asked our current Editor of the Courier if Murdoch funds us and he said “no”, so therefore he cannot – by definition – hold a monopoly on UK media. He does, however, own The Sun, The Times, The Sunday Times, The News of the World, and a chunk of the Press Association (not to be confused with the Associated Press). The Daily Mail, the second-best-selling UK daily paper after The Sun (isn’t that a depressing thought), is owned by the Viscount of Rothermere and edited by Paul Dacre, the latter of whom has butted heads with Murdoch himself.

For analogy’s sake, saying there is a media monopoly in the UK is like saying CoI m a g e : ca-Cola and Pepsi Wikimedia hold a monopoly Commons, Duncan Hull on on cola; they don’t.

Flickr, Howard They have very simiLake on Flickr lar and widely-availand Pixabay able products, and can be antagonistic towards each other, but you’re always free to get a Dr Pepper (The Guardian) or even something more off-brand (like YouTube) instead.

And that is what people have been doing. Sales in The Sun and The Daily Mail have declined by 33% and 18% (respectively) between 2010 and 2015, while most other printed papers haven’t declined as much. This could be in part due to the rise of Internet transmission and the overall high print output of these papers, but also due to a shift in public perception. Ten years ago, yes, Murdoch’s pseudo- monopoly could (and probably should) have been broken through legislation. Nowadays, though, it’s just buckling all by itself.

Joe Holloran

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ccording to a 2015 report from plurality advocacy group the Media Reform Coalition, 70% of all print media circulated in the UK is owned by just three corporations: Trinity Mirror, Daily Mail & General Trust, and Rupert Murdoch’s News UK. That amounts to three companies directing the majority of printed discourse in the UK. Or, perhaps more accurately, this was the case. Whilst it is true that the circulation figures for these papers still number in the millions, and most have adapted well to the digital sphere, their narrative influence is being challenged by the vast expansion of social media.

The proliferation of news on social media is a key topic of debate amongst media and culture scholars, one that I will not delve into here. The battlefield for your eyes, your mind and potentially your vote has shifted. This is why the recent discussions about the plurality and monopolisation of print media are so important. Take for instance the recent nonsense surrounding the totally fabricated allegations that Jeremy Corbyn was once a USSR spy. This story was printed with absolutely no evidence whatsoever, as it took a one-time meeting decades ago and extrapolated it out into the plot of some shitty James Bond film. I imagine the title reads something like: ‘Facts Are Not Enough.

From Russia With Thatcher’s Breakfast’. The Times lowered themselves to the level of online conspiracy trolls to further their own political agenda.

The battlefield for your eyes, mind and vote has shifted This time however, their plan failed. They went too far, were too ridiculous, and accidently sparked a renewed debate about media standards and plurality. Corbyn, whether or not you agree with him politically, was not afraid to stand up to News UK in this instance and call them out on their bullshit.

He proclaimed that the story was evidence of the ‘media owners’ fear of a Labour government’.

Although, one must remember that Corbyn has the backing of Trinity Mirror; one of those monopolies he is attacking, he is still a politician and knows the importance of selecting his moral targets carefully. Still, this whole affair may have a wonderful unexpected outcome, if the poor journalistic standards of a News UK publication prevent Murdoch from taking total control of BskyB, instead approving Comcast’s bid. The end of printmedia monopolies is still far off I think, but any deal that prevents one man from dominating public discourse should be cause for celebration.

SOAPBOX COMMENT’S HOME OF WEEKLY RANTS Where Is The Love?

Megan McManus

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mpathy is an intrinsic value in human nature – a desire to help the vulnerable is hardwired within us. It is for this reason that I bring to attention again the refugee crisis currently raging not only on the continent, but globally. I can practically guarantee that every individual reading this will be descended at some point, from someone fleeing war, persecution or disaster. Is it not our responsibility to aid those experiencing the same thing today?

Very recently in Eastern Ghouta, more than 580 people have been killed and over 1000 have been injured in the ongoing violence – all of this destruction has happened in a period of just eleven days. Even if we are unable to be present geographically, raising awareness that these issues are still existent, and donating to charities and organisations helping with the crisis are both huge steps in bringing an end to the suffering currently endured by so many.

The Power of Politics

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Caitlin Disken

hether we like it or not, politics invades every part of our lives.

It affects us from the day we are born to the day we die. Healthcare, education, income - they are all aspects of life dictated by Westminster.

So, when people turn around and say ‘I don’t see the point of voting’ or ‘I don’t understand politics’, it is incredibly annoying. We live in an age where vast mountains of knowledge are at our fingertips. A simple Google will tell you everything you need to know about political parties, policies and how these issues affect us. There’s even the Facebook page ‘Simple Politics’, whose mission is to break down bills passed in Parliament to everyday language, so that everyone can understand.

I get that politics appears to be an inaccessible world of the elite. Yet, although Parliament is still dominated by wealthy, privileged men, by engaging with politics we can influence the decisions made. There’s a reason young people are ignored by politicians. Not enough of us care - and those that do need to work harder to make our voices heard.

PMQ Pandemonium

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Alexandra Sadler

bjectively, Prime Minister’s Question Time seems quite boring, the scrutiny of the government by other members of Parliament. However, if you watch Prime Minister’s Questions, you’ll soon notice an interesting pattern develop.

Someone says something, it’s met with boos and jeers from the other side, and (usually) cheers or murmurs of agreement from the same side of the House. Occasionally, John Bercow will bellow ‘Order!’, and, in a somewhat more eloquent fashion, tell the members to shut up.

I’m not advocating for the removal of Prime Minister’s Questions as it enables the opposition, and more importantly the public, to view and scrutinise the executive’s policies and actions. It also allows the Prime Minister and other ministers to defend said policies, but the playground nature of Prime Minister’s Questions should stop. It makes a mockery of Parliament, and only exposes members as immature and unable to properly critique without resorting to childish taunts.

”

life & style

13

the courier Monday 12 March 2018

@CourierLifestyle c2.lifestyle@ncl.ac.uk thecourieronline.co.uk/lifestyle Life & Style Editor Izzi Watkins Lifestyle Editors Sophie Henderson, Jaymelouise Hudspith, Lauren Sneath & Victoria Young

Blind Date

Olji Ocal, 21, Dentistry

Mhairi McGee, 20, Classics

Olji on Mhairi...

What was your favourite thing about Mhairi?

She’s got a lovely face.

What were your first impressions of Mhairi when you met at the monument?

I had a positive first impression from Mhairi when I first saw her, she didn’t make the situation awkward at all.

Where did you go?

We went to Jamie’s first for two cocktails and then we agreed to go to The Five Swans.

This was a bit of a last minute decision for you to come on the date - how did you enjoy the whole experience?

Surprisingly, it was a very enjoyable experience. I didn’t really know what to expect from a blind date for starters but I didn’t regret going.

Was she a fairly comfortable person to take on a date?

Yes - making conversation with her was easy and she was nice to talk to.

How did the conversation flow - did you find anything in common?

We both have a love for booze and travelling.

If Mhairi was a fruit, which one would she be and why?

Apple... no idea.

Would you like to see Mhairi in a romantic setting again?

I could see myself going on another date.

Would you swipe left, swipe right or superlike?

Swipe right.

VERDICT: OLJI ON MHAIRI We both have a love for booze and travelling

Fancy a date? We’ll set you up.

Find us on our 2017/ 2018 Facebook page or email at c2.lifestyle@newcastle.ac.uk

Personality

Conversation

Mhairi on Olji...

as the night progressed, I thought that he was funny and a nice guy.

Did he prove to be a gentleman?

Yeah, he did.

What were your first impressions of Olji when you saw him?

Thought he looked well-dressed - a lot better dressed than me in my air max, lol.

Did he make it a fun evening, I mean, what did you get up to?

So we went for a drink in Jamie’s before heading to ‘spoons - it was a really enjoyable evening.

What was your favourite part of the date?

My favourite part of the date was probably both agreeing that ‘spoons was a good idea.

What were your impressions of Olji as the date went on?

He wasn’t really the type that I go for but

What was your favourite thing about Olji?

My favourite thing?! Probably that he likes ‘spoons as much as I do!

If you had to compare Olji to a fruit, which one would he be and why?

Not sure really, probably a strawberry because that’s what he said he liked.

Have you remained in contact since the date or do you hope to meet again?

We’ve added each other on Facebook but I’m not sure if we will see each other again.

Would you swipe left, swipe right or superlike?

Probably left just because he wasn’t my type on paper but after getting to know him, I would probably swipe right.

VERDICT: MHAIRI ON OLJI Looks

8/10 8/10 8/10

He wasn’t the type I go for, but he’s a funny and nice guy

Personality

Conversation

Looks

6/10 6/10 6/10

the courier

14

life & style lifestyle Monday 12 March 2018 Recipe of 10 Things your bartender wants you to know The Week Previous bartender, Maddy Bainbridge, lets you know how to be the ideal customer

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always forget that winter doesn’t stop straight after Christmas. For those first few months of the new year the cold seems to drag on and on, and I crave food that’s cozy and comforting but also with bright, fresh flavours to remind me that spring will come eventually.

This recipe does just that, with peanut butter adding richness that’s perked up by the kick of chilli and ginger. If you haven’t come across black rice before, it’s got a little more nuttiness than white which means it holds its own well against the other ingredients. You can find it in most supermarkets or Asian food shops (same with the miso paste), but if you can’t be bothered then white or brown rice would work fine too. I love this topped with a fried egg but leave it out to keep the recipe vegan.

Serves 2 Ingredients: 150g black rice 1 onion 1 medium hot green chilli a thumb-sized piece fresh ginger 1 tbsp olive oil 300-400g butternut squash (about 1/3 of a squash) 100g green beans two big handfuls kale (spinach would also work) 2 tbsp miso paste 2 tbsp peanut butter 1 tbsp soy sauce finely grated zest and juice of 1 lime a small bunch fresh coriander optional, to serve: fried eggs, black sesame seeds, chilli flakes Directions: Start by cooking your rice, according to packet instructions. The type I use takes about 25-30 minutes but different brands may vary.

While the rice is cooking, dice the onion and peel and coarsely grate the ginger. Finely chop the chilli, removing the seeds (or not, depending on your heat tolerance). Fill a kettle with about a litre of water and put on to boil.

Place a large saucepan or wok over a medium high heat on the hob and add the olive oil. Add in the prepared onion, ginger and chilli and cook, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes, or until the onion is soft and starting to caramelise in places.

De-seed the butternut squash, cut off the skin and chop the flesh into roughly two centimetre chunks. Trim any stringy ends off the green beans then chop them in half to make shorter batons.

Add the squash and beans into the pan with the onions, ginger and chilli, stir to combine, then pour over the freshly boiled water. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 6 minutes, or until the vegetables are just tender.

Meanwhile, mix together the miso paste, peanut butter, soy sauce and lime juice in a small bowl to make a paste. Drain and rinse the rice once it’s cooked, then add into the soup pan along with the kale or spinach and lime zest and simmer for a couple more minutes until the greens are tender and wilted.

Tip the miso peanut butter mixture into the soup, stirring well to make sure the paste has dissolved in and top up the soup with a little more water if needed. If using the eggs, now is the moment to fry them. Roughly chop the coriander and set a little aside for the end, then add the rest to the soup and stir to combine.

And you’re ready to serve! Ladle the soup into bowls, topping each with a fried egg (or not) and any garnishes you want, like seeds and chilli flakes, before adding the final sprinkle of coriander.

Hope Coke

W

hen there is drinking involved, bad habits tend to be amplified; particularly during exchanges with service staff.

Throughout most of my university years I had to work part-time as a bartender to pay the rent.

This experience was enlightening for me, and I was often left wishing customers could know what I am thinking when their bad habits present themselves. Therefore, for the sake of all bartenders everywhere, here are ten things we wish you knew when you enter a bar.

I am not blind.

You may assume that the reason I haven’t served you yet is because I can’t see you, but it’s not. It’s likely that there is a queue of three or four people ahead of you who need serving first. So please don’t wave your money, or click your fingers at me.

Also, don’t shout your drinks order across the bar. I’m already trying to remember another person’s order whilst making sure I pay attention to the bar. So it is best not to distract me, because it will only take me longer to serve you.

I will smile if and when I want to.

You might think that you’re doing me a favour by reminding me to smile. But you’re not. I’m frowning for a reason. I’ve already been here for nine hours, cleared up sick, and had to pick broken glass out of my feet twice. I’m not in the mood to smile, so back off.

Don’t give me attitude when I ask to see your ID. If you look under 25, don’t get annoyed at me for asking to see your ID It’s the law, and I’m not going to prison because I served you.

If I smash a glass, please don’t yell ‘whaaaaay’.

There’s nothing more embarrassing than having a bar full of people waiting to be served, only to smash a glass. So please don’t draw more attention to it. If you feel the need to say something, then ask if I’m OK. Do not instead act like a deranged ape; thanks.

I’m not psychic. Be prepared with your order.

Please do not arrive at the bar before you have decided what it is you want to order. Or then turn around to ask your friends what they want. There’s nothing more annoying than having a bar full of customers, and waiting 15 minutes for you to decide if you want a large or medium rose. Time is money. Be prepared.

Don’t ask me to ‘surprise you’ with your order.

Firstly, I’m not a mind reader, and I don’t know what you like. Secondly, if you ask me to surprise you, I will likely get you a shot of the most expensive spirit on the bar. So, say this at your own risk.

You’re not an alcohol connoisseur, so don’t act like one.

Realistically I’ve undoubtedly been working at this bar for at least a year, and so my alcohol knowledge is probably better than yours, especially when it comes to the drinks we serve.

So, please do not tell me how to pour a Guinness, or tell me I’ve given your pint too much head. I know how they should be served. Also, don’t pretend you understand the difference between peated and unpeated whiskey, because you do not.

I don’t care if it’s your birthday.

I’ll get fired if I give you free drinks. Seriously.

Don’t ask.

Yes, your round of drinks was expensive, but I don’t set the prices.

If you’re unhappy about the cost of your drinks, ask to see a manager. Please don’t lecture your bartender on the economics of the service industry. I already know the drinks are expensive. But I don’t set the prices. Nor can I alter them.

Finally, last orders means last orders.

No I will not serve you. No, you cannot flirt your way to another drink. The till’s been locked, the money counted. And I am probably exhausted after a long shift, and desperate to get let off. Piss off and go home.

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Spending the Easter hols in Newcastle?

There’s plenty to do in the North-East - Charlotte Cooper gives you her favourite trips

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Image: Instagram

o, you have nearly made it to the Easter break and you’re in desperate need of some TLC. The thought of staying in Newcastle for four weeks may sound a bit daunting especially if you have been here for almost three years. It doesn’t have to be as there are plenty of things happening to keep you busy.

Get to Know Your City a bit better: Everyone has the typical plans when their friends and family come to visit us at Newcastle. You will go for a walk along the quayside ending up in the pub for some traditional Geordie grub. Whether you have friends coming to keep you company or you just want to explore your university city a little better booking a place on the Greys Monument Tour is an afternoon well spent.

Climbing up the 164 steps (it sounds a lot worse) to witness a spectacular view of the whole of Newcastle City is breathtaking. If you get booked for a sunny day, then you’ve stuck gold as the blue skies will make everything look a little prettier.

For only £5 each, this 30-minute tour will teach you of Charles Grey the 1830 Prime Minster who the monument was built after. If sights aren’t really your thing no sweat, take a tour of perhaps Newcastle’s proudest attractions St James’ Park.

The toon’s home club tour allows visitors the chance to see exclusive boxes, the players changing rooms and even the pitch-side coaching seats.

Tickets will set you back £12 to £15 and can be booked for weekends or weekdays.

Kick it Old School: Newcastle most up and coming Bar and Grill Wylam Brewery are hosting the next Motown and Soul Live Revue on the 23rd March. The night will take you back to the 60s and 70s where you can dance the night away (only till 11.30 though). Booking will be essential to grab your play on that dancefloor so shimmy on down to their website to grab your £20 ticket. If you are worrying about not knowing the songs don’t panic it won’t all be Motown and Soul, the Brewery are putting on other classics such as Aretha Franklin

and young Tina Turner.

The Classic Sunday Trip to Tynemouth: As students, especially those who are used to waking up next to a seafront miss the beach from time to time. Lucky enough for us Tynemouth is only a short metro ride from the city centre. I’m hoping that this awfully cold weather would have stopped by Easter and we can get some sunshine so grabbing a hot chocolate and walking along the beach will be the best way to clear the cobwebs from this semester. If mum and dad are up to visit I recommend trying Riley’s Fish Shack. It’s fantastic fresh and yummy seafood will be the perfect change from the student diet, and even better if the parents are paying!

A spectacular view of the whole of Newcastle City is breathtaking Finally, the Annual Siemens Boat Race is taking place down at the quayside on 17th March. This is a great afternoon where the Newcastle University rowers take on their big rivals over at Durham University. The teams set off at Redheugh and finish at the Millennium Bridge covering 1500 meters of water. I can personally say this is a great event to go and watch, although don’t expect your vocal cords to stay in tact. The large crowds usually create such an energetic atmosphere and the past few years I have been we’ve had great weather (sorry if I’ve jinxed it).

Taste test: Nando’s halloumi fries Are they worth the hype? Hannah Hughes takes a trip to Nando’s to judge for herself

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Image: Hope Coke

alloumi has become a popular feature of many restaurant menus and Nando’s is the latest chain to jump on the squeaky cheese bandwagon.

Grilling chicken and grilling cheese are two quite different things however, and I am curious to see if this establishment of lad culture can cook halloumi to ‘cheeky’ perfection.

Nando’s fans have rejoiced at news of the new dish and for £3.70 you get five halloumi sticks, served with a chilli dipping jam.

The cheese comes out golden brown and is stacked kind of like Jenga. Fun. The cheese comes out golden brown and is stacked kind of like Jenga. Fun. After this

aesthetic assessment I commence my taste test.

The sticks are unfortunately really mild; they don’t have that slight tangy flavour which good halloumi does. Though the pairing of the sticks with sweet chilli isn’t breaking any new culinary ground, this classic cheese and condiment combo is still pretty tasty.

Overall my taste buds remained untingled and I would say that the halloumi sticks are a satisfying but ultimately, an unmemorable addition to the Nando’s menu.

the courier

15

lifestyle life & style

Monday 12 March 2018

CelebrateStPatrick’sDayintheToon Ahead of Saturday 17 March, Holly Margerrison has the low-down on St Paddy’s celebrations here in Newcastle whether you’re up for authentic jigs, dancing and fiddles... or beer fests, leprechaun hats and traditional Toon trebs

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arch 17th. St Patrick’s Day, St Paddy’s, or less commonly known as the Feast of Saint Patrick. This year, it lands on a Saturday, which is ideal for those wanting to go on an all-day bender, but perhaps less fortunate for those behind the bar pulling pints.

What started as a religious remembrance for St Patrick, the foremost patron saint of Ireland, now places a stronger emphasis on cheap drinks and a chinwag with chums, neglecting the Christian emphasis. With Lent’s restrictions lifted for the

day, St Patrick’s has become an indulgent event and this boozy bender summons all things Irish – Guinness, green outfits and a great big tray of those greasy Irish potatoes at the end of the day.

A prime example of how the nation loves any excuse to head on down to the pub. No point olagonin’ though, get your shamrocks on show and read the rundown of some of the best events Newcastle has to offer this year.

Times Square, in the centre of Newcastle, will host its first ever beer festival to celebrate the

Image: PADDY FEST!

occasion. St Paddy’s Fest tickets are already sold out for the afternoon session, with the Live Six Nations Rugby and pints of the black stuff enticing Geordies and students alike. This day festival runs from 11am-11pm, and the evening session tickets are still available at just £5. The day promises drink, dance and DJ’s in an Oktoberfest style beer tent, brimming with Irish fun-filled décor. Not to mention the traditional ‘Ulster fry’ breakfasts for the early risers!

For those wanting to jam to those Irish jigs, Grosvenor Casino is hosting a duo tribute act, who will perform crowd pleasing St Patrick’s songs. Mark Insley Melodean and Jon Doran will be playing favourite songs such as ‘Irish Rover’, ‘Whisky in the Jar’ and - for the Ed Sheeran enthusiasts - ‘Galway Girl’. Their voices will be accompanied by the accordion and fiddle, and with your £20 ticket you can also enjoy a three course meal.

In typical University style, Newcastle and Northumbria students tend to take to the streets (or should I say, the bars). Osbourne road is teeming with trebles and trendy pubs, so the tradition is to do a mini bar-crawl. The sea of green t-shirts and Leprechaun hats bobbing around may be intimidating if you’re not prepared

– but rest assured, the mischievous sprite image is all a disguise. Many of the clubs, including Feral, are also throwing day parties that go on into the evening, so watch out on Facebook for more events being created.

Newcastle and Northumbria students tend to take to the streets - or should I say, the bars If you’re looking for a more authentic St Patrick’s Day, the Tyneside Irish Centre is also offering live entertainment, including an Irish dancing display from The Pat McGuinness School of Irish Dancing. Kicking off at 1pm, the event is going on until 5:30pm and tickets are priced around £5.

With all these events lined up, it’s bound to be good craic up in the toon - whether you’re clinking glasses or clapping along to those sweet Irish melodies.

Review: Google’s new job search engine The tech savvy Alex Firth reviews Google’s newly developed platform to see if it’s student and graduate-friendly

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e use Google for many different things. Finding an address? Yeah.

Looking up the weather? Sure! How about finding a job?

Google has recently launched a job search platform. It intends to aggregate job listings from many different job sites into one, easy to use interface. Using artificial intelligence, Google figures out relevant jobs, and places them in the right categories. To use Google for Jobs, simply search ‘jobs’, and a blue box will appear in the search results. You can then narrow down your search using a number of categories.

Google for Jobs relies on data from numerous existing job sites, including Glassdoor, Indeed and LinkedIn, however it removes any duplicate listings to ensure the interface is always user friendly.

However, unlike other job sites, Google for Jobs also searches business websites for job listings.

Google says any website that has updated their site map will automatically have any jobs listings they post placed on Google for Jobs, meaning opportunities that may not have appeared on existing job sites will automatically appear on Google.

Most important for students, Google for Jobs doesn’t just organise jobs listings. The interface can be used to find internships, and graduate placements, meaning it may be a valuable tool for students looking for opportunities.

As Google for Jobs is a relatively new platform, there are some concerns that certain job listings may not be optimised, and therefore may not appear in the search results. Much like you must optimise a website for Google, job listings must also meet these search-engine-friendly criteria.

Whilst Google may want their platform to become the sole location for job searches in the

future, it’s not there yet. If you intend to try it out, make sure you continue to shop around, as your perfect job may not be listed yet.

The reality with Google for Jobs is it does very little new. Google for Jobs doesn’t do anything different when compared to existing job sites.

The platform still allows you to search and narrow down job listings. However, where it becomes relevant is with Google’s magic abilities to organise and automate. Eventually, Google for Jobs will automatically list almost every job listed online. For job hunters, and students alike, it will be a time saving tool too powerful to ignore.

How to be a breakfast-lover Charlotte Butter shares her healthy recipes and tells us why breakfast really is the most important meal of the day

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here are two types of people - the ones who can’t stomach eating anything in the morning and hold out until lunchtime when they suddenly become ravenous, and the ones who live for breakfast and would happily eat cereal for every meal. I definitely fit within the latter description, and I want to spread the breakfast love with all the breakfast haters out there. There are three important reasons for this.

Eating breakfast has long term health benefits One advantage of eating breakfast is that if you get a good carbohydrate and protein fix first thing in the day, you will be less likely to crave sugary and fatty foods later in the day because you won’t need that quick energy fix mid-morning. Eating breakfast also kick-starts our metabolism, so that we start burning calories earlier in the day.

Therefore, people who are trying to cut down their calorie consumption should not be doing so by skipping breakfast.

Secondly, we need to provide our brains with energy in the morning so that we can function properly on whatever tasks we need to complete, whether that be focusing in a lecture, keeping up the pace making coffees in your part time barista job or coming up with an inspirational idea for that dreaded assignment. As well as improving memory

and concentration, eating breakfast can reduce stress levels and improve mood by balancing blood sugar levels. So it is possible to become a morning person!!

Furthermore, by skipping breakfast it is unlikely that you will be able to fulfil your recommended daily amounts of certain vitamins and fibre. Eating breakfast is also an ideal chance to get in one or two of your five-a-day.

You should see breakfast as an opportunity to start your day in a healthy way, getting in some of those essential nutrients before you’ve even left the house.

According to the NHS “Eating breakfast has long term health benefits. It can reduce obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes.” So it really is beneficial to make time to eat something when you wake up. I understand, though, that many people just don’t enjoy eating breakfast.

That’s why I always try to make my breakfasts exciting and varied.

Here are some of my favourite breakfast ideas that always motivate me to get out of bed- these all contain a good balance of carbohydrates, protein and fibre, as well as at least one of your five-a-day!

Carrot cake porridge: t Put porridge oats in a microwavable bowl and pour over milk (I like to use almond milk) until the oats are just covered. t Stir in grated carrot, a sprinkle of cinnamon and ginger, a squeeze of maple syrup and a handful of sultanas. t Microwave until the milk has been absorbed

Image: Max Pixel

t

Top the porridge with a dollop of natural or coconut yogurt, walnuts, maple syrup and almond butter.

Banana milkshake and almond berry toast t Blend together (almond) milk, 1 banana, a squeeze of maple syrup and a couple of dates. t You could also add a sprinkling of chia seeds or linseed for extra fibre. t Pick your choice of bread (I like to use wholemeal bread or crumpets) and toast two slices. t Top toast with almond butter, raspberries, blueberries, honey and a sprinkling of seeds or chopped nuts.

Muesli bowl t Pour your choice of muesli into a bowl and pour over a splash of milk. t Top with natural or coconut yogurt and either: Mixed berries, honey, chopped nuts and a tsp of almond butter or chopped banana, syrup and a tsp of peanut butter I hope I have convinced some of you to go out and buy some exciting breakfast ingredients so that you can finally become a breakfast-loving morning person! If you really don’t have time to try out these ideas, try to force yourself to at least eat a banana or a bowl of high-fibre cereal, and always have a glass of water or a herbal tea before you leave the house to hydrate your body.

16

life & style fashion

LET’S GET ETHICAL

Good on you

the courier

c2.fashion@ncl.ac.uk Fashion Editors Chloe Bland, Sophie Schneider and Zofia Zwieglinska

Monday 12 March 2018

New fashion and drone tech

Reem Elsadaawy looks to the changing reception of celeb models through D&G’s drone catwalk

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thnical fashion can often be seen as expensive and unattractive, but the latest edition of Vogue Australia involving Disney princess Emma Watson is set to turn around these perceptions. This Australian Vogue March Issue with Emma Watson on the front cover is dedicated to sustainability and positive change.

Our Disney princess is an excellent choice to represent ethical fashion not just because she is famous for her latest role in Beauty and the Beast, but because she is as well UN Women Global Goodwill Ambassador, who has spent a decade promoting ethical brands through high-profile collaborations. This choice was made late last year and discussed with Sandra Capponi - a co-founder of Good On You, who was contacted by Watson’s team to be involved in the March edition of Vogue, by researching all the brands showcased in the actor’s photo shoot and recommendations.

So, even today as few years ago in 2015, when Sandra Capponi started up the app Good On You, ethnical fashion could be considered as an area that often featured expensive and sometimes less than flattering designs. This actually was the reason Ms Capponi decided to start Good on You which has its headquarters in Sydney, after seeing the negative impact of business supply chains.

Today, Good on You is an app, which focuses to provide all the information about ethical brands. For now, it rates 1300 different clothing brands and highlights their record on three main areas: its impact on people, the environment and animals.Thus, Emma’s cover shoot with popular photographer Peter Lindbergh, who beautifully shot her dressed head-to-toe in the Good on You label, has been rated as being more ethical. It also features carefully selected vintage pieces, and is calling attention to the significance of repurposing high-quality items.

However, we could say that Vogue’s March issue is not just about the clothes, but about the fact that ethical and sustainable emerging brands has its rights to be recognized in our society on a global scale in order to support sustainability, transparency and animal rights.Watson and the Vogue team worked together to appropriately choose the most important leading activists and thinkers, including climate scientist Tim Flannery and former UN Goodwill Ambassador against Trafficking and Slavery Julia Ormond. Celebrity power comes in the face of leading designer Stella McCartney, model Maye Musk and actor and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Cate Blanchett.

In this Vogue issue, you can also find Watson’s conversation with Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, discussion the importance of education in section called ‘Meeting of Minds’.

Moreover, with the focus firmly on women’s empowerment, playwright and actor Nakkiah Lui, Actor Miranda Tapsell and journalist Brooke Bonney discuss black feminism, beauty and the media. There’s a feminist history of fashion, as well as an analysis of the industry by The Guardian’s ethical living guru and journalist Lucy Siegle. Also, in this edition Emma gives her recommendations on natural beauty cosmetics that have been verified as ethical by Content.

Thus, this collaboration between Good on You, Emma Watson and Vogue Australia is an opportunity to raise awareness that ethical and sustainable fashion is meaningful in our society and to erase the stereotype that ethical fashion is a niche product, which is expensive and unattractive.

Natalya Baronovskaya

Instagram: @goodonyou-app

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hen you’re told to turn off your mobile phones and disconnect from the Wi-Fi at the fashion show you most definitely want to Insta story, you must know you’re waiting for something huge to happen. In fact, it was 45 minutes of waiting for the audience at the Dolce and Gabbana Fall/Winter 2017/18 fashion show in Milan.

The luxury Italian fashion house replaced the stunning runway models (cos they’re so 2000 and late) with not-so-stunning flying drones to show case their leather jewel-encrusted handbags from the latest collection (talk about 3008). Is this the most genius idea we’ve ever seen or the scariest?

There’s quite the discussion about how robots and machines are slowly taking over the world and that makes humans kind of uncomfortable (arguably you don’t want to constantly be told to move the invisible item that’s apparently in your bagging area) but we thought the show was truly revolutionary.

Fashion shows are instantly associated with names such as Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner; icons of our generation. We see the people that represent the brand and not the brand itself. But this is not what fashion is about. Don’t get us

Instagram: @reesewitherspoon

wrong, we do love seeing Gigi strutting her booty on the catwalk but we seem to forget about what she’s actually wearing and the main focus falls on the celebrity figure. If we were to think back to fashion parades that took place in couture houses in Paris in the 20s, it was a room full of strangers in the latest fashion pieces, showcasing works of art instead of iconic figures. And we can’t help not being mesmerised by the beauty of the models so the drones were used as a contrast.

The luxury Italian fashion house replaced the runway models with not-so-stunning flying drones Their spider-like bulky forms and the clumsy way they flew down the runway juxtaposes with the graceful gliding of female figures. Even more so, they contrasted with the intricate designs of

Instagram: @ashley_judd Instagram: @dolcegabbana, eluxe.com

the handbags; from their jawbreaker bubble gum colours, down to the subtle quilted patterns and smooth edges, creating focus around them. The drones successfully and subconsciously drew full attention to the minds of the designers and what they initially intended to communicate with their designs. It made the audience use their own imagination when it came to styling them rather than being told how to wear them, catering for all styles, ages, skin colours, hair colours, you name it!

Even though drones were used to exhibit handbags, human models returned to show off D&G clothes (proving humans aren’t obsolete after all). The conclusion is that we can’t fully rid the runway of human models (we love you Kendall).

Fashion shows are more than just clothes and handbags; they’re atmosphere and interior designs and beautiful people, a party celebrating art and the beauty of our time. Perhaps robots aren’t the most beautiful things in the world but sometimes to appreciate beauty you’ve got to indulge in the ugly. We stand by the concept ‘less is more’ and the idea of anonymity and the simplicity in such a complex representation is what fashion should be all about.

Bershka: the new ‘it’ shop?

Emily Scott showcases her favourite high-fashion alternative shop with the Primark pricetags

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ershka is part of the Inditex group, one of the worlds largest fashion retailers with subsidiaries including Zara and Pull&Bear. Bringing us quirky high street fashion with a pleasing price tag for the student buyer at the click of a finger. Combining catwalk looks with high-street finesse, making their products perfect for various activities; perhaps for a trip to the pub, a night out in town or to show off on your Instagram.

Berksha have clearly paid plenty of attention to their Instagram, with an ‘instashop’ selection for clothing that has been seen on models on the grid. This allows you to view these items of clothing directly without having to search through their website. You can see how these models and influencers have manipulated the product to suit them, as sometimes they look very different to the website image. This feature is becoming increasingly popular with the rise in Instagram users and the simple fact that is has now become the destination to begin online shopping with so many influencers – something they have made 10x easier for the user of their website. It has a mixture of very high fashion pieces as well as some unique items, making their products perfect for any sense of style. One major theme that runs throughout their products is that simplicity is key.

This is perfect if you’re wanting to imitate 90s and 00s fashion, with key staple pieces such as the mom jean or oversized denim jacket that have been transformed into everyday flattering styles.

This is even more valuable as we are now running into SS/18, and they have your holiday wardrobe covered too. With bikinis, swimming costumes, beach bags and sunglasses – in all different shapes, some even imitate the big fashion brands perfectly for a more appealing price.

There is one down side however, there is no longer a store in the Newcastle area, therefore it is only accessible online. Ruling out the option of

free in store delivery, hence you may alter when you buy around a good delivery deal, so always have your basket prepared. This also puts it in direct competition with the likes of Missguided and Pretty Little Thing, although Bershka offers a different sense of style than these competitors, being more minimalistic – allowing you to put your own spin on their items.

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Bershka offers a different sense of style than their competitors, being more minimalistic The high neck sweater (£9.99) comes in three colours: black, white and nude. The plainness of this top makes it perfect to worn and re-worn in completely different ways. The model wears it paired perfectly with some timeless mom jeans for an everyday look. However, it can be transformed also for a night out, paired with some leather trousers and a statement necklace or bag – creating two totally different outfits, which for the price you really can’t complain.

It was only right to feature the mom jean as they have so frequently been mentioned, especially since they are now the new key style of jean taking over from the skinny. Again, they go with everything and can be dressed up or down due to their effortless simplicity. The fit can be comparable to that of Levi’s offering you all day comfort and everlasting style. (£25.99) So, see across the best picks from Bershka where they’ve snacthed styles straight from the catwalk into affordable pieces.

The checked coat is bang on trend at the moment as well as the beige coat, both of them under £50!

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1. Straight cut checked coat £48.99 2. Mom fit jeans £25.99 3. Highneck sweat shirt £9.99 4. Trenchcoat with belt £49.99 Images: Bershka

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@CourierFashion c2.fashion@ncl.ac.uk

Monday 12 March 2018

Weird and wonderful LFW

Georgia Hadwin picks out the craziest trends and accessories from London Fashion Week ‘18

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he ever-changing desire for individuality - and peculiarity - amongst the fashion world was a prominent feature of the 2018 fashion weeks. From Gucci’s guillotine to Tod’s tykes, no stone was left unturned when the weird and wonderful dominated the runways.

When Rome based special effects company Makinarium were called in for the Gucci show, things were bound to be eccentric. Creative director Alessandro Michele supplied his models with bizarre props: from baby dragons, to snakes, to decapitated versions of their own heads - this show really did blow your mind. The uncanny replicas served to entice even the harshest of critics. The show was a plethora of weird and wonderful and carried a strong message about the ties between society and the artistic world. The setting for the show was an operating theatre; a quasi-reflection of society’s need for self-expression, as well as a representation of the physical journey behind the creation of the garments themselves.

Say hello to the new world of attention seeking catwalk bonanzas The juxtaposition between the physicality behind products themselves and the power of their interpretation is what modern fashionistas crave, the clothes are able to present the labour of the fashion industry. The vivacious show was littered with social, cultural and symbolic cues that served to reach out to its global audience. Models went from being decorated in chain mail, draped in gold peplum jackets to being adorned in Scottish faire isle and Russian headscarves. Overwhelmingly inclusive of individuality, it’s safe to say that Gucci’s operation left us with something to really lose our heads over.

From Gucci’s frightfully convincing severed heads, to an alive and breathing accessory: we turn to Tod’s runway. As if Gigi Hadid wasn’t

cute enough, pair her with an extremely adorable Boxer puppy and you’ll turn your entire audience of stone-faced front rowers into doe-faced, melt in the middle devotees. A myriad of man’s best friend did well to soften scrutiny but with such a beautiful collection, it may not have been necessary. Leather, shearling and suede featured heavily in the luxuriously comfortable theme of the show, with practicality and comfort acting as a staple through line. If puppies aren’t going to win over your audience though, then what will? This sumptuous collection and collaboration of model and puppy is just another example of how design teams are striving towards featuring stylistic choices that surround their audience with a memorable, individual experience.

With the constant need for rejuvenation and bold selfexpression amongst the world of f a s h i o n houses, the weird and wonderful continues to be

paramount in retaining the attention of a true modern fashionista. Technological advancements seen in Dolce and Gabbana’s strikingly contemporary version of runway, showcased handbags using drones. This drove to celebrate the incomprehensible reality that modern day lives fail to function without our reliance upon the media and technology.

Kiss goodbye to your mediocre catwalk shows and say hello to the new world of attention seeking catwalk bonanzas that leave your mind as busy as that Black Mirror episode you just watched.

If this is what can be achieved in 2018 then who knows what the ever-changing industry has up its sleeve next. Whatever it is, we are already eager to discover.

Image: Pexels, Instagram @Gucci, @Vogue

Zofia Zwieglinska investigates the rise of the ugly trainer and the concept of satirical fashion

Instagram: @blavknut, @blvck.imperia, @designer.mens, @joshuaolverstylemen

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def. Turbo Trainers: Trainers with added ‘turbo’ boost, straps, curved soles and varying textures on the upper.

generation that is no longer interested in being taken seriously, and who see the type of clothes they wear as an act of defiance through the 90’s homage they represent.

The ‘turbo’ trainer is just that- a hyped up, overloaded 90’s monster of a shoe that is lightyears away from the streamlined, discreet curves of your favourite Nike flyknit trainers. These are trainers with soles the size of small tyres, textures from a typical mountain shoe and ageing white rubber that make you think of different hybrid components of trainers that you have worn over the years. These are definitely the ugliest shoes in the world- there is no doubt about it. But really, that is the whole point.

These turbo trainers were not created to be functional first, although they are certainly comfy and many Instagram buyers swear that they are the best shoes they own. They are not visually appealing or particularly stylish in the most traditional sense of the word, but they do deliver on a wild combination of styles, textures and colours that echoes the seemingly mismatched outfits of fashion street style outside catwalks at different

fashion life & style FASHION NEWS

Dior AW collection

Images: Vogue

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Next level ugly: the ‘turbo’ trainer

he rise of turbo trainers is just another continuation of the ever-growing trend for loungewear, casual wear and more streetluxe styles featured by the biggest fashion brands and designers like Demna Gvasalia. Street style is now not only worn by hood gangs and wannabe rappers but also marketed as a slick, classy product that is invariably as tongue-incheek as it is stylish. Who remembers Supreme’s bizarre brick that fetched ridiculous prices on eBay as soon as it sold out online?

Brands like Supreme and Balenciaga are using streetwear as an expression of the cultural mindset towards clothes where comfort has become paramount in our endlessly hectic lives. The comic bougie appeal of wearing the same flat cap or hoodie worn by a rapper ten years ago appeals to a

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fashion week collections around the world. They are the negation of traditional ideas of fashion and style, which makes them new and interesting, exactly what future trends should be.

The ‘turbo’ trainer is just that- a hyped up, overloaded 90’s monster of a shoe Most importantly, these shoes are completely satirical- they are not there to be stylish, or slick, or even particularly pretty. They are the test of how far a high-end fashion company like Balenciaga can go with ‘de-fashionizing’ their products before consumers call them out on it and demand more accountability for what they expect from a highfashion brand. But with the rise of street style in high fashion collections, there is a very real chance that no consumers would see it as an attack of what they know, instead of making them question- what is fashion in the 21st century?

egardless of the fact we spend most of the year in the icy landscape of the North East, we are all partial to a mini skirt, especially after the healthy lick of fake tan. What many do not know, is that the acceptance of said article of clothing is thanks to the women of the 1966 protest outside the Dior boutique. And who were these modern and passionate feminists marshalling the ‘Mini Skirts Forever’ campaign? None other than the British Society of the Protection of Mini Skirts, of course.

Sparked by the ubiquity of knee and ankle length skirts on the Dior runway, women gathered in numbers adorned with banners criticising the brand and its ‘unfair’ attitude towards higher hemlines. This marked a liberating movement in Dior’s womenswear, with the appearance of slogan t-shirts becoming an increasingly prominent form of feminist expression.

After Paris Hilton famously quoted in 2000 that she believed ‘Skirts should be the size of a belt,’ the conservative attitude surrounding women’s skirt lengths began to dissolve on the runway, and Dior’s SS17 line saw further t-shirts of a politicised nature. With the help of creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri, the first women to hold this position for seventy years, a satirical injection of female empowerment permeated the line, showcasing the famous slogan t-shirt that read ‘We should all be feminists,’ and famously worn by Jennifer Lawrence in her shoot with Harper’s Bazaar Germany.

Dior’s creative direction in their AW18 show did not disappoint. Chiuri believes her position is more integral to the progression of feminism than ever before, claiming she fell in love with fashion after discovering how it listened and responded to the passions of the 1966 protest. After visiting an exhibition in the National Gallery of Modern Art in Rome she was inspired by the exploration of the year 1968 named, ‘It’s Just a Beginning,’ and decided to thus plaster the chic marquee positioned in the garden of the Musée Rodin, where the AW18 show took place, with feminist slogans, including vibrantly colourful collages of newspaper and protest slogan prints surrounding the mini-skirt protest and the women’s movement of the period.

The relevance of this news that circulated fifty years ago remained as relevant as ever, with the poignant message resonating with the audience and walkers alike. The opening of the show paid homage to the woman who coined the term ‘youthquake,’ Diana Vreeland. This American Vogue editor during the sixties and seventies claimed the sixties gave ‘mannequins personalities’.

Once she was quoted, the show opened with Ruth Bell, a Dior muse, donning a cream and black statement sweater reading ‘C’est Non Non Non et Non’ as previously printed on a Dior scarf, and closed by Adwoa Aboah, in a beautifully elegant floral sheer dress accessorised with a thick black belt.

Other pieces of note aimed to channel the ‘optimistic fervour of the sixties youth,’ including patchwork dresses of multi-colour prints, fringed dresses and silver metallic overcoats indebted to the development of space exploration during this era. It seems the venue did not just provide a location for a show, but functioned as a time capsule of female celebration, that used memory as the key tool for empowerment and reminding women that they are being heard.

After Miss Dior was created in response to the ‘mini-skirt’ campaign, this show has undoubtedly made a further mark in female activism, encouraging young people to see fashion as one of the most powerful platforms in their pursuit to be heard and encourage change.

Poppy Couling

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life & style beauty

courier.beauty@ncl.ac.uk Beauty Editors Laura Greatrex, Lois Johnston & Susanne Norris

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Monday 12 March 2018

An ode to the beauty of highlighters Beauty editor Laura Greatrex tells us all about one of her favourite types of make-up products that leave you glowing all day add that extra special touch to your make-up. Even on days when I’m feeling down and drab, using one of my many highlighters helps to instantly lift my mood and perk up my complexion. I never feel truly satisfied with my make-up until I’ve used a highlighter to add a pop of shimmer. My go-to brush for highlighter is the 105 Luxe Highlighter Brush by Zoeva, or if you like to use a fan brush,try the F41 from Sigma.

Highlighters are also extremely versatile. To achieve a subtle and natural glow, simply dust some on the tops of your cheekbones. Or, if you want to go all out (as I frequently do), use your highlighter to accentuate your cheekbones, forehead, the tip of your nose, and your cupid’s bow. Highlighters are also perfect for adding some sparkle to your eyeshadow. You can bring your whole make-up look together by packing some of your highlighter on the inner corners of your eyes and your brow bone.

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Image: @amrezy

feel as though highlighters are only a recent phenomenon in the world of make-up. When I stop and think about it, I wonder what I did before I discovered their beauty. How bland and dull my face must have looked without glowing cheekbones and a sparkling cupid’s bow that could be spotted from space. Highlighters are one of the make-up products I lust over the most - and that’s saying something, as my beauty wish list is about as long as my arm.

So why do I love highlighters so much? There’s just something so magical about them and the way they

I never feel truly satisfied with my make-up until I’ve used a highlighter to add a pop of shimmer With my love of highlighters in mind, you can only imagine how excited I was when I found out that Anastasia Beverly Hills (one of my all-time favourite brands) have collaborated with social media sensation Amrezy (real name Amra Olević) to produce what can only be described as the

Clash of the lashes Clarissa O’Neill shares her thoughts on the best way to achieve a false-lash effect with no risk of strip lash problems Image: @nouveauxlashesuk

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ith eyelashes being such a key feature of your face, is it hard to ignore these new and improved treatments which supposedly brighten your eyes and make that extra difference.

Finding the right treatment which suits you and your lifestyle is most important, with there being so many enhancements these days due to such a high demand for looking perfect. One of the main questions I always get asked is - out of eyelash extensions and the new LVL lash lift, which one do you think is better?

Well, if you are considering getting a LVL Lash lift there are a few things that you should know. Lash lifts are a new trend that have people going crazy for their natural effects. Your eyelashes are essentially being permed within this treatment, creating a more enhanced C shape, helping them look longer and making your eyes pop. The difference is not always as dramatic as people expect, particularly compared to eyelashes extensions, but the lift gives you a more natural look which would be perfect for the holidays, especially if you are constantly in the water. One tip I would suggest would be to invest in a waterproof mascara. This adds major volume, whilst avoiding those black streaks down your face when departing from the water. Be aware that you will lie there with your lashes stuck down for an average of forty minutes, which can be slightly uncomfortable due to constantly wanting to open your eyes. One suggestion involving this enhancement would be to tint your lashes on top of the lash lift, creating a more natural look that still looks noticeably different. The lash lift holds differently for everyone but usually stays for 2-4 weeks which is pretty impressive, and saves you the faff of curling your lashes, restoring those extra

minutes in the morning. One downfall to this process would be the price being between 30- 55 Pounds, which could be seen as quite excessive for a change that is not very dramatic and doesn’t last for long.

If an LVL lift isn’t for you, the famous lash extensions always attract major attention amongst women. These semi-permanent lashes last up to 12 weeks, which attracts a larger number of customers. One issue with these is the price, as the initial treatment costs around 60 Pounds, before being advised to invest in infills every 2-3 weeks, with these approximately costing another 25-35 Pounds. This makes for a very expensive habit.

Nevertheless, they grow out with your natural lashes, as each fake individual eyelash is glued on at the bottom of each lash, so when one falls out, so does the other. The range within the eyelashes extension industry is vast, with textures varying from synthetic, silk and mink, as well as being able to choose the length between 6mm to 17mm, your chosen thickness, and curl, creating an entirely bespoke look that produces anything from a natural to a heavily impactful look. An advantage with these is that you do not need to have that drama of false lashes falling off on a night out or sticking them on, as you just continue to look great throughout the week without working for it.

Unfortunately, there are some other disadvantages, that not only includes the dear price, but the responsibility of having a lash treatment that requires a high level of maintenance. With shedding becoming a possibility, you could be walking around town with some spider looking eyelashes if you do not have the funds to infill, which also can be as inconvenient as the time it takes to do them, given the time- consuming sessions of around two hours. Additionally, you cannot use any oil-based products, which means you will most likely have to purchase new facial cleansers and makeup removers. Lastly, you must be careful when applying water directly onto your lashes as they can weaken the adhesive and cause them to fall out prematurely.

Yet, both of these having their disadvantages they also both create very different looks but can majorly change your face and draw attention to those fabulous eyes that are always so important.

ultimate highlighter. While conveniently ignoring my substantial overdraft, I headed straight to the Anastasia Beverly Hills website, eager to get my mitts on this beautiful innovation. This product was released on Valentine’s Day, giving me the perfect justification for splashing out on treating myself. Well, no one else was going to!

Amrezy Montenegro born social media personality Amra Olević, or Amrezy, has a staggering 5.5 million followers on Instagram.

Image: @amrezy

To my dismay, but not to my surprise, the Amrezy highlighter sold out almost immediately after its release. After apainstaking wait, I received the important email informing me that the Amrezy highlighter was back in stock a few days later. A few clicks and this incredible make-up product was on its way to me.

The Amrezy Highlighter is everything I could wish for in this type of product. It’s a perfect lightgolden shade that will compliment any skin tone.

It’s smooth, creamy formula applies like a dream, delivering a stunning impact - words cannot describe how beautiful this product is! At £29 it was a splurge, but it was definitely worth every penny. Even though I know it’s going to be my new go-to highlighter, I can see this product lasting for ages. At the moment, it’s labelled as limited edition (another reason why I just had to get it), but I am praying that this brand’s CEO Anastasia Soare makes it a permanent member of the Anastasia Beverly Hills family.

This article on the magic of highlighters would

not be complete without talking about Sleek’s incredible Highlighter Palettes. These compact beauties include four highlighter shades, in either a cream or powder formula, each with amazing pigmentation - and all for less than a tenner. If you’re looking for an amazing highlighter on a budget I would definitely recommend these.

Another purse-friendly brand that I frequently find myself turning to for a dose of sparkle and shimmer is Makeup Revolution. I’m a massive fan of their Golden Sugar 2 Rose Gold palette which costs only £6 and has blush and contour shades sitting alongside its gorgeous highlighters.

I’ve also recently picked up Makeup Revolution’s Soph X Highlighter palette and I am stunned by its incredible pigmentation.

I want to finish my ode to highlighters by mentioning some amazing cream products. Liquid or cream highlighters frequently get ignored in favour of powder products, a crime which I myself am guilty of committing. One of my beauty goals is to integrate cream highlighters back into my make-up routine. Although they take a bit more time to be applied and blended out, cream and liquid highlighters can be used to achieve a subtle shimmer, or to deliver a punch of glow as beautiful as any powder product. If you’re looking to try this type of the product, I recommend Watt’s Up and High Beam, both by Benefit. These two cult classics constantly raved about in the beauty world are definitely worth the hype.

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The straight of it Beauty editor Lois Johnston weighs up the best and worst hair straighteners on the market, so that you don’t have to

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n terms of beauty tools, electricals such as straighteners and curlers are pretty much the most expensive investments you can make. Around just ten years ago, horror stories of people straightening off their fringes were rife – the image of the girl who burned off her hair with her curlers in that ‘tutorial’ is burned into my mind forever.

Flash-forward a decade, however, and technology has improved leaps and bounds.

Straighteners now have temperature settings other than ‘burn’ and ‘slightly less burn’ and most of the time they are multi-purpose and can be used for curling too. We no longer have to worry about causing damage to our tresses, as most appliances nowadays have keratin infused plates, and, thanks to ‘sleep modes’, gone are the days when we have to run home in our lunch break to check we’ve turned our them off.

When looking to splash out the best part of £200, and with this area of the market being so saturated, however, it is very important to know what you are looking for. To begin with, if you have long hair, you need to find a wideplate straightener, whereas if you have shorter hair (shoulder length or shorter), small-plate straighteners are better. Around 185 degrees is the perfect temperature for hair styling as anything over can cause damage to the hair. And finally, always use a heat protecting spray before applying heat to your hair (this includes using a hair dryer).

In the lower price bracket, Toni & Guy have a great range of straighteners available at Boots.

For £79.99, you get the straighteners, a heat mat and a case, making them not only compact but also easily transportable. As they have a rounded barrel, they can also create a curly look and make styling very easy. In the same price range for comparable results, Babyliss, Remington and Revlon all have similar appliances ranging from Moroccan Argan Oil infused plates to a 15-second heat up speed, it’s all about researching each one individually and deciding which would suit you best.

If you are looking for a less damaging alternative

to a straightening iron, then the L’Oréal Steam Pod could be for you. They are unlike the traditional straighteners and have an attached steam pod at the side which you fill with water and when you use the irons you can see the steam coming off your hair. The closest to ironing my hair I ever want to get. They ideology behind it is that the steam not only detangles your hair but is also less damaging for your hair than other models. If you straighten your hair daily, then these are the perfect choice for you.

The king of all straighteners, and the one I swear by: GHD. Not only do most of their models look stunning, you know that when you investing in a pair of GHDs, you are investing in something that will last you years. Most of their models now contain ‘tri-zone’ technology which apparently means that your hair stays healthy, glossy and strong, whatever the colour or condition of your hair. One particular model which has 5* reviews on most websites is their Gold Max Styler which for £135 is at the cheaper end of GHD’s collection. It has some of the company’s most famous features such as sleep mode, temperature control and speedy heat up and cool down times so that you can pack them away straight after use.

Image: @ghdhair

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@CourierBeauty thecourieronline.co.uk/beauty

Monday 12 March 2018

Multi-tasking make-up

Who knew that the contents of their make-up bag could be used for things other than their labelled purpose? Sophie Hindhaugh discusses the versatility of our favourite beauty products

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f you’ve ever been in a situation where you’ve lacked a particular shade, such as a black or green lipstick for Halloween, or a particular make-up item – have I really forgotten all my eye shadow palettes again, then you’ve probably been surprised to discover just how versatile different make-up products can be in their uses.

Some of my favourite colours to use on my eyes are from a blusher palette and some of the most blinding highlights you can find are in your eye shadow palette.

Juvia’s Place, The Saharan Blush Palette Volume II £20: The aforementioned palette that I adore using on my eyes for nights out as well as every day. The orange shade Tau and the coral shade Leena make for beautiful transition shades for warm toned eye looks. Tau looks especially beautiful swept below the eye for a pop of colour. For an everyday shade I tend to use Yara, applying it lightly through my crease to provide some definition and dimension without looking heavily done. Zoba also makes an excellent highlight as well as a subtle, glowy inner corner and brow highlight.

Not only is this blusher palette great for eyes; it’s great for it’s original purpose too. A fantastic blush palette, I love to use the same shades that I’ve used on my eyes on my cheeks too, to tie my look together. A tip I picked up from MUA Hrush Achemyan, is that an orange blush such as Tau beneath a pink one like Leena will make the pink shade pop more than if you applied it straight to the cheek.

Bronzer can also make for an excellent eyes shadow if you’re more a fan of browns than oranges and pinks, and if you use the same one on the rest

of your face that you do your eyes you can achieve a pulled together, sophisticated look.

Image: @juivasplace

DIY Lipstick: Fancy dress and need a crazy lip colour? All you need to make a quick, cheap custom lip colour is Vaseline and an eye shadow.

Scrape the eye shadow in to some little pot or plate, and I recommend using a lot if you want an opaque look. Then scrape the Vaseline in to the pot and mix together using whatever utensil you can find.

Concealer or Primer?: Not just for covering spots, Concealer such as the Mac Select Cover up, £16.50, makes an excellent, tacky eye-shadow base.

Lipstick or Colour Corrector?: If you struggle

with dark circles, I have a friend that swears red lipstick (preferably with orange tones) can double as a colour corrector. Simple dab it under your eyes, blend, then apply your concealer over the top.

The orange tones in your lipstick will cancel out any darkness.

Mascara as Brow Gel: Not a black one obviously, unless you naturally have black eyebrows.

Collection do an excellent brown mascara, and I personally find it better for achieving thicker, fluffier looking brows due to the lengthening properties that mascara’s have that brow gels don’t – unless you get a more expensive, fibre one.

Lipstick as blusher: An alternative to cream, lightly dab a pink or red lipstick on your cheek and blend with a beauty blender.

Concealer or Foundation Sticks for Contour: Unless you’ve been living under a make-up rock, you’ll have heard about Makeup Revolution’s new concealers. The Makeup Revolution Conceal and Define Concealer has a huge shade range including colours that are excellent to use to warm up your face, such as the shades C12 and C10. However, none of the shades are cool toned enough in my opinion to contour with, which is where the NYX Professional Makeup Mineral Stick Foundation’s come in with some excellent contour shades.

They make an excellent cream contour, and with them being a foundation stick, they’re opaque- no patchiness. Use your beauty blender for a flawless finish.

So next time you find yourself without a product, or forget your eye shadow palette on your next getaway, have another look at your make-up bag and get creative.

The sweet smell of spring

Looking for a new signature scent? Chloe House gives us a run down of the best and most beautiful new perfume releases that will keep us feeling fresh all through the warmer months

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lthough we are well and truly into 2018 and already approaching spring, there is still time to find your scent for this year.

With a recent burst of perfume releases, now is the best time to search for your fragrance staple.

Image: @chanelofficial

Chanel have edited the classic Coco Mademoiselle to create the Eau de Parfum Intense (£82, 50ml).

Chanel describe the original Coco Mademoiselle as ‘sparks of fresh and vibrant orange’ with ‘accords of jasmine and rose’ and ‘accents of patchouli and vetiver,’ but the intense version has an ‘extreme dose of patchouli and an amber accord that combines two absolutes: tonka bean and vanilla.’

This really is perfect for anyone who already loves Coco Mademoiselle but wants to take the strength further; also meaning you can spray less but still get the same intensity as multiple sprays from the original.

Gucci have also been devising their fragrances.

Releasing Gucci Bloom only at the end of last year, they have now also created a version that is more ‘fresh and energetic’ than the original with Gucci Bloom Acqua di Fiori (£61.50, 50ml).

Staying with the vibrant coloured bottle theme,

Gucci have altered their Gucci Guilty Absolute Pour Femme fragrance with an Eau de Parfum version (£74, 50ml), which comes in an amazing bright pink bottle. It is intensified with patchouli oils and Bulgarian rose. Gucci has also intensified their Gucci Flora 1966 perfume, pairing the reinvention with a sophisticated black bottle. Gucci Flora 1966 Eau de Parfum (£145, 100ml) has top notes of bourbon pepper with heart notes of peony and rose.

In the coming of spring, many brands have turned to re-invigorating their original fragrances, with many producing Eau De Toilette versions made with stronger floral notes. Victor and Rolf ’s Flowerbomb Nectar (£82, 50ml) is an intense version of the original, but with stronger scents of bergamot and blackcurrant. Alaia Paris Nude (£67, 50ml) appears in a lighter colour bottle, and has top notes of cedar and cashmeran. Dolce and Gabbana’s Floral turns into Dolce and Gabbana, Dolce Garde (£66, 50ml) with added frangipani blossom. Marc Jacobs Daisy Twinkle (£55, 50m) is a twist on the original, with a vibrant purple colour bottle, and a refreshing twist of wild berries. Prada have reproduced their La Femme with L’eau Eau de Toilette (£64.50, 50ml) which has stronger notes of mandarin and frangipani, exclusively available at John Lewis. Lastly, after releasing their first ever fragrance in 2017, MiuMiu have produced L’Eau Rosee Eau de Toilette which has softer notes of the lily flower (£62, 50ml).

On Chloe’s website, they explain that: ‘The round O-shaped curves of the bottle bring softness, contrasting with the strong, graphic metallic pieces. A sleek collar and a delicate, dangling pink ribbon bring confident yet feminine detail to the elegant design.’ Jo Malone have an entirely new English Fields collection with a distinctive two tone bottle design, aiming to contrast the‘cultivated fields against the pops of flowers and lush pastures’.

The five scent collection includes, Primrose and Rye, Honey and Crocus, Poppy and Barley, Oat and Cornflower, and Green Wheat and Meadowsweet Colognes (£47 for 30ml).

100

or more new fragrances are released every year, according to Euromonitor International

So if you’re searching to find your new staple fragrance, or looking to try a new twist on your current staple, look no further!

19

beauty life & style Big - up beauty brand lovin’

E

ssence is a brand that it seems nobody has heard of, but if you had asked me a few years ago I wouldn’t have either. Now I find myself recommending this cheap and cheerful brand to whoever will listen, I’m like an Avon representative on crack in the girl’s toilets on a night out.

I stumbled upon Essence’s existence in a beauty shop in Spain around 2 years ago picking up a muted pink lipstick on a whim. I had stupidly brought no make-up with me on holiday and felt the need to smarten up for the evening. I was tempted by the variety of nude shades available, and how the high quality packaging seemed not to match its tiny price tag. At home we had the likes of Barry M and Miss Sporty for the kind of price tag Essence was offering, but these reminded me of being thirteen and clueless about makeup. Essence seemed more promising, classier and almost professional looking. The lipstick I chose offered a matte finish whilst at the same time being moisturising, something relatively unheard of for the price.

You can then imagine how excited I was to find an Essence stand in the hilariously mum-anddad shop, Wilko, when I got back to the UK. Ever since I have been addicted to their products. The appeal of Essence to me is the affordability despite having the feel of something higher-end. Too many times I have lost a good lipstick to the Soho dance floor, but with Essence it means that replacing one doesn’t break the bank. It’s also openly cruelty-free which appeals to my animal conscious decisions when choosing beauty brands.

My favourite lip products in particular are the Colour and Care lipsticks that are very nourishing on the lips, containing moisturising ingredients such as avocado butter alongside good colour pigmentation. They have a glossier finish but can be easily blotted to mattify. My favourite shades are ‘Stand up for plum!’ and ‘Rock your lips’ that are flattering berry shades. I also really like the gelcolour nail polishes that have an ultra glossy finish and are comparable to Essie in their lasting ability.

The variety of lip shades available in the matte Longlasting Lipsticks for such an inexpensive brand are surprisingly good, a lot of them are that ‘your lip colour but better’ shade that everybody is after. I have been asked a few times which Kylie Lip-kit I’m wearing when I’ve been wearing the Longlasting Lipstick in ‘cool nude’.

The one thing that can be off-putting, however, is the website. In my opinion the website is childish in choosing not to promote their products on actual models but choose rather to put animeesque cartoons of models alongside their products.

It has a very ‘Groovy chick’ vibe, which totally contrasts with the high quality products that Essence produce. This is, however, addressed on their website: that the brand prefer to invest their money ‘in the development of high quality trend products and innovations you can trust in,’ rather than using ‘some expensive super model’ to market their products. So, don’t let this put you off, the idea behind this is admirable even if the execution comes across as slightly bizarre. This is something I’m willing to look past as I’m never going to buy their products online unless by some freak accident Wilko goes under.

The quality of their lip products and variety of shades is undeniably impressive, and at such a small price of around £3 per product! I seriously suggest everyone checks out Essence products, and I guarantee you will become as addicted as I am.

Jodie Duddy

In the coming of spring, many brands have turned to reinvigorating their original fragrances A few brands have even released completely new scents, just in time for spring. Chloe have released Nomade, and its ingredients include mineral oak moss, mirabelle plum and freesia (£70, 30ml).

Image: @marcjacobsfragrances

Image: @essence_cosmetics

20

life & style travel

courier.travel@ncl.ac.uk Travel Editors Charlotte Hill & Talia Gillin

Food around the globe Maddy Raine shares the best places to tickle your taste buds

@Courier_Travel thecourieronline.co.uk/travel

the courier Monday 12 March 2018

Ice, ice baby Rowena Tylden- Pattenson details the best that Iceland has to offer, and explains why it should be on all of our bucket list

A

ll this wintery weather we’ve been having the past couple of weeks isn’t what Britain is used to. Streets clogged with snow, supermarkets empty, schools shut… the ‘Beast from the East’ is a phenomenon not normally experienced in the UK. But elsewhere, say Iceland, well it’s safe to say they have this sort of weather covered.

Also known as the ‘land of fire and ice’, Iceland is magical in both the long snowy winter and the mild summer, which is blessed with 24-hour sunlight. It’s a big country with stunning natural beauty in every direction that’s just waiting to be explored!

Iceland is an expensive holiday but definitely worth saving up for. Most flights go into Keflavík airport, which is close to the capital of Reykjavík.

Reykjavík is a spread-out, sprawling sort of city that has an atmosphere unlike any other capital I’ve been to. It’s very relaxed and slow-going, feeling more like a remote town rather than the main hub of industry and population.

Along the seafront the Sólfar sculpture of a Viking longboat is beautiful in the evening, as is the imposing Church of Hallgrímur, further inland. In the centre of town there are plenty of places to get

food and take in the atmosphere (although maybe avoid the whale meat and fermented shark, both local delicacies). You’ll also find the Icelandic Phallological Museum in Reykjavík, with apparently over 215 penis specimens. Wow. If you want to see living animals, boats go daily from the harbour on whale watching trips, with harbour porpoises, white-beaked dolphins and minke whales seen regularly. Puffins inhabit the near islands, and can be seen flying across the waves with beakfuls of sand eels for chicks between May and August.

The Northern Lights are always a possibility in Iceland, although are unpredictable. More reliable are geysers. There are loads of ‘Golden Circle’ tours that will take you to see Iceland’s finest, including the Geysir thermal area, the Gullfoss waterfall and Þingvellir, the site of two colliding continental plates, and the seat of Iceland’s ancient parliament.

Hire a car and drive out to other hot springs as well, and you might meet some more interesting characters than tourists- near the Langjökull glacier we met a gentleman boiling eggs in the superheated water! Iceland’s certainly got its quirks, although most are charming to say the least.

Image: Wiki Commons

W

hether you’re cruising around the Mediterranean sea sipping cocktails, or sat at the last table in McDonalds devouring that fifty chicken nugget meal all to yourself (even after you promised yourself your diet would start on Monday), everyone wants the same. Good food. You’ve been wanting to find that place, that one place which just serves the best food. The best food for you. If this sounds familiar, this article could be the one for you!

France Home of luxurious treats both savoury and sweet, it goes without saying that France is the place to be when it comes to crepes. Time and again you try to make your own on Shrove Tuesday but somehow it’s just not the same. The mixture is too lumpy, you don’t make enough, and by the end of the day you’re too full wishing you’d just gone out for food instead.

Streets upon streets are lined with fresh fruit and veg, herbs, meats and pastries Anywhere in France you go, whether it’s the cold of the north or the heat of the south, the most expensive crepe shop in Paris or the cheapest street cart, the French do their crepes right! From simple lemon and sugar to savoury crepes as extravagant as carbonara you simply can’t go wrong! Be it in the quaint streets of Montmarte or a petite café in that long-lost village you’d only seen on movies, get yourself there and sample them for yourself!

Japan If you’re wanting something a bit fresher (and somewhat healthier), why not delve into the enormous fish industry that is Japan. Their love for all things ‘fishy’ never leaves you wondering where to eat because on every corner there’s at least one restaurant or street vender offering the most delicious dishes for all taste buds. Whether it’s sushi you fancy or something slightly hotter, this is the place to be! If Japan is a little too far afield for those travelling on a low budget, why not try Spain, renowned for its paella. This scrumptious meal is at the heart of all Spanish food lovers not only in the country itself but throughout the world. The delicious blend of fresh seafood, rice and seasoned vegetables makes the perfect recipe for both a winters’ night and summers day.

Morocco For those looking for something a little more exotic, Marrakech is home to one of the world’s most beautiful markets. Streets upon streets are lined with fresh fruit and veg, herbs, meats and pastries.

All for extremely low prices, this place is perfect for those eager to throw in a bunch of ingredients and cook up a homemade masterpiece. For those still wanting to try the flavours of this country first hand, the Jemaa el-Fnaa (Marrakech’s old market square) hosts countless restaurants and cafés overlooking everything.

The USA If you’re a lover of meat then look no further than the United States of America. Famous for anything ‘meaty’, you’ll have no trouble finding what you want here. What is more typically American than burgers and hot dogs right? Whatever state you’re in you will always find a place selling these traditional items. Whether it’s a hot dog on a New York street stall for seventy cents, or a more expensive burger at Five Guys, you’ll be spoilt for choice. If burgers or hotdogs aren’t really your thing, then why not head down to a steakhouse or try your hand at one of the many all-you-can-eat buffets for brilliantly-low prices.

Italy Now I know you’re probably thinking that I’ve missed one of the most obvious and popular destinations, for all those foodies out there, but you’ve got to save the best for last right? Italy- aka Pizza central. Neapolitan, Calzone, Sicilian, deep pan.

All the choices and all cooked to perfection in their place of birth. Not fancying a pizza? Everywhere you go in Italy the pasta is all homemade making every dish delicious and fresh.

Everywhere you go in Italy the pasta is all homemade making every dish delicious The Verdict So there you have it. Six amazing countries that each have their own hidden gems to offer. These are just a few exotic places that provide whole and hearty food, but the world is never-ending in its food establishments and will continue to inspire the minds of every keen traveller and cook.

Image: Pixa Bay

Things I wish I’d known...

Yoana Choleeva relays what she learnt from travelling abroad You may catch the Wanderlust fever and that changes everything

Wanderlust is not just an Instagram thing, it’s actually very real. The more you travel, the more eager you’ll be to travel even more. For many travelling is like a glass of water that you drink, but instead of quenching your thirst, it satisfies you so much that it leaves you striving for more.

The ones who’ve experienced it say that it changes the game forever. Once you’ve tasted the adventure and the ultimate freedom, your outlook in life is entirely influenced – for the better, of course.

You’ll certainly need the essentials With regards to the boring bits and bobs, they are actually very important! These are the things you don’t want to neglect: plugs (keep in mind the socket type of country you are going to), power banks, trustworthy navigation, cash, currency and suitable clothing.

Forgetting them is not the end of the world, but remembering them will make your trip a whole lot easier. After all, wrong type of plugs, a constantly dead phone, getting lost somewhere unknown, being left with no money and freezing in the rain are pretty much guaranteed to kill your chilled traveller vibe.

The people you go with are really important You may be longing to leave, but I wish that someone had told me how important you’ll certainly miss it

it is to choose your travel buddy carefully. They say ‘you don’t truly know a person, until you live with them’ but instead I would rather say that you don’t truly know someone before you’ve travelled with them. Travelling is basically like living together, but in a bit more hectic and opportunistic atmosphere.

All this uncertainty either escalates and makes you realize you don’t match so well or (if you are lucky) you end up with a priceless travel buddy.

On the road is one of the best places you can be, although this doesn’t mean you are not allowed to miss home. No matter how much they are enjoying it, some people still get tired or homesick. That’s completely normal – just remember to enjoy the rest of your time, because you’ll surely miss it one day.

Revelation… That’s the beauty of travel, isn’t it?

the courier Monday 12 March 2018

student activity

culture What’s on 21

editor.union@ncl.ac.uk thecourieronline.co.uk Culture Editors Zoë Godden and Ciara Ritson-Courtney Student Activity Editors: Alex Hendley

POETRY IN ACTION POEM OF THE WEEK What is Education?

Buildings, rooms, chairs, tables.

Words scribbled on paper Numbers at the bottom of a page.

A scroll, a gown and a congratulatory meal.

Scan at the checkout.

Repeat.

Drown out the complaints with your Strict financial regulations to ensure Fairness for all.

Written by you.

Approved by you.

You build more, grow more, Develop, develop Yet inside, hundreds of minds Remain uncultivated, Debris within the palace of your success.

NSR SHOW OF THE WEEK While the title of the show would make you think that Caleb Carvers hour of radio would be obscure, somehow he still manages to surprise you. His hand selected playlist along side his opening monologue are notable moments of the one-of-a-kind show. The relaxed show, chilled vibes and unique presenting style makes Caleb’s Ket Lab a highlight on the NSR schedule.

Union University Campaign Society Monday 12 March

5.15pm GIAG: Golf Meet: Outside Hatton Gallery

Tuesday 13 March

12pm Watch Your Head: Art Workshop Location: Hatton Gallery 12.30pm Body Pump - Fitness Class Location: Multi B, Sports Centre 5.30pm GIAG: Bowling Meet: Outside NUSU 9.30pm Performing Arts Showcase Location: Venue, NUSU

Wednesday 14 March

12.30pm GIAG: Rifle Shooting Meet: Outside NUSU 1.30pm GIAG: Make Up Masterclass with Inglot Cosmetics Meet: Outside NUSU 1.30pm GIAG: Real Ale and Cider Tasting Meet: Outside NUSU

Student spotlight FILM SCREENING AND DISCUSSION

H

Wednesday 25 April - Lecture Theatre 1, Herschel Building

osted by Newcastle University’s very own Film Society, Wednesday 25 April sees a screening of the Netflix Original film ‘Liberated: The New Sexual Revolution’.

The documentary focuses on the coming of age in today’s young adult hookup culture, following the journeys of British and American university students on Spring Break, and provides a shocking and revealing insight into the attitudes and behaviours surrounding sex, violence and the media.

Not only will the evening provide the audience

with a chance to watch the fascinating production, but immediately following the screening there will be a filmmaker panel discussion, including the film director Benjamin Nolot and individuals featured in the documentary.

Tickets are available online, with more information available on the event’s Facebook page or by contacting Newcastle University Film Society.

The event takes place in the Herschel Building’s Lecture Theatre 1 and begins at 7pm, with an estimated finishing time of around 10pm.

1.30pm GIAG: Italian Beginner Class Location: Language Resource Centre, OLB 5.15pm Hi Lo Aerobics - Fitness Class Location: Multi B, Sports Centre

Thursday 15 March

1.30pm GIAG: Exit Room ‘Save the City’ Meet: Outside NUSU

Friday 16 March

12pm St. Patrick’s Day Location: Luther’s Bar, NUSU 12.30pm Cardio Combat - Fitness Class Location: Multi B, Sports Centre 1.30pm Easter Egg Decorating Location: The Lounge, NUSU 5.30pm Cocktail Making Masterclass Party and Food Meet: Outside NUSU

ST. PATRICK’S DAY 16 MARCH Thanks to our good friend St. Patrick, NUSU are granting students access to free Guinness... But only if you’re quick! The first 200 students in Luther’s will pick up a pint of the good stuff. There’ll also be live music until 6pm, and everyone who buys four pints gets a snazzy hat on the house!

22

culture music

the courier

c2.music@ncl.ac.uk Music Editors Toby Bryant, Charlie Isaac & Ally Wilson

Monday 12 March 2018

Mothers’ Day Jukebox

On Campus NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY’S CHAMBER CHOIR

Image: Pixabay

Ahead of this weekend’s Mother’s Day, The Courier Music writers reflect on their mothers’ influence on their personal music tastes A previous performance from NUJO at Kommunity (Image: NUJO Facebook Page)

W

hat does the final night of term look like for you?

Sitting at home, watching Netflix and trying to block the ever-increasing mountain of assingments and exams out of your mind?

Crammed into Soho, listening to terrible music and drinking overpriced blueberry trebles? How about seeing the term off the right way, with an evening of live swing and pop tunes performed by Newcastle Universitiy’s very own Jazz Orchestra?

If this sounds like a tempting offer, head down to Kommunity this Friday (the 16th) from 8 till midnight. Supporting are Petite Bouche, a Newcastlebased Jazz quintet playing a variety of gypsy and cool jazz tunes (pre-beebop for any aficionados out there), providing smokey, chilled vibes to kick off the evening, and featuring Megan Savage on vocals (as well as a certain Courier sub-editor on trumpet).

Where? Kommunity, Market St, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6BH When? 20:00-00:00, Friday 16th March Who? Petite Bouche, Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra Price? FREE

NUJO themselves will be brining the energy, playing everything from Glenn Miller’s ‘In The Mood’, to Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson’s ‘Uptown Funk’, and everything in between. Though be sure to stick around after NUJO’s set, for a selection of only the top Funk, Soul and Jazz tunes, going till midnight (think Soul Jam, minus the £8 tickets).

Entry is free, so stop by for a drink or two, or stay for a full evening of good music and even better vibes!

Charlie Isaac

@NUJazzOrchestra THE EDITORS’ PICKS RADIO SHOW The Courier Music editors will be joining Meg and Amy from Newcastle Student Radio to play and discuss the Editors’ Picks at 4pm every Thursday. Be sure to tune in at nsrlive.co.uk!

@Courier_Music @TheCourierMusic

T

he music I listen to is completely influenced by my Mum. At eleven months old I crawled around a Glastonbury field, unaware that my parents were encouraging me to enter a world of live music.

I remember my Mum playing Arctic Monkeys on a long car journey when I was nine and me and my sister singing “all the weekend rock stars are in the toilets practicing their lines” louder than any other line in ‘Fake Tales of San Francisco’ because we thought singing whilst on the loo was hilarious (it would be years before I realised the lyrical double meaning of that song).

Throughout my life I was surrounded by Radio 1 - I remember a friend commenting that the radio was always on in my house. To me the sound of the kitchen radio was a comforting constant that felt as much a part of the home my Mum had made as I imagined coming home to the smell of fresh baked bread was in films.

My mum made me realise the excitement live music could bring. Running to the local record store to be the first to get Kasabian tickets and dreaming of the day me and my sister would be old enough to get into 16+ venues and see the bands that defined our childhood. Stereophonics was always played as we crossed the border into Wales on our summer camping holidays and so many of my family memories are laced with the music my Mum loved.

My Mum influenced my music in every way and to this day we share trips to gigs and festivals. My Mum has made music a defining feature of our family and I am always grateful she shared her love with us and made me and my sister the music fans we are today.

Meg Long

M

y childhood memory of music is intrinsically linked to my Mam and so, like her, it’s pretty eclectic.

I have a clear memory of walking into the kitchen of our flat to the sight of my Mam dancing to music coming from the silver boom box on the kitchen bench. Six-year-old me asks who it is; she stops, turns and hunkers down to my level. She very seriously and earnestly instructs me that the music is Aerosmith and that singer Steve Tyler is God. Now, as an adult, I’m fairly sure that my Mum’s worshipping of Steve Tyler was more about Tyler’s penchant for skin-tight leggings.

When managing a café, she frequently played Jools Holland, Sugar and Barry White (I told you this was going to be eclectic) and so now when I hear Barry White I feel a surge of pure joy and a strong desire for coffee. As an adult Sugar is one of my favourite bands and Bob Mould’s unique voice has accompanied me through break-ups and joy-filled summers. Jools Holland led to me finding Squeeze, a band that encompassed my taste in music entirely - songs about the minutiae of life that you can dance to.

When we weren’t debating the deification of rock stars or dancing to The Walrus of Love we were hanging around tattoo studios (she’s got cool friends) which meant Rancid, early Green Day and The Offspring. She’s a huge country music fan - introducing me to the music of her idol Dolly Parton and also lesser known country musicians such as Laura Cantrell whose song ‘The Whiskey Makes You Sweeter’ never fails to make me ‘country sad’. Thanks for the eclectic taste Mam. I’m sorry I made you buy me that Steps CD when I was 10.

Beth Chrisp

M

y mother is a singing teacher. As a child, if she ran workshops on weekends I would go along with her for the day. I’d sit there amongst what was usually a room of middle-aged women wielding a page of song lyrics I couldn’t read and sing my tiny heart out. Thank you, mum, for encouraging me to sing like nobody was watching. I’m all the more confident for it.

My mother is a musician. From xylophones to bongos, instruments have always strewn across the carpet for my siblings and I to pick up, play with, practice and perfect. Thanks for giving me those opportunities mum, and tolerating all the bad music that came before the good.

My mother is a folksie type. Growing up I was exposed to so many soothing sounds that now remind me of evenings in cottages, round fires, and walks through expansive desolate countryside with our extended family belting Joni Mitchell in the rain. I now too, am a folksie type. I live and breathe Laura Marling, Karine Polwart and The Wailin’ Jenny’s. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction, mum.

My mother helps people who didn’t know how to use their voice speak through song. I’ve been told as much by them myself. She is one of the people most appreciative of music and how it actually acts in the world. How it changes, progresses and reflects on people’s lived experiences and society as a whole. If even a fraction of her appreciation for music has filtered down into me, I’ll count myself very lucky. Dare I say it, I think it has.

Thanks, Kate. For all this, and then some.

Carys Thomas

G

rowing up, I’ve not always seen eye-to-eye with my mum about music. In my teenage years, car journeys were characterised by a constant flicking between Radio 1 and Radio 2, as we both battled to listen to our own music as we drove along. There’s also been times when the music I’ve put on has been met by a jokey “what’s this shite?”, and I’ve thought the same about hers.

Back then, I didn’t appreciate just how much my mum’s music tastes have influenced mine.

Our music tastes aren’t identical, but there are certain songs that I’ve now got a special appreciation for.

Take ‘Dakota’ by Stereophonics, for example. If it wasn’t for my mum, I’d probably just see it as a pretty catchy early-noughties anthem. But my mum loves the song so much that whenever it comes on the radio, she immediately tells me to turn it up and sings along word for word. Now, as soon as I hear the intro, all I can think of is my mum, driving along, singing at the top of her voice.

It’s worked both ways too. When I took Ben Howard’s I Forget Where We Were album on a family holiday a few years back, I just thought it was a good CD. The eponymous track ‘I Forget Where We Were’ was probably one of my favourites from the album, but I didn’t think it was incredible. As the holiday went on, my mum grew to love the song more and more. Whenever either of us listen to the song now, we’re both instantly transported back to driving around Scotland in the early summer. Suddenly, the song is loaded with nostalgia and happy memories for both of us.

When a song is someone you love’s favourite, how can you not love it too?

Caitlin Disken

S

o, so what?, I am a rock star, I got my rock moves, And I don’t waaaaant you tonight!

These may not be the words many people associate with their mothers. P!nk’s ‘So What?’ is not a typical motherly love song, but it does hold a special place in my heart. It’s not an emotional lullaby, or a cherished childhood memory of being sang to by your mum as you cry over a lifedefining moment. Nope. The moment I hear that “na na na na na na” opening riff, I see a vision of my mum singing it at karaoke on holiday (I use the word ‘singing’ very loosely).

From this vision perhaps you’d expect my mum to be an edgy, English version of P!nk – short bleach blonde hair, rocker style, a ‘take-no-shit’ attitude. Far from it. The blonde hair is somewhat right, but the similarities end there. Yet when she sings this song on karaoke – at ANY opportunity – you forget the differences and can truly appreciate the song.

It’s a perfect blend of uncaring attitude, feisty lyrics and a head bopping beat. I can’t say I have much of an opinion on P!nk either way, until this song is mentioned. There’s something about cringing and wanting to hide under a table every time your mum confidently takes the microphone and sings every note in exactly the wrong tune to really leave an impression.

Whenever ‘So What?’ is played at a club (mostly at Powerhouse lets be honest) I dance extra wildly and sing extra loudly, just to pay homage to my mum. Who, herself, cannot sing or dance but gives it a bloody good go anyway because this song is her absolute jam. And so what if you think I look like a fool? I got my mum’s rock moves, and I don’t need you.

Charlotte Boulton

D

Images: Pixabay

ear Mam, thank you for never holding me back. I am forever in your debt for letting me watch MTV and browse the internet until my eyes bled, never pulling me away when obscenities and experimental musical styles were presented in front of me.

Further, bless you for singing Michael Jackson, Motown and other ditties to me as a child, imbuing me with a wild, ranging music taste spread across many genres and styles. Your mantras of respect and judgment that I was raised with still let me explore the vast musical landscape with constant curiosity and no cause for concern, shaping my character and providing me with the soundtrack to my life that I couldn’t live without.

Thank you for singing with me in the car to your favourite CD’s, making music an important part of my life from the offset. I love you for never questioning my taste when I asked for Justin Timberlake’s Justified or Kanye’s Late Registration. You relished in it, learning the words to ‘Hey Mama’ and countless others, getting involved in the car all the way through my childhood. Those physical case and the players in our changing car, the two of us enjoying the power of music will always be moments and memories of serene happiness for me, a comforting place I’ll never lose, even when I’m old and frail.

And even though sometimes you get the words wrong to the radio, I’ll never ask you to stop singing. In my rough spots and dark patches when I was lost and you didn’t know, having you there in the car brimming with your radiant light, lavishing in the power of music always brought me up and out of the darkness. The best mam in the world. Unbreakable, Unmistakable. Hey Mama.

Jordan Oloman

the courier

@CourierMusic thecourieronline.co.uk/music

Monday 12 March 2018

Nation of Two

Vance Joy

A

ustralian singer-songwriter James Keogh’s (Vance Joy) debut album was released and the lead single ‘Riptide’ became an international hit, with the charm and indie-darling lyrics giving the single a warming nature. Unfortunately this album comes without any of this charm that made ‘Riptide’ such a hit.

Instead, it’s replaced with a blandness that leaves the music without any real defining qualities.

23

music culture

O

n this day in 1998, Nu-Metal group Korn filed a cease and desist order against the Vice Principal of Zeeland High School in Michigan, following the expulsion of a student for wearing one of their band t-shirts.

This indistinct nature of the album means it quickly becomes background fodder The songs lack focus throughout Nation of Two, in both production, vocally and melodically. It feels like Keogh has tried to create something larger in his second project; as he attempts to move away from the more sparse sound of Dream Your Life Away, Away to produce a bigger sound.

What in essence works about the first album is that either Ke-

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Lo Moon Lo Moon

Image: YouTube Image: Wikimedia Commons

ogh’s vocals or the limited instrumentation is what drives and defines each track. The production on Nation of Two includes more instrumentation but ultimately feels like less, the noise is on a level throughout the project, meaning that the muted background trumpets and the drum beat is given as much attention as the acoustic filling in lead or the vocals.

This indistinct nature of the album means it quickly becomes background fodder in tone, one track moves on from the next, indistinguishable from each other. On occasion the production manages to re-create some of the charm of his first album, like on the track ‘Like Gold’, the minimal guitar shines, but the moment Keogh’s vocals come in, the blandness is re-introduced, the more interesting instrumentals take background to his monotone singing. His voice strays between the pure beauty of a Florence

Welch or Adele and the rough natured but natural melodies of a Chris Martin - leaving Joy in a space in between, not knowing whether he wants to create a lyrical driving force behind the album or a more vocal based, one and ends up achieving neither.

On this note the lyrics also offer very little in the way of substance or note, no change on the typical love songs, but lacking the sweet, indie nature of ‘being scared of dentists and the dark’ and more into a cookie cutter lyrical style, offering very little in the way of unique lyric writing.

There is some merit to Keogh’s work, the general tone of the album means it’s a very easy listening experience, but what it lacks to launch it into the mainstream and creating a true summer hit single, is the lack of a distinctive or interesting enough melody that will grab the attention of the nation.

Rohan Katargamwala

Insecure Men

Editors’ Picks

Insecure Men

I

t’s always impressive when an album manages to create a mood and sustain it through the entirety of its run-through, all the while making each song a journey of its own. It’s even more impressive when said album is a band’s debut – as is the case with the eponymous threepiece rock band, reigning from Los Angeles.

Despite the project initially starting with Matt Lowell as the sole songwriter, it expanded to include synth and bass-player Crisanta Baker, and guitarist Sam Stewart. The aforementioned trio have successfully created an adventurous, complex, and emotionally nuanced album – a one that stays true to its classical rock roots and influences, while also allowing itself enough room to experiment.

This is an album that begs to be listened to in its entirety Lo Moon opens with ‘This Is It’ – a smooth and confident track which lays the foundations for what is to come. ‘Loveless’ follows – a gorgeous and ambitious track, totalling seven minutes. The structure of this song is reflective of the structure of the entire album – contemplative, building with a dazzling crescendo and then crashing into introspective bliss. This is aided by Matt Lowell’s soft falsettos, coupled with the harmonies that are key to songs like ‘Camouflage’. The album’s finisher, ‘All In’, elevates the entire experience to a joyful and triumphant one. This is an album that begs to be listened to in its entirety, and repeat-listenings are advised – it is impossible to get immediately lost in the atmosphere; instead, it gradually draws you in, beckoning you to be as pensive as it.

Lo Moon are an up-and-coming band, having attracted attention from Death Cab For Cutie’s Chris Walla, and having toured with The War and Drugs.

It’s exciting to see where they’ll go after this.

Emma Brady

A

fter a cataclysmic period of addiction, rehab and eventual sobriety, former Fat White Family member, Saul Adamczewski, has had a haphazard journey toward his new project, Insecure Men. Despite the bumpy road that has led him to his new synth-pop destination, the Peckham resident now appears eager to challenge and to provoke listeners.

They appear eager to challenge and provoke listeners Formed alongside Childhood vocalist, Ben Romans-Hopcraft, it is hard not to compare the supergroup to the satire of Adamczewski’s previous group, with the delicate vocals of the lead singer ensuring the topics of lust in songs like ‘Cliff Has Left The Building’ resonate with an air of dark humour. In a similar juxtaposition, the woozy guitars of the opening ‘Subaru Nights’ conjures images of beauty, a feature that becomes exaggerated in the lyrical chanting of the songs second half. This devious lyrical binary continues in ‘All Women Love Me’, where Adamczewski references forced labour camps of Stalin’s Russia through the symbol of food that is going cold. In ‘Mekong Glitter’, Adamczewski moves uses the darker synth sound that made the Fat White Family tracks so sonically challenging.

There are also some signs of genuine concern in the band’s lyrics. ‘Whitney Houston and I’ is a fourminute debate on crack addiction which draws a parallel between the soul singer and her daughter.

This subject matter is made more haunting with the accompaniment of the ‘Honey Hahs’, an allchildren choir that attempt a metaphorical answer to the cures of addiction.

Nonetheless, what makes this LP superior to Adamczewski previous work with the Fat White’s is that this demanding content never feels saturated at the expense of scaremongering a potentially mainstream audience.

Jack Gill

K

eeping in line with the Mother’s Day theme, this week The Courier Music and Newcastle Student Radio Music Editors pick the songs that remind them of their mothers...

‘Non, je ne regrette rien’ Edith Piaf As a French student I’m lucky enough to have a mum who not only speaks French, but loves the culture as well. A complete breakaway from my own favourite artists, I’ve grown to love Edith Piaf ’s music thanks to my mum.

Toby Bryant, The Courier ‘Hit Me With your Rhythm Stick’ Ian Dury & The Blockheads Seeming perhaps strange at first listen, you will quickly realise that Ian Dury is the unlikeliest of lyrical geniuses, with a fascinating life and backed by some of the most talented instrumentalists of the 80s. Cheers, Ma. Ally Wilson, The Courier ‘Blue Monday’ New Order I was initially sceptical when my mum first played 16 year old me ‘Blue Monday’. Of course, any song my mum liked was automatically lame; I only listened to ‘real’ music (i.e. 70s rock, grunge and post-2000 indie). Two minutes later and that notion was completely out the window – to this day it remains one of my favourite songs!

Charlie Isaac, The Courier ‘Paradise By The Dashboard Light’ Meatloaf Thanks to my mum’s rock genre roots and her love of Meatloaf and AC/DC, her influence has shaped my somewhat tamer love for all things punk, not to mention that my favourite film of all time (Rocky Horror Picture Show) features a certain Mr Meatloaf...

Meg Smith, NSR ‘African White’ China Crisis For as long as I can remember my mum and dad have gone to see China Crisis at their annual Christmas show. Somehow, one year my mum managed to rope me along and me, being the moody teenager I was, thought I was far too cool to be going to see a mostly forgotten 80s band... but to my surprise, I came away loving the band.

Amy Woods, NSR

The school, alongside Vice Principal Gretchen Plewes claimed that the garment was inappropriate as it promoted the band themselves, stating that their image and music is “indecent, vulgar, obscene, and intends to be insulting”.

The band, upon learning this news, immediately sought legal action against the school and the Vice Principal as they claimed that banning the t shirt and subsequently their music from their establishment was “defamatory...and infringing on their civil liberties.”

This is an example of a dispute seen more frequently in recent years concerning censorship in the music consumed by our youth.

Their distaste for the incident allowed for a discussion about embracing individuality within youth There have been many more cases in which certain band and artist merchandise has been prohibited by schools and other institutions because of their perceived ability to represent an unwholesome attitude towards authority.

Dispite the many flaws within the workings of the education system both in the US and worldwide, it could be argued that the simple matter of clothing or music tastes perhaps isn’t the crux in case of problematic schools or students.

Korn’s fan base leaped to support of the action taken against Zeeland High School, as their distaste for the incident allowed for a discussion about the importance of embracing individuality within youth.

Even if Korn’s music isn’t for you, as I am sure is the case for many, it seems pertinent to commemorate the efforts they made to preserve the one thing that many young people rely on the most to cope: the ability to express t h e m selves.

Liam Austen Image: Wikimedia Commons

@Courier_Music @TheCourierMusic Newcastle Student Radio: nsrlive.co.uk @NSRlive

24

the courier

culture TV c2.tv@ncl.ac.uk TV Editors Jacob Clarke, Joel Leaver & Alex Moore Guilty Pleasure Awkward

MTV / Amazon Prime

Image: YouTube

I

’m a sucker for a shit show. Ones with terrible one-liners that make you want to crawl into the dusty crack under your bed and never come out again. Ones with 32 year old actors playing high school teens that make you wonder if they really couldn’t find someone youngerlooking who was willing to take this god-forsaken roll. Yep, all of that. I love it. We all need to indulge in a trashy binge every so often.

Currently, I’m delightfully gorging my way through the high school drama cheese fest that is Awkward. Starring the classic misunderstood invisible teen girl Jenna Hamilton who spends hours reading books and writing her blog because she’s “not like other girls” and somehow has a plethora of super-cool attractive football players fawning over her. I would have adored Jenna if her character had been presented to be aged 12/13, and that is exactly part of the reason why I can’t quite stand her but still sort of adore her now.

We all need to indulge in a trashy binge every so often The show’s relationships are predictable and at times I find myself force-binging, just trying to get to the episode when she finally - after 22 episodes - holds some two-dimensional meathead boy’s hand. As confusing and pointless as it may seem, this process is somewhat enjoyable.

This whole show is like a low-rent American Waterloo Road meets Glee. Maybe it’s the bringing together of these, two other shit shows I absolutely adored back in the day, that got me hooked on Awkward. I can’t really explain what draws me to all of these disaster shows. But in a time when our society looks about as good as the hate child of Theresa May and Donald Trump would, I think sometimes it’s nice to escape into this ridiculous world of overly-saturated shots of grown actors in high school letterman jackets making corny jokes.

And as much as I slate the show with absolute delight, it does have its genuinely redeemable features. It shows a classic school bully’s complicated home life and manages to make all the characters - even the protagonist - quite flawed but still likeable, helping them feel that tiny bit more realistic in an otherwise sensationalistic and unrealistic world.

It’s nice to escape into this ridiculous world of grown-up actors in Letterman jackets I must admit, even I am beginning to waver from it. It’s a bit like when you start a giant dairy milk bar absolutely ravenous, certain you’ll competently devour the bar piece by piece in minutes. Half an hour later you’re left with nothing but an empty chocolate wrapper, a horribly full stomach and that one final piece you just can’t quite munch. I am on that piece of Awkward. What used to be a good-bad show for me has descended into a full blown bad-bad show. But I’m hooked now, the dramatic like of Jenna Hamilton and her romantic antics is my drug and I shan’t quit until I’ve had every last drop.

The moral of the story is: you should watch Awkward. Well, don’t. But do. You know what I mean.

Carys Thomas

@thecouriertv @Courier_TV

Monday 12 March 2018

British Comedy is the Best Our island’s comedy has always been of superb quality, writer Beth Chrisp illustrates why

F

irst of all, I’m not here to crap all over the rest of the world’s comedy. We need comedy, especially in the disheartening era of Grand Overlord Trump and #MeToo, so how about a special shout out to the outstanding contribution of our funny brethren?

Parks and Recreation did something practically unprecedented in comedy by introducing us to a group of characters we’d actually want to be friends with, as well as being one of the funniest shows on TV and Always Sunny in Philadelphia takes the cake in cringe inducing “oh no they didn’t” comedy. If we number crunch this bad-boy (fun, right?) then we have to give a tip of the hat (in fact we’d probably have to give him the entire hat and our coat too) to Egypt’s Bassem Youssef, a satirist described as Egypt’s Jon Stewart. When Stewart was attracting an audience of almost 2 million, Youssef drew an audience of 30 million people amidst a political revolution. 30 million people don’t tune in if you’re just kind of chuckle-worthy.

We’ve housed some of the greatest comedy minds from John Cleese to Jo Brand One reason I believe British comedy has an edge on the competition is the geography of our tiny little island, we’re small and fiercely defensive of our diminutive regions and their corresponding identities. Wherever we’re from in the UK we can find something that looks like home in a sitcom or a sketch show. Every family has an Anthony Royle and every girl has had a friend like Laura in Him & Her at one point. Speaking as a Northerner, nobody

80.4%

A poll by Escapist magazine found that almost everyone prefers British to American comedy

the Queen of uncomfortable, pitch-black comedy, skewering British sensibilities. A frequent collaborator of Steve Coogan, she takes his delighting in the uncomfortable 6 or 7 steps further, creating Nighty Night, Camping and Human Remains.

Camping is now being remade in America by none other than Girls’ Lena Dunham. The infinite and inferior remakes of British shows for a U.S audience are proof alone that we’re doing something right. The Office U.S was a monster hit but I will fight you if you try to argue that it is better than the original, Gervais combined the tragedy with the comedy and the … Britishness so perfectly. Just look at the number of failed remakes, the Gavin & Stacey remake wasn’t even aired and The Inbetweeners U.S was cancelled after one season, British comedy has something indefinable that sets it apart.

There’s no denying that Britain produces some of the darkest and weirdest comedy

Image: Mark Granier (Wikimedia Commons)

could be more important than Victoria Wood, her sketch shows, sitcom Dinnerladies and stand-up illuminated the North, gave it heart and warmth and subverted the media’s derisive dismissal that it was unremittingly grim up North.

While we like to show you how genial we are up North there’s no denying the fact that Britain produces some of the darkest and weirdest comedy around, Julia Davis, step forward please. Davis is

We’ve housed some of the greatest comedy minds in this country from John Cleese to Douglas Adams, from Jo Brand to Armando Iannucci. The list is endless and it makes you proud to live on the same strange little Island.

J.Law to produce #MeToo documentary RIP Emma Chambers Laura Bolden explores the timely relevance of the project

J

ennifer Lawrence has announced that she She has frequently spoke out about the gender will be executively producing a television pay inequality revealing that she was paid noticedocumentary series that examines the curably less than her male co-stars for the box-office rent #MeToo and Times Up movements. hit American Hustle.

The Hollywood actress, famous for starring The 27-year-old actress has also released statein films such as The Hunger Games and X-Men, ments regarding the recent Harvey Weinstein made the announcement while speaking at The scandal that sparked the Times Up movement Wing, a women-only workspace, in New York that has dominated the recent awards season into promote her new film Red Sparrow. She recluding this year’s BAFTAS. vealed “I’m going to be EPing a show with Catt Weinstein was accused by multiple actresses Sadler” before continuing “I wasn’t supposed to and other women across the industry of sexual announce that but I am.” assault and harassment. This lead to a show of Catt Sadler quit her presenting role at E! after support from influential women across the in12 years in May last year after discovering that dustry who spoke out against the male privilege her male co-presenters including Jason Kenand gender power hierarchy that is evident across nedy were earning double her salary. Sadler told the globe.

Cosmopolitan “there’s a part of me that wants Following allegations from Weinstein’s to fight that fricken fight for all those defence team claiming she has spoken women because I can”. “Women were positively of the disgraced director speaking up in very brave, courashe said “Harvey Weinstein and geous, raw ways that we don’t his company are continuing to normally hear about”. “I felt do what they have always done empowered because I got the which is to take things out sense that the culture was beof context and use them for coming more receptive to and their own benefit. This is more supportive of these stowhat predators do, and it ries.” must stop. For the record, Information surrounding while I was not victimthe documentary series is ised personally by Harvey limited, however it is exWeinstein, I stand behind pected that it will cover isthe women who have sursues including gender wage vived his terrible abuse equality, sexual harassment The timing of the docuand the recent social movementary is extremely relments taking place in the enevant due to the heightened tertainment industry. attention surrounding womNo studio has announced en’s rights and treatment. Althat they have signed on though there is no currently to produce the series yet, release date set, and it is yet however The Hollywood to be confirmed if proReporter revealed that Stephduction has begun it is anie Soechtig, an award-winning expected that the docudocumentary film director, is set series will land late this to be producing the series. year.

Lawrence is well-known Whenever it is refor supporting and being leased we are sure the out spoken about issues series will capture the surrounding women’s attention of television Image: CAMERA PRESS/James Veysey (Wikipedia) rights in Hollywood. fans across the globe.

Ally Wilson’s eulogy to the star

T

he loss of great names in this industry is becoming ever more frequent, but I don’t think any of us expected to hear the name Emma Chambers on the obituary list for at least another thirty years.

It seems like only yesterday that Alice Tinker welcomed the new and exciting Geraldine Grainger into Dibley, and became enamoured both to her and the whole nation with her ditsy girlishness which was simultaneously heart-warmingly endearing and fabulously funny.

Sure, Chambers was subject to some excellent writing by the likes of Richard Curtis, however her exquisite delivery of the lines and interaction with the other cast members is something which can neither be taught nor over-acclaimed. Her comic ability was such that, had anyone else been cast as Alice, the show would have been totally different, and certainly not for the better. Chambers was quirky, unique and completely insane, but you only have to watch the behind the scenes of the Christmas specials to know that she was dearly loved by everyone on the set.

RIP EMMA CHAMBERS 11/03/1964 - 21/02/2018 Chambers is thought to have died from a heart-attack - official reports state “natural causes”. Our sympathies are with her loved ones.

Image: YouTube

But her career spanned further than just Dibley she of course played Hugh Grant’s sister in Notting Hill, did plenty of voice work for children’s TV. She also did some stage work alongside the likes of Ian McKellen, with whom she lodged for a number of years and claims she looked to as a “sort of fatherfigure.”

The tributes and eulogies came swiftly after her untimely death, with the wide spectrum of people she’s worked with from all corners of the industry demonstrating just how many varied and wellloved projects she has enhanced by being a part of.

So, if you’d never heard of Emma Chambers until now, where on earth have you been? Go home, stick on an episode of Vicar Of Dibley and enjoy her comic genius. A terrible and premature loss of a wonderful talent.

the courier

@CourierTV thecourieronline.co.uk/tv

Monday 12 March 2018

25

TV culture

Year of the Woman: Leslie Knope

Charlotte Boulton analyses the famous and powerful yet flawed political change-maker, Parks and Recreation’s Leslie Knope

N

o TV show could ever replace Parks and Recreation in my heart. Leslie Knope, the protagonist of the American political satire sitcom, became my hero after the first episode.

The show follows Leslie (Amy Poehler), a midlevel government employee in the Parks Department of Pawnee, Indiana as she tackles any challenges that come her way as she strives to move up the governmental ladder and improve her town. Leslie is a strong, inspiring example of a woman in leadership and politics. She is ambitious and devoted – and sometimes a little too passionate – but still values her friends, family and town.

Female characters need to be multi-dimensional, and [the show] plays this out wonderfully The way Leslie treats her friends is beautiful and loving. The friendship between her and Ann

Image: YouTube

Perkins (Rashida Jones) is really important; it’s rare for female characters to have strong friendships that aren’t reliant on men. Leslie constantly compliments Ann with rather unique exclamations like “You are a beautiful, talented, brilliant, powerful musk ox” and the love between the women is such a lovely aspect of the show.

Leslie is particularly inspiring as a feminist who fights for her right to be taken seriously in her role, and as a woman more generally. This leads to her becoming a bin-lady for a day to prove women can do it too, and leading a girl scout

Reviews The FGM Detectives

style group, the Pawnee Goddesses, to receive the same opportunities as the boy’s group. There are several storylines that reveal the misogyny and double standards prevalent in society, such as the media focusing on her appearance rather than her political success in later seasons. Leslie calls out sexism, even when it comes from her friends, and is just an all around badass woman in a position of power.

Leslie shows that it is okay to care immensely about what matters to you, through her tireless work to build a park on an abandoned lot, even

Take Me Out ITV

Channel 4

C

hannel Four’s latest hard-hitting documentary explores the shocking practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in England.

The documentary, which was filmed over two years and is presented by Cathy Newman, follows DCI Leanne Pook at the Avon and Somerset Police as they raise awareness of the illegal practice.

FGM is a taboo subject whose harsh realities the public has little knowledge of; The FGM Detectives works to change this. FGM involves cutting, injuring or changing a woman’s external genitalia without medical reason. The documentary explores how there have been no successful prosecutions in the UK despite its illegality since 1985 as FGM is a hidden form of child abuse, with many girls scared to report their parents for the practice.

200M

The number of girls and women who have experienced FGM globally

UN estimates suggest that over 200 million girls and women have experienced FGM globally, and 20,000 girls in the UK are at risk, with around 10% of these living in Bristol, the city that the documentary focuses on. Shockingly, most of the girls are prepubescent because the tradition of FGM marks them as ready for marriage and consequently they are removed from school.

The documentary interviews campaigners who describe how they oppose FGM particularly because of its long-term impacts on sex, childbirth and mental health. In addition, pain relief and anaesthetics usually aren’t used, making it a traumatic experience for the young girls affected by it, who may consequently suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.

The documentary deals with victims of FGM sensitively whilst educating the viewer FGM is predominantly practised in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, and many UK-residing girls are taken abroad by their families for the procedure to countries such as Mali and Sierra Leone, where the practice is still legal. It is carried out for cultural, social and religious reasons despite no religious texts condoning it.

The documentary brings to light much of the current legal debate surrounding FGM, including whether the lower level “type four” cuts should be legalised due to their importance as a cultural practice. Campaigners, however, argue that “type four” injures, which include pricking, incising and cauterisation, still amount to mutilation, as they are harmful procedures for non-medical purposes.

The documentary also focuses on DCI Pook’s investigation into 29-year-old Somalian taxi driver who allegedly allowed his six-year-old daughter to undergo FGM. Ultimately the child cruelty case at Bristol Crown Court was dismissed by the judge for having “inconclusive” evidence as the photographs of her injuries were “too blurry”. This decision has made newspaper headlines following the documentary’s broadcast, with viewers shocked that the case was dismissed by the judge so quickly.

FGM is a hidden form of child abuse, with many girls cared to report their parents The documentary deals with victims of FGM sensitively whilst educating the viewer about the prevalence of the illegal practice. Ultimately this is a compelling viewing which forces us to contemplate just how such appalling practices can be carried out in our supposedly developed country.

For help and advice related to this topic, please contact the charity Integrate UK which campaigns against FGM. Grace Dean Leyla Hussein is an anti-FGM activist, psychotherapist, a member of the FGM Special Initiative and co-founder of Daughters of Eve, a charity dedicated to ending genderbased violence including female genital mutilation

Image: Oslo Freedom Forum / Reka Nyari (Wikipedia)

when others don’t understand its importance.

She shows that treasuring your friends is something to be celebrated, whether it’s through creating ‘Galentines Day’ or supporting Ann throughout her relationship troubles. Leslie isn’t flawless, which is part of why I think she is such an important character in television today. Sometimes she is thoughtless, childish and frustrating. She is human.

In many TV shows, women are shown as an extreme: a docile side character with no real personality, or an impenetrable tough woman who can do no wrong. Leslie manages to sit somewhere between the two, and it all feels much more realistic. Female characters need to be multi-dimensional, and Parks and Recreation plays this out wonderfully in Leslie, and all the other female characters. It is easy to find a quality shown in Leslie to identify with. Whether that’s a shared love of waffles, a dogged determination to make things better, or the fierce love and admiration of your friends.

Strong, interesting female characters are key to improving how gender is represented in the media and beyond. If people don’t agree, well, as Leslie says, “I guess some people object to powerful depictions of awesome ladies”.

Preview

Charmed Reboot The CW

I

t’s is one of my guilty pleasures, and I was excited for the 10th year anniversary special, as they would swap the thirty single girls for thirty single men. Sounds like every girls dream right? WRONG. From watching the episode it become very clear that there’s a reason it is better suited with 30 single females. This is merely down to the men’s lack of being picky. Only a few men turned their lights off in one round leaving one of the women to have to turn of 25 lights, and that’s a lot of lights. Would a guy have that many lights left to turn off? Girls tend to turn their lights off for the littlest things, such as choice of clothes, hair, beards, dance moves, eyebrows, the list goes on.

Image: YouTube

It was still entertaining though, as they brought back previous guys who had come down the love lift themselves, some of which had blackouts and left with nothing more than a paddy hug, but with only two female celebrities to enter the love lift, their chances were still very slim. The episode showed a softer side when it showed couples from the previous 10 series that had gotten married and had children together, giving a more genuine feel to the show. I say this as some of the things the contestants’ say can feel sometimes forced, or arguably too rehearsed rather than natural.

It became very clear that there’s a reason it is better suited to 30 single females If you watch the show you will know, at the end of the series Paddy and some of the 30 singletons put on a comedy sketch, and this one was well *hands on hips and pelvis forward* awkward. It was a change we all thought we wanted but I’m afraid it wasn’t as effective. So I’m turning my light off, no likey, no lighty.

Danielle Brier

Image: Vilnisr (Wikimedia Commons)

H

ardcore fans of the TV show Charmed have come out from their hibernation as The CW have harnessed the power of our beloved witches, officially putting the show into action. For someone like me who is constantly re-watching the old episodes, I welcome the new content with open arms.

So, what do we know about this reboot? Despite the successful hit the original had, the writers have decidedly made a lot of changes. Not only are they setting the show in the present day, the three witches we all love will be living in a college town and apparently, as is appropriate for the year of the woman, the show is going to take a feministic tone as the network declares these women will be ‘vanquishing supernatural demons, tearing down the patriarchy and maintaining familial bonds.’

As in appropriate for the year of the woman, the show will be taking a feministic tone As for casting, what we previously knew as Phoebe, Paige and Piper have been replaced with all new names. Melonie Diaz has been cast as Mel Pruitt, a character who has been rumoured to be LGBT; giving the original Charmed a new diverse outlook. Sarah Jeffery has also been said to be playing Madison and as for Macy, I guess we will have to stay tuned to find out. Hopefully, though, Mel, Madison and Macy will be just as badass and powerful as our original witches.

There is no premiere date as of yet but with the CW, it is bound to be sooner rather than later. All in all, I think this show could prove to be promising but until it’s released, it’s impossible to tell. Let us just hope they include fan’s favourite characters and lines (please, let there be a villain resembling Cole)!

Lucy Lillystone

26

culture film

Golden Oldies Image: YouTube

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the courier

c2.film@ncl.ac.uk Film Editors Helena Buchanan, Dan Haygarth & Christopher Wilkinson

One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

ack Nicholson stars as R.P. McMurphy, who swings a transfer from prison to a mental institution, hoping for an easier life. However, when he is confronted with the oppressive nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher) and her resigned patients, he realises how hard it will be to break the rules and live free.

Miloš Forman directed this film that truly epitomises everything that is great about 70s cinema, the unusual setting and even more peculiar characters make for the kind and calibre of movie not seen in any decade since.

Focusing on neglected members of society, the mentally ill, this film shows how the carers can be more dangerous than those they supposedly look after. Fletcher plays one of the most dislikeable antagonists ever to (dis)grace the silver screen, the stubborn nurse who’s a stickler for routine and will remind any viewer of their most hated school teacher.

McMurphy’s assessment of his tormentor, ‘she’s something of a c**t, ain’t she doc?’ is spot on.

Ratched ranks up there with Kathy Bates’ obsessive fan in Misery and Paul Dano’s character in pretty much any film he’s in.

This film shows how carers can be more dangerous than those they supposedly look after But it is Nicholson, as always, who steals the show.

The most memorable moments; where McMurphy narrates the world series in front of a static television, or when the patients hijack a sailboat, are carried by Nicholson’s stage presence and range of expression, vital most in his final scene. His big break came the year before Cuckoo’s Nest, playing a hard-nosed detective in Chinatown, and he’s had no problems bagging major roles since, but this film is his greatest success. McMurphy’s enduring spirit and love of life animates the movie from start to tragic end.

Look out, as well, for Danny DeVito and Christopher Lloyd, who played two of McMurphy’s fellow patients before they made it big with other ventures. The supporting cast really holds the film together, as it is all about them, and their awakening to the injustice of the system of control under which they exist.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a bitter sweet, though ultimately life affirming film, with a message that spoke to the audience of the time but may unfortunately be less applicable today; ‘Rules?

Piss on your fucking rules!

Steven Ross

Wonder Wheel: should we boycott films?

Danny Aspinall discusses whether Woody Allen’s latest film will be snubbed upon UK release W oody Allen’s upcoming period drama, Wonder Wheel, faces its UK release this month amidst a torrent of controversy surrounding sexual assault allegations made against the iconic American director. With mass support for the Time’s Up movement against sexual harassment within Hollywood, Wonder Wheel will undoubtably suffer at the box office upon its release in cinemas across the UK. ‘Can one separate the art from the artist’ has been a heavily discussed topic since the Harvey Weinstein accusations of October 2017 brought the pressing issue of sexual misconduct in Hollywood to the forefront of media attention. The industry, albeit often selfishly fuelled by financial concerns rather than ethical consciousness, distances itself from those subject to accusations.

With its American theatrical release landing on December 1st 2017, Wonder Wheel pre-dated the most recent allegations of sexual misconduct made against Allen by his adopted daughter Dylan

Farrow, who accused the director in January 2018 on CBS This Morning of sexually abusing her when she was just seven years old.

These accusations are not new, stretching as far back as 1992, and with Farrow publicly making the same allegations in Vanity Fair in 2013, and in both the New York Times and Los Angeles Times in 2014. Yet it is within the changing Hollywood landscape that these accusations are finally being taken seriously.

$1.4m

Wonder Wheel’s total gross at the US box office

Wonder Wheel will be boycotted by the UK cinema audience, not as a direct result of the inability to separate the art from the artist, but as a righteous stand of solidarity with the brave women

Image: YouTube

who have come forward against the repeated male misconduct in Hollywood since the film’s initial theatrical release.

This is furthered still by considering who exactly is affected by the boycotting of the film. With a star-studded cast featuring the likes of Kate Winslet, Justin Timberlake, Juno Temple, Steve Schirripa and David Krumholtz, the boycotting of Wonder Wheel serves as neither a tarnishing of these actor’s reputation, nor their respective career prospects. Indeed, when considering the actions of Griffin Newman, Rebecca Hall and Selena Gomez, all of whom donated their salaries from Allen’s upcoming project, A Rainy Day in New York, to Time’s Up and RAIIN, the boycotting of Wonder Wheel may well be supported by many of the actors and actresses involved.

Pop-culture is amidst a long awaited ethical upheaval Even the distribution company, Amazon Studios, is itself under scrutiny following allegations against and the subsequent resignation of former media president Roy Price; Amazon thus benefiting from the success of Wonder Wheel would not serve well in the recovery of the companies public image.

With both Hollywood and the general public increasingly standing against the persistent practices of sexual misconduct within the film industry, Wonder Wheel will rightly suffer from boycotting upon its 9th March release. Popculture is amidst a long awaited ethical upheaval, with the public realising the unfortunate necessity to sacrifice the art in the subsequent contextual influence it has upon changing things for the better.

Jennifer Lawrence’s top five performances Toby Bryant looks at the oeuvre of Jennifer Lawrence, fantastic actress and all round top gal

W

hatever your opinions on Jennifer Lawrence are, there is no denying her acting calibre. The highest paid actress in the world in 2015 and 2016, Lawrence is also the second youngest winner of the Oscar for Best Actress. To celebrate the release of the star’s latest film, Red Sparrow, The Courier looks at the 27-year-old’s best performances to date.

1. The Hunger Games 2012’s portrayal of Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games saw her really seize the starlight for the first time. After being convinced by her mother to take the role, Lawrence initially hesitant due to its magnitude, months of training in yoga, archery, rock climbing and hand-to-hand combat preceded filming. The film, the first of four, was a huge money-earner with a box office taking of nearly $700 million dollars. Its success also saw Lawrence become the highest grossing action heroine ever and cemented her status as a first class actress.

2. X-Men: Days of Future Past You’d be forgiven for not realising that Jennifer Lawrence was a part of the well-known X-Men films; her role as Mystique sees her morph into a shape-shifting blue form. All of the X-Men films can be considered a success, with the actress’ fourth appearance in the franchise in X-Men: Dark Phoenix coming later this year. However, it was in 2014’s X-Men: Days of Future Past that her character became the “emotional fulcrum” of the series’ most ambitious project yet.

$748

million taken at the worldwide box office by Days of Future Past

3. Silver Linings Playbook

Image: YouTube

Monday 12 March 2018

Teaming up with Bradley Cooper in 2012, it was Lawrence’s part in Silver Linings Playbook that saw her win an Oscar for Best Actress. The film’s admirable balance between drama and comedy won over fans and critics alike with an

average rating of 8.2/10 on Rotten Tomatoes. At just 21-year-old during shooting, Silver Linings Playbook was another moment of jaw-dropping acting from Lawrence.

The actress has confessed to doing little research 4. American Hustle Perhaps one of Lawrence’s most surprising roles, her take on Rosalyn Rosenfeld, the erratic wife of con man Irving (Christian Bale) hit screens in 2013. The actress has confessed to doing little research for the part, set during the political corruption of 1970s New Jersey, but simply based her performance on the films and television

she had seen. The film’s star-studded cast again featured Bradley Cooper, as well as Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner. Lawrence herself picked up the Golden Globe and BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress for her role.

5. Passengers Perhaps a surprise inclusion on the list, 2016’s sci-fi film Passengers went down a flop with critics due to its flawed script. Nonetheless, Lawrence, who was paid $20 million for her role (more than co-star Chris Pratt), was praised for her role and chemistry with Pratt. The story follows two people who are woken 90 years too early from an induced hibernation whilst on a spaceship bound for a new planet – Lawrence clearly having her work cut out from the start. Her performance was still mesmerising and did pull in over $303 million at the box office.

Image: Flickr

the courier

@Courier_Film thecourieronline.co.uk/film

Monday 12 March 2018

Red Sparrow (15) Dominic Sutcliffe reviews Jennifer Lawrence’s new thriller

T

wenty minutes into Red Sparrow, I was fairly sure it was an old-school Cold War thriller, focusing on a Russian spy with split allegiances between her government, the Soviet Union, and a love-interest from the U.S.A. Simples, Sergei.

As it turns out the film is actually set in a parallel universe which is kind of like modern-day Russia but mostly not.

Spies still give each other grainy black-and-white photos of people on park benches like an old episode of 24. Calls are made from telephone booths and landlines attached to the walls. But there are also smartphones? It’s weird.

The plot is a s confused as the setting.

Jennifer Lawrence’s character, Dominika, is blackmailed into becoming a ‘Sparrow’ - a spy who use their sexual prowess to spy for

Mother Russia. Her character’s motives are vague but when you have such a big star playing the central role it’s difficult for the character to be heard.

The film is a slow-burner. Dominika is assigned by her spymaster uncle to discover a CIA agent’s mole in the Russian government by “getting close to him”. The film’s main tension comes from with whom Dominika’s loyalties truly lie with: the Russian state, her dying mother, or the CIA agent she was assigned to track and has apparently fallen in love with.

Great patience is required to stay interested in this question, largely because nothing particularly interesting happens to make us care about any of the characters’ choices and destinies. The occasional

shocking torture or impassioned sex scene seemed like a cheap trick to mask the mediocrity of the core plot.

I mentioned at the start that I thought this film was set during the Cold War. The thought kept occurring to me throughout, with the portrayal of the two governments. The Russians: cold and ruthless and The Americans: good-natured and harmless. While this may very well mirror reality I had hoped for a spy thriller from a Russian perspective. Instead, we got the usual Devil and Saint character we’ve seen the Bond films, Mission: Impossible and other popcorn spy flicks.

The fact that the film was clearly not shot in Russia is a big problem. For no particular reason, the films’ action all takes place in Budapest. As pretty as Budapest can be, I think the Taken series has made me a little sick of spy thrillers set in Continental Europe. It’s almost comical when the characters are “taken to Russia” all the action takes place indoors. I would think this is more a result of VISA’s being unobtainable for a Hollywood movie.

To boot none of the leading actors are actually Russian and all bar, Matthias Schoenaerts, have distinctly hammy accents - honestly, some of them sound British.

In sum, I didn’t hate it, but it was a wasted opportunity to explore how espionage has changed in Russia since the Cold War. When you compare this film to other spy thrillers which moved the genre forward, like the Bourne series, you’ll realise that Red Sparrow is singing an old tune.

Image: YouTube

Dark River (15)

Game Night (15)

Immortality for All (15)

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film culture

International Film

Good Bye, Lenin!

(2003)

U

nfortunately we native English speakers are undeniably arrogant about our language. Thanks to our long history of imperialism, English is the international business language, and this effect has similarly spread to the global film industry, in which many of the most successful blockbusters are in English.

Talented filmmakers migrate to America, not just because of Hollywood’s allure, but also because their chances of success are much higher when the film they’re producing is in the English language.

This linguistic arrogance has additionally impacted on the fate of international films in the UK; if we have to read subtitles, chances are we’ll be put off. After all, with a great abundance of Englishlanguage films, why bother read off the screen when we don’t have to?

Unfortunately this attitude has led to British viewers missing out on many marvellous international films. Our viewing of foreignlanguage masterpieces has been greatly limited, and this sadly includes the gem Good Bye, Lenin!.

Unusually, the film displays nostalgia for the East

Image: YouTube

Image: YouTube

Image: YouTube

F

rom the guys that brought you Horrible Bosses, Game Night is another excellent addition to the Black Comedy genre, as Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams cause havoc while on the game night of their lives.

John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein (writers of Horrible Bosses) direct a well-paced and very funny comedy about a couple of game night enthusiasts, who go on an action-packed thrill ride due to a game night that spins out of control.

When feeling jealous of his brother (played by Kyle Chandler) Jason Bateman goes on a soul-searching adventure during a fake kidnapping-gone-wrong.

Packed full of terrific well cast supporting characters (including a brilliant Lamorne Morris) and a handful of twists and turns, the film is a surprising comedy gem.

Pacing to perfection, the film gives us the right amount of action and story needed to be engaging and entertaining without falling flat.The dark humour is worked in particularly well. As well as the main plot, we get small side-plots which add more layers to the story and provides scenarios that give us comic relief.

Lamorne Morris and Kylie Bunbury offer an hilarious back and forth when a secret from one of their pasts comes to the surface. The slapstick comedy is subtle and fits with the overall feel to the film, as well as the characters’ reactions to more darker themes such as kidnapping and murder is handled brilliantly, bringing laugh out loud jokes to taboo subjects.

The final act is more clunky than I would have liked, perhaps aiming for a more spectacular finish, but overall the film is a breath of fresh air, with its somewhat original premise and experimental cinematography.

I loved Game Night, the acting was sublime and the dark humour was hilarious. More of this please Hollywood.

Jimmy Athey

A

n uncomfortable slice of kitchen-sink realism to offset the big-name fatigue of awards season, Dark River continues the recent British filmmaking tradition of making modern-day agricultural life seem medievally bleak.

After her dad’s death, nomadic Alice (Ruth Wilson) returns to her family farm in North Yorkshire to confront her troubled brother Joe (Mark Stanley) over the rights to the now run-down property.

Underpinning the sibling’s struggle is a secret history of sexual abuse from the recently deceased father (Sean Bean), whose legacy lingers heavy over Alice as she struggles with her inner conflict of trauma and grief.

Handsomely shot, Clio Barnard paints the dales as both brutal and beautiful – a twisted pastoral accoutrement to compliment the dark subject matter.

Collapsed stone walls and rainy hillsides frame the uncertainty of the drama, a fitting accompaniment to the theme of impermanence. While the cinematography is accomplished, the same cannot be said in regard to narrative. Dark River meanders as tensions between Alice and Joe escalate, and the pacing is methodical at best and tiring otherwise.

Dark River’s imbalances may show, but its greatest strengths are Ruth Wilson and Mark Stanley, who hold the film together even when the story falters. Their individual psychological damage is sensitively handed through thoughtful performances. Wilson, above all, constructs a nuanced and credible portrait of Alice, finding a balance amidst the thunder of the character’s quarrelling emotions. Ruth Wilson raises a survivor out of the wreckage made of her life, her psychological struggle running parallel to her physical efforts to renovate the farm. It’s a compelling performance, without which the film would fare badly. Overall, Dark River is a sum of all of its parts; a mixed bag of compelling performances, haunting visuals and uneven storytelling.

Finbar Oliver

H

aving been a bit of an arty fart for a while, I have experienced a lot of bullshit, but these films about cosmology may have actually topped the crap-heap. Although the film-makers were undoubtedly talented, each piece carefully crafted and visually arresting, the content was such utter bollocks that you could barely focus on the decent cinematography.

To be completely honest, it’s a few days now since I saw these films, so a detailed review isn’t possible (partly also due to attempts to block the experience out). I can tell you that cosmism is a school of philosophy which somehow posits that the sun was the main factor in causing the Russian Revolution. Not starving peasants then…

The description of the event described cosmism as ‘a now largely forgotten school of Russian philosophy’, to which I can only respond that forgetting might be for the best.

The first film frequently flicked to a blank red screen, narration eventually revealing that this colour was supposed to be good for your health, which was all good and well until the second film started to make further health claims.

The second film continually flicked back to a field where something which I can only describe as a spaceship-skeleton was suspended a little over head-height which, if you stood under it, was supposed to improve the health of you and then all society.

The overall tract of cosmism (as far as I could tell) was that humans should strive for immortality. I could not help but remember Dunbar from Catch22 who believed boredom ledd to immortality as time stretched out...

In spite of the general crapness, though, I would recommend having a look at the Tyneside website for other instalments in the ‘AV’ series. It’s basically a series all about socialism: what’s not to love?

Particularly in this painful era of right-wing or centre-left politics.

Helena Buchanan

Despite its deceptive English-language title, the film is thoroughly German.

The film addresses the complex theme of life in Eastern Germany both before and after the fall of the Berlin Wall. How Good Bye, Lenin! differentiates itself from other similar films is through its unusual perspective on this controversial and highlydebated period of history.

Protagonist Alex, dissatisfied with life in East Berlin, takes demonstrates against the communist regime. Shocked by witnessing his subsequent arrest, his ardent Socialist mother Christiane has a heart attack and then falls into a coma. After some months Christiane awakens in a vulnerable physical state and must avoid any excitement. To prevent any heartbreak over the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the downfall of her beloved Socialist Unity Party of Germany, Alex painstakingly recreates the German Democratic Republic in his mother’s flat.

The film skilfully juxtaposes life in Eastern Germany before and after reunification with the West. Becker skilfully handles a sensitive topic while lightening it with subtle touches of humour, and central themes include family, love and the morality of lying. Unusually the film displays nostalgia for the East; a yearning for a world without capitalism. Good Bye, Lenin! boasts numerous cinematic accolades, including a 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and the Best Film Award at the European Film Awards, and its German-wide and international success can be easily understood.

Grace Dean

Image: YouTube

the courier

Monday 12 March 2018

Art movements and political oppression Christopher Little offers a discussion about historical and contemporary creatives who both face and aim to counteract political oppression through their often radical artistic movements

T

he noise of power may, at times, feel all encompassing, but artists will always find a way to make their voices heard. They are not afraid to express radical ideas, and will combine innovation with fearless temerity to rise up above the oppressive clamour. When artists unite, they form movements that challenge the dominant discourses and powerful hierarchies of society.

The German playwright Bertolt Brecht once said that art is not merely a mirror that reflects society, but a hammer with which to shape it; a powerful tool that can transform the way we see the world.

It is no surprise, then, that protest art has such a long – and often turbulent – history; for it is during times conflict, strife and political oppression that we need the artist’s voice most of all.

A politics of fear and denial is burrowing its way into Western democracy Dada was an artistic movement that formed during World War I in Zurich, Switzerland. They responded to the absurdity of war with a menagerie of art, poetry and performance that was often satirical and nonsensical.

They were repulsed by not only the war, but also every aspect of a society that could engender and prolong such horrors. As the Dada artist Hans Arp wrote: “While the guns rumbled in the distance, we sang, painted, made collages and wrote poems with all our might.”

Art is an intoxicating and affective means to challenge unjust social orders Most people will have heard of the now notorious graffiti artist Banksy. His satirical street art uses dark humour to portray a microcosm of simmering counterculture, but he was not the first to convey their political messages on impassive walls.

In the face of widespread industrialisation in the 1920s, Mexican Muralists painted evocative largescale public frescos to communicate their left-wing socialist ideals. During the 1980s the Berlin wall became one of the largest canvases in the world as artists challenged communist repression using a pandemonium of colour and emotion. Graffiti is seen as vandalism to some, but to others it is a form of creative dissent that can openly rebel against oppressive structures.

Art is an intoxicating and affective means to challenge unjust social orders: it stirs passion and desire. Artists helped create solidarity during the civil rights, anti-war, feminist and queer movements; aiding the production of counternarratives that now define who we are today.

But the battle is

Image: Max Pixel

What’s On: Fall Out @ Northern Stage, 13-14 March, 8pm

Fall Out is about young people searching for their voice through adolescence to adulthood.

Curious Festival Fundraiser @ Alphabetti Theatre 16 March, 8pm

A night of queer cabaret & comedy to launch Curious Arts 2018 programme & fundraise for project 36.7.

Between Sleeping and Eating @ Newbridge Project, 12-24 March

Lloyd’s interactive exhibition explores public attitudes towards work (paid and unpaid labour), how free-time is valued, and potential futures of work, including policies like Universal Basic Income.

@TheCourierArts @thecourierarts Carys Rose Thomas and Scarlett Rowland would like to extend their support to the striking lectureres. This opinion is not necessarily representative of any of our writers or the rest of the paper.

not over. A politics of fear and denial is burrowing its way into Western democracy.

We need art to rout it out; to lay bare its machinations and offer a new story that we can believe in. And we need look no further than our own doorstep to find artists are answering that plea.

‘Nasty Women’ is a global art movement that formed in reaction to the divisive and misogynist rhetoric of President Trump. Using art as a platform, they unite all genders, races, faiths and LGBTQIA+ identities to fight against threats to roll back women’s rights, individual rights and abortion rights. They’ve held over 40 events across the world and held their first International Conference at the Thought Foundation in Gateshead last November.

The second part of the AV festival Meanwhile, What About Socialism? began on 2 March.

This month long biennial festival hosts a series of events across Newcastle, and uses the underlying ideals of socialism – justice and liberty – to question the political and capitalist system we live in.

The Newcastle based artistrun collective The Newbridge Project has undertaken a year-long initiative called ‘Deep Adaptation’. This politically engaged programme aims to expose the grim reality of unsustainable consumption, and has used Dadaism to confront the horrors of the Grenfell Tower disaster. But it also offers hope; using the programme to foster an ethos of resilience, relinquishment and restoration.

And therein lies the secret to prosperity in these artistic movements: the possibility of an alternative; the promise of something better.

29

arts culture POEM BOX

@CourierArts thecourieronline.co.uk/arts

c2.arts@ncl.ac.uk Arts Editors Scarlett Rowland and Carys Thomas

Mothers’ Day Special Mother

GRACE DEAN As a baby she brought me to world, and taught me how to dance, love and laugh.

She sang me lullabies every night, even though her voice was a bit naff.

As a child I was unruly, with my behaviour often bad, but she instilled in me good morals, despite sometimes driving me quite mad.

As a teenager we all have problems with alcohol, friendships and Maths, but she taught me that there’s more to life than hangovers, selfies and graphs.

Away at university she’s always still there; She’s even figured out how to text me on her phone.

She listens to all I have to say, even though I usually just moan.

At the grand age of 20 I can finally appreciate that she’s more than just a mother to me.

She’s my drinking buddy, my dance partner, my best friend, and prouder of her I just couldn’t be.

Mother

JULIA MCGEE RUSSELL

Sean Scully at The Hatton and Laing Gallery Caitlin Disken reviews the art latest exhibition by the twice named Turner Prize nominee, oil based painter Sean Scully

S

cully’s work is a retrospective collection split across the Hatton Gallery and the Laing Art Gallery, with Scully describing the exhibition as ‘closing a perfect circle’.

It’s fitting that Scully’s work is being displayed in the Hatton, located in Newcastle University’s Fine Art building. Scully, who has been twice-nominated for the Turner Prize, studied at Newcastle University between 1968 and 1971. The collection displays some of his earliest work, including paintings created during his time at Newcastle. The Scully behind these paintings surely could not know his work would go on to be displayed at institutes such as New York’s Museum of Modern Art, yet the paintings shown are clearly the work of a great artist in the making.

Scully is an artist who works largely in abstract art, but whose inspirations are founded in the

everyday environment. One of the most striking paintings at the exhibition is his 1973 work Cream Red Cream, a layered grid-painting inspired by one of Newcastle’s most prominent landmarks: the Tyne Bridge. Scully combines a diagonal canvas structure and overlapping grid lines to mirror the bridge’s famous arch, resulting in a masterpiece that is undoubtedly the exhibition’s crowning glory.

Shadow is another piece that immediately catches the visitor’s eye. Contrasting pinks, oranges and greens, Shadow has a depth that explores the concept of perception, appearing almost like an optical illusion. The scale of the piece, alongside the precision and technical skill employed, is incredibly impressive, again highlighting the scope of Scully’s talent.

Scully has said that the exhibition represents him ‘showing my thanks and appreciation for what I was given’. It runs until May 28th and is definitely worth checking out.

Image: Flickr

You are a crocus in the snow The mast holding up our mainsail You taught me I could be Both woman and Strength You are unapologetic In showing me your tears In catching my own With your cupped hands.

I built my successes on your shoulders My first home, mother, You blow smoke at the wind And tell me, ‘Darling, Love yourself.’

Student Voices Supporting the Strikes Poetry in Action held an event regarding the strikes, offering another flavour of their feelings Bricks and mortar may make up facilities clouds, But, rethink, lecturers aren’t made of bricks, morBut there is more to universities than buildings, Holding them up, never letting them down tar, metal, glass, or wood, Though, granted, you cannot quantify exactly Until now, Their knees quake in the wake of this sullying of What the staff of each school brings.

They say: their and my trust But lets have a go, eh.

“If lecturers strike then they’re in debt to us.

By the government, Like scaffolding they support student’s well being, We deserve a refund, So if they don’t strike now, then like Ozymandius, Allowing them to grow so their minds know They’re part of the framework of the nine grand University will become rubble, And comprehend the height and clarity of the package.”

Gone for good.

Poetry in Action choose not to have the poets names attributed to their work. They feel that this creates a strong voice and sense of unity. The Arts Editors would like to send a thank you to Charlie Winn-Davidson for compiling these poems as President of the Poetry in Action society.

30

culture gaming

courier.gaming@ncl.ac.uk Gaming Editors Gerry Hart, Georgina Howlett & Richard Liddle

INDIE INSIGHT

Snake Pass

The gun violence and video games question Kelly South examines the big controversy surrounding violent games in light of recent events

Image: IGDB

W

hile the best triple-A games offer users a breadth of experiences in one package, indie games instead often focus on getting the most out of one novel gameplay mechanic. Of course, this is usually out of necessity considering that many smaller developers are working with a much lower budget than world-renowned studios.

One of the biggest indie standouts from 2017 is Snake Pass, a platformer which took the idea of focussing on one aspect of a game’s design to the next level. Instead of thinking about what the player can do in the game, the developers at Sumo Digital looked at what they can’t and built the project from there. And for Snake Pass, there’s one thing the player can’t do that’s usually crucial to the function of a platformer - jumping.

Snake Pass stands out amongst other physics driven games like Octodad and Grow Home Instead, the physics-based movement system ends up turning the game into more of a puzzler, tasking players with climbing the environment through manipulating the body of Noodle, the game’s snake protagonist. It is this bizarre biological structure that leads to players actively questioning how this will affect movement through the game world.

This first manifests with a new control scheme that bears little resemblance to what’s found in a typical platformer. The left stick moves Noodle’s head on a flat plane; the A button, typically used for jumping, instead lifts Noodle’s head; the right trigger causes Noodle’s body to move forward by stretching it out. The combo of the left stick and A button allows players to aim the head in a 3D space, while the coils created by repositioning the head propel Noodle forward with a press of the right trigger. Of course, the classic zig-zag manoeuvre must be done to build up any significant speed.

And using the direct control of Noodle’s head to position the body that trails behind is where the bulk of the compelling gameplay within Snake Pass stems from. The idea of having indirect control of a snake’s body can be advantageous - coils created around a pillar anchor Noodle in place to allow for grip. This can then lead to climbing or swinging underneath platforms. Although, the trailing body can also work against the player - as a physics-based game, the whole thing is affected by gravity. The ultimate consequence of this is that if half or more of Noodle’s body is dangling off a surface, he will fall. Giving the physicality of the protagonist its own benefits and drawbacks within the gameplay makes Snake Pass stand out amongst other physics-driven games like Octodad and Grow Home. A constant back and forth between momentum, friction and gravity can capture the mind for hours.

In removing the ability to jump, Sumo Digital discovered an entirely new style of gameplay.

Snake Pass does not add enemies or a combat system but instead uses gravity and how it affects the protagonist’s body as the obstacle instead.

And as with many bold ideas, Snake Pass has also been somewhat divisive. While many hail it as a fantastic challenge, there are also those who find it a frustrating mess. Nevertheless, this originality keeps gaming as a hobby genuinely fresh and exciting, giving players something truly new to play.

George Boatfield

the courier Monday 12 March 2018

Image: Flickr.com

F

ollowing yet another appalling mass shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida last month, US President Donald Trump has fallen back on one of the favourite excuses for gun violence: video games. Popular forms of entertainment have often been blamed for violent crimes committed by ‘degenerate youths’ – in the past it’s been rock music, comics, horror films, even Dungeons & Dragons - and now video games are contributing to a wide variety of societal ills. At least, that’s according to some psychologists, politicians, and journalists eager to capitalise over the latest moral panic.

Do these claims actually stand up to rigorous scrutiny though? Studies regarding the connection between video games and gun violence haven’t reached any definitive conclusions - while some researchers have mistakenly stated that there’s “no division in the scientific community” there is considerable disagreement. In 2015 the American

Psychological Association officially backed the claims that video games are linked to increased aggression and decreased empathy, though many people who are convinced that video games are at fault for school shootings are guilty of indulging in confirmation bias.

Video games are plainly not the issue: Entertainment is distributed and consumed globally Following the shooting at Sandy Hook elementary school in 2012 it was reported that shooter Adam Lanza had been unhealthily ‘obsessed’ with video games – however, many of the articles which condemned video games for their violence ignored

the millions of people who enjoyed Call of Duty, Manhunt and DOOM without becoming the perpetrators of violent crimes.

The fact that mass shooters and gamers are demographically similar has been misunderstood – young white men commit the majority of US school shootings, but their casual enjoyment of video games doesn’t mean the hobby is in any terms responsible for their actions. Instead we should be discussing toxic masculinity and the problem with worshipping the (catastrophically outdated) Second Amendment.

This week IGN reported on the Entertainment Software Association’s desire to have a ‘fact-based conversation’ with the Trump administration about video games being used as a scapegoat: “Like all Americans, we are deeply concerned about the level of gun violence in the United States. Video games are plainly not the issue: entertainment is distributed and consumed globally, but the US has an exponentially higher level of gun violence than any other nation.”

American politicians who have blamed video games are fully aware of the inconclusive evidence on the subject, no matter how much money they spend on studies looking for a decisive connection – their dishonesty is a smokescreen for the fact that they are desperately seeking an excuse to avoid a conversation about sensible, urgently needed gun reform. While activists campaign for lifesaving legislation that would restrict the sale of firearms Trump announced that he wants to meet with industry executives – IGN reported that Nintendo, Microsoft, Ubisoft, and Sony have not confirmed whether they have received invitations.

The Trump administration’s unwillingness to consider explanations beyond violent video games and mental illness ensures that the contributions they receive from the NRA aren’t endangered, and they continue to receive support from gun loving members of the voting public. It’s disgraceful that the gaming industry has to yet again defend itself from these spurious claims because elected officials in the US are unwilling to protect the lives of children and the wider population.

Memory Card Chrono Trigger

Following its very contentious Steam launch, Michael Hicks looks back at this timeless classic

R

eleased by Square in 1995 for the Super Nintendo (although it didn’t see a release here until the 2009 DS remake), Chrono Trigger often sits squarely at the top of “best RPGs ever made” lists. It was the baby of Sqaure’s “Dream Team”: Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi; Yuji Horii (creator of Enix’s Dragon Quest series); and Akira Toriyama, an acclaimed manga artist famed for his work with Dragon Quest and Dragon Ball. With the recent surprise release of the game on Steam, I dove back into the world of Chrono Trigger to figure out why people continue to sing its praises; twenty-three years on.

The game tells the story of Crono, who meets a young girl named Marle at his hometown’s Millennial Fair, a festival held to commemorate the start of the year 1000AD, this game’s present.

When a teleportation device made by Crono’s best friend, Lucca, goes haywire and sends Marle back centuries into the past. Crono jumps straight in after her, kick-starting an adventure that spans the ages.

all at once. Several party members can team up for flashy special attacks. You know there’s always that one team member you bench because they weren’t good? Chrono Trigger doesn’t have that. Every single team member is strong in their own unique way, and every team member learns combination attacks with everyone else.

The story is excellently paced and packed with some truly emotional moments One of the key elements that make Chrono Trigger tick is the beautiful visuals. Everything from medieval castles, the prehistoric past, the desolate abandoned factories of 1999 is rendered in gorgeous spritework; Toriyama’s distinct artstyle lends loads of personality. The story is excellently paced and packed with some truly emotional, memorable moments. There are even key points

where a player’s actions can influence how the story unfolds; unheard of in 1995 and still executed brilliantly today.

Looking at my cart, my first blind playthrough took me 19 hours; short by genre standards. This short length works for with Chrono Trigger’s legacy; New Game+. Chrono Trigger was the first game to incorporate a New Game+ mode, and it remains one of the few to use it well. There’s about a dozen endings, all dependent on when you beat the final boss. NG+ opens a lot of these doors, making it a blast to replay.

Chrono Trigger holds up beautifully and will do for years to come. Everything is finely crafted and polished to a shine. The battle system is deceptively simple, but allows for deep, involving fights. The artstyle remains unique to this day, and every element looks great. It is perfectly paced, with never a dull moment or the need to grind. The story remains focussed; every sidequest is dedicated to seeing your team grow. The short length and NG+ mode make every single playthrough a joy. Chrono Trigger is one of those games that’s timeless.

You know how there’s always one team member that wasn’t very good? Chrono Trigger doesn’t have that Like any RPG, you’ll be doing a lot of fighting.

Chrono Trigger’s battle system is one of its strengths. Every character can attack, use a spell or technique, or use an item. Sounds simple, but the system is deep without being complex. Everyone learns their own techniques, many of which can hit multiple enemies depending on their positions.

Battles are far from static. Enemies shuffle around the field and knock you around. Positioning is key, and sometimes it’s worth waiting for that perfect moment as the enemies align to hit them

Image: IGDB.com

the courier

@Courier_Gaming thecourieronline.co.uk/gaming/

Monday 12 March 2018

Can video games be adapted for other media?

Are video games doomed to shitty spinoffs? Georgina Howlett and George Boatfield discuss great can come out of that process of the situation since video games’ transition to Yes: Georgina Howlett something needs educating on the great adaptations that film began in 1993 with the Super Mario Bros.

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ith the upcoming Tomb Raider movie releasing in just a few days on March 16th, the debate as to whether video game movies (or indeed any kind of adaptation of video game material) are a good idea has once again come around. Equally, the question of whether video games based on influential materials like films, television or literature are a positive addition to our game libraries is once again being toyed with, and a number of people – reflecting upon previously poor installations on both fronts – have been shaking their heads. I am not one of these people.

While video game movies and TV shows may have a notoriously bad reputation due to their generally poor execution, I don’t believe this to be the norm – or a permanent situation – for one minute. There are some exceptional examples of shows and movies which take video games as their inspiration and create something great from it.

Who can forget, for instance, the 40-episode long Sonic Underground series? Although the show was lenient with the Sonic source material, it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience which weaved an emotionally-engaging and exciting story about three young hedgehogs fighting evil and trying to find their absent mother. I have the entire series on DVD and still rewatch it every so often.

And, on the flipside of movies, television and literature being converted into video games, who can deny that The Witcher series is a work of art?

Who didn’t love all of the Lego Star Wars games on the PS2 and all of the various iterations since, such as Lego Harry Potter or Lego Batman? Heck, who can hate on all of the amazing fighting game adaptations that have combined both video game characters and cinematic heroes, such as Marvel VS. Capcom? There is so much potential in the two-way conversion of video games into other forms of entertainment and of entertainment into video games, and anyone who doesn’t believe that

already exist.

Image: Flickr.com

No: George Boatfield

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ssassin’s Creed, Warcraft and Hitman: all critically and commercially successful video game franchises that failed to replicate that success through their respective film adaptations. These examples are indicative

movie.

Perhaps it’s the structure of the gaming industry itself that causes the failure of its film adaptations.

Creative directors that craft the narrative structure of a video game often move on to bigger and better projects within the same industry instead of working on films. Even Neil Druckmann, creative director of The Last of Us, who is attached to the film version, has remained busy with numerous game projects since the original announcement of the film.

And then there are games like Resident Evil which have film franchises that bear only a very slight resemblance to the games that inspired them. If this needs any exemplification, the latest (and supposedly final) entry in the film franchise received scathing reviews upon release, while Resident Evil 7, the new entry in the game series, saw massive critical success. However, both the game and film were financial juggernauts, so it remains to see whether Capcom will take note.

Above all though, some elements of video games are impossible to translate to film. Game developers enhance the relationship between a player and the protagonist of a game by ensuring they are actively involved in their character progression.

Add this to the more significant length of time a gamer would spend with a character than a cinema audience, and it’s evident why so many films falter in adapting these relationships - watching is much more of a passive experience than playing. And beyond that, die-hard fans of the franchise become detached when watching character ties created over many hours compressed into a two-hour film.

Films rarely supplement the games that form their foundations. Instead, they’re usually weak recreations that are unavoidably simplified.

While the concept of translating great stories to a broader audience is noble, it ultimately misses the point of IP that are strengthened by the unique characteristics of the medium they were designed for.

Do game developers need trade unions?

Gerry Hart asks why poor working conditions are very common in the video game industry

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eems like every other week you hear about some depressing story or other coming from the development side of the gaming industry. Recently Quantic Dreams, the developers of Heavy Rain and the upcoming Detroit: Become Human were rocked by allegations of racist and sexist behaviour running rampant in the French studio. It should of course be noted that the allegations have been vehemently denied by studio founders David Cage and Guillaume de Fondaumière, although Cage’s rebuttal reads like a more pompous version of the “I’m not a racist, I know that Muslim lad down the chippy” argument.

But even if one leaves aside the case of Quantic Dreams, such grim stories are seldom isolated or rare. Last year the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) Developer Satisfaction Survey (DSS) found that 37% of game industry professionals who worked overtime received no monetary compensation, whilst 53% said that “crunch” (i.e. overworking staff in order to complete a given project) was expected at their workplace. Additionally only 48% said their place of employment had some form of sexual harassment policy whilst just 26% said their company had some form of formal complaints procedure to deal with harassment.

53%

of game developers surveyed by the IGDA said that “crunch” was expected at their place of work

Clearly not a pretty picture but why does any of this happen in the first place? One might argue its the nature of the business. High demands are placed upon employees because games are resource intensive products that cost millions to make and are expected to meet deadlines. But I don’t feel this is a satisfactory explanation. Starting with the issue of harassment, it should be noted that according to the IGDA around 79% of game developers are male, thus making game development is a deeply

male environment. Unfortunately this works to the is the relative absence of trade unions. Its hardly detriment of women working there as, regrettably, surprising unions aren’t much in force in the these kind of hypermasculine environments tend to foster some pretty despicable behaviour.

By unionising, Then there is the issue of crunch which, despite criticism, remains a depressingly normalised developers would practice. To see the mentality have more agency to underpinning crunch at its ugliest, one need look no further than bring exploitative or Microsoft DirectX creator Alex negligent employers to St. John’s frankly disgusting presentation on running a account tech company. In addition to saying engineers with Aspergers video game industry. The tech Syndrome are industry only really came ideal employees to prominence during the because they 1980s, when Neoliberal “have no social politicians like skills” and Margaret Thatcher “work like and Ronald Reagan machines” did much to break (i.e. he the unions as an t h i n k s effective political force. we’re easier Plus I suspect the tech to exploit), St. industry’s individualistic John also argued “start upmindset” hinders developers should the kind of collectivist see their vocation as solidarity upon which an artistic calling, that one trade unions predicate should be fuelled purely themselves. by one’s passion and that to Still, whilst far from a see it as work is, somehow, miracle cure I strongly believe perpetuating what he terms a that game developers need “wage slave” mentality (forgetting to start forming and joining of course that artists ARE trade unions. By doing so, they workers). In brief, St. John’s shit would have more agency to bring arguments inadvertently shine exploitative or negligent employers a light into a world predicated to account, in addition to having on ruthless exploitation of those a means to fight for safer working who work within it. environments.

Poor working But I feel there’s another, conditions in the game industry bigger reason why poor are damaging to the wellbeing working conditions are of developers and ultimately, to seen as acceptable in the the quality of games being made.

Image: Wikipedia.org gaming industry, and that Developers deserve better than this.

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gaming culture

WHAT I’M PLAYING

Civilization VI: Rise and Fall

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ith the release of the expansion Rise and Fall, I thought that it was the perfect time to head back and play Civilization VI. As a person who has played countless hours of Civilization V, which became a classic several years after its release due to two fantastic expansions, Civ 6 had a lot to live up too.

And it did. Civ 6 was a much more complete and complex game than its predecessor. Principally, the new district system completely opened up cities as they expanded beyond a single tile, but there were also other features such as a new civic tree, a religious victory condition and a reworked diplomacy system. Therefore, in a game so fully realised, new DLC with civilizations and leaders like Amanitore of Nubia, seemed like the only thing they can add to the game, so it was interesting to see how the Rise and Fall expansion could, well expand on it.

Unfortunately, I haven’t had much time to play, but some exciting new features and interesting mechanics add a lot more to the game. There are eight new civilizations and nine new leaders, including the old-time favourite, Shaka of the Zulu -so beware of the Impi-pocalypse- as well as the likes of Robert the Bruce of Scotland and Seondeok of Korea.

However, one of my favourites is Tamar of Georgia, who has religious and defensive bonuses, but also benefits from the fantastic new Great Age feature. In past games, golden ages seemed like an afterthought, however in Civ 6 they have been expanded on significantly. There are now four distinct Ages (Normal, Golden, Dark and Heroic), each with its own gameplay effects that come from choosing a dedication at the end of each era.

These ages depend on your era score which comes from your progress and achievements in the game, such as building a wonder. A golden age, allows you to select a dedication with better bonuses, while a dark age has negative effects but also gives you access to powerful policy cards which come with massive benefits and costs. Finally, a heroic age, which is achieved by moving from a dark age to a golden age, allows you to choose three dedications.

All ages also influence the loyalty of your cities, which is a new mechanic added to the game. This new feature adds more complexity to the game as you try keep control of your city, and make sure they don’t declare independence or flip to a rival civilization. However, it does allow you to do the same to other civilizations, and therefore brings an ebb and flow to the game that doesn’t revolve around military power.

Another new feature is the governor system, with seven characters who have different specialisations that can be used to customise your city. For example, Pingala, ‘the Educator’, can be used to boost the science and culture generated from a city. While small features, such as emergenciestemporary pacts between smaller civilizations to check-and-balance powerful empires- and a reworked alliance system, make the political side of the game lot more dynamic- even for isolationist players like myself.

Needless to say, Civ 6 is full to the brim with features which I need to still get my head around.

It will be fascinating to see where Firaxis will go next with what appears to be a fully finished game, but in the meantime, I’m about to go nuke Gandhi before he can nuke me.

Tom Shrimplin

Image: IGDB

32

science & technology

Are you Tech-ing the piss?

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4G on the moon ?!

fter SpaceX sent an electric car round the moon, Vodaphone and Nokia have tried their own sensational space endeavour by announcing they will put 4G on the moon by 2019. Rural communities everywhere are mildly displeased.

The news sits a little uneasy on me though. This is not because there are Welsh farmers that still don’t have the human right to watch fresh dramas on Netflix (I don’t care about them). It because space seems to be becoming some sort of playground for publicity stunts: from pies to electric cars, soon there will be a litter of products that couldn’t get off the ground on Earth circling our planet forever.

Like the pie sentinto space – it was meant to freeze in space and cook on re-entry – this trip does have some scientific purpose, albeit a limited one.

Space seems to be becoming some sort of playground for publicity stunts 4G uses much less energy than the analogue radio used in space missions in the 70s and, according to Mr Böhme, CEO of STScientist, is, “a crucial first step for sustainable exploration of the solar system”. But I’m not convinced of the German private company’s lofty benevolence.

I am instead reminded of a scene in Wall-E when he first leaves the atmosphere of Earth and collides with a layer of space junk, mostly old satellites. This seems a playful critique of limitless human greed, but our future looks much cruder.

There won’t be the huge space emporiums we envision in our dreams and movies, but rather a host of private companies looking to take advantage of cheap rockets and clever marketing in the name of advancing human progress.

I doubt these companies are doing this out of their wholesome commitment to the advancement of the human race; they will only install Wifi coverage where they think it profitable. It’s unlikely Vodaphone will want to create some sort of ‘moon contract’ available for astronauts, and Nokia seems to have just tagged they’re name on to the project because, right now, they’re not that good at much else.

These two declining earth companies are abusing space for its cosmic powers to brainwash their customers in to believing they’re any use down here. It’s true that SpaceX’s images of launching and landing their rockets in one piece was a magical piece of modern science, but the sight of the robot mannequin, calmly and coldly sitting in the driver’s seat of the Tesla car on its way round Mars, were chilling in their disconnect from the people who made them. At the moment all these projects are just junky pieces of metal in space rather than actual human endeavours; pretending to be preparing for future space flights that might contain humans.

Abusing space for its cosmic powers to brainwash their customers However, it’s easy to be sceptical about space travel; expensive and egotistical as it is, ignorant of suffering on Earth. But it seems the astronauts of the future won’t be state sponsored heroes but rather private investors willing to put their millions at risk.

There is an ambition that affects these private companies that the national institutions seem to have lost. Elon Musk’s announcement that he will put a man on Mars by 2024 seems as ludicrous as Kennedy’s statement in 1961 that he wanted a man on the moon by the end of the decade. Capitalism may be showing its ugly face in these projects, but it might just put us on Mars.

Sidney Pinsent

courier.science@ncl.ac.uk Science Editors Jack Coles, Christopher Little & Ciara Ritson-Courtney

the courier

Monday 12 March 2018

Mankinds mass mortality

Grace Dean reveals the facts on extinctions exacerbated by excessive environmental emissions

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n January 2018, global media outlets and the scientific community alike were horrified by the deaths of hundreds of critically-endangered Australian flying foxes, also known as fruit bats. Their lifeless bodies were discovered under trees throughout New South Wales, and in Campbelltown people were horrified to find 400 corpses in just one colony.

These deaths have been linked to Australia’s unusually hot summer. Despite flying foxes being welladapted to Australia’s climate, they are incapable of regulating their body temperature in extreme weather and resultantly die from overheating. In January, Sydney’s temperatures reached 47oc, its highest since 1939, killing hundreds of flying foxes. This, however, pales in comparison to southeast Queensland’s 2014 scorching heats, when 45,000 flying foxes died in just one day, with some colonies more than half wiped out.

These phenomena are defined as mass mortality events (MME), catastrophic incidents which simultaneously kill vast quantities of a single species in a short amount of time. Evidence shows that between 1940 and 2012 these events have not only become increasingly frequent for birds, fish and marine invertebrates, but also kill a larger number of animals in each event.

With 727 reported MMEs occurring since 1940, this poses an immense threat to global ecosystems as MMEs have the potential to put an entire species at risk.

MMEs are often triggered by an interplay of stressors. Diseases and highly transmissible infections are the most frequent causes, influencing 25% of MMEs. A further quarter of MMEs are attributed to climatic and environmental factors, including temperature ex-

tremes and oxygen stress. Further stressors include starvation and the introduction of alien species.

Of most concern to scientists, however, is the increasing role human activity plays in MMEs. As pollution accelerates global warming and increases extreme weather incidents, high magnitude MMEs will become more frequent. This is particularly disturbing as mammals take hundreds of years to adapt to climatic changes, making elk and reindeer especially vulnerable to MMEs. This is particularly exemplified by the May 2015 saiga antelope MME. When the migratory animals aggregated for their annual calving in Kazakhstan’s Betpak-Dala Desert, they rapidly began dropping dead. This occurred on an immense scale; 200,000 antelope died in merely three

weeks, which represented 80% of central Kazakhstan’s population and 62% of the global population of this critically-endangered species. Researchers were baffled by this seemingly inexplicable event, which caught global media attention and attracted considerable and divergent speculation, until pasteurella multocida was discovered in the bloodstream of dead antelope. This bacteria is usually prevalent in their tonsils without consequences, but unusually high humidity and temperatures of 37oc spread it into their bloodstream, causing hemorrhagic septicaemia. While low-lying pasteurella multocida exists naturally, it was undoubtedly aggravated by anthropogenic climatic stressors.

Mankind’s influence on MMEs is further illustrated by a mysterious outbreak along America’s west coast in 2013 in which hundreds of millions of starfish seemingly “melted” into white gunk. Higher temperatures and warmer seas in 2013 spread parvovirus and resultant gastrointestinal problems among 20 starfish species. This increased their vulnerability to bacterial infections including the sea star wasting disease. Cuts rapidly developed in the starfish’s infected arms, which some ripped off before quickly becoming lifeless. Similar to the saiga crisis, the MME was caused by a naturally-occurring virus, ultimately exacerbated by climate change.

When will mankind cease causing such large-scale destruction?

With conclusive evidence illustrating climate change’s detriment to ecosystems around the globe, it is imperative that Trump stops being in denial so that fauna such as flying foxes, saiga antelope and starfish are ultimately saved from extinction.

Swimming and sea sickness

Lily Holbrook dives into why having a swim in the sea could actually be making people very ill

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earsome creatures lurking in the shallows. The excruciating coldness of that first plunge. For someof us, there’s already enough to fear about going for a dip in the sea.

While these fears may be all inour heads, real research led by The University of Exeter Medical School has suggested that seaswimming can actually put you at a greater risk of illness. So, is there something more serious to fear than that freezing first splash after all?

We all have a basic idea of what is and isn’t great for our health. It is generally accepted that things like smoking, eating poorly and excessive stress can make us unwell, but what about a swim in the sea? It seems out of place in comparison. Besides, swimming is a form of exercise isn’t it? And if you’re anything like me as a person who loves the sea, you’ll agree that it’s a great way to connect with nature.

29%

Sea swimmers are 29% more likely to contract a gastrointestinal illness, compared to those that stick to dry land

While these things may be true, it is becoming increasingly evident that pollution could be the culprit driving the claim that sea swimming isn’t as innocent as we thought it was. Findings from the latest research, involving a huge sample size of over 120,000 people across a number of economically developed countries including the UK, suggest that sea swimmers, compared to those who stick to dry land, are 29% more likely to contract a gastrointestinal illness. What’s more, the likelihood of devel-

oping earache rockets to a whopping 77% for sea swimmers compared to their non-sea swimming counterparts. But what exactly is it that’s making this happen?

Agricultural run-off, domestic and animal sewage are responsible It is thought that agricultural run-off, domestic and animal sewage are responsible for the input of microorganisms into the sea. Therefore, bathing in these polluted coastal waters can lead to the onset of infection. While most people will recover fine from such infection, those who are most vulnerable, such as the very old or young, may suffer more seriously.

It’s not only swimming in the sea that has its problems. Surfing, snorkelling, scuba diving and all other sea-based activities that involve spending time in the water come with the same risk. But should you let this stop you?

I vote no. What we have to remember, is that sea

swimming is only linked to these illnesses. Biases in self-report, lifestyle differences and a range of other factors are likely to be at play, so we cannot assume that sea swimming alone is the cause. Also, while I can appreciate that they may pose more of a threat to the oldest and youngest members of society, the illnesses linked to sea swimming aren’t that serious. So, for me, the potential danger of swimming in the sea does not outweigh the enjoyment of doing so.

Despite the illnesses mentioned not being enough to deter me from going in the sea, I think that this study has an important take-home message. There are stories in the news all the time about the negative impacts of pollution on human health. From the harmful sewage inputs brought to light in the latest research to the ongoing battle with plastic, we are living in an increasingly polluted world.

Supervisor of the research, Dr Will Gaze says: “We have come a long way in terms of cleaning up our waters, but our evidence shows there is still work to be done. We hope this research will contribute to further efforts to clean up our coastal waters.” If our own health isn’t enough to kick us into action then what is?

the courier

@CourierScience thecourieronline.co.uk/science

Monday 12 March 2018

science & technology

Why not leave it on Hold?

Rowena Tylden-Pattenson tests a new app that could improve your grades and productivity

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ow many times have you gone to the library, set out your pens, pencils, water bottle, notepad… and realised that’s that is quite enough work for now, and you deserve a break to check Facebook on your phone for five minutes… then suddenly you’ve spent forty-five minutes watching cat videos rather than studying. Oops. Well, a Norwegian app called Hold is here to rescue you from the daily spiral into memes and cooking videos.

It’s a simple concept. Hold helps you focus by offering reward points for the longer you don’t use your phone. It’s basically a timer that records how long you ignore your phone for. For every 20 consecutive minutes, you earn 10 points, which you can then redeem for things like free popcorn at the cinema, cheap cinema tickets, or even coffee from Costa- so you can prolong your library stint for even longer! It takes a few hours to earn some of these rewards, but everything is very achievable, which is a nice change from striving for days to reach a goal (Pokemon Go you’re a prime culprit, making me walk 10km for yet another Eevee).

You can redeem your points for things like cheap cinema tickets It’s a clever app that’s apparently taken off in Norway amongst students. You do have to have a Facebook account to sign up, but once you’ve done that, you can compare your Hold time with others from your friends list, and even the rest of the university. I’m sitting pretty in 8th place today.

Feeling smug about the whole thing.

I ’v e been testing it out

the past couple of days and there are a couple of caveats- to record any time spent away from your phone, you do need to be connected to the internet (although if you disconnect at points during your timing, you don’t lose out, as long as you reconnect when you go to validate your time). It is also seemingly only active from 8am until 11pm, w h i c h means n o

sneaky holding overnight when you’re asleep. Naps are fair game though. I also took a phone call at one point while my phone was on Hold, although it didn’t seem to disrupt my timing, which was a nice surprise.

It’s a great concept, but there are other apps out there that do very similar things. I’ve come across Forest before, where you can set the timer to any length of time you fancy and grow trees

I have a weird feeling about this Chris Little questions the ability to feel pain in virtual reality

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new bluetooth device is marketing itself as the world’s first sensory gaming device. It claims the ‘Azana Band’, which fits snuggly around your neck, can induce happiness, pain and fear. Its makers declare that it will revolutionise how we engage with virtual reality; allowing users to enter immersive worlds that have never been experienced before. But is it too good to be true?

The television advert for the Azana Band is stylish and sleek, much like the shiny metal choker itself. The young woman in the advert places it around her neck and gasps as a glowing halo of white light signifies its activation.

The almost soporific narrator tries to reassure us that the Azana Band has been designed by the world’s leading neuroscientists, and even shows us a pulsating blue brain to prove they’ve done their homework.

But something doesn’t feel right.

The advert says the device is available exclusively with the Azana Game and directs audiences to the website. Intrigued, viewers whip out their phones and check out the website. Its a top notch platform; displaying the same minimalist style as its product. A quick cross-reference shows reviews for the product on entertainment website Den of Geek.

Further checks even reveal a ‘world’s first

(both virtual and real, as the app donates to Trees for the Future). Forest has a Chrome extension for your laptop too, if you’re like me and just forgo using your phone to earn more Hold credits and use a pc instead to procrastinate, Forest will blacklist anything you don’t want to be distracted by. Personally I found Forest a little more tempting to use, as I like seeing my garden develop and grow- and again, there’s the opportunity to compare with friends. It doesn’t reward you with free coffee though.

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demo’ on You Tube channel Hat Films. Are we witnessing the beginning of a technological revolution? Alas, no.

The whole thing is merely an advertising campaign for the upcoming Channel 4 programme Kiss Me First. In all due respect, you have to take your hat off to them. They’ve put together a very compelling campaign that had many hoodwinked.

So much so, that some parents were going into a bit of a meltdown at the prospect of their kids strapping one of these devices to their necks.

The reason they took this angle is because this new Channel 4 fictional drama combines live action with state-of-the-art computer-generated virtual world sequences; and uses the Azana Bands to allow their protagonists to move between the two.

It’s no surprise that this new programme is coinciding with the release of Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One. The big budget film, which is based on the book by Ernest Cline, is set in a dystopian future where citizens find salvation in an expansive virtual reality universe.

To those that see computer games as a form of adventure, or even escapism, virtual reality offers the ultimate nirvana – but we’re not quite there yet.

For every 20 consecutive minutes you do not use your phone, you earn 10 points

Both of these apps are designed to get you away from your screen and focusing in on tasks you have to do. And they definitely do work, as I’m finding myself checking to see if the small screen is doing anything a lot less. There’s a point at which you have to step back and evaluate more than just your phone use though.

Yes, you may have deadlines to do, but they’re never going to get finished if you’re dedicating 6 hours solid in the library without a break. The brain simply cannot focus for that long, and you’re going to find yourself reaching for a distraction more and more. Rather than smashing it all out in one, the Pomodoro technique (25 minutes solid work, 5 minutes break, for 4 cycles) builds in the breaks you need to go and get a coffee, or walk around the library, or just stare out the window. At the end of the day, if you’ve spent thirty minutes staring out the window rather than doing that essay, it’s better to get out, go for that walk and come back feeling refreshed and ready to earn that degree.

Word of the Week: Astrobleme

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hat is ‘astrobleme’? Would anyone like to take a wild guess at the meaning of the word? (For those of you who do know, please bear with us for… say… one minute, okay?)

60… 59… 58… … … … … 3… 2… 1… 0 Alright! Time’s up!

For someone like me who has never come across the word up till one minute ago, I believe many would have guessed (according to the structure of the word) that ‘astrobleme’ has something to do with ‘astrology’ and ‘blemish’.

Turns out, the word ‘astrobleme’ originates from two Greek words - ‘astron’ and ‘blēma’ - carrying the meaning of ‘star’ and ‘wound’ respectively.

Dictionary has defined the word astrobleme as ‘An eroded remnant of a large crater (bowl-shaped cavity in the ground) made by the impact of a meteorite or comet.’.

So, looks like our guesses are quite accurate after all!

Mythbusters:

Can you come back from the dead ?

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nless you’re in some way religious (and there really is an afterlife), death truly is the end of all. Perhaps the most famous person to come back from the dead is Lazarus of Bethany, a biblical character who died two days before Jesus could meet with him. Jesus then opened up Lazarus’ tomb and commanded him to rise from the grave, and lo, it was so.

This is the Science section, however, and as such we consider divine intervention to be about as an acceptable explanation as “I accidentally cheated on you”. One of the main features of the town of Bethany was a building used to care for the poor and/or sick. Lazarus himself had some sort of illness prior to his death, which is probably why he was there in the first place. As for the apparent death and then reanimation, that sounds like a coma, or at least some form of extended unconsciousness (similar to hibernation); especially with all the references to him sleeping in the biblical text itself.

You might be wondering what sort of disease Lazarus had that could cause this. Well, there’s quite a few; anthrax, cholera, malaria, schistosomiasis, and three different types of fever are all potential candidates. Any one of these diseases found in that geographical area could have put Lazarus in a comatose state, only to be revived a few days later.

Jesus might have just gotten lucky, and the fact that we hear about this story but not stories of other dead biblical characters could be due to survivor bias.

What about the rest of us? Can we come back from the dead?

Enough about ol’ Laz, though, what about the rest of us? Can we come back from the dead? Well… that depends on your definition of “death”. As you might imagine, modern medicine has made this a bit more of a difficult thing to define due to our ability to prolong the lifespan of our bodies.

For instance, consider a freak accident where your head is removed by a child’s Frisbee. Obviously, removing your head kills you (at time of writing, anyhoo). If first responders get there quick enough, however, they can save your heart, liver, and other organs for transplant into other people. Those organs aren’t “dead”, they continue to exhibit “cellular life” long after your severed head has traumatised that group of children.

There are also incidents that can cause a state of not-quite-death. People that have received a nearlethal electrical shock can be revived using CPR. People frozen “to death” can sometimes be revived if they’re slowly warmed up, restoring their metabolic activity. There is even something called Lazarus syndrome, a rare s itu at i on where the

p a t i e n t’s heart fails and is then declared medically dead after attempted resuscitation, only for it to restart minutes later with no further medical intervention. As such, “death” is usually defined by a lack of brain activity.

The “closest” we can come to any kind of postbrain-death reanimation is through cryonics – and that hasn’t even been remotely successful yet. The idea is that, shortly after death, you freeze the body (or just the head) so that future doctors can reverse whatever it was that killed you. Of course, we haven’t reached that stage in medicine yet, and nobody’s defrosted any brains to check if they would still work if we did defrost and treat them. So for now, let’s just say that we can’t prove that people have literally come back from the dead; but a few have come very close.

Jack Coles

puzzles

35

the courier

Monday 12 March 2018

Puzzles Dictator Joey Barton Puzzles Editor Alex Hendley Puzzles Myrmidon James Sproston Crossword Layout Consultant Louis Ainley Chinese Dynasty Research Leader Abby Kay Indian Public Transport Font of Knowledge Liam Hanna Manchester and Area Dialect Correspondent Heather Thompson

Across

1 To vow to do something (7) 4 Severe spottage (4) 6 Mancunian term for ‘spit’ (3) 8 Pre-1917 Russian Emperor (4) 9 Sudden realisation of something important (8) 10 To attach; short video (4) 14 Bloke who pillaged; leader of the Ostrogoths and the Alans (6) 16 Test cricket ground; squashed circle (4) 18 Artist of the single best 80s song (4) 19 Chinese dynasty 9-23 AD (3) 20 Chemical symbol of neon (2) 21 “It’s like a thing in India” (- Liam Hanna); cycle-taxi (8) 24 Surname of a great Italian defender who played their whole career at AC Milan (7) 25 Scottish name; lake monster (5)

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Issue 1366 quiz solutions:

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Flags (left to right): Brunei, Oman, Bhutan, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Aruba, Guyana, Syria

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9

City of Carlisle crossword: 10

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Difficulty: MEDIUM

C H A D R E

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M

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9 3 1 8 5 4 7 7 3 2 6 9 1 5 3 8 8 3 7 6 It’s a pun on ‘holibobs’. Lawro told me he didn’t get it, so I thought I’d just clarify incase you, like him, are thick as mince and stealing a wage from the BBC. Anyway, afternoon readers! As you can see, I’ve come to sunny Mexico where I’m taking in some of the historic wonders left behind by civilizations past. Perhaps this is a clue for the crossword... perhaps it’s a red-herring...

Who knows, I’ve not been down the local fishing lake since they banned me for twofooting the conservationist.

In summary, last week was solid for my puzzles empire. There were few, if any errors, and some of the colours on those flags were really lovely. It was a nice change, because I usually only see red. ¡Hasta luego!

L A K E

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R E D S

B R U N T O N

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C H A R D

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On my holibartons

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Down

SUDOKU

5

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2 ___ Fiennes; Lord Voldemort; M (5) 3 Historic market town in Northumberland (7) 4 Montezuma was a famous leader of this empire (5) 5 Organ of balance (3) 6 Jewish name for a non-Jew (3) 7 Posh handrail (8) 11 Luxurious, elaborate (6) 12 A baby frog (8) 13 Involuntary and habitual grinding of the teeth (7) 15 Cash in the ___ (5) 17 Gary the ___, Spongebob’s best friend (5) 22 ‘Here’ in French (3) 23 First name of a temperamental dictator (3)

Last Week’s Solutions...

CROSSWORD

DEM CLUES

K

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S D A Y E

Y

For Issue 1367 solutions, wait for Issue 1368 or contact your local Hendley. Do not contact Joey Barton under any circumstances.

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ILLUSTRATED PHRASES Because I can’t be bothered to think of a punny name.

Can you work out these common phrases/things from the puzzles?

I I I I I I I I I

WORKING

time

SHOT

DOOUT

FELL FELL FELL FELL FELL FELL FELL FELL FELL

Theodore Roosevelt naked.

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sport

Sports stars who end up big news

Monday 12 March 2018

From stolen taxis, nightclub scuffles to dates, our sports writers look back on just a few of the times when sporting stars gained media attention for controversies outside of their sporting careers

BEN STOKES CRICKET

England cricketer Ben Stokes made the front pages of national newspapers in September after an incident outside a Bristol nightclub. Stokes and fellow England team mate Alex Hales were in the nightclub after a one-day international against the West Indies when Stokes was arrested on suspicion of actual bodily harm, with a man being

left with a fractured eye socket as a result. Two other men were also charged alongside the England star.

As more details of the incident unravelled, Stokes was left out of the Ashes squad against Australia, which England subsequently lost 4-0. It is certainly arguable that this incident contributed towards England’s defeat to the Australians, as whether or not Stokes would be playing for the team and how England would cope without him tormented England throughout the tournament.

The court case for Stokes is still ongoing, his first court appearance was held on 13th February this year, coincidentally that date was the same day Stokes was due for his England return. Currently though, Stokes is representing England in their one-day international series against New Zealand. The case is still ongoing, Stokes’ first hearing at Bristol Crown Court is on 12th March this month, although he doesn’t have to be present at court.

Rebecca Johnson

WEST BROM

a three-day bonding break was no exception. While it did not go to court in the end and the four players later issued an apology, it is a rather ridiculous and sorry debacle.

Footballers are human beings, and human beings make mistakes, but they are still role models and should always try and show a good example for kids everywhere.

Nevertheless, while a majority of the responsibility should lay with the quartet from West Brom, questions should be answered by manager Alan Pardew, for both the lack of the discipline and taking them on the trip in the first place as they were bottom of the Premier

FOOTBALL

Image: Public Domain Pictures

GENIE BOUCHARD TENNIS

When you type Genie Bouchard’s name into Google, one of the first search options you will find is “Genie Bouchard date”.

The 24-year-old Canadian is most widely known for (or was before dategate) her tennis prowess which has seen the star in and amongst the upper echelons of the sport ever since making the Wimbledon final in 2014.

It was during the Super Bowl in 2017 that Bouchard tweeted to predict the

Football is the biggest sport in the world never mind the UK, so whenever a player or a group of players do something rather bad from outside the stadium it almost always ends up in the front pages of tabloids or trending on twitter.

The alleged theft or ‘borrowing’ of a taxi outside a McDonald’s drive-thru in Barcelona by the West Bromwich Albion quartet Jonny Evans, Gareth Barry, Jake Livermore and Boaz Myhill to get back to the hotel as the team took win of Atlanta Falcons, who were leading the New England Patriots 21-0 at the time. University of Missouri student and Patriots fan, John Goehrke, had the

The two have pictured together on multiple occasions bravery to bet Bouchard a date if his side were to emerge victorious. A short while later, the Patriots had indeed

Image: Flickr

League. Furthermore, there has also be little to punishment for the ‘Cab Four’, with Barry only stripped of the captaincy, and Pardew continues to just about stay in charge of the club.

Ultimately, I feel sorry for the West Brom fans who must surely feel embarrassed by the taxi theft fiasco, yet in a football league full of exces it should come as no surprise and in time no doubt another misbehaving footballer will surely be plastered on the front page of some rag.

Tom Shrimplin

claimed the win and a date was on the cards.

Soon after Goehrke and Bouchard attended a Brooklyn Nets game in New York together, the tennis star following through on the bet. Ever since then the two have been pictured together on multiple occasions, seemingly the best of chums, although we are lead to believe that the relationship is purely platonic. Most recently, the two were reunited at the 2018 Super Bowl to celebrate the bet’s one-year anniversary, organised by NFL Canada themselves!

Toby Bryant

Image: Wikimedia Commons

McKenzie is a keen cyclist but has found it difficult to fit in training for his mammoth challenge Image: Craig McCann-McMillan

Stan Calvert: time for change If you’re After a damaging defeat in the annual Stan Calvert competition, sport editor Tom Shrimplin and writer Rebecca Johnson discuss the issues with the event and how it could improve After losing by a considerable margin (80-22) and therefore making it a fifth consecutive loss against Northumbria, it is clear that something needs to change about Stan Calvert.

It was frustrating to see disappointing performances across several sports. For instance, the Mens Lacrosse firsts were heavily beaten by Northumbria, despite being ahead of them in the Northern 1A League.

While in general, such large score lines should not happen as Newcastle are only once place below Northumbria in the BUCS competition.

Conduct more casual events and introduce fixtures The expectation of another defeat in the competition appears to play on the minds of Team Newcastle, who despite always giving it a good go, lack that extra edge which an ultracompetitive Northumbria seems to have.

While I also got the feeling that for some clubs only one eye was on Stan Calvert, while the other was on BUCS. So, perhaps if it is decreasing in relevance, an argument could be made for ending the varsity competition.

However, I believe that would be a terrible decision and that Stan Calvert is still important for both universities, it just needs a bit of an overhaul. The grounds for change are already here. For instance, the Fun Run proved to be a great success, allowing causal runners and members of sports clubs from both Newcastle and Northumbria to take part.

Therefore, I believe that conducting more casual events and perhaps even introducing fixtures featuring intramural teams from Newcastle and Northumbria against each other would increase both interest and participation in Stan Calvert more broadly.

Sport is about bringing people together so getting more students involved can only be a good thing.

Tom Shrimplin

Newcastle were left frustrated as local rivals Northumbria gained another win in the annual Stan Calvert varsity competition. Although the score itself is disappointing, another issue comes into play- how well publicised is the Stan Calvert competition? A further problem stemming from this question is how

Image: Denise Dixon

aware first year students in particular are about the competition.

As a first year student from the area, I myself was aware that the competition was a concept; plus writing for the Courier this year has enabled me to find out loads more about the competition. However, speaking to other first year students about Stan Calvert was rather interesting. My friends were vaguely aware of the Stan Calvert competition, correctly assuming that it was a sporting event but not really knowing much else about it. A lot of first years aren’t aware of Stan Calvert unless they themselves are in a sports club, or maybe know someone who is in a sports club.

This year’s competition saw the first Fun Run, which was open to everyone at Newcastle and Northumbria, a great idea and a step in the right direction to encourage more participation from both sides.

The issue with Stan Calvert appears to be that it needs to be publicised more widely across campus, so that people who are less exposed to university sport can learn more about the competition and how they can get involved with it.

Rebecca Johnson

you’re go Postgraduate Scott McKenzie Not many people would think of cycling round the UK in ten days. Even fewer would think following this with a climb up Mount Kilimanjaro could ever be a good idea. But, in the name of charity, Banking and Finance master’s student Scott McKenzie will be doing just this in April.

Whether it’s David Walliams swimming down the Thames or Eddie Izzard’s 27 marathons in 27 days, celebrity challenges are an established part of charity fundraising.

Less so for students, but McKenzie’s plan to follow a 1,000 mile cycle tour of the UK with a 20,000 feet climb up Kilimanjaro is certainly an impressive challenge.

McKenzie has set himself the Herculean endeavour to raise £3,000 for the charity Dig Deep, who build taps and toilets and work to improve sanitation and access to clean water in rural Kenya.

“The work that Dig Deep do is important to me because my dad and his family used to live in Africa and they saw first hand the effects of poverty on remote communities,” McKenzie explained.

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Monday 12 March 2018

Students in control of the Intra Mural whistle Participation and Events Manager Denis Murphy spoke to Sports Editor Mark Sleightholm about Newcastle’s Referee Hub and its student referees Intra Mural football is renowned for its banter and its pun-tastic team names, with competitive spirit encouraged but not necessarily compulsory. But amid the chaos of your Murder on Zidane’s Floors vs your Jesmond Tutu FCs there’s a trainee official who could one day wind up refereeing the Champions League.

For the past three years Newcastle has played host to one of a network of referee hubs, run in partnership with BUCS and the FA, to train and support the next generation of football referees.

The Newcastle Referee Hub is overseen by the Sports Centre’s Participation and Events Manager, Denis Murphy.

What Murphy doesn’t know about Intra Mural sport at Newcastle isn’t worth knowing, and he organises the dozens of Intra Mural fixtures that take place every week in the likes of netball, rugby and football 11s, 7s and 5s.

“When you do your course it all seems ok but then you’ve got 22 people challenging you, that’s when it gets tricky”

going to Kilimanjaro onna meet a cyclist there spoke to Sports Editor Mark Sleightholm ahead of his double charity challenge “I think in this day and age we should be past the point where children have to walk six hours a day to collect water instead of being able to focus on their education. Eight out of ten people in the communities that Dig Deep go into don’t have access to clean water.

“The £3,000 that I am raising will make a huge difference and help hundreds of families to have a brighter future.”

A Deliveroo cyclist, McKenzie felt that merely climbing up Kilimanjaro wouldn’t be enough of a challenge, so added in a trip around the UK to the start of his itinerary.

“I decided that adding in this cycle would make my challenge more unique,” he offered by way of explanation. “I would gain more exposure, and hopefully this would lead to raising a lot of money for Dig Deep.”

Over ten days in early April McKenzie aims to cycle the 1,000 miles between John o’ Groats and Land’s End. In August phase two of McKenzie’s quest kicks off as he begins his climb of Mount Kilimanjaro. Ascending the 20,000-foot mountain in Tanzania will

take McKenzie up to Africa’s highest point. One of McKenzie’s friends who climbed the mountain for Dig Deep last year “found it to be a very rewarding experience,” and McKenzie is hopeful that his expedition can be as enjoyable as it is worthy.

McKenzie hopes his challenge will raise a total of £3,000, with over half of this going directly to Dig Deep. According to the charity’s website just £25 can give access to a safe and hygienic toilet to a child at school.

10

days to cycle the 1000 miles from John o’ Groats to Land’s End - and that’s just phase one of Scott’s challenge

Knowing that he can have a significant impact on the lives of hundreds of Kenyan families is good motivation for the task ahead of McKenzie, but this will only get him so far. Even for a keen cyclist such as himself, a challenge on this scale requires a considerable amount of training.

“I have never done any long cycles

before,” McKenzie admitted. “I am just working for Deliveroo cycling 50 miles on the longest shifts, but with the recent bad weather it has been really difficult to do any training at all!

“I think for this reason, and the fact that I am studying an intensive master’s course, this is a huge challenge for me to take on.

“I am also doing the Coast to Coast challenge with the University, which is 200km as a bit of a warm up for the big event.” The Coast to Coast ride from Whitehaven to Tynemouth is an annual event for charity, with a large University team taking part each year.

That McKenzie is using the Coast to Coast ride as a warm up is testament to the scale of the challenge ahead of him.

To gather donations and sponsorship McKenzie has set up an online fundraising page, and his facebook.com/ roadtoafrica2018 page keeps his fans and supporter updated of his progress.

So far he has collected £380, over a tenth of the way to his total goal, but as the cycling trip draws closer McKenzie is stepping up the publicity around his challenge.

“We try to run the Intra Mural leagues in a good organised professional manner,” Murphy explained. “The teams set the standard, they set the enthusiasm and the dedication,” while Murphy and his team ensure that pitches are ready, changing rooms available and all the facilities in place for the teams to showcase their talent, or lack thereof.

Because of this focus on quality it’s important that the student referees take their role seriously, and Murphy expects dedication from the students at the Referee Hub. “I love getting students involved in it,” he said, “but then it’s important that they’re refereeing for the right reasons.”

Whether students come to Murphy as fully qualified referees or as complete beginners hoping to master the finer points of the Laws of the Game, he’ll ensure they get as much experience as possible refereeing Intra Mural matches.

Indeed, the sporting programme offers a perfect training ground for wetbehind-the-ears referees. “There’s not many spectators,” Murphy pointed out, while there is a good range of sporting abilities on show. “It’s a bit trickier if you’re going to Saturday afternoons or Sunday morning games that are maybe of a higher standard or a bit more physical, with a bit more rivalry involved.”

Officiating just Intra Mural matches will only get you so far, and progressing through the FA’s refereeing levels would require experience of a wider range of matches, but Intra Mural is a great place for trainees to start.

After a two-day training course and several weeks’ of match experience wannabe referees are assessed by the FA and, if successful, earn their Level 7 badge.

At this point Murphy will allocate them to a few Intra Mural fixtures so they can test out what they’ve learnt: “I’ll give them games in the league to give them experience and to build up their confidence and to help them understand what they’ve just learnt in the course and apply it to the field.

“When you do your course it all seems ok but then when you go on there and

you’ve got 22 people challenging you and questioning you, that’s when it gets tricky.”

He added that this is the point at which trainee referees find out if it’s really for them, with some students in particular finding it difficult to remain impartial when trying to referee their friends’ matches. And even without this pressure refereeing requires a tough skin. As Murphy said, even at Intra Mural level “you always get stick, no matter what you do, and you’ve just got to be able to handle that.”

That said, Murphy pointed out that it’s not so much the major decisions, which are always going to come down to opinion and remain controversial, as the smaller things that are the key to successful refereeing.

“It’s about making sure the Intra Mural games are good for the students,” he explained. “That they get a good experience, it’s refereed well, it’s refereed in a good manner so they feel safe, they’re not getting tackled left right and centre with no protection.”

And as for the referees themselves, Murphy expects them to be on time and to speak to the players “in the correct manner”.

“It’s not Sunday morning football where they need to be aggressive and nasty,” he said, adding slightly optimistically “students don’t cause much problem at all in the game”.

As well as training up new referees, the Referee Hub offers opportunities for newly qualified refs to gain experience as well. In fact, students coming to university having already passed their tests are a bonus for Murphy, because he knows that they’re keen.

Regardless of where the students earn their qualification the Referee Hub is there to support them. Murphy speaks to the captains after each match to get their assessment of the refereeing, before sitting down with the referees themselves to give them some tips and areas for improvement.

The trainees are also mentored by a band of more experienced referees, who are often locally based and may dabble in officiating Sunday league matches as well as the University’s Intra Mural fixtures.

This mix of new recruits and old hands helps to keep the Intra Mural programme running smoothly all year round. Murphy tries to give students at the Hub as many matches as they can fit into their schedules, before filling in the gaps with his trusty team of regulars. In this way even the most tinpot of Intra Mural teams still gets a competent and committed referee.

“You always get stick, no matter what you do, and you’ve just got to be able to handle that” To most of the students taking part, Intra Mural football is a bit of fun on a Tuesday evening or the like, but to sporting bodies such as the FA and BUCS it’s an important way of encouraging wider participation in sport.

Likewise the spread of new Refereeing Hubs like the one here at Newcastle is one step towards strengthening grassroots football and ensuring that there’s still enough referees to go round in the decades to come.

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sport

Monday 12 March 2018

Sporting success sees teams to semi’s This year the highest number of teams in Newcastle University’s sporting history will compete in the BUCS semi-finals.

Amongst them are Basketball, Rugby League, Water Polo and Volleyball, so a huge congratulations from The Courier!

Basketball W1 will play Stan Calvert winners Northumbria in their semi-final Image: Courtney Strait

Waterpolo W1 will face Edinburgh on Monday 12th March Image: Megan Lord

Volleyball W1 will must defeat Northumbria on Wednesday to secure their place in finals Image: Alyssa Koenig

Rugby league M1 will battle Leeds Beckett on Wednesday 14th March Image: Newcastle University Rugby League Club

Here’s how basketball and rugby league teams were able to secure places in semi-finals BASKETBALL Courtney Strait at SportsDock The Newcastle women’s basketball club has continued in their record-breaking ways this season. Last Wednesday, the club travelled down south and defeated the second-seeded team in the BUCS Premier South, London South Bank University to reach the BUCS National Semifinal for the first time.

Facing up against a very physical South Bank team, Newcastle had to push through adversity to claim victory in dramatic fashion. Despite being down by up to seven points in the second half, Newcastle remained poised and came back to win a closely contested game, 73-71.

Due to a number of questionable calls throughout the game, Newcastle starters Grace Elliott and Cassidy Sanders-Curry found themselves with four fouls with the final quarter left to play. One more foul from either of them would leave to disqualification from the game, and the Knights needed Elliott and SandersCurry on the floor against a frantic South Bank defence. Thankfully, the American duo played extremely smart defence and managed to play the remainder of the game without fouling and were intsrtumental down the final stretch to claim the win.

Offensively, the Knights struggled in spurts throughout the game and had to improvise. Despite having great ball movement for open looks, there seemed to be a lid on the basket at times and Newcastle shots just would not fall. Because South Bank was so physical Team Newcastle ditched their ususal offence and resorted to setting loads of screens.

Grace Elliott had a tough job on the even-

ing, as she had to guard South Bank’s best player (a talented WBBL center), as well as set screens for Newcastle guards almost every play. Her play, especially in the second half, helped the Knights move the ball when their jumpshots weren’t falling.

In addition to a solid contribution from Elliott, Sanders-Curry was hot from long range early in the game. She hit three after three. When the Knights made their fourth-quarter comeback, Sanders-Curry hit a huge shot to extend Newcastle’s lead and put them ahead for good. As point guard Courtney Strait came off a Grace Elliott screen, Sanders-Curry flashed open at the wing and hit down a crucial three pointer during crunch time with only a few minutes left in the game.

3

players in the women’s team scored score a two-figure number of goals

Speaking of crunch time…Amara Jackson was absolutely clutch for Team Newcastle. When South Bank was swarming on defence, Jackson shook her defender and cut to the basket for a wide open layup with one minute left in the game. After her layup, Team Newcastle got a stop on defence and South Bank had to resort to fouling to stop the clock. Unluckily for South Bank, they fouled Jackson, who has been a consistent freethrow shooter all season. She hit a free throw to put the lead up to two, and missed the second, forcing South Bank to get the rebound and force a full court heave as the clock expired.

The Knights must beat Northumbria on 14 March to reach the BUCS Final.

Similar to the women’s team, the Newcastle men had to trek south in their BUCS National quarterfinal. In their

second straight quarterfinal appearance, Team Newcastle matched up against a formidable team from the University of East London. Coming in without two of their key scorers and without their coach, the Knights had to play big minutes against BBL players as well as an Olympian for Great Britain, to secure a five-point victory.

Newcastle starter Jack Beresford said it took a complete team effort from start to finish to beat East London, as the Knights faced a major height difference against their opponent. To accommodate for this, Team Newcastle displayed fantastic ball movement throughout the game to work their way around the lengthy players from East London and create scoring opportunities.

With a little over one minute to play, Newcastle retained a comfortable double-digit lead and were headed for what looked like a shoe-in to the semi-finals.

But before the clock expired, East London had other plans. On three consecutive possessions the hosts hit acrobatic, contested three-pointers to tighten the score to a one-point lead for Newcastle.

With everything on the line, the Knights buckled down and finished when they most needed it. Consistent contributors Zach Leal, Patrick Wrencher and Joey Bennett converted on free throws to clinch the victory and seal their spot in the semi-final for the second straight year.

Aside from keeping their cool, Team Newcastle were impressive in their defensive efforts, as well as their patience on the offensive end. Beresford, and all-around contributor Thanasis Ioakeimidis, helped to clamp the East London ball handlers and force contested attempts throughout the game. In addition Beresford noted that a few players were worthy of being named Player of the Game. Joey Ben-

nett, a top scorer in the NBL Division 1 this season, was a frontrunner in scoring as he hit three early threes to start the game and posted a huge scoring effort for the Knights. Bennett’s strong outing was instrumental in the win, but Newcastle’s Greek point guard Ioakeimidis earned Player of the Game Honours for maintaining a calm demeanour for Team Newcastle. His ability to effectively manoeuvre past the defence, get to the basket and “run the show,” were instrumental in the Knights’ big win.

After the exciting victory, the Newcastle players jokingly led on Coach Ian Hewitt, telling him they had lost. After a few hours of banter (and stress on Coach Hewitts’ side), the squad revealed the news to their coach and celebrated a wellearned victory.

Knights now face first-seeded Loughborough Riders. Team Newcastle has claimed one win at Loughborough this year but fell in their home game. A victory on Wednesday, would take Team Newcastle will to the BUCS National Final for the first time in history.

RUGBY LEAGUE Will Church at Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club Despite the battering from “the Beast From the East”, NURL made the 7-hour, precarious journey down South to take on the highly regarded St Mary’s University, in what can only be described as Arctic conditions. The match looked unlikely to go ahead as even some of St Mary’s indoor sports had been cancelled, however, both teams were determined to honour the fixture.

NURL’s game plan was simple - psychological warfare. St Mary’s trekked through the blizzard only to find some of

the weather-hardened NURLians snowangelling, which I’m sure those acclimatised to the tropics of London must have regarded as mental.

The game kicked off with both teams chomping at the bit, with Newcastle aiming to avenge the defeat under the same circumstances of two years previous, whilst St Mary’s wanted to prove the Premier South is never to be taken lightly.

Aggressive defence from Newcastle’s Bash Brothers allowed NURL to secure the upper hand, and ultimately leading to the first try from a decent solo effort from a lumbering Billy Sturdy. With this, the flood gates opened. Newcastle’s cleverly worked moves, crafted on the training field after hours of work, were too much for St Mary’s defence as Adrian “Nibbler” Dalglish lolloped over in the corner for the second. England stars Ged Mawdsley and Jason Bass linked up well, for Jason to drive over the line for the final try of the first half as NURL went into the changing rooms 14 points the better.

St Mary’s were not to go down without a fight, however, but Newcastle were able to improve further and continue to dominate. Another timely break from Jed the Head saw Liam Tasker finish in the corner in what seemed like slow motion.

Further tries from Scotland star Matt Hogg, who had only landed back in the UK from a 24-hour journey from Australia the day before after representing Scotland as the captain in their successful u23’s 9s tournament in Brisbane, Sam Norris and Jason Ass saw the game finish with a convincing 34-0 victory for Newcastle.

The game was a brilliant opportunity to showcase the most successful team Newcastle have had in the previous 10 years and it was an excellent spectacle to be involved in.

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Monday 12 March 2018

Beasts from the North-East send the opposition at finals

SKIING Sydney Isaacs at Snozone, Castleford The gruelling challenge of waking up for a 6:20am bus was the first of many battles to be faced by the NUSSC freestyle and racing teams on Wednesday.

The BUCS Snowsports Dome Series take place on indoor ski slopes with artificial snow. They comprise of individual slalom racing in the format of time trials; team dual slaloms, relays raced on parallel slalom courses; and ‘slopestyle’, a freestyle competition where athletes are awarded points for the amplitude, originality and quality of the tricks that they perform over a variety of obstacles such as jumps, rails and pipes.

All three disciplines are contested in separate competitions for skiers and snowboarders.

Newcastle participants had to finish in the top eight at qualifiers in order to participate in Wednesday’s national finals.

In the first racing of the day, the female ski slalom, sixth and eighth places were secured by Newcastle’s Isabella Colley and Katie Guest respectively, making Newcastle the only university with two skiers in the top ten.

Next up, the men’s individual slalom races saw drama amidst the success.

Again Newcastle skiers took two spots in the top ten, this time joined by city rivals, Northumbria who did the same.

Felicitations were joined by frustrations however when it emerged that

Newcastle’s Calum Pitkethly lost out on a podium position my just a thousandth of a second.

Individual slalom races usually take place as a best of two runs, but due to time pressures last Wednesday all second runs were cancelled. This denied East of England champion, Logan Sewell a chance of medal contention as he unfortunately crashed on his first run. Despite losing footing it is impressive that Sewell still managed to complete the course in just 22.382 seconds, less than ten seconds behind first place. Sewell responded to Pitkethly’s disappointment, “Ooo. Thicker shinnies and you’d have had it” highlighting the minuteness of the margin by which he lost out.

LOGAN SEWELL The first team member and scolarship student won the East of England dryslope series last summer.

Newcastle’s Sarah Appleby was next to grab a top ten place in the women’s snowboarding as she finished in eighth place. In the men’s, Koen Olde Rikkert took eleventh. Both boarders then competed on the mixed team dual slalom. Newcastle’s first draw against Leeds was an easy win as their opposition took an early stage un-recoverable fall. This result put Newcastle through

to quarter-finals where they would face Queen Mary’s University of London in what was to be one of the toughest battles of the day.

Tom Simpson and Chris Harrington were almost unrecognisable in comparison to previous performances Queen Mary’s took a marginal lead on the first leg, opening it slightly on the second, but Newcastle clawed back.

Penultimate racer Chris Harrington made a fantastic run reducing Queen Marys’ advantage to a negligible distance, but in the final leg seventh place individual finisher, Guro Nyhus again proved just slightly too fast for Appleby.

Following their close defeat, team member Rebekah Puttick commented “who even are Queen Mary’s?”, and a member of the crowd shouted “they don’t even go here”.

The ski duals was set to be an exciting contest with two Newcastle teams qualifying to compete. Back to back flawless performances from Newcastle’s second team saw them knock out UCL and Edinburgh from the competition and sail through to quarter finals where they would unfortunately be drawn against the qualifier winners,

Newcastle court out Manchester in squash MEN’S SQUASH

Newcastle 2nds Manchester 1sts

4 1

Ryan Doran at The Northern Wednesday saw a huge day for Newcastle University Squash Club as the Ladies 1st team took in Nottingham in the BUCS trophy semi final, while the mens 2nd team travelled to Manchester to play in the final of the BUCS conference cup.

Unfortunately Nottingham proved to be too strong for the ladies, however the travelling team (with some much appreciated travelling support) were able to prove that their league position is no

accident! First on court was Martin Jolley, at the same time as Ryan Doran. Jolley played some clinical squash to win a comfortable 3-0, while Doran quickly found himself 2-0 down. Determined not to let the team down, Doran battled through to scrape the 3rd, before taking the 4th and 5th in a gritty match.

Newcastle were now 2-0 up in matches, and only needed one victory to secure the cup. Next up was no1 seed, Rob Finch. Finchy played arguably the game of his life, and a thrilling squash match developed. Despite this, the Manchester Metropolitan 1st seed proved to be too strong, and Rob eventually lost 3-1.

The fourth match of the day was to be Matt Barton at no2. Any nerves that

the travelling fans might have had were instantly dispelled, as Barton played the best match of his season, devastating his opponent with his accurate shots and brilliant recovery. Rising to the occasion, Barton won his match 3-0, securing the cup for Newcastle. Matthew Setterfield delivered the final blow to Manchester Met, beating his opponent in a decisive way to ensure cup glory for Newcastle. A huge thanks to all who made the journey to Manchester, particularly James Lees for his support, and the head of racket sports Liam Gutcher for his efforts this year. Congratulations to all of the squash club for what has been an amazing season so far!

Gymnastics Club roundoff first term with a win GYMNASTICS

Matt Proctor at Benfield Center Disappointment from Newcastle’s defeat to Northumbria in the inaugural Stan Calvert event did not deter the Newcastle gymnastics team from getting one over on their Northumbrian neighbours in this stand-alone event.

There were three first placed trophies up for grabs, with individual honours on offer for the men and women’s teams, as well as an overall trophy. The Women competed on two out of the four available pieces, electing the vault and the beam as their preferred apparatus. The men chose to compete on

the floor, vault and parallel bars, and did not disappoint. Otto Terrell secured the top prize for the men, with Morgan Savill grabbing third.

Frances Hughes, following her outstanding performances on vault and bars, snapped up second place for the women. Despite individual honours, it was the team prize that Newcastle desperately wanted to win, and tension built as the score remained close throughout.

The Newcastle team held heir nerve, and won the overall competition with a total of 122.1 points. Stan Calvert suggested Northumbria are far too strong for Newcastle, but the gymnasts have showed their class in securing the bragging rights over the noisy neighbours.

Katie Guest (right) competes for Newcastle’s mixed first team in the ski slalom duals Image: Sydney Isaacs Newcastle firsts. As expected the firsts took the race.

The firsts remained undefeated in semis and in finals. In the words of first team member Sewell they “sent the opposition into next week”. He continued “we are the champions, my friends, and we’ll keep on fighting ‘til the end.” Captain, Ryan Jamieson described the team as “untouchable”.

In the freestyle lots of cool tricks were performed by Newcastle athletes. A rigorous training schedule was shown to have payed off for Tom Simpson and Chris Harrington as they were almost

BUCS RESULTS

BADMINTON

W2 v Northumbria 1sts

BASKETBALL

M1 v East London 1sts M3 v Leeds 3rds W1 v London SB 1sts W2 v Durham 3rds

FENCING

W2 v Sheffield 1sts W3 v Keele 1sts

FOOTBALL

M1 v Liverpool Hope 1sts W1 v Lancaster 1sts

H0CKEY

M1 v Manchester 1sts M2 v Durham 4ths W1 v Nottingham 2nds W3 v Leeds 3rds

LACROSSE

M1 v Sheffield Hallam 1sts W2 v Durham 4ths

RUGBY UNION

Newcastle train at the Benfield Center, where they competed Image: Otto Terrell

unrecognisable in comparison to previous performances, but despite their best efforts and great female representation Newcastle did not bring home any prizes in the competition.

Racer Claire Russel summarised the day’s events “there was snow getting board today at Castleford”. President Matt Smith said “I’m extremely proud of all of our teams across the board, not only on a racing stage but also on a social stage. I think Newcastle have proved themselves as a force to be reckoned with.” Sewell added “watch out boys”.

M1 v Cardiff 1sts M2 v Sheffield 1sts M3 v Sheffield 2nds M4 v Leeds 3rds W1 v Bristol 1sts W2 v York 2nds

5-3 76-71 72-55 73-71 71-37

SQUASH

M2 v MMU 1sts W1 v Nottingham 1sts

TABLE TENNIS

M1 v Lancaster 1sts

TENNIS

W2 v Sheffield 2nds 2-13 P-P

VOLLEYBALL

M1 v York 1sts W1 v Essex 1sts

4-1 0-4 5-12

12-0 3-0 3-0

P-P 2-0

P-P P-P P-P P-P 10-1 8-13 17-59 P-P P-P P-P 7-84 10-24

OVERALL BUCS POSITION Pos

University

Pts

8

Birmingham ■

2249.5

9

Northumbria ■

2219.3

10

Newcastle ■

1788.5

11

Cardiff ■

1697.5

12

Notts Trent ■

1674

sport the courier

Monday 12 March 2018 Issue 1367 Free @Courier_Sport courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk thecourieronline.co.uk/sport Sport Editors Mark Sleightholm, Courtney Strait, Tom Shrimplin, Sydney Isaacs & Matt Proctor

Canoe club paddle for podium position CANOEING

Connor Shield at Tees Barrage The weekend of February 17th saw the Canoe Club join over 20 other universities in attending the annual BUCS Slalom competition at Tees Barrage White Water course. Over 200 paddlers tackled the course, a much more technical undertaking than the Wild Water Racing event the club had placed 2nd at earlier this academic year.

Competitors descend the man-made course in the shortest time possible, trying to pass through gates as they make their way down. An overall time is produced with penalties for gates touched or missed altogether. The gates can be upstream (pass through against the flow of the water) or downstream (with the flow), so considerable strength and control is therefore needed to ensure a fast run. Competition is fierce, with club members facing off against lifelong slalom kayakers and Team GB members in the battle for the quickest run.

The great placing reflects the huge effort put in by all in both the lead up to the event and on the weekend itself The Saturday started with the men’s single kayak races, bringing strong performances from National Division 1 paddler Andrew Crowhurst, a first year chemist, and second year postgrad medic Nick Bennett. PhDs Dan Leicester, Ben Smith, and Fergus McClean also produced fast runs down the course. An innumerable number of successful times were logged by other members, all contributing to the Club’s success.

The afternoon saw the NUCC women getting on the water to take part in the Mixed Team event. Groups of three go down together, requiring teamwork and coordination to ensure the optimum lines are followed without collisions. Solid performances were given by all, including Lynn Mayer, Emily McCarthy, and Kayley Barnes speedily navigating the course in the tricky car-

Nick Bennett, Andrew Crowhurst and Dan Leicester representing Newcastle in the K1 event Image: Alison Stainsby bon-kevlar composites. Dan Leicester, Nick Bennett, and Andrew Crowhurst pivoted around the poles as a team of single person canoes further boosting NUCC’s points tally.

Coach Chris Barratt has helped the team prepare for the weekend by providing training sessions to refine technique and vocalising encouragement from the water’s edge. Last minute pep talks on the day ensured the team was focused and everyone was determined to put in their best run. Club-organised training has also been running for months, some members visiting the course twice a week as well as taking part in the Newcastle-based early morning training sessions and this commitment manifested itself in the Club’s high placing of 3rd at

the difficult event.

“I was really impressed with the amount of training members participated in prior to the event” said Kayley Barnes, the club’s Slalom Captain. “The hard work of all members involved paid off with a fantastic result! The team morale and unusually warm weather made it an enjoyable weekend both on and off the water.”

3

Teams descend the course as a group of three in the mixed team event.

Sunday was just as busy, beginning with women’s K1. Kayley Barnes’ prac-

tice proved worthwhile, locking in a time to be proud of; Kay Whyte channelled initial anger into powerful paddling as she also flew through the course features. The club showed great persistence, as even those with frustrating initial runs stayed driven and persevered to get down the course on their second attempt.

Andrew Crowhurst scored 9th place in the single person canoe category, with Daniel Leicester and Ben Smith following close behind in 11th and 13th respectively. Canoes are infamously unstable, so the multitude of other members that managed to navigate the white water and make it to the end upright also deserve credit for the valuable points they earned for the club.

C2 runs and men’s team K1 races rounded off the day’s competition. Novices Connor Shield and Jake Coulthard decided a multidiscipline approach was the best idea, integrating both canoeing and swimming into their (lost) battle with the raging torrents. By contrast, symbiotic pairs like Carrie Bamber and Kay Whyte remained upright, as did Kayley Barnes and Emma Scorror, yet again bolstering NUCC’s ranking.

All who took part should certainly be proud of their achievements, not only in course runs but in helping judge at the event or keeping spirits high when runs weren’t going as we’d hope. The great placing reflects the huge effort put in by all in both the lead up to the event and on the weekend itself.

Inside Sport today >>>

BUCS SEMI-FINALISTS

Meet the four teams who will battle to make it to BUCS finals next week Page 36

CHARITY CHALLENGE Newcastle cyclist takes on Kilimanjaro Page 37

STAN CALVERT

Where do we go from here?

Page 38