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Comment Northern Ireland delivers landmark judgment on abortion law Page 8

Television In conversation with TV quizzer and stand-up comic Paul Sinha Page 24

Monday 21 October 2019 Issue 1394 Free

Science Can DNA tracking protect polar bears from extinction? Page 32

University staff costs uncovered

Est 1948

The independent voice of Newcastle students

Grace Dean Editor

A report by the Taxpayers’ Alliance has revealed that, of 120 universities who responded to its Freedom of Information requests, Newcastle came seventh in terms of staff being remunerated over £100,000 per year. The data shows that between the 2016-17 and 2018-19 academic years, Newcastle had on average 159 members of staff being remunerated over £100,000 per year, and 22 earning over £150,000. Newcastle University was shown to be the fourth highest of all the universities who responded in term of the greatest year-on-year increase in staff earning over £150,000; Newcastle saw on average six more members of staff receiving the higher levels of remuneration. A Newcastle University spokesperson said: “Newcastle University is one of the region’s largest employers with 6276 staff and has responsibility for over 28,000 students and an annual budget of £511m. Overall we contribute £1.1bn to the local economy. “Our University is home to a world-leading

Image: Newcastle University

medical school and the majority of staff members who are paid more than £100k are those who are also clinical academic staff and who are paid in line with NHS rates. “The University’s rates of pay are in line with the higher education sector nationally.” While Newcastle’s figure may appear high, the University of Edinburgh was actually revealed to have the greatest number of high earners, with 335 staff received over £100,000 in total remuneration, of which 118 receive over £150,000. This was very closely followed by the University of Manchester. The report showed that, across the 120 universities who submitted data, on average 3,615 staff earned over £100,000 each year in total remuneration, of which 762 staff were remunerated over £150,000. Russell Group universities were shown to have more highly paid staff than other universities; across the three academic years between 2016 and 2018, Russell Group universities on average remunerated 185 members of staff over £100,000, and 63 over £150,000, compared to 27 and then five staff respectively at unaffiliated universities. Interestingly, the findings showed that while universities with staff earning over £100,000

scored higher in student satisfaction surveys, there was no correlation between student satisfaction and the number of staff earning over £150,000 a year. Similarly the Taxpayers’ Alliance reported that there is also no distinct link between the number of highly paid staff members and post-graduation employment rates for students, though there is a clear correlation between having highly paid staff and the average graduate earnings. The University’s 2017-18 Integrated Annual Report showed that Newcastle University spent approximately 55% of its income on staff costs at a total of £281m, of which £212.7m was for salaries. This was a 6% increase in staff costs on the previous year. Some of these staffing costs, however, come from the University’s campuses in London, Singapore and Malaysia. In both the 2015-16 and 2016-17 academic years, the University was shown to spend a slightly larger proportion of its income on staff costs than the Russell Group average. In 2018, the University employed on average 5659 full-time equivalent employees, of which 1627 were academic, 2983 support and 1049 research staff. Despite staff numbers increasing over past years, the report shows that

University has a slightly higher student-staff ratio than the Russell Group median, with an average of 13.81 students per staff member at Newcastle in the 2016-17 academic year, compared to approximately 13.5 as the Russell Group median. How much the University

on total staff costs in £281m spent the 2017/18 academic year

The report also revealed 82 staff earning over £100,000 per year in the 2017-18 academic year, compared to 75 the year before. Of these 82, 32 were clinical staff. It furthermore reported that the Vice-Chancellor and President’s basic salary of £340,100 in 2017-18 is 9.7 times the median basic salary of staff, and the total remuneration is 9.8 times the median of staff. The Vice-Chancellor and President’s remuneration is reviewed annually by the University’s Remuneration Committee. Newcastle University Feminist Society is hosting a talk and discussion surrounding the gender pay gap, its intersections and its consequences on Wednesday 23 October at

5:30pm in the Warkworth Room. The event will speak a talk by Dr Sue Abbott, Chair of the Business School Equality/Diversity Committee, whose current area of interest relates to ‘lad culture’. The Society has organised this following the findings in the University’s 2018 Gender Pay Gap Report, which indicated that the University has a 20.0% mean gender pay gap, though it is much smaller for staff in nonclinical roles. This is, however, much lower than the gap at many other UK higher education institutions, though Newcastle’s gap corresponds to the national average at universities which is 20.0%. The BBC reported in March that Harper Adams University in Shropshire has the largest gender pay gap at 33.7%, meaning that for every £10 the average male employee at the University earns, the average female employee takes home £6.63. Regarding Russell Group universities, Durham was shown to have to have the largest gap of 27.9%. Responding to the BBC’s findings, the Universities & Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) argued that there had been a “marked narrowing of the gap over the past decade”.

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Monday 21 October 2019

thecourier Photowalk winner Editor Grace Dean Deputy Editor Molly Greeves Online Editor Tom Hardwick

Current Affairs

News 3 courier.news@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Aimee Seddon, Carl Smith Valdez, Em Richardson, Emma McLaren & Sophie Wilson Comment 8 courier.comment@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Aastha Malik, Joe Molander & Kelly Corcoran

Life & Style

was the grey smoke since I think it made for the most dramatic shots. There was no telling what way the wind was going to blow the smoke; I just kept snapping, hoping to get the right shot. When this photo came out on the camera, I knew it was ‘the one’. A bit of editing after the shoot and it was finished. I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out, and I can’t thank enough the model, Sedra Hasan, for her stellar poses! Props also to Photography Society for organising such a brilliant event!”

Life & Style Editor: Nimra Rafique Lifestyle 11 c2.lifestyle@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Catherine Entwistle, Cecilia Adamou, Holly Margerrison & Jess Herbert Fashion 14 c2.fashion@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Kajal Patel, Phoebe Eyles & Shamara Mohsin Beauty 17 courier.beauty@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Nusrat Angela & Rashida Campbell-Allen Travel 18 courier.travel@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Amy Harris & Meggie Williams Food 21 ???@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Amanda Goh & Cayla Viner

Culture

Culture Editors: Charlotte Boulton & Ella Williams Music 22 c2.music@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Dom Lee, Jagoda Waszkowiak & Joe Smith Television 24 c2.tv@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Amy Brown, Sophie Hicks & William Junior Film 26 c2.film@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Elisabetta Pulcini, Joe Holloran, Lucy Lillystone & Steven Ross Arts 28 c2.arts@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Caitlin Rawlings, Charlotte Slinger & Lauren Sneath Gaming 30 courier.gaming@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Alex Darbyshire, George Boatfield, James Troughton & Shawn Khoo Science 32 c2.science@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Eleanor Gratton, Patrick Harland & Seshadhri Subramanian

Puzzles

Sport

???@ncl.ac.uk Editor: Emma Dawson

Photography Society organised a photowalk taster session where they took students to scenic and aesthetic locations in Newcastle, themed as “hidden gems”. The winning image (see left) was submitted by Peter Scott, whose Instagram handle is attentive_avian). He said: “I had a really great time on Saturday for the photowalk. It was amazing to see so many photographers together. Towards the end, a big surprise came out – colour bombs! They came in all colours, but my favourite

Head of Sport: Rebecca Johnson courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Rory Ewart, Stan Gilyead, Toby Bryant & Tom Moorcroft The Courier, NUSU, King’s Walk, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8QB Tel: 0191 239 3940 Email: editor.union@ncl.ac.uk

The Courier is printed by: Trinity Mirror Printing, Barton Road, Riverside Park Industrial Estate, Middlesbrough, TS2 1UT 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.

Get involved in student media Established in 1948, the Courier is the fully independent weekly student newspaper of the Students’ Union at Newcastle University produced by students, for students. Any Newcastle University student can write for the Courier and it’s never too late to get involved as a writer, illustrator or photographer. We hold our drop-in writers’ meetings on Wednesdays during termtime in the Planning Room of the Students’ Union from 1:30pm to 2:30pm, so come along to find out a bit more about us. Our next meetings are on 23 October and 30 October. Unable to attend the writers’ meetings? All our leftover articles get posted in our Facebook groups, so make sure you join them all; simply search ‘the Courier 2019/20’ and the name of the section you’re interested in. For more information, visit thecourieronline.co.uk, or email editor.union@ncl.ac.uk or the relevant section email on the left-hand column of this page.

Newcastle Student Radio (NSR) is our award-winning radio station run by students, for students. On air since 1997, NSR runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week with shows ranging from music to comedy, politics, sport and news. We have a wide range of opportunities to learn the tricks of the radio trade, from hosting your own show to event organisation and live punditry, and you don’t need any experience to get involved. For more information visit the NSR Facebook page and listen live at nsrlive.co.uk. NUTV is our high-action, fast-paced television branch. Founded in 2010, NUTV produces both on-demand and live broadcasts, covering current affairs, entertainment, music and sports, allowing students to experience the world of TV production. Whether you want to present on camera, direct and produce from behind the scenes, flex your editing muscles, or write and develop ideas, check out NUTV. For more information, email nutv.union@ncl.ac.uk.

NSR show of the week - From the Sidelines, Wed 5-6pm Rebecca Johnson Sunderland supporter If you want a show with nonsensical ramblings about football, music, cricket and a range of other sports, then look no further than From the Sidelines with Becca and Joe. Combining our love of sport and music, our show includes chatting to guests about

Image: Peter Scott

From the archives

Grace Dean looks through the archives to find the good, the bad and the ugly of on-campus experiences TWO YEARS AGO

TEN YEARS AGO

The University’s reduction of access to Muslim prayer space on campus led to a peaceful protest by Islam Society and a series of motions at Student Council. Formerly accessible 24/7, the University made the controversial decision to limit opening hours on weekends to just five hours on a Saturday, with a spokesperson citing “operational difficulties with the King George VII Prayer Space – such as members of the public sleeping in there overnight and others trying to gain access not for prayer purposes”. This was, however, strongly criticised by the student body, as members of the Islamic community must pray five times each day – including if they choose to spend their weekends at the Robinson Library. This left the University’s Muslim community – estimated at a few thousand students – forced to pray either outdoors on the ground or in an alternative hideout on campus to get the privacy they deserved. This led to an on-campus peaceful protest of about 100 members of Islam Society on a windy October day prying together outside the King George VII Building to highlight the importance of the prayer space. Some society members expressed fear of a “hidden agenda” behind the University’s decision, referring to Islamophobia sentiments in the mass media, which was vehemently denied by the University. Other news that week included an attempted armed robbery in the Lonsdale Pub in West Jesmond. A rapid response from Northumbria Police ensured that no property was stolen and no people were hurt.

The Courier provided coverage of recent developments in the 2005 Tory leadership contest. Describing the contest as an “enthralling battle between monolithic titans that simply cannot be missed”, the reporter stated that “the Conservatives are THE student friendly party” with a “realistic and practical approach” to Higher Education Policy. Here the author cited their policy “to replace student fees and government grants to universities with a new system of government-funded national scholarships to meet the cost of educating students”. Unfortunately, despite the years of continuous Tory rule, this policy is yet to materialise. The reporter also criticised the “dirty tactics” used by David Cameron’s opposition during the leadership contest, arguing: “isn’t university about experiencing life before things get boring?” and saying that they don’t resent Cameron for his “(alleged) experimentations”. Unfortunately, the article wasn’t referencing what blew up to be known as the Piggate scandal; the reporter was merely referring to a smear campaign ran against Cameron for his supposed use of as while a student. While it may have been an intense week in politics, it certainly was a successful week for the film industry with the release of the first full-length Wallace and Gromit film, Curse of the Were Rabbit. The Courier’s entertainment supplement Pulp gave the film a five star review, praising its animation, storyline and humour.

Muslim prayer space

Tory HE policy praised

14 YEARS AGO

BNP protested against

Student activists protested outside the BBC Newcastle studio to express their outrage against then British National Party leader Nick Griffin’s appearance on Question Time (see photo, left, by G Fraser). Following Griffin’s election to the European Parliament in June 2009, Griffin was invited to feature on the show. While the BBC argued that, as a democratically-elected politician with nearly a million votes for his party at the European elections, he was allowed a platform, many Newcastle students and residents evidently disagreed. Protestors voiced their concerns about the party’s opposition to racial integration, with one protestor crying, “Question Time is a platform for debate, but there is no debate to be had with fascism”.

48 YEARS AGO

No knickers in the Union

A man was seen carrying two guns during a near-riot in the Union Ballroom on a Friday night. Shouts and disturbances across the venue had already interrupted the live music gig, which was exacerbated by the fact that someone had already tampered with the sound system. When band Gnidlorog performed, about 20 people, who all appeared drunk, allegedly broke through the fire escape, yet the porters made no attempt to stop them. Alongside boisterous dancing in front of the stage, an attendee started fiddling with the band’s £7000 equipment and even managed to turn the sound off entirely. The band were understandably frustrated and left the

what’s happening in the world of sport, what we’ve been listening to and how our beloved Sunderland and Leeds are getting on, which usually ends in tears for the pair of u s . A mixture of chat, music and games, we’re on air every Wednesday from 5pm. Make sure you tune in for some funky tunes and sports chat. stage. A Union spokesperson described how “the whole place went wild. There was even a guy running round with a couple of guns.” It was even reported that a disabled man was verbally abused and then beaten when he left the Union for asking attendees to be quieter. The band’s lead singer said: “I feel like crying about the whole thing,” and the roadie added that they would not play here again. The Students’ Union building caused further controversy when the Union Management Committee decided to install a onearmed bandit gambling machine in Men’s Bar (now known as Luther’s) by a landslide ten votes to two. Honorary Treasurer of the Union Society Michael Chilton was outraged by the decision, complaining that “young boys and girls will spend their money in it, and not have any left for sandwiches.” Other attempts to introduce new retail offerings in the Union also failed, with the Courier featuring an article simply titles “Wot – no knickers?” Beginning with a beautiful opener of “there will be no knickers in the Union”, the Courier reported that the Union Management Committee made a further bold decision against introducing a vending machine selling “strong, soft, hygienic” disposable panties in the Union. A secretary working at the Union tried out a sample pack, and praised the attractiveness of the panties and their delicate floral pattern, but said: “I would not wear them on their own. I would always put something on top”. Despite the potential for a similar machine selling men’s pants also being discussed, the Union Management Committee ultimately decided against introducing the vending machine due to lack of demand.

Students protesting against the restricted prayer space access Image: Qiushi Song

news

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Monday 21 October 2019

@TheCourier_News courier.news@ncl.ac.uk thecourieronline.co.uk/news News Editors Aimee Seddon, Carl Smith Valdez, Em Richardson, Emma McLaren & Sophie Wilson

Council set to miss clean air deadline again Libby Prescott

to government later this year." The Clean Air Zone is designed to tackle dangerous and illegal levels of air pollution by 2021. Under the latest proposals, highpolluting buses, coaches and lorries will be charged £50 daily to get into Newcastle city centre, and taxis and vans, which do not meet emissions standards, will pay £12.50. Private vehicles are currently exempt from any toll charges.

A six-week public consultation on the latest plans began on the 14th October and so will end on the 25th November. However the deadline to submit their final designs for a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) is 12th November. The councils say the hold ups are due to delays in legal advice, but ministers have threatened legal action against the three councils if their final designs are not submitted by the date. There has been much criticism on the

delays. Following the previous deadline extension, former environmental secretary, Therese Coffey, warned that further delays would be ‘unacceptable’. Newcastle Liberal Democrat councillor Greg Stone, also criticised the delay, calling it ‘another embarrassing shambles’. He continued, "This new delay is further evidence that the Labour administration has lost its way on the clean air agenda and on city transport policy generally. It is increasingly difficult to have confidence that the cabinet member and her officers have a grip of the situation. They seem incapable of bringing forward plans by the November deadline, and it not obvious their approach is going to be legally compliant." The authorities insist that the delays will not impact the anti-pollution tolls, which are set to be introduced in January 2021. A council spokesperson stated, "We remain on target to meet the implementation date of 2021 for our clean air proposals. "We are in regular contact with government officials and they are fully updated on our plans and the progress we are making. "We will shortly be starting consultation on our final proposals, which will be submitted

recent research, which found almost 70% of mental health issues in dogs to stem from being left alone. Loneliness is the key concern for both dogs and owners, as Rover’s research in Newcastle

revealed 76% of dog owners felt guilty about leaving their dog at home alone. However, one quarter of Newcastle owners stated that if they had dog friendly establishments locally, they would always take their pooches with

them. Fortunately, with increasing numbers of dog cafes opening around the country, the future looks bright for man and man’s best friend.

Newcastle, Gateshead and North Tyneside councils are set to miss the government’s deadline to finalise plans to reduce illegal levels of air pollution. This will be the third time the deadline has been missed, following previous missed deadlines in July 2019 and December 2018.

This will be the third time the deadline has been missed

There have been many protests for environmental change in the city this year Image: Flickr

Air pollution is linked to more than 300 Tyneside deaths a year

Air pollution is linked to more than 300 deaths on the Tyneside every year; and according to a study by Friends of the Earth in February, Newcastle accounted for six of the 10 worst sites for air pollution in the North East. The government has issued the three councils with an order to clean up emissions’ hot spots by 2021, increasing the pressure to finally achieve the goal of clean air.

Paws for thought: one in four Geordie dogs are depressed Beth Murray

Experts have found that over 945,000 British dogs currently suffer from mental health problems. Studies find that 1 in 14 dogs in Newcastle are facing depression, anxiety, and panic attacks. Whilst the number of dogs suffering is on the rise, the findings unfortunately show that almost half of the British population don’t believe that dogs can experience mental health issues. Dog behaviourist, Louise Glazebrook, says that “mental health issues in dogs is a very real problem, with dogs across Britain suffering from a range of disorders - most commonly depression and anxiety.”

Almost half of the British population don’t believe that dogs can experience mental health issues

With 20% of Brits thinking that dogs are simply acting up for attention, the mental health of dogs is being neglected. However, dogs can feel sad or depressed for many very real reasons. These reasons can include going through a traumatic experience or even having changes taking place in their lives. Other major triggers include abuse from owners, loss of companion (both animal and human), changes in routine, and lack of exercise. In order to help dogs, Louise urges owners to try to “understand” them, rather than simply reprimand them for their behaviours. She says that “it is always important for an owner to understand the cause rather than simply

Depression in dogs mainly due to loneliness Image: Pixabay

believing they are being naughty”. Discussing possible solutions, she continues, “dogs are social animals, they love company – not leaving them alone for too long or too often is really important”. Louise’s advice coincides with

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news

Monday 21 October 2019

Cars could be banned from Grey Street Cayla Viner Food Editor

In an attempt for Newcastle to become a greener city, plans have been put forward to make Grey Street a car-free zone. Grey Street is a popular high street running from Monument and through the city centre. Destinations on the street includes the architecturally beautiful Theatre Royal as well as the buzzing restaurnts and bars. It has previously been voted to be the best street in the UK by BBC Radio 4 listeners.

Voters suggested Grey Street was one of the greatest streets in 'England if not Europe'

A BBC article published the listener's opinions, including how many voters suggested Grey Street was one of the greatest streets in "England if not Europe" and how "One described coming up the steps from the Metro every morning and being 'filled with joy at the sight of the street unfolding'." The city's Labour leader Nick Forbes has recently informed the public of proposals to pedestrianise this buzzing street in order to

reduce emissions in the centre of Newcastle and ultimately take steps towards a greener city. He told a council meeting “Grey Street is often talked about as one of the most beautiful streets in England, I think it is one of the most beautiful car parks. I would like to be able to pedestrianise it over time." Adding that the council is "unpicking" the work done to redesign the city in favour of cars, which took place in the 1960s and 70s. Despite these plans being publicised, Forbes noted that a permanent closure will not be possible until new arrangements regarding road routes and bus routes have been established. This can not be done until the government publishes an abjudication on what changes the council needs to make to infamous bus lane signs in John Dobson Street. A tweet posted by @crowfather states “Newcastle city centre needs to be a car free zone simply banning traffic is not enough this requires planning and investment and a massively improved free to use clean public transport system #bbcpoliticsnorth". However, not everyone is on board with the scheme. One Facebook user commented on The Chronicle's article about the plan saying that it "would kill the local shop's trade but [he doesn't] think the Council care". So far, a large part of Grainger Street is a traffic-free zone and there are plans for Blackett Street to follow suit.

Grey Street Image: Wikimedia Commons

Newcastle named Pay Up! Carrie Gracie discusses friendliest city in UK gender equality in journalism Jasmine Cannon

Newcastle has recently been named the friendliest city in Britain by 1.5 million people on social media. The travel company, Big7 asked their followers to vote for their favourite city in the United Kingdom and once the votes were in, it was clear that the Geordies were the outright winners.

Newcastle took the top spot for its lively locals and engaging social scene

Voters recognised Newcastle as the most welcoming and charismatic city from the list given, coming top with Glasgow in second place, and York in third. Nearby city, Dur-

Haymarket Bus Station Image: Bill Henderson at Geograph

ham, ranked 17 out of 50. The city was praised for its history, lively atmosphere and diverse culture which caters for those of all ages. Newcastle is renowned for its Quayside, particularly the Tyne Bridge, the Baltic museum and of course the famous Angel of the North. Newcastle’s Universities also play a huge part in the city and because of the huge number of students that attend both Newcastle and Northumbria University, the city ensures that there is always something ‘going on’. When asked about this result, Big 7 said: "Newcastle takes top spot thanks to its lively locals, engaging social scene and ease of access for first time visitors”. "It’s family-friendly and safe, with heaps of culture and makes visitors soon feel like locals. The atmosphere in Newcastle and beyond is hard to match, with a homey feel and locals who go the extra mile to welcome tourists”.

Aimee Seddon News Editor

Journalist Carrie Gracie, the former China editor for the BBC, held a talk at Newcastle University on Wednesday 16th October. Held in the Boiler shop, the talk focused on Carrie’s own fight for equal pay, as well as the wider epidemic of gender discrimination in the workplace. Karen Ross, Professor of Gender and Media at Newcastle University, said this was the “biggest audience at a Boiler House event I’ve seen”. Carrie started the talk lamenting how, 50 years after equal pay became enshrined into UK law, there are still so many instances of unequal pay. Since 2017, business with over 250 employees have had to declare their gender pay gaps, meaning there are now official reports for 2018 and 2019. The most recent report showed the median pay gap was 11.9%, higher than the 2018 figure of 11.8%. A third of such differences can be explained by factors such as education, time spent out of work for having and raising children, and the fact that men are more likely to hold senior positions. However, the other 2/3rds are unexplained. Currently, unequal pay, for the same job, is not measured in our economy; a question Carrie thinks needs to be addressed by economists, policy makers and employers. Carrie pointed out that if you are being unequally paid, then it is not just that each pay check is going to be less, but that your pension and your retirement will be affected too. Currently in the UK, women earn 40% less pension than men. Following the publication of BBC pay in 2017, Carrie discovered she was being paid significantly less than her male counterparts, with the male Editor of North America, Jon Sopel, being paid nearly double. At the news, she described feeling “resistant, avoidant, numb”. The crisis of pay worsened as BBC management ignored the issue, until months later, Carrie decided to take it to the public. At which point the government and the media

got involved. During the yearlong struggle, BBC just kept raising their offer rather than equalising pay; but Carrie knew she would feel guilty for not holding her employer to account. Following the release of the pay difference, in the January and February of 2018, female BBC workers were called a “winging victim cult”, according to Carrie. This she says is one of the reasons why standing up is a difficult decision for women to make. For the large part, the public and her employees reacted positively to her case. However, she admitted being disappointed with the reaction from some men, referring to the John Humphrey’s ‘hot mic’ moment in which an off-air joke over equal pay between himself and Jon Sopel was leaked. Ultimately, she won nearly £400,000 from the BBC, all of which she donated to the Equal Pay Advice Service and the Fawcett Society; fearful to think that some women could not fight for themselves like she did. But she warned that the fight does not end there. Women must be aware of their own

Many journalists attended the event at Newcastle Uni's Boiler Room Image:Molly Greeves

self-worth; citing how the BBC justified her lower salary because she was still “in development”, an unacceptable thing to hear at age 55. Carrie concluded by saying that men are still the most powerful members of society. But that they need to make sure they push history forward and realise this is not just an issue between women and their employers. Joe Holloran, the Courier Film editor, commented “what is clear from Mrs. Gracie’s talk is that there is much work to be done on the issue of equal pay, and that progress will only happen when men in positions of influence wake up and stand with their female colleagues”. The final question of the session came from a Taiwanese audience member, seeking Carrie’s advice after her boss had explained she gets paid less because woman are too emotional. Carrie ended the session replying that the only way women can make a change is to take such issues to court, to build a case and fight for equality.

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news What is the Uni doing about the climate emergency? Monday 21 October 2019

Deputy Editor Molly Greeves speaks to the Sustainability Team: Julie Sanders, Matt Dunlop and Hannah Owens Back in April, Newcastle University, along with many other universities, declared a climate emergency. But what practical steps has the university taken to minimise its effect on the environment? I spoke to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Julie Sanders, Head of Sustainability Matt Dunlop and Sustainability Manager Hannah Owens to find out what’s been going on. There has been a lot of calls from students for the the Uni to divest in fossil fuels, how is this process going? HO: Our investment into fossil fuels has decreased over time. In 2015 we started the work to look at investments, which is an area we hadn’t looked at before in terms of sustainability, particularly fossil fuels, after a motion from Student Council. At that point in 2015 fossil fuel investment made up around 10% of our holdings approximately. We’ve recently committed to more frequent reporting and our latest report says that our holdings are at around 1.6%, down from 3.6% in June of this year (percentage is of total endowment funds). As you know, in April the University announced its goal to reach zero emissions by 2040. Could you give some examples of ways that the University can cause carbon emissions to go up? What practical steps can be taken to reduce emissions? JS: The 2040 figure that we published in April has come at the end of a really long period of work and study, so the Sustainability committee is looking at this work all the time and reporting year on year. Obviously, you look at the estates so when you look at a University like Newcastle which is growing, certain

lives, in our work lives... you cannot separate carbon from daily living anywhere in the world. The challenge that we all face as individuals, as institutions, as cities... is to reduce those emissions to almost zero over the shortest time frame possible. The country’s target is to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 – the government put that into legislation this year – and through the work with the environment and sustainability committee we committed to be visibly leading and we’ve set our target a decade in advance of the U.K’s target at 2040. It's probably one of the most challenging targets that the University has ever committed to. [One of] the specific things that we’ve done since April... has been investing in energy efficiency. You can see the work going on at Claremont, that buildings getting a whole new thermal envelope, new windows, new walls, new roof, new heating systems, it’s a full refurb and that project is tens of millions of pounds of investment. But aside from that we’ve also been investing across the estate in things like LED lighting, we’re also assisted in reducing our emissions by the grid from which we buy electricity are decarbon-

ising as the country builds more renewable energy, [due to this] the carbon content of the electricity we buy goes down.

The Uni has been using 100% renewable energy since 2017

To support that grid aspect we’ve signed a ten year deal direct from a generator so instead of using the traditional energy suppliers we’ve entered into a contract with a windfarm operator for about 20% of our energy through this long-term deal. The remaining 80% that we buy is also renewable so we’ve been 100% renewable energy on our supply side since 2017. The biggest challenge really is how we reduce emissions in our estate. Particularly, going about decarbonising how we heat and cool our buildings is a massive challenge and we’ve got some projects planned there as well, so we’re looking to redevelop the Stephenson Building and we’re looking at a bio-fuel solution

for that so if that project can be made to work, and I’ve had positive meetings with the Vice-Chancellor and the Director of Finance, that would be £4.5 millions of investment in bio-fuel solution to solve that problem. Aside from decreasing carbon emissions, what other goals does the University have to become more sustainable, for example, in terms of plastic usage? MD: That’s a good question, and one of the things that we haven’t mentioned is that we have recently revised our environmental policy. That policy looks at all the ways in which we have an impact on the environment and then aims to control that impact, so the policy looks at issues like pollution, water consumption, biodiversity... there are a series of commitments within the policy and a management system is then put in place to control our activities that cause those impacts. HO: Since you asked about plastics, we’ve got a commitment around circular economy and resource management. More traditionally that was referred to in terms of waste and recycling but now we’re looking at the origin of those materials and looking at the avoidance of

the production of waste all together, so as part of the development of that new policy we’re going to be doing a series of workshops with different units and services across the University. MD: To give you a practical example, in the meeting immediately before this one we were talking about how we’re currently out to tender for our current waste contractor and we were weighing up the different options that each of the different participants in that tender can offer and what it means for where our waste would go and how environmentally beneficial participant ‘A’ would be

"This is a social justice issue which is why we didn't want to go for carbon offsetting" Julie Sanders, Deputy ViceChancellor

compared to participant ‘B’. The activities of the University are always going to have environmental impact, we all do, it’s about what we can do to minimise that. JS: For me, and for Hannah and Matt, this is a global social justice issue, so it’s much more broadly also in line with the University’s commitment to social justice which is why we’re not going for options like carbon offsetting [which is] kind of the easy option. This is a really exciting year and I’m really hoping the students are going to get on board. We’ve covered this a little already by my last question was: what can students do to support the University’s climate change goals? MD: One of the biggest things that students can do is get involved at the University and be that voice for change because it is going to need to be a joint effort. We need champions, if you like, at all levels in the organisation and we have that at the moment; there’s a growing student voice for change. JS: I think there’s all sorts of learning we can do. We can use our student projects, [for example] some of the vacation scholarships, and we can build them around the sustainability goals because from that we’ll all learn, we’ll learn what the issues are and what we need to do. We’ve got some great models in the Sustainability Team of student internships, everybody’s got something to bring to the table here. Having conversations back in schools, on the staff/student committees, on the student voice committees, that will be a really powerful thing.

Our investment into fossil fuels is decreasing over time

areas of activity can be quite resource hungry, for example, certain engineering buildings have lots of complex kit which creates [carbon emissions]. [We’re also] looking at biodiversity on the estate so all of that is under our work under that committee. But specifically, with emissions we’ve got the literal estate but then we have working practices as well. A big piece of work has been going on over the last few months on the travel policy, we’re looking at academic travel and how our global strategy fits with carbon reduction. MD: [Carbon reduction] is our bread and butter, if you like, in the Sustainability Team. Carbon runs through everything we all do in life, in our home

Newcastle City Council prepare for a no-deal Brexit Olivia Jackson

With a no-deal Brexit becoming increasingly more likely, Newcastle Council have expressed their concerns. These include the increased use of food banks, a struggle for residents to pay bills and increased community tensions and disorder. In response to this, Labour council leader, Nick Forbes, has unveiled ‘Operation Yellowhammer’, which is Newcastle’s prevention against the ‘full scale emergency’ that Brexit could bring. Plans have been put into place for worst-

case scenarios. These highlight the potential disruption of fuel supplies, which would prohibit the council’s ability to carry out basic services, such as bin collections and road repairs.

Concerns include increased use of food banks and increased community tensions

Forbes has rejected the support given to local authorities by the government, claiming that it is “simply not enough”. He highlights the desperate need for more cash to help “

“cope with what will be a full-scale emergency impacting on all our residents”. The no-deal summary document draws attention to the social consequences of this political decision. It states that, due to a price rise in utilities and services, low income families will be the most affected. On a more general scale, the council will suffer from increased pressure, due to more food bank facilities being required; on an individual level, people may be unable to pay council tax and business rates. In an attempt to mitigate such devastating effects, the North East Local Enterprise Partnership has developed the region’s response to Brexit. This includes, firstly, the creation

of an online Brexit toolkit to provide support and finance to businesses; and secondly, it includes research into alternative trade mechanisms and weekly reporting to the Department for Industrial Strategy. The authority claims that they still have the resources to

The plan has received backlash for being "too little too late"

cope with the fluctuation of expats returning to the country, including providing sufficient housing facilities for all. More support has also

been made available to European citizens to help them access the EU Settlement scheme, which is currently being overwhelmed. This is leading to longer waiting times. The head of the North of Tyne Brexit Taskforce has stated that “Newcastle is proud to be a welcoming city so we have been working hard to support EU residents to apply for settled status and will redouble our efforts in the event of No Deal”. However, the plan has received backlash, namely from Newcastle’s Lib-Dem opponents stating that it is “too little too late from a complacent administration”, who previously declared that time could not be wasted “navel-gazing” about Brexit.

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news 6

Monday 21 October 2019

Dippy 'dips out' of Newcastle after record-breaking stay Emma Monaghan Dippy the Diplodocus, who stole the hearts of museum-goers in the North East, is moving to Cardiff after a record-breaking stay in Newcastle. Between 18th May and 6th October 2019, the colossal 292-bone dinosaur skeleton took a holiday in Newcastle University’s Great North Museum: Hancock, a break from his home in the Natural History Museum in London. The Dippy on Tour: A Natural History Adventure exhibition drew an amazing 304,117 visitors to the Museum between May and October, a 51% increase compared to the previous decade. The exhibition has now visited five venues, Newcastle included, and is set to begin its sixth adventure, out of eight, in the National Museum, Cardiff, very soon. A guest to three weddings in just five months, and visited by two-hundred and six schools, Dippy wasted none of his time in Newcastle. The manager at the Great North Museum: Hancock, Caroline McDonald, has described their time with the dino as “Incredible”, and said that “Dippy has had an enormously positive effect on the museum, with attendance, donations, retail sales and catering sales all well up on target.”. McDonald also spoke out about the positive financial effects of the exhibit: “We expect the benefit to the local economy to be upwards of £1 million.” London’s Natural History Museum’s director, Sir Michael Dixon, is delighted at the enthusi-

Dippy enjoying his holiday in Newcastle Image: Oliver Carr

Newcastle students' talents showcased at Charette Week

Sophie Wilson News Editor

Popular study platform Quizlet has announced that it is to offer dialect lessons for university students moving to new cities. The learning platform aims to help bridge the gap between university students and their new hometowns by helping students learn about regional slang and dialects. The move comes after a study was conducted on perceptions towards university towns. It revealed that 11% of students hadn’t visited the town or city that they were due to study in. In the same study, of 1,030 students aged 17-24, 23% admitted that they had visited just once, and 44% said that they’d visited “once or twice”. Quizlet have enlisted the help of various

Students from the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape spent their first week of this academic year creating projects based around the theme: the High Street. Projects focused on either portraying an aspect of the town, or creating a design that improved an existing system. One of these projects was focused on redesigning a shop in Grainger Market, making it more eco-friendly. The shop, ‘The Fruit and Nut Company’, was trying to reduce its use of plastic. The students’ task was to design dispensers which were easy for customers to use. The brief from the shop’s owner was that they wanted to modernise the shop, while still retaining some of its traditional elements. Emma, a second year architecture student, worked on this

project. She said that she “really enjoyed working with everyone from across the school”, and that she “learnt some invaluable skills from my week taking my studies out of the studio”. There were many other projects that the students had to work on. Another example was taking objects that were found lying on the high street, and transforming them into Frankenstein-like pieces of art. Another group was interested in taking charcoal rubbings from different textures of the high street, and their product at the end of the week was an installation which incorporated all of said rubbings. The week culminated in a showing of all of the completed projects. Mixed with a free bar and many relieved architecture students, the night was a celebration of some of the talent that Newcastle has to offer to society.

Dippy has had an enormously positive effect on the Great North Museum

Dippy, and throughout all five venues visited so far, a whopping 1.4 million people have now seen Dippy on Tour: A Natural History Adventure. One Newcastle University student said of the exhibition, “It was engaging and enjoyable because it highlighted the issues of climate change in a simple yet effective way, so people of all ages could understand it” . Hopefully Dippy will have a safe journey down to Wales, resting up in the 16 crates and special vehicles he is now packed up in. Dippy on Tour: A Natural History Adventure will open in National Museum Cardiff on Saturday 19th of October 2019.

Dialect lessons help students dec-AYE-pher the local lingo Rebecca Johnson Head of Sport

Architecture students designed an eco-friendly shop for Grainger market Image: Graham Robson, geograph

asm from so many children, who have been given the opportunity to “discover the wonders of natural history” through visiting the exhibition. Dixon beamed, “We are particularly delighted to hear that, in Newcastle, with Dippy’s help, thousands of school children have learned about climate change and the problems our planet is facing right now.” More than ten thousand school children from across the North East have now befriended

Newcastle is as famous for its lingo as its landmarks Image: Jamie Dobson

local councils, writers, poets and bodies, including the University of Bristol and Liverpool City Council, to help with these “dialect” lessons. The aforementioned research found that, when students were asked if they used any regional terminology or slang, there was a 50-50 split between those who did and didn’t. Newcastle has enlisted the help of NorthEast poet and writer Lisa Matthews, to develop a list of Geordie words and phrases that may to be unfamiliar to those who aren’t originally from Newcastle. A series of flashcards on the Quizlet website includes, “The Toon”, “Aalreet”, “Gadgie” and the famous, “Howay”, all listed for students to brush up on their regional slang. The Vice President of International at Quizlet hopes that the regional slang flashcards will help improve relations between students and locals in big university cities. “We created this resource to try and miti-

gate those university jitters: teaching students about their new surroundings through the important pillars of language and culture. The relationship between students and the local population can sometimes be a challenge, and that’s why all these language experts wanted to get on board to help us bridge linguistic divides.” The lack of interaction between students and locals was also emphasized in the study. 28% of participants said that they ‘rarely’ had interactions with people outside of university, and 16% said that they ‘never’ socialised with locals. 34% said that they ‘sometimes’ spoke with locals and made friendships, and just 22% said that they ‘often’ socialised with locals. Quizlet are hopeful that the dialect flashcards will be a success, so that Newcastle students can ‘gan yem’ with a few more slang words up their sleeves.

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Monday 21 October 2019

@courier_latest courier.news@ncl.ac.uk courier.comment@ncl.ac.uik

campus comment

Got an opinion on this week's news? Students share their thoughts on the city and university on the brand new campus comment page

A bloody disgrace: Uni delays access to free sanitary products across campus Beth Robson In March, former-NUSU President Raff Marioni announced that the University would be supporting the introduction of free sanitary products across eight locations on campus. Now seven months later, we’re still waiting… The idea was that the products would be available in machines that could be accessed by any student via a swipe of their student card, but it now appears that these machines are the main cause of delay; not even fully designed, never mind installed! I don’t buy that excuse.

Marginalised people's health is put on the backburner

My question to the University is this: why not still make the products available across the eight locations, in their offices or front desks in the meantime? No, it’s not ideal and it removes the anonymity, but surely getting these products to the people who need them is more important? How is it that it took just summer to refurbish the library, but we’re still waiting for our period products seven months after they were announced? This brings into question the urgency of the University to implement this initiative in the first place. Whilst it is good that the University is working hard to get these products rolled out ASAP, I still think it’s very poor that once again, women and marginalised gendered people’s health has been put on the backburner. The reality is that poverty won’t wait for it

to be convenient to the University before it starts affecting students lives. For students like me, who have the privilege of being able to afford sanitary products and only using the free ones across campus in emergencies, this is just an inconvenience. But for those students who rely on free products to keep them protected and comfortable on their periods, this is a huge concern; one that the University must rectify!

Evie Lake Considering the fact that over half the population get periods, it is ridiculous that their existence is continuously buried under layers of entrenched embarrassment, inconvenience and disgust. For far too long, the topic of mensuration has been met with ignorance, resulting in our government and university politicising a basic human right. The tampon tax is a redundant policy. With the ever-growing openness of discourse, wonen are reclaiming the shame

Around 50% of girls have missed a day of education because of their period

that once surrounded their period in turn forcing the issues and inequalities into the spotlight. So much so, they can no longer be ignored.

O n the heels of the Scottish Government announcing its £5.2 million scheme to provide free sanitary products in all schools and universities, our SU and a number of activists have pushed Newcastle University to follow suit and become the first British university to provide the same. However, this promise has yet to be met, due to unexplained ‘delays’. Period poverty is no longer a secret. Statistics have shown that around 50% of

Image:

girls have missed an entire day of education because of their period, whilst 1 in 5 use ineffective, makeshift sanitary prod-

ucts due to cost (Plan International 2017). With such financial sacrifices being made by so many to attend university, I believe it is the university’s responsibility to provide such a necessary provision for its female population, alleviating this burden and allowing for the luxury of uninterrupted studies. Above all else, universities have a duty of care for their students, in which provision of free sanitary products is in their best interest. Newcastle University has the means to align themselves as allies and gamechanges in this struggle. It’s no longer good enough, they need to step up.

Does drug testing belong Will the car ban at our Students' Union? drive NCL mad?

Rachel Makinson

According to a study from the National Union of students, about two in five students are frequent drug users, and whether or not universities should attempt to alleviate issues surrounding drug use is becoming a hotly debated topic across the UK. Back in 2017 Boomtown introduced optional drug testing facilities in an attempt to make drug use at the festival much safer. Whilst it didn’t happen this year due to legal complexities, it was widely praised and many now argue that similar facilities should be introduced to UK universities. Critics have argued that drug testing only encourages drug use and potential addiction, but the fact of the matter is that, whilst drug use is illegal and potentially very dangerous, it is a significant part of university culture,

and students are likely to use drugs no matter what. At Boomtown, the testing facilities also involved volunteers, whose role it was to speak to those having their drugs tested about their drug use and the risks involved. This gave users the chance to seek help if they were struggling with addiction, and also meant that users were better aware of the potential risks involved. It was said by the head of the paramedics for the event that there were far fewer drug related incidents in 2017 compared to previous years, which they put down to the introduction of the drug testing. Since there is already a significant percentage of university students who use drugs, it would make a lot of sense to introduce testing facilities to help reduce the risks, but there should also be educators and support teams on hand to address potential addiction and other serious problems. If universities, and society as a whole, want to tackle social issues revolving around drug use, then the

introduction of more progressive measures is undoubtedly crucial.

Evie Lake

If you’re a reusable bottle-toting, recycling mad, environmental nut, you’ll be pleased to hear that Newcastle City Council recently revealedambitionstobancarsfromGreyStreet. These potential plans seem to be a practical step towards lowering the city’s carbon footprint and improving our air quality. An Oxford University study published last year found that air pollution caused by cars and vans in Britain is costing our NHS £6 billion a year, corresponding with 10,000 premature deaths. Any steps we can take to reduce these staggering figures, we should. Predictably, the news has caused a fair few grumblers to crawl from the woodwork into the Chronicle’s Facebook comment section. Although some rightly pointed out that banning vehicle access on the street would be a nightmare for disabled and elderly people who cannot manage Grey Street’s steep hill, others were more concerned about the

disruption of their convenience. Parking in town would be even more impossible! Traffic around the city would be even more unbearable! While it would be all too easy to simply remind them that public transport exists, it would not help. We as a society are too set in our ways and our primary concerns are comfort and convenience. We need to have a collective shift of conscience and realign our priorities. The city council has a plan of action which they set out in their Air Quality Annual Status Report in 2018. Increasing public transport priority, encouraging low-emission vehicles and making electrical vehicle charging more readily available are good policies, but can only work if people are participating. If you don’t want to see the pedestrianisation, contact the council and tell them you want cheaper, low-emission public transport. Tell them you would support city-wide car free days. Pledge to cycle, walk or bus it when you can. Don’t just moan in the face of progress.

comment Gone-ald Trump: Is Trump’s

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Monday 21 October 2019

@courier_latest courier.comment@ncl.ac.uk thecourieronline.co.uk/comment Comment Editors Aastha Malik, Joe Molander & Kelly Corcoran

Presidency coming to an end? Following the coming forth of a second whistle-blower, Ben Audsley reflects on the potential impact of Trump’s illegality.

n the 6th of October attorney Mark Zaid confirmed that a second whistle-blower had come forward with information regarding US President Donald Trump and Ukraine. Following the White House’s initial defence that the original whistle-blower’s report was a single, second-hand account of a meeting and therefore unreliable, the coming forth of a second whistle-blower could be vital.

To impeach Trump, 2/3 of the Senate must find Trump guilty. That’s a problem when a majority of the Senate is Republican

Keep in mind however that in 1993 the Supreme Court ruled that impeachment was a purely political process. This is important because Nancy Pelosi has refused to have the House of Representatives vote on beginning impeachment proceedings, despite the White House publicly calling for her to do so. Moreover, in order to impeach Trump, 2/3 of the Senate must find Trump guilty. That’s a problem when a majority of the Senate is Republican.

Pelosi most likely knows that those Republicans will never vote for impeachment without rock-solid evidence, and even then they may be cautious about returning to their voters and trying to explain why they just locked up the man who those voters support.

The Democrats first must decide whether they want Trump impeached and if it is possible, or whether they just want a political weapon

What seems most likely to happen for me is that the Democrats will drag this out as long as they can. With the Democratic primary, 18 Democrats are tearing each other apart while Trump coasts into 2020 unscathed. The threat of impeachment will remind voters of the endless Mueller investigation while turning attention away from any scandals on their side. This second whistle-blower could be important, but the Democrats first must decide whether they want Trump impeached and if it is possible, or whether they just want a political weapon.

Image: Mark Jones on Wikipedia

Image: Wikipedia

Northern Ireland delivers landmark judgment on abortion law

Sesha Subramanian examines the current state of Northern Ireland’s abortion laws and if they breach UK human rights.

he High Court in Belfast recently ruled that Northern Ireland’s abortion law breaches the UK’s human rights commitments. The Northern Irish law is quite dissimilar to the ones followed in England, Wales and Scotland. The 1967 Abortion Act was never extended to cover the region despite cover-

Westminster MPs which could completely overhaul Northern Ireland’s abortion laws. MPs in London voted for British laws on abortion and same-sex marriage to extend to Northern Ireland if the region does not have its own devolved government by 21st October – something that does not seem to be happening. That could in turn, completely overhaul the region’s laws on abortion – bringing it in line with the rest of the UK. Although not completely similar to Alabama and other states in the USA that were recently in the news, the nature of the existing laws in Northern Ireland, do invoke certain comparisons that are hard to dismiss. Personally, I have always believed that a woman should have control over her body and by extension, her pregnancy. Especially so in circumstances similar to Mrs Ewart where there is a danger to the baby during the perinatal period. I believe that a woman should get the right to decide whether she wants to continue the pregnancy because she is the only one who is privy to all the information regarding her health, the fetus’ health, her own financial and social situations, including the support systems that she has. She is the one who can decide properly if she can support the level of dependency that having a child brings with it and it would be unfair on the child as well as the mother to force her legally to support the child no matter the medical dangers, the circumstances that surrounded the pregnancy, rape for example, and other factors. Whether by the action of Westminster or otherwise, the laws in Northern Ireland need to be changed and this case is a landmark step in that direction.

MPs voted for British abortion and same-sex marriage laws to extend to Northern Ireland if it does not have its own devolved government by 21 October

ing the rest of the United Kingdom and liberalizing the act of abortion everywhere. Currently, a termination of pregnancy is only permitted in Northern Ireland if the mother’s life is at risk or if there is a risk of permanent and serious damage to her mental or physical health. Rape, incest or diagnoses of fatal fetal abnormality are not valid legal grounds for abortion. The case in question was that of Sarah Ewart. In 2013, Mrs Ewart was told she could not have a legal abortion, despite doctors saying her fetus would not survive outside the womb. The laws in Northern Ireland forced her to travel to England to have her abortion and ever since, she has championed the cause for a change in laws.

An earlier attempt by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission was dismissed because of a technicality even though the majority of the judges of the Supreme Court agreed that the laws were incompatible with

human rights laws. Mrs Ewart later agreed to take the case and sought a judicial review of Northern Ireland’s abortion laws. This landmark case has been somewhat eclipsed by a separate intervention from

Image: Flickr

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comment

Monday 21 October 2019

Does Bo Jo stand for Botched Job? Jack Wallace-Hunter considers what’s guiding the Prime Minister’s approach to Brexit

ith fresh talks in the works, the question of Boris Johnson’s intention when it comes to Brexit is becoming increasingly confused. It seemed apparent: the Prime Minister would offer the EU a deal, the deal would be unworkable, EU says no – boom – no deal Brexit. But to the hard leaver’s dismay, things don’t seem to be going that way. The EU has admitted that they are wary and “unconvinced” about the new Brexit proposal; Angela Merkel, according to Number 10 sources, made a deal seem “essentially impossible”, and Corbyn doesn’t seem likely to support any deal his adversary puts forward. Does this spell disaster for Boris, or is this all part of a carefully constructed plan to beat the system? First thing’s first, consider the main concern for all those trying to work out a deal: the Irish backstop, which has stopped Brexit being as clean cut as many hoped. But this important legal framework – which ensures that the Good Friday agreement is upheld – was put into question

by MPs. Since then, it has been the task of our Prime Minister to find a workable alternative: now that it has been put forward, and passionately argued for by the PM, it seemed that there was a real desire to put things right. A real desire to come to an agreement. It’s even reflected in Boris’s rhetoric, as he calls the EU “our European friends”, yet the contents of this new deal seem complex and have been described as a temporary solution. Is this intentional?

The Prime Minister is looking to turn Europe into Public Enemy No. 1

If so, this would suggest the Prime Minister isn’t looking for a deal, but rather to create Public Enemy No. 1. If it is the EU that rejects the deal, those in power can turn the people against the European Parliament. The Tories can use this as a rallying point in a general election and preach “A vote for

us is a vote against the European enemy!” In a world a lre ady so bleak, this would cause greater divides. I hope that the deal works, but with who’s in power, I don’t find that likely.

SOAPBOX THE UN-CO-OPERATIVE Sam Slater

ne thing that has become apparent to me as a Fresher at this great university is the inherent dissatisfaction with the current state of both national and international politics amongst the student body. Considering current events, this may seem like a fair stance, but personally the wishes of installing a Marxist utopia in Britain seems all a bit fanciful at this moment in time. Instead, I’d suggest that these grassroots revolutionaries look closer to home, at the effects of one of the key referendums of our times. That’s right, the decision not to join the NUS. The fact that that I can’t receive a 10% discount on Lurpak in OUR Co-Op whilst those from across the Sandyford Road can is, frankly, outrageous. If revolutionaries want to make real change for real people, they can start with a sponsored boycott until this shameful practice of discrimination ends.

TOAST OF THE WEEK

Image: Flickr

Tikked Off: TikTok and Democracy

DOCTOR WHO

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Eleasha Forster expresses concerns for civil liberties here and abroad in the social media age

rom the app TikTok’s attempts to promote Chinese foreign policy and conduct censorship to Cambridge Analytica’s alleged election interference, and to YouTube’s role in spreading footage of the Christchurch mosque attack, there are serious concerns about how social media is impacting democracy via global flows of information and data collection.

TikTok bans mentions of Tibetan independence and Tiananmen Square

It is hardly news that people’s information and data are being collected and stored in the new digital world. However, now governments are using social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok and YouTube to monitor our internet usage and to fol-

low the whim of political agendas, from censorship to micro-targeting voters in UK and USA elections. According to Philip Ingram MBE, a former higher-up in British military intelligence, China’s government has always deployed censorship and monitored social media for anything anti-party or controversial; now, that censorship is coming to TikTok, with references to the independence of Tibet and Tiananmen Square both banned on the site. Image: Wikimedia Following the CamCommons bridge Analytica data scandal last year, there is

Political parties, election campaign teams and social media platforms all use personal information

now cause for concern the company’s activity is also political, with the Electoral Commission releasing a report on Cambridge Analytica’s role in the EU referendum last May. Political parties, election campaign teams, data analytics companies and social media platforms in the UK are using and analysing people’s personal information to micro-target voters. Do we really have data privacy? In a world of both technological advancement and communication, Big Brother is truly watching you.

Instagram takes action on diet promises

Following Instagram’s new law regarding the advertisement of diet pills, lollipops and teas across their platforms, Ella Bowker discusses where, and with who the responsibility really lies

arlier this year, reality star and influencer Kim Kardashian hit a wall of criticism as her weight loss lollipops were branded as ‘toxic’ and accused of discouraging body positivity on Twitter. Despite significant body positivity movements, almost every Instagram user, male or female, will have seen similar posts to those of Kim Kardashian from multiple inf luencers and celebrities across social media. Consistently ‘detox teas’ and ‘miracle weight loss pills’ are being promoted with the promise of total body conf idence after. Finally, Instagram has Ian Spalter, Wikipedia

responded to such criticism by banning these ads for users 18 and under, while also banning content that makes unsupported claims on weight loss products and the promotion of them through discount codes. However, where does the responsibility of these products really lie?

It is ultimately the exposure created from the influencer and their platform that is so damaging

Debate has arisen across social media questioning whether it is the companies or the influencers that should be held responsible for the selling of, and promotion of such products. The action taken by Instagram seems to imply that both parties have a role to play, while acknowledging their own responsibility also. Personally, I would argue that it is the influencers who

hold the real power and responsibility in carrying such a large following. Even with the inevitable existence of these products, it is ultimately the exposure created from the influencer and their platform that is so damaging when considering products such as these; their lifestyle often being a strong selling point. Jameela Jamil for example, who herself hit out at the Kardashian for promoting such products, highlights the impact of the influencers’ choice to promote such products on users’ mental health, leading the ‘iweigh’ campaign and emphasising the impact that social media can have on body image. The introduction of this new law from Instagram shows that social media platforms are finally starting to acknowledge their responsibility to protect their users, acknowledging that there are toxic practices taking place and making clear that these practices and products are not welcome on their platforms. However, the significant influence that celebrities and influencers have on the actions and lives of their followers reminds us that the responsibility of eradicating these toxic practises does not end with the actions of Instagram alone, but with the education and actions of the influencers also.

Joe Molander

hen they were a kid, everyone watched Dr Who, and don’t tell me you didn’t. Most parts of pop culture have competition, alternatives if you will: people who don’t like Blur tell everyone they prefer Oasis (and never stop telling them, thinking that that passes for a personality), for example. Dr Who is the exception: not only is it without competition in terms of quality, there is genuinely no other show able to match its type of content. It’s not uncommon for the Doctor to talk about the nature of evil and what it is to be human before the Tardis explodes and they “fall through a rift in time” (which of course means a few sparks wheeze out the console and they shake the camera about a bit). It’s ridiculous and campy, but anyone who uses that to say it’s a bad show are missing the point.

ROAST OF THE WEEK

MIRROR, MIRROR Patrick Young

e know the old story, The Evil Queen, in her vanity, consults her magic mirror about the most beautiful person in the kingdom and does not like the result. Yet today, I have noticed a similar trend of vanity, and superficiality amongst people. In the era of Instagram, Snapchat, and Photoshop is anyone truly their authentic selves online anymore? This ‘disease’ has spread to all social groups. Grindr profiles of ‘no fats, femmes, or Asians’ have become a quasi-meme at this point. Why do we as people find it so hard to look past the outer façade of our appearances to what lies beyond, in the “caves of our character” as Virginia Woolf would say. We all need to look past the outer shell, to the myriad of colourful personalities underneath, before we lose those for good.

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life & style lifestyle

Monday 21 October 2019

Jesy Nelson has proved she’s not the Odd One Out The act of self-care Emily Cartwright responds to the new documentary showing the dark side of social media

esy Nelson’s BBC 1 documentary Odd One Out is a fierce confrontation with the cruel aesthetically driven world we live in. Nelson reveals her darkest moments during her journey on and after X Factor, as she was hounded by cyberbullies. From the moment the group was put together, Jesy was labelled ‘the fat one.’ This narrative was the start of a rapid decline in her mental health and ensued a negative body image. “E.T.” “Miss Piggy” “a fat singing ugly whale” are just a few of the comments she faced, but the scary thing is Jesy, nor anyone around her, could do anything to stop them. She couldn’t hide away from the world, social media or paparazzi. She was a victim in her own successful career to the violent force of social media, preventing her from seeing the success she actually had around her.

All she wanted to prove was that she wasn’t fat anymore After she lost some weight before a return X Factor performance in 2013, Jesy reveals that she didn’t care if people liked the new single the band were performing. All she wanted to prove was that she wasn’t fat anymore. Jesy starved herself a week prior to the performance. Thoughts of her aesthetics consumed her: an attitude her mother knows she didn’t have growing up. It is devastating that the cruel world of social media can be so violent about how somebody looks, causing a permanent change in how they view themselves. To my horror when watching the documentary, when the performance went live, the haters still pounded Jesy. This is the moment I realised that her ‘fatness’ was ingrained into Little Mix’s aesthetic. It was acceptable, the norm even, to refer to Jesy as ‘the fat one.’ I think this is when Jesy realised it too, declaring “if I was the skinniest person in the world, it still wouldn’t stop.” It was a never-ending cycle. Indeed, Katie Hopkins tweeted the above, which Jesy admitted was the pivotal moment her depression and suicidal thoughts “spiralled out

of control.”

be a kinder place.

It begs for people to think before they tweet

How could somebody be so cruel? It’s because Jesy ‘the fat one’ had become the narrative. Hopkins happily contributed to the narrative, gaining likes, retweets’s and attention by the second. Social media had accepted it. The world had accepted hating on one girl. The documentary shows that what seemed like a joke to some was actually the cause of severe depression, a suicide attempt and body image issues that Jesy now has a therapist for. The documentary cries out for social media to

It begs for people to think before they tweet, because as we can see, one tweet can have horrific effects. The documentary is raw, honest and brave, all the while heartbreaking. It is a necessary watch in our day and age where social media has such a big influence. Jesy was so brave to delve into her darkest times on camera, and we must thank her for doing so. Be kind.

Hope Lynes lets us in on her advice

elf-care, however big or small, is one of the most fulfilling tasks that you can do to treat yourself. On a small scale, self-care can be relatively cheap and extremely rewarding, sometimes it can just be hard to find the time or ideas. Hopefully this article will spark some creativity in you as I share some of my self-care ideas that can be done cheaply. I love to treat myself to a facemask, not that often, maybe monthly, making it something to look forward to. Watching your favourite movie with a facemask and a hot chocolate is a simple but rewarding way to relax and de-stress after a tough week. A guilt free way to enjoy ice cream is the new craze of low-calorie ice creams. While some can be extremely expensive, I find that the Aldi version is almost identical to its competitors, who charge double, or sometimes, triple Aldi’s offering. They do cookie dough and salted caramel, and tucking into one of these full tubs is a good way to indulge without feeling guilty. I love to write even if sometimes I’m not very good at it or not feeling very imaginative. Investing in a notebook that you can keep with you to do creative writing can be a good idea for self-care. This relatively cheap notebook can become personal to you, and in writing down all your emotions and experiences into a creative space you can remove it from your mind to the paper, giving you headspace. Speaking of headspace, a great way to get into meditation is through the app Headspace. It is actually relatively cheap for students to access the app. If you pay Spotify’s £5 a month student offer you can get Headspace for free, as it is included. £5 a month to listen to music and get some headspace is some cheap self-care that you can utilise in your own personal way.

crafting playlists on Spotify is useful selfcare

Image: Instagram: @LittleMix

If you invest in this offer, I find crafting playlists on Spotify is quite useful self-care. Not only does it take time and effort leaving you feeling rewarded, it is also

Is banning plastic straws enough to save our planet? Why we love Alicja Dryja discusses why we all need to try harder to turn plastic into a thing of the past Chimamanda Adichie hen I turned eighteen my friend Audrey

gave me Adichie’s printed We Should All Be Feminists TED Talk speech (2014). I remember thinking, ‘how do I become as confident, proud and strong as you Audrey? Can’t you give me that for my birthday?’ At the time, what I didn’t know was that confidence is only something you can find within yourself, and the exact text that Audrey had given me was a stepping stone in the right direction. We Should All Be Feminists should be read or listened to by everyone across the globe. It is simple and relatable, yet complex and intense. Adichie manages to tell each human what is going wrong, whilst explaining what is going right. Each reader and listener is provided with the ability to feel confident – in both themselves, their ability to be a better feminist and a kinder human. This speech was simply a peep hole through a door into brilliantly enlightening Adichie books. Americanah is the most romantic, powerful and extraordinary contemporary text. Adichie manages to deal with severe cases of sexism and racism whilst painting a wholesome romance story of which the pages turn themselves. I would instruct every girl who wants to understand more about body confidence, racism or the migrant experience - (simply to understand more about the reality of being a woman, whether its black or white, American or Nigerian) - to read this. Adichie’s beliefs and values should be global beliefs and values: she is socially aware yet optimistic, proving that “culture does not make people, people make culture”. She is making a conscious effort to demonstrate society’s issues whilst simultaneously encouraging positivity and providing much needed female confidence. Adichie manages to educate her readers and listeners whilst making each girl feel proud, inspired, beautiful and strong. Adichie’s blogs, interviews, novels and speeches should be watched and read by everyone as her work is the starting point for a better future for us all. Tess Bryson

n the 1950s plastic became one of the most commonly used materials in the world and it still holds that position today. Back then humanity hadn’t realised how damaging the plastic was going to become in the next few decades. Between 1950-2015 plastic production reached 7.8 billion tons which leaves us with over 1 tonne of plastic per person on our planet today, demonstrating how it’s one of the least sustainable materials in the 21st Century. We also know we ought to drastically reduce our environmental impact and plastic production in order to save the planet and ourselves, as well as millions of other species. But how can we truly make a difference? Is using paper straws enough?

20% of plastic is derived from marine industy equipment Let’s look at the statistics: if plastic straws were banned worldwide we would only reduce ocean plastic by 0.03%. Almost half of total global waste consists of packaging of various products and a further 20% of plastic is derived from marine industry equipment that ends up discarded by the fishing industry. The ‘Great Pacific Garbage Patch’ is largely compromised of plastic lines, ropes and fishing nets accounting for 52 percent of the plastic mass. Cutting back on fish consumption would be the most effective way to reduce ocean plastic. More than 10% of total waste is from fashion commerce which is also the second most polluting industry in the world. To tackle this problem, try to shop for organic clothing or simply buy second hand! It is very important for us to realise that our polyester

sweater is nothing else but a bunch of plastic. What else can we do to live waste free? One way is to start carrying reusable shopping bags, a refillable water bottle and preparing lunch boxes at home to take to uni. Think twice before buying balloons for your friend’s

birthday party – is it really necessary? Try to have zero waste at home and swap every plastic item for an alternative material, for example a wooden chopping board instead of a plastic one. Prices of these items are similar and you get an extra bonus of durability by picking the wooden kitchen utensil. If you were to choose one room in your house to become zero waste it would definitely have to be your bathroom. Instead of bottled conditioners, shampoos and shower gel, use soaps and shampoo/conditioner bars. As an alternative to plastic razors, purchase one decent quality safety razor that will last you forever and your only worry will be stocking up the blades every now and then. Other things worth looking into are bamboo toothbrushes, homemade deodorants and menstrual cups. As David MacKay outlined: ‘If we all do a little, we’ll only achieve a little’ meanImage: Instagram: @marinebabeologists ing that in order to save our planet, we need to start acting dramatically as it’s in no one’s interest to save our planet ‘only a little’. People’s attitudes are changing for the better and the tendency to be more conscious and eco-friendly is growing. This helps us to believe in a plastic free future that can one day become a reality instead of regarding entirely ditching plastic as an unreachable utopia.

the courier

lifestyle life & style

Monday 21 October 2019

e: an overlooked student essential A beginner’s guide to the Robbo on how best to take care of yourself this coming autumn and winter Get the run-down from Imogen Davies on this uni hot spot fulfilling to have something crafted personally to you, that you can utilise whenever you are in need, whatever mood you are in. On a more general level of self-care, Superdrug is cheaper than Boots if you are looking to take care of yourself on a pampering level. They offer student discount on top of offers they already do. Taking the

time to paint your nails is really simple self-care, and so much more fulfilling doing it yourself than getting it expensively done at a nail parlour. Finally it is always a good idea to invest in some good teas and coffee, especially herbal and green teas. There is nothing better than a warm cup when you need to relax. Having a supply and a reusable mug is so much cheaper than buying out every day, and more fulfilling that you can spend the money on other things. Everyone takes self-care to mean different things, but these are just some things I do to relax and feel rewarded in myself, I hope they are of use to someone who wants to do self-care on a budget!

Image: Instagram @thinrichhappy

Is social media good for students?

Faye Navesey delves into media’s good, the bad and the ugly

t is considered common knowledge that social media has a detrimental effect on students. Seen by many to be the source of all problems. Whilst there is no doubt that some issues arise from social media, there is a more positive side which can be useful to university students. Firstly, there is an assumption that all social media is bad social media which isn’t true anymore. In recent years ‘Study tube’ has appeared, which is a trend of Youtubers, like ‘Unjaded Jade’ posting videos of useful revision tips and documenting their own educational experience. This is useful for a number of reasons, for students who are not from a particularly academic family it can be a huge help to watch the experience of another person starting university or taking the same exams as them to make the process seem less alien and provide ee comfort which they B irm may not be able to F : ay seek at home if none ab x i of their family went to uni:P age versity. Im There can of course be criticisms of this, some claim it to just be another form of procrastination but there is no doubt that ‘Study tube’ can be useful for students for whom the concept of academia can seem daunting. Outside the realm of academia, social media can help students engage in wider debates and political discussions It can raise awareness about registering to vote and for example in the 2017 general elections social media was a huge part of the campaign and it is one of the reasons that a lot more students and young people voted in that election which demonstrates that social media can have a

positive effect on students as it is a more accessible way for them to participate in politics. Furthermore, one huge criticism of social media is that it can be psychologically damaging for students and young people in general, particularly young women who can receive unhealthy messages about their bodies. Instagram is flooded with adverts from influencers about so called “Detox teas” meant to help weight loss but these products are criticised for creating an unhealthy body shaming culture. However there have been campaigns to counter this and Instagram is now restricting the way in which social media influencers can market weight loss products there has also been a series of movements on social media to combat the unhealthy atmosphere around body image such as the ‘I weigh’ movement ran by actress Jameela Jamil which seeks to value other things beside appearance. This counter movement is a sign that social media is improving to become a force for good in the lives of young people and students. It’s also possible to argue that these issues are not simply with social media but with popular culture in general as in the 1990s these issues were prevalent in magazines and models who promoted an unhealthy body image so the blame for this is not confined to social media.

he Philip Robinson Library, fondly known as the Robbo, has a legendary status among Newcastle students. Whether you’re meeting up for a study session, working on an assignment or cramming in a few hours of exam prep, you may find yourself walking through its big glass doors to swipe in with your student card. But why all the fuss? The Robbo is arguably one of Newcastle’s top study spots and has recently been renovated. With a focused atmosphere and 24-hour access for the unfortunate souls attempting to pull all-nighters, it is a student essential.

Across four floors, it packs in all the resources you might need Across 4 floors, it packs in all the resources you might need – books, journals, private study booths, DVDs for rental and IT clusters. Each floor is designed with different people in mind. For those that enjoy the solitude levels 3 and 4 are ideal, but if you prefer something more social, there are also collaborative zones. You can even book a study room for extra privacy to get on with your assignments and definitely not eat snacks in front of a movie… Another useful thing to note is that the Robbo has newly refurbished welcome desks and café. This little spot is perfect if you need a quite breather or to refuel after an intense study session. But if that’s not for you, there are other areas where you can sit down to eat and if it’s just a quick snack you’re after there are a few vending machines. This year the library also has a new returns system. You can now keep ahold of long loan items for as

long as you wish unless someone decides to reserve them, and you no longer need to pay overdue charges if no one requires them – brilliant if you’re a broke student. The Robbo is also home to the Writing Development Centre. Here students can brush up on their academic writing skills in workshops or one-to-one appointments which can be extremely helpful in the long run. There is always someone willing to offer assistance, whether you need to find an obscure academic text or find where free seats are available. But if you’re not up for human interaction, there’s always the Newcastle University app. The app will let you know how busy the library is and where to locate the books you need and, thus, saves you from the dreaded walk of shame – quickly evacuating after your mission to find a seat or the book you were after ends in utter failure. During exam season the app becomes a serious lifeline. After all, no one wants to waste their time trekking up and down the stairs only to leave empty-handed and embarrassed. For freshers who might’ve found this guide a bit overwhelming, the library website has all the information you could ever want to know. And if you ask around you might just hear a horror story or amusing tale about what students get up to in the Robbo, the Newcastle student’s second home.

Image: Debby Hudson on Unsplash

So whilst social media has its problems it can also be a force for good in the lives of students So whilst social media has its problems it can also be a force for good in the lives of students, it can help students in their studies and engage them in politics but this can only happen if social media platforms and influencers and held to account so that the negative aspects are controlled and it can be a welcoming atmosphere for students and young people.

Image: Wikipedia: Xtrememachineuk

life & style fashion

c2.fashion@ncl.ac.uk Fashion Editors Kajal Patel, Phoebe Eyles & Shamara Mohsin

the courier

Monday 21 October 2019

Sustainable is fashionable: the best brands Candice Zhao discusses the best fashion brands that will help us be more sustainable and environmentally conscious today

hen it comes to shopping and fashion, many people associate it with waste and environmental destruction. But is it possible to be an eco-friendly and also stylish person? Luckily the answer is yes. We have put together a list of sustainable brands which are suitable and affordable for students. Vildnis Vildnis is great because it works to a triple bottom line – holding themselves accountable to social and environmental goals as well as financial ones. It regularly audits the factories it works with and the founder, Ulla Vitting Richards, is a champion of sustainable materials and workers rights.

If you are looking for delicate, highquality sustainable style, Vildnis is your choice."

Vildnis only use fabrics that have the smallest environmental impact possible. Organic cotton, organic linen, recycled polyester, lioncel and sea cell are mainly what they choose to use during the production. And don’t worry, they do so without compromising on style. From hot summer dress to winter jacket, you can find any clothes you want in this brand. If you are looking for delicate, high-quality sustainable style, Vildnis is your choice. PACT—The best ingredients make the best clothes “We are building the worlds first guilt-free fashion brand.” PACT said. Organic cotton, Fair trade factory certified, zero harmful chemicals, and processes that use much less water than conventional cotton, these are all the basic principle of Pact. Their range of basics includes everything from

leggings to underwear, tees to hoodies. The clothes themselves are mostly soft and comfy staples that you can wear every day, but there are also pyjamas and underwear so you can opt for organic 24/7. Given their affordable prices and high quality, a purchase from PACT is sure to be an ethical and great deal. Know The Origin— Zero waste, kind fashion As the name suggests, Know The Origin is all about transparency in the supply chain. As well as selling its own-label clothes, Know the Origin also sell products for kitchen, bathroom, bedding and more. Brilliantly, it lists the ethical credentials of each item and can trace a garment from seed to shop. Compared with Vildnis, Know The Origin is more budget-friendly. This brand has a very simple and basic style. If you are always into those kind of “must-have single item”, you can never make a wrong choice from Know The Origin. Alternative Apparel— Casual closet, serious attitude. Alternative Apparel focuses on using organic cotton and recycled materials whenever possible along with ensuring workers receive fair pay and safe working conditions. The brand also uses more sustainable packaging and low impact dyes, and it follows strict ethical standards for the factories it sources from. Alternative Apparel is a one-stop shop for the bargain hunter. Whether you’re searching for lounge-wear, house decorations, gift sets for friends and family, or accessories, they’ve got you covered. Most of the pieces have a vintage look that’s timeless so they won’t go out of style. H&M Conscious— Recycle and sustainable Each item in the H&M Conscious collection has an aspect that lessens its environmental impact, like organic cotton or recycled polyester. The best part is that the styles start at just £10 so you don’t have

Halloween hits to wear Laura Bowes discusses anticipated looks for the spooky season

he spooky month is upon us with toffee apples and treats for all! Each year the streets are invaded by evil costume creations and every year the masterpieces showcase something different. The year 2019 has brought us some incredible movies (and there’s more coming), some of which are fabulous ideas and inspiration for the scary season.

The Joker

The Joker has always been a prominent figure on Halloween, but 2019 has seen a different perspective on the terrifying clown. The revived image of the Joker will most certainly mean a revival of him on the Halloween dance floor.

Maleficent

The second ‘Maleficent’ movie ‘The Mistress of Evil’ is in cinemas now and Jolie’s costume never fails to disappoint on both the beautiful and scary factor. This black elegant costume is perfect for a Halloween costume when you want to look great while still sticking to a classic spooky theme.

If there was a list of classic Halloween costumes, IT would definitely be near the top. Chapter 2 of the horror spectacular has been realised this year, therefore I think this icon of terror will be roaming our streets on the 31st once again.

Hustlers

This one’s for all of those who share Regina George, Gretchen Wieners and Karen Smith’s perspective of the annual event.

to spend a fortune on sustainable fashion.

you don’t have to spend a fortune on sustainable fashion."

You can also recycle your unwanted clothes at H&M stores for a discount to buy something new. The H&M Group parent company says overall it uses 57% recycled or sustainable sourced fibres, with a goal to reach 100% by 2030.

Image: Instagram: @alternativeapparel

The true winners of Halloween wear

Ioana May Todd shows us the true celebrities of Halloween

erewolves? Vampires? Zombies? Those trends are dead. Instead, we have the treat of peeking at the more iconic screams of Hollywood nightlife, crawling with supervillains, the unnatural and…ogres? Thinking of going as a ghost? Again? It’s an aborigine of all things scary, deathly true, ane if you’re in two minds of channelling Lady Gaga’s 2014 rendition of the cover of ‘sheet ghost’ chic, then I like your style this Hallo-season. Yet, with every passing year, celebrities are known to hand in the towel on classics, and opt for the more heterogenous homages to Halloween.

This one’s for all of those who share Regina George, Gretchen Wieners and Karen Smith’s perspective of the annual event. The hit movie which stars Jennifer Lawrence, Cardi B, Lilli Reinhart and Lizzo is certainly going to inspire many ladies (and gentlemen) to strip down and throw a fur coat over the top! It’s a perfect excuse to look sexy, raunchy and promiscuous on Halloween and as we’ve heard before ‘no there girls can say anything else about it’. But it is Newcastle, not NY so maybe take a scarf!

Instagram:dressyourface

Dreamworks’ 2001 film-franchise success, seeing the most famous cartoon ogre – alongside Shrek (boyfriend, Tom Kaultiz) – strut with a green-hazed glare, scaring the city of New York senseless.(Baby ogres too, sat in a trolley in tow). Rihanna – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014) Singer in the half-shell, 2014 saw the gnarly-est crime fighters rise up from underground. Ri-Ri took her swords to the streets and rolled up as reptile Raphael from the classic Saturday morning cartoon, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. In her a little less than child-friendly costume, Rihanna stepped out of the shadows in a classic red lip, with less than classically green hair (because can’t you tell that green is totally in with every Halloween?), followed by fellow clique in total turtle power – battle-ready under the moon of the 31st. Armed and anthropomorphic, she inspired festoons of fans to imitate the image afterwards. If that doesn’t answer your question enough, then yes, she did live up to the theme tune, and yes, she was ‘really hip.’ Nick Jonas – The Hamburgler (2015) I don’t know about you, but as a child, there were nights I’d bolt awake, a stretch of sweat spindling down my back. The waft of hamburgers would filter through the room; spritz me in sensory fear. I’d dream of The Hamburgler – those terrific woes. What I mean by that is, Nick Jonas, armed in checked stripes and burger prints was bound to strike painful fear into the hearts of fans, dressed as McDonalds’ maniacal sidekick, The Hamburgler. In his hellish hat, matching the ominous mask, true terror of Halloween is unleashed in this singer’s iconic costume. And although I would like to go into further detail on this one, quite honestly, the panic, the chills, the horror, it’s setting in too soon.

Downton Abbey

Downton Abbey had to be in this list somewhere! The movie is out and is bound to be a classic, especially around christmas. But I have a feeling the hype surrounding the tv show turned film will showcase itself on many spooky red carpets. A 1920’s party would go down ‘spiffingly’ and I may grab myself a flapper dress as well! So whether you choose to go old school, o r try out a new twist this year, scary or splendid, make sure you don’t hold back!

Other sustainable brands: Fjällräven, Everlane, ThredUP, ABLE, People Tree, Outdoor Voices, Levi’s, Punks and Chancers. There is no planet B, let us change our wardrobe from fast fashion into ethical fashion.

Instagram: @heidiklum

Heidi Klum– Princess Fiona (2018) Didn’t you know that a synonym of Halloween was ‘Heidi Klum’? Scream Queen herself, supermodel Heidi Klum donned her eponymous annual Halloween party last year as the red-headed royal; decked from the green jewel-stones of her dress to the piercing cartoon blue of her pupils. Onlookers bowed to the resurgence of

Emily Ratajkowski – Marge Simpson (2015) Needless of an introduction, the most iconic character on the list adorns one large wig, and what some people may refer to as a bad spray tan. Supermodel Emily Ratajkowski dispels the nature of the classic ghost, or the cat, opting for an essence of the iconic in standing scary when braced in her red pearls, matching shoes and green dress; all the comparts of a going-out outfit, and the ability to dress as TV’s favourite blue-haired mother. Already got all of the above? Then grab your Homie and turn this sleepy Springfield into spooks-ville this Halloween night.

the courier

fashion life & style

Monday 21 October 2019

Giambattista Valli's H&M Collaboration

Fashion sub Editor Shamara Mohsin shares her thoughts on the return on gorgeous Giambattista Valli' H&M Collaboration

fter a sell-out capsule collection back in May H&M has announced a re-release of Giambattista Valli’s haute couture collection set to grace their site on November 7th. If you managed to miss the fantasy fuelled collaboration during its unveiling at the Cannes Festival months ago, then prepare to marvel at the gorgeousness of the line that had Instagram enraptured. Valli, originally from Italy, took inspiration for his idealistic comprisal of pieces from the city of love itself, Paris, his new home. The collection amazed audiences by capturing the sensation of love, with the appropriate name #project<3. While the project began with a tactful nine-piece collection back in May, the limited launch saw items flying off the racks, or in this instance- page- as the site crashed, sold out in thirty minutes, and resold for double its market price. Something you can still see to this day gracing your search screens. The entire line was exclusive to the online

retailer aside from nine in house stores which again corresponds with the rise of interest in online shopping for youth, an audience Valli said was the focus of this collection.

Including accessible prices even the pocket pinching student can afford

Alas Valli and H&M have returned with their dreamy designs and possibly better than before as the once exclusive evening wear line now features items for every occasion; including accessible prices even the pocket pinching student can afford. While the most expensive of the original collection would have set you back a steep

Instagram: @ giambattistavalliparis

£399, the new range is much more bank account friendly and comes as cheap as £15.99. For those that are not willing to spend a month’s rent to nab a piece of frilly fabulousness stay clear of the nine originals. Yes, they’re back and just as dazzling, with the fuchsia pink-most famously worn by Kendall Jennernow available in pastel pink; you decide whether this 2.0 model is better than before. For those without that Kendall Jenner budget for their fashion therapy, there are retro acid-washed jeans, Chanel inspired blazers, or sherpa jackets perfect for the winter season- so something for everyone. The collection displays old school femininity in its female line with frills, floral and lace in excess. The distinctly delicate collab comes in various colours but none to be outdone by the ferocious pink sweeping the models. However, you feel about its partner H&M, the brand synonymous for fast fashion, Valli says the change in the market this line is pursuing is a new challenge. The famed fashion company boasts over 54 items in this collection both marketed to male and female audiences. As H&M actively pursues a new image of ‘conscious’ fashion, in a time when it seems all brands are after the elite label of ‘sustainable’, we appreciate the turn to higher prices and, hopefully, better quality-even if we can afford less of it. Of course, don’t expect the same quality as that of Valli’s usual pieces as the price slash reflects the fabrics and techniques used to create them, but none the less Valli promises he’s undoubtedly proud of each item. At a time when the term ‘nonconformity’ leaves designers salivating at the mouth, this line could be the most daring yet. The designs reminisce old social standards when feminine meant pastels, frills meant girly, floral described delicate and all women were irrevocably 'princesses' and were expected to dress as such. As times have changed many try to up-sell to a wider audience, featuring varied pieces that appeal to more, whereas Valli’s choice to limit his collection to the fun and frilly may just be nonconformity at its finest and a bold move on his part. But with floral on the rise maybe Valli’s just so ahead of the trends he’s better than all of us. After a perusal of the line have you been inspired to rock the Valli runway wear, or will you be missing the moment? Be warned if its anything like last time you better get your laptops at the ready as the line may just be the equivalent to the Glasto ticket drama; here one minute, gone the next- only we can’t promise you’ll ever see a Valli x H&M collab again.

The coolest coat to keep you warm

Instagram: @hm

Fashion sub Editor Pheobe Eyles discusses the latest outerwear trends we should be wearing in the upcoming colder months

ctober seems to have flashed before our eyes; Halloween is only next week, bonfire night is around the corner and soon we will be in the run up to Christmas! Newcastle is a great place to be for all these winter festivities, but the weather is getting colder by the day and a coat is simply an essential. I have rounded up my favourite styles of coats for this season to keep us warm in the toon. Long-line coats Remember the days where your mum would try and convince you to get a long coat to keep you warm but you refused as they weren't stylish? Well, not anymore as these coats are everywhere on Instagram. In particular, long line coats in neutral colours such as beige or brown are a perfect addition to throw over your outfit. Long line coats can often look chic and expensive, when actually they're really affordable. My personal favourite long line coats are on Missguided, with most coming in around £65. When you add student discount on top of this, it is an incredibly good price for an item you will be wearing on a daily basis.

these make your outfit look effortlessly put together. Fur lined aviator jackets are the way to go for the cold winter months ahead, the contrasting faux fur and faux leather

Let's face it, will puffer jackets ever go out of style?

Fur lined aviator jackets are the way to go for the cold winter months ahead

Aviator jackets People often complain that coats ruin an outfit. This definitely won't be the case with a black aviator jacket as

textures compliment each other perfectly. These jackets are especially versatile as they can be worn for a day of lectures or can be paired with evening, date night look. Zara always nails coats in general, and there's a gorgeous black oversized aviator on their website. Teddy Coats A more casual alternative to the faux fur coats, teddy coats are a must have for your winter campus look. Long lined teddy coats are everywhere this year, but the shorter teddy coats are a much more laid back, relaxed style. Teddy coats are a great way to experiment with colour as you can get coats in a range of neutral as well as pastel colours. ASOS have a wide range of affordable teddy coats all suitable for a student budget.

Instagram: @cinziabayliszullo

Puffer Jackets Let's face it, will puffer jackets ever go out of style? This year, there is a range of puffers on the market, and I love the puffers in fun colours and textures. Topshop are selling a wonderful faux leather puffer jacket, which would be a simple way to change it up from your regular black puffer. Pretty Little Thing also have a good selection of puffers in a whole host of different colours. As a coats are such an essential piece, it's important to invest in one which you won't get bored of wearing. Luckily for us, coats seem to become more innovative year on year, so keeping warm has never been more stylish.

Instagram: @mollymaehague

the courier

beauty life & style

Monday 21 October 2019 courier.beauty@ncl.ac.uk Beauty Editor Rashida Campbell-Allen

Hey boo-tiful! Are pageants socially deaf, obtuse parades or Charlotte Boulton lets you in on her beauty secrets for Halloween 2019 a promotion of ‘environmental awareness’?

Lily Abery asks whether pageants still has a place in today's modern society or not

ashion month is drawing to a close- we can now all sigh a sigh of relief, flop down on the sofa and switch on ‘The Antique’s Road Sh…’oh wait, no, what’s this? Shiny skin, feathers, pore-less skin, and an overwhelming abundance of muscles and jewels? No, I’m not talking about Strictly. I’m referring to ‘Mister Global’, the men’s beauty pageant which took place in Thailand on the 26th September. ‘Mister Global’, according to spokesperson Kitti Kamjunsa, is ostensibly a beacon of philanthropy. Kamjunsa claimed that “the aim of ‘Mister Global’ is to promote e nv i ron m e nt a l awareness, and we have been promoting that cause ever since we started in 2014”. The Pageant shows models wearing ornate costumes designed to celebrate their c o u n t r y ’s heritage and culture. A pageant, by definition, is “public

entertainment consisting of a procession of elaborate, colourful costumes”. Placing this definition next to ‘Mister Global’, there is certainly a presence of elaborate, colourful costumes, but the phrase ‘public entertainment’ is somewhat troubling, reminiscent of perhaps a gladiator ring in Ancient Rome. This is a pageant, an event which serves to applaud and marvel at the lucky few who won the genetic lottery. “One must ask the question: why? Why in a society beset with false masculinity and male struggle is such a huge platform being given to an enterprise such as a pageant?” While the conception of the women’s pageant sits way back in 1921, men were only invited to participate in these parades of shiny humans in 2014. With the notion of body confidence gathering such momentum on social media, why is there still such a lack of appropriate representation of the human form in the beauty industry? It is interesting that ‘Mister Global’ has maintained enough popularity to sustain a five-year run. The pageant’s premise is supposedly a charitable celebration of different cultures. One might ask, therefore, why this has to be done through displaying quixotic body types; why can’t such an altruistic endeavour celebrate all bodies? Not just those with 5% body fat and smothered in baby oil. It is no secret that pressure from all sides of popular culture is dangerous and debilitating.

Why is there still such a lack of appropriate representation of human form in the beauty industry?

Instagram: @muhammad_murvi

udrey Hepburn is such an icon both on screen and within the fashion industry. Her style not only reflected the fashion of the era, but also transgressed the common look by providing more originality that succeeded in wooing contemporary society. One such piece is her famous ‘little black dress’ that features in the highly celebrated Breakfast at Tiffany’s. What is so astonishing about this look is how it detracts away from popular fashion of the time and instead evokes a very sophisticated and chique look. The 1960s – the period in which this film was released – was a prime time for social change. The introduction of new technologies and ways of living allowed for a boom in the fashion industry. Replacing the 1950s style icon of the large ‘poodle’ dress, the 1960s saw an increase in eccentric styling and colours. Brighter shades of yellows, reds and oranges became highly popularised, with trousers even beginning to make an

In the UK, the number of adult men being admitted to hospital with an eating disorder has risen by 70% over the past six years. Dr William Rhys Jones of the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ eating disorder faculty previously commented that “Images of unhealthy male body ideals in the media place unnecessary pressure on vulnerable people who strive for acceptance through the way they look”. Let us not ignore the facts. Pageants and the beauty industry take up considerable space in contemporary media culture, but it must be said that perhaps this is not a good use of that space. Might we instead use it to invite the pageant community, and indeed, the global population, to a conversation.

A conversation about how we should take the reins of a new form of ‘environmental awareness’; an awareness of the support we should be giving to men suffering at the hands of unachievable body ideals and eating

disorders. Awareness of the struggles the men in your personal environments are facing. It is also strange how some female beauty parades are beginning to lose their momentum. The Victoria Secret Fashion show had its last hurrah of abs, hip bones and wings in New York City last year. ‘Savage x Fenty’ by Rihanna took over with great aplomb thanks to its ethos of celebrating the entire scope of human body types. Isn’t it time the pendulum swung in men’s favour? Hang up the sash, for all our sakes. Instagram: @thefacebeautyqueenvn

hether Halloween always creeps up on you with no time to prepare elaborate looks, or you’re more afraid of breaking the bank with expensive repackaged products, you can never go wrong with a bargain beauty buy to craft a costume for the spooky season. Eyeliner: It’s versatile and Halloween is a great opportunity to dare to bare exciting bright colours on your lids or across your face, as eyeliner is a great and easy alternative to face paint if you’re sticking to lines or smaller areas of shading. NYX’s collection of Vivid Brights liquid eyeliners (£6) and range in colours from green and blue to a red that could be perfect for any blood-like effects. If you don’t want to spend on a vibrant eyeliner that you don’t think you’d wear much, a classic black liquid eyeliner is just as effective and multi-purpose. For these, I recommend Soap & Glory’s Supercat liner (£6.50) if you prefer a chunky felt tip style brush with thick application, or NYX’s Epic Ink Liner (£9) or a more flexible tip that makes a great dupe for Kat Von D’s acclaimed Tattoo Liner (£17). Glitter: If you’re going for more of a Mean Girls-esque sexy Halloween look then you can’t go wrong with a bit of glitter. You probably already have a pot left over from festivals, glitter socials and any other excuse to cover yourself in glitter, but if not, Superdrug’s own Fantasy Glitter is just £2 and has plenty of colours to choose from. For the more eco-conscious amongst us, Beauty Blvd’s Stardust biodegradable glitter is a little more expensive at £5.49, but still a great deal with the benefit of helping the environment too. If glitter isn’t your scene, lots of Halloween makeup looks can be achieved with a nice eyeshadow palette; face paint is often greasy, thick and difficult to remove so use sparingly and always try to substitute with eyeshadow instead. Revolution is a beloved budget brand and bright palettes like their Halloween special Slime Palette (£8.99) or Reloaded Marvellous Mattes Neon palette (£4) are perfect for any cartoon inspired looks or adding a pop of colour. And to top it all off, a blood red lipstick you can bare your fangs in; my favourite is Maybelline Colour Sensational in Fatal Red (£6.99). Halloween is a bit of fun so don’t stress yourself out buying unnecessary specialist products when your usual drugstore products will do the job – plus, both Superdrug and Boots offer 10% student discounts with their free membership cards so it’s definitely time to get spooky. Instagram: @halloweenmakeupideas

Beauty Icon of the Week

appearance for women. The fact that Audrey Hepburn is styled in a very classy, formal dress immediately separates her from this wild period and presents her as a sophisticated young lady. The slim outline of this little black dress certainly succeeds in complimenting her figure, with the long black gloves giving her overall look one of importance and integrity. The great attribute that Audrey Hepburn holds, however, is her ability to adapt and change to various styles and genuinely suit them. Her attire in Roman Holiday is a perfect example of this. Drifting far from her representation in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, she transgresses the popular trend of the 1950s by adopting a men’s button-down shirt. Contrary to fellow women of this contemporary period whose poodle skirts dominated the streets, Audrey Hepburn resorts to a more subdued and

almost plain look. Accompanied by this is a beautifully sleek pleated skirt that in no way shows any similarities to the highly popularised wide skirts that were dominating 1950s society. This similar, yet completely different look that this iconic woman adopts both places her in, yet also out of the common trends of the period. This attire, along with the necktie that has seemingly became symbolic of a working woman presents Audrey Hepburn as a woman just like you and me.

The looks this iconic woman adopts places her both in and out of the trends of the period The fact that she was often the face of Vogue presents her as an extremely popular woman of the time and one who is continually attributed to even today. The ability of this woman to adapt her appearances to not only flaunt her physique, but to also separate herself from contemporary fashion trends makes her such an iconic figure that her styles and persona are still being recognised today. The fact that she was often the face of Vogue presents her as an extremely popular woman of the time and one who is continually attributed to even

Image: Instagram: @soaudreyhepburn

today. The fact that the company Galaxy dedicated their advert to Audrey Hepburn by re-imagining her on screen demonstrates how this lady will never be forgotten for the role she played in society. She may not have always kept up with the times and did, more often than not, present herself in styles uncommon to the era, but she is a figure who because of this has never, and will never, be lost to history.

Madeleine Raine

life & style travel

courier.travel@ncl.ac.uk Travel Editors: Amy Harris and Meggie Williams

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Monday 21 October 2019

Travelling to the land of the Kiwis Meg Blount looks back on her solo trip and how three months in the 'Middle Earth' was one of her greatest adventures

ravelling around New Zealand, known by many as 'Middle Earth', earlier this year for three months has undoubtedly been one of the greatest adventures in my life so far. It is not surprising that one of the most critically acclaimed film trilogies, plus ‘The Hobbit’ series, were chosen to be shot in the incredible scenery that occupies the country. The impressive grasslands, beaches and lakes on the North Island contrast beautifully with the remarkable mountains scattered around the South Island and the thrilling fjord landscape in the west; providing any film production with a plethora of diverse locations to successfully re-create the universe that Tolkien imagined.

My enthusiasm for ‘The Lord of the Rings’ undeniably made my trip to New Zealand even more memorable. The Tongariro Crossing was a definite highlight and a personal achievement: I completed the 19.4km in just under five hours, walking past Mt Doom (Mt Ngauruhoe) and reaching the highest point of 6,188ft, which offered extraordinary panoramic views. Moreover, when I was in Rotorua, I was able to visit the Hobbiton Movie Set Tours and be educated on the making of the films, whilst also being immersed in the lifestyle of Hobbits, ending the day perfectly by enjoying a cold cider in the Green Dragon. The tour of Weta Caves in Wellington also added to the experience, granting further

information on the props and costumes in the films, as well as other major movies.

Undoubtedly one of the greatest adventures in my life so far

On a more thrill-seeking note, I repeatedly forced myself out of my comfort zones, plunging into a series of extreme sports – one of the main attractions of New Zealand. My top three recommendations, which I strongly encourage everyone to try at some point during their

Image: Frank Ravizzaa from Pixabay

lives: white water rafting, skydiving and bungy jumping. These activities added a whole new element to my travels, pushing me to overcome fears and to experience personal elation, especially when I reluctantly threw myself off the Nevis bungy platform – the highest one in New Zealand. On the upside, at least I was rewarded with a free t-shirt and an entertaining video. My independent excursion changed my life, not only by making me more responsible but by giving me the opportunity to create lifelong friends and unforgettable memories. I would one hundred percent advise anyone contemplating solo travel to take the ‘jump’ and go on their own adventure.

Image: Jeff P from Flickr

Thinking outside Festivals to save - no box required your pennies for Louise Cusine shares her local travel recommendations

s a local, I can share with you all lots of tips on where and how to spend your weekend outdoors in Newcastle. I’m sure you were all aware that it was World Mental Health Day on 10th of October and with regard to mental health, spending time outdoors is an essential way of relieving stress and a vital way to refresh from the hustle and bustle of university life. Bike rides are a great way to spend your day. I don’t know about you but I get so much pleasure from riding a bike, reaching a destination after a few hours and just relaxing, taking in the beautiful scenery around me. For example, last summer my friends and I went to Berlin and completed a bike ride from Charlottenburg Palace to Grunewald Forest, it took us two hours, mostly due to excessive water breaks in the 34 degree heat (actually, it’s important that no matter what you’re doing, whether it’s a hike, bike ride, climbing etc you do stay hydrated). Once we arrived at Grunewald Forest the two hour bike ride was so worth it as we spent the rest of the day by the lake watching the sweet dogs go in the water for a paddle (even following them in ourselves). Many people only consider going on bike rides on holiday but there are so many beautiful bike rides in and around Newcastle. Two bike rides that I would highly recommend are to Bolam Lake Country Park and to Tynemouth or Whitley Bay. It takes one and a half hours to get from Newcastle City Centre to Bolam Lake by bike and if you’re a lover of nature, you’ll feel at home in the midst of the forests and lakes. To Tynemouth or Whitley Bay it would take just over an hour and is great for those who love coastal routes. Once you get there you could even chill out on the beach and reward yourself with an ice cream or an English classic – fish and chips. I just want to make it clear that you don’t need to own a bike to go for a bike ride as they are available to hire for the day from the Cycle Hub on the Quayside. It costs £30 to

hire a hybrid tourer for 24 hours, which I think is a pretty good deal. If bike rides aren’t your cup of tea and you prefer to walk instead, you could still go to either Bolam Lakes or the coast and explore on foot. However, one of the best walks in Newcastle is Jesmond Dene. It takes 30 minutes to walk to Jesmond Dene from town or you could even hop on the metro to West Jesmond. It is quite hilly, therefore I would choose to walk it rather than bike it, but you could do either. Jesmond Dene is really peaceful and a great way to be at one with nature without having to travel miles out of town. After checking out Jesmond Dene, it’s a must that you visit one of the cafes in Jesmond. There are so many lovely cafes to choose from but my favourite is Cake Stories Coffee House and Cakery. There’s a vast selection of cakes and coffees (or tea if you aren’t a coffee lover) to suit everyone, including vegans and gluten free options so there is no excuse not to go and give it a try.

Bilyana Yordanova eases the summer blues by looking forward to the finest festivals the summer of 2020 has to offer

and sing along with your all-time favourite hip-hop artists. Manchester’s biggest summer party will also return next summer for a weekend full of house, techno, pop and rock music. The Parklife Festival will be on from Saturday 13th June till Sunday 14th June 2020. Previous line ups have included The 1975, Lorde, The xx, A$AP Rocky and many more. Although the festival lasts only a weekend, it is still a great chance to explore Manchester’s massive after parties. Mad Cool Festival is considered one of the biggest European festivals, held every summer in the Spanish capital of Madrid since 2015. The next edition will be from Wednesday 9th July till Saturday 11th July 2020. International superstars from an array of genres, such as rock, indie and pop, are apart of the festival every year. Enjoy

Image: Glastonbury Festival from Facebook

S Paul Turner from common.wikipedia

ummer 2019 is officially over, you have lectures, responsibilities and the weather is getting colder… but you can’t stop thinking about the summer you’ve just had and you keep on dreaming of the next summer, don’t you? Then what could be better than attending a music festival after smashing your very last exam? Here are some of the top music festivals set for summer 2020 to start saving your pennies for. Wireless is a massive, well-known festival, held in London’s Finsbury Park. In 2020 it will be from Friday 3rd July till Sunday 5th July. Pefect for grime, hip-hop and garage lovers. Even though the 2020 line up has not been announced yet, just by looking at last year’s sets – Travis Scott, Migos and Cardi B – you can imagine how great the line up will be next year. So, head down to London

Make tons of precious memories and be a part of something remarkable

your favourite artists under the hot sun and get to know the Spanish culture by exploring Madrid. Travelling during the summer season is probably one of the best experiences you can have. So make the best of it, travel anywhere you can, explore new places with your friends or even on your own. By attending music festivals, you will not only get the chance to enjoy your favourite genres and artists, but you will also make tons of precious memories and be a part of something remarkable which sounds like a summer well-spent.

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travel life & style

Monday 21 October 2019

How to find yourself at Camp America Forget Parent Trap, Annie Dineen describes a different kind of camp that will inspire you to follow in her footsteps

or the past two years I’ve spent my summers working at a children’s summer camp on the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota. When most people think of summer camps movies like The Parent Trap and Camp Rock spring to mind, but my experience, although amazing in its own way, was nothing like you’d expect. Of course, there are many camps in the USA that fit this stereotype, but I found myself sleeping in a tipi, helping out in the local Lakota community and learning the history of the Lakota culture. While at camp I’ve had the most rewarding moments of my life, mixed in with stress and tears, but a summer at camp will be the most memorable one you’ve ever had. In 5 simple steps you could find yourself having the best summer of your life next year.

In 5 simple steps you could find yourself having the best summer next year

Image: Annie Dineen

I've had the most rewarding moments of my life, mixed in with stress and tears

Step 3: Getting a visa

Step 1: Sign up to an agency It can be overwhelming when looking at all the different agencies to go through. First, look at the options online and make sure to look up reviews and compare prices. There is a fee for signing up to the agencies, but signing up to one is crucial for getting a J-1 visa. Your agency will connect you with camps in the US, provide help and support, and be a sponsor for your visa. Some examples of popular agencies include: ‘Camp Leaders’, ‘Americamp’, and ‘Camp America’.

In order to receive a J-1 visa (the visa you need if you’re getting paid at camp) then you need to go for an interview at a US embassy. Sadly, the closest US embassy to Newcastle is in London. There is quite a lot of paperwork to complete before arriving at the US embassy, which your agency will assist you with, and another fee to pay, alongside the cost of return transport to London. The J-1 visa allows 30 days after your final day of camp, which many

people, including myself, use for a road trip at the end of summer. Step 4: Book your flights

Some camp agencies will book your flights for you for an extra fee, but most people will have to book their flights by themselves. It’s important to not book your flights until after you’ve received confirmation of your visa, as you won’t be able to get a refund on flights if your visa is declined. I recommend using websites like Skyscanner or Kayak’to find the best deals on flights. Step 5: Pack your suitcase It’s now time to pack your suitcase and head to America for the summer of a lifetime! Landing in America alone can be terrifying, but after a few weeks you’ll never want to leave.

Step 2: Choose your camp

Images: Annie Dineen

Choosing your camp is the most difficult step in this whole process, but there are many ways of finding a camp that’s right for you. Wether you’re looking for a stereotypical summer camp, or something a bit different, there are more that 12,000 camps in the US. I found my camp when the camp director saw my profile on the agency website and asked me for a Skype interview. Many people find their camp in a similar way, or by attending camp fairs. Important factors to consider are: the size of the camp; the location; the job role you’d suit; and if you feel a connection to the camp.

Surf's up on the North Sea coastline Travel editor Meggie Williams explores the coastline in search of the perfect spots to surf...and warm up afterwards

s the long, dark evenings draw in and the cold north wind whips through the Toon, plunging into the North Sea may be the last thing you feel like doing for kicks. But hear me out… in our busy, sometimes stressful, university lives it’s hard to completely clear your head. Surfing for me offers a form of escapism that leaves you feeling euphoric, energized and calm. So get your wetsuit on, be brave and go explore the awesome waves the coastline has to offer. If you are keen to get involved, Newcastle Surf Society is the perfect place to start; they run surf sessions on a Wednesday, weekends away, cool socials, trips abroad and have a reputation for being an inclusive, chilled society where the chances are you’ll meet some likeminded folk and have a wholesome time.

If you are keen to get involved Newcastle Surf Society is the perfect place to start

First up is Longsands beach at Tynemouth: right on your doorstep it’s perfect for a quick session in between your busy schedule. From ten regular surfers in the 1980s, to hosting some of the world’s best surfers in international competitions, the surf scene has really taken off in the past ten years. Get the conditions right and there are some incredible waves for all levels

and a couple of places to hire equipment on the beach. Warm up afterwards in the quirky Surf Café just above which serves hearty food, big mugs of hot drinks and beer on tap. What’s not to like? Check out their events in the evening too for a refreshingly different evening. With Tynemouth’s very own surf shop you can get everything you need and equipment mended, all of this with friendly service and good advice. Although it appears that there isn’t really much need to surf anywhere but Tynemouth, surfing and travelling usually go hand in hand and I know you’re all an adventurous bunch so I’ll go on. Bamburgh Castle beach has been described as one of the most consistent spots along the coast due to the Northerly swell being aided by the Farne Islands but it seems this isn’t the only charm of the spot. The white, sandy beach is overlooked by the formidable Bamburgh Castle and as the sunsets over the Farne Is-

lands those surfing are blown away by the striking beauty of the spot. Surfing here is bound to get the endorphins going. Belhaven beach is an up and coming surf spot with a newly built Surf Centre in a charming little village, easily accessible from Edinburgh. What’s really cool about this new scene is that Belhaven Surf Centre Limited is a charity which aims to “improve physical and mental health” for the whole community by encouraging people to be more active, learn new skills and make the most of the beautiful coastline. One particular charity the centre works with is The Wave Project which uses surfing as a therapy to help young people “feel less anxious and more positive”, and their results have been incredible.

The Wave Project which uses surfing as a therapy to help young people

Rumour goes that Saltburn was described by the legend Jack O’Neill as “one of the best points in Britain, if not Europe”. Perhaps now one of the most famous surfing spots along the coastline, the scene has come along way from ten or so VW campers parked up on the weekends in the 1980s. The spot is perceived to have great flexibility: allowing beginners to advance quickly but also providing some knee trembling surf when the Artic swell hits. The Ship Inn, popular with the surfers, is a characterful pub on the beachfront that will no doubt entice you in with the promise of some good pub grub and a chance to get the feeling back into your extremities again. Although I’ve only mentioned the few that stand out for one reason or another, there are plenty of other good surf spots along the coast, why not make a road trip of it?

Image: Debora Cardenas on Unsplash

the courier

food life & style

Monday 21 October 2019

Food Editors: Cayla Viner & Amanda Goh

Is vegetarianism no longer enough?

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Emma McCartney on veganism

ver recent years there has been an undeniable rocket in the number of vegetarians and vegans in the United Kingdom. Whether the choice is for ethical, environmental or for health reasons, it seems that vegetarianism and veganism are becoming a much desired lifestyle for many. In fact, researchers have predicted that by 2025, one in four of us will have made the switch to a vegetarian or vegan diet. While vegetarianism has been on the rise for quite some time now, veganism is still relatively new in prominence to our society. However, the amount of people choosing to cut all animal products from their diets has peaked rather significantly in recent years. In 2018, there were 600,000 vegans living in Great Britain, making up 1.16 per cent of the country’s population. As a vegetarian myself, I often wonder whether I am going far enough. After all, the processes involved in the manufacture of dairy products are often inhumane and entail appalling treatment of farm animals.

A surprising amount of people appear to have been previously naïve to the barbaric nature of dairy production.

The treatment of cows on dairy farms has become a topic of great concern over recent years, spotlighted to many by the 2014 documentary Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret and other such documentaries. A surprising amount of people appear to have been previously naïve to the barbaric nature of dairy production. In simple terms, cows need to have been pregnant in order to produce milk. Pregnancy is often achieved forcibly, through artificial insemination, and the consequential calves are often separated from their mothers within twenty-four hours. And since male calves are of no use to the dairy-industry, around 90,000 are murdered each

year, shortly after birth. H o w e v e r, ethics are not the only reason people are opting to cut meat and animal products from their diets. According t o the research of Oxford University, a reduced consumption of meat worldwide could cut greenhouse gas emissions by two thirds by 2050, d e monst r at i ng the severe effect the manufacture and transportation of such products is currently having on the environment. Reduced intake of meat and dairy is also proven to reduce the risk of illnesses such as heart disease and cancer, assist in weight management or loss, and extend life-longevity. You can also avoid food-borne diseases such as e coli, salmonella and listeria by making the switch to a vegetarian or (especially) vegan diet. However, despite the many health benefits, it is important to ensure that you are still consuming enough necessary nutrients, such as protein, iron and vitamin B12 when adopting a vegetarian or vegan diet. While supplement tablets are available for these nutrients, they can be obtained from foods such as nuts, beans, seeds and lentils also. I urge every one of you to cut down on the amount of meat and animal products you consume. You do not need to go fully vegan or vegetarian to make a difference, just do what you can. If that means switching to just one vegetarian meal a week, then so be it. All contributions to the reduction of animal products are necessary to create a more ethical and Image: sustainable Wikimedia world. Commons

Dish of the Week: Paella Head of Sport Rebecca Johnson shares her wonderful recipe of homemade chicken and chorizo paella to all of us

ow, it’s a common misconception that a lot of students are utterly inept in the kitchen. Unless you’re my housemate, I completely disagree. You’ve got to strip away the myth that a lot of tasty things look bloody difficult to make, because in reality, they’re dead easy. Here I present the staple dish that falls under this branch, the humble paella. The paella has defined my university career. It’s a firm favourite amongst all of my family and friends, and it’s so easy to make. If you’re a fresher looking to win over your new flatmates, whack up a paella. If you need to batch cook something healthy and tasty, then look no further then this little Spanish bad boy. So, how do you rustle this up? Grab a couple of chicken breasts, a ring of chorizo, a couple of

Image: Rebecca Johnson

peppers, spring onions, paella rice, garlic and some chicken stock pots. Chop everything up, then on a medium heat, splash a bit of oil in a massive pan (I’m talking wok standard at the very least), and chuck in the chicken and chorizo with the garlic. If you like, sprinkle a smidge of paprika over the chicken for that smooth kick in the throat. Do that for about ten minutes, then chuck the spring onions and peppers in, give them a stir for a couple of minutes and you get the most gorgeous smell ever. Then, pop the rice in and give it a quick mix in with the meat and veg, then add chicken stock in and stir. Let it simmer and keep adding more stock in as necessary, until the rice is soft. Then you’re all set, share or freeze to your heart’s delight, and it will be delighted, because this paella is a dish not to be missed.

Mar-mighty The rise of sober students: cold cures! teetotalism is the way forward Film Editor Lucy Lillystone discusses teetotal students

ften,

when you come to University, a main worry students have is the pressure of drinking culture. This is particularly true of places such as Newcastle University that is renowned for it’s clubbing a n d trebs. Recently, h o w e v e r, more students are opting to be teetotal, with 36% of 16-24

Image: PublicDomain Pictures

by George Boatfield

ometimes, there’s nothing for it. You’re tolerating an annoyingly persistent bout of freshers’ flu, getting by for the time being but unsure how long you’ll last. Now’s the perfect time for something to help power through the crucial first weeks of the semester. Enter Bovril. That’s right, it’s going to be one of those lists. This warm, peppery brew is dangerously close to a pint of gravy, but sometimes that’s all that’s needed to soothe a raspy voice in the cold autumn air. There’s then only one logical step to take from Bovril: Marmite. I realise these suggestions are fairly divisive, and this next bit is quite unusual... The key is to mix Marmite with peanut butter before spreading it on some toast. You want peanut butter on toast to be rich and salty but not too dense. Adding the marmite into the mix helps with all of these, diluting the stodginess of the peanuts down just enough, and also bringing the extra flavour. And to be honest, with all these carbohydrates there’s probably a decent amount of crossover to be found for this dealing with hangovers as well as colds. And finally, tea! This is already a daily essential, but it’s almost as though the other two suggestions can’t truly work their magic without a good cuppa to accompany. That’s the best I’ve got: Bovril, Marmite and tea. Unintentionally British you have the holy trinity of modern medicine. Who needs a degree in BioMed when you’ve got Bovril? Yours sincerely, a misinformed journalism student.

Image: Jacalyn Beales on Unsplash

yearolds not touching alcohol according to a survey done by University College London. So why the sudden change?

Firstly, I think a lot of students are deciding to remove away from alcohol due to the cost. It’s no surprise that alcoholic drinks cost a bomb. Barring Spoons, some pubs charge you £4-£5 for a single Gin. On top of rent and buying books, alcohol sometimes just isn’t in the budget. Freshers’ week alone can have students spending almost £100 - £200 on alcohol. Imagine the things you could splash the cash on when you’re teetotal? Winter boots, tickets to see Sam Fender, a cheeky nandos... you’re going right in my basket!

36% of 16-24 yearolds don’t drink

ten has alternative night time activities that don’t involve drinking such as comedies, bingo and much more. Another major reason a lot of students are minimising their drinking habits is due to their health. Believe it or not, despite the delicious taste of some of our alcoholic beverages, they contain a LOT of sugar and calories. And if we’re binging on a weekend, well, I’ll let you imagine how many calories you may have consumed during a 2 hour pres. Some students just don’t want the hassle of the weight gain anymore. And rightly so, by becoming teetotal, you’re a lot healthier. Not drinking allows you better sleep, a better state of mind, and most definitely a better and healthier body! Hopefully, with a lot more students becoming teetotal and the University accommodating for this in fresher’s week, societies and socials, students will feel a little less worried about drinking culture when coming to University for the first time.

Alternatively, a lot of students just don’t want the pain of a hangover. If you can still have fun, make friends and go out without having to drink and have the banging head and nausea in the morning, why not go teetotal? And with the rise of teetotal students, Universities are now having to accommodate. For example, societies are having to stress that there is no pressure to drink and soft drinks will be available for socials. Some Universities even have teetotal societies available for students who Image: bckfwd on Unsplash feel their drinking choices may alienate them when it comes to socials in other societies. In addition, freshers’ week of-

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culture music Should artists fight the power or bite their tongue

Monday 21 October 2019

c2.music@ncl.ac.uk Music Editors Dom Lee, Jagoda Waszkowiak & Joe Smith

Music Editor Joe Smith and William Nsieyanji ponder whether musicians should express their political views to fans Joe Smith

e live in an incredibly political era. Tensions are high and no one really know what’s going on. In this political age should musicians be able to express where they stand in this twisted political climate. To argue that musicians should not be able to give their view on current affairs or even their own political stance is ridiculous. You wouldn’t restrict strangers from giving their political opinions, so why should we musicians? It can be said that some musicians simply state their take on current politics to spark uproar and draw attention to themselves. Take the once great Smiths frontman,

Artists have the power to cause a change to happen Morrissey, as an example. In May, when appearing on the Jimmy Fallon show, Morrissey was wearing a badge supporting the far-right political group ‘For Britain’. When asked further about this he showed his support for the party by describing their leader Anne Marie Walters as ‘Very engaging and very funny’. As controversial as this may be it cannot be said to be fair that we criticise Morrissey for this and then praise another musician for their open support of the left. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and whether they decide to talk about it openly is their own choice. Morrissey, however, just seems a bit hungry for attention Many musicians have such huge platforms that they feel the need to give their opinions on current political situations, which can be mostly seen as a great thing. Artists have the power to cause a change to happen, so why shouldn’t they use it? Take Matty Healy from The 1975. He is actively trying to strive to-

wards creating a better future for the youth of today. The first single released off their next album Notes on a Conditional Form ‘The 1975’ features teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg delivering a speech about the dangers of the warming climate. This eagerly awaited single took fans by surprise as they weren’t greeted by the normal 1975 intro and were instead delivered a warning that something needs to happen. By promoting this message at the forefront of their music The 1975 are showing that they are happy to join the rebellion started by the people. By stating their view on current politics, they hope to make a much-needed change in the world. To conclude, although we may not agree with the political stances of some major music i ans , w e simply cannot strip them on their ability to speak freely on such matters. They have the ability to change the world and inspire millions, so if they want to, they should.

William Nsieyanji

do not believe that any artist should ever be restricted in their creative freedom. However, there are some musicians that should probably leave politics to the professionals as some of their statements seem to be fuelled by emotion and their own personal political agendas rather than facts. The problem with this is the implications of their words and the impact it may have on their fans. Let’s take Ludacris’s “Obama

is Here”, a song he wrote with the intention of celebrating Barrack Obama winning the presidential election in 2008, which ultimately left Mr. Bridges (Ludacris) humiliated and rejected. With potentially ableist lyrics “McCain don’t belong in any chair unless he’s paralysed”, misogyny - calling Hilary Clinton a “B*tch” and just out-

Musicians should use their power responsibly right stupidity - “paint the white house black... Obama is here”. It comes as no surprise that Obama’s campaign immediately condemned the song and renounce any affiliations with it. The past president even stated that the song is “outrageously offensive” and that Ludacris should be “ashamed” of himself. A case which demonstrates that sometimes musicians getting political can cause more damage than it resolves. Another politically notorious artist is Kanye West, who has said so many far-fetched statements that they could only all be true in a dystopian movie. Some of his more controversial comments include “Slavery was a choice” “Bush doesn’t care about black people” “Aids is a man-made disease placed in Africa just like crack was placed in the black community to stop black panthers” I do not want this article to come across as musicians should never use their art to express politics, but they have a lot of influence over their fans. Therefore, they should use this power responsibly and only feed their listeners well-researched and factual news rather than conspiracies.

Riverside chats with MarthaGunn Image: Wikimedia Commons- pitponey.photography

Image: Wikimedia Commons - Eva Rinaldi

Music Editor Dominic Lee sits down to chat tours and more with the indie starlets before their first Newcastle headline show

couple of weeks ago I got the chance to sit down with the exciting new band MarthaGunn ahead of their show at the Riverside on their first ever headline tour. The band commented on their first EP, Lizzo and playing at the Peaky Blinders festival. How does touring as the headline act compare to touring as a support band? There’s pros and cons to both I think. It’s a lot nicer in some ways because you get a lot more time to soundcheck and prepare for gig. But obviously there’s more pressure. When you’re a support band anyone who turns up is sort of a bonus. But when its your gig you feel a bit more accountable for the crowd who’s there. I also saw that you guys performed at the Peaky Blinders festival. How was that? Everyone really committed to it. Everyone was dressed up. Did you dress up? No. Well, we dressed up as ourselves. Although our

Image: Dominic Lee

soundman bought a flat cap and he’s still wearing it. Liam Gallagher was playing as the special secret act. He was a few acts after us so that was pretty mad. Finding out on the day that you’re playing the same stage as Liam Gallagher. Yeah, the festival was really good. This tour comes off the back of the release of your first EP Love and Emotion. What was the inspiration behind the tracks? It was a real shift in our lives and us as a band and those songs were at that pivotal moment when that shift happened. So, it felt right to come out with those songs first to establish all that we’ve done and how we wanted to go forward. The overriding themes in those songs are being stuck and not listening to your instincts and your guidance and wanting to break free from that but not actually doing it. And can we expect more releases soon? Yes. You can expect one very soon! Then a lot of releases next year. You also got an invite to the Radio X X-posure summer party. How did it feel to gain recognition from such a huge and respected station? Yeah really good. John Kennedy’s been a real support to so many

bands that we love and really pushed for them in their early days. So, to know that he’s backing us is quite a good feeling. All the other bands playing were also really good so it was a good time to be celebrating his career. Your latest release was a cover of Lizzo’s ‘Cuz I Love You’. What was it about that track or even Lizzo as an artist

which inspired you to release the cover? I think she’s a really important figure for our generation and actually everyone. She’s sort of made her own rules and I like that a lot and I’ve been really obsessed with her for quite a long time. So, when we brought up the idea of doing a live session cover it was an easy one for us to choose. I love the fact that she doesn’t care what people think and she’s going for positive body image. She’s very honest in her music. I like that.

Image: Instagram (@marthagunn)

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Monday 21 October 2019

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music culture

Campus catchup with Beats 1’s Charlie Sloth

Tom Moorcroft chats to veteran DJ Charlie Sloth about his humble beginnings, Grime and ‘Fire in the booth’ PERFECT So you left Radio 1 and the BBC after a successful career, and you’ve said that you moved to Apple music because “UK music is desired in a way it has never been”. If you had to introduce someone to the UK music scene, what acts would you pick and why? So, the first artist I would pick would have to be Giggs. Just because of the ‘legacy’ that’s involved with him. How hard he’s worked, the music that he’s dropped. And I think that he has a great journey/story, to get to where he is today. So I’d pick Giggs as the ‘legacy artist’. And then someone who I’d suggest people check out who really excites me at the moment is Jay1. I love Jay1. I love the fact he’s not from London, he’s from Coventry. He really represents his city well. His music has a positive tone to it. It doesn’t glamorise things. It’s very comfortable being itself. And all of his records have a real party feel to it. So those are the two artists that I’d suggest people check out. And how would you describe meeting some of the massive UK talents like Stormzy and Bugzy Malone? Because you’ve kind of developed with them as well, as you’ve been on the scene for years now. You know, the thing is with Stormzy and Bugzy, you

Everyone was watching it. It was trending. know, all of the artists. All of the artists. I’ve had relationships with them before they go to that level of national fame. So, I don’t really think. “Oh wow, I met so-and-so”, because they’re my friends. So watching them grow as artists is really amazing as well. It’s like “Oh, I remember when you were here and now you’re there”. So how would you describe your Beats 1 show? Because a lot of people are familiar with the work you did with the BBC and the ‘Fire in the booth’ stuff. How does your work with Apple differ from that?

Life on Apple Music and Beats 1 enables me to reach How did you first get into broadcasting? a bigger audience. And the way that you can reach the My journey started at pirate radio… audience, and they can consume it, is different. For ex- RAW FM wasn’t it? ample, the playlist, you can go to Apple Music, you can That’s it, RAW FM was the first station I did a show on listen to a ‘Charlie Sloth Rap Show’ playlist or a ‘Fire in and by the time I was 15/16, I had 7 different shows on the Booth’ playlist, and you can take them in whenever 7 different pirate radio stations. At that time, I had to you want. Download them to your library. Listen to them pay to be on the radio, so I was doing these live shows while you’re travelling, or whatever. They’re there to be to fund my radio shows. From there consumed. And as for the ‘Fire in the Booth’ itself, it’s I left a bit and started to get opened it up to an international market. into the production aspect Because it lives on Apple Music, and it’s of music. I wanted to write great that I have that support because music, make music, I just you can watch them whenever you loved music. I wanted to be want. For example, this week I had involved with music in any Big Tobz on ‘Fire in the Booth’. way I could. I’d always wantEveryone was watching ed to get into broadit. It was trending. Peocasting though, ple from all over the because broadworld were enjoycasting was ing it. It’s the way my passion. the content exists. So it all came And I’m the same. ‘360’ when I ain’t changed! the BBC It’s the audience contacted me that I’m reaching about doing which is bigger. a show, and That’s what’s exfrom that day citing. That I get to I haven’t looked champion UK artists to back. Getting the the world. opportunity at the And if you had to pick BBC to do a show your dream line up for at 1-4AM on a Frithe show who would it day night, which was be? the graveyard shift, I Oh Jay-z. WIthout a made a huge success doubt. One of my fawith that. vorite all time artists. Or ‘Fire in the booth’ is a Eminem. It would have to staple of UK grime/ be one of them two. rap, and an amazing Image: Tom Moorcroft

Elbow Giants of All Sizes

Angel Olsen All Mirrors

lsen’s fifth album serves as a theatrical cry for authenticity whilst simultaneously revelling in the lack of fixed identity the “authentic” I represents, hinting at the surprising relationship between performance and truth. Singer-songwriter Angel Olsen has been well regarded for her work that spans the indie landscape, her albums traversing the manifold territories of indie-rock, pop, folk & the fineries of contemporary synth pop. “All Mirrors” marks a departure from Olsen’s previous sharp-sheer atmospheres in favour a rich accompaniment of stirring orchestral instrumentals. This, paired with tactile lyrics, serves to emphasise Olsen’s trademark vulnerability, culminating in an album of overwhelming affect. The opening track “Lark” perfectly captures the tone of the record: at once a reminiscence & decrial. Olsen concludes the track through the repetition “Dream on” as the instrumental simultaneously swells, an explicit proclamation of the album’s intention: a lavish exorcism. The title track, “All Mirrors” explores the circulatory in Olsen’s relationships, “watchin’ all of [her] past repeatin’” in a state of isolation. Confronted by these endless repetitions, cycles of birth and decay, a clear sense of longing emerges, a wish to stay in these moments even at the cost of life itself. Here we find Olsen crouching in a hall of mirrors, lamenting her distance from these recurring images: “At least at times I knew me”.Yet a hint of solace is grasped in this. The haunting ballad “Chance” concludes the album. From the rousing opening it gradually ebbs into quieter, more intimate tones, the penultimate verses taking on a tone of tenderness and sincerity, before a slight rousing towards the end of the track. This affirmation is evidently not for her ex, or others, but rather Olsen herself, the positive culmination of the surgical intervention this album enacts. Overall, “All Mirrors” captures Olsen at her finest and, appropriately, most brutal. Cathartic yet self-affirming, this album displays how sincerity isn’t something purely for albums of stripped back guitars and and cracking, hesitant voices, but rather something that can be proudly proclaimed, over-the-top orchestra and all. Humphrey Jordan

King Nun Mass

fter 2 years a new Elbow album called Giant of All Sizes has just dropped on Friday 11 October. It comes after ‘Little Fictions’ released in 2017 which reached No. 1 in the UK. Guy Garvey, lead singer and lyricist of Elbow told NME: “A lot about this record is different… we changed the way we worked and we all decided from the off to let the songs take the lead, without compromising the vision of each tune.” Garvey added: “At times, it’s a bleak record, but it has a huge, if bruised, heart. It was a pleasure to make and we are all immensely proud of it.” I’ll normally listen to an album and be able to sense a really clear style that allows listeners to understand what emotive path the artist may be currently on. Giant of All Sizes has instead given me a wonderfully random mix. Country guitar with echoing vocal harmonies takes centre stage in ‘On Deronda Road’ and a psychedelic bass crossed with a relatively unremarkable voice attached in ‘Dexter and Sinister.’ They have definitely succeeded in including a vast array of experimental sounds in a single song, but whether this is a successful attempt of of this rather than an attempt to throw two years’ worth of ideas into a 9 track album, I am not sure.

fter already seeing some success with a series of singles and a 5-track EP in 2018, London 4-piece King Nun have finally released their debut LP ‘Mass’ into the world hoping to make an impact on the indie-rock scene. After liking their most popular single ‘Mess Around’, I was excited to get into this album and find some new decent guitar-based music that I could enjoy listening to. Unfortunately, I was disappointed with the results – there were no tracks that really stood out to me due to the extremely generic sound throughout.

Musicians should use their power responsibly

The most prominent track for me is ‘The Delayed 3:15’ which tells the story of a stranger’s undocumented suicide. It was the most raw piece with a strumming guitar all the way through; it may have been the least technical song but proves that Elbow doesn’t need to show off to broadcast their talent. Overall, Elbow has clearly put a lot of effort into making their comeback album but whether it will make it into No.1 like their 2017 hit – well, I guess that’s up to you!

Listen to the opening track ‘Mascara Runs’, and if you like this then you will likely praise the rest of the songs also. To me, it has extremely strange sounding vocals overriding the guitar backing that make it entirely unpleasant. The vocals on ‘Chinese Medicine’ aren’t awful and the riffs are decent leading into a heavy chorus, making this one of the best songs on the album despite it being somewhat generic for the genre, and also already been previously released as a single and featured on the EP. Recycling music like this shows a lack of material, especially when it is not even the best single King Nun has put out by a long shot, making this an odd decision by the band. Of the two singles from the album, ‘Black Tree’ is a bore to listen to and ‘Low Flying Dandelion’ sounds generic and messy. This is a real change from the first four singles the band released in 2016-17 which were at least good and bordering great. I really wanted to enjoy this album, but the consistent theme of uneven, almost whiny vocals that just sound off, set against poor guitar riffs made it difficult. This is a real shame as I’m sure the band has more potential than this; if you’re looking to enjoy King Nun’s music, I’d advise you to ignore this record and stick to listening to their previously released singles.

Cayla Viner

Ali Nichols

Listening to the album I am struck by how different each track is from another.

They laughed at me. So within the first month I released a video with over 100,000 views

way for you to show off small and big acts to the UK. What one act would you say was a turning point in your radio career? K Koke’s ‘Fire in the Booth’. For me, that was a real moment. At the time, when I joined the BBC, I sat down with the boss. And he said “What are your aspirations”. I said “I was going to release a freestyle video with over 1,000,000 views, and I’m going to replace Westwood. And they laughed at me. They laughed at me. So within the first month, I released a freestyle with over 1,000,000 views, and, as everyone knows, I went on to replace Westwood. So, that ‘Fire in the Booth’ was a huge moment in my career which solidified ‘Fire in the Booth’ as a brand. And it happened so quickly, off the back of that video. K Koke got signed by Jay-z and went on to do some interesting stuff. That for me was the turning point in my career. You’ve had a successful career making music yourself and have worked with big-names such as Bugzy Malone. But you started of small, playing hip-hop on the radio station Raw FM. If you could’ve given yourself any advice before, what advice would that be? [Chuckles] That’s a good question. I’d probably say keep believing in yourself and don’t give up. There were times where I was thinking “Is this going to work?”. I mean, there were times when I looked in the mirror and thought “You can do this”, but then there are times when I felt like just conceding. So, I’d go back and, because there were times when I was younger where I took my foot off the pedal a bit, I’d tell myself to speed up the process. But, yeah, I’d say “Believe in yourself and don’t give up”.

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Ghosteen

any artists wear their claim to have suffered for their art like a crown. Nick Cave, however, is one of those who truly knows how to weave the pain and mystery of existence into his music. In July 2015, Cave’s son, Arthur, died at the age of fifteen after falling from a cliff. That tragedy resulted in the 2016 dark masterpiece Skeleton Tree. Now, the band are back with their follow-up album Ghosteen. Ghosteen could have been many things. With so much raw emotion poured out on Skeleton Tree, Cave could have attempted to return to his more upbeat, rock-oriented albums 2000s as a way of trying to re-orient the band back to its unique roots. Alternatively, Cave could have continued to explore the themes of loss and sorrow in a direct continuation of Skeleton Tree. Perhaps unsurprisingly, though, Ghosteen does neither of these things. On the surface, the album is just as bleak as its predecessor. However, a second listen reveals hints of light and a sense of a man coming to terms with a loss that was not there on Skeleton Tree. No song showcases this better than ‘Bright Horses’, where Cave sees beyond the dark clouds to a brighter future. The album feels very ‘spiritual’. The gorgeous mix of underlying pianos, angelic choral and light synths play beautifully with Cave’s heart-breaking lyrics. The memory of Arthur perinates the whole album. While songs like ‘Galleon Ships’ speak of a man finding bliss in memories, there are others which show that Cave remains a cracked, if not completely broken, man. ‘Hollywood’, the album’s 14-minute closer, is also poignant, in many ways it feeling like a goodbye. The song’s refrain perhaps best sums up this album and the current state of Nick Cave’s heart: ‘I’m just waiting now, for my time to come’. Ghosteen is without a doubt one of the most beautiful albums I have ever heard and a high point in the career of a man at his lowest. Joe Holloran

/The CourierMusic @culture_courier

culture TV

Image: monkeywing (Flickr)

TV Time Travel Will Nsieyanji reviews ancient sketch show

The Chappelle Show t has been over a decade since Comedy Central

has stopped producing episodes of The Chappelle Show, yet millions of people still stream the sketches on YouTube indicating that the show has aged like a fine merlot. Which comes as no surprise, because the show is consistently hilarious and daringly controversial. You can sense Dave Chappelle, 46, is at the heart of the production as the humor resembles his stand-up specials and has that uncensored and unfiltered banter his fans love him for. Chappelle certainly loves to push boundaries and the “Frontline: Clayton Bigsby” sketch could possibly be the riskiest material Comedy Central has ever aired. This sketch is about a blind black orphan raised in a densely white supremacist town in America and ends up being the leading voice for the white power movement in the area, without knowing that he himself is of African American origin. This particular episode of The Chappelle Show would almost definitely not have been aired for national TV if it was made today, with how politically correct audiences have become and in fairness I still ask myself how did they get away with it back then? The redeeming factor in my opinion is the fact that, they skillfully made sure no demographic was specifically targeted as more or less every race is mocked even Caucasians. Chappelle being black also helps as it reinforces that the producers are only joking around.

“Frontline: Clayton Bigsby” sketch could possibly the riskiest material Comedy Central has ever aired It would not be Dave Chappelle if a societal issue is not being overly exaggerated for our entertainment and the reoccurring character Tyrone Biggums is how the show chooses to depict drug addiction. The Chappelle Show’s resident crackhead, Tyrone Biggums, has featured on a few episodes such as his failed intervention where it is revealed he steals unusual items to trade for drugs and that he sold his friend’s house to fund a $450,000 crack party at said house. On another episode he is invited into an elementary school to give an anti-drug talk but instead teaches to the children different means of acquiring drugs. Taking existing issues and making them funny is one of Chappelle’s biggest strengths as a comedian and I highly recommend this sketch show to anyone who enjoys his stand-up or are fans of controversial humor. Despite the show being so successful, after season 2 Chappelle dropped out, rejected a $50million paycheck and retreated to South Africa. Since his return to Hollywood Chappelle has subtly addressed his reasoning for leaving the show in his Netflix Special “The Bird Revelation”.

Image: Crave

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c2.tv@ncl.ac.uk TV Editors Amy Brown, Sophie Hicks & Will Nsieyanji

Monday 21 October 2019

Is American Horror Story on its last page?

George Bell discusses the fate of the beloved horror show that captivated millions of viewers

remiering in 2011 and spanning over 9 seasons, the horror anthology series American Horror Story is arguably one of the biggest TV shows of the 21st century, up there with shows like Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead or Breaking Bad. The writing, directing and cinematography are part of what makes it great, but it’s the recurring actors and actresses that make it so iconic. One of the great things about American Horror Story is the numerous actors it introduced us to and launched into stardom, like Evan Peters, Sarah Paulson, and Jessica Lange. These and many others have appeared in multiple seasons and as a result, have become unanimous with the show. So, what happens when they decide to leave? In April 2019 it was announced that Evan Peters was not going to appear in the upcoming ninth season which is

Rotten Tomatoes have given higher ratings to older seasons significant, as up until then he had starred in all previous seasons. Last year he said that playing all the dark roles has been exhausting so when asked at Wondercon he stated he will “Sit a season out” (see the tweet @CandidlyCarlo), so he may still return in the tenth season. Also, during the lead up to season 9, Sarah Paulson announced she too will not be starring in the upcoming season, so much like the characters within the show, the

actors are dropping like flies. From the looks of it though, her main reason is likely because of the numerous projects she has on at the moment, with TV shows like Netflix’s Ratched and the recent The Goldfinch, so we may yet see her on the show in later seasons. However, there is one actress who has sadly hinted that she will not be returning to the show, Jessica Lange. During an interview with Entertainment Weekly Lange said “I don’t think so. I feel I got the best of it in those first four seasons. Great characters. It was exciting to do. I worked with some of my favourite actors but I can’t see that we could ever get back to that.” While it is sad to see a legend like her go, you can still catch her in other projects like The Politician on Netflix by the same director of AHS, Ryan Murphy. Review pages like Rotten Tomatoes have given higher ratings to older seasons like Asylum, Coven and Freakshow (84%, 83% and 79% respectively) while more recent seasons like Cult and Apocalypse are scoring closer to 75%. could this be a sign that the talent is leaving the show

and start of a downward decline or simply a coincidence? I think while some of the original talent is leaving, maybe changing the feel of the show, this opens the way for new, fresh talent to join the show like in earlier seasons. With additions to the cast like Billie Lourd and Cody Fern, coupled with promising reviews of Season 9: 1984, could this be the start of a whole new batch of great seasons for American Horror Story, or a blip in a TV show slowly coming to an end?

Image: IMDb

Medic to comic: in conversation with Paul Sinha Editor Grace Dean interviews the world's only gay Anglo-Bengali GP turned comedian and TV quizzer my skills are words and numbers – not building puppets. I don’t have the visual capacity for that. But, as you may know by now, I didn’t know I was ill. I was going through the early stages of Parkison’s disease, but I didn’t know. It’s different now. If I did Taskmaster now, knowing that I have Parkinson’s disease, I would have approached the tasks in a different way. It was only when I was watching it back that I thought “that was weird, why didn’t I do that?” It was pretty clear that everyone else was on a different wavelength. I was taking the tasks literally. I just couldn’t do it [laughs], it just wasn’t me. I think it’s interesting because most of the series have someone who’s really bad at the tasks, but I don’t think that’s what they were expecting from me. Because I’m on the Chase, which is a totally different sort of braininess, I think they were expecting me to bring a sort of nerdy braininess to the show; I actually brought the opposite.

Image: Instagram @latestcelebrityscoop How are you finding it here in Newcastle? I have been to Newcastle at least twice a year for the last 20 years. I know Newcastle very well, but I’ve not been to the University since about 2000 or 2001. I used to do university comedy gigs, but haven’t done them in a while. It’s weird coming back here and finding that all the building work still hasn’t been completed. All the various projects to improve the lot of the student are still very much struggling to get off the ground. Do you have a favourite city to gig in? The answer is no, in the sense that I don’t really judge cities by their comedy clubs, or their comedy clubs by the city; it doesn’t really work like that. As a comedian, you stand on the stage and tell jokes and sometimes the audience are shit and sometimes the audience are nice. It doesn’t really make much of a difference what city you’re in; a lot of it is about how the club is run. But as for favourite cities in general, rather than favourite cities to do comedy in: Glasgow, Liverpool, Newcastle, Bristol. Why do you think you didn’t do better on Taskmaster? [Laughs] The main reason I’m laughing is that I deal with all of this in my new show. I’ve got a bit at the beginning with the ten questions I get asked the most, and one of them is “why were you so shit on Taskmaster?” There are so many reasons, but since you asked: I didn’t watch enough episodes of the show beforehand, so I didn’t realise that you could go through the whole of the show when you were on a task. I thought I had to stay in the room, so I didn’t think outside of the box. I’m not very good at lateral thinking, I’m not physically creative;

I think they were expecting me to bring a sort of nerdy braininess to the show; I actually brought the opposite I’m really glad you asked, because I’ve never officially outlined, in an interview, why I was bad at Taskmaster. There were lots of reasons, but they all added up into a perfect storm. Nonetheless, I don’t think there’s any stage of my life when I would have actually been good at Taskmaster. It’s just not what I’m good at – I’m not good at solving puzzles or doing tasks. Do you find it easy to get a balance between doing standup comedy and quizzing? No. No, but it’s a decent life. I do struggle to find a balance, but my God it’s fun. I just love both. Over the last two weeks, I’ve answered quiz questions at Brunel University, I’ve performed for 70 minutes in both Wrexham and Sutton Coalfield, I’ve been to Exeter University to do a comedy show, I did a freshers’ gig in Liverpool, and I’m here in Newcastle. It’s a very rich, varied life, and no I don’t find the balance easy, but everyone’s juggling things. You’ve just got to find a way to do the job and make sure it’s worth it and that you enjoy what you’re doing. Obviously this is a massive change from you formerly being a GP – do you feel that it’s as rewarding to be a comedian as it is to be a doctor? Rewarding is in the eye of the beholder. Being a GP is a great job, but that isn’t what I dreamt of being. I found myself with a family background of being very academically pushed from a young age, I found myself in a world I couldn’t quite get out of, because I wasn’t bad enough to get out of it, but I knew it wasn’t what I wanted to be doing at the age of 50. You’ve got to work out what you

want to be doing in 20, 25, 30 years from now, because that’s not necessarily the person you want to be in your 20s. I’m really really grateful for bits of luck here, there and everywhere. Both comedy and quizzing just gave me a convenient pathway out, but it’s still a great job – just not a great job for me. What’s rewarding is very much a different thing, isn’t it? We’re all wired differently. What I like is standing on stage telling jokes and having difficult general knowledge questions fired at me at speed, that’s what I like. A bit of a cheeky one…if you had to do snog, marry, avoid with the other Chasers, who would you go for? [Laughs] Well marry is easy, because Jenny’s on Masterchef. Snog’s probably show, and avoid’s probably Mark, but I think you’re asking me loaded questions. Well, I think that’s the end of my questions, actually. I’m doing a solo set at the stand on October 24 and I think it’s really good. I’m still writing it at the moment, but what I have at the moment is more than enough to call it a good show.

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Monday 21 October 2019

@culture_courier thecourieronline.co.uk/TV

Phoebe Waller-Bridge over the pond

Alfie Blincowe talks Phoebe Waller-Bridge, hosting Saturday Night Live and her rise to fame

fter becoming one of the biggest names in UK TV and film, Phoebe Waller-Bridge is now expanding into the US and recently hosted Saturday Night Live. The star and creator of the smash-hit comedy series Fleabag has come a long way in the past decade. There have been a few missteps along the way. The other comedy show that she created and starred in; Crashing, saw very low ratings and has been put on indefinite hiatus af-

ter only one season, and her first Hollywood role was in Solo, a disappointing Star Wars flop. Despite these blips, Phoebe Waller-Bridge still seems to be on the up and up. Her writing on Killing Eve and the new Bond film have given her a great sense of credibility as a creator, but Fleabag still seems to be the project catapulting her towards international fame. Waller-Bridge’s fascinatingly deep and hilarious comedy writing didn’t come in to play much in her recent

SNL show. The programme has become less about quality and more about showing off celebrities and relying on star power. It is not the cultural juggernaut it once was. Hosting the show is still a significant boost to a celebrity’s career though, as it adds legitimacy to their fame and keeps them in the public eye. Hosting was Waller-Bridge’s chance to appeal to an exclusively American audience and she seemed to nail it. The sketches were mediocre, but her opening address to the crowd went down a storm and confirmed her as a comedian that can hack it in the states, even outside of the cushion of fiction.

Fleabag scored four Emmys Pheobe Waller-Bridge’s next show will be a comedy for HBO, set to air in the next few months. The show Run will focus on a woman’s lust for adventure being rekindled by an ex-lover. It will star Merritt Wever and Domhnall Gleeson, plus Waller-Bridge in a supporting role, as well as working in the writers room. This latest episode of SNL was probably organised to helped ease Waller-Bridge into the American comedy world before the release of her new show. In some ways, though, Waller-bridge is already part of American comedy. Whilst Fleabag may have seemed undoubtedly British the show was partially funded by Amazon, which is why it was able to win Emmys. In the past, when a British television show was popular enough to garner American interest, the next step was to remake it with American actors, such as The Office. Because of the online nature of the modern world Americans had the chance to enjoy the original Fleabag before any plans to remake it were even discussed. The world is getting smaller thanks to the internet and streaming. More people are watching television from all around the world. Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s success across the pond could be the first of many new stars who are not limited to a single country’s market when they first start their careers. She is paving the way for a new generation of creators who will be judged on the quality of their content and not limited by borders, background, or accent.

Image: IMDb

TV to film: adaptation speculation

Ellie Pidgeon questions the rising shift from the small screen

h look! There’s another day wasted after you bingewatched all the episodes of that new TV show. You ask yourself – wouldn’t it be easier if they condensed the show into a two hour film? And what about that TV show character you love? Surely it would be great to see them in a film again. In 2019 alone, we’ve already seen numerous beloved TV shows get a Hollywood makeover, but it begs t h e question –

Image: IMDb

should TV shows just stay as films? Take Downton Abbey for example, after 6 successful seasons the show came to conclusive end. As such a critically acclaimed show, it was inevitable, however, that fans would want more; and more they provided. Downton Abbey the film was released on the 13th December 2019 and was met with glowing reviews. The film meticulously followed on from the show, bringing all our favourite characters back to life for one final time. The film, however, could also be understood as a stand-alone film as it provided a new, exciting plot-line with background information from the series subtly intertwined throughout. Similarly, Bad Education also provided numerous oneliners and comical sketches within the confines of a two hour film which sees the class take their antics to Cornwall. Jack Whitehall reprises his role as Alfie Wickers, the young-at-heart school teacher of Class K, along with much of the cast. Again, this film seamlessly binds the present story line and the previous details from the show to produce an immediate British classic. Spooks: The Greater Good, however, paints a different picture. It paints a picture of mediocrity and a misjudged audience. Whilst the show’s conclusion aired in 2011, the film was released four years later. After such a long period of time separating these two branches of the Spooks franchise, it was inevitable that the audience would have forgotten many of the key details required to understand this once thrilling spy drama. As a result, the film was met with mixed reviews – a stark contrast to the success of the original show. All too frequently, TV shows are overwhelmed by the pressures of the big screen. They have to engage their audience for a much greater length of time, and are subjected to much harsher critiques. They also have to contend with the preconceptions formed by the audience of the show. All of this culminates to a great task that the TV show has to contend with, and so it’s no question as to why some TV shows aren’t suited to the big screen. That being said, many are successful as film adaptations. Arguably, the fact that some of these examples are able to work as stand-alone films in their own right is the key to their success. They cater to not only die-hard fans, but also to those who have never watched the show before, inspiring a new generation to fall in love with the show’s characters.

Review

Criminal:UK

hen I started Episode 1 of Criminal: UK, I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into apart from the fact that David Tennant was in it; I absolutely adore him and would watch anything he is in. Let’s just say, I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome. Criminal, currently available to stream in its entirety on Netflix and created by George Kay (Killing Eve) and Jim Field Smith (The Wrong Mans), is a thrilling drama filmed entirely in an interview room that looks at three extremely different cases, and what it means to be a criminal and the different techniques used to get that allimportant confession. Firstly, Criminal has an outstanding cast. From previously mentioned Tennant, to the unrecognisable Hayley Atwell and Nathalie Baye, each and every actor does an outstanding job of bringing to life the criminal they represent. It’s almost scary and nerve-wracking watching Tennant repeat “no comment” over and over again as he refuses to confess to the rape and murder of his step-daughter. Every single character is fleshed out and made realistic to an almost believable and engaging level that you simply cannot take your eyes off the screen. It’s captivating. And on that note…the plotlines themselves and the stories behind the criminals are crazily deranged to the point that I had to Google if these were true stories. Sadly, they’re not, so props to the producers for coming up with such hair-raising, edge of your seat plot details. Yet, despite these praises, this show isn’t perfect. Firstly, I found that the inclusion of a potential romance among the interviewers was unnecessary, and just boring? I just didn’t care and it definitely detached you from the whole purpose of the show. In addition, there’s something kind of repetitive about the show brought about by the contained setting. Although this was an interesting move and did make the show intriguing, by the end of episode 3 I kind of wanted to see the crime scenes and what actually happened to play out in action. Overall though, the best bit about this show is that it makes you think. Every single episode ends with a cliffhanger, forcing the viewers at home to decide whether he was convicted or not. That, for me, made me frustrated, irritated but downright impressed with the whole show. For fans who embrace series such as How to Make a Murderer, this is the binge you’ve all been waiting for. Lucy Lilystone

TV culture Netflix and Spill

Cameron Allen on the ever popular Stranger Things. Credit: CMetalCore (Wikimedia)

ith three seasons and a fourth on its way, Stranger Things is an exciting tale of the small town of Hawkins reminiscent of a Stephen King horror story with beasts and monsters from the mysterious upside-down with a plucky gang of kids and teenagers being the town’s only hope. Stranger Things is a show that I never really thought I’d be into, but ended up saying just one more at 3am, with its 80s pop-culture and gripping character developments from the hopeful will-they-won’t-they relationship of Joyce and Hopper to the teenage drama between Steve, Jonathan and Nancy all conjoined by the mystical powers of Eleven, a mysterious experiment by a shady government institution and the dark creepy world she opened a gateway to.

Gripping tales of friendship, love and tension filled action The group (Mike, Lucas, Dustin, Will and Max) tackle typical high school dramas, bullies and romances, but also the less typical giant D&D named monsters. Like an episode of Scooby-Doo, the D&D obsessed friends along with Eleven, Chief Hopper, Joyce, Jonathan, Nancy and Steve uncover the dark forces at work over and under the quiet town of Hawkins. The gripping tales of friendship, love and tension filled action, including some sadder moments fill all seasons but season two focuses mostly on the mystical upside-down world. Characters develop and we get arguably the best bromance ever in the form of Dustin and Steve. Steve starts as the popular, mean jock of high school but develops into one of the best and most loved characters. With the end of season one seeing Eleven sacrifice herself for her friends and going into hiding unbeknown to everyone but Hopper and reemerging in season two, she finally closes the gate and defeats the Mind Flayer, a force possessing Will and allows Eleven to come out of hiding to live a ‘normal’ childhood. Season three focuses on that life, but also the return of the Mind Flayer believed to be dead, possessing people to reopen the gate. Oh and there’s a classic 80s Russian secret lair underground with an evil plan. Season three gives us some great new stories, interactions and characters but also some sad moments. Can Joyce’s love interests get a break in season four please?

Image: IMDb

Overall, it’s a great series and hopefully season four will provide some much needed closure on who is the ‘American’ in Russia, how will Mike deal without Eleven with him and will everyone survive outside of the sleepy town of Hawkins?

culture film Animation Station

Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

Image: FreePhotobank

e are all familiar with the Isao Takahata, a Japanese animator and co-founder of Studio Ghibli with Hayao Miyazaki. He has animated films such as My Neighbor Totoro and Castle in the Sky. His films. while filled with adorable animation. have deep themes accompanying it. One of his films not well known as the rest, until after his passing at least, is Grave of the Fireflies. This relatively short animation is based on the 1967 semi-autobiographical short story by Akiyuki Nosaka. While most of Studio Ghibli films are more light hearted, this film is a war anime with a powerful message throughout. This film had been recently re-emerged after Isao Takahata passed in April 2018. The film follows a teenager and his younger sister in the midst of the American firebombing in World War II. During this firebomb the two siblings were separated from their parents. The story continues through the sibling's heartbreaking struggle to stay alive.

Image: IMDB

This is one of Studio Ghibli's darker films however it is indeed a must-watch. From the start of the film, it already gives us a feeling of grief from the colour palette used. The first scene of the film captures the reality of the historical event. It is so authentic and unique, it will keep you watching regardless of the dark theme. Not only would the plot spark interest, the poster has a hidden dark meaning to it. 30 years after the film was first released, fans of the film had discovered that upon increasing the brightness of the poster, a B29 bomber plane emerges from the darkness. What once looked like a bunch of fireflies around the siblings now can be depicted as a range of explosives. This short film, when first released, was accompanied with My Neighbor Totoro. While Totoro may seem like the complete opposite of Grave of the Fireflies, when watched together there is a connection seen between both films. This anti-war statement films is one of the best animations that I have seen by far. It is filled with so much depth not only within the plot but also within the characters. Although the film is relatively short, it holds on to your heart and pulls on it every single minute.

Amanda Goh

Image: IMDB

c2.film@ncl.ac.uk Film Editors: Elisabetta Pulcini, Joe Holloran, Lucy Lillystone & Steven Ross

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Monday 21 October 2019

Woke culture didn't kill comedy

Elisabetta Pulcini dissects Todd Phillips' statement on the limitations of modern culture

t its highest, comedy reflects and comments on society in unexpected ways. However, while some might thrive in the evolution and adaptation demanded of comedians to remain relevant, others feel left behind. Todd Phillips seems to be one of these people. While riding off an incredibly positive reception for Joker, the director has not been productively engaged with the public discourse. In particular, he has lamented the effects of woke culture on comedy. Speaking to Vanity Fair, he stated that comedy is dying, ‘because all the fucking funny guys are like, ‘Fuck this shit, because I don’t want to offend you.’ That is neither true nor justified. Firstly, comedy is most effective when it is unexpected. That’s why the same joke told over and over again will not provoke the same laughter. Confirming old stereotypes without a sliver of reinvention does not make for good comedy. For example, while The Hangover was well received, the following sequels, which largely rethreaded the same territory, were not. The evolution of tastes and social norms demands comedy to continuously reinvent itself. And while some might perceive it as woke culture trying to ‘censor’ their voice, it might just be that audiences have moved on. In fact, what might have been considered ‘irreverent’ when Phillips was a relevant comedic voice, is simply not that shocking anymore. Today’s audience might rebel against the use of homosexual slurs, not because it’s too edgy for them to handle, but because it does not resonate with them in the same way it would have ten years ago. This is not to say that comedy cannot be used as a tool to explore taboo subjects: rather, it should be encouraged. However, it needs to be done with an awareness of the evolving public perception of delicate topics. While the concept of being gay might have been unthinkable and therefore a punchline in itself decades ago, today the normalization of the LGBTQ+ community, and the knowledge of the kind of damage language may cause, renders that humour not only outdated, but also tone-deaf. Therefore, Phillips is right in assuming that audiences would be offended by a homophobic slur: not because it’s ‘irreverent’, but because it’s ofImage: IMDB fensive, without being

refreshing nor funny. Secondly, Phillips’ comments do a disservice to all comedies that came out recently. By only looking at post2015 films, it becomes evident that the comedic scene is thriving. For example, Booksmart and Good Boys, which both came out in 2019, manage to deliver raunchy humour, while remaining true to the characters and conveying compelling coming of age stories. In particular, director Olivia Wilde uses surrealist sequences to elevate Booksmart above a typical comedy. With su-

perhero movies dominating the box office, Thor: Ragnarok (2017) and Deadpool (2016) stand out, in different ways, as incredibly effective comedies: one that works as a psychedelic Taika Waititi adventure; and the other one that plays with the medium of cinema through cogent fourth-wall breaking. For romantic comedies, Long Shot (2019) and The Big Sick (2017) carry heartfelt messages, while addressing timely conversations through incredibly funny performances.

The evolution of social norms demands comedy to continuously reinvent itself

Lastly, Game Night (2018) and Ingrid Goes West (2017) successfully combine to the thriller genre, while managing to remain hilarious. In light of all these movies, and many more, saying that woke culture killed comedy, and that ‘all the fucking funny guys’ are not working anymore because they are afraid to offend Twitter, comes off as, if not desperate, at least unnecessarily bitter. In a world where Taika Waititi was able to make a comedy featuring Hitler playing someone’s childhood friend, in the upcoming JoJo Rabbit (2019), no director should get to feel too ‘irreverent’ for today’s standards. It is clear that there is no shortage of talent working in comedy today. The best comedians are able to utilise current conversations to elevate their comedy, and make it truly relevant and significant. No one is requiring movies to subscribe to the PC culture, but expecting standards for what is considered f unny to not change in ten years is unreasonable.

When it's important to "cancel" an artist

Molly Greeves discusses cancel culture, in light of Franco's allegations of sexual misconduct

hh, another day, another powerful man abusing his power to sexually manipulate people. It should come as no surprise to anyone that James Franco is gross after he publicly admitted to trying to get a seventeen-year-old back to his hotel room in 2014 and tweeted that he “hopes that parents keep their teens away from him”. Four years later, after having the absolute gall to wear the #MeToo symbol at the Golden Globes, more women came forward with their stories about Franco. As always, this hasn’t stopped him from having a highly successful career. Let’s put the sexual assault allegations to one side for a moment, as the film industry so often does, and focus on Franco’s journey as an actor and director. After his big break in '99 on Freaks and Geeks, he went on to star in Never Been Kissed, a James Dean biopic, the original Spider-Man trilogy and a ton of other films. His first directorial effort, a film called The Ape about a man who figures himself a genius and has a gorilla for a roommate, was released in 2005 and has a 28% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Whether or not we like to admit it, we all have problematic idols. Sometimes it’s hard when pieces of art that are important to us are attached to horrible people, and the idea of “separating the art from the artist” has been so over-discussed, especially in the last few years. However, some of these people are, in all honesty, just not that talented. It might be crazy, but sometimes I feel like allegations like this sometimes strengthen fanbases. Chris Brown hasn’t made a good song since... well, ever, but his fanbase seem a lot more focused on defending his horrifically abusive past than defending 'Freaky Friday'. Similarly, below an interview where James Franco was questioned about his allegations, the comments are flooded with people presenting him as a misunderstood victim, hating “this day and age” for the way that five dif-

ferent women feel about him. While I’m angry and exhausted at the amount of power these men have in the film industry, I don’t like cancel culture. I don’t like the idea that someone can say something minor and everyone asks for their heads on spikes; so often, the situation is much more nuanced, and I want to be able to love the things I love without overthinking it. But there’s a massive difference between writing a few inappropriate tweets six years ago and having abuse and harassment allegations from five different people, one of them seventeen years old. Besides, separating the art from the artist doesn’t even seem appropriate for Franco who’s smug, selfsatisfied personality seems to seep its way into everything he makes. His newest directorial effort Zeroville has been described by the Guardian as a film with “staggering incompetence” and questioned whether it is the worst film to come out this year. They’re not alone, as the film also got horrible reviews from Variety, Screendaily, The New York Times and Rotten Tomatoes. So if you are struggling with the idea that loads of your

beloved celebrities are creeps, may I recommend letting this particular man go. Of all of your favourite directors that have done awful things, James Franco really isn’t that much of a loss.

Image: YouTube

the courier

Monday 21 October 2019

El Camino (15)

@Courier_Film thecourieronline.co.uk/film

Downton Abbey (PG)

Judy (12a)

film culture

International Film

Image: PublicDomainPictures Image: YouTube

Image: YouTube

his Friday saw the Netflix release of the highly anticipated sequel film to the AMC series Breaking Bad, regarded as one of the greatest television series of all time. Six years after its initial conclusion in 2013, original show creator Vince Gilligan helms a continuation of Jesse Pinkman’s (Aaron Paul) character arc in El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie. Aaron Paul effortlessly slips back into his iconic Emmy Award-winning role, which sees his shift from a fast-talking junkie to a sympathetic participant in Walter White’s (Bryan Cranston) drug empire. Jesse is no longer a source of comic relief. Alongside Gilligan, Paul also serves as co-producer for the film. The film takes place immediately after Jesse escapes from his imprisonment by a neo-Nazi gang, who tortured him into cooking crystal meth, in an El Camino car. As the film begins, we see a shot of the dry New Mexico landscape reminiscent of the setting in which Walter and Jesse started their partnership in the drug trade. This is revealed to be a flashback, as Jesse discusses his turbulent future with former police officer and hitman Mike Ehrmentraut in a cameo performance by Jonathan Banks. The flashback is interrupted by Jesse, who is noticeably more dishevelled and weaker, as he escapes to freedom, where he is cared for by his dim-witted but loyal friends Skinny Pete (Charles Baker) and Badger (Matt L. Jones). At two hours in length, the pacing of the film can at times seem slow and perhaps unnecessary. However, these scenes are driven by eerie tension and by Paul’s intense, emotionally driven performance as he is crippled by the memories of his traumatic torture. Whilst the film is missing fan favourites, including chemistry teacher turned ruthless drug lord Walter White and seedy criminal lawyer Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk), Paul proves he doesn’t need the talent of Cranston and Odenkirk to carry this film himself. Overall, Gilligan’s film offers fans closure following the ambiguous end to Jesse’s complex character arc, providing a satisfying conclusion to a beloved character and series.

Kate Dunkerton

Image: YouTube

rom small screen to silver screen; after the success of the TV series of the same name this feature length comes into cinemas with an already enthusiastic following. Whether you’ve seen the TV series or not the combination of the stellar cast and beautiful setting makes this film an easy watch. It’s the early 20th century and Downton Abbey has been thrown into disorder as preparations for a royal visit begin. The pre-established relationships from the series are cleverly woven into the film so to prevent newcomers from alienation or pressure to feel that this film is only for fans of the series. A ‘best of British’ cast fill this film, most of them familiar faces with Hugh Bonneville and Maggie Smith leading the charge. As well as the addition of Imelda Staunton as Lady Bagshaw to freshen the line-up for the big screen. The aesthetic of this film was stunning from long swooping shots of Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey) to the beautiful 20’s style dresses made by Heather Bagley (Poldark), it is period drama done at its best. This provided the perfect backdrop for the talented cast; all of whom you could see were so settled and comfortable in their characters leading to natural, easy performances. Watching actors so comfortable allowed me to truly relax into what was a delightful break from reality and nothing more. It was a film that fits very comfortably into light entertainment and that is because what I watched was two episodes of Downton Abbey back to back, not a film but more an anniversary episode or special. The dialogue and simple predictable story were inappropriate for the cinema and the lack lustre script weighed down the film, with character dialogue flowing nicely but the story jarring the possibility of a slick delivery. I had anticipated something new or some purpose to put the Lords and Ladies of Downton on the big screen I was however disappointed to be served TV with a side of the overwhelming feeling it was all a little unnecessary.

Eve Ducker

he recent landscape in Hollywood has paved the way for its own romanticism, producing critical successes such as La La Land and Birdman, but Judy sets the way for its antithesis. Depicting the later life of famed Judy Garland, whose childhood was consumed by studio pressure to be thin and work with little break, Judy sets out to highlight the chronic abusiveness of Hollywood. The film is aptly titled as it rarely, if at all, strays its focus from Garland, who is wonderfully portrayed by Renee Zellweger. Zellweger captures the fragility of Garland in both her physical presence and her delivery of deflective wit, which serves to highlight the weight of that industry that would inevitably crush her. This fragility is crucial with the theme of identity that runs throughout. During an interview, Garland states that she is "only Judy Garland an hour a night" and the truth of that is really up to debate. Judy chooses to honour her legacy as a gay icon with an emotional night that she spends with couple Dan (Andy Nyman) and Walter (Tim Ahern). While the sequence underscores their own injustice, it also questions the idea of "Judy Garland" and if it's an on-stage persona - as she states in an interview - or if it endures as a symbol of hope for freedom. Unfortunately, the film's focus on Garland is almost absolute and the moments given to other characters, such as the gay couple and her English assistant Rosalyn (Jessie Buckley), are fleeting. This ultimately creates an ephemeral quality to any sort of growth that the characters may undergo, and thus somewhat weakens Judy Garland as a character. Rupert Goold is at his best when crafting Garland's on-stage performances, which are contagiously energetic and dynamically performed by Zellweger. The triumph is unsurprising given Goold's history as a stage director, but his lack of experience with film also translates in its quieter moments, producing an uneven piece on the star's tragic life.

Peter Lennon

No, Marvel isn't Marmite, Scorsese

Harriet Metcalfe comments on the controversial statement from the legendary director

ilm Twitter descended into chaos when it was Scorsese’s claim that “it isn’t the cinema of human beings revealed, through an interview with Empire trying to convey emotional, psychological experiences magazine, that Martin Scorsese doesn’t considto another human being” can be applied to a lot of these er Marvel films to be “cinema”. The definition of the films. It’s often guys flying around in capes (“doth mother word “film” is: a story or event recorded by a camera know you weareth her drapes?”) trying to defeat a monas a set of moving images and shown in a cinema or ster or villain and save the Earth. However, on television. Whether Scorsese is working by that this is not representative of all superhero definition or not, remains to be seen. films. What about Spiderman’s heartScorsese isn’t the first to make this claim and, albreaking final moments in Avengers: Inthough his comments might be valid, it doesn’t finity War? Robert make them any less disappointing. Coming from Downey Jr.’s such a prestigious filmmaker who knows the business inside and out, he should be aware of the toxic atmosphere around it, and that comments like these don’t help to diffuse the situation. As James Gunn, the creator behind Guardians of the Galaxy pointed out, directors look up to other directors, and it can be pretty upsetting when their work is compared to “theme parks”: “Martin Scorsese is one of my five favourite living filmmakers. I was outraged when people picked The Last Temptation of Christ without having seen the film. I’m saddened that he’s now judging my films in the same way.” So why does Scorsese, as much as it pains me to write it, actually have a point? While the focus is often on superhero movies that redefined the genre (e.g. The Avengers), many have stock characters and formulaic plot. Thor: The Dark World was, essentially, a worse version of 2011’s Thor. Image: IMDB

performance as Iron Man? These are all aspects that were significant in the context of the plot. Therefore, if these films are “theme parks”, then there’s an emotional roller-coaster along the way. But here’s the thing: formulaic films are okay. Because in a world where everything seems to be going to hell in a hand basket, sometimes we all need a bit of the formulaic. We need our heroes to win and the bad guys left defeated. If we’re going to the cinema for escapism – very rarely do we want the real world to seep in through the cracks. Jennifer Aniston has also jumped on the bandwagon, claiming that she would “love to have the era of Meg Ryan come back”, since the movie industry is, according to her, “diminishing” because of the MCU. I love Thor, but my screensaver is When Harry Met Sally! Marvel isn’t marmite. You can love it, you can hate it, but you can also be on the fence about it. There’s twenty-three films – chances are that they won’t all be your cup of tea. We don’t have to pick a side, and frankly, the suggestion that we ‘should’, or that we ‘have to’ as filmgoers, is a bit ridiculous. Love the films you love, unashamedly. Respect the films you don’t like – because it’s not just the director and the actors that bring these films to existence. It’s hundreds of people working pre, during and post-production. Time, effort, and a lot of money goes into these projects. Whether it’s “high culture” or just Spiderman – they’re all part of cinema at the end of the day. In the words of Robert Downey Jr.: “it’s like anything where we need all of the different perspectives so we can come to centre and move on.”

mores perros is a 2000 Mexican crime drama film directed by Mexican film director Alejandro González Iñárritu and written by Mexican author Guillermo Arriaga. Amores perros was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2000 and won the Ariel Award for Best Picture from the Academy of Film.

(2000)

Image: YouTube

I really like this film because of the unique structure, amazing soundtrack and poignant meaning. The film is a “trilogy of death” which consists of three distinct stories connected by a car accident in Mexico city. As in most multi-protagonist films, this intersection is a matter of pure chance and alters the lives of the characters in unpredictable ways. The traffic accent is also the only moment in the film in which the three stories coincide in the same space and time. The stories focus on a slum teenager who gets involved in dogfighting; a model who seriously injures her leg; and a mysterious hitman who takes care of many dogs. These stories are linked in various ways, especially the presence of dogs in each of them. This film contains the themes of dog issues (dogfighting), disloyalty, inequality, violence and complexity of human nature.

Contrasting and contradictory elements exist side by side... Amores perros is like a big pozole (a traditional Mexican soup or stew). Just as a pozole has all kinds of ingredients— some healthy and some not so healthy—in this film contrasting and contradictory elements exist side by side. For example, my first impression of the killer in the third story is a sinister person, but as the film progresses I realize he’s actually very humane. He may be a killer, but he’s not immune to love, which finally redeems him. It tells stories that deal with human pain, love and death - which make no distinction of social class. In the end the film, there's a feeling of uncertainty that turns these endings into doors opening to an unfathomable future. Whether because of God’s will or because of random chance, characters’ plan and desires are continually thwarted, altered, or altogether curtailed when they, accidentally or not, clash with the plans and desires of others in the streets of Mexico City. Also death in this movie is literally around every corner. Each change of scene can lead us back to the moment of the accident from a different perspective, but always with a similar result: no explanations are offered, there are no logical causes, and there is nobody to blame.

Candice Zhao

Image: YouTube

/NewcastleCourierFilm @Courier_Film

culture arts

the courier

Monday 21 October 2019

c2.arts@ncl.ac.uk Arts Editors Caitlin Rawlings, Charlotte Slinger & Lauren Sneath

Art world goes apeshit for Banksy Peter Bath tellls us exactly why art critics are going bananas for Banksy’s controversial £10 million art piece Devolved Parliament

anksy is one of the world’s most popular and (ironically) recognisable artists, and many of his works have become 21st century icons, available as t-shirts, pencil cases or anti-establishment phone cases for your Apple™ iPhone. Therefore, it came as no surprise when his painting Devolved Parliament recently sold for £9.9 million at an auction at Sotheby’s. This is the highest price ever paid at auction for a Banksy artwork; previously the record had been £1.3 million for Keep it Spotless. Despite the high price, the sale should not be taken as Banksy ‘selling out’, since, as he was keen to make clear, he “didn’t still own” the painting. However, the appropriation of the graffiti artist’s work by the bizarre world of the art market is indicative of the ironies and contradictions inherent in his current status. The colossal painting, which measures 8ft x 14ft, was first displayed in 2009, despite the subject matter seeming more pertinent than ever today. MPs are replaced by apes, behaving in a more civilized manner than many MPs during Prime Minister’s Questions, sat in a dark, imposing House of Commons. The price it raised

was unexpected, with its estimated price set at only £2 million, but anyone who tries to draw rational conclusions from the prices art sells for at auction is fighting a losing battle. Opinion is very much divided as to whether Banksy’s work war-

ranted such a sum, with Sotheby’s describing the painting as “potent and poignant”, but Cal Revely-Calder of the Telegraph calling the painting, and its price, a “joke”. The irony at play is that Banksy’s works are often political and present uncomfortable aspects of our society, such as child refugees drowning on toy boats, but

somehow, they have become the vacuous, hipster equivalent of those ‘live, laugh, love’ signs. Banksy is also simultaneously supposed to be an elusive, anonymous street artist, but at the same time is a global popcultural phenomenon: his works aren’t

mediately impactful images, which comment on modern life with wit and irony. Glimpsed on a street, or scrolled past on Instagram, that’s great. But in an art gallery, it feels superficial. The painting in question, Devolved Parliament, appears to essentially be a bad pun and the astute observation: “Politicians are like chimpanzees or something.” Art, to hold its own in an art gallery, must surely have some indescribable, transcendent aspect, but the closest Banksy comes to this is the soppy sentimentality of Girl with Balloon. But if that’s what the art market deems to be valuable, that is what is valuable. This is good news for anyone who wakes up with a Banksy on their garage door. Despite this cynicism, if a future art historian wanted to understand art in the 21st century, Banksy’s art, and Devolved Parliament in particular, would be the place to start. He underImage: Flickr via dullhunk stands modern life as well as anyone. He painted over any more, they are preserved, epitomises our demand for easily digestframed, put in art galleries. As often is ible, clickable art. He commented on, but the case with satirists, his work has been then became a subject of, our obsession adopted by the establishment in order to with fame, celebrity and status. Though create a harmless illusion of dissent, with- there are contradictions in the work and out any real threat to the establishment. the character of Banksy, they are the same As a graffiti artist, Banksy is undeni- contradictions that exist in our society. ably brilliant. He creates subversive, im-

Fair Verona re-imagined at the Theatre Royal

Claire Maggie Dowens experiences Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers like never before in Matthew Bourne’s contemporary vision

Image: Theatreroyal.co.uk

he classic story of boy meets girl, Romeo and Juliet is one of history’s most famous romantic tragedies. Having been dramatized numerous times for the stage as well as film and musicals, there has never been a revival quite like Matthew Bourne’s latest masterpiece. The stage set, a bright white-tiled Verona ‘institute’, serves as a rigid and clinical confinement for teenagers who are strictly governed by guards and medics. This chilling and detached backdrop

serves as a landscape for an unhinged world in which the youths are disciplined through a combination of punishment and medication.

Bourne’s imaginative approach delivers a narrative shift and contemporary twist

This atmosphere is further underlined by the energy of the cast; movements are enacted in sync with one another with an almost slave-like drilling to the forceful rhythm of the music. The original Prokofiev score has been revamped by Terry Davies to compose an edgier and more grounded sound. Bourne creates a relationship between the two star crossed lovers which is utterly magnetic and mesmerising to watch: with moves entwined, lips locked, a passionate intimacy is bound within the choreography and brings a sexual energy which sets the production alight. Bourne’s

imaginative approach delivers a narrative shift and contemporary twist upon the traditional Italian tale in which young people are set against a brutal system. An unexpected turn of events occurs in the interval as the dancers unveil themselves one by one onto the stage in unblemished silence. Each conveys an almost methodacting display of mental insanity, which captivates members of the audience and further sustains the disturbing and eerie motifs of the performance.

The number of works Matthew Bourne has choreoghraphed or direced

Even more surprising, is the heart-rending finale which brilliantly culminates with Lady Gaga’s electrifying pop ‘Bad Romance’. Theatrically played out at a roaring volume, it provides an exhilarating boost, fresh injection of life and somewhat ironic resolution to an otherwise catastrophic ending. A fantastic piece brimming with contemporary adolescent themes of mental illness, sex and rampage, this is certainly not one to be missed!

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Monday 21 October 2019

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High-Rise: from the 70s to present day resonance Jade Aruzhan Sagynay has despaired of our current selection of novelists, and retreated to 1975

n this century saturated with dystopian novels, how often do we find a particularly successful piece of science-fiction work? Believe me when I say that modern novelists often leave me unsatisfied with their recurring themes and issues. However, High-Rise by J. G. Ballard, written in 1975, is a masterpiece of this particular genre. It touches upon the topics of social structures and architectural failures, and immediately caught my attention. Ballard, in his science-fiction novels, often commences with a particular flaw and explores its consequences to the extreme. In the case of High-Rise, he takes inspiration from the real-life challenges of post-war urban regeneration, and

Image: Instagram via @neilmcgfilm

focuses in on a modernist tower-block. In reality, housing became a polemic, serious issue after the war bombings. The design of the novel’s setting is not imaginary, but based off the existing ideas of modernism about self-contained housing, which serves the individual and not the community. Ballard sees the future as the criticism of the present situation and writes his novels through this logic. The main protagonists of the novel are three male characters inhabiting the different sections of the high-rise social structure: Richard-Wilder living on the second floor, Dr Robert Laing hiding in the middle-class of the 25th floor, and Anthony Royal, the architect of the high-rise and the owner of the penthouse. Additionally, there are several female characters to showcase the existing problem of sexism and female degradation. However, the true protagonist, in my opinion, is the tower-block itself. Throughout the novel, the high-rise appears to develop a consciousness of its own. The humans, in the light of the towerblock, appear more as automatons, robotic crea-

tures. By the end of High-Rise, the building very much resembles a disfigured creature paying homage to Frankenstein’s monster.

The true protagonist, in my opinion, is the tower-block itself

The inhabitants of the outwardly perfect conditions of the high-rise greatly suffer from the isolation it creates. They are separated from each other, and are in addition blocked away from nature. They live within their own small worlds, without any regard for their neighbours. The characters do not remember the past or look forward to the future, their only concern being the present - they are trapped. This creates a set of problems and a huge dissonance between the residents of the building, resulting in violence and confrontation. The characters forget to realise that their problems all stem from the design of the building, and therefore blame their neighbours, turning on one another. On the other hand, there is a handful of individuals who become so accustomed to the conditions surrounding them that they are unaffected by its influence. As a reader, it is fascinating to discover the different directions a group of humans can take, though they live through the same reality. Overall, the novel created conflicting opinions for me. On one hand, it made me feel as though we, as humans, are inevitably responsible for our own prosperity, and that we are the ones destroying our present by forgetting to consider our future. On the other hand, it led me to believe that the environment we inhabit is often the root cause of our actions, as it affects our psyche on a deeper level than we usually comprehend. High-Rise is definitely one of the greatest science-fiction novels I have ever had the chance to read. I would recommend to anyone, but especially to architects and architecture students, as we have a lot to learn from immersing ourselves in Ballard’s fictional world.

Don’t be a mug - come and paint one instead! Forget essays, exams and university stress: Natasha Millar thinks it is time to ‘seize the clay’

aving survived Freshers and the first few painful weeks at university, we all know that the reality of work and deadlines are sinking in fast. I have been trying to find the most creative and hangover-friendly activities to help unwind and take the edge off. The new Pottery Experience is a family-run café which recently opened earlier this year in April, right on our doorsteps in Jesmond. It is the perfect retreat from the stresses of student life. Spending the day painting a mug while enjoying a mocha and a hefty slice of vegan chocolate cake; what more could you want? The studio is wedged between two antique furniture stores, and fits perfectly Jesmond’s aesthetic. When you walk in, you can craft your own ceramic piece on the potter’s wheel or simply turn up, select and paint one of the ready-made pieces of pottery. The café also runs various skilled sessions twice a month, as well as pottery socials. The environment was very welcoming for both the experienced and the less so, and the team made it accessible for old, young and everything in between. I spoke to Hazel Stephenson, who founded and runs the Pottery Experience. What inspired you to open the Pottery Experience? I have been crafty all my life. I have always been interested in ceramics and if we want to progress in life we have to jump in, I guess I made a big jump.

adults here. I think they are the people who need something like this. There are loads of things for kids to do, but as an adult you only really have the option to go to the pub, or for food. There are not many activities which allow you to just sit down and take some time out. Students are really great clientele to work with, and they are people upon whom you feel you can have quite a big influence. This is especially because a lot of people who walk through our door will say how they are not creative, but always leave surprised with their ability. It can really help boost their confidence. It is clear from Hazel’s description that the Pottery Ex-

perience is very student-centred. I can also attest to that fact - even offers a 10% student discount. Overall, I had a very wholesome, hands-on experience. If you are still not convinced of the benefits that come with pottery, the website for the business speaks for itself: ‘it gets people out of their normal routine, gives them something to focus on and brings a sense of calm, joy and discovery as they explore their potential - feelings we now know carry huge mental health benefits’. If you are sorely in need of some sober adult fun, The Pottery Experience is well worth a visit. For more information about The Pottery Experience, visit their website: https://www.thepotteryexperience.co.uk.

“It gets people out of their normal routine” Do you believe there is a good therapeutic value to pottery? Absolutely! we get quite a lot of groups from university, especially students who study technical or science subjects; they spend so much time focusing so hard on things like screens or textbooks. They come in and are excited that they have not thought about anything since they arrived! You do not think about anything here, especially when you are on the wheel, you physically cannot- mainly because you are just concentrating on what you feel in your hands and your fingers. Who is your target audience? Since we have opened, we mainly see students and

arts culture Poem Box Cernunnos Oh hear me, Forest God, wild-man. Hear my plea to you, Hear it in the leaves of your once verdant homeNow brown with decay.

Hear me, Oh Majestic stag, Protector of the wild-spaces, Struggle to hear my voice amongst the din of your dying kin, Slaughtered by those who once revered you. Hear me, Oh Great Green One, Bringer of life, Let my voice pierce your slumber, As chainsaws pierce your tranquil home. Hear me, Oh Forgotten God, Voiceless deity, Let me hear your pleas, Let me help you. Though I fear you have fallen silent for good. Patrick Young

Laughing your Com-Socs off ! Patrick Harland reviews the latest Comedy Society event

ctober 2nd saw the fresher’s showcase of Newcastle Comedy Society in a threepart show of stand-up, sketch and improvised comedy. The show was performed in a packed-out room in the Trent House Pub starting with the Improv comedy. Compered by the brilliant William Bean who engaged with the crowd well and kept the room entertained between the acts allowed for the group headed by Neve Francis and Alex Battersby who took audience suggestions and using their wit crafted them into hilarious scenes that got good reaction from the crowd. The idea behind improv comedy is to be able to think on your feet quickly and draw laughs not necessarily from pointed jokes but instead funny situations this didn’t stop the performers being quick enough to get in some not so subtle wordplay a testament to their ability. This was followed up by the sketch section of the show a style of comedy aimed at wordplay and the punchline to deliver the laughs in short scenes. Using a variety of different sketches with the Bus sketch and the Good Cop, Bad Cop and the James Bond sketch performance being the outstanding pieces that showed the excellence of Kit Giroux, Miles Ogden and Tomo Clarkson’s acting each of them hitting the perfect timing and tone with their lines delivering the jokes perfectly. The third of the triad of laughs was the highly anticipated stand-up section featuring performers who often perform at the Stand Comedy Club in Newcastle with excellent performances from Joe Molander, Joey Abels and Bertie Mitford that gave enjoyable performances with acts ranging from humorous personal stories to joke character acts. Each of the acts brought lots of energy and enthusiasm to the stage and gave a lovely ending, finishing a very entertaining night strongly. The Comedy Society put on three sessions a week teaching skills from the three forms that they performed at the showcase. Each of these sessions are no-pressure sessions for people of all skills who want to learn, broaden their skills and develop their confidence or even just watch around a group of like-minded people who just enjoy laughing! An incredibly fun show by what looks to be an incredibly fun society.

@TheCourierArts Image: Natasha Millar

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culture gaming

No more roles from the Baker Stacey Henley has heard Troy Baker's gears grinding, and reports on his dispute with the Borderlands dev

eteran voice actor Troy Baker has claimed that he did not return to Borderlands 3 because developers Gearbox “wouldn’t go union”, adding “I can’t do a non-union gig.” Baker voiced Rhys in Telltale spin-off Tales From The Borderlands but was replaced by Ray Chase this time around. Along with Nolan North and Laura Bailey, Baker is one of the biggest voice actors in the industry. He’s previously lent his talents to The Last Of Us, BioShock: Infinite and Far Cry 4, and is a considerable loss for Borderlands 3. Bundled with the iffy moustache and the new cybernetic arm, Rhys just doesn’t feel the same. Randy Pitchford, the controversial CEO of Gearbox, said “I don’t actually think it matters at all”. With a history of calling complaints about microtransactions “fuckwitted” on Twitter, Pitchford is no stranger to fanning the flames of controversy. Gearbox’s own statement on Baker not returning made no reference to any union issues, saying “Troy is an exceptional talent and we were disappointed that he declined to partner with us,'' adding that they were open to working with him in the future. However, Baker has made it clear that this won’t be possible unless Gearbox reverse their stance on unions. Gearbox have long been under scrutiny for their behind-the-scenes behaviour, and Baker’s influential voice has put them in the spotlight yet again. David Ebbings, former Gearbox executive and the voice of Claptrap, was also replaced due to a pay dispute. Ebbings had previously voiced Claptrap for free, taking no pay aside from his usual Gearbox salary. This time around, he wanted compensation for his time as an actor, and was subsequently replaced. With five million copies sold in the first five days on PC alone, the controversy does not seem to have affected Borderlands, though it has left a sour taste in fans’ mouths.

Monday 21 October 2019

courier.gaming@ncl.ac.uk Gaming Editors Alex Darbyshire, George Boatfield, James Troughton & Shawn Khoo

Memory Card: Unch

13th October saw the tenth anniversary of Uncharted 2, but we really didn't need an excuse to praise o

Peter Lennon

ncharted 2: Among Thieves is everything that a sequel hopes to be: bigger and better. While Drake’s Fortune eased players into the exciting world of gunfire, booby traps and Nathan’s bravado, Among Thieves kicks it off with a bang. Set in Media res, the opening sequence of Nathan climbing up a run-down train, hanging over a cliff edge in Tibet is painstakingly suspenseful and iconic. The number of Game of the Year

won by Uncharted 2 following 200+ awards its release in October 2009

Better still, however, is the story. Although it often hits many of the same beats that players can expect from the genre - power-crazed eastern European mercenary group included - there are enough twists and turns (and yetis) to keep you guessing along the way. All in all, maintaining the mystery is the most important element with mystical McGuffin plots, and Uncharted 2 pulls it off spectacularly. My favourite thing about Uncharted 2 though is the characters. Few games before Among Thieves had characters that were anywhere near as compelling, particularly in its female cast. Nathan Drake continues to charm in his sequel, with constant cursing in the face of danger and his flirtatious gambits, but it’s Elena and Chloe that steal the spotlight this time.

Few games before Among Thieves had characters anywhere near as compelling

Chloe Frazer is introduced as a fellow treasure hunter and immediately evokes a similar coolness to Drake, which continues to be a refreshing change from the love interest having to grow into competence, and her popularity leading to her own spin-off game should speak volumes. Likewise, the revelation that Elena continues to take her job to the heart of war-torn cities is a wonderful reminder that she is still Nathan Drake’s equal ten years later.

James Troughton

hilst the other writers of this commemorative feature are celebrating the decade old Uncharted 2 from a somewhat nostalgic perspective, I’m here as a more recent convert to the doctrine of Nathan Drake and his posse. Missing out on the series until now is bittersweet, though embarking on this adventure for the first time this year hasn’t made it any less marvellous. What’s truly incredible is that Uncharted 2 has stood the test of time, still feeling like a game that could release in the current generation of consoles. Even a decade on, you can slide the disc in (or just hit play, if you’re a cool modern digital kid who don’t need no physical copies) and still be blown away by the unbelievably beautiful scenery and world that Naughty Dog so carefully crafted.

The gameplay does its fair share in shaping this jaw-dropping experience

George

he years from 2006 to 2013 were pivotal years for gaming; narrative began to gain a greater focus and gradually became better integrated with gameplay. I stuck with the Nintendo Wii during this much of this time, but it wasn’t until my late arrival to the PlayStation 3 that I discovered what I’d been missing. Perhaps the best encapsulation of that development can be seen in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, which acts as a landmark title for this era. The cinematic nature of Uncharted 2 is really what sells the experience, with superb performances from the cast. Their performances run along an adventure that itself continues unbroken through the entire game. You see every step of their journey, ensuring a sense of camaraderie with the characters beyond what the excellent cutscenes provide.

Among Thieves is a landmark title

Uncharted 2 ignited my adoration for the studio of Naughty Dog and for narrative-driven gaming experiences as a whole. While I

What’s more, the gameplay does its fair share in shaping this jaw-dropping experience. It truly feels as though you are in an old adventure flick like the classic Indiana Jones films through the thrilling chases, actionpacked gun fights and stunningly agile parkour. The gunplay might feel a little light compared to their later work with The Last of Us but it's engaging nonetheless. With a stellar cast, an over-thetop story, infectiously charming and seamless adventure and some standout gameplay, you can’t help but immediately fall in love with this wonderous entry into one of the best series in all of gaming. If you haven’t tried Uncharted 2 yet (I can’t say anything, so I won’t), then grab the remastered trilogy for the PS4, boot it up and embark on one of the best adventures you can experience.

Image: Gage Skidmore (Flickr)

And the award doesn't go to... A snub from the Writers Guild of America has left industry ambassadors disappointed, but Patrick Harland remains hopeful

he Writers Guild of America is the combination of two labour unions in the US representing television and film writers. The guild hosts annual awards for outstanding achievements in film, television, radio and, until this year, video games. Video game writing has been a part of the annual awards for the last eleven years with winners including

Image: IGDB

Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, The Last of Us and Rise of the Tomb Raider among others. The Writers Guild’s current stance is that the award is suspended from this year following not enough games being covered by their union. While many people seem to disagree with the action that has been taken by the Writers Guild, there are many who don’t see it as a massive loss, saying that the award could only be won if you were a paid member of the guild; video game writing alone will not qualify you for the award. So despite the obvious loss in the removal of this award, perhaps it isn’t the huge blow to the industry that it first appeared to be.

The award could only be won if you were a paid member of the Writers Guild

Moreover, it’s not all doom and gloom. The light in

the darkness that provides recognition for game writers and makers everywhere still exists in The Game Awards and the BAFTA Games Awards. Both of these show recognition not only for writing and narrative but also for other game features as well.

2019

The year that saw God of War beat Spider-Man, Batman: The Enemy Within, Assassin's Creed Odyssey and Pillars of Eternity II for WGA's video game writing award

This news is fitting as The Game Awards of 2019 have yet to be held, with this year’s edition expected to happen in early December. Games such as Detroit: Become Human, God of War and Red Dead Redemption 2 have vied for the best narrative award in the past, amongst other competition. This means that, although one platform for recognising the work of writers has gone, they still have opportunities to be rewarded for their excellent work, which is an essential incentive for game development.

the courier

Monday 21 October 2019

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gaming culture

Review: John Wick Hex harted 2

one of gaming's best ever adventures Boatfield

consider The Last of Us to be the pinnacle of blending gameplay with narrative, Uncharted 2 laid much of the groundwork for this to take place. Tracing those pieces back just makes the puzzle of game development all the more remarkable. A technical showpiece, Uncharted 2 feels timeless in retrospect. Truly, we should look back on games like this - the industry seems intent on moving away from story-based single player experiences in favour of the supposedly more profitable ‘live service’ model. Studios like Naughty Dog act as the last bastions for quality, selfcontained stories worth remembering.

Taking his turn to fire shots, James Troughton lays bare his grievances with this indie tie-in

hen John Wick Hex was first announced, I was expecting a lacklustre FPS that imitated better titles in the genre, developed by some unknown studio with a terrible track record. However, as I stumbled across the news that it was being developed by an indie team, my scepticism evolved into optimism. The game may not have the jaw-dropping graphics of modern titles like God of War, but its comic book aesthetic provides a unique charm. This bleeds into the cutscenes too as each part of the story is told through still images that feel like a montage of comic panels rather than telling dialogue through gigantic speech bubbles, we get thrilling voice acting from a great cast. However, the story isn’t brilliant. The crux of the John Wick films lies in the incredibly choreographed fight sequences and drip-fed world-building, not the actual narrative. And let’s not forget Keanu Reeves, w h o ’ s

performance lends a skilled hand in bringing the series to life. Thus, as these aspects are removed for the video game, alongside slower action (but still faster paced than most turn-based games), the story’s lower quality becomes noticeable. Nonetheless, I doubt people picked this up for a well-written narrative.

This take on the turnbased genre is honestly very refreshing

So what’s the gameplay like? In a word: repetitive. The actual take on the turn-based genre is honestly refreshing: when you move, so does everybody else around you, meaning that when you make a decision you have to consider the immediate impacts of your surroundings. This makes the experience far more tactical. Alternatively, you could lob your gun at an enemy to stun them and rush in for the kill only to be gunned down by a mob of angry henchmen. While there’s a lot of freedom in player choice and versatility in gameplay, the downsides of

repetitiveness are apparent. The game doesn’t grow in complexity and there’s little potential for experimentation, making the experience incredibly monotonous. You do the same thing over and over until you beat the game. However, I must praise John Wick Hex for its difficulty options. Most games artificially increase difficulty by bumping up the health of enemies, thus increasing time or resources required to take one down. Thankfully, the developers have avoided this mechanic. Instead, you can pick between a mode where, when time freezes, you have as long as you like to make your move. On the flipside, you could choose to be ‘Expedited’, which

While there's freedom in player choice, the repetitiveness quickly becomes apparent

means that you only have five seconds to take your turn. This brilliant addition makes the difficulty increase feels genuine and complex as it forces you to think faster and increases the pacing of the game. This eases the repetitiveness of combat whilst simultaneously providing a more challenging experience. Although it’s a shame that it launched on the Epic Games Store (I’m personally not a fan), it is incredibly cheap for what you get and so it’s more than worth giving a shot. It won’t win prizes for being the best game of the year and it’s certainly not the best in its genre, but it’s still a very fun way to kill ten hours.

Image: YouTube (PlayStation Official) & Needpix

Image: Twitter (IGN)

Red Dead Redemption II saddles up to PC

The Red Dead gold mine is now open to new prospectors, and Joe Holloran is ready to dig up this beloved western

ockstar Games are about to provide PC gamers with an early Christmas present this year: one of their flagship games, Red Dead Redemption II, is to be released for the PC on 5 November. Rockstar are pushing this port hard, keen to showcase the PC version’s many improvements to gameplay and graphics over its console counterparts. These include improvements to texture detail, ambient sound and punchier combat. More excitingly for those with beefy setups are the enhancements in the form of higher resolution and framerate output. Alternative aspect ratios and multi-screen compatibility will also be present to make it clear that the Wild West has never looked so good.

The PC edition will feature free access to the Red Dead Online multiplayer platform

The PC edition of the modern masterpiece will feature free access to the Red Dead Online platform. There, users can access all previously released upgrades, technical

improvements and information about all future DLCs. The platform also allows users to experience exclusive gameplay content such as Frontier Pursuits and the new rewards system for players as they progress through the story.

2018

Red Dead Redemption II released on October 26 last year for PlayStation and Xbox

Nvidia GeForce GTX 770 graphics card and at least 8GB of RAM. A notable aspect of the port, likely to be a big issue for some, is the frankly ludicrous 150GB space requirements for the initial install. A large storage requirement given the mammoth size and scope of the game is unsurprising, but still, it is probably worth checking on what you can delete in the run up to the game’s release.

Red Dead Redemption II is available to pre-order on Rockstar Games Launcher and will be on the Steam servers from December.

The biggest concern among PC gamers is the high hardware requirements needed to experience the full potential of the game. The full specifications can be found online, but the main requirements are an

Image: IGDB

culture science

c2.science@ncl.ac.uk Science Editors Eleanor Gratton, Patrick Harland & Seshadhri Subramanian

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Monday 21 October 2019

Polar Bear footprints used to develop ethical tracking techniques Louise Elliott reports on work into powerful DNA collection that has the potential to protect polar bears from extinction

wedish scientists working with the WWF Alaska and the Department of Wildlife Management have been able to isolate DNA from left over cellular debris in snow pawprints of polar bears. This is the first time this has been attempted successfully and holds huge potential for understanding these majestic creatures. Polar bears are significantly under pressure due to climate change. Ice in polar regions are melting much more quickly than first thought and is a huge threat to polar bears and the entire ecosystem that they are part of. This ecosystem is also important for humans as huge amounts of our fish come from these ecosystems. Understanding polar bear numbers and the genetics of the population can provide insight into how climate change is impacting these majestic creatures and what we can do to help them.

This is the first time this has been attempted successfully

Currently, the main way that biological samples are taken from these animals is through sedation and then

taking blood. This is extremely stressful for the polar bears and is also dangerous for the scientists who carry out the work. Taking DNA from the environment is a non-invasive and reliable way of collecting this important information.

This technique holds huge potential for non-intrusive animal study

Working closely with the local Inuit population, Iñupiats, the scientists were able to trace the polar bears and find their pawprints and take samples of snow. However, this had to be carried out at night when temperatures plummet to around -40 degrees because UV light from the sun degrades the eDNA (environmental DNA) in the pawprints. Although this work was successful, little DNA was left behind in each pawprint due to this extreme weather and over 40 samples had to be taken. This is difficult and tiring work but thankfully their hard work paid off when they were able to isolate and use this eDNA for polar bear population research.

The use of eDNA has been happening for a number of years with different organisms. It had mostly b e carried out with aquatic organisms because of the ease of collecting their eDNA: through collecting water that these organisms live in. This has given insight into the structure of an ecosystem and evolutionary relationships between organisms. This work with polar bears will give accurate information about which species are in an environment and also their population size and behaviour. Although this is early days for this new and fascinating technique, it holds huge potential for non-intrusive study of other animals. This work could play a substantial role in the future understanding of organisms and ecosystems.

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Facts to fake news? A climate of falsehoods

Maud Webster expresses concern over the use of an agenda over evience in Trump's climate denial and other psuedoscience

cientists aren’t always objective, and despite our society’s perception of those working in the industry, the fact is that their studies are often funded by corporations and major organisations with other motives in mind. However, it’s been revealed that during the Trump administration scientific research has been manipulated on a supposedly weekly basis; this accusation originates from a group of ex-government officials, who released a Task Force report detailing the political interference currently going on in government scientific findings. This has led to the restriction of study findings, particularly those which may cause damage to the business sector, and especially that of energy. As we approach the 2020 US election season, it’s more important than ever for the Republicans to ensure that their term in office has been ‘successful’. Therefore this obstruction of true scientific evidence seems this is one of many measures being taken at the moment to ensure that the currently distressing state of political and social affairs is concealed. But what has been hidden? Manipulated? Even erased? Well, the Department of

Word of the Week:

n the UK, more than 1 in every 100 people have Autism. This life-long condition is not an illness, and is studied as a spectrum – every autistic person is different. Autism can affect how a person processes social interaction, and sensory information such as light, noise, taste, smell and touch. For example, loud noises and bright lights can sometimes be stressful and very overwhelming for a person with autism. Expressing emotions and communicating with others can also prove difficult sometimes for autistic people, and this can lead to some people feeling very isolated, anxious and misunderstood by others. Unfamiliar surroundings and situations, and a change to routine can be difficult and upsetting for an autistic person.

berg, a warrior for social change against global warming, is affected by Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of autism. The highly successful Greta has spoken out about her Asperger’s; “Sometimes it makes me a bit different from the norm” but it is her “Super Power”. Emma Monoghan

Interior has been found reassigning a scientist to a position of accounting after he spoke out about the negative impacts of climate change on Arctic communities such as Inuit people. Another case found by the report is at the EPA [Environmental Protection Agency], members of some scientific advisory boards have been replaced by those representing corporate interests – biased individuals who care more about keeping money in their pockets than safeguarding our world for future generations. A final example is how the White House has suppressed a report displaying how a dangerously toxic substance, present in many states’ water sources, can harm humans at far lower levels than previously reported by the EPA.

The White House has supressed a report on a dangerously toxic substance

Thomas Burke, a senior official at the EPA during Obama’s term in office expresses his concern for the current climate of suppressed information:

Image above: Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0 AlphaStock

This obstruction of true scientific evidene is one of many measures

I don’t know about you, but to me, this doesn’t exactly sound like the kind of thing I want to hear about one of the most influential nations in the world as we hurtle towards many threats of resources dwindling, overpopulation and climate crisis. The report suggests the introduction of rigorous scientific integrity standards at all government agencies, as well as a higher level of accessibility to government data for the public, in the hope that this will mitigate the effects political manipulation is having and has had on scientific research. Will this work? Let’s wait and see.

No-dealing wih the flu Lilla Marshall tells of the government's plan to tackle the flu

he NHS has announced that every child between the ages of two and 11 will be offered a nasal-spray flu vaccination, this year – even if we leave the EU with no deal on October 31st. The announcement comes just a month after the release of the Yellowhammer Papers, where the

Currently the cause of autism is unkown, but there is positive correlation to genes

Currently the cause of autism is unknown, but it has been confirmed that factors as the MMR vaccine and diet, are not the cause. Recent studies have shown there is a positive genetic correlation between likelihood of autism and the likelihood of high intelligence. Greta Thun-

“Let’s face it, without credible science the fundamental responsibilities of our government are threatened. I fear the public has lost faith in our agencies, and our best and brightest are being discouraged and blocked from federal service.”

Image: jber.jb.mil/

UK government confessed that there may be medicine shortages up to six months after a no deal Brexit. However, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England, Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, has stated that there is no possibility that there will be a shortage of flu vaccines as the initiative has been “very carefully thought through” with most of the needed vaccines arriving well before deadline day. Last year, 72% of people over the age of five were vaccinated against the virus, which claimed roughly 1,700 lives. This year, the NHS is targeting 75%. Young children, in particular, are being targeted due to their role as “super spreaders”. A study by the University of Warwick in 2013 found that young children have more “social encounters”, per day, than any other demographic. Their healthy immune system can prevent the disease from displaying symptoms – allowing them to unknowingly pass it on to their potentially much more immunologically fragile grandparents. Some critics, however, are suggesting that the NHS needs to look closer to home. The same study by the University of Warwick listed healthcare workers as one of the adult demographics with the most “social encounters”. However, only 70% of NHS workers received the flu vaccine last year. Professor Van-Tam argues that NHS workers have a responsibility to get the vaccination, as they are working with potentially vulnerable people, who are putting a lot of trust in them.

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Monday 21 October 2019

@culture_courier thecourieronline.co.uk/science

Cosmic Web theory confirmed

Courtney Huck explains the long-standing theory and its effect

he cosmic web theory holds that galaxies are held together by gravity. For the first time, this structure has been observed by scientists. Through the European’s Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope, scientists were able to detect a cluster of galaxies over 12 billion light years away. The galaxies are in the Aquarius constellation and are linked together by a network of gas filaments. Cosmic web is one of the front running theories to explain how galaxies were formed after the big bang, but until this latest observation the theory lacked convincing evidence. Professor Michele Fumagalli, an astrophysicist at Durham University and co-author of the work, said: “it is very exciting to clearly see for the first time multiple and extended filaments in the early universe. We finally have a way to map these structures directly and to understand in detail their role in regulating the formation of supermassive black holes and galaxies.” It is thought that 60% of hydrogen created during the

60%

gas that was created in the big bang collapses firstly into sheets and then expands out into space in filaments. In areas where the filaments come to intersect, they provide growth to the formation of new galaxies through a steady supply of gas The newest discovery shows that the crossovers between large filaments were at one time home to active galactic centres. They held supermassive black holes and “starbursting” galaxies that have stars actively forming. Hideki Umehata, the first author on the research, said “This suggests very strongly that gas falling along the filaments under the force of gravity triggers the formation of starbursting galaxies and supermassive black holes, giving the universe the structure that we see today.” The whole report can be found in the journal Science Vol 366, Issue 6461

Percentage of hydrogen created in the big bang spread across space in the cosmic web

big bang has been spread across space in the cosmic web. Theoretical predictions indicate that galaxies rely on these hydrogen filaments to form and evolve. The team were able to spot a new forming galaxy cluster and were able to detect the individual filaments of hydrogen gas. Prior evidence of the theory had shown short blob of gas beyond galaxies, but the team’s observation was the first to show extended filaments. This bolsters the cosmic web argument because it indicates that the hydrogen

Image: NASA (Wikipedia)

science culture

UK Wildlife faces down the threat of extinction Megan Butterfield expresses concern over a UK ecology report

recent report released by the State of Nature has found that UK wildlife is now changing at a rate quicker than ever, with over half of the 7000 species studied experiencing rapid increase or decrease over the last decade. Over a quarter of the UK’s mammals and a fifth of plant species are at risk of extinction, with figures set to worsen in coming years.

Despite a lack of governmental change, the people have taken power into their own hands

The State of Nature report found that reductions in species are likely to be a direct result of the intensification of agriculture. Minette Batters, president of the National Farmers Union (NFU), stated that she expects pressure on farming to continue as ‘Over the next 30 years, farmers will need to produce more food to meet the demands of a growing population’. The report argues that this growing demand for food has had a ‘dramatic impact on farmland diversity’, with the UK’s population of skylarks, a farmland bird, halving during the 1990s. Attempts to combat this decline have included targeted wildlife-friendly farming, which, through the support of government-funded agri-environment schemes (AES), may have slowed the deterioration of farmland habitats. However, this has failed to stop and overturn the decline, suggesting that more needs to be done in order to con-

serve these valuable habitats. Rosie Hails, nature and science director at the National Trust, has called for ‘a strong new set of environmental laws to hold our governments and others to account and to set long-term ambitious targets’. Changes within government are urgently required as the report found that climate change is having a significant impact on the ecology, distribution and abundance of our wildlife, which is expected to continue for decades and potentially centuries to come. The UK’s 10 hottest years have occurred since 2002, causing many species of birds and butterflies to move their ranges north, whilst warming seas have resulted in the disruption of fish and plankton distribution.

40%

The increase in amount of time volunteers have dedicated to conservation in the UK

There is therefore a growing need for action and change, with NGOs encouraging young people to educate adults and put pressure on those in positions of power. Despite a lack of governmental change, the people have taken power into their own hands. The amount of time volunteers have dedicated to conservation in the UK has increased by 40% since 2000, amounting to 7.5 million hours. This highlights how individual actions can have a significant impact and should encourage us to play our role in reducing contributions to climate change, in order to conserve the UK’s rich and diverse wildlife for generations to come.

Molecular machines - science fiction? And the Noble Prize winner is... Patrycja Ubysz reports on recent work on nano-machines

rofessor David Leigh from University of Manchester stood in front of the Newcastle University audience on Tuesday 8th October. He held a bright pink napkin in his right hand and placed it inside the left fist. We all could see it was gone as soon as he opened his hand. That was one of many magic tricks presented to the open Daedalus lecture’s audience in the Boiler House that day. The topic of his lecture, molecular machines, might seem to be a concept closer to magical science fiction than reality. The thought of building a shuttle or a car only a few nanometres wide might be unimaginable, and certainly was no longer than 50 years ago, when supramolecular chemistry got recognized. The Nobel Prize was awarded to J. M. Lehn, D. J. Cram and C. J. Pedersen in 1987 and first thoughts about artificial molecular machines started to form in chemists’ heads. So what do we mean by the term “molecular machine”? It is an assembly of molecules able to perform mechanicallike movement. An example of a “molecular machine” is Rotaxane. This molecule consists of two elements not bonded to each other: a ring and an axle capped on both ends. Just like in our macroworld: the parts could not be separated without breaking one of the bonds, but they are two separate items. With the aid of so-called weak interactions, the ring can be held on one end of the axle and then, in response to a specific signal (i. e. visible light), be moved it to the opposite end. That is how a light-controlled molecular machine can be constructed. In fact, the example depicted above – the molecular shuttle – was one of the first molecular machines prototyped by Professor J. F. Stoddard in 1991. In 2016 himself, J. P. Sauvage and B. L. Feringa were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the design and synthesis of molec-

ular machines. Since the first attempts of creating the machines, designs became more advanced. The possibilities seem to be endless and the examples vary from molecular motor to a nanocar. However, the technology is relatively new and more research is needed before using it in reallife applications.

Closer to magical science fiction than reality

Professor Leigh’s group is one of many teams in the world exploring possibilities and limitations of molecular machines. During the lecture he presented some of the concepts his group researches, such as nanomotors, molecular assemblers and molecular robotics in an incredibly engaging way, supported by visuals and, of course, magic tricks. He emphasised the fact that humans did not invent molecular machines. All biological functions depend on molecular motion and many of them on biological machines like ATP synthase or ribosomes. They are incredibly complex and not yet understood, therefore it is crucial to investigate into biological systems in order to design better artificial assemblies. Research in molecular machines is in a brand new realm of science, there is still a lot to be discovered. With that in mind, the question professor Leigh left his audience with might cause a deep reflection – How will the technology look like 40 years from now? I’m afraid we can’t even imagine.

Joanna Myslinska reports on the awarding of Nobel Prizes

o many known as the most prestigious award, to find what is the universe made of, working on theoretical many the biggest dream and a lifetime commitment. explanations of the cosmic microwave background. He The Nobel Prize week began last Monday, and since, has been waiting for a long while, right? we will get to know the laureates in six categories. The second half of the Physics award was shared beThe award in the first category – Medicine and Physi- tween Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz “for the disology was awarded to two American scientists: William covery of an exoplanet orbiting a solar-type star”, which Kaelin Jr and Gregg Semenza, and a British scientist Sir they first saw in 1995. (Also a fair bit of time, right Mr Peter J. Ratcliffe. They have been working on the molecu- Peebles?) Their observation changed the understanding lar basis of hypoxia an essential mechanism that allows of the planet formation, and gave rise to developing new our body to respond to changing oxygen levels. The re- techniques in looking for new planets outside the Solar searchers discovered ‘the molecular switch that regulates System. how our cells adapt when the oxygen levels The winners of the Chemistry Nobel were drop’. This vital process, when faulty, can announced on Wednesday: John B. be responsible for many medical conGoodenough, M. Stanley Whitditions, such as cancer or anaemia. tingham and Akira Yoshino Its understanding may hopehave been working separately fully help in developing new but on the same thing: the strategies to fight many dislithium-ion battery. It was eases, claimed the Stockfirst created in the early holm Committee. The 1970s by M. Stanley laureates will share the Whittingham, and Nobel Prize and receive then thanks to John B. around £278,667 each. Goodenough, it douOn Tuesday, the Physbled its power. Further ics Nobel Prize was work by Akira Yoshino awarded “for contribuimproved its safety, by tions to our understandchanging the use of pure ing of the evolution of the lithium, to lithium ion universe and Earth’s place in electrodes. Present on the the cosmos”. One half of the markets since 1991, this Prize was given to cosmologist light yet capacious thing James Peebles for his discovpowers majority of eleceries in the 60s and 70s. The trical devices – from cars Image: Adam Baker (Flickr) winner has been trying to to smartphones

Exoskeletons have massive potential to transform lives

Adam Baines tells us of the work being made to improve the lives of people across the globe

T Image: Flicker - Ekso Bionics

hirty year old Thibault, who does not want his surname to be revealed, was an optician before he was left paralysed after a fall of 15m from a night club. His spinal injury left him spending the next two years of his life in hospital, completely unable to move his arms or legs. That was until he took part in a clinical trial ran by biomedical company Clinatec at Grenoble Alpes Hospital. It involved Thibault wearing a 65kg exoskeleton connected to two implants placed on his brain’s outer membrane, with these areas controlling his motor functions. These implants respond to Thibault’s neuronal activities, and these responses are sent to a computer which controls

the exoskeleton. As a result, when Thibault wants to move one of his limbs, all he has to do is think about it, and the exoskeleton responds to his commands. Thibault said he felt like the “first man on the Moon” after taking his first steps. The electrodes placed on Thibault’s brain are still active after 27 months, representing a major development in this type of medical technology. However, there is still a way to go. Thibault’s exoskeleton is attached to the ceiling by a harness, so he is not able to walk completely independently just yet. Equally, the computers used in this trial cannot keep up with all of

Thibault’s movements. Altogether the general use of exoskeletons to improve the quality of life of quadriplegics is still a bit off, the trial demonstrates that we are certainly moving in the right direction. There is some concern about the less virtuous use of exoskeletons. The US military is currently investing in exoskeleton technology in the hope to allow soldiers to be ‘fresh’ when it comes to battle, while still being able to carry all their equipment (which often weighs around 53kg). However the military end up using this technology, we can most assuredly say that its development can greatly benefit the lives of quadriplegics across the world.

puzzles 35

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Monday 21 October 2019

Puzzles Editor Emma Dawson

Solutions will be revealed in next week’s issue, available on campus from 28 October

MR TAYTO’S CROSSWORD Across

Down

1 . Swedish pop group (4) 3. Capital of Brazil (8) 7. Popular ice lolly brand (6) 9. Type of Basketball shot (4,4) 11. Japanese form of self-defence (6) 13. Rupi ____ , Canadian poet (4) 15. Burt’s ____ , US cosmetics brand 17. Group of people mainly inhabiting in the middle East (4) 22. Type of constrictor snake 23. US state with the Capital Montgomery 24. Aurora ____ , Name for the Northern lights (8) 27. TV show written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge (7) 28. I give it a ____ , 2013 British Rom-com (4)

1. Premiere league team based in Islington (7) 2. Largest lake in Wales (4) 3. Indie band from Stockport (8) 4. Arabic word for god (5) 5. Vinyl record format (1,1) 6. 2013 Arctic Monkeys album (1,1) 8. ____ Krabapple, Teacher in the Simpsons (4) 10. Type of edible seaweed used in Japanese cookery (4) 12. Popular takeaway (5) 14. A form of verse set to music (6) 16. Offical currency of 19 countries (4) 18. Ancient Egyptian diety of the sun (2) 19. Informal name of the rectus abdominis muscle (2) 20. Spieces of marine and freshwater fish (4) 21. British political party founded in 1900 22. The Pelican ____, 1993 American legal thriller (5) 25. ____ league, group of eight private US universities (3) 26. Dystopian novel written in 1921 (2)

The first person to find Editor-in-Chief Grace Dean with a completed copy of the crossword wins a mysterious prize from our puzzles drawer

SEASONAL WORDSEARCH LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS O C W F

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sport

Monday 21 October 2019

Sport Spotlight: Historic Black

In celebration of Black History Month, The Courier Sport celebrate the achievements of some athletes trail blazers who have fought prejudice both historically and in our times to reach th Jofra Archer Phillip Etchells

These are the words of Jofra Archer, England Cricket’s fast bowling sensation who burst onto the international cricket scene earlier this summer and who is rapidly emerging as one of the most exciting young players in the game. Tipped by some as having the potential to become one of the world’s best in the years to come, Archer could be the role model Britain’s African-Caribbean cricketing community desperately needs. Archer, aged 24, was born in Barbados to a British father and could have played for the West Indies. However, after not being picked for the Windies side in the 2014 Under-19 World Cup, the paceman used his British passport to apply to play for England. He has only been playing County Cricket since 2016 and credits his friend Chris Jordan, a fellow Barbados born England player, for recommending him to the Sussex County team.

Rajastan Royals, in the Indian Premier League, paid £800,000 to retain his services for the 2019 season

Archer is also in high demand in domestic cricket around the world. Rajasthan Royals, in the Indian Premier League, paid £800,000 to retain his services for the 2019 season. He is popular with fans too. A series of his tweets from years ago went viral earlier in the summer when he seemed to “predict” what happened in this year’s Cricket World Cup. He has his own YouTube channel and at one point in the summer his odds to win Sports Personality of the Year dropped from 50/1 to 16/1. It was first thought that Archer would have to wait until 2022 before he was eligible to play for England, but thanks to a change to the qualification rules in 2018, the paceman was able to feature for England over the past summer. And he has made quite a start to his international career. He was England’s leading wicket taker in their World Cup triumph back in July and his blistering pace bowling was one of the talking points in the Ashes defeat to

16/1

The odds on Archer to win the 2019 Sports Personality

Australia in August. He reached speeds of 96mph in some bowling spells and struck Australia’s Steve Smith on the neck during one game. The injury sustained meant Smith had to miss the following Test Match with concussion. “I’d love to get to the top and encourage black kids to play” Apart from reaching the top of the game, Archer hopes he will be able to use his platform to inspire the next generation of black players. In the recent 2019 ECB Cricket Playing Survey, results showed that only 1% of players at recreational level are black. Although the data is unconfirmed because surveys are based on self identity, this figure is mirrored by the 1% of black coaches in the game too. Since 1999, Archer is only the third black cricketer to make his debut for the England Test side. Now he’s made it, Archer could be the catalyst for increased participation as grassroots level for young black players in the game.

Michael Jordan Sesha Subramanian When people talk of the greatest basketball player of all time, there is almost no debate as to who it is. Born on 17th February 1963 in New York City, Michael Jeffrey Jordan would go on to become one of the most recognisable faces in the history of sport. He would win six NBA championships, two Olympic gold medals and be named the league MVP five times, the NBA Finals MVP all six times he won the championship, and an All-Star 14 times. His work ethic and determination to succeed would come to the fore in high school. Jordan averaged more than 25 points per game in the final two years of his high school career, earning a selection to

the McDonald’s All-American Game - designed to showcase the country’s premier high school talent. Accepting a basketball scholarship to the University of North Carolina, Jordan would spend three years playing college basketball, the highlight being his game winning jumpshot in the 1982 NCAA Championship Final - a shot he described as a major turning point in his career. Jordan was chosen in the 1984 draft by the Chicago Bulls and would quickly become a fan favourite throughout the NBA, with even opposing arenas taking a liking to the sport’s newest superstar. He was voted an All-Star in his debut season and won Rookie Of the Year, turning Chicago into playoff contenders. However, his first taste of the playoffs (as well as his second and third) would end badly as the Bulls failed to

make it past the first round. In 1987-88 Chicago would make it past the first round of the playoffs for the first time in Jordan’s career as he won MVP and

Jordan was chosen in the 1984 draft by the Chicago Bulls and would quickly become a fan favourite

Defensive player of the year as well as being the league’s leading scorer with 35 points per game. Despite beating the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round, the Bulls would lose to the more experienced Detroit Pis-

tons and Isiah Thomas, beginning an acrimonious rivalry that Jordan would describe as “war”. The rivalry peaked when the Bulls swept the Pistons in four games in 1991, in a show of defiance Thomas and most of his teammates would walk off the court, refusing to shake the Bulls players’ hands - Jordan reportedly reacted by threatening to refuse to play on Team USA at the 1992 Olympics should Thomas be included in the team. That game would mark the ultimate rise for the young superstar as the 1991 playoffs ended with Jordan and the Bulls beating Magic Johnson and the Lakers to win the first of six NBA championships in eight years. In this period, Jordan would elevate his status to that of the greatest of all time. In successive playoffs he would beat fellow Hall of Famers and

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Monday 21 October 2019

k Sportstars

e of history’s most inspirational black he pinnacles of their chosen sports

highest level- most famously in the 1997 NBA Finals ‘Flu Game’. He rarely missed games and would give his all at both ends of the floor (epitomised by him being one of only two players ever to win both the league MVP and Defensive Player awards in the same season). His style of play, athleticism, ability to perform under pressure and marketability as a global superstar would influence the next generation of basketball players. Outside of the USA, he was the main selling point for Team USA at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, inspiring scores of basketball players worldwide. The modern day NBA owes a lot to Michael Jordan from a playing as well as a non-playing perspective- the competition has imprints of Jordan all over it even today.

All you need to know: The Courier Sport fantasy football league

Sports Editor Toby Bryant with the latest from the section’s fantasy league

Jonah Lomu Tom Moorcroft Jonah Lomu wasn’t just a Rugby player. He was the definition of an athlete. Weighing in at 120 KG of pure muscle, and towering at 6 ft 5 in, he struck fear into not only his opponents, but probably a few of his teammates. The New Zealand national had an outstanding career for a variety of teams across the world, spanning over 16 years. He debuted as the youngest ever All Black in 1994, at the age of 19 years and

At the age of 20 Lomu was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome, a major kidney disease that affected his life

Images: Instagram: @jofraarcher Instagram: @therareair Instagram: @europsport

set a longstanding record in 1995-96 for regular season team wins.

He went on to buy the Charlotte Hornets in 2014

Jordan finally retired in 2003. He would go on to buy the Charlotte Hornets in 2014, becoming the first African-American majority owner in the NBA. His offcourt management of the franchise may be questionable but there is no question about the impact he has had on the game of basketball. He was a tough competitor who would stop at nothing to play the game at the

45 days (making me question what I’ve accomplished in my 19 years on this planet), and still holds the Rugby World-Cup try scoring record of 15. However, what made Jonah Lomu stick out from the crowd (except for his height), would be his unbelievable will-power, when faced with kidney problems throughout his playing career. At the age of 20, he was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome, a major kidney disease which affected his life, and by 2003, at the age of 28, he was on dialysis 3 times a week. A year later he received a kidney transplant, after doctors feared if he didn’t have surgery, he may never walk again. Where most people would’ve retired, Lomu decided to have another shot at Rugby, and was playing a year later at the age of 30. However, after more kidney problems, he had a very rocky couple of years, and ended up retiring from professional rugby at the age of 32. This wasn’t the end of Jonah’s involvement in sport. In 2011, he joined the ‘Champions for Peace’ club, which consisted of 54 athletes dedicated to promoting peace through sport, and in 2015 he worked in the UK, promoting the 2015 England Rugby World-Cup. However, this would be his last venture into the world of Rugby, as he died on the 18th of November, a few weeks after watching his pride and joy, New Zealand, win the World Cup. Jonah Lomu wasn’t just an amazing athlete, he was an inspiration to people on and off the pitch. At the age of 20, on the periphery of his career, he received life-changing news that he had kidney problems. But he played on through this weakness, and showed that people don’t have to be defined by their inadequacies. He’s a testament to how tenacity and hard work can overcome adversity.

Images: @Official FPL Facebook

The aim of the game

With over six million football fans signed up to the Premier League’s official fantasy game, it’s the biggest in the world. And what’s even more impressive is that this year The Courier Sport have organised their own league. For editors, writers and readers alike, Newcastle University’s football fans are locking-horns over Teemu Pukki problems, Pep Guardiola’s unpredictable rotation and scrambling to shoehorn in Chelsea’s new wonderkids. For those who aren’t familiar with the fantasy footballing phenomenon, here’s a quick rundown on all you need to know. Selecting your team With a budget of 100.0, it’s up to you to curate the highest scoring team possible. It’s not all that simple, however. The league’s most prolific players such as Raheem Sterling, Mohamed Salah and Sergio Aguero can cost up to 13.0, whilst hidden gems such as Teemu Pukki, John Lundstram and Mason Mount will be less than half of that price. It’s up to you to find the right balance for your budget. You’ll need to pick two goalkeepers, five defenders, five midfielders and three forwards, but no more than three players from any one Premier League team. Joining Leagues There are two main formats of leagues in the Fantasy Premier League. A Classic League, like the one The Courier Sport runs, sees teams fight for the top sport in the classic table format which updates weekly. For a different challenge, a Head To Head league pits two sides against each other each week, the winner emerging with three points, the loser with none. Transfers As players get injured or aren’t performing as well as expected, fantasy managers will look for a change. The game affords you one free transfer each week to bring in new blood. Any more than that and you’ll lose four points per additional change. The ‘chips’ Making the most of your game chips can make or break a fantasy football season. The Wildcard can be played at two points throughout the year and gift managers unlimited transfers in one week. The Triple Captain sees your captain’s points tripled in one Gameweek and the Bench Boost brings your benched players’ points into the game for one week too. Perhaps the most complicated to understand in the Free Hit chip. Playing this in one week means managers can select a team from scratch for the up-

coming round of fixtures, before reverting to their old side the week after.

Ones to watch

The season may only be eight weeks in, but already some players are emerging as top choices. Fantasy Premier League’s ‘Dream Team’ showcases the highest scoring players in the game. Here’s who features... Rui Patricio Three clean sheets, a penalty save and 20 in-game saves has helped propel the Wolves shot-stopper to 38 points. Ricardo Pereria Leicester City’s player of the season from last term has wasted no time getting started this time out with two goals and two clean sheets. Trent Alexander-Arnold Liverpool’s emphatic start to the season wouldn’t have been the same without Trent Alexander-Arnold’s marauding runs down the flank. John Lundstram Sheffield United’s low budget defender has wasted no time turning fantasy managers’ heads with his attacking returns and bonus points. Kevin De Bruyne The game’s highest scoring player, two goals and nine assists from the Belgian wizard have helped him to 63 points overall. Sadio Mané Liverpool’s top scoring midfielder, the Senegal international has five goals and two assists to his name so far this season. Mohamed Salah Playing alongside Mané, Mohamed Salah

is sitting pretty with 55 points. Raheem Sterling The England international has had a fiery start to the season. With five of his six goals coming in the three opening games, however, some managers are losing patience. Sergio Aguero An ever-present threat, the Manchester City talisman has already netted eight times so far this year. Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang Making the most of a central berth thanks to an Alexander Lacazette injury, Aubameyang has only failed to score in two gameweeks this year. Teemu Pukki The man on every football fan’s lips, Norwich City’s Teemu Pukki has been a revelation this season with 54 points to his name already.

The standings

With 31 entries into The Courier Sport Section league, competition is tough. Corin Wright’s One United FC lead the way in first place with 473 points, Amirul Haqim is second and Thomas Hardwick is third. Mohamed Khalid’s Dark Souls sit in last with a whopping -6 points. Out of the sports editors, Toby Bryant leads the way with 439 points in sixth place. Tom Moorcroft is in 10th, Rory Ewart in 17th, Stan Gilyead in 23rd and Rebecca Johnson languishes behind in 27th place, making her frustration at the game no secret. (All statistics correct as of 18/10/19) Head to fantasy.premierleague.com and use the code 8cxyy6 to join the league!

Kevin De Bruyne is the Fantasy Football star of 2019/20 so far Image: Instagram kevindebruyne

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Monday 21 October 2019

Has football all gone far too VAR?

Sesha Subramanian and Molly Greeves debate the Premier League’s controversial new video referee system and what it means for the league For VAR Sesha Subramanian

Remember the days when you had intense debates as to whether a striker’s big right toe was offside when he ran on to a pass and scored? Or remember that time in a derby when your opponent’s misfiring number nine did his best Tom Daley impression to win and score a heartbreaking ninetiethminute penalty?

The purpose of VAR was to bring in a fairer game and it has certainly done that

Surely I can’t be the only one who has been through all that. For all the noise about how VAR (Video Assistant Referee, for the uninitiated) is ruining the human aspect of the game,

I would rather not have that sinking feeling of defeat every time someone gets a wrongful goal awarded to them. I would rather wait for a few minutes to have the right decision given in a game - even if it means sitting in a stadium cramped between two buff lads trying ever so hard to keep myself warm while nothing happens on the pitch. VAR has been an undoubted success story in football. It has kept teams honest, it has kept results (including major ones like a certain Champions League quarterfinal last year) from being changed completely on their head because of wrongful decisions. The purpose of VAR was to bring in a fairer game and it has certainly done that. Defenders need to be more careful inside the box, strikers need to be more precise when timing their runs, and it has introduced a whole new dimension to what is considered physical football and what is considered an outright infringement of the laws of the game. It has reduced the impact of important

calls that referees miss and, in a way, has reduced the pressures on the referee - especially in big games like derbies. One criticism that the VAR has received is that it tends to make everything worse when seen in slow motion and that a toe being offside is not much of an

For all the noise about how VAR is ruining the game I’d rather not have that sinking feeling of defeat everytime someone gets a wrongful goal awarded to them

infringement. But rules are rules to be followed strictly in a game and they exist to ensure a fair game. VAR is only there to help referees do what they would have done anyway had they caught the in-

fringement themselves. And yes, initially it felt like referees were happy to let VAR do the refereeing for them. But now, especially in the Premier League, there exists a fairly well-balanced system where the VAR does not interfere until and unless there is a legitimate reason to do so. Yes, there are some deficiencies that need ironing out and VAR is not a perfect system. Yes, the post-match bar debate might be dead to some extent. All in all, however, I’d rather have a fairer game than feel like the walking dead for the Against VAR Molly Greeves

rest of the week. Last summer, the Fifa World Cup became the first football tournament to use a video assistant referee (VAR) for every match. After what many agree was the cleanest World Cup in decades, VAR is now being used in the Premier League and, though the season only started in August, it is already

the amount of incorrect decisions that had already failed to be overturned whislt using VAR during Premier League matches according to the BBC

causing controversy. The purpose of VAR is, obviously, to make referees’ decisions more accurate and to make the game fairer overall. However, there have already been errors of judgement that VAR has missed: in early September, the BBC reported that four incorrect decisions had already failed to be overturned during Premier League matches. The Premier League is still reportedly pleased with how the technology is

VAR in use at West Ham vs Manchester City Image: Sky Sports Football (YouTube)

working as the mistakes it has picked up on would have gone unpunished a year ago. So why are fans still so wary? Football as a sport has always been dependent on the interpretation of the ref, and many people feel that with incidents such as penalties there is no “right” judgement. Goal line technology is simpler – the ball either crossed the line or it didn’t. However, whether a player is diving or committed a handball inten-

Whether a player is diving or committed a handball intentionally is much harder to determine no matter how many times you watch the footage

tionally is much harder to determine no matter how many times you watch back the footage. There are solid arguments both for and against the use of VAR, but it comes down to this: is the improvement of technical accuracy worth compromising the beauty of football? The word “beautiful” always struck me as overly romantic until I witnessed those moments myself: the visceral reaction of the fans after scoring a goal does feel beautiful, and those moments are taken away when entire stadiums are waiting around for the VAR to make a decision, a process that the fans don’t get to witness. Of course, it makes sense to try to make matches as fair as possible. But football is about entertainment as well as sportsmanship, and so far, the fans are feeling left behind.

NUAXC at it again in Durham derby day Cross Country member Chris Larkin gives the run down on how the club performed at their trip to local rivals Durham last Saturday morning Chris Larkin X-Country

Saturday morning saw the #nuaxcultras board the train to Durham to take on past and present members of Durham University, as well as racing between ourselves. The course was an undulating mixed terrain race with plenty of mud. Covered in some questionable face paint, however, and the squad were raring for the challenge.

The course was undulating mixed terrain race with plenty of mud

The women’s race was approximately 4km, with a strong field of runners and plenty of blue and red vests. It was a large group leading off, before team captain Lauren decided the pace was too slow and told Amy to go off and win the race, which she then did, smashing her previous best time around the course! Lauren also ran a cracking race, beating many of her former Durham mates (hisssss) and

finishing a close 3rd. Coming in 7th, 8th and 9th overall were Shona, Erin and Rebecca respectively, showing a strong start to the season. Next in were the two Emilys, Oakshott followed by Athletics Captain Davis, finishing 12th and 13th with Emily D putting in a huge sprint finish to fend off a Durham athlete. Club Secretary Aoife finished 21st, whilst Vice President Alice somehow made it round in 22nd place despite having no functioning knees. Pihla was the final NUAXC member home, having gone 3.9km further than her normal race distance. Now was the turn of the lads, taking on a 6km course which included heading up the “large slope” twice. NUAXC fresher Jack Douglas showed some great promise, leading the field out to the hill on the first lap of the woods. He went on to finish a respectable 2nd out of the Newcastle runners and 12th overall. But it was XC captain Chris Larkin who came through as the 1st NUAXC athlete, finishing 4th overall and hot on the tail of some of Durham’s fastest lads (if only there had been another large slope we’d have backed him for the win). 3rd and 4th for Newcastle were also new to the club, Sean and William finishing just five seconds apart and showing some quality even pacing.

Social Secretary Toby managed to turn up both on time and not hungover for a change to come in 23rd and 5th for Newcastle. Next in was the ever speedy Sam with a respect-

Social Secretary Toby managed to turn up on time and not hungover

able 26th in a strong field, and 6th NUAXC member home. 3rd year Brad and 1st year Luke had a good battle for 31st overall, with just nine seconds separating the pair, Brad just holding on long enough to be 7th from the club. The most experienced runner in the team, David, used his prior course knowledge to breeze past plenty of the field, arriving at the finish in 38th place on his fourth consecutive appeared at the race. An injured Alex hobbled home to complete the men’s squad, having taken a painful impact to his knee. Another promising early season race for Team NUAXC as the X-Country fixtures start coming thick and fast over the winter months.

NUAXC’s Alex Peck hits the trail in Durham Image: NUAXC

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Monday 21 October 2019

Netball 1s net yet another victory in a derby day thriller

Head of Sport Rebecca Johnson reports on a fantastic performance by Newcastle 1sts against Northumbria 1sts NETBALL

BADMINTON

M1 v Liverpool 1sts M2 v Leeds Beckett 1sts M3 v York St John 2nds W1 v Loughborough 1sts W2 v Leeds 1sts

Newcastle 1sts 55 Northumbria 1sts 43

Rebecca Johnson at Newcastle Sports Centre

Newcastle 1s are top of the BUCS Northern Tier 1A after a cool 55-43 victory over local rivals, Northumbria. After a win against Durham 1s last week, the lasses were relishing the challenge that lay ahead in a derby day thriller.

BASKETBALL

FENCING

M1 v York 2nds M2 v Leeds 1sts W1 v Sheffield 1sts

84-63 97-132 135-90 130-115

FOOTBALL

M1 v Sheffield Hallam 1sts M2 v Leeds Trinity 1sts M3 v Sunderland 2nds W1 v Leeds Beckett 2nds W2 v Huddersfield 2nds

2-1 6-3 7-0 4-3 2-3

1 v Durham 3rds 2 v Leeds Beckett 2nds

4-2 5-1

GOLF

The opening quarter saw a slow start to proceedings. Newcastle drew first blood but struggled to find their rhythm. Northumbria were finding good pockets of space and passing well, with fluid movements helping their goals rack up. Newcastle started to pick up a little bit, with centre Skylar Collins having a vital role as playmaker for the side. However, the home team missed a few chances, which Northumbria capitalised on, giving them a 17-13 lead at the end of the first quarter.

HOCKEY

M1 v Liverpool John Moore 1sts 6-3 M2 v Sheffield Hallam 2nds 4-0 M3 v Sheffield Hallam 3rds 4-0 W2 v Durham 3rds 0-2 W3 v Sheffield 2nds 2-4 W4 v York 2nds 5-2

LACROSSE

M1 Lancaster 1sts M2 v Sheffield 2nds W1 v Loughborough 1sts W2 v Sheffield Hallam 1sts W3 v Hull 1sts

goals scored by Goal Shooter Beth Marron in this match

NETBALL

W1 v Northumbria 1sts W2 v Leeds 3rd W3 v Hull 1sts

Moving into the second quarter, Newcastle made a few substitutions, and they looked the better for it. Northumbria found themselves slipping up a handful of times, with their players finding the ball out of play. The hosts started to pick themselves up and get into the swing of the game. On the attack, they looked solid, able to find space and pick out some really smart passes. Centre, Hannah Gorman, was key the quarter, not only setting up Goal-

Newcastle played some fantastic netball, experimenting with different movements and a range of passing styles which were highly entertaining to watch

Shooter, Beth Marron, for multiple goals but also acting as a commanding force throughout. The game was really cranked up a notch in the closing five minutes, where Newcastle closed the gap on Northumbria. Newcastle really got their rhythm going, whereas the away team were starting to make costly errors which left them with 25 goals to Newcastle’s 26 at the end of the quarter. Unchanged for the third quarter, Newcastle continued with the same energy that

7-1 7-1 7-1 0-8 1-7

M1 v Manchester Met 1sts

On the attack Newcastle looked solid and were able to find space and pick out some really smart passes

BUCS RESULTS

goals scored by Goal Attack and fresher, Jaz Langley, making her the second highest scorer on the team

they’d found in the previous quarter. They played some fantastic netball, experimenting with different movements and a range of passing styles which were highly entertain-

17-3 11-0 11-7 20-2 15-5 55-43 40-54 41-54

RUGBY UNION

M1 v Nottingham 1sts PP M2 v Durham 4ths 38-27 M3 v Leeds Beckett 3rds 24-17 M4 v Sheffield Hallam 2nds 45-21 M5 v Bradford 1sts 80-0 W1 v Glasgow 1sts 7-21

RUGBY LEAGUE

M1 v Leeds 1sts M2 v York 1sts

This was Newcastle’s second win of the season Image: Rebecca Johnson

ing to watch. However, Northumbria were still responding to make the match quite tight to begin with. Despite their best efforts though, Newcastle began to storm ahead, Wing-Attack, Jess Merrin, worked tirelessly defending and teeing up Marron and her partner in Goal-Attack, Jaz Langley, who by this point were scoring for fun. The home side were making the match look like easy work. Northumbria were clearly growing frustrated, and they made a couple of substi-

The home side were making the match look like easy work with Northumbria clearly growing frustrated

tutions with six minutes left on the clock for this quarter. This wasn’t enough to prevent them from fumbling a couple of passes and accidentally throwing the ball out of play. Newcastle’s tireless energy saw them with a five goal advantage at the end of the quarter,

winning 40-35.

Wing Attack, Jess Merrin, worked tirelessly defending and teeing up Goal Attack, Jaz Langley, who by this point was scoring for fun

Slipping into the final quarter, Newcastle absolutely stormed ahead, with Northumbria looking flat and clueless in places. Backed to the soundtrack of supportive chants from the rest of the netball club, the home side were quick, fluid and incredibly composed throughout. Northumbria looked tired, whereas Newcastle looked like they could play for hours on end. As the gap between the two sides got bigger, Fresher Maria Rawling came on with two minutes to go and scored three debut goals to help her side to a solid 55-43 win. Another fantastic game by the 1s sees

them top the BUCS Northern Tier 1A table. They’ll be incredibly pleased with the team’s performance and how well their movements clicked together. A special shoutout must also be given to Jaz Langley, Maria Rawling and Jess Merrin, who are all freshers and played a blinder of a match. The team travel to South Yorkshire this week to play Sheffield 1s, with the hope of securing another win to stay in the top spot. NETBALL BUCS Northern Tier 1A

SQUASH

M1 v Leeds 1sts M2 v Hull 1sts M3 v York 1sts M4 v Hull 2nds W2 v York 1sts

TABLE TENNIS

Pts

1 Newcastle 1s

2 Leeds 1s

3 Durham 1s

4 Northumbria 1s

5 Sheffield 1s

6 Leeds Beckett 2s

2-3 0-4 TBC Ncl W 1-3

M1 v Nottingham Trent 1sts M3 v Leeds 2nds

2-15 17-0

M1 v Northumbria 1sts M2 v Durham 5ths W1 v Manchester 1sts W2 v Leeds 1sts

10-2 10-2 4-8 TBC

TENNIS

VOLLEYBALL

Pld W

32-8 W/O Ncl

W1 v Sheffield 1sts W2 v Hull 1sts

0-3 3-1

SURF FORECAST

Tynemouth Longsands

Ey up, it’s your intrim surf forecaster herewith all your surf news, and buoy have we got a forecast for you. Rumour has it that the sea is quite wet at the moment, so water you doing? Seas the day, grab your board and go and get shipfaced in all of the cool currents this weekend. Until next time, see you beaches.

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Inside Sport today >>>

Monday 21 October 2019 Issue 1394 Free

@Courier_Sport courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk thecourieronline.co.uk/sport Head of Sport Rebecca Johnson Sport Editors Rory Ewart, Stan Gilyead, Toby Bryant & Tom Moorcroft

Black History Month

Netball victory

Our Sports writers reflect on some of the most influential black athletes of recent years Page 36+37

Rebecca Johnson reports on netball’s thrilling derby day victory Page 39

VARious Views Our writers debate whether VAR has gone too far? Page 38

Football Mens 2s trounce Leeds Trinity 1s

Newcastle are currently second in the BUCS Northern Tier 2B League Image: Stanley Gilyead

MEN’S FOOTBALL

Newcastle 2nds Leeds Trinity 1sts

6 3

Stanley Gilyead at Cochrane Park

Newcastle Men’s 2nd XI stormed to a 6-3 win against Leeds Trinity 1st XI on Wednesday night in a hard-fought game at Cochrane Park. Newcastle’s passing game and strong use of the wings was too much for a Leeds side who appeared to model their style of play on the famous 70’s “Dirty Leeds” team of Billy Bremmer et al.

A hat-trick for Tom Romano who scored three goals in this game

Newcastle got off to a good start, creating several chances in the opening minutes and getting their breakthrough in the 9th as Harry Wood latched onto a cross from the left to put them 1-0 up. Newcastle smelt blood when, in the 13th minute, a Leeds midfielder got sent to the sin bin for ten minutes for dissent. They took

full advantage as the Leeds defence were laid under siege, trying in doomed desperation to withstand wave after wave of attacks as Newcastle scored three in six minutes; a

The Leeds side appeared to model their style of play on the famous 70’s “Dirty Leeds” team of Billy Bremmer et al

lovely cross-cum-shot into the far corner by Will Corner and two for Tom Romano to put Newcastle in a commanding 4-0 lead. But the tables turned as Leeds pulled one back in the 28th minute, winning the ball off the Newcastle keeper as he played out from the back and slotting home. Newcastle’s grip on the game faded further when two minutes later Wood was sent to the sin bin for kicking the ball away, despite the fact that, to most spectators’ eyes, he looked to have been pushed by the Leeds defender, knocking the ball away as he attempted to keep his balance. Leeds took control and a 31st minute long

range goal, put right into the top bin, brought them back into the game. Leeds continued to dominate for the rest of the half, with Newcastle’s few attempts at breakaways thwarted by questionable offside calls made by the linesman Leeds provided. As the first half drew to an end Leeds’ questionable sportsmanship was shown to be shared by their management as an over-enthusiastic Leeds coach was given a talking to by the ref, booked, and told to calm down or risk being sent back to the dressing rooms. The second half started frenetically as the game verged on becoming bad-tempered.

Newcastle off their game. This seemed to be succeeding as between blatant acts of foul

An over-enthusiastic Leeds coach was given a talking to by the ref and told to calm down or risk being sent back to the changing rooms

play they appeared to be taking control of the game. The pressure paid off 12 minutes into the second half as they scored, putting themselves only 1 goal behind Newcastle and injecting nerves into a Newcastle dugout that’d been flying high only half an hour earlier. Newcastle responded by introducing fresh legs, with both wingers replaced in a 65th minute double substitution. It seemed to help as Newcastle got a foothold on the game once more and 10 minutes later paid off spectacularly as Regan Cooper latched onto a cross from the right to give Newcastle some breathing room. Two minutes later Romano put

Leeds, 4-2 down at the break, clearly felt they needed to make their presence felt to put

Romano put the game to bed, latching onto a nice ball in behind the Leeds defence and stroking home past the keeper to complete his hat-trick

the game to bed, latching onto a nice ball in behind the Leeds defence and stroking home past the keeper to complete his hat-trick. A demoralised Leeds struggled for chances in the last 15 minutes and Newcastle cruised home to a 6-3 victory. The result brings Newcastle’s points tally up to 4 from the 2 games they’ve played in the Men’s Northern Tier 2B this season and the dominance they showed for large periods of the game should give them encouragement for the season ahead. FOOTBALL BUCS Northern Tier 2B

Pts

1 Leeds 1s

Pld W 2

2 Newcastle 1s

3 Northumbria 2s

4 Sheffield 1s

5 Teeside 1s

6 Leeds Trinity 1s