thecourier Film Should dead actors still be starring in blockbusters? Page 27
Food Horticulture: we take a trip to Newcastle’s newest brunch spot Page 21
Monday 25 November 2019 Issue 1399 Free
Beauty Kesha’s ecofriendly vegan make-up line launches Page 17
Est 1948
The independent voice of Newcastle students
Is Newcastle’s student accommodation safe?
Alex Gervás & Jerry Chen
A fire broke out on Friday 15 in a student accommodation in Bolton, leaving 221 students homeless. Investigations following the incident show that one of the main reasons why the fire spread so fast was because the type of panels used to isolate the fire was ineffective.
The high pressure laminate (HPL) cladding panels helped stoke the fire due to its plastic flammable core, but this type of isolating panel is allowed for buildings under 18 meters. Because of this, Bolton’s The Cube student accommodation, owned by Urban Student Life, was not investigated. This issue has been declared as an “industrial crisis” by Salford’s mayor, Paul Dennett. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan announced that by April 2019 223 private sector build-
ings using these panels in the UK were identified as unsafe, including student accommodation sites. Of these buildings, 121 have not started their repairs. As a city where one in every 15 homes is dedicated to students, making it the highest rate in the UK, Newcastle has also been plagued with this issue. The Chronicle has been reporting unsafe cladding in student accommodation for more than two years since the Grenfell inci-
dent; whilst most of the cases have been fixed, others still raise concerns. In 2017, after an intense investigation, six buildings were found to have similar cladding to the one in Grenfell Tower. These include St. James’ Point (now The Roost), Liberty Plaza (block A, B & C), The Shield and Verde. The Roost, a student accommodation situated right in front St James’ Park stadium, failed the fire safety test in 2017. The clad-
ás
ding panels found in the building were similar to those from The Cube. The manager of the property who spoke on the behalf of Brookfield Student Real State and Derwent Student reassured the residents the building is equipped with sprinklers, fire alarms, fire isolation doors, etc., and that repairs would take place immediately. Despite that, earlier this year the BBC published an article reporting that the company was again delaying the repairs. The Roost told The Courier that repairs were ongoing and are scheduled to be finished in approximately one year. Cladding similar to the one used for the Grenfell Tower was also found in The Shield, Liberty Plaza and Verde after they failed the security tests in 2017. Downing Students, the managing company of Verde, stated that after the Grenfell fire, the replacement of the cladding that started in November 2017 has since been completed. They also reassured the public that no aluminium panels or HPL were found in their student property The View. Speaking to the Courier, a Liberty Living spokesperson said: “Over the past 24 months we have removed all ACM [aluminium composite material] cladding across our entire portfolio and continue to work in partnership with the British Safety Council to ensure that our buildings are the safest and best they can be.” However, students living at Liberty Plaza claim that no announcement or warning was given until they moved in in September. On the other hand, The Shield defended the building did not break any regulations. The accommodation had to replace the cladding panels after the building resulted to be 20 meters high, two meters above the legal limit.
Cladding similar to that in Grenfell Tower was also found in The Shield, Liberty Plaza and Verde in 2017
221 students lost their home as a fire broke out in an accommodation block in Bolton
Image: Ansh Sachdeva
The University assured the public that none of the accommodation sites owned by Newcastle University have similar cladding to the one found in Grenfell or Bolton. A spokesperson said: “Following the fire in Bolton at the weekend, we have written to all of our students who currently live in the University’s owned, or partner, accommodation to reassure them that fire safety inspections of their accommodation are carried out regularly and we will continue to monitor the situation.” In the wake of the Bolton fires, the Fire Protection Association has called for a total ban of combustible materials in buildings regardless of the heigh. If you are concerned about fire safety in your building, get in touch with your landlord or University. For more information, you can contact the Public Safety and Regulation department of Newcastle City Council at 01912787878.
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Monday 25 November 2019
thecourier Editor Grace Dean Deputy Editor Molly Greeves Online Editor Tom Hardwick
Photoshop Wise Boi George Boatfield
Current Affairs
3 News
courier.news@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Aimee Seddon, Carl Smith Valdez, Em Richardson, Emma McLaren & Sophie Wilson
8 Comment
courier.comment@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Aastha Malik, Joe Molander & Kelly Corcoran
Life & Style
Life & Style Editor: Nimra Rafique
11 Lifestyle
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, Gretchen, Joe Holloran, Lucy Lillystone & Steven Ross
c2.fashion@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Kajal Patel, Phoebe Eyles & Shamara Mohsin
Science 32
17 Beauty
18 Travel
courier.travel@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Amy Harris, Beth Robson & Meggie Williams
21 Food
editor.union@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Amanda Goh & Cayla Viner
for weeks now due to the apparent need for a massive slide, a windmill and about eighty food stalls. My hatred for slow walkers has never been stronger.
Mon 6-7pm
Mondays are rubbish. University is difficult. So, that’s why Josephine’s show is dedicated to feel-good songs to get you feeling positive and ready to take on the week. Just when you might be needing a bit of extra motivation or a pick me up to start the week off right, Josephine will be playing tracks from across different genres and decades. Each week has a theme which is based on a certain period, genre or topic. Tune in, get down and feel good with Tonight, Josephine, on thisisnsr.co.uk
c2.arts@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Caitlin Rawlings, Charlotte Slinger & Lauren Sneath
Gaming 30
courier.beauty@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Ellie James & Rashida Campbell-Allen
We’re back baby! Editor Grace Dean hasn’t axed us yet! This week I want to write an ode to a Newfess that I relate to on a spiritual level. Anon writes: “These christmas [sic] markets are slowing the walking speed of Northumberland street [sic] to an alarmingly heterosexual pace”. Look, I’m not the biggest Christmas person, especially when it’s NOVEMBER, but this isn’t about that. This is about being able to walk from “A” to “B” on the fucking highstreet, a task that’s been absolutely impossible
TONIGHT, JOSEPHINE
Arts 28
c2.lifestyle@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Catherine Entwistle, Cecilia Adamou, Holly Margerrison & Jess Herbert
14 Fashion
Newfess of the week
NSR Show of the Week
courier.gaming@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Alex Darbyshire, George Boatfield, James Troughton & Shawn Khoo
Puzzles 35
From the archives
Sport 36
8 YEARS AGO
9 YEARS AGO
43 YEARS AGO
After years of echoes reverberating through the Richardson Road walls, the rumours were finally answered; the University officially announced the upcoming demolition of the student accommodation site. With a reputation for being the most sociable halls at Newcastle, the building was as equally infamous for its grotty conditions as it was for its party environment, with a spokesperson saying how the site had “reached the end of its lifespan” with problems with infrastructure, utilities and heating. The demolition plans outlined in 2011, however, failed to come to life; the University hoped to complete the rebuild in 2014 at the cost of £9.5m, but this actually came much later on. The last residents of Ricky Road, as it was affectionately known by generations of residents since its birth in the 1970s, closed the doors of the flats for a final time in June 2016. In September of last year, the first residents moved into the new accommodation, Park View Student Village, which offers en-suite facilities and is a marked improvement from the former site.
The Courier revealed that 27 macaque monkeys were among 24,696 animals “used” by the University in the 2009/10 academic year. This led to a legal case between the Faculty of Medical Sciences and the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) which left the University “fearing for its staff”. After hearing of the University’s “highly invasive” brain experiments on macaques because of the publication of research articles, the leading animal rights group submitted a Freedom of Information request in 2008 to be given details of the licences held by researchers who conduct vivisection work with macaques. The University blocked the request, citing that the research was the “intellectual property of the staff” and thus divulging such information could impede their future work. BUAV consequently launched a tribunal. Adding fuel to the flame was a letter from Berlin authorities leaked to the Courier which detailed their refusal to grant a Newcastle professor permission to carry out similar experiments there because of concerns for the welfare of the macaques. Much of that criticism was directed at the intended training methods, which involved severely restricting the monkeys’ water access to only two days a week in a period of as many as 400 days which would mean that they could only quench this thirst by having their head immobilised in a primate chair. The German authorities said that, “in order to avoid a life-long suffering (thirst), the animal has to endure another considerable suffering (being immobilised in the primate chair)”. Many students understandably spoke out passionately against the University’s actions.
In 1976 a poster in the Union announced that “The Mens Bar is dead…long live the ___ Bar!” Now known as Luther’s, the name of the Students’ Union has been a contentious issue for many years, and the poster asked students to write name suggestions on it. Proposals included “The Bloody Expensive Bar”, “The Stag and Dalek Bar”, “The Fox and Gynaecologist Bar” and “The Gaping Crotch”. A heated debate, however, saw over a third of students wish to maintain the name “Mens Bar”, and so the bar was known for the next 40 years. This week in 1991 also saw the name of the Main in the Union being discussed, which was previously home to numerous bars. Following the Union’s decision to rebrand Mens Bar as the Stonewall Bar, a motion was brought to Student Council arguing that this change “fails to represent the desires and interests of the majority of students”. The motion reflected a vicious feud between the University’s Labour and Lib Dem societies, and then SU President Tim Farron, now former Lib Dem leader, found the Union a hotbed of accusations and counter-accusations of vandalism, homophobia and corruption. A homophobic crowd at the Council forced the name change to be reversed (see photo, above, of Council goers voting overwhelming in favour of the reversal), and Farron himself attracted criticism for appearing to laugh at homophobic jokes. Then AU President Richard Bennett said: “The name of the Mens Bar is famous for upholding the values of Mens Agitat Molem. I’m jolly pleased and anybody who deems it sexist is narrowminded, from the largest rugby player to the smallest tiddlywinker.” Nationally, students in 1976 were infuriated after the Department of Education and Science announced a substantial tuition fee hike. The decision was estimated to affect around 25,000 home students and 80,000 international students. The largest hike was for UKdomiciled postgraduates, who would be paying £750 a year (equivalent to £5,303 now), marking a 312% increase from the previous fee of £182. It was hoped that these increases would save the Government approximately £28m, but Newcastle was concerned as to how the introduction would affect its 361 overseas students.
c2.science@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Eleanor Gratton, Patrick Harland & Seshadhri Subramanian editor.union@ncl.ac.uk Editor: Emma Dawson Head of Sport: Rebecca Johnson courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk Editors: Rory Ewart, Stan Gilyead, Toby Bryant & Tom Moorcroft
Editor: Grace Dean
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
Get involved in student media Students’ Union or Newcastle University. 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 meeting is on 27 November. 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.
Grace Dean looks through the archives to trace Newcastle’s campus history
Ricky on the Road to ruin Primate predicament
32 YEARS AGO
Ricky won’t give you up
Another Ricky was also making waves as musical history was made that week with the release of Rick Astley’s debut album featuring the hit single Never Gonna Give You Up, which was a worldwide number-one hit and was the best-selling single of 1987. The Courier was full of praise for “the boy with the golden tonsils”, and the reviewer gave Astley “nine out of ten for the voice alone”.
Men’s no more?
news 3
the courier
Monday 25 November 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
In conversation with Frederick Douglass descendant Joe Molander speaks to activist Kenneth B. Morris ahead of the opening of the Frederick Douglass Centre on the Helix Site ing to be keepers of the legacies of two of the world’s greatest heroes, that is also a reminder that the struggle continues and that work still needs to be done, and so while I hope that people will be inspired to know that there’s a statue of Dr. King on-campus and that there’s a building named for my great ancestor, it also should be a reminder that we need to still continue the fight for equality and for justice.
"Slavery still lived on and existed in every country around the world”
Kenneth B. Morris unveiled the new Frederick Douglass Centre on the Helix site Image: Newcastle University
What brings you to Newcastle? I’m here for the dedication and naming ceremony of the new Frederick Douglass centre at Newcastle University. I’m very honoured to have made the trip all the way from southern California. You’ve been involved in other events too haven’t you? Yesterday we had a workshop about decolonising the curriculum. On Monday we did a walking tour and visited sites significant in the life of Frederick Douglass in Newcastleupon-Tyne. This was very impactful and humbling, to walk in the footsteps of my great ancestor, who was here in 1846. I believe gave at least sixteen speeches and talks in this area over a number of years.
"We as individuals can work to affect change in the world around us”
What’s the response been like on-campus? I’m sure the people organising it have been very careful to give a good impression, but have you talked to other students?
I haven’t had a chance really to interact with students at all, I’m hoping to do that at the event tonight. Yesterday’s workshop was for the professors that are here on-campus, but just interacting not only with the people that I’ve met on-campus but at the hotel where we’re staying and moving about Newcastle, first of all the people here are the most friendly that I’ve ever encountered in the world, so that’s a great thing, but also this idea that this place was so important for the life of Frederick Douglass and for his freedom. I was thinking the other day that he had abolitionist friends that were trying to encourage him to stay here, and he knew that he needed to go back and fight for his brethren that were toiling away in chains and in slavery in the United States, and had he not returned, I don’t know that I could say that I would be here today. Do you think that a building like the FDC that celebrates activists does the same thing as activism? To celebrate and commemorate is one thing, and that is something that I think is a beautiful thing, to name this building for the great freedom fighter Frederick Douglass, and I know two years ago the University erected a statue for Martin Luther King. That is also a burden of responsibility. When you’re go-
Do you think that institutions like universities should do more to fight for social justice and equality? I don’t think I could generally say all universities: I really think it depends on the individual university. There’s some that have in their curriculum social justice, but it is a reminder that if you’re going to celebrate the great freedom fighters that came before, you have a responsibility to make sure that it’s not just name recognition, that there’s activism. Do you think in fighting for equality, the burden falls more on institutions or the individual? It falls on both. It’s harder to affect change in an institution, because things are institutionalised; as an individual, we can work to affect change in the world around us. We do a lot of work with secondary school students in the United States, and a lot of times, the students that we come into contact with that are passionate about many different issues – they’re passionate about the environment, eradicating homelessness and poverty and fighting for the rights of women and girls, and passing gun legislation, and a lot of times young people don’t think that they can work on global issues. It feels greater than they are. But in the work that we do with them, which many times involves service learning or civic engagement, where students are learning about some point in history, and then we transition into talking about a contemporary human rights issue, and then there’s always a service component, we call that formula “history, human rights and the power of one”. The power of one is volunteerism, civic en-
gagement, service in the community, which is the empowerment for young people. Once they start working, using their passion, their intellect, their creativity to address those issues that they most care about, and then they see that people of importance or leadership are listening to them and their community, then they begin to believe that they can effect change, and then it’s a ripple effect. When you look at Dr. King, or you look at Frederick Douglass, they started on local issues. They were able to convince people to support their ideas and their work and then they started to develop coalitions and then movements, and we have the benefit of looking back through the prism of history and holding them up on these pedestals and venerating them. When they were in the middle of doing the work, I don’t think they were thinking, Frederick Douglass was thinking there’s gonna be a multi-million dollar building that would be named for him, he just did the work and started in many cases at the local level, and then expanded into something that was national and international. Across campuses we’re now seeing a kickback against social justice that, with people being against political correctness and against wokeness. Do you think that’s helpful for university environments or do you think that goes against promoting social justice? There are lots of diverse opinions and people coming from all over the political spectrum: I think that a university should be a place where you have those debates and conversations, and you don’t want to just erase history, or water it down, or whitewash it. For a place like Newcastle to have two great black figures on-campus, that should spark a lot of conversation and debate, which I think is very healthy.
Do you think that the work you’re doing has been more supported under recent political administration? I was talking about this being a bipartisan issue, for the most part. All I can say is we’ve been able to get legislation passed, in spite of the current occupant of the Oval Office not necessarily knowing that Frederick Douglass is not still alive. We’ve been able to get a lot of work done in this administration, with the support of a Republican lawmaker out of New Jersey, Chris Smith, who is a big Frederick Douglass fan; he’s the one that introduced the first TVPA in 2000, he’s been the leader
on Capitol Hill in the House of Representatives on all things human trafficking. Because of Representative Chris Smith, we’ve been able to get a lot done. Do you feel the pressure to live up to your ancestors? When we started the organisation, it was a dual mission. One was that we needed to honour, preserve and teach about the legacies of Frederick Douglass and Booker T. Washington, but we didn’t want the organisation to just be about history. I’ve always known I’m descended from both men. I spent my summers at Frederick Douglass’s Summer beach house. There were images of my ancestors everywhere, and I was probably five or six when I started to notice that my ancestors were on statues and that buildings were being named for them, and bridges and libraries and schools. I started to realise they were important, but I was challenged by the fact that there was this burden of expectation that you carry around.
“The struggle continues and work still needs to be done”
Kenneth B. Morris
There’s been tragedy in the family that’s come out of trying to live up to be an iconic leader like Frederick Douglass. It wasn’t until I read a National Geographic cover story in 2005 that was passed onto me by a business partner and a friend and the headline was “21st Century Slavery”, and it was about human trafficking and modern-day slavery. I didn’t realise that slavery still lived on and existed in every country around the world, including in the United States. It was almost immediate, but that was the moment. “What are you going to do? You’ve got this platform that your ancestors have built through struggle and through sacrifice, how do we leverage the historical significance of my ancestry to do something about this?” So we have the great abolitionist on one side in Frederick Douglass and we have the great educator on the other side in Booker T Washington, abolition through education, let’s use their examples and their legacies to go in, and their examples not only of education but of activism. To go in and see what we can do around this, and that’s where we are today.
Rock the Cis-tem reflects trans deaths from hate crime
Charlotte Boulton Culture Editor On Sunday 17 November, NUSU’s Rock The Cis-Tem campaign ended with a vigil to commemorate the transgender lives lost this year. Transgender Day of Remembrance takes place on Wednesday 20 November annually, with the campaign hosting an earlier version of this for Newcastle students to attend. The group of students gathered at 10.30am on Sunday to begin the vigil. The group included trans and non-binary students as well as cisgender allies and LGBT+ Society members. Tobias Lawrence, the LGBT+ Officer and the organiser of the campaign for Transgender Awareness Week, read the list of names of transgender and non-binary people aloud. This year, there were 331 names to read. Many of these names were from countries like Brazil and Mexico, known for their antiLGBT and transphobic laws and practices. However, with 31 names from the United States of America, the transphobia and vio-
lence against trans people is prevalent worldwide. Notably, in the United States, 85% of the trans people reported murdered are trans women of colour and/or Native American trans women. Among the victims, 61% were sex workers, highlighting the danger of working in this industry for trans people. After the names were read, there was a minute’s silence to commemorate the 331 lives lost this year. Lawrence then read a secular prayer for strength and empowerment, before inviting any of the people present to share their thoughts. One trans student who attended the vigil for the fourth year said that “the numbers never seem to change” and drew attention to the fact that the largest population of trans people being killed is trans women of colour. She encouraged all allies to show any support they could for the trans and non-binary community, which is constantly under threat from ignorance and hatred. A self-care session was held directly after the vigil. It aimed to provide students with a place of comfort and relaxation from the dif-
ficult and intense 45-minute-long vigil. Tobias Lawrence said: “While it can be emotionally draining, it is important to recognise those people who have lost their lives due to hate crime around the world and to support our trans and non-binary community and friends.
"It is important to recognise people who lost lives to hate crime and support our LBGT+ community”
Tobias Lawrence, LGBT+ Officer, Newcastle University Student Union
The turnout has been amazing for the campaign events and I really think it’s made a positive impact among the student body and been appreciated by the trans and nonbinary community”.
Rock the Cis Tem commemorated the lost lives of transgender individuals victimised with hate crime. Image: Flickr
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Monday 25 November 2019
Martin Luther King remembered through memorial lecture Lily Albery The life and work of the social reformer and abolitionist Frederick Douglass was commemorated on Wednesday 13th through the form of a Martin Luther King Memorial Lecture. Titled ‘I have come to tell you something about Slavery’, the lecture follows on from Black History month. It engaged with a global conversation about Black History and its importance in society. The event began with a performance by Albion titled: ‘Where do we belong?’. The performance featured a delivery of contemporary problems, such as Brexit, through many forms of media; this included both a video performance and a live performer.
It introduced the concepts of human currency, self-worth and entitlement
Martin Luther King received an honorary degree from Newcastle in 1967 Image: Wikimedia Commons
Bearing echoes of slam poetry, the performance set the pace for an evening of intellectual discussion and debate. Much of the script used by the actors included phrasing which
introduced the concepts of human currency, self-worth and entitlement. This lay the foundation for the rest of the lecture. With a large panel of seven speakers, this was set to be an event coloured by the many voices of academics, each of whom experts in their fields. The panel members include: Dr Hannah-Rose Murray, Leverhulme Early Career Research Fellow, University of Edinburgh; Alaisdair Pettinger, Author; Professor Bridget Bennett, Professor of American Literature and Culture, University of Leeds; Dr Anita Rupprecht, Principal Lecturer, Centre for Memory, Narrative and Histories, University of Brighton; Norma Gregory, historian and curator; Professor Alan Rice, Professor in English and American Studies, University of Central Lancashire and Jade Montserrat, University of Central Lancashire. With the introduction of the panel covered, the lecture ensued. The words of each speaker wove around the central theme of Frederick Douglass and his work as an activist. The narrative of Frederick Douglass’s life was covered through the lens of each academic, who told their version of the slavery narrative regarding his life. There was a focus on Douglass’s purchase of his own freedom and the controversy this provoked due to hypocrisy that was thought to subvert this. Mr Pettinger spoke of Douglass’s time in Scotland, and how he engaged with Scottish Literature and history, in addition to challenging the ways in which he was represented. The Abolition movement, in terms of its
rhetoric of freedom, has often been regarded as linked to the Suffragette movement, something magnified by Professor Bennett. He also emphasised the importance of ‘deeds not words’.
The evening received a very positive response overall
Another theme of the evening was the concept of education and the power it represents. Norma Gregory, Professor Alan Rice and Jade Montserrat all spoke of the power of literacy and communication, whether it be through understanding black historical narratives, or the work of women in the Abolition movement. The evening received a very positive response overall, though there were murmured questionings amongst drinks and canapes of whether the University should have focused on the Abolition movement more broadly in the wake of Black History Month. Comments did not intend to downplay the work of Frederick Douglass, but more centered around whether his work could have been used as an example in a much broader discussion of Black history.
Striking lecturers hold teach-outs Molly Greeves Deputy Editor
Amidst the upcoming UCU strike action, lecturers are planning to hold teach-outs. A teach-out is a form of protest where members of staff hold lectures off campus during the strikes. The lessons will be on a range of topics including climate action, mental health, the UCU and yoga. An email was sent out encouraging "students, staff and members of the public" to come along to learn and show support. Postgraduate student Charlotte Paige Boulton stated: "The teach-outs are proof that lecturers really do want to be teaching and that the strikes are a last resort in response to brutal pension cuts and unstable contracts. Along with going to the picketlines, turning up to the teach-outs is a great way to show support for them during this time." The UCU action will be happening from 25 November to 4 December. Members of staff will be striking over pension cuts and "ongoing pay inequality based on gender, ethnicity and disability". Last week the Courier interviewed Dr Stacy Gillis about the strikes. The printed version had a few errors - to read the amended version of this interview, or to see which lectures will be participating in the teach-out, visit thecourieronline. co.uk
12.30-1 (Hotspur Pub) Brave and Fun Virginia Woolf 1-1.30 (Hotspur Pub) How to Protect Yourself from Witchcraft in Shakespeare’s England 1-2 (Jesmond URC) Yoga
Wednesday 27 November ANTI-CASUALISATION
11-12 (Hotspur Pub) Drop-in: Anti-Casualisation Coping Strategies 12-1 (Hotspur Pub) Beginners’ Portuguese/ Intro to Samba 1-2 (Jesmond URC) Yoga
Thursday 28 November MENTAL HEALTH & TOXIC WORK ENVIRONMENTS 8-11 (Picket Line) Mindful Therapies
Monday 25 November WHAT WE WANT
11-12 (Hotspur Pub)History of Strike Posters (and making some!) 12-1 (Hotspur Pub) The Action by Andy Smith: A Reading, various staff (English Literature, Language & Linguistics) 1-2 (Old Eldon Square)UCU Northern Region Rally
Tuesday 26 November PAY GAPS – WHY?
11.30-12 (Hotspur Pub) The Challenges of the Gender Pay Gap 12-12.30 (Hotspur Pub) Managing the Menopause at Work
The "Solidarity Shark" (@SolidarityShark) will be walking around the picket lines Image: @NewcastleUniUCU
11.30-12.30 (Hotspur Pub) The Right to be Lazy: The Sociology of Work 12.30-1 (Hotspur Pub) Keep Racism Out of the General Election, Stand Up to Racism (NUSU) 1-2 (Hotspur Pub) Calligraphy & Lettering Raksha Pande (Geography, Politics & Sociology) 1-2 (Jesmond URC) Yoga Session
Friday 29 November CLIMATE EMERGENCY
11-12.30 (Civic Centre) Collective Climate Strike 12.30-1 (Hotspur Pub) The Fight Over Fracking, Gareth Fearn (Architecture, Planning and Landscape) 1-2 (Hotspur Pub) Demo: Hand-Building Complex Structural Forms with Clay
Monday 2 December WHAT IS A UNIVERSITY FOR?
11-11.30 (Hotspur Pub) Would Martin Luther King and Frederick Douglass Be on the Picket Lines? 11.30-12 (Hotspur Pub) Questions On and In Child Language 12-1 (Hotspur Pub) The Wonderful World of Words 1-2 (Hotspur Pub) Desmystifying R: Making Statistics and Programming Fun! 2-3 (Northern Kings Gym) Introduction to Thai Kickboxing
Tuesday 3 December SOCIAL JUSTICE
11.30-12.30 (Hotspur Pub) Nowhere to Go: Improving Accessibility to Toilets for People with Disabilities 12.30-1.30 (Hotspur Pub) Disarming Arm-
strong: Renaming the Armstrong Building? 1.30-2 (Hotspur Pub) Philosophy: AI and the Artifice of Self 1-2 (Jesmond URC) Yoga
Wednesday 4 December CELEBRATING THE UCU
11-11.30 (King’s Gate) Christmas Carols 11.30-12.15 (Hotspur Pub)AIDS Activism, Clause 28 and Civil Disobedience, Fiona Anderson (Fine Art) 12.15-1 (Hotspur Pub) Emotion and the University: Connecting the Everyday and the Extraordinary 1-1.45 (Hotspur Pub) From Newcastle, For the World: Protest, Citizenship and Solidarity in Hong Kong and Singapore
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Monday 25 November 2019
Cambridge accepts donation from Shell despite sustainability pledge Em Richardson News Editor The University of Cambridge has faced criticism for its decision to accept a £6 million donation from oil company Shell, to fund research into oil extraction technology. The decision was made in spite of a campaign, led by staff and students, which aims to encourage Cambridge to cut its ties with extractive industries. Previously, the university had received much praise for proposing a plan that would see it divest its interests from the environmentally damaging fossil fuels industry.
Cambridge agreed to accept the donation back in March
It has come to light that Cambridge agreed to accept the donation back in March, despite failing to include it in forms stating the university’s official disclosures in July. Other recent academic donations were announced at this time.
Cambridge’s decision to allow a senior Shell executive to address the university, where she will discuss whether the university should divest their interests in the fossil fuel industry, seems set to cause further controversy.
A senior Shell executive will be addressing the University
When addressing the criticism, Cambridge has claimed that Shell made the commitment to fund the research group back in 2014, and that this is the last in a series of planned donations. They also claim that the delay in announcing the deal was due to a delay in finalising paperwork, rather than an attempt to avoid facing the potential backlash for as long as possible. Patrick Harland, an Environmental Engineering student, said of Cambridge’s decision: ‘"I think it's an awful decision that has been made by the university; it goes against current climate research and issues faced across the world. It is something that the student population"
Cambridge University agreed to explore divestment options back in May after a grace was signed by 324 academics Image: Pixabay
Students statistically more likely to vote tactically Many students register to vote at both their hometowns and their University cities Image: Flickr
Dominic Lee Music Editor Students have been found to be more likely to vote tactically on Brexit, recent research shows. The Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) argue that Brexit will be the key factor in a tactical vote. The current polling shows that 53% would be willing to vote tactically. This is higher than in 2017 where 47% said they would be willing to vote tactically. Voting tactically for students could mean choosing which seat to vote in or backing a candidate more likely to win- even if that candidate wouldn’t have been their first choice. According to HEPI 70% of student voters want another referendum while 75% expect
Brexit to have a negative impact on their future. A total 71% of all students said that Brexit would have an influence on their voting. This could see a rise in support for remain parties such as the Liberal Democrats- who’s main policy for the upcoming general election is to stop Brexit by revoking Article 50. Whereas, the Labour party and Conservative party could see a drop in support among students. History and Politics student Ben Mayman said that people are more likely to vote to keep a certain party out, rather than because they actually believe in a particular policy: “Speaking to a lot of my friends who are living in other parts of the country there seems to be an element of lets either vote Conservative to avoid Corbyn or vice-versa. "People nowadays are voting for who they want to keep out and will vote at any cost to
achieve this.” Despite not having a clear policy on Brexit according to some voters, Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour could see a rise in votes due to their promise to get rid of tuition fees. The Conservative party too may lose voters over Brexit as Boris Johnson has been unwavering in his commitment to deliver Brexit, whatever it takes The student vote will supposedly be key in areas where the students make up a large majority of the population. Seats such as Canterbury, Bath, Oxford West and Abingdon are said to be the key areas where the student vote could make a big difference. The impact this will have on Newcastle at the moment is unclear. However, it can be argued that students from the cities universities may play a key part deciding the next leader of the country.
Grad to sue uni over 2016 "pass" degree Weronika Kobus Umer Riaz, a former international student at the University of South Wales tried to seek £200,000 in damages over a “pass” degree in BSc Chemistry, which he received in 2016. The graduate claims that the University was “unreasonable” not to allow him to push for an honours degree, instead of his received pass grade. He was granted the equivalent of a third class degree, but did not have enough credits for honours. Mr Riaz, who defended himself in court, said: "A pass doesn't mean anything to me. Having a pass degree is not going to help me to get anything. "I wanted to do a PhD in organic chemistry. I was in my final year starting to apply for jobs in Europe, in the Middle East and do further studies. "I had a couple of emails from Italy and Germany. They said they were impressed by my approach but unfortunately I do not have enough credits.” However the university stated, that arguments of “unreasonableness’ do not fall under court’s jurisdiction and fail to particularise “any cause of action”. Mr Riaz started his BSc hons chemistry
Around 2 million students in the UK graduate every year Image: Wikimedia Commons
degree in 2011, but had to re-sit the first year, as he failed to obtain the amount of credits needed. In 2014, due to poor health, the student claims to have “suffered a fall” on site, which caused his second stage modules to be deferred until the next academic year. After first issuing an unsuccessful internal complaint to the university, Mr Riaz took the case to the Office of Independent Adjudicator, where his complaint was dismissed in 2018. Now he has decided to take the case to the High Court, and vows to take it as high as he can, even to the UN. His claim was struck out of Cardiff County Court, after being described by university as having “no prospect of success’’. As an international student, each year of the course cost him around £10,000 and he has already spent thousands of pounds on legal action. He defends his decision saying he doesn’t “want to have any regrets a couple of years down the line”. An official statement from the spokeswoman on the university of South Wales says that they “take all complaints seriously and are keen to uphold our rigorous standards” and that all “processes have been followed fairly and accurately”. As further legal action is expected, the university is not able to comment further.
news Porn module to be offered at University of Exeter from 2020
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Amanda Goh Starting in 2020, the University of Exeter will offer its first porn module, the first in the UK. The Humanities department’s new module will be introduced as part of the Art History and Visual Culture course.
The module will cover a range of erotic material, historicallycensored films, gay and feminist porn
The module will be taught by Dr João Florêncio, who has warned that explicit materials will be covered in the course. The module
guide claims that certain students might find the ‘visual and literary materials of a graphic, controversial and/or of explicit nature’. According to the module guide, it introduces main theories and debates that surround the production, dissemination and consumption of pornographic images. Such theories will be covered in academic reading that is described as “dense and difficult to read sometimes”. The module will cover a range of erotic material, historically-censored films, gay and feminist porn as well as photography. Dr Florêncio told Exposé, the University of Exeter’s student newspaper, that “I am really proud that the University of Exeter will be joining other institutions like UC Berkeley… and become part of only a handful of global universities offering academically-rigorous modules on such an important and widespread genre of contemporary visual culture” “This new interdisciplinary module aims to give students a better understanding of the
history of porn and of its conventions,”
"This module aims to give students a better understanding of the history of porn"
Dr João Florêncio
Dr Florêncio has also expressed his excitement for his new accredited module on twitter. He tweeted, “Chuffed to bits that my new undergrad module ‘Pornography: Bodies, Sex, and Representation’ has been accredited and that Exeter will be the first UK University with one such module! Porn literacy matters!” He also hopes that students will leave the module with a better ability to think critically about the power, desires and pleasures of pornography.
Monday 25 November 2019
Real wage of casual teaching staff is £9 an hour, says UCU Miles Ogden
A recent piece of national research by the University and College Union (UCU) found that lecturers working under temporary contracts may earn as little as £9 per hour, in real terms. They found that over three-quarters (78%) of casual higher-education staff regularly work longer than their contracted hours. Part-time teaching staff do, on average, 45% of their work unpaid. For a part-time lecturer, the median pay for a 10-hour contract is £187. However, the research says their weekly hours worked could be double that, meaning their ‘real’ hourly rate is £ 9.35. For comparison, the online food delivery company Deliveroo says, on average, their riders make £10 an hour. In response to the claims, the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA), which represents universities across the UK, says “the number of atypical (casual) staff has fallen by 16.1% since 2011–12”. The independent Higher Education Policy Institute Think Tank has found that, nationally, nearly 69,000 academic staff are employed on atypical contracts in universities.
Exeter Uni will be the first in the UK to teach a dedicated pornography module Image: Geograph
La Petite Crêperie to close after five years at Grainger Market La Petite Crêperie, a favourite spot for sweet and savoury crepes, will be closing its doors on 31 December, after five years in its premises at Grainger Market. Owner Julien Poulalion announced the
23% of university staff have zerohours contracts
An investigation by the Newcastle Chronicle found that, in North East universities, it has become “standard practice” for staff to prepare teaching materials outside of their paid work. Many academics’ contracts last for nine or ten months of an academic year. One lecturer told the paper that temporary contracts have “became my permanent career, there was nothing temporary about it”. In the UCU’s research, 71% of academics say their working conditions have damaged their mental health. A growing number of lectures also say they have high-stress levels and poor mental well being. 97% of respondents on a fixed-term contract said they would rather be on a permanent one, and teaching unions have cited this as one of the reasons why eight days of strike action will take place from Monday 25 November to Wednesday 4 December this year.
Council proposes new air pollution badge scheme Emily Hawksley
Bilyana Yordanova
Almost a quarter (23%) of those staff are on zero-hour contracts.
news on Facebook, saying “After five years of serving canny crepes and galettes in Grainger Market, I and the business are moving to a new chapter, and the shop in Grainger Market will close on December 31 2019.” Julien also thanked the Crêperie’s loyal customers on Facebook, he said “A massive ‘merci beaucoup’ for your support, our cus-
tomers have become our friends. We couldn’t have done it without you” The establishment will be closed to allow the owner to focus on pop ups, markets and private functions. As a last farewell, the shop will be bringing back some menu favourites, as well as running competitions for their customers.
The Petite Creperie will close the doors of its Grainger Market home Image: Emma McLaren
It has been proposed that children in Newcastle be issued with special badges that will warn them if they are being exposed to high levels of air pollution while on the school run. This is part of Newcastle City Council’s plans to tackle air pollution, which is linked to hundreds of deaths in Tyneside each year. The proposed badges would degrade more quickly if the air around them was filled with toxic pollutants. The council hopes that this proposal would improve air quality, and raise awareness of the “invisible killer”. The plan also seeks to highlight the air pollution problems caused by parents using their cars to pick up and drop off their children at school. According to a spokesperson for Newcastle City Council, “Tackling pollution is not just about the measures that councils can introduce – it is about the things that everyone can do as individuals to make a difference. “One of the things we have looked at is the possible use of materials that change, based
on the amount of pollution in the air, on things such as badges or posters to enable people to see the impact of something that is, in effect, an invisible killer.”
The council hopes that the proposal would improve air quality
This is not the only measure Newcastle City Council is hoping to take to combat air pollution. Newcastle, Gateshead and North Tyneside Councils are also considering introducing Clean Air zones and tolls to reduce pollution created by high emission vehicles. Council leaders also want to reduce general traffic on the Tyne Bridge to one lane in each direction. Newcastle City Council transport boss Graham Grant said that the badges idea is something that they hoped could have happened earlier this year, but that the council is still keen to pursue it.
Newcastle City Council aims to reduce air pollution in the city Image: Pixabay
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Monday 25 November 2019
Deputy Editor: Molly Greeves @courier_latest courier.news@ncl.ac.uk courier.comment@ncl.ac.uik
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campus comment
Out on the poll: your guide to voting Should our lecturers Where to vote? encourage us to vote? Em Richardson
Nottingham Trent University lecturer Carrie Paechter recently caused controversy when she used Twitter to encourage students to register to vote. She was reported to the police and the Electoral Commission, received threats online, and one person was so angered by her actions that they wrote to the ViceChancellor of the university, calling for her to be disciplined.
We come to uni to become well-rounded, educated adults
Paechter reminded students that they could register to vote at both their home and university addresses, but did not advocate tactical voting, or encourage students to vote for a particular party. The complaints against her came from those who interpreted her Tweet as encouraging students to vote twice- an act of voter fraud. Paechter insists she was simply reminding students of their voting rights. Personally, I think those who object to lecturers encouraging students to vote have an ulterior, and much more unpleasant, motive. Their ‘concerns’ over voter fraud seem like little more than an excuse to criticise politically active students. I think their actual aim is to silence the youth vote. For various reasons, some in society have long-stereotyped youth voters, including students, as uneducated and uninformed when it comes to politics. This is despite the fact that students are legal adults and, ironically, attend an institution where they continue to educated themselves. In terms of whether a lecturer should feel responsible for reminding their students of their voting rights, I say: why not? (Providing the lecturer isn’t trying to push
a certain agenda, o r dictate which party students vote for, of course). One comes to university in the hope of obtaining a degree, but also in hopes of becoming a well-rounded, educated adult. To me, part of this process involves becoming aware of our legal rights and responsibilities. I commend those lecturers who want to give their students more than just some subject knowledge and a degree certificate. O n e s u c h l e c t u rer is Dr Gary Taylor-Raebel, o f Newcastle University. I have noticed that his recent lectures have started with a slide encouraging students to vote. When asked why he regards this appropriate, he said: ‘I feel that a university education is not just about learning the subject you are studying, but also acts as a transition from school to a social and working life as an adult. "One of the most important responsibilities of being an adult in society is to help determine the way the country in which we live is run. I think too many younger people feel disaffected by the system and that their vote will make no difference. It is obviously difficult to see this differently if you live in a very safe seat, but if everyone had this attitude then things would never change and decisions will be made which could adversely affect one’s future. It is therefore of the utmost importance that students understand this responsibility and are encouraged within an education setting to use their vote."
At university: Across all Tyne and Wear parliamentary constituencies, Labour beats all other parties and generally by quite a large margin, and has done so for a good long while. So if you want to vote Labour and not think too much about its effect, vote in your university constituency. Tactical voting is more called for by Remain voters, being a more splintered group, so if you want to support a Leave party, then vote anywhere, this vote isn’t that splintered.
Grace Piercy
Let’s be honest, this election is between Labour and Conservative (sorry Lib Dems), with the main issue, obviously, being Brexit. This is why there’s been a rise in the desire to vote tactically, especially among students. But how do you do this? Do you vote at home or at university? Where does your vote matter more? At home: Depending on where you’re from will determine how valuable your vote is there. If you try to vote rebelliously in a safe seat, chances are your vote is going to be like a drop in the ocean. Wasted, because it did nothing. However, if your constituency at home is prone to swing or was on the verge of change in 2017, then voting there will have a much bigger impact. If you do decide to vote at home, make sure to apply for a postal vote before 5pm on the 26 November.
Consider where your vote matters the most
And if this doesn’t help, you can visit voterpower.org.uk which can tell you how much your vote is worth in a constituency, and you could always just vote in the one where you score higher for voter power. There are also plenty of tactical voting websites that have popped up in the wake of the upcoming election that can help you decide where to vote.
Who should I vote for?
Need advice on who to vote for? Flip over to the Comment section on the next page to read your fellow students' opinions on the upcoming election.
Racists not welcome: kicking discrimination off our campus
A student was recently filmed chanting racist slurs. NUSU's Welfare and Equality Officer Sara Elkawad discusses the incident
Stand Up To Racism have started a petition demanding that the University take action Image: Wikimedia
It’s really upsetting to hear that there has been another mass racial incident that has been surfaced online and targets so many of our students from marginalised backgrounds including our black, LGBT+ and traveler communities. In March last year another incident went viral of a few students at Manor Bank accommodation throwing eggs and shouting racial slurs at black students. Many of our students fall victim to discrimination and hate crime, and in my term as Welfare and Equality Officer I have unfortunately had quite a few reports of distressing incidents from students who do not feel safe on their own campus. Though I’m grateful for the Union and University’s quick response in dealing with the incident, which is currently under investigation, I think as a campus we need to be
more proactive in making sure incidents of hate crime and discrimination don’t happen again- such as improving our channels for reporting discrimination and providing better training for societies and clubs. I’m also very grateful to Stand Up to Racism and other student groups coming together in solidarity for our marginalised communities and petitioning for change in our culture. I hope this incident has been a real eye opener to our students and institution to the culture of our campus and what steps we need to take to ensure it’s a safer and inclusive campus to be in. There is a Stand Up To Racism petition demanding that the University take action regarding this incident. To see this visit our website - thecourieronline.co.uk.
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Hong Kong democracy protests reach Newcastle Alex Downing explores the implications of the increased tensions in Hong Kong’s protests on international Newcastle University students
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ong Kong’s protests have been ongoing since June against plans to allow extradition to the mainland. Protests have now reached Newcastle with its 375 Hong Kong students. On Monday, two people in Hong Kong were left in critical condition following yet another violent day of protest after 24 weeks of conflict between the police and the protesters. One activist was shot at close range - the third to be shot by the police during this movement, and a member of opposition to the protest, more sinisterly, was doused in flammable liquid and set alight in what Chief Superintendent John Tse described as the ‘most shocking incident’. Newcastle, along with other cities in the UK such as Manchester, Sheffield and Leeds who have international students from Hong Kong, has shown solidarity with the Hong Kong protesters. Around 30 protesters in the city centre watched over by a handful of police, were opposed by more than 100 pro-Beijing protesters and were forced to bring their rally to a
premature end. Newcastle University has over 375 students from Hong Kong, and multiple students on placement in the region itself. The Tab wrote that the university is bringing back students who are in Hong Kong for industrial placements and study abroad schemes due to concerns about their safety in the midst of such political tension. The six students in the region have been given the opportunity to return, with their degrees unaffected and their travel fares paid.
Image: Pexels
@courier_latest courier.comment@ncl.ac.uk thecourieronline.co.uk/comment Comment Editors Aastha Malik, Joe Molander & Kelly Corcoran
Why you sh
With three weeks to go until the general election, and the voter re
Newcastle University has over 375 students from Hong Kong, and multiple students on placement in the region itself
There is a continued support from Newcastle students for those in Hong Kong, with the Newcastle University Hong Kong Public Affairs and Social Service Society and Newcastle Stands with Hong Kong, who organise rallies such as the one that was intimidated recently.
Monday 25 November 2019
Labour Patrick Young
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n 12 December, I shall be voting for the Labour party. This is because I agree with many of Labour’s policies, especially with regards to climate change and education. Frankly, I couldn’t care less about Brexit: it is tedious at this point, so it really is not influencing my opinion on the election in any way. Labour may be making promises it can’t keep (it’s not like any other parties do that, is it?), but we stand to lose so much if Labour is not voted in: we could lose the NHS as we know it. We could lose the welfare state, which would mean that young, vulnerable families could face disastrous problems, whilst the rich get richer through tax cuts. It’s happened in the US, and that’s what is likely to happen here. Labour is the only party that has talked about tuition fee reduction to make university more accessible for future generations. By ensuring cheaper fees for future students, the UK will create more graduates with sufficient education to fill the growing economy. If that sounds like something you don’t want, I’d recommend voting Labour on 12 December. Images L-R: Wikimedia Commons, Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, Wikimedia Commons, Chatham House
Liberal Democrats Dominic Lee
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he Liberal Democrats are the party for people who feel as though their voice is not being heard in British politics, particularly on contentious issues such as Brexit and climate change. The Lib Dems’ main goal in this election is stopping Brexit, which is also undoubtedly the most contentious of their plans should they win. A Lib Dem victory would show that the will of the people has changed and the public want Brexit to be cancelled. Furthermore, stopping Brexit will allow for more funding of public services. The Lib Dems have also been big advocates of renewable energy and have pledged £100 billion to combat climate change, which is a huge issue in today’s society. The party’s target is to generate 80% of electricity from renewables by 2030. Additionally, the Lib Dems want to add an extra penny onto income tax to improve funding for health and social care which will see an extra £6 billion invested into these services. They also want to treat mental health as having equal importance to physical health. The Liberal Democrats are the party to vote for in the upcoming general election, but whatever party you’re voting for, make sure you have your say.
We didn’t start the bushfire, or did we? Em Richardson explores the premature start of Australia’s bushfire season, its devastating impact, and politicians’ culpability
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his month has seen catastrophic bushfires assaulting the East Coast of Australia, leaving multiple people dead, and coming within nine miles of Sydney’s centre. A coalition of former fire-chiefs have since come forward to claim the government ignored their advice on climate change. They claim to have been trying to organise a meeting with Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison since April, in hope of warning him that ‘a bushfire crisis was coming’. The coalition says global warming is making bushfire season longer, and the fires larger.
This year’s bushfire season started earlier than ever before
Meanwhile, Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Michael McCormack recently claimed that ‘inner-city lefties’ are frustrating the population of Australia by drawing attention to climate change as a cause of the fires, an unhelpful notion while people are trying to save themselves and their homes. McCormack also pointed out that ‘we’ve had
fires in Australia since time began’, presumably implying he sees no correlation between global warming and the worrying increase in bushfires in recent years.
Australia’s average temperature has risen by 1°C in recent years
Many have criticised the government’s apparent determination to discount climate change as a cause of the fires. Whilst every politician has a right to state their opinion, and is arguably elected on their ability to do so, the Australian government appear to be ignoring an overwhelming amount of evidence regarding the correlation between global warming and worsening bushfires. Even aside from the warnings from fire chiefs, scientists have calculated that Australia’s average temperature has risen by 1°C in recent years, and have suggested that this increase has been a major influence on the premature beginning of the bushfire season; this year’s starting earlier than ever before. Australia’s hot, dry climate provides ideal conditions for bushfires, and it seems this situation is un-
likely to improve if temperatures are allowed to continue to rise. In light of this evidence, it seems only proper that politicians should at least acknowledge global warming as a possible cause of the fires, even if they favour other explanations. At the very least, the public deserve to be given all the facts, and to be able to make up their own minds on what Australia should do to address the climate crisis, based on this information. Personally, I think that there are a couple of steps politicians can take to help reduce the chances of future wildfires also reaching such a devastating scale. Firstly, they can fulfil the promises they made in the Paris Climate Change Agreement, to ensure Australia’s temperature does not rise even further. The same should be done by politicians in other nations. Secondly, they ought to ensure locals in the affected area are aware of experts’ tips for reducing the spread of wildfires, including mowing lawns regularly, raking loose leaves, watering lawns, and storing flammable material away from homes. This, combined with effective climate action are vital in protecting not only the ecosystems of Australia, but the overall wellbeing of our planet.
Image: US Forest Service
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comment
Monday 25 November 2019 The deadline to register to vote is Tuesday 26 November and can be done at gov.uk/register-to-vote. It takes five minutes, and requires your National Insurance number and passport. If you’re unsure of the party for which you’re going to vote, whoshouldyouvotefor.com asks you a series of questions on your beliefs and values, and calculates which party is most closely in line with your point of view.
should vote for...
SOAPBOX
If you want to see where each party stands on the issues, Newcastle University Politics Soicety are hosting a free Student Question Time event on Monday 25 November from 6pm-8.30pm in Lecture Theatre 2 in the Herschel Building.
registration deadline coming up tomorrow, our writers explain who they’re voting for and why
MOVING ON, NOT FORWARD
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Aastha Malik
he Australia bushfires are out of control, and it’s all over social media. Every second person on my feed has posted something about it, and that’s great. But what’s happening with the Amazon Rainforests now? What’s happening in Kashmir in India? What is currently happening in Iran? Posting stories to ‘save the world’ seems to be a new fad whether its saving the turtles or saving the planet. Slacktivism is at its all time highest. I am all for using social media to grow awareness, but what do you do next? Posting a story that lasts simply for 24 hours is not going to make a significant enough difference if the people who see them don’t put in the effort to bring about change. Post stories but then donate, volunteer, run campaigns, and do more! Let’s make a real impact and move forward instead of simply move on.
TOAST OF THE WEEK
Green Party Owen Lukins
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ith both Newcastle and my home town being historic Labour strongholds set to win in their constituencies, the chances of Tory success are thankfully low. With tactical voting dominating so many people’s election day choices, having a Labour safety net is definitely a privilege, allowing us young leftists to vote for who we actually want to win, and for me that’s the Green Party. To put it simply, I’ve not known of a Green Party manifesto point or promise that I disagree with, and in this political climate that’s rare. From EU membership and the climate crisis to scrapping tuition fees and reforming drug policy, the Greens really have tapped into what so many young people want, and they deserve our support. So why vote Green when you know they won’t win? To give them a chance in the future. Before winning their first seat, no one knew who the Greens were or what they stood for. Now, they’re the idealist party of millions, with strategic voting being one of the only things standing in their way. So I’m voting Green to make them a viable option for Newcastle, because I know they can do great things: they just need a chance, and I hope you join me in giving them it.
Brexit Party Max Habib
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he Brexit Party is a true party of the people. It is filled with people from all walks of life who are successful in a broad range of areas. None of them are career politicians: the vast majority of the parliamentary candidates are brand new to politics. Where they are united is the following deeply held ideas. One: there needs to be reform of our tired political system, which encourages complacency and has allowed the parliamentary establishment to grow further from those they are supposed to represent. Two: the other parties, which currently hold the power in Parliament, are failing to enact the greatest political mandate of at least a generation, the 2016 vote to leave the European Union. Three: leaving the European Union is not something which we just need to get done, contrary to the BoJo slogan. It is a great opportunity to take this country in a new, more democratic, self-determined direction. The Brexit Party parliamentary candidates would stand unerringly for their constituents. They are not so arrogant as to presume they know better, but will dedicate their time to achieving that which is best for their constituency.
Conservatives Stephen Dawes
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he simple fact of the matter is that our country needs political leadership and direction, and in our system, this can only reliably be provided by a majority government. Realistically, with Labour unelectable in Scotland, only the Conservative Party can deliver this. Through competitive business policies, such as low corporation tax and the slashing of high street business rates, we can deliver a robust and growing economy that will allow for the maintenance of current public spending as well as new public spending projects as the economy grows. Our party is focused on decreasing the cost of living with practical policies that, rather than creating a crisis of chronic dependency on the state, decrease everyday costs that positively impact the least well-off in society. For example, we plan to remove the tariffs and taxes on certain food items, footwear and clothing, all things on which the worst-off spend a higher proportion of income. But most importantly, you should vote Conservative this election because they are ultimately the only party that will respect our country’s democratic decision to leave the European Union and maintain a polity based on the consent of the governed.
Lib Dems reveal £10k ‘skills wallets’
Maud Webster discusses the Lib-Dems’ plan to offer a £10k grant for adult education and training
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ast week, the Liberal Democrat party revealed their new plans for lifelong learning: a £10,000 ‘skills wallet’. This proposed skills wallet would be distributed to adults in three phases: firstly, all adults in the UK would be entitled to £4,000 at 25; then £3,000 at 40; and a further £3,000 at 55. This money, the party argue, will be spent on eligible educational and training courses, and funding will derive from a reversal of the corporation tax which was lowered from 20% to 17% under the Tory government. As much as I approve of this increased tax, the fact that the Lib Dems aren’t considering spending this on a) a subsidy / removal of university tuition fees or b) increased funding in primary and secondary education is frustrating. Whilst I appreciate the immense benefits that investing in lifelong education can offer, surely it makes more sense to set people up from a younger age with a good
education system that instills a love of learning before they reach adulthood? Furthermore, the seemingly unrestricted nature of the ‘skills wallet’ causes more concerns as the grants will be given to every adult regardless of income. This juxtaposes both the Labour and Tory proposals for lifelong learning. Labour is targeting 300,000 eligible adults with the offer of free educational and vocational courses, while the Tories are expanding their National Retraining Scheme to retrain adults whose jobs are at risk of being replaced by automation. With all adults being entitled to the scheme, £1-2 billion of allocated funding could go to the wealthiest of society – shouldn’t the money be targeted and allocated more to those who actually need the funding? Additionally, with the absence of a maintenance loan for Further Education courses, people with responsibilities such as dependent children, or a lack of time due to full time work, will not be able to use the funding. Thus, if the Lib Dems can iron out these extensive creases in their plans then their proposed ‘skills wallet’ could have some potential. However, in its current state I feel that the proposals are largely problematic and socially divisive.
GOLDEN MOREOS
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Kelly Corcoran
he long-held debate between the custard cream and the bourbon grinds to a holt when you take up veganism, the bourbon being your only friend between the two on this journey. If you were an advocate for the humble custard cream, then the Golden Oreo is the next best thing. The crunchy sandwich biscuit with a velvety cream centre, while synonymous to the centre of our traditional friend, the Oreo, is reflective of the delightful custard cream. On the first bite the nostalgic memories came flooding back, and I can truly say that this pit in my happiness in my custard cream-less life has now been filled by this delightful biscuit. Now I know that some of you dairy eating readers may see the golden Oreo to be a boring version of the real deal, but I promise you, those of us who miss the custard cream see it to be literally what its name describes; golden!
ROAST OF THE WEEK
‘NICE’ NAME TAKES THE BISCUIT
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Joe Molander
n George Orwell’s 1984 (which is in part about the erosion of creative thinking and originality, and will probably soon be remade by film executives with no sense of irony), protagonist Winston Smith drinks ‘Victory Gin’, whose cheery name is an attempt to cover up how awful it tastes. A similar, and similarly dystopian tactic is deployed by whichever corporation has a low enough opinion of humanity to give it the ‘Nice’ biscuit. That it is unpalatable in taste or texture should be obvious from the branding: there would be no need to print “nice” on anything that was actually nice, in the same way people don’t go on first dates wearing T-shirts reading “Gonorrhoea free”. People are too quick to forgive bland biscuits – like the abomination that is shortbread – but just like Winston Smith, the instinct to rebel is in me, regardless of what the Biscuit Big Brother tells me.
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the courier
Monday 25 November 2019
c2.lifestyle@ncl.ac.uk @Courier_Life thecourieronline.co.uk/lifestyle Life & Style Editor Nimra Rafique Lifestyle Editors Catherine Entwistle, Cecilia Adamou, Holly Margerrison & Jess Herbert
Alice Petre
Are you unlucky in love? Email us at c2.lifestyle@ncl.ac.uk
Third Year Classics and English
meets Piotr Golawski
Third Year Computer Science
Blind Date Image: Emma Monaghan
Hey Alice, What made you sign up for Blind Date? My friend and I thought it would be a fun experience to meet someone completely new. What was your biggest fear leading up to the date? That I wouldn’t be able to see as I forgot my glasses!
I’d pick personality over looks - it is so much harder to be funny than fit What’s more important in a potential partner: looks or personality? I’d definitely pick personality over looks - it is so much harder to be funny than fit. What were your first impressions of Piotr? He dressed well and was polite. What did you get up to on your date? We went to No28 above Grainger Market. Did your conversations with Piotr flow naturally? Yeah we had lots to talk about; it was a refreshing experience talking to a complete stranger! If Piotr was a stall at the Christmas market what would he be and why? Maybe the Apres Ski Bar as he had very good taste in music. What was your favourite and least favourite part of the date? My favourite was being introduced to a new drink - luckily there wasn’t a least favourite! Describe Piotr in three words. Chatty, friendly and smart. Do you think the Courier matched you up well? I think it was a very nice evening we had a lot to talk about so yeah! Will you be going on a second date? We spoke about meeting for a coffee or something more relaxed.
Hey Piotr, how long have you been single? I’ve been single for the better part of this year. Timewise and literally. What to you look for in a potential partner? I like someone with a sense of humour, who looks forward to getting things done and enjoys planning ahead. Ultimately, a bit of a dork. You met at Grey’s Monument, but if Alice was a Newcastle landmark what would she be and why? It would have to be a travelling landmark, for sure, so that’s definitely the lighthouse in North Shields. Did Alice seem like your usual type at first? A blonde with a sense of humour, what more do you need to know? Where did you go on your date? We went to a nice cosy bar around Grainger Market. It had good tunes. If Alice was a genre of music what would she be and why? She’d be disco soul with a touch of rock. Kind of like The Rolling Stones in the late 70s. Did you have a lot in common? Surprisingly yeah! It was getting funny at times because we were into a lot of similar things. But in general we talked around things rather than focusing on the specifics which was good. I’m always up for a deep chat.
I’m up for spending some more time with her - I don’t see why not Was it a good date overall? On a scale of 1 to 10 it was Goodfellas. Describe Alice in three words. Hopeful, bright and genuine. Do you think you’ll see each other again? I’m up for spending some more time with her - and I definitely enjoyed myself so I don’t see why not.
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the courier
life & style lifestyle
Monday 25 November 2019
Instagram culture: is it presentation or performance? Image: Sara Kurfeß on Unsplash
Instagram @EmShelx
Holly Margerrison discusses the amazing impact of a month-long Instagram detox
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rom popping your leg into a power stance, to ensuring your ‘phone eats first’, to brainstorming your wittiest caption with friends… We’ve become a society that places pressure on presenting our perfect paradise on social media. But when does this presentation slip into performance? Whether you’re a bottomless brunch enthusiast or an admirer of the simpler scenic routes, we’re all guilty of ensuring we capture every picture-perfect moment for ‘the gram’. I personally spend countless hours editing photos, playing with word order for puns and even stalking other’s feeds out of jealousy, curiosity or boredom. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t get anxious about the presentation of my feed. Will this photo look good against my others? Is it prime time to post? How much of a filter do I need? Asking around only confirmed the inevitable – we’re all craving other people’s validation for our own happiness. It scares me how quickly they can go from interacting with one another in a tech-free zone to barely acknowledging lifelong friends once their phones are returned What’s more worrying is I know I have a young following from my job at a children’s summer camp. Whilst it’s great they don’t have access to their phones for a couple of
months, it scares me how quickly they can go from interacting with one another in a tech-free zone to barely acknowledging lifelong friends once their phones are returned. For them, social media dictates their lives. They’ve been brought up in a culture that endorses it. I’ve seen the good, the bad and the ugly with this. It’s heart-warming to see captured footage of them flying across states and surprising their friends. It’s a little more chilling to see bitchy messages flying about in group chats – a prime example of them mirroring behaviour they’ve seen elsewhere online.
I feel I have a responsibility to be a positive influence online for younger people I feel I have a responsibility to be a positive influence online for them. Whilst I can spend my summer preaching about how refreshing it feels to be make-up free in a liberating environment, there’s an element of hypocrisy when I leave camp and begin posting posy picture after posy picture. In one of the most contradictory (and perhaps even ironic) realities, I actually have Apple to thank for my wake-up call. At the start of September, up flashes my screen-time report onto my iPhone lock screen. God, no. That’s hours of my day gone – evaporated, vanished – to what? An alternative reality that’s undeniably worse than the real one I’m actually present in. I decided enough was enough and made the abrupt decision to delete Instagram. My results were not an overnight miracle. I’d perhaps had a naïve perception that I would feel relief, a resurgence of energy, instantaneously. Instead, I found myself reaching for
my phone to do ‘the scroll’ (yeah, I’m talking about the one you do when you’re on the toilet). At first, I substituted my time on Instagram for Twitter but after a couple of weeks, I was adapting. I made a rule for myself; whenever I defaulted to scrolling, I’d get my book and start reading. I powered through books like I haven’t in a while – a book a week became the norm. But I did struggle when friends were talking about someone’s ‘recent post’. I’d never realised how much conversations were dominated by social media too. Whether it was celebrities, or someone who had just got a cool job – everyone was talking about it. I did feel refreshed after a month of no Instagram. I felt like I was appreciating smaller details more and using my time more productively. It even felt good to boast about the fact I’d accomplished it to perplexed faces But then I was returning to Newcastle. Life was picking up again and new, international course mates were asking for my account details to get in touch. Perhaps this is okay, perhaps this is how social media can be sociable once more. Instagram’s pink and yellow icon reappeared on my home screen. I guess I owe a thank you to Apple for luring me in before hitting me with the hard truth: I’m a social media addict. But I went cold turkey, I’ve been through rehab and I’m determined to make changes to the way I spend my day. Try to contend with that.
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Image: Instagram @graceandgrazenz
Shopping Scrooge? Cayla Viner talks Christmas consumerism
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n October 25th I heard my first Christmas song of the year, blasting from my housemate’s bedroom. That’s right, Halloween hadn’t even passed, yet Christmas tunes were already infiltrating my ears. On 1st November every Halloween decoration had been shifted to the clearance shelves and replaced with large sparkling pine trees and obnoxious life-sized Santas, staring as I walked past the high street windows. It was too early. It felt like Christmas was being forced upon me before I had even handed in my first university essay.
It felt like Christmas was being forced upon me When I was younger, the magic of Christmas and the excitement leading up to it made this time of the year the best. But it wasn’t the over-commercialised shop windows breaming with unnecessary decorations or the same 10 tunes playing in a loop on Heart FM. It was the advent calendar my teachers would
buy to share each day It is never with a member of the the material class. It was the biscuits items I rememand mince pies we would ber most about bake as a family together this season; it is in the kitchen. It was pullthe time spent alInstagram @inthefrow ing out the familiar decoratogether as a family, tions from the roof that we enjoying the meal evehad used for as long as I could ryone has played some remember. role in, and the games we play in the evening – all It was going out with a group of friends to find that time spent together becomes so precious as those personal gifts to give on Christmas day. It everyone is busy and stressed for the rest of the was preparing a special Samaritan’s shoe box for a year. child who wouldn’t even dream of the kind of fuss It is perfectly okay to be a Scrooge at Christmas, we make for this festive season. And to be honest because Ebenezer got it right. To refresh your if they saw it I don’t think they would understand memories on the ending to this classic Dickensian the point of it all. tale, the grumpy old miser realised that money There is so much pressure every year these days was of no importance if you didn’t have family or for Christmas to be a grand event with weeks of friends to share it with. celebrations leading up to the big day. Families The character that represented greed amongst break their backs in their jobs trying to work over- the Victorian aristocracy can unfortunately still time and scrimp and save so that their children can be applied to society today as we let ourselves be afford the new Sylvanian Families set or a more blindsided by the excitement of extravagance and powerful Nerf gun. It is all such a shame because grandeur when really that is not what Christmas is we have got stuck on a consumer-oriented Christ- meant to be about. mas conveyer belt.
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The books
Meggie Williams discusses how w
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new clubbing revolution is taking off with the Y Generation and rather unusually; it doesn’t leave you with copious amounts of beer fear the morning after and may just make your parents proud. Of course I’m taking about a wholesome book club! No longer seen as a past time for the retired in chilly village halls, book club has had a revamp in the eyes of the youth and there is a reason more and more of you are jumping onboard the book club bandwagon. Last year I joined an informal book club set up by a friend at Uni and here is what I discovered: It broadened what I read Before book club, I was guilty of reading similar types of books from the same genre over and over again. I knew what I liked and I stuck with it, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing but it means you can exclude so many amazing books without realising. I loved, liked and hated some of the books we read but it felt wonderfully refreshing to be pushed out of my reading comfort zone and has definitely made me more open to different types of books. It enabled important conversations Talking about books is a really easy and natural way to enable conversations about important
the courier
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lifestyle life & style
Monday 25 November 2019
Students! Get passionate about politics Emma McCartney reinstates the importance of being politically informed with the upcoming election and and shares advice
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ith the next general election just around the corner, it is vitally important that everybody is politically informed as we are given the chance to shape our country’s future. We owe it to ourselves to find out as much information as we can, to ensure we are voting for the candidate who best embodies our own personal views and beliefs. You still have time to clue yourself up for the election on 12th December. Your vote matters: use it. Only 68.7% of registered voters actually voted in the last general election, in 2017. This means that a whopping 31.3% did not. Many people abstain from voting because they do not feel that they have sufficient knowledge or understanding of their options to make a decision; however, it is your own responsibility to seek this information out for yourself. Others choose not to vote because they do not believe that their vote will make a difference; h o w e v e r, if we all bore that mentality,
then nobody would ever vote for anything and we would be at the mercy of a dictatorship. Just imagine how differently the last general election could have turned out, had all of the non-voters bothered to take an invested interest in their country’s future. It is important that you take the time to make an informed decision when it comes to voting in an election. You should not vote for a political party simply because your parents or friends are voting for them. Don’t succumb to social pressures. Everybody has an individual set of morals and values: your vote should reflect yours and yours alone.
It can be difficult to differentiate the truth from fake news online
and do not believe everything you read. Needless to say, there is a vast amount of unreliable propaganda circulating, regarding the upcoming election.
If you close your mind off from politics, then you remain ignorant Be wary of that when it comes to placing your vote. The most important thing is that you take an interest in politics. Watch the news, read articles and join in discussions surrounding the upcoming general election. If you close your mind off
You should seek political information from a wide range of sources, to ensure that you do not make a decision based solely on a one-sided, biased argument. While the internet is great in allowing easy access to political information, it can be difficult to differentiate the truth from fake news. By all means, do your research online, but be careful
from politics, then you will remain ignorant of the significance of these decisions and will therefore be responsible for results that do not truly reflect what this country wants or needs. While the word ‘Brexit’ has been impossible to escape, ever since the referendum in June 2016, it is important that you take other factors into consideration when placing your vote next month. Brexit is highly significant in this upcoming election, but there are so many other, equally important matters to bear in mind. If you need reminding that this country is facing problems other than Brexit, consider the fact that in the last five years, food bank use has increased by 73% and that more than 1 in 200 people in the United Kingdom are homeless.
As young people it is essential that we have our say The results of this eminent upcoming election are going to have the greatest impact on us, the younger generation, therefore it is essential that we have our say. Make your vote count and encourage those around you to do the same. Use these final days before the upcoming general election to do your research and make a well-informed decision on the 12th December 2019. Instagram @amandarachlee
Instagram @uklabour
ge: Pixabay LubosHouska
Image: Olia Gozha on Unsplash
Image: DonkeyHotey on Flickr
mage: Annie Spratt on Unsplash
s are back How journalling changed my life
we can all benefit from reading more
tions ranged from politics to mental heath, identity, relationships, sex, feminism and everything in between. No topic was too taboo and everyone’s opinions were respected. It made me realise how important it is to be able to debate and discuss topics like these in an open, friendly environment, allowing your opinions to challenged and swayed. It’s different and fun As simple as it sounds, book club is fun, very fun in fact. The avid readers among us will know the feeling you get when you are reading a book and really want to talk someone’s ear off about it but the chances are you can’t find anyone who really wants to listen? Well book clubs link you up to other like-minded souls who are also bursting full of things they want to discuss when the meeting comes around. I found book club a vibrant, open and creative environment where a mix of people came together and brightened up a rather mundane Monday. Book club gave us the chance to get to know one and other in a relaxed setting, engage in thought provoking conversations and enjoy a glass of wine or two. It’s a low key, cheap and a refreshingly different way to spend an evening: all round perfect for the student.
Arifah Badlishah documents how the art of daily journally can be a therapeutic pastime
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magine writing three full pages by hand every single morning after waking up. This is an exercise called ‘morning pages’ proposed by Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way – a classic bestselling book on creativity first published in 1992. She defines morning pages as ‘spiritual windshield wipers’, and many advocates swear by this ritual – claiming the habit of letting it all out on paper helps declutter the mind and reduce anxiety. Now you might be thinking, “Writing academic essays are torturous enough, now you want us to fry our brain cells first thing in the morning?” but hear me out. There are several benefits of expressive writing whether you wish to write in the morning, afternoon, evening, or even the middle of the night:
1. Increased mindfulness
We live in a modern world of hectic schedules and stressed minds. There is always new content to consume on our Facebook feeds every time we click the refresh button. Expressive writing helps you to take a step back, relax, and focus on the present. It guides you to achieve clarity about the complicated things going on in your life. You might also
want to consider writing on paper as you might be easily distracted by a notification or a message if you write on a digital device. After a long and tiring day, it feels amazing to vent to your journal – and no, it’s not just for 13-year-old schoolgirls!
2. An emotional outlet
As humans, we experience a great range of emotions every single day, and if we bottle them up too much, we might end up turning into The Hulk. With expressive writing, there is no holding back your feelings of excitement when falling in love or your immense frustration with your flatmate’s nasty habits. Being able to emotionally express yourself well will do wonders for your mental health. You know that feeling when you are incredibly upset with someone but know you shouldn’t rage furiously at them? You can vent it all down on a Word document and delete it afterwards. Once you have cooled down, you can bring things up more diplomatically.
3. No filter and no fear of judgment
Even when you are tweeting on a private account with only 10 followers, you still filter your thoughts in one way or another. When you write for your-
self, the only person who can judge you is yourself! Your journal will never screenshot your controversial opinion and talk crap about you behind your back. It is extremely therapeutic to be able to express yourself freely without worrying what anybody else thinks. Your writing is not going to be graded by a lecturer or read by anonymous keyboard warriors – do not worry about creating a masterpiece.
4. A cheap form of therapy
Expressive writing has long been used as a therapy method to ease stress and trauma. Writing helps one make sense of the messy muddle of life. There is scientific evidence of improved mood and working memory through writing. Academic research even shows benefits of expressive writing to physical health such as reduced blood pressure, improved immune system, and improved lung and liver functions. So next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, consider putting pen to paper (or finger to keyboard) and letting your thoughts flow uncensored. As the saying goes, “there is no wrong or right, just write!”
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life & style fashion
the courier
Monday 25 November 2019 c2.fashion@ncl.ac.uk Fashion Editors Kajal Patel, Phoebe Eyles & Shamara Mohsin
Met Gala 2020: our expectations Belinda Lloyd discusses the reveal of the 2020 Met Gala's theme: Fashion and Duration
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he Metropolitan Museum of Art has finally revealed next year’s Gala theme and we can only anticipate the variety of looks we’ll see, both good and bad. Next year’s theme, About Time: Fashion and Duration, opens up a wardrobe of possibilities for the A-list celebrities attending the event. With Zendaya, Lady Gaga and Billy Porter among the list of tens that are expected to bring jaw-dropping looks to the table, we can only hope that Rihanna is attending this year to maintain her legacy. Though with such a diverse yet unique theme, it’s possible that amid the array of out-of-thebox designs there will be a stray tuxedo or mini dress sticking out like a sore thumb. Images L-R: Wikipedia, Pixabay, Being inspired Public Domain Images by Virginia Woolf’s Orlando, where the titular
An ode to the satin slip dress
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’m dreaming of dripping in a dress of champagne white this Christmas, with every party invite I RSVP ‘yes!’ too. In a hybrid of sultry sheerness, paired with the fullness of the flow-y feel, the satin slip dress glides onto the figure in the time it takes to kiss the seal of a Christmas card – making every busy lady an effortless supermodel draped in glossy satin, and making you the jingle-bell beauty at every ball this season. Call it a homage to 80s, and see yourself as Scarface’s Elvira (Michelle Pfeiffer), as a secret slicked in silk, enough to cover up, though enough to shimmer beyond that Christmas starlight, with a vintage look that gives enough room to dance, as it does to deck the halls in elegance. Styled too by Selena Gomez, Hailey Baldwin (Bieber), and Rihanna to name a few, the spotlight shines upon the satin slip this festive season, so if you add this to your Christmas List, Santa may just slip it under your tree. But don’t doubt, whether you opt for this one in a midi, the longer skirt can naturally flatter the curve of your hips, ensuring you may not flash too much sparkle on the dance floor, though may just cling to the skin in all the right ways to give a little tipple of your figure. Or is the mini more your preference? In that case, let the satin slip move as you groove, drifting as you dance, spitting sparkle as much as the treetopping star. With a piece like this, choosing a metallic colour, maybe silver, maybe gold, can really spin Christmas spirit even if the average sparkle isn’t really your thing; styling you in an elegant epitome without seeming too loud in the sequins which always somehow end up all over the dance floor. So be Santa’s baby this Christmas time and try out the satin slip, as I declare it a must-have for every angel this Christmastime. Iona May Todd
character has a lifespan of over 300 years, the exhibition will centre on fashion throughout centuries and create a guide to the various trends and styles spanning from 1870. Focusing on the concept of duration, the exhibition will possess a linear structure with each point in time being embodied by black ensembles. The trendy timeline will then be interrupted by white pieces which, both pre- and post-dates the black; for example, a Comme des Garçons ‘Body Meets Dress-Dress Meets Body’ dress from 1997 juxtaposing a mid-1880s black bustle. Concluding the exhibition will be futuristic designs which draw from the concept of duration and sustainability and question both the future of fashion and the environment as a whole; with a series of debates occurring all over the world, Greta Thunberg being a major catalyst in the protest regarding climate change, it only seems fitting that next year’s theme acknowledges issues occurring outside the world of fashion.
Concluding the exhibition will be futuristic designs which question both the future of fashion and the environment
The theme centred around time next year is particularly interesting seeing as we’re going into a completely new decade next month; say goodbye to the 2010s as we’re soon entering the 20s. Fashion and Duration seems to be a particularly fitting theme next year as it takes place in the first year of a whole new decade, signifying an entire century since the Jazz Age. With the Roaring 20s still be-
ing incredibly popular with a widespread appreciation for the decade due to its ground-breaking fashion trends, this marks a particularly special fundraising gala. The 20s introduced iconic and timeless classics to the world of fashion which are still being worn by a variety of people today; with flapper dresses becoming a flexible garment one can where to any occasion (either a good party or for Halloween) and The Great Gatsby reigniting the world of the Jazz Age, it’s safe to say that we should be expecting some real head-turners in months to come.
The Great Gatsby reignited love for the world of the Jazz Age
Hosting the Gala next year are none other than Meryl Streep, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Emma Stone. You heard it here folks, the Devil Wears Prada herself is hosting the Met Gala. I wonder what Miranda Priestly’s take will be on the KardashianJenner’s figure-hugging looks this year. Will we see a ground-breaking nod or the catastrophic pursing of the lips? Only time will tell. With the trio all participating in at least one historical production, most recently Miranda starring in Hamilton and Mary Poppins Returns and Emma Stone in The Favourite, it’s safe to say that this holy trinity is not shy to the odd period-style ensemble that we are definitely going to be seeing in May. I personally cannot wait for the weird and wonderful looks coming this spring; with Rihanna expected to make a comeback and Meryl Streep hosting, what more could we wish for?
Get to know: Sisters and Seekers
Fashion Editor Kajal Patel gives us all we need to know on this super stylish upcoming brand
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isters and Seekers; a brand that will give you the Insta-baddie look you crave. No, I don't mean those 'silky dresses and slicked back hair' type of baddies. I mean, the "I don't need to put in any effort to look good" type of baddies that everybody would want to be.
These girls don't just see you as a customer, they see you as a fellow sister
Started up around five years ago by two sisters, Alice and Maisie Jones (@alis_jo and @mais_jo) on Instagram, Sisters and Seekers is a 'brand dedicated to aesthetics'. That ethos is exactly how and why you'll be able to achieve the no-effort yet flawless day-to-day look by shopping with this brand. Personally, I've been buying from and wearing their clothes for the past few years so I can assure you the quality of these items is amazing. These girls don't just see you as a customer, they see you as a fellow sister, which ensures that you'll find exactly what you're looking for on this site. This brand's collection includes cosy jumpers/ hoodies, cycling shorts, jackets to more girly 'out out' dresses, swimwear and stylish loungewear. All the items are completely versatile and can be worn together or layered up for the winter time (as shown in
the image to the right). What's more, the packaging when you receive the items is completely environmentally friendly as instead of individually wrapping the items in bits of plastic, all your items come in a woven bag and friendly materials. Their Autumn Winter 2019 collection has just recently gone live on their website and with a price range of £8 to £80, there's something for everyone. Granted, as a student, you might not be doing large hauls or wanting to spend £80 on a coat, but it's definitely worth checking out this brand as the majority of their
items are price-matched to the quality of them!
The items' packaging is completely environmentallyfriendly
As bloggers themselves, you can rest easy knowing that clothing from these girls will have you looking like an Insta baddie in no time. It's a brand worn and loved by many, including Blogger Lissy Roddy who has featured it many times on her Instagram too! If you're looking to check out the brand or the girls, you can find it at sistersandseekers.com!
Instagram: @sistersandseekers
the courier
15
fashion life & style
Monday 25 November 2019
Layer up in style Belinda Lloyd discusses how to wrap up and stay stylish
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t feels almost impossible to look somewhat fashionable when it’s baltic outside and any attempt to wrap up warm makes us look and feel like Joey in that one Friends episode, but the good news is that luckily we’ve figured out how to layer Winter wear best. Winter is coming. Auburn leaves are beginning to fall and it’s getting darker and colder the further we approach December but alas, nothing like a good turtleneck and sweatshirt will fix without making you look like the Michelin Man.
A good pair of Docs add a dash of grunge
When it comes to layering, literally anything will work for whatever the occasion. Turtlenecks are the items to go for when you feel like being warm but still cool; you can rock your favourite strappy summer dress and layer it with a turtleneck, some funky necklaces, a thick leopard print or teddy-bear coat and a pair of tights and Doc Martens, creating a timeless look that’s perfect for any Christmas party (@luanna for inspo via Instagram). Though a good pair of Docs add a dash of grunge edge to your look, if this isn’t your style, you can pull an Ariana Grande and couple a pair of heels with some ankle socks for a cute but warm (that’s the main priority) look. No matter how much we try and bring back summer fashion, we have to face the reality that we’re stuck with cozy cardigans and snug socks. Winterwear allows you to channel any kind of celebrity style possible as it accommodates to anyone; with
@fashioninflux and @bestdressed being good sources for style inspo, anyone could pull off a knitted cardigan/sweater with a pair of mom jeans and a good bobble hat.
Winterwear allows you to channel any kind of celebrity style possible
The king of layering has to be Bender from The Breakfast Club and we need to take a few pages out of his book to achieve maximum layering when the weather gets colder. The 80s bad boy that made us all wish we were Claire pulled off the tens of layers he wore to that Saturday detention session.
Couple a pair of heels with some ankle socks for a cute but warm look
It started off with the long sleeved t-shirt shrouded with a vintage (I mean, for us it’s vintage) flannel shirt which was then finished off with a denim jacket and Tweed coat and a good scarf. Now you’ve got your inspiration, it’s deciding what to wear with all of your newfound options and pulling it off for the seasons to come.
Instagram: me__lanie__
Do you even VSCO? Our fashion fixation: Instagram: @zara
Belinda Lloyd talks the newest Insta trend filling your feed
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t’s hard not to notice the sudden rise in the ‘and i oops’ and the ‘sksksk’ we see fluttering by on our Twitter feeds, but for you boomers out there who have no idea what is going on, here is a guide on how to spot a VSCO girl and why they’re a trend. If you’ve ever been wandering around uni and spotted a (generally) white, (moderately) wealthy girl with at least one scrunchie, Fjallraven Kanken backpack and a hydro flask (usually a Chilly’s bottle in a pastel shade) then you, my friend, have spotted a VSCO girl.
Instagram glorifies VSCO girl life
If you’re lucky, you’ll usually see a swarm of them in Urban Outfitters buying overpriced scrunchies or hunched over their Macbooks (that conveniently has a ‘save the turtles’ sticker emblazoned on the front, staring at the Brandy Melville website intently). I’ve managed to put together a list of what you can expect to find in their bright yellow Fjallraven Kanken after close analysis of these strange beings: at least two Carmex lip balms, a pastel Polaroid camera, a puka shell necklace and some metal straws because they’re obviously eco-conscious. On their phone expect to find a semi-
thriving Tiktok account and, of course, the photo editing app VSCO that allows them to edit themselves to their hearts desire. YouTubers like Emma Chamberlain can be considered the creator of the trend due to her endless vlogs on Urban and Brandy hauls but also her thrift store hunts. Her Instagram always features a sunkissed, saturated picture of herself in mini shorts / mom jeans and a thrifted vintage crop top, showing us she’s always beach ready (a common theme of the life as a VSCO girl). Due to the distorted world of social media and aesthetically pleasing view of a tan that society has placed on us, this creates a false representation of a VSCO girl’s life, for example Emma Chamberlain. These social media streams make us pine for the wealthy VSCO girl life of warm beaches, an even tan and an excessive amount of lip balm. VSCO girls have been haunting our screens for some time now, slowly embedding their ‘and i oops’ into our general vocabulary and, for me, persuading me to buy far too many scrunchies and EOS lip balms than one person needs. I guess, like always, we’re going to have to sit and ride this trend out like we did throughout Instagram: @emmachamberlain the entirety of the noughties.
Nasty Gal
Margarita Ivanova sings high praise for the #Girlboss and Boohoo brand Nasty Gal
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asty Gal, founded by Sophia Amoruso in 2006, and owned by Boohoo today, is an online fashion retailer stocking clothes for the fiercest young women out there. If you’re looking for versatility and bold designs, then look no further: Nasty Gal may just become your new best friend. I discovered Nasty Gal via the Netflix show Girlboss, based on Amoruso’s book of the same name, and, though the the show has since been cancelled, the company still holds a high position amongst my favourite clothing retailers. While not all items actually carry the company name, it is unlikely that you could find them elsewhere, meaning that, with Nasty Gal, you’ll stand out immediately. Whatever you are looking for, be it a funky jumpsuit for a party, a new quirky slogan t-shirt for everyday wear, or perhaps a chic little dress, perfect for those more formal occasions – you name it, the company has it. And don’t even get me started on the shoes. So. Many. Shoes. Seriously, Nasty Gal stocks everything that you could possibly need, even warm winter essentials and bright holiday attire, so you can rest assured that weather will never interfere with style. What’s more, Nasty Gal frequently collaborates with celebrities and models – Emily Ratajkowski, Cara Delevingne and Emma Louise Connolly, to name a few – to create unique collections exclusive to the company. Not only are these collections always full of interesting designs and diverse styles to appeal to individual tastes, they are also tailored to an affordable pricing range, so I can confidently say that Nasty Gal rarely breaks the budget. At this point, if you aren’t already won over, you’re about to be. Indeed, with the audacious company name, which
serves to empower young women and inspire them to fearlessly embrace their personal style, combined with the versatility of the clothing range and the affordable pricing, how could you not love Nasty Gal? My favourite thing about the company is the way that it encourages me to experiment and take risks when it comes to fashion, and the way that it makes these risks seem exciting rather than daunting. Nasty Gal doesn’t just become your new best friend, Nasty Gal becomes Instagram: @lornaluxe that older sister that via @nastygal pushes you to try new things and helps you find yourself – one pair of sparkly boots at a time. I’m telling you, Nasty Gal’s your girl: you can always trust her.
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beauty life & style
Monday 25 November 2019 courier.beauty@ncl.ac.uk Beauty Editor Rashida Campbell-Allen & Ellie James
Kesha Rose Beauty: new eco-friendly vegan line launches Beauty Editor Ellie James discusses the line and the powerful ethical influence of celebrities
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t’s about time for another celeb to bring us a fresh new makeup line for us to get our hands on, and Kesha has gone and provided the goods to feed our celeb makeup hunger – we were getting WAY too hangry. The new collection is set to be released on December 3rd on HipDot.com, offering us a taste of something new with the entire line consisting of vegan ingredients that are friendly on the environment whilst also being friendly on the eye (pardon the pun). The five products consist of one vibrant 12 colour eyeshadow palette at £28 named ‘FTW’ – which Kesha claims is a name open for interpretation of it’s owner – a set of dual-ended liner pens for £21 called ‘Whatever Wherever Wands’ which can be used everywhere and anywhere on the body, a colour-changing gloss and red lipstick at £20, and two separately priced bundles of the entire line; one at £70 and another in a limited edition box including a Twitter:@KeshaCosmetics
personal note from the TiK ToK queen herself coming in at £93.
Are makeup lines strategically chosen as part of the image that comes with being famous?
But what exactly is the purpose of Kesha’s new collection? Is it to act as an advocate for those seeking to be more environmentally aware? Or is it just for the fun of it? Or what if it’s just a way to stay in the celeb world once they have fallen back into the shadows and out of the spotlight? Kesha isn’t the only celeb to jump on the makeup industry and she won’t be the last. It seems to be a popular trend amongst the women of the star world, with the likes of Kylie Jenner and her Kylie Cosmetics, Rihanna and Fenty Beauty or Rosie Huntington Whiteley’s Rosie For Autograph to name just a fraction of them. So are makeup lines just a thing to add to the list of activities a celeb has got involved in or are they strategically chosen as part of the image that comes with being famous? It’s a debatable question depending on the celeb who created it. Possibly the most important part of Kesha’s new makeup line is less about the image she may be making for herself and more for the movements this new range could cause. There are plenty of products, restaurants, clothing brands and all the rest of them creating vegan
friendly, eco-friendly, veggie friendly and everythingelse-in-between lines, but when it comes from a celeb it seems the wave of public interest in these solutions soars in comparison. We can look at Kora Organics, Miranda Kerr’s own makeup line launched in 2009 using natural certified ingredients which grew to be so popular it is now sold across 25 different countries having started out exclusive to Sephora in the US. Or how about stepping away from makeup and looking into the fashion industry, where actor Emma Watson – best known for her role as Hermione in Harry Potter – released her ‘Feel Good Style’ website in 2010 with advice on sustainable fashion and organic beauty products. She even helped the fair trade brand People Tree produce several collections of organic fair trade clothes and created the '30 wear rule’ – the idea of buying an item of clothing only if you know you will wear it at least 30 times before recycling it. With all of these stars wanting their name part of the makeup world, and with plenty of them offering ethical products, it might be hard to predict if Kesha’s line will be all that different from the rest. One thing is for sure though – Kesha’s line will be popular regardless of it’s ethics, as we just all love the chance to have a play with a bit of new makeup don’t we?
Morphe comes to the North Caitlin Sinclair tells us about the first North East store and its treats M orphe Cosmetics opens its fifth UK store in INTU Eldon Square. Hundreds of fans queued from the early hours of Friday 8th November, eagerly awaiting the 9am opening. The American based beauty company sells an assortment of products including lipsticks, eye shadow palettes and hundreds of brushes. This is their first North East store, other locations include Liverpool, Birmingham and the newly opened Manchester Arndale store.
This shop is a must have for any aspiring MUA or make-up lover in general
Not only does the store stock best-selling influencer collaborations such as the Jaclyn Hill and James Charles Palette’s, but also had the biggest make-up release of the year, the Shane Dawson x Jeffree Star Conspiracy collection which was sold out world wide at the time of the shop opening meaning this was the only opportunity for buyers to purchase the last remaining items. Following the chaos online as a
Instagram:@morphebrushes
result of the collaboration with both Shopify and Beauty Bay breaking down, many shoppers were ecstatic to get their hands on the Conspiracy Collection which is now completely sold out. Some fans were left disappointed having expected their favourite YouTuber’s to open the store after seeing popular influencers open them across America. This sadly wasn’t the case in Newcastle, however, there has been a he Electric Lady. recent announcement that The Queen. The makeup artist Mmmmitchel Dirty Computer. and Paige Louise CEO of Otherwise known as the Plouise will be opening the American singer-songwriter, Manchester Arndale store, so actor, producer - Janelle Monae. there still is hope for North East fans. She really can do it all. The impact Instagram:@jeffreestar Mark Spillman, Morphe General and influence Monaé has in the beauty is Manager EMEA, said: “We’re confident not often recognised as focus tends to turn to Morphe will thrive at intu Eldon Square, it’s the ideal her fierceless fashion looks that leave us all in awe. But location for our newest UK store and the first in the north as a Janelle Monae stan, I feel it necessary to sing her east of England”. praises and shed light on the impact she really does have The Morphe store allows shoppers to buy beauty on beauty looks. Janelle Monae oozes effortless and products that are usually online exclusives and natural beauty, which is reflected in her makeup looks, offers a huge assortment of products that mainly consisting of just a solid eyeliner and a pop of are not otherwise available on the highcolour of the eyelids and lips. The looks are never street. This includes Manchester too heavy and normally one is left questioning if based make-up company Plouise she’s wearing make-up at all. Her lips are normally Cosmetics, who are responsible framed and adorned in a luscious lathering of for the creation of the “world’s red lipstick or a shade of a similar hue, perfectly best eye base” according to complimenting her rich skin tone. To be beauty guru Nikki Tutorials. honest, I have always been skeptical Gavin Prior, Regional yet in admiration of black women Director intu Eldon Sq. and that can rock a intu Metrocentre, stated: red lipstick and “We’re truly fired up that when I see it on Morphe has picked out Monae, I am intu Eldon Square to always launch its superb beauty assortment to the area”. He went on to say “We know Morphe is passionate about offering unique and memorable customer experiences and we can’t wait to welcome them to the centre in November.” This shop is a must have for any aspiring MUA or any makeup lover in general. It is a wonderful addition to Eldon Square and I am personally very excited to grab myself some must-have products.
Instagram:@trendmood1
Beauty Icon of the Week
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Instagram:@thejanemonae
inspired to give it a go and see what works for me. So let's talk hair. Janelle Monae really knows how to rock a hair accessory! She rarely has the same hairstyle for more than a few months and has been seen wearing white paper clips, googly eyes and flowers studded throughout her puffs. Her ability to fashion and style hair accessories with textured hair is inspiring as it is not common to see these looks on black women. We also can not ignore Monae’s ability to serve a look with a hat. Hats are notoriously difficult to style and suit, but she does so with ease. From a wide brim fedora to a cute beret, to the blackpanther inspired headpieces. Monae shows the versatility of hair bling and that less really is more, it’s all in the details. Rashida CampbellAllen
Instagram:@janellemonae.daily
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life & style travel Travelling to Hong Kong: should you take the risk?
courier.travel@ncl.ac.uk Travel Editors: Amy Harris, Meggie Williams and Beth Robson
Amanda Goh discusses the risks involved in visiting Hong Kong during the ongoing protests, and shares helpful tips
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ong Kong has been in protest for more than 5 months, with their demonstrations being more violent and disruptive. While Hong Kong is still seen to be maintained and open for business, should we really be travelling there right now? If you have been living in a hole the past few months and have no clue what is happening in Hong Kong, here is a rundown: The protests had started in June against plans to allow extradition to mainland China. The protestors feared it could undermine judicial independence. The bill would have allowed for criminal suspects to be extradited. It was also argued that the bill would give China greater influence over Hong Kong. The Hong Kong protests had started as a peaceful protest and had slowly evolved into using violence. Over the months it has become more unpredictable and more dangerous. Lethal force has also been used multiple times. While Hong Kong is usually an incredible place to visit, the protests are making it increasingly difficult to visit. Post-protests getting around would be simple – with their cheap and efficient transport and their ferries that runs along the edge of Hong Kong Island. But now, with the authorities shutting down the train systems in early October, it would result in tourists finding it extremely difficult to get around. The scenes in Hong Kong have even prompted organisers to reconsider their events, however prestigious they were made out to be in the past. In October, the city’s annual fireworks display was cancelled, which had an impact as it had marked the 70th anniversary of Communist Party rule in China. Other events such as the Hong Kong Tennis Open and Matilda the Musical were also cancelled. Whilst there are still businesses that are open as usual, and you could probably visit the city without knowing that there is a protest at one side of it, it would still be ex-
tremely hard due to the closing of transit links. This also means that it is not entirely safe to get around. Further, since the protest, tourist arrivals in Hong Kong fell by 40% – the largest drop since the SARS outbreak in 2003. Although this is the case, Hong Kong Tourism Board PR representative Brea Burkholz stated that “visitor safety is the utmost importance for us… it’s a safe and welcoming city, and there has been no violence or crime committed against tourists”. So if this hasn’t swayed you into not travelling to Hong Kong at the moment, there is still a possibility to visit Hong Kong safely. For those who still want to visit, plane tickets and hotel rooms would definitely be cheaper and tourist activities would have shorter than usual wait times. However, potential tourists should check for any travel advisories before going to Hong Kong. Further, the US State Department has issued a “level 2” travel advisory for Hong Kong. This does not mean you have to cancel your trip, rather it is noting to avoid big crowds and places where protests are likely to take place and importantly avoid wearing black t-shirts and face masks to avoid being confused with protesters. Finally, should you actually visit? It depends on whether you see cheap flights and short queues as worth it regardless of the protests. You should also be on your toes in case of any sudden change of plans in case of protest reactions. On the Brand HK website, which is run and maintained by the city government, it stated that “[they] remain a safe, open and cosmopolitan society and an internationally connected, vibrant, and dynamic economy”.
Travel journal joys Meggie Williams shares her top tips for travel journalling
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oming back home from an incredible travel experience can be sometimes be underwhelming. You build up the moment so much in your head and, of course, for a few days, it is exciting however you quickly fall back into the same old routine and everything seems pretty much normal once more. Your trip feels like a distant dream and although there are certain bits you will always remember, like with all memories, some fade. It’s moments like these where you’ll never be happier you kept a travel journal; the power mine has to transport me back to places, people, emotions, tastes, smells and views is incredible. It is something I’ll always treasure. Here are a few pointers…
Start I actually spent the first month of my trip not touching my journal, the prospect was too taunting and I didn’t know where to begin. My advice? Begin. Don’t be too precious with it and instead jot down whatever comes to mind, even if it’s just a sentence, doodle or a couple of words. If you’re anything like me and sadly not gifted with the artistic gene, forget how it looks and trying to make it look pretty, mines’ a scribbly mess but I love it for that.
tickets, maps, notes, food wrappers, notes, beer stickers and any other aesthetic scraps you collect along the way, stick them in! They will bring your journal alive with colour and help illustrate so many thoughts. Photos are also great, so remember to leave space to stick them in once you’ve had them developed. Another idea of something beautiful to scrapbook are pressed flowers and plants.
Songs and books It’s amazing the power music power has to transport you back to certain memories so write down the songs, playlists, artists and albums you are listening too. Writing down books you read at the time is also interesting to looks back on.
Draw Even if you can’t... It makes a great break from writing and will add a whole new element to your journal whether it’s a cartoon of a funny story, time-killing doodles, portraits or views.
Guest entries
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Some of my most favourite journal entries aren’t actually by me; they are place recommenr k dations by other peoFlic m o r ple, goodbye notes and eil f z r e d doodles from a bored travel Van eva Gen companion. : s t di
Be honest
I know this sounds simple but it’s important not to get sucked into the trap of only writing down the good bits, no trip is flawless. Not only is it therapeutic but it also makes your journal more authentic and powerful when reading it back. Who knows? It may even teach you something or maybe you’ll eventually be able to see the funny side (like the time I got head-butted by a buffalo). Travelling often leaves you inspired so write down every idea, reflection, revelation and plan for the future. These can be important and insightful to remember long after you’ve returned.
Scrapbook Image: Joseph Chan from unsplash
Monday 25 November 2019
A bucket list It wouldn’t be a travel journal without a bucket list would it? Bucket lists are a great way of inspiring you on your travels, whether it's far-away destinations you want to travel to, or exciting activities you'd love to have a go at. If you need a reminder to keep on saving your hard-earned pennies then a bucket list is your best friend! Nothing quite inspires like flipping through a list of gorgeous destinations and snap-shots to keep your savings going strong. Here are just a few ideas to hopefully inspire your next travel journal; the list is by no means exhaustive… like with anything creative there are no rules so go wild. I promise you won’t regret it.
Instead of throwing away receipts, playing cards,
Believe it or not, Soho isn't all that the Toon has to offer
Are you teetotal? Or just sick of boozing your student loan away? Our writers give you a tour of the city's alterna-
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s deadlines loom and most of your waking hours seem to be spent gazing at a laptop screen, possibly on the verge of a mental breakdown, the need for a fun evening out is crucual. Although this is where many of you call upon the beloved night out, here are four recommendations to spice up your routine, leave you feeling fresh as a daisy and don't involve falling down the Soho stairs or drunkenly crying into a kebab at 4am!
Ghetto Golf by Molly Greeves
I was lucky enough to get to go to Ghetto Golf for free when it opened (do I have connections? No, I was a dogsbody at a local magazine. Neither here nor there.) Located at Hoult’s Yard, it’s a little way out for most of us students but it’s so worth the walk. The course is so inventive, with holes inspired by the Red Light District, the Jeremy Kyle Show, Super Mario Bros and a public toilet. Even if you’re not the kind of person who’ll Instagram the whole course, or send stupid videos to confuse your friends like I did, you’ve gotta admire the creativity that’s gone into it. If you really can’t stay off the sauce, there’s a bar with loads of different cocktails and an area to chill while you wait for your turn. The food is decent too: Apocalypse Cow has surprisingly good veggie options which kept me happy.
Salsa Dancing by Jade Aruzhan Sagynay
As someone who is obsessed with extra-curricular classes and has an insane amount of hobbies, I often tend to forget to take a break. However, if you are struggling to find an activity for your pastime, I believe I have just the cure for you! It is exercise as much as it is entertainment; it requires passion but also determination; and most importantly it is both fun and attractive. Caught your eye yet? Then come dance with me at Salsa, Bachata and Kizomba classes! And do not worry if you’ve never danced in your life before, because it is easy to pick up, especially when Newcastle is full of skilled and patient teachers. What I love about these dancing styles is that you can dance practically on any night of the week! There are plenty of classes to attend, as well as opportunities to practice what you’ve learnt on socials. If you want to get a quick start on this, be sure to check out our University’s Salsa Society whose classes are held in Castle Leazes. They are also cheaper if you get the society’s membership. Newcastle University Salsa Society provides classes on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. And if this proves not to be enough for you, there are also classes in town and at Northumbria University to have a look at. Don’t worry, the Latin dancing scene in Newcastle is absolute best with all sorts of levels included. And everyone is friendly: it is a drama free zone! I promise you, you won’t regret giving it a shot. And if you just happen to fall in love with dancing, you will never have a boring night again.
Film Nights by Katherine Rawlings
An obvious option? Perhaps. But, although Cineworld can be a great shout to keep up with the blockbuster films, there’s so much more available. With the new opening of Everyman cinema, you can now see all your favourites but while snuggled up under a blanket, on a sofa, with ice cream brought directly to you. Is there a better way to watch a film? Tyneside Cinema also offers a fantastic range of indie and foreign films, for any film-buffs or language students out there (side note: check the Facebook page to find upcoming events, from ‘All-Nighters’ to ‘Brunch Screenings’.) Next up: the lesser-known Star and Shadow Cinema, in Sandyford, run by passionate volunteers. Here you can find everything from bizarre, but amazing, films you have never seen before, to important documentaries on current affairs. Worried about money? Check out Quilliams Teahouse and Ernest café (with a calendar full of events, including craft nights and open mics) for free film screenings.
The Cluny. If indie music is your thing, you should also check out the Indie Society to find new events! Alternatively, Cobalt Studios presents a range of music, with a recurring Thursday night dedicated to chill gigs from upcoming musicians. Even better? Homecooked meals are served up during the gig.
Gigs by Katherine Rawlings
Love concerts but a bit broke? Don’t worry – we have the solution! With so many venues holding cosy gig nights around Newcastle, either completely free or for just a few pounds, you can enjoy some great artists without draining the student loan. Admittedly, most of them are in bars, but you can definitely enjoy this music alcohol-free! Some of my top suggestions are Head of Steam, The Globe, and
Image: Dancewear And Shoes Dance Studios In Dubai
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travel life & style
Monday 25 Novermber 2019
The ‘Greta Thunberg effect’ on travelling Aimée Rees discusses the effect of the world-changing 16-year-old Greta Thunberg's activism on how we approach travelling
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reta Thunberg has lately become a 21st-Century icon in her own right; speaking at the UN assembly; hosting a tour across the USA and leading the school strikes across the globe. She has become one of the most influential people on the planet, urging on lawmakers and global powers towards a swift environmental policy shift in an unbending effort to save the planet.
The effect on travel has been most prominent in Sweden
Despite her relatively uncontroversial message being to ‘listen to the scientists’ and to ‘stop climate change’, she has garnered criticism and mockery regarding her age, her Aspergers diagnosis and her gender. She has been subject to vile and often sexist attacks from Trump, Jeremy Clarkson and Putin. Her response has always been outstandingly resilient and irrepressible, refusing to acknowledge such attacks from grown adults with anything but a witty, sarcastic response or a deadpan stare. Despite this pushback from climate deniers, mainstream European politicians and popular television personalities, recent research has shown that the ‘Greta Thunberg Effect’ has recently began to influence travelling trends around the World. Thunberg’s consideration for her travelling techniques has seemingly had widespread implications not only in general climate awareness and activ-
ism (particularly from the young generations), but also u p o n t h e travel industry. While Thunberg has been seen taking trains and boats instead of flying, her refusal to fly to international conferences has been widely publicized. She recently embarked to America aboard a CO2 neutral boat before hitchhiking a lift back across the Atlantic with a YouTuber family. Specifically, the concept of ‘boat hitchhiking’ to cross oceans instead of flying has gained momentum. Boat hitchhiking groups such as the ‘Sailboat Hitchhikers
Image: Markus Spiske from Unsplash
and Crew Connection’ Facebook page has had a massive 21,000-member increase since Thunberg’s debut sail. Ross Porter, founder of VoyageVert, an ‘ethical travel company’ (Source: The Guardian) has begun to explore the possibility of offering a green ferry service across the Atlantic and eventually around the World for a carbon-neutral travel future. The effect on travel has been most prominent in Sweden, Thunberg’s home nation. Swedish Railways reported an 8% increase in domestic railway routes taken, most likely the result of their newly coined ‘flygskam’: a shame of flying. This ‘flygskam’ has taken the form of the hashtag #istayontheground as travelers seek alternatives in long-distance travels, hopefully opening up a gap in the market for zero-carbon travel to flourish. This change in consumer patterns is far more widespread than just Scandanavia. The ‘flygskam’ sentiment has also been emulated in France, the term ‘avihonte’ taking flight within the country. According to Newshub, one in five people say they’ll fly less for the sake of the environment in a survey of 6000 travelers. More impressively, Swiss Bank
UBS has recently published a report which claims to forecast an expected halving in the growth of flight passenger numbers if the downward trends continue. While the West seems to be seeing a growing consideration for carbon emissions caused by aviation (Germany recently announced tax cuts for train journeys), this trend is not transferrable to developing nations, with forecasts of up to double the current air traffic to be seen in Asia and Africa by 2036 (Source: Newshub). While Thunberg’s message has resonated throughout the USA and Europe, it seems its reach will have to permeate further outside of the West to see more staggering changes. With University students often forced to fly home as VAT-free flights become often cheaper than trains (even with a railcard), more pressure on the government to regulate soaring rail prices may have benefits beyond our bank accounts. Image: Markus Spiske from Unsplash
Travelling: can it have a positive impact on our mental health?
Food's Cayla Viner lets us know why travelling and seeing the world can have a positive effect on your emotional wellbeing
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he idea of travelling somewhere different is always a delightful prospect; you get to some time away from home, work and the chance to take some great holiday snaps. With all this excitement of a new destination, it is no wonder that travelling has a positive impact on our mental health. “How?” you may ask. Well, I’ll give you the top reasons travelling is so beneficial for our well-being. Anticipation Before you have even set foot on new ground, the fact that you know you are going away gives you pre-trip happiness. “The practical lesson for an individual is that you
Image: Simon Migaj from unsplash
derive most of your happiness from anticipating the holiday trip” Jeroen Nawijn told The New York Times. If you are like me and have booked a trip weeks or months in advance, you too will get that huge sense of excitement from the moment the booking confirmation is received. Those months of excitement motivates me through the slog of work and uni life, because I know that each day leads me all the more closer to that amazing new destination I will be escaping to. If you cannot bear to wait weeks and months for an extravagant getaway, why not book a few weekend trips throughout the year – you will have some great stories to tell on Monday morning too! Stress relief
Workloads, deadlines, daily routines. Repetitive, repetitive, repetitive. Do you feel like you are in a bit of a rut? It c an be so easy to get bogged down by the mundane necessities of life that we can almost get stuck in a little bubble. Travelling reminds us that our daily life stresses do not have to define us and there is in fact a whole world to immerse ourselves i n when we
allow a bit of a break once in a while. In Britain employers are usually given 25 days annual holiday. Use them to travel, as 2013 Stress in America Survey by the American psychological association stated that vacations can help manage stress and negative emotions by removing us from environments and activities that are the sources of our stress. And we should count ourselves lucky that we are not part of that American survey as they are only given 2 weeks of annual leave. Broadens our perspective of the world Diverse cultures, variety of languages, change of climate and beautiful views are just a few of the many reasons travelling can help expand the mind. As our brains loves to absorb new information, travelling can only help to feed our brain and ultimately make ourselves feel more worldly and curious. I warn you, once you start to embrace travelling, you may become addicted to the elation it gives your mind and soul. Allows us to re-evaluate While travelling is a hugely thrilling prospect as you imagine the wonders of a brand-new city or country to discover, it is also an activity that takes you right out of your comfort zone. Walking around an unfamiliar city with every possibility of getting completely lost is certainly a challenge for any traveller. Obviously, you cannot just stop and give up, you are forced into a situation where you
have to use your initiative and common sense. I love wandering around where I have never been or haven’t even planned because I come across all walks of life and see things that I just wouldn’t experience in the cycle of my daily routine at home. It can be the most rewarding sense of achievement when I come away from a trip and after the challenges of being independent in the unknown, the familiar mishaps back home don’t seem quite so daunting. T.S Eliot said “We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.”
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food life & style Horticulture: a new brunch spot to try this weekend
Monday 25 November 2019
Food Editors: Cayla Viner & Amanda Goh
Travel Editor Meggie Williams and Food Editor Amanda Goh try out Pilgrim Street's newest brunch spot
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runch, anyone? Hidden in an alley along Pilgrim Street, a quaint new cafe-restaurant-bar emerges. You saw right, Horticulture is indeed a cafe in the day and a restaurantbar at night. While it is well hidden, Horticulture is made up of 3 floors filled with plants and fairy lights. On the first floor is the café which doubles up as a bar in the evening with a vibey balcony. We are told the bar in the evening has become extremely popular, and boasting an extensive cocktail menu, the best craft beers and incredibly 50 different types of percolators, we are not surprised. The second floor is a restaurant that follows directly on from breakfast at three and serves beautifully creative and well thought out small dishes that really show off the best of British produce. The open kitchen for me is the real selling point of the place.
W h o wouldn’t want to watch everything being cooked right before their eyes and being passionately explained everything by the chefs? The third floor is a couthy attic bar which can be booked for events… for those thinking about Christmas parties, hint,hint,nudge,nudge(Ipromiseyou,itwouldbeperfect). Not only was the atmosphere pleasing to the eye, we were also given an array of different dishes to choose
from for brunch. From slow-cooked eggs to shakshuka, there were so many to choose from. Furthermore, the prices on their food were very reasonable. There were also many vegan and vegetarian options to go for! With their cafe at the lowest floor, their upper floors are for dinner and functions. Similarly, the
evening menu has dishes from shawarma to short ribs. Their restaurant (located on the second floor) even has an open kitchen where you would be able to talk to the chefs as well as watch them whip up your dinner! On their website, they stated that in Horticulture, “[their company’s] ethos and values “lie within fresh, organic , locally sourced produce throughout. we strive to create unique, tasty, forward thinking dishes and cocktails but with the focus on cultivating as much as possible from the source,” “We are environmentally conscious, constantly trying to reduce our waste, reduce our carbon footprint, and also with as much renewable or biodegradable packaging as possible. Our aim is to do all of the above whilst creating a vibrant, bohemian atmosphere.” Now onto the most important bit, the food! Horticulture’s menu aims to be environmentally conscience, or-
Lunch feast: cheap Toon treats News Editor Em Richardson shares her cheap eats in NCL
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et’s be honest, when you’re faced with a week of essays, exams and 9AM lectures, it’s easy to fall into the habit of buying a quick lunch in town, rather than packing something at home. The trouble is, this isn’t always student budget friendly. So, here’s a run-down of some of the best options for lunch in the Toon, all of which cost £5 or less: Left-overs This is arguably a cheaper and easier alternative to a packed lunch. Instead of spending money buying sandwich ingredients, and spending time putting together a lunch each morning, just make a little bit extra each time you cook. Dishes like curries, pastas and salads still taste great the next day, even when eaten cold, and are easy to make in large batches. If you d o n’ t enjoy
Image: @charlesdeluvio on Unsplash
cooking, you can simply stop binning leftovers from take-awayswho doesn’t love cold pizza? As an added bonus, producing less food-waste is good for the environment, as is the fact this lunch can simply be packed in Tupperware,
meaning it’s totally free of harmful plastic packaging. Nudo Sushi Box If you want a lunch that’s a little more exciting than sandwiches and a packet of crisps, but doesn’t break the bank, then pop into Nudo. There are several stores in Newcastle, all with several great options for a cheap, easy lunch. My personal favourites are the Spicy Konjac Salad (suitable for vegans!), and the ‘Mid Box’ sushi selection. Nudo is definitely proof that good sushi doesn’t have to be expensive. Co-Op The Co-Op on campus sells an impressive array of products, and much more than just the usual meal deal staples. Check out their hot counter, or their impressive selection of sushi, for a cheap, but tasty, lunch. Best of all is the fact you won’t even have to leave campus. Eat 4 Less I’ve always felt that people scoff at Eat 4 Less, quite unfairly. Sure, they sell a lot of greasy, fast food, and their name doesn’t exactly conjure up images of fine dining, but some of their options are genuinely tasty. They do a great selection of sandwiches and paninis, and their jacket potatoes come with some delicious fillings. Grainger Market It’s a little bit of a walk from campus, but I promise the trip to Grainger Market is well worth it. The colourful, vibrant stalls offer all kinds of cuisine, from Greek, to traditional English ‘pub grub’, to authentic Chinese dumplings. This amazing array of food costs next to nothing and, best of all, buying it supports various local businesses. So, next time you find yourself at a loose end between lectures, why not take a walk across town, and see what the market has to offer? Shijo While just a tiny bit pricier, you could get amazing rice and noodle bowls in this quaint cafe. With two branches found near University, one in the student union and one at Haymarket, get some warm Japanese rice, perfect for the cold weather. Their huge array of options won't leave you hungry for choice. Bon appetit- here’s to good food that doesn’t have to break the bank. Go forth and eat to your heart's content!
ganic and locally sourced which makes for delicious, fresh food.
Our brunch of shloumi and shakshuka arrived looking beautiful and tasted even better. The chefs passion for food shone through all of the small touches; for me, it was the piped, creamy avocado, the pine nuts, the perfectly crispy chorizo and halloumi, which took the brunch from being ‘just another brunch’ to probably one of the best brunches I’ve ever had. The shakshuka is a one-skillet dish made of eggs poached in a flavourful tomato sauce. This dish is traditionally made in a cast iron pan and served straight with a side of bread. The shakshuka was filled with so much flavour and so delicious ingredients. While it could have done with more bread on the side (just because I love bread), even having the dish by itself was rich, intense and delicious.
Since it first launched six weeks ago, Horticulture has been the talk of the town, so we went along for brunch on a drizzly Friday to see what all the buzz was about. It didn’t disappoint. Stepping in through the small door, we were instantly blown away by the aesthetics; from the exposed bricks and beams, fairy lights, hanging chairs and copious pot plants, Horticulture is rustic yet oh so chic; it makes for a wonderful, bohemian vibe. It is definitely somewhere worth trying out!
Images: Amanda Goh
New vegan offerings on the high street Mars' vegan Galaxy bar
Morrisons' vegan pork pie
Back when I followed a plant-based diet a few years First Gregg’s vegan sausage roll, then the vegan chickago, there weren’t that many vegan treats out there on en McNuggets, and now Morrison’s is releasing its the general market, and to find them, you generally own vegan pork pies on December 9th. had to hunt around quite a bit. After Gregg’s success with the vegan sausage roll, and However, there has recently been a substantial surge in even their CEO going vegan, it’s safe to say that there has big companies releasing vegan versions of our favourite been quite a dramatic rise in the amount of foods that foods, such as Ben & Jerry’s dairy free ice cream, Gregg’s now have vegan substitutes. From pastries to milks and vegan sausage rolls and now, excitingly, Mars has an- cheeses, there’s a vegan version of almost every type of nounced that they will soon be launching a vegan Galaxy food one can think of. The latest one that has gotten peochocolate bar. ple’s attention is Morrison’s vegan pork pie, which is to be This new variant is certified by the Vegan Society, and released in stores on December 9th, 2019. will be available in three delicious flavours: caramel and The “No Pork Pie” will be sold for the price of £1.75 for sea salt, caramelised hazelnut and smooth orange. How- one or £3 for two pies. Although reviewed as a tad dry ever, these 100g chocolate bars will cost £3, which is by the Huffington Post, people are overall happy with the about double the cost of a typical bar of Galaxy chocolate filling resembling a meaty texture, which is at the same and has sparked a fair bit of criticism. time light and filling. Whilst the pricier cost is understandably a little frusCompletely free of any dairy and animal products, it trating for vegans and those with dairy intolerances, it is is made from soya and pea protein, however its recipe is great that more big brands are listening to what consum- kept a secret and is only known by six Morrison’s staff. er’s want and now bringing out more plant based alternaLaunching on December 9th, it will arrive in stores just tives, both for ethical and environmental reasons. It is a in time for families’ Christmas tables. It seems as though well known fact that the meat industry has a hugely nega- it is expected to be a successful product, given the success tive impact on our planet, and it is becoming better un- of other companies’ vegan food options. derstood that the dairy industry is also highly damaging. Anticipated by both vegans and non-vegans, the pastry By having a greater selection of vegan foods and treats has quite high expectations to live up to, and especially out there, cutting back on meat and dairy consumption, being released before such a big holiday. However, this is or eliminating it from our diets completely, becomes a also a good marketing technique on their side, because much more manageable and realistic goal. the pie’s association with the Christmas season will creChocolate, in my opinion anyway, is one of the hardate a rise in sales every winter. est things to give up when swapping Hopefully, the taste will to a vegan diet. A lot of vegan live up to the expectachocolate, unfortunately, is tions that Morrison’s pretty bland and disaphave built with their pointing, but hopefully advertising – a warm with big brands such as homemade-like pastry, Mars stepping in, the comforting people in vegan chocolate market the cold winter days. will up its game. Image: flickr Rachel Makinson Sara Nigohosyan
the courier
22
culture music
Monday 25 November 2019
c2.music@ncl.ac.uk Music Editors Dom Lee, Jagoda Waszkowiak & Joe Smith
‘Smells Like Team Spirit’: the best collaborations from
Our writers discuss their favourite collaborations across the music scene from main stage Glastonbury performances
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Queen and David Bowie
hen I hear the words music artist collaboration, the track that immediately jumps to mind is ‘Under Pressure’.
Yultron and Kellin Quinn
This very successful tune comes from two of the 80s biggest icons, Queen and David Bowie, spawned from a chance jamming session between the 5 men after Bowie was supposed to record backing vocals for the group. All 5 are credited songwriters, but it would seem Freddie Mercury took over the musical songwriting while Bowie handled lyrics – a killer combination. Although it was actually never performed live with both artists together, and tragically never will be, it was performed live at iconic shows such as Queen’s 1986 Wembley Stadium show. This 1981 hit single became Bowies 3rd UK number one hit and Queen’s second, after Bohemian Rhapsody,before featuring on their album Hot Space the next year.
It was never performed live with both artists together, and tragically never will be Along with it’s huge success at the time, ‘Under Pressure’ remains a massively influential tune to this day, being one of Queen’s biggest which is saying a lot, and you’d struggle to find someone who doesn’t at least recognise the chorus lines. There are some good collaborations between artists in recent years but it has yet to be seen whether these will stand the test of time, or just provide short lived success. There are also tracks worked on by multiple other iconic artists, such as ‘Say Say Say’ by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson no less, but none have reached the heights of ‘Under Pressure’, nevermind hold them for over 3 decades. Finlay Holden
Image: Instagram (@davidbowie)
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elatively new to the electronic scene, but a long time music producer, Yultron collaborated with Sleeping With Sirens frontman Kellin Quinn to produce a meaningful song - called ‘The Bottom’ about the impact drug and alcohol addictions can have on people. In this collaboration, Kellin Quinn trades his previously alternative rock sound for a more electronic one. However, the song remains as impactful as any of his other ones. This powerful song explores the idea of drug glorification They want to express the idea that drug and alcohol addictions aren’t beautiful or deep or meant to be romanticised, they have the ability to shatter and end people’s lives and the lives of those around them. Despite the rather depressing message of the song, if you listen to the lyrics, there is no blame in them. It is truly a song of understanding, with lines such as “Believe in yourself cause you can change your life”, “Never find the answer at the bottom of a bottle” and “Tell me what you’re running from”. In an Instagram post about the song, Kellin Quinn says, “Too many young people dying.. Music and drugs don’t have to mix.. @yultron and I wanted to write a song about it.. Because we both lost friends close to us.. Not trying to tell anyone how to live their life.. Just expressing our feelings when it comes to the issue… #thebottom.” This eyeopening collaboration is sure to bring tears to your eyes and understanding into your heart. You won’t want to miss it. Grace Lazzaro
Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue
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oining forces for the lead single of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds’ ninth album, Kylie Minogue and Nick Cave pulled off one of the most unlikely musical collaborations of all time. Cave wrote the song ‘Where the Wild Roses Grow’ with pop rising pop starlet Kylie in mind. He felt she was the perfect person to deliver the emotion required of the song, which was written for the 1996 album ‘Murder Ballads’, telling the notorious tale of a beautiful young woman named Eliza Day who was brutally murdered by a man whom she was dating. Cave, narrating from the perspective of the killer, seduces the young, innocent beauty, luring her to a river bank – where the wild roses grow – exclaiming, “all beauty must die”. Upon being approached with a song of such intensity surrounding a particularly morbid subject matter, one might have expected Kylie to run a mile, but she was taken with the enigmatic Cave and so began one of music’s most unexpected yet enduring friendships. Minogue’s sweet vulnerability and Cave’s almost brooding intensity contrast with each other perfectly on this track. She perfectly captured the tragic beauty of the ill-fated protagonist and proved herself more than just another one-dimensional pop star. The chilling ballad prove the perfect formula, providing the Bad Seeds with one of their biggest commercial successes.The Aussie duo reunited after 15 years since its release to perform the duet for an unsuspecting crowd during the filming of Cave’s film 20,000 Days on Earth. The crowd’s enthusiasm proves that the haunting ballad was the perfect recipe for an instant classic which has since endured the test of time. Elizabeth Lamb Image: Instagram
“Larkin’ Around”: we chat to Manchester’s hotte
Music Editor Dominic Lee and NSR’s Emma Linton chat to Larkins’ Josh Noble and Henry Beach ahead of their show
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couple of weeks ago myself and NSR’s Head of Entertainment Emma Linton got the chance to sit down with Larkins, who are a Manchester band making a lot of noise all over the country on their latest tour. We got the chance to discuss their latest releases, tour life and their brand new clothing line. Dominic Lee: You released your latest single ‘Not Enough Love’ back in September. What was the inspiration behind it? Josh Noble: I think we grew up in a very small town that we were really itching to get out of. When we finally moved to into the city, into Manchester it was kind of like breaking off the chains and it felt good to be around new people with new stories. So it was just about that really and then us kind of moving to Manchester then going home for the weekend it always felt a bit like it would be nice at first but we were itching to get back. So yeah it’s about getting out of our small town bubble and going on tour I guess DL: How does it feel to be signed to a local label too: Scruff of the Neck? JN: Well, Scruff just manage us so we’re signed to Good Soldier Records. But yeah working with Scruff on a management level is really good. They live just round the corner from us. Henry Beach: It’s great as well because they’re really rooted in the whole Manchester music scene. Which is great for us to be such a big part of it so its really great working with them. Especially at the moment. Emma Linton: We’ve seen that you’re in the studio on your Instagram a lot at the start of the month when you’d just come back from Amsterdam. Can we expect things coming soon? JN: I think we’ll get an EP out before Christmas. That’s the plan anyway a small EP, its something we’ve not re-
ally done before and although we’re working on the debut album we’re not quite there with it yet. We’re very aware that we’ve gotta get it right, there’s only one shot at this but we’ve got music that we really want to get out. EL: So talking about your debut album. How do you feel about it?
We’re very aware that we’ve gotta get it right, there’s only one shot at this
JN: I don’t know. Its weird because you get stretches when you’re in the studio and you’re so in the album zone that you feel great about it. Then you come away from it for a bit and you over-analyse. HB: I think as well it’s like you said before, there’s a lot of bands we know that have released debut albums and we’ve listened to them. You can’t help but think “we don’t want to do that” or “we don’t want to do this” and you get so into it working on your own. Its like you said you only get one shot at a first album. JN: The thing is as well I’ve not quite finished writing it yet and we’ve just released Animals in Costume which is this new clothing brand that we’re really proud of. So we’ve started doing that and I feel like we’ve got this vibe at the moment that’s really young and fruitful but also got a slight political message. EL: So you mentioned Animals in Costume. Why do you think it was so important for you to break the mould with your merch? JN: I remember Henry introduced me to what Tyler was
doing and that was cool but we’re really into fashion and really into designing. There’s some little label called Stella who I sat down with and did the designs it was cool to just get behind something. The thing is when you go to a gig and you go to a merch stand and it can feel really crap. The band don’t care about it as long as you spend as you spend £15 and its got a logo on that you don’t really like. So it was time for a change. HB: I think from the beginning we were just sick of band merch looking like band merch because all of us individually are into fashion so much and the last thing that we want is to be putting stuff out that you’re only gonna wear to the gig. DL: You’ve been on tour for a little while now. What are the best and worst bits of being on tour? JN: You get really good at playing. By a week in you’ve played every night and everything comes really naturally to you. So you’re definitely the best you’ve been when you’re on tour. I’d say the worst bit is trying to get through the tour. Whether that’s looking after your voice or looking after your mental health. I think you really have to manage it.
Image: Instagram (@larkinsband)
the courier
23
Monday 25 November 2019
@culture_courier thecourieronline.co.uk/music
stage to studio
music culture LIVE REVIEWS
to 80s icons Queen and Bowie
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Linkin Park and Jay-Z
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ombining the worlds of rock and rap has been one of the biggest challenges in music since the advent of hip-hop. Considering that these are two of the biggest genres in all of music there has been a real lack of artists who’ve combined these disciplines and had success. Linkin Park were one of these rare success stories. Hybrid Theory - the band’s debut album - revolutionized both hip-hop and rock with its numetal sound combining the best elements of both genres. To describe my feelings towards this ground-breaking album would require its own article so we’ll focus on the matter at hand which is collaborations. 2004 saw Linkin Park collaborate with hip-hop’s biggest star at the time, Jay-Z. The collaboration was born from an MTV ultimate “mash-up” spawning Collision Course - a six track EP Image: Instagram which mixed huge hits (@kylieminogue) from both artists. Collision Course was expertly produced and perfectly mixes songs which are completely different to each other- to the point where they sound stunning on the same track. ‘Numb/Encore’ is arguably the best track on the EP with Jay-Z’s bars echoing over the famous Joe Hahn introduction. ‘Izzo/In the End’ is another astounding track from the EP and will undoubtedly be one that listeners gravitate to due to it being one of Linkin Park’s bigger hits. The closing track combines Jay-Z’s ‘99 Problems with Points of Authority’ and ‘One Step Closer’. This track
Each song was played with poise and perfection
Frontman George brandished a tambourine from the shows beginning as they kicked off the night with the fan favourite ‘English Weather’. A mass of bobbing heads took the place of the audience as the tone for the night was set. The band bounced around the stage and off each other making it a night of both music and entertainment. Each member of the band moved in their own way with some highlights being one of the guitarists slow thrusts throughout each and every song. Each member of FEET put on their own show in one of the greatest ways possible. Each song was played with poise, perfection and a pristine energy, with the song ‘Dog Walking’ being perhaps the best example of this. George shrugged his shoulders with such emphasis when singing “Whose dog is this?” I thought he might dislocate them. Finishing with a frantic barrage of ‘Ad Blue’, ‘Petty Thieving’ and ‘Outer Rim’ FEET ended the show on an incredible high. The audience was fulfilled and from the looks of things, so was the band. Make sure to catch them next time they tour. Joe Smith
Image: Wikimedia Commons (Stefan Brending)
Low Roar
Alfie Templeman
ross.
Don’t Go Wasting Time
Dominic Lee
est new band T
w at Think Tank Underground
he latest album from this Icelandic-American band is slightly disappointing, but not because it’s a necessarily bad album. Low Roar’s ross. makes me wish that they experimented more with the few interesting parts of the album that are there. Let’s start with what this album did well in my eyes. Or ears? If I had to describe the album in a single genre, I would have to say it was ambient-folk, in line with much of Low Roar’s discography. As a fan of a good mellow song or three, this is right up my street, as I have previously enjoyed tracks such as ‘I’ll Keep Coming’, which I felt had some real movement. This album is definitely cut from the same cloth.
Many of the tracks feature a warm synthy instrumentation Many of the tracks feature some very warm synthy instrumentation, combined with plenty of diminished vocal harmonies. Some of the highlights here are ‘I’ll Make You Feel’, ‘222’, and ‘Empty House’. These all stuck with me, as they demonstrated a departure from the more generic ambience of the album, but these instances are few are far between. This leads me to what ross. doesn’t handle well. Many of the songs sound very similar. This is fine in moderation, it gives albums coherence and a defined theme. However, in the case of ross., Low Roar have stuck too close to their comfort zone. Any time there’s a jazzy trumpet, or a rousing chorus, I was immediately interested, but these would leave as quickly as they came, ultimately leaving me wanting more While not a perfect album, some tracks are definitely going in my chill-out playlist, and I’d suggest you all do the same. Image: Emma Linton
FEET
he finest band to ever come out of Coventry and its surrounding areas is FEET. They took Think Tank by storm last Wednesday. Delivering their self-described style of ‘Crease pop’ they captivated the small, but dedicated audience. Touring their recent debut album What’s Inside is More Than Just Ham FEET played their 16th leg of the 19-show tour at Newcastle’s Think Tank. The intimate venue provided a great setting for the bands controlled chaos. The upbeat combination of incredibly unique vocals and an instrumental mix of funk and punk hit every target it was aiming for.
Alex Darbyshire
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oung indie-starlet Alfie Templeman just dropped his biggest release to date with miniLP Don’t Go Wasting Time, containing 7 alternative indie-pop tracks including recent singles ‘Used To Love’ and the title track ‘Don’t Go Wasting Time’. The whole record is a pleasure to listen to, finding success in combining guitar riffs and homemade sounds with insane production and smooth vocals. It starts with ‘Who I Am’ and it’s accompanying video which reflects it’s bright soundscape, despite lyrics of moving on and forgetting friends being somewhat sad upon reflection. Second up is my highlight of Alfie’s career nevermind this release, ‘Used To Love’. This track has incredible production and is undeniably catchy, with words reflecting on a past relationship and how Alfie yearns to feel those emotions again. If you can play this song just once and move on without it continuing inside your head for days then you’ve fared better than me. ’First Time’ and ‘Circles’ are both new high-energy album tracks, integrating vague lyrics into a psychedelic pop soundscape. ‘Movies’ later joins these with a similar trend, and these three tracks are the heart of the record.Before that comes the title track, bringing with it a more chilled vibe, with lyrics somehow bathing in sorrow and radiating joy at the same time, the theme being “chasing things that weren’t meant to last”. ‘Lean on My Shoulder’ closes off the record with another smooth romance-fuelled vocal performance over a funky beat and effect filled soundscape. I strongly believe this is Alfie’s strongest piece of work to date; I can see people saying the tracks all sound too similar, and while they certainly exist in a similar vein, you can hear the evolution of sound across his already solid discography. If listening through this 16 year old’s expertly crafted third big release doesn’t show you his potential get you excited for Alfie Templeman’s career to explode any second, I’m not sure what will. Finlay Holden
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Little Comets
ast Friday Little Comets had a concert at The Boiler House with Heir as supporting act. The Boiler House was an interesting venue for the concert. The bar had placed some tables at the back of the dance floor, where people could have a pint while listening to the band. And it did not matter where in the venue you would go, the sound was still great; and if you were tall enough, you could get to see the band perfectly. As soon as Little Comets got onto the stage, the crowd went crazy. The audience was incredibly diverse. The attendees ranged from teens to middle-aged mothers and fathers who were giving it their all on the dance floor, screaming out every lyric. Especially near the end, during ‘Dancing Song’ every member of the audience was jumping up and down. The band itself is formed just by Michael (lead guitar) and Robert Coles (lead vocals), and Matt Hall (bassist); but for their tour, they count on Matt Saxon (keyboards, samples) and Nathan Greene (drums). What I found most impressive was how the band members could play more than one instrument at the same time. At one point, Michael interchanged his guitar for Matt Hall’s bass. Without a doubt, the best part of all was the different range of styles within their songs; from rap to rockyhigh-pitched guitar riffs or even reggae rhythms. Their music also fits perfectly with the lyrics and the message of their songs. The sense of small local gig was still there, despite the size of the venue. Especially after Little Comets announced they were going to re-record their first album. The concert was an overall beautiful experience. On top of it all, Little Comets organised a collection for the Tyneside-based Hospitality and Hope Foodbank. Alex Gervas
Image: Alex Gervas
/The CourierMusic @culture_courier
24
culture TV
the courier
Monday 25 November 2019
c2.tv@ncl.ac.uk TV Editors Amy Brown, Sophie Hicks & Will Nsieyanji
Is Drag Race dragging itself backwards?
Laramie Hevland talks exclusion in the iconic show and whether Drag Race is falling behind
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hen RuPaul’s Drag Race premiered in 2009, the US still was more than 5 years away from legalizing same sex marriage, and discussions about queer culture and identity in popular media were few and far between. Now, here was a show which was not only hosted by a gay black man, but actively lifted up and celebrated other gay performers, and treated drag as an activity and artform which was worthy of respect. It’s no surprise then that early seasons of the show, while often campy and severely lacking in production value, felt groundbreaking. However, recent seasons have caused many to wonder whether the show has lost its edge, and if it accurately represents drag and the broader LGBTQ+ community.
Several queens have come out as trans during their seasons The way Drag Race presents issues of gender identity, particularly regarding the inclusion of trans women and nonbinary drag performers, has often been criticized for being simplistic and insensitive. While the stereotypical image of a drag queen may still be a cis man in a dress and a wig, drag is a broad and encompassing art that includes performers who don’t identify with conventional binary genders. With that in mind, it’s disappointing to note that in 11 seasons of Drag Race, not one openly trans contestant has been chosen. Several queens have come out as trans during the course of their respective seasons or after appearing, including Peppermint from season 9 and Sonique from season 2. Other queens including Adore Delano, Aja and Sasha Velour identify as non binary. But many have since admitted that they hid their identity during the audition process out of fear that they wouldn’t be allowed to compete. This attitude was seemingly confirmed in 2018, when RuPaul said that he probably wouldn’t allow any trans women who had started gender affirming surgery, and compared that to allowing athletes to take performance enhancing drugs. Although Ru apologised shortly afterward, this incident coupled with a continuing lack of representation has led many to wonder whether
the program is really as radical as it claims and wants to be.
700K
Number of American viewers who tuned into the season 11 Drag Race finale
When a UK based version of the show was first announced, many questioned how well the aesthetic and attitudes championed by RuPaul really fit with the reality of British drag culture. The show’s emphasis on transformation and being “fishy” (or appearing stereotypically female) is firmly rooted in the influence of balls and pageant drag in American culture. However, the British drag scene is notably more countercultural, with more of a focus on offbeat comedy and dismantling societal norms. These cultural differences have been apparent throughout the first season of Drag Race UK, with Ru often appearing
confused by queen’s references and needing translations of the slang used by contestants. Although this is often amusing, and certainly makes the program more accessible to international audiences, it can lead to Drag Race feeling less like a celebration of performers talent and more like an invitation to gawk at the queens. While Drag Race has been undeniably effective in bringing drag and queer culture to mainstream audiences, its lack of evolution across the last decade is becoming increasingly apparent. Though both the main show and UK spin-off are widely viewed and commercially successful they no longer feel as fresh or challenging as early seasons did. Both RuPaul and the program will have to rethink their limited views on gender and drag culture for Drag Race to regain its status as a truly revolutionary force.
In the wake of a Gossip Girl revival, A
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Images: Instagram @peppermint247, @xosonique, @sashavelour, @adoredelano
Will Britbox lead British streaming?
Alfie Blincowe reviews the pros and cons of Britain's brand new streaming service Britbox
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ritbox launched in the UK earlier this month, and with a lack of original content many people are asking, why? Britbox is a streaming service made up of primarily BBC and ITV shows. It has seen some success in America, being available there for the past two years. Anglophiles overseas rejoiced in having access to British programmes they might other-
Images: IMDb
wise never have seen, but here in the UK we already have streaming libraries, such as iPlayer, for all of our terrestrial television channels.
There are older box sets from years ago that are not streaming anymore
What can Britbox offer that iPlayer and other free to access websites can’t? The answer: not much. There are older box sets of programmes from years ago that are not streaming anymore or never were, such as Midsummer Murders and Yes Minister, but many shows are on both platforms. You can watch Inside No. 9 on the Britbox for £6.99 a month, or on Netflix for £5.99, or you can watch it for free on iPlayer if you have a TV license. There will likely be more cases of paying for something you can access for free somewhere else when Britbox starts streaming Channel 4 content, who are even better at streaming shows for free through All4. Channel 5 content is already up, and Comedy Central originals are soon to follow. An area where Britbox might be able to appeal to customers is film. iPlayer and All4 don’t host anywhere near as many films as they do TV shows, despite both BBC films and Film4 dominating the industry. Britbox may soon be the best place to see classic British cinema as American services like Netflix seem focusing on Hollywood. Part of the reason Britbox’s UK release is so baffling is that the service
To reboot
doesn’t seem ready to compete with the already established streaming giants of Netflix and Amazon. These both have high quality, original shows that draw viewers in, Britbox has nothing like this and seems to have no plans to release any original content. They have tried to say they have exclusive content, such as Broadchurch, but it’s all things we’ve seen before, only now the shows are streaming exclusively on Britbox after their initial terrestrial airing. Back in 2015, Russell T Davies gave a great interview at the RadioTimes Festival. He claimed that in “ten years time everything we understand the BBC to be will be gone,” and that many people in the industry kept calling for the BBC to go to a subscription service, much like HBO: "People say that we should have HBO, the finest broadcaster in the world… It gives you nothing… the truth of it is, you have got seven channels. You pay $15 a month, which equals £118 a year, a bit less than the licence fee. But what you get is no news, no soap opera, no weather, no radio stations. Nothing like that.” Now, four years on from this interview, we see the launch of a subscription service that covers British TV, including the BBC.
650K
Number of Britbox subscribers upon release in the United States and Canada
Britbox may be the future of television in the UK, not because it is inventive, innovative or even attractive but because it is more easily monetised than the current system. If the Conservative government stay in power and continue to move towards privatisation of the BBC, then Britbox could easily be the only game in town. It is convenient to have all of your British programmes in one place, not having to go from the BBC app to Channel 4’s, but I for one don’t want to pay £6.99 for just that, and would rather keep paying my TV license.
ans of Gossip Girl from the Upper East Side and beyond were elated to hear from HBO that the hit series would return with a reboot on their streaming service, HBO Max. I’m unsure as to who Max is, but you can be sure that he’ll be showing us more of Blair Waldorf and Chuck Bass in the future. But this begs the question? If Gossip Girl, a show that only ended a mere seven years ago deserves a reboot, what else does? Both the film and TV industry are rich with reboots at the moment, with countless properties, from Charmed to Magnum P.I. returning in these last few years. The success of these reboots ranges from fantastic to brain-meltingly poor, to such a degree that some nostalgic fans would rather have their beloved franchises left alone. With this in mind, what does it take to give a series the re-boot? The main motivation behind most reboots, other than money, is usually age. Take the 2011’s Teen Wolf, for example. It had been 26 years since the original film had been released, and it hadn’t aged well in this relatively short time. The property needed a freshen up, and Jeff Davis did a mostly good job. Critics on all accounts agreed that the series had taken the story in a satisfactory direction, and aside from some queerbaiting story lines in the final season, it chugged
the courier
25
Monday 25 November 2019
@culture_courier thecourieronline.co.uk/TV
PREVIEW I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! Series 19
TV culture
Ahead of the new season, Kate Dunkerton discusses the celebrities heading for the jungle
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ovember is here and that can only mean one thing: ITV’s I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here is back! Hosted by Newcastle’s favourite comedy duo Ant and Dec, the reality series returns for its 19th season after debuting in 2002. This season will mark Ant’s return to the series after a one-year hiatus, being temporarily replaced by guesthost Holly Willoughby. Filmed in an Australian jungle, I’m a Celeb sees twelve “celebrities” live in a camp and participate in challenging Bushtucker Trials over three weeks to win the coveted title of King or Queen of the Jungle. This year sees one of the most talked about I’m a Celeb line-ups in recent years, as ITV have finally convinced Olympian and Keeping up with the Kardashians alum Caitlyn Jenner to participate in the British show. After reportedly spending £500,000 to secure Jenner for this series, producers are likely hoping she’ll reveal some gossip and truths about the Kardashian household. As one of the biggest activists in the LGBTQ+ community today and her past as a competitive Olympian, Jenner will likely
be a memorable contestant in the jungle.
Jenner will likely be a memorable contestant in the jungle
Joining Jenner is Capital Radio DJ and presenter Roman Kemp, who is fulfilling his dream of entering the camp. No stranger to the entertainment industry thanks to his musical parents Martin Kemp and Shirlie Holliman, viewers will likely have seen Kemp on their screens in Celebrity First Dates and Celebrity Gogglebox or heard him as the lead host of the Capital Breakfast Show. He claims to not be afraid of insects or the eating trials, so it will be interesting to see how he’ll react if he gets voted for a trial. Next up is former Girls Aloud member Nadine Coyle.
The Irish singer claims she is scared of everything, which doesn’t help when you’re entering an Australian jungle filled with wildlife. Like Jenner, producers are likely hoping she’ll reveal some secrets about former bandmate Cheryl Cole, who Coyle was rumoured to have a feud with during their time in Girls Aloud. Also joining Jenner, Kemp and Coyle is former footballer Ian Wright MBE, who was inspired after Harry Redknapp’s win last year; rugby player James Haskell; Eastenders star Jacqueline Jossa; Rak-Su singer Myles Stephenson; Ex on the Beach narrator Andrew Maxwell; marathon runner Adele Roberts and Good Morning Britain host Kate Garraway. As always, will there be an obvious winner, or will someone rise as the under-dog on this year’s I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!
Now on ITV
t or not to reboot?
PREVIEW
Alex Darbyshire discusses if remakes benefit or be little the original along with good reception. Another huge motivator for producers is the nostalgia factor, which was apparently so potent that during the middle of this decade, nearly every popular 1980s cartoon received a remake. Millennials were milked this last decade, with She-Ra, DuckTales, Thundercats, and Danger Mouse all returning to screens in a matter of years. These have generally been well received, with all of these cartoons scoring a 7.2 or above on IMDb. In the case of She-Ra, the reboot was in fact received as both respectful to the source material as well as narratively superior. It seems this time around it was trying to tell a more coherent story, rather than sell toys to eight year olds. In my opinion, this is where a reboot really shines – when the original felt unfinished in some way. A good example here is Battlestar Galactica. The 1978 series is dated, to say the least, and it fails to fully realise the potential of its sci-fi, posthuman setting. The 2004 reboot created by Ronald D. Moore, however, takes the themes and some key elements of the original, while rounding out many existing characters. T h e show transcends many sci-fi clichés and becomes a truly beautiful military space drama, with a dash of psycho-
Images: IMDb
logical thriller and an excellent cover of Bob Dylan’s 'All Along the Watchtower' to garnish an already exotic cocktail. What Moore managed is what all reboots should try to achieve. That is, a final product that is greater than its promising, if half-baked source material.
Filmmakers need to pick their targets carefully But they can’t all be good. There comes a point where a reboot feels unnecessary, either when the original product stands on its own, or is simply a poor concept at its core and is better left alone. As discussed above, it’s common these days to monetise our childhoods by bringing back a kids’ show or two – which is fine, provided that they find a creative lead who understands the source material. They must also be confident enough to play around with the themes, expectations and shortcomings of the original. In summary, I feel that rebooting a property is usually fine – but filmmakers need to pick their targets carefully. Too much change and audiences will feel alienated, or question why the reboot simply isn’t an entirely new property. Where will the new Gossip Girl sit on this spectrum of quality? As someone who cringed at the melodramatic writing, I hope that the revival leans into this caricature of the gentrified New York lifestyle.
Image: IMDb
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he “Boys from the Dwarf” will be back with a new two-hour long TV movie. It was recently announced that the special episode of the cult comedy has been confirmed, with plans to air on Dave in 2020. All of the main cast are returning for the small-screen special, with Craig Charles, Chris Barrie, Danny JohnJules and Robert Llewellyn reprising their respective roles of Dave Lister (the last human being in the universe), Arnold Rimmer (a hologram of Lister’s long dead bunkmate), the Cat (the narcissistic descendant of Lister’s feline stowaway) and Kryten (a mechanoid with a mean penchant for a spring clean).
Aired in 1988, the sci-fi show quickly gained status as a cult classic Series co-creator Doug Naylor is also back on board to write and direct the TV film. “I’m absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity of making more Red Dwarf,” he said in a recent interview. “Can’t wait to start shooting a format that I don’t think has ever been done before. Smoke me a kipper, we’re back and not just for breakfast.” First aired in 1988, the sci-fi show quickly gained status as a cult classic and currently enjoys a commendable score of 8.4 on IMDb. After its cancellation in 1999, Naylor reportedly made several unsuccessful attempts at a film adaptation before Dave revived the series in 2009. However, only one episode from the three newer series has since attained a higher rating than the show’s average, although most fans will agree that the quality has risen from that of 2009’s somewhat disappointing Back to Earth, the last Red Dwarf three-part special. Whilst it is currently unclear whether the TV movie will mark the end of a journey spanning more than three decades (or three million years), fans can at least hope for an offering worthy of the show’s status as a staple gem of British comedy. The feature length film will allow a longer, more cohesive story to be told, quite different from the show’s usual stand-alone episodes. Even the cast seem optimistic, with Craig Charles recently remarking that the upcoming TV film "promises to be our most epic adventure yet"/ In celebration of the upcoming TV movie, Dave will also be airing three new hour-long documentaries featuring brand new behind the scenes footage, never before seen clips and outtakes, and original interviews with the current cast and crew. This retrospective miniseries is expected to air some time next year, just before the film itself. Alex Moore
Firefly
George Bell on Joss Whedon's sc-fi show
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efore bringing together Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, Joss Whedon brought together a very different group of individuals in the cult classic space western Firefly. If you loved the charm and wit of Avengers Assemble then I highly recommend you check this show out. Starring Nathan Fillion as Captain Malcolm Reynolds and set 500 years in the future, Firefly followed a group of ragtag misfits taking any and all jobs they can get in the vastness of space aboard their space ship the Serenity. Despite its short run time, Whedon is able to create a fleshed-out and engaging universe that you can’t help but love. When considering watching Firefly probably one of the glaring issues you may see is how quickly it was cancelled but this was more due to network issues rather than quality with it gaining 9/10 on IMDB and 85% on Rotten Tomatoes. In some cases, the short run time might be beneficial for you as it means that it won’t require you to commit too much time to it.
The characters in the show are all unique and fun to watch The characters in the show are all unique and fun to watch especially when bantering with one another and really creates a sweet family dynamic. Similar to Whedon’s other projects like Avengers and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the dialogue in the show is on point with some real heartfelt moments complimented by super witty dialogue that will make you chuckle at least once or twice. Being a combination of sci-fi and a western, Firefly includes a decent amount of action ranging from epic standoffs to intense chases through space. Surprisingly though, Whedon effectively portrays other genres in his scenes with some being genuinely scary or sad but never strives so far away to lose its original premise. The set pieces, props, and score personally are what I think really makes this show work. The combination of futurism with western vibes comes through in full force be it the guns, locations or outfits. This makes the show so unique as it feels like you get to watch two different shows at once, one moment it’ll feel like Star Trek and the next it’ll be The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. If you do end up giving it a watch and really enjoy watching it but are desperate for more be sure to check out the follow-up movie Serenity. The film acts as a grand finale for the show, tying up loose ends nicely, answering important questions and further building the world of Firefly. Also, any opportunity to spend more time with these characters is much appreciated and I would take with open arms.
Image: IMDb
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culture film
The Irishman (18)
the courier
c2.film@ncl.ac.uk Film Editors: Elisabetta Pulcini, Joe Holloran, Lucy Lillystone & Steven Ross
Monday 25 November 2019
Fear & loathing on the silver scre
Ellie Parkin explains why the T-1000 is the greatest movie villian of all time while George Bell take
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lready making waves through its critical acclaim at Cannes and Toronto Film Festivals, as well as Scorsese’s recent feud with Marvel, The Irishman (or I Heard You Paint Houses) sets out to become the magnum opus of Scorsese’s long career. The film follows Irishman Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro) as he rises through the Italian American mafia with the help of mob boss Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci) and forms a close relationship with Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino).
This film shares many of its characteristics with 1990's Goodfellas
Like most directors, Scorsese tends to revisit themes and patterns in his work and The Irishman is no exception. If a man’s journey as he rises up in the criminal underworld sounds familiar, it’s because this film shares many of its characteristics with 1990’s Goodfellas, even starring three of the leads (all of whom give performances of their careers here). Although this may make The Irishman seem derivative, in actual fact it feels much more like an enhanced version of Goodfellas. The incorporation of modern styles and sensibilities, while retaining a classic Scorsese charm, and the exchange of grand waves of tension for black and blue humour, which is much needed in the film’s three and a half hour run time, elevates The Irishman tremendously.
Incorporation of modern styles and sensibilities, while retaining a classic Scorsese charm
The most striking thing about The Irishman, however, is its interaction with the history around it. Set primarily through the 1950s to 1970s, the film does not shy from the world around it, with newspapers and televisions in the background perpetually reporting infamous events. While many events relating to John F. Kennedy are crucial for the characters’ navigation of their plot, there are times, such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, where the characters’ disinterest truly highlights the scope of their minds and psyches. Overall, although by no means a perfect film, Scorsese’s ability to break new ground within his own great library of works is a feat to be truly commended. Peter Lennon
Image: IMDB
/NewcastleCourierFilm @Courier_Film
n 1991 the second installment of The Terminator franchise arrived, named Terminator 2: Judgement Day, which is now highly recognized as a cult classic. The film stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as the T-800, pitted against Robert Patrick’s new and improved T-1000, who manages to encapsulate the villainous role perfectly. The plot line for The Terminator follows Schwarzenegger's portrayal of the original T-800 cyborg assassin who is sent back in time from 2029 to 1984 to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton). Whose son will one day become a savior against machines (and become leader of the resistance) in a doomed post-apocalyptic future. In this modern cinematic period though, The Terminator is most certainly classed as an old film, as it first debuted 35 years ago in 1984. It was made on a strikingly low budget for a film of this nature ($6.4 million), but shot both director James Cameron, and at the time, a relatively unknown cast of actors and actresses to stardom.
ment and cat-like features. Which was perfect for the role, with Patrick managing to keep face for the whole 2hr and 17min run time. His characterization was a perfect parallel for Schwarzenegger's terminator, as on physical appearance alone they are strikingly opposite, making the whole dynamic ever more entertaining. As the battle sequences show, the T-1000 is faster, stronger, and definitely more technological advanced. Even though the character has an entirely emotionless face and no audible dialogue throughout the entire film. Patrick’s acting skills still provide
And so, Terminator 2 picks up in 1991 with Robert Patrick's take on the antagonist cyborg character, focusing on his stealth like move-
Image: IMDB
Last Christmas (PG-13)
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Image: IMDB
ast Christmas follows Emilia Clarke’s Kate, a former singer turned elf-employee at a yearround Christmas store in London. After a heart transplant leaves her distancing herself even further from her family, she becomes the last person you’d expect to be willing to dress as an elf every-day. But after meeting the mysterious Tom (Henry Golding), and falling for him, something begins to change – but as always – not everything as is as it seems around Christmas time. If you’ve heard anything about Last Christmas, it’s probably the song. Yes; the music was a big part of their marketing, but it really shouldn’t have been. The bridges between song and plot are tenuous and almost too easy (Kate wakes up to 'Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go') – the only song that actually feels like it plays a part in the plot is Last Christmas. Yes; some trailers gave too much away (Director Paul Feig has admitted he regrets this, thank goodness) – but if you’re not in the Christmas mood just yet, I’m now a strong advocate that Last Christmas will get you there. To be honest – Kate’s transformation had me in bits. Her sarcasm goes from brutally funny to so harsh that you’ll be in tears (I spent roughly the last half hour of the film crying). It isn’t a perfect film by any means, but the chemistry between Clarke and Goulding, Emma Thompson’s overprotective mother, and Michelle Yeoh as “Santa” are perfect. It might be rough around the edges, but Last Christmas has well and truly won my heart, and if you have 'Faith', it might just 'Heal The Pain' of those mid-term deadlines… Harriet Metcalfe
enough scope for the audience to envelop into the villainous nature of this modern terminator. Relying even more so on the thrill of the murderous chase and cat and mouse plot line between the two powerful machines. The style of the T-1000 0makes it more than a match for Schwarzenegger's terminator, with its improved technological nature, and ability to shape shift (including both the voice and mannerisms of its victims). As well as the ability to mold into liquid met-
Le Mans '66 (PG-13)
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wo and a half hours of runtime and a triedand-tested way of telling stories in sports, Le Mans ’66 dodges these two pitfalls to weave a thrilling narrative of two companies and their quest for dominance built on the solid foundations of their two lead actors. Ken Miles (Christian Bale) is a maverick driver who isn’t particularly enthralled about sticking to the rules outside of the racing track while Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) is the good boy Texan car designer who is also one of the few Americans who has ever won the Le Mans 24-hour endurance race. The film offers us a solid emotional story arc for both Miles and Shelby – showcasing a real friendship that exists there, filled with mutual respect, loyalty and the occasional throwing of a wrench at each other. Christian Bale stands out as the better of the two main actors painting a more vivid picture of the man he portrays on screen and doing more in general with his character than Matt Damon does with his. That is, of course, not to say Damon does a bad job – Bale is just a shade better. The story is beefed up by a combination of race sequences that have been executed with exquisite skill. The screenplay must be given a special mention for making sure the focus remains on showing the real fight between bureaucracy and genius. The movie does delve into some cliches that come with a racing movie including drivers trying to talk to each other over roaring engines and the usual slight manipulation of historical fact. But by and large, this is a movie that definitely should not be missed. Sesha Subramnian
al and absorb bullets. However, the shape shifting skill is definitely the most callous trait of the T-1000, paired with the fact that it takes on the alias of officer Austin. Posing as a police officer knowing that it is a symbol of authority that no-one would question, so it can infiltrate and interrogate the family of John Connor. Scarily pushing the boundaries of what we know to be ‘safe’ and ‘trustworthy’ based on the representations of a PC uniform. Carefully and concisely manipulating our innate human nature to trust the connotations we have built as a society around the police force. The villainous nature of the T-1000 is unparalleled to any other characterization that I have seen, as the mission for the cyborg is to kill John Conner, who is only aged ten when this film was set. Which illustrates a complete lack of humanity or emotion, and an apparent non-existent ability to feel any remorse or understanding. Proving that it is simply a machine with a task, ready to manipulate any situation to its advantage, and disrupt everything in its path. As we've seen… poor Wolfie. And so, the film has successfully created a fully functioning robot assassin blended with all the elements of the human a n a t o m y. Ultimately creating the most despicable villain, that nobody saw coming.
Rebel witho
TV Editor Amy Brown debates wh
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e know Hollywood is always trying to push things further, do the impossible and break boundaries. With the technological advancements that have come about in recent years, CGI is easier and better than ever. Yeah, it can look a little questionable sometimes but it creates the opportunity to do amazing things in cinema. We’ve seen characters being aged down and aged up (see Gemini Man) and movies relying almost entirely on CGI like Avatar. As a concept and artistic choice, it can be incredible. But this next big thing might just be taking it too far. Have you ever thought wow, I’d love to see this long dead actor star in a new movie via computergenerated imagery? Yeah, me either. It all sounds a little too Black Mirror. James Dean, iconic American actor, died over half a century ago in a car crash at the age of 24. But thanks to CGI, he’s starring in a new movie. Magic City Films obtained the rights from his family to digitally create James Dean and announced he would be having a significant role in Finding Jack.
the courier
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Monday 25 November 2019
een: fascinating villians
@Courier_Film thecourieronline.co.uk/film
filmculture
es a deeper look at some of cinema's most sympathetic antagonists
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o movie is as good as its antagonist. Be it, someone, you love to hate and look forward to whatever grizzly demise they might come to or the character who you might not agree with but sure do feel for. Here are some of the best movie villains that you can’t help but sympathize with.
O-Ren Ishii - Kill Bill (2003) Quentin Tarantino knows how to make a great villain. But for the most part, they are all villains that we as the viewer despise and just can’t wait for them to be gone like the titular Bill from Kill Bill: Volume 2 or Cavil Candie from Django Unchained. One notable exception is the main antagonist for the first Kill Bill movie, O-Ren Ishii played by Lucy Liu. As one of the members of the group who attempted to assassinate the Bride at first was just another name on the list. But thanks to a powerful animated segment in the movie we learn the tragic back story of the supreme leader of the Tokyo Yakuza. This coupled with the respectful way she treated both her peers and enemies made her death a satisfying conclusion to the character, but also leaving us feeling melancholy.
Image: Youtube
Roy Batty - Blade Runner (1982)
Most villains have the end goal of world domination, vengeance and unimaginable wealth but the main antagonist of Blade Runner, Roy Batter, only had one goal: live. Played by Rutger Hauer, the rogue replicant started his life as a slave made only to work until his eventual death which any normal person would try to avoid. He spends the movie trying desperately to find a way to extend his life, which is coming to an end thanks to limited shelf life. By the end with him about the die, Batty gives the iconic monologue: “All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die” which makes his death so impactful as he was just wanted to experience the world like everyone else, but was robbed of it.
Magneto - X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) In more recent entries in the X-Men franchise, Magneto has definitely been seen as more of an anti-hero but in the original trilogy, he was the go-to big bad. A victim of the holocaust, Erik Lehnsherr lost his mother in a sadistic attempt at awakening his powers which left him with permanent trauma. His methods, while questionable, were built on the solid moral ground of equal rights for mutants and humans, and as a result, makes his character more complex and engaging.
Koba - Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014) While definitely a sadistic murderer whose death we were all glad to see, Koba definitely has justifiable motives for doing what he did. A victim of horrendous animal abuse at the hands of scientists gave Koba a deep mistrust and hatred towards humans and as a result set up certain conditions for war the break out between the humans and apes. The clear PTSD experienced by Koba as well as his physical wounds makes us feel for how badly he must have been treated since birth and perhaps a bit of revenge was justified.
Images: IMDB, odgoavda72 (ImgBin.com)
out a pulse: the reanimation of James Dean
hether dead actors should be starring in blockbusters ... because this is 2019 and apparently de-aging De Niro wasn't enough The film, based on the novel by Gareth Crocker, focuses on the Vietnam War, a war that happened after Dean’s death. Not to mention that Dean was fairly outspoken on being anti-war when he was alive. It sounds like a role he wouldn’t have taken in a million years, but he doesn’t exactly have the choice now.
Are they really running out of ideas so badly that they need to resurrect dead actors?
They are bringing him to life using archival footage and photos, with another actor providing the voice. Hopefully, this voice actor receives due credit and isn’t completely overshadowed by the CGI actor. Of course it’s a shame that Dean’s career was so short lived in the first place, but what he did achieve during his time was excellent. So it brings into question whether we could just let his work exist in the past and honour him in a different way. It’s all kinds of strange. As with anything, there have
Image: Wikimedia Commons
been a number of differing opinions. Is this a good idea? Is it a marketing strategy? Does it tamper with Dean’s legacy? To me, it all feels a little dystopian. I’ve heard the term ‘digital necromancy’ being thrown around online and that’s something I never thought I’d hear. Hollywood is constantly under scrutiny and for good reason. Are they really running out of ideas so badly that they need to resurrect dead actors? We have mass amounts of talented people in Hollywood and now they’re missing out on roles to actors who aren’t even alive to audition. There is a fine line between celebrating an artist’s legacy and exploiting it. While the people making these decisions have assured the public that they had positive intentions, it still comes across as wrong. The amount of undiscovered and rising talent we have in the acting world is growing constantly; the next great generation of actors are waiting in line. Guess they’re going to be waiting a little bit longer.
There is a fine line between celebrating an artist's legacy and exploiting it
This ultimately opens up doors for this to become normal. It was revealed that the people behind this have formed a company to bring more dead icons back to life in cinema. They have acquired the rights to people such as Bettie Page, Malcolm X and artist Maya Angelou. So is this going to become a trend? Having the legacies of great artists live on is one thing; but how far can it really go? The movie is set to release worldwide on Veteran’s Day 2020. So we’ll have to wait and see how all of this turns out. Images: Eliza on Pixabay
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culture arts
c2.arts@ncl.ac.uk Arts Editors Caitlin Rawlings, Charlotte Slinger & Lauren Sneath
the courier
Monday 25 November 2019
Neon art exhibition Light Up North at The Biscuit Factory Rory Cameron reviews Ouseburn's illuminated art showcase and asks whether the 'neon' trend should be left in the 2010s
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useburn is one of the most beautiful and dynamic areas of Newcastle, filled with a myriad of some of the town’s most interesting pubs, music venues and creative spaces. Sitting near the top of the valley, on the fringes of Ouseburn, the Biscuit Factory has somewhat ridden on the coattails of the area for quite some time. In my opinion, attending an exhibition there feels a bit like the cultural equivalent of dressing up and being taken out for a meal at Town Fry. And, under the electroluminescent glare of Light Up North’s artworks, this exhibition proved no different. The Biscuit Factory's ‘social space’ was mainly populated by tray-loads of sparkling wine, with the few of us who managed to brave the rain wondering what we were doing there. Should we have stayed at home?
Would standing in the rain have been preferable?
Appetite for neon art has grown in the wake of artists such as Tracy Emin
Light Up North effectively combine a mixture of technologies to print digitally edited photos onto foam boards, and adorn them with EL light, (giving it that ‘neon’ glow), bent into an existing design or the shape and lettering of whatever you want, as long as you have paid your electric bills. It would appear that an appetite for neon art has grown significantly, in the
wake of artists such as Tracy Emin and Glenn Ligon using neon lights to display their messages provocative and profound. Perhaps the most striking resemblance, is that with Olivia Steele, whose work regularly combines neon with both real landscapes in situ, as well as overlaying it onto challenging photos such as mushroom clouds. And indeed, this style has become rather trendy. You can expect to find allusions to this aesthetic at most gin bars, with messages that usually seek to come across as inspirational or fierce. The actual effect, however, is more that of a desperate 40 something searching for instagram likes over a bottle of Echo Falls. The effect of Light Up North’s digital bootlegs of pop culture icons like Bowie, Blondie and Elvis, however, comes across as a cheap imitation of Emin, Steele, et al at best. Cheap imitations that will actually set you back several hundred pounds, and tell everyone just how tasteless and tacky you really are. This aesthetic is the ‘Live Laugh Love’ of 2019, so just be thankful the decade is nearly over.
Newcastle University's Photography Society showcase Ioannis Gylaris tells us about the inspiration for his award-winning photo for the Photography Society's event Photowalk 2.0 O n 26 October the Photography Society organised the successor to the first photowalk event that took place earlier that month, Photowalk 2.0. There are no words to describe how excited I was to be able to participate in that event as I wasn’t able to attend the first one. I am a beginner who has only been involved in photography for about 10 months now and so I saw that walk as a great opportunity to practice alongside people who share the same passion as me and learn from them. The themes of the photowalk were Portrait and Autumn, but as my preferred photography style is landscape photography I focused on getting a picture which would bring out that “autumn feeling”. When I personally think of autumn I think of leaves in beautiful shades of orange covering the ground or floating around following the wind which often creates a magical scenery like no other. So, when I saw a carpet of leaves covering the grass I had the instantaneous idea to try and capture a close-up of that image with my camera. It was quite challenging to get the focus and height just right so that both the background environment as well as the leaves were clearly visible in the way that I intended but the result was definitely worth the effort.
When I think of autumn I think of leaves in beautiful shades of orange covering the ground or floating around following the wind
Overall it was an amazing day as I learned a lot about portrait photography and I got to visit beautiful locations in Newcastle that I didn’t know about. All of that wouldn’t have been possible without the excellent planning and execution of the event by the Photography Society which I would like to thank. As I am trying to improve my photography skills in the future I will be looking forward to similar events or opportunities which I know will be plenty within the passionate group of the society.
Image: Ioannis Gylaris
the courier
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Monday 25 November 2019
@culture_courier thecourieronline.co.uk/arts
Colonialism in art: the British Museum's stolen artworks
arts culture Poem Box
Exhibiting art stolen from its indigenous people perpetuates imperalism, says Sophia Kypriotis
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stablished in 1753, the British Museum’s foundations inevitably lie at the very heart of colonialism, and it seems the museum of today has not progressed far beyond the imperialistic outlook of the British Empire. The museum’s refusal to return artifacts requested back by the countries they originate from is a shocking echo of the jingoism of imperialism, arrogantly proposing that that the countries these artefacts originate from are incapable of caring for them. Being of Greek origin myself and having visited the
They have may not have stolen the objects with their own hands, but their refusal to return them perpetuates imperialistic jingoism Acropolis in Athens, it was a great shame to have seen the empty spaces in the Acropolis Museum lying in wait for the return of the Parthenon marbles. Stolen by Earl Elgin and sold to the British in 1816, Greece has repeatedly requested their marbles back, and so has the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to no avail. The director of the British Museum, Hartwig Fischer, stated in an interview with the Greek newspaper Ta Nea, that the possibly of Greece even getting close to the marbles would only occur if they recog-
nised the British Museum as the ‘legitimate’ owner of the marbles. The Museum are in fact prevented by UK law from entirely returning the marbles, as it illegal for the British Museum to fully return artifacts requested back, although Labour leader, Jeremey Corbyn has said he would return them if his party were elected. Geoffrey Robertson QC, alongside Amal Clooney and Professor Norman Palmer, aided the Greek government with preparing a report on the reunification of the Parthenon marbles. Robertson’s proposed that the British Museum, while prevented by the law from doing what ought to be done, should have worked in collaboration with Greece and the new Acropolis Museum by loaning some of its sculptors, at least attempting some sort of repatriation. He remarks that French president Emmanuel Macron has “galvanised the debate” with his statement that “African cultural heritage can no longer remain a prisoner of European mu s e u m s” and indeed, France has been the most responsive of all the European countries to return stolen artifacts. The Quai Branly Museum in Paris will return 26 stolen items back to Benin, and Macron wish-
Images: Pantheon Marbles & Hoa Hakananai via flickr
Winter is yet seen Rory Ewart
Do politics belong in our pages?
Image: Wikimedia Commons es to amend French law so that stolen objects must be returned when they are requested back from their country of origin. Similarly, the Rosetta Stone belongs in Egypt, and the Moai head statue in Easter Island; the arrogance of the British Museum is astounding. After years of Nigeria asking for its Benin bronzes to be returned, the British Museum finally agreed to loan some bronzes for the new Royal Museum, yet considers this as no more than a loan: Nigeria are expected to give Britain back their own statues when they demand. It is hard to get your head around their statement that the "restitutions premise, that whatever was made in a country must return to an original geographical site, would empty both the British Museum and the other great museums of the world”. This jingoistic outlook shows how utterly oblivious they are to the fact they have emptied the countries they have stolen from. While they have may not have stolen the objects with their own hands, their refusal to return them perpetuates the imperialistic outlook that these countries do not deserve these items. First and foremost, Britain needs to take a leaf out of France’s book and work on changing the law so stolen artifacts can be returned to their home countries. In the meantime, the British Museum should most certainly loan all and any objects requested to be returned, instead of self-righteously and proudly displaying objects that they procured through theft and violence, and their exhibitions should transparently explain how objects in the museum came to be there.
George Gardener tells us all about the great works of fiction that we love to lie about reading
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There are at least twenty books that people frequently lie about reading
There’s a bit of everything on the list. There’s the literary classic, like Pride and Prejudice, Great Expectations or Romeo and Juliet. There’s the children’s classic that you’re too old to read now, like Tom Sawyer or Treasure Island. There’s the entry from the New York Times’ Bestseller List, like Hurari’s Sapiens: A Brief History of Mankind or Gladwell’s The Tipping Point. There’s the modern classic that’s vastly uncomfortable to read, like Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead, Plath’s The Bell Jar or Nabokov’s Lolita. There’s the massive door-stopper, like Crime and Punishment or Moby-Dick. There’s The Bible for creationists and
A Brief History of Time for scientists. There’s The Old Man and the Sea for a short read and War and Peace for a long one. Both The Odyssey and Ulysses are on the list, which I find ironic. All in all, it’s a very diverse list, and I myself have only
You shouldn't dictate your reading based on 'the canon'
read half of them. And no, I’m not telling you which half. There’s an expectation that there are certain books you have to read. But is that really necessary? If a book is well-known enough to carry that level of prestige, hasn’t it already entered the cultural consciousness? You don’t really have to have read a book to discuss it at any level. I haven’t read The Bible from cover to cover, but you’d better believe I have some capital-O Opinions on the contents. I’m pretty sure nobody, least of all the author, has read James Joyce’s Ulysses. Ultimately, you shouldn’t dictate your reading based on ‘the canon’, or what everyone else reads. Go out and do strange, unique things, and read strange, unique books. Consume fantasy and sci-fi and whodunnits and weird, out of print books with odd covers. Read poems and plays and watch arthouse films alongside popcorn action flicks. It is better to read widely than to read well, after all.
Summer has now been Autumn brings the fall of leaves
Novel white lies: the classics you never read henever anyone starts talking about a book you haven’t read, there’s always a moment of blind panic, normally followed by the boldfaced lie, ‘Of course I’ve read it’, or else one of its cousins, ‘I’ve-skimmed-it’, ‘I’veseen-the-film’, or ‘It’s-on-my-list’. Only the bravest of men admit the truth, that you haven’t read the thing and have no intention of reading it. It is therefore no surprise that, according to a study recently discussed in The Independent, there are at least twenty books that people frequently lie about reading.
Seasonal Poem
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s an English Literature student, we constantly have it drilled into us that the narrator of the book is not the author. We have to look at the author as creating a fictional world where they themselves do not appear in it. If this is the case, then we cannot definitively see a book as portraying a certain political message. Surely it depends then on how we, the reader, responds to a novel? If we think that it conveys a communist message then we will find evidence in it to support that claim; if we think that it conveys a stance that we should all vote for the Conservative Party, then we will do the same. All books arguably have a political message, but it is up to us to decipher what we want it to mean. Some books are very openly an allegory for a political message, a classic example of this being George Orwell's Animal Farm. Allegorising communism, all the farm animals play a part in a communist society. Despite this only talking about communism, if we were to read this book as a child then surely we would think that it was purely about talking animals. So, when we mature and understand more about politics so as to understand the message behind it, it is only then that we understand that it is political. Surely this means that we have to find this evidence as the reader for a book to have a political stance?
In a 'post-truth' world, why should literature not also be conveying a political message?
These perceived political messages are important in literature. When we start trying to prevent them from happening, then we are stopping democracy. In a society where we can voice our own views, and we can argue and debate with others over political policies and then put this to use by voting, then surely when we read literature we know that we are being opened to new perspectives? If we read a book we expect to finish it having gathered some sort of knowledge or to be able to understand a point of view on a subject more thoroughly. Political messages are no different: if a reader thinks that their book hints at something then they can use this to become informed of a certain matter. It is not being rammed down their throats, nor is it being forcefully imposed on them. They are choosing to engage in conversation with a narrator’s view on a topic that the author has carefully decided on. The very fact that we are asking if politics should be in books is scary, I believe. In totalitarian states, like that of the Stalinist regime in the Soviet Union, books were banned for their political messages, including Doctor Zhivago and Nineteen Eighty Four. When books are not allowed to portray a political message, we are halting the conversation about politics among the masses. Allowing a reader to take a political message away from a book is powerful. It is the reader engaging with the characters in a novel, and transferring these beliefs held by characters and actions undertaken by them into the reader’s very life. This creates a reflection on their life. They compare these two societies, fictional and real. It allows the reader to think about how their society could be critiqued, and how their society could be improved. And if the reader themselves have to be the ones who decide what this political message is, then we are encouraging the discussion of politics among readers, and this is no bad thing in world with chaotic politics. Sophie Wilson
@TheCourierArts Image: Penguin Books
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the courier
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culture gaming
courier.gaming@ncl.ac.uk Gaming Editors Alex Darbyshire, George Boatfield, James Troughton & Shawn Khoo
Monday 25 November 2019
Review Pokémon Sword & Shield China enforces
Pokéball in hand, Patrick Young springs into action to deliver a hefty thunderbolt of positivity Chinese children can't play past 10pm
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he event many Pokémon fans have been eagerly awaiting has finally arrived on our screens. I must admit that the backlash that Game Freak and The Pokémon Company have faced seems massively unwarranted. Visually, the game is stunning; it’s very sleek, with vibrant colours akin to Breath of the Wild, and it all transfers between the portable screen and the TV remarkably well. There’s been a key issue looming over these new entries in the franchise - the National Pokédex has been truncated, with hundreds of pokémon now missing. With regards to what the fanbase has dubbed as ‘Dexit’ it is hardly noticeable with the Galar region’s plethora of pokémon, both with the returning creatures and the new additions. The loss of certain beloved pocket monsters will always be a contentious topic, but this day was always going to happen.
The National Pokédex has been truncated, with hundreds of pokémon now missing
this, and I believe that the competitive scene will not be adversely affected by these changes.
The Galar region's architecture is stunningly reminiscent of British designs
The inclusion of gym leaders provides welcome familiarity in the Galar region. However, the challenges you must undertake in each gym before facing its leader are interesting and give a renewed, unique take on this classic aspect of Pokémon. The link between the Galar gym challenge and the wider game world’s love of football make for a wholly new experience, highlighting how gym trainers are essentially entertainers for the public of the Galar region.
400
The total number of Pokémon available in Sword and Shield
Additionally, with Sword and Shield, there are plenty of new features added to give the gameplay more depth. Dynamaxing pokémon is a great replacement for mega evolution and Z-moves. It’s much less convoluted, while no additional items are needed. Along with ‘Dexit’, there has been a major shakeup in the move pool of the Pokémon franchise, with Game Freak scrapping one hundred moves to streamline the game. Again, I have had little issue with
I have waited for a region based on Britain since I began playing Pokémon, with 2006’s Emerald. The Galar region lives up to its real-world counterpart: the architecture is stunningly reminiscent of British designs and the landscape evokes that homely feeling of the Northumbrian Coast, as well as the rolling hills of the Yorkshire Dales and the Cotswolds. Individually, I found that each pokémon is distinctly designed, with references to the game world incorporated smartly.
The lack of the more iconic pokémon in the Galarian Pokédex is pretty difficult to notice
There is something for everyone in this game. I must say that any hate for Sword and Shield is inconsequential when put up against the fun and sheer entertainment of the actual gameplay. In the end, it makes the lack of some of the more iconic pokémon in the Galarian Pokédex pretty difficult to notice. Whilst the introduction is pretty long, as seems to be standard with Pokémon, you will quickly become consumed with joy whilst not being able to put down this wonderful iteration of this global franchise.
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n 12 November, the Chinese government announced the implementation of new online gaming restrictions. China has decided to ban children under the age of 18 from playing online games between the hours of 10pm and 8am, seven days a week. Furthermore, players will be restricted from gaming longer than ninety-minutes during the school week. This will increase modestly to three hours on weekends and national holidays.
These new laws are feared by some within the games industry
Also introduced are limitations on the amount eightto-sixteen-year olds can spend on in-game purchases, including loot crates. This amounts to 200 yuan or £22 per month. Many nations in the western world are also contemplating bringing in restrictions on these forms of in-game spending, though most, including the US and UK, prefer the industry itself to set the limits and bring about change voluntarily. The new laws are feared by some within the industry to be the first of many coming down
Image: IGDB
British Esports Association launches Google Stadia to new women in Esports campaign game titles, incr
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The gaming scene is getting diverse and Kaitlyn Maracle is all for it
he British Esports Association (BEA) has launched an exciting new campaign to celebrate and encourage women in the gaming and esports industry. Many gamers know that inclusivity in the gaming community has been an issue, with many female gamers not feeling included, represented or taken seriously in the competitive scene. There are very few on-screen female casters and interviewers, as well as behind-the-scenes staff, and even fewer female players. Therefore, this is an incredibly welcome move by the BEA.
Many gamers know that inclusivity in the gaming community has been an issue
Image: Wikipedia
According to a report by Interpret, around 30% of esports viewers at the end of 2018 were female, which is a pretty big chunk of an audience. The BEA believes that there is a rise in interest in competitive gaming for a range of games, shown through the number of women who join university or college esports teams. Unfortunately, there is an incredibly outdated stereotype surrounding women in games. This includes the notion that women are all support players or healers because we’re ‘trash’, or we’ve been boosted by another male player, or that we are just generally bad at games because
we are female. It’s important to remember that this stereotype is only perpetuated by a vocal minority in the gaming community, which can discourage girls from enjoying a game. This makes it all the more refreshing to see another organisation attempt to tackle this stigma and encourage more women to join esports on a grassroots level.
30%
Women make up 30% of esports viewership, compared to 6.5% in 2016
The campaign hopes to promote inclusivity in gaming through interviews, social media posts and Twitch streams. The first of hopefully many interviews is with Natacha Jones from NUEL (National University Esports League, of which Newcastle is a part of). You can also use the hashtag #WomenInEsports to discuss the initiative online.
Stacey Henley launches a stream o
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t appears the future of gaming is three old Tomb Raider games. Or at least it is according to Google, who have revealed that the 19 November launch of its streaming platform Stadia comes with an unimpressive library of 22 games, including the most recent Tomb Raider trilogy. Initially, Stadia was set for just 12 games, before the last minute addition of ten more. This included recent releases like Football Manager 2020 and Rage 2, so it did bolster the line-up slightly, but it still feels lacking. 22 games still isn’t that many, especially when you’re launching a platform which is not only supposed to break into the industry, but revolutionise it. Stadia has been labelled as ‘the Netflix of games’ but Image: Flickr (Marco Verch) imagine if Netflix only had 22 movies; three of them How to Train Your Dragon. For a price of £8.99 a month, plus an optional controller and Chromecast set for £119.99, it’s steep. This is even more-so
the courier
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Monday 25 November 2019
@Courier_Gaming thecourieronline.co.uk/gaming
gaming culture
banned for life from Fortnite gaming curfew YouTuber m, Joe Holloran reports on the curfew This player ban turns into breakdown, and Molly Greeves is here to deliver the juicy details A the line from the Communist state’s new Gaming Regulator and his department the General Administration of Press and Publications or GAPP. This is the clearest sign yet that the Xi Jing-Ping administration has its sights set on gaining control over the multi-billiondollar industry.
2nd
China are the second largest gaming population, following the USA
In an attempt to get ahead of it, the world's largest video game company, Tencent, has already introduced their own restrictions on game-time and even introduced a measure forcing users to confirm their identity during the online registration process. According to Chinese state-run website Xinhua, these records will then be passed on to GAAP, who compare the information to that in the government's national database. The move has raised concerns from humanrights groups as well of tech-freedom advocates. For their part, the Chinese state claims that the new restrictions are necessary to combat childhood myopia or nearsightedness. In fact, it was the publication of (highly suspicious) ‘scientific data’ in a report last year that they say prompted the move on health and safety grounds. However, China has long criticised the gaming industry for its perceived negative effect on the youth, and many see the report’s timing as convenient to say the least.
popular gaming YouTuber by the name of Jarvis Khattri has been received a lifetime ban from Fortnite.The 17-year-old live-streamed himself using an ‘aimbot’ hack during an online match and was subsequently banned from the game for life. Aimbots allow players to more accurately land shots on their opponents in firstperson shooters by tracking opponents for them. This is a
Image: YouTube (Jarvis)
Image: Flickr (Ted McGrath)
o launch with 22 reased from 11
of criticism at Stadia's games library the case when considering that the subscription only grants one free game a month, with the rest needing to be bought separately. The list of launch titles aside from the Tomb Raider games include notable ones such as Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey, Destiny 2, Mortal Kombat 11 and Red Dead Redemption 2. The only exclusive is GYLT, a Tim Burton-esque mystery adventure made by Tequila Works, the developer of 2017’s The Sexy Brutale and Rime. It looks intriguing, but it’s hardly a killer app. Xbox One and PS4 famously launched with subpar exclusives in Ryse and Knack, but they both had established fanbases and a proven track record; Google Stadia has neither. Google is so popular for finding content online that it’s become synonymous with the term ‘search engine’ itself. People will use it to search, because it’s clearly the best around. As a gaming console though? Well, that’s yet to be determined, but the absolutely spectacular launch it needed just doesn’t seem to be coming together.
popular cheat to use in Fortnite, with many players streaming their use of the hack on YouTube.
YouTuber FaZe Banks called the ban “fucking ridiculous”
In a tearful apology video, Khattri claimed that it “didn’t cross [his] mind that he could be banned for life on Fortnite”. “Just knowing that I can never play Fortnite again or create content for your guys... it’s obvious that I’ve made a massive mistake.”
Epic Games have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to cheating
The video has received over 11 million views on YouTube but, in a public statement, Epic Games, the developer behind the hit battle royale, said that they have a “zero tolerance” policy when it comes to cheating. The ban has resulted in divided opinions among the gaming community. The gaming section’s resident Fortnite fanboy, Alex Darbyshire, describes the punishment as “a bit harsh”. He said, “It seems pretty heavy-handed to give him a lifetime ban.
I feel like game developers have given smaller bans for more problematic violations, it’s not like he was playing for money.”
2.18m
The number of acconts subscribed to FaZe Jarvis on YouTube
However, an anonymous source with a name not dissimilar to ‘Hatrick Parland’ disagrees. “He cheated, he deserves it. He knew it was wrong and still did it anyway – I don’t feel bad for him. I find it very funny but I don’t wanna look bad in the paper.” On 5 November, fellow YouTuber FaZe Banks took to Twitter to call the ban “fucking r i d i c u l o u s ”, claiming that “XXiF actually cheated in a competitive environment, received just a 2 week ban [and] wound up taking a spot in the World Cup.” He ended the series of tweets with #FreeJarvis.
Review The Sims 4
Image: YouTube (FaZe Banks)
Discover University Though her Simlish is patchy, Charlotte Boulton takes a break from her studies to help her sim get a degree
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here is something deeply ironic about abandoning my actual real-life degree work to spend seven hours playing in a fictional university, but if I kid myself that it’s for “research” for this article, it feels less of a complete avoidance of reality. That’s right, The Sims 4 Discover University expansion pack is out now, and it’s already taking over my life.
The pack focuses much more on everything outside of the classes
You’d think it would be an unappealing prospect considering how much of my life is already filled with university, but the idea of attending university in The Sims got me so excited. Unlike previous games in the franchise where the University pack was one of the first to be released, Simmers have had to wait five whole years and six expansion packs for Discover University. Is it worth the wait? Well, there’s definitely some improvements to previous university expansions that already have Sims 4’s version standing out.
In my halls, it was more like mouldy bowls and forgotten sour milk...
For once, there are opportunities for your sims to live offcampus and attend university from any of the pre-existing worlds in the game; previously sims have been magically transported to a closed-off university world without the chance to go home and visit their families until they finish university. Even though some of us might relate to that and wish for a similar world to escape our families, it’s still nice to have the option. New developments also include two universities to choose from that exist in the same world for some friendly rivalry; the University of Britechester is reminiscent of English red-brick universities in its
traditional style whilst Foxbury Institute has a more futuristic, modern campus vibe. Discover University has also said goodbye to active classes introduced in The Sims 3 University, whisking your sims away to class in a “rabbit-hole” building whilst you fast-forward time until they’re done. Honestly, I wish I could do this for my actual classes. The pack focuses much more on everything outside of the classes – from homework and studying (yes, the irony was very much present as I sacked off my own seminar reading to make sure my sim got top grades) to organisations, much like our societies, and of course the parties. My sim held her first ‘Keg Party’ – a very Americanised idea in a pack that has otherwise tried to showcase a more universal experience – and had a great time getting ‘juiced’. Strangely, the dorms don’t allow for ovens to be placed, which takes away a significant part of student life for me - where’s all the plates piling up and the frustration of trying to cook whilst four of your flatmates have their pasta waiting to boil too? One thing that is definitely not reflected in my real university experience is how my sim’s roommates randomly come in with plates of lobster thermidor, cookies and cakes. In my halls, it was more like mouldy bowls and forgotten sour milk...
8
The number of expansion packs currently available for The Sims 4
DiscoverUniversityisfunandchallenging,asthetermslast for only five weekdays. Imagine trying to do a presentation, exam and an essay in just five days, before doing it all again a day later. If you want to avoid the realities of your
degree just like me, give The Sims 4 Discover University a go… just don’t forget to actually do some real-life studying every now and then.
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culture science
c2.science@ncl.ac.uk Science Editors Eleanor Gratton, Patrick Harland & Seshadhri Subramanian
the courier
Monday 25 November 2019
Is fusion the future? Em Richardson debates nuclear fusion and nuclear fission
entists are trying to figure out ways of controlling nuclear fusion, in the hopes that it might also be used to generate nuclear power, since it creates less radioactive waste than fission.
Fusion reactors aren't expected to be available for use until 2050
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uclear fission is the process of splitting one atom into two, releasing heat energy. It has been used to generate nuclear power since 1940, when scientists produced the first successful nuclear reactor. In comparison, nuclear fusion is the process of generating heat energy by joining together two lighter atoms, creating one larger atom. Currently, sci-
Image:Flickr
However, progress has been slow, as scientists have struggled to find a way to make the amount of energy obtained from the reaction viable for power production. Research into nuclear fusion began in the 1950s, yet a fusion-powered reaction still hasn’t been used in a power station. Currently, just 25 “experimental” fusion reactors exist around the globe. Fusion reactors are not expected to be available for commercial use until at least 2050. The development of fusion reactors has faced other pitfalls too. They are extremely expensive to build, with no guarantee of success. Reaching the temperatures required for nuclear fusion, which usually occurs within the sun, on Earth is a monumental task. Evidence suggests that, in past experiments, the energy used to reach temperatures of, at the very least, 100 million degrees, has actually been
greater than the energy ultimately given out out by the fusion reaction. Critics have also pointed out that fusion requires tritrium- a radioactive element that is scarcely found in nature.
25
The number of "experimental" fusion reactors around the globe
Of course, there would be several positives to the use of fusion in power generation, if it can ever be controlled. The other element required in fusion- deuterium can be distilled from seawater, and the lack of a ‘chain reaction’ means fusion could potentially be easier to control than fission. In fission, the ‘chain reaction’ is the process of splitting an atom’s nucleus, creating neutrons, which go on to hit other atoms’ nuclei, leading them to split too. When a chain reaction occurs within a fission reactor, several methods are used to ‘cool’ the reactor’s core, ensuring the reaction stays under control. If the zirconium “fuel rods” involved in this process ever reach a temperature where they melt, causing a nuclear ‘meltdown’, the reaction would essentially speed up to the extent that it could not be contained within thr reactor. In a fusion reaction, there is no risk of such an event, leading some to argue that it could be a safer form of power generation. Overall, it seems time, and much more research, will tell if nuclear fusion can ever be a feasible method of commercial power generation.
A vital anti-tuberculosis drug has a massive price slash
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Alex Darbyshire reports on the latest move by Sanofi to reduce the costs and help in the treatment of latent tuberculo-
ccording to a World Health Organisation report released on 17 October, deaths caused by tuberculosis have been reduced by 27% among those who are HIV-negative, and 60% among those who are HIV-positive since the turn of the millenium. While this may sound like great news on it’s own, what’s even better is the price of rifapentine, a drug that was previously extremely expensive, has just had an enormous price cut. Sanofi, a worldwide pharmaceutical company have cut the cost of a course of rifapentine by 66%, from $45 to
The price of rifapentine, an extremely expensive drug, has been cut
$15. This follows an international agreement made be- drug called isoniazid, which stops production of tubertween Sanofi and Unitaid, a group who fund the world- culosis cell walls. wide prevention of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria by The action of rifapentine itself working with pharmaceutical companies. prevents bacterial RNA proThis deal was specifically made to duction. Rifapentine is able to help prevent cases of latent do this because has it strongly tuberculosis. These binds to the active sites of RNA are cases where polymerase, the enzyme repatients sponsible for producing show very subRNA. The reason tle or no symptoms, this is a particularly and are not contagious. effective treatment Between 85 and 170 milis due to rifapentine lion of these cases per year will also having a very low binding develop into active tuberculosis, ability to the enzymes simiwhich is the more aggressive form lar to RNA polymerase in that most people are aware of. mammals, preventing Rifapentine, often sold commerany unwanted inhicially as Priftin, is an antibiotic used in bition. In cases of Image:E the treatment of both latent and active tuberlatent TB, this will mma M onagha culosis, and is always used as one part of a much stop the developn broader course of antimycobacterial treatment. In the ment of cells as they case of latent TB, this is often combined with another can no longer synthesise proteins.
The implications of this are global . With this treatment and others like it becoming cheaper on a global scale, they will become more widely accessible for less economically developed countries, where expensive treatments are less readily available for those with average income. What’s more promising is that in 2015, the price in the USA was between $100 and $150, so this reduction of price is setting an incredible trend.
66%
The cost cut percentage for a course of rifapentine (from $45 to $15)
Regarding TB’s increasing resistance to most antibiotic treatments, this reduction in price is a short term solution at best. Provided that one of the main contributors to the rise of antibiotic resistant TB are patients not completing courses of antibiotics, more available treatments may only temporarily fix or in fact inflame the problem if the result is more incomplete courses. Ultimately, prevention would be a much more permanent solution to rising cases of TB.
Virus linked to climate change Carter Levy on another lethal consequence of ice loss
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Image:Flickr
new investigation on the spread of a virus, deadly to some marine mammals, has linked its spread to a loss of Arctic sea ice, potentially demonstrating new consequences of climate change. The extensive study, published in Scientific Reports, used a variety of methods to determine the presence of the virus and model its potential spread. Methods used include tracking animals using satellites, taking samples from living marine mammals and from those found dead. The analytical technique called real time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) was used to identify the virus and determine how much was present in samples taken. The virus is known as Phocine distemper virus (PDV), usually found in the North Atlantic Ocean and can be deadly to the European Harbour seals found there. However, the new report shows “widespread exposure and infection” across the North Pacific Ocean with “peaks in exposure in 2003 and 2009”. The transportation of this virus to the Pacific is thought to be made possible by the loss of Arctic sea ice which previously blocked the route. The data shows an open route between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans prior
to peaks in virus detection. Scientists believe that PDV may have crossed the Arctic through a chain of different species of marine animals. These transmissions are made possible by their now overlapping habitats. PDV was even identified in northern sea otters, a sub-Artic species in the North Pacific, showing just how far the virus has spread. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) stated in an article on their website that “when it comes to sea ice, 95% of the oldest and thickest ice in the Arctic is already gone.” Although no deaths have been recorded as being directly caused by PDV in the Pacific Ocean, the study notes that “the virus may have contributed to sporadic northern sea otter deaths, including those that occurred during an unusual mortality event from 2004–2006” and “to sporadic Steller sea lion deaths (PCR positive tissues in dead animals in this study).” The health risks for this spread are unknown and although transmissions between the Pacific and Atlantic may increase in the coming years, as “open water routes between along the Russian coast have occurred every August and/or September since 2008”, nobody is certain about the long term outcome.
the courier
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Monday 25 November 2019
@culture_courier thecourieronline.co.uk/science
Climate change: the planet meets politics Lilla Marshall raises concerns about priorities when voting
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abour has reported Sky News to Ofcom, claiming that their dubbing of the upcoming general election as “the Brexit Election” gives weight to the “political agenda of the Conservatives”. In their complaint, the party wrote “Voters might consider it to be The NHS Election, The Climate Election or The Foodbanks Election, depending on their priorities.” Ipsos MORI, a British market research company, has reported that Brexit has been the first topic on most people’s minds. 55% of people polled said that Brexit would be an important thing to help them consider who to vote for. In a close second, 54% said healthcare and the NHS would be on their minds. Despite the rise of the Extinction Rebellion, only 27% said that the environment and the response to climate change would be something they would consider when voting – putting it in 5th place, behind crime and care for the elderly, but ahead of the economy and immigration. Despite the pressing issues of climate change and the rise of figureheads such as Greta Thunberg and the Extinction
Rebellion, climate change does not seem to be on the public’s minds, this election. According to YouGov, 54% of Brits opposed the actions of the Extinction Rebellion in London, compared to the 36% who supported them (10% didn’t know). Interestingly, 73% of Leave voters opposed their actions, compared to 38% of Remain voters.
73%
Percentage of leave voters oppose the actions of Extinction Rebellion
With experts concerned that it might already be too late to stop climate change, are we dropping the ball by not prioritising climate change further as a nation? No manifestos have been released yet – although Labour passed a policy at a conference aiming for zero carbon emissions by 2030, with the Conservatives committed to the goal of 2050.
Image:Needpix
science culture
No cannabis for chronic pain
Phillip Etchells on the NHS' refusal to approve cannabis treatment
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he National Institute for Health and Care ExIn 2018, the UK law on cannabis was amended, limiting cellence (NICE) has recently approved cannabis medicine prescriptions to peotwo cannabis-based medicinal ple under special circumstances products (CBMPs) to treat and only done by specialist epilepsy and multiple clinicians. Currently, sclerosis (MS). Howjust 18 NHS preever, the watchdog scriptions have has refused to been provided re commend since the cannabis for legalisation chronic pain, among other of certain tre atmentresistant CBMPs conditions, du e last year. to current reThis change search being took place “limited and of after the high low quality”. profile case of One reason NICE’s 12 year old Billy decision has been critiCaldwell, who had Image:Pixabay cised is because the ruling his cannabis medicine only applies to the NHS in Engconfiscated by customs officials at land. The announcement has not come Heathrow airport. His family had travelled with funding, meaning that access will depend on local to Canada to obtain the medicine for Billy’s life-threatenNHS funding decisions. Genevieve Edwards, from the ing epilepsy because it was still illegal to prescribe it in the MS Society commented that they were “bitterly disap- UK. pointed” with NICE’s verdict because “it means thouA positive outcome of the announcement is that by sands of people with MS will continue to be denied an 2021, one neuropsychopharmacologist wants to produce effective treatment”. Professor Mike Barnes, the chair of Europe’s largest body of evidence for cannabis medicine. the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society, also criticised Despite disapproving of NICE’s refusal to endorse cannaNICE’s failure to acknowledge “alternative, valid sources bis medicines, Professor David Nutt hopes to enrol 20,000 of evidence” and claimed those in favour of medical can- people suffering from various conditions in Project 21 – a nabis were “excluded from the process and NICE com- study which has been backed by the Royal College of Psymittee”. chiatrists. It will involve conditions shown to be susceptible to the drug, including chronic pain, anxiety, Tourette’s and PTSD, as well as epilepsy and MS. The lack of funding However, until more evidence is produced, criminality remains a very real issue for those who cannot afford primeans access is vate prescriptions, which can cost up to £3000. Hopefully, dependent on local perceptions and laws about cannabis will change with the growing evidence because currently, many people are sufNHS funding choices fering or being criminalised for seeking out ways to treat their conditions.
UCAS reports increased applications for medicine courses in UK
Carl Smith Valdez on the higher number of applicants for medicine and allied courses and if it will help alleviate the NHS' ongoing crisis
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ecent figures from University and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) reported that 23,710 applications were made to study a medicine degree at UK universities next September. The application deadlines for Medicine, Veterinary Science and Dentistry courses for the next academic year was the 15th of October. The records show a 6% increase of applicants compared to last year. The admissions figures show a total of 18,500 UK applicants, indicating a 5% increase from last year. Medicine applications by EU students have risen by 1%, with 1,680 applications. Applicants outside the EU are up by 10% to 3,530.
For the third consecutive year, English universities have continued the expansion of available places at medical school.
Simply increasing numbers will not lead to the desired improvement
Newcastle University offers a five-year Medicine degree
at undergraduate level. The programme is accredited by the General Medical Council (GMC). The course is ranked as top 10 in the UK by The Times Good University Guide 2020. James Prowse, the Vice-President of Newcastle Medicine Society, considers the increase as beneficial. He said: “Our professional association – the British Medical Association – had been calling for increases in places for over a decade and it’s unfortunate that it took this long for the increase." "I am however heartened by the rise in applications from disadvantaged pupils, as this reflects the efforts made both at Newcastle and other medical schools with
NASA Voyager-ing through space
Patrycza Ubysz reports on NASA's latest space mission findings
E
arly in November 2019, NASA confirmed Voyager 2 leaving the heliosphere and entering interstellar space. The unexpected results that followed were published in a series of five papers in Nature Astronomy. The heliosphere is a bubble through which the Sun’s magnetic field and wind is propagated. The solar plasma, which is a mixture of charged particles and atoms, does not mix with interstellar medium, because of their different nature when it comes to their densities, temperatures and origin. The heliosphere extends from the Sun to Pluto, and shields the whole system from interstellar radiation. The Voyager mission was initially designed to last 5 years and study Jupiter, Saturn and their moons and the spacecrafts were launched in 1977. After reaching their goal, they were reprogrammed to reach distances beyond the solar system. Voyager 1 crossed the heliosphere border in August 2012 and Voyager 2 in November 2018. Interestingly, Voyager 1 was launched later than its twin but due to gravity assist mechanisms used, it reached its goal first and is till date the fastest object in space made by humans. Voyager 1 provided valuable information on the boundary of the heliosphere. Some expectations were confirmed, with cosmic radiation levels increasing rapidly, while the particles characteristic to the sun were no longer detectable. However, some observations were quite surprising, such as the discovery of a
magnetic field between the heliosphere and interstellar space not changing its direction as markedly as expected. The spacecraft’s plasma detector was destroyed early in the mission and the data could be incomplete.
1997
The year both the Voyager spacecrafts were launched into space
Voyager 2’s working instrument obtained more detailed data regarding the densities, temperatures and magnetic fields, leading to better understanding of the nature of the heliosphere’s borders and the interstellar space. It indicated that the heliosphere is not a static, rigid bubble. It seems to move and “breathe” depending on the sun’s activity. The spacecraft’s data also confirmed that the magnetic fields on the boundary are aligned and made it seem more like a phenomenon rather than a surprising coincidence. The authors of the published papers state that the reason for that alignment is not yet understood. The Voyager missions provided incredibly valuable data after travelling over 10 billion miles from Earth but there is still a lot more needed to understand the nature of the heliosphere. Unfortunately, the power supply of Voyager mission is only predicted to last for less than 10 years and it is unclear whether any further similar missions are planned.
Image:Air Force Space Command
widening participation to ensure our pool of doctors reflects the society they treat.” However, Prowse also raises concerns due to the uncertain implications of Brexit on future health care. Prowse said: “International doctors are joining the NHS in fewer numbers. Large numbers of junior doctors are leaving the profession or moving abroad, in part due to a dissatisfaction with the governance of the NHS and the professional bodies such as the GMC.” “Simply increasing numbers of medical school places without addressing some of the other financial, organisational or social problems with the healthcare system will not lead to the desired improvement.”
puzzles
the courier
Monday 25 November 2019 Puzzles Editor Emma Dawson
Solutions will be revealed in next week’s issue, available on campus from 2 December
MR TAYTO’S CROSSWORD
Across
Down
1. Band fronted by Phil Collins (7) 3. War of the ____ , series of wars
1. 1978 Musical film (6) 2. Chemical element often used as a disinfectant (6) 4. 2006 Rihanna hit (1,1,1) 6. Representative of voters (1,1) 7. Nova ____ , Canadian province (6) 10. Town on the Southwest coast of Scotland (3) 12. One of the most visible constellations (5) 13. One of India’s official languages (4) 16. Popular toy first released in 1996 (3,2) 17. Debut single of Magic! (4) 18. Main rhythmic unit in music or poetry (4) 20. Alcoholic spirit flavoured with juniper berries (3)
fought between 1455 and 1487 (5) 5. Capital of Syria (8) 8. German car manufacturer (4) 9. Birthstone for October (4) 11. Murder mystery board game (6) 14. Jason and the Argonauts ship (4) 15. This is ____ tap, 1984 mockumentary film (6) 17. Sport first played in 1823 (5) 19. Dish of Tortilla chips and melted cheese (6) 21. Festival celebrating the end of Ramadan (3) 22. Long-running British soap opera (10) The first person to find Editor-inChief Grace Dean with a completed copy of the crossword wins a mysterious (AKA crap) prize from our delicious puzzles drawer
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sport
Monday 25 November 2019
Euro 2020: England ecstatic, Wales win
Your Courier Sports Sub-Editors bring you up to date with all that went on with the home nations during the International break; such a England Stanley Gilyead
England enjoyed a successful international break, coasting to a 7-0 win over Montenegro at Wembley before winning 4-0 in Kosovo. Rashford, Sterling, Sancho and Hudson-Odoi impressed out wide whilst Kane scored four goals over the two games, moving to sixth in the standings of England’s all-time top scorers. England’s attackers impressing during qualification is nothing new, the three lions have scored 37 goals in their eight qualification games, but questions remain about their defence. Whilst England kept clean sheets in both games, Kosovo and Montenegro found gaps in England’s defence when they had a rare chance to go forward, and it is suspected that if England come up against a quality attack their defensive limitations might be exposed.
If England can sort out their defence Southgate’s men will be a force to be reckoned with at the Euros
Stones and Mings didn’t make any obvious errors partnering Harry Maguire in defence, but neither looked completely comfortable. Going into next year’s Euros Gareth Southgate will be looking to find a consistent centre half pairing as a base for England’s plethora of attacking talent. The low-pressure games allowed Southgate
to have a look at a few fringe players. Harry Winks and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain probably did the most to strengthen their claims to a position in the starting lineup, with both turning in strong performances and getting on the scoresheet. Alexander-Arnold, Chilwell, Mount and Abraham were also impressive, especially given their inexperience at international level. With just over seven months to go until the Euros England’s squad is progressing nicely and if they can sort out their defence Southgate’s men will be a force to be reckoned with at the tournament
Wales Tom Moorcroft After a string of successful results against teams such as Slovakia, Hungary and Azerbaijan, the Welsh national team have confirmed their qualification for Euro 2020, after a valiant 2-0 win against Hungary. The Dragons confirmed their place in Euro 2020 after finishing second in Group E, runner-up to 2018 World-Cup Finalist’s Croatia. England fans will be aware of the prowess of this Croatian side, and Wales followed in their footsteps, recording a 1-1 draw and 2-1 loss against them. A familiar lack of form seemed to follow Wales at times during the competition, facing a couple difficult draws and defeats. Their 1-0 loss against Hungary, which saw an 80’ winner from midfielder Máté Pátkai, was a shock to fans across Europe. Many fans also questioned the confidence of their team, most evident in their performance against Azerbaijan. The fixture saw Welsh superstar Gareth Bale nab a goal in the 84’ minute, adding another goal to his 33 for
Wales. However, in a game against such supposedly weak opposition, one would expect Wales to have had a better performance, with the game ending 2-1. However, later in the competition, Wales managed to gain some momentum, and achieved payback in the return fixture. They recorded a much more confident 2-0 win against Azerbaijan, and then last week’s 2-0 win against Hungary, which saw Aaron Ramsey bag a brace to confirm their place at Euro 2020.
“It’s one of the best days of my life!” said Giggs
Speaking about the win, manager Ryan Giggs was elated, stating “It doesn’t get any better. It’s amazing. All credit to the lads. They’ve shown great determination and quality. It’s one of the best days of my life!” It’s a significant day for the ex-United legend, but Wales fans will be hoping he can continue this momentum, as Wales look forward to their 2020 campaign.
Republic of Ireland Toby Bryant Despite recording a win and a draw from last week’s two international games, Mick McCarthy’s Irish side couldn’t clinch automatic qualification for next year’s Euros, as Switzerland and Denmark sailed through from Group D. Opening with a 3-1 win in a friendly against New Zealand, goals from Derrick Williams, Sean Maguire and Sheffield United’s in-form
Derby tension spill over into England team camp Sesha Subramanian reports on the most dramatic story of the international break, Raheem Sterling and Joe Gonez’s feud All seemed well at the end of an intense ninety minutes at Anfield that saw Liverpool run out as 3-1 winners against Manchester City in what was a pivotal game to the title race. The win put the Reds 8 points clear at the top of the Premier League. Little did anyone know that the aftereffects from the game would spill over the next day.
“Sterling behaved like a bit of a child”
Joe Gomez was the first of the Liverpool players to arrive at St. George’s Park for England’s final two Euro 2020 qualifiers against Montenegro and Kosovo. As he went around the canteen, shaking hands with his teammates, Sterling snapped and said “So you think you’re the big man?” He then tried to
get Gomez in a headlock, knocking food over from the table. He “behaved like a bit of a child” one person told The Athletic. The incident lasted only ten to fifteen seconds but was the result of ninety minutes of disdain directed at him from the stands in Merseyside (including chants of “one greedy b*stard” concerning his transfer from the Reds to City in 2015). Sterling was City’s best player in the game but did seem agitated throughout – getting into skirmishes with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil Van Dijk, in addition to Gomez. The two made up after the final whistle at Anfield which made the incident at the national team setup even more surprising and shocking to the Liverpool defender. It is thought to have stemmed from the fact that pictures of the 6’2 Gomez pushing around the 5’7 Sterling went viral on social
Joe Gomez in international action Image: @LFC (Twitter)
media – subjecting the City winger to much ridicule. While his England teammates initially thought he was joking, when they realised Sterling was serious, they separated the pair of them. Gareth Southgate – who has always been vocal about not letting club rivalries dictate terms in the national camp – decided that the incident needed severe punishment. Especially considering it was just before England’s 1000th international. The Man City player was initially sent home before it took an intervention from senior England players and an apology from Sterling to Gomez for him to rejoin the team. Eventually the penalty for this was dialed down to suspension from the Montenegro game.
70%
Percentage of fans who agree with Sterling being dropped according to footballtrasnfertavern
The repurcussions continued into the game which, despite a 7-0 win over the Balkan state was more notable for the boos Gomez got from sections of England fans as he came on for Mason Mount late in the game – something that reportedly upset Gomez massively. Sterling, too, came out in support of his England teammate following the game and criticised the booing. Club rivalries spilling over into the national team were part of the reason why England’s Golden Generation never truly lived up to their name. Southgate and the FA have by and large made sure that isn’t the case with this team as they build up to Euro 2020 and beyond. The punishment may have seemed over the top but to some quarters, it may also be necessary to lay down a marker and prevent anything of the sort in the future.
Gomez and Sterling in action for their club teams Image: Instagram @skysports
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sport
Monday 25 November 2019
inning, Ireland irate and Scotland sour
as England’s mighty match-up against Montenegro, Gareth Bale’s famously funny flag, and Scotland’s short group stage campaign winger Callum Robinson eased The Green Army to victory after going one down. A clash with Denmark, first placed in the group, was up next. The Danes took the lead
3-1
Ireland’s scoreline as they defeated New Zealand last week
through a Martin Braithwaite goal, but an 85th minute equaliser from Matt Doherty clinched a point for Ireland. Nonetheless, valiant performances from a hard working side whose point against Denmark came a decade after Thierry Henry’s handball for France robbed them of a place at the 2010 World Cup, meant all is not lost. The Euro play-offs are up next, McCarthy claiming that if the side “play as well as against other teams, we can beat anyone in the playoffs.” They’re not down and out, but Ireland have some tricky matches between them and a place in next year’s Euros.
Northern Ireland Rory Ewart
Wales celebrate with the now infamous Bale flag. Image: Instagram @ bordocamo_
Despite a shock lead from Northern Ireland, a 6-1 loss to Germany has ended any hopes of them reaching the Euros next year automatically. They will now have to beat Bosnia and Herzegovina away in their play-off semi. If they were then to beat the Bosnians, they would face one of either Slovakia or the Republic of Ireland in the final. Manager Michael O’Neill, who recently took over as
Stoke City, has agreed to oversee their playoff matches. Michael Smith’s exquisite strike gave the visitors a surprise early lead, however Serge Gnabry and Leon Goretzka were both able to give the 2014 world champions a 2-1 lead going into half time. Goretzka was then able to add another along with Julian Brandt scoring too. But it was Gnabry was the real star of the show, scoring twice more to complete a well-deserved hat trick. Northern Ireland now find themselves competing in the play-offs in late March 2020 if they are to have any chance of qualifying for next summers championships. They have been selected to play Bosnia and Herzegovina inan way semi If they were able to battle past them. they will be rewarded with a home final game against potentially the Republic of Ireland, were they able to defeat Slovakia in their respective last four game.
Scotland Rory Ewart Scotland’s poor Euro Qualifying campaign came to an end, for now, with a 3-1 victory over Kazakhstan at Hampden Park. Having lost against the same opposition by a goal to nil in the opening qualifying game, manager Steve Clarke will definitely see the improvements this time around, which comes off the back of a solid 2-1 away win against Cyprus on the road. The result itself could’ve looked very different after 34 minutes, when Baktiyar Zainutdinov’s excellent finish on the edge of Scotland’s penalty area
brought a shock lead for the visitors, causing silence across the ground. A scant Hampden did see a Scottish revival in the second half, with a John McGinn brace, a player in fine form, and a Steven Naismith finish saw Scotland take the three points to finish third in the group. Scotland will now return to action in the playoffs, due to finishing top of their Nations League group, in March. They will face one
The result could have been very different, with Kazakhstan taking a shock lead on 34 minutes
of Bulgaria, Hungary, Israel or Romania in their semi-final game, which will be played at Hampden. If they manage to defeat that opponent, then Norway or Serbia will be awaiting them in the playoff final, a one-off game that could lead Scotland to their first Euros since 1996.
1996
The last year Scotland got past the group stage
The play-off draw has placed Scotland against Israel in March at Hampdon Park. If they manage to defeat them, they will face an away trip to the winner of Norway and Serbia, in a game which Scotland would have to be branded as underdogs for.
Was Saracen’s punishment too harsh?
Tomo Clarkson and Stanley Gilyead debate whether Saracen’s deserve their hefty point deduction and fine for breaking wage Fully Deserved Tomo Clarkson
Saracens RFC have been fined over £5 million and docked 35 points after breaching salary cap rules put in place to prevent the monopolisation of the top of English rugby by the mega-wealthy. Now, with Saracens accepting their charges, other professional teams look to increase the punishment, through increasing the penalties even further or potentially even removal from the league. It would take a die-hard Saracens fan, all 20 or so of them, to claim that what they did was not wrong. There are structures in place and breaking them deserves punishing. But, like in a game of rugby itself, the punishment for the offence is decided before the action is made. What sort of example does it give if when caught, the league’s other teams can simply decide whatever punishment they want?
It would take a diehard Saracens fan, all 20 or so of them, to claim what they did was not wrong
And to discuss the punishments themselves, what is risked if they are further punished? Exeter demanded that they be kicked out of the league. That not only devalues the punishment process, but the wealth of talent that Saracens possess, talent that England’s World Cup campaign was built on, would be sent into limbo for a year, not playing at a high standard. If the desire of the Premiership
is to kill the progress of the national side then this is the way to go about it.
Too Harsh Stanley Gilyead
Whilst Saracens were undoubtedly wrong to break salary cap rules and must be punished appropriately, it is unfortunate that the points deduction handed out to the club will mostly impact upon the fans, a totally innocent group of people who are probably as appalled at their club’s actions as the rest of the rugby world.
35
The number of point Saracens have had deducted due to salary cap misdemeanors
Whilst Saracens have been handed a £5 million fine along with the deduction of 35 points this amounts to loose change for their owner Nigel Wray, who is estimated to be worth £315 million. Whilst Mr Wray is sunning himself in his French mansion, lamenting the fact that his vast wealth now only amounts to £310 million, diehard Saracen fans will be forced to watch their team fight against relegation, through no fault of their own and based on nothing that has happened on the field of play. Yes, the Saracens fans enjoyed their moments in the sun, two Premiership titles and two Champions Cups were won over the three year period that Saracens broke league rules, but it is improper that the man who did the crime is not the one who will face the consequences. Throughout sport normal working men
and women have had to pay for the financial irregularities of their club’s millionaire owners, most notably at Bury FC this summer. The league could have applied any number of measure to properly punish the man who committed the crimes, a fine proportional to his wealth, the withholding of future prizemoney or even taking the club out of his ownership. Instead they’ve treated fans and players alike as Mr Wray’s human shield, forcing them to pay the price for their owner’s actions purely to avoid having to stand up to a powerful, wealthy man.
Throughout sport normal working men and women have had to pay for their club’s millionaire owner’s financial irregularities
The punishment may also affect the England international team. England coach Eddie Jones said “There might be some Saracens players who feel like they’ve got to play for their club instead of their country, to make sure they don’t go down”, casting doubt over whether England’s Saracens players, including captain Owen Farrell, will be available to play in next year’s Six Nations. As the saying goes, if you can’t do the crime don’t do the crime. It is therefore unfortunate that the punishment given to Saracen’s will affect those with no involvement in the crime, thousands of England and Saracens fans worldwide, rather than the true perpetrator of the crime, Nigel Wray.
Saracens have had 35 points deducted Image: Instagram @ nugenerationrugby
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sport
Monday 25 November 2019
Time to say goodbye: Spurs fans lament Poch departure Tottenham Hotspur fan Andrew White gives his view on the departure of Pochettino as Spurs fans come to terms with losing their heroic gaffer
Mauricio Pochettino has been sacked as manager of Tottenham Hotspur after five and a half years at the club. On Tuesday night the news broke that Mauricio Pochettino had been sacked by Daniel Levy; at 6am Wednesday morning José Mourinho was already appointed Spurs’ manager. From a Spurs’ fan perspective, I feel Pochettino has been treated unfairly and should have been given more time. However, I am excited by Jose’s appointment and believe he could take Tottenham to the ‘next step’-winning trophies. The timing of the sacking was the surprise, more than the sacking itself. With Spurs’ having only accumulated 24 points from 25 games since February. This form is bound to improve under Jose Mourinho, hopefully starting with a win against West Ham on Saturday. However, even if Mourinho wins trophies, Pochettino’s influence should not be forgotten.
time in my life, he made us believe we’d win trophies. In 15-16 & 16-17 Tottenham became a much more unpopular team to rival fans, why? Because we were a threat.
Mourinho will teach Tottenham to do. No matter what José achieves, no one should forget Poch’s roll in getting Tottenham there. Thank you for making us proud. Thank you for the memories, boss.
51.6%
Twitter Reacts
Pochettino’s win ratio over his time at Tottenham
“Pochettino has won no trophies” pundits say. Well so what? He did something much more important. He made us proud to be Spurs, not embarrassed after the rather questionable days of Tim Sherwood and AVB. No moment signifies this pride more than the semi-final comeback against Ajax last year. The pride and emotion I felt in that moment won’t be matched by a League Cup or FA Cup win (Which I expect Mourinho to bring). I remember how I felt when we won the 2008 League Cup Final and the Lucas Moura moment means more, much more. The connection Pochettino shared with Spurs fans is special and it’s an affection I’ve never felt for a manager before.
Pochettino stated “I want to make you proud”. Well Mauricio Thank you for making you achieved that, us proud. Thank you and more for the memories, In his first interview as Tottenham man- boss
ager, Pochettino stated “I want to make you proud to be a Tottenham Hotspur fan, I want to make you proud”. Well Mauricio you achieved that, and more. Pochettino embraced the club, he became a fan, he made Tottenham a threat. For the first
I give my full support to Jose, as I would any Spurs manager and I expect him to win trophies, but he’ll win them with Pochettino’s players, Pochettino’s team. Pochettino taught Tottenham to dare,
Harry Kane @HKane
“Gaffer. I’ll be forever thankful to you for helping me achieve my dreams. We’ve had some amazing moments in the last 5 and a half years that I will never forget. You were my manager but my friend as well and I thank you for that relationship. Good luck with you next chapter!” 213k 20k Dele Alli @dele_official “I can’t thank this man enough. He’s taught me so much and I’m so grateful for everything he’s done for me. Good luck and hope to see you again my friend.” 13.7k
140k
Gary Lineker @GaryLineker “Mauricio Pochettino has been sacked by @SpursOfficial. He helped the club to punch massively above their weight for years. Good luck with finding a better replacement... ain’t gonna happen.”
Spurs’ departing hero, Mauriccio Pochettino Image: Instagram @lepaysdufoot
149k 20.1k Images: Wikimedia Commons
Pandomonium at Sao Paulo GP The Courier’s resident F1 expert Sesha Subramanian reports on Max Verstappen’s victory in a chaotic Brazillian Grand Prix
A stunning second place finish for Toro Rosso’s Pierre Gasly, an agonising end for Alex Albon, midfield drama, the two Ferraris crashing each other out, two safety cars and Carlos Sainz’s recovery from 20th to 3rd – the Brazilian Grand Prix may not have decided the championship
this year but it lived up to its reputation of delivering exciting races. Max Verstappen started on pole position, Sebastian Vettel was in second and Hamilton 3rd. Charles Leclerc qualified fourth but took a 10-place grid penalty for changing engine components, pushing Valteri
Bottas into 4th and Alex Albon into 5th. Pierre Gasly also had a strong qualifying, starting 6th. The race began at frenetic pace as Charles Leclerc quickly climbed up to sixth. The first incident of note was when Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo and Haas’ Kevin Magnus-
sen crashed at Turn 4 with the Australian late on his brakes as he made a move on the inside of the Dane. The Australian received a 5-second penalty but both drivers continued. Verstappen continued to show the strong speed he had shown all through the weekend and quickly pulled away from the pack as Hamilton charged past Vettel to take second. Hamilton tried to undercut Verstappen by pitting on lap 21 and moving to soft tyres but the Dutchman covered it by pitting the next lap. Hamilton however took the race lead as Verstappen got held up by Williams’ Robert Kubica being released early from the pitlane. Max then decided enough was enough and overtook both Charles Leclerc and Hamilton to secure the lead after the first round of pit stops.
The Brazilian GP may not have decided the championship but it delivered exciting races
Max Verstappen celebrates his win in the Brazilian GP Image: Instagram @skysportsf1,
The first safety car of the race was deployed on lap 52 after Valteri Bottas had strained the engine chasing Leclerc, forcing him to retire with a smoking car. Verstappen pitted under the safety car and switched to soft tyres, emerging second behind Hamilton who had stayed out. On the safety car restart, Versta pen immediately passed Hamilton on turn 1 while his teammate Alex Albon passed Sebastian Vettel right behind the pair. Six laps later all hell broke loose and this time, the two Ferraris were in the thick of it. Leclerc passed Vettel down turn 1 for fourth position but the German came back immediately on the straight following turn
3. Vettel tried passing him on the outside and ended up tagging his teammate’s front wing – causing a front right puncture for Leclerc and a rear left puncture for himself. A second safety car was brought out with both drivers fuming at each other.
All hell broke loose and this time, the two Ferraris were in the thick of it
At the restart with 2 laps to go, Alex Albon left too inviting a gap down the inside at Turn 8, leading Lewis Hamilton to divebomb him there. The move did not end well for either of them as Albon tried to shut the door while Lewis was too far committed to pull out of it – leading the world champion to spin Albon around. The BritThai driver who was on track for his first podium in Formula 1 then only finished 14th. Hamilton had front wing damage from the collision and was given a five second penalty after the race. This allowed Gasly to leapfrog both of them into second place on the back straight to take his first podium in Formula 1. Behind them, Carlos Sainz made a onestop strategy work brilliantly as he moved up from 20th on the grid to finish 4th. Hamilton’s penalty meant that Sainz got his first podium in Formula 1. Alfa Romeo also had a good outing as Raikkonen and Giovinazzi finished 4th and 5th. Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo shook off the early contact and a 5 second penalty to finish 6th. Max Verstappen took revenge for his disappointing finish last year when the race win was taken out of his hands, but the 2019 Brazilian GP will be remembered more for the chaos behind him.
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Monday 25 November 2019
NUAXC tackle Edinburgh’s Braids Hill BUCS
RESULTS
Sports Editor Toby Bryant reports on Newcastle University’s Athletics and Cross-Country Club’s latest conquests
Cross-Country
Edinburgh Braids Hill 2019
Toby Bryant at Braids Hill
BADMINTON
M1 v Edinburgh 1sts W1 v Loughborough 1sts W2 v Leeds 1sts
Edinburgh’s Braids Hill is a challenging opponent under the feet of a cross-country runner on the best of days. Turn the narrow, undulating 210-metre descent into a slippery mudbath and it’s enough to scare even the most brave-hearted away. Nonetheless, once the captains had decided which train was indeed the correct one, a squad of 35 Newcastle University Athletics and Cross Country Club (NUAXC) athletes met at Newcastle Central to travel up to the Scottish capital in high spirits.
Runners were plunged into the three-kilometer upand-down descent along the mountain’s edge
7-1 2-6 5-3
BASKETBALL
M1 v Manchester Met 1sts M3 v Huddersfield 1sts W1 v Edinburgh 1sts W2 v Sheffield 1sts
FENCING
M2 v Durham 3rds W1 v Aberdeen 1sts
88-80 52-66 30-81 15-76 42-134 135-66
FOOTBALL
M1 v Glasgow 1sts 2-2 (4-3 pens) M2 v Northumbria 2nds 0-5 M3 v York SJ 5ths 3-6
GOLF NUAXC’s 10 km team Photo: NUXC
An annual mainstay in the cross-country calendar, Edinburgh’s Braids Hill sees the likes of Durham University, Leeds University, Aberdeen University, the University of Liverpool and the University of Manchester all take to the hilly course. Once numbers were collected and an invasion of curious squirrels into the Edinburgh Sports Centre was avoided, NUAXC trekked up to Braids Hill. A tricky course renowned
for its one big hill awaited. A steep and rocky 210-metre ascent over the first kilometre gave way to a stunning view of the city, before runners were plunged into the three-kilometre up-and-down descent along the mountain’s muddy edge. First up were the 5km runners, 1st year Jack Douglas the first home in a time of 17:73, placing 17th overall in a category of 232. Next up was Elswick Harriers’ very own Amy Fuller in 19:31, followed by Shona Haston whose tactical racing saw her pip Toby Bryant on the
final stretch, both bleeding and with mouthfuls of mud having fallen foul to the Scottish sludge. Returners Alex Peck and Anne Keeble also raced well, as did athletics runners Emily Davis, Alice Nottingham, Laura Fuller and Phila Numminen, who all tried their hands at a longer distance. Next up were the 10km competitors, led by captain Chris Larkin in a stunning time of 32:56 to bound into a Top 10 finish out of the 215 runners. Oh boy, we love to see it. The trio of David Warnes, Toby Loveday and Sam Hansen all followed well under the 40-minute mark, as NUAXC veteran David Gaskin found form spicier than a jalfrezi to run the two-laps in a faster average speed than the
32:56 NUAXC’s 5 km team Photo: NUXC
Captain Chris’ cruised to a 32:56 on the course
one he competed in last year. Other captain, Lauren Davies-Beckett was the first female home in 43:45, Rebecca Charlton and Emily Oakshott not too far behind. Special mentions to fresher runners Will Brockman, Evan Hosking, Chris Rob-
inson, Luke Mansell, Harry Shingleton and James Dickinson for their first time taking on the two Braids laps. Captain Davies-Beckett told The Courier: “It was so good to see such a great turnout for the race. This year we’ve got such a great group of runners. Everyone can feel proud of their performances at the weekend with clear signs of so much improvement this season al-
210m
The elevation incline on the Braids Hill course
ready. Can’t wait to see what the squad can do in Leeds next month!” Strong running all-round saw great improvements on last years’ performances and NUAXC leaving with heads held high to enjoy the social of haggis and ceilidh dancing that was waiting, before a bleary-eyed return to The Toon the next morning. Next up for the squad - Leeds Cross-Country relays on December 7th.
Lightning strikes twice as Hardly win again Sports Editor and Hardly Athletic manager Rory Ewart reports on last week’s miraculous win for Hardly Athletic
Hardly Athletic INTRA-MURAL FOOTBALL Treble Pogba and Koke
sport
5 3
Rory Ewart at Cochrane Park Yes, you read that correctly. In the same week as Scotland winning the World Cup and Joleon Lescott winning the Ballon d’Or, Hardly Athletic beat Treble Pogba and Koke by five goals to three. Of course, the latter ‘news’ items are mere fantasy, but Hardly Athletics’ win very much happened, with the magic taking place on an extremely wet Saturday afternoon at Cochrane Park. Kick-off was scheduled for 2:30, and in typical Hardly fashion, they were without a full compliment of 11 players with five minutes before kick-off. Cue manager Rory Ewart running to lost property to ask for some spare shin pads and borrowing a size 10 pair of boots (apparently two sizes too big for him) in order to make a miraculous start for Athletic, having retired many, many years ago. As for the opposition, Treble Pogba and Koke had been warming up with intensive drills for the previous 45 minutes. They had
five subs, a rest list of players not selected, hosted weekly training sessions, and, most notably, all turned up wearing the same kit. It’s fair to say that even a non-betting man would be struggling not to back the Trebles; they looked slick, uniform. Momentum was very much against Hardly, with the opening 15 minutes being a cagey affair and much of the action being played in the final third of Hardly Athletics’ half.
Coach Ewart’s plan was simple, “launch the darn thing and win the second ball”
An opportunistic moment led to a brief chance for Athletic. Chance met, chance taken. Omar Akram prodding home to give the game its first goal. First blood Hardly. The remainder of the half saw Hardly employ a no-nonsense “get rid” tactic, think Stoke City early this decade and you won’t be far off. Amazingly, the tactic proved to be paying dividends, with an unlucky faze
of play leading to the Pogba’s scoring on the 35-minute mark. With most of the Hardly players looking to secure even stevens for half time, an amazing Cruyff-like turn from Omar Akram led to a through ball being dispatched by Callum Spooner for Hardly to take a half time lead of 2-1. Coach Ewart’s game plan was simple for the second half, “launch the darn thing and win the second ball.” This tactic, whilst not pretty, worked to dramatic effect for the entire second half. Hardly were able to find the net on two more occasions, James Stansfield and Mike Marsh winning the second ball after monumental clearances from keeper Will Channing. In between both of those Mike Marsh scored a tidy free-kick from the edge of the box to complete a brace of goals for him. The Koke’s did manage to reply with each goal, resulting in a 5-3 final score. The players looked ecstatic but perhaps would’ve celebrated more had they had some subs to aid with tiredness. Dead on their feet but the job was done. Three points were Hardly’s. Particular mentions must go to the centreback partnership for the day, Tom Nash, usual centre mid, filled in purely because he
was “tall”. He used that ‘tallness’ to devastating effect, keeping a tight ship at the back. Alongside him, Rob Litster was immense, his clear communication, with timely challenges, led to a number of goal-scoring opportunities being thwarted. At the time of release, Hardly’s next game is against ACS Tigers on Saturday 30th November on Cochrane Park grass pitch. As always, any support would be much appreciated by players and coaches alike. FOOTBALL Intra Mural Saturday Div 3
Pld
W
D
L
Pts
1 Bayern Med
5
5
0
0
15
2 Mech Eng 11s
5
4
0
1
12
3 Club de Wickbean 6
3
0
3
9
4 CompSci FC
6
3
0
3
9
5 ACS Tigers
5
3
0
2
9
6 Hardly Athletic
6
2
0
4
6
7 Treble Pogba
6
2
0
4
6
8 Scouting for Goals 5
0
0
5
0
1sts v Durham 2nds 2nds v Hull 1sts
HOCKEY
Rearranged 5-1
M1 v Heriot-Watt 1sts 1-1 (3-4) W1 v Loughborough 2nds 1-1 W2 v Nottingham 3rds 0-5 W5 v York 1sts 0-2
LACROSSE
M2 v Keele 1sts W1 v Birmingham 1sts W2 v Leeds 2nds W3 v Durham 4ths
NETBALL
1sts v St Andrews 1sts
RUGBY UNION
1-11 11-14 11-7 6-20 55-38
M1 v Edinburgh 1sts 40-0 M2 v Strathclyde 1sts 17-24 M4 v York SJ 1sts Walkover to NCL W1 v Leeds Beckett 1sts 5-33 W2 v York SJ 1sts Rearranged
RUGBY LEAGUE
2nds v Leeds Trinity 1sts
SQUASH
M1 v Leeds 1sts M2 v Liverpool 1sts W2 v York 1sts
TABLE TENNIS
22--14 4-1 5-0 0-4
M1 v Sheffield 1sts 9-8 M2 v Sheffield 3rds 17-0 M3 v York 2nds 12-5 W2 v York 2nds 0-5 W3 v Durham W/O to Durham
TENNIS
M1 v Glasgow 1sts 5-1 M2 v Leeds Beckett 5ths 6-6 W1 v Glasgow 1sts Glasgow win W2 v Sheffield Hallam 1sts 5-1
VOLLEYBALL
M1 v Sheffield Hallam 1sts W2 v Leeds 2nds
3-2 3-0
WATERPOLO W1 v Manchester 1sts
13-12
ROY KEANE’S QUOTE CORNER
Roy here, the team at Courier Sport have asked if I’d supply my favourite quote from this week in this space. I said no, this is a daft idea. Looks like they’ve gone ahead and done it anyway. Here’s the quote from Mourinho’s press conference last week: Reporter: Jose, four years ago when you were at Chelsea you were asked whether you’d come to Spurs, you said “never, I love the Chelsea fans too much!” What’s changed? Mourinho: That was before I was sacked.
sport the courier
Monday 25 November 2019 Issue 1399 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
Historic comeback helps Newcastle to darts clean sweep NUDS President Matthew Alcindor-Day tells all about Newcastle University’s Darts Team’s extraordinary heroics in Hull earlier this month
Newcastle Uni’s heroes of Hull Image: Harry Willoughby
DARTS
Hull 1s Newcastle 1s Hull 2s Newcastle 2s
1 10 5 6
Matthew Alcindor-Day at Hull University On Saturday 9 November Newcastle University Darts Teams travelled down to Hull for their first away game of the season. Despite being stranded in Leeds for an hour due to train delays both the 1st and 2nd teams arrived in good spirits. The 2nd team played first and got off to an unlucky start, losing the first five games meaning the score was 5-0 to Hull. What proceeded to happen was one of the greatest comebacks in university darts history! In order to be victorious Newcastle 2nds
Inside Sport today >>>
Cross country NUXC report from their latest race in Edinburgh Page 39
had to win all six singles matches meaning not one player could afford to slip up. The tone was set by Nathan Dixon who calmly won his game giving a slight glimmer of hope with the score at 5-1.
5-1
Newcastle 2s were down 5-1 before launching a comeback
Excellent performances from Sam Parsons, Adam Jones and Luke Whittaker meant that the 2nd team captain Harry Willoughby stepped up to the oche with the chance to level the game at 5-5. He did so comfortably, checking out from 90 in two darts, showing why he is 2nd team captain. This meant it all came down to the final game involving Luke Newsholme. Could he
handle the pressure? In what was a tight first leg Luke clutched the first double to put himself 1-0 up in a best of 3 game. He only needed one more leg to secure the match for the second team. His scoring was good getting down to a double only to leave himself double 2. One missed dart and he would land himself in the madhouse (double 1).
“In all my years of uni darts I’ve never seen anything like it”
President Matthew Alcindor-Day
But Newsholme showed his class, hitting the double 2 to complete a historic comeback for the 2nds, one of the greatest in UK Uni-
Verstappen wins
Sesha Subramanian disects the Brazil Grand Prix from Sãu Paulo Page 38
versity Darts history. The match will forever be known as ‘Hullstanbul’. Next stepped up the 1st team, spurred on by the 2nd team’s success. They quickly raced into a 5-0 lead with victories in both the trebles and doubles games, it was now time for the singles. Captain Lewis Nicholson was eager for the team not to fall into the same trap Hull had just fallen into. Hull won the first singles game leaving the team thinking “surely not?” However, continuing the tone of the match, the 1sts stormed into a comfortable 10-1 win with Liam Davenport securing the match in the next game. Wins by from Ben Arkless, President Matthew Alcindor-Day, Paul Mainwaring and Lewis Nicholson followed. The clean sweep prompted euphoric reactions from the teams. 2nd team captain Harry Willoughby said “Incredibly proud of this historic comeback! Always knew the
lads had it in them! Hullstanbul will be talked about for many years to come, bring on the next fixture!” Whilst 1st team captain Lewis Nicholson declared, “The lads played brilliantly, the freshers look promising for the rest of the season, the rest of the teams in the league should be scared. On to the next one!”
Newsholme completed one of the greatest comebacks in UK university darts history
The highest praise of all came from President Matthew Alcindor-Day, who said “In all my years of uni darts I’ve never seen anything like it! Very proud of both teams, next up it’s the big one! Newcastle 1sts vs Newcastle 2nds!”
Euros 2020
The Courier Sport team update you on the home nations’ progress Page 36