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ROAST OF THE WEEK A loophole for comedy, and therefore a noose for quality. Laughter tracks sound little more than a half-hearted apology from a writer who has chosen a paycheque over a credible legacy.

They should not be discredited altogether, as there is valid argument for them: they add a lightness to many sitcoms, with which the genuine comedy of a script is able to play. However, the tragedy comes from when these programmes begin to substitute real-life chuckles for the slightly sinister alternative of canned laughter.

One quick Google of the Big Bang Theory opens up a dangerous wormhole of flat lines and awkward- ness. The function of these ghoulish giggles is dif- ferent in shows like this. Rather than drawing from jokes themselves, they instead highlight the fact that these occasionally strange comments are intended to actually BE jokes. Surely comedy should be able stand up without them. SOAPBOX GETTING DRUNK Alex Walker PHILLIP SCHOFIELD Em Richardson Pheobe Hurst demonstrates the dangerous weight of Rotunno's comments about Weinstein

Ever since coming out as gay, it seems Phillip Schofield has been met with endless ques- tions. Why did he wait so long to come out? Did he know that he was gay when he married a woman? How do his family feel?

Obviously, someone announcing that they are gay after 27 years of seemingly happy, heterosexual marriage comes as a big surprise. However, it also takes courage, especially for someone in the public eye. Standing up and making such a big, unexpected announcement is tough. This is particularly true in this day and age, when someone’s every move can be scrutinised on social media. Luckily for Philip, it seems most people responded to the news kindly. However, he had still no idea that this would be the case when he chose to share it. He had simply de- cided that now was the time to live his truth, and that is a sentiment we can all appreciate. I used to love getting drunk. I did it every weekend, dancing until 5am, sleeping all day. During Freshers, it reached a new level. Every night a new club, new drinks, new one-night stands, a bigger debit card bill. Constant hangovers, replacing drunkenness, replacing hangovers.

But now it feels different. Sure, the Arctic Monkeys comes on and I dance like a freak, and sure, I’ll get nice and tipsy now and then, and feel great. But the rest of it’s just boring.

I wake up dehydrated, hungry, tired, and stinking of booze. And worst of all, full of regrets. All I seem to do on a night out is make mistakes, and they always end up coming back to haunt me. Sometimes, I’d rather just lie in bed alone, or cuddle up with my girlfriend in front of the TV, and save myself the trouble. Then again, I’ll still put myself through it, all over again. Debunking the myths around sexual assault E arlier this month Weinstein’s lawyer, Donna Rotunno, made a shocking statement when asked if she had ever been sexually assaulted; Rotunno stated she had never been assaulted as she would “never put herself in that position.”

What we fail to realise, in our mass consumption of Weinstein’s trial, is the way in which it has reinforced the myths that our society possess around victims of sexual violence

Weinstein was first charged in May 2018 with rape, criminal sex act, sex abuse and sexual misconduct, by the New York Police. Since then, his trial has rarely left the public eye, with a simple Google search resulting in hundreds of articles focused on this topic. What we fail to realise, in our mass consumption of Weinstein’s trial, is the way in which it has reinforced the myths that our society possess around victims of sexual violence.

The hashtag #whyIdidn’treport has worked to emphasise how there is no typical victim. The movement has shared stories of women, men, and children, sometimes alongside photos of the clothes that they were wearing at the time.

The hashtag works to undermine the stereotypes and myths that surround victims of sexual abuse; that they were somehow responsible or accountable, or that it could have been prevented. However, despite its profound influence we are still seeing time and time again, a cycle of disbelief towards sexual assault victims.

Rotunno’s ignorant comments, which have been thrust into the public eye due to the trial, highlight how we still hold preconceptions of what a sexual assault victim should look like, while also holding strict judgments of how they should react and respond to such trauma; victims reacting outside of our expected response being accused of false reporting. Weinstein’s trial, what with its plethora of celebrities and high-status individuals involved and commenting on it, has perpetuated the myths surrounding sexual assault victims through the constant reinforcement of such misconceptions by high profile individuals, Rotunno being one. The general public is unable to escape the constant bombardment of victim stereotypes, and thus, the cycle of disbelief or suspicion towards a victim’s story remains unbroken. As a result, it becomes very difficult for the trial’s consumers to break away from the myths surrounding sexual assault survivor’s that they are constantly being told to believe, hindering our progress of the treatment and response to such a vital issue. Rotunno’s comments highlight how we still hold preconceptions of what a sexual assault victim should look like Image: ABC News on YouTube M any people have made their own responses to Jameela Jamil and Philip Schofield’s com- ing out. Yet they seem to be missing the big picture- It absolutely nobody’s business but their own. First, Philip’s coming out took a lot of guts, coming out at any age is hard, but coming out later in life is a challenge I will luckily never have to go through. The response to his coming out has been overwhelmingly positive, with even his wife and daughter’s saying how “proud” they are for him.

However, some people have made allegations that he only came out to avoid being outed by The Sun, due to an alleged affair he had with and aide that he “pressured” into sex. This, as of writing this, has no real credibility, and seems to undermine the beauty of Schofield finally being able to accept who he truly is.

Moreover, many people, have rightly commented on how his wife must be feeling, but instead of looking at it from the perspective of a Philip, they seem to be vilifying the man, and implying his marriage was purely selfish as he is gay.

Similarly, the response to Jameela Jamil coming out as queer, has garnered mixed responses. The star of The Good Place came out as queer following her announce- ment as a judge on a new Voguing dance competition. This was met with a lot of people moaning that she isn’t a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and shouldn’t judge a competition with its roots in the Harlem ball scene of the 1980s. She responded to this by coming out as queer.

This, shockingly, didn’t help, despite her acknowledge- ment of the fact she is a member of this community, peo- ple accused her of lying because she dated a man prior to coming out. This has raised questions as to whether the negative response is due in part to Jamil’s status as a female POC, who is known for championing causes regarding equality.

At the end of the day, they are just people, so please just let them live their lives. At the end of the day, they are just people, so please let them live their lives

Image: This Morning on Youtube Storm Ciara response: what about the north? L ast weekend, Storm Ciara took England by storm (literally), with heavy rain and extremely trem- bling wind felt throughout England and many people left at a disadvantage as a result of this horrible weather.

Because of this, the government went to quick action to aid with things like food and shelter in the emergency financial aid package for areas devastated by Storm Ciara. Local government secretary Robert Jenrick said, “I have activated the emergency Ballwin scheme to support communities affected by Storm Ciara in West Yorkshire, Cumbria and Lancashire.”

It is completely evident that, as the storm was a national tragedy in most cases, the Government was quick to re- spond with adequate aid. But how about natural disasters that have affected the north alone that the Government conveniently ignored?

Not too long after Christmas 2015, York faced the worst flooding in a generation, and by Monday 28 December, the Ouse peaked at about 5.2m above its normal summer level. This was not the first time that York had been flooded, as it has consistently flooded regularly over many years. York is not even the only location in the north. In winter 2015 and 2016, floods all over the north, such as Northumberland, Cumbria, Durham and Yorkshire.

Government responses being to commission up to £500 for each home affected, £20,000 to rebuild agricul- ture, and other forms of budgets to curb the effects of the storms, which even to begin with, was a result of constant rallying by northern protests and officials.

There has been a significant cut of funding for floods over the years, and northern parts of England are more affected by these floods.

Even so, the response towards these tragic floods was immensely delayed, while the response to Storm Ciara was almost immediate.

It has been a long-known fact that people outside the UK are only familiar with London, and maybe Manches- ter. However, the Government has always turned a blind eye on issues that involve the north, such as natural disas- ters and the direct correlation between natural disasters and poverty in the north. The Government must address their role in the fully apparent divide between life in the south and life in the north. The response towards these tragic floods was immensely delayed while the response to Storm Ciara was immediate Victoria Osho examines the differences in governmental aid for natural disasters in the UK Image: Evening Standard on Youtube LAUGH TRACKS Lorcan Flahive The real problem with celebrities coming out TOAST OF THE WEEK Image: David Shankbone on Wikimedia Commons

life&style the courier Monday 24 February 2020 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 Blind Date Editor Holly Mawdsley 11 Blind Date

Hello Dom, why did you sign up for Blind Date? My friends were already looking for a girl for me, so I thought I’d make it more formal. They put a lot of pressure on it going well but I went into it with no expectations because at least that way I can’t be disappointed. At Monument there was someone in a very very similar outfit to me - the same jeans, the same jacket, the only difference is that his shirt was checked instead of plain, so I had this vision that she would turn up and walk off with this other guy. Second year English Language Dom Lee

Your celebrity crush is Ellie Rowsell, but if Liusaidh was a Wolf Alice song which one would she be and why? She’d be ‘Beautifully Unconventional’ because she is beautifully unconventional.

What were your first impressions - apart from that you thought she’d walk off with another man? She seemed really nice, quite quiet at first but she opened up as the date went along. I didn’t find it that hard, maybe a bit awkward but I’m part of the paper anyway so from my perspective it’s a bit different.

If Liusaidh was a cocktail what would she be and why? She’d be a strawberry daiquiri - sweet and fruity, not the icy part.

Did you have a lot in common? We had a bit in common but not loads. We talked about everything - I was with her for four hours so we had a lot to cover. We talked a lot about the Courier, she was interested in the insider perspective. I was going out with my friend after and he kept trying to convince me to bring my date along, he couldn’t believe I was there for so long.

What are three words to describe Liusaidh? Pretty, bubbly and funny - oh wait, doesn’t bubbly encompass funny?

You’re a music editor at the Courier, but if she was a radio station which one would she be? And don’t say Radio 4. I think 4 is pretty good! You can’t tell me that as a kid when the Archers’ theme tune came on you didn’t buzz off your tits. But Liusaidh was quite into hip hop so maybe Capital.

Will there be a second date? Yes I think so, or at least I hope so. We added each other on Snapchat so we’ll see. What were you looking for when you signed up for blind date? When I signed up for blind date I was looking forward to meeting someone new and stepping outside my comfort zone. Second year Maths Liusaidh Owen

What’s your normal type and how did Dom compare? My usual type is someone who is easy to talk to and that I have a lot in common with. Dom was definitely up there, he had good chat and we had a lot to talk about.

What were your first impressions of Dom? My first impressions of Dom were that he is very friendly and dressed well.

If Dom was a flavour of crisps which one would he be and why? Prawn cocktail because it is a very interesting flavour and it’s a classic favour- ite with a bit of edge.

What were the best and worst parts of your date? The best part of the date was his music recommendations and the cocktails and I couldn’t say a worst part, the whole night was very enjoyable.

What did you get up to on your date ? We went for cocktails at Tokyo then went to The Mile Castle for a few more affordable drinks.

Tokyo looks lovely - but would you rather have a trip to Japan or a second date with Dom? A trip to Tokyo because it’s on my bucket list but a second date follows closely behind.

What are three words to describe Dom? Friendly, adventurous, smart.

Do you think they’ll be a second date? We have already arranged to see each other again next week to go for some lunch.