www.thecourieronline.co.uk Monday 16 November 2015 Issue 1320 Free
DIVESTMENT WEEK Why we should be fossil free p.14
The Independent Voice of Newcastle Students
I’M A CELEB The Geordie bushtucker trials p. 32
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MERCURY PRIZES Analysing the shortlist, and
Interview: Wolf Alice p. 28 Image: Victoria Armstrong
Students hold candlelight vigil in solidarity with victims of recent terrorist attacks, p.4
Autumn election results ‘Hit Refresh’ to be the next Freshers’ Week Organisers Students with Faith and Belief Officer, Sophie Harris NUS Delegates, Luke Allison and Matthew Wilson-Boddy
By Victoria Armstrong Editor Following a week of voting from Monday to Thursday last week (November 9 - 12), which saw 534 students voting for candidates across three categories, the results were announced at a small ceremony in the Students’ Union on Friday evening. Here it was announced that ‘Hit Refresh’ had been chosen as the Freshers’ Week Organisers for next year, whilst Sophie Harris elected as the new Students with Faith and Belief Officer, and Luke Allison and Matthew Wilson-Boddy chosen as the delegates for the National Union of Students. The race for Freshers’ Week Organisers was relatively quiet this year, with only one team running, in strong contrast with last year which saw three strong teams battle it out through cam-
paigns week. The winning team, Hit Refresh, consists of Lauren Exell, Maeve Hanna, Charlie Balkartat and Tom Cunnell. Despite being the only team running, Hit Refresh ran an active campaign and received 482 votes, with the Reopen Nominations (R.O.N.) option receiving 52 votes. Speaking exclusively to The Courier, Maeve, Stage Three Law, and Tom Cunnell, Stage Two Marine Technology and Offshore Engineering said “We feel absolutely buzzing”. Lauren, Stage Three English Literature, and Lifestyle Editor at The Courier, added “I can’t even. I’m so excited. We believed enough in our manifesto and we thought our ideas
were good enough to win, but we knew we had to work hard to beat R.O.N.! Plus working hard on campaigns week is what makes it fun”. Charlie, Stage Three Biochemistry, stated “It was strange to actually hear George announce that we’d won. Obviously we were hoping to get it but actually knowing that we’re officially FWOs 2016 is insane. We’re ecstatic!”. Hit Refresh’s manifesto included opening two nights in Freshers’ Week to all students, merging Freshers’ Week and International Arrivals Week so international students can be equally integrated and by having a larger crew so that the volunteers can have more time off during the week. For the Part Time Officer (P.T.O.) (continued on page 7)
We thought our ideas were good enough to win, but we knew we had to work hard to beat R.O.N.”
SU voices opposition to possible new ‘fit to sit’ examination policy By Antonia Velikova News Editor NUSU Council has passed an official motion, declaring it will actively oppose any attempt on behalf of the University to introduce a ‘Fit to Sit’ policy. Proposed by Education Officer Matthew Price and seconded by Welfare and Equality Officer Luke Allison, the motion passed council vote with a whopping 95% of support. Only 5% of voters voted ‘no’ and none abstained from a vote. The essence of the ‘Fit to Sit’ policy seeks to establish that all students, who sit one of their exams, will be deemed fit to take it – therefore, submitting a PEC (Personal Extenuating Circumstances) form after the exam, even if they feel they have underperformed, will be impossible. Now that the motion has been implemented, it will be used as the main point of NUSU’s stance on the policy, which will be expressed at more talks at the end of the semester.
“I think the motion will certainly facilitate the consultation and our response, because we have now officially received the backing of the Student’s Union council,” Matthew Price said. “This is such a strong point in our argument because now the students have spoken, the student voice has been heard and this will be a spearhead in the consultation. “The main points will be in response to the arguments presented in the initial consultation document.” The Cross-Faculty Learning, Teaching and Student Experience Committee published a consultation document, which makes the case both for and against the policy. It points out that it will help students develop a crucial professional skill. “Many employees have to decide when they are ill, whether it would be responsible to attend work,” the consultation paper states. “This applies especially in healthcare professions, but not only there.” The paper also points out that ‘Fit to Sit’ already exists as a policy in the (continued on page 7)
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Monday 16 November 2015
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Deputy  Editor:  Mark  Sleightholm  News  Editors:  Antonia  Velikova,  Peter  Georgiev,  Sinead  Corkett-ÂBeirne  &  Sophie  Norris  courier.news@ncl.ac.uk  |  @TheCourier_News Â
Uni  Pro  Chancellor  completes  400-Âmile  bike  ride  in  the  Alps Mark  I’Anson  tells  the  story  of  how  he  conquered  the  Route  des  Grandes  Alpes  raising  £16,000  for  medical  research By Peter Georgiev News Editor For those who have taken the time to watch even a single stage of Tour de France, at some point comes the inevitable realization that it takes a truly extraordinary individual to cycle through hundreds of miles of hills and mountains and never give up. When a 60-year-old Mark I’Anson stepped into the shoes of a champion on two wheels to complete the 400-mile Route des Grandes Alpes, he wasn’t just celebrating his birthday with an extravagant challenge. He had a mission. In 2012, I’Anson raised nearly ÂŁ7000 for a scholarship at Newcastle University by competing in the Virgin Money Cyclone race. This time, his marathon in the Alps brought in ÂŁ16,000 for Ageing Research funded by the Medical Research Council. With six months of training behind, I’Anson wasn’t conceivably going to fail. Many writers would line up to tell the story of his adventure. Yet, perhaps none of them could do it better than I’Anson himself.
You seem to be an experienced bike rider. Why do you love cycling? I love cycling because I like being outdoors, I like to get some exercise. I have some congenital problems with my left leg, which means that it is virtually impossible for me to run or even to walk very long distances so cycling is actually the only option. What is the difference between training for the ride and the actual ride? In some ways the training was harder. And I really did train very hard. Between Christmas and the start of the ride, I cycled over 5000 kilometres in training which is quite a lot to fit in when you are working as well. The ride itself actually wasn’t all that difficult because I was well-prepared, I wasn’t hurrying, I wasn’t trying to do it fast, I was just trying to pace myself . I am not saying it was easy, it was how I expected. How would you compare the Route des Grandes Alpes to the Cyclone? It is sort of like doing a Cyclone every day for a week. It is pretty tough.
Tell me about your experience when you first stepped on the track at Thonon-Le-Bains. What was going through your mind then? I set off early in the morning and I was really pleased to not get lost. I felt great actually, I felt really fit, the weather was good. I had been training hard for six months but I had been planning it for a year so it was great to just get on and do it. It was almost like once I started, I felt the hard word was over. All I had to do was enjoy myself and enjoy the ride. During the tests at MoveLab, you always had a person behind you screaming “Keep pushing, keep going�. What is it like not to have the presence of such a person during the real challenge? I am quite a goal-driven person I suppose. There is always a summit you are heading for. There is always something you are aiming for. So you just keep pushing. Actually, the difficulty was not so much not being pushed, it was more
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I’Anson at the top of the last climb shortly before finishing in Menton Images: Mark I’Anson
Editor Victoria Armstrong Deputy Editor Mark Sleightholm News Editors Antonia Velikova, Peter Georgiev, Sophie Norris and Sinead Corkett-Beirne Comment Editors Jack Dempsey, Adam Thompson and Daniel Robertson Culture Editors Ellie McLaren Laura Staniforth Lifestyle Editors Lauren Exell, Ruth /RHIĂ HU .DWLH $FNHUOH\ DQG )LRQD &DOORZ Fashion Editors Sara Macauley, Ellen Dixon and Liz Rosling Beauty Editors Lucy Cochrane, Ellen Walker and Flo Davies Arts Editors Holly Suttle, Jade Holroyd and Emily Watton Film Editors Rhian Hunter, Simon Ramshaw and Emma Allsopp TV Editors Jack Parker, Hannah Bunting and Helen Daly Music Editors Jamie Shepherd, Dominique Daly and Connor McDonnell Science Editors Iqra Choudry, Louise Bingham and Anna Jastrzembska Gaming Editors Ollie Burton, James McCoull and Michael Hicks Sports Editors Calum Wilson, Alex Hendley and Lewis Bedford
that you have to pace yourself. Because some of these climbs you are going uphill continuously for 20-25 kilometres and if you really push hard at the beginning you probably aren’t going to get to the top. So, it was just a question of “steady, enjoy it, look at the scenery.� Which aspect of the ride did you find more difficult – the mental one or the physical one? It was the mental one because I had trained properly, I was fit enough to do it. But when you set off [from ThononLe-Bains], after about five kilometres, you are bathed in sweat, you are exhausted. Your legs can keep going but your mind is saying: “How are you going to do this?! You are exhausted at low altitude, what’s it going to be like at high altitude?�. It is more overcoming the mind than overcoming the body. What was your biggest enemy during the ride? The heat. The heat was the killer. We arrived there and as we were driving down to the start, we were listening to a French radio going on about this thing called a “canicule� (heatwave in French). What it meant was that the temperature was between 35 to 40 degrees Celsius, so up above a 100 Fahrenheit. The first two days the heat just killed me. I couldn’t have carried on doing that which is why I took a rest day after the second day. From then on, I was starting at around 6-6:30 in the morning and finishing by about 1-2:00 in the afternoon because it was just so hot.� And how did you handle the flies? It was terrible. It was really odd because I had seen none at all on the first few days and the last two or three days they were just everywhere. Because you are sweating a lot and that attracts them. When you are climbing up a big hill, you need your hands on the handle bar so swatting them off isn’t easy. Because there is nothing else going on – you are just pedalling – little things begin to get out of proportion. I got really, really freaked out by these flies. Getting to the top of these hills is at least as much about mental strength as physical strength and that sort of stuff just drains you.�
The Courier is printed by: Print and Digital Associates, Fernleigh House, 10 Uttoxeter Road, Derby, Derbyshire, United Kingdom, DE3 0DA. Established in 1948, The Courier is the fully independent student newspaper of the Students’ Union at Newcastle University. The Courier is published weekly during term time, and is free of charge. The design, text, photographs and graphics are copyright of The Courier and its individual contributors. No parts of this newspaper may be reproduced without the prior permission of the Editor. Any views expressed in this newspaper’s comment pieces are those of the individual writing, and not of The Courier, the Students’ Union or Newcastle University.
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Monday 16 November 2015
Despite the cold weather in January, I’Anson was determined to prepare well by training for 10-20 hours every week Images: Mark I’Anson
Which day did you find the hardest one? Was it Day 5 when you didn’t sleep well and had to climb Col du Galibier (2645m) and Col d’Izoard (2360m)? Actually, no, probably not. That was the hardest day in terms of the amount of climbing and the amount of work. But I was mentally prepared for that because I knew that was going to be a hard day. Actually, the hardest day was probably the last one because I had got it in my mind that the Col de Turini (1607m) would be easy. And it wasn’t, it was really hard. Halfway up I actually thought I might not make it. There were several small climbs in a row on the last day and that is quite wearing. But, on the other hand, once I got over that, there was just one very small left [Col de Castillon (706m)] and I flew up that full of confidence.
food rather than as an enjoyment. It is not like I went out and got drunk. I don’t think drinking alcohol in moderate quantities is particularly harmful. Probably a little bit but you also need a bit of anaesthetic, you are in pain after all (laughs). I wasn’t there to suffer, I was there to enjoy the experience.
How did the fact that Tour de France was happening at the same time influence you? I always watch it on TV so it is inspiring to watch those riders and it is inspiring to go up because most of these hills have been used on the Tour de France. It is inspiring to think: “Okay, I am a lot slower than them but I have seen the best riders in the world struggling on these hills”. So, it was not so bad that I was struggling a bit as well. That makes you feel better. Also, it was good because it meant that everybody along the route was very attuned to the idea of cycling and so I got a really good reception everywhere. If you turn up in sweaty cycling clothes at a random hotel in England, they will look at you as if you are a bit of an idiot. In France, they just accept you and in fact are impressed by what you are doing and very welcoming.
You raised just over £16,000. In your opinion, what about your adventure
Why did you choose the Pinarello Dogma for this challenge? Partly because I got the opportunity to buy the frame very cheap but mainly because I am a big Bradley Wiggins fan. This bike and a lot of these hills were used on the 2012 Tour [de France] when he won the Tour. I built a bike, which is effectively identical to the one he won the Tour de France on. I wanted to build not just any old bike but one that had a meaning in relationship to the Alps.
attracted people the most? I think a very high proportion of the people who sponsored me are roughly my age, and I think they all thought: “Bloody hell, that sounds like a hard thing to do,” and wanted to share a bit of support for it. It was just a lucky series of coincidences – my 60th birthday, the fact that we started teaching Sport science, that we have been working very heavily on projects to do with exercise and ageing people. Not that I think of myself as old but at 60 you obviously are ageing (laughs). All those things just seemed to fit together very well with what I wanted to do. What role has social media played in your campaign? It was important because it got the message out to a lot of people. I think it built a bit of momentum. There were quite a lot of people who actually sponsored me twice.
Part of what we are trying to do is spread the message. The University was retweeting many of my tweets, which meant that they got to an awful lot of people. It is just what social media is for. In the beginning you wrote in your blog: “I feel more nervous than hungry”. Did you satisfy your hunger? I stopped feeling so nervous as time went on. I understood more what my limits were. You have to understand, I was cycling very slowly, I wasn’t racing at these hills at all (laughs). But as the week went on, I understood what I could do and that if I stick to this sort of pace, I can effectively keep going nonstop. That is when I stopped being nervous. I still do [feel hungry]. Actually I may well have to do it again because quite a lot of my friends have said: “This is just fantastic! Can we go back and do it as a group?”. So, there is a bit of a move to go back
and do it. Maybe spend a few more days over it next year. What is the moral of your story? The key thing I learned is that I believe everybody is capable of doing much more than they think. There were times when I hated going out in the snow in January to train. But by the time I did the ride, I felt physically better, I felt mentally better, I felt I had achieved something. And that has to be good. It is worth putting in that effort because we can do things. That is the message I would give to everyone. All donations raised by Mark I’Anson will be used to support junior researchers to explore how moving more and sitting less effects the body and can be used as a tool to promote lifelong health and wellbeing. You can find full report of I’Anson’s ride in the Alps in his blog http://cycleforscience.wordpress.com/
Did you draw inspiration from the history of the route? That is why I wanted to do it. The whole motivation for this trip was that this particular route has a fantastic history to it. All the big climbs have been done by all the famous riders, all the people that I admire. And so that sense of history is there. That all makes in quite an emotional experience in a way as well as just a physical one. It seems you drank quite a lot of beer and coffee during the ride. Wasn’t that somewhat risky given the intensity of the challenge? I was very careful with my diet leading up to it and lost quite a bit of weight. Obviously, I didn’t drink beer while I was on the ride but after I had finished it each day. The real issue is getting enough calories because you are burning so many calories. It is quite hard to eat enough. You actually start to think about beer as
Col de l’Iseran is the longest climb of the Route des Grande Alpes Images: Mark I’Anson
4.news
Monday 16 November 2015
The Courier
Candlelight vigil for Student show sets off on tour victims of terrorism By Victoria Armstrong Editor Last Saturday, November 14, students gathered in the rain outside Newcastle University Students’ Union at 6.15pm for a candlelight vigil, held in solidarity with the victims of recent terrorist attacks around the world. The event commemorated victims of numerous recent disasters, including those in Beirut, Lebanon, where 43 people were killed and over 250 injured by two suicide bombings, in Baghdad, Iraq, where 18 were killed and over 40 injured by a suicide bombing at a funeral, and in Paris, France, where multiple shootings and suicide bombers left 129 dead and over 300 injured. There are currently twelve students from Newcastle University placed in Paris, all of whom have been accounted for. The University is ensuring that they are receiving all support needed in the aftermath of the attacks. Following an outpouring of sympathy, grief and sadness by many on social media over the weekend, approximately 120 people attended the vigil, which began with Samuel Johnston performing a violin rendition of La Marseillaise, the national anthem of France. A two minute silence was then observed. Two students also spoke briefly: Oliver Burton who commented on the importance of resisting blind fundamentalism and expressed gratitude that no one present had lost friends or family on this occasion. Next, a member of the Islamic Society at Newcastle University, who shared her grief and outrage at the large death toll, before asking that stu-
dents stand up to the Islamophobia that is likely to result in the following days and weeks. The vigil was organised by Welfare and Equality Officer, Luke Allison. Speaking to The Courier, Allison commented “It was lovely how many students turned up for the candlelit vigil. Its important for students to get together at times like this to show our support for victims of terrorism and to support our fellow students who have friends and family in Paris and elsewhere”. Over the weekend, the Students’ Union hung a banner, made by Luke Allison, featuring the Paris peace symbol (a peace symbol with an Eiffel Tower in the centre). Matt Corden, a Stage Three Politics and History student at Newcastle, spoke to The Courier and commented “The defence of freedom over absolutism, pluralism over supremacism, and life over death is a cause for which we can all unite. The grief shown for the fallen and solidarity with France – targeted for the sixth time this year alone – was a wonderful spectacle. We should remember not to be parochial; our best wishes should also go out to those in Afghanistan, Libya, Nigeria, Kurdistan, Iraq, Syria, Somalia and Yemen who are on the front line of this fight every single day. Their struggle is ours.” Victoria Kaye, a Stage Two Classics student also commented “What added to the gravitas of the vigil was a quiet sense of community. Despite the wind and rain a large number of people came to pay their respects, strangers huddled together under umbrellas and relit one another’s candles when the weather extinguished them”
The play will tackle the issue of homophobia in university sports Photography by Plane Paper Theatre
By Kotryna Kairyte A theatre group set up by graduates will go on a tour next year with their new production Odd Shaped Balls. Plane Paper Theatre manager Ellie Claughton said: “I think taking a piece to Edinburgh and taking a piece on tour are two very different things. “We are still in the planning stages but I enjoy the work so it never feels like a chore.” She also added that this would be a good opportunity for those who missed Odd Shaped Balls to see it now. The show, written by Richard D. Sheridan, tackles serious issues about homophobia in sports and the struggles faced by those who want to be open about their sexuality. Ellie said: “Odd Shaped Balls is such a relevant piece at the moment and for us it has just been amazing. Despite very little sleep and hours spent on the Royal Mile, we had best experience a young company could hope for.”
Sold out on most nights, the show has been extremely successful receiving 5 star reviews. It has also been performed at Edinburgh Fringe. “The highlight for me was speaking to people after the show each night, and hearing how much they enjoyed it or how they related to it.” Plane Paper Theatres was established by Ellie and her friend Andy Twyman, who both met in the Newcastle University’s Theatre Society and have been interested in producing ever since. “After we both graduated, we remained in contact as we began searching for opportunities and jobs in the industry. We then decided that the best way to create opportunities was to do it ourselves.” The manager continued: “We have both been lucky enough to work on
various projects but wanted to do something that really resonated with us.” Accidentally meeting with the writer Richard and starting the production of Odd Shaped Balls gave a reason for it to be developed into a company. “As emerging creatives, we were aware of the difficulties faced when trying to enter the industry and so wanted to help those in a similar position to ourselves.” When asked what is next for the Plane Paper Theatre, Ellie expressed that, while they are always looking out for new writers and new pieces that they can work on, right now Andy and herself are developing their skills while studying. Ellie said: “No doubt after our run at the Finborough Theatre we will have something exciting in the pipeline.” For more information visit www. planepapertheatre.com.
Niles said: “I am honoured to receive this award as I have always admired Ewan MacColl’s work as a songwriter, performer and collector.” Calum MacColl, son of Ewan MacColl, said: “We’ve always liked what the School of Music at Newcastle University does and felt it was the most appropriate department in the country for Ewan’s name to be associated with.” Joined by other guest performers, Calum and brother Neill performed in a series of tribute concerts for their father across England. They were in Sage Gateshead last week on 5 November and received positive reviews.
Catriona Macdonald, Senior Lecturer in Folk and Traditional Music at Newcastle University said “We’re immensely grateful to the MacColl family for this generous award which will help our postgraduate students to develop their research.” “This support will ensure that the quality of folk and traditional music at Newcastle University continues to be world-leading, helping our graduates to remain at the vanguard of the new generation of folk musicians. Ruairidh Hatfield, a postgraduate student, said: “It would be nice to have more [scholarships]”. He is currently researching French pop music and is supported by scholarships from Humanities and Arts.
“The show tackles serious issues about homophobia
Music scholarship started in memory of folk musician By Phoebe Hoi Yiu Ng
Last Tuesday the Ewan MacColl Memorial Award was presented to American folk musician Niles Krieger. The new postgraduate music scholarship marked the centenary of the birth of Ewan MacColl. MacColl was a musician, actor, playwright and political activist. He was also a researcher of traditional folk music and the new award is to reflect his interest in the heritage of folk music. The first recipient, Niles Krieger from Connecticut, is researching the connections between the folk music of the British Isles and North-East America as part of his postgraduate studies. After completing the course, he decided to continue his studies in Music here. Niles will use the award to fund his research costs.
“It was the most appropriate department in the country for Ewan’s name to be associated with.”
The Courier
news.5
Monday 16 November 2015
Fast and Furious: Formula fans build sports car to enter world-renowned competition By Imogen Scott-Chambers The Formula Student team, a group of Engineering students, are working towards designing and building a working, electric racing car. Formula student is a module offered to third year students, but the grades are assigned for designing and building an electric racing car within the 400 hours of working on the module. In reality, the students end up spending 800+ hours creating their impressive models and designs. At the Formula Student competition, hosted by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) at Silverstone racetrack every July, last year’s Formula Student team entered their design for NR10 in class 2 (for design) and came 9th out of 24. This year, the current team are hoping to build on this success
by entering the functional vehicle NR10 in class 1 (for finished vehicles). NR10 will be the realisation of the aforementioned, praised model and will feature multiple improvements from the
Aside from the manufacturing and design, there are other important tasks the team have to consider. Firstly, they have to find their own funding, which then become sponsors that feature on
“Students that take part in the Formula Student competition demonstrate their capabilities for lateral thinking and design in a realistic engineering environment” previous car NR9. For example, NR10 will have a smaller and more powerful motor, a composite transverse leaf spring made of carbon fibre which, interestingly, is used as rear suspension in the latest Corvette. Additionally NR10 will be notably lighter: weighing 250kg as opposed to NR9’s weight of 367kg.
both the car and the formula student uniform. A big sponsor of formula student are Santander and Reece Foundation who provide money for batteries, DYER who provide milling services at a reduced cost and several others. The university also supports the formula student team
by paying the competition entrance fees, providing a technician: Steve Farrell and two expert supervisors: Dr Hale and Dr Happian-Smith. Moreover, the team are guaranteed a work space in the Stephenson Building on campus, but for such an impressive project, some student participants have been left disgruntled that they do not receive additional funding from the university. Nevertheless, the staff that take part in Formula Student, believe wholeheartedly in its importance, Dr Happian-Smith told The Courier: “Students that take part in the Formula Student competition demonstrate their capabilities for lateral thinking and design in a realistic engineering environment. It is my opinion that Formula Student brings out the best of the abilities of the students and they consequently follow interesting careers.”
Furthermore, every member of the team has had a good thing to say about the Formula Student programme. Fourth year team member David Ashby told The Courier: “Formula Student provides practical experience and the chance to drive a racing car that I have helped to build and this will be beneficial to me in the future”. The work of the Formula Student team is professional and assiduous. Moreover, the competition features teams from all over the world, thus portraying Newcastle University at the forefront of engineering research and practice worldwide. The students are working towards their goal while simultaneously balancing it with the studies of their degree. The UK Formula Student competition is widely recognised as one of the biggest and best of its kind in the world.
The car will compete in the Formula Student competition Photography byFormula Students
Political motions voted on by SU Council By Ollie Burton Gaming Editor
A rather politically-charged meet of the SU council came to a close last Thursday evening, having begun with a constitutional motion to change the way in which questions are posed to the Union’s sabbatical officers at each Council. With 66% of the vote, they will now be presented by the questioners to the Steering Committee ahead of session, giving responding officers more time to research and plan their answers in the interest of clarity. The novel ‘fit to sit’ policy being proposed by the University was subject to heavy resistance by the vast majority of voters; if a student voluntarily sits an exam, they are in effect declaring their fitness to take it and therefore any Personal Extenuating Circumstances (PEC) form thereafter will be void, even if a
Comment
physical or mental affliction has severely negatively affected their performance. This was near-universally rejected by the council as it assumes that students are able to correctly self-assess their ‘fitness to sit’ and could be detrimental to those with mental health issues.
tive press campaign for the NHS within NUSU, calling attention to the £930 million deficit for the first quarter of the financial year and the relatively low GDP spendage on health services. This included a mandate for the current Editor of The Courier, Victoria Armstrong
“three questions of politics were raised... D YRWH RI QR FRQÀ GHQFH LQ WKH Conservative Government... a positive stance on EU membership...a public declaration of support for Corbyn and ‘the À JKW IRU VRFLDOLVP·” Next, 89% of students voted for NUSU to show greater support for international students, including by supporting a walk out to raise awareness. Tensions ran high within the meet as Michael Goodfellow put forward a posi-
to provide space for a single-page advert within The Courier. Armstrong successfully called for a procedural amendment to the proposal, as constitutionally the Editor must retain full publishing control within the newspaper. The motion
went on to pass with 59% of students in favour, meaning the NUSU website and digital marketing boards in the SU must display the NHS advert provided by Goodfellow. The evening saw three questions of politics raised, beginning with a simple vote of no confidence in the current Conservative government, noting the trebling of tuition fees, abolition of maintenance grants and the £93 billion in subsidies and tax breaks given to large businesses. Next, Frankie Toynton advocated for a public declaration of the SU’s support for Jeremy Corbyn, current leader of the Labour party along with his pro-student and working class modus operandi, termed “the fight for socialism”. Debates were intense and passionate, but ultimately each motion was rejected given the apolitical stance NUSU must maintain for fear of inaccurately representing the entire student body, and over legal and constitutional
concerns that the Union must not oppose political parties. This was later followed by a motion proposed by Tom Gordon that the Union take a positive stance on maintaining EU membership, given the large benefits universities receive from EU membership. This motion passed, making NUSU possibly the first SU nationally to have an official stance on EU membership. A rather less divisive notion of mandating the sabbatical officers to create a SU anthem was then proposed by Tolu Kolawole, ideally to be used at sporting events and formal gatherings to promote a feeling of cohesion and belonging. Those in attendance were unconvinced however, and with only 38% of the vote, council did not pass the motion. The next Students’ Union Council will take place at 5.15pm on Thursday 10 December in the History Room, which any student is welcome to attend.
6.news
Monday 16 November 2015
The Courier
NUFC coach to lead inspiring leadership session By Sinead Corkett-Beirne News Editor The coach of Newcastle United Football Club, Steve Black, is expected to deliver an inspirational speech at the Business School on 23rd November at 5pm. The event, entitled ‘Motivational Leadership: Influencing for Success’, will take place in the Partners Room and it is free to attend upon registration. The main focus of the event will be upon how to overcome challenges that a person may face during their professional career. Advice on how to motivate others and influence change will also be addressed. Black, who is currently a Visiting Professor of Practice at Newcastle University’s Business School, has previously worked as a coach for Norwich FC, Fulham FC, and Huddersfield FC. Under his leadership,he has led teams to victory, scoring a number of championships in football as well as rugby. According to The Times, “Steve Black is acknowledged as the best conditioning coach in the world” which makes him an ideal speaker, particularly as he is used to delivering management conferences, key note speeches, and seminars in which he places emphasis upon the importance of performance, motivation, leadership, effectiveness, and teamwork.
Kevin Keegan, a former football player and manager of Newcastle United, has labelled Black as being ‘the best oneto-one coach in the world’ whilst Graham Henry, the All Blacks coach, claims that Steve Black is ‘the best motivator I’ve ever encountered.’ The structure of the event consists of a welcoming followed by Steve Black’s speech. After, there will be a chance for audience members to ask questions and a chance to network. Black prides himself on his ability to evolve himself to cater for the needs of the individuals that he coaches. Johnny Wilkinson, a former rugby player who represented England, has attributed his success to Steve Black, who has coached at an international level with Wales and the British & Irish Lions. The Wales Rugby Football Union won eleven consecutive games under Black’s leadership. Working alongside Rob Andrew, Steve Black led the Newcastle Falcons to victory on two occasions – they won the Premiership and Tetley’s Bitter Cup the first time and they won the Powegen Cup on the second instance. Black has also coached at Fulham alongside Paul Bracewell, as well as working in swimming, boxing, and golf. Black has returned to Newcastle United FC to work as Head of Performance with Steve McCloud.
“Steve Black is acknowledged as the best conditioning coach in the world. He is the best motivator I’ve ever encountered”
Steve Black will be speaking at the Newcastle University Business School Photography by Steve Black
The Courier
news.7
Monday 16 November 2015
November election results revealed (continued from page 1) position of Officer for Students with Faith and Belief, Sophie Harris won the two-horse race with 309 votes. Chun Yin Ng came in second place with 67 votes, whilst R.O.N. received 18. Harris ran on the platform of encouraging students to be open about their faiths and interact with those of -other faiths in a respectful manner. Additionally, she stated that she wanted to aid students in fully accommodating their faith in a student lifestyle. The ballot for NUS delegates had four nominees competing for two positions. As the only voting category with more than two nominees, these were the only positions where the Single Transferable Voting system’s impact was seen. Luke Allison came top with 173 votes in the first round of voting and was elected at this stage. After four stages of elimination and vote re-distribution, Matthew Wilson-Boddy had 125 votes and was also elected as NUS delegate. Luke Allison, who is also the SU’s Welfare and Equality Officer, commented “I am absolutely thrilled to be representing Newcastle students at the national union of students conference. Thank you so much for everyone who voted for me. I’ll make sure I do a good
job.” Allison ran on the platform of hoping to challenge NUS’s existing bureaucracy which makes it ineffective, alongside campaigning for free education. Also speaking to The Courier, Matthew Wilson-Boddy said “I’m very pleased to have been voted NUS delegate and very thankful to my campaign team and everyone who voted for me. I’m looking forward to representing Newcastle at the national conference, hopefully together we can build an NUS to be proud of- a fighting, democratic NUS.” Wilson-Boddy’s manifesto focused on fighting austerity, campaigning for free education, and standing up against racism, sexism, homophobia, prejudice and oppression. Whilst six positions exist on the delegation from Newcastle University to attend the NUS national conference in Brighton in April, one is automatically filled by the SU President, Dominic Fearon, and at least half of the positions must be filled by self-defining women, as per NUS policy. As all the nominees were male, only two of the positions could be taken. Another election will be held in March, alongside the sabbatical officers’ election, for self-defining women to fill the remaining three places.
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6WURQJ VWXGHQW RSSRVLWLRQ WR µ¿ W WR VLW¶ SROLF\ (continued from page 1) Clinical Medical and Dental parts of the University, and reduce both the amount of variables when dealing with PEC form requests and the workload of the PEC committee. Matthew Price argued that the currently existing policy in the Clinical Medical and Dental parts is different: “The Medical and Dental Schools have ‘Fit to Practice’, which is a different thing. Being fit to practice upon the public has very different repercussions than being fit to sit an exam.” Speaking to The Courier, Luke Allison said: “The ‘Fit to Sit’ policy fails students on many levels and does not have the students in mind. The whole feeling behind the policy is that students are here to play the system and that they are simply faking being ill for exams. “Not only is this insulting to students who have to go through the stress of resitting an exam but even if the majority of students submitting PEC forms were lying, which I highly doubt, then should we really be stopping these people at the expense of students who are genuinely ill?” Matthew Price agreed and pointed out that it’s not fair for all students to suffer repercussions, because the odd few may decide to cheat the system.
“I think that the reasoning that some students are submitting “just in case” or insurance PEC isn’t quite fair,” he said. “I think as a Union and University we expect more of our students. While there might be the odd person over the time who might try and do this, I don’t believe it’s a large number.” The consultation paper also points this out as a drawback of the policy, as well as emphasising another issue students have with the policy – the treatment of mental health issue in accordance with ‘Fit to Sit.’ Students from Union society Mind the Gap, which aims to raise awareness of mental health in University, have declared their opposition against the policy. “The committee at Mind the Gap are outraged and sickened that this is even being proposed,” Harris Qureshi, Social Media Officer for the society said. “The undue stress it could add on to students suffering mental health issues (as well as any other PEC) is unfair.” “The policy completely invalidates the point of the PEC form, and promotes the elitist value that exams are highly priority than coursework or other written assessments,” Zoe Godden, a member of the society, added. “When in actuality, in most modules these assess-
ments have a percentage weight equal to or greater than exam marks.” In a statement issued to The Courier, the Academic Registrar Lesley Braiden, Director of Student Services, said: “At present, no decision has been made about introducing a Fit to Sit policy. The possible advantages and disadvantaged are outlined in the consultation document and we have invited the Students’ Union to respond as well as relevant faculty committees, Graduate School Committees, boards of studies, and staff-student groups.
and students about the policy, and what implications this would have of the appeal process of PEC forms. According to Luke Allison, this still places significant pressure on students regarding their performance in exams: “If I submit a PEC form on the day of an exam I have no idea if it will be accepted. I could not sit the exam in which case I risk my PEC for being rejected and getting 0 or I could sit the exam anyway, knowing that I can get an alright mark. Maybe drop 10 - 20 % as I’m ill but, hey, it’s better than 0. We shouldn’t be mak-
“All responses will be considered before a decision is made.” The consultation document on the policy outlines some practical issues relating to its implementation. Those involve students falling ill during an exam, which can be considered an exception to the rule, the nature of evidence provided, raising awareness among staff
ing our students make these decisions. It’s not right.” Matthew Price emphasised that the conversation is very open to all members of the student and staff community. “It is important to remember that this is just at a consultation phase, and they are only asking the question,” he said. “It is credit to a strong relationship be-
“The ‘Fit to Sit’ policy fails students on many levels coach and does not have the students in mind. The whole feeling behind the policy is that students are here to play the system”
tween the University and the Union that we’re doing this together.” If Newcastle University were to implement the ‘Fit to Sit’ policy, it would be in a minority within Russell Group institutions. Russell Group universities, who have adopted the policy, are University of Birmingham, King’s College University of London and Queen Mary University of London. “We would be a minority of Russell Group universities to implement this and I don’t think this is a minority we want to be a part of,” Matthew Price said. “ I think our main priority should be supporting the welfare of our students, not taking it away from them.” The policy has been introduced in 19% of UK universities. Staff from Coventry, Nottingham Trent and Southampton Solent have reported a decrease to staff workload, however issues with student and staff awareness when introducing it initially. “Indeed, any student or member of staff who wishes to submit a response may make their views known to Simon Pallett, Chair of Regulations Working Group of Taught Programmes SubCommittee. The deadline for comments is 18 December 2015,” Lesley Braiden said.
The Courier
Monday 16 November 2015
news.9
So good, so far, yo’ good, yoga: YogaSoc goes out of town for annual spiritual retreat experience By Yumi Nakajima Over the 6th, 7th and 8th November weekend, members of the Newcastle University Yoga Society held their retreat on the outskirt of Newcastle, in Gibside, a country estate. The Gibside estate, previously owned by the Bowes-Lyon family, is now a National Trust Property located at Gateshead. This estate is set amongst the peaks and slopes of the Derwent Valley and is a nature reserve that offers miles of woodland and riverside walks for visitors. The Yoga society members resided two nights in dorms that were converted from stables. The accommodation also had a massive kitchen where meals were prepared together by members during the evening. The members got access to the communal space where the Yoga sessions were held of which a total of three Yoga sessions were practiced over the retreat with the society’s regular instructors, Conrad and Thereza, who led the group during the sessions. Meditation, which is an essential element of Yoga, was also practiced during the retreat. The Yoga Society committee invited instructors from the Hare Krishna Centre as part of the retreat to introduce to the members the Kirtan Yoga, which is essentially another form of Yoga. According to the
Yoga Society’s Social Secretary, Lauren, “The Kirtan Yoga principally involves the use of Mantra Chanting of the Hare Krishna verse and this Mantra Chanting eventually leads to the engagement of the group to meditate as one. Also for most people this was the first time they had experienced this type of yoga so it was really exciting.” During spare time where members were not practicing Yoga, meditating or spending time doing team activities in the stables, they went for hikes and tour the wilderness of the Gibside estate. Lauren commented: “We had all of the estate to explore, so we went on some lovely walks visiting the orangery, the old ruins all dotted about the site.” Lauren wanted the Newcastle Yoga Society members to be able to practice Yoga together as one body and that was the reason the retreat was planned. She added, “The whole idea of the retreat was to allow people to get to experience different styles of Yoga, and to go deeper with their practice. We also wanted people to feel more a part of the society so they get to know other people coming to the sessions, and to feel more a part of a ‘group’ as the nature of yoga practice is that it is often a very individual practice.” The £40 retreat had a total of 18 society members turning up and the members got to know each other in a comfortable group size.
“The whole idea of the retreat was to allow people to get to experience different styles of Yoga, and to go deeper with their practice.”
Dementia research breaks new ground By Helena Vesty A research team led by Newcastle University’s Professor Alan Thomas, an expert in old age psychiatry at the Institute for Ageing and Vitality, will begin a 5 year project thanks to a £500,000 investment from Alzheimer’s Research UK. Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), a condition that affects around 130,000 people in the UK, accounting for approximately 10% of all cases of dementia, is frequently under-diagnosed. The subtle nature of the symptoms which include hallucinations, alertness and attention, make accurate and timely diagnosis challenging. Professor Thomas will aim to help combat this consistent pattern of mistaken diagnosis by investigating and developing new methods of picking up on the progressive disease in its early stages. With the use of the grant, the study will look into the possibility of using heart scans, rather than focusing on the study of the brain, as is common in dementia research. The toxic protein signals the presence of DLB and can affect nerve cells all around the body. Through examining the disruption of communication in the heart, the team could establish a link to nerve damage in the brain, potentially resulting in a quicker route to treatment than is currently achievable. Dr Emma O’Brien, from Alzheimer’s
Research UK, said: “the diagnostic approach will allow people to enter future clinical trials at a time when they are most likely to benefit from new treatments”. The “pioneering project” will unite Newcastle Hospitals and Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trusts with Newcastle University, being carried out at the collaborative Campus for Ageing and Vitality. Dr O’Brien also noted that: “Improved diagnostic accuracy will enable more tailored support networks to be put in place”. The information which new tests could provide to patients would allow doctors to give better guidance, as well as access to all-important services. The latter is especially vital, as both drug and non-drug approaches are used to treat the condition, proving essential in maximising a person’s quality of life. This would directly positively impact DLB sufferers and their families, as there is presently no cure. The North East itself could see a great improvement, particularly, as almost “35,000 people” in the region “are living with a form of Dementia, including Dementia with Lewy bodies”. The important work carried out during the research project will be an example of the “world class services” which are delivered by the Newcastle Academic Health Partners, which Alzheimer’s Research UK is “pleased to be able to support”.
“3500 people in the region are living with a form of Dementia.”
The society introduced members to Kirtan Yoga. Photography by Newcastle University Yoga Society
10.nationalstudentnews
Monday 16 November 2015
The Courier
NEWSTACK Yoga society retreat Rhodes statue removal Oxford
Last weekend Oxford students demonstrated outside Oriel College against the removal of a statue of Cecil Rhodes. The protest followed a petition and was planned by the Rhodes Must Fall in Oxford campaign. Over 2,000 people have already signed in support of removing the statue of what they see as a glorification of a racist murderer which is, as the campaign states, ‘a visual reminder of the colonial apologism rife in one of the world’s most esteemed educational institutions’. The RMF campaigners have been criticized for their threatening tone and questioning whether the protest is an appropriate form of expression. Whilst in a recent press release Oriel College stated that it is happy to engage in a debate, it still hesitates to accept this petition, drawing a distinction between Rhodes’ charity and his political views.
Research partnerships Warwick
Images: Newcastle University Yoga Society
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much  more! Location:  Gosforth,  Newcastle  upon  Tyne  Job  Title:  Mobile  App  Developer  Employer:  Newcastle  University  Closing  Date:  22/11/2015 Salary:  £14,542  (pro-Ârata)  per  annum Basic  job  description:  The  IT  Service  requires  a  New- castle  University  student  to  play  a  key  role  in  enhanc- LQJ WKH H[LVWLQJ 8QLYHUVLW\ $SS WR IXUWKHU EHQHÂż W RXU students.  The  App  is  currently  used  by  over  16,000  students  each  year,  providing  users  with  a  person- alised  view  of  University  systems  and  services.  The  current  version  of  the  app  uses  an  advanced  HTML5  Hybrid  Mobile  App  framework  based  on  Angular.js.  As  a  developer  you’ll  have  the  chance  to  play  a  key  role  in  the  development  of  the  next  generation  of  the  University  App.  Joining  an  experienced  team  of  de- velopers,  you’ll  have  the  opportunity  to  innovate  and  LQĂ€ XHQFH LWV IXWXUH GLUHFWLRQ 7KLV SRVW LV Âż [HG WHUP IRU KRXUV +RXUV WR EH FRQÂż UPHG DW LQWHUYLHZ WKH post  will  include  some  part-Âtime  work  in  Semester  2  and  some  full-Âtime  work  over  July  and  August  2016. Person  requirements:  Our  ideal  candidate  will  have  experience  working  autonomously  and  as  part  of  a  team,  ideally  in  a  development  environment. Location:  Newcastle  University  Campus  Job  description:   Newcastle  Work  Experience  –  Stu- dent  Feedback  Research  Assistant   Employer:  Newcastle  University  Closing  date:  29/11/15 Salary:  £700  Bursary   Basic  job  description:  The  University’s  mission  is  to  deliver  teaching  and  facilitate  learning  of  the  highest  quality.  The  Learning  and  Teaching  Development  Ser- vice  (LTDS)  works  with  Faculties,  Schools,  individual  staff  and  student  representatives  to  assure  and  en- hance  the  quality  of  learning  and  teaching  in  order  to  improve  the  student  learning  experience  at  Newcastle  University.  The  placement  student  will  work  with  LTDS  on  a  project  to  identify  effective  practice  in  the  use  of  feedback  sheets  to  give  students  feedback  on  assessed  work  and  to  produce  some  brief  guidelines  for  staff  on  feedback.  This  would  require  liaising  with  DFDGHPLF VFKRROV VWDII DQG VWXGHQWV WR Âż QG RXW ZKR is  using  feedback  sheets  now,  how  effective  these  are  and  what  characterises  effective  use.  This  informa- tion  would  then  be  used  to  provide  practical  guidance  for  dissemination  across  the  university. Person  requirements:  We  are  looking  to  appoint  a  student  with  an  interest  in  improving  feedback  on  as- VHVVPHQW WR EHQHÂż W VWXGHQW OHDUQLQJ DQG ZLWK H[SHUL ence  of  analysing  quantitative  data.  The  successful  candidate  will  be  able  to  provide  useful  insights  based  on  the  feedback  provided  by  individual  staff, Â
Job  Title:  Weekend  Brand  Ambassadors  and  Mer- chandisers  Employer:  Retail  Marketing  Group  Closing  Date:  31/12/15 Salary:  £75  per  day   Basic  job  description:  If  your  number  one  passion  is  delivering  sales  then  this  is  the  perfect  role  for  you.  We’re  recruiting  for  Weekend  Ambassadors  and  Weekend  Merchandisers  to  represent  a  new  blue-Âchip  client  for  Retail  Marketing,  working  in  retail  stores  nationwide  and  offering  competitive  rates  of  pay.  We’ll  provide  you  with  full  training  on  the  products  you’ll  be  working  with.  We  want  you  to  love  what  you  do  and  have  fun  while  you’re  doing  it!  You  will  be  covering  Saturday  and  Sunday  earning  £75  a  day,  equipped  with  the  ability  to  engage  customers  while  offering  them  an  exceptional  experience  and  have  the  ability  to  close  a  sale,  as  well  as  monitoring  stock  and  providing  staff  training. 3HUVRQ UHTXLUHPHQWV $UH \RX SDVVLRQDWH FRQÂż GHQW and  able  to  build  winning  relationships?  An  interest  in  computers  is  also  important  in  this  role,  being  FRPSXWHU OLWHUDWH ZLWK WKH DELOLW\ WR WDON FRQÂż GHQWO\ WR members  of  the  general  public  will  go  a  long  way  too! Location:  Nationwide  Job  Title:  Note  Taker  (Maths/Engineering/Medicine) Employer:  Clear  Links  Support  Limited  Closing  date:  30/04/16  Salary:  £10.20  per  hour  Basic  job  description:  Clear  Links  Support  is  a  specialist  provider  of  academic  support  to  students  in  higher  education.  Reliable,  degree-Âlevel  Notetakers  are  required  to  produce  an  accurate  and  legible  hand- written  record  of  the  content  of  lectures,  seminars  and  classes  which  is  then  handed  over  to  the  student.  The  work  is  during  term-Âtime  only,  temporary  and  casual  in  nature.  A  range  of  hours  may  be  available. Person  requirements:  Applicants  must  have  com- pleted  at  least  1  year  of  higher  education  study,  or  be  able  to  demonstrate  an  equivalent  level  of  experience.  Applicants  must  also  have  clear  and  legible  handwrit- ing  as  well  as  accurate  spelling  and  grammar  skills. Location:  Newcastle  /  Sunderland  Job  Title:  Brand  Ambassador  Employer:  Gradit  Closing  Date:  09/01/16 Salary:  NMW Basic  job  description:  We  are  looking  for  entrepre- neurial  and  results-Âdriven  students  to  work  with  us  as  Brand  Ambassadors.  The  successful  candidates  will  be  responsible  for  spreading  the  Gradit  brand  around  WKHLU LQVWLWXWLRQ LQ RUGHU WR LQFUHDVH WUDIÂż F DQG VWX dent  registrations  to  our  website.  We  will  give  you  the  material  and  guidance  you  need;Íž  we  just  need  your  drive,  passion,  and  creative  vision  to  push  the  Gradit  brand  to  the  next  level. Person  requirements:  A  great  people  person  with  a  knack  for  networking  and  building  relationships.  A  self-Âstarter  who  is  able  to  think  outside  the  box. Location:  On  Campus Â
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has recently been signed by Warwick University and Sun Yat-sen University in China. It will create a research partnership focusing on the diagnosis and specialist care of cancer. The MoU assigned by Professor Lawrence Young (pro-vice-chancellor at Warwick) and Professor Chao-Nan Qian (vice president at the Cancer Centre at Sun Yat-sen) at Mansion house in London. The upcoming research will focus on various specific areas like nursing, digital pathology, anti-cancer drug development, as well as systems biology and precision medicine. After announcing this partnership doors will be opened for special training in the field for SYSUCC senior oncology nurses at the University of Warwick, along with the training for SYSUCC pathologists at Warwick and University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire too. Professor Lawrence Young
Staff living wage row Birmingham
University of Birmingham has recently been called on for not paying many of their workers the living wage. Selly Oak MP Steve McCabe and Councillor Stewart Stacey attended a rally after the claims that around 350 members of staff are paid below the living wage of ÂŁ8.25 an hour. According to Unison, the University brings in more than ÂŁ578 million per year and it would cost less than ÂŁ1 million to provide the living wage for all. A University of Birmingham spokesperson said, ‘the university takes its responsibilities as an employer very seriously. Support staff on the very lowest rates of pay currently earn ÂŁ7.85 per hour, well above the ÂŁ6.70 National Minimum Wage’. It has also been stated that those who are paid less than the living wage are the catering, cleaning and library support assistant staff members. The UoB will be revising the wages on 1st of August as they do so annually.
Doctors for McDonalds Sheffield
A University of Sheffield student has been noticed on national media after posting a picture on Facebook with the caption that that she’d be better off working in McDonald’s than becoming a doctor under Jeremy Hunt’s new contract proposal. 23 years old Lianne Sellors posted on Facebook while on a work break at McDonald’s saying that ‘The new contract is not fair (I’d be better off staying at McDonalds), and it’s NOT SAFE’. This contract threatens to remove the safeguards that prevent hospitals from overworking junior doctors which means that 70 – 90 + hour weeks could become the norm and to impose longer working hours on doctors with no corresponding pay rise. Many people have already started campaigning for the revision of it. On Tuesday 3rd of November, Hunt released a second statement offering small concessions for doctors, including an 11 per cent pay rise in attempt to prevent further disruption. Kotryna Kairyte
The Courier
.11
Monday 16 November 2015
Comment
thecourieronline.co.uk/comment
Comment Editors: Dan Robertson, Jack Dempsey & Adam Thompson courier.comment@ncl.ac.uk | @Courier_Comment
Oh please, more tuition fees? With tuition fees set to rise again, two students tackle the issue of whether paid higher education is ever good
YES
Max George
T
here are fewer more emotive issues for many students than tuition fees. The common refrain is that students are being priced out of university, dumped with everhigher levels of debt and facing an extremely challenging jobs market after graduating. The reality, however, is not so. The concept of a ‘free education’ is misguided: it is not free — it has to be paid for somehow. Graduates still enjoy a large advantage in the job market over non-graduates. Is it not fair then to ask those who benefit to contribute towards their degree? Recent job market analysis suggests that over their lifetimes graduates on average earn £500,000 more than those who didn’t attend university. If tuition fees were funded wholly out of general taxation, those without the benefit of higher education would be subsidising those who did attend. Moreover, for many degrees the amount paid in fees pales in comparison to the actual cost of teaching the course; it costs up to £610,000 to train a doctor, whose tuition fees will amount to just £45,000 (less than 8% of the cost). This leads to the second myth: that higher tuition fees are pricing young people out of university.
“If it means universities are more competitive, rewarded for higher standards and accessible to students of all backgrounds, should there be any upper limits on fees at all?”
No one has to turn up at university with a £9,000 cheque. Essentially, graduates pay a slightly higher amount of tax. For example, someone earning £25,000 a year repays just £6.92 per week. If your income drops below £21,000 you have to repay nothing, and the debt is written off after thirty years. It is hard to argue that this is either a burden or a disincentive to go to university. This corresponds with data showing that record numbers of teenagers are applying to and studying at university. Even more importantly, according to UCAS, the proportion of those from disadvantaged backgrounds going to university is at a record level, and the gap between rich and
poor is narrowing. The coalition’s reforms included an obligation for institutions to spend more helping poorer students. English universities now spend over a third of a billion pounds aiding disadvantaged students. In Scotland, the figure is just ten million pounds. And, as a worrying addition, a far lower proportion of poorer students get into university in tuition fee-free Scotland. The government has recently produced a green paper on higher education reform. The essential part of this is a stress on standards. This means more competition. It also means that universities will be able to increase their fees in line with inflation if they meet new high standards. As outlined above, it is nonsense to suggest that this will discourage prospective students. What it will do is force universities to make sure their graduates are well prepared for the job market and to stop offering low quality degrees. I propose we go one step further, and give universities the responsibility for collecting student debt, giving them even more incentive to produce highly productive and skilled graduates.
“Education is never free. It has to be paid for somehow”
This is a far more effective way to ensure we have world-leading universities and a highly skilled workforce than abolishing fees would be. Abolition is akin to the state rationing the availability of higher education, rather than letting supply meet demand. Evidence from Ireland and Scotland shows that scrapping fees simply amounts to a subsidy for the middle classes, does not raise standards, does not help poorer people and does not boost applicant numbers. Of course there are other financial worries for students, principally living costs, but this is a separate issue from tuition fees. Universities are attracting record numbers of students and social mobility is better than ever. It begs the question, should there be any upper limit on fees at all? If universities are more competitive, rewarded for higher standards and accessible to the brightest students regardless of background, logic and empirical evidence would suggest there should not be.
NO
Hanson Jones
W
here would we be, as a society and as a nation, without higher education? If it didn’t exist or was only available to the country’s elite as it was for eight centuries, we would have nothing. Research represents the preliminary stage of any technological or social advancement. Universities are what drives us forward. How then, if higher education is such a crucial part of any country, can the government think that funding it is not their responsibility? The idea that graduates should contribute towards the funding of higher education that they profited from is not unfair. However, to saddle them with tens of thousands of pounds of debt for an (often) three year course is entirely unjust. Many students don’t believe that what they gain from their course is in fact worth being burdened with more than £36,000 of debt for the next few decades. Jo Johnson, the current Minister of State for Universities and Science, says he wants to make sure that students feel their degrees are worth the money. To do this, plans have been proposed to allow certain institutions to charge more than the yearly £9,000, assuming more money magically equates to better quality. If anything, since students feel their course is not worth the current fees, charging even more is just going to exacerbate their dissatisfaction.
“Charging even more is just going to exacerbate student dissatisfaction”
After the tripling of tuition fees to a maximum of £9,000 in 2012, the government itself estimated that around 45% of graduates will never be able to pay off their debt entirely, and that if that figure should rise by even a smidgen, the government will be losing more money than it is making through this system. Surely then, allowing ‘better’ uni-
versities to charge more is going to mean that the government lose out even more, since the loans are (indirectly, through the student loans companies) government funded. An unavoidable by-product of this proposition is that it will also create a two-tier system within universities, whereby the ones deemed not ‘good enough’ to raise their fees above the current cap could end up being considered second-rate institutions. This will only serve to perpetuate the elitism presented by the existence of certain interest groups such as the Russell Group. Many people might defend the current state of tuition fees because repayments aren’t too high, and we’re protected in that it will eventually be cancelled if we can’t manage to pay it all back. But who’s to say that they won’t sell off student debt as they already discussed in the last government?
“If higher education is such a crucial part of any country, how can the government think that funding it is not their responsibility?”
Who’s to say that private companies won’t hike the rate of repayment? We’ve seen over the past five years, and especially over the past six months, how we cannot underestimate the extent to which the Tory cabinet will go, as insane and irrational their moves might be. Education whether it be at primary school or at university is not a commodity but a universal right. Charging incredibly high fees for university education does drive some people away – people whose intelligence and contributions could be priceless to academia – because let’s face it, the prospect of being weighed down for many years with debt to pay off isn’t too palatable for the majority of us. It has to be realised and accepted that providing higher education with the funding to fulfil its role of teaching, researching and contributing to society is in the interests of everyone. It’s in the interests of the student, of the universities, of the government and of the entire country. Funding for higher education should be treated as a priority by the state, not forced upon the people who keep it alive.
12.comment
Monday 16 November 2015
The Courier
Change to voting will hit students hard
As the Tories redraw the voting map, a familiar story is about to ensue, as the youngest voters on the electoral register are set to be the most seriously affected.
NEW RED SCARE Slavoj Zizek says it’s easier for us to imagine the end of the world than to imagine the end of capitalism. Yet according to some, the end of capitalism is nigh. Just as capitalist industry once replaced feudalism, so we now see the initial eclipse of neoliberal markets as the rise of the digital revolution changes the rules of the game. A system’s increasing restrictiveness is a sure sign of its deterioration. With feudalism it was Charles I’s dissolution of Parliament, but now there is a new Red Scare. When oligarchs last felt threatened - by the emergence of communism - the US began an official purge of left-wing sympathisers which culminated in the establishment of the FBI. Now, with the ruling class again uneasy, their Parliamentary handmaidens begin a host of draconian measures: the Trade Union Bill which will restrict rights to strike, restrictions on the behaviour of supposed ‘militant left-wing councils’, Theresa May’s revived surveillance powers, and let’s not forget, the complete demonization of Jeremy Corbyn, whose views (free education, peace and equality) would have once seemed normal. Beware the new Red Scare. Tim Lewthwaite
STICKS N STONES It’s fashionable to rail against political correctness these days. People without a grain of social awareness will line up to denounce “PC culture” in catch-all generalisations that expose how badly they want to appear educated, intelligent, and relevant. Words that have been used for decades to dehumanise vulnerable minorities are supposedly fine, and those who have to live with verbal and structural abuse every day should just stop being such big babies. Sticks and stones, right? Of course PC-opposers wouldn’t know: they’re invariably shielded by a social privilege that means all hateful terms reserved for their groups have no power and so are meaningless. Call a white person a “cracker”, and they will laugh. It’s easy, of course, to laugh when you’re the fascistic presidential hopeful Donald Trump, and all criticism of your comments calling Mexican immigrants “thieves” and “rapists” can be brushed off as ‘political correctness gone mad’. Sound familiar? “A tidal wave of immigrants”, says ‘free-speech’ Farage. The rightwing knows a way to weasel in a justification of hate when it sees it. Jamie Cameron
MANNERS PLEASE When I was brought up - which really wasn’t that long ago - table manners weren’t really a big deal. That is, unless you didn’t have them. Eating with your mouth open was almost as bad as committing murder at my family dinner table, and don’t even think about talking with your mouth open. So why, when we’re all much older, much more civilised (at least when we haven’t been on the trebs), and more aware of the world and what’s acceptable have we suddenly let go of our basic table manners and decency? Far too often when I’m with someone I am met with the delightful view of their current meal tumbling around inside their mouth. Whether it’s a meat-free quinoa salad or a mighty meaty from Dominos in the SU, I really don’t want to be seeing it whilst being digested or, even worse, have it sprayed all over me while you try to speak. Keep your mouth closed, enjoy your food, and tell me all about your sick night at Tiger Tiger/WHQ after you’ve finished your food, yeah? Harry Young
T
Scott Houghton
owards the end of October the Conservatives won a victory in the House of Lords on individual electoral registration. This means that the basis of the new boundary reform will be made up of people who voted in the May 2015 General Election, redrawing the constituency boundary change for the 2020 General Election. YouGov estimates 1.9 million voters will go missing from the electoral register, hitting areas with a large amount of students particularly hard as so few vote. The Conservatives say the current boundaries favour the Labour Party, as the city-centre seats which Labour does best in (think Manchester or Newcastle, for example) are smaller than the Tory suburban and countryside seats where Tories are dominant (think Surrey Heath, or Stratford-onAvon), which means they need fewer votes to win. A problem for Labour is that many supporters are young-people, usually students, who are less likely to vote than older Conservative voters. In July, before Jeremy Corbyn won the leadership
election, stand-in leader Harriet Harman promoted a registration drive. She told the Local Government Association: “if you are over 60, white and own your own home and live in a non-metropolitan area, you will be on the electoral register unless you try quite hard. But if you are young, black and live in an inner city you are much more likely not to be on the register. This is discriminatory in the sense some people don’t get a right to vote.”
“Voter apathy is a serious risk to our democracy; we get the parties we deserve when so few people vote” This is shocking at a time when voter turnout is getting lower and lower with each General Election, the turnout in 2015 being a measly 66.1% contrasting with 83.9% in 1950, with turnout dropping off a cliff from the 1997 General Election to the 2001 election from 71.4% to 59.4%.
In the same week as the boundary changes were being proposed in the House of Lords, The Courier reported on a study about recent voting patterns: “No registration, no democracy, study warns” ran the headline following a report which showed the main problem at polling stations was citizens being refused to vote as they were not on the electoral register. Surely the right thing to do would be to make it easier for people to vote, rather than make it harder? A political party that actively tries to discourage people from voting to serve themselves is the real harm to British democracy, rather than someone not bowing enough on Remembrance Sunday. Voter apathy is a serious risk to our democracy; we get the parties we deserve when so few people vote. This year the Tories won only one quarter of voters, yet hundreds of thousands will take part in anti-austerity marches - something is amiss. In a time when people across the world, like during the Arab Spring, will fight and die for the right to vote are we really going to relinquish these hard won rights because some can’t be bothered to register? I hope not.
Cancer tactics breeding complacency
Do revelations such as the health effects of eating bacon do more harm than good? burning could cause cancer. Is nothing safe? I’m something new to the cancer causing list, therefore beginning to look suspiciously at the lap- putting it into context. Thomas Montague even top I’m writing this on. You wouldn’t betray me The media (yes I’m looking at you Daily Mail),
R
ecently it seems like barely a day goes by without something else being added to the list of things that can potentially cause cancer. Last week there was uproar as we were warned that our beloved bacon could even be fatal. Over summer we were warned that sunscreen could cause cancer (yes, the very sunscreen we use to protect against the cancer caused by the sun). A few years ago we were even told sitting inside with the fire
would you? In all seriousness cancer is, of course, a horrible disease. It is devastating for its sufferers and for their loved ones and the sooner a cure is developed the better. But don’t these constant warnings about things that could potentially cause cancer desensitise us? If we are being bombarded with warnings about something which may have once caused cancer in one person (even if there was probably another cause) then isn’t there a risk that we may pay less attention when we are told about something which genuinely has a high chance of causing cancer? Obviously there’s always going to be a small number of people who will panic with every new thing that is added to the list. They will stop drinking sugary drinks. They won’t use contraception (yes, the World Health Organisation added the pill to the list a few years ago). And they’ll put down the paint brushes (don’t even ask). It is in situations like this where the media should be more careful when reporting health issues. The World Health Organisation is a scientific institution that publishes all its data and research when it adds
isn’t fond of publishing data or research though. They just put out a massive headline about how going outside could give you cancer (yep, you read that right, damned air pollution), leading to people panicking even when the WHO has actually designated it a low risk.
“Don’t these constant warnings about things that could potentially cause cancer desensitise us? ...It is time for the media to take responsibility for the cancer scares they publish”
The majority of people will, of course, laugh about the warning, more than happy to take the risk, and carry on with their lives. The only problem here is that they’ll do this with every warning until eventually, the WHO adds something to the list which is genuine object of concern. The Daily Mail et al will publish the warning like any other warning and the people who normally ignore the warning will also ignore that one, leading to a public health emergency. So perhaps it is time for the media to take responsibility for the cancer scares they publish and then we can all go back to laughing about the low risk warnings, but actually change the way we act when a high risk activity or item is added to the list. I hope you enjoyed this article, as far as I’m aware reading Courier articles hasn’t yet been added to the WHO list. Probably.
The Courier
comment.13
Monday 16 November 2015
DEVIL’S ADVOCATE on Junior Doctors’ Contracts E
Throwing the debate into light, the BMA Medical Student Committee Representative for Newcastle, Ben Beska was interviwed and posed devil’s advocate questions on his stance against the new contracts.
Q. Surely a 11% rise in basic pay for doctors is a good thing as it reduces variable pay and ensures getting paid for every hour worked? “The contract will remove safeguards that are in place to protect patients and prevent junior doctors from working dangerously long hours. Even if the pay were significantly increased, junior doctors would not be happy with this contract as it has the potential to cause real harm to patients. From speaking to medical students here at Newcastle and by their vocal support at the recent
March and protest -which attracted over 4000 medical students, junior doctors, consultants as well as concerned members of the public - patient safety was deemed the key concern of the profession. This was also evident in the recent statements released by the Royal Colleges expressing their concerns. This offer is not an actual pay rise. In the initial imposition junior doctors were likely to gain at least a 20-40% pay cut, particularly in specialties that have lots of out-of-hours worked, such as Anaesthetics or Emergency medicine -the latter facing a recruitment crisis in the UK. This pay cut will likely deepen after 2019 when the so-called ‘pay protection clause’ expires and the true cuts finally appear.”
Q. Would the contracts not make the role safer, by creating a better protection for both patients and doctors against long and potentially unsafe work hours? “The new contracts are actually not any safer. The contracts remove penalties for employers who routinely overwork their doctors by removing compulsory monitoring of doctors’ hours, meaning doctors could end up working for much longer than they are now as there would be no way to track how long the doctors are actually working.
Even now, doctors quite often start before their contracted start time and stay for hours afterwards to ensure patients are safely handed over as well as ensuring patient care is the best it can be. This is all voluntarily and out of good faith. Financial penalties that are in place to ensure Trusts do not overwork doctors are being removed.
“It is vital to understand that the 11% ‘pay rise is’ not a pay rise at all and most importantly doesn’t address the key concerns of the impact it would have on patient safety” On a sample rota released by the Government arm-length body NHS Employees, one week had a doctor working 65 hours, with sporadic night shifts and day shifts with little time to recover in between. Indeed, the time needed to sleep between two night shifts was called a “day off ” - this is like the employer in any other sector, for an employee working a 9am - 5pm day, calling 5pm - 9am a “day off ”. It is not compatible with raising a family or maintaining a work-life balance. The sporadic working reduces continuity of care and increases the chance of error. All in all this affects patient safety. There is inadequate recovery from a long night shift - tired doctors make mistakes. There will be fewer, more tired doctors during the week. It will bring the junior doctors to their knees, and eventually the NHS.”
Q. Most jobs don’t pay for unsociable hours, why should we sympathise in this regard?
Keep a watch on Gove
Gove’s recent likability cannot disguise his past failures.
R
Jake Harrison
ewind four or five years and Michael Gove was one of the most roundly disliked Conservative ministers, which was no mean feat in a cabinet stacked with people like Ian Duncan Smith. His educational reforms were immensely unpopular, which in combination with his smug demeanour every time he appeared in the media earned him widespread contempt. It’s almost surprising that the video of him falling over on YouTube only hit about 500,000 views. Suddenly however, his shift to not being quite as right-wing as Attila the Hun and his few good deeds in the justice department has fooled everyone into thinking that maybe he isn’t actually that bad. This is something that I think is counterproductive and vaguely dangerous.
“Gove is still not someone the public should look upon favourably ”
Unsurprisingly, Gove was always been particularly hated amongst teachers. His constant refusal to listen to educational figures about his reforms was baffling and quite insulting given the unique first-hand experiences they had. Many national unions passed votes of no confidence towards him and his demotion from the Department of Education to Chief Whip was greeted with an almost unanimous sigh of relief - not that Nicky Morgan has proved to be much better. The education system he left behind was radically changed by a program lacking foresight and implemented in a way that can only be described as fast and furious. The Department for Education, who is directly responsible for running of these academies can’t even cope with the new workload pressed upon it. Common
complaints made by teachers are that schools are now - and even more so than previously – are focused entirely on meeting targets and passing certain exams rather than actually educating anyone and developing students’ minds. The controversial ‘Trojan Horse’ allegations about extremism made against certain schools in Birmingham has probably been the most prominent and well-publicised disaster resulting from the inability of the DfE to take on all these new schools. I would be surprised if it was not the last scandal resulting from lack of Gove’s long-term planning. Perhaps his fall from the DfE came at the right time because his period as Chief Whip seems to have given everyone time to forget about him. He was moved to the justice department at the last reshuffle, something which was admittedly met by loud groans from some but seemed to go largely unnoticed for a while, until suddenly he seemed to become remarkably liberal and agreeable. His admission that Britain’s legal system treats the rich better than the poor, and even more incredibly that this is something that needs to change is set in sharp contrast to the other policies of this Government push for. His public battle with George Osborne about not cutting any more from his department, particularly given the cuts to legal aid has been a welcome surprise that certainly I would never have predicted. But I don’t think it absolves him from blame from previous misdemeanours and it doesn’t mean that he’s suddenly worthy of praise. Obviously it’s possible to have two different stances on different areas of politics but I would argue that this sudden shift in likeability needs a closer inspection, especially given that it has roughly coincided with David Cameron’s announcement that he will not be leading the Conservative party into the next election – I highly doubt this is coincidence. Gove is still not someone the public should look upon favourably.
“It is important that the contract is fair to doc-
tors and safe for patients. Currently, doctors are paid a premium for working past 7pm and -on weekends - are paid a premium to mirror the additional responsibility. Under the contract that Hunt is imposing on junior doctors this August, ‘plain time’ - that is, sociable working hours - are classed as from 7am in the morning to 10pm at night Monday to Friday, with 7am to 7pm on Saturday classed as a normal working day. It is not fair that 7pm on a Saturday night is seen as exactly the same as 10am on a Tuesday morning. Junior doctors who work unsocial hours should not be disadvantaged, and those doctors working the most onerous and most unsocial working hours need to be appropriately reimbursed for the responsibility they are taking and to ensure their specialities do not continue to suffer recruitment problems.”
Q. Do you think that the overall response would be as contested if it were not a Conservative government making the changes? “Junior doctors and medical students, from all different backgrounds and political affiliations are angry about this imposed contract because it is not fair to them, and not safe for patients. The demands of junior doctors, and the BMA, which is an apolitical organisation, are for the Health Secretary to come back to the negotiating table without forcing preconditions on the discussion and without the threat of imposition of this unsafe contract in August. The NHS is an organisation that is very close to the hearts of everyone in the UK and it transcends any one single political party. The imposition of an unsafe, unfair contract strikes a chord with medical students, junior doctors, consultants and members of the public because it attacks the very sustainability of the health service. This is done by attacking a workforce that willingly gives their working lives to NHS to care for the patients that rely on it.” (Devil’s advocate: Dan Robertson)
JASMINE NEWTON
W
ith the junior doctors contracts causing such a stir from those in the medical sphere, I played devil’s advocate in an interview with Ben Beska, who openly opposes the governments contract changes. This is what he had to say:
14.feature
Monday 16 November 2015
The Courier
Divestment Week Rob Noyes explains the importance of divestment
November 2012 - Fossil Free campaign launched in the US, aimed at getting institutions to divest from fossil fuels
While the University considers the future of its £6.9 million investments in fossil fuels, the Students’ Union is hosting a week of events exploring the issue of divestment.
O
ver the last two months you will have had countless inductions, opening lectures and seminars. You will have been told to improve yourselves today; you will have been told to create a better tomorrow. You will not have been told that the University invests in, and profits from the destruction of that same future. First, some simple maths. It is unilaterally accepted that to avoid an irreversible change in weather systems the temperature of the planet must not rise by more than 2 degrees. It is accepted that to avoid this rise, we must not burn anymore than 565 Billion tonnes of CO2. It is accepted that fossil fuel companies already have more than five times this amount in CO2 reserves. These companies are not listening to patently obvious scientific warnings. Instead, they are literally scouring the globe for the last remaining fuels to burn and bucks to make. Is it acceptable, then, that your University invests £6.9 Million into the top 200 fossil fuel companies in the world?
November 2013 - Campaign to get UK universities to divest officially launched July 2014 - World Council of Churches, which includes the Church of England, divests October 2014 - Newcastle University Fossil Free campaign launched, as Glasgow University becomes the first university in Europe to commit to divestment December 2014 - Student Council passes a motion to lobby the University to divest
“For too long the global warming debate has been about protecting the next generation. It’s nearly about protecting our own generation” A lot of numbers. But why should you care? Well, even a two degree rise in global temperature - the ‘safe limit’, will bring you warmer summers as Europe regularly experiences heatwaves. Great news. Unfortunately, it will also increase heavy rainfall over land by a tenth, precipitate a rise in sea levels of over a metre by 2100, and as a result drown cities such as Amsterdam. And this is only the start. If we do not keep 80% of fossil fuels we already have in the ground and decide to burn them, we are making a grave mistake. For too long the global warming debate has been about protecting the next generation. It’s nearly too late. It’s nearly about protecting our own generation. In your first weeks back you could be forgiven for thinking about your fees. You may feel £9,000 is a little steep for a degree. And you may consider yourself an environmentalist - around 3 quarters of the population do. Now process this. UK Universities as a whole invest £6.6 billion into fossil fuels. This is the equivalent of £1,804 per student. While you pay your lump fee for limited lectures, universities nationwide invest the equivalent to a fifth of it to accelerating the destruction of our planet. Imagine for a moment you are in an NHS meeting. Lung cancer is the topic, and you are all sharing ideas of how to reduce smoking to save lives. You look around the room. In the corner, driving the debate, is an executive from a tobacco company. He’s telling everyone how he’s listening to scientific experts - and he isn’t 100% sure if smoking really causes lung cancer, so we should leave it all to him. He’ll sort it. The tobacco industry will take the lead on stopping smoking, he assures you. Now, do you believe him? Continuing to invest in fossil fuel industry, while fully aware of the life altering dangers of global warming is the same as believing that the tobacco industry will take the lead in reducing smoking. Following a student campaign last year, the University has an Advisory Board looking into “all aspects of the debate around investments in fossil fuels”. But since this body has been set up, investments have increased by more than 50%. Considering, debating and evaluating are no longer acceptable. Dithering is no longer responsible. We cannot allow ourselves to be handcuffed by supine complicity and meek acquiescence. If it is wrong to destroy the planet, it is wrong to profit from that destruction. Newcastle University: Divest Now.
March 2015 - The Guardian launches its Keep it in the Ground campaign, calling for more institutions to divest June 2015 - Norway divests its sovereign wealth fund, in the largest divestment yet, while Newcastle University sets up an advisory board to consider the debate around divestment
Image: Mark Sleightholm
November 2015 - 10 more UK universities divest, doubling the number of universities committed to divestment
NUSU President Dom Fearon gives his views on why Newcastle University should be the next to divest, and what you can do to help
I
remember when I first heard about Climate Change as a 14 year old in a Year 10 Geography class. Methane, nitrous oxide and the evil carbon dioxide, why were these horrible gases destroying the homes of those poor polar bears? It didn’t bother my young brain for very long. Fast-forward a decade, my thinking on the subject only changed early this year when I was made to research climate change as part of my degree. If the issue is as massive as it’s made out to be, then surely everyone would be making a big fuss and putting plans in place to save our planet from impending doom? What I realised is that there are two main reasons we haven’t changed: 1) fossil fuel companies will prioritise profit over our future and 2) changing from fossil fuels to renewables is seen to be too inconvenient. As Al Gore stated in 2006, this is certainly an “inconvenient truth”, but we have moved from a stage where climate change was inconvenient to a situation in which we have to make imminent changes or see drastic negative global shifts within our lifetime (cue dramatic music). According to accepted research, in order to prevent irreversible damage to our planet, and the people who live in it, we cannot let the global temperature increase by more than 2°C. Last week we reached the 1°C mark so to realistically stay within our “carbon budget” we need to remove our investments (divestment) from companies that profit from the burning of fossil fuels as soon as possible.
The first step in this process would be to work with the University to change their investments and divest from fossil fuel companies similar to how many other universities already have (Edinburgh, Warwick, SOAS etc). There is a clear moral argument for divestment, however there is now a powerful financial argument as well (hence the increase in institutions divesting). Increasing government regulation and reduced subsidies combined with the improvements made in the renewable sector will make fossil fuelbased assets increasingly risky. It is accepted by many global institutions (Bank of England, World Bank, Rockefeller Brothers Fund etc.) that there is a “Carbon Bubble” ready to burst similar to the “Housing Bubble” of 2007. Research shows that this bubble could leave many assets “stranded” as they could lose up to 60% of their market value. As stakeholders in Newcastle University’s future we need the University to be prudent with their investments and be risk-averse. Now divestment isn’t a black and white issue, it is a process and it can occur in varying degrees. What is essential is that the University accepts that divestment over time is the best course of action and puts a plan in place to make this happen. Climate change is an apolitical issue, it is not a left wing, hippie interest, it is something that is going to have drastic consequences on all of us (espe-
“There is a clear moral argument, however there is now D SRZHUIXO À QDQFLDO argument as well”
cially the poorest members of society). As students it is our duty to be the forward-thinkers in society. The University was extremely forward-thinking in giving Martin Luther King an Honorary Doctorate of Civil Law in 1967, something which we are all immensely proud of, and I am confident that they will yet again prove to be just as progressive. The University are already looking into the benefits and considering divestment, but only from a financial perspective. The problem here is that before the carbon bubble bursts we will have already done irreversible damage to the planet. That is why it is essential that we let them know that this issue matters to students. The best way you can do this is by signing the petition on the Newcastle University “Fossil Free” Campaign Facebook page. Additionally you can take a photo of yourself with a fossil free sticker and put it on social media tagging #newcastlenext (you can get stickers from the Students’ Union). The campaign group also are putting on a “Divestment Week” starting Monday 16th November where there will be various events and talks from Labour to Conservative, religion to medicine and of course finance. The events will culminate in a “Divestival” on the Friday including music, food, face painting and drinks deals. If you would like to be involved then just join the divestment week events/group on Facebook and bring yourself along. To quote the Bard, “it is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.” Let them yet again make us proud to be students of Newcastle University.
“Climate change is an apolitical issue, it is not a left wing, hippie interest”
The Courier
feature.15
Monday 16 November 2015
Jack Marley explores the wider context of the fossil free campaign, LQ WKH ¿ UVW HQWU\ RI KLV QHZ EORJ DERXW WKH GLYHVWPHQW PRYHPHQW
T
here’s an old phrase about “taking coal to Newcastle” that says a lot about this city and its past. Newcastle was a place pressed to the coalface of the Industrial Revolution, and its relationship with fossil fuels helped shape Britain and the world. You can still see the marks it left behind on our campus. Stephenson, Parsons, Armstrong- our lecture halls honour names that are synonymous with innovation, discovery and the pioneer spirit of this corner of the world. But in the flip book of the mind they also generate impressions of a bygone era, with steam engines that stutter into life and factory chimneys that heave black clouds into grey skies. Newcastle’s history is as vivid as its present is vibrant, and our university helps remind us that as students here its legacy is our legacy, and its story envelops our own. Now the year is 2015, and it is a pivotal year for the fight against climate change. The world meets in Paris next month to strike a deal, and
its outcome may determine whether or not we condemn ourselves to a climate that is beyond anything we have ever experienced as a species. Clamouring on the periphery will be Fossil Freean international band of activists dedicated to the divestment of public money from coal, oil and gas companies. Divestment means taking money from the old, and giving it to the new. It’s rare that one word can encapsulate the demands of so many in a single campaign, and doubly so in this case, as Fossil Free is a movement dominated by numbers. There are three that require particular attention. 2°C- the generally agreed limit to which it would be safe to allow the planet to warm; 565 gigatonnesthe amount of carbon we can still pour into our atmosphere and retain a reasonable chance of staying below two degrees; and 2795 gigatonnesthe amount of carbon currently resting in the reserves of the fossil fuel industry. To these sobering calculations Fossil Free
Newcastle, our university’s branch of the global campaign, adds three more. £6.9 million- the sum Newcastle currently has invested in fossil fuel interests; £6.6 billion- the cumulative figure of all British university investments in hydrocarbons; and £1804- the equivalent amount that every student unwittingly invests in the sector through commitment of their fees, which is close to a fifth of the cost of their entire degree. Degrees of Change is your guide to the defining issue of a generation. What follow are the stories of the people behind the slogans- their myriad backgrounds and motivations, and how they find common cause in the drive for divestment. As a student campaign, Fossil Free Newcastle may be unparalleled in its broad base of appeal. To those involved, it’s evidence that they’re rooted on the right side of history. But will that prove enough within an education system that is so heavily indebted to the past?
Over 1,600 Newcastle students have signed the petition so far
Monday 16th The financial argument: A different angle BSTC B.32 – 6 - 7:30pm A talk led by the Investment Society that investigates why divestment makes financial sense. Why fossil fuels are a feminist issue Kate Adie Room, NUSU – 6 - 7:30pm The Feminist Society discusses why climate change disproportionately affects women. ‘Do the Math’ film showing Kate Adie Room, NUSU – 7:30 8:30pm The why, what, how of divestment: this 42 minute film explains what the campaign is all about.
Wednesday 18th Fossil fuels: an apolitical issue BSTC, B.32 – 6 - 7:30pm Climate change affects us all, and so the Conservative Future, Young Greens and Labour Students societies are coming together to host this discussion about the political aspects of divestment.
Thursday 19th
Dom Fearon, NUSU President
Luke Allison, Welfare and Equality Officer
Hannah Goring, Activities Officer
International imbalance BSTC, B.32 – 6 - 7:30pm The effects of global warming will be felt more strongly in poorer countries and in the southern hemisphere. UNICEF and the International Development Society explore the global implications for climate change. Divestment Week meet and greet Mens Bar – 8pm A chance to have an informal chat and a drink, taking advantage of Mens Bar’s Divestment Week drinks offer.
Friday 20th Lucy Morgan, Gender Equality Officer and vice-president of the Feminist Society
Ruari Walker, Liam Christie and Alex Bie, presidents of Labour Students, Young Greens and Conservative Future societies
Divestival Student Forum – 11am - 3pm A festival to celebrate the divestment campaign so far, with music from NSR, food stalls, face painting and more.
Tuesday 24th Unhealthy investments for an unhealthy planet BSTC, B.32 – 6:30 - 8pm A talk discussing the medical side of climate change, led by Medsin.
Thursday 26th
Matthew Price, Education Officer
Victoria Armstrong, Editor of The Courier
Angus Taylor, Athletic Union Officer
An interfaith discussion Herschel Lecture Theatre 2 – 6 7:30pm Several of Newcastle’s religious societies host a discussion on religious responses to climate change.
16.lifestyle
The Courier
Monday 16 November 2015
Lifestyle  Editors: .DWLH $FNHUOH\ 5XWK /RHIÀHU )LRQD &DOORZ /DXUHQ ([HOO
Foody Foddy
Emma  Foddy  visits  The  Bridge  Tavern  for  a  twist  on  classic  Pub  Grub
I
decided to try the Bridge Tavern after it had been brought up in conversation by a couple of friends, who had ventured there for drinks and admired the food menu. It’s on a road just off the quayside and is under a ten minute walk from Monument metro station. It’s a bit confusing because it’s got The Newcastle Arms written in huge letters above the door, but do not be deceived because below this there is a teeny tiny sign that confirms it is, in fact, the Bridge Tavern. The vibrant atmosphere is welcoming and we were met with a buzz as soon as we walked through the door. My boyfriend and I went on a Saturday night and the bar was heaving. We were led to a cosy table in the corner that was surrounded by bookshelves but still carried the buzz from the bar. It was an exciting place to eat as there was so much going on around us.
“The menu offers an extensive and quirky range of sharing platters, bar snacks and light bites� The only downside was that sometimes it was hard to carry a conversation because it was so loud. Our table was constantly surrounded by drinkers who were using our table to rest their drinks on. Having said that, we felt snug on the sofa surrounded by books. The staff were efficient, although I felt sometimes that they were rushed off their feet, which made it tricky to catch their eye. In terms of dress-code, there were lots of dresses and heels, shirts and smart trousers. I, on the other hand, was wearing jeans and a sweater and still didn’t feel out of place. So, in short, you can wear anything. Something that may be of interest to all you alelovers is that they brew their own ales on the premises. There is an extensive selection on offer at the bar. In terms of food, the menu offers an extensive and quirky range of sharing platters, bar snacks and light bites, for those who are not looking for a hearty main meal but simply a little something to nibble on whilst enjoying a drink.
“Something that may be of interest to all you ale-lovers is that they brew their own ales on the premises�
I ordered the beer battered haddock, triple cooked chips and mushy peas. The haddock fell apart in thick, white flakes at the slightest touch of the fork. The batter was crispy and golden (a relief as there is nothing worse than soggy batter). The chips were salty and delicious. The meal would give any traditional fish and chip shop a run for its money. The food on offer is audacious, yet not too adventurous that it loses its sense of traditional homely pub food. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience of the Bridge Tavern. It was an exciting place to sit and eat whilst being surrounded by the buzz of a Saturday night. I’d recommend going in a small group as conversation would likely be lost with a larger one. The food was delicious and there was something on the menu for everyone, offering traditional British comfort food with a twist. Foody Foddy’s rating: 8/10. 9 Akenside Hill, Newcastle, NE1 3UF
Dating  Disasters
Think  you’ve  had  it  rough  with  romance?  Think  again.  Phoebe  Ng  has  IRXQG WKRVH XQOXFN\ IHZ ZKRVH GDWHV KDYH UHGH¿QHG WKH ZRUG DZNZDUG
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The Gross Fantasy
efore Tinder even got popular, I have been using dateatuni.com and met this guy. It seemed a normal site and I thought I could meet someone who is of similar age and background. I waited for him outside the station. A man approached me. Not only did he looked completely different from the profile picture, clearly not a uni student, he also had a bad stutter. I was quite annoyed that he lied. But I felt a little bit sympathetic for him, because if he was being honest on the profile, most people would just shy away from him (at least I would... as human nature). He seemed a bit drunk after some drinks and started revealing his gross fantasy of having someone sh*tting on him. It was a quiet Japanese restaurant and literally everyone heard his astonishing speech. Despite being still extremely hungry, I faked going to toilet and disappeared, fearing what may happen after. It was quite a shame I could not even finish my edamame beans. I never used this website ever after.
“We had a few pints but soon I realised she could finish one much faster than me�
The Awkward Third Wheel
N
othing would be more awkward than having a third wheeler on a first date, right? I thought this was a universally known fact, but no. This guy was obviously unaware of this unwritten rule. This was not just any third wheel though, he actually brought his brother with him on the first date. His fully grown, proper adult style, big brother. And it was the first time we had actually physically meet. As far as I am concerned, his brother was in his 20s and seemed perfectly capable of looking after himself for the evening. He did not explain anything. I am not quite sure of his motive - Perhaps he was actually looking for girlfriend for his brother? We had some normal conversations so it was not too bad. But it was absolutely nothing like a date. Thinking on the bright side, I guess it was not too bad - at least he was not bringing his mum, right?
The Inappropriate Sleeper
D
ISCLAIMER: She could drink a lot more than me and I was trying to keep up There was a girl I met at my friend’s party who really liked jazz so I thought it would be nice if I took her out to Ronnie Scotts, the best live jazz place round the area. At first I brought her to a small pub crawl as a ‘pre-drink’. We had a few pints but soon I realised she could finish one much faster than me. She did not seem like she could drink that much as she seemed quite petite and cute. I was trying to keep up and got a bit drowsy even before going to Ronnie Scotts. We continued drinking at Ronnie Scotts. The last thing I remembered ordering was an Irish Coffee which probably weren’t the best idea. We managed to find a seat and within 10 minutes, I fell asleep. I had no idea what happened afterwards but I supposed she was quite annoyed having to take care of a first date. As you may have expected, I did not get any second date.
Z Â Z Â
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“His brother was in his 20s and seemed perfectly capable of looking after himself for the evening�
I
The Clingy Ex
t was almost seven years ago, back when flip phones still existed. I brought my college sweetheart, who I have been dating for almost half a year, to the football stadium where I had a game. I went to the pitch and left my cell phone to her just in case of any emergency. She placed my stuff on the bench and suddenly just walked out in the middle of my game. I found out I was in a sticky situation when I saw my phone - my ex-girlfriend had been ringing, and clearly my girlfriend picked it up. Realising I got into big trouble, I had to quit the game early in order to clear things up. My ex had been trying to contact for many times (she was very needy which was exactly why she ended up as an ex), but unfortunately my girlfriend picked up in this occasion. Not sure what my ex said to her; I just knew she get very angry and told my ex to ‘“leave me alone and that she had let me go and it was her loss, if she continues to contact me she would be sorry.� It was awkward, crazy (and funny) at the same time. At times we still recalled the story and had a good laugh. And one lesson learnt - don’t leave your phone to your girlfriend ever.
The Courier
.17
Monday 16 November 2015
Culture thecourieronline.co.uk/culture
Culture Editors: Laura Staniforth & Ellie McLaren Sections: Lifestyle, Fashion, Beauty, Arts, Music, Film, TV, Gaming & Science courier.culture@ncl.ac.uk | @CourierOnline
Blind Date
Daisy on Joshua
Joshua on Daisy
So where did you go? We went to Tokyo, you know the cocktail bar, and then we went to Redhouse on the quayside.
So, you said you’d seen her on Facebook before, did she live up to the images in real life? She was beautiful, can’t say a bad word about her, she was lovely.
Oooh that’s nice, who picked? Well he asked where I wanted to go, and there is really nice and not too expensive so I said we could go there.
What was her personality like as well? She was so chatty. I was really worried that I was going to be chatting to someone and she was quite quiet, but she wasn’t, so that’s good.
What was your first impression of him or had you stalked him on Facebook much before? Yeah, well basically I’m part of the Tennis team. So in the group chat we were all looking at him, it was funny. Some of the girls on the team were like “ask him about his holiday to Italy in 2010” and stuff like that (laughs). And then on the date he brought up Italy and I thought... I know you’ve been there.
So just out of interest, where did you actually go on the date? We went to Tokyo, down by the quayside, it’s absolutely lovely there, I’d never been before. Then we went to Redhouse for a bit of food. Oh yeah, get some pies in you. What did she go for? Oh, I can’t really remember, all I know is I need to go back! It was so nice.
Do you think he’d stalked you too? Yeah definitely, I said something about when I went to Sri Lanka and he was like “yeah, you’ve been everywhere!” ...and I thought, well I’ve only mentioned Sri Lanka. Then he said, bet I can guess the places you’ve been… but he definitely knew!
So what did you talk about? Everything really. We were chatting quite a bit about holidays, we literally just covered everything.
“He was like ‘yeah, you’ve been everywhere!’ ...and I thought, well I’ve only mentioned Sri Lanka.”
“I was worried that I was going to be chatting to someone that was quiet”
So it wasn’t awkward or anything? No, that was the only thing I was worried about, but there were no awkward silences at all. Conversation was always really flowing!
Okay, so if you were going to go on holiday with her, where do you think you’d take her? Erm, I don’t know she’s done quite a lot of traveling. Scuba diving for definite, probably somewhere like Egypt.
He said something happened with two American guys staring at you? Yeah, we were just talking, and then I looked over his shoulder and there were these two guys properly staring at me. I looked back, but they carried on staring! They didn’t look away at all. If I was on my own I would’ve asked what they were looking at, but I didn’t want to seem confrontational or anything! So I just asked if we could leave… We were going to go anyway though.
Was there any embarrassing or awkward moments during the date? No, there was a really funny moment, we were sat having a drink, and for some reason, literally as fast as you’d click your fingers, she suddenly started staring somewhere. I couldn’t work out what it was at first, and then I turned around and there were these two American chaps, sat down having a drink, and they were having a stare off between them.
Any other awkward moments? This wasn’t awkward particularly, but he said “oh, what’s your favourite animal” and I was sat there for ages trying to decide because I couldn’t think of anything.
So as far as dates go, how do you think that went? Oh, it was lovely, just spent all the time having a chat. It was nice and chilled. Do you think you’d see her again? Erm, no, I think it was more friend-y. We got on like really really good friends, but I don’t think there was really anything there.
[Laughs] Do you think he was just asking it to try and think of conversation? Yeah! But it wasn’t awkward, he didn’t need to ask if I had any brothers and sisters or anything like that, but he just said it. I should’ve just said horse or something!
So, at the end of the date, how did it end? Literally, we just walked back to hers, had a hug, said goodbye and that was it really.
Were you tempted to lean in for a kiss? Erm… no, no.
And, scale of 1-10, how would you rate the date? 10, she was absolutely lovely. Good food, good person to spend the night with, absolutely brilliant.
So there wasn’t any sexual chemistry then? Well no, like I didn’t really think of him like that or fancy him. Would your parents approve of him? Yeah I think so, he’s sporty, which they like. He’s easy to talk to, so that’s good! Have you spoke since? No, I said that I’d message him… but I haven’t yet. How would you rate your date? 7, it was fun! But I don’t know if I’d go again.
Daisy Ronn, 3rd Year History and Politics meets Joshua Clayton, 3rd Year Biomed
Looking for love? Send in your details to c2.lifestyle@ncl.ac.uk
18.lifestyle Rant of the Week Bah, Humbug
Monday 16 November 2015
The Courier
Exploring  Prague
Miriam  Atkinson  on  Francis  Williams  GH¿HV WKRVH ORRPLQJ GHDGOLQHV DQG WDNHV D ORQJ DXWXPQDO why  she  won’t  be  hanging  ZHHNHQG LQ &]HFK 5HSXEOLFœV FDSLWDO FLW\ IDPRXV IRU LWV FXOWXUH DQG DEVLQWKH up  her  stocking  for  hat better way to take a weekend off It’s well worth picking up a plastic cup of mulled There is something for everyone. The Politics from Uni than to make the most of wine from a street vendor before taking a seat on student of the group darted off into the faded Santa...  in  November Newcastle’s direct flights to Prague? the banks of the River Vltava whilst watching the Communist Museum to snatch a photo with busts
A
lright I’ll admit I’m a big fan of Christmas. Who isn’t? But when is it acceptable to show our support for the festive season? Come December we’re all either joyfully counting down the days until we can open our presents or I supposed dreading the obligatory day of family reunions. By November I’m now being told how many sleeps we have until Christmas and the thought of Christmas shopping has appeared on the horizon. However if you are a shopping centre or a retail store it appears that the end of October (at the latest mind you) is the optimum time to install those glitzy decorations and dust off the deluxe edition CD of all 10 Christmas songs ever made. Guys we haven’t even had Halloween! Yet the ‘I-promise-it’s-Christmas’ award must go to the seasonal greetings cards, which first start making an appearance in September. Seriously who are you people that buy Christmas cards so far in advance?! Don’t you know we have autumn in between the summer and winter holidays?
“It appears that the end of October is the optimum time to install those glitzy decorations and dust off the CD of all 10 Christmas songs ever made�
But why do shops insist on putting up their decorations so far advance? I’ll tell you why. As a consumer society we spend more money around Christmas and New Year than at any other time of the year. This is excellent news for shops but the lure of money and increased profits can lead the best of us into temptation. So some sneaky individual thought: “if we can extend Christmas then we can double the amount we make.� By fitting the decorations a couple of months early the retailers cause our brains to say: “oh it’s Christmas! I must start my Christmas shopping!� And from there our downward spending spiral begins. For me one of the best parts of Christmas is the anticipation – as the bubble of excitement grows inside you as each day brings you closer and closer. However if the shops are forcing our hard-wired brains to celebrate Christmas almost the moment summer ends, does this lessen our pleasure when the day itself actually arrives? With festivity quite literally hanging over our heads and assaulting us from all sides for so long, does our enjoyment become jaded to the point where we are bored by Christmas and do not particularly care when it is over?
“For me one of the best parts of Christmas is the anticipation- the bubble of excitement that grows inside you�
Commercialising Christmas could be having another unwanted effect. As we get older many of us forgot the things we were taught yet are the younger generations of Britain in danger of knowing Christmas as a capitalist market and nothing else? Surely it should be time about family and love as opposed to tantrums about not getting the latest iPhone. Regardless of what you love about Christmas – the food, the music, the wine, the coming together of the family, being able to wear your winter woollies, the snow, the sledging, the ice skating, and let’s be honest coming downstairs and seeing all your presents – the fact remains the big day falls into December so can we please wait until then to feel that Christmassy vibe?
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That’s what everyone else in our eight-person group concluded, whilst I made the infinitely longer trip to Luton for the sake of catching a budget flight. Regardless, we all arrived in the medieval city centre at just the point when its labyrinth of underground bars were at their peak; in the process we gatecrashed an increasingly agitated birthday party.
“Just off the main square is Charles Bridge, a fourteenth century construction with mounted Baroque statuesâ€? The city’s tourist hotspot – Old Town Square – lived up to all my expectations. As you meander out of a narrow cobbled alleyway you are immediately confronted by men painted in gold pretending to be statues, horse-and-carriages, the Church of Our Lady Before TĂ˝n (irony?), and an ornate astronomical clock. Just off of the main square is Charles Bridge, a fourteenth century construction with mounted baroque statues perched on either side.
sun set over the bridge and Prague’s historic castle. Prague is anything but a city lacking in bars and nightlife. After all, the Czech Republic is the home of Staropramen - familiar from the Wetherspoons list of “world beersâ€?. A half-litre costs little over thirty Koruna (under ÂŁ1), and a double vodka was never more than one hundred; just make sure you know which type of spirit you want, or you’ll end up getting the finest black label with pricing to match (as we did). You get great scenery for your money, descending two-storey bars such as aircraft-themed Hangar or the flamboyant Aloha to be served by staff dressed as pilots or The Beach Boys respectively. We spent a few (merry) hours pouring our own pints in the aptly named The Pub, where a drinking leaderboard ranks your table’s pilsner consumption against that of other bars across Europe; we narrowly lost to Berlin. It is truly an international city: Groups of Germans and Poles have crossed the border for the weekend; Americans relax with bottles of Bud-inhand at street cafĂŠs, and Spaniards are omnipresent on all five floors of disco club Karlovy lĂĄznÄ›. And then there was us, a group of Newcastle students with university-branded hoodies to match. For that truly multicultural experience, it’s worth getting a Thai massage or having a fish pedicure whilst people-watching from a balcony.
of Marx and Lenin. There are bars for every taste, from heavy rock to 90s classics. And if everything goes pear-shaped, absinthe shops will sell you a (very reasonably priced) bottle. There are also free shots of the green fluid for the first hour of the Prague Pub Crawl. Or there’s a boat cruise advertised by men dressed as sailors. Other promoters attempt to get you to watch their “Cabaret� show. Inner-city travel connections are frequent: buses link the city to the airport through day and night, and a spacious Metro system lies beneath the cobbles.
“After all, the Czech Republic is the home of Staropramen- familiar from Wetherspoon’s list of ‘world beers’� We had a great time, and hit the perfect balance between sightseeing and sampling the local cuisine, whether that be drinking a lager or ordering goulash and dumplings. The Czech Republic is hardly an expensive country, and was well worth taking a weekend off to visit.
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hile you scroll down your Facebook news feed, you will literally be bombarded with umpteen cute dog/cat/ other assorted fluffy animal videos. Do you ever get that wave of nostalgia for your pet at home? Animals are inescapable; they seem to be everywhere; they even have their own Facebook and Instagram stuffed full of pictures that make you want to cry. When you are hanging around in the city, you might see people taking their dog for a walk. When you are going back from uni, you might see an errant cat in the less student-y part of Jesmond. Don’t succumb to the urge to stick it in your backpack and take it home to your grateful flatmates, instead question whether it would actually be worth the hassle. Let me to help you analyse the pros and cons of uni house-pets‌
Yes, because... It can comfort you no matter what the issue; they can help physically and mentally. When you feel sad, stressed, or just want to find somebody share with, pets are always loyally by your side. In the sad case that you might have an argument with your friends, or housemates, it might be the only one you can talk to at home and you can express your feelings to your pet and they will just let you hug
them until your heart’s content. A pet is always a good conversation starter. I do not mean having a pet can help you to make friends (although it may help your pulling technique if you wap out a picture of your fluffy friend), but it is easier to make new friends when they have a pet as well. You can talk about how to take care of your pet, and show your pet’s funny videos to your friends.
No, because... Pets aren’t allowed in student accomodation.If you are living in uni or even private accommodation, you are not normally allowed to keep pet, end of. If they find you keeping a pet, they may ask you to move out or pay for a fine. Think of the mayhem in first year of your pet escaping into the room of that lesser-well-known housemate. Some private accommodations might let you (or be less observant) but remember to ask them for permission. It depends on what pet you have, but it will still not be cheap since you are not simply just buying a pet; you need to buy your pet a home and the general maintenance that is needed to keep it alive. Pet’s food cost, which you need to buy every week, will have to be incorporated into your own student
budget food shop. It is essential to check whether you have enough money to keep a pet. Can your student loan handle it? You need to take time to care, if it feels sick you need to bring them to the vet no matter whether you are dealing with your deadlines. You cannot hang out with your friends for the whole day, because you need to spend time to take care of your pet. And every time you want to go for a trip, you need to ask your friends to take care of it, just rememeber you can’t leave it for a week or even for a day! How will your drunk friends treat them? In the event that you host a house party (or just a bit of a rowdy pres), how can you guarantee your pet will not be involved? Pets need normal rest, unlike humans, they can’t play overnight. So the main issue‌ Don’t let your drunk friends think your pets are play toys! Everyone knows how quickly a standard game of ‘Ring of Fire’ can deteriorate into an absolute frenzy. After the pros and cons analysis, can you now answer the question? If you can deal with place, cost, time and your friends, having a house pet is a potential choice to accompany you in your uni life. But maybe a stick insect or those Sea Monkeys that you can grow from powder (magical in itself!) as opposed to a fully fledged animal that will make more demands on you than your deadlines. Remember, a pet is for life, not just for uni.
The Courier
lifestyle.19
Monday 16 November 2015
thecourieronline.co.uk/lifestyle c2.lifestyle@ncl.ac.uk   |  @CourierLifestyle
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here is no doubt that it takes a lot of work to get through your degree, but does that make it a valid excuse to allow yourself getting out of shape? While it is so easy and tempting to just order that greasy takeaway for your dinner, taking the plunge and endeavouring to stay fit actually offers many more intrinsic rewards than just a healthy body. Exercise relieves stress: Exercising makes you happier by releasing endorphins. It is a ‘feel good’ hormone that blocks feelings of pain and makes you feel happy - which in turns relieves stress. And good news is it doesn’t matter whether you do weight training or yoga, they all work their hormonal, science-y magic. The hormone is also proven to have the benefit of improving sleep. Which is probably why people who’ve managed to get into the habit of working out often feel more energetic than people who do not. Who doesn’t want to be happy and sleep well, after all? Working out means extra hour for study: With only 24 hours a day, students often think they have to choose between fitness and studying, as if these two things are mutually exclusive. While it may seem like a strange and nerdy idea, it is not impossible to study while doing your run. Instead of listening to music, why not download ReCap of
your lecture into your iPod; organise your materials onto note cards and bring with you; or even just thinking through and refine ideas you have been studying. You will be surprised how much you could achieve.
“The good news they all work their hormonal, science-y magic �
You save a fortune: As soon as I decided to start staying fit, I found out that I spent way less money than before. I no longer spend money on soft drinks, beers, fast foods or crisps. The idea that eating fast food is cheaper is a very common misconception - it is actually not hard to make simple and healthy dishes that lasts you for a few days for the price of a McDonalds’ meal. Also, instead of taking metro or the bus, there are healthier options like walking and cycling which cost you only a faction. You may think that gym or personal trainer are expensive, but one could just work out at home or simply incorporate more movements into your daily routine. Think doing a casual bicep curl while slaving over a hot stove, or taking the longer route to uni, just for the extra five minutes of walking.
Staying fit improves your career prospects: It has nothing to do with your size or shape, but people who work out and eat well do generally feel better about their body. It not only improves your body image and the way that you view yourself, but also boosts your self-esteem, which is the most important element in personal branding. With higher confidence level, you would be able to create a better first impression, handle job interviews better and potentially get better offers. Confidence is the key.
“ The idea that eating fast food is cheaper is a very common misconception�
More friends, and potentially dates: Exercising gives us healthier skin and other antiaging benefits, which raise your attractiveness in general. Also being active is a good excuse to hang out with your buddies while exercising (a win win situation) and gives you an opportunity to meet new people with similar lifestyle and interest. So if you’re lusting after that hottie in the gym, that newfound confidence should soon see you chatting away.
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nglish lit is a subject renowned for high numbers of girls, but who needs fit freshers when the lecturer is a total ‘tilf ’ (think ‘milf,’ but of the teacher variety). In he walks and it’s not what you’ve expected. It’s not the old, slightly balding, tweed wearing man you imagined your lecturer to be, instead he’s a total silver fox. Tall, slim, with a little designer stubble. I only needed to look around the room to see it wasn’t just me interested, he makes all the girls (and some of the boys) in the lecture swoon. This man is going to lecture us for the next three years,
“Lessons became less about the class and more about his ass�
how lucky are we? However, the realisation quickly dawns that in a room of 200 people it’s hard to make a good impression. Try and make an intelligent comment, but it’s more likely that’ll end in saying something stupid and embarrassing (in fact my infatuation faltered slightly when in a lecture he fairly ruthlessly shut down people for getting the answers wrong, thus ruining any future chance of me speaking in a lecture). After 5 weeks it’s fairly apparent I’ll probably never make a good impression, chances of him even learning my name is slim, and I’ll always be just another hungover face in the crowd. Despite this rather depressing realisation I still show up which is a credit to him, as no matter how severe the hangover, somehow that 9am start doesn’t seem as bad. If you ask me attractive teachers is one of the
best ways to get better grades. My GCSE physics grade went up from a C to an A because I had to memorize the electromagnetic spectrum just to impress him. Lessons became less about the class and more about his ass. But long gone are the days of physics classrooms, now I like the more poetic type. Including a long haired 30 something poet / lecturer. You can only imagine him muttering perfect iambic pentameter in your ear. So the question still remains, why do we actually fancy them? Can we simply put it down to the fact they are in a position of power, and even outside the class room we want to be told what to do, or is it more about breaking the rules? But you have to ask, is it the person or the place? It could be that in places such as school and university there are so few attractive teachers, we immediately assign our affections to the best looking of the bunch. If we
“May our grades continue to improve, and our futile affections continue to flourish � are being honest with ourselves if we passed them in the street would we still be swooning? The teacher-student relationship is a popular dynamic explored on TV and films too. Who doesn’t remember the Ross and Elizabeth episodes on F.R.I.E.N.D.S? Or the Drew Barrimore Rom-Com ‘Never Been Kissed?’. So what is our fascination with this seemingly forbidden relationship? When I asked my flatmates about their experiences with
Overheard on Campus “My flatmate said ‘even John Snow wouldn’t survive the cold in this house, and he’s as Northern as they come�
teacher crushes they all seemed to have one, it’s almost a rite of passage. My favourite story was when one of them fainted during woodwork, and whilst being carried to the nurse the conversation was about an altogether different kind of wood. So all in all as long as there are attractive teachers in the world our crushes will remain strong.
“I was walking behind two Rahs and one of them said to the other ‘don’t you think Waitrose has become so basic these days? �
Image: https://www.instagram.com/p/ vYPLT3vuR8/?taken-by=pietroboselli Could you concentrate if this was your maths teacher? Pietro Boselli (PHD in Engineering dontcha know) is officially the Ultimate TILF
“A girl in the crush outside my lecture theatre described her hangover as ‘angry centipedes with tap shoes in my head�
Group Chat Etiquette Victoria  Young  VFKRROV XV DOO LQ D OHVVRQ DERXW VRFLDO PHGLD PDQQHUV Â
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on’t all we millennials know too well the pains and frustrations of the group chat? What was intended to be an innocent discussion, deciding when and where we were meeting for the movie on Saturday night, soon mutates into a violent emoji battle followed by a debate about our favourite cheeses - seven YouTube videos, nine GIFs and a thousand cute stickers later, we’ve forgotten the purpose of the chat‌ right? This surely poses the questions: “How do we avoid these group chat nuisances?â€? and “What actually is the ‘etiquette’ of the group chat?â€? Well, firstly, don’t be one of those annoying individuals who like to spam the group with innumerable emojis and stickers at every available opportunity. Emojis are useful, at times, and can definitely lighten the mood of a dying conversation but unless you seriously want to annoy the living day-lights out of your friends then perhaps keep the sticker posting to a minimum.
“Don’t be one of those annoying individuals who spams the group with innumerable emojis�
Secondly, if a chat gets so unbelievably annoying that you feel like you will fall into mental breakdown unless you leave, DO NOT leave the group chat without first informing the group of your departure. It’s almost guaranteed that after “Joe Blogs has left the group�, your fellow chatters will talk and talk and talk and probably wait up all night wondering what they could have ever possibly said for you to leave the conversation and, by extension, erase them from your life. If you need to leave, at least have some common courtesy and announce it. Make it clear that you have acquired all of the information that you need from the group chat, and even if you haven’t, politely remind them of the assignment that you have due in tomorrow. You can catch up on the lowdown later! Every group chat also has that one person who thrives from organising and communicating. If they are trying to redirect a crippling conversation, then the least you can do is to encourage these super keen individuals who maintain the spirit of the chat and want to get back on focus. It can’t be that hard to work with others online and redirect a group chat that is slowly but assuredly falling in to a rambling anarchy. Sensibly select the keen member of the chat who you believe to be striving for productivity and, my goodness, latch to them. After all, they’re probably your only hope in making it out of the group with sanity.
“Nobody enjoys being woken up at 3.00 in the morning to see the words ‘found a chocolate bar #happydays’â€? Finally, set a group chat closure time so that annoying messages don’t come streaming in during the early hours of the morning. Don’t be that selfish person who seeks to send these messages either. Trust me when I say that your classmate won’t be so happy in the morning after they’ve been kept awake all night from a flashy, buzzy, blinding phone. Nobody enjoys being woken up at 3:00am in the morning to see the words “Hey guys, I just found a chocolate bar in my bed #happydaysâ€?‌ its 3am‌ nobody cares! Group chat etiquette is one that few have taken the time to master. It’s a simple application of a few rules and basic courtesies which can easily be applied for a happy and healthy chat history. So, don’t be a spoiler, and don’t be a spammer. Happy chatting!
20.fashion
Monday 16 November 2015
The Courier
Fashion Editors: Ellen Dixon, Liz Rosling & Sara Macauley
Karl Lagerfeld, overachiever
21st Gift Guide 2015
Miranda Stoner talks us through Stuck on what to buy this year? Sally Mu and Zacky Bensouda bring us the ultimate guide for every budget the success of Karl Lagerfeld and 2. his win of the Outstanding Achieve- 6. ment Award at the BFA’s
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3. 1. Topshop £19.99 This vintage style watch will guarantee a genuine smile on her birthday. For a high-street take on a usually decadent 21st gift, this watch is far more suitable to a student budget. Its versatile style means that it will go with the rest of her wardrobe, and the best bit is nobody will guess it’s under £20. 2. Topshop £5 Channel Fendi with this bargain buy, a cute two-toned fluffy bag charm. Popular with our favourite fashion gals Cara and Kendall, a fluffy bag charm is a cheap way of revamping an old bag. There are multiple colours to choose from so if you’re feeling flush, buy 3 so she can change them up every couple of days. The perfect addition to any faux-fur lover’s collection.
3. Zara £39.99 Chunkier heels not only look amazing with almost every outfit but also offer a whole lot more comfort and practicality in the winter months. A pair of sock-style chunky heeled boots are a must-buy this season, so if the birthday girl is fashion conscious, well she probably already has a pair, but get her these anyway. After all, shoes are a girl’s best friends. 4. Balmain X H&M £99.99 I doubt there’s a girl out there who wouldn’t LOVE to get this Balmain x H&M jacket for their 21st birthday. After the infamous range from this almighty collaboration went off with a bang earlier this month, it’s hard to get your hands on a piece from the collection. But if you can, you’re onto a winner here.
5. H&M £24.99 An ideal gift for a girl who loves a party but is bored of a classic clutch. It may not be practical, not many gals have a spherical purse to pop in their spherical bag, but it’ll be the talking point of an outfit and with its classic black and gold colours, you can almost guarantee whoever you’re buying this for will like it. 6. Topshop £7.50 A perfect little gift for a 21st birthday, these birthstone necklaces are delicate and pretty, and are a cheaper alternative to the classic Pandora birthstone ring. The necklaces from Topshop give a little description about what your birth month means about you and so is a little bit more personal than just any necklace.
Dress for success: interview style tips
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e all know that the substance of a job interview is meant to be the most important factor for potential employers. However, much as some may loathe the thought; your fashion choices will be the first thing a potential employer considers when you enter an interview room. As much as we hate to imagine it, your sartorial picks will have a big influence on your potential new boss’ opinion of you. Making yourself memorable is critical, especially if you are being interviewed against hundreds of others. This does not, however, mean that you should use the opportunity to try out a completely new look you’re not comfortable with. Today is perhaps not the day to opt for wild prints, unusual silhouettes or anything PVC, as any fashion faux-pas could leave you memorable for all of the wrong reasons. Your interview outfit should complement your personality and not distract from it, so keep it simple, well-fitting and classic. A tailored pair of
cigarette trousers is a great start and sets a good foundation to build an outfit perfect for your interview - keep them formal in colour and style and you can add personal touches later!
“Today is perhaps not the day to opt for wild prints, unusual silhouettes or anything PVC” The top you choose should depend upon the formality of the interview and a blouse and blazer may be necessary. If you want to spice it up a bit, a darker patterned blazer is a perfect option. Pastels and ivories are an ideal alternative to a standard white blouse while still maintaining a smart and professional look, and a statement necklace from the likes of Topshop or H&M can add a snippet of style and personality. Thankfully, not all interviews will require a seemingly unavoidably boring look. In creative
Topshop £22.50
Emily Higgins tells us how to style ourselves for an interview in the competitive world of grad jobs
Zara £25.99
Lagerfield has however, been involved in a spot of controversial activity. He famously said “fat mummies sitting with their bags of crisps in front of the television [are the ones] saying that thin models are ugly,” and how can we forget that time he hired Italian porn star Moana Pozzi to model his Fendi swimwear collection in 1993, which caused Anna Wintour to walk out? Despite this, Lagerfeld has still managed to amass a huge fashion following under the blanket of being a joker. If he himself is a joke, his statements seem less offensive. Despite Lagerfeld’s claims to have no marketing skills, he has still cleverly branded himself as an internationally recognisable figure. With his white hair in a Mozart-esque pony-tail, designer shades to hide his face, high white collar, black leather fingerless gloves and gothic style black trousers and blazer, he has ensured he is unforgettable. He even makes money off his pampered feline companion, Choupette, who has her own twitter account and eats better than the average Newcastle student. That being said, it’s hard to call Lagerfeld’s creativity overhyped. Karl Lagerfeld’s success seems to stem primarily from an ability to warp convention, as seen in Chanel’s spring/summer 2015 show. The clothes featured took inspiration from the modern world. Concrete inspired jewellery and clothing was unexpected without being unpleasant, and the collection also included a twist on the traditional Chanel jacket which had been turned into a bag. Another noteworthy feature was the men’s style brogues which were given a gold finish along with a peep toe and ballet ribbon style ankle fastenings. It’s these eccentricities in his style as well as his hand painted fabric designs and sheer commitment to the fashion industry that make Karl Lagerfeld stand out from other fashion designers. His career began in 1959 and he has continued contributing to the fashion world ever since. Karl’s star status in the fashion industry is evident and well deserved, and we can only hope that it’s many years before he puts down the fashion baton and dons a pair of sweatpants - unless of course they’re hand @fashionmeetsgirl painted.
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Topshop £40
‘‘Massenet justifies the decision to give him the Outstanding Achievement Award by saying that ‘his life’s work, for his own and so many extraordinary brands, has written the language of fashion’’
Gals
H&M £24.99
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ike Marmite, whether you love him or hate him, Karl Lagerfeld is still a success. This is something he recently proved when he claimed the Outstanding Achievement Award at the BFA’s - a title given last year to legendary American Vogue editor Anna Wintour. He’ll officially wrap his chic black gloves around his prize this November 23rd at the BFA ceremony in the London Coliseum. As a designer, Lagerfeld has come a long way from the isolated German countryside house of his childhood, having led three major fashion houses- Chloé, Fendi and Chanel, in addition to creating his own label, all in the space of just over fifty years. His influence has led to international success and Natalie Massenet, chair of the British Fashion Council says; ‘Karl Lagerfeld defines outstanding.’ Massenet justifies the decision to give him the Outstanding Achievement Award by saying that ‘his life’s work, for his own and so many extraordinary brands, has written the language of fashion.’ She also stated; ‘In Karl’s hands, the future of fashion will be an exceptional one.’
positions, often employers love to see candidates personalities come to life in the garments they’re wearing. In this case, you still want to be viewed as professional, so building on a couple of solid foundation pieces still works - you have more creative freedom than in a more formal situation, so make sure you make use of it! You could opt for a more fashion forward style of trouser such as a flare or culottes. Paired with a cropped jumper, boyfriend coat and some ankle boots; you’ll be polished while still current and individual. My top tip is ALWAYS to plan your outfit in advance. Interview situations are nerve-wracking enough without having to worry that your trousers give you a VPL and you’ve accidentally bought children’s shoes. Play around with your outfit beforehand, make sure you feel comfortable and fingers crossed you’ll fly through the dreaded interview into employment.
The Courier
fashion.21
Monday 16 November 2015
thecourieronline.co.uk/fashion Instagram:@thecourierfashion | Facebook: facebook.com/thecourierfash |Email: c2.fashion@ncl.ac.uk
Guys
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Hot or Not? Izzy Patterson tells us which trends are hot right now, and which need to be left in summer
HOT Flares Don’t pack your flares away just yet - the 70’s Summer dream has been restyled for Winter nights
Faux fur 8. 7. Topman £90 Okay, I am going to keep this description simple, I like this jacket. This classy and timeless piece is perfect to accompany you into adulthood. It’s made of a fairly heavy weight wool fabric, therefore perfect for the Geordie weather. It is machine washable, and thus perfect for us lazy youngsters who probably could not point out a dry cleaners if our lives depended on it. 2. Asos £4.50 Growing up means job interviews, meetings and all that boring stuff. I think this iPad case is practical yet trendy, with a classic design and expensive looking details such as the leather strap. Think man purse without the stigma. Luckily for us messy 21 year old lads, it’s made from smooth polyester, allowing you to wipe it down
10. with a damp cloth. Last but not the least, its down from £12 to £4.50, but the birthday boy doesn’t need to know that. 9. Calvin Klein/Sports Direct £17.50 Every lad needs a pair of classy ‘tighty whities’. This timeless and classic brand, capable of giving any lad the “Bieber bulge”, with the help of Photoshop of course, is discounted to £17.50. One of the many hidden gems that can be found in sports direct. 10. Not on the High Street £47 Maybe I’m just all things technology and vintage, but I cannot get over these vintage watch movement cufflinks, made with polished rhodium plated settings which work perfectly with the vintage watch movements. I highly doubt anyone else at the party will have a
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pair. 11. Topman £8 You’ve probably spent all your money by your 21st birthday, but probably still have your debit card to fall back on. It’s made of a supple faux leather body that screams “I’m broke but I still have assets”. Another advantage of this gift is that you can store cards and small amounts of cash without that massive ‘bulge’ peeping out of your ‘extra’ skinny jeans. 12. Topman £25 Roll-neck jumpers are a staple wardrobe item for men. The soft, thin material means you can wear it on a night out without the fear of uncontrollable sweating. A perfect present for the cold winter months in Newcastle.
Marc Jacobs x Disney: ‘I am not like other girls’
Rosie Setford gives us the low-down on the latest kitsch collaboration to grace the fashion stage
D
esigner collaborations are where fashion is at this month, with the Balmain x H&M collection almost selling out overnight. On the 1st November, Marc Jacobs released an 80-piece capsule collection in collaboration with Disney. The well-known 1951 Disney interpretation of the Lewis Carrol novel, Alice in Wonderland was the key inspiration for the collection, with characters such as The Flowers and the Cheshire Cat making an appearance on several of the pieces. The collection was released in advance of the upcoming May 2016 film Alice through the Looking Glass, the sequel to the Tim Burton adaptation of Alice in Wonderland. The sweet and sassy ‘Golden Afternoon’ flowers feature on a range of products such as handbags, tshirts, jumpers and iPhone cases. The prints make colourful and enchanting designs for the pieces, whilst also being recognisable for any avid Disney fan. The famous goofy Cheshire Cat smile is worn as a chest emblem on plain black and white t-shirts, as well as appearing on an iPhone case. Although purchasing one of the iPhone cases seems like an affordable way of owning a piece of the collection, they can cost up to $98 (probably slightly out of our student budgets). It’s not only the charming characters of the Alice in Wonderland adaptation which appear on the products of the collection. The familiar “this way, that way” quote is engraved on a few of the jewellery pieces such as bracelets and earrings, which creates a simple but statement jewellery item which can be worn for any occasion. The Disney collaboration once again shows the versatility of Marc Jacobs’ designs, different to the usual pieces you would expect from him. It has a
much more casual feel to it, with clothing items consisting of pieces such as a plain t-shirt or patterned bomber jacket. The products would be much more suitable for a trip to the cinema or a chilled night in (even if the price tag suggests otherwise), rather than to a glitzy A-list affair. One of Marc Jacobs’ previous collections, a collaboration with the designer of leather accessories Lana Bayne, was released in advance of this year’s Valentine’s Day. Bayne, who had previously designed harnesses for the Victoria’s Secret lingerie line, worked with Marc to produce a range of sexy S&M-esque accessories. The line included products such as leather studded cuffs, mini whip key chains and a heart-shaped leather mask. A racy alternative to the sweet and innocent Alice and Wonderland theme seen in the Disney collab.
Heritage fabrics In line with the release of Burberry’s new Billy Elliot Christmas campaign, all things tweed, tartan and oversized are taking over.
Uggs The marmite of all shoes. You either love them or loathe them. For me personally, it’s a no. Fine for the house, worthy of a fine in public.
Superhero prints I get why superman and co. had their trademark looks, I really do. But wearing logos all over your clothes, isn’t it all a bit ‘6 year old pyjama’ style? Oh, and please, please do not wear underwear over tights, no matter HOW cold your student house gets.
Metallic tattoos
“The products would be much more suitable for a trip to the cinema or a chilled night in (even if the price tag suggests otherwise)” With the release date so close to the holiday season, the Alice in Wonderland Collection could make the perfect Christmas gift. Each item exudes individuality and charm, especially as the collection is not expected to be in shops for long. It is also said to be the final collection of the Marc by Marc Jacobs range before it merges with the main line of the designer. This makes the collaboration that bit more special, both for Marc and any of those who are lucky enough to purchase pieces from the quirky and original collection.
Faux fur has been given a contemporary twist this season, with bold colours and different textures adorning our coats and bags. Grab a shaggy faux fur coat to provide a much needed pop of fash to a dreary winter day.
The trend that dominated festivals this summer has had its day in the sun. Sorry folks, it’s time to leave this accessory in the bottom of your makeup box until we are dancing in muddy fields once again.
NOT All items can be bought online @ shopbop.com
Images: @weworewhat, River Island, @cocolime_ boutique, Office
22.beauty
The Courier
Monday 16 November 2015
Beauty Editors: Flora Davies, Ellen Walker & Lucy Cochrane
Maintaining your glow in the snow With winter fast approaching, Sally Mu shares her top tips on keeping that freshoff-the-beach look all year round
I
don’t know about you, but I always feel better with a sun-kissed glow all year round, who doesn’t want a gentle and alluring golden glow in the face of grey skies and bleak weather? A tan not only lifts your complexion but also makes you look healthy during the wintertime. It’s always amazing to see how long it can take to work on the perfect tan, but how quickly you can lose it! When climate changes, so does our skin texture, which is why faking it comes with a whole new set of self-tanning rules to survive the winter months. Here are a few golden rules for you to help maintain your winter tan: Firstly, try to avoid exfoliating your skin. A main reason that your tan fades is because you are constantly shedding skin before tanning, you might feel regular skin exfoliation is good, when in fact, this will sure-ly shorten the time of your tan as it won’t allow your tan layers to be able to hold on to the colour stably. The more you scrub and remove the top layers from your skin, the quicker your tan is going to lose its darkness es-pecially in the winter. Secondly, fully hydrate your skin as much as you can.
Going to bed beautiful
Amy Jenna Houghton talks us through her daily evening beauty routine that’ll keep your skin healthy this winter
W
ith the cold, dry conditions of winter fast approaching, there’s no defense for not having a good skincare routine in place. Not only does getting ‘unready’ every evening help you unwind from a long day but it’s essential to maintaining healthy skin and getting one step closer to your dream complexion.
“Your lips need just as much attention as the rest of your skin”
“In the winter, your skin tends to suffer from dehydration, however if you moisturize your skin regularly, your skin will stay healthy”
The subtlety of it allows you to slowly and steadily build up your tan and yes, the colour will be main-tained stably as well. Fourthly, make your skin oilier. When you wash the day off, swap your shower gel for shower oil, which is super-hydrating and helps reinforce hydrated skin when you start tanning the morning af-ter. Follow above tips and have yourself a perfect-bronzed skin to keep it as long as you can.
Beauty tip of the week
N
ot sure how to be merry with your make up? Let’s take inspiration from the catwalk to create a chic festive face! Abandon classic beauty looks, it’s Christmas! Christmas eyes it’s all,about getting a modern makeover with gold and silver touches, all you need to do is to gently prep eyes ( How about MAC’s Soft Ochre Paint Pot) then scatter pigment across your lids. Head to Topshop to get yourself a nice gold glitter pot for this Christmas shiniest trimmings. Add lashes, positioning them with tweezers and adhering with lash glue. Use a fine silver shadow on the inner corners of eyes for a grown-up party look. I’d recommend to get a lash glue from Primark as they do very cheap and tacky glues, rather than going for fancy brands as I find they have the same effect. Sally Mu
Toner is something of the primer of the skincare world in that it tends to divide opinion over just how necessary it really is. Regardless, if your skin is problematic then the right toner could be the answer. High street brands such as Garnier and L’Oreal offer everything you could need from brightening and hydrating to mattifying and purifying. A personal favourite is Garnier Essentials Softening Toner (£3.29/200ml, Boots).
Removing Make-up Removing your make up every night is a must as sleeping with it on interrupts the skin’s natural renewal process, clogs pores and sets you up for a nightmare in the mirror the next morning. To remove even waterproof mascara in one go, micellar water is fast becoming the go-to product (you’ll never want a face wipe again). BioDerma (£10.20/250ml, Boots) caters to sensitive skin and is an international favourite amongst beauty bloggers, whereas Garnier’s Micellar Cleansing Water (£4.99/400ml, Boots) is a cheaper alternative and suits combination-oily skin particularly well.
Cleanse
I n the winter, your skin tends to suffer with dryness and dehydration, however if you mois- turize your skin regularly, your skin will stay healthy and keep the colour for longer. Thirdly, re-consider your tanning product. It’s likely you’ll want to hydrate yourself and create a flawless tan. Try switching to a gradual tanner that slowly builds up your colour instead of dramatically darkening the skin all in one go.
Tone
Once your make-up is off it’s time to cleanse your skin. Choosing a cleanser can be daunting but find one suited to your skin type, invest in a muslin cloth and not much can go wrong. Soap and Glory’s hot cloth cleanser The Ultimelt (£10/100ml, Boots) leaves skin soft and fresh, whilst La Roche Posay (an award-winning brand from across the channel) offers specialist products for particularly troubled skin that are a worthy investment.
Instagram: burtsbeesus
“Daily moisturising is key to achieve a healthy glow, prevent signs of ageing (it’s never too early) and keep skin troubles at a minimum” Lips On the topic of moisturising, your lips need just as much attention as the rest of your skin, particularly as they tend to pay the price for the cold walk into uni every day. Lush’s Mint Julips scrub (£5.50/25g) will sort out seriously chapped lips, while a Burts Bees balm at £3.99 a pop will last you until next year. With 100% natural ingredients in both to keep you super soft, there’s no excuse not to treat yourself to one or two (or nine) this season.
Instagram: thecolorsofmejmi
Moisture Daily moisturising is key to achieve a healthy glow, prevent signs of ageing (it’s never too early) and keep skin troubles at a minimum. If your skin is congested and changing your cleanser doesn’t help, your moisturiser could be to blame; the wrong one can block pores and worsen acne, so look for ones that are non-comdeogenic to avoid this.
Extra TLC If your skin needs some extra TLC then indulge in a face mask (who doesn’t love a good pamper?) one to two times a week. For oily or blemishprone skin this thermal mask from Sanctuary Spa (£10.50/150ml) offers a luxurious but affordable detox, whilst Nip+Fab‘s Kale Clay mask hydrates and restores radiance to lifeless skin.
(\HEURZV RQ ÀHHN
Katie Hull brings us the dream products that will get your brows raising in pure delight
E
yebrows seem to be having a bit of a moment. Ever since the phrase “eyebrows on fleek” was coined in a viral video last year, the taming of those unruly brows has shot to top of the priority list. Whether you want to look like Cara Delevingne or go for a more subtle and natural look, you’re going to need the right tools and products to do so. In terms of brow maintenance, the most obvious thing you’ll need is some tweezers. Any will do, but if you want to invest in the long term, try tweezerman tweezers (£12.50). Razor sharp and ready to tackle anything, these will do the job well. A top tip is to buy the mini version. You’ll knock £8 off the price tag for the exact same product. Do pluck with care, but avoid a nightmare and don’t over pluck. Although it’s easy to get tweezerhappy, it’s not worth being left with four hairs per eyebrow. If you do go a bit overboard, be prepared to exert major willpower and patience in waiting for them to grow back. This recovery phase will be hard. Just wait it out, and don’t pick up those tweezers until you really have to.
“Use small light strokes to give a perfectly defined and arched brow, and to create the illusion of natural looking hairs” For a quick fix to fill in your brows, the humble eyebrow pencil is your best friend. When you’ve spent a little too long in bed and are rushing for your 9am, the cheap and cheerful Rimmel Professional eyebrow pencil (£2.99) also has a nifty lit-
tle brush on the end to straighten out those pesky hairs. Do brush upwards to give your brows definition, and don’t block colour your eyebrows in.
comes with some tiny tweezers and two brushes – sorted. Just remember, don’t over-apply. The HD Brows Eye&Brow Palette (£25) is less kind to a student budget, but it does wonders. The palette has five shades, and although not travel friendly (expect the heartbreakingly painful feeling of a shattered powder), the pigmentation of these powders is amazing.
“Whether you have bushy brows or yours are barely there, there’s no need to panic. The eyebrow gods are on your side”
Instagram: anastasiabeverlyhills Use small light strokes to give a perfectly defined and arched brow, and to create the illusion of natural looking hairs. A more high-end option, which is really worth the money, is the Anastasia brow wiz (£15.50), aka eyebrow perfection. This pencil has a miniscule nib on one end to give you scarily realistic hairs, and a brush on the other - these are the most natural-fake brows you’re going to get. When you’ve got a bit more time and patience, a well-applied powder and angled brush gives a flawless finish. A favourite of mine is the Sleek Brow Kit (£8.49). With a pressed powder and a wax to set the brows in place, this little product has you covered. It also
Do get yourself a nice thin angled brush (try the Zoeva 317 or 322), and you’re good to go. If your brows are particularly unruly, try an eyebrow gel to hold the hairs in place from day to night. Maybelline Brow Drama (£4.99) comes in a range of shades, or alternatively try the clear gel option. Whether you have bushy brows or yours are barely there, there’s no need to panic. The eyebrow gods are on your side, and the memory of that masculine monobrow you had when you were thirteen doesn’t have to haunt your dreams forever.
The Courier
beauty.23
Monday 16 November 2015
thecourieronline.co.uk/beauty Instagram: Courierbeauty_ | @Courier_Beauty
Hair today, gone tomorrow
Sally Mu and Amanda Jane Yap battle out whether to grow your own or fake it
Against
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have a love-hate relationship (mostly hate) with my hair, but I will not consider hair extensions in the near future. The simple reason being I feel uncomfortable when my fingers run through hair that does not feel natural, regardless of whether it is real human or synthetic hair. It does considerable damage to your natural locks; the glue that attaches the extensions to your natural hair could burn and split the ends of your natural hair or make your hair brittle. It is worse if you are a first-timer who wants to get hair extensions, because you don’t know how your hair will react to the chemicals. The worst case scenario would be chopping off a few inches of the affected area away, which would take a longer time to achieve your quest for long luscious locks, if your plan is to grow your hair out in the long term. Heavy extensions could thin out your natural hair because of the intense pressure it causes on your scalp. Always find out what type of extensions your hairdresser is using for your hair! If you don’t want to wake up one morning to find yourself with a bald spot at the middle of your head, think twice or more as the effects are irreversible. A woman’s hair is her crowning glory!
confirm that your hair is growing the way it should be or if something needs replacing. Not forgetting the number of hair products you would need to invest on just to maintain those shiny locks, like special conditioners and shampoos, bringing me back to my previous point: It is expensive for budgettight uni students. Unmistakably, hair extensions are gorgeous things to have, but I hope that listing down these reasons will make you reconsider getting hair extensions.
“Those of you who are pressed for time in the morning... hair extensions make those 9ams a lot simpler”
Many of you might argue that hair extension damage your hair, yet it highly depends on how the look is achieved. Some people have had them done with no damage to their hair at all. If well maintained, they will last about five to six months or even longer. Hair extensions will still allow your natural hair to grow, and it’s a good temporary solution while waiting for your natural hair to recover from a bad haircut, split ends, a bad dye job or whatever problem you may face. To further avoid damage, try clip-ins; they don’t damage your hair and you can use them again and again, I for one definitely will be wearing them. As long as you stick to good quality hair and you look after them they’ll look great. Who doesn’t’t love the feeling of sporting long, healthy looking hair?
“Heavy extensions could thin out your natural hair because of the intense pressure it causes on your scalp” Let me give you a short breakdown on having hair extensions. Firstly, you would have to choose what type of hair extensions you would prefer, the length and the number of strands you want; obviously real human hair would be more expensive than the synthetic ones. Next, you would have to choose to go to a slightly more reputable hair salon to get your tresses fitted in accurately. You will also need to choose the method of fitting the extensions such as weaving or gluing it on or using cold/warm fusion to bond the hair together among many other attachment methods. All these services can snowball to £260 on average equivalent to half a month’s expenses. Beautiful hair needs a lot of love, attention and maintenance. This means washing them becomes quite a hassle when you can’t give your scalp a good scrub. Also, you need regular consultations with your hairdresser just to
Conclusion
The Beauty Editors conclude whether extentions are worth the investment
For Hair extensions are so common for us now, from health concerns to a serious need for a new look, people wear hair extensions. For those people who are experiencing hair loss, or others that unable to grow their hair out no matter how long they wait, hair extensions are always the easiest way to add thickness and length to tackle these severe situations rather than sitting back and accepting defeat. Especially for people who cut their hair and instantly regret it, hair extensions are the answer. My hair is the kind that is difficult to grow once it hits a certain length. Only hair extensions can help reach your desired length when you’re fed up waiting for your natural hair to grow back after a dramatic cut. Longer hair can function as a self-esteem booster, detracting from any other insecurity.
“Only hair extensions can help reach your desired length when you’re fed up waiting for your natural hair to grow back after a dramatic cut”
Instagram: mkyhair
luscious locks of You Tubers and beauty bloggers? Just imagine having long, smooth, ebony hair one month and then switching to fun and frisky bottle curls for the next few weeks without damaging your hair. Its non-committal function allows you to switch between your dream colours and lengths at the drop of a hat. People often get hair extensions put in for a special occasion when it feels like your hair needs an extra lift. Contemporary clipins/hair extensions are super easy to put in too.
When you temporarily want to try something different by adding streaks of colour through your hair, extensions allow you to experiment with colour without damaging it. Those of you who are pressed for time in the morning, you can achieve different textures and styles of hair by putting in hair extensions—from wavy to tight curls, hair extensions make those 9ams a lot simpler. Furthermore, do you wish you could recreate the
Our Beauty Editors agree that hair extensions can be a life saver in certain situations such as regrowing hair after a bad cut or if you have that hair type that just won’t grow. When done properly, they can look particularly natural and undetectable. However, short hair is most definitely preferable to fake-looking extensions, so make sure you colour match correctly and choose your style and hair type wisely to avoid damage to your hair! We recommend clip in extensions as they don’t cause damage to the hair root. The key is to expand on the hair you have already, work close to the length and thickness you already to enhance your natural look.
Beauty blast from the past Melody Ramsey revisits our old beauty favourites
Y
es, it’s true, life was so much easier in our younger years. No bills, no 3000 word essays and no getting blackout drunk and finding photos of yourself asleep in a bath on Facebook the next day (thanks, friends). But best of all, no forty billion step makeup routine to struggle through before allowing yourself out for the night. We definitely lived in a simpler time before the creation of BB creams, contour kits and HD brows. So forget about the cult products of today and start thinking about reintroducing these noughties classics into your makeup bag, then we can all go back to being thirteen without a (real) care in the world…
“I suggest we forget about trying to highlight and just revert back to using stick-on gems to make us shine” If, like me, you knew you weren’t one of the Mischa Barton’s or Lauren Conrad’s of the world, you probably had a girl crush on a teen idol with a bit more edge. For those of us who were more Avril Lavigne and Kelly Clarkson, there was Benefit Bad Gal eyeliner. Before you had even heard about blending and smudging, it was perfectly fine to circle a thick line of black around your eye and pop off out to find a sk8er boi. You might have accidentally made your eye shape resemble that of a five pence piece, but it was the simplest smoky eye in the world. I suggest we forget about trying to highlight our cheekbones, brow bones and cupid’s bows and just revert back to using stick-on gems to make us shine. In true Mean Girls style, adorning your face with tiny stickers was sure to make your twelve year old equivalent of Aaron Samuels fall in love on the spot. Stick them on the inner and outer corners of your eye, use them as a makeshift beauty spot or a temporary nose stud - just remember not to copy Karen’s backwards K. If Paris Hilton taught us anything, it was that it was NOT okay to be pale in the 2000s. If you were one of the lucky ones with laid-back parents, you were probably allowed to buy a bottle of Rimmel Sunshimmer Instant with that weeks pocket money so you could start preparing yourself for Beverly Hills. Although tanning is not the easiest of tasks, it used to be completely acceptable to only tan your legs and walk around on two wotsits wearing a denim mini-skirt. It took less time, and the bottle lasted so much longer. Lastly, why bother paying extortionate amounts for a high-end perfume from Chanel when you could spritz yourself with a trusty bottle of Charlie Red and smell just as good? Well maybe not as good but, you know, you could smell alright. Then with the spare cash you could buy more essentials such as blue mascara, body glitter and icy lipgloss. It’s a win-win situation! So if reading this has made you nostalgic for the good old days, let’s boycott Space NK and I’ll meet you in Claire’s.
24.arts
Monday 16 November 2015
The Courier
Arts Editors: Holly Suttle, Emily Watton & Jade Holroyd
The Great Northern Slam Ritwik Sakar talks us through his experience at one of the most brutal poetry events of the year
I
n today’s day and age, digital forms of expression are increasing at a rapid rate. Ungodly technological advancements have enabled us to put forth our thoughts and emotions in a multitude of ways that we ourselves cannot fathom. In such a modern paradigm, poetry slams offer an exciting alternative. It might be outlandish to consider plain, verbal public speaking rare… But in an ever digitizing space, poetry slams remind us of the simple yet sheer power of the human voice, unrestricted and unfiltered. The Northern Stage hosted the ‘Great Northern Slam’ on the night of the 4th November, an event most unusual and innovative. As the crowd of sixty-nine gathered in the building’s basement, around chairs and tables, they were handed small plastic clickers. After some amount of confusion, the hosts, Jeff Price and National Slam champions Scott Tyrell informed the crowd that they were all judges. The power to decide the winner would be in the hands of the audience, and not a select few judges.
“The competitors themselves were as varied in personality as they were in style.”
The sixteen competitors faced off in one-on-one battles until there were only two finalists, with the audience voting for their favourite after each duel. The competitors themselves were as varied in personality as they were in style. Both extemporaneously and with text in hand, each competitor took the audience on a journey, which seems hours long, in just three short minutes. Everything from a train ride to Blackpool, a walk along a fence and a drunken tale of sorrow were covered by the sixteen colourful performers, leaving the moments of silence that lay in between, agonizing with anticipation and intrigue.
“It reminded everyone of the captivating power that simple speech has upon the mind.”
The event host and past winner of the National Slam Championship Scott Tyrell himself performed, in the middle of these proceedings. His performances made every member of the audience laugh until their stomachs hurt and sad until they shed a tear. It reminded everyone of the captivating power that simple speech has upon the mind. The competition wore down to arguably the most deserving finalists. They exhibited contrasting styles and measures of delivery, yet the desire of each to win was exactly the same. The first finalist, Cirian Hodgers, chose a more measured and slow boil approach, as he engaged the audience with stories about technological dependence and free speech. The second finalist, Rowan McCabe, chose to go with flair and theatrics to bring to life the most mundane of daily interactions, providing both a comical spectacle as well as an emotional rollercoaster. McCabe, alum of Newcastle University, was admittedly had some reservations about going into the entire competition. He openly confessed that he thought Ciaran’s final performance was much better than his own. Nevertheless, McCabe gave the crowd of experienced, and first time viewers, a performance they are not likely forget anytime soon, including me.
Anime: Yay or Nay?
Jonathon Hastings asks: can the mass production of anime and manga be fairly classed as art?
A
nime and manga have often been shaded by stigma and brushed under the carpet when it comes to the cultural discussions surrounding art. If not for its ill precedence, or its novelistic features, people tend to disregard anime, and manga for that matter, as common work that is never really held on a pedestal next to the precise art of the enlightenment or the renaissance periods. For those unfamiliar, anime and manga is a Japanese form of both animation and black and white comic book iterations, spanning a large area of genres. Both were developed during the 20th century, although precursors have been proving throughout the early 20th century taking larger influence after the American invasion post-world war two. The influence of American culture quickly overtook the Japanese market, creating high publishing demand and general interest in this form of media. The mass consumption of this medium, and their publications, have seemed to decline the standard of this art form; this is one of the main issues that surround manga/anime, in regards of it’s artistic development.
“The seemingly quick production of manga and anime provides consumers with a service” The seemingly quick production of manga and anime provides consumers with a service, rather than delivering artistic expressionism. They are often cheap to produce, based on demand and eventual selling point, and don’t necessarily challenge the audience. For example, motifs are often used to hang popular stories and sexualized characters in order to generate a mass appeal; in a sense this disregards the authors’ real art for the sensationalized story that is contained. Like pop music, anime and manga are produced
to sell, and it is very rare that either of these forms of art are used individually in a gallery for the audience appreciation. It’s hard to justify when anime and manga are easily assessable in comparison to its fine art counterparts, especially when we’re told that production of anything but fine art is always silted.
“All forms are art, but it is up to the viewer to determine if what they see is artistic ”
Yet, we must still acknowledge the time and dedication that these animators, and illustrators, have spent in developing their own style for the audience’s appreciation – this effort is clear within anime. Though there is a range to showcase, I would like to direct the reader to the works of Studio Ghibli, more personally on Hayao Miyazaki’s work in anime, and films. Such passion and elegance is placed into every aspect of the film. Producing a piece that is moving, and both visually and audibly stunning in every way. It is times like this that I try to think retrospectively and focus on art as a self-contained piece of media, a form of production that is created for the pleasure of both the viewer and for those creating the art. This is apparent in the works of Andy Warhol, most often quoted, as he was in the business of mass-producing art for his own pleasure. Much like this, I see anime and manga in a similar light - all forms are art, but it is up to the viewer to determine if what they see is artistic.
Manga kindly produced by Katie Bass. Instagram: @kbassart
‘Shift’: an odd or excellent exhibition? Tamsin Rees explains how Alysia Anne’s exhibition is ‘the equivalent of vomit’ I was pretty disheartened once I’d worked my way around the Laing Gallery - up the stairs, round all the corners, eventually arriving at the Alysia Anne: Shift exhibition. On first glance it is completely and utterly unremarkable. A small, quiet room put to one side, with a series of
one in the gallery, let alone this exhibition, and I was completely alone. That is when it all seemed to click. The exhibition is on grief, the “complexities of loss” as Anne notes. There is a relationship between control and accident, and experiencing and processing of human emotion. Despite the hilarious comments in the visitor book, I have to admit that for me, she has been hugely successful in achieving this.
“Don’t underestimate this exhibition. It’s haunting; the more you look, the more it resonates with you”
polaroids scattered across the walls. ‘How on earth am I going write anything on this?’, I thought. I took my coat off, and pulled out my notebook - and that’s when I noticed the silence. There was barely any-
This installation is modest and unassuming; a beautiful, unfocused spectrum. The subtly in colour, tone and mood can be easily passed by altogether (as I very nearly did) if you don’t take a moment to look, and to really see. Fragmented transitions with each polaroid are severe, ghostlike yet interrupted with block solid dark shapes. The actual exhibition space, I think, is what brings the installation together. This silent space for contemplation; I could hear church bells, and although through the sliver of window you can see buses and people moving along outside, it doesn’t interfere with your experience. A man holding a baby came in, and stayed no longer than fifteen seconds (enough for me to pretend to not be tak-
ing photos and look out the window nonchalantly). Don’t underestimate this exhibition. It’s haunting; the more you look, the more it resonates with you. Stay a while. There is no particular favourite ‘piece’ to this installation, it is a continual panorama of fragments scattered across the walls, surrounding and engaging you. However, the comments book was absolutely golden, Jil and Sean’s entry “We found the comments book more interesting than that art” sums it up. I sniggered at the anonymous entries of “this is the equivalent of vomit” and “Nice… Tetris for the middle class” - my personal favourites. (More crass ones included “it was nice… but I think they might have accidentally put an ‘f ’ in the title” - burn.) I don’t condemn them, its something I would have written if I had come in a group.
“Try not to be so superficial; indulge in the serenity, the silence, the quiet”
On first glance, it does look a bit crap. It is unimpressive, and unassuming. But try not to be so superficial; indulge in the serenity, the silence, the quiet. The environment and experience are all part of the installation. You could easily be passive, but if you want the most of it stay for a while, and just keep looking. It’ll spark all sorts of thoughts. Go on your own. Go in the morning to avoid all the people, god knows we all hate them, and indulge in the meditative moment of calm and reflection.
Alysia Annes’s ‘Shift’ is open for viewing at the Laing Art Gallery until 28 Feburary 2016
The Courier
arts.25
Monday 16 November 2015
Instagram Me: Watton Earth?
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The Beauty of Chinese Calligraphy
Emily Watton argues that Instagram allows non-photographers like her to feel like real artists
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ome say Instagram is either another forum for selfies and documenting useless things, or for the pretentious to show off in another way...I hope I am neither of these. I set up my page to show the photos I am proud of, things I think others would like, beautiful things that I stop and admire enough to take a photo. A photographer - I certainly am not, I know nothing of light, exposure and angle. I am a failed artist, with a failed artist for a father, he wished I could’ve followed a creative path. But when I showed him my Instagram page, he genuinely admired it, like he did with my old A Level portfolio. It made me feel like an artist again. These photos are a few of my personal favourites.
(Image 1: The Mountain Stream) This was taken on a Fell Walking expedition with NUFWS. It had been a hard start but a beautiful day, I came away with half-a-dozen shots as my phone dies after taking too many photos. On the descent, we came across this brook with a very basic bridge, I wasn’t the only one to take pictures. It was the nirvana of spot in which to take a break. This photo was taken with my sitting on the bridge, cooling my feet in this river, chatting to my friend Olaf and encouraging Rich to go paddling. The colours and motion are the elements people smile at me for, but I think the memories this represents makes the colours seem even brighter.
(Image 2: Swan) Swans and their signets paddle along my hometown river, I’ve fed them from when I was small until even now. You hear about protective parentswans so I can never get a proper look at their babies. So I took this photo so I could zoom in and see the signets’ faces. The filter, I will admit, made this photo. I hadn’t noticed how the clouds reflected off the river, I later said it looked like the swan family were swimming in Heaven (one of my cornier moments). I like how Instagram makes me look make on moments like this, and appreciate where I live and what I have seen, I don’t think I would do so otherwise.
‘Speak Now’ Preview: Quilliam Brothers’ Tea House, Friday 27th November
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he play ‘Speak Now’ is about a wedding, or more appropriately, it’s about a bride and a groom and all the people they chose (and some they didn’t choose) to share the most special day of their lives with. It’s an ambitious new play, coming soon to Quilliam Brother’s, that follows thirteen characters as they reminisce, quarrel and confess within the confines of a secluded side room of the nuptial venue. Intended as a place for guests to leave their well wishes, the room and its rolling camera instead capture candid reflections on love, relationships and life. Written, directed and performed by the creative duo behind Last Line Theatre Company, Sam Duda and Emily Nicholson are a couple who have always gravitated towards the performance arts. As ex-English students that are now working in offices around University, the pair drew inspiration from their own writing and others’, but also from their surroundings and experiences.
“We’ve been intentionally minimalist.”
While the heart of their play seeks to dissect distinctive, vibrant characters, the commitment of the pair to play thirteen of them is a challenging one, as Emily concedes. “We’ve been intentionally minimalist. It’s a stylistic approach, so characters will only be visually distinguishable by minor details, but it helps contribute to the feeling that every character is onstage at once.” Characters are the lifeblood of the story, and the intimate setting of Quilliam Brother’s is an appropriate vessel. Despite having never hosted a play before, the room tucked downstairs which is often reserved for cosy screenings of cinema classics imitates the setting of the play well. It anchors the drifting characters and for the audience, the effect is feeling in and one with the scene, with the tea-
room bustle just beyond the door simulating the sounds of a wedding’s social hubbub. Authenticity is therefore likely to be central to the play. As Sam explains, its characters and themes are firmly rooted in their everyday lives and memories. “The idea of a camera room emerged from a real wedding we’d been to. We had the framework but it was that which brought it all together”.
“Autehnticity is therefore likely to be central to the play.”
But the couple aren’t taking it all too seriouslythere was fun in moulding unpleasant characters from the mental detritus of real-interactions with unpleasant people, and in imagining how they would behave in a situation where they are forced to get along. “There were a couple of ex-bosses who helped with some of them,” Emily admits. “They’re exaggerated but they’re moored in reality…just taken to a ridiculous extreme”. In a way then, Speak Now is immediately familiar when it seeks to recreate the awkward encounters we all experience at weddings; the meeting of two families and social circles, often with disparate world views and trying (but often failing) to reconcile those differences for the sake of the two people at the centre of it all. It’s fertile territory for drama, as Sam eloquently puts it- “if drama is conflict, the wedding is the ultimate dramatic stage”. ‘Speak Now’ is set for curtains up on Friday the 27th of November, with another showing the following night. Student tickets are £5 and available to buy from the bar in Quilliam Brother’s. With QB keen to support Last Line with further productions in the New Year, Emily and Sam are two young playwrights to keep an eye on.
Jack Marley
(Image 3: Chinese Teapot) I’m still not entirely sure if I was allowed to take this photo. It was in a Norwegian museum and it was the only one I dared take, because I’m just too goody-goody. It was from a Chinese exhibit, and I do love my tea. If I had a theme to my Instagram it would be tea - or at least hot beverages. I photograph what makes me smile, that is ridiculously insipid to say, but it is true. Happy moments usually involve tea and I’d never seen a pot like this. Heavy, rustic and yet ornate… I’m so glad I can look at it forever now and it pours out memories of my holiday in Oslo with Kari which is an added plus.
Words on the Toon: Sound the Bugle Sound the bugle and wheel out the guns A minute for the millions who marched Down these streets To cheers and the beating of drums. People stand sentry along those same streets Buckets jingling with change. Dulce et decorum est Has become lest we forget And poppies gleam blood bright in the rain. Call back the cavalry and put up your swords For the age of the hero is done. What honour is there in such needless death Can you blame them for wanting to run? Remember the boys who went off to war Remember every one. Think of them when you hear the boom of the guns When all is said and done.
Image: tOrange.biz
Mairead Hickey
Sally Mu shares the delight and artistic accomplishment of her native language
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hinese - this pictographic language seems to be considered the most difficult language to understand, and learn, in the world. This notion may be based on the fact that the symbols are so different from western letters, which leads to confusion and perhaps heightens the immense cultural barrier between the west and the east. Whatever the reason, it does throw off a lot of people, but from a native’s view, I look at it in a completely different way.
“The free, spontaneous expression of yourself communicates the whole feeling”
Pictographic characters are an inherent part of Chinese language, and the shape of the pictograph reveals people’s way of thinking when creating Chinese characters because of its characteristics of image-making. By this principle, they allow you to make and see stories within each character. I will explain some very interesting and beautiful Chinese characters by breaking the characters down into stories. This means to ‘cry’. Cool right? I will split it up and explain. On the top of the character you can see “ ”—this is literally a picture of a pair of eyes. Below its radical (parts that construct a character) suggests a tear drops in the corner of one of the eyes as well as the radical “ ” shows someone stretching out their arms and legs. Breaking down the ‘crying’ character, you might feel a person is really crying in front of you and I couldn’t help feeling sad when I look at it. This is a super cute character that used to express embarrassment or awkwardness. Almost every Chinese person knows this even my Mum uses it sometimes. Some crazy-pants internet users had looked it up in numerous ancient Chinese dictionaries and then this embarrassed-looking character invaded the internet immediately. Although its actual meaning had already been thrown away, it possibly meant ‘bright’ and ‘fresh’ hundreds of years ago. This means ‘dancing’ and it has a little dancer’s metaphor. It is the most beautiful character that I wrote when I was first learning Chinese, my whole family loved me writing it and I’ve adored it ever since. Especially when I’m practicing calligraphy—when holding an inked brush and after emptying your mind, it is possible to create this character without ever lifting your brush off the page. It’s like dancing the brush on the paper to write ‘dance’. The free, spontaneous expression of yourself communicates the whole feeling of ‘dancing’. That’s it - a unique statement of the moment that I love to look at and write. Doing Chinese calligraphy is such a beautiful thing, standing in front of the white paper. It makes you see various aspects of yourself, of your personality, and this experience is very precious to me. It’s like meditation for me. The act of writing your language is somehow engraved in your heart, all you need to do is just express it and pour it onto the paper in front of you.
A BIG THANK YOU TO CSSA-NCL Chinese Study Group Zhang Haoyu for supplying the examples of authentic Chinese calligraphy
26.music
Monday 16 November 2015
The Courier
Music  Editors:  Jamie  Shepherd,  Dominique  Daly  &  Connor  McDonnell
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A
phrase that gets bandied around a lot when writing about the North East scene is its “rich musical heritage�. Not to denigrate from the success stories of the region as I’m a Sunderland boy myself, but I can’t help but think that the people that get lumped into define the region’s musical history have essentially disavowed themselves from their roots or have had their mark made bigger than it was. As much as I adore Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music, you’re more likely to see him at a pro-hunting rally than a miner’s gala. Big things are said about Jimmy Hendrix’s time in Heaton but let’s face it at that stage he was essentially a nobody and probably had no desire to return to this cold northern wasteland. And divvn’t get is started on fucking Sting! Only now, after decades of distance does he have the decency to acknowledge where he comes from but how does he go and do it? He turns it into a money spinning Broadway production about shipbuilding. In this column I’m going to list 3 bands from the region that have been forgotten about that deserve a hell of a lot more recognition than they get.
Penetration
You might laugh if I said that one of the best British punk records of the original British wave came from a pit village just outside of Durham, but I deny you to laugh once you’ve heard the majesty that is ‘Don’t Dictate’ by Penetration. My dad played this to me on a mixtape he’d made from his own punk vinyls when I was 9 years old and I was entranced by the snarling vocals of Pauline Murray. Everything about this song epitomised the punk ethos. It was a massive, fuck off v-sign to everything that constrains youthful liberty. The establishment. Capitalism. The Patriarchy. All told where to go in 2 minutes and 54 seconds of a blistering aural assault in three chords. If Siouxsie is the queen of punk, then Pauline Murray is the queen mother having released both albums and singles a year before the Banshees.
Prefab Sprout
Another band from a County Durham pit village who unsurprisingly had massive radio success in the 80s. Langley Park’s Prefab Sprout were known for their top ten hit ‘The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’ but a whole legion of legendary tales can be attributed to the Sprouts. Their first song ‘Lions In My Own Garden (Exit Someone)’ is a wistful love letter that spells out the city of Limoges, where songwriter Paddy McAloon’s girlfriend was living at the time. When recording their third LP they managed to get Stevie Wonder to play harmonica on the track ‘Nightingales’ and story has it that they were actually disappointed by his first attempt and made him record it again. Prefab Sprout were the cream of Newcastle’s Kitchenware, a label that churned out other notable alumni Martin Stephenson and the Daintees, The Kane Gang, and recent indie figures Editors.
Kenickie
It would be unfaithful for me to ignore a band from my hometown, but I’ve decided to eschew the obvious choices of Futureheads and Frankie. Instead, I’ve gone for Sunderland’s contribution to the Britpop scene and the springboard that made Lauren Laverne a star. Kenickie were the perfect antidote to the Spice Girl’s aforementioned and commercialised Girl Power by making raw and angry guitar music. These girls (and drummer Pete) were flippant, irreverent, and completely part of the zeitgeist of the era. Alas, like a lot of the ladys of Britpop (Justine Frischman from Elastica and Louise Wener from Sleeper) they are unfairly treated as a side note to the egos of the boys in bands.
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TMI:  Too  Music  Information
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could have gone my entire life without knowing that Ed Sheeran passed his driving test. Just as I could have lived very happily without the information that John Legend and his wife are going to have a baby in the coming year. The exact same sentiment applies to every other story on the sidebar of shame, which consistently proves itself to be the crowning glory for the outstanding bastion of modern-day journalism that is the Daily Mail website. The dawn of the Twitter age has brought with it an unparalleled level of over-sharing among popular musicians. Is all of the interest they receive real? Do people truly care about the inner workings relationship between Kim and Kanye, Taylor and Calvin or Bey and Jay? (Actually scratch that last one. All hail to the Queen). People do enjoy getting to know artists better, I know, but are all 31.5 million of Katy Perry’s Instagram followers deeply enthralled by her pictures of her new nails? I’m afraid I just don’t see it.
“I just don’t care about your #PumpkinSpiceLatte or your cats or your cars� Long gone are the days when musicians released music, did a tour with it and then went away and locked themselves up somewhere, until they emerged with new material. How those sweet, innocent times are dearly missed. Now, they have to document their every move, broadcasting their daily activities out to the world, whether we like it or not. I just don’t care about your #PumpkinSpiceLatte or your cats or your cars, and they definitely do not deserve a double-tap, pal. If this fails, we can always rely on a plethora of reporters clogging our feeds with such fodder. Which we then have to wade through to get at real news, rather than “Rihanna Leaves Her Favourite Restaurant
Still Clutching Her Glass of Red Wine After Cancelling Performance�. Unfortunately, yes, that is a real headline.
tongue. Just make it stop.
“I just don’t think my eyes can handle seeing any more of Miley Cyrus’ tongue. Just make it stop�
I would love to see the return of the mystery, which once provided a bit of intrigue to the people whose anthems we enjoy belting out (and destroying). Being left wondering how Sam Smith spends his time after writing the enigmatic James Bond theme song, isn’t a bad thing. In fact, imagining him, as I do, gliding around the dark streets of London in a very Bond-like manner, is infinitely more interesting than seeing a Sam-Selfie of him in his pyjamas. So, let’s all pray (although admittedly it’s a long shot) for the swift and imminent death of the social media accounts and shockingly awful “news� outlets who perpetuate this array of useless information and boring images. God, if you’re listening, I just don’t think my eyes can handle seeing any more of Miley Cyrus’
Finding  your  place  in  the  crowd Charlie  Cottrell  ORRNV DW ¿YH W\SHV RI SHRSOH WKDW \RX DUH OLNHO\ WR VHH ZKHQ \RX JR WR VHH OLYH PXVLF  The Couple
Avoid breaching The Couple’s personal space at all costs. Treading anywhere near their bundle of cuddles and love will amount to nothing but dirty looks and more unwarranted elbows to the ribs than you thought possible. Generally found in the hugging-from-behind stance, this pair expect a five metre perimeter around them so they can enjoy their gig in peace, despite being nestled firmly in the middle of a packed crowd. They will make out directly in front of you, and it will be uncomfortable for all involved.
The Snapchat Crew
Enjoying the gig are we? Having a right good time? No. No you aren’t, unless you’re watching events unfold before the pixelated eyes of your phone screen. What better way to enjoy a gig than to miss it all, only to re-watch ten second clips of it on your Snapchat story. Bonus points for uploading your edgy pictures onto Instagram during the gig! As the old adage goes: pics or it didn’t happen.
The Old Guy Who Came Alone
Who are we to judge this guy? He’s got his 2007 tour t-shirt on. He’s on his own, he digs the music, and he’s perhaps standing a little too close to all the young teenage fan girls towards the front of the stage‌ Nope, fuck it, this guy is kind of creepy, and his boyish enthusiasm in the mosh pit is doing him no favours. His eager involvement amongst the younger members of the crowd quickly descends into a collective parting around him, yet despite all the space, he still manages to bump into you far too much, and you will inevitably end up with half of his pint soaking into your shoulder.
The Front-Rowers
These crazy cats have been queuing outside the venue since twelve, eager to claim a spot upon that hallowed barrier territory. Who knows, they might even be flecked with some lead- singer saliva. Isn’t that the dream? Once in their spot, the front-
rowers are immovable forces. They have given up their whole day to be in that spot, and would give up their life before being prised from it. This is fine, but when there are literally hundreds of people behind you pushing and shoving, you need to expect occasional human contact rather than looking at the nearest person behind you (who is doing an admirable job of not slamming into the back of you every five/ten seconds), and look at them as if they are solely responsible for all of the problems in the world.
The Teenage Show-off
Arguably the most hateable member of the entire audience. Forever sporting a short back and sides paired with an overly extravagant quiff (add curly hair for extra dickheadedness), this guy will not relent in his efforts to make the gig the rowdiest of his bloody life. It’s really his show, he owns the floor, and he can’t believe everyone else doesn’t want to join him in his laddish, raucous ways.
The Courier
music.27
Monday 16 November 2015
Album Review: Art Angels
thecourieronline.co.uk/music c2.music@ncl.ac.uk | @courier_music
Grimes I
t’s been well over three years since Claire Boucher, better known as Grimes, released her acclaimed Visions, and now that she’s finally emerged with Art Angels (scrapping an entire album in the meantime), it’s a different beast entirely. The new release boasts a wide variety of instruments and lush pop production - for good or ill, it’s no longer music produced on a laptop in a psychedelic haze. Upon starting the album you mightn’t notice the change. Opening track ‘Laughing and Not Being Normal’ is a new iteration on her trademark weirdness, a brief piece mixing classical instrumentation with high-pitched vocals and an ominous electronic noise moment at the end. It feels like an overture for what’s to come, despite being so wilfully at odds with most of it. It’s hard to describe Grimes as having ‘gone pop’ - her music was always a distorted, esoteric take on pop, after all. But it’s difficult to escape the feeling that she’s been listening to a lot of Taylor Swift.
“It feels like an overture for what’s to come, despite being so wilfully at odds with most of it” Certainly the place where this influence feels like it’s been put to its most valuable use is ‘Flesh Without Blood’, one of the album’s pre-release singles (complete with fantastically silly music video). It’s four minutes of shamelessly upbeat, catchy pop cheese that could have come straight out of the eighties. It feels genuinely joyful, and much of the album proceeds similarly. On the other hand, some tracks do feel a bit plastic. The overproduced ‘California’ has its moments, but leaves a bad taste. Even ‘REALiTi’, the one survivor from the abandoned
Mythologies Cheatahs
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he shoegaze restoration (or nu-gaze) has become a recent revelation. It is less of a dreamlike simulation the 90s of the original shoegaze movement. Rather than a torrent of mixed up sounds, tangled and dizzy, the revivalists have loosened the sedating tendrils of dream noise, presenting something sharper and more perceivable. We can hear this in the opening track to Cheatahs’ Mythologies, ‘Red Lakes (Sternstunden)’. The band’s earlier post-punk DIY sounds leak through on ‘Red Lakes…’, annunciating the percussion, yet muddling the drums so that the construction of rhythm-guitar-vocal harmonies are not always determined by one another. Instead, what we hear is respective melodies from each. This is not unlike what we hear in bands such as Beach House and No Joy, a band Cheatahs are shameless to admit admiration for. ‘Freak Waves’ takes Mythologies on a completely different adventure, one with lo-fi, surf-rock destinations, with a simple fuzzy three-chord riff as the scaffolding for this track. This leads us to the synth swells on ‘Signs to Lorelei’, followed by ‘Hey, Sen’, a song which is “an example of how one person would bring in an idea, and someone else would champion it and reinterpret it.” This democratic approach to Cheatahs’ music probably equated to some of their harmonic deconstruction. The lead single from the album, titled ‘Seven Sisters’, has a lingering dimension of distance between instrumentation and lyrics, which is filled by the reverberated vocals. Mythologies has many tones. This comes from the nature of nu-gaze artists, who are slowly finding a place for the dissemination of the shoegaze layers-upon-layers. Cheatahs sophomore album is this years’ nu-gaze idol. Connor McDonnell
Sophie Ahmed talks eclectic vibes and super sexy Lana Del Ray remixes
album, has been polished in a way that doesn’t ruin it but doesn’t add anything either. Other places, we’re treated to the full blast of Boucher’s experimentalism. The shrieking vocals of ‘Kill V. Maim’ and the funky synths of ‘World Princess, Pt. II’ dip into strange waters. ‘Easily’ starts out with soothing piano, moves into a strange electronic diversion in the third minute and ends with a coda for strings (all of which works). ‘Life in the Vivid Dream’ is the most emotive music Boucher has ever produced, and yet it’s achieved with incredible restraint; a simple acoustic guitar tune threatens to build into something soaring, but instead dissolves before outstaying its welcome.
“It feels like Boucher’s music has travelled a long way” The two featured guests on the album do great things for their respective tracks. Relative unknown Aristophanes, a Taiwanese rapper, contributes something wonderfully unhinged to the very accurately titled ‘Scream’, definitely the most memorably bizarre moment on the album. Janelle Monáe, the other queen of quirky, genre-bending pop, features on ‘Venus Fly’, which is several different songs at once, in sort of a good way. Was Art Angels worth the wait? It’s difficult to say. It doesn’t quite capture the ethereal quality of Visions, but it doesn’t try to. Occasionally its forays into manufactured pop territory feel uninspired. But as a whole, there are more hits than misses, a few true gems, and it feels like Boucher’s music has travelled a long way, even if it does prove to be a de tour. Jack Caulfield
More than this Taylor Swift - 1989 If we’re going by Grimes’ earlier work, it’d be strange to compare her to the darling that is Taylor Swift, but this release cemented Taylor’s transition into a popstar. Gone were the days of country bumpkin. Taylor Swift was now a conventional pop artist. With this release Grimes has become a pop artist. MIA - MAYA Weird noises, bleeps, bloops and esoteric lyrics abound in Sri Lankan rapper MIA’s third release. MAYA is as peculiar as it is poppy which makes it a popular bedfellow with Grimes’ Art Angels. ‘Bad Girls’ became a radio banger and I wouldn’t be surprised if ‘Flesh Without Blood’ is polluting our airwaves for the next year or so.
Myths 001 Connan Mockasin and Dev Hynes
Wiped Out The Neighbourhood
F
ollowing the success of their debut album, I Love You (featuring the hit ‘Sweater Weather’), The Neighbourhood have finally returned with their latest album Wiped Out. The album begins with ‘A Moment Of Silence’, which is literally thirty seconds of silence. At first this may seem pointless, however, after listening to the entire album, you could argue that the silence works in correlation with the theme of the album, and particularly with the final song, in which it could represent a moment of silence for the “funeral” of the band’s youth. The remaining ten tracks are fuelled with the melding of alternative rock and RnB that we expect from The NBHD, yet again establishing their unique sound which clearly sets them apart from other artists. This can also be seen in the way in which they present themselves, always in black and white, always suggesting that it’s either all or nothing. This can be reflected particularly in ‘Wiped Out!’, with the dark and edgy lyrics giving us an element of raw honesty into the personal youth of lead singer, Jesse Rutherford. With that being said, it doesn’t necessarily set the tone of the album as being depressing as the tracks are all vibrantly well produced and often juxtapose the gloomy and almost pessimistic narrative throughout, allowing listeners to truly get lost in the album. Nonetheless, the persistent sound of The Neighbourhood doesn’t always work to their advantage and often gives off a monotonous vibe, making it difficult to distinguish between each song. The album ends with ‘R.I.P 2 My Youth’, which perfectly concludes the album and gives us a sense of optimism as despite the fact that the song is about the end of his youth, Rutherford expresses that he can now “see what’s in front of [him]”. Shadeh Rahmani
Electronic Blanket
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onnan Mockasin and Blood Orange’s Devonté “Dev” Hynes teamed up in Marfa, Texas last March and recorded a three track EP. The collaboration is titled ‘Myths 001’ and is an amalgamation of Mockasin’s much revered low-fi balladic style and Hynes’ heavily funk laden riffs. ‘La Fat Fur’ is the first track. Hynes’ sexy bass line and Mockasin’s velvety lyrics instantly captivate. His gentle voice is not drowned out by this stereotypically un-Connan paced song. It’s an intriguingly fast paced indie “chugger” laced intricately with audible details from both musicians: Hynes’ cleverly placed synth patterns and Mockasin’s hypnotising lyrics, “We go on and on, on and on: you’ve got me goin’ strong.” ‘Feelin’ Lonely’ takes on a whole new persona. It’s a funked-out Hendrix-esque tune, a slow and sultry 2am bedroom jam with juicy guitar riffs which, although delicious are simply too gratuitous. The final track on the EP steals the show, it’s a cosmic collision of monumental proportions. While ‘La Fat Fur’ is a nod to 80’s synth pop and ‘Feelin’ Lonely’ a bow to dear Hendrix, ‘Big Distant Crush’ is a Mockasinic ballad, with playful additions by Hynes, it embodies everything that the previous two songs tried too hard to do. It sounded original, but in the distance I caught a whisper of the gentle waves from Connan’s ‘Forever Dolphin Love’ lapping on Dev’s ‘Champagne Coast’. If you were to say that Myths 001 seemed rushed, you wouldn’t be wrong, as it was recorded one week prior to Martha Myths festival. Nonetheless this EP definitely highlights just how undoubtedly wonderful both musicians are, this is most apparent in ‘Big Distant Crush’, but is slightly lost on the other two tracks. It’s a thrilling experiment trapped by the confines of nostalgia. Grace Herring
The West Country’s Eats Everything aka Dan Pearce has just launched a record label with ‘100 percent freshness guaranteed’ – the fittinglynamed Edible Records. This news reminded me that Eats Everything is a Bristolian beacon of light in a world where the majority of modern House is just the same beat with a different sample on top. At the moment, his reworking of a Tiga vs Audion track ‘Dancing (Again!)’ has hypnotising effects and gets you doing just that when it is dropped here, there and everywhere. Similarly, 2013’s ‘The Gettup’ still succeeds in its aim to uplift; it certainly managed to get my pals and I utilising the space in an empty Cosmic Ballroom at the early hour of 11pm last week. All this recent talk of Eats has got me thinking – does Bristol really do it best? As an ex Bristol Uni offer-holder, I would have voted yes to this question in the summer of ’14, because the city’s dub-ling electronic discography was the reason I applied there – I do not lie. I mean, the words, ‘Roni Size’ ‘Pinch’ and ‘Julio Bashmore’ are far more of a selling point than their English Literature department. As a reject, I can now analyse the so-called Bristol Sound” free from bias. Naturally, I now agree with Twitter’s biggest cynic Geoff Barrow (@jetfury) of Portishead fame, who once dissed his hometown in saying that Newcastle has a better electronic scene than Brizzle. Aesthetically, the Big B is undeniably the edgiest place in the UK, and its graffiti goes hand in hand with dub, grime and drum & bass. I guess electronic music probably sounds more atmospheric if you’re contemplating a Bansky mural rather than a Geordie hen do on a Saturday night.
Preview: OUT Part 2, 19th November @ World Headquarters Still fairly unknown underground event, OUT was launched in 2013 with the aim ‘to break the mundane’, and recently took a brief hiatus to reinvent and improve itself. It returned in full force to both of World HQ’s floors last month with the likes of Nightshift and Plastician, and is back with our monthly fix this Thursday accompanied by ‘Godfathers of Grime’ The Newham Generals and Royal T. Having grown up in Southampton, Royal T felt isolated as a kid from the Garage Scene which was emerging from the darkest depths of London, so his unique take on Garage and Grime isn’t to be missed. OUT promise eclectic vibes at this one with Jungle, Techno and Disco all on the bill, which is why they feel they should be chosen over more-established club nights. Give it a go.
You Need To Hear: Grades My artist discovery of the week is GRADES, a vibrantly versatile EDM producer from Croydon, Londontown. Fusing elements of House, Disco and Garage with effortless ease and attention to detail,the elusive male figure behind the project puts a creative spin on tracks by mainstream artists like Lana Del Ray (his ‘West Coast’ remix is supersexy), whilst also offering us treats of his own. His first release ‘Forever’ from 2014 succeeds in the ultimate producer goal of making your skull vibrate when played through headphones. A rare modern House triumph, it doesn’t surprise me that Annie Mac plugged it as one of her Free Music Monday downloads, which spurred on an air wave of radio play from the BBC likes of Zane Lowe, Pete Tong and Mistajam. The first GRADES song that I heard was actually third single ‘Crocodile Tears’ which made an appearance on a DJ EZ mix, due to the fact that it screams noughties Garage with its jittery 2-step beat. Yet the track is still contemporary enough to have bagged Blonde’s support slot. It’s a GRADE A for talent from me. Listen To: Grades – ‘Crocodile Tears’
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28.musicfeature
Monday 16 November 2015
The Courier
Music Editors: Jamie Shepherd, Dominique Daly & Connor McDonnell
Mercury Music Prize 2015 Once again it’s the time of the year for the wildly unpredictable Mercury Music Prize. Music Editor Jamie Shepherd has rallied the troops to examine the merits of each act that has been short-listed for the prestigious prize Soak - Before I Forgot How to Dream Soak has produced an album with beautiful melodies: ones that can capture your heart and make you reflect on the plights of growing older. Before I Forgot How to Dream contains an eclectic range of musical subtleties and lyrical composition that draws the listener in and forms a resonant artistic balance to engage with. From the intro, to the interludes, each song builds to a wonderful resolve that captures the imaginations of hearts, and un-bottles them for the world to hear. It’s effortless, yes; it’s perfectly produced, yes; and it’s moving. Jonathan Hasting
Slaves - Are You Satisfied? The duo have kick-started an unlikely punk resurgence and changed the face of music with their ferocious, short and snappy hits such as ‘Sockets’ and ‘The Hunter’. However, Slaves are not a one trick pony as demonstrated by the slower, yet equally politically charged, ‘Wow!!! 7AM’ and the acoustic ‘Are You Satisfied?’. Through their brash and almost animalistic live performances, Laurie Vincent and Isaac Holman attack both the audience and the establishment with vigour as they bring this album to life. You won’t have missed them this summer. Ben Grundy
C Duncan - Architect
With the Mercury music prize you can never tell what’s going to happen. Sometimes they go for something tellingly of the time. Other times they go for something timeless. This release from composer C Duncan is of the timeless variety. Architect could have been released any decade since the 1960s and would still be as titillating as it is now. Every track is injected with whimsy and wonder that transports you a million miles away from your present location. A truly beautiful effort that should keep the musos out there happy. Jamie Shepherd
Florence & The Machine - How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful The band’s ability to develop and adapt reflects their artistic depth making them especially deserving of the Mercury Prize. This album takes the listener on a heartfelt journey of love, loathe and loss. The emotion that runs through each track is built from layers of passionate lyrics, pleasing melodies and powerful vocals which seem to tessellate around one other. With consistently positive reviews from the likes of NME, The Telegraph and Rolling Stone, it is difficult to fault this album. Serena Bhardwaj
Ghostpoet - Shedding Skin No stranger to the Mercury Prize shortlist, Ghostpoet’s Shedding Skin is a rapid departure from his 2011 release Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam. With contributions from North Easterners Nadine Shah and Paul Smith from Maximo Park appearing alongside up and coming singer-songwriter Lucy Rose and Belgian jazz singer Melanie De Biasio, the album incorporates a range of genres, that showcases the myriad of influences the 32 year old Obaro Ejimiwe has under his belt. Jamie Shepherd
Wolf Alice - My Love Is Cool When the release date for their album was finally announced, it was impossible to approach it without hope and trepidation. My Love Is Cool retains the wild exuberance and desire that are hallmarks of the greatest debut albums, yet it is tempered by a poignant reflection, making it more than just a brilliant debut. Their voracious hunger for creating new material and experimenting with a range of styles has produced an innovative album that triumphs in its diversity, whilst still being bloody good fun to listen to. Christopher Little
Aphex Twin - Syro Syro has been hailed as “a triumphant return for a great pioneer of British electronic music” by the judging panel for this year’s Mercury Prize, who called it “compelling, playful and timeless”. It seems only fitting that Aphex Twin’s innovation and seamless skill in blending together so many elements should also be recognised with the award of this year’s Mercury Prize. The album is unique in its mainstream success, transcending the underground nature of the music Aphex Twin has been a game-changer in for over two decades. Iqra Choudhry
Gaz Coombes - Matador If you listen to BBC 6 Music there’s literally know way you could have missed the title track of Supergrass frontman Gaz Coombes’ sophomore album. Where 2012’s Here Comes the Bombs was typical NME fodder, Matador is distinctly more experimental. Gone is the flippant hedonism of Britpop and here is a more mature and pensive troubadour. Supergrass’ I Should Coco was nominated in 1995 so perhaps this an award that would celebrate Coombes’ musical evolution from a simple frontman to a true storyteller. Jamie Shepherd
Benjamin Clementine - At Least for Now
If you’re not captivated by the opening piano chords of ‘Winston Churchill’s Boy’ then I would go see a doctor to make sure you’re still alive. This is a sumptuous recording that comes across effortless. If you think you can see comparisons between 2005’s surprise winner Antony and the Johnsons and this release by Benjamin Clementine you wouldn’t be mistaken as Clementine is an ardent Antony fan. It’s been a decade since I Am A Bird Now won so perhaps it’s time that something beautifully flamboyant took the prize. Jamie Shepherd
Eska - Eska The eponymous debut album from Eska is as haunting as it is beautiful. It seems to straddle genres by evoking dream pop, soul, R&B and post-punk. The album tricks you into thinking it’s compositionally sparse but do not be deceived. Each track builds to a dazzling multi-textured zenith. Her world weary voice on tracks like ‘Rock of Ages’ make you think that this is an artist at the top of their game and not someone who’s released their first album within the space of this year. She deserves to win based on the maturity of her music. Jamie Shepherd
Roisin Murphy - Hairless Toys The latest release from Roisin Murphy is a cosmic/cybernetic glimpse to an era when disco making popstars are androids incapable of making imperfect albums. Hairless Toys cements Murphy as a musical ice queen who is as sensual as she is unapproachable. If this record wins the prize it will clearly be a win for the robots. Which ain’t such a bad thing if they’re making music as sexy as the ex-lead singer of legendary 00s dance legends Moloko. Jamie Shepherd
Jamie XX - In Colour If this year’s Mercury Prize is to be awarded on the basis of objective value and talent, it has to go to Jamie xx. Although In Colour is the product of just one man, there is still a strong sense of community on the record as The XX’s Romy Madley Croft contributes greatly to the record’s glory, lending vocals to the uplifting summer anthem ‘Loud Places’ and the heart-wrenchingly beautiful ‘SeeSaw’. Jamie XX has triumphantly blended the modern genres of House, Hip Hop and Future Garage on one palette to invent a new attractive colour, emitting many shades of the 21st century’s musical rainbow to please the masses. Sophie Ahmed
The Courier
musicfeature.29
Monday 16 November 2015
thecourieronline.co.uk/music c2.music@ncl.ac.uk | @courier_music
Interview: Wolf Alice
Music Editor Jamie Shepherd spoke to Mercury Music Prize nominees Wolf Alice at the start of their European tour and before the Mercury Prize announcements. They talked sleep-pissing, bar-room brawls, and their favourite items on the Greggs menu So Theo you’ve started your European tour today. It’s Lille you’re in right now, yeah? Yeah, Lille’s pretty sick. It’s got a huge cathedral that’s really beautiful. My nana always asks me this whenever I go anywhere, but how’s the weather in France? I’d describe it as “European Grey”. Believe it or not it’s very sunny in Tyneside. It’s sunny in Tyneside?!
“I sleep what? OH! Yeah. I pissed on Joff ” Yeah, I know mate. Being from around these parts I’m pretty surprised myself. This never happens round here. Especially not in November. Enough about the weather though. The last time you guys were in Newcastle, Ellie and Joff told us that you accidentally sleep-weed in the tour-bus. I sleep what? OH! Yeah. I pissed on Joff. Is that something that’s going to be a concern this tour? I bloody hope not! It was the first time we’d been on a sleeper and I didn’t know where we were. So I got up to take a leak and then pissed on Joff. We’re in a better bus this time. If I piss in that I’ll get in trouble. What do you think set you off that time? Was it the motion of the van or was it completely static? Narr, I literally just didn’t know where I was. I was drunk and needed a wee. I didn’t know what I’d done until the morning until Joff told me.
Don’t worry about it, mate. I’m a notorious sleep pisser. I feel your pain. I once pissed myself at a house party on a giant mattress with loads of people sleeping on it so there’s no shame here. Anyways, I’ll get on with the interview. I’m not gonna tell you my life story. So you’re on tour with the Fat White Family. I’m actually sat opposite the Fat White Family right now.
Totally, it’s a very very diverse list. Where were you when you found out that Wolf Alice were on the shortlist?
I honestly don’t know. Err… let’s say sweets.
We were in San Diego at a gig. We were sat in a place called The Chapel outside the tour bus and we were very excited.
Ermm… no. I really don’t know what we’ll spend it on but the party will last a while. We’ll make it last as longs as we can.
Not to go all therapist on you, but describe your feelings when you guys got the news.
“I’d be like ‘How, Florence get the fuck over here? We need ya’”
Oooh really? Well give them a wave from me. In terms of going hard and partying, who do you think is the biggest rabble-rouser out of the two of you? Is it Fat Whites or is it Wolf Alice?
Aww man, it was amazing! We just had a big hug and screamed. You never really expect something like this to happen to you. That’s not a very rock & roll answer. We had a hug and then played a gig haha.
I don’t know yet. It’s only the first night of the tour. We’ll probably find out later on but I really don’t know yet.
No, not at all! Sometimes a hug is quite rock & roll. I think it’s quite an underrated thing. Who in the band reacted the craziest to the news?
Do you think Wolf Alice are in the innings to be the biggest partiers out of the two though?
Ermm… me. It’s always me. I’m massively bad at over-reacting.
Narr, I reckon we’ll get outdone. This whole interview’s part of a feature we’re doing on the Mercury Music Prize and last time when we spoke to Ellie and Joff the nominations weren’t out in full, but you guys were in the running. They both said that they though Jamie XX, Everything Everything, Florence and the Machine, Drenge and Blur were going to be in the shortlist. Were there any surprises with the final shortlist? There’s a couple I didn’t know of as artists before and I was surprised that Everything Everything didn’t get on the list. I would have loved for Drenge’s record to have got on the list. I think the Mercury music prize has a good knack of not going for the obvious and doing something a bit different. It’s a very current and interesting list.
“We’ll spend the whole 20 grand that night” Were ya mam and dad happy that you’d won? Yeah. They were elated. It’s one of those things that everyone kinda knows about and it’s one of those things that really holds some weight. When that happened they just really recognised how important it was and that’s really cool. If you guys actually won, and fingers crossed for you, how do you think you’ll celebrate? We’ll spend the whole 20 grand that night. What on… dare I ask?
Sweets… is that what they’re calling them now.
Okay, hypothetical situation and you didn’t win and tempers ran a bit high in the award room and Wolf Alice got in a bar brawl. Which other nominee would you like to have in your team and why? I don’t think we’d every try and fight anyone. We’re pretty shit at that. Joff ’s usually good if you need a hand in something like this but we’re not great at it. Okay, say you needed back up, someone was starting on you or something. Who would you call for help. If I needed back up in a fight… hmmm…ermmm… Florence. I’d be like “How, Florence get the fuck over here? We need ya!”. Well obviously I wouldn’t do tha but no! I dunno! It’s a weird question. “Who would I get in a fight?”. Well if it was out of Florence and the Machine and Jamie XX it would be Florence, wouldn’t it. She’ll get them with a cake or something. And obviously she’s got machine in the name. She’s got to be solid with a name like that. Well her band is the machine. Aye. In terms of past winners of the Mercury Prize, who sticks in your mind? I remember when Dizzee Rascal won for Boy in da Corner and that was amazing. Eee god, I remember that. That was bloody ages ago. I remember when Elbow won that year and when Klaxons won with Myths of the Near Future. That was sick. The NME described you in an article released in September as the band that could change your life. Which bands changed your life? Queens of the Stone Age changed my life. They were the first band where I was like “ I wanna do what they’ re doing” and make that kinda music . Then I suppose there was the 13th Floor Elevators and then I really liked The Horrors. I got really obsessed with them. I don’ t know about everyone else as they’ve all got individual influences but I think Queen of the Stone Ages are someone we all really appreciate. We ask everyone this because we’ re based in Newcastle and Newcastle is famous for being the home place of Greggs. What’ s your favourite item on the Greggs menu and why? Steak Bake. Just cos it’s delicious and it’s probably full of horses. Well there’s definitely a winner in that. Whether it’s a Grand National winner or the pastry and beef combination. Who knows. Well, this whole interview was leading up that question. That’s all I’ve got for you, Theo! Cheers man. Thanks a lot. Tell everyone in Newcastle we love them. Oh don’t worry. I’ll be sure to pass the message on personally.
30.filmfeatures
Monday 16 November 2015 The Courier
Film  Editors:  Emma  Allsopp,  Rhian  Hunter  &  Simon  Ramshaw
MEGA FAN
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he winter weather is closing in, so we could all do with a bit of sun in our lives. So, how about a heated debate over Harmony Korine’s controversial, sunbleached Spring Breakers? Simon Ramshaw and Emma Allsopp fight it out over whether this modern day exploitation tale of ‘bikinis and big booties’ (y’all) is a superb satire on the decadency of our times, or whether it’s just puerile rubbish.
Mega  Fan
Visually garish, morally repellent and featuring a cast of (once-)goodie-goodie Disney kids in tryhard subversive roles, Spring Breakers is, quite simply, one of the greatest films of the 21st century. Harmony Korine is no stranger to making the grotesque side of teenage fantasy into something beautiful (just look at his devastating debut, Gummo), and his latest film is easily the director at the height of his powers. James Franco’s colourful gangster, Alien, is a fascinating portrait of the American Dream gone truly rotten (imagine if Picasso painted Riff-Raff), while the central quartet of bad girls play off beautifully to his distorted high-life. Often misconstrued as misogynistic and shallow, Korine’s ensemble crime drama is a gnawing satire on just how far people will go for a good time on Spring Break. The final package is a gorgeous one, 90 minutes of pure cinema, with music, voiceover and image slotting together in perfect, well, Harmony. Possibly the most underrated film ever made. Simon Ramshaw
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he first word that springs to mind when I think about this year’s film festivals is ‘surprise’. This year’s winners, losers, breakout hits and flops were all varied, and in most cases, very surprising. For brevity, this article will focus on the four main international film festivals (London, Toronto, Venice and Cannes) and give you all the main highlights from some fantastic line-ups. The very British film, Suffragette, was well-received at the London Film Festival. Although not an entirely perfect film, coming from the same writer (Abi Morgan) who brought us The Iron Lady, the script and story are top notch, and the subject matter brought a lot of publicity to London. Another female-centric film that shone at London is Carol, starring the effortlessly talented duo, Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara. Both dazzled in the tale about unr e -
I remember before I watched Spring Breakers, I was excited, it had been hyped up to me endlessly and I couldn’t wait for it to mess up my mind. But then I watched it and the hype was gone. As soon as teen stars like Vanessa Hudgens and Selena Gomez started urinating onscreen I knew this film was most definitely not for me. Or maybe it was when James Franco turned up with cornrows and started rapping? I can’t quite remember, but I do remember being intensely disappointed. This was not the film I had been promised. It seemed more concerned with trying to shock than actually making an enjoyable and at least objectively sound piece. If you want to see Disney stars pee on things and pretend to be gangsters with Alien (James Franco) then go ahead, but it’s honestly not as interesting as it sounds. Would not recommend. Emma Allsopp
“Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara dazzled in Carol, a tale of unrequited love�
Lion, and this practically-unknown film’s intriguing story and insight into a unique and gratifying relationship between two men makes it deserving of this top award. Films that were unexpectedly overlooked for the top prize (but still rewarded) were Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson’s intricately crafted stop-motion triumph Anomalisa, and the lesser known French drama L’Hermine. Nevertheless, Tom Hooper’s transgender drama, The Danish Girl, was left relatively ignored by Venice, which is surprising given that it is already being pipped for Oscar success, especially for another dedicated performance from Eddie Redmayne.
Cannes was baffling. Firstly, the Best Actress Award was shared between Rooney Mara in Carol and Emmanuelle Beirot in Mon Roit with many commentators arguing that this was unfair as Beirot’s performance was not as deserving as Mara’s or even Blanchett’s in the same film. Woody Allen was the bookies’ favourite to take home an award as he often does at Cannes, but his Irrational Man was said to be sadly lacking and a tad pretentious by the judges. The Palme D’or went to Dheepan by Jacques Audiard, but this was arguably not his most deserving work to date (A Prophet is exceptional, and won the Jury Prize in 2009). This season’s quirkiest film, The Lobster, took home the Jury Prize, which was also surprising due to is extremely weird premise – but with the Coen Brothers as the Presidents of the Jury, maybe this was to be expected. The films that shone at Venice this year were extremely varied. A lesser known Venezuelan film, From Afar, was picked for the Golden
Toronto saw many a mainstream film miss out on the big awards; Black Mass, Brooklyn, The Martian, and the winner at Cannes, Dheepan, all fell short at Toronto. However, some films did stand out in viewer’s minds, including the lesser-known Our Brand Is Crisis, starring Sandra Bullock, which has been tipped as a continuation of her success after her Oscar nomination for Gravity and previous win for The Blind Side. The People’s Choice award went to the intriguing and chilling Room, a tragic tale of a mother and son experiencing the outside world for the first time. Directed by Lenny Abrahamson, and based on the novel of the same name by Emma Donoghue, this film has been described as a visceral experience and is also tipped for Oscar success - watch this space!
“The Danish Girl was left relatively ignored by Venice, which is surprising given that it is already being pipped for Oscar success�
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quited love, with Mara establishing herself every year as an acting force to be reckoned with, the film has been unexpectedly successful despite a controversial subject matter. Films that fell short of success were High-Rise, starring a stellar British cast of Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irons, Sienna Miller, Luke Evans and more; it was reviewed ambivalently and dubbed very difficult to relate to.
he clocks have gone back, the summer sprawl of blockbusters has been and gone, and now we’re settling in: the winter films have already drawn around us and a single question quickly dawns on us. With the second part of Mockingjay just around the corner, we have to ask ourselves: what point do two-parter movies ever diminish? The significance of multiple features began during the early production of series shown in theatres. The benefits of this system were the use of cliffhangers, and the expectation that the audiences would return regularly to view the episodes in these installments. Original films l i k e
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Back to
Future and The Matrix, often used this motif as soon as the initial film become popular, inciting additional films in the franchise. This, of course, becomes problematic when the series forms its precedence in literature. It seems that, ever since the rise of
Harry Potter, producers have decided a franchise’s last film should be two parts. This has, inevitably, led to contention between film fans, and those fans of the original source material. Fans of the source will back the films, they’ve spent years growing and developing the characters, how couldn’t they? Yet, in the end, what is produced is an eclectic mix of ideas that represent those of the movie industry who, naturally, see profit as the end result of their endeavour.
“There are eclectic mixes of ideas from the movie industry who see only profit as the end result�
It is this that leads to the inevitable decline of the young adult book-tofilm franchise. Hollywood knows that people will pay to go see the feature. No more is this a clear than with The Hobbit trilogy. I’m sure Lord of the Rings’ devoted fans would have happily sat though a five-to-nine hour single movie rendition. Hell, that’s what the extended editions are for, aren’t they? Yet, for some reason we were happy to throw our money their way. The simple answer comes down to supposed quality. We’ve all heard of the justification to increase the screen time for films, allowing the crew to incorporate a larger, more accurate representation of the source material. As viewers we emote to this, after all it is an adaptation, and we want the best balance between the literature and a powerful movie. If a film is beautifully done, we can respect it in its own standing, and this is where multi-parters shine. After all, The Avengers have managed to slide under the radar with its ‘final’ iteration being released in
two-parts.
“If a film is beautifully done, we can respect it in its own standing, and this is where multi-parters shine�
It doesn’t take much to say that most of the films produced in two parts are terrible; you know who the culprits are. And whether this is due to the acting, the source material, or the overall production, we as an audience can’t seem to connect with them unless they’re held on some sort of cinematic standing. I, personally, don’t believe there’s anything wrong with films splitting into multiple episodes. What I can’t understand is the production of a mediocre movie and splitting it into two, forcing a contrived cliffhanger that leaves the audience wanting more, and knowing they have a year to wait for the final part, leaving the prior film always lacking in substance. A better comprise would be to release both part at once, and let the viewer decide how they will partake in such pleasures.
The Courier
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udging by his latest film, Nicholas Hoult isn’t the kind of the guy you would invite to the office Christmas do. In Kill Your Friends he plays Steven Stelfox, a Machiavellian A&R man who stops at nothing to advance his career in the 1997 British music industry. Unfortunately this American Psycho crossed with Oasis flick doesn’t quite hit the mark. Stelfox works for Unigram, a fictional record label, during the time of the Britpop explosion. He’s responsible for finding new artists, signing them to the label and praying that they make money. However, as explained hilariously during the opening title sequence, Stelfox has no interest in the bands or their music. All he cares about is his career; specifically becoming the head of A&R at Unigram. He’s fuelled by booze, drugs and Sun Tzu-esque philosophy. Over the course of the film we see him blackmail, assault, murder and even urinate on James Corden.
“Kill Your Friends aims to be like Trainspotting, another Britpop-inspired flick� The problem with this film is that it’s like the copious amounts of drugs that Stelfox ingests. It gives off a momentary buzz, particularly during the beginning, but ultimately it leaves you feeling empty and wanting something a bit more substantial. We get so used to seeing these characters engage in
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shocking and disturbing behaviours that over the course of two hours we become desensitised to it. As Stelfox engages in yet another drugs binge or conniving plan, it starts to get a little bit tedious. Nicholas Hoult’s sneering, detached performance works well in this film. It’s hard to imagine that this is the same actor that played Marcus in About A Boy! However you can’t help but feel that compared to similar performances he doesn’t quite match up. He seems to lack the charm of Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf of Wall Street or the sheer unhinged madness of Christian Bale in American Psycho. In regards to the rest of the cast, the most interesting other character is Game Of Thrones’ Joseph Mawle who acts as a spectral mentor to Stelfox in his quest for power. It’s a missed opportunity that these two characters don’t have more screen time together.
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Kill Your Friends aims to be like Trainspotting, another Britpop-inspired flick. However, unlike the Danny Boyle directed classic, it fails to capture the energy and the verve of the era. Owen Harris is the director and despite using an impressive 90s soundtrack (the song ‘Remember Me’ works particularly well), his direction is steady if unspectacular. If anything Kill Your Friends is reminiscent of Filth, an equally gritty film that has James McAvoy in the lead role. Ultimately both films have the same central flaw. They’re so grim and bleak that the audience has a difficult time identifying and rooting for the protagonists. Maybe instead of watching sociopathic music execs, all we really want to see is common people and whatever comMore like this: Filth (2013) Harry Musson
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hree boy scouts defend their honour (and their town) from an undead outbreak in this rowdy zom-com. Think a teenage Shaun of The Dead, but with less of a gory punch than Zombieland. The reanimated corpses trudge along as slowly as the film takes to get started, and the writers don’t seem to know how to properly articulate to an adolescent audience. It’s a flick that wouldn’t feel out of place in the early 2000s, following the tropes of the underdog teen movie so closely that you’ll be groaning just as much as the undead townsfolk. Dripping in both over-the-top gore and rampant hormones, Scouts Guide fails to live up to its unique premise, instead falling victim to a misogynistic script, Hollywood clichĂŠs, and scenes of zombie genitalia that are too cringe-inducing to stomach. That’s not to say it’s totally devoid of life; there are some killer visual gags, such as a showdown in a trove of Dolly Parton memorabilia to the tune of 9 to 5, and a plethora of gut-busting one-liners (“You just hoodfucked Bambi!â€?). Sarah Dumont also plays a likeable gun-wielding waitress who refuses to have our heroes Left for Dead – which the film gleefully pays homage to, alongside Die Hard and the aforementioned Cornetto Trilogy. Ultimately though, director/writer Christopher Landon’s horror comedy seems less interested in earning its Creativity Badge, and more so in sticking to Screenplay 101; if in one scene we’re having an emotionally charged speech, how can we take it seriously when in the next we have a ten second shot of exposed zombie boobs? Then again, you can’t expect Hitchcock horror quality from the guy who penned the previous four Paranormal Activity sequels. Though it’s not completely lifeless, Scouts Guide lacks the bbbrrraaaaiiinnnnsss to make it worth more than a Netflix viewing.
he film adaptation of Colm TĂłibĂn’s novel, Brooklyn, offers a fresh insight into the personal effect of Irish emigration to the USA. Brooklyn is a beautiful film, with a combination of incredibly talented established and up-and-coming actors. Saoirse Ronan plays Eilis Lacey, a young girl from the small Irish town of Enniscorthy where she works part-time in a shop. The town offers little in the way of employment for Eilis, and with this in mind, her older sister, Rose (Fiona Glascott), arranges for her to go to the USA and work under the benevolent eye of Father Flood (Jim Broadbent) and boarding house owner, Mrs Kehoe (Julie Walters). This film explores Eilis coming to terms with her new life in New York and, though at first she is very homesick, she starts to move beyond this, mostly due to love-interest Tony Fiorello (Emory Cohen). The chemistry between Eilis and Tony is just perfect, an old-time romance that leaves you wanting more. I won’t lie, I wish I could have something as adorable as that. However, Eilis still misses Ireland, and this, I can completely understand. I moved from a tiny village to Newcastle, and then to Europe for a year on my YA, and Ronan captures the same feelings that I had myself. You make a new life for yourself somewhere else and the idea of going ‘home’ is always there, but when you finally go back, you just don’t fit the way you used to. Yes, you can live there, but your life, your ambitions and what you want have changed. ‘Home’ itself has changed. This is shown through a Gaelic song sung by an Irish immigrant in the film, it’s so hauntingly beautiful and seems to reflect the feelings of Irish immigrants in New York, that there’s no going home. And Brooklyn manages sum up all those feelings and show that though it seems hard, there is always hope for the future.
More like this: Whiplash (2014)
More like this: Rise of the Guardians (2012)
More like this: How I Live Now (2012)
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om Cruise plays a cowardly soldier in the near future fighting an alien race on Normandy Beach. However, after unexpected circumstances he is doomed to repeat the same day over again. Aged 52, Cruise proved once again that he may be the last of a dying breed of action stars able to pull in audiences and film-making talent by himself. But he’s not alone; Emily Blunt almost steals the show as she plays the steely veteran who teams up with Cruise. Although initially a strange concept and not hugely popular in theatres, this is guaranteed to become an action cult classic.
Brooklyn (15)
o better than an episode of MasterChef. That’s what I kept thinking to myself throughout John Wells’ Burnt. There is no competition in this film, no suspense, just old character moulds in a culinary context. The same old menu, thrown at you in a different restaurant. Burnt follows Adam Jones (Bradley Cooper), an American chef with two Michelin stars (like Oscars for chefs if you’ll excuse the analogy) striving to make it three. To do so he must exploit various friends and former colleagues, and essentially shout at everyone until his dream is realised. Like a spoiled child, Adam gets his way, bullying his friend Tony (Daniel BrĂźhl) into allowing him to use his restaurant. There are also some details about Adam’s past from when he was a chef in Paris, but the expository dialogue that explains it is so embarrassingly unbearable that I struggled to care when anything happened to Adam ‘because of Paris’. The insufferable amount of shouting and excessive drama in the kitchen scenes will undoubtedly remind you of any Gordon Ramsey T.V. show, and your comparison would be completely justified. Ramsey himself is listed as an ‘Executive Producer’. While that title is as ambiguous as it sounds, I get the impression that the credit is down to the conversation he and Cooper had in which he simply repeated the phrase ‘shout a lot’ like it’s a mantra all chefs follow. There is too much emphasis on drama in the kitchen here, and not enough on the individual characters. Following too closely the recipe for an entertaining television show leaves Burnt flat, and undercooked. The final half an hour tries to reconcile you with romantic Hollywood tropes that feel out-ofplace, like a friend who’s screamed in your face then panders to you straight after to make it up to you. No, Burnt. Give me some space, forever.
William Leng
The  Good: (GJH RI 7RPRUURZ
Katie Read
F
ollowing the spy-thriller original, MI2 switches the franchise to fast-paced action. However, a poor script in which the ‘villain’ is created by a good person for no reason, as well as Cruise’s massive character change trying to turn him into an American James Bond means that it’s a significant quality dip compared to the other four. But hold on; yes this film is technically bad, but it’s the ridiculous directing of John Woo which actually makes this film so bad it’s hilarious. Unnecessary one-liners, ludicrous stunts and glorious slow-motion means that I kind of have to recommend even this.
The  Ugly:  ,QWHUYLHZ :LWK WKH 9DPSLUH
B
ack when Cruise was more of an actual actor and not just an action hero, he was once Lestat, a vampire in the 18th century who befriends a young Brad Pitt and an even younger Kirsten Dunst. It follows their relationships with each other, humans and other vampires as they try to stay sane, living for hundreds of years. This is a very morbid and greatly underrated film in all aspects; for Cruise, Pitt, the vampire genre and just in general. One of the best modern vampire films, this macabre story comes highly recommended. George Naylor
32.tvfeatures
Monday 16 November 2015
The Courier
TV  Editors:  Hannah  Bunting,  Jack  Parker  and  Helen  Daly Â
Get  me  oot  of  here
Life  Lessons As  Peep  Show  DLUV LWV ¿QDO VHULHV Rhian  Hunter  looks  back  at  what  important  lessons  the  cult  comedy  has  taught  her  over  the  years
I
should probably start by explaining a little bit about the premise of the show, otherwise those of you who haven’t seen an episode of Peep Show – do you live under a rock? – might be a bit perplexed/mortified by the following lessons. The show, written by Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain and starring David Mitchell and Robert Webb, follows flatmates Mark Corrigan and Jeremy Usborne as they attempt to navigate the adult world, often with hysterical results. As well as giving us the joy of watching others crumble in cripplingly embarrassing social situations, Mark and Jez’s inner thought processes are simultaneously spoken in voiceover – with inevitably quotable results. Here are a few of my personal favourites moulded into the essential life lessons – Peep Show edition. 1.Cereal-inspired analogies are perfect for describing the dynamics of life. As hilariously demonstrated by Mark’s witty comeback to Jez’s sarcastic remark: ‘Crunchy Nut Cornflakes are just Frosties for wankers.’ ‘Yeah well Frosties are just Cornflakes for people who can’t face reality.’ 2.Letterboxes are the ultimate enemies of efficient pizza delivery. Well, obviously you’d open the door with a key first, but it’s good to know, just in case you’re ever stuck in a scenario where pizza is necessary but you’re locked in. The more you know. ‘What happens if you eat letterbox hair?’ ‘Strangely, there’s been very little research into that scenario‌’
With  the  newest  series  of  I’m  A  Celebrity...Get  Me  Out  of  Here!  on  its  way,  Helen  Daly  and  Amy  Baird  provide  us  with  some  of  our  very  own,  Newcastle-Âthemed  Bush- tucker  Trials...
The  Cage  of  Horror
Just like locking Gillain McKeith in an underground box of rats, this challenge requires endurance and courage. You must try to endure a full night in the infamous Sinners Cage. While this might seem like a relatively easy trial, you won’t be spending your time alone. Over the course of the night, you will be joined by so many drunk students who all want to take those cage pictures that you’ll end up being crushed against the back being kicked in the face by the most acrobatic of partygoers, fighting for some space to bust your own moves. This one is not for the faint-hearted. Bravery will be essential.
The  Brown  Ale  Bull Â
Grab yourself not one, but two pints of NBA (that’s Newcastle Brown Ale to those of you who aren’t quite up to speed on the northern lingo) and down both of them, then climb aboard the Sam Jack’s rodeo bull. Ride for at least 30 seconds without falling off or being sick to pass the trial. An extra star if you take advantage of the cheap trebles before beginning the trial.
Bigg  Buffet  Bonanza This one is not for the faint-hearted. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, involves a tour of the Bigg Market; but not the one you were maybe expecting. That’s right, this is the infamous eating challenge. As you venture into the depths of Bigg Market, your tastebuds will encounter all kinds of horrors including greasy chips with questionable cheese that may or may not be plastic and kebabs that have little to no real meat inside of them. Just make sure you don’t vomit, o r your forfeit is to start all over again.
The  Balance  Beams
This trial will test your skill, balance and determination. You’re at Bierkeller with a couple of steins in hand. To complete this trial, all you need to do is stay on the benches until it closes. During the task, you will encounter a number of challenges trying to knock you off. A hen part stampede trying their best to get on the bench, the challenge of doing Gangnam Style on a relatively small piece of wood and getting soaked in what you hope is beer all combine together to make this a very tricky challenge indeed. Sensible shoes at the ready.
3.Crack is bad. Super Hans, Jez’ eccentric, drugaddled ‘rockstar’ friend, reminds us of this pretty often. Whether it’s his careful reminder of the dangers of crack addiction – ‘tell you what, this crack is really moreish’ – or his careful reminder that ‘necking fucking salt from the shaker’ is not an acceptable substitute for olives, Super Hans is always lurking about ready to provide some classic Peep Show life lessons. 4.The ‘yardies’ can’t solve all your problems. When Jez is faced with the ultimatum of murdering his stepfather with ‘gunny’ or forfeiting his inheritance from Aunt Gwen, Mark reminds him that the ‘yardies’ aren’t the answer to all his problems. Prompting Jez’s golden thought: ‘The yardies will help me. I just need to get a number for the yardies.’ 5.LIFE ISN’T FAIR. To be fair, Mark’s entire catalogue of interactions with love interest Sophie could be used as an example of how life isn’t fair. Although Mark kind of brings it on himself by being a self-proclaimed ‘social freak’ who needs to ‘stay in [his] compound.’ But perhaps the best example is when Jez provides Mark with the means to break up Sophie’s relationship with the insufferable man-child Jeff by telling him Jeff cheated on Sophie. Mark’s response is quite possibly the best quotation on TV. EVER. ‘No Mark. I only told you for a laugh. You promised not to tell!’ ‘Hitler promised not to invade Czechoslovakia Jeremy. Welcome to the REAL world!’
Continue the debate online: thecourieronline.co.uk/tv
Dancing  with  the  Stars
Take three shots (not for the faint hearted, but brownie points if you do 3 different spirits) then enlist five different people in a slut drop to pass this trial. Boys, this includes you. For part two, grab your favourite partner in crime - for the rest of the night you’ll taking on the identity of everyone’s favourite Newcastle presenters and introducing yourself as Ant and Dec for the rest of the night (complete with Geordie accent - Southerners get the extra challenge of trying not to get beaten up for taking the piss).
The  Ice  Trek
Picture the scene: you’ve spent a lovely, winter’s evening dancing until you can dance no more at Digital and you’ve lost track of time. As you leave the club at 3am, you were gleefully unaware that a snow storm had been brewing; just when you thought Newcastle couldn’t get any colder, you suddenly understand what locals mean when they describe the weather as ‘baltic’. It’s during times like these that you will wish you just paid the extra money to live in Sandyford, instead of being the smug one saving money in High Heaton. You ring every taxi company you can think of but no luck. The trial starts now: you must make your way home, battling the snow and ice, all without a coat. Good luck, my friend.
Hometime  Glory The night is drawing to a close on our Bushtucker Trial, and w e w o u l d n’ t want to send you home without some good ole scran. Drag yourselves to Munchies and order a naughty 12� London pizza coated in cheese and garlic sauce. This is really the task that keeps on giving, since you’ll probably be waking up next to the remains of your meal tomorrow morning. Devour the entire thing and gan ‘yem in one piece to conclude the task.
The Courier
highlightstv.33
Monday 16 November 2015
thecourieronline.co.uk/tv c2.tv@ncl.ac.uk | @courier_tv
Geek Peek
Jessica Jones
Netflix, from Friday
F
an anticipation is at all time high as the release date for Marvel’s Jessica Jones - set to be the darkest Marvel comics-based adaptation to date – draws closer. Krysten Ritter (Breaking Bad) will star as a super heroine turned private investigator that is battling her own personal demons. Ritter is no stranger to the small screen, having held strong roles in the aforementioned shows, as well as Veronica Mars. Her film resume is not strong as however, seemingly stuck in the role of the ‘best friend’ of female leads in the likes of Confessions of a Shopaholic. From everything that we have heard or seen of Ritter, it’s safe to assume that the show is in good hands with this lead. Fans can expect to see their favorite Alias storyline making their way to Netflix. Jessica Jones is relatively new to Marvel uni-
verse: in 2001 comic book writer Brian Michael Bendis was tasked with making Alias to headline as Marvel’s MAX series, which was aimed at more mature readers - completely uncensored and sometimes explicit. Brian initially wanted to use Jessica Drew (Spider Woman) for the lead role but in the end he decided to introduce a completely new character to the reader and thus Jessica Jones was born. Alias introduced Jessica as a private investigator who was once a super heroine known as Jewel, trying to escape her horrific past. Of course, a Marvel series wouldn’t be a Marvel series without some super-heroism, and so in Bendis’ story, Jones is constantly drawn back to the world she wishes to forget, with fragments of her past being revealed to the audience via flashbacks throughout the series. In the comics, Jones’ retirement from heroism was the result of an eight month-long mind control of Zebediah Killgrave (The Purple Man), a former spy who has the power to verbally control the thoughts and actions of others. Purple Man forced Jessica to do just about everything he wanted. The comic series Alias picks up sometime after that
Into the Badlands
The Bridge
Amazon Prime, Tuesday
C
enturies in the future, following the destruction of civilisation, a feudal society known as the Badlands has emerged. A dangerous, godless place, the Badlands is a world in which each life taken is simply another tattooed line on one’s body, and Sunny, the star of the series, has 404 lives emblazoned on his back. With the lands divided uneasily between the Barons, Sunny is the right hand man of Quinn, the most powerful of the Badland’s Barons. With his origins long forgotten, Sunny is unequivocally loyal to Quinn, was merely nine years old upon his first kill, and has earned a reputation as the most ruthless of the assassins in the Badlands. Yet while Quinn has ruled unchallenged for centuries, his superiority is faltering. After murdering her husband to become the newest Baron, the Widow and her army of young girls, are on a brazen campaign against the formidable Quinn. Key to the Widow’s schemes is the young M.K.. Yet once M.K. is rescued by Sunny the tide begins to turn. Harbouring a dark secret and memories of home inside, M.K. is taken under Sunny’s wing, as his loyal begins to waver. With war looming in the Badlands, never has Quinn needed Sunny more. With the show perfectly balancing the action with drama, this martial arts series promises plenty of bloodshed, while Sunny and M.K.’s search for enlightenment provides the perfect backdrop against the imminent war of the Badlands. Masterfully choreographed, and loosely based on the 16th century Chinese novel Journey to the West, Into The Badlands delivers sensational moves guaranteed to impress the most sceptic martial arts fans. Reece Hanson
BBC4, Friday, 9pm
S
candinavian crime drama, The Bridge, is coming back to the screen for its third season. This time, Saga Norén is alone without her partner, Martin Rohde, after he was imprisoned at the end of last season. For those of you not familiar with the show, The Bridge is a Danish/Swedish TV series that follows Swedish detective Saga Norén and her Danish counterpart, Martin Rohde solving murder crimes. Last season, the duo dealt with a group of people who developed a deadly virus, which infected the key speaker of an upcoming EU climate conference with the intention of spreading the virus at the conference. In the new season, with Martin in prison, Saga is alone and now assigned a new Danish partner, Henrik Saboe (Thure Lindhardt). The first murder case in the series begins when Helle Anker, a Danish citizen who is the founder of the first genderneutral kindergarten in Copenhagen, found dead in Sweden. Anker, who is a lesbian married to a Swedish woman, is also a high-profile debater on gender issues. The Danish and Swedish police join forces once again to solve the crime. Apparently this case is the first of many murder cases to take place. As Saga investigated these cases, they turn out to intertwine with Saga’s personal life. Despite Martin’s absence on the show, I’m pretty sure that the show will remain as intriguing as the first two seasons. What I’m looking forward the most to see in the new season is the relationship between Saga and her new partner. Will it be as dynamic as Saga/Martin’s relationship? I really hope so. Nathasya Gunawan
and judging by the trailers Netflix series will do the same. The Purple Man will be played by David Tennant, known for his role in Doctor Who. I have a feeling that the Purple Man has more horrors in stored for us in the future as it has been speculated that the Purple Man will be bigger role in shared Marvel Cinematic Universe. Joining Ritter will be Mike Colter who will portray Luke Cage aka Power Man (who will also be getting his own series in 2016). Mike is known for his roles in shows like The Good Wife and Ringer, as well as smaller parts in films such as Zero Dark Thirty and Men in Black 3. In comics, Cage joins Avengers and marries Jones and has a family with her, but we won’t be expecting that in the TV series for a long while yet. Ritter and Colter will be joined by Carrie Anne Moss, who will play the gender-flipped role of Jeryn Hogarth, an attorney who later takes position at Cage’s Heroes for Hire. Moss’s induction in the cast of Jessica Jones has raised hopes that Cage’s partner Iron Fist will be joining Marvel’s Netflix universe sooner than later. Salman Ali
The Man in the High Castle Amazon Prime, Friday
A
fter dry falafel there’s nothing worse than seeing your favourite novel ruined on the silver screen. Be it abysmal casting or trying to squeeze far too much into an hour and a half (James Franco’s risible adaptation of As I Lay Dying) sometimes the cinema just can’t do a book justice. Hence why I’m excited for the recent adaptation of Phillip K. Dick’s The Man in the High Castle that’s coming to Amazon. The novel is one of my favourite discoveries of recent years and it’s full of mind-bending allure. It’s set in a disturbing alternative universe where everything we’ve learned from history has gone out of the window. The allies lost the war. Hitler is still alive. America is under occupation, with the East Coast under Nazi control and the West Coast is now known as the “Japanese Pacific States”. While the setting is interesting enough, it is the human narrative of Dick’s protagonists that draws you in. In this adaptation, Alexa Davalos plays heroine Juliana a resilient martial arts expert who comes across a strange document while RSC veteran Rupert Evans is Frank Frink her jeweller boyfriend who has to hide his Jewish identity (for obvious reasons). Working against them, is SS double agent Joe Blake who you might recognise from your halcyon teenage days through his appearance in Gossip Girl. A myriad of other sub plots run through the novel and this adaptation seems like it pays equal attention to all. Reception in the States so far has been nothing but positive, with comparisons to the oeuvre of Ridley Scott being made. One can only hope that they hype is real when it finally hits these shores. Jamie Shepherd
T
he latest, but not the last in a flood of comic book adaptations, Supergirl tells us the story of Superman’s cousin Kara Danvers aka Kara Zor-El (Melissa Benoist). Like the man of steel, she escaped their dying home planet, Krypton, and found herself on Earth, greatly empowered by her alien physiology. As Superman is already established as a hero when Supergirl starts out, there’s quite a lot about stepping out of his shadow. She’s consistently compared to her cousin within the show and outside of it. Supergirl is first female led superhero show in the DCTV universe, and it’s no secret that females haven’t exactly always been best represented by the superhero genre. As much as the DCTV universe has had some really awesome female side characters, it’s good to see shows that centre on a superheroine. She isn’t a Superman spin-off or an inferior version of him, she’s an awesome character whose story deserves to be explored. The pilot episode goes out of its way to make this point, but consistently being told, as opposed to just letting us see, that Supergirl is as capable as Superman feels counter-intuitive.
“It’s no secret that females haven’t exactly always been best represented by the superhero genre”
Growing up on Earth, Kara lives a normal life, but dissatisfied with this, she decides to use her powers to help people. To her disdain, Kara discovers that she accidently led a dangerous cosmic prison full of the worst intergalactic criminals to Earth, seemingly under the control of her aunt and fellow Kryptonian General Astra (Laura Benanti). The prison gives us a reasonably believable cause for a sudden spike in attacks by alien threats, and her aunt is much more than an ordinary villain – no-one wants to fight their family and in order to protect her new planet, she must destroy one of the few remaining remnants of her home world. Also seemingly eager to protect Earth is the Department of Extranormal Operations’ director, Hank Henshaw (David Harewood), who is adversarial towards our heroine from the start and only reluctantly allows her to work with his organisation. However, there may be more to Henshaw than first appears… The DOE also contains Kara’s adopted sister, Alex Danvers (Chyler Leigh), critical in bringing about the group’s alliance with Supergirl. Perhaps Kara’s closest ally, who despite lacking superpowers is definitely a force to be reckoned with, Alex is one of the show’s strongest assets. The relationship between the sisters adds emotional depth and dramatic tension without compromising the lighthearted and fun-filled tone that show has. Likewise, James “Jimmy” Olsen (Mehcad Brooks) and Winn Schott (Jeremy Jordan) are valuable allies and potential love interests, both of whom are in on Kara’s secret from the start more or less – which is refreshing within the superhero genre, full of people desperately attempting to hide a double life from the people closest to them. Supergirl doesn’t buy into the dark, gritty atmosphere that a lot of superhero based media has adopted after the critical and cultural success of Nolan’s The Dark Knight Trilogy. This decision should please a lot of Supergirl comic fans as she has traditionally been a light, warm and likeable character. Furthermore, Supergirl is produced by Greg Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg, the minds behind Arrow and The Flash, both very successful and highly enjoyable adaptations of DC properties and successful implementations of the same bright tone. Melissa Benoist is brilliant in the titular role, and is the strongest part of the show. Extremely likeable, fiercely courageous yet relatable, the audience can’t help but root for Supergirl. It’s early days, but in all-in-all Supergirl has the makings of a super show. Dominic Corrigan
The Courier
tvfeature.35
Monday 16 November 2015
thecourieronline.co.uk/tv c2.tv@ncl.ac.uk | @courier_tv
Jungle fever:Meet the celebrities
The latest bunch of celebrities head to the Australian outback to battle jungle critters, sleeping on hammocks and changing the dreaded dunny. Here, Culture Editor Ellie McLaren gives us the run-down on this year’s I’m a Celebrity contestants
George Shelley Kieron Dyer Who: Shelley found fame on The X Factor, reaching the final with boyband Union J. What to expect: Going by the bookies, Shelley is favourite to win before the show has even begun. The male eye-candy for this series, even his official promo shots show his torso off. Maybe he’ll have a shower-off with Jorgie. The contrast between boybands in the 80s and now will make his relationship with Hadley hilarious to watch. We’ve all got our fingers crossed for a karaoke style battle as a treat. Jungle life expectancy: Will have a big voter following from prepubescent girls with no sense, it’s unlikely he’ll go out early unless he’s bitten by a spider or something.
Who: Former Newcastle and England International footballer (making nearly 200 appearances for Newcastle and 33 for England), his career was blighted by an on-pitch brawl with then-teammate Lee Bower back in 2005. What to expect: Having a reputation as a bit of a bad boy, expect there to be never a dull moment when Dyer is on your screen. A sports star, so like Eubank, should do well in the Bushtucker Trials. But just because he brings back the gold stars and tucker, does that mean the campmates will like him? Jungle life expectancy: As long as there’s no fisticuffs, Dyer should be just the right amount of explosive tele, and could surpass the two week mark easy.
Yvette Fielding
Who: Former Blue Peter presenter, more recently known for Most Haunted.. Fielding still holds the title of youngest ever Blue Peter presenter, first starring three months before her 19th birthday. What to expect:: Fielding has shared a screen with Ant and Dec before, making a brief appearance on Byker Grove back in the 90s, so we wouldn’t be surprised if she got some special treatment from the duo. Fielding made the error of tweeting her appearance on I’m A Celebrity before it had been officially announced by ITV so expect her to have to jump out of a plane rather than row down a river to make her entrance into camp. Karma is a bitch, Yvette. Jungle life expectancy: She has lasted years dealing with the supernatural, so a few creepy crawlies should be a piece of piss.
Jorgie Porter Who: Famous for playing Theresa McQueen in Hollyoaks, and also a former Dancing on Ice contestant (because one celebrity contestant show isn’t enough in this day and age). She also models from time to time. What to expect: Porter has featured on FHM’s 100 Sexiest Women (ranking 50th back in 2011) so it’s not hard to guess why the I’m A Celebrity show producers signed her up. A token bikini-clad waterfall shower is just as important in the show as Ant and Dec nowadays. Hopefully she’ll last longer than she did in the Dancing on Ice All Star series: she was voted out in the first week. Jungle life expectancy: How long does a white bikini last? Unless she’s an absolute bore, Jorgie should make it past the second week at least.
Brian Friedman
Who: An American dancer and choreographer, Louis Spence from over the pond. Throughout his career, Friedman has created choreography for Britney Spears, Mariah Carey and Beyonce. He has also helped out on The X Factor (in the UK and USA) as the creative director for the live shows. What to expect: Hopefully Friedman will boost morale in the camp when food rations are running low by getting a full-camp danceathon going. Gangnam style. If his choreography for Jedward’s Eurovision entry in 2011 is anything to go by, it’ll be fabulous. Jungle life expectancy: Brian strikes us as quite a squeamish fellow. We wouldn’t be shocked if he freaks out in the helicopter and doesn’t even make it into the jungle.
Duncan Bannatyne
Who: Business entrepreneur, author, and infamous Dragon,, Bannatyne is used to telling others that Dragon ‘I’m out’. This time, it’s the viewers that have the power whether he’s in or out. What to expect: Self-professed Jack of all trades, Bannatyne isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty when it comes to camp chores. I’m sure he’ll soon change his tune when it gets to actually changing the dunny. Estimated to be worth over £175million, we wonder how he’ll do in the middle of nowhere trading in big plastic stars rather than £50 notes. Jungle life expectancy: Bannatyne can’t use his bags of cash to bribe anyone in the jungle, but he’s Scottish and so likely to be rock solid when it comes to camp tensions and tasks. A week two-er.
Chris Eubank
Who: Former professional boxer who remained undefeated in his first ten years, remembered for his unusual voice and his nonexistent documentary Youth Hostelling with Chris Eubank. What to expect: Sports stars usually do quite well with Bushtucker Trials, so don’t be expecting Eubank to be squeamish about some kangaroo bollocks. If his past is anything to go by (Eubank famously protested about the Iraq War by driving his truck around Parliament Square back in 2007) he will play the peacemaker in any camp squabbles and ruin our viewing by making sure everyone gets on. Jungle life expectancy: Eubank is either going to be the best jungle contestant since Christopher Biggins, or an absolute Gillian McKeith. Only time (approximately a week and a half by our estimates) will tell.
Susannah Constantine
Who: One half of Trinny and Susannah, we didn’t know she had a surname until this week. Constantine is a fashion journalist and TV presenter most famous for series What Not To Wear (running from 2001 to 2005). What to expect: She won’t be happy with the camp uniform, so expect her to jazz it up with empire lines and sequins. Rather than sneaking in salt and flavourings (a la Gillian McKeith), Constantine will be sneaking in a sewing kit and spanx. Jungle life expectancy: There’s no doubting Susannah is going to be sassy. Finale material for sure.
Lady Colin Campbell
Who: A Jamaican-born British writer and socialite, no her name is not actually Colin. Born Georgia Arianna Campbell, she is a controversial aristocrat best known for her 1992 biography about Princess Diana, which revealed the late Princess’s affair with James Hewitt. What to expect expect:: Could be one half of a camp romance (yes, really). Going by her past, Lady Campbell falls in love really quickly. She married Lord Campbell after a 5 day affair, although the honeymoon period didn’t last long: the marriage ended after 9 months. She’s also dated Larry Lamb (of Gavin and Stacey fame). Maybe Duncan Bannatyne could be the object of her desire in the jungle? Jungle life expectancy: This lady doesn’t take any shit, and once we get over the posh voice and the awful blusher on her cheeks, I think she’ll be the surprise favourite (remember Carol Thatcher?). She has the potential to make the last week.
Tony Hadley Who: Spandeau Ballet frontman and all round nice guy from the eighties, Tony Hadley gets a ‘Gold’ star from us. Suave popstar, radio presenter and universal mum-crush, he could smooth-talk the dunny to clean itself and we wouldn’t be shocked. What to expect: Hadley has already made the mistake of telling everyone he’s terrified of cockroaches in his pre-show interviews, so we wouldn’t be surprised if his very first task involved a sealed box and cockroaches. Expect Paul Burrell-esque squeals (but more in-tune and musical) and general campfire singalongs to keep everyone happy. Jungle life expectancy: Who could vote out this sweetheart? Another potential finalist.
36.gaming
Monday 16 November 2015
The Courier
Gaming  Editors:  Michael  Hicks,  Ollie  Burton  &  James  McCoull
Top  5  hardest  Fallout  Retrospective:  Expansion  Packed Jack  Taylor  wraps  up  our  Fallout  lookback  with  a  dip  into  Fallout  3  and  New  Vegas’  rich  selection  of  downloadable  content bosses
Imogen  Scott-ÂChambers  revisits  the  trauma  of  some  of  gaming’s  nightmare  bosses  5.  Nemesis  -  Resident  Evil  3:  Nemesis
The only Resident Evil monster to have a whole game named after him; that is pretty badass in itself. A particularly creepy looking big boss, he is as scary as he is difficult to defeat. Nemesis crops up throughout the game and you have a difficult time fighting him, but the end is where he hits you the hardest. He stalks his prey unfailingly and he has great health, which means he can sustain incredible amounts of damage to his leathery exterior. He carries a rocket launcher - which is always handy, and he can burst through walls unexpectedly which makes him a pretty formidable opponent.
4.  C’Thun  -  World  of  Warcraft C’Thun has become synonymous with the word difficult. Infamously, a whole guild of high level WoW players could not take C’Thun down before he was patched. This big boss battle tests your raid members’ ability to simultaneously dodge, damage, and survive everything that’s thrown at them. C’Thun resembles a deformed mix between a jellyfish, a crab and a spider - you need a pretty well formed strategy to take down this old God now stripped of his powers, despite this, he’s still more than a match for your team.
W
hen DLC is done well, it tends to add an entirely unique storyline that links to the main story of the game, but often does so loosely. It provides interesting and memorable characters to often make up for the less thought out characters in the main game, especially when considering your own character is an unvoiced protagonist. The first DLC for Fallout 3, ‘Operation: Anchorage’, was a much needed insight into the events of the war between the U.S.A and China in the form of a simulation. Whilst being rather simple and CoD-esque at times, it was extremely enjoyable to have a squad of soldiers you could customize and order around. However, it was lacking in terms of your ability and drive to explore, which is something the main game is so praised for. Whilst ‘Broken Steel’ allowed you to continue after the ending of the main story, and saw the return of Liberty Prime, it eventually got extremely repetitive as you mowed down power-armoured Enclave soldier after power-armoured Enclave soldier. It was a similar story with ‘Mothership Zeta’, but with aliens on the other end of the gun. The main problem with these DLCs was that, although they had highly interesting concepts, the plot was often far too simple and the characters were not interesting
or memorable in the slightest (except that samurai, of course; an angry samurai who enjoys slicing and dicing aliens is something very special indeed).
“From the bright lights of the Strip to the pre-apocalyptic appearance of Jacobstown, it stands as a refreshing and exciting upgrade from the endless subway tunnels of Fallout 3� Having said this, The Pitt and Point Lookout were incredible. The Pitt had you pretend to be a slave in the master-servant society of Pittsburgh, in order to usher in an uprising. It had you experience the gruelling tasks the slaves had to do, such as retrieving steel from a monster infested steelyard and fight your way to the top in an arena against others desperate to lose their slave status. Point Lookout, juxtaposed as a popular tourist destination in the midst of a radioactive swampland, was the only truly open-world DLC, with strange cultists and killer hillbillies as some of the tourist-loving locals. Desmond, the only ghoul with an English accent in the entire game, was an utter badass, who you had to perform tasks for which would contribute to the destruction of his rival.
Looking at the DLC for Fallout: New Vegas, it’s rather easy to argue that it was a step up from that of Fallout 3. Whilst the DLC in Fallout 3 seemed rather isolated from the actual game, Fallout New Vegas’ DLC felt like they tied in to certain aspects of the main game. For example, in the main game, a former decorated general in Caesar’s Legion is said to have been executed by fire for an unsuccessful war effort, but there are rumours he survived. These rumours prove to be true in the ‘Honest Hearts’ DLC. Furthermore, the characters and plot are far more complex in New Vegas than they are in Fallout 3. Put simply, New Vegas’ DLC is more story-driven and Fallout 3’s DLC is more action-driven.
“The Mojave Wasteland quickly opens up into a diverse world of colour and beauty� There’s only so much I can talk about the DLCs of Fallout 3 and New Vegas in so few words, so I’d strongly advise you to play and judge them yourselves if you haven’t already. They’re the perfect activity to get you even more hyped - just in time for Fallout 4.
3.  General  Raam  -  Gears  of  War This big boss is both evil and ugly, most gamers will have been exhausted after battling with General Raam. He has immense skill, strength and intellect, furthermore he carries an extremely powerful mini gun, is covered in a shield of deadly Kryll and he is flanked by Reavers. All of this makes him a formidable opponent and he is especially hard to defeat by yourself; bringing along a brother in arms is more than recommended.
2.  Bowser  -  Super  Mario  64 Probably the hardest big boss battles of any N64 game. Bowser pushed you to your limits because he seemed to have unlimited health when you had very little. I remember having to just constantly do the same action, grabbing Bowser by his tail and spinning him round when opportunity presented itself, which very rarely happened. Bowser could pound the floor, spit fire and slash you with his claws whilst appearing seemingly infallible. The pure monotony and variety of attacks Bowser brought with him makes him deserving of this list. Image: Daniel Hudson on Flickr
1.  Psycho  Mantis  -  Metal  Gear  Solid Here is a unique big boss, not only does he infamously break the fourth wall, but it also ridiculously hard to work out how to defeat him. Psycho Mantis has psychic abilities, so he can predict what your next move is going to be. He anticipates just about every attack; brute force doesn’t work, so you have to outsmart him. If you haven’t played Metal Gear Solid, I don’t want to give away too many spoilers because the way you defeat him is just pure ingenuity. Until you work it out, Mantis is an absolute beast, he avoids all damage and there is an impressive use of the rumble feature throughout. He definitely deserves a place in this list.
Image; Kiara Haley on Flickr
Club  Trope-Âicana:  Breaking  the  fourth  wall
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o some developers, one of the most important aspects of a video game is player immersion. Writers and designers do everything they can to engage the player and allow them to lose themselves within the game world. However, other devs take a different approach. One sure fire way to inject a bit of comedy or confusion into a game is to direct attention to the world beyond the confines of the TV and remind the player in a loud and obnoxious manner that they are sitting at home staring at a virtual universe. The term “breaking the fourth wall� is based upon the idea that a stage play can be thought of as having an invisible wall to allow the audience to see into the room. If this wall was to tumble down, the physical barrier between the two worlds would be broken and the characters would be surprised to see an audience of hundreds staring into the scene. Some slightly subtler instances of this trope occur in the idle animations of a few games’ playable characters. Wait around long enough without pressing any buttons and your hero might shoot you a glance or wisecrack. Examples include retro characters such as Jazz Jackrabbit, Conker and
Spyro. Infamous action man Duke Nukem will ask, “What are you waiting for? Christmas?� and three minutes of inactivity on Sonic CD will result in everyone’s favourite blue hedgehog exclaiming “I’m outta here� and leaping off the level to his death. Continuing to select the same unit in Warcraft 3 will cause it to tire of saying “Yes?� and resort to sarky comments, Monty Python quotes and direct references to Blizzard Entertainment. Overall, these instances are fairly subtle and occur when the player probably isn’t paying attention. However, sometimes things are taken to the next level.
“Wait around long enough and your hero might shoot you a glance or wisecrack�
Players of Super Mario 64 will recall walking past mirrors and spotting Lakitu the Koopa floating just over their shoulder carrying the game camera. The opening of Rare’s third Banjo-Kazooie game involves a prolonged joke about the duo being too old and out of shape to participate in another sequel. The ending of Tomb Raider 2 sees
Lara Croft (the subject of so many 90s teenagers’ fantasies) entering the bathroom and turning on her shower. Just as she’s about to derobe, she turns to the camera and asserts that the player has seen enough (a reference to the urban myth of a Naked Lara cheat code). Perhaps the most memorable cases of this trope are those that include it as an actual plot piece. Both Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem and Batman: Arkham Asylum use the player’s faltering faith in technology against them by pretending that the game has crashed. If you don’t know it’s coming, your heart will certainly skip a beat, which perfectly imitates the fact that the games’ main characters are both on the edge of losing their minds. However, the wall-breaking crown irrefutably goes to 2013’s Deadpool. The eponymous antihero spends the entire game playing around with his script and conversing with the player, narrator and developers. The fourth wall is barely even there to be broken in the first place. Love it or hate it, the Deadpool game takes the trope to its limits and gives itself such a reputation for wall breaking that you can’t help but worry for the other three as well.
The Courier
gaming.37
Monday 16 November 2015
Review: The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth Review: Minecraft Story Mode
Jordan Oloman takes a peep at the new expansion to the indie classic
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hen I loaded up the Binding of Isaac again, after a few months of weaning myself off from its fiendishly addictive gameplay, I held a disposition that contained a mix of excitement, fear, and a little inkling of confidence. I dove in, thinking that with over 70 hours sunk into the game, pre rebirth included, that I would be able to breeze through whatever it had to throw at me. I mean, I was no platinum god, but I was no stranger to the womb either. My experience in matricide aside, I thought I would give the DLC’s new ‘Greed’ mode a spin, and it proceeded to strip away my last coat of innocence like only a roguelike knows how. Yet despite the crushing difficulty that is still very present in Isaac, the amount of content that this new add-on delivers is incredible. Greed mode adds new depth to the game and condenses all the usual fun into short bursts of risk/reward mayhem, with a timer set in the middle of the room, spawning relentless waves of enemies into a punishing, claustrophobic environment.
“Afterbirth also boasts a whole host of spooky new enemies and bosses, most being intuitive redesigns of previous favourites...”
It’s great if you’re looking for a less time-consuming battle to the womb than the main game has to offer, and it pumps some more adrenaline into the games already lightning fast gameplay. Further than Greed mode, the main game has also been expanded with a new floor and boss, plus alternate environments for the already existing floors. The Burning Basement, for example, sets most enemies alight and will throw off the most hardened of vet-
erans, who may think they have the early levels completely figured out. Afterbirth also boasts a whole host of spooky new enemies and bosses, most being intuitive redesigns of previous favourites, or developments of existing enemies into a more sinister challenge. Most importantly, the new additions like Little Horn, which constantly evades the player and Rag Man, who barrages you with homing shots, feel like they have been designed to put players in fresh, precarious situations to keep you on your toes. Edmund McMillen’s distinct, grotesque art style continues to cut no corners and keep the game as atmospheric as it always has been. Perhaps the bulkiest addition to Afterbirth would be the sheer amount of items and trinkets that have been crammed in. A select few include the Isaac equivalent of a Poke ball, which turns the delinquents you find in the depths into your bodyguards, the ‘Mine Crafter’, a moveable tongue-in cheek explosive barrel, and my personal favourite, a tractor beam that maps to your tears. Along with the new items you also get a few handy transformations to make the lesser items a touch more useful in the long run. One lets Isaac embrace his inner Lovecraft, becoming a substitute of Cthulhu, whilst another turns him into an anthropomorphic pile of poop. That pretty much sums up this game, to be honest. The Afterbirth package also includes a ‘Daily Challenge’ system complete with leader boards, 10 new challenge runs, 1 new playable character and 4 player local co-op, with the soundtrack getting an appreciated expansion too. The 8 pound price tag may polarize Isaac newcomers, but if you’ve ran the gauntlet and you’re looking for your next fix, you couldn’t grumble at what Afterbirth has to offer. Image; Cupcake on Flickr
Memory Card: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Tom Shrimplin revisits Bethesda’s masterpiece one more time “I used to be an adventurer like you, until I took an arrow to the knee”- The now infamous quote repeatedly stated by many a greave-less town guard that emerged to inspire an immeasurable number of memes back in 2011. Elder Scrolls: Skyrim however should not be simply remembered for this one single stock line. Instead it should be seen as a remarkable game that sets a very high standard in crafting an expansive, highly detailed and vibrant open world flourished with dungeons, forts and villages. Oh and there are dragons too. The story begins with you as a prisoner being escorted to your execution in Helgen, where you promptly get to customise your character with sliders for all of your appearance-editing needs. Shortly afterwards, and thankfully before you are beheaded, the unexpected return of the black dragon Alduin brings proceedings to chaotic halt; allowing you to escape. Guided by a companion, you traverse through a small cavern while learning the ins and outs of both the game mechanics and life in Skyrim. Afterwards you are pointed to the village of Riverwood where you can build up basics in some other skills- but otherwise you are left to your own devices allowing you to explore the world. Of course though you will tend to start the game proper by following through the main storyline where you learn that you are the Dragonborn tasked with preventing the prophecy of Alduin from destroying the world (basically insert any old fantasy/role-playing game plot here). However there are, of course, many other questlines to follow through such as: becoming an assassin for the Dark Brotherhood, collecting Daedric
Image: Sasha Sanguine on Flickr
artefacts or offering your services to help end a brutal civil war. Ultimately, Skyrim allows you the freedom to do what you choose, without any areas being off limits. Skyrim’s mechanics ensure you never face an impossible adversary, so whilst combat can be challenging, it’s never impossible to overcome. Furthermore, the world and NPCs react accordingly to player’s actions, adding to an already immersive world; so be careful when you pickpocket from old Hilde because she might send hired thugs after you. Additionally A.I. actually interact with the environment, so you can talk to a blacksmith as they are sharpening a blade for example. This makes Skyrim feel more like a real, living, breathing world than most other open world games. Another strength of Skyrim, is the flexible skill system where if you level up, gives you a skill point to put into any of the eighteen skill trees. There is beauty in the simplicity, meaning you’re not pigeonholed into being just a mage, or just an archer. My only real quibble is that Skyrim is an awfully buggy and glitchy game- which can be funny when a dead NPC glitches in a chair but not so great when you end up falling through the ground into white nothingness. As if Skyrim wasn’t already brimming to the seams with content, there are three add-ons to the original game. Dawnguard fleshes out the abilities of being a vampire or werewolf with a new questline (again you must save the world, stalwart hero of the land). Hearthfire lets you build a homestead in three locations. Dragonborn is the meatiest expansion to the game and reintroduces the island of Solstheim, last seen in Morrowind, giving you a new place to explore as well as a new threat is, of course, a Dragonborn. On another note, PC users also get to experience the wonderful world of mods in Skyrim- my personal favourite being exploding chickens. In short, I would possibly say Skyrim is one of my favourite games, crafting a beautiful world that feels so alive and packed with content with an excellent amount of choice. In fact I’m tempted to put the disc in right now, to help the town guards defeat that dragon from terrorising Dawnstar. And no doubt one of them will muse about taking an arrow to the knee.
Victoria Armstrong dives into Telltale’s latest effort to make a compelling story out of anything - EXW KDYH WKH\ ¿ QDOO\ JRQH WRR IDU"
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elltale’s Minecraft Story Mode is a narrative-driven game based, unsurprisingly, on the creators’ favourite blocky game, Minecraft. Unfortunately, there aren’t too many similarities between the two. Whilst the original embodies an infinite world of possibilities, Minecraft Story Mode is really better described as an interactive film rather than a game involving any tangible level of skill or concentration. The game begins and you choose whether to play as a male or female version of the character Jesse and then proceed to follow the admittedly creative and amusing story that involves building competitions, monsters, friends and trips to The Nether. Whilst clearly intended as a PG, family-suitable game, some of the jokes are genuinely amusing and rather witty. You can follow the narrative, occasionally being given the option to choose Jesse’s next action or comment during what feels like a very long introduction.
“Even supposedly major battles only needed the occasional tap of the A button to win, and my concerted effort to die took about six minutes”
After a couple of hours, it had dawned on me that this was in fact not an introductory sequence but just the actual game: basically the infrequent choice of whether to respond to a conversation with ‘cool’, ‘cool beans’, ‘coolio’ or simply the mysterious ‘…’. Even supposedly major battles only needed the occasional tap of the A button to win and my concerted effort to die during one point of strong boredom took about six minutes, despite that I was surrounded by fire with a huge Wither attacking from above. I immensely regret not having just tried the first episode for £5 instead of having had the naïve faith in Telltale to just buy the £25 version including all five episodes. I expected a version of Minecraft with a story and objectives but still some level of freedom and received a But, credit where credit is due means a special mention must be made of the game’s most likeable character, and Jesse’s best friend, Reuben the Pig. He is remarkably emotive, managing to give looks of derision and of happiness (especially common when he’s wearing a very fabulous Nether Dragon costume). Impressive given that he’s ultimately a square pig.
thecourieronline.co.uk @Courier_Gaming
What I’m Playing: SUPERHOT Jared Moore dives into an indie FPS with a twist - but is it SUPERHOT, or SUPERNOT?
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ormally, when writing an article or review of a game, I spend my time trying to convince you that the content before you is so good that you should spend your hard earned money on it. Well today, that isn’t the case, because SUPERHOT is currently one hundred percent free. SUPERHOT was developed in August 2013 as part of a Seven Day First Person Shooter Game Jam. So, why am I trying to convince you to play this over the thousands of other games out there? Well, SUPERHOT isn’t your ordinary first person shooter. I mean sure, you still play from a first person perspective and there’s still all the shooting and dying that happens in ordinary first person shooters, but SUPERHOT comes with a twist: time moves only when you do. So, most people will have at least heard of The Matrix film trilogy. If you haven’t, then it’s basically two hours of Keanu Reaves beating up infinite copies of Elrond from Lord of the Rings in spectacular slow motion. What less people may know, however, is that The Matrix franchise released a set of games and although they had their positive attributes, none of them really mastered the slow motion aspect of gaming, let alone the slow motion aspect of first person shooting. Although SUPERHOT is not linked in any way to The Matrix franchise, it is probably the first game in which slow motion bullet dodging has been perfected. Currently, SUPERHOT is in a prototype state, with a full paid game awaiting release. However, the prototype itself already includes an endless mode to the game, in which the aim is to cut through as many enemies as possible, one epic slow motion bullet dodging kill at a time. Enemies are varied as well, from sword-wielding samurai with the ability to deflect bullets at a glance of their blades to the lead-spraying machine gunners. Each different run will be sure to test your true dodging abilities. Aesthetically, SUPERHOT is simple yet beautiful. Utilising a three colour palette of black, white and red, the game is playful in style, without detracting from the serious nature of FPS. Other stylistic features also help bring the game to life. Enemy bullets leave a trail of red behind them, whilst upon impact, your bullets cause the opposition to shatter into fragments. The prototype version of the game also has an in built mod system. Mods are unlocked the further you get within the game and can help or hinder your next run. For example, some Mods limit your ammo or ability to pick up weapons, whilst others allow you to freely look around without time progressing. What ultimately makes SUPERHOT a must have for me is its attention to detail: every single movement or action causes time to move forward, from pulling the trigger of the gun to its recoil, which may not seem too costly until you begin to realise that every mistake you make also moves time forward. So if you’re in the mood for an FPS with a difference, or if popping enemies in slow motion is up your street, then pick up a copy of SUPERHOT: it’s SUPERGOOD.
Image; Teknologinin Beyni on Flickr
38.science&technology
Monday 16 November 2015
The Courier
Science Editors: Iqra Choudhry, Anna Jastrzembska, & Louise Bingham
How to prevent global warming
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e’ve all left lights on when we’ve gone out, and we have all showered longer than we needed too. God forbid, we may have even taken a bath while at university. Will it really make a difference if we put the correct plastic in the recycling, or keep our heating off for a bit longer this winter? It’s easy to look at the difference to the environment that you can make by making a few changes. Amazingly, a study has shown that the average person in the UK uses approximately 3400 litres a day. Water suppliers quote that the average use is around 140 litres and this is true: we use 14 litres in daily cooking and drinking, 48 litres for showers and baths and the rest is made up of washing machines and other appliances. However, the areas that we think we can make a difference actually account for a very small proportion of the total water usage. The major problem is the hidden water cost. Water is required to grow the products we eat and use, and it is easy to forget this. A slice of bread requires 45 litres, a pot of coffee 840 litres and a hamburger 2800 litres. The global water requirement is over 4 trillion litres per year and because of this the world is running out of water. This is of particular importance to the UK because 40% of our food is imported. This is an issue that needs to be addressed, so what can we do to reduce this? It is important to conserve water around the house by showering instead of bathing, and not running taps when we brush our teeth. However we can also conserve water by reducing our consumption of products that require enormous amounts of water to produce, such as meat. Eating less meat is good for the environment in other ways as well. Production of one burger patty is the equivalent to driving a car for 20 miles and may have required 55 square feet of rainforest to be
cleared for cattle. We can further reduce our environmental impact by watching our food waste. 40% of food is thrown away every year and globally this is the equivalent to feeding 1 billion extra people. To reduce food waste we can plan better, donate to food kitchens, eat leftovers, or create a compost pile, which is a great way of avoiding food going to landfill.
off we can save around £90 per year. One person may not feel as though they are making a difference by being environmentally con-
scientious. However, with the concentrated efforts of a population we can improve our impact on the environment quite dramatically.
Illustration by Gustav Lundstrom
“The major problem is the hidden water cost... A slice of bread requires 45 litres, a pot of coffee 840 litres and a hamburger 2800 litres” Landfill sites are extremely damaging to the environment and they are filling quickly. We can reduce our contribution to landfill through recycling. If 7000 workers in an office recycled their paper waste alone, it would be the equivalent to taking 400 cars off the roads. Multiply that by the working population of the UK, and a big difference can be made. However recycling must not stop there. Buying second hand products will reduce UK greenhouse gas by 4 million tonnes per year. The difference we can make is not just environmental. There is a monetary incentive as well. Boiling more water than we need in a kettle costs £68 million/year and each degree Celsius difference on a thermostat saves around 10% of total energy used. By changing light bulbs to energy efficient bulbs (which have improved and no longer take an hour to turn on!) and turning appliances and lights
Are you fracking kidding me? With MPs voting for fracking freedom, Ciara Ritson-Courtney explores the impacts of this controversial energy source
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ydraulic fracturing or ‘fracking’ has been causing a stir in the news in recent years and it’s making its next appearance. Fracking is used to recover gas and oil from shale rock. Unlike other rocks which are permeable and allow free movement of gas and oil shale rock has to be cracked to release its stores. This means large numbers of wells need to be drilled regularly to extract the fuels. Last month a committee of eighteen MPs narrowly voted to pass a motion which would give fracking companies greater freedom with where they can carry out hydraulic fracturing. This reduction in protection would allow fracking to take place in special and sensitive areas in England including National Parks, Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The vote must pass a larger group of MPs before these reduced regulations can be enforced, but it has caused great concern for our countryside and groundwater reserves. This followed 52 MPs voting for a moratorium, a temporary ban, on fracking in January this year when 308 voted against the ban. The debate on this went on for so long, the MP’s were not able to vote on changes to the trespass laws, meaning that fracking companies can drill under the majority of buildings and homes with no permiss i on from the owners. This, rightly, caused great controversy.
There is a large case against fracking. The extraction of shale gas is difficult and has been proved to leak large amounts of methane at various points in the process. Methane is a strong greenhouse gas and is known to undergo free radical substitution in the atmosphere, which ultimately leads to the breakdown of the ozone layer, hence increasing the amount of UV radiation that penetrates Earth.
“Fracking companies can drill under the majority of buildings and homes with no permission from the owners”
Other problems with fracking include the environmental impact to surrounding areas, with natural habitats and water supplies potentially being infiltrated by gas, which was showcased by a viral video of a man in America setting his tap water on fire. Fracking could have medical impacts on areas affected due to the ingestion of said water, and the fires that are likely to occur as a result, which can’t be put out with water, because, of course it’s flammable.
These problems with fracking, termed ‘huge uncertainties’ have been outlined by the Environmental Audit Committee and are still ignored by MP’s. So why are so many MP’s for fracking? In the January vote one of the conditions of being allowed to frack was that there would be an outright ban in ‘national parks, sites of special interest and areas of national beauty’. This condition was scrapped in July, and has been brought back again. So it seems the view on fracking in parliament is ever changing.
The Energy secretary suggests that shale gas will help the UK have it’s own ‘home grown energy supplies’ leading to a reliable energy future. Yet even if this is a decent basis for allowing fracking, we have to ask ourselves if this is true. Why would the current government be cutting tax reliefs for community energy schemes to invest in renewable energies such as solar and wind, which would have minimal impact in comparison to fracking and could provide theoretically continuous energy?
The Courier
Monday 16 November 2015
technology&science.39 thecourieronline.co.uk/science c2.science@ncl.ac.uk   |  @courier_science
Death  before  decaff
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f you’re reading this and drinking a cup of joe, java, or as its colloquially known, coffee, you’re using the world’s most popular drug – caffeine. Yet what you may not know is that a level of caffeine dependency can be formed by drinking as little as 100 milligrams of the stuff a day, which is a regular cup of coffee to me or you. With so many coffee drinkers using it for its stimulant properties or merely its deliciousness every day, we could be looking at a great many coffee addicts. So are they onto something or merely on something? The first benefit for a coffee drinker is the drink’s magic ability to eliminate the need for sleep and make you feel fresh all day. Too good to be true? Certainly. Caffeine, contained in coffee, works by playing on the adenosine receptors in the brain. Normally, the hormone adenosine is released throughout the day and when it binds to its receptors produces feelings of tiredness, making you sleepy over time. Caffeine is molecularly similar and displaces adenosine from the receptors, stopping you from feeling tired. So yes, coffee can keep you going on a long shift or when you have an assignment you’ve left on your desk for months in for tomorrow morning.
“Caffeine also increases the production of adrenaline, the fight or flight hormone� However, using caffeine will eventually make the brain produce more receptors, meaning you may end up feeling more tired without drinking more coffee than you ever would have in the first place. This accounts for coffee addiction, and withdrawals can cause fatigue, lack of concentration, and negative emotions. Furthermore, drinking coffee
late in the day may disrupt your sleep and cause insomnia, so watch out kiddies.
the qualities of a panic attack, you may feel more stressed and uncomfortable. Additionally, caffeine plays on the hormone dopamine, producing a euphoric feeling. This is the same action as stimulant drugs like cocaine, just much weaker, accounting for some of coffee’s additivity.
“The first benefit for a coffee drinker is the drink’s magic ability to eliminate the need for sleep and make you feel fresh all day. Too good to be true? Certainly�
That’s not all coffee does though. Its active ingredient caffeine also increases the production of adrenaline, the fight or flight hormone. This gets the heart and blood pumping, while also opening up the airways. This may give an enjoyable rush, and may even work as a sports supplement, but it’s worth considering the additional strain on the heart, which may be dangerous to people with high blood pressure or a heart condition. Furthermore, buzzing on adrenaline has some of
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Coffee does have various health benefits however. It has shown to reduce the risk of several diseases, including but not limited to: Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Type 2 Diabetes, gallstones, asthma attacks, strokes, and cirrhosis of the liver. It also prevents some cancers – one study found that men who drank 6 cups of coffee a day were 60% less likely to develop the most deadly form of prostate cancer. A similar effect was found in reducing women’s ovarian cancer. So coffee can definitely do you some good - but don’t forget that coffee may also stain the teeth, hamper absorption of some minerals like magnesium, and as it’s a mild diuretic, it may cause dehydration. The acids can also aggravate heartburn and overly roasting the beans can produce some carcinogens. Finally, coffee is the most pesticide-applied crop. Although its incredibly hard to lethally overdose you’d need to drink hundreds of cups. So some good and some bad; but I’m still going to drink it.
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he Indonesia forest fires have been the contributing factor to the large-scale air pollution that has been going on in Southeast Asia for the past three months. Neighbouring countries such as Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore were amongst those most severely affected by the haze, resulting in both health and economic impacts to varying degrees. Other countries in the ASEAN region such as Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Philippines have also been affected to a lesser degree. The haze is a large-scale air pollution problem that has been happening regularly to varying intensities during the dry season in the region, with the earliest transboundary haze in the Southeast Asia recorded in 1972. These forest fires are primarily caused by firms and farmers engaging in illegal slash-and-burn practices as a relatively inexpensive means to clear their lands of unwanted vegetation mainly in the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan. First reports of the haze began in late June, and have persisted till mid-October when the Indonesian president reached out to Singapore, Russia, Malaysia and Japan to as for help in putting out fires. Indonesia has previously repeatedly refused offers of help from overseas countries to fight the fires, citing ‘sufficient resources’ as their reason, so this action hightlighted the seriousness of the issue. The smoke has pushed pollution up to hazardous levels across parts of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and southern Thailand, disrupting flights and forcing schools to close on bad days. There have been more than 140,000 reported cases of respiratory illnesses in the haze-affected areas in Indonesia, in addition to those in the other affected countries. Several people have also died due to the haze filling their lungs up with smoke, many of which were students and newborn babies.
Tourism has also been severely affected in all the countries due to the bad air and low visibility, and several events were a cause for concern in the week leading up to it. These include the 2015 Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix, 2015 Singapore Grand Prix and 2015 FINA Swimming World Cup.
“Forest fires are primarily caused by firms and farmers engaging in illegal slashand-burn practices as a relatively inexpensive means to clear their lands�
Efforts have since been put in to quell the fires by Indonesia and Malaysia when they began daily cloud seeding on 15th September, and a few other countries using water bombers and cloud seeding aircrafts have also helped in putting out the fires and clearing the air. As of 2nd November, the air pollution levels in Indonesia has fallen to its lowest in three months based on the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) readings, but is still under strict observations as fires may burn again when a dry spell returns. In late October, a 3,726-meter Mount Rijani volcano on the Indonesian island of Lombok began erupting. The ash from the eruption blanketed towns and farmlands across three Indonesian islands, and shutting down air traffic to a number of airports. The Mount Rijani eruption, an addition to the five simultaneous volcano eruptions that happened in mid-July this year, further aggravates the current air pollution problem that the country is already facing.
Word  of  the  Week:  FORMICATION Formication is a type of tactile hallucination; the sensation that insects are crawling on (or in) a person’s skin, a feeling similar to pins and needles. The term stems from the Latin for ant: ‘formica’. It can be experienced in diabetes or Parkinson’s patients, or in cases of substance abuse, which was first reported in 1889. When one person in a household experiences formication, it can spread like an infestation to other family members who may feel like they have been ‘infected’ - this phenomenon is known folie Ă deux, or ‘madness of two’. Unfortunately as a consequence of this sensation, patients often scratch their skin obsessively, which can cause bleeding and infections. Currently, it can only be treated in some cases by antihistamines, or infrared laser therapy in more severe cases. Sarah Main
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very day when I drag myself home from uni, people jog by. My feelings for them range from being impressed to envy and hatred. Because there is no denying that exercise makes you happy. Yes, it all depends on your temperament, and yes, our brains work in different ways. Therefore, what might provoke a rush of endorphins for one person might not do much for another. However, people in general seem to draw happiness from physical exercise. The thing is that exercise doesn’t just make you happy for a short while like chocolate. No, exercise provides long-term positive effects, which paves the way for longer lasting happiness. Just like chocolate, exercise is addictive but you can’t really overdose on it (unless you are a professional athlete) and the more and more regularly exercise, the better the effect on your body. People who describe themselves as happy are more resistant to diseases. According to research, happy people have even 50% more of antibodies. Now, that creates is an undeniable link between happiness and exercise. They both strengthen our immune systems, and more accurately, are associated with formation of new antibodies. The difference is that exercise can make your body produce up to 300% more antibodies, as well as T-cells (killer cells that destroy antigens). And if you are healthy you are more likely to be happy. Additionally, regular exercise boosts your energy levels and having lots of energy is associated with happiness. There is lots of psychology behind the happiness of exercise, too. This first important rule is to engage in exercises that meet your abilities - no need to bring yourself down because you pretended to be able to play rugby. Meeting your workout goals brings you a sense of accomplishment and seeing how your body becomes stronger makes you feel good and in control. Brains like routine, so regular workouts boost your spirit. It works also the other way round- getting out and about on a nice day for a jog or a bike also makes you feel better and helps to end the monotony of days spent in lecture theatres and computer clusters. Apart from that, exercise improves your self-confidence, slows down cognitive decline, gets you more creative, more productive, and more social. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has found out that exercise helps insomniacs sleep and, in a long run, lowers their anxiety. That is probably because exercise lowers levels of cortisol, a stress hormone. Exercise has similar effects on your brain like antidepressants. It also helps create new brain cells in a part responsible for memory and learning. Exercise releases endorphins and dopamine two “happy hormones�. Have you heard of “runner’s high?� It’s a sensation created by endorphins, which reduce pain and produce euphoria- just the way opiates work. But not all kinds of exercise end in an endorphin high- it’s reserved for sprinting, heavy weights and other kinds of anaerobic exertion. (It’s when your body operates so hard that it lacks oxygen that your muscles and cells yearn.) The drawback is that endorphine high is followed by a recovery period, which neutralises benefits. It’s also addictive. Now, I have good news for exercise haters. Meditation has been found to have similar effects - including the happiness part. That is probably because meditation and exercise have a lot in common, for example focus, tuning out of external stimuli and breath control. Also, unless you are aiming for a runner’s high, the spirit-boosting exercise only requires 30 minutes of moderate-intense physical activity, like a ast walk to town. And, by all means, combine exercise with chocolate.
The Courier
puzzles.43
Monday 16 November 2015
Puzzles ?? ?
Puzzles Editor: Jack Parker Deputy Puzzles Editor: Mark Sleightholm
Can you guess where the hell we’ve taken this photo, and why?
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“I’m Roy Walker and I heartily endorse this event and/or product”
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Across
1 Tennis tournament, played on grass (9) 5 Popular hot drink, associated with China, India and England (3) 7 Swedish tennis player of the 70s (4) 9 A belief in nothing (8) 11 Active, in use (2) 12 Upright, or excited (5) 13 Dangerous kitchen utensil (5) 15 Informal greeting (2) 16 Mexican stand-off (9) 20 Mexican sandwich (7) 21 Mined, mineral-filled rock (3) 22 South-coast port city, Premier League football club (11)
Steam
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1 Home to spiders or information (3) 2 Of the sea (6) 3 Not odd (4) 4 Policy of protecting established culture by excluding immigrants (8) 6 Nuclear, Blondie (6) 8 Ceasing to invest (10) 10 Letter-forming liquid (3) 11 Alternative (2) 14 Orange vegetable, aids night vision (6) 15 Drug, Velvet Underground song (6) 17 Catch or catch out (6) 18 Severely overweight (5) 19 Without friends (5)
Connect- word Find the word that connects these three words.
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Completing the entirety of this puzzles page will entitle you to the respect of (some of) your peers. Feel free to bring the proof of your achievement into The Courier office, where you will be congratulated
44.sportfeatures
Monday 16 November 2015
The Courier
Top talent at the Sports Women of the Year awards Last weekend saw the announcement of the winners of the Sky Sports and the Sunday Times Sports Women of the Year awards. Jessica Ennis-Hill took the ultimate prize for the second time in four years. The Courier takes a look at all the award winners and their achievements during their illustrious careers Queen of the Ennis-Hill Jessica Ennis-Hill added another Sportswoman of the Year title to her belt on Friday, as she beat out Lizzie Armitstead and Lizzy Yarnold to gain the prize backed by the Sunday Times and Sky Sports. The award follows Ennis-Hill’s first competitive outing since giving birth to her first child nearly a year ago. Prior to the World Championships in Beijing, Ennis-Hill attended the Anniversary Games in London, where she competed in a total of 3 events across the competition. After performing well and feeling her body was in good condition, EnnisHill then declared herself fit to compete in Beijing. The 2012 Olympic champion
proved she has not lost her will to win as she eased to victory during the summer to land the gold medal once again. Ennis-Hill seemed surprised in herself at her achievement during interviews following the event. Having enjoyed a year away from the limelight and competition to raise her child, Ennis-Hill wasted no time in showing that she’s still a threat when it comes to the serious competitions. At the age of 29, the prospect of winning a second World Championship Title may have seen out of reach. However the 2012 Olympic Champion proved all the doubters wrong once again merely 13 months after the birth of her son.
Her sights are now set on the Olympic Games of 2016 which are set to take place in Rio, where she aims to defend her records and medal in the Heptathlon. Her competition will be tough with the likes of fellow Brit Katarina Johnson-Thompson following in her footsteps. Although the Jessica EnnisHill pedigree and experience will be tough to overcome, as she seems to have found a new lease of life, and is more on top of her game than ever. Lynsey Brownlee
Jessica Ennis-Hill takes gold in the 2012 Olympics in London Image: Kent Capture, Flickr
Busy Lizzie takes silver
Lizzie Armitstead nudges first over the line, taking the jersey Image: YouTube
Lizzie Armitstead is dominating the women’s cycling scene. Having just won the UCI Women’s World Cup, Nationals and Worlds this year, it is no wonder she was leading the pack for Sportswoman of the Year. A r m it s t e a d had first shown her mettle in track from an early age, winning the National Circuit Race Champion as early as 2006. It was in 2009 when Armitstead took to road, joining with Lotto-Belisol, and swiftly winning the
England leave the Euro with gold
The England Women’s Hockey Team have been awarded the Team of the Year at the Sportswoman of the Year awards. This caps off a remarkable year which has just seen them come from 2-0 down to best the World and Olympic champions, the Netherlands, to win the EuroHockey Championship. This was the first time the team has won the European Championships since 1991. They beat off competition from England and Chelsea ladies football teams to secure the award. The Vitality Team of the Year award is awarded to celebrate outstanding contribution to
England Women’s Hockey Team celebrate their recent win. Image: Fourthandfifteen, Flickr
sport made by performers at the highest level in their field as well as administrators and community volunteers. The team, captained by Kate Richardson-Walsh, will be looking to continue this vein of form for Great Britain in 2016 when there will be the Champions Trophy held in London. This will be a tournament involving Great Britain, the USA, the Netherlands and three more teams who are still in the qualifying stages. Robin Richards
Hey Yar-
British National Road Race Championships under 23s. To top it off, she even placed 2nd in the senior category. Her career progressed further when she took a number of stage wins in the tour de L’Ardeche, and L’Aude. To top it off she took the British Road Race National Championships, which she then took again, and again, in 2011 and 2013. For a sportswoman that doesn’t seem to know anything but gold, it was surprising to see Armitstead crossing the line just half-a-wheel behind Jessica Ennis-Hill in the Sportswoman of the Year. That said, we will no doubt continue to see great things from Armitstead. Speaking to the Guardian, Armitstead held that her recent Worlds win has put her on the right path for Rio, focusing more on her hill-climbing ability. However, looking beyond Rio, it seems Armitstead’s life behind bars may be a shorter sentence than we would hope for. Rumour has it, Armitstead is keen to start a family and progress her career out of the saddle. Lewis Bedford
Blimey O’ Whiley Despite being only 23 years old, Jordanne Whiley already has the sort of C.V to make a mere mortal green with envy. Whiley, who suffers from Osteogenesis Imperfecta, sometimes known as brittle bone disease, was recently crowned Disability Sportswoman of the Year, putting the cherry on top of an already impressive 2015 cake. The young Tennis star’s achievements were recognised by the royal household earlier in the year, where she received an MBE in the Queen’s 2015 Birthday Honours list. In September, Whiley won the US Open women’s tennis wheelchair title, her first singles title in the sport. The Birmingham born champion rose to fame in 2014, winning a clean sweep of doubles grand slams in Australia, France, the US and of course Wimbledon. In 2015 she managed to retain two of those titles with the help of her Japanese partner Yui Kamiji. Whiley also had the privilege of representig Great Britain at the 2012 Paralympic Games, aged just 20. Calum Wilson
Lizzy Yarnold, MBE, and runner-up at last year’s awards, once again proved her worth, placing third at this year’s Sportswoman of the Year awards. It’s an accolade the current Grand Slam holder more than deserves, following her victories at both the World and European Championships this year. Originally a keen heptathlete, Yarnold was only introduced to the sport in 2008, having been handpicked by the UK’s sports scouting body ‘Girls for Gold’, specifically for the skeleton. Since taking up the sport Yarnold and her sled Mervyn, have gone on to completely dominate the world of women’s skeleton for the past two seasons. Following her first taste of victory at the World Junior Championships back in 2012, Yarnold has gone from strength to strength, and is the current Grand Slam holder in the skeleton, following her consecutive victories at the World, European, and Olympic championships, making her only the second ever sledder, and the first Briton, to achieve such a feat. Her 2013/2014 season culminated in her iconic Olympic victory in Sochi, where she was the only Briton to secure a gold medal, a title that she won by the biggest margin in the history of the Olympic women’s skeleton - a whopping 0.97 seconds. Commenting at last years ceremony, Yarnold said: ‘I might be the best in the world now, but it’s a challenge to maintain that’. We are sure that senti-
Lizzy Yarnold shocked us all at the Winter Olympics in Sochi Image: YouTube
ment still holds, and look forward to seeing Yarnold try and win back her Grand Slam title in the 2016/17 season, following her upcoming year’s break from the sport. Lucy Brogden
Record Smasher-Smith
Dina Asher-Smith has just capped off a record-breaking season by winning Young Sports Woman of the Year award. Earlier in the year she ran the 100m in 10.99s, which was the faster time in history by a teenager, and a British record. Then in the following August, she broke the British record for the 200m, smashing Kathy Smallwood-Cook’s time form the 1984 Olympics by 0.03s. But these ups aren’t without downs. After a personal best in the 200m semifinal at the 2014 European Championships, Asher-Smith tore her hamstring in the final and was unable to finish the
race. At such a young age, a setback like that can seriously affect future performances, but she was headstrong enough to come second in the European Indoors 60m final just seven months later. The aim for Asher-Smith is the final of the 100m in Rio, but before then there are several Diamond League and Indoor meetings for her to negotiate. For now, we can praise one of the brightest talents in British athletics. James Sproston
The Courier
sportfeatures.45
Monday 16 November 2015
Much ado about Burgess: Ten things we learned from the slammin’ Sam debacle When Sam Burgess left the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the National Rugby League in Australia to join English Rugby Union side Bath, he caused quite a stir. But ‘Slammin’ Sam’s stay was short lived and ultimately disappoint- ing. Gabriel Pennington reviews 10 things we learned about Sam Burgess during his brief stint in Rugby Union 1. Sam Burgess didn’t cost England the World Cup He didn’t go out on the field and embarrass himself, nor did he make any costly mistakes in crucial moments. Many seem to forget Wales trailed England by 7 with 10 minutes to go when Burgess was substituted for George Ford, after which the decimated Wales side illustrated an unlikely turnaround. Newcastle University’s Rugby Union and Rugby League Presidents were asked what they made of the Burgess debacle. Alex Leahy, Newcastle’s Rugby League President, believes the selectors were justified in their decision, “If the coach has chosen him then he’s good enough. It’s not like he had a mare for England either, like at Bath, he always did a job. I think the issue is people expected him to excel from the get-go, which was never going to happen.”
point of view, it was a shocking decision to include him in the squad. Leaving out the likes of Luther Burrell, a tried and tested test match player, for Burgess is a howling error.”
5. Stuart Lancaster’s exit was not Burgess’ fault Arguments that Stuart Lancaster’s reputation has been permanently damaged by the Burgess selection couldn’t be further from the truth. The coach’s resignation did not hinge on his decision to call up the Bath number 6. With Burgess on the sidelines, the English couldn’t overcome a weakened Welsh outfit in spite of the fact they held a lead, and were hung out to dry by Bernard Foley, the Aussie fly-half. The downfall of the English coaching regime came down to the fact the coach couldn’t find a combination of players that produced success, even after four years of preparation.
6DP %XUJHVV )DFW¿OH Height: 6“5 Weight: 116 kg Rugby League: Rugby Union:
3. It could mark the end for cross-coders in rugby
Tries 51 4
Points 204 20
time I think he may have been great at both codes but now we’ll never know.”
9. It’s very Good news for 7. Some of Burgess’ critics Rugby League fans… Rugby League has regained one of its are downright spiteful. “Goodbye, good riddance” was the message sent to Sam Burgess in Paul Ackford’s article in The Times. This position, adopted by some in the Union community, speaks to the arrogance of numerous former players. The idea the sport is better off without Burgess, a cross-code superstar who attracts an international following, is comical. Leahy argues, “I’d say people were just a bit nitpicky over everything he did, everyone makes errors in a game it’s just all of his were often highlighted. I think ex-players were particularly guilty of this.”
The guy is a legend in English Rugby League, achieving his sort of success in the NRL, Australia’s elite Rugby League competition, is unheard of from English players in the modern era. After a certain amount of game time, it’s difficult to believe a player with his combination of defensive prowess and physical attributes wouldn’t have become a dominant force within Union.
8. Union and League need relationship counselling. The
Having witnessed the apparent failure of Sam Burgess’ transition into Union, the Rugby Union governing body, the RFU, may no longer look to League to attract some of the brightest talent. However, refusing to consider Rugby League stars would be detrimental for both club and international level Union. Worldwide superstars like All Black Sonny-Bill William and Australian Israel Folau are some of Rugby’s most exciting and gifted performers, both of whom began their careers in League and rose to the top before making the switch. England would be foolish to risk missing out on such opportunities. Jason Robinson is a prime example of a star cross-coder. Imagine the impact on the national Union team had he not played a part.
fracture between League and Union supporters is still pre-
biggest attractions. The sport in Australia really doesn’t need any help; over there it’s the big brother. Union plays second fiddle to the NRL and AussieRules Football League. But the sport has struggled in recent years to gain much traction from the British media. The Grand Final and Challenge Cup weekends are often the only occasions the sport registers on Britain’s radar. However, Burgess’ departure from Union along with Sam Tomkins’ return to the northern hemisphere may provide the star attractions League needs to lift its profile in the UK.
Life of Sam 14 December 1988: Born in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, England 7 July 2006: Makes Rugby League debut for Bradford Bulls 29 September 2009: Signs for South Sydney Rabbitohs in NRL 5 October 2014: Earns man of the match as Sydney win NRL grand final 28 November 2014: Makes Union debut for Bath 18 September 2015: Comes off the bench for England in the World Cup against Fiji
10. …It’s not such good news for Union fans.
4)Luther Burrell was perhaps a better choice The argument that Luther Burrell and former St Helens RL star Kyle Eastmond should both have been selected for England’s World Cup squad, in front of Burgess, is everywhere. Rugby Union President George Adams doesn’t believe Burgess should’ve been involved. “From a management
Total Appearances 199 27
Adams states, “at the next RWC I believe he would have been a star, but this year’s competition was too soon for him.” Alex Leahy agrees he had the potential to be a Union star, “given a bit more
2. We were always bound to #BlameBurgess 6. We’ll never know his The ex-league superstar was destined to full Union potential. be the scapegoat for criticism if England were to underachieve at the World Cup. Losing to the Aussies again? #BlameBurgess. England are out after the 3rd round of matches? #BlameBurgess. Leahy was quick to defend Burgess in the light of such social media slander, “I think with all the hype around him jumping codes the media were always going to be harsh on him. When there’s a story to be had they’ll write it, and if that means they have to be negative about somebody they will be.”
League position: Second Row; Lock; Prop Union position: Centre; Back row
sent. Burgess’ trial by Union merely exposed it to a wider audience. The South Sydney star had nothing left to prove to League fans upon his departure and most of those supporters will defend him to the death. His return down-under has simply amplified the voices of the faithful League and Union advocates, particularly of those that refuse to see any redeeming features belonging to the other code.
Collage by Calum Wilson images: YouTube
The RFU is losing a potential star of the future. League may indeed be reacquiring one of its standout names, but Burgess’ lack of success in Union only presents ammunition to those questioning whether English League stars have what it takes to become code-breakers. The Aviva Premiership, England’s domestic Rugby Union league, has lost one of its star attractions and truthfully, there aren’t many left. Whatever your opinion of Sam Burgess, there’s no questioning his raw talent and star attraction.
46.sportbucs&intramural
Monday 16 November 2015
The Courier
Hurrikanes b lown a way of the Week Gus’ Club
Intramural Football 7’s Hurrikanes
1
Ivory Toast
5
By James Sproston at Longbenton
Written By Alex Hendley This week’s club of the week, chosen by AU Officer Angus Taylor, is Newcastle University’s Ultimate club, whose hard work earned them a second successive 15-0 victory in the BUCS league, pushing them top of the Northern 2B. Speaking to William Mulvaney, The Courier got insight into the North East’s in form flying disc throwers. “We were very confident coming into our game against Sunderland this Wednesday and capitalised on their lack of experience to take the game to the 15 point cap within 35 minutes. Our captain, Eric Mussell Webber scored the first point of the game from a beautiful high release forehand thrown by Pierre McCarthy. “Our momentum continued to build as we successfully turned the disc from Sunderland’s possession allowing Eric to score again from a simple continuation. After several points, vice captain Charlie Huins decided to put on a zone defence, headed by the “chase” George Perry. “As a result, Sunderland were forced to make poor throws and to inevitably lose possession, allowing Newcastle to continue to stack up points against them until we hit the 15 point cap for the win.” Previously called Ultimate Frisbee, Ultimate is without doubt one of the university’s lesser played, and known, sports. However, that hasn’t deterred “Too Many Pies”, Newcastle’s team, from aspiring to have a successful season. “There was much anticipation leading up to this season as it’s the first year men’s outdoor ultimate has been played in a BUCS Wednesday league format. Previously there was a regional qualifier tournament to decide which teams went to nationals to earn BUCS points; this is still the case for the women’s division but we hope they will join the BUCS Wednesday fixtures soon as well! “On top of our mens’ success, our women have had a fantastic start to the season, winning their pre-season indoor warm-up tournament at Liverpool. Participation in the club this year has been phenomenal. With nearly 100 members we were able to enter five teams to mixed indoor regionals and we will be sending three teams to both men’s and women’s indoor regionals in the coming weeks. “Our men are aiming to top their league for promotion into tier 1 next year and our women are looking to build on their success of last year, where they came fourth at outdoor nationals. As a club, we aim to promote participation in ultimate in the North East and have successfully helped in the organisation of ‘open to all’ North East Ultimate sessions.” If you’re an experienced disc handler or a first time player, ultimate is a sport rapidly growing in popularity. If you’d like to get involved with the sport, from the “Too Many Pies” team to the ‘open to all’ North East scheme then you can contact the club via the NUSU ultimate page.
After four hard fought games, two heavyweights from the Intra Mural 7s league locked horns in a hotly-anticipated encounter. Although they sat three places (and three points) off their opposition, the Kanes went into the match in high spirits having demolished Puyol Pants Down last week. In contrast, the African representatives had lost last Wednesday to rivals Giroud Boiz, so the team needed no motivation coming into this game. However, the odds were stacked against them. With only seven men, and an absent coach due to a stadium ban, the match was going to be tough for them. Due to several injuries and work commitments, (and no investment in the team from owner Bill Kenwright), it doesn’t look like there’ll be many additions to the current squad in the coming transfer window. Whilst the Toast may have some financial issues, there were no such worries for the Hurrikanes. Boasting a squad of nine, the club seem to have their act together. They were even all wearing the same colour. That’s real organisation. And they were hoping this professionalism would be reflected on the pitch. Yet it was the Toast that pressed early on. In the old-fashioned roaming midfield role, Jack McCall was reminiscent of Super Frankie Lampard on and off the ball. And it was McCall who had the first chance, being well tipped over the bar by keeper Nick Downing in the Kanes goal. To change the balance of the match, Hurrikanes made their two substitutions within five minutes of kick-off, but the pressure didn’t relent. McCall opened the scoring minutes later, sending the ball in via an unlucky Emmerson deflection. Although Kanes’ Jonny Stephenson saw his long-range effort just go past the post, Toast continued to dominate. Winger Pat Lane shot just wide, seconds before Kieran Harrison sent the ball into the neighbouring field. Besides Stevenson continuing to
probe down the wing, Hurrikanes’ chances were limited by some very robust defending. A double tackle from Ivory Toast’s Matt Harrison led to a foul by Kanes’ David Geary on McCall, but Harrison wasn’t able to get enough accuracy on his powerful free kick strike. After Lane hit another wide when clean through, Kanes’ Dylan Hyatt ventured forward and displayed quicker feet than Anton Du Beke to dance past a number of Ivorian defenders. Despite
the Kanes at bay, and on the counter attack a well-developed move was broken up by Emmerson. Following a misplaced pass from McCall in the deep-lying regista role, Kanes’ Geary had a chance to pick out Finnie but his pass was misguided. Then a powerful Nick Downing header found Geary on the edge of the box, but was closed down well by Lakin. Two crosses from Lane found nobody in the area, but yet another challenge
by the Ivorian’s defence, with Downing taking his anger out on the rubber turf after being substituted. A wonder-ball from Lakin then set up Kieran Harrison to strike on the volley but a dramatic save from Stannett was enough to deny the Toast’s frontman. As Kanes tried to break downfield, Matt Harrison’s clearance allowed McCall to shoot. Stannett saved well onto the post but Kieran Harrison clinically converted the chance on the rebound. It
The Ivorians made Toast out of their blustered opposition Image: James Sproston the move coming to nothing, the Hurrikanes grew in confidence and attacked again. This time a shot from George Stannett was smartly saved by Dimitri Psarianos and the rebound was missed by Will Finnie. In response, Toast’s Matt Harrison found Kieran Harrison but he was unable to control the ball. Desperate to build on the momentum, swift attacking play from Lane and Kieran Harrison allowed Matt Lakin to double the team’s lead. Having had time to regroup at the half-time break, Hurrikanes looked to take the impetus after the restart. The opening exchanges were scrappy, with possession being turned over a number of times. Key blocks and interceptions from Matt Harrison and McCall kept
from Matt Harrison lead to some great build-up play. Kieran Harrison, Nick Goldring and McCall knocked the ball about quickly but a tackle from Finnie allowed Kanes to counter. Finnie found Geary who was dispossessed by Matt Harrison, but after some hard graft, Finnie turned over possession again to fire past Psarianos. Toast reacted well, with Lakin pushing the team forwards. Kieran Harrison in the false-9 role was causing all sorts of problems, including a cheeky chip being saved when put through. Emmerson then conceded a free kick after a slide challenge but Harrison wasn’t able to convert. However, the ball came back out to Lakin who saw a speculative effort bounce back off the bar and cleared. Hurrikanes were largely frustrated
was at this point that the Kanes’ body language showed that they’d given up. Subsequent woeful efforts from Geary and McCall were characteristic of the tiredness of the players. After the final goal went in, the ref brought the game to a close, referring to the encounter as “vintage football”. I quite agree. Key player and manager for the day Jack McCall had claimed “it was imperative that we put in a good performance for our absent manager, Sir Stephen Lennox. We’ve got to remain consistent because these next two games are mustwins.” Wise words. McCall added, “The Toast is on fire.” He’s not wrong. Due to their loss to Giroud Boiz, Ivory Toast will have to beat league leaders, Hung Like A Bony, in the final match of the season to finish in the top two. Wednesday 11th November results
Overall BUCS Position: 9th
Badminton M1 v Sheffield 1sts M2 v Keele 1sts W1 v Sheffield 1sts W2 v York 1sts
7-1 1-7 7-1 0-8
Basketball M1 v Teesside 1sts M2 v Northumbria 3rds W1 v Durham 1sts W2 v Manchester 1sts
109-57 36-62 84-93 W/O
Fencing M1 v St Andrews 1sts W2 v Manchester 1sts
129-89 130-107
Football M1 v Manchester Met 1sts 3-1 W1 v L’pool John Moore 1sts 1-2 W2 v Chester 1sts 0-3 Gaelic Football 1 v Teesside 1sts
14-8
Golf 2 v Manchester Met 2nds
6-0
Hockey M1 v Durham 2nds 3-2 M2 v Manchester Met 1sts 4-4 (Flicks. 1-3) M3 v UCLAN 1sts 1-4 W1 v Durham 2nds 2-2 W2 v Liverpool 2nds 7-1 W3 v York St John 1sts 3-5
Lacrosse M1 v Northumbria 1sts 2-16 M2 v Northumbria 2nds 5-4 W1 v Loughborough 1sts 6-5 W2 v Durham 2nds 2-18 W3 v L’pool John Moore 1sts W/O Netball 1 v Leeds Beckett 1sts 2 v York St John 1sts 3 v Leeds Beckett 3rds
59-28 43-57 39-35
Rugby Union M1 v Leeds Beckett 1sts M2 v Manchester Met 1sts M4 v Durham 4ths M5 v Sunderland 1sts W1 v Northumbria 1sts W2 v Bishop Burton 1sts
14-29 27-10 9-15 52-0 0-39 0-66
Rugby League 1 v Sheffield Hallam 1sts 2 v Leeds Beckett 2nds
62-10 0-82
Squash M1 v Durham 1sts M2 v Liverpool 3rds M3 v UCLAN 1sts W1 v Leeds Beckett 1sts
4-1 3-0 3-0 3-1
Table Tennis M1 v Lancaster 1sts W3 v Sunderland 1sts
9-8 W/O
Tennis M1 v Hull 1sts 8-4 M2 v Sunderland 1sts 6-6 (Won on tiebreak) W1 v Warwick 1sts 0-12 Ultimate M1 v Sunderland 1sts
15-0
Waterpolo W2 v Leeds Beckett 1sts
3-26
The Courier
sportbucs.47
Monday 16 November 2015
Breaking ground: Blades complete 24 hour “fencathon” for club funds By Matthew Bannon We’ve all seen a 24 hour rowing marathon: rowing machine relocated from the gym, people switching in and out and collecting money in buckets. Then there was the continuous CPR outside the union last week by LINKS. People underestimate how tiring doing CPR actually is. But how about Newcastle’s first ever 24 hour fencing marathon? Holding a sword, using your lightning fast reactions whilst moving swiftly in a semi-squat stance is the challenge. At the Newcastle fencing centre in Walkergate on Friday 6th November, Newcastle University Fencing Club along with the Newcastle Fencing Sports Trust undertook the physically and mentally challenging task of having a fencing piste continuously running from 6pm Friday, all the way through the night until 6pm on the following Saturday. The idea came from coaches Iain and Nicola Aberdeen as a way to raise money for the University Club and Fencing Trust. The funds were to assist in the maintenance of the 12 metal piste fencing centre opened for the University and locals earlier this year and to purchase new fencing kit for the 6 University fencing teams to continue their impressive scoresheet. So the plan was to get down to the centre early on the Friday evening to kick it all off but when does something
go to plan? On the Tyne and Wear metro an incident occurred resulting in the captain of the men’s seconds Nathan Miller attending to a medical emergency, due to being one of the most qualified people on board, shame he’s a dental student and only knows 32 things. Luckily at the centre there were already a handful of fencers ready to kick it all off before the 6pm start time. It wasn’t just the squad that partook. The beginner’s class was moved to the fencing centre from the warmth of the sports hall and members of the alumni were invited to participate in the fencing challenge, such as Mr Hodgson and former president Dr Turnbull. It was clear a busy week has taken its toll on Dr Turnbull as he suffered a few rare defeats. As the night wore on and the squad tired, the harsh fluorescent lights dimmed and the laser lights and smoke machines came on, giving the centre a Flares feel (although unfortunately without a light up dance floor). At 2am the mini competitions kicked off, with a one hit epee competition won by Dentist Miller. This is when the night claimed its first squad victim when yours truly snuck off to the office for a nap. In total 10 Newcastle fencers stayed throughout the night including the club armourer Arran MacKay, who taught a 2 hour weapons repair workshop the morning after. Over the years, she become accustomed to staying up all night before matches and repairing faulty kit, to then fence as one of the captains, so
An Épée-ic night: the 24 hour ‘fencathon’ tested concentration Image: Matthew Bannon this was a walk in the park for her. Alongside the fencing marathon, taster sessions were being ran throughout the daytime and on the Saturday, ‘Fence and Shoot’ sessions were undertaken by Andrew Dixon, the modern pentathlon coordinator, to interest people in the growing sports of modern pentathlon. When Saturday afternoon hit, the beginners came back for more and revitalised the squad members, as being hit by someone who only picked up the sport a month ago was deemed unacceptable. This resulted in numerous flick hits, Flèche and prime parries to remind them who’s the most experienced (if you could pull them off after 20 hours of fencing). The beginners enjoyed being able to fence on the electric pistes and being able to see for certain if your hit has landed and not slipping on the
Home of the Blades: the event raised funds for the Fencing club Image: Matthew Bannon
glossy floor of the sports centre. The end was near: Henry couldn’t construct his sentences, Chessie was unable to move from her chair and Lia was admiring all her bruises. In the course of the marathon, too much caffeine was consumed, 40 pizzas were demolished (mainly by Genny) and 3 foils,
they were already en route to their beds. After his much needed rest, President Nav had these words to say: “A tremendous thanks is due to all the Newcastle University fencers, alumni, coaches, and the beginners for their masochistic and almost sadistic physical efforts that saw us through those long 24 hours.
8 epees and a sabre were added to the repairs pile for Arran and Richard. The night and day had been long and tiring but we fence because we love it. But after five club fencers stayed for the full 24 hours in cold, wet kit, as soon as the words “Pub anyone?” were mentioned,
Additionally, we’d like to extend a massive thank you to all those who helped support us physically, mentally and financially throughout the marathon. Unfortunately due to the Fencathon’s success, I think we’re going to have to put one on next year.”
“As the night wore on... the harsh florescent lights dimmed and the laser and smoke machines came on, giving the centre a Flares feel”
Badminton girls maintain 100% record Women’s Badminton Newcastle 1sts
7
Sheffield 1sts
1
By Beth Vickerman & Cara Vincenti at Tyneside Badminton Centre Newcastle Badminton Ladies continued to smash the season with a 7-1 win against Sheffield, to remain unbeaten. Sheffield arrived with only 5 players giving Newcastle a safe two-point lead before the games even commenced. Starting the warm up there were some technical ‘sticky grip’ issues with Beth Vickerman. The sweetie gobbler had
clearly been eating too many treats for game energy, leaving her racquet super tacky. After a wipe down she was ready to rumble. As play began Vickerman and Cara Vincenti had a flying start against Sheffield’s second doubles pair and comfortably won 21-5. Despite her sticky issues, Vickerman remained strong and after the first game the consistency queens cleared out their opponents 21-0 to secure the first win for the team. Next, Anna Bradshaw took on Sheffield’s first singles player. The vast gathering of spectators was awed as they watched her jump up into the air and floor her famous smashes with breathtaking effect. After freshly waxing her legs that morning she was the most aerodynamic player of the day and along
with some good rallies and her solid ability to play a finisher she won 21-16 and 21-13. Bradshaw’s bank balance was happier she didn’t mash her racquet up against her leg and break the frame this week as she channelled her anger
they started the game 11-0 down. Despite managing to get their legs in order the points difference was just too much and they were forced into a third set, in which they fought hard and marginally lost 23-25.
“The vast gathering of spectators was awed as they watched her (Anna Bradshaw) jump into the air and floor her smashes with breath-taking effect” into her kills instead. Playing third was our pair Dawn Ho and Katie Allen. Winning the first set 21-13 they knew it was a tough game but they were on form and more consistent than usual and ready to smash out the next set. Unfortunately, their wibbly wobbly ankles kicked in and
Anuhbi Khandelwal, the team’s most casual player, rocked up in jeans an hour and ten minutes late. Vickerman, the captain, should be applauded for her excellent stalling skills as they tried to cover for the delay in play. Khandelwal, who began a snail was thankfully more of a cheetah on court and walked all
over Sheffield’s singles player winning 21-6 and 21-4. Allen and Ho, despite their injuries, went on to secure a 21-10, 21-16 win. Allen’s sharp skills at the net and Ho’s newly found “super smash” aided the win. Finally, Vickerman and Vincenti continued their winning streak against the first doubles pair. Their opponents held a strong game with long rallies but the VV team never failed to finish the rally and won their games 21-6 and 21-7. Never being complacent and giving 100% for every game, the girls still stand top of the league with five wins out of five. They hope to continue their winning run against Leeds next week. Congratulations girls! Keep up the good work.
Sport
www.thecourieronline.co.uk Monday 16 November 2015 Issue 1320 Free
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Sports Editors: Alex Hendley, Calum Wilson & Lewis Bedford courier.sport@ncl.ac.uk Twitter: @Courier_Sport | Instagram: thecouriersport
Newcastle’s James Golby battles through the Cochrane Park bog Image: Robin Richards
Footballers set sights on promotion Men’s Football Newcastle 1sts
3
Manchester Met 1sts
1
By Robin Richards at Cochrane Park On a damp Wednesday afternoon Newcastle University 1st XI welcomed an ill-disciplined, yet unbeaten, Manchester Met team. Both had started the season impressively with Newcastle and the Met 1 and 2 points off the league leaders Liverpool John Moores, respectively, meaning a loss would have proved devastating to the promotion hopes of either team. Newcastle’s jubilation at the end of a 90 minutes in which they had kept the opposition relatively quiet was therefore understandable. The win makes it four wins out of five, putting the pressure back on the league leaders. The game started with predictable combativeness with both teams looking for a chance to make an early impression. The energetic Allan Owen set about his work of tirelessly harrying defenders and within a few minutes this pressing started to reap rewards. A poor pass from a Met midfielder left his partner in trouble, who slipped and handled the ball, giving Newcastle a free-kick 20 yards out and in the perfect position to go for goal. The free kick from James Golby was tame and should have been easily dealt with by the keeper, he however had other ideas and deciding it was too wet for him on the day, dropped the ball at his feet and Allan Owen, who was following in, got to the ball first and poked
it in. After going one down, frustration started to creep into the visiting team and it was unsurprising when the fairly uncivil Met number 8 was booked for dissent, the start of a string of Met players who would go on to trouble the referee’s book. Despite going behind, Met failed to force their way back into the game and all their attempts to break were marshalled well by the Uni defence. Newcastle took advantage of this strength at the back to start to assert their dominance on the game by knocking the ball about far more fluently than the opposition. It was in this spell of pressure when the hosts produced their best move of the match. A lofted ball forward was
scored a freak goal after half an hours play. A corner was cleared and a retreating Met player threw a foot at the ball which looped over the helpless Harrison Avery in goal, dropping into the top right hand corner. Uni didn’t allow this to upset their rhythm and Greenwood and Owen continued to link up with Golby and looked threatening without being able to fashion any more clear-cut chances in the half. As the weather worsened, both teams seemed to struggle to keep the ball on the deck and a ten minute interval which saw both teams give the ball away at will meant that despite their greater ability on the ball Newcastle were unable get to halftime with the game truly out of sight.
“The energetic Allan Owen set about his work of tirelessly harrying defenders and within a few minutes this pressing started to reap rewards” killed brilliantly by Matt Greenwood who played a fantastic ball in between the static Met centre back and right back for the onrushing Owen, who confidently dispatched past the keeper for his and Newcastle’s, second. The home side were firmly on top at this stage and things only got worse for the Met when, with less than 25 minutes gone, they conceded a penalty for holding onto a Uni player at a corner. The penalty was dispatched by Matt Greenwood low to bottom right corner. Manchester Met looked far from having the quality to overturn the 3-0 score line and with centre back Nick Harrison proving solid whenever they looked to break, the game was as good as over. Hope was given, however, when Met
Newcastle’s dominance of the first half seemed to breed a sense of complacency and despite their attempt to get straight onto the front foot from kickoff it was the Met who dominated the early exchanges in the second half. Harrison Avery was called on to make his first meaningful save of the game on the hour mark when a corner was met by a Met head and Avery had to be sharp to get down low to his left to parry the ball away. This chance wasn’t enough to wake Newcastle up however and they were struggling to get out of their half, the only outlet being the pace of Owen in behind. The pressure resulted in Newcastle being pushed further and further back whenever Manchester had the ball. Yet,
Manchester were unable to convert this pressure into anything meaningful and half way through the half, Newcastle started to force themselves back into the game. The best chance of the half in fact fell to Newcastle’s Golby when a great ball over the top by Owen left him with only the keeper to beat. Golby however elected to go for the chip and the ball flew harmlessly high and wide. The final 10 minutes of the game were dominated by the referee who, by this stage seemed incredibly keen on producing yellows. The Met number 8 earned his second yellow of the day after deliberately handling the ball in the Newcastle area and, after a brief tantrum, made his way off the pitch, reducing Manchester to 10. Met had an opportunity to score late but a brilliant goal line clearance from Nick Harrison kept the score at 3-1. Newcastle were easily able to see out the final few minutes and the win leaves Newcastle on 12 points. Uni Captain Jack Taylor remarked after the game that he believes “we’ve set a good platform to kick on in the promotion push. We’ve got an excellent chance of winning the league with the quality we have, however, there’s no room for mistakes and we’ll need to perform consistently well to secure top spot”. Taylor also gave endearing praise for man of the match Allan Owen; “Allan had an absolutely outstanding game today. His physicality is frightening and when he combines that with the class he showed today there’s no doubt he will cause havoc for defenders”. Next up for Newcastle they face 4th placed University of Manchester, who they beat 2-0 in the reverse fixture.
SPORTSWOMEN OF THE YEAR P.44
SAM BURGESS DEBATE P.45
24 HR FENCING MARATHON P.47